A new dawn, solid soil ...

[mojom]

The Saltwater Clan are seafarers at heart. These proud halflings have always been remarked for their fine skill in navigation and naval prowess. Part of this clan is the family going by the name of Butterfoot. This tale is a tale about the Butterfoots. Or better about one of them in particular.

Let us start of at the Merry Narwhal, a sturdy vessel calmly breaking the waves on this fine sunny morning. It has been a day since it departed from the Waterdeep Port, where the Butterfoots went for a trading expedition. Fredo Butterfoot, family elder and man of respectable age, is enjoying breakfast with his wife Elga . Elga, a sturdy woman with an everlasting smile decorating her face and long brown hair starting to show a few grey strokes, looks up at Fredo and smiles. Fredo still considers her his only true treasure, the most beautifull thing he ever layed his eye on. Over the years they had been blessed with 3 sons and a daughter. A bliss that only made the band between the two that much stronger.

"Are they all up deck ?" Elga asks.
Fredo looks up as if he was trying through the thick wooden ceiling : " I do believe so yes, Valkur has blessed us with fair winds and Umberlee appears to be calm for now, I'm sure Druppo has everything under control."
Elga smiles and continues eating her bread. Occasionally she sips from her mead, throwing a quick glance at the man she married..

[mojom]

-- Drupo Butterfoot (fighter)
Stern and axes gung-ho

Drupo, the oldest of the four, is looking over the steering wheel inspecting the horizon. A bit more stern then his siblings, the result of being the oldest most likely, always looking over the others and feeling responsible for them.

Lately he's been lacking in practise he realises, it's been a while since he picked up his axes. Drupo looks up at the sky."Perhaps I could hand over the wheel to Drip soon" he thinks"It's been calm all morning and nothing is indicating a future change". He peers over the deck trying to locate the others.

The first one he notices is his sister, who's leaning over the side of the deck appearantly intrigued by a flock of birds. Drupo sighs and looks further. As usual Ial is busy doing whatever he ain't supposed to be doing, this time his efforts appear to be going towards building some sort of contraption out of a couple of the broken barrels. Drupo frowns and again looks further. A moment later he notices Drip walking over the deck, whisteling.

"Drip !! Drip !!"
Drip looks up and sees Drupo motion him to come.
"Take over the wheel, I'm heading below to practise"
Drip gives a dissappointed look, frowns, but then nods "Okay, okay, I'm coming"
"Always with those axes, he should find a good lass some time ... " He mutters and sets foot towards the steering wheel.

[mojom]

-- Drip Butterfoot (swashbuckler)
Relaxed and carefree

Drip leans over the wheel, barely paying attention to the sea and his surroundings. He yawns and smiles, reminiscing the happenings of two evenings ago. He'd never expected to impress the elf, he was just playing around, but to end with up with such beauty later that night was beyond his wildest dreams. What was her name again ...

Drip stretches and wonders what kind of ladies the next port would harbor. Rin catches his eye and he smiles once more thinking how he'd never allow someone much like him to come near his sister. He chuckles and pulls the wheel a bit to the left as it appears that like his mind they were drifting away a bit.

Suddenly a loud hollow sound crosses the deck. Drip looks up and sees the lit of an old barrel rolling his way ....

[mojom]

-- Ial Butterfoot (rogue)
curious magpie

"I'm BORED !!" Ial shouts from between the rubble.

Sure he knew the barrels would collapse eventually but anything's better then just sitting around. Ial stands up and looks around, scouting the area for a new project to engage. Then he notices his sister standing at the side.
"Rin, let's do something fun ! I know , I know, let's .... steal and hide dad's old sailing hat. It will be a riot when he finds out."
Rin looks aside for a moment and lifts her shoulders. As she starts to turn back Ial continues ...
" Don't be such a bore sis, how about you play me a song ? I'll dance like a kobold on fire , I promise. Please, it'll be great. "

Rin laughs "All right, how could I resist such a plea brother ..."
Ial's sister takes out a small flute from a side pocket and starts playing the instrument.
As promised Ial starts dancing like a kobold on fire glad for the distraction.

[mojom]

-- Rin Butterfoot (bard)
Je suis une artiste !

Her flute ain't the best piece of craftmanship but her mother bought it for her and therefor Rin holds it dear.
"Follow those dreams you always seem to be lost in .." Her mother remarked, padding her on the head.
Dreams, aspirations, wich does she want to follow.
Perhaps she could become a dancer, or a singer or ... or a poët. Wouldn't it be lovely to touch the hearts of people by the means of her art. She looks around, still playing. Not that I have much of an audience here ....

Drupo is always busy playing the big brother and practising with those axes and Drip's always seems occupied with other things on his mind, wine and women I guess. Mother listens from time to time and I know that Father tries.

Her eyes meet his for a second and she smiles.

He really does look like a kobold on fire at the moment, she observes as Ial is giving it his all.

[mojom]

As the evening came Fredo gathered his family to inform them about their next step. They would be making a stop at Port Avanthyr, down at the valley of Sundren, for supplies.

"Sundren Valley ?" Drip asked .

Fredo realised his kids hadn't been to the valley before and explained a bit about it's history. The four listened as their father told the stories of old. As the night felt one of them could not catch sleep.

Three knocks ... one more ...

"Come in" Fredo replied.
The cabin door opened.
"Father, I have a request ..."

[mojom]

Dawn,

His family was set to sail out but he wasn't joining them this time.
Drip looked over his shoulder and saw them all waving him goodbye. He smiled and waved back.

That night he had explained to his father that he would and could not sail out anymore. That he was to stay within this valley, this new found land his father told about earlier that eve. That he wanted to try his luck on solid soil, that he wanted to taste life at it's fullest and enjoy all of it's luxuries.

At first his father had frowned upon the idea, but due some persuasion from his mother's side came to terms with the request. He adviced Drip to be carefull, that these lands could be treacherous and that he shouldn't indulge too much into it's many temptations. Drip listened but did not take in the words that seriously.

And now there he stood seeing his family slowly dissappear at the horizon. His father had given him quite the royal amount of gold to get started with his new life. He looked at the pouch in his hand then he looked around. He adressed the first person passing by and asked the direction towards the closest tavern. This new life would start with a proper celebration.

As he walked towards the direction the man had pointed out he paused for a moment. He looked at the ground, reached for it and touched the old dusty road.

Solid, the very soil he would be walking from now upon. He whistled and continued to the nearest tavern.