At the skyport:
Benedetto doesn't see any reason to try to sneak upstairs; he thinks he has everything he needs. He takes a moment to carefully memorize the name of the ship, the captain, and the sponsor. Then he replaces the ledger and leaves.
And circles around to pass along any relevant information to C.
Does that shed any light on who ir'Jorel might be?
Croke gazes at his companion with some irritation, though the gnome seems blithely unbothered and virtually ignores Benedetto, puffing at the stem of his pipe and gazing at the ceiling. "OK," says Croke, "I hear you have something to tell me."
At the Docks:
Taking the lead this time, Colvare hails the crew as he walks up the gang plank of The Morgata.
"Could we speak to your captain? We are looking somewhere our skills could be used for mutual benefit."
"I'm always open to offers," says the captain. "If you can fight, I can probably use you. It can be a rough crossing through the Teeth. But I don't need a load of freeloaders or amateurs. What's your experience?"
Skyport:
Benedetto assumes that the gnome is there for a reason. Since Croke doesn't have any ideas about what Benedetto might be saying, Old Smokey is not there as an expert consultant on the subject matter. So Benedetto is presuming that either (a) he's able to discern lies, or (b) it's "Take Your Gnome to Work" day.
"Howdy, Inquisitive. Howdy, dangerous-lookin' feller. I've been cogitatin' some, and I reckoned you'd want to be kept informed 'bout our investigatin'.
"We had breakfast with them Silver Flame folks you saw us walk out with. They're keen on us finding the lady's father, Norek ir’Krone, on account of a long-standing dereliction charge, and they're willin' to fund us goin' to Stormreach to find 'im.
"We asked at the Lyrandar Tower after Varen. Seems he was probably on a skycoach by the name of the Black Swan, chartered by someone name of Tamas ir'Jorel. The ledger shows a deposit of 50,000gp 'for time, inconvenience and danger to the vessel an' crew'.
"In a novel turn o' events, no blood was spilled in our askin' after that information.
"The others are huntin' down leads about the professor, and I thought I'd come here and keep the law in the loop."
** spoiler omitted **
Colvare turns instead of directly answering the man, and scanning the dock, sees an empty crate nearby, with a few muttered words, he lets a missile of fire fly, making the flames as showy as he can, and watched as the crate bursts into flame.
"My experiance," he says, turning back to the captain, "is along those lines. My friends are equally skilled with the sword."
The question is clearly rhetorical, so the gnome continues without a pause. "Jorel is an interesting chap, with a lot of business interests. He's from Aundair, and is no mean gambler. But his main line is acting as a middle man in buying and selling arms. You know, not the boring stuff like swords and crossbows. Oh, no - he specialises in much more unusual items. Magical items. Items now banned under the Treaty of Thronehold. Items for killing a hundred men at a go and raising them as zombies to do your biddings, or for summoning devils to rampage through your enemy's lines, or to strike dead a man while he cowers behind castle walls, a regiment of guards and the best magical wards that money can buy. Hmmm..." He sucks on his pipe thoughtfully, while Croke looks on, more intrigued than irritated now.
The gnome emerges from his brief reverie, and fixes his gaze on Benedetto, smiling cryptically. "I expect you are wondering who I am. Let's just say I represent certain interests close the the King's heart, but which require more discretion than brute force. Matters like these can impact upon these interests in interesting and often unforseen ways. But those who help out in such matters can be very useful, provided they understand the delicacy of the game they are playing. You strike me as that sort. Tell me, would you like to enjoy the friendship of the Crown?"
** spoiler omitted **
** spoiler omitted **
"The Host!" The captain and the mate immediately leap to put out the small fire that Colvare started, swearing. After beating it out with his coat, Garton glares at Colvare, and then laughs.
"If you promise to do that to our enemies, and try not to burn my ship down to the waterline, you and I might have a deal. What about your friends here - any of them likely to set the Morgata on fire, or are they more traditional fighters?"
** spoiler omitted **
"You have my word." Colvare laughs, "My friends are of a more traditional bent, so we have a deal, passage to Stormreach in return for the use of our skills as the need arises?"
** spoiler omitted **
"Six of us, in all, mostly human, if that matters."
At the skytower:
The gnome emerges from his brief reverie, and fixes his gaze on Benedetto, smiling cryptically. "I expect you are wondering who I am. Let's just say I represent certain interests close the the King's heart, but which require more discretion than brute force. Matters like these can impact upon these interests in interesting and often unforseen ways. But those who help out in such matters can be very useful, provided they understand the delicacy of the game they are playing. You strike me as that sort. Tell me, would you like to enjoy the friendship of the Crown?"
Quietly, to Croke: "I'm in plumb over my head, ain't I?"
Benedetto bows towards the gnome and then thinks carefully as he speaks.
"I'm afraid you might be mistakin' me, m'lord. I'm a guardsman of House Tharask, who's found hisself in the company of brave folk who are trying to stop a dangerous plot that seems to be playin' out in Xendrik. (I'm sure Inquisitive Croke here has explained 'bout our encounter with the giant and the drow.)
"You're makin' me out to be somebody clever, a feller who might 'understand the delicacy of the game.' And I don't recall my momma, who has always been quite fond o' me, ever usin' the particular term 'clever'.
"Would I like the friendship of the Crown? Well, of course. It'd be an honor. But not if it meant betrayin' the mission of my House, or the trust of my fellers, or even the duties I have towards Croke an' the laws o' Sharn, so long's I'm here."
Which reminds Benedetto.
"One, um, other thing, m'lord. Um, I have a kind of condition, if y'know what I mean. In another couple months or so, I reckon, ain't no king's gonna want to list me as one o' his friends.
"All that bein' said, in what way might I serve His Majesty?"
Mirra shakes her head at Colvare as the captain puts out the flames. "Subtle." she whispers under her breath. "Yes I think you will find we all have our little talents and will be more that up to the challenge of protecting this ship. When are you planning to depart?"
"I just want you to keep an eye on things, and report back when we contact you. We can't be everywhere, and we certainly can't cover everything in Xendrik, Host-forsaken place that it is. When we need information we'll find you - you won't know who it is, but they'll say that Milo sent them. If the information is good, we can maybe help you out and make sure are appropriately rewarded. I hope that is a reasonable deal?"
** spoiler omitted **
Colaver winks at Mirra, obviously happy to finally be getting somewhere. "We will be here Cptain, and thank you."
As they leave the ship, Colvare asks the others, "So, back to the Inn to wait for the others and see what they have found?"
Docks:
Docks:** spoiler omitted **
Colvare looks sidelong at Rayne, "You don't like the sea? This could be an interesting trip for you. Me, I love the sea, almost as many things to see in moving water as there are in flames.." With that Colvare glances over at the sunset, and steps a pace or two forward of the others on their way to the Inn.
And indeed.
Benedetto smiles. "Dol Arrah knows, may we all be spared our 'appropriate rewards.' So, I might as well be goin'. At this point, I suppose I ought to ask: do either of you wish to tell anything y'know about Professor Krone's location, or to offer any advice about what to do when we set foot in Stormreach?"
"Ir'Jorel, on the other hand... He is a very wealthy man with many shady friends. What his particular interests in Xendrik might be, we can't currently speculate, but it would appear that the stakes are very high given the death toll to date. The last thing we need is the destabilisation of the current peace between the Thronehold nations. We will provide you with aid as much as we can, but we are loathed to show out hand too much until we have more facts. I hope you understand."
"We will provide you with aid as much as we can, but we are loathed to show out hand too much until we have more facts. I hope you understand."
"M'lord, I walked in here with nothin', and I walk out with a promise of what aid y'all can spare. I consider that a boon, and you'll have our gratitude for whatever y'all provide."
Turning to the inspector, "Is there anything else, Inquisitive? Or am I free t' leave?" (It's a serious question. Whatever the gnome's rank or station, he insulted Croke when he took over the meeting without so much as a by-your-leave. Benedetto has no particular warm feelings for Croke, but he doesn't see any need to add to the offense.)
Croke still looks disgruntled, but mutters, "Sounds like you are leaving Sharn, which means you are no longer my problem. So I've got nothing much else to say."
That's pretty much it - you can head back to the rendezvous point and rejoin the rest of the group and share news.
"What cheer, y'all?"
"We got ourselves a job," says Rayne, who is still bulked up for appearance's sake in case any of the Morgata's crew happens to see him in public. "Passage to Stormreach on a ship called the Morgata. We've signed ourselves up as guards. Hopefully it'll be a smooth trip. We set out bright and early tomorrow morning, before the tide."
"We got ourselves a job," says Rayne, who is still bulked up for appearance's sake in case any of the Morgata's crew happens to see him in public. "Passage to Stormreach on a ship called the Morgata. We've signed ourselves up as guards. Hopefully it'll be a smooth trip. We set out bright and early tomorrow morning, before the tide."
"Well, I found out that the airship that left last night was the 'Black Swan', chartered by a serious arm dealer by the name of 'Tamas ir'Jorel', who dropped 50-thousand gold on the charter. The records say six people were on-board, which I'm assumin' includes Varen.
"And a little gnome feller who 'represents interests close to the Crown' says his intelligence places Professor ir'Krone as already in Stormreach. So, either she charters awful fast boats, or we've been takin' instruction from a duplicate. Now that I think of it, that puts her reluctance to be seen on campus in a new light."
Rayne narrowed his eyes at Ben's news. "Dammit... she was playing me at my own game?" The changeling thumped his fist on the table. "Either that or it's possible she could've teleported... though that kind of thing doesn't come cheap. I'm willing to bet on the former. I'd imagine our 'Tamas ir'Jorel' is Harmal under a pseudonym or something of that kind and yeah, they're going to get there well ahead of us. Guess we've got some catching up to do."
"Well, we have the advantage that they think we're locked up and out of the picture. I don't imagine they'd counted on the elves bailin' us out, or the Silver Flame turning around an' giving us the means to get there.
"Does this information change our plans? Do we want to go back an' charter air-travel? Or should we be spendin' the day buyin' stuff and headin' out on that ship o' yours tomorrow?"
"Does this information change our plans? Do we want to go back an' charter air-travel? Or should we be spendin' the day buyin' stuff and headin' out on that ship o' yours tomorrow?"
"Nah, they're already well ahead of us. No sense in throwing away good money on speedy transit when we can stock up on stuff to ensure survival once we get there. Let's hit the market." Rayne grins.
"Ah wanna better sword. And better armor. And something that can heal me when things get rough."
"I would like to look for some better armor some healing potions."
"I'm going to head out to the bank and get some information. Meet you all back here before nightfall?"
It is early morning at Cliffside. The sky glows redly as the sun rises over the cliffs on the east bank of the Dagger River. The party, plus Andrei, stands on deck as the Morgata is towed off the jetty and into the river proper - the men in the small boat cry in rhythm as their oars dip in the water, the rope at the back of their skiff securely tied to the prow of the ship. A number of ships are also pulling out to catch the tide, but they seem a long way off, shadows in the early morning mist, the shouts of the men deadened in the haze.
Eventually the Morgata hits the main flow of the river and the the rope to the towing boat is shucked. A few sails are unfurled but mostly the ship coasts with the tide and the river current towards the sea. The crew busy themselves with their various tasks, climbing the rigging, pulling ropes, taking depth readings with a plumb line or keeping lookout to navigate the sandbanks in the mouth of the river, all under the beady eye of Jum, the half-orc mate. The captain takes the helm through the treacherous shallows until the Morgata has entered deeper waters, when another crewman takes over. The mist is quickly burnt off by the sun and the river banks begin to disappear to the left and right (or port and starboard) as the estuary widens and meets the sea.
By the evening, the land is a memory astern and the moons have risen. The crew are either below decks, manning the helm, or keeping watch from the crow's nest, a few lamps providing the only light outside the heavens.
Jum: Your not paying the devils their fee? What are you - mad?
Garton: We don't need to pay them - we've got these adventurers on board, they should suffice.
Jum: How do you know? We have no idea if they are up to fighting the sea devils!
Garton: It's a risk. But one I'm prepared to take. They want a free trip, well they can pay their way. You know things haven't been good for the Morgata. If this trip fails I could lose the ship. I need to coin we will save by not giving the tribute.
Jum: (Sighs) I hope you know what you are doing.
Garton: have I ever been wrong before?
Jum: Yes, plenty of times.
Their voices lower and cannot be heard any more.
"Errm, guys, we may have a problem......with some Pissed Devils."
Benedetto smiles. "So far as I reckon, there's two types o' devils. Them that's mad at you, and them that's smug. My druthers are to face the angry ones."
"Ah didn't do anythin'..."
Rayne smirks. "Okay, this I've gotta know more about."
The changeling heads down to the cabin where the captain and his mate are having their conversation and knocks gently at the door. "Excuse me gentlemen, could I have a moment?"
Rayne smirks. "Okay, this I've gotta know more about."
The changeling heads down to the cabin where the captain and his mate are having their conversation and knocks gently at the door. "Excuse me gentlemen, could I have a moment?"
Colvare follows the changeling closely...
Shagraat moves in close behind Rayne as well, confident that the changeling is about to get us into trouble.
shopping spoiler (anyone interested)
Group shopping is tough in this forum. I bought: masterwork cold iron handaxe, masterwork silver dagger, potion of spider climb. I have a chunk of change left as well.
Mirra watches several of her companions go knock on the captains door. Great, hope he doesn't get us kick off before we even have to fight the see devils.
Mirra decides to remain on the main desk to cover her companions just in case the worse happens.
Shopping:
Just a masterwork longsword for me. I will wait for our next shopping stop to look for a real fancy longsword or armor.
"What's up?" Urthona asks the others without any clue of what is going on.
Mirra decides to remain on the main desk...
"What's up?"
"Colvare overheard the officers say we're like to be up for a fight with some devils. Raine went down below, either to kill to captain or to ask 'im some questions."
"Killin' the capt'n? Then we'd hav'te look fer another ship, and our chances are runnin' low. That be darn stupid. Devils or demons, we need te get t'Xen'Drik."
As Rayne open the door, Captain Garton is sitting on a chair behind the chart table while Jum stands on the other side with his arm crossed, glaring. The captain smiles cordially as the changeling enters, teeth flashing in his dark beard.
"Ah, we were just talking about you," he grins, somewhat unconvincingly, while Jum just snorts with derision. "How can I help?"
Meanwhile, on deck...
Benedetto finds the crewman on watch staring at him. He looks quite old, with a bushy white beard and eyes that roll rather disconcertingly. His body is withered and gnarled like wood, with no spare flesh, his clothes hanging loosely. He looks away when he realises he has been noticed.
|
"Ah, we were just talking about you," he grins, somewhat unconvincingly, while Jum just snorts with derision. "How can I help?"
Colvare draws himself up to his full height, removing his hood as he enters the room, "Well, for a start you can tell us how much you owe the Sea Devils. Then you can work out how you are going to pay them. Then you can work out how you are going to recompense us for the dupe.
Unless of course you fancy a good long swim back to shore."
Jum makes a low growling noise and suddenly appears much bigger than before, dominating the room, while his eyes narrow to seemingly burn a hole between Colvare's eyes. He doesn't really do anything - he just looks suddenly much scarier. The captain, meanwhile, laughs ingratiatingly.
"Sea devils? Well, you know there is always a danger that they'll attack without warning in the Teeth. That's why we brought you along, to protect the ship. Why, I thought you hired on for free passage to provide us with security. You are getting a free voyage across to Stormreach, but I never said it would be without danger. You can hardly complain about the possibility of fighting now we are at sea, with me and my loyal crew, what with you being landlubbers unable to row a boat on a pond without help. Seems fair exchange to me." Garton shrugs and spreads his hands.