Tag: Empire

#Lore24 – Entry #122 – Muckenmyre Month #1 – Shipwrecked off the Dragon Isles

From the journal of Takara, Slave Inquisitor of the Stellae Illustris.

I have little memory of the Dragon Isles; we really weren’t there that long, just a few foggy images of rocky islands in the distance.  I was there to assist the Emperor’s Inquisition as they tracked the remnants of a group tied to the Res’Teringal rebellion, the last of those who would dare oppose his rightful rule, driven from their hiding place after several months of searching.  The remnant rebels had taken up with a pirate fleet, hoping to flee the emperor’s grasp, perhaps to live long enough to mount another attempt to buck the control of the Empire.  Once our chase fleet had caught up with them, they made straight for the Dragon Isles.  We knew they were bound for Cypress Isle at the tip of the island chain, but they were desperate. 

They turned toward the inner islands. 

They brought the storms…the Dragons’ Fury.

These storms were…like nothing I had ever witnessed in my life.  No storm within the many regions of the Empire that I have traversed in my two centuries of life were anything close to the fury that came from those islands, rolling down from the skies to the north like a gray and black wall of roiling death.  Our fleet was doomed the moment Inquisitor Dama decided to follow the pirates closer in.  I don’t know if they made it out; we lost sight of them within moments as the seas began to surge, lightning struck all about, and hail slammed into us.  The thunder…it really was like the roar of dragons.  That is the only way I can describe it…what else could sound so terrifying, even to someone like me, than a roar from a legendary dragon?

We tried to turn away, but it was far too late for us.  Our decision to follow the rebels toward the inner islands had sealed our doom.  Our ships were shattered in minutes.  I had already made my peace with my death, to whatever fate my soul would face.  My life had been nothing but suffering, either inflicted upon me, or with myself inflicting it upon others.  It was all for the Emperor of course, may He live forever, and I certainly would change nothing that I had done in his name…but to die so quickly…I certainly could never have imagined such a…merciful end.  It was not an ending for someone who had been responsible for causing so much pain to others, especially those of my own kind.  Most of my brother and sister slaves certainly did not deserve what I did to them, but I am a loyal slave to my great Emperor, and it is his will that I channeled; I was his vessel, his voice to those who could not understand it.

I felt the cold of the virulent sea, felt the electric charge in the air and water from the lightning as I was tossed around, felt my bones break from the impact of the hailstones, from my body slamming into the broken hull as it was tossed from one massive wave to the next.  Somehow I became entangled with the rigging or some netting, became stuck fast to a portion of one of the broken ships.  In my last moments of consciousness, I was certain that I would be sinking below the waves, would become one with the sweet, cold, void that lay below.

My expectations were perhaps too high.

My hopes for death were premature.

For I am still here.

#Lore24 – Entry #88 – Fantasy Month #28 – Kerryn Courier and Transport Services

 

From the journal of Angeliqua “Goldeneyes” Cartacustos:

Truly something that could only exist within Draconis Magna and its immediate surroundings, and no doubt a sign of the decadence of the capital, for surely the merchants would have to be insane to attempt to implement these services elsewhere within the Empire.  Not the worst treatment of kerryn slaves that I have unfortunately heard of, but one can only imagine how it must feel to be in their position, essentially taking on the combined role of horses and messengers found in less decadent locations.

There are several of these services within the capital as I understand it, and many of the nobility retain their own kerryn slaves thusly trained for personal correspondence; even the Senate and lesser government offices makes use of kerryn couriers; tales abound of the streets being absolutely flooded with running kerryn messengers during emergency situations, especially during times of war.  It does make sense to some extent, however, for many of the streets within the capital are narrow and maze-like, especially in the older parts of the city, so those able to swiftly navigate an area like the Tangles would be highly prized.

I suppose I should stop beating around the bush and get to the specifics; no doubt that is what Mother is more interested in anyway.  The typical kerryn courier is bedecked in specialized slave gear (previously referenced in my discussion of the “Slave Scholar” expedition) to enhance their long-range endurance and carrying capacity, and trained specifically for either speed and maneuverability, or for strength, endurance, and teamwork.  They are treated very much like prized horses in this regard and trained according to some of the very same principles used by master horse trainers; even their specialized gear is fashioned after that of horses.  They typically wear some form of enchanted pack harnesses, longstrider hoof boots, and feeder bit gags, and their collars are able to track their location using the same magics that are found in the master/slave rings, with the same reward/punishment capabilities.  Gear coloration and accessories (bells, piercings, and the like) are used to differentiate kerryns by their agency, and likewise serve as advertisement for the services.  What could be more desirable, after all, than a well-trained kerryn slave who has the single-minded purpose of obeying their master and performing their task with utmost efficiency?  Or so goes the most common opinion on their appearance.  Either way, those running these services pride themselves in their efficiency and loyalty of their slaves, and compete fiercely to be the best of the best; they even organize races and tournaments with their kerryn slaves throughout the year for bragging rights.

The ”sprinter” couriers are generally meant for delivering messages and small packages rapidly, their harnesses equipped with smaller pockets and pouches clearly designated with the recipient’s name so there will be no confusion as to what item is meant for who.  The “heavy hauler” couriers are responsible for moving larger loads throughout the city, and generally work in teams of two or more while attached to carts and wagons; some are even used to carry people through the city as a standard carriage service would.

Not having to pay the rider or driver is certainly advantageous for those running these operations, for the kerryns are able to follow instructions to the letter and know the routes within the city like nobody else, for it is their purpose to be as quick as possible in their deliveries.  Their training, as mentioned earlier, focuses them entirely upon their intended tasks, meaning that they have little in the way of extraneous thoughts to distract them from their goal.  They are at peak physical condition as well, with the sprinters being possessed of lithe and well-toned bodies, and the haulers having muscles that could be the envy of most orcish warriors.  Though rarely involved in fighting, it is not entirely unheard of that these couriers become targets of thieves or the unwary horny traveler, they are capable of defending themselves much like any normal horse would, the haulers especially have something of a reputation for their powerful kicks and stomps when thusly provoked.