Caloren: City of Lost Virtues [M] IC

[Scabious]

This is the IC forum for http://role-player.net/forum/showthr...215#post949215

[Scabious]

A rat scurries through the cracks at the base of the wall. It finds it's way, through the beaten wall, to the top. This is no easy task, but this rat has been here before. He looks overhead, seeing the sun rise. the light shines on a castle, known officially as Krak de Nolan, but commonly referred to as "Gregorum", named after the king who started construction. But that was long ago. One would be surprised at the small amount of inhabitants. One such inhabitant was the recently crowned king, Samuel, put in such a position, as he was one of the few men with noble blood who had survived the terrible plague, The Death. He sat on his throne, dressed in royal robes of purple and red. But under that, he was a skinny, pale man. The food was coming back to the city, but Samuel couldn't fatten up. he had practically starved to death during the plague. In fact, Samuel had come down with a disease. He had a while left, but he was hardly fit to rule.

Guards stood on the inside of the gate, ready to let in any peasants, or anyone, really, into the city. Their job jumped back and forth between extremely difficult, to very dull. People busied themselves with what they could. Life was getting better, but it had just returned from a hellish age of rot and decay. a few single birds sang in the trees outside the walls, and peasants brought in more grain, to feed the populace, if they could avoid bandits. A new age had come, and people from the outside began to trickle in, finding opportunity, if they were willing to try.

[Scabious]

Besides the chatter of the streets, there was an upbeat melody being played. A flute is obvious, but the guitar is more subtle. Near the gate, a man dressed in blue, playing the flute, and a woman dressed in green, playing the guitar, seemed to simply entertain themselves. Moving swiftly, the man starts to rhyme "riddle me this, and riddle me that! To the winner I find, I'll tip my hat!" The woman rhymed after him, in a darker tone. "This is a land, a land of scorn. Thine only solution, is to never be born..."
"Don't listen to her, she's just full of jest. Amongst other things..." He whispers to his companion "Give it a rest!"
"I'll rest in the grave..." She sneers.
"Why must you be so morbid?" They stop rhyming, and exchange angry stares.
"Because that's how the world is!" she yells
they stare at each other hotly, each throwing unspoken insults. then, it is almost as though a switch has been flipped, and they chuckle. The man, still laughing, says "OK, it's my turn to be the mean one now!"
"You just had your turn!" They childishly, and jokingly, squabble.

[Scabious]

Dark clouds gathered on the horizon, and the sound of thunder reached the ears of Theodore the Scholar, sitting just outside the inn. He didn't like the name, as he didn't like only being recognized for his work in the literate world, copying down old manuscripts, things like that. He had also seen his time in the battlefield, though that was long ago. Now, he sat, in lowly dress, and unkempt hair. He held a drink in his hand, his eyes tired, and grey as his head. Wiry hairs stuck out of his chin, but the rest of him seemed to be shaven.

[Sunlight-]

Kate's blonde hair stuck to her sweaty neck as she ran helplessly. She'd been starved and dehydrated for two weeks. She gasped a painful breath of air and she ran into a solid brick wall. She screamed when she fell down in agony. She reached up and grabbed her nose-bleeding and maybe broken. She looked over the wall, wondering if life was alive inside it. She used all of her remaining strength to scream, "Help!! Somebody, please, help me!!!"

[Scabious]

Two guards, directly above the poor girl, hurried to raise a sort of alarm. Some thought enemies were attacking by the worry on one of the guard's face, but their bows were put away as they heard the news. Being a city guardsman wasn't the most exiting job, and this was a large event for them. so, when really only one or two men were needed, five came. they picked up the woman, carrying her inside the city. Nearby was the pub, and the guards found an apothecary, though he wasn't ideal, he had sense enough to know the girl needed water, which was given to her. "Bring up the pork from the back!" He demanded of the pub's server...

Theodore the Scholar had followed the men in, wanting to see what all the fuss was about. He saw the injured girl, and heard the cry for food. The server wasn't as fast as the old man, and Theodore grabbed the plate on the counter. "Not the best quality..." He remarked as he hurried over to the girl. "You're more popular than a parade, sweetheart..." He said in humor, though a smile was not shown, with his concern for the girl taking over his self-pity. Without the plague, and all the people that weren't around, the remaining populace led lives, more dull than that of what they were used to, and what their parents were used to. The girl was a welcomed surprised, and everyone wanted to put in their two cents of advice as to how she might be helped...

[Sunlight-]

She smiled at the man's joke, it was for once a nice time for her. She numbly sat up. "I can't gorge myslef..It'll make me sick..Just water." She said, in a weak voice. She criged at every booming voice, out of natural habit. She flinched at every speedy movement, out of habit. She was drinking in slow, long gulps.
She was feeling light headed, probably from the water, when she realized that she was with people. She was wondering if she was dreaming it. She couldn't be, right? I mean, her nose hurt like hell. So, she thought for sure it must be real. Man, her nowe really hurt. She would be sure to thank the wall for that. She looked up and asked, "Where am I, and what's the date?" She said. Last time she'd checked the sun's movements, she'd been out for about three weeks, right? That's what she thought.

[Scabious]

Chester, a man that figured himself smarter than the average peasant, and much less patient, answered "Well, it's been a few days past the new moon..." He wasn't sure. He knew that winter was letting off, but wasn't sure beyond that. Theodore smiled, directing his words to the girl. "Why, it's late February, dear. Now, the guard said you ran yourself right into the wall. What possessed you to do such a thing? Take your time to answer..."

[Sunlight-]

She pursed her lips before she answered. "I'm Kate, if you will. And I didn't do it on purpose. I ran away from my owner, master...whatever you want to call it. But, I ran, and here I am..." She counted on her fingers when she'd ran away, "Seven weeks later, running into a wall." She licked her lips and looked up at the room she was in. It looked like a pub, but she wasn't exactly sure. Her bones and muscles ached, and she'd swear if she had food she'd throw it up.

[Scabious]

Theodore simply smiled, not wanting the girl to get upset. "Well, I'm sure some rest can help you." Turning his head to a man wearing a helmet, though having nothing to do with the military. The man's dress was higher class, but built for defense. "Romulus, come help." Before he could complain about how a peasant should do something instead of him, a wealthy merchant, Theodore added "Now...". Romulus, obviously respecting "the Scholar", brought himself to their aid, and helped to carry the girl upstairs. "Don't worry about cost. My friend here owes me a few..." Why was Theodore being so nice to this stranger?