The Unknown: A Game of Fear, Ignorance, and Adventure

[Khedive Rex]

Spoiler: OOC

In the meantime, you're on a boat

... I'm on a boat!

Sorry, I couldn't help myself. When I read that sentence I got an image in my head of our various characters performing this song on a big wooden galleon. That might have made my day.

Tiber stared out at the sea with Ticky as the ship drew farther and farther away from the shore. His face was painted with a convincing layer of nostalgia, but it was only a show. He was using the sudden break in conversation to review what he had learned.

"An intellectual." Tiber thought to himself. "With no weapons and no love for the church ... Well, not who I thought he was then."

Nonetheless, Tiber had to admit he enjoyed talking with the Gnome. He even knew why. Formality. Humans, Orcs and most assuredly Painted Elves lacked the ability to be friendly without making fools of themselves. This little Gnome however conducted himself with an air of professionalism. If there was one thing Tiber appreciated, it was professionalism. He was a professional himself.

Ticky was also the careful sort. Tiber noticed the reluctance in the Gnome's eyes to discuss his aptitudes and expertise; the way he stayed out of convienent grappling range (just a little behind and to the side of Tiber) also suggested he had experience enough to be cautious.

"Hmm ... Support? He provides support? ... A person like myself could always use some support, and he may appreciate having someone with firepower at his side. Perhpas a deal can be made."

Tiber looked up from the ocean with an air of finality. The city was mostly gone from view now and he felt justified resuming the conversation.

"I'm sorry, what we're you saying Ticky?"

"Oh, merely a joke. 'I suppose you'd know about using barmaids.'"

"HA! You heard my conversation with the barkeep then?" Tiber nodded to himself. "Good ears, observant too." after a moments reflection of the events of last night, and early this morning, he responded. "I have some experience yes; though not enough for my liking. I must say, I wish it were a simplier process."

"Tell me Ticky, what is it that you study? You said you were a man of science, I believe? What do you hope to discover in the Unknown?"

 

[Dragonrabbit]

By this point Reeko had stopped his song and dance, and he was now merely sitting on the crate stack observing the crew and expedition members; the Ice Elf whose shoes he had tied together was here, talking to a gnome, a one-armed man was talking to a another human, a knight had just disappeared beneath the deck, and there were two Painted Elves chatting on the deck as well.

I suppose it's time to meet the family

Reeko slid off the boxes falling somewhat nimbly to the deck of the ship. He strolled across the deck towards the other Painted Elves, patting the Ice Elf on his head as he passed by. He reached the other Painted Elves and stood on his left foot and raised his right fist into the air, "For the Goddess of the Salamander I greet you, you backwards speaking twigs. Reeko Jalbrook of the Kaeio tribe."

 

[Shapsters]

Derlan saw a painted elf walk over, he greeted the two brethren,

"Ah! Hello Reeko my dear boy! How do your rivers run? I am Derlan of the who-the-hell-knows tribe!"

Derlan stopped himself as he spotted a cockroach on the floor, he sat down and crossed his legs. He began petting it and put it in his hand,

"Hello little guy, how are you doing? Such a cute little fella you are."

He stood up with the cockroach and began carrying it around the boat.

 

[Flying-Emu]

"I have some experience yes; though not enough for my liking. I must say, I wish it were a simplier process." Tiber said with a wry grin on his face.

"Well, I doubt there'll be many barmaids where we sail, Elf. But who can say, mayhaps we'll find a lost civilization. Or a hermit. Or a tribe of beautiful gnomish women, with cheeks the color of ripe peaches." He shrugged. "A gnome can dream, after all."

"Tell me Ticky, what is it that you study? You said you were a man of science, I believe? What do you hope to discover in the Unknown?"

Ticky paused a moment. Delicate situation, this. He could either reveal a little truth and hopefully build an ally here... but if he did, he ran the risk of revealing his purpose. Curious that someone showed so much interest in his ends. Dangerous that an Ice Elf showed any interest at all.

"I suppose, sir, that you could say I'm a bit of a bookworm. I've gained some measure of skill over the years in deciphering foreign languages, so long as I can deduce one, maybe two symbols. After that point, it's merely a matter of time. Of course..." he continued slowly, lowering his voice "... that happens to be a skill I keep to myself, most times. Information I keep, really. You never know what someone might do once they find out that your use has shriveled." Ticky sighed, scrubbing a hand through his hair.

"It's just safer to leave them thinking."

Spoiler: OOC

Damn you, Khedive. I'll never get that song out of my head now.

You can't stop me, muthafucka cause I'm on a boat.

 

[Saskwach]

Spoiler: OOC

I'm not sure "intents and purposes" is a tautology: perhaps I'm wrong, but it seems that "intents" is about what people may be thinking about doing with X, and "purposes" is what they can do with it. So very similar, but divided by the sense of ends and means. I think. Something like that. Maybe.
Also, I may have assumed too much with the handshake thing. Apologies.

This man is erratic. Erratic men are dangerous. Still, there's no point in denying friendship on those grounds.

"And you my good man?, why do you join us, so well armed?" A family heirloom?

"Sorry?" Jonas was momentarily confused, and his eyes stared off to the horizon for a second as he tried to make sense of the question. "Oh, this!"

He drew the sword, surprising a few nearby onlookers. A faint smile crept across his face. He made a few basic swings and returned the sword to its sheath. He paused for a moment, then returned to the conversation.

"I wouldn't say this is well-armed. Perhaps your idea of an exceptional defence differs? And it's certainly no heirloom. I was a new man: I had no time to be an heir, much less inherit any looms."

Jonas smirked, remembering the witty banter he and Aeneas swapped late at night. Aeneas had been the better, but had gracefully appreciated Jonas' own fumbling attempts. Long gone, those memories, but still as warm as the fireplace they'd sat beside. Jonas snapped out of his thoughts and inwardly cursed. He had run to fat in mind, if not in body. That would have to change.

"No, this is no special sword. A workman's sword I bought for the expedition - though workman's swords are made to be worked with, nonetheless. I haven't kept a blade in a long while."

 

[Zemalac]

Deslock was standing behind the captain at the wheel, studying a map and arguing.

"No. This plan of yours is absurd," Grummond said, trying his utmost to sound firm and unyielding. Deslock wasn't having any of it.

"It'll cut days off our time to Tyb, which in turn will cut down the time it'll take to reach the continent," the explorer argued.

"It's a godsdamned pirate haven!"

"Yes, well, I don't think that's much of an issue," Deslock said, snatching his map away from the wind. "If we sail through the river instead of going all the way around the peninsula we save time, and if we have to burn a few pirates along the way then we can pick up a bounty in Tyb."

"You...that..." Grummond paused to collect his thoughts. "It's not that simple. Have you ever been attacked by pirates, Explorer Deslock?"

"Twice." Deslock didn't even look up from his map.

"What?" Grummond looked at the explorer over his shoulder, uncertain whether or not the man was making things up. "How did you survive?"

"Well, the first time there was a wizard on board the ship with a pet sea serpent," Deslock said, "And the second time we just threw barrels of clinger at them until they caught on fire. I figured that's what we'd do if we got attacked."

"We have clinger on board the ship?" Grummond's expression was one of sudden and complete horror.

"Don't worry about it," Deslock said dismissively. "It's stored securely."

"Clinger is never stored securely," Grummond said with the certainty of common knowledge. "I want it off my ship as soon as possible."

"Well, if we run into any pirates we can send it off by way of the ballista," Deslock suggested. "In the meantime, plot a course for the Ferios River."

"You're crazy, explorer," the captain said, but he turned the wheel anyway.

Spoiler: OOC

In the meantime, you're on a boat

... I'm on a boat!

Sorry, I couldn't help myself. When I read that sentence I got an image in my head of our various characters performing this song on a big wooden galleon. That might have made my day.

Spoiler: OOC

Assume the part of T-Pain is played by Captain Grummond.

 

[Kaboose the Moose]

"Aah, I see!" Raven nodded listening intently. "Well, I hope there won't be much need to have exceptional defenses on this voyage. I am a man of books and harmony, I'd rather go through this expedition without getting involved in any bloodshed" he paused to rub his chin, "Then again, we are traveling off into the unknown so I suppose it would be prudent to be cautious" he frowned as if in deep though. "Guess I should have taken up on some of those self defense classes while I was in Merchant's Water, eh?" Raven let out a deep sigh and looked out to sea. "Oh well, another time another journey!"

The human next to him was a mystery, no doubt there was more to this Jonas character than he was letting on. A guarded tongue and a guarded mind, Raven thought to himself. Not idly do men carry swords, especially not a man with one arm. Perhaps he is the exception that proves the rule?. Or perhaps he is yet another wolf in sheep's clothing?

"I have yet to hear your tale then" he said to Jonas after a long pause had settled between the two men. "Why do you seek the Unknown Continent?. What purpose has brought you to stand before me?"

Spoiler: OOC

Don't worry, this is a game about fear, ignorance and adventure after all.

 

[Zombie_Fish]

Mareck looked out over the sea. Despite his want of change, he never really thought of himself as a traveller, as the trip started to prove. The water was starting to make him hazy, and he was starting to become dangerously sober for dwarves like him. He also didn't like the painted elves, they weren't a race to be trusted- not many were to be trusted, but the painted elves especially, and the masses they were in on this voyage was bound to kick everyone else in the teeth. Not that he was stereotyping or anything.

He sat by the ale, waiting patiently for the correct time, when he could be subtle enough to tap into that precious, golden liquid that was loved by dwarves all over.

Well, may as well do something to pass the time.

He started to stroll around the ship, looking for the fellow dwarf that he had noticed at the start of the voyage, but to no avail, so he turned and looked at all the masses of people that were going on this trip. There was a scary amount of people going on this trip, and he already had enough to worry about along with everyone else. There was also half a million other things that could potentially happen on this voyage, and unfortunately, he wasn't drunk enough to hide these feelings, as they burst the floodgates and came out of the vaults of his mind where he had wanted to keep them for as long as possible, and failed to keep them there as well.

Regretting this voyage now?

No. Shut up and get out of my head.

Haven't you ever wondered why you have a second voice in your head?

No, nor do I care.

But-

LALALALALALALALALALALALALALALALALA-Not listening!

Alright, geez.

Spoiler: OOC

Spoiler: OOC

In the meantime, you're on a boat

... I'm on a boat!

Sorry, I couldn't help myself. When I read that sentence I got an image in my head of our various characters performing this song on a big wooden galleon. That might have made my day.

Good to see I wasn't the only one who thought of that at first sight of that sentence.

 

[Dragonearl]

Alexis stood on the bow of the ship breathing in great gulps of air. He was too short to see out the great bow but peering under the railing he could see the great expanse of the open blue sea. "AAAAAH!" he said to himself letting the wind run through his tangled red hair. "Just like an airship but...a bit wetter" he laughed heartily as the ship rose over a wave and plummeted back, dumping a spray of sea water on his face.

The dwarf began stroking his beard, much about the expedition confused him. All these elves and goblins and humans were intimidating and he knew he saw an orc about. Alexis wasn't a fan of crowds in confined spaces, which is why he chose to contemplate his future near the bow. The endless horizon and the open blue waters gave him a false sense of expanse. He sighed to him self, "If only I had a pint!"

Alexis suddenly had an idea. He scratched his head trying to remember if he saw another dwarf on the expedition, he vaguely recalled seeing one. "I guess I can make friends on this trip, besides, I could always use a drinking buddy!" he thought out aloud and turned to go explore the decks.

"Ahuzdul!" he called out aloud, hoping the other dwarf spoke the regional dialect of Niefthulzar. Realizing that this might be a wrong approach, Alexis cleared his throat and tried again, "I have two kegs of beer?. Who want's to drink with me?"

 

[ThreeWords]

"And in the name of Gink the Lizard king, I receive you in all warmth" replied Jakob, putting his hands on his head and bowing from the waist, "I am Jakob, of the tribe Dor-Khelle, and I am glad of such merry company on this voyage, for this tiny world of wood surrounded by the wet is a new place to me. Have you ever lived in such a place before?"

 

[Dragonrabbit]

Reeko smiled at Jakob, "No, I've never traveled outside the Sunrise Plains. But, I have noticed some of our brethren from the mountains, and supposing they can manage, I believe that means we can. Of course to believe an Ice Elf can manage in any situation is a bit of a stretch." He turned his head towards Derlan and spoke once more, "What a friendly creature that seems to be, tell me, Dry Land was it, might I have a look at the little beasty more closely?" Reeko extended his hand towards Derlan awaiting the cockroach, with a firm smile on his face.

 

[ThreeWords]

Jakob did a little hop of excitement. Ice Elves? This was a chance not to be missed. He looked around the deck and spotted one, talking to a gnome. He strolled over and offered the pale Elf an elaborate and improvised bow. Affecting a posh, sophisticated voice, he spoke in the shared ancestral tongue that was kept alive only because it was necessary to allow the two races to converse

"Good morrow, my dear Frozen Elf. What news from the High Courts?" he asked, almost keeping a straight face

 

[Octorok]

Gris wasn't happy. He was stuck on a cramped ship, full of lunatics. Not only lunatics, but elves . The salty air was brisk, but it irritated him, and it made his skin glisten a sickly shade of his natural green complexion. He was unused to such conditions, and decided that if he was to have any fun on this trip, he would have a lot of it.

He wandered the deck, returning funny looks that he got from the crowds of adventurers and growling menacingly at a dwarf that he saw reach for his weapon, but instead asked the crowd if they wanted to drink with him. Funny that. He could barely speak English, but in the years he had been forced to listen to it daily, he had grow to understand the language.

Masking his refined accent, and the dulcet tones he had learned to use in place of his natural gruff voice, he put on the voice of a savage orc. He furrowed his brow, as though a particularly stupid creature, and stamped over to an Ice Elf conversing with a Gnome.

"Ugh. ME HUNGRY!"

 

[ThreeWords]

"ME HUNGRY!" yelled an orc from about two inches behind Jakob. He jumped, but turned the movement into a strange little dance and planted a friendly kiss on the orc's hand, just in case it was female

"And greetings to you, my lovely," he said, and produced a small sprig of berries, "Would you care for a fruit of the Summer Forests? Hardly food for the body, but they will nourish your mind for hours"

He plucked a single one and ate it, then closed his eyes in eustacy and shivered. When he opened them again, they shone with more than the usual brightness

 

[Zombie_Fish]

"I have two kegs of beer? Who wants to drink with me?" Mareck heard this question, and followed it with a traditional dwarf response: Charging over to the spot, desperate for something to sacrifice his sobriety for. They had only been out in this exploration for less than a day and already he was getting desperate for some liquid to go through his parched lips.

Instinctively, he walked over to the man with the beer, recognising him as another dwarf, but that wasn't what he cared about currently. The sun was bearing down on him ever so more and he needed something to sort out his thirst.

"Hey. Someone say something about beer?" He then turned to the fellow dwarf and realised what the dwarf actually wanted: A meeting.

Oh crap.

Hey, guess who's back?

You. Out. Now.

But-

NOW! Oh, he's still staring at me. Oh well, might as well make one friend on this expedition. He looked his fellow dwarf in the eye (The first person he could do that to on this trip) "Sorry, haven't had a drink for a while." he stuck out his grubby hand "Name's Mareck Nonovan. You?"

 

[Bluedemon322]

Disregard

 

[Dragonearl]

Spoiler: OOC

You could PM Zemalac to find out if it's possible to join.

"I knew that would get a fellow dwarf bounding out of their hiding place. Alas, I do wish that I had the sense to bring along a keg or two for this expedition, the sun is a real scorcher today isn't it?. Oh wait!, where are my manners. My name is Alexis Moonspear, it's a right pleasure to meet you brother Mareck Nonovan!" he said shaking the dwarf's hand enthusiastically.

"Oh I say, perhaps there is a stockpile of ale in the cargo hold?. Have you checked?" Alexis dropped his small backpack that fitted snugly under his arm and began rummaging about it. Various metallic clanging noises was heard as the dwarf strained further and further into the bag. It was evidently quite larger than it appeared from the outside. "AHA!" he exclaimed suddenly pulling out something "I knew I ha.." he paused noticing that he had pulled out a saucepan. "That wasn't what I wanted!" he exclaimed with mild annoyance rummaging through his bag again. This time he produced two large beer mugs.

"AHA!" he said again with a fiery intensity. "I knew I had it in here somewhere. Now we have the mugs, lets see if we can find the drink. I'm sure the captain won't mind" he said handing a mug to Mareck. "Come along, we can talk while on our little expedition..within the expedition!" he said with a little snicker. Alexis was clearly trying extra hard to make a friend.

"Where do you come from brother dwarf?" he asked turning to the bewildered looking Mareck.

 

[Zombie_Fish]

Shaking Alexis' hand, Mareck agreed "It is a pleasure to meet you too, Alexis Moonspear. Shame about the beer situation. Unfortunately, I'm actually becoming sober. And that is no good thing."

"Oh I say, perhaps there is a stockpile of ale in the cargo hold?. Have you checked?" Alexis then got out this bag of his and started rummaging about in it. Meanwhile Mareck stood and watched at the sheer amount of stuff in that bag.

"Well... I was going to look about for some, but got distracted by your invitation for a... conversation... How much stuff do you have in..."

"AHA!" Alexis explained, shocking Mareck out of his daze. "I knew I had it in here somewhere. Now we have the mugs, lets see if we can find the drink. I'm sure the captain won't mind" Alexis handed Mareck a mug. Mareck looked at Alexis and smiled in satisfaction.

"You, sir, have most definately come prepared." He said to Alexis, making a toast to this... genius of dwarves.

"Come along, we can talk while on our little expedition..within the expedition!"

"Very well then. I declare this expedition of our own, on!" he called out as the two of them went off to scavage for dwarf treasure.

Well, this guy seems fairly friendly. I may be able to trust him, if no one else.

"Where do you come from brother dwarf?" Alexis asked whilst they walked and talked.

"Me? I come from The Merchant's Water, deciding that was the best place for me as I was never much of an air traveller. However, things started to get boring after a while and I decided to join this expedition as a result. What about you then?"

 

[Shapsters]

Derlan looked at Reeko, he hesitated for a moment but handed the cockroach to him.

"A lovely little creature, nice legs, long antenna, a healthy little bug!"

Reeko looked at the bug, he seemed to be interested, or at least was pretending.

"Do you like nature and all its beasts? Or do you prefer the cities?"

 

[Dragonearl]

"Oh you don't like flying then?" Alexis turned with an amused look in response to Mareck's answer. "I am not surprised though, many of my dwarf brothers have left their airships at dry dock to reconnect with the earth. Turns out most of them had a fear of heights and only went aboard because they thought there was a great big barrel of beer somewhere up there" he said pointing to the skies.

"What about you then?" Mareck asked in turn.

"Well I don't really have a land that I could call home. I spent most my life on an airship traveling here and there with a band of misfit dwarves. Seven of us there were, all of us were budding explorers, eager to taste the life of other cultures and of course the beer of others. Here's a tip though, avoid Orc beer, tastes like boiled granite" he said with a misty look in his eyes. "But I guess, we have spent most of our time in Ver Arcana. So, it's possible that the city is the closest to what I can call a "home" on land, but in truth my real home is my airship, the 'crusty turtle'. I picked the name myself..like it?" Alexis jumped up and down in excitement, half at being nostalgic and half at the fact that he could smell a keg nearby.

"We were on our way to the Sunset Jungles when we saw one of Deslock's fliers, we all wanted to go instantly but then that would leave our ship without a crew. So it was decided for one of us to leave and join Deslock. After we played a long and drawn out game of Keg Axe Beer, it was agreed that I had won without cheating..so here I am!" he exclaimed with pride.

"What's your story then laddie?. What bring you to this voyage?" he asked Mareck as he made his way down a ladder leading into the bowels of the ship.