[Coddleflop]

Earth, 1273. Dark ages for the inhabitants of Earth. A relatively peaceful time, for most. However, for those in Europe, a bad time indeed. A war ravaged land, and on each side, The Descended, the races which have strange powers. Frowned upon at first, women accused of witchcraft, men accused of being Satans spies. Until the war broke out. Then, they were treated like descendants of God himself. Now, the war started by The Descended, can only be ended by The Descended, but this war has been going on for...

[Coddleflop]

... Hundreds, if not THOUSANDS of years. Surely it can't be ended so easily?

[Coddleflop]

Malakai:
Malakai was training again. Being probably the most powerful, water/ice mage in all of the land took hard work. He stopped meditating and stood up. "Hydros Aegos." He whispered, bringing his hands up, and a wall of water formed in front of him. "Deetson." He whispered, pushing an opened hand forward, and the water froze. "Iklar." He whispered, and the ice shattered. "Salaton fo jan di trab san." (Return to normal and go home) he whispered and returned to his village.

[Coddleflop]

Malakai:
Malakai was nearly home, when he ran into the vicar, Daid, a powerful healer. "Ahh, hello Daid, good harvest this year?"
"Yes, one of the best ever." Was Daids Reply.
"I look forward to buying my food from the market." Malakai waved, then walked up to his house, went in, and slammed the door shut, preparing for some more practice.

[Lazarus]

Ludwig Wieztel von Westfallen

Baron Wietzel sat upon his throne, the intricaies of court boring him to no end.
Currently, he was forced to adjunticate a squabble between two of the wealthiest merchants in his barony.

The complaint was that one was selling goods so cheap that the other was suffering severly. That had roused questions in regard to where the goods actually came from, as most merchants charged between 150-250% of cost, thus making a fair profit. But this man was far enough under competing prices that his items, many of which were the same as his accusors, were sold at less than half the price, and the man was making coin hand-over-fist.

Stifling a yawn, Ludwig leaned forward in his seat, eying the two grown child-men.
Good Merchant Braun, he began, speaking to the plaintiff, allow me a moment to make a few inquiries.

The older man bowed forward, stepping back in submission, most certainly, my lord.

Good Merchant Strauss, he began, You have refused to join the merchant's guild. Which puts you at odds with the barony's other vendors, and you sell at prices that undercut their profits and draw away patrons. But I have yet to see any proof of wrongdoing.

However, for the sake of peace, as I have no desire to let a merchant's war erupt in my holdings, I shall make an ultimatum. Standing, his heavy bear fur cloak and fine silk tabard unruffling as he reached his full height. As I respect that you have secrets to your trade, and thus hold reservations in regard to revealing them in front of your competition, I shall require from you a private explaination of your methods of aquiring your goods. You have one week to write a summary of your operations and present them to me, so i may judge the legality of them. Should your information seem legitimate, I will have my marshall investigate, and if the findings are in agreement, I shall grant my personal approval of your operations in my barony.

At that Strauss smiled, which received a wicked sneer from Braun.

However. Ludwig continued, If your explaination is wanting or my marshal finds any discrepencies, you will be held accountable, and your business and family banished from my lands. I will also send notice to every other baron and lord I hold court with and have you black listed.

Finished with his decree for now, he asked, Do we all have an understanding?

At the query, both men nodded, speaking almost in sync, I do my lord.

Good, then the matter is settled for the time being. I shall inform you both of the results via courier once the allotted time has passed.

At that, both men bowed again and retreated outside the throne room. Leaving Ludwig to the mercy of his Senashal, who likely had a Herculine list of complaints and gripes or him to suffer through.

Looking over to the slender man, Klaus, who was his greatest courtesean, thus Senashal. What other torture do you have for me today?

Klaus smiled politely, a genuinely jolly glint in his eyes.
My lord? I am heartbroken. As I have no other visitations scheduled for you this day. He gave pause before making a mild jab at the Baron, though I am certain that I could make something, should your Lordship desire it.

Ludwig frowned uncontrollably at the thought, far more relaxed now that all prying eyes had left and he was alone with his closest advisors.
No Klaus, I am certainly not in need of further... entertainment. Having not even sat down after the merchants left, Baron Wietzel placed his hand on the hild of his sword, hanging from a sturdy leather belt on his waist, a beaten and worn bit of cured hide, died black and rugged, it was a stark contrast to the fineries he wore in the castle.
I am going to take a stroll, in guise, of course, and see what the going ons are within the marketplace.

At that, Herger, his captain of the guard nodded. Long ago had the vetren soldier who served under his father learned that the younger Wietzel was not a man to be coddled. Though he preferred that the Baron let him handle security and remain under the watchful eye of his men, he accepted that his Lord was a man of action, and one who trusted his own eyes and mind over those of his spies and subjects.
And rather than making things difficult by resisting the Baron's ways, Herger had instead decided to aid the man, sometimes even accompanying him as a companion, in disguise as well. It was the way the two men had become good friends, transcending the class/caste barrier of the age, with a trust beyond bonds of blood and words.

With a nod of agreement, mostly to himself, Ludwig began to retire to his chambers, I shall see you all upon my return. Should anything pressing come while I am out, you know what to do. The statement drew several short nods of acknowlegdement.
You may travel with me if you like, Herger. He added as he stroder out the solid oaken doors that sealed the throne room. Meet me at the courtyard gate in a quarter of an hour.

With that, Ludwig Wietzel casually made his way to his room and changed into far less gaudy fare.

******

The mid-day market was lively as always, with children playing between the stalls that served as homes for wares and vendors alike. The huslt and hub-bub made a great cover for the rogues and cons of the town, so much traffic and business, merchants losing track of patrons in the commotion.

The air was a hypnotic concotion of scents, odors from all over the world made their way here. The local cooking, hearty and greasy, mixed with the sharp spices of northwestern herbs and vegetables. In contrast, the spicy and exotic fare of the far east was stockpiled nearby as well, with dozens of barrels containing a rainbow of colored powders, each a different flavor of culture and style from places few in thie region had ever seen, let alone could dream of.
The butcher had fresh pork shanks hanging from his ceiling, along with sausages and poultry. The innkeepres had fires stoked and blazing, turning out all manner of roast birds and braized beef for the passerby to drool over.
Bakers had been working since before first light to knead dough and sort breads, making deliveries, and selling the excess to random bypassers.
There were cheese vendors, brewers, farmers, sheperds, blacksmiths, tailors, weavers, masons, apothecaries, and perforers. Even the local clergy had come from the abby to gather extra supplies for their day's meal, as they were allowed by their Abbot to indulge in finer fare once a month.

The life of his Barony was here, where everyone met to trade toils of their lives for those of others'. It was the world, in once place, in one moment, the connection of life at it's best.

Stopping at a nearby cart, this one ladened with barrels of local beer, he payed the man to fill both Herger's and his cups, and they went along their way, sipping the strong and flavorful brew as they wandered.
Herger, what do you think these people are most worried about right now? Ludwig asked, the first of many questions he always asked when he went out.

I should say they worry of dinner, and feeding their families, with the approach of winter and the cold moons, they also look for blankets for warmth and good wood for fires. Hi answered, knowing better thant o refer to the other man by title when they were out in disguise.

I wish our lives were full of such simple worry at times. But they are not so simple, are they? he asked, mostly himself. Sipping more of the dark beer.
As long as there are no upsets, they should have a peacible winter and a lovely festival come the equinox. He truly loved watching his countryside in snow. The beauty was unparralleled in his eyes, and the feastivites come mid-winter were among his most treasured traditions.

Giving a sigh, he looked around, head shrouded in a hood to help conceal his face from sharp eyes. Such peace in a chaotic world...

[[TAG: Anyone in the market]]