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Message: <blockquote data-quote="HolyMan" data-source="post: 5167318" data-attributes="member: 84167">The Ocean Master sat low in the harbor, it's shallow draft allowing Torath to see himself in the dark water. The morning sun had just cleared the horizon and Torath yawned due to the early hour he had to be up and readied for this voyage. Saliors hustled about on all kinds of errands and one spots the sleepy paladin. "Could use some 'elp if'n ye not overly busy," he says snidely. "Ye think ye'll just gets a free voyage ta the mainland and Blackmoor?" Another stops in passing, putting down a large crate he was carrying. "Ye knows dim priests don't 'elp." He says pointing a finger at Torath. "Dae tinks they can gets everyting fiur free. Here piligrim whys don't ye earn ye spot on da Master."  Torath looks to both men definently sailors by their loose trousers, coarse woolen shirts, and lack of shoes. The biggest of the two had spoken first. His evil grin nearly invisible under his scraggly black beard and a kerchief tied over his head. The other man while nearly clean shaven and bald stood out by the two large brass hoops in his ears. Before this day Torath had never been in any kind of real conflict. He had been taught by the priest of his order that every situation had it's own unique way of being resolved, and not all fights (just the majority) need to be solved by force of arms. There as also the art of diplomacy, stealth, and... Torath froze as he tried to remember that lesson. Brother Teion was sitting under a tree a book in his lap. He asked Torath a question. What was it? Torath thought hard and thenm remembered. "If ever you were to find yourself in a conflict deprived of armor, shield, or sword. And your enemy stood before you and you knew they could not be dissuaded from their actions. What weapon young Torath is still left to you?" Looking back at the two men he saw they each carried a dagger in their belt. So this was not a time to draw his sword and possibly be cut down from behind. He thought through the lessons, diplomacy? Adele willing he would try it, had he truly believed these two ruffians would give over from flowery speech and praises spoken to them. The art of stealth, impossible with his adversaries before him. The final lesson, if ever there was a time it was now. Torath didn't know the answer then but he learned the lesson taught to him by Brother Teion. "What weapon young Torath is still left to you? Your brain my pupil and use it well." Torath looked around the deck and then at the two unruly sailors again.  Swallowing Torath prepared to use the art of wit to settle this conflict.</blockquote>

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