Eled Lightfoot sat at the dock. This was abnormal for him - a private meeting with the king. A special task force greeting him at The Purple Victorian (A whore-house, essentially) to tell him of said meeting. No sword points. No threats. Just a royally sealed letter from King Asus.
The meeting was in an hour, at the Salty Sentinel. It was a gathering of the largest and dumbest brawlers of the city. People paid good money to watch them fight. Eled could see the appeal. The king would be well protected, and could disperse several of his own soldiers to masquerade as gambling warriors in case any trouble came to him. Not to mention it was so loud it would make for a quiet conversation without much worry about being overheard. Eled knew of at least three or four areas the king would be able to sit and nobody would have a clear visual on his face. If he were king, he grinned, which he was glad he wasn't, that is where he would have this meeting.
The more pressing matter was why. Afterall, Eled Lightfoot did not have a good history with the king after he commandeered one of his ships and sold all the men into slavery. He may have looked the other way when his crew had their needs filled by the women on board. But, in Eled's defense - his crew was tired, hungry, and about to mutiny on him. It was self defense, he had justified. Afterall, distraction worked with kids- why not with pirates? Nevertheless, The king's cousin's son's niece was on that ship taking passage to visit him.
Add to that thirty thefts, eighteen brawls, nine disturbances, 4 affairs, 2 blackmails, and one fraud of which Eled had some sort of connection with in the King's city - Eled surmised this meeting would be anything but good. He rested his head against the post, sighing. Then why wasn't he brought into a trap? Why wasn't he violently dragged to the King's prison? No, they had their chance to kill him. Eled laughed out loud. They wouldn't have, but they could have attempted - he corrected himself. Whatever this was, Eled was sure of one thing. He was needed. The king needed him for something.
The meeting was in an hour, at the Salty Sentinel. It was a gathering of the largest and dumbest brawlers of the city. People paid good money to watch them fight. Eled could see the appeal. The king would be well protected, and could disperse several of his own soldiers to masquerade as gambling warriors in case any trouble came to him. Not to mention it was so loud it would make for a quiet conversation without much worry about being overheard. Eled knew of at least three or four areas the king would be able to sit and nobody would have a clear visual on his face. If he were king, he grinned, which he was glad he wasn't, that is where he would have this meeting.
The more pressing matter was why. Afterall, Eled Lightfoot did not have a good history with the king after he commandeered one of his ships and sold all the men into slavery. He may have looked the other way when his crew had their needs filled by the women on board. But, in Eled's defense - his crew was tired, hungry, and about to mutiny on him. It was self defense, he had justified. Afterall, distraction worked with kids- why not with pirates? Nevertheless, The king's cousin's son's niece was on that ship taking passage to visit him.
Add to that thirty thefts, eighteen brawls, nine disturbances, 4 affairs, 2 blackmails, and one fraud of which Eled had some sort of connection with in the King's city - Eled surmised this meeting would be anything but good. He rested his head against the post, sighing. Then why wasn't he brought into a trap? Why wasn't he violently dragged to the King's prison? No, they had their chance to kill him. Eled laughed out loud. They wouldn't have, but they could have attempted - he corrected himself. Whatever this was, Eled was sure of one thing. He was needed. The king needed him for something.
In the shadows, some distance away from Eled, Vivienne lurked. Her smoke white hair was hidden under the hood of her dark cloak, with it hidden the half-breed almost melted into the shadows around her. The only thing that could give away her presence were her amber feline like eye that flashed when the light caught it in darkness.
Even though The Captain was asked to come alone, Vivienne followed him, and although she hadn't announced her intent earlier the femme was sure that he knew she followed. At least if there was something up she would be there to lend a hand. Vivienne had been serving on his ship for nearly a year now, and had earned her place long ago. She was just as rowdy as the rest of the crew and twice as feisty. It was her first time to in this city and at the moment there was nothing that would connect her to him. Unless someone saw her leave the ship, but that was easily manipulated and twisted into a story of her being a traveler who paid for a ride to the city. But the chances of that happening were slim, Vivienne had no worries as she waited for him to move on.
Even though The Captain was asked to come alone, Vivienne followed him, and although she hadn't announced her intent earlier the femme was sure that he knew she followed. At least if there was something up she would be there to lend a hand. Vivienne had been serving on his ship for nearly a year now, and had earned her place long ago. She was just as rowdy as the rest of the crew and twice as feisty. It was her first time to in this city and at the moment there was nothing that would connect her to him. Unless someone saw her leave the ship, but that was easily manipulated and twisted into a story of her being a traveler who paid for a ride to the city. But the chances of that happening were slim, Vivienne had no worries as she waited for him to move on.
Dok had made it into the city and wandered. He noticed the blood elf and blinked, "Wonder what he doing." The winged kobold flew up onto the rooftops and began following carefully. The curious rogue moved only poking his head over to the tops to make sure he followed the being that had him curious. He originally had snuck in to see what the big people were planning as his tribe wanted someone sneaky in the city in case they had noticed the kobolds, but he'd been lost and a little disoriented in the city cause of how big it was and the brightness.
Eled finally lifted his head, and took a rather large swig from his canteen. He rested it back into his belt strap and his eye twitched. He quickly had a change of heart and returned the canteen to his mouth for three more large gulps. He left the canteen cap to rest against the canteen, then strapped it to his belt. It was now an empty container, containing not only one drop of Arubian Fire, but a fierce stench that could power an airship.
Taking a deep breath, he watched as the last rays of sunlight disappeared under the horizon line and jumped up. "Lads and lasses beh missin meh. And so - it's time fer er show." As he walked, a young girl unclearly sixteen or twenty was hustling to get home with a wheel barrow of vegetables. Eled gave her a hard slap on the rump.
Her eyes widened in fright and indignity as she regarded the pirate. She was met with a simple response, "Lass - yeh come back 'ere in an hour and if I'm alive I'll see if yer frontsides as good as yer back." Not even waiting to see her reaction, Eled began making his way to the Salty Sentinel.
Taking a deep breath, he watched as the last rays of sunlight disappeared under the horizon line and jumped up. "Lads and lasses beh missin meh. And so - it's time fer er show." As he walked, a young girl unclearly sixteen or twenty was hustling to get home with a wheel barrow of vegetables. Eled gave her a hard slap on the rump.
Her eyes widened in fright and indignity as she regarded the pirate. She was met with a simple response, "Lass - yeh come back 'ere in an hour and if I'm alive I'll see if yer frontsides as good as yer back." Not even waiting to see her reaction, Eled began making his way to the Salty Sentinel.
When the Captain started for the Salty Sentinel the woman stood from her crouched position and stretched out her long limbs before tailing him. She rolled her eyes as he harassed the girl, "Best be gettin' home." She said as she passed the girl. "Captain, is known to live up to his words dearie." A smirk ghosted her lips while speaking. Still sticking to the shadows Vivienne followed Eled to the Salty Sentinel. When she arrived the woman took a seat at the bar, a full cup in front of her. Her good eye traveled the room, assessing the crowd trying to decide just who were the King's bodyguards in disguise. She lifted her cup and took a hearty sip of rum and her eyes fell on Eled and the king, suspiciously watching the exchange, ready to spring into action of need be.
Dok followed along on the rooftops and blinked. He'd notice the elf be followed into a building and quickly try to make his way in after them, his small form wrapped in his wings. The little kobold quickly moved through the crowd and tried to listen to conversations as he tried to get closer to Eled to listen and see why he'd come here, not suspicious but curious. He was careful not to touch anyone he could avoid touching as he didn't want to alert anyone to his being there.
Eled Lightfoot approached the king. His un-patched eye swiveled and surveyed the bar. He noted Vivanne, his eyes looking her up and down as though she were just an attractive girl at the bar. He playfully licked his lips at her, as if they had just now laid eyes on one another for the first time. He continued his survey, pinpointing at least 5 known guards of the king.
Quickly he turned back to the king, "Lad, er bit dressed down today, aye?" He ambivalently leaped into the booth, placing his back against the wall, and conveniently out of sight aiming a small poison dart in the direction of the King's thigh. "Seems yer affluence 'as yeh pretty well fed." He jokingly outlined a much larger belly for the King's pleasure over his finely toned abs. His eyes widened, exaggerating his point.
The king, not amused smashed his fist to the table. Luckily the bar was so loud it did not attract attention. "If I didn't need you, you'd be hanging from the ceiling already."
Eled smirked from ear to ear, "Aye, tha's quite a predicament I'd beh in. In fact, I do recall yer niece sayin it was impressive how hung I was."
The king began to get red in the face with frustration and anger. Eled leaned in casually, "But we're nae 'ere ter discuss pleasantries, are we lad? Tell me quickly afore this conversation becomes doubly uncomfortable." His eyes narrowed in the most cunning of expressions.
The king took a deep breath and lowered his voice. "My cousin is ill. His sickness is so fatal that our kingdom's most highly regarded priest has advised that he can make a potion, an elixer that will cure him. All we need is the tear of a special lion that must be placed in this vial." He reached and pulled a small glass tube. "Now the problem is, there are many many political enemies of mine who want him dead. If he were to die, not only would I lose my cousin but with the royalty crowning my heir he has a lot of backing since my son died in the war." He frowned, "Any of my navy vessels, even in disguise, would be pursued and taken down. I have no doubt there are are spies aware of the priest's declaration."
Eled listened intently, "I see. So yer wantin' the most expert pirate on ther mission."
The king nodded, "Indeed. I don't like you. I don't trust you. I can only hope you die and someone else finishes the mission for you. But nevertheless, I need your help. I am prepared to offer a quarter of the king's safe equaling 300,000 gold pieces for the return of the vial, with a 40,000 gold piece deposit now for anything you need. What say you?"
Eled's greed won him out as he weighed the pros and cons. But he did not let it show. "Yer know I can't jes settle with tha'. That's er debt from your kingdom we're talking about, lad! Here are my additional demands, Full written pardons of all crimes fer meh and each member of me crew." The king's face started fuming but finally he nodded. Eled smiled as his grip tightened, "And I want ter beh made honorable Ambassador of the king, with rights to noble property and..." He considered.."and tax collection on all imported goods. And finally, I want er pass to any and all restricted areas aside of course from restricted to royalty areas of ther palace."
"Incredulous!" Screamed the king, "I should..."
"Do we have an accord, lad?"
The king nodded as he realized how cornered he was.
"In writing then. With ther royal seal." Eled handed him a scroll. The king began slowly and hesitantly drawing up the document.
Quickly he turned back to the king, "Lad, er bit dressed down today, aye?" He ambivalently leaped into the booth, placing his back against the wall, and conveniently out of sight aiming a small poison dart in the direction of the King's thigh. "Seems yer affluence 'as yeh pretty well fed." He jokingly outlined a much larger belly for the King's pleasure over his finely toned abs. His eyes widened, exaggerating his point.
The king, not amused smashed his fist to the table. Luckily the bar was so loud it did not attract attention. "If I didn't need you, you'd be hanging from the ceiling already."
Eled smirked from ear to ear, "Aye, tha's quite a predicament I'd beh in. In fact, I do recall yer niece sayin it was impressive how hung I was."
The king began to get red in the face with frustration and anger. Eled leaned in casually, "But we're nae 'ere ter discuss pleasantries, are we lad? Tell me quickly afore this conversation becomes doubly uncomfortable." His eyes narrowed in the most cunning of expressions.
The king took a deep breath and lowered his voice. "My cousin is ill. His sickness is so fatal that our kingdom's most highly regarded priest has advised that he can make a potion, an elixer that will cure him. All we need is the tear of a special lion that must be placed in this vial." He reached and pulled a small glass tube. "Now the problem is, there are many many political enemies of mine who want him dead. If he were to die, not only would I lose my cousin but with the royalty crowning my heir he has a lot of backing since my son died in the war." He frowned, "Any of my navy vessels, even in disguise, would be pursued and taken down. I have no doubt there are are spies aware of the priest's declaration."
Eled listened intently, "I see. So yer wantin' the most expert pirate on ther mission."
The king nodded, "Indeed. I don't like you. I don't trust you. I can only hope you die and someone else finishes the mission for you. But nevertheless, I need your help. I am prepared to offer a quarter of the king's safe equaling 300,000 gold pieces for the return of the vial, with a 40,000 gold piece deposit now for anything you need. What say you?"
Eled's greed won him out as he weighed the pros and cons. But he did not let it show. "Yer know I can't jes settle with tha'. That's er debt from your kingdom we're talking about, lad! Here are my additional demands, Full written pardons of all crimes fer meh and each member of me crew." The king's face started fuming but finally he nodded. Eled smiled as his grip tightened, "And I want ter beh made honorable Ambassador of the king, with rights to noble property and..." He considered.."and tax collection on all imported goods. And finally, I want er pass to any and all restricted areas aside of course from restricted to royalty areas of ther palace."
"Incredulous!" Screamed the king, "I should..."
"Do we have an accord, lad?"
The king nodded as he realized how cornered he was.
"In writing then. With ther royal seal." Eled handed him a scroll. The king began slowly and hesitantly drawing up the document.
(now that my father in law's wake and funeral are donw and things are settling down at home I can get back to posting. Tonight after work this is the first place I'll post in. Sorry everyone.)
Feeling eyes on her back the woman turned and leaned against the bar with her pint still in hand. Vivienne found several pairs of eyes on her, it wasn't uncommon for moment to frequent the Salty Sentinel, but those women usually worked in a particular line of work. She smiled and batted her eyelashes to them her gaze traveled the room, a brief slightly wider smile was given to Eled before she continued looking around.
She continued 5 guards in uniform but the way at least half a dozen of the Sentinel's patrons jumped to attention when the king screamed there was at least 6 more guards in disguise. Interesting, clearly the King thought Eled a threat, she mused before taking a heavy swig from her cup. She noticed Eled hand the King a scroll, was it all settled then? No blood? No running for their lives? This was turning out to be a boring evening.
She continued 5 guards in uniform but the way at least half a dozen of the Sentinel's patrons jumped to attention when the king screamed there was at least 6 more guards in disguise. Interesting, clearly the King thought Eled a threat, she mused before taking a heavy swig from her cup. She noticed Eled hand the King a scroll, was it all settled then? No blood? No running for their lives? This was turning out to be a boring evening.
Dok moved quickly and tried to get past the eyes of the others. He jumped up once the king had finished and went to take the paper. "What this for?!" The kobold's screechy voice came out as he went to fly away having missed what Eled was being paid for and flew into the upper reaches of the building if not stopped. "Big people not notice little kobold. Dokliguk think you tell why Dokliguk shouldn't take and destroy paper!" He didn't fully trust them especially the people of the city.
Captain Eled Lightfoot smirked in response. He looked more amused than anything else, although there was a slight widening in his eye that could be read as a slight shock.
The king on the other hand glared at Eled, "What kind of trick is this? I gave you what you wanted." He was livid.
Screams shortly followed suit as people were shoved out of about 18 guards way, who began firing crossbow bolts at the kobold.
Eled laughed at the king. "Honestleh, may'aps yeh ought ter pick er better bar. Me 'ands beh clean on this 'un." He looked up at the kobold, curious. He didn't care if the kobold died or not, but that paper did guarantee him a lot of money - so he waited, to see the direction this would take.
((Guys I am leaving for Florida on Tuesday for about 5-6 days. I will try to post but there is no guarantee as I will only have my phone -- and I hate posting on my phone >.< lol))
The king on the other hand glared at Eled, "What kind of trick is this? I gave you what you wanted." He was livid.
Screams shortly followed suit as people were shoved out of about 18 guards way, who began firing crossbow bolts at the kobold.
Eled laughed at the king. "Honestleh, may'aps yeh ought ter pick er better bar. Me 'ands beh clean on this 'un." He looked up at the kobold, curious. He didn't care if the kobold died or not, but that paper did guarantee him a lot of money - so he waited, to see the direction this would take.
((Guys I am leaving for Florida on Tuesday for about 5-6 days. I will try to post but there is no guarantee as I will only have my phone -- and I hate posting on my phone >.< lol))
((P.S. I'm back - post away))
Vivienne didn't notice the little creature until it's scaly hand closed around the scroll. Her brows flared in surprised question and it seemed that, she and everyone else that stood at the bar were holding their breath waiting to see where things would go. As the guards began to fire on the kobold, she tried to slip away from the bar unnoticed, taking a place closer to the door. (sorry for the short post just something to get us rolling again.)
The door opens as the bolts let free of their holts, whistling towards the small scaled creature with parchment in hand. A cloak covers body of the figure that now makes a slow approach, indifferent of the action that would ensue further. Vivianne may run into said figure as she rushes through the crowd. In such case, she'd catch a glimpse of purple hue, lacking a visible pupil, hidden not only under a silken green cowl, but long thick locks of brun-hair, jaw clenched into a tight lipped expression. After a moment of stalwart staring, it'd simply move along to a lone table in the corner, watching from afar.
Dok managed to hide in the rafters. "Noone pay to kill clan or no get pay at all cause Dokliguk rip up payment then make sure no good come out!" He began mixing something up in his perch in the rafters. "Leave Dokliguk to talk and tell Dokliguk what big human want from kobold to leave alone or Dokliguk drop!" The little kobold made sure they didn't have the best shot at it. "If miss and knock out of hand, whole room be poisoned! Dokliguk know how to make poisons and not trust big people, thought elf might be different story now know he work for humans! Big people all same! Not notice kobold until have something they want!" He held out the paper. "Tell what it pay for and Dokliguk might let go with no poison but only if Dokliguk free to go too! Dokliguk not want beat by human scum who he no trust! Bones be tasty but they not good people!" He had a precarious hold on both the items one wrong shot by a soldier and the vial would fall, the kobold's threat very obvious in that he wanted to be sure that he didn't want to deal with the king any more than he had to.
As the King immediately shouts to hold fire due to the threat of poison - Eled decides speaking is his expertise. "Lad! Over here yer 'andsome Kobold!" Eled Shouted at him and waved his arms, which was unnecessary as the rest of the place had gone silent and still because of the encounter. "Yeh beh ther bravest youn' kobold I e'er encountered, it's true. Lad, I'm not sayin' this outter fear fer yeh poison - matter fac', I dunner much care if ther whole lot of this idiot's premature crossbow boltin' miscreants take er bath in it." His eye scanned the crowd for Vivienne, and he flashes her a grin. Quickly, he turned back to the Kobold, "They'd probableh wash each other, if tha's what ther palace still beh doin fer fun these days." Eled smiles up at Dok, "Fact is lad, that parchment promises a lotter gold and forgives any crimes committed in the kingdom, like ther one yer committin right now." Eled let that sink in. The guards held their composure, although it was clear they wanted to turn their crossbow scopes onto the pirate. "I've er proposition in mind, if ye'll beh so kind as ter come have er drink with meh. I do 'appen ter 'ave space on me crew fer one more, and would be honored after yer display of heroism ter offer it to yeh. I'm certain yeh 'ave what it takes. But er course, yeh oughtter be able to 'old yer own with er mug. That is yer second test!"
As she made her way to the door Vivienne nearly ran into someone, "Hey watch it." She snapped off handedly even though it was more than like her own fault. The femme turned her gaze to the figure which towered over her own. Had she realized the stature of the individual she might have held her tongue. Thankfully the strange looking person kept going and settled elsewhere. The woman turned her attention back to the commotion at hand just in time to catch the little kobold ranting about poison, "Wonderful." She muttered sarcastically to no one but herself. Vivienne's tail flicked behind her as she waited to see how things played out.
The figure keeps steady eye on the accented Elf and surrounding Kingsguard. Plate clad, were the crossbow-armed soldiers. He takes a quick assessment over the crowd. Not here. But then he noticed the parchment in the Kobold's hand. He traced his gaze to the crowd, to the woman he previously ran into. Maybe... He'd stand, his massive bod raising to adjust his cloak around his torso and bottom half, before making his approach, purple hue dead locked on the woman who was hidden to all but him, face monotone and shadowed by his cloak-and-dagger suite. A man would run into him in a drunken bumbling, and throw a punch at him, screeching something unintelligible. But as he raises his muscled arm, something would happen. Blood spurts from the mans throat, meat and muscle tearing away to release the iron-scented liquid which splashed to the ground, in his mug, and finally engulfing his face which now lay on the ground. Though the liquor that now pooled the stiff borderline of a man's body was freeing from it's snapped tendons and severed veins and arteries, due to the thick nature of surrounding crowd, the stench of ale and liquor, and rabble that ensued, noticing a single drunk falling to the ground would be difficult, if impossible, considering the cloak-ladden figure. Had the figure even moved? None had seen, and none could see a weapon on him. Concealed? Hm. None the less, he walks forward, unphased, to take a stand a couple feet from the woman, Vivianne, and 'watched' the onlookers either rush for the body or watch the conflict that had occured prior his entrance.
(Hey Frigid, before this goes any further, please edit your post. You are an amazing writer. And creative too! So it's neither of those things. Actually, it is just really hard to keep an RP organized with more than one narrator. Please only write about your character and your characters attempts. I play all other characters, and the world essentially. A correction for an example: "A man would run into him in a drunken bumbling, and throw a punch at him, screeching something unintelligible." Most all eyes are on the scene and the danger, especially the drunks! They aren't bumbling around But regardless, I hope you see here how making someone DO something besides your character is narrating the story. 2 narrators gets confusing. Now, if I read your post correctly, you are after someone. That person you can seek out. Phrase it similar to: "his eyes darted about the tavern, looking for his prey"
As another example, HERE you did exactly right:
"But as he raises his muscled arm, something would happen that may draw attention from the Kobold by few Kingsguard and ongoers" (Of course, it didn't happen, as I earlier wrote, because you will be editing this post. But as a stand alone sentence, it's beautiful ). Do you see how you wrote "That May draw attention" It was suggestive writing, not Godmodding/Narrating. )
So, I know I beat this one to death but it's important for Rp and I didn't want Dokliguk to post in reply until you've edited. Thanks so much! Sorry for the trouble - better now than a huge mess later.
As another example, HERE you did exactly right:
"But as he raises his muscled arm, something would happen that may draw attention from the Kobold by few Kingsguard and ongoers" (Of course, it didn't happen, as I earlier wrote, because you will be editing this post. But as a stand alone sentence, it's beautiful ). Do you see how you wrote "That May draw attention" It was suggestive writing, not Godmodding/Narrating. )
So, I know I beat this one to death but it's important for Rp and I didn't want Dokliguk to post in reply until you've edited. Thanks so much! Sorry for the trouble - better now than a huge mess later.
Da wrote:
The figure keeps steady eye on the accented Elf and surrounding Kingsguard. Plate clad, were the crossbow-armed soldiers. He takes a quick assessment over the crowd. Not here. But then he noticed the parchment in the Kobold's hand. He traced his gaze to the crowd, to the woman he previously ran into. Maybe... He'd stand, his massive bod raising to adjust his cloak around his torso and bottom half, before making his approach, purple hue dead locked on the woman who was hidden to all but him, face monotone and shadowed by his cloak-and-dagger suite. Moreover simply, pushig past some drunks and other onlookers to the conflict that had rose beyond his comprehension. Not here. Approach ready, heavy boots bending the wood below with each slow plant. Not here. Taking a position behind a half formed third row, watching the unravelling of the confrontation of Kingsguard and what can only be assumed as a poacher, smuggler or pyrate of some kind, and the little Kobold. Not. Here.
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