Here There Be Cannibals (Pua & Hadrian)

[Hadrian]

16th Spring, 510 A.V.

It was a fine spring morning and hadn't a class in the world, at least for the day. And so he was off doing errands here and there about town. He had already gone to the dockmaster to ask how long it generally took to sail from Zeltiva to Akvatar, thinking it would be good to have some solid information to use should Professor Rochlas ask another trick question.

Next on his mental checklist was a certain crafting shop that never seemed to be open when he went by; granted he was usually stumbling by in the middle of the night with veins full of kelp beer, but that was beside the point. He skirted along the harbor, enjoying the view of ships and the salty tang of the sea breezes blowing back his hair a bit.

The harbor was one of his favorite places. For a pint of kelp beer, one could hear sailors' stories from around the continent. There were so many places he wanted to see, or to see again as an adult when he could more fully immerse himself in new cultures and learn from new people.

Certain of his colleagues said he was just going to get dead, but they were haters and he didn't care what they thought. They weren't going to make it as far as he did. He was sure of it.

[Pua]

Pua Walked slowly down the sloped, stone paved street that led down to Zeltvia’s harbor, and the docks therein. Goosebumps ran along his arms in the relatively cool spring air. Pua refused to secure his cloak more tightly around himself despite the chill, the added encumbrance limited his freedom of movement and despite being free of the wilds that lay between Syliras and Zeltvia, Pua wouldn’t feel safe until he was back among the familiar, and much warmer, streets of Taloba. Many of the cityfolk sharing the street with him stared as he passed, his exceptionally dark skin marked him out as an oddity, and the collection of crossbows strapped around his body was not a common sight anywhere. Aware of all the stranger’s attention, Pua’s hands unconsciously checked his weapons. First the miniature crossbows mounted on the underside of the bracers on each wrist, then the brace of hand crossbows resting within the specially made belt pouch holsters riding on each hip, and finally the light repeating crossbow that the odd inventor had crafted for him back in Syliras strapped across his back over his cloak.

While Pua had traveled overland from Taloba to Syliras, the journey had not been easy nor short. Pua estimated he could shave three seasons off the trip by acquiring passage on a ship bound for Black Rock. It was this that brought Pua down to Zeltvia’s harbor. The wide expanse of calm water opened up before him, littered with ships of every size, either loitering at anchor in the deep waters of the bay, or roped to the docks in preparation for the loading or disembarkation of cargo and passengers. Having spent his entire life within an inland city, or the jungle surrounding it, Pua felt a bit put off by such a large body of water and the multitude of vessels it supported. Pua realized he hadn’t a clue how to procure passage on a vessel, he didn’t even know how to find out if there were any ships planning to travel to Black Rock in the first place. What’s more, purchasing the crossbow from Syliras had depleted almost all of his available funds.

Pua stood bemused in the roadway as he contemplated what he should do, and how he should accomplish it.

[Hadrian]

Hadrian was not the first to pause to stare at the dark-skinned stranger. It wasn't so much that foreigners were uncommon in Zeltiva; it was, after all, an important port and had been since before the Valterrian. It wasn't his existence that startled so much, but the way he stood there looking lost, which made him out of place. Lucky for him, he was armed to the teeth so none of the usual dockside thieves were considering rolling him.

In his attempts to encounter as many different cultures as possible to feed his anthropological studies, Hadrian had often played welcoming committee to people new to town. If this time made him nervous, it didn't show.

"Lost?" he asked.

[Pua]

Surprise, Pua focused his attention upon the gangly young man that had spoken. As there was no one else around Pua assumed that man was speaking to him. He was either quite brave to interrupt or very naïve. Judging by the lack of weapons and scrawny build, Pua was banking on the latter. But that was no reason to be rude, after all, this was the first person to say a civil word to Pua since he departed Sylras. Pua’s ever present natural grin tugged the corners of his mouth upwards, revealing his startling white teeth, Unlike other Myrians, how grinned at deyhan as a way of intimidation, Pua’s smile always had good humor, a fact that reflected in his viridian eyes. Unconsciously, Pua thumbed Hideki’s earring dangling from his left ear. “Am I lost?” he addressed the curios man, “No, I know exactly where I am and where I need to go, so lost I cannot be. I am however having a slight bit of trouble working out the details of making my journey however. You don’t perchance know of a ship bound for Black Rock that might provide me passage for limited pay?” The last he said with a little shrug, a little aashed by his lack of coin.

[Hadrian]

University students had it fairly easy in Zeltiva. On campus grounds, there were the university guards keeping things safe. Within the rest of the city, they were regarded with admiration and welcome or, at the very least, better than most. Foreign students brought more money into the trading town, and it was only when food got scarce that people got surly. Even the dockhands, normally belligerent, were tolerant of the students. Most sailors who weren't from these parts got the picture quickly and learned to be tolerant too.

Hadrian had taken things a step further when he arrived, learning to drink kelp beer in the dive bars with the locals, and ingratiating himself upon them. Now he could drink almost like a native, and had bought so many of them pints that he was remembered fondly. So he generally walked the streets without fear, especially during the middle of the day.

And nothing brought people together like an outside threat.

"I would try the Guild Hall if you want to go above board, the Kelp Bar if you're trying to be discreet. The former would have official information, but the latter would allow you to chat up ship captains and make them like you with a few pints of beer. I can direct you to either if you like..."

[Pua]

Being raise in and around the army and scouts all his life, Pua was particularly partial to the official, ordered, way of doing things. However, his exceptionally light purse might just get him officially laughed at. Better instead to bargain directly with one of the captains then. Of course he didn’t know where this Kelp Bar was located either. For better or worse it seemed that he was stuck with the curious young man. “It seems to me that this ‘Kelp Bar’ would be the better choice,” he told the man, “I would be grateful if you could guide me there. I’m sorry but I have no Mizas to pay you.”

Pua began thinking of a way to convince a captain to take him aboard. He doubted one would be willing to take him along for free after all. Pua didn’t think trying to coerce his way aboard with threats would be very successful either, and he would have to watch his back the entire trip as well. That left providing something of equal value for the journey. Pua didn’t have the Mizas and didn’t have any goods to trade, but he could offer his services. Of course, he knew nothing of sailing so he would most likely find employ in a protective capacity. It was settled then, Pua would find a captain sailing for Black Rock and hire on as a guard in return for passage. Now he just needed to get to the Bar. “And what should I call you?” he asked the man.

[Hadrian]

"My name's Hadrian," he said, and turned to start toward the Kelp Bar, which wasn't far. "And you can spend mizas here, but the official local currency is the Zeltivan nilo. They'll accept anything down on the docks, really, but some of the shops don't want to bother taking mizas to be exchanged."

As they walked, he pointed out a few things. The Guild Hall of the sailors, the docks, which were obvious, and the shipyard, and those were all well and good, but this man would get more done in the Bar where the ship captains often rubbed elbows with the dockhands. The kelp beer flowed like... wine... and most of the bar brawls were even good-natured. Except when they turned into knife fights.

Well, so Zeltiva could be a bit dangerous.

Anyway, playing tour guide was one of the the ways he was comfortable around strangers so he found himself doing an awful lot of that, perhaps especially lately since his time as a student was nearing an end and he might leave Zeltiva behind.

[Pua]

Pua followed behind Hadrian as he led the way along the docks. The local currency didn’t interest him all that much. He wasn’t planning on shopping and doubted if his measly supply of Mizas would get him much even if he did have purchases to make. Pua listened to his impromptu guide as they meandered along; making a mental note of everything that was mentioned. Pua didn’t believe he would ever be coming back to this city but one could never be certain of what paths the future would wander down. At the very least it would provide him the opportunity to give a more detailed report upon returning home.

Years walking the dangerous jungles of Falyndar had taught Pua to be vigilant and observative of his surroundings. Despite the difference of scenery, Pua felt very much as if he was in a jungle of a different sort now. As he looked, he saw a disparity of people. Lowly laborers and dockhands shifting cargo, boisterous captains and ships officers barking commands, and finely dressed merchants. Everyone seemed to get on amicably on the surface, but Pua’s shifting viridian eyes picked up little details that suggested otherwise. Scattered about the docks, men wearing similar dress, patrolled restlessly, hands never straying far from their weapons. And lurking in the allies, toughs and thugs eyed the passerby, looking for targets of opportunity. This didn’t bother Pua over much, he could handle any would be assailants that felt he might be worth a go, but he would prefer to leave town quickly and dealing with a mess would most likely delay his departure. Hopefully this Kelp Bar was nearby.

[Hadrian]

Hadrian didn't make a big deal of the man's silence or his lack of introduction, but gradually his tour guide spiel wore out and they walked in silence. Indeed, it wasn't far to the Kelp Bar, the which he pointed out to the man.

"Well," he said, "there it is. If you haven't had kelp beer before, I would advise against it. It doesn't suit most palates, and vomiting won't endear you to many of the captains. They'll assume you get violently seasick as well, and nobody wants to clean that up."

[Daoloth]

Let me unveil your rewards Name:Hadrian XP Award: Lore Award:Information, always handy to have ; Welcoming dangerous strangers Name:Pua XP Award:Observation:1 Lore Award:Unfamiliar city's reason for distrust?, Zeltiva geography[basic] Additional Notes Well first off tabernac, I still had to grade this tread from my brief period that I was assigned here To hadrian and Pua, I really couldn't give you guy's a lot here, it was a short tread and I have the feeling that it should have gone on for a bit longer. Don't know why it didn't. Still Pua got a point in observation from always keeping his eye out for danger and noticing those thugs in the alleys. As always, if you think you got scammed just give me a PM with reasons why and I'll see what I can do.