Esharra
Established
Roleplay posts: 30
Registered: Jun 20, 2017 18:13:55 GMT -8
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Post by Esharra on Jun 20, 2017 19:58:18 GMT -8
EsharraAs one reaches the end of the valley, the mountains rise into the sky where, as if from a dream, the heavenly city of Esharra sits floating above them on two great discs of cloud. From the bottom of the cloud-like platform, great spears of lightning strike the ground and mountainsides imbued with such magic that one can smell faint burning from leagues away. A great golden doorway sits at the bottom of the mountain, guarded by a wall and a company of guard with such discipline that no attack could make them abandon their posts. This doorway acts as a portal, sending travellers up to the main square of Esharra above. Esharra is separated into two main districts, one higher and one lower and while this would seem to indicate a natural segregation of class or status, there's very little to indicate whether an Esharran is common or aristocracy. All Esharran and all parts of Esharra in terms of health, wealth and beauty.. Are Utopian. Great towers, splendid architecture and the finest foods and fashion are all that one will ever see, with not a single instance of illness, homelessness or poverty. Though considering themselves citizens of a celestial ruler, the Esharran also hold that they share the blood of the long reigning monarch and that as a result, all are noble in their own right and in some way tied to each other. This idea translates not only into their social structure, but also the architecture of the city itself. Rather than hundreds of streets holding thousands of separate buildings, Esharra is made of superstructures and great pieces of architecture called cantons, most of which join together in some way or another such as a walkway or bridge. Though private estates certainly exist, they ultimately remain physically joined to the common houses of the same canton through an impossibly complex system of corridors, walkways, staircases, bridges and great open halls. Many canton exist in an almost maze-like manner, which extend vertically as much as horizontally and very little of the city is truly open or 'outside'; though the large number of windows provide more than adequate light for most of it. As a result of these unique circumstances, Esharran are slow to trust outsiders, though they will welcome them as tourists and guests.
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Mordane
Committed
Roleplay posts: 66
Age: 22
Physical Description: Stands at 6 feet and 4 inches tall
Green eyes pale skin and his hair is a dark shade of red, which eventually earned him a few nicknames as it beared slight resemblance to the blood he spilled.
Clothes and Equipment: Mordane is most commonly dressed in full plate adorned with only blue cloth. On occasions where he is not in his armor he wears simple clothes, brown pants and a white shirt with a splash of blue along the collar.
A pack with all of the traveling necessities is tied to his back along with his weapon, a plain steel claymore, weathered over years of use but maintained exceptionally well.
Player's online availability : Often
Registered: Jun 20, 2017 19:48:43 GMT -8
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Post by Mordane on Jun 20, 2017 21:16:36 GMT -8
Having just finished his last campaign Mordane was more than ready for a rest. Traveling through the mountains to get back was a pain in the ass as well, the pass he had to take was at a constant incline and made one mile seem like ten. It didn't help that he could see storm clouds coming in.
After a few days of walking he was extremely bewildered, the clouds had not moved away from where they were the entire time he was hiking as if anchored there by some unseen force. He wasn't entirely inclined to investigate but his curiosity did make him adjust his route slightly. After a few days he would be near the base and able to get a good look at what exactly was going on.
As the storm cloud became cleared he began to notice what seemed like structures protruding from it. What could possibly be built here in this mountain range he had no clue, he was not native to these parts and knew little of his surroundings besides his relative location on the map.
Once he eclipsed the last foothill and the mountain was in full view he was astonished at it's beauty, it was as if he had stumbled upon the land of the gods. Structures were built out of the clouds and ascended last the very peak of the mountain, magic was in the air and a faint burning smell came to his nostrils. This was a good a place as any to hold up in until he was on duty again. He approached the main gate and took note of the guards, the place seemed friendly enough and the guards looked like they had never seen real combat before but had trained every day for it. He hailed the gatekeepers in common, greeting them civilly and giving his name as well as intention to visit.
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Esharra
Established
Roleplay posts: 30
Registered: Jun 20, 2017 18:13:55 GMT -8
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Post by Esharra on Jun 21, 2017 6:32:24 GMT -8
Mordane would come upon a wall that ran across the entrance to a large, natural concave in the mountainside; each section of it fortified with parapet battlements, ballistae and archers wearing armour both white and gold that stood guard every three paces. A gate in the wall, wide enough to let through five men standing breadth-to-breadth and only a little taller than a room was protected by a tower and a portcullis of shining steel. Captain Mordane would notice that the natural path of the valley walls slowly turned inwards towards this end, leaving any attacking force without the ability to flank or otherwise get around the fortifications. Their only option would be to fight, or turn and leave... Yet on that day, the captain would find the gate as open as the portcullis and a finely-paved road of white stone led through a small military outpost and towards a second gate; this one seeming to be a shimmering veil like a mirror made of water, but showing onlookers a strange city square rather than their own reflection. When he reached the outer gates and gave them his information, the gate guards (wearing finer, if not similar armour to the archers and wielding long spears and shields) gestured in perfect unison with their inner arms; 'proceed through the gate' it clearly meant, despite not a single word being spoken. Behind the walls, Mordane would find the guard had easily tripled. They stood in pairs outside every building, at every three paces along the road and a group of twenty stood guard by the second gate; ten on each side. There were civilians too, some outsiders who had set up shop in a small, open market area and a few of the local Esharran had presumably come down from the city above to barter. The Esharran looked magnificent. One could easily tell them apart from the outsiders, for these dwellers and natives of a city that sat above a mountain had no blemishes, dirt or signs of illness. They were fair in their complexion, of hair and each of them seeming uniquely sculpted yet and no less beautiful than the rest. Their skin was like gold to a distant eye and even those with darker skin were a rich caramel! And speak no less of their attire, for each of them wore white, gold or silver clothes as fine as any human aristocrat's, though human they clearly weren't. In fact there was a slight (if only minutely so) strangeness to how they all looked so close to perfect, how so many of them shared bone structure, eye-shape or body-type... Some of the civilian Esharran looked upon Mordane as though he was a curious man, a novelty that they could admire but would rather not approach. Even those who spoke with politeness and grace to the bartering merchants had this same look about them, though the soldiers seemed far too disciplined to share this curiosity.
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Madelena Winterscar
Committed
Roleplay posts: 68
Age: 25
Physical Description: A fair young woman looking for the knowledge hidden in the world
Registered: May 7, 2016 3:29:10 GMT -8
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Post by Madelena Winterscar on Jun 21, 2017 6:45:12 GMT -8
Her travels had been long and tough. She had spend almost every penny she owned to find the place that was now slowly appearing in front of her. She could see the immense tower peaking out from the clouds and knew she had found what she was looking for.
She had been a scholar, studied in the wonders of this world. She had learned about many creatures that nobody thought existed, about cultures that had vanished long times ago and about miracles that could not be explained. Esharra had been the one she had wanted to see the most. Though little information about it had been known, she was determined to find it. When she finally finished her degree, she had packed her bags, gathered her saved money and had set off with just a book to guide her. Many times she had misread the pages, made the wrong calculations and had ended at the wrong side of the of the far stretched lands around her. But this time she had been sure and because of that, she had found it!
Her heart was pounding in her chest as she saw it in the distants, the adrenaline pumping. She plucked the book from her backpack and once again started to scan the pages. She soon stumbled upon the picture she was looking for. A golden gate that should exist at the bottom of the mountain, that was her way up. She put the book away and put her heels into the flanks of her horse. "Just a little bit more Arthum, we are almost there." and she would ride. The wind in her hair and a smile on her face.
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Mordane
Committed
Roleplay posts: 66
Age: 22
Physical Description: Stands at 6 feet and 4 inches tall
Green eyes pale skin and his hair is a dark shade of red, which eventually earned him a few nicknames as it beared slight resemblance to the blood he spilled.
Clothes and Equipment: Mordane is most commonly dressed in full plate adorned with only blue cloth. On occasions where he is not in his armor he wears simple clothes, brown pants and a white shirt with a splash of blue along the collar.
A pack with all of the traveling necessities is tied to his back along with his weapon, a plain steel claymore, weathered over years of use but maintained exceptionally well.
Player's online availability : Often
Registered: Jun 20, 2017 19:48:43 GMT -8
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Post by Mordane on Jun 21, 2017 13:12:27 GMT -8
Too find such a bustling city out here was surely a stroke of luck, the people here seemed rich in the real and metaphorical sense. He took note while walking in of the fortifications and especially the guards. They seemed elite, well trained and ready for any assault.
As he entered into the city itself he was caught off guard. He of course could tell this place was wealthy from what he had seen so far but it did nothing to prepare him for what was past the gate. Taking in the many sights the metropolis had to offer, As far as the eye could see it seemed like a true paradise, buildings of white and gold, cleaned paved roads filled to the brim with traders and peddlers. The only thing that seemed to stand out was the saturation of guards through the area, and the strange richly dressed humanoids. It almost felt like a zoo the way they walked around eyeing the people below them.
However after recovering from the momentary shock from entering the city he began to seek out a tavern. Anywhere where he could find rest would suit him as he had been traveling hard on the road for a while but a place to exchange information over drinks would suit him much better. He wanted atleast a vague idea of the place he had just wondered into.
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Esharra
Established
Roleplay posts: 30
Registered: Jun 20, 2017 18:13:55 GMT -8
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Post by Esharra on Jun 21, 2017 15:53:55 GMT -8
As Madelena Winterscar continued to ride on, she would see the fortified wall that defended the gate to the city. As ever, archers lined the walls and guards stood by the outer gate, while the sun shone against a stone that was so rich in colour that the light reflected from it's surface and bathed the land around the wall in a golden hue. Once she got close enough, the guards would silently gesture for Madelena to enter the primarily military camp that protected the portal to the city from attack. She would find outside travellers peddling wares, native Esharran browsing the small market and soldiers patrolling the main pathway up to the mountain. Yet even this was under the shadow of the clouds above, where the real city sat in the sky like a shining beacon to all civilisation. One Esharran, a gentleman, would seem rather interested in Miss Winterscar from afar. His silver eyes seemed to pierce her with an all-knowing gaze, as though he might wrest from her own all of the secrets she held. He stood against the wall of a military office building, halfway between the market and the portal to the city. ---- When Mordane passed through the portal and entered the city above, he would find himself standing on a large square featuring a grand, marble statue. The statue, depicting a powerful and beautiful man entirely in the nude, seemed to have wings protruding from his back and in his hands he held a weighing scale that was perfectly balanced. One half of the scale featured a human skull, with the second holding a strange book. The square itself was rather large, but the only way to leave it other than the portal he came through were a series of bridges that led to the large, impossibly complex canton superstructures that made up the vast majority of Esharra. Were he to look over the edge of the square, he would see nothing but cloud. Still, any direction he chose to go would eventually lead him to a tavern, whether the entrance was on an outer wall or deep within a maze of open corridors. Any tavern he found would be like a fine restaurant and hotel; he would find no dark, drunkard-filled pubs and flea-ridden beds, only establishments of class and expense.
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Mordane
Committed
Roleplay posts: 66
Age: 22
Physical Description: Stands at 6 feet and 4 inches tall
Green eyes pale skin and his hair is a dark shade of red, which eventually earned him a few nicknames as it beared slight resemblance to the blood he spilled.
Clothes and Equipment: Mordane is most commonly dressed in full plate adorned with only blue cloth. On occasions where he is not in his armor he wears simple clothes, brown pants and a white shirt with a splash of blue along the collar.
A pack with all of the traveling necessities is tied to his back along with his weapon, a plain steel claymore, weathered over years of use but maintained exceptionally well.
Player's online availability : Often
Registered: Jun 20, 2017 19:48:43 GMT -8
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Post by Mordane on Jun 21, 2017 17:09:50 GMT -8
Mordane explored the city for quite a while searching for his quarry. The establishments he came upon however were all too expensive. He wanted a place to rest not an early bankruptcy. Still he did have more money right now seeing as he had just been payed but he didn't want to spend it all in one place.
As he walked he was again astounded by the beauty of the place he found himself in. The city itself built upon clouds with a view of the mountain range and valley below. Not to mention the buildings built up into the sky which could easily surpass many a palace in grandeur and size.
After a while he gave up his futile search and settled for one that looked cheap in comparison to what he had seen.
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Madelena Winterscar
Committed
Roleplay posts: 68
Age: 25
Physical Description: A fair young woman looking for the knowledge hidden in the world
Registered: May 7, 2016 3:29:10 GMT -8
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Post by Madelena Winterscar on Jun 22, 2017 0:26:54 GMT -8
The closer she got the more her heart was pounding. Even her just gateway was extremely beautiful. She was surprised how many travellers there were, as where she came from it had seemed such a secretive place that not many had ever dared to travel too. She would slow down her horse as she entered through the guards and would soon dismount him when the passage got busy with people. With her head turning from side to side she passed the market stalls with their wares.
Would anything grow up there? Or would it burn because it was close to the sun? How did they get water if there were no clouds above them to give them rain? Many question were once again filling her mind.
It took her a while to notice the gentlemen that was staring at her, it was clear to her that he was a native to Esharran. He was almost a mirror image of the people she had seen in her book, so distinquishable. She would walk up to him. Just the aspect of talking to one of the natives seemed interesting to her, but when she got closer she got to shy to ask him all her questions, so she simply asked. "Hello Sir. I am very sorry to disturb you, but would you know where I could water and feed my horse?" she gave him a friendly smile.
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Esharra
Established
Roleplay posts: 30
Registered: Jun 20, 2017 18:13:55 GMT -8
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Post by Esharra on Jun 22, 2017 8:15:46 GMT -8
The tavern that Mordane finally stumbled across seemed perfect for his needs! It was relatively quiet and despite it's clean and humble environment, it could almost be considered 'run down' compared to the other establishments he had tried. Another interesting point to him would be the patrons who, rather than being primarily Esharran, seemed instead to be a mix of outsiders and common folk from the city's lower levels. Indeed the very area that the Captain had found himself in, a quiet section of open halls, apartments and general stores, was found at the lower end of one of Esharra's great cantons. Inside Mordane would find a board with reasonable prices for food and comfortable lodging, and a male Esharran behind the bar smiling and chatting to several merchants. When he noticed the mercenary, he looked up and gave a nod. "Greetings, Ser. How can I help?" He asked, as he poured another man a clear drink. ---- The Esharran watched Madelena Winterscar as she came to him, then pushed himself away from the wall while she asked her question. "There's a stable just over there, my lady," he told her in an accent as thick as it was sweet. From the way he dressed in expensive, yet practical clothing to the short blade he carried at his side, he seemed to be nothing if not a gentleman with the qualities of a rogue. "Just by the little market there, behind the wall," he explained, raising a finger to point at it. "So many of you outsiders have come lately, where once there were so few. Yet I will not complain, for these circumstances have allowed my eyes to fall upon true beauty."
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Mordane
Committed
Roleplay posts: 66
Age: 22
Physical Description: Stands at 6 feet and 4 inches tall
Green eyes pale skin and his hair is a dark shade of red, which eventually earned him a few nicknames as it beared slight resemblance to the blood he spilled.
Clothes and Equipment: Mordane is most commonly dressed in full plate adorned with only blue cloth. On occasions where he is not in his armor he wears simple clothes, brown pants and a white shirt with a splash of blue along the collar.
A pack with all of the traveling necessities is tied to his back along with his weapon, a plain steel claymore, weathered over years of use but maintained exceptionally well.
Player's online availability : Often
Registered: Jun 20, 2017 19:48:43 GMT -8
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Post by Mordane on Jun 22, 2017 8:56:26 GMT -8
The place seemed to be well in the lower end of the spectrum in this area and yet it was better than a majority of the higher end establishments he had been too in his time. It had a lived in feel to it and a friendly atmosphere.
After taking a seat at the bar he would give a quick answer to the esharan behind the counter. "I'll take the soup as well as a drink, don't really know much about the food here so I'll just take whatever you recommend." He would take his time and finish his drink and food before asking about lodging here, once that was out of the way he could begin asking the people closest to him about the area, starting with exactly what this place was. The people here seemed friendly enough so he wasn't worried about who he asked.
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Madelena Winterscar
Committed
Roleplay posts: 68
Age: 25
Physical Description: A fair young woman looking for the knowledge hidden in the world
Registered: May 7, 2016 3:29:10 GMT -8
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Post by Madelena Winterscar on Jun 22, 2017 10:33:27 GMT -8
His appearance did not go unnoticed to Madelena, though she did feel safe enough to talk to him either way. His blade could have been just for his own protection. And if not, there were enough people around her to help her. Either way she was to excited to feel any caution.
When the men talked back to her she noticed his accent, it was unlike anything she had ever heard and truly made her feel as many miles away from home as she really was. Though he wasn't hard for her to understand, there was something in that accent that made her feel like just a very small person who could never hope to understand their culture.
She would smile at his compliment to her, maybe even blush a slight bit. "That is very kind of you to say Sir. I did not expect these many outsiders either. Where I am from Esharra is a mystery with little known about it. Maybe you would so kind as to walk with me to the stables. I might get lost on the way as my sense of direction is very poor, and I would love to hear more about the city."
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Esharra
Established
Roleplay posts: 30
Registered: Jun 20, 2017 18:13:55 GMT -8
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Post by Esharra on Jun 22, 2017 15:36:16 GMT -8
Mordane would have his soup delivered to him, as well as what appeared to be a smooth ale. The contents of the soup would be a mystery to such an outsider, but it was clearly some kind of meat - perhaps a creature native to this area? He would be set up on a table, given cutlery and waitress service and then left alone to enjoy his refreshments. Additionally, lodgings were affordable and available with a pick of several rooms depending on the Captain's preferences. When finally he decided to speak to the locals and ask about, he would get a variety of answers from the Esharran patrons - some helpful, others not so much. "This is Esharra," one said, "it means 'our home' and some call it The Floating City." "No place is as close to the heavens as this, outsider," said another. "We have only opened our city to outsiders in the past year," one women explained, "before that our ruler believed that we should retain our purity as a virgin city. Many of us in the higher cantons still do not trust, or like.. 'Your' kind." ---- The man gave a nod to Madelena Winterscar, then proceeded to walk in the direction of the market and towards the stables as he gestured for her to follow. "This city is like no other," he began to explain with a proud grin. "A once secret jewel in the sky and ruled by he who has the spirit of god in him. You see, we Esharran are... Or rather, see ourselves as like divine beings! Our ancestors came from heaven to this world and built for their children a city that would float in the sky as a beacon to all mortal kind; a symbol to remind them of their imperfections - to give them something to be inspired by, to aspire to." His speech was like running honey and Madelena would be able to tell he was just as enthralled by the beliefs of his people as any other Esharran. Though he may have appeared to live on the outskirts of his society, he was much a part of and a believer in it than any of the aristocrats who lived lives of luxuries in the highest floors of their great cantons. "However about a year ago, a strange and sudden change was brought upon us. Our ruler decided that, for the first time in at least a thousand years, we should open our gates to outsiders and contact the outside world... Thus these travellers you see bartering for wares here and in the city proper. It was not a universally popular move by any stretch of the imagination; many are xenophobic and outright scared, others clamber to try and discover the meaning behind these actions. But most of us, I'd say, are simply curious about outsiders like yourself." Finally they reached the stables. One section appeared to be heavily guarded by soldiers, with several military steeds visible from the outside. The other was for commercial use, with a stable-master ready to take the horses of travellers.
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Mordane
Committed
Roleplay posts: 66
Age: 22
Physical Description: Stands at 6 feet and 4 inches tall
Green eyes pale skin and his hair is a dark shade of red, which eventually earned him a few nicknames as it beared slight resemblance to the blood he spilled.
Clothes and Equipment: Mordane is most commonly dressed in full plate adorned with only blue cloth. On occasions where he is not in his armor he wears simple clothes, brown pants and a white shirt with a splash of blue along the collar.
A pack with all of the traveling necessities is tied to his back along with his weapon, a plain steel claymore, weathered over years of use but maintained exceptionally well.
Player's online availability : Often
Registered: Jun 20, 2017 19:48:43 GMT -8
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Post by Mordane on Jun 22, 2017 19:52:03 GMT -8
Vague answers of course but it was enough for now at least. It seemed there was a bit of animosity towards outsiders here, which was to be expected considering all of the esharan seemed to be of a more noble disposition then most commoners. They seemed wealthy as well, which could be of use to him.
Having made up his mind he asked the bartender another question, this time of what kinds of work was available in the area, who was hiring outsiders or would be willing too. Once he was satisfied with the information he had garnered he would retire to the room he purchased and lay down for a well earned rest. But first he needed to figure out his plans for tommorow, and finding a bit of work on the side while he was off duty was never a bad idea, wether he was in Isra, or eshara.
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Madelena Winterscar
Committed
Roleplay posts: 68
Age: 25
Physical Description: A fair young woman looking for the knowledge hidden in the world
Registered: May 7, 2016 3:29:10 GMT -8
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Post by Madelena Winterscar on Jun 22, 2017 23:55:25 GMT -8
She would follow him around the marketplace while listening to his story. More then anything she wanted to make notes of all the things he was telling her, but she decided she would do it later. After all it would be super rude to her. It wasn't new information for her that they found themselves as devine beings. And looking at the men that was walking with her, she almost believed it. His features were so perfect and his silver eyes were like anything she had seen before. The other Esharrans that she saw standing around were exactly the same way.
His story did explain why there was so little information known about Esharra from where she came from, yet she found it busy with people. She almost hated it that she hadn't made her journey before, but her degree had been important for her. She was just hoping that part of the city were still like they were in the books, instead of drowned with outsiders.
"Are there any customs of your culture I should make note off Sir? I would feel bad to insult any of your people while I am a guest at your city." She asked him kindly as they reached the stables. She would hand her horse over to the stable master and told him she wanted to store him just for the night as she did not know yet what her plans in the city might be. When the stable master told his price she reached for her coin pocket, soon frowning at how empty it was. She had left Isra with a big pocket full of coins, heavier than she cared to remember. But stabling, food and taverns had run her dry as she had traversed the land in search of the floating city in the sky. She would pay him what he asked but knew she soon had to find a way to make money around these parts or she would go hungry in only a matter of days.
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Esharra
Established
Roleplay posts: 30
Registered: Jun 20, 2017 18:13:55 GMT -8
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Post by Esharra on Jun 23, 2017 7:44:53 GMT -8
"Outsiders?" The bartender repeated, his face tilting up towards the chandelier as he thought about the question. "Hmm... You will be hard-pressed to find any decent work here for those like yourself," he explained to Mordane with something of a shrug. "We Esharran have no reason to trust an outside above one of our own; I'd even give you a free drink if you could find someone who would hire you for combat work over one of our own trained warriors." Yet even with that answer, the bartender felt compelled to at least help the captain, who seemed rather down on his luck in his perspective. Several more thoughts came to him then, which he proceeded to list: "perhaps manual labour, or undesirable work such as cleaning, or stable work down outside the gate... Other than that there's only really.. 'Illegal' work." As he polished a glass, he moved closer to Mordane and his voice sank into a whisper. "There are plenty of Esharran who wouldn't mind having their rivals spied on or killed.. For a price, too. How good are you at sneaking?" He asked, ending in something of a snicker. ---- "There are, madam," the man told Madelena Winterscar, stopping for a moment to explain before she went off to stable her horse. "Esharran are a reserved people; it's rude to raise your voice and to be impolite, though you will not always get that politeness in turn. Additionally, our laws are rather strict - if you are caught stealing from, or attempt to harm another Esharran, the guards may immediately throw you into a prison or outright kill you on the spot if they deem it necessary. My advice? Avoid the riches and most aristocratic Esharran at all cost, for with one hand they will hold a dagger to bypass the law, while with the other they control loyal factions of guards to uphold it and protect their interests." With that said, he let her speak to the stable master and stable her horse and stood to one side to wait for her return. When she did, he looked back towards the portal that led to the city. "What do you plan to do?"
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Mordane
Committed
Roleplay posts: 66
Age: 22
Physical Description: Stands at 6 feet and 4 inches tall
Green eyes pale skin and his hair is a dark shade of red, which eventually earned him a few nicknames as it beared slight resemblance to the blood he spilled.
Clothes and Equipment: Mordane is most commonly dressed in full plate adorned with only blue cloth. On occasions where he is not in his armor he wears simple clothes, brown pants and a white shirt with a splash of blue along the collar.
A pack with all of the traveling necessities is tied to his back along with his weapon, a plain steel claymore, weathered over years of use but maintained exceptionally well.
Player's online availability : Often
Registered: Jun 20, 2017 19:48:43 GMT -8
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Post by Mordane on Jun 23, 2017 17:38:22 GMT -8
"I'm not one for sneaking around, but I'm an experienced guard, there are plenty of nobles who are willing to pay good coin to keep their head on their shoulders." Most aristocrats of any status had somebody who was seeking to kill them for their own gain, he was hired to make sure they didn't. Those happened to be his favorite jobs, good pay for relatively low risk work.
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Santiago Sleeke
Established
Roleplay posts: 17
Age: 31
Physical Description: Upon first glance, everything about Santiago appeared average and nondescript. Of average height and build, he was neither handsome nor ugly.
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Clothes and Equipment: Santiago almost exclusively wears a suit of light leather armour, both jacket and trousers made of a supple, well-fitted dark brown hide. A sabre and sickle hang sheathless from his belt.
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Registered: Jun 23, 2017 15:13:05 GMT -8
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Post by Santiago Sleeke on Jun 23, 2017 19:59:04 GMT -8
The lone figure moved quickly through the mountainous terrain, hands and feet working independantly as he neared the top of a rocky incline, skipping, leaping, grabbing and pulling his way fluidly through the jumble of grass and rocky outcroppings. He slowed as he neared the top, his heart souring as the awesome spectacle of the city of Esharra revealed itself over the summit horizon. Lightning whipped and crackled from the clouds at the base of the city, filling the air with energy and a faint scent of sulfur. Two city layers sat above these clouds, the monumental structures of which towered high into the air, ascending together in a mass of columns, archways and buttresses. Hairs on his head and hands shivered and danced in response to the static energy that filled the air, and he found himself holding his breath as he took in the details of the spectacular vista that so assaulted his senses.
The cries of a circling eagle broke the spell, and Santiago Sleeke inhaled deeply, calming himself in both body and mind in preparation for what lay ahead. Somewhere within that city was his target, and if what he had heard of this place was true, completing his mission was going to be no simple task. He had paid a considerable amount for the information, and it had bought him only a city name. The name of Eshara.
With his focus restored he started toward the gate he spied in the distance, running and skidding expertly down a scree of loose rocks and pebbles before reaching the flat approach to the city gates. Sunlight shimmered off unseen objects in the distance, and as he got closer he realised it was from the gold that adorned the otherwise white armour of the guards, guards that were more numerous than even he had feared, standing strong before the wall and behind its crenellations.
He blew air into his cheeks, before letting it escape his lips in a resigned notion of here-goes-nothing, and then quickly focused on getting into character. He dusted off the dark leather of his lightweight, supple armour, checked the sabre and sickle were properly aligned on his belt, and started forward with his walk intentionally casual. He would seek to gain entry to the city and then find one of the more reasonably priced inns, preferably one with a number of darker corners. He would need to make contact with this cities underworld if he was to find his target, and judging by the seriousness and professionalism of the guards in front of him, the underworld may not be so easy to find in this city.
With a smile he waved a greeting at the gateguard and uttered a silent prayer.
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Esharra
Established
Roleplay posts: 30
Registered: Jun 20, 2017 18:13:55 GMT -8
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Post by Esharra on Jun 24, 2017 10:30:53 GMT -8
"Then don't let me be one to deter you," the Bartender replied to Mordane with an understanding nod. "Just be aware of the kind of world you're stepping into - it's a lot more cloak and dagger than you think, especially in this city where it's hard to find the space for a good, honest fight. Why not stick around for a while? The type of clientele who might help you get your foot in the door of Esharra's mercenary business are also the type who frequent small, modest inns like this one." Should Mordane look around, he would spot exactly the type of people the bartender had been speaking of. Wealthy-looking Esharrans, though not overly so, drinking with business acquaintances and friends. They largely kept to their own company, but the amount of whispering and glancing around them was a sure tell that they were not there because they enjoyed it. One could only guess how they would react to an interruption. ---- The guards standing at the gate of the military base at the bottom of the mountain barely even moved their eyes in response to Santiago Sleeke 's wave. Instead they retained the strict focus and professionalism that all of Esharra's guards seemed to have and merely gave a silent gesture for Santiago to pass through the first gate. Behind that even more guards and the second gate, a large and shimmering portal that led up to the floating city proper. As he proceeded, Santiago might notice two individuals conversing by the stables next to the inside of the gate. The first was the young scholar Madelena Winterscar and the second was a rogue-ish looking Esharran, whose rather fancy-yet-practical clothing bore the same hints of protection that Santiago's own had. The second interesting tell was the Esharran's blade, unique to him in that only non-Esharran outsiders and soldiers actually wore a weapon openly. The rest of the civilian Esharran seemed content with their privileged attire and the watchful presence of guards.
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Mordane
Committed
Roleplay posts: 66
Age: 22
Physical Description: Stands at 6 feet and 4 inches tall
Green eyes pale skin and his hair is a dark shade of red, which eventually earned him a few nicknames as it beared slight resemblance to the blood he spilled.
Clothes and Equipment: Mordane is most commonly dressed in full plate adorned with only blue cloth. On occasions where he is not in his armor he wears simple clothes, brown pants and a white shirt with a splash of blue along the collar.
A pack with all of the traveling necessities is tied to his back along with his weapon, a plain steel claymore, weathered over years of use but maintained exceptionally well.
Player's online availability : Often
Registered: Jun 20, 2017 19:48:43 GMT -8
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Post by Mordane on Jun 24, 2017 18:55:43 GMT -8
Mordane did indeed intend to do just that, he appreciated the Esharran's help and when he paid for his food he dropped a few extra coins, a silent gesture of gratitude to the man. He would sit there and slowly eat his food and drink while scouting the inn itself for any potential clients, those dressed richly and constantly looking over their shoulder, people whispering to each other across the table. And after a while he did spot them, men who came here not for the food or drink but rather to meet and discuss. Before approaching he waited for a respite in the conversation. He left his seat and walked to the table where they sat, his helm slung underneath his left arm and his sword still strung to his back. "Hello there, names Mordane, mercenary, guard, whatever you need, I'm new in town looking for work, anything you need done?" He was never really the one who got contracts that was his boss, his lack of tact was one of his less redeeming qualities.
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Santiago Sleeke
Established
Roleplay posts: 17
Age: 31
Physical Description: Upon first glance, everything about Santiago appeared average and nondescript. Of average height and build, he was neither handsome nor ugly.
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Clothes and Equipment: Santiago almost exclusively wears a suit of light leather armour, both jacket and trousers made of a supple, well-fitted dark brown hide. A sabre and sickle hang sheathless from his belt.
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Registered: Jun 23, 2017 15:13:05 GMT -8
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Post by Santiago Sleeke on Jun 25, 2017 5:40:26 GMT -8
Santiago stepped through the portal and entered the marble square, taking in the sight of the large statue that stood in its centre. The statue held a set of scales, and the implication was not lost on the wily rogue. If the guards hadn't been enough of a hint, the symbolism of the scales spoke highly of the local opinion on justice, an outlook that would no doubt make his task in the city more difficult still.
A number of local Esharrans strode across the square with calm purpose, their fine clothes whipping in the strong winds that blew across the plaza as they headed to and from the many bridges that led to the superstructures of the city or bartered for goods from the various stalls and storefronts. He considered the citizens and realised that the city was unlike any other he had visited. Most cities would have plazas and markets, but these were raucous places populated by the great unwashed of society scheming for ways to find their next meal or ale, the air would be awash with noise and odour that would assault the senses, but this place was different. No beggars sat at the foot of the statue, no blind or disfigured sought benevolence, there were no urchins preying on distracted merchants, the whole place was calmer and more affluent than anything he thought even possible. This place was not natural, and he feared that behind the visible wealth of this city there must be a dark secret powering the economy.
As he wandered the square considering the crowd, he noticed a rogueish Esharran striding purposefully toward the portal Santiago had entered through. The Esharran wore a blade at his waist, setting him apart from the other citizenry he had seen thus far. He suspected the Esharran would be the most likely person he had seen so far to have contacts who may be able to assist him, and he was keen to try and weave his way into a meeting with him, so he quickly followed him back through the portal and out of the city proper and back toward the military base at the base of the mountain.
As he was close to catching up to him, the Esharran rogue began speaking to a female, obviously a visitor to the city, who he didn't appear to have met before. Santiago hung back as they discussed something out of earshot, and as they moved away a short time later, he followed them to a nearby stable.
As he got close enough he was able to hear the Esharran telling the scholarly female about local laws, comments that confirmed his previous thoughts, and go on to advise her on avoiding the aristocracy. As she stabled her horse and then made their plans, he deemed he would follow them and attempt to find a way to introduce himself to the pair. He would certainly feel less exposed as part of a larger group, and hoped that the local Esharran would prove a valuable asset in cracking the riddle of the city, and would be the first step in revealing exactly where his powerful quarry was hiding. [Edited]
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