RP:Javelin and Kyros are introduced to the city
The Harbor
As you pass by the guards at their posts at the massive, sturdy gates to the Harbor of Rynvale, your nose is immediately bombarded by all the scents of the Harbor, especially the scent of the sea, in all its salty magnificence. The hollering of sailors fills your ears, shouted orders drowning out the hustle and bustle of merchants all going about their business on the waterfront, attempting to lure someone into buying their precious wares. Out in the distance, you can see many ships, some in pristine condition, others lacking, and a few that are still in the stages of construction. Sailors run all about the decks of those ships; cleaning, dropping anchor, and generally following orders. Just beyond the ships, a massive stone wall rings the outer waters, with a double-wide portcullis that acts as a passage for incoming and outgoing boats. Anyone sailing must have a proper license to even enter the Harbor without raising an alarm from the Navy, as well as the rest of the city. You can barely make out Archer towers scattered about the fortified gray stone wall, their signal fires yet to be lit. As a few sailors stumble past you, obviously drunk, you happen to notice a square building beside you. It is connected to yet another building, twice the first’s size, via means of an upper level causeway; the Dockmaster and Officers’ building being the first, and the Navy’s barracks being the larger building. You begin to feel very safe in this stone-fortified Harbor, especially with such a heavy presence from the naval officers marching this way and that on errands.
Javelin soaks in his surroundings, enjoying the cool sea breeze. Taking a glance at Ranok, the elf asks, "I'll be needing details of this particular venture, before I can volunteer m'self in any available post there is."
Ranok || The day was bright and rather nice, all things considered. Ranok loved Rynvale because 'winter' was mild. He'd just stepped off the ferry, stuck to more mundane methods of transportation for the time being. It wasn't worth it to fly the whole way when the ferry worked perfectly fine. Putting his hat firmly on his head, the man walks over to where Javelin was lounging. Those trio of lights were hard to spot in the bright sun, but one may catch a glimpse now and again of them. "Venture? Vell, dis hain't as schtraightforvard as it might hef been. In vartime, de ansver to most uf my qvestions vere radder simple. Not dat Vuryal hes seen fit to sulk in his tower, ve've got to rebuild. A goot number uf pipple are schtill in de military service. Ve've got openinks across de board. Beata hes chust taken de Klinic, tough, but hyu hain't really much uf a healer, Hy tink. Right now, hyu kan more or less take you pick uf positions. If hyu vant *me* to find hyu zumddink to do, Hy tink Hy kan dig zumddink up." The man scratches his chin, "First tinks. Let's get you papers. Been tryink to schtamp out fake vuns lately. An annoyink task. A lot uf pipple vere schmugglink goots into or out uf de kity durink de fightink und var. Or pipple. Und dat jailbreak...zum kriminals got avay. Dey've gone, but de black market iz de tough tink to sqvash."
Javelin straightens up as the man approaches, the elf's pointed ears taking in each word attentively to ensure that not a single detail was missed. A good-humoured chuckle escapes him as Ranok speaks of his non-existent expertise in the healing arts; indeed, anyone short of a blind man could take just one look at Javelin and come to that conclusion. A thoughtful expression finds its way onto his countenance, as he considers Ranok's words. "My talents are best employed for more... martial purposes. That being said, I do favour a job that puts me in the midst of the fray if blood is to be shed. I am a man of action, not words and all that sort of hogwash for those who are soft in the mind."
Kyros , with grace abound, was running directly from the Broken Barrel, head turning back every so often to catch a glimpse of what was behind him, and clearly the man was running from something. What it was seemed rather unclear, and since having rather public run-ins of violence - much to his resentment - in both Kelay Tavern and in the Hanging Corpse, anyone privvy would likely assume someone was trying to kill him. Again. His head turned and black hair in his face, he ran fast wnough that he was no more than twenty feet and clearly noticable from Ranok and Javelin's meeting point. He stopped, eyes scanning between both of them and a long breath leaving his lungs. "Sorry," he said, seeming to think he'd interrupted something important or, perhaps, secret. He recognized Ranok effortlessly, though, and nodded to him, his breath still catching in his lungs. "I was just-" he paused when something thunked against his back. The Sprite, Zuri, had caught up to him, and she laughed, "Ah gotchu!" causing Kyros to shoo her away with a wave of his hand, clearing his throat in an attempt to play off the situation.
Ranok was annoyed, in a sort of clinical way, that he was so easily recognized. It was neither man's fault, nor anything on him. It was more circumstance. Ranok liked being subtle, unknown. It gave him the advantage. But repeated circumstances had forced him to step into the spotlight. Repeatedly. Squashing the instinct to sigh, the man adjusts his hat slightly, "Hy'll get to hyu in a moment. Kan' say Hy'm familiar vith hyu, tough hyu know me." He turns to Javelin, "De fightink iz over, friend. Sorry to say. Dere's alvays a need for a sheriff, or more guardsmen, tough Hy'm not chust gunna appoint hyu as a sheriff right uff de bat. Hyu onderstund." He crooks a finger to both men, "Follow." To the customs they would all go. The other reason why Ranok chose the Harbor. The office was right there. Once inside, a harried looking young elf was about to irritably tell the trio of men to stand in line when he saw who it was...and then promptly tells all three men to stand in line. Ranok apparently wasn't all that well respected around here. Even despite the work for the city he'd done, he was still just a human. "Hokay. Zum papervork. Dis iz de 'sign in' for de kity, more or less. De hessle iz annoyink, but dere are so mhenny issues. Shepeshifters, illusionists, magical disguises, hyu name it. De papers are easy to forge, like Hy saeed, but...de schmall measures. Do vat ve kan. Vorkink on hevink dem magically schtamped." He exposes his chest. Hanging there on the absolutely bone white armor sat a badge, which glinted with magical light. Over Ranok's shoulder, the trio of electric blue lights weaves and bobs, much easier to see out of the bright sun outside.
Javelin cocks a brow in amusement at the curious scene of a man seemingly fleeing from foes who were nowhere in sight. It was rather undeniably comical, once you'd thought about it, and certainly not something you got to see everyday. Closer scrutiny reveals that the approaching man is not an acquaintance, and an a firm nod of approval given in acknowledgement of his apology. At least this human had manners. "You seem busy, friend." The elf laughs cheerily. "I see you came away second best in some sort of encounter with your pursuers, eh?" Stretching his well-muscled appendages out before him and cracking his knuckles audibly, the elf promptly proceeds to offer his assistance, craving the action he had gone so long without. "I could dispatch them for you, y'know." Unfortunately, Ranok cuts him off at this point by filling him in with the details of the job to be done. Which only served to heap more disappointment on the already disgruntled elf. No fighting? More crime-busting and whatnot? Certainly not welcome news, for he was already bored to death of always being the crusader of justice, upholding the law and such. Action was scarce in such a post, definitely, for the petty criminals around the town would hardly prove a challenge to a person of Javelin's calibre. Still, better something than nothing. The elf stalks off after Ranok and groans at the sight of paperwork to be done. He dealt with swords, after all, not quills! Heaving a sigh of resignation, the elf asks, "And so what is, and how should I go about with my job exactly, then?"
Kyros clears his throat again, and then a moment later, the sprite Zuri seems to catch onto the tone of the meeting as well, her smile fading as she lingers behind. It is with a brief hesitation that the lycan looks at Javelin. "Oh, no. We were... I was training her," he says rather quickly. "She flies slower than I run." Shaking his head dismissively, the man watches and then slowly, after a pause, follows Ranok. "Follow where?" he asks, eyebrows raised. He had run up just in time to catch the end of the conversation, and now seems to be unsure if Ranok is even addressing him. Surely he is, though, and Kyros manages to follow, keeping up without problem. He recognizes Ranok because of his encounter with him at the Tavern once when, if Kyros recalls, the man had offered to teach him fire magic in place of Firewing. He knows nothing else about this man, but he follows anyway. It's surely no wonder Kyros is always finding himself in compromising situations, what with his lack of mistrust. Upon being led to customs, he shifts on his feet and glances over the paperwork before taking a quill. He twirls it between his fingers. "Rynvale needs assistance? A sherriff, as well?" he seems vaguely interested now.
Ranok thumps Javelin on the back, "Mah boi, dis peace iz vat hall true varriors schtriff for!" He cuts them to the front of the line, because rank did have its privileges, even if the clerk really didn't give a damn. The line was mostly other travelers, sailors staying over in the winter months, and the odds and ends people that drifted from place to place, "Yah, de government's super schtructure hes, more or less, been ripped out. It looks like Hallanon iz tryink to klaim zum sort uf asserted kontrol, but de men hain't gunna flock to a dumbass elf dat sat on his ass ven Vuryal vas breaddink down our necks. Not viddout goot reason, hennyvays. Keepink tinks on de keel...but..." A few minutes to fill out the fairly straightforward paperwork. Just names, and identification characteristics went down to paper. They were more as a stopgap measure, and a way to placate the populace. With the ease of the ability to gain forged papers, they didn't count for much, but the people believed that they did. For now, though, they would serve. As it was all being filled out, Ranok fills the two men in, "Hyu both seem interested in de martial positions, at least. Like Hy saeed, de position uf sheriff iz open. Rynvale's military iz supplementink de guards, vith De Fold overseeink *dem*, so lavlessness hain't a huge issue...but de pipple vant to see zumone filled into de position. Dere are odder positions...but de person vo'd take sheriff needs to be able to krack down on Rynvale's seedier sections. Arien vas a goot governor...but she let doze dem rogues run free. Blasted volf und her 'free schpirited' tendencies." What was this, Cenril? Ranok shakes his head.
Javelin is thumped on the back, though none too happy about it. An elf didn't like being touched by anyone of differing race, t'was widely known. He sniffs haughtily to disguise his injured pride at being addressed by Ranok as if he were a youngling. "Peace will but remain for a time. We can only prolong it for so long, before more blood needs to be shed to once more bring the scales to balance." He pens down his particulars on the proffered pieces of paper, handing them over to the person in charge. "Organized crime and such, easily handled with the assertion of proper authority. These rabble need to see who's boss, and before they do, they're not going to abide by any of the laws set down by the governor or whoever you have placed as the ruler of this place. If you're looking for someone to put an end to the underground workings of Rynvale once and for all, you've found your man. I can't guarantee that everyone's going to survive the experience, though." As an afterthought, he adds, "On the criminals' side, that is."
Kyros eyes the elfen man briefly before looking to the paperwork. He leans against a wall to the left of the customs desk, uninclined to fill out or sign anything. Uninclined, even, to further inquire about the specifics of this meeting, though he does turn to Ranok, regarding him curiously. "I've been to Rynvale but once or twice, and likely have never found any interest in it but perhaps to hunt its dragons and other beasts. Why should I defend it?" he shrugs up his shoulders, looking as though he simply does not understand the man's point well enough to agree with or abhor it. "And, furthermore, I doubt that I could be of assistance in the long term, since Rynvale is not even my home." His eyebrow quirks with adament curiosity. "Are those who assist being compensated for their efforts, or is the deal strictly at will?"
Ranok gives both men their papers, "Ve do it by de book here. No rogue agents, or none uf dat nonsense. Dis hain't a buddy buddy guard schtory, Hy'm afraeed." His expression was dry. Charging after a criminal underground as a vigilante in the pursuit of justice sounded good on paper...but these particular rogues weren't exactly pushovers. They'd held functional sway over the city for years. Only recently, with the death of Leoxander, did their grip break. "Hy admire you gumption, tough. Sign up vith De Fold or de kity guard und hyu'll be schuffled in right avay. Hy kan' really giff avay de sheriff position to pipple Hy've chust met in de schtreet. Hef to earn it." His expression was now wry. Then slightly annoyed by Kryos. "Hy'm not eksactly demundink hyu do hennyddink, nor askink hyu to schtay. Hyu simply seemed interested. If hyu vant to do zum goot, join up vith de guard or schtick around. Yah, hyu vill be payed. Und armed. Goot vork gets revarded around here." True enough. Gold was a good incentive to keep people sticking around too. "If hyu vant to go huntink dragons, hyu're gunna need a license. Yah, more papervork. But dis iz sort uf important: dragons hain't zumddink to be pissed uff. How mhenny times hes a dragon rampage burnt down parts uf de kity? Ansver: more gotterdammerungn times den necessary. Hyu kould try poachink..." The way he was looking at Kyros as he says that really meant 'do not try poaching'. The promise of dire consequences awaited those caught trying to do so. A shrug, "Every pair uf helpink hends helps de kity. Hyu're a part uf Gisae, eh? Tink Hy've seen hyu around vith Tennya at a distance. Hall dat about luv und peace? Might be zumddink to do in de kity if hyu kick you klan over my vay."
Javelin snatches up the stack of papers and gives it another brief glance over, almond-shaped eyes of cerulean hue twinkling in anticipation as he dips his head slightly. "Aye, play by the rules, legal means, all that kind of stuff. Got it." Drawing himself up to his full height, the elf turns to the two men and offers a mirthless grin. "So I'm to be a guard now, then. Well, now. I expect things are going to get pretty busy for me soon enough. Especially if I'm going to have to do things your way." Legal means were most definitely more inefficient than what he had in mind, in every sense of the word. What a hassle. Still, what needed to be done would be done. The elf had never been one to leave things hanging. "I'll see this through to the end, then, and when the job is done we can discuss payment. I don't work cheaply, though, but you know what they say; you get what you pay for. You want good? You pay good. But that comes later. Till then, friends." Javelin turns and retraces his path back to the city, his lean form soon disappearing from view with the swift strides he took.
Kyros : "Congratulations, then," Kyros speaks to Javelin, a slight incline of his head and another brief once-over at the elf's retreating form as various people in the line glance at him. Kyros still has filed no paperwork, and instead has been regarding Ranok a large part of the time since they got to customs. "I was promoted to leader of Gisiae rather recently. Being in good with family of the higher-ups and all, and being rather competent compared to most morons they've seen... I have a fair bit of influence on the clan." His eyes scan over Ranok briefly. "What work is it to be done, then, for Gisiae? Some in our ranks won't fight, but some will, with the right incentive and a solid cause. You wish me to sway them to join Rynvale's cause... I'll be honest with you. Becoming a guard has little interest to me. I've much more capacity than a common placeholder or ruthless warrior. What can you offer to me if I am to be part of Rynvale's forces and help to bring my clan your way, too?"
Ranok rubs his face, muttering to himself, "Hy'm beginnink to realize how annoyink dis 'hyu betta pay me' tink iz...such iz de vay uf de vorld." He shrugs after Javelin. Either the man would live up to his promise or disappear like pretty much everyone else Ranok hires for more then a single commission. His head swivels to Kyros, then, "De keepink uf peace hain't to immediately pick up a svord, hyu know. Ven hall de fightink iz done und de last foe vanqveeshed, dere vill alvays be need for pipple to push de plows, bake de bread, und schoe de horses." He flicks a finger at the clerk who'd dissed him, "Even dat man iz servink for de greater goot, vith hall dat goot cheer und herd vorkink attitude." The clerk's smoldering look demonstrated just how much 'good cheer' he had. Probably the only thing keeping him from flicking Ranok the bird was that he was technically in charge. Even then... Ranok moves it along, "Yah. Hy know. 'Nobody vants to be de kog, but de operator'. Sorry, Hy really kan' chust *uffer* hyu high rankink positions. Chust like de odder boy. Hy don' hend out ufficer positions chust because Hy like de kut uf you jib. Hyu hef to earn it. Vant to be de Kourt Magician? Hyu'd best be out trowink fireballs den de elves. Vant to be de First Ranger uf de islund? Track dat vich our kurrent vun kannot. Hyu see de picture." Ranok spreads his hands, "Yah. Hy know. 'Nobody vants to be de kog, but de operator'. Sorry, Hy really kan' chust *uffer* hyu high rankink positions. Chust like de odder boy. Hy don' hend out ufficer positions chust because Hy like de kut uf you jib. Hyu hef to earn it. Vant to be de Kourt Magician? Hyu'd best be out trowink fireballs den de elves. Vant to be de First Ranger uf de islund? Track dat vich our kurrent vun kannot. Hyu see de picture." One of his hands waves irritatedly, "Hyu'll be paeed. Armed, or eqvipped, or vatever de position hyu take to aspire to. Earn you position und hyu get de revard. Similarly, hyu'll be trusted more." Not like he'd admit structural weaknesses in their exact to perfect strangers.
Kyros watches Ranok, and the look which the man receives is slightly less smoldering than the clerk's, but only slightly. A 'hah' leaves Kyros' throat, and he shakes his head dismissively. "You presume to know what makes me tick? Or rather, you think it needs explaining to me that 'peace ain't to immediately pick up a sword'? Where do you get off-" his words are cut short and his anger subsides under the surface, for as potentially moody as the man is, he realizes this is neither the time, nor the place for it, and his arms cross loosely over his chest with restraint. It's clear at this point that Ranok, with what Kyros sees as a presumptuous and condescending tone, has lost any semblance of a follower in the lycan. "You come to me, asking me not only to join into a cause for which I have no ties, for Rynvale isn't my home, but also you ask me to enlist my clan? Yet you offer me absolutely nothing more than the elfen man who has no clan to speak of and no proof of his abilities that I'm aware? Perhaps you've been conditioned into thinking that 'nobody wants to be the cog', but I'm rather fine playing whatever role is given to me - as long as I can see the sense in it. Fighting for a land that isn't my home, for a man that talks down to those he wishes to make followers of his cause, is unfortunately not on my bill of interests. Further, say I were to talk all of Gisiae into this cause, say I did as you asked and turned my clan in your direction, then what right would you have to tell me I can but wish to have the same position as a man who has done less for you than I? Your system has clear flaws, as does your understanding of my own belief system and interests." By the time he finishes speaking, Kyros has his head inclined slightly and an eyebrow raised. "Perhaps you ought not to speak to someone as though you know their inner workings, until you truly do. To get under a man's skull, to really understand him, that is where true connection or insult lies. You, unfortunately, are just proving yourself rather annoying." He sighs, a low noise in the back of his throat. "I believe our business here is done," he says then, the same tone of clear defense in the way his brow is furrowed and his arms are crossed. He will not be so easily recruited as the elf was, particularly now.
Ranok sits through Kyro's rant with his own arms crossed. "Got it hall uff you chest? Yah? Goot. Hy'll say dis vunce: Hy'm ufferink hyu. Not makink henny demunds. Not makink henny assumptions. Dis iz a job interviev, boy. A job hes been uffered, payment uffered, opportunity uffered, und den it hain't goot enough? Very vell den. Such iz you choice." He was annoyed, obviously, "Hy'm not even sure vat hyu vant. Hyu vanted payment. Hy mentioned de payment uf gold several times, de traditional source uf 'payment'. If dere vas zumddink else hyu vanted, den vy didn' hyu say? " He throws up a hand. "Hy uffered de odder boy a low schtartink position as a guard. Dat hain't eksactly glamorous. Hy uffer hyu de same because hyu've done noddink for *me*. Hy don' even know you name. None uf you reputation. Hy don' even know if hyu know vat a dragon really *iz*, or henny odder similar lists uf poor assumptions uf you ability. Hyu vant zumddink betta? Proff hyu're vorddy to hef it. Same as everyone else, here." Which was true. No one got handed anything without connections, and Ranok just didn't give a damn about what family you came from. "If hyu hef no interest in my gold or uffers, den kindly leaff. De door iz dere. No vun iz forcink hyu to schtay. No vun iz makink henny demunds, saff for hyu to sign doze papers to get into de kity. If hyu'd like to reddink you attitude, vell, hyu know vere to find me." Ranok doesn't really wait. He'd held up the line enough. He departs, not even exuding the air of a man insulted. He dealt with whiny elves all day, each more entitled the the last. It's become habit to squash them, mostly to make his life easier. This was no different from the rest. As he departs, those trio of lights arrange themselves into a triangular pattern, seemingly eyeing Kyros even as Ranok's back was to him.