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Post by Lord Aeradar Caltarys on Dec 14, 2018 16:28:44 GMT
It has always been common for nobles to have exotic animals and the Caltarys family is no different. A menagerie stands in the south-west part of the Caltarys Estate gardens. The menagerie itself is centered around a central pavilion, from which a dozen areas separated by walls spread out in a fan-pattern, each closed off with a fence facing the pavilion.
Numerous exotic animal are houses including a mated pair of elephants, hippos, zebras, baboons, various exotic birds, antelope,giraffes, rhinos, lions, panthers, tigers, hyenas, bears, ostriches and monkeys. In this way the menagerie serves a dual purpose as a breeding ground for the beasts required in the Pit of Anogar.
Guests are often entertained here for evening soirees as well as daytime parties. Lord Aeradar also frequently breaks his fast in the mornings here. After an unfortunate incident between Jaes and an extremely rare albino ostrich, dragons are no longer allowed near the enclosures.
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Post by Lord Valerion Maegyr on Dec 15, 2018 6:23:42 GMT
Lord Valerion, escorted by four of his men, arrives at Lord Aeradar's estate and is shown to the menagerie.
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Post by Lord Aeradar Caltarys on Dec 15, 2018 15:36:50 GMT
Lord Aeradar is awaiting his guest seated at a small table for two in the central pavilion, in sight of the various creatures of the continent that he now holds dominion over. A body slave stands behind him and slightly to the side, a parasol in hand to shield her master's eyes from the rising sun.
"Lord Valerion, I am happy you accepted my invitation," Aeradar said graciously, as another slave pulled out the chair on the opposite side of the table for their guest. "Have a seat. Make yourself at home." A third slave runs up with a carafe of apricot wine and fills two glasses.
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Post by Lord Valerion Maegyr on Dec 15, 2018 20:40:23 GMT
Valerion seated himself in the chair and nodded politely at the slave as his glass was set down.
"Thank you Lord Aeradar." he said to his host. "I must say I was a little surprised to receive your invitation."
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Post by Lord Aeradar Caltarys on Dec 15, 2018 21:27:12 GMT
"Pleasantly surprised, I do hope," Aeradar ventured, as slaves began serving breakfast, which consisted of an ostrich egg frittata and various fruits from the orangerie on the estate grounds. "Are you looking forward to the Founder's Festival? I understand have been here in Linynti since nearly the beginning, so you have as much to celebrate as the rest of us."
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Post by Lord Valerion Maegyr on Dec 16, 2018 7:15:11 GMT
"I arrived in the company of Lisaerys Voghaer. The colony has grown remarkably since that time." he replied, eyeing the breakfast serving. "So it appears there is something to celebrate. Many similar ventures have ended in failure."
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Post by Lord Aeradar Caltarys on Dec 16, 2018 16:45:09 GMT
"Well the Lord Treasurer certainly seems to think so, as he has ordered five days of games to mark the occasion." He began to eat his breakfast, staring directly at the ostrich enclosure as he chewed on the egg dish.
"Which gets me to the heart of your invitation here. I wont bore you with the details of the inner workings of my trade, but I require a unique specimen for the final day of the games, which is where I hope you come into play. You may have heard that House Maltalos is willing to pay for anyone who can capture the Golden Khal, a notorious great cat that had been terrorizing the salt mines for years, which is far too close to my quarry for comfort. I hear you are a capable sort and truth be told I would rather deal with a Valyrian than the Ivory Band any day. So, if you are able to capture it and deliver the beast to me for use in my games, I will match the Maltalos offer. More so, I will provide you with something more valuable than coin. You will have the gratitude of House Maltalos and House Caltarys, I will be certain your contributions to the games are proclaimed loudly to endear you to the people, and I will ensure House Maegyr is properly represented in the historical reenactments during the games themselves."
He sipped on his apricot wine, allowing Lord Valerion time to consider the offer.
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Post by Lord Valerion Maegyr on Dec 16, 2018 22:12:23 GMT
Valerion leaned back in his seat, trying to hide a look of surprise.
"I must say that was a proposal I wasn't expecting Lord Aeradar." he said carefully. "I'm no animal handler. I have little to no experience in these sort of matters."
He twirled the stem of his glass between long fingers. "I'm more likely to kill such a beast rather than capture it. That would be easier, if it plagues your quarry."
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Post by Lord Aeradar Caltarys on Dec 16, 2018 22:55:35 GMT
"And what proposal were you expecting?" Aeradar inquired. "Great things have small beginnings. Do this task for me and House Maltalos and I am certain it will be the beginning of great things to come."
"It seems we all came here to be something more than we were, to be something greater. None of us had ever founded a colony before and yet here we are," he mused. "I hear your men are capable, so trapping a beast alive should not be outside your abilities. Or perhaps I have misjudged you and set my expectations too high? Are only the easy jobs within your capabilities?"
"I need that beast for the arena, alive. Coin, renown, and political clout seems more than fair recompense. Especially when I hear those are three things House Maegyr has in short supply of late. But if you would prefer something else, name it."
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Post by Lord Valerion Maegyr on Dec 16, 2018 23:19:15 GMT
"I'm a soldier, not an animal handler." replied Valerion. "In truth, I was expecting a proposal to provide military escort for some sort of venture. As I have done previously."
"Tasks such as this cost money. I assume you will be fully funding it."
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Post by Lord Aeradar Caltarys on Dec 16, 2018 23:30:17 GMT
"A soldier is just a hunter by another name," Aeradar said, with a dismissive wave, as if it was simple semantics. "As I said, prove yourself with this minor task, and we can discuss more ambitious endeavors in the future."
"Of course, you will be reimbursed for the purchase of any equipment and supplies necessary in capturing the beast, then paid in full by myself and House Maltalos upon delivery."
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Post by Lord Valerion Maegyr on Dec 17, 2018 2:35:31 GMT
Valerion smiled knowingly and shook his head.
"I take all the risk and you take all the benefit if I'm successful, with vague promises of coin, renown and clout. If it's such a minor task, then surely your minions can undertake it on your behalf without my involvement. My experience and skills that you say you require would seem to be superfluous for such a little task."
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Post by Lord Aeradar Caltarys on Dec 17, 2018 2:57:04 GMT
"I know Tigers do not tend to have the best business acumen, but the way it tends to work is one individual pays for goods and services from another and both benefit from the exchange," Aeradar deadpanned. "In this case House Maltalos has already offered a substantial bounty for the capture of the beast, one which I am doubling for the same effort on your part, provided it is delivered in time for the finale of the games. There is nothing vague about it and unless you have no use for gold or the good will of the two of the most powerful lords on the continent, I would say you gain far more than I do from this arrangement."
"The alternative is I hire the Ivory Band to do the job, they claim the gold and renown when it is accomplished, and they are the ones hired the next time an expedition requires an armed escort. Consider that before you turn your nose up at this opportunity, because as I said, I would prefer a Valyrian benefit from this exchange."
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Post by Lord Valerion Maegyr on Dec 17, 2018 3:29:44 GMT
Valerion nodded and rose. The man was becoming too condescending for his taste.
"I'm not a hired hand Lord Aeradar, but nonetheless I shall strongly consider what you have said. Someone of your power and influence should be able to finance all the required equipment and supplies of such an expedition and pay handsomely upon its successful conclusion."
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Post by Lord Aeradar Caltarys on Dec 17, 2018 3:48:26 GMT
"Considering you make a living taking coin in exchange for providing an armed escort, is a hired hand not exactly what you are?" Aeradar asked as the man rose, looking genuinely bemused.
"Payment will be waiting upon delivery of the beast before the fifth day of the games, as well as reimbursement for any operating costs. I see no reason why we would have cause to speak before then, but ample reason to do so after," he said, not looking up from his breakfast as he spoke. "Happy hunting, Lord Valerion."
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