DreamLyrics™ Play-by-Post Forums Hall of Fame - Latest Top 10 completed games HWD: The Heartwood HWD: Talesan's Village - Mikal

The Heartwood
Talesan’s Village
The Amber Inn
Rameday, the Eleventh Day of Scholar

Mikal

"What to do in Talesan's Village?"

The young woman considered, having just answered this question but a few moments before.

"As I tole thine companion, we ain't like Talantal or Bordertown or the busy streets of Trundle, so far, far off that they may as well be tales of the fair folk. We are just a fishing town, onna port that ain't seen anything but fishing boats since before me grandfather's grandfather's grandfather's grandfather's time."

She looked back up, smoothing her skirts with her palms.

"We got a stone garden and it's quite pretty — lotsa folks like restin' up after a bath and such. Yah should have seen the way when ye were down there."

Twls considered some more.

"Now that the tide has come in, walking the sea cliffs is a good way to spend the afternoon all pleasant like. You can follow them all the way to the farmer's compound; there's good woods there, woods that ain't part of the Forest."

Her nose wrinkled.

"Come nightfall, until the two moons set and folks go to sleep, well, there's always our inn. We get the best folks around for singing and tale-telling, even if we do get Mister Barlibert too.

"The Eel, well that's where..."

She stood on tiptoes to whisper conspiratorially.

"That's where you go to lose money. The Larsen's allow it because they tithe a portion to the Keep for the privilege.

"Which leaves the Barking Shark. It's not a very nice place. Ma says I’m not to be ever goin’ there. An’ who would want to? It smells of fishes.

"An' most fisher lads, they’s just mean."

Mikal

"Thank you, Miss ......." He pauses, clearly repeating his question about her name, though unspoken this time.

Giving her time to reply, he adds, "Are there any others like me here? Jvrillians?"

The Heartwood
Talesan’s Village
The Amber Inn
Rameday, the Eleventh Day of Scholar

Mikal

As if by magic, an object appears in the sky. It appears above the Amber Inn, solidifies and then does what all such objects do when they suddenly appear in mid-air.

It falls, plunging through the roof of the Inn.

The shaggie, which had been in Trundle-On-The-Hill not mere heartbeats ago, was lost and confused. But shaggies were easily confused, their brains being inversely proportional to their size.

Mikal could not provide any clarification...

...having been squooshed flat under the backside of said shaggie.

The Heartwood
Talesan’s Village
The Amber Inn
Rameday, the Eleventh Day of Scholar

Mikal

The Inn-mistress' daughter just blinked. Blinked and tilted her head.

"Mister, you see tha merchants in tha tavern, like the ones tha' were back there finishin' their lunch?

"Well their guards donna be comin' free.

"Everyone o' them is a sellsword, aye."

(OOC - He meant local natives who lived here, not guards passing thru.)

[[OOC then maybe mikal needs to explain that to her ]]

(OOC - Was reacting to the first post. Sounded like you were saying "duh" to me.)

Mikal

He blinks, then smiles. "Yes. I've seen them. I meant were there any local Jvrillians. Who live here? Is there anyone who watches over the town, or just the Khorall's guards?"

The Heartwood
Talesan’s Village
The Amber Inn
Rameday, the Eleventh Day of Scholar

Mikal

"Locals?”

The young woman’s brow furrowed and she shook her head.

“You mean like living here and all? Are you trying to fool me? Talesan’s about the most harmless place on tha mainland. The only guards we have are those tha’ watch tha Larsen and I’d love to see someone pull them away from the Khorall and Dama.”

Twls nodded her head towards the west, towards the center of the town.

“An’ we have Sir Kevin an’ Squire Erik to look after us. You donnae want to ever cross Sir Kevin. He’s the nicest guy in tha world and will be apologizing right up until he lops thine head off.”

She then paused, for a long set of heartbeats.

“You got to understand, you are at tha end of tha world.”

The barmaid crossed her arms.

“But tha’ means every caravan tha’ goes up tha Highland Path, they start and end here. Now the teamsters are smart; which means they plan how longs they ride. Come dusk and you’ll see every wagon tha’s heading west will pull up to me Fa’s place and they’ll be more merchants and guard than even Brother Perrin can count.

“Most try to hit the town tha day before Market, of course.

“Now, most guards, they contract one way.

“So tha next day or two later, they’s workin’ the merchants, to get a new job headin’ towards tha sunrise. The Marrennen, they take a day or two to figure out what they are buyin’ and sellin’.

“Tha teamsters, they ain’t dumb. They want to get their carts rollin’ as close to dawn as they can. So if’n yah want to find your fellow blokes, they’ll be here most of tha evenin’ before Market an’ out a day or two after.”

The Heartwood
Talesan’s Village
The Amber Inn
Rameday, the Eleventh Day of Scholar

Mikal

As the girl spoke, in the background Mikal could hear the nature of things change.

It indeed was getting late and down the hall came a softly growing din. Obviously back in the Commons it was starting to get crowded. The bustle increased, just as Twls had predicted, and while the exact words could not be discerned their nature was clear. Relaxed, the bustle beyond was highlighted with rough laughter. The clink of mugs and the clatter of plates meant that dinner must be approaching like the tide.

Ari had promised entertainment. Twls had said there would be teamsters, merchants, and fellow Jvrillians.

Mikal

Thanking Twls for her help, he notes the increased noise coming from the common room and decides to head that way to get a good seat where he can observe.