Harbour

"I am sure they would be most colourful, Ser." Elyas replied, not appearing overly interested in Ser Olyvar's sexual exploits. "But given that a lady will be joining us perhaps it would be best if they were left untold for now. Excuse me for a moment, I will go extend our invitation to her."

OOC-Might as well RP it then.

Elyas walked back out on deck in search of Lady Catelyn. His eyes narrowed instinctively in reaction to the change of light from the interior of the cabin to the afternoon Dornish sun.

"It is, my lady." Elyas said as he approached her. "Ser Olyvar and Ser Arron were hoping to drink to our success before we part. We were hopeful that you would consider joining us."

"I assure you that will not be a problem, my lady." Elyas offered. "Ser Arron and Ser Olyvar are both knights. I am sure they can be expected to behave in a manner befitting their position." He hoped that he was right.

"I have not, my lady. But you needn't worry, from what I have heard, the sickness is extremely rare." Elyas lied, hoping to ease her worry. Sea sickness would be a minor concern given the other challenges they would face.

"That is most interesting, my lady." Elyas replied, appearing legitimately intrigued by either her family history or the seemingly unattributable cause of seasickness. "I imagine we will be travelling near the coast for the initial part of our voyage, so at first the waves should not be too rough, although I confess I am no expert in such matters. Perhaps you could ask Ser Arron, I am sure he has our course well charted." This last bit was part prompt to get Catelyn moving to where Ser Arron and Ser Olyvar were no doubt impatiently waiting to down their drinks. "Ultimately, I suppose, we become sick if the gods will it. Hopefully they will look favourably upon our goal and grant us respite on our journey."

"Whatever they once worshipped the do no longer." Elyas replied. "They favour a dragon lord now, and he sends dragon-riders to strike down our warriors. Were I the Storm God I would look favourably upon the enemy of a people who forsook me for such an alternative." He smiled somewhat sadly. "So if it is he acting against our vessels he is behaving most irrationally." 

As the began to walk toward the cabin, Elyas commented on the more immediately relevant matter. "As do I, my lady, but sometimes one must make do with lesser vintages if that is all available."

Elyas shot the staring sailors an extremely cold glare that suggested they return to their tasks.

"Perhaps, but surely even gods have their favourites," Elyas countered, once he had glared at Catelyn's "admirers" for a suitable period of time. "And if we conduct ourselves in a manner worthy of their attention, then we might hope to occupy such a role."

"In a way, yes." Elyas replied. "But with the Faith itself largely destroyed by the dragons, I think the gods will have to look elsewhere for their playthings. And if they are forced to actively seek them out, then surely they would be drawn to mortals with qualities resemblant of their own." 

Elyas shrugged. "Perhaps you are right, my lady, and we are of no concern to those above us. Yet I feel that such a view is far too grim for my taste. When one has lived in the shadow of others for much of their life they do like to convince themselves, rightly or wrongly, that the gods at least are concerned with their successes." 

Elyas nodded, wondering whether what he would soon attempt would be considered sacrilegious in the eyes of the seven, given what the Targaryens had done to the faith. He hoped the gods would understand their motives. Yet even if they did not, Elyas realised, he would go through with it anyway. Dorne needed him to succeed. And Catelyn was right, the pull of duty was stronger than that of a pantheon that might or mightn't care for his personal well being.

"You ought not to be so hard on yourself. Fighting bandits is still battle proper and an achievement to be proud of. In any event, one might jest that I have not fought a dragon either, my lady." Elyas replied, "But have only run around it being set aflame. Hopefully when we next face one we will do better. Indeed I hope we will not have to fight it at all. I do not know if dragons can be called gods, but they certainly do have favourites. "

Elyas nodded, and held the door of the cabin open for her as they reached it. "After you, my lady."

Ser Elyas laughed. "I am not so full of sentiments of self-worth that I will drink to my own health, cousin. Each one of us is undertaking great risk, and singling me out is unfair to the rest of you. Let us drink instead to Dorne, Victory, and our Freedom from Targaryen rule. All are far worthier of acclamation than myself."