[Color=LIGHTGREEN][sub][b][i]Day of the ships departure – Several minutes before departure [/i][/b][/sub][/color]

[hr]

The day had passed rather unremarkably compared to the day prior. Xaru had pulled off a rather successful scam and was enjoying the meager fruits of his labor. A simple dowry of simple people wouldn’t bring much for long but a cup of ale would be a good start. His mind wandered off to his people back on Airi and wondered about his father’s health and if they were safe from the thieves and bandits that plague the island, which caused an audible chuckle to escape his lips. His father taught him all he knew about swordsmanship, he couldn’t possibly be beaten. 


“Must be quite the joke if you laugh to yourself “


The barkeeps voice roused his thoughts of home and father,

[Color=LIGHTGREEN][b]”Hah, yes tis a funny joke indeed. Say friend,  what’s all this commotion going on by the docks, seems like a rather big gathering for such a small town?”[/b][/color]


“OH you haven’t heard? An expedition is setting out today for some big job or whatever. People been saying there’s a lot of loot to be had, 250,000 crowns to be had.”


His eyes widened at the sound of so much money. That may crowns could do wonders for his pockets and his caravan. The wheels in his mind already began spending that gold when another, more harsh sound, broke his thoughts,


[B]”YOU, FORIGEN FELLA!!! STAY RIGHT THERE!!”[/b]

A large portly gentleman busted through the doors of the pub practically foaming at the mouth in rage. The man had to be in his middle fifties wearing fisherman’s clothes and topped with a balding crown or hair. He was accompanied by a couple of his friends and a rather petite looking young woman around Xaru’s age who couldn’t look at him without turning red from blushing. This was going to be a problem. 

[Color=LIGHTGREEN][b]”Ah hello my friends what can I…”[/b][/color]

[B]”Don’t ‘My friends' me. Why’s my daughter say you promised to marry her if she’d give you her dowry to go find a place to live.”[/b]

This was problematic. He hadn’t expected his con to catch him that fast. The present company was a rather intimidating crew, two larger men with improvised weapons flanked him on either side while daddy dearest stood in front of him with his daughter behind.  By now the pub had began to crowd around them in anticipation of the inevitable fight cutting off most of his escape routes. He had to think of something fast or this was going to be dicey.

[B]”BEAT MY MONEY OUT OF ‘EM BOYS!![/b]

A series of wild blows were launched from the two on his flanks which he easily dodged. They were big and slow and their swings reflected as such, although their power could be felt in the wind as they passed. If one would happen to connect then he may have something to worry about. Another blow was aimed at his head which he deftly grabbed and redirected into the bar and as he turned back to the other gentleman his cloak flared to show that he had instinctively placed his hand on the hilt of his sword. In that moment when the fear had set in his opponents eyes, when the realization that this was to be his last moment, Xaru faltered. The sudden strong grasp upon his shoulders was his moment of instant regret. Facing his “father-in-law" with the world watching the question was posed to him,

[B]”Ya got any last words boy?”[/b]

Staring at the crowd around them and feeling his coin purse  with one hand a flash of inspiration struck him…and he didn’t like the idea.

[Color=LIGHTGREEN][b]”FREE MONEY FOR EVERYONE!!”[/b][/color]

Taking his purse and slamming it to the ground causing the coins within to scatter, Xaru threw his elbow into the man’s stomach and ran out the pub. Now where is that ship he thought


[Color=LIGHTGREEN][sub][b][i]Current Time – On the ship[/i][/b][/sub][/color]
[hr]


As the group introduced themselves to one another Xaru kept to himself favoring silence and observation. They seemed rather capable fighters and certainly better than the company he had left the pub. The one calling herself Knight Captain was scary but the one that caught his attention the most was the gorilla sized woman missing an arm, he would most certainly have to steer clear of her.