"We are in Dockside, the market square.  This is the rough end of town so watch your step, and your tongue my friend.
The Harbourmaster might have foreign news if you want some?"

In reply to Finan McRoach (msg # 47):

"Thank you my friend, I shall be careful." Especially of the rollmops.

Guillaume motions towards the chapel. "This is the chapel I 'ave 'eard about." He looks it up and down. "It is not quite as grand as the churches back 'ome. I should introduce myself to the Father. Then maybe speak to the 'arbourmaster."

Yamousou sat quietly on a bench at the smithy. He enjoyed watching the burly blacksmith at work. Transforming metal into tools, horseshoes, weapons and so on was an artform he much admired.

He sipped at a mug of wine. The local vintages were poor compared to those that he had encountered in his travels, but they would suffice for now. As he drank he watched the crowds, his eyes flitting from person to person, reading each like a book. Some were ordinary, others unusual. Some ignored him, others stared back at his alien, dark skin. None spoke to him, preferring to leave him in silence. The smith was happy enough to leave him alone, busy in his own work.

A small group caught his eye, adventurers by the look of them. They included a strange looking fellow, with long red hair. His eyes lingered on them, questions rising about who thery were, what they were doing. I bet they have some stories to tell...

The old priest on the chapel stoop got up dusted himself off and entered the chapel taking his journal with him.

In reply to Guillaume De Morvan (msg # 48):

So much for my attempt to look like a local, now I need to be Guillaume.

Guillaume winks at the women in the shop above the blacksmiths.  A dark skinned man sitting at the smithy catches his eye.  An unusual sight in these parts, and dressed as a warrior.  Someone more foreign than me.  Guillaume walks over to the chapel and enters through the door, looking for the priest.

Guillame spots the old priest near the small makeshift altar at the back of the room, but his attention is mostly upon the larger well muscled man reading a manuscript on the closest pew.

The man looks up at Guillame and the Chaubrettan notes he is a middle aged man with long blond hair and beard. His eyes are piercing grey and his bearing betrays a former physical life. In truth his bearing seems more of a warrior than a priest.

" Welcome." He says in heavily accented Visic.

Father Jeffries hurries forward, a look of not quite recognition on his face...

" Hello, my son?"

In reply to GM (msg # 52):

Guillaume looks from one man to the other. "'Ello gentlemen." His eyes rest on the older man in the robes. "Father, I am glad to finally meet you. I am Guillaume de Morvan, official ambassador to Glissom for the King of Chaubrette. I apologise for not visiting earlier but 'ave been busy with official business." He gives the Father a warm smile and extends his hand. "It is good to find a 'ouse of God in this cold city."

Father Jefferies eyebrows shoot up and he looks around at the rather dishevelled appearance of the chapel with some dismay.

" Welcome, Ambassador. We..we do not get many of your high station visiting us."

" Though I have not been lonely for visitors lately."

" Forgive me, I am Father Jeffries and this is Brother Jacob."

Brother Jacob rose and took in Guillame measuredly, he raised an eyebrow at his dress.

In reply to GM (msg # 54):

"Please my friends, be at ease. I appologise for my attire - today I am trying to blend in with the folk of Glissom."

He smiles again with a twinkle in his eye.

"'Owever, when I noticed the chapel I thought I should introduce myself. It is proper for educated people to become aquainted, non?"

Guillaume turns to Brother Jacob. "You, Brother, do not speak the native tongue with as much familiarity as the Father.  You are the visitor the Father speaks of? What brings you to these lands?"

The older priest nods, still looking slightly shocked at the number of visitors he's had over the last twenty four hours.

" I am pleased to make your acquaintance."

Brother Jacob chewed on his lower lip and folded the vellum he was reading away.

Father Jeffries answered for him, " Brother Jacob was sent to assist me by the Bishop of Ongus.  He is but one of the visitors I have had recently."

" Is there any way I can assist you?"

Finan waited in the square, having not desire or interest in entering the church.  He tried to make himself inconspicuous.
As he waited for Guillaumes to return, he could not fail to notice the ebony warrior, a sight not seen very often at all!

Finan slowly approached the man with his customary thin smirk.
"You're not from around here, are you.  Finan McRoach, and can I be of service to you?"

"There is nothing in particular, Father.  I am merely making my introduction.  I 'ope if you meet any of my fellow countrymen you will let them know that I am 'ere to assist them.  I can be found at an old Selentine maison, Castleside.  Between the pagan temple and the Castle.  Of course I would also be pleased to receive a visit from yourself."

Guillamue strokes his moustache.  "It is well that Brother Jacob 'as arrived to assist you.  It is because more people of Glissom are being enlightened by the True Faith, non?"

" I would be pleased call on you, I do not get the opportunity to go Castleside all that often."

Father Jeffries chuckled, " My flock is small, and mostly consists of devout sailors from other shores passing through.  But there are some local folk who have come to service."

In reply to GM (msg # 59):

"I will not take up more of your time. I look forward to attending your service next 'aligdae. Per'aps I might 'ave some quiet prayer before I leave."

Guillaume sits at a pew and bows his head.
This message was last edited by the player at 23:44, Sun 26 Aug 2012.

Outside.

The tiny chapel nestled incongruously beside the warehouse heavy with the reek of salted cod and pickled herring.

...........................

Across the open square a group of fishermen were moving off having seemingly finished their morning meal, a large grey hound lay on the cobblestones outside the harbourmasters office.

........................

Large rats sifted through scraps of refuse from the pickling houses.

A group of women waved to them from the open windows of a small shop above the blacksmiths; a small shrine to Brigantia sat outside the smithy, it was liberally decorated with silver coins.

Within the shadows of the smithy sat a man of deep mahogany complexion contemplating the forge fires.

'Finan' noted two men approaching from the east; one was tall and pale and wore dark robes the other was a man of noble bearing and martial aspect, they both seemed to be foreigners.

In reply to Finan McRoach (msg # 57):

The dark skinned man smiled, revealing a full set of white teeth, some filed to a point, as was the custom with some heathen tribes from across the sea. He stood up, and offered his hand in the way he had seen others from this island do in greeting. He spoke good Visic, clearly leaned from a tutor rather than from the street. "Did you know that you are the first person to acknowledge my presence here all day?" He leaned forward, and whispered conspiratorially, "I think they are afraid that I will eat them." He chuckled softly at his little joke.

"My name is Yamousou. I am a collector of stories, and I travel looking for them. Some I must experience myself, others I gather from the people I meet." He tilted his head slightly and looked Finan up and down. "And you look like a man with many a fine tale to tell. Maybe I could treat you to a mug of wine. The local stuff isn't great, but it has a kick on it."
This message was last edited by the GM at 09:12, Mon 27 Aug 2012.

Bael and Kores approached the chapel, looking for Father Jeffries, so they could let him know that Willem had been found and should be safely home.

Bael pushed open the chapel door and found Father Jeffries and Brother Jacob reading from an illuminated manuscript.

A man was kneeling before one of the pews apparently deep in prayer.

"Father Jeffries! We have had success.  We found young Willem, recovering from injuries earnt through a gambling debt.  Thankfully Kores' was able to patch up the youth quite miraculously.  You may want to inform your flock to gamble amongst themselves if they must gamble."

Noting the other strangers, especially the Mungodan, Kores follows Bael.

"Have you found anything about that archaeological discover?  Who is the Mungodan outside?"

"HA!  You do't want to eat me, I wouldn't taste very nice." Laughed Finan loudly.
"And if it's stories you want well, I attract 'em like flies around honey.  Although I am native, I am a stranger in the Kingdom* too,
and like as not us strangers might find solace together eh?"
*The Kingdom is what the Gliss call the City Boundaries, the only true extent of the Kings authority in the land.

In reply to Kores Varias (msg # 66):

Disturbed from his prayer by the rather loud arrival of the other foreigners, Guillaume stands and watches the exchange.

Gambling, miracles and archeology? Formidable! This will be interesting! More exciting than meetings with minor merchants anyway.

In reply to Finan McRoach (msg # 67):

Yamousou grinned. He liked this odd looking man already. "Maybe we will! A fine pair we will look too!"

Father Jeffries indicated the man at prayer and held his finger to his lips.

He approached and spoke quietly, " A gambling debt? Hmmm, that is strange. The Crown and Anchor is the centre of gambling here. I did not know that there were gambling dens in Eagle Alley."

He raised an eyebrow at the description of miraculous healing.

" Are you a saint, Kores? I think not. Perhaps I am suffering from some mild deafness because of my age? Yes.  I think that is probably for the best."



" Always with your eye on the prize, Kores.", he chuckled.

" We have found the records, forgive me..my filing system is more of an art than a science. Suffice to say I believe I know which merchants have handled some of the discovered pieces, the rest have been taken by the Castle as heirlooms and state property.  I believe either of those parties would be able to connect you with those who found them."

Father Jeffries looked confused by the final question, " Whats a Moon Goudan?"

*Raises an annoyed eyebrow at Bael*

"Saint?  No...  No miracles, just basic treatment of a mild burn, the child already had his hands in a barrel of cold water.  We just needed to encourage him the wounds were not as severe."

"Do you have a contact person with the Merchants?  Or at the Castle for that matter?"

"Mungodan.  Mung-Goh-Dahn.  That dark gentleman has travelled many months North, I wonder why..."


If Father Jeffries can disclose the name of the key contact persons, Kores will then approach the Mungodan and ask him why he comes up to Ellesland, or Glissom for that matter.....