WELCOME TO NOTT!

[abraxasmods]

WELCOME TO NOTT!

Welcome to Nott! A blend of old world Thorne and new world industrialism, densely packed wooden buildings surround a section of ancient stone architecture at the lake’s edge. The city rises up against the horizon and is easily seen from a distance, lacking any farmland or outposts around it to distract the eye.

The city gates are wide open. Whatever may be happening back at the Thornean capitol, there’s no obvious hint of it here. Busy citizens are going about their day, guards in local uniform patrol the streets with little urgency, and no alarm bells or horns are sounding. It appears,at least on the surface, as though no one is concerned about escaped prisoners here.

But it certainly is a bustling place! Sounds and smells assault the senses right from the gate. The streets are filled with vendors and panhandlers and criers shouting out deals and directions and soliciting money, hawking food and services and shops. There seems to be a tavern or a public house on almost every corner. A cool wind comes off the lake and the scent of the fish market carries through the city. People are everywhere and no one seems to notice or care that much about strangers - aside from wanting their coin.

It’s the perfect place to hide out from Thorne while staying within Thorne’s borders.

Within a few hours of arrival a city guard will approach each escapee from Thorne - regardless of what their standing was back at the castle - to politely inform them that Lord of Representatives Lyle Vela would be happy to receive them at the House of the Lords at any time today. Each character will be given a handwritten invitation marked with an official seal that gives directions to the House of the Lords, a sprawling Old Nott building on the lake that overlooks the city. The invitation is of course optional and there are no repercussions for declining.

Comments

[souille]

[ Abigail sits at his request, but she doesn't make herself comfortable. Quite the opposite in fact, her hands are clasped in her lap, her back straight and stiff, and she's glancing around for anything that she could use as a weapon or a quick getaway if needed. ]

So you're not going to put me back in jail?

[ She doesn't really care for his posturing and excuses, but she needs to be clear about that, reading between the lines. ]

[abraxasnpcs]

Of course not! We jail criminals. Who've committed some sort of crime. If we threw everyone in jail who might break the law I don't think we'd have citizens of any sort left.

[The office door opens and a young woman dressed for kitchen work slips in, sets down a tray of cold meat and cheese and fruit on the desk and slips out again.]

There. Eat. It doesn't look as though you've been well fed or cared for. But to ease any fears you have about us notifying the castle or turning you back over, we aren't going to. Relax. You're refugees in our eyes. And even if you weren't...we certainly aren't interested in cleaning up the latest mess the capitol made for itself.

[souille]

But I thought--

[ She stops herself from finishing the sentence, having assumed that she'd been thrown in jail here because of her crimes in her own world, and not wanting to give him a reason to imprison her again.

Instead she tucks into the food with relish, sneaking some of the fruit inside her tunic when she thinks he's not looking so that she won't have to worry about stealing to eat again later. ]

What exactly is it that you want from me?

[ Because there has to be something; it would be far easier to just leave her to die. She's become a pawn in a game that she doesn't even know the rules to. ]

[abraxasnpcs]

You thought that as a part of Thorne we would blindly agree with and do whatever the capitol says? The capitol doesn't rule here. The royal guards don't defend us. We take care of ourselves.

[Lyle either doesn't notice or doesn't care that Abigail is pocketing food.]

I wanted to meet whichever of you accepted my invitation. When the royal family displayed some of you two months ago I was only able to meet with carefully selected approved 'guests'. And I'm certain they were watching, or the people I met with had been directed what to stay. Likely both. To be blunt I'd like to know what in the hell is really happening at the castle. How did they treat you behind closed doors?

[souille]

[ Abigail takes another mouthful of food while trying to figure out the answer he wants to hear. She hopes he's not too disappointed with the truth, as she doesn't have too much ammunition to give him. ]

I mean, I've never been thrown in a medieval dungeon before, so I don't have anything to compare. They didn't torture me, though. Honestly for the most part they just let me be, I kept my head down.

[abraxasnpcs]

Why were you thrown in the dungeon? What did you do that offended them so? Because the impression I've gotten is that there was no offense. It was arbitrary and without any solid reason. Please correct me if I'm mistaken.

[souille]

[ She flinches a little, her own explanation for why she was thrown into prison on arrival leaving her a little too vulnerable. Still, she's used to twisting the details to paint her in a better light, and this is no different. ]

There was some things that happened in the place I come from. I thought they'd imprisoned me because of those. I assumed it was the same with everyone else.

[abraxasnpcs]

But nothing here? You broke none of our laws? Made no threats? I'll be very clear that I don't care what you've done somewhere else. I'm not in charge of prisoners or legal matters, that's another Lord entirely. Even if you did give the capitol trouble...

[Lyle leans forward over his desk and his voice lowers a little.]

I've wanted to give one or two castle mages a good shaking myself.

[souille]

[ Abigail shakes her head, shoving another handful of cheese into her mouth. ]

They didn't give me a chance to break any of your laws. I remember being underwater. They fished me out, took one look at me and put me in jail.

[abraxasnpcs]

I see. An unfortunate welcome. But a great many things are unfortunate in this day and age. I appreciate you taking your time to meet with me. If you have any questions about the city, now is the time to ask them.

[souille]

[ She's a little disappointed that he seems to know even less about the situation than she does herself, though it serves to reinforce that nothing going on in Thorne could be trusted. Not for the first time, she wonders just what she's got herself mixed up in. ]

Are you really okay with me staying in your city? Won't it bring trouble from the ones who put me in jail?

[abraxasnpcs]

I doubt they even realize you're here. And to be quite frank with you, if the capitol did come looking for you here it would be the most attention they've paid to us in years. Stay out of trouble and you won't have anything to worry about from us.

[Lyle reaches into his desk and slides across a small bit of paper with some handwriting on it.]

Here. Take this two doors down on your way out, give it to the old woman in that office. She'll give you a queen's piece for your time.

[souille]

[ She has the social awareness to know when she's being dismissed, at least. She has a hundred more questions, but she's got the answer to the most important one for right now: it's unlikely that anyone will look for her as long as she keeps her head down. So that's exactly what she'll try to do.

She takes the paper, curling up the corner with her fingers. ]

Thank you. For the food, especially.