Fantasy Main Thread: Farewell to Kings

You wake up on a ship rocking gently back and forth as it cruises towards the port. The lights are dim, and looking out of the ship you'd see that its just after dawn. Overhead you hear footsteps in every which direction. Someone on the boat said last night that the ship would reach Emerald City by morning, and last night's storm didn't seem to change that.

Outside, the shimmering coastline made the port look like a glowing beacon of sovereignty. Emerald City, with its high walls and beautiful white tower spires was refuge to many who survived the blight. Now that the vampire scourge was put to rest, there'd be lots happening in a city as large as Emerald.


The door to the guest chambers opened, and a gruff looking sailor with a nose piercing said it was time to go. Following him out of the lower deck, you'd see the city in the distance in all its splendor. When the ship entered port, there were several city guards standing, wearing dark green tabards with the city's emblem of the emerald lighthouse on them. One guard demanded they state their purpose for landing here, and the captain said they were carrying refugees and those who lost homes in the blight. Uneasy, they believed him. Everyone started exiting the ship, and when setting foot on land, was asked for identification. When it was your turn, the guard asked, "... and who are you?"

...

"I am Lautrec, a hunter from Shadowfalls." The half-vampire spoke to the guard in his flat voice. The guard looked into his sharp red eyes and felt very uneasy. Lautrec wore a black hat with feathers in it, and his regular attire of leather armor and black cloak. The hard sun made the dhampir feel weak, so he wasn't in a great mood for conversation.

"Shadowfalls, eh? You know, I thought we got rid of all the pale blooded ilk around here. Why should we let it into the city?" The guard asked, growing more inquisitive of him. Lautrec was quiet for a moment.

"The matter of my birth is of little consequence for you." Lautrec started, feeling the need to defend himself. "The truth of the matter is I've spilled a hundred times as much vampire gore as you have. Your human blood is a sick and vile thing, and I have no part in it."

The guard seemed mildly impressed, enough to grant him passage. "Fine, dhampir. We'll be keeping a close eye on you at any rate. Just know that Mitra is watching, and her inquisitors will not tolerate fangs like those."

"Understood" Lautrec said as he pulled the brim of his hat down and started walking down the pier.

Izry stepped off the boat and glanced around a bit before pulling her hood down to hide her horns a little and grasping tight onto her staff.
She sighed a bit and smiled. It was fun sailing and all but the freedom of walking and the fresh air mixed with the warmth of the sun shine felt wonderful.

Her tail swayed happily as she followed in rank with people as they left the boat and only stopped when she ran into the back of a man who had been stopped by the guards for questioning.
She blinked a few times and peeked over the mans shoulder as he talked with the guards.

-Silvermidnight- said:

Izry stepped off the boat and glanced around a bit before pulling her hood down to hide her horns a little and grasping tight onto her staff.
She sighed a bit and smiled. It was fun sailing and all but the freedom of walking and the fresh air mixed with the warmth of the sun shine felt wonderful.

Her tail swayed happily as she followed in rank with people as they left the boat and only stopped when she ran into the back of a man who had been stopped by the guards for questioning.
She blinked a few times and peeked over the mans shoulder as he talked with the guards.

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Izra peeked over the tall man's shoulder. The guards seemed to not enjoy speaking to him. Once things were settled, he moved along and it was her turn to speak to the guards. One of them let out a gasp while the leader's jaw tightened into a snarl.

"Mitra's light! Is this entire boat loaded with monsters? Identify yourself, demon!" He demanded Izry to explain herself. Lautrec overheard this comment and turned around, staring daggers at the back of the guards. He'd wait for her to speak for herself, and if things turned for the worse, he'd likely interfere.

Izry looked down sadly as she heard the guards word and for a moment she had to hold back the urge to burst into tears right there.
"M-my name is Izry a-and I-I'm a healer" She said with a soft gentle voice

“A healer, eh? Healer for some pagan god I bet.” A rookie soldier blurted out. The captain turned towards the rookie and slapped him in the face.

“Healers are sacred to Mitra. The goddess accepts all who heal the living, regardless of their faith. Another outburst and I’ll tan your hide!” The captain’s harsh words were not aimed at the girl, and when he did look at her his expression softened.

“Nice to meet you, Lady Izry. Please enjoy your stay in Emerald. Is there somewhere I can direct you towards?”

Izry shook her head and muttered a soft "Thank you" As she looked down shyly
Izry checked her coin purse and sighed a bit
"I-I don't suppose you could point me in the direction of a place I could stay the night?"

The captain cleared his throat. “Well there’s boartusk tavern, a popular place for sailors. I think someone of your... temperament might be more comfortable at the church of Mitra. They might give you free lodging if you help heal some of the sick or infirm.” The captain pointed northeast, towards the church with its tall white walls and glowing golden eight pointed star.

“I’ll lead you there.”Lautrec offered once the girl passed the guards. The hunter gave a look to the guards and some seedy looking pirates hanging around the bay. It seemed like a girl this delicate would need some protection, at least that’s how he viewed it.

Izry gave a soft smile and nodded "T-thank you sir...Are you sure it won't be any inconvenience to you?" Izry asked softly as she adjusted her cloak a little tighter around her as she caught a chill form the ocean breeze. As they stood there Izry looked up at the tower of the temple and blinked a bit, this whole city seemed so big to her, or at least bigger then any wheres she had been before

Lautrec let out a brief hmph and glanced at her. “It probably will be. I don’t like these people. Lots of anxiety in the air. A fight is sure to start somewhere.”

Lautrec and Izry walked up a set of stairs under a white archway and into a quiet side street. The church could barely be seen behind these tall buildings and the narrow road they were taking to get there. It did provide ample shade, which the dhampir was thankful for.

“My name is Lautrec, and you are Izry, the healer, correct? It’s not my business to ask, but are you a follower of Mitra?” The hunter didn’t stop walking as he asked this. She would no doubt see a long black sheath sticking out through his cloak as he led her down the alley.

"The names Oric Hammerfall." Oric said as he popped the lid off one of his many flasks and taking a long drink. "I'm originally from a dwarven city, used to be guard like you." He smiled faintly but that quickly faded as his memories wandered to darker things. He took yet another large swig.

fuil said:

"The names Oric Hammerfall." Oric said as he popped the lid off one of his many flasks and taking a long drink. "I'm originally from a dwarven city, used to be guard like you." He smiled faintly but that quickly faded as his memories wandered to darker things. He took yet another large swig.

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The Captain looked at Oric like he caught a whiff of something smelling awful. When was the last time this man had a bath, he thought.

“Well Oric, Emerald is quite different than your dwarven cities. For instance, we have very harsh rules against drunk and disorderly behavior in the city proper. Do as you wish on the pier, but our citizenry shall not tolerate such behavior, understood? Now, is there somewhere I can point you towards?”

Jodyguru said:

The Captain looked at Oric like he caught a whiff of something smelling awful. When was the last time this man had a bath, he thought.

“Well Oric, Emerald is quite different than your dwarven cities. For instance, we have very harsh rules against drunk and disorderly behavior in the city proper. Do as you wish on the pier, but our citizenry shall not tolerate such behavior, understood? Now, is there somewhere I can point you towards?”

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Behind Oric in the queue was a halfling on the somewhat plump side. Above his chubby, rounded face he sat a vermillion-red bycocket hat, trimmed with a black and white checkerboard-patterned band along the edge of the brim. Fastened to the left of this hat was an azure kingfisher feather. The halfling wore a red tartan coat, unfastened, and a white pinstripe shirt with narrow red lines striking it vertically. A plain black leather bracer went over his shoulders and joined plane black trousers, and upon his back rested a lute.

A bard, Tilbon Meadowflower was a fellow of near-constant joy. Nonetheless, upon hearing that the city had, as per the guard's words, "very harsh rules" against drunkenness, he paled, for it was certain that he enjoyed his drink too much. Presently, he shifted his hat into place, and started tapping a bare foot to a tune he whistled.

Jodyguru said:

The Captain looked at Oric like he caught a whiff of something smelling awful. When was the last time this man had a bath, he thought.

“Well Oric, Emerald is quite different than your dwarven cities. For instance, we have very harsh rules against drunk and disorderly behavior in the city proper. Do as you wish on the pier, but our citizenry shall not tolerate such behavior, understood? Now, is there somewhere I can point you towards?”

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Oric's frown deepened as the gaurd seemed to wrinkle his nose. "Aye I'd like a place I could get good food and drink." He looked the gaurd up and down. "You should know all about that as a lad of your width." He knew he was asking for trouble but his pride wouldn't let him let it go. He smiled as he readyed for whatever happened next.

fuil said:

Oric's frown deepened as the gaurd seemed to wrinkle his nose. "Aye I'd like a place I could get good food and drink." He looked the gaurd up and down. "You should know all about that as a lad of your width." He knew he was asking for trouble but his pride wouldn't let him let it go. He smiled as he readyed for whatever happened next.

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The captain seemed a bit surprised, and had to stifle the smirk that crossed his face from the dwarf’s cheeky jab. It seemed like the captain had to be stuck up around his guardsmen, but he was not entirely humorless.

“Boartusk Tavern is on the far side of the pier. If you can’t find it, ask the lice in that beard to lead you there.” The captain flashed a smug smile at the dwarf.

Jodyguru said:

The captain seemed a bit surprised, and had to stifle the smirk that crossed his face from the dwarf’s cheeky jab. It seemed like the captain had to be stuck up around his guardsmen, but he was not entirely humorless.

“Boartusk Tavern is on the far side of the pier. If you can’t find it, ask the lice in that beard to lead you there.” The captain flashed a smug smile at the dwarf.

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The smile on Orics face turned true as the captain shot back his own insult., he immediately liked him more. "Aye I'll keep that in mind you just be careful not to fall off the peir. Wouldn't want to cause a tidal wave now would we." He called behind him as he headed towards the tavern. "Though he is right I could use a good scruben." He mumbled to himself as he approached the tavern.

Next, it was the halfling. Tilbon strolled over to the guard, and looked upwards at him, expecting him to say something. He didn't. So Tilbon, following a brief glance over the pier, commenced the introduction. "I'm Tilbon Meadowflower; halfling and a full-time lute player." Gesturing to each of the items, he continued: "Red hat; tartan coat; kingfisher feather..." His foot tapped the pier as he thought of what else he could say, then: "Oh! I also make some rather good pies. Is there anything else I should say? I can give you a song—a taster, shall we say—of what can be expected of my performances." He readied his lute.

-Silvermidnight- said:

Noticing the sheath of the sword Izry for some strange reason grew a little tense and wondered to herself if she had just made a dangerous mistake, and wondered now if Lautrec had meant her harm, but soon she shook her head of the silly idea and continued on with their conversation as they walked towards the temple of Mitra

"N-no I'm not a follower of Mitra, but a warm place to sleep come rare for one such as my self. I-If you don't mind me asking sir, why where you willing to escort me? I m-mean I appreciate it greatly but most are not so eager to volunteer their time to help a half blood like me"

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Lautrec stopped walking and glanced behind him, likely startling the timid girl. Ah, he thought, how interesting it was to hear half-blood come from her mouth. He'd heard that used to describe himself countless times, but the tone was totally different. He didn't like how she kept asking for a reason for his charity. It was the kind of question that made him feel like this was going unappreciated, and just another case of someone not trusting a dhampir.

"Let me give you some friendly advice. If you go into that church, tell them you do worship Mitra, and you lost your medallion while sailing abroad. The religious in this land are devout, and they'll try to convert you. Right now, the deacon is trying to consolidate power in Cadia, and that wouldn't be good for lots of people. If you must know, I'm helping you out of pity. I spent several lifetimes believing weaklings should die so the strong can live. That philosophy brought me untold miseries, and so I decided to try something different. I'll leave it at that." He spoke firmly and resumed walking silently.

fuil said:

The smile on Orics face turned true as the captain shot back his own insult., he immediately liked him more. "Aye I'll keep that in mind you just be careful not to fall off the peir. Wouldn't want to cause a tidal wave now would we." He called behind him as he headed towards the tavern. "Though he is right I could use a good scruben." He mumbled to himself as he approached the tavern.

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Oric reached Boartusk Tavern on the far side of the pier. It was a fine looking tavern built out of logs and even had a cozy looking porch where a group of sailors were loitering with drinks in their hands. He caught a few nods and smiles from people passing by, and walking into the bar where he caught the pleasant aroma of roasted pig sitting in a pot of stew. There was a massive boar's head mounted over the bar that was almost the length of Oric's whole body. Before he could reach the bar, there was a high pitched whistle from a table to the left, where a group of dwarves sitting were waving at him. All of them were dressed in traveling garb and had axes and sacks resting under the table.

rupert said:

Next, it was the halfling. Tilbon strolled over to the guard, and looked upwards at him, expecting him to say something. He didn't. So Tilbon, following a brief glance over the pier, commenced the introduction. "I'm Tilbon Meadowflower; halfling and a full-time lute player." Gesturing to each of the items, he continued: "Red hat; tartan coat; kingfisher feather..." His foot tapped the pier as he thought of what else he could say, then: "Oh! I also make some rather good pies. Is there anything else I should say? I can give you a song—a taster, shall we say—of what can be expected of my performances." He readied his lute.

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The Captain raised a hand for him to stop. "No, no that won't be necessary. Very well, welcome to Emerald. You'll probably want a place to shack up for the night, so just follow that dwarf and the sailors to the tavern. If you're looking for the caravans, they'll be leaving in two days."

Jodyguru said:

The Captain raised a hand for him to stop. "No, no that won't be necessary. Very well, welcome to Emerald. You'll probably want a place to shack up for the night, so just follow that dwarf and the sailors to the tavern. If you're looking for the caravans, they'll be leaving in two days."

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Tilbon's hand was waveringly close to the strings of the instrument. He seemed taken aback by the Captain's decline, but after a moment regathered his wits. "Ah, that's a jolly thing to hear! Thank ye kind Sir, and a merry day to thee!" The halfling slipped the lute back on his back, then made with a merry skip for the tavern, humming a jovial tune to the beat of his swing, feet pattering upon the pier.

Jodyguru said:

Lautrec stopped walking and glanced behind him, likely startling the timid girl. Ah, he thought, how interesting it was to hear half-blood come from her mouth. He'd heard that used to describe himself countless times, but the tone was totally different. He didn't like how she kept asking for a reason for his charity. It was the kind of question that made him feel like this was going unappreciated, and just another case of someone not trusting a dhampir.

"Let me give you some friendly advice. If you go into that church, tell them you do worship Mitra, and you lost your medallion while sailing abroad. The religious in this land are devout, and they'll try to convert you. Right now, the deacon is trying to consolidate power in Cadia, and that wouldn't be good for lots of people. If you must know, I'm helping you out of pity. I spent several lifetimes believing weaklings should die so the strong can live. That philosophy brought me untold miseries, and so I decided to try something different. I'll leave it at that." He spoke firmly and resumed walking silently.



Oric reached Boartusk Tavern on the far side of the pier. It was a fine looking tavern built out of logs and even had a cozy looking porch where a group of sailors were loitering with drinks in their hands. He caught a few nods and smiles from people passing by, and walking into the bar where he caught the pleasant aroma of roasted pig sitting in a pot of stew. There was a massive boar's head mounted over the bar that was almost the length of Oric's whole body. Before he could reach the bar, there was a high pitched whistle from a table to the left, where a group of dwarves sitting were waving at him. All of them were dressed in traveling garb and had axes and sacks resting under the table.



The Captain raised a hand for him to stop. "No, no that won't be necessary. Very well, welcome to Emerald. You'll probably want a place to shack up for the night, so just follow that dwarf and the sailors to the tavern. If you're looking for the caravans, they'll be leaving in two days."

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Oric made his way over wondering what they wanted but also why they where so far from the cities. "Well isn't this a nice surprise and here I was thinkin I was the da only dwarf around these parts." He said in dwarfish as he pulled up a near by chair. "So what are you lot doin round here?" He was happy to be speaking in his native toung again as it ment most of the other patrons wouldn't be able to understand there conversation, just in case someone was trying to easedrop.

rupert said:

Tilbon's hand was waveringly close to the strings of the instrument. He seemed taken aback by the Captain's decline, but after a moment regathered his wits. "Ah, that's a jolly thing to hear! Thank ye kind Sir, and a merry day to thee!" The halfling slipped the lute back on his back, then made with a merry skip for the tavern, humming a jovial tune to the beat of his swing, feet pattering upon the pier.

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The tavern welcomed Tilbon with the warmth of its hearth fire and the rich smells of roasted boar and honey mead. Most of the chairs in the place were taller than he could comfortably rest on, and would require a small feat of athletics to get up. One thing that he would surely notice was a lack of music playing in the place.

-Silvermidnight- said:

Izry blinked in shock at Luatrec's sudden sternness. Almost instantly she teared up feeling that she had just offended the man and made him mad at her. She pulled her hood down a bit to try and hide her now flushed face and though she tried to fight the urge, she gave a soft sniffle. I one thing in Izry's entire life she hated, it was the feeling of making someone angry with her. She shivered a bit in uneasiness and her tail twitched a bit

"I-I'm sorry" She said softly

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Lautrec stopped and turned around. Though she tried to stifle it, the dhampir had incredible hearing ability, and could sense his stern attitude had upset the girl. Swiftly, he removed his hat and bowed down into a crouching position with his head lowered.

"No, please forgive me. I've done wrong by my harsh tongue. As a hunter and a gentleman, it is my duty to deliver unaccompanied ladies to safety, and to defend them against all harm. In the heat of this sun, I've forgotten my place and my manners. Please, accept my apology."

This was quite a change in attitude from Lautrec, but he knew he did wrong by making her cry, and now he had to try making things right. Izry could see that he had pointed ears and gray skin. She would be reminded of stories she heard from her mother and the old seer who took care of her, about a half-human, half-vampire horseman who hunted monsters to protect the land from evil.

fuil said:

Oric made his way over wondering what they wanted but also why they where so far from the cities. "Well isn't this a nice surprise and here I was thinkin I was the da only dwarf around these parts." He said in dwarfish as he pulled up a near by chair. "So what are you lot doin round here?" He was happy to be speaking in his native toung again as it ment most of the other patrons wouldn't be able to understand there conversation, just in case someone was trying to easedrop.

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Two of the dwarves kept smiling at Oric though they didn't speak. The third one started speaking to the other two in a foreign language that was a strange blend of dwarven and something else that made it hard for Oric to understand.

"Ah, sorry friend." One of them said. "My brother Lang and I are Hill Dwarves. We were raised in an elven compound after vampires infested our ancestor's homeland. My name is Dillon and the one who speaks Dwarven is Pete. Nice to meet you, friend."

Dillon and Lang looked similar in the eyes and build, but Lang wore a horned helmet and had a finely braided black beard, while Dillon was balding and had a curly brown mustache and goatee. Pete had a much older looking face that was telling of a miner's life. He seemed more like Oric's type of dwarf, while the brothers would probably have been considered "pretty boys" by dwarven standards.

Jodyguru said:

The tavern welcomed Tilbon with the warmth of its hearth fire and the rich smells of roasted boar and honey mead. Most of the chairs in the place were taller than he could comfortably rest on, and would require a small feat of athletics to get up. One thing that he would surely notice was a lack of music playing in the place.

Click to expand...

Tilbon frowned. No tavern is quite right without the sound of song in the air; it was clear he needed to amend that. But at the same time, that roasted boar smelled lovely... Halfings are known for their voracious appetites, and Tilbon wore a belly that proved he was no exception. His stomach roared; the food on the ship was terrible! and before him, salvation...

Stuck between a watering mouth and the primal urge to jump into song, Tilbon took to maths to find an answer. He calculated that it'd take him two and a bit minutes to eat a bowl of stew, perhaps less if he rushed. Having found resolve, he hurried to the counter on his little legs.

He clicked his fingers a few times to get the barkeeps attention, and even sang a little "A halfling I be, and I'm down here!", ending 'here' with a long e, so that it rhymed. The barkeeper, having realized where the sound was coming from, peered over the top of the counter. The bard continued. "Ahoy there! I have found myself ravished of food these past days, and so to here I come. A lovely place, truly! And a most splendorous smelling roast boar too! A stew, I believe it's in?"

The barkeeper nodded. "It is a stew."

"Even better! I'd like a bowl of it, please! A half bowl for a halfling? No thanks! A whole bowl for a whole belly!" He smacked his plump bingy in a cheery gesture.

(( Fantasy - Farewell to Kings ooc thread ))