Jim shows you how to set the two sails the ship has and after they are adhusted according to the direction youinted to travel, the gently but steady breeze he offers you to take your time to accommodate yourself within the ship and entertain yourself. "I'll call you, when something arises where two hands won't be enough. I'll check with the captain now."
Going in Tauriel checks out the bunkbeds. "Well thats not to my liking" and sets herself up with the Gnome in the storage room.
Gwenhwyfar appears on deck now and then to grab a bucket full of water from beside the ship only to reappear some 10 minutes later to dispose it and get fresh water. As the ship is on it's way Gwenhwyfar managed to get the kitchen sorted out, the provisions stowed away, the pots and the dishes clean. As se sees everyone settle somewhere she decides to take the bunk opposing the one Mr. Fiddle chose, stating "That looks nice and cozy, I'll sleep here."
After setting sail Jimmy spends a good portion of time making sure his armor is stowed safely, and his shield and weapon are secure but easy to grab in a hurry.
After that he goes to find Tauriell, being the only member of the party that he has yet to talk to.
"You carry quite an arsenal with you." Jimmy says with a friendly grin. "I don't believe i have properly introduced myself, Jimmy Fiddle at your service."
Turning to face you she replies "I only brought what's neccessary. What can I do for you?" in a very business like tone.
"I'm just trying to get to know everyone a bit better. Also I was curious as to what i can count on you for when people are trying tos tab me?" Trailing off, waiting for a reply from Tauriell
Gwenhwyfar is surprisingly lighthearted. She has a task, she has a place to sleep and for the next day everything has a routine to it. Only thing left is to decide what meals to prepare and when. So she's on her way to the captain out the door, up the stairs to where the captain is, always clinging to the handrail to not fall into the sea.
Captain Ahab is sitting there holding the rudder, and Gwenhwyfar asks "What would you like for supper, and when should I prepare it?"
"As for what to expect, I prefer avoiding battles. If conflict is unavoidable then shooting from afar, felling the enemy before they can hit me. But if that fails, I carry an assortment of melee weapons to strike down many kinds of foe."
Pausing for a moment, and then sighing she continues "As for knowing each other, I don't think it's worth the hassle"
You can't quite tell why she responds in this way and it doesn't seem to be something personal with you, but seeing her eyes that now look somewhere in the distance, you look into a really deep abyss.
The captain responds to Gwenhwyfar
With that he turns his gaze to the position of te sun and the horizon again.
Jimmy's response to Tauriell is an understanding nod, "If i can give you a hand with anything, just shout, and ill try keep out of the way of your arrows." He smiles and finds his way to the kitchen where he deposits himself in a corner and waits for Gwenhwyfar, knowing she will soon find her way back there
Gwenhwyfar decides that lunch will be scrambled eggs with toasted bread and an apple. But first whe would need a fire in the hearth. So she goes downstairs and humbly asks Abolomentor "Mr. Goblinburner, would you please help me starting the fire in the hearth. It's quite difficult for me with flint and steel."
Abomentolor comes back up together with Gwenhwyfar and is not amused finding Jimmy Fiddle there. He has no problem assisting Miss Yongisdottir with starting a fire, for she is easily impressed. But looking like the crews walking tindertwig in front of Jimmy is not to his liking. So instead of pouring out his lecture about the benefit of fire magic, he just starts the fire with a spark, saying "You are most welcome" smiling at her. As the fire starts burning he retreats back down sulling a little more.
"Are you already hungry?" Gwenhwyfar asks Mr. Fiddle with a smile on her face.
"Not hungry yet, just seeking your company. Also I don't have anything to do at the moment so was wondering if you might need a hand?" Jimmy responds standing up and moving towards the sack, "What can i grab out of here for you?"
"Well for lunch I'm already set here" she says, looking over the ingrediences she already set out, "but if you like, you could peel some potatoes for dinner."
Without waiting for Mr. Fiddle's response she starts preparing lunch. Putting an iron frying pan on the hearth, pouring some oil in, and frying some bacon
"Sure thing Gwenhwyfar. How is Noir Destinée doing on the boat? I havent seen her at all?" Jimmy asks as he starts peeling the spuds.
"You dont seem like you've done much travelling, how are you feeling?"
"Destinée is rolled up in the bed. As for me, I'm getting used to it. Right now it's much like with Hannah, just on a boat."
As the bacon is sizzling in the pan, she looks at you and asks "What's it like to be a guard?" and blushing a bit about her being so straight she adds "If you don't mind telling me."
While being in her element, helping others, she seems to be much more approachable.
"I'll let you in on a secret." Jimmy leans over and whispers "It's boring as hell" He chuckles, "Mostly its just walking along next to carts and trying not to fall asleep on watch. Every now and then something will happen but more often than not its just walking. What is it you do in Sandpoint, if I may?"
"I'm a healer. I started as an apprentice two month ago with Hannah. Hannah makes all sorts of remedies out of herbs she collects. And she is a midwife." Having answered your question she returns to the topic, that's on her mind since she first heard from their adventure. "But what is it like if it's not boring? What is it like when you have to fight?"
"Before I scare you with what fighting is like, please tell me that in those two months as an apprentice you have healed somebody? A herbal salve isn't quite what I had in mind for keeping us all on our feet." Jimmy has a smile on his face but a little bit of worry is showing through.
"Oh! Sorry, I didn't want to worry you" blushing again from embarrassment "I'm quite capable at healing. I did so at the temple with my mother, an adept of Sarenrae." She pulls out her necklace from under her robe, a wooden figure, winged with the sun behind it "You know when my mother healed, she showed the figure symbolizing Sarenrae and it started to glow, the divine energy flowing through it."
"I made the same gestures, incanted the same prayers, got the people healed, just like my mother, but mine never glowed." melancholy in her voice she adds "So my gift is not from the goddes, and I can't travel the way to become a cleric of the Dawnflower any more"
"Well even if the power doesn't come from her, yous till seem able to do her work. But that is quite strange..." Jimmy's voice trails off as he thinks about what that mine mean, but only for a moment.
"But you asked about fighting, what would you like to know Gwenhwyfar? Have you never been in a fight?"
"Well, no. Why would I? I saw the results of fights when the guards from the garrison were brought to us. I even saw a bar fight and helped patching up some guys afterwards. But I never were even close to a fight about life and death. I know if you are, then there is no choice, but how can you..., how could I take one's life?"
"All that I did was to help others and save lifes. I can't imagine destroying it."
Jimmy muses for a bit, peeling potatoes. After a while he responds "Taking a life isn't an easy thing. I've never taken joy in it. When i fight i focus mostly on defending myself and my friends. I don't attack someone unless they attack me. When someone comes at you trying to stick a sword through you, they don't give you much choice in fighting back."
Jimmy thinks for a short while longer. "If you have the skill to do so, there are ways to fight that leave your opponent alive, but incapacitated. I'm not skillful enough to fight like that though. For me to stay alive in a fight, i have to kill the other guy before he kills me. I hate killing, but it's what i have to do sometimes..."
With sorrow on his voice "Gwenhwyfar, I'll do whatever I can so you never need to take someones life. That is a promise. But i would like to help you with some basics, so if we get into a situation where i cant help you, you can keep yourself alive." There is a note of finality in Jimmy's statement, its obvious to anyone that hears what he said that it is a promise he intends to keep.
"Thank you." she averts her eyes and starts adding eggs to the pan. "Thank you for sharing." and keeping her eyes on the food starting to scramble te eggs she adds "And thank you for your promise. That means a lot to me."
In comes Destinée, stroking around Gwenhwyfars legs. She crouches down to pet the cat, as a welcome distraction from that deep and serious conversation.
Having finished the potatoes, "Is there anything else you want to know?" Jimmy kneels down and calls over Destinée to see if the cat has taken any more of a liking to him
"Let me just finish that"
Cutting off some slices of bread she lays them on the hearth to toast. Then she starts polishing some apples, cutting them to quarters and arranging all that on plates. She hands Mr. Fiddle the first plate.
"Sorry about the burnt food, but I was a little distracted. I hope it's still better than trail rations."
"I'll just bring the others their meal, when I return I'd like to know were you are from. How you became the man you are now."
With that she disappears with two plates, to the deck and shortly after collectiong two more to bring down. As she comes up she brings an empty crate puts it bottom up opposite to you and sits down, waiting for your story to begin.
"I'm not really from anywhere, per se. I grew up travelling with my parents. My dad was a merchant and my mom used to accompany him. So im from nowhere, and everywhere. I've spent so much time in so many different cities, so many different cultures... But more time spent on the road than in any city." Jimmy takes a bit of his food, "This is very good Gwen, thank you. Do you mind if I call you Gwen? My father trained me to take over his trade from him, but I was never very fond of it. Growing up I spent more time sitting amongst the guards at night, listening to their stories thank i ever did with the ledgers of my fathers business."
As you see her face up front, no hair covering her eyes, you notice that her eyes are not the same color. One is grey-blue, the other grey-green. It's not so much as to jump your eyes, but once you notice it it's hard to look away.
"Gwen is fine." Taking a few bites she adds "I never thought much about it, but assumed caravan guard was a job one does because someone has to and it's paid. You always wanted to be one?"
And while Mr. Fiddle thinks about that, she asks "How should I call you?".
"Jim, Jimmy, even 'Hey you' will get my attention, so whatever is easiest for you." Jimmy says with a smile "I didn't always want to be one. As a child the stories are just so exciting. I suppose i dont really know what I wanted to be as a kid. Every kid wants to make their parents proud so part of me wanted to take after my dad, the rest of me I suppose did want to become a guard. To have those exciting stories of my own to tell one day." His eyes grow sad as his voice trails away. "I didn't have much choice in the matter. As I grew into my teens I started practicing with the guards, just for fun. But shortly after my 18th name day it wasn't for fun anymore, the Caravan was attacked and I had to defend my family. One of the newer guards we had brought on betrayed us to a group of bandits. My parents survived, my da was crippled though. We lost all the goods and my we were bankrupted. My parents settled in a town nearby, but I had to start earning money, and the only thing i was half qualified to do was to be a guard. so that's what I do." Jimmy's face changes from a from to a false smile as he says "I tell people the money is for drink, but it's really to send off to them."
Straightening up and lowering her tone and in an unusual loud voice she tries out the . A little startled hearing her own voice she giggles. "I think I'll call you Jimmy", she smiles a big smile at you.
Just thinking out loud Gwenhwyfar states "I wonder what that Pathfinder Society thing is about."
Wondering if that could be a new path opening up either for her, or Jimmy.
Jimmy laughs along with Gwen, smiling broadly, "It's nice to talk about these things sometimes. You are a great listener, thank you"
"You're most welcome. It's nice listening to you, as you are leading a life so much different from mine. But I think I should go collect the dishes now and see what I have to do to prepare Captains Dinner. We are to eat in the captains room, and there will be wine served and all. I need to look for glasses and everyting." Starting to get a bit hectic.
"But it would be really nice to have more time to talk with you later", she adds with another smile before starting to whirl around the ship to collect and clean dishes and set up the dinner table.
Jimmy smiles at Gwen, then makes his way out of the inside of the ship to stand at the railing at the prow, letting the crashing waves spray over him. He spends a long time staring out over the ocean. His shoulders are set, he seems as if he wants to be left alone for a while.
After a while he moves to the captain at the tiller, "Have you spent much time in Riddleport Captain?"
Shouting over the now strong winds shaking his head and chuckling. Seems that Captain Ahab is a jovial and easily amused guy.
After Jimmy finishes chuckling, "I was hoping you could provide some information about the area, or point us at someone who may have more information. I suppose I'll just have to ask around once we reach port. Should we expect any trouble on the journey there?" All in a lighthearted tone.
the whole guy shaking with his laugh at his own joke.
Jimmy finds his laugh infectious and as such is laughing along with him merrily. "That's good to know Captain. Let me know if im needed for anything."
Abomentolor Goblinburner staggers up the stairs and out of the door. His face's color changed to green, which is a nice contrast to the colors of his robe. He manages to get to the ships rail just in time to feed the fish with his lunch.
Tauriell leans at the ships rail gazing over the sea as the Gnome comes up. She watches him with a mix of amusement and compassion with this miserable looking guy, showing on her face.
Going over she tells him "You know, it's easier on the stomach if you stay on deck and watch the horizon. Down in the ship is the worst for those not used to the sea."
Thanks for the advice, Abomentolor says between two gushes of lunch, "but if you gave it to me half a day earlier, it would have been even more appreciated."
Overhearing the conversation, Jimmy shouts across the boat, "I'll go ask Gwenhwyfar if her skill with healing extends to sea sickness." He jogs off through the door to try find her.
To give the Gnome and her nose some privacy, she returns to her former place watching over the sea again.
Gwenhwyfar drops the 'silverware' on the table and runs out of the Captains cabin through the floor and almost crashes into Jimmy as she runs through the door.
She only heared someone shout her name and 'healing' in the same sentence, so first glancing over Jimmy and then hectically looking over the deck, with a trace of panic in her voice, she asks "Someone wounded? Where can I help?" but as it seems the Gnome has run out of lunch to spill overboard she hasn't recognized what's wrong yet.
As it was him who shouted her name she looks back at Jimmy for an answer.
As Jimmy repeats to her that Mr. Goblinburner is seasick she goes over to the Gnome. Gwenhwyfar asks "Mr. Goblinburner if I may" and as she only gets a moan as response she puts her hand on his back and thoroughly checks his symptoms.
Feeling his forehead he doesn't seem to have fever, so it's really just a sea sickness she tells the Gnome "Just a moment please."
With that she disappears inside only to come back two minutes later with her arms full of stuff. She puts a blanket around him hangs a waterskin filled with hot water over his shoulder putting it on his belly "To warm and soothe your upset stomach. And here I'll put my iron pot. Please use that so you don't have to be in that uncomfortable upright position in front of this rail. I'm really sorry but I don't have any soothe syrup with me. But I found some fennel in the kitchen and you'll get some herbal brew."
She fetches the mug with the remedy from the kitchen and kneeling in front of the Gnome se feeds it to him with a spoon. Hoping this will bring some relief for Abomentolor.
Abomentolor would normally despise being chaperoned, but he feels to weak to hold up the facade of the mighty Goblinburner. With all the care and the warmth the cramps are slowly retreating. Being seasick really sucks big time and you don't want to get that.
But if you can't avoid it then it's really nice to have someone like Gwenhwyfar around. He slips into a little daydream. When he was a little child, his mother would care for him when he got a tummy ache. A time where it was ok to be the cute little guy. And with a trace of a smile he mumbles "Tank you ma'm" into his blanket.
As it seems Abomentolor will recover quickly under Gwenhwyfars care.
Jimmy stands by the railing watching Gwen care for the gnome. He was worried about her skill before but seeing the passion she applies to her work reasures him. If someone gets hurt he knows he can trust her to do her best.
He feels somewhat sorry for the gnome, he knows how horid seasickness can be. From personal experience
The afternoon passes without further incidents, the sun sinks into the sea turning all of the sky and the sea in a blazing orange. As it goes further down the orange is followed by red and then purple until you notice on the opposite side on the already dark blue sky the crescent moon and the first twinkling stars.
Meanwhile Gwenhwyfar finished dinner and the dinner table, checking on Abomentolor now and then.
Finally as the smell of roasted onions, and cheese waves out of the kitchen over the deck, the Captain proclaims
And on his way in call the rest of the crew to join him for dinner.
As you enter the captains cabin, you are again reminded, that it's just a fishermans boat, for it's a simple wooden table with one chair, for the captain and enpty crates as stools for the rest, but Gwenhwyfar did her best to pretty it up covering the crates with clean towels, and even decorating some of the herbs into a bouquet in a mug.
You are served a casserole made of potatoes, broccoli, cream and cheese with bits of dried beef mixed in. The Captain gets a bottle of white wine out of his cupboard, opens it and offers it to you after filling his mug. As he's done chuckling, he prompts you to eat
With that, words coming out of his mouth stops and food going in start. From the 'mmmmhs' and 'ooohs' he's making you can tell that he's enjoying the meal.
Gwenhwyfar blushes due to that 'compliment' and to hide that she excuses herself to bring Jim a plate.