POOHEAD189

Gold & Glory: AU thread

"It is the Pasha's orders." Markus declared, face once again wrapped within the strange Arabyan helm.

The two guards, less armed and less large than the elite men outside, glanced at one another. Despite being of a lesser variant in height, they clearly were (to your average man) dangerous by the way they held themselves. The two eyed the Princess that stood before them, the lithe woman attempting to appear both subservient yet brusque in manner, at least as far as she could. She had spoken to Markus only briefly; too soon to gauge on whether he was a threat. She had to admit if he wanted her dead he could have done it far earlier, and likely to greater benefit unless there were strange circumstances about.

"Hurry and move, slave." She snapped at them, drawing both ire and confusion from how she spoke. "My love had ordered me to come and see him. Yes, I know of the foreign whore, but I still do as he bids, as you do. Hurry or your lives will be forfeit!"

He knew she was a native to the land, but Markus wished he sounded as fluent as she did. He saw their will collapsing, breathing easier once he realized they were about to let them in. Until they heard a muffled yelp and a frustrated cry through the oak and brass door, and not that of a woman. Markus couldn't help but smile at that. Only Emmaline could make a man sound like that, which meant she was still alive!

The moment passed and the two guards turned, Markus grabbing the Princess's forearm so she didn't do anything rash. He watched as the left mamluk fumbled for the leather thong around his neck where the doorkey lay. Hastily the guards went to opening the door, pushing against the heavy material and swinging it in to reveal the situation in the room. A fit, dark man wielding a sword searched high and low for something no one could guess whilst a naked Emmaline was bound and strapped across the room, a long cut and a few bruises on her fair skin. The Princess gasped, but Markus elbowed past her and ran the first guard through whilst his back was turned, his backsword blade erupting out of the man's chest. He didn't hesitate, yanking it out and slashing the next guard across the face as he turned, sending him screaming onto the floor of the room.

Markus pulled the Princess along, telling her to close the door behind them in harsh Arabyan as he saw Mavikim finally noticing them, a wicked gleam in his eye.

"Jahazra?" He asked incredulously, blinking. He seemed almost too amused to be mad, but there was indeed a simmering rage beneath his visage. "You dare betray me? Is this your pathetic attempt at a coup?" The pasha held his sword in the practiced stance of a dervish, glaring at the Princess in a way that promised a slow and painful death. She shrank back behind Markus, who remained unmoved save for the quick downward thrust that ended the door guard's life.

"No, it's mine." Markus said in Reikspiel, pulling down the scarf to reveal his suntanned but clearly unArabyan face. He gave Emmaline a wink, and despite her injuries she seemed ecstatic at his sudden arrival. The look on Mavikim's face was priceless, though it was nothing compared to the look he gained when an asp slithered along the floor just before Markus's feet, an old brass lamp in the coils of its tail. Both swordsman glanced down, and then at one another.

"Jahazra," The Captain told the woman, eyes never leaving the dark man that approached. "Free my lover while I kill the pasha."

That was what set the scene in motion. Mavikim suddenly leaped with impressive grace just as Markus bent down to scoop up the oil lamp with his offhand. Mavikim thought to halt the move, but Markus merely rolled out of the way, Mavikim's scimitar slamming into the smooth floor with a 'clang!' The Captain rose up from a new position and grinned, raising his backsword up in a block from Mavikim's next attack that sent sparks flying.

Urban Shadows

My vote is either for Chicago or an unnamed custom city.

Dungeon Builder Monster Extraordinaire

@Mae I would like the ritual to sort of 'improve' his minions, sort of like granting them a small bit of increased strength and endurance to better serve him.

Gold & Glory: AU thread

The gardens were uncharacteristically lush compared to what the pirate had expected. He could tell the pasha siphoned many tons of precious water from the city to this place in order to keep it as alive and vibrant as it appeared. Large hedges had buffeted into the sky, immaculately cut in the fashion of mythic beasts and great works of architecture, whilst feral wildflowers had been planted along their bases to keep anyone from getting too close. As Markus crept, he drew out a knife and hid it beneath his closed hand and wrist to keep it on hand, hearing the spring water grow louder and louder as he approached. It was good he was so cautious, for he nearly stepped out of the hedgeline and into the spring 'area' just in front of a lovely young Arabyan woman. Her bedlah pants and crochet top were indigo, hugging her dark skin as she sat bored, although she wasn't alone.

A hairless fellow stood before her, bedecked in robes that denoted he had a trusted status amongst Mavikim's court, Markus had to guess. The pirate had knelt down and watched through a small opening of one of the great walls of foliage that towers across the grounds. The man seemed to be lecturing the woman over some slight, or perhaps warning her. He unwound clothed helmet upon his head and pressed his ear to the hole, closing his eyes.

"-before you are disciplined as the others. You may be the chief wife, but he does not look kindly upon women who disobey him." The man, possibly a Eunuch of Markus had to guess, berated to the woman. He spoke like he took great pride in making demure servants scared, likely because he used to be just as powerless.

"It will not happen again. Please, lord Khazeem, I simply wish to be left alone." She explained, but it was followed by a small gasp and a brief struggle. Bits of water could be heard splashing, though he spoke before Markus would remove his ear to see with his eyes.

"That is good to hear, princess. Even now he makes a foreign whore his plaything. Once he is finished with her you will be his only means of...expunging his wickedness. I doubt today's session will not end in her life." He gloated, chortling by the end. Markus's heart skipped a beat, realizing he might have made a mistake if this pasha was particularly cruel. Once again he mused if it was not better for Emmaline to be gone from the ship, but almost immediately that thought was purged. Merely a runoff notion from back when he considered her a liability. The captain had already come to terms with their mutual feelings and desire for one another, and soon a fear gripped him when he thought of her safety. He decided it was time to move a bit quicker than usual.

As the princess began to cry, she placed her face in her hands. It came as a shock to her when the steward's chastisement suddenly ceased, and she poked her eyes up to see a rakish northman with a knife to Khazeem's throat. Her mouth opened and closed, but before she could scream for help, the northman placed a finger to his lips. "If you want to be freed of this place, keep yourself quiet." He told her. He didn't expect she was totally convinced, but it kept her silent for the moment, which was truly all he needed. Markus moved the knife from Khazeem's throat to let him speak, but he put a hand around his throat and the knife next to his fingers.

"There is a magic lamp with a Djinn inside this palace. Where is it?" Markus asked, not in the mood to mince words.

"Ha! A lone man here, chasing after rumors and legends?" Khazeem chuckled as if he were control of the entire situation. "There is no Djinn here, fool. You've resigned your fate to a lie. You'll not leave this place alive, even if you kidnap me or h-" He suddenly gave a hoarse cry of pain, luckily blocked by the gardens around him so the guards at the wall were as of yet, unalerted. Khazeem began to whimper, and the princess saw a stubby appendage fall to the ground amidst a stream of blood. It was his finger.

"Do say something I wish to hear, next time." Markus remarked simply. "Where is the magic lamp?"

The princess covered her ears and closed her eyes, counting to fifty and shaking with fear. She yelped when something poked her shoulder, the woman slowly opening her eyes to see the handsome foreigner standing before her. Behind him, Khazeem bled into the dirt, his body like an ever reddening sack of flesh.

"You want to be rid of this Mavikim, yes? ... Yes?"

She gulped and nodded, dark hair bouncing from the movement. She looked mortified, but simply for her life and not Khazeem's it seemed. Markus stepped back a bit, but offered her his hand. She hesitated like a nervous fawn, but reached out to accept it after a moment's hesitation. To her surprise, he did not begin to cut off her fingers. He merely helped her up and let her go, sheathing his knife back into its small, hidden scabbard.

"You will take me to this Mavikim's chambers. I am your guard and you are to go and see him. Do this, and I'll kill him and set you free."

Gold & Glory: AU thread

In a way, the Arabyan estate wasn't too unlike the larger aristocratic domains of the north. The walls surrounding the small palace were made of stone, likely sandstone, and the guardrooms at the base of the towers and framing the gates were small and square. Laughing and cursing could be heard within as the two passed onto the stone road that lightly curved upwards climbing a low, undoubtedly artificial hill. Along the parapets behind as well as the roofstop of the approaching manor, the patrols walked to and fro lazily, or were lost in thought on various musings of their lives. Obviously they had been in this job so long they weren't as alert as a new recruit would be, though Markus could make out all eyes inevitably fell on he and Emmaline, seeing as they brazenly walked under the failing light of the sky and her voluptuous charms were on display for all to take a gander at. At the corner of his eye, Markus could see a well tended garden with a spring pool that gently cascaded water from the mouths of two stone jungle cats. On the left was all of the pragmatic housing and equipment storages a baron would need for his servants and soldiers.

The two approached the great central stairway amid the marble pillars that held up a large foyer, leading into the solidly built palace halls. Two large, swarthy skinned guards approached. Their glaives were likely ceremonial in use, but Markus could tell they knew how to use them if it came to it. They stepped down two of the large steps in tandem, eyeing Markus and Emmaline. The woman looked a bit uneasy, and Markus whispered to her. "I doubt you'll have to touch him. In fact, I'll kill him if he does."

"This was your idea!" She whispered harshly, then she turned and fluttered her lashes at the guards.

"For the master of the household," Markus declared, his voice clear even though the cloth covered all but his dark eyes. He spanked Emmaline for good measure, which sent her in a small leap and a squeal. The guards chuckled at that, a bit of the tension dropping. They spoke to one another in their language, a dialect Markus had a hard time deciphering. Something about the master needing a new batch of women. They exchanged a coin, likely from a bet between the two of them.

The one who had won the bet beckoned for Emmaline to come forward. She did so obediently, and Markus slowly began to follow her, pressing his luck.

"You can go," the loser said grimly. Markus met his stare and did not flinch. The guards above were too high up to be able to see the exchange below, but Markus knew fighting now was still far too blunt of a solution.

"My own master in Copher paid many coins for her and for our travels. It would be a dishonor to not see her safely to the one who would acquire her." He explained, lifting his head with authority.

"Too bad. You can go back to Copher and tell him she was received. Do so now or we'll send back your head." The other warned, waiting for Markus to back down, which he did after a moment of hesitation. The Captain gave a low, prideful bow and turned, striding down the steps and towards the road that led to the gate. Ever were his eyes on the two guards, and as soon as he saw them both turn to stand between Emmaline so as to escort her, he quickly ducked and made his way left, towards the cover of the gardens. If there was a way in, he would find it there.

Gold & Glory: AU thread

Markus was always amused watching Emmaline work. Since he had known her, she had been mostly on his terms when it came to decision making and setting, so whenever he had a chance to see her wheel and deal he found it was interesting. Now that they were within the steet, the swordsman opened his magesight and felt the world a bit more keenly, able to decipher the magical indicators on the city map, a bit more satisfied now that he saw real proof that there might actually be such a being of legend within the city. The Captain had heard of great sorcerers of Araby and Sultans using Djinn for tasks, but he had never learned much on even what the things were save for vague rumors.

Still slightly apprehensive, he traced his finger from where he supposed their location was to the sizeable domain of what could only be Mavikim on the map, then deducing how far away it was from their ship. He still did not know what this creature was able to accomplish for them, but he decided to humor her on if it was worth it and thought outloud.

"So if we capture this Djinn, we still must wait three days before we can set sail. I won't go back on my word to the men. Which means we need to find a suitable safehouse for us, or we will need to make it to my ship without being seen by guards, or preferably anyone."

"There's also the matter of getting in." Emmaline added as they stood close, both still peering at the map whilst sharing the occasional glance. "His small palace won't be impregnable, but this is the City of Corsairs. If the average thief could bypass his security, he would have remained a rich man to speak of. Aaand since your men are on holiday, you can't exactly assault the place. Not that I would suggest the brute approach."

The two thought for a moment, Emmaline pursing her lips. Markus glanced at her, and then decided to do it again. A wicked gleam entered his eye, and she noticed it a second later. He gathered she usually liked that look, but when it was at her, it wasn't very reassuring.

"I think a more feminine approach would work wonders." He decided.

Gold & Glory: AU thread

"We still do have that shipment of iron and goods you got from Tobaro," Morgan commented, the quartermaster reminding them they still had a fair way of getting cash. Markus looked at Emmaline, who looked away guiltily so as her wave of blonde hair fell before her eyes to hide her.

"You know as well as I do that one flimsy promise of money leads to a mutiny the second it fails." Markus reminded him, turning back to the old seadog. "Besides, there's no telling what the Duke might think of us at this moment. We can transport the goods, but there is a chance they'll try to arrest us once we make our destination."

Morgan raised his hands and shrugged, sighing. "Well then, what do you suggest lad?"

Emmaline raised a hand, and the two regarded her. "Uhm...I have an idea?"

---

The City of Corsairs was a spectacular sight from the railing of the ship. The spires reached the sky, towering with majesty as if they were carved by the hands of giants. The sun gleamed golden in the expansive blue sky that reached as far as the eye could see, and even the colors, sounds, and smell of the place came to opulent life as they had drifted closer. No crewmember of the Hammer wasn't breathless from the spectacle, whether or not they had seen it before in a past life. Markus had only been to an Arabyan port once, and it was for just a day. The closest he had ever gone to a true desert was a foray into the badlands during his mercenary days.

It was a strange experience to the crew when they had stepped off and saw the city close up. The colors were there, but most were on cheap and gaudy goods men would lie to their teeth to you about. The spires were there, but that was only in a small area of the vast shantytown of a city teeming with the poor and destitute. The sun beat down mercilessly on any that were not in direct contact with a coastal breeze. Thankfully, the crewmen weren't picky, and they knew something about making a living in the slums. Each member of the crew save Halfdan and Morgan had readily embarked on a journey of debauchery, to squeeze Lashiek dry of whatever pleasures and money they could find.

Markus and Emmaline found themselves in a less than safe area, having passed alleyway through alleyway, descending down stairs into a slum of blackmarket trading and illicit activities that even the city proper would turn their nose at. Markus wore his normal attire, though he had taken a windswept cloak he could wrap about his face if any sand billowed from below. Now they just needed to find the right man with the correct information in this den of theives.

Gold & Glory: AU thread

Markus mouth was full of sausage and eggs, still slightly bleary eyed from sleep. Finally they had begun their journey to Ind, with only one pit stop along the way. Had it not been for the various business meetings they would had left earlier, and now he would be disappointed yet again once Morgan strode in. He didn't blame the man. The quartermaster did his duty as any good quartermaster would, but it wasn't the news Markus wanted to hear.

"They did have some land time in Sartosa," Markus corrected, but Emmaline shook her blonde head. "No, you had them stay put while conducting business."

Markus opened his mouth, and then closed it when he realized his woman and first mate were right. Dammit, now? Really? His first thought was to get up and go scare them a bit, but he cowed the urge. He knew they needed some time off. Blowing off steam was what any pirate needed, just as Markus had done killing those thugs that had attacked he and Emmaline. He refused to go off course again, but perhaps there could be a compromise. He did need some rum himself, anyway.

Moments later, Markus and Morgan pulled out the map of the Arabyan Gulf, tracing fingers across the paper to see where their course was to lead. The waters of Araby weren't treacherous (near the coast) save for pirates, and that wouldn't necessarily be a disadvantage to them in so many words.

"Copher?" Morgan mumbled. "Been there before. The City of Spices, they call it."

"Lashiek," Emmaline pipped in, drawing their gazes. When Markus gazed at her questioningly, she added. "City of Corsairs."

"Hmmm, very well then." Markus replied. "We'll take a 3 day trip to Lashiek. Let the lads do what they want, fuck who they want, give them their shares. But then they're going to haul ass across the great water to the new world or I'll keelhaul all of them."

Gold & Glory: AU thread

At first, Markus didn't respond when she pulled out the golden armlet. He felt his good mood and hopes plummeting into the chasm of oblivion. He took another long drink of his rum, letting the liquid fully wash down his throat in a vain attempt to keep himself from getting too angry. He knew he had told her they were going to 'fuck shit up' if things went south, but things hadn't gone south and she had stolen from the Duke. What's more, he knew she had likely left a counterfeit piece there, which while it helped in the short run, would only indicate them in the long run since there were only a handful of sorcerers at the party that could accomplish such a thing.

"Emmaline...why the f-"

Needless to say, the snake had not only suddenly come alive before their eyes, but it had saved her drink and slid back atop her slender arm to rest easily once more.

"What in Taal's Timber was that?" He asked dumbly, just as confused as Emmaline. Slowly he approached her and opened himself up to the winds of magic, taking her arm and gazing with what magesight he had to see...almost nothing. There was an elusive quality to the thing, but he couldn't tell. He half expected it to come to life again and bite him, but so far it had remained contented. The sparkle of the sapphire and the glint of the golden armlet on Emmaline's voluptuous body had his drink-addled mind roving, though he blinked it away and tried to concentrate. It seemed others had noticed as well, however.

"Ah, what a beautiful couple you are, il signore." A menacing voice echoed from the street beyond. Emmaline's head popped up as Markus slowly turned to see three ruffians approaching slowly, smiling as they walked. Their black facial hair was roughly shaven and in their hands were long knives. Markus was surprised they were referring to them until he recalled just how decked out they had dressed for the ball. Emmaline's development with her golden snake and this sudden mugging caused him to actually laugh, not able to really comprehend what he should feel so instead he felt a pirate's amusement. Slowly the three surrounded Emmaline and Markus.

The Captain drew his backsword, holding it out to the two men he could see. The subtle changes with his magesight, along with Emmaline's yelp betrayed the man behind him making a move. Markus flipped his sword and stabbed it backwards, impaling the fellow, splatters of blood hitting the pavement. The shock of the kill had given the other two pause, which allowed him to slice the throat of the second. It was only the third who had collected himself that gained any advantage, leaping at Markus before he could fully heft his sword again. The Captain dodged the slash, and the two traded three blows before Markus cut the ruffian across the stomach and sent him to the ground.

"Please il signore! I have three chil-" His words were lost in a gout of blood as Markus' backsword slunk into the flesh of his neck, the swordsman feeling every inch of skin, meat, and bone give way. The man shuddered for a brief moment before dying. It gave the captain a pure satisfaction he couldn't quite put his finger on, but he felt his anger at Emmaline slipping away after having vented his frustrations in what he might call a more 'healthy' way.

"Once we get back to the ship" He said to Emmaline, still looking at the corpse below him. "Tell me everything that happened in my cabin."

"O-Over dinner?" She asked.

He couldn't help but smile, despite himself. It was not a fair sign, but he was somewhat intrigued the clusterfuck they might find themselves in. "Of course, we're still on our date right?"

---

High above the two, two figures stood in the darkness among the rooves of the Tilean city state. One floated effortlessly above the uneven tiles whilst the other had purchase that no human could hope to match. They were of the Eldar race of Ulthuan, and they had followed the two ever since the Captain and his sorceress had left the festivities. Eerily, Beruthiel's eyes glowed softly as she watched what occurred below.
"It was just as I thought. There's something odd about those two." She told her lover. The Prince stayed silent as she pondered, able to see the magic of the armlet with far more clarity than either of the humans below. Massive waves of winds flowed around the artifact; nearly as large as what she could summon if she uncloaked herself and bore the entirety of her power.

"Will you tell the Duke?" Imladon asked her.

"Will you?" She mused, knowing how important their mission was. Though she could not help but giggle, understanding the Prince just rather not have to return to renew ties instead of worrying over the loss of trust.

"I am here for good relations, but this is not my expertise." He concluded, as seemingly apathetic as ever.

"You did not need to follow me, beloved. It might have been better if this was not on your mind. But for their part, I believe it is one of the old powers taking a fancy in these apes." She concluded.

"Interesting." Was all he added, and it was the truth. Both Elves watched as the two departed into the darkness.

Gold & Glory: AU thread

Two Hours Later...

That had turned out better than Markus had anticipated. The fluctuating opinions of the Elves and austere manner of the Tilean nobility had been a dodgy obstacle at first, but somehow Emmaline's collapsed had been an almost cathartic icebreaker to the gentry, as if Markus' quick reaction to his date's sudden fall had garnered their respect and acknowledgement. Thankfully Emmaline had been alright, and Markus half expected it to have been a ploy or plot. He hadn't asked her about it since, content to know she wasn't dying or overheated by the arid mainland air mixing with the coastal wind to created an almost palpable humidity. In fact it had been just after the two of them had returned to the ball that they were met with an applause and the blessing of the Duke to perform business in his city. It took but an hour for Markus to haggle and settle upon a contract to ferry textiles and iron to one of the Lustrian city's along the coast called Skeggi, thankfully situated fairly close to a port Markus had heard tale of called Nuevo Luccini, a notorious den of pirates and thieves. They would simply transport the goods to the former and make berth at the latter before continuing to Ind.

Tomorrow, Markus would speak to Galadel once more before they received Sketti and his gunpowder, and then they embark on a long voyage to the New World. More than satisfied, Markus was now content to walk back with Emmaline under the starry sky as they stepped along the bricked Tilean road that led down the main causeway of the city, back toward the ship. In true pirate fashion, the two had nabbed a few bottles of rum before they had made their exit, both now with a bottle in hand.

Heave a pawl, O heave away...
Weigh hey, roll and go...
The anchor's on board and the cable's all stored,
To be rollicking randy dandy-O~

The Captain sang with the barest slurring of his words whilse Emmaline took another swig. He always had a shanty in his head whenever he had a long way to walk, odd enough. Markus glanced over his shoulder and saw the Estate now out of sight, gulping down a few swills of rum before he wiped his mouth with the forearm of his expensive jacket.

"So lass," He started, clearly in a good mood. "did you actually fall or were you doing something of nefarious significance?" He asked her.