"I would be honored to have the likes of Brannart Teskerwill as part of my crew anytime.", the half-orc states as he clasps a meaty dark green arm over the warrior. Lowering his gravely voice, he whispers, "Why don't you join us after mess is over for some darts and my private stash of grog." He gives a wink and a grin. He then looks to his crew, "It's time." He walks up to a bell and rings it.
Malakar sees Raearg at a long table with several of his crew. A dark brown stew is dribbling down a tusk when their eyes meets. "Over here Fishman. Come join us. I'll be sick of this stew soon enough. Will have to send you out to find more of that crab. Come eat." The Bosun shimmies over to make some room and pats the spot with an open palm.
Malakar comes over with his bowle
"Undine are actually the progeny of elementals but given my proclivity for Sharks the mistake is understandable. However I am interested in the actual fishman on board." Malakar says pointing as Merrek "His kind are rarer than my own. Anyway if the boat hits any wind flats I would be happy to dive for more crabs and such. I would wager I can find even bigger ones out at sea."
Nymbleth stretches his neck as he looks around the galley. Finally he spots the dwarf in a corner all by herself. She is sitting at a single table that does not match the décor of the rest of the galley. Attached to the table, next to her stew, is a small cauldron sitting it what could only be described as a hammock. This hammock fits the cauldron perfectly and is held upright by metal poles about a foot long attached to the table. The hammock itself is attached to the poles. The effect is that no matter how the ship jostles, the contents of the cauldron stay unperturbed.
As the Tiefling approaches he overhears her talking to herself as she adds ingredients to her cauldron. ”Two pinches of ginger, and a sprinkle of this. Now I have to add that.” She looks up when she realizes she has an audience. ”Well you look like you’ve been to hell and back,” she chuckles at her joke. She pulls her silvery, braided hair away from her eyes revealing a tanned complexion and asks, ”So, what can I do for you? You feeling alright?”
Nymbleth gives a slight moan at the dwarfs joke,”Well... to be honest my stomach is a bit queasy.
Do you know of any remedies for ... this,” he says as he points to his stomach.
"Well, lets see if the Fishman can drink." The half-orc looks toward Merrek and waves him over. "Hey fishman, come on over and get some grog. We would like to meet you." He looks back at Malakar, "Just remember, more crab gets ya more grog."
The Dwarf chuckles at Nymbleth, "Seems like the rockin' has gotten the best of many. The captain asked if I could make a remedy, which is what I am doing right now. It should be done shortly, if you would like to be my first vic..., I mean patient," she smiles. "Name is Alba Divenvarr. Pleasure to meet you."
”I am called Nymbleth,” he says with a slight smile. ”I practice alchemy too, what ingredients go into your remedy?”
"Perhaps. But I'll join you in some grog now, Bosun, if you don't mind."
Brannart moves to the table, happy to share the 'common' grog with the rank-and-file rather than trading on his reputation to get the good stuff.
He introduces himself to the Undine (and Locathah, if he's there). "Greetings. I'm Brannart Teskerwill, of Almas. Were you at the Silent Asp? I didn't get a good look but I heard something about a fierce shark-man carving up some of the slavers."
well, seems my initial advances weren't too successful think I'll switch tactics
Kowal will see if he can find an open table, not too large to sit at or if none are fully open one with fewer people then pull out a deck of cards he was working on making and start some work painting them well largely drinking his soup
The halfling Vexas wonders around the deck, pleasantly taking in the sights of shore as the ship shoves off. He sighs heavily, enjoying the light breeze and novelty of sea travel like so many of the other colonists.
For the time being he remains non-social, taking out his pipe and blowing a series of smoke rings over the stern.
When the bell rings he heads down to the galley for food. However, on passing through its entry-way, he pauses to survey the composition of crew and passengers.
Alright then, time to locate my fellow kinsman, who I can complain with about these bumbling big folk. Or... even better, I wonder if there are any clever or shifty types that would be up for a good caper...
He grins as he looks about the room before getting into line for soup.
Yraelzin is lost in thought as Fenna strides away. Quite the charmer! She almost makes Hosetter sound plausible! The masked man scans the room before spotting the priests of Erastil and Abadar sitting across from one another. Yraelzin hurries over and squeezes into a spot near them. "Well met, fellow clergymen! Yraelzin, Priest of the Third Step of the Living God, at your service. I'm pleased to make your acquaintance. As we'll be working hand-in-hand to set the moral expectations for this new colony, it's great we'll have a chance to get to know one another during the voyage." Occasionally, Yraelzin raises his mask just high enough to show his chin while he nibbles at some bread.
Alba cocks her head to the side and issues a smile, ”Ahh, another Chemy, as I like to call us potion people. Well, I start with water, of course. Then I add mashed up ginger root, some powdered goats milk and this special fruit,mostly for taste, but hard to come by in these parts. Very plentiful farther south in the jungles.” She holds up a slightly curved, almost cylinder-like fruit ending in a stem. ”This my friend Nymbleth, is a banana. I only add a little, and will have plenty left. Would you like a bite?”
Fenna isn't put off when Yraelzin doesn't arrive to take the place she'd saved for him at the meal. He's probably a little intimidated. No doubt I had him on the ropes and he needs time to gather his thoughts before talking any more.
She simply locates a cluster of colonists and inserts herself among them for some conversation instead.
During the first few days of the voyage Fenna doesn't really step in to help the crew directly. She knows enough to realize ships are almost always rewed to meet their needs, and extra 'help' is generally an obstacle to getting things done quickly and properly.
Instead she helps the crew in a way they can truly appreciate. She becomes the self-designated tour guide and explainer for the colonists, buffering the crew from the painful tasks. She answers questions, satisfies curiosities, and soothes concerns.
It is a perfect role for her in a way. While Fenna is quick to let people know she had spent time in the navy, she's vaguer about her specific role. The truth of the matter is she had spent most all her time serving meals and tea to the Captain, cleaning and polishing things, and keeping the Captain's quarters in order. Occasionally she got to do more exciting things like deliver messages all the way to the other side of the ship, and secure the ship against storms. A couple of times she took the helm (in calm waters with light winds when the course was straight on) when others who might do it were busy.
Fenna was good at asking questions however. After a few months she knew what everyone did and why. The way Fenna views it with her 'fake it till you make it' attitude is that knowing the answers from the right questions asked is closely akin to experience. After all, a person must have some experience in order to know what to ask.
Throughout the first while of the voyage, Kowal will begin speaking with some of the other artisans that are there I assume that would include the alchemists and some others. mainly about their respective trades and skills in them, looking to size up the competition so to speak.
"So, Raearg, have you been to the colony before, or is this your first trip? Do you know anything about how the Company picks the colonists?"
Brannart will go play darts with the Bosun if he thinks Raearg has some information to convey. Otherwise, he's actually happier in a large group, where he can make small talk or tell stories and move on, rather than anybody trying to get information out of him. He's social, but guarded.
---
Eventually, though (a day or two later), he warms up to the mysterious elf (Kowal) who was asking about him. He's here with us... might as well get to know him.
"Yes, I am Brannart Teskerwill. My reason for joining this venture is, as I said, that I hope to be of service to my country of Andoran and help this colony prosper. I do have some skill as a warrior; there are more than a few here who know that I served in the Worldwound in the Mendevian Crusades. I do not expect to use those skills anytime soon, and in fact I hope I will not need my sword at all, but we must be on guard in case Cheliax or other foes try to meddle with the colony. What I hope to do is work as a shipwright.
May I ask your name? And what trade will you seek to practice in Talmandor's Bounty?"
---
Over the next few days he will take inspiration from Fenna. She's been at sea as well. Interesting. Brannart's own experience as a sailor was from his family's ship-building business, taking ships for a quick turnaround to make sure everything is in order. He won't talk over her while she is leading a 'tour', but he'll supplement what she said in his own conversations with the colonists as they happen to come up.
"Yes, Fenna is absolutely right. The crew knows what they are doing and it is best to not touch anything. However, if there is an emergency, it could fall to any of you to lend a hand. Do you remember what the Bosun said earlier? The crew tells you to do something, you do it. They tell you not to do something, you don't do it.
Now, 'doing what they tell you' will go better if you know the language. If the Captain shouts 'Mizzen topsail, you landlubbers!', what do you do? Right, the halyard over there. And if it's blown away, where's the spare? Right. Who knows the knots to tie it on? Good."
While Kowal eats his soup and paints his cards, a few of the children approach, ”Hey Mister, can we paint with you?” they look to Kowal with big, hopeful eyes. When the Elf-Witch looks up from his cards, he spots a Tiefling and a Dwarf talking over an Alchemist's cauldron.
@Brannart "Indeed, I was aboard the Peregrine and heard some tiny voices in the asps cargo and decided to go to action. I am glad my gut was right to act. My quickness to act is what got me exiled from my gome and why I joined this voyage."
Nymbleth looks at the strange fruit but is deterred from partaking by the rumbling in his belly, ”No thank you.”
When the kids approach I’ll move over and set out a few pieces of low grade parchment and put out some paints
sure, here I’ll show you some techniques.
For a good 45 minutes or as long as they want to stay I’ll show techniques and help them. Assuming they haven’t all cleared out I’ll let them work themselves and go converse with the chemists
of corse, I’m Kowal and a paper maker, I’ve got some experience with the occult and magic as well though as you said hope not to use it. I’m also a bit of an explorer.
A couple of evenings into the voyage Fenna goes looking for Brannart a while after dinner. She finds him up on the forecastle leaning against the railing. As she approaches him she lifts up the bottle in her hand and swings it back and forth a little for him to notice.
"Private stock" she informs him with a grin. Fenna leans against the rail beside him and flips the bottle's cork out with her thumb, then hands it over to him. "Genever. Not the best to be had, but not too bad either."
The liquor in the bottle is clear, and tastes of anise and some vanilla at first, but on the back end it's more slightly floral with a little ginger spiciness.
Fenna's been meeting a lot of people which is nice, but eventually it can get tiring for even her. A change of pace to something more relaxing is sounding good to her. Since Brannart sort of came alongside and started helping ease the colonists into shipboard life, they've been spending some time around each other. Fenna figures she knows him better than anybody else on the ship at this point, so he's her choice.
"So, Talmandor’s Bounty. What to you think we'll find there? What will it be like?"
As Brannart sees Fenna, his eyes brighten a bit. As he sees the bottle, a smile crosses his face. "Thanks, Fenna." He takes a modest sip and hands it back. "Good stuff. Yes, Caydenites can appreciate quality as well as quantity."
He looks out over the water. "I wonder what they drink in the Colony. Maybe not beer, not sure the climate is right for hops and barley. Wine or brandy from local fruits? Rum? Rice whiskey?"
"I had thought Talmandor's Bounty would be subsistence living at this point. Fishing, hunting, and gathering while waiting for the crops to come up. But our fellow colonists have me questioning that. Did you know there's a paper-maker on board? Maybe the economy is more advanced and they are ready to start printing a newspaper!
See, I expect that the Company knows what is going on and picked us all for a reason. Why a Locathah and an Undine? The Colony isn't underwater. But maybe the Company found something underwater that they want to investigate.
Why the Razmiran? I have two thoughts there. Maybe Razmirans have infiltrated the Company. Or, maybe the Steel Falcons" the Twilight Talons more likely, but best to not speak of them "have a plot against Razmir, and need this kid to make it work. If that's the case, I'm glad you have patience with him.
I don't know, I have no great mind for schemes."
He takes the bottle back for another sip. "Maybe there's nothing to worry about and I can learn to fish. Sit on a boat. Sip island rum. Learn to play an instrument."
"What do you think we'll find, Fenna?"
Fenna takes a swig off the bottle and passes it back.
"I really don't know. Ever heard of the Bountiful Venture Company Brannart? They're running the show, but I doubt they can be trusted to tell us the truth about much if it doesn't make them look good. Could be fine, could be some sort of swampy hell where everyone's dying of fever. They'd sell it to us with a big smile either way."
"From what I've seen of the people and cargo though, my guess leans toward some sort of self-sufficient settlement. My mother works in logistics and transport for extraction companies so I know more or less what a timber or mining settlement looks like, and the people and stuff on the ship don't match up too well. That's good news at least."
"What I do know is they better have a system worked out for making something worth drinking. After this bottle I only have two more."
She takes another sip from the bottle as it continues its circular journey.
"I wouldn't worry too much about the Razmiran. I don't see anyone buying what he's selling. Actually he's kind of sweet. I don't think he's seen much of the world."
Fenna says the last part as if she has seen quite a lot of the world.
"I haven't really talked to the locacanth or undine yet. Maybe there are settlements in the area? Ambassadors?"
"What I do know is they better have a system worked out for making something worth drinking. After this bottle I only have two more."
"Cayden will provide! I'll have to see if we have a priest of the Lucky Drunk on the island, or if not I'll ask for one on the next boat! But yes, people tend to figure that craft out pretty quick, one way or another."
"I don't think he's seen much of the world."
Fenna says the last part as if she has seen quite a lot of the world.
Brannart picks up on this. "You've probably heard that I've been to Mendev and the Worldwound." He is quiet for a minute and looks away. Then he takes back the bottle for another swig and continues, "Other than that, mostly Almas. How about you?"
"I haven't really talked to the locacanth or undine yet. Maybe there are settlements in the area? Ambassadors?"
"Could be. The undine is maybe too quiet to be an ambassador, and said he was banished from his home for being impulsive and hasty. Something like that."
Not immediately identifying any interesting halfings or... conniving rogues, Vexas takes his soup and wanders up to the nearest table of heroes that fought with him that fateful night.
So, I go out for a walk along the docks one evening, the lot of you sweep me up in something, and now here I am! How do you like that?
"No worries, Sho. Come join us! You too, Vexas." Brannart says this genially. He hasn't been properly introduced to Vexas, but heard the halfling's name at the ceremony in Almas.
"So where are you two from?"
Vexas ponders the question momentarily, like he's almost been stumped.
Thank you! Well, I come from many places, quite honestly. I've been on the move as long as I can remember. But this expedition certainly intrigued me. How about you, good Brannart? You seem to know your way around a battlefield.
Noticing Sho's tentativeness he prods her just a little.
Sho, don't sell yourself short. I'm sure you have many stories from your time in the wild! We have a long voyage ahead of us for you to tell them as well. What's your happiest memory from those times?
The halfling starts with a seemingly innocence question that reflects as much on how Sho chooses to answer it as the story or memory itself.
Don't hold out on me now, lass.
When Raearg calls out Merrek was already on his way to the two priests, his own holy symbol proudly on display as a delicate and contrasting pattern in the scales of his lower right arm.
He makes a turn and instead heads for where the half orc his seated. "Good day. You wanted to meet? Do you want me to bless the ship? Ask the Skyfather to fill your sails?" He wouldn't be the first one. Back up north he had blessed many ships and even in the last week in Almas, as soon as people found out he was a Gozran priest they wanted their vessels blessed. Some even suggested he must be closer to the god, as he was of the waves. The notion was an odd one to him.
|
This time, Sho gives a genuine, warm smile
My happiest memories? Playing outside, from dawn to dusk, with my mother, when I was a child. She was the elf in the couple.She learned me the names of the flowers, both from the elfic and human point of view, how to make a crown with the flowers. She learned me to appreciate the beauty of the wilderness, and to accept its so called cruelty. Beast do what they have to do, they tend to eat what they need and no more, they kill if they are attacked or to defend their youth, their hunting ground, not for a bag of gold or out of spite.
Vexas smiles back and chuckles a bit.
So your mother passed the ways of nature down to you. That is indeed a good memory. However the fighting over that bag of gold is very often more beast-like than you might think. Humanoids have different desires, and different means to basic needs, but they'll follow many of the same instincts.
He rubs his chin thinking some more and gazing out onto the water.
Now spite, yes that's another thing altogether. But I suppose that's why Cayden reminds us to soften the edges with beer.
He jokes, nonchalantly slipping this in for points with Brannart. He chuckles again at his own joke, and then turns to the other lady present.
And what about you... Fenna is it? I noticed earlier you were going to go have a word with that deranged, masked man. Tell me, did you "fix" him or is he just a passing fascination?
As he says this he doesn't hold eye contact with her, but fishes his pipe out of an inner pocket of his cloak, lighting it up and beginning to blow smoke rings out over the water.
On that first day during the meal, Vexas, carrying his stew, finds a table and benches fitting more his size with several of his kinfolk sitting and enjoying the offered meal. One thing that makes him very happy is that he might be at a Halfling sized table, but the stew bowls are human sized offering generous portions. Several of the Halflings are part of a farming family, but one of his kin sticks out as someone whom might be up for a good caper. Vexas quickly warms up to a female halfling. Her name is Kalcora Weems. She has a limp to her step and is dressed in a mish-mosh of green, brown, and grey cloth. Her hair is a menagerie of different lengths that has one guessing if she uses her own hair to sew the cloth together. Kalcora caught Vexas’ attention from the start when he noticed that she would wipe her bowl clean, change how her hair fell over her face, and put herself back in the stew line over and over again. Although having a ravenous appetite, she appears very skinny under her cloth. She also has a very pale complexion that leads one to think she has a vitamin and mineral deficiency. Later that evening, Vexas also learns of Halfling-sized berths for him to rest his head.
Sho, mostly keeping to herself that first day, notices another woman that matches her own grace. She is also standoffish with deep tan complexion and shaved head tattooed in red on the right side, displaying a large runic design of a crescent moon. Below the moon, on her neck, is a tattoo of an owl. Her deep chestnut eyes are staring at the man who was leading horses into their holding earlier that day. He is a handsome man in his late twenties with raven-black hair and pale skin. He is dressed in ornate clothing and holds himself as if Andoran still had nobility. He sits near the Captain’s table and attempts to inject himself into Peregrine’s inner circle.
Initially both clerics look at Yraelzin with furrowed eyebrows. Finally the follower of Erastil grins and looks over at the soured face Abadarian who has his Golden Key clenched in a tightening fist. Over the next hour, the discussion is really nothing more than banter as Yraelzin realizes the two clerics are long-time friends. They argue about self-sustaining reliance, protection of resources, hunting versus beef farming, the benefits of multiple small-yield crops versus larger mono-crop plantings, the safety of cities, government, and laws, clean water, sewage, pandemics and other civil, religious and politics topics. Yraelzin catches on that this is not the first time these discussions have been had, and he is more of a spectator than a participant. When Yraelzin attempts to interject, both clerics, in unison, talk over the masked cleric. While being polite, both clerics work to ignore any attempts to discuss the glory and edicts of Razmir.
After Kowal’s initial success with the children, they return each day bringing new friends and even some adults. Within a few days, Kowal has established a minor art colony within the colony. A bespectacled human glassblower named Sanch Celan takes great interest in Kowal’s painting and discusses his artistry on her windows, drinking glasses, and other works, once her shop is established. She seems to call everyone Deary until she has a nickname for them. She already refers to Kowal as Kwelion after the famous Shelynite painter Kwelion Dyslevak. He also gets to know Nymbleth and Alba, the Dwarven Alchemist after introducing himself that first day, and is surprised when Brannart reaches out to him with an introduction a few days into the journey.
Raearg does not have any information for Brannart regarding the colony, since a different ship was used on the initial voyage. As Brannart and Fenna discuss the colony while sharing libations, they start piecing together a bit of the puzzle due to their knowledge of business and the region. They realize that this colony is some kind of joint venture between House Naran and House Vaylen, two of the three merchant houses running Andoran’s major banks. Somehow the Lumber Consortium is also involved in all of this but some further investigation might be required for the facts to come out. Eventually Malakar, Vexas, and Sho arrive to socialize.
Nymbleth shows gratitude after a few sips of the fresh batch of sea-sickness remedy. And settles down to discuss alchemy with his new friend. She discusses her travels in the southern jungles in search of rare ingredients and hopes to explore the ruins of the ancient Azlanti lands and culture to discover new ingredients and long-lost formulas for remedies and potions. During the next few days, Kowal joins in on the discussions.
Raearg thanks Merrek for his generous offering but explains that they are in good hands with Tyra Swain, their Navigator. He mentions that it is like ‘she speaks to the seas’. Later that day, Merrek is on the deck watching the waves go by. He notices dolphins playing in the wake, and he is almost positive one winks at him. He looks again, and there is something in the dolphin’s mouth. With a flick of its head, the item flies through the air and lands in Merrek’s hand. It is a ’Dripping Leaf’.
Malakar spends part of his days getting to know the other ’Protectors of Almas’, but he mostly watches from the railing, waiting for the familiar fin to emerge. ’Three, two, one … There he points’ and his prediction holds true as Razor makes his presence known. The Undine can feel his faithful companion and knows the exertion and strain the shark is under. He is strong, but the ship moves without stopping.
Over the next few days, Peregrine makes good time moving west over the Inner Sea. After given some time acclimating to ship life, the colonists are finally put to work. After breakfast, the colonists, including all of you, are asked to remain in the mess hall for a colony briefing.
A woman you have seen around the ship mingling with Captain and crew ushers your attention as she walks into the mess hall followed by six guards. She moves to an open space while the guards filter behind her. She is a human in her mid to late twenties with a tan complexion, short-cropped brown hair encircling a very pretty face, and sparkling green eyes that would give any emerald a run for its money. She wears black studded leather and has a machete strapped to her side. She speaks articulately in a very soft, eloquent, and melodic tone. Her soft voice surprisingly carries through the hall for everyone to hear. She introduces herself as Ramona Avandth, the designated leader of Talmandor’s Bounty. For a few minutes she discusses what to expect for the next five weeks aboard the ship and what to expect when the colony is reached. For the remainder of the voyage, she will be splitting up the colonists into teams with similar roles to answer questions and discuss responsibilities. She thanks you for your time and mentions that schedules will be handed out soon.
This particular morning there is excitement abuzz on the ship. This is the day that Peregrine leaves the Inner Sea and enters the Arcadian Ocean by passing through the partially ruined Arch of Aroden. Within a few hours, the Arch should be in sight and many gather on the forward decks to witness this once in a lifetime chance to view it.
Fenna's answer to Brannart is underwhelming at first, but by the time she's finished it seems maybe he had taken her meaning differently than she meant.
"I've lived all around Andoran. We moved a lot when I was a kid. More recently I've lived in Almas mostly. But when I was on the Spectral it sometimes went as far as Absalom and the coast off northern Garund. We did put in at Totra for a couple of days once. That's probably not much compared to the traveling Yraelzin has done, but seeing things isn't so much about how far you go as what you take in."
"What I mean is I get the feeling he's never really talked to people all that much outside of his home. Maybe he's been too busy trying to convert people to ask them about themselves."
When Sho and then Vexas show up, Fenna greets them and widens the circle of bottle passing to include them. She's particularly pleased to see Sho. Fenna has been wanting to meet her, but so far Sho has been elusive and Fenna has been busy.
"It's not very often I run across another of our kind Sho, I think we're going to get along really well. AND we both have red, well at least reddish hair. We're the founders and members of the reddish haired, half-elven sisterhood."
As for Vexas's remarks about Yraelzin, Fenna ends up sort of defending him again.
"No doubt that mask is unnerving, and listening to him around a crowd can make a person cringe. But one on one he's actually alright. He's pleasant enough, has good manners."
"Besides, one thing I learned quick about living on a ship. It's too small with too few people for bad relationships. Best find a way to be friendly with everyone because they're not going anywhere, and neither are you. I don't know exactly how big Talmandor's Bounty is, but I wouldn't be surprised if it weren't all that different."
"We're stuck with each other, maybe for a very long time" she concludes with a grin.
Fenna takes great interest in Ramona Avandth and what she has to say.
Unelected, company installed 'leader'. Too bad she's probably my nemesis. She seems quite nice. Good presence too.
by the 6th day, I start running low on pigments and start talking to the alchemists, first I'll go to Nymbleth.
any chance you could make me up some pigment for the kids? I'm running low on the colors they like a lot but I don't use, you know the whimsical ones like pink and purple, any chance you have anything you could mix into them?
Assuming that goes well I won't ask the dwarf, if it doesn't I'll head to her and ask her as well.
Yraelzin is mildly annoyed at the two priests shutting him out. Let the old geese gossip! They'll soon see their adherents slip away in favour of the Living God.
Although an intimidating presence at first, the man in the iron mask pitches in as much as possible around the ship. He especially focuses on helping anyone who might be seen as an outcast in normal society--the poor, lamed, or disfigured--and offers words of encouragement. He even starts slipping them silver pieces from time to time, always accompanied by the same whispered words: "To help you get settled in our new home. The Living God sees you and cares for your well-being."
Nymbleth is blissfully unaware of anything other than his conversations on alchemy. He scribbling notes in a worn leather bound book when Kowal approaches. The tiefling blinks a couple of times, looking confused, he strokes his chin, ”Hmmm... those are some complicated hues ... my first thought is to just mix two existing colors red and white for pink or red and blue for purple.” He shakes his head, ”but no, that wouldn’t do. You’d just come back asking for red pigment in few days.”
He pauses again as if listening to his own internal dialogue befor continuing, ”You could always tell the children to find something else to do.” he hastily reconsiders, ”No, no, no, what am I saying, if you did that they might start bothering me or become more of a nuisance.” He wipes some perspiration from his forehead, ”Of course I can help you. I’ll have to scrounge up a few materials and such.”
He looks a Kowal as if really seeing him for the first time, ”I’m sorry... where are my manners... we’ve been on this ship all this time and not been properly introduced. I am Nymbleth an alchemist by trade and while your name escapes me you must be you must be the nanny or the school master. I would think nanny for you haven’t really taught the children anything yet.”
Sho is from Ustalav, and Vexas dodged the question. Do either of them even have any loyalty to Andoran and Common Rule? Do they even know the name Aylsande Benedict, let alone respect her? Our young country is still an experiment at a precarious stage.
Brannart continues to be friendly enough to most - even easing up on Yraelzin - but Fenna can tell he is more at ease around those he knows to be from Andoran.
---
He nods as Ramona is introduced, and notices something about one of her guards. Good to know. Not thrilled about having an unelected leader from the Company. If enough of us demand elections there will be elections. But let's see how she does.
He goes up on deck to see the Arch of Aroden.
He especially focuses on helping anyone who might be seen as an outcast in normal society--the poor, lamed, or disfigured--and offers words of encouragement. He even starts slipping them silver pieces from time to time, always accompanied by the same whispered words: "To help you get settled in our new home. The Living God sees you and cares for your well-being."
kowal and the pleasure is mine, I’m actually a paper maker, but I figured keeping the kids occupied and out of everyone’s hair would be a better service on the ship. Thank you by the way.
I will also talk with Sanch,
i’d love to help out, painting has never really been my main trade but it seems more in demand here than I expected so I guess I might learn a bit deeper into it.
The masked priest, looking imperturbable, joins the rest of the crowd on deck to wait for the sighting of the Arch of Aroden. This is going to be so exciting! To think there was once a time when *other* gods walked the land like Razmir does now! Soon, great monuments to him will be dotting the landscape as well! Well . . . back to work.
Yraelzin helps the eager crowd pass the time by regaling them with a very exciting (and somewhat accurate) rendition of the battle against the slavers. His account focuses on the heroics of those he travelled with (Brannart, Nymbleth, and Fenna) with himself in a starring role as figuring out the location of the slavers and launching the rescue mission. And then, after recounting the stirring tale, he holds out his Boon of Desna and tells of the recognition ceremony with special emphasis on the assembled shouts of "Huzzah!" from the notables of Almas.
Brannart rolls his eyes at the Razmiran's latest antics. "Cayden's mighty codpiece..."
He moves over and claps the cultist on the shoulder. "Hey. You don't happen to have any Tears of Razmir, do you?"
Yraelzin claps Brannart on the shoulder in a friendly gesture. He then speaks to the crowd who heard his tale. "And here is one of the heroes of that vaunted mission, a boon companion who was at my very side as the first shots rang out! A fellow recipient of the designation 'Protector of Almas.' An Adoren devoted to freedom and justice for all, Brannart Teskerwill!" Yraelzin leads the crowd in applause.
Brannart is unimpressed. "Hmmm. I have heard of the Tears of Razmir. What do you know of them?"
Come on kid, I have to hope...
Malakar listens to the woman. Not to fussed with what she said he stops paying heavy attention. Malakar knows his strength is a boon and his friendship with Rareg and the crew should allow him to pick his work do it quick and use the free time to track Razor and maybe get some fishing in when the winds are slow.
During some downtime or during a meal Malakar will search out Merrik.
@Merrik:"Hail Merrik, I have heard your name a few times and saw you that night at the Asp. I see you are a follower of the 'Wind and Waves'I am as well. Although not in the strict manor that you do. I am a druid from the cold coasts of the land of Linorn Kings. I consider myself an ambassador between the lives of the sea and land and a champion of the Selachii. Maybe you have spotted my companion of their kind following the ship. Either way I had hoped to become friends with yours. I think peoples with a mind like ours can be good at keeping this no colony in balance with nature and keep the peoples from exploiting this land that has been left to our patron for so long."
During some point while resting or watching over the rails of the bridge.
@The Navigator:"Hail, since we are to share this deck for many weeks we should be friends. Tell me of your journeys through the ocean. I have lived along side the ocean my whole life and swam through them but never have I been more than a few nauts off shore to view her true majesty and power."
Back at the first meal on ship...
Vexas eyes the particular halfling lass with an intrigued eye.
Now there's an individual who marches to her own drum... that's someone I can work with.
At first he watches her, going back for almost as much food as himself.
Finally he breaks the ice with a quick glance over her figure and a Say... where do you put all of that? His wry smile breaks with a chuckle.
They get to know each other for a bit, and later when Ramona Avandth enters the mess hall Vexas leans over to his friend and whispers Now there's someone putting on quite a show. A think her operation could use a little chaos at some point, don't you think?
------------------------------
With Fenna and Brannart...
Vexas shrugs and bobs his head a little side to side, conceding. Yes, I suppose he may be harmless. I guess you just never know when someone is so staunch about beliefs... and they always seem to direly need others to validate them. But... you're right. No reason to make a foe for it.
He smiles pleasantly. Yes, we're stuck with each other, for better or worse. I suspect somehow for the better, oddly enough from a cynic like me.
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Yraelzin chuckles indulgently at Brannart. Turning to the crowd, he says. "My ally here is clamouring to hear about the Tears of Razmir! I hadn't planned to speak of my faith, but what priest could turn down such a request? I promise, however, to keep it short. Brannart refers to a famous parable that comes from the Living God, Razmir."
The man in the iron mask begins to pace as he speaks, and punctuates the following tale with dramatic gestures.
"It is said that after ascending to godhood after passing the famous Test of the Starstone, Razmir did what most deities did not: he stayed on Golarion! Instead of flying off to the heavens or exploring strange, distant dimensions, Razmir walked the very same lands and sailed the very same seas as you or I. But as he travelled, he wept to see the state of mankind: the rich exploiting the poor, the masters cruelly whipping their slaves, the tyrants lording their power over their people. Yes, Razmir wept! And as every tear hit the ground, the earth itself felt his agony at the wretched state of mankind! From the very soil sprang forth the land's long-dormant guardians, and under the leadership of the Living God, an army of justice threw off the shackles of one such tyrant! And thus, the nation of Razmiran was formed. And, everyday, more flock to his banner, expanding the borders, physically and spiritually, of a land devoted to a paradise not in the heavens, but here, on Golarion!"
The priest pauses for a moment to let that sink in before concluding.
"And so you see, fellow travelers, the Tears of Razmir remind us that through pain and suffering, liberation can result as we throw off the shackles of the past." Yraelzin claps Brannart warmly on the back. "Thank you for insisting I share this parable with a broader audience."
Fine. Really want to have it out? Have it your way.
Brannart doesn't even crack a smile.
"Don't play dumb. The drug Tears of Razmir that the priests of your false 'god' use to keep people enslaved.
We have been very indulgent of your rantings, priest, but if you peddle this drug there will be a reckoning.
Tell me you do not. Tell me you haven't yet earned that privilege or whatever.
Also, out of curiosity, tell me how a preacher of Desna, or Shelyn, or Iomedae is treated in your land. As gently as we've treated you?"
What Brannart does not really understand is that Yraelzin actually believes what he is saying.