Nosferatus Family/Abbot/Roleplay5
The Foreigner
A foreign Ambassador from Morek visits Abbot in Madina city.
Written by Stefano de Monte and Olivier Landry
When Pierre entered the town hall and inspected it's simple, yet practical architecture he quickly recognized Abbot. As the few Madinans he met by now have already said while laughing, "You will recognize him, trust me on the big blue deeps mercy!" as so he did. Abbot was characterized by his grey beard, fat body, loudness and his typical laugh. The old man was flirting with one of the female personnel, who seemed to be impressed by anything. The man looked rather repulsive and the reasons of her attraction to him must lay in a different kind of pocket he thought...
"Aaah! you must be our foreigner!"
With great steps and an imposing gesture he walked towards Pierre.
"Welcome to Madina my friend!" he almost screamed as he held the young ambassador by his shoulders with both his hands. After shaking him a few times he releases him. Abbot was clearly showing his gratitude of the ambassadors arrival.
"Well lets get to it then shall we!"
From here Abbot gave a tour threw out the town hall, showing various banners, maps, portraits, sculptures and paintings. He showed him the clercs offices, the court halls (who looked remarkably deserted) until finally they arrive in the cities library, luckily still intact.
As they walked along the hall ways towards the library doors Abbot speaks. "As you might know, Madina originates from venturing privateers, searching for loot 'n treasure. We have found many great treasures, but this my friend is in my opinion the greatest treasure in the possession of Madina!"
And with these final words he swung open the doors of the Library of Madina, showing shelf after shelf of books, scrolls and papers.
"Here is where you will find most about the history, philosophy and sience of the south then any where!"
Abbot clears his throat.
"If you allow me, I'll leave you here for a while so you can take your time and read what catches your interest so we can meet later to perhaps share a drink? Besides, i need to... uuh.. clear some business of my own first."
With bewildered eyes, Pierre enters the library room, which could rival any library of the University, except maybe those of the Great Hall in Springdale.
"I...yes, of course. I will stay for some days, I would not want to disturb... state business. We can meet later."
As Abbott leaves, Pierre starts scanning the shelves. Maps, temple rolls... list of nobles... minutes of debate.... could he find anything truly interesting here?
Pierre shuffles through the books, looking for anything interesting.
"Book of Claims, no.... The Great Kraken, no.... Military Structure, maybe later.... Ah! Laws on religion!"
He looks at the parchment and mutters:
"Freedom of religion... perfect! Now, does it say anywhere which region Lord is of which faith?
Ah, no. A shame."
After a bit more than two hours, which he has put to good use committing important information on memory, and then passed by reading a novel about krakens, Pierre starts to wonder. have they forgotton him?
He opens the library doors and takes a look outside. If no one is present, he may as well take a stroll in the gardens.
Eventually he found access to the roof of the town hall. As he gets to the uppermost dormer, a good view of the whole city emerges in front of him. And it is on fire.
"What is going on here? The city is revolting!
There are wounded people on the streets, they need help!"
When Pierre walked back downstairs, he met a heavy breathing, sweating Abbot walking up the stairs.
"By the mercy of the big blue deep!"
He took a moment to get his breath supporting him self with one hand on the foreign ambassador.
"I have been climbing these stairs and running threw these hall ways with the agonizing thought that you've left us until one of my scribes handed me your letter. I am greatly honored by your words, they shows true concerns for humanity and civilization, a worthy and unfortunately, rare trait i must say." He said while sloppily waiving his other hand around.
"Please allow us to have a drink, I prefer a more personal approach to get to know each other, i am sure you have many questions and so do i, it should be interesting and learnful. what would ye say?"
"I could go for a drink, yes. I have been busy calming the population in the streets, while the populace is small in number, it makes up for it by sheer spiritedness. "
As the two walked from the town hall to Abbots private house of entertaining, the jab jum, the two started talking.
"I coud not help but notice that while there are two temples of different faiths in the city, I see no priests around to perform their work. Is this the normal state of affair in the South?"
"Ow yes, religion does not play a very organized role anywhere in the south. Aurvendil does not even have a religion as they denounced the nature worshipers of Estian's grove, the only institutional faith there. Estianism is an slithly institutionalized religion concentrated in Tower fatmilak and certainly is a majority in Madina isle as well. Verdis Elementum barley has followers in Madina, these people are mostly D'haran and some cearwynian imigrants. This faith will grow slithly stronger amongst peasants in the future as immigration has its greatest peak in the whole history of Madina. Hundreds of immigrants are coming in every day. These immigrants also caused the city to revolt, because of the unrest, organized criminality has taken control of the city and are not willing to dodge, pay taxes or stop murdering and stealing our peasants."
The two walked passed a quite brutal lynching, a small group of peasants where beating another peasant to death. Abbot didn't flinch and walked on as if it was a normal ocassion. Pierre seems bafled and Abbot reacts.
"There is nothing we can do my friend, we have lost control and if I will react now i will only worsen the situation and bring your self in danger. Patience is something we need in abundance during these times, we will get our order and justice in the city and the great arm of justice will be swift and merciless, there leaders will be found and publicly humiliated to suffer for days until they slowly die from what ever will make them suffer most." For a Moment abbots eyes lite up as he clenched his right hand into a fist. Although he is patient, he does feel extremely affiliated with the well being of his people and wouldn't doubt a moment if he could 'express' it.
Eventually they reach a stone building with a large wooden door on top of a 5 step stairs. there is a dodgy guard in front that deeply bows and swings open it's doors. Jab Jum was a fancy place, yet simple. When they walk in Abbot intimately greets the personal and has a short chat with clearly one of his Favorite maids. They where many beautiful wenches and an incredible amount of barrels of ale and bottles of rum behind the bar, it had an impressive collection of Abbots two Favorite things, alcohol and women.
They sit down in one of the best tables in one of the corners, it was table with a nicely furnished bench and the logo of Jab Jum en-printed on the fabric, the siloute of a women, siting leaning backwards to support her with one arm with one leg stretched down and one elegantly raised with the figure of a rum bottle between her legs.
Pierre seemed to feel quite uncomfortable, thou Abbot did not react. He continued there talks as they where served the finest rum and cognac of the south, Garden brew Rum and du Blanc Cognac named after a former Lord Admiral back in the days, that introduced the cognac to Madinas nobility and higher classes.
"Good Ammbassador, i understand religion is in your sincere interest and this is because you are a respectful and passionate follower of your faith is it not? Perhaps you could tell me more of it's structure, it's noble followers and it's influence on the Continent? Sanctus Acies is a hot topic everywhere and even all the way here where we know so little of your people, people have there judgement on your faith. Knowledge about your lands could bring better judgement to our people."
"-I have to say it baffles me that you see temples as breeders of discontent. In the North, the temples of Sanguis Astroism are everywhere strong supporters of rightful government, and the priests are useful to the Lords when revolt brews.
This is not only true in the theocracy. You can ask those in Terran or the Libero Empire, they will confirm that their realm has never suffered from the presence of the temples, quite to the contrary."
Pierre looks around uncorfomtably, if not without interest. He orders a beer, to which the maid replies "To chase what?" It seems local customs are to be followed...
"I also think distance and lack of direct contact have caused misunderstanding of our faith. If we do aim at bringing knowledge of the Stars to the entire continent, we are quite peaceful about it, and Sanguis Astroism as always respected the laws of the realms where it is implanted.
I wonder if Madina would not be better off with a more direct regular contact with the faith?"
Abbot frowns.
"I do not think anyone here would believe faith brings disorder in anyway, our faith simply does not call for institutionalization. I see now the great advantage of doing so however, but Madina is not a place where the national governments sets our culture, religion or even order, it is the local governments, the duchies and there governors, with its landowners that get to decide on these things. Perhaps tomorrow you can join me to the Gardens and beyond so you can meet with more noble citizens. This is the only way to enlighten the Madinans in there knowledge of your home and faith and with that i am not stating that there is any sincere dislike or hate for Sanctus Acies, but rather a distrust for the unknown and a sort of anxiety caused from the opinion of some of our northern brothers in Cearwyn that Sanctus acies goals to spread there faith will be done by any means necessarily. I do not believe the later yet have no proof it, but perhaps you could shed some light on it."
Abbot takes a big gulp from his rum and continues.
"If your faith seeks to spread in Madina, it will take more then one priest to come and visit us. If some of your brothers or sisters would (permanently) live here, it will, especially if they are granted landownership, then they could even build there temples. Concerning my self, I do see the advantage of one strong faith in my city but also see the disadvantages, so many different people from so many different places live here and i'd like to keep our ethnicity and religion balanced. I will grant permission to preach and convert but I am a secular man and so do i envision my city. If I wish to open my arms to the world i cannot be too occupied hugging only a part of it as you may say."
Abbot laughed hard and playfully slapped Pierre on the shoulder.
Surprised, Pierre makes an effort to keep all the liquids he hs ingested inside his body after this "hearty" slap. The gulp sound is less than correct from an ambassador, but it is better thn the alternative.
"I know what it will take for my faith to spread here, and if you will allow me to talk about it to those interested, I can tell you I will take no other mean to unnaturally accelerate th effects of my word. I am glad to hear that aithful nobles are welcome here; there was one once, but he was afraid to speak his mind. Should there be more, I will make sure to let them know they are safe here."
After that sentence, and one last sip, I change my minds about keeping liquids inside. After all, spilled drinks don't go to your head...
Abbot laughs exceedingly hard when the ambassador starts puking. A bar man drops several glasses and a maid even fell to the floor laughing.
"Aye! Our Cognac is not to be underestimated my friend! hahaha!"
When both regained there breath(Abbot from laughing and Pierre from puking) Abbot continued.
"That was a great performance there Ambassador, perhaps you could do it again every time you visit another Madina, I am sure they'll appreciate!! hahahahrahwraahurh..."
Abbots laugh turns into a deep, bad cough. When he regained him self for the second time he turn serious.
"Feel free to travel threw our lands, or perhaps with me to meet whom ever you meet on the way, your stars will come to you when the time is right." the vibe has come to rest and Abbot gently smiles.
"Now, i will have this maid to escort you to your bed, you need rest. If you can catch up with me, you can meet me on the road to Luganun."
He graciously accept the maid's hand, and gains a room, that is to his surprise, now his.
