p style="text-align: left;"Roland had no idea what he was getting into. First, it seemed that the rules for vampires here was markedly different than back in his world. They didn't drink blood here, it was actually offensive to do so. They walked about in the daylight without a problem. There were very well known rules in cities for vampires to follow, though Roland himself was still learning them. Evan was clueless about them for the most part, as green as when Roland had first come here. Batu and Tani were more helpful, though neither of them knew much about vampires or the rules they followed. There were very few vampires in the sky pirates it seemed. br /br /Khunbish was very helpful with the rules. As a vampire himself, he should be. He helped clear up the confusion Roland had, and answered each question to the best of his knowledge. Roland was very grateful to him for it, even if he would still have to tread with care in the cities. What worked for sky pirates wasn't always the same elsewhere. br /br /Goldpaw was his first real experience with a city. He had fed from a wild animal before leaving Evermore, so it wasn't hunger that bothered him. There were wards here, he could feel it like a subtle itch across his skin. The first contact with the ward was at the door to an inn. He felt like he had run into a brick wall when he walked into it. Evan was the most startled by him hitting the ward, since he knew it wasn't easy to knock Roland over onto his butt (Batu was an exception because of his sheer size and muscle.) "No vampires allowed dear. Too many things in here could injure them, so we put the ward up for their protection. Better luck for your friend at the inn down the ways - she don't like wards against vampires much do vampires usually stay at her inn." The lady at the desk said, sighing softly. "Right pity too, I'd let him stay if it weren't so dangerous. Looks like a fine young man to me." br /br /Well. Looks like they were going to the other inn. Roland felt much safer here, since the only wards he could tell were to lessen the sense of the wards in the city. He didn't feel itchy, like he had upon walking into the city. "Welcome dearie. Don't get many folk round here what with the other inn." The older lady at a table off to the side said. "Um...we were told this is a place vampires could sleep..." Evan started, hesitantly. "Seems most of the inns here have wards against vampires." Roland said, tapping his chin thoughtfully. br /br /"Ah, must have come from Testle's. She is the inn most people see first, since were a bit off the beaten path here. Tells any vampire looking for lodging to come here. So I take it one or more of you is a vampire?" Roland was admiting this lady more as they talked. "Ah, just me." He confessed, placing his right fist on his hip. "Well, I'll get you some food then. Any preference? If it is blood, might take a bit longer. Specially if it ain't animal blood." She said, fussing a few minutes with a key ring. "Two rooms is 60 gald." She told Evan, placing the two keys on the table in front of her. "Animal blood is my preference actually. Most people look at me funny when I ask about it though." A sympathetic hum was his answer. "Become good at hunting then, eh? I'll get it to ya for dinner, don't ye worry. I'll have some for ye breakfast too." After being paid she sat back in her seat and continued working on what looked to be a quilt. br /br /They didn't have much trouble divvying up the rooms. Roland and Evan shared one - with Lofty, Batu and Tani shared the other. Dinner was brought to the doors of the rooms, along with a note saying that breakfast will be delivered at 10 am the next morning, and leaving the dishes outside the door tonight would be fine. Evan did look at Roland a little funny for actually drinking blood, but chose not to comment on it in favor of eating his own dinner. They left the dishes outside the door as asked, before turning in for the night. br /br /The next morning breakfast was indeed outside the door, and the dishes from the night before gone. Roland brought the food in before quickly drinking his breakfast and then waking Evan. While Evan ate he got dressed, and set out the cloths the king would change into. He also tied back his hair again, making sure his arms band was equipped and would stay on. Once the two were ready, leaving the sheets and blankets as they found them to be polite, they brought their dishes down and waited for Tani and Batu to arrive as well. Roland was combing Evan's hair when they did, finishing off the remainder of their toast as they descended. br /br /Once all together they set off to get an audience with the Grand High-roller, to join them in the Declaration of Interdependence. They were stopped by the guard, as an unforeseen road block. Three rounds of dice later, and they owed the guard 10,000,000 guilders. br /br /Despite how many times Tani and Evan asked, he would not attempt drinking the blood from the creature they kept shouting about money. He did, however glare at it as hard as he could, and told it strong"Do. Not."/strong with a much more powerful and primal voice than he had ever used around them. The bird shut up for a good hour or so after that. Unfortunately, Batu ended up gaining a much fatter bird that was anything but quiet too. Evan's intimidated bird uttered a quiet "you owe me." before looking at Roland fearfully. Batu's just belted out a strong"Money. Now."/strong until Roland glared it into submission too. At least they weren't going to have ringing ears for the duration of these...debts...br /br /After a lot of scrambling around, finding trick dice, getting their debts removed by the high roller after beating the guard at his own cheating, and the whole inspection and unveiling of Lady Luck's trick die, defeating Longfang after the kings bond was broken, having Goldpaw join the Declaration of Interdependence, and the pitstop to Capstan-upon-hull, they were finally sailing to Hydropolis! . .notes/files/clipdata/clipdata_200122_171926_ -/p