Time: Dawn Location: Parlay Cay Interactions: All of the crew
Adrielle gave a nod in approval as Aodh agreed to her order, knowing that he would do a better job for the time being watching over the new girl than Nur would. She wouldn’t leave it all only to him the entire journey to babysit the girl, but for now until they got sailing underway she would entrust it to him.
She moved up to the helm and smiled at the familiarness of it. ”Ready for another adventure, old gal? Let’s make Farley proud.” She said softly to the ship, treating it as if it were a living thing. There were some who believed it was a living thing and even Adrielle believed it listened to her to a point. It had been good to her, keeping her safe and taking her on great adventures for long before she had even become captain. This ship was her family along with Malek and the rest of her crew. It was all she really had anymore in this life.
She grasped the helm and began turning it away from port as she looked up to watch her crew following Malek’s orders. He’d also moved to speak to Winifred which she assumed was the reason for the man who she’d noticed bolted off the ship before she came to the helm. She was curious as to why she scared him away, but at the same time she trusted the woman’s judgement. Many believed Winnie to be able to tell fortune’s and the future and perhaps there was slight truth to it, but Adrielle knew that the woman’s real talent was listening. She listened in to conversations and always seemed to find something interesting out. That along with her cooking made her quite valuable to the ship.
She turned to look to the Pirate King’s ship as it sailed in and she could barely make out with her naked eye the man aboard the ship who seemed to be looking back at her. She quickly looked away and to her crew who were all hard at work. ”Come on ya knaves! We don’t want the Glasston navy beating us to our spoils now do we?!” She shouted at the crew, however there was a wild grin on her face as the ship slowly began to move. She began expertly directing the ship out of Parlay Cay and through the reefs and rocks, ready to be out on the open water.
Time: Dawn Location: Parlay Cay Interactions:@Legion02 Aharuhn
One second Katurah was standing there, innocently asking the man if he was okay and then the next second he had moved so swiftly she was caught off guard. He’d grabbed her arm and pressed a weapon against her. She stood there frozen, staring up at him with large eyes full of fear. Her heart pounded in her chest and for a moment that’s all she could hear as she wondered if she was about to die right then and there. How short her pirating day would be and what a pathetic way to die. She was relieved as he slowly removed the weapon, but still remained still as she didn’t want that weapon to return.
”What?” She said as he began asking strange questions, it just confusing her further. She gasped in pain as he began to shake her arm. Her own hand instinctively moved to grasp his wrist, trying desperately to get him to let go. ”What are you even saying? I don’t know what you’re talking about! Please let go, you’re hurting me!” She began to plead as he continued to ask her questions. She felt tears stinging her eyes, but she tried to keep them from falling down her cheeks. She didn’t want to show weakness to this man or to anyone else. ”Help! Someone, please help!” She cried out, praying that anyone would hear here. She’d missed the call for all hands on deck as she was too distracted by this man that still had her by the arm.
”No one told me to board this ship! I don’t even know who any of these people are who you’re talking about! I was just in the tavern playing music when the Captain came in and stated she was looking for crew! I decided to join because I wanted to be a pirate! Please, I’m telling you the truth!” She pleaded with him as she couldn’t stop a tear from rolling down her face now.
Time: Dawn Location: Parlay Cay Interaction with: Aharuhn @Legion02, Katurah@Tae
Aodh was somewhat confused by the cold shoulder he felt from Nur, he could not recall doing anything to get on her bad side but then again, the whims of women were often more difficult to navigate than the roughest of seas. He caught no sign of Katurah in the crew quarters and when he heard Malek’s voice booming from the deck above and was about to give up his search for where the kitten had wandered off to, figuring she’d turn up eventually. Then he heard someone, quiet clearly the kitten, shouting for help. He followed the voice to Aharuhn’s room where he found Katurah and the crazy old man. The new girl had a real knack for getting into trouble, keeping an eye on her was going to require more work than he originally thought.
“Aharuhn, leave the kitten be would ya, we’re already running short handed, let’s cut her some slack.” He said, keeping his tone friendly but moving close to Katurah and keeping a close eye on the unpredictable sea wizard. One glance at the girl told him she was pretty shaken up and close to tears. Although he was annoyed with the man for having frightened Katurah like this, Aharuhn was crazy and Aodh was not going to waste time arguing or trying to reason with a mad man.
“Malek called for all hands on deck, we’re casting off. You ready to set sail?” He said glancing over at Katurah and flashing a friendly smile. This woman was no pirate, true, but he had not been a pirate the first time he left as part of crew either. There had been many men who taken the time to show him the ropes and as long as she had a desire to learn he’d find the time to do the same. “Now, kindly unhand my friend, we have work that needs done.” He said sternly, looking Aharuhn in the eye.
Time: Dawn Location: Avalon Avenger Interaction with:
Sylas immediately stood at attention as the captain addressed the crew, excitement coursed through him as orders were given. He shouted in unison with the rest of the crew, her orders were clear and once she had finished speaking, he set back into the flow of his work. A senior officer instructed him ensure the cannons were readied and secured and so headed to the gun deck to help the men working on the cannons. He worked hard, pushing himself to move faster and the diligence helped keep his mind calm. Military life was what helped keep him sane, without the constant structure and never-ending work list to get done, Sylas felt insecure and erratic. He was thankful that with so much needing done there was no time left to dwell on thoughts, and constant movement kept the exhaustion from restless nights at bay.
Nur was laying comfortably between her collection of pillows and blankets. Her raven hair fanned out behind her and she looked at the charms and bundles of herbs hanging from the beams above her head. She traced their shapes in the air, trying to call out their magical vibrations. It took her more effort than usual, something she was still getting used to. The charms trembled, moving in the opposite direction of the swaying ship, as if controlled by some kind of unseen hand. Wisps of iridescent light only she could see emerged slowly from within them. They were faint, barely noticeable and faded as quickly as they appeared.
The fact that her magic was slipping away frustrated the young witch. It also scared her, more than she liked to admit. There was no logical explanation why this was happening. She'd run across every scenario in her head. It just didn't make any sense. She sat up straight, brushing her hair out of her face. There was no use dwelling on it, besides she was determined to find a solution, and she always got what she wanted. If her books didn't know the answer, the magic on the Shadowmount isles surely would.
There was a mixture of loud yelling coming from up on deck. She couldn't distinguish the voices, but she didn't need to. Nur knew who would be yelling the loudest. It was time to start doing her job and take care of the crew. There was one thing she firmly believed in. Prevention. Nur hadn't always been the best student, mainly because witchcraft wasn't the only thing the women taught her. There were endless chores to be done, cooking, cleaning, sewing. Most of which she despised.
She removed the pot from the stove and put on her teapot, along with a muslin bag filled with dried chamomile flowers. Arms crossed and with her foot tapping on the wooden floor Nur waited impatiently for the water to come to a boil. She realized she should have done this sooner, but how could she have known they were suddenly setting sail? Whatever the reason, she would be the one having to take care of the vomiting new crew members. Something she wanted to avoid at all costs. As soon as the first bubbles appeared Nur snatched the pot from the stove and placed it into a basket along with a set of cups. It could steep further when she was making rounds.
The prospect of a cabin full of green faced men tied her stomach in nervous knots. She rushed through the hallway, holding up her skirts as she went up the stairs. On deck she was greeted by the salty sea air and the crew, new and old alike working hard to please the Mermaid's Fortune and her captain. She leisurely strolled across the deck, the basket with the hot tea in her left hand. The sun was rising higher into the sky. Nur studied the crew, walking past them, while subtly looking for the signs of sea sickness. There was this one young man, looking particularly miserable, a little green around the gills even. He was manning the sails, or that's what he should have been doing, looking at the men next to him. Instead he was holding onto a barrel and probably also his breakfast.
She gave him a pitying smile, her eyes creasing in concern. Tea at the ready she walked over to him and touched his arm lightly. "I have something that will help." She spoke calmly. Nur poured him a cup of tea, handing it to him. He took it with trembling hands, barely keeping his footing. Nur bit her lip, tea really wasn't going to be enough. "Stand up straight for a moment." She helped him steady himself and they faced each other. "Now look at me, lock your eyes on something." The something would be his choice. "Hold out your other arm please." She instructed, keeping a steady eye on him. Nur started to gently press down on a spot below his wrist. She continued this for a while until he started to feel better.
After being dismissed by the first mate, Verrax started his task, excited to have something to focus on besides the rocking of the ship. He started on the main deck, methodically checking each of the light cannons for properly secured lock chains and damages. He kept the same painstaking process with each of the 16 guns, careful not to miss a single one.
The main deck completed, Verrax began moving to the gun deck; he was stopped short by the captain's call to attention. Verrax listened attentively. His sickness transformed into a wave of adrenaline and strength at her mention of pirates. The ship's rocking seemed to lessen a little, the salty air becoming sweet. Verrax held images of blood stained grass, warhorses, the battle cries of his comrades in his head as he felt himself straighten and steady. Maybe this assignment wasn't as hopeless as it seemed, he thought. Maybe vengeance was close at hand.
As the captain ended her announcement, the other sailors moved back to their posts, manning sails, cleaning the cannons, keeping the ship prepared for contact. Verrax, hearing Captain Draegen summon him, moved towards the quarterdeck quickly. He stopped before her, bringing his hand up to salute. "Good morning, ma'am. Sergeant Malagon reporting as ordered!"
Time: Dawn Location: Parlay Cay Interacting with: Katurah@Tae, Aodh@Helo & Nür@dreamingflowersAharuhn looked wide-eyed at Katurah, though he didn’t release his grip, as she explained how she ended up joining. What a horrible twist of fate. What a terrible destiny she just subscribed to. The Sea Witch didn’t care for the tears. They were a woman’s daggers. Aside, of course of actual daggers. Though he guessed the catgirl never held a weapon in her life. How she never stumbled in the dark alleys of Parlay Cay is beyond him. Still, after she explained he could not help but laugh. Right as Aodh arrived. For a solid fifteen seconds, he could not stop laughing right in Katurah’s face. “You are so doomed. So doomed! Play the tunes, little cat! Play like the fates! Play and play like the wind! Play until we bleed!”
Then, as quickly as he began laughing he stopped and he turned to Aodh. For a Djinn, the man strangely disregarded the walls full of glyphs. Or perhaps he could not see them. It was something worthy of a test but in the future. “Go with the Djinn.” Aharuhn told Katurah as he waved his hand to leave in a very annoyed manner. “I’ve got omens to tame.” He said as he already turned his back towards the two. They were no longer important. His senses did not alert him of Katurah. She was no treat. Yet. But now he couldn’t really care about them or if they left. Instead, he began grabbing charts, scrolls, and books. With audible thuds, these heavy scriptures fell upon his central table. For a good few minutes, he just looked at the books and scrolls. Then he threw them all against the wall. None of them held the answer. The glyphs were something different. Something hidden from the sea, by the sea. They taunted him in his cabin. Like eyes looking down upon him. Laughing at his own incompetence. Laughing at his weakness. Too much, it was too much. He swallowed his pride and grabbed a piece of paper. His inkwell was gone, either shattered on the ground or just in a cupboard somewhere. He couldn’t wait though. He took his Kris and cut straight across his finger. The incision wasn’t deep but it was long. With blood flowing like a pen he began to draw some of the glyphs.
With the paper in hand, he headed for the deck. His cabin was closed by the intricate locking mechanism. Every step he took he hated. After what felt the hardest ten meters in his life he arrived near Nür who was tending to some sailor. “Leave the fool. He’ll puke his guts out for another three days. After that he either falls overboard or gets his bearing.” Or so was Aharuhn’s opinion. He did not care for human physiology. “Leave. Now.” He told the sailor, then he turned his attention to Nür again. “Can you read this?” He asked as he shoved the paper in her hand.
Malek had made sure no one screwed up too badly on the deck while noticing the absence of certain characters. He scowled at the steps that led below deck. Letting out a low huff Malek walked from the center of deck and marched towards the helm his eyes spotted Aharuhn speaking to Nur, which only made him shake his head. She appeared to have been performing her duties as the doctor on the ship… if you consider cooking up tea a doctor's duties.
Walked up to Adrielle's side, his eyes forward before peering down at her.
"I've asked this before Nightingale, but… Why Aharuhn? The man is accurate and he is considered to be a notable sea witch, but he is batshit." Malek voiced before turning to see the older man in the distance. "Just look at him harass Nur… Actually… That's not so bad." Malek smirked thinking of Aharuhn's nonsense colliding with Nur's poor attitude. "They almost deserve each other. Kind of like how I deserve some great rum and a good time."
Time: Dawn Location: Parlay Cay Interactions:@Legion02 Aharuhn @Helo Aodh
To say she was relieved when the friendly Djinn showed up would have been an understatement in Katurah's book. Right then he looked like a knight in shining armor to her. She tried again to pull her arm away, but Aharuhn still wasn't quite prepared to let her go. When he began laughing in her face it was quite unsettling and it made her silently settle on trying to avoid this man from now on.
As soon as he released her, she moved to practically hide behind Aodh. She peeked out from behind him and almost sighed in relief to see that the sea-witch had lost interest in them. She finally looked up to Aodh and gave him a smile. "Thank you so much for being my savior. I'm sorry I got myself into trouble again. I'll do better from now on." She said the last bit a little sheepishly.
She then seemed to suddenly be filled with new life and excitement as she remembered Aodh said that Malek had called for all hands on deck. "Oh hey, you'd said we're setting sail? I definitely wanna see that and help in any way I can." She said excitedly as she grabbed his hand and tried to drag him back up to the main deck. She wanted to stay close to Aodh from now on until she learned how ship life worked and got adjusted.
Time: Dawn Location: Parlay Cay Interactions: @FunnyGuy Malek
Adrielle watched her crew work, having pride in how efficient they were. Even though they had some odd characters on the ship, each one seemed to have their place. She even had a feeling that the kitten would find her place eventually, even if it was merely for entertainment in the end.
She glanced up at Malek as he approached and grinned. "Precisely, he is accurate and he will probably be of good use once we get closer to the Isles." She said with a small chuckle as she glanced over to where Aharuhn and Nur were currently. She was curious as to what the man was harassing Nur about, but decided she could find out later. "Besides, there's just something I enjoy about the man. Or perhaps it's the fact that having him on our crew seems to scare the other ships." She added as she directed the ship slowly.
At Malek's last statement, Adrielle couldn't keep herself from laughing. "I'll show you a good time." She said teasingly with a smirk and a playful wink before chuckling again. "We'll break out some of the rum tonight for the crew, maybe see how well the kitten can play her music, and have an evening of festivities once we get out to open water. Sound like a plan?"
Altria was always wary of bringing new people on the ship; she usually didn't like to have anyone she did not choose herself. She was kinda worried bringing younger people in fear of them dying too early. Altria waited for a moment before he came up to the quarterdeck and greeted her by saluting and addressing himself.
"At ease, soldier. I wanted to get a look at the new guy." She said, walking a circle around him, eyeing him up and down before stopping in front of him again. "Hmmm... You will do fine I hope... Are you nervous to be on this ship? I cannot guarantee anyone lives on this mission." She said seriously to give him a scare and also face the reality of the situation. Altria then drew her sword swiftly placing it by his neck. "You must have a quick reaction to any situation. Pirates are savage and merciless. They have no pity or chivalry and will kill you before you even know what to do." She stared into his eyes, sheathing her sword. "You seem like a good guy." She said, her tone changing as she smiled and placed her hand in his hair. Altria did not want to see him die more than usual for some reason, she took a liking to Verrax.
Nur was rudely interrupted by the sea witch Aharuhn. A day would come, sooner rather than later where she would find some curse to instill some manners into this wretched excuse of a man. He was bad mouthing the men she was tending to. They made an effort to ignore Aharuhn much to her satisfaction. The sailor whom she'd helped recover from his seas sickness was intimidated by the presence of the sea witch. She could tell by his body language. He was trying to excuse himself from the scene rather awkwardly. Before he had the chance to fully scurry away however Nur took his hand once again, asking after his well being. Having ensured he would not faint on the spot Nur felt it was alright to let him leave. She just wanted to make it obvious he left on her terms, and because she told him to. Not because Aharuhn was threatening him. Nur would not let him treat her patients like that.
He shoved a crumpled piece of parchment into her hands forcefully. She put down her basket with tea and held the parchment with both hands, so the wind wouldn't fold it every which way. Her eyes wandered over the crude attempts at some sort of glyph. She realized it wasn't ink he'd used, the faint smell of iron made her wrinkle her nose in disgust. Nur began to recognize certain markings, while others didn't seem to make much sense, remaining a mystery. Aharuhn was hovering over her and it filled her with a sense of discomfort, displeasure evident on her face. She knew glyphs of this kind were used in a rarely practiced magical tradition, one in which her clan dabbled in. It was rumored to drive women who commanded such magic insane.
Merely holding something of such gravity made Nur weary and at the same time also somewhat scared. She hated to admit Arahun was the one on the ship who scared her. She could not disarm him with her charms which disturbed her. It was the only weapon at her disposal to protect herself, since her magic was unreliable and fading. Nur was determined not to show her fear. She pushed the parchment back into his hands, glad to be rid of it.
"I've never seen this before in my life" She lied poorly. Her tone was unconvincing, the fear of the dangerous magic having seeped into her voice despite her best efforts.
Nur turned to face him. She picked up her basket and held it between them like a sort of barrier. If he was going to attempt something she had no trouble splashing his face with boiling tea. "Now stay out of my way, I'm tending to the crew." She spat at him, her voice was on the verge of trembling. He had really caught her of guard with that parchment. "Don't you have some cloud to interpret" Nur sneered, pointing up at a mostly cloudless sky. She whirled around, hastening herself to be away from the man. The confounded witch took refuge near a group of sailors who were polishing the woodwork. She offered them some tea, needing some herself to calm her fluttering heart.
Time: Dawn Location: Parlay Cay Interaction with: Katurah@Tae
It seemed that Aharuhn had lost interest in harassing the kitten and with the unhinged man back to obsessing over his books and scrolls, Aodh and Katurah left the man to his ramblings. He often wondered why the captain kept the odd man on board and had come to assume that keeping the crew on edge and alert was a useful reason; complacent pirates often became dead pirates. He put a great deal of trust in their captain, although sometimes her choice in new crew seemed strange eventually, he saw how even those he originally doubted came to prove themselves to be the most valuable of crew. Nur, for instance, he originally thought to be lazy and too much of a distraction for many of the men, but having seen her skill as a healer, Aodh now believed she was worth her weight in gold. He had learned to put a great deal of faith in the captain’s decisions and was curious to find out what great spark she had seen in Katurah. Although this crew was much less conventional than others he had been with, this one ran well and had been the most enjoyable yet. It would seem that as soon as Aharuhn was no longer a threat, Katurah was again immediately excited to see the boat set sail. While her enthusiasm for piracy was a good start, her mannerisms, like trying to hold his hand, certainly did not scream pirate.
“Trust me kitten, you do not want the crew to see you require hand holding on your first day. Act like you belong here, and do not let anyone think they can fuck with you, or trouble will continue to follow you.” He said, keeping his tone soft, and pulling his hand free of her grip as he followed her back to the main deck. Much of the work in setting sail had already been done and he had no doubts that Malek had noted their absence. “You’re a pirate now, no one will give you anything, you must either demand it or take it. Watch how other’s do their jobs until we find what your suited for, until then you can expect to be doing a good amount of grunt work. No one likes a whiner, if your tasked with deck swabbing or peeling potatoes, just get it done. Keep a weapon on you at all times, never know when we’ll be running into trouble… Aodh paused and eyed Katurah noticing that she carried no sword or pistols. “Do you have a proper weapon?” He asked, feeling like he already knew the answer to this. Had she really boarded a pirate ship setting sail towards the Shadowmounts with nothing but claws to depend herself with? Aodh didn’t really wait for an answer as he led her over towards the ships main sail to explain how one was to man the sails. He thought perhaps a job involving climbing would be suited for a cat.
Time: Dawn Location: Avalon Avenger Interaction with:
Once the ship was set towards her course things on deck calmed down, everything ran about as smoothly as it could and the sailors fell into their rolls. Sylas was content to be out of the overpowering sunlight in the gun deck. Once the cannons were secured and inspected for signs of rust or defect, he allowed himself a brief moment to rest his weary muscles. He noticed another man watching him, a tall and muscular Gorilla demihuman, who he recognized as one of the gunners.
“You there, dark elf, what is your name?” The beast man who Sylas believed was called Titus, addressed and approached him. Sylas worried he had made some sort of error in his care of the cannons, but the gunner did not appear angry with him, but curious instead.
“Sylas.” He replied to the man. “Sylas Fyn.”
“I thought you looked familiar, now you must be Declan Fyn’s boy?" Titus flashed a toothy grin as he realized how he recognized the boy, and Sylas had been told by quite a few that he looked a lot like his father did as a young man.
“Yes sir. You know my father?” He asked, although it was obvious that man did. Sylas was interested in hearing any stories about his father’s younger days, wondering if his imposing father had always been the man he knew or if he too had struggled with same anxious energy Sylas himself did. Personally, he doubted this, figuring that his father had always been collected on board a ship.
”Aye, served many years with him, back he was a master gunner on Glasston’s Glory. Bit of a mean ol’ bastard though." The man let out a laugh and gave him what was likely intended as a friendly slap on the shoulder. The man’s primate strength though made the gesture much more abrasive, and Sylas already hated when people touched him. Although he jumped a bit, he managed a forced and nervous smile for the sake of being polite.
“He has high expectations.” Sylas said in agreement, fidgeting himself further away from the man. He wondered what exactly the man meant by his comment, and he had a feeling like he was being studied. He decided the man was trying to determine if he was a man like his father in more than just appearance. Although he aspired to be as similar to his father as he could, he knew great men were rarely well liked. Sylas had ambition enough to want more out of his military career and he was aware that without the support of others this would be difficult. He doubted that he could climb to the ranks his father had on skill alone; he was still a fairly green sailor. He would have to work on his interactions with the crew in order to play the more political game that most prestigious jobs usually required.
“I’d call that an understatement but I guess that’s why he’s a captain now and I’m still manning the guns. Surprised he wasn’t chomping at the bit for this mission though. Quite a bit of glory in it, if we live.” Titus continued and Sylas could hear a hint of bitterness in the man's tone.
Sylas thought on the remark his father had made when he’d shared his own excitement at having been accepted for such a mission. “He says the king is not likely to send his best towards certain death.” He repeated the words that had dulled his excitement with fear, he did not want to believe that the king lacked faith in their assignment. Even if Sylas was more than ready to make any sacrifice needed for his country he had always hoped he’d at least achieve something worthy before his time came.
“Ha, sounds like him. I’m sure he’s bitter as bile to have been passed over for this one.” Titus grinned again at the thought of elder dark elf being passed over for something.
“Huh, you think?" Sylas said, wondering if there was even a chance that his father had actually been jealous that his son was entrusted on a noble assignment while he was overlooked. He was rather fond of that thought.
With his arms crossed at his chest, Malek turned away slightly and rolled his eyes at the captain's explanation on the old sea witch's usefulness. Admittedly so, Adrielle's words were not false, but Malek just did not think it was enough to keep the old crackpot aboard.
"The man doesn't just scare ships. He scares almost everyone with his fits of madness." Malek commented as peered over to watch Nur walk away from Aharuhn. Malek did not expect a reply from his complaint as it was an opinion that had been voiced previously. Perhaps the first mate was just waiting for the day Adrielle changed her mind and agree with him.
When Adrielle replied to his want of rum and a good time, he found it difficult not to smirk at her playful words. His body slightly turned again. This time towards her.
"Sounds like a great plan if any." He thought of winking back, but slightly turned his face away and scowled. He didn't want to unintentionally use his charm on Adrielle. All it took was a simple gesture or the use of a softened tone of voice and one would find themselves captivated by him. He respected Adrielle too much to place her in such a state. His power was a gift when needed, but curse during any other time. "The worm can prove her worth, but my bet is that she is either shit at playing or she catches stage fright." He sighed. "As much as I want to see her inability… The good time might be something to look forward to as well." He smiled at the jagged rocks and the ocean, the few things he couldn't ruin with his charm.
Time: Dawn Location: Parlay Cay Interactions:@Helo Aodh
When Aodh pulled his hand free of her and explained that she shouldn’t let anyone else see her needing her hand held she blushed just a bit. What he said made total sense and she scolded herself for not acting tough. ”Sorry, I guess I didn’t think about how it would look. I’ll do better, I promise.” She said to him with a small giggle and then realized that her girlish laughs probably weren’t good either. This was going to be a lot harder than she thought.
He continued on to explain what her duties were most likely going to be and she listened closely. She really didn’t want to mess up and give any reason for her to be kicked off the ship...or worse, thrown overboard. That thought alone made her heart race a bit as she began to realize this really wasn’t going to be all fun and games. ”Oh I’m quite good at peeling potatoes and swabbing the deck can’t be much different from mopping a tavern right? I can do those tasks no problem!” Perhaps her years of working in a tavern really were going to pay off. She could do all that without any complaints at all.
Once they were on deck she couldn’t help but stare up at the men climbing the rigging. That looked like so much fun to her and she wanted to do it as well. She was so distracted by it that she almost missed Aodh’s next question. She tore her gaze away to look back at him again. ”Hmm?...Oh a weapon? I have…” She fumbled around in a small pouch she had attached to her hip for a moment. ”This!” She said proudly as she produced a small kitchen knife. She knew it wasn’t much, but at least it was sharp and could be used in a pinch, right? Truthfully she hadn’t really thought about finding any other weapon...nor did she really have the training with one.
Time: Dawn Location: Parlay Cay Interactions: @FunnyGuy Malek
Aharuhn was quite the different character and Adrielle would be lying if she said she didn’t fear him at all. In fact, it was probably part of what contributed to keeping him aboard the ship as she feared more of angering him than anything. She wouldn’t admit that, however, not even to Malek. Instead she would just continue telling everyone who questioned her decision the same thing she’d told Malek.
She watched Nur hurry away from Aharuhn and briefly wondered what had just transpired between the two. Her thoughts on the matter were quickly forgotten as Malek made a response to her playful comment. She glanced over at him with a smirk, but she watched as he turned his face away briefly and she found it curious. She wondered what was going through his mind, but she let it go for the time being.
She knew that he had issues with his charm ability he was born with, knowing he often viewed it as a curse. She’d tried to help him in the past with it, but it seemed like her charm and his charm worked quite a bit differently and so controlling it was different as well. She could understand why he felt the way he did about it, but she rarely got the chance to use her charm so when she did, it seemed to be addicting to her. She also wondered what it felt like to be charmed as she seemed to either have a bit of a resistance to it or people were just too frightened to use it on her. She often considered asking Malek to try and charm her, just so she would know how it felt, but she had yet to build up the courage to actually ask her friend to do something like that.
She looked back to Katurah and Aodh once more, noticing the girl seemed to be staring up at the rigging. She truly was like a cat, wasn’t she? Perhaps that’s where she would excel on the ship. ”If she ends up being shit at playing or has stage fright then I’ll just sing us all a pretty song.” She told him with a wink before laughing a bit. ”In all honesty, though, I think most people will be too drunk to care if the kitten is good or not.” She said as she turned the wheel abit to avoid some of the upcoming rocks. His last words had her turning to look at him once more briefly, wanting to see what his expression was. A small, genuine smile graced her lips as she looked back forward again. ”Well then I guess I better stick to my word and guarantee that you have a good time tonight.” They were almost out of the dangerous rocks now and soon she’d feel more comfortable passing off the helm to one of her helmsman.
”Alright ladies and gents, our voyage is officially underway! Let’s have full sails, get us moving as swiftly towards the Isles as possible!”
Lavender scents enveloped the air around her as she ran and giggled like the school girl she had never been, honeysuckle and Wisteria could seen in the distance, their beautiful smells enrapturing anyone whose nose they touched to simply stay in this veritable paradise of flowers. Odd looking butterflies suckled sweet nectar out of Frangipani, Sweet Alyssum, and Sweet Peas, their colors a rainbow beneath Elenei's bare feet as she ran. The Blue flower she kept in her chest pocket was precious to her, but it had nothing on the sheer olfactory gorgeousness of the Gardenias and Lily-of-the-Valley's that filled the air with an otherworldly smell. It was if some being from out of this plane of existence had come to grant her nose alone with a pure symphony of flavor and fragrance-- that is to say nothing of the rainbow of color these flowers produced beneath and around her-- the likes of which... someone like Elenei...
Did she deserve this?
She shook her head internally-- she needed this. And she was going to pluck the most beautiful flowers of all if it killed her.
Her smile widened as the two nymph like figures ran ahead of her, "Come t' mama me wee beauties!" Even in this idyllic setting, despite her relatively unblemished appearance her voice was rough from years of tokes of who knows what, yelling on ships and repeated punches to the throat in bar fight. But she knew her little flowers wouldn't mind someone a little rough around the edges. She picked up the pace. As she did, one of the nymphs came into sight-- she knew this one would be easier to catch, she was dressed to have her skirt actually look like a flower. This isn't to say that the smokey Captain Nightingale wasn't also a flower with sweet nectar-- in fact, hers may have even been more elusive. But for the moment, Elenei's eye's gleamed with lust as she almost caught up with her sweetest Nur. Her heart was about ready to explode out of it's chest-- when suddenly--
A gentle pair of arms wrapped themselves around Elenei, blocking out all other scents with those of rum and the kitchen. Elenei, eyes as big as tea saucers, went stiff (and not in the good way), her body refused to move aside from the occasional twitching finger and she broke into a cold sweat. An eyepatched woman, beautiful in her own right, kissed Elenei on the cheek. She shivered. As the human moved her face to meet the gnome's, she held her shaking face in delicate, but simultaneously rough hands. It felt as if all of Elenei's blood was cold and her heart had stopped. She couldn't put her finger on why-- she realized too late this was all a dream, and as Winifred moved to kiss Elenei could only get out a confused "Winnie?"
Time: Dawn Location: The Mermaid's Fortune Interactions: @Tae - Adrielle, @FunnyGuy - Malek, Kinda @dreamingflowers - Nur
The kiss had tasted like sailor's foot and pistachio shell, in case you wanted to know. Elenei's guess as to why? Oh probably the sailor above her, dangling his foot from his hammock near the vicinity of El's mouth, casually chucking the shells, as if trying to clog her windpipe with them. Elenei was up in an instant, still in her underclothes, "Hey, ye fuckin' dastard, want t' fight?" She didn't go for her sword, knowing full well the taboo of killing a crewmate-- but there was no rule against knocking some sense into someone who just ruined a perfectly good dream.
The bronzed man got off his hammock slowly-- Sun Elf, fairly well built, clearly the type who wanted to prove the myth that all elves were the tall and lanky types wrong. But he was tall, he barely fit in the cabin-- that would work for her if it came to blows. He hit the wood with a thud and turned slowly, he had an unkempt mop of pink hair that kept his eyes hidden. He got one good look at who was calling him out and his frown became a full on scowl. "Elenei, really?" He scoffed, he knew her reputation well enough, good. She was fairly familiar with him too. Still confident she could beat him.
She gave back an exaggerated scoff at his, "Yes really! Ye jus' ruined a perfectly good dream," She stretched a bit, "'Sides, nah really mornin' wit' a good bit o' sparin' right?"
He sighed. "Always did want to wipe that smug look off your face," He assumed a fighting stance foreign to her, probably some sun elf shit, "When Malek comes down on us I'm blaming you."
Wordlessly, Elenei began to control her breathing, In-Out-Out like she had learned at prison in Aelvale, and got down low, all fours, preparing for an attack. A few bunks overs, a few sailors shirking their duties had began to gather, two, still in their bunks, even began to place bets. "I give him 2 minutes" The other shook his head, "Two kicks and he's off to Nur, I give him 30 seconds tops"
Elenei figured she could just do a sweep on him and end it, but the foreign fighting stance was an unknown, and he was probably expecting that from her... she'd have to go with something different. As she thought, the Sun Elf had enveloped his fists in orbs of hard light and began to punch at Elenei.Had she not dodged, things may have been catastrophic, the single punch left the deck broken, splintered and smokey. As she did though, she saw her opening-- he had bent down to punch, a mistake he'd soon regret. From her animalistic position Elenei shifted her weight onto on arm, and used her momentum from there like a spring to launch herself toward the Sun Elf's head. With a midair spin she kicked him straight in his temple once, and then again with the heel of her other foot.
The light almost immediately left the Sun Elf's eyes-- and fists, as he fell with a another thud in the dimply lit cabin, drooling next to the hole he had so graciously decided to make in the deck. Elenei landed rather awkwardly, on her back, with yet another loud thud-- she never planned *this* part out so much. Still, the thrill of a fight in the morning gave her excitement, even if this one was a bit of a disappointment. This guy would be a beast if he'd train up a little more. He clearly has the raw strength, Elenei observed, she'd love to fight him again when he got stronger! As she stood up, still in her underclothes, she turned to the gambling onlookers, raking in their winnings, "Oi you lot!" She might not be First Mate but she still held seniority, damnit, "Get this man to Nur, he might 'ave concussion," Her were still friendly, even as she said this, but from the sound of it-- they were already pushing off, which she was kind of kicking herself for sleeping through. "The rest of ya's-- find something to do, we're setting sail!"
With that, Elenei finally got changed, a proper flashy piratey mockery of all the Upper class in the world stood for. She was hungry, and could probably flirt her way into getting Winnie to make something for her if she really tried... but something about that dream. Best stick to duties for now, and Cap would probably want to know that their navigator was on the ship since they'd be on open ocean soon. No sooner than she was upperdeck did she Captain Nightingale and Malek at the helm, she also saw Nur tending to some of the newer sailor suffering from sea sickness-- were Elenei a weaker woman, she'd have immediately been under Nur's thrall, prepared to do whatever the woman asked of her-- were she a weaker woman. LUCKILY as a Gnome she has the guidance of all 777 gods giving her strength at all times, she was able to avoid the allure of that woman, and fall instead, into the arms of another.
So she made her way to the helm to stand beside the two, she was a bit curious as to why they were pushing off so early anyway. "Hay Cap," She gave restrained nod, trying (and failing) not to stare too long, "Hay Malek," This interaction was much more normal, "Awfully sweet o' ya t' nah expect me awake 'til we're in open ocean."
Malek nodded at Adrielle's mention of having to sing if the worm lacked the talent. Now he was really hoping the cat performed poorly. If it meant Adrielle would sing, Malek might consider kicking some poor soul overboard. There would be an attempt at rescue of course… an attempt at least. Malek had given Adrielle the name of Nightingale due to her beautiful voice. It could sway rowdy crew into a state of tranquility or lift the spirits of those lacking in motivation. Her voice was possibly her most powerful asset surpassing his charm with its range and ability to affect many at once. She didn't even need to be facing folk like he had to. Malek's charm was just a potent smack to the face.
"Ah you spoil me, Nightingale… And you spoil the crew." Malek turned to the rest of the ship performing their duties to please their captain after she gave direction. He appeared as if he was ready to scold the lot of them, but… "Full sails! Full spirits! We will embrace the sea! For most, we are returning to the vicious beauty once more! To the new and few! You will learn to know her embrace! We set sail for the Shadowmount Isles!" Malek boomed with excitement as he caught the eye of many of his excited crewmates. "So I'll keep up the good mood."
Malek turned back around, satisfied with the message he had given. Only seconds later did he hear the approach of the light-footed navigator, Elenei. He turned his head and looked down at her. He silently nodded to her greeting with a much harder look on his face now. He respected Elenei because she did what was needed from her and more. Malek liked her initiative. The firstmate would never say it without a few bottles in him, but she was possibly his favorite amongst the rowdy misfit crew
"Sorry my shouting didn’t make it to your ears. We had to make a hasty leave from the cay.” Malek smirked and motioned his head in the direction of the Pirate King’s ship that was far to the rear, but could still be recognized by anyone who had laid their eyes on it before. Malek avoided speaking aloud the fact that the Mermaid’s Fortune always departed when the Pirate King’s ship entered the same dock. “Now we’re set. You have your navigator and some luck too. I’ll tend to the crew while you two keep us alive.”
Time: Morning Location: Whiteashe Dockyards Interaction with:@Hawthorne and @Skwint
The warm sea breeze was, to him, welcome respite to cold morning air. Having received the letter quite suddenly, Solomon had only a single night to recuperate from his previous expedition. In spite of this however, he knew that he was the only one in his family capable of a sea voyage at this time. The doctor looked outside the carriage window, rapping sharply upon the wooden walls to call the driver's attention.
"Right here, my good sir. You can drop me off right here." Solomon said politely.
The horse-drawn carriage quickly slowed to a halt in front of the dock's offices. The driver stood from his seat, stepping onto the cobblestone floor. He then opened the door and helped his passenger onto the ground. It was, of course, his job. Solomon let loose a long sigh as he stretched his body-- as comfortable as carriages could be sometimes, he couldn't help but feel the need to stretch his limbs afterwards.
The doctor then helped the driver unload the many bags from the top of the carriage. A ship's infirmary always tended to lack the tools and supplies that he needed, and so he opted to bring his own. There was his own carry-on bag filled with essentials, four different trunks containing spare clothes, personal effects, medical supplies and laboratory equipment, and an instrument case, with his cello (he was a hobbyist musician, and playing did always seem to lift the spirits of the doctor and his patients, after all)--all of which were waterproof and warded against tampering. Solomon gave the driver a smile and pressed a couple of sovereigns into his hand. "Thank you, my friend. See to it that you get that rash checked out. Consultations at the Whitewood Clinic are free." The doctor smiled.
The carriage driver left his presence with a smile. A generous tip and a bit of medical advice never hurt anyone, after all. Solomon then let out a sigh as he fished out a silver pocketwatch from his coat. He was punctual of course, but he couldn't help but wonder as to when Captain Sarstina would arrive. He had met him several times when he was younger during dinner parties, and the doctor had heard the stories from his father, but this would be the first time he would spend time with him in a professional sense. The doctor, content to simply wait for his friend to arrive, did so patiently.
The carriage had no sooner drawn away then the doors of the Admiralty building and Bernor appeared framed by the ancient white marble. He was, as always, dressed in his Navy issued coat and trousers, though it was evident he had had some custom tailoring done to achieve the fit. A gold hilted sword and dagger hung from his waist and there was no sign of his pistols.
"Solomon!" Bernor's face broke out into a broad smile as he hurried down the steps. A pair of Marine sentries, resplendent in their black, gold trimmed tunics, snapped to attention and saluted as he passed. He paused to hurriedly return their salutes and then resumed his descent, tall boots clicking on the marble. In truth he was quite glad to see his friend, being a Post-Captain had a nasty habit of being lonely at times. "So good to have you!"
The two men shook hands and Bernor regarded the pile of boxes that the Doctor had unloaded. "It'll be a damn fine thing to have a proper surgeon along, Solomon, bless my soul it will. To many good men have died for want of some simply medicine while at sea. Did you bring an assistant or will I need to provide you one?"
The door behind Bernor had opened and a small procession of men, two carrying a heavy sea trunk, two more carrying an iron bound box, four marines, and a strongly built man dressed in a Naval ratings uniform, began to descend toward the two friends. As if on cue, another carriage, this one bedecked with the Saristina Coat-of-arms cam trotting around the corner led by a pair of high stepping horses whose black coats shone in the sunlight.
"I'm glad to be here, my friend." The doctor smiled as he returned the handshake. "My father would have loved to join us, but I'm afraid the old man isn't quite as fit as he used to be." Solomon said politely. "He sends his regards, though. And of course, my personal assistance." He nodded, before moving along.
When the topic of a ship surgeon was broached, Solomon couldn't help but nod in agreement. "Indeed. It is a shame, too. I'm certain the lives of many men could be improved simply by having someone trained in medicine aboard." He comments. "I suppose that's what I'm here for." The doctor says. "My apologies, captain. I wasn't able to hire an assistant under such short notice." He then looked at the door, and the group of men emerging from it. "I certainly wouldn't mind if your men could help me with my luggage, though."
Wordlessly, the men loaded the bags, boxes, and trunks onto the recently-arrived carriage. "Be careful with those-- there are some delicate equipment in there, and no amount of cushioning will stop glass from shattering when it hits the ground like that." Solomon advises the men, before turning back towards his friend.
"...how do you fare, Bernor? You and your family are in good health, I hope? " He asked the man politely as the carriage doors opened.
The two men swung into the carriage, followed by the naval rating who was introduced to Solomon as Huvalor. "He's my man, takes care of my wants aboard ship so I can focus on the business of sailing a Imperial ship. Been with me nearly eleven years, is that correct, Huvalor?"
The man nodded and smiled at the Doctor. "Aye, so it is sah. Ever since we stormed the Trinity together." His voice had a deep base timber to it, a sound that was most pleasing to hear. It was evident he might have some Dwarf in his blood from the heavy build and strong accent.
"I will see to it we find you an assistant on board, Solomon. Can't have a friend of mine suffering the lower decks alone!" Bernor tapped the roof o the carriage as he spoke and it began to rumble forward at once. The tall Admiralty building on their right quickly gave way to a series of low slung stone buildings that swarmed with men readying the vast amount of material required for the Navy. Great long cables and hawsers were stretched in the sun to dry, new masts were being hewn, and massive spreads of canvas were being inspected before they would be delivered to the fleet.
And what a fleet! To their left, the harbour spread out like a giant glass mirror and, anchored in neat lines across it, was the fleet that had built an Empire. Hundreds of ships, ranging from little gigs up to frigates stretched from shore to shore. Amid them, squatting like massive slabs of ham, were the ships of the line. Huge vessels with over a hundred cannon that could throw more lead shot in a single broadside than an entire army division could in an hour. These were the great ship killers that had brought the Empires enemies to their knees.
"The family is well, thank you." Bernor smiled happily at the thought. His son was just starting to walk now. By the time he came back it was likely the young lad would be speaking and likely in school. "How about your own?"
"A pleasure to meet you, Huvalor." Solomon gave the man a polite nod and a firm handshake. The doctor took a moment to admire the work being done in the docks to the right, and the veritable flotilla of ships to the left, before turning to his friend.
"You have my thanks, captain. An extra pair of hands and eyes always make the work go faster, and the infirmary is no exception." He says in response to the captain finding him an assistant.
"Likewise, my friend, likewise." Solomon replies. "Grandfather still seems healthy as ever, while father and mother still work." He tells Brenor. "Isabel is learning how to dissect frogs, and I believe little Edward is still working on mastering his arithmetic." The doctor sighs. "I still remember the days where I'd tutor them myself, sometimes."
Solomon then looked outside the window. It seemed as if the sun's warm rays were starting to heat the cold morning air to something more manageable. "I never did ask, captain, but which ship are we to board again? I only recall reading that I was to meet you in front of the admiralty offices in the morning, you see." The doctor asked as the looked at a particularly large man-o-war.
Bernors face took on a look mystery and he leaned forward conspiratorially. Next to him Huvalor smiled, he had seen this act before. "Afraid I can't say at the moment." He tapped his chest pocket where a notable square shaped bulge was showing. "Secret orders from the Admiralty. Though I promise you, it will be an adventure."
The carriage was beginning to descend toward the water now and a small sloop could be seen waiting alongside a stone pier. The crew was neatly dressed in their long black pants, white and black stripped shirts, with blue neckties, their long hair neatly tied back. At the site of the carriage they exploded into motion, some hurrying onto the deck to prepare for departure while others quickly formed a line to swiflty load the carriage onto the sloop.
"The Admiralty does not wish anyone to know that I am taking command of this vessel. The current Captain was sent aboard as a ruse and will be leaving on this vessel for a different post. Once we're aboard, I will fill you in."
Solomon raised an eyebrow at this strange behavior. Though he briefly wondered if this whole thing was an elaborate ruse, he knew the captain to be an honest man. "If you say so, captain." He says, doing his best to relax a little bit.
As the carriage descended towards the water and approached the sloop, the doctor could see the many sailors who were assembled to make the transition from carriage to skip as smoothly and quickly and possible. In fact, he wouldn't be surprised if the ship was to cast off as soon as they were aboard.
"I'm surprised all this subterfuge is necessary, captain." Solomon commented. "Wasn't this a search for a missing ship?" He asked, a little pensively.
"And the missing Princess." Bernor reminded the Doctor as the carriage came to a standstill. The Navy crew swung into action and swiftly unloaded the number of boxes, ferrying them with great care onto the sloop. They might not have known what was inside the boxes but they all knew what happened to a man who dropped the Captains possessions into the harbour.
Accompanied by Solomon, Huvalor, and the four marines, Bernor stepped onto the Sloops deck. A dismal three boatswains were drawn up and their pipes twittered as Bernor nodded toward the aft gun deck where the sloops captan saluted and then began to roar orders at his small crew. The new arrivals were quite forgotten in the moment as the sloop cast off, a large barge rowed by a dozen men dragging it into the harbour.
The Sloop Captain, a stocky human, was plainly nervous at having such an a exalted guest on board but his crew handled the small vessel with the skill expected of a Naval warship. The topsails filled with the morning breeze and they were soon coasting across the bay and toward the open sea.
* * * * * * * * *
ONE WEEK LATER
The Sloop, Gale Rider, rose as she crested each long ocean roller before plunging down into the intervening trough with a stomach clenching speed. Given the size of the small vessel, quarters had been tight, Doctor and Captain had shared a small cabin together, their hammocks close enough together they were constantly swaying in unison. For Bernor, it was another week at sea and he was glad it was done. He had always been violently ill the first week when returning to sea and had been glad of a single gunport in the little space so he could empty his stomach over the side without shaming himself in front of the crew.
He was well past that now as he stared through a spyglass at the quickly approaching Avalon Avenger. She had been in sight for the better part of an hour now, hull down on the horizon, only her top most sails spread to provide steerage power. The ocean around them was utterly devoid of any humanoid life or even sight of land. A clandestine rendezvous indeed.
"Captain, make signal to the Avalon that I am coming aboard." Bernor issued his order and then watched with a critical eye as a midshipman hurried to pull open the flag locker and select the appropriate flags. They raced up the mizzen like a colourful bird and after a few minutes a reply broke out on the Avalon.
"Signal acknowledged. Standing by to receive you, sah." The midshipsman shouted into the wind and Bernor nodded, turning to the Doctor who was standing nearby.
"Best make sure of your personal affects and see to your medicines, Doctor." The use of first names had ceased outside of their little cabin. "We'll be alongside in an hour."
The past week had not been kind to the doctor. He always managed fine on larger ships and research vessels, but on this tiny sloop, his propensity for seasickness was made apparent. Drawing upon advice from the captain and Huvalor, he did his best to spend some time outside the cabin. Still, when the best forms of entertainment was the occasional game of chess or the study of a book that he had recently acquired... He could only manage to survive, if only barely.
The tight quarters did not help at all, though the fact that the doctor should sometimes hear retching from the other side of the room when they were both supposed to be asleep was... slightly reassuring. It seemed even veteran sailors could fall victim to the occasional bout of nausea. Solomon was quick to brew up a bit of ginger tea, which would help alleviate the effects of seasickness, if only a little bit.
When the Gale Rider made contact with the Avalon Avenger, the doctor could not help but sigh in relief and silently thank divine providence that they would be off this sloop soon. He watched as Bernor issued his orders, seeing the midshipman perform his signals with flags. Although his skill at Language Comprehension had brought him far with foreign tomes and manuscripts, it had little effect on coded transmissions.
"As you say, Captain. I have my essentials with me, and the other luggage should be ready for transport when we board." Solomon said formally, though the relief in his voice was readily apparent to anyone who knew him.
"...The Avalon Avenger, hm?" The doctor said in a half-whisper. It seemed this ship would prove to be just what he needed.
The Gale Rider made good time crossing the remaining distance as her destination grew in size, the great black slab sides studded with white coloured gunports, closed now against the weather. Men could be seen in the mizen tops hauling struggling to loose a sail, balancing on the single ratline that served as their only link between the yardarm and a fall to their death.
Faces could be seen at the gunwale as the Rider lowered her small boat and Bernor stepped into the stern. There was room enough for the Doctor and Huvalor to scramble in after him. Four sets of powerful arms set the small boat dancing across the waves until the sheer sided power of the frigate towered over them. A ladder, built into the side of the hull, beckoned to them and Bernor went first, waiting as the boat rise and fell until he could step easily onto the lower rung. It was slippery and he clung on for one terrifying moment he thought he might drop into the sea. He mastered his fear at last and scrambled up the ladder.
Boatswains pipes twittered and a marine guard saluted as he stepped onto the deck. Captain Adrielle Draegon waited for him, resplendent in her blue uniform. She saluted in unison with the marines. He returned the salute and smiled as he greteed her.
"Captain Draegon."
"Captain Sarstina, an honour. Welcome to the Avalon." The woman returned his smile and the two shook hands. "The ship is, of course, yours."
"Thank you Captain, you stand relieved." Bernor spoke the words he had spoken a dozen times before. He saw a flicker of disappointment cross the womans features and he could't blame her. No one liked to lose command of any vessel. Still, she had years before her. Bernor had been waging war at sea as long as she had been alive, some day she would be standing where he was.
And just like that, the lives of all 315 souls onboard were transferred to the hands of a new commander. No Captain liked to remain onboard when they had been relieved and Draegon returned to the Rider with the ships boat as the Doctor and Huvalor gained the deck. The baggage would be transported while Bernor took official command of the Avalon.
Tradition had to be observed and before Bernor could meet his crew, he would was required to take official command of the Avalon by reading the Articles of War. These regulations, now ancient tradition, would cement him as the ultimate authority on the ship with the power of life and death over every member of the ships company. Only an act of the King could remove him power now.
He climbed to the quarter deck, nodding in response to the salutes of his new ships officers and stepped up to the railing. The ships company, all neatly dressed in their matching black pants and stripped shirts, all present save for the duty watch, had been drawn up in neat ranks on the rolling deck. Bernor looked out over the sea of faces and knew that, in time, he would come to know them all. He drew a well used booklet from his breast pocket and began to read.
"By the grace of His Majesty, I, Captain Bernor Sarstina, take command of the Avalon Avenger in the exection of her duties in the service of His Majesty and the Empire. In accordance with regulations, the following artciles will apply to all aboard this ship, regardless of race, creed, gender, or faith."
1. If any officer, mariner, soldier, or other person of the fleet, shall give, hold, or entertain intelligence to or with any enemy or rebel, without leave from the king's majesty, or the lord high admiral, or the commissioners for executing the office of lord high admiral, commander in chief, or his commanding officer, every such person so offending, and being thereof convicted by the sentence of a court martial, shall be punished with death.
2. Every flag officer, captain and commander in the fleet, who, upon signal or order of fight, or sight of any ship or ships which it may be his duty to engage, or who, upon likelihood of engagement, shall not make the necessary preparations for fight, and shall not in his own person, and according to his place, encourage the inferior officers and men to fight courageously, shall suffer death, or such other punishment, as from the nature and degree of the offence a court martial shall deem him to deserve; and if any person in the fleet shall treacherously or cowardly yield or cry for quarter, every person so offending, and being convicted thereof by the sentence of a court martial, shall suffer death.
3. Every person in the fleet, who through cowardice, negligence, or disaffection, shall in time of action withdraw or keep back, or not come into the fight or engagement, or shall not do his utmost to take or destroy every ship which it shall be his duty to engage, and to assist and relieve all and every of His Majesty's ships, or those of his allies, which it shall be his duty to assist and relieve, every such person so offending, and being convicted thereof by the sentence of a court martial, shall suffer death.
4. Every person in the fleet, who though cowardice, negligence, or disaffection, shall forbear to pursue the chase of any enemy, pirate or rebel, beaten or flying; or shall not relieve or assist a known friend in view to the utmost of his power; being convicted of any such offense by the sentence of a court martial, shall suffer death.
5. If any officer, mariner, soldier or other person in the fleet, shall strike any of his superior officers, or draw, or offer to draw, or lift up any weapon against him, being in the execution of his office, on any pretense whatsoever, every such person being convicted of any such offense, by the sentence of a court martial, shall suffer death; and if any officer, mariner, soldier or other person in the fleet, shall presume to quarrel with any of his superior officers, being in the execution of his office, or shall disobey any lawful command of any of his superior officers; every such person being convicted of any such offence, by the sentence of a court martial, shall suffer death, or such other punishment, as shall, according to the nature and degree of his offence, be inflicted upon him by the sentence of a court martial.
6. Every person in the fleet, who shall unlawfully burn or set fire to any magazine or store of powder, or ship, boat, ketch, hoy or vessel, or tackle or furniture thereunto belonging, not then appertaining to an enemy, pirate, or rebel, being convicted of any such offence, by the sentence of a court martial, shall suffer death.
7. All murders committed by any person in the fleet, shall be punished with death by the sentence of a court martial.
8. If any person in the fleet shall commit the unnatural and detestable sin of buggery and sodomy with man or beast, he shall be punished with death by the sentence of a court martial.
He closed the book as the last words faded into the wind and gazed about the deck for a moment, then turned to the Dwarf who stood nearby. Barik Stormhearth, he was familiar with the dwarfs file from his admiralty reports.
"That will be all, Mr. Stormhearth. Please get us under way."
Location: Underneath the Avalon Peregrin was tired.
As in, the sort of tired you’d get from travelling ceaselessly for...weeks, months, however long it has been since she left the decks of The Arcadia. Devouring anything that got in her way and living off the calories burnt from that. She was stronger and faster than your typical merperson because of the high pressure environment she grew up in, but even this was pushing her strength to its absolute limits. Nevertheless, she was under strict - and urgent - orders to keep going until she saw…
Peregrin craned her neck for the umpteenth time, noticing a cool shadow shift across the surface. A hull. Somebody’s ship. Her fingers gingerly rubbed her sash and the bottle neatly tucked and tied up inside of it. She took a deep breath and swam up to the surface, dreading that awful airyness, the lightness mixed with the sheer saturation of oxygen and how bright everything was. She squinted up at the sails and the flags as her vision slowly cleared and started to grow accustomed to the light (how she had to suffer, remaining so close to the surface just so that she could see better when she came across a ship!) and, in increments, made out the Imperial insignia. She waited until she was absolutely certain. It wasn’t as large as she expected it to be, which is what made her hesitate...but it was certainly Glasstonian in origin. Those gold trimmings and the overall cleanliness of the underside of the hull were enough to strongly imply these were not common pirates, at least. After drifting past merchant vessels, the odd pirate or two and a ship from some other country that she didn’t recognise, this one was a weary relief for her shattered spirits.
The problem now was how to approach it. She was far too small to be noticed bobbing around in the ocean, and even if she was - people like her weren’t well-received by navy vessels, given their track record. It was approaching quickly though, so she had a short space of time to figure out what to do, and ducked under to take a look again...there was one line dragging in the water.
The behemoth of a ship skirted right over her head as she kept pace for just a moment - one final burst - long enough to grab the line. Peregrin didn’t know how to get their attention though as she gasped and coughed, surfacing and trying to clear out her airways for oxygen. Out of habit, and knowing some basic knowledge about landfolk mannerisms, she began to knock on the hull as she was dragged alongside the ship. In between knocks she checked for the bottle. Still there, pristine and well-secured to her midriff.
“Belay that!” Bernor’s voice tore across the deck, bringing an instant halt to the rush of sailors bound for the line that had snapped. The line in question, a halliard for the mizzen tops, had sent on of the sails flapping in the strong breeze, the damaged portion trailing in the water alongside the Avalon. Orders had been quickly issued to have the damage modified but now everyone froze as the Captain paced toward the side.
Is that knocking? Who in the nine hells knocks on the side of a hull… He was certain he could hear the sound, a gentle almost tapping sound against the hull. He was certain his crew had not given the noise a second thought but something about it told him it was not the day to day noise of the ship.
The water rushed by below him as he came to the gunwale, the deep blue-green turning to white froth as the bow cut through it. His hair battered his face for a moment before he shoved it behind his ear and looked down the long black hull. His surprise must have shown as two Marines hurried forward, un-slinging their rifles as they did so.
“Bless my socks…” He had found himself staring into the eyes of what appeared, at first, to be a small woman. She offered a weak wave and he shook his head at the marines as they levelled their weapons. “Stand down lads, I doubt a threat would bother knocking on the hull. Send for the Witch, the Princess, and pass the word for the Doctor.” One of the marines nodded and hurried below.
“Carry away that line! Gently now!” Bernor, his authority on the ship absolute, called out to the hands that had been reaching for the line. “With me.” He snapped to another pair of marines as he hurried toward the ladder leading to the gundeck. “The helm is yours, Mr. Stormhearth.”
As the marines hauled Peregrin toward the gundeck, it was becoming increasingly apparent that the Captain’s initial impressions of her were somewhat misguided. This was no woman; at least, the writhing greyish tail and leathery skin seemed to suggest that this was more of a creature than a woman. When she was level with the deck and a multitude of strong arms hauled her aboard, she was still wheezing and sputtering. Her tail had split down the middle and there were two legs inside, as parts of it sloughed away in viscous clumps of gelatinous matter. Her eyes stared blindly at the marines, fogged over by what appeared to be cataracts over the lens, but they were gradually starting to clear as thick tears slipped down her cheeks. Her gills flapped helplessly and as she grunted and panted, row upon row of sharp teeth were revealed in her tiny maw. “Messssage from th’Arcadiaa,” she rasped, her voice high-pitched and uncomfortable to listen to. Some other vocal chords struggled in tune with her own, producing odd gurgles and squeaks when she talked. “Where’s...Cap-tinn?”
“Clear a path!” The crew parted quickly as the Captain pushed through their ranks. A few look disgusted but the majority looked excited, the break from every-day monotony was certainly welcome. “Get the men back to work.” He snapped at a nearby boatswains mate and then focused their new catch as the crew was hurried back to their duties, leaving the Captain, his marine escort, and a bosuns-mate.
“A siren. Now you don’t see that every day.” The bosuns-mate muttered, staring down at the mess that had just been made on his clean deck. The Captain, at least, didn’t seem bothered by it, not yet anyway.
The Siren spoke again and the Captain, not having heard her the first time, felt something clench in his chest. He quickly knelt next to the creature, one knee sinking into the mess she had made. The marines loomed over his shoulder, both ready to blast the uninvited catch into oblivion if she went for the captain. The rows of small teeth caused him pause for a moment but his every instinct told him that this creature was not a danger to him, not at the moment at any rate.
“I am Captain Sarstina. What news do you have of the Arcadia?”
Peregrin fumbled with her sash. Upon closer inspection, Bernor could see that the thing was shaking with exertion; she could be no threat to anyone, only just able to prop herself on her elbows. If fish could sweat, she’d be drenched. The transition from breathing water to air was a rough one so she barely spoke but instead managed to free a small bottle, sealed in wax with the Glasstonian insignia stamped onto the top of the cork. Her shaking hand pressed it into his.
Bernors eyes bulged at the sight of the bottle and he stood quickly, the siren quite forgotten. For a long moment he stared at the seal and then, without a word, hurried toward the ladder leading to his cabin. He was halfway there when Aldan Stormreaver, the Sea-Witch, burst from below decks. The two men met halfway and Bernor spoke quickly.
“We picked up a siren, how she found us I don’t know. But she had this,” He showed Aldan the bottle and the mans eyebrows rose. “I must get below and examine the contents. Can I entrust her to your care?”
Aldan nodded and stepped past his captain, approaching the shaking siren with a calm step and small smile on his lips. He had met her kind before and knew them to be dangerous when cornered but this one looked mostly dead. He knelt and gently placed a hand on her shoulder until she looked up at him.
“Hello little one. I am Aldan, you are on a warship of the Glasstonian Navy. What is your name?”
Peregrin was splayed out in a pile of her own gunk, already stinking up the deck with the unmistakable stench of fish. Her fingers wiped down the gills and the mucous helped to seal them shut. In time, they would eventually shut properly in order to help her breathe properly, but it took a few hours for the transition to fully take place. She stared at Aldan in silence, still gurgling and wheezing. “Perry-...grin. Per-ree-grin.” Her mouth worked around the name. “Picked good ship, yes. Right ship….Help-...Arcadia.”
Aldan nodded. “Yes, you did. You will be safe here. Would you like us to help wash you off?” He was very aware of the smell and suspected that, while it might be normal for her, she couldn’t as she was.
She gave a small nod and he called for a deck hose to be rigged. Curious sailors hurried to complete the order, the long canvas hose quickly secured to one of the ships pumps. Then, unable to keep from grinning, willing hands fell to working the pump and directing the spray of ocean water onto the siren. The sea waste came away easily enough and was hosed overboard until the dark skinned creature was left sitting in a puddle of water, her white robe clinging to every part of her body and leaving little to the imagination. Still, the persisting inhuman qualities about her appearance were jarring enough to bring the men back to reality, especially when those pointed teeth glinted in the half-light. Every man on deck eyed her, without trying to look as though they were until a roar from the quarterdeck sent them hurrying back to their tasks.
Aldan knelt next Peregrin again and waited until she met his gaze once more. “Would you like to rest?” He desperately wanted to question her but she would need time to become accustomed to breathing out of water and, judging from the look on her face, get some sleep. He had seen the signs of exhaustion in enough beings during his days on earth to know that she was walking with death. Peregrin made another wet gurgle as her arms gave out and she flopped face-first onto the deck, eyes half shut. Aldan hefted the creature into his arms to swiftly transport her to the infirmary. She was small and light enough to lift unassisted and as she slipped into a dark and dreamless sleep, she blearily called out for ‘Sam’ again and again.
Time: Dawn / Evening Location: Parlay Cay / Somewhere in the middle of the ocean Interactions: @FunnyGuy Malek @Darcs Elenei & the rest of the crew
"I enjoy spoiling you...the crew as well. At least on occasions." Adrielle told Malek with a small laugh as she listened to him about orders at the crew. Although she knew he was merely talking about her singing, truth be told she was probably to lax on them at times. She could be strict when needed and her men knew that, but she also believed that you treat a man by what he's worth and they perform better. Sometimes that meant spoiling and rewarding her crew with thing, which was precisely why she was going to have a celebration that night.
Elenei finally appeared from below deck and made her way to them. She gave the gnomish woman a grin as a welcome. Adrielle wasn't blind, she was well aware of the woman's...affections towards her and would often throw a flirtatious comment or grin her direction every now and then. While she was more interested in men as romantic partners, it didn't stop her from flirting with anyone and everyone no matter their race or gender. She blamed her mother for that trait.
When Malek made mention that they had needed to make a hasty retreat from the cay, her head turned back to her first mate and she stuck her tongue out at him playfully. She was still grinning nonetheless as she looked back towards the sea. ”Aye, we’ll keep all of ya alive. At least for the time being.” She joked as she nodded once more to Malek’s comment, glad the journey was officially underway.
Later that evening…
The sun had slowly began to sink beneath the horizon and after a long day of hard work and sailing, Adrielle decided it was time to give the vast majority of her crew a small break. She often allowed for some celebration in the evenings, but when they started a new journey she liked to make the first night a little bit more than the others. So she had a few men bring up some of the best rum Parlay Cay had to offer from their stores below deck. She knew many would drink so much that they probably wouldn’t remember much in the morning and she was rather alright with that, she may even join them. It was unlikely, though, that she would get black out drunk. She liked to keep at least a small portion of her wits about her.
”Alright ya carousers! As we often do at the beginning of our voyages, I’d like to start our first night in celebration. I do this always as a thank you to all of you, of course, but this time I TRULY mean it. Thank you for following this crazy woman on her crazy journey. Perhaps that makes us all crazy, no?” She began addressing the crew, wanting to make sure they all knew how appreciated they were. She liked to try and keep spirits high. ”Now while most of us can drink as much as we please, there are a few that will be refraining from drinking too much as always. After all, we need some to keep this ship from meeting a terrible end while the rest of us engage in festivities. Isn’t that right Mr. Royston?” She grinned up at the man now on the helm. He replied with his own grin and a resounding ‘aye’. ”I’ll make it up to you, I promise.” She told him as she gave him a wink.
”Now I think that’s enough of my prattling on, don’t you think?” She said with a laugh before she turned to Katurah. ”Alright then kitten, why don’t you show us what you’ve got?” She challenged the giddy looking girl who had brought up her violin.
”Aye, Captain! Umm if anyone knows the songs and wish to sing along please, I invite you to do so.” Katurah replied with a happy grin, though an obvious nervousness was there. She began to play her own rendition of Randy Dandy-O and at first her voice reflected her nervousness, but as soon as another pirate joined her in singing she began to relax. Pretty soon she was showing off her talent and dancing along with some others as she played.
It had been a few days since they had arrived aboard the Avalon Avenger. All of his belongings, from equipment to personal effects had made it onto the ship safely-- something the doctor was very much grateful for. The first day mostly consisted of Solomon establishing his workstation in the lower decks. Laboratory apparatus had to be set up, books had to be placed, and supplies needed to be ready for use, after all.
The days following were, thankfully, not as hectic. The doctor spent time getting acquainted with the medical records of those onboard the ship; not just the officers, but the regular sailors too, as they were the most likely to visit the infirmary at the end of the day. As the ship was a proper vessel of the Glasstonian Navy, many of the men aboard were capable of reading and writing. That being said, these records were not quite as complete as he would have liked. For any other navy surgeon, they would have been sufficient. However, having proper and extensive records could be what separated a healthy crew from a sickly one, and thus, the doctor made preparations to perform routine check-ups on the members of the crew.
...or at least, he would have, had he not had heard the knocking.
Not on the door to the doctor's office, mind you. He heard knocking on the outside of the hull. Solomon briefly wondered if a whale, shark, or some other sea creature had bumped against the hull, but quickly discarded that theory once he listened in further. If that were the case, it would be a singular crash, not a series of relatively gentle knocks. Perhaps someone had fallen overboard? A few minutes of deliberation later, a marine entered the office.
"Doctor. We've found a strange woman in the water and we're bringing her aboard. She'll likely be sent your way shortly." The marine said simply.
A woman? In the open sea? How strange. "I see..." Solomon rubbed his chin. "Thank you for informing me. I'll prepare a bed for her arrival."
The doctor considered asking the man more questions but knew that he likely didn't know as much as he would've liked. Thus, he let him go on his way. Solomon stretched out some new linens, fluffed up a pillow, and prepared a bit of water for his prospective patient. If she was a castaway and a survivor of a crashed ship, she must be extremely exhausted, after all. Already, the doctor was running the routine in his mind. He would have to clean and bind any wounds she might have, check for internal injuries, and treat any symptoms of starvation or dehydration that are certain to appear.
Of course, he certainly didn't expect what would happen next. Some five minutes later, the ship's Royal Sea Witch had entered with the patient in his arms. "Doctor Whitewood." Aldan gave the doctor a nod.
"Mister Stormreaver." He replied, approaching the man and his charge. "This is..."
"Not what you were expecting? The same goes for everyone else aboard the ship." Aldan said as he gently lowered the unconscious Siren onto the prepared bed.
"I'll leave her in your care. I've business to attend to above deck. I'll send a marine over to watch over the Siren soon." With a nod, the Sea Witch excused himself, leaving the doctor to his work.
Solomon looked down at his charge. He had never seen anything quite like her. He had treated a few Merfolk before, but never a Siren, and certainly never a Siren like she was. Perhaps there were different breeds of Siren depending on location? Whatever the case may be, there was still a job that needed to be done, and so, the doctor approached her pensively, doing his best not to wake her. Producing a book and quill from a nearby desk, he began his report.
During his first inspection, the doctor found no injuries, internal or external. Judging by the texture and moisture of her skin, she did not appear to be sick, either. If the smell and slight residue of sloughing skin was any indication, she likely had transformed recently. It would take a few hours before she is accustomed to walking on land and breathing air.
On occasion, the Siren would call out for someone named "Sam". He would have to ask who that man was when she woke.
The most pressing issue is her apparent exhaustion. It seems as if she had been swimming for several days without rest. The doctor made a mental note to ready a meal for her when she woke, but not so much as to induce refeeding syndrome. Her clothes were torn, aged, and wet with brine. It did very little to preserve her modesty. Perhaps the princess had spare clothing lying around. It wouldn't do for a woman to walk around aboard a ship of the Glasstonian Navy looking like she did, even if she was a Siren.
Diagnosis: The patient appears to be some form of Siren. No internal or external injuries, and no discernable illnesses, for now. Signs of extreme exhaustion and slight malnutrition evident. Potentially delirious.
Treatment: The patient should be allowed to rest in bed for as long as is required. To be fed at regular intervals, three times a day. More food and drink can be given at her request, provided she does not eat too much at once. The patient is to be bathed with a moist washcloth every six hours, so as to prevent her skin from drying up.
Notes: The patient appears to be some unknown subspecies of Siren. Great care is to be taken when administering medicine, as it is unknown as to how her body will react to the foreign material.
She will require a clean set of clothes.
Interrogation and questioning will begin at her or the doctor's discretion.
With that, Solomon closed his book with a sigh. This was a new endeavor for him, but he supposed that this was indeed what he had signed up for. The doctor gave his patient one more glance before putting his book away. He then walked over to a nearby shelf, pulling out one of the books he had brought with him as reference material. "The Anatomy of the Various Known Races of Ossiven." This thick and heavy book had contained much information about the bodies of various different races, so much so that it was frequently used as reference material for any good surgeon. As he flipped over to the page containing the information about Merfolk, he briefly wondered if he would be the one to complete the incomplete entry about Sirens.
The doctor then shook his head. If he did his job right, he could do that and manage to keep her healthy, too. As if on cue, a marine guard appeared, giving the Doctor a nod before standing at his post. It seemed like the captain wouldn't have a potential security issue like her walking around unattended, which was in the end, likely a wise decision.
Solomon returned the nod to the guardsman, and with that, he began his studies. People would find the man completely engrossed in his work, as he should be.
Time: Evening Location: The Bridge Interactions: No One
Elenei sighed.
The diminutive woman stood at an old, c-shaped oaken desk, it took up about half of the room, and sat in front of the windows. One whose legs had so lovingly been sawn in half by the crew to accommodate for her height, her hands were pressed against the table and fully extended from her body as she leaned against the table, no one ever came in here anyway, 'sides the lookouts and occasionally Aharuhn for... Aharuhn reasons. So her only real company here was this damn table. It might have even been considered nice once, if not for the years of wine spilled into it, the wobble of one of it's legs, and the creeping sea rot that eventually got to everything around here. It smelled distinctly of death, which comforted Elenei more than she could say. The desk was here before here-- The 777 willing it would probably be here after her, yet somehow it felt like an freshly-made companion every day, still.
Strewn about on this mess of a desk were all the tools a navigator of her caliber could ever want or need. Sextants, calipers, sea maps, nautical charts, both fake and real, common logs both broken and unbroken, for some reason, a whole mess of calipers, mostly broken out of frustration-- she even had an astrolabe. Who even used those anymore? Well, her Pa was an old school kind of guy-- to her, these tool were mostly superfluous-- for him, it was important she know how to get back home no matter what and well...
She looked at the dusk with a gleam in her eye, a small smile could help but creep it's way across her face.
Well, she preferred the night. For many reasons, some more lustful than others, sure-- the smile became a smirk, as she thought of all of her conquests from over the years, fair tavern wenches, busty maids, lonely noble-men's wives, and there were so many innocent things to deflower-- the smile became a bit more bashful as she thought to her failed attempts, namely, pretty much every female member of her crew. She would get her sweetest Nur, as far as Elenei was concerned, that flower simply required being in the right place, at the right time for... Captain Nightingale was forever a game of cat and mouse, she liked flirting with her sure, but at some point you have to up the ante. Cap didn't swing her way, sure, but perhaps if there was a mediator... Yes! Malek would do perfectly, too-- Elenei may be a bit oblivious, but she wasn't blind, there was definitely something there between the First Mate and the Sweet Captain... and honestly? If Elenei had to be with a guy...
She shook her head. Taking note that she had begun to lean against the wall rather casually as she fantasized about threesomes. Debauchery wasn't the only reason she was fond of the night. The ship she basically grew up on, The Black Ballerina, was painted, well, black! This made sailing during the day a gamble, any vessel takes that risk in these waters, but at night it makes you practically invisible-- to pirates and Navy alike. The Mermaid's Fortune wasn't entirely black, but it was mostly-- which meant it would be a challenge for many navigators to see it at night. As a creature well versed in betting, Elenei would take those odds over the bright whites of more boisterous pirates and the Navy any day.
As the sun completed setting and the sky continued to darken, revealing the glittering stars above, Elenei's smile became a toothy grin. There was another, more personal reason she preferred the night, and that was the stars. Elenei pulled her favorite star map out of one of the many inner chest pockets of her vest, this one was well-wrinkled and worn around the edges, and signed with her Pa's initials in the corner. She doubted she would need it, but she liked having it out still, it made her feel as if her Pa was with her, watching her, helping her along somehow. She didn't know. It was silly, but she enjoyed the thought, so she hung on to it.
She spread the chart out mostly on auto-pilot as she gazed up at the glittering white lights in the sky, gaining her bearing much easier from the sky than from the chart. Her Pa used to say that the stars were all 777 gods winking down on us, granting us a wee bit of fortune in our journeys-- and the luckiest of all also happened to be the dimmest-- the runt of the gods, and if you could find him, he would be the one that would always take you home. Elenei believed this tale fervently as a whelp, and spent months trying to practice techniques to find the runt star from all over. She can find it easily now, of course-- the trick is to look for his family, they surround him in an upside-down 7 shape. Leaning over the star chart, Elenei easily performed the technique she had so struggled with as a child. Looking out the windows of the bride into the night sky, she closed one eye, she reached out with her right hand, fingers locked together save for the thumb, which jutted out to left forming the "7." she searched for but a moment before she found him. The dimmest little runt in the night sky.
She wondered if she believed his stories, sometimes. After all she'd seen, and heard from all kinds of different people from all kinds of different backgrounds. She felt bad for thinking it at times, but there probably were more than 777 stars in the night sky. She had no way of knowing, it's not like she could ever count them all-- it was just a hunch. Not really a place of study where people like her belong anyway. But, and maybe she was just stubborn for this, she believed his his dreams and myths and fantasies anyway. Even if she logically knew they weren't always true, she believed them fully, even now. Someone needed to carry on his stories, anyway. And what good was a daughter who couldn't even do that?
"It's okay," She spoke gently to the star, "Big sister Elenei's here t' spend some time wit' ya now." Finding the star would have made her smile, were she not already grinning. She reached for a bottle of wine that wasn't there and her smile dimmed a bit. It occurred to her that she still hadn't eaten. She hadn't eaten anything all day! She pushed these thought's aside and returned to the star, he'd just poked his head out! She wanted to at least know where she was going before she left him alone, even for a few minutes. "Ya know..." She continued speaking to the star, "I prolly would be yer big sis, wit' you bein' a runt n' all... ya might nah know this, bein' so far away an' all, but 'M actually pretty tall fer a Gnome, 'specially a lady-Gnome." She paused, to let that sink in, "'M taller than all my brothers, I am. An 'M strong too! I coulda gone into sportin'!" She nodded, satisfied with the star's non-response. She pulled out a good pair of calipers, and between, glances at the stars, the ocean, and the helmsman--- charted a course for tomorrow, and if the weather was bad, the next few days after that.
Much of today was spent between the lookouts, Royston the helmsman, and her, pulling whatever maneuvers they collectively knew out of their asses to avoid sinking them all. Furling and unfurling the sails as rapidly as possible, rudder switching, firing cannons at boat carcasses in the way, relying on sheer luck.... Getting a ship this big into Parlay Cay was one thing, getting it out? As soon as you've woken up? Without prior knowledge of important things like... the wind and weather? Needless to say, the entire navigation crew could use a break. Elenei was glad to be done with it all, aside from the occasional crag of rock and half-drunk lookout could spot from several knots away, Parlay's perils didn't stretch this far out into the ocean.
Elenei sighed once more, followed by a growl in her stomach.
Her job, aside from giving the rotating crew of helmsmen direction, was done, thanks to the runt star, and the relative ease of orders from the Captain. She wanted the fastest route to Shadowmount. That was easy. Hugging Sunken Reef we'll run right into it if we go south-west. Speaking of! She went to tap Mr. Royston on his back for some of the first non-frantic human interaction she'd had in hours. "Hay," She pulled out her compass, north-- good, with Parlay Cay this far behind them they could safety follow along the edge of the island with reefs and such messing up the hull, "Head south-west-west for now, come mornin', we're headin' south-west-- this is a good distance from th' island 'n I want t' keep it," The man responded with a single gruff nod. Gods, what a smooth guy.
She was halfway headed back to the bridge before she heard the Captain's booming voice. Rousing speeches were always her forte. Elenei didn't know how she did it. She supposed she'd have to learn, if she ever wanted to become Pirate Queen. Anyway! Booze was mentioned? She wasn't a rum girl herself, but perhaps someone could be convinced to uncork a bottle, or 12, of the King's Red? And a fiddler kitten... the Captain knew Elenei's love for music... and pussy, had she gotten her a gift perhaps? Yes... she would certainly participate in the night's festivities, and luck be with her she remember almost none of it come morning.
Elenei's stomach let out another growl. She sighed. Yes, yes-- she would get drunk as hell and hopefully fuck SOME woman on this ship, but first, she would eat.
