Fantasy ┌ spellsword ┘ Ardynport

[Sir Les Paul]

LOCATION—Ardynport, Ballard District
DATE—07/03 | Early Summer
TIME—0412

♫ Symphony ♫​

Level 1 | Battlemage
Status: Annoyed

Spell Slots
Lvl. 1 2/2

Threads
0/5 Left Hand
0/5 Right Hand

TAGS November Witch

After finishing up at the temple and getting on their way, Symphony would begin the long trek back down the temple. However, the view was nice, now that she was heading down and facing the landscape around her, instead of the old, weathered stone. There were scant few people around her as she started her descent, and as she continued, she inevitably passed them. Whether it was from their own time in the Dungeon or just their natural limitations, they would invariably slow down; Symphony did not. Without ever tasting exhaustion, she would end up at the bottom some time later. She would look back and see some other dungeoneers at various stages of the journey up or down the temple. But at the moment, it was of no concern to her. She had something else to do. So, she would continue onto Ardynport. Where she had arrived via boat a few days before. She wasn’t exactly familiar with the town, so what better time to get familiar than at night when no one would bother her? Plus, she had important things to do during the day. Like talk to people. So this exploration wouldn’t chew into that thankfully.

The trek at her walking speed took a good eight hours, and she could go on through the night with no need for a stop. She would arrive at the town with the sun gone, and the stars high above. Most people were sleeping, or in taverns, likely getting drunk. Symphony, however, would simply use this time to begin walking around, seeing what she could see in the town. Getting familiar with the layout, and making notes on a piece of paper about possible places she passed by that she might be able to go to in the morning. Mainly smiths or mages shops, but some other places like a library and alchemist’s shop too. She took some time to find a well and clean her clothes. Things like ash from the burning flora and seedlings and tiny roots and vines were still caught in her clothing in some areas. She took time to also clean out some joints, as the same thing had happened in some of those places. After making sure she wasn’t more damaged than she already was, she would put her now damp clothes back on, and continue exploring the town.

Surprisingly, the town triggered few latent memories for the living doll. Ardynport was something fairly unique in both layout and design. Even as a port city, the natural geography was not something truly found elsewhere. With no nobility, the city was only ever influenced by coin and its flow. That lead to rapid changes and at times even growing pains. One could see how well-developed the Eastern half of the city was; the residential sections, a courthouse, large important buildings, places of commerce. The Western half was developed more hastily. Originally, it was separated by the river to keep the slaves and brothels away, but with a growing population and the Dungeon, it grew into a place of more unique trade and stations. It turned into something all its own.

One half of the city seemed very nice and affluent, and the other clearly housed the unluckiest of Ardynport. There were some exceptions, those being drunkards, sailors, and vagrants. The city was built around its docks, but the docks served many purposes. Some places were pretty obvious what they were, and some confused her. Hearing someone talk about a “redlight district.” She hadn’t seen any place with an abundance of red lights. Perhaps she had missed it. Symphony hadn’t been super thorough, simply walking through the different sections of the town to get a feel for things. She hadn’t exactly stopped to talk to anyone she had seen up and around–primarily because most were guards.

In truth, she had passed by what was effectively the “red light district” a handful of times, she just didn’t recognize it. In part because it did not have red lights or lanterns, but also because the locals did not refer to it by such a name. To Ardynians, the Ballard District was the red light district of the city. One could go there to purchase a slave or rent one for a good time. It was all the same and only foreigners called it different. Ardynians had a type of pride in their culture.

The curio that was this alleged red light district and the search for skilled craftsmen made the West half of Ardynport a better place to begin a more thorough search. There was an entire section called Dungeon Square specifically for delvers and the like to shop at, which itself was promising. There was a type of redundancy between shops on the East side and some of the shops in the square, probably worth investigating. Symphony had yet to make it that far, though.

It was nearly four in the morning and even the late nights of the Ballard District were winding down. More importantly, she was a small female figure running loose in a place few others were and she carried a substantial sum of coin. Her trademark lack of social awareness didn’t quite enlighten her as to why this might have been a poor idea. She was making her way through the assortment of buildings, having already passed the empty trade stalls along the dockside. Now she was nearing the main buildings, which while quite thematic, looked astonishingly similar to any tavern she had seen. She didn’t get the chance to go in further and investigate.

”Halt!” shouted a guard, one of two. Both outfit in a plate chest piece with the Ardynport insignia, but the rest a simple mix of mail and leather. They did have swords, at the least, but these were not soldiers. Just the typical peacekeeper of the city. At first, Symphony didn’t stop, assuming they might be talking to someone else. But at the same time, who else was around at this hour? So a moment after the common was issued, she stopped and turned to face the guards. “Is there a problem?”

 

[Sir Les Paul]

LOCATION—Ardynport, Ballard District
DATE—07/03 | Early Summer
TIME—0413

"Yer damn right there is!" the guard shouted back. It was a near instant reply, as if the very idea of the question was absurd in and of itself. It was still too dim to see him, even with the lantern he carried at his left side, but his voice sounded deeper and more worn than most of the younger guards. That would make some amount of sense, though; the old guard of the city typically worked the night shift. It was often less physically demanding. Mostly patrols and when they did have to deal with citizens, it was more of handling drunks than thieves or altercations.

The duo didn't hesitate to approach her.

"You need ta come with us," he asserted, wasting no time in making demands and hardly allowing any time for a rebuttal. "We'll have no fightin' or funny business," he continued, "just 'cause you ain't got a contract doesn't you don't belong to someone." He scolded her, like a child, but it wasn't as if his tone didn't carry any suspicion or concern. One of the first things he said, outright and clearly, as that he wasn't looking for a fight. Odd, given he was suddenly making demands of her, but no one could deny he was quick and to the point.

With the duo finally in range to see within the light, any inference of his age would be confirmed. He wasn't geriatric by any means, but wrinkled and aged. Forties, fifties maybe, his beard more white than whatever red or brown it once was. The man beside him was much younger, though still far from a recruit. He carried with him simple iron shackles, fully intending on locking them around her wrists when and if she presented them, as she should given the situation.

The younger guard was neither as verbose or assertive, but he shared the same sentiment as the older one. "We'll need to take you to the Guardhouse," he informed her. He was stern, but more neutral than the elderly guard. Both spoke in a fairly matter-of-fact way, proper of their station, just that the younger one was more bearable about it. "An', you'll need to put these one. We can' risk anyone getting hurt," he told her, still stern, still flat. Still not telling her a damn thing, just making demands.

November Witch

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[November Witch]

Symphony

~{Soveriegn Citizen}~​

Status: Annoyed & slightly amused
Location: Ardynport - Ballard District
Interaction(s): Sir Les Paul

Symphony would look around. Look at where she came from and look down at herself. She wasn’t covered in blood. She hadn’t come from a crime scene. At least, not that she knew of. She was confused, to say the least. What exactly was the problem? Did they think she was a kid? That was the only thing she could think of. She had vague memories of it happening in the past. It was also nighttime, so it made sense. Perhaps they couldn’t see she was a construct. Maybe that was the cause of this all.

But again, she was somewhat enjoying the peaceful stroll around the city. Why should she have to stop what she’s doing because of a mortal’s failing eyesight? It annoyed her. But alas, it was a flesh and blood world. If they were scared of someone, or something, it was easy to spread fear and lies. Those made it almost impossible to find good standing. Symphony couldn’t remember exactly what she had done, or exactly how long ago in her past it was, but she’d frightened a small group of people accidentally while traveling. When she arrived at the closest village, there were people waiting with weapons and violent intent. But when something similar happened with a human? They were instead met with suspicion and uncertainty until they could explain themselves. This, and many other situations had taught Symphony that she had to be careful living in a world of mortals. They had could often fight, war, and torture one another. But even through all that, they had the uncanny ability to put it all aside and band together for things they deemed different from themselves. She would have to do things mortals didn’t have to in some situations to please and make sacrifices.

It was unfair, but what other choice did she have?

“I don’t want to fight either, so I’ll come with you. But first I want to know what I did wrong.” Symphony said, and thought it was a fair compromise. She crossed her arms, and didn’t present them to the guards. Whether this was out of forgetfulness, or spite couldn’t quite be determined. She looked at the shackles offered to her, and up at the younger guard. “I don’t want to accidentally break them. I don’t really have the Daric to replace them if I do.” It had happened before in the past, and she didn't exactly have alot of Daric right now.

 

[Sir Les Paul]

LOCATION—Ardynport, Ballard District
DATE—07/03 | Early Summer
TIME—0415

~{Fuck Yo Rights}~​

Accidentally break them? What in the name of the otter Gods was this woman talking about? She must have been on the Rayroot thinking that was a concern. Which itself wouldn't be a surprise outside of the question: how would a slave get Rayroot?

It wasn't a question the guards cared about. The fact Symphony had responded with "but first" without an immediate surrender was their primary concern.

"Ayeee, missy, don't go startin' a ruckus jus' cause ya got caught," the older guard told her, his tone a mix of condescending and demanding. He was remained stern, not uncommon for the guards of Ardynport, but his choice of words and how they were pieced together was more coarse than the majority of his kind. He spoke to her as if her capture was a done deal; but, worse, spoke to her in the type of degrading way a school teacher would talk down to a student caught cheating.

The younger guard chimed in, though in no way did he defend her. No, he wasn't contradicting his senior, only providing the minimal background information he intended to. "You fit t'e description, we found you in the Ballard District, an' you got no reason to be here this late," he said, stating the simple facts of the situation. Symphony did in fact fit one of several descriptions the guards were instructed to arrest if found. No sense in running, either. Half the garrison is out looking for you lot," he told her, adding to the sense of finality he was trying to create with his explanation.

To these two guards, this arrest was a forgone conclusion. Symphony needed to go with them. Worst she could do was run, but no ordinary slave girl was going to escape the wide net they had cast. Nonsensical as it was, these two seemed pretty committed to their cause.

The younger guard pulled the first iron pin out of the shackles he intended to put Symphony in, then reached out his hand for hers. He didn't touch her, yet, but the two were getting more and more impatient with her obstinance.

November Witch

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[November Witch]

Symphony

~{Refusal}~​

Status: Annoyed & slightly amused
Location: Ardynport - Ballard District
Interaction(s): Sir Les Paul

“I will do no such thing.” Symphony replied as the gruff guard talked about starting a ruckus. She was being perfectly calm and reasonable. Her expression and tone neutral, if not a little bit monotone. “I’m still confused as to what exactly you’re talking about.”

She was unsure of what description they were talking about, but the word ‘lot’ was thrown in there. Meaning there were perhaps many people who were involved in… something. If that was the case, she’d probably be better off going with them and confirming she wasn’t involved in anything. She briefly thought about showing her dungeoneering papers, but it was clear these guards would likely dismiss them as fake. At least until they got what they wanted. Which was taking her to the station. Her shoulders slumped and she looked like she let out a sigh, but she just mimicked the motion, as she couldn’t really physically sigh. It was more like learned body language for the doll.

“Lead the way, but I’m not putting those on.” She pointed at the shackles with one hand. Symphony waited expectantly for them to start leading the way. “We can waste time doing this back and forth, or you can just lead the way.”

 

[Sir Les Paul]

LOCATION—Ardynport, Western Guardhouse
DATE—07/03 | Early Summer
TIME—0505

~{Herding the Cattle}~​

Symphony was right about one thing. They could have bickered over the shackles, but wisdom prevailed here. The older of the two guards reached out to press down on the hand of the younger one with the shackle, informing him it wouldn't be necessary. Was it protocol? No, absolutely not, but years of experience told him it was worth the effort. If this dumb slave was willing to follow them without shackles, so be it. If she made a run for it, she would only be making life more difficult for herself and confirming her guilt. It really wasn't that much of a risk in his eyes. Besides, the girl was short, gaunt, and pale even in the dim light. She was probably weak and malnourished. Surely she couldn't get far.

She was led even further West, out of the Ballard District, across the main road, and as promised, to the guard tower. Granted, it was more like a large station. While there in fact was a large stone tower, there was a building attached to it and a handful of buildings surrounding. Referring to the guard tower as either a tower or a station was somewhat of a misnomer. The main building was the tower, barracks, jail, mess hall, all connected via a main chamber, and still yet there were unidentified secondary buildings to any one side. It was hard to tell in the dark.

The two guards weren't much conversation, either. So long as Symphony followed, there was no need for further discussion.

And, if true to her word that she would just blindly follow them, she would end up in the main chamber of the tower, ushered in by her two guides. As they approached the guard station, she would see an uptick in the number of guards. Far more than most other nights, though granted she had been in Ardynport less than a week, she didn't exactly have a strong sense of the norm yet. Still, she was told half the garrison was out and by the groups of guards combing the area, there was good reason to believe that was true. They didn't just stop because they had her, either. The inside of the guard house was at least better-lit, but it was done mostly via candlelight. The interiors of the building were of a grey stone being illuminated by soft, warm lights. If anything, this only made Symphony look more human. Not that anyone gave her a good once over. They looked at her hair, her height, her eyes, her apparent gender, and off she went.

To the holding cells. There, she was escorted by another guard through the cells. It was an entire wing of them on the top floor with a set of stairs that went down to a basement level on this southbound wing that overlooked another twenty or so built into the basement. Those were yet to be filled, and rarely needed to be. More for overflow, isolation, or perhaps torture, but that wasn't the current concern. The actual concern was that instead of just drunkards of ragged criminals, Symphony was passing by cells stuffed with four, five, or six women at a time that all looked remarkably similar to her: black hair, bright eyes of various color (often including those close to hers), some humans, some demi-Humans, all around her height and all youthful. She was just one of many.

And, here she thought she was just {One of Few}.

November Witch

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[November Witch]

Symphony

~{Impatient}~​

Status: Annoyed & Curious
Location: Ardynport - Western Guardhouse
Interaction(s): Sir Les Paul

Symphony followed as the others led the way, constantly having to slow her steps as the two guards walked a little slow for her pace. This only served to further annoy her as they continued through the streets and to the guard station. Symphony didn’t say or do much as she was escorted through the station and past cells. In fact, it was almost comforting, or nostalgic in some somber way. It reminded her of all those years ago in the past. She didn’t need to worry. Didn’t need to stress or even think. Just follow the orders given to her mindlessly. It wasn’t exactly something she would ever want to go back to, but being so young and not having to worry about anything… Having it all taken care of by someone so immensely powerful. There was something comforting about that. Nostalgic, in a sad kind of way.

However, the thought was fleeting as she realized they were passing others similar to her height, stature, and visage. But Symphony really didn’t think much of it. So, what if there are other people here? So, what if some were similar to her in appearance? It wasn’t her problem. If anything, it made her understand why the guards had this misunderstanding in the first place. She glanced at those in the cells, but didn’t exactly look very hard at them.

“So when can I show you my identification and be on my way? I would like to clear up this misunderstanding and continue exploring the town.” She asked, looking up at the guards totally naive to the situation.