Docks

Same to you too, sir.

Jerrid says as he climbs down himself.

Not really knowing what to say, Kauri just bows his head in response before going along with the others.

Abasta Harbour

Sennen, being Sennen, decides not to beat around the bush.

"Alright - 'scuse me, sir?"

The harbourmaster turns to Sennen, his eyebrow quizzically raised.

"We're looking for a Brother Rolfen. D'you know where he'd be right now?"

"...why are you asking?"

Shite shite shite he's getting suspicious. Hopefully he'll buy the truth.

"Our captain's an old friend of his." She nods in Melvin's direction. "He said we could come visit any time we wanted. Ask him, I'm sure he could confirm."

"Well... I can't tell you exactly where Rolfen is. He's either in the cathedral, or he's on the other side of the island helping the Bishop initiate a new priest. But if you are his friends, I'm sure he won't mind your interruption either way."

"Right, right, excellent." Sennen looks to the rest of the crew, seeing what they think the next course of action from here should be.

Abasta

I'll take the cathedral. Who's with me?

Abasta Harbour

A young person, seemingly around their teens, saw a ship in the dock. "..? What's a ship doing here?" They also saw the crowd nearby. "Huh, that made me wonder.. What's going on?"

They walked to the crowd. "Ahoy, what's going on here?"

Abasta Harbour

"Wha-"

Sennen shoots the child a confused, suspicious look.

"What're you doin' here?"

"Well, there was a crowd and a ship here, so I thought you were just some civilians passing by."

Kauri looks curiously at this person. If he had to guess, they were probably a bit older than him.
Though, it may be a little obvious that he's staring, his yellow irises and horns on his head are a bit hard to miss.

Abasta (Harbor)

What makes us any different from any other boat coming ashore? It's because of me, isn't it? (Pablo mutters, looking around the docks.)

Well, we're just coming ashore for a visit. (Ira says to the kid.) Everything alright?

(Esmeralda says nothing.)

???

(Some distance away from Abasta, Mindy is still on the move, en route to Abasta. Having not let up for a while, she has become exhausted. She finds a rather fancy-looking white yacht and swims for it. The ship's crew seems distracted with having a loud party with plenty of music on top of the deck, allowing Mindy to launch herself out of the water up to a porthole without notice. She scrambles up into the hole and lands on a large chest. The room below deck Mindy has ended up in seems like a fancy dining room of some sort.)

Wooo, fancy place! (Mindy says, activating her magic water bubble.) Ooh, if I wasn't looking for that Egg, I'd just stay here!

(She finds a fancy pink tiara lined with gems sitting beside her on top of the chest. The eel can't resist putting it on top of her own head and going over to look at herself wearing it in a nearby mirror.)

...Eh, kinda clashes, actually. (She mutters.)

Glad to hear that, dear, now give it back! (A posh-sounding feminine voice says.)

(Before Mindy can react, what looks like an arm made of treasure snakes up behind her and plucks the tiara off her head. Mindy whirls around just in time to see that the chest she landed on now has a face and is placing the tiara back on top of itself.)

Holy crab, you're a mimic!! (Mindy exclaims.)

Construct. Con. Struct. Mimic is so last century... (The chest says.) What brings a nasty sea monster like yourself in here, anyway?

(Mindy is offended at being called a sea monster but answers anyway.) I was tired! I've been swimming to Abasta for the past two days and I just wanted to rest my flippers, you know?

Fancy that, that's where this boat is headed. (The mimic says.) What could a creature like yourself be going there for?

Oh, get this: (Mindy says.) I'm helping a friend of mine look for something called the Legendary Egg! I'm gonna get it, and I'm gonna wish to be able to go on dry land without having to use this bubble I'm wearing!

(The chest raises an eyebrow made of sequins at this.) The Legendary Egg, you say.

Yes! (Mindy nods.) Do you know about it?

Oh yes. (The chest says.) As a matter of fact, I actually have one of the pieces of it.

You're kidding! (Mindy says.)

Oh no, dear, I was acquainted with the fellow who originally owned it. (The chest says.) When it came time for him to give up the pieces, he even left one with me.

Can I have it? (Mindy asks, eagerly.)

Oh, I can't just let you have it, my dear. You have to find it.

(The chest's lid pops open. Mindy slithers over and peers inside. It just looks black inside, like there's no actual bottom to the sentient chest.)

Wait, you aren't trying to trick me into getting eaten or something are you? (Mindy asks.) I don't see anything.

Oh, balderdash, if I were able to actually eat anything you would know as soon as you looked in. (The chest says, somehow speaking clearly despite her "mouth" being wide open.) I was simply built to hold things. Inside you'll just find everything that has been put inside me over the years perfectly intact.

If you say so... (Mindy says. She hesitantly hefts herself over the mimic's lip and slides down into the chest.)

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA oof! Woo! I'm still alive! Look at all this stuff! (Mindy's distant-sounding voice calls from the interior of the chest, sounding perfectly intact.) How is it so big in here when you looked so-wait, who are you-hey! Lemme go! Lemme go! Hey! There are JERKS down here! Ack! Go away!

(The chest's lid simply flies back shut.) Foolish creature... (She mutters before her face disappears, reverting back to looking just like a normal chest.)

Abasta Harbor

Um, you could still say we are just another passing ship—but we have business here, and we kinda have to get to it.

"So, what type of business exactly is it?"

Edited by TheGeekArtist08 on Oct 18th 2020 at 5:20:13 PM

"Visiting an old friend," the black-haired woman with the green streak said, her hands still resting in her long coat's pockets. "If I could take a moment to ask a question, why are you so interested in our business here?

Edited by Konkfan7 on Oct 18th 2020 at 7:17:15 AM

"I don't have much to do here really."

Abasta Harbour

Sennen is about to say it's dangerous business, the kind of thing a child should probably not be invited along on. But it doesn't take her long to remember that even younger children have been dragged along on their adventure. She'd be a hypocrite to deny this girl the chance.

"Well... ours ain't exactly a peaceful life. But if it's excitement you're after, yeah, we could provide. I guess."

"That sounds like an invitation to this adventure. ...sure."

Abasta Harbour

Bright Eyes fixed her feline gaze on this newcomer, sizing them up carefully. After a moment, her ears folded back and her tail drooped.

"Are you sure 'bout this, kid?" she asked. "I didn't choose this kind of life on a whim - heck, I didn't choose it at all. Wouldn't want to drag you 'long without you knowin' what you're gettin' yourself into. Sure, you may get gold an' glory, but you may get nights spent hidin' in canals nursin' fresh burns you got from people you thought were friends." She remained silent for a moment, then perked up again. "Still, if you want to come anyway, I wouldn't mind the company. The name's Bright Eyes."

She then gave a nod to Jerrid. "Like I said, I'll help with checkin' out the cathedral."

"Life as a sailor is pretty similar to this adventure you're talking about, so I might be able to adapt easily."

"Well then, welcome to the crew!" says Melvin, stepping up to meet the newcomer.

"The name's Melvin. I'm the captain. I've been, uh, kind of out of it lately, but I'm feeling ready for this next leg of our quest."

Edited by DrNoPuma on Oct 27th 2020 at 4:35:48 AM

Abasta Harbour

Sennen perks up at the sight of Melvin.

"Ah, Cap'n! Just who we needed to see! Say, d'you think Rolfen would be at the cathedral or the shore?"

Abasta Harbor

"Either one sounds like him... but if I had to choose, I'd guess the cathedral."

Abasta Harbour

"Great. My name is Bonnie, by the way."

Abasta Harbor

The wolf hears the confirmation of exactly what he had already suspected.

So it is the cathedral he's at. Well, if we're gonna stick together for this one I suggest we all get moving before whatever he's doing at the cathedral gets done, yeah?

Abasta

Sure thing. You guys lead the way. (Ira says.)

Kauri mentally "huh, okay"s at Bonnie joining the crew, but is kind of used to people popping into his life at this point. He is ready to follow Jerrid.

Abasta Harbour

Sennen "hmmmm"s briefly.

"Actually, how 'bout the cap'n leads one group into the cathedral and I head off down the beach, just in case?"