Jean-Phillipe looks a bit disappointed at leaving the boat.
Corvus follows the group, seeming rather distracted. Despite ridding the land of the evil in the cave, she's not so sure why she's here and what purpose her God has in mind for her.
Sitting insouciantly on a barrel on the deck, a mysteriously manifested cheroot scrolling thick fragrant smoke around his head, Angelo presents a cool and striking figure, "We've got some of the same sort of housekeeping to accomplish as well. We'd be glad to meet back at the Keelhaul this evening, and allow someone else to do the cooking. I think we can do some business as well."
Angelo watches the river ahead of them, as the crocodiles and sturgeon lunge excitedly, seeking the source of the blood draining from Poulain's skinned trophies racked on the deck.
As the boat moves past the piers and docks in Bloodcove, Angelo greets comrades and acquaintenances, swapping gossip for gossip, tale for tale. Before the boat moors, Angelo should be somewhat up-to-speed on local occurrences, and will have encouraged locals to bring the famiilies of the remaining crew to the docks.
Angelo
Mem'basi and Zimba say their goodbyes and decide to return to his tribe to see his family. Fighting evil god has given him pause and he has decided to settle down and give up adventuring.
When Yoshi and the others were away from the boat, he said, "We should contact Madame Gerzogitsa-sama to inform her that the girrallons have been dealt with."
Corvus nods her approval to Yoshiyaru. We should seek her out immediately.
The party makes its way over to the dead drop location for receiving messages. There is a large white chalk circle on the tree and you find the grating where you find a small roll of paper on it reads... HB at 1600 side door, 3 knocks.
"Let's get paid."
"Eloquent as ever. We should head over there straight away."
"A sensible course of action," Yoshi replied.
"Don't you agree, Angelo-san?" the half-elf said to the group's other member.
"Absolutely. Let us do our rounds and collect our scraps. In all honesty, I had hoped for a greater payout from this endeavor. But it was not unfair, merely not well fortuned. It remains to give Lady Pharasma more opportunities to turn her hand to us."
"Until Lady Pharasma graces us, let us avail ourselves of a more accessible signora formidabile."
You make your way to House Barzoni's side entrance and knock three times at 1600. The door opens swiftly to the inside and after you walk in as if on a spring shuts faster. Inside sitting on an ovular table is a chest, wide open inside them are four cloaks of resistance +2 and a pile of about 1000gp.
Inside is also a note that says, Daahlings, m out of town, take these as token my esteem, remember the dead drop guide for Mwangi. Spassiba... L- Gerzogitsa Barzoni....
"Well, that was vague," commented Yoshi.
After examining the cloaks with detect magic, he said, it appears our payment is 250 gold pieces each and these magical cloaks that will make us more resistant to things such as magic and poisons.
"Very nice gear. And some coin is well appreciated as well. That does ease the sting of losing all that lovely salvage a bit. And I imagine m'lady would be interested in understanding whose cargo we saved if it was someone of interest - but I didn't get the impression this was a significant or major cargo. Maybe we should be a bit more inquisitive about that sort of thing in future. Lessons learned. Perhaps we'll get some further insights at dinner tonight - not quite 'out front', but better late than not at all."
"I'm going to take a couple of hours and tend the local shrines to Pharasma. Anyone who'd like is welcome to come along. Corvus? Several of these shrines also have an altar to Sarenrae."
"I'll meet you all for dinner this evening. Ciao!"
With that said, Angelo will do as advertised - make a circuit of town, visiting and tending each of the shrines to Pharasma. He'll also remew ties with the hosts of each of the shrines.
Corvus immediately tags along with Angelo.
Her face looks troubled and before they've gone too far, she confides in him. "This all feels a bit random and disjointed to me. I hoped my god had a plan for me, a path for me to follow. I feel lost and wonder if she's found me wanting.". She immediately blushes and coughs, her eyes not leaving the ends of her feet as she walks alongside her companion.
Jean-Phillipe will go get soundly drunk.
Yoshiyaru goes in search of a seller of alchemical substances that can be used as power components.
Yoshi arrives at a alchemical dealer and the young Turalu dwarf makes eye contact and say Me've got big chemicals hearee sahrrr!!!Howse mays I helps ya?
"Ah, two flasks of acid, and two vials of liquid ice, if you have them."
Null problemo, pahtner! as he slides the vials over and pockets the gold.
"My thanks, good sir," Yoshi replied with a bow before leaving the shop.
With that done, the foreign half-elf headed back to the docks to insure to himself that the River Queen was still there.
Once he assured himself, he headed off to wait near the location that Selim asked them to meet for a drink.
"It's funny you should say, bellisima. I was just considering that this all was beginning to feel almost structured - a Margravina to report to, organized drop points, appointments for contracts to work. My prayers to Pharasma today are that I not be shackled too tightly to any of these interests. I have no interest in wearing a collar."
"But Pharasma is the goddess of Fate, Destiny, and Death. I have faith that the path she sets me on fulfills the dictates of Destiny. And that if she lays a heavier burden n me than I can bear, that it is unavoidable."
"Our knowledge of divine intent is necessarily imperfect. We may not always agree with divine intent - but we shouldn't take it as criticism. Sometimes it's a lesson, sometimes it's a challenge. But I prefer to think that if one of our gods feels a need to correct our behavior, that they will not be shy. Pharasma - maybe subtle. Sarenrae I feature as... more direct."
Yoshiyaru sees that the River Queen is being refitted, and supplies are being brought on board.
At the agreed hour you all meet Selim inside the Tickling Keelhaul. He is sitting alone in the back of the establishment and his face lights up upon your entry and he says,
HAHAHAHAHAHA!!!! My saviours, my friends, come sit, and have a drink on me.
He then waves to the barmaid for the drinks to be served and after they are brought he says, "Lady and Gentlemen, you are all in luck, I am here to offer you a steady job up river"
"Indeed? That should make Poulain-san happy. He seemed upset at leaving your vessel," Yoshi replied after taking a seat.
Esteban continues, Great! Hahaha!!! Well to get started I am a captain in the hire of the Aspis
Consortium, a northern mercantile group
with interests in this area, you may or mayn't know. My employers require bodies to help guard
a valuable trading depot against incursions
by cannibal savages who recently moved into
the area. The depot is well-defended and has
successfully fended off many attacks, but the
defenders are on the verge of exhaustion and
need some temporary relief from competent
sword-arms until company reinforcements
arrive from Absalom. Now, that was before my boat got captured by that demonic Girrallion and his minions. Which means that most likely the situation is much more dire than before. Are you still interested?"
"Captain Selim, your offer sounds attractive - I believe that we could be persuaded to support your efforts until your reinforcements arrive. Though I don't believe we are willing to relocate upriver as permanent employees." Angelo takes a measure of his companions' reactions from around the table.
"The responsibilities seem to be within our ambit. There is a question, however, of compensation. And expenses. Ours is a well-traveled group - we have certainly heard of the Aspis Consortium. As much as I have heard of them, I have never heard that they are stingy."
When Angelo looked at Yoshi about not wanting to relocate permanently, the half-elf indicated that he agreed with the follower of Pharasma with a slight nod.
Not wishing to interfere with Angelo's bargaining, he wisely kept silent.
Angelo-san is obviously better at such things than I am, he thought.
Corvus listens to the banter and keeps quiet. This seems a more straightforward situation. Defending doesn't sound like it'll complicate my vows and perhaps I can be of more value than I have been to date.
Poulain drinks more.
Selim says, Well, the assignment should not take longer than six weeks with a two-week trip aboard my wheelboat. I expect the job to
last about a month before these nomadic jungle
tribesmen give up and move on. I wouldn't doubt that there would be the option to stay on long-term if you so choose. If not, at the end, I will provide free passage back downriver to Bloodcove. The consortium is willing to pay you 20 GP per day per person for the trip north and the four weeks at the station. Any questions?
"What are these tribesmen like?" Yoshi asked.
Selim pauses and says, They are the Ekujae which is a large tribe of wild elves who live primarily in the northern reaches
of the Mwangi Expanse, though they do
settle farther south sporadically. They are fierce warriors, who eat other humanoids to survive.
Yoshiyaru narrowed his eyes when Selim mentioned that the wild elves ate other sentients.
"I am willing to accept your offer, Selim-san," the foreign half-elf replied.
Poulain spits on the floor. "The Ekujae do not eat humanoids to survive, mon Capitan. They eat them because they wish to. Magic, evil, gods, I care not. No animal survives on primates. We are shit as prey."
"It certainly sounds like a worthwhile diversion. I'm afraid, however, that I might run out of bandages and arrows. If we put together a list of particulars, with your concurrence, will Aspis cover the costs? Also, who is running the chow cart? If the tribesmen overrun us, I would not want them to be disappointed by emaciated fare."
Seeing a degree of consent from the rest of the group, Angelo sets to detailed negotiation of terms.
Selim looks at Poulain, Mine is not to psychologize savages Mr. Poulain, men be meaty, though, HAHAHAHA! he then toasts the group.
He then listens to Angelo and says, Well Mr. Carvesan, food for the journey will be provided by Aspis of course, as well, part of what we are transporting upriver is medical supplies. The boat is also well stocked with arrows and we are transporting more upriver. Remember we are resupplying the garrison. I can provide you with 280 GP upfront costs for you to buy what you wish.
Two days hence you make your way to the River Queen at noon with your new gear(whatever you decide to buy), and see porters running around madly loading the boat with equipment and the like. Selim greets you and shows you where your bunks are located.
You get formally introduced to Hurg, a decrepit, old, near-sighted dwarf is the engineer of the River Queen. Aged beyond his
years from a long, hard life on the Fever Sea,
You can tell that Hurg suffers from severe rheumatoid arthritis
in his back that bends him over nearly double.
Hurg alone keeps the complex and antiquated
machinery of the River Queen functioning. He also looks strange for a dwarf because his grey beard is trimmed short, he says Allo, me name is Hurg it is. I is the engineer, oh wait youze knows that... Me guess its me old age... I hope you like me girl, we should be a leavin' shortly, me hopes
"Hurg, this is a ship of rare beauty. Well turned out, and obviously built for long service. Captain Selim bragged of the River Queen outrageously, but it seems it was only outrageous because the truth would have strained credulity. You, and your work," Angelo gestures grandly at the involuted and ramified mechanisms, "you have my greatest admiration. If there is any assistance I can render you in your strivings, it would be my greatest pleasure to help support your Lady here."
Angelo can't bring himself to outright lie about the distressing condition of the old boat. He is, however, sincere in his praise of the dwarf's ability to keep the boat operational, and Angelo is very sincere in volunteering every effort to help keep the boat afloat. Angelo has some concerns they will not remain afloat long without all hands actively holding the craft together.
Yoshiyaru thanked Angelo for the potion, and toured the boat more thoroughly to insure that he knew the layout.
When introduced to Hurg, he waited for Angelo to finish his speech before saying, "I am honored to meet you, Hurg-san. I am Nakayama Yoshiyaru."
Corvus smiles politely at the dwarf. "Pleased to meet you. My name is Corvus and I am honoured to be travelling on this marvel of engineering."
"Poulain. She's a marvel, I'll say that."
Hurg says in a somewhat gruff tone "You bet your ass it is, hahahaha!!!" he then looks at the group of you and says Let me show ya de ticker, eh?
You follow him to the engine room. This magical device provides the ship’s
propulsion. The engine is contained within a large iron box, with two vats forward, and several large gears connected to the spinning drive shaft aft.
This is a protean engine, be extremely careful of the energy bolts coming off of it. This is one of five prototypes and this engine is extremely special. says Hurg
"Fascinating," Yoshi commented.
He stood clear of the protean engine, the name of which evoked images of the chaotic plane of existence.
Angelo inspects the engine carefully, and appreciatively. "Do you mind if I..." Angelo waggles his fingers with divinatory intent.
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Corvus does not try to feign interest in the machine. She continues to smile politely at the dwarf but lets the boys play with the machine!