”It might be good to know what we can of his situation before we give up on negotiations.”
"As I said, it will take an hour to complete the ritual. Be ready to teleport at that time. There will only be a few minutes window to decide on the situation and make the jump." The mage places a detailed tiny brass bowl on the table and sprinkles a thin layer of sand inside before lighting an incense cone inside. Curls of smoke drift up lazily through the cut away pattern on the lid.
Before he begins Ezreal replies to Janosz, "I am not so sure. Marrius does not particularly like us and his past encounters have not ended well for his crew. We are asking for a destination few would consider. The simple rate of gold pieces for miles traveled may not apply here. I do trust in his discretion though and if we must shop around naming our destination to other Captains in Sharn we greatly increase our risk. It seems worth pursuing the negotiation at this point. I will reserve some portion to continue my studies but could contribute the remainder of my funds to meeting an agreeable price."
The mage places his dragonshard on the table before him, holds both hands open on either side and begins a low chant...
Ezreal can see Marrius. He is in his cabin on the Crimson Eagle. He looks somewhat dishevelled and unshaven, dressed in his faded uniform trousers and shirtless. He is peering at some charts on his desk, apparently plotting a course from the southern Lhazaar Principalities into the ocean to the east.
Ezreal studies the image for some time then looks up, confident. "He does not appear to be under duress and the map he has laid out indicates that he is entertaining the idea of our charter. Let us negotiate in person. I can transport five of us. Three will need to wait in the tent. Is anyone able to craft magical items that we might offer at material cost to bridge the gap in his asking price?"
Pierce shakes his head, "Afraid not".
"I am more of a user of magic than a creator. It is a good idea to negotiate in person but do you think it is wise to just show up on his ship without warning him?"
Ezreal nods at the suggestion and uses a cantrip to forewarn the Captain. “We shall negotiate further in person. We arrive imminently.”
"I can make weapons an armor, if provided the materials."
Ezreal hears Marrius say through the scrying, "What? Now?"
"Yes. Now. And rest assured if we cannot come to terms we will leave just as quickly."
Once there people are in the tent and the group joins hands, Ezreal transports the others directly to Captain Marrius.
Ez for the teleport.
Anyone else is optional, but maybe having Janosz as another familiar face is good.
Rather than delay to work that out would everyone be ok with the older 5 out and the newer 3 in? Only because that splits us into the 5 / 3 we need without wasting time trying to figure it out.
"This tent is a curious item. I will wait inside for the transport."
"This tent is a curious item. I will wait inside for the transport."
"It is a fascinating place. Don't try to explore it all while you are within - you won't have time." She pauses for a beat before smiling, "Not in this lifetime, anyway. Be sure to ask the butler for something weird just to see how he reacts."
"I leave it to the group's judgement - I think that entering the tent will sever my telepathic links, but I am obviously unknown to the captain. I can re-establish the links easily enough once we are all together again."
Three troop into the tent while the others prepare for Ezreal to cast his spell. The tent is rolled up and gathered under one arm by Kazadar, and Ezreal teleports them all to Marrius' location.
The heat and humidity hit the teleporting travellers like a brick wall as they emerge from the silvery mist in Marrius' cabin, making the captain jump. "F@CK! When you said imminently, I thought at least I'd have time to grab a shirt."
Vaisyrharath blinks at Slave, nonplussed. He turns to his new companions and says "No-one mentioned that this quest comes with drinks!"
"Thank you. I would guess that we should stay by the door, but I'd love a drink..."
“My apologies. Once the scrying is in effect there is a limited window of time to make the jump. By all means, take a moment to make yourself comfortable.” Ezreal waits until Marius is ready to discuss the proposition before continuing, “I will be blunt. Forty thousand is outrageous from our point of view, however we do recognize that as passengers we carry considerable risks and your experience with us has been mixed. We are prepared to meet you in the middle, use our considerable magic to aid or improve your vessel along the route, and I am willing to scribe scrolls for your stores in exchange for only the material costs. You may imagine that I have more influence than I do with the Admiralty, but I will absolutely offer testimony on your behalf based on the aid you have given toward missions with Gil, Sir Rolund and I to identify and neutralize threats to our homeland. These are all on the table. Now we need only nail down the specifics and come to an agreement.”
"I know you don't know me and I don't know you, but the mission we are currently on also lends to the safety of the five nations and others. I will also lend my name and honor as Speaker of the Sovereigns to your case and character."
"Rolund?!" Haladon looks at Ezreal in surprise. "Uh...yes. You have my testimony to clear your name, Captain."
"Hello, Marius. Sorry to pop in on you with so little notice. As Master Farlowe has stated with such efficiency, we cannot meet your request with liquid assets, but we can provide considerable aid in other ways and are prepared to do so. What is it you need? Not in gold - what is it you need?"
Marrius throws up his hands. "OK, alright, the forty-thousand was a bit of a try-on, I admit. We, er, well I've racked up a few debts here - both monetary and perhaps of a less tangible kind - and maybe don't really have the wherewithall to pay them back. So this contract is actually pretty welcome. I'm thinking I might just fly us out of here and not come back, but I'm tired of running. It would be good to go back home. So the main thing we want is the pardon. Plus expenses. I mean, you don't just fly to Sarlona - it's a long way and, rumour has it, an unforgiving landing place.
"So why do you need to go there anyway? I mean, last time it was Aerenal."
"Well, the good news is you don't have to land. Just get us close. We have an package to deliver. And we want to see the world. The Karrnathi Navy didn't quite live up to the promise on the recruitment posters..." The last is delivered with a definite twinkle in her eye.
"We'll have some time, then, to discuss the pardon. And the nature of the alleged crime, because that could impact the best way to proceed, I imagine. We have some new friends in the tent, by the way, and we have lost some old ones. If we can set the tent up again, we won't impose on your accommodations otherwise."
"Slave is your name? An odd choice... I was told to ask you for something weird but now I think that suggestion was made as a joke of sorts. I would like to see more of this place though, it is fascinating."
“As Gil says. And it is safer for everyone if we leave it at that. As I said, I will offer whatever influence I have toward a pardon and I am sure Gil would be willing to offer the same. So let us nail down the specifics and shake on it. Whereabout do you rate expenses? And I imagine you will need some time to acquire provisions for the journey. How long do you imagine?”
"OK, let's go for thirty thousand, which you can make up partly in scrolls or whatever, and best efforts on the pardon."
Marrius scratches the back of his head. "Look, I've never shipped to Sarlona. I know that if you head east and keep on going you are likely to bump into it eventually, but when or where I'm not too sure. The authorities there keep a very tight grip on travel to and from, so it's not common knowledge. But if we fly to Regalport, I know that some of the captains there trade with Sarlona. We can pick up some charts there, though that'll probably be extra, and then we can plan the journey. Work for you?"
"Take whatever measures necessary to get us there, Captain. It is imperative we reach our destination. Hopefully, in one piece."
"Alright," says Marrius, "Then I suggest we cast off as soon as possible."
As he speaks there is a knock and a shifter woman pokes her head round the door. "Captain, trouble..." She catches sight of Ezreal, Janosz and Haladon. "Hey, how did you get in here?" she asks, then grins and looks back at the captain. "I guess things just go interesting, huh?"
"Yeah, something like that, Ferez" says Marrius with a hint of resignation. He looks at the new arrivals. "Perhaps this is something you could help out with?"
On deck, three large men who are somehow squeezed into business suits glower at the crewmen who block their way on to the ship, led by a greybearded dwarf in super-heavy Mror armour similar in style to Kazadar's. As the standoff escalates the dwarf growls, "Ye don't get onboard unless the captain says."
The ship itself is moored to the top of a low tower overlooking a small city. The buildings are Galifaran in style, a prominent castle-palace complex close to a cathedral of the Sovereign Host dominating the skyline of the city centre. But beyond the walls a wide muddy river runs between lush tropical plantations and, in the distance loom jungle-covered hills. The heat and humidity are stifling.
"Let's get this party started, then. We will need to set up the tent, Captain. Any idea what sort of trouble awaits topside? Ferez?"
"Sure, set it up on deck," says Marrius distractedly as he heads up.
Ferez looks on, arms folded. "The captain tried to gamble his way out of trouble. It didn't go so well."
Mintash wanders through the rooms in the tent making sure to not wander far from the entrance.
”Gamble? Are these loan enforcers?”
Ezreal looks pointedly at Marrius. "Tell me you did not bet the ship.
If they are here to seize it, they chose the wrong day." Once the tent is open, Ezreal shouts into the foyer, "Everyone out! There is a bit of a situation!"
Kazadar sets up the tent, then readies himself for combat should such erupt.
Mintash rises from his self appointed post in the tent. Hearing that there my be trouble and seeing his new dwarf friend readying for combat he focuses inward as his skin toughens.
"What manner of situation?"
"The real question is whether these goons are House representatives or local gangsters. We can kill the latter; the former we might at least try to subdue."
Haladon awaits with the others besides the tent while their kalashtar allies emerge. He keeps his helm under the crook of his arm to keep cool from the tropical humidity and assumes a genial bearing as he looks over the three strangers.
“Let’s keep things civil, shall we?”
"Tell me you did not bet the ship."
Marrius doesn’t meet Ezreal’s eye and Ferez snorts to the wizard, “Fine, I won’t tell you either.”
“It’s worse than that,” says a voice. A gnome dressed in an expensive-looking shirt and trousers leans on the rail, filing his nails. “As surety they have Trinkis, our pilot. Nice to see you all again, by the way,” says Salvorazo casually, pausing to look at the newcomers he hasn’t met before.
“Aye, t’were badly done, Captain,” growls the dwarf while never taking his eyes off the thugs.
“Barkhad, what do I keep telling everyone?” snaps Marrius in reply, “He volunteered!”
A young human woman with dark brown shoulder-length hair, unarmoured but carrying a huge axe, stomps on deck. Her otherwise pretty face is twisted with rage. “I didn’t f*&$ing volunteer to have this scum try to take our ship.” Her hands grip the haft of her weapon so tightly her knuckles are white. The heavies immediately take a step back as the tension level on deck ratchets up even further. Salvorazo loses his relaxed demeanour and Marrius and Ferez exchange worried looks.
“Whoa, whoa, whoa, Valentis,” says Marrius placatingly, “Let’s not take it there just yet.”
“They’ve got a friend of mine – our friend – prisoner in some dump and they want to take the ship,” Valentis snarls back, “I’m not going to just stand around.”
“There’s only so many places we can go without being arrested or lynched on sight,” says Ferez quietly, “Let’s not chop these guys up so we have to add Newthrone to the list. Especially when we can’t. Actually. Fly. Away.” The thugs look increasingly disconcerted as their dismemberment is discussed in such an off-hand manner.
“Aye, lassie,” says Barkhad, still eyeballing the heavies, “We all want to help Trinkis. But there are ways, and then there are ways.”
Valentis trembles as if she is about to explode. Marrius deliberately steps between her and the gangsters and says to them, “Look, I’ve got the money, OK? We've got a charter and it’ll cover what I owe. Tell Joord he’ll get his cash tonight.”
“No funny stuff,” growls leader as they hurriedly head back down the gangway. As they disappear Marrius turns to his crew, arms wide.
“There, I told you – problem solved.”
Ferez shakes her head, arms folded. "Y'know, when I see stuff like this, it really doesn't surprise me that the Admiralty chose us for a suicide mission."