Four Elves Take A Ship

[Warlord]

The captain inspected Lysan's outstretched wings with open fascination, briefly wishing his mixed nature hadn't denied him the power of levitation. The practical part of his mind, surely inherited from his Drow half, quickly wiped away the thought. No point in pining over things one could not have when it would be more expedient to make the most of what one already possessed in the pursuit of goals one could attain. "I be glad you like it m'lord, took two hours and a double ration of brandy to convince the wizard, it did. He be the fussy sort when it comes to what he refers to as parlor tricks."

The captain makes a concerted effort to avoid Auroa's questing gaze, happily snapping to when the Melarn boy levels a command. He deftly sweeps his hat off his head and into a flourish as he bows to the assembled full blooded elves. "Right fast and in a hurry m'lords and ladies. I'll oversee the preparations me-self." And with that he quickly leaves, closing the door behind him.

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"Oh my dear, flattery will get you everywhere." The pseudodragon 'sounded' as if he were in high spirits this evening, and appeared far too proud of himself. He perched silently, as far as the rest of the room was concerned, upon her gear as soon as she set it down. He postured upright, his eyes bright and focused as they swept from face to face along with the order of the conversation, and his brightly colored chest (ruby red presently) was puffed out, all together it made him appear a Venerable Red Dragon sitting in regal court over his petitioning court. "What is that? What did he give you?" The projected questions whirred in her head intermingled with sudden appetite.

The Pseudodragon was up her arm, his path denoted by the tiny prickling of his claw tips as he sought purchase, to wrap sinuously around the back of her neck. From her shoulder he cranes his neck and sniffs at the jerked meat in Ilyrana's hand from about a foot away. "I hope you intend to share, you haven't offered me a meal all day." His mental tone was suddenly one of melodramatic hurt as he acted the neglected dependent.

[Lysan Cloud]

Lysan nods kindly to the Captain, sensing that he was doing his very best to accommodate his passengers, for whatever reason, whether from pride or loyalty, or fear. He eyeballs the dried ration Kal had given him, smells it a bit, and decides to try it. (Note to ST: Trying to identify the meat type) As he thoughtfully chews, he looks around the room for a comfortable spot for reverie, while waiting on the captain's promised repast. Looking to Kal, he says. "It seems your wizard knows his work well. Is he tied to your house? or perhaps freelance?"

[Auroa]

As Ilyrana puts up the hammock her eyes focus on the task as she closely follows the wild elf. Once the task is complete Auroa reaches into her bag, pulls out a simple utility knife, goes to sit upon the hammock, and unwrap the gift...*BOOM*... to find her rump landed squarely on the floor. Her lavender skin darkens as she is flustered by the sudden change in local, she closes her eyes, and thinks about the beauty of comedy and humility. Then she opens her eyes and looks at Ilyrana and simply says "Excuse me, Ilyrana, I seem to have done something wrong. In a moment will you please give me some pointers." as she gestures to the hammock now swinging above her.

With that she focus on the package in her grasp as she unwraps it carefully she makes a neat thin slice then setting aside the rest takes the meat in both hands licks the tip tentatively her smile widens as she takes a little nibble. She lightens as she swallows the little bite, then she takes time to explore the rest of the slice with all her senses. Smelling it, listening as she breaks off some and rubs it between her fingers and then licks them off as she studies the piece before her before taking the rest into her mouth as the flavor rolls around her tongue.

An expression of Satisfaction dances across her face. Auroa stands and looks at Kal'esril "My I don't think I have tasted anything like that both sweet and savory quite nice. I hope you won't think me rude if I save the rest for times when we must make do without House Melarn's hospitality and such a treat will be a welcome repast. What do you call it? in Drow to if you please."

[Kal'esrïl Melarn]

Kal glanced up when he heard Ilyrana thank the half-drow but, though it struck him as odd to thank... anyone really... he didn't see any harm in the act. Or at least none that he could put a finger on specifically so he chooses to let it go without the benefit of his point of view. Instead, he watches on in mute curiosity as Ilyrana bridges the space between her and Auroa by volunteering to assist the cleric in her rest preparations. She even reveals something about her people that Kal'esril hadn't known before. If he were to ever find himself traveling through her people's territory he would be inclined to use a hammock as well, since it was unlikely the natives would take to the habit without a practical reason. His eyes turn to the pseudodragon for a moment, a smile flickering on his face momentarily when it quickly slithered up her arm to investigate the food he had given her. It was even enough to make him forget to comment on her hesitation to eat it as presented.

Kal opens his mouth to respond to Lysan's question but is cut short by Auroa falling unceremoniously off her hammock as the cleric had apparent misjudged the stability of the structure to relative catastrophic results. For as amusing as it was to the Drow, the expression on his face as he looks at Auroa's reaction was nearly identical to the look she was receiving from Fir'us, the elven hound. A mix of curiosity and bemusement as she diffused outright ridicule by merely asking for correction on her misjudgment. Bluster would have earned her scorn from the ranger. As she turns her attention to the jerky he had provided the group Kal similarly turns his attention back to Lysan. "The wizard was sought out shortly after House Melarn acquired the Sable Drake. We invested in his education at a particular... establishment. In return he serves us for a determined amount of time in ways we see fit, such as weather wizard of this vessel."

Kal smiles at the responses of his companions who chose to test the meat, responding by eating another slice of his own portion. When he responded he made it clear he was speaking to both of the females in the room by gently indicating them with his jerky block. "My people speak much the same Elven as the rest of you, but we refer to this dish as Aethan'mir." He takes another bite and chews it, narrowing his eyes in appreciation of the flavor. "Prepared in the boiled sap of a particular tree in Cormanthor forest, in this case the meat is that of a goblin." For what it was worth to any who might have an issue with consuming a formerly sentient being, Kal didn't appear to be providing this information with the expectation of a negative reaction. He was just discussing the contents of one of his favorite trail rations.


{{DM}} Aethan'mir literally means 'meat of others' in Elven, with the 'others' being formed from a word commonly referring to non-elves.

[Ilyrana Sevayni]

Ilyrana felt the familiar's claws a moment before he had even touched her. She knew if there was food involved he would find his way to it in short order. "You do realize you have the fresh scent of meat about you, and I'm betting a belly full of unsuspecting seagull?"
She was almost smirking with the thought. However, not one to deny a friend who was an integral part of her magical and physical defense and support, she offered him the first slice of the meat without hesitation, and set about slicing a small piece for herself. Lysan's words earned a nod of agreement from her. "It is fine work, I've seen similar but not in this setting."
She stopped mid slice though, when Auroa uncerimoniously fell to the floor. As the star elf recovered her poise and dignity, Ilyrana was already examining the ties and support strings on the hammock, concerned it had been her error that caused the slip.
The wild elf pulled on one of the strands to tighten it up slightly, but everything seemed in order. Perhaps she'd just sat down too quickly.
At Auroa's words Ily inclined her head. "Of course. They take some getting used to, but it's worth it at least to my people. Try sitting more slowly, and leaning back when you do. Straight down makes it want to slide backwards."
If giving this information at normal volume in this company was embarassing at all to Auroa, Ilyrana paid it no heed. She'd been taught shortly after her first steps how to tighten or loosen a line and how to sit in a hammock without being dumped out of it. It was easy to forget not everyone did. She finished slicing the meat just as Kal'esril revealed the origin.

It certainly gave her pause, and she looked to him, and the other's for a moment. He didn't seem to be joking, nor expect anyone to have issue with the fact they were eating goblin. For a moment, she entertained the idea of feeding this piece to Nikxor as well, but Amelie had reminded her to not seem rude whenever possible. She wondered what her tribe would think, but she wasn't with them now.

Clearly uncomfortable, but determined, Ilyrana raised the piece of meat to her mouth and popped it in. It was actually......not vile. But knowing what it was made it somewhat hard to swallow, literally and figuratively. "I thank you. It's........an interesting choice. I am with Auroa though, to save it for when there is a need." She sliced off one more piece to offer to Nikxor, then wrapped the package and slipped it into a pouch on her belt. The wild elf wondered if there would be wine with the meal that was coming. The meat left an odd, sweet taste in her mouth that she wasn't sure she liked.

[Lysan Cloud]

Upon hearing what the meat was, Lysan's immediate reaction was to spit it out. However, he had just enough presence of mind not to. Goblins were evil, but still a sentient creature. Lysan had problems thinking about eating anything he could have a conversation with...

He carefully re-wrapped the gift and put it away in his pack. "I believe the ladies have the right idea. Since the captain is bringing food in a few moments, I shall save this for when it is needed." Lysan has never been accused of being a subtle person, but he knew when not to be insulting. Besides, who was he to judge another's culture? Especially when that culture was splitting off from centuries, if not eons of their people's traditions.

Lysan looks around to find a spot for himself for the trip and settles his pack and weapons there.

[Auroa]

The star elf nods her head at Ilyrana's advice while she plays with the jerky slice. She coyly looks at the other two as they follow her lead, though they did not seem to enjoy their jerky as much as she did, 'What a shame' she thinks 'If only they could of felt the pleasure she had from the delicacy. Maybe someday.'


Auroa looks down at the drow in puzzlement. 'hmmm I hope that had not once been a porter.' She thinks back as she remember the taste left on her lips from the kiss she gave the orange creature which was faintly like that of the jerky. "My..." then as the memory fades her smile widens a lil "What a good idea. turning something dead, useless and soon to be grotesque into this" looking at her package
"What a concept, utilitarian, and no offense. While this is not exactly beautiful this is far better then what it would of been if left as it was and I could see this being very beautiful after a long day on the trail." humming a lil she puts the package delicately almost reverently into her pack with the knife. the lavender elf then lays upon the hammock gracefully as she puts her arms behind her head. "I do wonder about the methods used to procure the meat of others and other varieties. Do you know anything of it or whom to ask." She states to the room as she begins to stare at the ceiling as gears start turning 'Hmm how can one lessen the ugliness and/or pain caused by dying?'

[Kal'esrïl Melarn]

"I am glad you are all impressed with his efforts, as his education was surprisingly expensive to fund. In the underdark an education of one sort or another is provided to every surviving child whether they like it or not, be it arcane, clerical, or military in nature. On the surface we were shocked that one needed to be independently wealthy or willing to sign away there loyalty before obtaining a decent education." He continues to eat on his jerky, being perfectly aware of what passed for food on a ship but not wanting to down talk the accommodations to his companions. And talking about his observations of the surface made it easier to detach himself from Auroa's fall as he figured it was best not to gawk at another person's mistakes without a reason.

He then contented himself with watching the pseudo-dragon happily partaking of the meat. Dragons and Drow were such similar creatures in function, if not form. A smile cracks his face as he watches Ilyrana eat the offered meat herself. She was clearly uncomfortable with some part of what she was doing, though what it might be wasn't apparent to Kal at that very moment. However, it was her determination to go through with it anyway that made him smile. It was like watching a child, determined to over come some phobia, working up the nerve to do what needed doing. It reminded him very much of his eldest daughter, though she was currently only a child while Ilyrana was a fully matured adult. "It is yours to do with as you all wish, of course." The discomfort of the others wasn't lost on him either, the slight widening of eyes, the pursing of lips, etc. all told a tale for the sharp perceptions of the Drow.

He chooses not to react to it, not that he was insulted in the first place. He literally didn't know why the others were behaving oddly about the jerky but he decided not to pursue the matter currently. Instead he addresses Lysan's exploring looks. "I have no presumptions about understanding the... limitations of your situation Lysan... but I am thinking that the couch would probably be of service to you. You can lean against its arm and give your wings some clearance." Just as he finishes being helpful he gets to listen to Auroa re-conceptualize the events that led up to his possessing the jerky in the first place. For a reason he wasn't able to immediately put a finger on, it annoyed him to have his motivations examined and so thoroughly misrepresented by someone who didn't know the first thing about him. The dim red light that existed in his eyes flared as he focused on the cleric, his expression dark... and then he shakes his head slightly and it all goes away. Blinking he looks down for a moment but covers the lapse by speaking again. "The Goblin was useless before I killed it and its fellows. Once they were dead there was no practical reason to go hunting for something else, but that was the only reason. Beauty is not an external focus for Drow or our culture."

The lapse in focus bothered him, but he wasn't going to advertise that to the others. Especially when he had no idea where it had come from.

[Warlord]

'Don't worry girl, I won't let it limit me.' She could sense the snooty smile in his tone as he thought the words into her mind. He snapped up the proffered meat almost quicker than she could let go of it, but as always he doesn't even graze her skin with his teeth. He veritably hummed with delight at the flavor, he even guessed the type of meat just a half moment before Kal'esril spoke it aloud. 'Oh, Goblin. Very well prepared too.' He finally took up a position on her shoulders, his tail wrapped around her neck firmly so that he could maintain his balance, but not so tightly as to choke her. With half-lidded eyes he watches her, rather than the rest of the room. 'And it was a rat, the hound caught one too. One of the sailors scratched me behind the horns and promised me half his so called rum ration if we kept it up. He looked a little surprise when I informed him it was a deal, but didn't cancel it.'

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The captain entered the room just in time to see the flare of light in his superior's eyes and it brought him up short. That was an indication of emotion he was all too familiar with, and an emotion he didn't want to be on hand for. And so it was he found himself hesitating in the doorway at the lead of a pair of sailors carrying a trio of trays covered with meats, cheeses, and three half loafs of different kinds of bread respectively. After Kal'esril finished speaking he quickly interjected himself. "Masters and Mistresses, your food." He quickly moved to hand out dishes to the three who had expressed hunger, though he had a fourth plate just in case the Drow noble decided to claim it.

[Ilyrana Sevayni]

'You are already making alliances and found a way to get paid well for what you'd have done normally. I as always am impressed.' He had made similar arrangements before and was exceptionally clever, that was undeniable.

She watched Lysan's reaction with little surprise. He seemed to have a similar position, at least. Auroa's reaction did strike her as unexpected, but she was learning quickly that the star elf was full of surprises. It was almost amusing when it seemed for a moment the drow had been annoyed at having his people's versatile use of resources phrased as if it were an act of beautifying the world. Her lip twitched a bit, but she did not smile. "Would not the rotting corpses have also been useful? Fertilizer at least."
Ilyrana shrugged and added no more. There was more than one way to be resourceful, after all. She could see the point Auroa was trying to make and Kal'esril's practical approach in turn. Silently she added to Nikxor, 'I wonder how long it will be before the drow reaches his level of tolerance, and the politeness wears away in general between us all?'

Thankfully, the distraction of the food arrived before anything further could be said for the moment. Sometimes, the gods were merciful. "Thank you captain, most hospitable."She gave the sailor who handed her a tray a slight nod of thanks. It wasn't much, but it was palatable and would sustain them, and that was enough.

[Lysan Cloud]

"I think you would be correct, Kal. The couch should serve me nicely, thank you." It did seem to be the best place for him, here. Lysan noticed the reactions of the two women to the 'meat' that Kal had given them, and felt a bit disturbed by Auroa's reactions and comments. In his mind, there was absolutely nothing beautiful about eating the remains of a sentient creature. Especially one as loathsome as a goblin. The thought of using them as fertilizer was, by far, the less repugnant option.

When the Captain brought in the food, Lysan's stomach made an unintentional rumble he could swear was heard on deck.

Inspecting his choices, he took a modest portion of each and sat down to quiet the rumbling of his middle. "Thank you Captain, I think this will do nicely." It was certainly a bit better than most trail rations he had carried in the past. He was a bit cautious with the meats, though, not taking anything he couldn't identify.

[Auroa]

A moment after Kal'esril finishes his comment Auroa tries to bolt right up, causing the hammock to sway almost throwing her out again but she straddles it and puts both feet on the ground. "You made that? I'm sorry, I thought that was normal trail rations for a drow, Great job. As for your focus on beauty, or lack there of, I ment no offense. It is just one of the lessons followers of Hanali Celanil learn. Gold and fine works are obviously beautiful, but they are hard to come by. So find beauty in all you can, so your life will be brimming with beauty."

blushing as she finishes the proverb knowing she did not say it just right. she addresses Ilyrana "True but that takes a long while to really help and all that time it smells and looks... unpleasant. Also it is not like Kal'esril denied it that fate, he just postponed it. After all that is the fate of most mortal things, but let us talk of other things. Since food has arrived and I do not wish to upset anyone's stom...." Lysan's belly growls "See what you did," She says playfully with a giggle "It complains so loudly it must be appeased with offerings of food." She jest as she takes her offered plate with a light bow.

Her mind still milling over these new ways to beautify the world 'what making something grow over the dead to cover them' she puzzles as nibbles at her plate and wonders if there are any more delicacies hidden upon her plate.

[Kal'esrïl Melarn]

"And so they were Ilyrana. Not every part of a creature is always edible... or even desirable as such. We left what we did not have use or time for right where it lay." Kal re-wrapped his jerky and went about replacing it in its spot in his belt pouches. He was busying himself to continue to cover for his loss of patience, his upbringing hadn't instilled an over abundance of tolerance in him but his military education had provided an iron control over what little he had. That it had slipped... "My culture favors practicality above all else, only the rich and bored pursue art as a goal. Usually to their own demise in the Underdark."

"Kal'esril." The correction was slipped in the pause between the miss-abbreviation of his name and the beginning of the next sentence. He merely nods his acknowledgement of Lysan's thanks. It was just an observation on his part, not any great stretch to accommodate an... associate. Kal pondered over the lack of a Drow word for ally for a long moment. As for the meats, all the captain could apparently get together appeared to be beef, ham, and one of the avian creatures of the above world. There wasn't a Drow word for bird either. The lack annoyed Kal all of a sudden. In his head he started fashioning something suitable from Elven and Undercommon, maybe a touch of Draconic to denote the bird's ability to fly.

Kal continues to do this in the back of his mind, even as he regards Auroa and her response to his correction. He snorts derisively. Complements and all. "Beauty is a lie." His tone is that of philosophical darkness, sincere in his absolute knowing of the subject. "There is nothing wrong with that by any means. But attempting to see beauty in all things is attempting to tell a lie only to yourself. There is definitely something wrong with that. All that is, merely is. Beautiful, hideous, serene, turbulent, blatant, deceiving... it all merely is. If you are not selling it, why make it other than what it is?" He takes his courtblade from the wall where he had leaned it and lays it across his knees as he prepares for revery. Kal'esril was feeling weary all of a sudden. "And you have it backward. The corpse was instantly put to use by the land via insects, scavengers, the earth itself drinking in the blood we spilled that day. If you want beauty, find it in the simplicity of function the world around you provides. When someone kills you, I assure you there will be no flourish of the blade preceding it to suit your delicate sensibilities on the matter." The way he said someone hinted at his having an idea of who it might be.

But Kal'esril says not another word as he closes his eyes slowly. When they open again, a few moments later, they are unfocused and twitchy in the way of revery. Falling into the meditations that replaced sleep for those of Elven blood so quickly was surely a soldier's greatest trick. It was the ability to find rest when ever and where ever the chance presented itself (i.e. Lysan had probably learned the same trick and would recognize it for what it was). Fir'us merely continued to lay on the floor between the Drow and the rest of the room, his too-intelligent eyes casually examining the other Elves.

[Ilyrana Sevayni]

Ilyrana took the tray she'd recieved to the hammock she'd claimed as hers and ate in silence, listening to those around her speak for a few moments. It did not take someone with much intelligence at all to sense Kal'esril's annoyance. The way he saw things was interesting. She'd barely even seen a drow before arriving and being set upon this quest, let alone hear any of their philosophies or thoughts. He ended up speaking to Auroa for her as well, she'd been about to comment that insects would feed on the corpse almost immediately and thus it would not be wasted. So she could only offer a nod in agreement.

His mention of the cleric's future death almost seemed like a veiled threat. It was certainly a dark thought as they were all about to risk life and limb for strangers and for the bolstering of alliances. She frowned. They needed to get along better than this, and quickly. She was no mediator, but this she knew.

Ilyrana idly wondered if he was regretting this mission before it really began. When he chose revery over further conversation, it seemed to convey that sort of mentality. She was surprised he could find it so easily, but perhaps out of weariness as well as necessity a way was found.
Once she'd finished her own plate of cheeses and bread, leaving an offering for Nixkor of course, she felt her own tiredness. "I think the drow's idea to take our rest now might be wise. It might certainly improve some moods, and refresh us for our adventure?"
She offered a vague, polite smile, and settled into her hammock, as graceful as if she had been born in one. Essentially, she had, but that was another matter. Not trusting enough to drift ri ght off though, she stared at the ceiling, thoughts of home and simpler times running through her mind.

Rest well, friend. Tomorrow will surely be a long day.

[Lysan Cloud]

Taking his plate over to the couch he planned to reverie upon, Lysan mused while he ate.

He could understand practicality, but... eating the body of a sentient creature, who may be evil, but had a soul? The thought still almost turned his stomach. He supposed meat was meat, but he would avoid that act, if there were any way possible.

"Yes, Ily. I think you are right. We should rest and prepare for the morrow. Who knows what lies ahead? Cool heads and cool tempers will serve us well."

Settling down for his own reverie, he might be heard to mumble to himself, "Some things will NEVER be beautiful..." Then his eyes glass over as he enters Reverie almost as quickly as Kal had.