Chapter 8: Wistful and Weathered

[Mike]

Feb 15, 2011 1:31:19 GMT -4 Jeff said:

"I've seen quite a number of your people in Stormreach. That town brings all sorts in, so that don't surprise me. But I do wonder...what draws the elves back to Xen'drik? Your people ain't like the drow, ain't about sticking around where the giants used to be slave masters."

"Why wouldn't we head back to Xen'drik?" Syrdan asks. "Yes, we were once slaves there. But our legacy is there as well, for good or for ill." He smiles at her. "The past is something to learn from, not to fear, or to avoid."

Feb 15, 2011 1:31:19 GMT -4 Jeff said:

She sounds genuinely curious. "Mostly the elves I've seen keep to themselves. Haven't seen any keeping the company of 'forged before."

"Usually there's no need," Syrdan says to her. "We keep to our own, as dwarves usually do, and drow, and giants, and gnomes ..." The elf glances out towards the horizon. "I haven't decided yet if that's a good thing or not."

"But Adamant - the warforged I'm traveling with - is a good friend. I don't know if all of his kind are like him, but I hope they are."

He looks curiously at the dwarf. "I'm Syrdan, by the way. A pleasure to meet you." He makes a sweeping bow to her. "And what brings you aboard this ship, m'lady?"

[Jeff]

"Yes, it is. And what is your name? Since we likely will not be trying to kill each other again -- for several days, at least -- let's speak on friendly terms as fellow practitioners. Please, join us for some coffee. It makes a person feel alive."

"Names are important," the woman says with a smile that lasts only as long as the words themselves. "Histra is mine. I hope I will be the first to use yours in ritual one day." She says these words in a manner that sounds quite genuine. And almost like flirting.

With that, Histra resumes walking, turns around the next corner and glides up the steps. She seems to have declined the coffee.

Shorak:

"What are your plans for the day?"

Sem shrugs. "Do some reading. Pester the crew. Throw burrs at the minotaur. Conspire against my fellow passengers, wrest leadership of the expedition from the professor. If there's time. You?"

[Jeff]

"I'm Syrdan, by the way. A pleasure to meet you."

The dwarf nods at his words. "My name's Gestri." Unaccustomed to bowing, she simply comes forward and shakes Syrdan's hand. Hers is rough, calloused, and strong—he's never known a dwarf's hand not to be.

He makes a sweeping bow to her. "And what brings you aboard this ship, m'lady?"

"The best sea-work this side of Khorvaire, that's what. If you want a fair wage, know the rigs like the back of your hand, don't cheat or steal, and want a healthy slice of danger, you board with Captain Morsha. Everyone knows that. If you're soft, or prefer talk to hard work, or if you're slimy as an eel, you'd best steer clear of her. Everyone knows that, too. But every woman and man aboard the ship, passengers aside, meets the captain's criteria." Gestri thumps the deck with her boot, as if to make some point.

[Ken]

Feb 15, 2011 12:05:48 GMT -4 Jeff said:

"Names are important," the woman says with a smile that lasts only as long as the words themselves. "Histra is mine. I hope I will be the first to use yours in ritual one day." She says these words in a manner that sounds quite genuine. And almost like flirting.

Belarin stares after her for a second. Kal can see that his expression is a mix of apprehension and bemusement. "Hmm, lesson learned," Belarin says. "The next time a necromancer asks for my name, I'm saying 'Malov ir'Turien.' Um, come on, Kal. I still want coffee, though I'm not particularly hungry anymore."

[Brian]

Condign walks up to stand beside the minotaur. Since his stomach has calmed down, the tiefling finds the sea breeze comforting. He grips the gunwales and breathes in deep.

"Good morning," he says Starg. "If I am not being too rude, I have not seen you leave this deck. Do you have a place to stay here on the ship?"

[Darren]

Kal cocks his head to the side and watches Histra's backside as she walks away. "You could do worse, Belarin," Kal says as he turns to the man and grins. Clapping the other man on the shoulder again, he pushes him forward towards the galley. "Come. We eat, and then we annoy a gnome."

[Jeff]

"If I am not being too rude, I have not seen you leave this deck. Do you have a place to stay here on the ship?"

The tall minotaur turns his head a little, but not his body. "Rude?" He seems to consider the word. "The people of the Five are always concerned with what is proper or rude. I am not. My people are direct." He turns a little more and seems to look at Condign for the first time, and his voice is not unfriendly. It's just gruff. "But then, you are not from the Five."

"I was shown where I could sleep, but I choose to 'stay' wherever I wish. I do not like the confines of the hold. And I have no possessions besides what I carry."

Condign can't see what pockets or pouches the minotaur has beneath his robe. It's so massive and broad at the shoulders that it could very well conceal plenty more. But he sees no obvious weapons.

[Brian]

"Fairly answered," says Condign with a smile. "Yes, I find myself far away from my homeland and my brother Ghaash'Kala. My mentor knew what he was doing when he sent me away. And, as is typical for him, he seems to have worked at dual purposes. Evidently one was to whittle away at my youthful naivety." He gazes out over the water. There was no land in sight. "I never knew the world was so big."

[Jeff]

Starg nearly whirls on Condign. "Ghaash'kala?" the minotaur repeats with something like wonder in his voice.

"I assumed you were from the Wastes, as most of your kind are...but you hail from the Labyrinth itself, do you not? The Ghaash'kala guard the borders! That place is legendary among my kind; it more than a broken and dangerous land, it is a test. I have known many to venture through the Shadowcrags to find themselves within the Labyrinth. Some returned, some did not."

Condign has heard of minotaurs in the Labyrinth, though he'd never seen any. They are said to be able to navigate its canyons and depths better than any, rivaling even the rangers of the Ghaash'kala clans, wandering on mysterious errands of their own. Some, the stories say, fall to the evils of the land and add to the Labyrinth's perils, while others resist forces of either good or evil. These are not allies of the Ghaash'kala nor the Carrion Tribe barbarians.

"I would very much like to hear more about your purpose in dwelling there."

[Joe]

There is really nothing for Streko to do at this point but wander around and get a lay of the land, so to speak. I am assuming that, by now, he's found his sea legs (under a plank at the bow of the ship, no doubt).

[Jeff]

Sorry, Joe: I just wasn't sure what Streko's next aim was, didn't know how to engage him. In any case, the following is relevant to everyone...

___________________________

So the day has begun much like the last, but by late morning the sky has become overcast. It's grayer, grimmer, but still tranquil. The wind is steady but light, though the Merrow seems to move at more or less the same speed as before.

Shortly before noon, a crewman climbs his way up the mainmast to relieve Adamant. He slips into the basket, and just then Adamant sees a shape on the southeastern horizon. The sailor sees Adamant's fixed gaze, then turns to follow it.

"A ship," he says, unconcerned. "You can go down now," he tells Adamant and raps him on the shoulder. "Good job."

"Captain!" the sailor calls out in a tone that gets the attention of everyone on deck—including all of you.

"Captain, another ship off the port bow!"

Captain Morsha, in response, merely walks up to the port-side rail, facing east. Those nearby see the same distant shape that Adamant saw. It looks to be a grey and black ship sailing in the same direction as the Merrow. Morsha pulls out a spyglass—a pair of lenses capping both ends of a leather cylinder—aims it at the other ship, and peers into it. "The Patriot," Morsha exclaims, none too pleased with the name.

Shorak remembers the name, from when the Merrow was docked at Sharn.

Larest ir'Zathryan appears and approaches her. "Really? Unless I am mistaken, the passengers on that ship represent the first of the competition we'll be seeing." He turns and gives those of you nearest a look.

"The Patriot is a Karrnathi warship," Morsha says without further comment.

[Darren]

"So, what, Larest? You want us to burn the ship and sink it into the ocean?" Kal says, his voice laced with sarcasm and anger. Turning from ir'Zathryan, dismissing him, Kal addresses Morsha. "Captain, have you had any dealings with The Patriot before? Should we be concerned?"

[Dave B.]

Sem shrugs. "Do some reading. Pester the crew. Throw burrs at the minotaur. Conspire against my fellow passengers, wrest leadership of the expedition from the professor. If there's time. You?"

"Lend a hand where I can and stay out of trouble. See you later."

Later on as he hear's the call of a ship in the distance, he turns toward the crewman he's been assisting, "The Patriot. Wasn't that ship also docked in Sharn at the same time we were? It doesn't look like the captain is happy to see it."

[Ken]

Belarin had been on the main deck with Kal when he heard the call about the other ship. "Warship?" he says softly after Morsha's comment. "Marvelous." While waiting to hear her response to Kal's question, he looks around to see how the crewmen -- and Larest and his necromancer friend, Histra -- are reacting.

[Dave W.]

Adamant carefully climbs down, rung by rung. Once his heavy feet touch the blessed deck, he moves off to get a better look at the approaching ship.

Seeing Belarin nearby, he asks "A warship, do we have reason to expect trouble?"

Adamant glances around to try to locate the rest of his friends.

[Brian]

Starg nearly whirls on Condign. "Ghaash'kala?" the minotaur repeats with something like wonder in his voice.

"I assumed you were from the Wastes, as most of your kind are...but you hail from the Labyrinth itself, do you not? The Ghaash'kala guard the borders! That place is legendary among my kind; it more than a broken and dangerous land, it is a test. I have known many to venture through the Shadowcrags to find themselves within the Labyrinth. Some returned, some did not."

"I would very much like to hear more about your purpose in dwelling there."

Condign blinks in surprise at Starg's unexpected reaction. "Well, yes, I am one of the Ghaash'Kala, the Ghost Guardians, and as far as I know, the only tiefling among my brothers. The Labyrinth is indeed a test. Often have I--"

The announcement that another ship has been spotted interrupts their conversation. He turns to find Kal, Belarin and the others standing at the port-side rail. Even Adamant has gotten down from his perch.

"You may want to see this," he says to Starg. "Trouble tends to follow my friends and me like flies to an owlbear."

Then Condign starts to make his way over to the others.

[Jeff]

Kal:

"So, what, Larest? You want us to burn the ship and sink it into the ocean?"

Although Kal turns away from him, he replies with a chuckle. "Not at all. We are entirely outmatched, and will no doubt remain so on this quest. I have no intention of attacking our rivals, though I can't promise we won't be attacked in return. My hope was to find the Eye before they do, not simply eliminate them."

Kal:

"Captain, have you had any dealings with the Patriot before? Should we be concerned?"

Adamant:

"A warship, do we have reason to expect trouble?"

Captain Morsha. "Not exactly. The Karrns aren't pirates. That ship is of no concern to me..." She looks at Larest with suspicion, though. "...unless it needs to be?"

Ir'Zathryan holds up his hands dismissively. "Not at all, Captain. I suspect that at least two Karrnathi parties are on the same errand as I am, but there's no reason to think they know about me or the ship I've purchased passage aboard."

Shorak:

"The Patriot. Wasn't that ship also docked in Sharn at the same time we were? It doesn't look like the captain is happy to see it."

One of the crewman nearby nods at Shorak. "Aye, that's the one. Don't like that ship."

Belarin:

While waiting to hear her response to Kal's question, he looks around to see how the crewmen -- and Larest and his necromancer friend, Histra -- are reacting.

Belarin can sense the vague unease of the crew. Larest remains smug, but truly doesn't look concerned. Histra, who preceded him on the deck, glides over to the rail, facing the ship. She looks quite interested.

Condign:

"You may want to see this," he says to Starg. "Trouble tends to follow my friends and me like flies to an owlbear."

Starg follows Condign as he makes his way across the deck to see the ship and join in the discussion.

[Darren]

"This seems like a fast ship," says Kal with a wicked grin as his hand comes to rest on the railing. "Can we outrun her, Captain?"

[Mike]

Hearing the name of the ship, Syrdan immediately snaps to attention ... and begins to untie the peace bond of his sword.

"Quite the coincidence, I think," the elf says darkly. "Good thing I don't believe in coincidence ..."

Feb 16, 2011 2:32:24 GMT -4 Dave W. said:

"A warship, do we have reason to expect trouble?"

"No, no trouble at all, only bloodsucking fiends and kidnappers," Syrdan replies. "Take heed, my friends. That ship is trouble."

The elf looks over at Captain Morsha. "Captain, with all due respect, that ship may indeed be of some concern to you. I suggest you treat it as foe rather than friend."

The elf runs over to the railing of the Merrow Down, trying to get as close a view of the Patriot as possible.

[Jeff]

"Can we outrun her, Captain?"

"Captain, with all due respect, that ship may indeed be of some concern to you. I suggest you treat it as foe rather than friend."

Morsha looks between Kal and Syrdan. "Aye, we're faster. The Patriot sailed out more than a day sooner than us, and we've already caught up to her."

"I've run into her crew before, and I know her captain. Karrns aren't my type, but they've never been aggressive against the Merrow. The Patriot's a warship but it was de-commissioned after the Treaty. Now she just hauls cargo around the continent, as far as I know." Morsha looks questioningly at Syrdan. "You must be referring to something new, then? Passengers you know? In any case, we'll give the ship a wide berth and leave them behind. I'm not worried."

Syrdan sees that the necromancer woman is staring right at him. "'Bloodsucking fiends?'" she asks softly.

[Mike]

Feb 16, 2011 10:38:18 GMT -4 Jeff said:

"You must be referring to something new, then? Passengers you know? In any case, we'll give the ship a wide berth and leave them behind. I'm not worried."

"Ah, yes, 'I'm not worried'," says Syrdan. A thin smile crosses his face. "One of my favorite phrases, along with 'what could possibly go wrong'. I see that you like to tempt fate with words, Captain. Dangerously so."

The elf's smile vanishes, and he stares coldly at her. "You should be worried," he says quietly to her. "Some of the passengers aboard that ship are extremely dangerous. They make your friend the professor look like a pious cleric who helps widows and orphans."

"I say this because you seem honorable, and because you have an exemplary crew of good, honest souls - please, take caution."

Feb 16, 2011 10:38:18 GMT -4 Jeff said:

Syrdan sees that the necromancer woman is staring right at him. "'Bloodsucking fiends?'" she asks softly.

"I know," Syrdan replies. "Amazing, isn't it? Imagine that, foul creatures that reek of death aboard a ship. You'd think that things like that couldn't possibly happen."

Syrdan turns his back to the necromancer, trying to better assess what's happening on the Patriot - its armaments, the crew visible on deck, and so on.

[Jeff]

Syrdan looks to the Patriot, but it's still just a gray and black shape in the distance. He can see nothing of armaments or crew from this distance.
Syrdan:

"I say this because you seem honorable, and because you have an exemplary crew of good, honest souls."

Captain Morsha gives Syrdan a cold look. "Save your flattery. I grow tired of meaningless words. Regardless, consider caution heeded. As always. We'll go no closer. Unless you expect the Patriot's passengers to sprout wings and wish to fight on my ship, they'll not trouble us."

"Anng!" she calls out to the large, dark-skinned helmsman. "Go past the Patriot. Go wide, if you have to."

[Darren]

Kal moves closer to Syrdan, putting his lips near the elf's ear. "You think that's the ship that your friend might be on?"

____________
I can't recall if Syrdan shared the information about Lerhanna being on a ship, but I'm going to assume.

[Ken]

"Shadow take me, that's right," Belarin says with amazement. "You did mention the Patriot!"

He whispers to Syrdan, "Looks like we may be able to do avenging on this voyage after all." He walks over to find Streko and Condign to quickly impart the information.

_________________________
Yep, I double-checked the posts to make sure that Syrdan had shared that info. See link above.

P.S. Jeff, nice move by Morsha with the wordplay reversal on Syrdan.

[Joe]

Streko watches intently from the railing of the Merrow facing The Patriot. He listens to the story Belarin tells.

"I promised the Captain to help defend this ship and defend her I shall. Even if it means simply healing whomever needs it."

[Dave W.]

"Friends, it's time to let the good captian drive the ship. Let us step back a bit and stay out of the way of crew." Adamant nods to the Captain, "If there is something we can do to assist, please call for us. We'll be down there a bit where our discussion will not distract." The warforged encourages the group to move more amid-ships (I think we were more in the bow, right?).

[Dave B.]

One of the crewman nearby nods at Shorak. "Aye, that's the one. Don't like that ship."

"Should we be concerned. What's wrong with it?"

Shorak notes the tension among everyone and the captain's command to steer clear of the Patriot. He offers to help if he can. Otherwise, he'll stay out of the crew's way and amble over to where his cabin mates are gathering.

[Brian]

Larest ir'Zathryan appears and approaches her. "Really? Unless I am mistaken, the passengers on that ship represent the first of the competition we'll be seeing." He turns and gives those of you nearest a look.

Condign overhears Larest's comments and the blithe indifference of his tone. His hands curl into fists. Stopping well short of where his abductor is standing, he says, "Competition? How very like you to couch your malice in soft words. Do not forget, we had purposes where we came from, important missions we were to accomplish, all of which are now put on hold for your competition." The tiefling shakes his head, the anger building in his voice. "This is no race, Larest. It is a crime. Do not forget that. And criminals pay the price eventually."

Condign seems to realize he is close to shouting by now. He unclenches his fists, takes a deep breath, and walks to stand alone at the port rail, his eyes fixed on nothing but sea.

[Jeff]

Shorak:

"Should we be concerned. What's wrong with it?"

The crewman shakes his head. "Don't know. Something bad aboard." He walks off.

Condign:

"This is no race, Larest. It is a crime. Do not forget that. And criminals pay the price eventually."

Larest sighs and says, as Condign walks away. "So I've heard...again and again. Yes, I am a criminal by your standards. Yes, I will pay for my crimes. Yes, you'll have your vengeance against me."

Histra, the necromancer, has returned to the rail to stare across the sea at the Patriot. She stands by herself, quite apart from Larest. Morsha leaves the rest of you to go where you will or talk, as Adamant suggested.

Sem Darlesh hesitantly approaches your party, where you've gathered out of earshot of Larest and the captain both. "That ship, the Patriot....yeah, it was docked right beside the Merrow in Sharn. It seemed to make the crew uneasy. But then, a lot of things associated with Karrnath can do that to a person. I know from experience, though, that not all Karrns care for the undead."

He shrugs. "For what it's worth, Histra, our 'leader's' lady friend, is an expert in all things undead. Her whole scary family is. Though you may not believe it, she's on our side...for the time being. And she's not a Karrn." He looks at Syrdan. "What's this about bloodsuckers?"

From a short distance away, the minotaur Starg looks toward your group. For the first time, he seems interested to know what's going on aboard the ship.

[Mike]

Feb 17, 2011 9:05:02 GMT -4 Jeff said:

Sem Darlesh: He looks at Syrdan. "What's this about bloodsuckers?"

"Oh, nothing to be concerned about, apparently. After all, the captain's being cautious." Syrdan replies quietly. He looks about, taking care to not be heard by either Histra or Larest, his words meant only for Darlesh. "There were only a few gruesome deaths back in Sharn where innocents were murdered, drained of their blood. There were a few leads that indicated someone on the Patriot was involved."

"If I'd been able to get to that ship before it left Sharn ..." The elf sighs. "Well, it doesn't matter. What's done is done."

"If you'll excuse me ..."

The elf heads back below decks.