Jiujiang Provincial Roleplay

[ShamsTron]

Zheng Nu was led to the tavern by the old man at a decent pace, their arrival in the afternoon hours, or so Lu thought.

"This way, sir. I have someone you should meet." He gestured to a man who looked quite out of place but not out of mind, a tea pot in front of him and a weary look. "Master Zhou, you okay with some company?"

Mingli looked up, his musings interrupted at a good point. He smiled as he saw a stranger and stood. "Hello there. You may sit and join us if you'd like. May I ask why you have come?"

The old man grinned. "He wants to live his own life and not be righteous. His words, somewhat." Lu chuckled, liking to repeat it.

"Ah. I'll let him tell me, Lu. Thank you though. I am Zhou Mingli, leader of this village and guardian of its people. Hard to believe I know but with bandits about we need someone to stand up to them." He grimaced. "Fortunately someone came to employ some of my best fighters, not all, thankfully." He sipped his tea. "Tell me of yourself, Master....?" He didn't remember hearing a name and stopped, resuming his seat.

Zheng Nu deducting that this man is of importance gives a bow as he meet him.

Zheng Nu: The name is Zheng Nu. I use to be a Military Instructor in Xiapei but now I roam the land searching for something more. I don't know what it is but hopefully I will know it when I see it.

[upgraded627]

@Shamstron and Zhou Yu

In the province of Jiujiang, 3 youths come upon a local tavern an decide to step in to fill their stomachs, quench their throats and perhaps meet some local girls that could provide some fun. Entering, the three youths make their way to an empty table and called for some food and drink. As one looked closer at the group, they could see that two were so similar to each other that it would be a foolish to think of them as nothing but brothers, while the other was not similar in appearance yet had an air about him that the brothers did not. He was a lanky youth, yet with a somewhat muscular build and with some height and still growing. Actually, all three of them were of good height, and considering their young age, they would be at least six feet when all grown. However, not all was pleasant about them. First off, they were dressed in a manner that indicated that they were far from being well off. They were dressed in simple pants with only a vest on top, no shirts. Second, they had the look that they were not to be approached by anyone on just a whim, for they were intimidating, even at their young age. As they waited for their food, they talked amongst themselves.

Li Xiaolong: "Damn, why are there never any good looking girls wherever we go? You would think that we would of met some pretty ones by now, no?"

Tsui Quan: "Maybe we should stop going to small local places and try some of the big cities nearby..."

Tsui Yu: "You know we can't go into any big cities, not until the fuss about that group of merchants dies down."

Li Xiaolong: "That'll quiet down soon enough. Maybe then we can meet some beautiful women, huh?"

Tsui Quan: "We should worry about lasting until then. We haven't come across anything in the last 2 months, and the gang is getting restless... (While whispering) we should look for some targets while we're in this area...Anyone in here seem like a good one?

With that, the youths look around at the rest of the tavern's patrons, looking for their next potential so called "target".

[ShamsTron]

Zheng Nu quickly noticed the three lads as they entered the tavern. They seemed different then the rest of the folk here. Even though it made no sense he had an urge to talk to them as if they had something he needed. He turns his attention over to the man he was recently introduced to and says...

Zheng Nu: Could you please excuse me for a moment?

Without waiting for a reply he gets up and ventures over to the table of the three youths. While he is doing so he ponders on what he should say. It looks like he should have thought harder after he introduces himself to the three.

Zheng Nu: So yea, what brings you to these parts?

[Kymvir Raemiz]

A familiar band of horsemen rode into Zhou Mongli's village. Amongst them, ten men who had grown up in the village waved to their friends and family that peered out at them from the huts. It was drizzling again, but this time, the horsemen did not dismount and invade the village huts. Instead, they kept filing into the village, and those watching soon realized that the band was much larger than it had been, easily number a hundred riders.

The lead rider, a big man with a cruel-looking axe attached to his saddle, slid from his horse into the muddy street and wiped the rain from his eyes. He looked around once and then bellowed loudly and repeatedly, "Zhou Mongli! Come Forth!"

[Zhou Yu]

Zhou Mingli found himself being called for yet again just as Zheng Nu went to go seek out a newcomer in the tavern. Three of them. He recognized the voice and put his mug down after a brief hesitation and hoped Zheng Nu would understand.

He went outside and really wanted to correct the man's pronunciation of his name but instead went out and stood, as before, this time in front of a tavern, not a house. "Yes? I see you've returned with more riders."

@Shamstron(got to take care of Kymvir, keep RPing with upgraded )

@Kymvir(name is MIngli mate )

[Kymvir Raemiz]

Zhou Mingli found himself being called for yet again just as Zheng Nu went to go seek out a newcomer in the tavern. Three of them. He recognized the voice and put his mug down after a brief hesitation and hoped Zheng Nu would understand.

He went outside and really wanted to correct the man's pronunciation of his name but instead went out and stood, as before, this time in front of a tavern, not a house. "Yes? I see you've returned with more riders."

@Shamstron(got to take care of Kymvir, keep RPing with upgraded )

@Kymvir(name is MIngli mate )

Black Snake Hong turned at Mingli's words and gave out a bellow of pleasure, "Mingli! Old friend! Yes! I have many more soldiers. Almost three hundred of the fellows now, truth be told. This is just part of my band!"

He strode through the mud, leaving his weapon attached to his horse, and stomped up to the tavern, he reached out a wet hand and clapped Zhou Mingli on the shoulder. "I have been very busy. Killed two bands of bandits the other day. I've got their heads at my camp on poles. You should come and see, they are glorious! Men are coming to my call. Soon I will be as famous as my grandfather, Black Tiger Hong!"

He looked at the tavern. "Should we have wine? I think we should! And you can tell me about all the bandits that must be bothering you!"

[Zhou Yu]

Mingli looked at the hand on his shoulder and slowly smiled, stiffly, not sure why burly men insisted on the touching. He liked it if they'd clean up first. He nodded in response before speaking.

"Sure, wine will do fine, Master Hong. Lots of men have joined you? May I ask where you found them and if your interest lies in things besides bandit hunting." He spoke cautiously, not wanting to rile the man. "If you kill em at this rate you're going won't be many left soon." He ushered him over to the table and hoped that the fellow he had spoken to was not a bandit or had any part in bandit crimes. It would be unfortunate if Nu did.

"So what brings you back to this fine place?" He waved the barkeep over to get them their wine. "Want any food?"

[upgraded627]

@Shamstron
Sorry for the wait, gotta post while I'm at school until Thursday...

While looking around the tavern, the youths see a man suddenly stand up and head over their way. Not sure yet if the man is headed to them or past them, they keep their eyes on him as they approach. When it becomes apparent that he is coming to them, all three of them put their guard up, ready for anything to happen, although know one would be able to tell by just looking at them. When the man came asked where they had come from, the three looked at each other with looks of slight amusement. After a slight pause one of them spoke up.

"Nothing brings us here, we decided to come on our own."

After saying so, the three couldn't help grinning at each other. Perhaps this man would provide some minor amusement while they were here. The youth who spoke before continued.

"What brings you here, Elder?"

[Kymvir Raemiz]

Mingli looked at the hand on his shoulder and slowly smiled, stiffly, not sure why burly men insisted on the touching. He liked it if they'd clean up first. He nodded in response before speaking.

"Sure, wine will do fine, Master Hong. Lots of men have joined you? May I ask where you found them and if your interest lies in things besides bandit hunting." He spoke cautiously, not wanting to rile the man. "If you kill em at this rate you're going won't be many left soon." He ushered him over to the table and hoped that the fellow he had spoken to was not a bandit or had any part in bandit crimes. It would be unfortunate if Nu did.

"So what brings you back to this fine place?" He waved the barkeep over to get them their wine. "Want any food?"

Black Snake Hong shook his head. "No need for food when you have wine!" As the wine arrived, he grabbed the bowl and guzzled it down, demanding more from the server before the man could even walk away. He then turned to Zhou.

"I've come back to make sure you're not being harassed by bandits like everyone else, of course! Oh, and I need more money. 15 gold should do it! Got another fifty to a hundred men wanting to join me, you know, fellas who lost their homes, or had to flee the Qin and been living in the hills. Good men! Still I need horses. So naturally, I thought of you. You seem to have much money, and you are my friend now and all that. I mean, what are friends for, right?"

"Oh!" He suddenly clapped his hand to his forehead. "I almost forgot! You want any heads?"

[Zhou Yu]

Mingli slowly nodded as the man spoke, seeming to be on quite a roll. "Yes actually. Not sure how you are about maybe helping me to spread my influence so you may hunt bandits more still. I'd love to have another village protected under your watchful eye, Master Hong. It's not so much about taking heads violently but helping me to help you protect people and in that you get more heads. I would also think the peasants would appreciate it too. Gives their unemployed men work and gives me something more to do with my life. What say you? I will of course pay you if such is required."

He pulled out some gold and held it in his hand, hoping the man would not be distracted by the shiny stuff there. "May I ask about the Qin? I've heard rumor but you seem to have experience with them. Are they bandits?" He hoped this man would help him in his endeavor instead of him having to do it another way.