Sekathral decides to take a brief look at the swing, when he can get away from his other shipboard duties
Then, later on, he finds himself tasked with repainting the Sea Wyvern's foredeck, and decides to badger Skald into helping him.
"Here, mate, pick up a brush and give us a hand, will you? You'll be sick as a bloody dog if you stay belowdecks all voyage, and there'll be a drink in it for you if you stay the course"
"Oh yeah. Uh huhm. Urhm hum. I see," Kyson strokes his chin and tries to appear like he knows and understands all that the gnome has explained to him. While he understood some, it was not all.
"Yeah, okay. We'll definitely bring lots of paper! I like bringing paper!" Kyson gets more excited for the journey.
Maybe I'll write my own book on this!
"I'm going to go get ready. Maybe I'll scribe some special scrolls using my special flumed pen for this!"
Kyson is going to scribe a scroll for this, but has yet to decide which one would be most perfect for the expedition.
Sekathral, you can't really tell if the swing just snapped on its own or if something else caused it to break.
Amella shrugs at Zstelian's question. "I don't know too flaming much about the damnable little creatures. They're right nuisances mostly, though they can certainly kill a man as easily as a bosun with a gaffing hook. Don't run into them very often, thank Besmara. You looking for anything in particular."
Skald shrugs at Sekathral's words. "Thanks, but no thanks. I'd rather not spend this entire trip working when I've already paid my way. But perhaps you're right about not staying below. If you'll still drink with me later, I might take you up on that offer."
The next days at sea pass uneventfully, sunny skies making the time seem to pass quickly as you travel down the Garundi coast.
The monotony of the trip is broken up on your 13th day out as the lookout calls out, "Blackwell off to port!"
A small walled town is barely visible, though it grows steadily larger as the day goes on. Finally you arrive at an immense sea gate hung between two squat towers. A pair of row boats, filled with a half-dozen Mwangi men and women in a black uniform, make their way to the Sea Wyvern and Blue Nixie.
"Permission to come aboard? We'll need to take a look around and speak to the captain before you can enter."
Kyson takes out his new magic quill and tries to find the inspiration to scribe the most beautiful and perfect first spell ever with it, but instead finds himself staring at the vellum, lacking the muse to propel the quill in his hands.
Kyson instead wanders the deck, bored and looking for inspiration.
@Khaz:
"So Khaz, uhm, what, uh...whatcha doing? You making stuff?"
@Dargon:
"So anyway, the island has ruins and a basilisk and stuff. And there is map. But yeah...it's ruiny, apparently. Ever been to ruins?"
@Silvio:
"Uh, hi Silvio! Nice...uh, where are your pants?"
@Zstelian:
"That Lavinia sure is a good leader, huh? Where do you think she learned that? Do you think I could ever leaderify like that?" Kyson scratches his butt as he talks. "I mean, in the monastery, of course. But I could do that, right? Be a leader?"
@Seka:
"Seka, I want to thank you again for saving my life. If you need anything from me that isn't dirty or perverted, let me know. I could use my bestest new quill on something just for you if you wanted. Let me know."
* * *
At Blackwell, Kyson eagerly awaits permission to enter town and look around. Having not traveled much, this is the first real town he's been to that hasn't been infested with exploding yahoos.
Skald shrugs at Sekathral's words. "Thanks, but no thanks. I'd rather not spend this entire trip working when I've already paid my way. But perhaps you're right about not staying below. If you'll still drink with me later, I might take you up on that offer."
Feh - passengers!
"Fair enough, mate", says Sekathral to Skald. "I'll see you later in the galley"
"Seka, I want to thank you again for saving my life. If you need anything from me that isn't dirty or perverted, let me know. I could use my bestest new quill on something just for you if you wanted. Let me know."
"S'alright - you've saved mine a couple of times, so fair's fair, innit? Anyway, the Sorceress's Delight and Bobby Yaga helped as well."
He stops and frowns for a second, thinking hard about something, then twists his face into an angry scowl.
"Oi - what do you mean by 'anything that isn't dirty or perverted?!'"
=======================================================================
Sekathral wanders around the grubbier parts of Blackwall, trying to score some Garundi Gold, guzzle down enough arak to ensure he'll be surrounded by a haze of alcoholic vapours for some days to come and find some ladies who are willing to etc, etc, etc.
Because that's what shore leave is for.
Kyson takes out his new magic quill and tries to find the inspiration to scribe the most beautiful and perfect first spell ever with it, but instead finds himself staring at the vellum, lacking the muse to propel the quill in his hands.
Kyson instead wanders the deck, bored and looking for inspiration.
@Khaz:
"So Khaz, uhm, what, uh...whatcha doing? You making stuff?"
"Hi Kyson! Yes, I'm working on those rings I was talking about. I may not have enough stuff with me to make them all right away, but I thought I'd get a good start on them. Maybe see what we find at Blackwell to add to them." She shows off her progress.
The erstwhile crafter holds up a bent and twisted ring of dubious shape and quality.
"Well? What do you think?"
=====================================================
A dejected Khaz will tag along with the others into Blackwell, in hopes of finding something pretty to cheer her up.
@Dargon:"So anyway, the island has ruins and a basilisk and stuff. And there is map. But yeah...it's ruiny, apparently. Ever been to ruins?"
"Well, I'm from Kalsgard, nearest the Lands of the Linnorm Kings has to a capital city. And so far north that it snows in the summer. And I traveled all the way to Eledar on foot... Dargon pauses to gulp some ale.
"It wasn't a straight path, mind you. I went back and forth between Kalsgard and many of the Varisian cities selling Kopparberget ore. Those days, ruins made for good camps, if nobody made a home of them first," Dargon continues before pausing to finish off his ale.
"But I've never made a point to explore any of 'em, when managing caravans, you don't have time for that sort of thing."
@Silvio:"Uh, hi Silvio! Nice...uh, where are your pants?"
"Hello to you as well, Kyson!" Silvio greets the cleric warmly. "Silvio's trousers are hanging over there to ventilate. It is good fortune to let your pants imbibe the fresh sea air, when undertaking a voyage like this." The chelaxian gestures at his pants hanging from the mast. "Plus, it is very refreshing to let the crisp morning air caress your shins. You should try it", he says and places his foot on the railing. Normally standing pantsless at the prow of a ship would make you look like an idiot, but somehow Silvio pulls it off with an air of both grace and dignity. Silvio truly is amazing.
After the brief inspection, the ships are allowed into the harbor, where Lavinia allows everyone to disembark.
"I only want to stay one night, but it will probably be seven week before we reach Fort Greenrock, so if you need anything, this could be your last opportunity for a while," she says.
The town features numerous small, cozy inns and taverns, as well as food and supplies at four large provisioners with waterfront warehouses. Shrines to Iomedae, Kurgess, Sarenrae, Erastil, Gozreh and even Besmara also line the dirt streets.
Sekathral's able to find some lower-class establishments, where he's introduced to a delicious local malt blend of whiskey called The Green Man. "It's just 10 gp per bottle, my friend, surely you can afford that," one of the bartenders wheezes after giving the elf a free taste.
"Well? What do you think?"
Kyson looks at the ring.
"Wow! This is great! What is it?" Kyson asks before interrupting on his own and grabbing the 'ring' for closer inspection. "Wait! Don't tell me, let me guess?"
Kyson palms and flips the 'ring', trying to decipher its meaning.
"This is one of them things you put in a bull's nose to lead it around, right? Wow, that's good work!". Kyson says earnestly, trying to be supportive.
Kyson rolls the 'ring' on the table, watching the uneven circle warble to a stop.
"Yeah, that's really keen, that is! I'm sure all the bulls are going to want one."
"But would you really want to give all of this up and return to the monastery?"
Kyson tries to decipher if that's a real question before deciding that it is.
"All this?" Kyson's eyes go to the pantless Silvio to the be-roped Sekathral to the mean Captain.
"You mean almost drowning to an angry water spirit while going to an Island of the Doomed on a Boat of the Damned lead by the Captain of the Crazed." Kyson begins to nod, first slowly, but then more quickly as his feelings are confirmed. "Oh yeah. Oh yeah."
Kyson chortles at the thought.
"Do you think their is even a good chance we'll survive long enough to even make it there?" Kyson asks Zstelian.
Kyson looks down at Silvio's uh...his 'leg' and then at his pants, then again at his uh, 'leg', and wonders how the sea breeze does feel upon one's netherregions.
Shrugging, Kyson will de-pant as well, hanging them next to Silvio and spend a few moments dangling and hanging out next to Silvio, staring out over the bay/sea/poop deck.
"Yes, the view is nice here. Aren't your legs cold? My legs are getting cold." Kyson says, trying to 'hang' like Silvio does.
"Silvio, do you think we'll ever find happiness? You know, like a warm monastery? Or a place filled with grateful damsels?"
Kyson's jaw drops as he learns more from Dargon than he has in months of traveling with the dwarf.
"You've been to the land of the Linnorm Kings?! Have you seen a Linnorm? Did you run away real fast? If I saw a Linnorm, I'd probably run...I copied a book about them once. Cool pictures. Are they as big as the books say?"
Kyson looks over his shoulder as if a Linnorm might be right there waiting for him.
"I didn't know you used to manage caravans. I think I forgot that if I ever knew it. Sounds like a safe, easy job, huh? Ever want to go back to doing that? Or do you like what we are doing now?"
"...Sorceress's Delight and Bobby Yaga helped as well."
Sorceress's Delight?
Bobby Yaga?Kyson opens his mouth to ask but realizes it would just invite more things he didn't understand and was *sure* weren't a part of normal person language.
"Uhm, I meant that sometimes you are, uh..you, uhm, you know...you do things that ain't 'normal'. You know?" Kyson answers, but tries to change the subject.
"Well, no matter, the important thing is that you saved me and I'll try to repay the favor someday. I appreciate it."
Kyson's jaw drops as he learns more from Dargon than he has in months of traveling with the dwarf.
"You've been to the land of the Linnorm Kings?! Have you seen a Linnorm? Did you run away real fast? If I saw a Linnorm, I'd probably run...I copied a book about them once. Cool pictures. Are they as big as the books say?"
Kyson looks over his shoulder as if a Linnorm might be right there waiting for him.
"I didn't know you used to manage caravans. I think I forgot that if I ever knew it. Sounds like a safe, easy job, huh? Ever want to go back to doing that? Or do you like what we are doing now?"
"Never saw one alive, but me father killed one and displayed the carcus in our court yard. So yeah, I saw one. Big enough to eat ya whole they are."
-----------------------------
"Sure would, but it's not as easy as you imagine. There are plenty of bandits and beast to make caravaning a difficult life. But if you know to hire enough protection and how to deal with bandits by steel and coin, it's not so bad."
"...Sorceress's Delight and Bobby Yaga helped as well."Sorceress's Delight?
Bobby Yaga?Kyson opens his mouth to ask but realizes it would just invite more things he didn't understand and was *sure* weren't a part of normal person language.
"Uhm, I meant that sometimes you are, uh..you, uhm, you know...you do things that ain't 'normal'. You know?" Kyson answers, but tries to change the subject.
"Well, no matter, the important thing is that you saved me and I'll try to repay the favor someday. I appreciate it."
Sekathral looks around, sees Silvio resplendent, with his creamy thighs shining softly in the gentle dawn sunlight, then jabs his thumb in the heroic Cheliaxian's direction.
"Speaking of the sorceress's delight, there he is now, demonstrating to us all why the Gods invented underpants in the first place... Hang on! He looks downwards at Kyson, then over at Silvio, then back at Kyson again, clapping his hand over his eyes as he does so.
"Blimey! What in the name of Iomedae's Adamantine corsets are you two plonkers doing? I mean, feel free - if that's the way you swing, fine by me, and it's one of the great naval traditions, after all, but you've got the nerve to accuse me of doing stuff that ain't... F**k me, I'm off. Too early in the morning for this"
He scuttles off, trying hard not to look behind him as he leaves.
====================================================
Later on, in Blackwall, Sekathral reacts enthusiastically to the barman's offer.
"I'll take a dozen, mate. 10% off for bulk buying, eh?"
"Sorry, friend, I don't think so. A man's gotta make a profit, eh?"
"I wouldn't be surprised if damsels started calling you Kyson, the Hero."
Kyson considers his luck with the damsels so far and thinks that's a pretty unlikely chance.
"Yeah, maybe...but how likely is that? I just don't want to die...or want people around me to die. I just want to serve Sarenrae and be happy."
Kyson ponders more.
"But maybe. Maybe..." Kyson walks off, still pondering Zstelian's advice.
* * *
"Blimey! What in the name of Iomedae's Adamantine corsets are you two plonkers doing? I mean, feel free - if that's the way you swing, fine by me, and it's one of the great naval traditions, after all, but you've got the nerve to accuse me of doing stuff that ain't... F**k me, I'm off. Too early in the morning for this"
He scuttles off, trying hard not to look behind him as he leaves.
Kyson watches Seka walk away and shrugs his shoulders.
I'll never understand that one.
Kyson itches his backside and decides that his longspear has had enough time in the sea air and goes in search of his pants.
Silvio was right.
* * *
@Everyone:
"Anyone want to go with me to explore town? I'd like to visit the local temple of Sarenrae, check things out. I wonder if they have a nice booktorium. We can spend a few hours browsing the stacks! Doesn't that sound like fun!?"
Zstelian's easily able to replace his daggers at a shop in town as he and Kyson head toward the shrine of Sarenrae.
As they arrive, they see Father Feres entering the nearby temple of Iomedae.
A young Mwangi woman, dressed in a long white silken robe with a sun embroidered in red and gold thread on the breast, greets Kyson and Zstelian.
"Welcome, travelers, to the shrine of the Dawnflower. Please, enter and be at peace," she says with a wide smile.
Kyson straightens his armor and makes sure his holy symbol is fully present before entering the shrine.
* * *
"Indeed, friend Sundipper. I am Kyson from the monastery at Eleder. May the Sun give you life," Kyson bows with a smile, finally feeling more at home. "This is Zstelian. We are on day leave from our stupid boat. I was wondering if you the Shrine has a library or vellumium that I could visit? And perhaps you could answer some questions for us?"
Dargon looks for any common local goods that would seem unusual or unique anywhere else.
"Anyone want to go with me to explore town? I'd like to visit the local temple of Sarenrae, check things out. I wonder if they have a nice booktorium. We can spend a few hours browsing the stacks! Doesn't that sound like fun!?"
"Silvio will accompany you to the temple", the chelaxian announces and jumps into his trousers with the ease of a man used to dress quickly. "Once there Silvio will delve further into the city. Silvio has some shopping to do."
Khazmia joins the others at the temple, listening quietly to the new Kyson that emerges on comfortable ground. He looks so happy.
"Stupid boat?" the woman asks, amused. "Are you all from the same boat? It's rare we get so many visitors here. I am Nahalia, but I'm sorry to say we don't have an extensive library, though we do boast a few books that may be of interest? I'm happy to answer any questions I can."
The woman seems sincere as far as you can tell.
Silvio, you can find a pair of silversmiths as you walk with the others toward the temple.
Dargon, it appears to be fairly standard Mwangi items, though some of the totem masks could fetch a nice price back in Avistan. There's little you can find, though, that couldn't be found closer to Eleder.
Finding nothing worth carrying back, Dargon spends the rest of the day just walking about, enjoying earth under his legs, before turning in to spend the night in a dock tavern.
Kyson takes the woman up on the offer to see the books.
Kyson hopes there are some books he can browse, like religion, Sarenrae's blessings, and any history on the island(s), jungles, and ocean's near their planned route.
If I'm going to die, I want to know what is going to kill me.
"Yeah, books! Say, Sundipper, have you heard about any ruins around here? Or down the way? And this water mephit attacked us on the ocean? What do you think about that?"
Sekathral, sitting at a corner table in the dockside tavern when Dargon walks in, beckons him over. He is surrounded by a dozen bottles of green-tinted spirit, one of which is well on its way to extinction.
"DARGON! Here, mate, you're what the Taldans call a corner shewer - no, wait. WAIT! That didn't come out right. No.. I didn't mean that - what I meant ish, you know a decent drink from a puddle of cat p*sh, so have a shlug o' zhis and tell us what y'think. *Hic*"
He slumps over the table, just avoiding sending the rest of his collection crashing to the floor, and brandishes a bottle at the dwarf.
Dargon, no missing a beat joins Sekathral for the good stuff.
"Oh yeah elf, that hits the spot." Dargon says after a long chug. "Where'd you get this stuff?
Sekathral gives Dargon a series of long, incoherent directions to his source for the whisky.
"OVER THERE! Tight-fishted bugger, though - bought all theshe, and no dishcount for bulk! Money-grubbing git. Bashtard. Shod 'im. Hvnutha drink."
Kyson, there are several books on religion, not surprisingly, though there's little else other than one book on native flora and fauna in this area of Garund.
"I'm afraid I don't know much about ruins. I don't get out of the fort that often, though I'm sure there are some. I know there are some smuggler's caves nearby, though I guess those aren't really ruins. A water mephit? That seems unusual. Did you do something to provoke it?"
"Hmm," Nahalia replies. "I doubt it came on you on its own, especially if it was as angry as you say. Something must have brought it there."
"Yeah, a water mephit! Right out of nowhere! Attacked me as I was boating. Mean ol' bugger, too. No, I don't think we provoked anything, I think it was just chance...but was hoping you might know more," Kyson answers, scratching his butt.
Kyson look around at the Shrine. "So..you mentioned some books?"
* * *
Kyson will read and enjoy the books that are there, happy to enjoy the solitude of a Sarenraen shrine and the warm comfort of books...a far cry from the wet, rocking ship devoid of anything resembling peace or quiet.
Lacking much money, Kyson will tithe meagerly (5 gp) and offer thanks to the Sundipper for the chance to use the shrine.
Best 5 gold I ever spent.
After leaving, Kyson will wander about town until time to return to the ship.
The ships, resupplied, set sail again the next morning, after Liamae gives Silvio a warm farewell.
The first couple days at sea pass uneventfully.
The third night, however, Sekathral begins to feel ill about 10 minutes into dinner, a headache coming on suddenly and then a minute later his stomach clenching up with painful cramps.
Kyson looks over at Seka's pain with a confused look.
That's how he is *every* morning when he yells at me to quit so making so much noise and everything is too dark.
* * *
Eventually, Kyson gets dragged over to look at the once-blue elf.
"What up there, Seka? Have you been drinking more than usual? Did you eat anything unusual?"
I dunno, 'unusual' like a fruit or vegetable? Or anything not liquid?
Heal Check
Kyson, you suspect he's suffering from some sort of poison.
Silvio rejects the silver smiths at first but finding nothing classier he is forced to return. After conversing with one of the smiths and browsing the stock he finally returns to the Sea Wyrven with a delicate silver bracelet for Liamae.
"Seems that there is a limit for everything. Silvio suggests that you hold your liqour to manageble amounts", he tells Sekathral.
Sekathral, clutching his stomach and grimacing, glares ferociously at Silvio.
"Thankyou, grandma. We don't all lose our trousers after a half of mild and a - AAUGH! I bet it's those f***ing pies I ate - Norguober's little helpers... Nothing but frigging abbatoir scrapings and old rat in 'em... Gorum's cods!"
He collapses on the table, alternating barrages of curses with extremely painful sounding dry-heaves.
You really feel horrible. As in -3 Con horrible.
Oh, he has alcohol poisoning...I think.
Kyson, still mindful that Seka saved his life, steps in to help the dry heaving hero.
"Now, Seka, does this feel different than your usual morning regrets? Like the time you and Dargon came back from shore leave?"
Kyson holds the man's hair back, like a true friend.
Kyson looks around for what might have poisoned him...if it wasn't the alcohol.
Perception
You don't see any obvious sources of poison.