Memories (Open)

[Tris]

This place brings back so many memories Dolwaen stood on the side of the street in Aberon, just taking in all the sounds and thinking of the past. Running in and out of their house, the clang of her father’s hammer, the sound of her mother’s voice talking to other officials and in later years the clash of swords in the training yard. Then again maybe it brings back to many memories she thought. Dolwaen started to walk again trying to shake off the lonely feeling, it was two late to start traveling again, so she started to look for a small alley that she could sleep in relative safety. Up a head she saw a crowd gathering and heard shouting. What in the world?

[Wild Dog]

The sea captain hated it, though, in truth, he had no reason to. Aberon was beautiful, at least the part where he was. Beauty, in the sense of majesty and mystery. Of fame and fortune. Of life and of death. Towering far above the inhabitants, the building of Aberon were beyond belief. Tall towers were next to squat palaces. Windows were either open or closed, course there really isn't another option. Those that were open gave the pass-buyer the perfect view of the inside. Rare paintings and antique furniture cluttered the rooms. Servants worked (or at least pretended to work) in the rooms. Their masters were out doing business, so nobody was able to check up on them. Being houses of important persons, the servants were well paid and rested. Outside of the homes, children played games. On the streets, people milled around. On the left was a baker, seeming to buy a pair of shoes. To the right, a mother bought food. Or maybe a nanny. Everything was running smoothly. A perfect little town. Well, a big city. All in all, life was peaceful.

Gan Ning, nonetheless felt sick.

For a moment, sit back and try to feel his situation. Gan Ning is a sea person. On the water, he is free as a bird. Grabbing his future by the head, he goes forward, confidently. His crew, inspired by his character, are known across the land as the fiercest band of pirates in the world. But, on land, the great Gan Ning is weak and very much angry. He has strong feeling against the shorebound. Loathes them in fact. Because of this fact, he never went too far from the sea. Now, you will probably be wondering, “then why is he here?” Well, far away, in the sea. The Dragon’s Roar sailed along, preying on helpless ships. Without pity, they burn down ships and plundered at will. But, they met their match. A Varden ship attacked the Dragon’s Roar and captured the captain, Gan Ning

At that very moment, Gan Ning was being paraded around. Chains on his hands and feet prohibited him from escaping. A wad of cloth was forced into his mouth, having him effectively mute. In doing so, he could not taunt the crowd around him. For there was a great crowd now. Children curious of the intruder gathered around in amazement. Mothers with baskets chattered amongst themselves. Gan Ning was quite a sight, after all. His tattoos drew many disproving looks (as well as some considering ones, from boys and some girls). His sword was long gone, being missing from the time he was captured. But it really didn’t matter now. All he needed to do was hide his identity. Not the Gan Ning, fiercest pirate that ever sailed the waters. No, that part everybody knew. But the fact that he was a half-elf. He was always a little shy about telling others.

The crowd soon dispensed. Seems like another disturbance grabbed their attention. He saw many people, including a young girl, run towards the scene. Gan Ning, though, paid no attention. The only thing in his mind was this. To escape this city.

[Tris]

Dolwaens curiosity got the better of her and she started running toward the crowd, she ran past a youngish man in chains, his captors were dragging him into the crowd so they could see what was going on. Getting to the front of the crowd was a adventure in and of its self, she had a hand constantly on her money bag, being a pick pocket herself she knew this was a perfect place to do it. Then she stopped right where she was, she was very near the front know and she could she two men fighting and a young girl crying, but before she could see any more the two Varden guards she had seen before, pushed her and stepped right in front of her. The two were very tall and blocked her view completely, a flash of annoyance past though her and she was just going to push her way through them, when she heard a scream and the clash of knives. Distracted as she was she didn't see the man in chains stand right behind her, right then she heard the rattle of chains and felt her beloved sword being drawn off her back.

[Wild Dog]

The time was now. It was if the gods had ordained his escape route. The throng that once surrounded him now had a new diversion. Two men, filthy and bloodied, were fighting in the street. Amid the curses and the mud and the blood and the beer, Gan Ning saw an opportunity. Course, he was the only one who saw this revelation. The others were watching a fight, and a good one at that. The two rolled around, like pigs fighting for food, while being edged on by the crowd. Chants and jeers rang out over the street. One seemed to be winning, having a slight advantage, in the form of brains, over the other. The other seemed drunk and every once in a while, he threw up over the crowd. The onlookers gasped and booed at appropriate moments while the fight continued. The guards surrounding the pirate seemed captivated by it. One let go of Gan Ning’s arm and started towards the crowd. Whether he intended to break it up of to watch it mattered little. Gan Ning smiled.

Twirling around, elbowed one in the face. Groaning, the unfortunate man fell to the ground. Sensing a counter-attack, Gan Ning spun around to face the captain. With a smirk on his face, the soldier flexed his heavily muscled arms menacingly. “So, dog, what exactly were you going to do next? Run with your tail between your legs? Run all the way home to your mother? Or maybe your ship? Yes, the ship might take you away. But a ship needs a crew. How in the world are you going to pilot a ship with no crew?” Gan Ning paused, scared and a little confused. He thought the men of the Dragon’s Roar had escaped. But Gan Ning was a little occupied at that particular moment to see if the Varden boat had company. His crew was his life. His everything. He would not rest until he freed them from this city. The idea scared him more then his situation, being cooped up here for weeks planning an escape sounded terrible. As the words sunk in, the soldier continued, “Now, are you going to come quietly, or are you going to make this…..difficult for me?” Gan Ning was a half-elf, after all, but the man looked strong. So, Gan Ning decided to do things his own way, by ignoring option A and B and taking option C, running.

Bolting around, he sprinted over the crowd. Behind him, he heard the captain cursing and running after him. From inside the knot of people, a scream rang out. Suddenly, all eyes turned from the fighters to the escapee. Finding what he was looking for, Gan Ning ran up to a girl. But a guard got there first, sword swinging. Ducking, he swung wildly with his arms. The chain caught the man in the head and he collapsed. Catching an image out of the corner of his eye, he grabbed the nearest weapon, a sword the girl had. Standing straight in a now vacant circle, Gan Ning reached out and grabbed her. Pointing the sword at the neck, he announced in a loud voice, “Everybody stop” Somewhat surprisingly, they did. Not a soul moved, from the guards to the babies, all was silent. The only sound was the sound of heavy breathing. You see, the guards weren’t in the best of shape. Gan Ning only wished that the captain was in the same state. No such luck. He wondered if the man had been carved out of a rock and a particularly strong one at that.

“Alright, I want everybody to drop there weapons. Don’t, and I start killing these innocents, starting with this girl (gesturing to the form next to me). Good, now, tell me; where is my crew?” Right then and there, the soldiers did something so unrealistic, that Gan Ning goggled. Every single one of them fled, including the captain, though he seemed quite angry. Probably going to get help. They cared little about the folk around them. Spitting in disgust, he backed up, with girl in tow. By now, the crowd seemed to remember more urgent business and cleared the area. Up ahead, soldiers continued to run. The girl in his arms struggled a little, but the sword helped calm her down. Gan Ning ignored these details, as you would ignore a fly buzzing by your ear. All he wanted was his crew. Finally, they ducked into an open door and found themselves in a smithy. Blacksmithing tools were scattered everywhere and on the fire, several glowing horse shoes. But no weapons. Shrugging, he let go of the girl and stated off further into the house, sword in hand. Finding a sturdy looking hammer, he started banging the chains apart, keeping one eye on the girl.

[Tris]

Panic started to rise as the chained man grabbed her and pointed the sword at her neck, “Everybody stop” and everyone did “Alright, I want everybody to drop their weapons. Don’t, and I start killing these innocents, starting with this girl. Good, now, tell me; where is my crew?” right then the guards he was talking to started running, there was a second of total astonishment then most of the people in the crowd, not wonting anything to do with it walked off . The man spit on the ground and started to move off tugging her along with him. For a few moments she thought about trying to get away, the man didn’t look like a maniac and she didn’t think he would kill her just because he could, but looking at him it seemed he would do anything to get away from this place. So for the moment she left the escape plan for later, it seemed like hours later he found a open door and they walked in, finding herself in a smithy. Letting her go he walked in and found a hammer and started to hit his chains, with her sword still in one hand. Feeling for the dagger she kept at her wrist she looked the man up and down, he was strong from what she could see and looked fast. All and all it didn’t way in her favor if it came to a fight, but she was willing to if he wouldn’t give her the sword back.
Taking a step forward she asked “are you going to give me my sword back?’ she gulped trying to not show her nervousness.