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[[File:Openingpage.png|thumb|346x346px|The opening foreword of ''The Best is Yet to Come'']]
{{DISPLAYTITLE:''Travels and Tales''}}
[[File:Openingpage.png|thumb|346x346px|The opening foreword of ''The Best is Yet to Come'']]{{Quote|Something also of note, one of the lords in the far west of the island decided to break away from the Triumvirate. I've been told that he bought his way to freedom, but I haven't seen the money anywhere. Well, I trust that Lord Valtara has everything under control.|<i>The Best is Yet to Come</i>, Pg. 19|}}'''''Travels and Tales of Emilia Rivers''''' (commonly referred to as '''''Travels and Tales''''') is a series of journals by [[Emilia Rivers]], a Valtaran politician and diplomat. The journals detail Rivers' time as Minister of Foreign Affairs of the [[Triumvirate of Ceyreto]] and, her participation in the Ceyreto-Zydel War.
 
So far each new entry has received general positive reviews,. and''The the seriesBest is nowYet oneto ofCome'' has since become one the best-known contemporaryselling works to come out of the city[[Commonwealth of [[Blackthorn]], and the series as a whole became the #1 best-selling series of books on Alathra by 4 AC. The series has been popular with contemporary historians, seeing it as a reliable first-hand account of events in Ceyreto following [[Valtaran Civil War]].
 
As of writing, threeeight entries in the series have been published. A fourth has been confirmed to be in the works, but is currently finished and without a set release date. It's unknown how many entries the series will have, with Rivers herself stating that "Travels and Tales will continue so long as my life isn't boring".
 
== Background ==
According to Rivers herself, the initial inspiration for ''Travels and Tales'' began prior to the formation of Ceyreto. She originally had a desire to document contemporary life in Valtara, but was too caught up in other affairs to take on such a project. After her promotion to Foreign Minister of Ceyreto, her desire to write the journals was rekindled. Instead of being about contemporary life in Valtara, however, the journals would take the form of a self-written account of her travels and personal affairs throughout Blackthorn, Ceyreto and beyond.
 
== Characters and Locationslocations ==
{{Main|List of Characters and Locations in the Travels and Tales series}}
 
=== Major Characters ===
The journals have a series of recurring figures, both friends and foes of Rivers. While all figures in the series are real people that were encountered on Rivers' travels, many of them are portrayed in certain ways based on her worldview.
 
== ''Travels and Tales - The Complete Collection'' ==
'''Emilia Rivers -''' A confident foreign minister, loyal councillor of the Triumvirate of Ceyreto, and the protagonist of the series. She sometimes appears a little too confident for her abilities, but often finds herself out of situations better than the average person should. Rivers was initially a human, but was transformed into a Rat fae at the end of ''The Tyrant King'' after an incident in the Cielo sewer system.
After the release of ''The Tyrant King'', a continuously updated document containing every volume of the series was created for convenience and archival purposes. That document can be found [https://docs.google.com/document/d/15tyrzgTYr1qw72eXxkrdBYR1XSPPFcyZCAdAAjqI4wE/edit?usp=sharing here].
 
== Journals ==▼
'''Lord Gem Valtara''' '''-''' The de-facto leader of the Triumvirate of Ceyreto and Rivers' liege for much of the first three journals. Generally displayed as gentle, yet distant figure. Referred to throughout the series as simply "Lord Valtara".
 
=== ''Volume IIII: YearThe ofBest theis RatYet to Come'' ===▼
'''Emperor Acero Noxaros -''' The leader of the Empire of Aether and owner of the city of Cielo. A powerful but laid-back figure, and an acquaintence-turned-friend of Rivers. He gives Rivers refuge in his city throughout the Ceyreto-Zydel War. Refrred to throughout the series as "Lord Noxaros".
'''''The Best is Yet to Come''''' is the first journal in the ''Travels and Tales'' series. It begins with Rivers, then still a member of the lower council of Ceyreto, complaining about the lack of events in her life prior to the events of the journal. This is followed by a documentation of her ascendance to Foreign Minister at the behest of Lord Gem Valtara (referred to throughout the series as simply "Lord Valtara"). The rest of the book mostly follows Rivers' regular visits to Cielo, the capital city of the Empire of Aether and budding friendship with the Emperor, Acero Noxaros (referred to as "Lord Noxaros"), and ends with the build-up towards and declaration of the Ceyreto-Zydel war. The book lacked a subtitle upon release, but was given a subtitle after the release of the second volume. The subtitle is taken directly from the motto of the city of Blackthorn.
 
=== ''Volume IVII: WithThe AnyTyrant LuckKing'' ===▼
'''Lord Happy of Zydel -''' Initially a respected foreign nobleman within the Triumvirate, but eventually rose up in rebellion and swore to conquer the whole of Valtara. Referred to in ''The Best is Yet to Come'' as "Lord Zydel" and the rest of the series as "The Tyrant King".
'''''The Tyrant King''''' is the second journal in the ''Travels and Tales'' series. ''The Tyrant King'' covers only the first three weeks of the war. The book begins with a confident Rivers gathering allies across the continent of Ceyreto/Kuthara and follows Rivers' through the first attack of the war, her infamous stand-off on her boat with Lord Happy of Zydel (referred to as "the Tyrant King"), and her eventual transofrmation into a Rat fae after an extended stay in the Cielo sewer system. The book was received incredibly highly upon release, being seen as an improvement upon the original and a worthy follow-up.
 
=== ''Volume VIII: (TitleYear TBD)of the Rat'' ===▼
'''Thomas Scythorne -''' A friend of Rivers' and the main architect of Blackthorn. A notable sceptic of the Triumivrate and a willing co-conspirator in Rivers' ambitions after the disapprance of Lord Valtara.
[[File:Kutha-yreto.png|thumb|289x289px|A drawn map of the continent of Kuthara/Ceyreto/Kuthara, withinmade thealongside context''Year of Volumethe IIIRat''.]]▼
'''''Travels and Tales of Emilia Rivers, Volume III: Year of the Rat''''' is the third journal in the ''Travels and Tales'' series. The journal is centred around Rivers' sudden transformation into a Rat fae at the hands of a mysterious magical rat living in the Cielo sewer after an attempted manhunt by the Tyrant King and Veric of Uradon (referred to as "the Lord of Uradon, curse his wretched soul"). The book later documents her return to Blackthorn after her self-imposed exile to Cielo, her relationship with the ruling Valtara dynasty, and her sudden ascendance to the title of Mayor of Blackthorn after Lord Valtara's disappearance. ''Year of the Rat'' was originally written with the intention of being the closing act of ''The Tyrant King'', with the novel starting with Rivers being beaten and left for dead, to her turning around and becoming mayor of the city, though due to the eventual length of ''The Tyrant King'', the two were split into two entries.▼
 
=== Major''Volume LocationsIV: With Any Luck'' ===
'''''Travels and Tales of Emilia Rivers, Volume IV: With Any Luck''''' is the fourth journal in the ''Travels and Tales'' series. While the first three entries are all very outgoing and are focused on Rivers' surroundings, ''With Any Luck'' is a lot more introspective and melancholic. The journal is heavily centred around Rivers' relationship with the village of the Faewood, the Faefolk and her newfound relation to them as a reluctant now-Fae creature. It also follows the newly formed Blackthorn Intrim Council and their plans to completely defend the town from a rumoured siege by the Tyrant King, as well as the slow but sure decline of the Triumvirate of Ceyreto. The subtitle ''"With Any Luck"'' is a phrase that is used throughout the series, commonly used by Rivers as another way of saying "I hope", and was chosen to reflect the journal's more melancholic nature.▼
'''Blackthorn -''' The home city of many of the characters in the series, including Rivers' herself, and the former seat of government of the Triumivirate of Ceyreto. Initially a somewhat bland but peaceful port city, it came under threat of occupation during the Ceyreto-Zydel War. The city is owned by Lord Valtara until the end of ''Year of the Rat'', when the city unexpectedly fell into the hands of Rivers.
 
=== ''Volume V: Ghosts'' ===
'''Cielo -''' The capital city of the Empire of Aether and the home of Lord Noxaros. Cielo is a warm and breezy town situated a small distance across the water from Blackthorn, and is the first location visited outside of Blackthorn in the series, and acts as a second home for Rivers from the second book onwards.
'''''Ghosts''''' is the fifth journal in the ''Travels and Tales'' series. The journal continues on with the more sombre tone that began in ''With Any Luck'', and heavily focuses on Rivers' relationship with the world around her and its finality. The journal opens with Rivers receiving an invitation from Triumvir Lord Ehlsonn to help him dismantle and salvage whatever possible from the now ruined city of Cassiopeia. This is followed by a similar expedition to the city of Aarndam, a former Triumvirate city that has since fallen to ruin after the independence of the city of Khalikhan. The rest of the journal follows Rivers walking through the Faewood at night as she encounters an apparition of her exiled superior, Lord Valtara. ''Ghosts'' holds the record of taking place across the smallest span of time, taking place over the course of just five days. It is generally considered the best book in the series by fans.
 
=== ''Volume VI: The Battle of Blackthorn'' ===
'''Fort Khirom -''' A sturdy fortress town, and the farthest outpost of the fallen Empire of Kyriska, and the site of Rivers' rescue after the first attack of the war. While one of the main settings in ''The Tyrant King'', it appears very rarely afterwards.
'''''The Battle of Blackthorn''''' is the sixth journal in the ''Travels and Tales'' series. It is to date the longest book in the ''Travels and Tales'' series. The journal entirely opens up by following the immediate build-up towards the siege of Blackthorn, detailing the hasty construction of the city's keep, as well as the defection of the Valtaran royal family to the side of the Tyrant King. The remainder of the book follows the events of the siege, followed by the eventual peace deal and the events that ensue from it, such as the burning down and abandoning of Blackthorn by Rivers and the Interim Council. ''The Battle of Blackthorn'' is notably the final volume in what fans call the "Zydel Arc" of the story.
 
'''The Faewood -''' A mystical forest village inhabited by fae folk and a close ally of Rivers' cause. Initially somewhat foreign to Rivers, but welcomed her dearly after her transformation into a fae.
 
▲== Journals ==
 
=== ''Volume IVII: The BestLake isand Yetthe to ComeRivers'' ===
'''''TravelsThe Lake and Tales of Emiliathe Rivers, Volume I: The Best is Yet to Come''''' is the firstseventh journal in the ''Travels and Tales'' series. ItAfter beginsthe withclimax Rivers,of then''The still a memberBattle of theBlackthorn'', lowerit councilwas ofunknown Ceyreto,whether complainingor aboutnot the lackjournals ofwould eventscontinue in hertheir lifecurrent priorform, tobut theRivers' eventsconfirmed ofa thefew journal.months Thisafter isthe followed by a documentationrelease of herthe ascendancejournal tothat Foreignthey Ministerwould, atand thethat behesta ofseventh Lordjournal Gemwas Valtara (referred to throughoutin the series as simply "Lord Valtara")works. The restjournal offollows the bookbuilding mostlyof followsNew Rivers'Blackthorn, regularor visits"Zethortal" toas Cielo,it thecomes capitalto citybe ofknown, theas Empirewell ofas AetherRivers and budding friendshipdealing with theher Emperor,own Aceroinsecurities Noxarosand (referredinability to asfully "Lordhandle Noxaros")her struggles, and ends with Rivers' glassing the build-upking towardsof andKalikhan declarationwith ofa thebottle Ceyreto-Zydeland warblacking out. The bookjournal lackedtook aseveral subtitletimes uponlonger release,to butcome wasout giventhan aits subtitlepredecessors, afterwhich theRivers releasehas ofsince theblamed secondon volume.the The"lack subtitleof issubstance" takenin directlyher fromlife thecompared mottoto ofduring the cityCeyreto-Zydel of Blackthornconflict.
 
=== '''''Volume IIVIII: TheGathering Tyrant KingSpeed''''' ===
'''''Travels and Tales of Emilia Rivers, Volume II: The TyrantGathering KingSpeed''''' is the secondeighth journal in the ''Travels and Tales'' series. DespiteIt beingwas currentlyconfirmed theto longest bookbe in the series,works ita coverslittle thewhile shortestafter spanthe release of time. Where ''The BestLake isand Yetthe to ComeRivers'', spansbut acrosswas nearlydelayed twomultiple months,times ''Thefor Tyrantpersonal King''reasons. coversThe onlyjournal thefollows first threehalf weeksof Rivers' attempt to gather all of the war.lake Thetowns booktogether beginsinto withone abig confidentCommonwealth, Riversincluding gatheringthe alliesdiplomatic acrossschemes theshe continenthas ofto Ceyreto/Kutharapartake andin followsto Rivers'attain throughsuch a goal. The journal also follows the firstrelationship attackbetween ofEmilia and the warSewer Rat, herwho infamousfinds stand-offthemselves oncaught herup boatin withan Lordinternal Happycrisis ofthat Zydel (referredthreatens to astear both "the TyrantAdventurer's King"),Guild and herthe eventualEmpire transofrmationof intoAether aapart. RatThe faevolume afterwas anoriginally extendedintended stayto inbe thecalled Cielo"A sewerRose system.of TheFive bookPetals" wasto receivedcover incrediblyup highlyto uponthe releaseCommonwealth's formation, beingbut seenbecame astoo anlong improvementfor upon the originalthat, and so a worthynew follow-up.name Itwas ischosen, generallyand considered"A theRose bestof bookFive inPetals" thewas seriesreserved for the byfollowing fansvolume.
 
== Trivia ==
▲=== Volume III: Year of the Rat ===
▲[[File:Kutha-yreto.png|thumb|289x289px|A drawn map of the continent of Kuthara/Ceyreto within the context of Volume III.]]
▲'''''Travels and Tales of Emilia Rivers, Volume III: Year of the Rat''''' is the third journal in the ''Travels and Tales'' series. The journal is centred around Rivers' sudden transformation into a Rat fae at the hands of a mysterious magical rat living in the Cielo sewer after an attempted manhunt by the Tyrant King and Veric of Uradon (referred to as "the Lord of Uradon, curse his wretched soul"). The book later documents her return to Blackthorn after her self-imposed exile to Cielo, her relationship with the ruling Valtara dynasty, and her sudden ascendance to the title of Mayor of Blackthorn after Lord Valtara's disappearance. ''Year of the Rat'' was originally written with the intention of being the closing act of ''The Tyrant King'', with the novel starting with Rivers being beaten and left for dead, to her turning around and becoming mayor of the city, though due to the eventual length of ''The Tyrant King'', the two were split into two entries.
 
* Due to the autobiographical nature of the journals, many of the events of the journals are ever so slightly skewed. In an interview, Rivers' has admitted that while all of the events in the journals are 100% factual, a few minor details about how she acts have been altered. In a later interview, she admitted that the most common change is the honourifics in which she refers to come characters. She admitted that she never in real life refers to the Emperor of Aether as "Lord Noxaros", but rather by his first name, Acero.
▲=== Volume IV: With Any Luck ===
* In an interview following ''The Lake and the Rivers'', Rivers admitted that many of the chronology of the journals is rather hazy and times, and that many of the "weeks" were actually spans of days or months.
▲'''''Travels and Tales of Emilia Rivers, Volume IV: With Any Luck''''' is the fourth journal in the ''Travels and Tales'' series. While the first three entries are all very outgoing and are focused on Rivers' surroundings, ''With Any Luck'' is a lot more introspective and melancholic. The journal is heavily centred around Rivers' relationship with the village of the Faewood, the Faefolk and her newfound relation to them as a reluctant now-Fae creature. It also follows the newly formed Blackthorn Intrim Council and their plans to completely defend the town from a rumoured siege by the Tyrant King, as well as the slow but sure decline of the Triumvirate of Ceyreto. The subtitle ''"With Any Luck"'' is a phrase that is used throughout the series, commonly used by Rivers as another way of saying "I hope", and was chosen to reflect the journal's more melancholic nature.
 
[[Category:Books]]
▲=== Volume V (Title TBD) ===
'''''Travels and Tales of Emilia Rivers, Volume V''''' is the upcoming fifth journal in the ''Travels and Tales'' series. It has been confirmed by Rivers to be in the works, but nothing of it has been released. The journal is suggested to possibly document the fall of the Triumvirate of Ceyreto.
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