On a Wine Dark Sea
On a Wine Dark Sea
The Pangolin makes good time that day. She surfs down long glassy waves with a following breeze, slightly heeled over to port. The cordage creaks and the mast groans. You've come to learn the ship's language. She's feeling happy and energetic, you can tell by how when she crests one of the two yard high waves she shakes her head a bit. The crew are alert but the rig needs no changing so they rest by the higher rail and chat. The off watch have come out from under the arch and a fiddle is produced. The sing and dance. During the long transit they have accepted you as one of their own. You chat and come out into the warm sun, the tilted deck no concern to your acquired 'sea legs'
A young man leans, with his back on the rail, watching the sailors sing and dance. He even makes an effort himself, picking up the choruses of the songs and joining. He does not, though, join in the dancing. He is wearing a pair of light trews and a light tunic. His fair hair is cropped quite short and he is clean shaven. His blue eyes are never still, alighting briefly on everything and everyone.
Haren too enjoys the singing and dancing, however he has no reservations about joining in. His short frame is solidly built and his dancing is as enthusiastic as the sailors, though some of the movements hint of a knowledge of more graceful and cultured dances. His dark hair, normally bound tightly at the nape of his neck, is wild and free. When still it falls past his shoulders, in the dance it whips about him as if it has a life of its own. In contrast to his hair his beard is neatly trimmed it frames an honest and open face, though at times his pale blue eyes show the toughness of diamond. He is dressed, as always, in high quality clothes that fit him well and show off his muscular body to it's best.
Haren pauses in his dancing to talk to the man leaning on the rail. "Not joining in? It's great to iron out the kinks in your muscles and expend some energy. Otherwise it's a cramped life on a boat. My name is Haren by the way."
The young man flashes a smile. "I just sing, dancing's not for me. I've two left feet and more often than not end up on me arse. I'm Gatrenus, pleased to meet you."
Redjack, the captain, and Orlfinn, the bosun, wander over. The crew don't go to attention or anything as life on the merchanters is more like a big family.
"I checked the rutter and I'd say we're a day out of I have the course right. We should look out for pirates though as these are strange waters to us."
An unhappy look develops on Haren's face. "I'm fine with keeping a lookout but you don't expect us to climb the mast, to do it, do you?" he shudders gracefully.
Orlfinn grins and looks aloft. Redjack says "oh no good friend, my crew will do this. You can keep a private watch if you like, I like to have as many eyes on the horizon as possible, but we should forewarned in plenty of time to prepare. When we get into shallow water we must be careful, armoured and armed. Many loathsome monsters lurk beneath the surface."
Tall and dark skinned Yahliz stood out from most of the crew and passengers, he lent against the rail and watched the crew cavort as the ship rose and fell with the waves. He smiled to himself before turning to Gatrenus and saying "We are making good time, I spoke with Ulfhedin and he tells me we expect to make port slightly earlier than expected as long as the wind hold true." He reaches up and makes a slight adjustment to the red turban he wear.
"Well that's good news at least. I'd better get my armour ready if we're to expect pirates though." Gatrenus says "So, where are you from? You don't see a great many hats like that where I come from."
"I hail from fair Pithdaros, city of a thousand delights." Yahliz says with a smile and looks to the west. "What of you my friend, where do you call home?"
"I grew up in Petela, so I guess that's home. I have moved around a lot since mainly working in rich houses as a servant, but I fancied a change from that so I'm looking for something different at the end of this voyage. I'm not certain pirates are what I was thinking of."
"Me neither." Haren sympathyses. "I guess that's why sea trading is so risky, but the potential rewards are great for an appropriate cargo. I never thought that I would be involved with sea trading and certainly not actually defending my investment! But then Tarsh is a long way from the sea." he says in a somewhat wistful tone.
"I think I might give my armour a quick once over as I'll need to be putting it on at some point in the near future. I'm not a fighter though, I'll just have to hope I don't chop my own leg off."
"The trick is to hit the other guy. If your sword is in him it can't be in your own leg!" Haren laughs, but he too goes off to don his armour and collect his crossbow. He returns in a few minutes the rings of his mail glinting in the sunlight and crossbow clipped to his belt.
Yahliz grinned at the interplay between the other two passengers Äah yes, pirates can be most worrisome. I have served aboard a pirate hunter when I was a younger man, we fought against those who raided our coastline." He follows the others below decks and returns wearing a Brigandine Hauberk and a scimitar at his hip and shield which he places nearby.
Gatrenus too returns to the deck clad in armour. The bronze discs of his bezainted armour glittering in the sun. He lays his shortsword and coif on the deck next to him before he resumes leaning on the rail, this time watching out to sea for hints of sails on the horizon.
Haren spots the forecastle and decides this is a good place to watch from as it is slightly elevated. It also gives him a great view of the rest of the ship so that he can cover it with his crossbow. He ties his quiver securely to the rails ready to hand but not in the way if it comes to hand-to-hand. Once settled he start searching the horizon for any signs of boats.
A curious things happens. Redjack summons all the watches and soon all twelve people are standing in a line in their armour. Redjack opens a small chest and takes out a heavy book. It is filled with pictures of two men fighting. He starts shouting commands to the crew and they undergo sword and dagger evolutions. It's quite a martial display.
After this tubs of crossbow quarrels and bundles of javelins are brought up from below. Many of the javelins are sent up to the crow's nest on a winch. The crew then brings up wooden boards that slot into the rails. They have a diamond shaped hole in them for crossbow shooting. Orlfinn comes out and nods to the players "I see you have made ready as well. If you can cast long duration spells you may want to consider when you cast them, it may be a long night and day"
"I have no such luxury, just short term stuff." Haren replies. "I hope some of those bolts are coming forward?" He asks hopefully. "I've only got the one quiver full and if it is going to be as long a day as you say then I will run out far too early."
Gatrenus shrugs, "Just got ignite. Might be handy to set a pirate ship alight but that would require touching it. I guess it'll just be short sword and slingshot."
"My spells could last for some time but I lack the power to do so and remain combat worthy. Thus my friends I shall wait until their is a creditable threat. May the Prophet send us safe seas though." Yahliz looks out to the eastern horizon and utters a silent prayer that it be so.
Gatrenus moves to the fore deck to stand with Haren. He checks the sling stones in the pouch at his belt and then carefully closes it and makes sure it is properly shut. He smiles somewhat weakly at Haren before gazing forward at the distant horizon. "How long do you think we'd have from spotting a sail in the distance to being close enough to shoot at them?" he muses.
"I have no idea." Haren replies, "I have never been on the sea before. Though I guess it is like it is on the ground. If they come from behind it could take a while, whilst from the front it will be very quick."
Yahliz continues to stare out to see watching for a sail whilst he strings his bow and checks the fletching on his arrows. Once he completes the task he continues to stare out to sea.
Something fires in Haren's brain. "Ignite. Yes! How about we create some fire arrows. I saw some in court for a demonstration. They had a point that had a cage to hold burning charcoal. We can wrap small wire cages round a bolt to do the same thing. We can then use them to take out their sails, then they may stop chasing us. Just a minute." He dashes off to gather the supplies he needs.
Haren returns after a few minute with wite and a few tools and a leather clad man. "This is Orvenn everybody. I found him below completely unaware of the excitement topside. So I brought him up to see."
Vorazang hurries up to the deck. He is also clad in leather, some of it boiled, some of it reinforced with chitin disks. His skin is brown, his eyes are dark, and his black hair hangs at shoulder length under a helm made from strips of chitin affixed to leather. Upon his back he wears a round chitin shield and a war maul, and he carries a large mace in his right hand. His somewhat homely face shows a look of concern. "What going on up here? Last thing I heard the sailors where singing, and now there's armed men rushing to the deck!"
Orvenn looks around nervously, his beady but shrewd eyes darting from one face to another. Even though he is in full view of everyone on deck, he seems to be instinctively trying to hide and is clearly uncomfortable with being the centre of attention. His entire appearance seems to be designed to avoid attention or notice. His dark hair falls untidily down to his shoulders, while his large beard shows signs of needing a trim. His Cuirboulli armour has been dyed black, but is otherwise unadorned - as are the crossbow, gladius and knives he carries.
Orvenn notes how many of the assembled crew and passengers are watching him and tries to subtly put Haren between himself and as many people as possible.
"H-hello," he stammers, in a voice that is barely audible. "I didn't realise we were arming ourselves. What's going on? Are we under attack?" His own question seems to alarm Orvenn, as starts looking around the Pangolin for another ship, nearly dislocating his neck with the violence of his head movements.
"Not yet but Redjack says we are entering waters where there may be pirates. He wanted all eyes and swords on deck in case we are attacked." Haren relays his previous conversation to the newcomers. Then grinning he can't help but add. "Isn't it exciting."
"NO!" Orvenn shrieks at Haren. "It is not exciting at all! I hitched a ride on this river wagon to avoid all this 'keep-watch-just-in-case' bullshit. I did not come here to ..." Orvenn pause for a second as he catches sight of Redjack's face, before changing direction instantly. "Did not come here to be drowned by pirates because I refused to protect this very lovely boat. Where do you need me? Somewhere safe I hope?" Orvenn laughs nervously, as if at his own joke, but his last comment still has all the hallmarks of a plea.
Redjack smiles and adds "oh, it's not just the pirates you have to worry about. No, the Kraken can haul you off the deck and into it's maw with it's mile-long tentacles. Sea-dragons can reach you in the hold or even right aloft with their long necks and the mighty Roc can sink us with one mighty boulder dropped amidships!" He theatrically shakes his head. "Perhaps it's best not to dwell on that."
Vorazang frowns. "Captain, are you expecting an attack or not? Stop trying to frighten the Sartarite and tell us what you need of us." He holds out his mace. "I'm up for smashing a few heads, if it comes to that."
His smile drops. "We always go to quarters a day out of land, but these are unknown waters. I prefer to be prepared and uncomfortable to the other option." Redjack looks across his ship, his eyes taking in tiny details. "Most pirates will sheer away with just a show of force unless they're desperate. Some, however, are just crazed."
Orlfinn comes up and reports that everything is in order. "Bloody Carrowise is pissed again," he grumbles. "I sent him below as usual. I thought we already had a bloody mascot." Redjack compresses his lips and says nothing.
Orvenn has been nervously checking the skies for Rocs, but peers shrewdly at Orlfinn and Redjack at the mention of Carrowise.
"Trouble Master Redjack? Should someone go and assist this angry young man with his duties. Enraged men are likely to make mistakes - look at the Uroxi." Orvenn slides closer to the Sailing Master and asks him in a low stage whisper, loud enough for everyone nearby to still hear, "will the hold be safe with this Calloweeze guarding it? Should one of us see to the safety of our goods? I'm sure there's many an investment in the hold that could be lost with a bad man on guard."
"Well, if Carrowise manages to break the eggs I brought aboard while he's stumbling around drunk, I'll break his arms!" Vorazang turns to Redjack. "Do you know what kind of pirates there are in these waters? How disciplined, how well armed?"
"I know what kind of pirates, the kind that would appreciate being branded and whipped in the punishment legions, a few could lose an eye so the others can learn of their own errors. Maybe the imperial navy should take a trip across this bit of sea one day." Gatrenus muses.
Various crew members nod in agreement with Gatrenus. It's unlikely they've ever seen the Empire's punishment corps but even they have heard of them and their dire discipline.
The evening light darkens and the wind drops. The sailors go aloft to bring in most of the sails as The Pangolin doesn't make way at night, it would make navigation impossible and this far out at sea with no navigation marks uncertainty as to the course could be disastrous.
The red moon rises to the north-west and the late evening crew take a sight. The moos, small and far off, leaves a track in the water like a trail of blood.
Suddenly the lookout shouts "There's a green light in the water! About two points of the port bow, a mile out."
