Four Elves Take A Ship

[Ilyrana Sevayni]

Ilyrana braced herself against the railing behind her as Lysan flew back down. Thankfully, she'd seen him start his descent when she looked up, or else she might have reacted defensively.

When he elected to go first, she gave him a nod. Shy wasn't the right word, but he seemed eager so she did not argue. Electing to go last meant Ilyrana could hear how much everyone else revealed and decided on her own how much was enough for the moment. Most beneficial. It seemed he revealed nothing she hadn't already speculated on, though when he spoke of the trees, she was reminded they had at least one thing in common. In time, they might speak about such matters, and Ily looked forward to communicating about something like that. "A grand entrance indeed." There was a note of humor in her voice though.

Auroa's introduction was also less of a surprise. So far, she'd been charming, with traces of manipulation and seduction aimed at whomever she could. Had she been male or interested in that sort of thing, the wild elf might have felt threatened. Instead she decided the cleric would be an asset as long as she aimed her 'intentions' in the right direction. The bit about non-offensive earned an incredulous look that was quickly blinked away.
A negotiatior was less likely to choose violence anyhow, she suppossed.

Then, the drow added his abilities to their melting pot. Ilyrana politely listened, even though again there were few surprises aside from the details of his education. He seemed like a jack of all trades as far as abilities, but he also sounded overconfident, no doubt both a drow and a high born child's upbringing had helped that. She narrowed his eyes at the near fruedian slip. Lesser cultures indeed. Did he think those he was with were inferior? Probably.

She swallowed her annoyance, after all the way one was taught did shape them in ways that weren't always under their control. Ily herself had her own thoughts and opinions, no doubt different than those here.

"Caution is never unwise, nor unplanned, Lysan. I hail from the Mhair Jungles, though the Dawnsinger tribe often moves. I've studied arcane magic nearly as long as I could read or understand the concept, with druid wisdom from my chieftan to flavor my skills. Rillifane Rallathil has been kind. Sorcery is my main asset to bring to you, but I'm quite proficient with my material weapons as well." She paused and gathered her thoughts, unused to speaking so. "I also know the trees and forests in my heart, and hope I can aid in Kal'esril's .....findings when needed."
That was the closest she might come to snubbing him, they were trying to be polite. Drow did know the wood, no doubt. But who knew them better than those who spent all their time in them? It was an effort not to be insulted.

With the matter seeming to be closed, she fell quiet, contemplating what had been said and working out in her mind how all would work together.

[Lysan Cloud]

Lysan sits back and listens intently to his companions' descriptions of their various talents, or lack thereof. While his boyish face and over-eager mannerisms were not wholly a facade, they did tend to mislead others a bit and cause them to underestimate him. As the others spoke, he re-evaluated each of them in his mind. No real surprises from Kal'esril. The tales of Drow he had heard, led him to expect most of what he heard, though a Drow training as a ranger was new.

Auroa, though. She might be a problem. It looked as though, if things got rough, someone would have to divide their attention to protect her. While she didn't reveal much, she did have potential. Most priests or clerics Lysan knew had at least a rudimentary healing skill. Negotiation is all well and good, but there are times when "Agressive Negotiation" may be necessary. His bow had settled arguments before.

Ilyrana, was still a major mystery. Arcane studies could be extremely useful in many ways, and if she had some druidic arts to add to the mix, well... it could bet quite interesting. Lysan had come very close to studying in the mage academy, back home, but had opted for the army, instead.

"Well, then. I suppose when the negotiations start, I will let others, more practiced than I, do the talking, and I will just watch for the 'accidentally' drawn dagger or sword, shall I?" He laughs at himself to show he means no harm. Turning to Kal'esril, he asks, "Hey, Kal. How long is this voyage supposed to be again? Until we land, anyway?"

[Auroa]

'wow a lot of titles and very formal' Auroa thinks as she mentally sighs and starts to ready her diplomats mask. Then at Kal'esril comment Auroa arches a silvery eyebrow and giggles in spite of herself 'oh this could still be interesting' she thinks. Turning as a smile that reaches her eyes blooms across her face she listens to Ilyrana's speech with the mention of magic and forests her eyes seem to shine with child like fascination. As she remembers the beauty of the the magic an woodlands within her village, and anticipates the beauty of this new jewel. As Lysan makes his comment Auroa smiles" Thank you for being so eager to protect me but just because i do not like to cause pain does not mean i am defenseless. "

Smiling like the cat that ate the canary Auroa continues "My lady wishes to see more beauty in the world so I may not harm another living creature, as a being in pain is not beautiful. thankfully she has blessed me with the power to lessen such things by bringing confrontations to an end before they start, speeding their end if they can't be stopped, and repairing damage done. I can repair the broken heart both literally, figuratively, and prevent it from being broken in the first place. oh and ,while it troubles me, I was told that my taboo does not apply to abyssal horrors, the undead.

[Kal'esrïl Melarn]

Kal'esril didn't flinch, nor even twitch, at the light reminder that Ilyrana was a native forest dweller herself. His statement had been in a more broad sense than just while out in the wild, but he still makes a mental note to apologize to the female and explain his position at a later time when it wouldn't affect her standing with the others. What did get a reaction out of him was her proclamation that she served the Leaflord, Rillifane Rallathil. Rillifane's place among the goodly Drow had largely been usurped by Mielikki, largely due to a strong alliance between her church and that of Eilistraee but also due to his patronage of the Wood Elves. It was unexpected, and Kal's surprise showed on his face by way of raised eyebrows and a questioning tilt of his head. When Ilyrana returned to her own introspection he turns his attention to Lysan.

Kal'esril nods simply at Lysan's proposal that he just be on the watch for secret and open violence. That's what a good soldier did, after all. Considering the Averiel's immense size, especially for an elf, and his mobility options Kal was seriously considering insisting that all formal meetings take place outside whenever possible. It would make the Avariel more comfortable and, if some form of signaling could be worked out ahead of time, Lysan could easily fly over the area and keep watch for approaching threats while Kal'esril himself would be able to focus on those at the meeting itself. When Lysan focused on him Kal re-focused his eyes, filing away the possibility for later consideration, though nobody would be able to see this through the sundark goggles. The Drow neatly inserts his correction in the beat of pause between the mildly obscene abbreviation of his name and the beginning of the next sentence. "Kal'esril." He then continued with an answer once Lysan's question was done. "With appropriate winds, we should make land fall in about a day. Without such, it could be four days. Perhaps more."

He casts a very serious look at Auroa, glaring throughout her speech. When he speaks, it is in a voice of calm authority. "While the rest is all well and good, you are our only apparent source of divine magic Auroa. If we encounter the demonic, infernal or undead, you will be expected to do your utmost. Whether it troubles you or not."

[Ilyrana Sevayni]

She nods to all the discussions of strategy, but Ilyrana felt no need to add her own thoughts on the matter. It felt too soon, since they had yet to know exactly what the nature of this first mission would entail. Besides, she knew she'd be in a similar stance as Lysan. Not a diplomat, but an observer.

Ilyrana noted Kal'esril's reaction of surprise, but did not react. She wasn't entirely sure of the reason. His words to Auroa earned a nod on her part. When it came down to survive or not, Ily knew tough decisions would happen. Auroa's skills and childlike qualities were interesting, and it almost made her smile when the other female had said she was far from without defenses. "When the time comes, we'll all do our part to aid the group, I'm sure." There was no point in picking on the cleric, without the dire situation, no one could tell how they would react.

No, there would be no underestimating anyone here. She'd got lost in thought again, finally blinking back the weariness of travel to respond. "A day or so before we arrive? Rather fast trip, but I'll be happy to have feet on solid ground and be on our mission, I'm sure we're all eager, but weary." She looked over them all, briefly, and settled on the drow, since this was his family's vessell. "Where will we be resting tonight, if I may ask without seeming rude?"
The days of travel it had taken from the jungle to the drow city, and now to the ship were wearing on her. She wasn't the most social creatures with proper rest, either, but she wanted to have a chance at not being the outcast of the group. Amelie had asked her to try, afterall.

[Warlord]

The captain appears, as if on cue, by climbing neatly and quickly up the steep stairs from the main deck. "A day is a bit of an optimal assessment, it would require calm waters and strong winds at our back m'lady. Neither of which one can be certain of on these waters without a dedicated weather wizard, alas ours be primarily for security and the preservation of perishable goods." The oily half-elf takes off his hat as he comes to stand amidst the group, dipping his head apologetically toward Kal'esril.

"Unfortunately, it would appear that we will more likely be at sea for three days, maybe four. The chop is already rough and my weather spotter says we will be running into a northern storm in a few hours." He then sweeps a deep and exaggerated bow to Ilyrana. "I can be of service regarding your other question as well, m'lady. I have had my things cleared out of the captains cabin and am turning it over to you, my lords and ladies, for the duration of the voyage. If you would like I would show you all there so you may take your rest before the coming storm makes such things.... complicated." He casts a glance at Auroa, "Less distraction might help the crew work more efficiently, and thus shorten your trip."

He turns his oily smile on the group at large, turning and sweeping an arm toward the stairs. "Shall we?"

[Lysan Cloud]

Lysan looks a bit startled for a moment as the realization that this room would be indoors struck him. Visions of accidentally wing-batting his companions while trying to maneuver around inside flit through his mind, as well as a cramped, tight space. Shipboard accommodations, unless on a luxury ship of some sort, were not known for being spacious.

Lysan motions the direction the captain is pointing and nods his head toward his female companions, "Ladies first, of course. Shall we see what they have for us? I assume there is some provision for privacy for the ladies?" The last he addressed to the Captain or Kal, whomever wished to answer.

[Auroa]

Auroa does not shrink back from the glare of the drow. Instead she stands smiling just as sweet as honey. As within she repeats a simple verse about the forgiveness of the Lady when dealing with minor transgressions. She endures his comment for she has heard worse, as the litany ends her mental mask reforms as she tucks away herself, as she ponders 'it is better to hide beauty then waste it or risk its loss by brutes' as soon as the thought is formed she chides herself and repeats the verse. Her ears pick up Ilyrana's words of support which combined with the liturgy make her heart lighten and lift. She contemplates 'at least one is open a bit to different ideas' as she turns to face the support of the wood elf in lou of the daggers of the drow.

Just as the captain comes on to the quarterdeck, stopping her mid-turn. she listens to him simply still smiling as is her default. When he gestures and comments about her being a distraction. She blushes coyly and slinks forward "Would not my presence make them work harder. I should stay up here as while you do not make beauty from your labors they themselves are a thing of beauty," as she looks the man up and down enjoying the sight granted by sun and sea. "and that should be witnessed." 'sighing' "Though I hear that a sailor's true love can be very jealous and since we have enough troubles with her. I shall retire." With this she begins her decent. Stopping as she hears Lysan's question she turns slightly and with a little giggle thinking 'Such the noble knight' she grins shrugging"if not perchance you would lend us your wings then to block the view from unwanted eyes." *winking* She continues on inside.

[Kal'esrïl Melarn]

"We all have a part to play, either we work together or somebody is dying alone." Kal'esril added in agreement at the end of Ily's observation on teamwork. He then opened his mouth to answer the wild elf's question about accommodations when the ship's captain appeared on deck. Kal makes a simple gesture with his hand at the half-elf when the man tips his head to apologize for interrupting, the gesture conveying that he could continue with his intent. It wasn't that Kal was uninterested in speaking himself but he tried to let his subordinates shine in their specialties. It had the oddest way of making them more loyal where as a Drow would parlay the specialty into an attempt to seize power. It was an appreciated trait in the other races, if not well understood.

Lysan's startled expression draws Kal's eyes as surely as a drawn dagger, in his experience both were of equal importance. The winged Elf had the look of a prisoner about him all of a sudden. It took a moment for Kal to place the reason, thinking back until he recalled Lysan mentioning preference for open spaces. "No purpose for such, Lysan. There are no bathing facilities or privies, such business is concluded over the side. Few ships are designed by the other races with females, privacy, or comfort in mind." It never occurred to Kal to worry about rest, among the Drow no one disrobed entirely for revery and in fact many learned to do so while clad in their armor. Kal was one of them. He thought of reassuring the Avariel about the size of the accommodations, but as the soldier had expressed no concerns aloud Kal'esril was unwilling to attempt to assuage a concern that might already be conquered.

As for Auroa... Kal merely narrows his eyes (a action unobservable by the others due to his sundark goggles) at her lack of reaction to his words. No denial, no agreement, his words merely dismissed as if unworthy of reaction. He unconsciously begins a list of slights for the female. Kal'esril Melarn was not a spiteful being, of course, but no Drow (goodly or not) forgot a slight. Even a merely perceived one. As she flirts with the captain of the ship Kal makes a sharp, though small, gesture with his hand. He then waits for Ilyrana to follow in Auroa's wake. He also gives a glance to Lysan, the corner of his mouth quirking in amusement. Among the Drow, inferiors went first to guard against attacks from beings in hiding. Finding the world constantly backward was beginning to be quite comical.

[Ilyrana Sevayni]

The wild elf nods sharply to Kal'esril's additional words. It might not be pleasant, but it was entirely true. This entire endeavor would fall on how they molded together, something that was still unsettling to her.

As the captain approaches she frowns at his news, but gives him a nod. "Forgive my dissapointment at a longer trip, but I'm not a sea elf, I prefer the ground to sit still while I walk upon it."
Lysan's concerns again mirrored her own, if only for different reasons. He was worried about the closed space due to his wings and dislike of being confined. She was anxious about the thought of sharing a room with these three others that were still mostly strangers. Ilyrana was longing for a tree to swing a hammock from about now. Inwardly, she sighed.

Then Auroa made her speech to the captain. It caused Ily to step back, she was not that sort of female, so did not want the half elf to be confused, especially if he was the sort to dally with one who flirted with him. Auroa was bold and young in her understanding of the world perhaps. This could be just how star elves acted, she'd not met any before. Keeping silent until the exchange was complete, she took a moment to speak to her familiar. Where will you rest, the mast? With me? Not that I doubt your capabilities to do without, but I imagine you will need to rest.

She knew better than to tell the dragon what to do, that would earn indignation at the least. The girl turned her attention back to those present in time to hear the drow describing how business was to be taken care of. It was all true, but no less disgusting in that honesty. She remembered the one other voyage she'd been on, when she was much younger. Two nights and a day in a boat. She vowed then to avoid it at all costs, but here was fate, or whatever you'd call it, putting her again in that situation. Deciding to make the most of it, she forced a thin though pleasant almost smile and faced the captain. "I thank you, we all do for the accomodations. I'm certain you and your crew will see us safely and quickly through."With that, she turned in the direction he'd indicated, giving the captain room to get by to lead the way to his quarters. She was trying to be kind, but she was really untrusting of the entire situation. Silently, she sent a prayer to the Leaflord to keep them all safe on the journey.

[Warlord]

The captain turns his head to address Lysan's question but falls silent in deference to the Secondboy of House Melarn. He awaits quietly while the discussion picks up, fiddling with the brim of his ornate captain's hat to pass the time until he was able to make contribution to the situation again. Being half Drow himself, he alone notices what passes between Auroa and Kal'esril by picking up on the subtle body language contributed by both. So, it was with great shock that he reacted to the sudden flirtations of the Star Elf. The captain had no hope of reading the motivation behind the approach, for he had never even heard of a Star Elf until he had received his current orders from the Matron Mother. Her words about his ship and crew flattered his pride, and her manner flattered another part of him altogether, but before he could open his mouth to speak he saw one of the few gestures in Drow Sign that he knew by heart. It was an emphasized 'no' so sharp that it made him speak the word out loud while looking into Auroa's eyes. "No... er, we wouldn't want to make the sea jealous I would think." He allows her to move on with out hindrance, his eyes going to Kal'esril for a flicker of a moment.

When nothing further came from his superior he again gestured toward the stair, this time for Ilyrana, indicating he would happily converse with her as they continued toward his surrendered cabin. "Ah, young lady, there is no need to worry over my feelings about your feelings. It is a great honor to myself and me ship that your endeavor is born upon her proverbial wings. We sailors have long known that the sea, she isn't for everyone. On my vessel no one is thought less of for it. If, at any point, there be anything we can do to make the journey more comfortable for you, all ye need do is ask." He falls in behind Ilyrana when she goes down the stairs, speaking all the while. "I have yet to sink a ship in my career, I promise you ye shall stand on solid ground again within the ten-day."

When all were along he took them down the perilously steep stairs and into an immediate U-turn that lead them through an unadorned doorway and into a narrow hall with a low ceiling. Down three stairs they went and through another door a mere five feet further in. The doorway opened up on a surprisingly large room. In fact, if any one took the time to really investigate it's dimensions they would quickly come to realize it was impossibly large for the ship that contained it. Its ceiling was even high enough for Lysan to stand upright without even the tops of his wings brushing it. It was now mostly empty, bare of even furniture with three exceptions. Along the right hand wall sat a desk attended by a bolted down, plain bench style seat. Beside that sat a similarly bolted down but comfortable looking divan couch adorned with a plethora of pillows. Across the spacious room, along the left hand wall, hung a single unbraced hammock though there were two piles of cloth and rope beneath it indicating that two more could be set up. "I hope the wizard's alterations are to your liking lord Avariel."

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The voice that fills Ilyrana's mind is self-satisfied, meaning Nikxor had found a meal. "The hound and I have come to a satisfactory understanding, so I will be joining you all in the cabin... shortly." The pseudodragon had long grown accustomed to her worrying after him, even found it endearing in a way though he was quick to point out when it became too stifling. Humanoids just couldn't help but look upon smaller, non-humanoid creatures as pets. So long as she fed him, Nikxor was willing to tolerate it to a lesser or greater degree.

As soon as all others had passed into the room, both Nikxor and Fir'us joined the party by brushing by whomever was in the rear of the group. Fir'us, the pony-sized hound, trod silently and alertly to the far rear left hand corner of the room and laid down to observe the everyone. Nikxor immediately hop-soared to the hammock, perching neatly on one of the supporting ropes. His voice floats into Ilyrana's mind once more. "See, here to protect you from the big bad allies. Especially the sultry one... she seems the predatory sort."

[Lysan Cloud]

Lysan lets out a small, yet audible sigh of relief upon entering the room. After walking through the tight walkways, with his wingtips and pinions brushing every side, he stretched his wings as far as he could without interfering with anyone else in the room. "This is much better, and thankyou!" he says in response to the Captain. "I am feeling the need for a bit of sleep, soon, as well as something to eat, perhaps." He looks to Kal, "Unless there is anything else we need discuss, tonight?"

[Auroa]

Auroa looks around and nods appreciatively. "Quite nice" as she walks over to the coiled hammocks holding one out between her arms. 'no since waiting till it needed to get set up and settled in' she thinks and adds aloud. "Umm would someone mind helping me with this." her silver eyes looking around at her companions and the captain. As she see's lysan's wings open she thinks playfully 'showoff' "yes food might be nice" 'though eating will be interesting' she adds internally. as she waits to see if someone will aid her.

[Kal'esrïl Melarn]

Kal'esril hesitates at the doorway long enough to give the room a once over before entering, a old habit that he wasn't about to give up after it had saved his life more times than he cared to recall. Otherwise he enters as normal, looking around a second time to take in all the sundry details. Extra-dimensional expansion... the wizard had learned a couple of tricks at that human wizard school they had paid for him to attend after all. Money well spent then. He gave his hound a passive glance as the creature passed him and the others by, wondering after the turn of events that had caused it and the pseudodragon to take up company with one another.

The fact that the captains initiative and foresight had given the party a measure of comfort and relief that reflected well on House Melarn had earned the half-blood commendation in Kal's mind. He immediately makes a mental note to add that information to his first report back to his mother, Matron Melarn. When Lysan and Auroa speak of food, each starting the process of settling into the space provided, Kal realizes that he too is hungry. He absently reaches into a belt pouch as he speaks to the captain. "Have food brought in."

Kal draws forth a couple of small, wrapped packages from the belt pouch, each about the size of a deck of playing cards. He presses one into Lysan's hand, tosses one at Auroa to land atop the pile of material she was holding in her hands, and hands the penultimate one to Ilyrana. He keeps the last for himself, unwrapping it as he crosses the room to reveal that it, like all three of the other such packages, contains a small block of jerked meat. He produces a small camping blade and slices off a bit, chewing it silently as he steps over his hound and claims the corner beyond the canine's resting place.

He sets his jerky block aside for the moment as he prepares for rest. He quickly removes the long blade he had been presented in the Tower of the People, standing it up against the wall to once again free his hands. Next he removes the heraldry marked jacket portion of his armor, revealing the voluminous crimson silk shirt he is wearing beneath it. He shakes out the front of the shirt casually to allow some cooler air into the garment. He folds his legs neatly, dropping to sit upon the floor with his back facing the juncture of the two flanking walls so that he could take in the entirety of the room from his position. He then neatly takes up the jerky and camp knife to produce another slice for consumption. "Try it, it should hold you all over until they can rouse their cook to prepare something of greater variety. It is a personal favorite of mine, I try to carry some on the trail every time I travel. I trust you are not also a vegetarian, Auroa."



(If examined the jerky appears as your normal such food product, as if it has been smoked and cured in some form of flavoring sauce. It smells lightly of maple sap and its flavor contains a hint of maple as well though the unique flavor of the meat itself is far from hidden by it.)

[Ilyrana Sevayni]

The wild elf nodded as the captian did what he could to comfort and reassure her of the capabilities of himself and his crew. It was kind of him, though mostly ineffective. Even from the doorway she felt the subtle touch of magic in the air and knew the room had been altered for them. It was just....too large. Her eyes narrowed, but after a split second she saw no threat and relaxed again, chiding herself only slightly for the distrust. Once they were all insdie, they were joined by the hound and Nikxor. At her dragon's communication, she cleared her throat to clear an urge to chuckle. Oh yes, seems that way, though I am unsure of just how 'predatory' she is. Either way, I'm not who she's after. Good to have another set of eyes, better than my own.

She looked over at the captain after noticing the hammocks, and after Kal'esril made his request, nay command. "Thank you." She said simply, though her words were true. She was a little hungry, now that the others had mentioned as such.

Lysan's reaction was the mirror of her own, though far more....vocal. It was nice, not to be hunched over and cramped as she'd thought they would be, for sure. As Auroa asked for help, she glanced at the others, then moved to help the star elf, only stopping when Kal'esril handed the package over. She slipped it into her belt for the moment, as she took the hammock out of the other female's hands.

"I'll help. Sort of an expert, though ours are more.....I guess you might say rustic." She shrugged and set about her task.

Making sure she gave herself and Auroa enough space between hammocks, Ilyrana picked a spot and found hooks to put the bed up properly, showing Auroa how to space it properly so it would hang just right. "It's easy to make it too loose or tight, then rest is impossible." Only when it was finished did she take out the block and open it, using her older knife to flake a piece off, sniffing it carefully. "Personal favorite? What sort of meat is it?" She asked, not raising a piece to her lips yet. It wasn't that she didn't trust that it was safe.....well that was another matter, really. But she wanted to know what it was before she ate.

Ily moved to where her psuedodragon was perched on her hammock and set her pack down beside it, the staff was gently placed against the wall, within easy and immediate reach.