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 Posted: Mon Dec 03, 2012 2:13 am
The war is over, and Viceroy Malcolm Clearwater's victory was well rewarded with joy from his citizens. The Emperor of Kerlake was thwarted in his attempt at claiming the Viceroy's land and people, and the celebration victory was in the air... as well as financial hardship. The war won had been on the backs of many men, and in the wallets of everyone with coin to spare, and the country was almost drained. Even the most financially secure of the high nobility had come down to suffering, not able to spend as leisurely as before. The burden of increased taxes took a toll on everyone, but most of all those who'd already been poor before the war. It has driven kind people to be thieves, gentle men to murderers, and even the most honest to become con-artists. Every victory has its price, but somehow, Viceroy Clearwater had said, they will make it through. This particular story takes place in the town of Porthleven, exactly 76 miles from the Capitol... The celebration of a local war hero will be taking place. It was to be a simple gala to bolster the local economy, but not all things go as planned... 
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Posted: Mon Dec 03, 2012 5:01 am
 Irene Smith   She sat inside the mobile vehicle staring out the window. She wasn't driving of course, but her chauffeur was. The daughter of a Governor wasn't really allowed to learn to drive...it was more like they were forced to be toted around. She smoothed out the cream ripples in her dress, her gold and white glittered with small gemstones and glitter in the dull light of the mobile. The mobile operated on a pedal system, which the driver sat in the front, working away, outside of the vehicle, and it was dark...so very dark out there. Her bright red hair was up in curls, falling around her face from a beautiful bun and she...quite frankly was bored. A masquerade - a unneeded party in hard financial times. She of course understood it was in celebration of winning the war, and welcoming home a war Admiral. Well...it only had to be good for the people they hired to bring the food, and the band... and the tailors for all the folk to get their custom clothes. Still! It was frustrating...shouldn't the aristocrats be focusing on more serious things, and not PARTIES?
She leaned back in her chair, contemplating boycotting it, telling the driver to turn back and take her home when they stopped. They were not at the Charimans house yet...She looked out the window into the dark... something was not right. Sighing, she opened the door. Perhaps the driver had gotten a charlie horse...not that the pedals were hard to push, they said they were mostly powered by steam and just needed the guidance.
"What's going on?" She called out, stepping out of the large carriage, and onto the ground, her pretty cream colored shoes stepping onto the grael road. Turning to the front, she blinked... as she watched her driver get pulled to the ground, and sat on...was that...a knife? "Leave him be!" She cried out, but another pair of hands grabbed her from behind.
"OH...look at this one, all pretty and shiny for the grand ball..." Irene glared at him from behind her mask. "How about we just take those expensive clothes off of you for you..." She tried to struggle against him, but she was thin, and not at all muscular...wheras this man was large, and very muscular. 
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Posted: Mon Dec 03, 2012 4:34 pm
Be it by steam, by plasma, or by blood... Admiral Jasper Zachariah Lowel IIICaptain of the Repentance, Recipient of the Viceroy's Cross««««««««««««««««««««««««««««««««««««««««»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»» A bolt of electricity issued forth from the darkness, catching one of the brigands in the chest. It sufficiently stunned the man, but did not kill him, dropping him to the street nonetheless. From the same corner of the shadows emerged Jasper, body and face concealed by his coat and the darkness. He popped the plasma cartridge from his pistol, lamenting to himself that it was only single-shot. Before he could reload, another man lunged his way, brandishing a large knife. Jasper parried the slash with his cane, countering with a quick blow to the brute's head. It only staggered him, though, so Jasper followed up with three more blows, dropping the man. He turned his attention to the last one, the man holding the woman he had heard scream. He grinned beneath his hood and dropped his weapons, holding arms spread. "I cannot stand idly by and watch a woman be accosted on her way to a gala, especially by men as ugly and repulsive as you. However, I do understand that men like you enjoy a good fight, so I'll make you this offer. I live, she goes free, clothing, wallet and dignity intact. I die, well, I won't have much room to say anything, will I?" The mugger dropped his quarry and stepped forward, drawing another long knife from his boot. Jasper stood, arms wide, studying the brute. He was large and thick with muscle, but there was an underlying swiftness, obviously gained by winning many fights. His weakness, though, was his lack of form, evident when he lunged and swung, Jasper easily sidestepping and, cocking his arm high, brought down a single punch that devastated the man's jaw, breaking it and rendering him unconscious. Jasper recovered and dusted himself off, surveying the scene. "Bloody good thing there were only three of them, or I might have ruined the press on this coat." He made his way to the woman before him, holding out a gloved hand. "I trust you aren't hurt too badly, my lady? I came as soon as I heard the noise."««««««««««««««««««««««««««««««««««««««««»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»» ... we WILL stand our ground, and we will prevail.
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Posted: Mon Dec 03, 2012 5:37 pm
Irene Smith Both her and her captor paused, as a bolt of electricity caught the man who was over her frightened driver, repelling him sufficiently. Her was quick with fear, and now it clenched in worry as a man stepped from the shadows, another brutish thug attempting to assault him. Her breathing became even as she watched with keen interest however, as the stranger took the brute out with his cane, swiftly and deftly as a dancer. This situation was almost amusing, almost entertaining, except for the fact that she was still being held by a stinky ugly brute whose arms were as thick as her waist.
She listened, her blue-green eyes going wide behind the gold glittering mask as the man came up with a proposition. Wonderful. Just wonderful. There was an OBVIOUS size difference. The stranger was going to get himself killed! He'd dropped everything that could symbol as a weapon but she had no time to protest against this. She was essentially thrown to the ground and stepped over. She landed on the ground roughly, but not enough to do any damage. She lifted herself with her hands, and turned, once again, worry striking through her for the stranger. That...was an awfully big brute, with an awfully big knife. But once again...she felt silly as the brute was taken out by one fist laid upon his jaw. A sickening crack, a thump, and she winced. Ohhh that man is not going to be happy when he wakes up. In fact...he was going to be in quite a bit of pain.
The man, she watched dusted himself off, and commented about the press on his coat, how it could have been ruined. Her full lips fell open in astonishment. Okay. So...he certainly had a right to be full of himself... or was he trying to jest, to lighten the situation? Either way... she was indeed amused. She gave him a little grin when he offered his hand to her, and she took it, standing carefully.
"I am not hurt at all, thanks to your sharp ears and swift arrival." She said, releasing his hand and using her own to lift her skirts and give him a graceful and grateful curtsy. Her voice was liquid, smooth, not to high pitched, and certainly not to low, but a crystal clear ring of woman as she spoke. "Even my driver was not harmed, I trust." She turned and looked at the driver who'd struggled to his feet, now leaning against the machine, staring at the three unconcious brutes blankly. Turning back to the stranger, she gave him another grin, her bright blue-green eyes flashing behind the sparkling mask. The mobile gave enough light for her to see him well enough, though his face was still hidden by his hood - fair enough for her mask hid most of her face save for her lips, and her eyes.
"I am in your debt. Are you on the way to gala as well?"
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Posted: Tue Dec 04, 2012 4:44 am
Be it by steam, by plasma, or by blood...Admiral Jasper Zachariah Lowel IIICaptain of the Repentance, Recipient of the Viceroy's Cross««««««««««««««««««««««««««««««««««««««««»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»» "I do indeed happen to be headed to the Chairman's house. And fortunately," Jasper pulled out a silver pocketwatch, the dial illuminating, "we still have time, if we hurry. Might I escort you, in the event we are accosted once again?" Without waiting for an answer, he helped the driver back into his seat, then assisted the lady back inside the mobile. He shut the door and, giving signal to the driver, held onto the outside, keeping a watchful eye out. Up, up, up the streets they went, twisting and turning through byways and alleys, passing all manner of people. The area seemed to improve in both cleanliness and general feel as they rose up the hill, drawing ever nearer the Chairman's house. Porthleven was built on several hills, and, as was the nature of society, the richer one was, the higher up their house was built. They were headed to the very top. As they drew nearer their destination, the were other mobiles, some pedal powered, others steam tractored, and a few were even powered by electricity, their enormous vacuum tubes giving off faint light and a deep hum. Many folks were walking, as well, living too close to warrant the resources of a drive. The mobile crested the hill and pulled to the entrance of the Chairman's estate. It was a most lavish house, sprawling, covering the entire hilltop. At four floors, it was impressively tall, but law prevented it from climbing higher than the Viceroy's castle. Every window was lit, and the shadows of party guests could be seen moving behind them. The steps to the entrance were lined with butlers and maids, resplendent in their attire, taking coats and escorting guests as requested. When the mobile came to a stop, Jasper stepped from his perch, opened the door, and extended a hand to the lady within. With his free had, he put back his hood, revealing the mask he had put on during the ride up. He gave her a crooked smile, his blue eyes flashing beneath the mask. His voice was clear, crisp, and deep, with just a hint of a Scottish drawl. "We've arrived my lady."««««««««««««««««««««««««««««««««««««««««»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»» ... we WILL stand our ground, and we will prevail.
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Posted: Tue Dec 04, 2012 5:43 am
Irene Smith
Irene had smiled when he offered to escort her - she wouldn't have complained, and when he assisted her into the vehicle again, she'd accepted it. Just who was this man? It was kind of suiting, a hero with a hidden face, as she went to a Masquerade. She couldn't help but let out a girly little laugh to herself. Tonight might not be boring after all.
When they reached the top, the door opened, and her hero opened the door once more, this time the hood down, a simple leather and metal mask over his face. 'We have arrived, my lady.' She went to the door of the vehicle, and peered out, her eyes taking in the grand size. She'd been here before, so this did not surprise her.
"So it appears we have." She said to him in her unique pretty voice. Stepping down from mobile she flashed him a smile. "Do these sort of things interest you...sir?" She knew not his name, nor even his face. But they were at a gala after all. It would be more fun to wait until the stroke of midnight when the masks would come off to find out who he was, and introduce herself.
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Posted: Tue Dec 04, 2012 4:13 pm
Be it by steam, by plasma, or by blood...Admiral Jasper Zachariah Lowel IIICaptain of the Repentance, Recipient of the Viceroy's Cross««««««««««««««««««««««««««««««««««««««««»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»» "Only when it suits me, my lady. Judging by your mode of transport this evening, coupled with your obviously expensive attire, I find it safe to say you've seen quite enough of these, yourself." Jasper could surmise that she was related to someone of high political importance, if not lower nobility. He was from no small purse family himself, but his attire was kept elegantly modest, as was the habit his career had formed. As the woman stepped out, she flashed him a smile, and he couldn't hep but return it. Even now, as he offered her his arm, he could feel his lips being pulled up. "Parties never were my social trapping of choice, but I've been compelled to them for quite some time. And who am I to refuse? A chance to get out, a chance to be someone else for once. A chance to be the real you... Either way, there's lots of good conversation about, food is plentiful, the spirits flow like a river, and..." Jasper tunred to her a bit, flashing a wry grin, "the scenery is nothing to complain about, either." He chuckled a bit, but then caught himself, hoping he hadn't been too open just yet. The night was still young, and he usually waited until he had several glasses of social elixir in him to be acting the fool. ««««««««««««««««««««««««««««««««««««««««»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»» ... we WILL stand our ground, and we will prevail.
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Posted: Tue Dec 04, 2012 4:54 pm
Irene Smith
Irene stepped out and took the extended arm, listening to his strong voice with that slight hint of accent.
"Only when it suits me, my lady. Judging by your mode of transport this evening, coupled with your obviously expensive attire, I find it safe to say you've seen quite enough of these, yourself." She let out a soft sight at these words, and looked up at him. IF he could see her face, he'd see it was sort of an exasperated, earnest look.
"I only tend in stead place for my father, who is always busy with work." She said, not exactly letting him know who her father was. "My clothing is not of my choice, but of an overly matronly nurse maid whose been at my side since I was very very young, in place of my dead mother. I never pick out my own clothes because it is never up to anybody's standards. I'd rather wear something comfortable, and not so...expensive. I don't see the reason why I should need such outlandish and expensive clothing. The coin it takes to make these could feed half of our town." She said in a bored tone. "So my father insists on keeping the overly matronly nurse maid with the 'highly attuned' sense of fashion - so that we don't embarrass the family of course should I come to a gala wearing a cotton dress." She sighed at this, then turned to listen to his next words.
"Parties never were my social trapping of choice, but I've been compelled to them for quite some time. And who am I to refuse? A chance to get out, a chance to be someone else for once. A chance to be the real you... Either way, there's lots of good conversation about, food is plentiful, the spirits flow like a river, and..." Here he turned to look at her, exhibiting a beautiful pearly smile. "the scenery is nothing to complain about either." She gave him a small, shy smile.
She nodded. "I suppose, when you put it that way...these things wouldn't be so bad. I've always found them annoying, surrounded by twittering girls looking for suitors, gossiping about who did this...and what noble was caught doing that." She said, rolling her eyes. "I'd much prefer to be surrounded by the officials. Their talk of work and stress is much less taxing on my nerves then all the silly little sheltered girls that come to these." She admitted, shrugging a bit. "I've never bothered to find someone to go with however, so... I'm not sure how fun it would be if I had someone to distract me from the twitters of little tuneless birds, and the braying of government asses." She said, letting out a small exasperated laugh at the thought.
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Posted: Wed Dec 05, 2012 4:09 pm
Be it by steam, by plasma, or by blood...Admiral Jasper Zachariah Lowel IIICaptain of the Repentance, Recipient of the Viceroy's Cross««««««««««««««««««««««««««««««««««««««««»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»» Jasper laughed along with his new companion at her quips about woman and politics. She was turning out to have a personality as fiery as her hair, both attributes being quite pleasing to him. He kept his smile as he led them into the house, waving off servants offering trays of champagne. Passing the ballroom, he returned nods from those he recognized, making a mental note to converse with them about pertinent matters, in private, of course. They passed into the parlor, Jasper giving a small nod and a wink to the bartender, who poured two small glasses of a honey-colored liquid. Jasper took both, handing one to the woman, a small sparkle in his eye. "Well then, my Lady, may I propose a toast. To the dogs, who keep the wolves from the mules, and the cats from the birds." He sipped his drink, giving a smile of pleasure. The whiskey had been aged with royal honey for more years than he had been alive. He never neglected to have a glass when he was in the Chairman's house. Sweet and smooth, with a pleasurable burn without being too harsh. Though he wondered how his companion would handle it. "That whiskey has been around almost 38 years, half again as many as I have. I'm not sure what I'll do when Gilbert runs out of it... Nonetheless, what say you and I find someone to help drown out this nonsensical rabble with more flavorful conversation?"««««««««««««««««««««««««««««««««««««««««»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»» ... we WILL stand our ground, and we will prevail.
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Posted: Wed Dec 05, 2012 4:29 pm
Irene Smith
Irene followed him through the house, her eyes taking the chairmans house. She noticed there were actually a few of his little golden trinkets missing, here...there... It was interesting, the fact that even the Chairman felt the need to sell some things to help with the war effort more. Her blue green eyes shifted to her companion as he led her through the chairmans house, obviously very familiar with it, as if he'd been here often.
Her curiousity was itching her. Of course there were some people who you just could not help but recognize. She being one of them with her bright red hair, not many noble women in this area had. In fact...since her mother died, she was the only one. some of them, fat, and stumpy, or extremely tall, or defined chins and noses.. you could recognize almost anyone in a mask if you were observant enough. But this man...she could not place her finger on who he was. She watched him nod to officials, nobles and middle class alike. Whoever he was...he was well known, and Irene grew frustrated at her little game, knowing she should be able to recognize him.
When he lead her to the parlour, she took her eyes off of him for just a moment to scan the area, to see what else was missing from the chairman's house since last she'd been there. When she returned her observant gaze back to him, he was holding a small glass with pretty amber coloured liquid, a look upon his face that spoke of a kitten who'd gotten into the cream. She took the glass, sniffing it. Oh...it smelled nice. She'd been relieved when he'd waved away the champagne. That stuff was crap. And all it did was give her a headache.
"Well then, my Lady, may I propose a toast. To the dogs, who keep the wolves from the mules, and the cats from the birds." He spoke before taking a sip of his glass.
She raised her glass to him gently at this, a small smile of her own.
"And to foxes who rescue lambs from lions." she said in her own gentle voice, before sipping the golden liquid. She was surprised, it was quite nice. It felt warm as it slid down her throat, but over all...it was nice.
"That whiskey has been around almost 38 years, half again as many as I have. I'm not sure what I'll do when Gilbert runs out of it... Nonetheless, what say you and I find someone to help drown out this nonsensical rabble with more flavorful conversation?" She smiled up at him as he spoke, and gave him a small little curtsy.
"I would love to have a conversation at least as half as flavorful as this whiskey, gentle sir. And it would be most becoming if it were indeed with you." She said in response. Good...more time to try and figure out just who this mystery man who'd saved her was before midnight.
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Posted: Wed Dec 05, 2012 5:09 pm
Be it by steam, by plasma, or by blood...Admiral Jasper Zachariah Lowel IIICaptain of the Repentance, Recipient of the Viceroy's Cross««««««««««««««««««««««««««««««««««««««««»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»» "Interesting that you should mention the Fox." Jasper said, the intrigued cocking of his eyebrow hidden by his mask. "And don't sell yourself short. You're more a Serval than a lamb. Not quite a lioness, but formidable in your own right." He knew her game, and he wanted to see how long she'd take to figure it out, considering how close she'd just come. He was known as the Silver Fox among the Third Fleet, but he doubted such renown preceded him. Even if it did, he doubted there were any pictures. He didn't know this woman for certain, but he knew that hair. Such fire had belonged to the wife of Porthleven's governor. Could she be his daughter? No, he told himself, he had never heard of the Governor having children. The man was so private for his station, though, Jasper knew little of him at all. Such thoughts were drowned out when she smiled at him and spoke seemingly of private conversation. "I wouldn't exactly say becoming, my Lady, but if you insist, perhaps we could find somewhere... he looked around at the room, showing mild distaste at the amount of people, "... quieter?" Her smile made his heart race, and her eyes drew him in with their depth. He willed time to speed them to midnight, to the removal of masks. ««««««««««««««««««««««««««««««««««««««««»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»» ... we WILL stand our ground, and we will prevail.
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Posted: Wed Dec 05, 2012 5:28 pm
Irene Smith
She was curious, why he said it was interesting she mentioned the fox. She was about to ask him when he spoke again, comparing her to a Serval, a large breed of cat, with beautiful spots and orange fur, and legs made for jumping. She couldn't help the coy grin on her face. It was obvious she liked that comparison - very much.
"I wouldn't exactly say becoming, my Lady, but if you insist, perhaps we could find somewhere..." She watched with amusement as he looked with similar distaste to these events as she held, obviously searching for a place where they could talk quietly, amongst themselves, with out the toil of the crowd. "...quieter?" She nodded, and nodded towards the back door of the parlour, that led to the back garden.
"I believe there is a fountain with a bench in front of it out back, if outside were more to your tastes, Mister Fox." She said in a light voice. 
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Posted: Thu Dec 06, 2012 1:52 am
Be it by steam, by plasma, or by blood...Admiral Jasper Zachariah Lowel IIICaptain of the Repentance, Recipient of the Viceroy's Cross««««««««««««««««««««««««««««««««««««««««»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»» When she suggested the garden, now empty with the setting of the sun, Jasper couldn't help but give a coy grin in return. He doubted she knew what she was getting herself into, being alone with him. He was notorious among the other men for his abilities with women. However, he had to behave himself, at least until he knew who she really was. It would do him no good to get caught with some politician's daughter, here, now. "If your sense of propriety will allow consorting with an unknown man in a dark garden away from other guests, then the fountain it is. Lead the way, Lady Serval." He opened the door and gave her a small bow, gesturing out into the garden with his free hand. Tonight was turning out to be most interesting, and he'd only stepped from his home not an hour ago. ««««««««««««««««««««««««««««««««««««««««»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»  ... we WILL stand our ground, and we will prevail.
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Posted: Thu Dec 06, 2012 6:46 am
Irene Smith "If your sense of propriety will allow consorting with an unknown man in a dark garden away from other guests, then the fountain it is. Lead the way, Lady Serval." She grinned at him, as she stepped past her as he bowed. No doubt he'd smell the gentle rose perfume she'd placed on her neck at this distance.
"My sense of propriety has nothing against me consorting with an unknown man in a dark garden, away from other guests. Not when said unknown man saved my life not half an hour ago, and he is as interesting as he is tall, and from what I can tell, he is as handsome as he is unknown." She said in a matter-of-fact voice. "I could always just steal that pretty little gun of yours and use it on you if you decide to suddenly become boring, or unsuitable for my taste in company." She said, letting out a small laugh as she walked down the cobblestone path. She followed the noise, the fountain giving off a pretty soothing sound. They could still hear the music that played, it was drifting out the open windows but the dabble of the crowd had indeed been drowned by the fountain, and the music seeping through the windows.
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Posted: Thu Dec 06, 2012 4:42 pm
Be it by steam, by plasma, or by blood...Admiral Jasper Zachariah Lowel IIICaptain of the Repentance, Recipient of the Viceroy's Cross««««««««««««««««««««««««««««««««««««««««»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»» Jasper chuckled heartily as she spoke. She was turning out to be a feisty one indeed, and he was enjoying it immensely. He had Gilbert fill both of their glasses to the brim with a younger, but comparably delicious whiskey before venturing outside, and he took another sip. She led the way to the distant fountain, and he noted how the voices from inside were all but hushed. "That's all well and good, Miss, but are you sure you can even properly work this?" He drew his pistol from its sheath in his coat, offering it to her, a devillish smile on his lips.. "In my line of work, one's word is only as good as their ability to keep it, no matter how unequivocally beautiful they may be." He popped a lavender-colored cartridge in the pistol and took a step back, gesturing to a small cherubic statue perhaps twenty paces from where they stood. He'd given her a practice charge, which would suppress almost all noise and reduce the formidable recoil. ««««««««««««««««««««««««««««««««««««««««»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»» ... we WILL stand our ground, and we will prevail.
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