"Well, m'am, I'd like to ask what the focus of your research is? That is to say why are you heading to the Expanse? I have a few ideas of my own, but I'm curious what another scholar such as yourself has their sights on out here."
Ieana laughs. "Isn't that why you're here, Professor?"
"Well... yes, rum, but not for me. It's for somebody who's hung over. That should help, right?"
"Nonetheless, I do not sell the cloak and dagger stuff," he says to the both of them in a more serious tone. However, he quickly lightens up again. "But if you want a good drink, then that is another thing entirely."
Sasha laughs and Markesh chuckles and plays a card. It's actually a decent play for once.
The quartermaster doles out the requested provisions somewhat begrudgingly, and then proceeds to make some notes in his inventory log. He seems especially uncertain about the rum seeing Harri standing there, and Velia so...well, let's just say it, full of naiveté.
Velia takes the mess of stuff and trots back to the cabin where she's expected. "Hello? I have your stuff."
"It is as I said before. Rum - no, alcohol in general - is a poison. It will give you a good time, but drink too much and it will kill you," he says, leaning back in his chair. "What I seek is the perfect brew, one that will bring an eternity of drunken bliss! All I need is the right ingredient, and it can become a reality."
"Come on in then." Velia can see the small room is fairly messy containing a bunk attached to the wall, a wealth of empty bottles, and surprisingly a several crumpled scraps of paper with heavy ink writing often crossed out or smeared lay strewn across the floor. The fold-down shelf on the bulkhead has an unkempt pile of pages sitting on it covered in writing as well. An ink pen lays next to a stoppered ink pot which has a string tied around its neck and the other end attached to the chain holding up the desk. Pretty clever that.
Once Velia's inside, Aerys drags the footlocker she had behind the door back in its place and offers it as a seat to Velia. Then she takes the full bottle of rum and the bits of food and kind of flops down on her bunk. She sets the full bottle on the fold down desk and picks up the not quite finished bottle she had before. She starts eating in between swigs. Her pretty eyes look at Velia and after a moment of silence and her eating and drinking, she suddenly blinks and blurts out, "Uh...thanks. Guess I should I have said that. What's your name again? And did you say you know how to heal people or something?"
Sasha shrugs and puts down a card she can afford to lose, and Markesh gets the hand. She looks at Rumbur and asks, "So that's what yer up on the Jenivere fer? 'Perfect' beer berries?"
As you wander trying to find Lucky, you don't seem to have any luck. The rest of the crew all seem to think that Lucky has already ascended to the crow's nest. In fact, there seems to be some confusion as to the last time anyone has seen him at all.
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'Oh bugger. So much for me helping out.' Harri crosses the deck, she picks up a discarded mop and a bucket. Placing her naked foot upon the buckets lip and pushing slightly, pouring some of the grey water across the floor. With a sopping slap, as of a wet fish, the mop hits the deck and Harri proceeds to clean it.
After a minute of two, Harri shakes her head. It was hard work, good honest work; already the scorching sun beat sown upon her back drying the sweat as it was created. Placing the mop in the bucket; Harri makes up her mind.
'Shirking me duties, but if this is important?' Harri moves to the rigging and grasps the ropes. She hauls herself up towards the crows-nest and hopefully Lucky's berth. Long muscular legs work in unison with her tanned arms, soft curves straining against her cream blouse as it clings to her.
Velia eyes Aeyrs a bit uneasily when the woman grabs the rum, but says nothing. She eases down onto the trunk, eyes flickering around the cabin with undisguised curiosity. "It is good to see you eat. That alone should help you feel better, you know. I am Velia of Cheliax and yes, I have some skill at leechcraft. I hope to find out more about native healing in the Mwangi. There is much wisdom even in primitive areas, you know."
As Aerys eats, Velia leaves the perch of the chest and mosies around a little, stopping near the desk. "Oh, are you a writer? It must be difficult when the ship is rocking." She prods an empty bottle with her toe. "If you take these back to the quartermaster, maybe he'll give you refills. Of course, you don't seem to want to leave the cabin. I haven't talked to Lucky yet; one of the crew is going to find him for me. Is it just him, or is something else bothering you? I'll help if I can; you've seen that."
He scratches his chin, contemplating on the news about the half-elf. "Aerys, huh? I would never have guessed."
Korvosa waits for Ieana's response and as she mulls over her reply he can't help but think on her question. "Isn't that why you're here, Professor?" A professor? Certainly not me. But maybe. Funny how life works...
Tonight he found himself in a ramshackle bar on one of the islands of the Inner Sea. A smaller port, mostly a known location for smuggling and various other illicit activities and their ilk. The tavern sometimes inn sometimes whorehouse, was at the edge of the docks. Inside there were a handful of tables, a bar directly opposite the front door and a stairway ran up to the second floor along the West wall. The dive was lit by four lanterns scattered about the tables, despite their glow the gloom of the evening still hung about the place.
"Wait!" Gork, his opponent, said, This is where I get robbed! Just shovel as many into the bag as I can! "Double or nothin!" The half-Orc cried. At least the man across from him assumed he was a half-Orc, he may have in fact been any mutt of goblinoid blood, they let anybody into this bar the man thought. Only his slouch brought him under 6 feet, his semi milky eyes, and otherwise rather monsterish appearance. No doubt about it. Somewhere back in this guy's family stump there was a bugbear and an Orc engaging in a rather heinous act of questionable morals. The man shuddered.
"Now, how do you plan on doing that Gork? I have all your money all ready." The man stood and began to scoop handfuls of coins.
Gork's beady eyes darted left and right before narrowing their gaze at the man. "Buh! I have... this ."
"Rolled up parchment? Great. That will definitely pay the bills Gork."
"Nah jus any scroll fool," his voice lowering to a whisper. "A map... ta untowld riches." His smile widened, showing what remained of his teeth.
The young man eyed the paper on the table. Smiled. "Really? That? You expect me to believe that ? Does it come with a lamp and genie and a few wishes? Perhaps a scimitar jammed into a boulder that will make me king of Golarion? I think I'll stick with the silver." He stretched out his hand for the pile one more time when the monstrous 'hand' of Gork seized his arm.
"No." Gork laid his other fist on top of the table, this one clenched around a pistol, a crude iron tube fitted to what looked like a knot of wood. Gods I hate being right "Tha's ma silvuh."
I am not dying here. the man began to speak, "Yeah, sure Gork, sure, just-" the man began reaching to his own gun belt with his other hand.
"No. Keep yer hand where I can sees it!"
"Now alright, it's just silver Gork let's not do any thing hasty huh?" Occasionally, Dirk would find himself lamenting the lifestyle he followed that got him into situations where the city watch or guard was unlikely to be of any help. Sweat rolling down his forehead, this was one of those times.
Gork kept the pistol leveled at Dirk as he removed he let go of the man's arm and began filling his own coin purse.
"You bugbears are sore losers you know that?" Dirk said, pulling his arm back.
"Buhg-what?!"
The man grabbed the side of the table and flung it upwards. Boom The wooden slab bucked, the explosion of silver into the air was met with the hand cannon firing its shot wide. Dirk dived to the floor. Standing on his hands and knees he scrambled behind the bar, in the heat of the moment crawling away from the exit. Real good Dirk, you'll get outta this one alive I'm sure. As he came around the bar he runs into the barkeep, also on the ground.
"You folks need to take this outside!" the barkeep said.
"Yeah I'll get right on that, as soon as he stops shooting!" His back against the bar Dirk looks around him and sees two things that catch his eye: his hat and a particular rolled up piece of paper. He grabs up the He draws his own pistol and loads it. "Gork! You stop shooting and take your money! I don't wanna have to kill you."
"Haha! Ya say tha from behind a ba!" Gork laughs and fires another shot. Boom The bar top erupts into a cloud splinters. "That's the way you want it!" Dirk grabs his hat and jams it down atop his head. Stuffing the 'map' into his jacket he crouches and jumped out from the side of the bar, diving towards the stairs. He fires a shot! BOOM and grazes Gorks thigh.
"Agggghhh!" Gork moans as he drumps to the ground and reloads his pistol.
Guess I'm going up! Dirk runs up the stairs along the second floor, Gork in hot pursuit. Both men viciously reloading their hand guns, hoping to come out on top. Dirk reaches the end of his run, bounding up the stairs and around the floor only to be stopped. A dead end. Standing in front of a window he turns-
"Stahp righ thur Dirk! Drawp yo gon!" Gork was too fast on the draw. His weapon already leveled on Dirk.
Dirk drops his weapon to the floor, the pistol spins for a moment and its barrel lazily points toward Gork, as if the weapon itself wants to kill him. Dirk began to focus on his weapon, imagining it in his mind, the familiar grip and tension of the trigger. "You got me! Just, just let me go alright. I'm unnar-" Dirk leapt backwards into the window BOOM and slid down the roof amongst broken glass and tile.
Gork's eyes went wide. Dirk's pistol hovered in the air, smoke drifting from the barrel. The flesh on his chest bloomed open, the wall getting a hot fresh coat of bugbear paint.
"You shoulda let me outta there pal." Korvosa shook the glass loose from his hat and jacket. Pulling out the map for inspection he puts boots to dirt and made his way to the nearest boat. Wonder if you're worth anything?
"I...I am not yet ready to part with certain secrets, Professor Quinn," she says. "Perhaps we can talk more about this...another time. For now, I am willing to discuss scholarly things, but I will not answer any questions about my plans aboard the Jenivere." Ieana gives you an enigmatic smile.
Upon reaching the crows nest, your nose is assaulted with a horrible smell like something rotten left to sit on the sun. Peeking over the edge of the basket, you see that Lucky is sitting head down with his legs stretched out before him. One hand is resting on a mostly empty bottle of rum.
Aerys' expression becomes surly when you mention her writing, and she looks like she's about to say something angry, but she catches sight of the rum you brought her. She sighs and says, "Yeah I write a little, but it's not for anyone else...not yet. So don't read anything."
Aerys finishes chewing and swallows the last of the bottle of the rum she had kept herself. She sucks air through her teeth and squeezes her eyes shut. With a massive shiver, she opens her eyes and looks at Velia once more.
"Writing on the ship isn't that tough unless the ocean is really choppy." The half-elf shrugs. "You just get used to the motion, you know?" She looks at Velia carefully.
"Alright...so tell me about what kind of stuff your god or goddess lets you do. Do you have access to a remove disease prayer?"
The woman seems distracted suddenly as she looks up at the rigging. High above, Harri is climbing her way to the top. Sasha's cards are apparently forgotten as they dangle from her hand.
At the sound of the ringing coin, Sasha's head whips around, eyes wide. As she watches it bounce, she licks her lips and plops back down on the barrel she is perched upon with a focus. Her cards once again held tightly, Sasha peers at her hand intently, and then mumbles, "Yup...yup...nows we playin'."
Another silver mark appears on the table. It hits the table with such force, one end slightly embeds in the soft wood. No one even saw if it came from Sasha's fingers, as she's already playing a card as well and then wolfishly turns to look to see what Rumbur will do next.
Rumbur can't help but notice that neither of them have played on suit for this hand. If he has the suit, he'll win...provided he can match the bet, of course.
"Oh, I won't read anything you don't want me to. I do like a good read, but privacy is important. I don't want to intrude."
Velia watches Aerys curiously, perched on the chest edge holding her knees with delicate hands as the woman drinks and rambles a bit.
"I can do all sorts of things, though I don't have a god or goddess as such. It's more of a.. um.. principle. Or two. If you know what I mean. It's more... uh... abstract. Like, not a person. Not so much. Just things that are important to me."
"So, like, I can do a lot, but there are a few things that are beyond me. A lot of things, really. I can't remove diseases yet, not by myself, but might be able to use a scroll to do it. I also have ways to help a person fight off diseases on their own."
She stares through the wall for a moment, pondering dreamily. "If I could remove disease, I could make a lot of money at the brothels. They pay well to keep the girls healthy."
Her fuzzy focus returns to Aerys. "I wouldn't charge you, though. I like you."
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Quietly she climbs up and crouches beside the man; gently tapping his face. "Ey up, you've been a rum 'un. Not you'll need to sober up, my lad."
She checks him out carefully, making sure that it is just the drink that has got him. The stench that comes from the man especially baking in the hot sun is impressive. Harri uses her hat to create a bit of shade for the man.
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Harry sits down next to the hopefully unconscious man, she knows that it's the best cure for him. 'That is if he's just drunk. I'll have to get him some water soon, lest sunstroke get him.' she thinks peacefully.
She always enjoyed watching from the crows nest, the word seems so insignificant and her troubles far away. Left behind in Cheliax like her uncle and the sop they wanted to marry her off to. Well to feel the sun on your skin & wind in your hair was so much better.
Keeping her legs tucked under her, she scans the deck then the horizon. Trying to spot anything unusual, or ships or land.
'I wonder where we are heading the Captain ain't acting right. Now between him and Ieana they have done something to t' first mate. This really ain't right... I hope we ain't gonna be sold into slavery or marooned on a coast. she speculates wildly. Despite her self-assurance there was a wild streak to her, a fiery temperament reflected in her hair. Though which came first was debatable.
Aerys looks at Velia and smiles. "So, I suppose I should be a right better hostess now." The pretty woman reaches down into the clutter and fishes out a wooden mess kit. She unrings a mug and pours some rum into it. Standing she crosses the brief distance ad offers Velia the mug.
"Here, have a drink with me. And tell me more about your godly ideas. Or ideas of gods. Whichever is more appropriate."
She throws her hands up and flops back against the ship railing. "Bah! Take yur winnings then, Master Dwarf." Then a sly smile appears on her face and she cocks an eyebrow over narrowed eyes. "Course...we could bet some real scratch and use gold coins...Then you'd all be dazzled by me playin'."
"Oh, well, about.. um..." Velia takes a delicate sip from the cup and her eyebrows rise. "I spent a lot of time outdoors as a kid. You know. Elfing. But then the elves didn't like me anymore so I had to go elsewhere. Did a lot of moving around. It was a good thing, you know? So the thing I saw the most in the wild, out near the sea-cliffs, was how much people respected a good storm. Or lack of one. No rain, too much rain, lightning, wind, the hot sun - folks respect it and there's a lot of power there. Heck, you can feel that power in a storm, right? Especially on the sea?"
Velia takes another sip and sneezes, then sets the cup gently aside.
"So one day I was out traveling, taking the road because it's quicker than bumbling through briars, yeah? And these guys came up. Well, guys and gals. Anyway, they weren't very nice. I was minding my own business, enjoying the storm that was blowing in, hoping for one of those whirlwinds - they're fun to watch. So my gold, I earn it. I don't have much, but I do earn it. These folks didn't want to earn it. They wanted mine. And it sort of riled me up, it really did. But there were too many. To fight, I mean."
Dark brows contract in a scowl above her mismatched eyes and a frown bends her pretty lips. "So, I was standing there and they drew on me and the wind blew up. And there was a BANG! Then they were lying on the ground, kind of smoking. A few were twitching, you know? Anyway, I didn't rob them. I left 'em there. They couldn't move, really, buried up to their necks. And the sign I left said only the truth - that they were highway robbers. I don't know what happened to 'em, and I don't care. But after that I realized that the weather meant power and I could touch it if I thought about it... and the road was where I belonged. So. Makes sense, yeah?"
Velia cocks her head curiously as she watches for Aerys' reaction, smiling. "So what about you? What do you do?"
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The heavy stench tries to make her stomach revolt, decay and rot having set in during the baking sun. Only as she controls her gut does the truth dawn on her. 'Damn and blast. By Besmara's Bounteous Bosom I've been frelling set up. They knew it were my turn to be in the crows' nest, they sent me up here. And bloody Alton framed me - he even told me he were sending Lucky up here in my stead, giving me motive. Is it that Ieana's doing?'
Her thoughts spin in wild directions as the whole consequences sit heavilly upon her shoulders; her parched throat begs for alcohol - however she knows she must keep her wits about her. 'I'm gonna be keel-hauled, if I'm lucky.' the last thoughts draws her eyes to the man beside her. Tears spring to her eyes, she's not to proud to admit the tears were not solely for her friend.
After a moments recollection and trying to compose herself as she had been taught by her Master aboard the Sea Slug. The meditative process focusses her mind, slowing her breathing. 'Now after a couple of days in the sun...' she leans over and looks at the wound.
After checking out the dead young man, her own age, but he would not have a chance to grow any older.
Harri looks down to the deck; 'I need allies, someone who didn't do this... Rumbur & Markesh could never have climbed up here.' Checking herself for blood-stains, then Harri quickly lowers herself down into the rigging. With marsupial zeal, she scrambles quietly down the ropes keeping her back to the sun. Hoping that she'd just be a silhouette to any observers.
Once upon the deck Harri looks around for the pair at the card table, before moving forward.
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She flicks some ginger locks across her face; "Hello. I've slight situation, could thee help w' it."
Looking around the table, there's a nervousness to her wary voice.
Korvosa, you may have +5 RCs for your rousing backstory...even if it does have a few too many guns for Pathfinder. Lol, if two people in a hundred miles of one another have firearms outside of the Mana Wastes it's probably a statistical anomaly and indeed a good day to gamble.
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"So, tha' knows how I were meant t' be in Crows' nest looking out; but I were mucking around w' you.
Well, t' Mate sent Lucky up there." she keeps her voice low, continually looking around.
"I say he sent him up. Well he didn't, he were up there. Try to set me up or summat, I think it's t' do wi' t' mutiny. Or summat." The words are tumbling out with barely a thought between them, becoming more incomprehensible as the brogue thickens.
"They want me keel-hauled." she adds urgently.
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"Well it's like this, Lucky..." she snorts at the irony; "he's up in t' crows nest. Throat slit from ear to ear, has been for past couple of days." There's a green cast as she announces this news, similar to Rumburs' earlier.
"Now it were my turn up there, this morning. But First Mate Alton, said he'd get Lucky to go up there, in me place." Harri says quietly; "So he must know about Lucky. They are setting me up."
"I were meant to go up there and find t' body. Then they'd blame me and keel-haul me." she shakes her head; "I should have known summat were up, ever since Alton talked to the Captain about the way we are going off the sea-lanes to somewhere random."
The young sailor puts a hand against her warm face deep in thought.
Korvosa leaves Ieana and makes his way topside to see how the game is faring.