I WANT YOU TO JOIN ME IN A MYSTERY RESCUE MISSION!

[om_nom_namur]

[Sometime around mid-month, a text message goes out to the general public.]

WANTED

Adventurers strong enough to brave the high seas
Doctors, healers, and those inclined to render aid to the suffering
A worthy crew
Explorers
Those inclined to solve mysteries

Interested Parties Report to The Maelstrom at Fayren Harbor
Anchor Weighs at Dawn June 20

*~*~*~*

[Dawn at the Docks - June 20]

[In spite of the early hour, Fayren Harbor is bustling with activity as the darkness thins. Fishermen who've been out all night rush to bring their fresh catch to the market, while others who will be out all day race to be the first out to sea, and first to the best fishing spots. At the far end of the harbor an enormous clipper towers above the everyday ships, drawing a crowd of gawpers who, after being yelled at a few times by the workers hurriedly trying to load her, have the decency to stand back and let those who look to be on official business move freely. At the top of the gangplank a man with a clipboard hurriedly checks lists and directs those bringing cargo aboard, while an oversized, burly man with blue skin and shark features watches, balancing in a crouch on top of the rail. Though he isn't saying much, there's an air of authority about him. For any wishing to enlist, the fishman would seem a good person to talk to.]

[Fair Winds - June 20-21]

[When the supplies for the expedition are loaded and the tide is nearing its peak, Namur hollers for all hands to gather on deck for a quick briefing, the sun beginning to crest the horizon and make the sails glow as he speaks.]

A'ight y'all, thank y' for answerin' the call t' come an' help. We got a whole colony a folks that's gone missin', an' I ain't gonna lie, I ain't got any idea what we's gonna be in for once we reach the island. No one's been able t' get there since they gone, or at the very least ain't no one bothered comin' back, an' folks is worried they mighta met a dreadful end if y' catch my drift. This voyage's gonna be dangerous, but I know we's up t' the challenge. Whatever quarrels y' got with each other, leave 'em on these shores, cuz from now on 'til we make it back we's all on the same team, workin' for the same goal. Watch each other's back, keep each other safe. If we do that, there ain't nothin' that's gonna keep us from hittin' our target.

When we get there, there might be folk that's sick, or maybe they don't want us botherin' 'em, or maybe somethin's already botherin' 'em an' they'll need our help gettin' rid a the pest. We done our best t' have somethin' ready for everthin' we could think of, but that don't mean we thought a everthin', so look sharp an' keep yer wits 'boutcha! Any kinda weird shit make sure t' report it t' somebody, preferably me or one a my kin. Enchantments an' curses ain't outta the question here, so if y' see somethin' strange, say somethin'. Easy as that.

Meantime, I 'xpect all them that knows their knots t' make theirselves useful gettin' this ol' girl t' run. The rest a y's gonna make yerselves useful in the galley, keepin' shit clean, an' learnin' the ropes. Don't wanna hear no bitchin' 'bout chores, we's all gonna be doin' 'em, so don't even start! Don't be stealin' each other's shit, an' definitely don't be showin' yerself for a shitty traitor. Them's the rules! Don't like 'em, get yer ass off the ship!

All that said now, let's get this baby out t' sea 'fore we lose our tide!

[There's plenty to do, both in getting the Maelstrom away, and in keeping her plunging dauntless through the open waters. Keeping sails trim, keeping the decks clean, keeping the crew fed. And plenty of opportunities to get to know the other members of the crew a little better. Namur will encourage those that don't know how to sail to learn from someone who does. It'd be a shame if all the experienced sailors became incapacitated without passing on at least the basics.]

[The Storm - June 22]

[There'd been some good cloud cover the day they set out from Fayren, enough to mottle the sea with sun and shade and provide a strong wind to speed their rescue mission. But the further from shore they ventured, the thicker the clouds became, and soon the experienced sailors would likely find themselves watching the sky with trepidation. Distant thunder rolls over the waves, until suddenly and without warning the wind abruptly shifts direction, and the distant storm bears down on the clipper with astonishing ferocity. Namur screams to be heard above the wind whistling through the shrouds.]

ALL HANDS ON DECK! GET YER ASSES TIED T' THE SHIP AN' GET THEM SAILS STOWED NOW! THIS AIN'T A JOKE OR REQUEST!

Comments

[gip_u202]

[Rowan takes the flask with a nod of gratitude, rinsing her mouth with the first tip before swallowing the second. She lets out a slow breath, relieved to have burned the taste of vomit from her mouth and throat, and gives Ace a shaky smile as she hands the flask back to him.]

Thank you, but I'd better not risk it... I'm sort of new to all of this. Don't know how long my stomach's going to cooperate. I really wish it would either calm down or kill me, though-- I'm not a fan of this in-between stuff.

[burnt_offering]

[Ace takes the flask back, and nods. He hates that there's not much to be done about this. It's just tricky, not everyone does well at sea..]

I bet. There's some medicine you could try, but it's a thick liquid, so I dunno if you'd be able to keep it down anyway.

[gip_u202]

[Judging by the way that she seems to fight back a smallish gag reflex in response to the idea, probably not.]

Medicine doesn't tend to work on me, anyway. Same reason drugs and poisons don't, probably-- My body just doesn't work the same way that yours does.

[Or any normal human's, for that matter. She sighs and makes the effort to slowly heave herself into a more upright sitting position, keeping her focus on Ace's face so she doesn't wind up looking at their surroundings.]

Hopefully I'll just get used to things, and this will go away. From what I've read, "seasickness" tends to be fairly short-lived, and I'm usually fairly adaptable. So long as I don't actually fall overboard, I should be all right eventually.

[burnt_offering]

[Ace winces at the motion, poor Rowan. That looks miserable. He didn't think she'd be able to hold it down regardless, but he'd forgotten about her physiological needs.]

Everyone's got different needs here. It's crazy. Sorry that it won't help. [He sits down next to her, he might as well rest for a minute.] Yeah, you should get used to it pretty quick. It usually doesn't last too long.

[gip_u202]

[Rowan glances over at Ace as he settles himself, freckled lips quirking into a wry smirk at his explanation.]

Well, that's reassuring. Did you have to deal with anything like this when you first started sailing?

[burnt_offering]

[He warms up a bit at the smirk, he really does like Rowan. She's good people, and he thinks that when she gets to feeling better they'll have a lot of fun on this trip.]

I didn't. But I don't ever get sick. One of my friends did, though.

[gip_u202]

I don't either, usually.

[And her tone makes it more than apparent that she is definitely not amused by the unexpected change to her usually-hardy constitution. Just to further drive the point home, she rolls her eyes before blowing a stray curl away from them with a quick huff of breath.]

But then, I was also definitely not made for life on the ocean. I suppose the people in charge of my design didn't think seasickness would ever come up.

[burnt_offering]

It's kinda hard to tell how you're gonna react.

[Oh, he doesn't like how she puts that. Design? That bothers him right off and if she wasn't ill he might ask about it. But he buries the morbid interest, and just shakes is head.] I can't swim to save my life, but I don't get seasick. It's weird. But there's stuff that throws me off in different ways. Guess we all gotta just adjust where we can.