Visibly touched, Khazmina runs her fingers over the diadem lightly, "It's... beautiful, Lavinia, thank you!" She puts it on immediately, bathing in the flashing of the tiny lights.
"Thank you, Kyson! I like your quill too. I love feathers."
Later that day, Khaz rearranges her hair style to show off the pretty accessory when Kyson bursts in showing off his new scroll.
"This is with the new quill? Oh... that is amazing!" Casting a cantrip to be able to read the spell, she pours over the work. "I do envy you this, Kyson, being able to craft such, to be able to create something so... useful, and beautiful. This will certainly set someone on their toes when you use it."
She ponders lightly, running a finger over the complex symbols and lettering, [b]"Do you think, that is uhm, would you mind making me some of these, when you have time? I would happily pay you for them. I just don't have the knack for writing the way you do." She says with a sigh.
Kyson beams upon hearing Khaz' reaction to the scroll.
"You like it? You *really* like it?!" Kyson smiles broader. "And you can use it? You should keep it then! You take that one and I'll make more!"
Kyson leaves the scroll of fireball*2 with Khaz and goes off to town to buy more inks.
The next time Kyson scribes, he will enact the power of the quill to craft and extended Heroism and a regular fireball together.
"I like this quill!" Kyson exclaims when the project is finished.
* * *
Kyson will take out a piece of nice parchment and write a note to Lavinia using the fancy quill bestowed upon him.
Dear Lavinia,
Thank you very much for the nice Quill. It writes very prettily. I think I will use it almost every day until I die.
Please send arcane inks to the island after we get there and established. I'm going to need it. Also, make it's Yahirma's brand arcane inks from the store in the Sun District...the Xerath brand sucks.
Thank you again,
Kyson
Sekathral, you can get some basic information about the Isle, but most people know little more than rumors. You do learn the Isle is about 3,000 miles away to the south, a journey of about 80 days, if the weather holds fair.
The next morning -- with departure slated for dawn -- you arrive at Eleder's harbor, where a bustle of activity is taking place around the familiar forms of the Blue Nixie and the Sea Wyvern.
Lavinia greets you as you arrive with a broad smile. "Good morning!" she calls, "it's a beautiful day to set sail. I thought you could travel on the Wyvern, while the Ravens" -- you can see the adventuring party carrying their gear -- "and I will be on the Nixie."
Amella Vankalie, the captain of the Sea Wyvern, nods as you approach, though she seems more concerned with getting the rest of her ship's occupants aboard. You can see her nose wrinkle slightly as she gestures a bent old gnome toward the interior of the ship from her position at the top of the gangplank. You can see several other people, apparently other passengers, climbing the plank, including a hunch-shouldered pale-skinned man with a beautiful composite longbow slung over his shoulder who looks nervously around as he boards the ship and red-haired woman with a falchion at her hip, a longbow on her shoulder and who studded leather armor is covered with flamboyant silk scarves.
Lavinia pulls you aside as you approach. "Thank you for the note. I'm sure you'll get plenty of use out of the quill. However, I'm also traveling to the isle, so I won't be able to send any inks, but perhaps we can set up someplace to help create whatever you need once we're there. I'm sure that would be of great value to the community."
Kyson, beginning to feel some measure of forgiveness for Lavinia, strides onto the boardplank and hails the Captain.
"Do I need permission to come aboard? I heard that sometimes you do. May I?"
Kyson will examine Amella as if to estimate her damselness.
Sense Motive
Perception
If given permission to board, Kyson will find his cot and prepare for sail.
This should only mostly suck. Mostly completely totally suck. 80 days on the water?! Sure.
Sekathral, despite feeling the after-effects of his Last Night On Shore celebrations, clambers aboard, salutes the quarter-deck and approaches Amella as soon as she appears to be free.
"Here, skipper, I'm not spending this whole bloody trip being a spare f***ing prick at a wedding. I'll be up aloft as soon as I've stowed me dunnage, and I'll take my turn at watch same as every other sod on board. That alright?"
Capt. Amella nods her permission for you to board, seeming to give you the same sort of appraising glance you give her, Kyson. Unfortunately, you don't think she's all that much of a damsel -- as if the scar and her language weren't enough to give it away, she's clad in leather armor with a rapier slung at her hip.
As if to further make your point, she responds to Sekathral's comments in the same vein. "Glad to hear it, mate. Unless it's my own, I'd rather have a hand be useful than off playing with itself. Might as well take one of the crew cabins" -- she gestures to a set of double bunks at the stern of the ship -- "instead of having to bed down with the bilges."
Zstelian, in addition to your five friends, Amella and her six crew members, there appear to be eight other passengers. Four head to the bunks, content apparently to stay out of the way, while four others remain on deck.
The pale man you noticed earlier, who you don't think is actually human despite his appearance, continues to skulk about on deck, clearly keeping an eye on the docks. Another man, this one an older human, also seems to be keeping a nervous eye about.
The gnome -- who has a slightly unpleasant, earthy odor you realize when you get close -- also comes on deck, poking around the sihp as if investigating all of it. Amella seems to grimace and move away whenever he comes too close.
Finally, the red-headed woman lounges against the rail, seemingly content to observe her fellow passengers.
Finally, a young boy, clearly the cabin boy, scurries around trying to keep things in order.
As you all board -- stowing your goods in the forward barracks on the ship's lower deck, which contains five relatively cramped bunks, three beds high -- Amella looks at the sun, as it rises above the horizon. "Always one bloody laggard, slower than a galleon in the doldrums," she mutters. "We're supposed to be setting sail now."
Khaz says her goodbyes to the town in her own fashion, a new bag slung over one shoulder as she approaches. The diadem, while pretty, currently is settled under her usual hat; no need to get delayed teaching manners to muggers.
Approaching the ship with her usual grace and discipline, she is neither early nor late, but right on time, as only a princess can be.
"Are we all ready, then?" She says, flashing a smile to one and all, though it takes a bit more to keep it in place for a few faces than it does for others.
Kyson makes mental notes of the passengers.
Amella Vankalie, Captain. Also, not a damsel.
Pale longbow guy. Hunch shouldered. Looks weird.
Silky flamboyant red-haired falchion. Probably not a damsel...big sword.
Nervous older human.
Smelly gnome...who is very curious. Kyson moves away from the gnome whenever he comes close. The gnome reminds him of the one who attacked him on the Night of Froggy Jerks.
Young Boy, cabin boy.
Amella. 6 crew. 8 passengers.
Kyson watches the 4 other passengers go below deck.
Palie, Reddie, Gnomie, & Oldie. And 4 more below.
"That's the problem with the sea... no dwarves." Dargon thinks to himself before setting out to find someone to talk with.
"Oye, next time let the fart blow downwind, gnome!" Dargon blurts out as he walks up to the gnome in an attempt at conversation. "What brings you on this ship, anyway?"
Silvio takes a passionate farewell, or rather "see you soon", of Liamae then strides up the gangplank. "Ah, it is nice to be back on the sea, is it not?" Silvio says and breats a lungfull of the harbor air. He looks to Amella. "So you are going to pilot this ship into adventure? You know that Silvio is a great sea captain of his own accord. Should you ever find yourself in need of advice, just ask Silvio."
"No flaming idea," Amella responds to Zstelian. "I just know how many of you there should be."
"Don't know about adventure, but I'm aiming to make it to the Isle of Dread," she tells Silvio. "As for advice, I suspect that'd be as useful as a set o' t@@& on a bull."
"EH? WHAT'S THAT?" the gnome replies to Dargon.
"What's on the Isle of Dread that would interest a gnome? Dargon responds.
"WHAT? NO, WE'RE GOING TO THE ISLE OF DREAD!"
Kyson returns to deck after finding his bunk and storing his crap.
Meh. Might as well make nice with those who are going to die with me. I'll start with her.
Kyson wets his palm and slicks back his cowlick, then licks his thumbs and does the same for his eyebrows.
With a deep breath, Kyson emulates his best Silvio swagger and approaches the red-haired not-damsel.
"Hey...there, lass. You...like...boats and stuff?" Kyson smiles silvioly.
That wasn't so hard.
Khaz looks around and thinks to get to know their newest traveling companions. She dabs some of her special perfume behind her ears before approaching the pale, nervous man.
"I'm sure we'll get moving soon. Are you waiting for someone?" she says with what she hopes is a nice friendly smile.
"Don't know about adventure, but I'm aiming to make it to the Isle of Dread," she tells Silvio. "As for advice, I suspect that'd be as useful as a set o' t&%! on a bull."
Silvio's ego ignores the second sentance and focuses on the first. "Of course there will be adventure", Silvio exclaims and puts his arm around Amella waving the other to the horizon as he continues, "Do you not know that where ever Silvio travels adventure follows?"
"Silvio, you bugger!", yells Sekathral from somewhere at the top of a mast. "Come up here and help me set these t'gallants!"
His head appears out of a cloud of billowing canvas, glares at the Cheliaxan, spits over the side, then pops back into hiding and resumes singing the one about the Good Ship Castrovel.
The woman looks you up and down, Kyson. "It's a ship, not a boat. And, I suppose I like it well enough. What about you?"
The man jumps slightly as you approach, Khazmia, his eyes darting around as if he's worried there might be more of you, or something hiding behind you. "No, not waiting for anyone. Why?"
Silvio, Amella shrugs off your arm: "Adventure. Fantastic. Just make sure you keep your poxy adventure away from my bloody boat. The Wyvern sinks, and I'll make sure to keelhaul your ass before it goes down."
"Silvio, you bugger!"
Silvio is a bugger? Is that a job on the ship? I should learn how to do that.
"It's a ship, not a boat. And, I suppose I like it well enough. What about you?"
"Wow. You know a lot about ships! Could you teach me to bugger?"
The man jumps slightly as you approach, Khazmia, his eyes darting around as if he's worried there might be more of you, or something hiding behind you. "No, not waiting for anyone. Why?"
"Hmmm, no reason." she says, then reconsiders, " You looked to be waiting for someone, and the captain seemed to imply we were waiting on someone, Mr....." She lets the end of the sentence hang, leaving an opening for the man's name, should he choose to provide it. If I were more Damsel-y, I doubt I'd need prompt for it. What a waste of fine perfume...
The woman barks out a quick laugh, her mouth stretched wide into a sudden grin. She turns to Kyson and starts to answer but is quickly overcome with laughter. She tries several more times to respond to the young priest, but is overcome with mirth each attempt.
It is a good day for flying, and looks to stay that way, Kayle replies.
The man appears surprised at your question, Khazmia. "Oh, um, they call me Skald." He gives his head a quick shake as if clearing whatever is troubling him away. "I am less waiting than watching, I'm afraid, and hope no one I know comes up that plank. The sooner we're away the better, as far as I'm concerned."
Sekathral, looking fit to explode with mirth, shimmies down the mast and tosses a marlin spike to the red-head.
"Here you go, mate - take the lad below and give him what he's after, eh?"
He shrieks with laughter, then clambers back aloft, singing (inbetween cackles)
"Backsoide rules the Naivee, Backsoide rules the sea!
Take your snorting trouser python and [dee dum dee dum dee] Kython
But you'll get no bum from me, GOR BLOIMEE!"
Kyson looks confused at the laughter and spins around to see if someone is behind him making faces.
"Whaa? What is so funny? I just want to help on the boat, ehr, ship," Kyson explains, his attempts to be Silvioish not going so well. "What did I miss? I'm sure I could be a good bugger."
Kyson waits for the lady's laughter to subside while sighing confusedly and giving Sekathral a look.
"Uhm...so anyway, I didn't get your name."
Completely oblivious to the rest of the shenanigans, Khazmia smiles at Skald, "I'm Khazmia, a pleasure, I'm sure." She says with a smile. "Perhaps it would be better if you watched from somewhere less conspicuous, then? That way someone you know won't see you up here, and head this way?"
Dargon gives up on the gnome and decides to put some of his gambling knownledge to the test.
"Blah, everyone so busy getting the ship in order." Dargon thinks to himself as he realizes that there isn't much, other than helping to get the ship in order, a task he fears, and plans to avoid.
To pass the time, and to look busy enough that his is not pulled into ship work, Dargon decides to explore the kuji-in rituals that his master used to leture him about.
The woman, still choking on her laughter, smiles at the inexperienced priest. Lirith Veldirose. And you?" After his response, she leans in close and says for his ears only...
"mutter mutter mutter mutter mutter mutter mutter."
Khaz's companion looks back at her and shrugs. "It's not a bad idea, but I'd rather be able to see what's coming, if anything. Wish we could cast off already..."
A short time after the run has risen -- about half an hour after you were supposed to depart Eleder -- a handsome man, with well-coiffed brown hair and a full moustache -- arrives at the gangplank, followed by a gorgeous horse led by two apparent servants. "Ah, I see I'm right on time," he declares. "Let us just get Thunderstrike settled and we can be off!"
The horse tosses its head fractiously, balking as the two other men try to lead it on board.
Sekathral, hanging by his legs from a spar and fixing a rope, stares at the newcomer.
Hang on... that's a horse. A f***ing horse. A HORSE! What in the name of Abadar's golden snot is that tinsel-pricked ponce doing bringing a flaming horse on board ship?! That'd better be dinner, or we'll have missed our tide for nothing!
He considers venting his feelings at the man, but thinks better of it.
Knowing little about sea life, Dargon doesn't think anything of the horse coming aboard. So he continues his kuji-in rituals in hope that he won't be asked to help with running the boat.
During his kuji-in rituals, Dargon day dreams about the blunders he would be party too if he was forced to help with running the ship.
Dargon shakes the images away and mumbles,
Khaz's companion looks back at her and shrugs. "It's not a bad idea, but I'd rather be able to see what's coming, if anything. Wish we could cast off already..."
"It appears your wish will soon be granted." Khaz rolling her eyes at the sight of the horse. Just what we need, TWO Silvios, and this one has a pony!
Kyson's eyes go wide as the woman whispers in his ear and his head jerks back.
"Are you joking!? They put what where?!" Kyson gives Seka a look.
"You can't be serious? Is this the joke you were laughing at earlier?" Kyson confusedly pouts.
Kyson backs away from Lirith.
"Nice to meet you, Lirith, you certainly have a wild imagination and strange sense of humor. You must have spent a lot of time on the sea or something because it ain't right."
Kyson looks around.
"Uhm...I have to go over there." Kyson will back away from the crazy lady and go stand by Khaz (a known crazy > an unknown crazy).
"Ah, excellent, my thanks," the man replies to Zstelian. "Banaby, give him Thunderstrike's reins. Make sure he's got plenty of straw. Treat him well, and you'll be well compensated in return," he says with a smile.
He strolls past the Varisian on to the ship, looking around at the assortment of people on the deck, his two servants following in his wake.
Skald nods at Khazmia's words. "Aye, I hope you're right. The sooner we're out of this city, the better."
"Silvio, you bugger!", yells Sekathral from somewhere at the top of a mast. "Come up here and help me set these t'gallants!"
"Silvio would love to but Silvio is busy having a conversation with the captain", Silvio calls back and returns his attention to Amella.
Silvio, Amella shrugs off your arm: "Adventure. Fantastic. Just make sure you keep your poxy adventure away from my bloody boat. The Wyvern sinks, and I'll make sure to keelhaul your ass before it goes down."
Silvio backs away and hold his hands in a defensive gesture. "Silvio can tell that you have never heard of Silvio Callgari Pazzi, great sea captain and hero to all. If you did then surely you would know that there is nothing to expect from this journey than a profitable adventure", he says gesturing wildly with his hands. He continues to converse with captain Amella, interpreting her retorts in the kindest light with some defensive gesturing inbetween.
Later Silvio stands watching the sun rise as a strange tingling feeling creeps up his spine. A moustached rival was approaching...
The chelaxian puts one foot on the railing and pushes himself into a backflip. Landing on his feet he strokes his moustache, makes sure his hair is handsomely rugged and goes to the gangplank to assess the newcomer.
"Are you joking!? They put what where?!" Kyson gives Seka a look.
Sekathral replies by making a thoroughly obscene gesture in Kyson's direction, howling like a hyena and shooting up to the top of the mast. He starts to remove his britches, but stops abruptly when Amelia glances in his direction and resumes his work on the rigging instead.
"Oh hello Kyson! Have you met Skald? Skald, this is Kyson, our intrepid scribe." Khaz introduces Kyson to the twitchy gentleman nearby. "He also leads a good prayer service, should you be in need at dawn tomorrow." Perhaps with Kyson's help, Saranrae will take pity on him and heal whatever troubles his ailing heart.
Kyson gives Seka a continuing glare as he walks away, wondering what has overcome the pirate.
Now he's losing his trousers in addition to the mindless laughter. Hmm...
Kyson looks over Skald.
Hopefully this one isn't crazy like the last one. Or Sekathral...what's gotten into him?
Kyson reaches his hand out to Skald offering a shake before turning his outstretched hand into a facepalm.
"Nice to meet y...OH MY GOD! Khaz!! I think Seka's been bitten by one of them exploding monkeys!" Kyson looks both shocked and pleased that he's finally figured it out and points Khaz's attention to obscening Seka.
"He's infected! He could infect all of us then explode!"
That's the only thing that can explain this behavior, right?
Kyson ignores Skald in his rising panic and looks around for other infected pirates/monkeys.
"Nice to meet y...OH MY GOD! Khaz!! I think Seka's been bitten by one of them exploding monkeys!" Kyson looks both shocked and pleased that he's finally figured it out and points Khaz's attention to obscening Seka.
"He's infected! He could infect all of us then explode!"
That's the only thing that can explain this behavior, right?
Kyson ignores Skald in his rising panic and looks around for other infected pirates/monkeys.
"What?!No, I mean, are you certain? SEKA COME DOWN HERE! Err, I mean, Sekathral, could we speak to you please? Excuse us Skald, we need to deal with something.. What makes you think it, Kyson? I mean, he is being a little uhhh, different, but it's Sekathral, after all, and here, around his own kind, perhaps he's just feeling a little...loose? Khaz rings her hands and looks worriedly up at Sekathral, hoping against hope he isn't turning into one of those exploding monkeys.
"Snort whuff whuff"
"He has owned me for as long as I can remember!"
"Neigh! Winny"
"Wait, where are we going? This seems dark and crowded!"
The stallion tosses his head and plants his hooves in the hard wood deck.
Amella seems tolerant of the antics of her two newest crew members, but only barely. "Nice of you to show up at last,"[b] she says to the newcomer. [b]"Follow me and we'll get you stowed with the rest of the passengers below."
Skald shakes his head at Khazmia's words: "I suspect his prayers might not be too my liking, but I thank you for the offer. It is most kind."
He begins to greet Kyson but moves away as the priest has his sudden realization.
While Khaz yells at Sekathral, Kyson summons a ball of fire to his hand, ready to use it if Seka starts trying to eat others or explodes violently.
Pirates and monkeys are *very* susceptible to exploding...probably because their upbringings are so similar.
Sekathral finishes his task and slithers down the mast, looking rather like a monkey as he descends. Landing on the deck with a thump, trousers still solidly in position, he glares at Khaz and Kyson.
"What? What the f*** are you two going on about?" He notices Skald.
"You alright there, mate? Don't mind us"
He eyes the ball of fire in Kyson's hand warily, then addresses himself to the priest and the sorceress.
"Infected? Explode? Mateys, I've never been infected with anything in all my life! Khaz, has the lad been drinking your perfume on the QT, or what? He's been acting funny all morning, going around demanding rump release from perfect strangers, then yelling about monkey bombs and the like. Take him belowdecks and get him to lie down in a dark room for a bit, and as for you, Kyson, no naked flames on board ship, or we'll all be f***ing barbecue!"
Sekathral finishes his task and slithers down the mast, looking rather like a monkey as he descends. Landing on the deck with a thump, trousers still solidly in position, he glares at Khaz and Kyson.
"What? What the f*** are you two going on about?" He notices Skald.
"You alright there, mate? Don't mind us"He eyes the ball of fire in Kyson's hand warily, then addresses himself to the priest and the sorceress.
"Infected? Explode? Mateys, I've never been infected with anything in all my life! [dice=Bluff]1d20+8 Khaz, has the lad been drinking your perfume on the QT, or what? He's been acting funny all morning, going around demanding rump release from perfect strangers, then yelling about monkey bombs and the like. Take him belowdecks and get him to lie down in a dark room for a bit, and as for you, Kyson, no naked flames on board ship, or we'll all be f***ing barbecue!"
"Seka, Language! There's no call for that, even if you are infected..." She looks him over, searching for signs of impending feral explosions, though grows more confused by the moment as he rants.
"No, he hasn't been drinking my perfume! Kyson, you didn't really ask for for...what did he call it, *rump release*?"
"No, you wouldn't say such a thing surely...But, Seka doesn't look infected to me. He always looks like that." Very embarrassed in front of the new guy, she glowers at them both.
No, never, the horse replies.