The halfling and the wizened man had materialized on the Isle of Illinthia, emerging from a magical portal atop a sheer hill that overlooked the sprawling harbor. Illinthia, the largest island in the realm of Aerkha, was nestled in the southeast.
"Why you bring us to this place?" Pal inquired, striving to maintain his balance on the cliff's edge.
"Observe the vessels below, my friend," the old sage answered.
Paliborn surveyed the harbor: three ships lay anchored at the docks, with more than ten others moored in the open bay.
"And?" Paliborn waited for an explanation.
"Select one," said Sarcastic the Wise.
"Why?" Paliborn queried.
"Did you not say it was your destiny to locate this girl?" retorted the sage.
"Aye, and I shall stop at nothing to find Allendra," Paliborn vowed.
"Fate is often subject to chance, Pal. Luck can play a vital role," Sarcastic remarked.
The wind's howling intensified, and the two conversed loudly to hear each other above its cacophony. Paliborn battled the thorny shrubs towering above him, whipped by the gale and piercing his clothes.
Becoming impatient, the halfling extracted his collapsible binoculars from one of his pouches and scrutinized each ship in turn.
"Very well, but as the God of Luck Zacharia oft reminded us, fortune only favors those who prepare thoroughly and scrutinize their options with care. I choose the vessel with blue oysters embossed on its hull and snarling pig effigies on its banner." he declared.
The old man chuckled. Without warning, he shoved the halfling off the cliff's edge, passing a shimmering turquoise feather to him as he did so.
"An impeccable choice," Sarcastic the Wise chortled, savoring Pal's unguarded and astonished expression.
"My belongings?" Paliborn cried out, startled as he tumbled through the air.
"Fret not, my dear halfling. They shall arrive before you depart tonight," the elder replied playfully.
Paliborn barely caught the last words before Featherfall magic took hold, and the feather glowed brilliantly, abruptly arresting his plummet mere feet from the ground. Sarcastic had played a cruel prank once more. Paliborn inwardly cursed his mentor.
In contrary to the amazement of bystanders, a diminutive Quanas elf woman with coal-black eyes and meticulously drawn brows grinned at Paliborn as the dexterous halfling somersaulted off the rooftop of a vast wooden storage warehouse and landed on his feet, as agile as a cat.
The elf wore a traditional, one-piece light blue silk kimono, cinched with a belt, and adorned with raised white star motifs. Her soft ballet flats made no sound as they strode the cobblestoned harbor road, ignoring the gawks of passersby.
"You must be Paliborn Quickhand," said the Quanas elf, her tone light and musical.
Pal returned her smile with a nod. "I am indeed. And you must be the star mapper I have been searching for?"
The elf's eyes twinkled with amusement. "Xian Lil Ala-Lanka, at your service. Shall we go meet the captain and the crew?"
"Lead the way, Lady Ala-Lala-Lanka," Paliborn said hardly, while getting his tongue round.
The elf chuckled, shaking her head. "Just Xian will do."
"Then call me Pal in return, my lady." replied the halfing, offering a bow.
They moved through the throngs of sailors, porters, and travelers, navigating the twisting road that wound down to the harbor, with Pal taking shortcuts by bounding off the retaining walls. Xian Lil Ala-Lanka followed his lead as best she could, keeping pace with the halfling's nimble strides. After a few minutes, they arrived at the port.
"Another time, I would love to enjoy the view," Paliborn said, glancing north towards the Great Ports of Illinthia, with its maze of sections and dockyards. "But where to now, Xian?"
"The Black Spot Inn," the elf replied, pointing westward towards a secluded, single-story establishment with dark gray briquette stone walls, stained with black. "The captain is waiting for us there."
Together, they made their way towards the inn, their footsteps silent on the cobblestones.
As they stepped inside the inn, all eyes fixated on the unusual pair. The halfling and Quanas elf were quite a striking duo, catching the attention of the regular patrons. The elf hailed from the Land of Reeds, adorned in an eye-catching traditional garb, complete with delicate embroidery and ethereal motifs, a stark contrast to the mundane clothing of the inn's occupants. Three strapping men clad in chain armor rose from their seats at a corner table, heading towards the pair with measured steps. Their muscular frames towered over the halfling and elf, each standing at a towering six feet.
"Illinthia Knights," Xian whispered under her breath as the trio drew closer.
"Snooty boys." joked Pal in a whisper.
The halfling noticed the intricate heraldry emblazoned on the leader's breastplate, depicting seagulls in flight, circling around a fitchy sword. These men were also known as the Knights of Seagull, renowned for their formidable reputation.
"Ah, Miss Xian, welcome back," greeted the leader with a nod, his eyes appraising the halfling with a hint of disdain. "I assume you are the reason for our meeting?"
Paliborn simply offered a cordial nod in response.
"Captain?" Xian queried.
The trio gestured towards a solitary figure seated at a round table, wreathed in a cloud of smoke from an Illinthian cigar. The man sported a bushy black beard and curly salt-and-pepper hair, his physique brawny and imposing.
Xian spoke up, a hint of formality in her tone. "Allow me to make introductions."
But the man smoking a cigar cut her off with a brusque interruption. "No need. Unfortunately, the halfling and I have crossed paths before."
Paliborn shrugged nonchalantly. "If I'd known the ship was yours, Barbarossa, I would have chosen another vessel."
The captain raised an eyebrow, suspicion etched on his weathered face. "I wonder if it's because you sank my previous ship?"
"Actually, it was the mad wizard Al Pharruk who brought about its demise," Paliborn replied. "But let's leave the past in the past, shall we?"
The captain shifted his gaze on Xian, studying her with an intensity that bordered on suspicion. "I hear you're a cartographer," he said.
"I am a star mapper," Xian corrected, her voice crisp with precision.
The captain's disbelief was palpable. "You mean to tell me that you can interpret magical events simply by gazing upon the sky? That you can read the suns, the stars, even the rainbow belt?"
"In a manner of speaking," Xian replied shortly, not eager to delve further into the intricacies of her craft.
"Can you cast spells?" the captain inquired, his voice tinged with an air of menace.
"I possess expertise in predictive spells," Xian replied, a hint of steel in her tone.
The captain pressed on. "Can you conjure flames to set my ship ablaze?"
Xian's eyes narrowed. "We Quanas elves do not resort to unnecessary violence, if that's what you're asking. Have no doubt about it, Captain. I am no threat to you or your vessel."
The captain's gaze shifted to Pal, suspicion written on his face. "My suspicions lie not with you, Lady Xian, but with the halfling at your side. He's known to have a peculiar hold over sorcerers and drive them to madness."
Paliborn scoffed. "You're dragging out this conversation, Captain Barb."
"You caused my beloved ship to burn," the captain spat. "I'll be keeping a close eye on you, Pal. Out of respect for the master sage Sarcastic, I agreed to take you aboard the Blue Oyster. But know this, War Pigs shoud've been the name of my vessel, and it's because of you that I'm stuck with this foolish named ship."
Paliborn shrugged again. "Then change the name of the ship, Barb."
The captain's face contorted with anger. "It's bad luck to change a ship's name, you ignorant landlubber."
"Then get a new ship, you stupid seaweed-bearded buffoon."
The captain drew a deep breath, attempting to regain his composure. "If you don't set my ship ablaze this time around, I plan to do it myself, with the reward I'll receive at the end of our journey."
"Suit yourself!" Paliborn cried with a shrug.
"That's what I will!" the captain roared, his voice heavy with resolve. "Very well then. Let us proceed."
"Fine!" Paliborn agreed by adding another unnecessary exclamation.
The Quanas elf, the three knights, and the rest of the inn watched in concern as the two men faced off, their noses almost touching as they exchanged heated words.
"Well, I suppose I can forgive you," Captain Barb said in a sudden show of camaraderie. "Let's sit down and have a drink while we wait for your things to arrive."
Paliborn, surprised but willing to move past their earlier argument, took a seat across from the captain. "I forgive you too," he said.
"Why would you forgive me?" asked Captain Barb.
"You left us stranded in the middle of the wild woods. We were at the mercy of the great elephants and crazed monkeys," Paliborn reminded him.
"That's what happens when you burn my ship, yo halfling," the captain retorted.
Their argument continued, each new glass of beer served, helping their voices to replenish before ascending once more. As the day wore on, the six of them left the inn together, with Pal and Barb barely able to stand. The Knights, led by Dylan Branagh, had blond hair while the other two, Marter Corelson and Eric Dahle Windborn, had brown locks, they had to carry the two drunken men to the pier, where they boarded a moored boat and rowed to the exposed ship.
After they boarded the ship, Paliborn and the captain continued to drink like crazy. The halfling's memories of the rest of the night were hazy, but he vaguely recalled meeting Humpter, one of the largest men he had ever seen. Humpter, a towering figure with fiery red hair and a long-curved mustache that hung down to his neck, drank like a sponge. Eventually, the captain and Paliborn, both got drunk as a skunk, made their way to their cabins with Humpter's assistance.