The Great Escape.

[Sven]

The city was sleeping. It was sometime around midnight and Sven quickly made his way through back roads and dark alleyways. His steel toe boots echoed across the faded cobblestone paths. It was almost pitch black, the night air was freezing and the harsh wind only made things worse. Sven quickly rushed through the dark city corridors, nearing ever so closer to the dock. There was a shipment of exported lumber arriving from Corone. The ship would unload its goods and then set sails back to its home country. Sven planned to catch that ship. Vlerise was hell, and the goverment was its devil. Sven couldn't take any more beatings, or anymore late night raids from the guards. He had had enough of hell. As he winded around corners and alleys, the old saying "The grass is always greener on the other side" raced through his mind. He thought to himself, Hmmph the grass has to be greener on the other side, there isn't even any grass on this side to be green.... Sven gave a faint grin at the remark he had made. The boy was very sarcastic and had a knack for making fun of things. He always tried to turn things into a joke, it altered his mind into thinking things weren't so bad.

Sven had been running for some time now and was losing his breath. He stopped for a moment. As he gazed up, a smile grew on his pale face. The top of the lighthouse peeked over the maze of ragged buildings. Soon Sven was filled with excitement and sprinted towards the lighthouse. The sound of small waves crashing upon the jagged shoreline was becoming clearer. One more turn and Sven was standing on the St.Havion port. He crept down and hid in a shadow as he peered out, taking in every bit of motion he saw. One mistake, one mess up could get him killed on sight. The goverment doesn't allow anyone out of thier homes past eight o clock. It was past midnight. But even worse, the boy was making an escape.

The dock was old and rugged. Two guards patrolled the dock the ship would arrive at. Sven put on his black hood, and began to silently creep over to the goods that would be traded in exchange for the lumber. A pyramid of crates were in sight for the boy and he quickly made his way to them, staying in the shadows. Once he had neared a box, he opened the lid and climbed in. There was absolutely no room to move. The boy barely fit, his swords, trenchcoat and whatever he was laying on, all were compacted into the small box. I am not a damn contortionist, besides what the hell is this im laying on? Whatever it was, it was soft,wet and mushy. He grabbed a piece and felt it with his hands. He couldn't see a thing and had to go by touch and smell. Meat. Raw, bloody meat.In box also. Shows how much our goverment cares for the safety of the consumers. This will be swarming with maggots by the time it reaches corone.

Sven opened the lid. He began grabbing as much meat as possible and throwing it in a shadowed corner. Soon the box was empty. Sven climbed back in and awaited his departure. After all the boxes had been boarded, they had come to his. Sven soon felt him self being carried onto the ramp aboard the ship. He stayed put and listened in. "Alright its all on thier, now start unloading the lumber and we also need a docking fee." The foreign man cleared his throat. "I have your fee, its right here." Sven listened to the faint conversation. He heard no reply from the guards. That was strange, usually they always had a smart ass remark to throw in after every sentence. They almost always had the last word. Not this time. Soon the foreign men were running up the ramp and setting sail.

[Orion]

((OOC: I hope this wasn't a solo quest or anything. If it is i'm sorry and i'll delete this post on your request.))

The day was breaking. The sun was just starting to squint over the deep blue waters of the open ocean. Almost no sound broke the tranquility of the morning save for the steady, monotonous dashing of silver-lined waves against the bow of the immense sailing vessle. No booming voices of men shouting orders yet broke the calm of the dawning day. A great, white eagle soared overhead, peering around at the glimmering water, hoping to spot a steel-head trout, or even a yellowtail flounder to make his morning meal. The eagle flew on into the horizon toward the sun and disappeared into its radiant golden light. A single soul stirred on the hull of the ship. Orion, a young man of only 21 years, sat up on top of the outer wall of the ship. He had one leg up on the wall, the other dangled freely over the side. The young man had his hood up over his head, and stared off into the distance, deep in thought. He was fingering the razor-like edge of his steel katana which he had recently pulled from its resting place on his back. The sun's scintillating light danced across the polished blade as Orion tilted it back and forth. He cocked his head to the right as he heard a disturbance behind him.

One of the other crew members' had awaken. He pushed his way through the door and onto the deck of the ship. The man yawned and stretched as he shielded his fragile eyes from the relentless light of the giant golden ball of fire that rose in all its glory in the east. Orion turned fully around to see who it was that had risen so early in the morning. He was almost always the only man awake in the mornings. He liked the calm of the early sea when no one was awake to scream at him and tell him to get to work.

"Up so early, Gregory?" Orion called over to his shipmate. The man was quite older than Orion; probably in his late thirties. He wore a pair of black pants, a white, linen shirt, and over that a red vest. He was balding in the center of his head, and had a scruffy look about him. His face covered in stubble, and looked as if he had missed shaving the previous morning. The man turned toward Orion, mumbling some inaudible words, and then stumbled over to the opposite side of the ship. He pulled out a small coin and started fingering it. Upon noticing that Orion was still looking at him, the man quickly put it into his side pocket and glared at the young man. Orion turned away and laughed silently.

Orion had taken this job of "deck hand" to earn himself a handful of much needed coins. He would be paid 50 gold coins for the entire 2 month journey with food included. The food was awful but he found the early mornings at sea very peaceful, and peace was something that he did not often feel. He had been on the ship for fifty six total days. That day was the fifty seventh, and on the next morning, according to the other crew members, they would reach their next port. They were picking up some goods from a small town, unknown to Orion, and then heading off to deliver it. After they delivered the goods, Orion's job would be up, and he could take his papers, collect his money and leave. He would enjoy getting off of the ship and living on land for a while.

An hour or so later, the sun had risen higher so that all of it could be viewed. It was going to be a hot day. Most of the other crew members were awake, or just then awakening. The captain was up, and everyone was starting to get to work hoisting the sails and making ready for launch. There was a strong wind blowing that morning. Orion thought cheerfully, "We might even make the next port before tomorrow morning." He helped to lift the sails and get ready for take off. A man climbed up into the crow's nest. Other men began to scrub the deck of the ship, and the cooks were just starting breakfast. No one had screamed at Orion yet. "Well i'll be damned." Orion thought to himself, "This may just be a very good day." Orion worked hard until the day was done. He was ready to go ashore when the reached the port the next morning. There were a few things he wanted to do before they left again. He went to sleep easy that night, dreaming of the end of his voyage and the money that was waiting for him at its end.