Gates
Tenebrae - Friday, November 28, 2014, 8:10 PM
-=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=<* A13: Northern Gates *>-=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=-
The northern gate of Alexandria stands grandly here, the city's northern portal to the outside world. Tall and rugged, crafted from works of the arcane that must have taken generations to achieve, the city wall around it glows with manalights and is augmented, outfitted with the latest defenses. Airships fly overhead, and towers oversee the pace of traffic into and out of the Lord's City while the statue of the Burning Phoenix overlooks it all.
The northern gates stand larger than any man. Visitors passing beneath them will pass by a pair of guard houses, as well as towers on either side. The gates open wide for caravans, who arrive from many countries, from nearby farmlands. To the west is the river and to the east the rising mountains of the Redridge, from which the city emerges from like an artful, yet bizarre outcropping.
Around the gates are a number of inns and taverns, ready to serve visitors to the Lord's City. These businesses show the eclectic mix that is Alexandria, with its mix of flavors, colors, and spices. Beyond them lies the upper Gardens District.
Cold rain falls from a grey-black sky without moon or stars. A raw wind blows from the east.
SPeaking of earthbreakers.....
There happens to be an oruch standing at the gate as well. This one is carrying a earthbreaker as well. It's Sandy's rant that draws the attention of Fa'lere, but she doesn't turn her nose up at the smell. "I'm going to assume that you helped them out, Sandy?"
"They. Heard the. Ballad," Svarshan says in dour tones. He pauses after that, before picking up the words: "o/~ And Lady Sandiel gripped her blade on high, and called down upon the otyugh hordes! o/~" He pauses. "The one that. Endsss with you ssponssoring world. Peasse. Among the ssewer dwellers." He quiets after that, Svarshan does...though straightens and offers a thump of his tail to Fa'lere. The Dranei gets a curious look.
Renfrey comes sliding down the roof and stops abruptly before his head sticks out over the awning to peek at Svarshan, black wet hair dangling down. "Good day flashy scales! Such a great day to go running through puddles isn't it?!" he says cheerfully.
"Shut up," is Sandy's rsponse to Svarshan's singing. No matter how good it is, she still says 'Shut up'. She then eyes Renfrey. "/You/," she points a finger at him.
Renfrey draws back like a cat till only his forehead and eyes can be seen past the awning as he looks at Sandy. "I was put up to it, I swear! Blackmail! They were going to break my knees!"
Mikilos humms absently to himself as he wanders through the downpour. Little distortions in the air swirl around the magi, forming simple shapes and patterns with a twitch of the elf's fingers. It's sorta like making swirls in the condensation on a windowpane, but, not. Spying a gathered group, Mikilos moves closer, waving to those present. "Greetings and salutations."
Ganbaatar strides into the shade of the gate and slows to a stop, looking around at the stonework and forward into the city. "Hmm. Not bad. A little small. Poorly defended."
Just as a couple people stop and begin to talk, it gives time for others to show up, even in the rain that falls. Vroole though doesn't mind the rain, the patter of the falling drops striking off his armor, the death ray over the shoulder needs not to worry, but the gun at his belt he knows how to care for with oil soaked potato sac wrapped over the top to keep the rain from it being able to be used if needed. Svarshan gets a nod as does Sandy, two people he knows, "How is your ward. Did he earn his right to keep my gift to him?"
Svarshan stills...and looks over at Renfrey. He gives Renfrey a long, thoughtful look, and then closes his eyes. He takes a step away from both him and Sandy, much as a man might step away from a live grease fire. With swirling piranhas in it. The movement also makes room for the large oruch, who he gives a more thoughtful look after the man's comments, before turning to Mikilos.
"Peasse to your. Nesst, mage," he says. And then solemnly, though the corner of his muzzle twitches, "I ssee the. Adventure Troop made itss way. Here. Did you have anything. To do with their. Ssewer adventure. Alssso?"
Fa'lere raises an eyebrow at Ganbaatar as he arrives and makes his comment. "there's more defending the city than just the guards on station here." She says before looking behind her to Svarshan, and smiling a little bit. "Peace on your nest, Svarshan."
"Yes, well. I want you to change the locks on th eshop again. Make them bigger," complains SAndy, "I had some idiot break into the store and try to steal the silks. Gods only know what for, but it was disturbing enough that I don't want a repeat." She shakes her head, then eye Svarsham. She eyes him, kicks him in the knee, and tells the pair of uniformed youths. "You know what? I think you both ought to go hug Svarshan and tell him how sorry you are for playing with an otyugh."
The two youths both state at Sandy and turn to look up at the large lizard man with fear and trepidation.
Svarshan looks back at the kids.
Mikilos chuckles quietly, nodding to Svarshan. "Warmth and peace unto you and yours, BrightBlade." Peering at the gathering a moment, the over tall elf stage whispers to the kids. "He's not nearly as dangerous as he looks. Unless you happen to be demons. Then you'd be in serious trouble."
Renfrey slides down from the awning and nods "Oh of course! I just recently got into these dwarvish full door models. 13 adamantine bars locking your door in place. Better of trying to break the wall down!" he says gleefully before turning to Ganbaater "And the spell canon! Dont forget thats defending this city too!"
Svarshan looks at the kids a while longer, and shifts uncomfortably. "Dragon'ss blessing, Fa'lere," he says after a while. He still watches the kids, and it's difficult to tell who's more uncomfortable. "You know. I never realissed how. Fragile they. Are."
Ganbaatar quirks an eyebrow in return at the Oruch woman. "Clearly there is, as Rune shows. Guards and walls are not the whole of a defense, but they show the spirit of a people. If the walls are not manned is there a fighting spirit to be found?"
"Adamant bars. Uh huh. That smell is the shit you're full of, right?" says Sandy. "Maybe I should have them hug you instead. Kids, go hug Renfrey."
Glad for any excuse to not attempt to hug Svarshan, the two kids dash over to hug Renfrey/Hide Behind Him. The latter, really.
(They still stink.)
More in an observational mood, Vroole finds a seat nearby on a short stone wall. Taking it all in the War Golem starts to think that sometimes he wishes he could pull out a pipe and perhaps enjoy a smoke, but he wasn't above pretending to enjoy something he could not and burn good tobacco for nothing other than the effect.
Mikilos blinks idly at Ganbaatar. "Why would there be a need for guards? The Great Lady Sandiel is right there. For anything less than a dragon, more guards would just be overkill. And that not even considering the Demon Chomper stands here as well, not to mention the rest of those gathered."
Fa'lere smiles to Ganbaatar. "There's always fighting spirit here. Else Angoron would not have a temple here." She says hefting her earthbreaker to her shoulder. "There's more than the mighty Sandiel to defend the city. Svarshan is another champion of the city."
Svar the Demon Chomper. Loyal keeper of the Jungle Princess of the Shiney Harness.
Renfrey steps back from the children and jumps back onto the slick awning. Tatyannah has taught him the hard way to be distrustful of them. "Oh I am all good for hugs." he says from the awning "And I defend the city too!" he adds.
Svarshan says something, but he manages only to form the words and not say them. To someone watching, it might have been something like: 'So small.' He looks at the huddling softskins a while longer before jerking, and looking towards Renfrey. He smiles. "They sseem to have. Latched onto you. ...what wass this about. The. Otyughs?" he asks. Renfrey is covered in mud. The children are covered in mud. Sandy is...
...well. Sandy's always pissed off.
Ganbaatar gestures dismissively at the named notables. "Individuals. One person can lead an army and do great things with them, but the army has to exist and be willing. One person or a small handful can kill individuals but cannot take a city nor hold it. Those things take numbers. So far I am not impressed with the guards I see here." He looks up at the stonework again. "However, I do not yet know what this city of merchants will do when threatened. Perhaps there are hidden depths."
Mikilos chuckles softly. "An individual cannot take and hold a city? You've some tales to hear of those who have done just that."
Fa'lere chuckles. "It sounds like you follow Angoron....or attempt to. Am I right?"
Renfrey sits in the edge of the awning in the rain, letting it wash the mud off of him "Well you can try threatening it if you like but the guard isn't bad at taking on threats... police duty on the other hand." he rolls his eyes "Well this city keeps a locksmith employed!" he says with a grin that implies much more.
Svarshan looks narrowly at the Always Suspiciously Acting locksmith, and then nudges him. "Have you met. Vroole?" he asks, and then gestures towards the war golem with his muzzle.
Vroole isn't oblivious, no he has been paying attention to the chaos and the conversation that was coming from it. At the mention of his name he looks to Svarshan and one might think he would raise an eyebrow if he can. Who does the Lizard man wants to know who he might have met.
Ganbaatar spreads his free hand, open. "I just said that one cannot hold a city although I suppose it might be possible by cheating with magic. Create your own army and all that, but that won't win you a city so much as a giant prison. And no, I'm not threatening, I have no such army nor any plans to storm this place if I get one. And finally, Angoron? Really? I revere the Warlord, Kor, greatest of the Gods."
Renfrey tips a non-existent hat to Vroole "Renfrey of Under Lock and Key Locksmithing at your service! We also perform security testing and consultations! " he says cheerfully in a very practiced tone.
Mikilos hehs, and gestures, shapes in the rain forming a short row of figures, ready to act as the Magus tells them... or at least try really hard, being little more than glorified umbrellas. "Magic isn't cheating. It's just using a different set of rules."
"Ssa. Vroole iss one of the. War golemss come to. The City. ...Vroole, thiss is Renfrey, a lockssmith. Renfrey, Vroole." Svarshan takes time with the words, ensuring he gets them exactly right. He's careful not to get too close to the kids. They're so...tiny. Small.
Also smelly.
"No fair! How are we supposed to steal from you when you do that?"
"Yeah!"
Sandy puts a hand over hr face and ignores the two children, before she eyes Savarsahn and then Ganbaatar and Vroole as well.
Fa'lere smirks at that. "Kor.....really. If war and battle made way for peace, where would Kor be? He's certainly not the greatest of the gods, just the most warlike. Sure...there's a place for him, but he's not the greatest of the gods. but then, that's my opinion." She then looks towards Svarshan. "Svarshan would say Daeus is the greatest, while mine is Angoron."
"Animus... and Navos." Mikilos offers quietly. Suggesting a dead god to be the greatest may not be the best idea, but wizards are bias.
Renfrey grins at the kids "Well if you really want to learn something, not this petty thievery Sandy put you up to, then come by my shop later. I will teach you real life skills! Like safe cracking! " he's ignoring the debate on gods, as Tarien is clearly best.
"But Lady Tayannah said it was okay to practice on you!"
"Yeah! She said you had gold for candy."
They both look upset.
Sandy puts a hand over her face again and says to Svarshan, "I see I need to pay more attention to these things." She heaves a sigh.
Ganbaatar actually laughs out loud. "War make way for peace? Really? You plan to lie down for the strong to achieve this? There will always be war, large and small. I myself have lost one battle and my homeland into the bargain but I have no plans on giving up the fight, I presume you also have things you believe are worth fighting for? That's why Kor is the greatest of the gods, he represents the pure struggle for survival, to take and defend what is yours. All others are shadows of this purity."
Mikilos eyes Renfrey a few moments, but turns his attention to Ganbaatar. "Well, the Dark Bitch Taara is a shadow of everyone, but that's hardly the point. Survival comes first, certainly. But once susrvival is cared for, other, more complex things come to the fore, building upon that which came first. Survival would be the like the foundation of a wall. The lowest part, that sits in the mud."
Svarshan gives Renfrey a look. That look says: Community service and sad, sad crying kittens. That is what that look says.
Vroole nods to Renfrey, "Good to meet you Renfrey. A locksmith? I work with gems and guns, other than of course my current occupation as an artificer."
Ganbaatar grins at Mikilos. "If you disrespect mud you clearly never have known war."
Renfrey grins at Vroole "Oh I like artifice, taking it apart anyway! Not very good on putting it back together though. Bombs too actually, although I am a little shakey still on those."
Fa'lere shakes her head. "You're going to have a lot of arguments then. Kor is not the greatest of the gods. He is simply one of them. It is your opinion that he is the greatest, and it is a personal thing. I do not believe Kor is the greatest, but I believe Angoron is the one who is the greatest.......he's certainly the strongest, and he fights to protect those who cannot defend themselves, and their freedom. I am Warrior Fa'lere of the Burning Blade clan." she then raises her eyebrows as he speaks to Mikilos. "You should also learn to respect others, for it could be those that you mock.....that could save your ass."
Vroole nods, "Bombs, something I can probably duplicate in time, though I do have a fascination with traps, something I want to begins studying very soon myself." If the rockman could smile he might smile back at Renfrey, but his voice sounds in good humor.
Mikilos chuckles. "I've a respect for mud. Those who sit in it, however..." He nods to Fa'lere with a smile. "Mikilos Mithralla, Magus of the Fifth, Builder Arcane."
Svarshan leans over, and, "Sssad. Ssad grand. Mothers," he says to Renfrey, before stepping back, and leaving the locksmith and the war golem to their conversation. Because this can only end well.
The two kids are trying to get close to Renfrey again. They want their candy.
Sandy rubs her face and then stops, turning to glare at ikilos, and then th o thers. She does not volunteer anything further /just/ yet.
Ganbaatar nods approvingly at the Orc. "Aha! Now we see the fire, this is why the followers of Angoron are worthy foes on and off the battlefield! I am Ganbaatar, formerly of Dran and now of... nowhere it seems. This place may be worthy of my presence after all, I believe I shall stay for a time. May I purchase you a drink sometime? We should continue this... sparring once I have found lodging and food, the road has been long."
Renfrey sits safety on the edge of the awning where the kids cant easily get to him as he converses with Vroole. "Well if you can make a trap that gets me consider yourself a master craftsman indeed!" he boasts loudly and with a smile. No way the kids are getting his candy, it was stolen fair and square from a baby.
"Sso what. Iss the story with the. Otyughs?" Svarshan asks, when he heads back towards Sandy. No one's answered. No, no. Only Renfrey had arrived, saying suspicious things and being covered in mud. The children, making claims of otyughs. -Something- clearly, is going on. He looks quietly at the angry sildanyari, the fuming sildanyari.
"You'll find proper lodgings near the arena. There are those that will challenge you, just for the heck of it. Use the weapons the arena provides." She says before gesturing towards Mikilos. "They have been enchanted by Mikilos Mithralla here with magics that will not permanently harm your opponent. So the spirit of competition can continue for as long as you like. it isn't war, but the competition itself will make you and your opponent, stronger." She then bows her head towards Mikilos. "I apologize, Mikilos, for not acknowledging you before."
"...someone's pet got loose," says Sandy, dryly, to Svarshan. "It was bored and eating too much garbage. I happened to be nearby and it decided to hug the children." She makes a face. "Damn things can be dangeorus, but they ran up to it and gave it hugs when it said 'hugs', only to realize a little later why that was such a bad idea."
Ganbaatar adjusts the hammer on his shoulder and strides on into the city, whistling jauntily.
Svarshan looks over towards the kids and towards Renfrey, and opens his muzzle...
...closes it.
"And. The. Sstolen candy?" he asks at length.
Mikilos chuckles, and waves vaiugely. "I'm not the only one to have crafted Merciful Weapons. Many helped to contribute."
Renfrey shrugs "I didn't steal candy... *cough* ...much...*cough* ...lately...*cough*...since this morning...*cough*" Renfrey pounds his chest a bit as if to dislodge something "You know I think I may need to go, this rain might be making me sick..."
GAME: Renfrey rolls bluff: (8)+9: 17
GAME: Svarshan rolls sense motive: (5)+20: 25
Mikilos eyes for a few moments, and looks around. Finding a few branches off to the side of the road, the magus mutters quietly, shifting them around, binding them together, making a framework, or something.
Svarshan looks at Renfrey. Just looks at him. And then opens his muzzle...and shuts it. With a click.
"Tayannah says it's okay for us to tke his gold to buy candy with!"
"Yeah!" That's the kids answers to Svarshan. They're both staring at renfrey, now. As if he is going to start producing candy at any moment. They both feel like they deserve it.
Sandy just groans.
Renfrey eyes Svarshan and then the kids "Well Tatyannah is wrong and a giant meany-head!" he declares before tossing a few pieces of candy to the kids and running off across the roof tops.
Svarshan looks towards Renfrey, and then Sandy. And then... "Temple. All of usss are going. To Temple. ...ssa. Ssandy. I am going to fetch. Him. And then I am coming back for. You." Hours.
Days.
WEEKS.
...they deserve it.
They BOTH deserve it!
Mikilos lifts up the framework... a simple, crude ladder, made of branches. It likely wouldn't support a full grown man, but should hold a child just fine. And look! It -just- reaches the awning!
Fa'lere looks on amusedly and rests an arm on Svarshan's shoulder. Just before he moves along. "That was priceless. I really need to find someone from Tarien's clergy to tell this to...."