Ying Fusu's Audience Hall - Nanzheng

[Swashbuckler]

Zhao Han showed up in Nanzheng completely and utterly announced. With only a couple of navigation errors, he found his way to the main administrative complex by midmorning. In his usual taciturn way, he said to the guards only, "I wish to speak to one Wei Quan. He...does not know I am coming, but I should hope he should be willing to see me all the same. Please tell him that the smith Zhao Han wishes for an audience."

[fireshade]

Zhao Han showed up in Nanzheng completely and utterly announced. With only a couple of navigation errors, he found his way to the main administrative complex by midmorning. In his usual taciturn way, he said to the guards only, "I wish to speak to one Wei Quan. He...does not know I am coming, but I should hope he should be willing to see me all the same. Please tell him that the smith Zhao Han wishes for an audience."

The guards, doing what they always did, sent a runner into the building to inform the District Manager of the new arrival. As they waited, though, they did that other thing that guards tend to do.

"You'll need to surrender any weapons or potentially harmful items in order to see Manager Wei."

Assuming that Zhao Han complies... It was not long before the door were formally opened and the smith was brought in. The audience chamber was mostly devoid of decoration, as what little had been there was sent to Xianyang to help restore the appearance of nobility that it had once held. However, there were still a dozen armed guards standing watch over the room as well as two men who must have been the main commanders of the Han military forces. At the far end of the room sat the District Manager of Han. He set aside the reports he had been looking over to address his guest.

"Greetings, Craftsman Zhao. What brings you here to Nanzheng, former home of the King of Qin?"

[Swashbuckler]

Zhao Han merely grunted assent as he handed his sword to the guards, giving them the sort of look that a father might give a daughter's potential suitor a couple thousand years later. (As opposed to a look from the era that might have screamed, "Hurry up and get her off my hands!") He barely noticed the trappings (or lack thereof) as he was led through the hall.

He sort of half-noticed the guards; his attention was more focused on the district manager, and he took a moment to consider the proper response, bowing deeply as he did so.

"To be blunt, Minister, I'm looking for a chance to exercise my skills. As I said to the guards, I'm a smith. Javelins, halberds, swords, armor, you name it, I can forge it. Lots of it. On top of that, I've been a smith for the better part of my life, and you don't do that without getting a pretty good arm. I have a fair understanding of both parts of the Riddle of Steel."

[fireshade]

Zhao Han merely grunted assent as he handed his sword to the guards, giving them the sort of look that a father might give a daughter's potential suitor a couple thousand years later. (As opposed to a look from the era that might have screamed, "Hurry up and get her off my hands!") He barely noticed the trappings (or lack thereof) as he was led through the hall.

He sort of half-noticed the guards; his attention was more focused on the district manager, and he took a moment to consider the proper response, bowing deeply as he did so.

"To be blunt, Minister, I'm looking for a chance to exercise my skills. As I said to the guards, I'm a smith. Javelins, halberds, swords, armor, you name it, I can forge it. Lots of it. On top of that, I've been a smith for the better part of my life, and you don't do that without getting a pretty good arm. I have a fair understanding of both parts of the Riddle of Steel."

"Indeed," Wei Quan replied, stroking his beard. A skilled smith would save a good deal of money when it came to arming the King's armies.

"I would be very pleased to have you work among us, Master Zhao. I can grant you a stipend equal to that of any other man in the King's service, as well as the freedom to choose for yourself a team of assistants from among the province's top metalworkers. We will acquire a shop for your use and supply you with any resources you will need to complete our commissions.

"Would you have any other requirements in addition to this?"

[Swashbuckler]

"Most excellent." A hint of pleasure briefly played across his face. "I haven't had a proper smithy to work in since I left Yue. Money itself is not an issue. I have yet to hear of a place where a competent smith can't make money. Speaking of which, should any officers desire arms or armor of exceptional quality, they need only ask, and, of course, be able to pay for the materials and time involved.

"But that is all rather secondary. No, I have no objections or additional requirements; rather, it is an honor to serve."

[fireshade]

"Most excellent." A hint of pleasure briefly played across his face. "I haven't had a proper smithy to work in since I left Yue. Money itself is not an issue. I have yet to hear of a place where a competent smith can't make money. Speaking of which, should any officers desire arms or armor of exceptional quality, they need only ask, and, of course, be able to pay for the materials and time involved.

"But that is all rather secondary. No, I have no objections or additional requirements; rather, it is an honor to serve."

"Very well then. I welcome you to our cause, Master Zhao."

Add your OI to Fusu's list and you're in.

[Kymvir Raemiz]

On another day, a scholarly individual arrived in the ruined city of Xianyang. Weak in body and cursing the various bruises covering his posterior, Hua Jianyang stepped down from the carriage. Blinking his eyes at the signs of construction all around him, the scholar nodded his head with approval.

Slowly, he approached the audience chambers. He bowed his head and spoke. "My name is Hua Jianyang, a scholar with much skill in administration and city planning. I wish for a meeting with His Highness, the King, if possible."

The attendant at the gate waves back the guards at the sight of the older man and inclines his head to him. "His Highness is currently engaged in projects around the city, Master Hua. Should you wish it, however, I will show you to a comfortable room with refreshments where you can wait until he returns, and I will put forth your request for an audience when he arrives."

"Aye," Guang replied nodding his head, "please watch over the men while I'm gone, Mingyuan." He was a bit apprehensive about entering alone, but he also realized that it was the only way. He shouldn't fear for his life here; The King had summoned him for a reason, and it certainly wasn't to take his head.

Giving a sigh, he then stepped forward and made his way into the ruined palace, looking for a minister or attendant to show him the way to Fusu...

Before Taishi could even enter the palace, an attendant arrived and led him into the ruined building. Much of the interior was still in various states of repair, though the attendant led Taishi into the eastern wing where there was little sign of fire damage, and much of the palace had already been put into decent order. The room that Taishi Guang was eventually escorted into was large, and contained a dias with cushioned mats on it. Ying Fusu sat on the dias, his face and feet being washed by two attendants. When Taishi entered, he snatched the cloth away and wiped his own face, smudging dark soot across one of his cheeks and then nodded to the attendant who had brought Taishi.

"Taishi Guang of Changsha, Your Highness, as we reported."

Fusu stared at Taishi, waiting for him to speak.

Sometime after the disastrous battle...

By the time that he had arrived at Xianyang, it was morning . He had made a promise to return to King Fusu, when he had left him six days prior. The circumstances of his arrival again was not what he had expected. His army had been defeated in battle and his negotiations in the release of the prisoners had been an abysmal failure. But that part was now out of his hands; he had made an agreement with the Brotherhood that if he failed, then it was their turn to do it their way.

Approaching the guard, he yelled out, "Good morning to you. I am Daisuke Aramaki and I have returned to report back to the King. If the King is too busy to meet with me, can you please give him this sealed letter instead."

Sealed letter in incoming PM

The attendant at the gate took the letter, and then bowed, "Manager Aramaki, the King has left word that he of course would be pleased to meet with any of his Chief Vassals should they arrive. I will deliver the letter to his chief attendant, and can show you to a room where you can rest and refresh yourself. Would you come this way?"

[Nanjun Tiger]

Before Taishi could even enter the palace, an attendant arrived and led him into the ruined building. Much of the interior was still in various states of repair, though the attendant led Taishi into the eastern wing where there was little sign of fire damage, and much of the palace had already been put into decent order. The room that Taishi Guang was eventually escorted into was large, and contained a dias with cushioned mats on it. Ying Fusu sat on the dias, his face and feet being washed by two attendants. When Taishi entered, he snatched the cloth away and wiped his own face, smudging dark soot across one of his cheeks and then nodded to the attendant who had brought Taishi.

"Taishi Guang of Changsha, Your Highness, as we reported."

Fusu stared at Taishi, waiting for him to speak.

"Great King of Qin," Guang began, bowing in regards to the man before him on the dais, "I have traveled to Xianyang this day to speak to you of matters of great importance."

Straightening his posture, he brought his eyes up to Fusu's shoulder, making sure not to look directly into the King's gaze. "I am a humble vassal of the Qin and staunch supporter of His Highness. As such, I have found myself utterly surrounded by hostile rebels in Yue, Wu, Huainan and Jiujiang, all who wish to wipe the Qin from the histories. They openly wish to burn and raze Changsha to the ground, all because of the Qin precense there. Therefore, I would request from the Court to be granted the title of Marquis of Changsha, so that I may better be able to combat these insurrectionists and spread your influence into those lawless provinces..."

Pausing, he bit his lip, unsure of the reaction Ying Fusu would have to such a 'demand'. "Also, King of Qin, I request your direction on how to deal with these rebels and protect your holdings in Changsha, and anything else that you deem appropriate."

[Cao Chao]

The attendant at the gate waves back the guards at the sight of the older man and inclines his head to him. "His Highness is currently engaged in projects around the city, Master Hua. Should you wish it, however, I will show you to a comfortable room with refreshments where you can wait until he returns, and I will put forth your request for an audience when he arrives."

"Of course," replied the scholar, inclining his head briefly in acknowledgment, "I serve His Highness' at his convenience."

[Zhudi]

The attendant at the gate took the letter, and then bowed, "Manager Aramaki, the King has left word that he of course would be pleased to meet with any of his Chief Vassals should they arrive. I will deliver the letter to his chief attendant, and can show you to a room where you can rest and refresh yourself. Would you come this way?"

Nodding, Aramaki dismounted and followed the attendant to wherever he was taking him.