A Seaport in Bern

[Aaron Winsett]

After arriving in a Bernese port, and concluding their business with the Sea Captain, Aaron and the other voyagers and their cargo disembarked from the ship. So far, they'd not been troubled about being in Bern.

Fable, Aaron's etrurian bred gelding had not enjoyed the voyage, it seemed. "There... Just take a few nice calming breaths.... Smell that air? You're on land. You're fine now."

Quietly, the mage glanced around, looking at who else was here, while wearing a calm, somewhat impassive face.

[Inigo Diego the Third]

Inigo's face however, was anything but calm. He kept a fair distance from that winged fiend with a hand at his hip. He work a green garb now, identical to the blue before, albeit he now wore black boots as his white ones had been...well...painted green, in the irony...it wasn't that he hated the winged maiden, he just hated the fact that she was actually a big scaly foul smelling beast when she wasn't in the guise of a young woman...that's something you can't put aside in your mind.

Inhaling the salty air once more, the sea breeze tickling his moustache, he debated putting on his hat, but then that would ruin the cool feeling through his hair. This was something the man enjoyed about the docks, and not even that overgrown torching lizard would take that thrill of adventure from him. He looked back to the others, arms now crossed.

He really had to talk to those two people, what were their names? Oh well, the point was he had to teach them a lesten about properly combed hair and public drunkenness later.

[Sabin]

Arriving at a Bernese port,Sabin was astonished by the sheer activity of the people... this port was far more active, cheerful than he would ever see in the Western Isles. Huge crates getting imported and exported, crewmen of all shapes and sizes.... Sabin wished he was with his crew right about now. It was fun being a treasure hunter...and had a big crew to crack jokes with.

To be the greatest pirate ever...nah, seemed too bad for him. He wasn't interested in raiding villages and stuff.... that was just too savage. He just wanted to be the best sailor ever, the leader of the greatest mercenaries/sailors the Elibe would have ever seen.

Well, enough of such nonsense. He was getting ready for some action...but what would a group of travellers do in a country which was trying to rebel?

[Gabriel]

After getting Starlight from the cargo hold, Gabriel made his way towards the group. Saffra had apparently decided to stick with them until they made it to the port.

"Well, now that you know why we're here, what will you do?" he said as he approached the dragon. Starlight seemed to be inspecting her wings, for some reason. Then Gabriel remembered that he got Starlight not long after they went separate ways. There was no way for the horse to have seen her before. Gabriel chuckled, amused at the poor thing. It seemed like she couldn't understand a human having wings.

"So, what will it be? As you know" he said, checking his surroundings. No outsiders were close by "Rayl is somewhere up north from our location. Chances are he got an official order to pass up as an envoy from Pherae and crossed the mountains without much effort". He didn't know why he told her that. Saffra had already gone after Rayl once already. Perhaps Gabriel thought that she would do so again?

"I shouldn't need to say it, but you are free to do as you wish. I'm simply glad to see you still alive. Though to be honest, I'd prefer it if you stopped rocking random boats while at sea" he rolled his eyes at the thought. It was pure chance that they had met again. Even she seemed surprised to see us on board, which meant she had no idea whose boat she was shaking.

[Grayson]

Grayson stepped off of the ship a bit more carefully than was needed. When he first boarded the vessel he nearly fell into the water off of the side of the plank. This time he was taking care to not have that happen again. Once finally on land, he felt somehow relieved. Sure, he had little trouble walking around the deck of the ship, but just being on it gave Grayson a constant uneasy feeling. As if he wasn't completely balanced. Being somewhat of an acrobat, Grayson was nervous at the thought. Thankfully, the stone landing at the Bernese seaport the group filed onto was sturdy and settled Grayson's mind.

Grayson adjusted the bow on his back. It had been set by his quiver in a small room on the ship the whole trip and he was just now getting it into a comfortable spot. The string wasn't very taut so it tended to slump over his shoulder a bit. Yet another problem he ran into thanks to his excessive spending on the arrows he carried with him. While fumbling with his weapon, he spied the mustachioed man from before. He recalled the man - was Inigo his name? - ignored his attempt at introducing himself back at the ranch. Grayson very much disliked being ignored, but he was in high spirits after leaving the ship so he felt like giving it another try.

"Er... Sir Inigo, was it? I don't believe we has been properly introduced. I am Grayson of the Pheraean noble Pintel family. I am very pleased to meet a man with such an appreciation for proper hair style." Grayson extended a hand as he smiled.

[Inigo Diego the Third]

Inigo paused from his observations and turned his head to the young man with the scar and extravagant hair...and gave a huff before turning to fully face grayson, stern expression on his face," Well it's ABOUT TIME I meet someone within this group with even a modicum of civility, and common sense. I am Sir Inigo Diego the Third of the Diego Household of Etruria, Father of Bowen and Godfather of Guinevere de Altberg of Etruria." with this he took a step back, one foot before the other, left hand behind his back as he removed his hat and placed it to his heart as he bowed to the young noble, before his hat returned atop his head and he stood back in his original position, right hand back on the hilt of his rapier.

Why did he just reveal his identity to Grayson? Why, pure formality of course. Grayson gave a proper greeting, ergo he should also. besides, with the hustle and bustle and voices of the folk about, their conversation was masked from the others, as he extended his free gloved hand forward, to indicate the man's bow," Archer hmm? That bow of yours will come in handy, boy. Damn scaly beasts and all that, eh what?"

[Grayson]

Scaly beasts? Were they to meet more wyverns? Or maybe even more of whatever Saffra was? It finally dawned on him that Bern was known for it's legions of wyvern knights. Grayson clutched the lax string of his bow and wore an expression on his face of a man who has finally understood what he was getting himself into.

"Heh. Yes... um. Scaly beasts. I suppose I should practice with my archery more, then. I'm not what you would call an experienced marksmen. On top of that, my bow isn't very high quality." Grayson sighed as he prepared to explain his plight, "You see, I'm not very good with money. When I set out to purchase my weapon I saw these arrows..." he pulled one of his arrows from his quiver. It was so stunningly beautiful it was practically a shame to fire, "... they cost a fair deal of gold and I had little left for my bow. I could have asked my parents for more funds, sure, but I'm trying to prove that i can hold my own in the world. It seemed counter intuitive to ask for such a thing." Grayson sighed again, "Well I suppose I can only go up from where I am, though."

[Sabin]

Sabin heard the conversation between Inigo and Grayson. Inigo was ANOTHER Etrurian noble? How many in this group were Etrurians? Jade being an Etrurian noble was alone surprising, not to mention Rayl having loads of Etrurian refugees. Perhaps this man was one of them?

"Well Grayson, if you're a bit inexperienced, then our time here won't go to waste. One can be truly experienced only when he faces real battle, it doesn't matter how many times you practice. Also," he paused, and continued, " If we run into any wyvern riders, we'll be counting on your archery skills. I can back you up with my axe tough, since most of them carry lances. Axes beat lances, you know." he finished and winked.

[Inigo Diego the Third]

Inigo tapped his foot casually as Grayson went on talking about his bow. He wasn't bored of the talk mind you, and was listening intently, but also he was looking for prying eyes behind the young archer," I see, well Sir Pintel, when we meet him again, Perhaps you can ask Sire Rayl for assistance? He's that kind of guy: He'd pull you out of a burning building even if it meant him losing an arm. Or maybe he'd shelter you from exile despite the political complications it would bring, you know?" That last bit he said in a slightly wavering tone, but then continued onwards so fluently it was hard to pick up:

"Well Sir Pintel, I have but one thing to say: You aren't going to stay a noble if you throw your money everywhere like that. You'd best work on your budget a bit more. But don't worry lad." He planted a hand on the bowmen's right shoulder," I'll be here to smack you upside the head every time you try to throw your whole wallet to buy a shiny gem that turns out to be glass...I expect to do it often. Besides, a real weapon isn't meant to look beautiful: it's meant to be used."

He removed his hand to reveal the hilt of his rapier, and the hand guard: they were, actually, alarmingly simple for the man he was: no jewels or fancy ornamentation or anything: "made by a sacaen smithy. Balanced, Light, and no distracting glimmering."

[Sabin]

" That's quite the sword, Sir Inigo. Light and simple. You said its from Sacae right? They must be clever blacksmiths... a lighter weapon is easier for people to handle. You must have travelled quite a bit, Sir Inigo! Have you been to Sacae a lot? I've heard that one can truly appreaciate the beauty of nature there, enjoying with the tribes." Sabin said enthusiastically.


"Speaking of which, this is the first time I've been to Bern, really. It'd be nice to check out this city actually. I've always been a man of adventure- you can't know about a place until you truly find out about each and everything, like clothing, food, weapons, training, oh, and even music." he said.

[Aaron Winsett]

In a way, Aaron was sad to depart the sea. It had been a great experience, even if it was unpleasant for the first half of the trip. Gabriel seemed to be taking care of some business over by Starlight, his horse, and the others were beginning to make their way down. Good. We've got business of our own to take care of, like.... Aaron frowned. The conflict in Bern was still an issue to him. That, and something seemed to be drawing him onto a separate course from the rest.

"Come on, Fable. Let's go find you something to snack on." Nearby, there was a small watering trough and a well. It seemed to be available to the public, so he drew some water, and filled the trough a portion of the way. The grey began drinking greedily before seeming to settle a bit, still flicking his ears at the unfamiliar dockside noises.

Filling the trough the rest of the way, and tying the horse loosely to a post, Aaron headed back the way he'd come, until he saw a familiar head of golden hair on the ship deck.

"Lady Gwen, would you like some help carrying your things down to the docks?" He asked, moving up the ramp to join her.

[Guinevere von Altenburg]

Guinevere looked to up see Aaron and gave him a smile. "Thank you very much for the offer, but I only have my pack and I should be able to handle it myself." She lifted it up onto her shoulders. "There we go." She shakily walked off the ship and could have cried with joy when she finally stepped back on firm ground. "Finally! I'm never traveling on a boat again!" She looked back up at Aaron. "You coming, Mr. Mage?"

[Aaron Winsett]

"Alright then. Yes, I'm coming." Aaron strode down the ramp again. They were still missing Roland, but he'd have to get his own things. "Please. It's just Aaron. I'm only nineteen after all. Hahah." Sometimes, he felt older though. Most of the time, in fact. Perhaps it came with being a mage. Or a scholar.

"I take it you didn't enjoy the trip then?" Aaron gave a small, tight-lipped smile towards her. They'd turned out to be pretty good vomit-buddies on the ship.

[Saffra]

Saffra only smiled at Gabriel. He was serious, and it was an honest concern. She had heard he was injured from the rocking of the boat, so his concern was justified. She was staying with him for the most part, following him as he retrieved his horse. She had gathered her white shawl from her bag, and wrapped it around her, which primarily just covered her back, and sides, and left a bit of her front open. This was was to hide her wings, which were a little tight being cramped as such.

"I'm not sure, honestly."

She spoke softly as she followed him off the boat, and looked around. She hadn't been to Bern in some time. It changed a little, but primarily, it was more or less the same, from here that was. The aromas were...well...tantalizing. She liked to think of herself as a higher form of life, but that small of fish was....intoxicating. It reminded her of home on the Western Isles.

"I'll probably keep with all of you for the time being. Though I may leave without a moment's notice. I need to observe what is happening in the world, I cannot sit idly by any longer.."

That was a foreign thing for her to say, usually she was a pacifist, and let human troubles be, but as of late, she was getting more and more involved with them...perhaps it was time for her to choose a side.

[Grayson]

Grayson took the two men's advice to heart. He realized that he was still very much new to these things so any help he could get was very valuable.

"Actually, Sir Diego, I don't know if I am a noble at the moment. I am of the Pintel family, yes, but I have renounced my title as heir until I find it feasible to come back home once I have found my true place in life. It's really just happenstance that I joined your band of bravos. I do hope to be of use eventually, however."