Weywyn / New Forgehall

[MissMilkMaid]

Off the Coast of New Forgehall

For the last three months, the Farroe had sailed along abandoned, wild coastlines. Never did they see so much as a whiff of smoke rising from green hills. Never did they see another sail crest the horizon, or even a shack on a beach to indicate signs of intelligent life. Their little boat seemed to be the only mote of civilization in an endless world of wilderness. It was rather sobering, seeing so much emptiness all round.

They had to stop often for repairs and to gather new supplies. They spent days at the time camped on wild shores, hunting the wilderness and searching for edible plants, and metical herbs. Rolo often joked that he wished every forest was peopled by spooky trees, because weird as that was, the tree had at least made foraging easy.  

Discontentment and bickering continued, but never rose to dangerous levels. Marius was growing gradually bolder and more confident and the respect Flynt had won for him in the fight at Spooky Tree Bay was enduring. Marius had proved himself to be more than capable and extremely dangerous when provoked, which was strength the chimera could believe in, even if he was strangely soft-spoken the rest of the time. As days and weeks went by, the chimera grew closer to each other, taking refuge in each other’s company in the face of so much empty land and sea around them. As violent and cutthroat as they could be, they could also be extremely loyal.

The weather had gotten much warmer the further north they sailed and they passed jungles and wove their way through complex series of bays, straits, islands and natural harbors. It was slow and difficult going and many were beginning to wonder if they would sail forever in a maze of shorelines.

They’d come to another yet another strait and Ship Captain Thaddeus Wart was wondering if was worth sailing through, or if it might not be better to pass it over and continue on along the eastern shore. The strait was narrow, but also deep. There could be a whole sea beyond the horizon or just another empty little inlet to waist there time. Letting out a huff, he was about to hop over to talk to Marius about it, when Rolo gave a high-pitched shout from above.

The little Wing had climbed the mast, to keep a better watch for reefs or other hazards, his tensile tail wrapped securely to the swaying mast. “Sails!” he squeaked again and leapt down, the batwing like membrane between his limbs allowing him to glide gracefully to the top of Brawyn’s large horned head.  She snorted in slight annoyance, but allowed him to keep his post, as she pulled the next stroke of her ore.

“Red sails!” Rolo said excitedly, his huge black eyes sparkling with excitement, “I saw two little boats with reddish sails just before the horizon on the other side of the strait.”

Marius got up from the crate he’s been using as a writing desk and came over. “Tell me where exactly,” he ordered and took out a spyglass. Rolo told him the degrees and direction and Marius took a moment, before fixing the spyglass on the spot.  

“Thad, get the ship past the strait,” He ordered, “Everyone remember your manners and make sure your weapons are sharp. We aren’t looking for trouble, but we have no idea what we’re sailing into.”

“Aye,” everyone said.

Thaddeus began issuing orders and exchanging the rowers for fresher, stronger men. Marius went over to pack up his desk and mapmaking equipment. As he did, he felt the presence of Flynt in his mind.

Perfect timing as always, he thought to the elf and then Flynt took over his mind and body, leaving Captain Marius Blackeye in dark unconsciousness for the time being.

---

The strange little boat rowed up to New Forgehall. The Farroe was a battered galley, which had clearly been through a long and rough voyage. A single sail and twelve ores was all it had and the banner it flew was made of tattered black and silver cloth, displaying a thorny rose.

The ship, however, was nothing compared to the crew it bore. They were the strangest array of creatures many goblins had ever seen. No two were alike and they ranged in sizes from a small monkey like person less the three feet in height to creatures standing nearly eight feet tall. They had mixed-matched features from various animals, one sporting the horns of a bull, another with the wide moth and large gullet of a toad, claws, tails, fur, scales sharp teeth and strange eyes were scattered and applied in strange forms and features that gave them a monstrous visage. They were at least mostly humanoid and dressed in cloths and weaponry that, while foreign in style, indicated a level of civilization and industry.

Many of them remained on there little boat, but a couple small groups ventured ashore and into the city. Leading the primary group was a tall, thin chimera, with grayish skin and hair that grew three different colors braided over one shoulder. He had no claws or fangs or other freakish features, but his eyes were bizarre, one being an unnaturally vivid emerald green and the other, so black the pupil and the iris were indistinguishable. He stood seven and a half feet tall and was dressed the best, with a finer coat than the others. With him was a little furry creature, something like a monkey with a long tensile tail and something like a flying squirrel or a bat, with membrane wings stretching between his arms and legs and large, round, nocturnal, black eyes, He was standing on the shoulders and a big bullish female with horns and a snout with huge nostrils. She looked strong enough to break a person in half over one knee and curved claws grew from her hands and bare feet, like those of a dragon.

The group seemed a little disoriented at first, taking in the sights of the marble buildings and the many goblins, but didn’t approach anyone or speak. Instead, they whispered to each other and began walking along toward the market with the casual, curious manner of anyone taking in the new sights of a city.

The other group did likewise, though it didn’t venture out of sight of the Farroe. It was led by a slim serpentine looking creature, with grey feline eyes, cat like grace and smooth scaly skin that looked like it should belong to an eel.

[AspenIvan]

Needless to say, the Chimera stood out in the docklands of New Forgehall like a giant, festering sore thumb engulfed in flames. Almost everyone was loathe to suffer their presence, stepping away whenever the grotesque creatures drew near. It was hardly a quarter hour before Kizilsafi patrols rushed to the scene, old goblins in old armor but stalwart nonetheless. The first Weywyn group the red-banded helmets reached was Marius'.

"Halt!" announced a soldier in rust chainmail and a helmet with a bent noseguard, standing at the head of ten others in similar garb. Her weapons were sheathed, but those behind her had spears out and lowered. "Present yourselves, foreigners! What business do you have in the City of the Disciples?!"

[MissMilkMaid]

"I'm am Captain Marius Blackeye," Marius, or rather Flynt from inside Marius, answered, "I am leading and expedition from a land far south of here, called Weywyn. We have come to seek knowledge of new places and people and mean no harm to your people or your city."

Rolo hopped down from Brawyn's shoulder and stood on his hind legs beside Marius, his big black eyes snapping and one paw-like hand on the hilt of his little sword. He looked ready to take on the whole group, but Marius put out a boot and gently pushed the smaller Chimara back from the line of spearmen. Even if they could take on this group of solders, their one little boat certainly couldn't take on a whole city.

Brawyn snorted, looking down at the goblins and then around at the rest of the starring citizens of this city contemptuously. These creatures, whatever they were, seemed more puny and pathetic than humans. "Why are you pointing your stupid spears at us?" she demanded, "We aren't threatening anyone."

[Ravigen]

The disturbance though arguably minor had been brought to the attention of an Asselian patrol in one of the inner districts, the elves had heard the call for the Kizilsafi and had decided to follow just in case, the patrol numbered a dozen soldiers, 8 shieldwall and 4 archers to cover them. They weren't expecting much danger but the Empress had ordered them to patrol the city and they would take their duty seriously.

The captain of the patrol, a tall elven man in chainmail armor, short red hair and a scarred face, a veteran of the migration from the old world, ordered his patrol to a stop at the end of the street. The scene was enough to give the captain pause, a veteran of the battle against Khazagand, he'd seen demons before, fought and killed them numerous times over but these strangers looked stranger than any demon he'd seen before.

Still he had a job to do and it looked like the goblins already had a patrol, he would assist them and defer to their judgment in the matter, waving his men forward, he grasped his spear and shield but didn't raise them threateningly, not yet.

[MissMilkMaid]

When the Chimera saw the elven guards approaching Rolo and Brawyn's eyes widened and they stepped back. On instinct, Brawyn started to drop into a bow, but Marius put a hand on her shoulder.

"Elves," whispered Rolo, in disbelieve and some awe.

Marius didn't show much on his face, but he looked the elves over intently, as they came up. So it was true. Other elves did exist up here in the north, Glyndal wasn't that last haven after all.

Flynt had to be careful not to reveal anything more and he was thankful that Marius was naturally hard to read. Whole new doors of possibilities were going though his mind. Maybe at long last they would find an answer to unlocking their curse! Maybe they would find real allies in their battle against Antarus' wrath. At the very least this was proof that the last of all elven-kind wasn't hanging upon the security of Glyndal and that lifted a heavy weight that had been hanging upon them for centuries.

[AspenIvan]

The goblin spear-bearers looked apprehensively at their commander, who looked back and gave a nearly-imperceptible nod. They lowered their spears, but kept their shields up and their eyes sharp.

"Captain Hale Kizilsafi," she announced flatly, eyeing Marius skeptically. "Warrior-servant of the High Goblin People, Disciple of the Saints of Forgehall, and Priest-Captain of the Kizilsafi Order." She paused for a moment, thinking to herself. "You say you come from a land called Weywyn. What is the name of your liege House, City, or Confederation?"

[MissMilkMaid]

Flynt listened to the introduction, keeping track of all the names.

"Our expedition is based out of the town of Thorwyn," he told Hale, "Chimera don't serve liege houses or confederations." Not wanting to linger on Weywyn, Flynt turned the topic back on to New Forgehall. "Captain, as Priest-Captain of your order and warrior of your people, do you have authority to grant me and my men access to anchor at your port and visit the city?"

He wanted to ask more about the elves. Were they residents of this city too? What was their status with the "High Goblin" people? However, he managed to remain patient. It would be best to come to terms with the authorities here first, before pursuing anything else.

Rolo and Brawyn kept quiet, but their eyes kept flicking to the elves. They'd both been raised in a world were elves were nearly on par with gods and they weren't certain how best to behave in this situation. The fact the the elves weren't the one's in charge and seemed to be deferring to these other creatures was a little unnerving.

[AspenIvan]

"You call yourselves an expedition," the captain pointed out. She deliberately avoided the newcomer's question for the moment. "Why an expedition, and not simply travelers or explorers?" Her grey eyes narrowed. "What is your mission, and from whom was it assigned?"

[MissMilkMaid]

Flynt let out an impatient breath. He was quickly growing weary of this goblin captain, but thankfully with Marius as his medium it wasn't too hard to keep his expressions and tone of voice even and cordial. "We were assigned to this expedition by the ruling governor of Thorwyn, Borella Tusk. Our mission is sail up the coast for the purpose of mapping this new world, gathering information on whatever nations we might encounter and establishing good terms where we may."

He folded his hands behind his back, and glanced from Hale to the surrounding streets and back. "If you have the authority to grant us the right to visit your city, then I request that privilege of you, Priest-Captain Hale, if not then please escort us to whomever holds that authority. I would rather not answer any more questions here in the center of your streets, before armed guards and a general populace."

[Ravigen]

The captain had opted to let the goblins handle the majority of the negotiations, this was their city and the Empress had ordered them to defer to Forgehall in all matters relating to the defense of the goblins lands unless their orders contradicted direct orders from the Empress or went against their duties to Asselia.

It was mostly considered easy duty, not many of the soldiers thought that the lizardmen would make it this far but they were loyal to the core and would follow their Empress's will.

Still this confrontation was drawing attention, it was perhaps best to get them off the street. The captain stepped forward, clearing his throat to draw the goblin's attention.

"Captain Hale, might I suggest we move to a closed off location, we don't want any confrontations in the street, our command post isn't far from here."

The command post was little more than a large building appropriated for coordinated Asselian troops in the area and as the barracks for the elves in the city, it would be a bit crowded but it would be off the street and have this talk become private.

[AspenIvan]

Captain Hale looked from Marius to the elf-captain and back again.  She took a deep breath, sighed, and relaxed her shoulders.  "At ease, soldiers," she commanded.  Her troops let their shields down and shifted from their half-crouched battle postures to standing straight.

She looked at Marius, whatever he was, intently and raised an eyebrow in suspicion.  "Your ship may remain in our harbor.  Your party here is free to visit, if you will first accompany us to the command post to give us more thorough explanations."  She gave a quick nod to the elven captain before continuing.  "Your other party in the docklands must return to their ship and remain there until further notice.  Send them a runner from your group here if you need to."

[MissMilkMaid]

Marius nodded and then looked down at the smallest Chimera. "Rolo, go find Eela and tell her to pull back to the Farroe for the time being."

Rolo glanced from the elves to Marius, still a little unnerved, but then piped "Yes captain!" before turning to scamper at a surprising speed back though the city toward the docklands. He didn't hesitate to climb a few market stalls and low buildings and use them to navigate around the city crowds, leaping rather like a monkey through the trees.

Once Rolo was gone, Marius looked expectantly back to Hale, waiting for the goblin's to lead the way.

[Ravigen]

The elven captain nodded to Hale and signaled to his patrol. The elves spread out and led the combined party away through the streets towards the command post.

The walk was direct and without incident, the Asselian command post wasn't much to look at, hardly much more than a building for storage repurposed for their use, three elves standing guard outside snapped to attention at the approach of the captain, eyes flickering to the Chimera as hands tightened around their weapons but they were professional and at the captain's insistence allowed them inside.

The inside of the command post's spacious interior was remarkably crowded with a number of tables set for eating with a dozen elven men and women sitting and eating, some half in armor some not. There was a rack of weaponry and armor against the far wall and near the end of the room a couple elves were training with spear and shield, a number of doors led off to other rooms but as they entered all sound began to quiet down as they occupants turned to stare at the newcomers.

The goblins were expected, their comrades were expected, the chimera were not expected. There was a moment of tense silence as both sides stared each other down before the Captain interrupted.

"All of you, about your business, clear the tables for Captain Hale and the foreign diplomats, Sorcha, go alert the commander of the situation and return to your duties."

In an instant the room sprung into motion as a number of tables were cleared for the goblins and chimera and almost immediately the elves went back to their business though the occasional glance was still sent towards the chimera and the conversations in the room were shifting.

[MissMilkMaid]

As the goblins and elves led Marius and Brawyn through the city, Flynt keep a watchful eye on everything they passed and there escorts. When they got to the command post, he noticed that the flag flying there was not the same as he'd seen on the ships in the harbor, nor did it match the symbols Preist-Captain Hale and her him displayed.

As the entered the building Marius managed to step along side the elven captain. "Am I correct in guessing that you and your people are not a native part of the city?" he asked.

At the moment Flynt really knew very little about this nation or place, but, far as he'd seen, the city was almost completely populated by goblins and though the elven captain had deferred to Hale, the fact that he and his men bore wore different uniforms and a different flag was flying over their post, Flynt figured the elves were not actually under Hale's command, but were some kind of third party in the situation.

[AspenIvan]

"They are friends and allies of the High Goblin people," Captain Hale interjected in reply to Marius' query, before taking a seat and motioning for everyone else to do the same. She clearly had no time to tolerate pleasantries or side conversation.

"Captain Marius Blackeye, expeditioner for the City of Thorwyn," she began, "you are on a mission to explore this 'new world' you say. Were your people among those of Allis, forced to flee the Second Sundering? And now that you're here, what is it exactly you've been tasked with exploring for? What's object of your mission, that would bring creatures completely unknown to the High Goblins for centuries to their doorstep now?"

[MissMilkMaid]

These people are very abrupt, Flynt thought, as he sat down at the table. It was a defensive, military manner and along with the presence of allied troops, led him to believe the High Goblin people were at war, or at least under the threat of war.

I assume "allis" is there name for the Old World, or at least there part of the Old World. And the Second sundering must be their name for The Final Catastrophe. Flynt wondered briefly what the first sundering had been.

"Our mission has no purpose other than the acquisition of knowledge," Marius said, not glancing at the elves standing by. "Our goddess told us there were other great nations in these lands, but we knew nothing of them. We decided it would be worth while to learn of these other nations, as well as create maps of the coasts and country of the world. Ignorance is an uneasy state of existence." His tone was pleasant and disarming, to the point and cooperative, without seeming to give up control. He leaned back in the chair and folded his hands on the table, his mismatched eyes staring intently down at Hale.

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