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The Calm Before the Storm Mini-Event
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| 🜙 By the Sea | |
| With the return of life to the bay the waters are once more shimmering, flashing, rippling and splashing with all manner of sea life. Dolphins perform acrobatic leaps and dances out in the deeper waters, fish dart in and out of the waves, following them to the shore and retreating with them. Near the Sunset Gate leading out into the Glass Sea the waving sail fins of small sea serpents or hunting flying fish can be seen breaking the surface before disappearing into or out of the bay.
The docks of Didymos are loud with cheerful songs and shouts as fishermen and merchants work together to load or unload the Didymos fleet of fishing ships, and the sudden influx of fish causes the previously quiet, hungry city to erupt back into vibrant life practically overnight. As Didymos dives back into renewed daily life, spectators observe the city from the edges of the bay, sneaking closer to shore in the hours of dusk and dawn, studying the people and the boats but not interfering unless specifically engaged. If those who encounter them react with hostility, the merfolk respond in kind, attacking with water magic, spears, or weighted nets and throwing weapons made of lashed-together shark teeth. If they do not sense hostility, however, they quietly and curiously mimic the actions, facial expressions, and rough sounds of those who make eye contact or try to speak to them. | |
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| 🜙 Return to Einjar Preparations | |
| After the volunteers have taken the oath, King Sitka introduces a tall, dark-haired elf to the group as Ser Medraut, Expedition Leader and Lead Commander of the Krimnos Knights. Medraut and Sitka explain what happened on the last trip to Einjar and caution that they do not know what to expect with this excursion, only that things have gotten more dangerous in the mountains since the last trip and they need to get to the root of the problem before whatever happened to Einjar happens to Preciposte or Krimnos.
Following the briefing, the volunteers are given rooms in a currently unused inner wall barracks, should they wish to take them. They can temporarily live together in this space and be provided with food, armor, weaponry, clothing, small personal rooms, warm showers, and anything they might request to bring along on the mission, as well as the opportunity to get to know the others who will be with them. The knights do not remain in the same area, returning to their own barracks on the other side of the gate. Those under oath are able to discuss the mission or anything else freely with each other and can find maps and the plans to the new airships at their disposal. | |
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| 🜙 The Travelers | |
| On the night of the full moon the moon rises an unsettling pinkish-red in the sky. Normally this offset hue isn't paid much heed but with the call of more werewolves in the air, the color only adds to the general air of unsettled discomfort permeating every corner and cabin in and around the city. Once again Koroc is no where to be seen, and once again the defenders keep the unified pack of attacking werewolves at bay.
In the days following the full moon, the surrounding wildlands and the city streets are disturbingly quiet. Many residents of the city forego their day to day activities in favor of hiding in their homes and the Defenders seem to be the only ones patrolling the streets. Until a few days after the full moon when a large caravan of boats arrives from the North floating down the river into the canal streets. The boats are covered in colorful canopies and the people who emerge from them are a mixture mainly of humans, beastfolk, arboreons, satyrs, and tieflings with a few dwarves and kobolds tagging along. They wouldn't normally be an unusual sight, their garb giving off the familiar impression of the traveling merchants, except that the city is meant to be closed off to anyone entering during this crisis and the traveling merchants don't usually arrive for spring trading until May. The Defenders seem confused by their sudden appearance. Their attempts to bar the strangers from entering the city are met with passive responses as towering arboreons lift them up to set them aside or dwarves duck under their arms and weapons to continue on without breaking step or their current conversations. They speak with thick mountain accents and wear brightly colored clothing. The unusual group makes their way toward the still standing fixture of the Immortal Duke carrying large barrels and casks they proudly proclaim to be wines or ale. Gifts from the North. As they pass through the streets windows and doors open and the eyes of the city follow their paths. The boats in the canals are left tied and unguarded and curious winged cats quickly overtake the colorful playgrounds. They are soon joined by inquisitive children and brave city dwellers wanting to learn more about the guests who seem so unperturbed by the city's unwelcoming display. During the night a large, central section of the warcamp is set on fire by a volley of arrows from outside the city and the resultant spread and destruction of fire through the warcamp absorbs much of the Defenders' forces and attention. During the resulting chaos the Duke's front doors are flung open and the sound of raucous laughter and merriment spill out of the old building's creaking doors and windows, drawing in even more spectators and curious folk. A smaller group of Defenders rally to seemingly storm the Duke armed with torches and weapons, but despite shouted demands for them to set the building alight for harboring the rebellion they make no move to attack it, enchanted by magic older than the rebuilt city that prevents those with intent to kill the patrons or destroy the Duke from lifting a hand or claw against the once favored drinking grounds of King Ioanrí. Eventually, Dervish arrives and orders the Defenders back to the warcamp to help with the fires Inside the Immortal Duke the casks and barrels are nowhere to be seen but it seems Lorna is footing the bill for any and all drinks, food, or beds claimed by any patrons of the old tavernkeep for the evening. She can be seen having a cheerful conversation with a dwarf woman at one of the upper-level tables, but neither move to join the festivities below. An unusual satyr with striped legs carrying an unfamiliar instrument and an avian beastfolk with very colorful plumage sing unfamiliar songs by the fire. The strangers seem eager to talk to anyone willing to listen. If asked where they come from their response is vague but forthcoming: Either Over the mountains. or Far, Far Away | |
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We do, [ Strange admits, because he won't deny the fact that he likes showing off. ] But it all depends on the type of showing off. I can look much more impressive using my magic than jumping off of a building.
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What if you used your magic to jump off a really tall building. That would be impressive. I'd watch that. [Don't actually do it Strange, he doesn't want to have to scrape you off the pavement.]
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I'll have to use the wind to compensate for the speed at which I'm falling at. If I magically cause the wind to match my descent, then I should theoretically be able to jump off a building and essentially float down to the ground.
[ He looks like he's seriously considering it before he shrugs slightly. ]
Of course, I'll have to run tests before jumping off of a building myself.
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You ever been to the black market?
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[ He says, as he invites himself along on Rocket's shopping trip. ]
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More than anything he was just impressed someone like Strange ever went to the shadier districts. But he's an eccentric sort.]
I got some supplies to get that can't be found in the proper markets. People get all sensitive about it. [Namely explosive powders and gremlin tech pieces.]
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[ He listens as Rocket continues talking. As he mentions people getting sensitive about those sort of supplies, Strange makes a noise of affirmation. People getting sensitive about things they shouldn't be so sensitive about? Strange knows that feeling. Though his is more 'people need to stop saying don't do necromancy' and less 'people need to stop saying don't buy explosives.' ]
What sort of supplies?
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He hasn't been called a Furry Gremlin all his life because he was short. At least not only because he was short. Billie had already told him Strange had somehow acquired a certain weapon he had been trying to replicate the effects of from Shura's one, and he gives Strange a sly grin.]
Some fancy black flash powder bein used in a weapon that has started popping up. Somehow it keeps falling into everyone's hands but mine. ['Everyone' might be an exaggeration.] And a few parts I need to make some modifications to my old crossbow. You lookin for anything? Bet I can get you a better deal. [Does Rocket think Strange is a pushover for merchants? Yes, he does.]
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Speaking from experience, don't set that black powder on fire. [ Strange sure as shit learned that the hard way. ] As for myself...I can't really think of anything. Enchanted metal, I suppose? I want to see if my metal manipulation magic works differently on anything enchanted than it does non-enchanted.
[ Strange gives Rocket a small shrug! It is pretty obvious that he's coming along and joining in on the shopping just to shop, not because he's actually searching for something. ]
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We'll get you some shiny toys while we're there. [Did he just respond to Strange like a parent promising a child a treat? Possibly. He slips along the alleys and through the dark streets until they get to a mock dead end, turning right to squeeze through an alley Strange will barely fit through with his back to the wall and waits on the other end, his peripheral gaze on Strange but his eyes on the tents of the black market stalls.]
If you hear anyone call your name don't even look. That's how they get you. [And then you end up in the middle of a forest without any of your valuables.]
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When they reach the fake entranceway, Strange frowns for a moment. He can't fit through that! Even though he's a stick insect of an elf! It takes some finagling and awkward shimmying but eventually, Strange pokes himself through the alleyway to the black market. He takes a moment to brush some dirt off of his coat. ]
My first name is common as dirt and my last name's an adjective. I don't pay attention unless people use my full name. [ Which he hopes no one here knows. ]