Once the repairs are finished he returns to the deck with the other and asks Trelk and Gustav, "Well, are you two amenable to forming a team with Mr. Scotts and myself?"
Gustav nods and looks at the others. "Yes, that seems the best arrangement. I look forward to our adventure!"
"Race did not enter into my analysis beyond the inherit abilities granted to an individual by their parentage," Dorian replies to Trelck, tilting his head to one side and quirking an eyebrow.
"Race did not enter into my analysis beyond the inherit abilities granted to an individual by their parentage," Dorian replies to Trelck, tilting his head to one side and quirking an eyebrow.
"Remind me to not let you make a rousing call to arms anytime."
Be glad we get the almanac instead of the Psycho Shrub
Be glad we get the almanac instead of the Psycho Shrub
"At least he don't talk as much."
But that HORRID clicking sound, UGH I'd tear my ears off if I had to listen to that for monthes.
As you go about the events you've described, you each recall the contents of a letter that had been handed to you upon embarking.
Greetings adventurers, this letter contains some information that you may find useful.
The ship Winter's Morn will be making port within a sheltered fjord. Very little of Skolderang has been explored, but this is one of the known channels of the land. There, at the base of the fjord, a company of hired men and women will begin construction of an outpost while you scout out the surrounding lands.
Let it be known that your immediate region is known as the Gylbrandyr, a relatively cool region compared to the northern areas. Gylbrandyr consists of highlands, fjords, forests and hills from what we know of it. A previous smaller expedition met with some indigenous locals, a race of tall humanoids called the Rangvir. A small village of theirs was reported to lie five days to the south following the fjord summit.
It would be wise to make allies and make regular reports back to the outpost. Day by day it should grow larger and stronger. We expect Winter's Morn to return to the mainland in three months time with news and based on your findings, we will send more resources and men.
We wish you luck, this is just the beginning.
Mogwag was casually strolling around the ship reading a letter multiple times
What is all meant he wasn't sure but at least it would make for fine adventuring if he could meet these fables snow elves he had been told about.
Craw goes back to the front of the boat, leaning over and lighting his cigar.
Will is going to randomlly snoop around the.ship
Gustav will continue tinkering with weapons and gear, and checking on Horace, his mule.
"Trelck, you sure you are ok with this? I know I'll appreciate having your axe nearby."
Will
You snoop around the ship, but there's really not much to see. Building materials, supplies and workers. It's an expedition vessel, plain and simple.
|
Gustav will continue tinkering with weapons and gear, and checking on Horace, his mule.
"Trelck, you sure you are ok with this? I know I'll appreciate having your axe nearby."
Aye lad its a good split. A man with your expertise would be helpful to me if we need to mend our arms and as much as I like my kind Banny's skills make sense with the gunslinger, Mogwag and...well whatever that damn golem does. You, me, William and Dorian'll make a fine team.
"Tik'Klik!"
The golem finally notices the mule, and spends 10 minutes studying the animal from all directions.
If there's nothing interesting than Will is going to just stare at the horizon, studying the coast.
Banny satisfies herself her team is ready to land and heads back deckside, leaning on the railing next to Craw. Between the Twig, the elf, and the Human, she'll take the human. He's not too bad for a human.
"You managed much in the deep cold afore, Craw?"
Craw sits still for a moment, then takes out his cigar and lets out a few smoke rings. "Nope." And he puts the cigar back in.
"Right." Banny pauses to spit over the railing into the dark water, then turns and crosses her arms, pitching her voice to carry to the others on deck. Some of them might already know this, but it don't hurt to share the knowledge.
"First thing is layer them fine clothes we were given. Wear 'em over your regulars. You want lotsa little walls between you an' the cold-- I reckon it's like a castle, with many rings of walls, not just one big wall. Layer double inside yer boots-- your feet get cold, you're screwed faster than a brothel girl in a port town."
"The clothes the company gave us already have their outsides oiled, so that'll keep off some of the water, but if you get yourself soaked, you're in a world of hurt. Stop, get a fire going, dry out. Otherwise your clothes'll freeze right on your skin."
"Watch your team-mates. Once an hour, ask questions that got to be answered, like 'what year were you born', stuff like that. If they seem confused or slur their answer, the cold's gettin' to 'em, they may not realize how bad yet. You gotta stop an' get them warm, or the heat's gonna keep leachin' right out of them. By that point, they need help gettin' warm. Body heat's best. We got a saying: There's no enemies in winter. You just cuddle up close like you're plannin' a weddin'."
Banny pauses a moment, ticking points off in her head.
"Dried meat, nuts, dried fruit-- alla that's good to eat in the cold. You need to eat more 'n you do down south, and you need to drink more too, even if you don't feel thirsty."
"If your fingers or toes start feelin' like they're burnin', the winter's really biting on them. Don't rub them, and don't put 'em near a fire. Jam 'em into your armpits, or pour warm-- not hot-- water over them. You heat the skin too fast, you'll do lasting damage."
"Any questions?" she asks, both of Craw and anyone else who might be curious.
"Sounds 'bout right. Forgot to tell 'em not to eat snow." He eyes the dwarf and the elf. I've had worse I had to get close to.
Because of the water? mogwag replies.
I read that frost faeries are attracted to it and freeze you while you sleep.
The golem listens to Banny as she talks about wearing things and such, and it then looks down at it's body, which has a nice thin sheet of frost on it.
"Tik'Klik!"
"Tik'Klik!"
"Dehydrates you." Curden takes another puff and lets the smoke float over the water.
Hey Super Stump, feeling chilly?
"Tik"
The golem's tone is decidedly cold as it stares at William for a moment, then looks at the ship, the rigging, and finally moves two feet to the left, deploys it's morningstar, and slams the morningstar into the railing under some rigging ropes.
"Klik"
The ropes vibrate, and the vibration moves up the ropes to the rigging, and then sheet's of thin frost begin pealing off the ropes and sails, a cloud of slush heading down toward William in a wet cold slump.
Curden raises his chin, blowing a large smoke ring then blowing a smaller one through the center of it. He's gonna piss of the captain if he keeps this up.
AGGH, THAT'S COLD!!!!!
mutters to himself, you think you can hear something about a no good construct.
Tik'klik watches William shudder and shake and brush off snow for a bit, then skates to the open door leading into the ship.
A minute or so later it returns carrying a mug that steams heavily in the cold air. Skating up to William, the golem hands him the mug, which is filled with hot coffee from the ship's little galley. "Tik'Klik!"
Then the golem skates back over to the rail to watch as the shore comes into view in the distance.
Dorian regards Mr. Craw and Mr. Stonesoul queerly, watching them closely as they smoke. After a few moments of observation, he asks "Is there a reason to inhale the byproduct of the combustion of dried plant matter? Surely the heat alone must wreak havoc on your mucus membranes?"
confused, Will accepts the mug and mutters a thanks
Craw looks at the cigar, tapping the ashes on the end off then handing it to Dorian, shoulder raises as if saying Try it.
Dorian takes the stogie gingerly with the tips of two fingers, rotating it to get a thorough examination. "Interesting, broad, dried leaves rolled together..." He puts the cigar to his lips like a child slobbering on a kazoo, and takes a few experimental puffs. The smoke begins streaming from both ears and his nostrils as he exhales. He licks the roof of his mouth, then shakes his head as the nicotine buzz hits him. "Oof. This is a method of drug administration. I understand now. Thank you Mr. Craw. Here you are," he says handing the cigar back to the gunslinger. "The flavor is not unpleasant, but the drug within might negatively affect my performance. I will not partake further."
Craw accepts the cigar, taking a long draw on it and making wisps appear. He tried it, gotta give him that.
A man walks up to group and smiles.
"We should be arriving within the next hour or so. Seeing that it's early morn, I leave it up to you to decide how you plan to depart. I recommend scouting out perhaps just the local perimeter at best. The fjord walls are high but a good march north-east should find you at the Shattered Wall, a natural cliff with many good handholds should you want to reach the top. Of course, you are free to explore the fjord.
"Of course, I've been told that heading to far north past what I believe are called the Gylbranhills may land you in more dangerous and wild territories. For now, I recommend just sticking to immediate fjord region. It's nice and green anyways."
"Aside from a Rangvir village, which you may have glimpsed the smoke off to the north on our port side, not much else is known aside from broad regions. I think there's an island on the other side of the eastern fjord wall if I remember correctly. Explore what you will, see if you can get on good terms with the locals, and if you find anything of worth for the expedition try and bring it back, alright?"
Gustav nods to Trelk, and tries to also look tough and thoughtful towards the horizon, but he just ends up sneezing really loudly and wiping off his goggles. "Whuff... must be the pipesmoke. Never got used to it."
"We'll do that." Craw goes down to gather his things in preparation.
Tik'Klik tilts it's head as the man speaks, then it makes it's standard Tik'Klik sound. As the boat sluices into the shallow water, the golem leaps to the ship's prow and then does a flip through the air and lands on the shore, moving rapidly to avoid the ship's prow as it grounds softly for unloading.
"Tik'Klik!?"
A newly thawed Will shakes a little, straightens his duster and turns to the prow.
Come on guys, I'm ready to leave when you are. I say we go to the village first. Any objections?
Banny checks the straps on her pack one more time, then holds onto the ship's railing until the time comes to disembark.
She listens to the trading company's representative, filing away the information in her head with a slow nod.
"And what's the timetable on this outpost to be built? Will more of the company's men be arriving here over time? Is the ship turning around now, and heading back-- or are you intending to wait at anchor for our reports?"
Gylbrandyr #1: Winter Morn's Landing ~ Northlanding [F8]
Here is docked the Winter's Morn. A wide beach of dark sand stretches at the base of the western fjord wall giving a fine natural embankment. Preparations have begun to build an outpost here and the people are busy everywhere.
Banny
"No timetable miss, we're expected to make the best of what we can. In three months the Winter's Morn sails away so we'll do what we can before then eh?"
Banny nods thoughtfully at the company man's answer. Three months with the ship here and the outpost being built, and after that they'll see, eh? She can live with that.
She makes a mental note to find a piece of driftwood and notch the nights they spend, to keep track of passing mornings. Can't always see the moon, after all.
"Suits me."
To her 'team', Banny echoes Scotts' suggestion to the others-- a trek to the village, to get possible allies as quickly as possible, as well as intel on the region. And to find out if they know of any giants in these stark mountains...