Second Star from the Right (Mint & Winnow)

Mint wrote:"
If Winnow is in agreement they will go to shore together and gather the men quickly. Taverns, inns, brothels, jail, and any other obvious places will be checked. Francien will have the ship ready for immediate departure upon their return.

"So you believe the storm is the result of mystical forces? And I cannot affect it not even a whit? This distresses me greatly. The power of the Pattern should reign supreme, overtopped only by greater use of that Pattern itself. Could they have a Pattern here? As Rebma has another?"

Winnow will happily go along with Mint's suggestion, cheerfully dragging the men from their drinks or their doxies, with a promise of better fortune later. He will make sure they pay their bills.

After sending them on their way back to the ship, Winnow will notice the peacock leading his troops. He's pretty sure they're not local, from their look. He will stand to the side, to watch the procession from the steps of a tavern, remarkable only because of his size, standing out among the people of this place.

The minion are all nearly eight feet tall, and around 400lbs, all muscle. Xue himself is even larger, nearly 500lbs. All are wearing matching black body armor, looking to be some kind of modern technological armor more than classical solid metal. They have broadswords worn on their backs. Accents on both the armor and sword hilts are red, including vibrant red tassles dangling from the sword hilts. Their faces, uncovered for the moment, seem to be slightly different from "normal" humans, with vaguely larger and pointed ears, very pale skin, cleft upper lips and wide noses.

[The size was to explain Amberite strength in beings without the blood of Amber. Being that strong "naturally" would take something the size of a gorilla or a tiger. As I mentioned in the OOC thread, we're all probably weaker than most of the players, but we're bulky.]

"I'm more worried about the danger to the ship while it's in the harbor, but I imagine the captains would be fleeing it, if that were the case. With the road shifted, I imagine that my people will be coming through your town more often. Know then that Xue Ren'gui, heir to the White Tiger clan gives you his thanks. Perhaps we will meet again." He bows to the guard and then continues on towards the docks, looking for the Celeste.

"It seems obvious to me that they either have their own Pattern or have suborned one of our relations into acting for them. Frankly I don't know which to hope for."

When they see the procession, Mint joins Winnow to watch. She counts the number of oddly armored individuals. (OOC How many?)

"Not from around here and nearly your size. First the anvil then the hammer. Bullies are ever predictable. I'll wager ten Amber crowns that they're headed for the Celeste."

(OOC: I need answers to the two questions on Mint's forum asap. Thanks.)

Xue will have no trouble finding the Celeste since a number of disgruntled looking sailors are heading right for the ship which is probably the only one with ready sail.

"Well, we shall see about where they head, and what they want. I suggest you be ready to defend yourself if they are looking for us...to arrest on behalf of their sovereign, perhaps? But you know the old saying: the bigger they are..."

Winnow follows the procession in his sailor's clothing, as if just headed in that direction. He will shift shadow for probability as he moves, seeking a circumstance where the last man trips or puts his foot in a hole and falls down. If this can be done, Winnow will immediately help the man to his feet with a handclasp, but not let go. [freeze action for next post]

If he can't bring this about, he will just follow along until they get to the Celeste and see what they do.

"The harder they hit?"

"I'm more worried about violating the local laws than what these clowns can do. The scheme seems transparent. These idiots start trouble. We finish it. That gives Leontes a pretext to hold us here or cause trouble for Amber."

(OOC Mint will sketch out the local laws regarding violence for Winnow once the answer to that question shows up in my folder.)

"We can only legally fight them if we challenge them to a formal duel with a local official acting a referee and at least two witnesses from each side, or if we have a good faith reason to believe that someone is in danger of death or severe injury, or if we catch them trespassing or thieving and they don't surrender. Anything less gives Leontes his pretext."

["seeking a circumstance where the last man trips or puts his foot in a hole and falls down." Anything that makes him fall down. A dog runs under his feet. His greave comes loose. Whatever.]

[I wanted to get a read on Winnow's own powers. But we can assume it seems to work, whether by luck or circumstance or whatever. It might be fun to have him assume it worked but in reality, it may not have.]

As the man - loosely speaking - trips and crashes to the ground, Winnow is there imediately to help. He puts on his best seaman's cant.

" 'Ere, mate, you look a mite flummoxed. The local brew kicks like a mule."

He reaches out to take his hand, to help him to his feet.

[I guess I get to role-play them all? I honestly hadn't thought about anybody trying to interact with them directly, except as an extension of Xue.]

The one who fell was Peng, the joker from before. The others turn to see Winnow helping Peng to his feet, several of them chuckling. Peng's response is, "If I'd had some local brew, I'd feel better about this." He looks down at the greave that slid down and caught his foot wrong. "We ran miles, and it chooses to fall off here, in full vew of the city." He takes a moment to securely buckle the thing back on, then takes Winnows offered hand to stand up again. By his movements, he seems fairly nimble, recent trips to the contrary, but it would be impolitic not to accept the offer.

Xue calls back, "Peng, this one looks big enough to carry you the rest of the way, if you've hurt yourself." Then he approaches closer to Winnow, mostly to avoid shouting in the streets. "Thank you, human. Our kind don't see true kindness from yours very often. For that alone, I'd like to offer you some of the local brew, if you've time. And if you can point us at a place large enough to fit us, since we're new to town."

Mint is hanging back so as to not mess up whatever Winnow is trying to accomplish. She's just an innocent bystander. Nothing to see here. Move along.

Before, or as, Xue is approaching, before he could intervene, Winnow will haul Peng to his feet, nearly flinging him in the air, and will rapidly increase the pressure of his hand until he sees a certain level of harmless pain in Peng's eyes, as if he's being tested for manliness.

In reality, Winnow just wants to take the measure of these fellows, see how much of a challenge they could give him.

[I'm not sure how David figures these things; by my estimation, Winnow is at least twice as strong as Amber strength; that is, if Amber could bench 1000, he could more than bench 2000]

Once he has established his (non-pack) Alpha-dog status, he will let go, turning to Xue. "New in town? Send an uninjured, perhaps stronger and less clumsy couple of hands to buy some ale, and bring it to my ship. We can drink on board." He says this with a cheerful smile, clearly making friendly sport of them. If they are easily offended, might as well find out now.

Since there is no particular reason for Winnow to think their leader far superior to the trooper he tested, he will not seek to clasp or test Xue, though he will happily follow whatever the man's customs are. If he happens to want to clasp hands, then he will do the pressure test after all.

Peng senses the competitive nature, and squeezes back as good as he gets... until he gets more than he can take. [Strength and endurance Amberite.] he adds his second hand to the grip, but can't squeeze hard enough to really impact Winnow's calm.

Xue watches this with interest, and watches Peng concede the contest. "Which is your ship? We would be happy to share whatever we have with you. In truth, we are new to town, and to the region. It seems that Titania has seen fit to rearrange the roads, so our journey has grown by several days."

"Xin and Bao, bring us a barrel, at least. And Zhang can carry Peng. I think his hand is broken as well as his foot."

"You play a dangerous game, sailor. On a lesser man, your grip could shatter a hand. You are lucky we are closer to your power. Or, was it luck? Might you be some servant of Leontes, come to escort us to him?"

Winnow bows to Xue. "A man makes his own luck. And I did not feel any bones break, though they did creak." He slaps Peng on the back, rocking the poor abused fellow.

"My ship is the Celeste, of Amber. Not the largest in port, but certainly the most weatherly on a bowline, and the prettiest. Nothing like yon Crimson Unicorn." He gestures at the tall warship of Diego's.

"As for Leontes, we have heard the name, but do not serve him." Winnow exchanges a look with Mint, deliberately not hidden. "Shall we get out of the street and repair aboard?"

Unless Mint gives him reason not to, Winnow will lead the group to the wharf, out of earshot of the mass of locals undoubtedly looking on at the interplay. He will shoo off any locals that get too close. There by the ship, he will gesture Mint forward.

"Now that we are off the local stage, let me introduce us properly. I am Winnow, Captain of His Royal Majesty Random the First of Amber's mercantile ship Celeste." He thumps on the good oak of the ship's side. "And this is my lovely and talented cousin Mintabilia Brandsdottir."

Mint returns Winnow's look with one that suggests that she has no idea whatsoever what he is up to. Why is he inviting them aboard? Is he insane?

Obviously sceptical, Mint will follow Winnow's lead.

When introduced she curtsies prettily.

"I don't believe that you have introduced yourself yet stranger."

"Oh, you're quite right, Lady. I have not. How negligent of me. I am Xue Ren'Gui, Champion of the White Tiger clan." Xue bows formally, then adds, "A formality, really. Every generation, my people send a champion to challenge... well... it's a silly tradition, anyway. But, I and my honor guard are travelling to Onyx. And, if this is the captain of the Celeste, then you have made your own luck indeed. I am made to understand that your ship is available to take me to the capital. If this is indeed the case, I would hire you."

"But, regardless, it would be an honor to share some of the local mule kick with you, as the storm passes."

"I suppose that I should be honoured to meet you, Sue." says Mint with a small smile. "And you are a provincial champion at something or other? Congratulations on that at least. While the captain has the final say on where the ship will sail, I do not believe that Onyx is on the itinerary."

"My cousin is correct. We sail to a different gemstone. Perhaps Admiral Diego of the Crimson Unicorn could oblige you." Winnow waves in the direction of the large warship.

Turning to Mint, whispering in her ear, he asks, "How soon can you cast the spell?"

"Not so much a champion at anything. Just the one chosen by fate to challenge Leontes for the freedom of my people. As I said, a formality. Some time in the next few years, I'm expected to arrive at the capital, challenge the Regent, and aquit myself well before losing. Current opinion has me expected to last no more than five minutes. For his part, Leontes will do his best not to permanently damage me, and then graciously offer not to annihilate my people for another generation in exchange for renewed vows of fealty. Then I think there's a nice state dinner. If I'm lucky, they'll serve cheesecake."

"I would have expected beefcake, with this entourage. So Leontes is a skilled warrior of some sort? Or does he indulge in base mystical manipulations to win his duels?" He glances meaningfully at the storm hovering offshore.

"I'm ready whenever the ship is." Mint says to Winnow. She doesn't bother to whisper.

To Sue she says, "You seem content with your role as designated loser. That must take a special kind of person. I couldn't do it. I hate to lose."

"I'm sorry Mintabilia, have I offended you somehow? Would you prefer not to drink with us while you wait for the storm? We don't mean to intrude, of course."

[EDIT: corrected player mistake on the spelling of Mint's full name.]

"It isn't you, Sue."

Mint sighs.

"When I first saw you I thought that you and your guard were here to attack us. I'm glad that's not the case since the laws of this place make self defence rather inconvenient. Truth is you seem like a nice enough..."

Mint looks Sue up and down.

"...whatever you are. It isn't your fault that Leontes requires you to submit to this mockery of an honest duel for the sake of your people."

"Combat is an art. Katas and friendly sparring matches may display that art, sure. But to force someone into a fight that they must lose. That offends me."

"I would prefer not to fight Leontes. I see no reason to do so. But if I did have a reason then I would find a way to win."