#darkgatefortress

"Okay, that's a spooky ship. If I didn't trust Zane, I wouldn't set hoof on that..." She murmurs to herself, as she eyes the craft.

"Be brave, you got this" Kelby tells her shooing her on

And making sure she's got the supplies

She sighs, checks the shoulder strap on her pack, and heads over towards the Rimrunner.

She looks to see if they are docked and have a ramp for boarding.

It it is, and it does, a rickety looking ramp to be sure but wide enough for her to cross it.

Now closer she can see a sluagh in the crow's nest, which makes no sense, how would anyone hear him call out land ho?

And there's a troll at the top of the ramp, impressive gray blue fellow with a sleeveless shirt and a tattoo of Thor's hammer shaped more like an anchor

She squints uncertainly up the ramp, though the sight of a troll at the top gives her reassurance. She waves up at him.

"Ahoy, is this the Rimrunner?" Perhaps unnecessarily. "I have passage booked, er, I think."

"Aye, be ye Piper the Short?" The troll asks

She stomps up the gangway and reaches up to poke the troll's chest with a pointed finger. "Listen here, mister - Captain? I'm Piper, or Piper Hale-King, and if Zane is the one who gave me that nickname, I can tell YOU that he's known as Zane Short-horn, even though his head sports long points, if THAT explains anything to you!"

The troll fights a smile "First mate, actually. First Mate Borkol Anchorfist. Meaning no disrespect, Piper Hale-King, though Wizard Zane did call ye 'the short'... he said if we earned your friendship we could call ye Bangs. Judging by yer retort, I can guess he's having a bit of fun with all o us. Come on a board." He steps to the side "Would you like me to take your things and show you where you'll be quartered?"

"I can stow me own goods." She says with a smile, not even realizing she's falling into a similar manner of speech to Siv just by stepping about the ship. "A good shipmate pulls her own weight, and I'm not- at least, I'm hoping to be more than a passenger or cargo."

"We were told you were a damn fine singer and that's always welcome on voyages," Borkol assures, even as he guides her to the quarters "I hope you don't mind sharing quarters wwith the other passenger... different beds and another lady, of course"

"Not at all. I've stayed in hostels that would make even tight berths look like a mansion."

"And I'm glad to bend any willing ears for a tune or two."

"I know you're probably busy, but if the captain has a moment to spare, I'd talk to her - or him?"

Another near chuckle from the troll "She be a woman, blood bone and fire. And I shall inform that yer hoping for a bit of a parley" he knocks on the door "Another passenger for the other side of the room coming in"

She nods her thanks

A voice comes out "Let the supplicant enter?"

"In ye go" The troll opens the door and she sees an area with two beds on opposing side, there is a curtain that can be used to separate. One one the left side bed is a pooka

Piper flops her stuff onto the open bed. "Howdy. I'd ask you where your travels are takin' you, but I figure you'll tell me or not, as pleases you." A smile to the pooka.

The pooka's whiskers perk. She appears to be rodent affiliated, Wait, definitely RAT as she has the tail. She's dyed her hair with pinks and purples,, and it shows in her rat features a bit too. "Hi. I'm Inky. No relation... I'm of the Barbery Pi Rats." She gestures to a lay out of scissors and other hair styling and dying gear "I Hear we're heading to Bermuda, Bahama, and the issle of pretty mama." She eyes Piper's hair professionally, "Lovely canvas"

She grins. "I dunno, it's a bit overgrown lately. I haven't had time for a trim."

"My, you have lovely whiskers!" She admires, sincerely. "My best friend, Rikki, would be jealous. Hers are not nearly as luscious, though she might have you beat in the dramatic eye makeup category."

"OH, a mask-cara expert!" She says "Maybe i should be jelly? You want me to shear your head sheep?"

"Maybe later?" She tempted, but her new bunk mate IS a pooka. "I'm hoping to chat with Cap'n Crunch before we set sail."

"Oh, the cappin, making it happen" A nod "I haven't seen her so I can only assume she's a vampire and we're going to vanish ...then the rename the ship the Demeter, and it arrives in London"

"Oooh, that movie looked too spooky. I didn't see it."

"Oh, I have a bat pooka friend ,they're ALL goth girls, ESPECIALLY the boys"

SHe says this without malice

And... the ship begins to take off they can feel it lurch

"Guess we're the only passengers" She observes

“I suppose so.” She nervously checks the pocket where she stores the amulet.

It is there... pulsing with it's magic.

Then there is a knock on the door

"Ahoy, come in."

the door opens, and a satyress walks in. Siv would TOTALLY love her wardrobe, for it is very swashbuckler pirate chic. Her mortal form of Asian descent, her long raven hair flows like a crow's plume behind her horns. There is a rapier at her side, in scabbard, of course, with a winking green stone in the hilt. "Captain Shi Devoreux, are ye Bangs? I hear ye wanted a word with me"

"Bangs?" The pooka looks alarmed over at Piper "You poor poor creature. Who abused you?"

Piper holds her breathe, and her hoof taps as she counts to 10 before answering. "Piper's the name, Captain. I wanted to start by thanking you for taking me out to sea with you..."

"Yer most welcome" She answers "And Piper it is, if this is about the food we all eat it so you'll not suffer alone"

"No." She chuckles. "I just wanted to check with you - what exactly Zane told you about my mission. I wanted to make sure we're on the same page and you didn't get roped into something you'll regret."

She smiles "Ah, the well wanded wizard told me to repay a favor and take ye to the bahamas, warned there might be a sea monster IF you found your target... as for the rest" She admits "In truth, I wanted details from you before I did more than drop you off on some Island shore"

"Okay, good. I just didn't want a potential sea monster to be a surprise, I mean, if I pulled the wool over your eyes on that, I wouldn't blame you for tossing me overboard to it."

"Heh." She laughs then says "In truth, it intrigued me. I'm no crazed Eshu getting all reckless, but from what i understand, Zane says you might want us to stay on and help you lure the monster? He is offering to actually OWE ME one, but he also said you had gotten your horns set on this being your adventure. So... let me say it plain. You've got us for transport to the islands where this monster dwells, that's for sure. If you want we'll even pick you up again in a day after we do it. HOWEVER, if you want, we can be the ship you hunt the monster from but it will cost a bit, either from you or Zane. I trust him, and he says you're a good sort so I'm thinking you'd hold to your word either way. What's your preference? The Rim Runner is great at sea trods ,we're fast and agile. Sea monster FIGHTING a bit more dubious. "

"To tell you the truth, if this ends up as a fight, I've already lost." She casts a glance over at Inky. "Fair warning, you might not have picked a pleasure cruise."

Inky smiles weakly "Well, if the ship sinks you know what I'll do" She yanks at her rat's tail "Still here, so everything will be fine"

"That's good news then, less likely a fight for us. Tell you what, let's get you to the islands, drop off Inky, and you decide for sure then aye?" The satyress captain smiles "I don't suppose this sea monster has treasure?"

"None that I know of. What would a sea monster do with treasure?" She ponders this. "I mean, why do ANY monsters hoard treasure, now that I think about it?"

"SHINY" Inky waves her pink and lavender hair about