Chapter 4: The Waters of Menehune

The Waters of Menehune
With the threat of undead gone and after Moonlight is tidied, everyone enjoys a round (or two) of drink. Afterwhich, all manage to get a full long rest. The circus troupe takes Jaron up on the common room. The Whisker crew opts to lodge in their familiar quarters on the ship. Cordey and Lelay return to Cordey's lodging.

Morning brings a fresh look at Maulia without the chilling fog of the night before. One can see the beautiful clear blue-green waters of the Menehune river that meets the sea here through the village.

Following directions given to him by the dockmaster, Admiral arrives at Martin’s late in the morning. His fur is even more rumpled than usual and his whiskers are bent out of shape from sleeping face-down on the floor of his cabin.

Regan will wake, get ready, and head to Martin's... and promptly spend his time waiting for the others.

"Captain," he says, giving a polite nod.

Big Cordey arrive and is alone. He doesn't have lovely Lelay with him. Something about yesterday being rather trying on her.

You can tell he is more prepared to travel as he has armor and weapons with him. Something he doesn't normally do.

"Good to see your both ready for travel. Are any of the crew and such coming?"

Martin's establishment is at the edge of the south side of the village. Though it too sits on the river and utilizes a network of boardwalks and docks, the ship hire/repair shop/boatyard's architecture style is a bit different than the rest of Maulia. Its layout and structures are greatly influenced by Martin's past life in the Grand Duchy of Karameinkos.

...

It is late morning. Regan arrives outside the establishment first. Soon after, a disheveled Admiral appears. Next Cordey makes it to his regular place of employment. He is alone, without Lelay.

Just as Cordey inquires if there are any more coming, the circus members, Jin, Tasya, Caspian, and Mischa, round a corner and step onto the boardwalk leading to where Regan, Admiral and Cordey stand outside Martin's establishment. Taresh is with the group as well, walking along side Mischa.

Admiral nods sleepily at Regan and then shakes his head in response to Cordey’s question. "Someone’s got to stay behind and watch the ship. ‘sides, we’ll probably travel quicker and quieter with a smaller group."

"Fine by me. What do we need to do or get to be ready for the trip? Let's get to it," Regan suggests, clearly eager to get things underway.

"We’ll pick up some rations and things on our way out of town," Admiral says, bounding up the stairs ahead of Cordey and Regan. "Let’s sort out these boats first." Hangover aside, Admiral is brimming with excitement for the adventure ahead. He knocks on the door and calls out, loudly, "Ahoy there! Anyone home? I’m here to hire some boats!"

A moment after Admiral knocks, a burly silver-haired man opens the door and steps onto the porch. He appears to be drawn away from some metal work.

"Ahoy then." he says, with a gruff yet pleasant tone. "Why, you are not from the Village, are you? Boats. Yes, you've come to the right place. What are your needs?"

He then notices the party of circus members, Regan, Taresh, and Cordey converged down by the small dock in front of his establishment. "I see. Cordey, you have been promoting our services here at Hideaway Ship Hire. Excellent. That explains why you didn't show to work early this morning and I'm the one stuck hammering away at these nails and hinges."

Regan looks at the large man, then glances over to the sea-elf and back to the big man and quietly chuckles.

Cordey smiles and says to Martin, "I been doing my best. These folks are looking to do some boating but later I suspect some ship repair might be in order."

Looking to Regan and Admiral, "Looks like with so many here that a large boat would be best."

"We’re headed upriver to Lake Menehune," Admiral tells Martin. "So any advice you can share about travelling up that-a-ways would also be very welcome."

Hearing Cordey's suggestion about a large boat Martin calls out, "You can prepare the catamaran skiff Cordey. As he speaks Martin walks by Admiral and steps out on to the stairs so Cordey and the group on the dock can hear him well. He also appears to be sizing up the group. "I take it you are accompanying the group on their excursion. With you as the their guide, I'll feel confident that the boat will return. When it does, the cost will be 8 gold, which is a discount just for this group, because I hope to get some repair work from them before they sail out from this port village."

When Admiral asks for advice he turns back around and emphatically replies in response to Admiral's inquiry, "The lake? My advice would be to not go up to the lake."

"If you’re looking to fish or sight see," he then addresses the brightly dressed obvious circus members. "…or capture some new wild beast for your show, I suggest not going too far up river away from the village. There’s plenty of game, flora and fauna unique to this island close by the village."

"Some who have rented from me have come back saying the've experienced peculiar things the further up the river they went. And I've certainly lost some boats over the years that never returned, nor did their passengers. So I believe the stories. The Maulia locals say that the lake is the domain of a fey king and queen and their subjects use the waters and the forest as their playscape. The only lucky souls I’ve ever known to come back from that lake are those who go to seek Lady Oceana."

"Aye? Well, that’s very good news because that’s exactly why we’re going," says Admiral. "Lady Oceana has been kindly minding these fine folks’ ship—" He waves a hand at the circus troupe. "—and we’re going to retrieve it."

Cordey adds in, "Yeah. Martin. I will be traveling with them so the boat should be safe."

On Admiral's comment, Martin stops, his demeanor changes from businessman to that of discrete messenger. He turns to Admiral and earnestly replies, "You seek Lady Oceana? I see. That explains a bit. I believe I have something for you all then. Follow me."

Mischa, the circus's snake charmer is noticeably taken back by Martin's words. In a relieved tone, she says to Taresh and Tasya who stand next to her, "We must be on the right path. He knows Lady Oceana."

"Know is a strong word," clarifies Martin.

Martin walks down onto the dock following it around a stone wall. Those who follow him round the bend to another area of the boatyard see there's a well maintained catamaran skiff docked near an ornate stone warehouse.



Martin walks up to the warehouse door and disappears inside, only to walk right back out with something in his hand. It looks like a fairly ordinary lantern that one might hang from a small river boat. But it doesn't appear to have a way to open or a place to store oil or a candle.

"It’s more like I know of her. She sometimes sends her friends to deliver this lantern when she is expecting visitors. They came last night. From what I understand, you will not see the light from this lantern, but the fey will. And they will know who you seek."

Martin holds out the lantern to Cordey as if to suggest he attach it to the boat. "With this and with you traveling with this party Cordey, I am confident I'll get my skiff back."

Wow. That truly is great Martin. Cordey is surprised as he takes the lantern. Martin seems to always know more than he lets on.

"Fortuitous," Regan comments as he looks at the lantern. "A shame to keep her waiting then."