Meridia; Chapter 2: Out of the Frying Pan
 

It was nearly a week later that they spotted land dead ahead. The Lakelands, a peninsula that stuck out from Mainland Neher, protected from Druth advances by deadly mountans and treatcherous marshes that bordered the peninsula. There, they could see the open mouth of the Channal that would lead them to the Great Lake that gave the country its name. from the lake flowed a deep, wide river to the open waters of the sea. The only other way out of Meridia was the Daring Strait. Only one man had ever crossed that alive, Adrian Trinbi himself. It might have been only fair that the lakelanders demanded a fee to enter the channal and dock at the city. However the Lakelanders had a fee to enter the cannal. They not only had a fee to dock, but a requirement that one must dock. They also had a fee to leave. This was why, in the outer oceans, it was vital that they make a substantial profit before returning. A Trinian was not going to be out-pirated by a bunch of self-important land-lubbers.

When they approached within sight of the structures on the shore, a small boat rowed out to them, took his fee, and piloted them through numerous sholls that had been placed within the cannal to prevent any foolish ship from getting through without paying the toll. And soon they were pulled up to dock in Lake City, the Port of Many Waters, they would spend the required one night at dock while Brenu haggled with the portkeepers, into the wider ocean.

As Brenu left, he noticed a man in black cleric's robes pass him. Upon the man's forhead seemed to be... a symbol, branded black, of a flickering flame within a circle. <Odd. I've never seen that sign before...> but he had little time to think about it as the dock manager aproached him and began to give him the obscene price he expected them to pay for various criteria that the Wyvern met in the tarrif regulations.

OOC: ok ive been away for a couple of days. someone please fill me in on whats happened

(OOC: We've been sailing. That's it. Oh, and a lot of us got drink, and we started singing.)

Instead of going down the ramp, Crow decided to simply jump off the boat. When he landed, he looked around.

"Where's the bar around here? I need a drink."

Crow saw something that resembled a bar just a little bit away, and he headed over.

Inside the bar, Joe was nursing a rum when he saw John come in.

"Oh, it's you. Want a rum?"

He offered his former captain a shotglass.

Kia wasn't in the mood to drink so she went off to explore the town. "Geez, it's the middle of the day and they're already drinking, crazy pirates." It was a nice place with lots of venders selling their wares. But.."This place is boring! No wonder pirates drink, there's nothing else to do." She made for the bar sighing, "maybe I can get into a bar fight."

Crow took the glass, and emptied it.

"Ah. That's the stuff. A pirate's only truly happy when he's drunk." Crow took another drink. He saw a small band playing a song. Crow took another drink. He was now officially drunk. He went up to the band.

"No, no, no. That's not a good song. I'll show you a good song!" Crow told the musicians a tune, and they started to play. Crow jumped up onto a table, and with a drink in his hand, began to drunkily sing.

"Well, I'd rather be a pirate on scabb...
Than a scab on a pirate.
And if ye listen to me gab,
I'll tell ya why I admire it!
Oh, the people aren't too friendly,
the weather's not the best.
The lodging's too expensive, and Largo's quite a pest.
But the thing I like about Scabb
Is what it HASN'T got.
No mayor or police force,
And no jail in which to rot."

As a treasure hunter he felt that he had a very good sense of direction. However, for some reason he had trouble finding the local bars in this city. Too many damn people here.

Eventually he did make it to his destination, and by then he was relieved. Being on a boat never was enjoyable, but at least now he could finally celebrate. His thoughts were along the lines of Kia's, he too wanted to get into a fight.

I've been bored the last week. Time to drink and have some fun.

(OOC: we're in the lakelands, right?)

Syphrin sat in the bar, not because she wanted a drink, but because she was originally from the Lakelands and she didn't want to be recognised. She was drinking water and observing everything that was happening in the pub.

(OOC alright, I won't be around much this weekend because of three reasons: We took my beloved computer in for upgrades-I'm spending the night at a friend's house-and I'm going to support my friends in their competition tomorrow, which could last a long time. So... uh... I know I'm going to be TOTALLY left behind, but if you could, just say Syphrin has been following along with everyone and just keeping reletively quiet. ^^;; Just giving you all the heads-up.)

Yosuke was ambling about the town looking at various things but making sure he kept close to the boat in case he got lost. He ambled past a bar and watched one of the crew members staggering around on a table with a mug in hand singing. Yosuke laughed and shook his head and then kept on walking.

Just as he was about to turn around he heard the familiar and quite disturbing sound of several swords being drawn. Yosuke turned around to see four burly individuals pointing swords at him. One of them spoke "alright mate, we want ya sword, ya bow, ya armour and if possible your life too." Yosuke gave them a cynical look "needless to say my equipment is not nearly as expensive as you thought it was. Why I got this sword valued only last week and I'm sad to say that you'd probably only get around 200 gold pieces for it" The thug shrugged "thats still enough to get the lot of us drunk for the week. So either hand over the goods or we'll be prying from..." Yosuke nodded "...from my cold dead fingers. Yes I'm familiar with the saying. Now then why arn't you swinging those things you call swords yet? I'm clearly resisting" the thugs all shrugged and swung at him. Even before they started moving Yosuke's sword was out and had already parried the attack. Yosuke shoved them away and shifted his position making sure that he had an opening at the back in case things became to hectic. One of them swung again. Yosuke stepped to his left and drove the hild of his sword down on the top of his head, knocking the first one unconcious. The second one lunged. Yosuke this time parring the overhead attack and turning his sword around so the blunt edge faced them. The thug swung again with another overhead chop. This time he stomped on the sword's flat edge and delivered two blows to the thug's ribs then another to one of the thug's knee caps shattering it instantly. The thug dropped to the ground howling in pain clutching his knee. Yosuke skittered the sword away from the fight and turned to the last two who had suddenly become the last four thanks to reinforcements "alright four more. Dammit I could really use some help..."

Corgan had run out fo rum a few days ago, and was gald to get bakc to the unrestricted flow of alcohol at the pub. He was downing whiskey instead of that weak rum, and laughed as he saw Crow singing and dancing with the band. He had a high alcohol tolerance though, and was soberly keeping an eye on the rest of the bar as he drank.