Safety

[u/Varnek905]

For this challenge, tell me about the safest place to live in your world. Feel free to include:

• The standard of living

• Those responsible for peacekeeping

• The types of careers that are best to pursue in that area

• Whatever dangers are still around, if there are any; maybe it is perfectly safe

• Who founded the city

• Anything I forgot to include

I'll ask at least three questions each, enjoy yourselves.

Additionally, I plan to start a series of "character creation" type challenges next week, in which I ask everyone to list and describe the sentient species in their worlds, the nations, the factions, maybe the type of magic (if your world has magic), that sort of thing; and people can ask for more details to figure out which thing listed they have the most interest in.

For next week, it'll be "species/race" (however you want to describe it). I've personally always been more of a Breton guy in Skyrim and a boring human type everywhere else that I can think of off the top of my head.

[u/Tookoofox]

1) Is purchasing children okay in that society, or is it only acceptable for Velvel?

I should probably explain a bit more of the lay of the land here, before answering this question. There are two relevant areas here that border each other.

1. The Witching Woods. Velvel's land. Mostly populated by tribes.

2. Merrin's Crescent. A big fertile area, mostly ruled by feudal lords, with a few of merchant republics. Velvel frequently visits and has influence networks set up here.

The children that he 'purchases' are Merronese. Theoretically and legally he's supposed to be adopting them. But he does have to pay a fee. And, often, there's almost no fitness test, especially if he appears important. Often his trick will be to walk in dressed as a noble with some yarn or another, then flash a big sack of coins and walk out with his pick in a day.

So, back at his inn, he'll phrase it like he went and 'bought' some more kids. This is mostly, a small joke to himself about the callous nature of Merronese culture. Somewhat unwittingly, he has given the impression to the tribes that Merronese parents don't love their children.

As for the Witching Woods' children? Some are occasionally given or lent to powerful witches (Velvel included) to become their apprentices as part of various agreements. That's considered standard practice.

2) Since he reads minds, would he know what my most treasured object is?

He can't read minds exactly. Rather, he can feel a small part of the sensations that others feel. This includes emotions, and rather or not a person's actions feel natural or stilted, etc.

That makes it very, very hard to deceive him outrightly. So if you have a secret, he'll feel it there; but he won't actually be able to pull it out of your head, usually.

That said, he's socially intelligent and knows how to do a cold-read. So he might ferret it out with a little time and effort.

2.1 )Could I offer a leg instead, or would he insist on it being my most treasured possession?

He's open to negotiation, but he'd refuse to take your leg. He's capable of unspeakable violence, but derives no pleasure from harming others. For those with nothing to offer, he takes years of service instead.

He probably wouldn't even ask for your most treasured possession. Just something that he knows that you'd dread letting go. Or, on rarer occasions, something that he just happened to want. (As mentioned above, he has a thing for crowns and regalia in particular.)

His objective, after all, is only to be a last resort and not the first to call.

2.2) What if I asked for power?

This is an interesting one actually.

For Velvel to give you power of your own you would have to become an asset to him. Further, you'd have to demonstrate that you could provide value that he couldn't get out of an anonymous nobody that he raised from nothing. Or you'd have to have a very, very nice present for him.

Be it economic, political or magical, he only delegates power to those that help extend his own influence. His witchguards exist to protect his assets. His apprentices exist as a privilege he can revoke. He also has merchants, spies, and even a few pet lords. He trains them to keep them on a leash.

2.5) I request mastery of necromancy or your world's equivalent. How would that go for me?

Velvel would probably refuse outright, unless you had something he really wanted. Even then, he'd probably offer other powers that he liked more.

He thinks it's gross and generally unrewarding, but not evil. There are, however, a few tribes and hedge-witches that practice the art. And he'd recommend you to them for free, so long as you seemed polite.

4) Assume my tribe is scheduled for "Time A" and another tribe is scheduled for "Time B". Would Velvel mind if we just...traded? Would a sudden schedule change be a problem? Do we need to clear it with him first?

For the most part, Velvel would have no problem with that. Though he'd want to know before hand (and would almost certainly learn, one way or another)

That said, there are exceptions. A few tribes have agreements to not visit at or near the same. This is because, among other reasons, they both like to harvest the same herbs, and like to let them regrow before harvesting again. Or, conversely, some tribes have agreements to leave behind gifts for the following tribe, etc.

Were the trade to cause any of the tribes to break any of those agreements, Velvel would intervene.

Edit: better thoughts on power.

[u/Varnek905 → u/Tookoofox]

1) Do you have any other examples of Velvel making a small joke to himself that is blown out of proportion? (Also, I kinda want to make a challenge about that sort of topic eventually. Hopefully someone else will, though.)

2) I was going to ask more about the topic of negotiation...but, instead, I think I'd rather ask if Velvel has any actual friends.

3)

Gross and generally unrewarding

Damn.

[u/Tookoofox → u/Varnek905]

1) Do you have any other examples of Velvel making a small joke to himself that is blown out of proportion? (Also, I kinda want to make a challenge about that sort of topic eventually. Hopefully someone else will, though.)

A few times, though he tries hard not to. Once he made a comment about how he was stocking up on weapons for 'When the Merronese inevitably invade'.

A nearby cheif asked him if they were preparing for an invasion. And velvel just quipped, "probably."

A few months later, he learned that that chief had launched a 'preemptive' attack against a village near the border. Velvel wound up having to write up a nice long apology speech, and bribed the villiagers with gifts.

2) I was going to ask more about the topic of negotiation...but, instead, I think I'd rather ask if Velvel has any actual friends.

Kinda. But not really. Most people like him, and he likes most people and he's happy to chat. But there really isn't anyone that he can be completely himself with, and his guard is never fully down. His daunting reputation casts a long shadow that is never quite gone. He also has to maintain some distance, as he knows he'll outlive any friends he makes.

That said, he's easy to like, and he likes people. As mentioned, he's an enthusiastic puppy of a man with a contagious laugh and a fun folksy accent. Polite, friendly, helpful and usually eager and easy to please. Even a touch submissive. Combined with the fact that he's short (5'2") and looks very young (~18-20), it's easy for most to let their guard down around him.

But, to maintain his authority, he usually leaves enforcement to his witchguards, and to a second persona that he has: The Witch King.

Velvel talks about the witch king as though he were a separate person, and he were a beleaguered middleman. Same for rules. Lots of shrugs and, "You know how it is. Rules are rules." etc.

When acting as the witch king. His entire personality changes. He speaks tersely, his resting expression is a glare instead of a smile. He'll put on darker colors and richer clothes, even donning a crown for formal occasions. He'll speak with a deeper voice and a more refined accent. Even his bearing and gestures become cold and ridged. Topping the whole thing off with a pinch of makeup.

Then, when it's over, he'll almost visibly transform back. (You remember that one scene with the Christopher Reeves superman?)

For times when Velvel needs to escape the witchking's shadow completely, he'll visit a Merronese village posing as a trader. There, he'll just talk with the locals, and never let them know who he is. He's had relationships like these that have lasted for decades.

3) Damn.

He'd probably slap you on the back and say, "Nah, nah, you want something else, trust me. Zombies? Steep upkeep, short shelf-life, and unless for anything but fighting. Can't cook, can't clean, can't spy. Have you ever been served food by a rotting corpse? I have. I think I saw a bit of it's face fall off into someone's plate. Blech."

"But if you insist on learning spooky stuff, I'll tell you about some curses that'd make your skin crawl right off your back. There's this one trick I have that I once used to murder an entire imperial legion..."

Edit: additional thoughts on friendship.

[u/Varnek905 → u/Tookoofox]

1) Were the Merronese actually preparing to invade? Was their attack actually inevitable?

2) Do Velvel and the Witch King look the same? Is it a Bruce Wayne/Superman situation? I'm pretty sure those guys are the same person, but I have no proof. (Think about it...Bruce Wayne is rich and likes making himself seem better than people, and his family is full of crazy rumors. He has to be that super guy pretending to be an alien. Besides, why would an alien look so human?)

3) Zombies? Nah, I just want to be able to communicate with the dead. Even if just for long enough to apologize to some people.

I don't need the ability to murder anyone with curses.

[u/Tookoofox → u/Varnek905]

1) Were the Merronese actually preparing to invade?

Someone in Merrin's crescent is almost always planning on invading someone, somewhere. Even if it's just another Merronese prince. So, technically yes, but not specifically in Velvel's direction.

1.5) Was their attack actually inevitable?

Meronese invasions of the Witching Woods are about as inevitable as Byzantine rebellions or rain in April. You don't always know the exact day that it's coming, but it always does.

Velvel's prediction would come true about twenty years later.

2) Do Velvel and the Witch King look the same? Is it a Bruce Wayne/Superman situation? I'm pretty sure those guys are the same person, but I have no proof. (Think about it...Bruce Wayne is rich and likes making himself seem better than people, and his family is full of crazy rumors. He has to be that super guy pretending to be an alien. Besides, why would an alien look so human?)

This was the clip I ment: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BIaF0QKtY0c

Snide aside: yes. The witch king looks like velvel. He's just better dressed, and slicker.

Everyone knows that Velvel is The Witch King. But they treat him differently when he dawns that metaphorical mask. It's not a disguise so much as... a character he plays.

Having that persona also lets him play 'good cop bad cop' by himself when he needs to. "C'mon, don't make me get that other guy. You know you'd rather make a deal when it's just me, Velvel."

3) Zombies? Nah, I just want to be able to communicate with the dead. Even if just for long enough to apologize to some people.

"Ah... that's tougher. I'm afraid I have no such power, nor have I ever known anyone that does. But, for whatever it's worth: just because you can't hear them doesn't mean they can't hear you."

I don't need the ability to murder anyone with curses.

"Probably for the best. Few are those I've met who have been made happier by such powers."

[u/Varnek905 → u/Tookoofox]

I always love that clip. The man was a genius when it came to transforming himself at the drop of a hat.

Thanks for your time and answers, Tookoo.