Old Hester
Mortimer, looking satisfied with himself, hopped off to the Jolly Axeman for a quick drink, something strong to calm his nerves. Attempting such a feat was dangerous, especially when it would infuriate the most powerful Tibian. That was enough to put the worry in any man. And Tibianus III was powerful, no doubt about that; he just lacked the certain qualities found in the members of the esteemed Explorers Society.
But none of that mattered now, the Technomancers had agreed to help and hopefully Mortimer could string a couple of members together for such a expedition; any explorers dream: circumnavigation. The very word made Mortimer�s hair prickle with excitement.
Old Hester
Looking for venerable members of our time honoured association.
The Tibian Explorers Society dares where no creature has dared and we want our members help.
Must have: nerves of steal; some sailing experience; and most importantly a good sense of humour.
Applicants will have the honour of sailing as and with the crew on board Tibia�s largest ship; the Gallant Rock.
If interested, report to Mortimer of the Tibian Explorers Society, Northport Division, currently in Kazordoon.
Tibianus III reread the pamphlet with increasing rage.
�Where did you get this,� he snarled at his lieutenant, crumpling the paper into a ball and hurling on the crackling fire.
�Oh there everywhere your Highness, all over the city, Venore too.�
�Tear them down, and hurry, before anybody gets to read them� well? What are you waiting for? Go!� Tibianus hurled a goblet, just missing the guards head by inches.
�Well your Highness, they�ve been up since last night, nearly everyone�s talking about it.�
Tibianus didn�t reply, his eyes had glazed over and he was staring deep into the flames, plotting. �We�ll show that Society up, Lieutenant; play at their own game.�
Old Hester
Mortimer stood in the Kazordoon infirmary, looking very daunted. Dwarves hurried about every which way, lifting the ill on stretchers. The recent and increasing raids on the Big Old One by orcish tribes was taking its toll.
�Hester,� called Mortimer, standing with a clipboard in hand, �Has anybody seen an woman by the name of Hester?�
He stopped a dwarf nurse and repeated the question to her. She pointed toward an elderly woman over the bed of a coughing dwarf.
Mortimer strode over and tapped the woman on the shoulder. �Old Hester? Secondary matron of Kazordoon Infirmary?�
�Yes, that�s me,� said Hester not looking up. She pushed past him and took a large bottle down from a nightstand. �What is it? I�m very busy.�
�Your required, by the contract of your position here in the infirmary, to take charge as nurse aboard the Gallant Rock.�
�What? Sail? Are you mad? I�m just an old woman!� cried Hester, the bottle almost slipping out of her hands. She glared up at the man, �I will not r��
�Less then a day from now, report to The Jolly Axemen Tavern, I�ll have your name on the register.� interrupted Mortimer, and hurried off before Hester had a chance to say anything else.
Zevon Iryus
An old man, seemingly at the age of fifty to sixty, dressed in green and grey robes was walking the streets of Kazordoon.
On his left side an old sword was sheeted and in his left hand a five feet long walking staff was held.
In his right hand he was holding a piece of parchment, describing how to report to an exploring party.
He suddenly stopped as he was facing a large door, he then lifted his stick up in the air and banged the door with a few seconds delay between every knock, he did this for about five minutes until the door opened and a slightly irritated man welcomed him inside.
"Where do I sign up?" The old man asked as he walked by the young man that had opened the door.
"Just at that desk, Mr..." The man said and pointed towards a desk.
"Names are not important, but you can call me Argor." The old man said and with a few graceful moves with his hand signed with his name, then he sat down in a nearby sofa to wait for any more explorers to come, but occasionally fell asleep in the sofa, his loud snores filling the silence in the large room.
Julien Brightside
A man in his young twenties came in to the Jolly Axeman Tavern. He had blue eyes, blonde hair, and looked like he was a smith for work. On his back he carried an old battle hammer.
There were people signing up for a sailing trip which fit him good at the moment, a chance to get away while waiting for his mothers anger to cool off. He put himself into the line and wrote his name in the book when it was his turn.
Old Hester
Mortimer finished filling out the appropriate forms and returned his quill to the inkwell. He climbed out from behind his bureau, hurried over to Argor and tapped gently him on the shoulder.
�Excuse me sir? Sorry for disturbing you, but do you have your citizen papers? It�s a requirement of the Society.�
He returned to his desk to see to the growing queue.
�Ah hello sir. Name please and do you have your papers on you? - It's a legal requirement.� he asked a young, blonde haired man, without even looking up.
Julien Brightside
Julien looked at the dwarf in front of him.
"Citizen papers, I have them here somewhere" he said, right before being pushed away by a dwarf.
Julien grunted, then pulled out some papers from an inner pocket in his jacket, then put the papers on the desk.
"Proud citizen of Kazordoon, anything more you need to know?"
Old Hester
�No, that�s it,� smiled Mortimer, taking Julien�s and shaking it madly. �Welcome aboard the crew mister Brightside, jolly good to have you. Meet at the Kazordoon Mine Docks in fifteen hours.�
Bud the Spud
A dwarf came strolling into the Jolly Axeman Tavern and cut passed everyone in line to the front desk and greeted the man behind the table. "Good day Master Mortimer, sorry to cut in line here but I need to speak with you immediately. I am Brutus StrongAxe from the Technomancer guild, my master has sent me here to give these papers to sign, and to inform you that he wishes you include myself to the roster." Brutus produced some parchments and his papers from under his shirt and placed them on the desk in front of Mortimer. "It is just some simple contracts for the release of the boat, and an insurance claim in the case that there are some.... unfortunate events. I feel no need for it but my master was insistent that it be filled."
Old Hester
Mortimer raised his eyebrow at Brutus StrongAxe as the dwarf pushed his way to the front of the line and looked apologetically to the person pushed aside.
He took the forms and glance read them. Deciding they were genuine, Mort appropriately signed and sealed them. He handed them back to Brutus.
�Good to have you aboard,� said Mort, reaching out and shaking Brutus�s hand. �You do realise Brodrosch of the Technomancers will be captaining the Gallant? I hope you�ll know your way about the engines and furnaces, show the rest of the gathering crew the ins and outs of a dwarven steamer?�
Bud the Spud
Brutus was slightly insulted by the remark but he did not show it. "Do I know the my way about those engines? Ha ha ha....... laddy, I was part of the design team for those engines, I'm the one who devised its gearing system. Which is why I'm coming along to ensure she runs smoothly through this voyage." Brutus kindly started stepping back out of the line after being pushed aside. "And you need not worry about the crew, I'll ensure they know that ship down to the last bolt," and he exited the tavern.
Old Hester
Mortimer stared after the dwarf. He sat back down before returning his attention to the newcomer; surveying his papers.
�No, - everything seems to be in order mister -� um?. Glad to have you aboard anyway. Rendezvous in fifteen hours by the Mine Docks, we�ll be boarding the Gallant about then.�
_________________________________________________
Thais Quays�
Captain Thaddeus Bluebear, the most experienced sailor and captain in the whole of the Thaian Kingdom, watched as dozens of crates were carried aboard the newly prepared Crunor�s Wake - the pride of the Thaian Navy.
Tibianus stood beside him, his eyes narrow and licking his lips.
�Do not let those fools in the Explorers Society show me up again Bluebear. I�m taking the necessary steps as it is, but they�re as slippery as worms. I�m relying on this ship, its crew and you if the Society makes headway on this journey. Beat them at all costs.�
�You can trust �n me your Highness, I�ve fought off worse than pansy, self-important Society Members.�
Ah servant approached the two men, bowing low before the King. He had, wrapped in cloth, a quiver holding some of the finest arrows money could buy.
�Ah yes, I had the Paladin�s Guild forge these on short notice,� said Tibianus taking the quiver and holding it out for Bluebear. He shooed the servant away. �The sorcerers enchanted them, the paladins forged them. They will be useful to you in the near future - I have no doubt.�
Eilthyra Dewshining
While trying to enter the Jolly Axeman, she sees that it is a nearly impossible mission. Lots of people have shown up to become a sailor for the Explorer Society.
With her citizen papers in her hand, Eilthyra moves forward in the line. She looks around, many tough looking guys are standing close. With a little shiver, she reaches the desk and lays the papers in front of the man behind it.
"Hello, I am Eilthyra and I want to be a member on the Gallant," she says with a voice from which she hopes it sounds confident.
Bud the Spud
Mean while at the Technomancers headquarters�.
Brutus knocks on the door and enters into the office where a gray haired dwarf sits behind a desk scribbling on a parchment who stops and sees who's at the door. "Ah Brutus, back so soon?" Brutus walks up and drops the papers on the desk. "I was in and out fast sir." The dwarf takes the papers and checks them over to see if they were completed. "Very good, and I trust that you were added to the crew as well?" "Yes sir." "Excellent. Very well, go down to the docks and help prepare for the departure." "Yes sir." Brutus back faced and was heading out the door. "Oh Brutus.....," he stopped and turned back. "I managed to obtain some special supplies to speed you on your journey. Make sure its put to good use." Brutus gave a smile and made a salute, "I won't let you down sir," and he left closing the door behind him.
Kent the Sorcerer
Doon walked into the tavern with his trench coat flailing in the wind. His grey hat was tipped down in front of his face. His grey leggings, which were too tight, did a good job at hiding his fur and tail, as did his black shirt under the coat. He wore black gloves over his hands and nicely fitting brown boots on his feet.
Stepping into the line Doon eventually made his way to the front. They asked for citizen papers and he stated. "My name is Doon Sparrow. As for citizen registration papers, I do not have any. I do not belong under a city, my home is the wilderness."
Lapin minou
Lapin stared at the guy in front of her in the queue. "No papers, huh. Well that makes two.. apart from these kinda forged ones..". She thought.
Having 'appeared' in Rookgaard, at the age of six, it was only the help of a family doctor that had aided the adopting family to by pass the rules. However, luckily she had some friends in store with the Technomancers who knew of her origins had arranged some papers at short notice.
She too was cloaked, like the figure in front. Her hood covering her hair, which was green. A scarf around her hair as well to cover the signs. Getting hot she risked dropping the hood and surveyed the people about her. besides, wearing hoods in doors was a bit circumspect and that was the last thing she needed right now.
Having seen the sign and loved the sea, she had decided to sign up straight away. The last sea travel with the dwarven Technomancers had gone astray and she had not fulfilled her duties towards it in full. More so she had not even gotten around the world as much as she wanted. This was prime opportunity to do all at once and fulfil some deeds for her friends.
Xellos the Slayer
A group of two entered the stone tavern, already arguing amongst each other.
"Well why did you have to steal it?" The white-coated Tsuzu whispered in an obviously exasperated tone. Not loud enough to draw attention, but more than enough to get his point across.
"Money, why d'ya think? If it weren't for me, we'd be livin' off beggar's scraps!" The shorter young man exclaimed louder than the first, giving a slight push. The black-vested Zait was always the first to draw attention with those kinds of exaggerated movements.
Tsuzu held his place fast, as to not attract too much attention. Seemingly more well-adept at keeping his cool, he merely cleared his throat to cover a bit of the noise.
The two were in quite a dilemma. Zait had apparently robbed all he could carry from the royal treasury a few nights earlier, but had been spotted and charged with the theft. Though they hadn't yet been caught, Tsuzu was doing his best to keep their profile low. He knew of the consequences they would both face if caught, so he formulated a quick plan to join the Explorer's Society's next endeavour to keep themselves on the seas and out of Tibianus's sight for as long as possible.
"Here now sirs!" A dwarf called out, grabbing their attention. "Your citizenship papers are required for a journey such as this. Not just any low-down sailors, either."
Tsuzu gave a nervous smile as he hesitated. Ugh, damn. With our papers, they'll know our real names. Have to think of something fast...
"Um, hi there. My name is Nal Wong, and this here is Tuc Thros." He said, signalling to the perplexed Zait. Quickly understanding the plan, Zait gave a slight nod of agreement.
"We don't happen to have any papers because we were never sworn in as citizens of a city..." Tsuzu continued. "No need to go looking into our records or anything--we won't cause any trouble, I just need to know if it's all right for us to join..." His voice trailed off.
"Absolutely not." The dwarf replied curtly.
They both turned away, knowing fully well that, to some degree, their lie had been found out. "Well, what are we supposed to do now? If we stay in the open, Tibianus will have our heads." Tsuzu whispered.
"Ain't it obvious? We sneak onboard and stow away." Zait replied with a slight grin.
Old Hester
Eilthyra
Mortimer smiled at the next in queue - an elfish creature, by the looks of her. Highly unusual in Kazordoon of all places. But the Tibian Explorer Society did have connections in every city in almost every land.
Mort pulled the papers closer. Ensuring they were correct and in order, he handed them back.
�Excellent to have you aboard �� he rechecked the papers, �Eilthyra. I�m sure you�ll be a great asset to the Gallant�s crew. Welcome aboard.�
He removed an already-filled form from a pile and handed it to her. �Rendezvous by the Mine Docks, we�ll be boarding the Gallant Rock in fifteen hours.�
Doon
Mortimer�s face fell as he saw the next person in line - a heavily clothed being, masked by a hat, - without papers. He fumbled with his quill and dropped it. He bent behind the bureau and picked it off the tavern floor.
He smiled nervously at the character, �Well, just as long as you fill this out appropriately and truthfully I think we could make an exception.�
Mortimer handed a pamphlet to the character - a more basic form of citizen papers. �Fill it out over there please sir.� he said, bowing slightly.
Lapin
�Next please.�
�Ah, good� uh� day ms,� said Mortimer, raising an eyebrow at the next lady�s vivid hair.
�Papers please.� Mort held the papers a wee bit longer than unusual, but eventually handed them back, with a smile on his face. �Welcome to the crew Ms. Lapin. Here�s an official form, please meet at the Mine Docks in, say, fifteen hours. Thank you.�
Mort dabbed his brow; meeting the variety of folk signing on was surprising, especially for a hazardous and insane voyage such as this. He supposed it was the romanticized Explorer�s dream.
Seeing as the queue was empty for the time being, Mortimer popped over to the tavern counter and ordered a beer.
Having been refreshed and awakened with a quick drink Mort returned to his bureau and the ledgers.
Eilthyra Dewshining
Eilthyra nods and smiles, finally a place where they accept her without questions. Though, while looking around she sees there are more strange looking people around here. In fact, the normal people look more strange then the people who are considered to be strange. She walks off, the paper which allows her to board on the Gallant in a tight grip.
As she slowly walks in the direction of where the Gallant lays, she sees how beautiful Kazordoon is. As an elf, she is only used to Ab'dendriel and Kazordoon was like... a city of primitives but now she sees this, she can barely believe this city is primitive.
She sits down, on the route to the Gallant. A little rest would be smart, since she has no clue what is awaiting her.
She closes her eyes, a few hours of sleep....
Kent the Sorcerer
Doon received the papers and quickly added what he could to the sheets. It had all the basic stuff. Name, Age, home, race and so forth. He just took out a quill from the person next to him with a quick. "Let me just borrow thins."
He thought to himself. Name. . . All you need to know is Doon Sparrow.
Age. . . even I do not remember.
Home. . . None to so speak of.
Race. . . I would prefer not to mention.
Doon walked back to the front of the line. "Here they are, tell me if everything is in order."
Old Hester
Mortimer glanced over the paper and checked everything was filled out. He smiled at the mysterious figure and scribbled his signature on the forms.
�Excellent mister Sparrow, everything is in order. Welcome aboard the Gallant Rock.�
He held out his hand in a gesture of welcome.
�Well, um, meet at the Mine Docks in approximately fifteen hours - plenty of time for you to rest up or do what you have to.�
Bud the Spud
Brutus was leading a group of dwarves who were carrying a large crate with dwarfish runes on it when translated said: "HIGHLY FLAMMABLE! KEEP AWAY FROM FLAMES." The convoy went down to the docks and secured the crate to the crane and hoisted it up to the ship. "Be careful with that crate......... Come on straighten her out now......... That�s it, lower her in gently." The crate was lowered down into the open cargo hold and placed softly down. "Well done, lets get it secured down in the engine room and make sure it's placed as far from those furnaces as possible." The group entered the hold and carried the crate towards the engine room where it was placed in a far corner and tied down, "Good job lads, lets go get ourselves a mug of ale and then finish loading her up." There was a great cheer from the group.
Kent the Sorcerer
Doon replied a quick "Thank You" before walking out the door and towards the nearest clothing shop. Going in, he purchased new larger leggings and in an alleyway changed into them. he then slowly made his way back to the shop and started to rest, not falling asleep for fear of someone taking off his hat and revealing him.
Julien Brightside
"So long before the sailing begins." Julien thought to himself, "Ah well, might as well get rid of my thirst while waiting."
Julien sat himself in front of the counter, seeing most of the tavern from where he sat.
"Jimbin, get me a beer would you" He said and put some gold on the counter to pay for it.
Zevon Iryus
Argor mumbled in his sleep as a man required some papers, he then made a swift movement with his left hand a piece of parchment appeared in the man's hand.
"That's a copy, no need to turn it back." Argor mumbles and falls asleep again.
Old Hester
Seeing as there was no one else in line, and only about three and a half hours left before they set sail, Mortimer closed shop. He slammed the ledgers closed and tucked away pages and packed them away in a leather-bound book carrier.
As he left, Mort thanked Jimbin for allowing him to use the Jolly Axeman and called out to the few still in the taproom: �Don�t forget: we�re off in less than four hours. If anybody else shows up they can find me by the Gallant, down in the Mine Docks.�
He waved jovially, the excitement of adventure rushing through his veins. �See you there.�
In Brodrosch�s Kazordoon home.
Brodrosch of the Technomancers and newly appointed captain of the Gallant Rock was taking care of the last of his affairs. He had kissed his wife and child good bye earlier, found someone to replace him on the Cormaya destined steam ship, and was now lifting down his best battle axe off the mantle to give it a quick polish and maybe sharpen its blade before setting off.
He lay it on a table reverently and the name Earth Shaker twinkled in the gaslight. Him and his beloved axe had been through a lot together, and Brodrosch hoped his son would hack a thousand orcs with it someday.
The dwarf pulled out some polish and a whetstone. He sat down and remembered back to them time he had shown his son the art of sharpening. The boy was enchanted by the sparks spraying off the blade and stone. He was on his lap when -
Brodrosch stopped. And keeled forward, dropping the stone; a knife lodged in his back.
Something slid from the shadows, hidden in billowing black clouds - a thing of dark, dark magic. A paw reached out and gripped the knife and pulled it sharply from Brodrosch�s back.
With a cackle and a flash of a tail the creature was gone. The room was eerily quite. Brodrosch - dead.
Kent the Sorcerer
Doon opened his eyes. staring up into the sky has watched the sun's movements. Thinking to himself he pondered. Must not be long until we leave.
Xellos the Slayer
Using skills comparable to those of any thief worth his salt, Zait quickly jumped up onboard the ship while all eyes were turned.
Just a few hours more, but no need to waste time. Tsuzu thought, looking down upon the dwarves as the crane hoisted him up. Much more the kind of person to plan ahead, he had used a weak invisibility spell and sat atop a large crate being hoisted up onto the ship.
As the crate was finally let down to the ship and the crane turned away for another, Tsuzu hopped down to the steamboat's deck.
Some kind of dwarfish writing? It's archaic... He allowed his hands time to follow over the black symbols painted over the wood. 'Fire'... 'possibility fire'? 'Warning' He did his best to decipher what words he could until he was finally distracted by his friend's call.
"Hey, hurry up already. We'll get spotted if we don't find a place to hide! Wait..." Zait's eye grew a clever tint, which was quite rare. "Good thinking, we'll hide in the box."
Well, that wasn't my plan, but it should work nonetheless.. Tsuzu thought, turning his gaze back to the box as Zait scurried forth to pry it open.
Bud the Spud
After a quick swig of ale, Brutus and the rest of the dwarves set out making final preparations for departure. As the last cask of ale was being lowered into the hold, Brutus couldn't help but wonder where Brodrosch could be. "Where is that old stone? It's not like him to be so late, he should be here already." Brutus asked around the loading crew but none have them had seen him as of yet. "I got no time to go searching for a drunken captain, this ship needs to be ready in the next three hours."
Two Hours Later
As the dock hands scurried to complete the loading, some of the ships crew were coming aboard, and still no sign of Brodrosch. "We got crew coming aboard, one hour to departure, and he still isn't here." Brutus was getting concerned now and sent one of the dock hands to go to his home and fetch him. "If this is how he will run this ship its gonna be a long voyage." Brutus took a cloth from his pocket and wiped sweat from his brow and headed to the engine room to begin stoking the furnace.
Eilthyra Dewshining
Slowly Eilthyra opens her eyes and stretches herself. She notices her muscles are feeling sore, maybe a sitting position between a wall isn't the best way to take a nap. She moves to get her muscles warmed up a little and stands up. While getting the dirt off her clothes, she feels if the paper to board is still in her pocket. She smiles, it is still there. With a last look if she didn't forget something she walks off in the direction of the Gallant.
At the dock it's crowded. Crew is boarding and people are running from and back to ship, probably arranging the last few things before they leave.
Eilthyra decides to walk after people who seem to go aboard as crew. Patiently she joins the line and waits.
Julien Brightside
Julien ordered another beer which he put on a vial. "A little something to keep myself going" He said to Jimbin, seeing the dwarf grinning.
Julien put the vial in his belt where other vials could be seen in various colours.
He took his hammer, strapped it to his back, and marched to the docks.
As he reached the docks, he thought he saw a familiar face among the women, but he could not be sure as he only got a glimpse of the woman.
Sharad-Waador
"I suppose that you are Mortimer? I've barely made it, as far as I can see, when do we depart? - said Sharad to the dwarf, handing him his citizenship and explorer society membership papers.
"Aye, everything seems to be fine, but wait, according to what is written here, you were born.."
"More than one thousand years ago, that�s no mistake. Am I allowed to board? Or is there something else I still have to do?"
Old Hester
�Well fellow, your just in time. Welcome aboard.� smiled Mortimer, clapping the newcomer on the back, �Sharad-Waador, am I right?�
�Well my friend, get on board.� said Mort, jabbing his thumb in the direction of a gigantic steam ship - the Gallant Rock, which was, in dwarfish opinion, and many other creatures� opinions, the greatest achievement of the Technomancers to date.
It stood almost fifteen stories high, proud and sleek with three masts of rock solid bamboo and four steam paddles. Aft stood five chimneys as black as coal already beginning to billow out ashen clouds.
�She�s all ready sir. Jus� need th� cap�n now.� said a grubby dwarf, shuffling down the gangplank to Mortimer.
�Where is that blasted Brodrosch?� cursed Mort, �He�s delaying everything. We do have a contract.�
Zevon Iryus
Argors eyes shot up and quickly moved to watch a clock on the wall, he then stood up quicker then to expect from an old man as him, and then quickly walked out of the Tavern.
As he came closer to the Tavern, his eyes caught sight of a familiar face, and then another one, but he couldn't put his finger on how he recognised them.
"I somehow remember their names, was it Julien, and Eilthyra, or something like that." Argor thought to himself.
He then resisted to say hello to them, and made his way to get aboard the ship.
Bud the Spud
Brutus had taken a group of the crew and taken them down to the engine room where he gave them the ups and downs of operating a steam engine. During his lesson he heard some shuffling over by the cargo crate and decided to investigate. "Hey there! If anyone�s over there come out now." Slowly two figures came out from behind looking a bit nervous, Brutus walked up to them and looked up at them. "Gentlemen, I have no time for trouble makers. Now get back in line with the rest of the group, or I'll have you two shovelling coal for this entire trip. Is that clear." Both seemed rather perplexed but pasted on a smile and nodded to the dwarf and joined the others. "How'd did these two make the cut? I didn't think Mortimer was that desperate for recruits." Shrugging it off he continued his instructing.
After he had them stoke up the furnace and inspect the engine and when he was satisfied with the work, Brutus went up to the deck to see if Captain Brodrosch had finally decided to show himself. As he was coming up the stairs to the deck, he could see Mortimer coming up the plank. "Ah, Master Mortimer. Welcome aboard the Gallant Rock sir." He walked up and gave the man a hearty hand shake, "She's a fine vessel, however some of her crew has little to be desired but most of them be willing and able to serve." Brutus looking over the deck through the traffic of people. "Tell he sir, has there been any word on Brodrosch yet?"
Lapin minou
Lapin set foot on the cobbled streets of the docks.
She was munching a banana.
The gulls swirled crying over the bustle of the workers, who were going about their dockside business.
She looked around, taking in the details of individuals and groups at work "Only watch out for press gangers", she reminded herself. Still, she was away from any alleyway and in plain view of the days' public; the press gang worked nights and on drunks mainly.
Having spent most of her time buying a few stocks of fruits and spices, she had thought that the dwarves would have supplied beneficially food and nutrition stocks. She wasn't a 'Limey' for nothing, though, and had almost an innate need to do here part in ensuring she didn't get anything like scurvy along the way (dwarves liked beer and many a dwarf seemed to think all vitamins came from this source - it could be that it turned out that the captain was like her friend, Red.
So it was she set out amongst the little riggings, Fishermen�s tubs, bustle, squalls and crates, to look for the boat which would have to protect her at open sea.
Old Hester
Old Hester grumbled as she folded her clothes and slipped them into her carpet bag. She glanced up at the clock above the bed. Barely thirty minutes till the Gallant Rock left. She cursed that Mortimer for forcing out of work and onto the sea. So rude of him.
She slammed her hookah pipe so hard into the bag it almost cracked. �Oh some people, thinking they are so high and mighty ordering everyone about,� snapped Hester to herself, �I have a good mind to� oh.�
With a final sigh she tied up the carpet bag and filled her hip baskets with all sorts of odd and ends from her cupboards and hurried out of her private quarters in Kazordoon Infirmary.
She reached the underground docks with barely a moment to spare and gazed up from the shadows of the magnificent Gallant. Even Hester, who nothing about anything to do with ships or sailing, other than it was decisively difficult, had to admit the ship towering above her was a splendid achievement.
Up the gangway she hobbled as a final whistle blew down in the quay side. Mortimer stood at the top brimming with excitement, clearly visible from his constant fidgeting.
�Ah Ms. Hester, welcome aboard, we�re just waiting for a few more to arrive (I do hope they hurry).�
Hester glared in reply. �Where�s my quarters?�
�Ah, I�ll have someone show you know. Hoy! Deckhand!� Mort yelled after a young dwarf heaving crates, �Take the ships doctor to her quarters.�
The aft chimneys bellowed smoke, roaring to launch.
Kent the Sorcerer
Doon sat with his arms across his chest and his left leg out while his right leg was flat and slightly bent into the air. He noticed a dwarven lady walk by and stood up. Walking over to her he said. "Hello miss, would you care for some assistance."
Doon looked over to see a younger dwarf who seemed to try and hurry her on. "Do you mind, I will be finished talking to her in a minute." While saying that he accidentally let out a small growl at the male dwarf.
Hoping that the dwarf didn't hear him growl he awaited the female dwarf's answer as he thought to himself. Doon, you idiot. Don't give yourself away this early!
Arrak
Dark-Arrak wandered around the city of Thais, noticing that people were hurriedly preparing a ship.
"What's going on?" he asked a bystander.
"Something about the Tibian Explorer Society circumventing the world. King Tibianus does not seem to respect it," the man said, and walked off.
"Huh... Perhaps I should go see this for myself... Ha-ha... Back to the Orc Fortress. I hear Wark is making a ship. Perhaps I'll have a little fun on the sea... It's so boring listening to Arrak every single day, although I do miss him. Somewhat."
Dark-Arrak left the town, formulating crude, stupid plans in his mind. If only he could use magic without Arrak interfering in some way...
Old Hester
Old Hester wondered when she�s meet the rest of the crew members. She�d heard off her fellow nurses there had been quite a crowd in Jimbin�s earlier that morning and that Mortimer fellow was looking particularly please with himself. She wondered if anyone she knew would be onboard. Hopefully - someone to gossip with would be so nice.
She slugged her carpet bag into the deck hands arms and was beginning to follow him across the deck when she was startled by a dark characters sudden appearance by her side, offering help.
�What - assistance? Why alright dear. That is, if you know where the ships infirmary is?�
Not waiting for him (or her. Hester had no idea what sex this character was for they were hidden beneath a hat and heavy overcoat) to reply she held out her hand.
�The names Old Hester, and you are - one of the crew recruits I presume?�
Kent the Sorcerer
Doon muttered. "Uh. . . I think the infirmary is down in the hold on the right somewhere. I haven't really check."
Doon held his own hand out in a friendly gesture. "My name is Doon Archimade Adiel Sparrow, wandering adventurer. And if you don't mind, I would like to talk to you in private when we find the infirmary."
Arrak
A rather enthusiastic man walked by him.
"Where are you heading?"
"Kazordoon Mine Docks. I had best hurry; I'll be late for the steamship."
Huh?
The man dropped a paper in his rush. It gave permission to enter the Gallant Rock; The ship that the explorer society would use to sail the seas, his staff told him.
Hmm... Well, I'd best hurry with this paper before the man realizes he lost it. As for my friend, Wark, he'll handle himself. Although the ship will probably sink.
He cast Strong Haste and ran all the way to Kazordoon. By the time he got there, he was drained of energy. Dark-Arrak showed the paper to someone, who was trembling at the sight at the dark armour.
"Don't worry about the armour. I'll pay for any damage it does to the ship," Dark-Arrak joked. The person seemed to take it seriously. "I'm joking. Can I get on the ship or not?"
Bud the Spud
By the look on Mortimer's face, Brutus knew he hadn't seen the captain yet. "Well if you find him, send him my way. I'd like to have some words with him. Now if you excuse me I have an engine to tend to." Giving a bow he went back down to the engine room where his engineers were hard at work heating the boilers. He spotted the two from earlier who were messing with his crate and called them over.
"Gentlemen, come with me." The two followed him and he walked them over to the crate. "This is some very dangerous stuff you were playing around. Do you know what it is?" The two just shook their heads. Brutus put on a pair of gloves and opened the crate slightly and pulled out a block of some strange black putty material. "This my lads is some of the most powerful fuel you will ever find. It makes a fire as hot as the pit of Hades, and was developed for use in our forges. This is what help us dwarves make our high quality weapons and steel. If you had set this stuff off, this voyage would be over before it started." He replaces the block back into the crate. "Do you understand laddies?"
Lapin minou
Lapin stopped in her tracks looking up, pointing: "Bloody'ell, they ain�t Seagulls"!
Julien Brightside
"Huh?" Julien turned around to see a woman pointing up mentioning something about seagulls.
"There are no seagulls inside Kazordoon" Julien thought, "Must be some bats."
Old Hester
Old Hester followed Doon down below deck toward the aft of the ship and to a door marked infirmary. She shouldered the door open and flung her carpet bag down. The place was in excellent condition, brand new equipment; sharp, unusual and twisted weapons to the untrained eye, but to Hester - the tools of her trade. And seeing them laid out in such a professional manner relaxed her a tad.
�Excellent; means less work for me,� she said to herself before turning to Doon. �Well boy what is it you wanted to talk to me about?�
*
Damage to the ship? Mortimer didn�t like the sound of that, but flapped his hand at the newcomer anyways; they�d take risks later right now he was itching to leave.
�Yes, yes get aboard, and hurry we�re leaving this instance.�
Mortimer could wait no longer, hiring Brodrosch had been a bad idea. If Mort new he�d worm his way out of captaining the Gallant after being already prepaid half � ugh, how angry it made him.
He was visibly shaking as the final whistle blew and the gangplank was pulled away. The great water wheels wither side of the great steam ship began turning, heaving the vessel through the murky tunnels of the Big Old One and, hopefully, out into the Kings Gulf.
Sharad-Waador
Sharad was standing by a barrier on the bow. He was listening to dozens of bats flying in and out of the cavern bringing food for the young and weak , when the drilling sound of the steam whistle got to his ears.
"So it has begun" - he thought, and felt a concussion of the whole ship caused by it's huge water wheels.
Kent the Sorcerer
Doon looked over at Hester. "Well, I figure that if I get hurt you should know this since you will be running the infirmary." Doon pulled won hi hood, revealing his werewolf face. ""I am a werewolf. Now don't be afraid, most rumours about werewolves being evil are false."
Lapin minou
Staring at the great Seagull things that were not seagulls, Lapin heard the roar of a whistle and engines fire.
Her gaze of amazement all of a sudden fell from the air to the direction of the noise. Also all of a sudden, she realised that this noisy beast was as she suspected a boat. To be precise, and following on from this first lucid remark in her mind, was that it was going to be her boat.
"Oi"!, she hollered at the great bulk, that was a few boats down the promenade.
She began to run towards the ship. "Oi"! Lapin spied the gangway being hoisted as she waved her arms about. Being late was a pain and it seemed she would, as they say, 'miss the boat'.
Barging past some fishing dwarves, she came up to the dockside panting. "Oi"!, she shouted after the boat that was some 20 metres out now.
Looking round frantically she bellowed at a dwarf "That's my boat", as if that dwarf would all of a sudden come up with a magical remedy to save her from her predicament.
The dwarf seemed to roll his eyes and put on a face of absolute uncaring for her situation. Indeed, he did, this was not the first time he had seen it, as some tourist landlubber demanded resolution at a shout.
Stamping her feet, Lapin turned in fury away from the fishing dwarf and towards the rumbling vessel cast loose and floating on its errand. Seeing some deck hands she made herself clear. "OI"!!
Julien Brightside
Julien nearly fell backwards as the boat started and went forward out against the sea. He looked over the fence to see a woman running as fast as she could to reach the boat.
As she ran beside the boat at the docks, Julien took a solid grip on the fence with his left hand, leant over and tried to help the woman onboard with the other.
Old Hester
Old Hester flinched at Doon�s sudden, and unexpected, exposure, but hesitated before speaking - choosing her words carefully and obviously not wanting to offend the man.
�Well I�ve treated worse,� smiled Hester. �Your secrets safe with me, unless, of course, you want to tell the rest of the crew. And my advice is you do, before they discover the truth - it�ll give �em less of a shock. But � it is up to you�
She shooed Doon out, wanting to begin looking over the pile of daunting files on each of the crew members. So she sat herself down at the bureau, arranged nicely in front of a porthole for the occupant to stare out of. Unfortunately there wasn�t much of a view at the moment; the tunnel walls slipped by, shrouded in darkness.
*
�Good gracious!� cried Mortimer, seeing the girl hurtling through the docks, trying to catch up with the Gallant Rock. He dived across the deck and ran back to Julien with a particularly long rope.
�Here m�boy. Throw her this!�
Julien Brightside
Seeing as the dwarf came across the deck with the rope, Julien nodded in thanks and threw the rope to the girl.
"Thanks, this makes it a lot easier." Julien said to the dwarf.
Kent the Sorcerer
Doon mumbled to himself as he walked up the stairs. "Surprises always have been a key point. They will find out when necessary."
Doon saw when he reached to the deck that something was happening at the back. "Well, better see what it is. . . woops, forgot to put up my hood." And Doon replaced his hood before anyone had seen.
Bud the Spud
The engine room was roaring with life with sounds of mighty gears turning, the hiss of the boilers, and the scrapping of shovels. Brutus was inspecting the pressure gauges when he looked through one of the port holes where someone went swinging past on a rope.
"What by the name of Durin.....?" He ran out of the engine room and up to the deck where a group was gathered at the railing pulling on a rope. He walked over the group as a girl was lifted over the rail onto the deck. "Let me guess, one of our late comers, or are we taking on stowaways?
Arrak
"Most interesting things to be seen in a crew aboard a dwarven steamship," Dark-Arrak whispered to himself. He sensed some other creature, in some way related to the moon, but he wasn't sure what. He wasn't much into studying the moon, anyways.
No, closer to a wolf.
What would you know? You're a talking staff, Dark-Arrak told it.
A psychic Dark Staff, half of the...
Whatever.
Hm. Arrak wasn't bothering him. Well, it didn't matter. He wondered when Olryck would begin purifying the dreamlands. His staff obviously wanted to see more blood.
Well, it'd have to settle for blue and not red.
Cidius
Cid had been sitting in a barrel full of apples aboard the steam ships for hours, He had always wanted to explore but none of the ships would ever allow him to join a voyage. So he decided he would sneak on to the ship a few hours before it left and hide. Maybe they wouldn't throw him off if they were far enough on the voyage.... maybe
Cid's legs had been squeezed into a ball for hours now, He would like nothing more then to walk around but knew he must not; if he was caught outside now who knows what would happen....
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