[IC] Lost in Dreams [Mellisa]

[ericthered]

The two are quite willing to talk to Mellisa, but there's not really a great place to sit down, other than the ground, or leaning against a tree. Laura talks for quite a bit, and rambles, but Mellisa picks up the following:

The alchemical aristocracy is something of a new nobility that formed gradually out of a piece of the old and a few of the guilds. Its started as a derisive term, but it has become less so with time. They've run things for about eighty years.

The foundation of their power is in the feats they can perform, mostly by using Alchis, a mysterious substance mined from the ground and refined. Its most common use is in creating very strong, resilient creatures, such as the troll. They have gradually clamped down on the rest of civilization until the cities are their workshops and the villiages their bread baskets and miners. The miners live a particuarly poor lifestyle.

Religion has been mostly removed. Some people still practice, but both organized religions were destroyed (at least in infrastructure) about 50 years ago when the alchemists cemented their power (the two were long term enemies).

The new world is a valuable source of mines for Alchis. Its fairly independent at this point, but the nobles there tend to be allied with spain, italy, france, and egypt. Its poorly explored, and travel is dangerous due to rouge monsters. or perhaps they're privateers, most seem to be fairly intelligent.

No one is sure who made the first augmentation, but the first family to use it to come to power was the medici family. Alchemists under their employ made several designs that are the basis of most of the abominations in use today.

Augmentations generally make the subject stronger, tougher, more resiliant and often add additional features. The troll has been made taller and given thicker skin. ogres can heal from almost any wound. The reptilian line takes it even further, and is the secrete weapon of the north: Dragons.

The subject is "augmented" while still in the womb, and must continue to consume Alchis for its lifespan. The miners are considerably tougher than they ought to be, but this only allows them to work harder. Its speculated such is the effect of a woman in the early stages of pregnancy working in the mines.

Lorvism was started by Grigor Lorvis, and swiss printer and philosopher who believed Alchis would destroy all humanity held dear, and that its practictioners were rising in power. His organization is essentially terrorist in nature, though they only target alchemical production sights and leaders (at least they try to). Setting fire to Alchis stores is the traditional way to destroy them (they burn quite well), though the smoke produces often warps those who breathe it in. The movement suffered in the consolidation of power 50 years ago, but they have gained wider support, and absorbed several resistance movements (including both religions).

[MatthewVilter]

I happily sit down against a tree as we converse.

It sounds like this Alchis stuff is the difference between my timeline and this one. Or would that be this world and mine? It also sounds like if it was better understood it could be the basis of a lot of great technology...

And then we have the Medici family (heralds of the Italian Renaissance) vs some printer-philosopher who thinks this new thing is going to end "all humanity holds dear" and so tells people to burn it...

Oh dear, I really need to hear the other side of this.

I start to get agitated, stand up, and start pacing back and forth as we talk.

"So you have been destroying alchemical production in an attempt to undermine the aristocracy? Does that weaken their hold on the people or just their power internationally? What happens to the augmented who don't get their required Alchis?"

"Have you been able to turn any of the people to your side? If open revolt started would any local administrators support you or be replaced by people who would? Do you have a shadow government ready to take power or would power fall to the generals of the rebel armies?"

"Who controls the land we are in right now and who do they answer to?"

[ericthered]

"We destroy alchemical production in order to weaken its influence on the world. When its gone, the world will return to its proper order. Destroying Alchis both weakens them internationally, and makes them weaker in comparison to the people. It will be necessary to take all the aristocracy down as a whole though. Their power comes from the alchis."

"The augmented will suffer differently without alchis, but all will weaken. Some will die, others will simply be less vigorous or slowly waste away. This is one thing that gives us hope: they will not remain after the alchis is destroyed."

"Many people have joined us, we have to reject many: we do not operate openly because it only takes one to betray us, and the whole village to support us. Their government system would take over the local villages. "

"There are several shadow governments: a revolt would likely have the various generals choose their favorites. These include the broken parliment (this seems to be the remnents of the english system), the church (several options here), or the most favored, the Lorvist council. "

"The land you are on belongs to the Baron Arechelon, who reports to the king of wales. He owes loyalty to the northern emperor"

[MatthewVilter]

My stream of questions starts to petter out. It is clear that there is more I would like to ask but I am not comfortable asking, maybe worried about offending...

((Not that it really makes a difference to Melissa but just out of curiosity: are Laura and Kemmel armed?))

[ericthered]

((They carry short swords and very short bows with a couple of arrows apiece. ))

[MatthewVilter]

I wonder what they expect from me. Do they think I will work for them? Are they going to take me up their chain of command?

((Melissa knows that she won't be convincing if she tries to feign enthusiasm for terrorism and bloody, chaotic revolution and has run out of questions that aren't, at best, patronising so she will try to let Laura and Kemmel direct the conversation. And failing that she will resort to awkward silence...))

[ericthered]

Resigned to follow her 'rescuers/captors', mellisa lets the conversation wind up in a discussion of immediate goals: They were here to build support among the peasantry and if possible frame a local lord and start a war. Now Mellisa is the priority, and they lead her through tangled woods towards their goal. There is some discussion about concealing the location of their final destination, but they seem to be headed to a rendezvous point.

They feed her some dried meat and a biscut, and they find a stream to drink out of. Laura distracts the troll while they cross the gully with the troll. They set out over a rolling forest interspersed with dead towns and wrecked castles. After about two hours, they see a dark shape fly overhead among the stars: --- a dragon. It doesn't seem to have seen them though.

[MatthewVilter]

I thank them for the food.

After we get by the troll I ask what it is doing out here.

I ask if the ruins we pass are the result of the alchemists consolidating their power.

When we spot the dragon I follow Laura and Kemmel's lead as far as hiding (or not) etc. Unless they are keeping very quiet (or barking orders, etc) I will mention "I had a dream about a dragon, before I woke up here."

[ericthered]

Lara and Kemmel do not seem very interested in hearing about some dream Melissa had.

"that's only natural. See you do know about these things just give yourself some more time."

they hunker down but dragon doesn't seem notice. it does drop down within 100 yards though.

the sound of hooves approaches

[MatthewVilter]

I whisper "There was a horseman in my dream too. They were fighting..."

I stay hunkered down but look around a bit to see what our surroundings are and if anyone else is visible around.

((Is the moon out?))