The deck of the Sea Witch was a world unto itself, bustling with activity that seemed chaotic to Dust's untrained eyes but clearly followed patterns the experienced sailors understood perfectly. Captain Aldrich stood near the ship's wheel, barking orders that sent crew members scurrying to adjust sails, check rigging, and perform dozens of tasks whose purpose Dust couldn't even guess at.
"Right then, lad," a gruff voice said behind him. "Captain says you're to learn the ropes. Literally."
Dust turned to see a stocky man with sun-weathered skin and arms like tree trunks. His hair was gray and pulled back in a practical ponytail, and his hands bore the calluses of decades working ship's rigging.
"I'm Korvain, the Sea Witch's bosun," the man continued. "That means I'm responsible for the deck crew, the rigging, and making sure landlubbers like you don't get themselves killed their first day at sea."
[QUEST PROGRESS UPDATE]
Learn basic seamanship: 1/5 lessons
Meeting the bosun counts as your first lesson
"Pleased to meet you," Dust replied. "I'm—"
"I know who you are. Word travels fast on a ship this size." Korvain's eyes were sharp as they examined Dust. "Question is, are you going to be dead weight we're stuck feeding, or are you going to pull your share?"
"I want to help. I just don't know how."
"Honest answer. Good." Korvain nodded approvingly. "First thing to learn—on a ship, everyone has a job. Captain makes the big decisions, officers handle navigation and planning, crew keeps us moving. You're crew now, so you follow orders quick and don't ask stupid questions."
The bosun led Dust to a section of deck where several thick ropes were coiled in neat spirals. "These are lines, not ropes. Call them ropes and you'll mark yourself as a landlubber forever. Each line has a specific purpose—some control the sails, others secure cargo, still others are for emergency use."
Dust examined the lines, noting how each was different—some thick and rough, others thinner and more flexible. The System interface flickered in his peripheral vision, but he kept his attention focused on Korvain's instruction.
"This here's a sheet line," Korvain continued, hefting a medium-thick rope that ran up toward the main sail. "Controls the angle of the sail to catch the wind proper. Pull it wrong, and you could tear the canvas or snap the mast."
[SKILL DEVELOPMENT DETECTED]
Seamanship: Basic terminology learned
Progress: 15%
"Show me," Dust said.
For the next hour, Korvain walked him through the basics of line handling. How to coil rope properly so it wouldn't tangle. How to tie a bowline knot that would hold under strain but could still be untied afterward. How to read the tension in a line to know if it was doing its job correctly.
Dust's hands were soft from his life on the streets—good for picking pockets and locks, but not for hauling rough hemp rope. Within minutes, his palms were burning from friction burns, and his fingers ached from gripping unfamiliar knots.
"Hurts, don't it?" Korvain observed with amusement. "Don't worry, you'll build calluses soon enough. Here."
The bosun produced a small jar of thick, waxy substance. "Lanolin. Rub it on your hands before you start work, helps prevent the worst of the burning."
[QUEST PROGRESS UPDATE]
Prove your worth through honest work: 1/10 tasks completed
Learning basic rope handling counts as meaningful work
As the morning progressed, other crew members began involving Dust in their tasks. He helped secure cargo that had shifted in the night's swells, assisted with cleaning the deck, and even took a turn at the ship's pump, working to keep bilge water from accumulating in the hull.
Each task was simple individually, but together they painted a picture of how complex shipboard life really was. Everything had to be maintained constantly—ropes stretched and needed retying, wooden surfaces required regular scrubbing to prevent rot, metal fittings needed checking for rust and corrosion.
"Not bad for a first morning," Korvain said as the sun reached its zenith. "You follow orders well and don't complain about the work. That puts you ahead of half the sailors I've trained."
[QUEST PROGRESS UPDATE]
Prove your worth through honest work: 3/10 tasks completed
During the midday meal—a simple but filling stew served with hard bread—Dust found himself sitting with several crew members who seemed curious about the newcomer.
"So what's your story?" asked a young sailor named Tam, barely older than Dust himself. "Captain doesn't usually take on passengers mid-voyage."
"Bad luck in Lower Ashmark," Dust replied carefully. "Captain Aldrich offered me a chance to start fresh."
"Bad luck or bad choices?" This from an older sailor with intricate tattoos covering his forearms. "Makes a difference in how long you'll last out here."
"Both, probably," Dust admitted. "But I'm hoping to do better."
The tattooed sailor—who'd introduced himself as Erikson—nodded thoughtfully. "Honest answer. Sea has a way of washing the past clean, if you let it. But it also has a way of drowning those who can't adapt."
[SKILL DEVELOPMENT DETECTED]
Social (Crew Relations): Basic understanding achieved
Charisma +1 when interacting with ship's crew
After the meal, Korvain put Dust to work on what he called "monkey work"—climbing the rigging to check for frayed lines or loose connections. For someone who'd spent years climbing buildings and scrambling over rooftops, the ship's rigging felt familiar, though the constant motion of the vessel added a new challenge.
[SKILL SYNERGY DETECTED]
Athletics (Climbing) + Seamanship = Enhanced rigging work
Progress bonus applied
"You're a natural climber," Korvain called up as Dust worked his way along a yard arm, checking the connections that held the main sail. "Most new sailors are terrified of the height at first."
"Heights don't bother me," Dust called back. "It's the falling that's the problem."
His joke earned chuckles from the crew below, and Dust felt a warm sense of belonging that was entirely new to him. On the streets of Lower Ashmark, trust was a luxury he couldn't afford. Here, his safety depended on these men, just as theirs depended on him.
[QUEST PROGRESS UPDATE]
Prove your worth through honest work: 5/10 tasks completed
As the afternoon wore on, Captain Aldrich approached while Dust was helping Tam mend a section of sail canvas.
"How's our new crew member working out?" the captain asked Korvain.
"Better than expected," the bosun replied. "Quick learner, follows orders, not afraid of heights or hard work. Give him a few weeks and he'll be a proper sailor."
"Good to hear." Aldrich turned to Dust. "We'll reach Port Cray tomorrow evening. While we're in port, you'll have shore leave like the rest of the crew. Chance to see something of the world beyond Lower Ashmark."
[NEW LOCATION DISCOVERED]
Port Cray: Major trading hub
Opportunities for skill development and quest advancement
"Thank you, Captain," Dust said. "I won't let you down."
"See that you don't. A ship's crew is like a family—we depend on each other for survival. But that also means we support each other when times get tough."
As evening approached, Dust found himself assigned to the night watch alongside Erikson. The tattooed sailor proved to be good company, sharing stories of ports he'd visited and adventures he'd had during his years at sea.
"Been sailing for near fifteen years," Erikson said as they walked the deck, checking for anything that might need attention. "Started when I was younger than you, running from some trouble in the capital."
"What kind of trouble?"
"The kind that follows you if you let it." Erikson's eyes grew distant. "But the sea teaches you that running away isn't always cowardice. Sometimes it's the smart choice, giving you time to grow strong enough to face what's chasing you."
[WISDOM GAINED]
Sometimes retreat is just preparation for a better advance
Willpower +1
The night watch was peaceful, with clear skies and steady winds keeping the Sea Witch on course. Dust found the rhythm of shipboard life soothing—the creak of wood and rope, the whisper of wind through the rigging, the steady splash of waves against the hull.
But as he stood at the rail, looking out at the star-filled darkness, his thoughts turned inevitably to Lower Ashmark. Was Clara safe? Had Garrett taken out his frustration on other innocent people? The questions gnawed at him, reminding him that his escape had left unfinished business behind.
[SYSTEM MESSAGE]
Growth requires accepting that you cannot save everyone immediately. Focus on becoming strong enough to save those who matter most.
The System's words were logical, but they didn't ease the guilt entirely. Still, Dust recognized the truth in them. He'd been powerless in Lower Ashmark, able to help Clara only temporarily before being forced to run. If he wanted to make a real difference, he needed to become something more than a street thief with good intentions.
[QUEST PROGRESS UPDATE]
Begin physical conditioning: 1/7 days completed
Day of shipboard labor counts as conditioning
By the time his watch ended, Dust was exhausted but satisfied. His hands were raw and his muscles ached, but he'd contributed meaningfully to the ship's operation. The crew had begun treating him as one of their own rather than a passenger, and he could feel his understanding of seamanship growing with each task completed.
[QUEST PROGRESS UPDATE]
Learn basic seamanship: 2/5 lessons completed
Prove your worth through honest work: 7/10 tasks completed
As he settled into his narrow bunk, Dust reflected on how much his life had changed in just two days. He'd gone from a hunted fugitive to a crew member on a merchant vessel, from powerless to... well, still relatively powerless, but with the promise of growth ahead.
The System interface glowed softly in his peripheral vision, showing his progress toward the quest goals. It felt strange, having his development quantified and tracked, but also oddly comforting. For the first time, he had a clear sense of advancement, of building toward something specific.
[DAILY SUMMARY]
Experience Gained: +15 XP (15/100 total)
Skills Improved: Seamanship, Athletics, Social
Physical Conditioning: Day 1 complete
Crew Relations: Positive impression established
Sleep came easily, rocked by the gentle motion of the ship and the satisfied tiredness of honest labor. Tomorrow would bring new challenges and new opportunities for growth. But tonight, for the first time in years, Dust felt truly secure.
He was no longer running from something.
He was sailing toward something.