[Hadrir docks]

"D*** this is heavy!" A sailor wailed, hauling a crate onto a large Carrack.

"Shut up and keep moving, I want to catch the next tide out." This second speaker was the owner of the ship, and quite an affluent merchant by the looks of him. He wore well sewn woolen clothing to keep warm, covered with leather or fur outer garments to block the wind. Sailors hauled cargo onto his ship as he supervised. Behind him the large, sprawling city of Hadrir rose up from the land, loaded with crowds of every kind.

[Hadrir docks]

The captain stood in front of the tiller, watching men finishing up. "We ready?" He asked.

"Yessir!"

"Good. throw the lines and raise anchor, we're pulling out!" Sailors ran to obey the orders, throwing the ropes that kept the Carrack linked to the pier and raising anchor. The sails were unfurled and caught the wind. The ship directly behind, a smaller Caravel, followed suit. Both decks were a bustle of activity. Then, slowly, the ships pulled away from the bay and were pulled out to sea by the tide. The two-ship trading fleet was off.

___________________________________________________

[King's private chambers]

The king stood at a window, watching the busy harbor and town below. Twenty years of rule had hardened him, but he still wore the same grim, youthful expression he had held as a young boy and errant minor noble.

"This, Rakarskia." He said, "They have been opening up trade you say? Without any correspondence with us?"

"Yes Sire." A man responded, a weasly little elder in expensive robes to big for him. "They try to sell things cheaper or with better quality then our merchants, and don't seem to acknowledge your rule over the sea."

The king smiled slightly, his black hair shinning in the sun. It almost certainly wouldn't work, not with crazy merchants like the ones around here. Only time could tell how long it would be before Rakarskian goods were being coppied, smuggled, or shipped off to distant markets. But the message had been made clear.

"There are a couple gangs of pirates nesting on one of the northern islands, correct?"

"Yes sire."

"Drive them out, and make sure they head east."

"As you command, sire."

[On one of the Northern islands]

A small fleet of mis-matched ships were docked in a hidden cove, surrounded by cliffs. A whole set of passages had been created in the rocks long ago, a perfect spot for the Pirate Queen to make her home. One of her ships had just come in and the captain, a rather hardy young fellow, was making his report.

"Two caravels carryin' gold, m'am, and a sloop a' war wit' a couple a' cannons we took, 's'well as a Navigator," he said promptly.

"Joined willingly, eh?"

"Aye, m'am. Too scairt ta refuse."

She laughed cruelly. "Ya be sure ta send him up ta me in a bit," she said with a wink, "Especially if he's a looker."

[Seas just north of Hadrir]

A fleet of navy vessels plowed through the water, their sails unfurled and billowing in the wind. Marines stood at attention as sailors went about their work briskly. The Admiral stood on the deck of his flagship, oblivious to the wind and salty spray that dampened his clothes. He watched silently as they sailed toward the distant sight of an island. In a few days they would reach Jean's cove and crush her puny vessels.

((Arriving at Hadrir.))

A steam-powered sloop made its way slowly through the archipelago and toward the center, finding it the center of power. They neared the docks and held afloat roughly twenty yards out.

"Greetings, permission to dock here." The captain of the ship called, waving his black hat with a green feather through the air.

[Hadrir, a spot overlooking the docks and sea]

The painter, a valley elf of magnificent skill, stared in awe at the steam ship as it came toward the docks. In all his 234 years of life he had never seen anything quite like it, and definitely not here in the last twenty years he had spent painting the ocean, sea, and ships that sailed her. This was an occasion not to be missed.

Quickly Lindrele set aside his paint pallette and brush, pulled out a few spare sheets of paper and a stick of charcoal, and began furiously sketching this new type of ship. Occasionally he had to flip a few stray strands of his white-blonde hair out of his soft blue eyes, smudging his face with black charcoal, but he didn't care. He HAd to immortalize this ship on paper, then on canvas.

[Hadrir harbor]

Two large navy ships sailed forward towards the strange ship, one stopping some distance away while the other came broadside. The soldiers stood in a perfect line, armed and still, along the side of the ship. It was an impressive display.

On the tiller of the ship stood the captain in full uniform. He looked down at the men on the sloop and called out. "Who are you and what is your purpose here?"

_________________________________________________

[One of the northern islands]

Several sailors sat around in a bar. Some were gambling, some eating, several of them were flirting with the waitresses. The air of seediness pervaded. People came here for cheep beer and anonymity. Several rooms were occupied by the 'girls' in the back, and once in a while one would come out and flirt with a patron before they disappeared into the back. There were fewer men here then usual, since a fleet of navy ships had been spotted to the west. The more prudent men didn't show their faces within miles of authority, but these men were confident that they would be overlooked. The ships had been heading due north, away from the island, probably looking for Jean and her crew.

*BAM* Suddenly the door bashed down on the floor and there was the flash of steel. Someone screamed "Soldiers!" and there was a rush for the back door, only to be met by more men. Those who headed for the windows had no better luck, finding men waiting outside them. In three brief, panicked moments the patrons were herded into the center of the bar, those that resisted were simply ran through.

When everything had calmed down the soldiers at the door parted, and the admiral entered. His weaselly aspect only enhance in the dim light of the tavern.

No one dared to move.

"I have a message for this Jean." He said quietly, quite certain that it would get to her. "She's to head east, and I can give her three good reasons for doing so." He waved a hand forward and two men advanced with a small, locked chest. "This is the first, and I'm certain she'll know if anyone tries to open it. The second sits off the island now, and if you'll look out that window you'll see it quite well."

and indeed, out the small rear window several large navy ships could be seen at anchor.

"Thirdly, there are some new ships with quite exotic materials in that direction, ships I'm sure she'd love to get her filthy hands on. Now do we understand each other?"

Most of the patrons just nodded. A few of them would've liked to make spirited replies, but the situation seemed to advise against it.

"Good, then we'll leave you now." He waved a hand and the soldiers departed, leaving the confused patrons watching, astonished, as they were left -mostly- unharmed.

[Later, another Northern Island]

The pirate queen paced, scowling in fury at being stirred out of her rather warm bed at this hour. She had flogged the idiot that had walked in on her fun. You did NOT want to interrupt her when she was busy, especially when you brought such infuriating news.

"So the king's 'offering' a chest o' little trinkets ta raid ships in the east and get out o' his waters..." she muttered to the captains that served in her fleet. "Sounds a bit fishy ta me. Those Navy sons o' whores are the king's lackeys. Are we gonna trust them?" She scowled, remembering where she had gotten her limp. She wasn't about to forgive or forget what those Navy ** had done to her... Still, the offer was just a bit tempting. She'd heard from some of the men what sort of interesting things those vessels in the East held... How some of the ships were even made of iron, a marvel to behold. She imagined coming back to the west after a few months, a whole fleet of iron warships at her back and trouncing the King's navy once and for all... Imagined the look of pure horror on the Admiral's face as she took her revenge, hung him up on large iron hooks and dipped him in and out of the shark infested waters...

The thought brought a large grin to her face, a cruel glint in her eyes that made one or two of the men before her shudder. "Ready the fleet! We're heading out!" she barked.

"Good evening comrades." The merchant doffed his tricorne to the peasants standing before him. "Can I interest you in anything? Pots, pans, cutlery. Even a fireplace! All for one gold coin apiece. The fireplace is five."

Business as usual

((Er, Andrew. I responded to your post in my last really long one. They wouldn't just let you land anyway, not without some kind of information.))

[Hadrir, docks]

Lindrele moved closer to the ship once it was in the harbor, carrying his easel, more charcoal, and more paper. He was fascinated by the ship and wanted to get a closer look, setting up a mere 20 feet from the gangplank.

((Oops, sorry, didn't notice.))

The elven crew aboard the sloop had their rifles at the ready, and the captain stood in the center of them, bowing at the captain of the other ship.

"We are Zerbian elves. I am the captain of this ship, Captain Rik Grail. We come from a newly founded colony north of here, and are here, exploring and founding relations with our neighbors. May we dock and unload our products?" The captain called back.

"You may dock." The captain yelled back after a moment's hesitation. He had a frantic conversation with the flagman before climbing to the crow's nest and signaling the keep.

"Thank you!" The elf captain called back as his crew dispersed to their jobs and the ship began moving once more, smoke coming from one of the two smokestacks. The other they covered, as they are not using it now. The ship was going much slower than before, but it allowed the captain to ease it in and line it up along the port much easier.

Throwing the loops overboard and to the dock, some of the crew brought the gangplanks and lowered them to the dock.

Lindrele stared in awe of the amazing ship then continued drawing, using the side of his charcoal stick to add the smoke coming out of one of the smoke stacks. He stood back to examine his work from afar, then nodded, decided he had fairly captured it. Then he just watched like some of the others on the dock. He was a bit surprised to see elves manning the ship. He hadn't seen many of his distant kin living here, and now here was a whole shipful.

The Valley Elf drifted closer, standing at the end of a gangplank and looking curiously up to the crew as they came down.

"Ahh, greetings, elf." The captain stated as he lead a few of his crew down the plank and onto the dock.

"Who is governing here, I request an audience." The captain said to Lindrele and the other onlookers, ignoring their expressions.

"Greetings!" Lindrele called up to the Elven captain in Elvish with a warm and welcoming smile, perhaps one of the only genuine ones in the crowd. "I have not seen this many of my distant kin in many years."

"You're the first we have encountered in our travels." The captain replied to him, then gestured at the sketchpad. "An artist, you are?"

The blonde elf smiled. "Indeed. I've found a recent fascination with sailing ships." His blue eyes blinked in curiosity. "I have never seen a ship such as yours."

"It runs by an engine we have designed and are always improving upon." The captain replied. "Would you know where to find the Lord or whoever is in rule of this isle?"

The artist waved vaguely in the direction of the palace. "It's that way, but I'd wait for an invitation. The guards tend to be a bit--" he cut himself off, not wanting to speak badly of another. "They are wary of strangers," he finally offered.

"I see. Well, thank you, kind sir." The captain replied and then proceeded to head to the city with a dozen crew following behind him. He knew their presence in such a way will get the guards' attention.

"Oh, and if you need anything, I live just down there!" the artist called with a large smile, pointing to his house, near to the docks where he could stand on the roof and get a good view. "Come by later!"

"Uh, sure." The captain replied swiftly, but then thought to himself for a moment before looking back to the artist. "How are you with cartography?"

Lindrele blinked in surprise. "Though I've done a bit of travelling in my time I haven't done much in the way of cartography. I'm sure if I set myself to it I could learn, though," he offered.

((Lol. Tell the guy that you need a cartographer and he'll pack his bags and go. :P Half the kidnappings of Valley Elves are the Valley Elves kidnapping themselves at a polite request of the kidnapper.))

((Haha.))

"How would you feel about learning and being a cartographer for us?" The captain asked, then bowed. "My apologies, I am Captain Teneval Hessel of Zerb'ron."

"Lindrele Ethernel, at your service," the artist answered, giving a bow. "I would be glad to assisst you in any way."

"Thank you. If you may, please gather your belongings and prepare to leave, if you wish. If you finish soon, you may hop on board, if not we will wait." The captain offered before saluting and walking off with ten crewmen toward the keep.

"Of course. I will return soon."

With that, he turned a way and hastily folded up his easel and headed to his house. He couldn't believe he was leaving so suddenly... He didn't even know where he was going. He didn't even know the people he was going there with. He'd never heard of this "Zerbon".

Then it hit him... What would Nereli say about her brother disappearing on her? She could care for herself easily enough. Her dressmaking business did well. Still, she would not be happy about her brother being kidnapped and taken who knew where. Those thoughts swirling in his head, he set to packing up his belongings.

The merchant ambled over to the elves at the dock. They looked rich, if nothing else. "May I interest you in anything, comrades? I have plates, cutlery, cups, even a fireplace or two! All for the lowest of prices. Factory produced, you see."