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[seaboards]

Welcome to the first Test Drive Meme for escordvi! Anyone can participate in the test drive, regardless of invite eligibility. Just keep in mind that only those who have received invitations from the mods can actually reserve on August 25th and apply on September 1st. Our Interest Check can be found here.

For your toplevel, please include the following: Character Name | Canon | Armada Choice. If undecided, put "Undecided" for the Armada.

For everyone's convenience, TDM threads can be carried over in game if you wish! If you are still unsure which armada to place your character, you can play it a bit loose and vague in the TDM and make retroactive changes if you carryover the threads. We'll have more armada focused prompts in the opening log in September. The log itself is set to cover the next two weeks, until the end of the month. Characters will appear at random intervals during this time rather than all at once, so players have some more flexibility on how much more adjusted they are for someone else.

IMPORTANT REMINDER FOR MAGIC USERS!! All magic abilities will be "sealed" until characters get their tattoo from the Inkwave parlor in Eltrut. That means no magic on the starter ships before docking.

We do require TDM threads for samples for our application!

If you have any question about the TDM, comment here. If you have questions about the game in general, please comment to the Game Info.

TOPLEVEL DIRECTORY (Updated August 28)

Avatar: The Last Airbender - Mai | Undecided
Azur Lane - Bremerton | Paladin
Azur Lane - Enterprise | Paladin
Baldur’s Gate 3 - Astarion | Corsair
Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night - Miriam | Paladin
Critical Role - Percy DeRolo | Paladin
Dragon Age 2 - Fenris | Corsair
Dungeons and Dragons: Honour Among Thieves - Xenk Yendar | Paladin
Fate/Grand Order - Edward Teach | Corsair
Final Fantasy V - Faris Scherwiz | Corsair
Final Fantasy VII - Aerith Gainsborough | Undecided
Final Fantasy VII - Cloud Strife | Paladin
Final Fantasy VII - Nanaki/Red XIII | Paladin
Final Fantasy VII - Reno | Corsair
Final Fantasy VII - Zack Fair | Paladin
Final Fantasy VIII - Laguna Loire | Paladin
Final Fantasy X-2 - Rikku | Undecided
Final Fantasy XII - Ashe | Corsair
Final Fantasy XIV - G’raha Tia | Corsair
Final Fantasy XVI - Benedikta Harman | Corsair
Final Fantasy XVI - Cidolfus Telamon | Corsair
Final Fantasy XVI - Clive Rosfield | Corsair
Final Fantasy XVI - Dion Lesage | Paladin
Final Fantasy XVI - Gav | Undecided
Final Fantasy XVI - Midadol Telamon | Corsair
Final Fantasy: Type-0 - Rem | Corsair
Forgotten Realms - Jarlaxle Baenre | Corsair
Friends at the Table: Twilight Mirage - Morning’s Observation | Corsair
Genshin Impact - Lyney | Corsair
Genshin Impact - Wanderer | Undecided
Good Omens - Aziraphale | Undecided
Granblue Fantasy - Eustace | Corsair
Guilty Gear - Ky Kiske | Corsair
Honkai Star Rail - March 7th | Paladin
Jujutsu Kaisen - Toge Inumaki | Corsair
Kingdom Hearts - Roxas | Paladin
The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker - Tetra | Paladin
Nimona - Nimona | Paladin
One Piece - Roronoa Zoro | Corsair
Overwatch - Reaper | Corsair
The Owl House - Gus Porter | Undecided
Pokemon - Professor Turo | Paladin
Samurai Jack - Ashi | Paladin
Shades of Magic - Alucard Emery | Paladin
Skies of Arcadia - Fina | Corsair
Star Wars Jedi: Survivor - Cal Kestis | Undecided
Stormlight Archive - Shallan Davar | Corsair
Sweetness and Lightning - Kotori Iida | Paladin
Tales of Berseria - Eizen | Corsair
Tales of Berseria - Velvet Crow | Corsair
Tales of Zestiria - Sorey | Undecided
Welcome Home - Julie Joyful | Corsair

STARTER SHIPS: ORIENTATION

There are two ships that serve as starting ships for each armada: Stormbringer for the Corsairs, and Royal Fortune for the Paladins. There are various ways new arrivals—or riftfarers as they will be called, among other creative names—will appear on or by these ships.

🚪 Random room. It could be empty, filled with crates or supplies; down in the hull where the livestock are kept; have the luck to awaken in a bed...or the misfortune of that bed already occupied; somewhere in the kitchens; in the bathroom—any room! Now let's hope the doors can open or someone may have to try and ask for help. Or jump through the porthole if there is one and it's above water.
⛵ On deck. If not in the ship itself, another possible spot to wake up to is somewhere on the maindeck. If they're lucky, they're on the deck itself. More unfortunate souls may find themselves caught in the sails or netting, the crow's nest, or on the top of the masts. Someone should be able to help, right? Or catch.
🌊 In the water. The most unlucky sods will find themselves appearing in mid-air just past the ship and plummeting straight into the water. Good news, there's always someone on the look out for such a thing and calls for help to throw a lifesaver get the rowboat will be made. Are there sharks? Well... ...Are there?

However the new riftfarers arrive, they will be poorly clothed, practically rags or loose uniforms depending on the ship. Fortunately, veteran crewmates will guide them, escorting them to a room with a strange typewriter in it. After typing their name, the typewriter will magically continue and type by itself at a fast pace until it dings and rolls out the paper. This paper will have the following information:

• Name and Shellphone ID (journalname)
• Armada (Corsair or Paladin, will match the starter ship)
• Cabin Number for their personal cabin on the starter ship
• Apartment Address for their personal address at their base armada location
• A basic map of the starting locations in Eltrut, including written directions (continued in the Eltrut section)
• A basic map of where they can find a chest with their original clothes and belongings (this will be different for every person and will be anywhere either on the starter ship or on Eltrut—players can be creative here).

After that, the crewmate will do their best to explain the basics of how they got here, what's going on, and what they'll need to do to live in Escordvi while they are here, giving them a small leather pouch with money. They will be reaching Eltrut soon, so the crewmate will suggest they look around, meet the others who have arrived. Even from their distance, they will be able to see the giant sea turtle that serves as Eltrut's leviathan.

ELTRUT: FIRST GLIMPSE

After reaching the port of Eltrut, several birdfolk will appear and happily greet all the new arrivals from both starter ships. Here it doesn't matter which side they are affiliated with, as long as they keep those swords and weapons sheathed and not pointed at each other's throats. The birdfolk will even act as guides, showing them the main places they should visit and give them a visitor's map to help guide them.

🐚 Microshell. The first stop that is encouraged will be Microshell, the main store to acquire their own personal Shellphone. The paper they received on their starter ship will have their ID and the staff at the store will set them up, explaining how the device and the network works.
✒️ Inkwave, Tattoo Parlor. The next stop is Inkwave, a tattoo parlor run by a very burly but friendly octopus, Knistej. Here everyone receives their own unique magic tattoo, allowing anyone to cast specific single element spells and other magic. Note: tattoos are required before anyone will be able to use their original magical abilities.
📜 MANTA office. The final stop is the MANTA office, where all the request, mission, and task notices are posted. Each armada has their own branch office for armada specific notices as well. A great place to find jobs to earn some cash so they don't stay a hobo forever.

It's a lot to take in for sure, with the port city bustling with all walks of life. Not only do they have both armadas mingling with each other, there are different races and species from all over Escordvi gathered here. It's not just humans, which many riftfarers always seem to be surprised about. There are also plenty of veteran riftfarers who will gladly give some advice and even share stories of their world. Maybe some are familiar.

After finding their belongings, exploring the town, and meeting other people, being able to just sit back and enjoy a drink and warm meal will be in order. While there are plenty of places to choose from, the Minstrel and Cask will be the top recommended tavern for all newcomers to visit at least once. Great drinks, great food, and can learn a lot from the patrons or meet more people.

Of course, as expected of a highly popular tavern, it's not always peaceful. A man will ask travelers what they want to do with their life. Clearly drunk, he only accepts answers that hint at wanting to find riches. If told this he will give out a treasure map. But if told anything else, he'll put up a fight, hoping to deliver a black eye. Those who do receive the map will be sorely disappointed—it will lead them down a long, winding, circuitous path around town and end at a random outhouse, likely occupied and certainly stinking to high heavens. There's likely some kind of moral here, but at some point, others who have been duped will return to the tavern to sling their fists around.

Looks like another tavern brawl for the night.

QUESTS

For those who want to try their hand at some quests, there are a few that would do well for newcomers. Teaming up is of course encouraged, no matter what the affiliation. You can assume they acquired some kind of ship for the quests out at sea, either the starter ship or some other ship heading out there.

Spicy Squid Eating Challenge

Eltrut Port

There is a traveling food ship (think food truck but on the water) that has been going around challenging ships to their extraordinary Hornswaggle's Spicy Squid Eating Challenge. If participants can scarf down a prepared three-pound bowl of exceptionally spicy ghost pepper squid and rice, they will win their meal for free as well as a crate of dried spicy squid for their ship's stores. If participants fail, they will have to pay for the meal and the crate.

...Careful, are some of the squid tentacles still moving?

Coral Reef Snacks

Eltrut

Rumour has it that certain types of coral reefs contain unique properties that can make you more alluring to the one you desire, but no one is sure what the side effects are. Test this out by trying to crunch into chunks of coral reef pieces to see if there are any added effects on your body. Hopefully, they don't ruin your teeth in the meantime.

Oh, and you have to find the correct coral reef too! Red chunks seem to make you more affectionate towards others, while blue chunks seem to make you more volatile towards others. Eaters, beware!

Giant Sea Slugs

Starter Ships

Giant sea slugs tend to only attack ships if they feel threatened but are otherwise peaceful creatures. They're about the size of a large wild cat. They also secrete a slime that contains strong disinfectant properties. This thick slime is highly sought after for its ability to heal wounds cleanly, so kill them and collect as much slime as possible.

Killer Sharkgulls

Eltrut port and ships

Seagulls can be a pain to most ships. Yet, seagulls that have evolved to be violently carnivorous can be even worse. These new birds, effectively named sharkgulls, have been seen attacking ships and ports alike. They are big enough to eat small children in one gulp or will do their best to eat full-grown humans after they've ripped them to bite-sized shreds. Beware and kill them before they can kill you!

Siren's Serenade

Out at Sea

A merchant's ship has crashed upon an outcropping of rocks after being lured in by a group of rogue sirens. These captivating creatures possess the power to ensnare their prey with their enchanting voices, luring unsuspecting souls into the depths to meet the grim fate of drowning.

Search for the missing ship and help rescue the captive sailors before it's too late! You will be supplied with special earplugs to muffle out the siren's voices so be careful to keep your ears effectively plugged. You don't want to succumb to the siren's bloodlust yourself.

Any sailors or rescuers affected by the siren's song can be treated with a harpy's potion that can reverse the song's effect. Or tie up the afflicted for twenty-four hours to wait out the effects.

Comments

Xenk Yendar | Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves | Paladin

[partybabysitter]

I. ARRIVAL:

[ Xenk Yendar arrived in the on the deck of the Royal Fortress. How long ago was this? With the way he carries himself, one might think it was ages ago. He stands at the starboard side of the ship, his posture immaculate, and his loose uniform making him look somehow more handsome -- like a character from a Balduran romance novel, washed ashore as the sole survivor to a deadly storm.

Casting his gaze along the side of the ship, Xenk leaps to action the moment he regains his bearings. He spots a person struggling in the water -- you, perhaps? -- and dives into the sea without hesitation, his dive graceful and practiced.

Xenk Yendar requires no Oath to do what is right. And he is, of course, an excellent swimmer. This dude has +8 to Athletics. ]

Fear not. [ With ease, he swims right up to the new arrival. ] Grab hold of me, and I will take us back to the ship.

II. INKWAVE TATTOO PARLOR

[ Even in rags, Xenk walks like a man in plate armor, taking longstrides up to the tattoo shop's proprietor and holding out his hand. Have you ever seen a Paladin introduce himself to an octpus? You will now. ]

Greetings and well met, noble Knistej! I am told you bear the means to restore my magic, and will do so without seeking recompense?

[ His eyes sparkle in admiration. A fellow noble soul! How wonderful! Knistej seems pretty nonplussed about this guy, but he gives him the spiel about the tattoos and tells him to think up something before meeting him in his chair to get started. ]

I see. And the appearance of the this tattoo is ours to choose? I must consider this.

[ He brings a hand to his chin as he considers this. already bears the mark of Thay on his forehead, he can't get much more conspicuous than that. ]

III. QUESTS

[ Xenk Yendar cannot in good conscience turn down a quest. Where there are people in need, Tyr decrees that he must provide succor. Which is why this is a bit of a Choose Your Own Adventure: ]

1. Spicy Squid:
[ Never one to be bested by so simple a challenge, Xenk can be found at the port, crunching on a piece of ghost pepper squid without even breaking a sweat. Is this guy even human? His bowl is empty. The people around him actually look a little concerned. ]

You must send my regards to chef Hornswaggle. His spices are delicious indeed.

[ He dabs his lips with a napkin, setting his empty bowl and utensils aside. ]

Now, was there more to this challenge, or shall I let the Royal Fortress know when to expect their shipment?

2. Killer Sharkgulls
[ You can assume he's regained his armor by now, because our man is decked in his proper half-plate, his longsword raised and ready to catch the sharkgull in its grasp. ]

Foul creatures, you will harm no others!

[ His stance is steady, his eyes nearly gleaming with intent. Finally! Killing monsters and protecting the weak is his life's purpose and it shows. ]

Come! You face Xenk Yendar, Paladin of Tyr!

bloodthirsty sharks i forgot to say this

[subigito]

[ Oh.

A paladin.

A paladin of Tyr.

Well, great! His work here is done!

Except, okay, I'm gonna be honest, he was about to eat one of these sharkgulls. And now he's gonna get caught by a fucking Paladin of Tyr.

Astarion sighs (quietly, to himself, from his position in the bushes) no dinner for him now, he guesses.

So he slides his way out of the bushes as if he was hiding from the sharkgulls not hiding to kill the sharkgulls. ]

Oh, praise the gods! Now that you're here, I won't have to hide. These creatures are simply dreadful! Who thought of putting two such things together? We're ever so lucky no one has tried this back in Baldur's Gate. The harbor would be in shambles!

[ Not exactly subtle but, I mean, paladin. It's +8 to athletics, not +8 to wisdom. ]

[partybabysitter]

[ Xenk glances sidelong at the elf. INSIGHT CHECK: SUCCEEDED. He lies, which is not to his favor, and he an air about him that reeks of death. It's not quite the same as that of Thay, but it is familiar in its own way. A creature stopped in time, steeped in blood and death.

A vampire? And in the sun? Interesting. Though Xenk is wary, the pale elf does not attack, thus Xenk will hold his blade. They share a common enemy, that should be all they need to find common ground, for now. Devotion is not exclusive to those who follow its tenets -- all are deserving of protection, until proven otherwise. ]

Indeed. The Lower City's struggles are numerous enough without the added threat of avian sharks.

[ He is 100% serious. Talk of Baldur's Gate means they share that knowledge as well. And so one of the birds shrieks and flies in to strike Xenk -- and is impaled with impunity on his blade, like it's truly no effort for him to do so.

But that's not all, of course. He's a paladin. The blade shines gold, brilliant light channeled through its glimmering runes. He drives it down once again, the searing blaze of a powerful Smite turning the sharkgull into a pile of bones and ash. ]

You must seek safety, if you are able, [ vampire, ] I have the matter well at hand.

[ There are like 3-4 of these left though, he might just need a hand once it's the rest of these guys' turn. ]

[subigito]

[ That smite seems pointed, doesn't it? Yes, yes it very much does. It would certainly have been enough to blind him, maybe give him a little 20 radiant damage as a treat if the tadpole weren't playing around with his insides. But as it is, he can simply look at it. As if it were nothing.

Incredible.

But that doesn't change the reality of this now pissed-off paladin, who he should have thought better of. You know what they say about assumptions! They make an ass of...somebody. Certainly not him.

He could leave! The Paladin told him he could, and he's not bound to stay here and help. But the Paladin is looking at him like he's two seconds from trying to turn undead, and that could get tricky. Mr. Goodytwoshoes could wander around town warning the locals about the vampire in their midsts.

So here's the plan: kill the sharkgulls, and then see if the Paladin will help him! And if he will not, he will simply kill him! Win-win!

Astarion pulls out his bow and rolls initiative. ]

This will only be a one time thing, just so you know.

[ The arrow flies from the bow as he says it, staring directly at the Paladin to make up for that very pointed smite that was directed at him. The arrow flies true, aided by the advantage of Xenk being right there, and also that Astarion hasn't been hit, and also, realistically, the blinding power of that stupid blaze.

He kills the sharkgull, is what I'm saying.]

[partybabysitter]

[ So long as Astarion is a good vampire and harms no innocents, he'll find an ally in Xenk Yendar :) He watches the elf draw his bow, grinning in approval as the arrow strikes true. ]

Your bravery is noted!

[ You see, they're off to a good start! Xenk has proven that he can completely unmake him, and Astarion has proven that he won't abandon his fellow man. For now! He is a curious vampire indeed, walking in the light, and refusing to shy away from the holy light in Xenk's blade. Curious indeed.

The sharkgulls take their turn, 2 of them descending on Xenk but finding no purchase as his half-plate and swift feet keep him safe from harm. One of them dives in to try and bite Astarion, but Xenk easily intervenes and holds the creature off (landing an attack of opportunity,) with a swift strike of his blade. ]

Water landing

[cursedwords]

[ Toge is very athletic really, but the big splash into the water, his surfacing and barely treading water - that athletic ability does not magic himself knowledge of being able to swim.

He's never really done that, and so while he can hang on, he's going to need help. He waves his hand a bit. He's right here please save him.

When he's directed to hang on and where it is he wants him to, he does so. Toge responds with a smile and uses his hand to put a barrier between his voice and Xenk. ]

Salmon. [ He doesn't feel the tickle of his cursed energy, but that's a really neutral word. It's probably nothing. ]

[partybabysitter]

[ Xenk wraps an arm around Toge's midsection, holding him up above the waterline to keep him from taking in water. His strong legs keep them steady and solid. It's finally to their benefit that he isn't wearing armor, or he wouldn't have been able to jump in when he had. ]

You're safe now. I have you.

[ 'Salmon'? Was this a language he didn't recognize? Had the boy thought to catch a fish, and forgotten he could not swim? Was it his name? Regardless of the strangeness, Xenk swims them both back to side of the ship, where a lifeboat has been lowered (the moment that he foolishly jumped ship.) ]

Here we are. Can you pull yourself up, or should I assist you?

[ He's gotta ask before man-handling people, he's learned. Some people take offense to being slung around. ]

[cursedwords]

[ It probably doesn't hurt that Toge is small for his age in both height and weight. He's probably pretty easy to haul around. He nodded his agreement of his acknowledgement of his reassurance.

Fortunately, he's pretty strong, and while he's not offered much by way of speech and conversation because he can't as far as he knows, he grasps onto the side of the boat and pulls himself up.

He's in horribly way too loose rags and his face is exposed. He has curse marks on either side of his lips, in a facsimile of a snake. Once he's over the side onto the boat, he'll collapse onto the bench. Okay. The ocean is a little scary! ]

[partybabysitter]

[ Xenk follows him onto the lifeboat, careful not to jostle it too much as his much larger frame makes its way over the edge. It's a little shaky, but they even out in no time. ]

You're safe now. The crew should be providing us with rope to pull us up momentarily.

[ Now that the risk of drowning is abated, Xenk can take stock of the boy's appearance. Besides being soaking wet, of course. ]

Are you well?

[ The marks on his mouth -- some kind of curse? Xenk himself carries the mark of Thay on his forehead, so he's familiar with the possibility. Though this boy seems a bit young to have drawn the ire of any gods or devils. ]

II

[fractales]

[There was another man that was contemplating the looks of a tattoo- along with the fact of the matter if it would honestly work for him as it seemed to for others. Turo had stayed within long enough, once he had finally stepped inside of Inkwave, to see someone else get one and their reaction to it seeming to unlock something already had.

While also contemplating, if it did indeed work, if such a thing would be prudent for him to get. Elemental magic was something he was familiar with in far different forms, and certainly thought of as magical in the wonder of the creatures that held such powers.]

Do you believe the appearance will hold a heavy weight for what these tattoos provide?

[An honest question, fingers curled to his own chin in thought.]

[partybabysitter]

[ Doubt barely crosses Xenk's mind. Reconnecting his oath and his bond to Tyr is of the utmost priority, of course, but if he's going to mar his body in the process, then it can be no simple, frivolous choice.

He turns to face Turo. It had not even occurred to him that the appearance may affect the outcome. You've caught him at a loss. ]

I had not considered that it may.

[ He has to rethink everything now! ]

Could the location affect the magic as well?

[fractales]

It is hard to tell, something that could be simple may also have ties not explored in depth.

[Quite a few things had stopped Turo from stepping forward to get one, the little doubts and the far more wandering and wondering questions. Perhaps focusing on places that mattered little, but it was difficult not to linger.

His head tipped, so it was easier to give Xenk his attention while speaking.]

I'm out of my depth when it comes to something like this. No person in my world holds abilities like what these can grant, but there are creatures that do naturally.

[Even the Paradox Pokémon by nature.]

[partybabysitter]

Truly? Magic is commonplace in my world. Even the bards imbue their songs with a touch of the Weave.

[ It would be weirder not to have some kind of magic, or at least know of it enough. Sure, fighters and rogues didn't draw any particular strength from powers outside of them, but the thought of a world without magic is enough to give Xenk pause.

All things can be explained. Even magic. Even strange tattoos that restore magic. He places his fist in his hand, decided. ]

There is a simple solution to this quandary. The proprietor, Knistej, should know the answer.

Tattoos

[pinksidekicking]

[ Someone is already sitting in one of the chairs, nearly done with their own tattoo on their lower leg. It will be normally hidden by her boot, but for now, it's out there in its full dragon glory. She doesn't appear to be in any pain as the needle fills in the last of the detail, Nimona just is playing around on her brand-new shellphone when this guy is asking his questions of the octopus.

Nimona does lift her gaze long enough to see the movement and considers the man in front of her. This guy screams hero - like someone she should avoid at all costs. And yet... she can't help herself. ]

You could start with something small, see how that works when trying to use your magic. No one said it had to be big if you've got big powers.

[ A shrug. ]

If that doesn't work, you could build around the smaller tattoo until it does.

[partybabysitter]

[ Oh yeah, Xenk got one of those, didn't he? He probably threw his shellphone in his pack and never looked back. He's barely hip with the latest trends in Faerun, never mind something like technology.

He's far more distracted by the pamphlet of tattoo examples that he's leafing through. Well, "leafing" isn't quite accurate. This guy doesn't do anything casually. He's poring over this thing when the small girl across gets his attention. ]

I do not intend it to be large or decorative. [ He's so blunt, I'm so sorry. He really just talks like this and means no offense. ] Something with a simple meaning, that serves its purpose, would be more suitable to my tastes.

[ Her help isn't totally out there though, considering he's got what looks like a tattoo right at the edge of his hairline. You would think he knows a thing or two about these. ]

[pinksidekicking]

[ From the looks of it, Nimona is pretty skilled at handling the shellphone - navigating it even without looking at it straight-on. Either that, or she's just pushing buttons to make it look like she knows what she's doing.

She doesn't look offended that he's so blunt, merely shrugs it off. His words were straight-forward, but they weren't in remark to anything about her - so it's fine. ]

What kind of things are meaningful to you? [ "Simple" covers a whole heck of a lot, but finding one with meaning is more difficult. ]

[mayberaven]

Somethin' tells me they don't care who they're facin'

[Of course. He decides to go and stick his neck out to make sure his abilities are as they should be, and maybe to get a little bit of a reputation to trade on, given he was without the allies he'd been traveling with before, and it turns out to be weird hybrid creatures. As if seagulls weren't assholes enough without adding shark traits to the mix.

Not that they cared for an eldritch blast to the face either, the one he hit reeling with an almost outraged screech as the shot of sickly energy splashed against it's grey hide, another arcing and nailing it in the side sending it reeling into one of it's companions.

Did Fjord know which god Tyr was? Nope. Here was hoping this would end up without him having to throw down with Xenk. Good thing his Charisma was so high?]

[partybabysitter]

[ Xenk laughs. Fighting puts him in good spirits, and fighting off monsters with allies is even better! A paladin is only as good as his allies! Xenk raises his sword once more, its radiant glow obvious as he smites an oncoming creature before it can wrench its jaws any closer. ]

Excellent work, friend!

[ He shouts at his new ally. PERCEPTION CHECK: FAILURE. Nothing weird about this! He's got magic, and that's useful! Especially when fighting off hungry beasts with so many sharp teeth. ]

[mayberaven]

[Yup! Nothing malevolent about that magic, and certainly nothing malevolent about the falchion he raises to deflect a bite from one of the nasty beasts. Nope, the searing yellow eye, the barnacles, the drip of sea water? Totally on the level!

Fjord is doing his very best not to draw up an extra inch or two at the enthusiastic response to his assistance either, but it does earn a subtle grin in turn.]

Not so bad yourself- on your left! [Seagulls were horrible bitey bastards at the best of times and like the birds, these monstrosities were totally not above trying to flank around for a 'friendly' nibble or two apparently.]

wildcard sea slugs i do what i want

[subigito]

Are we even allowed to work together?

[ Astarion is obviously has more than a little anxious energy to get on with this already. Another quest where he has to go out on the stupid ship, which is technically fine except that sometimes they get stuck at sea for more days than he'd like and then he gets very hungry. But here they both are on this join mission on some ship that they'd been asked to join to kill sea slugs.

For slime. ]

I am not touching whatever secretions they intend for us to collect. You are more than welcome to get your fingers sticky in my place.

[partybabysitter]

[ New recruits, even from differing factions, get assigned to work together, it seems! Or maybe they don't, and this is just a wild coincidence or someone on their side has a sense of humor and assigned them together to make them miserable. Or at least make Astarion miserable. ]

Regulation did not stipulate otherwise.

[ Xenk meanwhile is happy to take on a quest. Idleness doesn't suit him, and while he doesn't have extensive knowledge of the seafaring life, he takes to it like a fish to water. He's really just good at everything, sorry Astarion.

He hands Astarion a bucket. See, he's accommodating! ]

The secretions from the slugs will help save many lives. Any viscosity that may cling to our hands will be worth the benefit they will provide others.

[subigito]

Absolutely not.

[ He pushes the bucket back towards Xenk. ]

I've touched enough little slimy creatures for several lifetimes.

[ See, you think it's just one tadpole, but you really don't know about the twelve tadpoles Tav carries around. ]

spicy squid to round off this tl!

[strung]

[ The sails over the edge of the armada ship had earned Alucard's curiosity, but the smell of spices had caught his attention. And of course, when he begins to climb his way down into the food ship, he spots Xenk; in addition to having attracted a crowd, the man is fairly hard to miss.

An expert at navigating a crowd and sticking his nose into others' business, Alucard ends up leaning over one of Xenk's shoulders and settling a hand on the other. Okay, so he'd hoped to surprise his friend, too. ]

What have we won?

[ "We"? Yes, the Paladins, obviously. ]

it's finally time....!!

[partybabysitter]

[ Xenk brightens as he notices Alucard, a smile rising to his face as he turns to speak to him. It's always good to see a friend, and a fellow Paladin besides. ]

I believe it is a shipment of dried squid.

[ Xenk points to a crate labeled 'Hornswaggle's Spicy Squid.' This is perhaps not a great boon? But it was a quest, you see. And that's why Xenk's bowl is empty and he's looking quite pleased with himself. ]

The rice balanced the pepper quite well.

[ It's not cheating if you're immortal and love spicy food, right. ]

Would you like to try some, Alucard? I am sure they could serve you a bowl.

[strung]

[ Alucard's arches his brow, the sapphire above the left one twinkling. ]

You didn't even ask before you started?

[ His eyes follow the gesture. He mouths 'Hornswaggle' under his breath before the question draws him back. ]

I might. It does smell good. How was the texture?

[ He may or may not be stalling a little as he sees another contestant drop their fork adorned by a writhing tentacle. ]