- Invitation Status
- Looking for partners
- Not accepting invites at this time
- Posting Speed
- One post per day
- Multiple posts per week
- 1-3 posts per week
- One post per week
- Slow As Molasses
- Online Availability
- Most days, most hours
- Writing Levels
- Elementary
- Intermediate
- Adept
- Advanced
- Adaptable
- Preferred Character Gender
- Male
- Female
- Nonbinary
- Agender
- Primarily Prefer Male
- No Preferences
- Genres
- Adventure. Angels and demons. Apocalyptic. Arthurian. Comedy. Dystopian. Fantasy. Historical. Horror. Post-apocalyptic. Romance. Science fiction. Supernatural.
A thin layer of clouds turned the golden day into silvery grey and a particularly fickle wind left a cold bite in the air. Morning slipped toward noon, and the bustle of daily life overcame the city. The docks, however, had been alight with activity since the first rays of sunlight peeked over the horizon.
Each morning, Iriena Cauthrik woke before daylight. She spent the following hours consumed by her work until the day dipped into evening. She enjoyed her work, whether that was on the sea or in the harbour, but the hours were long and she was grateful for the natural respites offered in waiting.
Rien leaned against one of the dock posts with her old pipe in hand, a faint smoulder of smoke trailed out of the barrel. Carnelian bobbed on the waves in her periphery. If the indecisive wind favoured her sails it would be a successful voyage. For Carnelian and her crew, at least. Fair sailing meant little for the success of the ship’s passengers. And it was those passengers Rien waited for as she smoked. That day Carnelian’s voyage was to ferry a sea-bound party far offshore.
The woman pondered the future of her day as she inhaled another puff of smoke. Barely in earshot, two of her crewmen discussed the recent happenings in their lives. Young Marco enthusiastically spoke about his expectant child while Merrell teased him affectionately. Nobody was late, but Rien was restless. It was a familiar itch that grew stronger whenever she was set to sail. The woman never was quite sure if it was because she was leaving Lua or if it was because she yearned for the sea.
•·················•·················•
The Crooked Paw Tavern and Lodge, called the Crooked Paw by everyone, was a popular haunt for a variety of people. It was a three-floored rusty-red building with three additional houses stacked atop it, each in its own colour. The Crooked Paw was an old building and its aged showed in the chipped paint and scuffed wood. It was a place of little rest, as even when the residents and guests slept, there was always someone in the common room tending a mug or singing an old song. And at that moment, it was full of life, with laughter and chatter and the clink of activity.
Lukan was a familiar face among those who frequented the establishment. Despite his notable standing as the grandson of a Councillor, he was well known as someone who placed no importance on the fact. He was also a known reveller, and at that moment he was engaged in a game with two other patrons. It was going well for him. He tapped his middle finger to his stack and the designated dealer for that round flipped down another card — a three — atop his hex and seven. Twenty. Lukan grinned, his win was imminent. Luck usually found him in games of chance and if he took this hand it'd be his fourth win of six that day. The dealer held at eighteen which left only a slim possibility for the third player to match or win. Lukan would take the hand.
•·················•·················•
Despite the vibrancy of his coat, most of the patrons did not notice the arrival of the stranger as he entered the Crooked Paw, lost as they were in their revelry. He was an unassuming older man with thick brows and a subtle limp. The only thing remarkable about him was his thick blue coat, and even that was obviously old having faded in colour and frayed around the edges. The man took a seat pressed against the wall where he could easily watch the activity while remaining out of the way. And watch he did as dark grey eyes scanned the room with purpose.
Last edited: