Forums » Fantasy Roleplay » Promises of gold, bad luck and more gold (1x1)

Bender stopped his cart and got off, walking over to a large wooden board filled with pages describing which airship would go to which town and when they'd arrive/leave. It was written rather small, and it took a while for Bender to find the ship that he needed."We're in luck, lass!" He cried out to his partner."The Orcs 'ave got themselves a Tower o' their own. In 'bout an hour, we'll have our ship." He said as he walked back and drove his cart at the foot of the stone tower. There a tall human with a faint little mustache and thin long hair with a list would approach them."Names and airship you'll be taking?" He asked in a soft but polite manner."Ron 'n Stevie. We'll be takin' Airship Seve,-Oh-Three." The man nodded as he wrote it down."Last names?" "Isanian." Bender replied, to which the man nodded, probably thinking this was their last name. Bender threw him two gold coins."I'll be havin' me horses fed 'n drink 's well, good sir." He said as he dismounted. The man nodded once more."Very well, sir."

Bender lead Stevie to the Highdrinker tavern, an inn that resembled a little airship tower and even had a tiny airship floating over the roof of it. The inn's inside was as special and cutesy as it was on the outside. The entire place was made out of dark wood and had many colorful patrons. Most of which human, but there were a pair of Orcs, male and female, a group of singing Dwarves near the hearth and even a group of at least three Halflings. Hairfoots by the look of it. They wore no shoes and kept mainly to themselves.

Stevie would get off the cart and follow Bender to the man with the mustache, since it didn't seem to be too far away. She kept quiet since her partner seemed to know more of what he was talking about, and she was busy staring at the tower like an amazed child. And perhaps that's what she could have been mistaken as? His kid or something? Since the man didn't seem too confused by Isanian being both their last names (or so he thought).

So now, she found herself following the man to the tavern, which she was gawking at in much of the same way she was the airship. "This place is amazin'," she whispered. "How long'll the airship ride be, huh? Are airship rides fun? Is there food? Wonder if I can sneak in places..." Oh boy.

"Whoa, whoa, slow down with the question's, lass. I ain't as fast 's ye." He chuckled."Never ridden on an airship before, have ye? It ain't as fun as it may seem, I must warn ya. Sure, it's all excitement 'n stuff when ye're up in the air. But it ain't like you get anythin' besides a good view fer a few hours."

Bender took a seat at a free table and ordered two pints of ale, forgetting Stevie might not want to drink alcohol."In 'bout an hour 'r so we'll have our ride, lass." He eventually answered."You'll get fed, be sure o' that. Normally these types o' travelin' 'r for the rich only. O' course they'd kiss a rich man's arse." If Stevie had noticed the little figurine floating on top of the tavern, she might have noticed the actual hull of the ship would be rather small and narrow, unlike that of a water based ship."Go 'n entertain yerself, lass. I bet yer tired o' ridin' with an overly social old man." He chuckled.

Stevie glanced around, even as she settled at that table. If ale was comin' soon, she likely wasn't going anywhere. She liked alcohol, but she didn't get to drink it too often. "Oooohhh I wonder what kinda food they have? I dun care if it's just a good view and that's it, it's still new and excitin'. And food! Always food." Always food? Is she really trying to communicate here or is she just spurting out words?

"I'll leave in a minute," she stated. When the ale came, she'd pluck hers and leave to go bother some other patrons! Probably the other halflings. Even compared to them, she was a bit small. Perhaps even by a whole foot! A lot of halflings were anywhere from the three to four feet tall range, whereas she was only 2'7". Still, she'd attempt to make conversation and be friendly, and drink the ale she stole from Bender's table. What? She'd pay him back.

These Halflings were two girls and one guy, seemingly just a child, judging by his size and the fact he was drinking a little glass of milk. The two women were friendly enough, though, and welcome Stevie with open arms. Before her arrival, they were listening to the jolly Dwarves sing by the fire. But Halflings were pretty rare to come by outside of their homelands in the first place."Hello there, milady!" The blonde Halfling with long hair and a pear shape of a body welcomed her.

"We don't see many like ourselves out here." Added the woman with short black hair. She was rather plump compared to her blonde companion, and a lot paler."What brings ya to these parts, eh? Where you headed?" She asked nicely, though a bit nosey.

Stevie was relieved to find that the halflings were pleasant as could be, albeit a little nosy. "Eh, I forget where I'm headed, but I came with that fella!" she said, pointing to old Bender. Way to be discreet, there, Stevie.

"Wha'bout you?" she asked. Oh boy, excitement. It'd been ages since she last encountered a halfling, although it wasn't as long ago as the day she'd left her home. No, she'd encountered several since then. But that was eight years ago, and through eight years, she hadn't encountered too many compared to the amount of other races she'd encountered, primarily humans.

The pair of Halflings looked at Bender, who was taking a large gulp of his ale, looking over his fragments of the map that promised him much gold so far, belching loudly and laughing afterwards, uttering "Better out than in, I say!"

This man was not great at making first impressions. Most people looked rather disgusted, though the pair of Orcs were laughing as if the old man was actually funny.

"...Interesting companion you've got there. Doesn't seem like the type who can afford a trip on an airship, though." The black haired woman said as politely as possible whole stroking the little child's long hair."I'm the owner of Peony's Trinkets, me being Peony." The blonde Halfling answered."That there is my cousin Diamond and her son, Cattar. I've been collecting jewelry and oddities from around the world to sell them back home in Treegarde. I just picked my family up from Alifern, and a good moment too. News is there's graverobbers about. Our ship should arrive in about err.. two days I think. Until then, we're stuck here."

The little pale Halfling looked over at the newcommer and had a wide smile on his face."Ma'am have you ever seen a giant snake with arms?" He was referring to Naga, who are believed to be extinct.

Even Stevie giggled and the disgusting display. "Yeh, he's an odd one." Her giggling was cut short when she heard the word "graverobbers." Was this a different group of graverobbers or did news travel that quickly about Bender and Steve? She grew a shade lighter and felt it necessary to tell Bender, but she didn't want to just up and leave. That would be suspicious!

"W-well--" she cleared her throat. "Well, at least it's a neat lil' area to get stuck in, I guess." When the little boy had asked her that question, she merely shook her head. "Unless yer talkin' bout a lizard. I like them lizards. I used 'ta have a pet one of 'em 'til it died. I sat on it," she said, almost sadly, but it was likely so long ago that the sting of losing her companion had worn off to something much more dull.

She then realized she was talking to a little kid. Aw, shit.

The child's happy demeanor seemed to change."That is sad." He said rather quiet."I saw big lizards once! They spit acid!" It seemed he had forgotten all about squished lizards now."Oh, please forgive him." Cattar's mother spoke."The boy's got a bit of an overdose of fantasy, I'm afraid. He reads way too many books about foreign lands and picks up on rumors easily, though I guess that trait he's got from me." Diamond giggled ever so slightly."

Peony now took over."A bit of travel would do the sapling good, I bet." The blonde woman finished her drink."If you like, I'll buy you a drink, miss err... what was your name again?"

Bender looked at the nearby clock in the meanwhile. 20 minutes before the ship arrives.

The child's reaction was better than she thought it'd be, as he soon jumped again in volume and began sputtering out claims of seeing acid-spitting lizards. Now that, Steve thought, would be an interesting thing to see. "Ah, fantasy's fine! S'good not to let that imagination go to waste. Makes life interestin'. If you ever find one o' them buggers again, you'll tell me where they are, right?" She grinned real big, hoping to humor the kid.

But in all actuality she really would hope he'd somehow find her and tell her. She wanted to see that! She still had that ale she "stole" from Bender, so when she offered to buy her a drink, she simply raised the one she had a little bit. "Thank yeh but no thanks, I already have one! But my name's Steve. Or Stevie. Whichever!"

Having finally remembered the ale, she drank it. Probably a little too quickly, even. God help Bender if she wound up finishing it. She'd likely be a bit too lit (ugh what a lightweight).

The little kid had a wide smile on his face. Usually he just gets scolded for expressing his fantasy to strangers, but this woman actually was interested."Oh, I will miss! But they're quite real! They live far away in swamps! Some of them even travel! Did you know they come in clan-" "Alright, Cattar." Diamond interrupted."No need to bother the nice lady with your stories anymore. She's got an airship to catch."

"Oh, pardon my manners." Peony apologized. Instead she took a couple of small cupcakes from a backpack she kept next to her."Diamond baked them a couple of days ago. They're still fresh." She said as she handed one to Stevie and Cattar, who seemed to have forgotten the scolding his mother gave and now had his undivided attention on nomming down a cupcake.

Bender in the meanwhile was grinning brightly as he looked down upon his fragments. Clearly he figured something out.

Steve might have been a bit slow or something, or maybe it was because she never really grew up having left home at such a young age and all. Regardless, she was a bit disappointed when Diamond told the boy to hush. All disappointment ceased to exist when a cupcake was presented to her, though, and she soon grew very thankful.

"Ah! Thanks, ma'am!" she cheered, waiting until she would return to Bender to eat it since she felt awkward staring at someone and scarfing down a treat like this. When she remembered the word airship, she looked at the time and nodded her head in a rushed bow-like gesture, and smiled at the small group. "Speakin' of airships, I should prolly get back to Sir Belches-a-Lot so we don't wind up bein' late. Thanks again for the cupcake!"

Stevie would turn her head to Cattar and give the kid a wave. "I'll keep my eye out. If I see one, I'll think'a you." With all that said and done, she'd give a wave and turn back to Bender, only to see that crazy grin.

"You look like you know somethin' I don't. What is it? Want half a cupcake?" She had already begun tearing it in two, even without him giving an answer yet.

Peony chuckled a bit."Of course, miss. Enjoy the trip!" She waved at Stevie when she left. The kid was too busy devouring his cupcake to take note of anyone leaving.

Stevie's companion didn't pay much heed to Stevie, until she offered him food. He frowned at that."Do I look like a five year old girl, lass?" His usual smug grin appeared once more."No thanks, I could do with som' beef jerky, though. Been eatin' too much cheese 'n bread these past few days."

On the table Stevie could see the clay fragments fit together like a surreal puzzle with smooth and twisty edges. Even though Bender had three fragments in his possession, there was very little it revealed."I figured out a combination' as to how this map might fit." He explained."Here's what I mean." When he removed the fragments and put them in a different order, the shapes of the fragments started to change. The twisty shapes turned triangular and fit in that way, looking like a half drawn star. Clearly this was no mere clay map. It was imbued with magic.

"I was able ta read somethin' 'bout trials o' luck. Bah, why can't these bloody map makers be more clear 'bout their riches 'n traps." The captain complained. But just as he was about to continue the start of his rant, a trumpet was heard outside. The entire tavern got silent and heard the words."Hear ye, hear ye! The ship headed for Bo'Vor Hold, Seven-Oh-Three, is about to land!" Bender stood up, as well as the couple of Orcs who were in the tavern. The area outside suddenly got engulfed in a massive shadow.

Once outside, everyone would see why. A gigantic airship, at least the size of a formidable fort had landed, complete with bronze propellers and a massive hull, the size of a bus. Most of the shadows came from the gigantic balloons strapped onto the hull, though. Outside, people were gathering and getting ready to enter the tower to head for their ship. In the background, carriages were being dropped off as well as loaded in while a ton of people exited the tower.

"Fine, more for me then," she replied, shoving half the cupcake into her face. When he showed her the pieces and how they fit, she sort of tilted her head and pretended to understand. "Neat!" Of course, the map itself was neat, so she wasn't exactly lying. She wasn't a fan of magic and was, most of the time, oblivious to it. Until they found more pieces or until Bender decided to give her the low-down in what exactly he meant about all that, she'd likely remain confused and simply help him along just because she enjoyed the adventure. Which really wasn't any change, if we're being honest here.

Stevie jumped up when their airship was called and she practically scurried out the door just to see it. She felt like a child (mentally, she probably was) when she saw it, filling up with joy and excitement that she couldn't easily contain. "Whoa! Bender, it's huuuuge!" she squealed, practically jumping in her spot. She'd never been that high, and she didn't even really contemplate her discomfort when it came to hights as it was. God help her if she looked over the railing later on.

"C'mon, c'mon, c'mon!" she cried, grabbing his arm and practically dragging him to the tower (or trying to; she wasn't that strong).

Bender didn't move an inch when Stevie started pulling on his arm. Not necessarily because she wasn't strong enough. She was probably giving herself much less credit than was due, but with such a heavy mechanical arm, Bender was pretty much the immovable object himself."Calm down, lass." He simply uttered, pulling her back with the same arm she had a hold of.

No one was allowed to board the ship just yet. It took about five minutes for the conductor to give them the go. He was the tall, old and bearded fellow wearing blue robes and a silly hat."Your belongings have been put down the belly of the ship. You may now get aboard."

Most of the passengers were Half-Orcs, Dwarves and Eladrin, surprisingly very few Humans or Orcs for an Orcish stronghold as destination. The large group streamed for the tower passageway, like conga line they took the narrow stairs up to the platform the airship stood.

Sadly for Steve, though, she wouldn't find any rails. Only a large cabin with glass windows, much like a bus, only wider. The inside had many leather seats and was decorated completely in red velvet. It all felt very classy.

After everyone took a seat, a loud noise was heard, like a vent blowing steam, and before anyone could wonder what it was, the airship flew away from the platform, which made the animals down below bellow in fear. Finally they were in the air, floating over hilltops and large forests."How're ya likin' it?" Bender asked as he too looked out of the window. It wouldn't take long or waiters would ask the pair if they'd like a roasted duck for dinner.

When tugged backward, Stevie let out a little yelp and stumbled some. She caught herself well enough, and quickly shot a certain unhappy look at Bender, huffing quickly as well, but she shut up once the tall man in the funny hat began to speak about boarding. She was impatient in line, wanting to cut in front of people and run to her seat, but she didn't know which was which and wound up just staying next to her partner. That didn't mean she didn't jump in place, as if it would make the rest of the line go fast.

When they settled down and she was now staring out the window, high above, she grew nervous and sort of lightheaded. Bender likely couldn't see her face, whether she was seated at a window or not. She'd have gotten up and stood at the window like a two year old child if she wasn't seated there already! When he asked how she was liking it, Steve finally turned her head to the man and grinned weakly. She looked pale, maybe even a little green.

"G-great...!" she muttered. "It's uhm... pretty! I feel tall...." And sick. Stevie, sit down, what the Hell?

Then the offer for duck was presented and, although she felt off, that sounded so delicious! She'd never had duck before. But she'd only look to Bender because she didn't want to get one and not be able to pay for it. Just in case it was too expensive for her to afford, he was given an inquisitive stare so she could hopefully find out if it was alright or not to order it.

((OOC: Edited it! Forgot to respond to the duck thing. .))

Bender completely ignored Stevie's look."The lass'll have one, I'll have two. Yer dealin' with a hungry patron 'ere." Bender laughed. The waiter gave a polite chuckle, though would probably roll his eyes once out of sight."Of course, sir. 20 silvers, please." Bender reached for his wallet and paid up. Once the waiter left, did the pirate look at his companion."Ya owe me now, lass. No worries. I don't need me money back. Ya just have ta taste the duck in this place. They're a true work o' art!"

After half an hour, the duck arrived. It was a full bird, though without the head, perfectly seasoned, crispy and very greasy. Bender grabbed one of his ducks by the hind legs and started gnawing on it as if it was a chicken's leg."Go on, taste it!" He urged Stevie with a mouth full of meat.

"That's so expensive!" she whispered. "And if I owe ya, and you don't need money, what do I owe ya?" Great, Bender, you confused her. Ah, well, that wasn't exactly a feat. She was an easy one to confuse at times.

Stevie sat back down and, during the time it took to cook the duck, she started to feel a bit better. She supposed actually looking down that far made her feel that way, so as long as she didn't do anything more than glance every now and again, she would be fine. When it was finally presented to them, she felt nervous, but only because of how big the bird was! She couldn't finish all that!

She did marvel at the strange direction her life took though, triggered by this duck (as odd as that may sound). She was a homeless, scraggly kid who feigned masculinity just to get by, and suddenly found herself on the adventure of a lifetime with an old pirate man with a mechanical arm. And now she sat in a rather glorious airship, glancing at the ground below, flying to unknown lands... with a full-sized roast duck before her for her to enjoy. A big smile surfaced, though caused by this reflection, and she grabbed a leg and tore it off (with some difficulty - the bone was difficult to break at first, but she finally got it).

She only took a second to taste the first bite before deciding it was freakin' delicious and began to inhale the thing. She still wouldn't be able to finish it right now, more than likely, but by the gods she would try. "S'goo'!" she said, her face so full of duck meat she could hardly enunciate. She, of course, said it was good, and if that noise she made in an attempt to talk didn't give that away, the smile and fast eating probably did.

Gross.

"Ya don' owe me much, lass. Just keep in mind that whenever there's some kind o' life threatenin' situation 'n yer thinkin' o' ditchin' ol' Bender ta leave 'im to 'is early grave, ya owe me. Simple as that." It sounded like all that Bender wanted was some insurance.

"Trust me, lass. Once we uncover the treasure, twenty silver's goin' ta be pocket change." He chuckled while he took another chomp from his duck. The grease of the cooked bird ran down his arm, but the pirate didn't seem to care. As long as it didn't run over his mechanical arm, he was safe.

The trip would take a few hours before the dynamic duo would reach their destination; a huge wooden fortress built against the wall of a tremendous mountain. Only in the afternoon did the sunlight reach this stronghold."We have landed in Bo'Vor hold. We hope you have enjoyed traveling with us, and hope to see you again soon."

Bender groaned a bit. He had had too much duck, but hell if he was to admit that. He'd follow everyone down the similar looking tower like back in Highspanner and down into the fields, gazing at the gigantic gates of the Orcish hold in the near distance."Well... Here we'll find Bugface somewhere."

Stevie just laughed at that, then. "Ah, if yer gone I can't keep adventurin'! I gotta keep ya alive." She was teasing, of course, although there was some truth to her words. She wouldn't leave him to die simply because she was a good person, though he did offer her some sort of spice to her life that no one else has yet, so it's even more incentive.

By the time they got there, Stevie felt just about as bad as Bender. Her once flat belly now protruded from her, not like one could tell while she was holding it so tightly. She was groaning with practically each step as they walked off the airship. "I hope they ain't too far.... I ate way, way, way too much...."

The place was impressive in appearance, and a bit intimidating to someone like Steve. She wasn't a fan of orcs to begin with because they appeared so... so violent, reckless even. And she had a history of pestering people into fits of anger before without intending to. God forbid she does so here.