Stefan watches the byplay between Taissa and Ren and carefully observes Ren's reactions.
To the Captain,
"I too will gladly accompany you on this mission. I truly despise the practice of blood sacrifice of innocents. I don't know how much help I will be with the mundane tasks of sailing the ship, as I have no experience with such, but I am always open to learning new things."
"You can count me in for this... Venture" - Polux states looking at both man and half-elf - "But I am curious, and would ask one further thing - Why is it that you are doing this? Out of the kindness of your heart, and to do the right thing for Beacon and the innocents that are predicted to be sacrificed? If so, why? Because you count yourselves as "the Good Guys" and as such want to do "the right thing", or because doing it equals profit somehow? Maybe you are in for a mix of both?"
He takes another drink - "I am not looking to offend or anything, but whenever possible I like to know exactly what I am getting into - you say bad things are going to happen, and it needs to be stopped. I would like to know what motivates you to be the ones stopping it" - he adds bluntly - "If possible, of course"
Typically you can't aid another with Sense Motive unless the parties are prepared to "share notes" after the incident and compile a better understanding of what they saw.
Now, normally when I make a puzzle/mystery I try to make them a bit more challenging and complicated; so that players can't easily solve them by just rolling dice. However, to get the ball rolling I'm going to assume that you compare notes with Taissa later and are able to figure out the following with your excellent rolls:
Ren's a person who has been looked down upon a lot. He's not used to people approaching him to talk, or to be friendly. When Taissa tried to talk to him first, it made him nervous; he didn't know her, and he's suspicious - kind of like saying: No one would really just come up to me and be nice and sincere - what's her real motivation?
It as if he went his life dealing with so many hardships and abuse that when someone is genuinely nice to him (until he knows them very well and sure of them), he's suspicious of them. No one was nice to him in his youth, so it's a defense mechanism, to be extra careful around people who treat him well. Who knows - they may be running a con, or - if they are sincerely nice - and he becomes friends with them, he will feel worse later if something happens to them.
This closeness for friends would also make you think that he is being overprotective of his friend John. In this case, his hesitance to enlist people - despite what this priest said - likely comes from concern over the fact that (apparently) when John tried to do this earlier that day, he got into a brawl. For all Ren knows, if John attempts to enlist you all, there may end up being more trouble.
Of course, once he knows you all better, he will likely warm up to you fairly well. But that's the gist of why he is acting the way he is.
Taissa was nice to him, and it made him suspicious because strangers aren't typically nice to him, so he wants to know what's up and is trying to read Taissa's "true" intentions, until he knows her better.
John looks over at Stefan with a grin.
”Kick ass,” he says with a pleased tone.
He turns to glance at Pollux.
"You can count me in for this... Venture" - Polux states looking at both man and half-elf - "But I am curious, and would ask one further thing - Why is it that you are doing this? Out of the kindness of your heart, and to do the right thing for Beacon and the innocents that are predicted to be sacrificed? If so, why? Because you count yourselves as "the Good Guys" and as such want to do "the right thing", or because doing it equals profit somehow? Maybe you are in for a mix of both?"
The half-elf’s leans back, and his hand slowly slides across his chest to where the butt of his pistol rests. He fixes Pollux with a keen glance, as if his suspicions are confirmed.
However, John gives him a stern look and shakes his head. He is about to say something to Ren, when Pollux takes another drink and continues to talk.
"I am not looking to offend or anything, but whenever possible I like to know exactly what I am getting into - you say bad things are going to happen, and it needs to be stopped. I would like to know what motivates you to be the ones stopping it" - he adds bluntly - "If possible, of course"
John grins, then looks over at Ren and says something in the same language, the tone sounding far more casual. Ren sighs, his hands moving back from his weapons and nods, then stands up from the table.
”Apologies – it has been a long day. I am pleased to see that you are coming with us; if it is alright with you, Johnny, I’ll settle up with Vick and grab our gear,” he says with nod.
The half-elf's expression is deliberately impassive, as if he is trying to mask what he’s really thinking and heads over to the bar.
John grins easily now.
”Don’t worry about him; he’s wary around knew folk. But once he gets to know you all, we’ll be good mates,” he says with a reassuring smile.
He turns to Pollux and shrugs at the question.
”Here’s the thing – the padre… he’s a bit unusual in a lot of ways – like I said, he sees things… the Second Sight and all…” John says, the last clearly not a joke for him; he genuinely has a great amount of caution or awe around those who possess some manner of legitimate supernatural power.
”He’s one of my crew; but he’s more than that – he’s a friend. This caper’s really about him asking me to do it, so I’m doing what I can to make it happen, because he’s my friend.”
He glances at the rafters for a moment.
”Now, I won’t lie to you on this – sailing in to some evil group and busting their poxing heads open – saving the poor unfortunates there and maybe picking up a bit of a loot from the folk that we stomped on… yeah, that’s kind of appealing to me, too.”
”But I’d not chance it if I didn’t reckon that the padre wanted it done. He helped me and my mates get out of a lot of heat in the past and never asked us to do anything like this for him before. So I figured… well, we owe him one, at the very least. If he needs help, why not give him a hand?”
”As for the bit about predictions? There’s actual lore on such sacrifices happening in the past. Long time back, apparently, so it did happen before. Now I wouldn’t reckon it will happen again, and I don’t even know if it did – hell, none of the texts I saw gave any clue where it would happen, you know? But what I do know is: the padre thinks he knows where it is. He says it’s only a day or so out – but he wanted us to get more lads to do the job.”
”Now; three days of sailing for nothing ain’t a problem for me if it makes him happy. And if he’s right… well, let’s just say that if he’s right and we find what he’s talking about – that’ll make me even more happy.”
He looks at you all with a smile.
”Point is – you all are in, eh? Good! Well then, let’s get to it!”
He stands up from the table and looks at you all.
”Come on, then – we got move fast if we want to deal with this thing. It happens tomorrow and we don’t got much time,” he says.
”You can leave your gear in your rooms for Vick to watch for the next three days – or you can bring it with you now. Your call,” he says glancing at you all.
Ren comes over to the group.
”We’re good, Johnny,” he says to the captain.
”Are they ready to go?” he asks of the group.
Polux nods to John - "As far as I am concerned, that reason is as good as any other, and settles the matter of my curiosity. Thank you for being frontal about it, even though you did not have to"
”We’re good, Johnny,” he says to the captain.
”Are they ready to go?” he asks of the group.
Finishing his drink, picking up his Earthbreaker, and standing up, Polux adds - "I am ready to move out - let us see what the open waters have in store for us" - then turns to his companions - "Are we going?"
Stefan jumps up and claps his hands together.
"Excellent! Off to adventure! While I could bask indefinitely in the beauty of our fine lady companions," He bows, smiling to Taissa and Suny,"I feel like a coiled spring waiting for action. How fortunate that opportunity knocked so soon. I shall be ready shortly."
With that, Stefan makes his way to his room.
Hmm.... well, the good clothes can stay, but I can't be without my chain and ring. Ah, and the cloak is a must have also. Can't sacrifice style after all.....
Suny bounces to her feet enthusiastically, eager and ready to join in the adventure. She quickly works up at getting some others to help move her chest from her rooms and down to the ship.
(^_^)
Hack stands.
I'm ready to cast off when ya are, Cap'n. Let's have us some fun!
Taissa had a quiet word to Daya before leaving the bar-room, climbing the stairs to her room and collecting her pack and lucerne hammer from under the cot. She locked the door behind her and returned to Daya and the others.
"I am ready."
Daya screeched once as if to say the same thing.
John seems very pleased that everyone is ready to go and grins widely.
”Outstanding! Then let’s be off, hey? If we got to get to this point by tomorrow night, we don’t have much time,” he says with a nod.
He quickly ushers you out into the streets and leads you confidently down to the docks.
When you get there you notice little action at this time of night; the air is icy and a chill, damp wind blows from the water.
When you get to the harbor you notice a few guards in the towers above. You’re brought to a small dock where you see a boat tied to the moorings. John invites you all in it, and has four of you grab the oars.
The boat is a standard Longboat, sometimes called a “Jolly Boat”.
As you row out into the harbor you notice two heavy warships moored about half a league out from the shore, and a smaller ship about a quarter of a league.
John tacks course to that ship.
Approaching it you can see that the main deck has two small cannon on each side as well as a small swivel cannon on the foredeck and two aft chasers on the rear deck for a total of seven cannon in all.
The main mast has a Fighting Top on it, and several lanterns are hung – one on the foredeck, one on the aft deck and one amidship.
The ship looks like it has a large hull beneath the main deck, but no decks below that. There is a cabin beneath the bridge, and a smaller room beneath the foredeck.
Rowing alongside John calls out to the crew.
”Ahoy! I got new recruits with us – tell the padre we’ve done the deed on his mission and we’re good to go for casting off,” he calls out eagerly.
You can easily see two people on the main deck moving to toss cables for you to climb up, then ropes are tossed down to haul up the boat. In moments you’re all aboard the ship and the boat is also brought up and lashed down in the port side of the main deck between the two cannon.
(today is considered December 31st, 2013 for finding the moon. Tomorrow night being the 1st of January 2014).
You have a chance to examine the folk who have brought you up.
Both are men and clearly somewhat unusual in that they seem a bit exotic.
One of them is a large giant of a man. He has long fair hair and a light beard and his hair hangs down his back in a long braid. A large round shield is strapped to his back and he carries a large axe at his side. He is dressed in heavy furs and has very fair skin and blue eyes. He seems to be a north man and he folds his heavy arms in front of his chest, examining you all curiously.
The other man is leaner in build, he wears a musket slung over his back and is carrying a strange curved sword stuck into a sash. His features strike you as foreign; you gauge him to be from far away lands; possibly Minkai or Tian Xi. He is younger than the other man, possibly eighteen or nineteen, and he bows to the captain and grins, then studies you all openly and with some interest.
There is movement at the helm, and you see hopping down from the quartedeck a smallish figure; at first glance you assume she is a child, but looking again you see that it is actually a gnome.
She comes bounding up to you all and looks at you with interest.
”Oye, captain – we’re all ship-shape and she’s ready to sail at the word. The padre’s below doing something, but I reckon he’ll be up pretty soon,” she says with a bright voice. You can see she’s garbed warmly from the chill and is carrying a strange looking pistol at her hip and a satchel over her side.
”So them’s the one’s who you got for this mission?” she says watching you all with a curious look.
Up on the rigging a fierce falcon lets out a scree and stares down with imperious eyes at everyone, especially noting Daya.
John looks up to the bird and waves happily at it, then turns to you all.
”Right – so; here’s my crew,” he says expansively.
”That lad there,” he says pointing to the northman ”is Khal Ragnast. He’s a Shoanti lad, but he spent time with the Mammoth Lords of the north and came south looking for action in the seas. He’s a good with an axe and pretty nasty in a fight,” he says with a grin.
”That there,” he says nodding his head to the boy from Minkai ”is Uraga Matsumoto. His ship was blown way off course in a storm and we picked him up near starving from the hulk. He’s a good sailor, loyal as hell and damn fine with a sword, and not a bad shot, too,” he says glancing at the boy with a friendly nod.
He turns to the female gnome who is staring at you with enormous curiosity.
”And this one’s our chief gunner and carpenter – her name’s Ella Twofer; she’s pretty handy with fixing stuff and not a bad sailor, neither,” he says with a friendly voice.
”They said the padre’s below doing business; so you’ll meet with him later – he don’t like having his prayer time interrupted,” John says with a bit of an apology.
”Down below we got plenty of space to stow your gear and set up a hammock. The galley’s not bad, neither. But no time for snacks – we got to sail, right?” he says somewhat rhetorically.
”Oye – Uraga – how is she?”
”Ichi-ban captain-sama; we are ready to sail at once,” Uraga says with a brisk bow and wide grin, studying you all.
”Right, let’s haul anchor then, and get the hell out of here! We got a thing to do,” he says calling out to his mates who quickly rush to the anchor to raise it.
He turns to you all.
”Any of you folk handy with sailing, now’s the time to make yourself useful. Meantime, when you get a moment, feel free to introduce yourself,” he says.
John then dashes up to the quarterdeck and takes the con while Ren swings the lead and calls out the fathoms as the ship begins to jerk to life under their hands.
Ella looks at you all with a wide-eyed expression.
”Well? Come on, then – let’s get to it,” he beams at you.
Taissa makes her way forward with Ren to aid where she can, grabbing a lit lantern and holding it out, watching out for reefs in the bay.
She advises Daya to take to the skies and look from there.
Daya takes to the sky and screeches down to Taissa what she can see as they move out of harbour.
Hack steps aboard and looks over Khal Ragnast.
Aye, another man of the north, I see. Hack's the name.
He quickly makes his way to sail trimming in sailing the vessel.
"Bah! You keep using terms I don't understand, why do different trades find it necessary to invent new names for everything?" Stefan growls in frustration.
Polux rubs his hands, pondering how on earth he had forgotten to buy warmer clothes as Winter starts...
The cold easily permeates his clothes, chilling him to the bone as they board the ship.
As everyone gathers on deck, he offers a nod to all the present - "I am Polux. Well met all" - then he addresses Ella directly - "I know absolutely nothing about sailing, but I will give it a try"
In spite of the cold numbing his hands, the man is good enough at mimicking others, and learning from their actions. Soon enough he is making himself at least useful, all the while trying to stay close to the female gnome - Gunner - he ponders - I like that idea - "Am I doing this at least moderately right?" - he asks her.
Aye, another man of the north, I see. Hack's the name.
The large man smiles as he tugs on the halyards.
”That is good; friend Hack. I am named Khal Ragnast. I hail from the Shundar-Quah,” he says easily.
”Now I serve järl Dodger who commands this ship,” he says grinning as he tugs hard on the ropes.
”He has the hand of the Aesir on him; but he gives homage to Nise to honor his mother,” he says with a chuckle.
”Who is your järl before you came to this?” he asks you with a friendly voice.
Taissa makes her way forward with Ren to aid where she can, grabbing a lit lantern and holding it out, watching out for reefs in the bay.
As Ren swings the lead and pulls it forth marking the fathoms he notices that Taissa has moved to aid him.
He glances at her out of the corner of his eye, but says nothing.
As he watches her work and call out what she sees, he seems to be a bit tense. His face looks like he is undergoing a private mental debate.
After a moment he looks at Taissa and starts to say something, then pauses, then starts again.
”Sorry about the thing at Vicks,” he says after a moment.
”I was, uh… I was a little on edge is all,” he adds.
”Johnny’s a good guy; he’s like a brother to me… He already got himself roughed up a bit earlier today and to be honest, this whole thing seemed pretty crazy to me.”
He shakes his head and frowns.
”He does a lot of crazy things; but he’s got damn good luck and he always seems to pull through easy. But today… he got roughed up in a brawl and I was kind of worried that he’d do something stupid at the tavern and do something like that again. I mean, you got a lot of tough mates backing you, I wanted them to know that Johnny was the boss and not to mess with him just because what he's saying sounds like a bunch of nonsense.”
”I mean hell, I was glad you talked to me… Uh, you know, because not many folks talk to me nice, that’s all,” he says the last quickly, stumbling over his words a bit.
”Anyhow, I was kind of rude to you – I don’t have many people treat me good, you know – on account of me being what I am… well, you know what I mean,” he says, clearly speaking about his racial background.
”The point is – you seem like a square girl and I wasn’t very friendly. I’m sorry about that,” he said dragging the lead from the water and counting the fathoms as he pulls it up from the waves, glancing at you, then back to the water.
He watches the water carefully, studying the waves.
”So, my real name’s Eärendil, but, uh – my mates call me “Ren”… Oh, but you knew that part already,” he says the last awkwardly as if he was having trouble talking to you, being somewhat uncomfortable for some reason.
He sighs, and shakes his head, clearly nervous around you for some reason. Then he takes a deep breath and focuses.
”Anyhow – like I said, I’m sorry about all that. But the point is; well, now we’re sailing together and I hope that while we do we can be… That is... I hope that everything’s alright between us is all,” he says, then glances at you to see what you might think.
Chief Odin from the forrested foothills of the northern mountains. I raided south into Varisia with my shieldbrothers, and I never returned.
"Bah! You keep using terms I don't understand, why do different trades find it necessary to invent new names for everything?" Stefan growls in frustration.
Ella watches Stefan with a little grin as he fumbles with the ropes.
”Oh please, lubber – what? You act like you don’t know the difference between a crossjack and a baggywrinkle,” she says looking up at you.
”By the gods – how’s a man with such a nice trim and a tight little bum get by with naught but basalt for brains,” she says walking past you and giving you a quick smack in the behind as she passes.
”No worries, sugar, I’ll learn you your ropes soon enough, even if I have to keep you up all night to do it,” she says, glancing over her shoulder at you and favoring you with a bawdy little wink.
Chief Odin from the forrested foothills of the northern mountains. I raided south into Varisia with my shieldbrothers, and I never returned.
Khal nods, somewhat impressed.
"Your järl had a name of good omen it seems," he says as he tugs on the rope and reefs the sail a bit tighter.
He glances over at Ella working with Stefan.
"Your friend has an admirer," he says with a chuckle "but she will not be easy on his skills just because she thinks he has good looks."
"But you came south with your shield brothers. What happened for you to leave them? Why are you no longer with this järl Odin and now alone, serving on this ship instead?" he says, curious to know more.
"Or, if you do not wish to speak on such things - then tell a tale on other things."
"Or like the namesake of your former lord, would you rather have knowledge from others than tell tales?" he says watching you.
I became a named man early due to my bloodletting and sendin' men to the mud. I always felt the need to have my name spread among the sagas of the southern lands. I seek to make my way and have everyone know my name here in the south. My shield brothers returned after a season of pillagin', content with their lot, but I have seen such wealth and land in the south. I want a piece o'it fer myself.
he breathes deeply and looks towards the north.
How 'bout you, Khal? Tell the tale of how you came to serve under Dodger.
"Am I doing this at least moderately right?" - he asks her.
Ella turns from Stefan and saunters over to you, almost drawn to your dulcet tones and manful handling of the ropes.
She watches you tug the ropes with a somewhat critical eye, observing how you handle the ropes and move them with almost practiced ease – which may or may not be augmented by your smooth talk and charming personality.
”Hot damn, son! You got a fine way of moving your fingers, I’ll say,” she says watching your skills with an impressed look on her face.
”You ever done this kind of thing before sweet cheeks?” she says watching you carefully.
”If so, I’ll believe it! If not, than colored me im-pressed,” she says with a friendly nod.
”When we get below remind me to give you a little something hot and sweet to keep you warm at night – oh, and I’ll also have some grub for you, too,” she adds with a grin.
Turning her head to the quarterdeck, she calls out –
”Oye, Johnny – this lad’s been working the ropes before; either that or he’s angling for a promotion,” she says with a friendly holler to the captain.
People rarely apologised to her for their harsh words, so Ren's apology was unexpected but nice.
"I'm sorry the Captain was set upon. Did you report it to the law-keeper in Beacon?"
Taissa kept her eyes on surface of the water, trying to see into its dark face in hopes of spotting trouble.
Relaying what Daya could see from above and calling her companion down when it was time, Taissa straightened and pushed back the hood of her cape and then the long tendrils of copper hair around her face. She exposed her ears -- their points, not as sharp as that of an Elf but rounded of tip for Ren to see their mutual heritage.
"There isn't anything wrong with what we are. There is no shame in being half-elf, even if some will say otherwise. I wasn't mocking you or your Captain. I wouldn't do that to anyone. I'm just not good around people."
She heard Daya's screech from above and felt the current from her wings and watched as the Roc settled herself back on deck, shaking out the cold air from her feathers. Taissa smiled at her companion, praising Daya on her keen sight and telling her to go below deck and get warm. Hopefully no one would give Daya trouble below deck. She was certain Daya could handle herself if it came to such.
Covering her ears and head with the hood again to stay the cold, Taissa moved the lantern over, giving Ren some light to aid in his task.
"You have a pretty name. I've never had friends to give me an affectionate name. The Spirits shine kindly on you."
How 'bout you, Khal? Tell the tale of how you came to serve under Dodger.
Khal glances at Hack as he eases the rope a bit to let out some sail as the wind shifts.
”My tale is an easy one, I think,” he says over the sound of the beams creaking.
”In my youth I traveled to the northlands and hunted with those that are called the Mammoth Lords.”
”There I earned much honor; for I killed very well and sent many to Valhalla,” he says with pleasure.
”But always there was the lust for the sea; so I returned to my homeland.”
”There I was told that there were men from the lands called Riddleport. They had killed some of my folk and worse – they had made some of my people slaves.”
”My people took ships to the sea and so faced these men in battle; we killed many, but not enough.”
”They had powerful weapons, and some used poisons on us – they fought like the god of Two Faces – and they killed many of us that day.”
He spits to the leeward.
”My kindred were lost and my ship was sunk. I managed to escape to land. There I found a trail that led to one of their outposts, so I sang my death song and prepared to give my life in battle and die with honor that day,” he adds grimly.
”When I came to their hideout I moved with cunning and with quiet. I surprised many of them, and killed many more,” he adds with pleasure, but his voice was dark.
”Then I saw their chief, I think – he was a witch of some kind, I think. He had power and called forth a demon to fight me; it was grim – and I was surely dead, yet I did not fear death, still I feared that demon,” he adds, his eyes troubled.
”Even so; I moved to fight it. My heart told me that I would die horribly, but then I saw that the man-witch was assailed by new forces and they did not attack the demon but the one who called him. He bled from that assault, but did not die.”
”Perhaps this attack sundered his foul spell, I think; but in any case, the witch's hold on the demon was broken. Then I saw that the demon was free to attack what it wished. But instead it turned on the one who called him to be as slave; for it was angry that it would be so used, I think.”
”The demon killed that man-witch, or else took him to the realms below to torment him for eternity; I know not, but they both vanished in black fire and foul smoke,” he says the last wit a quiet voice, as if the very memory was dark and troubling.
He pulls on the ropes quietly for a moment.
”When I could speak I saw standing there a figure in black and he clutched a staff and he had much power. He said he was a priest and by his power my life had been saved.”
”I told him for this I owed my life and a blood debt; but he told me that Fate had other plans for me, and that my blood debt must fall to his own lord; and he named järl Dodger as his lord.”
He shrugs, shaking the dark part of the memory from his shoulders.
”So now I serve the lord of the priest to honor the debt I owe – I now serve järl Dodger; and I have not turned from that path,” he says, glancing at you.
"I'm sorry the Captain was set upon. Did you report it to the law-keeper in Beacon?"
Ren grunts in frustration.
”Not really. That is to say, it happened on the docks and the guards in the tower saw it, and the harbormaster saw it, too.”
He shakes his head in frustration.
”But there was nothing to be done.”
”The harbormaster said it was naught but a brawl; and although those others sods attacked Johnny first, the harbormaster said it was a wash because Johnny beat the hell out of them in the first place, and in the second place, unless Johnny wanted to take it court, there wasn’t nothing that could be done.”
”I mean, I guess they could have clapped the men in irons; but the law’s pretty clear. If they had done damage to Johnny he could have demanded some form of payment; if he went to a healer and it cost him a bill. But keeping a man locked up for beating on you isn’t quite fair anyhow. It costs the folk money to feed ‘em while they’re in jail, and anyhow, how can they pay you back if they can’t work?”
He sighs.
”Nah, the point is that Johnny beat the crap out of them after they tried to rough him up; like I said, he’s damn lucky sometimes… but who knows? Maybe next time he might not be lucky, you know? Then what would happen?” he shakes his head, clearly frustrated by being picked on for foolish reasons.
"There isn't anything wrong with what we are. There is no shame in being half-elf, even if some will say otherwise. I wasn't mocking you or your Captain. I wouldn't do that to anyone. I'm just not good around people."
He glances at her.
”Yeah… I can see that, now,” he says sincerely.
”I just didn’t know what to think. You maybe couldn’t hear us talking, but Johnny’s getting all worked up about this damn prophecy; he keeps telling me that all the pieces fit and some other crap. Then he’s telling me he wants to go over and try to recruit you all.”
”So I tell him – What, you want to go over and tell a bunch of folk you never met that somehow they’re part of a prophecy that some crazy priest they never met had in a dream and that they’ll have to sail to a place that no one knows where it is – to bust up a ritual that may or not be happening; and the plan is to tell them that whole story and hope that everyone just accepts it as truth?.”
He grunts.
”He told me pretty much that was exactly his plan, and I figured we’d get into it all over again; because either your crew would mock him for such a stupid idea, or they’d treat him like a joke or… hell, I don’t know…” he finishes lamely.
"But then... you didn't, and I ended up looking like an ass," he says shaking his head.
”The thing is – I’m not too good around people, either. I guess I’d rather by fighting or sailing.”
”My mother told me she named me for a sailor; she said when I was born she could tell right away that I’d be destined for the waves.”
”I don’t know – but I know that I’ve been sailing since I was a lad, and I’ve been happy doing it. And when I met Johnny… well, we hit it off pretty good and I’ve been with him ever since,” he says.
"You have a pretty name. I've never had friends to give me an affectionate name. The Spirits shine kindly on you."
He looks a bit sheepish at that.
”Yeah, it’s a nice name,” he says ”but try getting your friend to say it; or worse, try watching them put it to paper,” he says with a nervous laugh.
”It’s like – if a name’s more than three letters or one syllable, somehow they can’t seem to get it right for any money; so I just stick to something simple. It’s easier than listening to them mess it up,” he says with a short laugh.
He glances at Taissa.
”If it was me – I wouldn’t change your name. I think you got the pretty name,” he says sincerely, then his face colors.
”I mean… that is to say… well, it’s a good name is all,’ he adds, then turns back to his work.
Suny skips down to the shore, deftly steps into the waiting long boat and sees to the settling of her trunk, then curls up on her blanket in the prow of the long boat.
She nibly scampers aboard and sees to the helping of getting her chest stowed away amongst the place where the crew's hammocks would swing. Once her gear is settled, she drops her blanket, opens her trunk and begins to don armor.
Stepping back on deck, now wrapped in armor under her blanket, along with a variety of weapons, she walks up to the captain and gives a jaunty salute.
"Able body Suny, reportin' Cap'n!" She declares with her usual bright grin. "I haz experience doin' lots o' things. I'm not gon'a be fussy as ta' where ya put me." She does give a slight smirk, "Though, truth be told, if'n I end up holdin' on'a length a' anchor hawser... me size might mean it be haulin' me an' not t'other way around..." She points out before heading off and doing what ever tasks she's been set.
(^_^)
As Geser works the lines he has some issues lashing the lines securely, though he seems to be fairly unaffected by the cold.
My--my apologies. I vow that I will improve.
Uraga works alongside Geser and watches him try at the sails.
”Hai, you have no training – but you have talent, neh?”
”You learn in time, but you must… you must keep doing to awake your talent,” he says patiently.
As he watches Geser work, he turns to watch Sunny perform.
"I haz experience doin' lots o' things. I'm not gon'a be fussy as ta' where ya put me." She does give a slight smirk, "Though, truth be told, if'n I end up holdin' on'a length a' anchor hawser... me size might mean it be haulin' me an' not t'other way around..."
His head cocks to the side slightly as he examines her, watching her work.
”You water elf – if you fall in, you swim ichi-ban good,” he responds.
”So far you and northman are best sailors of your crew,” he says thoughtfully.
”The captain-sama may pay you both better than others, or not,” he adds, his hand resting easily on his sword hilt.
His eyes look between the two of you for a moment.
”Good with sailing good thing; but soon sailing not as good – soon we test your heart, Wakari masu ka? Soon we see if you are good at killing… and staying alive,” he says, watching you both.
"Khal-san has fought with demon folk before; and the Shisai-san fought demon folk also.”
He takes out of his pouch a thin piece of paper and tobacco pouch and rolls a crude cigarette which he lights on the flickering light of the lantern on the midship.
Exhaling through his nostrils he watches you both.
”Demon folk be very strong; the Shisai-san – he say we go to folk that call on demon folk. He say we stop them from calling on Dark Ones and save good folk.”
He takes another pull on the cigarette.
”It will be hard fight – maybe we live… maybe not,” he says with a neutral expression and he exhales another stream of smoke, then leans his hand on his sword and looks at Sunny thoughtfully.
”But at least you can sail good,” he adds.
The sword on Uraga’s hip is clearly a katana and it’s equally clear he is very comfortable with the blade.
However, something is unusual about his features. While you think he is very likely samurai, when he lifts his hand to his mouth to take a tug on the cigarette you notice that his sleeve falls away from his forearm a bit and you can see very clearly a myriad of extremely detailed tattoos.
Given your backstory, it would not be possible to recognize the actual meaning of these tattoos because the folk from Minkai who have assimilated with your people would have long distanced themselves from such tradition.
But it’s possible that you might have heard rumor of what these tattoos represent through old stories. While you normally aren’t able to use a Knowledge Check untrained; in this case you can make a raw Intelligence check – DC 12. If you succeed, you’ll recall a rumor on where the tattoos may have come from.
While I’m thinking about it; you can also make a Perception Check to notice something else.
Suny smiles and thanks Uraga adding, "Aye, but learnin' ropes an' stuff be jus' somat ye do growin' up where I were." She says, making sure that Uraga isn't actually distracting her from her workings. She giggles,
"If'n I be fallen' in, I es'pect ta' be frozen through in to time a'tall!" She grins to Uraga, "Things be a lot colder here than whut I be used to back home." She continues at her work,
"Here? Be it true tha' water does actually stop?" And she can't hide the awe and wonder in her voice at such a notion. "I mean...rilly..? It's like...that be like sayin' tha' tide don't come in, or somat!" And she shakes her blond mop of hair, obviously having a very hard time even imagining such a thing.
(5 from cold weather gear)
Asan has no experience on a ship other than as a passenger, but he will assist with watching for danger. On this first part of the voyage, he probably talks very little unless directly asked a question. He's "taking it all in".
...and it appears he is too distracted by the new experience to offer too much help.
"Aye, but learnin' ropes an' stuff be jus' somat ye do growin' up where I were."
"If'n I be fallen' in, I es'pect ta' be frozen through in to time a'tall!"
"Things be a lot colder here than whut I be used to back home."
Uraga nods.
"Hai. If you fall, maybe you die of cold; sometime water be cold enough to kill if you fall in."
"Better not to fall in, then," he says thoughtfully.
"Be it true tha' water does actually stop?"
"I mean...rilly..? It's like...that be like sayin' tha' tide don't come in, or somat!"
Uraga takes another drag from his cigarette.
"You say "ice" - that is word," he says watching her.
"It can be hard; ice on lines mean we have to cut it with blades, or maybe ropes break," he says.
"That is good, though. Baka wako from Riddleport don't sail in winter much. Most folk don't."
"Water be bad to sail in."
"But we sail in it - but captain-sama; he have very good luck, so we not die on water, I think."
"But maybe die in battle," he says thoughtfully and studies Sunny for a moment.
"You have good lines," he says, taking another pull on the cigarette, nodding to himself.
"It's good your Captain beat them in fight. They may be less inclined to mock him again."
Taissa grew silent for a few seconds as she moved the lantern and her eyes across the water.
"I have seen strange things in my wanderings. Your Captain's story was no more or less than tales and lore I have heard. I gauged his honesty and he truly believed what he was saying."
Taissa looked up at the waning moon and felt the chill of the air against her face.
"I'm a traveller. Mostly on land. That is where my gifts lie. I have sailed a little. I hope I can be useful on The Seahawk."
She played in her mind the story of why his mother named him Eärendil and how fitting of a name it was. Taissa didn't know what to say when Ren told her he found her name pretty. No one had ever said such a thing before. She had never been close to her human mother.
"I left home when I was 15 summers old. I don't remember much about my mother for she and I were never close. I do not know why she named me Taissa."
And remembering she hadn't thanked him for what he said about her name, Taissa added, "Thank you for saying I have a good name." She gave him a small smile.
"Ren, where do you hale from? How old are you?" Taissa's curisoirty got the better of her and she asked him without thinking it might seem rude or forward, especially since they were strangers still.
[dice=Fort Save]1d20+8(5 from cold weather gear)
Asan has no experience on a ship other than as a passenger, but he will assist with watching for danger. On this first part of the voyage, he probably talks very little unless directly asked a question. He's "taking it all in".
[dice=Perception]1d20+6
...and it appears he is too distracted by the new experience to offer too much help.
Once the ship was safely out of the bay, Taissa turned to Ren and offered to assist in any tasks. The sooner she learned the duties aboard a sea vessel, the better, in her mind. She wasn't a complete novice, having sailed a little, but on smaller boats.
” "I'm a traveller. Mostly on land. That is where my gifts lie. I have sailed a little. I hope I can be useful on The Seahawk."
He watches you out of the corner of his eye.
”You are already useful, I think. You have at least good skill at being on watch,” he says easily.
"Thank you for saying I have a good name."
He shrugs.
”It was nothing… I was just saying how I felt,” he says, clearing his throat a bit, then peers at the waves.
"Ren, where do you hale from? How old are you?"
He glances at her and smiles a little.
”I’m from Andoran; same as Johnny. I saved him from some older lads bullying him when he was only thirteen, I was twenty-one. I’m forty-two, now.”
He thinks a moment, recalling that time.
”He took me home to meet his mother after that. When he found out I had no family at that point he insisted that I stay with him and his mother.”
”I didn’t really want to; not at first... but he has a way about him… even at that age he knew how to talk to you – he knew what to say to make you feel wanted… but he’s sincere… he’s not running a con – he means it, or he doesn’t do it,” he says after a moment.
”So I stayed with him. I tried to watch his back, to help protect him from fights because he always got into trouble with his stupid, crazy little…”
He laughs a little and looks to Taissa.
”He gets into trouble all the time, and he always seems to drag his friends into it… but he always seems to get them out again… I don’t know…”
He looks up at her and grins.
”He’s a good friend; I’d die for him, and so would any of us on the ship.”
”I know this is an unusual mission, but I think it is destiny that brought us all together. I don’t know if that’s the case, but if it is – then I’m eager to see what comes next,” he says with a smile at Taissa.
[dice=Raw Wisdom re Sailing]1d20+1
[dice=Fort Save for cold]1d20+4+4+5
[dice=Fort Save for cold]1d20+4+4+5
Stefan does what little he can and then wanders towards the back of the ship.
"Blast this cold!"
Then in response to Ella's forwardness.
"Ha! Do not confuse inexperience in sailing with inexperience in other areas." He winks at her, "Besides, it is my sword work that I am known for, not tying ropes. Do not worry lass, when the pot drops, I'll be winnowing the chaff."
When you fly down below you are able to head below deck. The entire time you are above deck you are clearly able to see the falcon that is perched close to the captain.
However, when you go below you see that a lit lantern hangs from the rafters of the ceiling and gives the hull plenty of light. Hammocks are slung on either side of the hull, and what looks like some personal effects and a few lockers are stowed under them.
At the aft part of the hull is a metal cage; behind which are all the extra powder, shot, weapons and supplies. If the crew picks up passengers it’s clear that they need a safe place to lock their equipment.
The fore of the ship is where the galley is. A small pot-belly stove is there, and coals are lit inside; the entire area hull is much warmer.
Next to the stove is something that looks like a very small forge with various crafting supplies and a worktable near it. You’d guess this is the area that the gunner uses to prepare her tools.
Something startles you, however, and you see movement from under the table by the forge.
At first you think it is a cat, watching you from the shadows. But after a moment, you are not sure. It looks different, somehow, and you hear a sharp hiss from behind the tools. You think that perhaps it is indeed a cat hissing at you; but then you hear sharp little Eek eek eek and now you are confused.
”Who are you? Why are you here? Do not try to harm me, for I am very dangerous!”
"Blast this cold!"
"Ha! Do not confuse inexperience in sailing with inexperience in other areas."
"Besides, it is my sword work that I am known for, not tying ropes. Do not worry lass, when the pot drops, I'll be winnowing the chaff."
She turns a wide eye on Stefan, glancing from Pollux to him.
"Well, well!" she says with a surprised voice.
"I got to tell you handsome; if what you're telling me is that what you're really known for is how you can take your tool and then thrust it real deep into just the right spot... well, I got to say my lad, I think this is the beginning of a bea-uuu-tiful friendship," she says, walking by and patting you on the behind again.
"Ha! Talk about well reefed! I could bounce a copper piece off that ass," she says with a grin to Uraga and Khal. Uraga shakes his head in amusement while Khal laughs out loud.
Meanwhile, they go about the business of dropping anchor, then she turns for the hatch.
"You looking to stay out here all night, or you thinking of coming below and letting me warm you up?" she says with wink, then heads below.
Taissa glowed a little under Ren's praise of her keen perception. The only other people to praise her were Kostin and Gianya. She noted that Ren was older than Captain John and understood a little more of their connection.
"I would rather work for a good man and I believe you when you say Captain John is a sincere and kind man. I feel better knowing it."
Glancing across at Ren, her sapphire blue eyes taking on the aspect of the night, she adds, "To want to die for another is a deep and abiding conviction. The Spirits brought you together and must be pleased by such friendship."
When Ren mentioned he and the Captain were both from Andoran, a genuine smile lit Taissa's face. "I passed through Andoran when I was 19 summers old. I met my beloved Daya, a mere hatchling, where the Verduran Forest straddles the Andoran border. A fair happenstance that you and Captain John bode from there. I hale from a hamlet in Nirmathas."
Taissa noted how Ren played down his compliment regarding her name and said no more on it so he would not feel awkward, nor she.
There had been omens and now this path, on The Seahawk, leading them toward a strange mission. Looking at Ren's smile, she responds, "Fate goes ever as she shall."
”Who are you? Why are you here? Do not try to harm me, for I am very dangerous!”
Daya gave a loud screech at the creature hidden in the shadows. She peered deeper, hoping to gleam what manner of creature it was.
Her wings swept out and she puffed up her feathers, golden eyes intense, hooked beak open and ready.
In a series of screeches, varying in length and duration, Daya responded to the thing,
"Daya, cold. Daya, no kill. Daya, fierce. What, you?"