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Post by mcian on Jul 5, 2023 0:13:52 GMT -5
Anthraxas wiped his forehead. Even beings such as he reacted to the sweltering heat of the jungle town, Papua. He watched as the crew of his ship, Lady Concordia, unloaded their cargo of crated goods: food, tools, and drink – supplies to be distributed to the people of the town. His gaze turned to a young man who approached him, a Papuan, though lighter skinned than most – his tattooed body bearing the proud evidence of his heritage. He wore a shield slung behind him; his helm being a red-dyed orcish variety, and simple armor of studded leather and dyed bone. He locked eyes with Anthraxas and stopped within arms’ length, bowing slightly. “I wish to join your crew,” he stated in a deep voice. “I am told you seek worthy and capable men,” he added.
Anthraxas took a liking to him immediately. “And your name is?” he queried.
“Jace. My name is Jace. Papua is my home. I do not wish to work in mines; it is work for those who can do little else.”
“Mining may not be illustrious work, my young friend, but it does require skill and courage. Belittle not any who undertake it.”
“I do not belittle anyone, but it is not for me. That is not the only reason I have come to you.”
Anthraxas, whose arms had been folded, let them rest at his side. He was used to assassination attempts, and had defenses prepared that required flexibility. “Oh, what might that be?”
“I come because you are my father, Lord Thraxas. Many years ago, when I was just a child, you brought a healing potion that saved my life. My mother told me of it. She said you were my true father – that my real one abandoned her and me. I have been in Delucia for some time but heard you had returned to Papua. I want to serve you as a retainer if not a member of your ship’s crew – if you permit?”
His mind raced. Anthraxas did not remember the event at all. Suddenly it struck home: it must have been his twin brother, Thrax, whom he despised and had not seen in decades. He pretended to remember, as this youth might have some value to him. “I indeed recall the incident. I was a friend to your mother…”
“Her name is Poppy.”
“Yes! She and I grew close but as I had business to attend, our paths separated. How is she doing?”
“She does well enough, though age has taken somewhat of a toll. She had to move to Delucia and took me with her, but I am grown now and seek my own way.”
Anthraxas stepped forward and embraced him briefly before stepping back, his hands on his shoulders. He smiled. “It is good to see you again, Jace! Forgive my selfishness in not seeking hard enough to find you. But we are together again, and by the gods, you shall be with me. Are you an accomplished warrior or sailor?”
Jace shook his head. “I am neither, yet, but I shall be. I will learn from you, father, if I may call you that?”
Anthraxas nodded. “I would be honored, my son.”
Putting his arm around his shoulder, Anthraxas led him to the Inn where they began sharing tales and a few ales at a porch table.
Jace, a true devotee who knows Delucia well. Excellent! This will greatly assist in my plans and serve as a diversion from the tedium here.
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Post by mcian on Jul 5, 2023 12:31:14 GMT -5
A Letter from Scar In one of his more leisurely moments, Scar sits down to pen a letter… “Dear son, whom I love with all my being,I pray this finds you and your mother doing well. Things have been very hectic of late and so I am late in sending this. Papua has been a hotbed of activity. A new merchant has arrived and convinced the archon to begin mining heavily in the north – exactly what, I do not know. All I do know is that there is now more of a business opportunity than before. I know you and your mother had to leave Papua for Delucia to find a better life, but now, as you have become a man, able-bodied, you might find a good job back in your home town. This is merely a suggestion. I know you are a good hunter and forester; you know the jungles and their denizens well and have taken many trophies. I am proud of you and long to see you again, but I know that there are issues between me and your mother that are not easily resolved, and it pains us both. Old wounds mar our conversation, tempers flare, so I keep away – you know this. Still, to see you walking the roads of Papua would do me good and perhaps you as well.The merchant’s name is Thraxas. He has flaming red hair; you cannot miss it. He operates a ship named the Lady Concordia which he plies between Papua and who-knows-where. The archon trusts him, and he seems kindly enough, though I confess I am not overly fond of him. Still, I know for a fact that he pays his crew well, and the miners, providing a lot of food and wares in return for their labors. I am sure he could find work for you. This is only a suggestion. I make it primarily to help you but also to be able to meet with you again. My last few letters have met with no reply from you and this pains me greatly. Please respond this time. If I see you in Papua, I will know you received this letter and took my advice. I long to see you again my son. I am so very proud of you. Take care and bid your mother my well-wishes. I send some gold along with this letter, as I always have and always will.Your Loving father,Scar”He sealed the letter along with a bank voucher and summoned a courier. “Take this to Delucia, where you will find a woman named Poppy who resides at the Inn there with my son, Jace,” he directed. “If Jace is not there, give it to his mother, Poppy.” The courier took his pay and the letter and set out to deliver it promptly…
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Post by Deminatza on Jul 5, 2023 21:41:57 GMT -5
Terribly Angry Rancorous Temptress
The courier lightly knocked on Poppy's door. Moments later, the door opened and a woman with Papuan tattoos appeared. "Are you Poppy milady?" the courier asked politely. "Wut es et t'ye," she retorted then looked him up and down salaciously. "Ye looking fer company lad?" He cleared his throat uncomfortably. "Regrettably no, milady. I have a letter to deliver and am instructed to give it to Jace or Poppy." Suddenly disinterested, she held out her hand expectantly, "Aye, I am Poppy." He handed her the letter, respectfully bowed and promptly took his leave. Closing the door, she made her way to the fireplace and tore open the letter. She recognized the handwriting immediately. Another letter from Scar. Poppy took the bank voucher, tucked it into her bodice for safe keeping and read the letter. Her eyes grew hard after finishing the letter. He never asks how I'm doing or provide me advice. She was about to take her anger out on the letter, as it began to soar, by ripping it into pieces when the door suddenly opened. She whirled around, concealing the letter behind her to see Jace entering their apartment. With a gentle flick of her hand, the letter descended into the hearth's inferno. Poppy welcomed Jace with open arms, hugged him, turned him around and watched it burn as she spoke her salutations to him. After witnessing the last corners of the letter go up in ash, she pulled away from him and said "Come son, les goo 'ave sum supper an' ye kin tell 'e all about yer day." Arm and arm, they left their apartment to dine at a nearby tavern.
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Post by mcian on Jul 23, 2023 0:52:05 GMT -5
Chance Encounter “Jace?! Jace, is that you?” Scar fairly shouted to the male youth with whom he crossed paths early one morning in the muddy road in front of the Papuan mage shop. The target of his inquiry stopped abruptly and locked eyes with his, yet his grip tightened on the hilt of the kryss he wore at his side and he frowned slightly.
“Yes, it is I, father,” the youth replied rather unemotionally. “It has been a long time.”
Scar rushed to embrace him, his face beaming with pleasant surprise. “By the gods son! You are a man now, and you share your mother’s good looks I see! How have you been and what business have you here?”
Jace refused the affection, stepping back. “You would know if you had ever visited or even written to us, wouldn’t you?” he glowered.
Scar’s elation vanished as his heart sank. “Forgive me, son. Writing and sending aid was all I could do under the circumstances. Your mother and I quarreled terribly whenever we were in the same room. I did not wish for you to have to endure that scene again and again,” he apologetically explained.
“Letters?! Aid?! I saw none of that! You left us to ourselves in Delucia all these years and you know that!”
Scar scowled. “No I didn’t! I sent several letters a month, and each one I put a bank note in it! Ask your mother if this is not true!”
Jace lowered his head. “She never said a thing to me about any of that. You are asking me to believe she withheld them deliberately? Why would she do that?”
“I cannot answer that.”
“Of course you can’t – it’s simply not true!”
“Son, I am no paragon of virtue by any means, but I swear on my life to you that I did! I am not lying and I am no liar. I did what I could to provide for you both.”
Jace sighed. He did often wonder how they got all the shelter, clothes, and food they ever needed. He knew his mother would not hold down a job anywhere for very long; she would find something wrong and quit each time, until there were no other places to seek employment. He had suspicions about her “night job” but that alone could not account for their needs being met so routinely and thoroughly.
The pause sent Scar’s emotions reeling. Here was his son, at least he had been told he was, by a Papuan named Poppy. Yes, he did have relations with her on at least one occasion but he was drunk at the time. She came to him later, telling him she was carrying his child, demanding she marry him. When he refused, she became petulant and threatening. But he did not love her, and besides, he had found his love elsewhere, and for real. He promised to support them and for years he had. Now he was being told by that son that he had done nothing. “You must believe me, Jace. I did what I could.”
“I am confused by this. Give me some time to learn the truth,” Jace responded.
The request pleased him; at least he had given him the benefit of doubt. “Certainly. I can meet you at the bank in Delucia and also here in Papua to prove I sent those vouchers. Tell me when and we can do that.”
“Mother told me there was another man who helped us. I remember him from childhood but have not seen him in a very long time.”
“Another man? Or other men?”
Jace’s face reddened. “Do not speak of her in that way! I won’t listen to it!”
Scar nodded. “That was out of line. I apologize.”
“I met his brother here a while back,” Jace continued. “He gave me a job here as his personal guard and assistant.”
“Oh? The archon?”
Jace shook his head. “No, his name is Thraxas. He is called the Benefactor. He has done a lot for this town. Mother said a man named Thrax was the one who helped us. Thraxas said he has an identical twin by that name, but they had not spoken in years. Still, he took me in, gave me a good job. I am in training and I am doing very well.”
Scar hid his emotions effectively, even forcing a brief smile. “Yes, I know him. I have been pleased thus far by his generosity, but he has also exacted a lot from the people in return. I am still not sure if he has a purpose to it all.”
“He is a good man. Yes, he looks strange – the bright red hair and all – but he seems to care about our town. Now, excuse me father, but I must continue my morning patrol.”
Scar extended an arm to pat his son on the shoulder. “It was good to see you again, son. I am proud of you, and, if you can believe it, I love you. If you ever need anything, anything at all, please tell me.”
Jace nodded and smile briefly, turning aside to walk away slowly, leaving Scar to watch him leave, as mixed emotions and not a small measure of unresolved guilt drew him toward a past that he could not change.
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