Fantasy Skyworld: Age of Sail

[Archie]

We need a soundtrack don't we?​

Billions of years ago, asteroids came to the gas giant celestis, carrying water oxygen, carbon dioxide, and most importantly, cobalt. Repelled by the planet's magnetic core, cobalt allowed these asteroids to float, forming islands, and in some cases, continents.

Since the beginning of history, humans have used sailships ladened with cobalt to traverse the stormy skies of our planet. With landmasses that constantly shift, navigation has become the most valuable skill known to man - only the best captains can predict with mathematical accuracy where each of our planets' million floating landmasses will be at any given point in the year.

Improvements in navigation have led to an explosion in trade, but also an explosion in society's evils. Over the course of history, great, conquering empires have risen and fallen. With the invention of gunpowder, their wars have become ever more vicious and disruptive.

Today, the skies are controlled by four warring empires; the rising power of Aeternia, the waning slave empire of Ridolfo, the vast realm of Zhao, and the zealous Talarcid Sultanate. Their colonial conflicts, waged over cobalt and spices, are tearing our world apart. In such chaotic times, otherwise good people turn to ignoble professions, sometimes to make a living, and sometimes to strike back against the man.

The 18th century A.S. (After Sail) has seen an explosion in piracy, which for denizens of remote islands is often the only way to get rich.






---

This RP follows the crew of the Maiden's Revenge in its travels and exploits across the sky. For all of us, it'll be an adventure and a worldbuilding exercise - there are endless islands to visit, quests and plotlines to be found on every one of them, and no fixed course of the RP except to go wherever our imaginations take us.

Expectations:
1. Literacy - At least 2 paragraphs per post
2. Response time - Twice a week is good

I want to make up the lore as we go, but here's some other info relevant to CS's:
1. Technology - 18th century, real life (gunpowder weapons, clockwork, and the like).
2. Magic - Magic at one point existed in this world, but has declined to the point of virtual nonexistence through centuries of persecution by sky empires which saw it as a threat to their power. There are still holdouts (cults and covens on remote islands, court wizards that the rulers of the great powers have, and the Yuan Emperor is rumored to be a dragon), but ordinary people will never come in contact with it. If the plot drags on, we'll have a few low level magical encounters to spice things up.
3. Races - Non-humans at one point existed, but were exterminated for the same reasons, and considerable prejudice exists against their remnants. If you want to play an elven, orcish, etc. character, you can, but bear in mind they'll have to have hidden from mainstream society their entire lives or tried to disguise themselves otherwise.

Misc. Info:
1. Having hosted a few RPs in this setting before (set in later time periods), I like the age of sail because a lot of the combat in this RP will be boarding actions where all of the crew can fight on land, and a lot of the plotlines will be onshore on the islands we visit.
2. Please please please help worldbuild if you can!
3. Aim to start this in ~2 weeks

Characters:
The cast can be very diverse - there's a lot of reasons why someone could be on a pirate ship. However, all characters have to earn their keep. There won't be random scholars, tourists, etc. that the captain of a ship just lets on board as space is limited.

The cast therefore consists of crew members, stowaways, and paying passengers (there should be a good reason why they're travelling with pirates and can't just "fly commercial" - criminals, persecuted scholars, political exiles being examples).

Fixed crew roles are as follows:

1. Captain
2. First Mate/XO
3. Quartermaster
4. Boatswain (in charge of the crew)
5. Cabin Boy
6. Purser
7. Master Carpenter (in charge of the repair crew)
8. Navigator
9. Surgeon

All other crew members just fall under the category of 'sailors' and will work on deck, man the guns, join boarding parties, etc.

These roles are in descending order of importance for the RP, since roles 6-9 are very specialized and you may not have much to do.

1. Feel free to express interest in roles in the interest check, but I'll keep apps for the 3 main roles open and decide on a cast a week before the RP starts (to give the people who didn't get the role time to do another app)
2. On ships in the age of sail, people could become part of the crew as young as 10 - there's no age restriction for your characters unless you're applying for the captain, XO, or Purser (who all need to be relatively experienced sailors over 25).

 

[Archie]

It had been an hour since the Maiden’s Revenge docked at Altersdale. Once an Aeternian colony, the port today was a den of slavers, smugglers, and pirates, its independence; having been secured through Ridolfite intervention ten years ago. For most of that time, it was ruled by Skylord Rufus Mycroft, who was well acquainted with Captain Mercer and his other regular customers. His untimely death brought this son Reese to the throne, an altogether unpredictable entity who spent most of his life sheltered in the leisure country outside the port town.

The main pub at Altersdale port was the immense Royal Emporium, a five story building complete with a tavern, rooms, and layers of social clubs. Packed to capacity, hundreds of people could fit in its lower level, which made it perfect for excursions of entire crews.

After disembarking, the crew of the Madien’s revenge maintained a small garrison aboard the ship, while the rest of the crew dispersed throughout the taverns of the skyport. The ship’s officers as well as a few other crew members ((our characters)) all headed for the Emporium.

As they entered, some heads turned, drawn to the famous visage of Captain Mercer or the enormous figure of Tavish, but most patrons were too drunk to notice the group.
“Have a seat, cap’n mercer. Have a seat anywhere, the patrons are awfully friendly” said a barmaid serving one of the tables near the front of the room.

Several patrons seated at other tables stared at the crew as if to beckon some or all of them to come and join. Seven men were playing poker at a table to the left, none of them particularly interesting except one who sat at the right corner of the table, who looked to be some kind of nobleman

In the center, a tall man dressed in Furoshi samurai garb was sipping his rum with disgust. He smirked when he saw Robert Archibald – Robert knew this man from his service. This was Masaoka Tenryu, captain of the Nishimura, one of many pirate vessels the Zhao had contracted to serve as auxiliaries. He had since defected to the Sheng loyalists, and smirked, raising his tankard when he saw his old comrade in arms.

Finally to the right sat an unassuming man with an eyepatch, surrounded by rougher types. They were drunk, loud, tattooed, while he silently surveilled his surroundings. It was clear to anyone who had spent enough time in the criminal underworld that he was someone important.

Finally, the owner of the Emporium overlooked the crowd from the railings of the upper level. No one was quite sure how she came to own the place, but she had run it for decades.

Darth Ticl Obsidian spacepirate animegirl20 welian anderswo II-CinderRadcliff-II Saturn_moon JoUhWrites Selee-01 Firelie MrReaves Jackson123 Rage

((We are OPEN! If you don't want your character to be in the tavern, they can hang around aboard the ship [some things will happen there, don't you worry]. If you want there to be other NPCs to interact with that fit more with your character, shoot me a DM. Each table/person mentioned has a plot thread behind them, any mix of them we can choose to get involved in))

 

[Archie]

Guzman Durango​

Gus loved taverns, even if he lost the ability to get drunk years ago. Or, perhaps he loved them exactly because of that. A drunk fool was the easiest recruit, a drunk fool who had racked up a drinking debt, even better. The Maiden's Revenge had visited the Emporium countless times, and for that reason he was well acquainted with the tavern's management. They had given him lists of drunkards who owed them money, the deal being Gus would Shanghai them aboard the Maiden's Revenge and forward them a share of the man's pay until his drinking or gambling debt had been absolved. It was a very convenient arrangement, one that created traumatic memories which brought many of the deckhands to visit taverns besides this one. Gus stared upwards at the mysterious owner, whom he had only met in passing, typically dealing with her underlings. She shook her head at him, then turned and walked away causing the vaquero to squint.

"A drink for all of us, would you?" Gus asked the barmaid who had greeted them. His tone was flat, annoyed, not the way Gus usually acted on nights out, and the crew would instantly be able to tell something was off.

"Rum, whisky, or ale?" she replied.

"A shot of Aeter to start us off, then Ale" Gus commented, Aeter being a mid-tier whiskey made in Aeternia. The name was boring, and perhaps some of the crew would have liked rum and not ale, but Gus's mind was elsewhere. How did Lady Matilda know him and what was she trying to tell him? The arrangements he and the other officers had made with her establishment (primarily the old quartermaster) had always turned out well, and if she was saying 'no more business with you', she had no need to do it personally, nor would she and her underlings do so in such a vague and indirect fashion. It was as if she were trying to send a message, one which she could not be caught sending. Needless to say, he needed to talk to that woman tonight, no matter how much of a difficult ordeal that was rumored to be.

Gus regained his composure shortly. Regardless as to how this night started, it had to end well. For the boatswain and the quartermaster, nights out were worknights. The best place to procure both recruits and supplies at port was in a tavern, so while the rest of the crew could have their fun, he and Robert had to appear to have fun while actually advancing their agenda.

"Robert, Jarvis, Cinder. You men short on supplies tonight?" Gus asked. "I know a way we can get 'em for free" he grinned, motioning to the gambling table. "That man you see on the right is the biggest wholesale merchant in town. What do you say we relieve him of his burdens?" It wouldn't be the first time the crew used Gus's legendary gambling luck to get free supplies, but if this really was Lewis Nisbalt, this operation would take a bit more tact. Once Gus had forced him to rack up a debt, the others would need to negotiate with him a reasonable settlement to his debt, one which supplied the ship for the next few months but ensured he was still willing to sell supplies in the future.

II-CinderRadcliff-II Jackson123 Ticl

((Since we are splitting up in this scene, and presumably a lot of the other ones because of the size of our cast, please only @ people you interact with))

---

It wasn't long after the mistress of the house left the railings that one of her subordinates, a short young man with a soft voice, descended to the ground floor and beelined straight to Edward Falk. Those who had been here before knew this to be Luke, an employee of Lady Matilda whose official title was 'front door manager'. The Emporium catered to all desires - food, drink, and flesh, and Luke was rumored to be reserved for only the most expensive clientele. Could Edward have given off the impression of being such a person?

As it turned out, he did not, and the man had a different purpose entirely.

"Sire," he stated, bowing at exactly the right angle to suit Ridolfite social customs.

"Lady Matilda, the owner of this fine establishment, would like to dine and drink with you, if you please"

Obsidian animegirl20

 

[JoUhWrites]

Almira Fjederborn

Location

The Royal Emporium

Mira weaved her way through the crowd, trying her best to ignore the heavy smell of sweat which radiated from the bodies scattered around the - admittedly more fancy than some of the places the crew had visited in the past - tavern. In her hands were two pitchers of ale which she tried desperately to keep from adding to the general stickiness of the floor; after spending the last five minutes picking shards of glass out of a man’s face, they’d been generously gifted to her by her patient, after which he’d immediately turned around and continued arguing with the same guy who had smashed a bottle into his face.
It hadn’t been part of the plan to end up playing nurse - Mira had intended to wait outside the tavern for a moment whilst the others entered, in order to calm herself a bit, when she'd come face to face with glass-face - but now here she was, her last clean shirt yet again adorned with pearls of red, and her dreams of a moment’s peace dashed. At least none of her crewmates had gotten themselves into trouble... yet.

The hammering of her heart calmed somewhat as their faces became visible, and she gracefully placed herself next to Tavish in order to plant one of the pitchers in front of the man (the pirate could handle more intoxicants than anyone Mira had ever met, so giving him one of the drinks was the safest bet).
She’d joined the group’s outing in order to replenish her stock of herbs and other medicines - she was running low on coneflower and fennel, and was completely out of valerian - but the general “fraternizing” with other patrons was a consequence of leaving the ship which she dreaded. So she sipped her ale, soft shoes drumming against the wooden floor as her light green orbs swiveled left and right in order to identify the individual most likely to carry what she needed.
Between the samurai-guy, the group of poker players, eye-patch man, and the blonde woman upstairs who Mira recognized as the establishment’s owner… Mira would put the man with the eye-patch as the individual most likely to keep a stash (though the fancily dressed individual playing poker probably had some opium on him - nobles were so ready to get messed up by the poppy-derivative).
Her thoughts were interrupted as Gus spoke, and though he didn't actively address her, his statement made her ears perk. "...do you think he carries medicine as well?" She spoke softer than usual, noting the tenseness of his body. Had something happened in the five minutes she was gone?

Rage Archie

 

[II-CinderRadcliff-II]

Cinder watched the room as crew and strangers alike mingled and chattered, his hands fiddling with a knife and a short wooden block as he mindlessly carved into it; occasionally glancing down towards it to ensure he hadn't chipped away too much on any given part. It vaguely resembled an uncanny pattern very few still recognized to this day, as ridged and unyielding as stone but malleable like wet clay. With his name being spoken he perked up as he noticed Gus looking at him, already getting a bad feeling about the reason he called out. Upon hearing him out it was as he suspected, though he was intrigued at the proposition he spoke of. With the hand holding the block now in his chin he wondered, his other hand idly massaging the handle of the knife. After about eight seconds of thought he silently sighed through his nose, looking to Gus as his lips parted to speak.
"Do what you wish, but I'd prefer not to get involved in a game of debt." Cinder stated before putting the wooden block onto a close-by table, followed by him reaching into his pocket and pulling out a small bag of gold coins to wager with. "Besides, better to leave the gambling to someone who knows what they're doing." He followed up with before picking up the wooden block, paying much closer attention to Gus as he continued carving the block. As more and more of the wood was chipped away and smoothed out it began to resemble a pillar, the intricate design made of squares and lines making it hard to imagine otherwise. The top contained a circle big enough to hold a glass tube, where a candle would rest inside and provide light through square holes along the center of the wooden block. At the bottom was a much smaller hole made from a nail connecting to the much larger hole, allowing the glass tube to slide in effortlessly as air could be channeled in and out of the bottom.

​

Archie

 

[Ticl]

Beetle black eyes flickered up towards the owner, her golden hair disappearing before Steel had the chance to squint. The types of patrons ‘The Emporium’ housed were less than ideal, that being said, so was Sterling. But it was strange to see their real leader in the flesh, so put together despite the rather meek surroundings and rough as guts beings. Thankfully, Steel blended in amongst the scummy pirates, thieves and other unworthies of the world seamlessly, making his job exceptionally easy when faced with them. Although, he had a feeling they weren’t there to bully drunks into free labour, not this time.

Raising a brow, Sterling lowered his gaze when Guz ordered. His Boatswain had a tinge in his voice, not exactly the free flowing incessantness he usually spewed, instead mixed with something that didn’t sound right. And when he ordered that drink Sterling couldn’t help but scowl like a child. “He’s lost it.” he quipped at Richard, motioning to their boatswain in feign seriousness before grinning devilishly. In actual fact, Sterling didn’t mind drinking whatever it was, as long as it was free.

The idea of gambling had Steel straightening his posture though, avoiding an obvious glance towards those who Guz recommended as opponents. “We are always low on supplies,” he retorted, although his grin hardly faltered, “especially free ones.” And just like when the clock strikes 12, Cinder was quick to decline such an invite, always boiling with a hate for anything fun.
“Scared you’ll enjoy yourself, Radcliffe?” Sterling barked at the bigger man, squinting his black eyes in jest before reaching over for the easily offered money, pushing it towards Mira. The girl could almost be overlooked but not by Sterling, even if she sat quiet and behaved beside Tavish, only just peeping out a response of her own.

“Why don’t you go find out, girlie? I’ll keep watch. Honest.” he suggested before the barmaid sat down their drinks, murky and strong looking, dancing with oily swirls. Questionable but Steel still snatched up the closest one, tilting his head back and drinking, mouth filled with a not so favourable taste. Still he regarded the maid with sarcastic satisfaction.
“Wow, that’s some really great piss, thanks.”

Archie II-CinderRadcliff-II Jackson123 JoUhWrites

 

[welian]

Salvador Hierro

Overview

Location	Aboard the ship like a pleb
Tags	---

There were three things Salvador loved to do while on shore duty: drinking, gambling, and flirting.

There were also three things he was currently discouraged from doing on shore duty: drinking, gambling, and flirting.

It wasn't like he did anything specifically wrong (this time), it's just that the last port visit got a little complicated, and some signals got mixed, and... well, "Crystal" was "Christopher", and Sal was always a bit sulky whenever he didn't come out on top.

And that's exactly what he was doing - leaning against the foremast of the Maiden's Revenge with his arms crossed, pouting like a toddler.

"It was ONE fire! One! Can you believe this shit?"

He gestured indignantly at the town, in the direction of the Royal Emporium, where his more impressive compadres had gone out to party. His audience, a common gull perched open some ropes, did not give a shit.

Well, it gave one shit, and delivered it with all the precision of a trained artilleryman.

 

[Selee-01]

Salvador Hierro

Overview

Location	Aboard the ship like a pleb
Tags	---

There were three things Salvador loved to do while on shore duty: drinking, gambling, and flirting.

There were also three things he was currently discouraged from doing on shore duty: drinking, gambling, and flirting.

It wasn't like he did anything specifically wrong (this time), it's just that the last port visit got a little complicated, and some signals got mixed, and... well, "Crystal" was "Christopher", and Sal was always a bit sulky whenever he didn't come out on top.

And that's exactly what he was doing - leaning against the foremast of the Maiden's Revenge with his arms crossed, pouting like a toddler.

"It was ONE fire! One! Can you believe this shit?"

He gestured indignantly at the town, in the direction of the Royal Emporium, where his more impressive compadres had gone out to party. His audience, a common gull perched open some ropes, did not give a shit.

Well, it gave one shit, and delivered it with all the precision of a trained artilleryman.

Addam Kirtle​

Addam hadn’t been on the ship long, but he’d already learned a few things. He’d been keeping a list:

1. Don’t bite people.
2. Follow orders.
3. Don’t snark at people.

At least, that was all he currently had. At the moment, Addam was washing the decks (despite having already done so three times- he needed an excuse to avoid the latrines), well in hearing range of Sal. Sal... Addam was not a fan. From what he knew, Sal was a boisterous and loud person, who played rough. But he wasn’t the worst person to be around, so Addam didn’t hide in his room.

When he saw the bird... ahem, relieve itself seemingly as commentary, Addam laughed. It wasn’t a nice, sweet laugh. It was a short, cringeworthy laugh, the kind better suited on a 45-year-old woman who’d had too much wine. Addam swiftly turned back to his job of diligently cleaning the decks, scrubbing at imaginary muck.

 

[Firelie]

Historia Vinheima​

Historia found herself sprinting through a permeating, enveloping darkness. Panicked footsteps echoed into nothingness as she ran with a fervant urgency. Shaking hands reached out in a desperate attempt to feelbat something. She knew something was there. She has found it before. The buzzing began. Like a cloud of pestilence, it enveloped her; it violated her senses, smothered her every thought. Her senses were no longer her own. Her feet stopped, them turned her a full 180. Her hands fell limply to her side. Her head turned upwards and her eyes saw it. Outlined in red, the only color other than the pitchest of blacks. “Ymg' ah ahorr'eog, Y' ah lw'nafh'nahor. O ymg' ahf' ah'lloigshogg, ah lw'nafh'nahor nng.”

It spoke, but she didn’t understand. Tears flowed from her face as she fell to her knees. She could’ve sworn she saw the creature smile at her before it reached out and swallowed her whole.

Historia startled from the vision with a sharp breath. The torn canvas she was drawing upon floated to the floor and the pen she wrote with fell with it, clattering against the ground. She sat frozen for a moment, steeling her senses. In time her hands stopped shaking, and her breaths stabilized. Historia wiped the sweat from her brow and reached for the fallen canvas. What was once a cityscape had all but dissappeared, defiled by a puddle of black that Historia did not have the tools to create. She stared into her ruined art, and she could’ve sworn that she saw something more within the impenetrable blackness. She hurried to drop the piece, throwing it to the ground and standing. She grabbed her cloak and headed for the hatch to the deck.

By the time she had made her way to the deck, any physical indication that something abnormal happened below had dissapeared from the girls expression. She heard and obnoxious laugh and her head snapped to the source. Addam Kirtle. A deckhand that Historia personally found most curious. Without thinking, she walked up to the boy as he returned to his work, staring into him with boundless curiosity in her gaze.

“Is something the matter?” She asked him politely, though a smile did not find its way onto her expression. She was behind him now, looking up at him with hands idly folded neatly behind her.
Selee-01 welian

 

[Saturn_moon]

INEJ BAYAUT
On board the Maiden’s Revenge​

The mid-afternoon sun beat mercilessly down on the deck of the Maiden’s Revenge, warming the already weathered oak planks worn smooth by years of use. Their sails had been lowered but high above, a flag bearing The Maiden’s colors flew proudly in the gentle breeze. From where she stood at the helm, Inej could just make out the Royal Emporium, its ostentatious gilded roof rising above the bustling port town like a sore thumb. Without a doubt, that was where most of the crew would be at the moment drinking themselves under the table. Except for Gus. He was more likely to be drinking someone else under the table or robbing them in broad daylight… or drinking them under the table then robbing them in broad daylight.

In an argument about who would have the responsibility this time of holding down the fort on board the ship while the rest of crew headed into town for supplies, Tavish had suggested they play a game called rock, parchment, shears to decide. Inej was certain she had won until the first mate informed her with immense smugness that his parchment had beaten her rock. Whoever invented the ridiculous game clearly deserved to be hit in the head by a rock because if they had, they would have known that a flimsy piece of parchment would never have stood a chance against a rock. Although not one for crowds and socializing, she still would have preferred that over playing nanny to the teenagers and Sal. Inej let out a tired groan. Just thinking of the man gave her a headache. Tavish had better return with an entire box of those apple danishes he'd promised her.

Peering over the banister, she caught sight of their newest cabin boy hard at work scrubbing the deck. Inej had not been too pleased with the Captain and Tavish’s decision to put the boy to work against his will when they caught him stealing from them, but she’d bitten her tongue. There were far worse fates than the one that had been dealt. Threads pulled at the vestiges of her memory, bringing to mind the image of a cold spring day that felt like an eternity ago and a little hut she had once called home, details hazy having fallen to the clutches of time, disappearing over the peak of the hill. Had anyone been around, they might have seen the young woman’s usually cold gaze soften for the briefest moment and give way to the glassy look of nostalgia.

Snapping herself out of her reverie, Inej scanned the deck for her other two charges. A little way away was Sal who, as usual, was skiving off and conversing with... a gull? The man honestly never ceased to amaze. On the other hand, Historia was nowhere to be found and it unsettled Inej a little. She knew the girl had a habit of getting up to strange antics even if she didn't know what they were. When the shock of pink hair finally appeared on the deck, she breathed a sigh of relief and headed back into the navigation room where she had various maps sprawled across the table.

The maps always brought Inej unexplainable comfort. When her life felt it was in constant flux, the maps were the one thing she could rely on. The one thing she could always make sense of with full certainty. So why was it that even as she studied the maps now, she couldn’t rid herself of the nagging feeling that trouble was brewing?

Selee-01 Firelie welian
Mini mentions: Rage Archie

 

[Selee-01]

By the time she had made her way to the deck, any physical indication that something abnormal happened below had dissapeared from the girls expression. She heard an obnoxious laugh and her head snapped to the source. Addam Kirtle. A deckhand that Historia personally found most curious. Without thinking, she walked up to the boy as he returned to his work, staring into him with boundless curiosity in her gaze.

“Is something the matter?” She asked him politely, though a smile did not find its way onto her expression. She was behind him now, looking up at him with hands idly folded neatly behind her.

Addam Kirtle​

Addam twisted around and looked up at the pink-haired woman. After a moment, he coughed slightly. Perhaps the only person aboard the ship smaller and lighter than him, but Addam just... found her suspicious. Like the taste of the air before a lightning strike. Historia Vinheima’s peculiar hair was no point in her favor, although he couldn’t recall why that was the case.

“N-no, nothing’s the m-matter, Miss Historia,” Addam said quickly. For some reason, he found her calm stare immensely disturbing. But that would be rude to say, and so he bit his tongue.

“What b-brings you here?” he asked, in an attempt to make conversation. Addam wasn’t the biggest fan of talking, but he didn’t exactly want to sit there in silence with Historia’s hazel eyes burrowing into his spine. As he spoke, he turned to scrubbing the pristine deck.

 

[MrReaves]

'Smiles' Carmine
​

When one planned on getting as hammered as Smiles did, the words "steady ground" held little meaning- but gods be damned, did it feel good to plant her feet on some.

Their mission had kept them afloat for months now, and not even their short stops to restock on necessities had offered any respite. Smiles hadn't grumbled, of course; she knew what the alternatives to hard, earnest work were, and she was certainly not going to revisit them. Still she could not pretend not to be relieved when they made it off the gangplank and onto the piers of Altersdale. It was her kind of town. The Zhongdao liked to pretend they owned the joint, but they anchored their ships on the same piers as everyone else, and made little ruckus under the watchful eye of the free-fought inhabitants and their lawless clientele.

With a few month’s wages burning a hole through the well-hidden pockets on her person (carrying a coinpurse on display here was asking for trouble, unless you looked intimidating enough that people wouldn’t try you, and she did not) Smiles had planned out an excellent night. Of course, she’d stick with the rest of her party for some of it, as she liked the company plenty. Salvador’s absence was a little regrettable. She probably could’ve swiped another girl from under his nose, like she’d done *twice* the last time they’d made landfall.

The Royal Emporium was a fair bit grander than the meadhalls Smiles had become accustomed to; it wasn’t her first time here, but the size of the place still amazed her. She didn’t expect trouble here, certainly not in the presence of their Captain, whom she’d heard word of was a friend of the very man who ran this island, and Tavish, who looked like a statue of a warrior-god come to life. She kept a wary eye on the Sheng who seemed to catch Archibald’s attention and even raised his drink at her crewmate. Sure, you couldn’t choose who your old friends were, and certainly if someone from her past showed their face here a fight would follow. Still, she made a mental note.

Gus made the executive decision on their first drink of the night, and Smiles gladly let him. It would only be her first of the night and it mattered little to her what she found in her tankard, long as it was of high proof. She’d learned young to keep her gullet open and pour in whatever she could get her hands on. Still, with all the cash she had, she considered asking for the pub’s most prized ale at some point- bolster her spirit with something a little more qualitative than the usual swill. She couldn’t get quite so drunk that she couldn’t lay on the charm later, though, that was a danger to stay aware of.

In their little round-table grouping, conversation sprang up fairly quickly. Gus, bold as ever proffered a bet with a few comrades that he could take the merchant a few tables over to task in games of chance, to such a degree the man would owe them the supplies they’d otherwise have to pay for. Mira, whom Smiles had settled in next to and who seemed not greatly comfortable in this crowded hall, made an inquiry of whether the merchant would have some alchemicals she needed, at which point Sterling decided to be snippy both with her and the barmaid bringing their drinks.

“Lay off, Steel, don’t spoil the good mood.” She piped over the din, brows furrowed. Sarcasm was always a quality of speech Smiles had thought overrated, and Sterling oozed it. If Gus was really going to challenge the merchant it’d be fun to watch whether he’d show his skill or lose his wages. Eventually the drink would flush her cheeks and she could go off and find the part of the Emporium that had soft candlelight and red satin. Really, she’d probably have forgotten most of the night come morrow.

Archie Ticl JoUhWrites

 

[Rage]

Tavish 'Bloodbeard' McConors

Location(s) - Flashback: The Maiden's Revenge | Currently: The Royal Emporium
​

{This... world... so open and vast... endless as it could not be tamed. Not by the touch of it's inhabitants - 'Humans.' A term coined as to separate the 'hairless apes' from the rest of the inhumane 'filth.' With the might of Humans' coming from the ability to quickly populate, the innate pursuit of warfare & skill to condition the land for resources - They quickly wiped out the inferior races of the world.

However - the Humans of times' almost forgotten however couldn't remain peaceful with one and another. Any minor differences sparked tension which lead to separation & conflict; that brought about the current Superpowers of the modern-age. The Aggressive Aeternia, The Harsh Ridolfo, The Honorable Zhao and lastly; the Outlandish Talarcid Sultanate.

Yet if all were to come together, Humans or rather - Humanity as a whole wo-} "LAND HO!" The familiarly call ripped into a large & locked door in the belly of a ship where the noise caused a disturbance in the natural calm which had been produced by the stillness of a sleeping form upon a massive bed.

Now... What sort of ship was this? Baha! You do not know? It is not a merchant's ship where travelers aiming to sell their wares to would-be buys or even purchase goods for personal or wide-spread purpose, neither is a Navy vessel baring the flag to display allegiance to a Imperial Army or an particular Island's Militia Vessel traveling with whatever commands would be given and tis not a refine, noble vessel which smelled of honeyed tea, flowers and graceful scents aboard glistened halls of painted wood, trimmed golden edges & overwhelming size.

No, No, No... It was a Pirate Ship. A ship for criminals whom bravely sail the High Skies - Grasping danger like a man would grasp his love on the night of their wedding for a passionate embrace where they clashed with foes through vicious boarding actions as they swing from ropes or even commanded their ship to ram the other whilst all sorts of dangerous fire from small, complex pistols or to the large, destructive cannons.

Aboard this Pirate Ship which you may understand what sort of people sail upon it... You may be wondering if what ship it was... Right?

What would you say... If it was... the Maiden's Revenge!

One of the proudest vessels to sail the Skies of Celestis. Such a place where men and women lived on Islands of varying sizes which are separated by the everchanging & all-mighty skies which can be calmed through a skillful control of a sky-worthy ship. At the moment though - It was around early morning. The sun was arise where a good deal of the crew slumbered whilst others' had retired from the night-beforehand.

This ship was travel for a port in order to resupply from the previous time spent away from land - the designation being the Island of Altersdale - a 'Pirate's Second-Home' if one managed to survive for a year-or-so; all forms from the bleak-twisted wretches of society would venture their for hundreds of reasons. The Maiden's Revenge had it's purpose as she traveled for her crew to rest their minds after dealing numerous stressful events during the recent journey, resupplied their ended stores & even for some of the 'business' which some of the superiors had to deal. It was more or less... Hush, Hush as most Deckhands didn't know about the finer works of the Maiden.

That they should know is... Work your arse off, fight when fighting is required, survive the dangers so you don't end up injured or dead and lastly; follow orders provided by the High-Ranking Crew - Especially the Captain. Doing so... You get paid; ya get paid good and ya got people to watch your back. Simple enough.

But... What of that big & locked door from early?

That didn't belong to the Captain of this fine vessel. No, No, No. That man's door was much better quality and wasn't as large. No... This Big & Especially Locked Door belonged to the Maiden's Revenge Executive Officer. For those who preferred a simpler term... The Crew's First Mate.

Behind that imposing, darken door. It was naught but dim-shadows wrapped around sharpened figures with grim purposes that radiated screams of the mind - one could hear the screams of men, woman & children wrapped around these coarse objects. The flickering images shifted as they progressively moved around the room, bestial bones were bound to the walls, risque paints hung inside simple glass frames protected by wood and lastly - a bed.

...

A massive bed which could a two families worth of people upon it's cushioned frame and warm, silk sheets that bound and wrapped as something was inside. A titanic form akin to some Homosapien was resting as the sounds of soft breathing. The lack of light didn't produce any features which may belong to beings of a more... 'magical' sort... Only to stir - the noises outside of the imposing door rouse this figure from their slumber.

Shifting where a low, sounding and rumbling yawn came. Lips parted as a large maw opened whilst the noises of the vocal cords producing tones akin to a creature rising only slowed by the tired sense belong to this being where they then sat up. Darken, sparkling jewels glowed in the darkness of the room where leg-thick arms rose as the joints popped from long-since stillness where fingers clenched and shifted alongside the palm where the elbows bended before straight and shoulders rotated largely or short in motion.

Two of these large hands rose up to this being's face whom proceed to rub their face - Groaning from being rudely awoken but it couldn't be helped. Slowly but surely; legs as large as a man traveled from the bed to swung to the floor whilst the bed squeaked and groaned from handling such a weight for so long whilst the ruffling of clothes sounded off; the fasten of boots as large as can be whilst belts wrapped around an mountainous waist.

The scratching of an object happened to follow after the sounds of clothes being flung around and similar sounds which may be done.

*Swiisssh*

*Swiisssh*

*Swiisssh! Fwoosh!*

The sounds of the scratch happened to be from a match being struck against a matchbox where the flame revealed a massive face; similar to a man where a thick beard covered the face whilst wild, strands of hair hung down the face. The newfound light in the room relieved more details about it's interior. The bed was better quality as it appeared new and some-fancy in construction. Various Animal-Skulls featured bold, sharp teeth or large horns hung from the walls from mantle-pieces; some of those trophies retained a stuffed head revealed a large, opened-mouthed fanged-toothed lizard-like beast and a broad-faced creature akin to a Pig only 10x larger. A shelf filled by hundreds and hundreds of thick-spine books with weathered leather but pristine-titles weaved into them.

Lastly... Weapons - Weapons as big as this titanic figure in the form of rifles, spears, axes or swords hanged from thick-chains binding them to the walls which got 'smaller' as normally-sized weapons were stocked into racks which was as large as 5 feet by 5 where more 'hand' sized weapons had been strapped down to a large desk. A candle-stand with a candle inside of it that had melted down into stand stayed whilst an ornate dagger and flintlock pistol were placed to the side. Upon the desk as well... It laid an open book where the man sighed and closed it but took a glancing, sneering look at book's title.

'The True Humans.' - A 'Historical' Document made by a Ridolfo Scholar whom was stoned for the slander made about the Ridolfo Empire and various other things which didn't matter. It was a purchase that the man hadn't read for some time and did so the night prior. A huff of warm-air came as the book founded itself upon the shelf - filling an empty spot.

...

Moments later - this massive man was walking below deck. One hand; a sort of clipboard where sheets of paper were bound to the wooden slate whilst a metal-tipped feather with a small bottle was tied that hanged from those club-like fingers for several, small strings bind the two items together. In the other hand; a medium sized barrel which must've been around 3 to 4 ft by a eye-glance - most likely taller was being carried where subtle sloshes being it's liquid contains made it known that it was some sort of alcoholic substance.

As heavy-boots came down on the deck's wooden planks - The crew who had been awake over night waved or nodded their heads. This large man's footsteps made the wood creak as he sleepily walked up and around til he found himself seated on some stairs leading up to the helm.

In a moment; two holes appeared on the man's face as his nose began to inhale air suddenly whilst his lips peeled opened a crack where he took a deep breath... and then stated...

" ALL CREW! FRONT & CENTER, NOW! " Akin to some sort of monstrous warcry and commander's enraged order - this bellowing roar made the Maiden Hull beckon in terror as the wooden shook beneath the man's seated frame whilst his eyes were squinted tight; his eyelids and sockets were completely black & swollen from lack of sleep. A sense that he hadn't slept whatsoever.

...

...

...

*Bang! Bang! Bang!* Seconds later - the pounding footsteps, terrified shouts and curses could be heard from bellow where the Maiden's Revenge had it's resting crew woke up as the First Mate's Command was subject of nightmares which could arouse the deepest and most pleasant drunk slumbers but worse? If you were the last-one up to the Deck... No one talks about such things.

Hurriedly; the crew ran up from the bowels of the ship. Some dressed properly whilst others were less than prepared but all looked up at the First-Mate who was seated. Bare-chest as his scarred whilst taut, muscles strained against bronze skin that he look at the crew whom came up.

As soon as the final member was gathered; a tense silence formed. Some would know but the First-Mate was in a foul mood; the previous time on land had been trouble where particular members of the crew loosened the collars or tried to not look directly at the Man.

Then - The Man shifted his grasp. The barrel filled with alcohol was adjusted in his grasp til he looked down at the sealed lid. Blinking several times before...

*Bang!*

His forehead cleanly smashed through the wood as his face, hair and upper-neck was submerged into the brew. A splash of the liquor sloshed out of it's respective container and broken pieces of wood was scattered to the large man's side.

*Gulp. Gulp. Gulp. Gulp.* In an odd feat of endurance, toughness & constitution. The Man began to drink from the barrel of liquor - All of them watched as energy began to pour into the muscular limbs whilst this titanic-person had began to drink everything in the barrel. Standing up on the stairs as they watched his head tilt back and his lips on the edge of the once-full container.

In half the time that it took the crew to ready themselves - the barrel was completely dry of it's contains. A soaked-headed First-Mate breath out before he violently shook his head; wet-locks of hair swung around akin to a wet dog before he whipped it back. None of his hair remained upon a softer but no-less stern visage which looked at the crew.

Tossing the barrel up slightly as it seemed to float for one second before one of his leg went up. With the crackling whip from god's fist; it then touched against the barrel and went...

*KABANG!* With such a sound which would resemble a bold and load gunshot; all could watch as the emptied-barrel that had been tossed up found itself flying off into the distance from the Maiden's Revenge. Spinning like a coin flicked off one's hand with force or a someone throwing dice down an empty alley. It traveled onward... and onward.... and onward... til it disappeared.

"*Yawn* Alright... Who is going to stay on the ship when we're at Altersdale?" Tiredly speaking after a deep and loud yawn where the First-Mate sat down once more where he got his quill ready to mark down who'd be leaving... and who'd be staying on the paper.

....

*Gulp* One of the Deckhand's audible gulped as they hearing that sentence from the Executive Officer.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Present Time

Hours later on from the Morning & the crew whom were picked out decided - Tavish McConors. The Massively, Large & Deathly Dangerous First-Mate Of The Maiden's Revenge then entered the Royal Emporium - Ordinarily; Tavish would have never gone to such a place however the Captain had him 'under orders.' The ol' Fox just told him to come for business and so... he was here. Walking at the side of the Captain whilst his eyes looking down - at his attire but also his right hand

Dress 'lightly' whilst his neck and torso strained a massive shirt - bandoliers of pistol-balls interlinked and crossing over his chest that clattered and jingled lightly. His waist held a large sash that had several pistols and daggers tucked within the tight-wrapped cloth whilst his large belt was affixed to large scabbard on his left-side. Inside the scabbard held a sword as long as his leg - curving slightly but thick in size that jutted slightly where he rested his left hand where the other had it's own purpose.

His eyes however had looked right at this establishments owner whom was leaving already... Long ago; Tavish heard rumors that the Madam only leaves if she is handle business or 'business.'

...

Who is the lucky one tonight? His head tilted but he was more concern with the game which was going on with his right-hand.

A spare coin was in his hand as he played a self-imposing game with himself. Twirling the coin between those dangerous fingers as he used it to decided between two options - Heads - Option 1 - Tails - Option 2.

The reason for this little game.... Sweets for the Lads and Lasses. Early in the day - the First-Mate found himself confront by the ship's navigator whom had stated 'had no desire to watch over a perverted geezer, a self-dangerous girl whose barely a lady & the 'teenagers.' Normally; Tavish would've just ruffled her hair with his callused, large hand and forced her to do it anyway or telling her to convince another one of the High-Ranking Members of the crew to do the 'Nanny-Work' but Tavish got an idea.

The two played a children's game. Rock, Parchment & Shears only to crush her hopes' by telling her that he won at the end as Parchment wraps Rock. She began to complain and pout at losing - stating that it was stupid game which bored-fools, over-energetic youths and incompetent cowards play. In the end however - He rubbed her head and told her that he'd get her some sweets. She stopped complained but demanded Apple Danishes... So damn picky for a girl.

'Heads - Apple Danishes for Everyone & Miss. Bayaut. ... Tails - Raspberry Danishes For Everyone... & Miss. Bayaut. Apple... Or... Raspberry.' Decisions... Decisions.... Hmmmmmm....

In the moments later on - Some of the crew seated down; Tavish happened to be one of them. Uncaring of the glances and stares which came with bring a sword which may've been taller than all of the Barmaids whilst also being taller than nearly everyone inside as well. Shuffling around before grasping a pair of seats where he sat down; these two objects were used to balance his weight instead of one. His head tilted back and his eyes closed... His ears took in the chatter, the words and noises of the bustling place. Filled with people as countless activities continued to be done by the patrons inside.

Suddenly; Tavish's table was bombard by the crew which the First-Mate shifted his head and looked at them. His sleepless eyes stare at the group whilst Mister. Durango; the Maiden's resident Boatswain was bring about another one of his plans. Muttering underneath his breath - "Thank My God, Salvador isn't here." If the '30' Year-Old Man was here; another crew would be trying to murder him for seducing one of their prizes, he'd get so drunk that he'd break something precious making the crew have to pay for it or a thousand other things which earn Salvador bans from coming on land which was lifted by the Captain or Tavish when they saw the time being right.

"Hmm?" The beard-fellow's eyes turned to their corner when small, gentle and soft Young Miss. Mira sat down beside him whilst presenting him a drink. He grasped it akin to a tankard before he drank it all in a moment that he place it down. "Thank You, Miss." Patting the girl on her back before his eyes' caught something - Business...

"Alright. Lads & Lasses." Speaking up where the coin in his hands was pocketed for the moment where he stood up - walking around the table before he put his hands on their shoulders and forming a sort of huddle where he lowered as he whispered in a hushing-tone; his deep and coarse voice rumble low when he spoke to the men. "Have fun, robbed da schmuck blind & look out for the Young Miss. Mira... The Captain's business is starting." Patting some of them on the back or ruffled their hair before the imposing man proceeded to stand at his full-height and grasped the pitcher of liquor as he went away to do what he came here for... 'handle' what the Captain asked him to do.

A minute or so later - Tavish was right next to Captain Mercer; awaiting his commanded where he observed the man whom was opposite of the Captain.

Mentions:
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Archie
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Darth
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Ticl
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II-CinderRadcliff-II
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JoUhWrites
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Mini Mentions:

welian
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Saturn_moon
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Selee-01
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Firelie
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(Sorry For Delay)

 

[JoUhWrites]

Almira Fjederborn

Location

Still The Royal Emporium

After having to hold back a cough from Tavish patting her back - gods, he was a strong creature - Mira’s eyes followed the money being pulled from Cinder’s hand, squinting at the dark-gazed man once he pushed them towards her. Knowing Steel, his “keeping watch” would be less actually looking out for her and more chugging whiskey and cheering the poker players on as they beat her ass. “I’m- flattered that you believe in either my gambling ability, or… social one, Steel.” Her full mouth curved upwards in a soft smile as Tavish easily lifted the pouch of coins before declaring that he was leaving to attend to the captain’s needs - the large man eternally dutiful to their shared leader, “Good luck. Don’t break a leg, please.”

The pitcher of ale found its way to her lips just as Steel grasped one of the newly delivered drinks. Curious, she decided to give it a try. It did have a faint aftertaste of piss, but that didn’t mean she was about to tell the barmaid that. Thankfully Smiles piped up to chastise the dark-gazed negotiator before Mira herself had to, but words still decided to bubble out of her mouth- “… she might be inclined to add spit to that concoction, otherwise.” Memories were filling her skull; carts selling homebrewed liquor where more often more than not to there were thick clumps of phlegm floating like sky jellies in the liquid; Abel disinfecting a wound with it only to have to discreetly scrape one of the thick blobs away while Mira distracted the patient. The images made her smile - and place the rest of the oily whiskey down in front of Smiles.

The elven woman rested her head against Smiles’ slender arm, soft cheek smushed up against the firmness of her bicep. Maybe the owner knows where to find a decent bathing house... she hummed to herself, gazing at their noble passenger's broad back as he sashayed through the establishment. Of course Edward looked gorgeous as always. Mira had absolutely no idea how he managed to keep his hair that soft and luscious; her own curls were currently in a constant state of crispness that thankfully was kept somewhat under control by her tightly wrapped bandana. Perhaps the captain had some sort of magical tub in that cabin of his - perhaps she could convince Smiles to check for her.
“Are we sure that we should actively try to get the stuff for free? I- Not that I don’t trust you, Gus, but… they don’t look very happy. We could just... buy what we need?” Yeah, fat chance.

Mentions: Rage MrReaves Ticl Archie Obsidian

 

[II-CinderRadcliff-II]

Cinder scoffed at Steel lightly as he dared to question whether fear was why he didn't gamble, giving a cold glare of disbelief as if they had said the planet was flat. He unhooked the flask from his belt around his waist before taking a swig, the lukewarm water in the metal flask having a much more thirst quenching effect than any alcoholic brew he's ever tried.
"Losing our only means of resupplying our ship is not what I would describe as 'fun'." Cinder rebutted before Tavish ruffled his hair into a bit of a mess, the individual strands clumping back together in its greasy fashion before the clumps began returning to their normal places. The remark about the piss-soaked beverages did get a chuckle out of him though. Before Steel could hope for a chance to swipe the flask from his hand and purify his mouth with water he chugged the rest of it down, licking his lips with satisfaction before sealing it back up and clipping it to his belt again. One reason he hated drinking alcohol was due to the overall poor quality most places sold it as, with piss and spit in the drinks among other things being a relatively common occurrence within the pirate coves. And the other was it made him shit-faced really fast to where he couldn't function for hours afterward, with a killer hangover impairing his work and making him sloppier and less motivated. "Besides, getting drunk like the rest of the crew isn't an option for me, things never go well when I get drunk."

Ticl Rage

 

[Firelie]

Historia Vinheima​

Historia sighed, shaking her head at the redundancy of the question. "I live here, Addam. I just wanted some fresh air." She swivelled her head to look out to port. She was silent a moment, then she returned her hazel gaze back to the younger boy. "You have no need to spare my feelings, Addam. People only ask such silly questions when they are nervous. Do I make you nervous, Addam?" She asked bluntly with her usual professionalism, cocking her head to one side. She has asked him such questions before, but it wasn't often that he gave her the truth she seeked, and that annoyed her to no end.

"I understand if I do." She added. "I make plenty of people uncomfortable. For example, Inej. She does not like me much. Wish I knew why." She hummed thoughtfully then shrugged. She turned and walked off to the side of the ship, staring off into the port distractedly, as if she hadn't just asked Addam a question.

Selee-01

 

[Jackson123]

Robert Archibald​

“Never had much luck on the gambling table, so I’ll have to pass” Robert said with a wry smile while stroking the grey tabby cat sitting on his lap. It’s the cat he named Miss Clawdia that came to the ship in a port they visited ——he didn’t adopt the cat, more like the other way around, he got adopted by the cat. Robert remembers the girls in the brothel with their sad eyes when it decides to come with him. But they’ll manage, that port was full of feline residents lying around like a cat island.

As the nature of sky-faring goes, he haven’t been able to return to that place for a year now, and the kitten that was barely the size of his palm is now almost as large as his forearm and heavy as a cannon ball. Clawdia was wounded once when the pirate ship got bombarded by a navy frigate, that time Robert used all the medicine that was meant for himself to recover the kitten. Some crew said it was a dumb decision, but he never regretted it. Robert for one always believed their “Able Seacat and Chief Mouser” being able to continue killing rodents and keeps the crew morale up was a key component in the continue survival of the ship in those perilous encounters.

Robert stroke the cat under it’s chin, it seems to enjoys it, the cat let out a small but noticeable purr while letting it’s tail wave left and right, and gently nudged him when he pause the stroking for a moment.

Archie

 

[Darth]

The Captain
The "Royal Emporium," Altersdale
Interactions: Rage - Mentions: welian
​

The venerable “Captain Nathaniel Mercer” has a reputation that precedes itself. Merely mentioning one of the Captain’s many names will often permeate the room with awe and fear. For this fine establishment, however, Mercer has blessed these lowlifes and wretched knaves with a gander at the Mercer’s unmistakable visage. It may be, perhaps, that Mercer has become too enamored with himself. However, having the ability to walk into a room and coerce the patrons into a silence is rather intoxicating. Infamous or otherwise, Mercer takes pleasure in knowing that his name is well-known throughout the world.

The Royal Emporium was something an honest man wouldn’t exactly call an “upstanding establishment.” The place was drenched head to toe in the muck of the wicked. Pirates, brigands, murderers, cheats, and drunkards. The worst of the lot, all piled into the same tavern. Contrary to popular belief, there is an honor among thieves. But no such honor would be found in place so sunken in the mires of delinquency. Mercer himself would’ve preferred higher dining. He once met wealthy, self-made conman with his own palace in the southern mountains of Tengorod. An illustrious estate complete with columned marble walls, long white corridors, and decorated from floor to ceiling in fine art. Mercer prides himself on his nobler tastes, believing it's what sets him apart from the more boorish of his rivals. The smell of piss, sweat, and must jolted him from his nostalgia. This “Royal” Emporium was certainly a far cry from that picturesque mountain estate. Mercer never quite liked setting foot in this place.

Still, Mercer remained unperturbed. When business calls, one must set aside their comfort zone. Hidden somewhere amid the patrons was a man whom Mercer sought to make good on a previous arrangement. The Maiden’s Revenge had several crates of laudanum in it’s manifest; illegally appropriated of course. Mercer and his crew had pilfered an Aeternian merchant vessel not two weeks ago. Mercer had hoped the ship had a valuable haul, yet when the cargo hold was opened, they found nothing but simple amenities. Luckily, Mercer knew just the man who’d take the excess laudanum: a dodgy crime-lord by the name of Silas Kade. Not a high profiting job but a quick one. Mercer and his crew were running dangerously low on supplies. This particular job, while not very glamorous, was necessary and fairly common to keep the Revenge afloat. On top of that, Mercer knows the more crafty of his crew will likely swindle cash away from drunken louts and unwitting fools. Mercer quite encourages such behavior, as long as they are discrete. One of the crew, Mr. Hierro, was one not too keen on the “discrete” part. The damned fool ended up starting a fire in the tavern during the previous port visit. Hierro was flirting his way into someone’s pockets, as always. He would’ve been successful too, were it not for him mistaking her name. She punched him in the nose and he stumbled into a lantern. As it shattered, it caught fire to another man’s coat. Hierro quickly grabbed a nearby pail and emptied it’s contents on the poor fellow. Apparently, Mr. Hierro isn’t aware of the difference between water and Ciel oil. To make a long story shorter, Hierro has been forbidden from making landfall until further notice.

As Captain Mercer weaved through the mass of unruly tavern-goers, the crowd would part as he passed. There are few who wouldn’t recognize Mercer’s black frock coat; with it’s fading silver sleeve cuffs and epaulets. Mercer wasn’t donning his usual three-piece set of pistols. Abandoning the bandolier for a singular flintlock tucked into his leather belt. Mercer was dressed for business. Mercer’s usually wild shoulder-length hair was tamed; pulled back into a tail to show more of his face. Such required a display of refinement rather than force. One item, however, never left his side. An ebony-hilted scimitar, ornamented in the Talarcid style.

After a few brief moments, Mercer spotted Kade. A greasy-looking man with dark hair and a distinguishing scar. It looked to have been a deep cut, the wound reached down across his brow and onto his cheek. He was seated at a large booth and flanked by two of his associates; clad in leather coats and steely eyes. Mercer has dealt with this particular character in the past. Kade was not a mere drug-dealer was not their primary trade. He was a smaller piece of a larger enterprise known only as “The Brokers.” Their trade is centered on conduit trafficking. They take such gifted individuals to their many estates to hone their psychic abilities before turning a profit by loaning them out to a variety of vessels, usually pirates. These brokers are notorious for enigmatic nature. Sly and shifty, sometimes even crooked. They care for nothing more than profit. As a man of the same wily caliber, Mercer knows to get straight to business. Mercer glanced at Tavish and motioned for him to walk over. The mountain of a man was supervising the other crew but quickly moved to join his Captain. As the two approached the crime-lord, he spoke with his familiar honeyed voice.

“Welcome gentlemen, I hope the skies have treated you well.”

“They never disappoint, the skies are wild and free.”

Kade chuckled.

“You know, I’ve always envied your lot. Taking what you will, laws be damned. Sounds to me like a life of luxury!”

“You and I both know we did not meet to trade nostalgic memories. I do believe we have business to attend to...”

Kade sighed.

“Always straight to the point aren’t you Captain. I suppose we could skip the pleasantries…”

Kade paused for a moment, running his hand along his scar.

“You know the rules Mercer, give us a taste then…”

Mercer reached into his coat pocket and revealed a small black vial. He pulled the cork off and placed it on the table. Kade took it and stuck his pinky into the murky liquid. He then raised his hand and slid his finger along his tongue. As if sampling fine wine, Kade clicked his tongue and studied it’s taste. He paused for a moment, deadpanning the Captain. Then, a crooked smile revealed pearly white teeth.

“You never disappoint, Captain.”

Mercer nodded.

“Right then, we shall give what is owed. Eighty per crate, that makes-”

“Ninety… We agreed upon Ninety…”

“Oh, pardon me, yes of course…”

Kade let out a strained laugh.

“Age rots the mind you know, hard to keep track these days…”

Mercer took the time to observe Kade for the moment. He had his suspicions before, but now it seemed rather more obvious. Beads of sweat appeared at Kade's hairline and upper lip. His pupils constricted, which was odd given the fact that the room was relatively dim.

Mercer smirked.

“If I recall, an opiate addiction can have similar side effects. Not quite the habit to have for a man such as yourself. Take care not to overindulge, Mr. Kade...”

Kade’s smile quickly faded.

“Right… I’ll keep that in mind.”

“Arrange to have those crates loaded onto our ship, we’ll see to it that you receive what you are owed…”

Mercer bowed his head and turned to take his leave.

“Before you go, Captain…”

Mercer paused.

“Your services may be desired for another matter…”

“The agreement was to deliver, nothing more…”

“Of course, yes, and you have done that. However, my employers would like to enlist your services for a more urgent matter…”

Mercer turned to face him again, and rested his hands against the table.

“That would depend on the nature of your offer, Mr. Kade, and the weight of the coin behind it…”

Kade’s flashy grin returned.

“You see Captain, we seemed to have misplaced one of our assets. A boy not over the age of sixteen. He somehow managed to escape one of our facilities some time ago. He was last heard to have been hitching rides on many ships. My sources say he’s trying to get to Alfheim.”

“I’ve yet to hear my incentive Mr. Kade…”

“Six hundred for the job’s completion…”

Mercer paused before answering, running a hand down his beard.

“Mr. Kade, I do believe my services are regarded as the best among your partners, are they not?"

“I suppose you’d be correct.”

“Then you know I, and my crew, are not your run-of-the-mill pirates. I want half up-front, the rest for completion.”

Kade’s smile remained and he chuckled.

“Your reputation truly precedes you. Fine, you’ll have your advance but we want the job done within two months, no later. Is this agreeable Captain?”

“It is…”

“Then it is sealed. We will see you soon Captain Mercer…”

Mercer nodded before taking his leave.

As the Captain reached the door of the Emporium, he stopped and turned to Tavish.

“These Brokers are shifty but they’re not stupid. See to it personally that all of the laudanum finds their proper place.”

Mercer scratched his chin.

“When you meet with them, they will prompt you for a passphrase. One of them will say to you: ‘The stars are bright tonight.’ To which you must respond: ‘All stars are bright, but the moon is brighter.'"

“I will wait for you and the rest aboard the Revenge, meet me in my quarters when you’ve finished...”

“I feel a dire need to wash myself. Filthy odors have saturated my clothes…”

 

[Ticl]

Unfortunately it looked like Miss Amira wouldn’t be gambling their gold away tonight. And she was very quick to shoot down Sterling’s offer like he’d asked of her something dreadful. He sucked his teeth at her response, glancing over to Smiles who was always ready to chastise him. “Riiight,” he drawled, tapping his now empty glass down, “you know me, Carmine, always ruining our good time.” He purred with a cheeky grin before turning away to ignore them and focus on more pressing matters. Like the fact that Cinder was drinking awayhis only freedom from the sour taste on his tongue.

“Hand it over if you know what's good for ya!” he barked at the other, trying to snatch the rapidly depleting bottle, but, of course, the carpenter was too quick, or he just liked to see Steel suffer. However, it wasn’t all bad, without clean water Cinder would most likely have to indulge in something a little less mundane. Bringing his ‘things never go well’ statement to life. “Oh Cinder you poor sweet thing,” he jeered at the broad man, leaning back in his chair, “what will you do without your water now?”

Licking the tart taste from his lips, Steel actively listened to Amira’s comments with a squint. He knew what she meant by her words. Even if they did win some free goods their relationship with those welps would become swampy. And that wasn’t ideal. Especially if they were looking to keep them supplying long term. Winking at the surgeon in agreement Sterling regarded Gus. “She may have a point, Boatswain perhaps you shouldn’t smack the hand that feeds us. But if you’re feelin lucky go right ahead, I’m sure if you lose Mercer’s punishment will oh so entertaining. Might even get you scrubbin’ under Sal.”

II-CinderRadcliff-II Archie MrReaves JoUhWrites welian

 

[Selee-01]

Historia Vinheima​

Historia sighed, shaking her head at the redundancy of the question. "I live here, Addam. I just wanted some fresh air." She swivelled her head to look out to port. She was silent a moment, then she returned her hazel gaze back to the younger boy. "You have no need to spare my feelings, Addam. People only ask such silly questions when they are nervous. Do I make you nervous, Addam?" She asked bluntly with her usual professionalism, cocking her head to one side. She has asked him such questions before, but it wasn't often that he gave her the truth she seeked, and that annoyed her to no end.

"I understand if I do." She added. "I make plenty of people uncomfortable. For example, Inej. She does not like me much. Wish I knew why." She hummed thoughtfully then shrugged. She turned and walked off to the side of the ship, staring off into the port distractedly, as if she hadn't just asked Addam a question.

Selee-01

Addam Kirtle
​

The young man scratched the back of his head as he stood, leaving the brush on the deck. His gaze flicked towards the port, and he briefly wondered where the crew was, and what they were doing. Then Addam awkwardly stepped to her side, considering the question as he watched the lights of the city. It was awfully beautiful at this time of day.

“W-well, I t-think you’re nice... b-but you sometimes s-scare me,” Addam said, shyly.

“M-most people do, t-though,” he added as if to mollify her. “Y-you’re n-n-not u-unique!” he said, his stammer worsening with his stress. Please don’t be mad, please don’t be mad, he thought. He really didn’t want to make anyone mad... although he couldn’t recall exactly why that was so bad. He just knew it was.

 

[Firelie]

Historia Vinheima​

“...” she didn’t respond at first, opting to instead stare off into the port city. Distant lights reflected off her cloudy gaze as the two sat in silence.

Then, she turned around and left. She dissapeared below deck without so much as a word.

She reappeared a moment later, holding a scrunched up canvas in a tight grip. She walked over to Addam once again at the side of the ship and held the canvas over the edge, holding it over the cloudy abyss that seperated their ship from the dock. She leaned towards the boy and whispered to him. “Thats okay, Addam. Fear is the first step in everything. Overcoming it is the second.” She stared out at her clenched fist as she spoke, as if inwardly debating if she should drop it. She retracted it, and instead grabbed Addam by the wrist and pulled at it so his palm was upright. She gingerly set the canvas in his hand with a weak smile. “Consider this a gift. I need someone to take this off of me, you can do that Addam, right? Thank you.” She closed his fingers around the canvas with her own, then turned and walked off towards the helm. She nodded a greeting to Salvador as she passed by him and into the door (?) that led to the helm, a professional stoicism upon her expression once more.

Historia entered the helm of the ship without a word. People always got irritated at her for coming up here, but she did it anyways.Her hazel gaze drifted to Inej, and she spoke. “Hello Inej. I suppose you were assigned to watch over all us who stayed behind.” She commented, standing at the doorway idly, perring around the room.

Selee-01 welian Saturn_moon

 

[Obsidian]

Edward Fawlk​

As Edward stepped into the establishment, closely followed by his bodyguard companion, Joan, he looked about the cavernous room with a dispassionate glare. The 'Royal Emperium' is a rather generous name for the place. But then, such lofty titles are often the worse dives one could find themselves in; the more ostentatious the title, the worse the establishment. It has been a long time since he has been in a place like this, but those are not experiences he is eager to repeat right now.

Just as Edward was about to turn to leave, he is approached by a handsome young lad, not that such things had an affected on Edward these days. At the young man told Edward of his invitation, the noble would raise an eyebrow before proceeding to look up, only catching a glimpse of a refined older woman step away from the handrail above. Curious, he thought. Such an invitation is not unusual for those of noble rank. Owners of businesses of all kinds do these sorts of things. Whenever they spot someone of rank, they would wine and dine them, hoping to curry a favour or two, or perhaps make business deals. But such schemes are rarely done on the fly. No, usually the noble in question is known first. Why waste time and money on someone unless you know they can help you?

What does she want, he wonders.

"Very well," Edward gives a slight smile through his narrowed eyes, "I shall accept. Lead the way."

The moment the servants back is turned, Edward issues Joan with a look. A known look to her, one that tells her to ready herself. Whatever comes next, it could get bloody.

animegirl20 Archie

 

[animegirl20]

Joan followed Edward into the pub and glanced around the place. It seemed to be quite lively and the place didn't look to bad but from the look on Edward face she could already tell they would not be staying long. Though she be lying if she said she wouldn't mind hanging out for a bit. As Joan was lost in thought a barmaid walked up to her. "Can I get you and your friend some drinks?" Joan smiled and but shook her head no. "Ah No thanks don't think we'll be..." Suddenly Joan's attention went over to a young man heading their way. The barmaid left seeing they weren't going have anything and continued on her way. When the young man reached them he bowed towards Edward. Joan crossed her arms.

"Sire Lady Matilda, the owner of this fine establishment, would like to dine and drink with you, if you please"

Joan glanced around by the railings and noticed a woman leaving. Was that her?

"Very well, I shall accept. Lead the way."

After accepting to the offer Edward gave Joan a look the moment the man turned his back. A look that said to ready herself. She nodded ever so slightly and followed behind them. Well guess they would be hanging out for a bit after all.
Obsidian Archie

 

[II-CinderRadcliff-II]

Cinder rolled his eyes while looking away from Steel, though his gaze fell upon Captain Mercer and Tavish as they talked to the client. Despite his reputation as a pirate, at least he had higher standards than the three men that the captain was talking to, though he dared not make his opinions about the low-lives of the tavern known. On top of being able to keep the ship in top quality, he could sell some of the furniture he makes to rake in additional cash for the crew; making him an asset that's hard to replace. Far more prestigious than what most people in the settlement can truthfully claim. His gaze quickly looked elsewhere as to avoid drawing suspicion from the clients, looking back down to the wooden block he was almost finished carving before deciding to respond to the question Steel had asked him.
"I can hold out until we get back to the ship." He quipped back, finishing his wooden sculpture before admiring the details on it. Looking at it brought back memories of his homeland, the forgotten symbols that once waved in the wind in the form of flags having been burnt to the ground. The thought of revenge fueled him as he thought of the soldiers that had killed everyone he knew at that time... Or at least, he believed them all to be dead, for he never went back to confirm it. He glanced back up to notice Mercer and Tavish walking out of the emporium, before turning back to the squad of crewmates he was with. "As for the prospect of gambling for supplies... Just don't go too overboard Gus, last thing we need is a fight with the merchants while low on supplies."

Ticl JoUhWrites MrReaves Archie

 

[Archie]

Guzman Durango​

Gus sighed when Cinder refused the offer to gamble and proceeded to chip wood in the middle of a tavern. He couldn't help but agree with Steel - Cinder was no fun, and it was all the more important to make him have fun so he would spill the secrets that Gus knew he was hiding. Almira - never someone Gus marked out as the gambling type - was short on medicine, and was engaged in an endearing conversation with Steel about why they couldn't just pay for the supplies, something that the Carpenter apparently had an expert opinion about as well.

"We could pay for supplies, but Robert here would take it out of our wages" Gus replied. There was only so much money on the ship, and it was the Boatswain's job to make sure the maximum amount made it to the crew.

"And there's no need to be careful. I'm lucky, remember?" Gus claimed, smirking.

"Too lucky for those men" he added a moment later, his smile vanishing as he faced Almira.

"Which is why I'll be needing you. They'll play carefully around me. Around you? They'll bet, and bet a lot. All you'd have to do is fold every hand, then bet big when I give the signal. Once we've gotten that wholesale merchant a few thousand pounds in debt, Jarvis can step in and offer to absolve the debt if he provides us with supplies. The three of us, of course, will split 15% of my winnings three ways. What do you say?" Gus asked, facing both Almira and Jarvis. He knew Almira wasn't a gambler, but would need help this time if he was going to win enough for Jarvis and Robert to resupply the ship without dipping into the ship's coffers, and the crew's wages.

II-CinderRadcliff-II Jackson123 Ticl , JoUhWrites

---

"Right this way, my lord. Madame" Luke said, bowing to both Edward and his bodyguard as he led them both up the stairs to the upper level of the tavern, through a door then up two more flights of stairs. The top floor of the building was of a completely different character than the other levels. For one, everything was red - red carpets, red silk curtains, red furniture. More importantly, everything was nice. Edward, due to this past, would recognize some of the ornaments on the walls - historic artifacts and antiques, each of which had a lore. At the back of the loung was an astroglobe, constantly turning, showing the movements of all the major continents and island chains around the world. On the wall was a moon clock - a metal device which positioned all 38 moons of Celesits in two dimensions, with gauges at the bottom showing the effect of their alignment on the winds.

These quarters were more suited to the wife of a Ridoflite Senator, not the owner of an alehouse, even if it was the largest and most successful alehouse on the island. It was clear this Lady Matilda was a woman of influence in this breakaway state, and someone who had additional streams of income.

Lady Matilda emerged from the left of the room, taking a seat in one of the red silk sofas, facing four others with an ebony table in the middle.

"Please, have a seat. Luke, fetch our guests Rimizzo. Or shall it be Ascalon?" she asked, naming two top shelf Ridolfite wines. Herself, Matilda was sipping on straight vodka.

"I'll cut straight to the point, your lordship" Matilda started.

"I don't know who you are, even though my business is information, and that's half the reason I've invited you here. The other half is you clearly are someone" she added. She didn't ask Edward's name, likely figuring she wouldn't get an honest answer.

"I'd like to play a game, if you'll humor me. My business is secrets. I share a secret with you, and you share one with me. If you ever feel as if I'm not providing you equally valuable secrets, the game can end when you choose"

Matilda took a swig of her vodka.

"I'll start. Count Gandolfini is on the island, and Realizzatore is hidden in the clouds above". She paused. "I can tell you his whereabouts, but that'll cost you a secret".

Gandolfini. Realizzatore. Both those names were familiar to Edward. Count Vespasiano Gandolfini was a former Gladiator of Atagan origin - once the best Gladiator in the Collosseo. A favorite of Emperor Ottaviano IV, he was manumitted and had a long and successful military career, becoming Governor of the port of Lascia Majora and its colonial dependencies three years prior. Realizzatore was his ship of the line, boasting 49 guns on each side - one of the heaviest armed ships in Ridolfite service. Why, if he was on the island and the ship was circling overhead a pirate port, had there been no fighting?

Obsidian , animegirl20