The Tall Stranger at the River Docks . . .

Rumour wrote:
- A dreaded ghost ship has been spotted on moonlit nights sailing down the Yellow river. Several reputable captains have claimed that it's been sinking vessels on the river along the banks of Liang, Chu, Yin, and Henan. Authorities in both Henan and Chu deny the wild claims.

Post Theme Song - "Castlevania" - Symphony X

The silence of the moonlit midnight was interrupted, as a whistling song,
very disturbing and so much out of tune, seemed to come from nowhere and everywhere as the sound of footsteps followed the tall stranger's shadow.
Black metal gloves flickered a gold coin now and then between its fingers, dancing in "tune" with the out of tune whistling song.
The flowing long hooded cloak glided like a black ghost through each step.

The tall stranger's every stride was slow and swaggering, as each booted feet lazily touched the wooden planks of the river docks.
Wondering, the tall stranger unceremoniously dropped a large bag to its side, producing a yelping sound from within as something squirmed as if wanting to get out.
Giving no attention whatsoever to the squirming bag, the tall stranger placed its booted feet on top of it as green eyes searched around the docks, wondering where to start investigating about this wild rumor . . .

Silly Narrator wrote:
The docks Kijo Akki stood on were not particularly busy. There were three trading vessels and two barges, the fishing fleet being out on the river plying their trade. Two of the trading vessels were in the midst of being unloaded, but the other three were moored and inactive. Their crews were most likely scattered through the three wine houses that were nearby.

Post Theme Song - "Echo" - Incubus

The tall stranger licked its lips as it took in the sight of the cargoes being unloaded from the two trading vessels. Like a predator watching its prey, the tall stranger continued its disturbing whistling song as it carefully observed the order and manner of which things are going with the trading vessels. The tall stranger meticulously noted how many cargo men were there at the docks doing their jobs, and the number of guards on duty, and the manner of their weapons and equipment as well.
Like a tiger biding for its time, The tall stranger smiled with its fangs in anticipation.

Surely, with the rumors of this dreaded "ghost" ship hanging around, the merchants would invest more on protecting their investments. It would not be surprising if the number of guards were doubled than the usual.
But then again, some people don't take rumors of ghostly things very lightly, even try to avoid it if possible in some cases.
Especially ghostly rumors that sinks real vessels.

After taking some time watching from a distance, the tall stranger stopped its pretentious cover of walking to and fro as if very undecided.
It then picked up the large bag with its right hand, sighed a lungful of air and swung it around at its back as it strode towards the direction of the wine houses.
The large bag seems to be muttering something low and sarcastic to itself.

Upon reaching the front of the three wine houses, the tall stranger looked around for someone who looks like that can be bugged around with its questions.
It would then stop its out of tune whistling and speak in a husky voice, one too deep for a woman, with a particular accent that is unused to speaking in Chinese. . .


Tall Stranger: "Uhm, uhm, can I bug you for a second? Is-is the... captain around...I mean, inside...? I-I'm looking for... work. Guard duty, you know?"


The tall stranger would then try to look imposing and "impressive" by tapping a left boot on the floor, with its shapely legs and long legged feet but at the same time, try not to send out any unwanted false messages . . .
The tall stranger attempts to use its Mgt+Cha stat to get information lo~!

((If there were none to ask questions to, the tall stranger would knock on the door of the wine house on the left or any of the three doors that its Jdg stat can figure for itself as to where the captain is . . .))

Silly Narrator wrote:
There were three sailors standing outside the wine houses, though the sounds of a great many more came from the open doors of the buildings. Two of the soldiers outside were sharing a big wine jug and squinted up at the stranger with bleary eyes when he spoke. The smell coming off of them was vile, and one of them simply burped in response. The third sailer, who was looking at the two drunken men with irritation on his face turned to the stranger and looked him up and down.

"Guard duty? Always looking for men who can handle themselves in a fight - but you'd need to know how to row or sail to be on my ship."
He aimed a vicious kick at one of the drunken men, and when his foot landed, the man vomited all over the man's feet.

Cursing, he glowered at the two men, and then looked back at the stranger. "If you can do that, you can have one of these useless bastards places on my ship."

Music In The Kijo's Head - "Because I Got High" - Afroman

The tall stranger only gave half a smile as the drunken guard only burped in response, for it was now already listening to the music it always hated to hear, whenever there are drunken men around.
The tall stranger hated all men to begin with. It hated stupid men who acted like dogs, more. But it really hated drunken men, above all.

The tall stranger was looking at the drunk who burped at it, looking down from its hood at the man with green cat-like eyes, both with a look of silent menace and cold-blooded hostility.
Its mind already wondering how to torture this wretched man using wine, including the other one too, just for the sole reason of drinking with his stupid friend on duty.


Guard 3: "Guard duty? Always looking for men who can handle themselves in a fight - but you'd need to know how to row or sail to be on my ship."


The tall stranger noticed the presence of a third guard, as he answered the question with the tone of one who has some measure of authority.
It stopped its cold glare at the two drunken men and silently watched with a tilted head at the third guard, who was now looking up and down at it, as if measuring its worth.
The tall stranger only gave a short nod at the man, now finding someone who is worth the time to ask questions to.

The tall stranger was just about to answer yet the third guard, aimed a vicious kick at one of the drunken men, and when his foot landed, the man vomited all over the man's feet.
Some of it sprayed over the ground in front of the tall stranger, a tiny bit reaching on its boots. Just a tiny bit. Yet it was all that the tall stranger needed to mark the faces of the two, as two dead men walking.
Oh, how the tall stranger gritted its teeth with a derisive fanged smile.


Guard 3: "If you can do that, you can have one of these useless bastards places on my ship."


The tall stranger put down its hood back so as to show its face, white hair waving like living snakes in the calm breeze, held back by a forehead protector.
Clawed metal gloves parted some stray hair away from its face.
The tall stranger was a slim, tall girl in cloak standing at 5'10" and started speaking in a calm voice that sounded like cool chimes . . .


Tall Stranger: "I worked six months on a passenger ship at the great sea to the east, I think I can handle sailing in a river. Is that fair enough?"


Some of the tall stranger's old dreaded memories seemed to break loose on its own, causing a slight headache that only fueled its rising anger.
Yet in truth, the tall stranger was a "six months" passenger, one who did more than just watch the boys who worked the ropes and swept the floors.

The tall stranger, was indeed, only telling the truth.
Six months lost at sea, and as extreme hunger turned civilized men and women into mere cannibalistic animals, everybody just started eating everybody.
It was man against man, a brutal free for all, where only the strong survives.
For six months, the tall stranger "worked" at sea. It worked pretty damn fine, all right . . .

The tall stranger began to ask the third guard, as if half-dazed, part of its mind already floating back to those memories of frenzied flesh-eating nightmare . . .


Tall Stranger: "Your boys seemed to be taking their time enjoying themselves, so I take it that the ships aren't going to leave soon? I know an old friend gambling in a tavern nearby, do you need another one?"


The tall stranger's tone was cold, derisive and indifferent. Green eyes glazed and staring with disgust at the two pathetic men, as if it was looking at worms.
It didn't care if the two drunk men heard its open intention to replace them both.
In truth, part of the the tall stranger's mind was waiting if the two drunken men would react with violence, for it would then have a valid reason to put them out of their misery.

The tall stranger would then stand in a casual standing position, leaning its weight on its left foot, the bag held dangling at its back with its clawed right hand.
It then casually glanced back at the third guard, as if she was merely discussing about replacing old livestock and inefficient cattle.

The tall stranger gave a simple fanged smile that can only be described as dangerously beautiful . . .

Silly Narrator wrote:
The man looked Kijo up and down, and it was clear now that he must be either a captain or first mate of the ship he was talking about, "No, my ship is leaving late this afternoon. Which is my problem. These two worthless, " he kicked the nearest man again, "sacks of donkey guts are supposed to be helping load my ship right now."

The man who vomited simply burped again, and then slumped over against the wine jug, snoring. The other one, however, rose shakily to his feet, and stumbled towards Kijo, stopping just short of the odd looking man and swaying there drunkenly, "Yer a . . . freak. And yer not takin' my spot on the ship. Freak."

He tried to poke Kijo in the chest with a finger, but missed and got him in the shoulder instead.

Post Theme Song - "Anna Molly" - Incubus

The tall stranger's eyes widened for a moment.
The drunk tried to poke her in the chest with a finger, but missed and got her in the shoulder instead.

She retaliated by attempting to catch his hand.
Quickly twist it in such a way that the drunk would end up with his back turned against her, both hand and balance, at the mercy of her left hand.


Tall Stranger: "I'm not a freak. I am Kijo Akki and your captain has just replaced you, boy. Deal with it. Whine all you want and drink yourself to death~!"


The Kijo would then do more than brutally try to break his right hand.
Every single finger, bones and all, hit him at at the back of his head with a carefully placed blow.
One meant to knock him out, and then slam his back with the bag in hand towards his sleeping friend.
The bag would mumble a stifled groan at the same time it made contact.
As if it was used to being used as a weapon. Very handy.

She came here to investigate, not to kill.
She would not let a drunk get the better..the worst.. of her temper.
So, the ship would leave late this afternoon . . .
No time to call that gambling friend.

The Kijo would then mutter in her native language about dogs and whining.
Narrowing her eyes as she took in a breath to calm her rising anger down.
Shaking her head while crossing her arms, tapping the floor with her boots.
Like a mother giving the man a no-nonsense look after spanking her children.


Kijo Akki: "Uhm, I guess you are Captain ...uhm.. I think I haven't got your name yet.
Anyway, you mentioned loading your ships... where should I start? So we can all be done with it.."


The Kijo groaned at the very thought of lifting heavy cargoes.
But if she had to bloody drag every flamin' box out of those bloody wine houses just to get these flamin' ships to sail, she bloody would.

Scratching her left cheek, she glanced at the nearest ship, figuring out where the man would place her, keeping an eye out on the two drunken men.

That bloody ghost ship better flamin show up today, or else it would be the bloody one sinking down in the flamin' river . . .


((Uh, uhm, is it daytime lo~?
I think I remember coming at the docks at night lo~
'Cause Akki rarely ever goes out during the day lo~ . . .))

Silly Narrator wrote:
The sailor screamed as Kijo broke the bones of his hand and then sent him sprawling over his drunken companion, who barely stirred at all.

The Captain raised an eyebrow, but narrowed his eyes and watched Kijo with new interest. "A girl, eh. Well, you know how to fight, that's for sure, and that's always useful. You can call me Captain Zhang. I'm known as Black Zhang around here. Come with me."

Black Zhang led Kijo to one of the three vessels on the water, a long, wide craft with a fairly shallow draft, and a complete deck, useful for fighting off boarders. Other men, a real hard-bitten rough-looking lot, had already gathered, about a dozen in all, and were loading crates onto the ship and lots of rope. Kijo noticed that the rope was thinner than that used for the sail rigging, and that they seemed to be loading up quite a bit of it.

Black Zhang pointed to the crates and rope and growled. "Help get those aboard, then come see me. We're sailing an hour before sunset. And get rid of whatever is in that bag. No animals on my ship. Other than my men at least."

Music In The Kijo's Head - "I'm Broken" - Pantera


The Kijo slowly nodded at him when the man introduced himself as if she was really listening attentively.
Giving him a sweet daughterly smile just like those noble brats would do.
Only to completely drop it all off, rolling her eyes in annoyance.
As she sticked her tongue out when the Captain turned his back.

Black Zhang . . .
She wondered how did the Captain ever ended up with such a name.
Looks more like Eyebrow Zhang.
Batting his big eyes like that at her.
Watching her as if she suddenly grew wings.

The Kijo nodded along with the sounds in her head as she followed the captain.
Watching the men and the boats, she then noticed the thinner than usual "rigging" ropes.

Scratching her cheek, she was just about to ask the captain when he suddenly spoke, pointing to the crates, growling with instructions.
Talking about getting rid of the "animal" in her bag.
Talking about seeing him after too. What the heck does that mean?

The Kijo slightly pondered about this for a short while.
Clawed hands delicately scratching her neck up to her chin. Thinking.

"Fine. At least, this little thief learned a thing or two about real discipline."
She said to the captain, complying with a finality in her tone.
Dropping the little bag to the side like if it really just slipped.
It gave a squeak, surprised at being dropped like that.

The Kijo then covered her mouth with a finger, mouthing an "Oops."
And as she opened the bag, a small kid in ragged peasant clothes suddenly came out.

It was ugliest kid any mother could ever want to have.
His ears were big, with a little pudgy nose and a smile that shined yellow as if golden.
He would never grow anything close to handsome.

The ugly kid rubbed his eyes, and gasped at the sight of the tall Kijo beside her.
She was smiling. She looks like she wants to eat him.

"If I ever see you inside the shop again . . ."
The Kijo trailed off, letting her fanged smile finish it for her.

The ugly kid just ran, screaming as he bumped the captain.
Not even stopping until he was out of the docks. Back into town.

The Kijo found the ugly kid robbing the same shop as she was.
It annoyed her that he was right beside her the whole time.
And she didn't even notice.

The ugly kid deciding to scare her with a boo just for the fun of it.
Not knowing that the Kijo would not only scare him, but place him inside her bag as well.

"No animals allowed."
She declared as she dangled the empty bag in the air beside her.
"An hour before sunset, huh? Fair enough."
She muttered as she passed the captain before he could even reply.

The Kijo would then slowly approach the biggest box, try to move it along side, just to judge its weight, before trying to lift it with all her strength.
The Kijo would lift it in such a way that it would end up on her back, both supported by her clawed hands to the side.

She would then slowly but surely walk towards the boats, avoiding any slippery wet grounds along the way.

She would then ask anyone whoever blocks her way to the ships in a pleasant way.
"Excuse me. Get the heck out of my way. Please . . ?"
Never let it be said that the Kijo cannot be polite when she needs to be.
Letting out a smile, so that they would not be offended.
Baring a fanged smile. As meek as a sheep.