The Tranquility

[Kjell Ó Raghallaigh]

Kjell arrived at The Tranquility, clad in the same dusty leathers she'd worn yesterday, her arquebus over one shoulder and backpack over the other. An axe and a brand new sabre were tucked into her sword belt. Her hair was still damp, likely from a recent bath, and she ran a hand through it to get it out of her face as she approached the others.

"Morning," she said, and looked around for someone to direct her someplace where she could leave her two items.

[The Forgotten God]

As the elf boards and settles in, the captain calls out and the ramp is raised. They can all see the Odyssey beginning to venture into the open sea, the larger ship gliding effortlessly through the calm waters. The nervous ship’s mate took a seat near the wheel and held his golden bauble like a puppy, humming to it.

[Ceutinde]

Ceutinde poked her head up on deck at the captain's shout. When she spotted the other elf, she called Kjell's name and waved her over to the ladderwell. Probably more useful for her to be helping passengers get situated than getting in the way of the sailors, after all.

[Kjell Ó Raghallaigh]

At being called, Kjell walked over to the ladderwell and looked down at Ceutinde. "Hi," she said, naturally in Elvish, and gave her a brief small smile. "Down there?"

[Ceutinde]

"Yes, watch your head," She answered, having to stoop quite a bit herself, "The captain gets the upper cabin, next to the wardroom, so as to be closer at hand if needed. We get the ones below." The ladderwell led down to a narrow passageway with several doors leading off it, which she pointed out in turn. "This is mine, then Konrad, then Silvia, then Herneiros - wasn't expecting him, he's the human raised by our kind - and this is you." The cabins were all arranged in the aft third of the deck, Kjell's being on the port side. It was the last cabin before the passage opened up to a wider area filled with supplies, sailors' hammocks and sea chests, and a galley off to starboard. The officers had a separate shared cabin all the way forward. Ceutinde opened the door and let Kjell see her room. There was a narrow bed, but with a thick mattress, down pillow, and quality sheets and blankets. An empty chest was at its foot, a smaller cabinet served as a bedside table, and a porthole provided some light.

"Not exactly the lap of luxury, but comfortable enough, I hope."

[Kjell Ó Raghallaigh]

"More than," replied Kjell, who was used to housing conditions that were less than. She took the room in with a glance before stepping in and relieving herself of the backpack and rifle, leaning them against the foot of the bed. Looking to each of the walls in turn, she wondered if she could get a hammock in here. If not, there were some right outside.

"Tend to get better sleep at sea," she mused, perhaps more to herself than the other elf. "Must be all that swaying."

She stared out of the porthole for a while, and eventually turned as if remembering something. "Thank you," she said.

[Ceutinde]

"My pleasure. Once we're out of the harbor and it's calmed down topside I think I'll arrange a little luncheon out in the sun, if you're interested. A chance to get to know each other." She tilted her head, just a bit quizzical. "But don't feel obliged if you'd rather have some time alone."

[Kjell Ó Raghallaigh]

She considered it for a moment. That was an accurate read on her. But alas.

“No, I like lunch,” she said, and once she’d realised what she’d said, cleared her throat. “I mean, it is not a bad idea. The expedition can only benefit from its members knowing each others names. And such.”

[Ceutinde]

"Agreed. Though we'll all likely be sick of one another at the end of it, best to start on the right foot. But I'll leave you to get settled in peace for the moment." Not that the awkward younger elf had much baggage to get settled. At least, not physical baggage. "Glad to have you on board, dear." She smiled and left the doorway, heading back up the ladder to find an out-of-the-way spot to watch the sailors work and the shoreline recede.

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A few hours later, once the sails were full of wind and the hubbub had died down, Ceutinde helped some sailors set up a collapsible table and chairs on the main deck, amidships. The four other passengers, along with Captain De Verr (a grizzledly handsome middle-aged human man) and Zavier, were asked to come up for a light lunch while most of the crew ate below. The chef set the table with a spread of fresh fruit for an appetizer while she prepared the main course.

[Geoffrey Ravenhurst]

If anyone likes fish, the hunter brings his own catch. Some are still alive.

He holds up a still flapping one. "This one is Innurian Flounder. Full of meat."

He pulls another from his bag. "Valgard Cod." And another. "Dragonfish. Good texture. I hear civilized people like it with lemon."

Herneiros scratched his beard as he looked through the rest of his supplies. "I have finely cured rodent jerky if this would also symbolize fraternity. Valgard has marvelously large rats, so a clever man need never starve."

[Ceutinde]

Ceutinde was nothing if not gracious, even to a very unexpected gift. "Oh, they are just lovely catches. I'm sure the chef would be more than happy to prepare them," She said, looking over the trio of fish while studiously avoiding the ratmeat, "And the jerky will keep, yes? Best to save it in case we hit doldrums."

[Geoffrey Ravenhurst]

"Hmmm... quite right." He hands the fish to whoever does the cooking before taking a seat.

[Ceutinde]

The sous-chef/server gratefully took them below.

"So. Herneiros. I must say I find myself curious about your upbringing." Ceutinde began, settling in at the head of the table. "If you don't mind my asking, your heart's father, he raised you in the mists? Just the two of you?"

[Geoffrey Ravenhurst]

He shook his head. "His wife looked after me as well. She cared for me as a foundling, taught me the Elven tongue, the stars, and some of the fundamentals of magic. Until I was perhaps ten, she was chiefly responsible for my upbringing."

Judging by the sad look in his eyes and the fact Leuwinmorgh arrived in Innuria a bachelor, it was fairly obvious she did not survive the Mist.

[Konrad of Wolfhaven]

Konrad took a seat, quietly and watched the interesting exchange.

“I admit, I did not expect that adventuring could be done in such comfort and style,” he told the elf-maiden, raising his glass before changing the subject.

“Did anyone else find the presentation by those seeking our services... needlessly opaque? It causes one to wonder...”