"Hey, you lot! Cut the singing" yells the barkeep. "You're encouraging them." He gestures at the group of singing drunkards in the other corner. "Move into the back room if you're going to keep making a ruckus!"
Enya sticks her lip out at the barkeep. "Whats gotten up his nose? Singing is wonderful! It makes people feel better, even when its bad. I betcha he is the kind of person who would punch a kitten..." She giggles and pets Mica on the head, scoops her up and heads back to the table designated. She puts her hand on her hip. "Y'all comin'?" She prances over, her hair dancing like fire in the wind.
[Dice=bardic knowledge] 1d20
Oh yeah! Ferrets smell like soot and poo. Its a defence mechanism or something... as for your dad...
Enya's face goes blank for a second, then she shakes her head.
Can't say that I have.
"Oh, oh well he was a famous pirate in these waters. Very famous" Alain will whisper loudly with a suspicious glance over his shoulder.
Are you new here, Alain? You seem... overwhelmed. Concern crosses her face. Maybe if I sing you a song? Would you like that? Shoe bounces in her seat excitedly, waiting for Alain to reply, smiling wide.
Mica scrambles down onto the bench by Enya and jumps excitedly, too. Waving her tiny little tail around and making cute little chirps and squeeks.
"Sing to me. Um, sure I suppose. That would be... nice"
Enya's eyes brighten. "Ooh! Oh great!" She claps her hands together and looks at Alain.
"I got it!
Oh Alain, Oh Alain!
Don't you see we're all the same?
You are here and so are we!
And so alike all we must be!
Don't be timid, don't be shy!
I'm sure you're really a great guy!
Just open up and you will see,
You can write you own history!"
Heartfelt applause mixed with a little awe :-)
"So why are you all here in town?"
Let's see if Alain knows a pirate tale to entertain the crowd
He'll spin a tale:
Chumtooth swings his large frame around to face the common room. He gets to his feet with the flowing strength of a predatory cat.
"This one has come for food and drink, and stories. This one hunts and kills whales, with this."
Chumtooth brandishes his harpoon, holding it high above his head.
"The Others call this one Chumtooth. Chumtooth likes this name. It is a good name, a strong name. Chumtooth frightens many of the Others. They are weak. Others have no stomach for blood and unburned meat."
Chumtooth swiftly turns the harpoon in his hand, and drives the point home into the floorboard next to his bar stool. He reaches for the mug of ale hastily set before him, and drinks deeply, letting some of the froth run down his chin.
"More songs! More stories! Chumtooth will hear more!"
Enya looks up at Chumtooth. Oh shit...a fan... She holds her otter a bit closer to her and smiles. Okay! Songs all around!
She gets up on the table and begins to clap and stomp.
"Now listen here, laddies and listen here good
A tale so dark tis like the murkiest blue
The poor capt'n swore he wouldn't give up his brew,
But the poor sinner could have never knew.
The ale was crafted by the hands of a maiden
A maiden's who's beauty was known through the seas,
The ale was a gift from the girl to her lover
And her lover, they say, was less man than beast.
The poor capt'n knew not of what he stole
The crew of the ship seemed small and no soul.
But the man on the boat who's ale capt'n took
Swore one day he'd see capt'ns head roll.
Now listen here, laddies and listen here good
A tale so dark tis like the murkiest blue
The poor capt'n swore he wouldn't give up his brew,
But the poor sinner could have never knew.
The Capt'n sailed 'way as the lover breathed curses,
The capt'n took swigs of that precious, sweet ale.
But the lover knew soon the only thing he would swallow
Would be the brew made of nothing but blood and the pale.
The lover found food, the lover found shelter,
The lover found men and he found him a knife.
The lover found capt'n and the lover found vengence.
And the lover now has his wonderous elixer of life!
Now listen here, laddies and listen here good
A tale so dark tis like the murkiest blue
The poor capt'n swore he wouldn't give up his brew,
But the poor sinner could have never knew."
Jocelyn strides into the bar with a buccaneer's swagger and eye's the display of Chumtooth with a grin. Either he's got balls or he's stupid, both have their uses.. She's heard the girl's song before, somewhere long ago and hums along, not knowing the words, it brings back memories, long lost.
None of the faces in the establishment are familiar. A pity. She takes her hand off the hilt of her short sword.
She approaches the bar "A bit of whiskey for me and one for the man with the harpoon and the girl with the golden voice ." and gestures at Chumtooth and Enya.
"Chumtooth is a strong name indeed, my friend. Jocelyn's the name. Tell me more about these Others you mentioned."
Chumtooth laughs at the dark and vengeful nature of the song; a deep, rumbling laugh that resonates with the lovely lady's song. The rotten-meat smell of his breath is palpable, the rows of his pointed, stained teeth glisten with ale and saliva, and his oily black eyes shimmer and dance in the lamp light.
He turns with laguid ease towards the woman speaking to him.
"Not Kuru are Others. The Others fear Kuru. To Kuru, Others are meat."
He rolls back his lips into a broad grin, displaying the rows of pointed, stained teeth.
"The Others on the whaleship fear Chumtooth. The Others fear Chumtooth will flense them and eat them...HAW HAW HAR!"
He slaps a thick hand down on the bar, as if he has told an excellent joke.
"What is this one called?" he asks the newcomer. "Jah-Suh-laan?"
Enya nods appriciation to Jocelyn as her drink is made and placed in front of her. As soon as she is finished with the song, she offers a little to her otter.
Mica sniffs at the whiskey. She looks up at Enya with questioning eyes and, when she sees Enya's gentle nod, takes a few licks from the glass. Mica makes happy churps and settles into Enya's lap, a little less afraid of the big scary man.
Enya shoots the whiskey back while she listens to Chumtooth speak. When he slams his handdown, Mica jumps, but settles back into Enya's lap, a watchful eye on Chumtooth. " Thanks for the whiskey, Jocylen. It was getting time for me to dampen my throat. I'm Enya, by the way. And this here's Mica!" She smiles her glowing smile and flames seem to flicker from beneath the skin of her cheeks. She strokes Mica's head to calm her as Chumtooth and Jocylen continue to speek.
"This one carries fresh meat with her...and keeps it fat and happy. This one is wise. Meat can become scarce at sea. No whales, no fish, pigs and goats eaten, nothing to eat but Others."
He wrinkles his nose, as if remembering an unpleasant smell.
"Bony Others. Little meat. Little fat. Not worth skinning...PHAW! Kuru like Others who eat well...with plenty of meat...and soft fat."
He looks to the ladies for a reaction...then winks.
Bellamy turned his blind gap toothed grin to the room.
"Well now, if it be a song ye be wantin' I c'n do better than a smelly weasel!" He downs the rest of his drink with gusto.
"The Legend of Aethos Pindares"
Where'er Sailors gather, the legend is told
Of a sea captin cunning, and his exploits so bold
That while in the pub, givin' his lager a sip,
Oft he'd boast of his sea-farin' deeds and would quip:
"Cap'tn Aethos Pindares, never yet lost a ship!"
"Fer I never gits shipwrecked
"An I ne'er gets crossed
"I never gits capsized
"an I never get lost
"Ne'er do I founder in the midst of a storm
"But I always stay ship shape, safe, dry and warm."
Once a blood-thirsty pirate was plundering the main,
so the King calls for a hero to get rid of the bane:
"Captain Pindares, long have I heard of yer fame,
"Now take to yer ship, and go scuttle the swain."
"Aye aye King!"the mighty Captain replies,
and he loads up his ship with beer and supplies,
Orders the men to set a course for pursuit:
"We'll set a sharp course, to way-lay the brute!"
Then retires below to dream of his loot.
"For I never get shipwrecked
"and I never get tossed.
"I never get capsized,
"and I never get lost.
"And I never yet foundered though the waves stay so high,
"But always stay Ship-shape, safe, warm and dry"
Three days now gone by, and still no pirate showin'
so he calls to the Cabin Boy, "How is she blowin?"
"Fair wind, Sir" he answers, "Six knots from the east"
"Dam yer eyes, boy!" yells Aethos, "Its a hurricane at least!"
"This weather's not fit fer man, or fer beast;
"The way the ships yawning and rockin' about,
"We're in danger of sinking, without a doubt!"
So he orders the men, "Throw the sheet anchor out!"
Then he calls to the bosun,
"How fierce is the gale?"
"Not wind enough Captain, to ruffle a sail"
But brave Aethos answers, leaning hard 'oer the rail:
"I can feel the ship listing, have all hands start to bail!
"I'll just stay in my cabin, please send down more ale"
"I never gits shipwrecked
"An I ne'er gets lost
"I never gits capsized
"an I never get tossed
"I'm brave as a flounder, in the midst of a storm
"And I always stay ship shape, safe, dry and warm."
In the midst of a tempest, hours feel likes days,
"What the hell?" shrieks brave Aethos, "I thought I felt the ship sway!"
"But Captin Pindares" the ship's carpenter says:
"The sea's calm and mild, 'neath the sun's gentle rays"
Aethos scowls: "This hurricane'll smash all our riggin' and stays,
"Have the men cut the fore mast and main mast away!"
Then he yells with a bound, "All hands on decks!
The spritsail, and life boats is over board next.
"Abandon ship men, and may the good Lord help ye float,
"Tis my duty as Captain to go down with the boat."
"Don't worry" the First mate sez: "Ye ain't gonna drown"
"We ain't even left port, and the anchor's still down!"
So the legend is told, where'r salts heed the call,
Of Aethos Pindares, the bravest Captain of all,
Who never got wet, no matter the squall,
And when tars gets to drinkin', and the night gets too long
they tell the story of Aethos, and sing his song
Oh he never got shipwrecked,
and he never got tossed,
He never got capsized,
and never got lost.
'Cuz he never did sail through wind or storm,
But stayed on dry land, where it is safe, dry and warm!
Jocelyn laughs at Chumtooth's joke, smacking her own hand down on the bar.
You got it. Never heard of the Kuru, you seem strong and fierce. She pats his bicep for emphasis.
She turns to Enya and the furry critter crawled up with her. A drink is a cheap price to pay for a song and a voice to sing it. The name's Jocelyn, and I think you might want to keep little Mica there away from any Kuru cookfires."
Hearing Chumtooth's last statement along with his wink, she whispers to Enya
She listens as the comical blind man with his double eye patches starts his song. She wonders if his voice was meant to actually sound like a smelly weasel, but she finds the song entertaining and orders up another drink.
Enya laughs at what Chumtooth says about liking woman who have 'meat on their bones'. "I must say I can agree to that Chumtooth. Women should have a bit to them, makes them healthy." She continues to laugh as a barmaid comes in to take orders for more drinks. "Another round, on me!" She brings her fist down on the table, laughing cheerfully. "I like you guys. You are quite good company!"
Mica is startled by Enya's sudden burst of movement. She clings to her mistress, settling under her shirt for protection and poking her head out of Enya's collar. She sniffs and licks Enya's chin, believing that something has upsether and trying to reassure that she is there.
"It's okay Mica! I'm quite happy!" She nuzzles Mica, warming her body to sedate her otters fears.
Enya looks at Jocelyn. "What brings you here?" Her eyes flicker with curiosity.
Enya chuckles at Jocelyn's joke under her breath. Mica also lets out a 'chuckle', trying to emmulate her mistress.
"Jocelyn, you are very kind to say that. The next drinks are on me."
"Just looking for familiar faces. I've heard that a few old shipmates have been prowling these waters and wanted to give my regards. From the look of you and the voice, I'm guessing you sing for your supper. This is a lively enough place once the drinks start flowing, I bet you earn a good wage here."
If you've spent any time among the docks and warehouses of Port Peril, you've at least heard of the huge Half-Orc that walks in next. Cuddles crouches to get through the door, and completely fills the frame as he enters. He looks confused for a moment at the new faces, but shrugs and continues to sit at what you had thought was a reinforced storage table. Apparently it's Cuddles seat. A small bucket of ale is brought automatically. He beams at the inn keeper and slops down half of it before coming back up for air.
Al steps into the place, his green eyes scanning the room as he tries to spot the man he is looking for. He has a simple description of his contact, but as of yet, it doesn't appear that the shiprat has arrived. It does not surprise him, but the quality of the music does. It actually reminds him of home and the bardic circles that would happen many a night on the road. Smiling to himself, he walks over to the bar, plopping down on a bar stool and then pushing his hair back off of his face, the long, reddish blond locks falling free, he curses forgetting his extra silk scarf that he would usually tie his hair back with.
Looking over to the keep, he gives a quick nod and holds up one finger, "Ale, please, sir, and by all means, make sure those with the desire to perform for us all get one as well...at least when their current cups fall empty."
No-Eyes appears at the bar as if by magic; the eyepatches over both eyes staring at nothing in particular (as long as you include Aldous in that).
"Arr, an' as it happens, my cup IS empty!" He waggles his mug about eggageratedly.
Alain has worked his way over to the wall and is standing with his back planted against it and holding a fixed grin on his face. This was just how his father had described it! The raucous talk of his fellow sailors. The boasting, the singing, the drinking! The only thing that would make it better would be if his future shipmates were a bit less, well, fragrant. Then again, he reminded himself, these were crew off lesser ships. Whatever ship he finally decided on would undoubtedly sport a better class of pirate.
A stern looking man enters the bar slowly, almost cautiously. His cloths are nothing more than wrapped strips of linen. The liberal coating of grime and dust seems almost more substantial than the fabrics he wears. He looks around as if studying the crowd inside and begins to take a measured step forward. Too bad he measured wrong as he steps directly into the barmaid as she tried to walk past him to another patron. Tao Sheng bawks in disbelief at his clumsiness as the barmaid daftly swivels to keep the drinks from toppling onto nearby patrons. With a sidelong glare she continues onward. Tao Sheng realizing he had frozen in the same position for the last few long seconds staring stupidly, he steps back embarrassed. Clearing his throat and making sure the way is clear, he hurries to the counter and plops down on a stool sending a cloud of dust up around him. Too embarrassed to even speak let alone order he drew a few more angry glared from near by patrons and the bartender.
He looks to the barkeep expectantly.
Realizing that no help is forthcoming and not that he was not heard, he fidgets uncomfortably, then looks around at the other patrons. The strange old man with the two eye patches nudging his empty tankard forward catches Tao's eye first. Then the animated figures in the back room catch his ear. A glimpse of what he could have sworn were a pair of what he could only describe as water rats? His eyes continue to scan the room as he sees more strangeness in the form of a hulking half-orc with a bucket for a tankard.
Originally talking with Enya, an Elven woman with an otter sleeping around her shoulders moves back to a small table once the tavern starts filling up and getting noisier. There she gets a small bowl of water and places it on the table for the otter to drink out of while she drinks a cup of the fresh, clear and cool liquid.
With every new face that comes in she studies it seriously, then realising it is not the man she is looking for looks away to check the next patron.
Any who look at her will notice she is not wearing much, just some furs covering her bodies curves, what sort of fur it is unclear ... it could even be Otter! She has s small spear in one hand and a knife strapped to her waist. As people walk passed her (if they do) they will notice that a smell of sea water clings to her.
"YOU!" Chumtooth bellows at the barkeep. "Give food and drink to this quiet one who makes strange sounds!"
He points at the exotic man standing at the bar.
It takes a moment for Tao to realize the Kuru was speaking about him. He was surprised that he didn't noticed the large sharp toothed man man until now. He looked around at the other patrons for a moment. Then looks back at Chumtooth. He points at himself quizzically mouthing Me?
Painfully aware now that he has drawn attention he sticks his hand into what passes for a pocket in his tattered cloths and pulls out 5 silver pieces. He counts the meager amount several times hoping that he has enough for both room AND board tonight. He looks up at the frowning barkeeper now standing before him impatient and glaring at the dirt smears left on the counter from Tao's elbow. Tao drops the 5 pieces on the counter. In a strong far east accent Is dis enough fo uh woom and food?
@Jocylen "You would be correct. I sing to survive, but I also sing because I love it. I do hope I will make something off of tonight's singing... I think I heard someone say that they would pay for the food of the performers!" She says this last part excitedly. It is obvious that she has gone a day or so without eating much as she traveled to make it to Port Peril, but she seems in good spirits. "I accepted that some nights I'll go to bed hungry, but its too much fun to stop. Mica here believes the same!" The little otter nods its head.
Enya decides to check the main part of the tavern. She thought she heard some commotion. "Sounds like someone almost spilled something... Maybe a bar-fight will in sue!!" She gets out of her seat and the otter scampers up to lay around her shoulders. "Be right back!" she chirps.
She walks out to see some new people at the bar, and starts to go over to them. As she glides by, she hears Chumtooth scream at the barkeep and point to a man. She smiles and waves to him, skipping over through the patrons. "Oh, hello! So you're a friend of Chumtooth?" She puts a hand on his shoulder, her skin warm to the touch. "Well I'm Enya! Oh! Do let me sing for you!" She looks at him expectantly, her eyes wide with excitement and her face glowing.
Mica looks at the strange man and slides down Enya's arm to see him better. She chirps some hellos and cuddles back behind Enya's neck, wanting to doze a bit longer.
Chumtooth moves towards the exotic man with the strange voice.
"This is a loud place. This one must be loud, if this one will be heard!"
He pats the strange man roughly on the shoulder.
"The Others call this one Chumtooth," he says, thumping his own chest. "What do the Others call this one?" he asks, jabbing the man's chest with a thick, calloused finger.
A man with long, black hair and a dishoveled expression enters the bar and immediately beelines towards the bartender. When he walks, his right leg certainly moves more stiffly and makes a louder thud against the wooden floor than the other, but the man seems to be completely unimpeded in his movement.
"Whiskey, please. Sure is crowded in here today..."
Cuddles finishes his ale in one more epic gulp. He smiles happily and looks around at everyone who had made their way in.
HI NEW FRIENDS! who's across the tavern.
Tidus stares at the half-orc's friendly demeanor with a confounded expression. After coming to his senses, he turns back to the bartender and says, "Uh, one more ale for that one. On me."
Cuddles stands (with a crouch to avoid the roof) and steps once to get over to where Tidus is sitting. He points to himself and says, Cuddles. then jabs Tidus in the chest with an inquisitive look.
Enya watches as the half-elf and the half-orc make conversation, debating on going over. She finally decides, What the hey?, and walks over. Hello there, big guy! She looks at the half-elf. and little guy! She giggles and swirls around, her hair like fire catching a log. I'm Enya! and the lovely otter on my shoulders name's Mica. Say hi, Mica!
Mica looks up at Cuddles and decides it best to stay within the security of Enya's hair. She makes small noises into Enya's ear, and Enya giggles again.
The bartender takes three silver and walks back to other patrons . When Enya taps Tao on the shoulder he visibly jumps as another puff of dust floats up around her hand. When she lifts it she feels days of dirt, something slightly sticky, and a shred of fabric comes up attached to it.
He looks back to her wide eyed and a bit stunned at Chumtooths hearty greeting. He was not used to such welcome or greeting before. Being a slave most of his life, he was always accustom to hostility or indifference.
Rubbing his chest at the finger jab, he replies meekly,
Tao Sheng. They call me Tao Sheng.
His accent seems less pronounced when he speaks slower. But his discomfort and awkwardness is still blatantly obvious. He looks to the counter and scoops up the two remaining silver pieces and cups them in his hand for a moment.
He then looks to Enya then, but instead of the norm of asking for her name, he just stares blankly as if waiting.
He stared at the departing woman for a moment a bit transfixed. He is snapped out of it at a clattering on the bar counter as a block of bread sitting in a bowl of soup, and a mug of ale are set down next to him. The bar grunts something about clearing his bar and moving him and the big guy to one of the tables. He looks to the food as his mouth salivates, then to Chumtooth.
Uhh. Thank you for getting his attention. Would you like to share? he asks slowly and gestures toward a nearby empty table dropping the coins into his pocket.
Cuddles is delighted to meet two, three?, people at once. He grins, Hi EnyaMica! Hi toe shing!
Jocelyn eyes the crowd of new faces that enter the bar. She takes note of the large impressive orc that's obviously a bit slow. Someone with the name Cuddles in a town like this must be tough.
She hears a familiar sound over the din of voices. She approaches a group of patrons bent over in a corner, there are hoots of victory and the familiar sound of lost gambles accompanied by the gentle rumble of rolling dice. It's not a game she's familiar with, but it looks like there's fun to be had and coin to be won.
"How's this game played?" she asks the man next to her.
"It's called Under Over. See the three piles of coins there?" she nods. The first piles Under, the second's Over, and the third's the sweet spot, 7 on the dot. Bet on under or over and you'll get a new shiny gold piece to match the one you laid down. Bet on the sweets and you'll get four to add to it. Game's simple, coming away with more than you started ain't.
She plops a dented and worn gold piece down on the Over pile as her new acquaintance takes dice in hand and tosses them to the boards of the corner.
Enya smiles at Cuddles and melodically chuckles. Enya raises her voice so that Tao and Chumtooth can hear her. "Hey, fellas! Why dont you came in the back room? There are a whole lot more people back there and Im going to sing a song soon. The bar keep dont want me singing out here. I dont know why." She waves her hand in the direction of the back room. "Cuddles, smaller man, you two come, too! It's always nice to sing for a full crowd!" With that, she runs back to the room, her hair dancing behind her. You could swear you could hear embers crackling as she ran by...
His attention is brought to the large and imposing half-orc standing behind the equally imposing Chumtooth.
He clears his throat as he lifts his food and drink and moves to Enya not ready to turn down an invitation for song.
Friend, its he says the following in his strong accent toward Cuddles. Tāo shēng.
Now come, I would like to hear her song.
She giggles at Tao. "Then join me back here! Tao!" She responds as she passes him, breifly running her hand across his shoulders.
Jocelyn whoops with the rest of the winners. The man beside her cheers as well and he pats her on the shoulder. Her first reaction is to pull away defensively, but she swallows her unease and keeps appears to have a good time. She's still thrilled that she won.
She drops another coin on the Over pile while her Under Over mentor places his on Under and gives her a wink.
He passes her the dice and says Bring me luck, lass.
Heh. Only in Port Peril.
Tidus hands the fresh ale over to Cuddles and says, "The name's Tidus. Pleasure to meet you. And you, miss. It is certainly a pleasure to meet you as well. Cute pet." Tidus shoots down his whiskey, still trying to figure out what in the world is happening here.
"So what brings you all to Peril?"