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[color=1E90FF][b]Interactions[/b]:[/color]
[color=1E90FF][b]Time[/b]: Around 3 pm[/color]
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The [i]Sada Kurau[/i] was, by Viserjantan maritime standards, an odd ship. Granted, her keel hadn’t been laid in any of the Commonwealth’s many shipyards, and she surely wasn’t an indigenous design by any stretch of the imagination. Even so, most captains who chose captured vessels as their commands usually did their utmost to crew and equip them according to conventional naval practices. As much as one could, in any case. 

Not Sjan-dehk, however. Of course, he didn’t have much choice in the matter; overly-long for her narrow beam and with a sail plan that exuded speed and agility, the [i]Sada Kurau[/i] brooked no argument over the manner in which she took to the seas. She was a ship that accepted no masters, only patient equals who understood that she was a ship one learned to work with, rather than controlled. Sjan-dehk, for the most part, was perfectly happy with that arrangement. It had brought him from victory to victory, and she had saved his crew and himself from violent and premature ends more times than he could count.

Still, the relationship wasn’t perfect. There were a few quirks here and there that Sjan-dehk wasn’t sure he would ever get used to. As he stood on the quarterdeck, looking out over his assembled crew, one such unfavourable trait made itself painfully obvious. 

To work the [i]Sada Kurau[/i]’s complicated system of ropes and sails required a significantly larger crew of riggers than was necessary for a ship of her size. Coupled with her odd proportions, it meant that when all of the crew were assembled on deck – such as now – she looked almost comically overcrowded. Not only was her main deck choked with men standing shoulder-to-shoulder, those who had no place to stand had to either stand precariously on her gunwale or even cling to her stays and ratlines. 

Sjan-dehk wasn’t too worried about the men in such positions – most of them were experienced riggers who knew how to keep themselves safe. Besides, they were in the calm waters of a harbour. More than anything, it was the apparent disorganisation that irked him. 

All the more reason for him to get through this bit of formality quickly.

He drew in a deep breath and leaned forward, resting his hands on the guardrail. [color=1E90FF]“All of you should know what I’m about to say. We are, however, the first of our people to make tracks through a city that’s not part of our islands, so I’d advise every one of you to listen up and listen close. We don’t want to be the reason why these fine people–”[/color] he jerked a thumb towards the city [color=1E90FF]“–think of us Viserjantans as lousy guests, now do we?”[/color]

A murmur of assent rippled through the crowd, accompanied by nodding heads and a scattering of light chuckles. [color=1E90FF]“So,”[/color] Sjan-dehk continued and stood up straight, hands behind his back. [color=1E90FF]“It is my duty as your captain to remind you of naval regulations regarding going ashore.”[/color] He had said these same words so many times that they didn’t roll off his tongue as much as they burst forth in a droning torrent. [color=1E90FF]“Most, if not all of you, would likely spend much of your time away from your ship. However, bear in mind that you are still bound by Viserjantan law. More importantly, you are still subject to the naval code of conduct. It is thus requested of you that you act as you would in any Viserjantan city. If myself, or any of my officers find out that you’ve been misbehaving, we will not hesitate to take all necessary actions to enforce discipline.”[/color]

The implication in his words were clear, but looking at the crew, he may as well have been giving them an update about the weather. Sjan-dehk didn’t blame them; this was a spiel – albeit with some adjustments here and there to fit their current situation – he had to go through every time they pulled into harbour. He didn’t doubt that the older members of his crew could likely recite everything by heart. Still, Sjan-dehk was bound by duty to give them timely reminders. 

[color=1E90FF]“Start no conflicts. Be honest in trade. Return what is borrowed. Compensate what you damage. Touch neither thread nor grain. So long as you abide by these five points of attention, all will be in harmony and all will be well.”[/color] It was a very brief summary of the code of conduct – one not endorsed by the navy – but it served Sjan-dehk’s purpose well enough. Much as Sjan-dehk wanted to, he couldn’t take the credit for it; his old captain had been the one who first used it, according to naval rumours. 

Now, he could move on to what he really wanted to say. [color=1E90FF]“I don’t think I’m lying when I say that I doubt most of us can speak a damn in the local tongue.”[/color] He deliberately paused, as if waiting for someone to prove him wrong. Nobody did. [color=1E90FF]“It’s also too late for me to order you all to start learning, so this is how things are going to work. I’ll leave how you want to talk to the locals up to you. You want to use gestures, draw them a picture, or even a whole damn smoke signal, I don’t care.”[/color]

That got a few more chuckles from the crew, but they quickly silenced themselves when Sjan-dehk gazed at them with a steely glare. [color=1E90FF]“But if you get into trouble with the law, I expect all of you to cooperate. Even if they insist that you must sit behind bars. I want no trouble while we’re here. Moreso if their laws and their courts get involved. For my part, I will do my best to come quickly to get you out. Of course, if you really did break a law, then there’s not much I can do, so use your reason and think before you act.”[/color]

Sjan-dehk thought back to the king. It was often said that the ruler of a land was a reflection of the values held dear by the people. He had found it to be true more often than not, but he hoped that Sorian would be an exception. Then again, the one person who seemed genuinely pleasant had been Saiya, and she could hardly be called a local of these lands. The women who harassed her, however…

He shook his head slightly. It was unbecoming of him to judge an entire people based on just one brief interaction. [color=1E90FF]“These people have ways different to ours,”[/color] he said simply. Then, he turned around. Most of his senior crew were standing behind him, with the exception of Hai-shuun. The carpenter had insisted on staying aboard the [i]Celestine[/i] for a little while longer with a handful of his men to ensure that every tool and material they had brought with them was accounted for and properly returned. [color=1E90FF]“Any of you have anything to tell the men?”[/color]

“No, captain,” Azwan replied on behalf of the others. 

Sjan-dehk nodded and turned back to the crew. [color=1E90FF]“Alright, I suppose we’re done here. Just one more thing before you all leave. We’ll be going on a fishing trip tomorrow morning. I expect us to leave before sunrise, so make sure you’re back aboard before then. Make sure you get enough sleep, too. I don’t want to see anyone sleeping tomorrow morning.”[/color] He stood back and grinned. [color=1E90FF]“I catch anyone napping while we’re out, I’m making you bait.”[/color]

He turned around to the sound of his men’s laughter. [color=1E90FF]“Azwan,”[/color] he called out. The first officer replied with a crisp and smart salute. [color=1E90FF]“You may dismiss the crew, then you may dismiss yourself.”[/color] Sjan-dehk chewed on his lip for a moment as he considered his next words. Or more accurately, as he worked himself up to say them. [color=1E90FF]“I’m going to take a look around the city. [i]Sada Kurau[/i] is…Yours.”[/color] He nodded to each of his senior officers, even to the diminutive Sohn-dahn. [color=1E90FF]“I will let you all settle the rostering out yourselves, but I want at least one of you to be on board and in charge at any given time.”[/color]

“Understood, captain,” Azwan replied. “First watch will be mine. I understand the rest have duties that will take them ashore.”

Dai-sehk pushed his glasses further up his nose. Dressed in an immaculate blue coat over white clothes, he looked as if he was trying to match the clear skies overhead. “I need to move some of the wounded to somewhere suitable ashore. That may take me all day if my fates do not align.”

“Do they ever, master Dai-sehk?” came Sahm-tehn’s dry response. That earned him a mischievous smirk from Avek, and even a sliver of a smile from Mursi. “Fortune, as I recall from your own words, takes joy in pissing on you.”

Sjan-dehk quickly interjected. [color=1E90FF]“Like I said, how you want to split watch duties amongst yourselves is up to you. As long as I have a Sada Kurau to come back to and nothing bad happens to her while I’m away, I’ll be more than satisfied.”[/color] He paused and regarded each man – and boy – with a stern look. [color=1E90FF]“Please, don’t disappoint me.”[/color] Though he intended to sound serious, it didn’t escape him that his words may have came out sounding a lot more pleading than he would have liked. 

Azwan offered him a smile. Likely, he meant it to be reassuring, but Sjan-dehk didn’t feel it. “We won’t let you down, captain. [i]Sada Kurau[/i] is home to us as well. We’ll be sure to keep her safe.”

[color=1E90FF]“I’ll take your word for it, first officer.”[/color] Sjan-dehk saluted his men, and they replied in kind. As per tradition, he then turned and quickly jogged down the steps onto the main deck. Only when both his feet were upon the wooden planks of the dock did he hear Azwan loudly dismiss the crew. Normally, Sjan-dehk would’ve been the one to give the order. And normally, Sjan-dehk would’ve been amongst the buzz of activity that now wafted from the deck, wandering across and between decks to supervise work. That, or spend time planning their next course of action.

Sjan-dehk let out a long sigh as he walked towards the city. Though not as well-armed as before, he still had his two swords and a pair of pistols at his hip. It was enough to attract some curious and concerned stares, but he paid them no heed. He barely noticed them. Part of his mind was still ruminating on what he would be doing now were he aboard his [i]Sada Kurau[/i]. The rest of it was trying to think of something useful he could do whilst ashore. Exploring aimlessly wasn’t going to do him – or anyone – any favours.

He looked up at the castle in the distance, peeking over tiled roofs. Well, he was here now. On land, in a strange city, and every step bringing him further away from the familiarity of his ship without even the hint of a plan. Sjan-dehk picked a direction, and started walking. With luck, he would find something that would keep his ship and crew occupied over the coming days. If not, then he just hoped he would find something interesting.