While Wanderer is talking at Amélie’s, Arius -having followed him- simply continues to read (and re-read) his newly acquired book.
(Merchant #1): “We were recently in New Stetven for business, and the layout of the streets is just preposterous . Choral the Conqueror founded it to be his capital, and he ought to have been capable of imposing a more rational layout!”
(Merchant #2): “It was founded on the ruins of some old Taldan city, wasn’t it?”
(Merchant #1): “It’s not as if he was reconstructing its buildings, so that ought not to have been an issue.”
The book continues to lay out defensive exercises! Partway through, there’s a brief digression on the practice of sparring with wooden wasters; the author is opposed, though they do acknowledge the potential benefits for people who have no access to magical healing at all (though they seem to believe that any sort of sparring without magical healing available has the risk of leaving the practitioners with a false sense of safety) (the potential risk of harm even if you do have magical healing available is left undiscussed).
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“That’s a tough situation. With a place like New Stetven in mind, I agree that, if one were starting from scratch, a planned grid is a great option.”
He thinks of how people tend to work.
“Many advantages. You spoke to the ease of navigation, and I’d say there’s more. New Stetven is a trade city and thus will see development. It’s easier for the developer, the administrator, and the traveler to do their work in the grid plan, seemingly worth it even at the cost of convenience for potentially having to walk further for public amenities.”
He pauses and observes the reactions before continuing.
“Taking a place like New Stetven that’s not in grid structure and converting it though…that’s tough. I have a few ideas in mind about how someone might do that but I want to hear what you think.” He gestures to the group in totality.
(Merchant 2:) “The easiest way would be if there were some sort of disaster, like a fire—” (he flushes) “—not that I’m suggesting anything, obviously it would be wrong to burn down a city just for the sake of city planning—”
(Merchant 1 pats him reassuringly again.)
(Merchant 1:) “I’ve been looking into some of the work that’s been done on using magical techniques to rebuild the buildings, which could allow for them to be torn down and rebuilt in an efficient manner — though of course, in practice, many people would be reluctant to move even temporarily.”
(Guard 1:) “And that wouldn’t do anything about the risk of flooding, which is a big problem there.”
Guard 2 glances out the window. “Hard to say Hazel Ford is any different, really.” He laughs.
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Wanderer nods.
“A wipe of the slate would be a method that works. I would consider there to be other options, some less circumstantial than the others. I’m not too familiar with New Stetven, so this will be speculation. Especially with magic, it could be possible to restructure such that we reap some of the benefits of a grid structure without having to demolish everything. Some ways to do this could be to widen key roads, connects dead ends, build new bridges, and create a few straight commercial avenues in existing places. It’s not perfect, but there’s likely room for improvement.”
He is unsure if he’s coming off as someone who rambles.
(Guard 2:) “But wouldn’t it be hard to widen the roads? You’d have to get rid of some of the buildings to make room, and then you’re back where you started.”
Canary sits with her empty plate and untouched wine, waiting for an Acceptable time to leave the dining hall.
She’s thinking about something unimportant.
Drakor continued watching the conversation between Rika and Amelie.
(Where are all the PCs sitting?)
(like, which table or which seat)
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((IDK. Arius has just been standing while reading his book. He doesn’t plan to do anything besides following Wanderer.))
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“Anybody who’s studied history knows things just go awry without a successor. Civil war, external war, both in the case of the death of the Padishah emperor – there were dozens of claimants to that throne, as we all know – it must be some circumstance motivating the wise baron to decline to name one.” Paprika lowers her voice. “I hope he’s not being coerced in any way.”
(Tables)
(I think zone was the only one whose position was unknown, thx)
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Having finished his meal, Drakor stood and approached Arius.
“What are you reading?” he asked.
Arius raises his head in pleasant surprise. “A book about the Gorumite theology. The one I bought from the bookseller. I recall Wanderer mentioning that Gorumites offer barrack housing and these books were selling well at the store.”
“They have quite the… passion for combat.” He says with an awkward tone.
((By the way, I assume Arius has relayed his thoughts about the upcoming war based on the bulk purchase on history books. IDK whether this will be relevant or not, but I don’t want any PCs to not know about this because Arius didn’t say so.))
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Drakor looked on in interest. “What sort of combat? Personal defense, or larger-scale tactics?”
Without waiting for an answer, he peeked over and began following along. “That stuff about needing healers for sparring is ridiculous. If you both know what you’re doing, using wooden wasters is more than safe.”
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“I have yet to read anything on large scale combat. It’s mainly swordsmanship techniques for self-defense …and thus far I have found only self-defense techniques,” Arius says lamentingly.
“There are some offensive techniques as well, considering that sometimes ‘the best defense is a good offense’, but…” Arius looks around, looking for anyone who might listen in on the conversation.
“…well, let’s leave it at that. At the very least, I do not believe they are evil, unlike the worshippers of the Urgathoa at the abandoned hospital.”
((Yes. I know they are not devout worshippers and instead use the symbol to scare anyone away. Arius is actively bending the truth to Drakor because Zone is deadass afraid of the two entities who can cast –and have casted– a Lv3 spell.))
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Drakor sighed. “Unlikely that he was the person who looked at it, then. Probably someone else that was interested in the Gorumites in town.”
(‘He’ being the Baron)
He blinked. “Wait, there’s Urgathoa followers here? Do you think that’s related to the cult activity that the locals have been discussing?”
((…? Me no comprehendo.))
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