Meeting With The Vanirhalla

[00:21] A perfect spot to set up camp, the seed of a settlement possibility.

The young lad turned his attention towards the nearby building with ponder, perhaps he should speak with the owners first to settle here in this barren land.

Except the part of the oasis with life growing through the ground, he pondered.

Who are these people in the desert? They've a proper building and all.

Making friends with them sure is a good idea...
(Damien C. Landerge)
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[01:25] Through the dusts of the sands, a silhouette of an unknown person slowly makes a stop in front of the building he had discover from a survey previously, reaching the place.

His right hand knocked against the door, to get the attention of anyone living within or around the place.
(Damien C. Landerge)
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[01:37] There'd be a small amount of noise from inside the building, but the most obvious source of noise comes from the top of the building. The slow approach of footsteps.

Before long, he'd see a face peer over the edge of the building down at him. An older woman, her lower jaw seems mostly strips of metal and bandages, her eyes are strange. Milky and blind appearing, but they stare at Damien purposely. After a moment, they gleam, her voice emanating from her with a synthetic, purposeful sound.

"It's not often that we have visitors here, what brings you here, stranger?"
(Ragnhild Gunnr)
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[01:42] The young boy looked up, what a tall place for a woman to be standing to peak with him... Regardless, it was time for him to explain the situation.

"For many moons, we were chased from our continent, driven away from our land by wars raging across." A single pause given, the young boy turned to the waters, pointing at them.

"We have sailed far from a distant continent seeking for a place to rebuild our fallen home, but unfortunately this barren land was not unoccupied, there were already people living here and now I am speaking to one."

A pause, made.

"I would like to talk about developing this land into something far more prosperous, the beautiful golden sands after all needs enough people to flourish it with prosperity!" A speech is made, who was this boy?

His attire seemed different from the Vanirhallan woman, his attire is closer to the people who lived in deserts, thin clothes, he is used to the environment of the sands too.

"If you have the time to discuss with agreements, that is, if you agree with having neighbors too of course!" He added.
(Damien C. Landerge)
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[01:51] the woman's eyes remain the same, glowing, silver pools. After a moment she jumps down to the sands next to him, sending a small plume of sand around her.

She's actually shorter than the young man, but is clearly much older than him. Burn scars lingering over her face, and wear of years in the sands and other, harsh climates in effect. "..."

"Come, inside. We can speak around the fire, young one."
(Ragnhild Gunnr)
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[01:56] Inside the building, it was much more comfortable than it looks outside, clearly a perfect spot for people to rest in and everything else related to it.

"You have a pretty comfortable place." He complimented, the Vanir's design is new to him after all, everything felt so unique, Damien never had anything similar from where he came, it's all just desert and sandstones.

"We are looking to form a cooperative agreements with your people, to prevent any conflicts from occurring between you and us, but we may discuss further about sharing the land."

He stated.
(Damien C. Landerge)
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[01:56] * You have been awarded 10 Roleplay Points! *
[02:05] The woman sits down on a stool near the fire. Still eyeing Damien carefully.

She hadn't seen this man before, and none had contested the Vanirhallan's grasp on the desert since their arrival... "We've dwelled here since we landed in this desert, nearly a decade and a half ago. Perhaps a bit more, my memory is a touch fuzzy now."

"I'd love to simply cooperate. I want to simply work together. But...you happen to speak to one of the last of my people. Thus, I must be somewhat...possessive. To keep my people safe."

"Why should we cooperate to begin with? Why share these sands?"
(Ragnhild Gunnr)
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[02:05] Ragnhild seems eager to drill right to business.
(Ragnhild Gunnr)
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[02:11] Finally, the young boy sat on the stool with great ponder, will this talk work? This is slightly making him nervous but he is a strong hearted kid, he can talk his way through if things go sour.

These Vanirhallans are after all, very aggressive sometimes, "I figured, the Desert, despite having you and your people living within it, it lacks manpower, and I saw so many opportunities that can be built on top of it, if we work together, if we unite, if we share the land, we might form our own nation."

With each points given, he poked his index finger into his other hand's palm, the debate will continue to go on, as long as Ragnhild extends the discussion further.

"We are the remnants of war, we want to rebuild our land, and you'll want to bring more people into joining yours as well, I assume? Together, we can make these happen."
(Damien C. Landerge)
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[02:20] "...And what would a rebuilding of your lands look like? These sands are not infinite, and the Oasis will not support more than one city. Not easily. Not without advancements." She leans forward. "If we were to share these sands how you want, we would be sharing the burden of creating a land for our people, as you said."

"So what do your people wish?" Ragnhild's voice is even, it almost feels emotionless...but it carries a hard edge to it. Lacking the usual easy, motherly tone she'd taken to lately.

This was a scenario she wouldn't allow herself to fail in, after all. "And what do you have? People? Resources? Knowledge? Alliances?"
(Ragnhild Gunnr)
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[02:28] "The rebuilding of our land will look like a place you see today, I've seen a city filled with smog in the air, factories working with automations that hurts the air." However, he paused there.

"However, we on the other hand would like to limit our production to keep our air clean." He stated, it is not an impossible idea to be made but it surely will be difficult with the current manpower the two sides have.

"I do not have that many people as of now, but I have the ability to convince people to join us through words, the knowledge to plan and foresee possibilities and opportunities around these deserts." He answered.

As for the Oasis, "The Oasis may be limited but with proper methods, we may collect rainwaters when it comes using anything that is capable of holding them, such as a reservoir, we may treat the seawater to become safe for us to consume." He paused yet again.

"And since you've mentioned advancements, we may work together to develop new techniques and technologies when the time has come, perhaps even strategies to accomplish a goal without the use of many resources."
(Damien C. Landerge)
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[02:35] She stares. Taking this in, and nodding. Her face doesn't betray much, but she takes a breath. "And what of religion?"

"If we're to join together as you seem to be suggesting, we must be cohesive as a group. And while the talks we have had for our lands has allowed people to worship as they wish...but I am ultimately a priestess, and the Triumvirant-our gods, are important to our people. If you would be unwiling to live with our people like that, then this would die in it's infancy."
(Ragnhild Gunnr)
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[02:38] "Religion?" His face turned straight towards Ragnhild, he pondered for a moment, the child never once worshipped anything within his life, he only lived for survival.

"Please do, teach us your ways to make it work, but I cannot guarantee that the people of those I will bring in from other settlements would not believe in anything such as I." A single pause given, "Unless they are allowed to worship what they worship in private homes." Such a simple solution was given to the Vanirhallan woman.

A smile eventually formed over his face, he is interested in the teachings of these new people.
(Damien C. Landerge)
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[02:47] "...I simply needed to know if the people you journeyed here with held a staunch religion." She nods, seeming to relax a bit.

There's few true allies to her people. There's few that she can call a Vanirhallan. Ultimately, an actual alliance such as what's being proposed would be fantastic...and it's not sounding too problematic. "As I said. People may worship as they wish, but our people are firm in their faith. It's not simply a part of the lives of many, it is their lives, it reveals itself in every aspect of it."

"Hel, the original plans we had drafted for how the city would potentially rule itself, included the church being a part of the council. The Triumvirate the basis for the three seats..."

"Obviously, such things will need to be revisited, if this goes forward."
(Ragnhild Gunnr)
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[02:51] "I see, that explanation is clearer now." The young boy commented before pausing, he gave the woman a brief nod.

"It is something that can become an agreement to my end, as long as the people are allowed to, there shouldn't be any issues unless one among the many starts to disagree, which I doubt would be as long as they are allowed to do what they want with their religion." He answered, pausing for a while.

"We will let how the people will decide the best, with our approval of course, as of now the system of the Triumvirate is something that I do not disagree with, with more people handling matters are better." Truly, the likes of Achyon and Osrona with only a single seat at the top, brought forth corruption.

How shameful.
(Damien C. Landerge)
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[03:01] She nods. "To speak more on that system, there would be three seats as I said. Representing each of the three gods of the Triumvirate. The seat of Kark-or Spirit would be the church, the seat of Garjling-or Body, would be city planning, economy, laborers, internal affairs and so on. The seat of Vaalmoora-or Mind, would handle external affairs, culture, research, and so on."

She leans back. "It's vague, we've only discussed some of the details. But that is what we had so far."
(Ragnhild Gunnr)
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[03:05] One name that is familiar was spoken through the young Drakanite's mind, "Garjling…" Such an irony, even on this land the dragon is worshipped.

This outcome... Has become much more into favor.

The young boy fell silent for a while, there is a curious thinking crawling within his mind, "Are you perhaps, a Drakanite if I may ask?"
(Damien C. Landerge)
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[03:12] She shakes her head. "No, I'm not one of the Great Dragon's daughter's. The Lorekeeper had been, before he perished. As had another of our leaders before her death, and his apprentice before...her death." Ragnhild sighs.

"Though, if you know of the Fireblooded. I cannot promise our worship of him are akin to theirs...our groups have quite the disagreement, over it."
(Ragnhild Gunnr)
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[03:14] "No, I do not know about the Fireblooded well, only heard the name when I was surveying the continent." He claimed, with a small pause and curiosity growing within his mind.

"What differs their way of worshipping the Great Dragon compared to your people, if I may ask?"
(Damien C. Landerge)
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[03:17] "...Well, the main difference, is they claim Garjling to be a divine spirit. Something that was never mortal. Whereas we claim that he began as mortal, before being blessed by the Divine Spirits to act as a bridge between man and dragon, and rising to godhood from there." She nods. "The Fireblooded, consider such connotations as sacrilege, to imply that Garjling could have once been mortal."
(Ragnhild Gunnr)
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[03:19] The difference between the Fireblooded and the Vanirhallan does not show a major change, the young boy nodded in acknowledgement, he understood the difference quite easily.

"I see, though I suppose yours make much more sense in worshipping Garjling, I would love to learn about him, your way.... As we attempt this new development of a settlement." He answered.
(Damien C. Landerge)
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[03:25] "...I suppose." She nods. "I'll eventually speak more of him, I'm sure. But now Is not the time for a sermon."

"Now. As I said earlier, do you have any resources? How many do you have following you?"
(Ragnhild Gunnr)
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[03:27] Two of his fingers came out, "Two people agreed to follow me in developing this so far, I've made more acquaintance from the Academy but they are not yet confirmed to become a part of this." He paused.

"As for resources, we will be working on them once everyone's brought together, once we've come to agreements in sharing the land, we have some things in common after all, it surprised me."
(Damien C. Landerge)
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[03:33] She gives a slow nod. "...I've two Magi of notable strength, a dozen more men that are weak Magi warriors, and non-magi that are left from the original fleet."

"And what of you? Where do you see yourself fitting in this city?"
(Ragnhild Gunnr)
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[03:38] "I see myself." He paused.

"As a growing young blood for this city, surprisingly enough my presence allowed me to convince people above my caliber." He shrugged, "Perhaps it's a gift for having the blood blessed by the dragons to flow within me."

"My arrival to this land did not bring as many as you, but it is not an issue when you can bring people in." He added.

"You may use your Magi of notable strength to train us, to build more people capable of you, to improvise one another." The young boy completely stood up for what he is about to say.

"Alone, we are weak.

But together, we are strong." His claim focuses on unity.
(Damien C. Landerge)
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[03:42] "..." She nods, noting this away. "...And aside from our cooperation. How would you plan on proceeding? On starting to 'settle' this area? Or what if we were not here?"
(Ragnhild Gunnr)
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[03:49] "In the scenario where you weren't here, we would've started from the scratch, no one to reach out to, a struggle of our own, we will progress ourselves slowly with no rush." He paused, nodding.

"But we do not need to struggle that much now that we have the opportunity to cooperate no?"
(Damien C. Landerge)
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[03:52] "Mhm...but do you have any solid plans? For securing resources in the area? For gaining hearts and minds?"

"Symbols for people to rally behind? Goals for them to strive for. Heights and strength to attain, expeditions, and surveys to help us to catch up to where the Fireblooded or the Moxtli stand?"

A small shift in her language is noticeable, 'us' being used much more.
(Ragnhild Gunnr)
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[03:56] "And that's where my brilliant plan comes in, Moxtli is by far the best place to obtain resources, we may form a relationship with them for the time when we are developing our settlement."

The boy nodded, "The people that I've gathered so far, are going to focus on prospering their pockets with coins, in which will be used for trading, we can buy resources from existing settlements and whatnot..." A flick of his finger was made.

"However! I would love to introduce myself with the people of Moxtli on my next meeting, do you think they are okay with having a Vanirhallan with?"
(Damien C. Landerge)
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[04:04] She nods. "...We've had a friendship with the Moxtli for quite some time. I've been living there with my children for some time, for the safety that they provide."

"I'll have ot speak to the others with me about this 'alliance'." She adds, standing. "It's nothing solid as of yet, we've our own plans and such. Though we could likely use your people's experience with the sands and the extra manpower."

"Until then, do not count yourself as such, alright? And for another thing...if you do, you should know that while we're attempting to stay away from conflict for the time being-the Fireblooded have made it clear that we're enemies with each other. It's possibly only a matter of time before they try to claim the heads of my people. The rest of the nations-while I may not like some of them, are ones we're avoiding conflict wit at all costs due to how we'd be decimated by any sizable army."
(Ragnhild Gunnr)
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[04:08] "That would certainly be a good thing to know that you've already made friendly terms with the Moxtli, though the Fireblooded…" He pondered for a moment.

"In that case, let us stay within your desert for the time being in the form of camps, or even allow us to live within the caves to store resources as preparations of our future if must." He paused.

"Allow us to bolster our numbers to aid you in reducing the threats of the Fireblooded folks you speak of, with this, you'll have at least some preparations against them." He suggested.
(Damien C. Landerge)
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[04:11] "...You give me something of an idea, actually." Ragnhild hums. "For how we could fund our people for the time being."

"The few people we have left are sailors by trade, and acquainted to fighting on boats and raids..." She paces a bit, thinking.

"...Tell me, how do you feel about piracy?"
(Ragnhild Gunnr)
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[04:15] "Piracy..." The word itself isn't something that common to be used in the land he once was, although robbery and banditry were common.

"It rarely happened back when I used to live in my old place, but I do not think it would be an issue if it.. Benefits us, wouldn't it? Sure some people might see it as a little bit of a crime." He paused.

"But we do what we must for survival, as long as we are not caught." The boy shrugged, he paid no mind in stealing stuff.
(Damien C. Landerge)
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[04:23] "The only people who might call it objectionable would be the Osronans or the Fireblooded. The Moxtli remain neutral with the Deep Company, and that band of pirates is outright allies with Achyon."

She turns towards Damien. "I know a man who was once a pirate already, a man of Vaalmoora. We'd have a crew, people experienced with sailing and fighting, and we'd already started to make plans to reclaim the flagship of the Aesirheim fleet that was scuttled."

"After that...you mentioned caves? Well...I've heard rumors that the caves systems in the desert are merely scratching the surface. If we explored, we'd have a place to store what we'd steal, a place to house crew and men away from the sun, until we have what we need to build." Ragnhild sounds like she's partially spitballing, rattling off ideas that may be half formed.
(Ragnhild Gunnr)
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[04:25] "Then I believe we wouldn't have too many issues in running our business while we build up our land slowly." A smile was formed over the visage of the young boy, this surely went over his expectation.

"Indeed, there were many caves, some were blocked with unnatural barriers, as if someone built them, perhaps contacting the people who might've done it can also bolster our forces." It was merely a suggestion.

"I on the other hand would love to aid in reclaiming the flagship of your fleet." Somehow, they must have the flagship for greater chance of success! Damien sees this as more opportunities.
(Damien C. Landerge)
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[04:29] "Perhaps..." She chuckles. "But the hour grows late, and I've children to go tend to."

"I'll try to speak to my fellows about you, and about this new idea of ours. But-if you happen to find a man named Erik, or a man named Bjorgsen, tell them Ragnhild sent you. And then tell them of this meeting."
(Ragnhild Gunnr)
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[04:31] "Very well..." The boy extended his hand forth, offering a hand to be shaken with.

"I will start gathering my people to form some camps around the desert as well, and when I find Bjorgsen or Erik, I will tell them of the meeting."
(Damien C. Landerge)
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[04:33] The woman grasps, and shakes his hand. Calloused hands rough and firm, littered with faint scars. "...We never did properly exchange names? Appologies. I am Ragnhild of Clan Gunnr, Priestess of the Triumvirant, Last and Weakest of the Aesirheim Fleet."

She rattles off the series of titles without blinking, her lips tugging into a smile.
(Ragnhild Gunnr)
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[04:34] Come to think of it, Ragnhild reminded him about introduction.

"True... We haven't introduced properly for some reason, I am Damien 'Cliff' Landerge, it's been a pleasure meeting with you, Priestess." He introduced.
(Damien C. Landerge)
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[04:36] Ragnhild Gunnr says, "Well-Met. You're welcome to stay within the outpost, there's beds in the back, and Van'ir over there can fetch you food and drink."
[04:36] Damien C. Landerge says, "Good to know."
[04:37] Ragnhild Gunnr says, "Otherwise...rest well."
[04:37] Damien C. Landerge says, "We'll meet again at some other time."