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Post by Brennon on Mar 26, 2021 6:55:15 GMT
It's taken long enough with the acting troupe that it's likely they won't act on revenge until the money from their new notoriety wears out, which should be a few weeks after Brennon leaves town. The lack of aggression from even the most callous locals itches at Brennon, building his tension slowly without its usual outlet. He ends up spending the last 3 nights of his week sleeping -napping, really- in Celessia's arms, or draped across her shoulders like the proverbial blue-coated cat. Or maybe, more like Puss-in-Boots. The Blue Lady is the only rumour that might give him some interest, but with all the crowds of fans, he can't find the privacy to seek her. Instead, he must hope the urban legend finds his ship herself, or he must do without. Assuming nothing more of note happens, he will slip out into the storms past the harbour and push for some deserted islands in shadow, where less savoury pirates than his crew cached barrels of weapons, and starved out when their next supply ship failed to bring the promised food. Brennon, of course, will have stocked extra on his ship, as he expects he will need to out sweeps to get out of there, the island naturally having been becalmed for enough months out of a year that the tenants of a decade or so ago didn't survive.
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Post by Admin on Mar 27, 2021 4:33:05 GMT
The lady in blue never finds BRenoon or the Celessia. Perhaps she found another way out of Begma? Or some misfortune befell her before she could make contact. We may never know.
Sailing through Shadow is more difficult than usual for Brennon this time; whatever the stuff of shadow is, it doesn't bend amiably to his passage, but the island is found after a time. The pirate ship listing from taking on water floats in a lagoon, the makeshift huts and skeletons are all that remains of the pirates. But a large cache of weapons is found.
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Post by Brennon on Mar 29, 2021 19:42:46 GMT
Brennon has no particular preference for Begma or Kashfa, and the weather is tricky enough that he makes sure he's back in familiar sea lanes before deciding any further on his course. The choice isn't as simple as it may appear to an outsider.
Despite being a predator, or maybe a scavenger, on the seas of shadow, the Celessia's operation required a certain amount of stable governments in the area, to ensure laws to be avoided for higher prices, and safe, hidden arrangements to make her comings and goings untraceable. Having to bribe a new government at every port, having to re-establish credentials at every return, and even the risk of being searched or siezed by new, desperate governments instead of lazy, decadent ones is something he really prefers to avoid on a regular basis. Delivering the cargo to Kashfa or Begma, with the bad news from Amber, the acknowledged stabilizing power in the area, may cause such a crisis in this part of the Golden Circle, which Brennon wants to avoid. Despite that, he doesn't know which way would be more beneficial.
Instead, he tries for a more nebulous goal. He can't shift straight into Amber- or at least, it has been a place of such order in the past that he knows there are no direct routes there that he can reach beyond the established roads and sea lanes. That's one reason he works as far out as the edges of the Golden Circle. So once back on the more familiar seas of shadow, Brennon decides to find a route where the sale of his cargo will make Amber (and thus the Golden Circle) more politically stable.
He'll have to do a lot more playing by ear, and where he ends up might not seem to have anything to do with Begma, Kashfa, or (especially on his mind) the missing minister's daughter Coral, but it will eventually lead to the settling down of tempers and weapons in the area, and at the very least will not further destabilize the giant power that dominates his 'home' seas.
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Post by Admin on Mar 30, 2021 5:39:41 GMT
Without looking too far, Begma might be the best choice in that they are already a Golden Circle Treaty member while Kashfa is still pushing to join the pact. A well armed Begma and a few border raids into Kashfa could quieten things down here.
A day's sail from Begma in the same shadow as her and Kashfa is the island enclave of Ostlund. A free-wheeling, fee-booting kind of place Brennon would know well. Not much of an army but filled with fine fishermen who make a decent group of sailors if they could be supplies with military ships. Wouldn't be much use on land but could control the limited sea lanes still open and drive the two greater countries to the negotiating table.
There are rumors of unrest in Deiga, a place also not a part of the G.C. but important for trade in foodstuffs. If a force could be raised to take that city then a large number of concessions could be demanded from neighboring lands.
Also, there is the mysterious, rarely visited island kingdom of Ayalos. Mostly ignoring the wider world around them, rumored to have been at peace for many years, yet also made up of well trained savage warriors. If they were armed and convinced of the need to plunder and control foreign lands they could be a stick to bash almost any of the golden circle kingdoms. The issue there is the stories of a witch queen and warlock king that rule the place in barbaric, sorcerous, decadent splendor.
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Post by Brennon on Mar 30, 2021 19:55:08 GMT
[ooc: It might not have been made clear, Brennon is sailing shadow *without* a specific destination in mind. Only that it will stabilize the area and Amber. Plus the negative effects of Broken Pattern he and his crew will have to suffer through. He's throwing his fortunes to Fate and letting the Powers decide where he needs to be, and when.]
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Post by Admin on Mar 31, 2021 4:09:27 GMT
[OOC: ahh! my mistake! And now you're making me think of something. It might take a day or two. And might also involve the new PC if they are ready to go quick enough.]
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Post by Admin on Apr 4, 2021 4:52:54 GMT
[OOC: Sorry for the delay. I'll give Kevin until tomorrow to get a char concept in to me on the chance it might tie in with Brenonn's business, if not I have a few ideas and I will chose one to write up.]
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Post by Admin on Apr 5, 2021 4:04:33 GMT
It is a difficult journey for Brennon and his crew, and the Celessia too! Rains, contrary winds, foul currents, crashing upon reefs and breakers, lodged on a sandbank until a shift in tide could break her free, the hull of the ship is strained to its utmost before all becomes calm under a steel grey sky.
The ship sails along a rugged coast of majestic mountains reaching high into the clouds, verdant forest on the lower reaches, snow and bare rock in the heights. Numerous deep fjords cut into the shoreline running far inland to be lost in the mists. The place seemed to be empty of habitation until a few small fishing boats are sen in the distance.
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Post by Brennon on Apr 6, 2021 4:34:20 GMT
The mountains, while covered in different vegetation, remind Brennon of the skyline of his home. The fjords are reminiscent of the viking homeland north of Porthaven, so when the fishing boats become apparent, he is cautiously optimistic about following them back and up the coast to find a town or settlement. If a city isn't apparent, he will put in at a village to get his bearings, and the feel of the place.
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Post by Admin on Apr 7, 2021 7:13:54 GMT
The younger members of the fishing crews stare at the Celessia in wonder while the older men and women wave them towards an inlet with a village at the mouth. There they are told to continue on deeper into the fjord to where their city is.
Through mist, under cloud, and amid the occasional breaching whale, Brennon and his crew sail another few hours till they see a good-sized city hugging the mountainsides with a tall waterfall draining from up the mountain and into the sea. In the harbour are longships, all looking nearly new. A few, most from galleons and other large ships, poke up out of the water. Seagulls rest upon the mouldering spars.
Some of the fisherfolk by the shore look on in interest at their arrival.
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Post by Brennon on Apr 8, 2021 2:56:11 GMT
Whistles and calls spring up from Celessia as the ship and her crew sight the remains of the larger ships, and for a moment the ship seems almost to back against the wind, slowing to better navigate the obviously treacherous harbour. While not nearly as deep and wallowing a draft as a coaster or a galleon, Celessia nevertheless is deeper than a longship, though her keel can also safely run partially ashore if needed. Her rails and tops soon swarm with crew, some keeping an eye on the longships, some casting lines to check the depth of the channel ahead. She twists and turns through the channel with delicate ease, and sometimes without any hands to touch sheet, line, or wheel. A few times, men are lowered overboard to hack at an offending or protruding spar, while the ship sits still in the waters, sails folded, ignoring wind or tide as if anchored there. Not following Brennon's standing orders as closely as she might, Celessia herself keeps an eye out ahead, while sneaking glances at the longboats. She's always been fond of the slightly smaller, sleek boats with their predatory carved heads, and a lot of their lines are similar to her own, the way a male hunting bird is slightly but noticeably smaller than a female. Assuming she is allowed to approach the city (without someone coming out in a small boat to hail or talk to them, etc.): As evening draws in, Celessia snugs up to the sand on the deeper side of the line of longships, only her bow touching, and the anchor is dropped, while the longshoremen and others of the city gather to stare at the strange ship, and its strange crew. Brennon moves from the wheel to the front of his ship, making it clear who is in charge, while the rest of his crew keep their stations, weapons ready to hand but not drawn, and no one moving until more is known.
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Post by Admin on Apr 8, 2021 3:58:36 GMT
The onlookers stay back. Half an hour after reaching the shore, a tall, muscular woman pushes through the crowd and stands ten feet in front of the prow. She is dressed in her chain and leather armour and carries a shield. Two axes hang from her belt. She looks, in every way, like a traditional Viking warrior.
"So. You have come along the hidden paths? Emissaries from High King Gerard?" she calls up to Brennon and crew.
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Post by Brennon on Apr 13, 2021 4:35:12 GMT
At the mention of the name Gerard, Brennon doffs his hat, holding it in both hands over his heart, plume bobbing in the wind. There are a number of meanings for the gesture, but after a heartbeat the gesture is repeated, one-handed, by most of the crew, revealing a variety of hair, scales, fur, and horns, and triangular, pointed, round, and oblong ears of both manlike and bestial appearance, as well as other variations. Unlike their captain, most of the crew replace their hats as Brennon speaks. Clearly, something of import has happened to Gerard, and probably not something good.
"I'm no emissary of Gerard, Prince or High King, though I do still hold a warrant from him. Celessia and I sail of our own free will, whatever waters of Shadow there be. It was two, three months back, by our time, that we fled the port of Kasaba empty-handed but for a single prisoner, and he could tell us nothing of what we needed to hear. Gerard held the harbour, letting ships escape, and- but this is not the time for such tales. No, I bring no messages, and the Golden City has had terrible tragedies befall it, leaving us adrift. We bear a cargo for the war, though they'll do little enough in a battle like the one fought at the harbour of Kasaba. Tell me, what place have we found here, Shieldmaid of the city?"
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Post by Admin on Apr 13, 2021 5:48:00 GMT
"You have come to Fortune's Sound. Your lack of knowledge about us tells the tale that we have long been out of the High King's thoughts.
"Come captain and crew. Come to our village and tell us how you found your way through the hidden paths and why you have brought us weapons and what you ask in return."
She beckons the crew down to the beach.
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Post by Brennon on Apr 17, 2021 21:11:33 GMT
Brennon isn't quite sure how to handle the assumptions of the Speaker for Fortune's Sound. The weapons only really cost him the supplies for his crew, and it looks like the town can provide plenty of that, if less varied. He signals for a shore watch of Celessia's crew to stay aboard, and follows the woman with the rest of his crew to the high hall, where they are seated at guesting tables.
Once his crew are settled, and Brennon sits with the lady, he will tell her a short, slightly biased, technologically edited version of the flight from Kasaba, starting with Gerard practically shanghai-ing him into agreeing to find the missing documents. (The train is a steam carriage, the planes are flying machines, etc.) He will include generalities of his voyage, but not specific details (like selling a man to the highest bidder- that was "taking care of a prisoner"). From his story, his 'unnamed friend' (Hammett) and his lady companion were with him the whole voyage until Deiga, and Gerard's final fall is a heroic act that let others escape. He makes some doubt remain whether Gerard might turn up elsewhere.
That is the tale that will get spread about, but it contains no description of how he made his way through the hidden paths- just that he did so, much like an adventure story along the lines of Gulliver's Travels. Brennon does hint to (ooc for lack of previous name) Lady Ruta that the 'how' is also available- but that those who follow him through shadow, will find ruin in their way, possibly even death. He gives an analogy for walking through shadow.
"The Lords of Amber walk the hidden ways like a fine warrior courting. He is fine, strong, and has his choice of ladies waiting to please him. The way I learned comes from ruin, and is more akin to a desperate sailor, weeks at sea, and- taking what he can find. It's not pretty, it's often not pleasant, and the wrong choice will get you killed."
Turning to what is wanted for his weapons, Brennon will say that it was wyrd, or fate, that brought him, and that the Golden City is in danger. He's always been more of a scoundrel or scavenger than a hero, but he realizes that the golden city is the goose that lays his golden egg- and he isn't foolish enough to let it die, because then he'd be out of a livelihood, too. The people of Fortune's Sound seem to have Amber's interest at heart, so it seems that it is their fate to have the weapons. For a good price. If they wish his help to get to Amber's seas, he knows the route, as well. Brennon doesn't know much about this people's culture in particular, but he has dealt with vikings before, and norsemen, and dwarves (which they aren't, but are often similar culture-wise), so hopefully he won't run into too many pitfalls.
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