piratejournal | [Audio + Action on Isla Empieza]

Excuse me? Hello? Can anyone understand what I'm saying through this book? I've seen people speaking into these strange books and other people seem to speak back. I'm...really rather confused by this entire place.

Tarouza? Kurokagi? Anyone? What happened after the battle? Did we win? Is that why I can understand all of these people?

[There's a bit of shuffling as he moves through underbrush, emerging near the market area. Screaming immediately starts from everyone who catches sight of him.]

...Well, that was a bit rude. They all ran away. Anyway, back to business. I've been wondering about some other things that seem to be important, here. Perhaps one of the people listening can tell me.

First of all, what is "currency" and how does it work? I've been given little shiny bits of this "currency", but I'm not sure what to do with it.

Second, how does "writing" and "reading" work? It's something you humans do for these book things, correct? I'm...really a bit new to all of this.

Why are you all so large? The humans I know are much smaller. Or have I somehow gotten smaller?

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Sorry, I'm not familiar with those names, but aye, usually we read and write in books.

As for currency, it's pieces of metal or sometimes paper used as a numerical marker for trade. Since all objects have different values to different people, it makes it a bit easier to haggle. Hold onto it for now, and if you get passage on a ship, you can give it to whoever takes charge of such things so that they can help get supplies, like food or clothes.

As for size, that depends, how tall are you? By my understanding, most people of this world are smaller than I'm used to, but there's bound to be a world where everyone is even smaller than this, eh?

...Ah, I see. Awfully complicated system, that.

Well, back home I only knew a handful of humans, but they could all fit in my palm. Now they're about half my size, or least the ones I've seen here so far.

By the way, have you ever heard of eternity fruit? Looks like a gourd, tastes delicious? Good for meat eaters and plant eaters alike? Anything like that here?

In your palm, really?

That sounds like gnomes or fairies. [Thinks to compare, now they're about half his size so...] Or children? You sound big even by my world's standards, however.

And sorry, I can't say I have heard of such a food.

I know I was much larger than many trees. Even amongst my own kind, I was quite big. Only the strongest animals reach such a size. It's...more a curse than a blessing, really.

I see...Then if I'm to make it home, I suppose I'll have to sustain myself on fish in the meantime. It's a shame.

Whoa.

Aye, I know a thing or two about that. I'm not so large myself, but my Pops is five times my size, and my brothers are quite a bit bigger than I am.

You're not fond of fish I take it?

I...try not to eat meat, if I can avoid it. Unfortunately, vegetables and fruits don't provide what my body needs. I was built to eat meat. Back home, Tarouza had a special fruit that all of us could live comfortably off with no trouble.

There's a fruit that carnivore can eat? And it makes you not want to eat meat?

Oh yes. A human designed it long ago, back when they still existed. Tarouza rediscovered it. It's part of his dream of uniting all the animals.

Is that possible?

Apparently. It involves a lot of "technology", he says. I don't know much about that sort of thing. That's what's so interesting about humans. You're not very strong in body, but you create the most wondrous things.

Don't count me as human, mate. I'm a lot stronger in body than inventing anything, yoi.

Oh? Were you born something else?

I'm part bird.

I don't know if I'd be willing to give up meat entirely, but in a world where all animals could get along, I think I would.

My baby sister can't eat meat at all, and my baby brother seems to have a preference for eating bears and tigers.

What are you then?

I'm on the fence about fish. I think I should be able to get by on those without feeling too bad about it.

I'm a tiger.

If it helps, I get murderous from meat so I have to be careful, but I can usually handle fish without too much trouble. I never know how to feel about it either. Fishmen are usually fine with eating fish, but merfolk talk to the fish so they won't eat them at all, which makes sense I suppose.

Are you a transforming tiger or just a very big tiger?

That's how it is. It's hard to eat something that you know thinks on the same level as yourself. That's part of what Tarouza is trying to do. What I promised to help him achieve. A common language for all animals, and a food we can all enjoy.

I was much larger. I previously thought all the humans were just immense, but I see now that I've merely gotten smaller. Very strange.

Eh, really?

[Head tilt.] I wonder if that means Davy Jones would have to shrink some of my brothers to bring them here.

I don't know. I suppose you'd have to ask him. I used to be taller than most trees.

Maybe the trees are bigger here too.

[Sure Marco, troll the tiger.]

Everything is bigger? I'm not a fool, friend.

[A small laugh.] Sorry mate.

So did you find a crew looking for a great big tiger yet? I'd invite you to mine, but my Captain would try to eat you. And I wish I was making that up.

That is your pack, right? This "crew"?

Aye my flock. I mean -- pack. My family is part of my crew, and sometimes becomes so vice versa.

Ah, I see. Thank you for the information, then.

My pleasure.

Do me a favor and if a sweet heron lass comes your way, tell her about that fruit, aye?

My captain wanted to make a wish that she could eat meat, but that fruit sounds a lot better.

I'll be sure to pass it along, then.

[Audio + Action on Isla Empieza]

[Voice]

Re: [Voice]

Re: [Voice]

Re: [Voice]

Re: [Voice]

Re: [Voice]

Re: [Voice]

Re: [Voice]

Re: [Voice]

Re: [Voice]

Re: [Voice]

Re: [Voice]

Re: [Voice]

Re: [Voice]

Re: [Voice]

Re: [Voice]

Re: [Voice]

Re: [Voice]

[Voice]

Re: [Voice]

Re: [Voice]

Re: [Voice]

Re: [Voice]

Re: [Voice]

[Voice]

Re: [Voice]