The trip to the adventure-filled port of Stormreach, at the edge of the wild jungles of Xen'drik, from Sharn seemed interminable.  Certainly it was a long voyage, but being trapped upon the "Rising Star" with Tranis, Master Laymond's ruffian son, only made it longer.  Despite the size of the vessel, it was nearly impossible to avoid him, and Aldin had to put up with the thug's unimaginative name calling, rough-housing and lies for days upon days.

Even now, as Aldin makes his way across a rear deck, munching on a block of cheese while bringing a box from the cargo hold back to Master Laymond, he sees Tranis under a rail with several sailors gambling at dice in the waning evening light.  It seems that Tranis is winning from his hoots and hollers.  He's probably cheating, though.  However, at least he doesn't seem to have noticed Aldin yet.

Sighing loudly, loud enough for Tranis to hear as he walks by, he shakes his head disapprovingly as he continues on to deliver the box to Master Laymond.

At Aldin's interruption, Tranis scoops up his winnings and trots over to block Aldin's path.  "Hey, All-Dumb", Tranis says mockingly, "Whatcha got there?  That cheese?  What are you, a rat now?  Gimme that, rat-boy!"  Tranis snatches away Aldin's dinner with a meaty hand, laughing the whole time.  The remaining sailors continue about their business without interest.

Aldin grits his teeth at the insult, but he knows there is more cheese, not worth causing a fight right now, "Rats steal cheese.", Aldin starts walking past when he mutters, "Rats cheat at dice too", loud enough for the sailors to hear.  Then he does his best to shrug off any attempts by Tranis to interrupt him and heads off to deliver the box to his master.

Tranis throws Aldin a look as he leaves that promises that this encounter isn't over and will only get worse.

"Where have you been, boy?" Master Laymond grumbles tersely as Aldin steps into the room.  "I thought I could trust you to be swift."  The older man is wearing ceremonial robes underneath his leather apron, and is in the process of setting up an ornate anvil in the center of the small room.  Though not as muscular as Aldin, his long years of crafting metal have left him strong and fit nonetheless.  However, none of this is quite as strange as the incense that suffuses the room and the arcane sigils chalked upon the walls.

"Come on now", Master Laymond says, "and close that door behind you.  Let's see that box now."

Master Laymond takes the box and opens it, revealing a series of rectangular metal plates lined up in a rack.  He pulls one out to reveal a blue glow that emanates from parts of the pattern engraved on it.

"Are you familiar with the Draconic Prophesies, Aldin?" he asks  "You're looking at history in the making here, and you and I are going to be a part of it."  He looks the metal token over for a moment before sliding it back into its place.  "But time is of the essence.  We cannot wait to land.  We must prepare.  Help me move this chest out of the way.  Have you seen Tranis about?"

"Yes, we're destined for great things, the three of us" Master Laymond says, almost to himself, as they push the chest out of the way, and then, as if suddenly aware of his surroundings, "but only if we answer when Destiny calls!"

He stands, dusting his palms and says, "I've brought a small elemental forge, but Captain Krenshaw was uncomfortable with the idea of me having a fire inside the ship, so they put the chest in a storage room at the back of the cargo area.  You probably passed it on the way back here."

Master Laymond peers out of his cabin door.  "It should be dark enough now.  I need you to go get me that chest while I finish preparing.  It's heavy, so get Tranis to help you.  And don't get caught.  We can't have small minds interfering with the cogs of fate.  Think you can handle that?" he asks.

 

itch, Aldin looks for Tranis. 

When he finds him, he puts on his best sour face.

If he can get Tranis alone, "Master Laymond bade me come ask you for help, he needs a large heavy box snuck from the cargo area to his quarters where you and he are to perform some ritual.  He thought you might have an idea how, I'm to help you move it."

Seeing Aldin, Tranis suddenly stands, smacking his fist into his palm, but at hearing Aldin's story he hesitates, the gears obviously turning in his head as he considers his options and the consequences.  Finally, after what seems a long time, Tranis gets the smug look that Aldin expected and says, "Well, that's more like it, All-Dumb.  Show me where that chest is."

Shortly, the pair are moving across the deck, hidden in a darkness broken only by the dim orange glow cast by the great flaming hoop of the ship's elemental sail, which itself hides the stars in the night sky from sight.  They almost make it all the way without a problem, when one of the crew, Goodman, strolls by.

Aldin sighs at having to play the dumb ox, but its pretty much par for the course.  Still, he has a bit of a regret for the obfuscation.

Aldin quickly tries to sneak with Tranis.  I can't wait to get back to the forge, this sort of activity isn't for me, if it was, I'd be some mooneyed adventurer instead of a sensible craftsman!
 

Goodman strides by within feet of the pair and none the wiser.  Something else has his attention and he carries on to the other side of the ship.

Tranis follows Aldin down into the hold.  It's dark there, with only infrequent glowing globes dangling from the ceiling to light the way.  Tranis seems to become uncomfortable suddenly and gives Aldin an unnecessary shove.  "This better not be some kind of trick or so help me I don't care what da' thinks, I'll give you more than your stupid limp to remember it by."

At one point it sounds as though there may be somebody else down in the hold as well, but nothing comes of it.  Eventually, Aldin finds the door.  He goes to open it, but Tranis elbows him out of the way and grabs the handle.  It doesn't open.  "Locked, genius.  I don't figure you got a key?" he says with a curse.

Aldin squeezes his eyes tight for a moment as he realizes he might be more competent with this line of work than he would like.  Pulling out some tools, he takes a look at the lock.  The lock gives him some trouble, at first glance it seemed of shoddy craftmanship, which it was, but occasionally cheap locks give more trouble due to cheap metals rusting or corroding.  Grimacing, Aldin spits inside the lock Ptooie! , wriggles his tools around to clear out any debris, and with a twist, unlocks the door.

Aldin squeezes his eyes tight for a moment as he realizes he might be more competent with this line of work than he would like.  Pulling out some tools, he takes a look at the lock.  The lock gives him some trouble, at first glance it seemed of shoddy craftmanship, which it was, but occasionally cheap locks give more trouble due to cheap metals rusting or corroding.  Grimacing, Aldin spits inside the lock Ptooie! , and wriggles his tools around to clear out any debris, but it's no use.