Welcome to Gaia! ::

Puffed the last ounce of smoke from his pipe and turned away from the railing and the cit that was slowly slipping over the horizon. At sea again. Brakus grumbled and noticed the captain and a new face he hadn’t seen before and he hid a snarl when he recognized the newcomer as an elf.
“Bloody hell” He muttered to himself as he reached into his tobacco pouch and began sprinkling the plant into the pipe bowl. “When did we get him? An’ who was drunk enough ta let him on, eh?” A moment later a burning match sparked the leafs and the pipe was smoldering and smoking once more. The ship rolled slightly and he cursed as the burning match struk his flesh.
“Damn it!” Brakus grunted, flinging the match over the side and clutching the reddening flesh “A thousand Orc tunnels and half a keg of elvish brew!” He made a quite amusing spectacle.

Brakus had mostly recovered his grumpy composer and was puffing on his pipe rhythmically again when a voice spoke at him from behind and he turned around, a little more violently than anticipated and looked at the newcomer. He grunted as he sized her up and was silent for a long time after she had finished. He began scratching his bearded chin and grunted several times before speaking, the pipe smoking away.
“Well, bazling tarnations, can’t anyone ever tell me wat is goin on? Never even told I might get ta assintant, guess my cookin’s to hard on human bellies.” He chuckled and then gave a small bow of his head to her.
“Well missy I’ll be appreciatin some company down in that hull. Allow me ta introduce meself. Names Thomas Brakus, Brakus ta most. From tha dwarven halls themselves and every bit as proud of me heritage as that elf over there is stupid.” He lowered his voice for the last bit about the elf and then shook his head, smoke streaming out his nose. “But that be neither heresay or theresay, tell me Missy May, what can ya cook and a bit about yarself.” Brakus was actually pleasantly surpirese that he would have someone to talk to down below. Dwarves might be somewhat reclusive creatures but they could gossip up a storm and catch one in a good mood or drunk and they talk up storms.

Zeiser had listened quietly to the brief explanation and then nodded. All was in order then. All that was demanded of him now was to make sure everyone else was in line, and that they realized Cain's position. His appearance could surely betray the possibility of such a position just as the Captain's appearance betrayed his own.

He moved about the ship, informing the deck hands of Cain's arrival and his position as First Mate. Of course, they would all recognize him in due time. Cain was the only elf aboard. Now all I need is a troupe of caged animals and I'd have the largest display of diversity ever known. Races, heritage, skills, professions... It's all here.

When the crew was thoroughly informed, Zeiser climbed back to the main deck and quickly spotted Cain. It was time for the boy's first test, and it would certainly be an easy one. Standing a short ways behind Cain, he spoke up. "Excuse me. I hope I'm not interrupting anything of importance. I would just like to inform you, Cain, that you have management of the ship for the next several hours. I am going to get some rest in the mean time."

It would certainly be a well-deserved rest. Zeiser had not slept since the ship first set sail, and since then he had put up with spells gone haywire, a mysterious mischief-maker, calming a crew, and a missing mage. All in a day's work...

The Captain gave a bow of his head to Aranai and Cain then removed himself from their presence, and retreated to his cabin. Once inside, he closed the curtains then laid himself upon the bed. In just a few minutes he was fast asleep.

... First mate? Rhi thought with surprise, and some shame. Here she had been acting as his superior, assuming she was above him. She had talked with too much authority. In reality he was her superior, and she was nothing but the rich girl who's father was funding the voyage. She deflated, letting her shoulders drop and self-consciously folding her arms across her chest. Then the dear Captain Zeiser strode towards them and handed Cain the reigns. The new First Mate was now in charge... and he didn't even know the ship.

Then Cain turned back to her and excused himself for his duties, with a sigh. A sigh? Yes, as if he didn't want to leave. She smirked and cocked her head, amused at his not so subtle cry for help. Or perhaps that's just what she wanted to hear. Where was Nerissa when she needed her?

"I don't suppose it would look very good if the First Mate just wandered about the ship. You're supposed to know where you're going." she said in mock seriousness. "Shall I join you in your walk about the ship?"

The smirk remained on her face. Maybe she would enjoy his company.

Cain smiled at Rhi's suggestion. "Why, yes, that would be nice." Cain said. It'd be a lot easier to get to know the ship, and her as well. Hopefully everyone was doing their assigned task until they finished it. Cain didn't actually want to have to lecture anybody on his first day there. Well, he wouldn't lecture them but definitely make them get back to work. And this would let him to get to know some of the faces, too, he surmised. Even if he didn't have to talk to anyone he'd be able to see who was doing what. That would make things easier in the future.

Cain's eyes filled with amazement once again. The moonlight seemed to reflect of the boat in a sort of magical way. Truly a beautiful sight to see. To him it was, at least. Cain was more accustomed to the typical brown hull color. And boats with much less sails. And smaller in size. TO have been accepted as First Mate for this... He must have done something to impress the patrons father.

"So, how long have you guys been set sail for?"

Just before the boarding plank was taken up, Gesten had made it back on board. Behind him trailed two woolly guests, bleating and quivering from the shouts of the working sailors. He kept the two ewes on ropes tied around their necks. The hertasi didn't have time to get a toy for Luft, but he had found a live treat for the sentries. It didn't take long to locate the gray gryphon. She had snuck behind her lizard friend, trilling and trying to nibble the tip of her beak on the nearest animal's wool. Gesten hisses and swats her beak away harshly with his clawed hand.
"You're not to eat here, you'll ruin the white deck! Anyhow, go see if the dragoness would like one. These aren't both for you and I know you were thinking it. Get going Luftie, the faster you ask the sooner you may dine."

She watches him board and instantly eyes the baaing meals greedily. Luft ruffles up her feathers in hopes to seem innocent as she casually makes her way to the hertasi. Her wings are cupped to her sides and she stretches out her neck to nibble at the sheep before her. Luft's head seems to have bloated as her crest feathers puff up to reveal some of the bright pink flesh underneath the layers of feathers. A prompt smack on the beak causes her to squawk indignantly as she chitters angrily at Gesten. Hearing that one of the animals is for Tanyeera though, she calms and wanders over to the dragon. Luft is still fluffed up to show her good mood as she opens her beak in a smile.
"The hertasi got us a sheep each, want yourrssss now? We can drift behind the ship assssss we eat."
Her slurring is due to being around her fellow sentry and friend, also because live meat is highly favored by griffins.

May smiled. "Nice to meet you Brakus." She went on to talk about all the meals her father had taught her, some of his inventions, and some of her own. "To tell the turth I'm very good at adding flavour to normally bland food. My father always said it was the best gift I was given," she smiled again.

"As for myself," she shurged at this, "There isn't much to tell, but I do however know how to do some magic, I'm really good at healing for some reason." She smiled a smile that lit up her face.

"What about yourself Brakus?" She inquired poiletly.