Community > The Cantina
The Skies have no Limit
Plasmarobo:
--Narrator--
The day drew to a close, as darkness closed around Spoon's mind. His final view of the inn was of an alarmed patron staring at his falling body. Then blissful black.
Newt catches shouts at BdrLine for a moment, possibly only because shouting at Spoon is pointless, and then gruffly tells the group it's about time they got up to their rooms anyway.
But it's clear he is rather pleased with the way the situation played out, if only because it meant no calling of guards or mopping of blood. He gives the last call to the customers, and begins to set chairs up on tables. Stopping to examine a poster on the bounty board. He shakes his head, but leaves it posted.
With the thread of the Birdmen finished once and for eternity, things had begun to settle back into the natural pattern of the Wild Winds. The news of the victory was spreading in whispers through the city. The only information they seemed to have was the the Yeshan Nobility were involved, and the bounty at the Wild Winds had been claimed.
The last man out of the Wild Winds, a traveler in a desert wrap paused outside, glancing up at the second and third floors of the building.
Man of Dust
"They have done well. They will be useful."
He nods to a stray gazing curiously up at him, before departing into the night.
--End of Day 9--
Musical Interlude
Never gonna give you up!
Never gonna let you down!
Never gonna run around and-
Click
--Start of Day 10--
--Narration--
The next day dawns blearily. Rain beats down from dark clouds that arrived in the night. The streets are small rivers where paved, and muddy paths where not. Few folks and fewer ships are out and about in such depressing weather. Plasma limps down from his room early to open the bar and the trading counter. Newt is nowhere to be seen, and Plasma lifts a note off the counter.
Plasma,
Taking the day off.
New girl will start later, she'll come find you.
You're on your own until she get's here.
-Newt
P.S. I want to know what happened to Emily eventually.
In your own time.
--End Narration--
Plasma puts down the paper, muttering something under his breath. He sets the tables, clears up a few documents at the trading counter, and unlocks the door.
Immediately several regulars stampede into the room. The small porch over the door does little to protect more than two or three people. Plasma sighs and begins to take drink orders. Then grabs a mop, morosely wiping away the intrusion of the weather.
Gryphos:
--Wild Winds Inn--
Gareth decided that morning to let Lyre have some more rest and head downstairs alone. It was still relatively early in the morning and Zardis must have been extremely hungover. This made it all the more surprising for Gareth to see Zardis up and sitting at a table, engaging in conversation with a hooded stranger.
Gareth
"That man is an enigma."
He walked over to Zardis' table, giving Plasma a small nod as he passed. As he got closer he thought he saw Zardis hastily scrunch up a piece of paper that was on the table, some sort of poster, and put it in his pocket, probably after noticing Gareth's approach. Just as he got to the table the stranger looked up at Gareth. The most striking thing about the man's face was his missing left eye, which was covered by a patch.
Stranger
"Does the man need something?"
Gareth
"Your name would be a good start."
The stranger's aura turned rather hostile and defensive as he stared down Gareth. His look was so sharp and piercing it seemed to paralyse Gareth in his spot.
Zardis
"It's alright, Balor, he's alright."
Balor
"If the wolf insists."
He looked away from Gareth and down at the table. Gareth felt as though a great weight had been lifted off him as soon as Balor turned away.
Gareth
"Are you acquainted?"
Zardis
"We're definitely not friends. I'm not sure Balor has any friends. But he took me up on my contract."
Gareth
"What contract?"
Zardis
"The contract to decipher the letter."
Gareth
"That was quick. How did you find him so fast?"
Zardis
"I just, you know... put up a poster on the board."
Gareth
"...Stating that you had a top secret letter you STOLE from Yeshan high command."
Zardis
"Yes."
Balor
"It was an awful idea. I imagine the wolf was drunk when he did it."
Gareth
"Yeah... well, I guess it's alright as long as no one else saw it."
Balor
"I cant promise that."
Zardis
"I'm gonna get something to eat... or drink."
Zardis got up and left Gareth and Balor to their own devices as he meandered his way over to the bar. At this point he was still slightly worried about drawing attention to himself, but he imagined it would be alright... probably. He arrived at Plasma's counter.
Zardis
"Something weak please."
Plasmarobo:
Plasma gives Zardis a once-over as he pulls a light amber colored drink from a tap decorated with a conch shell.
He plops it down, and then leans over the counter, sliding the drink towards the man.
Plasma
"I'd be careful, friend. You're tangling with some rough characters there. Now, it's none of my business who you're friends are, but if the inn has to provide...protective services at any point-"
He glances pointedly at the revolver tucked into a shoulder holster. Then straightens cheerfully, picking up a glass to clean.
Plasma
"-well, I'll be putting it on your tab."
He looks over a Gareth and shoots him a quick wink, before meandering down the counter to serve another patron.
Piemanlives:
--Crew Residence--
Alex
"-And that's the gist of really."
Reynold
"So the guard wants us to escort the galleon, that has had most of it's combat ability removed and replace with crew berths, into the Arashi League, through miles of desert and then back again, but stall them long enough so we can bring this lady we don't even know to her parents and then back to Cathedral."
Richard
"Yeah that pretty much sums it up."
Lorena
"The pay's also pretty good as well, is that per person or the crew as a whole?"
Richard
"According to the contract, for every 4 members of crew, seeing as that is fairly standard for ships these days."
Preston
"How long is the voy-ow-age again?"
Phillip
"Considering we have to escort a galleon I'd peg it at around 3 days, maybe 2 if the conditions are right. By the way is your arm alright?"
Preston
"It's just rather sore."
Dalhia
"Wait, what was this I hear about an unarmed galleon?"
The questions continued in a fairly haphazard form for the next half an hour or so, the general consensus would be they would take it, however Alex just realized something."
Alex
"Richard I thought you explained the contract to them yesterday."
Richard
"Well I thought I did."
He sort of faltered off and went back to eating his breakfast, the other crew members were chatting with one another over the meal, Alex motioned for Richard to follow for a moment, the two of them went around to the back of the house while the others were still busy eating.
Alex
"Is it ready?"
Richard
"Ready as it will ever be, I'd like to stress test it more but it should hold."
Alex
"Yeah well we don't have luxury of time at the moment, we do have a few till we set off though, bring Reynold and Lorena to take a look at it, I'm going to head over to the guard barracks and inquire about the other vessels joining us."
Richard
"Got it, I'll see you soon then."
Alex
"Also I've told our passenger to meet us at the ship, when she arrives get her on board so we don't have to worry about it later."
Richard
"Will do."
--Guard Headquarters--
The place seemed to be filled with fairly new officers if the rank insignia's were anything to go by, everywhere older officers had a small group of newer ones apparently taking notes on everything they did, it was rather apparent now just how many they lost during the race though by the looks of it everyone was determined to make sure it didn't happen again. Still he needed to find Captain Walker, looking around he did find a rather familiar face leading a bunch of guards in training.
Alex
"Well, apparently you're doing something productive."
Reagan turned her head to look at him, her several trainees turned to follow her.
Reagan
"Well, it doesn't seem like you are, unless you're here to join us."
Alex
"Actually I'm looking Walker about a job he proposed to me the other day."
Reagan
"He's at the docks actually, something about berating the man who thought taking off most of a galleons weapons off was a good idea."
Alex
"Ah, well I'll be on my way then. See ya around Reagan."
Reagan
"You too."
And with that he took the door out and headed over to the docks. It wasn't that far to be honest, the main dock of the city was fairly close by seeing as the guard is responsible going into and out of the harbor. And then it didn't take him long to find the captain, seeing as he was lecturing, quite loudly, why taking a vessels guns off was a bad idea as several refit cranes were working to replace it's equipment. He took a break long enough to notice Alex walking up to him.
Walker
"Ahh, come about the job have you?"
Alex
"Yeah, we'll take the job, I would however like to know what other ships will be joining us."
Walker
"More or less an assortment of lighter vessels, a few Goldfish, a Pyramidion, a Spire, and your Junker from the looks of it."
Alex
"A lot of money you're paying for this mission."
Walker
"We paid more for those ships, a hell of a lot more, still, we'll have you signed on for the payroll when you return. Good luck out there captain."
Alex
"From the look of things we'll need it."
Dockworker
"The Galleon has been rearmed and is ready for combat."
Walker
"Good, now if you'll be excusing me, I have a lecture to continue."
Alex
"I'm must be going soon anyways, finish planning this entire thing."
Walker
"Well I'll make sure to see you off."
Alex
"Appreciated.
Gryphos:
--Wild Winds Inn--
Zardis took his drink from Plasma and walked back to his table. He paid little attention to Plasma's advice, not out of disrespect, but out of already being fully aware of the danger that surrounds, yet never touches Balor. He took a seat again and brought out the letter, setting it down in front of Balor.
Balor
"I assume this is it."
Zardis
"Yeah. Do you know the code?"
Balor
"Of course, it's elementary. I've even learned the code off by heart."
Gareth
"Well, that's amazing. Then what does it say?"
Balor said nothing, but laid his hand down on the table palm-up. After a lengthy pause, Zardis grunted and unwillingly pulled out a coin pouch and dropped it into Balor's hand. Balor then withdrew his hand and pocketed the pouch.
Balor
"The letter reads as follows..."
Regarding Vyshtorg
Forgive my bluntness but this is written in the greatest of haste. The Ninth proclamation of the 50th consulate decrees and encourages the great expansion of our Empire through military means when diplomacy has failed. But the proclamation does not take into account another method. The city of Vyshtorg lies at the centre of the world's greatest and widest ranging spider web of connections, reaching from Qinqaachi to Iscadon. In pure terms of influence, it could be argued they surpass our empire. My proposition is that of puppeteering the Guild. To wield their guildhouses as a weapon of insidious indoctrination. One could use them to rig elections, cut off trade to resisting cities.
In order to achieve this goal it would undoubtedly require military action, which is why I write to you. My role as the Deer is to handle trade, which I shall once Vyshtorg's high tower has been acquired. But it is in your hands, as the Tiger, to achieve this end. Use any method you feel is appropriate. I only ask that it is quiet, and the Guild's loyalty is thoroughly ensured.
Soon the Blue Veil shall cover most of the known world, and all shall follow our enlightened rule.
Zardis
"...Well that's not good."
Navigation
[0] Message Index
[#] Next page
[*] Previous page
Go to full version