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[Redcoat]

OOC: Due to my absence in the coming few days, Vithar is the temporary acting viceroy of Wyrmslayer. Do what he says. !

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The party marched along the Imperial highway, their wounds healed and bellies full after escaping the tyranny of the Woods. Their journey had been safe since then, and much time had been spent getting to know one another, as well as anticipating the next stop on their journey South.

Before them towered the walls of Otavia, a southern trade city-state with a proud seafaring tradition and history of naval dominance in the area. It had inns, shops, and virtually any good produced on the Southern coast, alongside a developed and complex culture; it also had a long-standing rivalry with inland and more guttural Stormguard. The blue and white banner of the city flew over an open, inviting gate.

"Welcome to the Seawall City!" Anikus said with some fondness. "Ah, how I love the salt and spray... come now! We have business to perform here..."

They entered the city proper. It was a built-up stone fortress, host to a number of gardens, cobbled streets, and small, well-ordered buildings. An ocean breeze blew through the city, bringing plenty of moisture along with it; the sewer system appeared to deal with heavy rains quite often. For now, the sun shone.

Anikus began explaining exactly why they were here. "Aside from the excellent sights to see, wonderful food and pirate brawls to be had, Otavia also happens to be the closest appreciable port to the Thousand Islands chain, which is exactly where we're going... for an artifact." Noticing the disinterest among his party, the scholar spoke up slightly. "It's worth a fortune," he said to newly raised eyebrows, "if I'm in the right arena at all."

"The Shards of Rao, supposed to be a long-lost artifact of the Kyuukei civilization. Mysterious buggers, they are, but when it comes down to it, the historical knowledge to be gained is enormous, beyond more earthly rewards..."

[King Calamity]

"Ah, I like the sound of that!"  Tri'tas said, "And this sounds like a fine city!  Before we go treasure hunting I'd like to relax for a short time and see what this place has to offer.  All I need is a stiff drink and a fine woman!"

[Vithar Megilaglar]

Takeshi and Sakura turned around instantly, staring straight at Anikus.

"You mentioned the 'Shards of Rao'?" Sakura looked up. "Interestingly enough, there is a legend about this...I mean, these artefacts."

"Indeed. To tell the whole of the legend would require someone with an intimate knowledge of the Legend of Rao. Since neither of us are Chroniclers, we only know what we can remember. As Kyuukeians, we are told the Legend of Rao once, and what we can remember, we remember. Now, let us not worry about ancient history and move on with our...quest."

Takeshi and Sakura turned around as if nothing had happened.

:How, Takeshi, would he know of the Shards?:

:I know not. We must be watchful from here on out. I don't know what he, or anyone else, human or greater, has planned. But the coming days are going to be...eventful.:

[Lyon]

"As long as it will line my pockets, I'm fine with whatever you want to do," said Kaethe happily. She poked Tri'tas in the arm. "And what's wrong with the woman you have now, eh?" she added teasingly.

Telchi winced. "Please, try to keep things... ermm... civil."

[Chef]

"These Shards that you speak of intrigue me," Grimlain said thoughtfully. "I remember hearing something of the legend long ago, though now I can scarcely remember it."

Grimalin walked silent for a moment trying to recall anything about it, but failed in doing so.  He sighed and shook his head.

"I guess it is unimportant at the moment," he said. "It is only a legend after all.  Legends often seem to be bits of rubbish pieced together by some excited idiot.  Those Shards are probably long gone by now."

[Lyon]

"Unless they have a dragon guardian of some sort," Kaethe chuckled. "In which case they're nice and safe, unless of course the scaly old blighter has gone out and spent them." She frowned. "Although, come to think of it, the legend may have mentioned some kind of guardian..."

[King Calamity]

"Tri'tas chuckled, "Unless that's an invitation, I feel the answer to that question is quite obvious."  He said to Kaethe, "Ah, to ravish that most feminine, and...  well, I think you know what I mean."

Tri'tas thought for a moment more before returning to the topic at hand.  "And who cares about legends, and whether they're true or not,"  he said to Grimlain, "It's worth something, and it's not as if you have anything better to do."

[Chef]

Grimlain wondered about the guardian that Kaethe mentioned out of the blue.  It would be interesting indeed to meet the guardian in combat, whatever it was.  If it was old enough to be keeping an ancient artifact for that long, it had to be powerful.  Grimlain chuckled at Tri'tas last remark.

"Hmm," Grimlain replied to Tri'tas. "For once you say the truth.  Very strange of you...  Are you sure you are feeling all right?"

[Vithar Megilaglar]

Takeshi spun around, tensed up and with a fist formed. He stared at the others, then relaxed, settling back into his normal stance.

"Indeed, it may be called a Legend, but it is not. There are more than one account of this so-called Legend, and each gives the exact same series of events. Also, Kaethe, there are...guardians defending each Shard. What the Guardian Constructs are, no one knows. They are going to be different for each Shard. Also...No, forget it."

Takeshi gauged their reactions. He didn't tell them one important nugget of information. There really wasn't much involved in finding these Shards. Except getting to the Shard.

[Lyon]

"Whoa, calm down!" said Kaethe, noticing the man's overreaction. "Just because it's one of your peoples' lege--err, I mean, artifacts, doesn't mean you need to get so defensive!" She held up her hands placatingly.

[Vithar Megilaglar]

Takeshi stopped, looking down and taking a few deep breaths. Then he look back up.

"My apologies. To those of us in the Keibatsu Kyuukei, we never expected others not of the Keibatsu to know of this Legend. It is, one might say, a very important Legend to our people. Just as your people might have yours. Although, I don't know why it's called a Legend. No one does. Perhaps it has something to do with the scale of the artefacts or the power used to make them. Or it. I've never claimed much understanding of the Legends and Stories of old. Sakura knows more, but she can't tell anyone, really."

Takeshi took a few more deep breaths.

[Phantom]

Alec could tell Takeshi was upset... something was wrong. Alec didn't care about legends, all he wanted to do was kill his prey and collect the money. But there was another part of Alec that liked these people... he wasn't sure he wanted to ditch them so soon. He felt like he was being split in two. But he soon decided to hang with the group. The money could wait.

[Kamikaze_X]

Thalmir watched the members of this unfamiliar party he had recently acquainted himself with. The news of these Kyuukei artifacts, the shards, although worth much in the form of currency, it was worth next to nothing to Thalmir. He never wished for great wealth, nor ever wanted to live in a large home. The clothes he had suited him just fine, and the weapons he owned were passed down heirlooms, therefore worth more to him than any amount of money. And yet... the idea of site-seeing and the journey to find these shards intrigued him, although it did sound dangerous. He knew how to defend himself well of course, and was a survivor in the wilderness who could adapt to many conditions that a normal man couldn't.

As he watched the others grow excited over such a valuable item, Thalmir stayed silent and watched. Whatever the profit that they would earn with such shards, should they be sold or bartered, Thalmir decided he would give up his own share (if he got one). Thus, Thamlmir would go along with this for the journey itself.

[Lyon]

Telchi noticed that Thalmir wasn't all that excited either, and worked his way over to the other warrior. "If there is a guardian, the two of us will probably be doing most of the work," he said with a faint smile. "You seem to have recovered well, friend."

[Kamikaze_X]

Thalmir smiled faintly and glanced to Telchi.

"The only reason I am standing right now is because of your efforts, I am grateful."

Looking to the part again, and back to Telchi, he wondered what this adventure would bring them. He knew that these "Guardians" would be a force to be reckoned with. They were made by the ancients after all.. Looking back to Telchi, he said,

"I have lived in the woods... off of the woods for as long as I can remember. I was raised, and grew up in the wilderness. And yet, I am excited to leave that territory that I am so familiar with to explore others. However... what we shall find at the end of this journey, I just hope it was to this parties reckoning and not something that we all shall regret." Thalmir said thoughtfully.

[Lyon]

"Well, if whatever we encounter is beyond our reckoning, I doubt that we'll survive long enough to have regrets," said Telchi with another grim attempt at humor. "Still, we have untold amounts of treasure to look forward to... artifacts like the Shards usually come with a large hoard." He looked dreamily off into space. "Perhaps I could find a better pair of swords," he mused. "These two are getting rather worn, don't you think?"

[Kamikaze_X]

Thalmir glanced back at his own Claymore and the trusty bow that he kept with his quiver. Looking to Telchi, he grinned.

"Untold amounts of treaure you say? Hmmm, well, I know I don't need any of that.. so why don't you take whatever my share of the treasure would be. Consider it as a debt re-payed by me. I mean.. you saved me from Shamblings, you healed me up, and I am standing right now. You can have what I would receive."

[Lyon]

"And if I find you a better claymore, then it'll be a gift from me," said Telchi, matching Thalmir's grin. He looked back at the others, who were still talking. "I wonder when we're going to be on our way."

[Redcoat]

"Right away, Telchi," Anikus said as he overheard the swordsman. "Our first stop is the docks. I have a--well, it's best if you see for yourselves."

And they were off, through the wide streets of Otavia. They were somewhat crowded at this hour, but the party made their way through without violence, trog, or incident towards the Seaport quarter of the city. After passing through a modest wall between the Port disctrict and the city proper, they stepped into a far more foreboding world--the presence of the guards seemed to vanish. The smell of the sea grew ever stronger as they approached, followed by the wafting stench of fish and tar; the next corner revealed an armada of ships of every type, flying all sorts of colours, carrying what must have amounted to anything a man could need. The piers stretched out into sea a fair distance.

Anikus turned away from this scene of industry and down a back alley. Even this smelled better--it was not death to small animals--and it turned out onto the shore again. There sat a small wooden shack which looked as though it hadn't been fixed up in a dozen years; next to it was a small wooden cover, which looked quite conspicuous.

The scholar yelled in the direction of the shack. "Oy! Nero! I know you're in there!"

The door opened and a man stumbled out. At least, it was probably a man; he could have been manufactured, by the looks of it. He had not one, but two wooden legs, and was out an arm; his left eye was patched raggedly. His hair had not seen a comb in longer than his house had seen repair, though he at least looked clean. His gait was wobbly and haphazard, as if he might fall over and spontaneously disassemble at any moment.

With metallic hand--was it a gauntlet or the actual device!?--he grasped a railing to stand up. His mouth opened slowly and he began speaking in an incredibly hoarse voice.

"Anik! You're still alive! Bugger, I ought to pay my assassins more!" he said with a laugh as he approached. "What brings you and these lubbers to Otavia?"

"A boat, Captain," he mentioned with some seriousness. "Do you still have it?"

The man chuckled. "You think I'm in a state to sail it, lad? Take it. It's just over there in the shed."

[Chef]

Grimlain looked at the captain with a very quizzical expression on his face. I doubt there's even half of this man left! Grimlain thought to himself, not wanting to say it our loud. I don't understand how he can survive like that!  Grimlain ignored the man's outstanding appearance and thought about the situation at hand.  This man was giving them a boat after all.  Apparently Anikus had some relations that Grimlain would have never thought of.

"A boat, eh?" Grimlain said to Anikus. "I didn't know you had experience with such things.  You hardly look like a sailor if you ask me."