Raucous laughter fills the cool night air as several merry patrons of a popular tavern exit their building, allowing the noise and light and heat to escape into the otherwise calm air lingering over the fishing town of Jelkala. Inside the tavern, a rundown but successful place that was properly dubbed Kegs'n'Barrels, the bar's regulars enjoy yet another end to yet another long day working in the shops, shipyards, or fields of their hometown. There are a dozen tables, most of them full with tankards of the local brew, and the dice and cards of several different gambling games.
The tavern's owner, one Glunmar Doldrik, is a stout dwarf with a gruff voice but friendly words. His laughs are especially louder than those around him, but he of course started his day of drinking in the early afternoon, as usual. His nightly antics have gained him a loyal base of customers: they all love the bar, but their love for the friendly alcoholic owner is far more substantial and visible. He wanders from table to table, adding a slurred comment to nearly every conversation he encounters.
Thus far, the day and evening have been of little significance, but the night is still young.
Dren is a rather unatractive hulk of a man standing well over 6 foot tall with a distinct rolling gait that easily marks him as a sailor. He sports a neatly trimmed goatee beard and shaves his scalp daily as well as 3 hooped earings in his left ear of iron, copper, and silver.Dren likes to wear simple homespun shirts, leather trousers, and sturdy boots that reach to his mid calf, accented with a sash of green silk for a belt he always carries a dagger and a sap on his belt with a backup in his boots and always wears a cestus on his sword hand.
The huge man enters from the storeroom with a barrel of Ale held on each shoulder large enough that most folks would have trouble with one. He nods pleasantly to anyone that greets him but speaks little as he delivers his cargo behind the bar, smiles, and comments to the barstaff "Well that should keep us going for a couple more hours, well maybe an hour at the rate the boss is drinking it." He then weaves his way through the crowd towards the door moving with a grace that ill-suits a man of his size but shows his elven blood better than his shaprly pointed ears could ever do.
"..and that is how the dog officially became my Uncle, Lord Scamps." The table erupts in laughter. The listeners drain their mugs and signal Kassara for refills. They beg for another tale, but Talison can see that Kassara has a full house tonight. He excuses himself and steps toward the bar to help keep the ale flowing. His tall blond head seeing over the crowd. He parts the crowd with a boisterous voice his mug leading the way, his rapier on his hip carefully navigates in his wake.
At the bar, Mr. Doldrik is slurring a story at a young woman. Talison tips his wide brimmed hat, gives her a wink, and rolls his eyes toward the drunken dwarf. "Mr. Doldrik, let me top off your mug." Talison mixes some water into the brew with a pinch of ground hops to hide his deed. Cayden Cailean frowns on habitual drunks, so Talison does what he can to soften the dwarf's abuse.
Kassara approaches the bar in a swirl of hair, skirts, and smiles. Talison hops up and over the bar in a rush, so as to be ready for her requests. He then turns nonchalantly to her, resting his square jaw in his palms, elbows upon the bar, and flashes her his best smile, "Doldrik can not be paying you enough. How can someone so pretty be so busy." He then taps the new keg Drendek dropped off and sets to refilling the empty mugs she brought up with her, making sure his gets filled along with the others.
Kassara, smiles openly at Talison's comment, bringing her momentarily to the present and replies with a light, lilting voice Ohh, i'm sure he'd give you a job if you asked for one. You'd look great in a skirt and i'm sure you'd get some mighty fine tips from the customers." as she indicates a rough-looking heavily scarred sailor sitting at the bar.
With that the short, dark haired girl spins away elegantly balancing four large tankards of ale on her small tray as she winds her way through the bustling crowd. Kassara has only been working at The barrels for a couple of weeks, but already she has become a favourite with the regulars who appreciate her friendly, if somewhat distant, unfocused nature. Perched on a high shelf next to the bar her blackish-grey falcon, Aitos lets loose a small, high pitched whistle as Glunmar passes with a plate of food, picking off a small tid-bit which he feeds to the imperial bird.
The doors to the tavern swing open, kicked by a pointed, leather-clad foot - this was soon followed by a handsome half-elf, with blond hair down to his shoulders, and a persistent smirk on his features. "Ahoy my friends! The Hungry Lion has had its belly filled with my bewitching melodies, but let us see if these "Kegs" and "Bottles" can hold them as well!" No doubt familiar with Vorian's dramatic antics, several of the tavern's regulars chuckle. Vorian had a habit of talking too much and too loudly in places such as these, but nobody could complain when he used that motormouth to sing.
Vorian's whip swung at his hip as he walked through the busy crowd with a confident stride, exchanging quick hellos with anybody who had happened to have migrated here from the Hungry Lion, and anybody else who seemed to enjoy a good drink. "Ah, Talison! I don't suppose you have any empty pints lying around here? If I try to sing with my throat as dry as it is now, I fear I'd be stoned! That is, assuming these people could hit me, as drunk as they are..."
Talison laughs at the sight of the bard. "I got something special for you today." He mixes a stout with some honey and lemon. "Here Kassara, see that Vorian gets this. It should be good for his throat.."
"That's nice. Uh-huh. This conversation is starting to lose momentum, so I'm going to see if I can find something more interesting to talk about somewhere else in here." With that, the only gnome in the place hops down from a too-large chair at one table and begins to make her way between the tables and patrons of the tavern. Clearly the folks here have gotten to know Pai, as she leaves to bemused laughter rather than angry looks.
Despite her short stature, Pai is hard to miss - as she weaves through the crowd, one catches an occasional flash of wild neon blue hair and the patchwork of eye-catching (or perhaps eye-assaulting) colors and fabrics of her robe. Her features are perhaps softer than the typical gnome; between this and her near-constant look of intense curiosity, the slow-witted could be forgiven for mistaking her for a 5 year old at first glance.
She pauses as she passes by the half-elf who is on his way out, and calls up to him above the din. "Hey, Dendrek, looking good!" She points to his green silk sash, a wide smile on her face. "I still think it's a little unimaginitive, but you're the paying customer."
Drendek will chuckle and say " There was a time in my life where clean would have been a suprise let alone colorful Ms Twistletrinket. Besides few of us would look as good bedecked in such a rainbow of colors."
Reaching the door Dren will stick his head outside to check the comming weather look around the street and get a breath of fresh air.
Sniffing the air and eyeing the clouds, you hesitantly predict a rather calm night. The clouds are high and peaceful, and there are no hints of storm or even rain. Tomorrow might be a beautiful day.
A group of people catch your eye, trudging in the darkness up the hill toward the tavern. You can make out four of them, only one carrying a torch, but they are still too far away to judge whether or not you know them. In the flickering torchlight, however, you spot the flash of a well-polished rapier hanging from one of their belts.
On the assumption that the locals don't usually come to the tavern armed in such a manner Dren will call Kassara over warning her quietly "Kassara, there are some armed folks heading this way, it may be nothing but best be prepared for trouble."He will then move over to near the door where his room is nd watch the tavern from there.
Indeed, to spot a Jelkalan local armed with more than a long fishing knife or wooden cane is at least a little odd. A minute or two passes, and the tavern's doors swing open. In step four rough-looking men, one after another, each of them wearing thick cloaks to protect against heavy winds.
Each of them have a rapier hanging from their hip, and one of them sports a light crossbow and leather satchel of bolts on the other, though they seem to mean no harm as they seat themselves at one of the few empty tables and signal to Kassara, the only barmaid visible, to come to their table.
Kassara momentarily seems slilghtly confused at the large man's comment before she focuses on him. "Trouble? Surely not, they're probably just travellers, come for a pot of ale. You always worry too much you big oaf." pausing, she sighs at his warning. "Well, I suppose if you think its necessary? Turning, she heads to the bar where she slips a dagger from beneath the counter, tucking it into her belt. Before returning to her duties, taking the tankard from Talison and wending her way towards Vorian, where she deposites it with a smile.
Perception:
After delivering the drink Kassara moves over towards the newcomers, greeting them with a pleasant smile. "Ahh" she says "new customers, you must be cold? What will you have friends? Food? Ale? or perhaps a wine from our cellar? Its not often that we get folks such as you here. What brings you to town?"
Vorian smiles broadly as Kassara serves him the beverage Talison had subtly recommended. The smell alone was quite appealing. "Thank you, my lady," he says to her, before lifting the tankard before himself, "Here's to us all!" Bringing the tankard to his lips, Vorian began to take a swig of the fine stout. As he drunk deeply, from the corner of his eye he saw a group of rugged men enter, carrying a variety of armaments.
Perception Check:
Asides from them being armed, Vorian didn't notice anything out of the ordinary. "And to our new friends as well!" he called out, thrusting the tankard towards the four men, before taking another drink of stout. He turned to Talison, speaking aside, "I must say, this tastes quite good! Is this something new, or have I just been drinking too much rainwater?"
Moving slowly across to the sailor's table, Dren will wait until they have answered Kassara's questions before speaking to them. "The hardware should be unnecessary here mates, still yer welcome to the Keg. The boss should be over soon as he likes to share a drink with newcomers." Dren will smile at this point and continue "I assume yer new in port what vessel do you serve on?"
The drink orders caught up, Talison works his way back into the crowd. As a quiet aside to Vorian, "If only he would use rainwater in his brews..instead of...well, never mind." Talison holds his worried look long enough to see Vorian's shocked expression as he pondered what he might have just drank. Until Talison cracks a smile and roars into laughter, clapping Vorian on the shoulder. "Drink up! Nothing in there is going to kill you...but then I have developed certain tolerances...." Talison leaves him with a wink and wades back into the crowd.
He settles at a table near the new comers, and shares a quick joke about a bard who was afraid to drink. He calls over to Kassara, "Let me know if they need anything special."
To Vorian's cries of welcome, any mildly-perceptive patron would have noticed a few nods and smiles among the newcomers as they recognized the antics of a talented bard.
When Kassara reaches their table, the men, who have been chatting amongst themselves, shush their conversation and turn to face the pretty barmaid with a table-full of smiles.
"'Ello, there, love." says one of them, a man whose face sports a sizable amount of stubble. "We'll take four o'your local brew, we will, if'n that's no trouble. An' thank'yeh kindly." The man turns from her with a wink, tossing her a gold coin that will pay for the first round of drinks, and then probably a dozen more.
Then, the most clean-shaven man of the group (a human) says to Drendek "We just arrived this evening on the Buccaneer Venture, a humble freelance ship just tryin' to make a living. And, unfortunately, that living has taught us to be prepared more often than not," he says, tapping the hilt of his rapier. This man also carries the crossbow. He reaches extends his hand to the bouncer, "Cap'n Slim, at your service."
Perception:
Pai is about to lose interest and go elsewhere when Drendek called out to the barmaid she had had occasion to chat with once or twice. When the four men enter, she raises an eyebrow inquisitively. As it becomes clear that the attention of patrons and staff alike is focused on the newcomers, she tags after the bouncer in the direction of the sailors, but then climbs into the nearest open seat at an adjacent table, regardless of the other occupants there. With a smiles that suggests she is meeting with good friends she hasn't seen in a fortnight, she asks "Hi, what's new?"
Taking the offered hand Drendek will visably relax and reply. "Drendek, late of the Stormdancer Gozreh rest her and her crew, nice to meet you Captain. What brings you to our quiet little piece of coast if i may ask?"
@Pai:
"Oh, hello thur little Ms. Twistortrinkor, howaryu?" comes the slurred response of the drunk patron you've seated yourself next to. You've noticed how much people have trouble pronouncing your name while inebriated, often with hilarious results.
@Drendek
"The pleasure is mine. As it happens, I've been here a few times before; 'tis a good place. We've gotten a few repair jobs done at the docks down there in the past several seasons, but this time our business is a matter of personal interest." He glances around the tavern, as if searching for a familiar face. Then, turning back to the conversation, he continues, "But, I don't recognize you from my previous visits. You must be relatively new. I see the old Doldrik has actually gotten his hands on a few new sets of helping hands since I've been through here," he adds, in reference to Kassara.
Kassara moves off to get the newcomers' drinks, returning to deposite them at the table a moment later. That done she glances around the inn and, seeing nothing that needs her attention she returns to the bar where she relaxes for a moment, falling into a reviere, her attention seemingly focused on a small crack in the roof.
Indeed, a look of aghast formed on Vorian's face at Talison's words, which held some dark implications regarding his drink. "B-but, it cannot be...!" he said in an unintentionally dramatic tone, absentmindedly taking another sip of the stout. Of course, he should have suspected that he was being fooled with - as Talison dropped the facade, Vorian laughed alongside him. "'Tis a shame, I might have drank it anyway!" With another laugh, he took a deep drink, pondering if he had developed the same tolerances as Talison.
Busy contemplating on what to sing first, Vorian was too distracted to overhear the newcomers' conversation.
Pai giggles, hops down from her chair, pushes it over toward the person at her table, and hops back up. When there is a pause in her neighbor's conversation, she says quietly, "I think the minstrel over there is having difficulty getting started - you should request something. Something bawdy."
Slim's eyes break away from his conversation momentarily, but long enough to catch sight of the gnome with brightly-colored hair at the table nearby. With a quizzical look, he calls out to Pai, "Its been quite some time since I last saw one of your kind in these parts, little one. You must be new around here, as well. What's your story?"
Drawing her attention away from whatever held it Kassara smiles to herself and makes her way through the busy inn towards Vorian. Blinking shyly she begins "Ohh Vorian, You wouldn't sing The Knight and the Sorceress would you? It's such a pretty song, and soo romantic." The men at the nearby table roll their eyes and groan: The song is not at all to their tases and is the same song the young girl requests every night, although she doesn't seem to realise it herself.
Hearing Kassara's request Dren will smile and comment to the sailors " I must know that song nearly as well a Vorian there does by now, we hear it at least once a night. Still its not a bad tune although I fer one prefer his shanties."
Returning to his conversation with the captain Dren will say "I've been here ever since they pulled me from the bay, just after the bad storms last year, and the boss took me in. Kass joined us a few weeks back 'cause while i'm handy at hauling cargo and drunks I'm not much of a looker and don't nearly attract the customers like she can." He finishes the comment with a fond smile in Kasasara's direction secure in the knowledge that while Vorian is singing she'll never see him.
Pai turns around to face the leader of the sailors who had just addressed her. She looks at him through the slats on the back of her chair like a child staring at the table next to her. "Do you mean me?"
She smiles and jumps down from the chair and approaches his table, looking intently at each patron in turn before continuing. "I've come from Gogpodda. Have you heard of it? Most big folk haven't, but maybe you have, given your trade. It's a nice place. Lots of interesting junk." She does a little swirl with her hands while holding the folds of her robe to show off her handiwork. It makes a dozen tiny, incongruous sounds as she does. "But you've got to keep things interesting, right? Can't stay on one single floating morass of flotsam and jetsam your whole life, can you? So I took a ship to this 'mainland' and it was great, saw lots of swell things, but now I'm here, it's nice enough but it's been a few weeks and I'm getting a little antsy to see somewhere new, only nothing quite right has come along yet and I'm not inclined to travel alone, but I'm sure something will come along soon."
She pauses for a breath, takes a tiny step towards Captain Slim, narrows her eyes a bit, and whispers, "That's my story...". A second later, she brings a small hand to her mouth, trying to stifle a laugh.
"The Knight and the Sorceress, eh? A love story if I've ever sang one!" Vorian said with a smile, stroking his chin as he recalled that last dozen or so times he had performed the song. Indeed, several of those times had been by her request. The unsurprising groans from nearby only provoked a laugh of amusement from the charismatic half-elf. "Now, now my friends, we all have our tastes in music. I myself, am a bard of many flavors!
Taking one last sip of his stout, emptying the tankard, he placed it on the nearest table, and propped his foot up on an unoccupied chair. "Now, as per this lovely lady's request, the first performance of the night shall be a love song!" he said, before glancing at Drendek, "The night is still young - there will be time for sailor songs yet!" With that, the half-elven bard began to sing, putting those lungs of his to good work.
@Pai
"Indeed, I have not heard of that place, though you have me very intrigued. If I ever run across such a place, I'll be sure to mention that I once met a local. What name should I call you by, little one? Come, join us for a while, I enjoy eccentric company, and we might be entertaining enough for you as well before too long." Slim gives you a knowing wink, hinting at things yet to come.
@Drendek
Slim turns back to you, and you notice he eyes the weapons you carry in your belst as he puts his tankard up to his mouth. "Do you get much practice with those things, working a job such as this?" he asks after a large swallow.
"Well I've had to use the sap more often than I'd like but thankfully all my bladework has been practice since i got a berth here."Drendek will laugh good naturedly as he continues. "In truth I favor a much bigger sword but the boss feels it's a bit off putting for the staff to carry blades bigger than he is!"
After the brief amusement he'll call over to Vorian, "how about something lively mate!"
The Captain's eyes pass over Vorian for a moment, sizing up the bard. He notes the deadly-looking whip and athletic frame of the young man who sports obvious elven blood, then calls him over to the table as well.
"Come, friend, join us for a drink or two, and good conversation!"
Talison stands up at the neighboring table as he finishes his story, "...And that is how the medusa's pig saved the party with his corkscrew tail." Amidst the laughter he hears the possibilities of several more rounds. "Duty calls my friends."
As he passes the newcomers' table, "Gentleman, I believe I still have some Sargavan Pineapple Rum, can I interest you? Complements of Cayden Cailean."
As Vorian begins to sing Kassara pulls up a chair and once-again loses focus as she concentrates on the love song. The bar quietens down as the music begins, the regulars know that there's no hope of attracting the pretty barmaid's attention whilst this particular song is being performed.
As the final notes fade away, Kassara shakes her head slightly as if coming out of a dream, she shyly smiles at the performer. "Thank you Vorian, you always sing it so well." she says before returning to her duties, ferrying empty tankards to the bar and returning with full ones for the thirsty patrons.
"My pleasure, Kassara," Vorian said with a smile, having brought the romantic melody to a rest, "I'd be happy to sing it for you again anytime." It was difficult to tell if the half-elf was trying to be flirtatious, or if he was just extremely courteous, but either way, he enjoyed the company of people who could appreciate a good song.
Just as he was about to break into one of the bawdy shanties that everybody else in the inn had no doubt been waiting for, one of the newcomers called out to him. Always happy to make a new friend or two (or three or four...), Vorian seated himself with the sailors, nodding to the one who had invited him. "Ah, I've been meaning to talk to you lot; Vorian Ritter, at your service!" he greeted, donning his signature grin, "I offer my vocal talents to others here every night, though now that I think about it, I am not even sure of whether or not I get paid for it..."
Pai shrugs, still smiling, and accepts the captain's offer, plopping into her third over-sized chair in five minutes. She rests her chin on the table and listens quietly to the conversation, a smirk on her face as she turns her head from speaker to speaker as if watching a tennis match.
"Well met, Vorian, sir. As for you," he turns to Talison, "I don't expect you are the real Cayden Cailean, and so with whom do we have the pleasure of speaking? And I'll gladly accept your gift, so long as you sit awhile and enjoy it with us."
The largest sailor at the table, a tanned man with a rough, unmaintained goatee, taps his rapier's hilt and says in a gruff voice, "Cap'n Slim only lets me off ship w'this needle of a sword, as well. He says anythin' bigger is off-puttin' t'the locals, hah! 'Ah always say, though, 'tis more often than not the locals find me off-puttin' anyway, an' then they punch me an' I punch them an' they fall over."
Slim nods solemnly, "Aye, good old Gorian here is our veteran bar fighter. But don't you worry," he says to Drendek, but turns to his group to deliver the next line, "tonight shouldn't be a problem."
"Talison sirs, at your service." He rounds the bar and pulls a ceramic jug from his satchel. He sets the pineapple rum and a set of short glasses on the table. Rasing a filled glass. "This has traveled farther than we have... may all future journeys be equally as sweet."
While tossing back the rum, his foot finds an empty chair and pulls it underneath himself as he begins to sit.
"Ooh, it's a party!, Pai exclaims excitedly as the number of occupants at the table grows and the drinking ensues. She won't partake herself, at least for the moment, but seems captivated by the ritual.
Seeming to have caught a glimpse of something, Pai studies the sailors more intently, but for once, does not say anything. Yet.
All too happy to join the sociable outsiders, Vorian listens in on the conversation. "Gorian and Vorian, eh? One that has had a tad too much drink might not be able to tell the names apart! (Or us, for that matter). Sadly, I cannot say I share your disdain for that 'toothpick'. I have one myself, somewhere around here..." The bard checks his person, realizing that he must have left his rapier at home. "Well, that's a shame..."
Having already used his normal allotment of small talk for the night Drendek wil smile at the captain'ss words but stay quiet and watchfull letting the others do the talking.
"So t'will, friend, so t'will" chuckles Gorian, ruefully wishing the GM had noticed this and changed his name in time to something a little more original .
The sailors joke and laugh with the group of you for some minutes, before finally Slim sets his tankard down and levels with the group. "My friends, I must admit that I am here for a reason, talking with all of you. Before I begin, however, I should like the presence of the dainty barmaid, so that she can hear what I have to say. She might very well play a key role in the events to come." He beckons to Kassara to join her coworker and friends for a few minutes, and when she arrives he begins.
"As I was saying, I came here for a reason. I am looking for some people who can help me solve a problem, and I believe you, as a group, are more than capable of doing so without so much as breaking your daily routines, which is why I have chosen you: you fit in here, this is your element. Let me explain," he takes another swig, and finishes his glass of pineapple rum with a slight smacking of his lips and a smile to Talison. "Late last night, the Buccaneer Venture, our beloved ship, passed Jelkala peacefully. Maybe a mile or two from the coast, we had no intention of stopping here. However, at some point during the night, I was robbed in my sleep by a newer crew member, who escaped overboard in one of our rowboats. At dawn, we turned around in pursuit of the thief. The Andoren coast here is bare, save for Jelkala, for at least 50 miles on either side: Jelkala is our quarry's only safe haven, the only harbor available for someone looking to run. He has to get here eventually, if he's not here already."
"The man's name is Gerald Gnoxhelm, and is easily recognizable by a large dagger scar that runs down his left cheek. He will have a bag in his possession, a bag he stole from me, and it's not heavy but is filled with many things. Among those things is a book, a journal to be exact, and I want it back. I'm not going to ask you to get into a fight on my behalf, but if you can get that bag from our ex-crew member, you can keep whatever else is in the bag, but I need that book." He pauses and looks around the crowded table, waiting for your reactions.
"I see no problem in such an investigation herebouts...but...this is a bit one-sided. This Gnoxhelm has been labeled a thief. If we find that to be the case, I say this story will end nicely. I am though a bit wary of being hired to do another's dark deeds...." Talison reaches over and refills the Captain's glass with rum. "...Meaning no offense."
"Of course, and you are rightfully wary. We'd do it ourselves, but he knows our faces and will be watching for us. We're fairly sure that he's not in town yet, because the rowboat wasn't anywhere in the bay. Being a third party, you are in the perfect condition to approach and determine the man's character for yourself, if you so wish."
"I see no problems with helping to find this thief as long as the boss is happy with it." Looking over at his drunken employer he'll continue with a smile, "and judging by his condition offer him a drink and he should be ready to agree to almost anything."
"What can you tell us about this Gnoxhelm?"
Pai hasn't spoken yet, but she is clearly in an excited - perhaps agitated is a better word - state. As it becomes clear that the others at the table seem to be ready for the task, she begins bobbing up and down on her seat while she stares up at the ceiling, lost in concentration as if going over a mental list.
Turning to Dren, Slim shakes his head and says, "Unfortunately, not much. As I mentioned, he was a newer member of our crew. He kept largely to himself while on board, but was diligent in his duties. I never saw him fight, but he carried two short swords on his belt, and that nasty scar on his face at least tells us a little bit about his past."
"If we find this bloke and the journal, how do we find you again? I take it you are putting to sea again, or there will be little chance of Gnoxhelm coming ashore here."
Vorian stroked his chin as he listened to the conversation, grimacing at the sudden dive in merriment at the table. Nonetheless, Captain Slim's request proved to be quite interesting.
"Find the scarred traitor and reclaim this mysterious tome, eh?" he said, genuinely interested by the thought. The half-elf was a very kind fellow, so the chances were, he was going to follow through with the man's request. However, one detail piqued his curiosity, "If you don't mind me asking my friend, what exactly is written in this book? From the sounds of it, it is more valuable than anything else in that bag of yours. Is it something of enough importance for him to simply take, and throw the rest away?"
Diplomacy Check:
In answer to Talison's question, Slim nods his head and says "A good point, but Gerald should be coming into town on foot. Either way, the rest of the crew is waiting on board the ship, anchored off the coast a ways. We came into town on our second rowboat, the one Gnoxhelm didn't steal, and already have a few rooms set up in the Hungry Lion across town."
"The book..." Slim trails off for a second or two, obviously searching for words. "The book holds a key, or at least I've a gut feeling that it does, and now I suspect a few of my competitors might have the same feeling." With a wave of his hand, he continues, "The finding of the book itself is a long story, not fit for this environment, but what it comes down to is that my men and I have invested a lot of time and effort in that book, and we can't let it just walk away. And in answer to your other question, he won't have thrown the other things away: right now, they would be his only chance for survival."
Pai can't stay silent any longer, and excitedly blurts out, "We'll do it! ...or at least, I want to help." She pauses for a moment, and then continues, glancing at the others. "Does anyone have an idea of where we should start looking? He may have come ashore in either direction up or down the coast, and I don't know the surrounding area to hazard a guess."