jOURNEY tO kEROD
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During the 2020 Covid-19 lockdown, I begun working on a digital project to bring my friends together.
Many of closest friends from The National Art School were part of the Table Top Society on campus, so I set out to run my first ever Role Play Game (RPG) I had never been a Game Master (GM) before and I begun by using a rule book called Burning Wheel which is pretty ideal for complex long running games, with detailed characters and lots of intrigue. In doing so I produced Character Art, Maps and Creative Writing to fill out this world. My fellow artists made character art as well. This has been the catalyst for me teaching myself how to draw digitally and doing my first creative writing for years. It's most definetely amateur work, but I'm proud to have tried something out of my comfort zone. |
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Character Art By Me
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Maps/ Destination Art
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Writing: E-Gor's Adventures
One of my players bought a valet along on the adventure. I decided to use this character to further explore the world.
Eli is the Lord commander of an army in a fictional land called Sazhtalia. He was born a bastard and therefore has low born relatives he keeps around as servants, E-Gor is his cousin but also his personal man servant. Eli is a bit of a shit but he trusts E-Gor more than anyone in the world.
Eli is the Lord commander of an army in a fictional land called Sazhtalia. He was born a bastard and therefore has low born relatives he keeps around as servants, E-Gor is his cousin but also his personal man servant. Eli is a bit of a shit but he trusts E-Gor more than anyone in the world.
Adventure 1: The Kitchens
E-Gor had a strange life, his cousin saw to that. E-Gor should have been just any other servant; he came from a long line of seamstresses, maidservants and butlers. They were the help, they were used to turning a blind eye to the shenanigans of their masters; but Eli didn’t just require E-Gor to turn a blind eye, Eli dragged E-Gor along for the ride and E-Gor was never prepared.
Today they were on a completely isolated island with no friends, no weapons and apparently, they weren’t actually invited. Last night E-Gor had to sleep on the floor, this morning he was given some sort of toilet brush and told to put it in his mouth, and then before he could get any breakfast he was shown a dead body. Not the first dead body he had to deal with but possibly the most disgusting; not a good day.
He may be able to turn it around. Eli had given him a job, finding the truth of this place, who is in charge here. Eli was looking for power of some kind; Eli was always looking for power of some kind and when he found it, then, they could go home.
He started by retracing his steps, most of the strange little people seemed to be either eating or chatting in the grand room. Eating didn’t look like a bad idea, he had only gotten his hands on a few sweet fruits last night, they were delicious but not enough. He needed to find the servant quarters, ideally the servant’s dining hall. Best way to do that, follow the food. The food which seemed to be disappearing slowly down the hall as the tables were cleared.
The kitchen was a beautiful room, open, airy, wide. Huge tables filled the room, some stone, one in the centre made of a grand piece of hard wood. A handful of the little people bustled around emptying plates into big ceramic dishes, deboning fish, juicing fruit.
“Excuse me Miss, where would it be appropriate for me to take my meals?”
The young lady didn’t seem to understand his request at first, E-Gor realised it had been presumptuous of him to assume the staff would be able to speak his language. This could be difficult.
“Did you miss breakfast? don’t worry there is plenty left, we have just started using the rest for dinner preparations.”
Ah, alright not so difficult.
“May I eat in here, or is there a mess room?”
“The dining room is just down the hall, but you can eat here if you like.”
Ohh they thought he was one of the guests, these strange people must have a different way of showing their class. They didn’t recognise his uniform, and looking around he realised they didn’t seem to have one of their own; each of them wore distinctively different clothes.
“Ah, no, you see I am Master Zhdan’s valet.”
The blank look he received didn’t bode well for this interaction.
“His man in waiting, butler, the help, his servant…”
Light didn’t seem to dawn in her eyes until the last title.
“Oh!” Her eyes widened in concern, “We don’t do that here, please just have a seat, we can talk.”
Despite his confusion E-Gor really did want something to eat and that was enough for this young lady to maintain his attention. A thin bread and series of stews were served promptly.
Her name was Nela and her topic was simple. She had heard that he came from a world full of division where one person is better than another because of birth, or race or gender or even simply age. She thought it was cruel, like a superstition; based on nothing but old stories and holding everyone captive with fear. She described her life here and the life of her mother before her.
Nela was born here, she learned how to write and read in this very building,the heart of Kerod, and most days she spends in one kitchen or another, cooking big meals in Kerod or cooking for special events in homes. Other days she might spend collecting food with her family out among the trees. But her passion was the food and so that’s what she did. It wasn’t the only thing she was allowed to do, nor was there anyone on the island who wouldn’t cook for her if she asked them to. She chose this path, but having done so did not stop her from expressing an opinion elsewhere. She could sit in the council, she could eat with the elders, she could refuse a job, sleep in a bed big enough for a King, stop working in the kitchen to study for a time. She was her own queen and her own lady in waiting as was every other person that called this island home. They trusted each other and respected each other and depended on every member of their family to contribute to their world here.
It was absolutely preposterous and E-Gor said so. There was no way it could last more than a week, because the strong simply rule over the weak. They take what they want and to survive you give it freely. Aligning one’s self with someone like Eli was the only way to protect yourself. If you have worth your position is secure.
Nela did not appear happy with this description of E-Gor’s life.
“We have existed this way for over five thousand years, but until now there has been no Eli here. The old teach the young until they are old also. We are all strong because we don’t insist that some of us must be weak”
E-Gor suddenly visualised the truth of the situation, he had just accompanied a fox into the hen house. These people were safe and happy but now Eli had arrived; and he was going to crush them, under this handmade snake skin boots.
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Etla had never been a fan of responding to demands, she didn’t mind fulfilling requests but demands came with no please and no thank you. The intruder had only arrived last night and already he was making demands.
And so she swept off to the kitchen to find Eli something to eat, something that would stop his complaints but not earn her a lecture from Vosu about the damage liquid could do to papyrus. She knew perfectly well no fruit was allowed in the archive.
The Kitchen was always a nice place to be, it smelt good and was one of few places where there were always friends to be found. Apparently today even newcomers were drawn to this place. Etla did not know his name, he followed Eli and no introductions were made for the young man. He was eating with Nela, they chatted earnestly, Etla was intrigued. She listened.
“That’s is absolutely preposterous! There is no way it could last more than a week. The strong rule over the weak. They take what they want and to survive you give it freely. Aligning one’s self with someone like Eli is the only way to protect yourself.”
The snippets that Etla overheard made her both sorry for the stranger and sure of her brief impression of the intruder. He had to be watched, she could ask Nela about the man later, she should not have left Eli unsupervised.
She barely caught the end of the conversation, but his intent was clear, Eli had scared the archivist and the information he extracted was not for him to know. He had not earnt their trust, they owed him nothing. Etla would not let him out of her sight again, not until Teya saw him for the threat he was.
Today they were on a completely isolated island with no friends, no weapons and apparently, they weren’t actually invited. Last night E-Gor had to sleep on the floor, this morning he was given some sort of toilet brush and told to put it in his mouth, and then before he could get any breakfast he was shown a dead body. Not the first dead body he had to deal with but possibly the most disgusting; not a good day.
He may be able to turn it around. Eli had given him a job, finding the truth of this place, who is in charge here. Eli was looking for power of some kind; Eli was always looking for power of some kind and when he found it, then, they could go home.
He started by retracing his steps, most of the strange little people seemed to be either eating or chatting in the grand room. Eating didn’t look like a bad idea, he had only gotten his hands on a few sweet fruits last night, they were delicious but not enough. He needed to find the servant quarters, ideally the servant’s dining hall. Best way to do that, follow the food. The food which seemed to be disappearing slowly down the hall as the tables were cleared.
The kitchen was a beautiful room, open, airy, wide. Huge tables filled the room, some stone, one in the centre made of a grand piece of hard wood. A handful of the little people bustled around emptying plates into big ceramic dishes, deboning fish, juicing fruit.
“Excuse me Miss, where would it be appropriate for me to take my meals?”
The young lady didn’t seem to understand his request at first, E-Gor realised it had been presumptuous of him to assume the staff would be able to speak his language. This could be difficult.
“Did you miss breakfast? don’t worry there is plenty left, we have just started using the rest for dinner preparations.”
Ah, alright not so difficult.
“May I eat in here, or is there a mess room?”
“The dining room is just down the hall, but you can eat here if you like.”
Ohh they thought he was one of the guests, these strange people must have a different way of showing their class. They didn’t recognise his uniform, and looking around he realised they didn’t seem to have one of their own; each of them wore distinctively different clothes.
“Ah, no, you see I am Master Zhdan’s valet.”
The blank look he received didn’t bode well for this interaction.
“His man in waiting, butler, the help, his servant…”
Light didn’t seem to dawn in her eyes until the last title.
“Oh!” Her eyes widened in concern, “We don’t do that here, please just have a seat, we can talk.”
Despite his confusion E-Gor really did want something to eat and that was enough for this young lady to maintain his attention. A thin bread and series of stews were served promptly.
Her name was Nela and her topic was simple. She had heard that he came from a world full of division where one person is better than another because of birth, or race or gender or even simply age. She thought it was cruel, like a superstition; based on nothing but old stories and holding everyone captive with fear. She described her life here and the life of her mother before her.
Nela was born here, she learned how to write and read in this very building,the heart of Kerod, and most days she spends in one kitchen or another, cooking big meals in Kerod or cooking for special events in homes. Other days she might spend collecting food with her family out among the trees. But her passion was the food and so that’s what she did. It wasn’t the only thing she was allowed to do, nor was there anyone on the island who wouldn’t cook for her if she asked them to. She chose this path, but having done so did not stop her from expressing an opinion elsewhere. She could sit in the council, she could eat with the elders, she could refuse a job, sleep in a bed big enough for a King, stop working in the kitchen to study for a time. She was her own queen and her own lady in waiting as was every other person that called this island home. They trusted each other and respected each other and depended on every member of their family to contribute to their world here.
It was absolutely preposterous and E-Gor said so. There was no way it could last more than a week, because the strong simply rule over the weak. They take what they want and to survive you give it freely. Aligning one’s self with someone like Eli was the only way to protect yourself. If you have worth your position is secure.
Nela did not appear happy with this description of E-Gor’s life.
“We have existed this way for over five thousand years, but until now there has been no Eli here. The old teach the young until they are old also. We are all strong because we don’t insist that some of us must be weak”
E-Gor suddenly visualised the truth of the situation, he had just accompanied a fox into the hen house. These people were safe and happy but now Eli had arrived; and he was going to crush them, under this handmade snake skin boots.
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Etla had never been a fan of responding to demands, she didn’t mind fulfilling requests but demands came with no please and no thank you. The intruder had only arrived last night and already he was making demands.
And so she swept off to the kitchen to find Eli something to eat, something that would stop his complaints but not earn her a lecture from Vosu about the damage liquid could do to papyrus. She knew perfectly well no fruit was allowed in the archive.
The Kitchen was always a nice place to be, it smelt good and was one of few places where there were always friends to be found. Apparently today even newcomers were drawn to this place. Etla did not know his name, he followed Eli and no introductions were made for the young man. He was eating with Nela, they chatted earnestly, Etla was intrigued. She listened.
“That’s is absolutely preposterous! There is no way it could last more than a week. The strong rule over the weak. They take what they want and to survive you give it freely. Aligning one’s self with someone like Eli is the only way to protect yourself.”
The snippets that Etla overheard made her both sorry for the stranger and sure of her brief impression of the intruder. He had to be watched, she could ask Nela about the man later, she should not have left Eli unsupervised.
She barely caught the end of the conversation, but his intent was clear, Eli had scared the archivist and the information he extracted was not for him to know. He had not earnt their trust, they owed him nothing. Etla would not let him out of her sight again, not until Teya saw him for the threat he was.
Adventure 2: The Nursery
There was a quiet kindness to the kitchen. Kitchens had always been a refuge for E-Gor, a place where Lords and Ladies never ventured. And here he had quite quickly found the only Lord to be wary of was in fact Eli; no other Lords to request a service, no Ladies to hide from in the halls, no Barons to bow to or Counts to cut your throat.
These kitchens had become something of a regular haunt for E-Gor in the last three days. Nela and the others had taken him fruit picking, the river hand had taken him on a cruise around the island and last night while Eli was away on his mission they had all fallen asleep under the stars, tipsy on mead down by the waterfall. It had been beautiful and, in the morning, he had returned back to the kitchens in time to help with breakfast.
E-Gor was just beginning to feel settled in his new routine when Eli returned and handed him the baby.
The sharp toothed grey skinned baby. He could see that she was cute but that didn't stop her from also being terrifying. And the fact that Eli had styled her as his daughter, making her a Little Lady, made her even more terrifying. One did not drop a Lady, even if she bit you.
E-Gor watched the child while she slept, Eli had said she was never to be left alone. The wet nurse Lunela was bought for her when she cried and the other small children napped in the nursery, they were each silvery and small with many teeth, but Eli's baby was unlike them all.
The nursery was a shady, warm room down by the docks on the main river. It had gauzy curtains in a soft pink, warm brown walls and cots made from bent reeds strapped together, like wicker baskets. It was a quiet place, the children slept well listening to the river flow by.
E-Gor himself was dozing off when he heard soft footsteps at the open doorway, he turned his head to see a child. A normal human child, a little girl with brown hair and green eyes, maybe eight years old. She was peaking round the doorway; she hadn't seen him yet.
"Who might you be little Miss?"
She jumped; he had startled her.
She seemed nervous to answer "Bittina, Sir."
E-Gor smiled, "I am no Sir Miss Bittina, merely a valet."
She frowned "But they don't have servants here, we had servants when I was little, in the Confederacy, but they don't exist here."
The Confederacy! She must be a relation of that witch, Evadora, a magic child, dangerous.
"My papas say I am not to ask services of people like I would servants, I'm to say please and thank you and help when I can. I like it this way it means everyone is my friend and they all know my name and the other children play with me and...."
She jabbered on in the way only young children do, talking about her fathers and her friends. Egor had mostly stopped listening, he was tense with fear. In that moment he was jolted back to his own childhood, he sat beside his mother in the pews of the illuminated cathedral and the pontifications of the old Pozharish echoed in his ears.
"Children infected with magic have already submitted, they corrupt their light and spread heresy among your offspring at thrice the speed of any Wizard. They must be cleansed!!"
Only when the girl grew quiet did he snap from his reflect, he noticed she was creeping slowly towards the cots.
With a tremor in his voice E-Gor rushed "Miss Bittina, you mustn't wake the children; please…"
E-Gor hurried to place himself between the witch and the little Lady who was his charge. Eli had given him a duty and he would protect her with his soul.
"I just wanted to see the baby."
"You should leave now Miss; the baby is asleep."
She grumbled and frowned "but I just... I need to see!"
E-Gor did not budge.
Her eyes grew watery and she ran from the room with a yell. All E-Gor heard of her complaint was "...first".
Shaken but grateful to have avoided darkness, E-Gor sat back down and promptly fell asleep.
These kitchens had become something of a regular haunt for E-Gor in the last three days. Nela and the others had taken him fruit picking, the river hand had taken him on a cruise around the island and last night while Eli was away on his mission they had all fallen asleep under the stars, tipsy on mead down by the waterfall. It had been beautiful and, in the morning, he had returned back to the kitchens in time to help with breakfast.
E-Gor was just beginning to feel settled in his new routine when Eli returned and handed him the baby.
The sharp toothed grey skinned baby. He could see that she was cute but that didn't stop her from also being terrifying. And the fact that Eli had styled her as his daughter, making her a Little Lady, made her even more terrifying. One did not drop a Lady, even if she bit you.
E-Gor watched the child while she slept, Eli had said she was never to be left alone. The wet nurse Lunela was bought for her when she cried and the other small children napped in the nursery, they were each silvery and small with many teeth, but Eli's baby was unlike them all.
The nursery was a shady, warm room down by the docks on the main river. It had gauzy curtains in a soft pink, warm brown walls and cots made from bent reeds strapped together, like wicker baskets. It was a quiet place, the children slept well listening to the river flow by.
E-Gor himself was dozing off when he heard soft footsteps at the open doorway, he turned his head to see a child. A normal human child, a little girl with brown hair and green eyes, maybe eight years old. She was peaking round the doorway; she hadn't seen him yet.
"Who might you be little Miss?"
She jumped; he had startled her.
She seemed nervous to answer "Bittina, Sir."
E-Gor smiled, "I am no Sir Miss Bittina, merely a valet."
She frowned "But they don't have servants here, we had servants when I was little, in the Confederacy, but they don't exist here."
The Confederacy! She must be a relation of that witch, Evadora, a magic child, dangerous.
"My papas say I am not to ask services of people like I would servants, I'm to say please and thank you and help when I can. I like it this way it means everyone is my friend and they all know my name and the other children play with me and...."
She jabbered on in the way only young children do, talking about her fathers and her friends. Egor had mostly stopped listening, he was tense with fear. In that moment he was jolted back to his own childhood, he sat beside his mother in the pews of the illuminated cathedral and the pontifications of the old Pozharish echoed in his ears.
"Children infected with magic have already submitted, they corrupt their light and spread heresy among your offspring at thrice the speed of any Wizard. They must be cleansed!!"
Only when the girl grew quiet did he snap from his reflect, he noticed she was creeping slowly towards the cots.
With a tremor in his voice E-Gor rushed "Miss Bittina, you mustn't wake the children; please…"
E-Gor hurried to place himself between the witch and the little Lady who was his charge. Eli had given him a duty and he would protect her with his soul.
"I just wanted to see the baby."
"You should leave now Miss; the baby is asleep."
She grumbled and frowned "but I just... I need to see!"
E-Gor did not budge.
Her eyes grew watery and she ran from the room with a yell. All E-Gor heard of her complaint was "...first".
Shaken but grateful to have avoided darkness, E-Gor sat back down and promptly fell asleep.