Jun had spent the first hour or two of the trip out to sea feeling wobbly, especially when the
Winter Wind was navigating the choppier cross-currents where freshwater met tides at the mouth of the Tangu River. Raised in the mountains, he's never--until today, that is--met a body of water big enough that he couldn't stand on one bank and see all the way across to the other side. By the time the ship reaches open coastal waters, though, he's beginning to get his sea legs--more than recovered enough to get a bit swept up in Captain Shou's fiery enthusiasm as the Topaz contenders are dispatched to work among the crew.
Unfortunately, enthusiasm and a lively curiosity aren't enough to make a young man on his first trip out of the high mountains into an able seaman. He does quickly learn to hand (the line to an actual sailor), reef (i.e. excitedly point out underwater coral formations to the other Topaz candidates), and steer (himself far, far away from the ship's tiller, under the
firm guidance of the sailors), but it's unlikely he'll be hired on as crew any time soon.
Also, it turns out that an encyclopedic recall of the names and qualities of foreign spices and herbs doesn't make one particularly capable at
selling them. Maybe the opposite. (
It was interesting to observe that most customers appeared happier not to know when a product is derived from insect galls. Hardly reasonable, but, as I consider it now, not so surprising after all, Jun will write in his journal later today.)
Jun is much more in his element when inspecting the goods for irregularities and contraband. After conducting his own very thorough examination, satisfying the customs inspector that everything is in order is a simple matter. If anything...
Wasn't that too easy? Aren't they having problems here with foreign contraband? Jun thinks uneasily. But maybe customs is simply taking it easy on the Topaz competitors. It's not as if Captain Shou is likely to be smuggling anything bad in the middle of judging the Championship!
---
D2 LM Test of Waves - step 1, Seafaring with Fire | TN: 2 | Success:
0 / Opportunity:
2 / Strife:
0
No points!
D2 LA Test of Waves - step 2, Commerce with Earth | TN: 2 | Success:
0 / Opportunity:
0 / Strife:
0
No points!
D2 LM Test of Waves - Government/Air, Subtle Observer | TN: 2 | Success:
3 / Opportunity:
0 / Strife:
0
+1 Wave Point
One Wave Point (& 2 opportunities/0 strife) in total, so not a total sweep... good enough for a kid from the mountains
