Agrippa sniffs at Zarine Where we tread, coins do us little good. Besides, Mistress Freeling has taken much risk by transporting us, she should have first claim...by law that is.
You can tell that Agrippa only proposed to give the coins to the rowers as a means to get them off the boat as quickly as possible, and he wants Freeling to stay out of the way while the Ritual is being conducted.
We tread in the real world too... or at least some of us do. I noticed you sat out the fight. This money belongs to the group, and the captain has been well paid and will be paid more for the inconvenience we just caused her, but this isn't some legal obligation. We're not her pirate crew, we're paying passengers and we likely saved her from having to fork over more money to those cultists.
You can tell Zarine isn't really angry about him not fighting, but she also doesn't want to let his casual insults slide, or let him give away all the treasure that she almost died acquiring.
While Zandomir recognizes he has a proclivity towards agreeing with Zarine, he decides this isn't the time to break that pattern.
He nods at Zarine's words and says, "She's right, you know. I don't want to see these people harmed anymore than they've already been, but this isn't their gold. If we should give it to anyone, we should give it to Skywin. But I think there's wisdom in keeping it for the group. As Zarine said, we still have many threats in this world. Lest we forget, that pirate ship is still trailing us, as far as we know, so we need to be prepared. We might could use the gold to upgrade our gear when we stop at a more friendly port."
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Skywin looked astounded when Heinrich offered splitting thousands of gold between the ex slaves. Her reaction changed to bemusement when the others started objecting. As voiced stared to get louder she put a finger to her lips and said, "Shh! Keep it down. Probably best if we find somewhere out of earshot to discuss this. Perhaps after tonight when we moor up?"
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Zandomir nods in agreement with Skywin's spoken and unspoken sentiments. "Perhaps we should see about keeping our, uh, luggage nearby, yes? We don't want to lose any of it. Skywin, if you'd like help moving it to a more secure location, please let me know. And yes, we should continue this conversation when we have more privacy."
With opinions of donating much of the gold to the recently liberated oarspeople as well as the crew and the group, Lizzie tries to find middle ground.
"Heinrich, i find the sentiment quite kind of you, she says with a warm smile. She turns her head to Zarine. "Though i get what you are saying as well."
Looking from the two back and forth, she continues.
"We could split the majority between ourselves and Skywin's crew, and reserve a smaller portion to get them on their way when we dock in the next port. It could be for another ship to take them on as crew, or for them to proceed as they see fit themselves."
Zarine nods to Skywin and moves the chest to their cabin, relocking it for the time being, but examining the lock first so it will be easier to spring (at least for her) next time, and stacking things around it so it won't be as obvious.
The now heavily Stellen Staling trundled leisurely down the river and after a few bends the battle site could no longer be seen. The next few hours where somewhat tense as all the new passengers tried to find a spot to bunk for the night, with some deciding to take shifts. There was a certain amount of grumbling from crew members who where suddenly forced to share but thus far there had been no major problems.
Afternoon turned into evening and mouthwatering smells started to emerge from the galley. It turned out the Staling had a cooking rota and it was the mate Keith's turn and he was surprisingly good at it. Aided by food and rum captured from the Tribute Taker, a feast was put on in celebration of victory against the slavers. In the small hours when many of the revelers had passed out, Skywin found you and beckoned you to join her by starlight on a low rise near they'd moored.
It was a crisp night and very clear with a full moon, so despite the comparative darkness it was an easy walk up the hill on the northern bank. A light breeze from the west rustled the grass, and you could just about hear the soft gurgling of the river. Somewhere in the distance an owl hooted and all seemed peaceful.
Skywin seemed pensive as you climbed and when you where well and truly out of earshot of the boat she told you, "I don't regret taking them men on but this next few weeks is going to be hard. With everyone so packed in I'll be amazed if there aren't any fights. Also I'm a bit worried about all that gold you brought on. Thing is we don't know the men we rescued, I'm sure they're as honest as the next man but gold can do funny things to you mind and that was a lot. And then there's your hobbies to discuss... Now I'm not one to pry, but it might be for the best if you keep a lid on things until we can off load them."
Zandomir nods at Skywin's words. They confirmed what he had thought was on her mind earlier.
"I think that's a wise plan. Perhaps we should agree now to avoid discussing the Dreamlands, the gold, or who we're going to find in Cassomir while we're on the boat, at least until we can offload all our extra passengers."
With starlight twinkling behind her, Skywin nods to Zandomir before glancing towards the rest of you as she asked, "Are you all in agreement?"
Sounds like a good plan to me.
Skywin nods and the decision is made. Still the next couple of weeks are tense with so many aboard the Sellen Starling, yet the days soon form into a rhythm and before long the former slaves and everyone else start by increments to let their guard down. With so many extra mouths to fed the Starling had to stop every other day to send a detail foraging whatever could be found. A lot of rabbit and obscure root vegetables got eaten but occasionally ripe apples and pears where found and one day a pair of roe deer where found and shot, leading to a fest that evening.
During the feast one of the former slaves, a half-elven man called Marak approached Zarine, "I can't thank you enough for rescuing us for that hell hole. It seems you are honorable folk so I thought I'd pass something on." He offers her his old boots, which have seen better days. "Don't be fooled by their appearance, the Razmiri never realized were magical... These let you put on a burst of speed, I was hoping to use them to escape but I was never allowed above deck let alone off the boat. I doubt I'll be needing them now so I figured I'd give them to someone who might put em to good use. Captain tells us there's a fishing hamlet called Vestonia a few days down stream. Not a huge place but bigger than this boat... I reckon we'll find some work there, many of us used to fish before things went bad..."
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Zarine smiles, kisses Marak exuberantly (but not passionately), and says Thank you so much, Marak. This is a fine gift that will help us greatly. That leaves you with nothing to protect your feet though. Hold on a second.
Zandomir, could you come over here for a moment? she calls.
When Zandomir comes over (assuming he will), she asks
This poor man's boots are worn out, and I think your feet are the same size. Do you mind swapping with him?
Zandomir answers Zarine's call, wondering what she's up to this time.
Seeing the man's worn out boots, Zan says, "Oh."
After pausing for a couple heartbeats that he'll be kicking himself for later, Zan says, "Oh, of course." I'm sure I can get a new pair when we get to Cassomir.
Without anymore hesitation, Zandomir takes off his own boots and hands them to the man. As he's putting on the surprisingly well-fitting worn out boots, Zan says, "I'm sorry for what happened to you. Those monsters didn't even care that you were properly dressed. I hope you never have to experience something like that again."
Zandomir thinks about asking if the man's new shoes fit him okay, but considering how well the worn out pair fit Zan, the warpriest thinks he knows the answer.
Instead, Zandomir says, "I don't think I ever caught your name. You are...?"
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
"Name's Marak sir." replied the man, "Originally hailed from Ustalav, got to see a bit of the world. Thought it was a grand adventure till the Razmiri's got their hooks in. Couldn't pay a large enough tithe for their liking and I was pressed into chains to work it off. At first I thought that wasn't too bad but that's before I found out what that captain was like and before I realized they charged rent for the chains, the oars, the bench and of course we had to pay for the slop they called food. It was was more than I was making..."
Zandomir shakes his head at Marak's sad tale. He replies, "You've got a good head on your shoulders, Marak. Consider this a chance to explore more of the world, or to actually make a living for yourself. I would just suggest being more careful which countries you decide to visit."
Zarine gives Marak another hug, and after he leaves, she explains to Zandomir about the boots.
| 2 people marked this as a favorite. |
Sorry folks it's 11:25pm and between work, the kids and household chores I've only just finished. Will try and update tomorrow.
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Lizzie holds her nose at the exchange of boots. Being much closer to the ground, the smell of the man's sweaty boots reached her nose much easier.
Zandomir isn't particularly surprised when Zarine explains about the boots. He says, "He gave them to you, so you should keep them.... though maybe I should wear them for now, just till we can find another town and I can buy another pair to wear."
It was certainly a kind and extravagant gift. Let's talk about this sort of thing later, when it is the whole group. Someone might need them more than I do.
Agrippa sniffs at the whole affair and waves his hands dismissively.
As you wish.
A few days later the Sellen Starling arrives at the sleepy fishing hamlet of Vestonia. On the northern bank it borders lands that technically form the wild south eastern border of Razmiran although in practice the edge of Razmiri lands are considerably to the the north.
Vestonia itself consists of a large two story wooden long house by the docks and perhaps a dozen smaller dwellings with assorted outhouses. The scent of smoked fish is on the air and you can see a couple of active smoke houses on the eastern edge of the settlement. Most river traffic passes Vestonia by so when the Sellen Starling moors up that causes quite some interest from the locals.
A delegation of half a dozen grizzled and weather beaten elders come out of the long house and immediately engage in conversation with Skywin. The conversation starts off amicably enough but voices seem to be getting louder and louder.
One of the village elders, a man who despite having no grey hair could be anywhere from fifty to eighty, asked suspiciously "No offence Captain Skywin, but how do we know they're not agents of Razmiran or Kyonin? Neither of them have any love for us!"
This was met with murmurings of, "Aye! Stomp on us given half a chance."
As the conversation continues the crowd of curious onlookers grows.
"Err..." Skywin seemed to be struggling, "Well like I said the Razmiri attacked us and we fought them off and sunk one of their pirate barges. I mean look you can talk to the men we rescued. And as for being agents of Kyonin, do we look like elves?"
"He does!" replied the elder pointing at Zandomir.
Greetings, friends. There are no agents here. I can tell that you are being cautious with reason. Has something bad happened here recently?
She waits for an answer, and continues.
I assure you these men just want a new start. They were slaves to the Razmiri, and hold no love for them. Zandomir here is no spy either. I have known him for years, and he isn't from anywhere around here.
It looks like you could really use some help here, and these men just want a place to call home. I think you could help each other if you gave them a chance. Why don't we set up some interviews for you? You can talk to them, and if you don't want them in your town, then we'll take them elsewhere. I think you will like them.
If it looks like she is getting through, she calls Marak to come up with her.
My friend Marak here can go first, and tell you a little of his story. I know him to be a kind and generous man. He has just fallen on hard times.
Zandomir notes the man's disposition and the make up of the village.
Once Zarine gets finished with her eloquent monologue, Zan says, "I'm not an elf, but I do have elven blood." He taps one of his ears and continues, "These would be twice as long if I were a full elf. My elvish parent hails from Varisia, so no relation to Kyonin that I'm aware of, certainly not one that would make me loyal to them, much less their spy."
He lets Zarine do the rest of the talking since she seems to be doing an admirable job of it.
"Has something bad happened here recently?"
A suppressed shudder runs through the man, "Depends what you mean by recent... Last few months? Been quiet till now. Fast few years? Yeah we've had more than our share of ill fortune. What with Razmiri tax collectors collecting men when there wasn't enough coin for their liking, and the elves murdering kids who camped on the south shore for a lark."
"I assure you these men just want a new start. They were slaves to the Razmiri, and hold no love for them. Zandomir here is no spy either. I have known him for years, and he isn't from anywhere around here.
It looks like you could really use some help here, and these men just want a place to call home. I think you could help each other if you gave them a chance. Why don't we set up some interviews for you? You can talk to them, and if you don't want them in your town, then we'll take them elsewhere. I think you will like them."
Mollified by the way Zarine put it the man sighed, "Well truth be told we could do with some new blood around here. Still we need to meet them, can't make any promises a'fore that."
"I'm not an elf, but I do have elven blood."
The man runs his hand through his thinning hair and replies frankly, "Time was none of us would have cared what you look like. We knew they liked their privacy, knew they'd shoot loggers. Didn't reckon they'd do it to a bunch 'o teenagers on a lark but now we know. The knowing of that ripped the heart out of the village, afterwards we couldn't bear to think it could happen again and sent all the little ones away to live with cousins and uncles and so on." You get the sense he could break out in tears any moment.
Zarine whispers to Marak
Tell them that they have suffered and you are so sorry, and that you would like to help them. It will help them like you.
After Marak (hopefully) says something comforting, Zarine asks them what their plan is. If they are troubled by Rasmiri tax collectors here, perhaps they should either build walls, or move a little farther away from the border?
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Zandomir shakes his head sadly at the man's words. He had had a high view of the elves of Kyonin, but clearly they - or at least some of them - were just as vile as the Razmiri.
While Zarine introduces Marak to the villagers, Zan walks around the perimiter of the settlement, trying to determine how difficult or time-consuming it would be to erect a wall. He tries to think of what other defenses could be built, ones that villagers could operate effectively to deter the Razmiri.
Perhaps Filbert's abilities could help.
Marek nods and a little nervously steps forwards and introduces himself, "Sir, I'm Marek. Before I was taken I used to be a fisherman, down in Lake Lais in Ustalav. The river here's a bit different to what I'm used to but there's plenty 'o fish. Enough to make me feel nostalgic for the simpler times when it was me and my Pa on the boat. And er this over here is Coltman - he was a woodworker, sorry a joiner made cabinets and just about anything else. And this here," he points to a heavy set older man, "Is Aaron, you used to be a smith right?"
"Aye that I did, still go the forge scars to prove it." replied the man, showing pockmarked skin on his arms where tiny blobs of hot metal had marked him.
Turning to the elder again, Marek tells him "We've all got trades, I reckon o' which would be right useful. None of us are afraid 'o hard work. We can get stuff mended, mebbe fell a few trees and add another couple o'cabins. That's if you'll have us that is..."
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
The village elder speaks to each man in turn hearing their story and what their trade is. He then confers with some of the others and tells the assembled group, "All right, we're willing to give this a try. It'll be hard work and no mistake getting housing built for y'all, but honest work and I dare say you'll find it rewarding. Once we used to have more traffic from the boats, and earned coin selling smoked fish and handicrafts. With the extra man power maybe we can do so again."
That evening over dinner Professor Kelkin admits, "I'm glad we where able to render assistance to those poor men but I am glad to have my bunk back!"
"Indeed professor!" echoed Maliver, "Perhaps I shall be able to work on my monograph now without somebody practically sitting in my lap..."
"Surely it wasn't quite that bad Professor Malliver? Oh it was... Well it's done now. Next few days are plain sailing through the Wilewood, should be pretty peaceful. About mid way through the forest, in about 3 days we'll stop for some foraging then onto Lake Kallas and south to the Sellen and distant Casomir!"
Momijii had spent most of the time while they were transporting the freed prisoners in meditation. It was cramped and it was crowded and it was noisy but they somehow made it through. As the others negotiated with the town folk for the safety of the former slave she kept out of the way. Truthfully she'd felt like garbage since the fight to free the slaves from that ship.
Momijii was still haunted by her mistakes when she tried to save the two crewmen and failed miserably. How could she have gone for the wrong target, even worse how could she let herself get so badly beaten that she had to retreat. At night she still saw the deaths of those two in every gruesome detail and felt her own cowardice and inadequacy. The whole thing left her remote and distant and desiring to be left alone. To accomplish that she meditated.
With everyone cleared out and a chance for some space she stood and waited for the others to plan their next move. When they had returned to the ship Momijii asked, "Where are we going next? What do we have left to do?"
I think now that we have our room back, we have to get on with our dreamworld adventures. Heinrich is our expert there.
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Zandomir nods at Zarine's words. "I think we wanted to start with the Celephais Ball, right? Have to start somewhere and the sooner the better. We've delayed long enough."
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Zandomir yes. The villagers didn't intend to move, the general sentiment being their grand parents settled the place and moving would disrespect their memory. Still the idea of a wall sounded appealing if only the had the man power to do it... Oh!
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Indeed Mistress Greenblood. The Dreamlands await. Master Freeling, we have need privacy tonight. Professors Malliver and Kelken will document the ritual and wake us if needed.
Okay, I'll be a secondary caster.