Marc's awakening

[Anemone]

Righ stared out over the gleaming rooftops of Waterfall City, remembering the first time he'd seen that sight, and he felt... something... stir in his heart. He shook his head, as if to dispell the memory.

"Yes," he replied. "It is strange. Strange and beautiful."

He smiled at Marc, then pointed to one of the red-tiled roofs in the city below.

"That's where you'll be headed. All newcomers to the island sign a registry, with a list of their skills; it should make it easier for you to find a place to keep you hands busy if that information is out in the open. Other than that, you will be free to explore the city." Righ grinned. "I suggest you take a look at the market and the library. It's a city of many sights."

[Marc LeSinge]

"I suppose signing up won't do any harm until i can find some way to get home." answered Marc, although only half heartedly, as the beauty of the city stunned even him. Its toffee coloured stone walls and clean bright terracotta roof tiles gleamed at them through the spray of the falls. This was a great place...staying here for a while wouldn't be too bad. If his camera still worked he would have some good photos to take home...
"i don't see a bridge...how do we get across there?" he asked, suddenly brought back to earth by the realisation that the great city in front of and below them was isolated in the middle of powerful waterfalls, with no visible route of access.

[seekeroftales]

Cyclyd promised Barry and Gathranth that he would use his influence as a healer to see about their passing over to Waterfall City. He warned them, however, that while he was a troodon and a generally known member of an honored trade, his word alone might be useless. His reasonings would have to bear any fruit they could.

The basin convoy send-off village of Ribenkett was located on that side of the Joining of the Rivers, and the convoy was fast approaching the spired drawbridge which would allow every one of its number to cross over from the Rainy Basin.

Cyclyd was once again beside Primeria, and heard Marc's last question. He knew it was proper to let Righ answer, but he couldn't resist putting words into the man's mouth. [From the village you see,] the troodon called up to Marc with a bit of a grin, [those smaller among our number will continue on in boats towed by the Ones of the Water, dolphins and pleisiosaurs. A few such as Gathranth will swim.]

[Barry the Baryonyx]

Barry had confidence in Cyclyd's abilities to persuade most people to see things in his ways. The only thing for Barry and Gathranth to do now was to wait and see if Cyclyd can come through for them. If given the OK to enter the city, more the likely they would be denied because of what happened the last time they were in the city, Barry and Gathranth would enter by the way of the secret passage behind White Curtain Falls where the did the last time they visited the city. If not then Barry and Gathranth were ready to part company and head down river to the capitol city of Dinotopia. Sauropolis. They could meet up with Cyclyd and company again later when they depart Waterfall City. Barry was looking forward to talking to Cyclyd.

[Anemone]

Righ nodded in response to Cyclyd's answer. "There's also a path behind the waterfall, for much larger saurians, such as the brachs. And there are gliders, if you feel adventurous." He smiled at Marc. "Now if you'll excuse me..."

He slipped off Primeria's back and moved over to Cyclyd. "I was wondering if you could do something for me," he asked, taking a piece of paper out of his pocket. "You are aware of my reputation; I don't dare deliver this on my own. Could you give this to one of the scholars at the library? It's a rubbing from a temple I found. I'd like to have it translated."

[seekeroftales]

[If asked whom I received this from, I will be obliged to tell,] Cyclyd warned Righ fairly.

The troodon healer took the crisp papyrus from the man's hand and studied it for a bit. He thought he could decipher some of it himself, but made no comment to that effect. [Also,] he went on firmly, [the translation will become public knowledge.]

The saurian's eyes suddenly shown with wisdom and he grinned faintly.

Stepping up his pace so as to join himself to the aloof Stowaway, Cyclyd gently waved the "rubbing" and then neatly folded it and placed it in his medicine pack. [Within my power, I will grant you this favor,] he called back to Righ. [For now, I inquire not as to your motivations, though I seek to understand them someday.]

Primeria eyed Righ strangely, wondering secretly why the noted recluse was engaging the overly agreeable Cyclyd.

[Anemone]

Righ shook his head.

"There's no need to be mysterious about it," he said. "I just don't think they'd accept it if I was the one to give it to them, being the 'crazy philosopher' of Dinotopia. They'd be less biased if you were the one to deliver it. I can go by later and see what they made of it on my own." He smiled. "Besides, I think I should help Marc settle in. He'll feel more comfortable with a human guide than a saurian."

[seekeroftales]

[Your choice!] Cyclyd called willingly. [And I conceed you your point! Sharp teeth, beaks and claws do seem to unnerve the skyfalls and dolphinbacks! To say nothing of size and bad breath!]

[Marc LeSinge]

The convoy moved down to the water's edge, to great wharves where boats were being filled, or were waiting to make the short crossing over to the city to deliver what goods they needed and to send the remainder down the great chute to the lower river. Here the larger brachs and dinosaurs that couldn't fit in the boats would continue to the base of the waterfall where they could make their way up to the city by the Hidden Path. Bales, luggage, and sacks were unloaded on the quayside along with the few passengers who wished to reach the city sooner than their brachiosaur mounts; the many basin dwellers dispersed amongst the ferrymen and bargees to barter for their passage to the city, or to continue along the upper reaches of the Polongo to higher destinations. Marc scrambled down from the now static styracosaur among the sudden bustle of people and dinosaurs, looking slightly dazed by the sudden activity.
He wasn't too sure whether he would be expected to make his own way across to the city or not, and after a few moments deciding whether to take some direct action or not he scrambled through the crowds and stacks of freight and approached one of the ferrymen whose boat was not yet full.
"Excuse me, I'd like to get across to the city?" he ventured.

[seekeroftales]

The ferryman in question was an older man named Jfrow Warneb. He grinned at Marc as he looked the stand-outishly dressed skyfall up and down slowly, his eyes pausing noticeably on the backpack he shouldered.

"You wish to cross?" he repeated teasingly. "You no prefer to swim? That what I here for with boat! You have curiosities, perhaps?" He held out his hand a little ways - palm up - a hopeful glint in his eye.

-----------------------

Having lost Marc for few minutes in the crowd, Righ located him finally, standing by a ferry and asking something of its owner. He discreetly approached the skyfall from behind and caught Jfrow's response. Swinging around so as to see the young man's face, he noted that Marc seemed indignant for a moment, then began to flinch out of his back pouch, muttering to himself.

Righ's hand caught Marc's arm before he could take the back pouch completely off. "Just so you are aware, he merely wants to look at what you have," he informed the skyfall quietly. "Newcomers to the island are treated as guests and are given special consideration. They are often obliged to tell about themselves, the outside world, and show any things they brought with them to the island."

Righ then spoke respectfully to Jfrow in the prime Dinotopian dialect and the ferryman ushered Marc into his boat while laughing good-naturedly and nodding his head sheepishly "Forgive please," he beseeched Marc sincerely. "I am long on beard and oars, short on sense! You show on crossing? I ask nothing else."

[Anemone]

(OOC: Thanks a bunch for taking over Righ, Skyler. I'm not <b>too</b> irritated, but just ask first, alright?)

Righ slid into the vacant seat behind Marc, peering warily at the water. He hadn't been on a boat in... years, and though he trusted the ferryman and the boat-makers of Waterfall City, he couldn't help but feel a little nervous. He leaned forward, keeping his mind on Marc and not the water below.

"How are you holding up?" he asked.

[Marc LeSinge]

Marc looked around at Righ as he put the pack on the floor and unzipped it, fumbling inside for anything of any interest to show the happily grinning ferryman. "What?" all his effects were stashed in a cheap bin-liner inside the backpack, to protect them from rain and wet; in one corner he found his mp3 player and pulled it out, untangling the wires of the headphones from the rest of his stuff. "oh, i'm fine. Weather's great, isn't it. " Marc seemed a little distracted... he held the mp3 player up for the ferryman, and twisted it so it shone in the sunlight. "you like?"

The ferryman looked on admiringly but obviously confused. Marc leaned over with the earphones. "do you mind?" he asked apologetically, plugging them into his ears for him, as both his own hands were taken up with the oars. The ferryman obviously didn't mind at all and preferred to remain speechless, waiting for developments.

Marc picked a random song and hit 'play'. Immediately the panicked ferryman's ears were filled with blasting rock music, and he dropped the oars in the rollocks and pulled the phones from his ears.
"this tiny gramophone, it some nice torture device, eh?" he laughed, handing them back to Marc, " it very curious but you keep, eh? your world, it a world of pain now."
Marc had yet again put his foot in it, but the old ferryman didn't seem to mind. He looked back at Righ and grinned apologetically.

[seekeroftales]

OOC: I find it distracting to divide my attentions between fictional realms and living in the real world with any attention to duty and detail, so I am dropping participation in the few RPs I have joined in the past few months. I just cannot "hack it". Sorry to all, but I know you can get along fine without me. If you need, my characters are your inheritance.

[Marc LeSinge]

ooc: i think this rp is on the verge of dying. so much for witnessing the birth of a new community.

[Barry the Baryonyx]

marclesinge said:

ooc: i think this rp is on the verge of dying. so much for witnessing the birth of a new community.

{OOC: When I get better from my bronchitis I'll try to post in this RP =D}

[Anemone]

marclesinge said:

ooc: i think this rp is on the verge of dying. so much for witnessing the birth of a new community.

Don't worry. Individual roleplays may die, but the world and the big story don't. The community rolls right along just fine.

[Barry the Baryonyx]

So, are we going to continue this RP or is it now dead?

[Marc LeSinge]

I think we may continue...my you HAVE all been busy while I've been away!!

Continuing Marc's story in...waterfall city!