Bleater
08-17-08, 01:02 PM
The steamboat chugged along, it's massive waterwheel at the back slapping along the waters, seemingly content to be everything that could possibly be out of place. Within eyeshot to the east, a small horsecart trod along a dusty road, seemingly the way things where intended, and a stark contrast to the vessel billowing a brownish-grey cloud of steam as it went along. The Niema River had calm waters, gently moving in a quiet undercurrent that made the surface almost seem still; but the boat churned a froth of chaotic waters rolling in its wake. And even the passengers of the boat stood out as being distinctly out of place: a drow captain tugged at the wheel to guide the boat along- navigating with half-opened eyes and a haze of cheap wine that hung around his head like a rolling mist- and a troubled looking goat who stood upright on two legs, staring out into the amber-purple skyline of dusk as if it held answers to questions he had been pondering for years.
William was keenly aware of how much they stood out, and for all his awareness could genuinely not care less. The trip was the first time in the past few years that he had been outside the borders of Alerar, and it struck his mind as surreal. In the years since abandoning his birthland of Raieara, he had embraced the nation of Alerar: its people, its culture, the constant grinding of gears turning and hissing of steam plumes in a world that was always moving.
Always alive.
The calm and quiet of nature was unsettling, and set his back itching as if small insects were crawling up and down his spine. The drow at the helm, the disruptive steamboat slicing through gentle waters was giving him the last bit of comfort as he ventured into this new world that seemed too peaceful, too serene.
Dead calm.
"We'll reach the docks *hic* soon enough, Mr. Stei... Mr. Sternrock. Should just... *burp* be a few hours. Won't take long for you to reach Radasanth from there." the captain of the boat belched out as the fog of wine-stench stretched further out from around his head.
William looked over his shoulder briefly and nodded. Normally, he'd have corrected the wino about his name, but given the circumstances, he even let that go. Reaching into his vest pocket, he pinched a gatefold paper between the cleft of his left hoof and drew it out. Looking at the paper- still safely folded- did not ease his discomfort with the too-fresh air or too-still waters; it only enhanced the feeling of unease, like a sore suddenly springing up at the gumline of an already rotten tooth. He turned it over in his hands a few times, handling it like it was going to explode at any second.
Guess we better make sure we're still on the right track, old chap. he thought to himself.
~~~~~
The paper had seemed so innocuous when he had mysteriously received it a week ago. At the time, he had assumed it was a mistake in the post: it had no writing that showed it was intended for him, not any sign of who had sent it. There was nothing particularly sinister or disconcerting about the contents when he first read it:
Come, see splendor and joy never before known!
The nice and generous sorcerer
Epsee
invites you to experience the
Chamber of Wonders
and the marvels it holds within!
It is everything a child could hope for!
That was all that was said with the careful, meticulous calligraphy that swooped through each letter, nothing more to the note but a wax seal pressed with the letter "E". Certainly, it had to have been a mistake. He had no children, and was certainly not a child himself. He had set it aside on a drawing desk in his flat, meaning to throw it out. If only he had remembered to actually do so...
~~~~~
As he stood on the bow of boat with the scene replaying in his head, he cautiously eased the flaps of the paper back, opening it to stare at the same painstakingly manicured script, the same wax pressing that looked back at him like an omniscient eye. Somewhere behind him, the drunken drow was mindlessly tugging the boat wheel in a haze, ignorant of the problem William faced. At that moment, the goat actually envied the drunkard.
~~~~~
This trip- as with every great tale, every adventure launched and every misfortune found- was birthed becuase of a woman.
Dalika Krybirr. William had helped lead an army alongside the drow girl's uncle in Alerar's campaign at Gisela. She was a studious, polite young lady who had immediately taken to friendship with William when they first met. In the months since then, they had only grown closer. They enjoyed long, engaging talks about politics and social issues; her insight and intelligence stood as a breath of fresh air to the usual bleating of political catchphrases or ideological fallacies that most people would spew in such conversations. Over the months they had visited each other more and more frequently. William was extremely fond of her, even more than he could ever really tell her.
It was when she had come by to visit him and saw the note that everything went sour. He can still envision the look of dread on her face, the tears streaking down her cheeks as she had picked it up. She had begun talking faster than her mouth- or William's brain- could keep up with, a stream of babbling rushing out between gasping breaths of panic. With the speed of an auctioneer, she had sputtered out the fact that she had seen the invitation before. One exactly like it had been delivered to her cousin a few months ago. Her cousin- a gentle young eight-year old drow- had gone missing the next day. Since then, they've heard less than a word about his whereabouts. To say that the family was worried would be the grossest of understatements.
Dalika begged William to investigate the matter, to take the invitation to the Chamber and find her cousin. She spoke an octave higher than normal. She looked up at him with big, leaking doe eyes that glimmered behind ill-fitting glasses. And even said please in the exaggerated manner where it has twenty e's in the middle that are only separated with pitiful sniffling gasps. William couldn't say no to that, especially from her. And she knew it.
That sneaky bitch.
~~~~~
William gently pressed his hoof against the wax seal, a faint green glow rising from beneath, sending rays of lime light splitting between the cleft of his hoof. As it had several times before now, the light raced off the page; a swirl of luminous green sparkles danced in the air like a drunk and dazed bumblebee in flight. William sighed gently and leaned forward against the stem of the boat's prow. Even if humans knew enough about capran features to fully recognize his expression, next to no one would be able to say if it was dejection or irritation on the goat's face. Though in all fairness, William wasn't sure himself which he felt.
Bugger all. Aye, this is the right way, sure enough.
The small mass of swirling green sparkles fluttered back towards his head, racing quick circles around his horns and ears. William half-heartedly batted a hoof at the twinkling lights. He knew that he couldn't actually hit them and make them disappear, but as with the dozens of times before, it didn't stop him from trying all the same. After a few seconds, the erratic sparkles shot away from his head and danced ahead of the boat along the gentle waters. It fluttered off towards the last torch-like glint of orange burning out on the darkening horizon, confirming their heading.
William was keenly aware of how much they stood out, and for all his awareness could genuinely not care less. The trip was the first time in the past few years that he had been outside the borders of Alerar, and it struck his mind as surreal. In the years since abandoning his birthland of Raieara, he had embraced the nation of Alerar: its people, its culture, the constant grinding of gears turning and hissing of steam plumes in a world that was always moving.
Always alive.
The calm and quiet of nature was unsettling, and set his back itching as if small insects were crawling up and down his spine. The drow at the helm, the disruptive steamboat slicing through gentle waters was giving him the last bit of comfort as he ventured into this new world that seemed too peaceful, too serene.
Dead calm.
"We'll reach the docks *hic* soon enough, Mr. Stei... Mr. Sternrock. Should just... *burp* be a few hours. Won't take long for you to reach Radasanth from there." the captain of the boat belched out as the fog of wine-stench stretched further out from around his head.
William looked over his shoulder briefly and nodded. Normally, he'd have corrected the wino about his name, but given the circumstances, he even let that go. Reaching into his vest pocket, he pinched a gatefold paper between the cleft of his left hoof and drew it out. Looking at the paper- still safely folded- did not ease his discomfort with the too-fresh air or too-still waters; it only enhanced the feeling of unease, like a sore suddenly springing up at the gumline of an already rotten tooth. He turned it over in his hands a few times, handling it like it was going to explode at any second.
Guess we better make sure we're still on the right track, old chap. he thought to himself.
~~~~~
The paper had seemed so innocuous when he had mysteriously received it a week ago. At the time, he had assumed it was a mistake in the post: it had no writing that showed it was intended for him, not any sign of who had sent it. There was nothing particularly sinister or disconcerting about the contents when he first read it:
Come, see splendor and joy never before known!
The nice and generous sorcerer
Epsee
invites you to experience the
Chamber of Wonders
and the marvels it holds within!
It is everything a child could hope for!
That was all that was said with the careful, meticulous calligraphy that swooped through each letter, nothing more to the note but a wax seal pressed with the letter "E". Certainly, it had to have been a mistake. He had no children, and was certainly not a child himself. He had set it aside on a drawing desk in his flat, meaning to throw it out. If only he had remembered to actually do so...
~~~~~
As he stood on the bow of boat with the scene replaying in his head, he cautiously eased the flaps of the paper back, opening it to stare at the same painstakingly manicured script, the same wax pressing that looked back at him like an omniscient eye. Somewhere behind him, the drunken drow was mindlessly tugging the boat wheel in a haze, ignorant of the problem William faced. At that moment, the goat actually envied the drunkard.
~~~~~
This trip- as with every great tale, every adventure launched and every misfortune found- was birthed becuase of a woman.
Dalika Krybirr. William had helped lead an army alongside the drow girl's uncle in Alerar's campaign at Gisela. She was a studious, polite young lady who had immediately taken to friendship with William when they first met. In the months since then, they had only grown closer. They enjoyed long, engaging talks about politics and social issues; her insight and intelligence stood as a breath of fresh air to the usual bleating of political catchphrases or ideological fallacies that most people would spew in such conversations. Over the months they had visited each other more and more frequently. William was extremely fond of her, even more than he could ever really tell her.
It was when she had come by to visit him and saw the note that everything went sour. He can still envision the look of dread on her face, the tears streaking down her cheeks as she had picked it up. She had begun talking faster than her mouth- or William's brain- could keep up with, a stream of babbling rushing out between gasping breaths of panic. With the speed of an auctioneer, she had sputtered out the fact that she had seen the invitation before. One exactly like it had been delivered to her cousin a few months ago. Her cousin- a gentle young eight-year old drow- had gone missing the next day. Since then, they've heard less than a word about his whereabouts. To say that the family was worried would be the grossest of understatements.
Dalika begged William to investigate the matter, to take the invitation to the Chamber and find her cousin. She spoke an octave higher than normal. She looked up at him with big, leaking doe eyes that glimmered behind ill-fitting glasses. And even said please in the exaggerated manner where it has twenty e's in the middle that are only separated with pitiful sniffling gasps. William couldn't say no to that, especially from her. And she knew it.
That sneaky bitch.
~~~~~
William gently pressed his hoof against the wax seal, a faint green glow rising from beneath, sending rays of lime light splitting between the cleft of his hoof. As it had several times before now, the light raced off the page; a swirl of luminous green sparkles danced in the air like a drunk and dazed bumblebee in flight. William sighed gently and leaned forward against the stem of the boat's prow. Even if humans knew enough about capran features to fully recognize his expression, next to no one would be able to say if it was dejection or irritation on the goat's face. Though in all fairness, William wasn't sure himself which he felt.
Bugger all. Aye, this is the right way, sure enough.
The small mass of swirling green sparkles fluttered back towards his head, racing quick circles around his horns and ears. William half-heartedly batted a hoof at the twinkling lights. He knew that he couldn't actually hit them and make them disappear, but as with the dozens of times before, it didn't stop him from trying all the same. After a few seconds, the erratic sparkles shot away from his head and danced ahead of the boat along the gentle waters. It fluttered off towards the last torch-like glint of orange burning out on the darkening horizon, confirming their heading.