[Giant's Hand] The Balcony

Nestor followed Sarita mostly keeping quiet as they walked, thinking of how to frame what he was going to say. He could of course explain things precisely as he explained them to the Namgyel fellow, but whereas Namgyel was just a compassionate fellow Saso was a woman with ruling to do. The Monk sat with Sarita as she motioned for him to do so with his staff upon his lap. The expanse before him was quite beautiful and it did help him concentrate. He was momentarily quiet before at last beginning. "Well, Saso, it is a difficult thing. This land of Audria from which I hale is... undergoing some political issues. A man has declared himself King and this was popular with neither the people nor the clergy, though the nobility has decided to largely side with the King. A civil war is on the horizon, the plans are already set in motion and since my arrival it may have already began — I have not yet had a chance to correspond with my seminary. But though it is an honourable and noble goal one must set aside contingencies. The territories that will stay loyal to the King possess the majority of the nation's industry from smiths to fletchers to matchmakers, not to speak of the fact he has built himself a considerable army under the noses of all. Now not to bore you with the specifics of our statehood the core of the matter is we may lose. Should that happen, many people will be under threat of extermination be they man woman or child."

The Monk stopped to mutter a small curse at how things were, looking up to now more precisely matter Sarita's reaction to his words. "Toragana has been selected as the best land to flee to should the King persevere. So, thousands upon thousands will leave and cross to here. Whole towns and villages emptied and moved over to a new place. I am here because I want to make sure the movement is as smooth as possible."

Of course, now he had to clarify why the migration might not be smooth. "The people of Audria will not adapt to a nomadic lifestyle. It is as simple as that. When I sailed here I noted a small natural habour to the far East that was devoid of settlement, and I believe it is there that their first settlement will be. It was far enough from other peoples to avoid direct conflict. But that initial settlement will last them maybe a year before already they want more space, before they already reverse their demographic trends with eight child families. They will spread in all directions, they will burn the grasslands that the prey of nomad people eat and build aqueducts before ploughing up the land and farming it. Unfortunately they cannot conceive that anyone would even consider living differently, and slowly but surely they will turn their surroundings into an image of what they lost. But that is not even where the issues will begin, Saso. They will not yield to any authority but themselves, and from what I have already heard of some Khan fellow that is already a reason for bloodshed. Beyond that they will on the harbour build a port which may well attract a kind of people that on the mainland are known as adventurers who many may consider an unwelcome arrival and may easily blame the port that brought them in for their arrival."

Well, it seemed he did a decent job, didn't he? "Now, here is perhaps where I need your help. My cartographic reference of the land is outdated and more or less useless, almost as empty as my knowledge of the land. I need to know what lands near that harbour are unsettled and ungrazed so that they may be the next settlements to at least delay conflict, I need insight of the region's geopolitics to understand how to prevent yet another war that will end only in the annihilation of one or another side."

Nestor laughed with little humour as Sarita told him that Toragana might not be the most hospitable place to flee to. "Oh, believe me, we weren't born yesterday. Before Toragana we considered Helmfirth, a land filled with the undead and associated filth, the issue is that the land has gone to the mists and we simply cannot get to it. There is of course unclaimed territory in the open lands but it will be far too easy for the King to seek us out Water is the ultimate defence we need and we shan't be hosted in Tawakoshi. Thus, fortunately or not, we look here."

Satisfied that they had come to some common ground Nestor raised a questioning finger. "On the topic of knowledge, I am curious, what is the full extent of your position, your role here? Pardon me if this is improper but you do not quite give the impression of a monarch."

"Yes, a trade. I shall oblige naturally, just a moment." The Monk said, getting now that more information wouldn't be forthcoming without him first obliging his part of the unspoken contract. He rummaged in the sacking he'd call robes for a while, until eventually he produced two scrolls and two books, placing them gingerly on his lap. "Even with the help of Father above, it is not too easy to carry much knowledge outside of that in my head. This however should come in useful. This is a codex upon my Fatherland of Audria including history and some more current events. The second is similar save for the fact it focuses on the rest of the continental overworld." He said, before indicating the scrolls. "One on Helmfirth - a quite nasty business that is no longer pertinent but an interesting read nevertheless - and another on Tawakoshi. If you or others here speaker older languages then I may be able to return soon with more such texts." Satisfied that he did his part, Nestor turned back to what he was interested in.

"So, how grand is this military force? If the Khan is such a great threat as I am lead to believe why isn't this used? Surely if this Giant's Hand is the amalgam of effort of all people in Toragana then it would be able to put an end to such a menace? Or if it is not sufficient, then I find it hard to believe such a force would have a pretense of honour great enough to resist just plundering this city." Nestor considered that maybe he should first try to think in the way of the locals before asking questions, but internally countered with the possibility that it is by asking questions he could better understand them.

"Beyond that, where would you suggest a humble Monk as myself go to so I may see Toragana for what it really is — the best and the worst."