"Oh, that does sound quite promising." Hedy says with interest tinged with greed. "Hmmm..." she'll lean back again thinking "We are in need of crew and we are always in need of treasure. Getting both in one grab would be better than the best, now wouldn't it." sighing slow and heavy, knowing it will draw the eyes. She'll wink at the redhead when she catches his gaze "First thing is first, though. Which is Us knowing Rickety's bill. Past that if you are tied of grubby soil in your toes, Talk to one of us."
Her eyes drifting up to the Mwangi woman "Especially you." Hedy tells her. "It's plain good sense knowing when to entice over simple wallowing."
The sailor stands, revealing both how tall she is (over six feet for certain) and how dark her skin truly is (more black than brown). "The name's Kamshi, ma'am," she offers with a smile, "and I believe every one of us will be interested in signing on when you're ready to leave." The sailors seated at the table pound their hands and cups on the table approvingly and all but Ethan, the redhead, call out some kind of affirmation. "Besides," she adds with a smirk, "you wouldn't want to only take some of us and leave the rest sitting here knowing where the treasure is and just waiting for a ship to race us to it!" Her statement brings a round of laughs, followed quickly by some suspicious glances.
A moment later the serving woman returns with Jordanna's goat and Azadi's fish. The goat is well seasoned and nicely seared on both sides with everything in between nearly raw; it's even been pounded out thoroughly to get rid of much of the toughness. The master gunner's fish is delicately sliced and coated with just enough lime juice to quickly cure it. Both are delicious. After a quick trip back to the kitchen, she delivers Hedy's plate: two perfectly pan-fried filets of some flaky white fish, over asparagus spears, with a creamy lemon-butter sauce. It is easily the best meal the new captain has had since setting out to sea.
Rickety finally arrives while most of the crew is eating and, after fetching himself a drink, he grabs a seat at the table with Hedy and Azadi. "Well," he starts with half a chuckle, "that's an interesting ship you got there... looks like she's had quite a bit of work done recently. Some of its so good its a shame to rip out, but a lot of it's got to go nonetheless. No matter how good the joinery, it's never as strong as a solid piece, plus to rework lines we're gonna have to stretch her a little here and there, and take her in other places- all that needs reworking in the framing. She's got nice lines up front--I'd leave most of that, just rework the rails--but she's a bit squat across the backside--we could pinch that in a little bit and overhang the sterncastle, that'd make her tough to recognize." He pauses for a moment to take a big swallow of whatever fruity concoction is in his mug, then continues, "I seen what you got in the hold, since you didn't bother unloading it... looks like just around enough to cover repairs and refitting. You want to keep it simple, or you got some more coin and some ideas of what else you might want to add?"
Hedy's mouth melts more than a little bit. Even her knowing food as she does, this is divine. She knows without a doubt she will at least attempt to woe the cook away to her ship, but not until she knows the repairs are well underway.
As Rickety arrives, she listens attentively before rebutting a bit. "Hmm... before I was voted into captaincy, dear Rickety, I was the quartermaster of our fine ship. Weighing the value of every coin was my daily life. My only weakness in this vein is my knowledge of how much work it takes to repair a beautiful ship like our new Talon." she smiles wide, placing her hand on her master gunner's shoulder. "That is where this fine man comes into play. You've seen his work in patching our prize, so you know what his eye is worth."
Hedy lays out the credentials of the ones on their side of the table, then gets to negotiating a better price on the booty they do have vs the amount of work they need to have done.
Rickety chuckles and answers, "Well, you can't blame an old man for trying."
He looks the gunner up and down then asks, "That's you're work out there? I'll tell you what- you ever live long enough to get tired of pirating, I got a job waiting here for you."
Turning his attention back to the captain, he continues, "Your math's good... I suppose there is about six or seven hundred gold worth spoils leftover once repairs are done. I can leave it in the hold, or put it towards some extras, if there's anything extra you want?"
Vadoma walks into 'The Commons', wearing the outfit she uses when reading cards for others, a floor length dark blue dress, deep V-neck showing an abundance of cleavage, sleeves covering down to wrists where they end in a flourish of light blue silk, when looked at closely you recognize that the silk has the pattern of waves woven into it. Sitting at a table by herself she nods towards the beekeep. "Wine please." As she waits for the drink to arrive she takes out a deck, shuffles a few times and then starts laying out a simple pattern. Vadoma isn't trying to read anything in particular, but over time she has found this to be an effective way to get people interested in her abilities and will try to use it to bring new recruits. She doesn't use her harrow deck for this, she wouldn't dream of using her good deck for something so base Vadoma has respect for her craft and knows that what she is going to do falls under the description of trickery or being a charlatan, playing to the expectations of the common people.
The barkeep gives the alluringly dressed fortune-teller a nod and, on one of her trips back and forth to the kitchen, the matronly Mwangi server sets a wooden mug full of cheap wine on her table.
It's not long before the drunken Tian man at the bar takes notice of her and he unsteadily turns to try to watch whatever it is she's doing. She's five cards in before his eyes go wide with comprehension. He springs to his feet, knocking his stool over and very nearly falling backwards with it, then shouts, "占い師" before stumbling across the room to a closed door that he swings open and collapses through.
Unintelligible murmurs echo out of the room and a moment later a young Tian woman in a silk robe emerges. She quietly looks around then daintily makes her way to the table where Vadoma is seated. "Is it true that you can see the future?" she asks longily, "I would like to have a question answered about my future..."
Jordanna devours her goat with reckless abandon. After wiping the blood from her lips, she turns her attention to Vadoma's table, ready to intervene if the witch gets in trouble.
Hedy's eyes go wide with mirth as the man runs out like a frightened child. She keeps her tongue to herself on the matter though.
Using Azadi's skill and her own brain, she gets into an earnest discussion about the benefits of this and that pertaining to the ship. In the end (since there doesn't seem to be any disagreements), Hedy settles on maneuverability.
The inquisitor grumpily turns back to the bar after Bogg wins over the stranded men and women, and orders whatever passes for meat and potatoes from the barkeep. That ginger'll be trouble. He straightens up as the drunkard bolts through the door, expecting trouble, but relaxes again when it seems ship's witch has simply found a customer.
Leaning forward across the bar, Murillo signals the barkeep and asks in a lowered voice "How long have this lot been stuck here, and how loose have they been with their coin?"
The barkeep scoffs at Murillo's question. "Coins? What coins?" he answers quietly. "They been here, what, ten-twelve days... they were stingy with their coin at first, and it wasn't a bad idea 'cause they run out a couple days ago. They been doing odd jobs to pay for room and board. They haven't got desperate yet, but its only a matter of time before they head up river." While they're talking, the now busy server hurries by, dropping a plate on the bar in front of the priest as she moves toward the table where Peter Five-toes, Hamhock, Stoneskull, and Gentleman Jim (who's clearly eyeing the Tian woman) are seated. The plate bears roasted hunks of purple potato, which is sweeter than than the white potatoes of his homeland, and a heap of slightly spicy stewed goat.
Over at the captain's table, Rickety nods approvingly and replies, "A broad rudder's a good choice on a ship like her, keep her agile. That'll leave enough for plenty of paint and sail dye, if you want... or kind of a simple figurehead... did you say she's gonna be the Talon?"
Vadoma smiles at the lady as she walks up and sweeps her cards into a pile. "What is it you would like to know?" She asks as she organizes the deck and places it between them. Once the Tian woman has made her desire known Vadoma hands her the cards. "Shuffle them until you feel comfortable with the mix, all the while focus on your adjuration. Once you are satisfied put them down between us."
The pretty Tian woman smiles and answers, "I'd like to know if I will ever make it back to Minkai, the land of my birth?" Picking up the deck, she gracefully shuffles it four times before setting it down on the table and watching expectantly.
"What's up-river?"
When the fortune-teller begins to explain the first card, the Tian woman's eye light up with excitement, but that quickly fades. She settles into a polite smile and it becomes very difficult to get any sense of her feelings for the rest of the reading. When Vadoma finishes, the woman leans in and very quietly replies, "Thank you, but I think you might need a little more practice. There was some real insight in your reading--feeling trapped, hidden abilities, perhaps even developing my inner strength--but everyone knows I am not here by choice, and I don't even know who's in power there anymore..."
She leans back and her smile seems a bit more authentic. "I hope your conclusion is correct though." Her eyes flit around the room, falling on the table of sailors she seems to know, then on the unfamiliar crew, as she considers the witch's words.
The barkeep chuckles and answers, "what isn't up-river? Snakes, gators, jaguars, lizardmen, nagas... some people think the Slithering Coast is named for the snakes but actually it's for the nagas."
”They’re running out of odd jobs, then?” They’d be mad or stupid to try their hands at naga-hunting rather than join us for a chance at hunting down their lead. ”Poor bastards.”
After tucking away his food, Murillo leaves some coin on the bar to pay for the meal. Standing and stretching, he saunters over to the captain’s table, squatting down next to Bogg to speak with her.
”Are we looking to take the lot, Captain?” he nods towards the stranded treasure-hunters. ”We might be able to convince some of these Tian to sign on as well,” he rubs his chin, ”Not sure if any of us speak their tongue, but might be more the reason to try and get one on board.”
Hedy smiles at the like thoughts from Murillo. Leaning her chin into her hand she mulls it over as a plan "It's a start. Though all we've heard is them complain so far. Figured we'd be here for a few days at least, so we should take their measure a bit more before settling. We can do the same with the Tian. Can't spread our legend if no one knows what the f+$! we are saying."
Then she frowns "But either way, we need some bodies on board or we might as well not ship off to do anything but... ship things..." the distaste of being a merchant is evident in her voice. "So even if they are all s*&%e, we'll be taking more than a few. " she leans back again "So may the best s~##e win."
"There's always odd jobs that need doing when there's a ship in dock," the barkeep answers, "and if they were sailors that'd be fine, but pirates don't like scraping by... especially with a prize dangling in front of their noses. Rickety's set a thousand gold bounty for anyone who can fix whatever's going on upstream that's f@cked up our water supply..."
While the captain's thoughts about color distract her from answering Rickety's question about the ship's name, the old shipwright pulls out a nail and scratches a note on a scrap of wood he's been holding. "Alright, well... it's gonna take us eight days, unless you decide you wanna change something, or add something on, that'll add time on top of cost. I don't need an official name, or colors, until probably day 6, but if you settle on one sooner let me know- some of the carpenters like to hide little details when they have to carve something... if you settle on the Talon you might get a claw here or there, maybe a bird or something."
Standing, he gives a nod to Hedy and the Master Gunner and announces, "you know where to find me if you need me," as he turns and heads out.
"Aye, Rickety. The Talon is who she'll be, already decided. Night Talon to be exact. The rest I'll get back to you on. Enjoy your evening."
She'll turn back to the priest. "I think we'll have Jordanna put some of them there..." nodding to the treasure hunters "... through their paces, to see if they're worth a damn." looking over to the Tain woman hovering still near Vadoma "Miss Ondine there already has a hook into that lot, maybe she'll dig a bit more." looking over to the Mgwani woman "She seems interesting. Kamshi. You want to have a go at her, see who she measures?" a playful smirk at how the measuring might be made. "I'll see what other choices we have on this rock, and check up on the rest of our crew to boot."
”Bartender mentioned something upriver’s fouling their water supply, and Rickety’s offering a thousand gold to anyone who goes and fixes it. If we’re going to be here awhile, might be worth checking out, and not just for the money. That kind of goodwill could go a long way in a place like this.”
As the evening wears on, the large open room of the Commons fills up but remains surprisingly calm. The group of shipless pirates gets a bit rowdy from time to time but mostly keeps to themselves, the crew formerly of the Icy Death are too spent from toiling on repairs and sailing as a skeleton crew to do much more than eat and relax, and the workers who trickle in seem content to celebrate a hard day's work with a warm meal and a strong drink.
Jordanna can't help but notice that one of the workman keeps staring at her. He's a burly, broad-shouldered man with deeply tanned skin and a shaved head. He has several visible scars but the most noteworthy is a matching pair of crescent shaped marks on his left cheek that look like they're from a person biting him. He lingers until most of the people have turned in for the night before quietly slipping out too.
Eventually everyone else turns in as well. The bedrooms in the Commons are small and sparse, but the beds are comfortable, apart from the sickening swaying feeling that always accompanies the first night sleeping on land again. In the morning the sounds of hammers and says start early, but so does the heat and its already quite warm by the time anyone makes it out for breakfast.
On the porch looking out on the water, Hedy stretches her aches away in the morning heat. A decade out in sea has spoiled her in an odd way. Most would call these rooms sparse, but they are bursting with space compared to most ships. She slept best in a cramped nook or a swaying hammock and these sacks of fluff in a sea of emptiness left her stressed and cramped for some f@%!ing reason.
Still, today was one more day not being dead. With possibilities stretched out in front of them instead of troubles beating down their doors. So it wasn't the worst day, even after sleeping in a bed.
Her eye catching something has Hedy's bare feet moving across the rough boards, taking her to her first mate. "Morning Carver. Sleep well?"
She shares what little small talk the rager will deal with. Which is probably none, before getting to the point. "Murillo had the right of it last night. Doing a good turn for Rickety by clearing his water issues would pay in money and favors. Do you have any sage advice for your captain to not go looking for trouble and enjoy eight days of boring peace?" she gives a half-grin, knowing perfectly well that advice wouldn't be coming from their talon anytime soon. But she waits anyway for an answer. Asking and not waiting wouldn't be paying the respect she has for this woman properly.
Jordanna catches the man staring at her from across the taproom. She returns his stare, smirking slightly as he finally leaves, as if she has achieved some sort of victory.
After a bath, the changeling turns in for the night, which amounts to little rest, as usual. The next morning, when Hedy approaches, Jordanna glares at her with bloodshot eyes. "You're joking, right? I never sleep well," she growls. "My mother's 'gift.'"
She listens to the captain's proposition and grunts. "If we don't go looking for trouble, trouble is bound to find us. Let's do it."
Hedy nods, half-grin becoming a full grin. "Look over a few of the prospects from last night. We can try them out to see if they are worth a damn while we work." she starts to head to the water, undoing her laces to have her required daily swim. She might not look too Undine-like but she'll suffer without just like all her kind. "Murillo is already chomping at the idea, I'll check with our witch after this." she'll strip down to her near-nethers before slipping into the waves for a blissful few minutes under the cool water.
"Fine," Jordanna grumbles, moving to do as suggested and inspect the new recruits.
Jordanna finds most of the sailors from the previous night back at the same table eating breakfast. Kamshi, smiles and gives her a nod when she enters, then returns to eating. A stouter, hairier man stands behind the bar than the one who'd been there last night, but he smiles and calls out, "have a seat, anywhere you like; breakfast'll be there in a minute."
There is only one breakfast option and before the changeling has even chosen a seat the kitchen door swings open. A monkey comes through it, carrying a bowl and a mug, and doing its very best impression of a haughty aristocrat as it approaches the new arrival. Reaching up, it hands Jordanna the cup of tropical fruit juice and a bowl of what looks like stewed tomatoes, peppers, onions, and fish, with a cracked egg backed on top and a folded piece of flatbread on the side. As it does, the barkeep sighs and shouts towards the kitchen, "dammit, Silka, I told you not to let that gods-dammed monkey deliver food to customers!"
Jordanna looks askance at the monkey but shrugs and devours her food in short order. Afterwards, she puts the recruits through their paces, testing them on their combat prowess and their ability to perform shipboard duties. She is a stern taskmaster, offering criticism to any who falter and mere nods of satisfaction to those who surpass her expectations.
Swim over, she dries off and gets into her skirts and captain's coat. Wrangling her hair into a think braid, she then drinks her daily potions (). "Well come on now." she clucks to Cream, who dallies but eventually flies to perch on her shoulder.
She collects their witch with a soft knock "Vadoma... we're conquering the river today, solving all the land's water problems, with all the wealth and fame that will bring. So get your ass out of bed, please."
Then their priest in the same manner, but with hard thuds instead of soft knocks, and not a single 'please'.
In the grassy areas between the workers’ cottages and the jungle, and in the trees on the edge of the jungle, Jordanna puts the crew of pirates through their paces. To her surprise they prove reasonably competent, even the red-headed Ethan who’s clearly hungover and unenthusiastic about having to prove himself. Kamshi is eager to demonstrate her ability, and does rather well, especially at climbing and swordplay, but there are two new recruits who clearly outshine the rest: the dwarf who had been at the table with most of the others last night, and an unarmored, blue-skinned woman who couldn’t have been or she surely would have been noticed.
The Dwarf certainly has the gear to impress, boasting a large magical axe and a breastplate made of mithral . Though he moves a bit slower than most, his skills in sailing, climbing, and swimming are all reasonable. He also has potential in navigation, exploration, and appraisal. His skill at arms prove accurate, including with a pistol that he keeps ready to fire.
Taking off his helmet, the dwarf shakes his greasy orange hair and beard free.
"I'm Padrym, but everyone calls me Paddy. Was born ona ship, I was. Lived in the Shackles all me life, threescore rain seasons now. I've been lootin fer a long time. So what ye lot need done anyways? Ye got some sorta contract fer us or anythin?"
Saph opens her left palm, clenches her right fist, and brings fist to palm as she bows.
Noting the dwarf’s self-intro, she takes the hint.
“You can call me Saph, it’s short for the Sapphire Bullet. Not like I shoot people or anything. It was my name in the ring. I was a pit-fighter. Not by choice, really, but I was good at it… I spent my life devoted to athletic perfection.” It turns out blue people get violet cheeks when they blush. “Not that I’m saying I’m perfect, or ever could be…
“I just like to get… better.”
She’s pretty sure they don’t want to hear a long story. The dwarf didn’t blather on forever. She cuts off her own tale.
“And… slaving for a pit fighter can only lead to worse.” She seems lost in thought for a brief moment. She finally blurts, “So I decided not to be a slave anymore, and started working on ships, keeping mostly to myself. When I heard I’d be tested, I thought it was time to move again.
“And then I saw…”
During the test, Saph proved to be quite strong as a climber, agile as an acrobat, and quite stealthy. She was a fierce competitor, but congenial—even going out of her way to encourage the lesser athletes. She was never a sore winner when she came out ahead.
And as for seeing someone far better than herself, athletically…
“…her!
“The woman who swims so fast. I stayed for the test because I really want to meet her!”
If Hedy is present, Saph gives her a look of admiration. If Hedy is not, Saph anxiously looks to the other officers, hoping she didn’t overstep.
"Me?" Hedy cocks her head to the side. She had come to watch her first mates tests with interest. "While I'm flattered by the attention, my abilities in the water are not from hard work, just from birth." the raven-haired captain smiles, lifting her hand to show the webbing between her fingers, and shrugging. "I'm an Undine, if that means anything to you."
Shifting her attention Paddy "No contract. If you pass the good Carver's tests and prove yourself on our treck upriver, then you'll have a place on the ship as long as we are on good terms, and are free to head off as soon as we are not. In between, you'll get equal shares if you're an officer or a split share as crew. Minus ship expenses of course." as the former quartermaster, so can rattle on maritime accounting to the hells and back if the master dwarf wishes her to.
Saph grins at the webbing. She’s about to reach out to touch it, but certainly not without permission.
“May I?” she asks. “Touch your hand, I mean. I might be able to show you one of my abilities from birth.”
Hedy raises a brow, considers for a moment, then holds out her hand. "This is a test. We'd be remiss not to explore all of your abilities... Saph, was it? Touch away." she adds with a wiry grin.
“Yes. Just Saph will do. Better than my old names, which were Slave, Hey Kid, and Godsdammit.”
She touches the hand hoping… I’ve wrestled some pretty amazing women whose forms I can’t have. But to swim like her! Oh, if this works…!
Still holding Hedy’s palm against her own, studying the webbing, she asks,
“How exactly shall I address you?”
Hedy watches as their fingertips touch, rising and then flattening until their palms are pressed together. "Slavers have so little imagination when it comes to naming. My last before freedom was Merwhore of all things." she says with feigned mirth, that the tightening of her other hand on the rapier's hilt(casually placed there in case this 'touching' proves nefarious) dispels somewhat.
"Hedwig Bogg II is my name now. 'Hedy'. Captian, if Jordana decides you are worth a damn, but only when it matters. All other times Hedy is will continue to be fine."
Her eyes shift away from woman to the dwarf "And do you master dwarf need to touch me as well to show your true abilities?"
"Haha, no Cap'n Hedy." Paddy chuckles as he puts a hand on the back of his head and blushes. "Uhh, so, what's upriver?"
"Problems with Rickety's water. Something up there is mucking up his flow right good. Bad enough he's put money down on finding out what, and killing it if that's what needs to be done." she looks back at the woman pressed against her hand "How long does this normally take?"
"Aye. I heard stories from the rest bout hiking upriver fer clean water. First time was easy and the water was clean. Second time the water was pretty s~$$, and the group had to go further upriver to find anything worth drinking. Killed two lizards by the by."
Saph gives Hedy’s hand a gentle squeeze when she says ‘Merwhore.’ I’m so sorry you were forced to… Her sapphire eyes show genuine empathy.
When asked how long, Saph replies, “Between watching you swim, and seeing your hand… I believe I can do it!” She slowly moves her hand away and steps back. “I can take the shape of an undine, and swim like you!
“I better hold my breath though. I’m pretty sure my shape-shifting is external. My lungs’ll still do what lungs do.” With a shrug, she states the obvious: “Breathe air.”
She chimes in after Paddy speaks up, “Oh! Yes, the s@+$-water. I should demonstrate my shape-shifting on the job, then, if we need to swim. Might be worth noting that I can fight underwater, and—on the off chance the water happens to be teeming with disease—have I mentioned I’m immune to diseases? Like, all of them? Boring story behind that: I meditate a lot.” Her purple lips flash a coy smile. “The end,” she adds to note her ‘boring’ story at least isn’t a long one.
"Well you two are proving useful right out of the gate aren't you?" she thinks for a moment "Get your gear together. Unless Carver objects, you can join our excursion if you still wish."
Nodding to the two, she'll go see her first mate and other officers, "So what do you think about the recruits?"
"Aye aye cap'n. Ready whenever."
Saph traces her body with both hands (and maybe moves them just a bit slower as they pass by her bare, toned abs). “Me and the clothes I wear are all my gear.
“So I’m ready, Cap’n Hedy. And interested!”
"So what do you think about the recruits?"
"The blue one talks too much," Jordanna says, glowering at the pair. "We'll see how they handle some field work. Take them with us up the river and if they survive, I may deign to actually learn their names."
Vadoma stands there watching the new recruits, her mouth forming a slight grin as the majority of them show little promise to reach the level she is used to seeing. "No, I must stop thinking like that. New Captain, new way of doing things." Turning towards Heddy she gives her honest assessment.
"Well, the good news is we can always use meat shields if what I've heard is true. I understand why the majority of them were left behind. Those two show some promise though, now to see if they also show the common sense needed to stay alive on a simple mission."
She pats the pocket where she keeps her special deck as she goes to stand with the rest of the officers.
Saph is of course with the grunts, aware of the looks from the other officers, but obvious to their words.
She says to Paddy, “Hey, sorry if I ever came off as a snob these past few weeks. Just been trying to lay low, which is hard to do when you’re the only blue-skinned person no matter where you go.
“I guess we both drew a lot of attention with this test, didn’t we?”
Hedy feeds strips of dried fish to the owl on her shoulder while she listens. "UmHm" she makes an agreeing noise as she munches on the salty strips as well. "Okay, the blue one and the dwarf as the brightest bricks of the bunch. And we'll throw in the Mwani woman and ginger as semi-competent meat sacks. " while she thought Kamshi did rather well, she saw no reason to butt heads with Vadoma and Jordanna on this. "We'll leave Azadi and Lief to make sure the ship is moving along well and to get a rest they deserve. Now we just have to rouse our priest and get going."
Paddy replies "Well we ain't lying low anymore are we? Don't worry bout it, lass. I get what it's like to be the only Dwarf round here. Though, gotta say, looks like most ofvem ain't human anyways. A proper bando misfits me thinks. Perfect fer piracy."