After a week of sailing, you are involved in a strange conversation...

So, your sea voyage has already lasted a week.

During this time, in addition to communicating with the mercenary Oswald Dreinig and regular training with a sword and dagger, you also interacted a little with the merchant Cornelius Oberkap. Usually this communication did not take much time and consisted of insignificant conversations about the weather, cooking and various household trifles.

However, today’s conversation with Cornelius was memorable for you because you learned some new information about the place that is the goal of your sea voyage.

Your training under the guidance of the mercenary Oswald Dreinig has just ended. The stooped human merchant moved slowly along the deck. He looked as usual: tired, coughing occasionally, an old human male. His gray beard and cloudy gray eyes allowed you to assume that this merchant was about 60 years old

You are tired after training with a sword and dagger. So you sat down on one of the wooden boxes that was secured to the deck with ropes. You were breathing heavily and trying to catch your breath.

The mercenary Oswald Dreinig headed to his cabin for what he usually called “the traditional evening wine libation.” Oolok was not far from you. The half-orc looked around the deck and, as you noticed, he looked with a sullen gaze at the sailors. Sailors passed by you and looked at you with interested glances.

Franz remained in your cabin at this moment to ensure the safety of your luggage.

Cornelius Oberkap approached you, holding a book in his hands.

He sat down on a nearby box and coughed slightly.

You asked him: “Is the cool sea breeze harmful to you, Mr. Oberkap? Judging by your cough, perhaps you are sick?”

The merchant replied: “No, everything is fine, young man. My cough is clearly not due to the wind. These are the consequences of one of the battles in which I had to participate... I just have an old wound in my right lung. Because of this, I sometimes cough..."

You looked in surprise at the haggard, wrinkled face of merchant Cornelius. His appearance clearly did not give you the impression that this weak man could be a warrior.

You asked: “Did you really ever take part in battles?”

Old man Cornelius smiled slightly and said: “I understand that now I look like an old rotten stump and not a warrior... But I am many years old... I am 62 years old... At a time when I was much younger and stronger, I had to take part in very dangerous events ... The consequences of these events still affect my health ... "

You say: “Could you tell us about these events?”

Cornelius Oberkap coughs and asks you a strange question: “Tell me what year it is, young man.”

You say, "Strange question... The obvious fact is that now is the year 478".

Cornelius nods and says: “That's right. Your answer is fully consistent with the generally accepted state of affairs in the Sacred Kingdom of Orlania. Any Orlanian subject would have responded the same way as you. Now is 478 years after the Coming of the Heavenly Incarnation. This is exactly the case if the Orlanian calendar is used. The start date of chronology is counted from the birth of the legendary first king of Orlania (in Orlanian historiography this ruler, who was more likely the leader of a human tribe than a king, is called the term “Sacred Ruler”), whose name is forgotten and who is considered the Incarnation of Orlan - one of the two highest deities of the Church of the Equally Great Brothers-Deities. This method of chronology is used in the Kingdom of Orlania, Kingdom of Morthem, Protectorate of Turquoise Tide Islands."

You listen to these words with incomprehension. The thought creeps into your mind that old man Cornelius has lost the thread of the conversation and now he will annoy you with the most boring senile nonsense.

Cornelius continues to say: “By the way, according to the Elven calendar it is now 2503. According to elven chronology, it is now 2503 from the Founding of the Diamond Altar. The start date of chronology is counted from the moment of the legendary foundation of the citadel of the island elven city of Kietellar, which subsequently became the capital of the elven empire called the “Empire of the Diamond Throne”. Now the city of Kietellar, like the elven empire, does not exist. The city of Kietellar died about 500 years ago due to a series of natural disasters (volcanic eruptions and floods). Now the ruins of the city of Kietellar are buried under sea waters and a layer of ash. This method of chronology is used in the elven states (Free City of Tior-Faen, Great Domain of Loten-Rael). It may seem to you that I am a chatty and senile old man who deviates from the topic of conversation. But you will soon understand exactly what I mean. I received my wounds 24 years ago..."

You impatiently ask, “What exactly happened then?”

Cornelius Oberkap answers: “War... During the period 450-454 years after the Coming of the Heavenly Incarnation, a bloody war took place between the human state of the Sacred Kingdom of Orlania and the elven state of Free City of Tior-Faen. This interstate conflict is referred to as the “War of Bloody Waves.” This historiographical term is explained by the fact that during this interstate conflict there were many fierce naval battles using a large number of ships... Oh... During the bloody four-year conflict, many naval battles and attempted assaults on island fortresses took place. There were also landings of elven troops on the continental possessions of the Kingdom of Orlania. However, as a result of these naval landings of troops, the elven armies suffered heavy losses and were unable to seize control of any significant provinces. In addition to the massive use of mercenaries in the elven armies (among these mercenaries were half-elves, humans, and orcs), elven spies managed to provide material and intelligence support to the armed forces of human rebels, who raised several rebellions in the territories of the continental provinces of the Holy Kingdom of Orlania. The War of Bloody Waves lasted about 4 years. This conflict did not end in victory for either side. Neither side of the conflict was able to achieve the goals that were set at the beginning of the war. The Human Kingdom of Orlania and the elven city-state of Free City of Tior-Faen have exhausted their resources during this armed conflict. As a result, the peace treaty of 454 cemented the division of spheres of influence in the region of the western islands and mutual economic agreements.”

You listen with surprise about the tragic events that took place at a time when you were not yet born.

The old human merchant chuckles quietly.

Then he says: “My three brothers and I were drafted into the armed Orlanian militia of the city of Onteria, which is located south of the city of Skelweerd... I was then working as an artisan in the city furniture workshop... But the scale of the military conflict and the rebellions in the adjacent provinces **** the count, who ruled the city of Onteria, began a mass mobilization of the city's inhabitants into an armed militia... The situation worsened when troops led by elves landed on the coast... They managed to occupy the vast countryside... They then tried to launch an **** on the city... One **** attempt followed another... Thousands of mercenaries attacked us (among whom, naturally, there was not a single elf), elven archers used incendiary arrows, siege catapults destroyed the houses of city residents...”

You noticed how old man Cornelius's eyes began to water.

You asked: “And what happened next?”

Cornelius said: “I stood on the walls of the city along with my three brothers. I fired a crossbow at the attacking hordes of enemies. Suddenly, three elven arrows pierced my body at once... I probably leaned too far out from behind the battlement and became an easy target for the enemy archers. I lost consciousness and my body was dragged to the infirmary. I spent the next week in the infirmary. I felt very bad: one elven arrow pierced my shoulder (its tip was broken off and the arrow shaft was easily pulled out), the second elven arrow pierced the palm of my right hand, the third elven arrow pierced my body just below the ribs and touched my right lung. With great difficulty, the doctors in the infirmary managed to remove the arrow fragments from my most dangerous wound. I barely managed to survive. When I left the infirmary I was able to learn two news: the elven troops were **** to end the siege of the city; all three of my brothers died due to the impact of the elven siege catapults on the fortress wall ... "

The only thing you can say is: “Sorry... Please accept my condolences...”

Cornelius continues to say: “You have nothing to apologize for, young man... These tragic events happened a long time ago... I accepted my fate a long time ago... So this is what I wanted to say: I am watching your training, young man; I see that you are trying to learn how to fight with a sword and dagger. These are useful skills... However, I advise you to take into account that among the tens of thousands of persons who died in the War of Bloody Waves, there were many experienced warriors... These warriors were excellent at fighting with swords, spears, axes... But these skills did not help any of them survive... And Do you know who won after this war?

You say: “I don’t know...You said that none of the parties to this armed conflict achieved their original goals...”

Cornelius smiles sadly and says: “Indeed, neither side in this armed conflict achieved its original goals... The Kingdom of Orlania was unable to capture the elven island of Etherimael (on which the rich elven city of Tior-Faen is located), and the elven state Free City of Tior-Faen was unable to occupy the Archipelago of Turquoise Tide Islands (which is still a dependent territory of the Kingdom of Orlania)… However, throughout the war, each of the opposing armies needed the supply of many goods. As a result, the most influential merchant guilds of the Sacred Kingdom of Orlania became rich. Supplies of weapons, food, armor, wood for ships, horses for cavalry... The same situation took place regarding the elven state called Free City of Tior-Faen. Because of the war, the influential elven aristocrats, who already had great influence in trade in the west of the continent, enriched themselves. 24 years have passed since then... So what now? So, now our Orlanian dromon is carrying goods to the elven city of Tior-Faen. The bones of those killed in the War of Bloody Waves have long been rotting in the ground or resting at the bottom of the sea. And human merchants and elven merchants continue to trade and receive enormous wealth... Probably, these merchants have some more useful skills than the ability to handle a sword and dagger..."

Cornelius Oberkap rose to his feet with a groan.

He told you: “I’ve probably tired you out with old man’s chatter... I need to go to my cabin and work on compiling a list of books that I am preparing to sell...”

Having said these words, Cornelius Oberkap left in the direction of his cabin.

You remained on deck and pondered the sad story of Cornelius.

Then, you decided to take a break from sad thoughts.

You think: “It’s already late evening. It’s clearly time for me to go back to the cabin.”

You and Oolok headed to your cabin.

However, on the way to the cabin you discover something unexpected...