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Message: <blockquote data-quote="talien" data-source="post: 2491852" data-attributes="member: 3285">Cast Upon Tides of Weal and Woe - Part 4: FreeportThe morning sun glowed yellow on the waters of Freeport harbor, turning it into a smooth plate of gold.  But it was a plate that could do with some scraping, washing and polishing.“I hate this place,” said Ilmarė, wrinkling her nose.Garbage mired the water: dead fish and rotting offal, broken creates, frayed and tattered cordages, bits of sailcloth, shattered spars and worn planks, pools of oil and sewage—all of it swirled together in the filth.  “There as many animals here as there are men,” said Bijoux, her ears flattened against her head.Fat, greasy rats, raucous gulls, and sly crabs fought over the juiciest morsels in the muck and grime. The din of stevedores, longshoremen, fishwives, costermongers, chantey men, hucksters and draft animals assailed their ears.  All of it was punctuated by the cries of the ever-present gulls. “We should meet at The Goodly Fisher in Old City,” said Kham.  “I don’t recommend sticking together.”  He looked at his motley assortment of comrades.  “You kind of stick out, even here.”“You’ve been here before?” asked Vlad. “Where’s Old City?”Kham pointed to the west.  “Over there is the Merchant District.  You can tell by the clock tower of the Merchant’s Giuld and the roof of the Opera House.”  He pointed east.  “That way is the Eastern District.  Through there is Survytown and the jungles of A’val.  Stay away from there.” He pointed straight ahead.  “That big green dome belongs to the Sea Lord’s Palace.  That’s Old City.  Head straight for it, don’t talk to anybody, and keep the boy safe.”The crew went to work securing the vessel as stevedores and longshoremen began the daunting task of unloading the cargo holds of the Shrike.“Where are you going?” asked Bijoux.“Away from you,” he said, pulling up the flaps of his jacket.  Kham shoved his hands into his pockets and walked down the gangplank to Freeport’s docks. Sebastian was staring at the ships in the harbor.  He exchanged a glance with Beldin.“I see it,” the dwarf said.Vessels from every known nation lay at anchor in the harbor or were moored in the docks.  Amongst them were Canceri merchantmen, Naeraanthi trading cogs, Altherian carracks, Coryani trade galleys, Skohiir longships, a crimson-sailed Garundian slave ship, Magran brigantines, Freeporter caravels and a single, black-hulled dromon.“See what?” asked Cal.“Ymandragorians,” said Sebastian.  The black hull of the dromon was unmistakably a ship of Ymandragore.  Inside, demons were chained to its hull, the magical engines that propelled the evil ship across the ocean. Sebastian pulled the hood of his cloak up over his head.  “We must be cautious.”</blockquote>

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