During mealtime, I meet up with Delos and Aladu and introduce them to Icrasi. After the meal, we all played dice together and discussed our day while drinking some of the sweet and spicy drink called Blaze. The boys explained that they explored the bowels of the ship, and met some of the people who would be journeying with us, and Icrasi says she just played dice all day. I show my work I managed to make, and get smiles and congratulations from the whole group. Afterwards, we all head our separate ways and go to our quarters to sleep.
When I go to sleep in the game, I log off to get a break in real life. As the game is at a 6 to 1 time ratio, I have an hour to two hours before I need to go back. I spend this time eating, taking a quick nap, and showering before I go back into the game to start a new day. As the game loads up, it displays my character screen.
Name
Fay
Race
Dark Elf
Mana
#/280
Level
1 (0/250)
Intelligence
18
Constitution
11
Wisdom
16
Strength
11
Perception
16
Agility
14
Charisma
9
Dexterity
15
It looks like in the time since I last checked my character sheet they replaced the status section with a level counter. Having a set experience counter seems rather arbitrary, but hey let's roll with it.
After displaying my character screen for a couple of seconds, I am back in my avatar. Opening my eyes and sitting up in my hammock reveals that the room is still dark and many people, players and NPCs alike, are still asleep. Being near the door, I was able to quietly sneak out with no one noticing, so I headed out onto the deck. Towards the bow, and presumably the east, the sun is slowly rising as we continue to sail into the new world. On the deck, I appear to be the only one about, but looking up the mast reveals someone on the lookout which is reassuring. Or at least it was reassuring until I noticed they were slumped over asleep, and a creature half the size of the ship was swimming with us to starboard.
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The creature looks to be some combination of a whale and a Kraken, and, as mentioned, is about half the size of the ship. It’s a beautiful being, with sea-green tentacles trailing behind its deep blue body. Using [Observe] on this magnificent creature reveals that it is called an ‘Iksthys’. It also shows that it is at level ten. Most players on board are only level 1, so I honestly hope to whatever gods there might be in this game that no one tries to attack it. If they did, it could be a massacre.
Of course, the unfortunate happens and the Iksthys bumps against the boat in curiosity. Bells ring and people stream up onto the deck to see what happened. The players notice the Iksthys and start chattering. I overhear at least one player say that they wonder what loot that thing drops. One of the sailors shouted that this must be a young one, just curious about what we are doing in its territory, but I don't think many people heard. A player goes and climbs onto the railing on the side the Iksthys is on.
“I will slay this beast! Who is with me!!” He shouts, raising a sword he must have gained from a store while waiting for the expedition. No one joins him, and he shouts again. “Fine! I must be the only brave person aboard this boat!”
The idiot then goes, faces the creature, and jumps as if to try and kill it. One of the sailors calls out that that isn't how you use a sword, but it's too late and the player hits the water the Iksthys just left. The Iksthys leaves content that we probably aren't a threat, and the player just sinks slowly in the water, obviously not knowing how to swim. An NPC asks if we should save him, but the sailors say it's natural selection, and he shouldn't have attacked. The players who had been around him stated he was a bit obnoxious, and generally agreed with the sailors.
After that nonsense, nothing eventful further happens in the morning, with breakfast being served and then everyone going to do whatever they please. I go up onto the deck and work on sewing again. After about an hour of sewing, added to the previous four or so, I got a skill.
New Skill!
[Sewing] - Level 1
* An important skill for every Tailor to know. This skill allows a Tailor to sew better than before. Gives knowledge about sewing.
* Active: Allows the user to space out and focus on other things while sewing, at the cost of some quality. Higher levels lower quality loss.
* Passive: Gives the User knowledge on how to sew correctly.
The skill looks fairly important for sewing, but I don't use the active effect just yet. I look at what I’ve made. It's the little doll I started earlier, but I didn't buy anything to stuff it with. Hopefully, we packed seeds for cotton or there are animals similar to sheep around where we settle. I tuck the doll into my bag and call over Aladu, who I see just coming up on deck.
“Hey, Aladu. Could I get your measurements? I’d like to try making something.”
He comes over and asks, “Which measurements?”
Ignoring him, I hold the fabric up to his arms and his chest to measure out enough for a shirt. I wave him off once I finish and he sighs.
“Could I help you with anything, Fay? I’m bored.” He tells me while I begin cutting the fabric.
“I thought you wanted to be an adventurer, not a crafter, Aladu,” I respond.
“Being an adventurer is boring when I can't do anything.” He replies sounding very sad.
Noticing his sadness I think carefully and come up with an idea. “I may have a quest for you, Aladu. Would you be interested in searching to see if anyone has something I can stuff this doll here with? If you find some, maybe I can teach you how to stitch up a doll.”
Aladu smiles brightly at my suggestion, and dashes off, most likely, in search of stuffing. I smile at his enthusiasm and go back to work with the fabric on making the shirt. The fabric I pulled out was one of the bolts of white, as I plan to dye it when I get access to things to make dyes with. Sewing a shirt together is an interesting task, which takes longer than the time that had been left until the evening meal. I probably could've done it slightly faster using my new ability, but since it is my first time, I decided to do it manually. It didn't go unnoticed by me that I'm new at stitching, and the needle poked my fingers and thumbs multiple times while I worked. I carefully store my things making sure not to tangle anything and head on down to eat.
When I get there, Aladu and Delos are already sitting with Icrasi, and are waving me over. We all hang out during mealtime and discuss how hilarious but sad it was to have lost that one player to him jumping overboard. Aladu comments on the quest I gave him saying he had no luck but would keep searching in the morning. After the meal, we continue laughing, telling stories and even got a couple of rounds of the Yahtzee-Esque game I didn't memorize the name of. Afterwards, we all go our separate ways and say goodnight.
When I get to my bunk, as before, I log off and quickly deal with my needs. When I log back in, my still unchanged character sheet appears before I am greeted by the still dark boat. Since it's still night I try to sleep to see if sleeping in the game gives me a rest similar, or better than in real life. As I doze off I think about what the expedition will have to offer.