abraxaslogs | How does the earth around your feet

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How does the earth around your feet

WHO: Istredd and anyone!
WHAT: Catch-all for November
WHERE: Thorne, Horizon, Nocwich
WHEN: November
WARNINGS: May be spoilers for Witcher s3 in comments.

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When the fliers are handed out all around Castle Thorne and the surrounding town to inform everyone of the newly-instated Maritime Fair in Borrel, naturally Thancred is curious. He's aware that materials for bolstering the navy's forces had been part of the negotiations with the Nether, a necessary exchange to ensure that the dragons received the help and resources that they needed.

While this fair sounds like little more than dressed up propaganda for Thorne's navy, it is part of Thancred's self-assigned work to keep an eye on the various political aspects of Thorne as a whole. So if they are being invited to an event to honor Captain Rudolph Sidwell's promotion, he's going to be there.

And he'll take more or less any excuse to travel past the confines of the castle.

He's present for the opening ceremonies, which ends up being quite the affair. Fireworks light up the sky and he's reminded of Costa del Sol's Moonfire Faire. There's much more pomp and circumstance in this instance, though, with a parade to commemorate the occasion.

He stands far back in the crowd when the King speaks, hood pulled up so as to not draw too much attention to himself, and he listens carefully. It leaves him uncomfortable to hear the Summoned given credit for the navy's improvements, as he's well aware that those who were involved with the negotiations probably had mixed feelings about this decision.

Once the speech is over, Thancred casts a glance around the crowd. He doubts he's the only Summoned here, and as soon as he spots Istredd, he steps over to him with a casual gait, as if he just happened to pass by him.

"Ah, Istredd! Quite the event, isn't it?" He gestures around them. "Have you eaten yet? I was thinking of grabbing a bite and then exploring what the fair has to offer, if you're interested." In truth, he wants to steer them away from all the crowds so that he can pick Istredd's brain about all that they just heard.

Istredd has mostly accepted Hayle's closed door after Anastasia's letter which means that Borrel is the only current open door that he can concern himself with. It's not his preference, but he's not one to miss opportunities, and any amount of freedom in Thorne is worth taking. He goes along to the fair and quietly stands in the back, being taller than most, but he does have a skill for blending into the background. Most people don't look twice at him, unless they know a face to look for.

This is clearly propaganda, and while he doubts Kyle and Rhy will like their negotiation work being used like this, it's also just politics. They made their concessions to help the dragons, everyone understood that. Every faction getting something means they continue to be in chess check, at least for now, or just building until the next stage. The navy is nothing to sneeze at, seeing it now being given so much credence.

He plans on checking out the bookshop there he saw on his way in, it boasted having many historical books which is his favorite kind. If it ends up being mostly about the military, he'll learn something about it. He has been quietly observing and not looking around until he senses someone walking toward him.

Istredd isn't surprised to see Thancred there. He's definitely the sort who would show up to this and be watchful. "Hello, Thancred, I would be glad to explore what they have to show here." He's curious because this is all very polite and he suspects Thancred wants to talk more genuinely, but he always goes along with it. He gestures for Thancred to lead them away.

It's for the best that Istredd plays along and doesn't question Thancred's put-on front all too much. To keep up the appearances, he nods with enthusiasm and then pivots, swinging an arm around Istredd's shoulders to lead him off. Which is a bit awkward given their difference in height, but Istredd is nowhere near as tall as Urianger, so Thancred has adjusted to worse.

"I had heard of Borrel's proud navy, of course, but it will be interesting to learn more, wouldn't you agree?" While his tone is a good deal more eager than how he feels, Thancred actually isn't lying in this case. He does want to research the history of the navy and catalog the updates they're making with these newly-acquired resources. "I heard there are some old ships to tour, and we can even go fishing. It will be a sight different from the fishing in the Nether, I'd imagine."

He goes on and on, mainly so that no one can question the nature of their chat or see it as anything particularly noteworthy or suspicious. Then, as they break away from the dispersing crowd after the Admiral's address, he lets out a laugh, as if in response to something Istredd said, and then leans in closer — like he's indulging in a personal joke. His arm tightens against Istredd's shoulders to pull him down.

"We'll have to inform the others of this as well," he adds under his breath. He doesn't make clear who he means, but imagines it will be obvious — their friends in the Free Cities, who they met with not so long ago. Geralt, Jaskier, Sam.

Istredd is surprised by the physical gesture but he goes along with that too, and even leans down a little to make it easier for Thancred. He's not as tall as Urianger but it's still more comfortable if he leans in.

"Yes," he says after a moment of awkward adjustment. "I plan on looking through the records in the old ships and there is a bookshop that apparently has many historical texts about the navy." Istredd knows they are currently in pretend-conversation but this is also the truth. He gets into research mode when he is anywhere that has texts he can glean something from. His memorization ability has been used a great deal by him over time, and added to the library.

He knows Thancred is getting to a point so he is waiting for it. Normally Istredd would simply do a sound spell to give them some privacy, but he doesn't know how closely they're being watched. It could make them seem suspicious if mages are watching and see the spell. He'll feel more confident when they regularly visit, less eyes will be on them.

"Kyle let me know the details of the negotiations, this is the result. Blueprints to enhance the navy." And they can see that would be why Thorne is celebrating. "What I'm curious about is that technically Thorne can go around the coast to get to the Free Cities, and they will, but I'm wondering if this is something Solvunn should be more concerned about." Being how close they are.

A bookshop on top of it all. Well, Thancred will be all too happy to leave that sort of work to Istredd, who will do a more thorough job with cataloguing all the historical information that's accessible about the navy. His skillset will leave him better suited to observing the work currently being done in the shipyard, to determine how the naval forces plan to make use of the resources the Nether has sent them.

"Between the two of us, we should end up with a well-rounded idea of Thorne's naval history, then." Again, his tone is light, as if he's an interested tourist rather than here to gather the information for the purpose of leaking it to other factions.

It does make sense that the Draconae would have some novel naval blueprints given where they're located. Thancred doesn't necessarily like what might come of all this, though, and Istredd seems concerned by the possibilities as well.

"Yes, Solvunn is much closer," he replies in a hushed tone. They're far enough away now and on their way toward the shipyard, so he doesn't need to be quite as careful. His brow furrows as he considers the presented possibility. "However, thus far there's been no indication that Thorne would directly target them. It would most likely lead to fighting a war on two fronts, or at least weakening themselves and granting the Free Cities an easier opportunity to step in."

"But would Solvunn allow them to sail through their waters? They may be staying neutral, but it's not neutral to allow that." Solvunn did give supplies to both sides of the war and appeared to be even-handed, so watching warships go by would be taking a side by saying nothing. "It's probably more likely they'd go the long way, through Andromeda Bay." It would take them up north around Thorne and around the crater, but it made sense, since that way only Thorne would have an awareness of movement until it's too late.

"This could also just be smokescreen." He's slightly less concerned about being overheard now, the farther away from other people they get, as the crowds thin. "They want to scare everyone with a superior navy, it doesn't mean they use it. They might not need to with the threat." It's a smart threat, one that wouldn't require action. The Free Cities does not have the strongest navy as far as he knows, too land-locked in Cadens.

"Although the queen's uncle doesn't strike me as someone who wouldn't mean a threat he made."

Istredd seems to answer his own question, though both of them are musing out loud about the possibilities. Thancred likes to be ready for any outcome, and that means considering as many of them as is feasibly possible. "I imagine they would prefer to take the risk of going the long way, if it came to that. It would also mean there would be less chance of the Free Cities receiving intel of the oncoming attack before it arrived."

They as Summoned cannot be in Borrel all the time to keep an eye on the naval activities here. If the admiral is a smart man, he would deploy the ships when he was relatively certain there weren't any Summoned here to observe it, which wouldn't be difficult.

"We can hope it's merely a way of deterring the Free Cities from making a move against them, aye," he replies. He can feel the cool sea air tousle his hair now, as they near the water, though it's difficult to appreciate the scenery given their topic of conversation. "Though I would say we should always be ready for the worst. Thus, we arm ourselves with information to let those in the Free Cities know what to expect if that worst case comes to pass."

As for the comment about the newly appointed admiral, Thancred glances to Istredd, brows lifting with curiosity. "How much do you know about him?"

"Yes, there's no one in the Badlands that would warn them. It's hard to say if the Free Cities would be already making moves to protect the coast, as I don't know their forces well." If the two of them are smart enough to see the potential route to danger, it can be assumed a war council can do the same.

"It's been over a thousand years since the Free Cities and Solvunn won their independence. Even if they have the war books from that time, the landscape has changed. They haven't seen war since then, and not this royal house." And yet they're very close to it at all times. Istredd assumes it's been tense for years though, although the Free Cities and Solvunn Summoning their own people amped it up again. The Summoned seem to continue to be a good excuse for them, with the Nocwich attack too.

"If we hear of anything we can warn them, albeit with the understanding of what position that would put all of us in." It isn't Istredd saying they shouldn't. It's that a choice like that would put all of the Summoned at risk, not only the people who would be behind the information sharing. All choices are dangerous, as they both know.

At the question, he gazes out into the water, appreciating the image as he has always been landlocked himself. Rarely appreciating any visual splendors around him unless forced to look up from a book. "Nothing more than what is shared commonly. That he's respected and considered honorable, by whatever terms Thorne considers those things." It changes between people, obviously. "But the queen is his blood, and we know how she is." Family doesn't mean everything, but he suspects her admiral uncle may have some opinions about her reckless behavior. Anyone would.

Thancred doesn't know all that much about the Free Cities' military forces either, save that they are robust. That's the whole point of keeping in close contact with Geralt, Jaskier, and Sam, of course — they will be able to fill in those blanks. "We can always ask our friends," he remarks.

While it feels like they're always at the precipice of total war breaking out, Istredd makes a good point. It has in fact been years, and it may be many more years before it's an out-and-out conflict. Granted, the attacks exchanged between the two factions already should not be discounted, and it could always escalate, especially with the Summoned as another factor (or fuse).

"It's a risk that I imagine would be worth taking," he says to Istredd with little hesitation. "I know not every single Summoned in Thorne might agree, but..." He trails off and frowns. Well, they can address that problem when it actually becomes a problem, rather than mere speculation, but Thancred is willing to make his opinion on this particular issue known. To know that forces were moving toward the Free Cities and yet say nothing would be wrong, and he won't do so, especially not after what the Queen did to Libertas. He hated feeling so helpless in that moment.

Thancred nods along as Istredd recaps what both of them know of the admiral. It isn't much, and only what's been spoken of publicly. As they descend a stone staircase that leads down toward the docks, he heaves out a sigh. "That we do. The question is how much she's taken after her uncle. I suspect we'll find out, sooner or later."

"It may be a case where we should speak privately to the Thorne Summoned, as we've done before." Istredd invited all of them into his Horizon the last time so they could understand the gravity of their situation. Except it's changed since then, some Summoned gone, some new. He can't do it every time which is why he wrote down his blackboards of information for people.

"We may make the decision regardless, but they should know. We can decide if that happens if they are trustworthy." That's the other concern. One of them could decide to rat them out on their own. They won't know until they get to that point, which could be some time from now, or never. But he wouldn't feel right about doing that without warning people. It sounds like a disaster in the making.

"I might consider him a different type of threat. We'll have to keep our eyes on it, and our friends' eyes on their end. Full out war hasn't happened yet. But we're not out of the woods." Istredd may note that they are quiet ... for now. Except Thorne has always wanted their former lands back.

It feels fated at this point.

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How does the earth around your feet

borrel, maritime fair

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as you mentioned on plurk, we can wrap this here!