Title: Activity on the docks!
Author: Eos
Date: Sat Feb 26 2005

For the past couple of weeks there has been almost constant activity down on the docks, though none of this comes as too great a surprise to those that work them every day. The rumors and talk about the two ships preparing to set sail on some grand adventure have brought sailors from other ships here to see a share of the adventure and a share in the treasures that are sure to be found. But this morning, before the sun was even over the horizon the docks were swarmed with workers seeing to the last details on both the merchant ship Amarada and the former pirate vessel known as the Makara. Those sailors have have called Parnassus their home have been saying good-bye to loved ones and friends and many have spent their last full day on land at some of the local taverns, spending coin freely on ale and women, for the gods only know when they might find such comforts again, save for the brief stops in foreign ports.

The Nereus seems to be the greatest beneficiary of this pre-departure 'celebration'; the ale and stronger beverages are flowing like mad and the girls are certainly making quite a tidy sum. But not all is drunkeness and lust; there are plenty of sober men seeing to the loading of the ships, both of ship essentials but of their personal belongings. Both men and women have been seen boarding the vessels with personal baggage in tow and sailors or every race seem to make up the crews of the two vessels.

Title: Royalty on Board?
Author: Rumours
Date: Sun Feb 27 2005

As the sun dawned on a clear and glorious day of May 8, 3931, the Amarada and the Makara were seen leaving their berthings in the Parnassus docks and heading out for sea. This was not another Shaping and testing run for the two ships; the last cargo and crewmembers had all been ferried aboard the night before, and the ships were setting out for good. Spirits were high on the two ships as they set out to sea. But as the hubbub of setting sail died into a comfortable rhythm and the ships cleared the estuary, a peculiar conversation was overheard on one corner of the Amarada's deck.

Sailor 1: "Didja 'ear wot that red-'aired Sylvan was tellin' tha older one? The shifter, the one peelin' the carrots?"

Sailor 2: "'ey, watch th' way yer coilin' tha rope there! Er, Sylvans, nay, what d'e mean?"

S1: "Tyche's /Tits/, man, were ye blind? Th' red-'aired fella's been chewed out by Mr. Burke and some others more times'n I ken count t'day! And we've barely set sail!"

S2: "Yeah, well, what was 'e blatherin' on 'bout then?"

S1: "'Bout tha lady, the Mistress Zea. Was sayin' she's some kinda Empress or sumthin'."

S2: "Are ye daft, man? She's noble and Zeus-touched, and it's plain t'see she's got sumthin' goin' on wi' th' cap'n. But royalty she ain't!"

S1: "Oh yeah? Ye ever seen that royal gig she pulls? Wot wi' that stare and 'er magic...she's right scary sometimes. I say she's a runaway Empress fer sure! Hidin' away on this ship!"

S2: "Ye been drinkin' seawater? Why would an Empress hide away on a ship like this? Even if she's taken a tumble for th' cap'n?"

S1: "Well, think ye on i' a minute. 'eard there's a civil war brewin' 'mong the pigeons. If'n she's an Empress, she might be in danger. Wot better place t' hide 'er than on a ship bound /away/ from th' Empyre?"

S2: "Ye're daft. 'S more dangerous out here than back in-ho, now, there's Mr. Burke. Get back t' work wi' ye and stop blowin' wind. Leastsaways outta yer mouth. Damn Varati cook and 'is spices...none of us ken 'elp blowin' wind out /t'other/ end."

Title: Posted on the Galley door of the Amarada
Author: Sivan
Date: Mon Feb 28 2005

This list is posted on the door to the Galley of the Amarada:

To those of the Makara and Amarada:

As I am fairly certain none of us wish to starve on our journeys, I would like to post a short list of rules that I would like to see obeyed. Any issues may be taken up with myself and any breakings of said rules will be brought to the Second Mate. Every portion of food, down to the last apple, has been counted and portioned out. That is not to say that snacking is disallowed, but bear in mind that an apple between meals once a week is different than a leg of smoked pork every day. This being said, I will leave a smaller storage trunk with food that may be used for these between-meal snackings. But anything taken from the kitchen storage or from the cargo without permission from myself or the Second Mate will be brought forward for discipline.

In addition, nothing is to be thrown away. This includes peels to fruits and vegetables, pits, pips, seeds, bones, gristle, and any other part that could be rendered inedible. I will have a small jar for seeds, pips, and pits. Everything else should be brought to me specifically so that decisions can be made.

It is my duty and my pleasure to be sure that all on board get an equal portion of the finest victuals I can provide. But it is also necessary that I be certain that nothing is wasted per the orders of the captain.

Sivan bin Mazat ibn Alam'Zulyat