| The Stormborn |
*Might sees Verlls dagger (The one with the green emerald in the middle) and looks mad at Verll.*
"Hey thats my dagger!"
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[Just bringing the topic back.]
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[OOC:wow, what happened. We all still waiting for Ragnarr?]
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"Well, yes. You are right. Take the weapons that need repairing and resupply our arrows and spears, as well as anything else you think it would be best - you have freedom in this area,.."
Ragnarr looked towards Verll.
"It's hard to find any mead or beer in these parts so go to the northern part of the port, were merchants from Selenia and Mullendore dock. You could find some good stock there."
He stood up and looked at the marvelous city - the marker streets were crowded with hundreds of people from different parts - men wearing expenisve silks, people with rough woolen cloaks, women with rather exotic clothes ( or rather their abscence ),... The town around the ports was mainly the market area, and not so rich people lived here. The houses were white or sandy, made from solid stone, and the roads here were quite clogged by the markets, yet further into the city, large white palaces and amazing structures of beauty were visable.
"Prince Septim, you shall go around and search for new crew members, since the last few encounters left us short by ten-eleven men,... Erunion, I have no tasks for you, except to purchace herbs and potions for the awaiting trip,.. I shall find a place where lady Arnora could rest.."
Ragnarr went below deck. He bent over not to hit his head in the timber planks above him.
His "chambers" did not differ from the ones of the others much - only a bit longer and wider. Since their setting off from Highrock, lady Arnora had used it, for she was not fit or used to these kinds of journeys.
"My lady, we have arrived. Let me escort you to an inn so you could rest"
"Thank you, Stormguard." she replyed as they went on deck and stepped on the wooden dock of Quar-Ashel.
As they passed by the Blue Ray, Ragnarr called out.
"Lord Seloc, how goes it?"...
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"Not bad Ragnarr, ships certainly in a better condition than last time, although we are needing more crew, and weapons. We lost most of them in the storm."
*Seloc turns to Might*
"I want you to take two sailors with you and find some weapons, tell them to take up the bill with the 'Blue Ray'. "
*Seloc turns to two figures lurking nearby.*
"Kon you and Finre are to find some crew, no lazy buggers you know good guys."
*Seloc turned back to Ragnarr.*
"Ahh there is one more thing, I would be your escort for this city. We were lucky last time, if we had lost you there would of been problems, especially with those eleves. *Seloc lowered his voice, and whispered in Ragnarr's ear.* They abduct dead bodies you know, and cast weird magic on them, so that the victim is forever their slave....."
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Erunion, overhearing Seloc's comment, was rather amused,
"We Elves all do that? Amazing. Here I was thinking that that was a Necromancer's trick. Usually a Human Necromancer's trick. Wow. I wonder why, in all my years, I've never re-animated a body before? I should try it sometime... Would you like to volunteer for the experiment, Seloc?"
"Now, I've never been in these parts before, do you know where the herbalist's keep shop? Or are they spread all over the city? If I can find the right Herbs, I'll be able to make some potions, it'll be easier to use and will spare poor Toreanan's energy. Mine too, of course. Funny how you need the right base to enchant a potion. You'd think that I could create a healing potion out of a glass of water, yet there are a variety of herbs needed to do the trick."
Pausing, Erunion asked;
"What kind of shafts do your men use? For there arrows? There are a few woods which are receptive to spells. Can be quite devastating actually."
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"Bloodwood. Always. And I think the herbalist merchants are in the south-eastern part of the port, though I'm not so sure. We shall be here for at least a week or so, so you have enough time,..."
Ragnarr turns towards Seloc.
"Well then, when you're ready."
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"Bloodwood, hmm, What can we do with bloodwood? We'll, I'll think on what can be done, while I shop for ingredients."
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*Seloc stares hatefully at Erunion as he talked, ignoring the eleveish lies that were common amoung their kin.*
"Ragnarr I am already ready to go, I'm sure the others will watch the ship for me."
[Seloc follows behind Ragnarr, feel free to control my charater while he's following you.]
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Ragnarr nodded. He looked at Erunion and spoke before heading onward towards the city.
"Take enough money from the ship's chest. You'll find the key with Thoren."
Lady Arnora walked forward, flanked by Ragnarr and Seloc. They passed by several mercanary vessels and war galleys before finally reaching real ground.
It was damn hot.
Ragnarr had been around with his longship, encountering various weathers and climates, yet he used to the cold north he came from. Here it was a heavy heat, hanging in the air, with only the light sea breeze to cool down. He had taken his white fur cloak off the moment they docked and was wearing a chainmail shirt and a short-sleeved black tunic beneath. Although it was very warm, he still had his woolen breeched and fur boots on - they were part of him.
Once they entered the market area, the cool breeze dissapeared. Instead, a smashing dense, hot air, full with eastern smells and scents pressed on them. They couldn't pass through the narrow street with out pushing through the rather usual for this area crowd.
"Further on, the city becomes different. There is where we are taking you, my Lady." explained Ragnarr after seeing Arnora's rather unpleased face.
They walked on. Seloc had several times caught crowd-theives trying to part him from his things. The men had regreted trying that. Ragnarr walked along, his hand leaning on his sword hilt, ready. Anything could happen here. He had few aquaitances in these parts.
They walked on for an hour until the streets bacame less narrow, with no shops to be seen. It was actually quite pleasant - white cobblestone path leading up a hill, with several steps made here and there, under the reliefing shadows of tall eastern trees and the white building about. They had wide tall windows, with fine silks curtains carelessly waving about from the light wind.
After a few minutes, they were there.
It was on top of the hill, surrounded by a wonderful garden. They passed through the arches and entered.
Inside it was clean and pleasant. The walls had endless exotic decorations, binding and entangling in each other, in a large variaty of bright colours. Fine expensive carpets were covering the white-stoned floor. Wide windows with arches and columns, silk curtains, fine ebony furniture,...
A short man with mustaches and a wide smile appeared from a shadow in front of them. He had realized they were foreigners by their looks - lady Arnora was tall and white-skinned, with white-golden hair to her waist. Ragnarr had a rough northern face, with long blond hair and a neatly trimmed beard with mustaches, and Seloc looked nothing like a local with his well-built figure and remembering eyes.
"What would the visitors like?" the swarthy person asked.
Ragnarr took out a small leather purse and gave it to him.
"Two weeks of the best chambers you have with guard." he said coldly.
"But of course, my friend,.." the man started but was shortly interupted.
"And when I say the best, I mean the best you have. And what I mean by guard is not a sleeping begger infront of the door, but a true guard. Am I clear?" he asked calmly and icey.
"Yes, yes, right away. Follow me,.."
Ragnarr and Seloc bowed lightly at lady Arnora.
"You shall be safe here, my Lady. Rest well."
After that was over with, the two sea lords left the building and were on the streets again,...
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"Well that was as uneventful as I had hoped."
*Seloc yawned heavily, and put his hands behind his head and stared into the sky.*
"Anyway I'm here to guard you, my jobs not done till your back on that ship of yours."
*Seloc lowered his hands again, and stared at Ragnarr. It was striking how different Ragnarr was to the people moving around, his tall norse figure, the hard face and the hair. Seloc had long since adandoned the norse like hair, that had followed him through childhood....*
"So where next? we planning on leaving soon? or are you wanting to stay for a while and make sure the ladies happy? although I don't think she'll be happy if you leave, I saw how she looked at you."
*Seloc winked dramatically at Ragnarr.*
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If Ragnarr's look could ever get any colder, that was the moment.
"If you are trying to insinuate something, I suggest you dismiss that thought of yours,..."
They walked down the hill. The sun was slowly starting to hide behind the horizon, leaving the sky with an orange-yellow element.
"We are going to stay here for at least a week, since the men need some rest before what we're undertaking. You do realize that we are going to enter an unmapped area? Unknown to us, since no one ever returned from there, and those who did were insane?... Eyjolf thinks we are trying to bring death upon them all,..."
They were heading towards the north, and they entered a small shaded street. A small wooden door lay on the left.
Ragnarr opened it.
"When I said a have few aquatiances here, I did not say I had none,... Sandro, old friend, how goes it?...." he asked the barkeep.
It was a pub...
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Jonny and a few of the men walked around the city, inpecting weapons, but buying little. The arrows, surprisingly, where what was mainly bought. The arrows where the best, and all well made, not crude like some of the other ones.
"I'd like a thousand of these arrows. Actually make it fifteen hundred."
Jonny looked down on the shopkeeper. He could have fit in with them, except that his skin was more of a greek tint of brown, instead of the fell brown that these men had.
"Sir. I cannot possibly make that many arrows, not do I have that many in stock. It will take me at least, I'd say, a week to do it. And it would cost you a small fortune."
"We have the money, do not question that." Jonny said, almost accusingly. "A week will be more then enough time. I will send men here every few days to make payments and pick up the arrows."
With that, Jonny walked out, flanked by at least four men. Darius was one of them. As they walked on, Darius felt a thief pull on his belt, trying to steal his coin purse. Darius quickly lashed out with his fist, catching the would-be thief in the mouth. That sent him skimpering away very fast.
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*Seloc enter the pub with a very crazy look on his face.*
"Aww come on Ragnarr, uncharted sea, suddenly death, mysterious illnessess. You worry to much, I don't know about the 'Stormborn' but the 'Blue Ray' could handle that."
*Seloc orders a drink then takes a table next to the window, to stare out at the street. Leaving Ragnarr to talk to his friend the barkeeper.*
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Walking into the bar, Erunion spoke to Ragnarr.
"I thought I'd find you here. I managed to find enough herbs to equip each person with a couple of fairly strong potions. Toreanan's mixing them up, but I brought the first four here. They should heal most wounds, or heal them enough for you to get to a healer, but be careful. Just drink these, they are rather unstable. Like Seloc here, who clearly is unstable..."
"Now, I have to start work on those arrows... Never worked on bloodwood before, might get something good here! To bad it's not ash, or better yet, Mallorn. Both of those woods are highly receptive to fire spells."
With that, Erunion walks out, leaving four potions on the table, which are glowing a fiery green.
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Ragnarr looks for a moment at the potions. Since he was not wounded, he placed them in his leather sack, hanging from his belt.
"...not much elves in these parts,.." said Sandro, pouring another drink.
"Indeed." Ragnarr said. He took his drinking horn and sat down on the wooden chair opposite of Seloc.
"Erunion just passed by. He gave me four, so you should take two, I suppose,...healing potions..."
He placed the small flasks with green liquid before Lord Seloc.
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*Seloc's good mood was shattered instantly, as he stared at the potions uneasily, then pushed them back to Ragnarr with a disgusted look on his face.*
"There likely poison or some equally vile substance, I would advice you not to take them...............but you wouldn't listen. your stubborn just like everyone else....."
*Seloc then turns to the window, and watches Erunion walk off, with his usual elevish swagger. The typical sign he was plotting something.*
"Why do you let him follow you? he has no loyalty, he is an elf."
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Ragnarr drank from the mead.
"I know that elves can be treaterous sometimes, yet,...I do not think Erunion is one of them,..."
He quickly emptied his drinking horn and placed it carelessly on the table. By the time the sun had completely hidden he had emptied another seven. He had a strange thirst ever since they docked here. He needed to clear his mind from all the dark thought lurking around, and he washed them away with solid amounts of alcohol.
It was night time. Ragnarr and Seloc left the tavern through the small door and were on the streets again. They headed slowly towards the port to get back to their ships, not aware of the four dark figures in the shades, following them...
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*Seloc and Ragnarr turned the corner of the stree to find two men, each holding an improvised club. One had a chair leg, the other had a branch of wood. The men were standing in the middle of the street blocking it, Seloc and Ragnarr approched cautiously.*
Seloc: "Hail! on a fine night this is, why do you block our passage?"
*This provoced no reaction from either of them, they just stood there. Their faces were hidden by the dark night, as were their cloths. Seloc had no way of telling who these men were.
Nothing happened as the two sides stood staring at each other. Ragnarr turned around to find some other way round.*
Ragnarr: "Thats just great, looks like we have no choice."
*Seloc turned round to look at what Ragnarr was looking at. He was staring at four men, whom had sneaked up behind them and were blocking the way out.*
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Ragnarr nodded at his commrade. Seloc knew what to do.
He made a slow step forward. The ambusher in front of him was grinning.
Ragnarr raised his hand quickly and punched the man in the face with his whole force and might. The man flew backward, his grin turned into a bloody mouthfool of broken teeth.
At that instant Seloc kicked the other one of the two in the belly, after which hitting him with his fist in the cheek.
They turned round, their backs safe from anyone behind them, to face the other group of foes.
The four that had sneeked up behind were gone.
"Something is not right here,..." said Seloc.
They both turned to continue towards the ships, but stopped suddenly.
The four men were ahead of them, with sharp, curved cold blades in their hands. They wore long loose black and white silks, light chainmail armor and cloth over their heads. They were far from street brigands,....
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"Did I ever tell you eleves bring back luck?"
*Seloc turned heel and ran, back the way they had came, trying to find a different route to the ships. Ragnarr's heavy footstep could be heard following.
They turned right, down a dark narrow alley, shadowed on either side by houses, once out of it they turned right again. Heading parallel to their oringinal direction. The light pitter patter, of the soldiers could be heard behind them. Seloc dared a glance behind his to find that the soldier had almost caught up and Ragnarr's huge musclular bulk was slowing him down.
As he entered a large square market place, abandoned now, he realised that there was nothing for it but to stand and fight. He ground his feet into the stones and drew his saber.*
"Ragnarr, we must fight."
*Ragnarr nods grim agreement, and drew his weapon and stopped beside Seloc, ready to kill.*
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He stood in the shadow of a column, while Seloc stood under a stone arch.
The four persuers ran into the narrow market square, wondering where the two men were.
Seloc and Ragnarr jumped out of the shadows for a deadly attack.
The four men turned around and raised their blades, yet too late. Ragnarr had already slashed with his greatsword through one of the ambusher's chest and Seloc had taken a head.
The remaining two had time to prepare a fight back. They slashed quickly and fiercly with their foreign steel swords and dodged Seloc's and Ragnarr's blades with ease. The clash of swords and rattle of chain mail sounded the narrow square.
Ragnarr dodged the quarb's blade three times before finally stabbing the man deeply through his belly and back. After he pulled his blade free, he saw that Seloc had defeated the other man moments ago. He was cleaning his short sword with the dead man's silks.
"Bloody ba s t a r d s,..." Ragnarr said, grabbing cloth to clean the blood off his greatsword,...
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"I think we'ld had better be getting out of here."
*Then Seloc sheathed his sword and exited the market square, heading for the ships.*
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Jonny and his small group stumble on the scene. They stared calmly at the four dead bodies on the ground, and the heaving breaths that the two captains took, and knew at once what happened.
"Well, looks like you tow had some fun. Us too, Darius here has a tooth lodged in his middle knuckle where he punched one of those bloody thieves right in the face. This place is crawlin with em. Lets go back to the ship."
As the group of seven starts to make its way back home, Jonny pulls Ragnarr to one side.
"We may have a problem here. See, the guy that Darius punched, wasn't just any thief. He was a member of Vincent Al-Binh's gang, his youngest brother actually. I have the feeling that this is going to keep happening. I actually want to send Darius and maybe to others to guard the shop thats making our arrows. They are very well made, but, I believe hes going to have beef with us, and, since he went after you already, I think this may not be the end of it. I just want to cover all the bases. Also, we prolly shouldn't travel around here in groups of less then three or four. Just a suggestion. I figured you'd like to know though."
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"Seven hells, just what we needed,... Then do what must be done with the arrow fletcher. Take as much men you need."
They all made it to the docks. The port was much less crowded and a fresh breeze blew lightly from the sea.
The two longships were calmly tillting in their places at the docks. Guards were at their posts, but most of the men aboard were sleeping. The other half was probably spread through out the brothels of the city.
Ragnarr looked around, searching for Prince Septim,...
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Bloody thieves. Bloody fools. By the creator, why did they set upon me?
Erunion was seriously annoyed. Levitating in front of him as he walked towards the nearest Magistrate were a pair of thieves. A few streets back were a pair of charred corpses.
This is indubitably Seloc's fault. Him and his blasted prejudice. Probably incited some of the locals against us elves.
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Ragnarr couldn't find Prince Septim anywhere around the longships. He must be still in town, searching for new crewmembers, Ragnarr thought to himself.
He went aboard his longship.
"Any problems, Thoren?"
"Not at all."
"Fine." Ragnarr replyed.
He went below deck to tend to his small cuts and wounds on his arms and chest from the quarb's blade. After that was done, he fell asleep.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
The next morning came with the first rays of sunlight and the immense sound and noise of the lively market.
Ragnarr stood up and washed with the water in the small basin before walking up to the deck. There he found Erunion, with a frown on his face.
"How goes it, Erunion?"....
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Jonny had sent Darius and two men to go keep guard by the fletchers shop. He would have to rotate them, and make sure there where at least three of them at all times. This was turning into one hell of an adventure.
As Jonny thought about all this, he decided that he should probably go up and keep watch. It was morning after all, no time to lie idly in bed.
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A few hours of inspecting the ship and crew passed. Late morning came with the sun rising higher above them and the heat increasing around.
There was still no sign of Prince Septim. Ragnarr hoped he had not got into any trouble, since most of the others had found it with the men in the shaded streets, ambushing them.
"Thoren, the deck is yours,.." said Ragnarr before leaving the ship.
He passed by the Blue Ray, but decided not to disturb Seloc, since he might have some work of his own. Everyone was about with their business he had given - Eruinion was enscribing runes on the arrows, Lord Bacardi was supplying the ship with weaponary, Verll was somewhere, probably drunk, since Ragnarr had sent him to buy ales and alcohol,... Septim was supposed to be searching for new recruits, yet was no where to be seen, and Lord Seloc was probably busy with his own matters.
Ragnarr wanted to explore the city alone.
He walked into the market and entered the large narrow crowd of yelling merchants, customers, by-passers, guards and other different people with different intentions and different lives.
He entered a small square with a fountain in the middle, of which he was truely greatful. Ragnarr cupped his hands and washed his face from sweat and dirt. As he placed his hands for the second time in the clear water, he noticed in the reflection that a man was looking at him from behind, hiding behind a column. He was wearing black cloth on his head and had a chain mail face guard over his mouth and nose, like most armors quarbs had.
Ragnarr continued on his way to the northern part of the city, aware of his silent persuer,...
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Verll woke up in his cabin, sitting in his
chair. He had 5 bottles of rum lying in front of him. “Damn…That was a wild
trip.” He thought and remembered the trip to the city yesterday when he had
taken a couple of northmen, and walked to the northern port. They had
encountered a merchant with a new strange drink called rum. Verll had bought
some bottles of this new drink, but since it was new he didn’t dear to use all
the gold on that. He had searched the whole port for some cheap and well made
ale and mead. After some hours looking, he had found a decent enough merchant
that had what they searched. He bought for all the gold he had. The merchant
would come tomorrow with the ale and mead and get his payment. Satisfied he had
left the port to go back to the ship. It had been two well sized and good
armored men that had been walking after them for quite a while. They thought
they hadn’t been discovered but who wouldn’t notice two, seemingly, battle ready
men following them. With directions of walking back to the ship, Verll had left
the two northern men for seeing if they would follow him or the northmen. Walking normally it had seemed like he was
just another sailor who wanted to get some things to remember this city by, but
what he had actually been doing is watching the two men who had continued to
follow him. Deciding enough was enough, he walked into a street which was fully
loaded with people. The stalkers had to push their way through the crowd to
follow him. When he started to walk faster they had started to push more
violently. He broke clear of the crowd
and started jogging down the streets. The two men forced their way out of the
crowd and started running after him. Verll started running and when he rounded a
street, he saw a dark alley at his left and decided to try to lose the stalkers
there. He stopped at a corner in the
alley to see if they still followed. He stood waiting for some minutes but no one
came. He walked out of the alley and walked
back to the ship.
He stood up from the chair and walked up to the
deck. Seeing Jonny ordering men, carrying
weapons, around and Erunion doing something with the arrows, he wondered where
the merchant was. He sat down at the bow
and waited at the merchant.
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Jonny was watching as three men escorted a cart up to the ship. It was laden with about 30 spears, a good number of the funky curved swords the natives loved so much, and a good number of assorted axes, short swords, daggers, and shields.
As Jonny continued to inspect the weapons, he became aware of the lack of presence aboard the ship. He walked over to Thoren, and casually asked where the captain had gone.
"Out." was the only reply he got from the gruff northman.
"Oh, god dammit!" Jonny walked briskly over to the side of the ship. "Marcus, come with me. We need to go, now."
The two men walked into the city, scanning the crowds for their captain.
They finally found him in a sqaure, with only a few people there.
"Captain,"said jonny. "Please, do not do that agian. I was worried. There where many attacks last night, and I doubt they fear the day time at all. We will escort you wher ever you are going."
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*Septim suddenly woke from a deep dream, the room was black and his head ached as if a thousand hands had found his face. Septim thought that it was in his best interests to pretend to be knocked out. He listened and heard voices in the next room.
"This 'Prince', what is he Prince of?", asked one voice.
"He is the Prince of Cidel fool! Son of King Tiber Septim IV!!!", said another.
"Have we messed with the wrong family?!", asked the first voice again.
"No...we can hold him hostage, I am sure Stormguard or Tiber would pay well to have him back", said the first voice.
I have been kidnapped...how did this happen?
"Well...let us go see if he is awake..."
*Septim heard the door open and footsteps, suddenly a bag was ripped from his head and a dark room was before him. One man kneed him in the chest and Septim couldn't suppress a groan.
"He is awake, hello Prince, how are you going to beat us now? Tied up! Ha! The great Prince is all alone...surrounded by enemies, Stormguard has forsaken you, no way out!!!", he said.
"You...will...regret this...", said Septim.
"Oh? WE will? You are mistaken!", said the kidnapper.
"Yes...you will!", said Septim as he ripped the back of the chair that he was tied to off. He got up and kicked the first kidnapper in the chest. The other backed away in confusion, giving Septim time to kick him in the face. Septim saw the first one stab his sword at him and turned, the blade went through the rope that was bonding Septim's arms.
"Perfect..."
*Septim caught the kidnapper's arm and wrestled the blade from him in time to block a blade from the second man. Septim sent the blade through the first man and then turned.
"Not so mighty now...are you?", asked Septim to the remaining kidnapper.
*The kidnapper did not respond as Septim stabbed him in the chest. Septim looked around and found his coat, he put it on.
"Where is Firengard?", asked Septim as he walked around the room, he found his old blade in the corner, buckled it, and walked out the door. He entered a narrow hallway and walked down it to find a door, he walked out the door into the cloudy streets of the town.
"Hmmmm...better find Ragnarr..."
*Septim starts walking back to the Stormborn.
[[OOC: I was gone for five days, sorry]]
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Ragnarr looked at Lord Bacardi.
"I am aware of that. We are even being watched,.."
Lord Bacardi did not turn to see who or where the persuer was. Instead, continued walking along with Ragnarr's calm pace.
Lord Bacardi hesitated. They entered another street, which was much less crowded, leading back to the port.
"Why don't you show me the new weapon supply? I would be glad to see it, actually,.." said Ragnarr just before an arrow flew above his head.
The other two arrows missed as well.
Ragnarr turned towards the direction of which the arrow came. On a roof top, a lone shadow was running away, holding a bow.
"Damn these quarbs,.."
"We had better get back to the port,.." said Bacardi.
But if they are attacking everybody from the Stormborn and Blue Ray, then the lady Aronra is a target as well. Damn it, I should not have left her there,...
"No, Bacardi, go back to the longship and get four more men. Meet me up at the Kyall-Ara square east from here. Be quick!"
Ragnarr started walking with a quick large pace towards the inn they had left the lady. After a few minutes of walking, he turned right on a street only to stumble into Prince Septim,...
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Jonny had Marcus go with the captain, and sprinted back through the crowds toward the longship. He had to bob and weave through all the traders, and could have sworn that they tried to folow him once. But Jonny had foot speed. He was able to outrun anyone. He got back to the boat just a little bit winded.
"Riguard, Lucias, Holbrook, and......Johannus, come on. We are to meet the captain in Kyall-Ara square in a few minutes. I'll explain on the way, lets just hurry."
The five of them set off at a quick trot. No one dared disturb the group of three big northmen, an elf, and a tall muscular guy. As Jonny retraced his foorsteps, he wondered where ragnarr was, and if this had anything to do with the Lady. Maybe the quarb thieves where trying to get to her. Maybe they tried to get to Spetim too. Maybe they already had.
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[[OOC: Jonny, there must be another Lucias, because I am still in town]]
"Ragnarr! I got some explaining to do, but there is urgency in your face, so you lead!", said Septim as he drew his blade and ran behind Ragnarr.
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[Ill be gone for a few days so, someone can control me. Just don't make me do something stupid.]
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[ Fine, that is alright. ]
Ragnarr's heavy boots sounded on the cobblestone road as he ran towards the square. Septim, thank god, was close behind. It was a strange, yet very well timed coinsidence, of which Ragnarr thanked the Old Gods.
After a few minutes of pushing through a strattled crowd, he reached Kyall-Ara square - not so large place, with a not so large fountain in the middle - your average quarbic town. At least there was some shade.
Ragnarr stopped at the fountain and turned around to wait for Septim and Lord Bacardi. Lucias was beside him.
"What's going on?" asked Septim.
"Lady Arnora, she is in danger,...all of us were ambushed in the streets, so she might be in perill as well,..."
"I see, I too was ambushed." replyed Lucias.
"That is why you were not around?" asked Ragnarr.
Prince Septim nodded.
"Ragnarr! Ragnarr!" called out Lord Bacardi from the distance, searching for Stormguard. He found him. "We're ready. Is it the lady?"
"It is."
"Then we had better be heading there fast,..." Lord Bacardi had a liitle spark in his eyes.
"Follow me, then,..." said Ragnarr right before he started running east towards an up hill street.
Nobody dared stand in their way and in a couple of minutes they were in front of the Silver Moon, the resting chambers, known through out the whole of Quar-Ashel.
Ragnarr, Bacardi and Septim ran into the main hall, followed by Riguard, Marcus, Holbrook and Johannus. The short friendly man at the entrance was shocked.
"I swear, I gave her the finest chambers,..." he started, yet Ragnarr grabbed him for the collar and raised him in the air.
"Has anybody came to see her?" he asked in the coldest, calmest voice that would haunt anyone with a weaker heart for the rest of their lives.
"Yes, just minutes ago,...but,.."
Ragnarr dropped him. "DAMN! After me!" he drew out Darklighter and ran up the marble stairs.
Her chambers were at the end of the long corridor. Ragnarr ran, his long hair waving behind him. He did not look back if the rest were following, because he knew they were. They were all his brothers, they would all die for him, as he himself would for them.
He kicked the door open. The ebony wood flew in parts and splinters under the heavy force of his boot. Inside, lady Arnora was standing, with tears falling from her white face.
"M'lady, is everything fine?" Ragnarr entered the room slowly, feeling something was just not right. This was a bloody trap, but he could not leave her there.
She looked at him, her crystal blue eyes full with sorrow. "Run,.." she whispered.
At that instant and angry yell followed, shortly after whcih an arrow pierced the lady in the heart. She fell silentlty on the marble floor.
Seven quarbs jumped from the shadows on to them. They were all dressed in black silks and chainmail, armed with the typicall quarbic curved blades, deadly and elegant. They charged them, followed by another six ambushers.
Ragnarr could not accept the death of Arnora and stood in his place. A kick sent him flying behind, while the rest engaged the quarbs with a fierce attack...
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"Eleven? BAH! I took care of two with my arms tied!", roared Septim as he drew Firengard, he rose it in the air and stabbed down at a poor ambusher, the ambusher tried to block but Firengard went through the man's blade and into his skull. Septim got the blade out of the man's skull in time to block another blow, he kicked the enemy back and blocked two blows at once. Septim stabbed his blade into an enemy and swung the blade around with the man still on it, two blades went through the man on the end of the sword and Septim kicked the man off, the man knocked the two enemies over.
"Take this!", yelled Septim as he stabbed his blade into both of the enemies. Septim turned to see eight more remaining, Septim blocked two blows and continued fighting.
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Verll had
walked to a tavern he had found in the city. The merchant had not come so he
decided to do to the tavern and drink a bit before finding him and demanding
the alcohol.
“I hate merchants, you can trust a single one
of them. Only lying and stealing money from innocent sailors.” He thought to himself while sipping
the ale. He looked up as he thought
he heard Jonny’s voice, calling “Ragnarr, Ragnarr!” Verll saw Jonny running outside the tavern
with some men from “Stormborn” after
him. Wondering what was happening he took a gold coin and put on the table, and
stormed outside to follow Jonny. He saw
them entering a building with Ragnarr and Septim. Wondering what the hell was
happening he followed and ran into the building where he saw a man lying on the
floor, looking like hell itself had come after him. Ignoring him Verll ran to
second floor, where he heard sword clash
and screams from men fighting. Swearing he unsheathed the dagger he had found,
but in the second his hand touched the hilt, he felt like he was a new man. He
felt the same feeling as he had when he had been in his cabin, stronger and
quicker. He snatched another dagger from
his belt and ran into the room, ready for whatever he would see in there…
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Verll stood over him, grabbing his arms and bringing him up to his feet.
"Raganrr, stand up, are you fine,..?..." he asked.
Ragnarr looked at his eyes, but did not see him. His cold look was somewhere else for a moment, yet then quickly returned back to reality.
"No mercy,.." he said, as he pulled off from Verll,s arms and grabbed his sword. "No mercy! Your time has come to die!"
Ragnarr passed in between of Septim and Bacardi, who were busy with foes in deadly dances of combat. There, in the middle, lay Arnora, with the light passing through the window falling on her. All around was darkness, and in the darkness men were fighting...
Ragnarr swung his greatsword at a quarb, but the man dodged elegantly and stabbed at him. The northman blocked the blade quickly, after which he spun and hacked his sword into the man's chest. He fell in pain and terror on the floor, grunting.
More ambushers jumped out of the shades. This time, they seemed determined to kill them. This time, they were prepared. This time, they were much more and they would fight to the end.
Ragnarr stabbed through a quarbs belly and slashed his sword from him through his chest. Then he kicked another in the shoulder and cut high, hacking his greatsword into the man's shoudler.
Johannus was running about them, casting minor spells and curses, with his sword-staff in his hands. The others were somewhere about, fighting as well. Septim and Bacardi were spreading chaos around them, and Ragnarr seemed to have gone Berserk,...
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Septim stabbed a blade into one man, and then pushed, the blade went into the man behind him. Septim pulled it out and stabbed another man in the heart, he ripped the blade through the man's side in time to block a blow from another enemy.
"These guys...are...RELENTLESS!!!", roared Septim as he returned a blow, the blade was blocked, but Septim gave the enemy a kick to the chest. Septim stabbed his blade into the enemy's throat and pulled it out in time to block blows from two more enemies. Septim stabbed one and kicked the other onto the ground, he stabbed the blade into the man's face and continued fighting.
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*Seloc sat on deck his feet up on the side of his ship, his crew were busy around him arranging supplies, or pretending too. The sun was beating down, but a gentle breeze was coming in from the sea and that cooled all the men.*
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By the time the sun was in the middle of its journey above the land, marking midday, the ambushers were all laying dead on the marble floor, which had turned red from the blood spilt.
Ragnarr was kneeling besides Arnora's dead body. He was bleeding from numerous wounds, but could not feel them over the pain he felt in his soul. It was like a burning dagger, twisting, eating from the inside.
"Ragnarr,..." Lord Bacardi and Septim were standing silently behind him.
He had heard them. The northman picked the lady's body up from the cold floor and left the room, reeking of death and blood. The rest had no other choice but to follow. None questioned him.
No one from them had died during the bloody combat. Holbrook was wounded in the belly and Marcus had a nasty gash on his arm, but all had proven their great skills in close combat.
Ragnarr went down the stairs with the coldest look on his face. The short man's face was questioning, yet did not dare ask. Verll gave him a small leather purse.
"That's for the mess and your silence,.." he said kurtly before leaving.
They all headed towards the port through the crowded streets. No one stood in their way, in fright of the blooded armor and clothes of the group, yet they silently stared at the tall northman, carrying the dead body of the volva.
Once they reached the longship, Ragnarr gave the body to Thoren silently.
"We shall prepare her for a proper burial...."
Thoren did not ask - he knew that look on his captain's face and knew better.
Ragnarr sat silently on the deck and looked towards the sea...
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{OOC: Not Johannus, Johansen! *Shakes head...*}
Erunion was sitting on deck, cutting runes into the arrow shafts. One hundred and seventy. One hundred and seventy-one. One hundred and seventy-two, one hundred and seventy-three, one one hundred and seventy-four, one hundred and seventy-five. "Alteran! You take numbers one to one-hundred, and give them the Seholtor spell. I'll take one-o-one to one-seven-five and give them the Jetak spell. And find out where Johansen is! We could use him here!"
Irritated that the third mage was someone else, Erunion leaned over his eyes glazed as he imparted spells into the wood. Thankfully the Bloodwood responded well to Seholtor and Jetak, the Seholtor would evaporate liquid from around were it hit, easily destroying anyone it hit. Of course, armour could still stop it. The Jetak would explode into a fiery flare, covering several feet with flames. That one would be devastating to an enemy ship, but was very Volatile. Also very hard to cast. Erunion was completely absorbed in his work, only looking up when he heard boots marching up the plank.
"Johansen! What are yo.... Hell and damnation! What happened! Here, these men are injured! Wake up and heal them before they die of blood loss!"
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"Heal Ragnarr, I...am fine...", muttered Septim as he walked down below deck, Septim returned with ten bottles of alcohol. Septim ripped the cap from one, emptied it down his throat, and threw the rest to the other warriors.
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Ragnarr looked at the city with an empty look. Houses, markets, minarets, towers,...towers,...
Something flashed in his head. An image that passed by his eyes still burnt onto him. He had spotted something, but let it escape,..
Where was it? On that tower,...
He spotted it again. Why did it seem so familiar, that dark figure watching them? It was a person, he knew, as it was no shade or statue. It had been there for days,...
He reached out for a mead bottle.
"Bjorn, Eyjolf, grab your axes. If anybody else follows me he will regret it,..."
The three left the ship, accompanied by some curious looks of the rest. Nobody followed them.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Where were they?
He had been watching them for the whole day. He knew what they did, what they were doing and what they are probably going to do, yet the sea lord had escaped his eagle eyes.
Where was he?
It was not like he was not in a good position - in fact this wsa the tallest tower in the whole of the southern port. Good thing the kyalls had let him use it. Even if they did not, his brothers from the order would have "persuaded them"...
Where was he??...
A light thump was heard from behind.
"Anhar, brother, could yo...." he said with out looking back right before a rough hand caught his shoulder,....
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
"Who sent you? WHO?!" Ragnarr had fire in his eyes.
The man in black silks kept silent, though he knew that would bring him his death.
Ragnarr sent his fist on his face with a large force. The tower was tall and no body would hear the welps of this wretch,...
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Ragnarr, Eyjolf and Bjorn came back to the longship in the afternoon. His hand had blood smeared on it.
He washed his hand with water and then turned to Prince Septim.
"The bloody Black Eagles,... and I am wondering if that damn amulet of yours has something to do with this,..."
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"Septim? If you wish, I will tell all to Ragnarr, as well as what you do not yet know. But not on the deck, and not without a warding against listeners."
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"Verll, Verll, do you still have the dagger you found in the mast?"
Verll starts looking in his dagger loops, but, after a few seconds, realizes its pointless.
"No, I must have dropped it when i was running after you guys, or maybe during the fight in the Inn. We need to go get it back."
Without even thinking, Verll jumped over board, onto the dock, Jonny and a newly healed Holbrook followed him. The three of them stealthily went and retraced their steps, but, found no sign of the dagger.
They made it back to the ship about an hour or so later, and where not missed. Down below deck, they discussed what they where going to have to do right now, to get their dagger back.
"I have a friend here. Well, not really a friend, but, we have an understanding. He's connected, very well. By tomorrow, if some one found the dagger, he'd know about it. Rest well, we will find the magic dagger. Just chill and sleep bro."
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Septim went below deck into a small room and sat against a wall, he pulled back his shirt to reveal a long gash down his side, bleeding badly. Septim placed his hand on it.
"Ele soris", he muttered.
The muscle beneath knitted together, the skin sealed, and nothing was left but a sc*beep*ptim pulled a cloth from one of his pockets and cleaned the wound, afterwards he put on a clean shirt and went up on deck and approached Erunion.
"Lets go talk of what you spoke of..."
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The night came quickly and silently.
There were only four people on the deck. Thoren was at his usual post at the commander's deck. Eyjolf was sitting near the baording plank, on guard, with alcohol, humming a sad northern song. Ricmorn was leaning his back on the mast, half asleep, half wake. Ragnarr was Beside him on the other side, looking at the sky and stars.
He stood up.
"Thoren, you had better get some rest. I'll be on guard this night."
"Thank you, Ragnarr." he replied and went off somewhere.
Nothing was happening. No body had came to them to cause any trouble, even after all had seen them carrying blooded weapons on the streets and left twenty dead bodies in the Silver Moon. It was queer...
Ragnarr reached out for another mead bottle,...
[ If you people want to inclued the amulet thing, I suggest that now is the time. I have been going a bit slow recently since I am still waiting for it. ]
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