<strong>Time:</strong>Midday (<strong>Day</strong>1)<br/><strong>Weather:</strong>Almost cloudless skies; light winds from the east<br/><br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">NPCs Present</div><div class="spoiler_body"><acronym title="Generally boisterous, but closemouthed and sullen when it comes to discussing their business on Arkanoth.  They seem to regard Fleur and her company with professional rivalry, likely having come to Arkanoth with similar goals in mind.">2 adventuring parties*</acronym><br/>Crew members<br/>Fluer's mercenaries<br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">Paerren Nolt</div><div class="spoiler_body"><div class="floatleft"><table class="bbc_table"><tbody><tr><td><div align="center">(https://i.imgur.com/LqI3ntn.jpg)<br/><span class="bbc_font" style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">The <em>Swift Dawn's</em> Captain<br/>Male human in late 30s<br/>5' 9", 165 lbs. (approx)<br/>unarmored | short sword</span></div></td></tr></tbody></table></div></div></div><br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">Unknown Passenger</div><div class="spoiler_body"><div class="floatleft"><table class="bbc_table"><tbody><tr><td><div align="center">(https://i.imgur.com/8KIn8md.jpg?1)<br/><span class="bbc_font" style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">Unknown passenger<br/>Male human in early 20s<br/>5' 10", 155 lbs. (approx)<br/>scale mail | longsword</span></div></td></tr></tbody></table></div></div></div></div></div><hr/><br/>Paerren does not immediate take Fleur's hand, seeming mildly surprised by the gesture, but after a quick glance around, does take her hand and offer it a kiss of courtesy.  A quick affirmation on Lady Fleur's part has him curtly informing the helmsman to make the necessary adjustments to their course.  As always, there is no shortage of admiration for Fleur whenever she is on deck, or even below deck for that matter.  Only one person thus far has seemed immune to her charms; a gruff, fellow of few words who either spent all his time in his cabin, or else broods on the rails most times.  Predictably, after a while, once the hubbub of arrival has died down, he returns below decks, presumably to his room.<br/><br/>Half an hour of sailing later, Paerren calls for the sails to be lowered, which the crew promptly accomplish.  Whilst the crew is so engaged, Paerren goes to the poop deck where he removes what appears to be a crystal ball and places it on a pedestal in front of the wheel.  For a few long moments, the Swift Dawn merely drifts forward listlessly on its own momentum.  The boat suddenly groans as though assailed from something underwater, as though some large creature was pushing against the boat, and many of the passengers cry out in alarm, though the Dawn's crew seem to take it in stride.  Paerren steps forward to explain matters:<br/><br/>"No need for alarm, land lubbers.  Around Arkanoth, the seas get pretty tricky, if not outright deadly in many places; that's what them trade lanes are for - the Society created magically stabilized 'lanes' of water that carry ships along a set route - keeps the waters stable and wards off any nasties that are be swimming around.  If any of you are looking to get your own boat to sail these waters, better acquaint yourselves with these lanes intimately as it will literally be the difference between life and death, and the only safe and reliable way to get around.  I've seen a ship suddenly sink because a patch of sea it was sailing over was as light as air - those who survived the crash drowned since you can't swim through air.  Or the sea around yer'll suddenly catch fire; not a pretty way to go when that fire burns like acid.  Sea floor's littered with the wrecks of boats that came here over the centuries.  Being on land is only slightly better, or so I hear.  Just a few friendly facts for any of the fortune- or glory-seekers among us, eh?"<br/><br/>It goes without saying that Paerren's words don't sit well with most, more so as the ship's Captian seems to derive significant humor from their discomfort.<br/><br/>Traveling the trade lanes proves to be smooth sailing, and it appears almost no steering of the ship is needed, except for a few minor corrections every once in a while as Paerren consults the crystal.  Small islands in the distance grow larger until a broad bay can be seen in which, a walled settlement can be seem, gleaming white under the sun and numerous towers and broad structures can be seen.  As the Swift Dawn pulls in, several obelisks can be seen sticking out of the water to almost the height of ten men, and glowing with blue eldritch runes along the lengths on all four sides.  Paerren can been to glance nervously at them as the ship sails past, given a subdued sigh of relief when they are past.<br/><br/>The walls of this settlement stretch even across the length of coast, right up to the lapping waters, and it seems that access from the sea is gained by a single long pier, at which a single strange boat (https://i.imgur.com/lgYOaeo.png) is docked.  The stone wall is perfectly smooth and no sign of brickwork or masonry can be seen.  Paerren puts to dock smoothly and the gangplank is lowered.  A few moments later, a previously invisible section of the wall slides away at the far end of the wooden pier, leaving a robbed figure (https://i.imgur.com/JvoCATe.png), who's features are hidden behind a mask, to stride through.<br/><br/>"Everything is packed and ready to be moved ashore at your command, ladyship," offers Thanric deferentially whilst eyeing the approaching figure with no small amount of suspicion, though obviously deferring to Fleur on matters of how to deal with the inhabitant.<br/><br/>"Welcome to Rolandar, Duchess d'Astrait," speaks a woman's voice in hollow tones from behind the all-concealing face plate, that does not even have eye holes; only a strange swirling pattern.  "Please, disembark and be welcome."