Johnathan breathes a sigh of relief, not realizing how much pain he was in with all the adrenaline. He nods in thanks to Wintry, though avoids his eyes. He then answers Cretien.
"This is... the firedust? I think? And the dead sailor, both here. And I saw smokestacks," Johnathan shakes his head a bit, seeming ashamed.
"Sorry, I can't make too much sense of them. Little flashes of imagery, sounds, smells. I'm getting better at understanding them though."
"Can you teach me about dreams?" He keeps his eyes on the ground.
"Oh, I am afraid I don't know a whole lot about them myself." says Cretien, sounding somewhat sad at his inability to speak from a position of knowledge. " Not really my field of study. It will be interesting seeing what comes of your dreaming, though. First-hand study, as it were."
Well we should report our success to the ship's captain and see what the king's entourage wants to do now that we have salvaged the situation. After all the dutchess is sill a suspect in all this.
Joseph takes a look around as he is brought back to consciousness."Oh no, don't tell me. We died when the ship exploded and my punishment is an eternity fighting with Cretian over how we could have done it better. What cruel fates!" The smile on his face a blatant sign he is joking.
"eh, I suppose that WOULD be terrible."
"Wouldn't it though, I'm sure you would get tired of seeing my face after a few weeks of it."
You slap some mage cuffs on Sokana Rell and then tie up the halfling.
On Rell you find a large red gem, a dagger and the same antennae thingy that damage the mechanus.
On the halfling you find three potions, one purple and two green, and a nice shortsword for a halfling.
On the dead engineer you find another antennae and a wrench.
There is also a dead body of a sailor, all they have is a knife.
Cretien will examine the potions, smelling them carefully in an attempt to ID them.
He will compare the two antennae to each other, and likely keep one if they are both the same (and will take measures to protect it from touching metal).
Chretien
Cretien will check with the boss and see about what the orders were, given the situation being in hand now.
Joseph will fall in line with Cretian. Ready for the next mission of death.
i can revive them if we want to ask question. but i hve no means to make then answer us.
Mithas will stay and guard the prisoners while the others go to report.
"Best not revive them until we reach somewhere more secure. We don't want to risk them causing more trouble."
I will let certain do it as he understands the mechanics involved and was awake for the whole thing.
Merle reamains upstairs after the big explosion, and is relieved to see that the others survived the close call.
"Jolly good show men". he says with a big welcoming smile.
I'll do it.
Chretien starts to talk to Delft about what happened as the king gives his prepared speech to the crowd remarking on safety first getting a lot of laughs and mostly trying to cut the tension and to keep the party going in spite of the scare.
Lee eventually gets back on the Coaltongue after about an hour and a rowboat trip from one of the naval vessels in the vicinity of the ship. Throwing Rell and the halfling into the brig for the remainder of the cruise.
Early in the morning, as you disembark the Coaltongue and all of the guests leave in their coaches, Delft and Lee have you stay after because the King wants to talk to your group personally. You stand at attention in the cool dawn air, as he says, "It has come to my attention that you are all responsible in saving the Coaltongue and all of our lives, I owe you a debt of gratitude. What are your names?" asks King Aodhan.
Cretien gives a polite bow, saying "Your Highness, my name is Cretien Dufrene."
"Officer Joseph Reginald Coopsworth at your service sir." Joseph snaps to a crisp attention.
Officer Arvangail Wintry of the RHC your Highness
"John-Johnathan."
"Mithas Aran. An honor to serve, your Majesty."
The king is about to give his speech to the press on the dock. As he nears, he takes the time to speak with you. "Members of the RHC - you have saved this ship and lives of everyone aboard. Well done. Do not be afraid, I owe you. I have instructed Lee to give you a gift when we get back on land as a thank you Do you have families here in Risur?" He seems to be particularly interested in anyone with siblings.
You answer the king in turn, shaking his offered hand. You always knew King Aodhan to be a capable sword fighter, even in his 70s. But meeting him in person leaves you no doubt why he is king. He exudes grace, power and wisdom. Yet, you sense a deep sadness due to his sister's betrayal...worse than when his Queen, Belea, passed a few years ago.
"May you never suffer betrayal from your blood as I. Ethelyn and I disagreed on many things, but I did not think she could...." King Aodhan trails off. "All the more reason for this speech. For Risur, my friends." He heads toward the podium.
Delft chimes in. "Conspiracy. Treason. Attempted regicide. And we thought the Danorans were our biggest problem!"
"Now, now", Lee returns. "We won't know the details until we fully interrogate the prisoners. But it appears as though threats to Risur come from outside and in our borders. Ethelyn held great sway in Risur. I fear her actions could spark much civil unrest."
Arvangail is deeply moved by the king's speech about family and betrayal.
Merle introduces himself, humbled by his king's personal attention. If his poor ole dead momma could see him now, chatting with the King, like they're friends or something. And she said he'd never amount to anything.
"We couldn't save her, but the smokestacks were right."
He fidgets a bit.
"I just wish there wasn't so much above..."
"Sir," He quickly adds, rubbing soot from his face.
"Fractures will form at the bottom of any great structure, but it is up to us to seal them."
Good thing I have no family to betray me. But good advice it is to assume everyone will betray you eventually.
After a quick cordial conversation with the group, the king makes his way to the podium and the press, and gives a speech:
'Friends! Four wars and countless years we have quarreled with the nation across the sea. We call them cursed and unnatural. They call us primitive and superstitious. And what was gained over the centuries of conflict? Little territory and lots of blood. This ship represents the pinnacle of Risuri technology, a ship that was to be the crown jewel in our fleet; to show Danor that we've come far from relying on shamans and sages. Yet, this ship was built with aid of some Danorans....and in fact we've learned that they wish for lasting peace as much as we do. Ironically, this arms race has shown me that radical steps must be taken. For as long as there is possibility of war, there will be people who wish to begin it - whether it is firing a first shot, sinking a ship or... assassinating a king.'
'In a few months, perhaps a year, I will convene a summit in Flint and it is my intention to sign a peace agreement with Danor. The events of today have shown we need a permanent solution. We cannot lose more sons and more daughters of both our nations to pointless wars. It is time to join our countries together to begin a time of healing and peace. We must end wars, or wars will end us.'
My countrymen....for Risur!'
A mixture of applause and murmurs come from the crowd.
"Peace? With the nation the king himself fought against..twice?" Delft exclaims. 'Tough sell.'
'Indeed', Lee concedes. They both grab a drink.
'So to seal this new peace agreement', the king continues, 'I am announcing today that it is my intention to marry a Danoran!'
Gasps emit from audience, followed by wild applause.
"In addition, I would like to give special thanks to the Royal Navy for hosting this launch and to those fine constables of the RHC who have performed above and beyond today"[/b}
He toasts with a three fingered glass of rye, and says [b]"To Risur! and takes a sip and then "To our fallen countrymen!" and then he takes another swig and pour some onto the ground.
Cretien applauds, although none too raucously due to fatigue.
Joseph looks at Cretien and says.
With a smile on his face, and somehow a full bottle of rye in hand, Joseph salutes Cretian and takes a drink. "To progress! And to Danoran women and their many charms."
"But was it a matter of the heart?"
Joseph stares at Cretian for a second and then begins to laugh. He smiles even more broadly at Cretian. "Oh yes, I am sorry. Cassandra always did tell me I couldn't get sarcasm properly placed. I lose something trying to get the tone a crossed." It should be about this time everyone in earshot realizes Joseph has probably had one, or maybe three too many. "Curse her heart anyway, made sure I could speak to her just so." Joseph's voice takes a more nagging and higher pitched quality to it.
"Well, I certainly do avoid undue hardships," says Cretien, awkwardly deflecting Joseph's quip.
Joseph take another swig of the rye in his hand."Undue hardships, that's a good one. Birth, now there is an undue hardship none of us can avoid. And death, now there is another one that will be staring each of us in the face eventually." Another strong pull on the bottle."But where are my manners, we are to be celebrating. Good luck in avoiding your undue hardships m'lord. Eventually they catch up to us all." With a deep bow towards Cretian and a crisp turn of the heel, Joseph will walk out among the crowd. Looking for an unattended noble lady of at least passable youth, he will ask for a dance playing to the hero of the night angle.
Well that was unexpected way to finish a speech. Peace conference and a royal wedding.
Before you go on your merry way for the evening, Delft gathers you up takes a healthy chaw in between his right pointer finger and thumb and places it snugly between his teeth and lower lip and says, "Men, you done good tonight and I am extremely proud of you, you have the rest of the night off and please check in for the debrief at 1300. Try to get some sleep, s+!~ has hit the fan and well, we're definitely on notice. Any questions?"
none realy, i will wait for tomorrow's briefing
"none here. 1300 it is. "
"No questions Sir. Tomorrow it is."
Johnathan winces, "No, sir," and goes off to get some sleep, avoiding getting pulled into the festivities.
Everyone except for Joseph go home for the night and he
Diplomacy for being a bit weak but inebriated,
Joseph wakes up at some moderately young widow's home and scrambles to HQ barely on time but still wearing the same clothes from the night before.
The rest of you have shown up on time and are waiting patiently outside Delft's office. You then hear a groan from within, the door opens you see Delft sitting at his desk and his boss, Lady Inspectress Margaret Saxby, she is a blonde woman in impeccable shape with close cropped blonde hair looks, glaring out the window.
As you pile in and stand at attention she turns to you and says, "Great Job last night! You should all be commended." she then turns to Delft, "They are your crew, square them away." with that she turns on her stiletto and briskly walks out the door.
The chief does a debriefing of your actions during the day starting from the boarding and continuing throughout the dinner and combat and finally with your overall success. He then pulls a box from out of his desk and you have the evidence from the assailants and put off to the side.
After all of the necessities, he turns to you and says "I have some good news and bad news, the bad news is that the prisoners are being transferred to Slate, however, the good news is that you will get a four wall conference with them before their train leaves."
if anyone is still wounded from the previous day Arvangail will have offered to help.
I can try to charm one of them in order to get some answer. i don't really care who it is.
Johnathan goes with to talk to Rell.
Seeing Johanthan sill hurt from the previous day Arvangail will offer some healing.