| Ale and Tall Tales |
| Summary: | Hraelfmir and Ludovic meet up at a tavern in Hellsmouth City where Ludovic tells Hraelfmir some stories about recent(ish) events. Included is a story about the battle with tavat (qatunax stories: The mill)and an explanation of his byname Stormbull. Sonya joins them at the end when the discussion turns to the existence of magical creatures. |
| Date: | 22nd May 2018 |
| Related: | Qatunax Stories: The Mill, Ludovic's backstory. |
| NPCs: | None |
| Players: |
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| The taproom of an upper class tavern in Hellsmouth City, Aequor |
| Room description |
| 1874-05-22 |
This morning sails are sighted coming up the river from the sea. Five ships in total with two of those being war ships - a Kentaire Singular flying a Four Corners flag as well as a Descanda flying an Aequor flag. The other three ships are merchanter gallies riding low in the water. Once they reach the docks, the three Aequorian merchanters begin unloading troops and horses first. That will take some time, and then the many bags of grain and other foods begin to be unloaded. It is an endevor that will take all day and more to finish.
Hraelfmir had to take airship last night to meet his ships already heading for Hellsmouth. He comes to the docks on a dingy rowed in from the Typhoon. Neither war ship has docked, preferring to weigh anchor in the river out of the way of traffic.
It is lucky in many ways that Hellsmouth City is a trade city. The infrastructure is in place to unload cargoes with the minimum of manpower. Which isnt to say that it is easy, or usually quick. The infrastructure simply reduces what would be a backbreaking, painful, labor for the ships crews into one that is routine and mostly handled by properly trained day labourers. Cranes, properly located silos and stevedores are such wonderful things and part of the reason why ships travel the extra few miles to this city instead of risking unloading closer to Murias. The other parts are of course bandits and access to quality merchants right where you dock.
Ludovic has come down to meet the ships and whilst he rode down to the city he is currently afoot. He looks much the same as he did last time you met. Happier perhaps. He's dressed in a mustard yellow knee-length coat decorated with blackwork and he's got a warhammer on one hip and the gleaming black blade of what looks to be a sidhe axe on his other. The axe is new.
"What a fine day it is!" He remarks to one of the teams of labourers as he goes past. Much to their surprise. Then he's walking towards Hraelfmir with his hand extended and one of those grins. "It sure is good to see you Hraelfmir."
Hraelfmir is moving a little stiffly like a man recovering from wounds. Cracked ribs and a sore thigh perhaps though he barely limps. He is also dressed in his usual working garb with a leather jerkin over white shirt, silk sashes and high boots with his usual weapons.
He smiles and accepts Ludivic?s hand, "Good tae see ye still whole 'n hale, Viscount. I be hear'n ye hav'n a rough go of it out this way." The Commodore motions to the ships unloading, "Th' Archduchess sends her regards 'n I bring'm." Hraelfmir grins, "I would nae have th' horses on me own ships but I have another 120 infrantry 'n archers on board th' Typhhon tae debark as well."
"No worse than it was the last time you came by." Ludovic tells Hraelfmir with a grin. "But I sure am glad to see reinforcements. Even if you did leave the cavalry behind." He turns to one of the nearest officers and tells him. "Please let all the officers know i'll be hosting a feast for them tomorrow." Then he's looking back to Hraelfmir. "Join me for a drink?"
"Calvary 'n knights came on board th' merchanters. I could nae carry th' horses on me two ships wit'out pull'n cannons. So th' Archduchess agreed I could escort th' merchanters. Which means we could bring much more!" Hraelfmir slaps Ludovic on the near shoulder and nods, "Aye, a drink suits me. Then tell me about this new axe ye come by."
The officer salutes and turns sharply to see the order passed on.
Ludovic returns the shoulder slap before starting to stride out towards a favored tavern. It's a bit further inside the city. "Fine looking thing isnt it?" He asks Hraelfmir. "Even if it is a bit weird looking. Works alright though. Hell better than alright! You should see what it did to my armor." He grins to Hraelfmir again. "Which story do you want? The true one, the embellished one or the one i pull out when I'm ten cups in?"
Hraelfmir laughs! "Lemme hear th' true story first 'n if I buy ye enough drinks, I can hear th' other version tae! Th' latter is probably th' better tale tae hear but th' first may be harder tae come by." The Commodore winks and walks with Ludovic though Hraelf can't walk fast. Further he goes th' slower he's apt to go.
Ludovic slows his pace once Hraelfmir starts to fall behind. "I can do that I reckon. The true-ish version that is." a grin to Hraelfmir. "You gotta forgive a man for making himself look good. Hows about I tell ya that story first and then later on, when the stories are flowing, I tell you all about the Daemon this place is named after?" He grins to Hraelfmir. "But you gotta tell me what has you limping around like a lame landlubber too. Fair trade and all."
"So!" Ludovic says "The story of the axe! We made a move a coupla weeks ago. First big attack of the season. Cervantes went towards the north, into the mountains that wall my lands off from those of d'cordova, to establish a forward camp. Xavier, and I, we went further south at the same time to claim a mill. Both attacks were successful, in the main, though i swear I've never lost so many men to a victory before. Damn the Qatunax and their fires"
"Fires?" When they reach the pub of the Viscount's choosing, Hraelfmir holds the door for his friend and then steps in after. A table is chosen and chairs pulled out. Halfborn gladly takes a seat and goes right to ordering up a 'good bottle of whiskey' and then outs down a gold crown. It better be a good bottle!
"So tell me about these Qatunax people. Did one o' their chieftains have that axe 'n try tae kill ye with it?"
Ludovic is obviously known here because the tavern keeper instantly goes about making sure everything is perfect for them both and Ludovic's drinks are supplied without him having to ask. A bottle of a good quality whiskey and a pitcher of ale. "You're my guest." Ludovic complains good naturedly when Hraelfmir attempts to pay. Gesturing to compliment his words. "Put that away."
"Yeah." He says as he takes over his seat, rocking the entire thing back onto two legs for a few moments. "They use it a lot. Should see what you know about dealing with em now I think on it. Bet you use it quite a bit at sea too. Theres these flasks they fling by hand or with slings that are like burning alcohol or something and then theres these arrows that explode as they strike and then they've got these troops that carry long bronze tubes that breath fire like a dragon of old lore." He shakes his head. "Didn't see those tubes before now, although the imperials i'd talked to, told me all about em. Wish I never had. One vitch of a weapon. They hid the bastards in with their screening troops and then they sprung on my lancers all in one go. Set half my lancers on fire. And it wasn't just the kinda fire you get from sitting to close to a fire you know? Tbey went up like blasted torches."
He reaches for the ale as he speaks, pouring himself out a mug and downing it in a few gulps. It's then refilled and he leans back in his chair. A smile coming to replace the anger that was simmering behind his eyes and words when he spoke of the fire weapons. "Ah yeah. The axe. So Xavier's forces moved forward and engaged the qatunax lines." He drops a handful of crowns and hammers onto the tabletop and moves them around to illustrate his story. "And I formed up with my horned knights and moved to hammer the side. Here." He drops his signet ring onto the table to represent himself. "We swept through the screen because its just not worth the damn time and effort to chase them when you're on heavy horse. Tho I killed a couple I reckon. Anyway. We swept through and then this frikkin Qatunax JUMPS Out of nowhere up as high as me on my horse! He's swinging this axe here." He pats the new axe. "Down towards my head."
Hraelfmir listens, nods to Dovi picking up the tab and pours himself an amber golden glass of whiskey. He doesn't knock it back but enjoys the peaty, smokey flavour as the tale begins. Then he blanches a little, "Fire tubes?" Yes, not liking the sound of this at all.
A negative movement of his head, "Nae familar tae me, though explod'n arrows nar so different tae what others run intae at sea recently. Could be flam'n oil they spew from th' tubes? Sticks 'n lights men on fire."
"Horrible weapons no matter how you look at it." Ludovic agrees. "Makes me think about doing horrible things right back it does."
Back to his story with barely a skipped beat he goes. "So this qatunax dressed like some kinda spotted creature. A big cat most likely. He jumps up out of nowhere. Like only one of those one forsaken Qatunax can do. And swings at me with an axe and dagger. I'm surprised as hell but somehow manage to swing around and whack him a solid one in the chest, throwing him off away from me. After that I think. Dammit, this guys gonna rip up my troops if I don't deal with him, so I pass command of the wedge over to Sir Marris and turn to deal with him. He leaps again, but i fend him off, but the third time he leaps he drags me off my damn horse."
Ludovic has Hraelfmir's rapt attention. "Taller than us. I be wonder'n if these be th' same folk Captains Ivo 'n Augustin run in tae a while back. Was thses folk stomp'n an' chant'n, or some o' them in th' back? Really hard tae hurt'm and they shrug off their injuries like they nae feel pain?" A sip of his whiskey and then he tops it back up.
"Taller?" Ludovic squints at Hraelfmir. "When did I say he was taller? They aren't all that tall. What they do, some of em anyway, is jump. Jump like as high as my girl stands tall. No idea how they do it. Must have bred with goats or something." He shrugs that off. "So back to the story."
He grins at Hraelfmir "Not that theres all that much more to tell. We fought and damn the man was good. Better than me thats for sure. Was everything I could do to hold him off. Then just when I was starting to feel I was gonna lose their horn sounds and " He takes the axe off his belt and dumps it down on the tabletop there. "He puts this in the ground, makes sure I see it, then the whole army, including this guy leave. Thought about chasing him" He admits with a slightly sheepish grin. "But I keep having to remind myself i'm a viscount now, not just some knight. Means I can't just go risking myself without a good reason anymore." Another grin, this one combined with a smirk. "Guess he might not have killed me without his axe. But, you know, i couldnt have chased him anyway. Not really."
"As for the rest of what you asked. Doesn't sound much like them. Nah. I mean they don't seem to really care about dying quite the same way we do? But they seem to get hurt just the same and stuff. Good quality troops though. You can tell that."
Hraelfmir listens to this tale and blinks, "He was about tae finish ye off, then put the axe down 'n /left/ it for ye???" The Commodore shakes his head in bafflement. "Tha' make nae sense. Th' Gods 'n strange folk be strange indeed. Why do ye think he did that?" The Privateer frowns, "I hear some farmer recently brough th' Archduchess a Sidhe steel blade in a musty ol' box." Hraelfmir grins like the bold cock he is, "I asked her if'n I could wield if in her name but she said th' blade did mae suit me. Piff!". Now he knocks hus whiskey back.
"Well. No." Ludovic says. "He was starting to get the better of me. I could still have won at that point. Especially if the battle turned." He shrugs. "And his side was retreating. So he woulda died if he'd stayed. If not by my hammer then by one of our sides."
"What I dont get." Ludovic taps the shaft of the axe. "Is why he gave me /this/" He chuckles to the news of the sidhe blade and adds. "I've not even given the honor of wielding d'Korbina's sidhe sword to Imogen. Not surprised she refused." He smirks. "Still feels strange to say that 'd'Korbina's sidhe sword'"
"Ah well. Ye can nae blame a fella for try'n. I nae be bad wit' a blade 'n better than most. I did nae expect tae get so lucky so nae surprise she turned me down. I be a nobody ship?s Captain try'n tae get a break where I can but th' Gods, they aint been listen'n." Hraelfmir gives Ludovic a wink. "So, ye hold'n out all right here? I had heard things were bad."
Hraelfmir adds, "Ye should name ye new axe."
Ludovic snort-laughs. "A nobody captain who can't get a break. Yet here you are." He waves a hand around the tavern. "With a fleet, and a military title, drinking a viscount's drink whilst talking about being friendly enough with an /arch/duchess that you can ask for something so rediculous without getting beat for it." He winks to Hraelfmir. "Yeah. Nobody."
His attention goes back to the axe. "I dunno." he says. "I don't trust it. The Qatunax. They aren't honorable."
Hraelfmir grynz like a snake, then puts a hand over his heart as if offended, "I have ye know tha' two ships do nae make a fleet 'nd I only own one o' them! I nae be a fancy lord like yeself nor even a knight, but I can hold me own in a fight. Officer tank nae be a title, 'tis a rank 'n ye know it.". He picks up his drink, "After Countess d'Juliano's tournament, I feel like th' Gods done kicked me ass 'n let horses run over me at least twice." Another drink of his whiskey and an arched black brow over the Qatunax, honor and trust - it begs the unspoken question to explain.
Ludovic lifts an eyebrow at Hraelfmir. A grin being barely restrained beneath his attempted serious-face "You fancy a knighthood huh?"
A grimace, "What I fancy is a victory. Nae somethin' given, but earned. I fought th' White Hallers twice. Got me ass handed tae me twice 'n taken captive. Lost me ship 'n had tae get it nack"
Hraelfmir continues, fingering his whiskey, "I fought Lord Tallin's folk 'n got captured when I was this close tae gett'n th' gate open." He holds two fingers close together. "I did manage tae win th' fire arms event at the recent tourney, but I could nae defeat th' Admiral in other events. She trounced me soundly.". Hraelf sighs, "My whole life I be gett'n my ass handed tae me. It wears on a fella tae always feel /this/ close tae winnin' and then find ye still lost. So, I just wish'n I could do something really good once, be th' stupid hero, ye know? Instead o' th' Scallywag.?"
He knocks back his drink but doesnt refill it. "Pay me nae mind. I'm sore 'n tited, but glad tae bring ye supplies 'n men."
Ludovic helps himself to some of that whiskey as Hraelfmir talks. "Happens to me too. Nobody wins all the time." He shrugs. "Cept, I used to think, my blasted brother Remy." He shrugs again. "But Remy's dead and I'm here. So I guess thats not true huh?" He looks to Hraelfmir. "Know what I do when I'm feeling like that? Women. Women, Drink and tall stories."
"I ried tae be o' use when Lord Tallin's people ran off with th' Countess but I was nae help." Hraelfmir frowns and pour himself another drink. A nod to Dovi's brother going and getting himself dead. "I've hardly been sober fir two days already. Do nae encorage me tae drink'n more." No comment about women. None at all. He looks grumpily at his glass then shrugs it off, "At least ye hold'n out here. We need a victory. Lot o' folk chew'n at us from every angle lately. I'll keep bring'n ye people 'n supplies as long as somebody'll commit tae send'n them, Viscount."
"Mercy's a bit like Remy like that." Ludovic continues on. "Gotta win every damn thing even those things that she really shouldnt. Then she's liable to crow about it for months and act as if you should be happy at yet another victory." He chuckles briefly and then eyes the whiskey. "This stuffs got maudlin written all over it dont it?"
He leans back in his chair. "Feels almost like its just ticking along down here." he admits. "Like if we just drew a line in the sand where everything is already then we'd have peace. Hard to keep from falling into that trap though, you know?" He smiles. "Yeah. I'm glad it was you that brought em. Got a favor to ask actually."
Hraelfmir tips his chair back as well and decides the mellow 'fuck the world' view might do him better for a few hours. Let it all go and drnk enough to dull the pain a while.In a few days he'll feel better and be recharged, perhaps. Until then? Whiskey 'n trading a few tales.
Aye, Mercy's been on his mind entirely too much lately. Best to let that go too. A dark brow is arched at the last bit, "Eh?"
Ludovic just gives Hraelfmir a knowing eyebrow waggle when he says Mercy's been on his mind. Making assumptions. "Your turn to tell a tale." he tells Hraelfmir with a grin. "I gotta warm up for the rediculously unbelievable story afterwards. Which one do you fancy huh? Theres the one where I fought an ancient vampire, another one where I fought a horde of undead people and finally one where I hid out in the mountains, outnumbered and outmatched, but finally after all the truly shit stuff got finished with emerged as the stormbull." He reaches to refill Hraelfmir's whiskey glass. "So you've tales of fighting giants?"
"No, nae me. Stories others told tae me. I be out o' stories until more life happens." Problem is trying to impress his commanding officer but falling flat on his face over and over again trying. Stung his pride a bit. Not to mention her being the one that kicked his ass twice. "Ye told me about th' undead already. Tell me about be'n a stormbull."
"Ahh. Had to pick the hard one didnt ya." Ludovic replies. "Augin tells this better than I do. Truth be told. I suffer from an excess of humility." He winks at that and then settles back with his drink to start telling the tale. "When the Qatunax woke old Mount Tharsis during their great betrayal I was riding with my father to speak with the Arkanin about the problem. It's the main reason I'm still alive, truth be told. Augustin was at those talks, my wife, my father in law, cousins, some of my best friends.. Was a blasted terrible week. ONly two things I can say I was lucky about; My wife left Georges with a nursemaid and my dad was down south with me. He died from it anyway, if you ask me, in the end, but without him doing all these defensive works and such. I doubt we'd be sitting here today." He straightens. "Anyhow! This is supposed to be a story about my heroism and byname aint it and not the tragedies of the past? Now Stormbull you gotta understand was always a bit of a nickname." he grins at Hraelfmir. "The knight I squired under coined it. Said it was like watching a storm approach anytime I turned up. Thats not what made it a byname though." he taps the brooch he wears showing a bulls head (the house sigil) flanked by two lightning bolts. "Thats.. more interesting."
Hraelfmir says, "Wow. I'm way behind ye. Never had a wife nor consort - at least nae officially yet. Nae children I know of.". Hraelfmir frowns, "Sorry tae hear ye lost'm, especially ye boys. That had tae be hard. At least ye have, or had, family. I nae ever had that either. Me mother put me out on th' street when I was a wee lad 'n I dunno what happened tae her." His booted feet he has propped up on one of the unused chairs, "Continue ye story."
"Just the first one." Ludovic tells Hraelfmir. "Georges is fine. Just, real small still, you know?" He grins. "Fun when they are that young though. Even if it does mean I get all kinds of nagging when I take him out riding." He looks at Hraelfmir for a long moment before nodding. "That is hard. Me? Most of those were just for duty you know? Never even met my second wife beyond being in the same room as her a few times before we were betrothed. Geesh." He knocks his ale back. "Don't miss that woman. Even if I'd not have wished what happened on anyone. And Saryn? And his mother? They've been gone.. eleven years now. I'm. Well i'd not say I'm over it exactly but it don't sting anymore."
Knocking back some more ale he settles back in his chair and looks thoughtful. "Right. So the volcano had been woken up by the blood magics of the qatunax fuelled by those who went to the peace talks. But I wasn't there. Thank the One. The volcano filled the sky with dust and smoke, making it an ambushers dream. Whilst we were stopping em, back before this whole status quo was developed I used to go raiding. Raided a lot. Was about the best thing I could do and 'sides I'd got this fucking anger." he thumps his chest. "So i couldn't do anything else even if I'd wanted to. All I really wanted back then was to kill them. Was lucky I kept my head enough to do it the way I did anyway. We'd ride out, find a camping place, and then wait on the smoke or storms to come in. Then we'd ride down on them and cut them down. Worked great. It really did. Bit of their own medicine back to them really. Didn't last though. The smoke and stuff settled and its hard for me to hide my men the same way. Besides they are wily. Often as not they do it to me these days."
So all this trouble wit' th' Qatunax has been a go'n concern most o' ye life. Nae a recent developement." Hraelfmir digs in his leather jerkin and draws out a beautifully carved pipe made of whale ivory and horn which he begins to load with fragrant tobacco. "The folk Captains Ivo 'n Augustin run in tae recently have strange slim, two hulled ships. Very fast, skimm'n more over th' water than cutt'n theough it. They have tubes they shoot lances from tha' explode after they strike. A delayed burn or someth'n. They be giants heads taller than regular men, oblivious tae pain, it seems. Hard tae hit'm as if they have magic tae protect 'm. Stomp'n an' dancing like tribal shamens. But their ships go up like they be filled with black powder. We do nae know who they be or what tae call'm, yet."
The Commodore gets a serving girl to bring him a taper to light his pipe."
"The qatunax?" Ludovic asks. "They showed up in 1872. But, before that, there was the west war, and before that the latest scuffle with the Arkanin and before that there was the northern campaigns and always the bandits and other pests. Caltu once or twice." He shrugs. "I'm a Lord and a Knight though. It's what I swore to do with my life."
He listens to Hraelfmir's explanation of the new foes. "Well." He says cheerfully once its done. "At least I dont need to worry about those showing up in my back yard." He frowns a little. "But maybe they do have magic. We know the qatunax do."
"Unless they be make'n landfall or come up ye river. Then ye might." Hraelfmir points his pipe at Ludovic, "So be good if'n ye know about'm." He tastes his whiskey again and nods. "White Hall, them be th' ones who always raid'n since I be a boy. Them 'n Parthians. I nae ever run in tae any magic meself but I keep hear'n tell o' such tales."
Ludovic is sitting at a side table with Hraelfmir. Neither looks entirely sober although neither is in any danger of falling over if they decide to leave either. Ludovic is leaned back looking relaxed. The qatunax axe-gift is on the tabletop in front of him. He's wearing a mustard yellow coat with blackwork instead of armor. He still has a warhammer on his belt though. There is a bottle of whiskey on the table which both men have cups of before them and a pitcher of ale that gets replaced every so often.
"Ah. Magic is real Hraelfmir. Just like that story about the undead horde and the ancient vampire are actually true. Its what Teleko turned out to be, you know? Some kind of weird monster. We call him a vampire like but who knows if thats really what he was." A brief laugh. "Hell the stories of -werewolves- are true too. Heard it from someone I trust I did."
"Werewolves, spirits, gods come back to life, goblins, you name it it's probably out there." A woman with a very central galenthian accent says as she walks up to the two. Sonya wears all black, which doesnt match with her light blue icy colored eyes nor the pale skin, even more stark due to her raven black hair.
"But if it's the supernatrual you are inquiring about, Hraelfmir was it? I would be more than delighted to give you a few truths about the matter." She says and looks to Ludovic. "I'm Helping his excellency with his savage problem, well, as far as the magic they employ is concerend."
"I nae ever run in tae anything I know was magic. Except'n maybe what a woman can do tae ye if she puts her mind tae it. I do nae mind tae say I've been content a time or three tae turn tae a puddle of happy jelly if a woman turns her magic my way, thank ye very much." Yep, not been entirely sober for about two days now. Balm for the many bruises and scrapes he suffered at Mercy's tournament. Hraelfmir draws on his pipe, making the area around their table fragrant. Very good tobacco and whiskey, which he refills his glass. Could be his words are getting a littke slurred by now.
speaking of women, here is one now! The Commodore forgets what he was about to add and looks at Sonya instead. Hralf looks her over, "Can ye now? I'm always game tae kearn a few truths. Unless they be about meself. Those be harder tae take." Grin.
Ludovic smirks at the comment about women casting magic. "Pretty sure thats just one of those womanly powers Hraelfmir. Not magic." Theres another chuckle as Sonya comes in and the Commodore looks her over. "Sounds like you've been invited to join us Countess."
Sonya blinks and tilts her head. "Have I? Well, I shouldent be rude then." She says as she orders light wine and takes a seat. "No, women are just natrualy smarter then men, it's a fact, so of course it would look like magic." She says with a very cat like grin. "But yes, magic is real." She says as when her wine arrives, she touches the glass, and frost forms outside the glass, no one else can see it but those at the table, but she then smiles and looks at Hraelfmir.
Hraelfmir eyes Ludovic and might be about to refrute that claim but then Sonya speaks. The Privateer keeps silent and then, being a dumb male, reaches out a finger to touch Sonya's glass to see if it really is cold. "Did ye just do that yeself or it already be chilled?" Hraelfir slides his whiskey glass towards her, "Do it tae mine, if'n ye claim magic be real." Test! Meanwhile his pipe has gone out.
For his part Ludovic just looks pissed off about Sonya's trick. He shifts in his chair, anger flaring behind his eyes, and then says, very pointedly. "That favor I wanted Hraelfmir. I want to go up to Rhone soon. I've got business with Jasmina and I figured you'd be heading that way soon enough." He moves to his feet, thumps the payment for the night down on the tabletop and then adds. "I'm gonna call it a night."
/Something/ passes between this unnamed ?Countess? and the Viscount for she got up and left without answering him. Hraelfmir watches Dovi get up to go as well, "I wish ye would stay, but I understand." He moves to stand as well, though Hraelf is of no mind to depart for a while yet. "I'll be on patrol up 'n down the coast. Send me a moongazer tae Lyioness 'n I will be check'n in at Hellsmouth, so let me know 'n I will be pleased tae take ye." Airships are not mentioned but probably come to mind.
Ludovic could just take an airship, its true. Shame he's such a scaredy cat about being in the air. A bit like being out of the sight of the coast. "Want to go within the next few days." he tells Hraelfmir with all the grace of a bear woken up from hibernation by toothache. "If you aint going up to Rhone it doesn't matter. I can ride. Or take a different ship." He picks up the axe, slips it back into the hook on his belt and casts a final angry look at that icy glass before stomping off.
Hraelfmir gives a nod, "If that soon then aye, can take ye as soon as ye are ready. I can wait around here a day or two if ye like ere I go up the coast." Strange Ludovic is so angry over some parlor trick with a glass. The Commodore resumes his seat and drinks whiskey. Perhaps he'll even refill his pipe before he'll return to his ship for the night.