From the journal of Captain Kal Deigo
The day began like any other… an angry mob, a flurry of blows and not enough rum. Although there seems to be some extra since Raethe stopped drinking (Although his disposition hasn’t changed much). As we stepped into the local watering hole, The Crow’s Nest, I noticed that there seemed a bit more tension than usual for these parts. It seems that some of the local reavers had been seen nearby and the locals were getting nervous. (As usual, they had the unpleasant habit of raiding the town and plundering all the good stuff.) Just, after I slipped the bartender a piece of eight in exchange for a local legend about the Book of Amunra, I heard the inevitable sound of alarm bells ringing aloud, and then shortly after, carnage. I pulled out Agatha & Abagail and turned to see Raethe already out the door. Here we go again..
I know, I’ve written about Raethe before but I wanted to take moment to explain how disturbing the last change has been… his teeth. We were above deck one night and all of sudden I hear a sound like a cat being sweet talked by an Ork. The screaming went right through me… and when it subsided (and after I drank a baby’s weight in rum). I came down into the hold to see Raethe, his teeth looking like a tyger and his mouth pouring blood. I had to pull the men off the life boats and convince them he did it to himself (I said it was a “Dwarf Thing”), but I’m not too sure what’s going on, except that now he doesn’t drink. (And I’ve started keeping honey water in my other flask just to keep him happy in a pinch.). I’m worried for him.
ANYWAY,
We fight our way through this rabble of poor press-gang sods, killing those who need killing, scaring those who need scaring and sparing the rest. I actually felt kind of bad and let one make it into the drink. The problem is, Shallya’s Mercy (my blessed ship), was out in the harbor and I’ll be dammed if I let anyone else get to it. I hoped that Dast (my boswain) and Jackson (my first mate) kept the ship and Marlena safe. In the middle of the fray I saw something that seemed out of place, a ball of fire rolling around the streets (I’ve been here before and never seen it so it must be new…), as this thing is rolling around, I see a man simply directing it with his finger. Wizard. Crap. Then I see another oddity, a dwarf dressed in the most perfect IRON armor I’ve ever seen. Well, you guessed it, by the end of the fight these two come over to see who else… Raethe. My personal killing machine AND weirdness magnet.
The Wizard is Khalid Arib al Kashif (Gods bless you), seems nice enough to talk to, once the town guard finished kissing his ass. (All magic-folk are treated like kings… I’m sure Raethe and I killed more than he did, though, we’re just not as flashy… well Raethe isn’t) Apparently, Khalid is a not only a man of magic but of maps. He was also looking for a library, but he didn’t know where it was. As far as looks go, he’s a man of the sand. Ashen skin and swathed in cloth, he carried a few tomes and has air of dignity about him. As for the fire ball, he’s powerful alright and I haven’t met too many weavers but few are to be trusted, but there was something different about him. Apparently, he’s looking to go to Ruus and if he’s willing to beef up my maps, he’s more than welcome aboard the Mercy.
The dwarf warrior is Dorak. Who is the cheeriest Dwarf I’ve ever met and considering his nickname is “Grimface”. At first I was hoping this would rub off on Raethe, but after the little bastard tried to take my cabin as his room, I’ll make do with my surly fang-face. Well, I got a good look at his armor and it is something special. I think it’s one of the masterworks. Maybe he made it or maybe it’s an artifact, but there’s something there, I can feel it in my bones. I know a piece of art when I see one. He’s also looking for passage to Ruus but he’s got gems. He game me a perfect opal for a journey on the Mercy. Oh and apparently he’s looking for a dwarf hall. Something high and thin… It reeks of magic too, I bet. As for his look, the iron armor is 100% engraved and immaculate. He the biggest dwarf I’ve ever seem, just under 5ft.
So, this is my new motley crew. We’ll make passage to Ruus and I think they’ll be good to have around if my seafaring elven friends show up OR if any of the golden come looking for their sexton…
Comments
March 27, 2008 at 01:35 PM
Dorak’s Commentary
I don’t know what that elf Kal is talking about! He had no problems wining and dining on my penny while staying at the finest Inn, but when a Dwarf makes an honest mistake and assumes his opal just might be worth the nicest cabin on the ship, he gets offended. Bah, guess these sea-farin’ elves do not understand hospitality!
No matter. I do not take such insignificant things to heart. I’ve got more important things to keep my mind occupied.
And so, after a short scuffle on the docks and meeting some curious characters, I’ve finally found a passage to Ruus… at a reasonable price. From the sounds of things, these folks might be going the same way I am, and they seem to know a thing or two about the places of my dreams…
On a separate note, that tattooed dwarf – Raethe – there’s something wrong with him. He hides his clan name, and the weapon he carries lacks the proper markings. I did not press the issue yet, but I must inquire. We Dwarfs take our clans with us wherever we go – I can’t think of a single reason why someone would hide that! Unless… ... and then there are those teeth and goggles. Well, when three days have passed and Law of Cordiality is satisfied, I will ask some questions. Soon…
March 30, 2008 at 01:29 AM
The inn is quiet. The fire pit has guttered down to some glowing embers which cast a warm but eerie glow about the room. A lone dwarf sits with his back to the door grumbling under his breath at two untouched glasses on the table. Only a handful of patrons remain…
…should be out of this shithole… better than sleeping in the desert though… everyone whining about the heat… didn’t mind it… didn’t… feel it… time to get on with this… should have been in Ruus four months ago… dammit… how long does he expect me to wait? Should have been cold at night… grumble… Too much time… dammit. Crew doesn’t even look at me anymore… better that way… even Kal watches… Where?... Oh (a woman giggles from the suite on the second floor)… she doesn’t… she smiles… no fear… why should I give a shit about an orphaned manling girl?!? Keep her safe… no fear… Kriik Cha… Two more to babysit now… one smiles at me like he would be my brother… buried an axe in my br… his soul betrays him. I can see how worried he is… see the questions he wants to ask… see how he guards himself… he’s right to be worried. The other one is different… looks at me like I’m a puzzle to figure out… thinks I don’t see him… thinks he knows… should be careful, the last mystic who gazed to long lost everything… didn’t even have to touch him… Slayer King… fraggin’ myth! Chasing a goddamn children’s story… I know he’s there though… then the halls… no more pages in The Book… accounts need to be settled… maybe whiskey… ugh spit Still watchin’ me… I could almost see it’s face… smell it’s breath… sulfur and… and… WHAT THE FRAG ARE YOU LOOKIN’ AT?!? Stone splits the table. Ale and water spray the room in a rain of splinters and broken glass. Just another dawn.