CH 3: Pulp Adventure!

[Breila]

"So we board now?" Ouragana asks, turning to the plank, but with a look at Dalaim for the go-ahead.

[Jenara]

"Superstition?" Arei asks with a quick glance to the Storm Sorcerer, "I am certain there is a rational explanation behind the ruins." She shoulders her pack and boards the vessel when offered, keeping her head low.

(Hangover somewhat)

[JadedDM]

Dalaim shrugs. "Might as well. The ship is at the very end of the dock."

Eager to board, Ouragana and Areilon follow after the captain and see The Lucky Mermaid for the first time. It's a sohar-class vessel, known for their speed and maneuverability. It is one of the best merchant ships available, the pride and joy of the Guild.

Sohar.jpg (44.75 KiB) Viewed 8195 times

Sohars can generally hold a maximum crew of twenty, but it looks like there is less than half that. Most of the crew are dwarves, but there are a couple of humans about, as well.

The Lucky Mermaid is ninety feet long with three masts and a small forecastle. There's a well-carved figure head at the bow of the ship that resembles a mermaid. The name of the ship, The Lucky Mermaid, is written on the side in Common. However, the 'c' and the 'k' appear to have been painted more recently than the other letters.

Scragsplitter walks up the gangplank first and starts barking out orders to his men, who are already working pretty frantically to get all of the cargo aboard.

[xelphyn]

"Wait, WAIT!" Dahn shouts, as he scurries down the docks.
Once he reaches the rest of the group, he stops to catch a breath then explains"Sorry, had to get some stuff in town."

[HorizonsDream]

"For someone that says she is use to the see, you seem pretty naive to the ways of sailors," Jocelyn comments to Areilon. "Superstitions, like certain birds being good luck or bad luck. Having cats aboard ships is considered good luck, and whistling is suppose to increase wind speed," she says. For a follower of Octhanus, she seems to know quite a bit about the superstitions of sailors.

[Noldoli]

Ouragana laughs at Oren's remark. "Well spoken, Master Dwarf, well spoken. I hope I can count on your protection, then?"

"Aye, ye can count on me axe fer that an more. And if me axe be not enough, then me two fists will finish the job," he says with a wink and a mock boxing pose.

Oren follows the others aboard ship eyeing the name of the vessel as he did. To the captain, "This boat here looks familiar though the name I remember was the Lusty Mermaid, and she was a fine ship. Be this the same vessel with a less salty name, cap'n?"

[Nuke]

Val listens to the conversation, interested when she hears the word 'tribe'. 'At least they learned something' she thinks.

Heading to the rail, she looks out to sea. After peering off into the distance, she puts a thumb and forefinger into her mouth and lets out a shockingly loud whistle.

[Breila]

Startled by Val's whistle, Ouragana mocks toppling over and catching herself at the last moment. "What was that, Val? Are you calling us a storm?" she asks, her hand over her still fast-beating heart.

[Noldoli]

Startled by Val's whistle, Ouragana mocks toppling over and catching herself at the last moment. "What was that, Val? Are you calling us a storm?" she asks, her hand over her still fast-beating heart.

"Aye, damn near split me ears apart!" Oren said to Ouragana, his fingers wringing the shock from his eardrums. "Ye might warn us before ye go off like that, y'know?!" he said turning to Val, "I've a strong enough heart, but no need testin' it without cause!"

[Jenara]

"Perhaps they are not superstitions?" Arei comments as she boards the vessel. Banging her feet on the deck twice she kisses the hilt of her sword and spits over the side. "For you my lady, give us a strong wind, and smooth sailing."

She turns her head back to The Cleric just as the loud whistle appears.

"By the gods!" she shouts, clutching her head, "someone remind me not to drink again! Better still warn me if you do that, so i can be on another ship!"

(ooc, Arei would see the sailors ideas as nothing out of the ordinary. Why she was confused.)

"I would be happy to assist the crew, if you will have me." the elf bows to the captain when she gets a chance.

[JadedDM]

Scragsplitter harrumphs again, putting his fists on his hips. "Aye, that's right. We changed the name after we escaped that accursed island the first time. Felt like we could use all the luck we could when we heard we were going back. Surprised a landlubber like you would know that!"

Turning to Areilon, he snorts. "If ya want, I guess. Just don't get in the way, or I'll toss you down into the hold myself!"

"Now, now, captain," Dalaim says. "Surely you don't intend to be this unpleasant the entire voyage?"

"I'm just getting started!" Scragsplitter retorts.

Noah yawns and stretches. "Well, I don't know about the rest of you, but I could use another five or six hours of shut-eye. Where is the crew quarters?"

The captain points to an entrance down below at the bow of the ship. Nodding, Noah waddles over and climbs down the ladder.

[Jenara]

Arei laughs loudly, she had heard this sort of reaction from a Captain many times before, most didn't think a woman made a good sailor.

"I won't get in the way, don't you worry Captain." Slinging her pack she waits to see what Joyceln has to say.

[JadedDM]

Actually, that doesn't seem to be the case at all. At least half the crew is female.

[HorizonsDream]

"See, even that little move there is a superstition, strange as it might be, it still is one," Jocelyn pointed out before she winced at the whistle. She looked over to Val with a raised eyebrow. "They are getting weirder by the minute," she said softly to herself.

[Noldoli]

Scragsplitter harrumphs again, putting his fists on his hips. "Aye, that's right. We changed the name after we escaped that accursed island the first time. Felt like we could use all the luck we could when we heard we were going back. Surprised a landlubber like you would know that!"

"I ne'er ferget a good name when I see's one. But I think yer right bout need'n all the luck we can get. Those ruins have a repertation for claimin the unlucky and lucky alike, such as I've heard."