Captain Highwind didn't keep them waiting long.

For a human, he struck an imposing figure. Standing a few inches over six feet, the man wore an oddly shaped wand at his side paired with a rapier. A sky blue vest with silver buttons and matching pants caused him to stand out. Though his face was weathered with the many years at sea, there was an intensity in his grey eyes that spoke of a hard life.

Once he stood before them, he bowed to Trillia, then kneeled in front of Arlyss. "The ship is ready, m'lord. She can sail at your command."

Arlyss grabbed his shoulder and hauled the man to his feet. "You don't have to kneel, Robert. This is Trillia Demonsbane, my avatar. This is an Acolyte of Retribution, Layla. Lastly, this is a Dragon Hunter by the name of Andromeda. She cannot communicate verbally. Trillia can relay with telepathy, or she will have to write things down for you. As I mentioned before, I can stay in contact for the first few months if anything should happen. But once you start to near the Central Continent, that changes."

Robert gave a nod to each person as they were introduced. "They won't have to lift a finger unless we run into pirates. Then, I'd ask that they contribute to the battle."

Trillia grinned. "I will happily contribute the entire time. Uncle Cordaos told me that you can never have too many helping hands on the high seas."

Robert chuckled a little. "Your Uncle Cordaos isn't wrong. Normally, VIPs and Nobles don't contribute due to their nature, but I won't turn down help. We have a small row boat at the far end of the docks that we are waiting in. At your leisure. Is there anything else, m'lord?"

Arlyss nodded and pulled out a fairly hefty crate from thin air, setting it next to the captain. "These are plans and a small model of the portal system. It must reach the dwarves. Shall I bring it to your ship? Or can I leave you all here?"

Layla walked over to the crate and hefted it, placing it on a shoulder. Robert stared at the little acolyte for a moment before shaking his head. "I think we can manage, m'lord. I'll see your will done."

Arlyss nodded. Once Trillia confirmed she was ready, the deity departed. Trillia and the girls followed Robert to the row boat. Trillia saw two other orcs sitting in the boat waiting. As they neared, a huge hand reached up from the water and plucked the crate from Layla's shoulder, setting it in the boat.

Trillia got to see her first ogre. Not a half-ogre or some dungeon abomination. But a full-fledged ogre in the flesh. It looked a bit like an orc in the face. This particular ogre had dark blue skin and blended in with the water. Bright green eyes seemed full of mirth. Its hand was half as long as Trillia was tall.

Robert motioned to the others. "This is Biggs and Wedge. They are the quartermaster and master at arms, respectively." Said as he motioned to the two orcs. "This is Lak'Lorn. One of our best fighters and also a huge help when it comes to loading things. He tends to also be our propulsion system for the rowboat."

Trillia shook the hand of each orc and also did her best to shake Lak'Lorn's hand. "I look forward to sailing with all of you."

Wedge - the master at arms - gave her a look before glancing at Robert. "This lot 'as blockers on. Ya keen to ask 'em to let me get a good look, Cap'n?"

Everyone climbed into the boat. Lak'Lorn held onto the sides and began kicking his massive legs under the water. The boat drifted towards the many ships anchored further out. Robert shook his head. "They are guests of Lord Arlyss. It is their choice to reveal their classes and nature. It is not mandatory, as is usual."

Wedge gave a grunt and a nod. The two orcs looked almost identical. Dark green skin, bright red eyes, and the same physique as every warrior in the Shattered Plains. Trillia glanced between all of them.

After a moment, she motioned to Wedge, grateful that they were speaking the human dialect and not another language she'd have to learn. "My obfuscation is down. You may scan me, Sir Wedge."

The orc seemed a little surprised at that. After a moment, Wedge snickered. "A damn swashbuckler. Minstrel as well? Ha! If'n the avatar thing dinnae pan out, ye should join us, lass. Ship could always use more good fighters."

Trillia grinned and stared at the orc. After a few minutes, he seemed concerned. "I'm waiting for you to lower your obfuscation, Sir Wedge. Fair trade and all."

Robert started laughing, as did Biggs. The other orc punched Wedge's shoulder. "Ha! Oy, I like this one cap'n. Clever lass, she is."

Wedge grinned and begrudgingly lowered his 'blocker'.

[Sea Orc - Master-At-Arms - 199] Morale Mana Manipulation

Notable Traits:

Thousand Voyage Veteran

Aquatic Adaptation

Keen Eyes

Trillia looked it over for a moment before scratching her chin. "I've never seen Morale Mana Manipulation before."

The orc gave her a little nod. "Tis a long branch off support stuff. Me tribe kicked me to the wastes when I was nae born with offensive mana. Cap'n Highwind found me as a wee orc when I tried to nick his coin purse in a port."

Trillia glanced at the Captain, who was leaning against the side of the boat and writing in a leather-bound book. "I'm sorry that your tribe treated you that way. I suppose for many, that is the orc way. I was born a runt. I was lucky enough to have an influential and caring family who didn't dash me across the rocks."

The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.

Biggs gave a knowing nod. "Aye. We 'ad a little sister who met that fate. When they threw me brother to the wastes, I lost all love for our tribe. Good to see other orcs. Don't see many of our kind on the water."

Layla leaned over the boat and stuck her fingers in the fast-moving water. "The water scares me. Less now. But it still scares me."

Trillia laid a comforting hand on her shoulder.

The rowboat began to slow, and Trillia glanced up from her journal to see the ship before her.

The thing seemed positively massive. Admiral blue wood banded in glowing silver bands gave the ship an almost ethereal appearance on the water. Massive sails that held a slight grey hue began to unfurl.

Ropes were dropped from the sides. Robert and Wedge quickly tied knots into large circles of metal on either side of the row boat. Lak'Lorn crawled up the side of the ship with ease, and a heave-ho was heard from the deck of the ship. The rowboat began to ascend from the water. Biggs and Wedge also crawled up the side of the ship, and the row boat's ascent began to speed up.

Lak grabbed the crate out of the boat and handed it to Biggs, who immediately turned and left to secure it. Once the girls were out, he lifted the rowboat with one hand. It vanished in the same hand.

The Captain assembled the crew, waiting for Biggs to return. Robert stood at the helm. The deck quickly filled with over a hundred bodies. Trillia was surprised to see a myriad of different species. Orcs, humans, goblins, an ogre. Others that she didn't recognize or hadn't seen. All of them looked toward Robert and the girls. The Captain pounded the railing, and the murmuring settled.

"We set sail toward the central continent. The Port Town of Sinclaire. We have special guests with us on this voyage. I expect you to show them the same level of respect that you would show me, and I expect you to treat them like the VIPs that they are. Am I clear?" The 'aye cap'n' that followed his words was in unison and deafening. Robert nodded. "Begin powering up the ship. We want to make haste. Lady Trillia, would you like to say anything?"

Trillia had seen the enchantment matrix in the bands on their way up the side of the ship. She looked at Robert. "Can the ship be damaged from too much mana, and what sort of intent should I put into my mana? I have a thought."

Robert gave her an odd look but shrugged and told her anyway. "No damage. We have crystals stored in the hold. They are linked to the matrix and can store just shy of a million points of spare mana. We'll slowly fill them over the course of the journey. As for intent...well, my good lady. Speed is our intent."

Trillia nodded and took a step forward, looking out over the crew. She placed her right hand on the helm and thought of speed.

Of her own agility. Of Ialu running into battle. Of flying over the ocean with Stas. A million mana flowed from her into the ship, and the enchantment matrix sprung to life. The crew went silent.

"My name is Trillia Demonsbane, First Avatar of Arlyss Ocrey Darktone, Deity of Knowledge and Unity. I ask for your patience in dealing with my companions and I. We are unfamiliar with the sea. Treat us fairly and with respect, and we will do the same. If there are ever concerns with mana, come to me. I will see them fulfilled. I look forward to our voyage together." Murmurs broke out amongst the crew.

Robert chuckled softly and nodded. "I think that will ensure that no one bothers you or yours for the voyage. It normally takes us an hour to get the ship fully charged. You come and do it in a split second."

A young boy with eerily pale skin and bright gold eyes bound up from the hold of the ship, shouting. "Cap'n Robert! What happened?! The crystals are all full! Are we bein attacked?!"

The crew went silent again and stared at Trillia, who turned to Robert. "I look forward to working with you, Captain. Where will the three of us be staying?"

Robert stared hard at the orc in front of him. Trillia wanted to prove that they were useful and not some pampered petty nobles like those she had met in D'jamu. Before Robert could regain his senses, Layla had descended toward the crew and had begun healing cuts, bruises, and sickness. Robert turned an even harder eye to Trillia. "Going to be difficult to pay the two of you back for all of this."

Trillia smiled at him and shook her head. "Consider it our way of helping out and paying our way. Layla and I come from the Shattered Plains. We believe in fair trade."

Robert nodded and motioned to Biggs. "Show them to their rooms, Quartermaster."

"Aye, sir." Biggs bowed a little more deeply to Trillia. "This way, Lady Demonsbane."

Trillia followed Biggs, picking up Layla on the way. Andromeda followed in silence but had also been staring hard at Trillia. The crew quickly raced about to their stations.

Trillia and the girls were led to a very nice room one floor below deck. Windows gave them a view of the ever-reaching horizon. Four comfortable-looking beds were secured to the floor. Each bed had a small foot locker at the foot of the bed. A table, chairs, and some cards were also in the room. A comfortable place to sleep, considering it was a ship.

Andromeda tapped her head, and Trillia established the mental connection. "I will remain in the room until such a time as combat is upon us. Do not worry about my sustenance. I will be fine. If you need me, call for me. Otherwise, I will stay from underfoot. I have no desire to learn the ways of a ship. I am only on this one because the two of you cannot fly."

Trillia nodded. "That's fine with me, Lady Andromeda. Rest well, and thank you for accompanying us."

Layla and Trillia didn't have a pack to unload. Both had brought a few changes of clothes. But the clothes, their rations, and all of their armor sat comfortably in storage items.

Trillia sat and meditated to summon Ialu to her side. Layla took her place back on the deck of the ship.

An hour later, Trillia and Ialu emerged back onto the deck as well. She was a bit surprised to see that Kincairne was no longer in sight at all. Robert sat at a table near the helm of the ship. A tall, slender woman with pointed ears had a hand on the helm.

Trillia approached them with Ialu in tow. The captain glanced at the wolf but didn't give it a second thought. "How can I be of use, Captain?"

Robert chuckled slightly and motioned to a seat opposite of him. "That's the fun part of sailing, Lady Trillia. It's usually a lot of hurry up and wait. You are free to learn from the others on the ship about the various dos and don'ts of sailing. You can rest in your room, and we will call upon you should the need for combat arise, or you can sit here and chat. Generally, while there are a lot of small things to do on the ship, that is why I have a crew. These things get done as we sail."

Trillia nodded and took the seat. The table held the hum of mana, and dozens of maps seemed to be sunken into the top of the table. "I am willing to learn anything I can."

The woman glanced at the two and spoke in a language that Trillia didn't understand. "Captain Highwind. Perhaps we should discuss the artifact with her? She is obviously powerful. She seems loyal to Lord Arlyss as well. We have the time, and it could prove invaluable."

Trillia picked up on a few words. Namely Highwind and Arlyss. She glanced between the two of them. The tongues trait gave her a vague idea what they were on about. But she was still curious as to the exact details. Robert nodded and pulled out a pipe and tobacco. "Sorry, how rude of me. This is my First Mate, Illana Perishsong. I have a proposition for you, Lady Demonsbane. If you'll hear me out."

Trillia raised a brow and waited for him to continue.