On the appointed Day, early Spring, the last clouds of winter let fall the burdens of rain, mixed with dowses of hail.

A man in his 30's,  with heavy cloak and clearly an unshaven, months long beard, wearing  leather traveling garb, worn hard leather boots and a short sword, is escorted to the covered statue on the grounds of the Guild of 12 Staffs.

He gives his name, Captain Dedepio (Dee dep E o) Pillarhand, he is here to escort a retainer to Sarkund.

At which time Gwynt Starcaller is introduced and allowed to leave, with the gates of the Guild closing behind the pair without ceremony or fanfare.  Any onlookers on the street would not see the gate open, indeed any one walk out, only when they turn and turn back to the street, would they see just another pair of ordinary men walking with purpose.
This message was last edited by the GM at 06:21, Thu 19 Jan 2023.

The third phase of life reflected Starcaller. It was rare for one to even live a single life, but he was on his third and it was a far cry from the boy Demarr, of a noble house from Navostel.

Captain he had said in acknowledgement of his escort, and given a little nod of the head under the hood he wore. This was all he said in the beginning, as thoughts of a boy's life turned into mage and on into a pit of snakes was his past, present and future. It took some consideration and so the only sound he made for now was the click of his staff and tap of  boots.

It took a while for Starcaller to gather his thoughts and plan his arrival to Sarkund, the first chair would know of his school, and would no doubt ask many questions, so this time could be spent building an image for people to view. It took a while, but eventually

"Captain, are you from Sarkund?" he asked, prompting the man to say more.



OOC: a little post, admittedly, but to prompt so back and forth while they travel. Starcaller, is going to glean as much information from his escort as possible.

WIthout hesitation, nor atopping his head from moving and his eyes assessing.

"Yes, Sir.. I was. My father farms a good piece of land just North and West of the Berat River. My older brother, he.. still farms there. I joined the infantry. I have seen and marched over most of the lands of Sarkund in the King's name.

Before this assignment I was Captain of the Storm Marchers.. the 3rd Regiment."

The captain maintains his grip on his sword hilt and often changes directions, however, it seems generally he is guiding the pair to the docks.

Starcaller nodded, but assumed that the gesture was wasted through a heavy cloak and a hood bu the continued the small talk trying to tease out some information about the man. The truth was he knew relatively little about the place, and so speaking with a native, even if he had to do it surreptitiously.

"Captain, that's quite some rank for one born from the fields. I know little of the Storm Marchers, 3rd regiment but know that it is not easy for one to attain rank of captain.

Why did you join? he knew he was asking details about the captain; Pillarhand knew it too but habit and their relative standing would encourage him to respond and perhaps find some wisdom from the local, or indeed something to be used or even someone to call upon in need. The man, after all was relatively self made, officer from farm boy takes a real sort of enthusiasm about killing and soldiering without the external influences of a patron.

Tap tap tap went the wizard, and after he'd finished asking the question Demarr realised that the previous thoughts were that of Starcaller. A habit that had been entrained within him by his Ma... ex-master. Always seek an edge, always look for advantage and always plant the seeds that can fruit into a crop one might reap reward from. "How fitting an analogy..." he thought sardonically analogising his actions with a farmboy.

Demarr actually enjoyed speaking to someone who wasn't a wizard and likely capable of rending his mind into small pieces at a whim. Someone who wasn't a wizard and purposely avoiding him, or speaking under guard. It was a vicarious way of being free, to encourage him to speak freely and openly, even if he still had to guard his own self.

"What else was I going to do? Being a thresher, a straw man or a weed puller?

My Uncle, he put a sword in my hand, taught me to swing it.  Told me the only way to avoid having a spear put in my hands in the field and told to march ahead of the soldiers.. was to be skilled in the blade and beat the Leviers to the punch. He told me my brother would never be taken as he was oldest.

He drilled me, bound my waist and forearms in chains and taught me how to fight. When I was old enough, I told my family and left to join.

Turns out I had a knack for sword-craft. Took to it.  Truth is..

I always felt I was meant for more in life than being a farmer."

The Captain was mindful of the pace, stopping here and there. More than once he looked at his charge, then back to the streets and up at buildings and rooftops.

When ever approached by beggars or street hawkers, he flipped coins away for the former and half pulled his blade for the latter.

Starcaller listend carefully to the man, knowing that one should really only speak rarely. But it was easy to excuse the training in favour of his own style, or at least something else would eventually come to mind to speak. While the conversation wasn't excessive, Demarr enjoyed it.

"Even so." he acknowledged the aversion from second son life of a farmer.

"Well, that perhaps explains why you're now a captain. Natural talent is rare enough, but having the drive and persistence to carve and polish it into something great is even more so." he said, giving the man a long pause to think over his statement before adding.

"And what of the future? Captain is more than a farmer, but I've yet to find a man whose ambition stops easily. Family perhaps" he said gently, adding family as a means to take off to provide a more wholesome outcome to the idea of true ambition.

---

While walking, Starcaller walked with purpose and kept his eyes forward, even if it was in all manner of directions. But he was undeterred by any happenings of the streets and happy to leave Pillarhand to brush away the most adventurous of streetfolk and guide their destination well enough. Though Starcaller was taking mental notes of where they were headed.

True to heart Demarr pushed through, enthusiastic about seeing the water, he thought he could taste of salt in the air and it quickened his heart, solidifying the notion that he was now out in the world and ostensibly master of his own fate. The real adventure had commenced. Starcaller pushed back though <blue> The journey must be used to establish contacts and learn what you can about the court of Sarkland, and its surrounding areas</i> it was true.

The mage would get to work, and adventure, he supposed.

The Captain chuckles, a rough and brief guffaw.

"Yes, Greatness and I... doubt we will ever shake hands. I am raised in rank due only to  spear thrusts, disease and lack of ability to sleep on duty.

But for those.. I still would be wearing second hand, half eaten leathers with wraps for boots."

That last, lost in a trailing voice.

At the mention of family, the Captain is silent.

"One day perhaps.. it seems a man can raise only so far; many things remain out of his reach."

It takes one step after answering, "We are headed to the Wave Splitter, the Captain and first Mate have made all due haste to unload. We are to set sail as soon as your foot hits the deck."

There was perhaps the limit Fair. to the former comment, but then when the chord was struck there was certainly a change of attitude, in some way. Did he imply a family might remain out of reach. Perhaps it was also true, and perhaps he said it himself and believed it.

Even so." he replied at mention of his ship and the captain. "The WAve Splitter",  it was an interesting name and did not leave much subtlety when it came to likely attributes. Due haste, and a fast ship no doubt.

It did make Starcaller wonder, though. There was haste to be made that was for sure, but it wasn't clear why. His apprenteship  could have ended weeks from now. Was he in danger, just from being outside of Aarn? Even outside court, and the machinations of higher politicking, was there threat against magic users, or did the fingernails of the claw extend to a newly ranked Sorcerer that had not even stepped foot to court.

Tell me Captain, are there things happening in Sarkund? Events or such? I don't know many of the celebrations and such of the area. he asked, being conversational, but wondering if the speed was simply down to his presence being made before anything particular.