WAS: Travel to the southern city states with your slaves
From Create Your Own Story
Having found out about your father's plans, you feel increasingly disillusioned with the entire war. You have no intentions of helping either side and decide to make your way down to the proud cities of south in the land of Alcovia. The land is fertile and the people are well cultured. You have brought along plenty of gold and are sure to be comfortable in the warm climate that Alcovia offers. Perhaps, you think to yourself, you could even raise a private army and one day take back your rightful place back on the throne of the Seven Mountains. Your slaves look towards you with expectation, wondering where you will take them.
"We shall head south, to the Cities of Alcovia. We shall be comfortable there after I buy a large estate." The slave look at you with wonder and adoration in their eyes. Alcovia is considered by many to be a land that is second only to Almedia in wealth and splendor. There are many tales about the warm lands and their forward thinking people. While slavery is still legal, the cities of Alcovia have all adopted democracy as their governing philosophy. You scoff at the idea of people electing their own leaders, however it may work to your advantage. They also engage in capitalism, a radical way of doing business that is unheard of anywhere else.
You decide that you do not want to draw any unwanted attention at first. Alcovians will wonder what a man your age is doing seemingly running away with 2 slaves and all that money. There will obviously be knowledge of a renegade prince Faust that will be put out. You decide to create a new life upon enterance to Alcovia.
"If anyone asks you about yourselves or me, you are to respond that you are my mother and my sister" you say with obvious annoyance in your voice at this slight lessening of power. The slaves look up in surprise at this. They haven't been acknowledged as anything but slaves ever since they were taken by you. They quickly show understanding however, understanding the situation that the three of you are in. "However you are still my sluts, no matter what" you quickly retort, underlining your authority.
"Of course master, we are eternally devoted to our gracious master" the slaves quickly bow down in front of you, letting you know that they will remain faithful to you. You pat them on their heads showing your pleasure at this.
"Pack up camp, we leave in 30 minutes" you command with confident authority. The slaves jump up and begin to pick everything up. They are obviously excited to leave the Seven Mountains and move to a land with the reputation of Alcovia.
The three of you leave the camp and head south by cover of night. Over the next few nights, you follow the roads however avoid using them directly so as not to attract any unwanted attention. Helena and Lyna remain obediant to you, wanting to leave the Seven Mountains. You rest away from the road during the day. Even though the slaves slow you down, you are still making good time and are grateful that you brought them for the company that they provide.
A week after killing your father, you approach the Alcovian border. You wonder about what lies ahead in your life. Will you fit in with the refined peoples of the Alcovian cities? Will you be safe from whichever of your siblings siezes power in the vacuum created by your father's death? No matter, you think to yourself. You have money, and that is all that matters in the end. In addition, you have slaves and horses. These are status symbols wherever you happen to find yourself. Your slaves are more beautiful and are dressed better than most nobles and you relish this fact.
Looking ahead, you see the Alcovians guarding their border on horseback, however there are no soldiers of the Seven Mountains. You guess that in this time of confusion, the interim government has brought their soldiers back in order to reinforce power during the transition. As you walk up to what you make out as the commander, he holds up his hand signaling halt to you. In a show of goodwill, you do stop and wait for his next command. It is hard for you to adjust to taking orders, and you do not like it in the slightest.
As the commander rides up to you with three of his men, Helena and Lyna obediently look down avoiding their faces. The commander has an air of authority and confidence about him much like yourself and wears a a face of swagger and self importance.
"State your business" the commander says flatly and yet forcefully. "Why are you traveling to the great lands of Alcovia?"
"My lord, we are running away from the Kingdom of the Seven Mountains. There are rumors of a coming war with the people of Hysta and we wish to avoid it it and live our lives out peacefully" you say equally forcefully although not challenging this man's authority.
"And who exactly is we? Who are these creatures you bring with you?" the man asks trying to steal a glance from Lyna and Helena.
"My lord this is my mother and sister. My father died not too long ago and I promised him that I would take care of the family. If that means avoiding war, than so be it."
The commander looks at you, impressed at the responsibilty such a young man has undertaken. However he needs to be sure. He rides up to Lyna and Helena. "Is this true? Are you family? If he is smuggling you in as slaves, you merely have to say so and we will set you free and arrest him" the man says glancing back at you. You feel a cold chill going down your spine. This was entirely unexpected. How will your slaves respond to the possibility of freedom?
"My lord, how dare you slander my dear brave brother? He has sacrificed so much to protect us and take care of us and you spew such insolence?" Lyna responds to the man with outrage using the noble languge that she was taught long ago before you took her. She looks at you and smiles letting you know that she is now yours truly. "Mother, can you belive the wretched ideas that this man has about dear brother?" Lyna quickly adds with equal outrage.
Helena, feeling more confident with Lyna's exchange decides to act motherly and says "Do not judge this man, daughter, he is merely following procedure and is in fact trying to protect us just like your brother" she says with understanding in her voice as if to reassure the soldier. "We appreciate your concern, my lord. However I can assure you that we are in good hands" she smiles lovingly at you. You feel dumbstruck. You were always confident in Helena's devotion to you, however that was in a tightly guarded palace, not with a chance for freedom. And you were sure that Lyna would use this oppurtunity to run. You are visibly impressed with your slaves and their now absolute devotion to you.
"I am so terribly sorry my ladies. I merely thought that you were, ugh, nevermind." The commander replies now in full verbal retreat. "Please forgive me sir. We always guard against smugglers" He stumbles into his apology. You smile however show a hint of annoyance.
"It is alright commander. I understand that you were merely doing your job" you reply with grace and understanding. "However IF there will be nothing more, we would like to get on our way" you say with obvious annoyance and impatience.
"Of-of-of course, you are clear to go" the commander replies visibly shaken by the encounter. He rides back to his patrol and leaves the three of you. You look back at your slaves, who smile and look back at you with complete devotion in their eyes. You let the briefest hint of a smile show in your face and turn around. At this, the girls giggle knowing that they have impressed you and obviously happy to have wielded such power, even briefly, over a man. You cross the border and make your way into Alcovia very glad to have avoided trouble with that patrol.
You are left to ponder what your next course of action will be.
