It was a dreary morning, brooding clouds hung low in the sky and never had the Gray Harbor felt more aptly named. Fat droplets of rain occasionally fell and promised a much greater squall to come. But despite the weather, there was an excitement in the air. The Sword's Edge was moored to the jetty and a great mass of people were choking the docks. Three decks tall, the Sword's Edge rose proudly above the harbor, easily the tallest ship currently moored. With three masts and boasting of a six artifice cannons, the ship could race along the waves and was dangerous enough that any pirates would give her a wide berth. But today she was not on the business of pirate hunting or wayfaring.

Today the Sword's Edge was open to any who could pay greatly discounted fee of five silver, whether that silver be taran, falcon, hawk or shield*, silver was silver and would secure themselves passage. This was a rare opportunity the likes of which hadn't been seen in a generation. Neverwinter was rebuilding and in this vein the fledgling guilds of the City of Hands had flung open the doors. A ship as grand as the Sword's Edge would normally cost a score of gold to make the journey. Needless to say for weeks all the talk of the city had been about 'Are you making the trip north?' families were pawning heirlooms, tradesmen without a market were selling shops, fifth sons and daughters of noble families were reassessing their viable futures and pondering if starting fresh might offer a better lot in life.

Baldur's Gate was the last stop for the Sword's Edge, after that would come weeks of sailing as it made its way to deliver its cargo of eager and willing immigrants to Neverwinter.

So the Gray Harbor was alive with activity. Crowds were pressed shoulder to shoulder and the docks themselves creaked under the weight. Tearful families were making good-byes. An elven noble with a score of bodyguards and three trunks that rattled suspiciously like gold was motioning his hired muscle up the gangplank. A dwarf pauper, face dirty and clothes tattered, was all smiles today as they ever so carefully passed over their five precious pieces to the ship's quartermaster. A red robed human with round spectacles was hauling an oversized trunk that threatened to topple him. And so many more. It was truly a sight to see, all these peoples from the various walks of life brought together by such a rare opportunity.

At the top of the gangplank Captain Fairwind struck a striking figure. His bright blue coat flapped in the wind and his salt and pepper beard was quite distinguished against his darkly tanned skin. A man of the sea, he had a solemn air about him, but seemed to have enough social savvy that he would tip his hat to the occasional passenger or offer a boarding child an unpracticed smile. This was a man of action, the gleaming longword on his hip testament to the fact, not entirely comfortable with his role as ferryman, but still up to the task.

Thunder rumbled overhead, but even as the drops of rain started to come to down quicker, there was no dampening the mood today.

*These are the various forms of minted silver used along the Sword Coast

OOC: No need to have your character sheet done to post here. This thread is a chance to introduce your character and start to get comfortable in their skins. It'll only be open for a day or so till the actual adventure opens.
This message was last updated by the GM at 16:32, Sun 21 Mar 2021.

Saulucian worked his way through the lines and crowds, observing the varying levels of excitement and nerves of those around him. He heard others nearby talking about the excitement of this opportunity, but he cared nothing for that. Opportunities came and went, and they were what they were. He needed passage, and his options were to pay a cheap fee for a heavily armed vessel, or he could pay a similar price for one far less capable. It simply made perfect sense for him to take up the safer option.

Barely three days ago, a clash with a band of orcs had resulted in the blade of his rapier being snapped cleanly in two, mere inches from the crossguard. It was now hardly worthy of being called a dagger, and that purely because the angle it had broken at had still left it with an angled tip capable of stabbing. The man who'd hired him had died by taking a spear to the throat, and the other hired guard had been relieved of his head by the blade of a crude battleaxe. If Saul hadn't been trained in wizardry as well as the blade, his corpse would still be out there with the others.

Saulucian had taken the package and completed its delivery, as his contract with Mergus stated he was to escort him all the way to the Gray Harbor, so the package could be delivered. When he handed it over to the merchant, his only reward was a 'thank you'. An argument followed, but the merchant's contract with Mergus stated only that Mergus would receive payment. Since Mergus wasn't here, no payment would be made at all. Saulucian was near to drawing his sword when the merchant called out to a nearby patrol and had him escorted away. A Bladedancer he was, and fighting three armed guards was a worthy challenge, but an entire city's worth of guards was certainly beyond him.

Now he was down a sword, nearly broke from being denied his payment, and now wanted nothing more than to be gone from this place and back among either decent people, or ones he could stab without having to fear facing an army for doing so. He even considering circling back to rob the bastard for the gold he was owed, and probably would have if his training had been even remotely related to such things (which they were not).

Just as he was thinking back on that exchange, Saul noticed the elven noble and his trunks full of gold. He couldn't help by laugh to himself as the absurdity of the situation. Now he really was second guessing his life choices, and thievery seemed far more lucrative than what he'd accomplished so far. It was be see easy to just -

The line moved as thunder rumbled, and someone behind him had bumped into him in their over-eagerness, receiving quite a scowl for their efforts. Today was a bad day, and a bad brain day as well. His frustrations were at the surface, and he was itching for a fight. He let out a frustrated breath and he made his way up the plank and onboard the ship itself, the impatient bastard behind him bumping him twice more on their way up the plank.

This ship couldn't set sail soon enough.

The dwarf held the flask upside down. Not a single drop came out. He shrugged and retrieved his silk rope from his backpack, tying it around the container and lowering it into the water. For a moment the dwarf might have looked like he was fishing, with some kind of strange line. As soon as the thing was filled, he pulled it back up and packed away the rope. It was a ritual he had performed many times.

Iclos Scarcreek was a cleric of Umberlee, the terrible, evil, vain, greedy and malicious deity who was the stormgoddess of the seas. The bigger reason for worshiping her; in order to keep on her good side (if she had one). It wasn't like Lathander would come down and dismember anyone not sufficiently appreciating the sunrise. Umberlee would. Definitely.

He brought the flask to his lips and gulped down a bit of the salty seawater, before reattaching the cork and stowing it away. With a final bow of supplication, Iclos finally turned around to look at the Sword's Edge. The dwarf was pretty confident that there were many people aboard who did not respect the seas properly. Most of the crew, surely, but not nearly all the passengers. No, he was going to have to get on board. Preach the word.

Jaryn didn't mind the dark clouds or the promise of rain. Rain or storms didn't bring his mood down - and besides, he wasn't in the best of moods already. He was still mourning Brother Tensov. And on top of that, the last of the money the monastery had given him was needed to get on board the ship. He didn't even have enough to restock his empty quiver.

But he was trying to find his inner peace and let go of his worries, grief and frustration. It just wasn't coming easily to him. He would need to meditate once he had somewhere quiet to do so. Hopefully alone even if a small space.

The sea journey would be a nice change of pace for him. He'd never been on a ship before. Or the water. Or seen that much water before. Heck, he'd never been outside the monastery for more than foraging trips in the surrounding area before a few weeks ago. It was all so new to him - but he wasn't a fan of the crushing press of people on the docks as he waited for his turn in 'line'. He survived it, he endured, and he finally made his way to the ship itself.

Once he had handed over the last of his money, he had slowly walked up the gangplank. He glanced at the captain and gave a nod - whether of thanks or greeting or just respect, maybe all three, it was hard to tell. He noted that like himself, the captain was armed openly. Jaryn thought the ship looked fearsome and he was unlikely to need his weapons on the journey, but it was his Order's way to have them on hand and be prepared.

He looked over the ship in awe as he slowly shuffled onboard and inward.

Faith was kind of lost in thought as she made her way over the to Sword's Edges dock. It wasn't her place to question her factions orders or decisions, but she didn't understand why they were having her undertake this mission. It made no sense to her. Wondering what it all could be about, She made her way through the crowd as gently as she could. She didn't want to cause a disturbance or scene so close to completing her first task on this mission. She had to relocate to Neverwinter to be able to complete her next task. Being stationed up there would make things a lot easier for her.

Pressing through the throng of people, Faith kept making her way to the ship. She had her usual assortment of weapons hangin out. Her crossbow on her right hip and her dagger on her left. As she walked, she gripped her focus with her left hand. Her eyes scanned the crowd, making sure there wasn't going to be any trouble as she joined the line to board the ship. It was a slow moving line, but Faith could practice patience for a little bit. It was an essential skill that she'd been taught in the temple. It took quite a while, but finally it was her turn and she paid her fee and made her way up the gangplank. Sighing in relief as she boarded the ship, Faith wanted to find her way to her cabin and relax for a bit.

Naim hustled through the crowds.

He smiled as the rain started, it boded well for the journey as it meant they'd have winds even if the seas were too rough for some of the passengers. It would be good to get back to sea. It would also be good to head father north, too many ghosts here and in the south that required reckonings he wasn't ready to handle yet.

With a shake of his head, Naim tried his best to put those thoughts behind him and work to make it through this massive crowd at the docks. 5 silver might be too cheap... too many people here. he muttered to himself. It's a big ship, hope we don't flounder at sea and drown a bunch of landers.

He smirked at the rich elf and squeezed passed his body guards toward the head of the line to the Sword's Edge. "Hey Quartermaster, you have need of a ship's doctor on this leg o' your voyage? I've got kit 'n years of experience at sea. Happy to help if you've need or enjoy the trip if not."

As he mentioned his kit, he motioned to his herbalist kit and healer's kit equipment even as he pulled out his coins to offer them up.