Snapping a Snare
First Day of Ashinu-ezna (Ashinu Ascendant) 1348 A. L. (After Landfall)
By the light of the torches that light his hall king Ansefu looks older than when you had seen him last, or perhaps simply more weary, gone is the easy smile you had drawn from him all those months ago, and gone is the bright eyed resolve you had seen of him when you brought the news of shadows gathering in Noromo, but even without Ohun at his side he does not look like he has given up hope of victory quite yet, only the hope of a swift victory.
"You come before be bearing a shield of Olweje once more, this time in the closing of his season and yet you say that you wish to travel north in search of tin to sell in far off Orinilu when the greater war is to the west?" Though the words sound almost a rebuke the tone is level, dangerously so. Perhaps you should not have though to change the terms of a promise to royalty so lightly... A young king is still king and one who was thwarted is like a lion caged.
"I offer you a steed full grown that it might better aid you in a time of war just as my own Silver does. Many are the times he has saved my life..."
"The warrior speaks truth," a honeyed voice speaks up from the king's left, Onogu Iranea looking as wrinkled and as frail as ever, though you are not for a moment fooled that he means you well and indeed his next words make you clench your hand tight, all but reaching for your sword. "Perhaps your should choose this very beast my king for what better praise could there be of its usefulness."
"No," the young king replies, sharply for the first time in the exchange. "A poor reward that would be for a generous offer freely made I will choose another steed."
And so he does, walking out into the courtyard where you had brought all the horses of your company bar Silver of course as well as all the mares and stallions which you had need of and would do him no good. In the end he picks Henri's gelding to both of their dislike, though the horse shows it more readily, pawing the earth and neighing as though it knows somehow that it is to be parted from his master. Thankfully you manage to coax it into the hall's goat pen without any incident that might give Onogu another chance to to you an ill turn, but still you return to the ship in a darker mood than you had come.
Lost 1 Gelding
I will see to it he gets one of the foals when they are born, you tell yourself, though you do not make the promise to Henri aloud for likely as not it would be more salt in the wound now.
For his part Antonio had spent much of his time seeking a guide and translator, having finally found one... possibility at the bottom of a mead barrel though whether that was a mark of drunkenness or simply the means by which the good captain had swayed him to come on a dangerous journey north you cannot yet say. Given what Antonio had promised Ulk 'the Undaunted' you sincerely hope it is the latter and not the former.
"Are you certain it is wise to give command of a ship to a man you only just met?" you ask urgently when you manage to catch him privately.
"Certain?" Antonio brushes imaginary dirt off his sleeve. "Of course not, I am not
certain we will not all drown in a storm a week out from the island, but it seems a good wager given the prize and I have done all I could to make sure we do not sink, just the same I filled the Penitenza's crew with men who have served under me on the last journey and who know they can trust me to pay out, at the same time I have taken on some other sailors for the Marcella, ones with more skill at archery in part. Hopefully your man will be able to find them all good bows...."
Antonio looses 1,000 GP (fully crewed the captured longship for the journey)
Alas Tom and the others do not manage to find good bows, or indeed any bows at all that would be fit for use in the time you have available and so the men will have to make due with what weapons they have to hand.
As the prow of the Marcella turns once more towards the open sea you are your own thoughts too turn towards what you have learned and what you may yet discover on icy northern shores.
Arc Six Complete
Triumphs
+Discovered the nature of the intruder on your ship and drove him off
++Defeated Okunrin the Red and his crew with minimal losses
+Conversed with a Storm Wyrd peacefully and gained insight for the future
+Persuaded the Knikut to come with you to the White Lands
+Left Apuku still in good favor with the king
What did your experiences offer you?
[] More skill in peace and war alike (+1500 XP for Roland)
[] Esha was... changed by the touch of the storm, gaining insights and glimpses of worlds beyond this one (Esha gains Planewalker's Insight as a bonus feat; ???)
[] Tom learned how to fight and to lead in the school of battle (Tom may retrain his warrior levels)
-[] Write in build
OOC: This arc did not have that many deeds in it, but I did not want to do an arc end in the middle of the sea again. This is just a natural place to stop since we will have the turn actions in the next update. 
