Alicia was content to follow in Jarrun's wake, accepted his offer of fruit "Thanks!" and began to eat.

She chuckled at his comment about entertaining. "That's right! You can sing, chant sagas, and tell stories. And, I can dance!"

She tried several leaps, touching the toes of both feet. "Aha! Still in practice!"

Etienne looked at the couple, smiled and nodded in thanks.
"Ahh, but I would be boor of the worst kind if I were to walk through a door before a lady.", he bowed, opened the door and indicated in a large gesture that Alicai should enter first.

Jarrun laughed heartily and shook his head at talented woman next to him.  "That sort of flexibility and your knowledge of pressure points could really come in handy in a fight.  And yes.  Telling great epics hurts a lot less than fighting, even if the money isn't as good."

At the shorter Montaigne's elaborate bow, the large blonde stifled a grin.  Oh... this could be entertaining.

He will give Alicia the first chance to respond.

Never reluctant to respond in kind to anyone, Alicia gave the man a benevolent smile as she went through the door, "Well, merci Monsieur! Of course I would wish for you to be at your best... at all times!"

Discovering the Father to be performing mundane good works, she wondered if he might have a hidden wanderlust ... somewhere. "Good day, Father. Do you have some time to speak with us?"

Father Carlo looked up from what he was doing and smiled at the young lady before him. It had not slipped his notice that there were two men with her " yes my child I seem to have completed my tasks for this morning. Now sit a while" he indicated to a pew nearby.

" and please ask your two skulking friends to join us I am a mere priest and will cause them no harm." There was a humour in his voice but there seemed to be just a little cold edge to the way he had spokenu
This message was last edited by the player at 09:32, Sat 15 Apr 2017.

The big blond man eased himself into one of the pews at the Father's invitation with a mirthful grin, careful to place his weight evenly so as not to risk damaging things as if he was used to being aware of his huge size.

His voice is deep and resonant, and it contained a modulation that indicated some sort of vocal training.  If used at full volume, such a voice would be heard clearly in either the stage or a battlefield.  "And I was trying so very hard to not skulk about this time.  I guess I just don't have the knack yet."

He will grin and pull out the letter from a waist pouch, sealed with the mark of the Seekers.  "Good evening, Father.  I am Jarrun, a simple Skaald of my people, and this is Alicia de Larrocha, a talented doctor whom I have the pleasure of remaining still in this world due to her exacting medicines.  Unfortunately, I cannot introduce the third member of this impromptu meeting as we only met by happenstance just outside the church doors.  If he is a local member of your congression, perhaps you would do well to treat with him first before returning to our matter.  We come baring a letter from our ship's Captain for you that appeared quite urgent.  I do not know the contents of the letter but I suspect it will ask a substantial investment of time on your part."

Jarrun takes a moment to glance around at the state of the church, nodding in approval at the worn but well-kept structure before returning his attention to Father Carlo and the Montaigne.

"Thank you, Father." Alicia sat.

Ha! Mere priest. Simple skald. The other skulker likely was "mere this" or "simple that" as well. The Seekers were in trouble if this was all that was available for this endeavor!

Well, at least she could try to patch them up if and when something were to go wrong- if they were still alive at the time, that is...

She waited for Monsieur this, or that, to come in and speak.

Father Carlo tooth letter off the large man and broke these. he read it first then again to make sure he understood its contents.

Turning to the young lady " My apologies I assumed all three of you were together" he said before looking up at the third member of the group.

"I understand that you are not with these two gentle people.... how may I be of service to you?" he asked

Naturally Etienne had registered the arrival of that other ship in port and naturally he had become aware of their investigations which were essentially to the same purpose as his own: to find that sailor Lucky Prad.
"Happenstance ? Unlikely, indeed quite wrong."
"Indeed, I have not arrived with these two in port but I am fairly sure that we pursue the same."
"My name is Etienne D'Emeraude and I serve Montaigne in various functions."
"In this particular case I am looking for a sailor named Lucky Prad who, I was told, has consulted with you some time ago, not long ago I might add. The man in question has black hair that he wears in a braid, a gold ring in his left ear, and a tattoo on his left arm of an anchor with a snake wrapped around it. He served on the Iphigenia and left for Vendel. The man was, or most likely still is, in possession of an item that quite a few people", he nodded to the other two, "are very interested in finding."
"Lucky Prad seemed to be quite distressed recently and where else to turn than but faith in such a case ? And the wise council of the clergy ? It is likely that Lucky Prad may not have been quite so lucky anymore and he may have shared some information about his turn of luck which would allow... us... to find him quickly. All to his best, I assure you."

The priest looked at the new comer without even a slight alteration to his features " My friend, I might or might not have come into contact with this young man but anything he might or might not have told me in the course of a confession is sacrosanct and is between himself and god"

Father Carlo looked at each of them in turn " as you are all aware words spoken to a priest in the confessional cannot be discussed  with another soul....I therefore am sorry but I am not able to help you in that respect"

"Father, I would never stoop so low as to impinge upon the most sacrosanct ritual of confession.", Etienne said sincerely and empathically.
"However, maybe he did tell you something that was not, you know, under the explicit mantle hereof ?", he said with a smile.

Alicia gave a knowing smile. "Ah, but Father. We are not asking for you to reveal details of the many sins that he may have confessed to you.

Surely you would not claim that everything that he may have said to you outside of the confessional was not to be spoken of as well!" She laughed.

Father Carlo chuckled slightly and sighed " to tell you the truth the young man did comet me but his mind was so troubled he gave little in the way of a confession and I have to admit I could only mouth the litany of the church and send him on his way" there was a sadness in his eyes because he had failed to help a troubled soul.

"as to this letter that you have kindly delivered.... It looks like your ships chaplain will not be continuing on with you on your voyage  duet personal troubles." he folded it and placed it in his pocket " It looks like your captain has asked the church for a replacement and that as I am here lending a hand to the church ..... I seem tone the expendable priest in the city " again he chuckled as if he'd just made a private joke " So I seem to be accompanying you on your adventures and to save your retched souls as well" he smiled at them

"Still, Father, that 'little' you mentioned there may be more important than you may realize. Even a casually dropped word might give us an important clue, see ?"
Etienne did not intend to let the priest off the hook just so easily.

" All I can say was it was more a moral dilemma than one of faith and he seemed very afraid.... I assure you I tried to calm him and get him to open up but he left without doing so.... He didn't even tell me where he was going.... I am sorry but I can add little else to what I have already said" there was now a slight edge to his voice that was out of place and more in keeping with a man not used to being questioned on his word

Ben, c'est un prêtre et il est sensible., Etienne thought with annoyance.
Thing is: he did not say anything, now did he ?
"Well then, you've been most forthcoming, father, thank you.", he said utterly contrary to his thoughts and even managed to summon up a pleasant smile on his face with the lie.

Jarrun chuckled at the priest's comment about saving our wretched souls and being expendible.  "I highly doubt the Church considers any of its priests or flock as truly expendible.  But as we sometimes say on the seas... we go as the wind and tide take us."

He then turns to Etienne.  "As for you, sir.  You seem quite adamant about following along the same path as our company.  It would be prudent for you to come speak to the rest of our company since the good priest here has been assigned to accompany us as well?"

He'll turn back to Father Carlo.  "How much time do you need?"

Etienne pondered the large man's suggestion.
He did not know whether it truly would be prudent. But it would be practical for sure. The ship he had travelled with had left port just ths morning and now opportunity was dangling right in front of his nose not only to leave this Harbour, but to leave it in the correct direction, too.
Etienne nodded graciously.
"An offer I will be delighted to pick up."
"Shall we go then ?"

Jarrun and Alicia return to the Southern Wind along with Father Carlo and Etienne. After conferring with the captain and crew, you now know where the person who might have the Pearl was heading. That is, you have a description of the man, you know his name, you know what ship he sailed on, and you know where that ship was heading.

Unfortunately, once a ship sails from port, it can go anywhere, and any number of things can happen to it. Still, there is a limit to any route it might take, and inquiries made along the way will ascertain if it did, indeed, go in that direction.

"Congratulations," the captain says to Jarrun and Alicia. "You have retrieved the priest that the Church wishes to accompany us."

"I would also like to introduce you to Vasily Pavlychenko. He is joining the Seekers. He comes highly recommended."

"Yes, the ship is getting quite crowded, but we've lost a few Seekers along the way now. There's no telling if or when Seraphine might return."

"Nicoli has decided not to pursue this venture, and Alain has claimed instinct says he should sail on another ship. I do not really know what that means, but I hope he can be trusted."

Vasily bows as he's introduced. "Here I am, hero of Ussura, to assist in your quest. I am at your service." He smiles and winks.

The big man steps back onto the ship with a grin as if returning home.  He'll see to the captain first with his charges and listens to the Captain speaking about those who have left.

"As long as we have the will, a strong ship and crew, and those seeking the adventure, we can continue in our quest.  Great songs don't write themselves."

He turns to the new Seeker.  "Mr. Pavlychenko.  All welcome to you.  I am Jarrun, a Skald of the Vestenmennavenjar and fellow Seeker.  I'm sure you have a few stories you could share over a meal later?"

"Certainly, I'm no storyteller, but I'm sure I can come up with something interesting.

And, please, call me Vasily!"
This message was last edited by the player at 15:45, Fri 09 June 2017.

The ship sets sail again from Wandesburrow, and the captain puts up maximum sail.

It takes a couple of hours before Avalon slips out of sight behind you.

"I don't expect to see the ship we are pursuing for a few days yet," the captain informs everyone.

"But we need to keep a close watch, particularly at night, so that it doesn't slip by us in the dark. We know where it was supposed to be going, but if it stopped at any port, it could change destination and direction."

"Anyone got any ideas?"