Crowns of Conquest: The Roleplay Collection

WiP: Strongwater / Steamrex hold

Began 2019/03/19

INTRO

Corsair's City's raids have been, as always relentless and cruel but in recent times it seems like the pirates have vanished. Though an optimist might be overjoyous to hear such news the paranoid king, Harlan Windfury, has succumbed entirely to his fears. Worrying that the pirates are plotting something truly sinister, he sends out one of his best captains, Haggard Billbury, to Steamrex Hold to negotiate assistance.

HAGGARD BILLBURY

The stench of steam, petrol and ingenuity makes Harlan miss his ship already. Travelling by sea has always been refreshing but travelling by land has tired this hulk of a man on many occasions. With his proud captain's hat still on Haggard Billbury sits on his horse, a purebred blackbane stallion, and proceeds to eye the commoners he passes by. A young girl looks at him and yells: "Mother! Mother! Look! It's a pirate!" And Haggard cannot help but sneer. He looks upward towards the office walls and remains astonished that anyone has succeeded building an empire out of so much junk.

It seems that someone is already waiting for him at the embassy. It's a thin, snakelike gentlemen with a monocle and a book in hand. He reads from it until Haggard arrives and jumps off his beloved steed. "Greetings, good friend of..." "HAIL!" Haggard screams while saluting so that the whole neighbourhood looks at him. After the ambassador returns from the shock he says. "Not so loud, not so loud." Haggard cannot help but roll his eyes. "Welcome, friend of the north. I hope our hospitality will be satiable." 

As the steed is stabled Haggard makes sure to stay, watching the area around him, until the horse gives a swift nod. He feels safe. Then thereafter they start walking. "I am sure you are curious where the meeting will be held." Haggard is just about to shake his head when the ambassador continues. "Do not worry. We are only really five floors from the office. This building was built 200 years ago. Can you imagine that it is older than the Angara Incursion? Can you imagine that it has survived the great Flames of Boilanne?" Haggard shrugs, concealing his boredom. All he hears from thinarmed push-overs like the one next to him is: "Bla bla bla! Rich guy talks bla! You are not as smart as me! Bla bla bla!"

Finally they arrive and as Haggard almost breaks the sofa by falling on it the ambassador smiles. "I am confident he will arrive shortly, your grace. Would you like anything?" "Coffe! Black!" "Yes of course." The ambassador smiles. "It will arrive shortly." And as the ambassador leaves he mutters for himself "Would have arrived faster if you didn't sound as loud as a stampede."

EDDARD GEARVAULT

The streets were abuzz with gossip of all kinds. As Eddard walked down the streets of steel, steam and misplaced oil, he carefully listened in to any conversation around him, many of which seemed to circulate around the presence of some sort of Pirate.

Eddard held a fair degree of confidence in regards to who it may be, something which brought a short smile to grace his features, a feature he maintained as he witnessed a small child running up towards him. This little urchin was known to him. A girl named Jessica, only a few days away from finding her Urchin-Sibling. "General Edd!" She cried out as she jumped up towards him, like a cat leaping upon its prey. Eddard caught her mid air and held her up. "My, you are getting stronger by the day, I can tell!" Eddard praised the girl."Edd, you won't believe what I saw earlier!" Jessica giggled. 

"Oh? Why not tell me then, since I can't guess?" Eddard answered, knowing full well what she was talking about, but didn't want to see her sulk."I saw a Pirate-man!"Eddard settled her down on the ground once more, kneeling down to keep himself at her eye level. "Really? That sounds amazing. Where did he go?""TOwards the Big Building over there!" She said while pointing at the Steam-Rex Embassy. "Oh. Then it is best for me to go and deal with this riff-raff, huh?""But you don't hate riff-raff." She stated as a matter of fact."No? How can you be sure?""You visit me all the time right?"Eddard felt a sting in his heart at those words, but made no show of it. "You are no riff or raff, my little Urchin. You are the future Lieutenant of the Blood Bats, are you not?"She brightened up in an instant and did her best salute. "Yes Sir!"

"Good girl. Now head home. I have things that must be taken care of." He said, to which she nodded and ran off with a giggle. She had learned by now to not keep an Ellitara distracted longer than he wished. Though if everything was as he wished, he would have adopted the lass by now. But life isn't always fair. Especially not to the Urchins. Eddard continued onwards with greater haste, until he reached the embassy. When he entered into the gathering hall outside of the appointed room, Eddard immediately noticed how he stood there alone. No other Ellitara in the vicinity. He knew what that meant and immediately got to work on his counter arguments for the accusations which were sure to be made. When he had gathered his bearings, he swung open the doors and stepped inside. "Greetings, Captain. Apologies for the delay." Eddard spoke as he sat himself down on one of the chairs which stood opposite of Haggard, waiting now to hear his response.