Sever the Strings

Alsurin · Post by **Alsurin** » Tue Nov 06, 2007 8:24 pm

One smelled the Queynos docks before seeing them. Fish, oil, sea wind, refuse, and sweating bodies mingled together in an assault that left the unwary gasping. Alsurin grimaced at the thought that Queynos far surpassed its sister city in area, the citizens of Freeport suddenly gained his utmost sympathy. Perhaps gnomish seacraft was not as bad as he thought.
When faced with a choice between this smell and the vivid possibility of his craft exploding in a fireball of cogs and gears, the mage found himself uncertain.

"Tortha," Alsurin lowered the hood of his grey traveler's cloak to glace behind him. "Do you have everything?" Numerous expeditions had taught him that this question was best asked at regular intervals, lest its answer suddenly change at an inopportune moment.

Jetamio · Post by **Jetamio** » Thu Nov 08, 2007 8:06 pm

The youth gazed out over the docks, golden eyes taking in everything. Between the North and Surefall Glade, he had never really been in a city before, and wondered if they all smelled like this one.
The mages words caught his attention and he rolled his eyes at being asked yet again. "Yes! I have everything." He looked around quickly for Sidheag, making sure she was staying close. The white wolf looked up at him from his feet, then back out over the docks, her tongue hanging out as she sniffed the air.

Alsurin · Post by **Alsurin** » Sat Nov 10, 2007 4:03 pm

Alsurin frowned, trying vainly to keep calm in face of the chaos around. He and Tortha needed to be gone before they found it. He had hidden so it would not be found form some time yet. Yet, there was always a chance...

"Well lets acquire a ship shall we? Wind knows which of these water-logged tubs will actually take us there." The magus strode into the shifting crowd and was soon engulfed a miasma of bodies and noise

Alsurin · Post by **Alsurin** » Tue Nov 13, 2007 7:55 pm

"Heh well, normally I would be askin why two boys like yerselves would goin out to them god forsaken rocks fer...."

More fine platinum coins winked in the evening sun as they appeared in the captain's calloused hand.

Old Joe smiled, the expression twisting his heavily scarred face unpleasantly. "Yet, I'm sure it be of no matter. The ship will be setting sail in an hour. Be ther of we leave ye behind!"

Alsurin's eyes bored holes into the privateer's back as their new "host" walked away towards a ship moored at the very end of the docks. "Well it seems we have transportation, though I advise that we sleep with daggers in hand." The cry of seagulls mingled the lapping of waves and a chaotic counterpoint of voices speaking in a myriad of tongues and tones. It had taken much longer then he would have liked to find transport. The sailors had all reacted to his mention of the isle with the primitive superstition that Alsurin had thought mere stereotype. This time their fear was well founded. He wondered if "Old Joe's" crew had any idea what their captain had volunteered them for.

"Tortha," the mage glanced back to the large youth, "Do you have everything?"

Jetamio · Post by **Jetamio** » Wed Nov 14, 2007 9:15 am

Tortha gave the mage an odd look. "I haven't dropped anything from Surefall to here..."

He seemed a little distracted by all the hussle and bustle, paying attention only enough to keep Alsurin in sight as he followed, occasionally grinning at some pretty lass or two. Sidheag glued herself to his side, clearly not comfortable with so many people, her snowy fur bristling slightly in wariness.

Post by **Licinia DuQeynos** » Sat Nov 17, 2007 1:00 am

"You'll need plenty of tea," Licina spoke as she stepped around the corner, her lips quirking slightly. Embracing both the drakkin mage, and the grandson of her oldest friend, she then stepped back.

"Are you sure there's nothing else you need?"

Jetamio · Post by **Jetamio** » Sat Nov 17, 2007 10:45 am

Tortha grinned at Licinia upon seeing her. "Licinia!" he called, showing promise of inheriting his fathers booming voice. He put an arm around her shoulder and hugged her to his side as he continued after Alsurin. "Tea huh? I spose we could fit a few pouches of your brew in." He gave her another of his beaming grins.

Alsurin · Post by **Alsurin** » Sun Nov 18, 2007 3:23 am

Alsurin nearly left his own skin at the enchantress's appearance, wondering frantically the letter had been found prematurely. Yet, as he was neither accused or wrapped helplessly in her power like a rag droll, the young man concluded that he was safe for the moment. Reassurance quickly smoothed his features and a genuine smile made its presence known.

"Well, in matters extending beyond the consumable," the young man gave Tortha an exaggerated roll of the eyes. "The druids are saying that the weather near our destination is going to be testy, especially during the night. Please," Alsurin bit back a surge of the pride that had stymied so much cooperation between the different schools of the arcane over the ages, "would you be able to weave some sort of ward over our blankets and so forth? I'm afraid battle shields aren't so affective against," he sighed, "Karana's blessing."

Post by **Licinia DuQeynos** » Sun Nov 18, 2007 8:45 pm

Licinia chuckled. "I'm afraid that's more likely to be in your domain than mine, Alsurin. When I was younger, I got... blessed... like every other traveller caught out in the plains. Which is why I took such a liking to hot tea."

"So, what brings you through here, you two? When I heard that a Drakkin and a Halasian had come through here, I thought it might be you two, and I'm delighted to see you both. It's been far too long!"

Alsurin · Post by **Alsurin** » Tue Nov 20, 2007 8:33 pm

"Indeed it has," said the drakkin, withholding a sigh. The prospective of confronting their objective after "experiencing" nature for several nights was not one to lift his spirits. "We are traveling to a small island of the southern coast of Odus, Nomis, called windtorn isle in these days. I hope to meet a college of mine, and both of us wish to see what fish pine for our cooking fire."

Jetamio · Post by **Jetamio** » Wed Nov 21, 2007 10:22 pm

The flame haired youth chuckles at the conversation about Karana's blessings. The rain had never bothered him at all, in fact the rain of the lowlands was pleasant compared to the icy deluges of the North. He glances around the throng of people, looking for another who towered above the sea of Humans and elves. Seeing the familiar face he grins and waves his hands. "Father!"

Stormfollower · Post by **Stormfollower** » Thu Nov 22, 2007 1:17 am

"Tortha my man!" The Shaman strode towards the group of friends with a smile beaming on his face

"Licinia! and Alsurin! Good to see thee one and all!" With the delecasy of a herd of stampedeing bison he hugs each one in turn starting with his son and finishing with Alsurin.

Reaching into his cloak he pulls out a hefty bag of platinum and places it in Torthas hand. "Here thee be ye sturdy beast man! I thought though couldst use some coin to make thy trip less spareing. There be a few of them apple smoked fishes you likes in there too... I am glad I got here in time to catch you before your off" He glances with a wink at Alsurin. "I had some trouble geting the White Sybil through the choppy straights but with a proper wind behind me I finally managed." He points to the small, white, low lying, trimarran at one of the distant births. "Don`t suppose I could interest you in a ride could I? Shes all rigged with new ropes and should out speed any of these garbage scows I see around here." Placing both fists on his hips he lets out a hearty laugh that echoes across the busy docks. The glint of mischief in his eye he bids them walk with him towards the White Sybil. "Come at least have a look ..shes near as beautifull as thy mother!"

Alsurin · Post by **Alsurin** » Thu Nov 22, 2007 4:15 pm

Once more, the magister struggled to calm himself. Unforeseen factors were entering his plan like a flight of swallows plunging through the subtle silk of a spider's web. He had long scoffed at childish claims of divine intervention and its ilk. Yet, he tried to leave silently and unnoticed and the leader of the candles appears. News of the sea is only of pirates and storms along his path. Last but most certainly not least was the matter of Stormfollower, father of the boy whose life his plans would barter like a Sanchi piece, now offering a ride to the place of his son's quite possible demise. Not only were the gods apparently watching, it seemed that they did not take kindly to his plot. Most chilling of all was that they appeared to also have a sense of humor.

Yet, he was letting chaos infect his reason. Inner calm had to be maintained or all his aims would surely burn like a midsummer bonfire.

Alsurin chuckled and tapped the shoulder of a boy staring, mouth agape at the towering Northmen and the menagerie of strange folk attending them.
"How are you called my good sir?"

The lad blinked at the address and grinned. "Kiril mi'lord.."

"If it is of little trouble," silver coins found their way into Kirils sweaty palm, "could you find captain 'Old Joe,' I gathered that he is somewhat infamous, and tell the crustacean that we shall no longer have need of his services?"

Before he could speak again the boy was gone off, leaving Alsurin amused yet uncertain of his message's chances of arrival. The smuggler turned captain would leave despite their absence in an hour in either case. He followed after the shaman with swallowed trepidation .

Stormfollower · Post by **Stormfollower** » Sun Nov 25, 2007 1:38 pm

"Well what do ye think? She`s a beauty is she not?" Stromfollower smiled like a child at play as the aproached his ship. The low lying three hulled vessel was sleek and long. Nearly 50 feet from bow to stern and perhaps 25 ft wide to the outer two hulls. Between them and the main hull was strung clean rope nettings. The center hull was nearly fully enclosed but for the aft 10 ft or so where the great tiller stood. It had many large windows allong both sides. An open hatch led down some steps into the hold just infront of the tall thin mast. the bomm was slung up out of the way and the sails had been neatly furrled. The rigging was incredibly neat and clean. Not a blemich nor barnacle could be seen along her, very high water line.
"She hath taken me many years to construct and though she is still but the model for the real ship, I am greatly pleased by her lines and speed" Stormfollower boomed proudly.
As they neared the vessel and pushed through a small crowd, one thing became shockingly clear to the happy Shamans three potencial passengers... Eccept for the rigging and sail and the numorous brass fittings the entire craft had been made of stone.Thousands of carefully laid white and pale blue stones had been set with a mortar of an odly irradecent colour. Even the mast apeared to be carved of one great stone. At the prow a figure head of alabaster depicted a beautifull half clad woman holding a spear, her eyes stark and serious.
Stormfollower leapt aboard the one hull tied to the dock and bounced across the netting to stand by the huge granite tiller. "Come aboard my friends and let us chart a new coarse!"

Alsurin · Post by **Alsurin** » Wed Nov 28, 2007 12:04 am

Alsurin boarded the vessel with glaring reluctance, constantly grabbing hold of any surface near him as if the ship would suddenly sink on a whim. It occurred to the magus that he might have been better served with a plan that did not incorporate a mode of travel which he regarded with paranoia. He made his lurching way to the mast and clung to it like a man condemed to death.

"Ah, um yes..set a course to the southern cost of Odus....Stormfollower..are you really sure this construction can carry us there?"