Yes it is!  Everyone should stop in, say hello, and then the briefing shall begin!

One thing of importance:

Characters have complete access to the "MASSILIA MAP and Guide".  This represents character information, and is what the Mercators (Titus and Vocaphil) can tell you about Massilia.  Naturally, it is slightly skewed to mention more about the wealthy side of society.

"Mercator, Titus Mercator."...

Sorry, just rehearsing. Looking forward to seeing where this one goes!

In reply to Ben (msg # 4):

Looking around for the entity known as Vocaphil, unsure as to her actual physical presence or location.

The Lady Vocaphil is in Iccios north of Divio, which is expanding and is prosperous.

It's unlikely you will meet her, though those in Lingones  (AD 539) may meet her if they go south.

Gives everyone a wave.
This message was last edited by the player at 00:01, Sat 28 July 2018.

"Valerius the Younger" the tree sapling pipes up to all who can hear him

"Haakon Pedlar," says Haakon, "Here with the finest garments prepared for this year's collection"

You are in the town of Cabillonum, in Burgundy.  The Burgundian king prefers to move frequently, rather than have a set palace.  It helps him keep an eye on things- he is a known micro-manager.

Some of you have already worked closely with the leaders whose actions broke the Huns between 512 and 513 (the Huns remain a threat, but a fading one, they are much reduced.)  Some of you have only recently been dragged into the vortex of power and politics in Europa, for whatever reasons you have.

The key leaders are two kings:  Theoderic of Belgica and Austrasia, and Gundobad of Burgundy.

Theoderic is young, idealistic , moralistic, very trusting and easy for people to trust.  He is a warrior-king, always ready to lead the way, ruling more by trust in his people than plans and laws.  He has swept a diverse group of characters into his orbit, and built alliances across groups: Halflings, Centaurs, Elves, Humans, and more.

Gundobad is in his sixties.  A politician king, cynical and adept at reading people and situations.  He has no ambitions of "bright new world", he seeks to build and protect Burgundy for the sake of Burgundians and those willing to be ruled by the Burgundian Law.  He is a civilized man in a largely uncivilized world, even effectively ruling the remains of the Western Roman Empire for a year.  He is devoted to the concept of Law and Civilization.

They don't always see eye-to-eye but one opportunity has brought them together, in purpose if not in presence.

In late 513 AD, news reached both of them of the death of Gasalog, king of the Visigoth Orcs.  Officially, the new king was Gasalog’s, son and heir Amaric the Half Orc, but Amaric, born in 502, was still a boy.  And a Half Orc, a fact which bothers many Orcs.

Some of the powerful Visigoth clan chiefs rallied around the new ruler anyway.  Some of the humans living in his domain did so as well, expecting that a half Orc would be a better, more civilized ruler than the brutal Orcs who devoted their thoughts only to war, and when they were not fighting, their own pleasures.   Others opposed him, some even taking up arms.

 Through correspondence and meetings, Gundobad gradually Theoderic that while the Goths were far too powerful an enemy to face in battle, the current situation opened up an opportunity.  A crack could be made in the Goths, in this case the Visigoths, which could weaken them permanently.  All of Gaul could be rid of them, one day, if they exploited this.

That crack was the city of Massilia.  The ancient port built by the Greeks on the south coast of Gaul was a thriving, successful port even during the occupation by the Visigoths.  Massilia brings in so much money through trade that the Visigoths chose to let Human population go about their business largely unmolested, as long as they remained obedient, productive, submitted to the occasional bloodthirsty demands of the Visigoths’s demonic powers, and paid their taxes promptly.  The city was officially under the control of a powerful Orc tyrant, Harridog, who is responsible for defending the city against Ostrogoth and Vandal attacks, and any internal dissent.  Harridog uses the wealth generated by Massilia to play kingmaker in Visigoth politics- he is not the most vocal, but he is the financial master of the Orcs aligned against Amaric.  While Orcs and their minions enforce Harridog’s will, the day-to-day operation of the money-machine that is the Massilian economy is left to a Council of Select, most of them human, knowledgeable, and corrupt.

One of the wealthy Human families of Massilia have chosen to ally themselves with Gundobad, however.  Gundobad still pats himself on the back for the marriage of Vocaphil Mercator to his seneschal's son.  Settled the boy down, and gave Burgundy a permanent contact with the "civilized" south.  By odd turn of events, another Mercator, Titus, ended up working with Theoderic as one of his ministers. The Mercators are a widespread family, but they have a substantial holding in Massilia, and for their part, they insisted that both kings come together on this.  If they could do that, the Mercators of Massilia would offer their help "from the inside".

That is what led to everyone's being here today.

Even with the assistance of the Mercators, having any direct, overt influence over events in Massilia would be impossible.  Between Massilia and Burgundy lies the Rhone Valley, also in the hands of the Visigoths at this point.  Invading would mean a major war, which no one can commit to.  Yet.

But the opportunity exists to pick at Massilia from the inside, to gain information, to identify weakness and strengths that can be exploited.  The Mercators have made a deal with a another family that has decided to withdraw from Massilia, House Palantus.  They have been metal and materials buyers there for years, exporting these to the East, and importing cloth, spices, and other goods.  The family in Massilia has shrunk, now Ombus Palantus no longer wishes to remain in Massilia, and wants to leave. But, the Mercators have talked them into staying on as partners- the Palantus family can leave, ships can still come and go using the Mercator dock, and the Mercators would buy out the Palantus warehouse and townhouse.

The Mercators arranged the sale and had it blessed by the local cleric of Mercury, who is often called upon to seal business arrangements.  But they never followed through with providing the documents to the city government.  Normally, in such circumstances, the city government would seize the property.  But:  You will take this property over as your base of operations, and maintain it, and pay all customary taxes and fees, as if you were the local agents of House Palantus.  If the Visigoths get their money without fuss they will not look too hard.   This will give you complete freedom and cover to be in the city, especially if the Visigoths believe House Palantus is just quietly making money and handing over a large cut to the Visigoths.  House Mercator can loan some funds, but this will not work unless we have at least a few merchant minded people who can keep House Palantus success.  You will be, at least openly, House Palantus.  Since House Palantus has already left, if things go badly, you can flee, and the only thing lost is a lot of money from House Mercator, who will not be able to claim official ownership.

(ooc:  this means your character will have a character.)

Did someone say 'importers of cloth?'?

Well now that's quite a lot to consider! absently comments the Sprite Princess.

There are exceptions to the rule.

Gondioque Bourgogne is one of them.  A princess of Burgundy, she is too politically well known to hide.  Her status as ambassador gives her some immunity from the arbitrariness and dangers of Orc rule, but on the other hand, even civilized Orcs like the Visigoths may be pushed to drop that veneer of civility and just remember they are Orcs. Traveling as herself in Massilia means walking a fine line, never pushing the Orcs too far, and always remembering, though the Orcs are crude, simple beasts, they have scheming, devious masters.

Other characters may travel in the guise of retinue; a princess/ambassador would be expected to have at least a servant or two and a bodyguard.

The Mercators would suggest that they not host her.   Too many things could lead back to them.  And requesting lodgings from the Visigoths could be unwise.  Possibly stomach turning.
 Instead, they recommend the finest inns in town:  the Old Forum's Cabreus House Inn.  Cabreus House is a merchant/noble family that lost just about everything during the wars.  Now they maintain their house by keeping it as boutique tavern and lodgings for other wealthy families.

In reply to Ben (msg # 15):


Hello everyone! I will be playing Belenus, a young druid and a servant of the gods sent here by Tugdual, a leader of a druid circle in Trevorum ( modern day Germany

Haakon is here representing a certain school in Lucimburic which may or may not be connected with the Archduke himself or possibly on his own account trying to check whether it is cheaper to import high quality cloth via Masilia rather than Varna, Danuvius, Basel, Rhine.  (So for once, his cover story is worth going to Masilia for on its own.

It had been a long journey, but the weather had been fair and they had come upon no trouble worse than some unusually shallow shoals.

The longboat that had moored in a little sheltered inlet along the Saône had come north along the Rhone for weeks, always rowing up stream, always on the lookout for rocks, snags and curious locals with all manner of intentions. It was a long, long journey, but when a King beckons, it is a rare individual who can do anything but obey.

They were Dwarves down from the northland, the prow of their ship carven, and a canvas awning erected over the middle of the deck against the heat of the sun. Some of the crew were even stripped bare to the waist despite the temperate climate, and talked mostly among one another in their guttural tongue. During the days they explored and mingled, always travelling in a group while a contingent guarded the boat. At night they all slept together, and called out at any who ventured too near the ship.

They had brought one named Einar, sometimes called Einar the Dwarf among mixed peoples, who was said to be a trader of goods who had traveled more than most men in the pursuit of coin. He was heavily built and fair haired, and wore clothing in the fashion of his people, and he had come to the court of King Theoderic it was said to add "authenticity" to the veneer of merchants and tradesmen.

He had largely held his tongue, but watched the others with interest and seemed fairly comfortable in the eclectic company as he contented himself with the fair that was offered.

Leanna can act as one of the bodyguards for the Princess, made her to be a shield using fighter anyway.. So that would fit to.

Gundobad, King of Burgundy, approves:  Leanna shall be Gondioque's bodyguard.

He hopes Leanna will keep her out of trouble, as Gondioque has a habit of overestimating herself.  Perhaps it runs in the family.

But.. it leads to another topic, that of the culture of the Orcs you will be infiltrating.  There are things that were learned by hard experience over the past few years, and these things you ought to know.

First, the female members of the group have an advantage:  The Orcs have a savage, warlike, and very male dominated culture.  Female Orcs are almost never seen- they stay home and breed, with a few bizarre exceptions.  This leads Orcs to very much underestimate Human and Elven females.  It is very easy for an Orc to shrug off a female as "no threat", in fact, reacting to an unarmed human female as if she was a threat is actually humiliating to an Orc warrior.  Human men are not so casually disregarded.  This is not to say that an Orc seeing a human woman in armor with a sword wouldn't challenge her and prepare for battle- but a woman not obviously armed or armored receives far less scrutiny than a man.

Second, the Orcs can be both amazingly stupid and lazy and surprisingly smart.  Never forget that they are doing the work of their Infernal Patrons, the Demons, and those Demons can be very shrewd and calculating. Their "civilization" is a relatively recent skin painted by the Demons over centuries of brutish hunter-gatherer society.  This means that although the Visigoth Orcs are under instructions to allow the Massilia economy to carry on, push them too far and they will be Orcs again.

It is the view of many of those Demons that the highest level of evil is inspiring more of it.  Thus, killing humans, which creates martyrs for the Gods, is not nearly as rewarding as corrupting humans and tempting them into evil.  This is another reason Human society is allowed to continue- it gives the Demons a captive audience upon which to work.

There is a moral side to this operation, one which Gundobad isn't as enthusiastic for as Theoderic:  Free Massilia, and you remove thousands of people from the direct, daily influence of Demons.  That alone is a most noble cause.

At this point the leaders have reached the Question and Answer portion of the mission briefing.

Any questions?  Issues?  Last minute panic attacks?

Swift will appear and greet everyone. She will let everyone knows she is a scout. She can scout if needed either in the wilderness or towns.

She will ask about getting some cloths that are not armored so can appear like a normal woman if needed.

Some months previously, Jes had entered the service of King Theoderic of Belgica.   It had given her a more elevated and more official purpose, than the mostly personal goals she'd been pursuing before that.   She was here on orders from her liege, to see what might be done to reduce Goth power.    A freed Massilia was a splendid vision, in her book.     Beginning that work would surely prove interesting...

The Burgundian princess was a brave and forthright soul, one she'd heard good things about, but not ever met.   Well, the princess was about to acquire another ally.  Jes had much experience of Orc kind, as well as their awful masters, and she was here to put a stick in the wheels of their plans once again.
This message was last edited by the player at 01:27, Mon 30 July 2018.

Haakon will offer to make new dresses for Swift and if agreed will take her measurements.  "If anyone asks, tell them the dresses were made by Coutourier Pedlar.  You make a fine model Ma'am and will attract much business, particularly from the upper echelons."

He grins.  "I'm a scout too by the way, and a ranger, but mostly I'm a dressmaker."
This message was last edited by the player at 21:01, Mon 30 July 2018.

When done with questions here, proceed to Journey To Massilia.

Generally known information about Gondioque Bourgogne:

This young Princess of Burgundy is the daughter of Gundobad and Swanhilde. She is said to have been athletic and a good student. She now has grown to be a striking beauty, approachable if approached with respect.

She has two living older siblings, males: Sigismund, who is deeply interested in religion, and Godomar, who is active within King Gundobad’s court.

Word from northeast Gaul is that she was active in the ousting of the Huns from Gaul. It is also known that she is great friends with the von Bourgones, Hiras and Vocaphil, lord and Lady of the Iccios fief and thus on good terms with House Mercator. (Vocaphil is the Pearl of House Mercator.)

She has been appointed Ambassador to the Visigoths to be stationed at Massillia.

It is further known that she has given no indication of animus toward any race.
This message was last edited by the player at 03:00, Wed 01 Aug 2018.

Sitting quietly in a corner, Mystal contented herself sipping from a goblet. Assessing the others in the room she ponders what each may contribute to this expedition.