Second Session 8th - 21st Nuzyael 720

Where we follow the vicissitudes of a separate viking pHarn Down Under ...

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Second Session 8th - 21st Nuzyael 720

Postby Neil » Sun Apr 30, 2006 10:07 pm

8th Nuzyael

The rain contined all night and into the morning.

The day broods ill with a thunderstorm starting around 4am.

The group assembles at the docks to make preparations to put to sea at around 6am with the thunderstorm still raging. The pilot orders the crew to remain at their stations for the storm will abate soon.

The thunderstorm has delayed the departure of the “Ghostrider”.

By 7am the storm has died off the wind has kept up its steady force but the rain and clouds hang around. With the starboard watch on duty, the day begins to warm up and once the storm has died down the captain gives the order “Remove the lines” and then turning to his bosun says “Tell the crew to unship oars.” The bosun turns to the crew on deck and with a booming voice yells “Crew unship your oars.”

By 8am with the rain still falling the ‘Ghostrider’ has slipped it’s mooring and has left Hilzstrom behind. The ‘Ghostrider’ makes it’s way smoothly out of Horkofjord and into a field of islands. Turaas guides the vessel skillfully through the obstacles.

The rain stops around midday while the crew still man the oars. The temperature increasing as men strip to their bare chests and sweat starts to build.

By 4pm the rain has started again at first just a drizzle but building into in steady downpour.

All through the night the rain continues.

9th Nuzyael

The rain continues to fall until around 4am when the clouds begin to break revealing the beginnings of a majestic sunrirse. At around the time the rain ceases Turaas orders the oars shipped and the sails unfurled.

The rain returns again 8am and continues through to midday.

The sails remain full until 8pm when the wind dies off and Turaas again orders the sails furled and the oars unshipped.

The crew only row until 8pm when the wind picks up again and Turaas has the sail unfurled again and in the steady wind the ship again makes good speed. The increase in wind also drops the temperature down to freezing as the off duty crew draw their blankets tighter around themselves.

10th Nuzyael

The night remains clear allowing a clear view of the night sky. The freezing night temperature causes numbness in the fingers of the on duty crew and they fatigue quickly.

The day remains clear but cold and by 8am a storm is brewing and the ‘Ghostrider’ is sailing straight into it. The wind picks up but the skies remain clear.

Although the ship remains at 1/4 sail for the next 12 hours the crew fight the conditions and through the efforts of the crew and the master pilot the ‘Ghostrider’ emerges unscathed.

By 8pm the winds have dropped off but remain steady and Turaas orders full sail to be used.

11th Nuzyael

The night is clear and with few clouds about to obstruct the sky. The freezing temperatures turn the crew's breath to mist as they work about the ship.

By 8am the winds have picked up again and Turaas orders the sails reduced to 1/4 sail. The storm passes quickly and without event.

After the storm has passed the winds die off and mist begins to build and the temperature drops suddenly. Turaas order the sails left at 1/4 for fear of a collision with another vessel, although no other vessel has been seen since for several days.

The day remains cold and the crew work to remain warm.

After several hours of sailing through the mist, the mist burns off, Turaas orders full sail to be unfurled again. The ‘Ghostrider’ picks up speed and begins to cut her way through the water.

Around 11pm a lookout calls “Ship Ho. Signal lanterns to starboard, Master Pilot.”

All eyes turn to the lookout's warning.

The crew watch the other vessel for about 30 minutes before the lights disappear from view...

12th Nuzyael

Around midnight the clouds begin to gather and the wind pick up as it appears another strong wind is about to blow in. Turaas order 1/2 sail to be furled. There are some quizzical looks as it appears that too much sail in a storm could bring disaster.

Ghostrider handles the storm for several hours when it looks like it is getting worse when Turaas order the oars unshipped and sail furled. As the storm continues for another 4 hours.

The next four hours give a reprieve to the crew as ahead more storm clouds can be seen gathering. Soon the next 16 hours are spent at the oars trying to keep the vessel afloat.

13th Nuzyael

The storm continues to rage. Around 2am the ‘Ghostrider’ has taken on alot of water and there is a moment of terror when the vessel suffers some rigging damage.

The storm intensifies into a gale from 4am until midday when light showers begin to fall around 8am and continue until around 8pm, meanwhile the crew battles to keep the ship afloat.

No further damage is sustained during the gale.

The day is spent in more sedate condition except for the showers which keep falling. By 8pm the showers have stopped but a mist has built up.

The crew are exhausted after an frightful day on the oars and by midnight the flooding has been repaired and some repair work has been done on the rigging. Although some damage still remains.

14th Nuzyael

Through the night the mist turns into showers.

At 4am a gale begins blowing again with the showers falling and the clouds closing in over the ‘Ghostrider’

The winds drop off a little but still blow strong, causing the vessel to take on more water, too much more of this and the vessel will founder. The rigging also suffers damage during this storm.

The storm continues until 8pm.

The storm dies down to a steady wind until midnight.

During this time most of the flooding has been repaired but the condition of the rigging was worse than expected. Although the ‘Ghostrider’ will still be able to make full sail if required.

15th Nuzyael

Just after midnight another mist begins to form. Turaas realising that the vessel is damaged and has spent the last 2 days just fighting off the storms orders full sail against the prostestations of his junior.

At 4am the winds dies off completely and the crew are forced to take to the oars again.

Most of the day is spent with the crew at the oars as another storm builds at around 8am and then builds to a crescendo of a gale at midday.

During the gale the ‘Ghostrider’ suffers more damage to the rigging while taking on more water.

The winds die down to a steady wind again around 4pm and Turaas orders full sail and the crew begin to conduct repairs, but throughout the watch a little headway is made with the repairs to the rigging.

Another storm forces the repair work to be cancelled. The crew spend the rest of the night fighting to keep the vessel afloat.

More flooding occurs and the rigging is continued to be stressed by these conditions.

16th Nuzyael

Just after midnight through the mist a signal light can be seen to the stern of the ‘Ghostrider’.

It appears to be getting closer when the lights disappear.

Turaas has been called as he watches the lights disappear he orders the ‘Ghostrider's’ lights extinguished, the off duty crew is called to arms and a slight change to course is made. Turaas turns to the crew and whispers “Not a noise you hear me, I will have the next man to make noise thrown overboard.”

In the mist the crew can faintly see the silhouette of another warboat cutting through the water. No sooner had it appeared than it vanished in the mist.

The storm continues through to 4am with the vessel continuing to flood and the rigging damage worsens.

By 4am the storm has abated and the wind has died off completely with a mist building. Turaas orders full sail to allow the crew to effect repairs.

Turaas is overheard saying “If we take on this much water again we will surely sink...”

Throughout the day the wind remains weak allowing full sails to be unfurled and the crew working throughout the day reduce some of the flooding and most of the rigging being repaired.

The mist remains throughout the day and night

17th Nuzyael

By 8am the crew have fully repaired the rigging and stopped the flooding.

The wind remains light throughout the day gusting to steady winds later in the afternoon and evening.

The ‘Ghostrider’ remains at full sail all day as it sails through patches of mist until 8pm when showers begin to fall.

18th Nuzyael

During the night the winds pick up but the showers remain until midday.

Just before midday the winds die off completely and a mist builds.

After midday the winds build to a storm and Turaas orders 1/2 sail again. The ‘Ghostrider’ survives the 8 hour storm unscathed.

Light winds drive the vessel towards Orbaal through to midnight.

19th Nuzyael

The winds pick up slightly after midnight and Turaas orders full sail unfurled for the first time in nearly 24 hours.

By midday a sleet has developed and through the sleet one of the watch yells “Land off the port beam, Master Pilot” with that all eyes turn to that direction and through the sleet land can be seen in the distance.

Turaas making his way forward on the boat yells to the crew “Welcome to Orbaal, our voyage is nearly over and you have all done an excellant job, no slacking yet we still have a way to go though.” and with a smile he returns to the stern of the ship.

The crew spend the rest of the day on the oars driving through patches of sleet and clear weather.

By 8pm rain has started falling and continues all through the night....

20th Nuzyael

The rain has continued to fall unabated.

The rain continues to fall as the wind picks up into a gale as you are passing the coastline and about to enter a mighty fjord.

By 8am another gale has started to brew for the next 8 hours the ‘Ghostrider’ is hammered by the wind and water. Through a mastery of the ship and excellent seamanship the 'Ghostrider' remains unscathed in the confines of the fjord during these conditions.

Flooding is again reported and damage to the rigging is sustained.

During the gale Mirn Alvain looses his footing while going about some duty assigned him and falls heavily to the floor.

His left shoulder begins to show signs of bruising almost immediately.

He is taken to the stern of the vessel and make as comfortable as possible given the current conditions.

By midday the storm has abated and the crew attempt to make repairs to the vessel. No repairs were effected before the ‘Ghostrider’ made the port of Geldeheim.

With the rain easing into showers you arrive around 4pm with the sun low in the western sky.

Turaas ensures that the ‘Ghostrider’ is firmly tied off and orders that 10 men remain aboard and then turns to the others and says “I would suggest finding suitable accomodation in town somewhere for I do not know how long we will be here. We shall assemble here tomorrow at midday”.

With that the crew eagerly depart the vessel and make their way into the town.....

The warband arrives in Geldeheim just before sunset and seek out a place to stay the night that does not rock and sway with the sea and no rain will fall on them.

As the warband makes it way up the dock a well-dressed man makes his way down the dock. The warband ask this man for the location of an inn, pointing over his right shoulder he indicates a building with a fence around it some several hundred yards away.

Turaas on seeing this mans arrival calls out “Hjald you sea dog it has been a long time.” The harbourmaster excuses himself from the warband and makes his way towards the 'Ghostrider'. With that Turaas moves towards this man and gives him a mighty handshake the warband notices that Turaas hands over a small pouch to this stranger.

The warband make their way to the inn. This inn Harabo’s Net is well lit by rushlights, a fire burns in the hearth and only several patrons custom here.

As the warband find some seating at a nearby bench a man makes his way to the table and offers them food and drink which they heartily enjoy.

Within 20 minutes this establishment is humming with all the sailors from the ‘Ghostrider’. The warband quickly make arrangements to stay the night. All but Kjarl stay in the common room while Kjarl arranges for a private room with a bath.

As the warband sit back and enjoy their meal they notice that a man has been sitting with each group of men from the ship chatting with them for a while and then moving on. It is not long before the stranger has introduced himself to the warband as ‘Ran’. The warband finds out that he is merely catching up on world news, which he will pass on to his Lord. He sits with the warband for several minutes chatting away about events in Ivinia before Atol offends the man and he departs the table in favour of kinder conversation.

Atol has been drinking enjoying the fact that he is dry and not about to drown. Stands on his table and declares “For Sarajin” as he launches himself at a group of nearby sailors.

The 5 sailors launch into the fray while everyone around steps back to give them room. The 5 men bring Atol to the ground destroying the nearby table and benches, as the brawlers rumble on the floor Atol throws off 3 of his attackers and is able to stand. The smallest man in the group lands a fierce blow on Atol’s right shoulder, Atol then sends a flurry of blows landing several on his attackers before they too land blows to his belly sending him reeling. Atol is knocked unconcious. The fight ending not more than 20 seconds or so after it started.

Anvil steps in apologising for his friends behaviour but the other brawlers have taken no offence and seemed to enjoy the event.

The warband take the now unconcious Atol upstairs to the common room where Kalyn treats his wounds with cold compresses.

While Atol lies unconcious the innkeeper Harabo enters the common room and places a slip of parchment in Atol’s unconcious hand. Kalyn taking the parchment from his hand notices that it is a bill for 80d for the broken furniture. Kjarl taking this parchment sees Harabo and makes restitution for the damages.

Anvil tries to follow Ran to see what he is up to. Ran makes his way along the path through the town towards another building which is later found out to be another inn ‘The Boot’.

Anvil is able to make his way back to ‘Harabos Net’ before Harabo closes and locks the door for the night.

A restful sleep is had by all and sundry.

21st Nuzyael

The warband awakes early in the morning and Atol gingerly nurses several bruises as the warband makes it way downstairs to break their fast.

With the crew to meet down by the ‘Ghostrider’ at midday the warband set off to find out a little more about the town of Geldeheim.

Kalyn visits the town physician and restocks her supplies of bandages.

Raan takes the opportunity to wander around the town with members of the ‘Ghostriders’ crew.

Kjarl makes his way to the shipwrights and meets with the shipwright and asks if he has a position available for a journeyman. After checking Kjarl’s credentials he politely informs him that he has no such positions available but he has heard that the shipwright at Sherwyn is looking for such a person.

Anvil and Atol make their way up to ‘The Boot’ and on entering the inn notice that Ran is seated at a bench by himself. Anvil moves over to Ran’s table where he is invited to join him. Atol stands at the bar and makes conversation with the staff.

During this conversation they discover that Ran has arrived in Geldeheim several days earlier but they learn nothing more from the chat. Anvil’s questions are skillfully dodged so that answers are given without giving an answer.

On leaving the inn Atol makes his way to the temple of Sarajin where he spends most of the morning in quiet contemplation. While Anvil finds out where some of the more ‘friendlier’ women can be found in town.

At midday the warband makes it's way toward the dock where the crew have already started to assemble. A little after midday Orin the herald and several huscarls can be seen walking down the path from the castle.

Once they arrive at the docks Orin yells to the assembled crew “The King has not yet been able to grant me an audience so we shall be here till at least tomorrow, so till then go about your business and I will see you here tomorrow at midday.”

At the end of the meeting the warband makes it’s way back to ‘Harabos Net’ as they sit around the hearth fire which has just been stacked with wood, Orin approaches the group while Kjarl is away. He sits down with the group and says “Our Valhakar deems it a good idea for Kjarl to remain in Orbaal to continue his training as a shipwright. You have been his closest kinsman for more than 5 years so my Valhakar has asked me to ask you to remain in Orbaal with him. My Valhakar has also instructed me to tell you that while you watch over his nephew he shall watch over your clan members.”

Kalyn, Anvil and Raan both eagerly agree, while Atol remains unconvinced.

Orin catching Atol alone continues the conversation with him “Know young huscarl, that by accepting this offer you will be doing more to protect your clan than you know. If you were to return to your clan you are but a single warrior, my Valhakar has hundreds of warriors at his call. Can fight as hundred warriors, I do not doubt your courage or your skill young huscarl but are you a hundered men. Think on this tonight and give me your answer in the morning”

As the entire warband sits at a table and bench in the inn Ran appears and seeing Anvil and Atol makes his way over to their table.

Ran is invited to join the warband, where he sits down and joins the warband in conversation. On hearing that they will be staying in Orbaal Ran looks over his shoulders suspiciously and then leaning towards the warband whispers “I have some work for you if you are interested?”

The warband warily agrees to listen to his offer.

“There is someone in Sherwyn that my Valhakar needs removing, if you understand my meaning. I trust Anvil and if he trusts you to be his companions then I to trust you. You understand that no one must know of this and that it stays between you and I.”

There is disagreement among the warband about whether this employment is really what is needed. Kjarl informs the warband that he has heard that the shipwright in Sherwyn needs a journeyman and that he could fill that position.

Ran tells the warband that Sherwyn is an oppressive and dangerous place and things need to be made right he does not go into more details at this time but informs Kjarl that no such position exsists but if they were to perform this task then maybe arrangements could be made for him. He offers the warband to stay in Sherwyn for a tenday and see for themselves if they are not interested in taking on the task they will be free to go as long as they remain silent.

The warband ask how to get to Sherwyn, Ran tells them that they could seek passage from Geldeheim or they might make their way to Pled and seek passage from there, passage might be somewhat cheaper from Pled. Anvil says "To Pled it is...."

With that the warband agree to at least visit. Ran makes conversation for a while longer then excuses himself. Making arrangements to meet with the warband tomorrow morning. Before leaving he hands the warband a beltpouch containing coins.
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Neil
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Location: Sydney, Australia

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