"Aside from Sloane, not really," Kyoshiro replies thoughtfully. "There are other towns though."
"What do ya mean?"
Corda kept quiet, as usual, during the exchange between the captain and his brother. Somehow she got the feeling there wasn't much love lost between them. After bringing her gear aboard and looking about the ship, she had lunch with Skaar and the ship's captain. The young witch stayed quiet and observed the exchange between the two at the table.
"There are places where people are trying to fight the "good fight"," Kyoshiro says, sipping on his sake. "There are people who need help, not only in Brassport. And you can trust those people you help."
He then breaks into a short laugh. "Such a grim topic for lunch. It ruins the drinking mood."
Skaar finds the grim topic suits him just fine.
”These other places. Are they on the way?” he asks with a glance Corda’s direction.
”I don’t have a lot of time – I think - but where I’m headed we could use all the help we can get.”
"No, they are scattered in the Rogue Isles. After you finish your business in Brassport, you'd be well served looking around, if you could spare the time."
Skaar considers the suggestion.
”You’re our ride. Can you spare the time?”
Kyoshiro sighs as he puts a stopper on the recently-used flask of sake. "It depends...Can my brother make a profit off of me helping you? We'll 'play it by ear'. Is that how you say that?"
"That is precisely how you say it."
Skaar nods, "Let's finish our business in Brassport first."
Kyoshiro leaves you to do some actual work. You have the rest of the day to yourself.
After a satisfying lunch, Skaar finds himself alone with Corda and nothing but time. Five days was a long time. Double long when so much weighed on his thoughts.
He had to stay busy, that much was clear. After removing his armor, the hulking Orc went to the deck and starts exercising. Push-ups, pull-ups on the yard, crunches, whatever it takes to keep his thoughts from becoming idle.
You sail for five days, only making a detour to pick up the sailor who took Tollit's boat back to him. The trip is quiet and uninteresting. Kyoshiro docks the boat outside of a small town, only dotted with several houses and a nondescript temple.
"Well, here's Brassport," Kyoshiro says, spitting off the side of the ship.
Eager to be back on solid land, Skaar hops off the ship onto the adjoined docks and gestures for Corda to follow him.
”What’s a good place for a hard drink and a scrap ‘round here?” he grunts.
”And how’re we gunna meet up after I’m done with Sloane?”
"I'll wait a day for my brother's message, so be quick about what you want to do. I'd recommend the Ivory Boar, if you want a drink."
”Ivory Boar. Got it.”
”What about Sloane. Where can I find ‘im?”
"His house is by the temple, can't miss it. It's got plants all out front. しないようにあなたはそれらを飲むことができます."
Skaar nods and picks up the box of goods.
”Come on girl. Let’s get this done and I’ll buy you a drink. I think I owe you one for that healing spell back on the island.”
With Talia on her shoulder, Corda responds, "A drink huh, don't think it'll be that easy, big boy." With a playful smile she added, "And besides, I may drink you under the table."
You leave the ship and head towards the small temple. You see the house nearby as Kyoshiro described it.
Skaar approaches the home and knocks sharply on the front door.
"They said Sloane is some kind of healer but in a place like this, what does that mean?"
A man with thinning hair and thick spectacles opens the door. "Yes...ah...ah..."
He stutters with fright at the sight of Skaar. "I-I said I'm not paying for protection...please don't hurt me..."
Accustomed to this sort of reaction, Skaar shakes his head and pulls up the top of the container.
"A man said Hattori sent me. He said you'd want to see this stuff."
"Oh...Oh!" the man exclaims. "Come in, then. I'm Renwick Sloane, local healer...as if that counts for much nowadays."
He ushers you into the small house. Potted plants dominate the common room aside from a circular table. "Excuse the mess. You can set that on the table there."
Skaar does as he's told and slides the box of medicine and herbs onto the table.
"You done business with him and his trading company before? He seemed to know you pretty well", Skaar muses aloud as he studies the surroundings.
"Well, no, not really. I try to keep things I grow myself, but that's getting harder recently" Sloane explains. "We have a mutual friend...Rando Saltspray."
Corda kept close to Skaar, just in case trouble happens.
"Why's that?"
"Horace has people around here who've been making things difficult for me," Sloane says. "He thinks by running off the clerics and limiting the healing available here, he strengthens his power base."
"Horace and I don't get along", the big Orc grunts. "Anything I can do to make things easier for ya?"
Sloane thinks for a moment. "Nothing safe, really."
Skaar raises an eyebrow, "Do I look like the sort to worry about bein' safe?"
"I suppose not, but I'm not the sort to drag strangers into my problems."
"Humor me", Skaar says with a shrug. "You'd be surprised what the girl and me can handle."
"If you really want to know, there is a gang called the Black Skulls. They work for Horace."
-Posted with Wayfinder
"Black Skulls eh?" Skaar asks aloud. "I'll see what I can do."
"Guess I'd better go with. Just to make sure you don't get into too much trouble." Corda playfully added.
"Come on girl, let's visit the Boar and see what we can learn about dese Skulls", the big Orcs says as he excuses himself.
"We'll be back Sloane."
"*Bawk* We'll be back.*Bawk*" Talia chimed in.
You walk into the Ivory Boar, perhaps so named for the large ivory carving that dominates the entryway of the tavern. Several patrons are here, though they all look like career drunkards. A stout dwarven woman stands at the bar, wiping a glass clean. She glances at you and points to an empty table near the rear of the establishment.
Skaar approaches the bar and clears his throat.
"Grog", he says. "And whatever the girl wants", he adds with a nod toward Corda. "You got anything to eat?"
"We've got boar," the dwarven woman replies, almost as if it were a joke. "I think we also have some cold chicken from this morning."
"Chicken'll do. You got some fruit or sumthin' for the lady?"
"'Ve got some pears and apples," the woman says, looking underneath the bar.
Skaar nods and gestures for the dwarven woman to bring the fruit up. He drops some coins on the counter, far more than enough to cover the drinks and food.
"I'm lookin' for information too", he says in a low voice. "Anythin' you can tell me 'bout the Black Skulls..."
She raises her eyebrow and looks at the other customers. "Have a seat, I'll get you your food and we'll talk."
Skaar takes a seat and offers Corda a piece of the fruit.