The Tripartite Kingdom of Lidwo

Amadeus was very willing to visit the Kingdom of Lidwo he heard of so much lately. His merchant guild had a few trade routes going through Cracouia, though the business didn't revolve around this country as much as Venland, Isra or Helmfirth, because Lidwo seemed to be keeping to themselves for a long time. Aside from the fact that the Tripartite Kingdom of Lidwo came to be when three different neighbouring kingdoms united, this kingdom was possibly the most arbitrary in the world; employing strange governing bodies like the "parliament"? An army mainly consisting of horsemen with wings attached to their armor? And as if that were not enough, the kingdom allegedly abandoned their faith in the gods in favor of worshipping a single deity. "What is this nonsense?" Amadeus thought to himself. This whole kingdom was like a jest to him. Nonetheless, apparently much was happening there now, and so he arrived in Cracouia with his group of mercenary bodyguards, seeking adventure, waiting to be let inside the gates.

Amadeus was just admiring the government buildings when a stone landed beside his feet. Noticing the hooded figure, Amadeus' mercenaries stiffened and surrounded Amadeus in a protective formation; after all, the stranger's intentions were unknown. Amadeus decided to follow the man into the alley, trusting his able comrades to annihilate any threats to his life. "Depends on who's asking" he would say to the man.

Amadeus turned his attention away from the hooded figure as he heard another native's voice. His greeting was spoken in the local tongue, but Amadeus was well educated and knew that it meant simply 'hello'. Happy to see a fellow blue blood, Amadeus replied "Welcome, welcome fellow noble lord. My name is Amadeus Rene, surely you've heard of my house. I seek to break the confines of my business life and decided to visit your country. I've just been approached by this fellow over there" Amadeus pointed at the man in the depths of the alley. He felt a little awkward in this situation, rather unsure if this was perhaps a robbery these two gentlemen were trying to attempt or just an out of place encounter. He wasn't afraid at all; after all, he was protected by some of the best warriors and mages for hire in the land.

Kazimir squinted in distrust as he saw the hooded figure bolt away. "A thief, perhaps? Or just a fellow merchant looking to seize your assets?" he warned the foreign Amaedeus. Kazimir shook his head as if to shake away prejudice, "apologies, Amadeus Rene," the szlachtar began anew. "I may have just sabotaged a lucrative enterprise for you." Pointing ahead at Cracouia the rider would say "please, enjoy your time in the city."

As he finished one of Kazimir's guards approached closer and whispered something into his ear. After a brief moment he nodded and looked at Amadeus. "I understand you preside over Rene Enterprises? Your guild's goods flow through the city but your merchants have yet to touch my own province to the southeast. I am sure my people would be willing to accept your imports. Maybe we shall see each other again in the city, and maybe a deal can be made, no? For now I must attend to my own matters. Good day, my friend!"

Kazimir and his guard nodded in farewell to Amadeus, passing a friendly grin to him. They rode on into the city of Cracouia to meet with an official statesman in regards to any problems the Kingdom of Lidwo may have.

(Tripartite Kingdom of Lidwo ) (@amadeus )

Nearly the moment after Kazimir left the man would appear behind Amadeus but this time without a hood, and looking like a noble of the land in his red robes and ceremonial yet still very practical armour. "Hello again foreigner." He'd say. "By accent I'd say you are from Isra where you have the ah... Demokratia Falsha - a fake democracy? Well, we do too, since King, nobles, mobs and Priests rule country really. However, the Sejm is still powerful in a way, gives more power to nobles in it. Now we have "gridlock" in some issues in the politics, and how would a foreigner like to make another country a better place? This foreigner would be rewarded of course...." The man, despite middle age and clearly not being a smoker would have a raspy, snake like voice, as though every syllable was the rattle of a rattlesnake. He looked on hopefully, greedy green eyes shining with desire.

Kazimir on the other hand would find the path to Cracouia's interior clear, and out on the streets he would see his mark. It was the King's right hand man, the noble "Zygmont Saski" who was speaking to a small delegation of traders. He'd wave them off and would turn to head back into the King's castle but he would see Kazimir and stop in case the Hussar had anything to say to him. 

The stranger seemed dodgy and a little inquisitive in his conversation, so Amadeus refrained from answering his first, less important questions. He was however of course interested in what the stranger had in mind, so he answered at last "I'm not much of a politician, but I'm eager to help your country prosper, so long I benefit from it. What kind of work would you be talking about? I don't have connections here in Cracouia, but as you may know I have gold, and gold fixes many problems."

Amadeus didn't know what to make out of this, was this man truly trying to make a deal that would help both parties make more money or was he simply a liar, a fraud, a scammer? Was he possibly walking into a political trap? Maybe the man knew Amadeus and was desperate to remove competition? Since Amadeus didn't see any immediate danger in taking them up on their offer, though, Amadeus decided to go with this for now.

"Well, I don't suppose there is any harm in helping a fine gentleman such as yourself. So, as I said before, I agree. You have your reasons to do this, I have mine. Where do we start?" Amadeus was more than happy to finally be involved in something so exciting, rather than signing papers and watching out for trade opportunities behind his desk.

Sir Stigs had been watching the road with a rare intensity as he had traveled. Whether the invisible cobblestone had clacked beneath his greaves in the darkness, or wooden boards moaned above the babbling of brooks, his eyes were to the ground. When travelers passed, he waved. When bandits approached, he fought. Yet, when Sir Stigs was alone, he would return to his business with the earth below him. There was a deep connection between he and the ground, he felt in in the palms of his hands and the breadth of his chest. Something mystical. Or, perhaps, he was simply closer to it than others. He nodded in contemplation, agreeing with nobody in particular. These both were possibilities. The ground came with many possibilities, such as with dividing paths in the roads before him. He trusted the earth to guide him innately; whichever path opened first within his peripherals, he would follow. It had only led to a few dead ends. Two rivers. And a wolf. Though, that was a story for another time.

The wolf was dead in a river. The end.

No time like the present. Sir Stigs enjoyed that story. He would tell it at the next tavern he stopped by. As images of merry men and flowing alcohol besieged his mind, the details of the dirt path before him began to round, bulge, and rise slowly. Dust had become smoothed stone, and then soon after that a slightly elevated series of wooden planks. My, the joys of metamorphosis. And a stream below, between the cracks of what Sir Stigs presumed to be a bridge, for he hadn't bothered to look up just yet. He wouldn't want to lose his wits. The myriad of flowing blue was calm yet powerful, a large river or a canal perhaps. And then, ah, more stone, and cloth, skin, shoes, it was all so much. Sir Stigs was forced to look upward, beholding the magnificence of what appeared to be a great capital laid before him. How wondrous were the ruby rooftops contrasted with the viridian landscapes upon the horizon. And the bustling main street was an experience Sir Stigs was not used to, often isolated for weeks at a time walking along aimless geography. All of these stimuli were so much for the nomad, that he hadn't noticed himself walking backward, around and through horse legs until finally bumping into one.

"Oof," he grunted. "Sorry." Sir Stigs acknowledged him with a curt nod as a sign of sincerity.

The rider looked average in some aspects, though he had outstanding features, some being his nobleman's armor, lance, and a small cavalry he appeared to command. Sir Stigs audibly tapped the chin of his helmet. What ever happened to his horse? In fact, what happened to a lot of his things...had he had a horse? Or was that a bear?

These thoughts became interrupted by a realization: his road had ended. It had led him to this spot, where some sort of board and tacked-on papers stood defiantly mocking him, waving in the wind with their letters and pulpy materials.

Hm... decisions, decisions. Sir Stigs tried to avoid decisions if he could. There were times where Sir Stigs had camped out at crossroads for days in order to choose a road to take. There was never a right choice, was there? In the end he always found a reason to take a road before another, perhaps to follow a whimsical leaf in the wind or away from a band of vengeful bandits on no particular path. it was too predictable to head back down the road he had just come from, wasn't it? Or was that the intention of the earth?

If only he could read.

He looked to the regal individual, sitting so gallantly upon his steed and with so many proteges. Sir Stigs looked to the floor for an uncomfortable moment, then internally shrugged.

"Where are you headed?" he stated bluntly, craning his neck nearly straight upward to look at the equestrian.

Tripartite Kingdom of Lidwo
As Amadeus was lead by the man through the alleyway and listened to his story, his companions were ever vigilant to make sure no harm came his way. Amadeus didn't comment on the man's words, not wanting to interrupt him. However, he often summoned different facial expressions as to show his reaction to what the man was saying. He would sometimes smile or nod, as a reminder he was still listening.

As they approached the so-called Sejm, Amadeus thought it would be inapposite to enter with all of his companions, the hardened warriors and mages who could represent a smaller war party. As such, before entering, he lifted his hand up to motion everyone to stop and said "It would be hardly proper for me to go in with the lot of you. Why, they'd think I'm here to slaughter the parliament!" He chuckled lightly. "Nehmed, I'd like you to come with me along with Sergei. The rest of you should wait for me here." Amadeus motioned to a tall warrior who was equipped with a sword and shield. Long and a little unkept hair ran down from his head, his fair skinned, clean shaven face betrayed the faintest traces of long-faded war paint.
"Yessir." He grunted and followed Amadeus.