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"Out of the Frying Pan" - Book I: Gathering Wood (reprise)
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<blockquote data-quote="el-remmen" data-source="post: 31643" data-attributes="member: 11"><p><strong>Session #3 (Part II)</strong></p><p></p><p>And so the time came for Crumb and his boys to set off. Beorth finally arrived, and Jana emerged from her room. </p><p></p><p>Boris E. Crumb III gathered the boys together in the common room and said, “We’re going to leaving here as a group to pier 34 where the Sea Cow is waiting to bring us to Derome-Delem. Gather your packs, and you will notice that you have each been given a standard issue pack – put that with your stuff. At the dock is a number of supplied that need to be loaded on to the ship, as you go aboard please grab a crate or sack and bring up to the deck, you will be instructed where to put it.” </p><p></p><p>And with that, the group headed out and walked to the Port District and the Sea Cow. </p><p></p><p>Kazrack dropped his pack upon the deck of the ship, and went back down to help with carrying the supplies aboard. Jeremy and Chance grabbed a large box together, and Malcolm grabbed as big as he could manage by himself. Of the rest of the group, some did their share of the hauling; others took as little as they could get away with. Kamir ran back and forth four times carrying all he could each time. </p><p></p><p>The Sea Cow’s warped timber creaked loudly with every step the new passengers made. Kazrack nervously noted the lack of a life-rail, and the small puddles of water on the bowed deck. </p><p></p><p>Deet and Crumb gathered the boys together. </p><p>Crumb started, “The Captain of this fine vessel is Captain Reginald Corr. Do not speak to him. Do not bother him. He is a busy man and generous enough to transport this rowdy lot for cheap. If you have any questions about your lodgings (which you will be soon shown) or provisions or anything about the ship, ask the boatswain, Kristian Lavar. He is also a very busy man so do not bother him too much, and do not get in the way of any of the sailors. Now, let us join hands and bow our heads so that Deet may lead us in a prayer.” </p><p></p><p>Crumb’s boys gathered in a circle and bowed their heads. </p><p></p><p>Deet’s voice raised his head after a moment of silence and then spoke in full baritone, ”Oh, Ptah – Opener of Ways. If it is your divine will allow us to safely journey over Tefnut’s seas and arrive in Derome-Delem so that we may see the splendors of its mountains and vales and experience the wonders while helping the people of Gothanius. But . . . If it should be that do not make it, if this ship is sucked down by a maelstrom or attacked by a monstrous sea beast and we are stranded at sea – Let us learn well from the experience and become better from it – for those of us that survive. Ptah bless this journey, and Tefnut allow it.” </p><p></p><p>The silence hung in the air with a weighty presence, until Kazrack cracked it in half with a question. “How come that didn’t make me feel any better?” </p><p></p><p>As the boatswain explained to the passengers where they could find their quarters, Malcolm took to the bow of the ship and began to play his bagpipes as the ship pulled out of dock. The sudden lurch of the ship and the sound of the lapping water immediately made Kazrack’s stomach churn. Beorth stood nearby and listened to Malcolm’s stunningly beautiful, yet haunting, music. While Jana was led to her tiny private cabin by the boatswain. “Didn’t friggin’ know there was gonna be a woman aboard until 20 minutes ago. . .How’s a fraggin’ smaggin’ . . . “ the boatswain faded to an indecipherable mumble as he led the way. </p><p></p><p>The ship moved slowly through the harbor, and immediately the breeze of movement cooled off the deck much to everyone’s delight, except Kazrack. He stumbled below deck trying to find somewhere he could be comfortable, but failed. The cabins held six passengers each and had hammocks stacked two high. The floor of the lower deck were swollen and warped and an inch of bilge covered everything. Looking and feeling green, the dwarf found Jeremy losing most of his money already to Chance in a dice game When one of the dice fell into the bilge, the dwarf notice what he had been too sick to see or hear – the water! </p><p></p><p>“The ship is sinking! The ship is sinking!” he cried running all the way back up the broken stair and through the hatch. “There is a leak! The ship is sinking!” </p><p></p><p>He caught the attention of a few sailors and of those of Crumb’s boys who had not found their way below deck yet. Among them, the boatswain; </p><p></p><p>“What are ya talking about?” he asked the dwarf. </p><p></p><p>Kazrack explained with a look of horror. </p><p></p><p>“That is the bilge. All ships have it. Such some water that soaks through. Nothing to be done about it and nothing to worry about. But if you run around screaming such a thing again, I’ll toss ye overboard meself!” </p><p></p><p>“Uh, okay.” Kazrack calmed down, but his stomach and head did not. Feeling woozy, he threw himself down near the middle of the deck and moaned. </p><p></p><p>By this time, Malcolm’s own nausea was overcoming his ability to play his pipes, and he ended his song with a crescendo – Then, tucking his bagpipes beneath his arm, he walked to find his quarters, stumbling from left to right like a drunkard, tasting his bile in the back of his throat. </p><p></p><p>The first room he found was full. As he passed the second, he saw only Devon and his two companions in there. Devon sneered as the "short ugly one" closed the door. Further down the narrow corridor, he found a room holding the tall quiet older man and a few of the younger ones. Not being able to hold it in anymore, he dropped his goat lunch as greenish muck to float in the room’s bilge. He stumbled away, and one of the young men followed him. </p><p></p><p>“Hey, you gotta clean that up - that’s disgusting!” the young man said, following Malcolm into the room he would share with Jeremy and the others. </p><p></p><p>Jeremy was just finishing a story, “. . .and then the fire started to get out of control so I tried to use the left over fat in the pan to smother it and it blazed up singing my eyebrows. It took months for them to grow back.” </p><p></p><p>“Thas naught very lawky,” Chance said. </p><p></p><p>Malcolm moaned. </p><p></p><p>“Hey, you gotta clean up your puke in our room. It smells and it is just gonna float around and around in there,” the young man said, tapping Malcolm on the shoulder. </p><p></p><p>“Shat the bloody hell up!” Malcolm said, bile flicking from his frothing lips. </p><p></p><p>“I’m not gonna shut up until you clean that up. And I mean, now.” </p><p></p><p>Malcolm placed the palm of his hairy hand full on the boy's face and pushed him roughly away, “If ya dun leave me alone Ahm gon break yer puny neck, ya air me?” Anger shone through the dizziness in the bard’s eyes. </p><p></p><p>“You can’t do that. We’re contracted not to brawl. You can’t intimidate me. I know my rights. I’m gonna tell Deet,” And with that he took off for above deck. </p><p></p><p>Malcolm dropped his stuff in a hammock and hung there for a second. Then, feeling another convulsion ran back above deck. </p><p>There he was stopped by the young man and Deet. </p><p></p><p>“Guisel here tell me you messed his room a bit and he would like you to clean it,” Deet said. </p><p></p><p>Malcolm tried to glare at Guisel, but could only find a greenish countenance. </p><p></p><p>“Ahm sick. If ah try ta clin it awup now, I’ll git sick agin and it’ll become an endless cycle of me puking and clining, clining and puking. It would never end an' would not be a pleasant room to live in. I’ll clean it when ah fill better.” </p><p></p><p>Deet turned to Guisel. “You see, I told you he would be reasonable. You can’t expect a sick man to clean his own mess while still sick, can you?” </p><p></p><p>And at that moment, Malcolm ran to the edge of the deck and shot another helping of goat off the side of the ship. Seeing him run, and hearing the loud wretch, Kazrack’s own iron stomach could not hold it any more and he ran to edge as well, stopping a good five feet from it (fearing tumbling in) and tried to aim his own projectile vomiting over the side. Just missing. He collapsed on the deck, as did Malcolm who lay there with his head hanging over the side. </p><p></p><p>There they remained as the Sea Cow sailed past a forest island to the north, between the many isles of the Kingdom of Herman Land. Of the new friends only Beorth was above deck and in any condition to enjoy the sights. Finally, Ra’s Glory sunk behind an island directly ahead of them and they all found their ways to their respective hammocks. </p><p></p><p>The next two days passed without incident. Each morning, Kazrack awoke before the sun to ask the navigator which direction was north to that he could place his prayer stone properly. He would spend the rest of the day ill. Jana spent most of her time in her cabin, while Malcolm wandered around annoying the boatswain for permission to climb to the top of the crow’s nest, and never getting it. Jeremy lost even more money to Chance, and Beorth remained above deck in contemplation of the passing scenery and staying out of people’s way – when not practicing with his quarterstaff. </p><p>Somewhere in there, Guisel thanked Malcolm for cleaning his mess. Of course, it hadn’t been Malcolm that had done it. It was Kamir. </p><p></p><p>-- </p><p></p><p><span style="font-size: 12px"><strong>Teflem, 27th of Keent - 564 H.E. </strong></span></p><p></p><p>The Sea Cow pulled into dock in the tiny hamlet of Weevon in the mid-afternoon. Crumb’s boys were given shore leave until sundown, as the ship would leave for Derome-Delem at dawn. </p><p></p><p>Crumb reminded them all about the rules against brawling and promising to follow all local laws and customs. He also asked each of them to grab a crate or box of stuff that needed to be dropped off here as they left, and to stop and see Deet for their 8 copper pieces for their two days of travel. </p><p>Most of the “boys” took the opportunity to get off the ship, except for Kamir who remained behind to pump out as much of the bilge as possible to make everyone more comfortable. </p><p></p><p>Weevon was no bigger than about a dozen buildings with thatched roofs. The group headed over to the only tavern as an unruly mob – Overjoyed to be off the leaky creaky ship. </p><p></p><p>The market across from the tavern was closing up. It was located among a small grove of trees that provided nice shade in the heat that has begun to press down on them as soon as the ship had slowed down. </p><p></p><p>Among the vendors, a barber had his chair set up and he called people over for a snip. Devon and his companions went over there, while the others went into the unnamed in driving out the regulars. Crumb’s boys spread out among all the tables and chairs of the very small place and Malcolm performed “The Wind that Shakes the Barley” (23), which did not leave a dry eye in the place and got him a few free drinks. </p><p></p><p>With an ale in his two days of dry-heaving empty stomach, Malcolm felt a little adventurous and tried to get Jeremy to go hunting with him. </p><p></p><p>“But we don’t know this area, or what game there is to be found,” Jeremy said. </p><p></p><p>“Ach! Wull fin' a squirrel or somthin' smoll,” Malcolm said. </p><p></p><p>“Can’t we just relax? We’ve been on a ship for three days. I just want to drink and eat and have a good time,” Jeremy whined a bit. </p><p></p><p>“Ach! Boot huntin' IS a good tahm. . .“ </p><p></p><p>“I’ll go hunting with you,” Kazrack said, overhearing. “Just let me get my cross bow from the ship.” </p><p>And he did just that, as Malcolm went to scout ahead and see what the local terrain was like beyond the veil of trees that seemed to pen in the village. </p><p></p><p>West of the trees was rolling farm land, just occasionally broken up by very small clumps of trees. It did not appear like much of a land that was good for hunting. Malcolm could see a shepherd and his flock atop a hill at some distance, and could hear chickens clucking in the yard of a nearby farmhouse. He walked back towards the village proper to meet Kazrack and then led him into the treeline. </p><p>“Ah dun think da hunts gunna be too good here,” Malcolm told Kazrack. ‘Wan ta wrestle instead?” </p><p></p><p>“Why would I want to wrestle?” the dwarf asked with some confusion. </p><p></p><p>“Why nut? It’s foon,” Malcolm replied. “Fine, we’ll climb a tree instead.” </p><p></p><p>And with that Malcolm dropped his pack (which he insisted on carrying everywhere) and climbed a large tree. </p><p></p><p>He let himself down. “Nah you try,” he said to the dwarf. </p><p></p><p>Kazrack climbed the tree deftly, as if it were the rock wall of a mine and settled down between two branches to look out over the landscape. </p><p></p><p>Malcolm climbed back up and joined him. The skald and the dwarven warrior sat up in the tree talking a bit about what brought them to their current situation and their pasts. Malcolm began to describe the beauty of his homeland - the Dubh Moors </p><p></p><p>Kazrack interrupted. </p><p></p><p>"If it is so beautiful there, why did you leave?" the dwarf asked. </p><p></p><p>"ah had noo choice," Malcolm answered. </p><p></p><p>"How's that?" </p><p></p><p>"Ah wus exiled bah mah clen." </p><p></p><p>"Why?" the dwarf asked, his curiosity growing. </p><p></p><p>"Ah killt a mon froom a pow'full famlee," Malcolm answered in a quieter voice than was usual for the boisterous moorsman. </p><p></p><p>"I'm sure this thing will blow over. You will go back eventually, won't you?" </p><p></p><p>"Aye, whan ah'm old and doon't care aboot dyin' noo more. Ahll return to mah clan, to die fightin', bleedin' out on the lend of mah burth." </p><p></p><p>"What did this man do?" Kazrack asked, realizing he was going to have offer many prompts to get the full story. </p><p></p><p>"He raped mah coosen. No'en booleeved ah, but ah dit." </p><p></p><p>"And then?" </p><p></p><p>"Ah befrended 'im, went hoontin' with 'im .. got 'im droonk..", Malcolm answered, the look of a man reliving a memory not far enopugh away yet. </p><p></p><p>"How did you kill him?" </p><p></p><p>"Ah knoocked ofer our lenten at our cempsite and when he went ta pick it oop, ah braned 'im .. and then cut him into peeces wit mah sword." </p><p></p><p>"Oh," Kazrak said, hiding his disapproval. "I would have challenged him to a duel if it were me." </p><p></p><p>"He wuz a better fightah than ah am," Malcolm said simply. </p><p></p><p>"I see," managed Kazrak. </p><p></p><p>"Sometimes you haf do whatcha haf ta do." </p><p></p><p>-- </p><p></p><p>Meanwhile, Jana, Beorth and Jeremy were still at the village tavern with Chance and the others. Jeremy, never tiring of losing his money to Chance, got up for another game of darts, When soon after Devon and his two companions walked into the tavern, ordered a tankard or three of ale and walked over to a table that was already occupied by three of Crumb’s boys. </p><p></p><p>“That’s our table. Move on!” Devon said to them. </p><p></p><p>Guisel who was among them, hesitated, but thought again and got up leaving the table to the three brooding fellows. Beorth and Jana called the three young ones over to their table. </p><p></p><p>“Thanks,” Guisel said. “Those guys are jerks.” </p><p></p><p>“Yes, well, not everyone learns their manners,” Beorth replied. “I am Beorth, and this is Jana.” </p><p></p><p>“I am Guisel,” Guisel said, “and this is John and Carlos.” He gestured to his companion on the left and right. John was tall and skinny, with messy brown hair and green eyes. He, like Guisel and most of the others, and the olive skin-tone of a Herman-Lander, Carlos was shorter and of medium build, with short thick black hair, darker brown skin and brown eyes. </p><p></p><p>Beorth recognized Carlos as someone who had been watching his quarterstaff training on the ship. </p><p></p><p>“So I hear we’re gonna be broken up into groups when we get to Gothanius. You guys hear anything about that?” Guisel asked. </p><p></p><p>Beorth was surprised. “Broken up into groups? How do you mean?” </p><p></p><p>“Like to go after the dragon. In groups,” John said. </p><p></p><p>“I guess that makes sense. We could cover more ground that way,” the paladin mused. </p><p>“You guys have anyone you’d be in a group with yet?” Guisel asked. </p><p></p><p>“Well we just found out about the groups, didn’t we?” Jana said. “How big are the groups going to be?” </p><p></p><p>“I don’t know, five or six people each maybe.” </p><p></p><p>“That makes sense, they put use six to a cabin, maybe those are our groups,” Beorth said. </p><p></p><p>“Ugh, I hope not. I’m rooming with that old guy who never talks, even when you talk to him. Won’t even introduce himself!” Guisel said with some disgust. </p><p></p><p>The group drank silently for a moment that was only interrupted by Chance’s cry of “And ANOTHER bullseye!” from over by the dart board. </p><p></p><p>“Well, I noticed you have weapons and armor and stuff, and you seem like a nice guy, so if you need a group, the three of us will be glad to have you,” John said to Beorth. </p><p></p><p>“Don’t you have weapons?” Beorth asked. “I mean, aren’t you warriors?” </p><p></p><p>“I know a little bit with the sword,” Guisel said. “And from what I can gather Carlos is an okay warrior. John doesn’t know anything.” </p><p></p><p>“Hey!” said John. </p><p></p><p>“You know what I mean, John,” said Guisel. </p><p></p><p>“This is going to be a bloodbath,’ Jana said under her breath. </p><p></p><p>“Si, yo puedo peliar con el palo grande,” Carlos said. </p><p></p><p>“What did he say?’ Beorth asked. </p><p></p><p>“I’m not sure. He’s okay. But he’s from some far away place I never heard of,” Guisel explained. </p><p></p><p>“Si, muy muy far,” Carlos said, with a smile. </p><p></p><p>Beorth smiled and nodded. </p><p></p><p>“Well, I could show you guys some basic moves with the sword, if you want, “ Beorth offered. </p><p>“Really? Wow. That’d be great,” Guisel said. </p><p></p><p>“We can do it right now,” Beorth said, and led them to the grass by the grove of trees. He then fetched his sword and quarterstaff from the ship. </p><p></p><p>The paladin handed the quarterstaff to Carlos, who smiled and brandished it with some competence. He handed his long sword to Guisel, who held it limp-wristed in his right hand. </p><p></p><p>“No, like this,” Beorth said attempting to explain the proper way to hold a sword. </p><p></p><p>--- </p><p></p><p>Meanwhile, Malcolm was growing tired of sitting and talking in the tree and growing restless, moved out to hang from a bough and do pull-ups. Unfortunately, the branch was not strong enough to hold his weight and with a loud crack, broke and sent the squat bard tumbling to the earth. </p><p>Kazrack looked down, “Are you okay?” </p><p></p><p>“Aye, just got the wind knocked out of me is all.” </p><p></p><p>And with that Kazrack began to laugh and laugh. Annoyed, Malcolm got up, picked up a fist-sized rock and threw it will his might hitting the dwarf, who losing his balance also tumbled out of the tree; landing right on his stomach. Before he could get his wind, Malcolm plopped down on his bag, grabbed his leg and twisted his foot. </p><p></p><p>“Ow, Ow! What are you doing?” Kazrack asked through rasping breaths. </p><p></p><p>“Do ya give? Say ya give?” Malcolm asked playfully. </p><p></p><p>“I give! I give!” Malcolm got up, and in a moment helped the dwarf to his feet. </p><p></p><p>“We should be heading back,” Kazrack said, so the two of them made their way back to the village. </p><p></p><p>--- </p><p></p><p>In the grove of trees, Jana watched as Beorth made little headway with Guisel and John. Carlos on the other hand needed little instruction. He seemed very quick and reasonably strong. </p><p></p><p>As they continued, Devon and his two companions came out of the tavern and walked over to watch for a minute. </p><p></p><p>“Hey look, their learning how to use a sword. Isn’t that cute?” Devon said. “Don’t waste your time kids. You could practice all you want and someone like me could come along and make you eat that sword with his bare hands.” </p><p></p><p>Devon laughed loudly; his companions remained quiet. He then looked over at Jana. </p><p></p><p>“Hey sweet thing,” he called. “Why are you hanging with these losers when you could be with me?” Devon cocked an eyebrow and flashed a lascivious smile. </p><p></p><p>“That’s okay, I’m fine where I am,” Jana responded. </p><p></p><p>“Okay, but when you get tired of these wet-behind-the-ear babies, you can come to me and I’ll show you what a real man is,” Devon laughed loudly again. </p><p></p><p>‘Hopefully you’ll get tired of yourself first and do us all a favor,” she replied. </p><p></p><p>Guisel, John and the others laughed – including the Devon’s “handsome” companion. </p><p></p><p>“What?” Devon said, looking confused. </p><p></p><p>“I think she just insulted you, Devon,” the handsome one said through a smile he gave the young girl. “Maybe you work it out halfway, I’ll explain the rest on the ship. Let’s go.” </p><p></p><p>They began to walk off. “Ah, she’ll come to her senses. They always do. How can any woman resist me?” Devon said. </p><p></p><p>By this time Kazrack emerged from the trees and turned to see that Malcolm was no longer with him. More interested in what Beorth was doing than what trouble Malcolm might be up to he went over there. </p><p></p><p>-- </p><p></p><p>Malcolm was creeping up on some chickens in a nearby farmyard. Stringing his shortbow he fire once and then twice, killing the bird in a flurry of feathers. As he grabbed the dead bird, and hopeful lunch and angry farmer emerged from his home. </p><p></p><p>“Whaddya doing? You can’t just kill my chickens. Bandit! Thief!” </p><p></p><p>With twirl of his hand and a melodic word, pulling a strand of wool from his kilt, Malcolm made to run – But the farmer merely shook his head as if to clear it and said, ‘Whaddya doing?!?” </p><p>“I was going to knock on your door and pay for this,” Malcolm gestured towards the dead chicken in his hand. He still held his bow in the other. “I’m sorry how much?” </p><p></p><p>“Three pieces of copper. And next time, ask first.” </p><p></p><p>Malcolm paid the man and hurried on his way. </p><p></p><p>-- </p><p></p><p>Guisel and John grew bored of training and wandered away. Carlos shrugged his shoulders and joined them. </p><p></p><p>Kazrack decided that training the rest of Crumb’s boys was a good idea, and gathered about a dozen sword-length sticks to bring aboard for training. They all ate of the chicken that Malcolm had bought, which the tavern-keeper prepared and gave him another free drink as Malcolm performed another song. </p><p></p><p>As the sun went down they all returned to the ship. The boatswain stopped Kazrack, “where are you going with all that wood?” </p><p></p><p>“I planned to train some of the boys in fighting, if I could get a spot on the deck,” Kazrack explained. </p><p></p><p>“No way. Impossible,” Kristian replied. “You’ll get in the way of the crew.” </p><p></p><p>“But we need something to pass the time and these boys are in desperate need of some training,” the dwarf pleaded. </p><p></p><p>“Hmm. Okay, only two people at a time and only during meal times,” the boatswain compromised. </p><p>“How will we eat then?” </p><p></p><p>“That is for you to figure out.” </p><p></p><p>All adjourned to bed soon after. And in the morning, the Sea Cow left the dock to head westward round the Kingdom of Herman Land’s northern most island and the northeast to the eastern coast of Derome-Delem.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="el-remmen, post: 31643, member: 11"] [b]Session #3 (Part II)[/b] And so the time came for Crumb and his boys to set off. Beorth finally arrived, and Jana emerged from her room. Boris E. Crumb III gathered the boys together in the common room and said, “We’re going to leaving here as a group to pier 34 where the Sea Cow is waiting to bring us to Derome-Delem. Gather your packs, and you will notice that you have each been given a standard issue pack – put that with your stuff. At the dock is a number of supplied that need to be loaded on to the ship, as you go aboard please grab a crate or sack and bring up to the deck, you will be instructed where to put it.” And with that, the group headed out and walked to the Port District and the Sea Cow. Kazrack dropped his pack upon the deck of the ship, and went back down to help with carrying the supplies aboard. Jeremy and Chance grabbed a large box together, and Malcolm grabbed as big as he could manage by himself. Of the rest of the group, some did their share of the hauling; others took as little as they could get away with. Kamir ran back and forth four times carrying all he could each time. The Sea Cow’s warped timber creaked loudly with every step the new passengers made. Kazrack nervously noted the lack of a life-rail, and the small puddles of water on the bowed deck. Deet and Crumb gathered the boys together. Crumb started, “The Captain of this fine vessel is Captain Reginald Corr. Do not speak to him. Do not bother him. He is a busy man and generous enough to transport this rowdy lot for cheap. If you have any questions about your lodgings (which you will be soon shown) or provisions or anything about the ship, ask the boatswain, Kristian Lavar. He is also a very busy man so do not bother him too much, and do not get in the way of any of the sailors. Now, let us join hands and bow our heads so that Deet may lead us in a prayer.” Crumb’s boys gathered in a circle and bowed their heads. Deet’s voice raised his head after a moment of silence and then spoke in full baritone, ”Oh, Ptah – Opener of Ways. If it is your divine will allow us to safely journey over Tefnut’s seas and arrive in Derome-Delem so that we may see the splendors of its mountains and vales and experience the wonders while helping the people of Gothanius. But . . . If it should be that do not make it, if this ship is sucked down by a maelstrom or attacked by a monstrous sea beast and we are stranded at sea – Let us learn well from the experience and become better from it – for those of us that survive. Ptah bless this journey, and Tefnut allow it.” The silence hung in the air with a weighty presence, until Kazrack cracked it in half with a question. “How come that didn’t make me feel any better?” As the boatswain explained to the passengers where they could find their quarters, Malcolm took to the bow of the ship and began to play his bagpipes as the ship pulled out of dock. The sudden lurch of the ship and the sound of the lapping water immediately made Kazrack’s stomach churn. Beorth stood nearby and listened to Malcolm’s stunningly beautiful, yet haunting, music. While Jana was led to her tiny private cabin by the boatswain. “Didn’t friggin’ know there was gonna be a woman aboard until 20 minutes ago. . .How’s a fraggin’ smaggin’ . . . “ the boatswain faded to an indecipherable mumble as he led the way. The ship moved slowly through the harbor, and immediately the breeze of movement cooled off the deck much to everyone’s delight, except Kazrack. He stumbled below deck trying to find somewhere he could be comfortable, but failed. The cabins held six passengers each and had hammocks stacked two high. The floor of the lower deck were swollen and warped and an inch of bilge covered everything. Looking and feeling green, the dwarf found Jeremy losing most of his money already to Chance in a dice game When one of the dice fell into the bilge, the dwarf notice what he had been too sick to see or hear – the water! “The ship is sinking! The ship is sinking!” he cried running all the way back up the broken stair and through the hatch. “There is a leak! The ship is sinking!” He caught the attention of a few sailors and of those of Crumb’s boys who had not found their way below deck yet. Among them, the boatswain; “What are ya talking about?” he asked the dwarf. Kazrack explained with a look of horror. “That is the bilge. All ships have it. Such some water that soaks through. Nothing to be done about it and nothing to worry about. But if you run around screaming such a thing again, I’ll toss ye overboard meself!” “Uh, okay.” Kazrack calmed down, but his stomach and head did not. Feeling woozy, he threw himself down near the middle of the deck and moaned. By this time, Malcolm’s own nausea was overcoming his ability to play his pipes, and he ended his song with a crescendo – Then, tucking his bagpipes beneath his arm, he walked to find his quarters, stumbling from left to right like a drunkard, tasting his bile in the back of his throat. The first room he found was full. As he passed the second, he saw only Devon and his two companions in there. Devon sneered as the "short ugly one" closed the door. Further down the narrow corridor, he found a room holding the tall quiet older man and a few of the younger ones. Not being able to hold it in anymore, he dropped his goat lunch as greenish muck to float in the room’s bilge. He stumbled away, and one of the young men followed him. “Hey, you gotta clean that up - that’s disgusting!” the young man said, following Malcolm into the room he would share with Jeremy and the others. Jeremy was just finishing a story, “. . .and then the fire started to get out of control so I tried to use the left over fat in the pan to smother it and it blazed up singing my eyebrows. It took months for them to grow back.” “Thas naught very lawky,” Chance said. Malcolm moaned. “Hey, you gotta clean up your puke in our room. It smells and it is just gonna float around and around in there,” the young man said, tapping Malcolm on the shoulder. “Shat the bloody hell up!” Malcolm said, bile flicking from his frothing lips. “I’m not gonna shut up until you clean that up. And I mean, now.” Malcolm placed the palm of his hairy hand full on the boy's face and pushed him roughly away, “If ya dun leave me alone Ahm gon break yer puny neck, ya air me?” Anger shone through the dizziness in the bard’s eyes. “You can’t do that. We’re contracted not to brawl. You can’t intimidate me. I know my rights. I’m gonna tell Deet,” And with that he took off for above deck. Malcolm dropped his stuff in a hammock and hung there for a second. Then, feeling another convulsion ran back above deck. There he was stopped by the young man and Deet. “Guisel here tell me you messed his room a bit and he would like you to clean it,” Deet said. Malcolm tried to glare at Guisel, but could only find a greenish countenance. “Ahm sick. If ah try ta clin it awup now, I’ll git sick agin and it’ll become an endless cycle of me puking and clining, clining and puking. It would never end an' would not be a pleasant room to live in. I’ll clean it when ah fill better.” Deet turned to Guisel. “You see, I told you he would be reasonable. You can’t expect a sick man to clean his own mess while still sick, can you?” And at that moment, Malcolm ran to the edge of the deck and shot another helping of goat off the side of the ship. Seeing him run, and hearing the loud wretch, Kazrack’s own iron stomach could not hold it any more and he ran to edge as well, stopping a good five feet from it (fearing tumbling in) and tried to aim his own projectile vomiting over the side. Just missing. He collapsed on the deck, as did Malcolm who lay there with his head hanging over the side. There they remained as the Sea Cow sailed past a forest island to the north, between the many isles of the Kingdom of Herman Land. Of the new friends only Beorth was above deck and in any condition to enjoy the sights. Finally, Ra’s Glory sunk behind an island directly ahead of them and they all found their ways to their respective hammocks. The next two days passed without incident. Each morning, Kazrack awoke before the sun to ask the navigator which direction was north to that he could place his prayer stone properly. He would spend the rest of the day ill. Jana spent most of her time in her cabin, while Malcolm wandered around annoying the boatswain for permission to climb to the top of the crow’s nest, and never getting it. Jeremy lost even more money to Chance, and Beorth remained above deck in contemplation of the passing scenery and staying out of people’s way – when not practicing with his quarterstaff. Somewhere in there, Guisel thanked Malcolm for cleaning his mess. Of course, it hadn’t been Malcolm that had done it. It was Kamir. -- [size=3][b]Teflem, 27th of Keent - 564 H.E. [/b][/size] The Sea Cow pulled into dock in the tiny hamlet of Weevon in the mid-afternoon. Crumb’s boys were given shore leave until sundown, as the ship would leave for Derome-Delem at dawn. Crumb reminded them all about the rules against brawling and promising to follow all local laws and customs. He also asked each of them to grab a crate or box of stuff that needed to be dropped off here as they left, and to stop and see Deet for their 8 copper pieces for their two days of travel. Most of the “boys” took the opportunity to get off the ship, except for Kamir who remained behind to pump out as much of the bilge as possible to make everyone more comfortable. Weevon was no bigger than about a dozen buildings with thatched roofs. The group headed over to the only tavern as an unruly mob – Overjoyed to be off the leaky creaky ship. The market across from the tavern was closing up. It was located among a small grove of trees that provided nice shade in the heat that has begun to press down on them as soon as the ship had slowed down. Among the vendors, a barber had his chair set up and he called people over for a snip. Devon and his companions went over there, while the others went into the unnamed in driving out the regulars. Crumb’s boys spread out among all the tables and chairs of the very small place and Malcolm performed “The Wind that Shakes the Barley” (23), which did not leave a dry eye in the place and got him a few free drinks. With an ale in his two days of dry-heaving empty stomach, Malcolm felt a little adventurous and tried to get Jeremy to go hunting with him. “But we don’t know this area, or what game there is to be found,” Jeremy said. “Ach! Wull fin' a squirrel or somthin' smoll,” Malcolm said. “Can’t we just relax? We’ve been on a ship for three days. I just want to drink and eat and have a good time,” Jeremy whined a bit. “Ach! Boot huntin' IS a good tahm. . .“ “I’ll go hunting with you,” Kazrack said, overhearing. “Just let me get my cross bow from the ship.” And he did just that, as Malcolm went to scout ahead and see what the local terrain was like beyond the veil of trees that seemed to pen in the village. West of the trees was rolling farm land, just occasionally broken up by very small clumps of trees. It did not appear like much of a land that was good for hunting. Malcolm could see a shepherd and his flock atop a hill at some distance, and could hear chickens clucking in the yard of a nearby farmhouse. He walked back towards the village proper to meet Kazrack and then led him into the treeline. “Ah dun think da hunts gunna be too good here,” Malcolm told Kazrack. ‘Wan ta wrestle instead?” “Why would I want to wrestle?” the dwarf asked with some confusion. “Why nut? It’s foon,” Malcolm replied. “Fine, we’ll climb a tree instead.” And with that Malcolm dropped his pack (which he insisted on carrying everywhere) and climbed a large tree. He let himself down. “Nah you try,” he said to the dwarf. Kazrack climbed the tree deftly, as if it were the rock wall of a mine and settled down between two branches to look out over the landscape. Malcolm climbed back up and joined him. The skald and the dwarven warrior sat up in the tree talking a bit about what brought them to their current situation and their pasts. Malcolm began to describe the beauty of his homeland - the Dubh Moors Kazrack interrupted. "If it is so beautiful there, why did you leave?" the dwarf asked. "ah had noo choice," Malcolm answered. "How's that?" "Ah wus exiled bah mah clen." "Why?" the dwarf asked, his curiosity growing. "Ah killt a mon froom a pow'full famlee," Malcolm answered in a quieter voice than was usual for the boisterous moorsman. "I'm sure this thing will blow over. You will go back eventually, won't you?" "Aye, whan ah'm old and doon't care aboot dyin' noo more. Ahll return to mah clan, to die fightin', bleedin' out on the lend of mah burth." "What did this man do?" Kazrack asked, realizing he was going to have offer many prompts to get the full story. "He raped mah coosen. No'en booleeved ah, but ah dit." "And then?" "Ah befrended 'im, went hoontin' with 'im .. got 'im droonk..", Malcolm answered, the look of a man reliving a memory not far enopugh away yet. "How did you kill him?" "Ah knoocked ofer our lenten at our cempsite and when he went ta pick it oop, ah braned 'im .. and then cut him into peeces wit mah sword." "Oh," Kazrak said, hiding his disapproval. "I would have challenged him to a duel if it were me." "He wuz a better fightah than ah am," Malcolm said simply. "I see," managed Kazrak. "Sometimes you haf do whatcha haf ta do." -- Meanwhile, Jana, Beorth and Jeremy were still at the village tavern with Chance and the others. Jeremy, never tiring of losing his money to Chance, got up for another game of darts, When soon after Devon and his two companions walked into the tavern, ordered a tankard or three of ale and walked over to a table that was already occupied by three of Crumb’s boys. “That’s our table. Move on!” Devon said to them. Guisel who was among them, hesitated, but thought again and got up leaving the table to the three brooding fellows. Beorth and Jana called the three young ones over to their table. “Thanks,” Guisel said. “Those guys are jerks.” “Yes, well, not everyone learns their manners,” Beorth replied. “I am Beorth, and this is Jana.” “I am Guisel,” Guisel said, “and this is John and Carlos.” He gestured to his companion on the left and right. John was tall and skinny, with messy brown hair and green eyes. He, like Guisel and most of the others, and the olive skin-tone of a Herman-Lander, Carlos was shorter and of medium build, with short thick black hair, darker brown skin and brown eyes. Beorth recognized Carlos as someone who had been watching his quarterstaff training on the ship. “So I hear we’re gonna be broken up into groups when we get to Gothanius. You guys hear anything about that?” Guisel asked. Beorth was surprised. “Broken up into groups? How do you mean?” “Like to go after the dragon. In groups,” John said. “I guess that makes sense. We could cover more ground that way,” the paladin mused. “You guys have anyone you’d be in a group with yet?” Guisel asked. “Well we just found out about the groups, didn’t we?” Jana said. “How big are the groups going to be?” “I don’t know, five or six people each maybe.” “That makes sense, they put use six to a cabin, maybe those are our groups,” Beorth said. “Ugh, I hope not. I’m rooming with that old guy who never talks, even when you talk to him. Won’t even introduce himself!” Guisel said with some disgust. The group drank silently for a moment that was only interrupted by Chance’s cry of “And ANOTHER bullseye!” from over by the dart board. “Well, I noticed you have weapons and armor and stuff, and you seem like a nice guy, so if you need a group, the three of us will be glad to have you,” John said to Beorth. “Don’t you have weapons?” Beorth asked. “I mean, aren’t you warriors?” “I know a little bit with the sword,” Guisel said. “And from what I can gather Carlos is an okay warrior. John doesn’t know anything.” “Hey!” said John. “You know what I mean, John,” said Guisel. “This is going to be a bloodbath,’ Jana said under her breath. “Si, yo puedo peliar con el palo grande,” Carlos said. “What did he say?’ Beorth asked. “I’m not sure. He’s okay. But he’s from some far away place I never heard of,” Guisel explained. “Si, muy muy far,” Carlos said, with a smile. Beorth smiled and nodded. “Well, I could show you guys some basic moves with the sword, if you want, “ Beorth offered. “Really? Wow. That’d be great,” Guisel said. “We can do it right now,” Beorth said, and led them to the grass by the grove of trees. He then fetched his sword and quarterstaff from the ship. The paladin handed the quarterstaff to Carlos, who smiled and brandished it with some competence. He handed his long sword to Guisel, who held it limp-wristed in his right hand. “No, like this,” Beorth said attempting to explain the proper way to hold a sword. --- Meanwhile, Malcolm was growing tired of sitting and talking in the tree and growing restless, moved out to hang from a bough and do pull-ups. Unfortunately, the branch was not strong enough to hold his weight and with a loud crack, broke and sent the squat bard tumbling to the earth. Kazrack looked down, “Are you okay?” “Aye, just got the wind knocked out of me is all.” And with that Kazrack began to laugh and laugh. Annoyed, Malcolm got up, picked up a fist-sized rock and threw it will his might hitting the dwarf, who losing his balance also tumbled out of the tree; landing right on his stomach. Before he could get his wind, Malcolm plopped down on his bag, grabbed his leg and twisted his foot. “Ow, Ow! What are you doing?” Kazrack asked through rasping breaths. “Do ya give? Say ya give?” Malcolm asked playfully. “I give! I give!” Malcolm got up, and in a moment helped the dwarf to his feet. “We should be heading back,” Kazrack said, so the two of them made their way back to the village. --- In the grove of trees, Jana watched as Beorth made little headway with Guisel and John. Carlos on the other hand needed little instruction. He seemed very quick and reasonably strong. As they continued, Devon and his two companions came out of the tavern and walked over to watch for a minute. “Hey look, their learning how to use a sword. Isn’t that cute?” Devon said. “Don’t waste your time kids. You could practice all you want and someone like me could come along and make you eat that sword with his bare hands.” Devon laughed loudly; his companions remained quiet. He then looked over at Jana. “Hey sweet thing,” he called. “Why are you hanging with these losers when you could be with me?” Devon cocked an eyebrow and flashed a lascivious smile. “That’s okay, I’m fine where I am,” Jana responded. “Okay, but when you get tired of these wet-behind-the-ear babies, you can come to me and I’ll show you what a real man is,” Devon laughed loudly again. ‘Hopefully you’ll get tired of yourself first and do us all a favor,” she replied. Guisel, John and the others laughed – including the Devon’s “handsome” companion. “What?” Devon said, looking confused. “I think she just insulted you, Devon,” the handsome one said through a smile he gave the young girl. “Maybe you work it out halfway, I’ll explain the rest on the ship. Let’s go.” They began to walk off. “Ah, she’ll come to her senses. They always do. How can any woman resist me?” Devon said. By this time Kazrack emerged from the trees and turned to see that Malcolm was no longer with him. More interested in what Beorth was doing than what trouble Malcolm might be up to he went over there. -- Malcolm was creeping up on some chickens in a nearby farmyard. Stringing his shortbow he fire once and then twice, killing the bird in a flurry of feathers. As he grabbed the dead bird, and hopeful lunch and angry farmer emerged from his home. “Whaddya doing? You can’t just kill my chickens. Bandit! Thief!” With twirl of his hand and a melodic word, pulling a strand of wool from his kilt, Malcolm made to run – But the farmer merely shook his head as if to clear it and said, ‘Whaddya doing?!?” “I was going to knock on your door and pay for this,” Malcolm gestured towards the dead chicken in his hand. He still held his bow in the other. “I’m sorry how much?” “Three pieces of copper. And next time, ask first.” Malcolm paid the man and hurried on his way. -- Guisel and John grew bored of training and wandered away. Carlos shrugged his shoulders and joined them. Kazrack decided that training the rest of Crumb’s boys was a good idea, and gathered about a dozen sword-length sticks to bring aboard for training. They all ate of the chicken that Malcolm had bought, which the tavern-keeper prepared and gave him another free drink as Malcolm performed another song. As the sun went down they all returned to the ship. The boatswain stopped Kazrack, “where are you going with all that wood?” “I planned to train some of the boys in fighting, if I could get a spot on the deck,” Kazrack explained. “No way. Impossible,” Kristian replied. “You’ll get in the way of the crew.” “But we need something to pass the time and these boys are in desperate need of some training,” the dwarf pleaded. “Hmm. Okay, only two people at a time and only during meal times,” the boatswain compromised. “How will we eat then?” “That is for you to figure out.” All adjourned to bed soon after. And in the morning, the Sea Cow left the dock to head westward round the Kingdom of Herman Land’s northern most island and the northeast to the eastern coast of Derome-Delem. [/QUOTE]
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"Out of the Frying Pan" - Book I: Gathering Wood (reprise)
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