WELCOME TO THE FREE CITIES!

[abraxasmods]

WELCOME TO THE FREE CITIES!

Welcome to The Free Cities! The portal exits outside the capital city of Cadens. The first impression of the city is its sheer size. It sprawls out across the landscape like a great hulking beast at rest. The wall that encircles it barely contains it, the buildings of Cadens practically bulging against its restraint.

The air here seems thicker somehow, tinged with a scent that’s acrid and smoky. Smog hangs high over the city, belched out by smokestacks that tower over the industrial district. The desert stretches out behind it, dotted with towers and dust clouds that disappear into the horizon. Multiple gates lead inside and each is staffed by soldiers in unfamiliar uniforms that wave a steady stream of people through without appearing to pay much attention. People are coming and going almost all of the time, to and from the outposts and areas of activity around the city proper. It’s difficult to tell just what’s out there beyond the impression of tall metal structures and a great deal of labor. Wagons carrying travelers to Libertas and Aquila roll out from the Travel Post outside the city wall.

Anyone who can sense magic will notice a much lower concentration here. No one will be stopped or questioned at the gate, even if the soldiers seem to take note of the fugitives from Thorne.

The activity and sheer number of citizens can be overwhelming. It’s crowded and loud and feels constantly in motion with everyone talking and yelling over each other. It’s easy to get swept up in the ever-moving throng or find oneself ducking into the mouth of a narrow alley just to breathe.

Anyone who’s willing to make their way to the northern part of the city and Portham Hall will find Prime Minister Marlo Reiner available to receive them.

Comments

[aquaveiled]

[ She may be a Fool but she is decidedly more perceptive than she oft lets on and the clear discomfort on Jaskier's end is hard to miss. Discomfort that she could easily alleviate with a bit of clarification that it is really only a local custom from her village that accompanies a proposal and is only as binding as the families involved see it.

But, you know. This is funny. And she thinks she needs a little more fun these days. ​]

Mhmm.

[ So she simply nods and hums an affirmative in a sing-song way, not bothering to comment on it further. If he asks she will be inclined to reply, but most of her voiced lines have to be prompted. ][ Good to know, what little she does know about the places outside where they have travelled. That is how she prefers to learn, after all--going there herself and experiencing things in person. Having it second hand is really only preferable than having to sit around and read old papers and dusty tomes on things. Boring. ]

And eager? Were they anticipating your arrival?

[ Curious...Solvunn hadn't exactly been eager to see them, but they hadn't turned them all away. As long as someone could work for their share, they were welcome to stay. That was far more understandable. ]

Yes, it's very rural. Though we have been staying in the main settlement closer to town.

[ Understatement. ]

I wouldn't say they were eager, but they didn't turn us away and allow us to work for our keep.

[cointosser]

[This is torture.

Engagemenet? En-gage-ment. No, no matter how many times he rolls it in his head, it certainly sounds the same, with the same meaning. An engagement could be. A meeting. Yes. A thing to go to. A party. That's -- that's not close to how she used it.

She's talking. About things. They're very important things!

Really!

He's only a little. Overwhelmed.

Question. It's a good one. A prompt, straightforward one.]

Let me reconsider. I'm not sure eager is the right word. More like willing. And not entirely like they had planned it, but partly as if it wasn't surprising, either.

[Which begs the question of whether there is some sort of history in which a lot of people jumping through portals to fall into your city is not the most important event of the year.]

And Cadens offered limited help, only a place to stay for a night or two. We were only fortunate I have been collecting coin during my time in Thorne from performing. So now we have a tidy little place near their markets. [Before the Horizon, he would have said he could not imagine Estinien in a place that was rural. However, apparently a peasant farmer is the true core of his soul (besides the dragon.) Himeka, on the other hand --

To be fair, he has no idea what to make of her sometimes. She is like looking at splashes of paint on a canvas and piecing together what they form. Idiocy or brilliance? (Many have said the same of him, so it's not an insult.)] What sort of work are you doing? Er... farmwork?

[How unfortunate.]

[aquaveiled]

[ And she known that the concept would be such a shock and struggle for Jaskier, she may not have gone as far with the ruse as she did. Might.

Only time will tell if it's truly such a bothersome thought! She's perfectly content to help herself to his vineyards until then. ]

Not surprising that they would find a group of summoned peoples or that they would be fleeing Thorne?

[ Himeka asks as she pops another grape into her mouth, tail swishing happily behind her. Both seem equal parts possible. And, well, both raise questions in either direction. ]

Performing? Ah, of course! How wonderful that you were able to tend to your calling no matter the circumstances.

[ Meeting him in Horizon that first time had been all about music, after all. There aren't many things she could say she's equally as passionate about. She does admire that in people--passion and the resolve to see it through.

His expression says enough at what he thinks of tilling fields or caring for livestock. She does laugh a little at that. ]

Amongst other things. Estinien, Relena, and I are staying on a farm, though it's gone a bit into disarray in recent years. Estinien attends to the sheep and I have been doing what I can to work with the local elementals in rejuvenating the land they used to graze on...oh! But the other day I was doing a delivery for the local butcher and was able to trade with the blacksmith for the nicest iron pan I'd seen in years!

[cointosser]

[The more this conversation goes on, the more he can cull himself into believing that this engagement thing is really not a big deal. (But make no mistake, it's certainly on the back of his mind, stained there. He is not forgetting it anytime soon.)

Her question may not be as weighted as he takes it, but he does consider his answer before he gives it.] A bit of both, honestly.

[It was not the way he'd be treating people falling out of a portal onto his estate, that was for certain. It was like open arms, and a hesitancy.

Or like a peoples happy to accept spies from their enemy. Surely there was no love lost between Thorne and the Free Cities simply based on their intentions with the Singularity. And now to have so suddenly acquired those with a connection to it...

He glances back up, losing the thread of thought. Right, his performing.] As I always make effort to.

[The conversation of their circumstances is rather serious, yet he cannot stop the guffaw that slips out at the image of Estinien attending to sheep. Of course he does. He does it in his sleep! Or, well, the Horizon. He must've approached the task like a duck to water.]

My, a pan! Gods, Himeka, you sound like a housewife. [Not that it's a terrible thing, but considering Estinien's tales of her heroics...] And that sort of work suits you, doesn't it? [It sounded like real excitement, not a complaint.]] What about Solvunn? Are they as eager to have those connected to the Singularity? I read about them once or twice, but the information was...

[He rolls his hand through the air. Frankly, it was boring. Farms were boring.]

[aquaveiled]

[ She nods, knowing it's important to learn what she can of the way the other factions perceive one another. Will she remember this at the time of need? Possibly. It depends on how much the juicy sweetness of these grapes outweigh the gravity of the situation. It may be a toss up. ]

I'd say it's nice to be well-received for a change...although you were already, weren't you?

[ That's how they met, after all--a curious Honored Guest wandering about in the dungeons. That cheese was exactly what she needed at the time and will always have a place in her heart, no matter how quickly it was devoured. ]

A housewife?

[ She looks at him with visible confusion. ]

I'm a culinarian, Jaskier.

[ Will she defend her numerous heroic exploits? Meh. Will she defend her title of Master Culinarian? To the fucking grave. ]

A good pan can last you a lifetime and who knows how long we'll be stuck here? Until we figure out how to wrangle this whole Singularity situation.

[ She waves her hand off and pops a few more grapes into her mouth as she continues. ]

I suppose? Mayhaps not as much as performing suits you. Estinien gets on well with the sheep, though the farm I grew up on was very different.

[ Solvunn's people, however...she finishes chewing first. ]

They are...well, they have been rather nonplussed about it, actually. I'd been expecting a little more distrust or confusion, but as long as we all do our part as members of the community, they seem perfectly content to allow us to stay.

[cointosser]

[He doesn't refute that, but it feels unfair to linger on it. He was treated, he imagines, much better than Himeka, especially after her attempt at escape.

Jaskier blinks in surprise. The admonishment comes so swiftly and so pointedly, his hand goes to his heart as if struck by an arrow] Oh! My apologies! I had no idea you were so gifted in the culinary arts. You can blame Estinien on that one, it's one of your traits he failed to mention.

[He's only throwing him under the horsecart. A little.

Is he going to run out of grapes? Ah, fuck it. If they're here to converse and be comfortable (minus the engagement part), they should be actually comfortable. With a wave of his hand, he summons them a pair of elaborate chairs, large enough to curl up in if needed, and offers hers with a gesture. Ladies first.

A tiny table between them appears, and a line of grapes, like ants crawling up a hill, begin plucking themselves from the vines and nestling into the bowl. Less chance of eating little caterpillars or the sort (yes, he made caterpillars.)] I find that as strange as our reception in the Free Cities. If I know anything of politics [And boy, he does,] they all are intending to use us. I simply cannot believe they are content with us taking their land, their coin, and their time, in exchange for... being citizens.

[He hasn't even been taxed, for gods's sake! That's simply suspicious on its own.]

[aquaveiled]

[ Estinien hadn't deigned to regale the tails of her numerous victories in the kitchen? Impressing upon Eorzea's greatest? She should be offended. She really should. ]

Did he? Well, I suppose that's not too surprise, even though he is oft the one who gets to sample my latest creations.

[ Ungrateful. Is she going to give Estinien a hard time about this later? Absolutely. Thank you for bringing this clear slight on their friendship to light, Jaskier. It shall not be forgotten.

Himeka doesn't really need a table in chairs but she isn't going to refuse them when they're so kindly conjured up. Horizon really does make things convenient, doesn't it? So curl up she does, plopping right down into the chair and pulling her legs up onto the seat as her tail winds around to rest across her ankles, the every end twitching happily as the grapes simply line up to be devoured. The morbid nature of this death march is not beyond her, but they are too tasty to care. ​]

Few refugee programs are so generous.

[ She nods in agreement as she starts helping herself to the bowl before turning her gaze back to Jaskier proper. ]

Even so...is Thorne really the only one with the understanding of our unique connection to the Singularity? I imagine they are just...you know, content for now to have us in their pocket. But I have clue what that will actually mean.

[cointosser]

[Ugh. Estinien doesn't know how lucky he is. Geralt can roast a mean rabbit, but he is far from a culinarian. Ciri, is, well... certainly Geralt's progeny in that respect.

He falls into his own seat, hanging his feet off the side -- the height of luxury, truly -- and picks his own grapes to pop in his mouth. Alucard really knew what he was giving away here. The grapes are so clearly made for wine, but he can't help but find how they burst sour and turn sweet, with skin that always remains crisp, without a hint of the softness of rot, so delightful.

Everything always stays so perfect in the Horizon. (Hence the caterpillars. Break the monotony.)]

I hesitate to say one way or the other. Certainly Throne appears to have the most investment in the Singularity and, thus, us, but I feel it would be an ill mistake to underestimate what knowledge they may have, and how they mean to use it. With more and more of us appearing, I wonder... if one power will feel confident enough to press on the others.

[aquaveiled]

[ He really doesn't. That is absolutely something that Estinien should be shamed for at a later date. Jaskier would certainly earn an edible reward for it.

As happy as she is to be out of the dungeons, lounging in plush seats in a vineyard is definitely a few steps above sleeping in a barn only a few fulms away from a cow with very active...bowels. Really the only thing this vineyard is missing are some plucky dragons to liven up the place. Every realm can use more dragons.

It's a fair question--bemusement, rather, than she chews thoughtfully as she considers it. ]

Mmmmm...

[ Himeka lets out a low hum as she cants her head to the side, gaze shifting from staring off into space to Jaskier. ]

Solvunn seems content enough with how things are? I guess as much as they can be given the circumstances. They really do believe we are all protected by the Gods. Such fervent devotion could mean they won't act unless they feel the need to at the bidding of their Gods...which, you know, only those who can speak with the Gods will know when and where that is. But they are eager for our participation should we offer it.

[cointosser]

[Oh. That's an interesting bit of insight. While he read of Solvunn, the literary volumes in Thorne's library weren't the most complimentary.] I should have expected a farming community to be full of theologians. [There might be a touch of sarcasm to the comment. A touch.

It's only curious because of how deliberate it felt that the details of the gods were scrubbed out of the library's tomes. Does it mean anything? Probably not. Plenty of people get into tiffs over whose god is sexier or something. Jaskier doesn't really prescribe, though Melitele definitely has some of the nicer tits. On the younger side of her, at least.]

Interesting. And will you participate, oh Warrior? I'm asking only out of mere curiousity.

[It's funny to him, that it's becoming less and less likely for him to encounter the truly neutral. If any of them are anymore, really.]

[aquaveiled]

[ Being beholden to a higher power, whether perceived or actual, is pretty par for the course in her experience. To end up in a community that believes so wholly in their own made it actually relatively easy to slip into some of the good graces of the locals by showing interest. But she feels like she's only just scratched the surface. ]

Farmers are very devout, whether it be about their stock or those that make it possible.

[ Her own upbringing was no different, thanking the kami and the spirits around them for a healthy harvest of oysters.

Jaskier's question draws a pause, but only a momentary one. She nods firmly immediately after. ]

Yes. It will be the easiest way to find out exactly what they believe, don't you think?

[cointosser]

[Oh, to that truth, there is no doubt. Who else is there to turn to when nature itself decides whether your family survives a further winter? He huffs a breath, shoves a grape in his mouth, and considers.

Again, her point is fair.]

Absolutely. And between you and Estinien, I dare say I could not imagine you both not ending up in the middle of things. It feels a bit par for the course, going by the stories of you.

[It's only a small worry, to find anyone assigning themselves to sides. Estinien was surely the most eager for it. Still... it won't mean anything to their relationships to each other, will it?] Well, you know I'm only a call away, should you find wealths of information from these farmers. I'd be eager to know more of the people there.

[aquaveiled]

[ She offers a lopsided smile to that observation. She won't argue against that either, whether it be by choice or circumstance something inevitably happens. One just has to learn to go with the flow. ]

I really need to know what it is that Estinien has been sharing about our adventures. I can assure you he's left out all the best details.

[ To his offer, she nods. ]

And the same goes for you, of course! I'm sure you'll have more than your fair share of stories from the Free Cities. Or at least of your own successes, I should hope.

[ That is all well and good, but to be honest, she is perfectly content to simply enjoy the artificial sun and the sweetness of fresh grapes from the vine alongside a friend.

Or, fiancé. (Ha.) ]