And that brings your week of R&R, downtime, shopping, or whatever to a close.

You show up, bags in hand, at the gates to the Field. everyone but Ghaith and Naill makes it, and Glass has two companions. One looks like a farm boy someone slipped some chainmail on...because he is. The other looks like a really big bug. Because he is. Keira and Hund look overloaded...because they are.

And here comes Sherm to show you to your ship. "Howdy, folks. The new ship is here. You've got two days prepaid field time, as arranged, and my boys just finished putting in the lights you arranged for. Most of your old gear is in the hold waiting for you to decide where you want it. I'm told you'll be doing a tow job in 2 days? Ship supply is own by the docks. there's a livery there where you can rent a cart, too, or just ahve your metal thing carry it, I guess. Shall we?"

He leads you to a small bird ship with the name "Ad Astra II" painted on it, then around tot he back of it where the cargo doors are rather unfortunately places. Coming out of them is a ladder. "She's all yours."

With everyone gathered, Captain Glass gives a summary of the results of many things that have happened during the week.
"Everyone, these two are our new crewmembers - Callvyn Arees and Klak-Nik," gesturing at the farmhand and insect respectively, " and they will be filling some needed roles we are lacking. As a group, it's also been decided to sell the extra Helm and split the proceeds." He hands each of the original members pouches containing their shares. "We've also made a excellent arrangement with the local merchant's company. We will be towing a company ship to Earth and Trident's landing field to get them into a trading relationship. For this towing service, they have equipped all rooms with the permanent flameless lights, worth a small chunk of change. We have two days more here in port until they are ready, so feel free to enjoy your earnings while we are here. let's get everything put away and then relax for a bit. "

Klak-Nik looked like more than just a giant insect. He seemed to be a whole hive of them actually. There were many more tiny, almost imperceptible, bugs flitting about him constantly. As his new captain introduced the Thri-Kreen to the crew the bug didn't even seem to be paying attention. Its head turned this way and that and antennae-like projections flicked about as low hum accompanied by clicking sounds projected from the creature. [Language unknown: "Ate unove dayng, hatai, caai uloer ver lared at. Comshenot aveintrom, ssul are na. Pro nde. Patostpo, ekous lo, comre al hat traconpre al."] All of this strange sound was at the same time as Master Glass was talking to the others but when the speaking ceased there would be a mental knock in the captain's mind. "The Hive, Klak-Nik is happy to serve. How can I be helping on the ship? I have travelled before. I can help navigate or anything else you may need."

To each of the others a similar mental knock in their mind would be followed by the clear thought message of. "It will be a pleasure to work with you all. I am the Hive, Klak-Nik"

Brian arrives, carrying with her at least half a dozen vials she's been making for her break, her eyes look tired as she stared at the newest members,"Oh, we have a navigator? Wonderful, we seem to be at a loss sometimes when we travel to space, it is good to meet you Klack Nick." she says as she gives Glass the potions,"Good for healing, distribute however you wish captain." she says as she stares at the new ship with a name to respect it's predecessor. She's still miffed that their ship is gone, but this will do nicely.

Keira kept more than a respectful distance between herself and the Hive. She watched closely though to see if the smaller residents left their host significantly. "We got a number of ropes, grappling hooks, and some boarding pikes as those were lacking on our original vessel, a little over 170, I'm not gonna be too picky but the 170 would cover the pearl I hope to buy and may be the difference for the decanter. We will put the pikes on each side of the main deck and ropes not far from each ladder. But with another full day, I have a Giff to see about a weapon, a decanter of endless water, another pearl to get for identification purposes, and ideally a spell book to take notes on unique resources we come across though my parchment may hold for a while yet. I have so many ideas that I'm bursting and now I at least have a few bodies to work with."

She made a half bow to each of the new hires. "I'm Keira if you need anything fixed, or something made from wood or metal... Or some healing... Then I'm the lady you're looking for. Though much metalwork apparently doesn't go well in space. Cold work is alright though... Until I find an alternative."

With a gesture to her canine-headed humanoid defender, "This is Hund," and a tiny figure, not too different from a big dragonfly lifted off her back on glittering pearl wings, "and Koolu. Two coils at each ladder top, tied to railing is my plan, a boarding pike secured a few feet from each of the back ladder wells. If someone will go in on purchases with me to make sure I can get it all, I promise I'll buy them out next time we get paid if I don't have enough, and maybe we want some lumber for making shelves or boxes... I'm not sure how much the Giff weapon will cost but I trust valid spacer weapons are better than my Earthbound ones, maybe someone else can use it after I've studied it, even if I can't." She took another few moments to give Hund simple instruction. Hund being slowed by gear was still as good at covering ground than most folk, it took off up the ladder to get the goods to the deck. Koolu got more complex direction and would take some gear from Keira over the railing.

Ok, a quick ship tour. The default, Group 0, Map is the deck plan. It's the old one, must only two room s ahve been swapped, and the feather pant job ion hull and canvas are gone, although feel free to replace them  Sherm has laid claim to doing repaints.

Your current hull color is a basic brown.

Going up the ladder takes you into the Cargo hold. "Hatches" to the main deck have a ladder guilt into the inner hull for use when landed. The passageway forward has tow sconces for holding torches on either side. One is upside down and empty, one has a smokeless torch burning in it. Light is a bit dim buy the doors you're coming on board through.

The hallway gets by with torchlight from the cargo deck, dim at the far end. Three doors to starboard, two to port, and one at the end. Check the new key in the Ship thread.

Tentative sleep assignments were made so we didn't spend a week discussing it. That being said, let me know if there are changes.
This message was last edited by the GM at 05:36, Sun 23 Oct 2022.

Jediah steps up to the new crewmembers.
 "I am Jediah, the ship's cook.  If you have any special dietary requirements, I will apend the next two days trying to get a hold of what you need, he says.

Lyra arrived with a bag in one hand and a lantern in another. "Oh hullo! Captain , have you been picking up strays?" She said with a laugh. "Hullo to both of you! I'm Lyra phillips, chief of security. Welcome aboard."

In reply to Klak-Nik (msg # 3):

"Navigation is what we need, for certain, although our next course is known well. Thank you, Klak-Nik"

With regards to Keira's expenses, he pays her back 170 GP.
A day later, after the Helm sale, he provides the original crew with 830 GP each (Helm sale plus loot sale).

"Move and set up your gear in the assigned cabins, and stow anything loose. Remember, the lower deck will invert gravity when we leave Ceres. See you all in two days. Enjoy the profits from your hard work!" He says, as he heads to move his own gear and setup the Helm room.

Ayamba greeted Master Glass and the old crew. He looked at the two new crew members and nodded toward Callvyn, he appeared less welcoming toward Klak-Nik; maybe even repulsed.

"I am Ayamba. Good to meet both of you." He swallowed heavily a number of times. "No offense Klak-Nik, but speaking in my mind and all those crawling things on you and everything else is going to take time getting used to. So you stand there and I'll be standing right over here." He shuffled sideways.

"Apparently I am in charge of the ballista. So if you need any help with that let me know. And if we do get attacked make sure you get to your assigned crew spot so we can actually shoot properly."

"Keira, I didn't get half what you spoke about. Why do we have 170 boarding pikes and what are they?"

Klak-Nik hummed and clicked away with his mandibles as each of his new crew members reacted to him. Though the antennae seemed to rest at ease, he was used to various reactions at this point or oblivious. It was hard to tell. He did seem to key in on a few points of what the others were saying though the vast majority of it seemed to slip him by. The communication barrier was an evident hitch in the future of their work together but he seemed to get enough to make do.


Interestingly when he projected his thoughts to an individual it would seem possible to refuse to hear them if one so chose even though they took form in the language that was most comfortable to the receiver.

As it came time to start bringing things on board Klak-Nik lifted his pack and moved to find his 'quarters' though everyone would soon learn how little he planned to frequent them. Primarily his portion of the space would be unused except for storage. The Thri-Kreen lacked much clothing but had brought with a him a few small armaments and some tools that could be handy on a ship though clearly Kiera far and away surpassed anything he brought if through sheer numbers alone. Still his contribution included another 100ft of rope and his own grappling hook which was to be kept with him. The swarm occasionally would leave his person in handfuls at a time to grab something he wanted moved, acting as an extension of him, almost forming a something akin to a hand on occasion. That same swarm hand would attempt to approach the only other bug like creature here, the dragonfly.

More clicking, thrumming and shifting of antennae emitted from Klak-Nik again, this time giving the sense or impression perhaps of curiosity. [Language unknown: "Ersthiich daysompre. Hiet. Ectra ecel rat? Ro.. T red ieons m ineioners res el?"]

Keira responded to Ayamba, "Captain understood me. I got some supplies during our week to ensure we had more rope and hooks, even some halberds to help boarding or transferring salvage. I don't know so much about ships so my plan might not be the best place for things... But Master Glass had said we could be reimbursed for ship supplies we purchased."

Assuming Keira gets these interactions from Klick day one, she would try to respond with her mind but would also, ultimately feel better about communication aloud, "I had spoken with a giff smith about a better personal weapon. He said it was going to be expensive. I've been trained in most fighting weapons on my world as part of getting my Battle Smith certification. If I can study it, I may figure it out. If not maybe someone else can. I like tools of all sorts.

I constructed Hund and Koolu they are able to understand languages I'm trained in, but I don't expect they will respond to mind speak. If they do please let me know."

Koolu is solid... Something... At least the outer shell is metal. It would pay no particular attention to the 'bug hand'.

The time in the morning that she gets paid, would see her and her automatons headed to giff town, though if someone expressed interest in coming along she would wait a little. The magic mall curio shop would be her second stop.

Callvyn never thought he'd ever end up on one of these ships. Now, he's actually part of the crew. "Greetings. Glad to be of service." He says, doing his best to contain his excitement. He looks around, a little lost. "Uh, if someone could guide me around and show me what I need to do, that'd be great. I'm a little new at this."