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 Posted: Thu Sep 27, 2007 7:19 pm
The Toll Piers extend out into the smooth ocean like huge wooden fingers, beckoning ships to dock. The water is a deep turqouise color and deep enough for giant Galleons to dock in their waters with ease. The docks themselves are made of sturdy wood, treated with salt and tar, so not to rot away in the high tide. Iron bolts hold the boards down and lanterns hang at intervals so ships can be loaded and unloaded at any time. Piles of ropes and stacks of crates and barrels are scattered across the piers seemingly at random, and sailors and clerks are constantly bustling here and there carrying sheafs of papers or other nautical equipment. Envoys from the Rinon Pier Authority patrol across the docks, collecting Tolls from ships who are both docking and leaving. Most carry some sort of weapon, and look more than capable of using it if the Captains can't find a suitable Toll and tip for them. There are few people standing idle in the Toll Piers. This is clearly a place of business and loitering is likely to draw attention of the wrong sort. The ships here are mostly legitimate, and the clientèle are the upper crust of rich merchants and Lords, accompanied by their mercenary body guards. The Civilian Docks are on the opposite side of the Toll Piers, and is comprised of a series of smaller docks jutting out into the harbor. The water is shallower and small fishes can be seen darting under the surface. This part is used mainly by freelance traders and families. The dock itself is full of bustling families and jostling people. Ducks and chickens wander about absently, clucking and dodging between people and boxes. Naval supplies litter the docks, as do boxes and other random supplies. Parts of the Shopping District connect to the Civilian docks, primarily the Treasure Chest and Korin's Smithy.
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Posted: Wed Jan 02, 2008 10:18 am
The "Drunken Maiden" had come to a stop at the farthest dock from the shore. The crew, a hardy sea-smelling lot, began tying it down and setting the ramps. It's shipment comprised of mainly ales and wines from various parts of the world, as well as a few textiles, and other seemingly boring things.
Ishod, was asleep in the brig at the time, and awoke to his brigmate's incessant snoring. "Aye my friend, sleep." he said, just beginning to notice the sailor's calls that they had come to dock. This made him spring up, any minute now they would be in the hull and he wound be found out (the brig being only a safe haven after he realised the bedding was more comfortable than the floor), and most likely held in the brig until the ship reached it's home port, where he left a few weeks ago.
Careful not to wake the sleeping man, he carefully got up and dug in his pocket, finding the little metal peice he had used to pick the lock. He went to the door and in a matter of minutes had it opened. "Good fortune to you, old man." he flipped a coin to the old man's lap as he left the brig. He was out now, staring at the caskets and crates filled with the cheapest finest ales money could buy. It smelled horrible. He wrinkled his nose and set off to the back, where he had found a trapdoor made back when this ship was used for...less reputable dealings. He opened it with much dismay as it creaked, and heard a sailor "Oi, what was that?"
He slipped out and closed the door behind him, dropping into the ocean (far warmer than he had remembered it). He swam to the dock and climbed up a bit to peak his head over the edge, seeing before him a bustling dock full of merchant ships, traders, and fishermen, going about their business with stern looks. Then came strolling up a fat official, ready to tke the captain's money for the ship and sailors.
In all it was a laughable sight, and he spotted just where he needed to go to blend in, despite is current wetness. He swam around to a fisherman's dock, where all of them looked thuroughly soaked. He climbed aboard the boat and then to the dock behind them, unnoticed by everyone else.
He sighed happily and reached to his back. Upon which he found nothing.
Oops.
He turned and looked at the ship, where they had begun carting things off onto the dock. There was no hope of him not being seen, so he decided to make a run for it. People looked down at him for running on the dock, knocking a few people out of his way and stumbling upon a few wares. But no gaurds stopped him, and he was in the clear until he got to the first ramp, which two sailors carrying a casket were coming down. He promptly ran up, causing them to lose their balance and fall with the casket into the sea. "Sorry!" he yelled as he hit the deck of the ship and the captain uttered nonsense words at him. Heedless, he ran down the deck and got his stuff from the hull. his backpack and his bedroll. Withthose in tow he sprung from the ship to the dock (a good ten foot drop) and ran off into the crowd.
By time he slowed down he ducked behind a storehouse (it smelled deeply of fish), and caught his breath. "Welcome to Rinon," said a lady that was standing behind the storehouse with him, "They say if you come wet here you'll never get dry again." and she walked away, leaving Ishod all alone.
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Posted: Thu Jan 03, 2008 5:04 am
((Cause I'm just dancing with myself.))
Ishod only had time to wonder at the lady when before long he heard shouts of "Oi you!" coming from the gaurds. Quickly he began running again, finding himself close to more fishermen's boats, one of which he quickly dropped into as the gaurds rushed past. Chances are they'd forget about him before the day was done, but as things went sometimes, his luck could be worse.
It wouldn't be the first time he wasn't welcome in a city, and it probably wouldn't be the last, but his current problem was the fisherman, "What are you doing on my boat, you'd gerroff if ya knew what was good for ya!" Which Ishod promptly did, hearing the old man mutter something about those damn kids. On the docks again he took a minute to calm down, realising that his pants (as grundgy as they had been) were now saltwater clean (they'd smell terrible should he get too dry). It was the perfect time for a change of clothes, which he could see a trader's boat further down the docks that was right up his alley. He ducked behind the storehouse he had ran from (it was the only place people didn't seem to notice him), and drew a circle with a peice of charcoal that was in his backpack (everything inside the backpack was dry, his backpack was special that way). After drawing the circle he placed his hand palm down on it and concentrated. In a matter of moments he lifted his hand, revealing a few gems and at least 100 or so coins, it would be enough for a new outfit.
With his newfound fortune he rose and wiped his boot over the circle, smearing it, and set off for the trader. Upon arrival, the trader (a fat dark-skinned man, that remind Ishod of his uncle) looked at him and smiled, "Ah you are in much need of clothing I see!" to which Ishod only grunted and replied, "All I'm looking for is something to get me by a few days, what might you have?" The merchant laughed to make his flab jiggle, "I have many things, maybe you'd find interest in my fine silk clothings?" the merchant pointed to a corner of his boat, where many silk shirts and pants could be seen. "That's all good for a shirt, but where, might ask, is your pants? I need a more rugged material for those."
"Ah yes, a cool shirt for the hot jungle and leggings that will sprint you across the terrain, how foolish of me" He flourished his other arm to corser-looking leather pants. "Leather, in this type of humidity?" said Ishod, noting the man's lack of frown, "Ah, this fine leather is made from the finest of the hornbacks ((cattle)) in the jungle, it will not shrink."
Ishod gladly selected a fine red silk shirt and a pair of the less-rough looking pants.
"I say 15 gold for the lot," offered Ishod,
"Ah, but it is silk, 25." said the merchant,
"18 gold, I'm not too wealthy you know,"
"Surely a man with such good taste a clothing could spare 22 gold."
"20, but that's as far as I'll go."
"Then I'll see you there my dear man, and if you wish," said the trader, gesturing behind some curtains on his boat, "you may change here and now, for an extra gold peice."
Ishod took his coins and gave them to the trader, bargaining was one of the few skills he had learned in his travels, and in his family's history as well. The clothes he was putting on were worth well more than 40 gold back where he was from, he supposed he got them cheap here.
He came from the curtains much to the bemusement of the trader, who had only praises for how Ishod looked,and Ishod thanked him and made his way to the docks, looking semi-respectable and a part of the crowd.
"Now where can I find some adventurers?"
((Continues to the Red Goblet))
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