Snippet #2465537

Adrian continued to calmly sip the rest of his drink, an amused glint in his eyes as he listened to Nimba's rant. Her antics were, to say the very least, extremely entertaining at times. For all her talk, and considerable bite, he knew she was just blowing off steam. She had a wild imagination, and one that tended to work at overdrive at the worst of times. She did manage to calm down after a few minutes, and that was just shortly before he caught sight of someone strolling up the gangplank. Damaya met the man, and moments later the two were coming toward him. Furrowing his brow quizzically, Adrian realized he was elf, and a well dressed one at that. Dark hair, but skin too light to be of the seagoing variety. There was something about him that made Adrian a tad wary, but not to any degree that would effect his demeanor, of course. Being said, what was this man doing just walking onto his ship uninvited? A bit of sailor's courtesy is all he was asking for. He met them halfway, and just as Damaya was about to speak the other elf cut her off. Adrian noted a hint of irritation in the chief mate's face, but she said nothing and politely closed her mouth. Brave, at least, this newcomer was.

"Requinn Voss," he introduced himself respectfully, extending his hand to Adrian, which he swiftly accepted, "renowned author and archaeologist. You may have read one of my books?" First atop his mind was that no, he had never heard of Voss before. Not as if he would have said so, at least not rudely. "It doesn't matter, I heard that you plan to set sail for Naua Te, and I'd like to book passage, if it isn't too much trouble. I can pay my way, just name your price." Adrian smiled, and though is was nondescript in its meaning it centered upon an inkling suspicion of the stranger's intention. An archeologist headed to a place where a lodestone was said to rest, more so in the corpse of a city many thousands of years old? Much too fitting to be coincidental. During Voss' speech, Adrian had taken the liberty of inspecting him more closely. Upon doing so, he realized that by his eyes and skin, Requinn had to have been a High Elf. Thus, his use of a cane was most assuredly not for any physical aid.

Pushing that little matter to the side for now, Adrian returned the greeting with equal graciousness, "Welcome aboard, Mr. Voss. I am Adrian Ronuad des Màstoof, Captain of the Anya."

He could not go any further, as just then a barking voice caught his attention: "Hail there! Might i speak to the captain of this vessel?" It came from a gruff looking man, standing just a little ways ahead of a second.

Adrian and Damaya's eyes met briefly, their expressions for only a moment turning nearly deadpan. Internally wondering whether or not his ship had been mistaken for some sort of pleasure vessel, Adrian exhaled and turned to Voss, "Excuse me a moment, sir." He motioned to Damaya to follow as he walked around the first potential passenger and toward the next. "Place a guard at that ramp," he ordered in a flat tone. Damaya nodded, and broke away to snag a candidate. Reaching the man at the head of the gangplank, Adrian- ever composed- asked, "Good morning. I am Adrian Ronuad des Màstoof, Captain of the Anya. Is there something I could help you with?" Something out of his peripherals catching his eye, Adrian redirected his gaze for a moment. A crease formed slowly in his brow. There, on the docks, were two of the Narans- and one was a very, very large snake. It looked as if his scheduled guest had arrived.