RP:Cenrili Dawn

Part of the Tales from the Row Arc

Synopsis: Thurn, a knight of Cenril newly returned to the city from an extended mission away, is appalled to find the city devolved into the current state of anarchy in which it now abides. Determined to make some difference to the plight of those civilians who remain, he begins the process of seeking out the aid and intervention of those neighboring leaders and persons of influence in nearby cities.

Characters: Thurn, Liana, Rikailin, Urmelena, Arien, Athyaron, Bianca, Vexar, Calwin.

Location: Kelay; Kelay Tavern, The Fold Clan Compound.

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Thurn pushes upon the door, soon a creak and five hooded men enter through the tavern. The clank of armor can be heard with each step, which can be heard underneath their robes. Eyes scan the tavern for a place to sit, as soon they spot a table near the fire and the five men situate themselves around it. The leader, of course the player's character, begins to address the men as their discussion can be heard by those nearby, something about Cenril and how they could go about fixing the town. Mention of leaders of the nearby towns could be heard, a name of a person already in the tavern in particular comes up, hopefully the elf could hear as they mentioned Liana of sage.

Liana looks up from her perusal of the fire, not at the entry of the men, but at mention of her name. What was this? Her head turns, her gaze scanning the five hooded figures who had just entered. As they are seated close to her, she does not even have to rise to call out to them, this probably just as well given the sleeping lump of the bear cub in her lap. "Pardon, gentlemen, but your words carried and my ears received them. Seek you Liana Eladrelle of Sage?"

Vexar assumes to patrol the party with his gaze, his thoughts brought to busy themselves with presumptions of their purpose in assembling here.

Rikailin slips quietly into the tavern, making almost no noise as she eases through the door and glides along the nearest wall toward an unoccupied corner. The vampire is spattered with mud and stippled with cuts and dried blood, mute testament to her latest ordeals in the forest to the north, but moves with an easy gait and a calm demeanour. She says nothing to anyone for the moment, but silently sets up vigil of a sort at the meeting of two walls, facing the room at large and leaning back in an attitude of calm expectancy. Her blue eyes rove ceaselessly from place to place and patron to patron as if calculated study guides their passage.

Thurn turned to look at the woman, him and the other four knight's heads all stared at Liana, "Indeed, I seek a meeting with her." His eyes looked over the woman as if he sought awnsers, "By chance do you know how I could find her?"

Liana 's expression tightens as she notes the entry of Rikailin. So, the night walker was still alive. Pity, that, but she supposed time must be allowed to dictate whether she should seek to kill her again or not. For now, her attention returns to the recently arrived group of men. Cooly she replies, "I do indeed know how you can find her. Speak your message and I shall convey it to her."

Thurn: A brief nod of the head given as he continued to look over the elf, "I seek a meeting, I seek to restore Cenril from the slums that have taken over the once great city. However, I can not do so alone, nor can I do so without aid. I thought that perhaps if I could meet with some of the nearby leaders I could gain assistance in rebuilding the city back into the proper town it once was. If you could convey such a message to her and express that should she help and should I gain some kind of leadership within the town once it is restored, I will work to guarantee her an ally from Cenril?"

Urmelena adjusts the gloves covering her hands by pulling them down by their edge as she saunters into the tavern at her humanly size of five foot eight. Her fedora is tipped forward, the front covers her blood red optics and her youthful face, leaving only the glow of her eyes and her cherry colored lips to be seen for the moment. Shoving her hands into the pockets of her long black coat, the Cenril native makes her way to a table nearest the fireplace as the gentle sound of wooden beads, knocking together as they dangle from the long ends of her braided snow white strands of hair travel across the room. She gingerly eases into her seat, throwing her booted feet upon the table as reaches into her coat's inner pocket, withdrawing a single neatly rolled cigarette and places it to her lip.

Rikailin stops her eyes from widening at the sound of that familiar voice, but only with great effort. She had not expected the person with whom she had hoped to speak would be found here in the tavern, but had only arrived here in the hope that rumour and general chatter would lead her to her mark, or at least set her tread upon the right track. Luck, evidently, is with her this afternoon. Rikailin's lips curve slowly into a becalmed, almost grateful smile, and her blue eyes soften, still roving but now far less penetrating and calculating than before. She now appears to be someone casually awaiting something, instead of someone eager for important news.

Liana allows a thoughtful expression to take the place of the disinterested one as se studies the leader before her. "A few questions, if I may. Firstly, what is your purpose in seeking leadership? Secondly, do you wish for general aid or help with specifics? Thirdly, what man-power do you have at your disposal? How much of a commitment will this mean for those who live in the woods?"

Thurn raised his hand to his chin and stroked at his beard as he thought over her questions, "Seeking leadership is to aid the people, that is and always will be the only reason for leadership. Any other and you have already failed in your task as a leader." He sighed, "As for aid, gold, food, shelter, blankets, clothing, anything and everything that can be assisted with would be greatly appreciated.. As for man-power, you are looking at it. Me and these four men have survived the preklek war and beyond, however we are the remains of our squad. They are all loyal men but with just us we are hard pressed to do much. As for commitment from those within the woods, I ask for none but accept any and all you are willing to offer. I know you don't like losing trees but buildings need rebuilt, perhaps we could plant more for you if you allowed us a few. The same goes with the animals, except we can not plant so many of them but perhaps you could allow us to hunt so many for food. I am willing, that is, I am and my squad are willing to put in the work, as long as you are not against what we ask for. I would hate to have to fight off Sage, as well as the bandits that already plague the town."

Urmelena lifts her head, turning to human, Thurn as he speaks of Cenril, and his talk of restoring it. Cupping her hands to the exposed end of her cig, it becomes lit. Urmelena take a long drag, pinching the cig between th middle and index finger of her right hand, slowing exhaling the smoke as crimson optics narrow and settle upon the knight. Ears listen eagerly, after all, what he speaks effects her greatly. Being a crook and woman of the streets, Urmelena could end up being forced from her home.

Liana 's expression gives way to a bare flicker of surprise. "The Prek war? Myself and my men fought in that. I did not know any survived the devastation of Cenril. Blankets we can provide you. Food and shelter are also no problem, as long as you do not mind taking the cuts from the tree brethren who have already fallen and given up their lives. I cannot permit the cutting down of living trees, despite your offer to plant more. Animals may be hunted, for such a small force as yours will not decimate the population overly. However, if you hunt within the boundaries of Sage, I sak that all killings be swift and clean so that the animal feels as little pain as possible. We can provide healers to tend your sick if it is necessary." Perhaps this last had given away Liana's true identity, but she cared less now than she had at the commencement of the meeting.

Thurn nodded at the woman, "Indeed we survived the war, it wasn't easy nor as you can tell are there many survivors who can speak of such a thing. We will gladly accept the fallen trees and refrain from the removal of anything living, along with making sure we hunt only in small parties. I will do my best to make sure all lives are ended swiftly however I can not guarantee such as my accuracy with a bow, well let's just say it's subpar. As for the rest, I would just appreciate any and all help you are willing to offer, healers would be greatly accepted." His brow raised slightly, "Excuse the rudeness of this all," His hand stuck out, "I never did ask your name. You can call me Thurn."

Liana still refrains from rising from her chair, proffering a flat hand from a leant forward position instead. In typical elven greeting, she merely brushes her hand against his rather than shaking, a whisper of soft, cool feminine skin across the palm of his hand. "Greetings, Thurn," says she, the name drowned as, thanks to the movement, the cub wakes and begins its muling for food, "I am Liana Eladrelle, Archdruid of Sage." She gives the title in a casual way, preferring to brush it aside and concentrate on more important matters. "If your accuracy with a bow is not keen, then perhaps it would be best if you allowed us, that is, my rangers, to make the kills. This is not normally something I would offer, for feeding folk fit enough to catch for themselves is tiresome to say the least. however, i desire clean kills, and you did fight against the Preklek, presumably alongside us in the Cenril detachment, therefore, my people owe you gratitude."

Urmelena smiles wickedly as she listens to the conversation more. Already the Cenril native forms a plan to halt Thrun's plans in their tracks. Thankful, with her being over looked as Thurn and Liana, Urmelena giggles merrily, withdrawing a piece of parchment from her inner pocket. With it, the pixie makes a note, a to do list if you will on actions that could prove beneficial to her.

Rikailin continues to wait patiently in the corner, alert to all the goings-on around her. The conversation between the archdruid of sage and the man from Cenril continues apace. Someone yawns, as if tired. And someone else, judging by the sound, is scribbling something...someone who, as far as Rikailin knows, is silent else and going completely unremarked. An acrid scent tickles the master battle-druid's nose and she turns her head very slowly in the direction from which the draft had come. A cigarette...the vampire cannot be completely sure, but the scribbler sounds as if she might be close enough to the origin of the cigarette-smoke for Rikailin to deduce that they are the same person. Quiet writing can mean many things in a tavern, but the once-elf stores this information away for safekeeping just in case it proves useful.

Thurn smiled brightly at the name, "Liana of Sage, it is a pleasure to meet you." The gesture of the shake forgotten as he pulled back his hand, "I do not mind either way, the food is not for me but the people of Cenril, something to fill their bellies and while it doesn't need to be a lot, any and all will be appreciated." His brow was raised at the woman, "The war, it isn't something I keenly enjoyed, nor do I wish to reminisce about it, if you don't mind the rudeness. My apologies Liana, however I don't remember you from the fight. Things were far to hectic and far to many died for such a thing to be taken so lightly."

Athyaron walks into the tavern, cloak pulled tightly about his form. The lycan elf would gaze at each occupant of the tavern with forest green eyes. If one were to look at him, it would be as if his gaze would pierce right through them. Silently the ranger would make his way towards the boards, spotting only one familiar face, and not being on the best of terms with her, figured anything he had to say to the Archdruid were better left until after she was done with her business.

Thurn unfortunately knew little of the Cenril pixie and for now it would remain that way, until whatever plans she had could possibly unfold..

Calwin had slipped from a back room in the tavern silently and made his way to the board without a word. Reading some of the notices one strikes his attention. The feline’s eyes fell along the people in the tavern silently looking for his goal.

Bianca leans back on her chair, seemingly unaware of the goings-on in the Tavern, unconscious to the other patrons, and stretches her arms above her head, her left shoulder emitting a loud crack. The scribe quickly lowers her arms and winces, rolling her shoulder, trying to work out the kinks. Her ecru curls cascade down her back and she shakes a stray strand out of her face as she stands and makes her way over to the bar, beckoning Nancy over to take her drink order.

Liana nods succinctly, absently shifting the cub in her lap. "It is not something I speak of lightly, Thurn of Cenril. I lost many good men in that fight, and not a few dear to my heart. I," but she trails off mid-sentence. The cub, desperate for food despite having been fed only an hour before, burrows his head against her stomach and begins to suckle frantically on the hem of her short tunic. Looking down, the druid sighs, pulls the cloth from the protesting babe's mouth and stands. "Apologies, but I must feed the cub before he becomes any more frantic. If it please you, we shall speak of this tomorrow. Apologies for the rudeness, but I simply have no choice. If you would be so kind as to send a courier detailing a meeting spot, I will do my best to make myself available to you. Perhaps the Kelay restaurant?"

Thurn nods at the woman as his eyes fall upon the strange cub atop her lap, "Indeed, I understand do not worry. As for the meeting, I will gladly take you up on your offer wherever is most convienance for you. You would not be against it, should I start today on the project to clean out your wood of fallen trees?" A slight tilt of the head, as his gaze shifted from the cub to her.

Urmelena glances to Rikailin, as the vampiress seems to be a bit off for the pixie's liking. With no way of knowing the woman is unable to see, Urmelena glares off in her direction, taking her as one who is in fact at odds with her. Urmelena many unknown foes in Cenril, some who only know of her through dirt she has done to others. With Rikailin possibly being on of these people, the enlarged pixie raps her gloved finger tips to the bar, shoving the list into her inner pockets with haste.

Liana shakes her head. "I shall not be against it, but give me time to warn my rangers, lest you be slayne for venturing too close to the enclave. I shall send five to guide and aid you. Any attempt to slip from their sight will be viewed as enemy action and dealt with accordingly. I place these strictures because of recent unlawful hunting which has taken place in the confines of the forest. The rangers shall meet you here in but an hour or so. I shall send food, blankets and clothing with them. Use it wisely. They will carry word to me, should you wish communication." Again she extricates her tunic from the mouth of the cub. Gods, was its apetite unending?

Athyaron said to Liana, "Lady Liana, may we speak when you have a minute?"

Rikailin catches the furtive sounds of something being stowed in haste, and calmly returns her sightless gaze to Thurn and Liana, settling on the man rather than the woman by a combination of good luck and exquisite sensory skills. She does not have the slightest clue as to the writer's identity and can only guess as to the motives that might exist in having written, but the druid surmises that something has alerted the subject of her covert eavesdropping that she has been found out. In other words, haste renders a guilty conscience...another bit of information for Rikailin to store against it being needed.

Liana spares a look for the once traitor, although, judging by her eyes, separation and the passage of time seems to have softened her outlook, if only marginally. "Make it swift, child. Why need you me?"

Thurn chuckled at the small cubs continued efforts to nibble at her clothes and his head continued help but stare at the spectacle. After a few brief moments he finally looked back up at her, "I would hate to be viewed as such," A healthy smile was upon his face, partially from the meet, partially the cub, "I will gladly await the arrival of the unit and first return the blankets, food, and clothes you offer before I come back to start my project upon the deadened wood." He stands from his chair, a hand gesture towards the others to rise, as five men stand around the table and in unison bow towards the druid, "Thank you Liana of Sage, this meet was most beneficiary."

Liana nods in recognission of the mens' show of respect, proffering a small bow herself. "Let us hope that it continues to be so, Thurn of Cenril. I would give much to see that glorious city rebuilt. I once had a partner who showed me the glories of its beach... Sad to see it in such ruin now when it had such splendor in times past."

Athyaron said to Liana, "If it is of no trouble Lady Archdruid, I would prefer to speak in private."

Calwin perked his ears as the words reached his ears. The name he had been waiting for. Sage was his home still and always would be. Not even he hunted that area. The feline moved to a nearby table and scribbled a quick note. As the feline stood soft swift steps led him through the tavern. As he passed the archdruid he deaftly dropped the note into her lap and continued moving mixed into a group of patrons so his form would not be seen.

The five rose once more, a brief nod given from Thurn, "Indeed, I will look towards making it happen. I will be meeting with other leaders as soon as I can. Thank you once more, I will now return to talking preparations with my men." The five sat once more around the table, one pulled out a map, as various sections were drawn, groups discussed, and all together their plan gone over as they tried to plan how to best diverse food, blanket, and clothing to the populace.

Liana looks over her shoulder in some annoyance as her attention is once more pulled from the men at the nearby table. "I have a cub who is clearly hungry, child. I cannot stop for private chatter unless it is of the most urgent variety. Might not these matters be discussed by way of telepathic communication? I shall then be able to quench the hunger of the babe."

Athyaron nods apologetically in response to Liana, not meaning to distract her. "If telepathic communication would be easier Lady Archruid, then I can do so." He was being unusually respectful towards her. Perhaps time of letting hard feelings go was what was needed.

Liana returns her attention to the men for one final word. "Do inform me of the outcome of the interaction with the others. We elvenfolk have certain, ah, disputes with other quarters, and although not by our own design, they still exist. It would be a pity to have the effort revert to petty squabblings."

Urmelena continues to glare upon the vampiress, she has no heightened sense of awareness or any of the sort. Just a paranoid mind, that forces to pixie to keep a look out of those who mean her harm, or even imprisonment. But as Thurn's men reveal themselves, Urmelena once again smiles. Eying their armor and weapons, taking in as much of the details as she possibly can, the pixie now has something more she can use to keep the knight from changing Cenril. Bringing another piece of parchment from her pocket, the crooked woman displays a talent for the arts, quickly and skillfully sketching the design of Thrun and his men's armor and weapons.

Thurn turned his head from the map and conversation once more and nodded at the druid, "Indeed, I shall inform you of the other interactions I come across." With that he looked back towards the other four as their random gestures, words, and nonsense could be heard by those nearest, the details of their plans discussed as they then looked towards Sage and began to discuss plans to haul lumber from there in a decent amount of time.

Later, Thurn meets with Arien at the Fold Compound...

Thurn approached the compound alone, the followers he had still out and about in their attempts to gather wood and lumber for the people of Cenril. Not to mention the other resources that Liana had allowed the, to gather. His feet carried him towards the door, the clank of armor could be heard from underneath his clothes as each and every step seemed to allow the sound to be heard. His head tilted up towards the minotaur who guarded the entrance, his reasons to enter stated and then he just awaited the man's approval.

Arien : The minotaur canted his great head, eyeing the knight from crown to toe with a quiet grunt. After years of service he'd gotten pretty astute at smelling trouble or ally, and there was nothing about this one that smelled of trouble. "You're lucky.." he all but growled. "The general's here for her inspection tour. Woulda had to head off to Rynvale otherwise." And he was already swinging the great doors open. Inside, the stillness and peace of the compound resonated as loudly as did its bustle in times of greater activity. Peacetime had seen the redeployment of many officers who'd housed in its barracks. Making a slow patrol of the perimeter, the commander of the Fold and the governor of Rynvale was in quiet conversation with one of the captains who had remained to skeleton staff the compound. She glanced up, curious at the sight of the shifting gate, pausing in her forward motion. "Can I help you?."

Thurn smiled at the man, “Luck seems to have found me all to well today.” He gave a small bow as he entered into the compound and looked around the nearly empty place. Eyes seemed to scan for details until suddenly his search was interrupted and he had a woman who had begun to speak towards him, “Oh yes, I am looking for Arien, the Governer. I was hoping to speak with her for matters of aid and help. Would you by chance know where I can find her?” An observational look taken as he glanced up and down the woman momentarily before finally he spoke once more, “The name is Thurn, I come just to discuss matters in Cenril and perhaps find some aid in cleaning up the city that I grew up in. If you wouldn't mind relaying the message onto her?”

Arien couldn't help the smile that curved her lips. The knight must me newly arrived indeed if he did not know her by sight. "Luck favors you knight.." she murmured quietly, walking forward toward him before a slender arm extended in offered handshake of greeting. "I am Arien, commander of the Fold and the governor whom you seek." Eyes drifted over the male with some curiosity. "You will find it easier to speak of than to do..delivering aid to Cenril Thurn. The city in chaos. Throwing aid into a destabilized city, is like throwing chum into water where sharks circle. The fight for what little there is does more harm than help." She fell in next to him, encouraging him to walk alongside. "I have been myself sending literal shiploads of aid to the city, and the pirates who operate from its harbors have been intercepting it and using it to supply their own forces." She glanced at him, almost kindly. "Unless you have an army to subdue ongoing conflict knight…unless you have some way to end the war, so that recovery can begin..now is not the time for aid..it will serve little over riding impact..though you may help individuals smattered here and there. Is such your intent? To merely offer help where you can?" It would be a dangerous and challenging job indeed, to drop literal needles of aid into a seething haystack.

Thurn gripped her hand, a brief shake given before his immediate release, “It's a pleasure to meet you Arien and while it isn't being new, it's more lack of being around that has caused my lack of knowing people be view alone.” He listened to her analogy, a frown replaced his recently cheery exterior as he nodded, “I understand what you mean, which is why aid along with man power would be appreciated. It isn't easy to stabilize something without a great deal of both.” He of course walked alongside the governer, “I see, shiploads vanish to pirates? Have any measures been taken to attempt and secure them? No offense meant, Lady Arien, I merely would like to be informed. I realize, I have little claim to such knowledge however I do seek to fix the town and anything I can use to do so, even information, greatly plays into effect.” A sigh and a shake of the head was returned to her glace and words, “I have no army, merely a small squad, myself and four others, who seek to reclaim our home city. Our hope for now is to offer help where we can, the supplies that are being given to use are going to be dispersed where they can be and other areas will have to suffer until we can gather more. The process of course will take time but the eventual goal remains the same. I want to clear away the filth in there and replace it with proper citizens once more.”

Arien 's hands came to fall behind her back, one wrist resting lightly in another, and her tone was thoughtful as she answered. "I have set naval escorts to the vessels that have brought aid Cenril's way, and while I can attest to the safe arrival of the goods in port, it is what happens after supplies have landed that is desirous of explanation. My spies in port claim that much of it is held in storage warehouses at the port, and dolled out at the will and direction of the crime lords alone." A frown furrowed her brow. "Herin lays the problem Thurn. There are no half measures. Cenril must either be purged, swiftly and utterly and order restored from which rebuilding can begin, or it must be left to allow its internal powers to fight themselves to some resolution..and some effort at peace made with the last man standing. You will forgive my saying that while your intent is admirable, you offer four men..and ask me to put the lives of my men..men newly emerged from two years of our own war, on the line for a City that has no leader in waiting. Assuming we fight, assuming we win, a city under control of an invading force is not a city free to thrive and grow. Every city needs a leader. I may be able to fight for the cause of one such, but I cannot commit to bleed my men to an end that is equally as uncertain as the end of Cenril at the moment." Her face was near regretful. "I have no desire to annexe that City under my own control. Until it finds a champion, I am afraid aid, at best is what I can offer. When I can see a viable alternative for the governance of the city, I may consider military engagement. I do hope you understand.."

Thurn's head fell at her words, all of which were so true. His hand went to beard, as he began to stroke it in thought and it took several long moments before he spoke again, “You say the goods are held within a warehouse? Do you by chance know where they might be? And, how much information can your people supply on them?” His head tilted to the side ever so slightly as he froze in his tracks. The entire conversation continued to scroll through his thoughts as he tried to piece together the best argument he could and finally he just spoke with the best answer he could present. “If I find you a champion, a man who could lead, one who could bring Cenril back off it's knees and at least able to stand on a crutch for the time being, would you back Cenril then?” Curious eyes searched her for emotion, as he stood tall and presented himself boldy, “And, what if I attempt to be said champion for you?”

Arien 's smile was kind, but cautious. "Again..an admirable thought Thurn, but you deny your own limitations at the moment. It is too soon to speak of such things, or to make such a commitment. Let me just say, I shall keep an eye on the city, and on your efforts to garner such a following. I will not bleed my people for a lost cause. And I fear Cenril is very nearly that." The elf paused. "The hour grows late and there is much yet to be done. I shall endeavor to use what resources I have to uncover the current state of affairs. If I am informed correctly, two of its most powerful Lords have fallen. The fight will be vicious to fill the vacuum that remains. It is perhaps the most dangerous of times to be attempting to infiltrate and exert influence on that city. But I wish you well. I shall see to having another shipload of aid delivered. Perhaps in the absence of these powers, there will be better chance of our supplies making it to those most in need. There is a bay in the North, away from the main harbor, where I shall command my forces to drop anchor. If you can have someone waiting to pick up the delivery it will be a step in the right direction." It was evident, that the elf had concluded whatever discussion she intended to have for the evening.

Thurn sighed but knew she spoke truly, “I understand Lady Arien and I appreciate any efforts you are willing to put forth. Cenril's cause is nearly lost yet with hope and the proper backing, I look to bring it out of the darkness.” He continued to think things over, the matters of course delicate and required much careful planning. “Two have fallen? This is good news.” A smile lifted onto his face which was once riddled with a frown, “It might be dangerous, but it's two less to deal with none the less by my understanding. And, I thank you, I will attempt to pull me and the few I have towards the bay to secure your shipment.” A nod was given as he turned on his heel and headed for the exit of the compound, words were spoken loudly so the governor could hear, “Thank you Lady Arien, I look forward to catching your boat soon.”