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Nobility
Merchant Guild Leader
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Anything for the right price
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Manthiran
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Post by Severin Seigrun on Apr 1, 2023 23:40:48 GMT -5
Few goings on in farvald did not reach the ears of Severin. Well when it came to things that mattered. The merchants guild had been an incredibly effective way for him to keep tabs on the city. Including a steady report of any interesting persons entering the port.
Which was why on occasion Severin found himself visiting the tavern partially just to show face enough that travelers felt the presence of house siegrun in more than just name.
He entered the somewhat vile smelling pub with his usual guard left to wait near the tavern door. With the tavern as busy as it was one would be forgiven for thinking Severin wasn't noticed. After all he did not wear his house sigil when rubbing shoulders with commoners. Donning clothes that while definitely the finery of a nobleman had a more restrained color pallet.
Subtly a few of the boisterous sailors grew a little quieter and some seem to be doing their best to pretend they weren’t anxiously eyeing the door. Severin himself sweeped his eyes about the room and quickly found a target.
A lone takinier looking surly indeed.
He could just be having a bad run of it, or perhaps that was simply the nature of his face but…
Lately there had been more of them, takinier sent here in exile. While the siegrun house in general was in favor of takinier (given their traffic to the port) it was Severin who had initiated some of the more generous care packages for such exiles. He was happy to provide hospitality when so often it yielded useful information. Some were too proud for such frivolity, too loyal to wish to dispose of any secrets or discuss their exile.
Otherwise quite intimidating men graciously parted ways to allow Sevrin to walk to the table the Takinier was seated at. It was as if Severin were made of fire and they would be burned should he bump into them.
Once Severin took the seat at the table opposite the foreigner everyone seemed to resume again just a tad less loudly. A barmaid scurried over and he held up two fingers. "Another for our friend and I'll have a round as well." He announced with a sharp smile.
Though at this point the bar maids likely would have known the order whether he said it or not.
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Exile
Manthiran Army Captain
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North
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121 posts
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Taknieri
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Post by Hunt Valier on Apr 2, 2023 0:42:40 GMT -5
[about a year ago]
He wasn't supposed to be here.
Hunt rested both arms on the dark wooden table in the corner, head resting on one forearm, staring sideways at the empty mug to his left. With his left hand, he traced a deep slash that ran perpendicular to the grain, where some sort of blade had sunk deep a long time ago. While the entire dark tavern smelled of fish and grease and salt, this close to the table, all he could smell was alcohol.
The exile's attention was on none of these things, the tactile feedback and smells doing little to ground him to the moment. Most of the other patrons had left him alone, for which he was grateful. He was tired of fending off would be cutpurses and overzealous patriots. Despite his common robes and coat, he hadn't been on the road long enough to hide that he was at least some sort of nobility. His sharp handsome features didn't do him any favors in blending in, especially with his companion out attempting to find work. At least one of them had to be productive, otherwise he wouldn't be able to afford his tab.
He didn't look up at the sound of the chair being pulled out and someone settling into it. His first guess was Kaz, come back early. But the weight of the steps felt too light. The sound of his clothes didn't carry the soft brush of armor and cloth and his boots didn't clink like Kaz's. Come to think of it, the tavern was a lot quieter than it had been a bit ago, so that he could actually hear the music in addition to some of the closer conversations he had been blocking out.
Hunt drew his lips into a tight line. "You're not Kaz," he mumbled, still not bothering to look up. He was very clearly more than one drink in. Not that he would turn down another, but he was hesitant. Taverns were not places of charity.
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Nobility
Merchant Guild Leader
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Anything for the right price
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Manthiran
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Post by Severin Seigrun on Apr 2, 2023 1:20:27 GMT -5
Severin was amused by this response and while he could easily see the man was disgruntled, he wasn't openly hostile either.
He offered a short sharp laugh to the statement of fact. That the takinier was speaking to him at all was a foot in the door.
"I am not, actually I think you will find not a single one of those letters is in my name."
The barmaid arrived quickly, placing a mug in front of the takinier and one in front of severin. He waved her off and she was gone just as quickly. He knew that she would already know to come bring another mug if it seemed that Severin's companion had run dry. A few mugs of even the hard stuff was a cheap price to pay for loosened lips.
He held up the mug in a mock cheers"I would ask what brings a man like yourself to a tavern like this, but judging by the stooper you're in I'm guessing it's not a lovely story." Then he took a swig and "Then again you could say I collect sob stories."
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Exile
Manthiran Army Captain
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121 posts
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Taknieri
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Post by Hunt Valier on Apr 2, 2023 7:38:54 GMT -5
The Taknieri wanted little to do with strangers. But he also didn't have the energy to remove himself or make the other man leave him alone. The laughter made him uneasy, but mostly because this wasn't the first night he had been drinking. Hunt didn't quite follow what he was saying about his name but he gathered it was a joke of some sort.
He only looked up when the sound of mugs hit the table. Lifting his head for a moment to survey the table and glance over his unwanted companion, pale eyes flashing in Severin's direction for a moment. Hunt groaned and settled his head back on his arms. Not just any stranger, but a bloody handsome noble one. He should have known the later from the quick service.
A man like him in a place like this. He snorted in sad amusement and reached over to pull the new mug into his field of view, toying with the handle. The notion of collecting sob stories made him uneasy. Clearly the man had singled him out on purpose. "You want something, sir?" Hunt tried to stand on Taknieri formality to help keep distance between them.
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Merchant Guild Leader
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Anything for the right price
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Manthiran
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Post by Severin Seigrun on Apr 2, 2023 14:58:12 GMT -5
Severin watched the man look up and actually see him for the first time in their conversation. It seemed the takinier wasn't too pleased with what he saw. Not that it really dissuaded him. He heard the formal tone and knew that some level of caution was being thrown his way. Both of these things he more or less had expected. What reason would he have to trust a stranger nobleman? He looked over what he could see of his pale eyed companion.
"That I am still deciding~" he answered playfully.
There was a distinct lack of….alertness. Perhaps he felt his coin would protect him, or more likely he wasn't worried about ending any fight that came his way.
He looked strong. When it came to takinier noblemen that meant the sword. Normally that came with a swiftness. Severin wasn't sure how many mugs of rum or ale it took to slosh that swiftness but he was willing to find out.
He took a swig from his own mug and leaned his arms on the table as if to lean in. "But- I suppose I was the one to interrupt your wallowing. It would be rude not to introduce myself. I am…..associated with the Merchants guild. Severin."
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Exile
Manthiran Army Captain
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North
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121 posts
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Taknieri
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Post by Hunt Valier on Apr 2, 2023 21:54:49 GMT -5
The veiled implication he didn't know what he wanted from him didn't make him feel better. Playful or not. Because in Hunt's personal experience, nobles always knew what they wanted. What they didn't do was openly share that information. Because information was power.
It wasn't just nobles that practice swordsmanship, though the art was certainly much more prevalent in the Primarium ranks what with all the free time. Hunt was no exception to the rule either, considering he had made it his hobby and wanted to make it his profession. Of course, "professional duelist" was frowned upon for first born sons.
He rolled his eyes. So his depression was obvious. He knew what he was advertising. At least the man acknowledged his impoliteness. With the exchanging of names, he reached for his drink properly and straightened up so he could take a swallow. Hunt hesitated a little at the vaguely familiar name, especially associated with this region. But he was too drunk to place it precisely. Probably meant the man was indeed a noble. Maybe important. "Hunt," he answered, trying to give himself another moment to place the name and failing. "What's a man like yourself doing in a place like this, my lord?" he bluffed.
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Merchant Guild Leader
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Anything for the right price
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Post by Severin Seigrun on Apr 2, 2023 22:48:45 GMT -5
Severin was someone pleased to find that the man didn't immediately recognize his name. While he wouldn't have said that his name was outright inconspicuous locals certainly knew, especially those that did business with the guild like this tavern. He liked the upper hand of not immediately revealing exactly how much weight his word carried in this city. Which of course was heavy indeed.
Though he also knew very little about the nobility in Takinier considering his time there had been incredibly brief. More akin to a short vacation than enough time to actually study.
He feigned slight surprise at the question "hm? Oh yes. I suppose the guild is new even for Manthir. Let us say that I am keeping an eye out for changes that merchants might find….interesting. As for why you specifically well, the guild is somewhat in charge of ensuring continued good will between Farvald and Takinier traders. They are our biggest source of imports afterall." his eyes watched hunt swallow with a predatory gaze "but you are no merchant."
Severin rested his head in his hand, that same sharp smile on his features and bemusement in his eyes. "Planning to make a living off your blade?~"
If so Severin would be quite happy to oblige. He had a talent for finding good muscle just as well as he could sniff out a good secret.
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Exile
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121 posts
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Taknieri
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Post by Hunt Valier on Apr 3, 2023 0:40:17 GMT -5
Hunt had spent very little time in Manthir before the last week. Children in Taknier were schooled and raised communal until they came of age. From then on, he was expected to complete an archaic right of passage into manhood and then learn how to lead, in both his house and the military. It left very little time for travel. While Taknier was welcoming in many regards to their knowledge of medicine and industry, they were selective and prideful, sometimes to the point of disdain of other countries. Travel abroad was uncommon. Hence why exile could be quite a shock. Hunt wouldn't say that was his problem but it was a good excuse.
That nobleman either didn't catch his meaning or chose to pretend as much. Just because they were both using first names meant very little. It was perhaps the opposite of what Hunt had been taught was proper etiquette and it irked him despite himself. Knowing a first name was one thing. Using it another. And even should he be familiar with someone, their surname was a form of respect.
"No," he echoed as the man got around to his point as determined he wasn't a merchant. He had no physical goods to provide. He took another drink and turned his gaze to the bar and the patrons there, not really looking at any of them but feigning disinterest. "I think you have me confused with someone planning to make a living," he murmured rather morbidly. He did glanced down at the sword on his hip. To anyone else, he wore it naturally. But this wasn't the blade he had worked with all his short life. But he could make do.
Even should he and Kaz get the coin to charter a ship, any ship, Hunt had no plans. He had even less desire. If the soldier hadn't been exiled along side him, he likely would have drunk himself unconscious a week ago. It would avoid the hollow feeling in his chest but it wouldn't make him whole again.
He dragged his gaze away from the sword. Kaz had already forbid him from entering any duels here. Not that he had heard of any.
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Merchant Guild Leader
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Anything for the right price
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Manthiran
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Post by Severin Seigrun on Apr 3, 2023 1:41:54 GMT -5
Severin was under no delusion they were close simply because they had exchanged names. Nor did he expect his own name to be actually used by the man casually. Well unless this encounter went somewhere else entirely.
The way that the takinier was sulking over his mug and now clearly feigning disinterest was strangely endearing to Severin. Usually he found himself disinterested in persons so clearly lacking ambition or drive. This one was different somehow, or perhaps he was just very visually appealing.
His offer of work ruffled Hunt's feathers quite a bit. Though judging from the muttering it wasn’t necessarily the sell sword part the man disagreed with? The surly attitude made it a little difficult to tell which part specifically had made the man upset.
"I see, what a disappointment." He lamented slightly dramatically but his feigned disappointment didn't last long. He signaled a refill and placed another mug in front of hunt. This time with something a bit stronger. The gaze that had lingered on a blade had not gone unnoticed. If it weren’t that hunt looked more ready to use said blade on himself than anyone in the tavern Severin would have taken it as a threat.
Only a fool would dare to threaten Severin in a tavern like this in Farvold. They would learn a quick and fatal lesson indeed.
Though if anyone had noticed then the fact that Severin was still casually offering the man a drink should dissuade them from actually doing something that might ruin Severin's little game.
Afterall he couldn't find out how many drinks it took if the man felt threatened and stopped drinking.
"Well can't blame me for trying. " he cast his eyes about the tavern as if following where hunt had been looking and then let his gaze fall back on hunt. "Are you perhaps waiting for someone? "
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Exile
Manthiran Army Captain
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North
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121 posts
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Taknieri
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Post by Hunt Valier on Apr 3, 2023 15:30:44 GMT -5
Hunt had had a lot of drive once. Certainly that fire was a smoldering pile of ashes and coals buried somewhere deep down. It was an emotion one could completely remove from themselves, but at the moment, that figurative hole in his chest carried a lot more weight than it deserved. He glanced over at his company as he was called a disappointment. He hardly cared what this strangers thought of him, yet the man wasn't wrong.
He hadn't quite finished the first free drink when the next arrived. He considered it for a long moment, mostly on the grounds that he recalled he had very little coin on his person and there wouldn't be paying the man back. Not with rings, anyway. But after three or four drinks already, the more alert and cautious part of his brain was a soft background noise. Hunt planned on getting plastered until Kaz returned. What did it matter whether he owed the tavern keeper or a patron?
Even still, he felt physically capable. Enough. Slouched though he was in his chair, he was holding himself up as well as holding some conversation. Last night, Kaz had dragged him away after only six drinks. The more the merrier. He shrugged. "If you're in need of a henchman, look somewhere else. I'm...expensive," Hunt said, enunciating the last word just a bit to overcompensate for his slight slurred words. As for waiting for someone, he had no idea when Kaz would be back. If he would be back. Part of Hunt hoped he wouldn't, so he could drown himself, one way or another and not be reminded of home by the man ever again "He was trying to find work tonight. Better man than me."
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Merchant Guild Leader
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Anything for the right price
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Manthiran
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Post by Severin Seigrun on Apr 3, 2023 21:40:00 GMT -5
Severin doubted that the man could come close to being what he considered expensive. Then again it probably was better to let him think that his only interest in the conversation was finding someone to work for a handful of rings. He did notice the work it took for hunt to finish his sentence.
"My~, well it is good to have pride isn't it."
He chuckled "then perhaps my offer would be better extended to your friend." Severin added casually. He knew full and well that he didn't actually need to though. A Taknieri asking around for work in the strand would inevitably be directed to the guild regardless.
He took a swig of his mug in a way that implied he wasn't in a hurry to leave despite his offer being turned down.
"I take it you arrived together, how long have you been in farvald?" He asked as though he was simply making conversation now that business was out of the way.
One more, no maybe two more. He intended to keep making 'small talk' until hunt's answers became slurred enough to suggest he'd 'had enough'. Even if trying to make conversation with someone this brooding was like pulling teeth.
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Exile
Manthiran Army Captain
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North
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121 posts
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Taknieri
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Post by Hunt Valier on Apr 3, 2023 22:04:25 GMT -5
Were he a little more steeped in drink, he might have risen to the jab against him and his heritage and the pride he carried himself with. But he was still sober enough to recognize the irony there. He might talk a big game about the pride he had buried, but he was trying to push it down deeper. Still, he did manage to glare at the man across from him.
"Probably," he said of the man asking after his companion instead. Kaz had been a guardsman at the royal palace, after all, he was accustomed to the sort of work Hunt assumed Severin was offering. It was likely he had already talked to someone of the merchant guild.
He examined the second round with the same hesitance, the sharper alcohol taste making him grimace slightly, but it was only a bit more noticeable. Just because he was well acquainted with local ales at this point did not mean he had paid them much attention. "A fortnight," he murmured. Or just about. News of the recent assassinations in Taknier had reached their sister kingdom only a few days before. Hunt still saw the blue paper lanterns rising above the capital when he closed his eyes. "Arrived in the city a few nights ago. Kaz got tired of sleeping on the side of the road," he added, words a bit heavier.
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Merchant Guild Leader
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Anything for the right price
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Manthiran
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Post by Severin Seigrun on Apr 9, 2023 17:31:48 GMT -5
He hadn’t missed the look of resentment. Though if it was something he had said or more his general presence, Severin couldn't tell. So the friend had a name. Well not that he had any real intentions of tracking the man down. If the man had any skill then he would almost certainly hear about it.
He had no real opinion about that time frame or the discomfort of travel. Other than it re-affirming that this pair of Taknieri nobles must be quite down on their luck.
"And…what have you seen of the city? Aside from the inside of this…lovely establishment of course." There was something for just about everyone in the strand ,honest work, dirty work, honest entertainment and of course more illicit entertainment.
Severin was no stranger to the various illicit pleasures run in the underground of the city. In fact he was plenty happy to have the shadier pleasures of their city view him as an unofficial benefactor. Kept them from getting any ideas of actually hiding their activities. That and some of his favorite hired swords had come from the fighting pits that were a part of said shady entertainment.
"I think you will find there is nothing which cannot be found in the strand. You just need to know where to look."
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Exile
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Post by Hunt Valier on Apr 9, 2023 18:08:41 GMT -5
They had seen a fair amount of the city. The surrounding estates leading up to it, the bustling main thoroughfare packed with all manner of higher end shops and inns. None of which they had been able to afford so when they made it to the end and reached the docks, they spent a long time looking at the ocean. Kaz had never seen it before. Hunt had a few times, but he knew little of how to sail. "The docks," he answered, thinking about that moment. He could stare at the waves and the ships for hours. "In another life, I think I was a sailor," he mumbled, taking another drink.
He didn't quite remember how they found this place. Kaz had talked to someone who pointed them to the cheaper inns in a more questionable borough. From the time he had spent sober, observing the typical locals who visited, this particular place dealt mostly in games of chance and betting. He'd heard some talk of other games, but no one was very specific especially where they thought two strangers could hear.
Severin spoke just as vaguely. The exile had a feeling he was trying to butter him up for something. What with all the drinks and the friendly chatting. For what he had no idea. And the more he drank, the less he cared. He directed his confusion back to the mug in front of him, beginning to feel both much worse and much better. He couldn't entirely recall why he had started drinking in the first place and he was certain that was a good thing. "Not very good at looking. Only thing I'm good at is...fighting." He wasn't sure where he was going with that and seemed to nearly forget by the end of the sentence.
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Nobility
Merchant Guild Leader
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Anything for the right price
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Manthiran
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Post by Severin Seigrun on Apr 9, 2023 20:01:39 GMT -5
It Wasn't the first time he had heard such a sentiment. He himself loved the sea. It was one of the things which made him proud of Farvald. It was also the only part of Farvald which he couldn't control no matter how much he might want to. The ocean answered to no one. It was a love hate relationship. He sought to conquer and control anything within Farvald which was not already within his grasp.
That was exactly what he was doing now.
"A profession as alluring as it is dangerous. "
He eyed Hunt struggling to finish a thought like a cat watching a mouse. "Fighting is quite the thing to 'only' be good at." He chuckled and leaned in a bit "perhaps we ought to order the next round to your room? Anymore and you might not be able to stand, let alone make it up the stairs." He remarked with playful concern. Although in reality that was more or less the reason he was pushing ale on the man.
The fact that Hunt was so oblivious to his intentions while understandable amused Severin quite a bit.
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