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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Tokiwong" data-source="post: 1489774" data-attributes="member: 961">Chapter 4 - Part 3“Wow, I have never heard of such a place, where the sand piles into mountains, and not a drop of rain falls from the sky for months on end, how does one live in such a place?” Dais spoke quickly enthralled by Osan’s tale of his homeland.“One survives, because they must, the desert is a harsh mistress, but her bounties are sweet for those that are willing to work for it.  She is not a forgiving mistress, by any means, but she provides enough to live,” Osan smiled as he ate.  He took a draught of water and continued, “You get used to the heat, and rationing of water comes natural over time.  You do what you must, and all is well.”Lain rolled her eyes, “Well we need to find a steady source of income, I mean 250 gold coins may be a king’s ransom to you, but not to me.  I have a taste for the finer things in life.”“I think you have a taste for other people’s money,” Thane quipped.Lain shrugged, “Only the bad people’s money,” she purred, “there just seem to be so many of them.”“Indeed,” Thane snorted.“Well if it is coin you seek, I may have a proposition for you.  A saltblood from Seagarden is looking for a crew to head down the Dural River to Ebernath to drop off a shipment of goods before heading onward to Seagarden, transporting another shipment of goods.  She is looking for a strong crew and is willing to pay seventy-five gold for the journey to Ebernath, and another seventy-five for the journey to Seagarden.”“Hmm 150 gold coins for that, what is the catch?” Lain responded.“I am sure it is honest work,” the tiefling mused.“Honest, indeed,” Thane scowled, “it sounds like shifty work to me, Dais.”“But it sounds like quite the adventure as well, and truth be told I have never been to Ebernath or Seagarden.  I am sold, where do I sign up?” Dais answered.“Your idiocy is only matched by your glaring lack of common sense,” Lain sighed, “if idiot boy is going, then count me in.  Besides someone has to be there to protect him from himself.”  Thane just nodded in agreement.Nearly an hour later and many districts over the party of disparate adventurers were standing in the docks overlooking the Goldspring Sea.  The sea itself was a deep blue, with flecks of gold dancing amidst its waves that twinkled in the afternoon sunlight.  Osan paused in front of an old tavern where a salty sailor sat in a chair by the door eyeing the group suspiciously.Osan opened the door and motioned the party inside, “Please in here.”Inside the squat rectangular room were many sailors, and thugs sitting around wooden tables playing card and dice games.  Several bottles of rum lay on the tables, and the men drank generously.  The serving wenches were burly women with thick curving builds and dresses that accentuated their more bountiful features, but with tough attitudes to match.Seated at one table near the center of the room was a woman adorned with several tribal tattoos along her arms, and a stylized sun tattoo on her tanned face.  She wore her dark hair long, and she had an exotic look with slightly slanted eyes and pouting generous lips which curled into a mischievous smile as she slammed down another hand of cards, shouting loudly in a foreign tongue.The men roared in anguish as they lost more of their hard earned silver coins to the exotic sailor.  She in turned smiled seductively, and played with the coins on her fingers, before glancing up to the approaching party, that looked horribly out of place in the salty dive.  The woman leaned back in her chair kicking her leather boots up on the table, and spoke in accented Common, “The tiefling returns, and with friends no less, a stout crew for the Radical Dream, or hapless fools not fit to sail the seas with Captain Celeste!” she shouted loudly.Osan smiled, “They are interested in work, Captain.”“Really,” she let her chair lean forward, and then stood moving closer to Dais and his companions.  She paused looking at Lain, “An elf?  And a strange one at that, skin is darker then the night itself,” she smiled.Lain bristled, “You’re one to talk,” she sneered.“Ahh the elf has fire in her heart, I like her already,” she glanced over to Thane.  The disciple visibly gulped trying not to look upon the Captain’s more lovely endowments and failing miserably.“Relax,” the Captain purred softly, “I won’t bite you, unless you like that sort of thing,” she winked, “a little scared but I am in need of men, so I suppose I can use him.”Thane nodded slowly, “Thank you.”The Captain moved to Dais and grinned.  She placed her hands around his head and pulled him into a deep kiss.  His eyes grew wide, as he struggled against her lips but failed as he resigned himself to the Captain’s passion.  She pulled back and sized him up, “I can definitely use this one, a strong back, solid arm and frame, you can be my first mate,” she winked.  Lain couldn’t help but narrow her eyes at the conniving captain, although she didn’t quite understand why.Dais sputtered, “Uh, thank you, do we need a contract?”“Of course, and we can work all that out, now I will pay seventy-five coins for the journey to Ebernath, and then another seventy-five more for the trip to Seagarden.  You don’t ask questions about my business, you do as told, and you work hard and we will not have any problems, agreed?” she smiled wickedly as she tightened the red bandanna around her long curly dark hair.“Sure,” Dais replied.“Then welcome aboard the Radical Dream, First Mate…” Captain Celeste let the words trail off.“Dais of Ironwall, son of Hunder at your service,” Dais replied.“Dais, I like that name, so manly, and strong,” she grinned, “and the rest of you?”“Thane Madrigal, servant of Alharra the Dawn Bearer,” Thane replied with a bow of his head.Lain kept her eyes narrowed at the saltblood captain, “Lain.”</blockquote>

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