[Freebuild] Solatium Part II: Reunion in Veniera

[TalusMoonbreaker]

Previously

Spoiler

L'inizio

The Tiger of Illaryian

Le Conseguenze

L'Ascensione dell'Architetto

Solatium Part 1

 

"It's been some time hasn't it?" Marsilia said to us wistfully. The town of Veniera was beautiful in the sunset with its rolling plains of vinyards and the High Ridge Mountains in the background. The first time Ilazio had been there was the day of Marsilia and Ristoro's wedding all those months ago, before the dark times, before my vengeance. It had been a splendid time. Marsilia had returned with my mother for a short time, but it had been a turbulent time. Now, finally there was peace...

"Indeed," I replied. "Well, now that I've attended to the dwarven delegation from Highcrag, let's hear your tale my cousin, Salvadore."

Salvadore had returned recently from the far off city of Barqa in Kaliphlin. He had missed the assassination of my father and my vengeance and my rise to power as Rego. But his journey home hadn't been entirely straightforward. 

Salvadore's Tale

“Ti l’æ desveggiou? Are you awake?” I heard someone say, my vision fuzzy. What seemed to be a grey bearded sailor and an orc stood over him.

Why was he on the ground again? Why was the sun so bright? And what was with the ringing noise in his ears?

Once my dizzied state abated, I tried to stand myself upright but fell back to the stone pavement of the quay. Again the figures began to talk. I could barely hear them. Their tongue seemed similar to Varlyrian but somehow different. This was confusing. I remembered being on a ship. 

Where did the ship come from again? Where am I now? 

Maybe these weren’t important questions. 

“It’s a miracle he survived the ocean wearing armor. Only fools swim clad in maile... or dwarves. Should’ve sank,” a man mused, he sounded like an old sailor. 

“He’s not very good at waking up,” a gruff voice remarked. He sounded like an orc of the wastelands. 

The orc and sailor watched as the poor lad squirmed beneath them trying to stand up. It was like watching a fish fresh from the net longing for the sea. Except this was a human, and humans generally aren’t suited for aquatic life.

“Right, I’ll help him up," the sailor said. "Ye go fetch Valtýr and Marco.”

“Right, I’ll help him up," the sailor said. "Ye go fetch Valtýr and Marco.”

“Aye, aye capitan!” The orc said, with a mock salute before he departed for the narrow lane beyond the clocktower. 

I tried to ask where I was now that it was just him and the old sailor. It didn’t come out quite right.

Maybe my ears aren’t working? Or maybe they speak a different tongue here?

I then tilted his head to get a better view of the place. Everything was so blurry but I could tell it was colourful here. Wherever here was. 

Everything was so blurry but I could tell it was colourful here. Wherever here was. 

Several minutes later, Bilg returned with Valtýr, a Kolgarí, traveler, and Marco, a retired sailor. 

“You kept his armor on?” Marco admonished the old sailor. “Scemmo!” 

Valtýr checked the man’s vitals and then helped Bilg with removing the armor.

“He must have been on a war ship,” Bilg said. “Could’ve been attacked by pirates.”

“Well, we all know that Captain Cockatrice has been prowling the waters from here to Abradule,” Marco replied. 

Salvadore groaned softly as they removed the armor. Why would they do that? What if a battle was about to happen? He’d need it then. 

“We should get him somewhere to rest,” Valtýr suggested. 

The rest assented, and they picked him up and carried him off from the quay.

                                                                                                                                                                     <><><><><><>One week later<><><><><><>

 

My eyes slowly opened as I took in my surroundings. The sound of the waves lapping on the quay could be heard all the way from the house upon the hill. The windows were kept open to let in fresh air. Outside was a vineyard on a steep incline overlooking the water. On the bedside table, there was a jug of watered-down wine and some fresh focaccia with olives. I got up from the bed and took a swig of the wine, it was sweet and refreshing. As he began eating, the door opened and a tall orc with sunburn skin entered the room. 

“Boña giornâ,” the orc greeted in a gruff baritone voice.

I guessed that my host was wishing me a good day. 

“Not to be rude, but who are you and where am I?” 

“Porto Nascosto. The hidden port. I am Bilg.”

“You speak funny,” I blurted. That was perhaps rude. This is why I don't politick unlike you, Ilazio. 

Bilg simply laughed. “You talk fancy. Far way from Illaryian, we are. Wrong coast!” 

The orc continued laughing for a few minutes. 

“Wrong coast?” I stammered. 

“Of course! We have more Gelato! Much better here methinks.”

He paused before continuing. Meanwhile, I was still trying to figure out how I was on the western coast and not the east. 

“You’re a funny one, scì? You almost make the sunburns hurt less.”   

Bilg looked behind and saw the older sailor walk into the room. He had an eyepatch on his left eye and a thick grey beard.

“Roberto? Come in.”

Roberto must be the name of the old sailor.

Roberto nodded to the orc and then turned to Salvadore as he closed the door leading to the stone staircase behind himself.

“You’re finally awake,” he said with a slight smile. His voice was husky. “I was worried that you wouldn’t make it.” 

“Where did I come from?”

“How should I know? We found you washed up on our quay a week ago,” Roberto responded. “I was going to ask you the same.” 

“I see.”

“What do you remember?” Roberto inquired.

“A ship. I was on a ship.”

“But not the port?”

I thought to myself for a moment, biting my bottom lip. I could remember some sand. Yes, lots of sand but that wasn’t conclusive. Indeed, too many cities had sand outside their gates. 

“No,” he finally replied.

Roberto sighed. “Well, do you at least remember your own name, lad?”

“Salvadore," responded. I mean, what fool forgets his own name?

Roberto paused. 

Does he recognise my name? How? We just met.

Bilg perked up. He suddenly opened up the drawer in the nightstand and began looking through a stack of letters. That amount of letters would draw fear out of even the most conniving lord in Illaryian. Roberto stood off to the side. 

But these people wouldn’t blackmail me, would they? 

He looked over. Bilg was staring in particular for a long moment. Salvadore only now realized how much the tall orc smelled of fish. Fishy indeed! It would be the perfect moment. He had no weapons or armor. He was at their mercy. Maybe being upfront was the best tact. 

“What are you going to do to me? What letter? You’re not pirates, are you?”

“Calm down, lad.”

 “Of course we’re pirates!” Bilg interjected, looking up from the letter. I looked mortified. 

Well, this complicates matters, I thought to myself. Pirates, as we all know, in Varlyrio are notorious for their ruthlessness and sadistic tendencies. 

“Well, if it makes you feel any better we mostly just steal gelato and wine,” Bilg said, trying to calm Salvadore down.

“What he means to say is that we shan't hurt you. It’s too much paperwork really and we have a reputation to uphold.”

“You sound more like mercenaries than pirates.”

Roberto gave a short laugh. 

“Be that as it may, we received an interesting letter from the Rego the other day. Now, it’s not every day a pirate gets a letter from the Rego you see. The peculiar thing is that it’s addressed to one Sir Salvadore Armando Moccenigo.”

“‘Tis my name,” Salvadore said. “I don’t recall ever being knighted by di Carlo or the old fellow, what’s his name?”

“Amancio“, Bilg supplied. “Though neither are Rego anymore.”

“What? I go away for only a year and we have a new one?”

“For now,” Roberto replied. “It’s your cousin at any rate.”

“Ilazio?” Salvadore scoffed. “No, my cousin is an architect in Cagliaveri…”

“You’ve missed a lot.”

“Infatti! Well, I suppose that explains why his sister-in-law told me to return to Varlyrio. Could I read this new letter?”

“Be my guest,” he said, passing the letter over to me. I unfolded it, his eye catching a golden seal with the crest of Varlyrio that the pirates must’ve already broken. 

“Don’t worry, lad. We didn’t read it, only the name on the back.”

Cugino,

Assuming you received Marsilia’s letter whilst in Barqa, I hope that you are now underway to Illarian. I have several personal matters which I wish to discuss with you upon your arrival. The most pertinent is your promotion to capitan of Il Nuovo Guardie Reale and the protection of my niece Aurelia.

Ilazio

Although the seal was one I hadn’t seen you, my cousin, use before, the very brief writing style seemed like you. Ilazio, you only write eloquently when trying to earn a contract or for business correspondences. That or you were in a hurry or were in danger!

“How did you get a hold of this?” I asked.

Brig and Roberto shared an uncomfortable glance at each other. I had a bad feeling that their possession of the letter was due to nefarious means. 

“Plunder!” Bilg replied more enthusiastically than one would expect of an embarrassed orc. 

“We were there for the gelato, not the mail,” Roberto said. “What the two were doing on the same ship, I couldn’t say why. We hit ‘er off the southern coast near Ostia, then high tailed it back before the storms.” 

“But why would Ilazio send his letter from Ostia, it’s not like he knew where I was. I don’t even know if he knew I sent Marsilia a response before leaving Barqa!” 

"Marsilia had told me the morning she received your response. She does live in our house after all, cugino!" Ilazio interrupted. 

"I see," said. "Now, no more interuptions!"

“Well, maybe he’s employed mages or Kolgari who can read the weather. It’d make sense that your ship got wrecked in the storm we barely escaped from. Must’ve been directed westward.”

Salvadore still looked quite baffled.

“Well,” said Bilg. “We wasteland orcs have shamans who can read the weather. Every Tuesday they read it in the market at Grahark. There’s only one way to see if weatherkolgari exist too.”

With that, Bilg moved towards the window. I suddenly jumped from the bed to avoid being squished by the orc. Leaning out of the window, Bilg seemed to be looking for something or someone? Then, he found it. 

“Hey parrot elf! I need your help.”

“What!?” Valtyr shouted back. It seemed to Salvadore that Valtýr didn’t sound too pleased at being summoned.

“Come up!” 

There was a pause before the Kolgari replied. 

“Why!?” he replied, exasperatedly.

“Just come!” Bilg begged. “I can’t explain while shouting. Hurts me throat.”

“Ok,” Valtýr replied, followed by audible curses in the Kolgari language. 

I got back onto the bed and squeezed his head out next to Bilg’s. The Kolgari was dressed in a green robe and had a colourful blue and gold hued parrot perched on his shoulders. He was walking towards the narrow staircase that led to Bilg’s house above the vineyards. He did not look particularly pleased. Bilg apologized as he squeezed his big head through the window so that he could open the door. The Kolgari walked in briskly as Bilg opened the door with a wave to welcome him into the tiny house. 

“You really need a bigger house,” he commented sullenly. “Well what did you drag me here for again?”

“So, I have an important question: do Kolgari have spells to predict the weather?

Valtýr looked confused. “A what? You do realise that I’ve been on a two hundred year long vacation, right? I’m not sure what they do down under anymore.”

“So, I take that as a no?”

“Sure,” the Kolgari replied before escorting himself out. He slammed the door loudly behind himself

“I wonder what he’s so mad ‘bout,” Bilg said.

“Let’s go under the hypothesis that there are weatherkolgari Bilg,” Roberto said.

I assumed that either Valtýr didn’t know or he was too annoyed to respond. Roberto sent him a glance that said now wasn’t the best time to make a quippy remark. 

“Well, we could get you a ship chartered to Ostia.“ Bilg offered. „One that would brave storms.”

“Oh, I know a captain who’s brave enough,“ replied Roberto. "Her gaze is like an arrow, and can strike fear into the hearts of fierce scallywags the likes of meself!"

“Oh, I know a captain who’s brave enough,“ replied Roberto.

"Pray, who was the brave captain, Salvadore?" Ilazio asked for the benefit of Marsilia.

"Let me see," I replied, thinking to myself. "Ah, yes! It was Captain Cockatrice! Quite dreadful to be quite honest. But I was glad to be on a ship."  

Ilazio's Tale

I stood on the quay in the light of dawn. The early morning breeze whisked through my hair. It had been at least three years since Salvadore had left for Kaliphlin. I was grateful that my adopted cousin had responded to my summons, not out of loyalty to the Rego of Varlyrio, but to family. While I had sent my initial letter after my ascension, it had been several months since before I had received a response. Salvadore was late by one month. Where had he been? I squinted his eyes. Several minutes passed before the ship came further into sight and even more before I could spot a glimpse of Salvadore on the prow of the ship. The caravel bore two flags. One, the yellow and gold banner of Varlyrio. The other, a black flag. Pirates? That was a surprise from Salvadore, who was normally very by the book. 

When the gangplank was lowered, Salvadore was the first to disembark, followed by the captain of the ship and the crew carrying large crates and barrels of goods. 

“Ciao Cugino!”

Salvadore wasn’t wearing his usual chainmail armor.

“Ilazio, it’s good to see you again,” he replied, giving me a bear hug. I’d forgotten how tight his grip was. 

“Pirates?”

“Sì, I’ll explain later. This is Captain Cockatrice of La Sciabola Azzurra. She gave me safe passage from Porto Nascosto.”

I raised an eyebrow when he mentioned a name that seemed very Varlyrian. He should have left from Barqa. That would explain some of his delay. 

“Rego,” she said while offering out her hand. I shook it before returning to the matter at hand. 

“My friend Roberto found your cousin washed up dead one day while I was in port. Offered him passage and he paid with his sword. Hate to lose him. Aye, well I presume you are the one who ordered all of these swords.”

“Indeed,” I replied with a wry smile. Truthfully, I hadn’t ordered any swords. Even if I secretly distrusted the de Fiori family, despite their outward support for my ascension, they did produce quality swords and armaments. Salvadore gave a slight grin. That explained the purchase, but from whom? And how did Salvadore wash up on the other side of Varlyrio? Regardless, I decided quickly to pursue a tactful route in our engagement.

“Grazie mille Capitana.” 

“You’re as dark as a storm cloud as they say.” She frowned. “Rego. I met a fella in La Taverna Sommersa who claimed he was ‘Rego’. Can’t be two of you, right?”

“Only one,” I replied. This was really getting out of hand. I was already paranoid that Luca and Arama would reappear out of the dark night from the wasteland. 

“He has ties to Xari Spadro,” she spat, with visible distaste to the famed pirate’s name. “I’d watch out for him. He sank my first ship. I’ll get that rat if I catch him again!”

“If you see this ‘Rego,’ send my regards. Did you catch a name?” 

A dangerous glint showed in the pirate’s eye. “Amancio. Yes, you know his name. White haired fella. Clad in gaudy red.”

While I’d never personally met Supano Amancio, il mio padre had received contracts from the previous Rego. My father had a high opinion of him for the most part, except for his treatment of the Kolgari. I had made sure to renew the alliance between Illaryian and the Sunken City. That was one thing Luca had done right. I was still sorting out my feelings on Luca. On one hand, he hadn’t killed my father like I had formerly believed, but he was madly in love with Arama who had killed both my father and the noble Tiger Prince. Luca had usurped old Amancio, just as I had usurped Luca. It was a cycle. I needed to take great care to avoid that cycle repeating. 

As long as Arama stays put, things should play out reasonably well for Varlyrio, I assured myself. Even if Amancio craved to regain the throne and his honour, he could be a valuable ally. 

Or, I reminded myself, he could destroy any chance I had at maintaining peace with the great families.

“Sfortunamente, I haven’t had the pleasure of meeting old Amancio. I would be curious to learn of his intentions, if you come across him again. However, if you ever perchance meet one Rego Luca di Carli or my ‘friend’ Arama de Cioto, then feel free to ‘send them my deepest regards.” 

“ I see what you mean. Seems you don’t rule with that peace and justice everyone keeps blathering ‘bout.”

“Questa è giustizia,” I assured her. “She has been punished for her crimes.” Unfortunately for Arama, placing her in justice had brought peace… for now. And besides, I hadn’t killed her or Luca. I was starting to regret that but it wouldn’t be right even if it would be very reassuring and convenient.

“And yet you let her live?” You fool! How can you rule the realm and not do justice to villains.”

“Careful what you say, pirate,” I growled. “Death wasn’t the answer. It only will make things far worse.”

“You’re weak. You can’t even threaten me without a dozen guards hiding in the boathouse should I choose to kill you.” 

“I have no intentions on killing you. It would be improper. And I’m a new man.”

“Now,” she said, resuming a business-like posture. “Here are the receipts for the armaments. The first comes from the Kolgarí craftsmen. Círdan sends these in support of your reign and remembers your friendship with the Tiger. The second is from me, and you best pay it now. Shipping heavy crates of weapons and armour ain’t easy.” 

I pocketed the first receipt from Círdan and signed the second receipt from Captain Cockatrice. 

“I will see to it that you are lodged in Ostia and that you receive your due payment.” 

“You better,” she replied, turning to help her crew with the unloading. I sighed. I would need to find a place to store this and people to do the heavy lifting. 

Salvadore and I walked away from the ship and headed back into town. 

“Seems Varlyrio is as perilous as ever. You’ve become quite embroiled in political affairs. I’m sorry about Padre, Ilazio. I would have done something if I were here.”

“Infatti,” I replied bruskly. “Unfortunately, there’s little you could have done.”

“For starters, I wouldn’t have committed treason, attempted murder, or played at politics and become the Rego. Look, I returned from Kaliphlin for Aurelia and Marsilia. With your intrigue and the threat of this Arama returning from the depths of the wasteland out of the blue. What did you do to anger her so much anyways?”

“She murdered Padre, Salvadore!”

“For our people that’s quite normal, but in Kaliphlin they have some manners. What actually happened, Ilazio? Also, why am I the new guard captain?  What happened to old Aluysio?”

“She tricked me. I believed she was my ally, along with Råiden - The Tiger of Illaryian - but she was really a murderer and was in love with di Carlo. I spent a long time preparing to enact my revenge, but I couldn’t kill her. It just wasn’t right. So, instead I fooled her. Made her believe that I was her ally. That in helping me bring di Carlo to justice, she was doing the right thing. In reality, she was still working with Luca. We rallied the populace and great families to my cause and peacefully deposed of di Carlo.” 

“Peacefully?” “Arama and Luca imprisoned for eternity in the wastelands hardly seems peaceful. Was Luca really all that bad? He at least didn’t enslave Kolgari.” 

“You’re right, he treated the Kolgari well, something I intend to continue. Arama said that Luca didn’t know about father’s death but he didn’t stop her! He could have!”

“I don’t think what you did to Luca was right. He was Arama’s puppet. And you haven’t explained what you did to Edmondo Ziccardi. I know the rivalry between our famiglie is ancient since the days of Anzola Moccenigo and Bastian Ziccardi but is it necessary to achieve justice?”

I remembered suddenly that I had Ziccardi’s license revoked and his lands confiscated. What he had done to Aurelia, what he had called her, how he had made her feel, was unforgivable. Additionally, it was within my right as Rego. Ziccardi had made some illegal deals and had stolen my family’s property without legal reason. And the new bridge that he’d designed in Illaryian had collapsed, injuring several citizens.

“It was necessary to achieve justice. Even if Luca was innocent at heart, he was unwittingly complicit. And if you care about Aurelia, then it is justice,” I replied firmly. “Will you do as I ask? Will you be the captain of my guard?”

Salvadore halted and turned to face me face to face. We were almost to the gates of Villa Moccenigo.

“I will,” Salvadore promised. “However, my primary concern is Aurelia and Marsilia. If Ziccardi threatened them, then I believe what you did was just to him but my opinion on Luca remains. Angering every noble in Varlyrio is hardly smart but I’ll remain by your side ‘cause that’s what family does… well, except for your brother.”

“I understand. Currently, they are on my side but they have their spies watching my every move. Ristoro tried to kill me, I think, at least according to Marsilia. ” 

“Well, this is an interesting mess you’ve gotten me into.”

“Indeed. I had better see to the pirates affairs. And, I have a meeting with the dwarvish delegation tomorrow in Veniera. After that, we need to pay mother a visit at Marsilia's house."

                                                                                                                                                                <><><><><><><><><><><><>

The town of Veniera loomed on the horizon in the dawn, its many towers casting shadows over the hills speckled with vineyards producing some of Varlyrio's finest vintage. Our visit to Veniera was twofold. My mother had fallen ill. It was a curse placed on her long ago as she and my father had been surveying the site for a new palace in Illaryian. That palazzo still lay unfinished overlooking the sands surrounding the tiger. My second objective was to meet with emissaries from Lord Hammerheart, who I had visited a few weeks prior. 

"Greetings Ilazio, Rego! Harnik, son of Kuno, at your service" a dwarf with neatly combed and tied grey beard hailed. He bowed deeply, his beard brushing the floor. Two other dwarves with red and blue beards respectively bowed and offered their services as is their custom.

"Greetings master dwarf," I said with a short bow. "I'm glad that we were able to arrange this more formal meeting on such short notice."

"Indeed," the dwarf replied. "We come bearing our Lord Eddar Hammerheart's seal to formalize this everlasting treaty between the people of the guild of Varlyrio and the dwarves of Highcrag Hall. I shall sign on behalf of my lord as his loyal captain."

"Excellent, this treaty will offer favourable trade between our peoples, increased security along the paths from highwaymen and robber barons, protection from any harm suffered to either party by either another party or any of the agreeable parties here today, and stipulations for work in east, helping us to rebuild our Guild together."

"This is agreeable to us," Harnik said, whilst pulling out the seal and his personal quill. I passed him the ink. Harnik quickly dipped the quill into the ink and signed his name. Then, he stamped the document with the seal. I took the document and added my own name and the seal of the guild. We shook hands and Harnik patted me on the lower back. Despite my diminutive stature, Harnik was much shorter in stature. 

"Additionally, Lord Hammerheart expresses his gratitude of entrusting us with your niece's wellbeing and edification. Will she be joining our return party?"

"Indeed," I replied

After the meeting was finished, I walked out into the evening sky to find Salvadore and Marsilia waiting in the arcades.

Marsilia's Tale

I came from this town, Veniera. My family had a vineyard not far from the town wall's in the hill country. It hadn't been easy agreeing to Ilazio's reqest to go back to Veniera. My family still didn't know the true nature of Aurelia, that she was my daughter. It was a secret that I'd long kept from them.

Why sould I? I love her because she is my daughter! I shouldn't need to feel ashamed. I could now see why Ilazio was always so tense with his many secrets and plots, and now Ristoro too. I hadn't realised it earlier. I had simply survived and tried to keep hold as best I could. 

 My parents had initially been delighted at my marriage to Ristoro, because he came from a well-off family near Illaryian. Their pleasure had waned, when Ilazio and Ristoro had asked for my family to take in their mother Isotta as she suffered from maladies frequently. I had persuaded my parents and they agreed, but they began to be displeased when they heard of Ilazio and his triumvirates' attempt to implicate and assassinate the Rego. Nevertheless, I had persuaded them to let Isotta stay. Last I was here several months ago, she was weak and I still didn't know if she'd survive. She had become quite dear to me, especially as I had become accustomed to her sons frequent antics. While I had loved Ristoro when I met him, I began to reconsider our relationship when it became apparent his womanizing had no end. That's why I had no intention of paying his bail when he had incurred the anger of Eduardo Zicccardi by elopping with his daughter Justinia. He thought so frivolously of me! He ashamed me and our marriage to my parents. I could barely come back without hearing about it constantly. I had believed that he had cared, I wanted to believe so very much, that he would come to love Aurelia as a daughter as I had. To love me, as I had loved him when we'd first met. He'd promised me he'd be a better husband and Aurelia to be a better father. He'd done none of that! All except selling out Ilazio to the Rego, not that I held with Ilazio's policy of vengeance, but it's not like I'd gone behind Ristoro's back or was plotting against my relatives! I knew I wasn't perfect either, but I'd left my life in Veniera with a stable family and income to Porto Cagliaveri, where I had to struggle to survive, although living in a palazzo! Until they lost it of course along with most of the finances that had let my parents agree to our sudden marriage. Since then, I had returned to my parents until Ilazio was Rego. It hadn't been easy. My family could barely stand it. Once Rego, Ilazio had given me ownership of Villa di Moccenigo by using his powers to uncover the Ziccardi's fraud before a court in Porto Cagliaveri. Ristoro wasn't too pleased. He didn't seem happy about much lately. I wanted him to be happy, to be on good relations with his brother, Ilazio, along with the rest of his family and hopefully, my family as well.

Perhaps there is still something I could do to save this? But what use is it? Aurelia wouldn't be with Ristoro and I for much longer. Then what remained of our bond to each other through Aurelia would be gone. I knew even now that Ilazio was speaking with the dwarves about furthering my daughters education in architecture in their great halls in the mountains. I understood why Ilazio had arranged this. He couldn't be both the Rego and good uncle, but he did his best, what he believed was right, even if the world thought otherwise. I didn't want to see Aurelia go, although I knew it for the best. Yes, for the best. I would have to survive as 

[T-86(swebrickLUG)]

A great addition to the storyline with this vast continuation textwise! As for the build itself you’ve accomplished a lot going on in a small space. Nice color- palette for the Varlyrio guild. My favourite details are the roof and curtains. Great job dude 🙌

Edited August 6 by T-86(swebrickLUG)