The East Gate [POST HERE FIRST]

The large form of Calgary's griffin, Skye, landed softly on the Silver Road, about twenty feet in front of the main gate. The sun was just beginning to dip below the sea to the west. Calgary's rank should allow him and Ryselle Fletcher to pass through the gates without any issue.

"I hope you enjoyed the flight Ryselle. Stretching is best to help with the stiffness. Normally I would stop a couple of times but we had to get here before the sun went down."

He also would have just flown into the Port, but there was no barracks to fly to yet, so he stopped at the gate just like everyone else.

   The guards, seeing Calgary landing and his rank insignia, immediately stood at attention and saluted the knight-captain. "Good day sir," one of the four guards spoke. He seemed to be the leader of the present guard company. He took a quick look at Ryselle and her proffered papers as a token of respect for her showing them. He was certainly not in the position to question the knight-captain's company!

   "Please, sir, ma'am, enter at your leave. Can I have something brought for your mount?" If Calgary indicated so, the guard would send one of the others into the city quickly to fetch the needed item or items.

   After pleasantries were exchanged, the guard turned to shout into the gate. "Knight-Captain and retinue are passing through the gates!"

Within the aforementioned carriage, Madame Naoki has seated herself on the long bench. On this day, the day of their departure, she has chosen to wear what seems to be becoming one of her staple outfits, a white blouse with dark gray pants. Today’s variation comes in the blouse, her standard billowing sleeves being cut short in favor of a deep V-neck. Additionally, in the place of her espadrilles have been replaced with more a pair of more traditional, but wholly unremarkable leather shoes.



Better for tramping about a ship with, she figured. Regardless, on the bench, she sits, waiting patiently for events to proceed. Her earring glimmers along quietly, indicating her near-constant telepathic activities.

Naoki nods contemplatively, reflecting for a moment on perception. Vampire weather, indeed. She responds, “We’re going to mainland Gauldin. And then from there, perhaps Carmella, depending on how things turn out. This trip is meant to be primarily recreational, but I have a small handful of semi-official things to… hopefully attend to. Do you have anything in mind that you'd like to do? I suppose that the Gauldish food wouldn’t really appeal to you, but perhaps the fashion?...”

Again, Naoki nods. “You do, yes. At least. I assume he lives in Gauldin. He may have moved; he may be on the move. He didn’t quite give me a street address, in the short conversation we had. But perhaps we’ll see him. There’s some manner of psionics in play, if I recall correctly. Keep your mind’s eye open, I suppose.”

She offers a small shrug. Meeting with Ranis is not one of the reasons the trip was planned. If any such meeting occurs, it will be categorized under (hopefully) pleasant surprises. It might do Skarlet some good to speak with him. It might uncover memories she would rather not have, but there’s also something to be said for the feelings of familial belonging and complete knowledge of one's past.

Or so Naoki hears, at least.

“Also, along with us I’ve invited Liz. Or, rather, High Commodore Elizabeth Finch of the Dawn Riders.” Naoki’s tone is slightly mocking as she recites Liz’ full title for what is probably the first time.

“You could probably just call her Liz if you ask first, though. I’ve invited her along because she’s one of those very hardworking types, you know? Nose to the grindstone; has been working hard constantly for the past few years. And she needs a break. So I figure we’ll take her over and dress her up in fancy dresses and stuff her full of wine and odorous cheeses, as one tends to in Gauldin.”

She pauses for a moment, contemplating the mental image and smirking slightly.

“Ought to be fun,” she concludes.

“Hm.” Naoki pauses for a few moments, considering her encounter with Ranis and her impressions based off it.

“He seemed to me, when I spoke with him, to be a pensive and mysterious sort. That impression might be based on the circumstances I met him in. It wasn’t as if we sat down and shared a meal or anything. Our time was limited, and focused primarily on his explaining to me what was going on.”

“If I were to extrapolate, though… I would guess that he would be a fair sort of person. The sort of person with a personal code. One with elements relating to protecting his friends, but more or less indifferent toward strangers. I would guess that he’s somewhat lonely, and either has a small group of friends- perhaps fellow vampires, or lives a solitary sort of lifestyle.”

“If we happen across him, I would guess that he would watch us for a while, unseen. Sizing us up. He hasn’t met you, and I think before introducing himself, he would take some time to watch you. If or when he does introduce himself, I would expect him to do it somewhere semi-privately. An alley or something, perhaps, depending on where we are. I think he might doff his hat- he was wearing a cavalier cap when I saw him- and bow with a flourish. He seemed to be something of a gentleman. Might make a show of that, with some hand-kissing, perhaps. Perhaps not. Like I said, I didn’t spend very much time with him. All I have is extrapolation. We’ll have to see.”

With a slight shrug, Naoki stops speaking. She shifts a bit in her seat, and reflects on the probability of meeting Ranis on their trip. Statistically speaking, it ought to be highly improbable. Lots of individuals come and go from Gauldin. Thousands of people walk their streets. The probability of happening across one man- one vampire, should be pretty low, especially so considering that he’s most likely somewhere secluded.

Yet, there still exists that psionic… thing. Of which Naoki is more or less entirely unaware of the details of. It may be such that Ranis has the ability to sense Skarlet from hundreds of miles away. It may be such that she has the same ability, but doesn’t know it. There exist too many unknowns to form a proper conclusion, Naoki resolves. And that’s slightly irritating.

Once again, Naoki nods. “This will be your first time leaving Isra. I’ve been to Gauldin a few times before, and I think you’ll enjoy it. I don’t care much for the way they do things in terms of politics and policies, but there are lots of things to do in the cities at night. The reasonable cities, at least. Like I said, it ought to be fun.”

Just then, the carriage lurches back into motion, and carries on through the gate into the port city and toward the waterfront.

A black carriage rolled down the road, horses moving at a fast trot. This Port Silverion hadn’t even been on her radar last she had been in Isra, it appeared to have sprung up nearly overnight. The speed of its appearance spoke of great economic growth and Grandma was quite interested to see this area first hand herself. Her first destination would be the seawall, she had heard it was quite impressive.