Chapter 5 - Abelard Pre-Story 5

Leaving Jerydia

Abelard again made use of his ability to look and talk the part, along with a, likely still unwarranted, beginning to feel like he was a true sailor, and found himself night crew for the ‘Lookout Below’ a Salvage ship, holds full and bound for Mykros.

It was obvious to Abelard that the crew of the 'Lookout Below' had plenty of stories, had seen plenty of loss, and had plenty of time in which to tell them, and yet… Abelard never did manage to crack the shell on the short run to Mykros, and he left ship no wiser about where and how a Salvage vessel operated than he started. The journey was... About as uneventful la time as Abelard had seen on the Shroud. But, with each failed attempt to wrestle stories, to learn details, the young, and impressionable, Half Elf grew more curious about what lay below. How bad was it that Humanity had given it up for lost, and not looked back? It reminded him.... yes, it reminded him of the Fjordheim Giant stairs. Descending into the unknown, ignored and unused.

Mykros – 2 Weeks. Some people might tell you stories of the beautiful, sunny, warm, sun-touched lands of Mykros. A land of plenty. A land favored by the Gods. Some people lie!

It was nothing but heat, and fish, and sweat, and light… Everywhere... Light. Like Mykros was home to a secret selection of extra suns. Like being the Ant under the microscope! And the Mykrosi people have lived there for generations… For Centuries… They were fully aware of how bright it is… So, Abelard's question was this…. WHY do they paint everything in Blindingly White? White walls, White roofs, White stone roads and walks…. From sunup to sundown, (Which it is worth pointing out seemed to be nearly 36 out of every 24 hours!), nothing but bright blinding white. And Light.

Abelard spent two long, miserable, weeks trying to book any passage out of Mykros he could find, most of it with tears of pain in his eyes from the incessant brightness. Unfortunately, the ships in port were all there to unload or restock, and none making any quick exit unless Abelard could pay to chart the entire ship. Something Abelard’s Dicing assisted coin pouch could not possibly afford. Two of the brightest, hottest, most head ache filled weeks passed before Abelard finally managed a paying spot aboard another Privateer Vessel, the ‘Destiny or Bottom of the Sea!’, helmed by Captain Harold Rainmaker. Surprisingly, at least to Abelard, Harold was well aware of the Lady Mae and her crew, and, once he learned Abelard had crewed with her before, offered his berth fee back in trade for work. Even more surprisingly, Abelard found himself declining the offer, not wanting ‘The Lady’s reputation to be besmirched when Captain Harold got the full measure of Abelard’s sailing prowess. Apparently the Lady Mae had made quite the impression on the young Warlock.

The trip between Mykros and Piovino was some of the most enjoyable of Abelard’s time aboard ship. Harold and his crew were solid, professional, and eager to keep the Shroud safe. They even spotted a possible Pirate vessel on the horizon at one point. But the Pirate’s proved to be both keen at the watch and quick at the helm, and disappeared into the gray horizon at first glance at the ‘Destiny’s hull.

So the month long travel to Piovino found Abelard happy and unharried by dangers, Pirate or ‘Other’.

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Piovino - 3 Months

Piovino was everything Abelard hoped it would be. Creative, Artistic, full or stories and song. And, most importantly, Overcast. Rain, glorious rain, clouds covering the sun. Abelard never thought that cloud cover would be something he would miss from home…. But Mykros had shown him that one truth!

Were it just his own opinion that mattered, Piovino would have been a quick layover and a memory, but there were the stories. Piovino and it’s stories. Abelard spent time listening to the everyday people of Piovino spin artistic tales of woe and loss. Artistic people, prone to dramatic tellings. It was not so much Abelard, as it was his Patron, that enjoyed his time in Piovino.

Inevitably, the feeling of being watched returned. But, was it different now? Almost as much a feeling of being drawn as pushed. It was almost as if the presence was not just chasing, but herding? Could it be pushing him back to Fjordheim? If so, was he ready?

Mind half occupied with these thoughts, Abelard absentmindedly talked his way onto a ship, the 'Hauling Oats’ and Captain John Darryl, headed for Lusterlin. The city of the great Wizard’s Tor Abelard had heard tell of in libraries. It was said that one of the Wizards in the Tor was a great Diviner capable of answering any question asked, but at terrible cost. Would that be where Abelard needed to go to find his answers? Could he afford the cost?

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Lusterlin – Three months, plus 2 months, minus 6 weeks, plus 5 weeks??? Let’s just say ‘to Present’!

The Crew of the Oats were steadfast and capable. Not prone to grand and fanciful tales, but fans of a hearty ballad for certain. The days were long, but not overly hard, and the crew looked out for each other quite well. All in all, as good a ship to spend time aboard as most.

A few short weeks and a good many shroud chanties later saw Abelard waving farewell to the crew of the Oats and setting his first steps onto the docks of Lusterlin, mouth wide and eyes agog at an unbelievable ship docked nearby… As in the Literal meaning of the word, unable to be believed. A ship with a Tree growing from amid decks. A Literal TREE. Growing from the deck! And... Did the figurehead just wave at people?!?!

Absolutely unable to avoid the urge to see this Treeship up close, the young Half Elf found himself standing on the docks admiring the sleek and unique vessel beside a wonderfully chipper, fascinating, and talkative female Gnome. One 'Zigras Yntema of the Crystal Vortex Clan', whoever they might be. From the way this Zigras said it, they sure sounded important! Apparently she, too, was a traveler, and a collector of stories. Perhaps something deeper connected them? Perhaps she had a story that Abelard had longed to hear?

Time, some traded tales, and a quick drink at the local pub, the Kingfisher’s Cup, will tell!

Total Pre-Story time:

2 Years - Fjordheim

2 Years – Various cities

1 Year – Shroudship

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