Early morning in the harbor of Gauntcliff
Thom and Petrie have checked and rechecked the supplies in the skiff. It’s all tallied and secured; enough food and fresh water for a week at sea.
Petrie remarks, ‘’We ought to make port in a day or two if the wind treats us fine, Thom. “
The big man lashes his fishing spear to the mast. ‘’Just in case any sharks come calling.”
Denys and Melmoth stand on the pier near the post where the skiff is tied.
“Good luck, and may the Lady watch over you both”, Denys says as the two voyagers climb into the small vessel. The stout merchant shakes a little windblown sand from his rose colored robes. “Mind you keep those victuals hidden while on Ghastria. Some of the local thugs might knife a foreigner for a good cheese or some fine wine.”
Melmoth grunts, not quite a laugh. The laconic hireling raises a hand in a wordless farewell, and then turns to walk back up the planks towards the dunes’ edge where two mules stand saddled.
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----------------------------------------------------------"Will do." Thom says in regards to Denys advice. He waves farewell to Melmoth and Denys.
Turning his attention to Petrie, "Right, let’s be off then young man." He says to him.
A short while later, at sea...
Petrie leans on the oars, resting as the wind fills the sails.
''Well, Thom, the wind is blowing in the right direction, and it's a fine lovely day. Aye, and would you look at that..."
He turns his face back toward Gauntcliff, where the receding dunes and scarps lie half-hidden in a veil of pearl gray sea-mist.
‘’So, what do you know about our destination? I’ve never visited it.”
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-------------------------------Looking back at the receding dunes of Gauntcliff Thom says nothing, he admires the scenery for a bit and than turns his attention back to Petrie. "I haven't been there myself, so I only know what I heard and the little I have read. This is to say, I don’t know much at all. I will say this though, we'll be glad Sancerre gave us plenty of food." He tells Petrie.
"I just we can find something to help the others out."
Petrie nods.
"Sure."
The big man adjusts the sails, muttering "That looks about right."
He sits down on the rowers' bench after trimming the sails, and begins prepping a fishing line with colored glass bait and a hook.
"No reason we can't make the rations last longer by eating some fresh fish, eh, Thom?"
....
Thom spots a sailing ship coming out of a patch of fog a few miles distant, to the northeast. It looks about the same size as the ship that brought him to Gauntcliff.
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--------------------------------------------------Thom looks at the boat. "Petrie there is another boat, perhaps the same vessel that brought us here in the first place." He says pointing the boat out to Petrie.
''I believe it may be, Thom."
Petrie tries to hail the ship, but the vessel sails into the fog bank and vanishes from sight.
''Hmm-- Looks like they are bound for Gauntcliff."
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-------------------------------------"So it would seem, hopefully Sancerre will send them all back." Thom says as he watches the boat disappear into the fog.
"Aye, Thom, I'm sure he will. That was the plan."
...
The rest of the day passes with smooth sailing...
(Spot Check for Thom, please)
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1d20+10=24 Spot Check
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In the soft evening light, Thom spots land north-by northwest.
Looks like an island.
(Denys gave you guys a compass and a chart)
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----------------------------------------------Thom is no navigator by sea or by land. "Petrie-- Think that is Ghastria? Here is a chart and compass’’, he says, showing Petrie.
Petrie fiddles about with the chart and compass for a few minutes.
''Hmmmm...It might be. If it isn't Ghastria, then it's probably a nearby island. We must be close by now, unless I'm reading this wrong. Do ye think we should land, or spend the night at sea?"
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------------------------------------------------------------------------"You think you can land this skiff at night?" Thom says.
''Sometimes the night plays tricks with a man's eyes, makes things look further or closer than they really are. We'll have good moonlight and bright stars, though, so I could land her, aye. Truth be told, -Thom, I haven't done much sailing on the wide seas in a wee boat like this one."
Petrie laughs.
""I spent time on fishing boats. When I have been sailing far, there have been other men trained to the job to read the charts and handle the rigging and all. I'm better at this than anyone else Sancerre could have sent, except maybe that boy Jurgen, but I'm not an expert sailor."
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---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Thom laughs. "Well then, how about sleeping on some solid land than?" He says. "Take us in easy Petrie."
''Aye; that will do."
Petrie manages the sail well enough, and sends the vessel gliding over the calm seas towards the island.
