Open Chronicles The country of Mardania

[Zakon K'atun]

As far as cities went, Mardus was truly massive. Stories about this place claim that it used to be a city built by the cloud giants up in the sky but was rebuilt by humans on the ground after it's cataclysmic fall.
But stories were stories, proof was scarce though the size of this city surely indicates that if it were not currently overrun by the smaller humanoid races it could certainly host a population of giants.

For Kuxtal K'atun the stories were all he had to go on, but he was not disappointed in the least from the moment he entered the city through one of its many gates.
The city was truly immense and full of people, hundreds and thousands of them all somehow finding a breathable place to live amid this cities towers and manors.
Guards wandered about baring the crests of different noble houses, or some bearing the royal coat of arms seemed to keep the general peace. All in all this seemed like the perfect place to finally establish himself!
He walked up the main street taking in the sights. While he stood out with his height his unnatural blue skin didn't seem to draw much attention, creatures and people from nearly every civilized race and ethnicity were represented here with their strange cultures and clothes.

The blue giant found his way to the market district and he came upon his first two problems... An empty stomach and an empty coin pouch. Looking for work would need to be a priority for now before he could even think of anything bigger!

 

[Dimitrius Tirtius]

Mardus was Impressive. Not as intricate or decorated and proud as his own city, but impressive. The city was roughly as big as his own, and a great deal more spiky, and definitely darker. He liked the city, he’d pick Nurum any day but he liked it. He had come to the city as an emissary, hoping to establish relations between House Tirtii and the local noble houses, or to overthrow one and take its place. He was quite partial to upfront conquest and vassalization, but he knew that subtlety and carefully applied pressure was just as important as organized, trained armies.

He planned to force his way into power, in a partially legal, maybe illegal way. He intended to control the guard and the garrison, and if he couldn’t work his way into power, which he’d do, he’d either lead a coup or strongarm an established noble family out of their position, probably enslave them, and take their place. He was an ambitious and ruthless man, but was also very concerned with honor.

He and the first Decani, group of ten men, of the first Century, first Cohort, first Legion, marched down the city’s street. He had just gotten permission to give the guard a hand with cleaning up the streets. It was time to hunt down organized crime like a hound after an injured animal. They weren’t long for this world.

He sent word for the first Century to move into the city, since the first cohort was double strength of the double strength first legion, that was a total of four hundred men plus the centurion, trumpeter, standard bearer and of course the Legatus, him. They marched into the city and dispersed among the many buildings and streets, and picked up any criminal they caught.

They were brought to the prison for judgement. And if given the death penalty, the legion would crucify them in the city center. And they were only beginning.

 

[Dimitrius Tirtius]

As far as cities went, Mardus was truly massive. Stories about this place claim that it used to be a city built by the cloud giants up in the sky but was rebuilt by humans on the ground after it's cataclysmic fall.
But stories were stories, proof was scarce though the size of this city surely indicates that if it were not currently overrun by the smaller humanoid races it could certainly host a population of giants.

For Kuxtal K'atun the stories were all he had to go on, but he was not disappointed in the least from the moment he entered the city through one of its many gates.
The city was truly immense and full of people, hundreds and thousands of them all somehow finding a breathable place to live amid this cities towers and manors.
Guards wandered about baring the crests of different noble houses, or some bearing the royal coat of arms seemed to keep the general peace. All in all this seemed like the perfect place to finally establish himself!
He walked up the main street taking in the sights. While he stood out with his height his unnatural blue skin didn't seem to draw much attention, creatures and people from nearly every civilized race and ethnicity were represented here with their strange cultures and clothes.

The blue giant found his way to the market district and he came upon his first two problems... An empty stomach and an empty coin pouch. Looking for work would need to be a priority for now before he could even think of anything bigger!

(You okay?)

 

[Zakon K'atun]

Spoiler

Sorry, I was waiting for more interest and then things got busy.

As Kuxtal looked about for ways to solve his money problem he noticed a new group of soldiers moving about. They were not armed or armored like the other house guards on patrol around their designated districts. He watched them work, it was a bold tactic to say the least, simply moving your soldiers into a metropolis city and simply assuming authority.
Even as he stood there observing their movements they had already caught a market thief and were turning him over to the powers that be.

As of yet no one challenged them, but the guards that witnessed this action were already sending word to their superiors.
This tactic was risky, but it stood to turn great rewards. Whoever commands these soldiers obviously has the military strength to back up whatever claim they desire, but if they angered the wrong person they could be faced with overwhelming odds.
Kuxtal would have been more subtle himself, perhaps inquired of the people, asked some questions, got an audience with a noble and explored the different ways of establishing himself more conventionally... Then again he might also have rooted out any corruption among the nobles, publicly executed them, and assumed control of their assets.

He looked among them to see who was in charge.
He had no plan when he chose to come here, mainly he was just impressed by the sheer size of the city. But perhaps there might be something for him yet...

 

[Dimitrius Tirtius]

Spoiler

are you going to dm the authorities too? Or do you plan on using the ice princess for that?

A bold move yes, but since he started rooting out criminals and since he had no jurisdiction restrictions, he could go into places without worrying about probable cause or other legal law enforcement restrictions. In a single afternoon, his men rooted out and turned in more criminals than the guards caught in a week. A bold move indeed, but if anyone tried to stop him, they’d look corrupt, which he’d accuse them of being and have his men take them for trial in the legal courts, and conduct investigations which would prove them to be corrupt. If they didn’t, then he was free to continue cleaning up the streets, which would also bring him support from the people he was protecting, and give him even more protection from legal ramifications and make him a hero in the eyes of the people. He was brave, but he was no idiot.

As another pair of guards dragged a struggling man, and a confiscated dagger tucked into one of their belts, into the prison he spied the blue giant as he walked the streets going about his business. An interesting man, definitely bigger than everyone else, and a dangerous enemy if he proved to be one, and a valuable ally if he could be befriended. But that was not his call.

He entered the prison and spoke with the Warden. “Busy?”

 

[Zakon K'atun]

Spoiler

Yeah, I could do it. I'm mostly wanting to introduce the city for now and then get Helia involved in like a celebration or something in another thread.

In fact, since this one isn't getting much attention I might go ahead and make a new thread with Helia.

He finally spied the man who seemed to be in charge, that is, he had the air of command. Kuxtal nodded to the commander as he was noticed before watching him go in to see the warden.

___________________________________________​

The warden was a sallow faced man with heavy eyes, he unkempt and scraggily but was physically imposing. He looked bored out of his mind sitting behind the desk, but that's how he always looked, his face didn't change even as the foreign soldiers started bringing in petty criminals and the man who must be the leader asked if he was busy.

He shrugged and leaned back in his chair with his foot up on the desk, "I wasn't... Are you boys bounty hunters or something? The city guards handle this lot on the daily, what's your game here?"
He picked his teeth and flicked something on the floor, obviously hardly interested in what was going on here.

 

[Dimitrius Tirtius]

He finally spied the man who seemed to be in charge, that is, he had the air of command. Kuxtal nodded to the commander as he was noticed before watching him go in to see the warden.

The giant’s nod was returned by a greeting nod of his own.

"I wasn't... Are you boys bounty hunters or something? The city guards handle this lot on the daily, what's your game here?"

“I suppose you could call us that. As for what our game is. Well, catch a few small fish to attract the big ones. We make ourselves enough of a nuisance for the higher up criminals, they will start paying us some attention.” He said, the He looked the warden directly in the eyes. “I actually need to speak with you about this. I need to know that you cannot be bought off. If you can, then we’d will be having a serious talk with the judges. So, if we can bring the criminals in, can you keep them here?”