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Content warning: mild violence near the end, not what I personally consider graphic.
Jia: I s'pose this is it...
Jia: Are you Offa Truehand?
Offa: I certainly am, and I'm guessing you're the young woman Norweni told me to expect. Jia—am I saying that correctly? Ah, good. And don't bother with Truehand, wish that hadn't stuck, but no sense crying over spilt milk. Come this way.
Offa: The big hall over there is the main barracks. I'll show you around there later, but you're actually staying here with me and a few other soldiers. And the brick building is our bathhouse.
Jia: Oh, I don't want any special treatment...
Offa: Hardly. Main hall's full, so you lot are stuck with me. Ha!
Offa: Laundry gets sent out, but cooking, cleaning, and the stable are taken care of by us. I'll get you into the roster. For now, if I say jump, you jump. No fighting unless you're told to or someone else starts shit. If you're keeping the long hair, I expect it to be properly tied up during practice and patrols. Can you ride a horse?
Jia: Sort of. My, uh, friend tried to teach me, but I haven't had a lot of opportunity to practice.
Offa: Dalla will teach you, then.
Offa: Speaking of... Dalla, this is Jia of Veridia. You're in charge of turning her into a fit horsewoman.
Dalla: Yessir. I hope this one's at least seen a horse before.
Jia: Of course I've seen a horse before. I can ride a little.
Offa: I expect everyone to be civil, children.
Offa Truehand was a young man of sixteen when the former king died and the king's cousin moved to seize his throne. Thinking quickly, Offa was the one to escort the queen and a baby Maccus out of the keep and across the country to Queen Icena's court. He has stuck by Maccus's side ever since. 'Retirement' is not a word in his vocabulary, though he's finally opted to stop fighting himself and instruct the younger warriors instead.
(Popularity/Fortune, 4/7/7/3/7, Workaholic/Loves the Outdoors/Good/Proper)
Dalla Swanecca is the daughter of one of the king's assembly members. A boastful young woman, she claims to leave a trail of swooning ladies and broken hearts behind her wherever she goes, but secretly her past lovers are nowhere as numerous or brokenhearted as she says. The scar on her cheek? Totally from a really cool and mysterious event and not some super embarrassing accident.
(Romance, 3/7/8/7/3, Hopeless Romantic, Hotheaded, Snob, Sweet Tooth)
Brychan of Sandmount is intensely aware of the fact that he grew up in much different circumstances than many of the other soldiers. His family are farm laborers with no land of their own, and he expected to be stuck in the same position until one recent autumn, when heavy storms struck their village. When aid arrived, Brychan caught the eye of one of the king's emissaries and he was soon invited to join the king's warriors. Brychan is very defensive of his right to be here and hopes to save enough money to purchase some land of his very own for his family.
(Fortune/Family, 6/3/7/4/3, Family Orientated/Grumpy/Loves to Swim/Perfectionist)
Quiet Sparrow might not be who you picture when you think of a warrior, but he's really great at adopting new aliases while ingratiating himself into groups the king might want more information about, being slightly unsettling, and listing the attributes of different poisons. What I'm saying is he's a spy.
(Knowledge/Fortune, 8/1/7/2/7, Eccentric/Lucky/Star Quality/Disciplined)
(Since I listed off everyone else this time, here’s Jia’s traits too: she’s brave, hotheaded, a heavy sleeper, and a hopeless romantic.)
I just realized I'd never looked at Jia's LTW. I guess at some point I'm going to have to build a vacation hood in Huaxia and send her farther afield on her self-discovery journey so she can learn tai-chi.
This is Brychan's lifetime want, btw. 🤨
Dalla: So, I assume you know which end of the horse is which, but—
Jia: I'm not that ignorant and I'd prefer if you didn't treat me like I am. I know how, I just haven't ridden regularly.
Dalla: Whatever you say, sweetling. But if you fall on your arse in front of Offa, it's me that'll look bad.
Dalla rubs Jia the wrong way, honestly. She's a bit snooty, and seems to think a year and a half of seniority makes her word law if Offa's not around.
Brychan, on the other hand, is overly defensive and ready to pick arguments at the drop of a hat if he takes your meaning the wrong way. As for the others—Offa seems level-headed and nice enough, and Jia rarely sees Sparrow outside of mealtimes. She's only just starting to get acquainted with the other soldiers in residence at Acornhill...
...but some of them are also a bit hard to get along with. And Jia is used to getting along with everyone.
Don't worry, Jia, Brychan also doesn't get along with anyone.
Girl, that's just terrible.
I spotted Ellie running past, and I guess it's time for me to actually categorize that jewelry so she's not wearing chandelier earrings on her jogs.
Dalla: I don't think I've heard your name before, Jia. What part of the country is that from?
Jia: It's not; one of my fathers is from Huaxia. Have you heard of that?
Dalla: I think my father buys silk from there? Or was that somewhere else...
Brychan: Her da's some bigshot merchant... which she likes to pretend isn't true while she's slumming it with us.
Dalla: 'Slumming it' is your words, not mine, newbie.
Jia: Uh, good to know, I guess.
Dalla finds Jia quite attractive despite (or maybe because of) their little spats... Jia is absolutely oblivious. My my, how the tables turn.
Dalla: Good morning.
Jia: Grmrn...
Dalla: You've picked the wrong occupation if you're not an early riser.
Jia had the morning off
This is Arthien, the guy Eluned is supposedly here to pay court to. I quite like his nose.
I would like to reassure everyone that there's one person in Acornhill with even less game than Jia: Brychan.
Local blacksmith APPALLED by man's lack of charisma!
Auela: Hello! I think you're one of Maccus's new soldiers, correct?
Jia: Yeah. I'm Jia, from Veridia.
Auela: I'm Auela. I just wanted to tell you your braids look lovely.
Jia: Oh—thank you.
And then Jia wandered off to eat pancakes instead, so Auela had to go browse the cabbages instead of flirting with her.
Jia. JIA, HOT WOMEN ARE TRYING TO FLIRT WITH YOU. AND YOU'RE FIDDLING WITH A PUZZLE BALL INSTEAD OF NOTICING. I can't believe my daughter is a useless lesbian. And during Pride month too.
Dalla: *sigh* If you put that down, you can come with me and I'll show you where we go drink.
Jia: Huh? Oh, yeah, sure. Is it like an actual place or are you leading me to some rock in the woods?
Dalla: You'll have to follow me if you want to find out.
Turns out it's a real place, bartended by Honey here, who I think is very cute. Jia doesn't, though.
Dalla: Oh, hey, I haven't seen you around for a while. You're not here with the princess, are you?
Auela: I am! You know, you don't have to say it like that; she's not bad when you get to know her.
Dalla: I first met her when I was ten and she still calls me the wrong name, but sure.
Auela: Well... her mother's considering a marriage between her and your brother, so you might want to warn him.
Dalla: Hmm, if I see him before then.
I'm glad the hot lesbians at least like each other, even if Jia has no taste.
Arthien: Sister.
Dalla: Hello. Someone's trying to turn you into a pawn.
Arthien: Huh?
Dalla: Oh, you'll figure it out. How's Izzy?
We haven't seen much of Sparrow yet. And we will continue to not see much of him. He has a poison-making bench, which he enjoys very much and which I've just plopped next to the building because I ran out of space inside. It's very subtle.
When he's not working, he's usually skilling.
Actually, he and Brychan are friends, which I find cute. Brychan mostly talks at him and Sparrow nods along.
Iseult: Whatever would Father say if he saw you shoveling horse dung like a common stablehand?
Dalla: Father can kiss my arse. I answer to a different, saner old man now.
Dalla: What have you been up to lately?
Iseult: Your old tutor is teaching me the trader's tongue! I quite like it, except the conjugations are a little weird.
Dalla: Oh, there's a rhyme to help you remember that, let me try to think of it...
Oh, the wretched life of a princess sent to live in some backwater castle with only two ladies-in-waiting and only one trunk of dresses.
Brychan: Well, hello, I don't think we've met before. I'm sure I would remember seeing such a lovely face.
Eluned: Ha. You're one of the newer soldiers, I assume.
Brychan: I am. I'm Brychan. And you're...
Eluned: Hmm... guess. Who am I?
Brychan: Um... one of the local ladies? Or a merchant? Or, with jewels that nice, perhaps a beautiful pirate queen?
Eluned: Oh, I like that one. But no. Feel free to keep going while you compliment me, though.
Brychan: Are you here for the spring festival? Or perhaps another wedding? We did just have one of those...
Eluned: Sure, let's go with that one.
Brychan: Your wedding?
Eluned: I hope not.
Dalla: Oh no, one of the newbies is playing with fire. I should probably go rescue him...
Iseult: Oh, but I want to see if she tries to bite his head off like a mantis.
Dalla: Hello, Eluned.
Eluned: Dairine.
Dalla: Still not my name.
Brychan: Wait, Eluned? Like the... princess...
Eluned: Ah, he finally catches on!
Brychan: Excuse me, Princess. A thousand pardons—I—
Eluned: Bah. You were more entertaining when you didn't know who I am.
Still, Brychan is pretty easy on the eyes, and he seems suggestible. He might be useful to Eluned's plans...
Dalla: So, are you homesick at all, newbie?
Jia: Not really. I miss my family and some of my friends, but I'd rather be here than there. It's different, but it doesn't feel that different from home, if that makes any sense.
Dalla: No, but I grew up here, so I wouldn't know. I'm never away for more than a few weeks.
Jia: If you grew up here, does that mean you know the king's children?
Dalla: What, you want me to put a good word in for you or something? I don't do that.
Jia: No, the younger prince got sent to foster in Veridia a while ago. I was just wondering if his siblings are as stuck up as he is.
Dalla: Ha! Well, the sister is worse. She's like a venomous snake; beautiful, but I wouldn't want her in my bed. She was actually just here while you were out and just as nice as ever. Cynric is alright, though. You'll meet him eventually. He spends about half the year in the old keep. More when he's trying to avoid his mother's marriage plots.
Jia: I see.
Dalla: I've heard from my own mother that they're trying to get at least one of them wedded and making babies. Or at least the latter part. I suppose if you're the king's age and you went through all the effort of fighting for your throne, you want to make sure your heirs actually have heirs of their own. But Eluned is Eluned and Cynric...
Dalla: He's like us. Except, you know, only goes for men. Of course, you don't need to be fucking to get pregnant, you could just take the stuff and, y'know—*crude gesture*
Jia: Gross. And why would you do that instead of making an offering to the spirits?
Dalla: Sweet Jia, please tell me you're not so naive that you don't know how babies are made.
Jia: No! I mean, at the shrine in Veridia, sometimes people leave offerings when they want to have a family and the spirits can make it so you can have children even if you were both born as women or men or whatever.
Dalla: Pull the other one, it's got bells on.
Jia: I'm not joking! That's how me and my sister were born.
Dalla: Huh. Well, I bet you anything the king or queen know that, so I don't know what his problem is then.
Jia: Maybe he just doesn't want any children.
Dalla: Maybe. I also heard the little prince knocked someone up, so I suppose that takes the heat off Cynric for now.
Jia: Ugh, even here I have to hear about him.
Dalla: You brought the topic up in the first place, sweetling.
Dalla: Hey, Offa's getting ready to assign who's going where on rounds next month. You want to go out with me?
Jia: What, you want me to? Sure.
Dalla: Great! I can make sure you don't embarrass me with your riding.
Jia: ...Right.
Offa: You want the newbie, Dalla? That's fine. I want you two to take Linden with you as well, I've heard rumors of thieves preying on merchant travelers in that area. Brychan, you'll be coming with me, then.
Brychan: Really?! I mean, cool, cool.
One of the duties assigned to the king's warriors is to patrol different areas of Abona in small groups, making rounds through villages too tiny to warrant their own standing guard, looking out for trouble and making sure disputes are resolved relatively peacefully. It reminds Jia a little bit of itinerant lawspeakers, though with different duties. Getting to explore more of Abona is an exciting thought for her.
Dalla: Ugh, my back is so sore...
Jia: Oh, here—
Girl, not this fucking tactic again.
Dalla's not as bad as her first impression was. She might be a little more brash than Jia is used to, but it's kind of refreshing.
Random townie: You just got here? Oh man, you just missed the best wedding party. The royal family knows how to host.
Jia: *minus minus*
Bellenia: Don't mind him, he's a bit tipsy. If you ever need a guide around Acornhill, feel free to call on me, beautiful.
Jia: Oh, I—thank you?
Bellenia: Any time.
Linden: You! My cousin is pissed at you—
Dalla: Your cousin knew I'm not a one woman woman, and I'm sure she can pick her own fights, Linden. Shove off.
Okay, now that Jia's fumbled another gal and Dalla is getting in trouble for various things, time to head home!
When Katatty posted about how they play knights and the military in their MCC, Driftwood, I was inspired to grab their ROS set and add it to the various ROS I'm already using in Veridia. Whether events, when they happen, will apply to Veridia itself or Jia's little regiment is up to whatever plot I think sounds more interesting. My interpretation of some of the results may also be a little... creative.
All that said:
"Bandits attack the town! It is up to the guard to defend the land. The province is defended, but there are casualties (1)."
Senua: That's total bullshit—
Alexios Quickhand: Both of you shut up. You're going to ruin this before anyone even gets here if you keep yelling at each other. No one's gonna want to pick up a couple who can't stop arguing for ten minutes.
Lutrin: Fine.
Senua: *eye roll*
Lihua: I'm glad we ran into you. It's comforting to have some soldiers ride along with us, even just for part of the way.
Linden: That's what we're here for.
Lihua: A few years ago one of my contacts had her wagon ambushed along with an entire caravan! Can you believe that? Wretched stuff.
Lutrin: Hallo! Oh, what good fortune! My wife and I are trying to get to the next town, but Senua turned her ankle on a rut in the road. Any chance we could hitch a ride with you? Not for free, of course—I only have a few pennies, but...
Lihua: Um...
Aedan: Oh, what's the harm, boss? There's room—
Dalla: Sloooooowpoooooooke.
Jia: You can ride ahead if it makes you happy.
Dalla: Nah. I was mostly joking about you embarrassing me on horseback, but it really would be a bad look for me if I let you get lost on your very first route. But you're doing quite well, honestly.
Jia: Thank—shit, what's that?
Jia: Hey!
Offa: Breathe, child. Dalla told me everything that happened.
Jia: I—I...
Offa: Do it with me. Breathe in... now out. Good.
Offa: You've never killed a person before.
Jia: N-no. My... my father keeps sheep, and I helped when the flock has to be culled, but...
Offa: And you thought this wouldn't be harder than that?
Jia: I don't know what I thought. I don't think I thought at all.
Offa: The first time is the hardest.
Jia: Are you saying it gets easier? That's hard to imagine.
Offa: Not exactly... just that the first is still the hardest. In a way, I think what you just experienced is harder than when it happens in battle. In a true battle, between two hosts, you're forced into a mindset of us versus them. That sort of fight is chaos—you have to react before you think, let your muscle memory and instinct take over. You had to think and to choose.
Jia: ...He would've killed Dalla too.
Offa: I believe you.
Offa: Your aunt puked on my shoes after her first real fight, if that helps.
Jia: I honestly can't picture that.
Offa: She was a girl like you once too.
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