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Aikane plays with his food for a good five or ten minutes before a char-broiled leg of lamb is placed before him. It's a massacre, as crunchy noises fill the room. The more observant persons nearby are likely to notice the little-man take on a deep reddish tinge to his skin as he excitedly devours the burned lambflesh.
I wasn't eating, you know. Something of the meditation to swirl the fork across the bounty of "poisson" in front of us was strange to me. The tulita, those humans how they struggle. That-th-the, The revel of life is gone from their people, but you put them before the feast as individuals and their tribes are forgotten. Th-The fire wraps them up in warmth from wine and want from belly.
You know, sometimes I don’t know what this world is coming to. They have the whole place roped together like it’s under control...
Pele will show them.
The island. You know, I had second thoughts about the island from the beginning. I worried about the girl, too. None of it added up. The foreigners and their science, they were writing their “history”. Then they all died.
Who dies for these things? Not sensible people, surely, and certainly not the reliable ones.
You take those and you put them on your sugar farms to break their backs after a reliable ten years of work. The elves and orcs claim to be more, but really, they are just humans. All the way down it is humans.
And I thought to myself as the others shoved many kilos of animals into their gullets that I would like to survive the sea-monster. It would be our first trial, and failing it, we would all be lost to the island. A grim prospect, surely.
The viscount would have no need to send a *second* rescue party. His point, it would be quite well proven. We were like ceremonial crab on the feast-day of summerdawn, drawn out of the water and fed well before the cracking of our shells could begin.
You know, old man, You Know, I had at the time a strange feeling never to rescue this Bonedeuce Clansman. That the whole thing would be for naught, old man, to-to see another devil set loose, even a single one.
However, old man, however, and it was the strangest thing, it was as if the hunger descended over me, as well. For I came to a realization that gave me the quiet smile of a beggar for the rest of the meal.
I thought to myself, "The gods will take care of their own."
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"Nefertiti, please forgive my manners," she whispers quietly. "Offending you is not my intention. You heard my story earlier...you and everyone else in this room saw me lose my composure and behave like a small, frightened child. That...cannot happen again. If this rescue and salvage mission is to be a success, I must keep my head and not let my emotions get the better of me. Even with the lives of my friends at stake, should any of them have survived..." her lips tremble slightly as she attempts to maintain her composure.
Nef reaches out to hold her new friend again. "Oh Jacinth, I'm sorry. I understand better than you might realize the importance of wanting to keep your composure. Of course you're upset. Now, don't cry... You're amongst new friends now, and if your old friends can be rescued, we'll do that together."
Nef felt confused. While she noted Jacinth's evasions and mood swings, she also felt the girl's apparent genuine grief at the loss of all her friends and wanted badly to help her.
Nef blushes even further at Oren's turkey comment, but continues talking to Senegar.
"Senegar, thank you for taking this so well. Between your patience, and Jacinth telling me that you wanted her to learn Tulita... I think that I have picked a very good friend for my people indeed."
She pulls the lei off her neck, and puts it on Senegar's. "Aloha, Senegar. I honor the spirit within you, and thank you for giving us this opportunity."
Senegar waves off the request for Wedjat to be dismissed. "That is all right, Nefertiti. I should have planned for your...companion's meal as well."
When Nefertiti removes her lei and places it around his neck his body freezes, clearly caught off guard by the gesture. His body trembles slightly as her fingers brush against his neck, but he does not say anything immediately in reply instead savoring the soft caress of her feathery touch.
"You have...done me a great Honor, Nefertiti." He replies in a husky voice. "I shall endeavor to prove myself worthy of ...your trust." His emerald green eyes bore into her own eyes before he slowly pulls away from her.
"Now," He turns to address the rest of you. "Was there anything else you require of me? I can tell you the Docks have several vessels for either charter or purchase."
"You have...done me a great Honor, Nefertiti." He replies in a husky voice. "I shall endeavor to prove myself worthy of ...your trust." His emerald green eyes bore into her own eyes before he slowly pulls away from her.
"We have done each other honor, Senegar." Nef says with a nod and a smile.
"... However I confess that I have never had a companion animal before, either. The two of you must share quite a bond."
Nef grins. "We do. Even if he is a rude creature at times... he anchors me. Horus has a sacred affinity for all birds of prey, and has been known to take their form. Wedjat brings me closer to Horus, makes me listen for Horus's voice speaking to me from the natural world."
She cocks her head at the other girl. "Would you like to meet him? He loves being fed. I'm afraid that he's rather greedy that way -- as you can tell from the way he attacked your uncle's plate!"
"Oh..of course," Jacinth nods. "Let's see...there was Genevieve Tolcrist, Maximilian Sidrow, Joshua Bonedeuce...yes, related to Gregory Bonedeuce albeit distantly..." she offers as she mentally ticks off each name. "Also Lenora Duhamel, Tordell Rivery, Susanna Bellstead, and Elizabeth Stansport. I believe that makes everyone." She sighs, sadly. "Some of the best and brightest that Port Shaw has to offer...and it meant nothing when faced with that whale or those horrible creatures on the beach."
Nef takes note of the names, pulling paper and a pen out of a small, nondescript pouch that she had pulled through a pocket in her dress that was not there a few minutes before.
Then she looks up, meeting Jacinth's icy blue eyes. "The best and brightest of colonial Port Shaw... when faced with that whale..." Nef pauses a moment, replaying not only Jacinth's words, but her own from earlier about voices from the natural world.
"That's it! That's it! Oh Jacinth, you are BRILLIANT." Nef gets up from her chair, and kisses Jacinth on the forehead while the elf girl is still seated. "Thank you!"
"I've just been talking about the Leviathan with Jacinth. While I know that bringing back its body parts would be indisputable proof, this seems... a very colonial solution. Senegar, you had your pick of everyone, but chose us -- a mixed group of Tulitans and some of their allies -- in hopes that Tulitan lore would give us an edge."
She takes a deep breath. "There are legends about the Dolentla islands. Rumors of unearthly lights and eerie sounds... What if the Leviathan isn't just another monster? What if it's another aspect of Tohorara, Whale, the Lore Keeper? Could this be a sacred spirit that we should appease, not fight?"
She smiles back at Jacinth, nodding at the other girl. "It was Jacinth that make me think of this."
She gazes at all her Tulitan colleagues, eyes lingering longest on Zem, as she remembers the meeting he took her to with the Moamasu elder.
"I swore a sacred vow to honor the gods of this land, Whale among them. Bring your harpoons if you must. But I for one would like to find another way."
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Ever the realist, Oren nods. "There's no reason to fight unless we have to. If there is a peaceful resolution to be achieved, I'm all for it. If we can appease Whale in the performance of our mission, I'd be happy to do so."
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Rata looks at Nef like she has gone utterly insane, but when he sees he's the only one reacting in this manner, he realizes she is serious. "Yes, a spirit whale... Well, spirit or no, any encounter with an angry whale at sea is an encounter I'd rather avoid, so if you think there is a peaceful way to go about it, I'm all for it."
He turns to Senegar, "I would hear more of these ships."
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Ever the realist, Oren nods. "There's no reason to fight unless we have to. If there is a peaceful resolution to be achieved, I'm all for it. If we can appease Whale in the performance of our mission, I'd be happy to do so."
"My fear is that this is not of whale. More than whale. I hear tell of creatures from 20,000 leagues below the seas. They are disturbed by the events on the surface, and wreck great damage." Such things are abomination.
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"I guess we shall see" - Zemwaar pipes in - "There is really no other alternative Aikane, is there?"
Turning to Nef, he adds - "We will hopefully understand if we are faced with this manifestation, and know what to do by then"
Pondering a bit further, his eyes having moved away from the exchange between Nefertiti and Senegar, he continues - "It is time to find a vessel that will brave the waters around Dolentia, even with reports of whale attacks - that may prove to be our greatest challenge" - the man finishes, his meal complete, clearly ready to leave.
Just as negotiations close, Nef finally remembers that she herself, needs to eat. She dines lightly on some spiced rice, fish and grilled vegetables from the buffet that the others left behind.
Nef asks quietly, "Gentlemen, Jacinth... Will you be needing me for your ship shopping, as a negotiator? I'll be the first to admit that I know nothing about ships, and there is some other research that I'll want to do in advance of our trip."
I want to find out more about Whale, and about the names on the Dulcimer's crew list. I'd love to have a chance to visit their families...
Nef calls Wedjat over, and demonstrates throwing a shrimp to the creature. Wedjat grabs it greedily, catching and gobbling it mid throw.
"Your turn, Jacinth. He really is friendly to those who feed him -- which seems to be just about everyone tonight," she says, peering at Rata with raised eyebrows.
After Jacinth's declaration, Nef sighs. She really must get used to the men sometime. Or am I to be her buffer for this entire trip?
"Very well," she says with a bright smile to everyone. "You can all use this as your first opportunity to orient me to ships and tell me what I should be looking for in a quality vessel. Will it be just you joining us, Jacinth?"
Nef glances at Senegar, who is bankrolling the whole mission. Will he want to see what his money is purchasing? Or does he trust Jacinth's judgment to do this well on his behalf?
This will be interesting.
"Are we looking to rent or buy? I don't do enough traveling to need a boat proper, I don't think. Renting is much more palatable for my tastes. Less of our gold tied up in a vessel as well. But, if we must purchase one, I would argue too hard against that option either."
He leans back and pats his stomach. "Good dinner. Now, I'd say there's no time like the present to get our chores tended to. Nef, do you want to attempt to talk to the families or pick out a boat first?"
"Let's pick out the boat," Nef says, "then we can let the Deepwarders go. I'm sure they must be very busy and a lot to attend to themselves."
She gives Oren a bright smile, hoping he'll catch the hint.
I don't want Jacinth with me when I talk to the families. I want them to talk freely to me... about HER.
Whalers have the hardest time with this as their very purpose is an affront to Tohoraha, yet more than one whaling vessel has been known to make offerings in hopes of averting his anger nevertheless. Also the Tulita consider every dolphin, turtle, whale and shark as one of their avatars, so it is reasonable to assume this Whale could be an aspect of Tohoraha.
Senegar nods at Nefertiti's declaration of the meeting's conclusion. "Yes, we shan't keep you from your tasks any longer. I know time travels quickly, especially for those who are still missing." He glides over to Nefertiti and takes her hand in his, planting a kiss on her wrist.
In a low tone of voice, he adds, "Until the next time we meet, farewell. Keep my niece safe. She...means well."
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Nef nods to the tall elven man, allowing him once again to kiss her wrist.
That was odd... he'd already kissed my wrist at the beginning of our meeting. The custom had been satisfied. Maybe elves are more formal about these things?
"We'll do our best to keep her safe, Senegar." Nef courtesies, and wishes him farewell. Once they leave the restaurant, Nef returns to her normal modest red robes.
At some point on the journey to the shipyard if they're out of earshot of Jacinth, Nef hands Oren and Zem the list of families to look at. Otherwise, she'll wait until after boat shopping and bidding farewell to Jacinth to have this conversation.
"Even to my eyes as a relative newcomer to Port Shaw, this list is a who's who of the elite. Is there anyone who stands out to you two that we should visit? If not, I'd like to send a messenger to the Tolchrists and the Bonedeuce family asking politely if we may visit."
Then Nef notices that the two of them are staring at her. "What? You two have been exchanging glances with each other since we left the restaurant. Is anything wrong?"
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Ke' is awed by the very concept of a whale/spirit beast.
Still pondering the possibilities, he stumps after the others as the party starts out for the shipyard.
Oren takes the list of names and gives them a once over.
Knowledge Local
"There's a couple of names on there I remember," he points to those particular names he recognizes.
As they approach the shipyard, Nef checks in with Rata. "Are you going to be okay?"
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Rata loks to Nef, the faint smile on his lips wilting slightly, "For now, yes. When we set sail, though... That remains to be seen." He took comfort in her concern, but the passageways of the mind could often lead to dark and disturbing places. He wasn't certain he had the strength to traverse their halls.
He looked her directly in the eyes, "I couldn't help but feel a kinship with the woman, having gone through much of the same thing. It was terrifying and something I would rather not dwell on, but maybe the time will come when I can share my story with her." His eyes were distant as he couldn't help but remember...
It was a long moment before he brought himself back to the present, "But until that time, with all of your support, I am sure it will be something I can overcome. Lend me your strength and we will get through this together." The slight smile returned.
Nef blinks.
Rata and... Jacinth? Why not? They're both young, both attractive, and both have experienced their share of tragedy at sea. I've seen odder couples.
Nef nods. "I think you should go and talk to her, Rata. Maybe just listen at first, then build trust. Sorrows shared are lessened."
She returns his smile. "As for lending you my strength, know that I will give you the full measure of all that I have. You're a good man and we're proud to call you friend."
"Oh... and Rata?" Nef looks at him appraisingly. "I've seen you smile and laugh more today than I have these past weeks. I'm glad. It's a good look for you -- your whole face lights up when you smile. "
As you depart the Kraken's Gullet and make your way to the docks where you know ships can be bought or chartered, Oren recalls the other noble families who lost their children on the ill-fated expedition were also offering rewards for the return of their missing heirs. It would be a good idea to investigate that further...
Once you have arrived at the Docks, it is mid-afternoon. The area is bustling with activity as the day heads into evening. You check with the dockmaster who steers you over to where the ships for sale are berthed.
Some of them of interest you see are as follows. Inquiries about the vessel discover the following:
Most of the other vessels for sale are sadly out of your price range. Checking into possible boats for hire, you discover Captain Donovan Montgomery is the finest sea captain on the Razor, but his constant inebriation sours his efforts. Moreover, Montgomery’s ship leaves much to be desired. No more than an over-sized sloop, the Vintage is seaworthy, but was never designed to handle dangerous storms or survive the tentacles of powerful aquatic predators. Your best choice, if you can afford it, is to hire Bethany Razor of Quell’s Whore. Her rate is steep: 500 gp initial, plus 50 gp per voyage day. Other ship captains do offer more reasonable rates, however.
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Nef stands on tiptoe as she looks up at the tall ships.
"Jacinth, did your uncle give you a budget? How much do we have to spend? Could we afford to rent the...", she wrinkles her nose at the name, "Quell's Whore?" If money is no object, let's do it. Otherwise..."
Nef glances at the ships for sale. "Not knowing anything about ships, I see:
1) A potentially haunted vessel -- The Rita -- its poor owner went mad and murdered his wife, they say;
2) A vessel advertising that its price is 'negotiable' -- The Winking Dolphin;
and
3) A vessel whose owner lost an arm but gained a story -- The Line of the Deep."
Her eyes shining, she says, "Which do we want to investigate first? My Merchant Prince of a father would vote for the haunted one as the best bargain. He'd check the 'negotiable' for physical flaws or legal disputes, and then haggle the price down as far as it can go. He'd probably ignore the one with the story."
She gives the group a mischievous grin.
"Should we check out the story one first, and then look at the others?"
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"The Rita is my early favorite. For only 1500 gold, the bargain is too good to pass up, assuming we are paying out of our own pockets.
If the Viscount will sport the bill, obviously we start with the best. If we can't afford that, we could always take turns on keeping Captain Montgomery sober for the trip. The others don't seem to do it for me."
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"I actually think that the Rita is the best bargain too," Nef admits. "Shall we tour the ship and see what we think of it?"
As they walk to the Rita, Nef turns to Jacinth and says, "If we're going to be traveling together, you should call me 'Nef', as all my friends do. Would that be alright, Jacinth?"
Nef pauses and says, "I've been thinking more about Whale, and our mysterious leviathan. I met a Moamasu priest who told me once that all whales are avatars of Tohorara... Yet this leviathan sounds so different and aggressive. What could have angered it so?"
"Zem told me the other day of a ship that sank -- around 25 years ago -- near the Sammerlock Isles. Jacinth, have you heard of Delano Amborose and the The Lashed Harpoon? His reputed cargo hold was rumored to be filled with ambergris... Isn't ambergris harvested from whales, and very expensive? If this isn't a rumor... wouldn't a hold full of ambergris have been the result of many whale deaths?"
Nef sighs. "Maybe I'm just snatching at any idea that comes along, involving the Sammerlock Isles and whales. Still, I'd love more information on this history if you have it."
Then she turns to Ke'ahilani. "I've never done a ceremony propitiating to Tohorara. Zem tells me that you are a wise advisor. Would you be willing to help me plan one?"
"Could the ambergris be angering Whale? And the animal attacking the ships be his angry servant carrying out his wrath? Angry gods are not to be trifled with."
Oren walks onto The Rita with the others. "It needs to be sturdy, but not so much that if something were to happen to the ship, that we would all be ruined financially," he adds, knowing that if there is an angry god taking out vengeance on mere mortals, a tiny ship had no chance to survive the storm.
Your decision to check into the Rita made, your inquiries are met by Relgin McFarrows. He introduces himself as a cousin of poor Harok and says,"Aye, 'tis be th' ship of poor Harok. May the Gods have mercy on 'is soul." He looks all of you over critically but focuses on Nefertiti. "Tis a shame what 'appened to him. Now he faces th' gallows. I be no seaman so I be the one ta deal wit' this ship." He spits out a curse. "These rumors o' the curse on 'im and his family mean no one wants ta risk it! Not ever fer the pittance I offer! Ye are th' first ones ta show an interest in taking 'er off me hands."
While Nefertiti talks with Relgin, the rest of you head over to the berth where the Rita is moored. Looking over the ship itself, It appears to be a standard sloop, with a single mast along with fore and aft rigging. You also note the head-sail allows it greater speed when sailing downwind. Being a fishing vessel there are no hard-points for cannon or ballistae so she could fall prey to pirates or sea monsters. Nothing else unusual strikes you about the vessel.
Due to the size of the Rita (20' by 60'), you believe you could dispense with hiring of a crew so long as each of you are willing to perform the sailing tasks required to sail the Rita once underway.
"So what's the plans? This boat looks like it will get us where we are heading. I don't see it holding up if the Whale gets us in its sights, though. But what man built ship could withstand such fury?"
Nef listens intently to Relgin, knowing that keeping this man happy is the key to getting this boat. "What happened to your cousin... that sounds like a true tragedy indeed. He must have loved his wife very much to have named his boat for her."
She takes him by the arm, and says, "This may be scant comfort to you, but I've heard only good things about his reputation in Port Shaw prior to the incident. What do you think happened?"
After the man talks to her, she says, "Could you give me a tour of the Rita? I'd love to have someone who loves this ship and who knows its history from happier days show me around her."
Nef does looks around, but all she can tell is that it's a boat. Still, is it a clean boat? Does it look to be well-maintained?
What a pretty paint job, she thinks... Oh look. Masts! Oh, and a ship's wheel!
Nef looks to Oren, Zem, Rata and the others. "I'm far from the expert here. What do all of you think? I can negotiate if you decide this is the ship you want."
Oren gives a shrug and a thumbs up. "It seems sturdy enough, and it's more in our price range. We shouldn't need to worry with hiring a crew. Nef and the lady can share the helm while we fellows and row and rig, as necessary."
Relgin is surprised the outlander priestess deigns to touch him and gives her a funny look. Her sincere look apparently is enough to sway him however. He says to her softly, "Well...I am sure ya 'eard th' rumors about 'im murderin' his wife and family for the love of another woman. Bah! I donno' believe it!" He leans in closer, more to enjoy her scented body than for any privacy's sake. "He told me afer the Dragoons brough 'im in chains, that a man-shark devoured the village and attacked 'im! Now they dinnae buy 'that story but I kin tell ye this: That vessel ye be buyin', he named it after 'is wife." He looks right into Nef's brown eyes and adds forcefully, "Ye don't do that afer someone ye dinnae love, right?"
"Helm?" Nef looks at Oren, confused. "I know the word, but... I'm not sure quite what you just meant by it. I think I may need a whole new set of language lessons from you!"
To Relgin, she nods, grateful that Rita McFarrows' apparent murder happened far from the boat. "I agree that naming a boat for someone is an act of love. My father owns ships, and named one 'The Ismah,' after my sister, who means the world to him."
It surprises and pleases her that she can say this now without rancor. Ismah has her ship, and now... well, so will I. She smiles, suddenly consumed with a desire to see as much of the boat as she possibly can.
Nef looks up the mast, all the way to the crow's nest. She'd always loved heights. "Relgin, do you mind if I go up there to check out the view?"
Relgin waves her on. "Feel free ta board 'er and look 'er over. Me cousin took good care 'o 'er as ye kin see."
"Thank you!"
Nef calls Weddjat, and shifts her outfit to a more streamlined, tight fitting pants and shirt. Climbing on Wedjat's back, she says in Tulita, "Let's go up and see what's up there!"
She revels in the sheer joy of flying with Wedjat again, soaring over the dock, looking at the blue water and the other ships below before landing on the crow's nest. She whoops as they arrive, and pats Wedjat's neck, grinning.
She calls down to Relgin, confident that her voice will carry, "The view is great!"
Ke' touched the gunwale of the ship and grimaced.
"Yes, I can help work the ship." He said flatly.
"I'm certainly no sailor, but I can assist if given direction.". Oren looks up, watching the girl and her bird soaring high up into the crow's nest. "That's always a neat trick, isn't it," he grins broadly.
"Well, Pirates are always a consideration. I've got a few spells that might help them decide to turn around and head for easier prey if we get lucky. Cannon might hit harder, but if there ship is on fire, that's pretty helpful as well."
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Rata followed along with the exchange concerning which ship would best suit their needs. He chimed in whenever his expertise as a sailor seemed helpful. As Jacinth argued that the Rita wouldn't hold up against pirates... A low groan escaped his lips and his vision clouded over with images of his past. He remembered...
The screams... The harsh reality that Usha was truly dead. He would never see her smile, hear her laugh... The anger, the rage, the hollow press of crushing sorrow. Murder, blood, vengeance... But ultimate failure."
Rata's knees went slack as the sensation of plunging into frigid waters, stabbing his flesh like ten thousand needles, assaulted his very being. His face pressed against the slick boards of the dock, his arms covering his head as if to ward off the memory, his jaw locked as he began to convulse uncontrollably...
"F-f-f-failed her... I failed her! F-f-father are you out there? Can you hear me!?"
At Jacinth's shout from below, Nef looks down.
"Rata, hang on!" Not wanting to take the time to remount Wedjat and fly, she leaps straight off the Crow's Nest. It's only forty feet.
She tumbles through the air, but rights herself just before she lands on her feet. Then she runs to Rata's side, kneeling beside him and taking his hand.
"Rata, listen to me. Concentrate on my voice and breathe. Horus grants us all more strength than we can ever know. Draw from that strength. Or just draw from mine. You know I'll never begrudge you the loan."
Nef looks up at Jacinth. "Could you take his other hand, please? He... responds better to women when he's like this."
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Ke' is pulled from his dark thoughts by the commotion, the women clustered around prone Rata.
Stumping up to them, he called out; "Make way!" and rudely shoved himself down next to Rata.
He peeled back his eyelids, sniffed at his breath and listened to his chest.
Then he pulled a bamboo tube from his harness and broke it open.
"Let's try this."
He poured the amber liquid (which smelled of whiskey and sunlight) down Rata's forced open mouth.
Nef did not move from Rata's side, but she did make room for the witchdoctor so that Jacinth would not be dislodged.
"Holding his hand and talking to him helps," Nef says, her brown eyes looking into Jacinth's icy blue ones.
Then she notices what Ke'ahilani is pouring into Rata's throat, and raises her eyebrows. "Though I never tried to get him drunk before..."
"Please don't judge Rata too harshly. Like you, he had a tragedy at sea. Pirates attacked his family's ship, The Concord, murdering his sister in front of him. He fought bravely, killing many, but they outnumbered him. We found him, in the water, with his chest slashed. They must have thought him dead, and tossed him overboard."
"I've only seen him like this twice before -- both when he woke up screaming from a nightmare. Whenever there has been an actual fight though, he has fought like a demon with that sword. If pirates were to attack us in the flesh, he would not waver in his defense of us."
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Then Nef notices that the two of them are staring at her. "What? You two have been exchanging glances with each other since we left the restaurant. Is anything wrong?"
Out of Jacinth's earshot, Zemwaar speaks open and plainly - "I do not trust either Senegar nor Jacinth - they employ too many subterfuge in their words, and I believe there is even more to all of the matters they have relayed to us" - his tone darkens - "Be wary of their hidden agendas Aka"
"The Rita is my early favorite. For only 1500 gold, the bargain is too good to pass up, assuming we are paying out of our own pockets.
"Why buy a vessel?" - the man pipes in as the others put forth their considerations about the available ones - "My choice would be towards one for hire"
She revels in the sheer joy of flying with Wedjat again, soaring over the dock, looking at the blue water and the other ships below before landing on the crow's nest. She whoops as they arrive, and pats Wedjat's neck, grinning.
Zemwaar watches in appreciation as Wedjat and Nefertiti takes to the skies - "That is sure to get some attention" - he comments, focusing his eyes in the surrounding areas.
Ke' touched the gunwale of the ship and grimaced.
"Yes, I can help work the ship." He said flatly.
"Are you sure brother?" - Zemwaar places a hand on Ke'ahilani's arm.
Ke' is pulled from his dark thoughts by the commotion, the women clustered around prone Rata.
Stumping up to them, he called out; "Make way!" and rudely shoved himself down next to Rata.
He peeled back his eyelids, sniffed at his breath and listened to his chest.
[dice=Heal check]1d20+8
Then he pulled a bamboo tube from his harness and broke it open.
"Let's try this."
He poured the amber liquid (which smelled of whiskey and sunlight) down Rata's forced open mouth.
His train of thought is broken by Rata's actions, and as Ke'ahilani moves to his side, so does Zemwaar, observing the man struggling against ghosts, and nodding in appreciation of his tribal brother choice of remedy - "I am sure that will calm him"
"I've only seen him like this twice before -- both when he woke up screaming from a nightmare. Whenever there has been an actual fight though, he has fought like a demon with that sword. If pirates were to attack us in the flesh, he would not waver in his defense of us."
"Rata is as strong as any of us" - Zemwaar agrees with Nefertiti, then turning to Jacinth - "He needs only to face his demons, and crush them with his hands. Then he will be free" - he adds with confidence - "To revel in the temporary respite, and deal with the void left by vengeance. I will feel joy if given the chance to assist him in walking the path he needs to trek"
Out of Jacinth's earshot, Zemwaar speaks open and plainly - "I do not trust either Senegar nor Jacinth - they employ too many subterfuge in their words, and I believe there is even more to all of the matters they have relayed to us" - his tone darkens - "Be wary of their hidden agendas Aka."
Nef blinks. Zem had been her second pair of eyes and ears for so long, it was hard to imagine now what it had been like before he found her and came into her life. Blind, she thinks. I walked through life half-blind.
And whatever it was, Oren had clearly seen it too. Otherwise, why all the glances between them?
"Zem... Oren... tell me what you have seen that I missed. What do you think the Deepwarders are hiding?"