A Serpentine Catch

Alexandria Docks, afternoon

It's a cold, blustery day out on the docks, with snow already coming in. More than a few ships have moored to try and wait out the incoming foul weather, and workers move around as swiftly as possible, garbed in oilcloth over warm-weather gear to keep the worst of the sea-spray at bay.

There's a bit of a commotion down at one end of the docks, where a fishing ship has pulled into port looking slightly battered. It's clear they'll be waiting it out, same as others, but at least there's a catch to be sold -- and a prize indeed. A dozen sweating dockworkers are helping unload a massive, serpentine body from the deck of the ship, and a crowd of onlookers is already gathered, as well as two or three other interested parties -- a wizard from the University, judging from the badges on his robes, and an elegant-looking half-elf wrapped in a thick hooded fur cloak.

"Gods and stars," Telamon says, watching the sea-serpent being moved. "How long is it? Forty feet?" He pulls out a flask, taking a sip from it as he watches.

The Goblin comes walking down towards the dock, her bare feet crunching in the snow. Her ears are protected by a woolen headband, though her hair streams free in the breeze. She stops at Telamon's side, and gasps at the serpent being unloaded.

"Oh no... those jerks..." A little crackling can be heard, flickers and sparks jumping from her hair to her trident and back again. "How dare they!?" Above, a thundercloud begins to gather.

And that's when the hand comes down on Irshya's head. Firmly. "No." Telamon says. "Don't start. The serpent attacked them -- they killed it in self-defense." He shakes his head. "Probably scented the fish, and tried to hit the ship. They have injuries, too."

Tel points to where several sailors have come off the ship, all with bandages though they're at least walking. "They'll probably make offerings to Dana and Rada this evening, for surviving the encounter. But save your wrath for someone deliberately despoiling the seas."

"It is a beast. They could have simply dumped the fish overboard, and it would have left them alone to eat.", Irshya growls, the little tip of her tail seen thrashing back and forth under her robes. "They will make offerings to Rada through me.", she asserts, and begins to walk towards the boat, the odd crackle of static popping out from her hair to tickle at the tines of her trident.

"You!", she calls out, the butt of her trident pointed at the captain. "Rada is displeased!" Her trident is spun around in her hand, and planted butt-first onto the snowy ground.

Telamon quietly mumbles something rude in dwarven, before hurriedly nodding to the wizard and following behind Irshya. As she stalks towards the ship, he coughs, "You do realize they are fishermen and dependent on those catches, right?" Unfortunately, it seems Irshya's going to be stubborn about this.

That's all right. Telamon's dealt with stubborn people before.

He comes up behind Irshya, as the captain turns to look at the goblin with confusion and a trace of worry. As he does, Telamon mouths to the man, 'Play along.' Evidently this captain has played poker, because he doesn't give any sign Telamon's making any signals. Instead, he replies, "The beast was taken in fair combat, not lured or charmed. But we'll be paying tribute to the World Serpent for the bounty he visited upon us."

The headband moves slightly as her ears perk. "Such language is unbecoming of you, Lord Lupecyl-Atlon.", she says with a sniff. "I do know the language of the Khazdul." Luckily Telamon is immune to the cold.

"I am Irshya, one of Rada's Currents, and I am able to take possession of this tribute. I will give you the blessing of Rada in return." Stubborn, but fair.

Ish.

Telamon makes a face, but doesn't respond to Irshya, instead just nodding to the captain. He points at the wizard behind him, as well as to himself, and evidently the ship captain understands because he clears his throat.

"That'd save us a trip, Lady Current," the captain replies. "Although we're not going anywhere for a day or two. Yon beast battered our flanks and damaged our foremast, as well as injuring some of my crew." A pause. "Ah... you're not going to be too angry with what happens to it, right? We're fishermen, not trophy hunters. Our catch tends to wind up on a plate or in a bowl."

A passing crewman adds, "Or a dragon's gullet. Remember that last one?" The captain just shakes his head. "Oh gods no. Is -she- here?" Telamon hurriedly starts shaking his head to reassure the man.

"Well, if you are a fishing vessel, the poor critter probably smelled your catch, or the remnants of your last one. Allow me to get to the foremast, and I can attempt to mend it. I shall also tend to your crew, yes?" The pool-shark looks a little unhappy, but shrugs her shoulders. "The deed is done, and there is no point in letting it go to waste. Try to use as much of it as possible, yes? Much like a hunter uses the fur and bones and meat of their hunt, okay?"

She lets out a low breath, and manages a smile. "Tanith."

-That- gets Telamon to tap Irshya on the shoulder. "Please use care with that name, Irshya," Tel says wearily. "She's a wonderful friend but she can be... a little exuberant." He then adds, "Also, Lana and I spent last winter hosting her for a bit. I wound up investing in several fishing ventures."

The serpent has finally been unloaded, and is being measured. Already, workers are assembling with the tools of their trade to break the great carcass down. It appears money is already changing hands too -- serpent meat being something of a rare delicacy that will keep well with the cold. The wizard is haggling over the beast's head -- no doubt to be used for arcane purposes.

Of course, some of the cash is collected into a purse for the diminutive priestess, and once it's done she is brought aboard to inspect the damage.

The diminutive woman reaches up to tug on Telamon's sleeve. "Come with me?", she asks softly, moving to walk up the gangplank. "I accept this offering in the name of Rada, the World-Circling serpent.", she says to the captain. "I shall pray to Him, and ask for forgiveness, and for good weather and a good catch when you next put out to sea."

Turning to Telamon, she smiles brightly. "She is quite exuberant. But at heart, a good peoples. So, what do you think of the catch?" The pool-shark first tends to the injured sailors, carefully disinfecting scrapes and cuts, with unguent from a pouch on her hip, and deftly pulling out a large splinter embedded in a sailor's arm. A bit of healing magic is called upon to set a broken arm.

Telamon seems happy to follow along with Irshya, wrapped in the cloak even though the chill no longer touches him. "Not as long as they usually get to be. Probably a young or adolescent one that hadn't figured out that hitting a ship is not a great idea." Telamon rubs his chin. "Father asked me to take some diplomatic mail to Stormgarde this past summer, and serpents are an occupational hazard for sailors in that part of the world as well. But they're usually longer -- sixty to seventy feet."

He watches with a smile as Irshya tends to the injured. Idly, he walks over, and places his hand against the cracked mast. A softly murmured chant, and the foremast's cracked and splintered places begin to fill in with shimmering silver stardust.

The injured are sent to get some rest, with the assurance that their wounds are clean, and shall heal quickly, if they take it easy for a little bit. The Goblin sighs. "They will still work injured.", she says somewhat ruefully. "Ah yes, Stormgarde has a plentiful amount of ... large specimens of sea life. I was born near there." Another sad expression. "Some of my old friends are around there, and I always worry that they will some to some harm, or hurt the people in ships."

Her eyes go to the mast, and immediately her gaze flicks to Telamon.

GAME: Telamon rolls spaceBS: aliased to Bluff+3: (13)+32+3: 48

GAME: Irshya rolls sense motive: (16)+4: 20

"No worse than adventurers I've known who would soldier on even with their own wounds. Sometimes we don't have the luxury of rest, as much as we need it." Telamon shrugs, the motion hard to see under his fur cloak. "Such is life. But I don't think they'll be leaving port for a few days. The weather and the damage that needs to be repaired, after all."

When Irshya looks at the mast, and then at him, his expression is absolutely innocent. Guileless, even. The expression of a young man who would happily tell you about how much fun it is to whitewash a fence. "Hm? Oh, I hope it doesn't bother you, but it looks like they're carving that big bastard up. The fellow from the University's carting the head off on a floating disk... and I've already reserved some of the serpent for the Chalice. It makes an excellent stew with honey and vegetables."

"Yes, of course, such is life. But then they come back to get the same wound, torn open, to be tended to again." The pool-shark sighs lightly. "At least the serpent did them a small favour, they can recover in peace."

Irshya's eyes squint at Telamon, "I know it was cracked." She rubs at her cheeks and looks away. "But you have my thanks for your assistance."

The mention of the carving up of the serpent causes the Goblin to shudder. "Such a terrible waste."

Telamon shakes his head. "No worse than a deer taken in the hunt. Or... no, that's not the best comparison. A wild boar, perhaps. Those can be dangerous. And at least the serpent serves to feed those men and their families." Indeed, the work is all but done. Sections of serpent hide being given to garment-workers skilled in such curious materials, the flesh bound for kitchens and cold-rooms, even the bones. Little if anything is left behind.

As the ship's catch of fish is now being unloaded, Telamon pats Irshya on her shoulder. "I grant they're more majestic than an ankheg, and probably better behaved... which is a low bar to clear, considering how intractable the ankheg is. But it's not going to waste."

"They are far more majestic, most certainly.", the Goblin replies. "The boar is more apt, since they're a more natural animal. Ankheg..." She shudders. "They're just big creepy-crawlies that need to be squished." A little hand comes up to pat at Telamon's on her shoulder. "I do appreciate you help, and comforting assurances. There was going to be a little lightning in the ships future, at one point."

Telamon walks with Irshya off the ship, as dockworkers are cleaning up the mess. "The only thing good about the ankheg is that it makes an excellent substitute for lobster. I don't think anyone's ever domesticated them." He snorts. "Ah well."

He offers Irshya a smile. "It's always a good idea to think, and look first, before you start slinging spells and wrath. And keep in mind they're out there in the cold and the water, facing Rada every day. They're not going to displease him willingly."

"Some Oruch tribes have domesticated them as mounts. But I have heard that they startle like horses, except they spit acid. Not sure on the validity of that, the Oruch I was speaking to was drunk, but he had no reason to lie. I was treating him for a uhm busted up face after a brawl at the Ox Strength tavern, he was kind of rambling, and I was humouring him to keep him mellow." The Goblin giggles, and then shudders, "I can only imagine how awful a feeling it must be to see Oruch advancin on you, riding those giant creepy crawlies."

"Hmm, yes, I suppose you're right there... but surely you have deal with people who don't play straight with you, yes? I'm rather small, as you can see, and that sometimes gives people the idea they can bully their way out of offerings. I don't /tell/ Rada what to do, I only try to soothe his anger, offer prayers and offerings... or invoke his wrath. I really don't need to do that, either, if a God is angry, they will let you know in no uncertain terms. At least, Rada will. So... I put on an angry face when I know Rada to be displeased. It sets the tone, and goes from there."

"But sometimes my first impression is wrong. So thank you, once more." Irshya reaches up to squeeze at his arm. "Did you wish to come by the TarRaCe? I have a new ale you might wish to sample, it's made with a hint of hot peppers. Enough for an interesting tingle in the mouth and throat."