Deptimaya / Kaizen

The sun shone brightly on from above as Gevrete trudged through the foothills toward the greater peaks to the north. The mountains reached up like teeth into the sky in places, but the gnome wasn't daunted. He'd love mountains back on Allis, and was just as comfortable hiking a steep, rocky path as he had been crossing the flatlands and forests before. His thick boots plodded along at an easy pace, meant for conserving energy over long distances.

Somewhere up here in the peaks were the bird-people that Jeeva had told Pyza about. The stories talked about their great minds and graceful flight, but didn't actually tell very much about the people. He was curious to see them for real.

Late in the afternoon, Gevrete took a stop for a break, and sat on a rock to rest. His gaze rested on the valley now below him that he had walked through, and the new perspective on what he had just seen inspired his creative leanings. He took a quick glance up at the sky. Plenty of light left for a longer break, he rationalized.

Out of the cloth hiking pack came a small wooden easel and a furled piece of thick parchment, which he unrolled and pinned to the stand with cloths-pins. Then a small tray with several tiny bottle of colored pigments, and a brush. Gevrete began to paint the scene below, the valley mostly lit in sun but for the shadow of a few small clouds.

Feng Lao looked down the mountain, board while he waited for the rest of the troupes to arrive. When he saw what appeared to be a Gnome.

On a cliffside path.

Painting.

With a smirk, he glided down like a whisper to stand behind silently, looking over his shoulder as he made the mundane colors into the skyline before him.

It was quite good actually, and It would be rude to interrupt.

"Lovely Clouds," he commented, as the Gnome finished the skyline.

The painter smiled a little, one side of his mouth curling up, without taking his eyes off the horizon. "Thank you," Gevrete murmured automatically. Then his brush paused in mid stroke, and he took the tip off the canvas as he turned his head quickly. He looked up at the avian standing over his shoulder, easily double his height if he'd been standing. "Er, good afternoon, sir!"

The artist fumbled with his brush and paints for a moment before setting them aside and standing. His leg was asleep from having sat cross-legged so long, and he leaned slightly as he tried to bow, nearly losing his balance. "My name is Gevrete Hewlem. I'm here to find, well, your people. I presume."

The Kaizen seemed to take the situation in with a bit of mirth.

"Hmm, well to my knowledge we are the only people who live in the mountains here, so it seems like a safe presumption. And you also seem to of found us."

"All told, you seem to be doing quite well. I will admit tho, it seems a bit of a trek for an artist to travel just to meet new people, perhaps you had something else in mind?" He probed jovially.

Gevrete took a breath to calm his flustered self. It usually took him a moment to adjust back from the mindset of colors and textures to one of words interactions, even among his own people. "Well yes. I was just taking a break from the hike here, and the view was lovely. I'm not actually here in an artist's capacity, more a hobby of mine really.

"I came to meet with your people in an ambassadorial role, as a representative of Deptimaya. Our nation is south of yours, and a little west along the inner sea. Now that we're established enough for the essentials, we're trying to explore outward to see what other peoples escaped the loss of Allis. We had very little time in our last world to do so, and we want to be sure to get to know our neighbors here."

The raven like Feng nods making a couple observatiosn with a sharp eye.

"Ahh, that makes more sense." he says nodding 'wisely'

Now how to proceede?

It would be a pain to escort their apparent guest to the capital. Well, there was an easier solution, but Xai would be annoyed with him, hmm what was it he told the diplomats again?

"Well on behalf of the Kaizen I'm happy to welcome you to our lands." Feng smiled michiviously, although the nuance might be lost on one who didn't know avian facial expressions.

"If it pleases you, i am Feng Lao. I was sent by our king to nest-sit some academic types who are investigating strange marking around pockets of silver ore. Our king, in his 'infinite wisdom', "he adds the smallest touch of sarcasm," had decreed that we cannot mine it until they are properly investigated. I'd be happy to speak with you on his behalf, and on behalf of the Kaizen."

With that, he waves a talon with a small gesture, and a small squad of militia archers stands down and comes out of the surrounding area, all looking fairly relaxed.

Apparently they where his backup. Although the don't seem at all hostile.

The artist smiled as he listened to Feng Lao, giving a more proper bow now he was used to standing again. His smile broadened as the Kaizen's last statement. "Ah, an emissary of the king so quickly, what luck!"

Gevrete's eyes widened slightly as the rest of Feng's squad left concealment. His eyes flicked back over his shoulder at the painting and a bright blush spread across his face. He reached back with one hand, murmuring, "It's not really ready for public viewing," turning the easel sideways from the group.

"Ahem. Well, I bring greetings from Deptimaya and the Voices of the Creators. We hope that we find our neighbors, the Kaizen, well and in good health. The Deptimayans wish to establish rapport and beneficial trade with our neighbors.

"I bring a few small gifts with me as tokens of our well-wishes for fellow survivors of Allis." Gevrete gestured to his travelling pack sitting beside a rock, not sure if this was the appropriate venue to present the ornate wooden dishes and strings of pearls that he had brought. "And if your people lack anything that we can provide, we would like to see how we may assist."

Feng smiled at the offer of friendship, He found himself liking the gnome despite, or perhaps because of his honest, painfully easy to read nature.

He drew a guard and passed a set of instructions before turning back to their guest.

"You are most welcome to the lands of the Kaizen,Empire of the Xai'Kifu, and followers of Kifu, God of Reflections. You will forgive us if our welcome is a bit lackluster. We have little knowledge in the ways of diplomacy as our people where isolated deep in the mountains of the old world, where few ever ventured without purpose. There is a settlement nearby if you wish to conduct a bit more formally, however truthfully with the platoon there to support the small village, we would be hard pressed to find a place to sleep without being trampled. THe next closes is our capital, but a trek through a mountains seems a bit much to find ourselves in the same company. However if you would wait a moment, would present you with a return gift. "

"In the mean time I can tell you here and now that our people would be honored to become partners in trade with yours as soon as we are able. And if i recall there is indeed something my people can create the markets able to do so. I also happened across information that there is a something we have so far found lacking. In fact the two are are related."

"We have not  been able to locate any good sources of stone, and have not yet found any willing to part with some. If you would sell us some stone, we can build our settlement up, and open trade routes far more quickly."

[OOC Offer: Will pay 2 gold this turn, 2 gold next turn, for 2 stone, and promise a trade route will be opened next turn.]

"Its a bit of a strange request, but from my sources, It would be the fastest way to open our trade routes to you."

Gevrete smiled. This was going far better than he'd expected! The gnome had been worried that he'd be spending day after day in formal proceedings and complicated negotiations, comparing and debating minutia and learning the avians' culture in small diplomatic increments. Instead, their king's representative was straightforward and plain of speech, agreeing promptly to the offer of friendship. Within ten minutes of meeting the Kaizen had laid out their initial plan for a beginning trade relationship.

At this rate, he could spend several easy days here exploring and painting the mountainous landscape, and perhaps its inhabitants, before returning home with his news.

"We would be pleased to help new friends get set up for trade! Though we aso have other friends in need of a supply of stone, your offer sounds like a good beginning to establishing our cooperation together. Deptimaya will likewise have the capability to bring a new trade expedition to your mountains within a few months. Wonderful!"

Gevrete clapped his hands together twice and bowed. "If it is not an imposition, I would savor the chance to spend a few days with your people before I make the return journey south to bring the news of our agreement."

Feng mad a jesture of contemplation,

"Forgive me, but i find myself in a bit of a fix. We have a village nearby that has begun to circle a nearby hilly vally, but the houses have been filled to overfowing due to a troupe of archers providing support to a investigative team. To be perfectly honest its a bit overcrowded, I'm used to being surrounded by my fellow Kaizen, and its to point that i was actually looking for a place to camp for the evening without risking being trampled by a rampaging flock of children." he begain dramatically.

"The next closest option would be our capital, It is quite beutiful, and is a few days further north east, and while bothering Xai, eer Lord Xai, is always a sound plan. it is a bit of a daunting trek to undertake for relaxation."

"If you don't mind, I propose an alternative," he continued, "We can find a good clearing nearby, and relitively close to the village, and set up a few pavilions for your vistit, we could also arrange a guide if you wish." Feng offered.

"Besides, being forced to sleep outdoors upon the rocks makes a much better tale of our barbaric ways when you return home." He finishes dramatically, to which a few of the guards make expressions of embarrassment, holding their face in their talons.

The guard he sent off earlier returns, holding a small package.

"Ahh here we are"

He pulls out what looks to be a masterfully crafted wooden box, The surface dark and rich, with fine gold filigree and intricate inlays covered the surface.

"One of my cousins is a bit of a craftsman, and created this puzzlebox as a bit of a hobby. Unfortunately the lid to the top, didn't properly align," he says, showing that the otherwise invisible seam stuck out slightly in the front. Due to the way it was constructed she couldn't have another go at it so she gave it to me. She may of commented that a crooked puzzlebox suits me for some odd reason" he says with faux innocence.

"At any rate, I'd like to give it to you as a gesture of good will. The tod needed to open the next chamber is stored in whatever current compartment. he says, and opening the lid, a thin half inch hooked wire sits at the bottom of the lid."

"Our people have a special facination with mental puzzels you see, so its only fitting we give you one."

"As a speical challange, If you manage to figure out the seven tricks involving this box before you go, I'll personally give you somethign for your troubles." He offered as he smirked inwardly.

The guards eyed him leerily, and for good reason as most Kaizen knew him well enough, either personally, or by reputation.

The box itself only held six compartments, the seventh puzzle was the fact that he misnumbered the number of compartments. His guest would even have a hint as the last compartment was empty of any tools, implying he didn't need anything to figure it out.

If the Gnome managed it, well there would undoubtably be a beginners meditation blade somewhere in the village. It would be a lovely gift to accompany the first should he figure it out. If not, he would tell him the trick before he left, and pass on knowledge instead.

Master Jin would be quite amused when he returned to hear his little trick