Skål! (Caribou)

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Vind thought about Synets answer for a few moments. Shortly later, he nodded with a bit of a happy call. Not too loud, just enough to make the Caribou in front of him feel welcome. "A chronicler is one of the most valuable roles in an expedition! Without them, our tales can not be retold for the future generations!" Vind said with a nod, raising a glass to Synet as well and drinking. He looked between the trio, then across the room at the other Caribou in attendance. "I have met the Scout, the Engineer, and the Chronicler. Ia the Medic and a Wind Tailor. I know the Captain from long ago..." He said with a slow nod. He sat tall and attempted to pick out any other Expedition Caribou from the crowd, but ultimately failing. "It will be quite the experience to meet all of the others." He mused.

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”As my sister said, the stories are most important. All the records will be the very things we visit again and again throughout our lives,” Sjel agreed, seeing the full value of having members of the team dedicated to such a task. Of course, she wouldn't mind having other trinkets as well, but those were but springboards to the memories they represented.

The necessity of one knowledgeable of the medical arts was also clear and wind tailors were a large part of the reason caribou were able to visit distant lands so swiftly and safely. ”A useful bull to have around, from the sounds of it,” Sjel said in response to Vind's statement of his duties.

”I look forward to it, we will all be so close by the time it is over, it will be like... well a different kind of looking into the future,” she said, smiling at Synet.

She hoped that a cluster of bulls would smell slightly better than how it seemed like it would. Or that the smell of salt water and other aspects of the sea would prove the stronger fragrance.

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Lys had no such concerns about the smell of the bulls. These two, at least, seemed pretty well-kept, and she had the benefit of being the lookout—a great and lovely distance above any bull-borne fragrances. Up there, it was naught but the wind and the sea and the smell of oncoming glory.

Seemed that these two were going to be very useful in their own rights—Vind during the expedition, by far, odds were good he was going to save a fair few lives. But Synet's value would be in the long run. His chronicles would be some of their truer treasures, more than any bangles or trinkets (although Lys hoped for at least one bangle. Something to tie on her autumnal antlers, perhaps).

"I cannot help but feel an excitement," she said, eyes darting between the group and scanning the crowd, trying—maybe in vain—to glimpse the captain somewhere. "I have the greatest faith in our crew and in our mission! The Bear Paw will leave a print that lasts beyond generations." She took a big swig from her bowl, then, and grinned. "Tell us, have either of you been on expeditions before? It is our first, and we would be glad to know what to expect!"

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Chronicler? Synet had declared himself a researcher... Oh, no matter! There would be time for official titles later! For now, he simply reveled in the presence of the other caribou. Synet returned the smile to Sjel. The subject changed, bringing Synet back into things. Experience? "Oh! No! Nono, this is my first expedition. I'm quite excited. Perhaps a little nervous. Only slightly! It'll clear upon leaving. Probably. Most likely. 80% sure." Synet needed to work on his social skills. It would improve with time. He couldn't possibly have the same social tendencies weeks from now, after being with these caribou. He'd open up. He'd have fun. Synet was sure of it. It was scientifically sound.

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Vind raised his glass to Lys' statement. Expeditions were meant to leave prints that would always be remembered through Caribou culture. Vind almost felt a sense of nervousness about this, his name being among the list of Caribou from this expedition, but a quick drink of his mead brought him back to the conversation. "I can not say that I have. Both my mother and my father were wind tailors on previous expeditions, and I grew up hearing their tales. Open Seas, New Lands, The occasional sea monster..." Vind said, looking between the trio for a brief moment, before taking another sip. "If I may shift the conversation to something a little less official?" He started, before gesturing to the pink band around his neck. "My mother gave me this, a token of luck and safety." Then to his bandana. "And my father gave me this, worn by bulls in my family for several generations. Do any of you have any such superstitions or trinkets?" He asked. It may not seem like it, but the kind of charms or superstitions a Caribou held can speak volumes about the kind of character they have, and curiosity had gotten the best of Vind.

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It was comforting that they would not be the only new blood on the voyage, though she hoped it was not all new blood. Best if someone had a sure hoof for travel.

Sjel looked inquisitively at Vind for a moment, but her concern was more for how she might answer. Truthfully, she had stored some of a similar significance with her other belongings, but it had not been her intention to speak of it so quickly. ”Well I am bringing my good luck sister,” she said, speaking the joke a bit too formally.

She considered also sharing that the ship itself was a testament to her lineage, but thought better of that. Every cut in every plank was a gift from her father, still she would not be carrying the ship at all times.

She shook her head, ”But yes, I have... something with me, though I am afraid it cannot be worn.” It would be poor timing to speak of the literal piece of home she had carved to show Lys when spirits were low.

”My mother has given me a few etchings to look upon.” This was a true answer, but not the most true. Admittedly, she had nothing of superstitious value, only things that would remind her of family. Perhaps an inclination of caribou who worked with the power of the spirit in ways that she could not.

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Lys glanced over Vind's keepsake garments, and though it pleased her to hear she was not the only new blood bringing aboard some item of sentiment, it troubled her a bit to think that both of his were articles of clothing. Given that they had no idea what sort of environment they were going into, they could easily get lost or ruined on the expedition. And... perhaps it was just from her own bias, but if she had any such objects from her blood-kin, she would not want to lose them for all the gold in Helgafjell.

Shaking her head from those low-spirited thoughts, she took a long pull of her mead that emptied the bowl, and after it left her lips she was grinning again. Sjel's comment brought a snicker out of her, and though she knew it was a joke, she still puffed out her chest. Just a bit.

"It is just as well. What is worn by body can be worn by weather, and with Vind's help we will not lack for winds," she said. She considered taking out her flute and showing them that, but a quiet glance at Sjel reminded her of the power music could hold. There was no need for it to sing in the tavern—on the ship, after high spirits had settled low, that was when it might truly come in handy.

So instead, she looked into the slick, shiny bottom of her bowl, and after a moment of thought, beamed.

"Here is what I will bring!" She turned it outward and held it up, showing whoever looked the weird, hazy reflection of themselves that the honey collected at the bottom of her drink made. "... See? I am bringing along a crew of friends! These will remind me of Trottheim very well, and I will keep every single one of them close. Especially my own good luck sister, for she is strong and lustrous~"

A beat passed. Then she turned the bowl back around and started licking off the honey. The yeast gave it a nice, hearty taste.

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He could tell that Lys was a kindhearted caribou, already. He was sure to enjoy her presence. He only hoped that he could provide the same enjoyment and good nature. He couldn't quite put his hoof down on Vind yet. Sjel seemed strong and steady, inside and out. Hm... He supposed it was his turn to say what he would bring. "I bring the scarf I have worn for years that was a present from my mother, several books of varying subjects, and my stones for telling the future." Other than this, there wasn't much the caribou could think of.

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Vind smiled as each of the Caribou talked about what they were bringing, even giving a small laugh at Lys speaking that she was bringing a crew of friends. However, it came to his mind that everyone else was bringing items to help with the journey. He had meant as a token of luck, but that was alright. He just nodded and added, "I have also been given a supply of herbs, in case any fall ill or become injured." he said with a definitive nod. He looked to Sjel and Lys once more. "Bringing along family must mean much more than any trinket. A strong bond can keep anyone going through any event." he said, then looked to Synet. "Your scarf will come in handy, I have heard tales of how cold it can get on expeditions. And your Stones will be a good tool to keep us ready for anything." He hoped he'd figured out exactly why they were bringing it, and his responses sounded sincere. He knew his voice and stoic mannerisms didn't lend very well to sincerity or kindness, but he meant well.

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”Lustrous?” Sjel questioned, amused.

In order to avoid the risk of sounding haughty, Sjel made sure not to put too fine a point on what Vind said. She did feel that having Lys beside her was better than bringing along anything or anyone else, but she would not say words that might cast shame upon the others for what they were bringing. An unnecessary precaution, perhaps, but the anxiety from the looming trip made her less want to start any troubles with those she would be sharing space with.

”It is quite fortunate, I am glad we could go together and I am glad you both have found things to give you strength as well,” she added. Both of them were difficult reads compared to the fountain of expression she was used to.

She had expected Styrke might join them by now, but it seemed this was not to be. He was probably tied up fully by every former Captain and Jarl who wished to relive their duty through the passing of wisdom. On top of that, the crowds would be slow to let him pass.

”I wonder if a pony's fur is as soft as they say...” She asked, finding nothing else to question. Perhaps it would start a chain of pony lore?

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"Lustrous," she said, matter-of-fact.

A fortune-teller! All the better, she thought, though wouldn't it be a bit difficult to keep them still with the boat rocking back and forth and up and down all the time? She didn't mean to ask him how to do his work, though, that would be rude. Still... she resolved to try and watch him do it sometime. She set her bowl down on the nearest convenient surface and beamed.

"We will all be a family of sorts by journey's end," she said. "But trinkets are still strong companions! It is not, after all, a family that you wrap around your neck in the wind, and you certainly do not eat your family if you fall with a fever." Though, thinking about it, she did hide behind or on top of Sjel sometimes if she got wet and the wind chilled her too much. ... This was getting away from her a little. Where was that bowl, again?

She picked it up again, Sjel's comment about pony furs causing another half-remembered anecdote to dislodge itself from her mind. She wanted to get another round of drinks, but it seemed she was the only one to have emptied hers. Drat.

"I have heard some of them have an antler... only one, on the middle of their head." She said this with the gravity of a sage. Albeit one with a nice buzz going. "Do they not tip over, if it is so?"