Time of Contempt IC

[The Orson Empire]

House Vandul

Vandul Castle, Sonor, Sonora

Found it too difficult to write this into the story, so this letter was written March 15th, 5 days before the present

To Qaldor Dukalise,

The attacks from the desert savages are a major cause for concern, but I cannot give you control over the entire Baja peninsula; you should know that I, nor my father are unwilling to grant so much land to a vassal. I am prepared to construct new naval bases on the Vandul side of the peninsula and new fleets in order to patrol The Divide and keep the savages in the desert. As for alerting the Empire, I would rather keep the Emperor out of this, unless absolutely necessary, and handle it myself. Despite the great risk, I have been considering organizing a punitive expedition to the desert to deal with these scum once and for all.

Regards,

Lady Alanis Vandul

Vandul Castle, Sonor, Sonora

"Well, I would suggest writing this down, unless you have an excellent memory," Alanis replied to the messenger. She then cleared her throat.

"To recap what I said earlier, Lord Christoper is to be told that I agree with his plan to construct the trade posts. However, he will need to provide more substantial information about this 'strip of land in the south" before I am to commit to such an expedition."

[Imperialisium]

Valkyria

The Great Gates of the city yawned open as the traffic going too and fro was intense. Blackjackets and imperial soldiers made a path for the House De Pontlurd caravan to enter the city. They would not be interrupted as they wound their way through the city's various districts to the Imperial Residence and through the Moon Gate. At which point they would be assisted by the Imperial household staff in being received to their apartments and to whatever they required.

Eire University

Kira, the youngest of the Emperor's children, and undoubtable the most relatable out of them all. Aryan, the warrior and leader; Aeria, the diplomat and shrewd intriguer; Valyrian, excess and folly; Kira, compassionate and humble. the young Princess smiled and gave a small laugh at Iliza's flustered reply. "Please, Kira will do, and do no worry I have no need for services. I am simply wishing to extend my greetings and welcome to Valkyria. I trust you are enjoying your time?" Kira looked quickly about. It seemed the young Lady Deria held a similar interest in academia. She mused silently at the books about her; Coperius Nicolai, a bit dull of a read but entirely accurate as far as anyone else could prove or disprove; Tomeas Claudius; Aurellion; All of them, each one, essential reads.

Looking back at Deria she spoke once more, "Are you going to the Tourney, I will be departing there shortly, you are more than welcome to join me."

The Contrareguilla

The Penance Bouts, while not formally part of festivities, was a way for criminals to obtain freedom should they survive. Granted they where armed with wooden clubs and a single harpoon. The last of which vanished below the waves as something with many tentacles pulled him from a wooden platform. The Mehacuan Devilfish, known to naturally inhabit the sea floor of The Divide and the sea floor off the Western Coast of the Great Desert. A carnivorous beast with eight tentacles and a main body ten meters long. Bait, a dead lamb, was dropped in it's cage and it swam for it. The iron cage door slamming shut behind it. Only one man had survived the Penance Bout by wounding one of the tentacles with his harpoon. He would not be freed but given a reduced sentence.

The Contrareguilla was of ancient tradition in Valkyria, pre-dating the Empire though no one is quite certain if they herald all the way back to the time of Solace. Emperor Valerian I, was said to have hosted a Contrareguilla for a week straight every year during the Summer Solstice. However it was not without it's distaste's. Emperor's Baleron II and Konstantyn famously banned the event during their reigns. While the life of a Contrareguillan could end during any singular event it was very lucrative. Famous contenders would be heralded as celebrities and live rather luxuriously if they survived to retire. Barges towed in to the Water Market where docked and chained together to form a makeshift wooden wall, steel netting was released into the water underneath to stop anything from swimming out from underneath. Blackjackets kept order outside the ring of barges adjusted to fit numerous wooden stands, in boats and armed with wooden staves they kept things in line as numerous vendors and people battled for positions.

Even now as the main event was signaled to commence two teams took to the wooden platforms. The Buccaneers hailed from the South-West and where made up of dozen Contrareguillans though the rules stipulate only six may be fielded at any time. Opposite a set of triplets, The Balel's whom heralded from the East, took up positions. Where as the Buccaneer's worked in pairs the Balel's preferred to be a single unit. Contrareguillan's specifically did not target each other unless it was during a Death Match, but rather competed to gain the most kills or defeat their foe first. As such it was a contest of each team jockeying for position to score a kill while not being killed in the process.

A set of iron cages fell into the water, ten dark shapes the size of a human torso raced into the water, Alaskayan Tormafish. Rows of razor sharp teeth could chew through flesh and bone like a surgeons scalpel. Karib explorer from 4th Century, Purrahna Domanga, during his expedition to the Far South that was conducted during the 330's spoke of a small fish that did much the same thing. Able to strip bones clean of flesh in a matter of moments. Both where pack animals.

The blare of a trumpet signaled the event's start as both teams leaped and fought for positioning on the platforms. The Tormafish circled menacingly...

The Tourney Field

For those preferring another ancient tradition that also pre-dated the Empire and popular throughout many regions and locales...the Tourney. Knights would submit patents of authenticity as to their genealogy to judges to take part in this auspicious event. The Contest for the Red Feather was undoubtedly one of the fiercest and largest of its kind. Knights where often the main contenders but technically it was open to any level of nobility. Indeed, Emperor's Aerian I, Baleron I, Astyrian I, Aryan I, Baleron III, and Romeran II where all contenders in their time at least once. Of which Aerian I, Baleron I, and Balerion III had won the Red Feather during a tourney during their reigns.

Around the assembled tourney field rose tall bleachers put together by a legion of workers. Horses trailed a grate to till the field of any hazards which may skew events. Pages nailed posts to create the median between tracks riders would take to charge at one another. Of course the joust was the main event. But the Melee was exceedingly popular as well. Teams of contestants or duels would take place all day as squires adjusted the lists and places of contenders.

[Danceria]

[quote

House Deria

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Eiare University, the Library, Valkyria

Ilizia Deria
Ilizia blinked "The Contraguilla!" she flustered "O-of course I'd love to attend alongside you! I was about to go over there as well, but I lost track of time..." she grinned sheepishly "My big brother's gonna be in the Tourney, as well as my dad."

The Tourneygrounds, Valkyria
Raynado II Deria
"Now don't die on us." a raven haired girl looked on him with apathy and boredom. "You'd embarrass your family, and Ilizia would never stop whining..."

With a merry laugh, the red-haired knight with earthy brown armor waved away the apathy "Glad to see that you're so certain of my victory as always, Roseanne." Raynado teased "You should be concerned about patre. I'm not sure he's young enough to compete in the melee."

Roseanne smiled slightly. "I'll be certain to tell him that, patre is lucky to have such a dutiful son..."

"Today, I ride for the Red Feather." Raynado urged his horse to the stables where he awaited his first opponent.