[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/q020OKO.png[/img][hr][b][color=0054a6]Event:[/color][/b] Best Served Cold [b]|[/b] [b][color=0054a6]Location:[/color][/b] Voyage upon the Eskandr Longboat.[/center][hr]
[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/SMoVMPO.png[/img][/center]
Maëlle readies her bow, raising it up towards the perched squirrel. She makes herself perfectly still in her position, anchoring the pull and with a deep breath, steadies her breathing. She releases her fingers as the arrow flies and misses the mark. The squirrel sniffs at the air, before scampering along the branch as a second arrow makes the creature drop down.

[color=7CFC00]“Don’t rush, mi fresa - [i]ma fraise[/i])”[/color], Gisselle lowers her bow, smiling sweetly towards the pouty faces her daughter is making, “Patience will ensure you strike true”. Maëlle looks towards the squirrel upon the ground, [color=fc5a8d]“Da always says to strike quickly and decisively”[/color]. Gisselle looks towards her, and now in a chiding tone, [color=7CFC00]“and who is the best hunter in the village?”[/color] clearly referring to herself. Maëlle grins up mischievously, [color=fc5a8d]“Papi~”[/color]. Gisselle blinks then laughs, [color=7CFC00]“Maybe Pa in his heyday. He did teach your Da, and myself, of course”[/color]. The pair picked up their prizes as they made their way back home towards the small town they call home. 

Gisselle was glad it was Père and not Asier that Maëlle looked up to in this regard, her father is still the towns huntsman despite his waning years, and he continues to entertain the children with a tall tale or many of the strange and wonderful creatures he encountered in the fables. It is not as if she disliked Asier, but he hasn’t been the most reliable role model, especially one with a daughter who pines after him constantly. Now with another blessing on its way, perhaps the gods grant them their wish that their family will grow larger despite the challenges and tribulations they have faced. Perhaps after the battle with the Eskandr is done, she will have the opportunity to have a serious discussion about his responsibilities back at home and not for the Parrench King.

As the pair start to approach their home, they notice the horses, Espirito and Fresa outside of the gate. Gisselle starts to eye this up suspiciously as Maëlle gets excited. [color=fc5a8d]“Da is home! Look Mamá, the horses are here…!”[/color]. Gisselle tugs upon Maëlle to prevent her running off, [color=7CFC00]“He may be weary from battle, he hasn’t put the horses away. Go and do that first”[/color], Maëlle shoots up a look as questioning this with some choice words, though notices the expression upon her mother’s face, [color=fc5a8d]“Mamá… … will make sure they the horses are fed, they must be tired”[/color].

Gisselle moves towards the door as she is greeted by a messenger, the man opening his satchel as he bears a letter with the king’s seal upon it, [color=800020]“Baroness Herbeumont, I presume?”[/color]. She clicks her tongue at the use of the Parrench name, [color=7CFC00]“Baroness Hierbamonte”[/color], the man looks rather uncomfortable for a moment before proceeding. [color=800020]“Important letter from the King”[/color]. She offers her hand as she accepts the letter, moving to her pouch as she offers the man money to stay at the tavern, [color=7CFC00]“Inform them of my name if there are any outstanding expenses, feel free to rest up before your return journey”[/color]. The Parrench man looks a little sheepish, as he gives a small bow before disappearing, Gisselle politely pointing into the appropriate direction. She makes her way inside as she uses the knife to break the wax seal.

Maëlle slowly makes her way through the door, moving in an hesitant manner, [color=fc5a8d]“Da is not coming home again, is he?”[/color]. Gisselle gently hushes her daughter, gesturing for her to come close as she pats upon her lap, and when she climbs on, gives her daughter a warm embrace.

[center][color=7CFC00]“Your Da is going on a journey out to sea.”[/color][/center]

[center][youtube]https://youtu.be/8lXPECDYL1E[/youtube][/center][hr]

[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/tYcXWJP.png[/img][/center]

Asier learnt that being tied to the bow of the longship had its perks, mostly that he got a good view of the journey and a chance to breathe in deeply of that fresh sea air. The other perk was that the Eskandr had to put up with the smell of sea sickness as well, as the motions of the longship caused him to rock up and down in a see-saw fashion along the sea.

Asier’s experience only grew more intense with the passing of time as the waves licked up and crashed over the front of the ship. The sky started to brew, darkening as storm clouds began to populate the horizon and the Eskandr raiders headed to a nearby island to camp for the night to wait out its passing.

After the customary beating that always came with changing positions, Asier now at least had the comfort of wood to sit upon as he was hauled to the mast and left tied upon it in the open rain. Not as if he had to worry about his clothes getting wet, but at least his skin would be able to shed itself of its accumulation of salt. Outside of the repeated punishment, the Eskandr had treated him well with food, less a gesture of their generosity but more that he would maintain his strength for the journey. Not through any compassion as his hosts were performing the duty out of preference for keeping their prey alive rather than having it perish during the trip for the punishments that laid in wait for him when they reached the capital.

As the rain batters through the night and the thunder crackles through the sky, dark shadows bend and twist along the deck in strange and unusual man-like silhouettes. Between the flashes of light and boom of the thunder, a scurrying as hands are fiddling, the sound of feet scampering through the puddles. [color=0054a6]“If you are after the good stuff, they stick it in the strongbox on the left under the deck.”[/color], Asier owes the Eskandr no loyalty and doubts these imaginary shadow creatures would be taking off with their treasure even if the idea of it amuses him greatly. The shadows bob and weave in response as they currently stick to the edges, their attention focusing on the said location. [color=0054a6]“Should be quite a lot in there, the brutes tend to gather as much as they can find, haul it on these ships, then store it up in great big piles in their frozen homeland. Should be enough for you and your friends”[/color]. He gives a wry smile as he is convinced he is being driven mad from this experience.

Then, violence: sudden and decisive. Coinciding with a great crack of lightning, one of the small figures rushed up and cracked open the chest not too far from where Asier had been lashed. The Eskandr had taken most of the good stuff ashore, ever wary, even in a place like this. They had been weary, though, and sloppy. The lid slammed open, nearly breaking its hinges. Inside was silver, frankincense, and sugar in great quantity. The shadows rifled through it eagerly, very much corporeal beings, apparently.

If they were saying anything, it was hard to make out amid the crash of waves, wind, and distant thunder, but they plucked eagerly from the chest, filling slings tied across their shoulders. They conferred with each other as they did so, nodding, pointing, and gesturing. They tied their slings into sacks and tossed these overboard. If there were individuals waiting below to receive the stolen bounty, Asier could not see them from his angle.

Then, all at once, a couple rushed up to him, leaping the distance in a pair of nimble bounds, very much yasoi-like. The larger of the two - a young woman by the looks of her - tilted her head to the side. [color=C0C0C0]“Yeen ik-k-k Queeyan?”[/color] she exclaimed, turning to her counterpart. He shook his head. [color=2e8b57]“Yeep ik-k-pap Queeyan.”[/color] Very obviously not human, though something not completely removed either, both turned large, dark eyes to Asier, their surfaces reflecting the light. [color=2e8b57]“Hyou speek-k-k Essk-kaam?”[/color] asked the second in broken Eskandr, jabbing a finger at the prisoner. 

Asier has most definitely lost his mind when being confronted by these beings in some kind of delirium, though his lack of companionship has made this journey rather dull other than examining the glares, hisses and spitting of the Eskandr. Asier would raise his hand in greeting if he could, simply making do with a nod towards the strange creatures of the night, [color=0054a6]“Hello there.”[/color], he gives them a warm smile as the rain drops run down his face, unable to quite make out what they are. [color=0054a6]”Do you happen to be Yasoi?”[/color], he peers to them inquisitively, [color=0054a6]”though either way, the Eskandr most likely have more of those boxes on the shore, but they are most likely stored with their axes and foul tempers.”[/color]. He offers the pair a toothy grin as he doesn’t fully understand their speech, [color=0054a6]”Not sure about Essk-kaam, but my Parrench is not too bad by their standards”[/color].

[color=2e8b57]“Yeep ik-k-pap Essk-kaam,”[/color] said the older male. His clothing was of a single piece, mostly smooth, but festooned with little bits and baubles. [color=C0C0C0]“Yeen ik-k-k!”[/color] insisted the other. [color=C0C0C0]“Yeen owuuik.”[/color]

[color=2e8b57]“Ak. Kikoo.”[/color] He shook his head. [color=2e8b57]“Kikoo.”[/color]

[color=C0C0C0]“Ahooi yeen ik-k-k Paahreck-k,”[/color] suggested the woman, and the sea-man made what may have been an annoyed face. [color=C0C0C0]“Keepah keepah!”[/color] she prodded, but when he was slow, she shoved him aside.

[color=C0C0C0]“Hi!”[/color] she said, in Avincian, waving exaggeratedly. She extracted some silver coins and a chain from her sling and held them up in Asier’s face. [color=C0C0C0]“I wike!”[/color] She grinned, and her mouth was full of sharp little teeth. She pointed at the chest and nodded, and then indicated the general area with further gestures, perhaps indicating confusion or curiosity. [color=C0C0C0]“Fwiem!”[/color] she announced. [color=C0C0C0]“I fwiem. You fwiem.”[/color] She held up some more silver and kissed it, turning eagerly to Asier.

Asier raises an eyebrow as he watches the display, still unclear, however the female appears to be the smarter of the two strange beings. [color=0054a6]“It suits you very well.”[/color], he gestures with his head towards her silver and then towards her. 

[color=C0C0C0]“Ferry Weww!”[/color] she mimicked, nodding eagerly and then blinking. She tilted her head to one side.

[color=0054a6]“We could always do with having more friends out here, wherever here is.”[/color]. He takes a look towards the older male, simply trying to give him a respectful nod. [color=0054a6]“There must be four other ships with more hoards like that as well, reckoning from my last count”[/color]. 

[color=C0C0C0]“Fouw…”[/color] she repeated, stewing upon the word. She held up four fingers and gave a questioning look.

He nods in return to the gesture, using his head to bob as if counting. [color=0054a6]”One, Two, Three, Four. Four Ships.”[/color]

[color=C0C0C0]“Wum tkoo fwee fouw ssipss!”[/color] she chirped, pointing at him, greatly pleased with herself. [color=C0C0C0]“Ssipss!”[/color] Her older counterpart shook his head adamantly. He stomped on the deck with a webbed foot. [color=2e8b57]“Ssip,”[/color] he insisted, but she shook her head and pointed with equal certainty to Asier. [color=C0C0C0]“Ssipss!”[/color]

The sea-man rolled his eyes. [color=2e8b57]“Pooka. Dee axi pooka.”[/color]

[color=2e8b57]“Dee pooka. Dee papa pooka. Dee mama pooka. Dee oumaf axi pooki!”[/color]

Asier gives her a guilty look, especially as she is full of confidence as he shakes his head. He follows the others' gesture as he stamps upon the deck as he reinforces the word ‘ship’ as meaning the longboat. [color=0054a6]”Ship.”[/color]. He looks to her again, when he has her attention to look down to himself using his chin to point as he indicates [color=0054a6]”Asier. My name is Asier.”[/color] He tries to make sense of their language as he gestures towards her, [color=0054a6]“Pooka?”[/color], he asks in a questioning manner.

[color=2e8b57]“Woo woo woo!”[/color] shouts the sea-man. [color=2e8b57]“Kee pooka!”[/color]

 Encouraged, Asier points towards the other with his chin, [color=0054a6]”Papa Pooka?”[/color].

[color=C0C0C0]“Woo woo woo!”[/color] shouted the younger one. [color=C0C0C0]“Papa pooka!”[/color] She grinned wickedly at her counterpart and he scowled. She turned that same smile on Asier. [color=C0C0C0]“I Akeenah. You Assiew.”[/color] She pointed to the sea-man. [color=C0C0C0]“I Hoomak,”[/color] she announced, using the wrong pronoun. [color=C0C0C0]“I -”[/color] she grabbed silver and gestured [color=C0C0C0]“wike.”[/color]

Asier gestures with his head towards the bindings coiled around him, wiggling his body to show the suggestion of perhaps untying or cutting him free from his bondage. [color=0054a6]”Going to be difficult without my hands. Are you able to free me?”[/color], he wiggles in an exaggerated manner as tugging at the ropes, as he repeats [color=0054a6]”Free friend?”[/color] in a suggestive tone.

Hoomak rolled his eyes at Akeenah, but withdrew a wicked-looking dagger from his pouch when Asier spoke. Akeenah’s eyes widened momentarily, but then her partner was slicing the human’s bindings and the ropes were sloughing away. [color=2e8b57]“Hyou go,”[/color] said Hoomak. [color=2e8b57]“I wike-ke-ke.”[/color] added his partner eaerly. [color=2e8b57]“I tkake. Hyou tkake.”[/color] 

Asier rubs his wrists as he can finally feel his circulation going towards his fingers, rotating them to get the blood flowing as he nods towards Hoomak, stating [color=0054a6]”Thank you”[/color]. Asier redoes the introductions to confirm what they have learnt so far. He points to himself, [color=0054a6]”Asier”[/color], he points towards the girl, [color=0054a6]”Akeenah”[/color], he points towards the male, [color=0054a6]”Hoomak”[/color], then he reaches down to knock upon the ship, [color=0054a6]”Ship”[/color], he raises his fingers to signal [color=0054a6]”One Ship”[/color], then closes his hand, then points towards the distance, [color=0054a6]”One ship, two ship, three ship, four ship”[/color], and shows four fingers towards them.

Once the refresher class is completed, he notices their attention upon the silver, as he reaches out towards it, [color=0054a6]”This is silver. Silver.”[/color], even prodding it to make the point if allowed that close, [color=0054a6]”Akeenah like silver?”[/color], as he points towards her then the silver in her hand, [color=0054a6]”Hoomak like silver?”[/color], doing likewise.

[color=C0C0C0]“I siwfer!”[/color] Akeenah hisses when he got too close, baring her teeth, but then it turned into an impish smile. [color=C0C0C0]“Hehe, I ghak-k fowee!”[/color] She made a thinking face for a moment, and a flash of lightning illuminated her surprisingly humanlike features. [color=C0C0C0]“I, hyou, hyou go siwfer.”[/color] She paused and pointed. [color=C0C0C0]“Ssipss.”[/color]

Hoomak jabbered something quickly back in their language and Akeenah nodded. Then, the older sea person was gone: springing overboard with surprising nimbleness for his apparent age. [color=C0C0C0]“Hoomak go.”[/color] She makes a gesture of pulling or gathering something. [color=C0C0C0]“Go peepwe: wum tkoo fwee fouw…”[/color] She bit her lower lip. [color=C0C0C0]“I, hyou go ssiips. Peepwe go ssipsss. Siwfer!”[/color] She nodded and smiled conspiratorially. [color=C0C0C0]“I, hyou go wum. Peepwe go tkoo.”[/color] She winked. [color=C0C0C0]“I, you, wum, tkoo fwee, fouw siwfer.”[/color]

Asier smiles as he thanks the heavens; the basic universal concept of wanting more applies to these creatures too. He does a big gesture with his hands, [color=0054a6]”Lots of Silver. Lots.”[/color]

Akeenah is an awkward walker when not bounding or leaping, her long-toed webbed feet evidently not well adapted to moving quickly on flat ground. She turners on a heel. [color=C0C0C0]“Wotkss,”[/color] she tries gamely, stumbling over the word and having to twist her mouth in a strange way to pronounce it. [color=C0C0C0]“Wum, tkoo, fwee, fouw.”[/color] She pauses, psyching herself up for the challenge. [color=C0C0C0]“Wotks.”[/color] She arches an eyebrow, annoyed, and shakes her head, gesturing to Asier to follow her overboard. [color=C0C0C0]“I, hyou…”[/color] She points to her mouth and mimics speaking. [color=C0C0C0]“I queeyan: eeaiko queeyan. Wotks,”[/color] she continues, [color=C0C0C0]“Kohkah!”[/color] She pauses, swinging over the edge. [color=C0C0C0]“Wum, tkoo fwee, fouw: kohka!”[/color]

[color=C0C0C0]“Asier,”[/color] she says, poking her head back up. [color=C0C0C0]“Hyou…”[/color] She clambers up a bit and hooks her elbows over the edge. Poorly, she motions swimming. [color=C0C0C0]“Okay?”[/color]

Asier questions the language, pointing towards Aleekah. [color=0054a6]”Eeaiko?”[/color], then pointing towards himself, [color=0054a6]”Human.”[/color]. The main reason for clarifying is the fact he is realising what is going to be asked of him. Being a horseman on the steppe, his contact with water is infrequent, even if it is a butt of jokes about bathing. He moves towards the side as he tries to estimate how deep the water is, though during storm conditions as the waves crash against the side of the boat, this is impossible to tell, and even if he could paddle a little it would be vastly inadequate. He probably looks rather meek when looking towards the water, offering a shrug of his shoulders, as he starts to draw upon the force energies of the storm, so if he starts sinking towards the bottom, he might be able to get his way back out if he manages to push himself towards the direction of land.

He was about to jump into the water when he got an idea. Stopping himself, and using the open flat of his hand to symbolise ‘stop’ or ’wait’, he moves over to grab some rope, returning to the Eeaiko girl. He moves the rope around him, as he begins to tie it into a knot, then tugging upon it to show how it doesn’t come undone. [color=0054a6]”Asier rope.”[/color], pointing down towards it, then offers the other end to Akeenah, [color=0054a6]”Akeenah rope? Asier Akeenah rope together.”[/color], trying his best to communicate with his hands.

[color=C0C0C0]“A.. aha… ahahaha! Asier uh-uh ik–k-k ahee!”[/color] She was laughing at him, but she clambered back aboard and accepted the rope, tying it around her waist. [color=C0C0C0]“I, hyou, go!”[/color] she prodded, hopping nimbly up on the gunwale. [color=C0C0C0]“Okay?”[/color]

Asier gives a thumbs up in an act of fake confidence. [color=0054a6]”Okay.”[/color], as he moves upon the edge of the gunwale, then with much reluctance, even with the rope, pushes himself into the water with a splash, sinking in underneath then trying to kick himself up so his head is above it. Thankfully, he is not wearing any armour, considering it all got confiscated as part-payment for his act of arson. 

Akeenah more or less drags him to a nearby longship, her eagerness to reach it not giving Asier much chance to be anything but a passenger. Once his hands have grasped the side, she untethers herself eagerly and leaps aboard. [color=C0C0C0]“Silver?”[/color] she demands, but she’s already going for a chest. There’s a brief buildup of energy and then the lock shatters and she’s opening her prize. What she pulls out is not silver but gold. She waggles her eyebrows at Asier and grins, but it quickly fades in favour of inquisitiveness. [color=C0C0C0]“You uh-uh Eskaam?”[/color]

Asier shakes his head to the question, assuming it meant she was asking if he was Eskandr. [color=0054a6]“Me Parrench. From Parrence. Not Eskandr.”[/color], he works up some spit as if to give a demonstration of disgust towards Eskandr. He does change the subject as he points towards the gold, [color=0054a6]”Gold. Worth more than Silver.”[/color], he points towards Akeenah’s silver, then using a gesture with his arms symbolising a lot of it, then pointing towards the smaller pile of gold. [color=0054a6]”Gold is lots of Silver”[/color].

Akeenah, busy scooping gold into her sling, just kind of looks strangely at Asier and where he spat. [color=C0C0C0]“Paareck,”[/color] she repeats, apparently solid on it, but there seems to be some deeper confusion there. She stares briefly at the spit again, already washed away by the rain and then shakes her head as if to clear it. Then, from the water comes splashing that doesn’t seem like waves. Hoomak and seven to ten other Eeaiko clamber and leap aboard. One - a particularly large man in what would appear to be fine clothing for Eeaiko - takes the lead, grabbing Akeenah by the hand. [color=CD7F32]“Akeenah, reek awoom ak-k-k oomum.”[/color] He looks Asier up and down, scowling. 

Asier was helping to find other treasure upon the ship, bringing it as an offering towards Akeenah as she was storing things within her sling as he built upon that rapport. Though the arrival of her friends is met with some perceived hostility by what appears to be perhaps the leader of this group. He motions towards himself, [color=0054a6]”Asier, Parrench Human.”[/color], then towards the wealthy one, [color=0054a6]”Silver, Gold, for Eeaiko”[/color], he gestures the box towards the group, as if offering them the opportunity to partake in the spoils. He keeps an eye upon the dynamic between Akeenah and the leader, wondering if there was deeper connection, or simply general suspicion towards strangers.

[color=CD7F32]“I speak your worzz, Parreck,”[/color] the apparent leader replied. He pulled Akeenah close. [color=CD7F32]“I am Auvam, of Akamaz. I see you have meh my betkrove, Akeenah.”[/color] He did not make any move towards Asier, for either good or ill. Instead, he crossed his arms. [color=CD7F32]“So, you are a prisomer, we have freeh you. You give us goww and siwver as thacks. You wook for more?”[/color]

Asier smiles brightly as this one speaks his tongue close enough, a perfect opportunity. [color=0054a6]”Glad that your fiance introduced us then, we need to share words that involve you getting a lot of gold and silver.”[/color], he hopes the words take the interest of Auvam, making him more willing to hear his ideas. [color=0054a6]“Your Akeenah likes her silver, so let's make your wedding full of it. Does that sound interesting to you?”[/color]. 

[color=0054a6]”The Eskandr,”[/color] pointing towards the ship, [color=0054a6]”have sent a great many to Parrench. Around a thousand it seemed, they filled the waters off the coast.”[/color], he nods towards Akeenah to gesture a really big ‘lots’, definitely a lot of fours. [color=0054a6]”You are talking to Asier, the man who burnt them all, nearly.”[/color], he gestures a big poof of smoke, like an eruption. [color=0054a6]”The Eskandr are stuck in Parrence. Their homes are missing many of their warriors.”[/color], he moves towards the chest of silver and gold. [color=0054a6]”Eskandr takes gold and silver from everywhere, to bring home. Their halls are filled with this.”[/color] he takes out the gold and silver, offering it out to the group. [color=0054a6]”If Auvam of Akamaz, and his many friends wanted an opportunity to have a wedding filled with silver for his lovely wife”[/color], gesturing towards Akeenah, [color=0054a6]”Asier the Parrench will help him, and he does not want gold or silver.”[/color] 

[color=CD7F32]“You say this ouh of the goohess of your hearh or for revenge?”[/color] Inquired Auvam. [color=CD7F32]“I will noh brig my kig a requess for pickig awwies ih a humam war.”[/color]

Asier shakes his head, [color=0054a6]”Justice, not revenge. We do not desire bloodshed or their death, nor would this be requested”[/color]. [color=0054a6]”Tell me. Given what we see of the Eskandr, they are brutal, cruel, and warlike. Your people must have met their ends early at their hands. Yet, despite their threat, you are here on their ship, for their gold and silver, in a peaceful manner as they sleep on the shore. This tells me that gold and silver are important to you.”[/color], he gestures towards the shoreline. [color=0054a6]”Their warriors are on a shore called Parrence, whilst they leave their city like this ship. Like this ship, Asier will offer to help you claim what you need, taking those riches in payment for their crimes against the Eeaiko, past, present, and maybe even future. All we desire is justice being served, my friendship on this is your wedding gift.”[/color]

[color=CD7F32]“Tell me, humam, why are you sayig your nhame, nhoh ‘I’?”[/color] Auvam tilted his head to the side.

Asier scratches his head for a moment, [color=0054a6]”Bad habit which was picked up when trying to converse earlier, we were learning each other's names, and mistakes were made. Hoomak ended up as Papa Pooka by accident, we were trying to familiarize ourselves with correct names by repeating them. Also we Tourrare Parrench are a communal people, we aim to serve and contribute to the family, not the individual.”[/color]

[color=CD7F32]“Hah! Papa Pookah!”[/color] Auvam laughed. [color=CD7F32]“You are fummy, Asier. I will give you thah. Now…”[/color] He twisted, cleared his throat, and began shouting orders in his language. Akeenah flashed a little smile Asier’s way and took the lead as eeaiko spread out across the ships. [color=CD7F32]“You shouh be correc, though,”[/color] the leader amended. [color=CD7F32]“We are’t the omes who fear Eskaam. Eskaam fear us!”[/color] He crossed his arms. [color=CD7F32]“I will bring this projec to my king. I have his ear. Perhaps he will lissen.”[/color]

The last moments Asier can remember is that big toothy smile of Auvam as the world goes dark around him.

As the morning sun breaks through the clouds, Asier looks up from the ship mast even more worse to wear than the night before. He groans as he seems to woken from a very strange dream about the events that transpired during the night. He is roughly greeted by a charming Eskandr brute of a man who enjoyed greeting him with a slap against the face each morning, though now, that permanent scowl seemed to twist to show how his heart grew three times smaller at this present moment. [color=DFFF00]“Hvor er sølvet? - where is the silver”[/color]. Asier spat out blood as he was struck again, looking towards the side where the strongbox laid open and the lid broken off. [color=DFFF00]"The sea demons were real…?”[/color] Asier questioned for a moment, as he looked up towards the man. The man fumed as he started shouting out in Eskandr. [color=DFFF00]“Havfruene! havfruene var her”[/color]. He looked down towards Asier, grinning as he prodded upon the strange mark scratched upon him. [color=DFFF00]“You were lucky boy, they didn’t eat you. They left you a parting present to remember them by.”[/color]

Asier looks down to see the mark upon him. It was regarded as a curse for those who have been in contact with the seafolk by the Eskandr after he had outlived his usefulness in taking the Eskandr’s treasures. Perhaps his willingness allowed him to remain with his life, even though it won’t be much of one once he gets to his destination. 

Next time, he might have had better luck in attempting to trade silver for Auvam’s wife than encouraging them to raid a city.

Let’s hope the gods bless him with an opportunity to end up with his Parrench compatriots once again.

[hr][hider=TL;DR Summary]
Scene with Asier's wife and daughter, Gisselle and Maele being informed about Asier being out to sea, cue duet song.
Asier is treated by punishingly by the Eskandr. They apparently don't like their ships being burnt to cinders.
Asier is left out in a storm, coming across the Eeaiko, sea people which talk funny and really liked silver.
Asier gets abandoned by the sea people after outliving his usefulness. Now to continue the rest of the journey.[/hider][hr][hr]