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Post by Admin on Aug 24, 2020 17:45:20 GMT
Amber. The image of the place burns in XuLiang's mind but who else knows of it? And those that do which know the way there? He asks around and most have never heard of the place, others have a vague recollection of myths and legends of a fabled city of gold, others claim to know the place well and can quickly bring Xu there for a price. Those con artists found themselves dead when their trickery was exposed.
Persisting in his quest he does eventually find a credible tale of the place from mariners, scraps of clues from sea shanties, a great naga told of Amber city at the centre of a golden circle. Geomantic study revealed something of the direction towards the place.
Booking passage on various ships brought him closer and closer to his goal. The Squall brought Xu to the island of Delgos. A local shipping agent by the name of Anna Mae found him passage on the Antelope, the scummiest ship Xu had ever seen, a barely sea-worthy sloop bound for Amber.
Fighting storms the whole way from Delgos, Captain Barrett had Xu and other passengers working the pumps to keep the ship afloat.
The harrowing journey ends with the ship still half-flooded from dozens of leaks, rigging wrecked, and the sails in tatters but under the heavy grey clouds can be seen land and a great lighthouse upon a small isle.
"Cabra and her lighthouse," Captain Barrett says to Xu during a break in pumping while he rests his aching arms on the ship's bow rail."Once we pass that headland we will be in Amber's bay."
The Captain was not incorrect for as the ship limps along the bay and city come into view: the majestic Mount Kolvir pierces the clouds with the city hugging its flank in an inverted V-shape with a great castle at the top.
Coming closer to the docks he can see that this isn't the golden city of his dreams and legends. The place is crowded and dirty like every wharf in Shadow. Tars, vagabonds, and soldiers crowd the strand all about their own business.
[OOC: sorry about the delay getting this up. Got distracted listening to sea shanties while doing 'research'. BTW are there any other kind of shanty other than sea?]
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Post by Hammett on Aug 24, 2020 22:47:14 GMT
[[OOC: Shanty was originally Chantey. As in a chant. Songs workers sung to stay in rhythm. So I guess prison chain gang work songs, or the guys building the train tracks across north america, army marching songs ("I don't know but I've been told...") or even those building the pyramids pulling on ropes or pushing big rocks while singing, could all be forms of chanteys/shanties. But I guess most of those ones never lasted or were recorded because they didn't have taverns in ports all across the oceans, unlike constantly traveling sailors, where the songs could be sung and passed on.]]
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Post by XuLiang on Aug 25, 2020 6:42:58 GMT
Xu Liang looked long and thoughtfully at the sky and mountain. The sky is the right colour and the city appears to be correct from the dream. Now it is time to find why I feel I should be here. He returned to his cabin to fetch his things. “Come Kai, I do believe we are here.”
The bright orange lean feline shape dropped lightly from the bracing beam to the deck on large dark green paws. “Finally! This damp match box is literally coming apart at the seams.” His emerald green ears flicked back and forth at the ends of a head that seemed too large for such a creature. “Even the rats seem eager to escape it.”
Xu Liang just nodded along with the young Fu Lion’s gripes. He proceeded to clean his hands and face and wipe himself down and then cleaned his hands and face with the wash basin in the corner. He then donned his cream coloured travel wear which was a bit worn but of superior cut and fabric. Next his long black hair was pulled back into a ponytail and pulled up and through a small cream colored box hat.
He then strapped on a long thin sword balanced by a fan about half the size.
Lastly he checked the levitation enchantments on his chest. If they work he will activate it and the strangely carved wood will glow and the chest will levitate about 10 centimeters off of the deck. He will then maneuver it to the top deck. Sometimes picking it up with ease that should not be possible with his slight frame. (OOC - If it doesn’t work he will simply carry it up.)
Upon reaching the deck Kai climbs lithly up the mast and takes a look at the city from that vantage point. His long orange fur fluttering on his immature lanky frame. “Are you sure about this? It doesn’t seem that different.”
“Don’t let appearances fool you. Feel the Chi flows. This is the place.”
He and Kai will then go ashore and see if there is any immigration or customs that he must pass through before entering the city.
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Post by Admin on Aug 25, 2020 18:29:52 GMT
The levitation spell was unable to maintain its effect through the various shadow-twistings of the voyage to Amber so Xu will have to carry it with him for now.
The strand is crowded with stevedores and cartmen hauling, loading and unloading crates to and from the ships. Cart by cart works its way through the crowd. He sees a couple of men filch a crate off one of the carts from under the purposefully looking-away eye of the driver.
Mixed in with the civilians are two types of soldier, most numerous are the port authorities in their black uniforms with a green unicorn emblem. Others are regular soldiers in dark grey with a white unicorn emblem along with another device which looks to be two crossed bamboo poles covered in ivy. The regular soldiers carry heavier weaponry than the port guards.
A pair of the port guards are herding the newcomers into a line, most are waved through the gates into the city with a friendly welcome, obviously regular travellers to the city, others in line like Xu are pointed towards a customs shack.
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Post by XuLiang on Aug 27, 2020 0:03:20 GMT
Xu Liang takes it all in walking a bit slowly, something about the unicorn… The bamboo was interesting, not the kind of heraldry he had seen before. Closer to home, where bamboo was more common, they did not use heraldry on tabards, the nobles wore flags with the characters of their family names on them if they were of sufficient rank and common soldiers would wear coloured armbands when generals were worried about identifying friend from foe. He decided that after getting through customs he would ask which lord they served. Perhaps he will be more receptive to someone from Zhong Guo than others here.
When the crate ‘fell off the cart’ he allowed himself a small smile. Ah, even at the city in the center of the golden circle, people will be people. But I am here to move forward not backward in life.
He isn’t worried about customs, the most questioned item was the tin of green tea leaves and when customs agents found you couldn’t smoke it they usually lost interest. If they still were interested a cup of boiling water was all that was needed to give them a sample that proved it was merely something that tasted nice in the morning.
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Post by Admin on Aug 28, 2020 20:50:34 GMT
#s://i~ibb~co/Km3S33b/DENMARK-JANUARY-01-Photo-of-CHEAP-TRICK-Cheap-Trick-drummer-Bun-E-Carlos-Copenhagen-Denmark-1979-Pho~jpg Xu spends a tedious half-hour in line waiting until it is his turn to see the one customs agent. The heavyset man sits behind a desk sweating in the close air of the shack. "Name? Where are you from? What is your purpose in coming to Amber?" he asks in a bored way with one eye on the Fu Lion, the other on his clipboard.
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Post by XuLiang on Aug 29, 2020 14:12:23 GMT
Xu Liang gives a short bow from the waist in respect before replying “My family name is Han and my given name is Xu Liang. I am traveling to see more of the world and build trade contacts for my home city. I have been making a bit on the side as a fortune teller and stage magician to help cover the costs of my trip.”
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Post by Admin on Aug 29, 2020 20:54:55 GMT
#s://i~ibb~co/Km3S33b/Amber-customs-agent~jpg "Mmmm-hmmm" the man hums while jotting down notes on the form. "And your home city is?
"And this animal of yours, what type is it and is it male or female?"
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Post by XuLiang on Aug 30, 2020 2:29:19 GMT
“Xin Ye city in the country of Zhong Guo. Kai is male.”
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Post by Admin on Aug 30, 2020 6:58:07 GMT
#s://i~ibb~co/Km3S33b/Amber-customs-agent~jpg "Mmm-hmm." he says still writing. "Male. Good. Princess Fiona often complains about foreign creatures breeding in the city. Prince Julian prefers it so as to give him new creatures to hunt.
"You should be fine. I don't see anything else resembling Kai in the city." he says after consulting some files from a cabinet. "Welcome to Amber, mister Han Xu Liang. May you find profit in our city."He waves Xu out the door.
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Post by XuLiang on Aug 30, 2020 9:58:01 GMT
Kai bristles a bit at the breeding comments but wisely holds his tongue. “It shouldn’t be a problem, he kind are a bit picky about breeding.” Though it does give some ideas as to a possible import.
“Thank you. May you have an auspicious evening.” Xu Liang picks up his box and heads out the door.
Princess Fiona doesn’t like foreign creatures, a sensible precaution.
Prince Julian is a hunter and prefers the exotic. Well perhaps someday we might be able to bring him something from home to challenge him. Though the most dangerous are intelligent and would probably decline to battle.
He stops and asks one of the guards with the bamboo and unicorn tabards, “Excuse me, I am new to Amber. Whose symbol do you wear?” He will follow it up with, “You all seem to have an important job here. Is he the King of Amber?”
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Post by Admin on Sept 2, 2020 0:59:06 GMT
"The Unicorn is the patron of the city. The staves are the symbol of Prince Benedict, protector of the city since good King Random's death."
As the guard speaks his eyes spend scant seconds looking at Xu, mostly the keep an eye to the passersby.
"You must be from far out to not recognize the heraldry. I'd recommend keeping your questions of these matters discreet as many still have raw wounds from the King and Queen's deaths."
Just then a young child runs up to Xu.
"A mighty lord shouldn't have to carry his own cases through the city, sir. Allow me to bear the burden."
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Post by XuLiang on Sept 2, 2020 14:41:24 GMT
Xu Liang looks distressed. “I am sorry to hear of Amber’s loss. Thank you for your good advice, I shall heed it.”
At the child’s request he smiles. “Well I am hardly a mighty lord yet so carrying my own case should be fine for now. But I could use a guide and some information. How about we go to a decent cafe and discuss the details over lunch?”
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Post by Admin on Sept 3, 2020 7:31:05 GMT
The boy looks Xu over as if trying to decide how much the man is worth and how expensive a meal he could get from him.
"The Drunken Otter is close by and is very...reasonably priced," he says.
I guess the journey did no favours to XuLiang's appearance!
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Post by XuLiang on Sept 5, 2020 12:31:57 GMT
Xu Liang looks around at the area and notices the dive bars and inns for sailors who couldn’t wait to be parted with their money for something as easy as a stroll up the hill.
“Let’s head a bit farther up the way towards the castle. Perhaps to the merchant’s quarter? You would be surprised what a ship captain will pay for a strengthening spell cast on his ship. Especially with the troublesome weather that has plagued the seas lately.” A silver coin appears as if from thin air between Xu Liang’s fingers. It dances briefly across his fingers and then disappears again. “Come.”
As they walk up the roads that lead to the castle Xu Liang looks around taking in the buildings and noting the style and quality of construction. “So what are the news items everyone is talking about in Amber, the center of the universe?”
He will let the boy talk and gradually steer the conversation to the royal family, Princess Fiona, Prince Benedict and then finally to the death of the King and Queen.
Xu Liang is not in a hurry but he sets a stiff pace up the hills seemingly unaffected by the wooden box on his back. When the people in the crowds appear to be solid citizen merchants he looks for and spots a decent cafe with a few outside tables. He sets his chest between the wall and the table and sits down.
Unsure what the custom is he says, “What’s that?” Points with a finger at the castle and then when the boy looks pulls a coin from his ear. He smiles and puts the coin in the middle of the table. He then passes his palm quickly over the coin and two more appear next to it. “There that is for you.” He pushes one silver towards the boy’s side of the table where he can easily take it if he sits down. The other two are towards where the server will stand when they take the order.
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