darius scarlett (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
onefellswoop) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
kingdomsofrain2026-01-17 02:26 pm
onefellswoop) wrote in kingdomsofrain2026-01-17 02:26 pm
shitlords!
placeholder title above! hmmmm
1) Prelude: Ill-Natured Shrubbery.
2) The Party Gathers: If a Tree Burns in the Forest...
3) Death House Pt. 1: Family, If You Wish It.
4) Death House Pt. 2: Onward and Downward.
5) Awich: The Dead All Know, The Dead All Go.
6) Awich: Investigations.
7) Awich: After the Battle.
8) Loch Bien: Complications, Concerns, Frogs.
9) Loch Bien + Onward: Things Go Very, Very Wrong.
10) Through Forest, Into Mysos.
1) Prelude: Ill-Natured Shrubbery.
2) The Party Gathers: If a Tree Burns in the Forest...
3) Death House Pt. 1: Family, If You Wish It.
4) Death House Pt. 2: Onward and Downward.
5) Awich: The Dead All Know, The Dead All Go.
6) Awich: Investigations.
7) Awich: After the Battle.
8) Loch Bien: Complications, Concerns, Frogs.
9) Loch Bien + Onward: Things Go Very, Very Wrong.
10) Through Forest, Into Mysos.
no subject
“Don’t believe that I fail to appreciate your proposition. But I’m pleased precisely where I am, frogs and all.” There’s a hum, an easy cant of his head. “It doesn’t hurt that I am in no danger of running into and of our ‘colleagues.’”
And, of course, it helps worlds, provides heart-thawed ease, to have Faolan so close at hand. The thought of which draws the slightest hint of a smile before he continues—
“As for Alfrig and his Champion, I assume very little. Though lifting the boy by the scruff of his neck into acclaim would be a not entirely unreasonable means of securing ‘Sir Caddick’s’ affections.”
<.>
[DEC, d: 19
PERC, v: nat 1]
Vitaly looks again perplexed; the smile that flickers across Dima's face is so out-of-place with this conversation. But - the boy is back, with whiskey in tow, the entire bottle handed off to Dima's servant. Peddyr slips away one gold ring wealthier and Vitaly has a glass of whiskey in hand when he answers, "Are you so sure Caddick didn't offer his scruff for the lifting?"
He snuffs with a suppressed smile and turns away from the unapproachable pair, his eyes moving over the crowd for more interesting diversion; they pause briefly on a few faces here and there, sometimes lingering longer than others.
As though nothing happened, he settles his focus on Dima.
"So, Dima. Tell me. The last time I saw you - before that lovely, if morbid, dinner party - you were in the company of Sasha Polyak. Occasionally. Whenever he came sniffing around. I suppose that's done with now?"
<.>
Dima sends five gold pieces with the boy, and does take a glass for himself, though for the moment he only holds it, watching the liquid settle (thinking of amber like honey) (thinking honey like wide eyes, at once yielding and fire-struck). Half-thinking to respond regarding Caddick's scruff - it seems not at all unlikely that the 'Champion' is a dyed-in-the-heart opportunist; well, who here isn't? - but he watches the liquor and thinks of Faolan, is thinking of Faolan when Vitaly speaks again and—
"What?" For a moment, Dima doesn't register what Kozak's said, or it's that his thought rebels against the name. (Fuck's sake, why would he want to think of Sasha 'Can't Leave Well Enough Alone' Polyak.) (It seems criminal, really, to let thought of that name exist anywhere near Faolan's.)
There's a sharp exhale, a brief smirk flashing teeth. "Gods. Sasha. There isn't anything to be done with. One might think he'd have learned his lesson the first go-round, but the shit keeps crawling back.
"Well. He'll need to heed his education from here on out." Dima doesn't expand on the why of this. Perhaps it's only that he's had what minor amusement he could glean from Polyak, and has wearied of the man. Perhaps he means to cease entertaining the company of men who want what he won't grant; who can only ever provide Dmitri with passing entertainment, he leading them on pursuits ending nowhere save their dismissal, their humiliation.
Perhaps it's that Dmitri has found something, someone far better than any mere amusement. Perhaps he's found someone he can, would like to, has already well begun to attach himself to.
"The boy is a leech. Moderately entertaining for a time, but I've no more use for him or for his ilk." He takes a sip of the whiskey now, and thank fuck, this at least is better than tolerable.
While he's drinking the whiskey, Dima's going to give the room another scan, looking for any Developing Situations or newly arrived faces. He's also going to take another glance at Alfrig and Caddick, just to gauge how they seem to be interacting, and keep an eye out for whatever Anicetus might be up to.
<.>
Vitaly hums, picking at stray words and lingering looks Dima spends on his whiskey, and really it might be nothing to remark upon just now, but something's twinging as odd. (The whiskey he drinks burns his curiosity away.)
"Well. Someone has use for him," he says after another long draw from his glass. He gestures with the same hand, indicating over Dima's shoulder. "I'm sure the fact that he managed to ride Casimir all the way from Morovsk has nothing to do with you."
When Dima looks, he'll see Casimir Ozrim is standing with Sasha on his arm; Sasha is pressed too close, behaving with overt familiarity - and drawing attention from nearby guests.
<.>
Dmitri mutters something beneath his breath that sounds suspiciously like 'should have stabbed the bastard when I had the chance.'
Dmitri might, just briefly, be considering stabbing the bastard right now. Because of all the fucking irritations, of all the clearly-not-coincidences, why for shit's sake should Sasha have worked (ingratiated) (and yes, likely fucked) his way here.
(There's a flickered warning suffusing slowly through his nerves. An awareness of how godsdamned much of a show the boy is making. An awareness of just how tenacious he could be in his asinine pursuits, and how little mind he gave to 'no' and 'never.' (Never mind that after those first encounters, after 'no' and 'never' failed to impact, Dima had begun to dangle false promises, the way he's done with several insufferable would-be-suitors, absolute parasites. Never mind that he's done this on... Mm. On more occasions than he currently recalls.))
It isn't a fucking problem. It won't be. Dmitri will pay the boy no mind; he'll behave as if the little shit isn't here; he'll move along if Sasha so much as attempts to approach. There isn't any problem, and Dmitri has more crucial matters to focus on.
Even so, it takes a moment to ease the trace of wary sourness from his expression. Even so, he has to remind himself to ease the curl of this lip. Another sip of whiskey - a drink of whiskey - helps. And Dima rolls his eyes, returning his attention pointedly to Vitaly.
"Precisely what this rancid celebration needs: Another double-dyed shit-stain. If the bastard bears any hopes, he'll find them dashed soon enough.
"Or perhaps Casimir will manage to maintain his attention. It'd be the first useful thing the man's ever done."
Then, speaking lower, a slightly growl entering his voice: "If he so much as moves in my direction, I won't be kept responsible for my actions."
[q: what does dima know about Ozrim?
HIST, 24
a: Casimir is the third son of a family of relatively decent status in Exningley. His father is a merchant class tradesman who amassed a fortune that will be passed to Casimir's eldest brother, leaving Casimir a dependent, his trust fund controlled by said brother. Likewise, the middle brother is in that situation.
Casimir is known for being vain and needing constant fawning, likely owed to the situation with his dependency status. He likes to feel he's in control, and Dima is probably aware Casimir has been known to play at dominance in the bedroom.]
<.>
Vitaly scoffs. "You don't really believe Casimir will keep him entertained for long, do you? He's too willing; I'll bet the rest of our whiskey that Sasha only chases you because he can't catch you."
A pitying smile is cast Sasha and Casimir's way; Vitaly doesn't bother to hide it. "If he moves in your direction, perhaps Casimir will challenge you to a duel. Now, that would be entertaining. You're still dabbling in the arcane, aren't you?"
As an afterthought, he adds, "Don't worry. He only carries that tacky gods-forsaken rapier to distract from what's lacking. Monetary or phallic; you decide."
It may be apparent by now that Vitaly, who likes many people, does not like Casimir.
<.>
"Too willing, and lacking strength of will." He doesn't bother to hide the derision that ghosts his expression as he spares a solitary glance toward Ozrim (and doesn't let that glance touch the chronic dangler on his arm). To Dima's mind, Casimir shares a sphere of kinship with Daniil; the both of them obsequious, surrounding themselves with men of equal temperaments, equal hungers that exceed their capabilities or means.
And, yes, Dmitri's heard of Casimir's uninspired efforts toward dominance. (Years ago, he'd known men of Casimir's stripe closer than he cares to think.)
And, no, he isn't particularly convinced that Ozrim will keep Sasha's interest. Dima's not that lucky. Sasha's not so readily satisfied.
There's a fresh pour of whiskey for Dmitri, who casts his eyes toward the ceiling. "I'm not foolhardy enough to take that bet of yours.
"And as much as I might welcome the distraction of a duel - as humorous as it might be to watch Casimir inevitably stumble onto his own blade - I fear the ensuing scandal would send Lord Alfrig into cardiac arrest. While, yes, I do still 'dabble in the arcane,' raising an undead lord to cognizance—" Dmitri glances toward Alfrig, looks back to Vitaly with a shake of his head. "—semi-cognizance, is currently beyond my skill."
Gods, though, it's tempting: The thought of cutting down the overweening shithead here and now, and the thought of wiping Sasha from existence while he's at it. The trouble is, there's little good in hashing out Morovsk's troubles in another territory's court.
And. "Consider as well: My sister would murder both of us," tilting his glass toward Kozak, "at the first opportunity."
<.>
Vitaly tsks. "Deza loves me. She might murder you, but surely with your 'skillset', that shouldn't be any sort of consideration at all."
He begins to say something further, but abruptly changes tack. "Oh, gods, they've seen us. Leave it Casimir to think it's anything but comical to be sporting your leavings like last year's fashions."
He grasps Dima by the elbow and steers him towards a small congregation of people nearer the doors. "Dima, have you met Tacita? Exarch Wesh is from the southlands, and do you know, Tacita, I was just telling Dima here that Casimir Ozrim positively hates you and won't come within thirty feet of you, which means you are the safest harbor in this room."
Tacita Wesh stares at the men with raised brows, then lets her gaze settle on the bottle Vitaly is now carrying. She angles her head to see Casimir faltering in his step and whispering to Sasha, motioning to someone-or-the-other. Then, returning her stony expression to Dima and Vitaly, she holds out her glass and taps it with one long fingernail.
"Exarch, should you be indulging?" Vitaly gasps, feigning shock.
"Should you be requesting sanctuary without a donation to the church, Vitaly?" As Vitaly pours, she examines Dima with a reserved gaze. "It's Lord Voronin, is it? Or Dima Stolarz - no, you're not him. He's dead now, isn't he?"
<.>
"Loathe though I am to encourage any act of tithing, I take this as a minor price to pay." And, with an incline of his head toward Kozak, "I'll bring you a bottle tomorrow. Call it my gratitude."
To Tacita, he bows his head, straightens. "Exarch, you have my envy: The gods know I would like to possess half your power in warding off Ozrim." Dima is not looking back toward the shitstain and his parasitic jag. He's perfectly content not to think about either of them again. (Should he, though? Think about their presence in this city.) (No, no; there's nothing either of them can mangle, and if Dima plays his socializing right, it shouldn't take too terribly much to keep free of them. If nothing else, he'll have to have Kozak run interference— For a further bottle or two of gratitude.)
"It is Lord Voronin, yes—Dmitri." Then, with a faux-scowl toward Vitaly, "'Dima' to the more reckless among us.
"Regrettably alive, in either name." While Kozak is in the business of pouring, Dima's going to hold out his glass, because after that near-miss he damned well deserves another drink, please and thank you very much.
"I trust you're enjoying yourself." He trusts - and his voice says he trusts - to no such thing. "It seems we've all come quite a way to witness this Champion's—" He waves a hand slightly, dismissive. "—Show of, as Kozak says, ooze and amiability."
<.>
Tacita sips her whiskey exactly as she might a glass of wine, her eyes once more tracking Casimir's progress. It's Vitaly who speaks first.
"It can't be proven that I said any such thing, and I'll thank you not to paraphrase me to the good church authorities, lest they say something I might later regret."
Tacita doesn't look at either man, but she speaks in a low, dismissive tone. "Who would listen?"
The two younger clerics in the group seem to be her companions - or apprentices. She glances at them and says neutrally, "Walk away, and ponder the mysteries of Waukeen. Quietly."
The pair departs and Tacita sighs, her shoulders relaxing just a little. "They begged to accompany me. Most of the youths taking the mantle have never been north of Mysos. I might be destroying their illusions of pious Exarch Wesh somewhat; prolonged company will do that."
"Extorting for whiskey does leave a stain on the reputation," Vitaly drawls.
"Extortion is only extortion if you have no other options," she counters in a patronizing tone. "You could both have departed. It's not as though there's anything here but irritated nobles and whatever that is."
'That' being Alfrig and his Champion.
[q: would dima know anything about Waukeen, however vague?
REL, 15 a: Dima generally knows Waukeen is the goddess of trade. He's able to recognize the holy symbol of an upright coin bearing Waukeen's profile.]
<.>
questions and answers abound!
-what would dima have noticed about the way alfrig interactions with/looks at/shares presence with caddick?
Alfrig clearly looks like he's thirsting after Caddick, for lack of a better word. Caddick seems aware of this and either genuinely interested and therefore flirting, or at least playing into it.
-does alfrig look as if he's under the influence of any kind of magic?
Alfrig doesn't appear to be under the influence of magic of any kind. If anything, he does seem alert.
-has anyone managed to approach alfrig/caddick?
The entire time Dima has been present in the hall, not one person has approached Alfrig or Caddick except for a pair of servants and Anicetus. Successfully, anyway.
-what has anicetus been doing during this time?
Anicetus has been schmoozing. Since talking to Dima, he's made his way through about ten people.
-is the food still untouched? what does the food look like/seem to include?
The food is relatively untouched, mostly because Loch Bien is not known for its culinary arts. It's nothing anyone is going out of their way to eat.
-does dima notice anyone who seems to be keeping a particular eye on him?
Dima is aware now that Sasha is watching him intently. Anicetus has also kept tabs on him. There are a few nobles present who mark him, but don't follow him too closely.
-does anicetus seem to be watching everyone else as closely, or other particular people?
Anicetus is watching several people moderately; no one with particular intent.
-does dima see anyone who fits the description faolan gave of the noble with the filigree ring?
There are several redheaded men in the room; it's a common genotype in Loch Bien, unfortunately. He might need Fae with him to pick out the man in question.
-what happened to the kid who brought the whiskey?
Peddyr is back to working for the woman who hired him, who has bribed him in much the same way for 'better wine'.
-are there any tapestries, paintings, carvings, coats of arms etc on the walls? if so, what might dima recognize about them?
Several tapestries and coats of arms line the walls. Dima doesn't recognize any of them, and honestly probably doesn't care.
-are there any particularly boisterous groups of nobles?
Everyone here seems to be a seasoned politician; the rural lords might have been boisterous but are too busy being bored. The liveliest people in this room are Vitaly, Tacita...and Sasha and Casimir.
-are there any groups of nobles or individual nobles who are clearly keeping to themselves?
People seem to be grouping up by place of origin, and otherwise not really...icebreaking. Without someone to lead the function, no one's stepping outside their comfort zone.
-who particularly in the crowd seems to be paying particular attention to sasha and casimir?
Most people are trying not to look at the display of overt flirting and entirely too much petting for a public political function.
-what precisely arE these days of celebration for? or i mean mmm what does it mean to celebrate alfrig's champion, and what is a champion slash is that a widely known title/designation/standard? what would dima know or think to expect from the celebration as a whole?
The celebration is for the fifth centennial of Loch Bien's founding; Dima (and everyone else) would be aware that Alfrig appears to have hijacked the celebration to honor Caddick for his recent heroic deeds. (Sort of like the President turning the 4th of July into a celebration for Tiger Woods.)
A champion here is a looser term more commonly associated with someone who engages in combat either as a sport or in defense of the country/kingdom, and when he/she does so, claims to do so in honor of someone. So, Caddick heroed and basically said 'I do this in honor of Alfrig!'
And then, Alfrig started sending him to do heroic things and fight in tournaments.
And now he gets a Caddick Party.
-do other leading lords take/claim champions? are champions a usual thing for loch bien?
Dima has probably had people champion for him several times. But none got to the point of being honored with a celebration.
Another note: champions are the individuals a noble might send to fight on their behalf in, say, a duel.
-does alfrig have a spouse?
Alfrig does have a spouse. She is markedly absent from this gathering. Wonder why.
-what would dima know or have heard about alfrig's son?
Dima has heard Alfrig's son isn't present, and has caught snatches of conversation that would suggest he's upset because Caddick is his best friend.
-who would usually be leading this kind of icebreaker day of joy?
Alfrig would usually be more engaged and making rounds, trying to network people and generally set an example. In his stead, his...son. Would be doing this. Or his wife.
-are there visible guards around? are any of them limping?
There are guards, mostly for effect. None of them are walking around much, so it's hard to say if anyone is limping.
-of the attendees dima is familiar with, are many of them typically involved with trade negotiations? are there other commonalities?
There are quite a few people here who are engaged in trade. However, as trade is the primary source of wealth, particularly the shipping industry, it's not surprising that so many nobles here would have a history of merchanting. The major commonality is that everyone here is a high-ranking noble or ambassador. But that's also not surprising to Dima.
-do the nobles gathered seem uhhh dressed to impress?
No one's really 'dressed to impress'. They're dressed to attend.
-does alfrig or caddick seem to be watching anyone in particular in the crowd?
Alfrig and Caddick are watching Alfrig and Caddick.
-how many of the attendees are clearly armed (with ceremonial weaponry or otherwise)?
Roughly half of the nobles in the room are visibly armed, and there are likely more who are not so visibly armed. It's easy to see that some of the hired servants are also bodyguards.
-aside from anicetus, is there anyone here who dima would recognize as having some kind of tie to rosewall?
There's no one else from Striker's Bay that Dima recognizes; in fact, Anicetus is probably the first high-ranking person he's seen from the Rosewall's era in many, many years.
-is anyone from the current ruling group of striker's bay present?
That is an interesting question. No, no one from Striker's Bay is present.
-has anyone from mysos showed up?
One or two people from Mysos have trickled in; they're recognizable by their clothing, which is suitable for warmer climates. They've layered in an effort to stave off the chill.
-is there anyone dima would recognize as having studied in novorometz?
There aren't many from Novorometz present, or if there are, they aren't mentioning it. Necromancy is still frowned upon in most circles; Dima gets away with it because Dima has m o n e y.
-anyone wearing any rings of particular noticeability/note?
No rings of interest to Dima after the incident this morning.
-what gods are most commonly worshipped in loch bien, if any?
Pelor and Waukeen are the predominant gods in the continent; however, other gods have their centers of worship. Dima wouldn't know specifics beyond that.
-what would dima know about loch bien's history and founding? is alfrig's line tied far back, slash how does holding + transfer of power work in loch bien?
History check: Di Loch Bien used to be the primary port to the north, with overland trade routes leading down through the continent. Dima, coming from Morovsk, would know that the building of the Mysos canal - much like the Panama Canal - changed the face of the shipping trade; routes changed. Loch Bien was no longer a port of call, which bankrupted a large portion of the merchant class.
Dima would know that Morovsk nearly suffered the same fate, but fell back on its pearl and rare gem trade, which actually improved its situation as a nation. Loch Bien had no such fallback and is considered a waning power.
With that in mind, everyone in attendance is here out of formality, but there's an air of pity amongst those from other nations, and thinly veiled displeasure from most of the Loch Bien nobility; Dima might conjecture this entire affair is a waste of money Loch Bien can ill afford to spend.
Alfrig's line goes back about three generations. Power transfers to his spouse or son in the event of his death. Notably, Loch Bien is the only nation *not* ruled by a council or circle of ministers.
…well. Striker's Bay is also not ruled by a council. Striker's Bay isn't really 'ruled'.
-what woulD dima know about mm, like striker's bay's current structure/existence? (HIST, disadv: 10)
Dima knows that fifteen years ago, the Rosewall family and every last person in their ruling class and ministerial cabinet was dragged from their beds in the middle of the night and 'shelled' - the thing Jannos threatened to watch done to Calabra.
He knows not many people made it out alive; Anicetus is an exception, as he was in Morovsk at the time.
He knows that there are a lot of fantastical rumors about what became of the port, and he knows sailing in that direction is generally hazardous because of threats of piracy. The last time someone from Morovsk was sent in an ambassadorial function, he disappeared. Four months later, a messenger was sent from the borderlands with a book that had been bound with tanned human skin. The ambassador's wife recognized his tattoo on the back 'cover'.
The rumors suggest that Striker's Bay is a lawless and dangerous place, and most people have written it off for lost.
One more thing: Striker's Bay was once called Wydon; the new name is more rumor than known fact, but the rumor took hold well enough that people just sort of. Accepted it.
-what's the situation with vitaly's wife? :O? or what would dima know?
Vitaly married a much younger woman against everyone's advice. As it turns out, they were all right, and she is living in Novorometz with the necromancer she ran off with.
-tbh this is also mostly for general knowledge but would vitaly have been acquainted with darzh?
He probably knows Darzh as well as Dima knows Darzh, having been a childhood acquaintance/friend?
note: makes sense to me! and yes, vitaly would have been as close to friend as child dima had.
-is there anyone present as this ice-not-really-breaking event that dima knows has vied for or tried to get their relatives into vying for the hand of either of calabra's daughters?
That's a very interesting question. Dima should ask around.
-what would dima knows about the southlands?
The Southlands is a general term for all points south - kind of like calling the southern US the 'South', but not as nasty racist. Dima knows the territories down that way, and may have been once or twice, but it's a difficult journey through jungle and mountains and pretty goddamn unpleasant. Poor Tacita.
-are most of the attendees here human?
Most of the attendees are human, dwarven, or half-elf. There are startlingly few elves; most of them seem to be part of the staff or Anicetus. Dima doesn't see any other races accounted for here, and might be keenly aware that he is one of maybe three half-elves.
Dima would also be aware that Loch Bien is a primarily human city, and they have a cough cough history of being not the most hospitable to other races.
-does this 'hijack 5th centennial celebration' behavior seem in line with alfrig's usual behavior or uncharacteristic? or ig would dima have any sense of this?
Dima doesn't really have a sense of whether this is characteristic for Alfrig; no one seems to have remarked on the act itself, but there's plenty of derision about Caddick.
-how viable would it be to, say, if someone got it in his head to try, sneak out of the room to have a look around? that is, are there doors/etc. that might be slipped into?
There are doors. Dima is certainly welcome to try.
-how oldish is alfrig/how long has he been in his position? ....actually how oldish also is calabra?
Calabra and Alfrig are both in their late fifties / early sixties. Alfrig has been Lord of LB since he was thirty.
-what happened to the book that was once an ambassador from morovsk?
...You tell me.
note: dima took it for 'safekeeping' and 'examination' ofc. it now lives in dima’s special collection!
-when/how long ago was the mysos canal built?
The Mysos canal was built over several generations, actually; it began as an irrigation system by the farmers in the area, and eventually someone got the bright idea to see if they could just make a whole canal from on side of the continent to the other. It's been complete for, eh, twenty or thirty years.
-does loch bien regularly or ever send ambassadors to morovskgorod?
Loch Bien does send ambassadors, but it's less frequent than it used to be, particular over the last decade.
-has any reason - truth or otherwise - been given for the dwindling of loch bien ambassadors to morovsk?
No; the rate of decline has been slow enough that people may not have noticed until recently.
-does dima have any knowledge or sense or heard rumors of caddick's origins?
Dima has yet to hear anything about Caddick's origins.