victory_road | ANOMALY DETECTED

"You should see Goldenrod city. Some buildings there have twenty, maybe thirty floors, and don't even take up an entire 'block', as they call them."

It's pretty impressive, really, but definitely not feasible to build out of stone. That said, Geddoe raises an eyebrow at that last remark.

"... Like I said before, Budehuc Castle is from my world, not Johto. And it definitely wasn't here before."

No doubt why its construction makes sense. Even the castles of the other land don't make sense. They're needlessly meandering and rife with tunnels beneath them that leave vulnerability to sappers.

[He takes another handful of nuts.]

If these weird weekends you mentioned are responsible for places from other lands appearing here, then perhaps I'll have to look forward to those times to see intelligent construction. Given what I saw in Cherrygrove it seems the people here have much better bathing traditions then they have urban planning. The majority of buildings I've seen seem built of layered woods and either plaster or sheetrock, all of which leave much to be desired in terms of endurance and longevity. Would that I could, I would start up my Architectura firm again and be the change I wish to see.

"Dunno if it's normal. Usually people warned about getting teleported to random places, not other places ending up here."

But Geddoe hasn't been in this world all that long, so he can't really say definitively. That's something one would have to ask of someone who's been here a couple years at least.

[A savory smell begins to eminate from the saucepan and Lucius pops to his feet and goes to tend to the cooking line. Stirring the mixture of oils and spices with a stubby wooden ladel, he tends to the poultry on the side with a smile on his face.]

So if this place is from your home, I suppose that makes me wonder how you've adapted in finding a home here yourself. I've only been here a couple of months, but lodgings and any semblance of stability have been entirely elusive. You seem a sturdy sort, though, and you're familiar with a world of relatively the same means as my own so I'm curious how you've landed on your feet.

That earns a slight, amused sound from Geddoe.

"Don't think I could call this place home in particular, we just stayed here because it was being used as the army's headquarters." And he left as soon as said war was over.

"Mercenary work has a lot of travel sometimes, anyway." Did he mention he was a mercenary before? If not, well, there it is. "It's not hard to find inns if you know what to look for and what questions to ask, and money's not a problem if you're not picky about work."

[The mention of Geddoe's occupation causes Lucius to raise an eyebrow.]

You're a sellsword then? That's a dangerous occupation. I lived alongside some sellswords during my time travelling with Emperor Hadrian, and they were a truly mixed bag. Some were the height of professionalism, some exotic and dangerous, and others were little more than violent barbarians. It wasn't a life I would pick for myself, but there were certainly those among them who seemed to thrive in that calling.

[He looks back in Geddoe's direction with an expression of curiousity.]

If I may ask, what led you to pursue that life rather than joining the regular army?

Geddoe doesn't appear particularly surprised by that reaction, but then again that may just be his usual stoic demeanor at play. In any case he just shrugs at the question.

"I guess I just like having a bit more of a chance to pick what I wanna do and how to do it."

That, and his homeland is long gone, any army he might join would inherently be as a foreign mercenary soldier anyway.

It's a pity there isn't something as versatile as the Legion for you to enlist in then. With existing training or special skills soldiers are able to enter into a variety of specialist "Principales" that let them receive additional pay and avoid tedious duties such as standing watch or digging fortifications. Seems that could have been a good fit for you.

[Lucius nods in agreement with his statement as he finishes.]

Still. I suppose if the sellsword's life is one that agrees with you then that's all one can ask for. I certainly don't miss my time on the warfront, so I wish you the best the next time you find yourself on one.

"Maybe."

Geddoe's response is pretty noncommittal. He rather doubts he'd get along well with any standard army, but who knows, maybe there's one out there that'd work out. Or maybe he'd change his mind on the matter.

Well, he probably won't change his stance on his aversion to being put in charge of things, being an officer or the like just simply does not suit him, but that's another matter entirely.

"You were a soldier before, or just got caught up in a war?"

[Lucius raises his hand in modest protestation.]

Nono. I'm afraid I'm not half the man the Legion takes. I was only along as an architect to assist Emperor Hadrian. I constructed fortifications, helped with some siege weapons, and eventually constructed a bathhouse for the troops to recuperate within.

[He shakes his head dismissively of these accomplishments though.]

These pale compared to the works the brave soldiers themselves though. While they fought and died on the frontlines I went to sleep in the comfort of the camp every night and never truly had to fear for my safety. I was, in essence, a witness to war rather than a participant.

"Soldiers can't fight for long without food, shelter, or supplies," Geddoe points out. He's well aware of the necessity for logistics, and the non-combatants that keep those things running, and how devastating striking at that can be. He did once get involved in what was a guerilla war at least once, after all.

Well, it started out a guerilla war, even if it didn't exactly end that way.

That said, there's a part of that explanation that does amuse him a bit.

"And having a bath to relax in seems popular enough."

[Lucius nods in reluctant agreement with Geddoe's approval. While the man is spot-on in his appraisal, Lucius is resistant-to-a-fault when it comes to giving himself credit for things. The idea of including himself in something important, even if by association, is still something that he's quite averse to.]

We Romans certainly love our lists, so I can hardly disagree with you when it comes to the importance of such things. Sadly, the importance of supply lines often brings out the darkest thoughts when soldiers have their backs against the wall...

[He looks solemnly into the saucepan.]

While the battles I saw began as the kinds of open field engagements you would expect of war, as the tides turned against our enemies they quickly resorted to insurgency and terrorism. Attacks on merchant caravans and kidnapping of foragers became everyday occurrences. It didn't stop there though. There were multiple incidents where our foodstores were poisoned, which inevitably led to many injuries and casualties,

[He shakes his head sadly as he mixes more ingredients into the sauce.]

Interestingly enough, that's actually one of the reasons for the bathhouse. We had the good fortune of discovering some natural hot springs near one of our encampments, and the waters there were rich with minerals that greatly helped with things like indigestion and the aftereffects of poisoning. Combined with the therapeutic aspects of the hot stone, the baths themselves were able to make quite a difference in getting the injured back on their feet.

[He pauses for a moment, realizing the oddity of a bathhouse on a battlefield.]

Looking back on it and describing it like I am now it really is odd to think that a Thermae would help to win a war, even in such a small capacity. It's certainly not the usual way of things, but that's life eh?

[Lucius laughs, shaking his head, and continues to cook.]

Edited (grammatical errors) 2023-02-04 04:47 (UTC)

"Those kind of tactics are usually used by desperate people against a stronger enemy."

There's absolutely no judgment in his tone as he says that, against either side. It's simply a fact of the matter. Either side could be justified, or both, or neither. And Geddoe sees no point in making that call, especially regarding people he doesn't know.

Then again, it probably comes as little to no surprise that a self-described mercenary would be familiar with the reasons and motives behind such things.

"Don't think I've heard of one hinging on a bath in particular, but plenty of wars are won or lost over little things." He shrugs. "Baths seem to be popular with some armies, though, there's even one out back."

[Lucius looks back at Geddoe and cocks an eyebrow in curiosity.]

There's a bath here? Provided it's operational, an after-dinner soak could be just the thing for chasing away the chills and aiding the digestion.

[Having completed the mixture, Lucius pulls the chicken out of the oven and pours it into the earthen pot it sets in. Ensuring it receives a good coverage, he then covers it with the lid again and sets it into the oven.]

Shouldn't be too long on that now. It will, doubtlessly, start to smell as if we could dive-in any minute but believe me when I say the scent is deceiving. I'll mix-up some proprer spiced oil for the bread, but I'd hold off on the snacks for now or we're likely to kill our appetite.

[Lucius begins cutting up the crusty bread and portioning it out for the two of them, as well as prepping dishes for when the time to serve rolled around.

I must say, I was surprised by the selection of herbs and spices they had down there. Either this place had access to some enviable trade routes or they spent considerable resources on staying well-stocked. Either way, it will certainly make for a pleasant treat in the middle of all this cold and dreariness.

"Yeah, some guy named Goro built it recently. It probably uses runes or something."

That last bit's speculation, but seeing as it's built into a ship fire runes or such is likely a safer option for heating than actual open flames.

Geddoe doesn't comment on the warning about the cooking smell; he's generally rather patient, and definitely knows better than to question the expertise of someone who clearly knows more about the matter than he does. That last remark, on the other hand...

"This place is right on one of the borders between the Zexen Confederacy and the Grasslands. Zexen was built on trade to begin with, and the castle's current master's been encouraging Grasslanders and others to open shops here."

ANOMALY DETECTED

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Was travelling over last week. My apologies for delays.

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with this I am caught up on tags for... 2 out of 3 characters lol

Re: with this I am caught up on tags for... 2 out of 3 characters lol

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