» In The City By The Sea..., [Open!]

[Sazyd Avestan]

He watched the sunlight fade with hard, questioning eyes. Tinting the sky in a riot of purple and orange, the drowning sun slowly dipped into the distant horizon, drawing forth the night and sinking the would into eventual darkness. Even as the sunlight grew cold, distant, he spotted the first of the dark clouds gathering near the east.

It was going to storm soon.

He had watched the clouds for most of day from his ship. Out on the open water, storms were things to be feared, and summer storms were rarely friends. Luckily for him, his ship had made port with a few hours to spare, and as a flash of distant lightly pulsed through the dark cloud, Sazyd felt a cold smile touch his lips. “Tie her down, lads!” he called out, pointing to the thick iron stump that served as a place to anchor the ship. “Easy now. We don’t want her driftin’ away…”

His ship rose and fell with the small waves that drifted to shore, and for all their expertise in tying down vessels, many of the crew stumbled and cursed as they searched for rope. It took a good ten minutes to securely fasten the ship, and after taking one quick inspection, Sazyd had dismissed his crew. Many had scampered off into the city, while others sought out taverns and brothels. They were only in the city for a few days. Sazyd knew they would make the most of it.

Only a handful of his twenty men were good with money. The rest would throw their Royals at whores and gambling rings. Maybe two would invest the money like intelligent men.

Only one would see any favourable returns.

He ran a tired hand down his weather-beaten face. It had been a long journey, and it was good to be home. Not that he had an actual house in the city. He sold the house he’d bought with Amarie after she died. The ship was his home now. The small bed, the bare walls, and the desk nailed to the floor was his room. It was his little world.

He descended down the flight of wooden steps onto the port and leapt off the final jump. Landing smoothly on one unpolished boot, he strode towards the wider boardwalk. He needed a drink, and maybe a room for the night. It was unwise to sleep in a docked ship- or so the sailor’s lore went.

He wasn’t going to test the belief now…

He hadn’t been to the Crimson Queen in months. Maybe he’d try it out tonight. Last he recalled, the rooms were clean and the service good. The only problem he had was the noise. He wasn’t young enough to drink himself into a comma anymore, nor was he experienced enough to sleep through a riot.

Maybe he was just getting old.

It was a distinct possibility.

[Sybilla Isa’níel]

Sybilla shifted through the bustling crowds of people, all from a variety of background with a variety of tasks at hand, you knew you were in Tirisàa when streets were still full even though it was nearing sunset. She knew the city like the back of her hand, however large it was. The harbour was not a place, however, that she ventured often. Not out of a lack of interest, just merely coincidence that her everyday life didn’t drift near the sea, although snippets of her childhood had been spent trailing her toes along the blue-green waters.

But now she had a specific task at hand. Her simple dark cloak unadorned by any finery was still a giveaway of lingering nobility to anyone observant enough to notice. It was one that she only wore when she had such a specific task at hand, though part of her longed to visit the harbour on a much less serious occasion. I’ve become serious, mused Sybilla with a faint smile, now when did that happen?

She lifted her eyes to the skyline of the harbour, squinting to see clearly as flecks of amber and rose illuminating the dispersing clouds.

Sybilla paused in her step, quickly moving aside as an elderly woman nearly crashed into her. She bowed her head in a mute apology, mentally cursing herself for her unyielding clumsiness. That was one thing, at least she knew, that she never would grow out of.

‘The Emerald Duchess’ she spotted almost immediately, surprising as it almost blended in with the other merchant vessels surrounding it. A touch of good luck on Sybilla’s part, she saw that plenty of the crew were scattering from presumably, from the ripples of weariness on their brows, a hard day’s work. She waited for the Captain to descend, anticipating him as the last one to leave his ship.

She was right. A wiry brown haired man whose every movement practically yelled ‘sailor’ at her, left the ship last, with what Sybilla interpreted to be a questioning expression across his features. Like he was on the brink of making a decision. Not wanting to lose or follow him in the crowds (she was mage, not a stalker after all) Sybilla strode swiftly towards him, adopting her usual casual almost lazy step. She didn’t want to give across any kind of threat, not that she was particularly intimidating in person, but then again you never really can judge a man’s reactions towards a stranger.

"Greetings, Captain Avestan correct?" asked Sybilla lightly, though of course she already knew who he was otherwise she wouldn't have approached him in the first place. She inclined her forehead politely as she would to anyone, regardless of their position- unless of course they were a Chancellor in which case she'd be forced to do some embarassing noble movement. "My name is Sybilla Isa’níel, I am part of the Sentinel's Guard" Sybilla added, lifting the clasp on her cloak briefly to show the silver insignia of her identification, "And if you may Captain, I am here to ask for your assistance"

[Sazyd Avestan]

He made to walk when a form approached him. At first he thought it might be one of the lads returning to ask for coin. A few left their earnings with him as they were prone to spending quickly and inefficiently. The younger ones especially did not know how to stretch every last Royal. So Sazyd kept their earnings with him, handing out coins as they were requested of him. He was their captain and banker, a few joked.

He was like a father to them all..

His hand hovered over the hilt of his rapier when the form was deemed unfamiliar. Maybe it was a man’s pride, but as soon a she saw the curves in the form, his hand tensed and moved past his sword. He stuck it in a tight space between his belt and trousers- a common habit- and flashed the woman a crooked smile as she approached. Thieves were rarely bold enough to rob an armed man- especially one who had noted their approach. It was why he let his shoulders relax as she edged closer and spoke.

"Greetings, Captain Avestan correct?"

“That’s me,” he replied, nodding. “Sazyd Avestan.” He inclined his head back, oddly aware of the fact that if she'd been a man, he’d have extended his hand for a firm shake. She spoke on, introducing herself and her position. Then she made a request of him- for assistance. Dark brows knotted in confusion. What could the Sentinels possibly want from him? More so, what kind of assistance could he offer them?

But maybe she was looking for a more personal assistance, unrelated to the Guards. It was a distinct possibility.

Caution told him to ask what sort of assistance, but buggered chivalry forced him to ignore it. In the end, he constructed another crooked smile and nodded. “I’d be honoured to. What can I do for you?”

[Sybilla Isa’níel]

Sybilla smiled, faintly amused, seeing confusion spread across the Captain's features. She'd expected as much, it wasn't everyday a sailor was asked or rather 'requested' for their assistance by the Sentinels. It wasn't out of much judgement or spite, though there was a fair share of both wherever you looked in a hierarchy but rather that they took care of their own when it came to solving things. That was the thing with men, thought Sybilla dryly, they thought they could fix everything.

Hence why she was at the harbour and not one of her superiors, she'd been mildly irritated when the task was first presented to her but then saw it as more of an opportunity to show that should could be a little more diverse, though running back and forth in the city was hardly part of Sybilla's job description. She was a little surprised when this Sazyd Avestan hadn't asked her what she was about to ask him before he'd replied that he'd be willing to assist her. Not that she hadn't seen the thought process flicker across his face, she'd probably have a similar reaction if she was in his situation.

"It's more of a favour to the Sentinels if I can be frank with you Captain" replied Sybilla lightly, not wanting to scramble meaning with flowery words. She'd always been fairly direct to the point of being blunt, it wasn't something that was always favoured, especially by her own family but she had a feeling in this case, Sazyd would appreciate it. "There has been a series of disturbances, you may or not be aware, just nearing this coast. It's been detected as magic though the origin is a little uncertain as it's continually moving so is probably a creature of the sea. " Sybilla continued, pausing for a moment to guage his reaction. Even she knew of the superstitious nature of sailors, it was a larger request than it seemed at first, and she was aware that he didn't want to endanger himself, his crew and of course his livelihood- his ship. The 'uncertain origin' part probably didn't help her cause but the last thing she wanted to do was bend the truth by not being completely honest, after all she knew how much she hated not knowing everything.

"We need a vessel to take us not far out to see what this disturbance really is and we need discretion, I've been told you have a good ship, a good crew and that you'll understand this as one of safety for this harbour. You will of course be repayed for your services to the city Captain and I promise, we need a few hours in an evening that is all" Sybilla explained, her jade eyes serious with assurance. She never liked to trouble people with really anything so the least she could do was give her word on the matter.

[Sazyd Avestan]

Sazyd listened in silence, his gaze holding hers, and his fingers tensing. Her request was out of the ordinary, and it was dangerous. He cursed himself for being so hasty as to agree before the details were known. It made him a bad businessman; a terrible one, actually.

He went over her words, letting a heavy silence fall between them. Unknown disturbances in the deep. A journey to find out their identity. As a sailor, Sazyd was familiar with the tall tales his people spun. Monsters in sea; leviathans, the Kraken. Most were easily dismissed, but lately, the tales were far more realistic, better detailed. Something was out there.

Something dangerous.

His gaze turned to the sea, his troubled eyes reflecting the turbulence in the water and sky. The storm was approaching, and was maybe an hour away. More clouds had joined the initial lightning-charged darkness, and the distant sound of thunder punctuated his thoughts. He needed to think fast.

“I…” the word was left hanging as he looked at his ship. She was a good vessel, noble, strong. She would go where Sazyd wanted, and her record was impeccable. But the fear of losing her- and indeed, his own life, and that of his crew- was also very real. “I guess I can’t say no now,” he finally stated, smiling.

“But I need more than just an assurance of pay,” he continued, trying to salvage the Captain and businessman he knew he was. “The old lass will take us as far as you want to go, but I will need to prepare her-- and for that I’ll need a few dozen Royals upfront.”

He paused, as if remembering something. "Will you be coming with us, or I am doing this mission solo?"

[Sybilla Isa’níel]

Sybilla let out a sigh, words forming and then being unable to fall from her lips. The flicker of emotions across the Captain's face spelled clearly enough the regret he was now feeling for agreeing to help her in the first place. She had to admit, she didn't blame him. She didn't know the man at all and Sybilla was no mind reader but it was obvious that he cared deeply about not only his ship and his livelihood but also his crew. She had been told he was a good man, a good Captain, and now she could see that. Many other sailors in a similar position would have leapt at the opportunity, seeing the money and not much else. It was good to know, she supposed, that there were remains of the world not tainted by such greed.

"I'm sorry" said Sybilla without even thinking, the apology just stumbled out of her mouth. She continued, a little more composed, "It pains me to ask you, I wouldn't if it wasn't out of necessity".

She smiled briefly, seeing that he felt as if he'd been caught in some unbreakable deal. Well almost. Sybilla hadn't put out a binding contract as such but he had agreed before hand to assist the Sentinel's cause. At the mention of pay, she was observant enough to know that the man clearly was practical enough to see an insurance to the supposed 'mission' that he'd now been sent on. Nodding, Sybilla moved the deceptively light material of her cloak, reaching for the satchel that hung on her belt.

"This, I believe should suffice", she replied, gently handing the reasonably heavy weight, filled with Royals onto Sazyd's palm. Sybilla knew it was more than enough though of course, generosity wasn't what was in question. "Would she be ready for the evening after next? Only a few hours but we may need to travel further though if you feel there's too much trouble- we'll return, you have my word".

Was she going? Well it was out of the question that she would send them alone, but then again Sybilla knew, as vaguely annoying as it was, the High Commander would not hear of it that she would go alone. Even as a Mage (and she had the smallest, nagging feeling that there was some basis on her gender), though albeit a young one, she needed some form of an escort. She was, apparantly, a little bit of a liability.

"I will be going with you" Sybilla assured him, with a small tight smile, as much as she loved the ocean from afar, she knew when she was actually on a ship, surrounded by a water- it would be a very different story. "And also another Sentinel will be...escorting me, most likely a Lieutenant or Captain", she added not quite able to hide a disgruntled expression in her features.

[Sazyd Avestan]

“Bah, there’s nothing to be sorry about!” Sazyd chided, suddenly embarrassed. He dismissed his reservations with a wave of his hand. “I’d be honoured to help out the Sentinels.” That part, at least, was true. If he managed to play his cards right, he could win a modicum of influence amongst the Guards. Such a connection could only be a help, not a hindrance.

Besides, his sailor’s curiosity had be piqued, and if something dangerous was out there, he wanted to know what it was. If not for safety’s sake, then for his own tales. As a story-teller, hands on experience always helped. Sazyd knew this like he knew his own skin.

She held out a satchel to him, obviously prepared for the request he had made. He took the leather bag with a nod and strung it into his belt next to his sword. Tomorrow he would find someone to board down the windows and check the rudder. Steering the vessel had grown…interesting since they’d hit a coral reef a few weeks ago, and Sazyd was half-convinced the wooden rudder was broken.

He’d find out tomorrow when he found a suitable ship-maker. The bag seemed weighted right, and if he guessed was as good as his navigation, he was about twenty Royals richer.

It was a good feeling.

“She’ll be ready,” he nodded, turning his gaze to his ship. The Emerald Duchess rolled with the surf, bobbing up and down like some stranded whale. Sazyd smiled. He loved the old girl. She was his pride and joy.

And now she was going on her first adventure.

“I just need to find the right man to fix her rudder, and after that, she’ll take you as far as you want to go.” It was a good thing the girl was sensible. The worst mistake people did at sea was not listen to their captain. His words needed to hold weight, and he needed to hold a certain power of veto over decisions. It would make an interesting journey- especially if a Lieutenant or Captain of the Sentinels decided to tag along.

He continued, noting the somewhat displeased expression flicker across her features. “Well, the more the merrier! It’s seaman’s lore.” He gave her another crooked smile and let his gaze travel to distant lights of the street. “I’m about to head down to the Crimson Queen for some dinner, and maybe a flagon or four. You’re welcome to join me…”

[ooc: Hey, if you want to round up this thread, we can do that here-- or carry on, you’re choice. I could start the journey thread if you want me to.]

[Sybilla Isa’níel]

ooc: I think we should wrap it up xD I'll get started on a multi-character thread for everybody soonish so we can all get on roleplaying with the 'unknown sea monster quest' x)