"I don't know what you mean by other talents. Using weaponry would definitely be a good thing. I've made a style of fighting myself, but it's been slow going getting it reliable, and I'm not even sure how reliable it would be."
"I'll get Silk to teach you how to defend yourself. Just don't get overconfident because of it, we don't want you getting hurt from charging into something. I'll talk to Silk and Pol tomorrow about it. You should eat dinner and go to sleep now, it's going to be another hard day of riding tomorrow."
My posting may be a little more sparse, some things in my life are picking up so my time is a bit more limited. Just wanted to give a heads up that I'm not ignoring the game
You're ignoring the game ;.; kidding.
"Sure, but I'm taking a watch again. Maybe eventually you'll trust me well enough to let me take a watch by myself."
Weekends over so I have more time again, although I can't use my phone at work so still won't be able to respond then.
"Never seen anyone so eager to give up sleep, you are always welcome to keep me company if you would like though. I'm sure if you talk to any of the others they'd welcome the company in the tedious chore."
(You have pretty much your choice in who to share a watch with, since boredom is often the most dangerous part.)
((I disagree. I don't find watches boring. I use active attention, similar to what I feel everyone should be doing when they're driving. If we break the watch into five segments, and spend as much as nine hours sleeping, that's a little more than ninety minutes each; barely enough time to fall asleep if I were absolutely worn out, had nothing on my mind, and was trying to sleep, personally. Even if we were to stretch it to ten, it's still only two hours apiece, not two hours of doing nothing, but two hours of paying attention to the environment; but I digress, as I doubt I can convince them at the moment.))
It doesn't matter enough to argue the point, so I'll sit on watch with whoever to continue proving my worth as one on watch to the others.
((First, you all are absolutely worn out by the end of most of these days. You're riding hard, and most of the party is actively trying to notice if they're being followed. It's all very tiring. You're also 11, they don't exactly expect you to stay awake that well. I'm surprised it takes you that long to fall asleep when tired, but I'm told I'm lucky that it takes me 5 minutes tops when I lay down.(when trying to sleep)))
I don't have a preference on who you're on watch with this time, so just going to roll for it:
1.Wolf
2.Barak
3.Silk
4.Durnik
and the roll is...
4: Durnik it is.
You arrange with Durnik to share watch with him before going to sleep.
You wake up to Durnik shaking you lightly and offering you his hand to help you up.
Durnik is fairly quiet and spends a lot of his time checking over the wagon to check for any dangerous signs of wear.
He notes to you a couple of things to watch for that give sign a wheel may break or that the wood is rotting.
The night passes uneventfully, but you have the option of asking him any questions you want, so I'll give you that opportunity.
Nope, I'm staying largely quiet, standing every now and then to investigate a sound without leaving the general area.
Everyone begins waking up as your shift draws to a close, and it's time to be on the road again.
You ride on for about 3 more weeks of uneventful travel. Tiring, but nothing dangerous or exciting happens. It's getting much colder now, as you're getting quite far north. There are significantly more forests, compared to central Sendaria which is farmland. You come to an outpost and a large man, definitely has to be a Cherek based on the size, approaches the group.
Silk steps forward and introduces himself as Radek of Boktor, and is on his way to sell his wares to a merchant friend who transports the goods by sea. The cherek man is apparently a customs official, and you're officially crossing into the kingdom of Cherek. Silk shows the man the cart and slips some coins into the mans hands. After a brief pause the man motions the group on.
For a bit I had a timeline issue I was trying to figure out how to solve, I think I figured it out so I'm good now.
Good, good. I don't see any issue pertaining to myself, so I'll simply continue trying to avoid drawing attention to myself.
The group winds through town and reaches the docks. Silk rushes off with the wagon as he sees another drasnian and appears in about 15 minutes with a jingling bag of coins, a huge smirk, and no wagon.
Barak in the meantime sees a captain he seems to know:
From the ship you hear "Barak you old dog, you're coming home already? We just saw you two months ago. I'm not sure our kegs can handle another visit."
Barak: "Greldik, they still let you sail? I figured you'd be decorating the bore by this point. Think you could carry us across? It'd probably be safer swimming but Pol here seems to think we should get a ride."
Greldik laughs and motions you all aboard, sending down a number of men to help everyone up.
Greldik: "We'll be setting off tomorrow morning, would you join me for a drink in the meantime?"
The night is spent on the ship, which is a lean vessel, most likely a warship. All the sailors, Silk, Barak and Durnik are below decks drinking heavily, while Pol looks disdainfully in the general direction of the drinking and sews patches in some clothing that the trip has been less than kind to.
You could just go to sleep, spend some time with the group, try drinking, stay above deck and just relax until sleep, or anything else you would like to do.
I'm going to spend time above deck, but not relaxing. I see this as a perfect time to develop some sea legs, and I practice breathing techniques and my martial arts style.
Perhaps, since I'm an amateur, you'll give me a new use bonus for practicing on the water.
Um... bump.
BUMP!!!
OK, seriously, that is so annoying. You shouldn't have to bump it like that. I'm going to make a topic on this one.
From what I understood of new uses they can only apply during actual use of the skill. If you find someone to spar with you and use your martial arts style on board, I'd give you a new use. Most of the people here are adult cherek sailors however (by most I mean all) so I'm not sure any of them would want to risk hurting you in a sparring match. If you decide you want to spar as opposed to practice alone, let me know who you're asking to do so and we'll see what happens.
Hmm. Alright, then, no new use for me. Practice.
Ok, practice goes by without a hitch, although a sailor comments that you would do better to use a sword. Then again, it's a cherek mentality that you do everything better with a sword.
The next morning everyone wakes up and everyone is hungover except for you, Pol, and a handful of still drunk sailors.
You set out of the dock, with Greldik captaining the ship and with Barak at his side talking and you hear talk about getting ready for the bore, and Barak comes over to you and advises you that being above board during the trip through the Bore isn't for the faint of heart. He's planning to stand above board, with a certain sense of excitement.Pol, Wolf, Silk and Durnik all are heading below deck, not seeming to have noticed you're still above.
So what do you do?
I respond to the sailor that (whatever he's doing), he'd do better to use a sword.
I'll stay above.
What an interesting name for something that promises not to be boring.
The sailor chuckles and pats the sword at his belt.
Barak instructs you to hold on to a spot on the rigging and not let go. He stands behind you and to the right.
As the ship moves towards the Bore you notice the water getting rougher and some riptides as well as the land on either side of the ship getting closer.
Up ahead the riptides seem to be getting much worse and there is what sounds like the constant rushing of water, almost like a waterfall. The sea is now completely white with froth except for a rapidly growing circle of rushing water directly in front of the ship. The ship is headed directly into the maelstrom. If you look back you notice that Barak is grinning.
Greldik shouts orders to increase sails, which are done, and the ship looks like it may miss the maelstrom after all and cross to safety. The ship turns sharply into the maelstrom right as you're thinking this. You go around 2 times, and then slingshot out of the Bore of Cherek towards the Cherek coast.
Barak says to you:
"You've got guts kid, most non-alorns can't grin down the mouth of the Bore like that."
He's clapping you heartily on the back, which from Barak feels like a solid push each time.
I am grinning it down, literally.
"Thanks. I could get used to the sea life, I think."
I'll see if there's anything around the ship I can do to help.
Pol and everyone are returning to the deck of the ship, there isn't really much to help with but you do a couple odds and ends things for the sailors. At the end Greldik goes to Pol:
Greldik:"Think you could spare the young one? We could have him into a top notch sailor in a year or two."
Pol:"I'd rather not have him turn into a drunk thank you very much. When he's older I'll let him decide if he'd like to come back and work for you, but I still have a few years to beat some sense into him"
Greldik laughs and says he had to try with someone who showed such guts. Pol starts telling you how you should be more careful, and that being called brave by a Cherek is an insult to any other race. Their brave is much closer to our foolish.
You have a couple of hours before the ship lands, all the sailors like you, and Barak is thrilled to have someone so young show such courage. Anything you'd like to do?
Continue helping around the ship and my martial arts training.
I tell Pol, "Brave or foolish, call it what you will, but I doubt there are many experiences as thrilling as that throughout the entire Multiverse."
"Oh, but you have no idea what's in store for you. She kisses you gently on the forehead and goes about doing other things while you help around the ship. There really isn't time for the martial arts training, as now that the sailors like you they all want your help so they can show a newbie the ropes. Literally and figuratively.
I'm going to give you a package of skills that you pick up from them. There are sailors knots you learn and basic maintenance of a war vessel. Learning roll would be 98, so if you knew sailors knots before add a new use, if not add 1@3 sailors knots and 1@3 basic care of war vessels.
Greldik calls out to everyone that they are approaching Val Alorn. The vessel docks easily enough, a little jarring but it always is.
It's much colder here, the idea of not wearing your jacket is painful just to think about. The buildings are made of stone and have a decent amount of snow on the roofs. Barak, obviously the one most familiar with this city, gives directions to Wolf to get somewhere and tells him he'll catch up. He wants to talk with Greldik for a bit.
Are you going to follow Barak or the rest of the group?
I do actually have skill at tying knots; I was a professional with a tree cutting and landscaping service before, and a boy scout before that.
I'll stick with my buddy Barak.
Cool, well you got +1 mark to that skill then.
Barak talks with Greldik for about five minutes, mainly about the weather and how Barak's ship is coming along. Apparently it's over half done, but nothing more is said about it.
Barak and you then start heading own the street with a farewell to Greldik. Barak comments that you don't have a sword, and you're coming to an age of swordbearing age by Cherek standards, but leaves it at that, as he is interrupted by the screeching of an old crone.
"Lord Barak, I see your doom and it is close at hand. Thy mark shall reveal itself shortly, and all shall know!"
An old woman dressed in rags is yelling this from the side of the street. Her eyes are milky white yet she looks directly at Barak. She then seems to be startled and turns directly to you before Barak starts wailing:
"Martje, you demon woman, be gone and leave me be."
She wanders off, seeing Baraks temper rising.
Barak tells you she's just an old crazy lady that likes to harass him when he comes to town.
I chuckle to him, and say, "Old girlfriend, Barak? You sly devil. Now, what were you saying about a sword?"
"ME?! and MARTJI!? You have better sense than that boy. I'm a happill... I'm a married man. Anyway, I'm going to have to talk to your Aunt Pol, if you're going to be traveling in Cherek at this age you should have at least something sharp strapped to your waist. It's more acceptable to walk around shirtless than swordless."
(Short reply, but figured there might be some more to the conversation and I'm about to get ready for work so didn't have time for the next segment anyway)
"Chill, Barak, it was a joke, man. You don't think I'd honestly think you'd stoop that low, come on.
"Well, a sword might be nice; maybe I could work a style around it."
He's chuckling slightly once you say it's a joke, and is smiling again when you start talking about swords.
"I'd always be happy to teach you how to use a sword from how to carry it to where to shift your weight mid swing. That is after I talk to Pol about it, she can be very scary when she's upset and I won't go teaching you to swing a sword without her permission."
You're following Barak and you see the party again standing in front of a huge castle. It's got a variety of different architectural styles, with large expanses looking like they've never been completed.
I'm being quiet and going where the group takes me after I extend greetings to the rest of the group.
You're all back together and start walking up the steps towards the castle. Wolf and Barak are in the lead, followed by everyone else.
As the group approaches the giant doors, they swing open and a gigantic man with a black beard is there to greet you. He is also wearing a crown.
"Hail Belgarath, and welcome home Barak, your wife is inside, she heard of your return. Please come in all, notice of your presence raced before you through the streets."
Wolf replies back:
"Greetings Anheg, I trust all is going well in your northern kingdom?
"As well as could be expected."
And with that he turns and beckons for you all to follow as he heads into the castle, two heavily armed guards following him and escorting the party.
doublepost
I hear him call Wolf Belgarath, and the name tickles a memory of the man who was the father of this earthly body. Wolf certainly knows plenty about who I am and what I'll be doing here; now is not the time to grill him. Continue onward.
You go through a long series of hallways and are eventually brought to a set of rooms for you to all put your stuff down in. There are two people to a room.
You and Pol
Wolf and Silk
Barak and Durnik
You've got a couple of minutes unpacking before a servant comes knocking at the door.
Pol has you get the door as she finishes unpacking her clothes.
The servant is a young cherek girl who informs you she is there to lead you to the palaces grand hall.
Pol is then behind you with her hand on your shoulder and walking with you out the door.
She whispers "Be mindful of manners when in front of Anheg, wouldn't want everyone thinking I raised you without manners"
I respond, "I'll see what I can do."
Does the serving girl have a sword?
I'll strike up a conversation with her. "So, you're a servant here?
"How do you feel about that?
"Are you treated fairly here?
"Do you ever think about what life might be like if you weren't a servant?
"How does thinking about it make you feel?"
For some reason I had it in my head that I'd responded to this already and you hadn't replied yet. My bad, I'm sorry.
She doesn't have a sword.
"I work here, yes. It's a respectable line of work,King Anheg treats everyone in the kingdom fairly. I don't see why I would want to quit, so I don't see why I'd think about if I wasn't here. It will be nice to be settled down with a strong man when I'm a little older though. Why would thinking about this make me feel anything other than normal? You sure do ask a lot of questions though. Are you part of Ancient Belgaraths entourage?"
"Yeah, I'm with Belgarath for now, I guess. I'm trying to figure out about you, though; nothing wrong with a young man being interested in a pretty girl, is there?"
She blushes slightly, looking down in the process. When she looks back up her eyes are fixed somewhat above your head.
You hear your Aunt Pol say:
"Let's go Kyler, we wouldn't want to keep Anheg waiting."
"Yes, certainly," I respond to her. "We'll make it in good time."
"It was very nice meeting you; I'm Ky. Your name is...?"