A Disastrous Boat Ride

A search in Vana for Merfolk has unexpected consequences

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Damian: good day Sirena

Sirena greets him with “Good day Damian. I am very pleased to see you.”

Damian rubs his ears to see if there is something wrong with them. “Do you need some assistance?”

Sirena replies, "I am looking for mermaids and was hoping to take to the sea in a boat but I am not a good oarsman."

Damian: well then, I'll be glad to help. I'm good with boats. Do you have a boat? If not, I can find one.

Sirena says "I remember our previous boat ride and you only tipped me into the sea once!" She laughs ruefully, "I think the boat is this way." They walk along the shore until they come across an abandoned boat. Damian wipes the sweat from his brow and seats himself in the boat.

Damian: “Please sit in front of me.” Sirena lifts her skirts and daintily steps into the boat. “There you go. Now the boat will be more balanced and I can see you. Where to, fair lady?”

Sirena watches Damian take the oars expertly and smiles at him. “Along the coast m'lord. I am looking for swimmers.”

Damian: “Your wish is my command m'lady.” Sirena is more than content to watch Damian row as she leans back and trails her hand in the water. After a while the boat docks on a sandy shore and she steps off into the sand.

Damian asks, “Do you know if the mermaids are about?”

Sirena replies, “I do not know if we can spot any merfolk; they are elusive, but maybe we can find where they play.”

Damian: Perhaps we should sit by this fire then and dry our wet feet. I know nothing of the merfolk. Why do you want to find them?

Sirena: I have been inducted into the Society of Scholars and my first task is to research the mer.

Damian: Congratulations then

Sirena smiles modestly "It is because I am a cleric; we just never stop studying and learning.”

Damian: It is warm here. Perhaps we should take off our footwear.

Sirena shakes her head. "We do not have time to lollygag. I need to find where the merfolk play."

Damian shrugs his shoulders. "As you wish. We will walk in wet footgear and look for them."

Sirena sighs "Aye, you are right. I should remove my boots.” She bends over and unlaces her boots, pulls them off and ties the laces together. She slings them over her shoulder and begins to walk in the warm wet sand along the shoreline until she makes a fateful discovery. “We are stranded on an island you dolt!”

Damian wonders how he went from being smiled at to a dolt in just a few minutes. He says “I will take that as a compliment. And this is where you said the creatures lived.”

Sirena frowns " I will get wet swimming to shore and in this dress! I am stuck here.”

Damian: let us find the boat again

She says furiously, "You let the boat go out to sea. How can we find it again? You did this on purpose!"

Damian: No m'lady I would never endanger you on purpose. Let me think. Let's return to the fire while I consult my papers.

Sirena looks at Damian and scowls “You will just have to swim out and get it!”

Damian: I have an idea, I just need to work out the details. Please have a seat.

Sirena Lauria sits down angrily on the stump by the fire, scowling.

Damian: “I am thinking, be patient.” He suggests, “It is very warm here, perhaps we should take off our shirts.”

Sirena taps her feet, gets sand between her toes and then lifts a foot to brush the grit off.

Damian: would you like some help getting the sand from your toes?

Sirena gives him a dirty look, takes a deep breath to calm herself, and says, "Thank you but I can manage."

Damian: stay here while I examine the island. I may be able to make us a boat. I am good with my hands in more ways than one...

Sirena watches with a bit of relief as Damian wander offs, looking at trees and pulling at underbrush. After a long wait Damian reappears. “Come with me. I've fashioned a crude sailing craft. Perhaps it can get us back.”

Sirena follows him because she has no choice. She claps her hands when she sees a raft created out of small trees and lashed with vines.

Damian extends an arm “Let me help you on. Sit in front.” Sirena tries to balance on the floating platform and falls overboard.

Damian yells “Sirena! You fell out of the boat!”

Sirena sputters, “Damian I am never going on a boat ride with you again.” She swims to the shore.

Damian laughs as he plunges into the water and follows her. “Now we are both all wet. It is no problem, we will find a fire to dry our clothes.”

Sirena starts to cry, being wet and tired, "I am dripping and my dress is ruined.”

Damian says contritely, “I am sorry I made you sad m'lady. I was trying to help.”

Sirena says "How many more days till your debt is worked off? I cannot wait until you are gone! You cause nothing but trouble and aggravation. And now I am wet and cold."

Ever optimistic, Damian says, “Follow me. I will find us a warm fire.” Sirena slogs very ungracefully after him as he finds a small clearing with a fire. “Sit and get warm.”

Sirena greets the roaring fire with delight, "This is more like it."

Damian: there is food here also

Sirena says "I am not hungry, just cold and wet."

Damian: If you take off your clothes and put them over a log they will dry faster. I will not look.

Sirena says "I am not taking off my clothes in front of, or behind any man!"

Damian laughs, “Have it your way then.. we will just sit here until you are dry enough to continue. I have seen most of you at The Place anyway.”

Sirena gives him a dirty look "That is different. This is something else. You go away then and stay there. I see a shack you can sit in."

Damian shrugs. "As you wish Sirena. Let me know when you are ready to continue our quest."

Sirena grumbles "No more quest tonight." She makes sure Damian is in the shack before she drops the waistband of her skirt and spreads it out to dry in front of the fire. She removes her chemise and holds it up in front of her, hoping Damian is not peeking. She waves the chemise in the air wishing it would dry faster. The fire makes her drowsy and she lies down beside it and falls asleep.

Damian notices what he thinks is Sirena’s fall out of the corner of his eye and becomes concerned. He wonders if he should see if she is all right and he decides to check on her to be sure. He hurries to the figure on the ground and asks with concern, "Sirena, are you all right?

Sirena wakes with a start "Damian! " She realizes she is unclothed and grabs her chemise to cover herself. "Go away!"

Damian says, “Aha, you are fine. I was afraid for you.” He hands her a glass of mead to revive her.

Sirena waves her arms and shouts "Go away! " She knocks the mug over and it spills all over her chemise. She starts to cry. “At this rate I will never get dry!”

Damian “I have a medicine which will help you feel better. Let me give it to you.”

Sirena shouts "Wait! I need to put on my chemise.”

Damian: “I will close my eyes!” He rummages through his pockets with his eyes closed looking for something.

Sirena announces, "I have put on my chemise. I am covered." She looks longingly at her dress, but it is taking a long time to dry.

((Silverwing Benoir whispers: rummages though their pouch.))

Damian finds what he is looking for and hands her a small bottle “Here is a potion which will help you feel better and help dry you faster. Here, take this. It will make you feel better.”

Sirena takes it and sniffs it, not recognizing the smell, but not detecting any known poisons. She drinks it and says “Thank you.”

((Leather Pouch whispers: Sirena Lauria consumed a Love Potion, Spell lasts for 5 days.))

She says "This tastes sweet and clean. I like it." She smiles at the Sylvan Ranger and feelings of trust, content, and great happiness washes over her. She shakes her head a bit but the sensation remains.

Damian looks at her closely as he asks, "It is very sweet, how do you feel now?"

Sirena says "Yes, sweet it is and so are you to give me such a delicious drink. I feel warm and very happy right now. I feel light and full of air." She reaches for her now dry dress and tugs it on. "It is time I should be heading back to The Place. Will you walk with me?"

Damian smiles at Sirena, "I would be honored to walk with you"

Sirena giggles, "I would be honored to walk with a Sylvan Ranger such as you."

Damian asks, "do you know the way from here?"

Sirena says I think if we walk along the beach we can find our way"

Damian replies '”Fne.. but hold my hand so you don’t trip”

Sirena slides her hand into Damian's. She is quite content to let the Ranger guide her over the rocks and through the grasses that line the shore.

Damian says 'look at the pretty flowers in the meadow.' He smiles at Sirena and says 'they are almost as pretty as you'

Sirena looks at the handsome ranger and it as if she has never really seen him before. She smiles back at him and says "They are lovely and they smell so sweet."

After a blissful trek hand in hand along the shore, Damian asks, ”Is that your destination?"

Sirena answers, “Yes, that is Klavnork Keep, where The Place is."

Damian says, “follow me up the mountain then” Sirena huffs and pants as she climbs up the steep mountain. He asks “would you like me to carry you?"

Sirena nearly swoons to think of being held by Damian but replies "I think I can make it."

Damian says 'Fine, but if you change your mind I'll be happy to carry you.'

Damian says 'we are in your lands now'

Sirena replies "yes, shall I show you the way?'

Damian: yes, lead the way from here, but hold on to my hand tightly

Sirena Lauria gaily takes the ranger's hand and leads him up the path, all the time fully trusting this handsome, gracious man who is accompanying her home

They walk along the path, hand in hand, until she spots a dark patch of fur through the foliage. She stops and points “A bear!”

Damian: I see it. Is he safe?

Sirena says "You are the ranger. I do not know"

Damian: Many are not. Wait while I prepare my bow just in case.

Sirena's heart flutters as the ranger makes the way safe for her. She hurries past the big bear and looks at the Sylvan Ranger, "Thank you. That was so brave of you."

Damian: he appears harmless, but you can't be too sure.

Sirena flutters her eyelashes "You are so brave. I must hurry on my way, but perhaps I will see you later?"

Damian replies 'of course. I look forward to meeting you again'

Sirena hopes fervently that he will come watch her dance.

Damian: safe paths m'lady

Sirena curtsies, "Safe paths to Sylvhara m'lord"

Damian bows and turns to leave blowing her a kiss.

Sirena rushes off, all the time thinking of the handsome ranger.

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Emy & Cas, thank you so much for inviting me as blogger! *Giggles. I will try to remember to take pictures too!