2 - The Letters of Dibenesha Ilunga - Sylviette and Jaguara
Maggio 17, 1671
After our meeting with you, my Prince, Captain Octavia organized the crew of her ship the Leonida, and we participated in a ritual known among the Pirate kingdoms which binds a crew together; allowing them to share successes. Octavia will be Captain, and Lady Donna will serve as the Ship's Master. Luna and Katja will share the responsibilities of the Boatswain between them, and Alice will serve as the Master Gunner. I believe they will be sailing towards the Atabean sea, although Canguine first.
Maggio 24, 1671
The group visited Canguine, and Lady Donna was granted a position as you suggested - ambassador without portfolio. I thought she might be made the new governor of New Carleon but this makes more sense I suppose. Particularly if your suspicious about Sylviette are accurate. I feel I might pull Alice aside and have a short word with her. Lady Donna is a woman of the world and understands the level she is playing at; Alice is certainly capable, but not as worldly and I am concerned she might be put in a situation she doesn't fully understand.
Giugno 13, 1671
My charges have sailed to San Sancha - this proved a good port to rest in. Lady Octavia had some contacts here (an Avalon "Sea Dog" named Brigid). Of course a Pirate contact might be a contact one day and an enemy the next. We are heading to Sylviette next, as both Lady Donna and Katja seem desirous to travel there.
Guigno 16, 1671
Made port at Sylviette - currently they are only allowing us to unload our goods, but am confident Lady Donna will negotiate a visit into the center of the city. It is a very stratified city it seems like.
It is now later in the day - I have a few moments. Lady Donna was able to negotiate a trip into the center of the city, where they made contact with a lady named Madame Chloé. I believe she attends to the sexual needs of the nobility on the island. There do seem to be an excessive amount of nobles - presumably those who have fallen out of favor with L'Empereur, but not all. There are some merchants, and some who have the bearing of military men - I can't imagine there's much to protect on this island, but there are a number of them around.
It appears that Katja has a good clue as to where her sister is, and Lady Donna can presumably accomplish her mission as well; they have decided to visit the main estate - controlled by the Marquis de Silviette. He is, by all accounts, not much to speak off, but his wife is very shrewd. I hope that our pirates can manage the situation successfully.
It is later in the evening now. Apparently the Marquis de Silviette and his wife failed to leave a positive impression on Lady Donna and Luna; Luna in particular seemed hostile to the gentlemen. He was, truthfully, horrid, so I can't say I disagree with her. They did have a more positive discussion with Lisandru Pinna di Bernoulli a Merchant; as you surmised the ATC has not abandoned their plans for these waters.
Meanwhile, Alice and Ocatavia seduced their way to the upper floors; I gather that Ocatavia did the bulk of the Seduction. Alice discovered a log of the powder the Marquis de Sylviette is amassing for purposes unknown, although one can speculate. Octavia, crept out the window and got into Katja's sisters room, and the two of them escorted her out of the estate. For the moment Katja and her sister are discussing matters, but I have little doubt that Octavia and Donna will call us together for a discussion on next steps soon.
Guigno 18, 1671
Katja and might be on Jaguara by now - after their discussion and some further commentary - they prevailed on Captain Pinna to take them to Jaguara. In the mean time so as to alleviate suspicion, Donna enjoyed a leisurely visit in town. We also gathered further intelligence on conditions in Jaguara; although it largely lines up with your suspicions. This island has been a haven for those who wish to return to Jaguara and reimpose their former slave holding systems.
We are now leaving port and I hope that Jaguara does not disappoint.
Guigno 19, 1671
We saw Mama Tortue - this is a great turtle loa - it was enormous - it was quite in the distance but it is so large that it is said that people comfortable live on it's back for a time. I think that Luna wanted to go and fight it, but she was dissuaded for the time, but the distance and the need to catch up with Katja and Ilse.
Guigno 21, 1671
We have arrived at Kap-Kalfu - in some ways it's very much a port town in the atebean sea, but of course, these people broke free of the company and their Montaignan landlords. There is a sense of pride in the people, but it's a pride tempered with concern that they have a lot of enemies. And sadly enough, it seems clear enough that they do.
Still it is a very cosmopolitan city; besides the Ifrans, the Higüey and Mariana (Rahuri tribes), you see people from every Thean Land, and from the strange new world - the continent to the west. The Ifrans, though, are quick to point out that they are Jagurans, as do the Theans - i am not as sure about the Rahuri. And of course there is now way to gauge the sincerity of the Theans.
We met with an ally of Alice, and we are heading up into the highlands. Apparently there is some travelling to do yet. I am curious to see what this land is like, as it feels quite a bit like home, although, perhaps, less civilized.
Guigno 22, 1671
We traveled up into the highlands - the jungle is very beautiful; less warm then the jungles at home, and a bit less lush. We traveled to a small way station, and settled in for the night; the gentleman who maintained the camp was pleasant enough, although concerned about Theans taking control of the island once more. Tomorrow we will finish our journey to the dig site. I have to admit I am curious about what they have discovered.
Guigno 23, 1671
We have made camp - the second part was a bit easier but also a bit hotter, so i am worn out. Luna and most of the crew went off to seek a piece of her family armor - I hope she finds it. I spent the afternoon in the cool of these tombs. They remind me quite a bit of the mausoleums they have in Khemet - not with pyramids of course, but the smaller ones. The markings are very curious and I took down as much as I could (for myself, and also for the Nezhev who is almost certainly a member of the Invisible College). They seem to be pictographic in nature, in that very few marks repeat - and phrases are very short. It is plausible that one of these marks is the name of the person while the additional ones modify that name. Such as "Kekheretnebti the Mild Farmer" One symbol for her name, one for mild and one for farmer. I am just speculating of course. While the marks do seem pictographic, they do not display the human form, however. They put me in mind of insects or sea creatures, but that may be me imposing my recent experience on them.
The group just returned - although - there is a bit of tension - they all look pretty beat up and are heading to Mangrove Station to be fixed up tomorrow. Luna is very pleased with her helm - her ancestors helm I gather, but she is also pretty upset with Katja as is Octavia for reasons I don't fully follow. I will let you know what comes of it.
Guigno 24, 1671
We have made our way to Mangrove base, which was a place of resistance during the slavery days. The good land for farming sugar cane is too the north and the east, and this city is in the middle of a mangrove swamp so thick that only dugouts can make their way to it. Luna has seen medical health.
From what I gather there is tension between the Jaguarans and the Rahuri, with additional pressure being put on them from Thean settlers to the north. The Jaguarans see this as a land of liberty for all of the people who fought for revolution, while the Rahuri, or their leader at any rate, consider this Rahuri land and the Jaguarans and the Theans are guests to be kicked out if they prove too troublesome.
In other news, I have heard from one of my contacts in Mandan; I took a bit of liberty and requested any information on Luna's armor - as the bulk of it almost certainly in the Crescent Empire, and our trading contacts there have the potential of being useful. I got an answer back, and will pass it off to Luna as the occasion permits. It troubles me though, as it references the three staves legend.
Guigno 25, 1671
Donna negotiated with Chaplain Nkansa and they prepared a strategy to approach the Chief Pablo De La Cruz. I wonder why he kept his Castillan(?) name - rather than returning to his old name after the revolution. Octavia acquired a beautiful map to present to him, so hopefully things will go well.
They then went to the Chief's home - very tense. Donna adopted a very confrontational style, but given the possible time crunch, she probably felt she didn't have time to flatter his ego. They turned him around though, and determined to return to the capital.
Katja was not with us - I hope she is well; I know she was intending to investigate those ruins discovered by explorers society. I am sure that is going well.
Guigno 26, 1671
I am concerned. While we were done at Mnagrove Base and Donna was negotiating a plan to resist Sylviette's invasion, Katja was exploring the ruins with Nezhev. The complex is larger than I originally believed it to be and full of strange glyphs. There were two larger glyphs that appeared to create an image if you looked at them in the proper manner (this was reported to me, I was unable to see it myself).
Octavia, Donna, Luna and Myself traveled to the dig the next morning (Luna has recovered remarkably). Octavia looked over the complex and discovered a small cache - which contained a strange circlet. She studied it for a bit and Nezhev extracted a promise to provide it and the documents attached to an Invisible College cell in Castille. After that we began our traval back down to Kapa Kalfu; I trust Ambassador Donna and Captain Octavia but it feels like there are too many troubles coming before us.
We are now at Kap Kalfu. The other two members of the council seemed much more tractable than Chief Pablo De La Cruz. General Taiyowo is very impressive - while physically she is nearly as strong as Luna and carries the same ferocious energy as Katja, she is most like Captain Octavia. She knows how to discipline her soldiers. The other, Kehendi the Ranger has a quietness about him - he has an affinity for animals and keeps Jaguars as pets (someone akin to the Leopards of my own land but smaller and, by all accounts, fiercer). Both are focused on dealing with the problem in front of them; the attempted counter-revolution - but neither appears to have much thought on Chief Pablo De La Cruz's long term challenge. Lady Donna did broker a unity though, which was useful when we faced the landing of the Marquis de Sylviette - he brought with him 10 Montaignan musketeers, and 6 privateers. The privateers seem more skilled but less loyal. The Marquis de Sylviette and Lady Donna did a little rhetorical "pas a deux" (I told you that night at the ballet was worthwhile), as Lady Donna led him into some truly magnificent stupidity. At the end of it - I don't think that even his own men were keen on supporting him. I do not know what will happen next but, I do not see this ending any other way but violently.
Everything has gone well; the Leonidas successfully defeated the Sylviette ships, and the Marquis and his troops/mercenaries were taken prisoner. I did not have an opportunity to observe the Leonidas but I gather that after Alice successfully took out the sails of one of the ships, Luna's ferocity caused the other ship to surrender. Octavia observed an Avalon ship trying to make port, by this time the harbor was largely cleared. On land Katja's efficient blade work made short work of most of the musketeers; but there was one Vensten grenadier who Donna had to intimidate? Seduce? It is difficult to tell with her. At any rate after Capturing the marquis (my skill with soporifics was of some use), the fight went out of our enemies, and so the battle was brought to a successful end. That said the Avalon Ship did bring interesting news, which I am guessing you know already, but it was reported here that Montaigne has had a revolution; it was reported that the Emperor has lost his crown and his head. What that means for us is unclear.
Well things have gone well - Lady Donna negotiated with Avalon and cleverly brought them together through shared negotiations. Capitana Octavia has procured goods for the trip to Castille (our next port of call). Reiterin Katja and Fusilière Alice will be transporting the transcriptions of that strange facility, and Katja will also be arranging for her sister to return home. Her sister has . . . mixed feelings about that, and while Katja can send her, I'm not sure she will go. Luglio 3, 1671 We have made our way to San Teodoro. It is a safe house for an organization I am pretending I do not know about. Apparently that organization is going through a political struggle, and Fusilière Alice has determined not to leave the documents for discussion there; but to travel on to Carleon and leave them with Ravenild Hibbot, a specialist in blood from what I can tell.
We are now at Kap Kalfu. The other two members of the council seemed much more tractable than Chief Pablo De La Cruz. General Taiyowo is very impressive - while physically she is nearly as strong as Luna and carries the same ferocious energy as Katja, she is most like Captain Octavia. She knows how to discipline her soldiers. The other, Kehendi the Ranger has a quietness about him - he has an affinity for animals and keeps Jaguars as pets (someone akin to the Leopards of my own land but smaller and, by all accounts, fiercer). Both are focused on dealing with the problem in front of them; the attempted counter-revolution - but neither appears to have much thought on Chief Pablo De La Cruz's long term challenge. Lady Donna did broker a unity though, which was useful when we faced the landing of the Marquis de Sylviette - he brought with him 10 Montaignan musketeers, and 6 privateers. The privateers seem more skilled but less loyal. The Marquis de Sylviette and Lady Donna did a little rhetorical "pas a deux" (I told you that night at the ballet was worthwhile), as Lady Donna led him into some truly magnificent stupidity. At the end of it - I don't think that even his own men were keen on supporting him. I do not know what will happen next but, I do not see this ending any other way but violently.
Everything has gone well; the Leonidas successfully defeated the Sylviette ships, and the Marquis and his troops/mercenaries were taken prisoner. I did not have an opportunity to observe the Leonidas but I gather that after Alice successfully took out the sails of one of the ships, Luna's ferocity caused the other ship to surrender. Octavia observed an Avalon ship trying to make port, by this time the harbor was largely cleared. On land Katja's efficient blade work made short work of most of the musketeers; but there was one Vensten grenadier who Donna had to intimidate? Seduce? It is difficult to tell with her. At any rate after Capturing the marquis (my skill with soporifics was of some use), the fight went out of our enemies, and so the battle was brought to a successful end. That said the Avalon Ship did bring interesting news, which I am guessing you know already, but it was reported here that Montaigne has had a revolution; it was reported that the Emperor has lost his crown and his head. What that means for us is unclear.
Well things have gone well - Lady Donna negotiated with Avalon and cleverly brought them together through shared negotiations. Capitana Octavia has procured goods for the trip to Castille (our next port of call). Reiterin Katja and Fusilière Alice will be transporting the transcriptions of that strange facility, and Katja will also be arranging for her sister to return home. Her sister has . . . mixed feelings about that, and while Katja can send her, I'm not sure she will go. Luglio 3, 1671 We have made our way to San Teodoro. It is a safe house for an organization I am pretending I do not know about. Apparently that organization is going through a political struggle, and Fusilière Alice has determined not to leave the documents for discussion there; but to travel on to Carleon and leave them with Ravenild Hibbot, a specialist in blood from what I can tell.
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