The Harbor [Post here first]

[Tarot]

Sailing to Sahova was always a peculiar experience. No captain or crew ever really got used to the strange feeling of approaching the harbor. While officially nameless, it had been dubbed Port Silence over the decades, which while lacking fantasy gave a perfect description of the place. Silence was the only greeting a visiting ship would ever get on Sahova, and for sailors accustomed to loud, bustling quarters overpowered with the smell of ale and a rumble of voices, this always made them nervous. There were only three piers, and they were more than enough. The masters of this island needed little in the way of supplies, and the things they produced were few and expensive. Two lines of grey buildings loomed over the docks; warehouses for temporary storage of goods, but also and more importantly standby areas for the golems. Everybody knew the golems were somewhere around the place. Sahova made them, and they were the best at making them. The makers themselves never bothered with the docks at all except when they were going out on some mission, and they let their golems handle everything from most trade to security. Crews were instructed not to get off the ship for any reason until a golem made contact with them. This never took long. The spokesgolem was a Communicator type, a rather spartan thing moving on six wheels. The body resembled a metal cylinder with two smaller cylinders attached and serving as 'arms'. It had a vaguely human-looking metallic head, but it was there just for show, so that people had something to look at when they were addressing the creature - the head was pretty much a mantlepiece placed on top of the body. The Communicator was unarmed, but there were others around that were not; everybody knew that, even though they could not see them. The Communicator was not a fancy golem. It could do one thing, and one thing only, but it could do it well. "Welcome to Sahova," it would speak in a slow, repetitive voice that smelled of metal and gears, "identify yourselves and state the purpose of your visit. If you are carrying cargo, provide a full description and unload a sample for evaluation. Any passengers wishing to be escorted to the Citadel must approach me and apply for permission." It would then speak no more, and patiently wait for an answer. OOC : As of Summer 513 AV, entry into Sahova has changed. Please view this section of the Sahova 101 thread for more detailed information. After you post in the Harbor you may begin threading within the city . Please note that visitors are only allowed in the Courtyard, first 5 floors of the Gug Andjak (the ground floor and 4 above it), and the Quarters. They may also explore any of the surrounding areas outside of the Citadel. Edit made by Mirage

[Duskshroud]

65th day of Summer, 509

The bodies that drifted haphazardly to the docks of the island of Sahova could not have known where they were. They were bloated and blue, but otherwise untouched in their death-state. Most were unharmed, some bore slashed wounds that were grievous perhaps at the time they were received. The bodies were lightly dressed and altogether unremarkable. They were huddled together, as though even in this lifeless state, they huddled against the frightful approach of Port Silence.

One of the corpses, however, stood out from the flotilla. A body covered in small slashed tears, a rope trailing behind it like a tether let loose, a look of horror and rage contorted on the blue-grey face nightmarishly illustrated in the unnaturally wide-open eyes.

These bodies, nine in number, an island unto themselves, adrift, did approach the docks of Port Silence.

[Tarot]

Patroller golem #11 was the first to spot the bodies during its routine inspection of the docks. Its job was simply to observe and pass on its reports for other golems to act upon. Unsurprisingly, it consisted of little more than eyes - actually lenses - mounted on wheels. It could not have been larger than a cat, and it was even less dangerous.

Patroller golem #11 saw the bodies first, but it did not know they were bodies, for its intelligence did not stretch that far. All it knew was that such things did not belong here. It turned around and warned Communicator golem #4, which in turn brought it to the attention of the Docks Overseer golem. This was the only bipedal golem around the port, a mass of iron and wood kept together by fine clockwork. It was a heavy thing, meant to last. It had been expensive to create.

"Unusable," the Docks Overseer decreed. Unusable meaning that these bodies were way too damaged to serve as potential shells for Sahova's undead masters in their periodical body jumping. "Call in the disposal squad." The wheeled Communicator behind the larger Overseer emitted a sound of acknowledgement and set out to alert the squad. The Overseer could not feel surprise - of all magical intelligences on Sahova, only Drainira could display advanced emotions - but the state of the bodies did trigger more unresolved calculations than most things the Overseer usually saw around the Docks.

[Clarion Voss]

Timestamp: 41st of Summer, 509 AV

A tall forceful Ethaefal entered the harbor, his body rigid from the entrapment of a ship. He stood sparsely covered in warm robes complimented by the gold fused locks of red and ruddy brown. Impervious to the golem's demands, Clarion Voss squinted over the animation's metallic shoulders, getting his bearing while admiring the dead cliffs beyond. His cheekbone and jaw persisted as if chiseled from solid marble and would take no less force to direct.
The Scholar eventually thrust a tight brown letter of papyrus toward the communicator, glyph face forward. It bore the insignia of a measured hand and the island from which he now stood. The voice of the fallen soul was haughty, impatient and refreshingly demanding.

"I've been Challenged - To a Duel. Also Inform your lead Summoner that Clarion Voss would like an audience with their beautiful self. In that order. Incineration first, drinks and demons second."

His jaw wound tight, but the new comer had little time for formality after such an ill mannered trip.

[Tarot]

The Communicator stared at Clarion for a long, long moment. Well, 'stared' was a big word given that the creature's head was pretty much borrowed from an old statue. Let's just say the Communicator stood still, facing Clarion's direction, for what seemed like a long, long moment. And then, it gave the Ethaefal a small but priceless pearl of wisdom.

"Error, unrecognizeable input."

As if following the cue, another golem stepped out of the nearest warehouse. This one, unlike the Communicator, could actually step out of things because it had legs of iron and clockwork. At least it was humanoid, light metalling plating in a bleak tone of grey reminding of some old suit of armor covering gadgeteered parts. Two gemstones sparkled behind the visor, apparently providing the creature with vision. It walked over to where Clarion and the first golem stood, and introduced itself in a more intelligent voice than its predecessor. This one was clearly more advanced than the other docks golems.

"Greetings," it said, "it appears that we have a problem here. Your paper looks genuine, but duels are forbidden on Sahova." The Docks Overseer knew this meant trouble. It could only mean that one of the Sahovan wizards had visited the mainland and delivered this message to the creature in front of it. For a local wizard to have ignored such a major rule only meant that they had probably gone insane from Overgiving - which would make this the fourth case in five years.

"I need to escort you to the Archwizard's office for the time being," it said. It didn't sound like a suggestion, and it didn't include the magic word 'please'.

[Clarion Voss]

The young Ethaefal's grimace sweetened into the flat mask of a sardonic gaze. An island of such history and power.. but was nothing to what he would unlock. Clarion Voss's right thumb cut along the paper trail and embossed sigil of the "invitation" as he surveyed Sahova's newest pet. The dole of his expression borderlined fury but placated into finite composure, nostrils flaring only subtly.

Sweeping auburn robes around him the mage could feel the red graze of heat on his naked right shoulder, invigorating a volatile body.. calming every urge to burn like lit powder and smelt the metal puppets with no strings attached.
His internal forge overruled any pretense of mundane emotion, sweet whispers making his tongue taste like brimstone. It tasted very good. These lips stayed firm but Clarion allowed the sun to cool him.. for to Syna's prodigal son her presence strengthened, fueled the male with life and an immense vain vitality. Even and complete. He worshiped no one, but was tempted each and every second exposed to see if he could. The Ethaefal breathed out slowly.
Nodding to the machination with a raised left brow, Voss then prepared to move.

[Tarot]

OOC: Continues here.

[Jaquise Emittere]

60th Day of Winter 509 AV

If there was one thing Jaq knew now, it was that he hated traveling by boat. The rocking and the swaying, it got to Jaq the moment they left Zeltiva's port. At least traveling from Syliras to Zeltiva had meant walking on land Just thinking about it made him feel queasy. It didn't help that his first day spent swabbing the boats deck had also met Jaq with a hangover. Seasickness meant a drinkers worst enemy and they conspired to make Jaq's time a living hell. One would think that when the hangover passed Jaq would feel better. Jaq had thought so to and wondered if he had ever been more wrong. The hangover had oddly enough made it easier to eat things and keep them down. It as an evil he knew and had dealt with before. Without it Jaq as simply left with an enemy he had never encountered before. With no headache to distract him while he ate, Jaq was unable to keep anything down. On the plus side it meant he didn't have to pay for food for most of the trip.

And it was over, the ten day trip from Syliras City to Suhova was finally over. Jaq dread to trip back though, and idly wondered if perhaps someone hear would save him the trouble by blowing him up with some misfired spell.

Now that Jaq was on land though, he had a chance to do what he was to busy working and tossing his lunch to do from the boat. Take a look at the area. It was quiet. But he had been expecting that form the stories he had heard. The port of Silence they called it. Eerie for one such as Jaq, who if not enjoyed, at least took solace in the hustle and bustle of a normal city. Since Jaq couldn't leave the boat, the captain had told him very carefully that if he were to come to this island he could not leave the boat until he was given leave. Still what he could see told him a lot. The ship was docked in the right most peer, one of three, and it was the only one docked. The buildings past the peer were well maintained but seemed wrong. It took several moments of leaning over the ships rail before Jaq realized what it was that seemed so out of place about the structures. They all showed no sign of being used or lived in. Jaq had been told a lot about the island of Sahova, but he had assumed it was nothing more then a Sailors superstition. Considering the cargo this ship was carrying perhaps Jaq should been put more thought into that.

When he had scoped out the lay of the land to the best of his ability, Jaq turned around and leaned his back against the railing and closed his eye. The captain had said it never took long for the welcome party to arrive, and until they did the most they could do was wait. So Jaq intended to at least be calm and prepared when it happened, and he intended to do those by meditating. Going through the motions was rather important for someone who was still learning, so Jaq first started off by choosing something to focus his mind on. Sometimes Jaq chose and image to a fix in his head, sometime it was a word. This time he chose the soothing sound of the waves hitting solid land. Out at see the sound of water would have made him sick. The islands presence, however eerie and out of whack, soothed Jaq. he put his whole being into simply hearing the waves hit the pier. It was calming and relaxing and there was suddenly nothing else to the world. The captain of the ship was shouting orders, the sailors were talking amongst themselves. But it meant nothing to Jaq. All that held meaning to him was the sound of the tide. His muscles began to relax, and Jaq went from poised to calm.

It was for several minutes that Jaq sat there, listening to the ebb and flow of the tide when he began to hear something else. The sound of several birds chirping a distance a way. At first he assumed it was simply his mind playing tricks on him, for he had seen no birds nearby, and Jaq redoubled his efforts to focus. The sound however only grew louder in response, even though the orders from the bellowing captain had quieted, and the talking of the sailors had fallen to whispers. By now it no longer sounded like far off chirping but a rather far off squeaking, the way a wheel does on a wagon when there's a heavy load on it. And it wasn't just one sound but several. It was then that Jaq realized that the voices of the others on the ship hadn't quieted due to Jaq's efforts to shut them out of his mind. They had quieted when they began to hear the squeaking sound. So Jaq opened his good eye to see what all the lack of fuss was about. He was greeted with a rather larger, cylindrical metal form on several wheels, moving towards the ship. To the people on the ship, it was simply a golem. To Jaq, it was the first bit of magic he had seen that was not being done by him or his father. It was fascinating how it moved, seemingly without any force acting on it. When it was near the ramp that lead onto the ship it stopped and said "Welcome to Sahova," it spoke in a slow, repetitive voice that smelled of metal and gears, "identify yourselves and state the purpose of your visit. If you are carrying cargo, provide a full description and unload a sample for evaluation. Any passengers wishing to be escorted to the Citadel must approach me and apply for permission."

The captain of the ship, from the top of the of the boat shouted out. "We have brought more bodies for this months run of the "Ocean's Pillar" and its crew." The captain turned to Jaq, who had watched the captain as he talked, and waived him over. Jaq, having heard what the golem had said, new what he was supposed to do. He quickly walked over to the same spot the captain had stood and looked down to the golem.

"I wish to apply for permission to be escorted to the citadel. May I come down and speak to you further of the details." The captain had not wanted to know what it was Jaq wanted to do here, and had said not to tell any of his crew members either. Jaq understood this was a cautionary measure, and respected the sailor's wishes. It meant though that he had to ask permission to go onto the land, so that he could ask further permission to go to the citadel.

[Tarot]

The Communicator gave brief instructions to the captain to begin the unloading of the 'cargo' of bodies. "Appraisal golems will be here shortly to evaluate and price your wares," it said helpfully. They were not late in coming, smaller than the Communicator. They were still wheeled things, carrying two magnifying glasses mounted on fixed arms of sorts. They had a single eye consisting of a red gemstone. As the crew went through the grim process of unloading the bodies - a task they had by now gotten accustomed to - the little golems took a good look from every angle, gauging the freshness and quality of the Sahovan masters' future shells.

As for Jaquise, the Communicator's response was terse and emotionless. "You may apply for a visit to the citadel. Be advised that Sahova is currently in a level-2 state of alert due to recent events, and only a small amount of visitors are being accepted at this time. You have two minutes to explain your business with the masters." The golem stopped and awaited Jaquise's response, unbiased in its own way.

[Jaquise Emittere]

Jaq took a moment to think things over. He had a short amount of time as the golem had said, might as well use it. Since he did not know what such a state meant, in a mercenary camp it would only mean one of a few things such as the death of someone high in rank, he had no way of judging how high of a rating it was. Jaq was at a loss. He could probably ask the golem but the likely hood of him getting an answer from it was low. The fact that visitors normally had to apply for entrance to the citadel added to the fact that they were only letting in a limited number. That meant Jaq's chances of an easy entrance had just been shot. That they were still letting visitors in was a good sign, but it might simply mean they are reserving such permission for some important person they were expecting. But there was one thing every needed to live in this world. Money. Sure they didn't need to buy food, but they had to pay the ships like the Oceans Pillar with something. The problem with that was he had a limited amount of miza's to offer, and he doubted the communicator was advanced enough to barter or stupid enough to fool, which meant lying his way through was out as well. He hadn't intended on trying that anyway. No need to give the wizards on this island a new target to practice on.

With half his time spent thinking up nothing, Jaq walked down the ramp from the Ocean's Pillar, careful not to step off it as he still had not been given leave to come ashore. With a voice loud enough for the golem to hear yet low enough so the crew wouldn't over here him Jaq said, "I seek the services of a magi on the island in hopes of obtaining a familiar. Since I need the services of those on the island, it would be in my best interest to be as polite of a guest as possible which means I will not cause any trouble." A breeze from the sea began to blow Jaq's hat off but he quickly reached up to grab it and hold it on to his head. "I am willing to follow any rules set before me, and I will probably end up having to pay for the mage's service who agrees to assist me, which means it is a business opportunity for one of the masters of this island."