The Sea Adventure, Part 1 - RPLOG
Participants
Date
29/3/479
Log
It is a warm, rainy day in Firmament. The maritime district is, as always, busy with sailors and dockworkers moving cargo or getting drunk. The Last Destination, a large merchant carrack, is thankfully docked quite near to the entrance of the shipyards with a middle aged sea lion being standing next to the gangplank. Judging from her impressive attire and confident stance she must be Captain Dryden, "Chop, chop." The Captain says to the arriving Freeswords in a thick Cliffside accent, "The sea waits for no being."
Molly scurries along through the maritime district, doing her best to avoid being too close to any of the rowdy folk that tend to inhabit such spaces. She's equipped for work, with a thick yellow cloak keeping her warm and hiding the chain shirt that can be heard beneath it. She wastes no time in following th ecaptain's orders, hurrying up the gangplank and onto the ship, where she awaits the others.
Zuri follows along. The jovial salamander had been waiting for an opportunity like this for a while, and now that it had finally arrived the amphibian being dressed up for the occasion. He spots Molly and moves up behind her, tugging the lapel on his thick brimmed jacket as he smiles at her. "Hello hello!" He peers around, trying to spot whom else might be here that he knows.
Fenris strides purposfully along the docks in his fine, new, Braevales garb. It has been a long time since he last wore an outfit quite like this one. The tiger-turned-rabbit-turned-platypus is at home in this new shape, having had the whole trip back from Thera'Dor to acclimatize himself. The burly Platypus stops at the gangplank and and waves. "Permission ta come aboard, Captain?" he asks in a thick Braevales accent.
Cirra grins a bit, hurrying up to the ship. She admires the rigging and sails a bit, looking for any potential damage or ways of disabling the ship that could be catastrophic. She likes to know where her resources would be best used. She smiles at the sea lion, shifting her oilskin coat, very much prepared for sea travel. She hopes that not being able to talk will not cause issues with the Captain. She sees a couple folks she recognizes, but at the moment forgets if she is able to communicate with any of them.
Walking around the district, and peering around, given she wasn't quite used to the town, Zera tried to seek where she had to get going for that... escort mission. Until she hears what seemingly is the Captain Dryden. With a loud sigh, she grumbles and follows along, as she complains, 'Not even the time to breath! Can't you give us some slack until we're sailing away!?'. On the ship, she spots a few people that doesn't quite feel like they are normally under the sea lion's orders, and moves alongside'em before she asks, a bit unpolitely, 'Who are you, all of you?'.
The captain nods her head as the freeswords embark, "Permission granted, didn't expect to see someone from the west in Sweetwater." the captain tells the platypus before she finally walks up the gangplank after the last of the freeswords are in, "You are tasked with protecting the ship in case of an attack, and you will be paid each fifty crowns after we reach the port of Braevales." the captain says before she enters the room. Looks like the freeswords are getting some time to prepare before the ship departs.
Zuri smiles at the other sellswords as the lot of them line up in front of the captain. He waves excitedly on spotting Cirra, but stops shy of trying to go talk to her by the captain's approach. He listens to her attentively, and after she leaves he turns to Zera, offering the anaconda a bright smile. "Hi! I'm Zuri! I uh.. I'm with them!" He thumbs back at the rest of the sellswords. "We're here to help."
"Just sowin' some wild oats, captain," Fenris says, raising his cap to the woman as she vanishes. The burly platypus makes his way aboard and looks around with a little smile. "A fine day fer sailin'!" he says, to the other gathered beings, "Franklin McGloughlin at yer service."
Cirra nod a bit to the captain, setting about looking for ways to make herself useful, as well as finding a good secluded spot to work on her spells, all of which are defensive in nature if one could see. At the sound of the Isharan accent, though, she stares daggers at the anaconda. She's had a few too many run-ins with her people, though she keeps to herself about her opinion. Upon noticing the salamander, she signs to him a bit. <Glad to see someone I know aboard this ship. How are you?>
The ship looked pretty clean and well-kept as she peered around, while Zera only half-paid attention to the capitain, especially since she said nothing about her words. She turns her attention back to the other sellswords with a certain... coldness in her stance, only staring from the side of her eyes, frowning at Cirra as she noticed the shark wasn't seemingly all the friendliest.. 'The name's Zera. And... Any of you know where we are supposedly travelling to? I thought i'd remember it, but i probably didn't paid attention enough..'.
The ship crew continue with their chores as they sellswords exchange pleasantries and introductions. Minutes later, the captain cabin's door open and a small folk shrew with a scowl on his face exits. The shrew looks around the deck before shouting, "All hands on deck and prepare to leave port." One must admire how such a short being can shout so loudly.
After the command is issued more of the crew get on the ship's upper deck and began to go through the well-drilled motions of preparing a ship to depart. Within minutes the anchor is released and the ship is on its way. One of the crew members stops in front of the freeswords and points downwards, "Your accommodations will be downstairs if you want to go there now. Otherwise wait for First Mate Aiken to give you orders." the being says before departing.
Zuri smiles brightly at Zera. "Nice to meet you! And uh.. I dunno! We were brought in as security, so I guess somewhere dangerous-like? Maybe there will be some monsters or something! Or.. or maybe there won't be anything and we'll get paid for nothing. Sometimes escort jobs are like that." He perks up at the mention of accomodations. "Mmm.. don't suppose they'd have any food down below, would they?"
Zera says, "Woah. Small mouth, huge voice? No wonder he's up ahead.', Zera smirks. Another glance around the ship also told her the crew were no small fry. "
Franklin nods amiably at the shrew and steps up to look over the railing as the the sailors work. "Could be almost anything out on the open sea, little friend," the platypus says to Zuri, before turning his attention to Zera, "We're on our way to the fine port of Braevales, Miss. A far cry from your home ports, I suppose, lass."
The nurse shark shakes her head at Zuri. <I certainly hope so. I'm always hungry.> She looks around to the other freeswords. <Zuri, can you introduce me to the others? I don't think any of them know sign.> She shrugs a bit, casting a long duration water breathing spell on the group gathered. <Just in case.>
'Woah. Small mouth, huge voice? No wonder he's up ahead.', Zera smirks. Another glance around the ship also told her the crew were no small fry. At least, odds of something turning wrong would be low, by default. She idly nods to the crew member before she says, 'Yeah. That's the risk of thoses jobs. Still. Ain't going to leave this empty-handed. And effectively. I wonder what's ahead there. But i 'spose we'll know soon enough, right?'.
The rain begins to putter out as the ship finally exits the port and begins sailing into the open ocean. The shrew returned from the quarterdeck and eyed the sellswords, "Very well, I am sure the captain told you what is your job. You are allowed to use the deck and the lower deck freely during your job, but you better not cause a hassle. In case of an attack you will all come to the deck immediately, any questions?"
Zuri cheers. "Hooray, Braevales! There's an awesome pub we could go to after we're all done. I'll buy the first round, yea?" He clambers onto a nearby crate and plops down, getting 'comfortable'. He smiles at Cirra, but sadly the poor salamander does not know sign language. He does know a bit of water magic tho, and giggles as he feels the familiar tingling sensation of the water breathing spell. "Yea, that's pretty useful, thank you!" He peers up as the clearing sky thoughtfully. "Mmm.. should probably spend a few days in Braevales after this is done..."
Franklin turns his duckbill smile on Cirra. "I'm sure there will be food, lass," he says to the shark, "I already introduced myslef, but ye can call me Franklin or Frank, if ye like." The platypus starts to make his way toward the fore of the ship. "Come join me," he says, "The wind is fine today and I love to watch a launch." He snaps off a formal seaman's salute to the first mate. "Aye, sir," he says, "Always ready for action."
Cirra frowns as she realizes the salamander doesn't understand her signing. When the Platypus replies. she sighs in relief, signing to him. <I'm Cirra Stormborne. Proprietor of Silver Lining Shipwrights back in Sweetwater. Unfortunately, I am mute, so, bear with me if I have a hard time getting information across.> She looks around, nodding as she tries to figure out how to keep the majority of the freeswords awake for when the ship might be under attack, given that there are only four of them.
Zera idly peers at the sky as she felt the rain was getting lighter and hears the the shrew. 'Yeah, yeah, just sound the alarm if we ever get attacked... Just don't you dare to not respect your part of the contract.. Also, given the sea is seemingly calm right now, don't you have a towel? I wouldn't want to remain wet if i don't have to.'. She sighs as she hears Zuri speaking of alcohol and taverns, adding, 'We've barely sail forth and you already see yourself in a pub!? Can't you focus juuuust a little bit..? Also... Mind telling me more about Braevales? I've been sailling for some time, but can't stay i've strained far from the islands till recently.'.
The first mate salutes Fenris in return, "At ease, friend." he adds before raising a brow at Zera and shaking his head. "Your accommodations might have a towel or two." the shrew remarks before turning around and going back to attend his duties.
The ship is now properly on its way to Braevales as the hours pass along. Thankfully there is nothing accompanying the ship except the voice of the waves and the light of the moon.
Zuri spends the few hours running about the ship like an excited pup, switching decks several times before finally settling on sitting down on the crate that he started from. His original excitement quickly fades to boredom as time goes on, and he finds himself stretching and yawning tiredly. "Escort jobs.."
Franklin has, over the last hour or so found himself a tinwhistle and is playing for a scattering of unoccupied sailors. The big platypus is pretty good and plays round after round of old Cliffside and Braevales favorites as well as a few well known sea shanties. "Buck up, lad!" he says to the bored looking Zuri, "Best kind of escort job is a dull one."
Cirra takes a seat up by the helm, enjoying the view, as well as the tactically advantageous position it offers her. She does not mind the weather at all, and in fact enjoys the rain. She sits and watches, keeping her eyes peeled as she waits for now, sleeping when she feels it is appropriate, taking advantage of her naturally light sleeping.
Zera had used a few hours cleaning herself and to explore the ship a bit, and, to some extend, to know more about the brown, given the meeting earlier on wasn't quite social-friendly. She also tried to have some discussion to get some whereabouts of the ship and of its captain, before she'd just try to take a nap in her own allowed place.
The trip is uneventful as the Freeswords get comfortable wit their new environment. Another day passes without so much as bad wave. During the early dawn of the third day, any of the Freeswords who happen to be on the upper deck could hear the lookout shouting from above, "Ship spotted!"
The first mate quickly leaves the helm and moves towards the stem as he hears the news. "Can you identify them?" he shouts back at the lookout, "You get the others ready, just in case." the shrew tells one of the sailors sanding nearby.
Zuri perks up at the prospect of excitement. The salamander quickly scrambles out of his bunk and makes for the top deck, looking about to see what is going on. "Another ship? Where?" He goes back to his crate, clambering up onto it to get some extra height.
Franklin climbs up from below decks, adjusting his cravat and securing his tartan cap atop his head. "Nothing to go losin yer heads about yet," the platypus says, spinning a short stick in one meaty hand, "Could be just about anything or anybody yet. Give the lookout a chance, eh?" He steps up to the rail and looks back out over the water.
