Jammers Summary: Chapter 1, Turn 15

----------- = Meanwhile, elsewhere...
*********** = Later...

Upon entering the tavern, Holland's eyes quickly scan the occupants glancing briefly at each of their faces. With a slight sigh, Holland walks over to the Innkeeper and says, "Innkeep, I would like to get a private room for the next two nights and my friends," Holland says with a wave of his hands to include the entire group, "will need accommodations as well. What are your prices?"

"Welcome!" he smiles and nods his head theatrically, "I am Etedrilin, innkeep" a chuckle. "And you are?"

Holland gives a warm sincere smile in return and says, "I am Holland Wellhouse of the Company of the Silent Star. Greetings."

"Rooms are 4 gp a night, no more then two per room." he smiles, "How many will you need?"

Holland's eyes run across the members of the company stopping briefly on Leera before moving on, "Talus, would you care to share a room with me?"

Talus gives the human a questioning look, "I don't know, do you snore?"

Holland smiles and says, "No, I do not."

Holland then turns to the Innkeep and asks, "What is included in that price? Baths and breakfast?"

The innkeep grins, "Breakfast, aye, but you'll have to go to a bathhouse for a soak. Water's too dear here for inns to just hand it out."

Leera says "Innkeep! How many rooms do you have? Might I rent one for the night?" She then says to the group as he rents her a room "I think I'll stay alone tonight. It'll make a pleasant change." Her eyes twinkle "Of course, I'm open to suggestions."

"Whatever suits your fancy, m'lady," Raken comments with a slight bow.

"I don't think I will be staying here tonight. I have some halfling friends that would probably not mind having me over." Billy says.

Kain hangs his heavy cloak upon one of the pegs on the wall, and settles his swordbelt on that same hook. Pulling a small pouch from his pocket, Kain releases the clasp that holds it to his belt, and pays at the innkeeper's desk for his room. Taking a seat at one of the larger tables, he waits for one of the sisters to pass before raising his hand in a summoning gesture. "Naught but water for me, ma'am, and a bit to eat if it wouldn't.. ah.. well, be too much trouble."

Grigree sits down at the table Kain picked out and hands his swords onto the back of his chair. He then orders a drink.

Radick grabs the seat beside Grigree and lays his battle axe across his thighs. He then calls out to one of the serving girls for a drink, and flashes her a quick smile and a wink. Radick then turns to Grigree, "Mind if we split a room? They cost too much with what we have been paid to go it alone."

"Sounds good to me," Grigree replies with a shrug.

"I'll have a Night Scavver stake, served with mushroom sauce and an Urnst ale, if you have any," Raken says to the waitress as she is taking orders.

Leera watches Raken order Night Scavver steak. When it arrives, she asks "Friend Raken, that indeed looks to be an interesting meal. Might I taste the scavver to find whether I like its flavor?"

"Sure," Raken comments as he cuts a fair-sized piece of meat for Leera to taste. "Get used to it, we'll be likely dining on it many a times."

Leera tastes the steak, finds it to be to her liking, and orders one for herself.

Once she leaves, Kain scans the room silently before looking back to his companions. "When we leave, what flag will we fly?" the young man asks. "Shall we devise our own, or are we to fly the flag of the House, or even that of Bral itself?" Kain clasps his hands together before him, "If I hadn't left my things with my sword and cloak, I'd.. ah.. show you a few ideas, but.. hmm.. well, I'll just have to try to explain. For a flag of our own, perhaps a single star upon a field of black, or a group of stars, one larger and brighter than the others, again on a field of black."

Grigree smiles before saying, "That's just what I was thinking. Well, I would be if I was thinking about flags."

Kain seems to be enjoying this, speaking softly enough so that other patrons aren't inconvenienced, but speaking without his usual hesitation. "Another one I like would be a shooting star on a plain field, or on a multicolored field, but that would be more appropriate if our ship were called the shooting star." He looks up from his spiel, smiling as he waits for his drink to return.

"Ah," Grigree says, as he leans back in his chair to stretch, "should've spoken up sooner."

"Ah," Kain shakes his head. "I may have, but the images didn't seem right. Shooting stars are notoriously short-lived, their existence ending in a fiery change to little but ash. Giving a ship that namesake appeared a bit cynical to me." Kain shrugs, "Besides, my mind doesn't work like that, images and pictures come readily to mind, but names, I've always had trouble with names." When the barmaid returns with his water and his meal, Kain reaches into his coin pouch. Thinking better of the silver he'd originally intended to add, Kain tips the woman a gold coin. "Hmm...well, I've lost all sense of how much to tip now," he smiles. "Ah... guess it'll take some getting used to, Bral, that is."

Holland frowns in thought and says, "I am not sure if we are obligated to fly the House's flag or if we are free to come up with our own. I will stop by the House and ask in the morning. However, if we are able to fly our own colors, I like Kain's idea of a single star upon a field of black."

Radick simply adds to the others, "I would prefer a pair of crossed axes," he chuckles as he takes a drink. "Actually, it doesn't matter much to me. Just so long as it isn't the Lady's symbol. Per the contract, we do not work directly for her, and I would rather be seen as more of a separate group then as some of her flunkies. Let Wilhemina serve that role."

Leera smiles at Kain's idea. "I like the idea of a single star on a black f ield." Walking over to Kain, she stands behind his chair and leans over his shoulder, steadying herself by placing an arm around the chair-back. She asks, "Could you draw the star as you would have it appear on the flag?" She remains standing behind him, waiting to watch him draw.

"Sure," Kain agrees, clearing a small space in front of him. Searching through the pockets of his vest he manages to find a folded half sheet of paper and a small pencil. Drawing the shape of the flag, Kain then begins to sketch out the star, directly in the middle of the flag. With a practiced hand, he draws four 'main' points, following the four main compass directions. After the primary arms of the star are drawn, Kain adds four smaller points, where the NE, NW, SE, SW compass points would be. Smiling when he's done, Kain shows Leera the eight pointed star. "Hmm...that's what I had in mind, ah, when I suggested the star," he says. "It'll look better in color," he adds quickly.

Leera smiles approvingly at the design. "I like it, especially your original design, without the border. I'm afraid the border would be lost at a distance. Of course, you could just change the color of the star -- or the color of the border. Ah, well, I trust your judgment, Kain. I'm sure it will look great flying above the Silent Star!" Leera lingers another moment, and then returns to her seat to await her steak.

Deigatt sits quietly at a table in the tap room sipping a bowl of vegetable broth he's bought and paid for. He observes without comment the discussion of the banner for the ship, and occasionally he casts a worried look at the tiny spiral staircase that leads up to the inn's guest rooms.

Holland follows Deigatt's gaze to the stairs and then smiles and lets out a soft chuckle. In a soft voice to Deigatt he says, "I am sure we can figure something out.."

Grigree takes a deep breath before saying. "This Bral place is turning out to be not what I was looking for. I can't wait to be back on a ship again."

"This leads very nicely into a point we need to consider, Grigree. When next we board our ship, where will we fly it, and in whose service? I don't recall asking Lady Moune if she had any assignments ready for us." Nilaroo leans back on his chair until it creaks dangerously under his large mass.

Leera takes a long draught of her ale and declares, "I don't know about you lot, but the first place I'm going tomorrow is one of those bathhouses the innkeep spoke of. After I'm presentable, I'll gladly join a group canvassing the city."

"Well, my newfound companions, it seems we should keep our eyes and ears open for some form of employment, because if we are not out of here in a few days then I will have nothing to show for my time served aboard the Flowfish. Since, none of us are captains, I suggest Holland and Italapate take care of our dealings with Lady Moune, and the rest of us split into our own little groups and see what kind of business we can drum up. Of course no one has the right to commit our services until we all agree on it. Any problems?" Radick leans back imitating Nilaroo, but uses his toes to anchor himself to the table, and the butt of one of his hand axes to support his weight.

"Comrade Nilaroo," Deigatt asks, "har you planning to hoversee the refitting hof the ship?"

"I will certainly inspect her once the repairs are made, but I do not think the repair crew needs or will accept my supervision, since that would cut into their own purse." Nilaroo replies.

Deigatt raises his left eyebrow at this response, but he makes no further comment.

"Agreed. In a port as busy as this one, we're bound to find work. However, I suggest groups no smaller than three; otherwise, we're asking for trouble. In the 'morning,' I'll head down to the merchant's guild and see if I can't scare up some offers for escort duty. If that doesn't pan out, I'll try the Elvish Embassy. Though I don't know if they will hire a ship full of humans and other non-elves, but it's worth a try."

Holland nods, "I'll go in the morning and inform the Lady that we are actively seeking employment and ask if she has any offers for us."

Kain waits until Holland finishes, then speaks. "How many of us, have, ah, more than passing knowledge about this... hmmm... city of Bral? Italapate, Nilaroo," Kain continues, nodding to each as he says their name, "you both seem to know about the Rock. Raken, you too appear to... ah... know your way around. Anyone else, Holland?" Kain asks. "Myself, I can count the, ah, number of days I've spent here on one hand." Kain shrugs, "So, well, the only help I can be is to go with someone to make sure they aren't waylaid in some alley." Kain shrugs again, "Other than the merchant's guild, where else ..ah... should we look for work? Or should that third group, apart from Raken's and Holland's, just kind of, well, wander and see what comes up?"

Leera takes another long draught, drains her tankard, and orders another (her third). "I musht warnsh you, though. I know nushin about this rock. I wash only here a day before I hired on the Flowfish." Leera thunks her tankard on the table for emphasis, gazes around (a little) bleary eyed, and proceeds to nurse the ale for the rest of the evening.

"I myself must visit the shipwrights' guildhouse in the morning. While I am there I will see if they have any possible work. After my last ship was attacked, we may end up running escort duty." Nilaroo mentions as he sips on his ale.

Talus looks up from his meal and comments, "I don't think I would be of much help getting work from the Lady or other merchants. While you try them I will go and nose around the marketplace and see what sort of rumors I can find, as well as what I can find out about this Laocoon character."

Holland nods in response to Nilaroo and Talus' words, "That would be excellent. I have spent the past several months here on Bral. I have become familiar with it." Holland then finishes the stew that he previously ordered and draining his mug of light ale he slowly rises and says, "I apologize but I am quite tuckered out. Please excuse me, I will see you all in the morning."

With a slight incline of his head to the group Holland heads up the stairs to get some needed rest.

Billy mutters "I have a few places I'd like to visit to see if they have a need of our services. Kain, would you mind going with me? I believe that you and I need to find someone who would be able to help us... How shall I say? Help us develop our talents..."

Kain sets his mug of water down on the table, and pauses in thought. His eyes dart to Talus before he looks back to Billy and nods his head. "Sure, I'd like to go with you Billy," he smiles. "Ah, do you want to... ahh.. meet me here in the morning?" Having finished his meal, Kain slowly works on his water, listening to the conversation at the tables.

Radick notes Kain and Billy and adds, "Perhaps you might like a little extra muscle with you tomorrow? I have no plans and I am sure that those friends of yours who are going to provide you some training, might provide some employment opportunities as well." He then looks each, Billy and Kain, directly in the eyes and makes a slight head nod of affirmation.

"Sure," Kain shrugs, "you're welcome to come along if you want Radick. You'll have to ask Billy where we're going though," he smiles, "as I have no idea."

After a little while more, Kain also excuses himself, collects his things from the lobby, and takes to his room. Walking up the stairs, he can be seen pulling his sketching tome from his rucksack, placing his index finger where his bookmark is.

One by one, the rest of the party drifts back to their rooms (or, in Billy's case, begin the long walk to the Burrows).

Date/time: 11:45 pm 15th day of the 4th Month, 5049 OC