Forums » Fantasy Roleplay » Gold running through our veins. (1x1x1)

Giantsport, rightly named for its massive size, capable of docking hundreds of ships and offering a roof over the head of over a thousand travelers and goods. It was a very popular port among traders, and even nearby farmers got rich off of it's presence. It's strange to think the original owners were the Dwarven lords of Blackrock, but intricate Dwarven politics have made it so Giantsport wasn't important enough to check for illicit goods frequently as long as they got their tax income from the port. It was a true den for pirates to rest in 'peace.'

But peace is a big word. Especially among criminals as indescreet as pirates. Drunken tavern brawls and the occasional dead pirate was the sad reality of life. Corpses were never truly rotting in the streets, but no one made a move to stop the murders either. As long as honest merchants weren't targetted, there would be no concequences. It was a strange relationship they had in Giantsports, pirates and merchants. Neutral on land, at war in the sea.

Some of these pirates would find themselves in an inn known as the Busty Mermaid. It was little beyond the afternoon, but these ones celebrated none the less. Two months ago, the pirates of the ship 'The Moneymaker' hit the jackpot and managed to rack in a modest treasure, which of course almost instantly got depleted on drink, loose men and women and of course gambling. Not a smart thing to do with your riches, but since when are pirates known to be smart? This clearly demonstrated by the fact some of them couldn't keep their mouth shut about the fact the island where they found their treasure had many more riches in them still.

This news quickly spread even beyond Giantsport. Rumors of an abandoned dragon's hoarde made their way around the world. Of course, the Moneymaker's pirates were ignorant of this. They kept to their debauchery.

This was not the only news that would reach them, though. Around Blackrock black fog has been seen on multiple occasions. The politicians claim these were just appirations caused by Will-O'-Whisps. But mages were concerned. They believe there is more going on than mere Will-O'-Whisps floating about.

Back in the Busty Mermaid, Bender would find himself, armwrestling a drunk sailor who believes himself to be the strongest of all the world, and even technology couldn't handle his sheer force. True, the bald sailor had massive arms. A bunch of men and women had surrounded the pair to see just who was stronger. By the way Norin Redbeard was chanting his captain's name, you'd think this battle was decided.

Three seconds was all it took for the old man to win, sending the bulky sailor smashing down to the floor, followed by a whole bunch of cheering. One could assume money had been betted on this fight."I gave ya the chance ta back down, lad." The captain grinned as he flexed his fingers."I hope I didn' break the land lubber's poor arm." But there was no reply. The drunk looked around with a confused look before scrambling away as if the fight never happened.

The door of the Bustling Maid opened as a creature that caused a few turned heads walked in. A port of ill repute like this attracted all shades of pirates but despite this monsters were still monsters and treated as such by many citizens.

The gnoll did not seem bothered by that however, in fact he seemed to think it quite humorous as he pushed his way through the crowd snickering. "Give me meat'n mead barman! Gahahihi! Did you catch that?" Flavio placed his clawed hands on the counter and leaned forward.

Stevie, believe it or not, had been a little bit wise with her earnings! Perhaps this was because she knew she was a terrible gambler, and also because she didn't need much mead to get drunk thanks to her small size.

For the most part, she stayed around the crew she favored and remained out of Hooke's way. She was half tempted to boast during this time about her remaining with the group, much to his dismay, but kept it to herself until that wondrous moment presented itself. And oh would it be just as exciting as the moment she tripped the Orc up!

At the moment, though, the Halfling stood at the side of the table, likely standing on a chair so she could be level with the rest of those cheering on the duo as they arm wrestled.

When Bender won, though, the tiny thing jumped up on the chair and cheered, smacking him gently on the back as congratulations. She figured since he was an old man, the mechanical arm was not cheating. Right? Surely! Her attention was momentarily stolen by the Gnoll who walked through the doors, not at all caring about subtlety it seemed. She didn't know the man, though, and saw no real reason to seek his attention.

The barman, a scrawny human with a clean shaven face and long blonde hair examines the Gnoll."Sure. If you got the coin for it." He answered Flavio with a doubt."What meat'll ya be havin'?" He added to the question as he filled a wooden mug for the Gnoll.

Of course Flavio's shouting caught the attention of almost everyone in the bar. This place wasn't exactly rowdy besides a few cheers here and there. He eventually caught the eye of Bender as well, who was getting a little cut from Norin as he was one of the people who betted FOR Bender. Always bet on the man with the most high tech arm, kids!

Stevie's dealings with Hooke would not have gone unnoticed. Galgahar Hooke was a proud Orc, and to have his pride wounded like that, he was not going to leave it at that, no sirree. The Orc had been plotting. According to the Drow, Ambras, Hooke has been talking to people who'm he would have once called a foe. But then again Ambras was known to be a big fat liar, so it wasn't sure whether he could be trusted. Anyone who wasn't a Drow would easily become a part of his pranks.


The old man squinted his eyes as he looked at Flavio."I know that feller..." He mumbles as he walks over to Flavio. The closer he got, the quicker his memory returned."By the gods, ye've grown old ya mangy mutt!" Bender laughed loudly as he spread his arms."Recognize this ol' coot, Flavio?!" Norin stayed back and looked rather confused."You know that Gnoll, lass?"

"Your...!" Flavio shouted as he pointed square at the barman with the toothiest grin he could muster. "... finest meat of course, fine sir. Gehihihi!" The gnoll added with a shatter of laughter after the brief pause.

As Bender approached him the gnoll's nose and ears twitched, sensing the presence even before he turned to look at it. The instant Flavio laid eyes on the man there was the briefest second-long sour look in his eyes, but it quickly turned into an even bigger grin then before. "You old man! Still alive I see! Gahehihihi!"

Flavio accepted Bender's brief embrace and clapped the shoulder that still had flesh on it. The gnoll himself had changed considerably, having become bulkier with an even thicker neck than before. His clothes were clearly a different pair but still in the old Musketeer-style Bender was used to.

As far as Hooke plotting to prank her, if Steve even found out, she probably wouldn't think too much on it. Not only were pranks generally harmless (in her mind, at least - she keeps forgetting that these people are still pirates), but she also felt under the protection of most of the crew.

So that felt pretty nice.

As Bender left to go deal with the Gnoll at the bar, she stayed back as well with Norin, brows lifted and pinched in confusion. Her eyes were big and would look over to the Dwarf and shrugged. "Nuh uh. Got no idear who he is. Loud, though," she replied.

Bender was eager to embrace his old friend. He tapped his back gently enough with the metal arm before letting go."Yeah, well, like a weed I don' die easily. The sea keeps me up 'n runnin'. Jove, that meat 'n mead's on me!" The old pirate cried out to the bartender who nodded and started cooking up some beef. "I never thought I'd be runnin' into ya again in Giantsport, lad. What's taken ya 'ere?"

Soon after Flavio got his mug Bender would almost litterally drag him to his table."Come along, mate. I'll introduce ya to some o' me crew. Helpin' the goblin uprisin' allowed me to rebuild me ship 'n the crew came after." He explained as he made his way back to Norin and Stevie.

Norin chuckled a little at Stevie's remark."Well, he's a gnoll by the looks o' it. I'd be more surprised if he was ta keep 'is mug shut fer a second." He answered. When Bender and Flavio came towards them, the redheaded Dwarf's parrot flew off in a panic.

"These 'ere are me most favored members. First mate Norin Redbeard 'n Stevie, me right hand." He introduced them both."Fellas, this 'ere is Flavio. He's helped me with a deal a couple o' years back. Allowed me to get me Moneymaker right back up 'n fixed."

Norin grabbed his mug from the nearby table."Well met, pal. Is it true yer kind's got a strong stomach? I ought ta test that one day." He grinned.

Flavio took his meal and his drink and walked with Bender to his table. “Just a wandering gnoll these days. Happened in here really.” He answered cheerfully. Bender bringing up their old adventures replaced the gnolls grin with a more nostalgic smile for a moment.

When his crewmembers were introduced however his grin returned and he gave a short gentlemanly bow. “Well met, I’m known as Flavio.” He turned his large head to the dwarf. “Ah yes you could say that, Redbeard. I once ate an entire troll. Gehihihi.”

Stevie laughed in return to Norin's response. "Yeah, guess so. I don't know much 'bout gnolls though," she replied. She continued to watch the other individual for a moment as he interacted with Bender, silent.

When they turned to move back toward the table, she stiffened a little bit and tried to keep her attention focused on something else so she wouldn't outright look like she was gawking.

Needless to say, she felt special being introduced that way and it was very, very evident by the wide and proud grin across her face.

"Good t'meet ya!" the Halfling replied in her typical cheerful way.

The Dwarf chuckled as he gulped down the last bit of his drink."Sure. Anyone with a bit o' hair on 'is chest can handle troll meat. But can ya hold yer drink, 's what I'm wonderin'." He sat back in his chair as Bender soon sat down as well.

"Wanderin' Gnoll, ya say? If ya like, we can use ya on board. Last treasure hunt left us a lil' bit empty. There's plenty o' diverse races on board, so ya won't feel too prejudiced by folks like me." He grinned."Don' answer yet, we're here fer a while. Ya can decide when yer drunk." Bender laughed.

Flavio's well-mannered act got somewhat ruined when he put half of the goatleg he'd gotten in his mouth and bit down, crunching through bone and all with his powerful jaws. At least he waited until he'd swallowed a bit before he answered. "Msht certainly." He swallowed the whole mouthful then. "You'll all be too asleep before I'm drunk, gehehehe"

"Oh and why Bender, I'd have to consider that. Freedom is nice but good company is nicer." The gnoll took a swig of his mead. "Who's the best shooter of your crew right now eh?"

Steve leaned in toward Norin after he made his reply to Flavio, whispering, "Is troll meat really that bad?"

Of course, she'd never had the stuff. Trolls were generally unpleasant creatures, but did that mean their meat was bad to eat, too? HM, hm, hm.... Stevie's thoughts were abruptly interrupted by the mentioning of their last treasure hunt, which lead her to think back on it. She wondered how Bugface was doing, and if she ever got to feeling better, especially with Ely'Syn's re-appearance. Or revival. Whatever you wanna call it.

The Halfling didn't think on it for too long before Flavio's question to Bender came up. Who's the best shooter?

Well, Stevie wanted to pipe up and claim it was her, but she didn't have too much experience with the stuff. Hitting a target dead-on once didn't mean you were the best, nor did shooting at a few strange creatures in one occurrence. Her hand only managed to twitch before she kept herself from raising it.

Bender shoved his chair a bit further away just to make sure he wouldn't get covered in goat flesh whenever Flavio spoke. Though Flavio's coat and weight had changes, his messy eating manners did not."Aye, I'll drink to that. Good company is always great fun." The old man turned around to order himself a new ale.

"Best shooter, ya ask?" He repeated as he faced Flavio once more."Yer a rifleman if I recall correctly. Hooke's the best shot 'n that case. Basterd can shoot a man between th' eyes from across the entire ocean. Red's pretty good 'imself, but he's more o' a pistoleer. Why'd ya ask anyway? Ya want ta get a competition goin'? Yer not even packin' any weaponry." Bender noticed upon closer inspection."A novice 'n heat's more o' a threat than you right now." He laughed.

Norin had been trying to get the last drops of mead from his mug before he answered Stevie."Not if ya season it right, lass. Us Dwarves got a taste for troll meat, 'n our meat stalls will always be sellin' the stuff. Personally I don' like the idea o' eatin' a creature that can talk."

Bender's idea was a good one although it did not take long for the entire goat-leg to be gone, bone and all with a somewhat disappointed Flavio licking his fingers clean. "Quality over quantity, I should've expected as much."

Flavio chuckled at Bender first when the man listed his crew's shooters but the laughter left him when the old man brought up his missing weaponry, this time the smile didn't even return. "Having no weapons on me at the moment does not make me any less skilled at using them." The musketeer snapped back. With a grumble the gnoll averted his eyes to look into the crowd. "I'll get myself new ones soon."

Stevie looked to Norin again and nodded. "I don't reckon I've ever met one o' 'em. Didn't know they could talk," she replied, contemplating now what trolls must look like and talk like. If you could reason with them and so on and so forth.

After the bout of laughter brought on by Bender, she glanced over to the two again and watched as Flavio got a little grumpy about the comment. "Aw, lighten up a 'lil! Have another drink. I'm sure it was just a joke," she called out to the fella, grinning widely.

Bender Of Iron Will seemed surprised by the sudden retort. It seemed like losing his weaponry seemed like a tragedy to Flavio."Oh, cheer up, lad. I got me 'n armory filled with 'legit aqcuired' rifles 'n pistols. Ya can 'ave one o' those. Consider it an added payment to th' last job ya did fer me. I didn' pay ya enough with treasure I managed ta find me ship." He laughed, patting Flavio's back.

At that point, Hooke walked into the tavern. A tall and imposing figure as always, this Orc was. But now he looked fancy as well. Hooke had used his received money to get rid of that old brown trenchcoat of his and buy himself a sleek black leather longcoat and a magnificent hat with a gigantic peacock's feather. With that trimmed beard of his, the Orc looked almost like a dapper gentleman. It wouldn't be the first time some sailor had mistaken Hooke to being the captain rather than Bender.

He had been headed for Bender first, giving a curious glance to who this Gnoll was that joined him, but after having noticed Stevie, he just snarled and made for the bar. Whatever it was that Hooke needed Bender for, it wasn't as important with Stevie there. Norin had noticed that and stood up."I'll go see what he has ta say. Ye ladies keep on' chatterin'." He chuckled as he headed for the bar as well.

Flavio sighed and leaned back with his mead in hand. "Ah yes, sorry sorry. Not like me to get all gloomy!" The gnoll took a large swig and then grinned towards Bender. "But that sounds good indeed, consider yourself a sharpshooter richer my friend."

He then focused his orange gaze on the halfling, his grin growing even wider at the offer. "Missy, laddie?" The gnoll tilted his head back in puzzlement but didn't implore for now. "I'll have to take you up on that! I never refuse free drink and food, gahahahihihi."

The orc was given only a brief glance before Flavio's attention seemed to return to his mates at the table, he gave only a nod at Norin and then took the large hat off his head to lay in his lap. This might have seemed like just an ordinary act, but in truth the gnoll was freeing his ears so they could swivel and he might be able to listen in on the orc and the dwarf's conversation.

Stevie shrugged. "Lass, lad, whatever works for ye. Most call me the former one though," she replied, grinning. At this time, that obnoxious laughter was contagious! She found herself chuckling along just because of the ridiculous noises he was making.

No offense to him; she was a very kind individual and wouldn't at all make fun of someone she knew nothing about. After the chuckles ended, in came Hooke. The moment they made eye contact, he snarled and moved away. This time, she laughed genuinely and had to force herself to stop.

"Is he really still mad 'bout the barrel thing? It's been months!" she giggled, primarily at Bender since Norin left to go check up on him. "I wish he'd jus' put a rat in my bed and be done with it already." Sure, she expected a prank similar to that, but at the same time, due to his lack of doing anything, she felt he just wanted to sulk on it forever and never prank her in return.

Maybe he was scared to? The reaction the crew had to him drawing his gun on her seemed to suggest they were protective - but pranks were harmless, right? So what was the use in being afraid?

Stevie grew quiet as she mulled over this.

Bender raised his mechanical arm in the air."Aye, more mead 'n meat sounds good about now! Bartender, some more drinks 'n meat fer all o' us! Give the green basterd at the bar a drink 's well! Looks like he needs it!" The captain laughed before his gaze returned to the table, Flavio in particular."Good choice, lad! Welcome aboard the Moneymaker! We'll drink to that!"

Bender seemed surprised."Lass, d'ya still think he wants ta prank ya? Ya know how Hooke is. Prideful like a peacock, that one. 'n ya hurt that precious pride o' his more than his behind when he fell to the ground, lass. He's lookin' ta smack you in the face, I bet. Or at least take yer own pride away. I ain't to sure on his revenge methods. Most people 're smart enough not ta mess with Hooke, which is why I've been tellin' ya not to stay alone as o' right now. I doubt he's aimin' ta kill ya. We'd have found yer corps weeks ago if that was the case, but he's been known ta cut off a sailor's ear fer far less." The captain explained. During that wall of dialogue the mead and food had arrived.

The bar was getting more and more empty, meaning Flavio would have very little difficulty overhearing the entirety of Norin and Hooke's talk.

"Yer actin' like me basterd kid when someone calls 'im a pooface, ya know that?!" Norin said to Hooke as he sat down next to him. The Orc threw back a glare."I didn't come here to get lectured by the likes of you, Redbeard." He answered."Then what did ya come 'ere for? Lay it on me 'n I'll let Bender know. Unlike some I don' shrivel up 'round Stevie."

Hooke ignored that comment."Suspicions, really. I've seen an unusual amount of ships down at sea heading this way. Ambras has taken note of them too. Thing is, they're flagless, so we're dealin' with pirates most likely" Norin nodded."I wouldn't worry 'bout it too much. This is Giantsport, have ya forgotten? Those who claim they're honest folk are the biggest liars around!"

The Orc wasn't satisfied with that answer."Ever since word got out we found a dragon's hoard, people've been lookin' at us, Norin. These things spread fast. I'm telling you, sooner rather than later we're going to attract the wrong people."

For seemingly no reason Flavio could not help but have a fit of the giggles as he overheard the conversation between the two members of Benders crew at the bar, considering how the gnoll had been acting this it would not at all seem out of place.

"I can eat more meat and drink more mead then you can buy! You ba- I mean captain." Flavio grinned widely. "So if you don't mind me asking. How are you faring? Business going good? Just want to know what to expect when I sail out with you once more."