After a while, Jez decides to have some fun and begins to challenge the sailors to arm wrestling competitions. Generally allowing the weak one to beat her and - Strength: - usually crushing the strong ones.
She also enjoys running around the deck with Mobo, but is a little more careful as she has never been the most agile.
The captain and his crew are professionals when it comes to handling freaks and asking no questions and so neither is Mobo bullied nor does any of the armwrestled sailors demand armed satisfaction from Jez.
The whole trip turns out to be a most pleasant journey. The two masted clipper with its black sails nearly flies over the waves and lives up to its name as it ploughs across the inner sea.
Normally you spend the evenings in the captain's cabin with several large bottles of wine, lobster, exotic kinds of meat from Garund and lots of cock-and-bull stories.
I think for the sake of the boat and its crew we just move on.
I professionally combine acting sort of like a lady at the captain's dinner table with eating scraps with Mobo for dessert.
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The great big Ogre doesn't say much on the boat, only looks curiously at the ocean. It is probably the biggest body of water he has ever seen...
He keeps going on about "Merrow" and looking at the water hopefully.
Nymeria is a regular, but infrequent poster. Cordren I have no idea about - if he does not return, we could talk to Bilbo and resurrect his wizard.
Nymeria seems to enjoy the sea, and the cool ocean air. She spends much of her time at the prow, looking out over the ocean towards something unseen.
If the dwarf seems absent at first, with a bit of searching you'll find him weathering the boat ride with his head between his knees, not used to the ebb and flow of the sea. Nonetheless he continues drinking by the mouthful, keeping the sailors eyeing his non-watered-down spirits at bay.
The ocean journey turns out to be a joyful trip for some of you while others struggle a bit with the constant up and down of the waves. In the end you all feel a bit more home on the planks of the ship and there is a bit of regret in your eyes as you spot the white towers of Magnimar, the City of Monuments.
As the ship steers into the harbour you are amazed by a strange sight: A ruined gigantic bridgehead which expands from the city for some hundred metres - underneath it are lots of quays and a large portion of the harbour. A bit startled you wonder what civilization was able to build such a structure.
As the captain notices your gawping faces, he grins and says
Quite a sight, eh? I once askeda scholarr, tol' me it was Thasilonian...ne'er hearrd of these chaps again, heh.
With a dull sound the ships meets the wooden quay and the crew begins the anchoring routines.
The hefty Ogre makes his way off the boat quickly, happy to be back on dry land.
"It's a great sight, dunno what I'm looking at, but geez it's big"
The Ogre ponders a moment, then puts down his heavy bags and waits for the others.
Ragnvald doesn't do much admiring of the structure. Lost civilizations became lost for a reason and he did not feel the need to dwell on them.
Jez looks at the monument and structure with awe in her eyes. Wondering if a creature as great as this "Thasolan" could help her destroy her mother and mother's people.
That was fun all, lets see what adventures stand before us now. I am sure that whatever there will make for great songs and greater enjoyment.
Raising her falchion above her head.
As you leave the ship via the gang plank - all the while the farewell wishes of the captain ringing in your ears - you are greeted by a fragile woman that reminds you of a mouse. She wears a pair of really large glasses and has some pretty impressive buck teeth. She has wears her hair bound together to one thick brown braid and she is pretty much the most unattractive young woman you all have ever met.
Are you the wild band of mercenaries I ordered?
She says in a squeaky yet resolute voice.
The question is so ridiculous that some passersby stop, shake their heads and point at the woman - who pretends not to notice the mockery...
Ragnvald looks down at the mousey woman and says half seriously. "No, we killed that lot and fed them to the ogre and goblin. But we'll do the job regardless."
With astonishing agility the woman pulls out a small book and scribbles some notes into it, then she tucks it away again and puts her hand forth
Very good, my name is Royal Tax Supervisor and Collector Jeminda Akinee - nice to meet you, mr....?
Smiling cheerfully, Jez reaches out her hand shaking the mouse's hand so hard that she is practically lifted off of the ground.
The name is Jezbazeel, but you can call me Jez. And yes, we did consume some of our predecessors, but don't worry, I have figured how to make even the dirtiest of miscreants safe to consume, and quite tasty.
Turning to Mobo, Got any of those hobgoblin toes left?
She needs to write so that she does not forget. Humans like her do not have as good a memory as goblins.
If someone foolishly puts up a wanted poster of you or Attalas, I am sure that we can find the person and make sure that you are no longer wanted by him. I can be quite persuasive when necessary.
Jez stands taller waiting for the diminutive mousey woman to say something. Once again you can see the shine of the scales on the back of her neck when her hair blows to the side.
Um...sorry about them, don't worry! We are here to help you, as you requested. Nymeria says, pulling the woman away from the band of loonies. I am Nymeria. Now would you like to give us the details of the job here, or shall we find someplace to sit and discuss?
Turning to Mobo:
We gotta do something about her. And I do not mean eating her.
Perhaps we gotta start to slip some fire wine in her waterskin, think she will notice?
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"We all not tribe yet. Mobo like most of you, but Mobo gotta look out for Mobo. Mobo like Attalas, used to big strong ones like him. You is scaly and strong and like pickles so Mobo is liking you. Dwarf is like Mobo's height but dwarves tend to not like goblins. Big fighter likes fire. Elf-kin is a confusing Big Folk. We work together, make more shinies, but Mobo is used to being treated like goblin. Big Folk in courthouse not to be trusted, not sure about all the Big Folk Mobo is with... yet. So for now Mobo follow along. Boomstick keeps Mobo safe."
"She needs a good man. Or men. A night or three rolling between the sheets loosens whatever is lodged in one's backside I've come to find."
Looking longingly at Mobo's treats. Careful there boys, although I am shorter than Nymeria, I am a woman too.
I do a little pirouette and give both of them a devilish(demonic) grin.
"If you fit lots men in your backside you are stretchy warrior indeed. Even chief mostly stuck to one mate at a time."
"I was speaking of her." Ragnvald growls. "Though now that you mention it it has been too long since I've been with a woman myself."
Looking longingly at Mobo's treats. Careful there boys, although I am shorter than Nymeria, I am a woman too.
I do a little pirouette and give both of them a devilish(demonic) grin.
"Indeed, you'll need two men. One to hold you down. The other to remove your head with an axe."
Poutingly: If you are into the dead and undead, I think that Geb is where you want to be, not this Variland place.
Turning back to Mobo and Attalas: Me thinks sword man needs some relaxation, perhaps we should retire to a tavern and find him a nice girl.
Jeminda offers no resistance as Nymeria drags her away. She seems a bit confused, but you guess not more than she usually is...
The job, oh yes - maybe you want to follow me to the restaurant where I made a reservation? It's one of the best restaurants in all of Magnimar, the "Scribbler's Pen". It's not far, could you please tell your friends to follow me?
With long and awkward strides the tax collector walks ahead...she reminds you a bit of a nutcracker now that she is moving...
Hey, a restaurant and a reservation, must be fancy. Attalas, I wonder whether they will be able to fill you up? And Mobo, they probably only serve human type food here, so no ordering fingers or bugs, even though they do sound appealing.
I begin to follow the odd woman.
Cordren mumbles in dwarven to himself as the inter-party scuffle begins, still cranky from the ship ride in.
He follows Jeminda with the others, amused by the banter between Mobo and Ragnvald.
"Well dunno about all the women, but I could do with some ale and some food, I'm hungry again, is it time to eat? Where is this man we are supposed to get at?"
"I believe we are to follow the mouse until she takes us to her cheese." Ragnvald says going along with Jeminda and co.
Cheese? I like bleu cheese, it goes with my hair.
The two portiers standing in front of the very respectable looking restaurant furrow their brows as they realize who is going to enter the establishment any moment. As Jeminda tries to just walk past them, one of the men holds her at her am and whispers something.
A jiffy later Jeminda turns to you and explains
These nice gentlemen here just told me that they don't have enough seats for my band of wild mercenaries...they told me that another fine establishment "The dirty Hellhole" at the harbour still has places left.
Behind her the two portiers nearly burst out laughing, but do their best to look like professionals...
The small blue haired girl surrounded by hulking giants and humanoids casually smiles as she walks up to one of the portiers and casually lifts him up in the air.
Strength:
My friends and I have just spent several weeks on a ship coming to this good city and have some very important work to do for the tax collectors. We are very hungry and I am sure that your good establishment would not want to gain the watchful eye of the tax man, now would you!!!.
Intimidate:
Diplomacy:
Nymeria's mouth hangs open for a moment before she intervenes, doing her best to hide Jez behind her. Hrm hrm! Ah... sorry about that! Listen, we're just here for a meal, and we won't cause trouble. If we do...if we do, you can hold me responsible. Now please find us some seats. she says. As an afterthought, she adds maybe towards the back...
Diplomacy:
Ragnvald watches the scene with bemusement.
The poor dangling portier nearly wets his pants as Jez lifts him up. Jeminda takes some notes and beams as he rethinks his prior statement
Uh...argh...sure, we have a very fine table left, how could I forget..argh.
The other one quickly opens the door and lets you in. The restaurant is a 100% upper-class establishment and the nobles and rich merchants of Magnimar who are present seem to think you are some kind of entertainers, since some of them clap upon your entrance.
The finest carpets cover the floor and old oil painting hang at the walls, the place reminds you rather of a gallery or museum than of a restaurant.
Jeminda finds the mentioned table and seats herself, again taking notes of everything.
Forgetting the human and demi-human peticularities, I order two pitchers of cheap ale for the group and inquire into what the best fish they have is which can be provided rare and in large quantities.
Diplomacy:
Turning back to our host.
So, now that you have brought us to one of the finer establishments in the docks area, what can we do for you. All we were told was that you had a tax collector who had gone missing from some remote village.