@to john v mind link.
::"John I hope you believe me now John, this is not the plane I was born on, more to the point, it was not me that signed that contract of theirs, yes I have one but not on this plane. I would need you to tell me if under law I'm bound by this one of any thing they threatened applies to me. That aside I need you to trust me, so let me tell you what this pear are really thinking, it's with in my skills to know, and seeing how I don't trust them let me tell you, you can pass it on to the others as you see fit, what they are really saying is.....::
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Sallrana, you find something most surprising...
The head mage knows more than he's letting on - he was aware of the forested demiplane you got deposited in (though he didn't know you'd end up there), he's reasonably sure that they are misunderstanding the planar laws that govern the Schultenbrak's stomach but can't find any better explanation as to how it works without studying it (and he so wants to study it), but most importantly his own personal opinion is that Hawcroft are to blame for the current problem with the gateway because they decided that Vanchester was the party member who should be tagged for reclamation purposes, and he is still through the gateway in the demiplane - it may be their link to him that's keeping it open.
As for the large captain of industry, Sallrana... you get nothing. Absolutely nothing. No deep thoughts, no emotions, not even any surface thoughts. His mind is a complete blank, like an area of negative space to you. You quickly recognise that the man must have some sort of psionic training, and now that you're looking for it the elaborate jeweled tie-pin resting on his chest is a brilliant orange crystal - whoever this Hawcroft rep is, he has his own small psicrystal with him at all times.
He smiles at you, Sallrana, as you try to read his thoughts, but says nothing out loud.
She brings up mind shield, and nods with a likewise smile her head at the agent, respect is shown, as good manners dictate, agent to agent. You may be trying to kill each other but there is no need to be rude about it.
::"john the Mage knows what that thing was, it's name alludes me but he wast to study it so bad, he's as mad as he'll they tagged Boldwin and now you are me, he's blaming Hawcraft for the mistakes so far, he dos not see any of this as his problems but there. Also he seems to think the link they have with Boldwin is keeping the gate open, they tagged him some way. Now here is the real problem, the company reps like me, he's an agent of some kind, that pin on his chest is like HexQin, yet I don't recognize him, that dos not mean he's not one of ours, there are other groups in the government and other groups that use Mind-forgers like me. John I do not lose my memory because of a mistaken port, I was mind wiped, I know this because so was HexQin, he's a construct it's as hard as hell to affect them. That means this rep or one over him is behind much more than they are letting on."::
"So it was another world? Like this one? A reflections? And the Hawcroft there had attacked the orcs? Seems to me that you have a problem. You claim we are under contract to you, and also some are from another world, where they signed a different contract with a different Hawcroft."
Jack wants to hit them, but knows enough of men to know that would be pointless. Undermining the contractual legal system however hits them where it hurts and is legal.
'Jack, is it?' The larger man turns to look at you, his gaze thoughtful. 'What an interesting idea. I'll be sure to look into it once we have found a way to determine whether 'you' are the same person who signed the contract with your name on it. In the meantime, I think it would be safe to assume 'yes'... especially seeing as it is with our help that your new limbs will continue to function. I trust they're serving you well, by the way?'
There's not a hint of malice in his voice - in fact, there's nothing in his tone save for cold, hard, business-like superiority.
Somehow, this makes his words seem even more threatening.
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John smiles, with not one bit of it reaching his artic stare. legality. An interesting word to use. In my experience one used by those who have breached it, so as to cover involvement. You know I think that ripping apart a gate might be illegal, even if, especially if, it was done by negligence and incompetence. And as for contracts, well, a contract that espouses an illegal act or acts is never valid.
John settles back in his chair and regards the pair opposite. Not to mention the fact that you have yet to prove we have even signed these contracts. After all we don't remember, and as yet I have seen no documentation. There is even the possibilty we never sign a contract with you at all. And if you try to carry out the threat I have detected in your words there will be...consequences. the smile leaves johns face and his hand moves slightly.
John focuses on the larger of the two. So pilgrim, why don't we cut to the chase. You obviously need us or you wouldn't be acting like this. Say what you want, and what you are willing to give to get it.
John, a tightening in thre muscles of his jaw is the only sign your words have hit home.
'Fine. I'll lay it plain for you. We want a full survey of the Targeston Island, and in return we offer two things. A financial reward... and the continued use of the limbs that are currently on loan to the remaining four of you.'
@John
::If we we are to do a survey then we will need more than we started out with. Mapping tools, some medical supply's, survival tools, we should ask for that.::
Then to the two, The lady Sallrana Qillon Silvermoon says politely and with the manners of a lady, yet still looking out of the window.
"I agree with john about the items others have lost, they should be reimbursed, and would you not think. A small payment of coin as a sign of good, will would not also be fitting for them. That would show your intent. For me a privet room would be nice, I'm shore you can muster one up for a Lady. Been if not of this plane, Gentlemen I hope still are Gentlemen. "
She then turns to look at the pear, still polite she says.
"And gentlemen you need to know clearly my intent. I intend to head back into that gateway as soon as I can, to investigate, to save my other self or Boldwin if I can and to close it, or find a way to control and use it. Now taking that into account, you can see how your contract now means little or nothing to me, if you reconise this uniform I have on then you know, arguing such a point with me or my supirerers on this plane or any other on this matter would be interesting it hear....shot but interesting."
Her voice is also devoid of over tone, it's as if she is stating clear logical and terminal fact.
Then in a softer tone she says
"Now ad it stands you have me in your power. You know this, I know this and I wish to make it clear, if your actions and deeds are for the advancement of the realm, on this plane or other. Then that dos not matter, I am bound to do what is needed to support you. But before I do I need you to make clear to me and with out hiding anything, that what you are undertaking Hovercraft Co and the Mage council in regarded is for the benefit of the real. That is my request"
Then she go's back to looking out the window.
Jack cocks his head sideways when Sallrana talks
States Jack clearly, restating his plan. Concerned that perhaps he has not been clear enough he then adds a clarification
looking at the man pacing back and forth, Roger's eyes narrow as the man makes the implied threat of taking back his regained mobility. If this nob thinks he's just gonna waltz in here and undo what they done to me, he's got a nuther thing comin.
The Hawcroft representative and the head mage make their final apologies to each of you (some more sincere than others) and leave the room. The captain, for her part, tells you that her crew have readied a small boat to take you into one of the lesser-frequented ports, so as to let you get on with whatever you choose to without being tainted by an association to the recently-opened gate, which she believes will cause quite a lot of consternation and possibly threats of violence.
She also recommends that you take Miria with you, pointing to the woman at the back of the room, explaining that she knows the area well and hinting that she probably has more in common with you than you think.
One of the HL assistants bustles into the room, moving to each of you in turn with a small leather wallet. Inside are folded paper bills of a design you don't recognise - some sort of local currency, most likely.
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The lady Sallrana looks at the note,
"Fiat currency, intaresting. In most cases where such as been tried the base price of gold and other such is higher than the Fiat, don't be surprised if you gold coins can be sold for a higher rate of exchange here, my fellows."
She places the paper money away, then now resigned to the fact, her mission to the gate it at the whim of captin and the company rep, she excepts that a trip to the town for ships repears has to be undertaken.
This is still not her world, and right now the other her could be dying in that hell whole of the gate, but needs must. She was after a pragmatist.
Getting up she walks over to there guide/ minder, and offers her hand in freand ship.
"The Lady Sallrana Qillon Silvermoon my dear, a pleasure to make you aquatince, Miria, and pleased to have you as our guide. The pear hinted that you make have something in common with us, I could not but observe your vail, have you undertaken a medical prosidure as well, or is that the local custom for women. I ask because I would like it so very much if we could be friends."
Before they head into town, Sallrana will look over the shops stores, seeking things or items that will help her. Food, clothing, weapons, black powder and shot.
Miria takes Sallrana's hand, shaking it courteously before removing her hand from Sallrana's to sign at her.
"Ah, I was a part in a very unfortunate accident a few years ago and Hawcroft logging has been very good to me, giving me a replacement jaw and tongue. It doesn't work just like real ones, but it does well enough. I wear this to keep from scaring the locals."
After she signs all of this, she looks closely at Sallrana to see if she's understood.
Forgive me - I should have introduced myself. I hope you won't think me rude, but I have been preoccipied with the briefing we have recieved. My name is "
"May I ask what your speciality is? I'm an Alchemist by training, and was the leader of my group - so I fear this disaster is upon my head."
::"If you don't mind my Misstrass did not understand what you just sighed, so if you don't mind she asked me to talk to you by means of your mind. I am HexQin, the small scrub like device on her shoulder, a device used by my owner Lady Silvermoon in situations like this. Please could you say that again but just think it this time, and I will pass it along to her. Do not worry I am not readying your mind, just talking to you this way, Miria, think-say and tell you her reply."""
::"Lady Silvermoon says , how very sad to hear, and she is happy to meet you as well, do we need to be mindful not to scare the locals, tips on dress and local culture she says will help."::
Has an item she is seeking, once the city info is up she will seek a seller of such items.
The small longboat-style transport that carries you to shore has to be rowed by you, but you manage to slip into a dock without much effort and the port authorities are all too distracted by the giant glowing gateway in the distance to pay too much attention to a small group of people with the correct passage papers (produced by Miria).
You stand on the easternmost dock of the city, the throng of boats around you in the water and the gates to the city proper a few hundred feet away. The warehouses around you are mostly packed with crates and fishnets, and although your clothing is not of the local style this is a port city - they see oddities all the time, the Orphan Sea connecting three distinct areas of cultural dominance as it does.
From what you can see the local dress code leans toward flowing, airy clothing - as Miria explains the mornings in this part of the world are warm, and although the evenings draw in fast due to the mountains in the west the climate ensures that the days are generally warm and comfortable. Weapons worn in th streets are permitted, but drawing one is a offence punishable by an on-the-spot fine - resistance or violence of any kind is met with swift justice at the hands of the city watch, and time in the local prison at the very least (although they are a little more lenient when it comes to fisticuffs and private property). From the looks of things there is a market district reasonably close by, with brightly coloured awnings and a lot of bustle - even the magical display from out in the water hasn't stopped the ever-moving bustle of commerce.
, you have rooms at an inn near the Clockspear Tower (a museum of outdated technologies and a building so tall it can be easily seen from most parts of the city), and it would be wise to make that a party meeting point later in the evening. In the meantime, you all have several hours to do as you please.
Jack sighs, and takes a big breath as if getting a run up on something
Sallrana, walks into her room and comes out moments later, with local clothing and dos not seem to be carrying any for, of weapon. She looks quit plain.
"I will be going to the magic bazaar to see what's there, I'll be back at dusk."
Miria starts when she hears Hexqin's voice in her head, but decides that communicating this way will be less of a hassle (and decidedly less embarrassing) than trying to speak or use hunter's cant with Sallrana.
::"Ah, I was a part in a very unfortunate accident a few years ago and Hawcroft logging has been very good to me, giving me a replacement jaw and tongue. It doesn't work just like real ones, but it does well enough. I wear this to keep from scaring the locals.":: At her question she shakes her head, ::"This is a port town, they get plenty of oddities, just don't pull your weapons out on anyone."::
After Sallrana moves on, she signs to Jack:
After she finished signing to Jack she pulled down the mask on the bottom half of her face. Her ceramic jaw was rather frightening to see, making the bottom half of her face look like something from an android. 'I need to let them know to meet me at the Clockspear Tower. Might as well get this over with.'
"Puleez meet meh at theh Culock-shpear Towah at duthsk."
::Miss Miria, her ladyship asks, would you mind accompanying her into the Bizzar area, she's looking for a mystic item vender, a good gun shop, then do they have such a thing as a academy of science here, would you know where such shops and such are?.::
heading off into the city, She has a lot to do and little time, the 1st thing is picking up the local culture, she says little but lissons to what's being said, clothing ways of moving and interacting, then she heads into the bazaar true, seeking out what she's looking for and a few other things, it's all going to have to be off the shelf, no time to get things made. But looking for a good gun shop is a priority.
There are three main districts that are local to you and of interest - Clock-Spear (a pace of inns, museums and guild-houses), the Bazaar (a thronging marketplace with people and stalls from all over the territories linked by the orphan sea) and the Docks (where people are gathered and speculating about the impressive light-show going on out at sea).
Nobody is looking at you.
Sure, they see you - and you're a big guy, they give you a wide berth as you walk don tighter streets - but when children notice your size, they don't balk of point. There's no fear in their eyes as they meet your gaze, and when you see others of your kind they nod at you, not a shred of curiosity showing regarding your increased bulk.
And when you search for armour that will fit you, you find more than you bargained for.
At the docks work goes on still - trade stops for nothing here - but all of the workers who can afford to are taking one long extended smoke break, crowding the edges of the port or climbing the rigging of nearby ships to get a decent view of the unstable gateway as it spits and crackles in the distance. Even now, hours after you inadvertently created it (or those around you did, anyway...), it sends arcs of energy out that light up the sea for hundreds of feet. Some people are whispering or openly speculating as to who might be responsible, whereas others mumble that it might be some kind of natural event... though the second group have a little less conviction than the first.
The Clock-Spear Tower stands at the centre of a district of high-roofed houses, most of them seeming to be museums and meeting-places rather than actual homes. There are various inns around, several of them with doors little larger than normal.
The district also contains a guild of alchemists and chirurgeons, a museum of outdated technologies and techniques, and a large amount of street vendors offering maps and local trinkets, barely any of them worth more than a few silver.
The bazaar is a riot of colour and noise, hemmed in by high walls and full of the scents of exotic perfumes and spices, unfamiliar and heady. If news of the disturbance in the sea to the north has reached the people here they show no worry about the fact, shouting and haggling with reckless abandon.
Of the stalls several catch your eye...
+ A shaded store run by a pale-skinned man offers exotic weapons and training sessions for those interested - the range of blades and hammers behind him is impressive, including some that you've genuinely never even seen before.
+ A store run by a trio of female pirate-types sells all manner of exotic poisons and a few armaments made of coral, bleached wood, and the spines and teeth of deep-sea creatures.
+ A local healer offers poultices and herbs gathered from the surrounding forests, at what he describes as 'special local prices'.
+ One of the stalls is incredibly popular, offering 'genuine magical accoutrements and sundry goods'. The owner is a mustachioed elf in rather tattered finery.
(, any alchemical supplies you're after would be found through interacting with the guild in the Clock-Spear district, and the same goes for your unusually-shaped armour.)
Miria wanders around the town, letting the party get whatever they need. She inclines her head at those who greet her, signing at the ones who understand Hunter's Cant.
"How are you today? ... I'm well, thank you for asking. You seem rather worried, is everything alright?"
After she finishes her conversation with some of the locals, she looks out to the sea.
'Well, that isn't good.'
She wanders about some more, looking at all of the items, including the 'magical' ones.
She scoffs at the folly of these items, and walks away, not doing anything to the seller or his goods. She still has plenty of time to kill before meeting up with everyone at the Clock-spear Tower. She spots an eating establishment and makes her way inside to people watch.
Sallrana go's around the bazaar taking her time at each stall, she is dressed as a courtesan.
offers exotic weapons and training sessions for those interested- the range of blades and hammers behind him is impressive, including some that you've genuinely never even seen before.
Sallrana walks up looking like a typical sailer. She looks over the blades, seeking any elven blades, then asks the stall holder,
"Any Adamantine rope darts? And I want to pay ammunition price, no saying it's a full weapon if you please, also is there a academy of science here in the city, or library young man.?"
If he has the dart at ammunition price she will buy it 65 if not she will bid him good day.
sells all manner of exotic poisons and a few armaments made of coral, bleached wood, and the spines and teeth of deep-sea creatures.
Looks over there goods, looking for a rapier
"Do you have any shells for a pistol?
offers poultices and herbs gathered from the surrounding forests, at what he describes as 'special local prices'.
Looks over his items, seeking any thing that stands out as good for the price
Looks for 2 QLWs
"Your items look fine, I would like 2 small healing potions please, let us talk price to see if I shall by them"
One of the stalls is incredibly popular, offering 'genuine magical accoutrements and sundry goods'. The owner is a mustachioed elf in rather tattered finery.
Sallrana go's to the last shop keep dress as a courtesan she has her dagger out on her belt.
"Well good day sir, some fines items, and some fine jests, nuts wile away the hours, seeing locals turned blue like that poor fellow, or grow a pigs tail. I myself am looking for a coursed item that changes ones gender, My idea is to play a trick on an ex lover of mine, but you know I was looking to find something more, reliable, you would not happen to know where I could get such items most of all I have been looking of late looking for an item to alter once look as needed, again fun with lovers comes to mind."
"I see, I do so hope this is not a simple boorish bait and trap for the local rogues guild, you know the old gag, "come to the old where house later, meet the real fence. " kind of thing. It can be so dull, to find said fence needs new stoke and is looking at your items for the task. It would be such a shame if that was to happen, I suspect the fence and his fellows may end up very ill after such an attempt. That's with out even talking of the consequences for the poor shop keep who sent a wise and quite ruthless buyer into such a fences hands. Don't you know. "
"But I now your not such a type, your far to gentslelfly for such boorishness crassness.and value your genitals far to much."
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perception
Intimidate
John then looks for a gunsmith shop.
Roger looks at the new addition to the group and introduces himself: "Hey, name's Roger. I unnerstand that you know your way around here. I'm lookin for a scholar who can tell me what's wrong with me. See, the operashion made me really big, and sometimes I get headaches, but they said it wasn't the operashion, so I need to find a smart guy to tell me what the score is. You know anyone like that?"
Miria's hands flutter in complex signs, apparently telling Roger how to find the scholars.
'I really hope he understands Hunter's Cant. No, he probably doesn't. Perhaps I should...'
Miria reaches into her pack, pulling out a journal and a piece of charcoal. She then proceeds to rip a piece of paper from the journal, and writes some directions on it, and drawing a very crude map on the back before handing it to him. There is a note at the bottom reminding Roger that everyone will meet at Clock-Spear Tower at sunset.