First Day and a First Meeting

The ship rocked gently on the sea. Familiar boots treading lightly over the boards as he kept night watch. Pappy whistled an old tune to himself as he waltzed. He paused when he saw a familiar pair of shoulders and dark shaggy hair. He Closed the distance and wrapped an arm around his son.

"Log'Macnia, my boy, good to see you aboard again. How've you been son?" Pappy rattled off quickly, his halo spinning slowly. The fish hook ends finding new ways to link and chafe one another. However pappy was hit with a cold realization. It was not Log'macnia he had slung his arm around. The face of Wilkes Tempest, no just Wilkes at this point, stared up at him.

"Who?" The young sailor asked, pappy was mentally reeling as he stared into his own younger eyes. Hell the lad still had both of 'em, he couldn't even be 500 if he still had both eyes! Panic nearly set in on the god, but he thought as quick as always.

"Sorry, thought you were a different lad." The god straightened his captain's coat. Navy blue with gray trim and bronze buttons. Reliable as it was comfortable.

Wilkes eyed the halo and his jaw dropped.

"Right then. Either I've had too much ale, or you're some manner of god."

Pappy visibly relaxed.

"The second one."

"Good. Was worried for a moment."

Wilkes scratched his chin.

"Though that does explain the oracle girl's smile."

"Right you are, lad. You're a hell of a luck charm."

"So... ?" Wilkes tried to fill the air, but Pappy remained on his backfoot. His empty sleeve flapped in the wind.

"So, good sailing and fair winds. Bout time ye wake up now, Daisy needs her mornin' leak."

"Wait you know my dog?"

Wilkes sat bolt upright on his cot. The poor thing was soaked in sea water it seemed. Thin black lines spiderwebbed across the pillowcase. They looked almost like lightning. Clearly the strange dream had deeper implications. Daisy, however, did not care about dreams. As she continued to bark, Wilkes swore and bustled out the door. Daisy ran along the small lawn in an excited zig and zag before coming to a spot with circling.

With business taken care of, the hound trotted inside without a second thought. Wilkes stared at his bedspace as he dressed himself.

"First thing my new wages go toward... a proper bed." Wilkes grumbled to himself. He pulled the shirt over his head and tugged at the laces on his chest. Strange thing, really. He'd only worn the sailor's shirt a day and already missed his toga.

Wilkes strolled down the beachside, heading back towards the dock. The idea to visit the oracle's hall crossed his mind, but being tardy after a night of drinking would only anger the captain.

Erik met with Wilkes halfway through the usual walk, instead of making the whole journey together. The elf scratched behind his ear, his tawny blonde hair bouncing with the motion. Something glinted in the morning light as he did.

"Ye have a fun night bud?" Wilkes Teased the very hung over elf. Erik gave a nod, and twisted a new ring on his finger.

Wilkes stopped walking immediately. Erik stared blankly. Wilkes pointed at the ring. Erik's eyes widened slowly.

"Who?"

"... I did wake up in the librarian's house this morning." Erik said softly "Think Amy is my lady."

Wilkes thought back to his conversation at the tavern with Barry. About the warning to choose the right lady and time rather than just one or the other. He stared at the ring on Erik's finger. Shaking his head he resumed walking to the dock. The distant yelling of the captain let them know they were right on time. The new apprentices were hauling empty barrels onto the ship, and then heading below before scampering off. Wilkes and Erik walked right onto the main deck.

"Right, two new sailors in full. Yer on the nets today." the captain's gruff voice called to the pair. They nodded and each picked a side of the ship. Wilkes hugged the port side and Erik too starboard. They worked dozens of ropes in rapid succession to get the ship moving. She wasn't big enough to have a name, but worked fine for fishing. Barry was checking the weather near the helm as Rangpar slowly dragged the anchor up from the depths.

As they worked Rangpar sang a tune that Wilkes recognized from somewhere. He whistled along as the orc sang. It was something about a drunken sailor, and how they'd treat him early in the morning.

The ship had drifted far from the island. It was Wilkes's first time being on this end of the fishing and he was loving every second of it. The salty spray on his face, the sun in his hair, and the expanse before him. Deep blue sprawling on and on, a yawning expanse really. His mind drifted back to the festival. He was reminiscing on the oracle's apprentice when new orders were screamed at him.

"Wilkes, Erik! Throw yer nets before we all die of old age and starvation!" The captain roared, his arms folded firmly across his chest. The pair did so, nets sinking below the rolling waves. The line was slack, and now they waited. Minutes stretched on as the ship bobbed. Other ships cut along the horizon, likely trade vessels passing through the island chain. Nothing worth noting if they weren't headed to Thellin.

Mid thought Wilkes began retrieving his net, the weights having done their job. Fish slammed against one another as he pulled the haul up. His next job was emptying the net in the barrels and taking the barrels down to the sorting apprentices. He'd have to be as hands on as Barry once was. The new hierarchy was in, and Barry could rest on his laurels as the first mate again.

"Cap'n! Catching at this rate and we can return before evenin'!" Rangpar shouted giddily. A grumble was the only response the Orc got. Seemed the captain preferred the sea to going home to his wife and huntress daughter.

Wilkes watched the new lads sort the fish idly. Sitting in the chair Barry used to fill. He began to whittle, a hobby he had watched Barry indulge in before he picked up smoking to kill the time. The day went on peacefully like that, and their ship returned. The sun was dipping down as they closed in on their island. It was quiet.

There weren't birds circling as much as there should have been. The gulls were spooked by something. From what Wilkes could see the mercantile on the dock was mostly empty. Booths and stalls shuttered and empty. A pit began to from in his stomach.

"Right lads, stay on the ship. I'll poke around." Barry said, he creeped up to the captain's quarters with Rangpar and the man himself. The three emerged moments later. Rangpar walked out first, a gargantuan axe in hand. He was followed by Barry and the captain each carrying a pistol and saber. Erik cast a concerned look beyond them and toward the library.

Then the elf did the stupidest thing he could have. He drew a knife, and after the three older men walked off into town, he ran in after them. Wilkes caught up to him and shot him a bewildered look.

“You’d run to her. First sign of trouble. Don’t pretend you wouldn’t.” Erik said, quickly pulling the two of them into a gap between stalls. They crouched low. The elf peeked his head out and then motioned to move with him. They stalked towards the square, when the smells hit them. All three were wrong for the heart of the village. Gunpowder, Smoke, and Blood.