The Endless Hunt, Season 3: "Snakes! Why Did It Have to Be Snakes?"

[Sheilawisz]

Silver Whitestar

.

Silver took a few minutes to recover from the surprise and the shock, she finally remembered how to close her jaw and then, still trembling after her encounter with the Baroness Sigrelyn herself, Silver shook her head in desbelief and walked straight towards the ship that Sigrelyn had pointed with instructions to stow her gear right there.

How could the Baroness Sigrelyn know so many things about her by just staring at her for a few seconds?

It was true that Silver was very skilled with her battle axe, and even though she was not a great swordswoman, she knew enough to defend herself just fine with her Longsword. Also it was true that Silver had never ridden a horse in her life, that she had a preference for red wine over white... and to cap it all, Sigrelyn had nearly guessed her real age.

"Almost everybody else thinks that I am thirty!" Silver thought, and then she finally stopped in front of the guards that were protecting the access to this ship in particular.

"Here" she said, handing over to the guards her battle axe and her longsword, keeping her two-feet long dagger well-hidden in her clothes- "I am in for the Hunt!"

Silver did not really like to be separated from her longsword, which was after all the only keepsake that she still had to remind her of her dead father, but orders were orders and she wanted to be in good terms with the baroness.

She hoped that they would give her a bow and arrows later when they were in the Hunt... because, even though she was not a great shooter, Silver was capable of defending herself and killing some prey to survive in the forests.

One of the Guards took the weapons into the ship (Silver knew that she was not supposed to board it herself) and then she walked away to stray around the docks, waiting to see what would happen next...

[Ravana]

Silver Whitestar

…is actually quite welcome to board the ship—the restrictions allow both personal gear and the persons themselves—but the guard is also quite willing to stow her belongings for her, and it occurs to her that, grand though the ship might be, there's only so much of it, and she'll have plenty of time later to see it all.

Likewise, obtaining a bow and arrows presents no difficulty, as long as Silver knows what she wants; someone apparently anticipated the usefulness of being well-supplied with spares. There's no space nearby to try them out, though, so if she's unsure she can wait until more open territory is reached.

In fact, the more she looks around, the more she realizes that someone apparently anticipated the usefulness of being well-supplied with spares of everything… whether or not spares actually would be useful, nor how many of each. And those are just the things she can identify. Much of what is being loaded is crated up, and the gods alone knew what might be in those. Well, probably someone besides the gods did, but few of the crates are marked in any way she can make out.

One of the more mysterious activities is being conducted by a group that is passing loads up a ramp and then placing them into a wagon on the ship's deck. Which seems odd to her: clearly, the wagon could get on board, so why not load it first and drive it up? Then she notices that another group is unloading a similar wagon near that pier, and that they're working behind an empty wagon next to which sits a pile of goods about the right size for the wagon to have held.

She also notices that a gang of carpenters by the next ship down the line appears to be busily engaged in constructing a new ramp. And that they're cannibalizing some badly-shattered planking to supplement their materials. And that everyone else standing near that ship wears distinct looks of displeasure or disgust. Even the ones probing the water with some sort of hook at the end of a long handle.

One area of calm does exist along the docks: several men seem to be doing nothing but standing quietly in a circle. It takes her a moment to realize that the reason they appear to be doing this is that the center of the circle is not in fact empty, but is occupied by people rather shorter than they are. Two people. One is giving the men instructions. The other, apparently, is giving him instructions.

The circle parts, and Sigrelyn strides out of it. The person she was with, who remains behind to talk to a couple of the others, is a man about Sigrelyn's own height and build. He wears a shirt of some fine sea-green fabric, an ochre vest of what might be suede, an elbow-length purple glove on his left hand, baggy breeches composed of wide vertical stripes of saffron, indigo and verdigris, and knee-high teal boots—with silver bells on the toes. A wide, cream-colored baldric supports a scabbard at an angle between his shoulders; it looks as though if one were to stand the sword upright, it would be taller than he is. A thin silver coronet constructed of arches so fine they almost looks like lace secures a tightly-fitted particolored blue and white skullcap, at the crest of which is a narrow spike supporting a pair of silver snake-heads facing opposite directions. He occasionally reinforces the directions he's giving with what looks like a marshal's baton covered in black and white tiger fur.

Sigrelyn snags Silver's elbow as she passes. "They're so you can hear him coming," she offers without preamble. "Come on. It will take them at least another day to finish loading at this rate, and I could do with a drink."

Nodding toward some new stir near the opening in the ropes, Sigrelyn adds: "Besides, I think I recognize that underdressed young lady who's just arrived."

Silver is confused: all she sees in that vicinity is an enormous, muscular, grizzled man. Again without waiting for a question, Sigrelyn says "Yeah, he kinda gives them away." The hint of a grin touches her lips. "You just got a third job. Under absolutely no circumstances whatsoever should you ever, ever call him 'Bobo.'"

Did the baroness just wink at her? "Not until I give you the signal."

Obviously, there was much here that Silver did not yet understand. But the baroness is right: there is a lady, perhaps a bit older than she or Sigrelyn, standing with the huge man… her clothes somewhat scanty by any standard Silver had ever known.

She barely even notices the motion of Sigrelyn's hand darting to her sword-hilt. The baroness stops four paces short of the newcomers, and in a carrying voice declaims "I knew you'd catch up with me one of these days.…"

[Legendary Sidekick]

The large man bellows, "Of course, Siggy!"

The underdressed woman gives her husband a look and whispers, "Bobo!" but he keeps talking (rather loudly).

"You know we're here to support the Hero of Roku-Roku Island. Speaking of... where's Hev?"

"Who's Hev?" the lady asks.

"You know... Heverik the Heroic. But you know how he is about titles."

"They're a distant second to fashion?"

"..." Jade is about to address Sigrelyn by title, but figures that the Huntress next to her must be aware that the Baroness despises titles; otherwise, the two would not be standing together. "It is good to see you again, Sigrelyn. As you may have guessed, the people on my island still speak of your husband's showdown with Chief Torashishi. It is regrettable that I was unable to join you at the time. My husband was worried about my condition."

"I still am... and will be for the next six months."

Ignoring her husband's comment, Jade bows to Silver.

"You must be a local Huntress! I am Jade of the Roku-Roku."


(Silver sees that Jade is well-endowed for a woman of her size, and also notices that while Jade has the body of a dancer, her toned abs are slightly round. As for the man who is with her, he is extremely "round" for such a muscular man. Silver quickly dismisses the thought that the man's large stomach could be the result of "sympathetic pregnancy."

She introduces herself to Jade.)


Jade replies, "A pleasure to meet you, Miss Whitestar. This is my first time on the mainland. I am interested in the local customs, especially regarding how a woman should present herself. I cannot count on my husband for this." She puts an arm around Bouldergut (--as far around him as she possibly can). "I can count on him for everything else."

[Sheilawisz]

Silver Whitestar

It was clear to Silver that the man with the complex, impressive clothing is no other than His Highness Heverik himself, but who are these strange two newcomers that Sigrelyn is talking to?

Sigrelyn was ready to draw out her sword, she had said "Not until I give you the signal" and now Silver was ready to draw out her hidden dagger and defend the Baroness in a split of a second in case anything bad happened...

This place was so mysterious- Why were they loading the ships with so many crates? Why Sigrelyn seemed to be alarmed at the presence of the huge man and the lady with scanty clothing? And most importantly...

When would the other Hunters show up to start the Hunt?

[Sheilawisz]

Silver Whitestar

Silver was now more calm after Jade had introduced herself, and she hoped that they would become friends in the Hunt.

[Ravana]

Sigrelyn

…offers to have some of the assorted functionaries stow away any gear the recent arrivals don't want to take with them into a local tavern. She also mentions that the recent arrivals are welcome to stow themselves away if they'd prefer inhabiting cramped shipboard quarters any earlier than absolutely necessary over accompanying her to said tavern. Her tone seems to imply she doesn't expect any takers but feels obliged to point out the option, if only out of politeness. Then she leads

Silver, Bouldergut and Jade

off to the nearest tavern to be found that smells more of alcohol than of fish.

"Bouldergut actually made my sword," Sigrelyn explains to Silver as they walk. "And Heverik's. Yes, he's still carrying it," she tosses in Boulder's direction. "He finds it useful whenever anyone tries joking about him walking around with only half a staff—which, I might add, he's constantly stroking."

Boulder seems to be in the throes of trying not to choke on something, which is odd because they haven't even reached the tavern yet. She goes on: "Yes, you can imagine the reactions. And whenever he gets one, he stops, brushes his fingers along the sword's hilt, looks dreamily up to the sky.…"

She draws it out for a moment.

"…then says 'Mine's still bigger.'"

Sigrelyn manages to deliver this in such an innocent tone, with a total absence of facial expression, that one might think she hadn't the slightest notion what she was saying could possibly be found funny. Unless you look in her eyes, that is—which are positively twinkling. Jade is managing a fair approximation of dignified amusement. Boulder… is experiencing difficulty walking, bent double that way.

Sigrelyn looks across his broad back to Jade. "C'mon, we better get him sat down. Poor fellow looks like he's about to keel over from thirst." Pause. Still deadpan: "Or something." Which doesn't seem to help him in the least.

Nevertheless, they soon find a tavern with tables set up out of doors. Sigrelyn orders "One for the road," then sets to with the others catching up on news, mostly allowing Silver to make do as best she can from context.

Silver is once more puzzled when they leave after finishing their "one"—it seems unduly hasty, by her way of thinking. Things become slightly clearer when, four doors away, they stop and order one for the shore. The tavern after that, it's for the sea. By the time the skies begin to darken, she's received an astounding education in geographical terminology, and Sigrelyn and Boulder are taking turns dipping into regional variants from distant lands. It never occurred to Silver that learning foreign languages might prove so useful.

Jade—who made no attempt at matching the others drink for drink, especially once she saw the probable trajectory of events—finally points out that they might wish to head back toward the ship. Wherever that might be. Sigrelyn snags a passing local, presses a thaler into his palm, and says "You! Ugly banner!" Then gives him a shove… in the wrong direction, as it turns out, but he clearly understands the intention. The party manages to hew a comparatively straight course—thanks mostly to their guide. As they come within sight of the enclosure, Boulder stage-whispers to Sigrelyn "Just what the bloody blue blazes is that thing on the banner, anyway?"

"Hell if I know," the baroness replies. "He has it changed every day. I lost track months ago. What did it look like?"

"Three ostriches tied together by their necks and thrown into a blueberry bush."

"Can't be. He never repeats himself."

Boulder stops in his tracks. "You mean… he's…?" Then he plops down on his backside in the middle of the road, howling in laughter.

Sigrelyn, apparently oblivious to the uproar, continues in all earnestness: "Now, if at least one of them was a pelican.…" And Boulder is flat on his back. She shakes her head. "No, there still would have to be a hedgehog involved somewhere, or at least a drop-spindle. Do you remember seeing a drop-spindle?" She looks quizzically at Jade.

"I think you might be causing my husband a debilitating injury," Jade replies.

"How about crossed polo mallets?"

"I thought you said you had lost track."

"I did. But I'm also the unfortunate victim of a more-than-usually-comprehensive education where heraldry is concerned, courtesy of—"

A droll male voice cuts in. "I thought we would need to send out search parties."

"—right on cue," Sigrelyn winks at the other two women, eyes obviously a-twinkle once more, even in the dim torchlight.

The owner of the voice is a man of average height and build, in his late middle age, or early old age: it's too dark to be sure. The evident plainness of his garb made it clear that this was at any rate not the prince.

"Again," the man adds. His face is so carefully neutral he could probably give Sigrelyn lessons.

Sigrelyn gestures toward him. "Ladies and… uh, Boulder… allow me to present my longtime companion and tutor, Hogar." At which point it becomes obvious he has given her lessons. "Hogar: Princess Jade of Roku-Roku; her husband, Bouldergut the Great-Grandm—"

"Now don't you start!" Boulder exclaims, as he struggles to rise between guffaws so he can be properly on his feet while being introduced.

"And Silver Whitestar, who life has thus far spared the burden of a title, though I'm sure we'll remedy that before all is said and done. Hogar, Boulder was just asking what the Marnau device is today."

How the man could look neutral and so sternly disapproving at the same instant is beyond any of the others to account for. His enunciation is too clear for the words to be coming through gritted teeth… you think. "Do you wish the full blazon, or merely the update? The only changes from yesterday were the removal of the spectacles from the aquillama, and changing the color from apricot to puce on the drop-spindle."

"See? I knew there was a drop-spindle involved!" Boulder has once more located the earth. It seems oddly proximate to where he'd last seen it. "Though heraldry wasn't all I learned from him. He also taught me everything I know about…" Her voice drops to a conspiratorial whisper, as if sharing a secret her tutor ought to be well ashamed of: "…geography!"

Which serves to incapacitate the other two drinking companions.

"Are we to expect your guests to be permitted to board any time soon, my lady, or shall I have a tent set up over them for the night?"

"Don't even dream about it. The tents are three layers down in the Mistrider's forward hold, under—" Then she stops short. Then favors him with a slight bow: a fencer's gesture, conceding a touch.

Hogar strolls over to give Jade, then Silver, then—astonishingly, for a man his size—Boulder a hand in rising. "Don't forget to tell them I also taught you analytical thinking, memorization techniques… and how to hold your drink."

From Hogar's grip, Boulder suspects the other man had somewhat to do with her martial training as well.

Letting his last comment pass, Sigrelyn inquires: "So, are we all loaded?"

"Enough, please, your excellency."

"Oh, my: he only calls me that when he's especially displeased." Which seems to amuse her. "Very well: 'laden'?"

"Nearly. We won't catch the morning tide tomorrow, but we can surely take advantage of the evening one, if we so choose."

She shakes her head. "We'd manage at least one collision, or someone would run aground, the way things have been going. Another day won't hurt anything, and might give some more Hunters a chance to arrive." She motions the group toward the Sea Hind. "Besides…" she trails off.

"There are still some bars left standing?"

"Yep," she chirps gaily. "But tomorrow… we bring you with us."

They board the ship.

[Sheilawisz]

Silver Whitestar

That had been a fun and unusual day in the otherwise twisted life of Silver, she had met the Baroness Sigrelyn (always call her by her name, always!! Silver kept thinking for herself) and also Princess Jade, her husband Bouldergut and also that other man that was called Hogar.

She had really liked all of them!

Maybe at last, after so many years of being a solitary wood-cutter in the forests, Silver had finally found... friends. Silver was also quite excited at the idea of receiving a title like Sigrelyn had said! Yeah, now she was sure that travelling from so far to join this Hunt was perhaps the best idea of her life.

Still, Silver wondered why so few Hunters had showed up so far to join the Expedition... Sure that one day or more waiting for them would not affect Heverik's plans so badly, but she was sure that they were going to face many dangers in those mysterious lands and quite more Hunters were needed...

[Phil the Drill]

Omar Metzger

Omar saw the ship. Good, now maybe I can finally find somewhere to end this miserable life. I hope a thousand snakes bite me and I swell up with poison and die. Oh, there are other people here. Ok, Omar, time to put on your happy face.

"Hello!" Omar says as he gets on the ship.

[Legendary Sidekick]

As Omar boards the ship, his eyes are fixed on Jade and her outfit, or what little there is of it. She politely returns a smile to the man, and starts to say, "Welcome aboard..."

Her husband drowns her out with his loudness. "Ha! One look at my wife is all it takes to make a guy smile!"

(Bouldergut doesn't notice that the man winces at the word 'wife' before he quickly snaps his smile back on.)

"No harm in having good taste. The lovely ladies before me are my wife Jade; Baroness Sigrelyn, wife of Prince Heverik the Heroic; and this young Huntress is White Silverstar."

"Silver Whitestar," Jade says with a roll of her eyes. To Silver she says, "Please forgive my husband. I think he is letting the drink speak on his behalf."

"Could be the colorblindness."

Jade kicks her husband in the shin.

"Or shinsplints," he adds. "Anyway," he says to the newcomer, "you can call me Bouldergut. And you are?"

(Omar introduces himself...)

* * *

As Omar and Bouldergut continue to talk, Jade sheepishly takes Silver aside and softly asks,

"Do you think you could take me shopping before the ship departs? I hate to admit that Bobo is correct about the eyes of men. The way they keep starting at me, it is only a matter of time before one man accidentally walks overboard and drowns. You seem to have very good fashion sense. As a reward for your assistance, you may choose an outfit for yourself."

Jade tugs on what little there is of her skirt. Coins jingle inside.

"I insist to pay."

[Sheilawisz]

Silver Whitestar and Princess Jade

"I would be delighted to go shopping together, Jade" Silver replied, happy to hear the coins jingling inside her little skirt- "I do not have much style really, when you live at the forests and work cutting down the trees what you really need is to wear something sturdy and strong, if you are stylish or not has less importance."

Silver and Jade walked away together from the docks and into the busy and crowded streets of the city. They soon discovered a little shop ran by an elderly woman with just one eye, where Jade chose a black cloak and heavy boots that were just like Silver's, to start with. Jade paid also for a purple riding hood that Silver loved, and later, after stopping at a tavern to have some glasses of wine, they walked into another shop where Jade found a new outfit that she really liked.

"This is perfect!" she said, looking at her reflection on a large mirror- "I am paying for this, and also for that pair of good leather gloves for my friend here."

They departed from that shop a few minutes later, maybe they still had some time left before the ships would depart...