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GreydonQiVo
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Baron Gerhard Stefan von Holdt
Here you will find the writings, battle tactics, and bank account numbers, of this warrior Priest turned rich Baron...
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"But I, being poor, have only my dreams; I spread my dreams under your feet; Tread softly, for you tread on my dreams." -- Sean Bean(Equilibrium)
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The fateful meeting.....
<Professor_Jack> ACTION: It has been three days since Jack's society presentation. He and Damita have spent that time planning the expedition and trying to find a ship that would ferry them, not to mention looking for investors.
<Professor_Jack> It is close to mid-day and there is a knock at the pair's door...
<Damita> ::looks up at the door, eyes wide, and doesn't move from her chair::
<Professor_Jack> :: raises an eyebrow:: Damita: I didn't order lunch yet. :: gets up and moves to the door, unlocking and opening it::
<Damita> ::stays in her chair, watching Jack move to the door::
<Professor_Jack> <Messenger> :: nods to Jack, handing him a letter:: Jack: Message for you. :: holds out his hand for a tip::
<Professor_Jack> :: takes the letter and looks it over, handing the boy a tip and closing the door, turning back:: Damita: It's a message for me. :: opens and reads the letter, raising an eyebrow once again:: It seems that a Baron Gerhard Stefan von Holdt aus Giselwald, wishes to meet with us about the expedition. :: reads the rest:: At a rather fancy cafe down the street. :: looks surprised::
<Damita> ::stares at her hands for a moment:: Jack: Both of us?
<Professor_Jack> :: nods:: Damita: It would seem so. :: frowns:: Will you be alright?
<Damita> ::shrugs:: Jack: Do you think it will be good news?
<Professor_Jack> :: shrugs as well:: Damita: I'm not sure. We've been chasing down possible investors and expedition members, I'm not sure what to expect from someone who looks *us* up. :: laughs::
<Damita> ::nods and sighs:: Jack: I suppose we should go. I'll be all right with you.
<Professor_Jack> :: nods:: Damita: Alright then. :: pockets the letter and looks around:: Are you ready to go?
<Damita> ::nods, standing up and shaking the wrinkles out of her skirt:: Jack: As ready as I'll ever be.
<Professor_Jack> :: smiles and offers her his arm:: Damita: I suppose we should get going then.
<Damita> ::nods and takes Jack's arm::
<Professor_Jack> ACTION: It takes the pair about ten minutes to find the cafe and, upon entering, they find it to be rather high class, well, as high class as you can get in Ussura.
<Damita> ::looks around at the people and stays very close to Jack::
<Gerhard> ::Gerhard sits at his table, waiting for his guests. He's a tall solid middle-aged man, with streaks of gray in his hair and beard. His clothes are practical but made from finer grades of cloth than most people afford...::
<Professor_Jack> :: looks around, moving to the doorman:: Doorman: Excuse me, but we are looking for an Eisen Baron named Stefan von Holdt. I believe he is expecting us.
<Professor_Jack> <Doorman> :: nods to Jack and motions to Gerhard's table::
<Professor_Jack> :: thanks the doorman and moves to Gerhard's table, bowing upon reaching it:: Gerhard: Guten tag, your lordship.
<Damita> ::stands half behind Jack and watches the floor::
<Gerhard> ::Gerhard stands and bows to the woman accompanying Jack:: Good afternoon, Professor. Fraulein... I am Gerhard von Holdt, at your service...
<Professor_Jack> :: nods:: Gerhard: A pleasure, might I ask what this meeting is about? Or should we order first?
<Gerhard> ::he smiles:: Let us order first, that way if you happen to find yourself storming out in disgust, you'll at least have had a meal.
<Professor_Jack> :: laughs and moves to a seat, pulling it out for Damita::
<Gerhard> ::he also looks to see if Damita can understand them::
<Damita> ::isn't looking at Gerhard at all as she sits down::
<Gerhard> ::Gerhard sits once Damita is seated, and switches to Castillian:: Perhaps this would be more comfortable for the lady?
<Damita> ::looks up at Gerhard, surprised to hear him speak her language::
<Professor_Jack> :: takes a seat next to her's and smiles, nodding and switching to Castillian also:: Gerhard: I'm sure it would. I am teaching her Avalon, she's getting rather good at it, but she hasn't mastered it quite yet.
<Gerhard> ::nods:: Languages take time to learn, especially ones from opposite ends of a continent.
<Damita> ::blushes a bit at Jack's praise and stares back down at the table::
<Professor_Jack> :: nods:: Gerhard: Quite right. :: looks over his menu:: So what brings you to Ussura your lordship, if I may ask? Surely it cannot have been just to meet with us.
<Gerhard> No, but I remain because of you. I understand you made quite an impression at the meeting of the Explorer's Society the other day...
<Damita> ::frowns::
<Professor_Jack> :: his smile fades slightly, but not to the point of losing his manners:: Gerhard: I'm not sure if that is the right way to phrase what happened.
<Gerhard> ::notices the change in mood:: I am not here to mock you or your assistant, Professor. I am here because I am interested in your expedition.
<Professor_Jack> :: perks up visibly:: Gerhard: You don't say. And why would that be, might I ask?
<Gerhard> ::Gerhard picks up his menu:: Let us order first. As I said, you should at least get a meal out of this...
<Professor_Jack> :: nods, interested but not wanting to rush the Baron, looking up at the waiter and ordering something in Ussuran, before looking to Damita and switching back to Castillian:: Damita: What will you have?
<Damita> ::looks at her menu and quietly tells Jack what she wants::
<Gerhard> ::Gerhard orders as well, while very good for Ussura, this place isn't exactly high cuisine by most noble standards. Frankly, Gerhard likes it that way::
<Professor_Jack> :: nods and turns back to the waiter, ordering for Damita in Ussuran::
<Professor_Jack> <Waiter> :: nods and takes their menus, before hurrying off to the kitchens::
<Professor_Jack> :: turns back to Gerhard:: Gerhard: So were you able to get any details of the presentation? Or just the outcome?
<Gerhard> Unfortunately, most of what I heard was the outcome, but I think I heard the salient points. You wish to travel to the east beyond Ussura and Cathay in search of a new land or continent?
<Professor_Jack> Gerhard: Well that is partially true, you see while I do believe there is a continent to the east, after thinking it over I realized that travel to the east directly may not be possible.
<Gerhard> Oh?
<Professor_Jack> :: nods:: Gerhard: Yes, from everything I have heard and read, it seems there is some kind of impassible barrier of flame to the east. So I intend to take my expedition north, leaving from St. Tremult.
<Gerhard> And by traveling north, you intend to go over the top of the world?
<Professor_Jack> :: nods:: Gerhard: Quite so. It may take longer to get there than by traveling directly east, but I see no way to get past that barrier, whatever it is.
<Gerhard> ::he nods:: I have heard that the Corridors of Flame are almost completely unnavigable...
<Professor_Jack> :: nods:: Gerhard: That is what I have heard as well. So you see, that is why I chose to head north instead. So was that all that you were able to get about the presentation?
<Gerhard> ::Gerhard nods:: Everything else I heard was... ::he hesitates:: Scurrilous rumor.
<Professor_Jack> :: nods:: Gerhard: I do not doubt that. So you did not hear about our findings then?
<Gerhard> ::he shakes his head:: Assume I did not, so that I don't accidentally repeat any insults.
<Damita> ::looks up at Gerhard again, and actually smiles a bit, grateful for his kindness::
<Professor_Jack> :: nods, reaching into his jacket and pulling out the book they found, showing it to Gerhard:: Gerhard: We discovered this book in a large cavern underground, far to the north-east of here.
<Gerhard> ::he leans forward to look at it:: How old is it?
<Professor_Jack> Gerhard: I am not entirely sure, but I estimate at least a hundred and fifty years, maybe more.
<Gerhard> Interesting... And its contents?
<Professor_Jack> :: opens the book and shows off the writing inside:: Gerhard: Well at first I believed this language to be the language of Rokugan, the continent we are searching for. But I later learned that it is simply a modified form of old Ussuran.
<Gerhard> ::Gerhard nods slowly:: Yes, I can see a few similarities here and there... Though I admit I've never studied Teodoran...
<Professor_Jack> :: nods and continues:: Gerhard: It seems this book recounts the story of a group of explorers from a distant land who came to Ussura and became trapped in some strange nether realm, they had plants, animals, materials for shelter, but could not leave.
<Gerhard> ::listens::
<Professor_Jack> Gerhard: And so there they remained, for many generations, hundreds of years, until one day Matushka came and freed them. The explorers stayed here with her for several years after that, sharing stories and customs, until the day came when the travelers returned home, taking with them great war horses and riches that Matushka had given them for the trouble they had found here.
<Professor_Jack> <Waiter> :: finally arrives with a tray of food, passing out the various dishes and drinks::
<Gerhard> ::Gerhard rubs his chin:: Do you have any idea how long ago they returned to their own land?
<Professor_Jack> Gerhard: Not exactly, but the way the book is written seems to indicate that it was written soon after the travelers left Ussura. So if I am correct in guessing the book's age at between one hundred and fifty, and two hundred years. Then that is likely when they returned home.
<Damita> ::shoves her food around on her plate some before eating it slowly::
<Gerhard> ::Gerhard leans back and picks up his fork:: Interesting... Very interesting...
<Professor_Jack> :: nods, taking a bite of his own food and thanking the waiter:: Gerhard: We thought so. :: smiles::
<Gerhard> ::Gerhard eats quietly for a few moments:: You are in need of both funding and members for your expedition, are you not?
<Professor_Jack> :: nods, taking another bite:: Gerhard: I had hoped that the Society would agree to the expedition once they saw our proof. But unfortunately they did not. And I myself do not have the necessary resources to pay for an expedition such as this. :: frowns::
<Damita> :: plays with her necklace, again frowning because she knows it alone could fund the mission...::
<Gerhard> Perhaps I can assist you on both fronts, then...
<Professor_Jack> :: almost chokes on his food:: Gerhard: Really?!
<Damita> ::looks up, shocked into actually speaking to a stranger:: Gerhard: You can?
<Gerhard> ::Gerhard smiles slightly:: I have a quest of my own, and I strongly suspect that my search is leading me to the same place yours is... However, I know my limitations, I am not a sailor or an explorer. Therefore, it is in my interest to either find a pre-existing expedition and join it, or create one of my own. I do not have the experience for the latter option.
<Professor_Jack> :: nods:: Gerhard: I see. Well this is very gracious your lordship. I cannot convey how greatly I appreciate it.
<Gerhard> ::Gerhard snorts:: Professor, I have a title but I am a 'lordship' only out of necessity. For many years I was Brother Gerhard of the Tobian Order, a simple priest and soldier.
<Professor_Jack> :: raises an eyebrow:: Gerhard: Truly? Then I am sure your talents will be very useful on this expedition, Theus only knows what we may encounter in these unknown lands.
<Gerhard> ::nod:: I have some skill as a field doctor, as well. Monetarily, I can contribute a sizeable amount to the expedition courtesy of my nephew, but I must insist on a few conditions.
<Professor_Jack> :: nods:: Gerhard: Of course, and they are?
<Gerhard> Primus, I am not in charge of the expedition. I will give advice within my areas of expertise as requested, but I will not make decisions for everyone. Secundus, as opportunity permits I expect to be able to follow my own quest. Tertius, if I die on the voyage I expect a proper Vaticine burial.
<Gerhard> As well as notification of my family if possible.
<Professor_Jack> :: nods:: Gerhard: Done, done, and done. I see no reason why we cannot agree to those conditions.
<Damita> ::nods::
<Gerhard> ::Gerhard nods:: Good. My effects are at my hotel, as are the funds I am able to contribute.
<Professor_Jack> :: nods:: Gerhard: As I said before, we will be leaving from St. Tremult. Once I find a ship that will take us. So if you don't mind waiting there, we will finish getting everything prepared and meet you there. Is that acceptable?
<Gerhard> ::he nods:: It should be. :: privately he wonders where in the blazes St. Tremult is, but he figures he can find out easily enough. And since the Professor hasn't asked for any money up front, he sees no harm in waiting there::
<Professor_Jack> Gerhard: Excellent. :: stands and extends his hand to Gerhard:: May this alliance open the door to the lost continent of Rokugan.
<Gerhard> ::Gerhard clasps his hand firmly:: And may Theus bless our voyage.
<Professor_Jack> :: nods:: Gerhard: Yes of course, we may very well need it. :: smiles and lets go of his hand:: And thank you once again your lordship, I do not know what we would have done had you not shown up.
<Damita> ::stands next to Jack and nods politely at Gerhard::
<Gerhard> ::Gerhard snorts:: 'Lordship' me again, and you may have to find out... If you must title me, then 'Brother Gerhard' will do.
<Professor_Jack> :: nods:: Gerhard: Yes of course, Brother Gerhard. I apologize.
<Gerhard> ::he smiles a little and turns his attention back to his meal:: Not at all... It's just that my nephew thought he was doing me a favor giving me the title... I've never had the heart to tell him.
<Professor_Jack> :: smiles and nods again:: Gerhard: I see. Well we have preparations to finish, we will see you in St. Tremult in a few days. :: bows:: Auf wiedersehen.
<Gerhard> ::he nods:: I will be there. ::he stands up to bow to Damita:: Fraulein...
<Damita> ::smiles a little and curtseys to Gerhard:: Gerhard: Hasta luego Senor
<Gerhard> ::he nods and smiles politely then sits down again to finish his meal::
<Professor_Jack> :: offers his arm to Damita once more and turns towards the exit::
<Damita> ::takes Jack's arm and walks with him::
<Professor_Jack> :: as soon as they are outside the cafe and down the street a short ways, he picks up Damita and spins her around, smiling brightly:: Damita: It's really going to happen! We're going to Rokugan!
<Damita> ::laughs and holds tightly to Jack as he spins her:: Jack: Careful, or you may fuel those rumors he spoke of.
<Professor_Jack> Damita: Who cares? We're going to Rokugan! :: smiles again:: I doubt very highly that any rumors around here could spread to there.
<Damita> ::smiles and shrugs:: Jack: I suppose you have a point.
<Professor_Jack> :: nods, setting her back down:: Damita: But we still have a great deal to do. Let's head back to the inn.
<Damita> ::nods:: Jack: We need to pack for one thing.
<Professor_Jack> :: nods, leading the way back to the inn, a slight spring in his step now, the smile from before not leaving his face::
<Damita> ::follows Jack, happy to see him so happy::
<Professor_Jack> <<<<End>>>>
---
"But I, being poor, have only my dreams; I spread my dreams under your feet; Tread softly, for you tread on my dreams." -- Sean Bean(Equilibrium)
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Re: Baron Gerhard Stefan von Holdt
<Yougee> ACTION: If there is one thing the
bears of Helgeradt know how to make, it's
alcohol. Their tavern is large, well stocked,
and has the prettiest waitresses this side of
the stalk forest. All of which Gerhard learns
when Yougee takes him there for a drink.
<Yougee> :: calls the waitress over for another
round of drinks for himself and Gerhard:: So,
you wanted to discuss the scourge eh?
<Gerhard> ::nods:: You told me the Militia
needed help getting ready for them...
<Yougee> :: takes his next mug and takes a
swig:: Well, it's not that I believe the scourge
to be all that difficult a foe, it's just that
Helgeradt hasn't fought a full scale battle for a
hundred years or more.
<Gerhard> ::takes a swig as well:: Tell me
what you know about the scourge, how they
fight. If things are how I suspect, I can teach
you how to wipe them from the ice and still
have time for a few mugs before dinner...
<Yougee> :: raises an eyebrow:: That would
be some feat. :: takes another swig:: Well,
from what we know of the scourge they are a
loose alliance of brigands, criminals and
outcasts mostly, their tactics have generally
been uncontrolled and rather brutish. However
in recent years they have been more
controlled, more precise, in their actions. And
they have also started coercing kingdom
officials, like that council member you met, to
get
<Gerhard> ::nod:: When was the last time
anyone saw them actually fight?
<Yougee> :: thinks:: Well let's see.. There
was a city out west that ran out of supplies
and minerals for the tithe and was attacked.
It wasn't much of a fight though. But I'm told
the scourge was much better trained and
controlled, tactically speaking, than they have
been in the past.
<Gerhard> Hmm... Then the first step will be
to make sure they aren't controlled when we
fight them...
<Yougee> :: raises an eyebrow:: What do you
mean?
<Gerhard> ::wipes a little foam from his
mustache:: I mean that we insult them, we
harass them, we find where they are camped
at night and make sure they get no sleep.
We make sure that when it's time for the
battle, they will not be able to see straight and
won't listen to anyone who tells them to fight
smart.
<Yougee> :: nods, a grin coming to his face:: I
like the way you think. It is said that when
the scourge attacks a city they make camp
out on the ice, simply lashing their many large
sleds together and guarding them as if it were
a giant convoy.
<Gerhard> ::grins back at the bear:: I wonder
how well sleds burn...
<Yougee> :: thinks:: Well the Nidah sails will
not burn well, but the sleds themselves
should, assuming they have not been coated
with something out of the ordinary.
<Gerhard> ::nod:: Even if they do not, anything
that causes confusion and panic will work to
our purpose. But that is only part of the plan.
<Yougee> :: nods and takes another long
swig:: I wish I knew why they all of a sudden
started using complex tactics and better
training the past few years.
<Gerhard> My guess is that they have met
other people of my kind, from the south.
<Yougee> :: raises an eyebrow again:: You
believe so? Because of what the envoy had
and said earlier?
<Gerhard> ::nod:: He spoke Avalon, the
language of Professor Freeman's homeland,
though he spoke it badly.
<Yougee> :: frowns:: And he had one of your
weapons?
<Gerhard> Yes. A pistol, we call it. It's like a
crossbow, but smaller and more dangerous.
<Yougee> :: continues to frown:: What if they
have more of these 'pistols'?
<Gerhard> Pistols do not shoot as far as
crossbows, so I do not worry greatly about
them. If they have muskets - larger firepowder
weapons, then that is something to be
concerned about.
<Yougee> :: nods slowly:: I see.. Perhaps
before the battle it would be wise to send
spies to the scourge camp and see exactly
what we will be facing..
<Gerhard> Yes, it would be. I do not think they
will have many firepowder weapons, though. It
would be too dangerous for the scourge and
for whoever would give them to them...
<Yougee> :: nods:: But who to send.. I know
of several warriors skilled in the ways of
stealth, but any spy mission like this would
need someone from your group I think, if not
all of you, since only one of you would
recognize the southern weapons.
<Gerhard> I would send Ian. What he lacks in
manners he makes up for in cunning. He
would know such weapons on sight.
<Yougee> :: frowns:: Do you think he would do
it? He seems to have little interest in current
affairs.
<Gerhard> ::shrug:: I think he would, if you
offered to pay him or pointed out that our
continued survival depends on not being
surprised by the scourge.
<Yougee> :: thinks:: I suppose.. I shall talk it
over with Thunar.
<Gerhard> ::nod:: Any of us would suffice,
though. I mention Ian because he is probably
the best-suited of us for spying.
<Yougee> :: nods:: I wonder if it might not be
best just to have you all go..
<Gerhard> ::nod:: I'll let Thunar and the
Professor decide that... Now, assuming that
we have no significant amounts of firearms to
deal with, the best way to deal with the
scourge would probably be formations of
pikes...
<Yougee> :: looks confused:: Pikes?
<Gerhard> Long spears, twice the height of a
man. Two lines of men with pikes can hold off
the fiercest enemy, so long as their courage
holds.
<Yougee> :: still looks confused:: Wouldn't
that be a bit difficult to wield in battle?
<Gerhard> You don't wield it like an axe or a
sword, or even an ordinary spear. You attack
only forward, if the enemy is not in front of you
then the man standing beside you attacks
him. When the pike formation is done
properly, the enemy is faced with a wall of
spearpoints - he cannot reach the men behind
it without being spitted like a rabbit and he
cannot get around it.
<Yougee> :: thinks, tapping his paw on the
table idly:: I see... And this is effective?
<Gerhard> ::Gerhard laughs:: Picture the
scourge, Yougee. They scream, they yell,
they wave their weapons to try and frighten
us. We stand there with our spears pointed
high. When they charge, we wait until they
are nearly upon us then we lower our pikes
into position. The scourge rams themselves
on the ends of our pikes.
<Gerhard> Those that do not, find themselves
unable to attack for fear of meeting the same
fate. That is when the crossbowmen on either
side of the pikes stick them full of arrows.
<Yougee> :: the grin returns to his face as he
pictures the scene in his mind:: That could
work..
<Gerhard> There was a time when what we call
knights ruled the field of battle. They rode fast
war-beasts, they wore heavy armor, and
whatever they charged, they tore to pieces.
One day an army of poor foot warriors faced
such an army of knights. They would have
been slaughtered, but their leader had created
the first pikes and given them to his men. The
knights were the ones who died.
<Yougee> :: nods slowly:: It certainly seems
tactically sound.. It is not a tactic we would
ever have considered otherwise however, we
are not used to standing still in formation.
<Gerhard> ::takes a long pull on his tankard::
Those blades you skate on are handy for
getting around, but they make you vulnerable
in a battle. Even the best warriors are easy
prey when they're on their backs.
<Yougee> :: shrugs:: We have always fought
that way, as has every other kingdom and
tribe for as long as I have known combat.
However our claws also afford us great
traction on the ice if we wish it, so this idea
you propose may not be that difficult to
manage..
<Gerhard> ::nod:: It may take a while to
hammer the idea into the heads of the
soldiers, but once they have learned it,
anyone who attacks Helgeradt will be in for a
terrible surprise...
<Yougee> :: grins again:: I hope so.
<Gerhard> ::grin:: Don't tell the others I said
this, but in a way I am glad we must stay here
until the scourge is dealt with. It has been a
long time since my war-skills were truly
needed.
<Yougee> :: laughs and slaps him on the
back:: Another round for the great tactician
here! :: turns back to Gerhard and lowers his
voice:: I am glad you must stay as well, I fear
we may not be able to defeat the scourge
without your tactics and science.
<Gerhard> ::downs the last of his tankard,
though his cheer has mostly evaporated::
They will be defeated, Yougee... You are
fighting for your homes and freedom, and that
makes each of you worth twice as much as
any of those bandit scum.
<Yougee> :: nods and downs his mug as well,
looking serious:: You're right. :: turns to the
waitress:: Another round in the name of
freedom and Helgeradt! :: raises his empty
mug::
<Gerhard> ::accepts another mug, and takes a
pull on it. He doesn't echo Yougee's
boisterous sentiments, though::
<Yougee> <<<<Pause for logification!>>>>
---
"Define interesting."
"Oh God, oh God, we're all gonna die?"
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