Dionysus A sailor comes to Arsul that afternoon, sounding worried, "Sir?"

• Arsul_T stops playing. "Yes?"

Dionysus "Sir, the man... with the Tunic. You should... come."

• Arsul_T rises quickly. "Is he ill?"

Dionysus He gulps, "He's... you should see."

Dionysus "Err, sorry."

Dionysus "Just come."

• Arsul_T follows him

Dionysus You smell it when you enter. Death.

• Arsul_T recoils slightly

Arsul_T "What-- what happened?"

Dionysus You feel the sailor take your hand & guide it. You feel the body, hanging.

• Arsul_T enters the room, trying to follow the smell to the body

Dionysus "There's a note, sir. I came to you first."

Arsul_T "Help me get him down first please." he says hollowly

Dionysus He does, slowly.

• Arsul_T moves him to the bed. "You can read it now." he says as he moves to close his eyes

Dionysus He does, slowly, poorly.

Dionysus "Dear Arsul & Guiteau,

Dionysus "Not all is as it seems. My mortal shell may be broken, but my mind & spirit are strong. You will find me when you need me. Arsul, take the Tunic. Believe in yourself, & it will make everything possible for you. Guiteau, seek out my old box. It will have what you need."

Arsul_T (ok. Did the tribe we lived with have particular burial customs?)

Dionysus It was a mixed swamp tribe, so it probably had... how do they usually bury people in swamps?

Arsul_T in tombs? You can't really bury them cause they'll end up in the water so you bury em above gound. Or they do a water burial in the swamp?

Dionysus I think either option is available.

Dionysus Criminals got air burials, up in the trees

Arsul_T "Thank you. I'd like to give him a water burial. Would that be allowed?"

Dionysus The sailor says, "Of course, sir."

• Arsul_T nods. "Let me know if there's some preparation that's needed of me. I'd like to sit with him for a little while if not however."

Dionysus "I'll just get the sailcloth to sew him up in, sir. Should I... inform the others?"

Arsul_T "I suppose you must."

Dionysus "I'm sorry, sir. He was... your father?"

Arsul_T "He was."

Dionysus He gulps, "I lost me own father when I was a youngun. In a gale. He was swept overboard."

Arsul_T "I'm sorry. I-- only met him for the first time this year. My mother and he were seperated. He was a slave in <bug empire> and she escaped. They had very hard lives."

• Arsul_T turns and goes to sit by the bed

Dionysus "That's a rough one, guv. I'l get that sailcloth."

Dionysus He steps out, quietly.

Dionysus He returns after a few minutes with cloth & needle, "I'll make the shroud before tellin' everyone. They're all... I don't like to disturb yer all, sir."

• Arsul_T undesses him carefully, laying the tunic and other clothing aside. He sits next to him and holds his hand after that.

Arsul_T "I-- I'd actually like to ask Aurelia to sew it if it's all right. She has a talent. And I think he might like it.

Arsul_T "

Dionysus He then does not sew the shroud, but lays out the makings for you.

Arsul_T "Thank you for your help."

Arsul_T he goes to find Aurelia

Dionysus He says, heavily, "Yes, sir. I'll be on deck tellin' the bos'n."

• Arsul_T nods and smilesslightly in thanks