Siobhan's fantasy epic of eipc fantasy (open, PM me first)

[siobhancan99]

reply to Jon

The harbor was integral to the city, and so Jon was running more away from the harbor towards a place to fish and sleep for the night. Once he went an hour or so out of town, he was surrounded by farmsteads but the are was still sparsely populated justa scant 4 miles from the town. He found the pools north of the rapids, with scools of the little fish and catching them was easy enough. As the sun went down, he was able to build a small fire and eventually sleep by the coals. sometime around when the moon set, however, heheard the breaking of branches and woke. unarmored for his sleep his shield and sword were at hand, if he chose to reach for them...

 

[siobhancan99]

Reply to Clancy

Kasia looks genuinely surprised but covers it "well. I mean. I might... happen... to know where we can find Mr. Simic. Maybe" she shifts a little in her seat and sips the last of her coffee "if you're serious about going to meet him." She brushes her tangle of crimson curls back from her face "Honestly I'm pretty sure he doesn't have a beef with you, but I'll come along you know... just in case" she gestures to the other wisde of the basin , back towards the wall "he's got a house up there in the heights. big old mansion kind of thing. You can see his vineyards on the northeast face of the Pikes..." the Pikes being the local nickname for the mountain range. "we can catch a carriage. you have a few coins in your pocket yeah?"

 

[siobhancan99]

For Clancy

"he will want to see you and I'm sure it's fine." she smiles and puts her hand on his back, looking over the vineyards in the near dark. Of course, with her heritage she could see much better than the human. She offers a smile, then when the door opens she sketches a bow "I've brought Mister Simic a gift." She flashes her best and brightest smile to the butler "you may tell him that Clancy Dunne is here to see him."

"Of course miss Kasia" the butler sniffs, apparently aware of her. "I'll you know where the parlor is, of course" He gestures, and she steps inside, beckoning Clancy to follow. While the house was large, it was not opulent inside. the furnishings were extremely tasteful and probably expensive, but in that old money way that abhorred ostentation. Only someone of the appropriate class would truly know the ungodly sums spent to make something look so simple.

 

[siobhancan99]

Kasia flashes him a nervous smile "are we cross? I told you it's safe and it is" she slips into the parlor when the voice comes. Behind the desk is Jozep. The elder Simic bears little resemblance to the younger. though mid-forties, his hair is grey and hangs around a nearly bald pate. he's well dressed, polished and polite. He gestures "your payment will be taken off the balance of what you owe me,Kasia. A drop in a 30 gallon barrel, but it will be taken off the ledger."

Jozep stands, pouring a glass of red from a crystal decanter. he takes a sip himself, then gestures "anyone?" after showing the wine is safe to drink "Its a nice Plavic Mali. from about six years ago. A little young but... it was a decent year"

The redhead, a little subdued and looking at least a little remorseful pours herself a glass. she sips at it, looking down at a glass of such clarity it probably cost a year's wages for most people. she sighs, careful with it, and looks over at the window towards the dark vineyard.

"Mr.... Dunne is it? not an original settler then" the older Simic smiles "I am told, by your associate, that you are a man of discernment and discretion and I think your little... encounter with my wayward son Andrej proves that. First, allow me to assure you I mean you no ill will. Rather the opposite. I am quite grateful."

 

[siobhancan99]

Reply to Clancy

"I'm glad you enjoy it. It's not what we typically sell. We keep the reserve for family and for our taxes. You'll find it at the Duke's table of course." The man sits on the desk, half standing. he looks up at a picture of a woman, local by the coloring with pale pale skin and almost raven black hair. Andrej looked quite a bit like her "My first wife" Jozep gestures "When I was very young, I met her. Her passion for life was infectious. She was an artist, sketching birds in the Vineyard. She had no idea of who I was, as I was always laboring among the vines. She assumed i worked there." He sighs "it wasn't until after I asked her to marry me that she found out she would never have to work again. We had a happy decade. She took ill when Andrej was 10." he sips again then sets the glass aside "She had no head for business, though and the boy is much the same. Growing grapes to make wine is about... its about understanding the past, understanding the present and predicting the future. What soil produces what qualities in a wine? what does the rain today mean for the crop? What will the tastes of the public be in 7 years time?" he waves a hand "the boy only thinks of the moment" He sits, reflective "I remarried. This time for her sensability and her connections to the Ludowy markets. She's a pretty girl. but unlike my beloved Anja Radomilia has a head for this" he smiles "I have another son. At 4 he can read, and he can do figures in his head. When he is given a sweet he saves half of it for later, hiding it so he can eat it before bed. " He picks up his discarded wine glass "I suppose you wonder why I am telling you all this. Andrej... I love him but I do not understand him. he has too much of his mother in him and while i love that... I can't hand over the Simic family to him. I'm going to let him head off and... do whatever it is he wants to do. I'll give him some coin and send him south or East to seek his fortune as a warrior."

He sighs "I have no illusions that I might be sending him to die. I may not understand him, but I love him and I want him to be succesful. Toward that end... There is a blade that is rumored to be in the family crypt. The first Simic was like most of the first members of the old families here. A warrior. A man who served the Homines and then came here to carve a piece of what was essentially no-man's land as the empire started to collapse. He had a blade they called Coldflame. I want andrej to have it. I want him to feel like he's earned it. I want the two of you to take him." he looks at Kasia "it will be a substantial portion of what you owe me. Not that you can say no" he turns to Clancy "i promise you it will be worth more than the fistful of sovereigns you earned this morning."

 

[BernadetteRochelle]

Gradzlata shone in the waning evening light, nestled against the bosom of the Studik Vid. The Gale had penetrated beyond the farms that ringed the city. She had travelled far from her home on the blighted Steppes in northern Ludowy territory. For centuries, her people’s land had served as the stage for half-hearted attempts at war between Ludowy and Volk. The Gale had learned well that those in power suffer the least when that power is applied to matters of conquest. There was one man who she blamed the most, one fucking bastard whose life-blood she would take a repayment to her people, one Volk Pig whose eyes she would take as trophies. But to get to him, The Gale would first need to pass through Gradzlata.

With night beginning to fall, The Gale was ready to move again. She had spent the day sleeping in short shifts, hidden at the back of a cow’s paddock. While she was well accustomed to sleeping in mud and debris when the need arose, the farmer had left scant little hey for a tall, muscular woman to remain undetected in, never mind her battleax. The cow had been pleasant enough company however.

After quickly bathing in dust, The Gale strapped on her mismatched mélange of leather armor pieces, leaving her winter furs behind so not to overly offend the odd and delicate sensibilities of city-dwellers. If she were vain enough to own a comb, she would have used it then. Instead, she took as much time as she could tolerate in braiding and winding her long, wild, ashen blonde hair. Taking one last deep breath of clean, wilderness air, The Gale strapped her ax to her back and began sprinting from bush to bush, body curled low and hugging the shadows.

 

[siobhancan99]

Jozep considers a moment "Andrej has to face peril at some point, I cannot hold whatever happens to him in that crypt against you. As for your associate she owes me .... thousands of sovereigns. Anything more will have to come from her. Her business is not mine to share."

 

[siobhancan99]

Reply to "the gale"

As the Gale hugged the mountains, she came closer to a small plain upon which sat the Demonska Planina... that glorified hill called a mountain. Three fortresses sat on the mountain. a small one facing north, a small one facing south, and the Ducal Seat atop the sheared off top of the mountain. At the foot of the mountain were the walls to the city. It would be a hard approach to sneak into the town, but there was an open gate and a handful of farmers heading in and out in their wagons. None seemed to be stopped though a toll was collected. If The Gale wished to enter the town by light she could, but there was also the arch with the river and if she elected she could wait and swim into the town by night.

 

[siobhancan99]

Jozep puts up his hands "you shouldn't be gone long enough to trouble over your cat." he smiles "its a family crypt so while it is in the catacombs... the issue however is that the dead do not always rest quietly when you take their prized possessions. You should be gone a day at most, there and back... there are also traps that Kasia has some experience with. She will get you there, and you will get my investment.." he gestures at Kasia "and my son home safely. for that, 1000 sovereigns."

 

[siobhancan99]

Responding to clancy

Jozep shrugs "I'm in no rush and poor andrej's pride is wounded. Best I think that you take a few days. Kasia here will take you somewhere for a little rest and relaxation. On my tab of course. Thanks for not killing Andrej, if you will."He straightens "now, if you don't mind I've accounts to go over. Kasia will see you off." he gives her a purse, fat with coin "you know where to take him. If he trusts you..." he grins and waves them out. Kasia looks apologetically at Clancy "i... i knew he wanted you to hire you. I didn't get a chance to say... really. suddenly you were just... lets go meet him and...I... fuck I'm sorry. I promise you that I didn't say i knew you till you were already in his view"

 

[siobhancan99]

replying to clancy

Kasia shifts "well. I can get you drunk for about ... a month" she looks down at the purse "or I can take you to Gehenna" Gehenna was a rumored brothel, squirreled away in the catacombs which offered some alternative delights but was invitation only "or i canhand you this gold and let you wander off on your own." she tosses him the purse "least I can do" she seemed a little more relaxed, but still wary and apologetic which was not a normal look for her at all.

 

[siobhancan99]

Kasia looks uncomfortable for a moment but then breathes and relaxes "dockside" she gestures down towards the poorer quarters "most of my pay goes to my debt. So im working two jobs really. I can't afford better digs. you're..... you're uh... welcome to come see them" she bites her lip "there's a shitty wine shop nearby to wash the taste of that fancy booze out of your mouth."

 

[BernadetteRochelle]

The Gale's green eyes narrowed at the sight of the city's main gate. She could easily handle the toll-collecting gaurds, but that would obviously bring dozens more down on her head and she wasn't QUITE certain that she could dispose of every able bodied citizen of Gradzlata at once. Besides, the barbarian was not ready to announce her presence just yet. Who knew who's agents might be scuttling about all of those high walls and dark alleys? That left the river.

A silent splash later and the Gale was cutting a thin line through the blue-black water. Surfacing a few yards from where she began her initial dive, The Gale cursed the weight of her battleax, Aumanda. The ponderous doubled-edged blade was rather easy for her to swing through the torso of any knight, but in the water it slowed her down enough to vex her.

In the few moments the Gale bobbed gently on the river's surface, allowing herself the luxury of pique, she spied a man fishing on the far bank. She froze, knowing that he had seen her. The barbarian eyed a nearby entryway into the city's grungiest alleys. If the man was willing to continue collecting his dinner, she would swim off into the underbelly of Gradzlata. If not...

 

[EnthralledByYou]

Clancy Dunne | Age: 33 | Profession: Gun Mage | City: Gradzlata

"Shitty wine seems like the perfect way to celebrate," he said with a confident smile. "Come on. This place is so fancy I am starting to itch from the lack of dust."

As the carriage headed away from the vineyard, he found himself sitting closer to Kasia. She had always been attractive to him, the red hair a personal weakness. However, what got him today was the legitimate remorse she seemed to feel in her deception by omission. She wasn't the same person he knew months ago. Could he trust her? Not more or less than anyone else in his circles. He wasn't sure where she was at, so he would let events unfold and not try to force the future.

 

[siobhancan99]

Reply to "the gale"

The gale would go unomlested as she swam. Like Jon before her, she'd note that on the north end of the river there were no houses that ran along its banks. many folk seemed to come down to the water, a very few to fish, more to get water for the day. A few gave her a node as she passed by, including the fisherman. What others did in the river seemed to not bother the residents at all. The gale would be able to see that as the river made its way south, houses started to crowd closer in against its banks.

 

[JonathanBair]

Jon heard the movement in the brush, so he is facing away from the river. Jon places the shield base onto the ground and puts his right foot at the base of the shield with this toes on the shield it self. Jon puts his right knee into the shield for a good stance should he be attacked from the land. Jon has his sword in his left hand with his left elbow bent slightly behind him so the sword is pointing up to the left of him and his shield.

Jon calls out " Who is there, make your self know!" Trying to sound more sure of him self then what he really is, as a stranger to this land.

 

[siobhancan99]

Reply to Clancy

As the Carriaage made its way into the poorest of districts, the coachman stopped "streets are too narrow" he proclaimed, though clearly they were not. Still, he refused to budge "cant turn the team around and I'd have to go all the way to the dock to get out of here" he sits, intractable, and Kasia pulls Clancy along through a warren of filthy alleyways and squallid dwellings. She's on a second floor walkup over a warehouse and in the almost nonexistent light the human would take a moment to adjust. she swiftly lit a few candles to show quarters that were poor but proud. there was a pile of probably ill gotten goods to be sorted in the corner, but it was otherwise fastidiously clean. There was a mattress in the corner, a few mismatched chairs for sitting and a stove for heating and cooking when it was cooler. there were fresh peaches in a cracked clay bowl, and a bit of the morning's bread going stale beside them "home sweet home" She picks up a jug, sloshing it around "should we get more you think?" referring to the cheap wine he could smell after she disturbed it.

 

[siobhancan99]

Reply to Jon

As Jon anchored himself for attack, his superior nightvision (by virtue of his orc ancestry) would pick up the form of a massive wolf. While most wolves were pack animals and shied away from humans, this one was alone and stalking him. A low rumbling growl emanated from the beast's chest as it made a low circle, trying to get to where it could get around the wall of his shield. Its red eyes fairly radiated malicem and its bared fangs telegraphhed its intent.

 

[JonathanBair]

Jon backed to the river side with the water at his heal, and put his shoulder into the shield as he lowered the top hand guard to the side of the shied.

Jon is clearly in a defense stance as Jon watches the wolf trying to angle its attack...

Jon's foot is on the ground and his toes and knee still to the lower part of the shield.

 

[EnthralledByYou]

Clancy Dunne | Age: 33 | Profession: Gun Mage | City: Gradzlata

"That depends. Did you need a buzz, or do you want to have a couple of casual drinks to wash that uppity syrup out of our mouths? However, you will need more if you are looking to get me drunk, although you don't have to--for most things." He followed it with a playful smile.

Clancy nodded approvingly as he looked around the room. "A room says a lot about a person you know. Not the cost of things, that's relative. I see that you care about your space, and take control of the parts of your life in the areas that you can. Even if not everything always goes to plan."

 

[siobhancan99]

Replying to Jon

As the Half orc moves towards the river, giving ground, the beast circles in. It moves, shifting to and fro, trying to find a way past that shield. Finalyl it springs, throwing tis weight against the heavy steel barrier, only to slide back off it as Jon's stance plants the shield firmly in place. IT growls, then howls before circling again. Jon would hear iit dip into the shallows of the river, seeking a way around his massive ancient style shield.

 

[siobhancan99]

Reply to Clancy

"I'll be right back then" she bounces out of the room, running down the steps and into the night. A few minutes pass, but she returns with another jug "not to get you drunk but to lubricate the conversation. One way or another" she pours a few glasses into chipped clay mugs, and hands one to the mage. She sits and picks the conversation back up where it left off "well. I don't have a lot of stuff so its easy enough to keep clean" she grins over at him, "i've got a few nicer things stashed up at Simic's. Things I prefer to keep from the theives in this neighborhood at least. Dressed mostly. clothes, some tools." she stretches and settles "SO where's your bolt hole? Surely you aren't sleeping at Ludmilla's?" She gets a small grin "if you can sleep there you can sleep anywhere i suppose. Oh milord, oh milord.... OH MILORD" she calls out, in exageratd fake ecstacy "not really optimal conditions for getting a bit of shut eye"

 

[JonathanBair]

Jon could see it was still in reach of his shield. Jon lunged at the animal, and this motion sent the base of the shield from the ground lifting and moving it up as the top of his shield slid over his head. The strong wood with the metal face now moving up to hit the wolf front leg/shoulder and rib area. Jon's sword still pointing to the animal along side the shield.

Jon hopes the shield hard hit will make the wolf back off along the river bank and lose interests in him, but if the wolf rides the shield up it will be stabbed by his long sword...

 

[siobhancan99]

Replying to Jon

The beast snarls as it is hit, and it bounces back along the ground, but it rolls up swifrly and darts under the raised shield, biting for Jon's booted feet. the teeth rend the leather, leaving scratches on his skin but at the same time, it is exposed enough that Jon could likely dispatch it with a blow from the sword, its body angled oddly under the shield, weirdly distended as if its hate for the man overrode its sense of self preservation.

 

[JonathanBair]

As the wolf went under Jon's shield. Jon moved his wrist back to his side pointing the sword just below the ribs to the side of the belly area. Jon sent the sword thrusting hard and deep into the wolf as his sword sank threw the fur of the wolf. Passing threw the intestines of the wolf before stopping hitting the inside of the of the right hip.

That attack hurt Jon's foot, but will be fatal to the wolf from the massive internal blood loss and all the bacteria from the intestines flooding into the wolf. If it don't bleed out, it will die from infection. Odds are bruising if not fracturing the hip too.

Jon pulls his sword back ready for a second strike if need be.