Port Torvin

[Karaunios]

Vilana is intrigued by the weird nihilistic personality of Gordansk, although she doesn't show it, usually restrained in her gestures.

She doesn't seem interested in having her future read, so she focuses on her wine cup, and then takes a look at the people in the tavern.

[GreyWolfVT]

Roan downs the rest of his ale, and signals for another. Then starts talking openly to the group of new folk he just met and somehow managed to befriend "So, how long have ya all been here? I just got here a couple a days ago. Any of yah locals?"

[Rex]

Fahima

Between bites as she munches down her food. 'Nope, I am passing through. I like to make maps but hasn't been much demand lately."

[gurusql]

Zan

"Nor am I a local, I record and document what I see for the church."

[Spearmint]

Gordansk

"You should be careful brother. Some in Port Toli might consider your documentations as tantamount to spying."

He looks up to the half-elven cleric. is it obvious which church or faith Zan belongs to?

"I'm sorry. Perhaps I misunderstand your introduction. But the church and state are in a dire union. How does the church side? With the Prince's Fleet or the Toli Armada? Hedging one against the other and both against the Brotherhood?

Do you record the flags flown from the topsails, the mood of the refugees, the caravans leaving the city gates. Recording who plots, who plans, who ventures forth.

Are we, misfits and mavericks that we are, also of interest to your church hierarchy?"

He addresses Zan, alluding to his understanding that it is easy to be misconstrued and as in the case of the four gallows victims, accused of treason and subversion on the slimmest of evidences.

[gurusql]

Zan

"Your vision is to short term and your scale to small. The events that will be history from the point of view of someone that was there. I record and preserve the lessons of that history, and draw lessons from that which has unfolded. This is not a political exercise, but those whom do not understand the past are doomed to repeat it. In the end, the sun always sets before the next day dawns anew."

[hedgeknight]

Greyhawk, 586 CY, Readying 14 > Remembrance Day
Port Torvin, at the mouth of the Javan River; Cold and Windy and Raining Hard
Inside the Merry Moose...

The Moose (whatever the hell that is) grows louder by the moment as more and more townsfolk crowd in as the rain begins to come down in sheets. Thunder rumbles overhead, but more wood is added to the fire and before long, the tavern is warm and loud. Several glance at the strange priest with a crow sitting on the back of his chair.
"I am Gordansk. I am a farmer. Or was. Until the fell swarms came as locusts and pillaged the land, scorching the earth of crops and those who tilled them. I joined the river of refugees that wormed across the land. We were just maggots of life, hoping for a haven to cocoon ourselves until we can become reborn into newness of life."
"Ha! Maggots of life! Lighten up, dearie, the world ain't all that bad nowadays!" Wilma laughs, chiding the morose priest as she sets down two large trays of food and drink and begins distributing to each their order. She stuffs her breasts purposefully in Gordansk's face as she serves the person on his left. "In fact, there ain't much a pair of jugs and a roll in the hay won't cure. If'n ye don't believe me, come find me in a few hours and I'll show ya! Har!"
She slaps the priest on the back and moves around the tables, heedless of who else gets a heaping portion of her, erm, assets.

Some are quiet, some are boisterous, and some, like Cassius, buy everyone a round of drinks. The beer/ale/rum or whatever else you choose to imbibe flows freely for the next hour or so as the deluge turns the mud outside into a soupy mess. While talk turns to the war, a young muddy street urchin pushes through the crowd and approaches Zan.
Zan recognizes the young girl who asked him for money...right before he was robbed. Before he can say (or do) anything, she speaks, "I'm sorry fer...well, fer us taking all yer coin. I didn't know Ricky was gonna do that. I just...erm...I just figured..."
She looks down at her muddy feet and Zan (as well as anyone close by) notices the girl is filthy, having lice in her hair and several days (weeks?) worth of grime on her...and her stomach growls so loudly it startles Gordansk's crow.

urchin.jpg (18.07 KiB) Viewed 1142 times

Wilma spies the child almost immediately and give her a hard look as she stomps toward her. The child cowers and looks about to bolt when the crowd suddenly quiets down and begins to move out of the way, making room for the armed guards who are entering. The guards are wet and look angry, armed with broadswords and gleaming in metal; there are a dozen of them. Walking behind them, and entering the Moose to quite a few gasps and stares is Count Erasmus Tydan, the ruler and most powerful person in Port Torvin.



He walks straight up to the table where Gordansk and the others sit. The filthy urchin dives under the table and huddles at Zan's feet. "Well now, do I have the pleasure to meet the man who disrupted a very damn good hanging? I didn't get your name. Mine is Erasmus Tydan. I oversee the goings on, the ship arrivals and departures, and particularly the punishments for the masses here in Port Torvin. I serve His Royal Highness, Prince Jeon II of Monmurg."
The Count pulls up a chair and places a muddy boot in it and leans over, crossing his arms on the back of it. "Give me three good reasons not to arrest you...and your companions. The gallows are still up and we in Port Torvin like to keep them oiled and ready for frequent use."

[GreyWolfVT]

Roan looks at the count and says "Well fer one count, sir. We all just met the man and asked ta join him fer a drink and some eats. Other than that ain't none of us known that fella till bout a half hour so so ago."

[Rex]

Fahima

Fahima decides it is better to keep he mouth shut for now. She works on finishing her meal.

[GreyWolfVT]

Roan "Sir, count I should add that most of us just met on this day. Very few o us knew anyone ere before." the dwarf then decides it is a good time to stop talking.

[gurusql]

Zan

Zan says in a confident voice, "Speaking only for myself Count Tydan, I believe the answer that you are looking for is one you are wise, two we just met each other in the last 30 minutes so there is no crime here and three it is raining outside so you will not get a great audience."

[Monsieur Rose]

Cassius

The Archer can't help but chuckle at the situation. "What did I say? Agitator. I sure can pick them, huh?"

Cassius stands up, most likely causing a dozen guards to stiffen, and addresses the Count. "Count Tydan? Good to meet you. As I was just telling these folk, remembrance day should be a merry time, not a time for troubles. We're certainly not looking for trouble on such a fine day, only fine drinks and fine company."

He smiles and glances down at the watered drinks and damp party. "Maybe you could tell us where we could find either. I could even be persuaded to buy a round or two."

[GreyWolfVT]

Roan can't help but chuckle to himself at Cassius. "Yer offerin ta buy more drinks, Cassius? I wish I'd met ya years ago lad."

[Rex]

Fahima

Fahima chuckles at Roans comment.

[Spearmint]

Gordansk

Bitterly regrets swapping out his original Hold Person spell in favour of casting an Augury as it suited more initial roleplay.

The pale faced and gaunt featured priest looks up into the prideful, leering face of the Count. His drinking and feasting companions already stuffing mouths full of food to stifle their voices or speak an excuse on his behalf.

He stops grinding his pestle and mortar, reaching for the hot boiled water in his tin cup. He pours it into his bowl, mixing the concoction into a herbal tea.

"I felt a Divine unction to soothsay into future matters. I offered an opportunity for one here who would sup with me to hear what the Gods would predict for them but none were so curious or brave to chance knowledge of certain futures lest they be unable to master fate for themselves.

Were you not entertained by Fate's whims. Taking three and whisking one away to come back and haunt you as a shadow?

Destiny has brought you here Count Tydan but it is not to my table that your boot rests at but the Raven Queen's. She will give you the three answers you seek."

He sips from the herbal bowl then passes it to Erasmus to drink and if he does, I will finish the Augury spell and predict some future for him.

see private forum.

[GreyWolfVT]

Roan not knowing all the time when to stop talking cuts in after Gordansk "Sounds like a reasonable offer ta me Count. See how could anyone not like this one, Eh? Gordansk seams like tha good sort if yah ask me."

[Karaunios]

Vilana keeps eating and sipping her drink.

[Darklin2]

Sai

Rolls his eyes and keeps to his cup. Not bothering himself with the likes of the uppity Count.

[hedgeknight]

Count Erasmus Tydan is a patient man, and thus, he listens to every comment. He sighs and nods to the verbose Dwarf, thanking him for his input. To Zan, he cocks his head to the side and gives the Half-Elf a once-over. "You have a touch of Port Toli in your tone," Count Tydan muses, tapping his chin, thinking. "Your robes...they too seem familiar."
He chuckles along with Roan and Fahima at the humor of Cassius, even replying, "Perhaps the rain has thinned the wine too much for your liking, master Elf."
But then, the object of his initial query speaks up and he stops laughing or smiling.
When asked whether he was entertained, Count Tydan spreads his hands and replies, "I'm always entertained by a good hanging. But today's display, well, it left me wanting something more."

"Destiny has brought you here Count Tydan but it is not to my table that your boot rests at but the Raven Queen's. She will give you the three answers you seek."
"The Raven Queen?" the Count replies with a frown, as if confused...or uncertain.
Gordansk sips from the herbal bowl then passes it to Erasmus to drink.

Almost immediately there are two sword blades pointed within an inch of the itinerant preacher's face. Guards fan out in a protective arch for their Count. "Sir, I would counsel against drinking whatever concoction this...carrion crow offers," says the guard closest to the Count's right hand. Count Tydan considers the warning, never taking his eyes off of Gordansk, and reaches for the bowl. Without pause he puts it to his lips and takes two sips from it, frowning at the taste.
"Ask these of your Raven Queen:
One - Are these men and women, Dwarves and Elves, to be trusted with my mission?
Two - Is the child indeed my own?
Three - Should I hang this preacher of doom?"

[Rex]

Fahima

Fahima gulps at the Counts last question. She keeps shifting her gaze from Count to Insane Priest and back again.