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 Posted: Mon Apr 04, 2011 9:25 pm
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Posted: Sat Apr 16, 2011 2:56 pm
BATTLE AGAINST A BLANC
I suppose I should stop hanging around alleyways. These Blanc are more paranoid than is healthy. It's so unhealthy that it's starting to affect my health. Why standing nonchalantly in an alleyway is cause for accusations of espionage, I quite honestly can not say. But, apparently, it is the custom to think this way. Or perhaps it was simply unique to the little Blanc soldier who had the gall to attack me without so much as a warning this afternoon.
By the looks of him, he was most definitely a greenhorn. The next time I see him, I'm going to drop a slug down his back and see how he likes it. Dragging him out of the alleyway and into an inn for his comrades to find him was much too good for him. Alas, it wouldn't do to cause a diplomatic incident over something as trivial as this. Heaven knows, those old fogeys up at the castle are looking for any reason to throw us out.
He had nothing of note to take that I would not be able to get on my own, so I didn't even bother claiming my spoils as is custom. Then again, I never do. Why would I need any item a Noir or Blanc owns? Hong made products are of a much higher quality.
That wasn't homesickness for home, by the way. I am enjoying my time away from home. Very much so. There is very little consequence for any of my pranks and whimsies here, so I hope our ambassador will not be leaving any time soon.
Speaking of pranks, I was merely trying to find a dirty rag to fling at 'Captain' Fishlips when he wasn't looking. The man actually thought I would agree to cleaning the latrine? Who does he think he is? Nothing but the son of a merchant family. How distasteful. Needless to say, because of the fight and the wounds I sustained, I did not find the rag I was looking for. It was a pity. I suppose stuffing tomato slices in his slippers will have to do.
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Posted: Sat Apr 16, 2011 3:17 pm
LOSS TO A NOIROnce again, mere days into our ambassador's visit to the Noir capital I am attacked by yet another pawn. Now I realize I may seem strong, but is that really reason to attack me? On my way back from the beach and I get knocked out by a mere pawn! Another rookie by the way she left so many openings during our fight. And I failed to punish her for every opening she presented to me! Her speed may have made up for her mistakes, but should we meet again, I will not show her any mercy. My pride is wounded and not only that, she took a trinket I had discovered down at the beach.
And let me think. What was the reason for her assault? Oh, yes. Because she wanted a challenge. While I may have lost, she won by the skin of her teeth. If there is at least one satisfaction to be had, it must be that. I hope that cut on her face stings her for days as mine has. Attacking me and the expecting me to offer her courtesy? Absolutely not. She is just a Noir. I do not see any reason for me to be courteous to her. She certainly did not see any reason to extend any to me after the battle was over. I woke up with a sore back. The experience was novel, but not in the positive way.
The next time I see her, I won't drop a slug down her back. I'll fling a frog covered in mud at her face.
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Posted: Fri Jun 24, 2011 9:08 pm
THE PRODIGAL SON'S HOMESICKNESSI long for home. What interest the West once held is overshadowed by the comforts of home. Now, being of noble birth, I do have some measure of duty to serve, but I can only take so much... Western company. Their customs and food were a novelty at first, but I am fairly sick of the flavor. The irritating bluntness has none of the finesse nor subtlety of my own language. The food is neither delicate nor subtle. It is much too salty. Sigh.
Not only that, military uniform is, and never was, to my taste. Coarse, made of cheap material, boring and simply too common for one of my station. I remember the day I had decided not to advance any farther than the rank of foot soldier. I just never realized how absolutely dreadful and boring the post is. Not to mention, degrading.
Perhaps I should ask for leave?
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Posted: Fri Aug 05, 2011 1:06 am
DUMPED IN PROPHYLAXISRemember when I considered asking for leave? Nevermind. One of the Empress' birds hopped upon my windowsill and deposited a scroll before I could even so much as protest. We may be distant cousins, but I really can't appreciate the abruptness of my new orders. Guarding a podgy old diplomat is much more preferable to going...there.
I can't imagine anything close to the comforts of modern civilization in Prophylaxis territory. To be frank, they all sound like loyal dogs whose only mission is Their Cause.
Oh, wait.
That's Blanc, Noir and Prophylaxis grouped together. They are much more similar than they claim. In any case, is being ordered to go to Prophylaxis some divine punishment for constantly terrorizing my captain. Because if it is, Celestial Heaven had better try harder.
In any case, despite my complaints, I have obediently complied with the Empress' wishes. Thankfully the Lady Amaranthe's ban on foreigners does not extend to any of Hong affiliation. Aha! First part of the mission complete. I make it sound easier than it actually is.
The party I met in Ornan left much to be desired; not a single noble of my rank or near it in sight. There was a random lesser noble who was most likely a fourth or fifth son - his family would have nothing for him back home. The rest were of common birth and I did not deign to associate with them. This wasn't the Empire. I did not have to pretend to like them. Were they even of true Hong descent. They were probably part of a small kingdom the Empire had absorbed in the past. How else could they look so... common?
Moreover, I heard that we were missing a soldier. Apparently he had gone off on his own. Perhaps he'll face the wrath of the Empress if she ever finds out? I wish to be there if that proves to be true.
But enough digression! I turned out to be the soldier who had the most knowledge of the native language spoken in the west and so I had to be the one to ask for entry into the town. The guards were as stiff as I had imagined. When I asked for entry, he tried to keep me out by saying that foreigners weren't allowed. And then, with relish, I pointed out that only Blanc or Noir were banned. The Lady had said nothing about Hong. That rankled him.
He grudgingly asked us to state our business. I complied. He eyed our group with suspicion. I suppose a dozen or so Hong soldiers is a bit much for bearing a message from the Empress. But I stood my ground.
"The Empire may become a possible ally in your defense of the Gate of Paradise. Surely you do not want to eliminate this possibility before it can even demonstrate its potential benefits."
A Guard of higher rank allowed us to come in, but promised that the Lady Amaranthe had more important business than to talk with mere soldiers like us. I marked him for punishment.
At least we got in. Although, an audience with Lady Amaranthe does not seem likely in the immediate future. I dearly hoped it would be within the week or so. The Empress was more than simply impatient.
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