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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Chasmodai" data-source="post: 1190117" data-attributes="member: 12445">The Wonders of Civilization and Being Caravan Guards."I'm afraid - Valric was it? - that its not that simple," Flynn said, floundering a bit. "All this land you see before you, all the land in the Empire in fact, belongs to one man: The Emperor,"The Litorian frowned, and scratched his snout with one clawed finger. He shifted his grip on the staff, obviously a weapon as well as a walking tool, and studied each of the four in turn. He peered upwards at the giant and let out a certainly un-cat-like snort."I do not understand. Who is this Emperor?"Flynn sighed, as Siegfried stiffened in horror once more. "I think we should go inside and have a seat. This will take a long time,"******It turned out that the Litorian had no idea what a building was for, much less a bath. Siegfried nearly jumped out of his armor at that and was about to forcibly drag the Litorian off into the baths at the back of the inn, if not for the giant Cor-Terra clamping a huge hand on the man's arm and shaking his head. "If he doesn't want to bathe, don't make him," the giant said to the... knight."Tell me, Valric, why exactly do your people need land? The land byond the mountain is vast and expansive - surely your people can fit comfortably in there," Ryclef asked. The Litorian turned slightly in his chair to look at the witch, a characteristic of his that made each of them slightly nervous; Valric's stare was intense and his eyes were big and round, very unlike human eyes."Our tribes are growing larger, there is not enough space for us to roam freely. There is not enough for us to hunt. We have decided to... what was that word? Expand," he explained, with a sureness and certainty that worried Flynn. 'What if he doesn't get his land?' the magister wondered."So, can you bring me to this Emperor so I can talk to him and get my land? My people cannot wait for long," Valric continued, giving each and everyone of them that intense stare."We can bring you to the Emperor, can't we guys?" Cor-Terra said brightly, shifting slightly in his seat, causing the wood of the chair to creak onimously. There was nods from Siegfried and Ryclef, although Flynn merely kept silent, unobtrusively studying the Litorian."Sure we could. But the Fortress of Isles - that's where the Emperor stays, Valric - is nearly a months journey from here," Flynn said, his brain churning out information at a rapid rate.Siegfried looked at the novice magister with slight surprise. "You know everything, don't you?"Flynn shrugged. "Hey, it's what I do,"******The group finally decided to travel to the nearest town - about three days walk away - and hire themselves out as caravan guards, so they could earn some money."What is a caravan? And why does it need guards?" Valric asked. The Litorian was naturally curious, poking his head into every crevice he could find, trying to sniff out the essence of civilization.As Siegfried explained, and Flynn tried to put it into a context the Litorian might understand, Cor-Terra kept a sharp eye out on their surroundings. He didn't know why, but he had the feeling that they were being watched. He couldn't see anything following them, or hiding in the bushes, but wasn't inclined to put it as mere paranoia; he'd been alive longer than that.Half-listening to the chatter of his travelling companions, his eyes roaming the fields, the giant kept his stride even and sure, trusting in the earth to keep them safe.******They found a caravan that would take them as guards, although it would only go to a small town called Greyhill, which was about a three weeks away from the capital of the Empire, Dragaera City. Flynn however, said it was good enough. "We'll take this one as far as Greyhill and get on another one that will hopefully take us all the way there," he reasoned.The rest of the party agreed, and for two gold pieces a day, excluding hazard pay, they traveled to Greyhill as caravan guards.The journey was uneventful, except for a few wild animals that had to be chased off, and they finally reached the town of Greyhill, which was only a step above the village they had originally met."This is a town, Valric. Remember that village we met in? Well, a town is a group of villages put together. The place we're headed to, Dragaera City, is like a few hundred towns put together," Flynn explained to the Litorian as they explored the town, showing him the sights and wonders of civilization."That's a brothel," Siegfried said, when the catman pointed a furry hand at a building with half-naked women hanging out of it. "What's a brothel?" Valric asked, sincerely innocent. Cor-Terra snickered as Siegfried blushed, trying to find an answer that wouldn't offend his knightly sensitivities. If there was another Kossuth around with them, he would be extremely annoyed with Siegfried's behavior. Kossuth were not genteel people. Or sensible, for that matter."A brothel is a place where you can buy... umm... where you can..." Siegfried began, but was unable to finish."A place where you can buy a f*ck," Flynn helped the armored man out, a wide grin on his face. As Siegfried blushed a bright crimson, Cor-Terra and Ryclef burst out laughing, unable to contain their mirth. Valric's cat-like features furrowed on concentration - he had barely been able to grasp the concept of money, and now these strange people were telling him that they could buy mates. That was just plain wrong."Uhh... yes, if you want to put it bluntly. A brothel is a place where you can... uhm... satisfy your... needs, yes thats it!" Siegfried exclaimed in triumph, as he finally managed to explain without the use of four-letter words. Valric eyed the bright blue ribbon the wannabe knight had tied to his ponytail to keep it in place. He then turned to the whores that were waving at men who passed by and scrutinized their clothes and decorations on their hair. He took a sniff in their direction and recoiled in distaste as he caught a whiff of the heavy perfume."Are you trying to buy a f*ck?" Valric asked, pointing at the ribbon in Siegfried's hair, causing the entire group to burst into a new round of laughter. The former squire blushed again. "Amongst my people, when a male wants to attract a mate, he puts on the trophies he's taken from his fallen foes to prove his worth as a warrior," Valric said. "Is that blue thing some similar custom you have?""No, no," Siegfried protested whole-heartedly. "We... ummm... men who go to brothels don't buy mates. They simply have needs that have to be... satisfied and they go to... those women,""Yeah, its a strictly one time affair. You want another, you gotta pay again," Cor-Terra added, shrugging one massive shoulder when valric gave him a look of pure disbelief.The Litorian turned to the sheepish-looking warmain and gave him a look of disapproval. "That is very... what is the word... pathetic, little man," he told Siegfried, who was actually an entire foot shorter than the rangy Litorian. "They have a name for your kind of people in my tribe: Sorry Bastard. I'm not sure if it translates all that well,"Flynn burst ut into peals of hysterical laughter. "Oh it translates very well, Valric. Sorry bastard..." he said in between gasps of laughter. Sigfried shot him a dirty glare, but the magister was too far gone to notice."Let's just... move on!" said the blond, stalking off down the street. Valric looked at the others."What's wrong with him?" asked the Litorian. Flynn almost collapsed, laughing.******</blockquote>

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