Ompeet hurriedly stuffs some items from the ship in his sack and goes where Alexander is indicating.
Melusine breaches the next room of the ship, weapon readied
The group meets up as Melusine and Kha'Rassi claim the metallic tube. Alexander's deliberate hand waving catches your eye and you can obviously tell he's attempting to indicate something outside the ship. At the same time, yes, you are all aware of the rather large dozing amphibian in the center of the hold.
The ship seems oddly devoid of any "pirate treasure" and in fact, you get the distinct impression that not much of monetary value was found here. However, the tube, ledgers and trinkets are at least something of value.
As air slowly runs out and your bags/pockets/hands fill with recovered small relics, you need to decide how to proceed. Alexander's alarm obviously indicates something more problematic than a sleepy river frog.
After sweeping the room once over, Melusine heads back towards the breach in the hull.
Kha'Rassi points upward, then pulls herself along the wall back to the breach, hoping the rest of the group gets the idea. I think I will not be telling the fishmonger this story...
She readies her next air potion, waiting for the moment the air runs out before repeating her underwater drinking maneuver. She also pulls a dagger from her belt, scanning the water for movement.
@Kha'Rassi: You glimpse the same large fish that Alexander saw swimming above the wreck. You can tell that it is visibly staying near the wreck, and drawing closer.
As Ompeet sees the giant fish, he assesses it to see how much of a threat it is.
If the fish seems to be an obstruction to the party traveling back up the chain, he'll cast bless on himself, down his second potion, and then try to look as non-appetizing as possible and keep the fish calm.
As the hungry fish draws closer, Ompeet's efforts to calm the creature fall in vain. A well placed color spray from Melusine manages to distract and disorient it long enough for the crew to swarm the creature and beat it back with well placed blows.
As their air runs low, the adventurers head back into the hold one last time and with careful, non-aggressive pokes and prods, manage to send the amphibian packing as well.
With all the loose treasures safely stowed in their sacks and pockets, the players mark heavy crates and barrels to ensure the diving teams secure them safely.
They head back to the bell and chain and ascend back to the surface. Breaching the waters, they exit to the sound of cheers and applause from the gathered civilians and diving crews.
Edgar Lowes personally greets you as you peel off your diving suits and listens attentively as you recount your tale.
As mentions of what you found drift into the talk, he silences you with a small gesture.
"Best wait until we're back at the Museum." He glances at his pocketwatch. "How about you take a brief respite in town, and let's say we meet back at the museum in around 2 hours. Don't forget to carefully stow the contents you've dredged up with the diving crew."
Excited to have been of use, Alexander scurries off to find the crew and give them his find. Lily-White relaxes on the shore, enjoying the lapping of the waves against her large body.
Kha'Rassi vigorously shakes her head, tousling every inch of fur to clear it of the briny, foul water. "Next time, we search ABOVE water. Kha'Rassi has no practice with swimming..." Free of the dive suit, she readjusts her clothing and chuffs with a shrug, relieved to be dry. "Better." She goes to gather the rest of her gear, stashing the tube in a tight spot in her pack and slinging it over her shoulder. "A meal, then? No fish."
Satisfied that there's nothing that's been recovered from the wreck that shouldn't be delivered to the lands they were stolen from (instead of going to the museum), Ompeet discards his diving suit and stretches, his muscular arms reaching far above his head.
"A meal sounds good. Let's find some place that serves good tea."
Wringing out her clothes and donning her pointed hat, Melusine casts Identify and looks over the lot of loot. She informs Edgar of her findings and hands over the tooth and soggy parchment.
"There's quite a few of these down there, mind if I keep this one?" gesturing towards the cutlass on her hip.
She trots off after the group and finds a seat at the bar.
@Melusine: "I don't see why not, I'm not sure it'll be in usable shape yet but I'm sure the museum would allow it."
@others: "If you're looking for good places to eat, you can always try the Promenades. The World Fair is in town and setting up, so you can probably find just about anything to your liking. Of course, there's always the pubs or cafes around here if you want something more staple."
Kha'Rassi regards the suggestion with an idle scratch of her chin.
"Staple food is boring food. Let us go see what the World Fair has on offer." She gives the group a slight sendoff wave and heads to the Promenades.
Following Kha'Rassi, Melusine retrieves the bottle of rum from her bag and takes a hearty swig.
"'nnybody elss?" she says as a dribble rolls off her cheek, extending the bottle with a smile.
"I can't even remember the last time I had a hearty meal, it's been nothing but hardtack, beans, saltpork, and limes on that blasted ship.
She trots off towards the fair
Ompeet follows the two ladies.
"Oh, I love faires! Are we going to see any circus people do you think? They must have entertainment with the food. Maybe trained animals, oh I saw a dragon bear once! He was so pretty and scaly and such big paws! They wouldn't let me pet him though..."
The group makes their way to the World Fair for victuals. Thankfully, if the Fair is missing in anything, it's certainly not food. Mr. Lowes's brief mention of the place barely does it justice.
The Promenade is a large outdoor garden and market area that has been converted into a temporary fairground where stalls and people from every nation converge under one gigantic covered top.
Stalls of hot, spicy Khetur dishes simmer next to foaming, fruity Esperada beverages.
Collections of art, weapons, equipment, inventions and knick knacks festoon the innermost sections of the massive tent.
Outside on the eastern lawn, secured padlocks, cages and crates contain all manner of exotic animals from mundane but rare to even species of arcanofauna, kept well protected by guards.
Alexander immediately runs off to the eastern lawn, large moist eyes wide at the menagerie. Lily-white follows very closely, uncomfortable around the large number of people and trying to keep her head down as much as possible and her long body as closely curled up next to the grippli as possible while still moving. The saddle bags and winching straps of the harness clearly mark a trained animal, but there is still a wide empty space around the pair. Alex sits down, skidding a bit with his momentum, a respectable distance from the animals to not spook them too much and to not bother the proprietors with his awestruck gawking.
Despite his earlier stated desire for a cup of tea, Ompeet buys a Maqnaan umqombothi and a couple kebabs to eat while he follows Alexander into the menagerie, however, his mood is closer to Alexander's snake than the excited grippli.
"Doesn't it bother you, seeing them all caged up like this?" he asks the grippli.
"They deserve to be free, yeah. But unfortunately people have needs for animals, and nothing I do will stop progress from making sacrifices. The best way to help animals is to educate the people who will take them anyways how to treat them as best as possible. If I tell a woman who wants to buy a pet tiger cub that she shouldn't do that because the tiger isn't adapted to city life, she will ignore me because she already knew that. But if I tell her how much space the tiger needs, how to recognize its moods and identify its needs and communicate with it effectively, I can improve the poor beast's life. And then hopefully, she will teach her friends, and the tiger won't hurt people because it is given things to play with and space to feel safe and can communicate with its human when it wants to be alone. You know, you fight the battles you can. Humans usually win..."
"If the tiger would hurt her, you would think she would realize that she shoudn't keep it as a pet. Maybe she would learn, then." Ompeet mumbles.
Kha'Rassi takes a deep breath on nearing the faire, licking her lips. "Mmmmmm...Smells Kha'Rassi knows..." She puts a hand on her pouch out of habit, making sure her coin purse is still in place and not empty.
She stops short at Alexander's monologue, folding her arms halfway through the almost run-on sentence, brows raising as he finishes. "Breathe, froggy one." she says flatly.
Hmmm...kebabs would be good. I wonder if he seasons them like old Akir does... She spots Ompeet's foodstuffs and looks past him, eyes zeroing in on the merchant as she moves to secure her own purchase.
Lured in by the pungent aroma of spice, Melusine wanders into one of the Khetur district joints.
"Spinach with fried cheese, curry lentils... and some samosas; two glasses."
Melusine pours herself and the barkeep a drink.
"So... I'm new to this port. What can you tell me about it?"
@Melusine: "Strand? It's the capital of Edenmarch. It's big, it's loud and something's always going on. Honestly, you won't be wrong if you say it's the capital of the world. It's a very different place than Khetur I can tell you that."
@The Group with the animals: Though caged and kept locked up, none of the showcased animals seem visibly malnourished or mistreated. In fact, one of the handlers overhears your discussion and politely steps in.
"Not wanting to overstep here but if you have any questions about the beasts feel free to ask around. The Menagerie is an established and well respected company in Strand and we pride ourselves on how we treat them. I know some people dislike the idea of captivity, but it's truly helped research come a long way." He smiles. "Anyways, the Fair just opened, so feel free to come visit. We're here all year!"
"Good to know, thanks"
Melusine slides a silver pence across the bar as she scans the crowd for anyone worth noticing.
[b]"and where could a lady take a rest around here? Anyone or anyplace to avoid or to not avoid?
"What sort of research?" Ompeet asks, genuinely interested.
Kha'Rassi trades for a juicy kebab, biting down with gusto on her prize as she lazily scans the area for a nice perch to climb to and enjoy the view.
@Melusine: "Depends. Are we talking a brief respite or a lengthy stay. I can easily recommend a walk around the Parks and a brief nap on a bench or in the grass for a short rest but any longer and perhaps a room at a hotel? The Verdaine is both affordable and comfortable."
@Ompeet: "Well, as you may or may not know, Arcanofauna are intrinsically linked to magic as a whole. Leylines, arcane bonds, residual magics; they're all connected with these animals. The simple fact much of our arcane repertoire so closely resembles Arcanofaunic magic can't be a coinci..." He trails off. "I'm sorry, 'bit of a rambler."
@Kha'Rassi: You easily find a low wall, some remnant of a medieval period and scale up to the nearby rooftops adjacent to the Fairgrounds. The cat's-eye view provides you with a splendid vantage point of the hustle and bustle of the grounds below.
@Ompeet: "Well, as you may or may not know, Arcanofauna are intrinsically linked to magic as a whole. Leylines, arcane bonds, residual magics; they're all connected with these animals. The simple fact much of our arcane repertoire so closely resembles Arcanofaunic magic can't be a coinci..." He trails off. "I'm sorry, 'bit of a rambler."
"What sort of experiments are performed?"
Alex shakes his head at the man, understanding the confusion.
" No, you and I fight for the same thing - public awareness for creatures and how to treat them kindly and safely. I respect your work. Still , it can be hard to remember the tigers and tatzelwurms of my childhood free to roam the jungle, and see them even in a gilded cage."
Melusine has another round and heads out to catch a nap in a breezy park
Kha'Rassi finishes her meal, then finds a perch to sit down, pulling out her grooming kit to give her head a good brushing. Blech...still smell like seaweed and moss..."
She watches the market, scanning the sea of heads and faces with disinterest while keeping one eye out for her party...and the other eye out for trouble.
Melusine sprawls out in the grass, yawning widely. She throws her pack under her head like a pillow and gets some rest. When she awakes she prepares her spells [Color Spray, Identify] and heads out to relocate the group.
@Ompeet: As far as you can tell, it's simply rambling. None of what he's said is very new to you. Arcanofaunic theories are recent but increasingly discussed.
As for the kind of experiments, the man reassures you. "Simply of the observational and divination kind. No arcanofauna are harmed during these experiments."
@Alexander: "I understand your concerns, but do not worry, we make sure they're as happy here as they would be anywhere. For sure, the Fairgrounds mean we must restrict them a bit in enclosures, but the Menagerie has plenty of open park space."
@Kha'Rassi: Lots of interesting people walk by from all walks of life but no one stands out as trouble.
@Melusine: You rest up well and are prepared for the day.
Melusine locates her group and readies for the day
Satisfied she's cleansed as much moisture as she can from her fur, Kha'Rassi stows her grooming effects just in time to see the group starting to wander off. She hops off her perch and falls in stride. "Time to see what we've found, yes?"
The four of you make their way towards the Museum of Histories and Sciences, well fed and rested. The warm afternoon sun lights up Strand's cobblestone streets and gives the rather industrialized city a sheen of polish that seems to wipe off some of the grime and smoke its citizens are so used to.
You inform the Museum's doorman of your purpose and within minutes are brought into a private conference room. The walls show photographs of past expeditions and exotic places.
On the table in front of you lies a pile of papers, a journal and a scroll case that all seem quite familiar to you.
Your host seems to be taking a bit of time to arrive.
Ompeet tries to open the scroll case. If there's any resistance, he puts it down rather than risking breaking it.
Kha'Rassi watches Ompeet for a moment, then approaches the table, sniffing the air. She starts to leaf through the papers and then flip through the journal. "He is late...still eating, perhaps?"
Alexander contents himself at a window, letting the sun warm Lily's scales as the two bask.
Maybe he's stuck in the bathroom? Should someone go ask at the front desk?
Now that they're a little less soggy, Melusine thumbs through some of the papers.
As a group you filter through the stacks, scrolls and cases. The contents, having been magically repaired, seem to indicate the journey that the Tempest took before its final destination at the bottom of the Eleanor.
Though there are too many pages to read, a passage stands out to you.
The Council of Eight has ordered all ships to convene. Our Captain has answered the call and has ordered all ships under his command to sail back from our destination to Strand. Unique among the Fleet, the Tempest has been ordered to make a detour before setting sail for the Northern Passage. Captain Zantares wishes for us to pass on the artefact to one of our contacts in Edenmarch. Until then...
From what you remember, the Northern Passage was the supposed refuge for the Golden Epoch pirates. There, pirates were said to convene, trade treasure and stories and plot daring heists.
The maps and documents give an unpresented account of comings and goings to and from the Northern Passage as well as a clear picture of where it would be found: Keldanny Island.
As you finish perusing the documents, Edgar Lowes steps in and smiles.
"Not patient enough to wait for me? I understand don't worry, I hoped you'd find the significance of the documents by yourselves, and by the looks in your eyes, I assume you have."
He sits down and pours himself a drink of water from a glass jug before passing it around.
"The Northern Passage. The last bastion of piracy. Who knows what treasure and relics remain there? Any of you curious enough to come with us?" He pauses. "After I answer any questions you might have of course."
Kha'Rassi's eyes light up. The last pirate holdout? Even a fool can guess there'll be wealth and traps alike for the finding there, and so much more hidden...
She leans over the table, staring Edgar right in the eye. Kha'Rassi has only one question. When?"
She blinks, her eyes tracing a thought in the back of her head. "No. Two questions." She clears her throat a bit.
"Will it all be underwater?"
"Now this... THIS is what I signed on for! When do we ship out?" Melusine excitedly hollers. "...and what about pay for the first job, as much I love to work for credit... a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush after all," she says with a smile.
"100% ready! Pirates! Yes!"
Alex jumps at the table, excited to look through the papers.
Ompeet listens to Lowes and the others' reactions. After mulling it over, he simply states, "I'm interested."
Edgar smiles. "If we knew what to expect, we wouldn't be setting out in the first place. All we know is that it's on Keldanny. Now, most likely it will be underground, accessible somewhere by the sea. The Phlogiston mines may be a good place to start looking. So no promises as to there being water or not."
He gestures to the door.
"We've got your payment all set up. In accordance with our agreement, you get a cut of the haul and your agreed upon payment. All together, you have 300 pieces each. Now on top of that, we're willing to add another 200 gold as an upfront payment for your trip to Keldanny."
He indicates the papers.
"Feel free to make copies and notes of any of the materials here. Do not take too long, we'd like to set out tomorrow, or after tomorrow at the very latest. Time is of the essence here when it comes to uncharted pirate treasure."