Alaric nods, "I appreciate the advice. You're a good man; what is your name?"

[[If giving him money would be normal and not seen as condescending, I'll give him an appropriate amount (2 cubs???)]]

[[And confirming this is 'Lucky Wally Kyne', right?]]

Alaric stows his two Scimitars on the saddle, and wraps his cloak a little more closely about him to hide the daggers at his belt, then nods for Mikkel to lead the horses on to the barge. Glancing suspiciously at the water, he utters a silent prayer to Venuss and joins Mikkel. He's never been fond of water. [[Not a phobia, just distrust of water when wearing armour]]

[[once underway he will ask Mikkel if heard heard what the other guard said]]

Quote from AlaricBrand >>

Alaric nods, "I appreciate the advice. You're a good man; what is your name?"

[[If giving him money would be normal and not seen as condescending, I'll give him an appropriate amount (2 cubs???)]]

[[Giving money to the guard to look the other way is a common practice in some parts of Constantine, but you would be expected to give out more than cubs; This guard probably earns 5 or 6 lions a day while on duty and 2 cubs wouldn't even buy him a drink at the end of the day. However, that aside, as to whether giving coin in this situation is a suitable thing to do would require an Insight roll.]]

[[And confirming this is 'Lucky Wally Kyne', right?]]

His name is Wally Kyne, his nickname was Lucky.

 [[FYI, if it helps, broad plan is as follow (I know we can't macro, but to give you forewarning; I also understand this is more than 1 days work):

Primary

- get the horses stabled
- leave the large blades at the city residence (oh, for a light sabre).
- Edit: change from mail to leather
- go to SooS, say hello to Minton, and ask if he can see Nathaniel. Be shocked.
- ask about Melitta and Dworkin
- ask about Wamzut
- get depressed
- Leave a note for Melitta and another for Dworkin
- say Hi to Dad

Secondary

- Get mothers book, and browse book store
- go to SooS and ask about books on similar subjects to the one his mother purchased...do they have such things?
- ask at SooS about the skills required to craft things like his Darkvision sword; could a man such as himself ever be taught?
- Make contact with Dalshar (will need to know 'normal' means; for this, disguise may be needed)

Tertiary

- go to a jeweler and order a silver circlet for himself, possibly with serpent designs if that would not be deemed deeply offensive (Seth and all). This is merely for a ruse/distraction if needed at another time.
- check on banking, property purchase etc Depending on your comments in the 'Brand Canon', and with your agreement, he MAY have already purchased property in New Ninevah when he was there

]]

Insight: 9

[[Will give appropriate money if appropriate (1-2 lions?); and if it is easy to do surreptitiously -- I don't want people thinking I'm bribing him...so on second thoughts...maybe not. I can't see how he could do it without arousing suspicions. But I'd like to know the appropriateness...]]

[[A better option, perhaps? Another insight roll?]] "Let me buy you a drink some time; what's your favourite watering hole? I havent been here for a few months and it sounds like the place has gone to wrack and ruin!"]]

[[I'm assuming that this and the previous conversation with this man has been in Sorendenese.]]

"Let me buy you a drink some time," Brand says to the guard. "What's your favourite watering hole? I haven't been here for a few months and it sounds like the place has gone to wrack and ruin."

The guard looks at you a bit strangely and then says, "Thanks for the offer, but my mate and I are stationed here at the crossing for a couple more days... But if you're feeling obliging, a lion would give us something to warm our bellies with when we're off duty."

"We'd even drink a toast in your name," he adds, looking eagerly at his friend, who smiles awkwardly as if he is unsure what is going on.

[[I'm assuming that this and the previous conversation with this man has been in Sorendenese.]]

[[Correct]]

"Let me buy you a drink some time," Brand says to the guard. "What's your favourite watering hole? I haven't been here for a few months and it sounds like the place has gone to wrack and ruin."

The guard looks at you a bit strangely and then says, "Thanks for the offer, but my mate and I are stationed here at the crossing for a couple more days... But if you're feeling obliging, a lion would give us something to warm our bellies with when we're off duty."

"We'd even drink a toast in your name," he adds, looking eagerly at his friend, who smiles awkwardly as if he is unsure what is going on.

Alaric nods, and takes out a lion and hands it to the man, "It sounds like you should be toasting the city rather than me, if it's as bad as all that. Take care, guardsman Kyne! May Constantine weather the current storm unscathed, and come out stronger." Alaric glances to Mikkel, and hurriedly joins him on the barge.

[[What does Brand remember of Kyne? This guy is unusual ..2 languages, thin, helpful....what's going on here? Race? Background? Any info?]]

Quote from AlaricBrand >>

[[What does Brand remember of Kyne? This guy is unusual ..2 languages, thin, helpful....what's going on here? Race? Background? Any info?]]

[[Most of the above is on Kyne's page on the world site. Let me know if you can't see it. But now I've got to get ready to go to work.]]

[[With regard to the languages: most Sorendenese who live in the city can speak some Englesh because most of the people they have to deal with are Stemians. Fewer Stemians can speak Sorendenese, and this is particularly the case in the countryside.]]

Quote from AlaricBrand >>

"We'd even drink a toast in your name," he adds, looking eagerly at his friend, who smiles awkwardly as if he is unsure what is going on.

Alaric nods, and takes out a lion and hands it to the man, "It sounds like you should be toasting the city rather than me, if it's as bad as all that. Take care, guardsman Kyne! May Constantine weather the current storm unscathed, and come out stronger." Alaric glances to Mikkel, and hurriedly joins him on the barge.

The crossing is uneventful and Brand and Mikkel are soon on the other side where there are more people and more buildings. As they prepare to mount up, they notice some more of the town guards—three this time—but after a cursory glance in their direction the guards ignore them and begin talking with a Stemian family group with a wagon that are wanting to cross to the southern bank. The wagon is pack to gunnels with what looks like all the family's worldly possessions. 

[[With regard to the languages: most Sorendenese who live in the city can speak some Englesh because most of the people they have to deal with are Stemians. Fewer Stemians can speak Sorendenese, and this is particularly the case in the countryside.]]

[[What confused me is that he's Stemian, thin and wiry, with pale white skin...and speaks two languages. He seems outside the norm, at least. Was Kyne gracious in defeat? Did Brand ruin his life?]]

[[Question: is it just the one wagon? Or more, indicating possible refugees? I can hear than slogan already: "Stop the Wagons!"]]

Alaric glances at the family and their wagon, and it raises more questions for his father. He turns to Mikkel, and nods in their direction, "Looks like a lot has been going on in our absence." He mounts, and they start slowly riding towards the stables. "Oh, and by the way...did you catch what the guards said to each other when we were boarding? I couldn't quite make it out."

Quote from AlaricBrand >>

[[With regard to the languages: most Sorendenese who live in the city can speak some Englesh because most of the people they have to deal with are Stemians. Fewer Stemians can speak Sorendenese, and this is particularly the case in the countryside.]]

[[What confused me is that he's Stemian, thin and wiry, with pale white skin...and speaks two languages. He seems outside the norm, at least. Was Kyne gracious in defeat? Did Brand ruin his life?]]

[[He may be a half-caste.]]

[[Question: is it just the one wagon? Or more, indicating possible refugees? I can hear than slogan already: "Stop the Wagons!"]]

[[Just the one wagon, but there are a few other people waiting to cross that seem to be carrying a lot of household possessions.]]

Alaric glances at the family and their wagon, and it raises more questions for his father. He turns to Mikkel, and nods in their direction, "Looks like a lot has been going on in our absence." He mounts, and they start slowly riding towards the stables. "Oh, and by the way...did you catch what the guards said to each other when we were boarding? I couldn't quite make it out."

[[Still a fair way to go to reach the stables. There is one more arm of the river to cross, by bridge this time, before they will reach the Brand's city residence.]]

"I wouldn't know," says Mikkel in response to Brand's observation. "This is the first time in years that I have been to Constantine."

And, when asked about what, if anything he heard of the guard's conversation about the horses, he says, "Sorry Master Alaric, but my Englesh is poor to non-existent. We all talk Sorian on the estate."

"I wouldn't know," says Mikkel in response to Brand's observation. "This is the first time in years that I have been to Constantine."

[[I thought him accompanying Brand was normal and just went with it. This implies its unusual for him; Brand must have been in before. Hence the question:]]

"I didn't realize; what made you come this time?"

Quote from AlaricBrand >>

"I wouldn't know," says Mikkel in response to Brand's observation. "This is the first time in years that I have been to Constantine."

[[I thought him accompanying Brand was normal and just went with it. This implies its unusual for him; Brand must have been in before. Hence the question:]]

[[The way I saw it was that Mikkel has only just recently become Brand's personal servant because Brand has been away most of the last few months/years (i.e., trips to Ilbarsis, Last Chance, New Nineveh). He may have had another servant prior to this, or just been catered to by all the servants in the house, but he certainly wouldn't have had someone devoted to him while he wasn't in residence for a long time.]]

"I didn't realize; what made you come this time?"

"I didn't realise," says Brand. "What made you come this time?"

"Your father told me I was to see to all your needs at all times," replies Mikkel, looking around at the sights of the city they are riding through. "And I can hardly do that if I'm not with you."

"I see. Well. I appreciate your dedication, but my needs in the city are liable to be quite limited; after we've stabled the horses at the residence, I will change out of this damned armour and visit the School. You should take the afternoon for yourself. I will likely be back near dinner to speak with father."

As Alaric rides, he scans the crowds for threats, old connections, and familiar faces, and engages in chatter with Mikkel. "So Mikkel, tell me mroe about yourself. When you are not tending to my every need, what do you do? Do you gamble? Read? What fills in the idle times?"

[[Did Mikkel come to New Ninevah?]]

Quote from AlaricBrand >>

[[Odd. Why is this a quote?]]

"I see. Well. I appreciate your dedication, but my needs in the city are liable to be quite limited; after we've stabled the horses at the residence, I will change out of this damned armour and visit the School. You should take the afternoon for yourself. I will likely be back near dinner to speak with father."

Mikkel thinks for a moment and then says, "Very well, Master Alaric. I will take the time to get everything in order for your return, and then I might take a turn about the town and see what I can see."

As Alaric rides, he scans the crowds for threats, old connections, and familiar faces, and engages in chatter with Mikkel. "So Mikkel, tell me mroe about yourself. When you are not tending to my every need, what do you do? Do you gamble? Read? What fills in the idle times?"

[[Make a general Perception roll for the above at disadvantage because it is non-specific and there's a lot of ground to cover and things going on.]]

[[The only new bits of information that come from the above is that Mikkel doesn't know how to read and he likes to go hunting in the hills on the estate for game birds, but he hasn't done so in a while.]]

[[Did Mikkel come to New Ninevah?]]

[[No. He's only been with Brand since his most recent return to the home estate.]]

[[I'm roleplaying tonight and staying over in Canberra, so this will probably be the last move until tomorrow evening because we're playing cards with Andrew and Pat tomorrow afternoon.]]

Mikkel thinks for a moment and then says, "Very well, Master Alaric. I will take the time to get everything in order for your return, and then I might take a turn about the town and see what I can see."

"Excellent, I look forward to any insights you might have."

As Alaric rides, he scans the crowds for threats, old connections, and familiar faces, and engages in chatter with Mikkel. "So Mikkel, tell me mroe about yourself. When you are not tending to my every need, what do you do? Do you gamble? Read? What fills in the idle times?"

[[Make a general Perception roll for the above at disadvantage because it is non-specific and there's a lot of ground to cover and things going on.]]

Percept, disadv: 9
(previously got "Dice rolls not available for this section...wtf?)

[[The only new bits of information that come from the above is that Mikkel doesn't know how to read and he likes to go hunting in the hills on the estate for game birds, but he hasn't done so in a while.]]

[[Did Mikkel come to New Ninevah?]]

[[No. He's only been with Brand since his most recent return to the home estate.]]

[[OK. I've been working under a lot of misapprehensions then. Can we say that Brand has known him for a considerable period; perhaps in the past he was assigned to tasks that related to Brand, then recently directly to Brand...I had assumed he was a long-term man-servant (reassigned when absent) and probably looked after him on the trip to and from NN -- since he might have actually needed  some help, at least at the start]]

[[I'm roleplaying tonight and staying over in Canberra, so this will probably be the last move until tomorrow evening because we're playing cards with Andrew and Pat tomorrow afternoon.]]

No problem. DnD 5e, or something else? (Envious)

Quote from AlaricBrand >>

As Alaric rides, he scans the crowds for threats, old connections, and familiar faces, and engages in chatter with Mikkel. "So Mikkel, tell me mroe about yourself. When you are not tending to my every need, what do you do? Do you gamble? Read? What fills in the idle times?"

[[Make a general Perception roll for the above at disadvantage because it is non-specific and there's a lot of ground to cover and things going on.]]

 

Percept, disadv: 19
(previously got "Dice rolls not available for this section...wtf?)

As Brand and Mikkel ride toward the centre of the city Brand sees many places he knows, but nobody he knows in particular. What he does see is more people making their way through the streets carrying their belongings and apparently on their way to leave the city.

 

[[No. He's only been with Brand since his most recent return to the home estate.]]

[[OK. I've been working under a lot of misapprehensions then. Can we say that Brand has known him for a considerable period; perhaps in the past he was assigned to tasks that related to Brand, then recently directly to Brand...I had assumed he was a long-term man-servant (reassigned when absent) and probably looked after him on the trip to and from NN -- since he might have actually needed  some help, at least at the start]]

Mikkel has been a servant on the Brand estate for years, but he was a 'downstairs' servant assigned to keep the larder filled, so Brand hasn't had a lot to do with him until he was reassigned as his personal servant by Brand's father. Their close association has been brief, which explains why Brand asked for details of Mikkel's background on their ride into town.

[[I'm roleplaying tonight and staying over in Canberra, so this will probably be the last move until tomorrow evening because we're playing cards with Andrew and Pat tomorrow afternoon.]]

No problem. DnD 5e, or something else? (Envious)

D&D 5E. Playing my female high elf sorlock, Caeline. Will send pictures by email sometime.

What he does see is more people making their way through the streets carrying their belongings and apparently on their way to leave the city.

[[So, more leaving than arriving. Did they see any wagons on the road? Or is the road from the eastate different to the main road south?]]

[[which explains why Brand asked for details of Mikkel's background on their ride into town]]

[[I thought that was explained by 16yo vs 19yo Brand and, Brands recent life experiences, which is why I made the comment "Alaric had always liked Mikkel [[He'd have dumped him, if not]]",  on https://www.dndbeyond.com/forums/d-d-beyond-general/play-by-post/47916-engelian-adventures-2?comment=173]]

D&D 5E. Playing my female high elf sorlock, Caeline.

[[Anyone I know? I've been considering the open-to-public sessions in game shops in Ballarat.]]

Will send pictures by email sometime.

[[Sounds good.]]

[[Before we go much further, we need to understand his wealth disposition: how does banking work, how does investment work, how much money  in Constantine, how much in New Ninevah, how much invested in ventures etc and where/who etc. Is it just a bank (as in a vault)? Add to my priority list converting a good sum into gems...]]

Quote from AlaricBrand >>

What he does see is more people making their way through the streets carrying their belongings and apparently on their way to leave the city.

[[So, more leaving than arriving. Did they see any wagons on the road? Or is the road from the eastate different to the main road south?]]

The road from the estate joins the main south road, but Brand doesn't remember seeing any traffic that looked like this on their way in until they reached the crossing.

[[which explains why Brand asked for details of Mikkel's background on their ride into town]]

[[I thought that was explained by 16yo vs 19yo Brand and, Brands recent life experiences, which is why I made the comment "Alaric had always liked Mikkel [[He'd have dumped him, if not]]",  on https://www.dndbeyond.com/forums/d-d-beyond-general/play-by-post/47916-engelian-adventures-2?comment=173]]

This was not what I assumed, and isn't the case. I also assumed this was what you thought as I took my queue from Comment #241 where Brand asks about Mikkel's background. If they had had a long-term relationship with Mikkel as his personal servant, he wouldn't have been asking such questions. Note that Mikkel has been on the estate for many years, so they certainly have a long history together, just not this close.

Also, I suspect that Brand wasn't at home often enough/long enough to have his own manservant when he was 16. What with his running away to Constantine, learning his thief skills, having his gambling career and then going north to Ilbarsis he wasn't at home long enough to for that to happen.

D&D 5E. Playing my female high elf sorlock, Caeline.

[[Anyone I know? I've been considering the open-to-public sessions in game shops in Ballarat.]]

Jeff Clarke and Dave and Annette Berriman are the people you might know from your student days at ANU. Jeff actually plays sessions at a game shop here in Canberra and he seems to like it.

Will send pictures by email sometime.

[[Sounds good.]]

[[Before we go much further, we need to understand his wealth disposition: how does banking work, how does investment work, how much money  in Constantine, how much in New Ninevah, how much invested in ventures etc and where/who etc. Is it just a bank (as in a vault)? Add to my priority list converting a good sum into gems...]]

Haven't thought about this and happy to work this out between the two of us.

To start with, what would you like the distribution of funds between Constantine and New Nineveh to be?