Ziako
Junior Member
Posts: 52
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Post by Ziako on Nov 27, 2010 15:19:30 GMT -6
The peaceful day lightened her mood a bit, but it was immediately fouled when a glance backward showed that the Drow had not died from some... unfortunate mishap like if it tripped and bashed its head on a rock or if it accidentally fell onto one of her daggers and bled to death. her step lightened almost enough to make her skip as she conceived of dozens of accidents that could lead to the Drow's death.
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Post by Lavinia Lionsgrave on Nov 30, 2010 18:59:14 GMT -6
The two continued on the road the length of the day without much more taking place. The sun followed its course, the light off the snow changing from brilliant white without shadows to blinding golden reflections with deepening, tall shadows cast across the road by the pine trees. The Drow resisted following, and Cade was forced to drag him along for a long while until the Drow gave up and followed sullenly, cursing under his breath and spitting form time to time. The small party came into view of Wintersgate when the sun stood at the horizon, huge and orange, but they didn't come to the gates until it had mostly sunk and the air had turned a chill blue. The gates opened directly into a large, wide court lined with shop fronts, with the South Gate directly across. Behind the shops were houses, not any nicer than those in Snowhaven, but more numerous; around the inside of the encircling wall were long, low buildings that ran the entirety with towers capping each end by the gates with one larger tower in the middle of the Western barrack.
Townspeople were busy closing up some shops, wheeling carts of merchandise inside and boarding up wagons for the night. However, as the trio walked among them, many covered their noses and mouths, cursed or spat; mothers shooed children inside or pushed them behind their skirts. "What do y' think yer doin' with that thing?" a man asked contemptuously. Cade ignored their reactions and marched past toward the tower in the Western barrack. He led them through the stout oak door into the circular room in the base where they were immediately stopped by a guard who asked their business.
"We are come from Snowhaven from Captain Tremath--" Cade began, but the guard beamed suddenly at the name and cried happily and waved them on up the spiral stair. Cade shoved the Drow around and shunted him up the stairs before him. When they reached a door left open at the top, Cade pushed the Drow in first, knocking on the door as he passed it and came to stand in the center with enough room for Ziako to stand behind him.
The man that turned to them was tall, skinny, balding, with small round-lensed glasses perched rather precariously on the bridge of his nose. "Deniel Cade, is that you?" he asked, stepping forward and ignoring the Drow which stood in fuming silence with his chest thrown out in proud distain. "It is you. Well, it has been a long time. I thought I told you to come back more often. And what happened to the letters? Too busy with the bears, I suppose."
Cade smiled a little sheepishly. "Yes, well, the bears demand a good boxing fairly frequently. Ah, but sir, that's not the point. Captain Tremath sent me and my companion, the Lady Oceanjumper, to address your... ah, Drow problem. On our way here, we were fortunate enough to be attacked by this particular Drow before us. Might I request lodging for us and a dungeon for the Drow as well as some information, er, tools?"
At mention of Ziako, the man turned to look thoughtfully at her, then started and offered his hand, saying with a wide, friendly smile, "I am so pleased to make your acquaintance, Lady Oceanjumper. I am Captain Rezir ((pro. rez-EAR)). I hope Wintersgate will be to your liking, but I hope moreso that our Master Cade hasn't driven you quite mad yet."
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Ziako
Junior Member
Posts: 52
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Post by Ziako on Dec 1, 2010 22:10:43 GMT -6
She shook his hand and smiled warmly, "Captain, Its a pleasure. I'm so happy to be in Wintersgate and I find it to be a lovely city. " She gave him a sly wink, "As for Cade, he doesn't drive me nearly as mad as I can drive him." A lovely hospitable man this Captain. He and impending departure of the Drow to the dungeons intensely lightened any previously foul mood.
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Post by Lavinia Lionsgrave on Dec 2, 2010 23:07:12 GMT -6
Cade laughed a little awkwardly, scratching the back of his head. Captain Rezir gave him a grin and a sly sort of look before returning his attention to Ziako with a broad smile. "I will choose to believe you, my lady." He gave the top of her hand a quick kiss and turned abruptly to the Drow and Cade, his hands clasped firmly behind his back and his eyes glaring fiercely from behind his spectacles. "Now, this is a most interesting situation we find ourselves in," he said ponderously, keeping himself a far enough distance from the Drow for him not to be able to lash out unexpectedly. "Well, well," he nearly growled, pointing toward an emblem sown into the cloth at the Drow's shoulder, "seems we have ourselves one of the Guard Archers, second class, with us here. This is quite a fantastic opportunity. Well, I'll have him transferred into one of our holding cages beneath." His keen eyes softened a little as he looked from the creature and up to Cade and flicking to Ziako. "Meanwhile, of course there will be no fee for an officer of your rank to stay in the inn, Cade, and I'm sure if you speak nicely, you'll be able to convince the lady of the house to let Lady Oceanjumper to stay for no cost as well. Be nice, though," he reminded, tapping Cade on the shoulder smartly.
"Yessir, I will," Cade said with strength.
"Right then," Captain Rezir said with a hint of finality in his voice. The two exchanged salutes and Rezir took the Drow's rope from Cade, shooing the two out with a wave of his hand. As they exited the room, the captain's voice called for a guard from behind them which was answered promptly by the man at the base of the tower. They descended back into the streets of Wintersgate which were chill, now, in the deepened evening.
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Ziako
Junior Member
Posts: 52
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Post by Ziako on Dec 6, 2010 20:48:02 GMT -6
"Well? Where to now oh great warrior, Cade?" she allowed her tone to be steeped in sarcasm. It had become her past time months ago to see how much attitude Cade could stand. He seemed to never tolerate attitude from men but from women he seemed to be able to tolerate anything, an odd man to be certain. The streets were empty in the twilight. It was very much like her own home, but bigger and having lit oil lanterns line the street was unheard of in Snowhaven. It would attract Drow. She stopped to wonder about such an obvious oversight by the guards before realizing Cade had left her behind. She moved quickly to catch him.
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Post by Lavinia Lionsgrave on Dec 8, 2010 21:09:46 GMT -6
Cade stood at the corner of the stores, in the shadows before the light of the market-court. He couldn't help taking a few moments to look around at the town he'd spent a few months in. Everything still stood the same: the butcher beside the tanner, the cobble stone at one corner of the statue in the center of the court smashed with its shards lying scattered around the square base, the lamp outside the tailor still smoked abominably. The acrid smell of the smith stationed in the southern end of the Western Barracks radiated to where they stood. He breathed it deep, closing his eyes, then exhaled contentedly and looked at the weathered stone statue of an angel sitting on a square pedestal with a long slightly-curved sword in one hand hanging down her side, her wings slightly unfurled behind her, and her head in her hand, gazing up at the stars. She had snow on her hair, he noticed, and wondered if her muscle-defined, bare arms were cold. He'd wondered that many a time, when the stars made the stone of her eyes glint as though alive, and her sword's edge looked like steel. Shaking slightly, he pulled himself back to her question, looking blearily at her cloaked form. Then he blinked and seemed to recover fully enough to answer. Pointing, he identified a building straight across from them that had its thick door propped open with a stout three-legged stool. Warm, yellow light and thick smoke poured out of the opening along with the sounds of drinking, singing, and laughter. The sign above depicted a green Dragon curled up around itself with its head on its claws and a sleep bubble rising from one nostril. "The Dreaming Dragon, the one inn in the town. We'll stay there while we're here. Any problems with that?"
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Ziako
Junior Member
Posts: 52
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Post by Ziako on Dec 9, 2010 21:58:38 GMT -6
She gave him her best mischievous smile, "Of course not" She pushed the doors open a bit louder than she intended, but except for the stray glance, it was not enough to disturb the majority of the crowd. They were far too engaged with a song, that seemed to involve a Drow, a paddle, and a rowboat. She wasn't certain what it was about, but it certainly sounded like a good time. The 20 or so people in the main room were seated and sometimes standing on top of the roughly made tables. She rolled her eyes at Cade, "... Yeah, I'm not sure that dragon ever really gets a lot of sleep..."
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Post by Lavinia Lionsgrave on Dec 17, 2010 10:38:10 GMT -6
He smiled and shrugged. "Perhaps not, but it's a good inn. A little overpriced, perhaps," he said as they walked in, taking in the rather large room filled with tables and chairs with a bar running down one wall, the loud singing and the group playing cards loudly at a table in front of the wide fireplace, "but when you're the only inn in town, you can afford to be a little overpriced."
The bartender, a tall woman with ashen skin and graying hair, immediately recognized Cade and stood with a clean glass tankard poised to throw at him. "Cade, you fool-born clod!" she said.
He turned quickly to face her and automatically ducked, though she didn't throw the glass. "Shylla! What did I do?"
"You didn't write me back," she said matter-of-fact-ly. "Quit flinching, Cade, I'm not going to waste a perfectly good glass on you." She plunked it back down on the counter as he came closer and leaned one elbow down. "Now, what can I do you for?"
"How many rooms you got, Shylla? Wouldn't happen to have two, would you?"
"Nah, not any more. Got one, though. I suppose the Captain's payin', too, huh? Nuts. Always out of a good penny with you. Alright, you've got the room at the far end of the hall as usual. I take it you want the iron, not the wood?"
He nodded and said, "I will but not until we've eaten."
"Alright, what can I get you?" she asked again, handing them menus that consisted of two pieces of worn, torn, and stained parchment tied together with ribbons. The variety of foods on the menu was limited but sounded tasty enough. The drinks, on the other hand, seemed above average in variety. Cade motioned to Ziako. "Would you like something?"
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Ziako
Junior Member
Posts: 52
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Post by Ziako on Dec 18, 2010 1:19:28 GMT -6
Without stopping to look at the menu, she addressed the older woman , "whatever the house specialty is. Is what I want with something brewed in house,but if you don't do in-house brewing whatevers the most expensive." She gestured toward the man, "Cade's buying." She continued in a much warmer chattier tone," By the way, I'm Ziako since the big oaf never introduced us. You have a lovely place and no one's even that rowdy." She had to admit she admired the older woman for that. "You certainly seem to have a way of keeping this lot in line"
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Post by Lavinia Lionsgrave on Dec 18, 2010 22:37:41 GMT -6
"Specialty of the night's whole duck, cheese and currants, rice, and mince pie, if you'd like," she said amiably, sticking out her hand. "Nice to meet you, Ziako; I'm Shylla." She looked fondly around at her establishment and the loud yet subdued crowd in the common room. "Thanks for the complement. They all know not to cross me. I've got the best brews in town and a wide selection at that. If they get on the wrong side 'o me, I'll ban 'em for a year and that makes 'em keep in line." She smiled a little crookedly, winking.
"Shylla, I'll have some of your smoked sausage and soft cheese to go with the, er, whole duck I'm paying for. And if you've got any of the fabulous nut bread laying around, I'll have a slice of that, too, if you don't mind," Cade put in, sliding the menu back to her. "And another of your house special to drink. Somehow, the taste doesn't bother me."
She gave him a quick look of acknowledgment and slapped her fist on the bar in front of two stools. "Alright, then, you two sit right there and I'll be back once I've put the order in to Dalla."
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Ziako
Junior Member
Posts: 52
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Post by Ziako on Dec 18, 2010 23:47:03 GMT -6
She shook the extended hand without hesitance and listened with a wide grin to the woman. She was bold, plainspoken, and aggressive while remaining calm. Traits that Ziako admired in anyone. She obligingly took the seat that had been gestured too. She turned to Cade giving him her best innocent smile, "I'm so glad you brought me along." Looking around, she saw something out of the corner of her eye that she was fairly familiar with. There were three men at a table exchanging different colored tokens and money. They were betting on a street fight each different color standing for different fighters. It wasn't illegal to hold matches but it was frowned upon by some people which happens anytime poor people try to make an honest living. If Cade let her, she might be able to pick up some extra cash on the side after the mission was over. The people around here can't know not to bet against her the way the people in Snowhaven did, which significantly cut back on her possible winnings at home.
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Post by Lavinia Lionsgrave on Dec 19, 2010 22:31:10 GMT -6
Cade looked her over closely, scrutinizing her with slightly narrowed eyes and his mouth pinched in at one side. "I can't decide if you're being sarcastic or not," he murmured then smiled and took the other stool beside her. "Either way; I like it here. I used to spend a fair amount of time in this place when I lived here." He sat with his back to the bar, facing the crowd with a vaguely reminiscent expression, but hiding behind his glazed eyes was a calculating gleam. He noted that the crowd seemed a tad more dangerous than was normal in his day, with about half the patrons openly-armed, let alone those with hidden weapons. Most of them were drunk, but three of the four corners were occupied by dark figures that did not hold cups, and he took a dark glance at a very tall elf whom most of the crowd seemed to be avoiding. He tried not to let her worry him much. Shylla returned a moment later with two glass tankards filled with a deep crimson liquid topped with at least two inches of foam. They smoked a little as she slid them to Deniel and Ziako, but they smelled safe and Cade instantly beamed and took a large gulp that left foam across his upper lip. "Ahhhh," he sighed, rocking back, "I don't understand how the taste of pine cones can be so delicious, but somehow you make it all worthwhile, Shylla, my dear."
"I suppose I'll take that as a compliment, Cade," she said with a smile and a laugh, rocking back on her heels with her fists firmly planted on her hips. "Dalla will be out with the food as soon as the duck's done roasting," she said with another crooked smile and a wink.
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Ziako
Junior Member
Posts: 52
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Post by Ziako on Dec 19, 2010 23:28:47 GMT -6
Ziako sniffed the sweet pine scented beverage before taking a gulp of the suspiciously red liquid. It was thick and bitter, but surprisingly light reminiscent of a cider except it probably get people smashed after about two tankards. She made a mental note not to drink more than one. "It's delicious Shylla. Thank you." She gave the woman a wide smile. Ziako enjoyed the rough yet contained atmosphere of the tavern and she imagined Shylla was the only thing that kept it contained. She glanced around the place. It was nice to see people as they naturally are whether it was making underhanded deals in the corner or wandering around in a drunken stupor. The latter tripping and falling heavily on top of the nearby table that had been so immersed in betting on fights. Ribbons and cash scattered everywhere. The five men at the table appeared less than pleased. Ziako chuckled. This was her kind of place. It was easy to see why Cade liked it so much. Dinner and a show was going to be readily provided as one of the gambling patrons pinned the drunken man roughly on top of the disturbed table.
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Post by Lavinia Lionsgrave on Dec 20, 2010 22:46:54 GMT -6
Cade watched the beginnings of the tavern brawl breaking out with a bemused expression before he was distracted by the emergence of a copper-skinned woman emerging from the kitchen. Her face was proud and she held it high above the platter of food she carried in her wide, rough hands. "It's only once in the red moon that I can find it. But that's okay, my sweet," she murmured to apparently nobody. Placing a whole duck roasted to golden crisp perfection on a wooden plate in front of Ziako, she said, "And then it's only one of a thousand." A pile of rice and currants with a few blocks of square cheese sat on a smaller wooden dish that she slid across the bar top next. The four long links of smoked sausage and mound of small cheese rounds stopped in front of Cade who received a long, hard, silent look from the woman before she slid a plate of sliced brown bread across to him, too. Then she sung roughly, "'Once again,' the woman said, 'and then it's off to bed.'"
"Thank you Dalla!" Cade called after the woman's retreating back. He happily took out his dagger and picked up the provided fork and dove into the food.
Shylla laughed at him while turning her gaze to the brewing fight. "Not in MY inn you don't, boys!" she roared, standing firmly behind the counter. "You take that outside or I'LL take you out!"
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Ziako
Junior Member
Posts: 52
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Post by Ziako on Jan 10, 2011 14:00:44 GMT -6
Ziako dug greedily into the duck. It occured to her that she hadn''t eaten since yesterday night. It was moist, tender, and perfectly made. The brawl which had been in its early stage had quietly moved outside at Shylla's insistence. "Thank You Shylla, It's wonderful." It was a shame the amusement was gone. She finished the duck in only a few minutes. "So what's going to happen to our favorite captive?"
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