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An Unfortunate Reality ---&RPaward

Posted: Sun Feb 19, 2023 11:00 am
by Theresa
Ely edit 25 Mar 2023:

1-6 qps, depending on length and quality.

Potential +1 qp: if part of a series: o

Total: 1 qps

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I had never been to Cairhien or Maerone before but I had heard there were many refugees and those in need, so I packed my bags, purchased some clothing, and cooked some food to bring along for the trip.

The Cairhien Road
Here, at the end of the Cairhien Road, the outskirts of Maerone are
clearly visible to the west, partly surrounded by river. Nothing can go
north, as the banks of the River Alguenya are far too steep. Far beyond
this river, on the other side, there are some low hills in the distance,
unlike the land to the south which is a rolling plain of grasses and
copses, with occasional vineyards dotted here and there. Cairhien is
towards the east, following the road.
[ obvious exits: E S ]
Zone: Maerone
A ragged looking man asks for spare coins.
A sad refugee makes a trek for safety.
A gray palfrey prances skittishly nearby, being ridden by you.


A refugee murmurs 'War and fighting everywhere. Where am I to go?'

A refugee notices your look and hurries off toward the river.

Theresa hurries toward the man, ‘Sir, wait…let me help you.’

Theresa catches up and grabs his shoulder, ‘I am only here to help so let me.’

Theresa gives some clothing, food, and water reassuring him that more aide will come.

Turning back to the man looking for coin Theresa states and this is for you giving a few crowns and supplies.

A beggar knuckles his forehead, honoring you.
A beggar says 'Thankin you, thankin you kindly.'

A Dusty Track
The three-storey buildings facing each other across this part of the road
through the village both have barrels, empty bottles and besotted drunks
strewn outside their front doors. The unmistakable sounds of inebriation
come from inside: raucus shouts, dreadful singing and drunken yells.
Periodically, drunks emerge from these bars, hurling abuse at the locals or
jeering at the female villagers as they pass by. Most locals avoid these
inns, gladly leaving this part of town for the main village to the west or
for the other part of the village to the east.
[ obvious exits: N E S W ]
The corpse of a refugee is lying here. [2]
A gray palfrey prances skittishly nearby, being ridden by you.

Theresa hurried over to the first body checking for any life by turning the body onto its back.

Theresa began shaking in anger and sadness noticing the dried blook already from around the heart.

Theresa slowly walked over to the second body realizing this one had a knife wound like the other across the throat.


People dying in the street! It was worse here than I thought. How could there be corpses just left, with no one to put them to rest? I mourned, and still mourn for those innocent people that never deserved this. Nonetheless, I had to continue to see what other atrocities had fallen upon this city.


A Dusty Track
This, the center of the village, once hosted the village well, which is
now disused and ignored by the locals. Womenfolk carrying groceries are a
frequent sight, as the main village shop is just to the west and overlooks
the well. Most of the carts going through here make their way northwards,
whilst the majority of people on feet go towards the south. The village
road continues to the east.
[ obvious exits: N E S W ]
The corpse of a beggar is lying here.
A gray palfrey prances skittishly nearby, being ridden by you.
Olver wanders around, looking for a horse of his own, riding a gray palfrey.

Theresa walks over the beggar’s body, hoping to find any sign of life but does not.

Theresa wipes tears from her eyes before standing up and beginning to go search for what is going on.

Another corpse. How could this be, when he had just asked for some help earlier on? I had gone back to Cairhien to gather the supplies and then this. I continued to venture around the town looking for ways to assist.


A Tarred-Timber Dock
Iron-banded casks, oak barrels and colored bottles surrounded by a
basket-work of plaited straw are neatly arranged in methodical piles on
this northern dock, which appears to be meticulously planned and ordered.
Sweating sailors heave the wine to the barges, which are neatly lined along
the dock. The Erinin River flows to the south of this dock, and the village
of Maerone is just a sort walk away, up the hill.
[ obvious exits: S U ]
A one person canoe rests on the ground. [2]
A sad refugee makes a trek for safety.

l refugee
Haggard, exhausted, the pain in her eyes betrays the anguish, desperation
and sheer fear at having to leave her well-loved home in a hurry. Shoeless
and filthy, she carries no possessions and has no money.

A refugee is in excellent condition.
A refugee is healthy.

Theresa says 'Ma'am, let me help you.'

A Tarred-Timber Dock
Iron-banded casks, oak barrels and colored bottles surrounded by a
basket-work of plaited straw are neatly arranged in methodical piles on
this northern dock, which appears to be meticulously planned and ordered.
Sweating sailors heave the wine to the barges, which are neatly lined along
the dock. The Erinin River flows to the south of this dock, and the village
of Maerone is just a sort walk away, up the hill.
[ obvious exits: S U ]
A one person canoe rests on the ground. [2]
A sad refugee makes a trek for safety.

It starts to rain.
Theresa gives a gray riding dress of fine linen, a cloak of thick wool, and a pair of soft, light shoes to a refugee.

give skin refugee
Theresa gives a water skin to a refugee.

take plate pack
Theresa gets a plate of yellow peppers and pork from a backpack.

give plate refugee
Theresa gives a plate of yellow peppers and pork to a refugee.

Theresa puts her hand on the refugee’s shoulder telling her, 'Eat what you need, I will continue to bring more supplies as much as I can.'

Theresa gives a soft hug and begins to walk back up the dock.

Maerone Groceries
This large grocery overlooks the village well and is in a prime position
to catch the traffic through the town. All manner of provisions line the
shelves of this, Maerone's main shop. There is barely space for the sign on
the wall, which shows the opening times. It seems to be a prosperous
business, as the shop is full of stock and well maintained. Maerone is out
the doorway to the east.
[ obvious exits: E ]
A sad refugee makes a trek for safety.
A merchant guard eyes you warily, intent on keeping order.
A merchant guard eyes you warily, intent on keeping order.
A grocer stocks some shelves.

A refugee startles and looks around frantically.

A refugee murmurs 'War and fighting everywhere. Where am I to go?'

A refugee notices your look and hurries off toward the river.

Theresa says 'It is ok, I will try and help you.'

Theresa says 'This war has been awful.'

l refugee
Haggard, exhausted, the pain in her eyes betrays the anguish, desperation
and sheer fear at having to leave her well-loved home in a hurry. Shoeless
and filthy, she carries no possessions and has no money.

A refugee is in excellent condition.
A refugee is healthy.

Theresa gives a red dress, a cloak of thick wool, and a pair of soft, light shoes to a refugee.

Theresa gives a water skin to a refugee.

Theresa gives a plate of yellow peppers and pork to a refugee.

Theresa says 'Let others know I will keep bringing supplies this way.'


A Dusty Track
A dusty road through the village works its way carefully between the
cottage gardens, of which there is one to the south. A cottage stands at
the end of the path, and it looks like any of the cottages in the village.
A tall, three-storey building stands to the north, with its sign flapping
in the wind. The village road continues to the east and west.
[ obvious exits: N E S W ]
A gray palfrey prances skittishly nearby.
A poor, solemn villager walks by.

l villager
Dressed in plain clothes, which are carefully mended despite their otherwise
common appearance, this man watches everything around him with stern and
humorless eyes. His face is cleanly shaven, and his body is strong, even if his
situation is poor.

A villager is in excellent condition.
A villager is healthy.

a villager is using:

The Fal Dara alarm horn sounds loudly.

Theresa says 'Are you ok sir?'

A villager leaves east. >>
The sun rises. Starting tic timer.

A Dusty Track
All manner of folk rush through Maerone, eager to get to the docks to the
west, in flight from the civil wars. The gate through the high hedge to the
north shows a Wooden-Shingled Cottage, which is surrounded by a small
cottage garden. The garden appears to have had more attention than what is
left of the village green to the south, now used as the main road to Tear.
Far to the east, the haze of the dust sometimes settles a bit to allow a
view to the end of the village.
[ obvious exits: N E S W ]
A poor, solemn villager walks by.

Theresa says 'Are you ok sir?'

Theresa slowly nods as the villager says, 'Yes'.'

Theresa says ‘Please let me know if you need anything when you see me.’

The Fox and Goose
Well-known for the regularity that Gleemen visit this inn, the Fox and
Goose is one of the better establishments in the town, relatively roomy and
clean. A massive inglenook fireplace dominates one wall, with
leather-covered benches providing a comfortable seat for travellers to
relax and listen to the Gleeman's tales. Maerone's main road is back to the
north.
[ obvious exits: N ]
A tall, well-dressed noble strolls arrogantly by.
A young woman stands here.
A merchant guard eyes you warily, intent on keeping order.
A merchant guard eyes you warily, intent on keeping order.
A bartender serves customers with a greedy smile.

l noble
With his nose literally stuck up into the air, a nobleman clad in expensive
silks with thread-of-gold embroidery strolls past you with little more
acknowledgment than an effeminate sniff of distaste. He is by no means a
handsome man and is remarkably frail in stature.

A noble is in excellent condition.
A noble is healthy.

a noble is using:

Theresa says 'You should be ashamed of yourself.'

Theresa glares at the noble ‘You look wealthy, you could do so much for these people, and yet you do nothing!'

Theresa says 'No wonder this place is falling apart. No one cares’ as she storms off out of the bar.

A Dusty Track
Snaking its way between houses and gardens, the road through Maerone
gradually broadens out here as it becomes the Cairhien Road just to the
north. To the east, beyond the hedge and through the field, is the Reader's
Retreat, somewhat remote from the rest of the village. A simple cottage
made of brick and stone, fronted by a well-tended garden, lies to the west.
[ obvious exits: N E S W ]
A gray palfrey prances skittishly nearby, being ridden by you.
A stout man follows behind his commanding officer here, riding a dust-colored gelding.
A stout man follows behind his commanding officer here, riding a dust-colored gelding.
A stout man follows behind his commanding officer here, riding a dust-colored gelding.
A stout man follows behind his commanding officer here, riding a dust-colored gelding.
A haughty Cairhienin officer guards Cairhien from his mount, riding a dust-colored gelding.
A merchant guard eyes you warily, intent on keeping order.
A merchant guard eyes you warily, intent on keeping order.

l officer
Riding tall and proud, this man of otherwise average height surveys the
nation of Cairhien, protecting the city and his King from any possible
harm. His men follow him steadfastly, waiting for the signal to charge.

A Cairhienin cavalry commander is in excellent condition.
A Cairhienin cavalry commander is healthy.

a Cairhienin cavalry commander is using:

Theresa says 'Sir, there were some strange, murderous men to the south, please keep an eye out and make sure they do not harm anyone.'

Theresa stares at the commander as he gives no notice to what she says, raising her voice, ‘There are corpses in this town and you dilly dally here doing nothing! Is this only to say you are here “protecting” or are you going to do something? Just in my short time there I have heard rumors of greymen lurking about! Do something!’

Theresa says 'Since you are not concerned, I will continue to bring goods to the village to assist those in need. Let me know if I can do anything else.'

I had heard there was a Wisdom house within the town, so I went to look for it hoping someone would be there.

A Wisdom's House
Simple yet clean, this typical wisdom's home has all the telltale signs of a
busy owner. Glass jars containing every imaginable color of salve and cream
are arranged according to some mysterious scheme on the profusion of oak-hewn
shelves by one of the walls. The rest of the room is dominated by a large
well-stocked open fire nestled at the bottom of a tall brick chimney, which
reaches all the way up to the roof. Two ornately carved wooden benches with
embroidered cushions face the fireplace, perfectly positioned to give views
over the surrounding area through the large window. A large bell hangs in one
corner, which the Wisdom tolls when she holds a surgery in Maerone.
[ obvious exits: S ]
A chunk of sandstone lies on the ground.
An old bell hangs here.

A Wisdom's House
Simple yet clean, this typical wisdom's home has all the telltale signs of a
busy owner. Glass jars containing every imaginable color of salve and cream
are arranged according to some mysterious scheme on the profusion of oak-hewn
shelves by one of the walls. The rest of the room is dominated by a large
well-stocked open fire nestled at the bottom of a tall brick chimney, which
reaches all the way up to the roof. Two ornately carved wooden benches with
embroidered cushions face the fireplace, perfectly positioned to give views
over the surrounding area through the large window. A large bell hangs in one
corner, which the Wisdom tolls when she holds a surgery in Maerone.
[ obvious exits: S ]
A chunk of sandstone lies on the ground.
An old bell hangs here.


Theresa walks to the window to take in the view.

Theresa lowers her head slightly, saddened by the view of the city.

Theresa says 'Light, something must be done here.'

Theresa walks around peering into each glass jar, studying the salves and creams.

Theresa speaks to herself as runs her finger along the jars, carefully inspecting the various labels, 'What skill these ladies have.'

Theresa pauses every so often, holding a jar up to the light, peering inside.

Theresa places a jar back in its place, turning it slightly so it faces the correct way.

Theresa examines the house for any sign of someone being here recently.

Theresa says 'I hope nothing bad happened here.'

Theresa lowers her head, letting out a sigh.

I learned a great deal here. These people not only needed help, but protection. Not being much of a fighter myself I have begun to try and find ways to get some sort of fighter down here to keep the streets safe. This will be difficult to always have someone around, but it will be better than nothing. Since then, I have continued to provide services to the people of Maerone bringing clothing, food, clean water, and even soap I learned to craft from an old woman in Arad Doman. I hope to gather more people to my cause and eventually lift up the poor in this town.