Enatic Clans

Lord Ameniah, Lord Remer, and I have been boarded to the ship - 'Pristinia'. With some on-the-second men ushering us, as Captain Leonis and Habaraef take the lead in guiding us three.

I ask, clearing my throat, while Lord Ameniah and Lord Remer are with the captain's lover herself. "Captain, what is the difference between the mainland politics and the politics here?" in a sincere manner, close to his face.

"Young lad Clef, Inglovian politics is always murky. They have enemies within who wish to undermine the core. The clergy, the peasantry, the adjacent sovereignty - everyone is their enemy. Even vassals are opportunists. Afterall; their ego, their personality, their influence is attached to their very own governance itself. The romanticism of Inglovia is at best while Fort Quogsagihaxee's policy is entirely pure business." the captain pauses, strictly giving me a direct answer.

He burps, continuing: "While here, we have a bigger enemy - it is either our master, the Crown, or the external forces. The Grand Imperials are our pseudo-enemies while swearing our allegiance to them as long as they protect this fort island. On the other hand, Fort Quogsagihaxee'e's open quote enemies close quote are the ones who ain't under the Crown's grasps." he brushes the fake dirt on his shoulder.

"Squabbles often happen but here because egos and ideas clash in a cohesive fashion. Sure, I admit those inconsistencies. Every now and then - factions emerge, not for their personal glory but for this fort island's survival. Luckily, we have democracy. And whoever gets the best idea gets to captain his own notion… on the motion." as he finishes concluding the difference between the two different governances.

Lord Ameniah slows down his pace for Captain Leonis and I to catch up, saying: "Aye Sir Clef, what the captain says is true. Brothers against brothers. Kin against kin. Fathers against sons. Blood over interests. That's a universal truth. Connections and interests all matter, if brothers have common vision; even better - a classical mainland diplomacy, indeed." glancing behind, whereas his feet forward.

"Additionally, war is changing. The other world (universe) has new toys to play with, the so-called quote-unquote muskets. Fireworks, never heard of it. From word-of-mouth, they are mainly for entertainment, so to speak. And the cannons? ALL came from that very same said-world - Diamond Throne. Humans - squinted eyes, yellow faces, business-minded, rice-thing guys, chao fan enthusiasts? From them and thanks to them, we have some prototypes, yes." he then sighs, "But we can solely fill them with the special on-the-men. This weapon overpowers the crossbow but it takes a longer reload. But on the accounts of several marine shipboarders, muskets shy away integrating them with crossbows also during firing positions while the rest use cutlasses for close quarters combat." the captain adds about the natural evolution of warfare whether on melee or on-ship.

"Those weapons are of necessary not, Captain." Lord Ameniah argues against Captain Leonis's statement, "We possess magical arts. To top it all off, cavalry is still the key in wars of today. In lieu of fiddling with those barbaric inventions. Slow, unreliable, and random." as he is side-by-side with the captain himself.

"As always, Sir Æ. Maybe out of your character embracing modernity, eh?" as the captain shoots back at Lord Ameniah's remarks, mocking him in the process.

"Your point being is?" as Lord Ameniah's tone becomes too harsh in just an instant.

The captain makes himself laugh, followed by his naga lover, "Hahaha~ … foolishness, Æ. Foolishness. First and foremost, Fort Quogsagihaxee'e does harbor little or none at all magical experts and mages. We are lucky if we have a magical attaché. Let alone who could use [Heal] or [Fire Bolt], one of the basic 'Mana' or 'Qi' abilities. Without cannons, Fort Quogsagihaxee'e won't stand. Should the muskets be absent in this fort island, we would fall against foreign excursions and the Crown's pacification in just a snap of a finger. Think about it, it is a gamble, yes. I know that first, but the local folks accept this notion - they didn't have a second thought. So all is good." as Captain Leonis enlightens us, especially to Lord Ameniah's conscience.

"A precipice?" Lord Ameniah remarks.

"You could say that, yes. Between a scenario of a risk or reward. If you cross the bluff successfully, consider yourself a winner. If not, good luck." Captain Leonis answers Lord Ameniah's metaphor.

"At the end of the day, no one wants to lose. High risk, high reward is either a sure high win or high loss depending on the outcome. While a safe bet is still a win, albeit, lower than ever could imagine." Lord Ameniah follows after the captain, as the flow of the tension seems diffused.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

"Where can I find a person with a caliber like yours, Sir Æ? Somebody, anyone? Can someone be akin to Sir Æ?!?!" the captain praises Lord Ameniah's quick reply, as we are about to reach the deck where the bow is.

Lord Remer enters the scene, inserting: "High rewards? Low rewards? Intriguing! But what kind of rewards are we speaking of, though?" as he is waiting for us on the guardrail.

"Likewise, apart from gold and information." I link it up with Lord Remer's intention, doubling down towards Captain Leonis.

"You both are right, Sir Clef, Lord Remer. Boonies and information are equally, uhm, vital. But not as least as: favors, immunity, guarantees, free passages, joint-project partnerships for business affairs, and connections for influence-wise. Well, in this pirate republic, votes as well. And if we are talking about mainland Inglovian elective succession, then, those are either sways or non-interference." in this case, it makes sense.

Lord Ameniah tries to disrupt the conversation by being bitter, chiding: "Captain, what are you implying that new technologies should be incorporated into the curricula, like how we treat new techniques in martial arts and magical arts?" another subset within the talk, returning to the warfare thing.

"Under whose philosophy?" the captain rebuts, wanting confirmations first.

"No idea," Lord Ameniah grunts, "It matters not at all. You just seem fervent about progressive notions but with a slight contradiction behind your rhetoric - controlled chaos, subtle traditionalist, and transactional loyalties."

"Oh, okay." Captain Leonis muses, as it seems he realizes what Lord Ameniah is trying to say, resuming: "Experience. Either streetwise or formalities. Strained idealized logic. And yes, you're right about that and then… wisdom from the ones who came before me." his hands waving.

"Sir Æ, you're a great kid and all. Sometimes, I think about how our minds are switched - me, as an old man, who is excited for innovation. You, proving your worth, but still stick-in-a-mud." he adds, while he approves Lord Ameniah's existence.

He further diffuses the tension, claiming: "I ain't saying the 'you're-wrong-I'm-right' argument. Nay, nay, nay. The problem lies within you, Sir Æ. Chivalry is waning. It's all self-interest as of now. Gentry barely surviving on this day. Serfs and the nobilities? These castes become more powerful." the captain smacks his tongue and his teeth in-between conversations "Well, if you still bear the customs of traditions, you need to see that for yourself. You do 'you', remember that. Old but effective practices are good, yes. Just in order to combat new waves of stupidity and non-common sensical ideas." as he offers a handshake to Lord Ameniah, apart from the lessons. In which they share the same gesture in the end.

As we are moving to the bridge, the helm is at. And like from the bow, there is a ballista - the stern part of this ship has its own ballista. As I just have noticed this ship, 'Pristinia', is really a big ass ship. And oh boy, if I would imagine this galley, this girl could bite.

"This girl, 'Pristinia', needs three quartermasters. One for provision, another for the munitions and armory, and lastly for anti-mutiny duties. Five bosuns - yes one of them holds their primary responsibility for maintenance and damage control, one for the bridge's and coxswain's dialogue, one as the chief mate's mate, another for the direct comms towards the sloop captains, and lastly for the rigs and the lower deck also including the well deck. Two masters - one for its main task, yes, handling the scouting mast and another for managing the anchors-..."

"Anchors, for what?" Lord Remer interjects.

"Well, you see. The main anchor ahead is used for mooring while the two sub-anchors from both sides - starboard and port are, you know? They are for motion, of course, mid-maneuverability." the captain explains.

"Crafty…" his face says it all, Lord Remer is in awe.

"You need to take credit for the new generations of young sailing masters for that. And from the old school - both young yet green traditionalists and seasoned veterans of sailing masters approve of this thought." Captain Leonis confirms and recognizes to strike the balance between his crew and his knowledge.

"What is the main difference between a merchant republic and a pirate republic?" Lord Remer asks another with the two sub-branches of a 'republic'.

"Oh, right… I nearly forgot that you're of patrician class yourself, Lord Remer. But forgive me for what I am about to say-..."

"Yes, I know. I know. Dormitar is one of the primary player families in a serene republic within the Grand Imperial jurisdictions. And inside the same merchant republic, there is this clan called 'Xermezis' - whose rivalry with us predated a century ago. This aforementioned family had won leadership positions before while Dormitar hadn't." as Lord Remer shares the history between several factions within the realm of naval commercial affairs.

"Well, thank you for your wonderful addition, Lord Remer. Aye, these two entities do share common quality, which is the process of voting. However, while the former portrays the representative or the current head that enjoys this privilege. The latter enforces that all criminals in Fort Quogsagihaxee'e who decide the leadership of a ship, legislative is cohesive, negotiation is done while I their captain of this fort island is their representative, and if these outlaws will decide if I am back on the seas or lock me up in this fortified port. Yours is oligarchic, Lord Remer. While mine is every bandit has their say."