The great Expedition I - RPLOG
Participants
Date
28/12/479
Log
"The "Dawn of the Waves", is looking for bodyguards and crew for a privately funded expedition into thus far unexplored parts of Promise. Please report to First Mate Erika Dustwing in her office in the harbor, if you are interested." That was all the note on the board of the Freeswords and on the walls of several other taverns and inns across town said.
The office building is little more than a small rented room with a door to the street, but it is pretty easy to find, despite its rather quiet location on the edge of the harbor area of the city.
Rixo tended to prefer land routes and walking solitary on her journies throughout the land, but sometimes different wasn't too bad. A knock at the door heralds her arrival before she lets herself in, stretching out and offering a wave all at once. "This the place for the voyage?"
Ssen makes no effort to hide the excitment in her gait, every step springing the moth forwards with gusto. She can't wait, an adventure! a giod one! no muckibg around sandy holes with dead badgers, exploration! fame! fortune! She flutters her wings while looking up at the door in awe, stealing her teeny welf before swinging the door open, stepping in after the panda quietly.
Peter is all dressed up for work, metal plates etched with runes strapped securely over thick and scarred leather. His fluffy tail bounces behind him as he slinks into the door as well, wrinkling his nose at the familiar faces
Fenris carries few possessions with him, aside from his long coat and whatever treasures it hides, along with a silvery otter golem that scampers along at his feet. His exposed arms sport several heavy, silver colored rings at his wrists, elbows and biceps etched with complex mathemagic. He slips in quietly after the others and looks around the office. It had been a long time since he had last signed on with a ship's crew.
The inside of the building is what you would expect from something rented for only a short period of time, a desk, a chair, no decorations on the walls, some candles and maps, and a clever clan bat in her early thirties. Miss Duskwing looks up from the map she was going over as Rixo steps in. "It is." She eyes the panda up and down for a moment. "Crew of guard?" Before she can get an answer, three more people step in, who get the same question.
"I suppose so," Rixo says, offering a little shrug. "I'm not much of a sailor, so I doubt I'd be helpful with much else. I am just looking for adventure, really. To see if I'll recognize any of the places, or to enjoy new places if not."
Ssen inclines her head backwards at Fenris and Peter, giving Fenris a wave and Peter an encouraging thumbs up before she starts glancing around. She blinks up at the bat, answering the question with a vague gesture at the boomerangs stored on her arms, hoping the mime would go down easily.
"Crew," Fenris says with an affable smile, "I'm one of the best ship's cooks in any port, if you will have me." Which is funny, coming from a being as large and apparently battle ready as the tiger is.
The bat nods at Fenris and Rixo, and after a moment of raised eyebrows, at Ssen. "Trip is expected to last two months, but because we are heading out to explore, we can not be sure. Pay is 25 crown per month for crew and 65 crown per month for guards. We will leave the harbor in two days at sunrise. Any questions?" The bat drones the information and questions, obviously having had to repeat them quite a few times already.
"Gives me time enough to pack, I suppose," Rixo says, setting her hands on her hips. "Looks like we're going adventuring together again, Fenris. Our paths seem intertwined. Just as well. You make for a pretty fair companion on the road. Though it seems we'll not be encountering many roads this time, being at sea."
Ssen stares back at Erika, unblinkinh for the whole period, flapping her wings once pointedly at the end of the exchange. She nods firmly and noticably at each point raised to confirm her understanding. The small being closes her eyes and cants her head, chittering loudly and excitedly, a real adventure!
Fenris gives the bat a lazy salute and a dazzling smile. "Whatever you say, Captain," he says, not seeming the least bit bothered by the pay discrepancy. People are usually at least a little curious when he claims to be anything but muscle for hire, but it seems that the bat has had a long day already. It's a wonder that he didn't have to prove anything to be hired on as cook. With the difference in pay, most beings were probably signing on as guards. "Always a pleasure, Rixo," Fenris says to the red panda, "I certainly do my best."
The tiger gives one more lazy salute, then turns to the door. "Come on, Kawa," he says, apparently to his golem, "We've got a few things to take care of."
The bat shakes her head. "Only the first mate, you will meet the captain once we are ready to leave port." With that said, there is little more to do for the trio than to pack their things and get ready for the adventure that lies before them.
Two days later, the "Dawn of the Waves" is ready to set sail. It is clear why they decided to hire extra crew for this trip. The ship is a large, three masted galleon that likely takes several dozen beings to operate properly. Erika is standing near the gangway, armed with a list and a quill, checking off the names of the beings that board the vessel.
Having dressed herself in robe of light, black cloth with a high collar, Rixo was indeed present at the scheduled time. Her luggage slung over her back with a pair of straps, though there wasn't a large amount of it. Enough for an appropriate length of travel, though. She stands wordlessly at the end of the plank, glancing around.
Ssen rushes up to the ship with just as much exhuberant energy as when she first approached the office as she nears the ship. Her whole body bristles childishly at the sight of the ship and the bat, she only speeds up upon having the ship fall into her sight. The moth wears a long, flowy coat and some shorts and not much besides, carrying with her some warmer clothes in a little burlap bag. She scoots up to familiar bat and raises both her arms infront of the...whatever genus a bat is.
Fenris looks. . . different. Not unrecognizably so. Just a little different. A little softer around the edges maybe? It must be the wardrobe change.
The tiger has left behind his outlandish Creator uniform in favor of a short leather vest, trimmed in some sort of long fur. It leaves his fluffy chest and thick torso on display. His heavy belt holds on loose, canvas trousers tucked into dark boots and his little golem scampers along with him.
"Fenris," he says to the bat, "Ship's Cook at your service."
The bat checks off the names on the list. "Yes, yes. I hope you cook better than the last one." She shudders. Looking down at the energetic moth she nods at her. "Please board the ship, there are not many left to come, so we will leave soon." She still sounds annoyed at her task, but less so than two days ago. "I am sure the captain wants to hold a little speech before we do."
"Fenris is a fair cook. I can vouche for that," Rixo says, glancing over her shoulder. "Don't make me regret those words, hmm?" She adjusts the strap of her bag and makes her way up onto the ship proper, exhaling as she goes. "Hopefully this will be entertaining!"
