Once they get underway Fernao sits back and relishes the air and movement. He leans back and until somebody gives him something to do he does... Nothing. As he is leaning back and he opens one of his pouches and begins threading together fine pieces of leather and in the process of this weaves dried flower and bits of gems. As he does this he relaxes even further. His 8' tall, nearly 400 lb mass of muscle is relaxed as if he were an 8" tall 40 ounce pile and with the sun glinted off of the golden rings circling his horns and around his neck the Tauren glows in spite of the darkness of his black brindled body. Or perhaps it is because of? Well, regardless, he is busily making his bracelet and the joy he is taking from it is palpable.

This wasn't the youngsters first time on a boat and she didn't want to assume that she was going to be giving any special privileges but she did wonder where was most of those that was just hired going to be resting.  Was there separate quarters for the females and males.

"Sorry for the delay but I had to complete a task before being able to go.  It seems that we are in good hands by the Gods.

Brude gladly accepts the rudder from Ason. He was very happy to be the pilot of such a fine sailing vessel as this. One day he would own his own ship though, it was just a matter of time.

Once they are under way, Thamyron quickly ducks below decks. He reemerges in a short, loose-fitting grey tunic and breeches, suited to working on a boat.  He still has a dagger at his waist, and breathes deeply, savoring the sea air. It had been a while since he had been on the open water.

Ason replies to Nkruma..."yes, we willb e crossing a sea wrought with pirates...my own people the Hellenes are among the worse offenders but the Tharshi are bad as well. The Rosey Fingered Dawn is a fast ship though, much faster than the galleys the pirates tend to favor."

"That said, I would appreciated any payers or sacrifices that you could do on our behalf to Olukun."

After a quick look around it is clear to  that there is no separate quarters for men and women. The few women on the crew bunk right alongside the men. The ship fast but not very comfortable.

After Aias stows his gear he comes back up on deck. He falls in the the regular crew of the ship and begins to work right along side them.

Nkruma nods and turns his gaze to the waves. He ponders the tasks ahead as he allows Olukun to carry them all onwards towards their Fate.

The various rivers and canals flow quickly...aided by the favorable winds, the Rosy Fingered Dawn finds herself in the open sea by the third day of sailing. The crew and passengers watch the shore of the Atlantean continent vanish int he distance as they sail East.

Ason has a schedule set up that has all of those hired by Alembos taking a small part in the maintenance and sailing of the ship. Each passenger is even given a small time with Brude to learn the basics of piloting a sailing ship.

Alembos keeps to himself most of the time. He has taken over the captains quarters and uses it as his makeshift lab. Ason bunks with the rest of the crew. He does take a moment to show Nkruma the small shrine to Olukun that he has set up near the prow on the deck.

Each day at dawn and dusk finds Nkruma before the shrine in the prow of the boat. He also throws himself into learning as much about the ship as he can - from piloting the vessel to learning the terminology for the sails, ropes, rigging, and accouterments.

He also spends some of his free time simply sitting and staring at the moon and stars, sometimes howling mournfully, sometimes chanting softly under his breath.

Brude is overjoyed tog et the chance to share his profession with those he is sailing with, especially two women. He is not a letch but had always been drawn to the beauty and grace of Atlantean women. It was really one of the reasons he left home. After he got his first good look at Atlanean beauty, it was hard for him to look at Pictish women the same any more.

Aias already had the basic skills needed to be a crew member on a galley, the sailing ship was a bit different but he was still happy to get the extra experience.

For the last three days The Seer kept to herself as much as Alembos, but she was a curious about what he was making in the captains quarters.

On the morning of the 13th of Du'uzu, Nkruma awakens and goes to the shrine of Olukun in the bow of the boat. He seems energetic and curious. His eyes scan the horizon and waves. "We should be near the isle of Hesperia, should we not? I am not as familiar with maps and geography as I could be, I suppose. Still, I hear that the Hesperian isles are full of strange and exotic beasts."

When she's not cooking or cleaning in the kitchens, Sabetha can be found spinning tales of her past on the deck.  She stays out of the way of any real heavy work, but she keeps any who listen to her amused.  If asked about the truthfulness of her tales, she vows as to their accuracy.

Ason nods and smiles at Nkruma..."Aye, strange and exotic beasts, dangerous as well...none more so than the Hesperians themselves. Alembos has wisely requested that we steer clear of Hesperia. Very soon I will be calling to Brude to change our course northward for a bit."

Nkruma nods. "I am told that the gryphons of Hesperia are particularly dangerous. Very swift." He uses his spread paw-like hand to mime something swooping down towards the railing. "Very swift. Faster than an arrow. Or so I am told."

He looks at the waves a bit longer before clearing his throat. It sounds very much like a low-rumbling growl. "In two nights, it will be a full moon. If I may, I would ask that we find anchorage on that night so that I might swim in Olukun's embrace beneath the light of the moon. Whether such a moorage is safe or no, it must be done."

Ason purses his lips as he thinks of Nkruma's request for a moment..."We will see what we can do but these are dangerous waters."

The captain then looks to Brude and says..."Change our course, North-east, we skirt the tip of Hesperia."

The next two days pass without event. The ships passes by the northern most tip of Hesperia and is back out into open waters again when the sun begins to set.

The anchor is dropped and Ason lets Nkruma know that they would only remain here for no more than a half hour.

Fernao spends his time on whatever duties required of him and when he had no duties he exercises with his weapons as space permits. Otherwise he weaves his necklaces and bracelets using the stash of leather, beads, gems, and flowers he included in his gear.

Once Nkruma makes known his need to swim under the full moon, but before they actually drop anchor, the Tauran is curious, "So each full moon you must swim? What if you are in the desert? Does this mean you may not go into the desert? If we are going to the Sea of Grass? Will you be able to swim in the grass if there is no water? It is still a sea, I think, though it is not of water it is of grass."

"If there is no water, Nkruma answers Fernao, "then I must find or make a pool. Olukun is both mysterious and powerful." He shrugs. "Though it is true that I have not ventured into the deep deserts of the world." Nkruma strips down to everything but a belt and a bronze dagger. "I shall make this as fast as possible." He kneels on the deck of the ship near a opening in the railing and at first seems to have dozed off. His chin dips, nearly touching his chest, and his eyes are closed.

Then his chin lifts and he begins to sing a common hymn to Olukun. It is passable, but clearly not something that he is skilled at. The song last some two or three minutes and when it ends he rises to his feet and turns back to the boat. "Should any wish to join me, you are welcome." Without waiting for a response, he throws himself from the deck into the open sea.

He cuts through the water with speed, putting a slight distance between himself and the ship.

---

Nkruma rolled 12 using 1d20 ((12)). Perform roll.
Nkruma rolled 18 using 1d20+4 ((14)). Athletics (Swimming).

Thamyron keeps a silent watch while Nkruma swims in the water. He doesn't want to disrupt the rite, but stands ready to act if something unexpected occurs. The open waters hold many surprises and secrets,  something he had learned repeatedly in his travels.

Conall spends plenty of time with Brude during the voyage; though he clearly is an experienced sailor, he is eager to learn more about navigation of the vessel.

He listens, amused, as Fernao queries Nkruma.  The big Tauran certainly had a way of cutting right to the heart of the matter.

"What of you, Fernao?  Are there any gods you follow?" he asks.

Brude spends his time piloting the ship, taking orders from the captain and looking over the charts and stars. He is more than happy to have Conall show an interest in navigation, a subject dear to his heart.

He shows the Cimmerian the star charts during the day and lets him comparer the charts to the night sky when they get the chance.

He looks over at Fernao when Conall asks him of his gods. Over all the years they had known each other, this topic had never came up for some reason.

Aias seems happy to accept the offer and within a second or two is stripped down to a dingy loincloth. Like Nkruma he has his bronze dagger thrust through his belt but nothing else.

Throwing caution and reason to the wind he catapults himself over the railing and dives into the dark water. He breaks the surface from his dive and smiles broadly in the moonlight. He does not get too close to the Asena.