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The Chronicle of Burne, and Some Others of Lesser Importance *Updated May 17th, 2009*
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<blockquote data-quote="Rolzup" data-source="post: 2823021" data-attributes="member: 10105"><p><strong>Interlude: Ship of Fools, Part 1, "Vulgar Intrigues" </strong></p><p></p><p><Aboard the MCSDF Windsprint, 2 days sail from St. Tarte's Island, en route to Narayan:CITY.></p><p></p><p>It's hot. It's crowded, despite the loss of the enlisted crew. It's surprisingly dull, considering that the enlisted men have been replaced by saucy half-dressed female refugees from the Shrine of St. Tart's Bodice, for whom propriety is mortal sin.</p><p></p><p>The priestesses, to no one's surprise, have a real thing for seamen. However, their interest in a Free Company made up of foreigners, a pyromaniac, the mad and the soon-to-be married is flaccid at best.</p><p></p><p>Captain Spar and a skeleton crew of his relatives man the "Wretched Excess". Most of his boys are aboard the Windsprint, getting a crash-course in navy life. This education proves to be so popular that Spar has them drawing lots each morning for the opportunity to serve.</p><p></p><p>The nights pass unquietly, disturbed by religious fervor. Sacraments are dispensed, as often as the sailors stamina will allow. By the 3rd day Captain Spar abandons his own ship, asking permission to come aboard Windsprint.</p><p></p><p>"Just trying to do my part to get her home safely." he says to an incredulous Burne, as he all but fondles the starboard gunwale. Burne tries to remind him that he has a ship of own when Spar cuts him off.</p><p></p><p>"You wouldn't have any of that herb, what do they call it in Narayan...Le Weekender...umm...Sialis root, that's it! A man my age needs a little help raising the mast."</p><p></p><p>"I had some," says Mallus, "But we used all we had trying to revive the ronin. He had a particularly draining experience on the voyage to St. Tarte's Island."</p><p></p><p>"On the way over? But that's before we picked up the ladies". Jaton Spar mumbles something snide and walks away. Mallus quickly glances around for Rackhir, and then for available cover, in that order.</p><p></p><p>Aside from the...tension between the refugees and crew, the situation is unpleasant between Captain Revi and his officers, made all the more so by the revelation that the Mother Superior can turn ordinary seawater into a variety of cocktails, not the least of which is her signature rosewater and gin. The lingering shock of defeat, the unorthodox passengers, arguments over the playing of favorites and the relative sizes of prows, not to mention the freely-given gin lead to a near-total breakdown of proper naval conduct.</p><p></p><p>On the fourth night out, Captain Revi and his purser Masala Tangier argue on the foredeck for all to hear.</p><p></p><p>Spar says "Why shouldn't I hand everything our 'passengers' had over to the samurai and his company? They deserve prizes. And I'll be damned if I give them any more from our stores."</p><p></p><p>"Give them everything but the brass bottle," says Mr. Tangiers quietly.</p><p></p><p>"Damn it man, what's so special about the bottle?! And this time on the level. You haven't spoken true with me since our release." The soft slapping of the waves, and occasionally sanctified backsides, are the only reply.</p><p></p><p>"I should just break the seal on that bottle myself, Tangiers," says Captain Revi, "If I'm guessing right, that would end what's left of your career right quick, wouldn't it?"</p><p></p><p>"If you're guessing wrong, it might end a lot more." Mr. Tangiers looks down at the ship's passing wake and briefly considers exactly how bad it would be to have pearls for eyes.</p><p></p><p>"The bottle wasn't in the manifest. How did it get onto St. Tarte's?"</p><p></p><p>"It came onboard with the two knights, Raul Varice and Nui Ulgar. I omitted it from the manifest. The Ping must have snatched it up when they took us."</p><p></p><p>"Who are you working for, Mr. Tangiers?" Captain Revi's hand causally drops to the hilt of his blade. "The White Pearl Privateers? The Crooked Sages? Not the Ajakhani?"</p><p></p><p>Masala Tangiers is silent for a moment, then he mounts a feeble smile that suggests bowel trouble. "I'm loyal to CITY, Captain. If you'll permit me..." Mr. Tangiers ever-so-slowly lowers his hand and draws his dagger from its sheath.</p><p></p><p>"Ritual suicide Mr. Tangiers? You don't strike me as the type," Captain Revi pauses in mid-taunt to gape at the dagger's blade, or lack of one, seemingly made of a slice of blue sky as seen from bole of a green stalk-like tree. A creature comes briefly into view on a nearby branch and regards the Captain with expectant eyes.</p><p></p><p>"What the hells is that?"</p><p></p><p>"Looks like a lemur."</p><p></p><p>"One more remark like that and I'll have your guts for violin strings. That's a Gate-Blade, isn't it?"</p><p></p><p>"It is. As sharp as the line that divides here from everywhere else. I'm an operative for the Order of the Gondoliers, Captain."</p><p></p><p>"The Gondoliers! They have no business on a real boat. And their jurisdiction doesn't extend beyond the walls of CITY. They're nothing but glorified city guards with unnatural talking gondolas. And worse, dabblers in Gate Magic." Masala Tangiers says nothing.</p><p></p><p>"So you were ordered to steal it from knights? Who were they? They're the ones responsible for the loss of my ship. We could've taken those savages if it weren't for their lantern summoning up that damn flying spider!"</p><p></p><p>"I was ordered to keep tabs on them, and the bottle ever since we docked at Plame on Novo Saurum. They were members of a Free and Accepted Martial Order of Eris. Wordkeep knights."</p><p></p><p>"Wordkeepers? Aren't they just a parcel delivery services nowadays? They haven't been a true knighthood since an emperor sat on the throne of Eris. Are you telling me I lost my ship on account of the powerful sorcery of two... postmen?!"</p><p></p><p>"It wasn't sorcery, it was Gate Magic."</p><p></p><p>"Correct me again and you'll be riding the keel all the way to Fort Ormond. Why didn't you level with me, Masala? We go back a ways," says Captain Revi, pausing to consider the fact that he never really knew the man in front of him.</p><p></p><p>"I was ordered to lie."</p><p></p><p>"You can't call what you did back on St. Tarte's lying. It was more like talking, spiced with a variety of nervous tics. You'd figure lying was vital skill to have as a secret agent."</p><p></p><p>"Now you're just trying to hurt me, Captain."</p><p></p><p>"Perceptive of you".</p><p></p><p>"I panicked. I was afraid you'd give our rescuers the bottle."</p><p></p><p>"Damn right. I want this done with, forgotten. If I wait for the naval brass to reward them I'd be in their debt until the Gate to Heaven opens and the dead rise up to march through!"</p><p></p><p>Standing at the aft rail, Mallus Lovesworn says to Rackhir, "It's odd how their voices carry. Must be this ill wind...."</p><p></p><p><em><strong>Note:</strong> MCSDF is short for "Monopolis Combined Self-Defense Force". "Monopolis" is the legal name for CITY, but it's not commonly used in Narayan.</em></p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Rolzup, post: 2823021, member: 10105"] [b]Interlude: Ship of Fools, Part 1, "Vulgar Intrigues" [/b] <Aboard the MCSDF Windsprint, 2 days sail from St. Tarte's Island, en route to Narayan:CITY.> It's hot. It's crowded, despite the loss of the enlisted crew. It's surprisingly dull, considering that the enlisted men have been replaced by saucy half-dressed female refugees from the Shrine of St. Tart's Bodice, for whom propriety is mortal sin. The priestesses, to no one's surprise, have a real thing for seamen. However, their interest in a Free Company made up of foreigners, a pyromaniac, the mad and the soon-to-be married is flaccid at best. Captain Spar and a skeleton crew of his relatives man the "Wretched Excess". Most of his boys are aboard the Windsprint, getting a crash-course in navy life. This education proves to be so popular that Spar has them drawing lots each morning for the opportunity to serve. The nights pass unquietly, disturbed by religious fervor. Sacraments are dispensed, as often as the sailors stamina will allow. By the 3rd day Captain Spar abandons his own ship, asking permission to come aboard Windsprint. "Just trying to do my part to get her home safely." he says to an incredulous Burne, as he all but fondles the starboard gunwale. Burne tries to remind him that he has a ship of own when Spar cuts him off. "You wouldn't have any of that herb, what do they call it in Narayan...Le Weekender...umm...Sialis root, that's it! A man my age needs a little help raising the mast." "I had some," says Mallus, "But we used all we had trying to revive the ronin. He had a particularly draining experience on the voyage to St. Tarte's Island." "On the way over? But that's before we picked up the ladies". Jaton Spar mumbles something snide and walks away. Mallus quickly glances around for Rackhir, and then for available cover, in that order. Aside from the...tension between the refugees and crew, the situation is unpleasant between Captain Revi and his officers, made all the more so by the revelation that the Mother Superior can turn ordinary seawater into a variety of cocktails, not the least of which is her signature rosewater and gin. The lingering shock of defeat, the unorthodox passengers, arguments over the playing of favorites and the relative sizes of prows, not to mention the freely-given gin lead to a near-total breakdown of proper naval conduct. On the fourth night out, Captain Revi and his purser Masala Tangier argue on the foredeck for all to hear. Spar says "Why shouldn't I hand everything our 'passengers' had over to the samurai and his company? They deserve prizes. And I'll be damned if I give them any more from our stores." "Give them everything but the brass bottle," says Mr. Tangiers quietly. "Damn it man, what's so special about the bottle?! And this time on the level. You haven't spoken true with me since our release." The soft slapping of the waves, and occasionally sanctified backsides, are the only reply. "I should just break the seal on that bottle myself, Tangiers," says Captain Revi, "If I'm guessing right, that would end what's left of your career right quick, wouldn't it?" "If you're guessing wrong, it might end a lot more." Mr. Tangiers looks down at the ship's passing wake and briefly considers exactly how bad it would be to have pearls for eyes. "The bottle wasn't in the manifest. How did it get onto St. Tarte's?" "It came onboard with the two knights, Raul Varice and Nui Ulgar. I omitted it from the manifest. The Ping must have snatched it up when they took us." "Who are you working for, Mr. Tangiers?" Captain Revi's hand causally drops to the hilt of his blade. "The White Pearl Privateers? The Crooked Sages? Not the Ajakhani?" Masala Tangiers is silent for a moment, then he mounts a feeble smile that suggests bowel trouble. "I'm loyal to CITY, Captain. If you'll permit me..." Mr. Tangiers ever-so-slowly lowers his hand and draws his dagger from its sheath. "Ritual suicide Mr. Tangiers? You don't strike me as the type," Captain Revi pauses in mid-taunt to gape at the dagger's blade, or lack of one, seemingly made of a slice of blue sky as seen from bole of a green stalk-like tree. A creature comes briefly into view on a nearby branch and regards the Captain with expectant eyes. "What the hells is that?" "Looks like a lemur." "One more remark like that and I'll have your guts for violin strings. That's a Gate-Blade, isn't it?" "It is. As sharp as the line that divides here from everywhere else. I'm an operative for the Order of the Gondoliers, Captain." "The Gondoliers! They have no business on a real boat. And their jurisdiction doesn't extend beyond the walls of CITY. They're nothing but glorified city guards with unnatural talking gondolas. And worse, dabblers in Gate Magic." Masala Tangiers says nothing. "So you were ordered to steal it from knights? Who were they? They're the ones responsible for the loss of my ship. We could've taken those savages if it weren't for their lantern summoning up that damn flying spider!" "I was ordered to keep tabs on them, and the bottle ever since we docked at Plame on Novo Saurum. They were members of a Free and Accepted Martial Order of Eris. Wordkeep knights." "Wordkeepers? Aren't they just a parcel delivery services nowadays? They haven't been a true knighthood since an emperor sat on the throne of Eris. Are you telling me I lost my ship on account of the powerful sorcery of two... postmen?!" "It wasn't sorcery, it was Gate Magic." "Correct me again and you'll be riding the keel all the way to Fort Ormond. Why didn't you level with me, Masala? We go back a ways," says Captain Revi, pausing to consider the fact that he never really knew the man in front of him. "I was ordered to lie." "You can't call what you did back on St. Tarte's lying. It was more like talking, spiced with a variety of nervous tics. You'd figure lying was vital skill to have as a secret agent." "Now you're just trying to hurt me, Captain." "Perceptive of you". "I panicked. I was afraid you'd give our rescuers the bottle." "Damn right. I want this done with, forgotten. If I wait for the naval brass to reward them I'd be in their debt until the Gate to Heaven opens and the dead rise up to march through!" Standing at the aft rail, Mallus Lovesworn says to Rackhir, "It's odd how their voices carry. Must be this ill wind...." [I][B]Note:[/B] MCSDF is short for "Monopolis Combined Self-Defense Force". "Monopolis" is the legal name for CITY, but it's not commonly used in Narayan.[/I] [/QUOTE]
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