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Arcanis: Gonnes, Sons, and Treasure Runs (COMPLETED)
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<blockquote data-quote="talien" data-source="post: 3046251" data-attributes="member: 3285"><p><strong>Holiday in the Sun - Part 1: A Knife in the Back</strong></p><p></p><p>It was a bright and sunny day in the city of Freeport. The city was abuzz with activity because it was Swagfest, one of the city’s most important holidays. Celebrating the Great Raid of Sea Lords Drac and Francisco, in which the fleet of Freeport terrorized the maritime nations for three months and brought back loads of booty, Swagfest was a daylong party that shut the city down with revelry.</p><p></p><p>Dril shook his head as he entered the Pale Plate, exchanging glances with Ilmarė. “No luck,” he said.</p><p></p><p>The beautiful elorii sighed. “I lost track of the librarian as well,” she said. “I don’t know how we could lose them so quickly.”</p><p></p><p>“Not that hard,” said Vlad as Dril pulled up a chair. “The city’s so crowded, I’m lucky I was able to find my way here.”</p><p></p><p>“There’s not much to do,” said Dril, “besides wait until Swagfest’s over. Maybe Lucius and Egil will show up drunk somewhere.”</p><p></p><p>“Captain Baldric’s launching Swagfest in a few minutes,” said Ilmarė with a grimace. “If you think it’s crowded now, just wait until he gets going.”</p><p></p><p>“We may as well see what Baldric’s up to,” said Vlad. Out the window, Vlad could see Baldric standing on a temporary stage near a long pier.</p><p></p><p>“As long as he doesn’t try to make me sing anything,” muttered Dril.</p><p></p><p>“Seems the Captain has his eyes on something more than music,” said Ilmarė. “I hear he’s pushing for a seat on the Captain’s Council.”</p><p></p><p>Vlad got up and walked to the door. “That explains why he’s suddenly so excited about Swagfest.”</p><p></p><p>“You two go on ahead,” said Dril. “I’m going to try to get a better view from the docks.” He weaved his way into the crowd and disappeared.</p><p></p><p>Ilmarė joined Vlad as a trumpet sounded. Captain Baldric, a big fellow with long scraggly hair and an eye patch, stepped forward.</p><p></p><p>Baldric raised his hands to address the crowd. “Arrr, mateys, an' welcome t' Swagfest! 't be me honor t' begin th' festivities this voyage. As ye well know, Sea Lord Drac be busy wi' his lighthouse, so 't falls on yer humble cap’n t' take this duty. Be ye ready fer plunder an' pillage?”</p><p></p><p>The crowd roared its approval. Ilmarė rolled her eyes.</p><p></p><p>“I said, BE YE READY FER PLUNDER AN' PILLAGE?”</p><p></p><p>The crowd shouted even louder, and this time Vlad hooted along with them. Ilmarė glared at him.</p><p></p><p>“Two bucketfull o' voyages ago,” shouted Captain Baldric, ” th' fleet o' Freeport first tookst t' th' waves. Two mighty captains had we, an' th' landlubbers shuddered as th' captains gave ‘em fire an' Freeport steel!”</p><p></p><p>“What was that?” asked Ilmarė.</p><p></p><p>“What?” Vlad asked back. The din of the crowd was so loud that he couldn’t understand her.</p><p></p><p>“I saw someone slip towards the rear of the stage,” said Ilmarė. </p><p></p><p>“What?” shouted Vlad, louder this time.</p><p></p><p>“I said,” Ilmarė shouted back, “I think there’s someone on the stage!”</p><p></p><p>“You mean Baldric?” asked Vlad.</p><p></p><p>“No,” said Ilmarė. She pointed at the stage in exasperation.</p><p></p><p>Just then, Dril whistled past them. “Assassin!” he snarled, scimitar and dagger out.</p><p></p><p>The crowd parted like water before Dril, but it was too late. A cloaked woman stepped out from the curtain and stabbed Baldric in the back. He went down, hard.</p><p></p><p>Screams erupted as panic gripped the gathered masses of pirates, sailors, and common folk. Vlad lifted his heavy crossbow off of his back. It automatically loaded itself with a bolt as he took aim.</p><p></p><p>Ilmarė’s bow was out in a flash, but the crowd jostled her, ruining her shot. </p><p></p><p>Dril slashed at the assassin’s legs. She hopped easily over his swipe. Then she took a few steps backwards.</p><p></p><p>Ilmarė gave up trying to draw her bow. “She’s going to—“ </p><p></p><p>The assassin launched herself into the air, clearing the ten feet from the pier to the water. With the skill of an accomplished diver, she plunged gracefully into the water with barely a splash.</p><p></p><p>“Jump,” finished Ilmarė.</p><p></p><p>“Wish I could jump like that,” said Dril.</p><p></p><p>Ilmarė struggled to get to the stage. She threw up her hands in disgust. “Vlad?”</p><p></p><p>The big man took his shield off of his back. “OUT OF THE WAY!” bellowed Vlad. Then he rammed forward, abruptly sweeping men and women to the side.</p><p></p><p>Ilmarė finally made it to the stage, where Baldric lay face down in an expanding pool of his own blood. </p><p></p><p>Dril stood over the fallen captain. “He’s hurt,” he said. “Bad.”</p><p></p><p>The elorii waved him off. She put her hands on the Captain’s coat and whispered something to the spirits of the sea. </p><p></p><p>There was a low groan. Then Baldric struggled to his feet. Dril helped him up. </p><p></p><p>“Now then, 'ere be I…” said the Captain, scanning the milling crowd.</p><p></p><p>“Are you insane?” asked Ilmarė. “Someone just tried to assassinate you!”</p><p></p><p>“Do you have any enemies that would want you dead?” asked Dril.</p><p></p><p>“Now I wouldn’t be a very good seafarin' hearty if I didn’t be havin' any enemies who wanted me dead,” said Baldric with a sneer. “Besides, 't’s nay like I haven’t been stabbed in th' aft before. Thank ye fer savin' an old salt.” He winked at Ilmarė. “I always spake ye be me lucky charm.”</p><p></p><p>Baldric harangued the crowd into coming back. “Thar be ten kegs o' grog headin' this way, if only ye`ll stay!” </p><p></p><p>With that, everyone calmed down and returned. </p><p></p><p>“Stand by me an' we’ll be havin' a fine tide yet,” Baldric said to Dril. Then he turned back to the crowd. “Francisco be nay th' only cap’n wi' a knife in his aft,” joked Baldric. “Now, while we wait fer th' grog, let Swagfest commence!”</p><p></p><p>Ilmarė shook her head in disbelief. “Stupid humans.”</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="talien, post: 3046251, member: 3285"] [b]Holiday in the Sun - Part 1: A Knife in the Back[/b] It was a bright and sunny day in the city of Freeport. The city was abuzz with activity because it was Swagfest, one of the city’s most important holidays. Celebrating the Great Raid of Sea Lords Drac and Francisco, in which the fleet of Freeport terrorized the maritime nations for three months and brought back loads of booty, Swagfest was a daylong party that shut the city down with revelry. Dril shook his head as he entered the Pale Plate, exchanging glances with Ilmarė. “No luck,” he said. The beautiful elorii sighed. “I lost track of the librarian as well,” she said. “I don’t know how we could lose them so quickly.” “Not that hard,” said Vlad as Dril pulled up a chair. “The city’s so crowded, I’m lucky I was able to find my way here.” “There’s not much to do,” said Dril, “besides wait until Swagfest’s over. Maybe Lucius and Egil will show up drunk somewhere.” “Captain Baldric’s launching Swagfest in a few minutes,” said Ilmarė with a grimace. “If you think it’s crowded now, just wait until he gets going.” “We may as well see what Baldric’s up to,” said Vlad. Out the window, Vlad could see Baldric standing on a temporary stage near a long pier. “As long as he doesn’t try to make me sing anything,” muttered Dril. “Seems the Captain has his eyes on something more than music,” said Ilmarė. “I hear he’s pushing for a seat on the Captain’s Council.” Vlad got up and walked to the door. “That explains why he’s suddenly so excited about Swagfest.” “You two go on ahead,” said Dril. “I’m going to try to get a better view from the docks.” He weaved his way into the crowd and disappeared. Ilmarė joined Vlad as a trumpet sounded. Captain Baldric, a big fellow with long scraggly hair and an eye patch, stepped forward. Baldric raised his hands to address the crowd. “Arrr, mateys, an' welcome t' Swagfest! 't be me honor t' begin th' festivities this voyage. As ye well know, Sea Lord Drac be busy wi' his lighthouse, so 't falls on yer humble cap’n t' take this duty. Be ye ready fer plunder an' pillage?” The crowd roared its approval. Ilmarė rolled her eyes. “I said, BE YE READY FER PLUNDER AN' PILLAGE?” The crowd shouted even louder, and this time Vlad hooted along with them. Ilmarė glared at him. “Two bucketfull o' voyages ago,” shouted Captain Baldric, ” th' fleet o' Freeport first tookst t' th' waves. Two mighty captains had we, an' th' landlubbers shuddered as th' captains gave ‘em fire an' Freeport steel!” “What was that?” asked Ilmarė. “What?” Vlad asked back. The din of the crowd was so loud that he couldn’t understand her. “I saw someone slip towards the rear of the stage,” said Ilmarė. “What?” shouted Vlad, louder this time. “I said,” Ilmarė shouted back, “I think there’s someone on the stage!” “You mean Baldric?” asked Vlad. “No,” said Ilmarė. She pointed at the stage in exasperation. Just then, Dril whistled past them. “Assassin!” he snarled, scimitar and dagger out. The crowd parted like water before Dril, but it was too late. A cloaked woman stepped out from the curtain and stabbed Baldric in the back. He went down, hard. Screams erupted as panic gripped the gathered masses of pirates, sailors, and common folk. Vlad lifted his heavy crossbow off of his back. It automatically loaded itself with a bolt as he took aim. Ilmarė’s bow was out in a flash, but the crowd jostled her, ruining her shot. Dril slashed at the assassin’s legs. She hopped easily over his swipe. Then she took a few steps backwards. Ilmarė gave up trying to draw her bow. “She’s going to—“ The assassin launched herself into the air, clearing the ten feet from the pier to the water. With the skill of an accomplished diver, she plunged gracefully into the water with barely a splash. “Jump,” finished Ilmarė. “Wish I could jump like that,” said Dril. Ilmarė struggled to get to the stage. She threw up her hands in disgust. “Vlad?” The big man took his shield off of his back. “OUT OF THE WAY!” bellowed Vlad. Then he rammed forward, abruptly sweeping men and women to the side. Ilmarė finally made it to the stage, where Baldric lay face down in an expanding pool of his own blood. Dril stood over the fallen captain. “He’s hurt,” he said. “Bad.” The elorii waved him off. She put her hands on the Captain’s coat and whispered something to the spirits of the sea. There was a low groan. Then Baldric struggled to his feet. Dril helped him up. “Now then, 'ere be I…” said the Captain, scanning the milling crowd. “Are you insane?” asked Ilmarė. “Someone just tried to assassinate you!” “Do you have any enemies that would want you dead?” asked Dril. “Now I wouldn’t be a very good seafarin' hearty if I didn’t be havin' any enemies who wanted me dead,” said Baldric with a sneer. “Besides, 't’s nay like I haven’t been stabbed in th' aft before. Thank ye fer savin' an old salt.” He winked at Ilmarė. “I always spake ye be me lucky charm.” Baldric harangued the crowd into coming back. “Thar be ten kegs o' grog headin' this way, if only ye`ll stay!” With that, everyone calmed down and returned. “Stand by me an' we’ll be havin' a fine tide yet,” Baldric said to Dril. Then he turned back to the crowd. “Francisco be nay th' only cap’n wi' a knife in his aft,” joked Baldric. “Now, while we wait fer th' grog, let Swagfest commence!” Ilmarė shook her head in disbelief. “Stupid humans.” [/QUOTE]
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