Sunrise crept slowly across the water. Waves crashed rhythmically across the bow of a ship, a gentle susurrus which kept time for those hurrying about their duties, the first rays of light brushing across the wooden planks and tinting them gold. Early morning sunlight caressed the deck as it rose above the horizon, providing the first glimpse of a distant, glimmering shore.
[su_note note_color=”#921d22″ text_color=”#d6d6d6″ radius=”10″]The following is a fictionalization of “The Dominion of Essalund” adventure as told through the eyes of the character of Rowan. You can watch the full videos on our YouTube channel or live every other Sunday at the DotGeek Twitch channel.[/su_note]
Spotted across the waves to one side of the ship were several small vessels, nets cast into the water, inhabitants intent on their tasks. Large leather sacks sat as yet unfilled in each, drawing attention to the fact that the days’ work had just begun. They continued on their tasks, seemingly oblivious to the large ship gliding into their midst.
“Oh, I want some pearls!” A piercing voice broke through the calm of the morning, shattering the reverie of a figure coiled into a corner of the ship’s deck. It’s own respite interrupted, the figure opened its eyes, sighing as it was drawn to seek the source of the disturbance. It was not hard to distinguish, as a flurry of motion accompanied the noise from across the bow of the vessel.
“Ho, there, friends. Might I have one of your catches?” A female leaned far over the side of the deck, calling down to one of the laboring boatsmen below. She waved her hand in the air to catch their attention, smiling and laughing, batting her hair coyly back behind her shoulders from where it had fallen loose. A sense of levity surrounded her.
The diver looked down at the shining object in his hand, shrugged, and tossed it up to the female on the ship. It was caught with no hesitation, held close to her breast as she gasped with obvious joy. She waved her thanks to the boatman, then sank back to admire her treasure. In her hand was a pearl, small yet glistening in the suns light.
The figure on the deck chuckled softly, shaking its head and sitting up from a coiled position. Open air being preferable to the confines of the crowded, claustrophobic depths of the ship, it had seemed more natural to rest under the stars then below. Pushing back the hood of a cloak, a quick scan of the horizon was enough to determine that the destination was finally at hand. Small yet finely pointed ears were revealed as the hood was pushed back, exposing also a long, heavy crimson and black plait of hair, and a glimpse of bronzed, honeyed skin.
Rising swiftly and silently, the agile figure drew closer to the ships edge, taking in as much of the glistening horizon as possible. Though the figure stood under five lengths high, the land was approaching such that it was visible even from this vantage. Eyes widened in shocked realization, a barely audible gasp escaped through parted lips.
“This is surely beyond anything I had hoped to see. Lunitari must, indeed, have her gaze upon me. How else could such moments be possible?” Standing on the edge of the vessels deck, the figure exclaimed, “…how EVER will I complete my task?”
Seeming to shake from the sudden revere, the figure drew back again, looking around and taking in the few other ships patrons which had begun to pepper the deck, obviously drawn to the noise of the impending arrival. The ship drew slowly towards a large civilization, inching ever forward towards goddesses only knew what.
The boisterous female remained at the rail of the deck, looking out over the water at the boatmen who now fell back to the ships progress. Though she was no longer fawning over her treasured pearl, a hand rested proprietarily against a pouch on her belt.
A man lay slumped against the railing on the other side of the bow, head cradled in his hands, seemingly weary. He lifted a hand, grasped at air muttering “…money…” and drifted across the deck.
Another hooded figure stood staring intently at the boats destination. This figure was thick in frame, hiding a size which might belie its bearing. Further details were lost in the depth of its hood. Brow furrowed, mind on some distant, unforeseen point, this figure waited, silent.
The ship drew into the port at last. The deck hands rushed to throw ropes over the side, drawing the ship finally to rest in the heart of the docks ahead. A few tenuous streams of black smoke rose from the heart of the city, twisting towards the morning sky.
They had arrived in Norrisea.