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Post by Admin on Sept 7, 2020 8:17:16 GMT
"Coo! Silver!" the boy says wide-eyed.
"But honoured lord, this is a quite expensive cafe, certainly it wouldn't be wise to spend so much of your coin on your first meal in Amber?"
He sits at the table and tells Xu of Random and Ville's death from a secret assassin who also blew up most of the castle. And of the Protector Benedict who now rules the city until the divinations and portends identify a new king for the city.
"It is said that under the next full moon when the ghost-city rides the skies only then will the Protector take his silver sword and walk among the ghosts and see the Sign of the Unicorn which points toward the new king. Or Queen. A few of the boys have a pool betting on who will rule next. At first I was going to put my money down on Princess Florimel but that'll never happen so I went with a long-shot and picked Lord Chantris."
The server comes to take their order. The boy is speechless not knowing any of the types of food server if a fine establishment.
"Meat between two pieces of bread just like Prince Caine used to eat," he manages to say.
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Post by XuLiang on Sept 9, 2020 0:21:32 GMT
The fat, balding server with a tiny little mustache perched on his full lips takes a hard look at the boy and then looks questioningly at Xu Liang. He takes in Xu Liang’s somewhat threadbare appearance in a glance before Xu Liang smiles disarmingly at him and shrugs and nods in ascent. “Sometimes it is a bit difficult to get good help. They often need a bit of work to refine them. Do you have a special?
“The Mopret fish is fresh off the boat today. We can steam or grill it. We can even put it between two pieces of bread.” The last comment said in an icy tone of distaste.
“Steamed is fine. With rice if you have it, bread on the side if not. Some different kinds of vegetables would be great, after a sea voyage fresh vegetables will be a treat. And a pot of tea would be nice.” The server nods and the silver coins disappear into his apron pockets as he leaves.
After the server leaves he turns back to the boy. “Sometimes the first actions in a place will set the tone of your stay.” Something about the ghost city sounded like some of his dreams. “Tell me more about this ‘Ghost City’ that appears under the full moon.”
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Post by Admin on Sept 9, 2020 6:43:09 GMT
#s://i~ibb~co/2FRxTkC/39c074e16c2a92cb143dbb841b65de7b~jpg "What kind of a dump don't serve caines?" the boy asks. "What the city is, I don't know. I don't think anyone knows except those royals in their castle. If the moon is full and the skies are clear the city materializes and floats above Amber during the night, dissolving away at dawn. The only way to get up there is a ghost staircase that climbs from the top of Kolvir. Problem is that we never seem to have clear skies at night no more, so who knows when the city will rise again." From the patio seat, Xu can see many merchants, scribes and accountants, lawyers and guards walking about the square. Great merchant houses, underwriter businesses, banks, and trade company buildings surround the area.
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Post by XuLiang on Sept 11, 2020 7:05:40 GMT
Kai drops from the rooftop down behind the boy with a soft putt of pads on cobblestones. “The kind of place that takes silver instead of coppers for lunch little one.” His deep rumbling voice coming out almost as a deep chuckle. “I think he has reached the limit of his usefulness Zhu. I can lead us to the largest temple, it pulls to me only slightly as it is different than back home but I can sense it. And there is power there.”
The food arrives and the boy digs in. Xu Liang asks for a bowl of water to wash up before eating. The boy’s table manners are terrible, but that is understandable in a street urchin. He eats like one who knows that others can steal a meal if it isn’t eaten quickly.
“I think you may underestimate his usefulness. What is your name boy?”
After he answers, “My name is Han Xu Liang. You may refer to me as Zhu Han.”
The water arrives for Xu Liang and the boy finishes his sandwich. Xu Liang asks the server, “What is a good inn near here?”
“The Prancing Pony has some rooms for rent I believe. You can find it just around the corner there.”
“Thank you.”
He turns to the boy, “Why don’t you go see if they have a room and could send someone over to help me with my trunk?”
Xu Liang washes his hands and starts to eat. “See anything interesting while on the scenic route Kai?”
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Post by Admin on Sept 11, 2020 14:36:32 GMT
#s://i~ibb~co/2FRxTkC/39c074e16c2a92cb143dbb841b65de7b~jpg "Billy, sir. Billy Stillwater," the boy replies. "I'm not recommending the 'Pony," he continues, "A couple of people were killed in there while they sleeped just last week! The Gilded Topmast might be more to your liking."
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Post by XuLiang on Sept 13, 2020 7:14:51 GMT
Xu Liang shrugs. “ Ok the Gilded Topmast it is. Please go see if they have a room and someone that can come and help me with my chest.” (OOC - To move things along…) When the boiling water and food arrives Xu Liang takes a pinch of tea leaves from a small bag at his waist and puts it into the water. He then pulls out a pair of chopsticks from his sleeve and uses them and a spoon to eat the vegetables and fish. He tosses a few of the best pieces for Kai. By the time that Billy returns with a brawny lad to carry the chest Xu Liang is sipping contentedly on the last of the cup of tea. “ Excellent. Let’s be away then.” They proceed to the Gilded Topmast. Once there Xu Liang looks at Kai and says, “ Take a look and see if it’s ok.” (OOC - Assuming everything is fine to keep things moving….) Kai easily leaps to the eaves and up to the rooftops. He prowls around the Gilded Topmast for a few minutes and returns. “ Just your typical merchant rest stop. I’ll look around a bit more while you get ready.” Xu Liang enters and pays for 2 nights. He then asks for wash water to be sent up to his room so he can freshen up. “ Billy you can go now. Come back tomorrow morning and if I have any need of you I will either be here or leave word with the innkeeper.” Xu Liang carefully replaces the key into the eyes of the dragon on the latch. He then quickly solves the puzzle that unlocks the chest. Opening the chest he removes his second best outfit and lays it out on the bed. He starts removing his travel worn clothes and hangs them on hooks on the wall. By then the water has arrived and he washes himself and combs out his hair. He looks at his smooth cheeks and sighs for the umpteenth time about not needing to shave them. At least my goatee has grown out reasonably well, he thinks to himself while he brushes it out and ties it off with a Jade clip. Next he winds his long jet black hair into a bun that he covers with an emerald green box hat with a hair needle through it. Next he dons his cream coloured loose fine linen pants and shirt. Over this goes a cream silk tunic with wide sleeves, a gold thread embroidered phoenix on the front and dragon on the back. Then light green short boots that the tunic almost covers. Last he picks up an ostrich fan from the chest before closing it, scrambling the puzzle and pocketing the key up his sleeve. Next his money pouch goes up his other sleeve. He leaves, collects Kai and has the Fu Lion show him up to the ‘strongest radiating temple’. (OOC - If you want to break any of this down I can edit, but I am trying to get up to the castle so we can move the plot along. )
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Post by Admin on Sept 13, 2020 17:34:11 GMT
[OOC: No need to break it up. I'll just add a few details.]
The Guilded Topmast lives up to its name with a portion of a ship on the roof, and indeed there is a mast covered in gold leaf that leans to one side. From rotting spars, a few nests of birds make their home and, maybe a sign of good luck?, a small dragon rests under a frayed patch of sailcloth.
"You have shadows," Kai tells him, "at least two different groups of people followed you from the docks to the cafe and now to here."
The "strongest radiating temple" is far up the mountainside, all the way to the castle. The journey is tiring but allows Xu to learn even more about this strange city and its people. Guards at the castle give him a quick glance and allow him through.
The temple is more like a large chapel. Xu sees candles and stained glass, pews, priests and priestesses, and clouds of incense. The place is consecrated to the Unicorn, the beast's image is ubiquitous in the city and castle and is obviously not only a heraldic symbol but also the god of this place. Near the altar are two statues, the recently fallen king and queen and to the side another statue dedicated to some other hero of this place. It seems when one of these lords dies they tend to not leave a body behind.
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Post by XuLiang on Sept 14, 2020 14:05:53 GMT
“Hmmmm. Two groups. It appears that I will be presented with a choice and that choice will likely come with built in enemies. Exciting.”
“Do you think the boy was part of one of the groups? He was likely sent to find a mark to fleece, but perhaps we can convince him that it will be more profitable to stay in my employ.”
Xu Liang bows respectfully (From the waist, almost 90 degrees with head down) at the entrance before stepping into the strange temple dedicated to their more horse-like idea of the Unicorn. (OOC - He wouldn’t have heard of a chapel yet.) It is certainly more graceful looking than the terrible appearance that depicted a creature of grace and peacefulness in my hometown. (OOC - The qilin (Chinese: 麒麟), a creature in Chinese mythology, is sometimes called "the Chinese unicorn", and some ancient accounts describe a single horn as its defining feature. However, it is more accurately described as a hybrid animal that looks less unicorn than chimera, with the body of a deer, the head of a lion, green scales and a long forwardly-curved horn. Thanks Wikipedia)
Kai takes a position to the right side of the door sitting upright facing out and freezes in place. After a time people may mistake him for a statue at how still he sits looking out into a middle distance physically but psychically his senses reach out attempting to understand the spiritual nature of this new place.
Xu Liang moves slowly and gracefully down the aisle with his eyes forward but not missing any details in the magnificent building. The stained glass depicting heroes doing heroic things. The Unicorn blessing them for mysterious purposes. Most impressive is the height of the cathedral. He takes a moment to consider the pillars and ceiling calculating the forces of the weight. He realizes that inside the column must be another material other than stone capable of taking on such a load without crushing. To use so much steel for such a purpose, these people must be wealthy beyond reckoning!
He stops before the fallen King. He bows respectfully again to him (75 degrees with head down) and then contemplates him. Was he in my dreams? Have I seen him before?
He moves on to the fallen Queen. Again he bows as for the King and contemplates her. What part did you play here? What should I expect from the women of this place?
After some time he moves to the fallen hero. He bows to him (70 degrees with head up) and then looks at the statue. He certainly is built like a hero out of legend. What made you great? Why were you special? I feel I should know but all that is there are blanks.
Xu Liang returns to the centre of the temple and closes his eyes. He reaches out and feels the Chi of the structure and then lets the flows guide him to an auspicious pew. He sits and contemplates the flow of Chi in the structure. He can sense Kai just outside radiating calm protective energy. He relaxes and looks at the ebbs and flows of the Chi around him with his third eye. To mundane eyes he appears to be sitting with his head slightly bowed and eyes closed. If anyone is using other sight they will see his astral form looking around and taking in unseen forces moving in the area.
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Post by Admin on Sept 17, 2020 3:56:39 GMT
#s://i~ibb~co/PTPGL99/nun~png "I would suspect that he was working with one of the gangs. I doubt those who rule the docks at night would allow the street urchins to act as free agents." Kai says. All three of the recent honoured dead are recognizable from Xu's dreams. There were many others from the dreams whose likenesses are not on display here. As he meditates a priestess comes and sits next to him. "Welcome to the Shrine of the Unicorn, traveller, she says, "It is rare for us to have a votary who is not from Amber or her domains."
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Post by XuLiang on Sept 18, 2020 5:31:23 GMT
“Thank you for your kind welcome.” He opens his eyes and dips his head in her direction. “It was an arduous journey to come here. But things have pulled me this direction for some time. My name is Han Xu Liang, you may call me Xu Liang. How may I address you?”
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Post by Admin on Sept 20, 2020 2:48:15 GMT
#s://i~ibb~co/PTPGL99/nun~png "I am Sister Ret. What is it about the Unicorn that pulled you here? For me it the wonder of serving the god which created the many worlds. The Book of the Unicorn tells of how each shadow, as they are called, was created from the footprints of the Unicorn."
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Post by XuLiang on Sept 21, 2020 15:34:22 GMT
“Well Sister Ret, I have always been a bit restless but a few years ago I started getting strange dreams. Vivid and intense. As a Scholar” she can hear the tone of the capital the same way someone would say Doctor “we are told to pay attention to our dreams as they are sometimes our subconscious tapping into the Shar Chi of the universe. Some Scholars claim to have even developed a talent for precognition using dreams.”
“My dreams were different. Skys were different. The buildings were strange and the people or demons that populated those worlds unlike anything we had ever seen or recorded. After I dreamed these things I felt an urge to travel but my studies were incomplete. But then an … incident occurred.” She can sense a sadness in him with the last sentence, he smiles to try to cover it. “And travel became a much better proposition than remaining.”
“Since then I have mediated on my personal Chi and used its influence on my Kau Chim to help direct me towards what I saw in my dreams. As my journey progressed, the pull became stronger. When I reached the Golden Circle I heard of Amber and it was as if a load-stone swung into alignment.”
He turns and looks at the statue of King Random, “Having reached what I believe to be the city of my desire I decided that I should see who ruled here. It saddens me that I missed the opportunity to see them in life as I did in my dreams.”
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Post by Admin on Sept 23, 2020 5:02:15 GMT
#s://i~ibb~co/PTPGL99/nun~png The Sister's eyes follow Xu's to the statue. "The King was blessed by the Unicorn." she says. "It is literally true! Not so long ago a war raged from here to the end of everything. Demons from some dark place stalked every land. The princes and princesses of Amber fought against them and when the war was won the Unicorn came to King Amber and bestowed upon him the Jewel of Judgement which proclaimed him King.
"Tell me more of your prophecy; did the Unicorn appear in the dreams? Or any of the other heroes honoured in our chapel?"
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Post by XuLiang on Sept 25, 2020 1:25:03 GMT
“Prophecy is probably not the right word. What I saw were vignettes. Most likely things that happened in the recent past. I saw the King sitting in a study reading papers while the Queen worked on something. I couldn’t see what it was as she had her back to me. A man in white scaled armor and long dark hair walked in and started talking about monsters in the forests of Arden. Is that near here?”
“I saw Prince Gerard,” he gestures to his stature with a nod of his head, “at the front of a strange ship and someone called his name to come to the helm. But he was wearing a different kind of uniform, tighter and straighter.”
“I also saw a red headed lord talking to a card. Strangely the woman on the card responded and seemed to move. And most strange the sky of that place was mauve. I have never seen such a thing.”
“There are more that I have recorded in my book. I recognize many of the people depicted in the amazing glass artwork from them.”
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Post by Admin on Sept 25, 2020 2:51:02 GMT
#s://i~ibb~co/PTPGL99/nun~png "You have been blessed by the Unicorn and given visions of the royal family!" she says wide-eyed and breathlessly. "I must tell the highpriest immediately!"Sister Ret gets up to leave.
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