| Logs |
1999-10-10
| Starfall |
| Realms |
Retired
| Reality Fault |
General Info
 |
A Skulk of Foxes
- Three of the St. Genevieve siblings are gathered together in
the house manor's front room to speak with their visitor, a Lt. Baynes,
representing House Pravinchandra. Their father is missing... he was on one
of the family's ships, but did not return. The ship was rumored to have
been sunk by pirates, but no one is certain, and so no one knows if Count
St. Genevieve is actually alive or dead. The family finances collapsed
with the loss of that ship... leading House Pravinchandra to foreclose
on your remaining ships and offer you jobs running them. For him.
The siblings know there have been rumors of foul play against people who challenged House Pravinchandra's monopoly on the Karado trade run for as long as the current head of the house has been in charge. No one's ever proved them, though. Now the siblings are faced with dire straits... they need to somehow keep the family afloat, and do what they can on other fronts to reassert their name and capital.
Lt. Baynes says, "Gentlemen, lady. Mr. Pravinchandra has asked me to inform you that he regrets the hard times your family has fallen into, and has decided that it would be only right for him to offer you employment on the Starfall-Karado shipping route."
- An earnest young mercenary officer wearing the colors of House
Pravinchandra (a dark green uniform with a red and gold sash). His fur
is the typical medium gray of most wolves, with a white chest patch just
visible at the collar of his uniform.
Carroll smiles and murrs, "Mister Pravinchandra's offer is very gracious, and we are pleased to be able to accept it, of course."
Horatio leans against a table nearby, watching his brother and the lieutenant, hand almost unconsciously, protectively on a dusty old book. Isn't he the head of the rival that drove us out of business by paying pirates to attack our ships?! he wonders.
Lt. Baynes nods. "I will tell him. Or would you rather come with me and tell him yourself?"
Carroll smiles and murrs, "I would be pleased to deliver the message myself, if that would not be too much trouble."
Lt. Baynes says, "That is entirely up to you. If you would come with me, then?"
Carroll murrs, "I will follow you, sir." He does so, walking behind the Lieutenant and slightly to his right. Horatio pads along behind Carroll and the Lieutenant, casting the occasional glance over his shoulder. Alexandra lets the manor staff know where they're headed, then patters along.
The lieutenant leads the St. Genevieve siblings through the city, passing through the Market Square, then the Artisan's Quarter, past the Warehouse District to the Council Square. Carroll looks around, comfortable in the city.
- Council Square
The Trade Road widens out here to a large plaza. The Council chambers and offices line the east side of the plaza, while the main offices of the Admiralty and the Watch share the west side. The Ha'sheeran Embassy building, a tall metal and crystal spire, stands at the northwest corner of the area, diagonally opposite the Karadan Embassy's more traditional brick and wood complex. The Trade Road continues south into the Artisan's Quarter and north out of the city into the mining camps in the mountains.
Lt. Baynes turns and leads you into the Council building, then down some side corridors around to the private offices of the head of House Pravinchandra -- a sumptuous office. "Here we are."
Carroll nods. He murrs, "So we are. Are we expected, or should we find a page and have ourselves announced?"
Horatio smiles to the lieutenant. "Could you excuse me and my brother for just a moment...?"
Carroll glances to Horatio, smiles again, and murrs, "Excuse me, apparently my brother wishes my attention." and turns to him, stepping carefully a step or two away from the soldier. He murrs quietly, "Yes?"
Alexandra beams at Lt. Baynes in her most dazzling manner, "You'll have to excuse my brothers... they'll be back in just a moment!"
- An attractive young girl with proud carriage, she has a defiant
glint in her large green eyes and a defiant swish to her luxurious
brush. Despite the pretty lace-trimmed shirt she's dressed in a decidedly
non-feminine style, with snug breeches, well-cared-for black leather
boots, long leather gloves finely embroidered with the house crest,
and (most startling of all) a plain, practical military rapier at her
hip.
Horatio maintains his smile as they step away from the captain-general, even as they're out of earshot. The smile fixed on his muzzle, he murmurs, "Just what is it that we're going to be doing here? This is the gentlefurr who's trying to ruin our family..."
Carroll tries to explain to his brother, "Horatio, we're here because of Mister Pravinchandra's generosity. We must be sure he knows how grateful we are and how much he can depend upon us. Only then will he stop watching."
Horatio keeps the smile relatively fixed, though it twitches a little. "Well... I suppose you're right, brother. Are we really going to accept that job he's offering? Or just say we're 'thinking about it'?"
Carroll murrs, "It gives us freedom to act again, as well as some access to equipment. We need those things. Work is important as well to maintain the family's presence in the field. I also simply wish to meet this man."
Alexandra beams charmingly at Lt. Baynes again, then glances back at her brothers. Her arms are folded, and one toe taps slightly. She's taken more care than usual with her appearance for this meeting -- her boots gleam dully from recent polishing, her lace drapes attractively across her front (almost daringly, one might say), and her fur shines lustrously.
Carroll brushes lint from his brother's shoulder, and asks him, "Shall we go? We wouldn't want to keep the man waiting." He turns back to the guard, smiling and towing Horatio along with him.
Horatio finally lets the smile fade a little. "All right. Er, I think our little sister is starting to get impatient..."
Carroll smiles, returns to the lieutenant and murrs, "As I was saying, it would be my honor to give our respects and thanks to the House Pravinchandra personally."
Lt. Baynes waits politely while the brothers have their discussion. "This way, then." Carroll smiles and follows, assuming his siblings are following on their own. Alexandra stands to Carroll's left, as the youngest, and walks proudly along with him. Horatio trails along to the right of brother Carroll, fidgeting slightly. He should have stayed in his workshop this morning, oh yes, but no, he had to show off what he'd found to his brother and that's when the messenger came in...
The outer room is sumptuous, decorated with fine silks and valuable artwork. The furniture is constructed of the finest rare woods imported from distant lands. The young lieutenant salutes to Captain-General McTavish, tells him why you are here, bows to you once more, and departs. "They agreed, sir, but wanted to tell Mr. Pravinchandra themselves."
Carroll smiles as pleasantly as he knows how, "I wished to thank him personally for this opportunity."
Captain-General McTavish is the head of House Pravinchandra's mercenary guards - a rough-looking bear. He looks at Carroll. "In person, eh? You're not planning anything... shall we say, overenthusiastic, are you?"
Horatio arches an eyebrow. "Heaven forbid, sir!" Alexandra blinks at the captain-general... then gets a disdainfully disgusted look, like he'd just asked her if she were going to commit some public indecency.
Carroll shakes his head and murrs, "Not at all, sir, merely the desire to convey our respect and thanks."
McTavish looks at Carroll suspiciously, but shrugs. He knocks on the door, enters at a muffled word from inside, and reappears a moment later. "Okay, he'll see you." He stands to one side and waves the siblings in.
Alexandra leans behind Carroll to frown and gesture fiercely at Horatio, whispering, "Stand up straight!" with probably more concern than necessary... Horatio almost instinctively straightens himself, back arched proudly. He murmurs some thanks out of the corner of his mouth.
Carroll nods pleasantly to the Captain-General, and murrs, "Thank you." He turns and walks through the opened door, glancing briefly back to make sure his family is following.
Alexandra follows promptly, with a slightly indignant swish! of her tail... such improprieties the captain-general suggested! Horatio follows his brother a little worriedly, risking a glance at McTavish but remembering Alexandra's admonition to stand up straight.
The inner office is even more lavish than the outer one, and a little overheated by local standards. Councilman Subramayan is wearing a well-tailored and subtly rich suit of clothing. Two guards are in the room, one by the window and one by the door, and the Captain-General follows the siblings in and stands at the other side of the door. Subramayan says, "The good Captain tells me that you have decided to make the best of your unfortunate situation, then?"
Horatio adjusts the collar of his tunic a little against the stuffiness of the room. Still, he remains silent, letting the eldest speak. Alexandra looks around a bit as she stands straight next to her elder brother. She looks last, and most curiously, at the Pravinchandra. Carroll walks in and doesn't look around the room. Instead, he looks directly at the Councilman, and smiles. Moving to stand across from his desk, not too closely, he bows at the waist. Straightening, he murrs, "Yes, Councilman Pravinchandra. We are pleased to be able to do this, in light of your graciousness."
Alexandra bows gracefully to the Pravinchandra when her older brother does. If the mongoose looks at her at all she gives a small, slightly uncertain smile. Horatio erks silently, matching the bow of his brother a split second after him, and pasting a faint smile on his muzzle.
Subramayan nods. "It is a terrible business. The trade routes are dangerous, especially for those without the necessary reputation to dissuade pirates from preying on you. Do you have any other outstanding debts? I might be able to keep the creditors satisfied that you can be given more time now that you will be part of my House."
Alexandra beams at that. Horatio's ears flick at the use of the word "reputation," but he lets his pasted smile widen just a little. Carroll smiles, and murrs, "I assure you, sir, we shall do everything in our power to remain free of pirates. As to your extremely kind offer, I sincerely hope that we do not have to take you up on it, but knowing that you would extend us more of your support is a great reassurance."
Subramayan says, "That is good to know, then. It is a shame that you lost so much of your patrimony already, I would hate to see any more misfortunes happen to such a well-established family." He writes a note and seals it. "I've taken the liberty of purchasing your family's ships from your former creditors. Would you like to be assigned one of them, since you're probably familiar with them already?"
Carroll nods slowly and murrs, "No one will be more experienced with them and able to use them to their best advantage, sir. That is what is most important right now." Horatio's smile fades only a little as the reality hits him: no more days in the workshop, he'll have to go back to sea. Oh dear.
Alexandra leans towards Carroll and whispers to him, her expression a little longing. Her whisper is audible if someone were listening carefully, "Ask for the Saucy Mare, please, Carroll? Please? The one Daddy was going to give to me?" She's quite aware that no such agreement was made between her father and her, of course... but is also aware that it's one of the newest ships of her family, even to the point that it's equipped with a few things her brother Horatio came up with.
Subramayan smiles. "Excellent. Just take this along to my agent down at the harbor then, and he'll set you up. I happen to have a small valuable cargo that needs priority shipment, so I'll assign you to that little sloop. It doesn't carry much, but it's perfect for this sort of thing. The crew is already arranged, she just needs officers."
Carroll starts to say something, and stops at the councilman's words. He smiles and murrs, "We are honored to be able to do this work for you. Thank you for this chance to restore our family's name and honor." He bows from the waist again and murrs, "We have taken enough of your valuable time, Lord Pravinchandra. Thank you for your support, and for letting us express it in person. We shall strive our utmost."
Alexandra looks bitterly disappointed, her ears and tail drooping, but says nothing, only bowing gracefully again when her brother does. Horatio bows as well when his siblings do, starting to worry again. Carroll turns, and shoos the family out of the office.
- Starfall Harbor
A sheltered anchorage along the western shore of Starfall Bay, the city harbor is teeming with shipping. Grain carriers bring the food for the city, merchant ships carry products around the world, stubby little fishing boats venture out to the sheltered waters of the bay, and the leaner predatory shapes of naval vessels prowl in and out on their own schedules. From here you can see the main commercial docks to the west and the Navy Yard to the northwest.
The siblings and the lieutenant ride in the carriage down to Starfall Harbor, then out to the commercial docks.
- Commercial Piers
Wooden and stone docks extend out into the natural harbor here, lined with ships of all types bringing in the food that Starfall needs and taking away it's manufactures. The waterfront is lined with inns, chandlers, warehouses with naval supplies, and trading offices, providing a bustling area at all hours. The main commercial shipyard can be seen a little to the south, and the fisher's wharf is a little beyond it. To the north can be seen the guarded enclave of the Starfall Navy. West leads back into the city toward the Warehouse District, while to the east you look out over the quiet waters of Starfall Bay.
Carroll stops to admire the vessel for a long moment. Smiling, he turns back to Lieutenant Baynes and murrs, "Thank you for your assistance, Lieutenant."
Alexandra beams, her whole demeanor lighting up when she sees the ship, "YESSS! It IS the Saucy Mare!" She bounces happily out of the carriage and runs up the gangplank.
Lt. Baynes introduces Carroll to House Pravinchandra's dockmaster, an older otter. "Lord Pravinchandra said to assign them to the little sloop as officers and have them head out as soon as possible with the priority consignment."
Alexandra can be seen running from one end to the other (much to the startlement of the crew on board), then just as swiftly she runs back down to join her brothers. She yips excitedly, "She looks just great!" Interesting... all the old crew are gone...
Carroll watches his sister dart aboard the ship and smiles. Looking back to the lieutenant he murrs, "We're quite fond of her." You can't tell if he means the ship or his sister. Horatio blinks at the ship. It is indeed the Saucy Mare. He glances at the scampering form of his sister. This trip may just be survivable after all.
Alexandra even beams at Lt. Baynes again, she's so pleased. She swishes her excitedly fluffed tail happily and giggles at her brothers. Carroll asks the dockmaster, "When will the cargo arrive?"
The otter says, "Should be onboard by high tide tomorrow morning. I just assigned the longshoremen to load her up." He turns to the foxes. "Which one of you is the captain?" Alexandra points to Carroll without hesitation, still beaming happily.
Carroll murrs to the otter, "I have that honor."
He takes the siblings down to the ship, talking as they go. "The cargo is light, just a little bulky. She'll ride high, so you'd better watch your trim. Lord P is hoping to have this shipment to Alburtis in two weeks, it's for an Impy Grand Ball next month."
Carroll asks, casually, "I see. Perhaps we can arrange some ballast. What will be carrying?"
"Some ballast is on board, but there's not much room in her bilges, y'know. She'll be okay, she looks to be a good ship. Just watch her at first 'til you get the feel. I believe that it's new fashions for the Imps... it's listed as clothing, anyway."
Alexandra grins excitedly, but remains silent, following along quietly. She glances over her shoulder interestedly to see if Lt. Baynes is coming along too. Carroll rolls his eyes, and murrs, "Slave to the next year's fashions, are we?" He grins and then says, "She is a good ship, and I'm certain everything will go famously."
Lt. Baynes grins at the young foxette, looking at her appreciatively. Alexandra raises a slightly startled eyebrow, then looks swiftly back forward... although there's a small, faint grin on her face, and her tail swishes happily again. Horatio glances at the Lt., then back at his brother. "Well... she is a good ship. She's certainly caught the affection of our sister."
Alexandra grins happily, "Hey, she's the best, Horatio! You should know!"
Carroll nods and murrs, "Yes, yes. Let's get to the job at hand, mm?"
Alexandra reaches behind Carroll to cheerfully pat Horatio's shoulder, "You should be second mate, and me third, yes? Or do you want to be third mate, so you can tinker more?"
Horatio smiles quietly to his sister. "Third might be better, though I'll leave that to our brother..."
The dockmaster heads back to his office. As the sun sets, lanterns are lit and the loading continues through the night...