Sylan Dynasty

[Steel Tiger]

Prince Shinobu had finally arrived in the country of Carine. It seemed like such a miserable place to him mostly because it was currently raining in large abundance. If it was not for the fact that an umbrella had been supplied to him for the trip he would have been horribly drenched and soaked. Not that it seemed to cover every inch of him, he could of sworn to himself that drops of rain were running down a pair of small bat like wings and some of it on his very large stomach. It seemed the last one would prove true as there were some wet and darkened spots on the hanfu like clothing he wore in the abdomen area. His black hair and horns were still wet from being caught off guard by the weather.


He arrived into a port town of sorts in a seemingly small ship to draw less attention at least it was quite fast. Most of the cargo on board the ship was just regular trades, maybe fish, on occasion he could have sworn noticing an occasional stowaway make noises below. The trip had made him feel rather, unbalanced and sick along the way which is why most of it was spent sleeping. It seemed the town itself had risen from out of the earth and smoothed itself over. The dock was made of stone the buildings of the town ahead seemed to be made of stone, hell even the ground of which the citizens walked on seemed to be made out of stone as well. He had yet to notice any chaos which seemed rather surprising by rumors.


He somewhat regretted the trip now even though he had volunteered himself for it. In order to look at this country and perhaps find a tutor here to expand upon and improve upon a skill beyond being simply an amateur at it. It was even worse that he was forced to leave most comforts of home and travel very lightly thanks to some family opinion and matters. There was one thing that was somewhat more cheerful, that the trip had been quite direct. Instead of multiple annoying and long stops along the way. He began making his way toward the town perhaps to see or find something of interest, where else was there to start?

 

[Caragia]

"All those who wish to disembark, do so now or stay on the ship," the First Mate bellowed out. "If you do stay, help restock or pay more." At that, a door from below deck opened up and a woman stepped out. She shouldered the bag she carried over kimono clad shoulder. Ugh, I hate it when it rains, she thought to herself as she flicked her snow-white ear. Sighing, the woman made her way past the first mate to the docks; her tail swishing lazily behind her. She ignored the derisive glances and murmurs that were shot her way. Instantly, one would no that she was a foreigner and the crew treated her as such. The only reason they let her aboard was because the pay was good, which she didn't particularly care.


She had left her homeland months ago, in search of better things. Although, her friends back home would say it was because her bounty caught up with her. Either way, she had decided she'd needed a change in scenery. So, she gathered her things, the coin she'd gathered, and set off. Now she stood upon the bustling docks, pausing as she took in the sites. "So this is a Carinian city," she observed. The woman grunted as she resumed her trek.


As she walked down the stone path, she searched for an inn. "I've got to get out of this godforsaken rain. I feel like a drowned rat," she mumbled with a curse. She really didn't like the rain, which only seemed to come down harder and harder as she walked.

 

[Steel Tiger]

He continued onward toward the city with a small in annoyance realizing and thinking over again the very few items that were allowed to be brought here. Along with the very small amount of help if any that would likely be around the area, it seemed briefly that now was a time to think about and point out some regret while walking. The path toward and into the city that was certainly, pleasant to walk about however. The rain seemed to pick up at some point or another or increase which only made him curse a bit more internally and instead quickly make his way onward in order to get out of the said rain.


There was a brief glance back toward the docks to see if the boat he arrived on was still there. It seemed that it was not so, or at least that he could not see it from here. Although he did seem to briefly notice someone or another walking down the path toward the city as well. He picked up his pacing noticing that. He managed to notice a building a stone building of course with lots of roofing. There was a sign upon it with some image of what appeared to be a bed perhaps, or at least that is the best he could make it out to be. There were some symbols below it that he had not recognized and simply ignored. It would probably be best to head inside the building instead of staying out in the rain that only seemed to be getting worse and worse by this point.


Immediately he rushed toward the building and found the front door. Sitting outside of the building and next to the door was some being in a cloak or hidden under some large piece of cloth huddled up. Who briefly looked up to the newcomer and stared at the wings on his back. He was quite disturbed from the stare despite having briefly stopped at the presence of a beggar or what seemed like one. He had heard stories and had heard there were a few he knew that were previously beggars but never encountered one that fit the description or at least so closely. It, disturbed him more and soon he tried squeezing his way into the door. Which required practically squatting down and forcing his way in with a push or two for him, it seemed. Not a clue what to encounter inside the building he hoped to be a resting spot, at least until the weather passed.

 

[Caragia]

It wasn’t long before the girl found the sign indicating an inn. They were pretty standard wherever she went, no matter which country or continent she was in. Instantly, her dour mood lightened enough for her to let a small smile light her lips. The thought of drying out her hair and tail made her quicken her steps. The girl had almost reached the establishment when she stopped and noticed a large being stare at the beggar outside the building. She noticed his demeanor almost instantly. Royalty, eh? She thought as she scowled and shook her head. She saw how the man struggled to get as far away from the beggar as possible. Almost to the point of breaking the door frame down so he could squeeze inside. The girl sighed and approached the poor soul.


She crouched in front of the man huddling in his cloak. The girl smiled gently to show him she meant no harm. Next, she reached into her bag to pull out a few gold coins. She knew this was not the currency here but she knew that he could at least use them to get out of the rain and get a decent meal. “Kokode wa, iku ōji-san,” she said. The girl knew he wouldn’t understand her words, but her actions. So, she reached out, took his hand, and placed the coins in his palm. She then fisted the man’s hand around them. “Ame kara nukedasu tame ni kore o shiyō shi, atatakai shokuji o shutoku shite kudasai,” she said gently. And with that, she stood and walked inside.

 

[Steel Tiger]

He of the royal line had entered inside the building it seemed. He began looking and glancing about for a place to sit down for a few moments and perhaps receive a drink or food. Information as to where to head to and perhaps places to avoid would be helpful as well if not required. He wished not to stay here too long but simply wait until the rain had passed over. Asking for a room would of course cost some funds little of which he could give out especially without knowing local pricing. Which was, one of things that bothered him another was how alarmingly small the doors around here seemed and the last seemed to be the beggar out front. He was still, shaken over such. Was it possible to really be cursed or fated to fall into such a tragic position in life? Thinking about it would only cause more disturbance. He immediately tried closing and slipping the umbrella away.


The person that was in the cloak had been approached by some girl. Whom seemed to have some interesting traits such as the person who had entered before. At least, the Cloaked beggar had assumed it was a woman, they seemed feminine. The female or the assumed female had a tail too it seemed, peculiar. The Cloaked Beggar had not resisted their slender and bronze left hand, seeing as they were receiving or likely to receive coins. At least, that seemed to be the plan of action that the foreigner was doing. Although there was a bit of an insult that was glanced over. The coins were placed in the Cloaked Beggars hand and fingers were curled up around them with the second foreigner's efforts. The Cloaked Beggar simply took the money and stayed were they were. Hiding the coin away for now as the foreigner went inside the Inn. There was a brief gust of wind that rolled by with a stretched out and unsure note. The Cloaked Beggar simply stayed where they were, liking the rain. It was definitely reliable too.

 

[Caragia]

Once inside, the girl stopped to wring the rain from her hair and her tail. As she did so, she looked about the interior of the building. It wasn't anything to write home about. Wooden tables skirted about the anteroom with a few patrons seated here and there. To her right she saw a staircase she assumed led to the rooms the inn offered. A few barmaids walked the room, carrying food and drink to the said patrons. To her left was the bar and barkeep which offered tantalizingly delicious food. A central fireplace provided warmth to the large room which was also surrounded by tables. It was then that her stomach growled, and loudly at that. The girl walked over to a table closest to the fire and sat, keeping her bag within reach. She got the attention of one of the maids and waited, which wasn't long at all.


"Here you go dearie," Fayola, the barmaid, said as she set down a tankard and plate. "Will that be all yer havin'?" When the tired looking Carinian shook his head, she nodded and patted the table. "Let meh know if yer be needin' a thing more." With that, Fayola turned about and walked over to the young thing that sat at a table. She frowned as she viewed the girl, if she could call her that. The barmaid hadn't seen anyone like this girl before. When she got to the table, Fayola placed her hands upon her hips and smiled. "Hello there. I see yer not from these parts. I am Fayola the Barkeep's wife. What'll yer be havin'....?" The maid stood there expectantly.


"Aoko. I'll take a room and what do you have on the menu today?" The girl replied.


Fayola nodded. "We have rumpkin stew and red bean bread." She noticed Aoko's ears perk at the sound of the bread. "Then stew and bread it is. It'll be right up." With that, Fayola walked in a brisk pace off to the bar.


Aoko smiled at the thought of having azuki. She hadn't had that in a long time. While she awaited her food, the girl looked about the room.

 

[Steel Tiger]

Prince Shinobu was growing a bit more relieved by the minute or whatever measurement of time that was indeed passing by. He rather preferred to keep his mind clear of negative or disturbing thoughts that had slipped in earlier. The umbrella of sorts that had been carried about with him was long put away and seeming to disappear entirely under the clothing he was wearing. The place seemed a rather ‘decent’ establishment or at least compared to some ideas or versions of which were imagined up in his head. Most of that could be blamed on some random stories that were occasionally spread around the palace either by servant or sibling about such establishments, especially foreign. Chaos had yet to swing out and about and hopefully it would not at all. He quickly made his way over to the bar since it seemed like the place to be in order to ask for service or a room or at least that was his current assumption. The price would hopefully not be much of an issue against funding, measurements.


Shinobu was quite rather uncomfortable with taking a seat on a chair for a multitude of reasons. Instead the option to simply stand close to the bar and wait around for being noticed seemed a better idea. It made the air or at least how he felt about being around slightly uncomfortable. That was, until he briefly noticed someone else whom seemed out of place around the crowd. Perhaps someone of Juanji descent as well? It seemed likely and oddly brought a mixture of small comfort and suspicion. He tried his best not to eavesdrop upon the other but could not help the occasional glance toward her.


It seemed the other was receiving service so was he supposed to sit down at a table instead and wait? As she (just to be clear Aoko just in case) began looking about the room, he tried to act more calmly and get a sense of ‘blending’ in. Which of course would likely be impossible for multiple reasons starting with his own size and ending with that he began choking on his spit like an idiot. In such time of action there was a brief and odd movement of a shadow in Shinobu’s own but likely from above.


In the meantime two Carinean’s had moved away from the bar to take a small dice game elsewhere, toward the tables really.