Looking to the others, "Off we go, lot. Don't forget yer bird, lass," he tells Yasmin. Emercy adjusts his pack a bit and follows after, looking forward to where this next part of life is taking him.
The man responds curtly, his voice the epitome of a polite tone.
"I am Alidelia's retainer, and the 'front office man' as it were. She's the head of the Company's operations here in Katapesh. Don't worry you'll meet the captain shortly, she's an interesting character to be sure."Alidelia, meanwhile, welcomes the group and motions towards the ship.
"Well come on then, we're behind schedule. Captain Zakeriss is already quite hot under her scales, best not to poke her even further."
"Wait, did you say scales?" says Yasmin, a little worried. She hops on board, and Crag does as well. They start looking for a spot where Crag can nestle without getting in the way.
"I did say scales, yes. You'll see what I mean presently, I am sure of it. Don't worry, she won't eat you. Unless you misbehave!" Alidelia says, laughing softly as she follows the three of you on board the Scorpion.
Sure enough, you do meet the captain almost immediately upon cresting the railing of the ship. She's standing on the stairs leading down to the quarterdeck, and you can see why Alidelia said what she did. The captain's skin is completely comprised of scales, every inch of her ophidian figure covered in bright red patterns. She's dressed in almost stereotypical naval captain's garb, with a button-up waist coat and a tricorn hat atop her hairless head. A forked tongue, lidless eyes, and a long tail poking out from the edge of complete her appearence.
"Ah, the new lackeys of the Company." the scaled figure says, her jovial voice accentuated by the reptilian sounds you might expect her to have made before she spoke. "Welcome aboard! And my good friend Alidelia, it's been so long!"
She's a nagaji, a serpentine race believed to have ancestral ties to the nagas, although there is no concrete proof of the races' actual origins. Hardy of skin and as cold-blooded as actual snakes, nagaji aren't extremely common in Katapesh but a significant number find themselves attracted to the wealth and security provided by the trade to be found in the golden city.
Zakeriss herself has been a ledgered employee of the Company for nearly a decade now, acting as a trusted captain throughout any service they may have need of. She has a small apartment here in the city but prefers the company of the open sea when she's not performing work for the Company.
Yasmin is certainly puzzled by the scaly captain, being unfamiliar with such creatures. But she seemed nice enough and sure did look like a captain otherwise.
"Glad to be aboard, Captain Zakeriss! I'm Yasmin al Akbar. I'm not much of a sailor, but me and Crag can get to the high places no problem if ya need that. And I can help make some food in the galley too!"
Not expecting the captain to literally be covered in scales, Emercy finds himself slightly taken aback. "Wow. I'm lovin' the red scales, Captain. That bright red ya got goin' is lovely." He tells her in a matter-of-fact manner, nodding. "I'm Emercy, by the way. Emercy Hammertime of the Stonehammer clan. Like Yasmin here I don't sail much meself, or, ya know, like at all really. But I'm lookin' forward ta see where this takes us."
The captain nods to each of you in turn, welcoming you.
"Glad to see the new faces, we've needed some fresh blood for a while out here. Don't you worry about the sailing, my crew and I will take care of all of that!"
She laughs at Emercys' compliment, a loud hissing sound that draws attention to her. "Appreciate the flattery, but it won't get you anywhere around here." you get the feeling she'd wink at you if she was able to.
Alidelia chimes in, climbing aboard behind the trio. "It's good to see you too, captain. It has been too long."
"Like I said, if it isn't sailing, then it's definitely cooking! And a bit of scouting if you ever need it." Yasmin smiles brightly. "So, um, where are you from, anyway?" she asks, not certain where snake people actually lived.
The captain nods to each of you in turn, welcoming you.
"Glad to see the new faces, we've needed some fresh blood for a while out here. Don't you worry about the sailing, my crew and I will take care of all of that!"
She laughs at Emercys' compliment, a loud hissing sound that draws attention to her. "Appreciate the flattery, but it won't get you anywhere around here." you get the feeling she'd wink at you if she was able to.
Alidelia chimes in, climbing aboard behind the trio. "It's good to see you too, captain. It has been too long."
Raising his eyebrows, the dwarf just now realizes how that sounded. "No... wait... I didn't mean... what I meant was..." He pauses, concentrating a moment before realizing there's really no way to explain it. Chuckling, the dwarf holds up his hands in concession. "Fair enough, lass."
Heavy thuds sound on the gangplank of the Sea Scorpion as a squat, bald man rushes onto the ship. His skin is gray, like the color of basalt, but many tiny crystals embedded in his skin reflect the light of the blistering sun. He wears simple clothing, with no apparent weapons or armor.
He stops once he's aboard the ship, looking at the people looking back at him. He's self conscious at the attention he's drawn, but he's also studying each person until his eyes land on Alidelia. His face splits into a wide smile and he lumbers up to her, handing her a copy of his Truther & Trathis invitation that has been crumpled and smoothed out again.
"Hello. My name is Anovat. I could not get to Katapesh until the middle of the night, but I could not get inside the city until the gates were opened. But... I am here now."
"Oh my gosh, you look like a living rock! That has to be pretty handy."
Anovat sees a young halfling woman wearing a headband and sporting nomadic robes accentuated by gold and silver jewelry. She has a sheathed scimitar sized for her, and appears to be an unusually small whirling dervish.
Beside her is a much larger human-sized bird of prey, perhaps an eagle but much bigger, with brown plumage that turns more golden on his breast, and orange claws that end in deadly black tips. Some might recognize it as a Roc, albeit a young, small one.
"The name's Yasmin al Akbar, but you can call me Yaz for short. And this is Crag," she adds, gesturing toward the bird. "Screeeeee!" cries Crag as if in response. He doesn't look entirely happy at the new arrival, and Yasmin has to push on the bird a little to get him to ease up. "Sorry, Crag is finnicky, but he only bites the bad guys--promise!"
"Oh my gosh, you look like a living rock! That has to be pretty handy."
"It is not as handy as you might think, but I am happy with how I look, because it is a part of who I am."
Anovat talks slowly and carefully, not because he is nervous. The other travelers will come to learn that this is just how he speaks.
"I am pleased to meet you Yaz Akbar." Anovat clasps his hands together and gives a slight bow in greeting.
"And this is Crag," she adds, gesturing toward the bird. "Screeeeee!" cries Crag as if in response. He doesn't look entirely happy at the new arrival, and Yasmin has to push on the bird a little to get him to ease up. "Sorry, Crag is finnicky, but he only bites the bad guys--promise!"
"No need to apologize," Anovat says while offering a similar bow to the large bird. "I have seen rocs from a distance in my home in the Zho Mountains of Qadira. I was taught to respect their capability and their temperament."
Listening in on the conversation, Emercy waits before finally introducing himself. "Name's Emercy. Nice ta meet ya, lad. You can call me Emercy. That's pretty much what everyone calls me that knows me name." He says, grinning wryly as he nods in greeting.
"Hello, Emercy." Anovat gives the dwarf his own bow. When he rises again, he points to the holy symbol hanging around Emercy's neck.
"Is that the symbol of Torag? The creator of the earth beneath our feet. I respect him very much. I was raised by a dwarven druid named Berrolt. He me taught as much about Torag as he did The Green Faith."
Nodding, "Aye, it is, lad. And that's interestin', that bit about me fellow dwarf teachin' ya about The Green Faith. I'll confess, I've never heard too many stories of me kind teachin' about The Green Faith. Truly fascinatin'."
Anovat nods emphatically, if slowly.
"The stones beneath our feet of the natural world, and they bear the ores that Torag molds on his forge. They are worthy of attention and respect."
Anovat seems about to say more, but after a silent pause he instead turns to Alidelia.
"I'm sorry that I was late. I don't move very fast, but I came as soon as I could."
The captain seems to enjoy poking fun at the dwarf, and she smirks as he stammers. "Don't you worry, I am only teasing you. It's good to see such a promising batch of recruits for the company, I trust Alidelia to pick the right people for the job.'
Alidelia laughs quietly, holding up a hand as if to protest the oreads' apology.
No need, you made it in plenty of time. As you can see, the ship hasn't left yet. Our wonderful captain has made sure to wait on all of our members before setting out. In fact, I believe we are waiting on one final guest to join our expedition, no?"
The captain seems to enjoy poking fun at the dwarf, and she smirks as he stammers. "Don't you worry, I am only teasing you. It's good to see such a promising batch of recruits for the company, I trust Alidelia to pick the right people for the job.'
Emercy chuckles, pointing, winking, and giving her a nod of congrats. "Ya got me. Good one."
Alidelia laughs quietly, holding up a hand as if to protest the oreads' apology.
No need, you made it in plenty of time. As you can see, the ship hasn't left yet. Our wonderful captain has made sure to wait on all of our members before setting out. In fact, I believe we are waiting on one final guest to join our expedition, no?"
"I think there was supposed ta be another. I believe 'four' was the number we were told. Don't quote me on that, though." He shrugs.
"Indeed there is one more," a voice calls back from the dock.
The man it came from stands close to six feet tall with a slender build, and has the dark hair and pale skin of a Cheliaxian. He's dressed in the sort of light, flowing robes common among sages and magicians and a large pair of rather frail looking wings rise from his back, covered in brightly colored plumage like a peacock.
He walks purposefully up the gang plank and continues, "John Billings Bryant, of the Ostenso Billingses, reporting for duty. I apologize for my tardiness; I had to appraise an ancient Osirian ephod for a collector on the far side of the city this morning and there were... complications."
The halfling woman stares up at John for quite some time, uncertain what to make of the tall winged man. "An Osirian what?" Yasmin thinks about what she knew of Osiriani culture. It wasn't much. Where did those wings come from? she thought to herself. Having already scared away one strange man with her jokes, she decides to hold back from more.
"So, you must be our sage! That's great! Yasmin al Akbar, of . . . the Akbars. Um, it's a nomad clan. But you probably already knew that." She reaches up with a small hand to shake. "And there's Crag," she says, pointing yet again to the "small" man-sized Roc that's aboard the ship.
She then looks into the distance, wondering if any more stragglers might appear!
"A sage, yes," John answers, surveying the halfling and her bird. "Yasmin al Akbar. And Crag- a fledgling roc, so far from the mountains. Interesting."
"An ephod is a ceremonial breastplate worn during the performance of religious rituals by some priests. Most of them are made primarily of silver or gold and have semi-precious, or occasionally precious, stones set in a geometric pattern on the front."
"Emercy Hammertime of the Stonehammer clan from Janderhoff. Pleasure ta meet ya, Billings." He nods.
Anovat offers a simple wave to the tall newcomer.
"Hello. My name is Anovat."
”Emercy Hammertime, from Janderhoff,” John replies with an appraising look. “And, Anovat. Succinct.”
”Billings is a matrilineal family name and not commonly used as a form of address. Mister Bryant will suffice.”
John waits for more questions or introductions; when none come he shrugs and asks, “so, is there anyone else we need to inform of my arrival, or should we alert the captain that we’re ready to depart?”
"I'm right here" the nagaji says, scowling. "No need to talk about me in the third person."
Alidelia steps in here, to avoid any confrontation.
"No, these four are everyone. I'm glad you introduced yourselves, you'll all have plenty of time to get to know each other in the coming months. For now, I think it's best that we all get below deck. Captain Zakeriss and her crew have a lot of work to get us sailing, and I think she would appreciate us being out of her way."
The captain gives a wide, toothy grin confirming her words.
"Here" Alidelia continues, "I'll take you to see your quarters and then we can meet in mine afterwards to talk more. Unless anyone else had anything else to say now?"
Shrugging, "I got nothin'."
”Yes, let’s remove ourselves from the captain’s way,” John agrees as he falls in behind Alidelia to follow her below deck.
Anovat gives a final, lingering glance at the shore, knowing he will be far from earth and stone for the duration of the journey. After a moment, he trudges across the deck and down the hatch.
"Caw Caw!" cries Crag, responding for the pair.
Yasmin leads the way below deck. Crag is not nearly as excited by the prospect, which causes the halfing to speak--in Kelish. "Oh come on Crag, you heard them--we can't leave you in the way. I promise we'll do some flying when we get the chance."
She then looks to her stone-like ally. "I guess you're out of your element too, Anovat--at least until we get into those mines!"
Anovat looks at Yasmin for a moment before offering a soft smile.
"Yes, that is so. The spirits in the stone have asked me to come to the Zolurket Mines to help address some need that I think they do not understand. I was hesitant once I learned that the journey involved a trek across the ocean, so this spirit... Anovat pauses as he takes off his pack and opens it to pull out a small chunk of unpolished marble about the size of an apple.
"... has agreed to make the trip with me. It was a very selfless offer to make."
Looking curiously upon the oread, "But, lad, that there is nothin' more than a...," he pauses, wondering if it's wise to continue before deciding on, "spirit. Just like ya said it was. Not sure where I was goin' with that one." He chuckles awkwardly. "Anyway! Should be a fun trip. I'm not one for traveling by boat meself but I'm always up for somethin' new. Ya just never know where life is gonna take ya next, so, it's always interestin' ta see where the next journey lies."
Alidelia laughs at Emercy’s words, a joyful laugh full of excitement.
”Trust me, you will find plenty of new experiences on this trip. I’ve been in the mines…it’s a different world.” She shudders slightly, almost imperceptibly, before continuing. [b]”Come on, let me take you to your quarters for this trip.”
She takes you down below decks and points out each of your rooms. They’ve been furnished well, with sturdy beds and a desk for each of you to use as well as a chest under the bed for gear storage.
”I hope you’ll find these rooms suitable. If you need anything, be sure to let my assistant know and he’ll do his best to accommodate you. There’s a door at the end of the hall here, it’s the dining hall where we usually have our meals but has been converted to a conference room for now. Meet me there in half an hour, and we’ll have a proper introduction with the captain. Don’t be late.” she finishes, before leaving you to your own devices.
"I've got my own private room in this place? This is awesome!"
Yasmin puts her backpack away, though she keeps herself armed and armored. She pushes the bed to one side and puts a bedroll on the ground. "Okay, you lucky bastard, you get to sleep on the bed because it's bigger. And maybe we stay up during the night to keep an eye on things--I don't trust our journey to be entirely safe."
She hadn't really packed any clothing to impress, but she does take out her nicest jewelry and puts it on for dinner. And after fussing with her hair for a bit, she takes Crag outside. Crag flies off to go hunting--or fishing! Yasmin then heads below-deck and enters the dining hall/conference room.
Anovat looks at the room assigned to him and nods at Alidelia. Having never been on a ship before, he wasn't sure what to expect. But this seems fine.
At the appointed time, Anovat heads to dinner. He doesn't have anything fancier to dress up in. He is ready to tell people that he "was raised by a druid," which usually seems to elicit a chuckle and calm their judgements at his lack of social niceties.
Nodding to Alidelia, "Thanks, lass!" Emercy walks into his assigned room and shuts the door. Removing his pack and his weapons, he sets them down before pulling the chest out from under the bed. Popping open the lid, he sets his gear inside, closes the lid, and shoves it back under the bed. Dusting off his hands, "Well alright. That's taken care of." Looking around the place, "Ya know, for a tub, this ain't bad."
Not possessing anything of finery, Emercy does comb out his beard a bit to make himself somewhat presentable. He then proceeds to make his way toward the dining hall.
John gives a nod to nobody in particular and then heads into his designated room. He takes a moment to familiarize himself with the space, then scans it with a detect magic spell to make certain there are no surprises awaiting him. Once satisfied with that inspection, he cast prestidigitation and uses it to tidy up the place while he unpacks his few personal effects and gets them situated appropriately.
With his accommodations in order, he reports to the conference room nearly ten minutes early.
John finds himself waiting in the dining room with only a servant for company. He sees John to his seat and offers a wide variety of drinks from a fine wooden cabinet off to one side. He answers any questions you may have, but beyond answering and explaining that the captain and company lead will be joining you shortly.
The other three, presuming they arrive close to the half hour time given, arrive to see John enjoying a drink of his choice with the servant off to one side waiting. "Ah, welcome sirs and madam. Can I interest you in a drink?"
Before any of the group can answer, however, the door at the far end of the dining hall opens loudly and Alidelia and Zekeriss enter. Alidelia is wearing the same conservative clothes from earlier but Zekeriss has taken the opportunity to dress herself in a set of fine captains' garb. A long crimson overcoat is snugly buttoned over a white blouse, and a fancy looking tricorne complete the outfit.
The nagaji speaks up first, her voice seeming excited.
"Shall we begin, then? I have been so hungry all day!"
John sets down his glass of Thuvian brandy and nods to his new coworkers when they enter. When the captain asks if they are ready to begin, he nods to her as well.
Anovat thinks of the only non-water drink he's ever tried before and asks for a mead. His mentor taught him how to make it, and considering his mentor was a dwarf, brewing the mead was one of Anovat's duties.
Once the captain asks if everyone is ready to eat, the oread nods once and watches with rapt attention.
After setting Crag loose for the hunt, Yasmin slips belowdeck. She grins at Zekeriss's enthusiasm. "Thank you, Captain--I would love to eat! I haven't felt this welcome in a long time."
The halfling has a seat and asks for some spiced ale, before entering some spirited conversation! "So the mining company must have been doing quite well to support all of this," she says, gesturing around to the ship and the food. "Are the latest troubles a real problem for them, or just another day in the business?"
Alidelia replies, her voice cheerful as you await the meal.
"Well, that's the sort of thing we're here to discuss, no? The company is doing well, the brothers hit a previously undiscovered platinum vein about a year ago. The only real problems they had before being forced to abandon the mines after a cave-in claimed the life of the third partner was the occasional gnoll raid on our established home base."
As she finishes this last sentence, the doors on either side of the long hall open and a handful of servants walk in carrying trays of food. A veritable feast is presented to the group, dishes of all sorts laid upon the table. Most of it is seafood, but there are some other varieties of meats and plenty of vegetables as well. The main course is a whole crocodile, split down the back and on display for any to partake in.
Zekeriss hisses happily, eagerly grabbing a plate and beginning to pile it with cooked fish.
"Finally, it's been way too long since I've had good food!"
Anovat samples a bit of each type of food he's never had before, which is probably most things on offer.
"I was under the impression that meals onboard ships were simple affairs.
"But you mentioned a cave-in? Do they know what caused that?"
John waits for a moment to allow the captain to fill her plate, and to observe any other normative social hierarchies which should be remembered for future interactions, before digging in himself. When he does, he helps himself to a sizeable hunk of one of the two central loins in the alligator's tail, along with two of its ribs, and the whole head of one of the large grilled fish.
He listens to the conversations going on around him, making copious mental notes, while he carefully harvests the fatty eyeballs and rich collar meat from the head. But he chooses to fill his mouth with food rather than words.
Smiling big at the layout, "Ya canno' go wrong with food." Emercy digs in, grabbing a little bit of everything as he listens in on the conversation.
"Woah, is that a real crocodile?" remarks Yasmin in awe. "Never had that before!" The halfling eats the delicious main course with delight. "I'll have to talk to your chef--that was exquisite!"
"Do you know anything about these gnolls? Sounds like a nuisance, but I'm sure we can handle it. If that's the main problem, then we'll take care of them, and I'm sure you'll be able to get your mine running again!"
Zakeriss laughs at the halfling's outburst before answering the question.
"Yes it's a real crocodile, little one. I caught it myself and dragged it out of the water to be cooked by our chef. Do you like it?"
Alidelia peaks at the mention of gnolls, her anger flaring obviously.
"Yes we know quite a bit about the gnolls. The Cracked Hammer tribe is the one that has a hold on the upper levels of the mine for now. They have rotated control as each warband takes its chance at holding the fortress, but the Hammers hold the longest record we've observed so far. This is partially due to their large numbers but the biggest factor is their matriarch, the witch Khuhr Bloodsmirk. She has been a thorn in our side for many months now, and we can't resume operations until we deal with her and reunite with our base of operations deeper in the mine."
"The crocodile is incredible," agrees Yasmin, as she continues to enjoy the delicacy.
She nods in understanding as the captain talks about the gnolls. "A witch, huh? Okay, definitely more dangerous than the common gnoll! Anyone know how to deal with a witch?" That was a bit outside Yasmin's expertise as a common soldier.
"Fighting off an entire tribe might be hard, but if they lose their leadership, the tribe might decide to go back to their own lands?"
Giving a slight raise of his hand, "I know how ta deal with a witch, lass. I just smash me hammer in her face." He explains plainly. "O' course, that's how I deal with many of me foes."
He then turns to Alidelia and says, "They call themselves 'The Cracked Hammer' tribe? That's an insult to hammers everywhere. When a bunch o' stinkin' gnolls go around namin' their tribe after hammers, it just makes me want ta smash their faces."
Cutting his attention back to Yasmin, "Ya see? I told ya, lass. Face-smashin'. It's what I do best to me enemies," he says, grinning proudly.
John sets down his fork and finishes the food in his mouth before answering, "witches utilize magic similar to that employed by wizards, but rather than learning it through careful study they are taught by obfuscated otherworldly powers. Their, often tacit, bargains with these mysterious powers do allow them the use of some magicks outside the normal purview of wizards, such as channeling positive or negative energy to cure or inflict wounds and cursing people with hexes. You deal with them in much the same way you would a wizard or sorcerer: kill them quickly and try not to let them cast any spells."
His answer given, he picks his fork back up and returns to eating.
Anovat looks around the table as the others talk about witches and gnolls. He guesses he understands why those topics would be more interesting to some than his question, so he can try again to find out what caused the cave-in beneath Tar-Urkatha another time.
"Like wizards, witches can sometimes be talked to. My mentor was a druid who liked to talk a lot, but that might have been because he was mostly solitary.
"Will the gnolls talk, or are they too fortified? How do they keep themselves fed from inside the mine?"