[The Earl's Estate] Mateus Villa

[Riconus Xind'ell]

Estate for the Earldom of House Xind'ell

Sitting quaintly on the eastern shores of the Great Sea, perhaps half a brightening's walk north of Portshire, were seven enclosed acres which the Earl of Portshire claimed for his private sanctuary. The land facing the countryside was, just like most else around it, a simple plain which sloped downward as green grass eventually yielded to the beach's sand. Whether one stepped on grass or sand, however, every square inch of the estate was encased by a remarkably well-kept stone wall, rising three feet high on the flanks, and four feet off the ground on the front wall, where the daunting wrought-iron gate was placed. Despite this small encloser, the villa lord never intended to forward the idea that his simple getaway was a military installation, and so, only two men from the Sapphire Guard could be seen on the entire premise, always standing by the manor entrance.

A well-crafted cobblstone pathway lead straight up from the gate to the manor, with the solid green plains turning to gardens only during the last one hundred or so paces towards the manor. While small, the gardens were certainly elaborate, with Escanollia and Rhododendrons surrounding spiralled trees and iron lamp posts. Immediately upon one's arrival at the manor, which rested directly at the center of the estate, a small boy, barely out of adolesence, greeted the guests with a smile and bow, while the Sapphire Guardsmen did all the talking.

"Serale, Your Excellency. Welcome to Mateus Villa, home to The Earl Xind'ell, Master of the First House of Portshire. Let this young man bring your horses to the stables, and you may proceed into the manor at your liesure. I might suggest, however, that you check the beaches should you wish to meet Sir Riconus; he spends most of his time there."

Indeed he did, for while much of lands were green fields, all that lied behind the manor was a massive beach of white sand, long enough to take another two hundred paces before reaching the shoreline.

As for the actual villa, it was designed in a "U" shape, resembling in ways that of Syl'rosyan or Naturan architecture. The gardens continued into the 'u' until surrounded by the beige walls of the villa on three sides. Once finally entering through the double-doors of fine oak, one finds themself in the main foyer, dressed like the rest of the abode in dark mahagony and marble tiling. Three entrance ways are found within the foyer, with one leading to the left, another to the right, and a third one closed by a door running parallel to the front entrance.

To the left, was the dining area, with a cellerant, storing cabinet, and table large enough to seat ten occupying the first room, followed by a fair-sized kitchen taking up the remaining section of the wing. To the right, one could find a billard's room in the farthest quarters away from the main foyer, just after the main living room where stairs could be found leading to the second floor.

The second floor, like most other establishments, was where all sleeping chambers could be found, with two on each wing and a single, grand bed chamber resting in the middle. Just as the bottom floor displayed, marble and mahogany was the standard for these rooms as well, along with a sheets of silk and beds of light feathers.

And as for the third doorway in the main foyer, the only entrance covered by a door, that lead simply to the gigantic beach head covering the rear of the estate.

[Kella Greeran]

After a rather tentative instruction from the boy at the gates, a woman on the smaller side unceremoniously ambled down the beach, clumsily kicking the tiny mounds of sand as she maneuvered towards Riconus. A green dress that had, according to its second owner, been "horridly used up" an era ago, carelessly displayed her bare shoulders and arms. Its decorative bits of black lace frayed and drooped and her gloves of the same stuff had no fingers. A black corset layered over the concoction was trying to hold things together, crying for some sense of order. At least she had the decency to wear a shawl, but it was slipping like everything else.

She appeared to be one of those creatures that were a little hard to classify, a little docks jezebel, too plain for genteel clientele and too lively to be a drudge. Her figure was lean, likely from a haphazard possibility of getting meals and her hair was kept short. Trailing tresses were for those who bathed in pretty tubs and didn't get grimy fingers raked through their hair. She was from the glut of knocked about girls who served in rank taverns, recited limericks, drank whiskey and had her backside slapped more than she liked to recall.

Kella felt terribly outclassed when she had first visited the Elf's offices, and she was at least dressed somewhat spiffily. At this juncture she looked a trollop, and a rather moderately priced one at that. If not for years of jester training in debasing herself for her work, she might have vomited right on the sand for sheer embarrassment. Instead it manifested itself in a mild flush, a look still characteristic of the role she adopted.
Yet her kohl lined and smeared eyes were able to keep on Riconus's as she spoke.

"'Rale, Sir."

It was the latest hour that a Black Bell could arrive, evidently, she'd got last pick.

[Camilla Matrona]

The ride by horse was not too bad but Camilla's body was getting a little tired from lugging around all of her prized armor. The fields and smell alone was putting Camilla into a trance. She loved the sea and even more a peaceful field that had yet be stained with blood. As the grass turned to cobblestone Camilla dismounted her steed and walked him up to the gates.

Smiling she released the reins of her ride into the hands of the young boy. "Thank you very much."

It did not take long before Camilla got comfortable with her surroundings, well at least enough to find the beach. As if it was a shiny piece of obsidian in the white sand Camilla made her loud approach to the Earl. Clanking the entire way, she was nothing short of what appeared to be a fierce Elven combatant. Scanning the beach she looked for the Earl in all directions. Hoping to find him before he found her.

[Riconus Xind'ell]

Kella

Riconus had never spent the full night by the shore before, and for good reason, seeing how the evening tide brought with it quite the chill. However, his presence there was a necessity, in order to slowly & quietly retrieve the operatives he required to make Portshire prosperous once more... by any means necessary. Kella, like when they first met, appeared to again be the last one in attendance, which was almost as comical as seeing her trying to navigate the sands with that dress, which at least made her quite pleasing on the eyes.

As the suns began to break over the horizon, Riconus rose from the sands, brushing off his loose slacks before approaching his last operative. "The last one again, Kella? You almost missed the timeframe to arrive here." said Riconus, as his face quickly transformed from serious to pleasing. "But you look beautiful in that dress, so it was well worth the wait. Please, come inside- the rest of your cell is in the sitting quarters."

He directed their path to the villa's back door with his right hand, as his left was offered to Kella as support through the soft sand. Once Kella finally entered through, Riconus brought her to a large room, with leather chairs forming a circle in the middle. Those chairs were occupied by her teammates, all of which were just as properly dressed as Kella. A small table was found in the middle, where an assortment of teas, liquors and wines could be found for pouring. Another tray of bread and cookies were found on the opposite side of the table. "Help yourselves." said Riconus as he motioned to the table, before he began with their briefing.

"Well then, I'm glad you have all finally made it here, for your help is greatly needed... I did not believe I would ever see any of you again following our meeting in Prime, but I suppose the fates had other ideas.

Your targets are many, but I want your attention primarily on the docks, where pirates and thieves run rampant. Our main concern is a group called the "Deathdogs", a replacement organization for the Seaman's Guild that was suspiciously burnt down recently. I want you to find out as much as you can regarding this group; members, locations, organization, affiliates, and most importantly, leadership. So, Laandrak and Chruz, I want you working the docks as undercover workers, learning how the connection is made by the Deathdogs and other pirates. Kella and Victoria, work the taverns, and try to weed out information from every patron you can- if they think it will get you in bed with them, those drunks will tell you everything, even their favourite bloody colour. Ander, you will be at my side, trying to see if their corruption has tainted its way into the government or Old City.

We are currently constructing a safehouse for you all by the docks, but since it would be unorthodox for simple dockworkers to be visiting the Earl's villa, you will have to stay here until the darkening comes again. So, make yourselves at home- there's a billiards room down just beyond these quarters, beds upstairs in case your tired after that long journey, and I'll be on the beach with a few bottles of wine, if anyone chooses to join me.

Oh, and as proper as you all look, feel free to change into something a little more comfortable. My assistant, Xavier, will be able to find you any sort of attire should you be without it."

The suns had broke into the ninth candlemark by the time the meeting was over, but despite this, Riconus still did as planned, casually moving back to his glass of merlot that sat on the beaches. The three men all went directly for the billiards room, while Victoria approached the elderly gnome that was Xavier, asking for some more humble female attire before adjourning to the bed chambers. What Kella chose to do with her time before moving to Portshire was entirely up to her.

[Riconus Xind'ell]

Camilla

As often, Riconus could be found on the sandy beaches, a cigar in one hand and a glass of red wine in the other. Immortality was certainly something he had taken full advantage of, and any human or dwarf that had indulged in either vice as much as he had would surely be at their end. However, he quickly found use in the other elven benefit of perception, as the loud clanging of chain and plate could be heard from her first steps on the beach. He had expected a visitor that brightening, but perhaps he should have made a note that formality on his estate was anything but required. While Camilla looked like the experienced Elven combatant that she was, Riconus was dressed in loose tan slacks, and a white shirt that remained untucked. It might have been hard to believe on sight, that the man with the wine and cigar was a seasoned General of the Imperial Legions, and veteran of more battles than he cared to remember.

"Camilla!" shouted Riconus, trying to grab her attention from just along the coastline. "Camilla, over here!"

Riconus eventually rose from his chair, waiting for his guest to draw nearer before finally making his approach. He gave the elven lady a firm salute, before asking her to take a seat aside his, which gave her a wide open view of the Great Sea which stood mightily in front of them. A table with two glasses and a bottle of Medonian Red rested between the two chairs.

"Camilla, a pleasure it is to meet you in person, finally. Care for a glass of wine? It's a bottle of vintage merlot I picked up on my last trip to Medonia." Riconus didn't really wait for Camilla to answer before filling the glass opposite his, and sliding it her way. He took a single sip from the glass, helplessly smiling from the wine's smooth taste, immediately before asking Camillia, casually...

"Tell me, Camilla. What are your views for Portshire? Where do you see it going in the future, and what obstacles might we face along that path?"

[Camilla Matrona]

Smiling Camilla took the glass with a nod. "Did you know I was once the largest brewer in the empire? Had contracts from here to the desert." Swirling her glass she smiled. "Don't plan on doing much of it anymore though. Maybe a few barrels every once in awhile." Taking a drink of the wine she swished it around in her mouth and swallowed just a tiny bit of the gulp.

"My views hmm.. Well honestly there is a lot of things that go on behind the scenes. A lot of people seem to find themselves attracted to my wealth and there is a lot of opposition in the city. It seems everyone around the corner is tracking down someone else. I wouldn't give it but a couple months before all hell breaks loose. Your going to have a string of murders and accidental burnings... I think that the city is going to need to lay down the law. Start punishing those that do wrong. If the merchants want to make money off the docks, then do it legally by passing laws and what not. We need to start setting examples before the entire city becomes a war zone with four very high stone walls." Shrugging her shoulder she smiled. "That is my view on what is going to forthcome."

[Kella Greeran]

Kella laughed with a surprising charm at Riconus's compliment, "Thank you, Sir. Let's hope the docks' men think so too, as it's a bit of a tart-ish costume."
Her crooked smile lingered a moment, "Didn't want to traipse into the city too out of character, Sir."
She glanced down at the ensemble, thinking to herself that she might have to raise the hem a little, but her ruminations were cut short when Riconus offered his hand.

Pretty as a proper lady, she rested her hand on top of his murmuring a mildly surprised, "Thank you."
For a single rosy moment, she was just going to pretend a pleasant, handsome Elf, with unseemly amounts of money was taking her for a walk on the beach. It was a pretty fiction for as long as it lasted, but nothing gold can stay.

Upon seeing her teammates Kella offered a courteous smile, but then remembered who she was dealing with. Her brief season with the old Jade Legion had placed her in the habit of being a mite social with her brothers in arms. With this lot, smiling was hit or miss, mostly miss.

Presented with an assortment of refreshments, Kella concocted a combination that spoke volumes about her personality: a bit of whiskey and a cookie. On instinct she almost put another cookie in some fold of her dress, but thankfully stopped herself.
Gads, Kella, you're not an entertainer missing meals anymore, you don't have to scavenge when the getting is good. What next? The silverware?

Interrupting her thoughts, she craned to see if Victoria was taking anything. By the slimness of the Elf's figure and the grimness of her looks, Kella surmised that she lived on air and occasional meals of others' suffering.

Settling into a chair, Kella munched at her cookie, looking more a kid being told a story than a covert operative about to be briefed. However, if she looked like a covert operative she wasn't really all that covert, was she? At least that's what she told herself to assuage doubt.
Kella chuckled warmly at Riconus's bit about favorite colors, but save that show of mirth her expression was mostly even during the sketch of affairs. It almost seemed as if she was memorizing portions as they left the Elf's mouth. Her head was stuffed with a great deal of stupid limericks and bawdy prose from her past life, it was high time she put such talents to nobler uses.

When the party dissipated Kella found herself alone in the circle of chairs, feeling a bit at odds with the others. Billiards she had lost too much money to her brother in to enjoy anymore, sleeping was out of the picture and chatting with Victoria struck her as painful. She tossed back a bite of whiskey. Well then. She was going to take advantage of a private beach and a change of outfit.

This time, she navigated the sand a little better being barefoot. The black bodice, gloves and shawl stayed the tarty dress went, replaced by a pair of gray trousers rolled at the cuff to accommodate her height.

At first, the Vagaran looked a little longingly to the gray sea as it stroked the shore, rhythmically pushing a tangled strand of kelp towards the sand. Like the Theylri, it bid her come find something in its treacherous arms, but what she was unsure. Beyond the razor line of the horizon, she imagined something glorious would raise its head from the sea, something nearer than the suns. But the ocean was silent on the matter, murmuring only the change in tide and hissing its collapse on the sand.

"What a fine view you have, Sir. It must be grand to wake and sleep near the sea."

[Riconus Xind'ell]

Camilla

Riconus downed that last bit of his wine, but not before quickly jerking his head at the mention of 'largest brewery in the empire'. An impressed look drew upon the Syl's face, as he reached back for the bottle of wine, filling his glass as he spoke.

"Well now, I was not made aware of your brewing history. Perhaps one day you could brew a barrel for me, I'll be sure to pay handsomely for it."

His gaze turned to the Sea as Camilla spoke about her ideas regarding Portshire, but he kept a clear ear to every word out of her mouth. She seemed to have a well enough idea as to where the city might head if not properly monitored, but her words also spoke of an idea behind her words of concern.

"Indeed, the Sapphire Guard may very well have their hands full in the coming months, but they will always have help should it be required. I have reserves stationed in Nexus Prime, and in case of emergency, there are more Sapphire Guardsmen in Archadoon that could be called in for help. As well, my contacts in the Imperial Intelligence Agency will soon be sending... advisors, that can aid in our efforts to keep the docks clean." He kept a rigid face, safe of any emotion that might indicate what he truly had up his sleeve. "But, perhaps you might tell me what you believe could be done to rid Portshire of these future obstacles?"

[Riconus Xind'ell]

Kella

Riconus broke a small smile as he began to leave the room, which while no one might know it, was over Kella's unique choice of food & drink. Nevertheless, he lay idly on the shores, drinking his wine and staring off in the distance. He took a momentary leave from his wine to check the temperature of the water, delighted to see that it was quite warm despite being yet absent from the midday suns. It was as he returned to his seat that he saw Kella approaching, a pleased look on his face as he was finally receiving pleasant company on the beach for once.

Without asking, Riconus poured out a second glass of wine for Kella, and offered it to her as he gave a response. "Have a glass, I think you'll like it... I mean, it's not quite whisky and cookies, but it'll do the job, nonetheless." the same smile from earlier drew again to his face, before he replied to her comment with words drenched in a Syl'rosyan accent. "Yes, I quite enjoy the view, but the bloody seagulls can make mornings quite undesirable. If I'm waken just once more by those damned birds, I swear I'll find an elementalist to scorch them out of the sky." He was obviously joking about instigating genocide on his beach, but as a few of the birds called out a from further down the shore, one could imagine the annoyance at waking up to them.

"Tell me though Kella - and preferably, minus all the "Sirs" at the end of every sentance - what your life is like. Frankly, they never gave me insight to your history, only that you were formerly a member of the Jade Legion before joining the BBG."

[Camilla Matrona]

"Maybe someone who's entire job is focused on this city. You can pick through your commanders and generals, but you wont find one that feels strong enough to care about Portshire like the people that live here do. I suggest you find someone who can lead the Sapphire Guard to your standards as well as have a strong enough love and passion for this city to turn it around."

Taking a sip of her wine she smiled and looked to the Earl. "Do you not agree?"

[Kella Greeran]

Kella took the wine with a polite smile that deepened to something a mite guilty as her cheeks flushed a degree, evidently her incongruous fare had been noticed. Not embroiled in a true mission, she didn't attempt to smother such human reactions. Who knew how long it would be until her next bout of socializing, she wouldn't adopt Victoria's flounder like expressions just yet.

She hadn't noticed the Elf's accent as much before, he likely dampened it a bit when in an official capacity. Kella sipped at the wine as he spoke, but pressed the back of her hand to her lips at the end of his answer. Discreetly trying to control a laugh while the vintage was in her mouth.

"Yes, Sir, they are a bothersome species. Rats of the sky. One nipped my fingers to steal my lunch once." She waved her hand indiscriminately at the sky continuing the playful farce, "Decimate them all."

When talk turned to her own history, Kella's steel blue eyes widened a bit over the rim of her glass. And a breathtakingly eloquent phrase passed through her brain, searing her thoughts with its rhetorical genius:
Feth.

It would almost be less awful if she had a lethal history strewn with corpses and tragedy. A house fire that killed her family and bent her towards revenge, a dalliance with a team of assassins that killed only with cleverly folded bits of paper, or even if she was a noble shunned by her house over her affinity for feeding peasants. Alas, Kella's family loved her and was alive and well in some pocket of the empire, and her death toll was mercifully low.

She spoke into her glass, trying to smother her answer with another sip of wine. It was garbled and a bit hushed at first.
"Sichus fuh…"
Looking at the striking Elf didn't help her ego either.

Ah what the Aeternia. You're pretty fond of yourself. Embrace it. Chances are you'll never be allowed back here anyway.

Kella lifted her chin with a pretty sigh and rolled her shoulders back, a performer's panache and glitter brightened her motions a bit.
"Better seen than said, S-" she stopped herself and then handed Riconus her glass, "Please hold this a moment. I'm going to embarrass myself."

The Vagaran moved about six strides in front of Riconus and looked for a flatter plane of sand, kicking at a mound or two to even the ground. It was good enough, she'd thudded on worse. Her shawl was discarded for this, showing fully what vivid clusters of tattoos were only caught in snatches before. A show of dusk deepening to starry evening flowed across one arm and a livid tangle of brightly petaled flowers wove around the other.

Summoning her breath and tuning her body, the woman faced down the line of the shore. The soothing sound of ebbing water stroked her left side.
Gods Kella you may want to rethink thi- too late.

She had began with little prelude, running a step or two forward with her arms raised. And then she sprung into a lean motion, quick as cat's scratch. Her front leg propelled her into a handstand where her fingers barely glanced the sand before sending her form into a marvelous moment of suspension. The flip was landed neatly, but the display was not quite over. Falling gracefully into a handstand, she began to walk on her palms, her body curved in a crescent shape. Realizing she had probably terrified her commander at this point, Kella gently peeled out of the handstand one leg at a time until she was righted again.

She turned toward Riconus with a sheepish grin and explained what she had mumbled before, "Circus folk. I worked as a Jester and sometimes acrobat with my family. We started in a noble house but were booted when the power structure changed, so we traveled with an Air'riela band of performers."
She rubbed her sandy palms on the tops of her thighs and picked up her shawl, shaking out the sand as she spoke, "I ran away from the circus to join the military."

Plucking her glass from his hand she finished, "Now that I have made a fool of myself. Would it be fair to ask for an interesting story of your own?"

[Riconus Xind'ell]

Camilla

Riconus took another sip of wine as he continued his distant look into the sea. Camilla certainly sounded as though she was aware of the situation, but again, a discreet messege could be captured in between her words. Riconus made no hesitation to move upon the feelings he noticed in her.

"So what about you?" said the Syl, blatently. "You are a Portshire native, who is not only successful in business, but also has a skillset in warfare. I would see no person better suited to the role as Prefect and Commander in my city than the lady standing in front of me.

What say you, m'lady? Would you accept such rank and title in the name of your city, people and Empire?"

Kella response will be made following this post.

[Riconus Xind'ell]

Kella

Riconus raised an eyebrow as she stood before him, with the other brow following suit upon the beginning of her theatrics. A wide smile perched from his lips at Kella's unorthodox set of talents, even though he gave a quick turn while she wasn't looking to ensure her cell mates weren't privvy to this through the windows in the billiards or sleeping quarters. After all, the primary skills of her mates were drug trafficking, extortion and murder... then there was Kella with her acrobatics.

Nevertheless, she put on quite the amazing show, which ended to the sound of wild clapping from Riconus. It was likely the first time he had put a drink down to do anything on the beach since he first arrived. A still impressed look on his face glimmered as Kella returned to her glass.

"Well now! That certainly was not what I expected, and I must admit, I do like surprises quite a bit. I can garauntee you, that whatever I tell of myself, shan't be half as entertaing as your display. I could act out my history like yourself, but I'm sure you've seen enough men trying to show their military prowess off with a few sword actions.

In truth, that would be a perfect display of my life thus far, however. I joined the military as soon as I was able to, but I admit it was done with a little bit of help. My family were high-borne Syl'rosyans, who unfortunately... um, passed on at an early age. My strong ties with the Kaldres Family - the same one that the Jade Legion's commander, Sheng Kaldres, is part of - got me enrolled in the Imperial Naval Academy.

From there, it's just been a long list of battles and wars no one would care to hear about, unless they were military historians. I suppose whatever wealth I have comes from the mercenary companies and militias I've created over the patterns. In fact, you'll be interacting with one of those creations here in Portshire, called the Sapphire Guard. They're in charge of the 'official' extermination of crime in the city, but I imagine you and your cell will add quite a bit to their objective.

Tell me, though. Surely a lady like yourself doesn't plan on being in the military forever. You must have some sort of dream you wish to aspire to in the future, no?"

[Kella Greeran]

Kella smiled bashfully and gave a mild curtsey to Riconus's enthusiastic clapping. His reaction wa