"That, and Draolis would never admit to losing something of this value to a rival kingdom. They would lose face."
Tavene nods in agreement. "At least half of the jobs I've worked have bounced me between Navarene and Draolis. They each think they have one upped the other every time they steal a resource, a high ranking official, a... whatever, from the other."
"Us?"
Panamax stops shifting back and forth, and blinks.
"oh ... and yes."
Zi looks around at the group of people before him. "The numenera is known to be kept in the Tower of Aulifex at the center of Kordech. However, I've received good information that it's been moved to a crypt underneath the city."
He pushes a small device across the table. It's a box the size of the palm of an adult's hand. There's a tiny, opaque bottle on top of the box with a wax-sealed opening.
"There's a graveyard outside of Kordech. When you're inside it, break this seal and pour the contents into the top of this device."
"Kordech," Panamax says slowly.
Clearly having no idea where that is.
Nalo starts to reach forward to pick up and examine the object, but stops short of touching it with effort. "Some numenera loves me, others really don't."
That said, her eyes don't leave the object on the table as she asks, "Is it going to do a warm cold thing or will it be a bit more directional?"
"You know, a cute bottle like that should probably have a warning sign like 'Do Not Eat' or something. In case one of us feels peckish."
Sherine starts looking through her pockets for something to make a sign with.
"Kordech is just below the southern border of Navarene, near the base of the Dark Hills," Zi responds to Panamax. "As Jarris mentioned, it's a hub for cattle farms and butchering. You can smell it before you see it."
Zi's eyes squint with a smile again. "Good question! The device should grow warmer in your hands as you get closer to the numenera you're seeking. It won't last more than an hour or so, however, and I don't currently have any other numenera of that sort available to me, should you deplete this one. But there are always other options, should the tracker fail you."
Panamax watches Sherine rummage.
"Do we know what this numenera we're seeking looks like? Or even roughly how big it is?"
"The numenera will be about the size of a small human, but be fairly light. It'll be up to you to decide how you'd like to bring it back. I would request that you don't shrink it unless you know for sure you are able to return it to its original size. Please." After the 'please', he grins, and it's the first time you've seen any defining feature other than his eyes.
Anson, looking... somewhere on the table, nods to himself.
Sherine appears to give up on her search.
"Drat," she says mildly. "OK, people, I didn't bring any paper or a pen. So we all just need to be strong and remember that this numenera Mr. Zi is letting us use is not for eating."
"The liquid in the bottle would likely taste delicious. The device itself might not go down so easily." Zi agrees amicably. "If there are no further questions...?"
Anson picks up the device and bottle, wraps them up in swatches of cloth, and tucks both into one of the many pockets of his clothing. Then he gives Zi a slight shake of the head, silently answering no to the final question.
Nalo looks relieved that the device is being held by someone who likely won't drink the activation liquid. She shakes her head, "At least not for you Mr. Zi."
She looks around at the rest of the group, "We should figure out if we want to take a land route to Kordech, likely skirting the Dark Hills." She rocks her head from side to side, "Not a clue if there is a caravan we could travel with or not."
"Or we could catch a boat to Keford then find a land route into Draolis."
Jarris taps his finger on his nose, points at Nalo... and then taps her nose as well. "Lady Nalo has the right of it! There are a handful of watercraft that sail between Keford and Harmuth. Many caravans travel roads between all the kingdoms." He pauses, looking up towards the ceiling and counting under his breath, then looks back to the group. "Kordech is roughly 400 miles from here; it will be a bit of a journey regardless of the route taken."
... points at Nalo... and then taps her nose as well.
Nalo jerks back from the touch, her eyes narrowing. She shifts in her seat a bit, giving herself just a tad more room to notice unexpected touches.
Immediately after the botched nose boop, Jarris tilts his head and draws his hat forward. "My apologies, I should have asked first."
Tavene shakes her head. "Didn't you learn that lesson after what happened when you bopped me on the nose?"
At this, Jarris looks embarrassed but says nothing as he shifts his hat back into place.
"So, what do we like best," asks Sherine. "Go by water and be attacked by pirates, or go by land and be attacked by bandits?"
Anson turns to Jarris. "Book us passage on some ship or another. If we do this right, we won't need a fast escape, but we should assume that something will go wrong. With that in mind, it's easier to hide on land than it is at sea, so upon arrival, I think Jarris should find us some transport out."
Sherine seems pleased by the plan to travel by boat. She smiles, and mutters something under her breath. Something that could be "arrrgh."
Jarris straightens and salutes Anson. Fabulously. "I know just the man, assuming he's still in Harmuth. If not, there are a few others I would still be comfortable making such a long trip with."
Zi reaches forward to deactivate the numenera that soundproofs the booth, and everyone's ears pop unpleasantly.
"It's been a pleasure to make your acquaintances." He tips an imaginary hat. "I wish you luck in your endeavors, and may the roads you travel be interesting ones."
"It beats walking," says Panamax. "I was ready for something other than walking."
"See you on the docks tomorrow morning, Jarris." Just a hint of a question in her voice on the timing.
Before she leaves she carefully takes a tiny sip of each layer of her drink - just enough to see what kind of flavor they have. She smiles at anyone who is left when she is done with her sampling. "I wish you all a safe night." With that she stands, "I'm going to look for a place that will take less shins from my pocket."
"I think I will walk the night through and sleep on the boat," Panamax says. "If anyone would care to join me, I am available for companionship-- That came out wrong."
He reddens.
"I'll come with you," says Sherine, ignoring the possible awkwardness. "There are so many buildings I haven't had a chance to say a proper Hello to."
You may not have received a budget for the trip... but Zi did get in touch with nearly all of the innkeepers in Harmuth, so none of you will pay a single shin for resting after you've met with him. Most of the inns are varying degrees of comfortable and clean.
"If you don't mind, I'll join you. Even if our paths don't stay crossed, it's been a while since I've worked in Keford. I could use a change of scenery." Tavene says, adjusting the swords on her hips as she stands from the table. Without Jarris' help.
"Of course, my dear." He replies absently.
Jarris and Tavene head down the hill, towards the water and away from the most affluent people in Harmuth. The evening is pleasant and warm, with salty sea air and typical dock noises floating up from the waterfront.
They arrive in front of a tavern that looks like any other along the docks. Old wood, the sound of music and laughter and fighting coming from inside, and one person stumbling out of it that looks like he's had a bit too much to drink.
Jarris offers to buy Tavene, and several other strangers, something to drink while he conducts his business.
When he's done, he comes back with the news that his contact, Captain Adelard, departed for Keford a few days before. He managed to find another woman he knows to be reputable, if a little drug addled. She's willing to take on this band of merry men and women for a favor. She doesn't have a favor in mind yet, and warns Jarris to tell the others that accommodations aboard her ship, the Icewine, will be tight.
The next morning, you all wake up to a final message from Zi. It's just an instruction pointing you towards a tavern called the Mesomeme, and a final 'good luck'. Jarris, his Captain of choice, and Tavene are all waiting outside of the Mesomeme, bags at the ready, when you arrive.
The stranger is a tall woman with a few inches on Jarris. She's wearing a lovely red coat with many pockets. She has a faraway look in her dark eyes and an absentminded smile on her face.
"Good morning! I hope you all slept well." He sounds as chipper as when you left his company the night before. "I'd like to introduce you all to Captain Bellarim. She's well known for making quick trips between Harmuth and Kefford, and although the accommodations will be tight, she's happy to take us all southward for a favor upon arrival."
"It's Prauss. Prauss Bellarim." The woman's voice is husky and warm, but she also sounds like her mind is elsewhere. The way she keeps trying to turn to look out at the sea indicates the same. "Happy to be of service."
"Pleased to meet you, Captain Bellarim." Panamax bows, a little stiffly. "Any advice for someone like me who has never taken to sea?"
After a talking to a few buildings, and not seeing Panamax also talking to the buildings, Sherine asks while walking between buildings, "How come you don't greet the buildings, Panamax?" She seems earnestly curious.
Panamax looks at the approaching building. "Is it a politeness or genuine affection? Do you greet all of them? Would I need to be introduced?"
He shakes his head.
"So many questions."
"Pleased to meet you, Captain Bellarim." Panamax bows, a little stiffly. "Any advice for someone like me who has never taken to sea?"
The woman turns to look at you and seems to have a little trouble focusing her eyes. "Prauss," she stresses. "I would advise several things. First, appreciate the moon and her lovely green dress. Second, should we encounter the Iron Wind, you should make peace with all you've seen and done. Last, try and eat foods you don't mind tasting twice." She smiles. Her teeth are bright white, with a flash of black staining the insides of her lips in stark contrast. "To be fair, I would give the same advice to those who take to the land, as well."
Jarris smiles, a little apologetically."Always the poet, our Prauss."
"Be mindful of the shoes you wear, don't eat heavy foods, don't feed anything in the water, no matter how cute it is. And from the looks of the size of this ship, expect a few days with minimal privacy." Tavene adds, giving the Icewine a skeptical look.
"Good advice," says Anson. "I'd like to see our accommodations, please."
"Thank you for the advice," Panamax says. "I don't understand half of it, but I will remember it."
"A little of both, I think," responds Sherine. "I mean, the buildings here are very friendly and it's a joy to talk to them. Some other places have mean or rude buildings. But you shouldn't be rude to a building just because it was rude to you first. 'You should always aspire to the best version of yourself.'" Sherine says that last sentence as if she's quoting from something or someone.
"The buildings already know you, so there's no need to be formally introduced. Just walk up and say 'Hi'."
Sherine walks up to the prow of the Icewine. She pats it gently.
"Hello. I think we'll have a good trip together, don't you? I'm looking forward to many conversations over the next several days."
Sherine smiles and rejoins the group.
"I ... uh ... huh ... okay."
Panamax walks up to a nearby building, says, "Hi," waits, and listens very carefully.
Looks back to Sherine, and back at the building. Continues to listen.
Nalo, eyes rimmed with red, gives a respectful nod to the captain, "Thank you for having us on board." She doesn't quite manage to restrain the yawn before she continues, "I'll remember the advice either way, but what is the Iron Wind?"
Regardless of the conversation, Nalo looks eager for the journey to be starting.
A scruffy, young athletic glaive (obvious from the weapons and beasthide armor he wears) whose steely eyes pierce the shadows of his hooded cloak, has followed Nalo to the docks and wordlessly joins the group (on the docks or on board). He studies each person in turn, except Tavene who only receives a curt tick of the head. Although he never actually directly meets any of your eyes with his, the attention is obvious and perhaps a little unsettling.
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Prauss Bellarim waves an arm towards the ship. "Welcome aboard my most trusted companion."
She gives everyone the 'grand' tour. It's a fairly standard ship, as these things go. The deck above is clean and well cared for, with steps on either side of the cabin leading to a higher deck where the wheel and several levers are situated. Bellarim would be able to control most of the ship's movements from that station, which reduces the need for a large crew. In fact, only three other people appear to crew the ship alongside her, at least on this trip.
The cabin contains the galley and two surprisingly clean, if very small, bathrooms. There is a little bit of extra space here; one or two people might be able to set up hammocks or bedrolls on the floor if they didn't mind the foot traffic around them.
One more set of stairs leads downwards to the rest of the underbelly of the ship. There are crew quarters, four rooms with three taken by the crew, leaving one that could accommodate two or three people. Bellarim has taken on a large shipment of crates, but there's room left over for at least three or four hammocks/bedrolls, possibly more like five or six if people didn't mind rubbing up against one another in the night.
"The Iron Wind is a plague. No one knows when it appeared first, only that everything it touches is changed, and rarely for the better. Flesh made inert, rocks turned into flesh. Creation, destruction, pain." Tavene replies to Nalo as they tour the ship. "Thankfully, appearances are rare, especially in these northern lands. But the damage they do is unrivaled."
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At the arrival of the new Glaive, Tavene returns a quick nod of her head.
Jarris, however, looks extremely interested in the quiet man. "Hello there, newcomer. Are you another friend of Zi's?" He smooths invisible creases in his perfectly pressed, and extremely bright, yellow vest.
Anson is quiet during the tour, paying close attention the entire time. When it's over, he returns to investigate the lever mechanism that controls the ship.
Sherine smiles happily as she sees that she has introduced two people who are destined for a long and enriching relationship. She approaches the building that Panamax is talking to, and presses up against it.
Turing to Panamax, she says, "See? He's friendly."