The Land of Grimney - The Illustrated Adventures of Cora Pearl, aged 12

ahh tobran is your currency, well i've got 3 groats half a chicken and this wonderful invention, noe wait a minute i've got some tobran somewhere, eerrm nope thats allbran, there tobran can you change a 100 gold tobran. Indeed sorry you mistake me, i'm a black swan hunter and a rainmaker. Now tell me 2 things, who owns most the land in grimney and second who runs grimney and i'll fill your glass for the information. And why, Because i wish to buy some land here

Good evening Urat! What a beautiful night sky it is today. Please pour me a glass of your finest wine and have one for yourself. I have been spending my time at Grimney Lake with my dear cousin Cassandra. What fun we have had, braiding briar roses in our hair and painting our nails. See, my nails are exactly the colour of the Dudrassa Sea in summer.We swapped stories, ah there is nothing like an evening of Mermaid tales. We spent many hours discussing the latest freshwater fashion, which I think I might adopt while I am here as it is less revealing and I am getting rather a lot of stares from the men of this land. Too much fair flesh scrambles men's brains, I fear.

Anyway, we talked of many important things (like how often to use rosewort oil to get hair really gleaming) and then we discussed my going to the Mountains of the Moon. She thinks if I am to go, then I should hire some rather tough individuals to accompany me, as maybe a young mermaid alone will get herself in more trouble than she can sing herself out of. So I was wondering if you might help me find some brave men or cunning witches who might help me on my quest to find my father. I can pay them handsomely, so if you know of anyone might help me, please send them to Grimney lake.

_________________
http://themermaidmuse.wordpress.com/

Mr Rainmaker what invention? Chicken pie instead of radigan who ever heard of such a thing?! Groats? Hmm, I will accept them this night, but don't normally accept foreign currency. Allbran? What currency is that? A 100 gold tobran?! What are you? A salt merchant? Or do you trade in black swan meat?

Who owns the Land of Grimney?! The Queen is in overall control, but she is hard to contact, unless you know a messenger. All its citizens have a home and share. Who runs Grimney? We all have different roles. I myself tend the bar and look after the Tavern, and I do very little else, I don't have the time. The Great Overseer? Or maybe Grimwood Scribes? He is after all the Lord of the Mire. Kara Jarina runs the tourist Information Centre, Absolem Darke is the Games Master... The Vanguard of Scar? The Chaos Engine? There are various others, Gavin has very little influence and is more a watcher these days. Hmmm maybe the Regulators I suppose? But they are more like police than anything else, Oh I know the Queen's Coven! Perhaps they have more control now? I just don't know who is in control entirely Mr Rainmaker. I myself have a stake in the mire, but little else. More wine my friend?

You are too kind dear Urat. If you care to come to Cassandra's lake to watch us swim, we will not mind. It is not in our nature to be shy of admiring eyes. Thank you for your help, I shall put myself in your trustworthy hands. I think it may be best not to ally myself with anyone with too dark a heart, I am inclined to shy away from evil and us merfolk of Dudrassa remain true friends to the Queen. Besides I fear my quest will be dangerous enough without adding the risk of kidnap. If I am endangered, I do have powerful friends in the waters here that will help. I am related by blood or marriage to almost every Naiad and Nixie in this land and if I am hurt, there will be no water that will be safe for my attackers to cross but still I would prefer it not to come to that. I shall await for some brave companions for my journey. Perhaps in return I can help them when they need it.

Ahhhhh the stormy waves of Dundrassa sea, pour me another glass of wine and I shall drink to them. How I long to feel those icy waves against my skin and scales once more but I have vowed by every hair on my head that I shall not return without my father or proof of his death and I can not imagine myself bald. There is a darkness that is across that vast ocean, a shadow is growing and darker creatures than krakens are stirring in the depths. Even us mermaids begin to wonder, to fear a little... but I shall talk no more of that. Another drink shall wash that fear away and perhaps I shall find a pleasant drinking companion to distract me for a while.

_________________
http://themermaidmuse.wordpress.com/

Thank you Philomena... Well between you and me, I’m not up to travelling much, did enough of that in my soldiering days. I used to enjoy sitting beside that lake, the silvered light on the water was always very magical. Travel wise Toraz is far enough for me now, and I only go there for the market fair.

Hmm, now it's hard to tell who the villains are sometimes, but the Chaos Engine are not a very pleasant bunch. It's wise to allow others to know that you have powerful friends. Poor Willow, who I have to say was a popular patron, well, she made the mistake of saying she was defenseless and she was kidnapped soon after that.

Naiad and Nixie... We don’t get many of them around these parts, Kellerman Bolt and his raiders have been clamping down and trying to drive out anyone and anything that isn’t human. Tough task considering that is probably half the population.

So you come from the coldest part of the Dudrassa? That’s where Cora Pearl was lost... So I was told, I suppose she was once the most powerful individual in Grimney, but it made little difference. Have you heard of a threat arising in Vorgania? I know the Vorgrannor live there but those ice giants are generally peaceful. We have enough trouble with the Kanarans

You may be hard pressed to find warriors who would embark on such a venture, most expeditions that journey that far are rarely heard of again. I heard Hugo Drax was killed on just such a quest, and he was a very powerful warrior, a good man too. Tobias Tave, now he has potential, although he’s mostly drunk. Calaman Kade? Cass Crellwin? Eliza Jade? Vin Reddell? Dhumass Shrester? All worth considering.

Or Korben Drake... He's an outlander and he knows the Mountains of the Moon, but his nature is not easy to figure out. Other than that, watch the bar and wait for some suitable candidates to pass through, plenty of mercenaries drink here throughout the week, but as you say, you need to be cautious.

Finding a drinking companion should not be hard Philomena, just pick a patron and introduce yourself, they are all generally happy to chat. If not, I’m happy to gossip, my ma used to think I was an old maid the way I used to talk.

Greetings Urat. I have a busy day today and must start it well. May I have a Full Grymnian Breakfast, a glass of freshly squeezed Sud Oren, and a hot pot of Kavos, if you please?

_________________
Love all, forgive all, show mercy, condemn no-one.
May the King's peace be upon your body, mind, soul and spirit.
May love and joy be ever with you.

http://www.waycyber.com

Thank you, Urat. I did try to go back to Branmere, but it has moved again. I don't understand how something the size of a small town (or so it seemed) can just vanish. I am positive that I had the right location, because I found my markers where I left them.

I would love to hear what Cassius has said, as long as it does not breach any confidence.

_________________
Love all, forgive all, show mercy, condemn no-one.
May the King's peace be upon your body, mind, soul and spirit.
May love and joy be ever with you.

http://www.waycyber.com