P'welro made long strides across the bunk bay, her boots clapping against the wooden floor one after the other. A figure or two raised their heads from their bunks as she passed with the group but quickly returned to rest. She seemed wholly at ease with her surroundings, this was after all, her home. But one of P'welro's jeweled ears flicked upright at Ryanti's sudden break in silence and the discourse which followed. The blond Miqo'te slowed to a halt near the far end of the bunk bay, near the private quarters. She turned to the group, casting a half smirk at the curious male.
"Couldn't tell yeh when she were first put ta sea. She were a pirate vessel though, repurposed by the 'Cuda. She's flown tha crimson standard fer near ten years. I've sailed her fer five," P'welro said. She then pointed to one of the nearby, empty bunks, or rather to the floor beneath it. "Y'see them smoothed out floorin' un'neath the bunks and the grooves to the sides? Cannons once went there. Brigands like outfittin' their ships wit an extra row o' firin' power. Why this is called the 'gun deck.' Most Maelstrom vessels don't 'ave the men or resources fer that sorta thin' anymore."
P'welro took a step backwards and knocked idly on the door to their intended private quarters. More of a gesture to reference the door than to see if anyone was shacking up inside the room. P'welro continued with her lecture anyways, "As ye can see, lots of shite gets to serve more than one purpose aboard. Like the 'bunk bay', like these quarters, like us really. Ye wanna act the part o' our crew an' put in tha work - ye'll soon figure we got a lot of different jobs aboard. Even Cap'n breaks her back wit us scrags. We're a small crew true, but each o' us 'ere cuz we earned it. 'Andpicked y'see. I'm assumin' like yerselves?"
The door at the end of the hall behind P'welro opened and a Sea Wolf woman stepped through the bulwark. She stood a good six fulms and wore a Storm Private's haubergeon. The bardiche she was walking with looked lovingly maintained. P'welro turned as the Sea Wolf approached and offered a smile and greeting.
"Ah, good, Berasaem, this be the cargo. Lads and lasses," she indicated to the three, "This is Berasaem Gybetsatzwyn, she'll be yer door guard tonight - should yeh choose to get some shuteye in now. This here's yer room."
P'welro opened the door, revealing a smallish cabin. It looked like it had been recently refurbished to accommodate the guests. Four thin mattresses had been laid out on the floor with a roll of blankets and a pillow set at the foot of each mattress. A mattress was laid adjacent to each of the three walls, with the fourth in the center of the room. An empty chest had been set near the door for them to place clothing, or other storage when or if it ever became applicable.
"As fer clothes, we'll see to it that a few fresh spares are laid out fer yeh. Yer lucky ye ain't the only smallfolk on this ship," she said, almost humorously to #43 before growing a bit more serious as she turned to Ryanti, "Yeh on the other hand. Yeh may end up in some lass's rags, unless can cull up some spares from our Midlanders what will fit yeh."
P'welro looked Ryanti up and down as if sizing him up. Her ears jingled a bit as she turned and started making her way to the door Berasaem had entered from. When she reached the handle she turned back to the group, saying, "I'll check wit Jada fer yeh seven, seventy, sevy - godsdamned numbers. 'Pologies lad. Yer free to turn in now as yeh wish and Berasaem will tuck yeh in, so to speak, or yeh can come wit me fer a spell afore I needs get above deck?" She offered, looking at Ryanti, but addressing the entire group. Berasaem took up her position against the wall adjacent to the open door and gave a short laugh. "I'll be sure no fishbacks get in to yer room while yer sleepin'," Berasaem teased as she held the door open with her free hand for the group, should they decide to pass up on the rest of the tour in favor of sleeping.
Sounsyy shrugged and replaced the stool to the side as she watched Jonathan intently. Her ears slowly flattened as the lecture prolonged, though she soaked up every detail. Most of the details were above her head, but what she understood was Garlemald seeking even greater power, and that was all Sounsyy truly needed to hear. She said nothing for the entirety of the display, honoring the Midlander's time.
Then he opened the lockbox and withdrew the ancient Allagan artifact. A sudden warmth filled Sounsyy, but the sensation made her the slightest bit queasy. The humming noise it made irritated her ears, but she tried to remain imperceptible. Her face remained grave and her ears remained in their lowered position. Sounsyy did not feel compelled to reach out and touch it. In fact, she moved opposite from its allure, sitting in her armchair across the desk from the artifact where she contented herself to stare at it for another moment before the Midlander returned it to its secure home and closed the box, cutting off the humming noise.
Truthfully, Sounsyy was relieved. The object gave her the most uneasy of sensations. When it seemed like the Midlander was done, Sounsyy folded her arms and reclined slightly in her armchair, using the silence to think before speaking.
"An explanation will not be necessary. They are loyal, all. If it matters to me, it becomes their priority. We will see yeh to yer destination. And this thing, this artifact will remain safeguarded. I do not know what it is calling yeh to in the Deep, if anythin', but I- nor Limsa Lominsa allow such an... unsettling... device into enemy hands. Fer years we have fed the Garlond Ironworks with spoils of Garlean galleons. This is no different. The risks, great. The rewards, a gamble. We understand better than most."
Sounsyy placed both palms on her desk and raised herself up from her chair to a standing position. She moved around the desk and made her way to the wine rack near the door. She examined a few bottles, finally selecting one deep red. She uncorked it and set the open bottle upon the desk. While it breathed, she rummaged through her desk drawer for two glasses. These were short, ovular shaped crystal glasses with a short stem.
With a half smile, she looked up from her evening ritual to the Midlander. It was her turn to lecture. "In Limsa Lominsa, it is customary fer officers to toast to the fortune of a voyage and offer solemn prayers to the Navigator. If y'would partake?" She asked casually, as she poured a thumb of wine into each glass. She offered him one of the glasses with her right hand, much in the same way she had offered him the stool earlier. Her four remaining fingers on her left hand gripped her own glass and raised it up to chin level.
"I am the waves that bear, I am the winds that guide.
I am the evening stars, I am the morning sky.
I am born of the sea," Sounsyy recited the ancient words and drank from her glass. The wine was earthy in flavor, a deep red holding only the most subtle of fruit notes. When Sounsyy had swallowed, she lowered the glass back to her chin and finished, "And there shall I die."
Sounsyy regarded the Midlander with the faintest upward curling of the ends of her lips into what might have been a smile. She cared not whether the Midlander had taken his drink or not. If not, it would mean more for her later. She picked up the bottle gently and recorked it, moving it like a babe over to her vanity. She set down the bottle and looked back to Jonathan to keep an eye on him. This was her amicable side, not necessarily her trusting side.
"Couldn't tell yeh when she were first put ta sea. She were a pirate vessel though, repurposed by the 'Cuda. She's flown tha crimson standard fer near ten years. I've sailed her fer five," P'welro said. She then pointed to one of the nearby, empty bunks, or rather to the floor beneath it. "Y'see them smoothed out floorin' un'neath the bunks and the grooves to the sides? Cannons once went there. Brigands like outfittin' their ships wit an extra row o' firin' power. Why this is called the 'gun deck.' Most Maelstrom vessels don't 'ave the men or resources fer that sorta thin' anymore."
P'welro took a step backwards and knocked idly on the door to their intended private quarters. More of a gesture to reference the door than to see if anyone was shacking up inside the room. P'welro continued with her lecture anyways, "As ye can see, lots of shite gets to serve more than one purpose aboard. Like the 'bunk bay', like these quarters, like us really. Ye wanna act the part o' our crew an' put in tha work - ye'll soon figure we got a lot of different jobs aboard. Even Cap'n breaks her back wit us scrags. We're a small crew true, but each o' us 'ere cuz we earned it. 'Andpicked y'see. I'm assumin' like yerselves?"
The door at the end of the hall behind P'welro opened and a Sea Wolf woman stepped through the bulwark. She stood a good six fulms and wore a Storm Private's haubergeon. The bardiche she was walking with looked lovingly maintained. P'welro turned as the Sea Wolf approached and offered a smile and greeting.
"Ah, good, Berasaem, this be the cargo. Lads and lasses," she indicated to the three, "This is Berasaem Gybetsatzwyn, she'll be yer door guard tonight - should yeh choose to get some shuteye in now. This here's yer room."
P'welro opened the door, revealing a smallish cabin. It looked like it had been recently refurbished to accommodate the guests. Four thin mattresses had been laid out on the floor with a roll of blankets and a pillow set at the foot of each mattress. A mattress was laid adjacent to each of the three walls, with the fourth in the center of the room. An empty chest had been set near the door for them to place clothing, or other storage when or if it ever became applicable.
"As fer clothes, we'll see to it that a few fresh spares are laid out fer yeh. Yer lucky ye ain't the only smallfolk on this ship," she said, almost humorously to #43 before growing a bit more serious as she turned to Ryanti, "Yeh on the other hand. Yeh may end up in some lass's rags, unless can cull up some spares from our Midlanders what will fit yeh."
P'welro looked Ryanti up and down as if sizing him up. Her ears jingled a bit as she turned and started making her way to the door Berasaem had entered from. When she reached the handle she turned back to the group, saying, "I'll check wit Jada fer yeh seven, seventy, sevy - godsdamned numbers. 'Pologies lad. Yer free to turn in now as yeh wish and Berasaem will tuck yeh in, so to speak, or yeh can come wit me fer a spell afore I needs get above deck?" She offered, looking at Ryanti, but addressing the entire group. Berasaem took up her position against the wall adjacent to the open door and gave a short laugh. "I'll be sure no fishbacks get in to yer room while yer sleepin'," Berasaem teased as she held the door open with her free hand for the group, should they decide to pass up on the rest of the tour in favor of sleeping.
Sounsyy shrugged and replaced the stool to the side as she watched Jonathan intently. Her ears slowly flattened as the lecture prolonged, though she soaked up every detail. Most of the details were above her head, but what she understood was Garlemald seeking even greater power, and that was all Sounsyy truly needed to hear. She said nothing for the entirety of the display, honoring the Midlander's time.
Then he opened the lockbox and withdrew the ancient Allagan artifact. A sudden warmth filled Sounsyy, but the sensation made her the slightest bit queasy. The humming noise it made irritated her ears, but she tried to remain imperceptible. Her face remained grave and her ears remained in their lowered position. Sounsyy did not feel compelled to reach out and touch it. In fact, she moved opposite from its allure, sitting in her armchair across the desk from the artifact where she contented herself to stare at it for another moment before the Midlander returned it to its secure home and closed the box, cutting off the humming noise.
Truthfully, Sounsyy was relieved. The object gave her the most uneasy of sensations. When it seemed like the Midlander was done, Sounsyy folded her arms and reclined slightly in her armchair, using the silence to think before speaking.
"An explanation will not be necessary. They are loyal, all. If it matters to me, it becomes their priority. We will see yeh to yer destination. And this thing, this artifact will remain safeguarded. I do not know what it is calling yeh to in the Deep, if anythin', but I- nor Limsa Lominsa allow such an... unsettling... device into enemy hands. Fer years we have fed the Garlond Ironworks with spoils of Garlean galleons. This is no different. The risks, great. The rewards, a gamble. We understand better than most."
Sounsyy placed both palms on her desk and raised herself up from her chair to a standing position. She moved around the desk and made her way to the wine rack near the door. She examined a few bottles, finally selecting one deep red. She uncorked it and set the open bottle upon the desk. While it breathed, she rummaged through her desk drawer for two glasses. These were short, ovular shaped crystal glasses with a short stem.
With a half smile, she looked up from her evening ritual to the Midlander. It was her turn to lecture. "In Limsa Lominsa, it is customary fer officers to toast to the fortune of a voyage and offer solemn prayers to the Navigator. If y'would partake?" She asked casually, as she poured a thumb of wine into each glass. She offered him one of the glasses with her right hand, much in the same way she had offered him the stool earlier. Her four remaining fingers on her left hand gripped her own glass and raised it up to chin level.
"I am the waves that bear, I am the winds that guide.
I am the evening stars, I am the morning sky.
I am born of the sea," Sounsyy recited the ancient words and drank from her glass. The wine was earthy in flavor, a deep red holding only the most subtle of fruit notes. When Sounsyy had swallowed, she lowered the glass back to her chin and finished, "And there shall I die."
Sounsyy regarded the Midlander with the faintest upward curling of the ends of her lips into what might have been a smile. She cared not whether the Midlander had taken his drink or not. If not, it would mean more for her later. She picked up the bottle gently and recorked it, moving it like a babe over to her vanity. She set down the bottle and looked back to Jonathan to keep an eye on him. This was her amicable side, not necessarily her trusting side.