Correspondance: Ikashev.

In-Character message board for the Satrapy. Posts made here are considered physical messages upon an in-game message board.

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Kent
Posts: 262
Character: Requiescat In Pace

Correspondance: Ikashev.

Post by Kent » May 26th, 2022, 3:27 pm

The parchment, presented in an envelope firmly sealed by a deep purple wax is brought by courier to Ikashev, the thin frame of the courrier flexing in a disconcerting fashion as he struggles to catch his breath


To Ikashev

May this letter find your spirits high.

I have for you two tasks of immense significance, to be completed as soon as humanly possible for the prosperity and security of our cause.

Firstly, you are to seek a locksmith of reputed skill to install locks upon the Backstage Bistro.

Secondly, you are to acquire through whatever means bear fruit, logs of decent size, shape, and quantity useful for the purposes of the manufacturing of paper. Enough logs should be acquired to manufacture a multitude of books and broadsheets.

I trust in your skill and capacity in these tasks and eagerly anticipate their completion before the end of Flowerbloom.


- J



Lamora
Posts: 34
Character: Erilian Lamora

Re: Correspondance: Ikashev.

Post by Lamora » May 26th, 2022, 4:09 pm

The courrier is unable to locate Ikashev to deliver the missive.

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Kent
Posts: 262
Character: Requiescat In Pace

The struggles of a Courier

Post by Kent » May 26th, 2022, 4:38 pm

The courier continued his search, sweat beading his brow. He knew the importance of his task. He would search every corner of the First Province, if need be. If need be, he would go to Tor itself. The very life of his family was at stake: failure was not an option. His pace quickened, his exhausted diaphragm screaming in pain as he continues his arduous march. He searched for clues for the man's whereabouts, spoke of his description to any and all who would hear him out. The gleam of terror within his gaze said it all.

Lamora
Posts: 34
Character: Erilian Lamora

Re: Correspondance: Ikashev.

Post by Lamora » May 26th, 2022, 4:44 pm

The courier is still unable to locate Ikashev to deliver the missive.

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Kent
Posts: 262
Character: Requiescat In Pace

The Struggles of a Courier, Act II

Post by Kent » May 26th, 2022, 4:51 pm

The courier let out an exasperated sigh. How could his quarry be so elusive? It was as though he had disappeared from the face of the first province by magic. The information he had been supplied seemed legitimate enough---usual haunts, a description of body and behavior. Still, the man proved impossible to find. But failure was not an option: he had dealt with these types before and he knew the alternative to success would be world-ending. It was two days before his nineteenth year, or so Mama had told him.

Life was not an easy one in the First Province, especially since the quarantine was put in place by the powers that be. Papa was working an extra shift at the docks, probably to get him something special. It broke his heart to see the man drag himself through the threshold of their shanty after a long sixteen hour day, the same way he had done for the last dozen years. All to put food upon their table. Picking up extra jobs wherever, the lucrative bounty on this simple message delivery was impossible to resist...too good to be true, perhaps. But it would guarantee full mouths for Mama and Papa through the summer, and that was all that mattered.

Tightening his belt and girding himself for another bout of ardous searching, he cleared his mind and set about the task of finding Ikashev once more.

Lamora
Posts: 34
Character: Erilian Lamora

Re: Correspondance: Ikashev.

Post by Lamora » May 26th, 2022, 4:59 pm

The courier is once again unable to find his quarry. He does, however, find a man that closely matches the description if not for a completely legitimate mustache and a pair of over-large spectacles. When asked his name the mustached man claims it is 'Vehsaki'. Could this be the man? Could the description given be inaccurate? Does he chance it and deliver the letter to this man? What if he is mistaken? With so much at stake does he take the risk...?

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Kent
Posts: 262
Character: Requiescat In Pace

The Struggles of a Courier, Act III

Post by Kent » May 26th, 2022, 5:10 pm

The Courier peered inquisitively at the man. Something was not quite right about this Vehsaki. His mustache was too perfectly groomed; it did not meet the behavioral description the large man with the regular-sized hat had given him. On top of that, he did not like the cut of his jib: it just didn't add up. With a long drawn out sigh he turned from the man and palmed the sealed envelope. Ducking out of sight and wiping the sweat from his brow he took another moment to consider his predicament. He needed to find this man, desperately. Thinking of home a frown suddenly formed upon his lips as he thought of Mama. She would have supper on the table soon: simple fare, but filling.

The poor food variety at home was not what soured his mood, however. He thought of Mama's cough. It had started last winter and never gone away. If he succeeded in this task there may be enough coin left over to pay for medicine. He had recently read about an ingenious innoculation available from a certified doctor of the Venerated Apothecary Corps. That made him smile; it would be a fine opportunity to pay back a lifetime of debt to the woman who had given her health and body to see him raised properly.

Running a hand through his sweat-slick hair he gazed up at the sun, then held a hand to the horizon, moving it down. There were about three good hours of daylight left. If he did not find his quarry by sundown, the big man would be 'displeased', as he said. He shuddered to think what that might look like. "One foot in front of the other." he spoke softy to himself as he once again set out upon the trail of Ikashev.

Lamora
Posts: 34
Character: Erilian Lamora

Re: Correspondance: Ikashev.

Post by Lamora » May 26th, 2022, 5:28 pm

An hour passes before he locates another man, once again closely matching the description. Young, skinny, medium-long hair, thin of frame, and tattoos upon his face and neck were visible. When asked his name he claims it is ‘Ikashev’. Finally, the journey comes to an end! But wait, the courier's keen courier senses catch something. Something odd about the tattoos! Some appear blurry, almost smeared by sweat. And this man’s hair, is it black as described…or more of a dark brown? The courier hesitates before making his decision…

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Kent
Posts: 262
Character: Requiescat In Pace

The Struggles of a Courier, Act IV

Post by Kent » May 26th, 2022, 5:43 pm

The flowerbloom heat was finally starting to get to him: his whole body felt like the side of an old-fashioned oven. The courier blinked several times, his eyes tearing up with sweat before he wiped them, leaning in to examine the 'Ikashev' before him. The man matched the description and proudly stated his name but something was off. The locks of brunette hair that almost framed the man's face were...too light. And the tattoos, though he struggled to recall, did not seem to match the particulars. Swallowing the lump of anxiety climbing in his throat, the courier reached forward, roughly wiping a hand on 'Ikashevs' chest.

The smudgey charcoal upon his hands told him two things with a screaming clarity: This was not the Ikashev he was dispatched to, and that this Ikashev desperately did not want to be found. The thought jostled something deep in the recesses of his memory and as he silently walked away from the man back onto the trail he lost himself in reminiscence.

If there was one person he knew that never wanted to be found, it was his beloved hound, Spike. All throughout his youth, he and Spike would play games and the brown-haired mutt would hide himself underneath the single table in the familial hovel, underneath the large bed and straw mattress which the family shared, all in vain. Poor spike would cover his eyes with his paws, the dog never conceiving that someone who he could not see, in fact, could see him.

Spike was not the pup he once was, however. Month by month he seemed to grow slower, and the gray around his muzzle was somehow more and more pronounced each time the courier watched as he curled up at Papa's feet at dusk each day. With finances strained by a surprisingly long winter, the family scarcely had any scraps available for the pup. This job might turn things around, though. Winters were always hard, but the market for daytalers like himself had utterly collapsed in the winter of '46 - '47. The family needed this windfall, desperately.

Shaking his head vigorously and freeing himself from the sickly sweet trap of childhood nostalgia, he curled his toes for a moment before once again vigorously beating feet upon the trail of Ikashev.

Lamora
Posts: 34
Character: Erilian Lamora

Re: Correspondance: Ikashev.

Post by Lamora » May 26th, 2022, 6:04 pm

As quick as a wink another hour passed. The courier could see the sun dipped low in the distance, sinking slowly like a coffin into a grave. As he trotted with desperate intent upon trail he came upon a body, caked in mud. Its skin scorched beyond recognition, a tragic fate. But what is this? A ring on the finger…pulling it free the courier recognizes the symbol. The same symbol that resides upon the parchment he was sent to deliver, pressed in wax! Upon closer inspection, he notes the suspenders, half-burned but unmistakable. And what’s that just off the side of the road? A bowler hat, as described! Could this be the man he sought? What was he to do? Give up his search and report back or press on? The courier looks towards the horizon once again, an hour left…he would have to decide quickly.

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