B6: The Veiled Society - IC

kinem · 22nd September 2009, 12:02 AM

Specularum, the capital of the Grand Duchy of Karameikos, is the most important city in the area. Ruled by Duke Stefan Karameikos the Third, Specularum is the Duke’s home, and the trading center of the dukedom.

The city is accessed by a port. A large river east of the city allows ships to carry cargos inland to other towns of the dukedom.

The Duke has protected his city from attack by erecting a wall around it, which is dotted with towers. His castle is located on a craggy hill that looms over the harbor entrance.

The gate is open. A few soldiers with spears lounge near the entrance. They wear tabards of red and blue with a device of a ship on the front.

Beyond the gate is a narrow muddy street, choked with people. Most dress in their best clothes and many wear brightly-colored outfits. Jugglers and fire-eaters are scattered throughout the crowd. The noise from whistles, drums, singing, and happy chatter make normal talk difficult.

“Halt! Do you wish to enter Specularum?” shouts a guard inside the gate. “The tax is 8 silver pieces, each of you.

All but daggers must be bound with cloth. Unbound weapons are fined.

Murder by unbound weapon is punished by confiscation of property, or death for the landless. Interference with the Duke’s men gets you prison. Treasonous activity is especially nice - it gets you one day of slow torture and then we draw and quarter you. So enjoy yourselves.”

The guard appears quite bored. He tries to watch the festival out of the corner of his eye. He recites his speech from memory, becoming interested only when he begins talking about the punishments doled out for crimes, which he does with relish.

ghostcat · 22nd September 2009, 06:19 PM

A nondescript looking Gnome wearing a lime green cloak and a bright red floppy hat, which almost hides his face, walks up to the gate. When he hears that there is a gate charge he mutters to himself at the same time as he starts to fish out a few silver pieces.

When the guard get to the part about treason against the Duke, Caridoc briefly thinks that the town could do with a new leader instead of the current despot. However, he quickly decides he is having much too much fun to want to be saddled ruling a Dukedom and decides to think about it again in another 100 years or so.

Caridoc reluctantly hands over 8 silver pieces and asks "Where can I get some peace cord as I do not appear to have any?"

kinem · 23rd September 2009, 04:12 AM

The armored young man takes the silver, putting 5 of the pieces into a large bag, and the other 3 into his own pocket.

He sighs and replies "I'll bind them for you."

He reaches down for some supplies and lashes the gnome's morningstar and starknife with cloth thongs and wraps the crossbow with rags. "Starknife, eh? Pretty cool. Don't see 'em much in the city, on account of daggers not needing to be bound."

Once he is satisfied that the wraps are secure, he turns his attention to the other guys at the gate.

ghostcat

Rhun · 14th October 2009, 04:51 PM

"Eight silver? That's quite a high tax for lone travelers, isn't it?" ask Celythia, fishing the coins out of a pocket in her cloak and handing them to the guard. Her only weapons being a dagger and bow, she smiles at the guard. "How will you bind my bow? Do I simply need to keep it unstrung?"

jkason · 14th October 2009, 05:01 PM

Barek raises an eyebrow as the guard pockets some of the gate fee, but merely smiles amiably, saying nothing about it, as he fishes out his own fee.

"Afraid I've nothing for binding, either," he admits with a friendly tone, offering his weapons for binding. "Good of you to help us out like this. Means the world."

"By the by, I don't suppose you know the closest place where a body could find a dagger? Preferably someplace not likely to gouge a soul on the price," he adds with a wink.

OOC

kinem · 14th October 2009, 06:38 PM

The guardsman takes the coins from Celthyia, looking her over. "Thanks. Bows get wrapped in cloth. Hmm, if you're alone, m'lady, it may be a good idea for me to show you some things in town. My name's Lucas, and I get off at dusk, so come back then. I have a bit of noble blood, y'know."

He wraps her bow in relatively clean rags, and pockets three of the silver, as he does for all of those who enter.

When it's Barek's turn, he ties the bard's weapons with cord.

"Ah, a body can easily find a dagger by strolling the wrong part of town at night - but I reckon you might get gouged that way. No, you want to go to Koro's, about three blocks down this street from the gate. Tell him Lucas sent you. It's a pretty common request from new arrivals, actually."

Rhun · 14th October 2009, 07:28 PM

"Thank you, Lucas," says Celythia with a nod, as she accepts her bow back. She moves to head past the guards and make her way into Specularum while the others pay their toll.

Theroc · 14th October 2009, 08:35 PM

Kynar frowned. First he's getting his weapons taken, and then he sees the man pocketing money from the tax?

"How do you propose I display my talents if my instruments are bound?" He protested, looking to the others somewhat incredulously that they would give up their weapons so easily, particularly after the man mentioned knifing like it was a common practice.

kinem · 14th October 2009, 11:02 PM

The man answers Kylar "We'd rather not have our citizens be the canvas for such artistry. Oh, I get it, you're worried about what I told the last guy. The town is safe enough, mostly. If you feel the need for self defense, you can buy a dagger at Koro's, three blocks ahead. Tell him Lucas sent you. Or if you're so talented, apply for a job with the city guard. The guards and Duke's men carry their swords unbound, of course, for your protection."

HolyMan · 15th October 2009, 05:23 AM

"Wells be'n as I has no coin fer yur binders fee, it bees luckys I's has no weapons ta binds." Rezak says holding his hands up in front of him to show his empty belt. His patch work cloak and travel worn clothes show that he isn't wealthy, his three days growth of beard and scruffy face say he isn't clean either.

ooc

ghostcat · 15th October 2009, 02:06 PM

Caridoc waits impatiently while the other pay their fees and have their weapons bound; hopping from one foot to the other, while he watches the procession through the gate. "Come on guys. Hurry up. We're missing all the fun."

jkason · 15th October 2009, 03:43 PM

((OOC: If Rezak can't work his way past the guard and needs the fee, you can have Barek pay it. No need to wait for me to post that action, just let me know so I update the sheet

))

kinem · 15th October 2009, 04:09 PM

The guard tells Rezak "The tax is to enter the city, not for binding. It helps pay for city services like taking out the trash - if you know what I mean.

Your best bet is to beg from one of these other travellers. If you can't even do that, you wouldn't last long in the city anyway."

ooc: I assume that Rezak will get the cash from Barek. Will Kynar pay and get his weapons tied as well?

Rhun · 15th October 2009, 05:13 PM

Celythia sighs as she waits just inside the gate for the others, eying the muddy street. It made her glad for her magical training...otherwise she might not ever be able to get her boots and gown clean.

Theroc · 15th October 2009, 06:16 PM

"We'd rather not have our citizens be the canvas for such artistry. Oh, I get it, you're worried about what I told the last guy. The town is safe enough, mostly. If you feel the need for self defense, you can buy a dagger at Koro's, three blocks ahead. Tell him Lucas sent you. Or if you're so talented, apply for a job with the city guard. The guards and Duke's men carry their swords unbound, of course, for your protection."

"I did not say the citizens of this... fine," Kynar's voice slightly betrayed the slightest irritation at the compliment, "City would be my canvas, the air does just fine for demonstrative purposes, any who wish to test me further would be those who needed the Guard's attention anyhow."

"The tax is to enter the city, not for binding. It helps pay for city services like taking out the trash - if you know what I mean. Your best bet is to beg from one of these other travellers. If you can't even do that, you wouldn't last long in the city anyway."

"Does this tax contribute to your pay?" Kynar questioned, picking up a gold coin, before turning to one of the others in the group and whispering, "I've only a gold coin... have a few silvers to trade for it?" He then turned to the guard.

"Where could I find more information about the Guard in the city? I will have to look into that..."

OOC

kinem · 16th October 2009, 04:01 AM

"I can give you change for that" the guard says, and holds forth two silver pieces, which he trades for the gold.

"Sure, the more travellers I process, the more coin I make. Seems fair enough" the guard says as he binds the swords of the reluctant Kynar. He pockets the gold, but does put five silver into the other bag.

"If you're really interested in working for the guard, go to the barracks tomorrow. It's south from here, near the docks. Mind you, it takes more than just knowing which end of a sword to hold. You have to be loyal to the Duke. In the meantime, enjoy the Festival of Lucor."

Beyond the gate swirls a crowd of people. With the tax paid and their weapons bound, the party proceeds into the city, making their way down the crowded street, and towards the shop the guard had recommended for buying daggers.

Mud churned up by stumbling dancers cakes on the crowd’s boots. People jostle each other, straining for a look at acrobats, knife-throwers, dancing bears, and minstrels. The smells of sewage, grilled meats, breads, sweat, and wine mingle in a strange, but inoffensive odor.

Suddenly the crowd sways to the sides of the street. The music fades and changes to bells and chanting. Statues carried by several men seem to float above the heads of the crowd. A sedan chair, borne on the shoulders of clerics, follows.

“The procession is coming!” shouts a young boy.

The procession stops. Something is happening at its front. Three men are arguing.

A general hush falls over the crowd as everyone moves back from the procession. Two men, one small, plump, and pockmarked and the other tall and lean, are arguing with the lead bearer of the sedan chair.

Angrily, the small, plump man says to the lead bearer, “Bald-headed fool, do you Torenescu think you own the street? There’s space for all of us, without your ape-like behavior!”

The lead bearer contemptuously waves a rod in the small man’s face. “Out of the way of the Procession of Lucor, Radu rubble!”

The tall, lean man spits towards the nearby statue and says, “That old fool? You make me laugh!”

The lead bearer strikes the tall man, knocking him into the filth. The smaller man tenses, ready to lunge.

ooc: Do you do anything or just watch?

Rhun · 16th October 2009, 04:49 PM

Celythia takes a few steps away from the drama unfolding in the street. She had come to expect such violent outbursts from humans. It really wasn't any of her business, and she really didn't want to take the chance that she might draw the ire of the men by interfering with their dispute.

jkason · 16th October 2009, 05:14 PM

Barek frowns at the pall the disagreement seems to be casting over the otherwise-festive mood. Then he smiles, throwing his arms wide and calling out, "Gentlemen, really, there's no need for shoving or name-calling. Not on a festive day like today, yes?"

OOC

ghostcat · 16th October 2009, 06:00 PM

Caridoc pushes his way to the front of the crowd so that he can see the procession. Consequently he as a really good view of the fight. Without turning he says, "Processions are OK but fights are even more fun."

HolyMan · 18th October 2009, 09:09 PM

"I in agree," Rezak says quitely. "But ye knows tat Barek wills gets us pulled in just in you watch."

Rezak adjusts his dagger in it's hidden sheathe. And starts to look around for something he might be able to use as a weapon should Barek change the targets of the chair bears wrath to him and his companions.