Who's Steering this Boat?

[naturaltwohands]

Thorne is seeing to who is still themselves, but there is a pressing matter for those of us aboard the Cornu since we have enough food and water to last for some time as well as some amount of weaponry.

Who here besides myself has experience sailing, and who will be at the helm? And to where should we go?

((OOC: you can see the details of what the ship holds here))

Comments

[someonetocarry]

I had a pirate captain infiltration once. I think I still remember some of it.

Won't help a lot right now, though, since I'm a mermaid.

[naturaltwohands]

I do believe that would make it hard to help on deck, but at least you may be able to answer questions.

The ship is sound at least. Small miracles.

[someonetocarry]

Doubt the Arcana would put us this far from shore in a sinkin' ship.

There's an island to the east. Might be we should head for there. Gonna need to be guided, though. There's reefs and rocks in between.

[naturaltwohands]

That would most assuredly be the opposite of productive.

To the east is likely where we should head, but that's a decision for the ship as a whole to make. Being guided around the rocks should be significantly easier than usual, considering we may be able to employ one or more of those of us that are mermaids.

[fruitknife]

If somebody tells me what to do I can help, but I ain't ever done this before. Can't be the only one, either.

Good to know we're in good shape food-wise, though.

[naturaltwohands]

I will provide some basic instruction on the ways of sailing. From what I have heard in response to Thorne, many are in the same... Boat as you,

The ship is sound as well—as long as we don't scuttle it.

[fruitknife]

[Shinji doesn't dignify the joke with a response.]

Better than nothing. What do we need to do?

[naturaltwohands]

[Probably for the best.]

If no one else has ideas, I wish to drop the sails and anchor long enough that we can make a proper decision.

[shiroganeheir]

I believe that we should find the closest shore. I have been to the top of the rigging to see there is land not too far away.

If no one else can, I do have an ability in which I can learn how to do something, and perform the action for a short period of time. Otherwise, I can act as navigator. It seems that climbing trees is good practice for climbing rigging.

[naturaltwohands]

My thoughts exactly. Asking inexperienced sailors to do anything more will be too much.

Good. I can show you a more difficult task, then, as you will likely be needed for more than just navigation. And we should see if there is a spyglass in the crow's nest. Are you close to it? If not, I can check myself.

[Drizzt sighs.]

I hope someone is good at giving orders. I'm not the type.

[shiroganeheir]

Whatever I can do, I will certainly do. I am not a leader precisely, but if there is a need for something, I can attempt to fill the void.

Give me a minute, and I can get to the crow's nest.

[If he were to look up, he'd find a blue blur climbing the mast and riggings to get to the crow's nest.]

Ah! Yes. There is one here.

[naturaltwohands]

Thank you. We can figure it out once we jabs more stock of our situation, but I am not certain this body can shout properly. The last time I was this age, it broke regularly.

Good. Between you and the mermaids, we should be able to navigate well enough to land.

[photonicfighter]

I don't even have any experience walking on thing, much less sailing it.

[There is so much frustration in her tone.]

But I'm willing to learn. I am.

[naturaltwohands]

[That makes Drizzt chuckle.]

You will find your sea legs with some practice. And you will indeed need to learn something, do not worry. We need all the hands we can get.

[photonicfighter]

We're going to be here a while, I'll have time to practice...

Is it more important that we get moving, or that we keep ourselves from moving, right now?

[naturaltwohands]

Plenty of time.

If we can organize quickly enough, then we should get moving. If not, we should stay and organize before moving. I can give instruction for either option.

[thornsofmalkav]

Yeah, I was never much of a sailor, but I'm pretty sure that the Finvestigators can guide you through this place to that island up ahead. Honestly, it's gonna be about the only way for us to do it. The Labyrinthine Shoals are, like, pretty deadly for ships.

Also, my weird mermaid knowledge is telling me that there's supposed to be, like, a secret island paradise at the heart of this place... so that might be where we're headed to. And possibly maybe where everyone got to during the last Jaunt here?

Man, we could really use a Veteran right now.

[naturaltwohands]

Then it is fortunate some of us are mermaids. Most of my experience is with more open ports. We should find someone with a steady hand to steer the ship—I do not know if my form has the strength for the wheel.

It certainly sounds peculiar enough to be our destination for this Jaunt.

... Agreed.

[thornsofmalkav]

Yeah. We should try to spot it and head that way. And, um, hm. I can't help you with steering. I'm in the water. But there should be someone who can do it.

[theflyingone]

I will volunteer where I am needed most. I have been to sea, but only as a passenger. I have a steady hand if you are still looking for someone for the wheel, I can climb rigging, be a good lookout, and fight—though I would rather it not come to that.

By far, I think a rigger has the most dangerous job. [ And yet he is still volunteering for it... ] The helmsman will need to be skilled at maneuvering the ship. The lookout will need to have the best eyes and a efficient way of relaying their information. Showing us by images on the network may help. That goes for the sea people as well.

I am sure we all want to land quickly nearby, but I also think we should choose where we land carefully. We do not want to upset any locals before we have had a chance to observe and blend in. Already our sails may have been spotted.

[naturaltwohands]

Would you take the wheel for now? I... am trying, but this body is small, and I have other duties to attend to.

[A bit of a laugh.]

We already have a lookout I believe, but maybe if we can find another capable of being helmsman, you can switch tasks. We need people to know the basics of more than one thing, if possible.

Ah, fair point. We should be careful, but the less time an inexperienced crew is on the open sea, the better. I do not believe we can pretend to be experienced sailors, so we need a story to explain why an adolescent is the most experienced crew member on this ship. Captain's son would work as my cover, but I am not used to crafting stories beyond my own.

[voice to action because this ship isnt going to drive itself]

[theflyingone]

[voice to action because this ship isnt going to drive itself]

I have listened a little to the talk of those who have been here before. I do not look like a native of this land, but I am used to posing as a traveling scholar. I will say I was with a merchant as a translator and as a travel writer, but he met an untimely end, as did many of our possessions, and misfortune has taken me even farther from home.

[ After sending his message, Altaïr appears on the quarterdeck quickly, marching up the steps and taking the wheel from the young, dark human boy as asked. He knows that it must be held in place until the time comes to steer. Only then will he be completely lost. ]

Where is Drizzt?

[awitchdidit]

The last time I was on a boat of any kind it ended poorly. I'd much rather impersonate a landlubber from Bando.

[naturaltwohands]

[A bit of a laugh.]

Then it is good that I at least have some experience then. We are not completely unprepared. Just mostly.

[awitchdidit]

When is it ever different?

That said, I did live on an island for most of my existence. Depending on what we find when we get there, I may be of more use.

I'm assuming we're meant to go to the island, anyway. Sailing off somewhere else sounds like a recipe for a bad time.