An Age of Sails and Free Men

*she takes the elf's chain, and starts walkin*

*He follows her back to the ship, with Gideon and whatherface going to his ship*

she's still rather quiet

G: “You alright”

"yeah"

“Feel free to acquaint yourself with the ship and crew”

"...do you have any clothes that...aren't all torn to shit?" *she gestures to her rags*

“Come with me, I’ll get you a uniform”
*It’s now that she realises that most of the crew are in uniform. A green tunic tops a white shirt with black breaches and fine leather boots*

she follows, with little other choice

*He leads her into the captains cabin and specifically to what is essentially a massive wardrobe*
“Take your pick of a uniform”

she grabs one that looks like it'll fit

“I’ll let you change”
*And walks out*

*chaaaaaaaaaaanging*

Khalista leads the elf to her cabin, and sits on the floor. She takes the coal and salt, and grinds them together in a mortar and pestle. then, stands opposite the elf, takes a pinch of the mixed dust, and sprinkles it in a line between them. Drawing complex runes in the air before her, a cold white line trailing behind her fingertip. She then speaks, and the elf finds he understands her, almost instinctually.*

"Hello."

*He looks confused for a moment but calms down*
“Hello”

OOC: MY TEA TASTES LIKE PLASTIC!

OOC: I MADE COCOA AND NOW MY TONGUE IS BURNT!

Khalista: "the spell will translate very literally. Be careful with your words."

*He nods*
“What do you wish to know?”

"How did you come to be a slave?"

“Fallen Elves claim the forests are their own. My kin fight to protect their homes, so the fallen send slavers after us. I was captured when my kindred was found. While they fled I fought until I could fight no more.”

Khalista: "The... fallen elves? You mean the elven empire?"

*He nods*
“They turned against their gods and people to pursue wars and riches. Abandoning the forests for their stone settlements”

"And, your people, the wood elves... You're a very... independent people?"

“Stay out of the forest and there is no trouble”

"I was more referring to your... Acceptance, of slavery."

“Acceptance is not approval. To be forced into servitude is the gods way of showing that you were not strong enough. That you must work to earn their favour. It is by my own failure that I fell, but their will that I be granted a second chance to earn their favour through serving you. It is by their will that you saw me, and it is their will that I shall serve you either until death or they deem me worthy of freedom. It’s the way of things, Mistress”

*His tone is rather serious, as if he believes every word he speaks*

"Well... Serve me for ten years aboard my ship, and I'll take you back to your forests."

*He nods and a small smile appears*
“Ten years it is”

—

*Once She has changed*
G: “Comfortable?”

Khalista: "...Do you want some clothes?"

“Do you have any that will fit?”

*she shrugs* "probably. I've taken elven ships before."

“Lead the way”

*she leads him belowdecks, to a sea chest, left half ajar, its full of a bunch of clothing.*

*He kneels down and gets to finding clothes, eventually settling on a pair of high quality Elven boots, dark brown breaches, and a slightly lighter vest. It shows off his chest a touch too much and his arms are completely uncovered, but it atleast fits. In the process of changing Khalista notices a large and unmistakable brand, which marks him as property of a prominent new world company*

"more than I was"

G: “Atleast it’s an improvement”

"yeah..."

G: “What’s wrong?”

"Just...wrapping my head around this"

“Slavery or kindness?”

"Both"

“Think of it less as slavery and more a work contract. You’ll have a wage, your own chest, hammock, uniform and weapons. Along with free time, shore leave and all the other stuff that comes with working for an ex-military captain with an eye for keeping his crew happy”

"right.."

“And you’ll be working the rigging”

"Got it"

“Your hammock is between guns 10 and 11, starboard side. You won’t be sharing it with anyone as I don’t have a full crew.”

Khalista: "That'll do." *in infernal*

*He nods*
*Old elven* “Where work and rest?”

she nods
"anything else?"

G: “lunch is being served in about an hour”

"Do I get a weapon?"