Corben took the sword back from Dom, "Thanks. Hopefully this won't be the only luck that befalls us." He slapped Dom on the back, "What do you reckon, shall we explore the ship?"

Dom sagged under Corben's hand. "Um, okay, I suppose we have to find where everything is."

Dom lets Corben lead the way.

Posted on behalf of Garner

The gnome seemed a bit taken aback, but then gave a smile. "Oh, I'm sure the cap'n was just havin' his joke at ye. He has a famous sense of humor, does Stormbody. Why, I remember the time he'd gotten us atop two caracals off Brenten... But that ain't here nor there." The gnome talks quickly, and Hanro may be distracted from realizing that the gnome said nothing more about dice games.

--------------------

"Thanks much, miss," the halfling said, smiling. "I'm Nerlin Rickul, ship's cook. You'd be, let's see, one of the scouts, right?" The halfling grabbed a stepladder and climbed up to a basket on a shelf, where he pulled out two apples. He tossed one to Silja. "Thanks for that. Normally, I can get one of the louts onboard to help me, but they're all working on getting this ship underway. They're always forgetting the important things, like a good, warm meal."

--------------------

Thistle looked askance at the half-elf. "You want to learn navigation, do you? Talk to the captain, then. If he allows it, then I've no objections. Mark you, though," he said, craning his head upwards to look the half-elf in the eye, "I'll tolerate no slack from you. If you work for me, you'll work hard. This isn't a pleasure ship. We pull our weight on board."

A human sailor ran down the stairs. "Cap'n wants to see you, sir. Oh, an' you too, Mr. Talom."

"Don't run all over the place, Jimmy," the halfling said, though there was almost an air of friendliness there.

"Aye sir. Sorry sir." The sailor essayed a hasty salute and made his way back up the stairs only slightly slower than he'd descended them.

Thistle sighed. "Shall we go, Mr. Talom? The captain no doubt wishes us to watch the launch."

--------------------

Terug scowled. "Slave? Vot you talkin' 'bout, slave? You iz half-orc. You's no slave!"

Orgul slapped his nephew on the head, nearly knocking him overboard. "Shaddup! Can't you's see he's a godstalker? Show some respect!" He turned back to Goryn, pulling open his shirt to reveal two charms on a necklace: an anchor like the captain had carried, and the Rahg, weapon and holy symbol of Ameso. "So, vot does Ameso tink about all dis? Is he smilin' on dis boat, do you tink?"

--------------------

The captain left his cabin and climbed to the quarterdeck. He smiled to the crowd as the Lord Mayor christened the ship with a bottle of fine wine.

Another, smaller figure joined him on the quarterdeck. This was the drazai wizard, Telbech. He pulled his hood back, revealing scales pale with age.

"Anchor aweigh!" Captain Strombody shouted. "Heave to, now." As sailors already in position started turning the wheel to pull in the anchor, he turned to the drazai. "Your turn now, Mr. Telbech."

The drazai nodded, and began chanting. The sigils along the ship began to glow, effecting gasps in the crowd. Strombody grinned even wider, taking the helm.

As Thistle led Talom up the quarterdeck, the ship jostles slightly. By the time they reached the captain, there were shouts from the crowd. Anyone looking down at the water would notice that it was getting farther away.

The ship rose, slowly at first, then gaining speed. Soon it was twenty feet above the water, then forty, then seventy, then a hundred. "Let's give them a show," the captain said, turning the wheel. The ship moved over the water, then over the crowd. Then he turned the wheel again, this time angling toward a low cloud.

Silja polished the apple on one of her sleeves and smiled. "This crew has worked together on their past travels, I gather? That probably means we are... well, newcomers to an old team, right, Mr Rickul?" She pondered questions for a moment. "Well... I have to admit I am absolutely new to life on a ship. Not that I want to urge you to explain all and everything to me between your busy tasks, but... Are there a few things absolutely taboo to do on a ship? Things, behaviour, whatever, that is considered bad luck, or just plain wrong? I mean, other than would be the case with travelling companions on land?"
What she actually had wanted to ask was, wether there was someone in the crew who was to be avoided for any reason, but starting a conversation with bluntly asking for gossip about old mates rarely worked.

She suddenly swayed a little, and her sense of gravity as well as shouting from putside told her what was going on; "My, I have missed the starting of the ship! Well, maybe it was better that way- I was a little... excited about wether this thing would take off and all... Now it has simply happened. --- Sorry, Sir. I do talk a lot, I guess."

"I might interested in that tale at one time or another," said Hanro, dice games completely forgotten. Before any of them could continue, they heard the captain's call to raise the anchor. Hanro turned just in time to see the final movements of the drazai wizard's spellcasting. He felt the ship rise upwards, as did he breakfast.

"I'm thinkin' that this air-sailin' isn't all that agreeing wit' me," he growled, and leaned on the rail for support.

Then he looked down.

"This'll take some time gettin' used to," he mumbled quietly as the ship rose.

* * *

Szaz watched the ship's wizard, the drazai Telbech, as he cast his complicated spell. He tried to follow the casting, to try and understand what the experienced spellcaster was doing to the tiniest detail, but he was simply not close enough to him to hear the incantation. He smiled as the ship rose, and vowed that he would have the knowledge to do such things himself one day. He decided to approach the wizard once he was available, and watched him attentively, waiting.

Corben walked with Dom to the exit of the Foc's'le and looked out at the ship.

The halfling cook scratched his bare chin. "Well, there are a few things to keep in mind. First, never throw a stone into the ocean. That makes Baralos angry. When you get up top, don't look back, that's bad luck. Black cats are good luck, so treat them well. We've got one on board, somewhere around here. Albatross and dolphins are good luck, but don't even think about killing one. Never cut your hair or nails at sea. Don't whistle, that makes the neiads angry. And... never say the word that means to die of water. To say the word brings it on."

When the ship rises up and Silja makes her observation, he says, "Well, I was fairly sure it would fly, but I saw them testing it in the mountains. I helped design our little kitchen," Nerlin says proudly.

--------------------

"I've got to get up to the crow's nest," Arnes said to Hanro. "I'll see you later. Goodbye!" Then the ship flew into the cloud, and mist obscured the gnome's passing. When it cleared, the gnome was climbing up the lines to the little platform at the top of the mainmast.

--------------------

Once the ship was up in the air, the drazai wizard finally stopped chanting. He said a few more words in an olden tongue and tapped his claws together. His eyes glowed blue. Szazzkur could tell that he had cast a spell to see magical auras. He looked over the ship, and seemed pleased.

--------------------

Corben and Dom, coming out of the Foc's'le, see a few sailors checking on lines and marking the ship's position, but most are at the sides, looking down and forward. Oddly, none of them are looking back at the docks. Then the ship sails into a low cloud, and for a moment, everything is obscured by mist. Then the ship is out of it once again, heading out over the ocean, which is now far below.

--------------------

"Hah!" Orgul slapped Goryn on the back with enough force to have bowled a human over. To a half-orc it was just friendly. As he smiled, the gold caps on his tusks gleamed in the sun. "Ve gunna make such names for ourselves, I know it. Vit' Ameso vatchin' out fer us, ve must be doin' sometin' right."

As the cloud covered the ship, Terug said sulkily, "Gods got a vay of changin' deir minds."

--------------------

The captain turned to Bedge and Thistle. "I thought you'd want to see our launch, Mr. Thistle," he said politely.

"Thank you, Captain," the halfling said. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to check the charts."

"Very well," the captain said. "Now, Mr. Talom..."

"Mr. Talom will be working with me, sir," the halfling said, just a little bit sharply.

"Is that so?" the captain asked, his eyes narrowing just a bit.

"Yes, captain. He asked if he could help me navigate. He has some skill in that area, apparently." Thistle stared the captain with just a slight hint of challenge.

The captain stared back at the halfling for a long minute. When the cloud swallowed the ship, it seemed for a moment as though Bedge was alone with the captain and the second mate, the only witness to the contest of wills. Finally, just as the mist cleared, the halfling looked away.

"Well, if he asked," the captain said, "Then I have no problem. Gods know we can use all the help we can get." Around them, sailors suddenly found some task that needed doing.

Posting on behalf of Roman:

---------------------

Hanro watched the gnome for a while longer, pondering. He seemed honest enough, and Hanro had to consider the possibility that his first judgement was a mistaken one. Maybe he should even apologize, Hanro thought. Maybe later, he decided. Arnes didn't appear to be overtly bothered, and Hanro certainly wasn't going to climb after him to the crow's nest.

His stomach now better accustomed to the new conditions, Hanro took out a small wrapped package from his pocket. He unwrapped it, and took out a strip of beef jerky. Leaning on the ship's rail, he stared into the distance and tore off a piece.

* * *

Not wasting time, Szazzkur also decided to cast a spell to detect magic. He doubted he'd have any other use for the simple spell today other than curiosity, and he certainly wanted to better see the results of the powerful wizard's spellcasting.

He closed his eyes and concentrated, the arcane words flowing from his tongue.

Posting on behalf on Garner:

"Goryn studied Terug carefully before nodding. 'They do... They can take away as quickly as They give, everything... even life... but They do give us life... and hope...' Here Goyrn paused for a long moment, then heaving a sigh he concluded 'And second chances.' He eyed the clouds now surrounding them like strange fog and reached up to touch the small leather pouch he wore over his heart, then silently stood at the railing and tried to see through the mist around them. 'It's... it's like a dream!' he whispered.

***

Bedge shifted his feet in his boots, tensing his toes to be ready to spring in any direction... 'How utterly fantastic: two ship's cats in a sack fighting for top dog status!' Bedge thought to himself, wincing in passing at the mixed metaphore. 'Still, the captain didn't look away; it's always essential that a captain have absolute authority. Never the less, this could bear watching. Thistle doesn't seem the type to resent authority for authority's sake so there must be something more here. I'll have to pry cautiously as and when I can.'

Making up his mind, Bedge composed his face with a mix of eagerness and friendliness, but remained careful not to appear prying. 'Captain, Mr. Thistle, if it's at all possible, I'd hope to gain as much experience as possible with the operations of this ship. Navagation was always a strong suit of mine, but I'm keen to make use of all my tallents!" He tried his best to be ingratiating without being obsequious or annoying.

(Sense motive checks on both the captain and the mate, diplomacy checks to keep them friendly, and if feasible/appropriate at this stage, a gather information check to glean anything directly without openly prying just yet, if the DM would please... i'll take 10's on the diplomacy and gather information, and i suppose it's not out of the realm of plausibility to take a 20 on the sense motive, if one's continually keeping an eye on the other folks?)"

Joint post for Electric Man and me

Corben muttered to himself, "What's everyone staring at?" and strode towards the rails that the sailors were peering over.

"You don't think we have already sailed?!?" Dom rushed at the rails mumbling "I wanted to wave my family goodbye". Looking at the ocean beneath them he let out a groan and waved at Corben. "Take a look, we are already over the sea. You should have a good view over these rails", he said, pointing at a vacant spot nearby.

Corben took one look over them and old memories of one of his brothers holding him upside down from the top of the mill came rushing into his mind. He recoiled from the rail and fell to the deck, vomiting his dinner, which slowly dribbled off the edge of the ship.

Meanwhile Dom was leaning on the rails reminiscenting. "You know, when we were kids we used to go to the eastern lighthouse, climb all the way to the top and have spitting contests. Ah, those were the days. Were you having spitting contests with your...oh my, are you all right?"

Corben was lying on the floor groaning, and Dom has the nagging suspicion that he had just made th understatement of the century. "Um, I think I should go and get some help."

"Ah, thanks for all your advice Sir," Silja said. "If you don't mind me, I'd like to take a look at the scenery..." Silja decided to leave and go on deck, and get back in touch with her fellow scouts, whom she hadn't talked much to yet, after all.
She arrived just in time to make out that one of her new colleagues wasn't reacting too well to the unknown sensation.

The ship glowed with magic as far as Szazzkur could see. As his eyes picked out further details, he was able to tell that it had a strong, pervasive aura of what seemed to be transmutation magic. He was soon able to see a moderate aura of conjuration magic as well.

There are a few other auras on the ship. Both the drazai who had raised the ship as well as the captain had moderate aura that Szazzkur couldn't identify.

--------------------

Terug is likewise in awe of the cloud around them. There is, however, an edge of fear in his eyes as the ship is swallowed by the cloud, and he relaxes visibly when the ship leaves it.

"Ha! Dis gonna be someting, I tell you," Orgul said, flashing a bright smile, his gold-capped tusks catching the sun. "Stick vit' me an' Cap'n Stormbody, boys, ve're goin' places!"

--------------------

Bedge is able to tell that the second mate is resentful of the captain for some reason, though he can't tell just what it is. The captain seems annoyed with the mate, but mostly he's weary, giving Bedge the sense that they've clashed before.

Bedge's declaration seems to break the remaining tension. "Yes, well, you'll have plenty of work, I can assure you on that point!" Mr. Thistle said.

The captain nodded. "Aye, glad to see you're enthusiastic. The two of you get to those charts. I'll want our position as best you have it as soon as you have it."

(No, you can't take twenty on sense motive. Your basic impression remains the same, until their behavior changes, at which point you get a retry. Don't worry, you'll be the first to know if a new sense motive check shows something else. Gather information isn't feasible just at this point. Anything you can pick up you're going to get with sense motive.)

--------------------

A human sailor notices Corben's efforts at recycling. His reaction was less than sympathetic. "Hoy, Erven, the lubber's heavin' his lunch o'er the sides."

"Bet ya a copper he's been eatin' carrots," said a half-elf.

"Yer on!" the human said, and they both rushed over to look at the puddle. "Gah, you win," said the human.

"Hmm. Someone's gonna need to mop this," said the half-elf. "An 'ere comes Miss Mate, so no bet on who's it gonna be."

"What's all this, then?" a human female said, angrily striding over. "You, get a bucket if you're going to puke on this ship," she said, shoving a toe into Corben's backside. "And the three of you," she said, rounding on Dom and the two sailors. "I want this deck clean enough to eat off of it. On the double!"

"Yes'm," the two sailors said in unison.

--------------------

As Silja goes up the stairs, a rather short human moving past her. Something doesn't quite look right about him, though it may be the very light colored hair under his large cap, or the clothes that seem to be a bit to big for him.

After the encounter when going on board the ship, Silja tries to take a closer look at him without seeming to stare, just to check if those maybe are someone else's clothes...
Usually when her first impression of someone is that something's odd about the person, she trusts her instinct. But seeing he would have nowhere to flee for quite a while now, and she's just beginning ti study the people around her, there's no need to come too close to anyone, either.