Tove asks around the small village asking if anyone knows how to pilot a boat or knows of anyone who can. One woman, Helga, the wife of one of the fishermen of the village named Camden, makes mention of one of the other fishermen in town.
Helga practically spits the name "Godwin Wahl" out of mouth. "Foul-mouthed, and foul-tempered, but he seems to know more than most. I wish I could give you a better name, Lady Hellstrom, but he's the one I know."
Reluctantly, Tove makes her way across the village to find Godwin, bracing herself to meet the man she was warned about.
"Godwin? Godwin Wahl?" she enquires.
A balding, gray-haired man with a bushy beard, looks up from the fish he was in the process of gutting. "Yeah..."
His eyes narrow seeing who was addressing him. "Now look, Jeb knows damn good and well that that spot is mine for fishin'. I told him plenty, but he just won't listen."
Seeing the confused look on the Baroness's face, he more calmly asks, "What might I be able to do for ya?"
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Tove looks curiously at the bearded man, taking in what he’s said. "Well, I was told you might be the man to talk to around here about piloting the new boat we’ve been building down across the Tuskwater and around Candlemere Lake."
She gestures southward as she stares hopefully towards the grizzled fisherman. "The council would compensate you for your services of course. Perhaps to that end I might be able to help you resolve your dispute with this Jeb fellow?"
The older man regards you with an untrusting eye. "What type of boat are we talkin'? But, yeah, if it floats I can make it go."
Godwin's mouth crinkles to one side considering the second part. "If Jeb hasn't said nothing to you lot, I don't think there's a dispute to work out...at least right now."
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"If there's no dispute then that's even better."
Tove desribes the design of the Arrow to the old man, as well as filling him in on the proposed journey to map out the south-west of the Tuskwater and then travel to the island at the centre of the Candlemere.
"So what do you say? Do we have a deal? When can you be ready to leave?"
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Somewhere in the village, Celebeth's ears twich, and she mutters to herself, "Tove forgot to offer to pay him."
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"Well, I suppose that could work, but on one condition, if I'm pilotin' you all gotta do what I say when I say on that boat, I don't care what highfalutin' titles you all have. How soon ya wantin' leave?" the gruff man asks.
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"I'm sure that won't be a problem, captain." Tove grins and shakes the man's hand.
"Let's meet down by the wharf at dawn. We'll have the boat provisioned and ready to set off as soon as you're happy with her."
"Captain, eh? Been a long time since I've heard that, but I like the sound of it. See ya in the mornin'" Godwin says, returning to cleaning his catch.
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Morning arrives and The Arrow sits in water on the banks of the Tuskwater. Supplies are being loaded on board when "Captain Wahl" arrives.
"Tis a good lookin' ship." he says approvingly. Looking out at the Tuskwater he adds, "It's not the open sea, but it'll do for now."
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Azen arrives early, wanting to observe every aspect of the maiden voyage of the Arrow. She sits on the bank, grinning foolishly. Who knew that she would love an inanimate object this much? I mean, truth be told, she loved her bow as well, but, perhaps because the boat was so much bigger, it also seemed a larger love.
She grinned, eager to set out. It was bound to be a very good day.
Rhiannon arrives ready to set off as they embark on the arrow's maiden voyage. Truth be told she was a little nervous being aboard in her armor, but she was a relatively strong swimmer, and would hopefully stay out of the water.
Celebeth shows up with Krezzik again. The lizardfolk looks quizzically at the boat.
Celebeth: "Boat, not log. Yes. We aren't all able to swim as far or as fast as you."
Krezzik: "Yet more evidence of the superiority of lizardfolk."
Celebeth: "I don't see your people making boats."
Krezzik: "Because we don't need them."
Celebeth: "Just get in and try not to tip it over."
Celebeth and Krezzik both gingerly descend from the rickety pier into the large boat.
Celebeth says, "Y'know once the area around the Tuskwater is secured it might be fun just to spend a few hours tooling around in a boat without any cares." Then she nearly loses her balance, grabs the edge of the boat with white knuckles, and finally lowers herself into a more secured position.
Maybe more than a few hours. Like a really long trip down the river... maybe set up some trading spots, check out nearby settlements. We could bring lots of supplies and stay out for weeks. Wouldn't that be fun?
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After giving a bow to the Duchess, the elf takes his bow to the bow and takes up watch.
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Tove takes her place at the helm, close by the captain. "I think let's just see how our maiden voyage fairs before committing to any great riverine expeditions."
The Stag Lord readies herself in her seat, trying to draw confidence from her Ulfen bloodline. The open water can't be that much worse than the dense Narlmarch Woods, and she'd survived those on her own... she grins, a rush of nervous excitement running through her.
"That does sound like a smart plan though Azen, if the captain is up for it, we could get a lot of done following the rivers out from these lakes...
She thinks for a moment.
"If we followed the Shrike back upstream toward Fort Serenko, we could maybe even link up with Varnhold via the Kiravoy if the rivers are both traversible."
"I suppose that would be the case, is that where ya are wantin' to go? I thought we were crossing the Tuskwater and headin' south."
"You're right, you'll forgive us for getting ahead of ourselves... Today we go South." Tove confirms with the captain.
"I think we're ready when you are captain."
With a nod Godwin Wahl takes his position. "Alright, are we ready all ye Lords and Ladies" he asks without waiting for a response as the small ship lurches forward into the Tuskwater.
The first hour or so of the journey goes by without incident, as you get deeper into the Tuskwater, which is roughly 15 miles from the north banks, where Elkmark sits, to the southern banks, where the Shrike connects it to Lake Candlemere.
Garethane, ever vigilant on the bow of the ship notices two forms closing on the ship at a rapid pace - a disturbing combination of shark and seal, these brown-furred creatures have wide mouths filled with razor-sharp teeth.
Azen looks at the scary creatures and decides it is better to shoot first, because they look like they are going to try to eat everyone on the ship.
Azen steadies her shot, then looses an arrow at the closest creature. She hopes that if she hits one they will turn aside and look for easier prey.
(bullseye shot)
Thinking long much the same lines as Azen, Rhiannon quickly picks up her bow, firing a shot at the same target
The elf's eye's take on a feline cast as he begins begins to defend the ship with his bow.