"Indeed I shall Mrs. Heidmarch. I dont think I have anymore questions. tomorrow suits me fine. The docks at dawn?"
"Good with me" Tauriell replies
Jimmy excuses himself with a short bow to each of the ladies and a bow of the head to Abomentolor. Exits the pub and returns to his lodgings
"If were to be ready at dawn, I should be retiring. Goodnight all"
"I'll be there to introduce you to Captain Ahab, who brings you to Riddleport." and asking the girl holding the cat "Mrs. Yongisdottir, ... Gwenhwyfar, will you join this mission, for without you it won't be complete.", trying to encourage her with a winning smile waiting for her decision.
Pondering the exchange happening, the Goblins, Wolfs, Bears and Boars mentioned all her instincts tell her to run away screaming. But all that comes out of her mouth is a whispered "Yes ma'm."
"So it's settled then." turning to you all she adds "I have to tend to some documents this evening and will leave you now. There's more paid Ale to enjoy if you like. So see you tomorrow and have a good night."
With that Sheila Heidmarch gets up waves you a goodby and leaves, going upstairs to her room in the Rusty Dragon.
As the meeting comes to it's end and the first participants are taking their leave Gwenhwyfar reaches out to pocket the jounal and the box of pens, as no one has claimed them yet. And truth be told, she is the closest to a 'bookish type' as far as she can tell.
Shortly adressing the group with a "I'll be there on time. Good night" she slips from her seat and out of the door.
As soon as the door closes behind her she puts her cat down and starts running to process this mixture of anxiety and excitement she is feeling in her heart.
She starts feeling lighter from the exhaustion running through half the town when her home comes in sight. Then it hits her like a hammer. She will leave on an adventure tomorrow morning and hasn't told her mum yet and hasn't asked Hannah, her boss, if it's ok with her.
There are no Goblins neccessary, she is going to die right now of embarassment.
So she turns to run through Hannah, hoping to meet her now to get that load off her mind. Surprisingly Hannah is at her shop, stowing away the herbs she collected this day. Panting for air, and with the look of a child caught with her hand in the candy jar Gwenhwyfar explains the situation to Hannah.
Hannah chuckles "Well yesterday you were afraid to run the shop alone for half a day and tomorrow you are off to face the big wide world. Seems someone indeed grew up", not without some irony, completely ignoring Gwenhwyfar's posture. Then she reaches into the shelf grabbing a potion, handing it to Gwenhwyfar. "Try to stay out of danger, but if it can't be helped it is better to be prepared." With that she bids her farewell and compliments her out of the shop closing behind her. Seems like Hannah is not the type for big farewell scenes.
At home her mum already knew about the adventure, albeit surprised Gwenhwyfar accepted the offer. Gwenhwyfar exitedly explained what happened at the Rusty Dragon, who her companions would be, the great noble woman inviting her and all that, showing off the journal she got. Eventually they go to bed.
Early the next morning Gwenhwyfar and her mum do their morning prayers, take breakfast together and then her mum kisses her goodbye to let her little girl go on her first adventure.
After leaving the Rusty Dragon, Jimmy heads back to his lodgings (the cheapest he could find in town) down by the docks.
Its a typical sailors pub, smells of fish, salt, spilt booze and drunken people along with the associated stench. His makes his way through common room, past people laughing, gambling, or just passed out on the floor, towards the stairs in the back. He climbs to the landing and finds his room in the dimly lit corridor, the cacophony from below load through the thin floor boards.
Once in his small windowless room, the first thing he does is wedge the rooms only piece of furniture besides the bed, a plain wooden chair, against the door. He's not sure it will do much good, the wood of the door seems likely to just splinter around it. The wall doesnt seem much more stable.
As secure as he can be in the run down room, Jimmy sits on the straw mattress and begins to remove his armor, a process with which Jimmy takes his time. As he removes his Scale Mail he inspects the links between each and every plate. Out of his armor he picks up his large wooden shield, many a nick and dent in the wooden surface and in the metal banding. He flexes the wood and tests the banding, ensuring the shield is in good order. The last thing he does before laying his head down is to lay his trident at his side, with the shield next to it, ready to be picked up to defend himself at a moments notice.
An hour or more ,there is no sense of time in the empty room, after first wedging the door closed Jimmy finally lets himself sleep.
Jimmy wakes in the morning before dawn. His hand on his trident though he doesn't remember grasping it. He gathers his belongings into his pack, dons his armor, shield and trident, and heads down to the common room where he tries to move between the drunks littering the floor.
Out of the pub he seeks a breakfast. Finding a bakery he enjoys a warm loaf of dense bread as he makes his way to the docks with the sun still below the horizon. He sits on a barrel down on the docks watching the road into town as he waits for the sun to rise
Gwenhwyfar finds her way to the docks, spotting Mr. Fiddle sitting on a barrel. She approaches him stopping five foot before him with a short look in his face then shyly averting her eyes to the ground muttering a "Hello". Nervously kneeding her hands in front of her.
"Hello Gwenhwyfar, its a pleasure to see you this fine morning" Jimmy beams at her jumping up from the barrel
Seeing the black cat following in her wake Jimmy crouches and makes that noise one does when trying to grab the attention of a cat. He is really bad at it. "And who is this?" he asks of Gwenhwyfar.
"Its Noir Destinée" checking how the cat reacts to Jimmy's teasing and hastily adds "It's my cat".
The cat moves so Gwenhwyfar is between her and Jimmy staying in an alerted state staring at Jimmy.
"Im not very good with animals" Jimmy laughs at himself. "But he seems to be very attached to you. But it's a very strange name for a cat..." the sentence trails off, trying to draw her into more conversation. Jimmy remains on his haunches watching the cat, he doesn't look at Gwenhwyfar as he talks to her.
Looking at Mr. Fiddle she replies "It's the name she told" interrupting herself and looking at the cat again continues "Eh, I mean I didn't name her. She already had that name when I got her"
Taking the cat up and hiding her in her arms she says "It's a lovely cat but she doesn't like strangers"
As you stand there, the black of the cloudless sky slowly changes to a dark blue. The stars begin to fade out of sight and the crescent moon slowly approaching the horizon. You notice some middle aged man, wearing tarpaulin, a cap and smoking a pipe coming along the road. He musters you as he passes by, walks further down the docks and enters a one mast sailing boat some 100 yards past your position.
Jimmy tenses as the man approaches. Watching out the corner of his eye, but relaxes as the man greets them and walks past.
"The fact I've been calling her a him probably hasn't helped" Jimmy stands eith a smile towards the lady. "Do you know who that was?"
Gwenhwyfar looks after the guy searching trough her memory and comes up with "I might have seen him in the temple once, asking for a healing. Some fisher maybe?" looking back at Jimmy "Why do you ask? Is something wrong with him?" Her face changing to anxios again as her adventure paranoia is crawling up her back again.
"I'm not used to people greeting me if I don't know them, and he greeted us, so i assumed he knew one of us, and it certainly wasn't me. I didn't see anything wrong with him, I just tend to be very cautious. Had a few too many 'friends' betray me." Jimmy responds in a lighthearted tone. "I wonder where the rest are?"
Gwenhwyfar seems to shrink, as she takes Mr. Fiddle's word in as seeing him, the bodyguard guy, being kind of paranoid too? Or is that a good thing? She replies "I don't know" to his request about the others and with that she starts looking around.
Tauriell comes along ready as ever, and stands with you with just a curt greeting. Either she is no morning person or no person of many words at all.
Abomentolor Goblinburner can be heard even before he comes into sight for he is chanting some merry song in a foreign language . He comes over to the meeting barrel standing with a wide smile proclaiming "Good morning y'all. Good to see you already made it here. If Mrs. Heidmarch isn't late we can start this paid entertainment already"
His attitude leaves no doubt that in his view the most important person has arrived now and any further delay would be an affront.
Shiela Heidmarch comes along with a quick pace, a heavy looking sack on her shoulder, and without stopping greets you "Good morning, please come along" continuing to the same ship as that middle aged guy. As you come along you read the ships name, Pequod. She drops the sack on board and hands the guy a pouch with coins.
"Captain Ahab, this is my troupe." and pointing her hand at you introduces you "Mr. Fiddle, Mrs. Tauriell, Ms. Yongisdottir, and Mr. Goblinburner. This is Captain Ahab who will bring you to Riddleport and wait there to bring you back again to Sandpoint. Please be aware, that if you don't return to Riddleport within four days, you'd have to find another way to return. In that sack is some proviant for the journey on the boat and some trail rations for the way into the Lurkwood." Searching a parchment out of her bag she hands it to Tariell. "This is a sketch taken from a map with a marking, where the ruins were found, based on the description our source gave to the Pathfinder Society. I copied you that too on the back of the sketch."
Taking a few seconds to go through every step in her mind again she asks: "Any more questions, now? For from now on, you are on your own."
It's quite the preparation you got delivered so far and a seasoned adventurer might be impressed with her professionality.
Gwenhwyfar loosens up a little, as Mrs. Heidmarch strides along emanating determination out of every pore of her being. Even a slight smile slips on her face.
Ok, trail rations, she thinks. Great not to be the one responsible here.
But that "you are on your own" drains that new found confidence from her again and the smile vanishes.
Abolomentor Goblinburner states "Question time was yesterday. It's time to get to the action." With that he jumps on board adressing the captain "Where on this fine boat of yours will I lodge during our journey?"
Tauriel shrugs, and follows the Gnome on board, then turns to see, if it's going to start, or more talking is afoot.
Jimmy steps onto the boat, and proffers a hand to Captain Ahab. "Greetings, and thank you for providing us with aid on our journey"
The captain and Jimmy exchange a firm shake.
Jimmy turns and offers Gwenhwyfar a hand into the boat. She still clutches the cat and he isn't sure if she will manage to climb aboard without difficulty. "May I offer some assistance Lady Gwenhwyfar?"
"I think I'm fine, thank you ma'm" Gwenhwyfar answers and taking the offered hand she enters the boat. "Thank you" and turning to Mrs. Heidmarch again adds "Goodbye"
Mrs. Heidmarch bids you farewell, turns and with a quick pace is off to her next appointment.
Captain Ahab, answers Mr. Goblinburner, but it's clear the information is for all of you . He then tends to his pipe again cussing a little, because it went out.
Someone more humble might be honored to be assigned as crew, but not Abomentolor. He feels like that is below him. And he for sure won't be the one carrying that sack around. As the captain fumbles around with his pipe, a twig and flint and steel, he adresses him "Might I assist you with that" snatching the twig from one of his hands and setting it on fire with a ray of fire searing out of his hand.
Not as impressive as he wished for, but nevertheless, the stick ablaze, he hands it back to the captain "You're welcome".
Jimmy moves over and grabs the sack watching Abomentolor's little display. It may not be the most impressive bit of magic, but Jimmy can see it coming in handy. "I just hope you don't do that in your sleep, otherwise we could all be in for a swim." Jimmy chuckles at his joke.
Jimmy, having no idea where what is on a boat, to Cpt. Ahab "Point the way. Also where should I store my armor and weapons? If there is somewhere i could keep them dry that would be fantastic."
Patting Abomentolor on his back te captain says and on hearing the response he stutters
Pointing in the direction of the only door he says
Not wanting to be the one climbing up a mast Gwenhwyfar takes the lead to the door stating "I'll take the kitchen" holding the door open for Mr. Fiddle to go through.
"Thank you Gwenhwyfar" with a nod as he walks through the door.
Jimmy climbs the thin ladder down and finds a somewhat dry area to set down the sack.
Behind the door is a narrow floor with six bunk beds, three on each side, a door at the end of the floor, and beside it a door on the right. On the left of the entry is a shelf that might be inteded as personal storage as it is divided in the same heights as the beds. Same shelf is on the opposite of the right door.
Jimmy takes the stairs down right behind the entry and finds himself in the storage room under deck. It's a large undivided room lit through the large crate in the ceiling, that you noticed already on deck. It reeks of fish and here and there fish scales can be seen glittering. The storage contains some barrels and crates.
The boat might be around 20ft wide and 60ft long.
Gwenhwyfar look puzzled as Mr. Finn decides to go downstairs, but instead of following him she hushes along the floor to check the doors. One is locked and behind the other she finds what could be a kitchen, were it not for the lacking hygiene in that room. Shouting the other direction "Mr. Fiddle, I found the kitchen, it's up here!"
"I'll bring the food up their now, i was just having a look around"
Jimmy climbs back up the ladder and takes the sack to Gwenhwyfar. He deposits his shield and weapon on one of the shelf near the entrance, then steps back onto deck
Another guy in clothes made for the sea comes down the road, and enters the Pequod. .
Mr. Hawkins smirks at being called Petty Officer, walks through the door, throws his duffel bag into the upper shelf and returning to you all proclaims "It's Jim. We are not in the navy. The top right bunk is mine. Now untie the boat, take one of the poles and push her off the dock to get underway. I'll explain the rest when we are out on the sea. Until then we will row the old lady out of here. Don't throw yourself or our equipment overboard and you will be fine."
Gwenhwyfar is already reorganizing the kitchen and as you drop the sack she thanks you with a smile. She found something to do she feels competent at. That has her too occupied to take notice of Mr. Fiddles unintended extra tour.
As the bossing aroung job is already taken, Abomentolor is frustrated that he can't look important. And due to his size and the height of the railing being made for humans, even if he would consider to descend to such lower work, he wouldn't even be able to. Oh how he hates being useless.
"I'll take the bottom right bunk if nobody has issue with that?" Jimmy says as he steps back into the crew's quarters, he moves his shield, pack, and trident over to the bottom right shelf and begins to take off his armor as quickly as he can. That keeps him busy for a few minutes after which he stores his armor on the shelf carefully.
Jimmy steps back onto deck. "Greetings Jim, I am Jimmy Fiddle" he says looking for the rope to untie the boat, he finds it and attempts to untie it
After untying the hitch, Jimmy looks around for one of the poles to try and push the boat away from the dock
Jimmy drops the pole back on the pile and then searches for an oar, getting into position to start rowing once someone else has joined him
"Yess Sir Jim, I'm Tauriell by the way" Tauriel replies, giving him a mocking salute, and starts untying the ropes that hold the boat at stern.
Taking up a pole she pushes against the dock as soon as the rope at the bow is also released and when far away from the pier she takes up an oar starting to rudder at starboard.
As the boot was tied to the docks by a professional it's actually really easy to remove the rope. the hard part is to roll that rather sturdy thick stuff up in a nice coil which both of you botch.
Tauriell doesn't get a good grip on the dock but manages not to fall overboard.
For Jimmy this is not decided yet as with all that might that he pushes and that bad luck catching a really slippery part of the dock with the pole he has to make a Reflex save to not go overboard.
Jimmy falls overboard with a splash.
Jim takes up a pole with a grappling hook and draws Jimmy close to the boat and reaches down to help him up on the boat again. "Already forgot what I told you?" Jim chuckles. "At least we will get some laughs out of this journey" and with that he does the pushing off himself.
For the rowing he shows you how to do it corrects your first not so good tries with more advice and rowing himself once on starboard once on portside as needed to correct your work.
Within 15 minutes you got the ship aligned to the flow of the river and are moving towards the sea.
The captain stands at the rudder watching his way.
Jimmy follows what orders he is given to the best of his ability. Enjoying the view of the sunrise and the salty spray on the breeze
Abomentolor takes his belongings inside, taking a look at the bunkbeds and decides he will take one of the hammoks in the storage. Pushing around some empty crates to climb on he fixes a hammok to the hooks at the mast and the side of the vessel. Then he pus that crate as a stair in front of his new bed and satisfied with the result decides to take a nap.