Revhi, Marcus, and the others mill about the cabin discussing their duties. You feel that the ship has begun to move and the sound of hurrying feet can be heard.
"Raise the main sail."
Davkas surveys the rooms. He'd had worse.
What patrols? We are on a ship and that is the job of the Nest. I am not opposed to work but barring magical artillery I am not sure what you are implying. We are here to deal with other ships,yes? So when one comes I will set fire to it's sails and freeze it's Captain. I would that we practice tactics and inform the crew of our abilities so they don't get in the way.
The Sealord’s Blessing leaves port with the dawn tide. A fair breeze fills the mainsail and soon land is but a memory lost in the morning mist. First Mate Barton Handerly has the wheel but, with so constant a wind, finds little to do but make sure the morning shift does not slack their duties. A handsome sailor with a friendly smile — though perhaps a little overdressed in his fine burgundy waistcoat — Handerly seems a personable sort. He even takes a moment to instruct some of the younger sailors on how to use the gunwales and rigging to maneuver the ship’s deck until they get their sea legs.
“It’s a fine day for sailing! The wind is good and steady. If this holds we’ll shave a day off our journey easy,” he says with a laugh.
The journey has begun…
Davkas walked the deck with his familiar and talked openly with the bird, who spoke very well, despite an unusual perspective to some (he was a crow after all).
The Wizard was friendly and to those with the time and curiousity to ask about his magic bird the Wizard was happy enough to speak about his magic.
Revhi spends her time up on deck, familiarizing herself with the sailors and enjoying the salt spray. She's friendly and approachable but tough.
While walking the deck you notice that most of the crew are humans or of mixed human blood but there is one person that stands out. The first thing that strikes observers is he is big and blue. His fingers are webbed, and his eyes protruding and fishlike. His skin is lightly scaled and covered in jagged tribal iconography, the ink of the tattoos such a deep blue they appear to run black. He is strong and muscular, and wears little save for tattered pantaloons and a fine sharkskin hide shirt adorned with teeth, spines, and barbs from a dozen different types of sea beasts.
If spoken to he responds that his name is Punawai" He seems to take in interest in Davkas' ink.
Revhi takes some time to examine the curious looking man, then goes over and throws an arm around Davkas. "Do me a favor sweetie, help me go make nice with the fish man over there. I think you two have a connection."
Just after the noon bell the captain emerges from his cabin. He brushes his long faded coat with his dueling gloves. He wears a rapier on his side. Eyes darting around taking in the crew. Despite the fair weather, he wears not even the hint of a smile. “Report, Handerly!” growls the captain.
The first mate replies, “The cruise goes well, sir. We couldn’t pray to
the Sea Lord for better weather. A pity you missed the morning launch. I’ve rarely seen the sea so calm and…”
“Save your poetry for the whores back in port, Handerly!” the Captain snaps. “The Razor is no place to let your guard down, and we’re a long way from home yet.” The first officer only nods. The Captain’s mood seems to soften a bit. “Anyway,” he continues,“you did a fine job getting us out of port. I’ll take the helm for a while, Mister Handerly. You can relieve me in the evening.”
The captain lets out a loud bark to his crew. “Trim the foresail to port, men! Let’s see how much open water we can cover while the wind lasts!” Soon, under the captain’s expert hand, the Blessing splits the waves like an arrow through the wind. A fine salt spray mists over the forward decks, and sailors scamper to and fro to obey the captain’s
bellowed commands.
You have not seen anyone like this before.
His head moves up and down imitating Marcus. "I'm an outcast so I hail from here, there and everywhere a ship will take me....friend." he grins. His corded muscles pull on the line. "I'm Punawai."
With a quick reaction his foot slides a bucket out of another man's way, to prevent an injury. "Watch where you walk or you'll be swimming with the sharks." he comments to the unobservant crewman.
The lookout yells, "FINS CAPTAIN, lots of fins." Sure enough there is a pack of shark fins trailing the ship's wake dining on garbage. Taht is one thing you've noticed over the last couple months is there has been a large increase in shark activity in and around Port Shark, lots of reported shark attacks.
Revhi ticks her tongue in annoyance. "Our vessel is a little large to be targeted by regular sharks."
The sharks aren't doing anything towards the ship except trailing it eating the garbage and churned up fish in the ship's wake.
Davkas is only moderately interested in the sharks following. The fish man on the other hand was very interesting.
Davkas offers a hand to Punawai, not sure if it was the correct greeting for him.
He also eyeballs the man's tattoos to see if there appears to be any implied meaning.
It is beautiful work friend, my own are a mix of storytelling, spells and..
The wizard holds a arm up and Chatterbeak flaps down and lands on it, then is 'Reabsorbed' within his skin, a stylized Raven tattoo once more.
Forgive my wonder, but even as a trained wizard, I am fascinated by the world's many mysteries. I have sailed for 6 years and this is the first time I have seen such as you, I have a little draconic blood. Is your appearance due to race, spell or some other origin?
Davkas interest is almost childlike and without any ill feeling. Wizardry often due the curious, but those who could not restrain their interest often met early ends.
Poulain moves about the ship, lightly inspecting it while often looking back into the water. When the others encounter the fish man, he ponders if he's seen this before.
Although you are not familiar with undine race, you do sense that he is more that sheer brawn and force that there is a minor but innate magic ability that is probably related to the water.
You recognize that he has a few Tulita tattoos, and you know they are the persecuted natives to the Razor Coast.
Punawai nods at everyone's attention, he seems a bit uncomfortable, and he is socially clumsy "You no want to fight? Most want to fight." He glaces a the sharks following the ship, and comments offhandedly that "Shark attacks increase over last three moon cycles."
While the Captain adjusts his course and orders the sails trimmed. Gloomy Gus comes on over carrying two coils of rope and sure enough he is wearing his favorite color: green. He glances up and sniffs the air, "Smells like storm's brewin', there's always a storm brewin'" Even though there is barely a cloud in the sky. "So, you're the sellswords...guud guud, so when do you think we'll 'ave trouble?"
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Suddenly jolted awake by a sudden squawking of a seagull, that apparently decided the barrel she was resting against was a good place from which to annoy the crew, the diminutive woman sits up and stretches. Looking up at the sky, she realizes that it must be midday or a little past. As she looks at the sky, Dinetta suddenly realizes that she has not been outside a noon in quite some time, her working days being inside the dusty confines of the library, except she never allowed her library to collect dust, and, the few days off being spent sleeping off a night of requisitioning interesting trinkets from visiting merchants.
After taking a few moments to gather her bearings and realize that the ship has gone out to sea and that land is no longer in sight, the small woman makes to stand up, only to feel her stomach lurch as she realizes that perhaps being on a boat is not all it is cracked up to be. After a few minutes to gather herself, and make sure that her last meal remains where it is supposed to be, she grips the barrel she had been sleeping against and heads toward the deck.
The looks she receives from several of the sailors are less than friendly, apparently they had not seen her arrival some hours before sunup. Skipping aside to avoid getting caught in intentionally dropped rope or other deck paraphernalia, Dinetta makes her way back to the Captain. Seeing the ostentatiously dressed first mate, she steers toward him.
First Mate Handerly, we must have missed each other when I arrived. The Captain instructed me to find you, but the ship was silent, so I figured I would wait until all the work of leaving port was finished.
With that, she suddenly realizes that she failed to introduce herself. Taking off her hat, she bows. I'm sorry, I forgot to introduce myself. I am Dinetta. The Captain brought me on to . . . um . . . help should my skills be needed. Dinetta pauses in her statement realizing that she does not know how much the first mate, or the rest of the crew know about her purpose for being here.
Diplomacy:
The First Mate chuckles at the sight of Dinetta. "Still a bit green, it'll take a while to gain your sea legs." He looks a the diminutive lady. Wonder why the Captain chose her, she doesn't look like she could handle a boarding hoard. "yes, well let me show you to your cabin, the others are over there talking to Gus and Punawai." he points to the others in the crew. "Do you know them? They came aboard at sunrise.
"Captain has the wheel...his mood seems...er, ok today." With that he will show you to your cabin. "Your not expected to bunk with the others...being that well, they are men and all."
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Upon hearing gloomy gus make his prediction, Marcus begins sniffing the air. Smells like brine to me Gus
When gus asks about potential trouble, Marcus sidles up next to him and nudges him gently in the ribs with his elbow.
I am hoping for no trouble what so ever and at making some easy coin for once
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As the first mate mentions that the others are all men, she squints into the bright noontime sun at the group of four before looking back to the first mate.
You sure about that? The one with the funny hat certainly does not look like a man. Tough and gritty sure. A man, I don't think so unless you have a different definition of "man".
After being led to her cabin, where she drops a few items that she does not want to carry, she heads back up to the deck to meet the others. Walking boldly up to them, the brightly dressed woman coughs politely before offering her hand.
How you all doing? I hear you are some of the others the Captain took on to make sure that his precious cargo gets through. She pauses for a moment. I'm Dinetta. Librarian extraordinaire. You can see the rapier and dagger sheathed at her side, and you can see a glint of mail beneath her colorful (think Hawaiian) blouse, clearly indicating that for a librarian she comes well armed.
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Revhi raises a brow. Hardly useful information. "You think we know when trouble's going to strike? We're hired muscle, not prophets."
As the halfling jumps out and starts talking, Revhi smiles. I remember Miro. Damn useful little fellow. Always good to have a sneak around...long as they're on your side. As she comes back up, Revhi gives a grain and moves to meet her. "It's a pleasure Dinetta. Revhi, priest of Besmara." Her own rapier sits on her hip. "Don't worry about these guys, you can stay with me for some privacy."
Upon hearing gloomy gus make his prediction, Marcus begins sniffing the air. Smells like brine to me Gus
When gus asks about potential trouble, Marcus sidles up next to him and nudges him gently in the ribs with his elbow.
I am hoping for no trouble what so ever and at making some easy coin for once
Gloomy Gus responds, "Pirates, Krakens, and worse loom on the Razor Sea... just my luck a rogue iceberg it'll hit." he flexes his fingers, "Always know where the driftwood is my pappy use to say, never know when you'll need it." he then hooks one of the coils of rope to the mast.
"Oh...yeah, nearly missed that. Damn...she hides it well...guess the two of you can bunk then." the first mate shrugs at the halfling.
Revhi raises a brow. Hardly useful information. "You think we know when trouble's going to strike? We're hired muscle, not prophets."
Gloomy Gus smirks and his enormous red mutton chop sideburns and a mustache rise, "Clearly you're not the divination type." He mutters to the cleric. "You'd think you could've asked for some guidance....guess not."
The crew constantly looks busy and the various members barely spare a glance at the "hired muscle" standing around. Although most of the crew are new this trip they all seem to know how to look busy. The rigging and sails are nearly perfect, and the decks are organized and swabbed.
Three crew members actually come up from below carrying a light midday meal of shark fin stew and crusty bread for the sailors.
Meanwhile the Captain's vigilantly watches the horizon.
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Semi Retcon
Dinetta chuckles at the first mate:
My womanly advice, just don't let her know you made that mistake.
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Dinetta looks up at Gloomy Gus and shakes her head:
You are more likely to get hit with iceberg lettuce. I suppose an iceberg could travel this far south, but by the time it got here, it would be the size of a turtle. Not like the far north where every boat has three or more iceberg scouts with long poles.
Dinetta is trying to remember what else she has read about icebergs that she could use to make Gus more, or less, uneasy.
As Gloomy Gus walks away there is splatter on his left shoulder, as whitish goo drips, and the seagull takes flight from the mainmast. Gus mutters his curse under his breath.
The rest of the day goes by uneventfully.
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Gloomy Gus responds, "Pirates, Krakens, and worse loom on the Razor Sea... just my luck a rogue iceberg it'll hit."
or... maybe a typhoon or a rogue wave Marcus adds to Gloomy Gus' comment.
She extends her hand, first to Marcus and then to Revhi:
Pleased to meet you both. So, any idea where we are going?
Our destination is as much a mystery to us as it is to you. I believe the captain is most concerned about former partners attempting to steal his cargo
"Trouble could 'appen anytime. And more zan zome little bibliothécaire can 'elp with." Poulain turns back to the water and spits.
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Dinetta nods in agreement with Marcus' statement:
So, why to the Captain retain you all? I assume he is not just looking for librarians.
When she sees the seagull deposit its goo upon Gus, the small woman waves her hand at the green garbed man and the bit of goo that fell upon him flips off and over the rail into the water.
He has enough problems, no reason to add insult to injury.
Use Prestidigitation from gloves.
"My job is to keep zose of you with less or no experience in zese places alive."
A sailor hurries from the Captain's side and the quarterdeck. He is red faced, huffing and puffing, when he gets to your group. 'C...C...Captain wants to see you." He waves back towards the quarterdeck. "He wants you all."
Revhi turns from enjoying the salt spray to the red faced sailor. "Sure thing. Thanks sailor."