Ki'nar & Nehaer
Thomas Karver was born another heir to the privileged family of the Ki’nar patriarch, Woodrow Ki’nar, a half Biqaj wildly successful merchant of Ne’haer whose mercantile empire spanned four Galleons and four Brigs and contacts across the entirety of Idalos. His grandfather still sailed as captain of his flagship, the Galleon
Regal. His sons, and his daughter however, enjoyed a life of leisurely pursuits in Ne’haer. That is not so say that they were particularly lazy, just that their time often given to hobbies rather than careers, and none showed an interest in the particularly hard life of a sailor. This greatly displeased Woodrow, who was at his heart a sailor and respected a certain tenacity. Nevertheless, his family use his wealth to grow their influence in the city of Ne’haer and the region beyond.
His daughter, Estella, eventually eloped with a sailor named Emmet Karver while her father was west on voyage. When Woodrow returned he found a new grandson and a daughter who seemed to be more independent than before. She had taken her love of all hobbies equestrian and begun to breed and sell horseflesh. Rather than be angry at what others would see as a scandal, Woodrow was happy for his daughter and welcomed both son-in-law and grandson into the family. Estella’s brothers were not pleased by this.
The young sailor Emmet Karver was exactly the type Woodrow could grow to admire. He recognized a drive and boldness in the young man and offered him a place as a deckhand aboard his own ship the
Regal. So grandfather and father set off to add to the family fortune while young Thomas was left with a mother who had found a new drive for business. Estrella quickly began to turn a profit for the Ki’nars. While it did not stand up to the merchantile wealth of her father, it was enough to attract the meddling of her brothers. They would set up deals and favors, selling or gifting her horses themselves for favors or discounts amongst the other influencers of Ne’haer.
The conducting of this business and the navigation of her siblings obstacles and bad business sense afforded her little time for her son. Thomas, for his part, grew up every bit as pampered as any of his cousins in the Ki’nar estate. With little discipline he became an absolute horror of a child. While he was able and quick with his studies, particularly his grasp of languages, he was moody and lacked direction. His mother tried with him, but to no avail.
Cabin Boy & the Regal
On his eighth arc, Thomas and Estrella were greeted by a bleak Woodrow returning. He told them that Emmet had been lost at sea while cutting flotsam from a broken mast in a storm. Estrella was devastated, but Thomas’s reaction was muted. He had never spent a great deal of time with his father, and had never experienced death. There was a mourning period where Woodrow and the
Regal stayed in port in Ne’haer to comfort the bereaved Estrella.
It was during this fateful time at a familial dinner that Woodrow became truly aware of the wily nature of his grandson. Seated at the head of the table and with a deep scowl on his greying beard, the captain pointed a gnarled finger at the squirming Thomas and said, “You, boy, have need of the seas’ lessons. You will be my cabin boy for an arc. We will see if the salt and wind won’t sort this out.”
And so Thomas’s life of leisure ended with a salty jolt. His tutelage at the hands of the veteran crew of the
Regal was tougher than anything he had ever experienced. The hands were never cruel, but the work was unforgiving. Thomas did experience something he had never had before, responsibility. Moreover, as he grew more able and skilled he also found friendship and respect earned by his own hand.
This, more than anything became the currency he most sought for the rest of his trials. It was as if the sea air awoke in Thomas a whole new identity. He learned quickly and approached every task with a bold eagerness that reminded Woodrow and the old hands of his deceased father, Emmet. At the end of the arc, Thomas chose to stay aboard rather than return to Ne’haer.
As he grew it became apparent he was something of a sailing prodigy, and a clear pupil of the grizzled Captain. Growing to manhood Thomas eventually earned a post as a junior mate. He grew to know the trade winds and the waterways, the ports of Idalos. He grew to know the sails and lines, the deck and the wheel. He grew to know the sea and the salt, and the wanderlust.
During their brief visits to Ne’haer he received much animosity amongst his land-bound uncles and cousins who saw his tenure aboard the
Regal as a threat to the inheritance they saw in the future. Woodrow was growing grey and bent, though still as sharp as ever. It was not a good sign that he met with his lawyer in private at every visit to Ne’haer. Thomas did not think of inheritance, only of his grandfather’s health. Also, he secretly hoped none of his family would block him from his return to the sea.
Death & Wealth
Eventually Thomas woke and pulled himself from his hammock for the graveyard shift as mate on duty and went to relieve his grandfather. Woodrow Ki’nar insisted on always taking a nighttime shift as officer on deck, never taking a full night’s sleep though it was his right. Especially after a wild storm he would take the sundown shift, saying that the sea sings sweetest in the wake of storm. That was how Thomas found him, holding fast to the wheel. He was slumped over the polished wood and cold to the touch though he held the course even in death.
The first mate decided to give the old man a sea burial and then set course for Ne’haer to carry the news. Thomas was left to mourn, though he sought comfort in his daily tasks instead. The entire crew was muted and silent in their work for the journey home. Thomas and the first mate broke that morose spell by telling embarrassing and humorous stories of the old man when the sailing was easy.
Thomas told himself the old man had died as he would have wanted. As he stood at the prow of
Regal and watched the sparkling city of Ne’haer approach, the first mate came to stand next to him.
“I’ve no idea how the old man’s will shall be carried out…” He began, unfolding a cloth in his scarred hands. “But I know that old deckhand would want you to have this. And seeing as it’s a thing amongst sailors, I think it’s to be settled amongst sailors. Not the landlubbers.” He then handed Thomas the old compass Woodrow had carried since his first command. Thomas thanked the man and spent the rest of the journey looking towards the city and running his thumb across the rough etching of his grandfather’s name on the compass.
The rest of the matter of Woodrow Ki’nar’s wealth was not settled as easily. Tensions were high when Thomas set foot on the estate and was given a decidedly frosty greeting by his now unfamiliar family. Only his mother greeted him warmly, and he brought her rare gifts from across the sea. He comforted her while the siblings bickered over their inheritance and debated plans for the future of the Ki’nar businesses.
They even occasionally made veiled threats to Thomas that he would not inherit any of their father’s ships. He was a Karver,
not a Ki’nar. But largely the brothers argued amongst themselves. This was all hushed to silence when Woodrow’s lawyer came to give condolences and deliver the will. After a hurried greeting by the brothers and a brief hug for Estrella, the man set about the business. Thomas watched from the rear of Woodrow’s old study. He thought it was interesting to be in the room, where he was sure Woodrow himself had spent very little time. It was full of trinkets and tomes from across Idalos. Thomas knew that these were mere mementos, the old man had always valued memories over such items.
His attention returned to the lawyer as the lean old man started to speak to the gathered group of Ki’nars. “The last will and testament of Woodrow Ki’nar reads as follows…” He began, glaring reproachfully at the gathered group. Thomas’ mind flew to the
Regal in harbor now. Who would get that beautiful masterpiece of of a ship? Would he still be able to serve as mate aboard her? He had known no other life for more than a decade.
“To my daughter Estrella, I leave my lands outside Ne’haer and all my horseflesh goods in the hopes that she may grow her business of which I have become very proud over the past arcs. To Estrella also will go one fifth portion of my remaining coin wealth and the summer home upon those same fields.” This was met with a water smiled from his mother and a scoffing from his eldest uncle. The lawyer glared out at the muttering that had erupted.
“To my sons…” He began, and the muttering went silent. “I leave the control of my businesses and all my ships and remaining estate within the city of Ne’haer to be shared in equal portion and run as they see fit. I hope that they remember our origins and honor the hard work their forebears put into this success. I would recommend the continued employment of the current officers of each ship as they have served loyally.” The lawyer raised his voice with the last words as the brothers all made exclamations of excitement.
A few of the family even stood, looking flustered and grinning. Thomas was glad that his mother had been made safe before the sharks had their feast. He sighed and looked to the floor as the lawyer went on to elaborate on the smal details of money, items and property that Woodrow had bequeathed to his list of grandchildren and friends. He doubted his uncles would allow him to return to the
Regal. The crew was too familiar, too loyal.
His attention was returned to the lawyer as the room stirred. Apparently the document was finished and his uncles were moving forward to take a look for themselves. He had not even heard what, if anything, the old man had left to him. He smirked with dark humor. If it had been anything significant his family’s hateful reproaches would have shaken him from his reverie.
The lawyer held up a hand. “I have one more edit, made the last time Woodrow came to port.” The lawyer’s eyes hardened at the gathering family. After a heavy moment they all settled back into their places. “Before the administration of the rest of my will, I hereby bequeath unto my grandson, Thomas Karver…” At this Thomas felt his stomach lurch and saw people shooting hostile glances to where he stood in the rear of the study beside the door. “The Limestone House and attached private anchorage in Ne’haer. It has a distinctly beautiful view of the bay and I hope this helps him remember the seas’ lessons.” Thomas grinned as he thought of the house right on the edge of Ne’haer’s docks with a view over the coast and bay and the very sought after private pier. Only a few of the private piers remained and those who possessed them did not have to pay anchorage fees to the dock masters. “Furthermore, I also bequeath to Thomas a portion of my coin wealth equal to the sum of-“ At this point the lawyer had to shout over the curses and yells of the family. Thomas heard the amount though, and his skin went cold. It was not a fantastical amount, but enough to live lavishly in the dockside house for the rest of his life if he wished. He could rent out the pier and spend his days enjoying the sea air. “-in the hopes that this too will enable him to pursue those same lessons I know we both hold dear.”
As the lawyer broke into barely civil arguments with the rest of his family, Thomas smiled at those words. That brief moment’s imagined life of leisure was gone as soon as it came. A fancy of a past life. For he was a sailor, and he already knew he would find a way to be back on the seas.
“He also left you this letter.” The lawyer said, now standing in front of him. The family had diverted their squabbles to each other. Thomas thanked the man. His old face broke into a grin and he nodded. “He was fond of you. I think he saw in you the same passion he had for travel. That was what he hoped to give to all of them, I think.” The lawyer said sadly, looking back at the Ki’nars. “Well, we can’t always get what we want, eh?” Then he patted Thomas on the shoulder and left him alone.
Thomas with his mother looking on opened the letter. It was short and brief, in his grandfather’s manner:
I’d stake my life on the skill of Shipwright Ulra Quo’Uvir, and have before. She build my last two ships, which you know have served well for ten arcs and still do. I would build with pine for longevity.
Love, The Captain
Thomas chuckled softly. His mother looked from the letter to her son. “Does he mean you to build a Galleon?”
Thomas shook his head. “It is not that much wealth, but enough to build a ship worthy of travel anywhere in Idalos, and a hefty tonnage. Perhaps a Brig…”
Limestone & Brig
And so Thomas visited Ulra Quo’Uvir, a hard muscled Biqaj woman who had been a good friend his grandfather. She was sad to hear of his death but smiled at the manner in which it occurred, saying it could not have happened any other way. After an afternoon discussion with a bit of healthy haggling, the two agreed on the commission of a sizable Brig.
Thomas spent the next few seasons in Ne’haer, aiding his mother in her business and overseeing his ship’s construction with a diligence that quickly became irritating for Ulra. He made sure he had a hand in much of the work, though he was not a shipwright. He ended up coming to haul planks or hammer nails. He chose for the ship’s figurehead the leaping front half of a stallion modeled after one of his mother’s horses. And when the hull was finished he gave the sixty meter long craft the name
Querencia.
As the masts were settled and the crafting became an issue of detail rather than construction Thomas turned his attention to finding a suitable crew so that by the time the finished
Querencia was towed to her anchorage on the Limestone House’s pier he had most of the important positions set.
He grinned as he, his mother, and Ulra stood on the fresh and tidy deck of the ship and toured her lower deck, her cabins, and the hold below. He admired the studding sail wings to his mother, excitedly explaining the additional speed they would give. He inspected the sail room four times while they walked the decks. He admired the masts.
“Yes, yes, now all you’ve got to do is sail her, Captain.” Ulra cut him off, rolling her eyes.
The next trial as his new crew became acquainted with the ship and each other, loading their first cargo of silk Thomas was overseeing the activity from the quarterdeck and trying not to look too excited. His own cabin had looked woefully sparse after he moved the single chest of clothing and items into the larger room than he was used to. His attention was diverted from the crew to a pair of tall, lean men walking up the gangplank to
Querencia. He recognized the stern faces of Faine and Rawley Ki'nar, his two eldest uncles...
The next trial as his new crew became acquainted with the ship and each other, loading their first cargo of silk Thomas was overseeing the activity from the quarterdeck and trying not to look too excited. His own cabin had looked woefully sparse after he moved the single chest of clothing and items into the larger room than he was used to. With nothing left to do in the cabin and the maiden voyage already mapped out he went topside to oversee the loading of the cargo. His attention was diverted from the crew to a pair of tall, lean men walking up the gangplank to
Querencia. He recognized the stern faces of Faine and Rawley Ki'nar, his two eldest uncles...
Thomas descended the port stair onto the main deck and raised a hand in greeting. He had never been particularly close with his uncles, but he long ago resolved to make the efforts nonetheless.
"Karver." Faine began, looking around at the mid-sized brig. "Putting the Ki'nar wealth to good use I see." His slight frown as he eyed Ulra's masterful craftsmanship said he was none too pleased.
Thomas smiled and rapt a knuckle against the main mast. "I believe the Captain meant me to make her when he left me that money." Thomas reminded that the money had come to him from the old patriarch. Both men crossed their arms and their faced became hard and hostile. The pause after was heavy with unsaid things.
"So, are we correct in assuming that none of the profits of this vessel will go to the Ki'nar family business?" Rawley asked with a gruff growl. Of course, they had come to bully a percentage out of him.
Thomas thought carefully before responding. He did not want to burn any bridges, but his uncles did
not own the
Querencia and thus were not entitled to a cut of the earnings. Thomas knew his business would not survive if he was forced to cut his family in on the earnings. Finally he said, "Seeing as I am owner and captain, and you have not offered me a place on any Ki'nar ship or indeed in the business since removing me from
The Regal, no I think not." Then waited for the onslaught.
Faine turned a crimson and scowled. Rawley spoke first and quickly. "Ungrateful! You who do not even bear our name would abandon your family. We have provided for you and now you take our money and leave Ne'haer? You abandon your mother?"
Thomas stepped forward quickly and let his hand settle on his cutlass. "My mother has seen more success with her horse trade than all of you. I do not abandon her. I have earned my inheritance and I will not hear slander from you, Uncle." Rawley stepped back a half step.
Faine said, more evenly. "Then you will take no more part in Ki'nar family affairs, Nephew. You are no longer welcome on the estate." Faine stepped forward, ignoring Thomas's threatening pose. "We will have to consider you and this little Brig of yours...Rivals."
"Problem, Captain?" Said the burly quartermaster, coming up behind the conversation with a few of the deckhands. Faine and Rawley glanced at the crewmen.
"We're leaving." Rawley said, his rough growl contained no more of the threat it had. As he and Faine walked away Thomas watched them.
At the quartermaster's questioning look, Thomas smiled and said, "Family business. That's all."
Jori grunted. "Best not let family business become ship business before we even break harbor." Then the big man walked away, leaving Thomas thinking over his new relationship with his family.
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