Serrass' eyes are on the gray side of blue, making them look a little like a stormy sea. Her skin in the color of a spring sky and her short hair is sapphire. All those blues might not work together in another context, but on Serrass they look good. (For some unknown reasons, undines rarely have hair that clashes with their complexion.)
The undine's eyes get wide when Fergie moves in so close, but she avoids any need to comment by turning her focus to the bag of coins he offers her. She takes it and moves away from him to place it on the table where her apprentice sits. Then she shows Fergie a couple more types of fabric, mostly practical ones in brown and tan, but also a dark blue, and a green to see if he likes that one.
When Fergie brings up leaving by the back door, Serrass looks doubtful. "There is a back door, but it goes into a little warren of alleys behind the buildings. You might regret your decision before you get out of them! I doubt Karsh stayed around anyway; he is probably back at his ship by now, complaining about how hard he's been used.
Just to make something clear: I don't really fancy Karsh; he was around about three months ago when I was feeling lonely and we had dinner together four or five times. He was already starting to get a little tiresome before he invited me out on his boat and I realize now I never should have gone. He seems to consider me going out on his boat as making some sort of commitment to him, because since then he's been troublesome. It's the sort of trouble I can deal with, though, and he has been part of the community here for many years so I'd hate to see him hurt in any permanent sort of way."
Serrass looks a little suspiciously at both Fergie and Lilabeth, to make sure they've gotten her message, then she moves to where Lilabeth is and picks up the lavendar fabric.
"This has good body and will make a nice shirt. I'll make it my first priority for your group after the gray outfits." The seamstress accepts the coin and hands it to her apprentice, who puts it in a latched box under the table. "I can probably have the basic garments put together in four days, if you want to stop by then for a fitting. It will take another three days after that to finish all the details and the trim. I do also have some other commissions, so I can't just drop everything and work on your clothing. I'm sure you understand!"
"Lilabeth, that is a great idea! And for the record I'm glad you don't fancy him and don't worry we wont hurt anyone
Rory smiles and turns to leave with Eldon and Lilabeth out to front door to go help Karsh
"I sure Karsh and his crew can fend for themselves," Serrass says as they head for the door, "but if you're serious, his fishing boat is the Sea Snake. It's berthed at the docks west of the village."
By this time it is about two hours past noon. The rain has let up to a fine drizzle and more people are on the street, including a few small blue children happily splashing through puddles. They ignore your group except as more legs to avoid, but most of the undine adults give you at least a side-long glance as you pass. No one addresses you, and if you purposely make eye contact with someone, the person just gives you a polite nod and then looks away. You don't see any other non-undines, but given that several people on the street have their cloak hoods up, you would have to view each one from the front to be sure you could tell the difference.
Walking down the street you pass several more shops, including a vendor of fresh foods and one which has breads, some type of pies, and other prepared foods. That shop is protected by a deep wooden awning with the outside ends resting on poles; it probably covers the entire front of the shop when it is let down. Further along is the sign of a person who makes boots. An elderly man whose blue hair is almost white sits in front of a very small shop, mending the dented bottom of a pot; odds and ends of metal items can be seen through his window.
You follow the street down toward the ocean, where it ends in a seawall overlooking a rocky spit of land. A perpendicular road runs west along the wall past two other streets and then seems to stop at the open ocean. Heading that way, you walk past two more streets with buildings of similar construction to the ones you have already seen. Past the last row of houses is a set of docks. This is evidently where the undines moor their boats, because the ones you see are either painted some ocean color, or at least have trim painted in blues or greens.
Fergie leads the way to the docks and to the Sea Snake
Lilabeth stops at the food vendor to buy a meat pie. It is past lunch and she is hungry. She smiles at the vendor as she passes her coin and says,"Have a good day" before hurrying to catch up with the others. Her eyes are on the lookout for any aggressive behavior. She will politely nod to any undine she manages to make eye contact with. She keeps her face neutral with a slight smile on her face as she follows Fergie.
At the docks, Lilabeth eyes the ships berthed there to see if any are in need of repair. If the plan to help Karsh fails, maybe someone could use some help repairing their ship as a way of gaining any more information. Of course, they may have all the information they need, she is not sure.
There are half a dozen boats at the docks, but room for at least that many more. You suspect these are the early morning fishermen, already back from a day's work. At least two are still off-loading their day's catch. Evidently it's the season here for yellowfin tuna, because that is what they both have. In addition, one (the Blue Queen) has caught a large sea turtle - a valuable catch. Other ships are cleaning their decks or mending nets. You notice that only about half the crewmembers are undines. The others are mostly humans, with a couple sea elves.
Lilabeth can see that all the ships here could stand some repair to one degree or another. On each ship her trained eye can pick out some things that really ought to be fixed before they become serious issues. Only two have things that need attention soon and they are not structural issues but safety concerns, such as a rail with rot up near the front, where it's not used as often.
The Sea Snake is the fourth boat down the dock, just past the Blue Queen. One undine and one human (both men) are sitting on the dock mending some rather tattered nets. Karsh is striding back and forth on the boat, apparently berating someone down in the hold alternately with haranguing the menders, all in a language you don't understand.
(Well, Eldon understands it because Karsh is speaking Undine.)
Lilabeth says to Fergie, "There are several ships that need repair, some are safety issues and should be taken care of soon. If we need to garner some goodwill, I can offer to help with some repairs."
Lilabeth looks over the ships and makes a mental priority repair list as well as judging how much said repairs would cost. She assumes that cost plays a large factor in the repairs not being done and not neglect. She is confident that she could do the repairs if materials could be bought by the owner.
Do it, we may need multiple approaches. Do you need gold to make repairs? Or need me to cast unlimited mending spells?
"I don't know yet if I will need gold to make the repairs. It may look suspicious if I offer to pay for the repairs right off. I will go check this ship over here and see if they would appreciate any help."
Lilabeth points to the ship with the most serious safety issue. With a nod to Fergie she heads off towards that ship.
Fergie walks up to the Sea Snake and observes all rules of etiquette and waits for Karsh to notice him
Lilabeth points to the ship with the most serious safety issue. With a nod to Fergie she heads off towards that ship.
The ship you identified is the Silver Shark. Its captain seems to be an undine, but the crew looks to be about 1/3 human. The spars holding up the front railing are rotten along the bottom. From aboard the ship, the railing would look fine (except to a close inspection) but if anyone leans on it or tries to tie something to it, the spars underneath will come right off and the railing will topple. (Or crumble, depending on the action undertaken.)
The man you have tentatively identified as the captain (largely based on his dress, which is a little fancier than the others on board) is near the tiller, discussing something with another person. Other sailors of both genders are coming and going, but not as many as the usual crew of a ship that size.
Fergie walks up to the Sea Snake and observes all rules of etiquette and waits for Karsh to notice him
After a few seconds, Karsh turns away from the hold and sees Fergie standing by his ship. In the same tone of voice he is using to address his own crew, he hollers, "Whadda you want? We're kinda busy here."
The net menders take just a quick look and then appear to get their attention back to the net, but Fergie can see them giving him sideways glances when they think Karsh won't notice. Behind Karsh, another undine (probably also male, though it's hard to tell) pokes his head up from the trap door to the hold, curious about who else Karsh could be yelling at now.
Fergie says I just came to offer my help. You had mentioned you were short handed. I have mending magic and a strong back and I'm here to help
Fergie smiles
(I rolled a 20 for my diplomacy check)
"Izzat right? Probably years of experience on one of those big ships, eh? Well, join right in; I don't care. If you want to smell like fish, that's your business. You can't do worse than those cretins."With those words, Karsh stalks down the gangplank and stomps away down the dock.
The two net-menders wait until he is out of sight, then the seated undine looks at Gray Fergie. "He might not care much whether you mean to help mend the nets, but we'd be happy to have you. I'm Drassk, and this is Tobrun. Pick a corner and start in. Hope you have your own tools!"
I'm Rory Ferguson, but I'm known as Grey Fergie. Well met. Fergie picks a net that hasn't had the mending process started and then casts mending
b]These nets have seen better days, is the coral that bad around here?[/b]
(Rory is going to use the nets to stir the conversation towards things that get caught in them that tear them up a bit and then use that to get them to open up about bits of odds and ends they have found. Do you want me to roll diplomacy or some other skill like bluff?)
Lilabeth walks up to the Silver Shark.
Ahoy! Permission to come aboard?
Lilabeth takes a closer look at the spars to determine the exact state of damage while she waits for the captain to acknowledge her. She also contemplates the best way to bring up the damaged spars. Diplomacy is not her strong suit, intimidation is.
These nets have seen better days, is the coral that bad around here?
"Oh, aye," Tobrun says. "There's a long bed of coral from here to the river mouth halfway up the west side of the island. We generally try to stay away from the coral, but this time the captain followed the fish right into the clam beds. We pulled some in, but a goodly few wriggled right out the holes the coral tore in the net."
"And then the captain tore into us!" continues Drassk, "as though it were our fault that the tuna headed for the shallows. He should know not to follow them in, not even for a big haul."
Lilabeth walks up to the Silver Shark.
Ahoy! Permission to come aboard?
A sailor looks up from where he is coiling a rope and shouts, "Ahoy, Cap'n, thar's a lady here ta see ya!"
The captain turns with a pleased look on his face, which turns to confusion as he sees Lilabeth, but he starts toward the gangplank anyway.
"So there is, so there is. Be right with you."
The undine is fairly good looking; his skin is almost the color of the aqua fabric Lilabeth admired, while his hair is deep green and flows around his shoulders. He is dressed in a tight-fitting gray shirt with no sleeves, black leather pants, and a wide brown belt which holds a dagger and cutlass as well as a crossbow at the back. Around his neck he wears a snug silver torc with an oval piece of mother-of-pearl inset. As he gets closer, Lilabeth can see his eyes are bright blue, but his right eyebrow is pulled down at the corner by a scar.
"Captain Aessek Whorl. What can I do for ye, mistress?"
Lilabeth takes a closer look at the spars to determine the exact state of damage while she waits for the captain to acknowledge her. She also contemplates the best way to bring up the damaged spars. Diplomacy is not her strong suit, intimidation is.
Lilabeth takes a brief moment to appreciate the captain's good looks.
"Good day, Captain. Actually, there is something I might be able to do for you. I'm Lilabeth Danwin. My ship is in port for a while and I'm at a loss for things to do. My shipmate is over there helping out with mending some nets. Nets are not my strong suit. Fixing boats is. I happened to notice that your spars have seen better days. I could lend a hand and help get those fixed for you. It would give me something to do when I'm not running training exercises on my ship." Lilabeth says in her best attempt to be diplomatic.
"Here is the damage to the spars. It wouldn't take much to get that fixed right up before someone gets hurt."
Rory can cast mending 4 times and can mend 7 lbs in one casting.
Rory will steer the conversation to unusual finds that have happened.
He will generally talk less and listen more but will interject true strange finds he has made to keep the conversation, he is hoping to find more info on what the divers found etc and try to locate a place to start looking for treasure.
Diplomacy roll 23
Rory replies to Tobrun That is unusual to be sure, maybe he was looking to drag some clams too. Has fishing been off? Maybe that's why he chased them, or he saw a mermaid
Rory laughs lightly and gets far away look as he remembers a past encounter of his own with a mermaid.
Can't think of any other reason he'd go so far astray can you? Although I heard tell of a clam bed once that people had good luck finding unusual items but it wasn't so near a reef. Oh and before I forget, when we are done first two rounds are on me
Rory can cast mending 4 times and can mend 7 lbs in one casting.
After casting the first mending spell, Rory realizes that he could probably magically repair all the nets in less than a minute. However, that wouldn't get him much conversation so he does smaller bits by hand and then judiciously uses his spells on some of the really tiresome repairs.
That is unusual to be sure, maybe he was looking to drag some clams too. Has fishing been off? Maybe that's why he chased them, or he saw a mermaid.
"Naw, wasn't a mermaid," Drassk replies. "There's one group as lives east of here, and the others up north of the river. They don't come around the clam beds much."
"Fishing's been a bit off but not too bad," Tobrun adds. "This time of year there's some big runs, though, and we need those to make it. Capn's also a cranky one who doesn't want others to outdo him. Yesterday two boats went out farther and came back with big catches, so he had to have one today, whatever it took. 'Cept it didn't quite work out, did it?"
Can't think of any other reason he'd go so far astray can you? Although I heard tell of a clam bed once that people had good luck finding unusual items but it wasn't so near a reef. Oh and before I forget, when we are done first two rounds are on me
"Clam divers have found a few coins in the beds, enough that most divers have a lucky copper or two they carry with 'em on dives. Nothing else unusual that I've heard of, though," Drassk says. "Divers mostly stay in the small beds, though, and don't go to the north part of the reef. Clams get bigger as you go north, they say, but the Master of Gales claims some of that area as his own so folks generally give it a wide berth."
"If yer buying, I'll be happy to be drinking!" Tobrun says. "Sitting here in the sun is thirsty work."
"Good day, Captain. Actually, there is something I might be able to do for you. I'm Lilabeth Danwin. My ship is in port for a while and I'm at a loss for things to do. My shipmate is over there helping out with mending some nets. Nets are not my strong suit. Fixing boats is. I happened to notice that your spars have seen better days. I could lend a hand and help get those fixed for you. It would give me something to do when I'm not running training exercises on my ship." Lilabeth says in her best attempt to be diplomatic.
Captain Whorl looks skeptical that some strange woman would just walk up and offer to fix his boat, but doesn't immediately reject the offer.
"Here is the damage to the spars. It wouldn't take much to get that fixed right up before someone gets hurt."
Whorl steps over and takes a look where Lilabeth indicates. From the expression on his face, he was unaware of the condition of the spars. He grabs a spar with one of his big hands to test its stability, and the thing breaks right off in his grip. He looks chagrined and frustrated, but not angry at Lilabeth.
"Looks like you're right, mistress; the spars do need some work. I'm ashamed that they've gotten so neglected. My brother is our usual carpenter but he and two other crew were injured two months back. We've been shorthanded since then, and evidently no one else inspected the woodwork. What would you charge to fix them, and whatever else around here needs work?"
Rory will relax and just enjoy some camaraderie with the crew as he now feels like he has a good starting place to look for the coins.
He will try to get a bit more info about the large clam beds and how extensive they are.
He will take a small break to ask Lilabeth if she needs me to cast a mending or two
As we finish the nets Fergie says
Where should we go get those drinks I promised you guys?
Drassk and Tobrun look at each other, and Rory can almost see the calculation going on behind their eyes; he'd better resolve himself to being stuck with a bigger bar tab than he had perhaps expected.
"The Singing Siren is a good place to go this time of day," Tobrun suggests. "It's cool inside."
The sun has actually been showing off and on for over an hour now, and compared to the island's usual clouded condition, it is starting to get rather warm. A shady spot to be for a while would be good.
"The Siren's right up in the town," Drassk adds. "They have good ale, and also beer." He looks at Tobrun. "We'd better wash up a little first, though."
Tobrun mumbles his agreement. The two of them bundle the nets and get them back onto the ship, then strip off their shirts and proceed to wash to the waist in the seawater handy. Rory notes that Tobrun is a little pudgy, but Drassk has some impressive muscles under his tight-fitting shirt. The sailors carry their shirts as they head toward the street into town. They pass the one Rory and the others used to get to the dock, taking the next one instead.
"Let's just go around this way," says Drassk.
His reason becomes apparent when halfway up the road he excuses himself and ducks into what appears to be a boarding house, coming back a minute later wearing a clean shirt and with his hair slicked down. Meanwhile, Tobrun hurries on to another house three doors up and comes back with a clean shirt of his own. The Singing Siren must be quite a place!
"I can see how they can get neglected. Wouldn't take long for me to fix if you'd like. My friend over there," she indicates Fergie with a point of her thumb, "seems to have found something to do for the day. My own ship is in fine repair at the moment and I have nothing to do for a bit. You get the materials and I will take care of this for you. For a small fee, of course."
Captain Whorl offers, "We should have materials on board for that sort of thing. I'll have my quartermaster, Parrot John, dig 'em up for you. Do you need tools also? He should have a few in stores."
He goes on, "I'll ask him if he knows of any other repairs that need doing. He sort of considers the ship to be his, rather than mine, so he'd probably know. Then I'll tell Parrot John to pay you two silvers when you're done. Sound fair?"
I use prestidigitation to clean and shine us up further
"Is this a really nice place? Are the barmaids exquisite you guys got all spit and shine
"Yeah, 2 silvers sounds fair to me. While Parrot John gets the materials, I will go get my tools. No offense, but I like the feel of my own tools in my hand." Lilabeth holds out her hand to shake on the deal before she heads back to the ship to fetch her tools.
Lilabeth heads back to the ship to grab her tools. While there, she checks in with Pierce to let him know what she is doing and what Fergie is doing.
"I should be back around dinner time. The repairs there shouldn't take too long unless there is something major that I didn't see at first glance. I will try to get the quartermaster to talk if I can," Lilabeth tells Pierce.
Lilabeth heads back to the ship to grab her tools. While there, she checks in with Pierce to let him know what she is doing and what Fergie is doing.
Pierce evidently spent the rainy part of the day in his cabin, reading through more of the papers from that chest with all the suggestions of treasures.
"I thought I recalled another piece of information that mentions Drenchport, and I found it: some fellow had someone make him enchanted armor that he could use to move and breathe underwater. That would be useful to have! I thought since we were on this gods-forsaken wet island anyway, we could at least look into it. If you're chatting with people, ask about any mermaids in the area; the man with the armor was supposedly in love with one, but I don't know how long ago that was, " Pierce says.
"I've also been talking to other captains in port, to try to get more information on the Blue Buzzard and Pharasma's Price. We'll have to all get together this evening and combine information." He gets up and gives Lilabeth a tight hug. "I'm sorry my company is so dull, and my ship in such good condition, that you have to go looking elsewhere for something to keep you busy! Hopefully the locals will appreciate your talents - at carpentry, that is!"
He gives Lilabeth a quick kiss, and then lets her go her way, agreeing to meet for supper.
I use prestidigitation to clean and shine us up further
"Is this a really nice place? Are the barmaids exquisite you guys got all spit and shine
The sailors are impressed with your ability to seemingly flick away dirt and fish scales from your clothing (and theirs) with barely a brush of your fingers.
"The barmaids at the Singing Siren are good-looking," Drassk starts out, "And this time of day they'll even still be pretty clean. The best part about the place, though, is the hostess. She calls herself Tigerlily, and she's beautiful."
"A tigerlily is a kind of flower," Tobrun interposes. "I've never seen one, but they must be very beautiful."
"Tigerlily has fiery red hair, and wears the most beautiful dresses I've ever seen. Later in the evening, she sings, and they say her voice is beautiful too, though I've never been able to hear her, myself. If you go in the afternoon, sometimes she has time to just talk," Drassk says, then quickens his pace up the hill toward the center of town.
The Singing Siren has a sign over the door featuring a red-headed mermaid, seated on a rock and singing. The outside is weather-beaten (as is everything else in this town), but inside the wood is polished and the floor swept. A flame-haired woman in a dress the color of red wine is seated at a table near the door, talking to a green-haired undine barmaid in an off-white blouse and brown skirt. Only three other tables are occupied, and another barmaid seems to have those covered. The woman rises and walks toward the door. Her dress is snug to her figure (her excellent figure) down to her thighs, then flares out. She is about 5'10", a little taller than Tobrun and just shorter than Drassk. The hostess puts out her hand in welcome.
"Welcome, gentlemen. Drassk, isn't it? Good to see you; it's been too long. And I believe I remember your shipmate." She pauses for a moment, looking at him intently. "You're Tobrun, am I right? Originally from Drenchport? I am right, aren't I?" The hostess laughs, and even that is musical. "I can't say I never forget a sailor, but I try not to let it happen." The two sailors are flattered into stammering. Drassk manages to bow over the lady's hand, but Tobrun is practically immobilized. She shakes his hand and smiles at him, then turns to Gray Fergie.
"I know I would remember if I had met you. Don't expect me to believe that you have suddenly joined the crew of the Sea Snake! Let me think." The beautiful woman circles around Fergie, looking him up and down appraisingly. "I haven't heard that the Seaskull or Luck's Lady have new officers of your caliber. You're not a new captain, or you wouldn't be consorting with these old tars! On the other hand, I have heard that the Salty Flagon is back in Drowning Rock after all these years. So, are you with the Salty Flagon? Is Pierce Jerrell still the captain? Please give him my fond regards." The flame-haired lady holds out her hand to Gray Fergie and smiles. "I'm Tigerlily, and I'm very pleased to make your acquaintance."
When Lilabeth returns to the Silver Shark, there is a pile of materials on the deck near the front of the ship, being supervised by a man who must be Parrot John. He is an undine with pale blue skin and bright green hair, which is cut rather short and slicked stiffly to the back so it sticks out a few inches past the back of his head. The man is just a little taller than Lilabeth but broad-chested, which is emphasized by his bright red vest with no shirt under it. The final touch that probably gave the man his nickname is his prominent, bony nose. His eyes don't even flick in her direction but he looks off into the distance, as if he were giving her his proud profile to view. It is only when she calls for permission to come aboard that he seems to notice she is present.
"Greetings, mistress; come aboard! I be Parrot John. Cap'n Whorl said you was a carpenter who'd be doin' some work on the rails? I have some supplies fer ye here, and can lend a hand with holdin' and so forth, though I be not much of a one with a hammer meself."
"Why are we lollygagging then"
Fergie picks up the pace but then realizes he doesn't know where to go
"Uhh after you fine gentlemen"
oops out of sequence
Fergie kisses Tigerlily's hand tenderly
"Tis true I am no Captain, but that is mainly because of desire not circumstance. I could have captained many a fine boat, but it is Rory Ferguson that has the pleasure of meeting you."
He decides not to comment on Pierce, and to see if she knows who he is by his name not nickname
Also Fergie wants to see if his fame and notoriety has reached here
"Mr. Ferguson, of course! The Salty Flagon's first officer for the past... two years, is it? Welcome to Drowning Rock. I hope you can convince your captain to stop in more than once every seven years. Upi meed tp stop by some evening and hear me sing! Come, let me show you and your companions to a table."
Tigerlily leads you all to a table two past where she was sitting with the green-haired barmaid, and signals to the woman to come take your order. The barmaid's skin is pale green and her eyes a startling brown. (That's an unusual color for a race whose tones usually reflect the sea. She likely has a human grandparent or great-grandparent.) She is very pretty, and friendly without being personal. The maid, who gives her name as Marrsa, suggests some specialties of the house, and Drassk and Tobrun both order some drink with a complicated name. After taking Fergie's order, she rings a bell on the bar and an older human man comes from the back room to pour the drinks.
.
.
.
The bartender pours Fergie's whiskey with a slight flourish, then sets up two tall, narrow glasses. The specialty drinks are mixed with three types of alcohol and some sort of flavoring with a green color, then stirred. The two sailors watch avidly as the man finished by sprinkling the drinks with something that looks from your table like cooking herbs. The undine barmaid takes one tall glass in each hand, with the whiskey between her fingers, and brings them to your table.
The whiskey she sets in front of Fergie has a good color and smells like good stuff. The drinks she sets in front of the other two are bright greet, with bits of lavendar-colored petals (or leaves) floating on top, and Fergie catches a whiff of mint. Drassk picks his up, swirls it a little bit, and then takes a cautious sip. Tobrun seems to take his cue from Drassk and does the same. First one, then the other, swallows hard, and coughs.
"Real fine," Drassk says, sounding half-choked. "Just what I expected it to taste like."
"Real fine," Tobrun echoes. The two settle back to imbibe their drinks, slowly, and start to chat with Fergie.
The whiskey is very smooth, and Fergie realizes he will probably be paying a good bit of coin for the quality of the drink. Tigerlily comes by to be sure everyone is enjoying their drinks, but more people are starting to come in so she just has time for a word and a warm smile.
Rory will finish the evening and will treat them to as much as they want and then go back to the ship when the evening winds down
Drassk and Tobrun don't seem to expect Fergie to buy them more than the two drinks he promised. They nurse their second drinks for a while, and are pleased when Tigerlily stops by your table twice more. She smiles most at Fergie, but includes all three in her brief conversations.
Finally Tobrun says, "We'd better go."
Drassk replies, "Yep, almost time for supper." He looks at you and explains, "This place gets even snazzier for supper. We can't afford to eat here, and don't fit in anyway. That's why when we come, we just have a drink in the aftenoon. We're much obliged to you for stsanding us to some fine drinks."
"Anytime you want to come around and help mend nets, you'd be welcome." Tobrun says, smiling because he knows that's unlikely. "You know where to find us!"
Fergie, says I would like you two to be my guests for dinner
He then proceeds to use the prestidigitation cantrip to improve our clothing dying them etc so we will fit in.
After dinner Fergie will return to the ship
Fergie, says I would like you two to be my guests for dinner
The two sailors are effusive in their thanks, adding that it's not at all necessary, though after that statement, they don't try to talk Fergie out of it. They do worry a bit about their clothes until Fergie elbows Tobrun to come outside with him.
Tobrun is dumbstruck at the changes Fergie makes to his outfit. Fergie sends him in to trade places with Drassk, and modifies his own clothing while he is waiting. When he is finished, the three sailors are attired in good blue breeches, instead of gray-ish canvas pants, and shirts of various colors to flatter their respective complexions. Marrsa does a double-take the next time she comes to the table, but Tigerlily has gotten too busy to notice.
The lights were turned lower while Fergie was working his magic; the evening atmosphere is more intimate, and a bard on a small platform at the side of the room strums his lute softly.
Dinner is good, with a few choices of menu. Drassk and Tobrun order roasted fowl; as sailors, they already get more than enough seafood. Fergie just nods when Marrsa asks if she should make it three. The game bird is served in a tasty wine sauce, with an ingredient Fergie cannot immediately identify. There are cooked vegetables on the side, stewed fruit. and soft white rolls. The sailors look askance at the vegetables, but are not going to pass up their chance so eat every morsel on their plates.
Fergie starts to excuse himself after dinner, but his companions grab his arm before he even gets out of his chair.
"You can't leave now! Tigerlily is going to sing any minute!" Drassk objects.
Tobrun nods to the small platform where the bard sits. "See there? 'Tis almost time."
Indeed, Tigerlily is standing next to the bard, saying a few words to him and sipping from a goblet. The bartender comes to the platform and places a high, padded stool near the center. He turns and claps his hands for attention, then announces, "Ladies and gentlemen, I give you, the Tigerlily." He quickly steps asside, and she steps up to loud applause.
Fergie notices the lights were quietly turned down on the other walls of the room, leaving Tigerlily the focus of all attention. She waves her hand to the crowd, walking back and forth behind the stool a couple times. She finally seats herself on the cushion and kicks the flounce of her skirt back. Fergie is amused to note that it really does look like a mermaid's tail that way. Then the woman begins to sing, and his attention is caught.
Tigerlily sings a ballad he has heard before, about a sailor gone to sea whose ship goes down, realizing he will never make it back to his love. Just describing the story sounded sad, but the song had a lively chorus that kept it from becoming a dirge. At the end the lover herself realizes her sailor is never coming back and vows to turn herself into a fish so she can be with him in the sea. When she throws herself into the water she becomes a mermaid, and then snigs the lively chorus about being in the sea, one more time. By the time the song was done, the flame-haired woman has the entire room singing about being in the sea, including some city people Fergie would have thought would be too stuffy to sing old sea chanties.
After Tigerlily leaves the stage, maids slowly turn up the lights, and barmaids begin circulating to take drink orders. Fergie is thinking he needs to get back to the ship, when he suddenly realized his prestidigitation will last only for an hour. No doubt his companions would feel awkward if their fine feathers turned back to plain canvas in public, so he indicates they should all leave.
On their way out, they pass Tigerlily getting a breath of fresh air at a window looking out onto the rainy street.
"I'm so glad you were able to stay for some singing after all! Good night Drassk, Tobrun." She nods at the men, then gives her hand to Fergie. "Good night, Mr. Ferguson. It would be my pleasure to be your hostess any time." After a brief clasp and a brilliant wmile, she turns away and mingles back into the crowd.
The sailors thank him profusely once more for an excellent evening. then each give him a hearty handclasp and take their own way back toward their lodgings. Fergie makes his way through the rain back to the Salty Flagon.