Arrival of the Dragon's Reach [Tags:Maori/ those in Fort Sea Hold]

The Dragon's Reach had finally arrived at Fort Sea Hold's harbour, letting its anchor into the warm waters of the bay before its gangplank was lowered. There were few actual passengers -most of those who were aboard the ship were crew- so workers milled about the ship, offloading some cargo onto carts to be taken to private storehouses, while the Runners that they'd brought in trade, were directed elsewhere.

Glad to be 'home' for the time being, and not needing to stay to oversee operations himself, Changhui and Haran left the rest of their guard with instruction before they themselves decided to make their way back to the Headquarters of the Dragon's Venture. Lady Sienne would be awaiting their arrival.

Halfway down the gangplank, Changhui paused to look back into the bowels of the ship, eyes searching for the girl that had joined them for the journey -the Master Smith's daughter. Though she had her own company to keep her safe, Changhui didn't want to leave her without any final offer of assistance should she need something. So, even if she turned down his offer again, he could at least give her some direction to where the Dragon's Venture headquarters was located. Just in case.

Not finding her right away, Changhui stepped with Haran out onto the docks, waiting for Maori to appear.

Maori was busy overseeing the transport of her father's goods off the ship, and directing the men her father gave to her for this mission. To their credit they were dutiful and did not question the orders of a lady. Much to her credit she did not command them arrogantly and she did not nag at them timidly either. She knew how to direct kindly and efficiently. She could be stern when needed but for the most part she chose to speak calmly and clearly to get her instructions across.

When all was well on its way to completion, Maori, took up her lady's sachel of belongings, for she chose to leave the ship dressed as a Lady and not as her father's young sword-wielding assistant.

As she was heading towards the gangway, she was not alone. One of guards, (her personal body guard according to her father's wishes) accompanied her a step behind. With the handle of her satchel draped over her arm at the bent elbow, she lifted her skirts ever so slightly with the other hand so as not to trip on them on the way down for they were long.

Raising her eyes as she hesitated for a look around the docks, a habit of security she had learned young, she spotted the one called Young Master, whom she still did not know the name of. She had thought about asking one of the crew but chose not to. If Young Master wanted her to know his name, he would speak of it himself.

Meeting his gaze she smiled cordially to him and then paid attention to her path as she made her way down to the docks. She would thank him and his personal guard for their hospitality once again.

A slight curtsey was given to him as she approached him. Her guard giving them a slight nod of his head with respect.

"Good day to you Young Master. Thank you again for your generous hospitality."

Eyes following the trail of Maori as she marched down the gangplank, Changhui could feel himself start to smile, but quickly suppressed it into a more neutral expression that was typical of him.

Admittedly, Changhui respected the girl for her courage to come this far, and relatively on her own, thinking that her father, the Master Smith, must find great favour in her, being that he trusted her with the chore of ensuring his goods were looked after and delivered well. Still, regardless of trustworthy nature and courage, she was a woman and in the Smith craft, which happened to be more male-dominated than most of the other trades by nature; even at lower levels of practice where in other crafts, many women may have ventured to try their hand at productivity. The smithcraft was simply not as kind to women who ventured to enter into its ranks. Nor was the world completely forgiving of women out by themselves -though she did have her entourage along.

Because of some whit of necessary worry then, the young man acknowledged her again, glancing only momentarily toward the guard who'd nodded his own greeting. "It was our greatest pleasure to have you aboard with us. I'm glad the voyage went well for you. Are you sure you won't need any further assistance from here?"

Pausing for long enough to fix her with a skeptical stare, he went on, "If you ever have need for it, the Dragon's Venture has a headquarters here at Fort Sea Hold just about a kilometer or so north east. The gates there, are always open to you."






[lol >D  it's gonna be sooo funny when they part and she gets her marks stolen and then they end up without a place to stay and have to come knock on the DV's door at night haha. pooor girl.

you can forward the thread a bit, if you end up having the muse to, in the next post you do, so they part ways and she and her band go off on their own.

Which, btw, we'll have to have them head back to Keroon on the ship again before long. They could totally run into some storms that precede the hurricane that's about to hit Big Bay! I think when they go back, the DV may return to Keroon for a while, so maybe she can invite Changhui to her home next time. ^.^ Or we can find some other fun for them to get in on >D haha. And of course, Lady Sienne maybe sees the tattoo she has, in the mean time, deciding to tell Changhui about it. ]

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A few hours later, the sky was dark, the weather turned bad and the sky opened up and drenched the small group before they even made it to the headquarters of the Dragon's Venture. It was Maori and her personal guard that approached the gates. The other guards were with her father's crates. They would be handed over in the morrow.

Having been attacked before they could reach the place where they were to stay at, Maori's dress was torn and her marks had been stolen. The thieves got away. The guards with her were more concerned with protecting her then getting her marks back. She understood that but now they did not have the money to give to secure their rooms. There was only one thing to do and she regretted it with everything that was inside her.

Giving a drenched nod to the guard, as rain dripped down both of their faces, he stepped forward and made themselves known.

[>D  poor Maori! But that's so kewl, you were the first to use the randomized event in your post. haha. yay!!! congrats! I guess now we have to get Sulara in a thread, huh?]



Though the rain had starting coming down in torrential sheets, when Changhui heard that they had unexpected visitors and that those visitors were the Master Smith's daughter and her entourage, he quickly made his way outside to greet them; as did his foster mother, the head mistress of the Dragon's Venture, Lady Sienne.

While the matronly Lady Sienne waited just outside the door, under a broad eave that shielded her from the rain, having sent a pair of drudges to ready some warm food and drinks for their guests. The Eave covered a long stretch of walk way that led from close to where the main gate opened, to the front door of their otherwise stone-built home away from home.


Moving to the furthest end of the wide, flagstoned walkway, Changhui was ushered them inside, nodding to the guard at the gate to admit them. It was only as he'd approached that end of the covered walkway that he noticed that something seemed wrong. Spying the hand-cart loaded with the crates they'd been hauling half way around Fort Sea Hold, and the tattered state of Maori's dress, another gesture to his guard sent them stealing the goods out from under its current owner.

Seeing that it was getting to be that kind of rainy season that brought all kinds of ugly weather with it, Changhui encouraged their going in of doors to dry. "Let's move inside. I'll have the Master Smith's goods moved into the storehouse while you get into some dry clothes." Though he spoke to all of them, he was particularly worried about the Master Smith's daughter. Even though she was strong and seemed to have a good amount of fortitude, the journey must have been trying for her thus far, considering the hardship they seemed to be going through.



Changhui did not ask for insight to their current situation just yet. He figured there would be a better time to hear the story -after they'd gotten dry and changed clothes, then put something warm in their bellies to keep them from catching a fever. So, inviting the trio down the walkway and into the Dragon's Venture, the gate was closed and secured behind them.

Similarly, the Lady Sienne, waited until the group had reached the door before offering the girl a hand, "Come with me, and we'll find you something dry to change into. Not to mention, what would people think of me if I let girl in my care go around in a torn dress, like this?" And with that, if Maori would let her, Sienne led them into the foyer and down a corridor that split off into what must have been separate wings for living quarters.



[You can go ahead and RP Changhui and Haran taking the guys to the opposite wing to dry and clean up a bit, and Maori and Sienne going into another private room by themselves, maybe with a drudge following or something. Whatever suits your fancy >D hehehhe]

Hesitation was made by the guard watching over Maori's father's belongings when the Dragon Venture's guards came to take the crates from them. A glance to Maori and her slight nod in response prompted her guardsman to take his hand off his hilt, step aside and join her and the other guard at the gate.

Maori had already instructed the guards to show the utmost respect and courtesy to the ones they were seeking shelter from. The guards knew of Haran and a little of Changhui, from their time on board ship. So they also had their own opinions about those from the Dragon's Venture. Yes they were cautious like any good guardsmen was, but they also followed the daughter of their master's orders.

Entering the foyer, Maori kept her hand holding onto the torn dress to cover herself modestly and curtsied to Lady Sienne with bowed head. "Thank you for being so gracious. Forgive me for dripping on your beautiful flooring." She spoke quietly as a lady should. Then she gave another nod to her guards as she was led away by the Lady and they were led in the opposite direction by Haran and Changhui.

Maori entered the room and right behind her came a drudge with a pile of dry clothing draped neatly over her arms. A dainty pair of soft slippers lay on top. They looked very close to being her size.

The two guards likewise entered another room with their host and guard. The older one spoke with respect and a little self-deprecating modesty. "Bit of a rough day but the crates are safe and Miss Maori is holding strong. Thank you for having us out of the rain tonight. A bit embarrassing I must say."

[ooc: Maori has a very shallow cut along her breast bone (where the dress was torn) ending right above or beside the tattoo.]

Entering the room with Maori's guard, Changhui accepted the guard's gratefulness with a nod, but then gestured toward where drudges had set out extra sets of clothes for them and a couple towels with which to dry themselves.

"Whenever you'd like to wash, there is a bathing pool just out the back door, down this hall. It is shared by everyone except for the women. Dinner will be waiting for you in the meeting room just beside the Foyer we came in through." 

Curt and to the point, he nodded again for them to make themselves ready, having indicated that they should not tarry for too long, given that food would be waiting for them soon. With that, he excused himself from the room, leaving it to the guardsmen to close the door if they so wished, while Haran turned on a heel in militaristic fashion to disappear after the young man.

Returning to the Meeting room where food would be served them, Changhui stood at an attention behind the chair at the head of the table, where Lady Sienne would be taking her seat before too long. There, Changhui acted as a guard just as Haran did, making it appear as though his place there was only to fulfill what duty a guard could have.




Making sure to close the door behind them, the girl who'd brought in a clean set of clothing for their guest held it neatly in her arms next to her Lady so that everything was in easy reach. Though, before anything else, the shoes were set at their feet; they could be tried on later.

Spying the cut where torn cloth now revealed that Maori had been injured, Sienne gave new orders to the drudge; she couldn't see the tattoo yet. "Set those clothes on the bed here, and go to fetch something to sterilize this cut with. It's not bleeding badly, so it doesn't look too deep. As long as it's cleaned well, I don't think we'll have to keep it bandaged for long."

Looking back to Maori, she wondered aloud, "Have you the preference to eat first or bathe first? There is a pool just at the end of this hall, if you'd like to wash up before the meal. Otherwise, the food can be served as soon as you are ready, and you may bathe after, at your leisure."



The drudge in the mean time had placed the clothes down and rushed out the door, closing it quietly behind her again, to go get some gauzes and salve from the resident Journeyman Healer.

Not many would know the meaning of the tattoo she wore on her chest between her breasts. But it still made her wary for others to see it. Not just the place it was in but what could happen to her if they did know the meaning. No matter now. Maori's injury had been detected and it would need to be cleaned. She had hoped to do this herself but it was too late for that now.

After the drudge had left to gather medical supplies for her, Maori answered the Lady's question. "It would be best if I arrived at the meal in proper fashion. I will bath quickly if it pleases you?"

Then, since she knew it would be requested of her soon enough, she began to unfasten the catches on her torn dress and the bodice underneath. The wound was exposed now, as was her tattoo and her breasts. But it was in the company of women so she felt no shame.

Looking down upon her cut, she could see that it had bleed a little but not very much. It was hardly more than a scratch really. It did burn though but she did not flinch when she took note of it. It had just barely missed her tattoo but was close enough to make her release a relieved breath. Having such an important symbol get marred would have been horrible to her.

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Her guards, washed and dressed in quick, efficient fashion. They entered the dining hall well in advance of the ladies. Not having permission to sit, they took their places along the side of the wall and stood as if they were also guarding. They would remain such until told otherwise. The one in charge over Maori's care, kept glancing towards the entrance wondering when she might arrive and if he should go find her. He did not. Not yet. He waited as he had been instructed by her when departing ways in the foyer.

Before the drudge came back with supplies in hand, Lady Sienne had been able to help Maori out of the torn dress so that she now stood only in her underpinnings. She had fully intended on leading the girl to the bath and allowing the drudge to be in her service for a while in case she needed anything, but the appearance of the tattoo near the girl's heart caught her eye. 

Surprise did flash across her expression momentarily, but when she turned her eyes back up to find Maori's, there was a faint smile there.

"Why, isn't that odd? How could a girl such as yourself have a tattoo? Aren't they unsightly? It is good that you keep it covered. There's no telling what some people might think." The words were said in the tone of a concerned mother. Of course, the former Handmaid had experience in raising a child, as she had raised Changhui in many ways, so she could be respected by at least some here, under the roof of the Dragon's Venture, as a mothering figure.

Lady Sienne though, hadn't given her any sign that she had seen such a tattoo before, and that she knew its origin and meaning, but she had no intention of doing so here. It was curious to her that Maori would have received the crafter's tattoo -even if the original did belong to her father. Considering there was no telling just how much the girl knew about the purpose of the symbol in gathering the late Lord Holder's supporters back together to ensure that his son would be brought back to his rightful position of influence in the Hold, nor just how loyal she may or may not be, Lady Sienne would have to discover those things before revealing that she herself had any knowledge of it. 




After a few moments, the woman's skirts rustled with the movement of her feet as she went to take a bathing robe up from the pile of clothes prepared for Maori. 

"You are a guest here, so please enjoy the bath. Cover yourself with this as you go. The bath is just down the hall -two doors away. You will find it easily. There are towels and sweetsand already there for your use. When you are ready, the drudge will have returned and be waiting for you here so help you bandage this cut if necessary. Please take your time." Although dinner was waiting. 

"You may join me in the meeting hall by the entry foyer once you've changed. Please send the drudge to fetch anything else that you may need; or call for me, if there is a need."

Maori watched the Lady's reaction to seeing her tattoo very carefully. She saw the surprised but no recognition was present. She wasn't sure if she were pleased or disappointed. The next words she heard on the matter though came from a mother's voice. She could know that sort of tone anywhere, for her mother had spoken similar things before. In answer she lowered her eyes and spoke quietly.

"It is close to my heart because it means much to me. But yes, it is best others do not see it. I could be thought of as a reckless improper girl. May I assure you that this is not the case." She added, "Thank you." When the robe was given. She put it on, tied the belt and held the top closed even more tightly with one of her hands.

She did not want to keep the meal waiting and so she followed the Lady's directions and headed to the bath. Her chest cut burned in the water and soapsand but she washed it and herself thoroughly. She also washed her hair. She loved relaxing in baths and could have taken a very long time but she knew that it would be rude to keep others waiting. So despite the fact that she loved bathes, she also knew how to take quick efficient ones to get back to her tasks as needed.

Hurrying but doing a good job of it all, she stepped out of the bath, toweled dry and put her robe on. Her cut was bleeding just a little from the scrubbing but it wasn't bad.

Heading back to the room she met the drudge and instead of allowing the girl to treat her wound, she kindly dismissed her and took care of it herself. She was quite insistent at one point but was glad when the drudge curtsied and headed away. Having the Lady see her tattoo had been one thing. Having someone else who may or may not understand the importance of discretion was another.

Dressing in the warm dry clothes that had been provided, she set her small feet into the slipper-shoes and was pleasantly surprised that they were a perfect fit.

Out of the room and to the area where dinner would be served is where she went. They might be surprised that she was there as soon as she was, or maybe just relieved. Whatever the case was she entered, acknowledged her personal guards with a slight nod of her head, a sign that all was well and then turned her attention to the others in the room. A curtsey was given to the Lady. And she glanced at Haran and the Young Master. But he wasn't a young master? Was he only a guard then? She was suddenly confused. It did not quite make sense to her. No matter, she herself probably did not make sense to a lot of people.

Giving the slight hint of a smile in Young Master's direction, she turned her attention to the Lady and spoke clearly but with a lady-like volume and decorum.

"Forgive me for taking so long?"

She did not think she had but it was always polite to acknowledge the possibility just in case her gracious host had another opinion.

As soon as Maori had entered the room where they would eat, the Mistress of the Dragon's Venture nodded in the direction of a drudge who awaited the order to have their food brought in. Sienne was already sitting at the head of the table, so as the drudge left them to retrieve their meal, the woman motioned for Maori and her men to take seats at the places set for them. 

"There was no wait at all." Sienne smiled graciously. "Please, be at ease. You will come to no harm here and I'm sure your guard also, are hungry and ready to take a rest. It would appear as though you have all suffered a difficult day."

Though the Sienne seemed a stern and obdurate woman -likely due to the many demands of heading such a large trade operation- there was still some altruistic light that could be seen through her bright, painted eyes. Lady Sienne was middle-aged and there was no doubt, even at first glance, that she was not a woman to be treated lightly. She was quite lovely for a maid of her years, and dressed in extravagance -a dress with a stately black bodice and sleeves  with aqua floral pattern intermittently, and a skirt that was bright teal blue. A similarly black and aqua pattern was embroidered up a front-hanging panel of her skirts, and a belt of great ornamentation encircled her small waist. She possessed a refined grace that had obviously been long practiced. 

"Which brings me to ask that you recount what happened. It is good to see that you were not any more hurt, dear. Thieves did not steal from your father's goods, did they?" 



After a few moments, a host of drudges came into the meeting hall to place their meals before them, uncovering plates of roast wherry, tubers and salad greens, as well as hot rolls and the luxury of fruity, iced tea to drink. 

Though Changhui watched the drudges enter with food, he nor Haran made any move to join the rest at the table. They were still on duty, so long as their Lady commanded it, and if their guests were to be comfortable, it would be important for he and Haran to at least stand at guard so that the rest could feel at ease. 

In any case, in the presence of outsiders, Changhui was no more than a guard. So, regardless of whether or not he'd rather join them to eat, he was unable to do so unless Sienne bade him.




[hope that's okay for a post >< sorry my muse died earlier when my dad got kind of frustrating lol. muse lost all focus]