The Decent Into Midnight (Thread One: Kaisermayhem)

[Cronowind]

Note: Reading this is for reference reading, as this story will take place in various spots all over this city.

History:

The city known as the City of Sails by pirates and seafaring, and the Mountain City by landtravelers. To the outside world this city is a political nightmare. Formed by a Connaothian lord who left during the beginning of the Civil War, he took his entire retinue, staff and a good number of the people loyal to him to form an city upon the coast of the mountain range that separated Connaloth and Serendipity. Being too busy in the war, his extended family had no choice but to let him go. He had bought the land from Connaloth and started to build in the land between the final mountains of the range and the Sea.

Ashport started off as a small town for several years before local miners struck it big on soil that was bought by the young Lord named Erik Hulmaster. Gold. One of the mountains closest to the Sea, the one closest to Ashport, was full of the precious metal. How much was unknown, but since he had bought that mountain it was his. At which point Erik Hulmaster reached out to allies to consolidate his power before it was taken from him. He communicated to two dwarven Lords from Essyrn and the frozen Tundra to the north. Inviting them to a private table.

It was there the Sand/Iron concordiate was set. It was a treaty between the two clans and the human lords. That each Dwarven house would own part of the land, and tax the gold if they built the lands and mined the gold. A dwarves love of gold is legendary, so each of the clans gave two hundred and some odd members to the cause.

Gold flowed freely. And Ashport turned from a town, to a full blown city. Miners, craftsmen, sailors, whores and people from every walk of life came to Ashport. The Lord Hulmaster had become a very powerful man in a short amount of time. Leading a council of three. The dwarven lords came with the majority of their clans to mine the gold, and Erik leads them.

In time, Serendipity and Cannoloth sent messengers trying to determine which country should get the gold. But by that time, Hulmaster had over five hundred dwarves and a small army of people who had come to live there. He decreed that both cities should have a Garrison of two hundred men each, and be entitled to fair prices within ashport. In an effort to avoid a war between the two countries, there was an agreement.

And so the council of three, became the council of five. An Warlock Knight from Serendipity came to oversee the construction of the Garrison of Serendipity in Ashport, and a female Mordecai known as The Silver Flame.

Erik Hulmaster commands the gold flow for the entire city. Yet cannot make a command choice without the agreement of three of the five on the council. However, the two thanes are very loyal to him and almost always agree with him. So he is King of Ashport in everything but name. He recently stretched this authority that being one of the richest men in this side of the world offers.

He recently offered an Official Pardon to a pirate fleet commander by the name of Greymane. Under the agreement that his ships stop plundering the coastline, they could dock and serve as his private fleet. Paid by the gold from the trade coming out from the mountain. Greymane and his fleet, combined with the people who live there make for an entire city. That is when Greymane became part of the council of six.

The adventure begins here, recently after the pardoning of the Greymane fleet will have political side ramifications in the future days to come, yet the issue remains... The dwarves are digging deep, and are moving further out into the Kilanthro range. Who knows what they might uncover out in those mountains.

Setting:

A salty, chill wind cuts constantly throughout the city of Ashport. Built in two parts by the ocean, this city is part mining city, part fisherman city, part marketplace. Its closeness to the sea often brings mist and heavy rain onto the city. Its connection to the mountain places Ashport in shadow throughout the second half of the day as the sun hides under the mountain that stands so close to the city.

The Wall:

The mountain range offers no small number of dangers that threaten unarmed travelers. Marauding Orcs and goblins are a danger to all. For this reason Ashport has a tall stone wall cut from the very mountain it rests near. Standing twenty five feet tall from the ground line and made out of cut stone, the wall has a walkway and several guard stations at every corner of the wall. Large catapults and a Ballista are placed on the walls. The inside of the walls have stairs, as well as metal rungs on various locations to quickly scale the stone wall. There is only one gate on the wall in the north. Meaning the only way into the city is to skirt around and enter via the unwalled port, or the north wall.


The Docks:

The massive dock is most often the main entrance into the walled city of Ashport. Wooden piers stretch out into the calm waters that house ships. There are always ships in Ashport, at least five or six sitting in the warves connected to the piers and wooden walkways. During the busy season one could walk from boat to boat. Big ships, small ships, even fishmen dingies make port there. Those merchents who trade between cannoloth and Serendipity often stop here. Crime is the most heavy here, even with Captain Greymane Decreeing that Ashport shall never be plundered. Some pirates do not listen, and the docks are heavily patrolled at night by dwarven guards with heavy shields and war hammers.

You can also buy anything at the docks. Prostitutes, drugs, alchohol, everything is for sale. Just don't tell the guards. There are seedy taverns that dot the docks, they have cheap rooms and watered down ale for sale.

Location: The muddy rudder, a ramshackle set of houses that had been built together serve as a bar and a bed for many travelers throughtout the land. The building has no sign that says the name of the establishment. There is infact, a mud caked rudder nailed above the door to signify the location.

The Market Place:

Hammers, axes, magical goods, old guns, packets of black powder and gold. You name it, its here. During the day merchants open their buildings to the world. Miners spend a fortune on things, and adventurers come through looking for the latest and greatest in supplies. The human guards protect the Market Place, as the Dwarves have little dealings with the Market place save for the Ale houses. There are always tents and stores made out of wood open for a person looking to trade.

Location:

Mister and Misses Starfire arcane imports.  The market has a large three story building patrolled by guards, but this store has something special. It has its doors open for both magical goods, and the low tech guns that can be bought and sold. It is said that the Starfires can import anything for enough gold, and have a wealth of magical weapons and armor hidden in their heavily protected vaults. Rumor has it for the most wealthy, they will sell magical powder hand pistols that require no ammo, or powder to load or fire. Yet the amount of money that would require would be beyond reasonable.

The Stairs:

Leading down from the docks and across the land. The stairs start to lead up towards the dwarven complex. The rich live here, higher up away from the water. During storms, this is the safest place to be. Large houses, almost palaces, have cropped up on the sides of the mountain. This is where the Garrisons are located, one to the south and one to the north.

The Dwarven Halls:

The highest up on the mountain, and the deepest in. The dwarven halls were cut from the very rock of the mountain. The ironbeards and the Sandborn shared one thing in common. They belonged underground. The stairs lead up to the mouth of the Dwarven halls. There is always the sound of pounding and hammering from within. Houses being cut from the rock for the five hundred dwarves who live there. The scent of brewing ale and smelting gold rushes up from the depths of the mountain.

Serendipity Garrison.

Less of a Garrison and more of a Mages Tower, this building is the tallest building in the entire city. Being ten stories tall of sweeping stone formed in an inverted pillar, it houses the mages of Serendipity. Most of the magical goods and mages stay here, however, not all choose to. The tower is protected by a wall, and the garrison also has several houses surrounding it as well as a ten foot wall. This wall has been tagged with paint many times, and cleaned just as many. Anybody with magical abilities can find shelter here; however, they may find themselves working under the warlock knight and his followers should they become too dependent.

Connolothian Garrison

The religious center of Ashport, the garrison is part church of the divine and part garrison for armed men. It is a massive cathedral, being three stories tall and one of the longest buildings with several side wings to hold housing for the troops. It is here the Silver Flame leads the Connolothian people, and those who hail from that country may find shelter and help here when ever; however, should they catch the attention of the silver flame they may find themselves conscripted to follow her command.

Castle Hulberg

A castle made from the same grey stone as the wall, the castle was the first building made in ashport. Placed near the stairs leading to the dwarven fortress, the castle is visible from the mountain. It has tall walls that are manned by the finest protection that money can buy. Each wall is manned by two stone golems that patroll endlessly, theives and would be assassins have found these golems have no mercy and throw intruders nearly thirty feet off the walls should they not know a password.

The spacious inside of the castle Hulberg has enough for horsemen to train and a well for water. Well able to hold many times its current number in case of a siege, the castle is nearly impenetrable; however, there are rumors of a secret escape that the owners of the castle know of.

The People of Note:

~Unofficial~ King Erik Hulmaster
Thane Ironbeard
Thane Sandborn
The Warlock Knight
The Silver Flame
Captain Greymane

[Cronowind]

Possible Entrances:

(( These are the most likely way to enter the city, i'll describe them and what is going on. You can make your entrance and I will react. You'll encounter my character/characters depending on what choices your character makes. I have your character sheet, I have the world. I just need how you are going to interact with it. :)   Have your character enter whenever, be aware I can play any person in this city and roleplay them on the spot. So don't be afraid to ask questions, go places and do things! The more you learn, the more of an opinion your character will form. ))

The North Gate:

As it did every twenty four hours, day turned to night in the skies above Ashport. The sun retreated from the sky and left the Moon resting high in the sky, leaving its pale light to cover the roofs of the dwellings of the city. The city of ashport was a different town during the night. During the day, two guards would be placed upon two benches on either side of an open wooden door on one wall to the city that traffic could easily flow. However, since night had fallen. Those two men had retreated into the city and the doors had been closed. Any traveler coming to the city by night by the road would be stopped, and would have to answer questions.

During the night, it was not two men that manned the walls to shout for warning. It was twenty armed men who sat, stood and leaned around the top of the wall. It was quiet, save for a distant howl of some unknown animal. Or perhaps an orc screaming some orcish curse at the city. The fact was, it was almost unheard of for any passerby to come at night by foot. The walls, or the door to the city were the only way in. Light chit chat could be heard from the guards up top, nothing interesting however.

The guards were armored in chain mail, wearing a tabard of black cloth with a white ship. Each had a longsword at the hip and a longbow slung on their backs. A heavy quiver rested on the back of each man as well, full of arrows. These men were prepared for a fight. Anyone with a history of the monsters of this region would know why. The Bloody Bones clan of orcs were a nocturnal bunch, choosing to sleep during the high hours of the day. Which made the roads at night all the more dangerous. Only the bravest would be able to make the trek during the night.

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The Docks:

The docks were a completely different story at night! The fishermen had returned home from a long day of fishing over the high seas. Hundreds of small boats returned home at this point, each carrying a fisherman with his bounty from the sea. During the night, the docks were so packed it was considered common to walk from boat to boat, privacy only existed within the locked cabins of each ship. The normally busy area of town exploded into action during the night, lights from torches and glowglobes alike cut through the darkness here.

To reveal many things. Painted prostitutes were common here, looking to extract every bit of gold from the miners or a nights supper from the fisherman. The tough looking sailors walked here and there, fearing nothing of the darkness or the heavily armored dwarven guards who patrolled in groups of four. These dwarven defenders were equipped in heavy plate mail, full helmets and heavy steel shields. Each carrying a truncheon and a heavy war axe, they were the law in this land. So long as they could see, passersby should be safe. These dour fellows were not as friendly during the night, being quick to command the hookers home or any suspect people to go back to their ships.

But the sound of music was prevalent as well. Bards and lute players filled the night air as a fine grog was cracked open in every seedy tavern. Drunkards and parties were common. The nightlife -lived- in Ashports docks, whereas the rest of the city slept. It was not uncommon for ships to arrive at night, and the first thing for visitors to see were the hookers and the signs for cheap ale.

The muddy rudder was open, as usual, during the night. And as usual, a dirty bunch of sailors was present in the area. Drinking and laughing rudely at a nearby woman--who's only crime was being too near to them. Other than that, the night was young. There was much to explore, rooms at the inns were there.

There was something else of note. Further out along to the far reaches of the docks was a ship. Far larger, and more grand than the others. The three masted galley was the biggest ship in the docks; however, it seemed like it hadn't been used for a while. Instead it had a number of tough looking sailors watching the docks to and from the ship.

A lively night, who knows what might happen to even the most reclusive of travelers.

[kaisermayhem]

The early morning mists rolled in of the sea and blanketed the town of Ashport in a thick fog, the walls of the town only discernible thanks to the lanterns hung around the gate to the town. A horse and its rider made their way slowly up the dirt track which led to those pinpricks of light. Sure footed, the horse never wavered from the track and the rider seemed relaxed despite the paths winding nature and narrow width, gradually making their way into view of the guards atop the high wall.
The horse stopped twenty feet away from the wall, snorting and obeying its masters commands instantly. One of the grunts stationed on the wall noticed the horse and rider appear from the fog like a phantom from the ether, he called to his superior who stated for the stranger to stop. This seemed superfluous as the rider had been still for a good minute before anyone atop had noticed him.
"Who goes there and state your business?" The captain's voice was the only thing to be heard that early in the morning and it roused some of the guards who had started to doze off. The rider seemingly not hearing the question threw a large duffel bag in between him and the wall, the captain annoyed by this man's deafness stated his question louder and with a "don't test me" undertone. However, before the captain could utter "and state..." for a second time the rider spoke.
"Calm your tongue boy, my companion and I are merely seeking payment for a job well done," the captain squinted and leaned over the balustrade of wall searching for this mysterious companion.

[Cronowind]

(( I've made the assumption your character has his Glamor Enchantment up. If i am mistaken send me a PM Granted its good he does. ))

*The captain of the guard would look down from up high on the wall, seeming unimpressed by the persons tone. A stranger, hooded and cloaked, came to his city by foot. It was understandable he was pretty suspicious of the stranger. Yet he would turn to one of the footmen under his command, a young man.* "Spyglass, then go check him." *The young man would nod then and pull out a long bronze tube. He would look out into the darkness, shaking his head.* "None of the damn Bones sir." 

"Well get down there, then." *The captain said. If Armen had a good sense of hearing he could hear this exchange. If he didn't, he would see one of the footmen--the one who had talked to the captain grab a rope. The door was closed and barred, so it was easier for one man to propel down with a rope. Which he did.

Arbat would see a young man, easily in his young late teens approach. Old enough to get his first whiskers and to enjoy life as an adult--but just barely. The young man would eye Armen up and down before just lofting his eyebrow. He did take note of his swords, before his eyes fell upon the rifle upon the mans back, he relaxed then noticeably.

"From Connlaoth huh, coming to get away from the war?" The young man asked as he stopped inspecting the man. "Well, you're damn lucky you got here. The Bloody Bones Orcs come out at night. You may got your gun, but there is a lot of them. I take it you're a mercenary, huh? Come to work for the Lord Regent or the Silver Flame?" *He nodded then.* "Okay. Just a moment."

*The man would turn and look up to the commander.* "He's a Merc with a firearm! Open the gates!" The young man barked up.*

"Hold that order!" *The guard captain called down. The guard captain would call down then.* "Remove your hood. I want to make sure you're not some damn orc spy! Show me your face and prove you aren't green!"

*The young man shrugged.* "Just show your face, we'll open the door. From there you can find an inn, or perhaps the compound. You'll find more information about employment there?" *He asked in a friendly way, hoping a touch of Diplomacy would prevent a scene.*

[kaisermayhem]

Armen looked at the gangly young boy, he studied his face and smiled warmly, "You'll have no trouble from those bloody bones, these mountains will be safe for the time being." He spoke softly and slowly, he'd been alive too long to want to be quick about things, efficient and thorough but not quick.
He drew back his hood, giving his head a good scratch as he did. His hair was rather unkempt from the past few days of sleeping rough on his way to Ashport. He looked human enough, perhaps a little pale in the face but human none the less. Elves were not know for the voluptuous beards but he could feel three stubble around his jaw and on his neck. He again looked down from his horse to the boy ordered to ascertain his non-orcish nature, "Satisfied boy?" He laughed and nudged his horse forward past the boy not waiting for a response. Armen's horse kicked the bag he'd thrown earlier and the contents rolled out.
"Oh if you want you can keep them, mount them the walls. An unfriendly reminder!" He shouted as his horse cantered towards the gate, several orc heads rolled out of the bag and rolled down the road towards the boys feet.
"Oh and thank you for allowing my companion entry in to your lovely town, may your summers be long and winters short!" A small hand waved goodbye from in front of Armen as they entered the town of Ashport through the gates.

[Cronowind]

While Armen remained at the gates, the young man would look to the orcish heads as they rolled before him. He'd whistle then as he peered towards the departing man. Giving him a respectful salute as he moved on. Armen would hear him call out once before he was inside the city.

"Gave a patrol the what for? Good job man, that'll keep them quiet for a bit. The mountain are their home, there's hundreds of them up in the hills but each roving pack you put down is a safer place for us!"

And that was that. Armen was inside the city. From the front gates it was a short ride into the market district, which was closed at this time of day... for the most part. There was still a few shops that run and burned the midnight oil if Armen had money to spend and needed supplies. One of said shops looked like it might even be right up his ally, with a plack of a flintlock and a sword crossed above the door. Swinging softly in the wind. He might find someone to talk inside the store. Or supplies. Or both.

To the south through the city, Armen could smell the Docks--the scent of seawater rushed through the wooden and stone housing to his nose even from this far. The scent of the docks also caught his nose, as the docks weren't exactly the most clean places.

To the east he could see a pathway up to the higher part of the mountain the city was built upon. A long, long set of stairs headed upwards to a giant cave mouth. A soft glow could be seen through the cave mouth.

Granted if he stayed in the market district, he might also find a tavern or an inn. Either would be prime locations for him to get off his feet, get drunk or learn the happenings of the town.