"Destiny and desire are two different things, but I shall endeavor to be a good leader. Thankfully, I have many wise and truthful friends for advisors."
Rath looks at Alexis softly, pats her on the shoulder, and says, "You have a good heart choti bahin - little sister. I know you will do your best for all us. We can't control outcomes, just control what we do. We will do our best and see what happens." He is about to walk away and then, thinking better of it, adds, "Remember my vision. Haven't seen sky-fire yet. Maybe haven't seen upturned cup yet. I don't think we are out of danger."
"You mean you actually think we'll be out of danger at some point?" Alexis sighs softly, "My parents were killed while approaching Korvosa's harbor on their return voyage from Arcadia. Still, it is best to be cautious, isn't it?"
"Wait, an upturned cup?" She looks up, "Didn't I just mention Brycen warning me about poison?"
"Wait, an upturned cup?" She looks up, "Didn't I just mention Brycen warning me about poison?"
"Yes, Rajkumari. But cup could be upturned by big storm, or poison, or many things. Also don't know whose cup it is - you, Brycen, Harrolayne... Many possibilities."
"Do we know yet what other members of the other ships might be joining us? I was thinking, don't religious knights like Graham have the ability to root out creatures with evil hearts? Maybe we should check all that come aboard our ship, just to make sure we don't have any dark hearted people among our crew? It might help to eliminate any remaining spies? Just a thought for our newest leader!"
"Do we know yet what other members of the other ships might be joining us? I was thinking, don't religious knights like Graham have the ability to root out creatures with evil hearts? Maybe we should check all that come aboard our ship, just to make sure we don't have any dark hearted people among our crew? It might help to eliminate any remaining spies? Just a thought for our newest leader!"
"That's not a bad idea, although it is possible for magic to conceal such things. While it certainly can't hurt, we shouldn't take a sense of false-security away from such findings." Turning to Gram, she asks, "Would you be willing to do this, or would so doing violate your code or ethics?"
At next dawn's prayers Abbas will ask that Sarenrae give him the gift of purifying food and water
We also captured their captain and interogated him:
The Pirate Captain weaves for you a fascinating story of meeting a hooded and cloaked man in a seedy pub somewhere in the Shackles many months ago, who tells him of a richly-laden colony ship soon to be heading for distant Arcadia. They would most likely have been weakened fighting their way through the Arch and would be ripe for plunder, possessing a cargo of tools, weapons, magic items, and farmers and tradesmen to be sold as slaves. All that would be necessary would be to slay their leader, a young wizard, and the ship would be his. He was welcomed to all plunder he could manage, and was also paid handsomely in gold coin, Chelish coin primarily, though the Captain thought little of that at the time.
It was decided that unlike his crewmen, the pirate captain was too dangerous to be left alive (he very nearly 1-shot Biter). Per the law of the sea, he was hanged as a pirate. The other 3 have been divided between our convoy's other 3 ships to supplement their crews.
Presently, all 4 ships are sailing with somewhat reduced/skeleton crews since sailors had to be spared from the other vessels to help us man the new one. First Mate Theodremir of the Lady Iona was promoted to Captain of the new vessel. Brycen also appointed Alexis as the colonial representative for the new ship (much to Falcon Grey's chagrin). As such, it has become the de facto "Junior Pathfinder" vessel.
During the meeting in which all of this was decided upon, we were introduced to two new NPCs who are presumably the colonial reps from the other 2 vessels. Banker Camder, a gnomish priest of Abadar with little patience for bickering. Harrolayne, an elvish woman that Brycen has cautioned us against. Brycen advised Alexis in private to prepare Detect Poison every morning.
In the morning, there will be a council meeting to determine what area of Arcadia to colonize...
I can easily solve this problem by mentioning that the portside of those two smaller forward cabins is actually a conference slash eating room with a largish table and six chairs around it bolted to the floor.
Ah, well that's handy. Guess we can swap the Pathfinder Lodge to the starboard hallway then and let Gram take the extra room on the port hallway.
An hour after the big conference on the new ship, a rowboat arrives from the Desert Rose with a messenger. The Lady Alexis has been invited to dine with Harrolayne.
Biter grins darkly as he hears about the invitation, "Huuc'Mar is'ing want Biter to come as Official Guard?" His already sinister grin becomes even more menacing, "Biter woulding to be on Biter's best behavior."
Rath raises a quizzical eyebrow and then gets a big sh!7-eating grin on his face. "Think for Elven Rajkumari hm.. 'Princess' gracing lowly Elven noble-born woman's boat... FULL Honor Guard necessary, as well as rowers. I would be happy to help."
Biter cuts a grinning eye over to his Friend and winks, "Only be appropriate, Biter is'ing thinking."
"Lady, there seemed to be some concern regarding the Harrolayne women. Does it make sense to be distracted by this while we are just getting settled on the ship? If we do go I would agree that we should take several of the pathfinder team with us. It could be that Biter even comes on their ship unnoticed and can poke around some? It would be good to learn more about our allies or potential enemies, whatever they may be."
"Hmm..." Upon receiving Harrolayne's invitation, Alexis knocks on Elorin's door and says:
Well aware that it is the prerogative of royalty to arrive on their own time, Alexis neither wastes time needlessly, nor does she hurry. She uses message to communicate with Biter, Rath, and Abbas that she would like them to join her, and that they may invite anyone else who has an interest in coming and can dress for the occasion. "Rath, that outfit from Aernelóth Studios looks really good on you. It would be perfect for this."
After looking over the dresses she had packed, she selects a shoulderless sea-blue satin evening gown with integral support. The bustline of its heart-shaped front is trimmed with a fringe of beaded pearls reminiscent of a waterfall. Its skirt is made up of several tiers, each one a half-shade darker than the last, each trimmed with silver and pearls giving it the effect of white-capped waves. Diaphanous silvery drapes secured by braided mithril bands hang from Alexis upper arms to her wrists.
With well-practiced precision, Alexis' delicate hands affix her royal tiara in place and she works her shoulder-length hair into interwoven braids that form into a bun behind her head. With her her dainty neck and slender shoulders on display, she selects a choker of mithril set with a single naturally-formed aquamarine as big as a grown man's thumbnail.
Elorin enters and feels his blood pressure change as he tightens the dress' back laces even as he watches Alexis apply her makeup in a mirror. Alexis smiles somewhat mischievously and arches an eyebrow noticing his gaze and says, "I guess you thought only Alissariel knew how to get all dressed-up, didn't you?"
Turning around after he cinches and ties the silvery cord, she picks up her wand, inserts it into a decorative sceptre she carries during formal engagements, and then proceeds to double-check Elorin's outfit, smoothing out creases, tightening cinches, fixing the points of his collar, and retying the throat-scarf into a fuller knot. Stepping back, she admires her handiwork, and holds up her left hand so that he may escort her. "Let's see how Biter, Rath, and Abbas are doing, shall we?"
In all the hub-bub since they boarded the ship, Rath has never once thought to look in the brown paper-wrapped package he carefully placed in his backpack. He carefully opens the Aernelóth Studios package to see...
Rath walks forth from his room looking like a prince of some distant land. He wears a long black coat tapered at the waist with a banded collar, broad flared shoulders and a sweeping hem trimmed with golden braid. Not meant to close, it is open in the front showing off a fine sleeveless tunic of silver fishnet that drapes dramatically over his chiseled musculature. The upper arms are heavily brocaded in iridescent hues accented with gold — twisting vines, mythical ki-rin, lillends, and other exotic creatures you cannot recognize abound. The patterns continue across the shoulders and in the center of the back, the patterns converge to form a powerful tiger-headed goddess with six wings, six arms, and six breasts in two columns of three. In her hands she holds tools of magic, science, love, war, life, and death.
The voluminous upper sleeves taper dramatically at the elbows affording greater movement. The lower sleeves are laced on the outside with golden cord over a ribbed black velvet. Three gold chains suspended between two columns of thick gold loops cross Rath's pecs and tink authoritatively with each measured breath he takes. A bold scarlet sash flies from his hips. Black, laquered sandals wrap up his powerful calves, their surface rendered in relief so that his legs look like might pillars wrapped by the twin serpents of the caduceus. Around his neck, he wears a gold torc, and a braided band set with a polished amber oval containing a wasp rests on his forehead over his 3rd-eye chakra.
Biter steps into the hallway next to Rath, bristling from head to toe in pointy bones and leathers, his savage appearance accentuated by the fine clothes of his tall friend. He steps cautiously up to Rath, warily eyeing his clothes as one might a venomous viper. He eyes the clothes sideways, sidles up next to the monk, quickly sniffs at the hip of the stately clothes, and reflexively dodges back… apparently prepared for something to spring from this jarring display of ornamentation that is Rath. On his face rests an incredulous 'what the hell is this?!' look.
Shaking his head as he crosses his arms, you can hear him muttering.
"Dar mec or shakekaan an den? Huuc'Mar kuush kelaan taan't daagec daan olaac ac den shakec drorthaan maagaan kuulec kelaan maan lhon taakhaal or on tuukaan dhuugac hakec. Daan taac akuun a huurekaan dac, ac daan kuush delaan daan'zaan rhaac dakhaal ac dhuur tuulkaan tel'dec molkac dekaar dhaaregach. Ghec an daach rhaan daagec a 'hor or aguul maagaan' tec oc or toc-dhuugalaac shaan. Rhoc or arther."
Elorin is looking rather dapper himself. He wears a short double-breasted doublet of royal-blue velvet cut low in the front with a tall pointed collar that is folded back on itself. The spacious sleeves of the doublet come just past his elbows revealing a smooth black shirt of sueded silk with laced cuffs. It is subtly flaired at the waist with cinches at the sides and long pointed tails hang down to the back of his knees. The entirety of the piece is criss-crossed with silver thread that gives it a quilted appearance and rope-like silver cord trims the hems and cuffs.
Under the doublet and over his shirt, he wears a tall kidney belt of rich chocolate suede leather inlaid with gold wire in the pattern of flowering dogwood branches. Baggy knee-breeches of the same velvet as the doublet puff out above tall boots of the dark suede with decorative gold-trimmed shin braces finished with a pearlescent white lacquer. Matching decorative bracers encircle his forearms — both boots and bracers secured by buckles of twisted gold.
Puffed up above the black shirt his the throat is a deep violet silk neckscarf. When the breeze coming off the ocean ruffles it, hints of silver race across its surface.
Rath is utterly astonished at the clothes he is wearing, not to mention the fact that he actually managed to put it all on correctly. He does like the colors and the Vudrani-inspired patterns and artwork and it all feels comfortable. He looks at himself several times, trying to reconcile the fact that he is wearing the clothing.
Hearing the long Goblin tirade, he looks down at Biter and says, "If you just called me a girl, you will be swimming home from other boat."
Rath looks at Alexis in her blue gown and let's out a long, low whistle of appreciation... which is not in keeping with polite Avistani customs. "Rajkumari!" He stumbles for an appropriate compliment in Common and finds none. He settles for shaking his head and staring.
Biter (in his usually overly-exaggerated fashion) feigns fear at the tall brown man's words, throws up his hands, and fake-quakes in fear. Then finishes the display with an enormous eye-roll. "Biter notting afraid to call Friend Rath a girl." He cuts his eyes down to the gaudy clothes, ".. but hey, ifing Friend Rath choose to wear girl clothes..." He finishes by throwing his tiny hands defensively over his head, ready to fend off his friend's retaliation, giggling manically all the while.
Rath watches the antics of his friend with growing mock anger. He says blackly "Sounds like Biter is needing another Falling lesson. Maybe without rope this time." He chuckles and looks at his outfit from Biter's perspective for a moment and then says seriously, "This isn't about looking like peacock. This is politics." It is the one word that both Rath and Biter despise equally.
Rath walks forth from his room looking like a prince of some distant land. He wears a long black coat tapered at the waist with a banded collar, broad flared shoulders and a sweeping hem trimmed with golden braid. Not meant to close, it is open in the front showing off a fine sleeveless tunic of silver fishnet that drapes dramatically over his chiseled musculature. The upper arms are heavily brocaded in iridescent hues accented with gold — twisting vines, mythical ki-rin, lillends, and other exotic creatures you cannot recognize abound. The patterns continue across the shoulders and in the center of the back, the patterns converge to form a powerful tiger-headed goddess with six wings, six arms, and six breasts in two columns of three. In her hands she holds tools of magic, science, love, war, life, and death.
The voluminous upper sleeves taper dramatically at the elbows affording greater movement. The lower sleeves are laced on the outside with golden cord over a ribbed black velvet. Three gold chains suspended between two columns of thick gold loops cross Rath's pecs and tink authoritatively with each measured breath he takes. A bold scarlet sash flies from his hips. Black, laquered sandals wrap up his powerful calves, their surface rendered in relief so that his legs look like might pillars wrapped by the twin serpents of the caduceus. Around his neck, he wears a gold torc, and a braided band set with a polished amber oval containing a wasp rests on his forehead over his 3rd-eye chakra.
Biter, ignoring the falling threat, adopts a mournful pose, ears drooping and hands crossed in front of him, "Here is'ing lying Friend Rath..." His round head swings sadly back and forth, "... slain by the politics..."
Rath tries to console his friend to no avail and then slaps him on the back. "Think, Biter. While all bad peoples are staring at us peacocks... maybe you can kill a few."
Upon receiving Alexis's message Abbas immediately begins to polish his scimitar and sheath before donning his best set of priestly robes, a baggy set of this linens commonly found in his home land dyed a bright blue. He then slips a tabard over his shoulders that is bright white with the symbol of the dawn flower intricately embroidered in gold thread on the chest. All the while thanking Sarenrae that the robes are bulky enough to accommodate his leather armor underneath, he is an honor guard after all. He then affixes his sheath to his belt and straps his shield across his back before leaving to find Mistress Alexis.
Upon seeing Rath and Elorin Abbas nods respectfully feels appropriately under dressed. But once he sees Biter he decides he has found a middle ground of sorts.
As Alex finds her way to them Abbas reacts in much the same way as the rest of the men in the room..... By the sun and flame Mistress, you look as beautiful as the coming dawn.
Elorin enters and feels his blood pressure change as he tightens the dress' back laces even as he watches Alexis apply her makeup in a mirror. Alexis smiles somewhat mischievously and arches an eyebrow noticing his gaze and says, "I guess you thought only Alissariel knew how to get all dressed-up, didn't you?"
Elorin looks her in the eye through the mirror, "No milady, you are just as I imagined you would be, an image of beauty and regality that should be reckoned with. Do be careful with this women though, dressed as we are we will be at a disadvantage should anything happen."
Rath walks forth from his room looking like a prince of some distant land. He wears a long black coat tapered at the waist with a banded collar, broad flared shoulders and a sweeping hem trimmed with golden braid. Not meant to close, it is open in the front showing off a fine sleeveless tunic of silver fishnet that drapes dramatically over his chiseled musculature. The upper arms are heavily brocaded in iridescent hues accented with gold — twisting vines, mythical ki-rin, lillends, and other exotic creatures you cannot recognize abound. The patterns continue across the shoulders and in the center of the back, the patterns converge to form a powerful tiger-headed goddess with six wings, six arms, and six breasts in two columns of three. In her hands she holds tools of magic, science, love, war, life, and death.
The voluminous upper sleeves taper dramatically at the elbows affording greater movement. The lower sleeves are laced on the outside with golden cord over a ribbed black velvet. Three gold chains suspended between two columns of thick gold loops cross Rath's pecs and tink authoritatively with each measured breath he takes. A bold scarlet sash flies from his hips. Black, laquered sandals wrap up his powerful calves, their surface rendered in relief so that his legs look like might pillars wrapped by the twin serpents of the caduceus. Around his neck, he wears a gold torc, and a braided band set with a polished amber oval containing a wasp rests on his forehead over his 3rd-eye chakra.
"Well Rath, welcome to the fop club. Wherein lies men of little character and even smaller swords!" he says jokingly.
"Biter, what are your plans for the evening, while we are tortured on the rack listening to the droll squabble of this women we are going to visit, what trouble do you plan to get your self in? Abbas, at least you look like you were able to keep your sense about you."
"No milady, you are just as I imagined you would be, an image of beauty and regality that should be reckoned with. Do be careful with this women though, dressed as we are we will be at a disadvantage should anything happen."
"We will?" Alexis flicks her finger at a crate she finished emptying and it flies backwards, its side caved in by a telekinetic blow. "I never wear armor or wield weapons anyway so it makes little difference to me. Also, don't forget that Rath needs no weapons to fight and he wears no armor. Even so, I suspect that it is nothing overt that we should need to guard against in which case words and discretion may prove more effective than blades and armor."
b]"Biter, what are your plans for the evening, while we are tortured on the rack listening to the droll squabble of this women we are going to visit, what trouble do you plan to get your self in?
"Justing to take a look around. Biter notting to like or trust this woman." He addresses everyone. "Biter is'ing to slip out of sight once on the other Big Boat. Any suggestions to what Biter shoulding be doing specifically over there? Mighting be helpful if somebody to make a distraction for Biter to use to get hidden."
Rath asks hesitantly, "Since acting as Honor Guard, weapons are right to carry, yes? Maybe just some weapons?" Rath shows them that he has secreted 10 shurikens in his clothes and sash. He is openly carrying his two Sianghams rakishly in his sash - since they match his style of dress. And he is clandestinely carrying his nunchaku, tucked along his spine under his coat.
"While it is rude or even hostile for a diplomatic envoy to carry weapons into the court or even in the presence of a prince or king, it is expected that escorts be armed even if only ceremonially. Armed guards would be free to wait outside the chamber in which a meeting takes place while unarmed courtiers attend within. Now if Harrolayne and her guards within the chamber are visibly armed, then since (to the best of my knowledge) she does not outrank me, it would would also be permitted for you to be visibly armed as well. Mind you, meeting under such circumstances is not convivial and is generally only done when parties strongly distrust one another or an escalation is intended."
She looks you in the face with a wry smile on her lips, "Perfectly clear, isn't it? Oh and also, we are not looking to escalate matters. At this stage, that would bely nervousness which implies weakness."
Biter I suggest you hide under a blanket in the boat. The boat should tie off with it? Wait until we are all on board then sneak up a few minutes later to have a look around. just a thought.