The Fairwind

Writers: Yvonne, Chelle
Date Posted: 20th March 2015

Characters: Relik, Taril
Description: Relik and Taril discuss Sunstone Seahold and the Seahall's new ship
Location: Seacraft Hall
Date: month 11, day 18 of Turn 7
Notes: Mentioned: Kaphrad, Bryvin

Relik had said hello to the Lord Holder and the Lady, along with his fellow Masters. He had greeted the Weyrleaders and now found himself parked at his table, waiting for folk to come to him who might be interested in his new
innovation or even in having newly trained seacrafters posted on their ships. There were plenty of folk in the Sunstone territory that he still hadn't met and some he had heard of. His wife was socializing somewhere with
the women, thank Faranth. Pulling a glass of clear ale to his lips, he saw a head coming toward him. Far younger than he, the figure seemed to be slower albeit.

Taril paused to tug the hem of his fine tunic into place before approaching the Seacraft Hallmaster. Although they'd never met, he was easy to pick out of a crowd; he had a seaman's face, leathery from the sun and salt, and too fine an outfit for just a Captain. The knots didn't hurt, either. "Hallmaster," he said once he was within easy earshot. "Thank you for the welcome, and for the hospitality. Your Hall has come a very long way since I last sailed by."

"And when might that have been?" Relik gestured for Taril to sit if he should wish to. He was affable, especially when greeted by others of his kind. He might not know the man, but he would know whatever boat he was sailing should he name it. So Relik waited patiently for more information to place him.

"About a turn, now. I don't get on the water as much as I'd choose," he said, gesturing to his missing leg. "Last was, the watchtower had no roof and half the docks were still wood on dry land."

"Aye there were a few buildings here beforehand. We've done a lot with the place though. I'm happy with it." There was a note of pride in his voice and it was clear that Relik meant his Hall to succeed and be envied. "Unfortunate that you're landlocked. I know a lot of men though that sail with only one peg." They couldn't climb but they could serve as helmsmen or deckhands. "You seem to have done well for yourself besides." The man's clothes told that story anyhow.

The merchant shrugged. "Well enough. Sunstone Seahold has been good to myself and my family. May I join you for a while?" he asked, gesturing atthe empty seat across from the Hallmaster.

"Aye sure." There was water and wine there and Relik offered some to Taril at his leisure. There was also food and the Hallmaster sat back in his seat, ready for a long conversation should there be one. "I confess-I knew more
about Morin than the new Lord so I'm still figuring out that change. What do you think of Bryvin?"

Taril settled himself before answering. "Bryvin and Morin are cut of the same cloth," he said, leaning his crutch against the edge of the table. "Sensible, with a good head for business. I'm not sure that Bryvin has Morin's charisma, but time will tell. He's not had his position for many months yet."

"And he's younger. Hasn't lived as many turns." It was true that experience changed a man in many ways. Relik had been a much different man before he'd aged. "That's good then. It will surely benefit him for the Hold to benefit so I imagine he will stay the course. How long have you been at Sunstone?"

"Several turns, now. Morin made me an offer I couldn't refuse." It was a pity that Morin had been lost to the sea... Taril shook off a faint sense of regret and lost opportunity. "Much as he must have for you and the Seahall, when he proposed a shipyard."

"Aye well the Masterseacrafter decided it was something he wanted to do. He was the one that decided I should be the one to come. I'm grateful for that. And of course we would be happy to make the Hold a more prominent seahold with a better trained crafting operation." And Relik would be glad to benefit from Sunstone's prosperity along the way.

"Do you like it out here? Sunstone can seem..." The merchant paused, trying to find the right word. "Unfinished. It's growing exponentially, but growth, and any change, comes with its challenges."

As traditional a man as he was, Relik was also a seaman. The ocean was a very unforgiving, unpredictable mistress. One learned to ride the waves or drown. "I think it lacks tradition which can make it less settled yes. However, it means more opportunity for those who want it. From what some folk tell me, though, it's still every man for himself. And that can be dangerous." He wondered if Bryvin would be able to successfully cement his authority amongst such a lawless, opportunist bunch.

"I wouldn't say dangerous. Sunstone might not be as tidy looking as some of the other Holdings, but it's no more dangerous than any other Holding with a dockyard." Taril smiled. The Hold and Hall were tied, now, and if one had a questionable reputation, then it would affect the other. Hopefully Relik would moderate his views with outsiders. "But I really wanted to ask you about your experimental ship."

"Ask away. My Second did the design though so if it's more along those lines, you'd have to take it up with him." Indeed, he would give credit where it was due and Kaphrad had done well. He deserved the renown though Relik had certainly given him the opportunity.

"Why a ship with a steamboat engine?" Taril asked. "What gave you the idea?"

"The riverboats can go anywhere at any time. They don't have sails and don't need them. A ship that can't get underway due to dead calm is paralyzed and you can lose a lot of time that way. Some have even starved due to lack of supplies because they couldn't get anywhere for days. Of course we have more firelizards and the dolphins to help those sorts of situations but it can happen. So why not use the engine as a backup for when wind isn't available? No lost time and quicker trips." Relik knew it was quite logical. The invention itself had been Kaphrad's so he didn't know the exact inspiration.

It was nice to think that becalmed days wouldn't ever happen again, but there were other things to consider. "How much does the engine weigh?"

"Depends on how large the vessel it is that it's being installed into. The bigger the ship the bigger the engine. Of course coal also has to be stored in the cargo hold which means less room for other things." He didn't mention the inherent danger in carrying a flammable like that on board. They did the same with the firestone that had to be taken to the Weyrs from the mines.

A heavy ship was less maneuverable, and less room in her belly for goods that couldn't be sold wasn't appealing to the merchant. But what Relik was doing was new, so Taril tried to keep an open mind. Who knew-- perhaps in a few turns every ship would be weighed down with an engine. "Have you taken her out in rough weather yet?"

"No. She hasn't been beyond the Bay yet. Her maiden will be the first time that has happened. The vessel has been tested before we reoutfitted it with the engine, but I don't know about the weighting in a storm yet no. I'm inclined, however, to say that the engine will actually be better in a storm since you can steam your way out of it instead of having to tie up the sails and ride it out." Relik had already put those scenarios through his mind. "Personally I see it being used more as a passenger ship since folk will pay a premium to get somewhere faster or even a mail carrier than a replacement for the traditional cargo ships."

In theory. Taril nodded anyway. "You have one in the harbor; when are you building a second?"

"As soon as someone commissions one. I think it will be interesting to build one from start to finish-made for the engines' accommodations instead of just changing a current vessel like we did this time." Relik couldn't build ships all day long without someone to pay for the supplies. After all money going out and none coming in wouldn't be economical when he had folk to feed.

"I'm sure you'll find an investor soon enough." Some starry-eyed Lord Holder would undoubtedly take Relik up on his offer. This sort of endeavor carried too much risk for his own little seaholding and shipping company to shoulder safely. "I'll keep an ear to the wind for news of the ship's first journey on open seas... I'm sorry, but I didn't catch her name?"

"She was called The Fairwind before we refitted her. So we've decided to just keep the name instead of rechristening the vessel." Relik didn't mind either way but the name seemed to make sense for what they wanted it to be.

Taril nodded in agreement. Changing a ship's name wouldn't bring anyone good luck. "Fairwind. I'll look forward to hearing of her progress."

Last updated on the April 8th 2015

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