Adventurer
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Crescent Isles
Do what you love, love what you do, and you’ll never work a day in your life.
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Post by Kou Miyami on May 28, 2023 19:27:24 GMT -5
The Purple Lantern was usually full of clientele around this time of evening, anything from laborers to sailors from the docks, to adventurers looking for a quick job. Though perhaps none stood out as much as the elderly fellblood woman dressed in a fine robe, clutching a gnarled wooden cane in her hand. She seemed so utterly out of place in a tavern like this - and her business, even moreso. And yet, here she was, shuffling around and tugging on the sleeves of grizzled young ladies and gentlemen, asking if they needed any heroics to be done. Most patrons fixed her with bewildered stares, some even laughing in her face. Why in the world would an elderly woman be looking for adventure? If she hadn’t yet lost her mind then she was utterly delusional as to what adventuring really was. And yet, with each swift denial, Mama Kou Miyami didn’t seem deterred in the slightest. The elder fellblood woman had only been in Moonglade for a couple of days, having just arrived from the Crescent Isles via trade vessel - her first visit to a country other than her island home. And goodness, what a strange new world it was! The people were always so busy, bustling from one place to another. And the city was so large and vast, she’d already gotten lost so many times! But Mama Kou had left her home, left retirement behind, for one reason. To find adventure. She wanted to see the world, to see what it was like to be a hero! Perhaps it was a silly dream for someone so past her prime. Age had claimed Mama Kou long ago, as was evident in the stoop of her shoulders, the way her knees creaked with every step, the cane she clutched in her hands. And yet, such a silly, far-flung idea was what she’d always wanted to do. Kou had spent her life in the safe confines of her restaurant. In retirement, she wanted something more. Where life put roadblocks in front of you, she’d found that perseverance and a little bit of elbow grease could fix up the problem just fine! It was just a matter of keeping at it. And so keep at it she would, until she found someone that was willing to hire her on as an adventurer. It was during this evening that she approached one of the tables near the corner, with only a single occupant. Her common was not the best, though she’d been practicing this phrase! Pulling the translation book out of her pocket and clutching it between knobby fingers, Mama Kou cleared her throat. “Excuse me, are you perhaps looking to hire an adventurer?”
Quest Name: Royal Escort Participants: Two or more Location: Anywhere Post Requirements: 4 post per person, 200 words per post Reward: +1 Renown Description: A local noble is in need of an escort from one city to the next. With the world getting crazy, all kinds of dangers have become more common on the open road. They are willing to pay good money to anyone who can transport them to their destination. But be careful, their fears are valid, for bandits, wolves, and all kinds of creatures of the wild lurk right around the bend. All you need to do is make sure they get from their home city to the neighboring city alive, and unharmed if you can manage.
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The Tinkertons
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Zeinav
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Post by Fish the Tinkerer on May 29, 2023 22:16:48 GMT -5
Fish was perched in the rafters of The Purple Lantern, happily listen to the drunks speak. There were a lot of things that could easily be gleaned from the loose lips around here. It often wasn't much to listen to, but there could occasionally be some intereting things people blurted out when they forgot to be secret.
The bird dangled their little feet over the edge of the railing and bounced them back and forth as they took notes. Most of the conversation was inane filler, but this is what general intel gathering was, like it or not.
"Oh? Well...you don't look like much of an adventurer." A similarly elderly looking elf remarks as Mama Kou approaches, but he sighs as he looks over to the noble beside him. A man clearly three sheets to the wind.
"I don't suppose you'd be willing to help an old man get his master home. The young sire is a bit under the weather."
"I swear to you Al, I will do it." "Hush my lord."
He gives Mama Kou a pleading look. From about the conversation has caught Fish's attention. They skitter across the rafters to get closer and listen in.
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Adventurer
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Renown
Crescent Isles
Do what you love, love what you do, and you’ll never work a day in your life.
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Post by Kou Miyami on May 30, 2023 7:26:53 GMT -5
Well, after an evening of rejections, Mama Kou couldn’t say she wasn’t surprised at the elven man’s explanation, even if it came with its own skepticism. She supposed she couldn’t blame him. After all, Kou was no spring chicken! Her youth had been spent in kitchens, not the open road. Some might have considered adventuring an insane dream after retirement, but Kou remembered being young, listening to stories of grandeur from patrons who sat at her tables, and imagining what it would be like to live the glamorous life traveling the world helping people.
Once, she’d almost chased that impossible dream. But life had taken her in a different direction, she supposed.
Kou readjusted her grip on her cane, leaning on the old, gnarled wood covered in pink blossoms. The cane had been a gift from her grandson, who’d given it to her when she insisted on leaving her home in the Isles to see the world on her twilight years. “Oh! Well I don’t imagine I look experienced, do I? You see, this is quite a…” Here, she had to pick her little translation booklet out of her pocket, and double check the phrase she wanted to say, “New job of mine.”
But she had a mission! Her first mission!
And what a daring one it was… helping a young inebriated man home safely on streets fraught with danger!
Kou turned her attention to the young man on the table, pulling her spectacles up onto the bridge of her nose to get a better look. “Oh, my! The poor young chap has had a little too much to drink, has he? It sounds like he’ll need some of Mama Kou’s special hangover recipe.”
She pulled a small bag of tea out of her satchel and handed it to the elderly elven gentleman. “Give this to him tomorrow and he’ll be right as rain. Now, this old gal’s not got the strength in her muscles she once did, but I would be more than happy to help you get your young master home, wherever that may be.”
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The Tinkertons
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Zeinav
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Post by Fish the Tinkerer on May 31, 2023 18:34:41 GMT -5
"You shhhhhhhhhh Al, you shuddup, I have a plan." The elf tries to put a finger up to silence his caretaker, but ends up just smushing his hand into his face. Al removes the hand from his face and motions for Kou to help lift him up.
With the older tiefling's help he is able to get the very drunk lordling up and moving towards the door. It is a slow walk, the barkeep calling after them for payment to which a small satchel is tossed back. Fish is very interested in where this is going.
From their spot on the rafters, Fish escapes out to a rooftop through the window and starts to follow along. The bird keeps their distance, but remains in earshot.
"So you're not from here lady? Kou? Is that your name? I never formally asked, I am Algernon and this is Lord Kwitri, he won't remember you in the morning, but you will have my gratitude." He huffs the man onto his shoulder a bit more as he starts to slip. "This is a bit late in life to be adventuring."
"Are you an advennnnturer? How's yer fightin granny? I need soldiers for a revolution."
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Adventurer
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Renown
Crescent Isles
Do what you love, love what you do, and you’ll never work a day in your life.
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Post by Kou Miyami on Jun 1, 2023 19:22:49 GMT -5
Mama Kou was hardly what one might call the strongest woman in the land. Age had taken robbed her of natural strength she might have once possessed in her youth, a demonstration of the toll that backbreaking labor takes on one when they don’t take proper care of themselves. But what she lacked in strength she made up for with an understanding that a job needed to get done. And so the elderly woman rolled up the sleeves of her fine robe - another gift from her grandson - and made her way over to where the elderly butler was helping his drunk charge off the table up to his home.
As the young man slurred that he would be just fine on his own, Kou pat him on the side where she could reach him. “There, there. You’ll be right as snug as a bug in a rug in your bed in a few moments, now won’t you? Even with the best made plans it’s okay to accept a little help now and then.”
Between the two, they managed to make their way through the sleepy city streets, lightning bugs twinkling in the late summer evening. Kou shuffled along, one arm around the young master’s side, and the other supporting her cane. The wooden cane clicked against the cobblestone ground, the only sound in the silence until the other gentleman spoke up.
“Lady!” Kou gasped, as if he’d just bestowed upon her a title of the highest honor. With a giggle, she shook her head. “Just Kou is fine. Kou Miyami. It’s ever so lovely to meet you, Master Algernon. And your young master Kwitri, too.” She let out a soft grunt as she moved to catch the drunken lord where Algernon’s grip slipped. Her back twinged, but he didn’t hit the ground.
“I’ve been working all my life.” Kou explained. It was not an exaggeration - she’d started in her youth, before she was even ten years of age, and had worked up until a few years ago when her grandson requested she close the shop and retire. “Old habits die hard, I suppose. And what better way to spend the last few years in my life than helping people?”
Her eyes widened when young master Kwitri mentioned a revolution.
“Oh goodness me! Fighting? I’m more the helping and healing sort than the combative. What’s this about a revolution, young sir?”
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The Tinkertons
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Post by Fish the Tinkerer on Jun 1, 2023 19:41:36 GMT -5
"We are going to change the very society of Moonglade."
Algernon sighed softly and just ignored him. "Most of our age might think of house work...soup kitchens, not adventuring.....Ignore him, he's very drunk and full of the passion of youth. Idle talk that is going to get him killed one day I fear."
"You're wrong Al, they wish it were so easy to take me on." Kwitri puffs out his chest confidently, but quickly stumbles and needs to be caught lest he faceplant into the stones.
From behind, a few rougher types have started to exit the bar looking to strong arm a few easy targets. A drunk and two older people should be easy enough to handle right? Unfortunately for them, Fish was there to play interferrence. Fish didn't care about the noble, but they did need him to stay alive to gather more information.
As they start to trail after the group, Fish scans for things to distract them with. A large, buzzing hive should do well right? Fish fires off a shot from their crossbow, freeing the hive from the awning it had attached to. It conked off the head of the first bandit, the three immediately ran for cover as the bees swarmed.
"AH RUN I'M ALLERGIC!"
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Adventurer
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Renown
Crescent Isles
Do what you love, love what you do, and you’ll never work a day in your life.
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Post by Kou Miyami on Jun 2, 2023 20:58:56 GMT -5
Kou wasn’t sure what he was talking about with all of this ‘changing the society’ business, but it was nice to see a young man with a lot of passion! “Change for the better, I’d hope!” She patted him. “Are you a politician, then? You’ve a lovely city, here, though I do wish there were less stairs and more ramps…”
Master Algernon seemed less inclined to entertain his wayward boss’s ramblings, as if he’d heard this spiel plenty of times before. Kou figured that this must be a commonplace conversation. She turned her attention back to the elderly servant, none the wiser to the thugs behind them. “I worked in a kitchen before, you see.” She explained, not unkindly. “I owned a restaurant in Starlight City. My family’s restaurant! My pride and joy… but I could no longer take care of it on my own.”
It was only her beloved grandson’s urging that had encouraged her to close up shop and move into a nicer home, though the sedentary life didn’t suit her. It was a silly dream, she supposed, but it was worth it to see the world and meet wonderful people such as Algernon and his master, who was a bit… headstrong, but still a lovely young gent!
“And there’s no need to apologize. I think that passion is rather lovely.”
At the sound of someone screeching, Kou turned around, surprised to see a handful of armed men being attacked by a swarm of bees of all things! “Oh, my, how did that happen? Are you gentlemen alright? Remember, they’re more afraid of you than you are of them!”
One of them let out an unintelligible shriek in response as all three started running in the opposite direction, ducking away and hiding. The bees, on the other hand, started buzzing their way over to Kwitri.
Oh, no! Kou couldn’t let him get stung, then she’d have failed her first ever mission! The elderly woman held out her cane, which was decorated with pink flower blossoms, allowing the lovely little creature to nestle in the blossoms. “There, there. Why don’t you take a little nap?”
She’d successfully saved the young master from the horrific fate of getting stung! With a wide smile on her face, Kou moved to help Algernon lift the young man up and they continued their trek onward.
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The Tinkertons
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Post by Fish the Tinkerer on Jun 2, 2023 22:51:49 GMT -5
"I am 69th in line for the throne, I just need to eliminate the competition." If he wasn't so drunk, he would try to pull an incredibly serious and stern face. The focus and furrowing of his brows just makes his brain think he needs to hurl and he begins to gag a bit.
A potential coup was certainly interesting to the bird. Granted, this man was far from something worth supporting but knowing there is dissent to foment is valuable information in and of itself. They pause listening a moment just to watch the Three Stooges way the bandits try to run around and eventually knock themselves out running into each other.
Algernon looks impressed at Kou's quick thinking for the bees. Of course, a few of them aren't so easily calmed, but the butler is easily able to shoo them away with a few handwaves. "Well, I'll admit I was wrong, you have the quick thinking of an adventurer." Algernon laughs softly before coughing to correct himself into being proper again. He was unintentionally finding himself falling smitten for this adventurer. She had such life and vivaciousness.
Perhaps he would consider taking the long way around just to extend their time together.
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Adventurer
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Renown
Crescent Isles
Do what you love, love what you do, and you’ll never work a day in your life.
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Post by Kou Miyami on Jun 9, 2023 20:32:39 GMT -5
Kou’s eyes widened behind thick, round-dimmed spectacles. “Sixty-ninth in line?” Goodness, she hadn’t realized she was in the presence of real, actual royalty! She’d seen the venerable princess of the Isles before, of course, but never before had she been so close to someone related to the king of Sol City himself! She patted his shoulder as he gagged bile. “What an influential young master you are. But you can enact change without… eliminating the competition, as you say.” She wasn’t quite sure what he was talking about. Elimination sounded nasty, but perhaps it was something lost in translation! “You’re doing wonderful on your own, son.”
While the hack bandits bumbled behind the trio, Kou felt rather pleased with herself having saved the young master from the ferocious, and far more threatening bees. And Algernon himself shooed the rest of the vicious creatures away with a couple of hand waves. What a put together and elegant man… Kou wasn’t aware that being an adventurer meant you would meet so many wonderful people, especially those of your own ilk. Yes, she was having a rather good time conversing with the elven servant.
And if he were to take the long way around… well, she supposed she wouldn’t mind.
“And you’re quite quick-witted yourself!” Kou complemented. “Perhaps once your young master makes his way to bed, you’d allow me to make the both of you some dumplings. A nice meal after a hard day’s work!”
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The Tinkertons
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Post by Fish the Tinkerer on Jun 10, 2023 11:01:31 GMT -5
Kwitri spent the rest of the night in a drunken burble, there were certainly sounds coming from his mouth. Words? Not so much. Every important declaration he made was met with a very soft and gentle uh-huh from Algernon.
"The kitchen staff may have gone home, but I am sure we should have enough supplies to let you whip something up if you are so inclined." He smiles warmly towards Kou. He does opt against taking the scenic route, but more for the fact that his lord his quickly falling asleep and becoming dead weight on their shoulders.
Their residence is nice, but plain, a symbol of their status as rich but not wholely important to the politics at large of this area. Algernon is happy to welcome Kou inside, letting her take a moment to rest as Kwitri is led up to his bedroom.
Fish for their part has spent the rest of the night tracking after them and making sure no other thugs or ruffians would accost them. That is untill it become evident the man was too drunk to provide any more valuable information.....Dumplings though. That caught Fish's interest.
If Kou did stay to make dumplings for her new suitor, she would notice every so often one or two of them would go missing. If she took the chance to investigate the strange disappearance of the dumplings, the only clue she would find is the gentle clattering shut of a window and a jet black feather.
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Adventurer
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Renown
Crescent Isles
Do what you love, love what you do, and you’ll never work a day in your life.
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Post by Kou Miyami on Jun 11, 2023 9:25:08 GMT -5
Poor young master Kwitri must have been rather tired, as he could no longer manage any words! Kou pat the young man on the back, rubbing soothing circles as he drifted off to dreamland. He must have overexerted himself in the bar today. As he slipped further to sleep, the heavier he became, but between Algernon and Kou they managed to support him all the way to the fine house - if not with a bit of struggle.
Kou couldn’t help but marvel at their lovely home.
“Such a pretty place!” Perhaps what one might considered modest by nobility standards, but this was far grander than anything the elderly woman had seen in her life. Her means, before her retirement, had been modest - she’d lived in a room above her restaurant, and those accommodations were enough for her. When Tarou, her beloved grandson, promised to provide for her, she was given a waterfront home on a lake, far nicer than anything she was accustomed to. Finery and wealth was not meant for a working pauper like Kou Miyami. Despite herself, she flushed as she entered the premises, feeling very much like an intruder while Algernon made sure that young master Kwitri got to bed.
Yes, she figured. Dumplings were in order.
When she’d had a good moment’s rest, she bid for Algernon to show her the way to the kitchen, and the pantry. The ingredients here were not what she was quite used to working with, but she could make do! She rolled up her sleeves, and with the practiced, gentle movements of someone who’d made this comfort dish countless times before, she started preparing the filling and the dough. Soon enough, the warm scents of steamed meat and vegetables filled the air.
Once they were finished, she doled the dumplings out onto plates for Algernon and herself, though… it looked like some were missing! Perhaps it was Kou’s memory failing her, but no, she thought she’d made enough for at least twenty or so, enough for the two to share and enough for the other servants and the young master to enjoy. But as she counted, it looked like she only had eighteen! No, seventeen! Confused, Kou set the plate down and glanced around, but she could see no one else. Only the outside window, gently shutting, and a single, jet-black feather on the sill.
Kou shuffled up to the window, plucking the feather between wrinkled fingers. She squinted as she tried to get a better look at it… it looked like it belonged to a crow, but it was difficult to tell! It was far bigger than what one might expect from a small avian. She smiled, running her fingers along the soft side before turning to Algernon, excited to share her find. “Master Algernon, look! I do believe I’ve found something for my crafting…”
With great care, Kou tucked the feather in her bag before going to serve her new companion some comfort food.
… Though she left a few more dumplings by the window as an offering, just in case.
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