|
|
Post by enchilada on Jan 6, 2019 17:25:21 GMT
Yesephina ducked her head whilst among the crowds of shorter folk. She tended to hang around the tradesmen, get an idea of the more dangerous roads, and then look around for anyone who would be traveling those roads. She rarely held onto her change, giving it away or insisting the merchant keep the silvers and the coppers, and she never caused a fuss. She felt her stature might end up scaring some - or worse, so she always stayed ducked down, tucked in and loose.
She had some spare bread today, she couldn’t remember why she asked for so much, a slip of the tongue. Or perhaps she’d underestimated the prolonged impact of eating so much for her dinner the previous night. Instead of keeping it until later, she had found someone who looked like they could maybe do with a little extra to go round, and eventually got rid of it. The last thing she wanted was to offend anyone, but she was blunt and rather straight forward. All the time.
After doing so, she felt her environment was fine enough, and simply sat down against a wall in meditation, shifting, grumbling a bit and finding herself unable to even begin to relax. Being in a human-ish settlement made her a little uneasy. In the forests, nobody cared what you did where, but the elves and the dwarves and all these city types tended to make a fuss. But the people around were fine enough, the bustle was just far enough away that there was a general hum, and, in all, Yesephina was content. She opened one eye, and focusing it on one passer by in particular, she opened the other.
”Do you mind?” She briefly looked behind herself. “I’m just trying to get a moment’s peace. This is the quietest I’ve ever found. So far, I mean.” Her voice was gentle and clear, and definitely loud.
|
|
mrshnigles
Approved
Currently Playing Gorien
Posts: 67
|
Post by mrshnigles on Jan 6, 2019 21:26:32 GMT
Gorien was making his usual rounds about the streets of Waterdeep until he noticed a particularly tall stranger looking around, he tailed her nonchalantly noticing her dropping coin to the beggars of the street and narrowed his eyebrows under his hood. He knew which of these beggars were in need and which were not, knowing them from watching the streets for years and simply passed them by giving them a nod while he kept eyes on the tall blue woman. He watches as she looks around and finds a place to sit against a wall where the foot traffic is not so bad. Gorien waits a while and watches her from afar before deciding on a whim to walk a little closer making eye contact with her, and before he can say anything she exclaims essentially telling him to mind his own business. Or at least that's how he perceived it, but he was not going to leave this stranger quite yet: "oh my apologies friend, not that there is anything wrong with your current arrangement, but there are certainly quieter places to reside in the city for someone looking to uhh... Meditate" Gorien stumbles over the word and gives a slight smile before suggesting "In fact if you are in need of a guide I would be be glad to take you to somewhere that may suit your tastes better for the low low price of 1 nib (copper piece) or a story if you would oblige my whims" Gorien gives a slight bow before looking up for a reply.
|
|
|
|
Post by enchilada on Jan 7, 2019 9:10:46 GMT
She straightened up. “I’m always looking for new places, why don’t you tell me about this story thing? If you wanna tell me, I got big ears so I can listen good, or if you want me to tell you, I got maybe even two hundred years of stories I can pick.” Yesephina smiled, leaning forward and cupping her face in her hands. What she liked best about this interaction was that he was a human and wasn’t staring, and he hadn’t asked about the forest. She’d gladly go on and on about the forest, but it’s like asking a dwarf about a mine or something. She actually wasn’t sure where the dwarves lived. Was it a mountain? Do dwarves come from there? She knew goliaths did, but dwarves? It’s such a mixture of extremes. Anyway, there was a guy and he’s right there - focus. Use your fancy monk brain! “You don’t look like a story type, no matter. How come you’re interested in all that? It’s for wizards and stuff, innit? And the god stories are kinda for the priest people too I suppose.”
|
|
mrshnigles
Approved
Currently Playing Gorien
Posts: 67
|
Post by mrshnigles on Jan 7, 2019 14:54:34 GMT
Gorien blinked once or twice and let out a slight chuckle before composing himself and saying: "Well as for my intrest in the stories of foreigners... I suppose it's quite interesting to hear about the happenings and lives of those outside the city. As a life-time resident of these streets the outside world can seem a bit, well, distant. And so any story you can tell me of elsewhere will be worth much more to me than any money you could pay me." Gorien straightened his back and extended a hand: "let us walk and talk, miss..."
|
|
Alxolex
Approved
H.J. Smee, sailor and thief (3) // Caligo Drogo, ranger (1)
Posts: 41
|
Post by Alxolex on Jan 7, 2019 16:30:52 GMT
H.J.’s day had started on a high note. He’d bought a boat at the docks, an old skiff that was still seaworthy, and arranged to have it outfitted with a removable mast, a sail, and all the necessary rigging. He’d even taken the time to baptize it with a bottle of rum and dubbed the vessel the Wee Devil in honor of his lost ship.
His mood soured with the memory of his loss—lifelong friend and captain Long John Copperbottom had gone down with the Jolly Devil. He’d grown up on the decks of that ship. And Valkur only knows why he’d been spared the grisly fate of his crewmates.
And suddenly, his little skiff seemed a sorry imitation of the grand galley he’d called home for decades. He needed to get away from the docks and clear his mind.
And quench his thirst for rum. It always gripped him when nostalgia got the better of him. “Get a hold o’ yerself, ye sorry, black-spotted, nattering wretch,” he scolded himself.
He started walking. He didn’t care where to, as long as it got his away from the docks. The hum of the harbor and the salty, frigid wind from the sea had become loathsome to him.
He was still muttering under his breath when an overheard exchange caught his ear. A lady, almost frozen solid if her blue complexion was any indication, seated on the cold ground, and a hooded man had said a few words about trading stories from afar. He welcomed the thought of sharing the company of fellow commoners who were not sailors or dock hands.
“Ye want to hear stories from faraway lands, me laddies? Aye, I have stories fer ya, stories from yonder the seven seas, ‘bout forbidden treasures and angered gods, ‘bout leviathans risen from unfathomable depths and cursed, dreaded artifacts.” He cleared his throat. “Though I’d need a drink fer me parched throat and a fire fer me frozen toes. What say ye, mateys?”
|
|
|
|
Post by enchilada on Jan 7, 2019 18:39:27 GMT
Yesephina rose to her feet, stretching up her arms and sighing as her back cracked quietly. “Yes let’s- oh hello!” She waved to the new arrival, always happy to greet someone fresh to her eyes. She wasn’t sure if those stories would be good stories, she always found the plants to have their own way of weaving mystical tales out of bugs crawling beneath the feet of her clan, and they were already sometimes a little hard to quite settle after, a gnawing feeling that you should be far more careful when you walk, for the hero ant of the realm may be crawling.
“I suppose, we could go for a detour, if that’s alright with you.” She addressed Gorien, although she did not know his name yet, which she didn’t think much of. You don’t address anything by names except people. And the trees groan and sigh and creek like any other. Human conventions would never stick in her mind.
|
|
mrshnigles
Approved
Currently Playing Gorien
Posts: 67
|
Post by mrshnigles on Jan 7, 2019 20:33:15 GMT
Gorien was startled at this new stranger entering their midst but he could certainly use a drink and thought that it may be interesting to hear from this seafaring man. He settled his nerves and said "oh hello, I personally would love to share a drink with the both of you and listen to whatever stories you all may be keen to share"
|
|
|
|
Post by enchilada on Jan 7, 2019 20:53:07 GMT
“Then it’s settled, I guess! This should turn out interesting.” She seemed excited, smiling broadly and running a hand through her slightly wind-tangled hair. Pulling it up into a loose ponytail, she bent double very briefly to catch it all in her hands to tie it, Yesephina pushed up on her tiptoes to have a look around, she hadn’t really been looking for the kind of watering holes she’d spent the last fifty years catching up on. There hadn’t been much drinking in the clan, she had to make up for it, of course. But she was caught up now, and only really drank heavily when the mood hit her. It didn’t too often.
|
|
mrshnigles
Approved
Currently Playing Gorien
Posts: 67
|
Post by mrshnigles on Jan 7, 2019 20:57:45 GMT
"lead the way sir to where the drinks are!"
|
|
Alxolex
Approved
H.J. Smee, sailor and thief (3) // Caligo Drogo, ranger (1)
Posts: 41
|
Post by Alxolex on Jan 8, 2019 3:40:05 GMT
He looked at the blue lady standing up, rising above him (most people did), towering above him (fewer did that).
"Yer as solidly built as the sturdiest galley I e'er laid my peepers on," he said admiringly, “and just as pleasing to behold.”
He cleared his throat. "Well, me hearties!" H.J. clapped his pudgy, freezing hands in enthusiasm. "I know just the watering hole for our lil' friendly parley. There be The Smiling Siren just south of Bazaar street. Been there a couple times."
He sized the hooded man with an appraising glance. Square jaw, lithe build, keen brown eyes that missed very little. This lad new how to play both sides of the law, he could tell. He liked him instantly.
He took two steps, stopped in his tracks, and did an about turn. "Me name be Henry James Smee," he said, lifting his red bonnet. “Pleased to make yer acquaintance, Me Lady, Me Lord.” He lightly bowed to each new drinking companion, hitched his pants, and led the way to the tavern.
|
|
mrshnigles
Approved
Currently Playing Gorien
Posts: 67
|
Post by mrshnigles on Jan 8, 2019 4:03:25 GMT
In a few words this man managed to lift Gorien's spirits and he smiled widely. "Well Henry, you may call me Gorien" And he walked with a spring in his step towards a warm tavern
(Alxolex if you would do the honor of describing the tavern)
|
|
Alxolex
Approved
H.J. Smee, sailor and thief (3) // Caligo Drogo, ranger (1)
Posts: 41
|
Post by Alxolex on Jan 8, 2019 21:40:40 GMT
H.J. stepped from the cold street to the warmth of the tavern with a sigh of contentment. The fireplace was well stocked to ward off the chill of winter and the damp of the sea wind.
The Sleeping Mermaid was a cozy tavern that aimed to imitate the seedier taverns of the Dock ward, without the seediness. The result was a bit tacky to the sailor's taste. But at least there were no real sailors here--besides himself--to stir up his nostalgia, and he had good company to boot.
He plopped down on a chair near the fireplace, kicked his boots off, wiggled his toes near the blaze, and called, "Three mugs!"
|
|
Alxolex
Approved
H.J. Smee, sailor and thief (3) // Caligo Drogo, ranger (1)
Posts: 41
|
Post by Alxolex on Jan 9, 2019 17:55:14 GMT
The owner and barkeep was a portly lady with her straw-colored hair in a loose bun, laugh lines giving her blue eyes a perpetual gleam of pleasantness, like she was always ready to laugh with her patrons. She smiled at handsome Gorian and winked at the tall blue lady. But when she looked at the short man who called for drinks, her pleasantness evaporated like spittle in the Anauroch desert. "The gall, Henry James Smee!" she spat. "How dare you stretch your legs in my hearth!".
"Ah!...” H.J. beamed a smile in recognition but then frowned, unable to dredge their hostess’ name from the murky shallows of his mind. Yet a related memory was tickling his brain. “Zephine? No… Zephira?” She disappeared in the kitchen with a huff just as a serving girl, a little less plump and much less sour, rounded the thick and clean lumber counter with three mugs of foamy ale.
Shrugging an apology to his new friends, he said, “Last time I be here was fer drinks and stories too.” He smiled and nodded his thanks to the serving girl, took a large swig from the mug, and neglected to wipe his new foamy mustache. “Though I ken that my stories that night might’ve been a wee bit… saltier than what the usual crowd be used to. The tale of how I got me rose tattoo flustered dear Zim…”
His face lit up like a bonfire on midsummer’s night as the straw-haired barkeep stepped out of the kitchen. “Zimma! So good to see ye again!” The glare she shot him would’ve made a kraken think twice before crossing her. Pitching his voice for his drinking buddies alone, he said, “I may or may not have offended the sensibilities of half her patrons that night. Had lots of stretching room after that tale.” He stretched luxuriously, singing his wool socks in the fire.
“So what stories d'ye fancy, me hearties? Rumours of forbidden treasures protected by dread pirates? Epic battles pitting galleys and dhows against vile lich clerics of the Queen of the Depths and their pet weresharks? Or how I got me rose tattoo?” He winked.
|
|
|
|
Post by enchilada on Jan 13, 2019 11:40:22 GMT
Yesephina wasn’t used to this, wasn’t her style or her class. Definitely not her upbringing. But these places were all unique and all fun. She looked at the chair, and the fire, and elected to just sit on the floor. She’d maybe be more on head level that way.
“Well, it was his idea, I think he should choose. I’ll listen. But then I’ll have my say, I suppose. Oh but let’s keep it nice.”
Yesephina eyed the barkeep. “She looks like she wants something peaceful.”
|
|
Alxolex
Approved
H.J. Smee, sailor and thief (3) // Caligo Drogo, ranger (1)
Posts: 41
|
Post by Alxolex on Jan 20, 2019 22:04:49 GMT
"Alrighty, me hearty. Hear be a sweet ol' legend 'bout a small town's luck, or its favor from Valkur.
One summer night, a very strong storm broke out, and the inhabitants of a small port village, thinking that no one could arrive by sea, were sleeping quietly; also the guard in the bell tower had fallen asleep. Unfortunately, the pirates had predicted that, given the storm, the guards would be less alert, and they had decided to attack the village. They were landing when suddenly the church bells began to ring: the guards and inhabitants, alarmed, arrived and succeeded in repelling the pirates.
Some say that when the battle was over, everyone wondered who had sounded the alarm, because the guard had confessed that he was asleep; who had rang the bells? Finally, looking at the bell tower, someone saw a huge seagull playing with the bell strings, and the inhabitants understood that the animal had sounded the alarm, to reward them for their respect for the sea.
Others say that the guard had tied the rope of the bells to his foot by trying not to fall asleep, and then by moving around had inadvertently pulled the rope, fortunately at the right time.
Which version be the truth, none will e'er know."
|
|
