POOHEAD189

Gold & Glory: AU thread

"You are not mad, Captain?" Halfdan asked again, the huge man somehow able to appear like a newly recruited deckhand when caught in trouble. He prided himself on being a ferocious Norscan warrior, and though he was, he knew he had no life to go back to if he were to be kicked off the ship. It was Markus who had saved his life when he was captured, having vouched for him. There was a sense of loyalty there he would never be able to fully repay.

"No, I am not. But if you keep asking me, I will be." The Captain warned with a glance as they marched down the street toward the Bonded Boot. It was Markus' fault for not sending someone a bit more sly. He knew full well Emmaline had given him the slip, which would have impressed him had he just met her. "She's a wiley one. I have no doubt she'll meet us at the Inn in due time, even if she has the whole of the city guard after her."

Markus clutched a small bag he had strapped to his belt, just next to his coin purse. Before Halfdan had inevitably found him, he had done some more thinking after he had killed that lowly baron. No doubt if his identity was discovered he would have made enemies, but so far it had been nothing but a cathartic experience. Once they rounded the corner and saw the establishment, he held up a hand. "You will have two drinks, and then you will head back to the ship. You will not stop for any reason, not even to take a piss. Got that?"

"Aye sir!" He roared happily, smiling big at the prospect of a few drinks.

The Inn was expansive, the lower common room spread out through clever architectural design Markus couldn't quite understand at first glance. The center and left side of the common room was lowered by three steps compared to the bar and the more private dining areas, the last place which Markus sought particularly. Each small dining area was closed on three sides by a wall, and the fourth by a heavy curtain. Markus took two pints of vodka and made his way into the third down from the left, whereas Halfdan took his two drinks for just himself and stepped down into the lower area where men arm wrestled and played cards. The barkeep was on the lookout for a beautiful imperial woman with blonde hair and who had a small chance of tripping on the stairs if she wasn't looking.

Gold & Glory: AU thread

The streets weren't exactly filled to the brim with people like some large metropolitan cities Markus had traveled to, but there was a more than healthy amount of trade and activity. Tobaro was likely quite wealthy when all was said and done, even if there was a stark contrast between the rather austere locals and the profligate reputation the city had accumulated over the years. He imagined Klaus would find the history of such a place quite interesting, but Markus had told him to stay on the ship, more for his own safety than any worry he would leave the crew. Money was money, and once the scholar got his share, Markus saw the complaints fleeing his mind. That was a very piratey way of viewing things; they might make a buccaneer out of him yet.

Markus felt the heat of the glassblower as the muttonchopped man continued his work, the mercenary only standing idly for a moment, too deep in thought to really give much attention. A fish monger called for anyone who wished for Tilean caught Swordfish or Blue Finned Tuna from past the Rocks. A few Dwarfs stumped past the crowd, parting them like a wave as they marched northward. Glancing at the skyline, he saw towering spires of smoke drifting upwards from where their destination likely lay. Sketti would be over there finding a good deal.

"Markus! Markus Flintbrook!?" The Captain heard from behind him, a singsong voice he had not heard in years. He spun, unsurprised to see the tall, conical and well plumed helmet that so often accompanied elven warriors and dignitaries, though it was a different helm than last time Markus saw this elf. With an easy smile and eyes full of cheer, the slim elf approached the swordsman, holding a scepter of some significance in his left hand The majority of his form was cloaked in robes, though he still donned a breastplate and sweeping pauldrons.

"As I live and breathe," Markus said, before calling his name. "Galadel! What in Ulthuan brings you so far eastward?"

Markus wasn't a short man, but once they met to the side, the elf stood nearly a head taller than him. He would be slightly taller than Halfdan, likely. Though far lighter, of course. "I should ask you the same question, my friend." The elf laughed, a sound that brought up the spirits of any that might hear. Many elves had a darkness to them, but Markus had never seen that side of Galadel, though he knew somewhere Asuryan's wrath lurked if pressed. "I haven't seen you since we were in Kislev. Don't tell me you're involved in the wars of the south. Is Lilea here? or Lieutenant Fiedwell?"

Markus flinched at the mention, shaking his head. Those names were from what seemed a lifetime ago. "The Lieutenant was killed after we left Kislev. And I haven't seen Lilea since Ostermark. We didn't exactly part on kind terms." He cleared his throat, seeking to change the subject. He felt at a loss, being caught off guard by his old comrade's sudden appearance. "Actually, I'm captain of a ship now, an... Imperial vessel. We're just here to trade. But I'd be more curious to know what you're here for, friend. This is a strange city for an Elf of Ulthuan, especially considering you were a banneret last we spoke."

"You'll have to tell me more about that, and yes, I am here guarding Prince Aluryon of Avelorn." He explained, glancing at the crowd, a few passersby staring his way. Markus had to admit they seemed an odd pair. An elf is resplendent white, blue, and gold, whilst Markus had on an admittedly important yet bedraggled captain's jacket, shirt, and breeches. The only thing remarkable about Markus's effects was his sword. "Sometimes we must accept human invitations to retain good trade opportunities. There are more Druchii on the seas now more than ever, so we travel protected to safeguard our interests."

Markus made sure to keep his sword hilt covered by his jacket. He didn't want his old friend to think less of him. "Yes, I've heard there are increasing attacks by your dark kin. I hope your journeys have been safe. Is there a place we could meet later? I'm a bit busy at the moment."

Galadel smiled, inclining his head gingerly. "I was hoping you would ask. Tomorrow there is a banquet at the Duke's villa. If you're a Captain, you do have the right to attend if you've done some trading. I will be there, as it's where the Prince shall see the Duke. Would you have the time?"
Minutes later...

Markus wondered if it was truly a good idea to agree to that, but he had. Though he felt he was caught between his desire to take the opportunity to steal, or to make himself a legitimate partner to the aristocracy of Tilea. It wasn't out of the ordinary for pirates to steal from ships that flew certain flags and protected others. But that would require him to announce himself as a pirate, which could go south very quickly. Around him, he found himself in a lower end part of town, opposite the dicks but still framing the great engineering works, with the Duke's Palace sitting opposite next to another line of coast.

Though clearly there was less wealth here, it still seemed everyone was well off enough to have a fair time of the day. No buildings looked run down, though many alleyways were cut off and filled with wooden shacks where peddlers and sellers of knick knacks. Many of the stalls were covered with brightly colored carpets, and music wafted through the air, though where it came from he couldn't tell. All around it seemed. Tilean women danced and smacked jingling tambourines as men talked and ate, though some played the flute and glided between and around the women and independent lovers who had found the area inviting.

"You! Hey!" A voice rang in his ears to his left, and it took another call for him to grasp that it was his attention the voice sought. Markus saw a woman sitting cross legged atop a carpet, an opened, unlit hookah before her. She was cloaked along her entire body, save for her exotic eyes. A slim hand slid out of the wrapping to beckon him forward. Briefly he considered telling her to piss off, but in the end he decided to humor her. Seeing Galadel had made him thoughtful, and it wouldn't hurt to watch someone try to swindle him.

"Have you ever had your mind read?" She asked with a practiced whimsy.

"Why would I pay you to read my mind?" Markus inquired dryly. "I can do that for free."

"You misunderstand!" The woman replied, holding a hand up. "Our minds are muddled and filled with conflicting desires. The aches and cares of the world intrude constantly, yes? Sometimes we do not even know what we want. I only offer you the truth to your own mind. Your own troubles...I will show you what you wish for most, not what you need, but what you desire as a man."

Markus knew magic was in the world. He was a casual practitioner, when it was suitable. Having fought the hordes of Chaos in the north and the beasts and dark elves in the sea, there were certainly strange things occurring in the world they inhabited. After a moment of contemplation, he decided to humor the woman and toss her a silver schilling. "Very well, how does this work?"

"You do not need to do anything, my friend. Just relax-" she said, indicating Markus take a seat, which he did. "-And I shall show you what it is that haunts your soul..."

She produced a flint and tinder and began to light the hookah, which made Markus nearly scoff. He could begin the flame without any aid of tools. Thankfully, within just three strikes, the hookah was alight. She reached down and grabbed three vials that were behind the base of the instrument, muttering all the while as she filled it with whatever substances were within. It was curious to the swordsman that the hookah was not connected to anything to smoke from, which became obvious when she instead placed her hand atop it and unscrewed the stopper, allowing the smoke to billow forth like a summoned djinn.

"Look..." She said in answer to Markus's skeptical eyebrow. "Look at the smoke and simply breathe. You will see what it is you desire!"

For many moments he sat there, trying to be as patient as he could. He breathed, keeping his heart beat steady as his old master used to tell him. As usual, it paid off, for the smoke began to take shape and form. He watched curiously as it warped for a brief period and coalesced into the form of a shapely woman, arms crossed with her tongue sticking out childishly. Markus squared his jaw and concentrated.

"Aha, there is a woman in your life I see! You understand now, that- wait...What!? That is impossible!" She yelled as the image changed to a man, strikingly similar to Markus, giving the killing stroke to a nameless male figure. The smoke struggled within the boundaries it had been set, but it was clear. Even as he watched, the dead man in the smoke dropped a coin purse, and Markus caught it. The fortune teller scrambled to place the stopper atop the hookah. "No one can change their desires! That is of the heart! How did yo-"

"You need a new job, wench." He spat, gathering himself to his feet and striding away. The woman was speechless as she watched him, utterly intimidated at the force of will. Markus needn't move aside for anyone for the next five blocks, the menace in his eyes brooking no challenge from anyone who valued their life. He knew the smoke had produced Emmaline, but he had other worries and cares. The damned woman was lucky he didn't slit her throat for wasting his time. As he reviewed his thoughts over and over, trying to decipher what might have led to that utterly incorrect image, he bumped shoulders with one of the locals absentmindedly. Paying no heed, he continued onward until he realized the crowd around him had grown noticeably silent. Markus knew a dangerous situation when he found himself in one, and he took his time in turning to face the man who he had yet to sense attack.

A mustachioed fellow, wearing an open vest and jewels on every finger watched him with hard eyes. With his left hand, he drew out a castle-forged rapier, and then placed the point at the ground and tapped it expectantly. It took him a moment to understand that the idiot wanted Markus to prostrate himself, or at the very least kneel. The Captain made no move to perform either service to whoever this was.

"I see you are in need of an education!" The duelist declared, Tilean accent dripping with every syllable. He flourished his blade in a salute. "I am Il Conte Raphael Mondego, and I shall duel you here and now! If you do not fight for honor, fight for blood! Fight for-..." He gasped when Markus drew out his black sword, suddenly unable to find any words for a brief moment. "Fight for your sword! I will kill you for your insolence and relieve you of such fine a weapon! And if you defeat me, you will be known as the man who slew the Whirlwind Crow of Tobaro!"

Markus thought of the smoke just after it dissipated from Emmaline's visage, and he wondered if the smoke had been right. Maybe not the the first time, but the second. Maybe both, he thought, but it nearly made him wretch. Clearly he was taking too long of a time for Il Conte Raphael Mondego, for the man saluted once more and leaped with all the fury his name entailed. He waited for the last moment to pierce Markus so the Borderlander could not block in time. His victory was assured, though the Whirlwind of Tobaro wondered why the world was suddenly spinning. He would have felt pain if his nervous system was still connected to his head, but even as he hit the ground, he saw his body fall to the pavement strides away, and the swordsman stooping down to take the jewels off his fingers.

Post a random fact about yourself.

I still have nightmares (I guess? They're not scary) about skipping college classes and realizing I've missed the last 8 weeks

Urban Shadows

Is there a PDF we can sift through, Fraulein Penny?

Gold & Glory: AU thread

Markus had the urge to throw another barrel of gunpowder and ignite it by these cretins, but that wouldn't go over well likely, and more importantly, they were running out of shot. He already told Sketti to go and find the best deals in the city once they docked for powder and ammo. Luckily they still had plenty of cannon balls. having gathered some in Sartosa already. Instead of blowing them up, Markus just ignored them and turned the ship as if they didn't exist. If any of the criers were unlucky enough to be in their way, it wasn't his fault. Unfortunately, they seemed pretty adept at maneuvering in their dingies, and Markus sardonically thought they had done this plenty of times before.

"Vi findu la'vas!" He called into their midst, and the only advertisers that seemed to understand were the elves in their slim lowboat, blinking and perking up their ears like dogs. Markus merely grinned as the ship passed them by, groans and cries from behind him slowly fading away. He heard footsteps behind him, and for a moment he thought he was going to have to explain to Sketti how he could speak a small bit of the Elven tongue, but instead Klaus approached, with Emmaline standing nearby, though she made a case not to look Markus' way.

"Have you ever been here before?" Markus inquired to the man, his eyes sweeping over the overbearing architecture and various flags whipping in the breeze. It had the look of a less fortified Castle Reiksgard, if you asked Markus. Mostly because he had never seen a structure in his life that had more ornamentation, until today. These tapestries and various other cloths didn't display pride for country, but for various merchant families and likely had some historical significance.

"No, I rarely travel. Er, I used to rarely travel, I suppose. But I do know the city from maps. Recent enough to be helpful at least."
He explained. "Despite the city's name, it's people are much more like Imperial people than other Tileans, being gruff and redoubtable folk. They don't have a lot of time for luxury goods, though there is a fair sized population of gypsies within the city. It also has good relations with Estali-"

"Where is the safest, most comfortable place to rest for the night?"

"Um... uh, oh! The Bonded Boot!" Herr Klaus recommended. He seemed eager to step off the ship himself. For a landlubber he hadn't done too poorly, in Markus' estimation. "As you might have guessed, it has a steel toed boot for its iconography, to celebrate the boots of the city watch."

The ship slowly glided up the dock, the men behind him weighing anchor and setting down. The sails had been pulled up a mile previously, and Markus could let go of the helm. He gave a nod to the scholar, and looked past him to Emmaline. "Tonight, make sure you make it to the Bonded Boot."

She muttered something but only glanced at him, walking off the ship as soon as the gangplank was lowered. She even pushed past the men that had lowered the board, and Markus shook his head. "I don't know what her problem is. I said she was useful to the crew."

"Maybe you can try being a bit nicer?" Klaus added, though he quickly backpedaled, realizing he could make a murderous pirate captain a bit less agreeable. Markus still had some decency, he couldn't help that his usual demeanor screamed aloof and deadly. Though it did come in handy sometimes. "I mean...I-I'm not very experienced with women, but maybe she's not used to being teased like your crewmates are to one another?"

Markus snorted. "Stick to books, scholar. Halfdan! Go with her and keep her safe! The rest of you stay in the ship tonight! All save the men who didn't get hammered drunk last time."

Every crewman but Morgan deflated.

Urban Shadows

I will throw my hat into the ring, though no pressure if you find someone more suitable.

Gold & Glory: AU thread

"He's just mad that I was right about you." Markus said, smirking as he pulled the ramrod out of the barrel and back in its holder, going through the practice motions of reloading that had been drilled in him since adolescence. He could multitask whilst reloading as easily as one could both breathe and walk.

"About me?" Emmaline asked curiously, turning her golden head to face him.

"Aye," he remarked nonchalantly. "I told Morgan you were valuable to the crew."

"You did?" She asked with a big smile, clearly pleased and placing a hand on his arm.

Markus laughed. "Don't let it go to your head. It might be near empty but that doesn't mean there's a lot of room." Thick skulls and all that, he thought to himself, letting her make the logical conclusion. She caught on quick and gave a huff, raising her hand to smack him across the face. The swordsman caught the arm before it could touch him, snickering. "You can smack me later, but not in front of the men."

"Oh, so you can insult me but I can't slap you?" Emmaline asked, withdrawing her hand like a whip and placing her hands on her hips. She did a middling job at trying to appear as an imperious sorceress when she asked "How is that fair?"

"It's not fair. I'm the captain." He assured her. Their faces were just inches apart now, an almost palpable tension between them. The men on the deck had gathered what minds they still had, feeling a second hangover that was nearly as bad as the one they had gained from Sartosa. Considering Tobaro's reputation, a third one was coming soon.

Before the captain and his woman could begin an argument in earnest, Klaus stirred just a few strides from them. The scholar seemed disoriented, but unharmed saved a nasty bump on his head. Markus and Emmaline blinked and turned to regard the shaken fellow. "Herr Klaus, you were correct." Markus commended him, lowering himself to pick the man up, holding Klaus steady and keeping him from falling back onto the deck. "You'll get a share and a half once we make it to Tobaro."

"Let's just get going, yeah?" Klaus replied weakly.

The rocks of Fool's Rock were still an ever present danger, reaching out with a near perceptible need to scratch the ship. The following day, they were grounded twice, and Markus reorganized the crew into three teams. One on the boat, one to help move it, and another to shoot at anything that moved in the water. Thankfully, by the beginning of the third day, they managed to break through the rockline and find three miles of clear, open water to Tobaro. The only physical threat after the mermaids and the rocks was a stray wyvern attack that ripped open Brod's arm, but nothing that couldn't be healed. The beast had been shot at until it fled, wounded and screeching across the rocks before it disappeared. Now, after making good time and with no possible pursuers, they could relax for a few days at the extravagant City of Fools.

Gold & Glory: AU thread

The sailors were pinned like a rat under a boot, but Markus was under no such bondage. A faint cry in the back of his mind kept him from racing off and swan diving into the water, but he couldn't keep himself from approaching, walking down the stairs. Klaus however, was less strong willed. He tried to rush past Markus toward the deck, but the Captain shoved him out of his way and caused him to trip, sending the fool tumbling to hit the deck, knocking him out cold. Markus really didn't care. Instead he headed over to the railing and stuck his head out, clear interest in his eyes as he watched the slim, strange creatures sitting upon the rocks. They beckoned him to join them, and below he saw a dark haired beauty with slender shoulders pop out of the water, smiling with a sly look and showing sharpened teeth.

He had never seen anything so sexy, and for a moment he lifted his leg to vault over the railing, only for the mermaid's head to explode in bone and blood below him. Markus snapped his head around, murder replacing desire to see who dared harm such a creature. Morgan stood beside him with a smoking pistol, and the elder pirate smacked Markus across the face. He was staggered but not taken down. On instinct, he unsheathed his black sword and was about to cut the old codger in two until a loud, obnoxious ringing erupted around him.

"Sigmar's balls!" Markus cried, pressing his hands to his ears and closing his eyes. He opened them to see the equally obnoxious woman behind him looking directly at him and ringing the bell. Slowly, it dawned on him that he was himself again. The noise had been somewhat drowned out. He might still feel a bit of the subtle pull, but it was nothing he couldn't handle. He rose back up and blinked, his murderous anger now directed at the sirens that dared compromise him with their foul witchery!

Within the span of a minute, Markus and Sketti had retrieved one of their barrels of gunpowder and placed it on deck, tying a few of the sail lines around it and running off to prepare a risky maneuver that required cutting the right ropes at the exact time required. Meanwhile, Emmaline strode among the half aroused, half dazed men and rung the bell, cotton stuffed in her ears to keep her own hearing from getting damaged. Markus and Sketti hurried for all their worth, and it was only when Markus gave the signal that Morgan reared back his cutlass to hack the towing line.

With an audible twang, one of the smaller sails swooned and the barrel was suddenly launched starboard like it was shot from a mangonel. The mermaids tossed rocks at the ship, knowing they had no power over a few of the more troublesome sailors. Unfortunately for them, they didn't realize their fate until the barrel was launched. Markus took one of the longrifles, having already shouldered it before the barrel took flight, and he followed the sailing projectile with his sights.

The siren's song was halted by screams, before they were cut into silence when Markus shot the barrel merely two strides over the rocks.

Returning Writer

Welcome!