[IC] Sarkus the Shattered Wyld, D&D 5ed

[ShwiggityShwah]

Chapter 1

The Floatilla

A literal city of ships. Hundreds of them. All of them lashed and planked together with each of their sails catching the Winds of the Sea.

The Floatilla is a city of shipment, and trade. Like a guild Caravan traveling the great roads with their trains of carriages, the Floatilla stops within all major ports of the Inland Sea. It stops at the desert port of Gem, trading in spices, jewelry, and glassworks. It brings them to the snow covered Whitewall, which pays in blocks of ice and pine lumber and pelts and trades at every port in between. For a monetary price, and some expected work in the city, a person could cross the entire world in a little less than a year, and the thousand or so sailors of the city have supposedly seen it all so they don't discriminate a traveler. A rarity in this hostile world. If they have a trouble maker, their law is to toss them into the sea, let the ocean be the judge.

In fact, despite being a bunch of boats, from dingy to war braced trieme's and dreadnaughts, it feels more like a city. Ships are converted to places of business. Decks are cleared for actual farming planters. Holds billow smoke for forges to craft and repair. Folks wake early to cast the nets and fishing lines or cast out on fishing rafts. Hunters aim high, adding squawking gulls to the food stores. Decks have tables and chairs rather than cannons, where breakfast rations is distributed and grog is poured. Steam balloons and towers hold the magic users that heal the sick or mold the weather, far away from the center lest their experimentation cause a catastrophic fire.
The largest ship in the center acts as the church and shrine to the gods, mostly dedicated to the gods of sea, storm, and trade, but it holds many smaller alters for other gods to be worshiped. Again, the sailors do not discriminate. Despite the rocking waves, and the damp wood underfeet all day, the sounds and controlled chaos make the city feel alive.

On a repurposed fishing ship near the port bow, a quiet corner of the city, the holds have been fashioned into long houses of bunks, cots, and hammocks and not much else. Over a dozen passengers lay their heads here having paid the fee for transport, though most of their days are spent working for their rations or waiting out the journey in a drunken stupor. This is where the adventurers awaken.

Kiris Trell following your map, you intend to get to the next port on the Blessed Isle and then set out towards the Sea of Dreams. Supposedly thats where your destination, Sarkus is rumored to reside, but just like everything else about the stupid lost land, its just a rumor. Still your stay on the Floatilla has been pretty enjoyable. Once people got over the presence of you large murder cat that follows you around, they were quite curious about the cat person they were sailing with. You made some friends, whom regaled you with tales from all over the world, places you intend to visit after you become rich.

Jacoby Drexelhand Already on a quest with two companions, the Dwarf Abrih'm and the Human Mari of the Shine. The three of you spent your days asking questions, hearing stories, and pouring over whatever book you could get your hands on. You were supposed to meet with the City Father, but his 'priests' state, just wait for his festival. Still you did find that the City Father was once a demi god of some acclaim eons ago, and has been mentioned to be a great warrior during the Reclamation when the gods beat back the demons that once ruled the mortal plane.

Angel On your quest to save your mistress, you threw her family name around and ended up researching with a Half Elf Wizard named Kalabac. He's a bit unhinged but he's been pretty diligent in his research, having his own space on one of the floating balloons lashed to a ship. He determined that the item you quest for has something to do with Sarkus. The lost continent of myth. But he's been going crazy trying to find more information, something he claims to have tried before, but none of his notes read right anymore. Strange. Still slowly, you're getting a direction to head next.

Soltana While the spirit within you grows impatient, you are making your journey across the sea to learn more from another Chapter whom also had dealings with the beast you hunt. You thought this to be a lonely journey, but sailors here have gripes and stress relief needs just like anywhere else. You spent your days dueling and 'training' with other sailors in mock battles. Each day you end with a few more bruises, but you're not as bad as the other guy who laugh off the fight and offered to buy you a drink. There's supposed to be some tournament during the festival with some coin to the winner.

Its the 5th day into the journey, and everyone knows that it is the City's Founding Day. There will be no work, no toil, no frowns. Its a day of festivities, of celebration. The inner ships are adorned in rare flowers and decorations, and the sound of work is replaced by sea chanties that ring out from aft to bow. All are welcome to be a part. There are contests of skill with bow or harpoon, fishing contests, bare knuckle fighting pits, insult competitions, songs and dances, all leading up to the welcome of the city's City Father, Cap'n Crossroads, Patron of Sailors who sails the open sea until returning, partying with his people for a fortnight.

You each wake up in your cot at random parts of the fishing ship, your belongings nearby. The banging and songs at day break rouse you from sleep.

[rush99999]

Jacoby sat at the foot of his bed with a book in one hand and an orb with an eye made of blue light encased within it in the other. The eye scanned the book's pages intently, stopping to focus on interesting passages from time to time. Occasionally the eye would glance up at the cots containing Abrhi'm and Mari to see if they had awoken yet. Among the many gifts his patron had bestowed upon him, Jacoby had yet to decide if the removal of his need for sleep was worth the trouble it brought when he worked with people who still needed to do so.

Eventually though, Jacoby's companions stirred from their rest. Once they were both awake, Jacoby spoke. "Good morning" Jacoby said "The day has come, but the hour has yet to arrive. Cap'n Crossroads will reach the Flotilla at noon. His boat will land at a small dock on the aft end of the city. It's around about 8 o'clock right now. We'd beat the crowds if we went there now, but that would mean four hours of standing round. We could go later for less of a wait. But if we leave it for too long, we'll have to navigate the crowds that arrive before us".

[EliteOne 800]

Angel sensed the air of unease when he invoked his master's name. He didn't mind what they thought about him, he was nothing before serving her, no significance behind any of his actions. In contrast, there was no barrier to sound sleep, and he dreamt of seeing his master smiling honestly again, without the influence of that enchanter. Kalabac was bothersome but he could not have bested her parents who hadn't quite given her their blessing to begin her campaign; regardless, the situation at hand was dire, Angel did not have a mind for quests, though only he could fulfill his.

He left his quarters, drawn by the chanting. Surely this too was magic, if going by another name. While he was waiting, he thought he may as well see what all the fuss was about, that City Father. Demons were no matter, Angel would have faced whatever threatened his master, the man was interesting is all. The curious thing was whether or not the heralded figure actually believed in what he did, and out of that determination, whatever it was, did it make him stronger. He looked for someone already talking about him, asked if he was really as the legends say. "This patron of yours...Is he more than an official?"

[lunarius]

Kiris had gotten into a bit of everything since she stepped aboard the flotilla in Gem, pleasant enough about lending a hand to chores and tasks to earn her keep. Even so, she ate her own food and always away from everyone but Shari, the lean panther that had been her second shadow since... well, Gem too, actually. Evenings were the best, in her opinion, as that's when people really had free time to talk and boast. Kiris was no bard and her singing voice likely only appreciated by Shari, but she'd shared some of her stories and songs in exchange for the same of her new friends -- just as she'd done in almost every inn or tavern or town center for years.

She was a stranger in strange lands, and she revelled in it.

There were other strangers around, too. She was firmly of the mindset that you didn't lash together a bunch of twigs and kindling and set out across the unruly tides for nothing, and Kiris felt some true kinship with their madness if nothing else. It wasn't quite enough to keep her from feeling stir-crazy, nor to blunt how eager she felt to put her feet on proper ground... but the promise of a day of no work, all play? Shari would probably prefer to stay hidden in the quieter areas, and of course Kiris would check on her regularly -- but one of the best parts about wandering was getting to participate in all sorts of crazy festivities.

Kiris rolled from her hammock and onto her feet, then rose with a stretch and a pleasant 'mrowl' of a sound that rose at the end like a question. Shari, mostly hidden in the den of an overturned cot, answered with a yawned purr before she went back to sleep. The traveller gathered her things and set out from the bunk-house she shared with a few other women also travelling on their own, her ears perked and her tail curled as if a question. Often she sang along, and though she was quite game to try the offered foods and drinks most, she found, were almost entirely unpalatable. A few were at least edible, but one drink of fermented milk and herbs was so surprisingly reminiscent of tresh that she'd nearly wept. Instead, she stepped up onto a table and raised her cup. "Acar treshi!"

[Arthanus]

Another night another "nightmare" this time he watched Tana's final battle Soltana slowly sat up from his bed. "Seriously Tana? You died in a duel. Seems pathetic to me." He said while getting up. "I mean he even left you an opening to escape and counter but you didn't make your move, care to explain?" he continued asking Tana out loud. Soltana didn't much care for the festivities going on but there was an opportunity to profit from what was going on. Luckily there was a particular group on these ships that had sorta accepted him, that also had a nice habit of putting bets on fights. After getting dressed and slapping on his equipment Soltana started to make his way to the fight pits.

In the last 5 days Soltana had learned the route to the Pit Fighting rings but today the path was more crowded than normal. But that was to be expected due to the celebrations. As normal he was going to stop by a small cafe along the way for breakfast. The service was slower than normal which was starting to get on his own nerves, let alone Tana's. While he was waiting a Female Tabaxi caught his eye celebrating and enjoying the festival. Energetic and full of life she only caught his eye for a moment before returning his attention to his server approaching with his meal, If you could call it that Soltana hadn't been given much gold for his investigation and had to pick from the bottom of the menu.

[ShwiggityShwah]

@rush99999

Mari was tall, even for a human, and always had problems sleeping on the cots. She gets up cracking her back every morning. "Damn thing. Aye. Mornin." Jacoby gave his shpeel which caused the warrior woman to get to her feet to get her plate on. "Finally! We get that key, and then literal smooth sailing."

Abrih'm was a bit more reserved and less excited, his age showing whenever he addresses someone, giving him a constant air that he'd rather do anything else but comment. He scratched his long dwarven beard and yawned. "Still no guarantee he's gonna give us the time of day with the whole city waitin for him."

Mari was already buckling up her gear. "He will if I challenge him right then and there." For a paladin, Mari was impulsive.

"Oh yeah, that's going to go over well." The dwarf didnt look too thrilled at the task at hand. Pulling on his trousers over his small clothes and then thumbing his shirt. "Something still bothers me. I never heard of these keys before the Arch Priest brought them up and I can't find no mention in the books I've brought. I'm wondering if there's a way to get him alone."

---

@EliteOne 800

The group were in the middle of talking. Three sailors, man, woman, male halfling. They were taking a break from what seemed like wrapping stringes of paper flowers around railings.

The Halfling was leading the discussion. "-Ya heard me. Ol Cap'n Crossroads was a man once, just like me."

"But taller." The woman said, untangling a string. Getting a grin from the two men.

"Aye but taller!" The halfling standing up straight. "He was just a mortal man, when he decided to marry Osprem, Goddess of the Sea. He yelled to the four winds a chanty so beautiful it made the sirens weep with shame-"

"I hears is that he pulled the heart out of a Kraken, drinkin the blood made him more than man."

"This patron of yours...Is he more than an official?"

The Halfling sputtered a laugh and turned. "An official- please he's oooooooo wow you're a tall one." The group looked at the intimidating figure for a moment but they've seen him aboard before, but this was the first they ever heard the man speak. The halfling was quick to get his barings before getting onto a railing. "We got the council of Captains for the city's runnings, but Cap'n Crossroads, he keeps the Floatilla safe. A captain and sailor without peer. He circles the city, keeping all manner of storm witch and deep dwelling creatures at bay! He warns us of bad seas and fish to catch. He's out there alone most of the year, only coming back to port on holidays. Just like today, and thats a when the party's startin. I bet he can even drink a feller like you under the table." He said with a charm, just poking a bit of fun. "How are you going to be celebrating big guy, if I might ask? Welcome to hang with us."

---

@lunarius@Arthanus

"Acar treshi!"
"I don't know what that means!"

She started the call and the crowd reverberated back to her in a calamitous shout. It made about as much sense as most of the morning. The ones that weren't making preparation were raiding the dinner ships with their open air food stalls, fire spits, and barrel tables and stools. Even at 8 in the morning, the kegs were tapped and some of the people were doing their absolute damnd'est to get as drunk as quickly as possible.

The catgirl was getting into it, and as people got used to her, even kids tried to get closer, ooo'ing and aaa'ing at the weird traveler and daring each other to touch her tail.

Soltana would recognize a hand on his shoulder as he viewed the jovial chaos. It was the hand of a pugilistic but very friendly gentleman others call Little Tim, despite being a Half Orc of seven feet tall. He looked down at the man who fought with him in the duels with a big grin, his tusks on each end of his lips. "Hitting the keg before hitting the pit today Sol?" He asked the warrior.

The buxom wench of a server addressed the two gentleman. Tim ordered for him raising two fingers. "Two roasted pheasants, no, make that three!" He whistled. "Hey catgirl! Plenty of time for table dancing later! Eat with us!"

He took a seat next to the Hunter, his stein of grog hitting the table as he took a seat addressing Soltana. "Girls got a panther with her, and Russ has been boasting about wrestling a bear. Got 20 gold says he's full of it. Figured a Panther would be more than a match for him."

[rush99999]

"It would be near impossible to get him alone" Jacoby said "Once his boat lands, there will be no end to the people wanting to speak with him. Even if we beat them all to the dock, we'd probably only get in a word or two before the rest of the crowds demand his attention". Jacoby considered their options. During the six days he'd been on the Flotilla, Jacoby had heard no mention of anyone ever getting the City Father alone. Only that there were a lot of boats and that Cap'n Crossroads would be sailing in.

Jacoby's face lit up as he found himself struck with a most brilliant idea. "That's it!" he exclaimed "We won't be able to get his attention once he lands. But we might be able to speak with him before he reaches the docks. We just need to commandeer a boat, preferably a swift one, and sail out to Crossroads' vessel when it appears on the horizon. Then all we have to do is convince him to hear us out".

[lunarius]

She laughed at the responses to her toast and then emptied her mug: she didn't plan on getting too deeply into her cups, at least not until she's had a proper look around and been appropriately picky about the food on offer. She'd just lowered into a hunker to accept an offered piece of what smelled like smoked fish when the whistle cut through the air and prompted one of her ears to flick toward its owner.

Catgirl, though the actual sounds offen differed, was pretty much the same in every language Kiris had yet encountered and that brought her head up and her eyes to the dwarf. She sniffed at the air at the offer of food and then hopped down from the table; it spared her from having to eat the awful fish. She liked fish well enough, but for some reason all the hairless monkeys thought it would be wonderful to offer her an endless variety of milks, fishes, and cheeses.

Kiris issued a curious trilling sound as she approached the table, and as she settled into a chair her citrine gaze wandered the group as she caught mention of the panther -- surely Shari -- though her expression doesn't make it easy to tell she understands what's being said.

"Rre?" The trill is a pleasant enough sound, and rises at the end like a question.

[Arthanus]

Soltana gave a nod to Little Tim's greeting. "Well you know can't put up any real fight without eating first." He responded to the Half-Orc's first remark, "How else do you think I keep beating you down?" he added throwing a smirk knowing full well that their record so far was almost dead even with Tim holding one win over Soltana. It was then that Tim ordered a meal for the two of them and the cat girl from a moment ago even calling her over to the table. Sol wasn't one who liked to be indebted to someone, but at the same time he would never turn down a meal especially since it would be better than the stale bread Soltana had originally ordered.

After calling over the Tabaxi Tim went into his normal habit of spreading information. "A Panther ehh? Quite a nice pet if I might say." He started complementing the hunter's pet before turning his attention to Tim's next comment. "Now I would love to take his money," Soltana said almost as if to someone who wasn't there, "But there is no way in hell that Halfling could wrestle a bear, and it would be little more than a snack for a panther." He continued agreeing with Tim's assumption that Russ could handle the bear. "Besides have you looked at our wallet I don't want to be broke again because of you." Sol snapped again at an unseen presence, something Tim would of gotten used to over the last few days but would still look weird to others.

[EliteOne 800]

The giant mused. He did not spend much time partying before, this was the first time in a long time he was acting alone, though it was for her sake. "Sure," he said, albeit tentatively." Honestly, I was going to spend this period meditating on the virtues of my important figurehead, but that involves neither drink or reverie, and I will need to establish a foundation to restore her glory."

[ShwiggityShwah]

@rush99999

The dwarf crossed his arms and stroked his beard. "That's... not the worst idea."

Jacoby earned a very strong pat on the head by the armored woman. "Get the tough stuff out of the way."

Abrhi'm got on his doublet and slung his axe, "Couldn't hurt to try. Grab your stuff, just in case Cap'n gets... uncooperative. It shouldn't come to that." He quickly said. "Hope we can borrow something."

"Lets just take one, whose gonna know." A very un-chivalrous statement from the Paladin.

//Considering that all the row boats and rafts are in for the day, getting one wont be a problem, regardless of convincing or taking.
You are also welcome to RP the scene. Additionally you can decide if your two companions are coming along or not. Bare in mind, sailing out from a moving vessel is not routine for non-sailors, which none of you are [have the Vehicles (Sailing) or Profession (Sailor)]. You'd need to make a Perception and Athletics to get far enough out and not get lost, as well as deal with the rigors of rowing or controlling the sails. If you take your companions you can roll with their skills (at +3 for each roll) or you'll be using your own skills.

@lunarius@Arthanus

Tim

Meanwhile, Tim takes it in jest. "Just wait til today. I'm aiming for that top spot. And all the drink and admirers that go with it." He moves aside and gives the Tabaxi and her Panther some breathing room. "Hey, names Tim. Little Tim. It's ironic. Or something." He gave the same greeting to Soltana on their first day.

Kirsis came over and gave them a little bit of a sound and Tim just gave her a weird look. "Maybe she don't understand us. Whatever." He shrugs. He wasn't one to be perturbed by good company.

Then Soltana went off on a tangent. Tim originally thought he was talking to him. "Hey? You want to put a little wager on the fight later?" But then he got it and just rolled his eyes, "Oh. Tell your imaginary friend I said hi." He leaned over to Kiris. "Dont mind him. He be seeing ghosts. And apparently they are obnoxious."

It was about this point that a small plucked squab of cooked meat got to their table, fresh roasted pheasant for the three of them. "Hows this for a starter! You'll need it. You should hit the fights today Soltana, probably get some coin for it. And you." He points to Kiris, but pantomimes everything he says as he takes a big ripping bite out of his bird. "I saw you before with that bow of yours. Theres an archery competition too this morning. Best warriors get to party with the Cap'n. I think we got a good shot the three of us. Me with ma fists, you got your sword, her with the bow. Money like that, we get our own ship. Maybe get our own little adventure going? What you say?"

@EliteOne 800

The other two seem wary, but the chatty halfling seemed almost interested.

"Sounds like you're sweet on some lucky lady." He came to a rather off conclusion but he became noticeably more open and welcome. "Name's Briar. Tell me about this lady of yours. A god? My cousins build temples and shrines and appreciate the recommendations." He welcomed the giant to walk with him, swiping someone's ale when they were distracted, dumping it, and filling up his own and the new cup with ale. He offered it to the giant.

"Bet you can get all kinds of help if you show off a bit." The Halfling seemed to be a bit of an entrepreneur. Angel gets the feeling the little man is going to try to sell him something. "Was actually going to see some of the competitions. You should enter. Someone with size like yours. Betting you can swing a mean sword."

[lunarius]

Kiris smiled, mimicking the showing of teeth the way all these variously sized hairless folk did, as Tim introduced himself to her. "I am Kiris, ressa-Tim."

It was more interesting to listen than to interject, and precisely because Kiris didn't expect the monkeys to be able to read her expression she made no attempt to hide her disdain at Shari being so diminished. It was a cultural difference, she assumed, but then the fellow began to talk to... well, apparently no one. And then there was Tim to let her know that the fellow was haunted, just in time to convince Kiris that both fellows were perhaps a few bricks shy of a load when it came to sanity.

The meat came and Kiris hesitated when she saw that it was cooked; it seemed a waste of good meat to burn it so, but Tim dug in with vigour and the traveller wasn't one to be rude about food. Her ears flicked upward when she was spoken to, but Kiris didn't take her eyes off her hands as she began to delicately strip the tender flesh from the bones. "Perhaps -- but I will go at Blessed Isle."

[rush99999]

Jacoby frowned when Mari suggested they just take a boat. He wasn't all that shocked by the paladin's suggestion that she get Cap'n Crossroad's attention by challenging him to a fight. Some of the faith's more militant servants tended to be like that. But he'd never known a paladin to suggest stealing until now. "I would rather we don't break the law unless we absolutely have to" Jacoby said before the friendly smile returned to his face once more "Besides, it won't be that hard to acquire a boat without committing a crime to do so. You need only place the right gold piece in the right hand, and you have yourself a perfectly good boat for the day. So there's no need to worry about that. I'll go secure us a boat now. The two of you can do as you please. We can meet back here an hour or so before noon and prepare to cast off once the City Father's ship appears on the horizon".

[ShwiggityShwah]

@lunarius@Arthanus

Tim talked with food in his mouth, spurting it on the table slightly. "Blessed Isle's nice place, but way way too expensive for my taste. Still, it's the next port. We can get this show on the road right quick. Where you thinking of heading Kiris?"

Soltana took the food in much the same vigor as he agreed for the competition. Tim nodded. "We're in agreement then. One for the archers purse, I'll take the bare fisted fight, you get the sword competition. Three neat little bags of gold for the three of us to start on." He continued asking if Tim could sail. Tim laughed at this.

"Please. I'm the best damn sailor in this whole fleet. Reckon I could get one of those Varangi Airships to do loop de loops if I had half the chance! Trust me, I got this all figured out. Got a good feeling about this trip."

@rush99999

Mari fussed, her lip furrowing "Who said stealing? I said borrowing."

"You said take." the Dwarf corrected.

Mari scoffed, it wasn't a big deal to her she thought. Maybe her god was a little bit more forgiving, or maybe she had come from a bad place too. "Fine then, I'll head to that competition everyone's talking about. The God should be there at some point today."

"Ill try to meet you in the back, just try to stand out if ya can." The dwarf will get lost in the crowd.

//Like I said before, getting the boat won't be difficult, but if you plan on piloting yourself, you're going to need to roll. Again, you're not a sailor. You'll need to roll athletics to control the craft, and nature to not get lost at sea. You can roll in the Discord and Ill direct how it goes or I can tell you if you succeed or not and you get to roll play how you do it. Additionally you can describe what you are going to do, then roll- which gives you an opportunity for bonuses based upon your planning and ingenuity.

[lunarius]

Kiris nibbled at a thin piece of fowl as she listened to Tim's chatter; she wasn't near enough to allow his bad habits to leave her untidy, so largely she didn't care about his mannerisms. Her furred shoulders rose and fell in a shrug as the tabaxi again smiled. "Everywhere, ressa."

She thought she'd wake Shari for the archery, if only for the comfort of familiarity when she put herself forward and into the limelight, but before her thoughts could wander far Tim was laughing and then boasting. Her brows rose and her tail flicked in amusement, but Kiris' words came as a question. "Leaving flotilla...? Before Bay?" She hadn't been paying enough attention, it seemed.

[rush99999]

Upon parting ways with his companions, Jacoby made his way to the dock Cap'n Crossroads was going to land at. He moved past the dock and continued walking until he came to another dock nearby. Once there, Jacoby paid a drunken sailor one gold piece for the use of his rowboat. With transportation secured, Jacoby made his way back to the festivities. He soon found himself near the signups for an insult competition. "This seems like a good way to pass the time" Jacoby said to himself as he made his way towards whoever looked like they were running the contest.

Unlike the other contests, it seemed that there was some pre-gaming to be had for a competition that could only be described as the premier spectacle aboard the Flotilla. There were men, women, dwarves, a half elf, halflings, a pair of gnomes. An entire ship is meant for this event. What was happening now was just the preliminaries, the ones who won here would get voted for the main event that night.

Jacoby heard a few laughs directed at him as he approached. He ignored them. They had no idea what was coming.

"Good thing you don't need eyes to flap your gums" the man at the front table said "Where's your cane grandpa?".
"I could ask the same about your shirt" Jacoby replied with a friendly smile "No one wants to see some sweaty blob of fat while they're out enjoying today's festivities...Perhaps I'm being too hard on you though. From the looks of things, I doubt they make shirts big enough for a man of your girth".

[Arthanus]

@lunarius@ShwiggityShwah

As Soltana continued to eat he listened to Tim's claim to his ability to sail and then Kiris' response apparently not paying attention to the big man's plan. "Looks like the lass isn't very keen on your idea there Tim." He said with a grin, "Doubt she wants to be stuck on a ship with you all day." He added before turning to Kiris "Don't worry we would still go to the Blessed Isle I have business there as well and can't exactly put that all aside to venture the seas." Soltana explained to the girl before turning back to Tim.

"That being said I'll be keeping any winnings I make today for myself, sorry but I already have a bit of an adventure planned. Although you are more than welcome to come along for a cut of the profits." He made the offer. The half-orc wasn't the most subtle companion, but the man could put down a beating and sometimes that could be a very useful interrogation method.

[ShwiggityShwah]

@lunarius@Arthanus

Tim felt hurt and mocked a warrior's manly tears but he was taking their questions and comments in stride. "You two are breaking my heart. Coming at you with partnership and you're spitting it back in my face. Once we got some gold on the table you'll be changing your tune Sol. I'll show you both when I get my winnings I'll get enough to go anywhere and everywhere in my own ship." He got up from the table and gave both of them a grin, as if challenging them to get more than he does. "Lets meet back here for dinner. Its gonna be a hell of a festival."

And with that, the morning festivities would start. Rather informal affairs with people gathering to take their crack at the skills needed to really compete that night. The first night of the festival was always the best, but there were mini tournaments to eke out those with the skill.

For Soltana, the gutted deck where he found some dueling practice was now much more crowded. There'd be onlookers sitting out over the lip of hold, looking down into it, and the hold itself was set with benches, making it more like a boxer's fighting arena, but those weapons people had, spears, axes, armor, swords and stranger things, they were real. Already people were saying that contestants sit in file, and the fight was only to first blood.

For Kiris if she would follow the suggestion of the archery tournament, they were at the far end of the floatilla, all located on a side of a fancy looking multi decked ship, so that everyone could get a clear view of an old junker that was being dragged along the Floatilla. There was a number of dummies straped to the mast, in the rigging, along the deck, on the mast head, and hanging from the cross irons, swaying in the breeze. All the contestants would be given colored arrows. Anyone who hit one of the dummies would move on til there was a certain number.

If they needed to make any prep work, nows the time.

@rush99999
The cascade of stinging diatribes upon the man met him with a stumped expression and a claim. "What are you talking about?" He grabs his rotund stomach and gives it a rather unappealing shake, even the sound of morning grog rings in their ears. "I'm sexy. This is a show for all you ingrates who don't know style." He puts his arms over his greasy hair to show off. He gives a laugh, of course he would have thick skin considering he was one of the openers for this particular pit of punctuating punishment.

"You're in you're in, make em cry! From laughing! From how tragic they are!"

Jacoby is welcomed in the typical sailor way, offered pints as some of the blustier fellows tried out some warm up jabs at peoples mothers, their purse size, their waist line and their face. The judge settled them down, and before anyone knew it, it began. It was just a mob, a mob with two people in the middle and they just started shouting at eachother.

A dwarf managed to get the upper hand. "Yer so weak, if you were alcohol, an Elf could drink ya' and stay standin'!" His lines had a racial tendency to him, which was completely in bounds. He managed to beat out a half drunk halfling who sputtered, disqualifying him. It was more for fun than anything else and the cheers brought that forward.

[rush99999]

Jacoby's smile widened when the man at the desk gave him the go ahead to enter the contest. Soon enough, he had a pint of grog in his hand and was standing in the middle of the contest mob facing off against a dwarf who had just compared him to a particularly weak alcohol. Jacoby chuckled at the dwarfs attempt before returning fire. "That insult was as shoddy and ill made as your beard!" Jacoby reposted blithely "Should I ever learn that Moradin weeps openly each time he catches a glimpse of that scraggly mess you have hanging from your face, it would not surprise me in the slightest!".

[lunarius]

Kiris continued to pick at her food until she'd eaten a polite enough amount, but with Tim having already excused himself she made very little ado about it. She trilled a friendly 'until later,' then set off to find and rouse Shari.

It wasn't too difficult, at least once she'd convinced the panther that win or lose it'd at least be a bit of something interesting to watch. Shari at her side, the pair of felines once again made their way across the flotilla.

The junker, with its dummies asway in the breeze, drew their eyes before they'd even properly arrived. Once there Kiris would speak and understand just enough common to enter the contest -- and upon given her coloured arrows she silently scrutinized and inspected each one. She crouched, in fact, and inspected each arrow from end to end with not only her eyes but her fingers and nose. Shari, for her part, sniffed each of the arrows Kiris had set aside and even pushed the tip of her muzzle into the loaned quiver to consider it's smells.

Once the pair were satisfied with the arrows, Kiris inspected her bow to ensure it's function and safety. She'd once seen a bow stave splinter; she didn't care to have that happen in her own face any time soon.

That last bit of mundanity over, Kiris turned to the other critically important aspect: the thanking of the great goddess, She who shines as the sun, She who guides each of Kiris' dreams and steps and actions. She had no care or concern for the hairless monkeys and their thoughts as she lifted both bow and borrowed arrows high over her head as if presenting them to the sun in gift.

Feeling blessed, as Kiris rarely felt otherwise so long as she was free, she thanked the great purring goddess of her people and settled the quiver comfortably on her person. The tabaxi was finally ready, and despite taking her own sweet time she waited with a twitching tail tip for the other contestants to have made their preparations as well.