19 Astra 10,391
Sailing was simple enough when you were a grunt. Six didn’t need to make any navigational calls or actual maneuvers and there was only so much oar polishing a man could do, so the sailing quickly became idle conversation. Six was personable enough and he enjoyed company, but he just found idle conversation somewhat draining. He had learned as a young man that it was easy to socialize if you just projected a sturdy and contained confidence. He had also learned that most people just wanted to feel at ease so he tried his best to project his own feeling of ease. People picked up on the little things and even if they couldn’t consciously explain it, they intuitively began to resonate with the emotional state of those around them.
Copperback and crew had an easy banter about them and Six was content to let them go back and forth, offering a chuckle when he found their crude jokes funny.
A lull hit the conversation before Copperback turned the mutterings on Six. “So Six,” he began. “Where’djya get a name like dat?”
Six was a bit unprepared for the question but rolled with it easy. “I chose it when I was a child. Was kinda confusing at some points but nothing worth changing it over.”
“Your people choose their own names?” Elyria asked, surprised.
“Some of us do. Most are given. Six is like my uuh, gladiator name. I have a real one.”
“You were a gladiator?” asked Jeffums with clear skepticism in his voice.
“I was… a competitor in many games,” Six clarified, clearing his voice. He never went pro in e-sports or powerlifting but he did compete here and there.
“Games?” Jeffums asked indignantly.
“Yes, games of strategy and skill, sometimes strength,” Six said confidently.
Jeffums scoffed.
Six shrugged. “Within these games I called myself something along the lines of Six.”
Copperback looked thoughtful, “huh, I ain't never heard of no place in the empire like dat.”
“You been everywhere in the empire?” Six didn’t know how big this place was but Copperback seemed traveled, not educated, but knowledgeable.
“Well yes, but actually no. Pretty damn close though. What’s your home’s name?”
Six shrugged, he didn’t know enough. “I come from a place called Canada. It's on the other side of the mountain. We're not part of the empire,” he lied. “I'm learning about the empire as I travel. Got anything to share?
“From the other side of the mountain? Then you must have traveled through the Hynyk Reich and the Kingdom of Harmony before reaching Deathspire Mountain.”
Six nodded and shrugged but didn’t say anything. He trusted these people well enough but he didn’t know enough to let them know about his odd circumstances. He put on a dopey smile and took a deep breath. He ran a bunch of calming thoughts through his head and felt his body melt into a more relaxed state. Completely at ease.
Copperback watched him for a second and then nodded back. “You should know there ain't be no empire anymore.”
Six raised his eyebrows and shrugged. “Getting past the mountain wasn’t easy. Took a long time. Things change, what happened?”
Amos shook his head in sadness and cleared his throat. “Empire’s dead and the damn tsunken aelves took control of the capital city of Zleen. Octario Advent is dead, Kynairos press his soul, and Juthe-Wei Yudinzo sits upon the Zleenish throne. Absolutely disgusting, such a betrayal as this.”
“Betrayal?” Six asked confused. Learning the local area was crucial for navigation, bring on the exposition.
“Yes boy! The Emperor's chosen servants turning on every single noble leader all at once like that.” He snapped his fingers. “They had somehow planned it down to the minute. All across de empire, all at once.” He drew one thumb across his neck and crooked his neck. “Done.” he said gravely.
“Shutuuuup Amos.” Elyria moaned. “You hate nobles. Don’t act like you aren't happy they’re dead.”
“A course I’m ‘appy!” Amos chuckled. “But a man can look at a situation and see sin on both sides. The Tsunken Aelves had a duty to the empire.”
“They were slaves! “ growled Elyria.
“Just because a man is a slave don’t mean honor and duty mean nothing.”
“A person should get to choose their honor and duty. No Tsunken Aelf fell to debt or crime, they were all born to it. The Advents got what was coming to them. At least I don’t have to worship Kynairos anymore.” She crossed her arms.
“You don’t be speaking dat pagan talk when we hit Olisrosa now. You deal with what life deals ya. No one gets to choose piss all. Now because o’ dem tsunken aelves the whole empire gonna be chopped up small like. So selfish. They couldn’t even coup properly they just wanted da nobles dead.”
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“They wanted to be free!” Elyria stressed through gritted teeth.
Amos made a theatrical scoff. “Den why Juthe-Wei be sitting atop da imperial throne? Issuing imperial decrees he can't be enforcing?”
Elyria huffed at that and fiddled with some ropes. Clearly she had no answer that she wanted to share.
“Well…” Six began. “It sounds like this place is really… nice... “
“Don't lie to me man, you suck at it. Well, anyways Olisrosa is a city within the human kingdom of Arkion. They didn’t take too kindly to the tsunken aelfs killing their queen and right now High Craftsmistress Susan of the church of Kynairos is in control.”
“Crazy bitch.” Elyria and Jeffums said at the same time.
Six looked to Amos and Amos nodded his head in agreement.
Six shrugged. It makes sense really. People always went crazy with power, like nearly always. “What's this Kynairos guy all about?”
“Did you really come through the Kingdom of Harmony man? The church be working ‘ard over there. Won't be long before they pull out of those savage lands though. The Muldstanii won't put up with Kynairos now dat de empire is sundered. Whatcha tink Jeffums? You're Muldstanii, what you tink your people will do?”
Jeffums looked to the sky in contemplation. “I don't know, not many orcs where I grew up. My opinion? Harmony will break back into their tribal ways. It's been what? About a decade? That's not long enough for their culture to be replaced. They will return to being nomads. The Reich will probably go to war and unify the lands.” He shrugged. “We’ll be fine either way. Simple life and all. Juthe-Wei might try something. Don’t matter.”
“Six?” Amos brought it back to the person with the least informed opinion.
“Yeah, I must have missed it. Lotta wandering through the land, very little city, didn’t really talk to many people.”
Amos laughed with a smile on his face. “You lie like shit man.”
Six had the grace to look abashed but apologized with a smile on his face. “...Sorry. So what's Kynairos all about?”
Amos shook his head and grinned. “Kynairos be a god. He is a god of order and production. The one and only human god who walks Zonah.” Amos nodded at Six. “Zonah is what we call this great world, but you knew dat eh? Anyways, Worship of any other god but Kynairos will get you on the wrong side of the reapers. You know da reapers yes?” Amos leaned forward
Six knew his lie was up but joked around, trying to keep the vibe light. “Yes of course but maybe explain for those two.”
Jeffums laughed and Elyria scowled.
Amos let out a chuckle and winked at Six. “Reapers be da people who make sure everybody’s praising Kynairos. Just be sure to say ‘praise be Kynairos’ and they’ll leave you alone. You got people like dat from where you come?”
Six shook his head no. “Not in the province I lived in, no. Some other places, there was yes.”
Amos shook his head as if he knew the answer already. “You live a good life, work ‘ard and follow de law and Kynairos smiles down on yah. It's why I ‘ave dis ‘ere boat.”
Elyria scoffed. “He just got the deed from our dead captain. He was second mate and knows the rivers so we’re just letting him keep it… for now.”
“Shut up Ely! I’m da Captain now and I’ll whoop your ass if you even try to so much as breathe at mutiny. Grrrrr.” Amos growled, then smiled, he continued. “None of de gods matter, don’t worry bout dem. Worry about getting your hands on some gold, booze and good company. That will be in your life far more than any god. I plan to make much more now dat I got a boat.”
“We got a boat,” Elyria reminded him.
“By Kynairos woman! It's MAH BOAT!”
“Jeffums?” she asked.
Jeffums laughed “It's our boat Captain. Elyria gets the next one, then me, then you can keep this one or we’ll all get one for you.”
Amos looked off to the side at the slowly panning scenery and blew out a huff. It went quiet for a moment.
Six broke it. “If I wanted to avoid reapers, where would be a good place to live?”
“No no no,” Elyria said. “We answered your questions n-.”
“I did,” coughed Amos.
Elyria rolled her eyes. “Now you answer one of our questions.”
Six sighed and nodded. Defeated.
“Don't be like that.” Elyria rightfully chastised. “What's your home like?” she asked.
“Home?” Six thought for a moment. “Beautiful,” he said. “I didn’t travel it enough but our land was beautiful. Gorgeous, totally awesome. Nature was close at hand and the city worked to keep it green. Terribly expensive and unlivable but hey, most of the world was going the way of feudal plutocracy. I don’t think living in a feudal monarchy will be too much different.” He shrugged.
“Plutocracy?” Elyria asked, the word strange to her.
“Ah, we were ruled by extremely wealthy merchant families,” Six explained.
Amos laughed and looked to Elyria. “See? It's not so crazy! Six, you gotta tell me how to get to dis place.”
Elyria shouted back. “Merchants would make terrible kings.”
Six shrugged. “From the little history I know it seems like everyone would make a terrible king.“
“Six, I like yah and so I'll tell yah straight. Don't go speaking ‘bout nature or rulers like that ‘round true followers of Kynairos. Most are fine to let you be for some lip service but say the wrong ting and a reaper will be on you like a scythe on wheat. Nature is a bad thing to glorify.”
“Well I don't want any reaping. My old home let you believe basically anything or say almost anything. I’m looking for a place like that.”
“Best go back the way you came and live on de mountain then,” said Amos. “The Reich is similar to the empire in many ways but for Hynyk’s basically. Hynyk god and Hynyk laws. That's no good for you. Once people get tired of killing each other, the new order over here will be similar, not so bad for a human like yourself. No one cares about who lives on de mountain… Too hard to tax. But in all seriousness don't do dat. Living on dat mountain be a death sentence to most.” Amos shuddered at the thought of hard mountain living, and he was a sailor.
“Ah I'll be fine.” Six had to ask. “What exactly are Hynyks?”
Amos smiled at Six’s frankness. “Hynyks are large furred creatures, they stand upon two legs and have much the same form as any of us. Kinda look like dogs but never call a Hynyk a dog, unless you wish ta fight.”
“I don’t fight unless I have to. But I can handle myself.”
“Not with weapon forms like I saw.” Jeffums said, picking up two oars.
“Huh?” Six said with apprehension.
Jeffums tossed an oar at Six and took a martial stance. “You swung that oar hard but if you want to live on Deathspire you’re gonna have to have some actual experience, Skill levels only give bonuses and slight tweaks in knowledge, they don’t actually grant experience and expertise. Have you ranked a skill up yet?”
Six shook his head no, “I don’t think so?”
“Have any of your skills progressed from initiate to apprentice?”
“No.”
Jeffums nodded. “Now hold that oar like this.” Jeffums demonstrated the two handed grip and allowed Six to copy it. “Yes, good. Any styles you want to focus on?”
“Defensive.” Six offered while he began to limber up and feel out the weight of the oar. This wasn’t a nice world. These things were never nice. He needed to be prepared to defend himself, a sparring session wouldn’t hurt. “I can keep my armor on?”
Jeffums nodded. “Defensive! A good style for beginners. Keep your armor on. The more you level up your heavy armor skill the better. You are approximately 50% slower, probably would have drowned if you had that on when you were in the river. I won't be able to teach you much but something is better than nothing.”
“Thanks Jeffums. Always room for improvement, anything helps,” Six said with a smile.
Jeffums did not go easy on him, and if it wasn't for his heavy armor Six would have been covered in lumps. Jeffums put Six through some basic two-handed moves. How to move the weapon, blocking with the haft of the weapon and some basic swings. Between moving in armor on a boat and his trying to learn, Six never had a hit connect. Yet he learned a lot, and he learned fast. Jeffums kept things simple and gave useful feedback when Six warranted it, and the corrections stuck.
Six had always learned fast in his previous life but now his retention and understanding were abnormally high. He found it concerning. Was he the same person? Something had messed with who he was and now he integrated knowledge completely differently. He had been changed. He grit his teeth in tension and they grinded briefly before he stopped himself.
He shrugged. It didn’t matter. He existed. He took a deep breath and relaxed.