A tide and a place for everything - tmn au
What if Fjord was found by Mollymauk just moments after he woke up on the shore as the only survivor?
Side note, Jester left in a hurry after Lord Sharpe went after her - but on her own - the cleric sees the traveling carnival wagons - with the half orc sailor and tiefing soothsayer - then they meet the others in a slightly different way - the rest is au history.
A short sample of chapter 1 below, will be continued. Edited.
Chapter 1 - A chance encounter.
Fjord saw the yellow eyes as he was drowning and bleeding, his life draining- then darkness. After what felt like hours in a strange void, he found himself on a shore somewhere - coughing up seawater and sand. ’Alive! How?! ’
He remembered Sabiens mockery , the vicious stab and the explosion with startling clarity
However, he felt no pain and there was no blood or even any sustained injuries from the explosion as he looked himself over. How was this possible?
The half-orc looked around - one of the crewmen lay face down a pace away - it was the newest member of the crew, Sebby, a taciturn man that joined ”Tides breath” about a month ago.
Turning the fellow sailor over startled him as he was met by hollow eyes and a scavenging crab crawling out of one. Poor man. No signs or sounds of any of the other crew members. Had captain Vandran made it? He yelled his captains name running along the beach taking in the wreckage of the ship in the water and what had washed up on the shore.
The setting sun reflected in metal caught his eye - revealing Vandrans sword sticking up in the sand, not far from it the hat and the bracers the captain had worn when the ship exploded.
He fell to his knees beside the sword, clutching it as tears streamed down his face. Gone! His captain, his crewmates, his only home! All gone.
The silent, devastating moment did not last long however as hurried footsteps approached him.
”Hey! Are ya alright, lad?” A purple tiefing man with blue hair and red eyes on red instead of white, wearing teal pants with an unusual pattern, tigh high black boots and an open white shirt - called out.
The sailor quickly wiped away the tears and stood up beside the sword. He didn’t pick it up but was ready to wield it if things went south. Better try sounding like someone with more confidence…like Vandran. ”Howdy stranger. Ah seem ta be alright. But my captain, the crew, the ship i lived on? ain't.”
”Oh, I am sorry for yer loss.” the man said, expression earnestly mirroring his words.
”Thanks, ah appreciate your concern. Ah should be able to salvage a few things ta wear, it’s getting cold. Where did you come from, is there a city or village nearby perhaps?”
”Oh! Right, I come from a carnival passing through from Nicodranas. We’re camped over that hill there for the night - hey look - once ya find yer things and some equipment maybe you’d join us at the camp? There's bound ta be scavengers rootin 'round this wreckage later. Better ta be in good company and not on your own, eh?”
Fjord found himself nodding along with the words from the charming tiefing. ”Thanks for the offer, ah will do that - if it’s alright with everyone in your camp that is, what with me bein' a stranger not even a carnival worker an all.”
”Oh its alright with all of us. We don’t discriminate, everyone is welcome. The name’s Mollymauk Tealeaf, carnival soothsayer. And who might ye be, handsome sailor?” He held out his hand to Fjord in good faith.
Fjord took the offered hand and shook it with just enough force to be firm, he wished he still had his sailor shirt on and not just pants in tatters looking more like uneven shorts. It made him feel more vulnerable as well as awkward and chilly.
”The name’s Fjord Stone. Midshipman. Former midshipman of 'Tides breath' as it were.” he added with a sigh.
”Alright, Fjord. Ya know where ta find me - us - when you’re done here.” the soothsayer held his hand a brief moment more than he had to as if to further convey he meant every word he just said.
(Update 20 april, will continue the story soon. It's not on hiatus)
