Judging by his ungainly stance, I'd say he's a mariner pining for the sea.
It's a sailor.
It's captain Horatio Nebevay of the White Dragon.
It's a small ship, or boat. I don't know the difference. Is there a difference?
It's a small ship.
It's the White Dragon, apparently the fastest vessel there ever was, although I'm guessing that'll be kinda difficult to prove.
It's the White Dragon.
Assorted cargo.
It's a seagull.
Ahoy there, matey!
Pardon?
Isn't that how you sailors greet each other?
No.
What do you say, then?
Usually "hello". And if it's sunny, "nice day for it". We might even try a "how are you today, then?", if we're feeling adventurous.
But never, ever "ahoy".
This is valuable information.
Aye, matey, that it be.
Nice day for it.
Not really, no.
How are you today, then?
Like you care.
Hello.
Uh-huh.
Why aren't you out at sea?
Do you see the sail on that barge over there?
Yes?
Is it flapping?
What?
Is it flapping? Is the sail flapping in the wind?
Uhm...no?
And why is that, then?
Because...because it's not...windy?
Exactly.
Well, can't you just use oars or something?
Oh, what an excellent idea! Now why didn't we think of that? Of course -- oars! By Jaal's stunted left arm, that's it!
Are you being sarcastic?
Sarcastic? Me? What in Jaal's name makes you think that?
How long's it been since the last wind?
Near a month. Ever since that accursed alchemist put some kind of spell on the wind.
Thanks for the chat.
Aye.
Why have we been moored to the dock for a month, with our merchandise dropping in value, when we could've just rowed our way to Ge'en?
...but not one has returned. Now the Ayrede High Council speak of sending an entire army platoon to sort him out, but I'm afraid that just might piss him off.
Is this "The White Dragon"?
That's what the big, white letters on the prow spell out. What do you think?
I'm looking for the captain. Is he around?
What would you with the captain of "The White Dragon"?
I have a delivery for him. A map, from the map merchant at the temple market.
Aye, I be captain Horatio Nebevay of "The White Dragon", fastest vessel there ever was.
Did you ever hear of the mermen of the Sea of Songs?
You mean the bloodthirsty cannibal mermen of the Sea of Songs?
That's it.
Never heard of 'em.
Are you sure you've never heard of the mermen of the Sea of Songs?
Be...quiet! Shhh. Not so loud.
Do you know anything about a god that fell from the sky into the sea?
Of course. You find fallen gods most everywhere these days. They're an aren a hand.
Really?
No. Of course not. There are no fallen gods in the sea. It wouldn't make much sense, would it, if the sea was full of gods just...lying about the seabed?
So you've never heard of such a thing happening?
Now you got it.
Can you give me a lift to Ge'en on your ship?
There are three problems with that scenario.
Number one, there's no wind, so we can't set sail south.
And number three...you're a woman. We don't let women on board "The White Dragon".
Isn't that a bit sexist?
Sexy is just what I worry about, what with a boatful of men being out at sea for months at a time.
Not "sexy", "sexist".
I'm a sailor, girl. What do you expect, good bedside manners?
I'd really appreciate it if I could hitch a ride with you to Ge'en.
Ain't gonna happen. Sorry.
Hand the map over, girl. With Jaal's blessing, the wind will return soon, and I can leave this accursed harbor for sunnier shores.
The Mo-Jaal be cursed if I know why, but it's a bloody catastrophe. I've sent some good people of mine up north to deal with him...
Who's this alchemist who cast a spell on the wind?
I believe his name is Klacks. Roper Klacks. Lives in a bloody rock somewhere up north, beyond Riverwood.
What's up with the shushing?
Legend says that if you speak openly of the bloodthirsty cannibal mermen of the Sea of Songs, they will hunt you down until they've caught you and devoured you.
And you believe this legend?
No, I'm just trying to scare you off.
Do you know the island of Alais?
The vacation paradise of the ancient Dolmari? Certainly.
How do I get there?
It's near the Bristan Atoll, but boats rarely travel directly to Bristan from Marcuria. You'd have to travel via Ge'en.
Number two, I lost my navigator a few weeks past, and I have yet to find his replacement.
You know old Umber Ianos, don't you?
Bye.
Thank you. Here's an aren for your trouble.
Please sign for my delivery.
No.
I'm ready to play some music, if you're ready to sign.
Aye, go on, but don't stop until I'm done signing, or the Mo-Jaal will surely wreak vengeance on us both!
Done. Here you go...and don't ever ask me to sign anything ever again.
I can pretty much guarantee you that.
Sign this, please.
What is it?
I need your signature to confirm that you've received the map.
Map? What map?
The one I just gave you!
Oh, that one. Sorry, I never put my signature on a piece of paper.
Sign it, or I'll kill you.
Please sign it, or I won't get paid.
Why not?
Brings bad luck to give a piece of yourself in that manner. A signature has untold powers, it's part of your soul. I can't sign away my soul.
With what? A cross look? Hurtful words? Lots of yelling and shouting?
I'll have my friends in the Marcurian Mafia pay you a visit.
The Marcurian what?
Please just sign the damn thing, would you?
Sorry, but it brings bad luck to give a piece of yourself in that manner. A signature has untold powers, it's part of your soul. I can't sign away my soul.
I just gave you an aren. That should be enough to cover it, aye?
Forget the money, that's not why I need your signature. I need you to sign so that I can keep my job and hopefully find a way home.
Sorry, but it brings bad luck to give a piece of yourself in that manner. A signature has untold powers, it's part of your soul. I can't sign away my soul.
Who told you that signing a slip of paper is bad for your soul?
I'm from Ge'en, and we're a spiritual people. Our souls are in balance with our bodies, and the great Mo-Jaal has taught us not to endanger this balance.
I'll be back.
I don't doubt it for a second.
You can't write, can you?
Pardon?
And that's why you choose to make my life difficult?
Hey, blame organized religion.
That's what this is all about. You can't write.
Signing my name, giving a piece of myself in that manner, breeds corruption and imbalance within. And it pisses the Mo-Jaal off no end.
Uh...so what? So what if I can't write? So what if I was born at sea and never spent more than a month ashore ever since?
I still won't sign your accursed paper, by Jaal!
Look, all you have to do is sign an "X" next to your name on the list.
You can't trick the great Mo-Jaal. The Mo-Jaal's untrickable.
That's not trickery. It's legally binding.
I said no.
Is there anything I can do to get you to sign?
No. Well, yes. But...no.
I'll be back.
Look, captain, I'm desperate here. I really, really need some kind of signature.
Well... There's always music.
What's music got to do with you signing my list?
Nothing. But it distracts the Mo-Jaal.
What are you talking about? Why would you need to distract the...the Mo-Jaal?
I can't sign when there's a chance the Mo-Jaal is watching. Music distracts the Mo-Jaal. Ergo, I can sign.
But doesn't that mean the Mo-Jaal is always distracted? I mean, there's always music somewhere in the world.
The Mo-Jaal has an eye and a ear for every acolyte, and straying from the path can bring great wrath upon us.
Granted, I know very little of the Mo-Jaal. But seriously, maybe you should look into alternative religions?
Blasphemy! Besides, I only have to visit the temple once every two years, and the membership fees are quite reasonable.
So if I play you some music, you'll sign?
Aye. I'll give you that much.
The old drunk? Aye, he be a good captain once, but ever since he lost his ship he hasn't been much worth to anyone.
Be that as it may, you do owe him a favor, right?
Uh...aye, that I do. He saved my life more than once, and I wouldn't be captain of this beautiful lady if it weren't for him.
Guess what -- I'm here to cash in on that favor.
Jaal be damned, what did you for the old geezer? Promise him your hand in marriage?
Don't you mind that, old boy, just get ready to sail south. You're giving me a lift to the island of Alais. I mean, since you're already heading for Ge'en.
I am? That could prove a little tricky.
How come?
For one, there is no wind. That accursed alchemist up north has put some kind of spell on the wind.
Klacks, I believe his name is. Roper Klacks. Lives in a bloody rock somewhere beyond Riverwood. As long as he's got his dirty claws on the wind, this vessel ain't going nowhere.
Then there's a little problem with my crew. I can't very well leave the harbor without a navigator, and my last one decided he didn't much care for the sea anymore and went off to marry a serving maid.
But...okay, let's say I manage to free the wind and find you a new navigator. Then will you drop me off on Alais?
I need to visit the Alatien people, to listen to some of their stories.
What's with Alais anyhow? It's been deserted for hundreds of years, ever since the Dolmari fell victim to the Great Plague.
Hah! You think you will be able to defeat Klacks, free the wind, and find me a new navigator? By Jaal's pus-filled left eye, if you do such a trick, then aye, I'll take you wherever you wish to go!
Most likely they'll be holding your funeral within the week, girl (laughs). Just leave the madman be, and let the army deal with him.
Never you mind, as long as you keep your promise and take me to Alais.
As if there aren't stories enough here. Huh. It takes all sorts, that be for sure.
You're still planning on honoring our agreement, aren't you?
Aye. But I got my safe money on you ending up in a casket before this week is past. Leave the madman be, and go back to delivering maps.
Say what you want, but we'll be leaving for Alais soon.
Captain Nebevay?
Huh?
Finally! We are ready, and we must away before it's too late. We still have another six or seven hours of daylight today. Come, come aboard!
Did I tell you how much I hate water?
No.
Well, remind me to tell you sometime.
Oh, it's just you. Where've you been?
Where have I...don't you remember? I went north to find Roper Klacks and get him to release the wind!
Oh. Aye. You know, the wind did pick up mysteriously last night, but...
...but what?
I don't trust it to not die down in a few hours, or at the most, a day or two.
But I destroyed the alchemist! I even set his prisoners free from the rock they were trapped in, destroyed the soul stone, sailed back here in his floating castle, and...and...you don't believe a word of it, do you?
Not a word.
Great.
Oh, it's just you...again. What do you want?
I did defeat Roper Klacks!
Uh-huh. Do you have his severed head somewhere on you?
I beat him, I didn't say I killed him.
Of course you didn't.
Can we set sail for the Alais now?
Well, the wind has picked up a bit, but I don't trust the good weather to last. I don't want to be sitting dead in the water come tomorrow afternoon, so I'll wait a few days more.
Thanks for nothing.
I got something you want.
What? Well, out with it, girl -- what is it?
Oh, nothing. You do remember our deal, don't you?
Aye. Uh, remind me what the deal was again?
That if I defeated Roper Klacks and brought the wind back, you'd give me a lift to the Isle of Alais.
(chuckles) Sure. The day I see a girl like you bring down a powerful alchemist like Klacks is the day I hire a woman to be my navigator.
Well, look at this.
By the Balance, girl, that's strong grog you got there. What is it, Tyren spice wine?
It's the wind. Watch this.
Sweet Jaal, that's a strong wind! You got some mighty powerful magic there, girl.
And there's more where that came from.
Care to share some of it with us? With that magic...we could make good time to Ge'en, pick up a cargo full of apples, and be back here before the competition got, heh, wind of what was happening.
Sure. If you give me a ride to Alais, as promised.
Balance be cursed, women aboard, when will it ever end... Jaal's bowels, be here by this afternoon, or we'll sail without you.
As if you'll get far without my wind magic. And you did say something about hiring a female navigator?
Damnation! Do you insist on remembering every little thing I say, girl? Don't you know that Jaal has forbidden women from riding the waves?
Sounds like a bunch of sexist bullshit to me. But, it's your choice. I got the wind in my pocket, now you learn to treat women with a little respect.
I've run out of curses, girl. Jaal be damned, I am in desperate need of a navigator anyhow.
Not yet, I'm afraid. We're still waiting for the remainder of our cargo. Come back later. And don't forget to find me a navigator!
Are you ready to leave soon?
All right, all right -- you be here by this afternoon with your navigator. It's not as if I ever put much faith in the teachings of the drunken prophet Jaal myself...
