From 52fc043a1c4f5adec308994f27fccc50c45eafac Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: Deepak Mallubhotla Date: Sun, 7 Aug 2022 18:19:10 -0500 Subject: [PATCH] feat: adds makiwen interrogation --- lore/etymologies.txt | 2 + sarlastory/sarla-arrives-at-makiwen.txt | 139 ++++++++++++++++++++++++ 2 files changed, 141 insertions(+) diff --git a/lore/etymologies.txt b/lore/etymologies.txt index 5edd14a..f91b0ee 100644 --- a/lore/etymologies.txt +++ b/lore/etymologies.txt @@ -42,3 +42,5 @@ Suati: Mijesi: Yak scholar name. + +Passages: diff --git a/sarlastory/sarla-arrives-at-makiwen.txt b/sarlastory/sarla-arrives-at-makiwen.txt index 8b13789..eee689c 100644 --- a/sarlastory/sarla-arrives-at-makiwen.txt +++ b/sarlastory/sarla-arrives-at-makiwen.txt @@ -1 +1,140 @@ +When Sarla disembarked the train, she had to resist the urge to connect to the Meadowlark to clean the air around her. +The station in Makiwen stank of dirt and grime, and it was far busier than stations in the Haven had been. +Worse than the smell was the attention. +In the Haven, Sarla could glare at starers and let them awkwardly pretend they hadn't been staring. +Here, though, yaks and dwarves alike eyed here with cautious curiosity. +―Why are they staring? she asked Mijesi. + +―It's the robes. + +―Aren't they used to it? + People travel to and from the Office of Knowledge. + +Mijesi shook his head. + +―Not often. + Most in the Office are lay people anyway. + Not many other nuns. + +Sarla grew somewhat accustomed to the attention as they moved through the station, with people looking at her until they got their fill. +There was a loud chatter in the air around her, the clipped staccato of Border. +The handful of other passengers on Sarla's train walked far more quickly. +More familiar with the station, most likely. + +The passenger cars opened to the same platform as the freight cars, and as Mijesi and Sarla walked through the station cranes were unloading and loading containers on the train. +Stairs led to an upper level, to the main floor of the station, and from there, Sarla could see the other side of the tracks. +A line of great stone archways at the end of the wall swallowed stacks of containers. + +―The great Tunnels of Makiwen, Mijesi said. + Mountberg run. + Those are Mountberg Dwarrowfolk, he said as he indicated the dwarves with long beards near the archways. + Mostly Border Dwarrows live here, but Mountberg controls the Passages. + The Republic pretends to run it. + +As he said this, he pointed down past the rail platform they'd come from. +There was a patrol of yaks in blue uniform―the Makiwen City Garrison―carrying spears with other weapons at the ready. +Mijesi continued down the hallway. + +Near the end lay a large staircase, with station security waiting in front. +Two Garrison yaks were standing by, but most of the security personnel wore station uniforms. +One dwarf called them over, then said something in rapid Border. +Mijesi responded, and the dwarf seemed to look a bit agitated. + + +Another dwarf came by, and said something to Sarla. +Mijesi's dwarf was pulling him away, as Sarla shook her head in a lack of understanding. +The dwarf frowned, and Mijesi shouted in Border, gesturing at Sarla. +Sarla's dwarf called over for a yak colleague. + +―Miss, come with me, the yak said. + +They led Sarla behind Mijesi, through side hallways. +Eventually, the dwarf and yak took Sarla into a room, and sat her down. + +They chatted between them in Border, leaving Sarla bewildered. +Clearly, they had done something to offend security, but she had no idea what it was, or why it didn't cause any reaction before they reached the security point. + +―Excuse me, but what the fuck is going on?, Sarla asked. + +The yak gave her a stern glance. + +―Mind your language, miss. + Be patient. + +The yak returned to talking to the dwarf, leaving Sarla to stare at the room. + +The room had little furniture, besides a table and a handful of uncomfortable metal chairs of various sizes. +Meant for both yaks and dwarves, she thought. +Maybe other beasts too. + +The table's thin wood felt insubstantial and cheaply made. +Scratches across its surface suggested it was older. +The whole room felt cramped. + +As exhaustion from travelling started to hit Sarla, she instinctively reached to the Meadowlark. +The moment she did, the dwarf snapped out of the conversation, focussing on Sarla and saying something in Border. + +―No magic, the yak translated gruffly. + +―What? + I'm a Practicant, Sarla said while indicating her robes. + +―I don't care if you're wearing the Hierarch's robes. + No magic. + +―This is ridiculous. + Even the Republic respects the birthright. + +―Not here. + The Transport Authority sets the rules. + Complain later if you want. + +Sarla huffed to herself, but didn't touch the Meadowlark again. + +After a few minutes, the door opened and another dwarf walked in. + +―Practicant Sarla?, she asked, with no trace of an accent. + +Sarla nodded. + +―Wards detected magic. + Your companion said you were the cause. + Can you use the Meadowlark? + +The yak near her spoke up before she could say anything. + +―She used it here. + It's her. + +―Fine, the new dwarf said. + Then let me warn you, Sarla. + The Transport Authority is very strict on magic use. + Especially near the Tunnels. + +She started to leave and gestured for Sarla to follow. + +―The City Garrison takes security seriously as well. + There aren't many Practicants in the city, so you are immediately suspicious. + It's expected you will follow local laws. + Understood? + +―Yes, Sarla said, despite not entirely knowing what local laws entailed. + +They reached Mijesi, and Mijesi and Sarla entered the station. + +―Sorry, Mijesi said after a bit. + Didn't warn you. + +―It's okay. + I don't know why they reacted like that. + Not like I'm hiding being a Practicant. + +―Mountberg doesn't like beast magic. + The Republic doesn't like magic. + And Border Dwarrowfolk don't like Mountberg or the Republic. + High tensions. + +Sarla thought about that as they left the station, and started to walk to the Flockhouse. + +The Ennearch of Knowledge had her Offices in the largest Flockhouse in Makiwen.