Alkyd's stomach rumbles slightly and so orders sweetened oats for her and whoever else wanted. "You see, some may call it horse food, but I see it as both nutritious and good for my sweet tooth." She smiles and digs in before offering some to Suny. "Good bit of food here for the elf that magically falls from the sky." Before Suny could protest this fact, Alkyd gives a knowing wink.
Still eating, she thinks for a moment. "And actually, now that I think about it, there a race of people in Tian Xia who have wings... Tengus! Yeah, they are bird people. Sort of like crows from what I've heard."
Suny accepts the food offered by Alkyd with a polite nod, smile and a slight bow. Gently settling herself down she begins to nibble delicately at the nodding.
"Mmph, iph gooph!" (^_^)
"Is like teeny, tiny soft nuts in milk." (^_^)
"We has sometimes fish, or nuts, or fruit, or shells, or..." And Suny explains the many varieties of fare available to her island kin. The she blinks,
"Whut's a 'Horse'? I see'd lots'a critters about in'a city.. I in't sure which ones was horses..."
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"Yes, well, most of them have black feathers, though a rare few have feathers of slightly different hues. And of course there are more than a few who dye their feathers, not unlike how other men dye their hair. Many of the best swordsmen in the monastery I grew up in were Tengus. They seemed to have a thing about swordplay. In fact, I hear that the way of the Sohei was pioneered and developed by a Tengu who sought to blend swordplay and martial arts, though as with most rumours and legends, that may or may not be true."
Alkyd spins around to face Ri'el. "You've met one? Please, tell me what they are like! Can they really fly like the stories say? And what about their beaks? Are they really as sharp and as deadly as a sword?"
Suny listens to Ri'el's tales of 'Bird-people' avidly, while happily munching away at the 'Breakfast' as a new descriptive word is explained to her. (^_^)
Her eyes growing even wider in wonder at Alkyd's comments.
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Ri'el flushes a little at the sudden attention, though his brow furrows at the suggestion that Tengus in general could fly.
"Unfortuantely, that would be another instance where rumours and speculations have deviated from the truth. Tengus are a minority in Tian, but still far more common there than they are here, and almost all the Tengus I have known are not capable of flight. A few are able to use their winged arms to glide to a very limited degree, but only once have I ever seen a Tengu fly with wings, and this is the intriguing bit. He sprouted a pair of of new black wings from his back rather than using his arms to fly."
"The tales about their beaks are closer to the mark, however. Let's just say that a tengu generally has the advantage in a "face-to-face" confrontation, if you get my drift. And I was once told a tale about Lu the Little Phoenix, a tengu swordsman who became famous for his special technique of stopping and trapping an opponent's blade with his beak...well, that and his predilection for bedding maidens behind their parents' backs..."
"I see." Alkyd gives a disappointed huff. "Perhaps I should start learning more about the lore of that land... think of all the stories I could tell me crew if I only knew more!" A thought passes over her. "I think the Captain's quarters is going to have an obligatory bookshelf. After all, knowledge is power!"
A lean Sargavan man walks into the tavern, just in time to catch Alkyd's last remark.
"You're a wise woman indeed." he says in crisp, Chelaxian accented Common.
"The things we can learn from our ancestors and the spirits are worth their weight in gold."
"Though they're sadly no substitute for ACTUAL gold." he smiles, showing small tusked fangs jutting up from the bottom of his mouth.
"My name is Aizubike. You may call me Aizu, if you wish. And you are...?"
Suny turns to the new comer, "I yam be called 'Suny' in'a speakin' of tha' peoples." She introduces herself brightly. (^_^)
Alkyd raises an eyebrow upon seeing the fangs, but shrugs. After all, in this strange world known as Golarion, she had seen more unusual things. "My name is Alkyd Bier, currently a minstrel and adventurer, and future privateer in the Shackles. Pleasure to meet you Sir Aizubike."
"Pleased to meet you Suny. That's an interesting accent. Where do you come from?"
Alkyd raises an eyebrow upon seeing the fangs, but shrugs. After all, in this strange world known as Golarion, she had seen more unusual things. "My name is Alkyd Bier, currently a minstrel and adventurer, and future privateer in the Shackles. Pleasure to meet you Sir Aizubike."
"I am but a scholar, miss, and a one-time Shaman, nothing so distinguished as a knight."
"It's rare that I find someone so open about their intention to become a, ahem, 'privateer'."
"I am from th'a islands waaays a-ways off ta' tha' South-south westerly, like." She explains.
"We some times get boats comin' limpin' in't harbour after rilly big storms.....Um, well... More like when tha' great storm be actin' up like it does..." She absently bits her lower lip, seeming unsure about something....
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"Gold and knowledge are both resources, friend, and each has its own value," Ri'el replies with a faint smile.
Pushing from his mind a wry query of how the Sargavan intended to weigh knowledge for its value in gold, he extends his hand to the newcomer and nods in greeting.
"Ri'el. Pleased to meet you. Are you perchance looking for crew members for a ship?
"It's rare that I find someone so open about their intention to become a, ahem, 'privateer'."
She gives a small wink after looking around a bit for anyone she knew to be a pirate. "Perhaps I should learn to keep my mouth shut at times. But to be honest, most people in this town, even the pirates just laugh me off as a buffoon. I'll show them how serious I am when I'm standing in the bridge of my own ship, ready to dispense justice at the bad side of a cannon."
She finishes her oats and pats her stomach. "Aye, that hit the spot. Anyways, the plunder is a nice incentive as well. As long as I keep saying I will be swimming in gold and my crew being known from here to the Worldwound, it's sure to happen, right?"
"True enough, I suppose. One often leads to the other, in my experience."
"As to your question, if I had my own ship, I wouldn't be here tonight." he says wryly.
"I'm looking for a vessel myself. I intend to travel the Inner Sea, so I need a trustworthy crew to sign on with. I know some magical tricks, and I'm knowledgeable on several subjects, so I feel I could make my worth known quite easily."
"It's rare that I find someone so open about their intention to become a, ahem, 'privateer'."She gives a small wink after looking around a bit for anyone she knew to be a pirate. "Perhaps I should learn to keep my mouth shut at times. But to be honest, most people in this town, even the pirates just laugh me off as a buffoon. I'll show them how serious I am when I'm standing in the bridge of my own ship, ready to dispense justice at the bad side of a cannon."
She finishes her oats and pats her stomach. "Aye, that hit the spot. Anyways, the plunder is a nice incentive as well. As long as I keep saying I will be swimming in gold and my crew being known from here to the Worldwound, it's sure to happen, right?"
"Tenacity is a valuable quality." he says noncommittally.
Though actions speak louder than words.
Suny nods in agreement with Aizu and her friends, Aye..." She replies slightly solemnly, "I am be seein' tha' world." She explains her reasons for being out and about, then imitates Alkyd's actions though with a more an intrigued look upon her tanned features at such actions.
"So you are looking for a vessel as well? I may not have to gold to purchase one, but I hear that in these parts, if you can gather a good and trustworthy lot, you could... Commandeer one. Just a thought of course."
Travis eyes Aizu's fangs but says nothing, keeping his own features well-shadowed under the hood of his cloak.
"Aizu here has the right of it... tenacity is indeed of great value, but tenacity alone isn't enough I fear... if it were, there would be far more successful folk out there. They say fortune favors the bold. I fear sitting in a tavern talking about success on the high seas isn't bold enough, eh, Aizu? Talk is cheap."
"Perhaps a little too much trouble for my taste, but certainly a thought."
"I be findin' talkin hard..." Suny pokes her tongue out at Travis in response to his comment about talk being cheap. :P
Alkyd thinks for a bit. "To be honest. I probably should go about the same route you are thinking. Find a crew, and work my way up the ranks until I can own my own ship and inspire my own crew... But I am too impatient and want to jump straight to the top somehow. I suppose that Ive been a serf in Cheliax for so long that I want..." She trails off, remembering the man's accent was that of a Chelaxian's. Seven hells this was one of her countryman! What if he was an inquisitor.... No, that can't be.
Travis chuckles softly. "You've got grand ideas, I'll grant you that, missy. I wish you nothing but success in your quest for greatness. Myself, I want nothing more than a secure berth on a ship. I'll settle for that for now. Perhaps in time, I'll want more, like yourself."
"Escaped the shackles of Chelaxian rule? You're a lucky one." he says somewhat bitterly.
"My people have been fighting to gain back their independence for years, with little success. I tried to take the diplomatic route, educated myself to be thought of as an equal. Grand dreams when I was younger."
"You can imagine how well that worked out. No, I decided it was a lost cause. The one good thing that came of it was awakening a thirst for knowledge I might never have acquired otherwise."
"I've had little contact with Chelaxians, but from what I've heard, and the impression I get from the two of you, they are on the whole an unsavory lot. You two are exceptions to that, happily."
Alkyd nods, understandingly, and yet, a bit sadly. "I would not call it escaping Chelaxian rule, so much as I would say that I escaped becoming a monster. Grandfather was a diabloist and Cleric of Asmodeus, my mother a Hellknight from the Order of the Rack, my father a sorcerer and slaver. My brother... Well my brother became something worse than even my parents could accept."
"I've had little contact with Chelaxians, but from what I've heard, and the impression I get from the two of you, they are on the whole an unsavory lot and you two are exceptions to that."
"I don't use the word evil lightly, but the Chelaxian government certainly is that. There are many good people under their rule, hard for there not to be considering how far they spread, but the rulers and their armies? Some of the worst humanity has to offer."
"You in particular would be well advised to steer clear. Those of fiendish blood are seen as curiosities at best. Tiefling slaves are considered a status symbol."
Alkyd nods, understandingly, and yet, a bit sadly. "I would not call it escaping Chelaxian rule, so much as I would say that I escaped becoming a monster. Grandfather was a diabloist and Cleric of Asmodeus, my mother a Hellknight from the Order of the Rack, my father a sorcerer and slaver. My brother... Well my brother became something worse than even my parents could accept."
"A terrible story, but all too common. Things are accepted there that most civilized nations would persecute with extreme prejudice. Is it any wonder that so many pursue these usually taboo professions?"
Travis lofts a brow unnoticed under his hood at Alkyd's tale. Perhaps my own background wasn't so horrid after all... it seems everyone has a tale to tell. "You were blessed to have escaped that fate, and found a new path for yourself."
"I wish I could say that I did more in the past few years to fight against House Thrune. Hopefully soon I will see my chance to get a ship and gather a crew and cause them a bit of trouble. Sure they might send Hellknights my way, but I think the pirates I think I will make enemies of will be inclined to help me rid the Shackles of those lot. I plan to help the Shackles through plunder and privateering the 'appropriate' targets. Folks that good folk won't miss. My new allies here heard this story just last night."
Travis narrows his eyes slightly at Aizu's words...
I've kept well hidden... how did he know? And why did he have to tell everyone?
He looks down behind him and shrugs his shoulders, .
I have no intention of becoming anyone's slave... Chelaxian or otherwise... I'm a free man and intend to stay that way.
Suny listens intently as people explain more about people about her...
After a moment she stands then clambers back up into the rafters to reclaim the rest of her equipment.
Deftly climbing down and adjusting into her outfit again as she settles back down.
Suny leans back and looks to see what Travis is looking at...
Travis narrows his eyes slightly at Aizu's words...
I've kept well hidden... how did he know? And why did he have to tell everyone?
He looks down behind him and shrugs his shoulders, .
I have no intention of becoming anyone's slave... Chelaxian or otherwise... I'm a free man and intend to stay that way.
As the latest of my players to enter stated, we are looking for 4 total (as a 25 pt buy), or possibly 5 totAL (as a 20 pt buy). It is up to them what kind of "attention" they want to draw upon themselves by only having four instead of five.
Travis keeps his odd features as masked as he can in the dim tavern.
Alkyd peers over at the trouble looking Travis. "Are you alright mate? You look like you've seen a ghost."
"PRetty much have, missy, I pretty much have." He glances over at Aizu and sighs... "or perhaps the ghost has seen me... ?"
Suny looks around for these 'Ghosties' that suddenly every one is seeing.
So, we have been discussing it amongst the group, and we are selecting just one player (for now. Depending on how readily death evades the group and vice versa we might be wanting another). There are some very good applicants here, and I am honored to be among you. Feel free to add me in any capacity that you wish, and I honestly wouldn't mind gaming with any of you in the future, nor having you in my games. I know that sounds like BS and isn't a consolation to you probably, but there it is.
The group has selected Alkyd as their first option, and it is a very close tie with a few others for second. What that means, to me, is that I am considering you as players if and when we need in the future. If you didn't get picked, but would like to be considered in the future then PM me. Before I open up recruitment for this (or another) game I will pm you to see if you are interested, provided you PM me your interest.
Thank you to everyone, and I really wish we could add more, but we are trying to keep it minimal and walk that fine line of having a tightly knit group for pbp and rp purposes, and also try not to die by the dozens. We'll see how it works...
Good luck, and good gaming. I'll see you in the future I hope :)
Congrats Alkyd - and thanks for some good rp from all of you... I enjoyed the entire thread and the interactions with you all. Hope to see you in other games :)