Chapter 78.2a Private Convo with...

[Luopo]

Finding some time alone, between overseering the unloading of the ship and finishing up the removal of the stalls, the former captain of the Wayward Moon finds Zavros, "Sir, you wanted to talk to me?"

[Spellblade]

"Aye, please sit," answers Zav. "I owe you an apology. I should have spoken with you earlier. How goes the training? Are you eager to see the world?"

[Luopo]

"The training goes well, Sir Zavros," the man said as he took a seat. "As for being eager, well, I'm both filled with excitement and dread. This last month has been tough. Captain O'Hanlon keeps telling us, 'live like it's your last day when you're flying, cause if that balloon goes,' " pointing upwards, " 'we're all going to die a horrible death.' It was all I could do to keep the rest of the original crew from leaving, especially the cook and his assistant--who have been trained too as backup."

[Spellblade]

“It gets easier. Strange becomes the norm,” replies Zav. “Before the Wayward Moon was an airship I captained it all the way to the Sargasso Sea. What is the furthest you have traveled?”

[Luopo]

"I've only run the route from Jasrel to Stormgate and then to Veru in Aquilar and back," he answered.

[Spellblade]

“Any dangers? Dragon turtles or were sharks or the like?” asks Zavros.

[Luopo]

"Uh, what? Um, no."

[Spellblade]

Zavros nods his head, “They die easily enough beneath courage and steel. My comrades odd as they appear are quite capable. What is your assessment of the Moonlit Swords?”

[Luopo]

"They seem alright," the man responded. "Sir, may I ask, why am I here? Am I being let go? I ask because you've barely had two words with me since hiring me and to be honest, I don't think you even remember my name."

[Spellblade]

“Selwin,” says Zavros.

[Spellblade]

“I need a first mate that I can count on and be the captain in my absence,” continues Zav. “I could not but help notice you got rattled by the mention of some unusual beasts. There may be other unusual things you might see among my comrades that may astound you. Axar the dwarro is a juggernaut in combat. He can shrug off blows that would fell a lesser man. Unnatural by some accounts.”

[Luopo]

"If you had doubts in my being able to run your ship, you should have made this known to me a long time ago," Selwin replies. "I am a sailor, an ordinary man, not an adventurer such as yourself or your Free Company. You've paid to train me to fly your ship, which I think I can do proficiently in the next few days. If I seem astounded by mention of such extraordinary creatures, it's because I do not go in search of them. You can count on me making your cargo runs, but I am no privateer, I do not desire adventure, just making a fair wage to feed my family."

[Spellblade]

Zav nods, "Aye, understood. I will need the crew to fly to exotic locales though."

[Luopo]

"As long as we get paid, I'm sure there won't be a problem," Selwin replied.

[Spellblade]

Zav claps his hands, "Splendid. I appreciate your time."

[Luopo]

Selwin raises, nods and takes his leave.