Upgrade your account to a Community Supporter account and remove most of the site ads.

Reply to thread

Message: <blockquote data-quote="Ruined" data-source="post: 794423" data-attributes="member: 113">Glad you like it, Megamania. And since I seem to be on a roll...***1st of Chardot, ‘Divinities Day’ yr. 150 A.V., continuedThe four newly made friends maneuvered through the streets at a hurried pace towards a tavern Silas frequented. It was easy to blend in with the crowds, as the city streets were overflowing with people heading towards the marketplace and the heart of the Divinities Day festival. Few, if any, appeared to notice the bloodstained clothing of Gerad and Surielle.The Sunken Vessel tavern earned its namesake from pieces of three vessels that had been dredged up from the depths of the Blossoming Sea. All were reputedly smugglers and pirate vessels sundered by the formidable Calastian navy. The beams that supported the tavern interior were decorated with nets and other maritime memorabilia. Only a few patrons sat within the Sunken Vessel’s plank-board walls. Silas whispered for the remaining trio to grab a seat while he advanced to talk with the barkeep.“So, who was that man and why did they kill him?”  Surielle asked pointedly at Gerad. He paused for a moment, unsure of how much to entrust to these two women.“His name was Marus. He led one of the resistance groups here in Quelsk, the Cresting Waves.”“And you were a member of these Waves?”  Tréan asked. Gerad nodded solemnly.“Don’t think ill of us. We’re not murderers. We just want to throw off the yoke of those Calastian dogs.”“Don’t worry, dear. We saw that those guardsmen were trying to kill your friend and the young druid,” Tréan said with a nod to Surielle. “We were right to stop them, even if I don’t approve of the bloodshed.”Gerad started to defend his effective methods, but they were interrupted by the elf’s return to the table. He looked down directly at Gerad and spoke in a lowered voice.“One of your brothers-in-arms is apparently in the back. They are tending his wounds.”Gerad leapt immediately to his feet and walked towards the back room. The barkeep met him, and extracted a promise of no violence before allowing him in the back room. Moving past the threshold, he found his friend Leon lying upon a bed. A young female, probably a barmaid, was tending his blood-soaked bandages.Gerad had quickly adopted Leon as a close friend based upon his name. He still missed his brothers dearly, and the camaraderie he found in the Cresting Waves was sorely needed. Seeing him injured like this hurt Gerad. Leon acknowledged Gerad and the two talked for a short while, as the barmaid returned to the front room. Gerad let him know of Marus’ passing, and the two vowed to continue his works. When Leon asked what Gerad intended to do, he wasn’t very sure.“I think I may be heading north.”They let the matter stand at that, and after a careful hug, Gerad left Leon to rest. Returning to the front, Gerad noted that the two females were missing. When he questioned Silas, the elf nodded to another door. After a moment, the two ladies exited in much more casual attire, clean of bloodstains. A deal had been struck with the barmaid, and clothing had been purchased.The four gathered together to plan what their next move would be. Fate had cast them together for the moment, and perhaps they could assist one another through these trials. Fate seemed to have other plans in mind, however. A young lad burst into the doors of the Sunken Vessel, short of breath.“It’s horrible, I tell you. The Satrap…  The Satrap has been assassinated.”</blockquote>

Verification