"Let's find us a merry band of mercenaries and tag along with them!" Frederick says, then marches off as though he plans to buy a set at the corner store.
"Something tells me that won't work very well. Maybe Ayren knows a good way on getting on that ship. He's got connections everywhere."
You do know at least three mercenary companies: The Grey Hounds (who you fought when you saved Lord Richard), the Red Eagle and the Shadows of the Manticore.
Jaazkara idly picks at her pointed teeth with a clawed finger, then takes a long draught from her purchased liquor. She helpfully suggests throwing together a ramshackle raft of driftwood and rope, and having her pull it to the Golden Galleon. She shrugs at the strange looks she undoubtedly receives.
"I could obtain Gozreh's blessing to walk the waters. If it's not too far to walk. Tomorrow morning we could depart."
In the meantime Eitylen look for rumors that give possible adventuring opportunities in the city. A new gang of thief? and evil cult?.
People stare at you with curiosity and confusion as you take your first steps over liquid water... But they all soon go back to their paths.
A wild Megalodon appeared!
As you approach the Golden Galleon (and the five or six ship around it), you notice sailors staring at you the same way the people by the docks did... Except a few of them now have crossbows in hand too. They aren't aiming at your group... But they aren't putting down their weapons either.
After little more than 20 minutes of water-walking, you arrive at your destination... You shout a greeting to one of the sailors looking down from the Golden Galleon's deck. He seems a bit confused on how to proceed and asks a superior for instructions... The man rolls his eyes and shouts to a different sailor, telling him to lower the "merlift".
You hear the sound of sheaves rolling and notice a helm-shaped elevator slowly descending a few feet to your left. It has no walls, and is simply hanging from a thick rope at the center of the "helm".
Standing on it, leaning on the rope, stands a muscular man of dark brown skin, long braided black hair and grey-colored eyes. He wears light armor with the image of an anchor going through a skull carved on its shoulder plate. He has a bandoleer crossing his chest and a dagger and two pistols on his belt. A second dagger can be seen on one of his leather boots.
"Haven't you got a boat, mate?" he asks, jovially. "This lift wasn't meant for legged people."
"Well if we had one we certainly wouldnt need to walk! We spent awhile thinking about how we'd get here but none seemed better. May we come aboard?" Cyrus is friendly and jovial with the man.
"If you have gold, you are welcome... If you don't, I fear you'll have some more walking to do..." he replies nonchalantly.
We would have not bothered to to do this travel if we didn't have money - Eitylen say litghly
"You'd be amazed by what people with no money are willing to do to try and get money... Some of them are even foolish enough to try cheating and stealing from us." he says with a oddly friendly tone. "Now... You can show me some gold, or you can walk."
Ok. How many coins do we need to enter? 50?, 100? - The elf show the coins
Cyrus rattles his coin pouch.
"Eitylen, he just wants to make sure we've come to gamble. I don't think there is an actual toll. Whatever that would be probably pales in comparison to the gold the Galleon makes off it's patrons."
Jaazkara seems amazed at the party's newfound ability to traverse the waves, and looks downward frequently as they go. When asked, she produces a pouch of gold to display her "honest" intent.
"Hey! If he wants to give me gold, he's free to do so!" the man says, laughing. "Very well... Come closer... We're going up."
One you're all inside the "merlift", the man whistles loudly and after a moment, you start rising, slowly, but steadly.
"So... I'm guessing this is your first time here. There are a few rules you should know about..." he says. "First: You can keep your weapons, gear and whatever else you're carrying. But you can't use magic without permission. That includes any magic item other than weapons and armor. Second: If you're attacked by someone other than our security team, you're free to fight back with all you have. We are okay with a healthy brawl... But if it gets out of hand, both sides of the fight will be dealt with. Harshly. Third: If you cheat, steal or otherwise mess with a game, you'll be punsihed. VERY harshly. We can't kill you anymore, now that we're in Blue Shell territory... But we can have you stripped of all your possessions, beaten to a bloody pulp and thrown into the sea. Fourth: In the event of an attack from an outside force, you're responsible for your own safety. We have a ship to defend, we can't afford to babysit any moron desperately running around Fifth: Disputes will be resolved by the Captain. And his word is law. You can plead your case, but if he rules against you, that's it. No questioning.." he speaks with a serious, but not hostile tone... Then smiles and adds "Other than that... Have fun."
The "merlift" finally reaches its final stop. You step out of it and onto a very large deck...
It's surprisingly clean and filled with the smell of food. There's a large crowd of sailors, fishermen and tourists... Some of them walking around or having energetic conversations... Most of them gather around large tables to watch or participate in one gambling game or another. Roulette, dice and card games seem particularly popular... All croupiers wear spectacles and carry daggers. Moving around, keeping watch on everything are several men and women wearing light armor and carrying scimitars, daggers and light crossbows... They also wear glasses that glow with a faint blueish light.
"Well lets get mingling. Blond hair and a privateer for the Armada." Cyrus says to himself while rubbing his hands together and heading towards a Lier's Dice table. He makes a show of doing a quick praying gesture to Desna.
Don't let me lose all my money here!
"You know, I've never gambled before. It's banned on Hermea because we're all supposed to share everything equally."
He follows behind Cyrus, listening intently if anyone explains the rules.
"Ah! I almost forgot." Cyrus turns to the two who are most likely newer to this.
"Gambling is best enjoyed when you don't play to profit lest you get caught up in recouping losses. It's good to set a limit for how much gold you're going to spend. Personally, I intend to spend about fifty pieces. Anything I win I'll probably hang on to or spend it on food. Be wary of winning streaks since they'll often lure you into a sense of false security and then BAM! All your money is gone. Just be careful and you'll have fun." Cyrus says gently with a hint of a fatherly tone to Frederick and Eitylen.
"The games themselves are usually entertaining by themselves as well!"
Jaazkara listens intently, clearly interested in the whole affair.
Nothing against a friendly game, but we should try to do what we came to do in the first place
"You know, I've never gambled before. It's banned on Hermea because we're all supposed to share everything equally."
"Well, you're in the perfect place to learn! We have all sorts of games here!" says the man who accompanied you on the Merlift. "My name is Fazil, by the way... Pleased to meet you. Now, if you excuse, I must return to my duties. May Desna bless your dice!" says the black man as he bows just slightly and leaves, soon to disappear in the crowd.
1 gold coin to the red-
Eitylen meditate over the morality of betting an amount of money that could feed a poor family for a week...uhm
And then he start asking around about that Melissa the group came looking for.
"There's always a chance we could overhear something while we play, you know. I imagine the employees would know more than any of the patrons."
Jaazkara finds a card game, and tries her hand.
There are a number of card games around, most involving 4 or 5 players.... You have to bet to participate, though. Being competitive games and having multiple players, these games require a minimum bet of 5gp.
Jaazkara puts up the gold and sits down, eyeing her opponents across the table.
-
...
And then he start asking around about that Melissa the group came looking for.
- I take 10 for 19 in Gather info
"There's always a chance we could overhear something while we play, you know. I imagine the employees would know more than any of the patrons."
"Right you are, Frederick! Come come, lets have a little fun." Cyrus laughs and leads Frederick to a table for Three Dragon Ante(Fantasy poker =P).
You eventually hear the name "Sweetdew" being mentioned a few times... Apparently she enjoys betting on races, tournaments and competitions in general. She not an unusual sight around here, although she rarely stays long.
She can usually be found within the lower levels, where much higher bets take place... Access to that level is restricted, though... Only those personally invited by a the Golden Galleon's Captain or by another "V.I.P" guest may enter...
In theory, anyway... Bribing one of the employees also works. Pretty much all expenditure of gold that doesn't disrupt the games is allowed or at very least, overlooked... Sometimes even encouraged.
This job feels for Eitylen like peeling an onion with infinite layers, if it not where for friendship...
What V.I.P members are around?
None that you know of...
In his naivety, Eitylen asks the favor to one of the employers () to tell miss Melissa Sweetdew that some gentlemen are looking for her and they will be grateful if she can concede them a meeting.
In exchange for 5gp, one of waiters agrees to send her the message. He returns 20 minutes later with a reply.
"Misses Sweetdew says that if you want to meet her, 'you can wait at the end of line, like every other man under Besmara's eye.'"
He bows slightly and goes back to serving the other passengers.
THat leaves us with only the captain to invite us there, If he say no, as I suspect he will then I'm out of ideas - Eitylen goes for the captain, insisting that he have 500 freaking gp and he wants to bet them in the V.I.P section.
Jaazkara catches up to the waiter when he's nearby once more, and says to him, "Tell her weve brought her favorite pastry from her old friend. I'm sure she'll want to speak wit' us." and gestures at the honyed treats. She then slips the man some gold and smiles in what she hopes is an appreciative manner.
"Yes, we DO have business with her, technically."
The waiter takes 10gp this time... Then sighs and goes back into the V.I.P area... He doesn't return this time. Instead, after about 20 minutes, you're greeted by a slim man wearing black and white robes typical of a follower of Nethyx... He has (obviously dyed) lime green hair and mustache, wears a small, square monocle, lime green gloves and a pair of slippers... one black, the other white.
"I'm Kozu of the Misty Valley. Captain Sweetdew asked me to inspect your... offerings."