Silence (Open Thread for play)

[Tugarabog]

While she examined the Noble, he seemed to be somewhat ignorant of her, or at least he didn’t view her with the same gravity as she did him. However as she stepped up to them, and with those men in tow not far behind, the man so eager to be home was silenced by an out stretched hand upon his shoulder. Indeed as the left arm lifted, the cloak that covered his side rolled back over his shoulder, exposing a hanging scabbard of leather and bronze at his side, with tufts of white fur sprouting out around the neck where the cross guard met scabbard. The speaker fell silent as the nobleman stepped forwards to address the woman, his hand falling away and to his side, becoming enveloped by the shroud once more.

He let he say her peace, waiting patiently for her words before he offered explanation to the actions of the ship he came from, as well as his own and those of the man who now stood behind him, arms crossed and looking quite worried.

“No, I did not. Though if we were to attack, we would not have sent a dingy out, would we have? After all, a ship defends just as it attacks, and as I recall, the last time a ship flew those colors here, it was sent home much lighter than it came. We did not wish to be attacked. Indeed, I have come here to help mend relations, and to bring good tidings.”

The man was clearly not from these lands, his accent and his dress betrayed that clearly, that and he carried himself with some level of nobility and importance, was well spoken and well dressed. Any one of such a caliber that lived in Kiel, she would surely know about.

“I am, Baron Krieger von Wulfram of Schiffstadt, and this…” He paused briefly, waving the man over and stepping to the side to let the man speak for himself. The man did indeed step forwards and took a knee in front of her.
“Harold Ullerson, M’lady. I was a barrel mak’a, here in Kiel ‘fore that demon what went and captured me an’ the oth’as.”
Offering a polite smile to the woman, the man who called himself Baron offered the other man a hand standing before continuing on.
“I am happy to inform you, that the scourge known as Tugarabog, has been vanquished. Several weeks ago, a great group of Hero’s from the far West destroyed his phylactery. He fled to the Southlands their after, leaving our kingdom free from his tyrannical rule. Upon reclaiming the castle Schreienburg, we found a great many of your people within its dungeons. Indeed, we have scores more like Mr. Uller here aboard the ship. We have come to bring them home, and to offer trade. I know the captain has a hold full of goods from Merchants back home.”

[Ekaterina]

Icy shards of blue continued to regard the two men openly. When the one whom later introduced himself as a Baron lifted his arm, the weaponry adorned was noted. Focus remained upon both, although she gave proper attention to the self proclaimed noble that spoke. When he finished, there was no immediate response as she pondered over the words spoken.

"You state the demon was vanquished, not destroyed, which means he still poses a threat." It was then her eyes would move to meet those of the Barons full on. "I'm surprised there are many that survived the beasts atrocities, as I have learned he used them for experimentation and other hellish purposes. "

It was then she'd glance out towards the ship in question, then back to the men. "The families whom lost their loved ones have long since buried them as dead, and to learn of any survivors would indeed be wonderful news to them...." A pause as she contemplated what she was about to say next, but she had to be protective of what was hers and those who counted on her to do so. "..however, due to the nature of what I had learned of the demons actions, I can not permit you to bring the refuges here at this time until I am assured beyond a shadow of a doubt that they are not tainted and could possibly cause further harm."

It was at this time she'd turn and motion one of the men to come closer that stood behind her. When he moved to her side she'd lean to whisper something near his ear. The man looked to the Baron and the other, then back to her with a nod of his head. He then turned and snagged one of the other men and they walked off as the one she spoke to explained the situation to the other.

Looking back to the Baron, features stoic and those icy shards of blue devoid of emotion or her thoughts. "I am Baroness Ekaterina Von Drasek, and as the head of the Council for Kiel and protector of all it's people, I am left with no other alternative than to maintain the sanctity of all that live here." Again she'd give pause to her words before continuing. "Due to this, I will make arrangements for several of my empty warehouses to be prepared for these refuges you speak of. There they will be housed and watched to ensure they are not tainted or to present a danger to any of the citizens here. There is to be no contact between any of your members or these that you carry to any of the citizens of Kiel until all evaluations are completed. I will not have family members born with hope that their relative is fine and well if they are not."

A glance out towards the ship, then back to the two men. "As for your ship and its crew, you will be limited to the areas in which you may travel, until such time as we are assured there is no possible hostility posed our way. You say your last visit left your holds near empty, though I have no recollection of any ships being attacked or pirated within our port, and I've lived here my entire life and such would have been privy to my ears." It was then she held up a hand to hold off any debate. "Although, I am not completely discrediting the fact something may have transpired, or that you and your belongings had not been attacked, only that I have no knowledge of this and thus until proof has been provided, I must take all possible precautions, as I'm sure you would do the same in protection of what is yours and those who rely upon you."

She'd motion yet to another man who stepped forward. Attention then turned upon him. "Go now and inform Carly that her establishment will be utilized to house and provide for the crewmen of a ship." The man nodded and set off at a jog in the direction of the Bloody Bore. It was again her focus would turn back upon the two men.

"We will not be uncivil to you and your members, they will be provided with clean rooms, food, and enough drink to fill their bellies full. Nor will I insult you or your house by expecting you to shelter along the docks with your men. If you are a noble of standing as you proclaim, then you will be offered more hospitable accommodations. You are invited to stay at my manor and be provided with the level of service your station depicts, but you will do so alone, and not in the accompaniment of any of your men. I will provide you one of my men to enact as a male servant, who will nightly report to me of your actions. I mean not to treat you or your men in this manner, however the recent past dictates I do nothing less." Again she'd take a moment pause as she regarded the men. "And finally, you will reposition your ship so it does not block the entry to our port, where imports and exports are a large part of many businesses here. It will dock as any proper ship should and I will provide the proper garrison of men to see to its safety."

It was then a small smirk would appear upon her lips. "If you mean no malice or discontent to any here, then compliance to this shouldn't be a problem. An inconvenience of course, but all will be provided for and not treated harshly. However, if at any time there is an indication of a threat, we will counter immediately with the total annihilation of all whom came aboard that ship and the ship itself will be destroyed."

Through the entire conversation her voice and tone was calm and soothing in nature, as if they were discussing the weather or the topic of a new novel. She left no room for negotiation either, it was all cut and dried. If the man refused, then it was evidence that their presence here was anything but innocent or the intent of attempting good will.

[Tugarabog]

“Indeed M’lady, Vanquished, but not destroyed. He fled South, but beyond that, no one knows. Some of my countrymen who…”
He paused for a moment, his brow furling as emerald eyes shut. Looking away as he spat upon the ground, clearly a sign of disgust.
“Willingly served the Scourge in his time here, have hypothesized that he may have headed to his homelands, which they offered after…persuasion, either rests in lands unknown to us, or on a different plane of existence entirely. The very same men and women who met the hangman’s rope,” he added with the faintest curl on the corner of his lip. Yet, when she spoke of the survivors, a dark look came upon his face, as did one come upon the man at his side. Taking a deep breath, he placed his hand on the shoulder of the man claiming to be a native of Kiel.
“I’m afraid you are quite right, M’lady…I can inform you all of what he has done in detail if you wish, but he killed very few…and was more likely to maim, maul and torture…not only the body, but the mind and the soul.”
Happy to put thoughts of exploring the hell that was the dungeons of castle Schreienburg out of his mind, he listened intently to the woman before him, nodding softly with a gentle smile as she spoke of how happy the families would be to see their loved ones again. Yet the words that followed, while not surprising to him, seemed to have upset Harold, who stepped forwards boldy.
“How can you say that! After what we’ve been through and now you deny me my fam-“
“Mr. Ulerson!” The Baron snapped sharply, his eyes narrowing as he brought the staff across the barrel makers chest, not in a blow but to keep him from advancing any further.
“Please, think of what would happen to your family if she is correct and something terrible was hidden inside you that you knew nothing about.”
As upset about the whole situation as the man clearly was, he could see the logic in it, and the concern for the safety of his family won out over his anger.
“That is fine, M’lady. It is a wise choice, and while it may upset some, I’m sure they will be willing to comply.”

Bringing his staff back down, he let the ornate head rest upon his shoulder, nodding softly as he listened to her words about the separation of the crew from those who would be returning to Kiel. Offering a small laugh and a shake of his head, he only offered a small laugh.
“I’m afraid neither the crew nor the ship is mine, but I shall inform the captain. He is not an unreasonable fellow, I’m sure he will agree to these terms. We shall bring the ship to doc, and if you will have it, your men shall wait on the docs, the captains shall remain on the ship and the poor victims of this whole tragic ordeal can walk down the plank and into your custody.”

Yet, as she went on and spoke further about where they may and may not travel, as well as the business of the ship, he lifted a brow in confusion, his eye wide and head canted to the side like a confused dog. It wasn’t until she held up her hand did he understand, and while he opened his mouth to speak, he would not be so rude as to interrupt her, waiting until she was finished, a funny little smile upon his lips.
“I see where I may have mislead you. I’m very sorry, I’m afraid I do not speak your language as well as I’d like. What I was referring to, was an event early last winter. The Scourge had sent out a large vessel, looking for warriors, trying to coax people to come to a terrible labyrinth he was building, luring them with promises of great prizes of gold. I know the ship was sent here, and you sent it away after demanding they leave everything they had taken ashore here. As we are still using the same flag, despite the change in rulers, I feared you may attack us out right, thus the defensive position of the ship.”
Listening to her speak further, he reached his arm forwards, brushing the cowl back over his shoulder once more. His hand fell down to the scabbard of the sword, unhooking it from the sword belt and holding it instead by the neck.
“That is a very gracious offer you make, Lady Drasek, and one I shall take you up on, for as long as it remains. Stepping forwards with the aid of the staff, he offered her his sword as a symbol of his cooperation and passiveness.
“Compliance shall be anything but a problem. At your leave, I shall take the boat back to the ship and relay what shall be done.”

[Corothius Encinosa]

‡ A normal day it was seeming. The weather was nice enough to remain aboard his own seaworthy vessel, along with his two dozen men. They needed not the heavy cloaks and furs that had been overused throughout the past prior months of winter, but were back to regalling in the heavensend of heating sunlight that bore from skies barely riddled with the clotting of clouds in its wake of blue euphoric depths.

The vessel itself was already docked at the Port of Kiel. It was not common to see it in Port truth be told, but Corothius and his men would come to port from time to time to acquire particular goods, or merely to check in on particular news that was going on about the isles to the north where they were based. They kept a reputation of a group of soldiers from a foreign land that came to the port with enough peace not to be questioned too deeply, and occasional they even gave their hand in good deeds here and there, but such was only a few times.

Nonetheless, when the humongous ship came into the bay, it immediately caught the attention of many a dockworker and commoner alike, including his own mens' arguable anotations. If a ship in modern day was able to carry 1,000 people on a luxury cruise, it was not without a doubt that there was room aboard some armada sized ship for several hundred. It was still a sight to behold, as such ships were rare in these parts, and mostly kept to the european waters where the rich moreso lived who could afford such gallant vessels.

It was as the ship took to it's defensive position, that it's angle of barrage would make itself easily apparent as able to blow their own ship out of the water, along with the rest of those lining the docks that day. And that just wasn't agreeable in the least.

Shouts were hollared along the docks as men were prepared in one manner or another. Corothius himself gave orders for his own to pull the ropes from the docks and for all hands to get to their oar with an utmost urgency. It was seen as such, for in a matter of seconds, those very cannons in the distance could begin to release a torrent of death upon them with ease.

It took them only a few bare moments in truth for the succession of oars to push the vessel from the docks. And a short moment after that before oars along both sides began churning into the dark watery depths to shove the vessel onwards and away from the docks entirely.

It was with obvious envy that some of the other ships and dockhands wished they could set sail as quickly as these men were able to boost their ship forward with the simplicity of oars. Men who were hardened from such labor, and whose bulk of muscle grew instead of lessened the longer they remained at sea.

It turned out they were not going to be fired upon at all as a small vessel left the huge ship to approach the dock. And later after it's landing, that white flag would come into the masts to declare itself at neutral agreements of peace with those who would look upon it.

Regardless, Corothius and his men rowed onwards, steering distant and clear of the ships aim for the docks as quickly as they could pass the twinkling reflection upon the passing waves at their sides. They did not seek to leave the bay in truth. Merely, they navigated a path to circle the great ship, at a distance that would turn into one that was easily taken by oars. And a distance that would allow them to build up enough speed to enable the attached workings of a ram at the front of their ship to be able to be put to use.

There was no way to outgun such a vessel. But these lighter ships were faster than any larger ship could navigate upon the seas. And were more than capable of bludgeoning holes into the sides of a ship to cause it to have a hole too large to seal, and still more than large enough to cause any ship to sink.

[Ekaterina]

She listened as the man explained and soon learned the error of her assumption that he was the Lord over the ship. That meant a need to find exactly who ran the ship and to whom they belonged. All the more reason to remain on the alert. Then the mention of the men who came to the docks to recruit the locals and lure them away to their eventual deaths, imprisonment, or slavery. This bode not well with the Nordic woman or her men. "Then I stand corrected in my misconception of the appearance which you gave upon your landing. However, all remains as stated, no deviation of my original orders with the enlightment you place upon me." A glance to one of the men at her side. "Prepare the nearest warehouse, I want a full staff of guards around the clock. A large group to see to the unloading of the passengers and to quickly move them there." He nodded his head and rushed off with another whom he tapped on the shoulder upon passing.

Focus returned to the man who offered forth his sword, this caused a brow to rise slightly. "It's not the sword I worry about, it's what I don't see that I would consider a concern." Waving off the offer, not caring if it insulted the man or not. "Keep your sword, you may need it. There's plenty of things that go bump in the night around here." Hint of a smirk to appear upon her lips.

"I will await for your return and provide you with a mount to ride to the manor. My men will see to your belongings if you have any and their delivery there, as well as to the unloading of passengers and crew to escort them to their appropriate places."

In a sense she had dismissed him to carry on, if he wished to take it that way. As for the ship that had slipped off to round around the much larger one, that had been given a moment of attention. Since it seemed to be leaving, perhaps a smart move or a cowardly practice, her focus was more on the situation at hand. Her gutt was telling her to remain upon full guard, and her gutt had never steered her wrong.