Sherine walks up the gangplank onto the Icewine. Once aboard she rummages in her backpack and retrieves an eyepatch. It looks homemade. She probably made it last night sometime. She puts it on, covering up her left eye. Happy with her sartorial choice, she starts to explore the small ship.
"Hello there, newcomer. Are you another friend of Zi's?"
Kilo's head moves slightly, possibly indicating the green skinned woman. His eyes are not fixed on Jarris, but instead continue to sweep their surroundings. His expression does not change.
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"I'm not fond of speaking for others but the tacturn one is Kilo," Nalo half smiles as she shrugs, "he lived with my family for a while a few years ago."
"Apparently he heard about the possible job, but arrived on the later side. "
"So he decided to stalk me when I was leaving the inn yesterday."
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"So he decided to stalk me when I was leaving the inn yesterday."
Anson has a violent coughing fit, then holds up a hand in case of anyone expressing concern. "I'm okay." He collects himself, and manages a nod to Kilo. "Good to know you, Kilo."
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"Marvelous," Jarris claps his hands together and separates them in a gesture of welcome. "I hope the sea is kind to us for the next few days, that we may get to know one another."
At Nalo's explanation of how Kilo arrived on the ship, Tavene smiles slightly. "Good to know he was stalking a friend, and not a mark."
Through a combination of sensing, theorizing, and following paths, you find that all wires and cables start at the console on which the steering wheel rests. The wheel, all of the sails, rudders, anything that would impact how the ship moves, are connected to these wires. They're encased in a metal you know to be extremely resilient, that would resist water damage and are safe to handle even while the ship is running. There's a battery the size of your fist that seems to be powering the whole thing.
The wires were built directly into the the ship, growing through the wood like roots of a plant. When you stay still and place your palm against the mast, for example, you can feel the pulse and thrum of electricity. It's like a heartbeat. With time, you can tell that it's not just one wire attaching to each sail, it's wires that branch and split and control the sails in a way that allows minute changes and corrections and adjustments. There are emergency stabilizers as well, that you suspect may help reorient the ship and keep it steady even if a large storm hit while you were out at sea.
In other words, this is a very well built craft. From your time exploring what the Ninth World has to offer, you know that ships like this aren't common, and would likely be worth quite a bit.
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Assuming no one decides to jump overboard to do any last minute shopping or building caressing, the Icewine departs smoothly from Harmuth's port.
Prauss Bellarim spends most of her time at the wheel and keeps the ship just far enough away that land is visible, but your activities aboard the ship wouldn't be for anyone without binoculars or some other means of remote viewing. Anyone spending time watching her would notice that, about an hour after you've departed, she takes a small bottle out of her pocket, drinks the contents, and crushes the bottle in her hand. A few minutes after that, her pupils dilate and a warm smile plasters itself to her face. She's making no attempt to hide what she's doing.
Jarris makes himself available to talk to anyone who's willing to talk to him. He's mentioned, at least twice, that he's set up his hammock in one of the few spaces near the galley, should anyone need him and be unable to find him on the deck.
He does, however, raise an appreciative eyebrow at Anson's retreating figure.
Tavene mostly keeps to herself. She's leaning against the railing at the front of the ship, occasionally looking to her left at the land passing by in the distance. Even less occasionally, turning around just enough to look over anyone standing on the deck.
Anson can be seen inspecting the ship closely. At times, he appears to be following some pathway; at others, he has a hand on the mass, bobbing his head slightly as though in time with music only he can hear. Later, when he's less distracted, he looks noticeably more at ease. He's claimed a section of the crew quarters, his hammock slung up next to one of the walls.
Sherine spends part of the first day of travel on the prow, enjoying the ocean breeze on her face.
Later, she finds a quiet spot and leafs through her book on numenera.
One assumes she'll claim some spot somewhere for hanging her hammock, but honestly she looks like she might forget that and simply sleep where she's sitting when she gets sleepy.
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Nalo claims one of the hammocks in the crew quarter leaving most of her heavy gear secured in case is sudden weather. She moves around the ship with practiced ease, ready and able to help with sails or ties - although she tries hard to not be in the way of Prauss's small crew.
When the sun hits her just right faint intricate lines reflect the light on her arms.
"So, uh... Sherine, what brings you out on a trip like this one?"
Tavene gives only occasional eye contact. She seems more awkward than standoffish.
"I wanted to apologize again for the ah... overly friendly actions of last night. I tend to get accustomed to the comfort levels of the people from towns in which I stay, and it's surprising how little I run into fellow travelers in Navarene. Not many people seem interested in leaving their homes." He bows his head slightly. "In any case, I hope I didn't offend."
Sherine sighs happily. "Oh, a sense of adventure, I suppose," she replies. "I had it on good authority from friends that this would be a good opportunity."
He collects himself, and manages a nod to Kilo. "Good to know you, Kilo."
Kilo's eyes track sideways to Anson and stop for a second. He returns the nod with the same barely visible tick of the head performed before.
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Quicker.
Less random observation and more intentional movement.
As soon as she thinks she has gotten his attention, "I think I'm being paranoid, but how likly do you think it is that this mission is designed to go pear shaped and we're supposed to be the fall guys?" A quick intake of breath, "I mean, he seems to have all these resources, all these people he can tap, and he decides to do a blind role call?"
"I mean, yes, it is always possible that he is looking for new talent, but this seems like a bit of a high trust job for that. Heck a uber-healing numenara? Sketchy contract hires and that disappears into a rabbit hole."
A pause, "That said, nose bopping seems an odd gesture to get into a habit of using." A longer pause and a wicked smile, "How did Tavene react when you did it to her?"
"I'd be lying if I said the thought hadn't occurred to me. Hell, this could be an attempt to start a war for all we know. Problem is, unless we have more than our suspicions, we have to fulfill the contract in good faith."
He's quiet for a short time. "Or not. We could always steal the item and sell it to a higher bidder. Or keep it for ourselves." The shrug is audible in his voice. "Just as a hypothetical, I mean."
Nalo, more caught up in examining unique architural details in the ancient city, doesn't notice being watched for quite a while - but when she gets to the first inn she was considering for sleeping, she does. Shifting uncomfortably, she pauses at the door, looks around, - trying and failing to pierce the night induced gloom - and moves on.
Quicker.
Less random observation and more intentional movement
This might happen once. Maybe twice. As Makani hesitates and watches for anyone that might be following. After all, Nalo is acting strangely, like she is being followed, but he sees no one.
After the next Inn, as her pace quickens, he drops down before her in the alley ...| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
"At least, I think he did." Her voice goes sharp in the darkness, "I don't like someone poking around my brain and I'm not even sure if he did."
"And if he did, f~~!er was really damn charming about it, which makes it..."
"I'm not even sure if it makes it better or worse. But I can understand wanting to vet someone before you hire them, but if they pass then they don't need keepers."
Quieter, "He did something to you too, right? That left the aftermath of lightning in your fingers?" A pause, "I didn't leave the table when he touched my hand, right?"
"Who are you and why are you stalking me?"
There is ... something... familiar about the young, tall man who just appeared out of NO WHERE, but this is not a face she knows...
"You're bloody well following me!" she hisses. "Who are you and why are you stalking me?"
A puzzled expression slowly makes its way across his face..and sticks. An eighth of a turn, then more, he looks behind himself, then turns back again. His expression deepens, then transforms as he stands upright, almost a full 6' 2", grinning from ear to ear. "You don't know me!" he exclaims loudly. "Kaikuwahineʻuʻuku o I love it!" He stands there, relaxed and easy. Nalu gets the impression he would likely have stepped forward to hug her, despite the crackling energy coursing around her arms, but that he feels she might be further distressed by his approach.
Panamax will introduce himself to each building they pass in the night, and recite it a short poem .
Panamax mostly seems to enjoy the company.
Panamax wanders the ship, people-watching. Trying to stay out of the crew's way. He watches people doing things (like Anson) more than people sitting quietly (like Nalo).
After about an hour, he curls up in an out-of-the-way corner in the cargo area and goes to sleep.
After a few minutes of slow and inquisitive exploring, it is likely quite apparent that Kilo is not very familiar with ships. He does seem to be very interested in how things work, but understanding may be something else altogether.
Again, a shrug. "Or it could be my mind is spinning in circles. I promise, when it's time to actually take the item, I'll be focused. We'll all need to be, or it won't matter if he's setting us up or not."
"What are you doing?" She asks. Then looks uncomfortable. "Sorry, if you're busy." Looks more uncomfortable."It just looks like you're listening to music." Then she offers an awkward half smile that disappears almost as quickly as it arrived.
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A pause, a blink, something almost there, "And Kani. But you aren't any of them."
Her muscles relax just a tad, as if she has come to a decision.
"The real question is how far can we trust Jarris and Tavene?"
"That and finding out the strengths and weaknesses of our group so that we can plan. And have ideas of what to do when the plan fails."
She shifts in the hammock so she can see Anson a bit easier. "I collect history, bits of information both useless and important." A pause, "I'm more inclined to think that Zi kept me because my family are lightning riders."
"Jokes on him because my own ability is much more limited."
"I didn't think you meant any malice by it, I just wasn't expecting it and ..." she shrugs. "No hard feelings."
Just a hint of confusion dims the suspicion on Nalo's face. "You don't get to call me that, only my brothers call me that."
A pause, a blink, something almost there, "And Kani. But you aren't any of them."
Her muscles relax just a tad, as if she has come to a decision.
He just stands there, completely relaxed, grinning from ear to ear. "It really is good to see you again, Kaikuwahineʻuʻuku o". A slight pause, "May I approach you now?"
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"Who are you?"
He pauses, still staring up at the ceiling. "And what, pray tell, is a lightning rider? Sounds impressive."
A soft smile lights up her eyes, the dark iris growing lighter, almost seeming to glow in the dark of the hold. "It is impressive. When I was a little girl, my mother would go from one ridge to another near our home in a flash of lightning. Between one heartbeat and the next."
She looks around to make sure no one is lurking near the hold entrance, then holds up her hands, "I can't actually travel the way she could, but" there is a sizzle in the air small bolts of lightning travel up her arms to gather on her hands, concentrated on the tip of each finger, "I can defend myself if I have to."
A long pause as the lightning slowly looses its intensity, slowly grounding back into Nalo's skin. "When I'm really careful and patient I can charge old numenara so that it has the power to run again." She shrugs, "When I'm not careful, I use too much and I've exploded some."
"And you are collecting machines?" Honest curiosity in her voice.
Anson glances up during the electricity trick. Nalo can see the bolts reflected on his goggles, still hiding his eyes even in the dark. "Well, that should come in handy." He lays back, sighing. "I'm hopeless in a fight. I'm just an explorer of antiquity."
"Collect machines? I suppose I do at that. Not that I have many to show for it, but circumstance," here he waves vaguely, "have more to do with that."
"Approach and I'll fry you." Her voice is calm, ready to follow through on the threat.
"Who are you?"
Makani's s~!# eating grin does not falter, "Seriously Nalo? You really don't recognize me?" he seems to be enjoying that fact, but noticeably does not come any closer. At least, not yet.
His grin becomes a little mischievous, "Come on. Think you can still tag me?" In a sudden smooth motion, he leaps up and to one side, rebounds high off the sill of a window on an adjacent wall of the alley and gracefully somersaults onto the railing of a lanai high above, landing in a semi crouch, balanced atop it and a supporting column.
Panamax looks briefly over Jarris' shoulder, then back to Jarris' face. "I come from a small town in the woods. You probably haven't heard of it. Where do you come from?"
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"You indicated you've been to Kordech, have you been to the cemetery Zi mentioned?"
"Explorer of antiquity..." She turns her head and grins, "That is a much better title than any I've come up with."
"What is the most interesting thing you've encountered that you weren't able to keep?"
"Seriously Nalo? You really don't recognize me?"
Her stance doesn't change an iota, suggesting that she does not.
The crazy martial acrobats on the other hand can not be faked. "Kani?!?" Her hands - still flickering with electricity - drop by her sides, leaving her open.
"When...? She holds one hand near her lowest rib, then raises it to above her head. "Really?"
"Kani?!?" Her hands - still flickering with electricity - drop by her sides, leaving her open.
"When...? She holds one hand near her lowest rib, then raises it to above her head. "Really?"
Makani jumps lightly from the railing, performs a layout backflip to stall his momentum and lands in a three point stance.
"When did you become an electric eel? That's so cool!" he exclaims, stepping in to give her a big hug. "It's so good to see you.." (again? how this sentence ends depends on whether he gets zappend or not)
For the most part, Kilo stays topside. Though he does make periodic forays throughout the ship.
Anson pauses, letting this all sink in. "But I guess the most interesting thing is... you ever been to Keford? Well, they had this really big wheel of cheese."
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Nalo gives him a sheepish grin as the charge zaps through his body to ground in the stone beneath them. She starts to pat down the wisps of hair sticking out, "Little stuff a few months after you left, control it just over a year ago."
"How is the training to be the strongest person ever?"
"What was the big wheel of cheese for? Do you think they will still have it when we get there?"
Anyone with even the most basic people reading skills can realize that the green-skinned girl has filed away the rest for more questions.
Oh he definitely gets a residual charge, but not enough to count as damage.
Nalo gives him a sheepish grin as the charge zaps through his body to ground in the stone beneath them. She starts to pat down the wisps of hair sticking out, "Little stuff a few months after you left, control it just over a year ago."
"How is the training to be the strongest person ever?"
He probably squeezes her a little harder then intended as his muscles involuntarily contract with the electrical surge coursing through them.
His eyes light up and he grins down at her, "It's so awesome! There are so many strong fighters all over. I think I'm getting better and better, but I need to find the strongest people I can." His eyes flick off up and to the side for a moment. "Hey. Do you still remember the footwork and movement training we did together for fighting against groups?"
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The moon is high in the sky during the first night aboard the Icewine, appearing with a thick green band around the middle of it that's visible without equipment. This must be the 'green dress' Bellarim mentioned earlier.
"Always nice to see a fellow Glaive on a trip like this one," Tavene says when Kilo approaches her.
He runs his hands through thick, dark hair, pulling it back into a tail as the conversation continues. "I have. Most settlements choose to cremate their dead; the custom of burying them instead is fairly uncommon, at least here in the north. The cemetery is a bit of an oddity that way, and although it doesn't exactly fuel tourism in the region..." he shrugs, "it does tend to draw the curious."
He cocks his head. "Where are you from, by the way? I'm having a little bit of trouble placing your accent."
The moon is high in the sky during the first night aboard the Icewine, appearing with a thick green band around the middle of it that's visible without equipment. This must be the 'green dress' Bellarim mentioned earlier.
"Always nice to see a fellow Glaive on a trip like this one," Tavene says when Kilo approaches her.
Kilo nods to Tavene as he approaches and leans up against the ships rail, face up towards the lady with green dress. He seems at least temporarily mesmerized by it.
Tavene smiles slightly, then returns her gaze out to the sea. "Work with Zi usually is." She shuffles a foot. "Pays well, too. Looks like a lot of you are collectors."
"Well, I can't speak for the others. But if I'm a collector of anything it's experiences. Not so much with the things."
Panamax will introduce himself to each building they pass in the night, and recite it a short poem
Much like Panamax, Sherine seems to enjoy the company, and enjoys the walk for its own sake. After couple of buildings and hearing Panamax recite a poem she doesn't understand, Sherine asks, "What is that poem you say for the buildings? I don't understand it, but it sounds nice."
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Night upon the ship is uneventful and as pleasant as a person could ask for. Chairs are made available for those who want to enjoy the spread of stars. Jarris spends his time with a small canvas in front of him, painting the way Bellarim looks at the wheel with the green-banded moon in the sky above her. Anyone who knows anything about how temperamental travel can be in the Ninth World knows that this is the kind of night sailors consider themselves lucky to experience.
Breakfast the following morning is self service and uninspired, but filling. Eggs, aneen meat prepared in thin slices, a selection of cheeses from Navarene, and bread. Bellarim, looking like she didn't sleep the night before, pulls out a small jar of vibrant green jam. No one seems to know what it came from, but Jarris samples a bit after he watches her eat a piece of bread slathered in it, and mentions that it tastes a lot like moonberries.
After breakfast, Jarris resumes working on his painting from the deck, humming a tune while he does so. Tavene spends her time on the deck as well, if she's not chatting with someone, she's reading a small book. Bellarim takes another dose of the Drop and cheerfully takes her place at the wheel.
It's midday before anything of note happens, and it happens by way of a much smaller, and quicker, craft making a direct line for the Icewine from the shore you can only just see in the distance. When it gets close enough, you can see there are four people standing aboard the deck, and all of their eyes are on anyone staring back at them.
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She shares a companionable silence with Kilo for a time, also looking upwards at the moon. "It used to scare me, when I was little. Someone from my village told me the green band meant a time when monsters would come out and steal children away for rituals."
At breakfast, Anson catches Nalo's attention, and points at the cheese. "What'd I tell you?"
Anson spends the voyage out on the deck. He's still bundled up in his traveling costume of battered leathers and too many scarves, but he seems to enjoy the sunlight.
He watches the approach of the other ship with interest, not going for a weapon.