The first chapter - Wilkes the Barge Lad

Time wound back as Pappy recalled it. Millenia spooled back in like line from a shoddy cast. The haze of the years , an uncensored version of the bedtime story he told to his the countless descendants in his home. The aged and haggard god laid his head down on a fluffed pillow, his wives in various stages of sleep beside him. As he drifted to sleep, the real story of Wilkes Tempest unfolded in something between dream and memory.

It was a cold morning on the coast of Thellin. Seagulls flapped through the air squawking with all the fury an avian could manage. They circled a fishing hut with three inhabitants. A mother with crows feet and a scowl firmly set due to the rebellious nature of her son, A barge lad with twice as much gumption as brains, and an aging hound. The waves lapped gently on the sands, the wind whistled faintly. It was a serene morning, calm as he had ever known them. Then the pounding on the door came.

"WILKES! GET UP NOW OR YER GONNA BE LATE FOR THE BARGE!" A young man disturbed the quiet peace. The called for barge lad promptly fell from his cot to the floor. Grumbling a mix of thanks and curses as he shuffled through his routine. A toga and sandals covered his wiry frame. Calloused hands made the fabric catch now and again. Messy black hair covered the nape of his neck as he settled a loose fitting cap on his head. His mother had already bundled his lunch in a small basket. He snagged it and called out to her

"Thanks mama! I'll be back at dusk, don't forget to take daisy for a short swim please!"

Wilkes swung the door to the hut open, and was greeted by the beaming face of Erik. He attempted to muster a smile back but was still only half awake.

"Mornin' sunshine. Didja wanna sleep through work or have a home by next month?" The other lad teased. He ran a hand through what had once been tawny blonde hair, bleached further by the sun. A similar cut to Wilkes, long enough to cover bits of the neck with a cap above to shade the brow. Erik was a wiry man of 26, though on account of his half-elven lineage didn't look a day over 18.

"Fingers crossed I get shipwrecked again actually, Cap'n gave me two months pay for that last time."

"Yeah and I hadta keep yer mom from sailing out to find you. Fair's fair and you don't go missin' again?"

"Fairs fair... baby face." Wilkes snickered to himself after using the nickname he knew his friend loathed. A quick kick to the ankle sent him tumbling. It was the Erik's turn to laugh before helping his friend up.

The two barge lads jogged down to the only dock on the island. More huts sprouted from the greenery of the island as they approached. The sun beat down on them already despite the world over still yawning. The dock was alive with chatter and commerce. The mercantile stalls set at the mouth and length of path feeding it was already abuzz. The scents of spices from far lands, brined fish, fresh linens, and stale booze were carried on the salty air. Thellin was both an island and a village after all. Population too small to be a proper town like the captain had spoken of.

As the young men approached the end of the dock an argument was reaching a fever pitch. The captain was talking as much with his hands as he was his words. He glared with flared nostrils towards an elven man in relatively fine clothes for the small village. The two argued in a language Wilkes couldn't make heads or tails of. Erik side eyed him and would end up translating later.

"[What do you mean you want double for the rooms we stayed in]?!" The captain roared, even with the thirty paces left to walk Wilkes could smell the whiskey on his breath. A disheveled human man with a wild beard and wilder stare. He was bald only beneath the cap he wore, but rarely let any know of it. Gray at the temples, red in the face man swung his arms as he spoke.

"[I'm telling you that the going rate has doubled for the rooms. Not that I want it. You and your drunkards cost me a small fortune whenever you drink, I'm treading water as is. I'll sink if I don't charge you more.]" The reply came sharply, syllables short and staccato. It seemed the inn keeper wanted to make his point clear even through a drunken haze.

"[Your inn goes under if I sleep on the boat over in your beds, doubly so if my crew does as well. Not to mention I could just starve out this blasted island!]" The captain snarled, grit teeth with a golden incisor making themselves known. Human and elf held a glare until the two lads stepped up fully.He drew another breath to continue screaming when the barge lads caught the his eye as he was mid rant"[And you two-]"

"AND YOU TWO! Yer nearly late, you think we're just made of money on this rotten tub?! Get to off loading now! OR IT'S TWO WEEKS LAND LOCKED FOR BOTH OF YE!" he rubbed his temples while yelling at the boys, before turning back to the elven man. The rest of the argument was out of earshot to the young men. Today's haul was ten nets brimming with fish still flopping. The smell was intense but unoffensive to the two. The whistled as they worked, the old shanties they had over heard from the captain. Something about drunken sailors and far away ports.

"You reckon he would really land lock us?" Erik asked as they heaved the first net towards the brining barrels.

"If you're not careful with how loud you lads chatter he will." The first mate called from the back of the room. He sat smoking from his pipe, long slow puffs to smooth his mood. the smoke curled about him and wafted to the roof. He was a muscular man, broad in the shoulder and thick through the arm. A tattoo of an anchor bulged over his bicep as he crossed his arms. He leaned back on the chair as he continued to smoke.

"Sure Barry, he'll stick his two best and brightest apprentices on the land and leave you and the others to do all the back breaking labor." Wilkes spat back. His temper had always ran hot, something that led to more fights than he could count. Barry stood up slow, chuckling softly. Another puff. The boards creaked as he stalked towards the younger man.

"Oh lil' willy's feisty this morning? Always did like that about Rebecca. A feisty woman 's the only kind to raise a feisty son. How is yer mom? She still lonely since daddy split town?" Barry taunted him. Poking his chest firmly, Wilkes narrowed his eyes and didn't back down.

"She's got one sea dog for company if that's what you mean. Not sure she needs you another bi-" Wilkes insult was interrupted by a swift punch to the stomach. The sailor swung with fists like an anchor and the gentleness of a shipwreck. Spittle flew from the barge lads mouth. He wiped his mouth and continued to glare.

"Wassa matter lil willy? Not as tough as yer talk? C'mon day's nearly as young as you are, gimme something fun to do besides boss you around." Barry goaded Wilkes further. Before he could respond, a shadow darkened the stairs down to the below deck.

"Why do you not pick on someone your own sizing Barry?" The voice was gruff, and accented heavily. Rangpar cracked his neck and knuckles as he walked up. He was half crouching with his towering frame as he entered the lower deck; despite the ceilings being a full nine feet up. Green skin over bulging muscles, simple trousers the only seperation between birthday suit and outside world. The orc was not pleased at being woken up and less so by having to stoop down. However he noticed a potential to fight, his second favorite thing besides sleep. "Was had good dream of home. Was wrestling siblings in bid for Testero blessing. Very happy dream. Woke from sound of punch and shouting. Wanted to see who and who? Is Barry and Wilkes?"

Erik smirked faintly at the orc's entrance. "Barry and Wilkes were trying to see who would measure up better for you in an arm wrestle. Barry won, so he's all your'n big guy." Erik managed to suppress chuckles as the orc grew wide eyed and smiled.

"Ohh Barry want real challenge then yes?! Would be much happiness for Rangpar to give honor and thanks to Testero today! Please friend Erik, tell captain I borrow Barry. We fight in the pit. First to draw tooth wins!" The orc hefted the first mate over his shoulder and walked up the stairs. The day's work went smoothly from then on, sorting the fish to brine or to be salted. Tedious, necessary work. The pay was worth it though. As the sun dipped on the opposite coast, the captain ushered the barge lads out.

"Go on! Git! I ain't giving you extra pay or midnight oil!"