Chapter 1, Landing at Port Collins

[Chris1234]

Meran tries to jump onto land.

Jump (Athletics): [1d20+3] = 15+3 = 18

He then continues on towards the Manor House to the East where Miss Freya is waiting

[JadedDM]

"No need for debts," Jason says, shaking the sooty man's hand. "Just glad to help. But no need for us to be strangers now. I'm Jason Barker, nice to meet you."

[Rivi]

once mostly dry and a little warmer she gets up and walks over to the manor house

[mgbevan]

The group walks into the centre of Port Collins: Commonwealth Farm. They are greeted with the sights and sounds of this quaint yet busy little settlement. Tents and small wooden and canvas constructions serve as peoples' home, shelters, and workplaces. There doesn't appear to be any coherent system to how the tents are laid out, and in fact it appears that people just "up sticks and move house" quite literally here, if they want to get to know a new neighbour. People sit, stand or walk around, weaving, whittling wood or working on something. They also get a sense that the locals are excited for the new arrival of people. Rose, Meran and Sorin would note especially that there was no fear, resentment or prejudice being directed towards them by the locals. Rose was used to feeling like an outcast, but here she was looked upon as just another person. Meran too would have felt a difference comparing this new place to the Capital. Even though he wore the signs of a cleric of Aeros, the streets and even the temple of the Capital he would be looked down on or snubbed. Not here though.

Jason, Sorin and Rose gather around the campfire, while Meran makes his way towards the Manor House to find Miss Freya. The three huddle around the campfire along with the other passengers and locals. There is all kinds of happy chit chat at the locals that are already there as people get to know each other. They pass a bit of time drying their clothes and things and it seems to help since the campfire is quite big.

Jason shakes the big sooty hand of the man who he leans is "Graham, soon to be blacksmith of Port Collins." Replying with a deep voice, "Greta here is my wife" Graham says motioning to the hysterically crying mother from the boat, "Our two kids, Elsa and Kalle, which you saved, and finally my apprentice Opie" Referring to the teenage lad /Young-ish man. "We hope to be setting up here soon, with more wood people will need nails and metal tools and so on. So if you need something doing, we'll sort you and your friends out. We insist" Graham says nodding at Jason's armour.

A local asks Sorin, "That's magic then, nice!" Referring to the hand drying one of his garments. "Couple other's here that do that, or so I believe. Most just go by explaining the weird things happening here are the 'Will o' Wovara' " adding with a little chuckle. "And your friend is a bit loopy hey?" Turning to Rose, the local asks slowly but kindly, "Hello there, how are you today? You should meet Mr Wilson, he talks to himself too. We're so happy to have you a part of our village so just ask if you need some help okay?"

Meran makes his way East to the Manor House. Arriving at it he finds it is a large wooden building with a dominating facade in comparison to the rest of Port Collins, at least eight windows wide and two floors tall. Some splashes of red and white paint have been painted onto the wood as samples for the final design. Mounting the steps to the grand doorway, Meran finds himself in an entrance hall. Stairs lead both up and down, doors lead left and right, while straight ahead is a reception desk where a slim woman with long black braided hair is working, writing on papers with quill and ink. Fair skin, sharp facial features and blue eyes scanning her papers through thin spectacles. When Meran steps through the door she speaks at him with a French sounding accent, "On time, however there are supposed to be more of you, explain." Her eyes not once leaving the papers she is thoroughly investigating.

[Chris1234]

"I'm Meran. May I know your name?" Meran answered, neither phased nor intimidated; merely oblivious.

After listening to any reply, he continues, "Yes, as requested I came straight here after getting off the boat. A human child fell in the water. We rescued him. The others got wet and are drying around a fire. I didn't get wet as I didn't go into the water."

[Rivi]

rose raises an eyebrow a little to the kind yet somewhat patronizing words "thank you." it was one of the nicer ways people dealt with her when she slipped up on hiding the darkness constant questions "i will look out for this Mr Wilson" with that she heads over to the manor house

[JadedDM]

"Glad to meet you all," he says to the family. "I'm sure we'll see a lot of each other, and it's always good to meet the neighbors." He ruffles the hair of Kalle. "And maybe I can give you some swimming lessons some day. Always a good skill to have when living on an island, right?"

Saying his goodbyes to them, he then heads to the manor after realizing that the dwarf had just left without them. When he arrives, he nods politely to the woman. "You must be Ms. Freya. I'm Jason Barker, a pleasure to meet you."

[Nocturno]

"Yes magic, I know a bit, mostly though I am an entertainer through and through." Sornin will chuckle at Rose, and the loopy comment.

"Glad to meet you smith family." he will give a hug to the boy. "We shall look you up to see how everyone is settling."

He will then follow the rest of the group to the house.

[mgbevan]

The family and local bid their temporary farewells and the others make their way to the Manor House.

In the Manor House, the woman continues "I see, making good impressions with the community, good. It helps get everyone acquainted. " without looking up from her papers, making it difficult to determine whether she was actually addressing Meran or thinking aloud. Finally looking up to the dwarf she asks, "And who exactly is 'we'?"

At that moment, Rose, Sorin and Jason enter through the grand doorway into the reception room. To Jason's introduction the woman replies, "Indeed i am miss Freya, Leftenant Barker. Very good." she says with a smile, clearly pleased with something. Continuing rapidly, "Now that you are assembled, your task tomorrow will be to escort a very important guest from the capital. A cartographer. Take them where they need to go so that they can make their navigational calculations and ensure that no harm comes to them. The woods can be dangerous and I will take no risks on tarnishing this community or Lord Collins reputation. Your pay remains as initially stated in the contract. You may lodge here in the Manor house alongside the others. The ship from the capital will arrive around sunrise, you should meet our guest on the jetty. Is anything unclear?" This barrage of information came quickly, her french accent not slowing down one bit.

[Chris1234]

"What was the pay again?" asks Meran.

[JadedDM]

Jason returns the woman's smile, although he isn't certain what it was for, and then listens to what she has to say. He had expected the 'important person' would be more than a cartographer. Perhaps a member of the royal family or something like that. But a job is a job, and duty is duty, and he is no less eager to earn his twenty five gold pieces. "You can count on me, Ms. Freya. I won't let you or Lord Collins down."

He was going to say she could count on 'us' and that 'we' won't let them down, but he didn't feel right speaking for the others. Sornin seemed irreverent, Rivi appeared a little 'out there', and Meran apparently had no idea where he was, whom he was speaking to, or even why he was here. When the dwarf admits he doesn't even know how much the pay for this job was for, he actually feels embarrassed for the dwarf. Who takes a job without first checking the pay? Although he doesn't particularly trust Aerosians, he decides to speak up to spare the acolyte some embarrassment. "Haha, what a kidder you are, Meran!" he slaps the dwarf on the back playfully, hoping their employer will think Meran is just joking.

Jason then shakes his head to Ms. Freya. "No questions, ma'am. Seems a simple enough job. I look forward to meeting this cartographer."

[Nocturno]

Sornin gets the impression that this is not the time to over do it but he can't help himself.

With a flourish of his cape, and an exceptionally deep bow. "My lady! My name is Sornin. Sornin the Extravagant! Was our Mark on the trip with us?"

[mgbevan]

Miss Freya's eyes narrow at the Dwarf's comment before returning to her papers, giving no indication whether she was placated by Jason's cover up. She scribbles a few notes before speaking, "No, the cartographer will arrive around first light tomorrow, on a ship, meet them at the jetty." Apparently she had been listening though she makes no attempt to look at or otherwise address Sorin. With a swipe of her quill on parchment, Miss Freya concludes, "You may stay in the room to your right with the Timber Men. One need not worry about their possessions' security or safety here, I have them very, well trained. And let that serve as a notice that thievery or tomfoolery is not on my list of tolerances." The last sentence spoken with deliberate vigour and poise, Miss Freya make the effort to lock eyes with Each of Meran, Rose, Sorin and Jason while leaning forward on her desk imposingly.

Checking a small timepiece in her pocket Miss Freya adds "Now, I suggest you enjoy your evening. The Timber Men will be back any minute now."

[JadedDM]

"Right, well I'm sure you have a lot of work to do, so we'll just get out of your hair then, ma'am," Jason says. Turning to the others, he says, "What say we check out the town, do some shopping, make some new friends. Then meet up at the Shanty Tavern this evening?"

[Chris1234]

Meran says nothing, apparently subdued, and just follows Jason, avoiding anyone's eyes.