Part 2: Welcome to Lenele

Thank fuck it's Friday.

Soundtrack - World Map



Here we are, on the dangerous path to Lenele. The countryside is being ravaged by an invading army and our path to safety will be fraught with peril.



Or it will be a few yards and nothing of consequence will occur. Whatever.

Soundtrack - Lenele Docks



As we enter the 'City of Gods', we find ourselves at the docks outside the main gate.



Being a bumpkin, and the sole reason for the war this nation finds itself in, we should go around speaking to everyone we can find.
Fully exposing our naiveite to anyone and everyone within earshot. You there, lad!



Oh. Oh jeez.



Good thing we have gloves covering our hands. This kid is really focusing intently on our right hand.
Like he's having the conversation with that instead.



Ship's Captain: The Emperor and the King chose a bad season for war. Three days we've been waiting for The Bastion and not a sign of her.

Blacksmith: In two days, my forge will be idle! They'll use my head for a catapult stone!



Seems to be a tough situation for a city dependant on river trade to have that river cut off by the enemy.
Also, goddamn. Look at his neck.



Still, looks like some ships are still getting through.



Earl of Khav: I hate this river, and I hate these boats. They all reek of fish.

Courtier: The War Council will be convened soon. We must hurry.

Earl of Khav: Twenty years of peace has rusted my sword in its scabbard. Why do I bother? The King has no lack of snakes to hiss in his ear, and my warhorse forgets his training.



Seeing as how I managed to kill like 15 of them with just some old short sword, this shouldn't be too hard.



Vagrant: I'm too old to fight, I'm of no use to the king!

Press Gang Thug: The army will have a place for you, vagrant.

Vagrant: Cruel times are these when old mean are made to fight and die!

Press Gang Thug: Watch yourself, villein, or you'll be marching north in the King's army! That's our job, you see. We earn a handsome bounty finding soldiers for his majesty.



Sounds like times are tough for everyone at the moment here. Why must we face this war and hardship? Oh right, because of me.



But hardship leads to opportunity! And it looks like we have one here.



: Your lucky charm?

Durgan the sailor: An earring given to me by a spirit on the Sea of Khadim. I lost it in a game of change with a gambler named Ivas. If you get it back for me, I'll reward you.

This should be a quick and easy job.



Yes, I came here to see some lowly peons at work, not to escape the war torn countryside.



: What is the task?

The Great Ragneli: There has been some trouble with a band of robbers in the grasslands near Lenele.

:What about the robbers?

The Great Ragneli: Evildoes who waylay my caravans, leeching off my profits. They're a scourge on all law-abiding folk!

: Why your caravans?

The Great Ragneli: Mine are the richest in all Lenele, laden with exotic spices from the Galadians. These thefts must end!

: What do you want me to do?

The Great Ragneli: Find and vanquish these villains. Bring me the bow of Zane, their leader, and I will reward you richly.

: What's so special about his bow?

The Great Ragneli: It's a weapon of no particular value, except as proof that you have defeated the robbers.

This dude sounds fishy, and he is named like a gypsy. Spoiler Alert: He is trying to gyp us.



: Perhaps. Tell me more.

Beelon: I have a bag of magical seeds that must be delivered to Beefankle the blacksmith the Stronghold of the Khosani.

: Magical seeds?

Beelon: The 'Seeds of Aahur' they are called. They will sprout anywhere, even on solid rock.

: What do I have to do?

Beelon: Take this bag to the one they call Elarh. You will find him in the Stronghold of Saanavarh. He will reward you.

: What are the stakes? What is the reward?

Beelon: Elarh will pay 2,000 gold for the safe delivery of the seeds. Will you do this?

: Yes.

Beelon: I am much obliged. Here are the seeds. Elarh is well-known, so you will have no problem finding him.

This guy doesn't strike me as a very wise business man. 'You there, random peasant. Deliver these magic seeds to some dwarf. I don't give a fuck. Ah, another successful business transaction completed.' Also Tigtone.



Basem: Don't bother talking to Crazy Iven. No one ever understands him.

Challenge accepted.

: Sorry, I didn't quite catch that.

Crazy Iven: Is itn berbat jokte reveime oxcart?

: Could you repeat that?

Crazy Iven: Lolo anrema treasure tlortle hinwe fawdee drinkable.

: Are you speaking some other language?

Crazy Iven: A pawfaw quedeg the havoy a choodeedo?

: I think one of us is crazy.

Crazy Iven: Big delicious!

: I'm hoping it's you.

Crazy Iven: Irt birt bird, in oo loo to.

: It's been nice talking with you.

Crazy Iven: Mish kish fish!

Can anyone actually decipher what he is saying?

All I got out of that was big delicious...



Which paid off bigtime! I didn't check it out in this session but, it shoots fireballs.



thank mr tolum



The water carriers hate the sewer cleaners, the merchants hate the nobles, the smiths hate the sailors, everybody hates the Orenians...
Also, fuck anything having to do with these sewers.



Dang, kid. That's harsh. Do spiders even have tongues?



I mean, this guy doesn't look like he's got a spider tongue. If he did he would have a little baby spider mouth.
He couldn't feed himself with a baby mouth. He'd have starved long ago. Silly girl.



They seem to be really playing up that World War 2 angle.



Braggart fisherman: Every man must do his part! I'm old, but my sons are strong!

Sensible fisherman: War is foolish business, and it breeds foolish talk. Listen to these fishermen who mistake their boats for war galleys! Deluded with bard songs and ale, they are.



That one fisherman is really pumped to kill some rennies! Except he IS Orenian.



Shit, man. The one Orenian behind you will be right by your side. Show him a mirror and he'd probably kill himself right then and there.



This guy is actually reasonable, as are a few others. But it really paints a bleak picture for the current Orenian population in Lenele.



You suffer for a good cause though. Me.



Southern sailor: How many days until they reach Lenele?

Northern sailor: Hard to say. They might come round and hit us from the south.

Southern sailor: With the rennies holding the Darhu north of Masad, our merchants will have a grim season!

Northern sailor: The news from the north is mighty grim, lad. Word is they've sacked Masad, Eglin, and Burnaan. If the Rennies want a tussle, let them come to Lenele!

There does seem to be some actual hope and action mixed into the "Murder Death Kill All Rennies!" and the bleak "We have no food or weapons, we are fucked" reality.
Not much though.

Time to update our list.

Medeva:
Ciran - Destroyed
Masad - Destroyed
Eglin - Destroyed
Burnaan - Burnin
Lenele - Active



Smuggler: What are yeh lookin' at, plowboy? Shiv yer heart out if yeh don't mauk off!

A couple of smugglers. They must have something good back there. All will be mine, in time.



: Clever plan?

Carcela: It's a secret. I promised I wouldn't tell.

Mentioning the clever plan though, not so clever.

Soundtrack - Lenele Marketplace

We move further inside the city to the marketplace, where there are even more people.
There are 2 other full sized districts after this one. This city is too goddamn big.



I don't actually think that is a reason why they do it... Unless Stephen King is the head of agriculture in this universe or something.



Jokes on them, I sold them some beat up katanas.



There has been a lot of names being thrown around about historical people and places.
Helps build up the setting into an unpronounceable mess.



Knight: We'll see for ourselves how fast she is.

Trader: We bred this charger from the Haegkhan stock of the eastern duchies.

Knight: A fair sum, if the horse is as good as you say.

Trader: The Haegkhan are the finest steeds in Medeva! Won't get spooked in battle. The rennies can breed a swift horse, but the Haegkhan run faster than any this side of the Khadim.



Damn, looks like I cashed out on those busted katanas too soon. This dude would have paid a premium for sure.



Carousing soldier: We'll pay after the battle. Our purses will be full of gold!

Cider merchant: You'll be food for wolves and crows! How will I collect?

Carousing soldier: You'll get double from our plunder. You have my word!

Cider merchant: Your word won't buy spit, vulture!

The soldiers shrugged, and did a little jig on the bankrupt cider merchant's back as he gasps out "Why?"
The soldier's reply "We could not help ourselves. It is our nature."



Man we are so screwed.



That's some big talk coming from an embroiderer. Her tune might change if she noticed the 16 year old soldier.



Alright this guy is excited about something!



Ohhhh. Crap. Joseph, that is absolutely the wrong response in this situation!

: Who are you?

: My name is Jekhar. Do you remember me now?

: Yes. I remember.

: To think I once called you friend. Have you forgotten what happened at Ciran?

: I tried to save our village.

: Save our village? You destroyed it! You killed everyone! You burned our cottages to the ground!

: That demon destroyed Ciran, not I!

: You used your ring and summoned the demon! The ring that Yago gave you. You couldn't control your power, and so our people died.

: I threw that ring down a well.

: You should've thrown yourself in after it! Why are you here? Have you come to destroy Lenele?

: I am looking for Yago.

: That old spider? I've seen him. I'd have cut him in half, but I'm now a soldier in the King's army. If he ever falls from royal favor, my axe will be waiting.

: Where is Yago?

: Fate is cruel. They call him 'Lord Yago' and he's a counselor of Prince Sornehan. When he came to the city, he was begging in the gutters. Now he lives in the royal palace with the King and Queen.

: How did he become the Prince's councellor?

: You could go to the palace and ask him yourself, but I doubt the guard would let a cottar like you through the front gate.

: Cottar?

: Peasant, serf, villein, plowboy, farmer... Pick and name that pleases you if you don't like 'Cottar'.

Well, we did get our lead on Yago now. Let's make our way to him.

We are now in the Palace District, a much more high class affair.



This is starting to seem very inspired by Game of Thrones, now that I think about it.



Drunk soldiers: He went to war without his head!

Ok, that pretty much confirms it.

Drunk soldiers: Spilled his guts to make a stew...

Drunk soldiers: And kept his brains in a shoe!



It would seem they aren't entertaining every Tom, Dick, and Harry at the palace at the moment.
I'm sure an eloquent bumpkin like ourselves can get in though, just need to drop some names.



: I must see Yago.

Palace guards: That's Lord Yago to you, whelp.



: Then Lord Yago it is. I have urgent business.

Palace guards: Business? What business? Will you sell him turnips? Has he borrowed your plow? *laughs*



: I come by his command. Stand aside and let me pass.



Palace guards: You'll be on your way now.

: Yago is expecting me. Ask him. My name is...

Palace guards: Irrelevant. Now go or I'll spill your blood on the palace gates!



: What's wrong your grace? Wont they let you in the palace?

: Huh? Who are you?



: Follow me. I know a way in.

: What are you talking about?

: Come on. I'll explain when we get there. The guards are watching.



: So this is your way into the palace? Through the sewers?

: These tunnels date back to the City of Gods. They'll take you anywhere in Lenele, if you know the way.



: I'm not going in there unless you tell me who you are and what you want.



: As you wish. My name is Flece, I work for Tancred.

: Tancred? The Prince of Beggars?



: Yeah, that's the one. Prince of Beggars and King of Fleas.

: How do I know you wont cut my throat down there? Or stick a dagger in my back? Why should I even trust you?



Yikes, that reminds me of something.



: I wouldn't trust me if I were you. But you want to get in the palace and so do I.

: But, why are you here? What do you want from me?



: There's something I need to get from the palace.

: But why are you helping me?

: Because I need your help. The sewers are dangerous. I can't risk it alone.

: You're making a mistake. I'm a farmer not a warrior.

: But your need is as great as mine. Let's go.



Meet the best character in the game, combat-wise anyway.
Joseph's purpose becomes clear. A meat shield so Flece can do her thing. Once she gets backstab that is anyway.



Let's have a quick look at her. Nothing much now.
But once we get our hands on Backstab and Sneak. Bucu damage.



I also finally assigned some of Joseph's skill points into healing, I am holding onto the rest for future skills.



And here we are. This fucking sewer.
This is the first time, but it wont be the last. Not by a long shot...