Fantasy RP

[Duck14]

Alfred

Seemed like everything was set for us then. Garry and Artie both knew their roles, the whole crew did. “Then let’s go then. We’ll weather the storm and not incur a delay. Thank you lads.”

[Bannanachair]

@ Othan: Yhendorn ships don't often sail as far as Orevod, and today was no exception - in the Gold Docks, not a single ship from that far away is here. There is, however, a ship from one of the Trade Cities of Eplune.

@ Alfred: Artie took the wheel of the ship, and the crew went about their business as the storm continued to approach. Within an hour you can feel the winds growing stronger and the first drops of rain begin to splash coldly across your face. The grey clouds directly overhead still allow a small amount of light through, but as you look forward, you can see that they're completely opaque, blocking out the sunlight. You hear a crack of thunder and see a flash of lightning, maybe three miles away. The storm might be even worse than you thought it would be, you realize as you hear another burst of thunder and see another crack of lightning.

"Cap'n," You hear Garry say quietly, though you know that he's shouting - he has to shout to be heard over the wind. "We need to get the crew below deck! This has to be one of the worst storms I've ever seen in my entire life, and I've seen me some storms!" Another blast of thunder is heard, and it sounds like someone broke a set of drums, then you see a bright flash of lightning illuminate the sky once again.

[Tikobe]

Othan

That's odd. The little girl stated that there was a man selling silk from a ship from Yhendorn today. Was she perhaps confused? I head to the Trade Cities ship to see if I can locate the silk merchant.

[Duck14]

Alfred

I tugged my beard in deep contemplation as the rain spat down on me. This storm was earlier than it should have been and now much more powerful than it had any right to be. Something wasn’t right here. This was no ordainary storm. Whatever, I couldn’t spend to long contemplating such matters, I had a crew to look out for. I had a ship to look out for, my lovely ship.

“Oh, aye. Garry get the crew below. Bunker down, we’re going to be swaying all other the place.” I trembled as the ship shook and grabbed ahold of a sturdy rope. “Get below men! Get below! Artie, ye need to direct me. I’ll man the sails. I’ve never been late, and no storm however strong will stop me. No sir!”

[Bannanachair]

@ Tikobe: (Whoops, it looks like I messed up there. I reread the relevant posts and it said that the silk was from Yhendorn, not that the merchant selling it was, so I guess I'm technically fine, but still, I'll need to pay more attention to continuity in details that I write up to flesh out the world.)

@ Othan: The ship from the Trade Cities is loading things onto it - lots of barrels of wine and several types of finished goods made from a variety of raw materials including everything from weaponry to tapestries. From the looks of things, they're preparing to head back to the Trade Cities.

@ Alfred: "Aye Cap'n!" Yelled Garry, as he then turned to the crew. "Men, get below decks!" A burst of thunder struck out as Garry spoke, drowning it out, but everyone knew what he said anyway, and you saw that he was going around the deck helping people find the hatch.

"Cap'n, don't man the sails!" Artie yelled, barely audible. "We need to take down the sails to prevent them from catching fire! This is the worst storm I've ever seen!" A flash of lightning struck, less than half a mile away from the bow of the ship. Despite the fact that it's around midafternoon, the lightning was the only source of light in the sky.

[Tikobe]

Othan

Well, this is unfortunate. I don't have all of the time in the world to investigate the matter, not to mention as mentioned before this couldn't possibly be connected with Nizeston's visit. Deciding to sate my curiosity on the subject for another time I begin to make my exit from the Gold Docks and move on down to the Silver Docks.

[Bannanachair]

(I'll be using the OOC thread that was an interest check for discussion of updates to the OP and of future plans. I encourage you guys to look there on occasion and to post suggestions like PCs meeting, etc. there.)

@ Othan: As you arrive at the Silver Docks, you realized just how much time has gone by. The sun is low in the sky, and you probably don't have too long before you need to head back towards the noble district of the city and the Windy Rope - maybe half an hour, maybe slightly longer if you can walk briskly. The silver docks at this time are much more respectable than they are at night, but they're still not the Gold Docks. You see ships, many of them from much closer to Mallowater than many of the ships in the Gold Docks, unloading more mundane but still good items, like fruits and cloths. You see finished goods of a quality attainable by the middle class being loaded back onto those ships.

In the buildings around you, you see a number of taverns and inns where sailors might stay for the night, and one establishment that looks like a brothel (though it's much too early for it to be open). There are storehouses as well, where many of the goods that are being taken off of the ships are going to and where items being put onto the ships are coming from. Peculiarly enough there is also a bookseller, and you can't possibly fathom why the Silver Docks are the ideal place for a bookseller to set up shop.

[Duck14]

Alfred

I spat uselessly into the rain as water streamed down my face. Of course, he was right. What on Earth was happening here? Where had this storm come from? “Alright, you’re right Arite. I’ll take ‘em down. Make sure to keep us on course.” It probably didn’t matter if he kept us going or not at this point, but it had to be said. I grabbed the rope tied to the sail and tugged to lower them. We would end up wherever the storm dictated.

[Tikobe]

Othan

Well, that removes the time for my discussion with Kallian. Oh well, I suppose I'll stop here and start heading to the Windy Rope. I don't wish to keep Raethus waiting.

[Bannanachair]

@ Alfred: You struggle to take down the sail due to the strength of the winds. "I'll help with that, cap'n!" Garry said, and grabbed a hold of the rope to add his strength to yours. As thunder cracked all around you, the two of you finally managed to take down the first sail, and then, after an even harder time on the second sail, you manage to take that down too. "This ought to keep the ship from straying too far off course," Garry shouted, though you couldn't hear him: You only saw that that's what he said by the way his lips moved. The roaring, deafening winds got stronger, and as you looked up at the wheel, you saw that Artie was having an even worse time of it, having to hold onto the wheel or risk flying away in the wind.

@ Othan: You begin heading back, walking past all the places where you had walked earlier. You arrive at the Windy Rope about an hour before the sun goes down, and look at the building from the outside. It's a large, three-story building made out of expensive stones and solid oak. It's large doors are intricately decorated, a gift from a master carpenter who stayed at the tavern once. As you walk in, you notice the gleam of the marble floors and the sheen of the freshly-polished furniture. Each table is uniquely designed, and has an associated set of matching chairs. One table has carvings of dragons, and another has flowers, and yet another has unusual geometric patterns. Raethus Shan is sitting down at a table in the corner with carvings depicting a ship at sea, lost in a storm. There are six chairs at the table, though it's not uncommon for people to get larger tables than they need in case people they weren't expecting to see arrived. The tavern is otherwise empty aside from barmaids cleaning up in preparation for the inevitable influx of people in a few hours.

You notice that your friend, tall and of darker skin than most in Orevod (due to having very mixed blood and coming from a family of traveling adventurers, according to him), is sipping from a goblet of wine already and reading a book. Set up on the table is a game of Thaira, a two-player game played on a tessellating triangle board. The board is ten equilateral triangles per side, with a variety of pieces that move in different ways set up on the triangles and the corners where six meet. The objective of the "edge player" is to get either a knight, a noble or his king to the far point of the board, and the objective of the "point player" is to kill the enemy's king. Knowing Raethus, he's probably reading a book about Thaira strategy right now in order to try something completely new.

"My lord," He says as he sees you enter, "Please sit down with me. Baron Talverton and Sir Hartwig Almerry will be joining us in about an hour. I've allowed either of them to bring a retainer, a guard or a squire or for that matter even a wife, though I don't know whether they'll be doing that. That's why I'm seated at the Shipwreck Table and not the Dragon Table." The Dragon Table has four chairs. "Anyway," he added, "you said that you had something that you wanted to talk with me about before they arrived?"

(Oh wow, that's ironic. I got the name of the Windy Rope tavern from a random inn name generator, and yet it perfectly parallels what's happening in Alfred's storyline.)

[Tikobe]

Othan

"Yes, I do. Raethus, let me ask you: Why do you think that the great dragon Nizeston came to visit? I mean, don't misunderstand, I am beyond words in my gratitude for his visit, but something doesn't seem right and, as you've probably known for as long as you've known me, if there is something about to happen I would like the full time to prepare for it. After all, it was during the last tourney that the Second War started. I've done some investigation of my own just now down at the docks, but before I give my input I'd like to hear your theory."

[Bannanachair]

@ Othan: "Well, why does anyone go anywhere at all? To do things or to talk to people. Now, surely The Great Dragon can just send a messenger if it's unimportant, and order his capable vassals to do any work that needs to be done, but that's not what's happened. As such, it seems to me that The Great Dragon wants to do something himself, something that requires his Draconic presence and that can't be done by mere mortals such as ourselves, or he wants to talk to someone here who can't go to Ostcliff. Of course, it's your turn to move now, and I can't offer anything beyond that simple statement that's not just mere speculation."

[Duck14]

Alfred

I nodded and pointed Garry in the direction of Artie. This storm was vicious and if anyone got swept overboard we would most likely be unable to recover them. Garry had to hold Artie still by the helm. In the meantime, I scrambled around for any rope that wasn’t otherwise serving a purpose. Tying ourselves to the deck would prevent us from getting swept away. For a moment I considered sending them below deck but losing control of the helm could very well swerve the ship into a rock.

[Bannanachair]

@ Alfred: Garry goes to help Artie, but due to the wind and the heavy rain, ends up slipping and falling, injuring his shoulder on the staircase leading up to the helm. For once, you're able to hear him over the wind and the thunder - a scream of agonizing pain as blood begins to gush from the wound and mingle with the rainwater, a scream of pain as the rainwater quickly washed away some of the blood from the wound and revealed part of his shoulder bone sticking out.

As for the rope, any loose rope has long since flown overboard, but there are some pieces of rope tied down to parts of the ship that don't seem to be fulfilling any immediate purpose.

[Tikobe]

Othan

"Mm-hmm, so I see. Basically, you're on the same starting point that I am. I've tried to talk to sailors from Ostcliff to see if there was any major news that would point us one way or the other. Nothing but rumors except for one small concrete detail. However, said detail is nothing but a minor murder mystery and shouldn't even be cause for Nizeston to do anything, let alone leave Ostcliff. One sailor was at least able to effectively explain his ideas: There's either going to be a Third War or Nizeston plans to evaluate my siblings and I. There was a third, but I had planned to dismiss it since it was too narrow-minded in it's target to considered seriously, but with what you said I'm willing to make an adjustment to it so that we can treat it so. In short, the original theory was that Nizeston was solely here for my father. Now we'll say that he simply here to make a visit to someone, like my father who also can't visit Ostcliff. And with this we have three possible theories about the matter, but nothing but speculation to support any of these. Now, an evaluation isn't a large concern of mine. Kallian and I are clever enough to get through it, Northan's a great warrior and Jayla, as far as I know, is still in her own residence. I'm not even sure if she'll visit. And as for the matter of the talk, well, there's nothing we can do there so we'll ignore it. So that leaves the matter of war, but we're already here to get prepare for that. That being said, I would hate to find out I've overlooked at least one possibility. Thoughts? Oh," I exclaim as take my piece and guide it to it's next spot, "your move."

[Bannanachair]

@ Othan: "Those three seem to be the most obvious conclusions to reach, though we shouldn't discount other possibilities. Of course, given how fast it must be to fly down from Ostcliff, you could simply ask the Great Dragon yourself in a handful of days. I propose that, rather than making speculation our primary purpose for these days, we set about ensuring that the city is presentable for the Great Dragon's arrival - after all, it could just be that he wants to check up on the realm that he rules. Oh, that's an interesting move that you've made there. You don't normally do that this early. I'm going to try this as a countermeasure."

[Tikobe]

Othan

"Very well. Seems I've wasted the day, but I suppose it's better than sitting on my rear all day. I'll ask Kallian when I return, and if he offers no solution I'll simply just rest. Of course, I don't intend to lead any programs to 'pretty up' the city. If Kallian wishes to do so then he may but I'd prefer to keep things as is for I feel no need to lie to the great dragon about the city's present state. If he likes it then we're doing good and if he doesn't it his scolding will be incentive enough to permanently improve the state of the city. Oh, and that last move was a trap. I'll just move this here and it's your turn."

[Bannanachair]

@ Othan: "Either way, I've been feeling that some of the countryside near Castle Shan should be brushed up upon anyway and a handful of outlaws hanged. If we have a couple days before the Great Dragon arrives, you're invited to come with me to root them out. It's your turn."

[Tikobe]

Othan

"Outlaws? Really Raethus, if only you'd ask sooner I'd have joined in sooner," I laugh. "If you'd have me then I'd gladly join you. And it's your move."

[Duck14]

Alfred

I curse as Garry falls and swiftly untangle the closest rope not serving a purpose. Artie may have predicted a storm but he for sure never predicted a storm of this kind. I would have turned the trip down if he had, but no one knew what was coming. The deck was too slippy to reach Artie for now but I could aid Garry. I tied one end of the rope around the nearest railing and tugged. Assuming that worked I tied the other end around my waist.

[Bannanachair]

@ Othan: "It's settled, then. I'll just quickly kill your archer like that," He moved one of his spearmen to take the place of the piece that had just been killed, "And then, depending on when your brother says the Great Dragon is going to arrive, we'll plan a couple of days to go kill the outlaws. It's about a day's journey to Castle Shan by horseback, we'll spend a day or two there in the surrounding countryside looking for and hanging outlaws and then a day to get back to Mallowater. Well, it's not even a day's journey, in truth - once we leave the gates it's about seven hours by horseback, or six if we take two horses each and change horses halfway."

@ Alfred: The rope manages to secure you, and Artie, seeing what you've done, begins searching around for some rope of his own.

[Tikobe]

Othan

"Damn," I mutter as I move a piece to develop what simply amounts to another cheap trap. "Well, only one horse each sounds fair. I'm in no rush. You can spend the night here at a guest room in the palace and I'll use that time giving Kallian and Thalla a bit of advance notice about my actions and then you and I can head off on our little hunt tomorrow morning. What say you?"

[Duck14]

Alfred

Alright, that was done. I wasn’t going anywhere and hopefully Artie wouldn’t be going anywhere soon enough. I held stead on the railing and made my way over to Garry. Couldn’t have in bleeding out in this bloody storm. “Garry! I’m going to need you to slide down deck towards me!” He probably didn’t hear me over the howling of the wind so I stuck an arm out to give send him a physical message.

[Bannanachair]

@ Tikobe: (As you brought up Thalla, that brings me to a question that I forgot to ask - how do you want me to roleplay the marriage? A healthy marriage going strong into it's twentieth year? A match made for political reasons, where the babymaking was more of a duty than a pleasure and the two hardly interact? A terribly degraded relationship which would result in a divorce in a world that acknowledges such things?)

@ Othan: Rather than fall into the trap, Raethus moves a second piece into position to attack your piece. "Sure. I'm up in the city enough that I probably ought to just buy myself a residence here, but I won't mind stealing one of your guest rooms again. On the topic of your guest rooms, where will the Great Dragon stay when he visits? You don't happen to have a dragon-sized guest room that I'm unaware of, do you, my lord?" He added the last bit, much more formal, as the door opened and an elderly man walked in. When the man took off the hood of his cloak it turned out that he obviously wasn't one of your dining companions, though it was a safe bet by Raethus to add the formality there in case it was Almerry or Talverton joining the two of you.

@ Alfred: Garry weakly grabbed your arm with his good hand, and his skin has already become noticeably paler due to the blood loss, and noticeably colder due to having to withstand the elements here. He managed to get himself free of the now-broken staircase, though you can see some large splinters still sticking out of the skin. Thunder and lightning continued to break out all around you, and Artie, who managed to tie himself to the ship, is white-knuckled due to how tightly he's gripping the wheel.

[Tikobe]

(Of the three... Definitely, beyond a doubt, number 2. Othan doesn't really seem the type to marry for reasons other than being forced into it)