Above & Below

The monks would at least know where along the dock Lazar might be set up.

You set out in the morning, with the docks already bustling. Gulls call out raucously as you move along. It's mostly fishermen at this time, bringing equipment out to their ships, untying nets on the decks, that kind of thing. Cadmael scouts up ahead, not noticing any signs of trouble. Eventually things quiet down as you reach the wealthier section. There's still work being done, but some of the ships sit quietly idle as they're guarded by various humanoids. One or two are having goods loaded onto them. A woman pushes a rickety cart along, offering crew members morning pastries.

The pastries certainly don't look exotic, but they look well-made. Sweet buns with a little icing, rolls with bits of dried fruit, and a few other selections. "Only two copper each," she offers. 

"Lazar, yes. He owns the ship at the end with the purple and gold all over it." She nods toward the ship, which you can see another five or six vessels down. "He ain't always here first thing in the mornin', but he should makin' his way down soon."

Brask looks at the pastries, and then at Kurama, then back at the pastries, then at Kurama again.

“Thank you for the information.  We will head that way and hope we come across him.”  Kurama replied to the woman before preparing to leave.  Stopping himself on the half-turn as he locked eyes with Brask, he sighed lightly before handing the woman a silver piece for (5) pastries, giving Brask (2) and (1) to everyone else before heading in the direction of Lazar

Pip nods his head excitedly. "Thank you, thank you!" He starts to nibble at the pastry before finally taking a big bite. 

Brask has finished both pastries by the time you walk the fifty or sixty feet to Lazar's ship. The vessel is impressive, with three large masts, intricate gold and purple trim, and a crew of solid looking men pushing crates up a wide plank. Eventually, two of them notice you and puff up their chests. "Best be gettin' a move on." One of them nods further down the dock, as if to say, start heading that way.

Two more of the men come up behind the first pair, hands at the swords and daggers on their belts. 

Someone calls from behind you. "Now, now, is that any way to treat new friends?" Lazar's booming voice is unmistakable. "I may not have recognized you, but for...well, you know." He gestures grandly at the four of you. "I take it the past few days have treated you well? What can old Lazar do for you now?"

Hey, Brask says, grabbing Lazar's hand in a firm handshake.  Yeah, not bad, not bad.  Fought a few monks, fought a few bandits.  Keeping busy.  We need to get out to sea.  So, a boat, or a ride on a boat, or something?  We can pay maybe, or work for it.  You got anyone you need killing?

"Ha!" Lazar shakes your hand and you're surprised the somewhat rotund merchant has a decent grip. "I always try the easy way first. A bit of talk and a bit of coin usually helps avoid the killing. Now, as for... Hey! Careful with that, you dolts!" He shouts at two of his workers as they nearly drop a huge crate carrying it up the plank. They struggle to right it, and continue on their way.

"Now, I'm sure your services would be more useful than the coin you could provide. Remind me where it is you're looking to travel again? I'm afraid time is money, and I never veer far from the course we have set ourselves."

"We're looking for a... friend," Kurama began, not wanting to frighten off someone else with the party's search for one of the Sisters,  "though we are not quite certain where they might be located as we're newcomers to this land.  Do you know anything about an Oasis out at sea?  We've been told we might be able find them out there or nearby."   

Lazar raises an eyebrow. "Oasis isn't a word people throw around a lot here." He looks furrows his brow in thought. "If you're trying to get to some...potentially dangerous place out in the middle of the ocean, I can't risk my crew and my ship. But for a hard journey's work, I can drag a single-sail catboat for you. When you want to set off and take the risk, it'll be on you. If you make it back here, I'll take the boat back. There's a lot of ocean for a little one sail vessel, though. And she tends to be unkind at the best of times."

He glances up and out over the ocean, with white caps stretching out to the horizon. Murky blue-gray water crashes against the docks and the rocky beaches to the north. The never-ending gray sky hangs above you, dotted with gulls and a few crows looking for breakfast. 

A good offer, Brask says, looking at the others.  What do you think?

"I do not think we have much of a choice at this point."  Kurama offered, "Though I do not believe any of us have any particular skill with nautical travel.  Are the seas particularly dangerous in this part of the world?"  

"Oh, just as dangerous as everywhere else. Luckily my crew knows places to avoid, but there's always a risk." Lazar scratches the underside of his short, well-kept beard. "No nautical knowledge required. Doesn't take much of that to haul crates off the ship, pull ropes when you're told, that sort of thing. Any of you know how to tie a good knot?"

Pip raises his hand sheepishly. 

"Good, good. You'll all do fine. We take off within the hour, if you've got any final things to take care of or any belongings to pack. We'll be back in about two weeks if things go well, but if you set off on your own...well, may you find what you're looking for."

Lazar has you help loading up the ship, bringing crates and bags down to the storage rooms. The crew seems to consist of Lazar and nine others, mostly young and middle-aged men with weathered skin from years of working on the ocean. Below deck, there are two rooms filled with bunks where everyone sleeps. Lazar, of course, has his own captain's quarters behind a pair of wooden doors. Two men tie up a small catboat  to the back of the ship. It looks well-made but has been worn by use. A single mast stands in the middle with a somewhat yellowed sail tied up and strapped to the deck. 

While a few of the crew are making their final rounds, you stand with Lazar on the deck. One of the older crewmen comes up, pointing off to the south. "Time to go. Storm brewin' up in the hills."

Lazar nods. "Alright! The sea is waiting for us, my friends. You (looking at Pip), help with the ropes. You (looking at Brask), pull up that main sail. And you two, help with the other sails. You'll be told when to turn them."

Give me an athletics or sleight of hand check to see how well you're able to help out.

Main sail, says Brask.  Got it.  Looks fine.  He walks over confidently and pulls on what he hopes is the right rope.  Athletics 13

Brask takes a deep breath and grins, looking out onto the open water.  Smells a lot better than that village.  It's been ages since I was on a ship, like a proper ship out in the middle of the ocean.  Good times.  People busy getting on with their jobs and not bleating about saving their village from bandits for coppers.  Good food.  And maybe some big sea beastie to kill, eh?  If we're lucky.

(Hope everyone who celebrated had a happy holidays!)

Kurama nodded to the captain before heading the direction the man had pointed to.  When he arrived at the appropriate sail, he began to try and recall what knowledge he knew about sailing and seamanship from his studies.  Unfortunately, that left him very distracted.  Anyone walking by him could hear him mutter quietly to himself.  "Hard to Port is to the right...  No left... Or wait, is it even a direction or more a call to action?... Oh dear, this Isn't good..."   

Sleight of Hand check: 3 (Nat1!!!!) (Starting this trip off with a bang haha)  

The main sail flies upward as Brask yanks the rope. Lazar nods approvingly as he passes you, making his way through a pair of doors. The man who seems to be the first mate walks the deck, surveying everyone and making sure you're ready to set off. His long dark hair and beard partly hide a pale, weathered face with blue eyes and a few little scars across his upper cheek. He's tall - not Brask tall, of course - with broad shoulders. "Good work, hold tight until we can get that rope tied off. Let's hope there are no sea beasties on this trip, aye? Easier money to be had if we make it across unscathed, boring as that may be."

Pip has no problem tying off the rope he was assigned to, and Effort stands quietly by one of the smaller sails, waiting for orders. Kurama fumbles awfully with the rear-most sail, and Pip rushes over to help him steady the rope before anyone seems to notice. Eventually someone comes over, turning the sail ever-so-slightly as the boat drifts away from the dock. A gust of wind catches it, and you feel the entire thing jerk suddenly toward the open ocean. You get your feet set underneath you as the other sails slowly turn and the boat picks up speed.

"Thank you Pip."  Kurama whispered to the goblin as he came to his aid.  "The books made it seem so much easier...  Perhaps you can show me what I'm actually supposed to do..."  

When the boat caught the wind and began to lurch aggressively towards the ocean, Kurama felt an unsettling lurch in his stomach in response before beginning to feel a faint hint of nausea. Slowly making his way over to his friends, he commented, "I do not think I am going to enjoy my first nautical voyage.  Let us hope that this is a very quick expedition."    

You'll do fine, says Brask, giving Kurama a hearty slap on the back to see if he can induce some fun projectile vomiting.  Get your sea legs in no time, I reckon.  So, we're after another sister, right?  What do you reckon this one wants?

Brask will ask Lazar how long the journey is likely to take.  If there's any time, he will try to turn the ship's tasks into constitution/strength training for Pip.

• CON Roll for Queasiness!: 6

Kurama felt a bit a acid reflux from Brask's slap and just barely managed to hold it in.  "I'm not so certain about that..." he eventually croaked out once he managed to avert disaster.  "And I am not certain, though I suspect it will be a trial of somesort for Effort or Pip this time around.  It doubt it will be very pleasant" he added remembering how well he and Brask had enjoyed their particular tests.