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Post by Admin on Feb 21, 2021 5:35:33 GMT
#s://i~ibb~co/74HgMLV/esme~png Esme's eyes narrow as she continues to glare at Brennon. He still wears fine clothes and she is used to being a prized object among the wealthy patrons in the cities she performs in. "Then take your cold sword back into your hand and enjoy your future lonely nights in the cold hold of your ship, but know this: you have made two enemies this day and the hell-hounds of our vengeance will always follow your trail!"There is a mixed response from the watching crowd; some were hoping for a romantic, happy ending to the performance and are unsatisfied, others look forward to the promise of future bloodshed and tragedy.
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Post by Brennon on Feb 23, 2021 1:42:57 GMT
Brennon takes his hat off and gives Esme a sweeping bow, the plume bobbing. "Now that, fine lady, is a threat and a fire worth coming back to!" As he takes back his sword, with yet another flourish that reads of courtesy and restrained anger, he also leaves a pair of gold pieces stuck between her bosom and her bustier. (He'd leave more, but two is probably all he can manage without getting caught)
"I believe the words best spoken now are those that have been said before, by others." Brennon dons his hat, sheaths his sword, gathers up his coat, and puts it back on as he recites his parting words"**
"Since there's no help, come, let us kiss and part, Nay, I have done, you get no more of me, And I am glad, yea, glad with all my heart, That thus so cleanly I myself can free.
Shake hands for ever, cancel all our vows, And when we meet at any time again Be it not seen in either of our brows That we one jot of former love retain.
Now at the last gasp of Love's latest breath, When, his pulse failing, Passion speechless lies, When Faith is kneeling by his bed of death, And Innocence is closing up his eyes,
Now, if thou wouldst, when all have giv'n him over, From death to life thou might'st him yet recover."**
He doesn't actually try to offer her a kiss, but he salutes the field as he leaves.
**Since There's No Help by Michael Drayton (1563-1631)
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Post by Admin on Feb 24, 2021 6:34:15 GMT
#s://i~ibb~co/74HgMLV/esme~png Esme glares as Brennon walks off. Stuttering and trying to think of a reply, she does not want to give up the last word. She falls out of her stage diction as she yells at him. "I said it boy! Yeah, you heard me! This ain't over, not by a long-shot! Ya think you can come 'round here with a tin sword and two-bit hat? Well, let me tell you, buster: I know people - tough guys who ain't gonna let you get away with this! I meant what I said - yer livin' on borrowed time!"She doesn't, however, throw the gold coins back at him. Young children come up to him as he walks through the field; their excited retelling of the fight and the reenacting of his moves rings in his ears. Men ask to shake his hand. Women swoon at his glance or curse his treatment of Esme, depending on their personal idea of romance.
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Post by Brennon on Feb 26, 2021 6:06:48 GMT
Points for avoiding the guards, but a miss on avoiding notice, Brennon thinks to himself as he moves back towards his ship. He doesn't put off (or be rude to) the fans, but he's still riled up, so he doesn't take the most direct route back to his ship. Instead, he keeps walking through the city, and keeps an eye out for a tail in general, or more specifically, whomever it was that suggested to him to make a dramatic scene out of his conflict with the acting troupe. If it's a local thieves' guild, the watcher would definitely have noted his sleight of hand antics.
If he isn't actually being followed or watched, he will then head back to a tavern near the ship, for some better drinks. If he is being followed, he will try to determine who (guild, thug, pickpocket, assassin) and how many.
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Post by Admin on Mar 2, 2021 5:19:41 GMT
The crowd that follows is made up of admirers, and they continue to hound Brennon all the way to the tavern. Only a few continue in with him; the rest have seen enough excitement for the day.
The bar is almost full; with so many ships stuck in port, there is plenty of time for sea dogs to pass the time with a drink. Yes, the place is nearly full, but the furniture is scant. The broken kindling of what was once chairs and tables shows evidence of past recent fights in the place. Old nets hang about as a type of decoration. Seashells were once embedded in the wood pillars to add colour to the plain wood, but most of the shells have been pried out by souvenir hunters leaving holes and gashes in the woodwork.
The bartender catches Brennon's eye, and the man waves the captain over.
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Post by Brennon on Mar 7, 2021 23:03:20 GMT
Brennon moves over to the bartender and orders. "Stout or bitter; whichever is better here. What's the news?"
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Post by Admin on Mar 8, 2021 4:44:18 GMT
The bartender pours a pint of bitter and slides it across the wood to Brennon.
"We share a mutual friend," the bartender says tapping the side of his nose. "Mister Hammett, he is. You need anything and we can help you out, yes?"
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Post by Brennon on Mar 8, 2021 6:21:26 GMT
"Aye, that's good to know," Brennon replies, taking a first sip to test the drink. "I promised him a week in port before taking my ship on, storms or no. Never been any navigable water my Celessia can't get to, whether you think a ship could get to it that wasn't special built there, or not. My crew does storms like a port terrier does rats." He gives the barkeep a smile to go with his boast, and takes a longer pull from the pint.
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Post by Admin on Mar 9, 2021 6:18:16 GMT
"Mister Hammett himself is off on other pursuits, but a week ashore, y'say? We might be able to find something for you if you be looking to make a bit of coin." the bartender says.
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Post by Brennon on Mar 10, 2021 20:30:09 GMT
"I'm never against acquiring a bit more coin, and my crew are fond of it as well. I've a bit more trade to unload, might take a few days, especially with all the trade so far being inbound, but aside from that there's nothing pressing." Brennon gestures with his mug at the crowded taproom. "Like so many others, it would seem. You have something in mind for me to do, that they can't or won't? Something that needs a ship whose Captain is her Master, or a man who isn't tied to the public sea lanes?"
This sounds like it might be an offer for some quiet, shoreside job, but Brennon wants to make sure.
Brennon's comments are referencing a couple of common ideas. First, the common practice of ships being owned by wealthy shoremen, and hiring captains to sail them instead of being owned outright. Such captains would not be allowed to risk their master's ships and brave the storms circling the port.
Second, while he doesn't need any cross-shadow sea lanes to get places, it is often a commonly held belief that golden circle pirates have their own, 'private' sea lanes from which to prey on shipping.
So, Brennon is also obliquely asking if smuggling or piracy is involved- likely, with Hammett's name having been mentioned. Twice.
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Post by Admin on Mar 11, 2021 6:39:55 GMT
The bartender taps the side of his nose again, understanding Brennon's implications. He leans in closer.
"Kashfa wanted a Golden Circle membership, and it seemed that Random was going to push it through and then, well, you know what happened to him. Deiga opposed this, and now with such uncertainty in the application's status, are rumoured to bring a military solution to Kashfan independence. Oh, but Coral now seems to be married to King Rinaldo, but where is she? Some say he beheaded her and has now taken up with her sister - taken up with, or would we be better to say 'held hostage to force a peace'?
"Either way, it is an opportunity for pure profit for us if we were to run weapons to both sides. Or, if you were feeling nobler, you could rescue the hostage Coral."
He slides Brennon another pint then goes off to serve some other thirsty patrons.
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Post by Brennon on Mar 18, 2021 3:02:51 GMT
It looks like, with one thing and another, Kashfa will be looking interesting very soon. Especially if he can acquire weapons somewhere along the way between the two warring states. He spends some time with his drink, thinking over his entrance into Begma, the questions about cargo and the side comment about weapons, consigned or not. It would be foolish to assume Kashfa doesn't have the same or similar policies in place. As the bartender has time, Brennon will ask a few questions here an there about markets for weapons, whether consignments are required, how to secure the right buyers with or without papers, what types of weapons are favored, etc. Never anything about where or how to acquire weapons, though.
Once he has what information the man can spare, he'll head back to the ship for the night.
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Post by Admin on Mar 18, 2021 5:55:16 GMT
The bartender says that with the weather being so bad the only hope of getting shipments to the countries would be from nearby kingdoms and none of those would be willing to leave evidence of supporting one side or another. Fortunately there are enough backdoor channels to sell the weapons through that will get to their intended destination without involving customs or "official" official notice. He supplies names for contacts in Begma and Kashfa.
They will take any kind of weapons , but spears, crossbows and bolts look to be in greatest demand and should produce the greatest return on investment for the enterprising smuggler.
There are no interruptions or issues in returning to the ship unless Brennon wants to knock a few more dockside thug's heads.
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Post by Brennon on Mar 20, 2021 18:11:56 GMT
Brennon will nod at the information and file it away mentally. Unless something interrupts him, he will return to his ship and spend the next couple of days dealing with shipping business- that time will also be useful convincing the city guards that he isn't a shady character or a troublemaker, after the incident with the acting troupe!
After that, a late evening in the Silver Sails will see him taking one of the less-wise alleys back to his ship, because being virtuous will only last so long with a scoundrel. Knowing him as they do, his crew on shore leave is also likely to be about the town and docks in small groups. There are probably several bets and small wagers about who will find him, and what sort of trouble there will be, either before or after meeting up with their Captain.
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Post by Admin on Mar 22, 2021 4:56:43 GMT
Brennon finds the days in port unusually quiet and calm; either the display of fighting prowess at the theatre or a word from the bartender has kept the unsavoury elements of the city away from him and his crew. The fawning admirers still wait on the docks or street corners looking for an autograph or to shake his hand. If Esme or the actors are looking to get revenge on him they are waiting to serve it cold.
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