Shelby just listened to the exchange between Ameiko, Hisoka, and Shutai, being the relative outsider here. She was attentive, however, clearly also wanting to know more about the shipwreck and the unwieldy blade.
Shutai reached over with long, delicate fingers, the silver tattoos that covered her skin flickering lightly as she picked up the thin tube. She turned it over in her hands, looking to see if there was something written on it or something inside.
"It is addressed to...Rokuro Kaijitsu?" Shutai glanced over at Ameiko, and offers the tube to the former adventurer. "A relative?"
"That's a very expensive place to hide a scroll tube." He mused, looking over the blade in his hand.
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Shelby just sat there, not really understanding anything beyond the significance of the name. She looks at Ameiko curiously, thinking the woman was jesting to begin with, but then seeing that she was sincere. The trip into the swamp earlier had only whet her appetite, and Shelby was ready to see more of the world. "I think I might...where are we going?"
"It would depends on the details, but potentially..." Shutai glanced down at the box. "I assume this means the chest was your grandfather's as well?"
"I'd hate to sound like a broken record, but where would this trip take us?"
It honestly didn't matter. He was itching to get back out there and it was plain on his face.
"That does sound intriguing..." Shutai considered. "I will have to talk with Koya, but I don't have any plans or obligations." She glanced down at the chest. "That does make this yours."
Shelby nods at Shutai's words. "Indeed. We must ensure that Koya is ok with it, but I would love to go and see some of the world. This must be very exciting for you, Ameiko. Though I wonder who these secret enemies are? Surely all that is past, now."
Shutai perked up at the idea of Koya coming too. "Yes, I believe she would like that."
Hisoka's eye narrow as he skims over the letter. "This Warding Box sounds like trouble."
Deep in thought for a long moment, Hisoka stares blankly down at the letter for many moments before finally speaking again. "Ameiko, have you had any word of Shalelu? Do you know if she has been in town? I would see her again before we journey off in pursuit of this box."
Shelby thinks about it, and immediately begins to warm to the idea of Koya coming along. As far as Sandpoint went, the only thing she would truly miss on a long journey would be her foster mother, and if she came along then there would be no regrets on Shelby's part. She looks to Shutai, then back again to Ameiko.
"So, do we want to plan this out more, or should Shutai and I go ahead and approach Koya with this?"
"I believe we should see what the others think,"[b] Shutai proposed. [b]"It will be easier to plan once we have a solid number." She rose from the seat. "Ameiko, can we leave these things here? And I know you said you didn't want them, but if you wish to look through and see if there is anything of use, do please feel free."
Shelby gives Shutai and Hisoka an excited, nervous grin. She tried to contain it, but the opportunity was just too much. She could barely contain herself before she and Shutai headed off towards their home to talk to Koya about the long voyage they were likely about to take. Shelby couldn't remember being this happy since she had been a small child in Korvosa.
Hisoka returns Shelby's enthusiastic smile with a nod. "Give my regards to Koya."
His attention then turned to the door indicated by Ameiko and felt it as his own nerves went into hyperdrive as he took the first step, then another.
He made it to the door in one piece, but paused with his hand up as he was about to knock.
'What the hell am I going to say to her?'
This conundrum kept him there for more than a passing moment as his hand still hesitates just inches from Shalelu's door.
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Shelby let herself in, looking about for her foster mother with a wide smile on her face. Once she found the woman, she would blurt out, "We found some kind of note from one of Ameiko's ancestors and now she's wanting to go on a trek! Shutai and I have already agreed, as long as you were ok with it. I believe Ameiko wants you along, as well! It will be great to explore, don't you think?"
'I'm such an idiot. Look at me.' As always when he gazed upon the elven woman, he could not help the smile that broke but managed to drop his hand to his waist, where it gripped nervously on his belt.
"Koya's girls and I stumbled on some of Ameiko's family business while dealing with some goblins in the swamps. There's talk of venturing off to Brinewall."
Embarrassment brought a slight redness to his cheeks and he failed to keep her gaze as he spoke his next words. "I'd like it very much if you would join us for the journey."
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In a rush, the tall woman hastens to her room, throwing what possessions she thought she might need into a small bag. After a few minutes, she chuckles, realizing that with such a large group they would likely need to plan for a group, and not for each individual. She takes everything back out, and resolves to ask Ameiko about logistics as she heads back to The Rusty Dragon.
"Yes, she seemed quite eager. We found a letter from her grandfather, addressed to her father that mentioned some warding box. It sounded like someone was after it, and he warned against their return to Brinewall."
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Gradually getting over his childish embarrassment, Hisoka gives her a wink and a wolfish grin before getting serious again.
"We're sorting out the details now. The girls have just departed for Koya's."
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Shutai headed to her room with Koya's blessings, and packed up the small shrine to Arseha along with the tools of worship she most enjoyed. Beyond that and some spare clothing, she was fairly self sufficient, although she would need to make some things to eat before they left.
Lots of things...
Returning with her pack to the Rusty Dragon, she turned to Ameiko. "Koya is most pleased to join us. Other than she and Shalelu, is there anyone else you wish us to ask?"
Hisoka grinned at Ameiko's words, mischief flashing in his eyes as he tossed a wink back at her. "Who's to say there's no adventure to be found in the meantime?"
To Shalelu he turned then, tilting his head with a cheerful smile on his face. Somehow the presence of others served to rid him of his earlier shyness, as it always seemed to.
"She's just happy to see me. Yeah, that's it." He said, nodding matter-of-factly.
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As Ameiko started mentioning the planning of the caravan, Shelby nodded eagerly. She didn't mind people so much, but the planning out of things was something she loved to do. It wasn't very warrior-like, certainly, but when everything fell into place like a puzzle's pieces because of superior planning, there was a sense of satisfaction that came along with it that was hard to match.
Shelby flashed a brief glance to Shutai, smiling at the woman. Her foster sister was very adept at persuading people to do things they might not otherwise be inclined to do. Shelby would be happy to let Shutai try to talk others into going on the caravan while the Iomedaean started gathering provisions. As she sat in the Rusty Dragon, Shelby started to go over calculations, averaging out how much a person would consume in a week's time frame.
Shutai nodded to Shalelu in greeting. "Ameiko received an interesting letter. She can fill you in on the details, but it appears she missed out on some of her inheritance, and we're going to find out exactly what that was."
She nodded back to Shelby, smiling behind the mask. "Given how awkward getting the message itself was, it should be interesting to go."
Slowly jotting down some ideas on a scrap of paper, Shutai looked over at Ameiko. "Ameiko, what kind of budget do we have for this expedition?"
Shelby's eyes widen at the casual way Ameiko offered to fund a relatively large amount of gold. She goes back to planning, having been using a much smaller budget number beforehand. "How many others are we planning on bringing, Ameiko?"
"Well, I can cook," Shutai murmured, "As can you Ameiko. So at least we won't have to eat trail rations." Or at least not plane ones. With a little work some of them did make the basis for a decent meal. "I guess a few others can also cover a couple of roles, and that should add some redundancy in case of any issues."
Shelby blushes as Shutai discusses cooking. There was a reason Shutai was a pretty good cook, and it was because she got lots of practice because Shelby was awful at it. Yet another reason the Iomedaean was glad her foster-sister was coming along.
"I think I would do well with provisions, and providing a guardian role for the trip."
Hisoka joined them, though it was clear to see the lost look in his eyes. "I'm not good at this sort of thing. Is there anything else you need me to do?"
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Shutai shrugged her thin shoulders slightly. "I can cook, cast both divine and arcane magic, open locks and disable traps. I can talk, charm and batter without magic as well."
Shelby thinks about it a moment, being honest with herself was something she wasn't very good at. But Ameiko was counting on them, so she would not overstate her abilities. "I would make a better guard than anything. My scouting skills are adequate, and I can bargain and talk fairly well, though not so well as my sister. I have plenty of divine magic as my disposal, though it mainly for protection/enhancement rather than a typical healer role."
Hisoka winces at the misunderstanding. "I am fit to guard and to heal our wounds. But I ask, if there is anything that needs doing now while we are in the city. If someone is needed to gather supplies, or to find others that will be joining us. Planning is not my strong suit."
His head dips down, in embarrassment or shame one could not tell as his hair fell over his eyes.
"Alright then," Shutai murmured softly, "I'll take these items to the Feathered Serpent and get them identified and valued."
Taking the items to the store, she carefully placed the wand and the ring they'd found on the counter. "Good morning," she said to the person behind the counter, "I was wondering how much it would cost to get these items identified?"
While Shutai takes care of selling the things they found they had no use for, Shelby helps by starting to get a ledger and quill and jotting down what provisions they might need. Water is the biggest concern, of course, as a dozen people and a handful of mounts would drain a barrel every couple days, most likely. The trick was to keep an ample supply, but not overburden the caravan with additional expense because of an exceptionally unnecessary amount of supplies.