[Entry] The Secyclion Harbour [All Post Here First]

[Ragman]

The Secyclion Harbor is likely to be the first reassuring sight that one sets foot upon sailing through the notoriously dangerous waters of the Nephule Bay, at the foot of the magnificent red soiled caldera that Secyclion is so famous for.

The three story structure not only houses the docks, but also many of the deckhands and City Militia manning the port. Throughout the Brightening, usually from noon till dusk when the visibility of Nephule Bay is the highest; which is also when surfing the dangerous waters is the safest, numerous ships would begin streaming in an orderly manner, often zig-zagging through the Bay, avoiding precarious regions based on experience in navigating the Bay's waters.

Ships would be docking at the harbor, which can house up to fifty ships at once, and the Harbor, like most ports are a bustle of activity. Merchants and traders would be eager to unload their goods to be brought inland, while customs officials would be inspecting their cargo. Slaves and workers would be servicing many of the parts of the vessel together with the deckhands who would be refueling and resupplying the ships with water and rations, all moving along the long expanse of a gypsum bridge; the same stone that is used in crafting the multitude of buildings on the Toichos Kikkimos, looming mysterious above all visitors and tourists. Due to space constraints however, especially on busy Brightenings, people are generally not allowed to stand and gawk at the caldera rock formation, but quickly ushered toward the Harbor's Main Building where they would be allowed passage onto Secyclion.

Guards are stationed just at the entrance, an Ogee-shaped Arch colored with mosaic and stained glass that leads into the relatively cooler interior of the building; and beyond that the rest of Secyclion, ready to be explored. Guards in their traditional outfit, the golden brown Fustanella with matching tops would be checking each and every visitor to the Island, validating and noting down the Visas of the Empire's Citizens. Despite the constant stream of people moving in and out of the Harbor, with the sheer volume of traffic, the guards are usually good spirited; since it has been a long time when Secyclion was last opened to the mainland, an event that has excited the entire Island City.

"Chairete." They would greet with the Eunesian tongue faces assertive but not demanding or intimidating, each of them bore a short leaf-shaped blade, the traditional Secyclion arm known as the Xiphos; which is tucked into their scabbards, ready to be drawn at the hint of trouble.

"Welcome to the Red Island. I would need your Visas and your purpose of visiting the Island."

Once visitors have passed the gantry, they would be approached by two women also garbed in Secyclion costumes, pale blue-gray chiffon single dresses. The two women were beautiful, each wearing pretty smiles and seemed friendly and welcoming, particularly to first time visitors to the Red Island. The two membered welcoming committee would place an olive garland on male visitors and flower garlands on female tourists, as a token of welcome into the City, as well as indicating to the rest of the populace that those are tourists, and thus, render help and assistance whenever possible.

NPC LIST Name: Minas Vegaras (Not NPC-able) Role: Harbor Master Race: Minotaur Appearance: Minas is a mature Minotaur, standing over 7'6", two black horns from his grayish skin. He has the eyes of a saint, ever the thinker, but the body of a warrior. Skills: Advanced Warhammer and Morningstar Demeanor:Nicknamed the 'Gentle Giant' Minas is considered some what of a local celebrity, and his tenure as the Harbor Master had seen little to no trouble in recent Eras. He has a thick Common accent and speaks a variety of other languages. Nature:Minas is the sort with infinite patience but little tolerance. When threatened, he would also resort to force, using his size and appearance to intimidate. Minas also has great respect for authority. Name: Xander Alanthos Role: Sentry 1 Race: Human Appearance: Brown haired with dark, glittering eyes. Xander is rather tall at about 6'2, with a serious but approachable expression. Skills: Basic Xiphos and Skirmish Demeanor: Xander is the more serious and firm of the two sentries, and adopts a 'no-nonsense' attitude when it comes to checks. Nature: Xander is actually apprehensive about the reopening of Secyclion to the mainland Empire, and sometimes it shows when he gets impatient with mainlander's antics. Name: Marios Lekkas Role: Sentry 2 Race: Human Appearance: Handsome looking fellow with black hair and opal colored eyes. Smaller in stature compared to Xander. Skills: Basic Xiphos and Skirmish Demeanor: Marios has a more easy-going attitude, and is more charming and affable, however he still takes his job very seriously when need be. Marious also has a soft spot for a damsel in distress. Nature: Marios is the happy-go-lucky sort who is more laid back and friendly compared to Xander.

Secrets : This location can be self-moderated if one is wishing to enter the Island via conventional means. Unless otherwise specified, do contact the moderator if other circumstances such as 'sword fights' and 'sneaking in' etc, prevails.

[Keeva Kaldres]

Timestamp: 6th Ioannes, Summer of Era XIV

Sailing to the harbour at Secylion may had been unnerving, but the discomfort was likely to be lessened somewhat for those who did not necessarily have to travel by boat. Indeed, the pair who journeyed to the Red Island this brightening had alternative options in range; interesting options, to say the least.

By land or by air, however, the two eventually arrived on shore, the younger of whom took time to view their surroundings; mysterious and taking as they were.

Garbed in a red gown whose sleeves tapered down along her upper arms, Keeva Kaldres was a striking young woman who held herself well, if with a small measure of pride. First impressions held the island of Secylion as being a beautiful place indeed, if different from anything she had been used to before. Even the guards looked quite charming in their uniforms, and the woman smiled deeply as they made their approach, bobbing her head in a slight nod.

“Serale.” Her gaze was warm, her manner polite as she spoke. “We are simply here as tourists to your beautiful island, sirs.” And then a pause, thoughtful, pensive, as she turned grey eyes to the draconess, Skay, politely waiting to see if she had anything left to say. Keeva was looking forwards to seeing what this isle had to offer, and was therefore rather eager to pass through.

Holding out one pale hand to proffer her imperial visa to the guards, the girl then waited for her friend to do the same, after which, with luck, they would be able to set foot inside Secylion proper, and subsequently see what delights it had in store.

OOC: Waiting on Skay to post. (:

[Skay Ravendi]

The draconess had indeed come along with Keeva. She wasn't sure why they were in this place. Skay had no business here. She had no idea what business Keeva had here. But she was here, her things packed in a shoulderbag. And she did pack them the instant that Keeva said she was leaving for this town. What was its name again? She asked no questions. Not why Keeva wanted to come here. Nor where this here was. Nor for how long. She just packed her bags and went along with Keeva, no questions asked, no objection voice given.

So she was here with a bemused and nonchalant gaze scanning the beautiful horizon, her long black hair flowing in the wind, comfortable and warm clothes, a katana by her side, not that she knew how to use it too well and soft lips breathing in the foreign air. Ah, she was in human form. Well half elven, it had some traits which made her look half or perhaps one third elven. Atop of it Skay was quite beautiful in this form. Well she had no reason to choose an ugly form after all.

Though she had not shapeshifted. The draconess was under a mysticism's Illusion spell. To which she was getting used to rather well whenever she left Nexus Prime. For some reason the resolve to stay in her 'true' form was fading. Perhaps with age and experience came wisdom and arrogance faded. Perhaps there were other reasons. But it was certain, unlike before, the draconess left Nexus in an Illusion form everytime. She even had a fake visa which told her fake race and a new fake name.

"Serale." She gave that visa to the guards. As for why she was here, keeping no more than two metre distance from Keeva? Well, the draconess did not wish to leave her friend anymore. She would not. She definitely would not. From now on there would be no more 'oh sorry, I disappeared for an era, oh like sorry'. No more of that. From the few precious things that existed upon Telath, Keeva was the most precious one to the draconess. Sure, during the time when Keeva was away Skay found new friends, both Amelia and Viskyia, and the guys from the Rainbow Towers. She achieved more than she expected... or perhaps she did expect that much. But Keeva was something that neither arcana nor other people manage to replace. So thus - Skay was here - in Secylion.

[Ragman]

Keeva Kaldres and Skay Ravendi

The two guards continued with their smiles as they took the visas, gave a cursory glance at the papers before handing it back to the two women. At the same instance where they had handed the papers back, both women were being sized up visually in terms of their appearances, especially if they bore any weapons.

"Welcome to the Red Island of Eunesia, ladies, please proceed." The first guard, the one with impish dark hair and a somewhat easy smile continued, his posture relaxed somewhat. After all, both women would soon find out about the seemingly sexist attitude that the Secyclion society possess, even amongst the women. One won't think that a woman could pose as too much of a threat.

Women were the second class gender in the male dominated patriarchal City; and while you don't get the women abused openly on the streets, certain issues such as gender roles were very specific on the Island and women are expected to butt out of certain affairs and at the same time required to fulfill certain criteria of every Brightening routines. The two were accorded the minimal respect and perhaps even interests because they were tourists.

"If you possess any form of weaponry, please register them at the custom's office." The guard's voice would ring out from behind the two as they proceeded toward two women, who would reach out to place two flower garlands over the neck of Keeva, and then the Dracon in her Half-Elven guise, followed by lithing voices that carried with genuine joy.

"Welcome to Secyclion!"

[Tradieus Kha'Serith]

Season of Autumn Era II
Era XIV Post Fractum
Month of Imperos
Brightening 5

The boat rocked gently as it ploughed the waves causing a white forth to form in its wake. The vessle was barely large enough to carry the passenger on board plus the crew, the total being twenty-five souls. It had no sails to its name but two large wheels that churned the water to move it forwards. It was a curious ship to many on board as there were very few of its kind anywhere else in the Empire.

It wasn't as much of a show for the tall dracon standing at the front of the ship. His large arms folded over his cheast as he looked into the mist ahead of them waiting for the signs of the island destination. The white cloak covered the black and grey armor that was underneath, his giant wings folded close to his body as the whiteness fluttered in the sea breeze.

Behind him were two others that stood near the front of the ship, yet they lacked the same blank expression of the one at the head. They seemed to lounge almost in their upright positions as they looked at one another and at the dracon almost wearily. One wearing a simple tunic and trouser set of grey with a black vest the other white and silver platemail that glowed even though the suns were still veiled by the silvery mist.

As the few candlemarks passed that they were on the ferry to cross the sea between the mainland and the islands. The mist burned away as the suns rose higher into the sky and the heat of their fire intensified casting a warmth on the world below.

"Land hoooo!" The voice from a man in a basket sitting a fair height above the deck called out as the shapes of buildings and other vessles came into view.

"Good." Tearing his dark wine colored eyes from the visions ahead he looked at Morton. "Go to the cargo hold and gather our things, I do not wish to stay on the boat while I wait my turn to get my things." The Moraden nodded, looked at the human, then turned and waddled away into the lower holds to gather their few belongings. "Rumen, you might as well go with him." The human paladin turned around and followed after the disguised Dracon.

Muttering to himself Tradieus looked back at the quickly approaching harbors of the volcanic island. Was this the place were he would find it in himself to stay or would he pick up and continue his nomadic life in a few short days?

[Lyr Tlansson]

Early Imperios in the Season of Autumn, Era XIV Post Fractum

Another boat-ride - at least he was getting used to it. Lyr paced about the deck of the smallish boat, craning his neck first this way, then that, to get the best possible view of the island. The skipper had said, in a broad brogue that it had taken Lyr more than a few times to understand, that they ought to be at the shore soon... and that had been a few candlemarks ago!

Peering, the Vagaran thought he could make out the posts of the docks and the steep roofs of buildings. The early autumn sun beat down so hard on the waters that the horizon blurred and everything, not only the waves, seemed to plash upward and downward. Lyr grimaced, tugging at the sleeves of his formerly white, now rather off-colour and speckled, shirt. Rivulets of sweat ran under his arms and down his back, adding something extra - and smell - to the cloth.

It was one of the shirts he'd bought himself as thane. Only this morning Lyr, not really given to looking at the conditions of his clothing anyway, so long as it kept him moderately warm and moderately covered, had noticed that all of his shirts were looking rather worn and that they all smelled of sea salt with an extra smidgeon of baby. "You're getting fething delicate in your old age," the youth grumbled to himself as he leaned forward over the edge of the prow. Where was the hardiness of the past, the tenaciousness of the Jaedaxian streets, the weed-like properties of the street-rat? Had they died in Trysvale, had they been quelled by a title, had they been lulled to sleep by the responsibilities of a father to his child, however unsought and ill-maintained?

"Borthanas' flaming underpants." He could still talk like a street-rat, at least. He could drink like one too, at least while his supply of crowns lasted. And that, Lyr figured, would be a long while - the sum he'd gotten out of Bluebottom for leaving her precious Trysvale was nigh on incalculable, according to the Vagaran's mathematical calculations. He'd set himself up, give Kenkuroi and Rose something, find a few nicely-proportioned girls and a tavern with a generous tap... what more could one desire in life? If there was anything, Lyr didn't know about it.

The quay was only a hundred feet ahead of the boat now, and Lyr could see the people running about as the crew prepaied for docking. He straightened and stretched, rolling his shoulders. Secyclion. He knew nothing about the island, and didn't know how much Kenkuroi knew, either. The only thing he'd heard was that it was a bustling place, a bit odd - but that was Eunesia, after all - but nice enough, and big enough, and easy going enough not to look too closely at one's dirty laundry, like they did in Trysvale. That had suited Lyr just fine. That it, like the rest of Eunesia, was removed from the mainland Empire suited Lyr even better. And then, if he didn't like it... he could always leave. On that cheerful note, Lyr jumped down onto the dock.

[Ality Vera]

Middle-ish Imperos, Season of Autumn, Era XIV PF

Life was too short to live every brightening in fear. Ever since the bright orange glow appeared (and then disappeared) in Trysvale, causing weather to be stormy and crazy like Demiosian weather and Trysvalians to unsuccessfully evacuate (chaos chaos chaos), Ality had decided to leave hicks-ville. Not for good, only for a vacation. No better place to go than a sweet sweet island named Sexylion. Ality could picture it now, buff beefcakes galore, roaming the beaches in the nude. They would have to be naked to beat the heat in this place. Naked, sweaty, smelly, manly. Mmm-- this would be the first place she would look for candidate number one to collect into her harem.

Plus, in Sexylion, she wouldn't have to worry about her failing business, crazy stalker dwarves, boring fruitcakes, and illiterate rednecks. She had made too many enemies in Trysvale. Either she killed them all like she killed that poor miner fella in the past (albeit accidental) or she would just leave them to rot on their own for a while. She chose the latter. After too many candlemarks to count, the boat she arrived on finally docked. Ality dropped the last of her seasickness into the waters and then removed herself from the boat, her sandaled feet on ground finally. She lugged with her two big cloth sacks filled with lingerie and dresses from the Nymph's Haven. Perhaps she could expand her business ici *gave her author an excuse for Ali to be here other than stalking Lyr* Plus a girl needed lots of pretty dresses if she were to amass a harem. The girl shook her head, her short bouncy curls dancing in the air. She greeted the guards with a standard serale, refusing to embarrass herself with her terrible language skills. She flashed them her visa and then stated her business.

"To find me some concubines. Male concubines. And expand my business." The girl gave the guards a wink and then moved off to be greeted by the welcoming committee.

"Well if you are here to help, I do need room and board for a cycle or two and perhaps directions to the local aedile. I'd love to start a shoppe here, expand my own business. I sell lingerie. You two look like you'd look extra fine in lingerie." Ality cupped her breasts and lifted them. "Gravity is our worst, worst enemy!" she declared.

[Julien Cervantes]

Junticor. Era 14 PF

Julien arrived. He brought with him nothing more than a backpack which he found in his home, the bastardly, half-wrecked shipped ironically named The Dynasty. It was a ridicolous excuse for a pirate ship, but Jules found much use in it. It was his sleeping quarters, his mess hall, and more importantly, a place to find and stash things. His drunk of a father did little in the category of parenting, so Julien often found himself among the Claw -- a remarkable organization which he was now part of. The tattoo on his back served as proof, its ink imprinted deeper than his flesh.

He slipped his visa toward the nearest guard, responded to the retarded questions, and then retrieved whatever items they wished to inspect. "As you said", Julien muttered, "I come to visit." His charismean was harsh, curt, and almost rude. But his countenance remained stoic, almost calm. And when all was said and done, he nodded and bid them both an almost polite "Serale."

[Ragman]

Ality Vera

Ality's demeanor, to say the least, seemed to have dumbed the guards for a moment, her words seeming to register in their minds, and then did something to their limbs. Faces turning scarlet, Ality's gesture and behavoir seemed to have offended them in such a way that they were momentarily lost for words. This was of course Secyclion, a place where gender roles were very much defined, and notions such as male harems was something that had never, and will never be entertained.

"Madam!" One of them barked out suddenly, as if very scandalized, though his other comrade quickly placed a restraining hand on him, muttering some whispers towards him, before placing a smile, albeit a rather forced one on his face -- his signal that Ality should hurry along. It was perhaps fortunate that the red head bombshell had left it at that and moved into the Harborhouse.

The two women however, seemed more than delighted, a little surprised no doubt, at Ality's rather boisterous entrance, but nonetheless welcoming. With polite smiles they answered Ality, rather than verbally, placing the flower garland over her neck as they led her to a small pedestal within the Harborhouse in which a small, but nonetheless intricate map of the entire Island was relieved carefully in stone.

"You are here." The brunette woman pointed at a small building at the edge of the volcanic caldera. If any, they only seemed vaguely amused by Ality's comments. Secyclionians, after all, like most of Eunesia, sees mainlanders as a people who are culturally inferior.

"The Adelia, as we call it, is here." The other woman spoke in almost flawless Common, pointing at a rather large looking building nestled near the top of the red caldera that loomed above the Harborhouse -- something Ality would never miss if she would only step out of the building.

"It is house within the Palati Ariadne, the Thanal Palace."

OOC: I assumed the rest of the PC's self-modded their way through. If not, PM me and I'll post.

[Ality Vera]

Ality briefly scanned the guards' faces for their reactions and left them in a hurry, mainly because they would never be a part of her reverse harem-- she didn't want to break their hearts like this.

She received the garland happily-- flowers she liked, when they didn't make her sneeze. If it weren't for flowers and the oils from petals used to make fragrances, damn Jaedaxians would all smell like cheese for their bath-loathing lifestyles.

Course she was culturally inferior, a class-A bumpkin. Couldn't help herself in expressing her thoughts bluntly either, 'specially now since she had hit her noggin awesomely. "Thanks, they're beautiful." She beamed at the ladies, her potential future customers if she were to set up shoppe here. Perhaps she would have some luck here too, after all she bought her very first shoppe for five crowns, yes weep and read, five crowns.

"The Adelia eh?" Pompous creatures. Why can't they just call the darn aedile the aedile? Sheesh. What did his farts smell like tulips too?

"Thanks thanks girls. I shall visit the Adelia and see what he or she can do for me. Or what I can do for myself. The likes." She shrugged, waved, and was off, lugging her goodies into Sexylion.

[Eir'helm Mithania]

Imperos, Season of Autumn, Era XIV PF

Eir’helm Mithania was a bard, a smith of sorts, and a tad wrong in the head. He also walked out of the ocean, up onto the shore, and started heading for the main building of the harbor. The young elf was soaked, there was a starfish stuck to one side of his face, seemingly not willing to let go, and something rather long shifting in his pants.

He, however, didn’t seem put off by any of it. He simply swung his drum up, over his shoulder, and wandered into the office. He just smiled as he pulled off the starfish and set it and his visa down for the guards to look over. The document wasn’t in the best of shape, but it was readable, mostly. The starfish, it wasn’t readable, but it was a nice shade of blue.

Eir’helm went about digging in his pants for the beast within. He went looking for the shifting, slimy little culprit. With a smile he pulled a trout out from his trousers and set it along side the starfish and visa.

The fish just didn’t look happy to be there.

“Er…. I’m here…. Because I’ve never been here before?”

The guards looked confused, but didn't say much about the elf. He was odd, but weren't most mainlanders? The bard, however, wasn't much trouble, and unless stopped would wander in, and around the city.

[Iseult Fluersdotter]

The Month of Junctior
in the Season of Autumn

Why she had chosen to visit Secyclion rather than the other islands, Iseult could not say. Perhaps it was the volcanos, a glaring reminder of her time spent on Demios and the curse that hung over her. Anyone else might have avoided such glaring reminders, but Iseult felt as if she tempted fate...and perhaps, maybe just perhaps, something might release her from her cruel bindings Iklov had placed on her. She wouldn't have dared admit that aloud--didn't even tell anyone she'd been cursed to begin with--but it was a hope that set restlessly in her gut, churning anxiously every time she thought about it.

So she tried not to think about it as the the ship approached the dock and tried to allow some light-hearted ease to fill her. She was not being a good friend lately. Poor Ci'aran. She wondered what he thought of her long silences. He must have at least been glad to put Medonia and Rougenoe behind them. She looked over at her companion and offered a quick, fleeting smile, a reassurance that they were friends and things were fine, even if she felt she wasn't fine.

"Serale," she responded in kind to the individuals who greeted her. This seemed to be the ritual in every city--produce a visa, explain away the presence, and move inward. "My friend and I are just here to see the city," she provided with a slight lift of one shoulder, extracting her visa from her bag and proffering it to the person who had asked for it. She waited, knowing nothing would be amiss with the documentation, and likewise she waited for Ci'aran to be admitted before heading further in.

Only to be stopped again, this time by those with flower garlands draping them about her neck. She frowned slightly and lifted the garland. The smell was a bit strong, but she let it hang back down against her slight chest and bobbed her head at the two women. "Thanks," she murmured awkwardly.

ooc: Ci'aran to follow at some point or another

[Kenkuroi Mithania]

Early Imperios in the Season of Autumn, Era XIV Post Fractum

The Eunesian Isles.

Kenkuroi had traveled to many places around the empire when he lived with his mother, specifically around the Prime, Carmelyn, Centripax, Sherian and Enamorian Province, never settling down for long in one place. The Eunesian Isles were one of those region he had never stepped foot onto.

His mother on the other hand had been there to attend to business, as she dumped him with some crude potato farmer back in Tyrsvale many many many eras back and when she had returned from her trip he had of course asked if it were anything like the reputation associated with the Isles; its rumors of crystal blue waters, sandy white beaches, bountiful sea food, beautiful people...... sadly, he might as well get answers from a intricately crafted post of a barn as she, in her typical fashion had given him a very sarcastic, smart-ass and no doubt inaccurate answer.

Now was the chance for the young half elf to experience and find out how exactly 'rocking' were the Isles, by tagging behind Lyr, his so called benefactor, whose decision to go wherever was never disputed by Ken....... so long as it was not Silrosia..... and the further away from Moonwillow, the better....

Ken wasn't exactly fond of boat rides and for this particular journey, he did more whining then baby Rose, so much that he earned the wrath of one of the sailors who taunted him with jibes of his weird relationship with Lyr and the baby involved, hinting him as a wuss and a pretty-gay-boy, which didn't go too well with the hot-tempered youth.

Three candlemarks later....

Lyr had stepped off the boat, seemingly looking forward to face the new possibilities and opportunities the Isle has to offer, Ken followed behind, nursing a bruised ego and left eye, and swaddled across his chest in a makeshift bundle, was baby Rose who was making a ruckus as usual, though this time, she wasn't wailing, crying or screaming but squealing excitedly, cooing happily and giggling constantly. Could this be an omen of good fortune and exciting events to be found on the profoundly supersticious Isle they were stepping foot on?

ooc: same entrance with Lyr

[Vanderlou]

TS: Early Imperos, in the Season of Autumn, Era II of the Celestine Mandate, Era XIV Post Fractum.

Vanderlou had never intended to go to Secyclion, in fact before he had boarded the boat that had brought him to Secyclion he had never heard of the place. But being here, on an island all the way up north where the weather was significantly colder, he couldn't help but miss the warmth of Enamoria. Nevertheless, he was glad to have his feet on good old dry soil. Brightenings spent on that ship, however modern it was made him ill and working onboard made the trip all the more unbearable.

"Serale." he greeted the constable that had come to see his passport with little enthusiasm. In all honesty, he was feeling a little sick from all that time onboard the ship. There were even a few times he had been tempted to just quit the voyage halfway, one of those times was when he had went around Demios while the boat was resupplying.

Satisfied with his passport, the constable asked the half-elf about his business here. To be honest he wanted to tell the man the truth, that he had been tricked to ride the ship, that it was a mistake that had brought him here. However he didn't feel like getting interrogated further. "It's a long story sir, do you know where I could find an inn here?"

The constable gave him directions and the sorcerer nodded, committing them to memory. With that he took his passport and went on ahead into the city, he decided to check out whatever sights there were to see. He wasn't tired yet and walking on solid ground would shake off his sea-sickness, at least he hoped it would.