synopsychic | (no subject)

Those of you aboard the Panlong, I have a request.

We met with a very strange fellow who should be arriving in your midst very shortly. He's covered in bandages and has a straggly dog with him. [Sort of hard to miss.] He's been stranded aboard the atolls for some time now. He can't tell us how long.

[But that's really not the point, is it?]

He's...a bit of a cryptic man [thing?]. Something is very, very odd about him. [Which is putting it mildly.] He mentioned something about leprosy as well, so I would be wary of touching him if you can help it. He's asked to come with us, but he hasn't specified to where.

With all that's going on with the Grasper and the mermaids, and the ships chasing us, I don't think his appearance is coincidence. It never is. We've seen some of the same people, time and time again [like Tobi] but...I've never seen him before. It's possible he's a native of this world, of course, but-- I just don't know. He might just be the key to ensuring the end of this Jaunt. We need to keep an eye on him.

[She's not certain what a sickly man in bandages can do, however, to keep them safe from the Grasper.]

...And speaking of trouble, what exactly are we doing to try to warn our fellow seafarers about what's coming for us? Has anyone had any luck in convincing the captains of the danger?

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Doubtless. I'll keep an eye on him myself and observe anything that changes. [He can probably convince the crew he can manage that, youngster or no.]

On more mundane matters, like the overall running of the ship. The Panlong seems to be where a good portion of us wound up and the influx of so many unexpected extra bodies would be a strain. And perhaps on whatever trouble the crew has been trying to escape from; I've been informed it's a ship of exiles.

I would appreciate it, thank you.

[Under other circumstances, she would understand. But considering the situation they're in, the idea is more than a little surprising.]

Exiles? From where? Are they soldiers, like aboard the Harbinger?

[Being laden with practical matters such as the running and supplies of the ship is certainly understandable, but the rest isn't. He's focused on problems that are nowhere near them; it does no one any good.]

En Zhenming. Matter of court politics, as I understand it. They've a small standing force, but generally, I wouldn't class them as soldiers, no.

So we have a pirate ship, a band of court exiles, and ex-soldiers.

[And all of these have a common bond with being on the run from something greater.]

I wonder what the latter two crews have done to deserve their country's ire.