Ironsides Family/Bowie/Port Raviel Departure

Port Raviel Departure

This RP is part of a larger event in Port Raviel, the wedding of Lord Machiavel Chenier to Selena Ironsides and the coronation of Machiavel as Dragon King. It also weaves slightly into a local RP in Port Raviel about the arrival of the Prophet Mathurin Hossenfeffer and his reception by Selenia and Lord Julius Galvez.

Roleplay from Bowie Ironsides
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Lord Imperator Bowie arrived to the ceremony and presented himself. He stepped up as requested to make a speech. He seemed agitated and tired, and everyone saw the worn look on his face having learned the terrible news from his home Republic. He spoke firm and brisk, and unprepared.

"It is a shame that tyranny has interrupted this joyful ceremony. I must depart before the wedding and coronation and return to Swordfell. So, while I am here and still have a chance to be present in the celebration, I will say this. I have spent a lifetime waiting to see Selena. It is my greatest pleasure, my most cherished memory, to meet her as a Princess about to become the Dragon Queen. Marriage to Lord Machiavel is a blessing for her and for my family. They will be happy together, and D'Hara will be sanctified by their union." He paused, his mind was not on track, "I am going to make a toast. May the Dragons bless and protect the Dragon King and the Dragon Queen. May they guard D'Hara from its enemies, within and without, and may the marriage of Selena and Machiavel bring many happy children and a lifetime of companionship."

He raised a glass in toast, then finished, "I can't say how sorry I am that I will be unable to attend the full proceedings. Sevastian has robbed me twice now of my hard earned due. Swordfell will destroy him, and the continent will celebrate liberty from his mania."

"Dragon King Machiavel, I present you with three carts full of gifts as dowry for the wedding. The first cart is filled with rare alcohols and not so rare ones (you can drink those), as I know we both like to share a good glass or two. The second is filled with jewels and jewellery, and the third is all gold. I also would like to present a personal gift to you and my daughter. I had these fashioned in the Divide Mountains."

Four attendants came to the front beside Bowie, each carrying a purple pillow that held an item. The first pillow had two thick long gold bracelets with the wrist extending over the backhand a small ways, in the design of dragon wings, left and right. This was for the Dragon King. The second was a necklace with a heavy ruby in the middle, for Selena, called the Eye of the Dragon. The third was a tiara designed to look subtly like the bottom jaw of a dragon, with a diamond and ruby at each tooth tip. The last was a crown for the Dragon King, it was large, down to the neck of pure smooth gold. The top was fashioned like a crown except resembling the top part of a dragon head. Ears on each side, and it came to a gentle point at the front to look like the nose bridge. In the middle, visible and commanding, was the resemblance of dragon eyes. Two emeralds sat where the eyes would be, leering out to the audience before it.

"These are my wedding gifts to you, they are the royal regalia of a true and pure Dragon Kind and Queen."

Bowie bowed to Machiavel and Selena. He kissed his daughter on the cheek, kissed the hand of Machiavel in tribute, and turned to leave.

Roleplay from Bowie Ironsides
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As Bowie departed the Inner Ward, Selena chased after him. She grabbed his hand and turned him around.

"Father, do not abandon me again!" tears born in her eyes.

He held her hand and raised it to kiss it. "Selena, this is the second worst thing I have ever done to you. The first time was for your own sake, and it has proven the right move. This time, it is for my sake, and I owe you a great debt on it. You will be the Dragon Queen of D'Hara. You will learn what it means to be responsible for an entire population, to be the first noble amongst an entire nobility. I pray that today is the worst thing that happens in your reign, a mere social woe, and that you never suffer the acts of tyrants and cowards, or traitors or thieves or maniacs as I have. My whole life, Selena, " he choked up a bit, "I have suffered. I have suffered the ills of my peers, and I have suffered the ills of my demon - myself. You are my greatest achievement, my greatest contribution to the world. I must leave you now to assure the preservation of my Republic. I fail you to serve them. I give you my apology. I give you a promise that next time I will return and share time with you despite armageddon! The continent may sink to the sea but I shall not leave your side again, next time, my dear, but not now."

"This is the most important day of my life...this is the first time I have ever seen you before me, and you leave again, for what? For who? I am your family, they are not!...What next time, Father? When will I marry again? When will the world's eyes fix on me, on my day, and see that you are not here for me?" She could not believe it.

His throat seized and his lips could not utter any words. And then he said, "I owe you a father...a lifetime of love and attention, of gifts and memories, even bad ones when you were in your teens or just a babe unable to sleep because of a stomach ache. I missed all of that. I missed all of you. But.."

She interrupted, "But you have a duty to your Republic, yes, I know. Swordfell is your daughter more than I am." She took her hand back and turned to walk away.

"No! That is not true!" He called out. She continued walking.

"Selena, it hurts, but you will be Dragon Queen. You will stand where I stand and watch your child walk away from you! You will feel the tearing between family and responsibility. I am your Father! And, I rule territory and nobility. When you realize what that means you will come to understand why I have to leave now."

She did not turn back.

He continued his departure.

Roleplay from Bowie Ironsides
Message sent to everyone in the region Port Raviel (15 recipients)

Carts hastily filled with luggage, the Lord Imperator made his way to the docks of Port Raviel. He was departing in great haste to return to his troubled Republic. Could he ever get a moment of peace and happiness? It seemed to him that his life was cursed and plagued by malice. The Dragons spurned him? The deities forsake him? Was this another plot of his demon, trying to twist and torture the poor man? Regardless of the cause, Bowie was steely eyed to rectify it and finally lead Swordfell true and proper. This was the final act of the tyrant Sevastian. Swordfell was lucky it was not worse. Reports came in that Sevastian suffered a lung infection, which explains why he remained in his castle the majority of the time, and upon his death his retinue returned his lands back to Luria Nova in some form of claims succession. The Lurians were mad for claims, Bowie learned, but he knew that should they take Sevastian seriously there would be bloodshed. So, it was only a matter of time before Swordfell's capital was restored and the Republic can finally begin its life without trouble.

These things were on his mind as he arrived at the docks, and began to seek out the ship he was to board to cross the channel. There was commotion on the docks that interfered with Bowie's departure.

"Find out what is going on. I can't waste any time, lest Swordfell crumble while I am abroad!" he said to one of his second hands.

He needed air. This was not the first calamity he experienced, but this was potentially one of the worst. It depended on how the pieces reacted in the wake of the disaster. He walked closer to the peer and saw a broken vessel and some noblemen. He recognized one of them, it was Lord Julius Galvez! My, it was years since he'd seen him. Not since he was forced to leave Barca by threats of the Zuma. He called out to Lord Julius and made his way closer. He saw a woman and another older man but did not get a good look at them.

"Lord Julius!"

He came near to grasp the Lord's hand, who was still occupied...

Roleplay from Selenia
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The crowd gathering and...praying?... along the docks erupted in cheers as Selenia (still ignorant of the Prophet's identity) swung Mauthurin across the water chasm that separated the rescuing Barcan Vessel from the now rapidly sinking ship. Strong arms grasped the rope and caught the couple as their feet hit the deck. Selenia took the brunt of the impact, her spry body fully prepared to take Mathurin's weight should he collapse, but the old man surprised with his resilience. He simply stood up, smiling widely with exhilaration and unwound himself from the securing line.

As soon as their feet touched the deck, the Barcan captain balled orders. A drum belowdeck beat a steady tattoo as oars dipped and scooped into the water, propelling the barcan ship to the slowly crowding dockside.

The Barcan King elbowed his way across the crowded deck to greet the priest. "Your Highness, it is a privilege to come to your rescue. And It would be a honour to accompany you from the port towards the ceremony," Julius said politely, ignoring Selenia, whose forehead again touched the deck as she bowed as low as she could. The Queue of her bleach-blond hair, braided in a curious style unique to natives from the Desert of Silhouettes and starkly at odds with her tanned, Aurvandillan complexion, cushioned her forehead against the wood of the deck. While down there, she experienced the beginnings of an epiphany. Her subconscious mind had collected enough data to fuel leaps in cognitive thought that revealed the true identity of the humble priest. After all, there was only one man she'd ever heard of who was an elderly priest whom even foreign rulers referred to as "Your Highness."

Machiavel Chernier. Duke of Paisly and the man who was to be crowned Dragon King. The ship must have been en route to Paisly, damaged and delayed by the storms. And now he was late for his own wedding!

She stayed silent while the two lords conversed. In no time, the ship had docked and those aboard had disembarked. Lord Julius's men made short work of the crowds, giving the nobles some breathing room. Curiously, Selenia found herself among their company. In the crowd, she saw the greedy boss that had worked her to the bone for a penny a day, mouth agape at the sight of her in such August company. Selenia stuck her tongue out at him and followed closely at Machiavel's heels. Uncertain of what part she had to play now, having saved his life and those of his men. Having rather recently immigrated from Aurvandil, she had very little real knowledge of the man, save for Chevalier propaganda. But he did not seem so bad to her. Maybe he is kind. Maybe he would even favor me? Then again, no point in dreams. Better to keep your head outta the stars, girl. He would is another noble,are any of them really any different? He will probably just-

-"Mathurin was helped up onto the horse, he leaned towards the young woman. "Would you like to come to a wedding?" he asked.

-Make a girl's dream come true!

Before she'd even realised what she was doing, the word yes had escaped her mouth and she was swept up behind him, arms wrapped around his waste as the entourage whipped into a cantor toward the Old Royal Palace. Now ships and ropes were one thing. But Horses? Quite a-damn-nother. Selenia had never been within arms reach of one, much less ridden it. She squeezed the old priest so tightly that surely one of his ribs would break! Terrified of falling and being crushed by the other horses and the crowd, she made herself as small as she could, burying her dirty face against his back. She doubted then anyone looking at them from ahead would even see her scrunched up behind him.

"Lord Julius!" A deep voice roared over the crowd, followed by a brass horn to clear the street. There on another horse sat yet ANOTHER High Lord. And here she was, scrunched atop some four-legged muderbeast squeezing her Dragon King to death to keep from falling in front of the BARCAN King.

Selenia nearly had a fit right then and there, cheeks burning red. Dry land, it seemed, simply was not her element.

Roleplay from Bowie Ironsides
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The horse retinue trotted through the crowd and toward the Inner Ward. None had heard or seen Lord Bowie's call and was able to respond in time. They must have been late to the ceremony...late to his daughter's wedding. At least they will attend, Bowie thought. Selena will stand next to Machiavel in glamour and radiance, she will smile and scan the faces of the highborns gathered in her and her husbands honour yet she will not see a single blood relative in attendance. Her own father will not be there to return a smile. He was angry, clenching his fist and his teeth.

"Master Bowie, one of the men in charge of this dock says it will be some time before they clear the wreckage. We will have to wait a few hours before we can board our ship." An attendant said.

Damn! Bowie cursed internally. Not only did he have to depart the wedding and coronation, but he could not even leave without trouble. Everything was packed up, he had already said his goodbye to Selena, no use going back to the party.

He turned to gaze the view of Port Raviel from his position. He was a tiny centre amidst a massive swarm of people and buildings and activity. How long was it since he lived here? He looked about recognizing parts of the Maritime District that had changed since his time. Places resembled his memory in terms of structure, but the use was totally different. That used to be a fishmongers store and now was an anchor repair shop. Beneath that building was a brothel he secretly visited (well, no secret to his peers), which was...still a brothel. Hmm. He wondered if the shrine to the Dragon Fafnir was still there. Notifying his servants, he took a stroll up the street to the dead end of what used to be a main intersection. The little shrine that once reminded the D'Harans of Fafnir's might and majesty was indeed gone. Just a stain on the stone, a shadow of what once was, remained. Bowie sighed. So much changes in life...

Roleplay from Julius Galvez
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Shall it be? Is it true? Is it him? Yes it is. That is what must have gone through Julius mind at the sight of Bowie. "Lord Julius!", Bowie yells. Julius laughs, "the demon of Dwilight, my old friend, now Lord Imperator". He was excited to see the man who helped found his Republic. It must have been 9 years since the two had seen each other. They grasp hands, "how are you doing?" Julius asks. Julius has not received the news of the betrayal which has taken place in Swordfell and continues, "where are you going? The wedding of your daughter is that way", he points.

Roleplay from Bowie Ironsides'
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"It is a joy to see you again, my old friend." He shook Lord Julius' hand. "You should make your way with the others to the Inner Ward and join the ceremonies. I don't want you to be late. I am required to return to Swordfell in an emergency. The tyrant Sevastian Guile stole our capital and gave it to the Lurians before he died. This is an extremely delicate situation. The longer I am away the worse it could possibly get." Bowie flashed a smile, "At least the Zuma aren't threatening to invade if I am not exiled, just like Barca's foundation!"

He bowed to Lord Julius in a courteous but distracted motion. The letters from Swordfell were frantic and worrisome, Selena was furious. Regardless of what Bowie did, everybody was upset.

Roleplay from Ismail Tandaros
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Meanwhile in the Maritime District...

"Bowie Ironsides, are you not?" A hobbling old man appeared out of a nook in the labyrinthine streets. "I've seen your likeness before in these parts, Lord Imperator. The so-called Demon of Dwilight, the last one recalling the ways of the old Dragons," he rattled on, leaning on his walking stick heavily; he wore deep purple robes clasped over the shoulder with a bronze kraken brooch, the emblem of House Tandaros.

The old man looked at the alcove which had transfixed Bowie's attention. "Ahh yes, you seek inspiration in the old ways which these Isles have by now forgotten. The Dragon Islanders forget their namesake. They flirt with the Elements, and now the Stars hold their attention. What next, Clouds? Waves? Space?" The old philosopher wheezed a labored, clearly-inauthentic laugh.

Roleplay from Bowie Ironsides
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Bowie heard the old man comment on the site of the Dragon shrine. He nodded in agreement, "Such is the way of man to fix their attention on whatever is in front of them at the moment. The Dragons have rescinded and so we forget about them. The next shiniest thing are the stars. The other pleasant odour is the elements. But if the Dragons return, there will be hellfire to pay!"

He smiled to the old man, hoping to provoke some fear into him, but it didn't work. This old man was not a commoner, he was intelligent and not easily swayed by sentiment. So he decided to try a new tactic to provoke the old man.

"I witnessed a priestess perform a ritual that summoned the Great Dragon Fafnir. I saw it with my own eyes. I heard the dragon communicate with the priestess. It was what converted me to the faith in the first place. Later still, I personally met and spoke with the Great Dragon Sallow. So let me ask you, wise elder, is it right to abandon worship of these creatures simply because we do not see them anymore? Is it appropriate for the Dragon Isles to forsake their indigenous faith on account of popularity? What will the elements or the stars do when the dragons return to eat and burn the apostates? I never gave up my faith, regardless of the wind of the times. Can D'Hara say the same?"

He glared at the old man to see his reaction.

Roleplay from Ismail Tandaros
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In the Maritime District...

The old man scowled fiercely at Bowie's statement, perhaps from strongly disagreeing, or his arthritic knees giving way to his earthly weight. The robed interlocutor hobbled over to an empty crate and rested gingerly on its edge.

"Ah, Dragons, yes yes, they are the old heritage. I know not if they truly existed or not, but I believe in their power. They have a connection to the lands that is mostly forgotten. Raviel is a much different place after the Long Winter. The elderly and children were the first to perish; the scholars were killed after that, the thugs ran wild in the streets and feasted on Bloodmoon and human flesh alike. Society changes radically in times like those. I was lucky I made it through the Long Winter. The Tandaros Hearth sheltered many in the District, locked the door soundly, and did their best for us. Down to the last bushel of grain, Master Rashid would make sure our wards were cared for," nodded the elder distantly, going harumph and realizing he had lost his original point.

"Did you know, Lord Bowie," he continued, as if he were now regarding a long-lost friend, forgetting his place, "the Dragon faith were one of several island faiths that prospered in the ancient dwili days of the isles. There were followers of the Sun, the Kraken, mystics of all sorts, many of whom clung to the Bloodmoon fruit, some spoke against it, some ran off to live in silence without wives, while others took twenty," the man smacked his lips lecherously.

Realizing where he was going with all this, the philosophers concluded cryptically, "Yes, my point Lord Bowie - the Isles of D'Hara see the tides of change shift across all the lands, the center of the world, the hub of all trade routes. Our isles are as a compass for the world, a worn yet distinguished weathervane, a mirror to reflect upon, a portal through which one sees what shall one day come."

Roleplay from Bowie Ironsides
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"I see." Bowie acknowledged the point the old man made. "The sands of the Tomb Islands, as I know them by, shift with each tide in and out. In comes one culture, faith, power out goes another. My time came and gone. Now it is time for something new."

He considered making a proposal but hesitated. He did not know exactly where the allegiances of this old man lay. Certain things exposed could ruin a person's standing if exposed to the wrong light and at the wrong time. So he simply asked, "How often do you see Lord Ismail? Could he trust you to deliver something from me that you are forbidden to look at? He may give you permission to view it too, but only after he has examined it and made his own impression."

One of Bowie's servants came forth up the street waving to his master, "Lord Bowie! Lord Bowie! The ships are ready to leave Port Raviel. Are you ready?"

Bowie looked at the old man, "My time to leave, what say you? Are you worthy to act as a messenger for me to your Lord? It might make a difference to him."

He waited to hear the man's answer.

Roleplay from Ismail Tandaros
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The old man looked surprised for a moment then chuckled liberally. "Ah yes my lord, I see Lord Ismail regularly. My feeble old mind forgot to introduce myself, so excited I was to see such a storied countenance on my proverbial doorstep. I am Ibrahim Tandaros, steward of the Tandaros Hearth of Port Raviel. I see him whenever he visits his kin at the family compound atop the hill yonder," he said, pointing a crooked finger upon a bluff overlooking the Maritime District. "And aye, he visits often, being the holder of all Master Rashid's titles. I will relay everything as you wish, as I am sworn to the bo... er... Lord Ismail by life and blood." The elder held his mangled hand to his heart, over the kraken brooch. He leaned forward on his staff and gently lifted himself from the crate. Once on his feet, he tapped the staff twice and wheezed into the alleyway, "Rico!"

From a corner emerged a black-clad swordsman, having the look of a syndicate blade. "Boy, honor the Lord Imperator. He has a gift for our Lord Tandaros."

The shady-looking blade knelt before Lord Bowie and rasped, "Your Highness." He rose to his feet and waited to see what package the Lord Imperator may present, as Ibrahim hobbled forward to get a good enough glimpse...

Roleplay from Bowie Ironsides
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"Good." Bowie pulled out a thin booklette and handed it to the young swordsman, "Do not peruse this book, it is for Lord Ismail's eyes only. Please have him write to me when he finishes it, if he is interested in learning more."

He bowed in courtesy to the Steward, "It was a pleasure making your acquaintance, Sir Ibrahim. I hope to be in your company again in the future. For now, I must rush east."

Bowie started on his way to retracing his steps back to the docks, but before he left the old man and the young sword's presence he gave a sharp glare to the boy, and with a commanding finger he pointed and said "If it is reported to me that there has been some tampering or impermissible reading of that book I will have you found and maimed."

And with that, the Demon of Dwilight departed the vicinity of Port Raviel....