Alas I have been too exhausted to write in my log. The journey was uneventful with fair winds to aid us on our way. Swordsmanship is slowly becoming second nature with the forms flowing. My letters are also improving yet I still require Gavvins help. The Port of Rivenmore is teeming with Life. Never before have I seen so many races in one place! A stumpy gnome crossed my path, his knapsaack swinging as he grumbled along while an elven official strode by, head held high while his attendants scanned the crowd for danger. The smells are overwhelming ..... sticky hot cakes vie with the salty smell of fresh cooked skewered eel. You could spend many seasons here and still not see all that Rivenmore has to offer!
The trading went well .... I may not know all my letters but I can read people. The slight twitch of the eye and the small bead of sweat told me I had struck the best deal for my goods as Gavvin carefully scribed the amounts down. In two nights time my hold will be filled with the delectable ice wine and we will continue our journey to southern Brangin.
The crew are enjoying their stay at the port with many gambling, wenching and drinking their wages away. Captain Settrin runs a tight ship, those not on shore leave are scrubbing the ship from top to bottom and ensuring the soundness of rope and wood.
Swift seas to you all.
Wednesday, October 24, 2007
Wednesday, October 3, 2007
The simple pleasures
We are underway! A mix of emotions coursed through me, elation, fear, determination all tinged with sadness as the fishing fleet saw me off to the high waters. That was three days ago now. Captain Settrin has being teaching me the fine art of swordsmanship with the crew whooping in encouragement. My scribe, a handsome young fellow by the name of Gavvin, (you can stop blushing now Gavvin) has been versing me in my letters but until I am proficient he shall be subject to writing this log for me. In two weeks we will be sailing to Rivenmore on the north eastern tip of Brangin. There I hope to trade in their delicious ice wine.
Talking of wine we have had word from Mernac, in particular the God Quont who has been asking of the simple pleasures of fellow Mernacians. Barefoot with the sun warming the skin and the sea breeze in my hair as the ship gently rises and falls - ahhh how I love it, this is my simple pleasure. As for my counterpart on Dirt, she enjoys the dark bitterness of chocolate ..... well you can't help some!
Well I am off to my bunk!
Sweet dreams to one and all
Talking of wine we have had word from Mernac, in particular the God Quont who has been asking of the simple pleasures of fellow Mernacians. Barefoot with the sun warming the skin and the sea breeze in my hair as the ship gently rises and falls - ahhh how I love it, this is my simple pleasure. As for my counterpart on Dirt, she enjoys the dark bitterness of chocolate ..... well you can't help some!
Well I am off to my bunk!
Sweet dreams to one and all
Wednesday, September 12, 2007
The beginning .... or perhaps..... a beginning
Padding over to the window, I feel the soft breeze caressing my skin. Araf hangs high above the ocean, her silver rays reflecting upon the rolling waves. The window looks down upon the wharf, fishermen, with lanterns lit, are preparing for their nightly voyage to attempt to catch the rare, and delicious, freena fish as well as the other nighttime denizens of the ocean.
In a lifetime a fisherman would be lucky to catch ten freena fish. A catch of fifty could see a humble fisherman move up the social ranks to merchant. As I had done. My pride and joy, Midnight Lady, gently bobbed on the swell outside the treacherous reef. Perhaps I should not have called myself humble, naming her so after myself.
Being the only child of Gervais and Aggie Kilthain, I had followed my father into the art of fishing. As a girl I recieved many a stare of the other fishermen upon the waves but the joy and pride in my father's eyes could not be mistaken. At twenty two seasons I lost my father to capricious nature as a fast paced storm overtook our small craft as we headed to shore. I clung to the overturned boat calling to my father until hoarse. Washed up to the shore there was no sign of father. The storms fury had swallowed him whole. He died a sailors death and hopefully lies in peace. I rebuilt our broken craft with the help of our fishermen neighbours whose respect I had earned upon the waves. Mother became fearful each time I took to the ocean. Night became my time to fish, after mother fell asleep, and so I gained the name Midnight. Squid and small reef sharks kept us fed with enough left to sell for the small essentials of the shack. Mother passed to Mirdoren two seasons after fathers death. They say you can't die from a broken heart but I know this to be false. I will never forget mothers funeral raft, shells and wildflowers adorning her shroud as the flames slowly licked up the wooden sides.
The seasons passed. Many of the young local fishermen started a courting but I felt drawn to the sea, not to some apron and a brood of younglings. So I spurned the advances and continued my nightly voyages upon the waves. Then the night of the freena fish arrived. Araf and Jiroden each showed half their face that night. I had been fishing in a small eddy and had landed several reef sharks. About to turn my oars for home I noticed the tell tale flash of silvery blue in the water. Heart pounding in my ears I slowly lowered the net into the waters depths. It was difficult to ascertain whether there was one or many freena fish as the movement was so erratic. I knew they would run when the net moved and could only hope I would capture one. With a quick prayer to Kala I swooped my net forward. The fish, and there were many, darted away from the nets advance.
Then the miracle occured.
Out from the depths, just past the outer edge of the reef, a Neetha whale surfaced. Its mouth hung wide and hungry as it lunged for the freena fish. Seeing this new and more imminent threat the fish turned swimming frantically. My net filled to straining point and I lifted my haul of squirming flopping fish to the boat. Quickly covering the load with tarp I turned to see the behemoth plunge back into the oceans depths. The huge wave caused by it's passing cascaded over the boats prow setting it to rocking wildly. Grabbing the pail off the hook I set to bailing with a vengence. Only once the water level in the boat had diminished did I notice the wave had delivered another load of freena fish.
And so my life changed.
With the profits of my haul I commissioned Midnight Lady and set to establishing trade contacts. A visit to the seamstress soon had my newly appointed cottage brimming with blouses, leather breeks and hardy wet weather gear. Prowling the reputable inns of Fawshaw I came across disappointment. None of the available captains would accept employment by a female merchant. Disgusted at their attitude, especially since I had no problem of bias from the traders nor the dock engineer, I determined to helm the ship myself. Luckily the barkeep at The Pint and Pie informed me of a captain available for hire who would not say no.
Diania Settrin commanded a room with her presence. At six bafot and with steely blue eyes you would cross her at your peril. The respect shown her by her crew told of her skills on the ocean. Her last employer had lost his fortune to gambling and unprofitable trades and so she and her crew were more than happy to sign on to Midnight Lady. A deal was struck with the firm shake of calloused hands.
I have sold the cottage and given the proceeds and much of my fishing gear to the others along Fishermens Bend. Perhaps one of those along the wharf tonight held the net I used to capture my fortune. I hope it will bring luck to them.
Tomorrow we sail on our maiden voyage to Brangin.
Closing the window, I head back to my rumpled bed and wait for the dawn.
In a lifetime a fisherman would be lucky to catch ten freena fish. A catch of fifty could see a humble fisherman move up the social ranks to merchant. As I had done. My pride and joy, Midnight Lady, gently bobbed on the swell outside the treacherous reef. Perhaps I should not have called myself humble, naming her so after myself.
Being the only child of Gervais and Aggie Kilthain, I had followed my father into the art of fishing. As a girl I recieved many a stare of the other fishermen upon the waves but the joy and pride in my father's eyes could not be mistaken. At twenty two seasons I lost my father to capricious nature as a fast paced storm overtook our small craft as we headed to shore. I clung to the overturned boat calling to my father until hoarse. Washed up to the shore there was no sign of father. The storms fury had swallowed him whole. He died a sailors death and hopefully lies in peace. I rebuilt our broken craft with the help of our fishermen neighbours whose respect I had earned upon the waves. Mother became fearful each time I took to the ocean. Night became my time to fish, after mother fell asleep, and so I gained the name Midnight. Squid and small reef sharks kept us fed with enough left to sell for the small essentials of the shack. Mother passed to Mirdoren two seasons after fathers death. They say you can't die from a broken heart but I know this to be false. I will never forget mothers funeral raft, shells and wildflowers adorning her shroud as the flames slowly licked up the wooden sides.
The seasons passed. Many of the young local fishermen started a courting but I felt drawn to the sea, not to some apron and a brood of younglings. So I spurned the advances and continued my nightly voyages upon the waves. Then the night of the freena fish arrived. Araf and Jiroden each showed half their face that night. I had been fishing in a small eddy and had landed several reef sharks. About to turn my oars for home I noticed the tell tale flash of silvery blue in the water. Heart pounding in my ears I slowly lowered the net into the waters depths. It was difficult to ascertain whether there was one or many freena fish as the movement was so erratic. I knew they would run when the net moved and could only hope I would capture one. With a quick prayer to Kala I swooped my net forward. The fish, and there were many, darted away from the nets advance.
Then the miracle occured.
Out from the depths, just past the outer edge of the reef, a Neetha whale surfaced. Its mouth hung wide and hungry as it lunged for the freena fish. Seeing this new and more imminent threat the fish turned swimming frantically. My net filled to straining point and I lifted my haul of squirming flopping fish to the boat. Quickly covering the load with tarp I turned to see the behemoth plunge back into the oceans depths. The huge wave caused by it's passing cascaded over the boats prow setting it to rocking wildly. Grabbing the pail off the hook I set to bailing with a vengence. Only once the water level in the boat had diminished did I notice the wave had delivered another load of freena fish.
And so my life changed.
With the profits of my haul I commissioned Midnight Lady and set to establishing trade contacts. A visit to the seamstress soon had my newly appointed cottage brimming with blouses, leather breeks and hardy wet weather gear. Prowling the reputable inns of Fawshaw I came across disappointment. None of the available captains would accept employment by a female merchant. Disgusted at their attitude, especially since I had no problem of bias from the traders nor the dock engineer, I determined to helm the ship myself. Luckily the barkeep at The Pint and Pie informed me of a captain available for hire who would not say no.
Diania Settrin commanded a room with her presence. At six bafot and with steely blue eyes you would cross her at your peril. The respect shown her by her crew told of her skills on the ocean. Her last employer had lost his fortune to gambling and unprofitable trades and so she and her crew were more than happy to sign on to Midnight Lady. A deal was struck with the firm shake of calloused hands.
I have sold the cottage and given the proceeds and much of my fishing gear to the others along Fishermens Bend. Perhaps one of those along the wharf tonight held the net I used to capture my fortune. I hope it will bring luck to them.
Tomorrow we sail on our maiden voyage to Brangin.
Closing the window, I head back to my rumpled bed and wait for the dawn.
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