Upgrade your account to a Community Supporter account and remove most of the site ads.

Reply to thread

Message: <blockquote data-quote="peteyfrogboy" data-source="post: 1183699" data-attributes="member: 5677">The Voyage BeginsEarly the next morning, the four companions were sharing breakfast and discussing their impending trip. Parika buttered a biscuit as she spoke. "Gorsky said that Avandrae lives in the Tanglewood in Ahandria. Wherever that is.""I'm sure we can find it," said Nevroth. How many Tanglewoods can there be?""Three," said a voice from the corner of the room. They looked over and saw Delthic with a songbook laid open in front of him. "Gorsky told me about his problem, and how you were going to help him out with it. There are two small forests in the north of the Midlands called 'Tanglewood', but Avandrae lives in the large one in the south. The elves call it Glamrenglir."Nevroth and Parika shared a silent look, then Parika leaned over in her chair and smiled. "You know, we might have need of someone who knows their way around Ahandria."Delthic picked up his already-packed bag from under the table and walked over to join them. "I thought you'd never ask." He pulled a roll of vellum from a pouch on the side of his pack and laid it out on the table. It was a map of the Eastern Kingdoms, from Moril down to Tavis and everything in between. "I picked up a new map; mine's covered in notes that aren't really pertinent to this expedition." He placed his finger on a tiny cluster of islands in the middle of the ocean. "We're here." He traced a line straight across the open water to the Midland coast. "The quickest route is going to be straight across the Dragon Sea to Istaro, here." He tapped his finger on a small dot. "Then we can pick up some horses and head east overland." The route he described went through Pradnipha, Travatti, San Frinalo, and finally Luni. None of these names were familiar to anyone else. "Luni's on the edge of Glamrenglir; we should be able to find someone there to guide us to where we need to go."Nevroth looked around at the others, whose faces were uniformly blank. "Uh, that sounds like a good plan."The bard nodded and stowed the map away again. "Now we just have to find a ship willing to take us across the Dragon in storm season. I've got to tell some people I'll be gone. I'll meet you all down at the docks in an hour or so."As Delthic went out the door, Parika shook her head. "He can be a useful guy sometimes." She turned to Seraphim. "Come to think of it, don't you have people to talk to, too? You have a job here, unlike the rest of us."The halfling smiled. "I checked with them already. Turns out they insure the Opera House. They really don't want to have to pay out any claims if there's a massacre. I have their blessing."***Rachel stopped and put her hands on her hips. She nodded as she looked up at the merchant galleon tied up by the pier. The lines of the ship were graceful compared to her neighbors, with a generous number of sails that could be configured for any wind or weather. Painted across the bow were the words Breath of Heaven. "This is the one.""Why this one?" asked Nevroth. Despite growing up in the port town of Cahiedra, he had never taken much interest in sailing."First off, it's a big ship, so it should be able to handle any weather better. Second, it's an Ahandrian merchant ship, so it's probably used to making this run. Third," she traced the curves of the ship in the air with her fingers, "It's a Lagurn ship. The Duchy of Lagurn makes the fastest sailing ships on the sea. Of course, they keep the best for themselves, but this is going to get us where we're going faster and safer than any other tub out here." She snapped her fingers. "Come on, Gorsky, let's go talk to the captain."She and the gnome went up to the ship and were let on board. From below the others could see them talking with the captain. Though they were too far to hear, it was possible to tell from his familiar hair-pulling that Gorsky was complaining that the cost of passage would ruin him.Delthic chuckled. "Oh, one other thing you'll be happy to hear. Since I started hanging around with you lot I've learned a few new ditties to help patch you up should anything... violent happen.""Oh, I'm sure it will," said Nevroth. "It always does."***Four days and a minor amount of seasickness later, the Breath of Heaven was approaching Istaro Harbor. The trip had been so uneventful as to almost be boring. Nevroth spent most of his time practicing with his new sword and hook. Seraphim and Parika played cards with the crew. Rachel made herself useful up on deck. The crew -- like most Ahandrian crews -- was all male, but they were impressed enough with Rachel's ability to let her help out.There was a knock at the door of Nevroth and Delthic's cabin. The manhunter glanced at the small porthole and saw that it was not yet light out. He opened the door to see the captain. "We're in sight of Istaro. I'm dropping anchor here to wait for a pilot at dawn to take us in past the shoals. I'm sending some of my men ashore in the boat to make arrangements. You folks are welcome to go with them. I know you're in a hurry to get where you're going.""I appreciate that, Captain. I'll let everyone know." He closed the door and poked the snoring bard. "Get up. We're leaving."</blockquote>

Verification