Peek: A New Shore (Patreon)

Warnd heard good things about Fourdock. While his parents were born and raised as shipwrights in Gofnardale, the elf had been feeling stifled. While he enjoys designing and building ships, it's mostly repair work nowadays.

But Fourdock is supposed to be different. Though they haven't really had any shipping in his lifetime, shortly before he was born, it was supposed to be a major trade hub across the sea. Then the local oceanic dungeon went nuts and basically cut the town off from the deep blue.

But, just before the snows hit, merchants came through talking about how the ocean was open once more, and that shipwrights who want to seek their fortunes could do a lot worse than setting up shop in Fourdock.

When he first heard the rumors, he dismissed them as just idle talk. But the rumors persisted, capturing the attention of not only him, but a lot of the local shipwrights. Warnd needed to get in on this opportunity if he doesn't want to spend the rest of his life patching up leaky bilges and sewing sails!

So he worked hard and finished his apprenticeship, accepting his new title as a journeyman from his father and mentor with mixed feelings of accomplishment and trepidation. He'll be out of the shallows now, but if he helms his course properly, he'll see new, wealthy horizons!

The caravan to Foudock was uneventful, which suited Warnd just fine. He has no illusions about his skills in a fight. Getting set up in Fourdock was surprisingly simple, too, with the shipwright's guild eager to catch the new breeze and recruit every wright they can. The actual induction is all a blur to him now, seeming like a dream for him to catch a strong current so quickly.

He won't get to design any ships yet, of course, but a long-haul ocean ship is a fresh and interesting challenge compared to the lake and river boats he's used to. He makes acquaintances with his fellow journeymen and apprentices, and even makes a fast friend in a changeling named Lem.

Lem is more of a carpenter than a shipwright, but with the scale of ocean ships, it makes little difference. The two chat as they work on the skeleton of the new vessel, and though Warnd worries about the slow pace, Lem is much more lackadaisical about it.

"The shipmaster wants to make sure it's done right, instead of done quick. Can you imagine if the first ship out of Fourdock in decades sinks in the harbor?"

"Sure, but what if we end up producing only the tenth ship instead?"

Lem shrugs as he inspects his latest beam. "That's the risk of hiring so many new hands. They only let me in because I can follow directions, not for my experience on boats."

"Still..."

"Stop worrying about it. As long as he's not glaring at us, we're doing well enough. Trust me."

Warnd is pretty sure he's heard stories about how well trusting changelings works out, but he still has a point. The shipmaster's patrols have the air of someone secure and confident, rather than someone suffering under the weight of a deadline. Let him worry about the pace, Warnd should worry about making sure the hull is properly built.

The shadows lengthen as the day continues, and the wrights are sent home a few hours before sunset. Warnd and Lem head out together, with the elf's eyes wandering the town that's still new to him.

"Want to go drinking or something?"

He expected Lem to leap at the chance, but the changeling looks thoughtful at the suggestion. "Maybe get something to eat, but I probably shouldn't get hammered. I want to go delve tomorrow, and a hangover is a terrible companion on one."

That earns a surprised look from Warnd. "You delve?"

Lem's look mirrors his. "You don't? Ah, right, you're a new arrival. Oh, we gotta get you some delving gear!"

"Are you nuts? Why would I want to risk my life delving?!"

"Because it's fun? And with Thedeim, there's no risk to your life at all!"

"Who's Thedeim?"

"Who? Oh man. Alright, let's swing by my place first so I can get my dungeoneer pamphlet, and you can get caught up while we eat."

Warnd is more than a little worried about his new friend's choice in hobby, but any attempts to point out the danger involved in delving get waved away. In Lem's apartment, Warnd eyes the small armor stand near the door holding a leather chest piece and a simple iron helm. Beside it is a round shield and a single-handed hammer. They actually look like they've seen use! Lem actually delves? He doesn't seem the type from how he works.

He doesn't get a chance to try to puzzle through the mystery as Lem shouts in triumph from his bedroom, soon returning to Warnd with a pamphlet. A single look answers one of his questions, at least.

"Thedeim is a dungeon?"

Lem nods and ushers him out of his home, and soon leads the way to the nearest tavern for them to have an early dinner. "Yep, about a year old now. He's got a lot of territory to explore, but I stick to the manor and sometimes the maze."

"Even if those are the least dangerous parts, it's still a dungeon, Lem. People, even professional adventurers die in them all the time!"

"Not in Thedeim. Not a single death yet. And believe me that he definitely has denizens capable of it."

"That's not exactly reassuring."

Lem barks a laugh. "You'll see, once you read through that pamphlet. Practically everyone delves him at least a little. It's good experience, and it's fun! You'll see," he reassures, though Warnd is still incredulous.

They get to the tavern and get some simple stew and bread, and Lem gives Warnd a chance to look through the information on Thedeim. This particular packet is focused on the manor and maze, and seems to back up a lot of what Lem was talking about. That section is for beginners and holds the dungeon's weakest denizens. What's more: they don't simply swarm adventurers, but engage in small groups. While people are sometimes defeated, they are never slain, with the dungeon even sometimes deploying a type of slime Warnd never heard of before: a healing slime.

Could he handle a snake or a rat? Lem smirks as he sees his friend thinking it over. "So, you wanna go delve tomorrow?"

"Tomorrow? Even if that dungeon is safe, I don't have any gear," Warnd points out.

"That's no problem. The outfitter I use has a good second-hand section."

Warnd gives him a flat look. "I'd rather not use gear that some other adventurer died in."

Lem laughs at his pessimism. "No deaths, remember? People upgraded out of them is all."

Warnd is actually tempted, but there's one final hurdle for him. "I don't have much coin right now. I don't think I could afford much."

"Eh, I'll front you some coin if you need it. A delve or two and you should be able to pay me back. Or I can just sell it back if you don't like delving."

Warnd resists for a few more seconds before his resolve crumbles. Sure, he knows he's hopeless in a real fight, but he can probably handle a snake or a rat, and who doesn't dream of being a cool adventurer? He sighs and gives in.

"Alright, I'll give it a try."

"Great! Then let's pay our tab and get moving! I don't want the outfitter to close before we get there!"