The fleet sailed southward, bypassing a sea area suspected of being occupied by the Kraken sea monster, and sailed along the coastline of Kislev to the Empire's Oster Territory.
Along the way, except for the lead-gray sky that is exactly the same as that of Naggaroth, there is a rugged and desolate coastline. Steep cliffs rise from the seaside. Rockfalls and landslides can be seen everywhere. Rugged rocks are scattered all over the coast. Occasionally, there are sporadic Sons of Mannann looking out. The tower was used to detect and warn of intrusions from the sea.
During the meal, the Druchi on the ship all expressed that they felt as if they were back in Nagaroth, except that there were less wind, waves and spires.
Compared to the north of the Sea of Claws, the records about the southern empire in the Sea of Claws manual are much richer. For example, a recorder from Nordland called the Bull neighbors to the east an "irritable group". There are still traces of smearing on the front. If I am right, it may be a more unpleasant name, such as "poor relative who makes trouble everywhere"? The Osterlanders are considered by the manual's authors to be staunch Sigmarites, prone to quarrels with their neighbors.
The dense Shadow Forest is a refuge for beastmen and orc tribes, stretching to the edge of the cliff. Those Osterlanders who made their home by the sea were besieged by the harsh environment, Norscan raiders, and the monsters of the interior.
The current Osterland is not ruled by the von Knigswald family, but by the von Taschenink family. This is an ancient bloodline, yet they were never considered to be particularly prominent nobles, and the author of the manual described the family as stupid.
"Assembling pistols means wasting excellent swords and spears."
This sentence was said by Boris von Tassenink, the ruler of Osterland, around 2000 in the Imperial Calendar. At that time, the Imperial Army The number of equipped pistols began to increase, but he refused to supply them to the provincial soldiers in the Osterland. Although he is still alive now, good things don't go out and bad things spread thousands of miles. This sentence has become a popular proverb in the empire. It even reached Kislev next door. The people of the Empire and Kislev would quote it every time they wanted to ridicule and condemn the nobles who were out of touch with reality.
The manual also records that the conflict between the Oster Territory and the Talabek Territory in the south can even be traced back to the tribal era that predates Sigmar. Although the intensity is sporadic, the conflict has always been see-sawing.
The fleet did not make another circle into the Kislev Strait and go to Erengrad, known as the second largest port in the old world. Instead, it sailed adjacent to the Kislev Strait and close to Middenheim-Erengrad. Sarkar on Lenggler Avenue.
With the extremely rare visit of the graceful and gorgeous elf ship, all the residents of the seaside town of Sakalli walked out of their houses, from the elderly who needed to use crutches to walk tremblingly, to the young and ignorant children. Arrived at the port.
Darkus was sitting on the chair on the deck, expressing little interest and having no intention of going out for some activities and having friendly interactions with humans. He didn't like the feeling of being watched. Maybe his mentality hadn't been adjusted yet?
Elves look at humans like monkeys, but when humans look at elves, they look like monkeys. In Darkus' cognition, watching monkeys and playing with monkeys are two-way. People watch monkeys for fun, and monkeys watch people for fun. Why don't they feel happy?
2500 years after the Imperial Calendar, Sakaar is struggling hard with trauma. Anyone walking through this town must pay special attention to the crumbling buildings and statues that may fall at any time, as well as some glories that may be lost. However, There seems to be no trace of this glory ever really existing.
In the year 2455 of the Imperial Calendar, an official persuaded the ruler at the time to draw a circle around Sakaar to attract trade from Marienburg and nearby Erengrad. However, he thought too much, and the ruler promised Money is not pouring in here either. The place returned to its previous state of laziness. Later, it was raided by Dastan's Black Ark fleet. The remaining people showed typical Oster leader frugality and demolished many decorative exterior walls and statues. in ballast.
Now it is the year 2022 in the imperial calendar. Sakaar is a completely forgotten existence. Only the looters from the north and the monsters in the forest are interested in this poor place. Some ships regard it as a convenient and cheap supply station. After all, consumption in this poor place is cheaper than in the neighboring metropolis Erengrad. There is also a lumberyard in the Shadow Forest next to the town. Most of the income here now comes from selling wood used to repair ships and salted fish salvaged from the nearby sea.
Of course, if you rely on the mountains, you can eat the mountains, and if you rely on the sea, you can eat the sea. Behind the bright side, there is a backside, and people are flexible. You only need to pay a small "unloading fee" to the customs officials in Sakkar to unload the goods, and then set off from the Middenheim-Erengrad Avenue to smuggle the goods to Kislev.
In addition, the manual also describes the existence of a Knights of the Sons of Mannann near Sakaar. The Knights have a military camp next to the town's central square. Many members of the Knights prefer the comfort here to the nearby watchtower. Ventilated dormitories provided. Therefore, most of the Druchi are on standby to deal with conflicts that may break out at any time.
"What happened to their necks?" Genevieve, who rarely spoke, suddenly said exaggeratedly.
Genevieve's words aroused laughter from the Druchis. Due to her special status, she had no intention of getting off the ship even after being away from the old world for a long time. It would be troublesome if she met witch hunters and priests of the Sigmar Sect. She didn't want to delay Darkus' plan, and she didn't want Darkus to have unnecessary conflicts because of her.
Darkus stood up, exposed his head and looked along the deck towards the harbor. He saw that the houses of Salka were surrounding the harbor with water. The Druchi, headed by Ren and Cowell, were like monkeys, being watched by the residents of Salka.
Although there are also human activities in Nagaros and the Kauchen Plains, everyone who sees Druch has his head lowered. Very few humans who are tired of living will raise their heads and look at Druch. However, this is not a lawless place. This is the old world...
"Maybe he didn't sleep last night, okay..."
Darkus felt like a group of humans who could see monkeys without buying tickets or spending money, and he also felt like a The zoo that had been closed for a long time suddenly opened one day. The monkeys who had not seen humans for a long time gathered around the fence and looked at humans like monkeys. He said with a smile. After talking for a long time, he didn't know how to say stiff neck in Druzil language. In the end, he simply made a gesture to his neck.
Surrounded by everyone, Ren held his head high and proudly, showing off his elf style, looking down at the human monkey in front of him through his nostrils with a look of arrogance that looked down on the world.
Next to him, Kewell and Renne maintained the same posture, but there was only regret in his heart. He found that every time he and Renne did something together, nothing good would happen. He should be as honest as Maranur. It's better to actually stay on the boat instead of running off the boat to join in the fun. Thinking of this, a fierce light appeared in his eyes, but the fierce light swept away and was well hidden by him. Instead, it turned into a cold and arrogant look. He knew that this was not Nagaros, and he had broken Darkus. Even if he grew up together, he couldn't handle it. After Renne negotiated with the ruler of Salka, the provincial soldiers who were waiting behind came out to drive away the people, and the locals who were watching the monkeys dispersed in a chaotic manner. But it didn't completely disperse. On the low roofs, in the narrow streets, and behind the broken windows, there were all interested faces. Even the faces of the provincial soldiers who lined up had the same expression.
"Are we going to be like this next? I... don't like this feeling very much." Alyssa, who stayed on the boat, asked in confusion.
"It's a coincidence, I don't like it either. It shouldn't be? Who knows?" Darkus shrugged and said, although he arranged things in every detail, he really didn't know. He only knows where the first stop is, where the second stop is, and he doesn’t know where the third stop is... He is here for exploratory diplomacy, and he is not traveling according to a travel plan. He doesn’t know what will happen next, his The prophet is a fake, not a true prophet.
Renn was going to take some of the druchi to have a meal at the manor of the ruler of Salka. Cowell is not going. He has another task assigned by Darkus.
However, Kewell did not go directly. Instead, he took his sister, Yilanya and a few other Druchs to experience the customs and customs of Salka. They came to a store called Totern's Ship-shaped Supply Store. In the eyes of the Druchs, this store was very out of place, as if it should not exist in a dilapidated and decaying place like Salka.
Fresh paint and bright signs decorate the store's facades, and there are various slogans on the windows offering instant discounts on how much you buy, trying to lure visitors in with lucrative bargains. Here, a sailor could buy anything he needed for the longest of voyages at generous prices, or so it seemed to owner Totten.
"Welcome, welcome noble elves to visit here. Let every corner here exude infinite charm, as if it is a place full of surprises and opportunities. My name is Lionel Totten, and I will Provide enthusiastic..." Totten, who forced a smile, had not finished speaking insincerely, but was interrupted by Cowell who finally couldn't bear it.
Cowell picked up a hard piece of salted fish that could be used as a deadly weapon, and slammed it on the table like a gavel. He stared at Nao Nuo with one eye and raised one eye. of human beings.
In the middle of speaking, Totten was startled by the sudden voice. He was the fifth son of a small noble family and was determined to start a career on his own to prove that he was not just a member of an undistinguished bloodline. A child with high hopes. Without any help except a loan from his mother, he found his fortune in Salka, later acquiring ownership of a lumber camp and a fishing boat.
Totten, who started from humble beginnings, hired the shipwrights, cobblers, coopers and fishermen he could find. After paying the ruler a large sum of money for protection, he gradually monopolized all the marine navigation supplies in Salka. The goods he sells are the lowest here, and he can offer low prices that the captains simply cannot refuse, at least until now.
Now, Totten's business is in trouble, with his loggers refusing to enter the Shadow Forest, claiming to be infested with beastmen, and his fishermen catching no fish, only twisted and horrific things. He was forced to raise prices, something he never dared to think of before, but his competitors were circling around him like sharks that smelled blood.
Seeing the visit of the elves, Totten, who is quite talented in business, immediately thought of several ways. After all, there are many legends about the elves being generous. For example, you could ruthlessly rip off the elves by raising the price, or make posters and banners about the elves' visit and their deeds and hang them at the door of the store. Maybe this way his mother won't have to give him another loan, and maybe he will become stronger than before!
"How much is that?" Cowell asked, using his remaining patience and pointing his finger at a barrel of kippers.
"Half...half Osterland Bull." Totten, who had recovered his senses, knew that the elf in front of him was not easy to mess with. He carefully made a two with his finger and said slowly.
Cowell, who was looking at the goods around him, was suddenly stunned when he heard the quotation. His eyes seemed to bulge out of his sockets. He turned his head and looked at the monkey in front of him in disbelief. When he was in the plains of Kauchen, Darkus gave him a task to count the types of currencies and approximate prices in the old world. He knew the meaning of the bull in the Osterland. The flag of the Osterland is the bull, which is used to represent the indomitable character of the Osterland. The bull is also printed on the gold coins, which represents the Osterland.
The currency system of the old world is roughly the same as that of Nagaros. It is called gold, silver, and copper coins. The exchange ratio is 1 gold coin = 20 silver coins = 240 copper coins. Of course, it is not fixed. The currency quality of different regions and periods is subject to exchange. Price difference.
In the old world, every country and even different provinces used different patterns or shapes on the coins they minted. The materials used in currency casting were basically equivalent to the value they represented. In addition to size and shape, the raw materials also differed. The materials of copper coins in different regions are brass, red copper or bronze.
In the Empire, the collective name for gold coins is crowns, silver coins are shillings, and copper coins are pennies. Of course, this is only an official term. Different regions and countries have different names for these currencies. For example, the gold coins in Bretonnia are called egures. , there are also some common names, such as the Oster collar bull mentioned by Totten.
Kewell knew that the bucket of salted fish he just pointed at was worth at most 3 copper coins. The monkey in front of him actually dared to ask him for half an oster to lead a bull? If you convert it, it is 10 silver coins, 120 copper coins. The price of a barrel of salted fish has actually increased 40 times to sell it to him? After quickly completing the calculation, he raised his hand to prepare for a slap. However, when he was halfway up, the sister standing next to him grabbed his arm and shook her head slightly at him. He saw his sister After seeing the viciousness in his eyes, he shook his hand.
Cowell, who was laughing angrily, didn't say anything, but pointed at the monkey in front of him, then turned his head and left the store. His sister also followed behind him. After walking to a container, without anyone noticing, she put her hand next to a bottle on the shelf. Then she walked into the light and took a look at the monkey who was standing there in a daze. He showed an incomprehensible smile to the monkey and left.
Totten became a little dazed, but more from the fear of death. He felt Moore's call the moment the elf raised his hand. As the shop door slammed shut, he was frightened again. He knew that the elf in front of him was not only ungenerous, but also knew the prices of goods in the empire. Otherwise, he would not be able to explain why the elf was so big after hearing his quotation. reaction. He let out a breath and smiled bitterly. At least it wasn't bad. At least the elf had come to his shop, and he could do some stunts on this basis.
"That monkey thought I was a monkey! Just now I really wanted to pull out its tongue and dig out its eyes!" Cowell cursed in Druzil as he walked out of the shop.
"My brother, there is no need to be so angry. He is about to die, or he is already dead." Kewell's sister, Alatar said with a smile, her laughter full of viciousness and viciousness. .
Later, Alatar explained that she had just seen a bottle containing thorns, hair, and crushed cursed grass in the shop. If she was right, there were three bottles in total. If we investigate further, the monkey just now must have been unlucky recently. If it is correct, the monkey must have offended someone. Someone got something from the witch of Norse to curse. She used black magic to change the structure of the bottle when she came out.
"I hope this store will bring me a good shopping experience." After hearing this, Cowell also showed a vicious smile, and then he looked at the dirty shop on the edge of the central square. With his good eyesight, he could see the broken door Carved sea serpent and sextant carvings.