Phantom Limbs: Adrift on the Orphan Sea

Game Master TheLogicOfCrocodiles

Sallrana, although the pirate trio don't seem to take to you and turn you away no pistol-shells better off than you arrived with, you do manage to get a better look at the wares of the pale-skinned man.

He has a wide variety of weapons that you've heard of (although rarely seen), and claims that his assistants are proficient in the use of every one. On top of that he has two things you haven't seen before - a kampilan, a split-hilted longsword that he tells you comes from the heights of the mountains, and a Tyskera raiding hook (a grappling hook that seems to have serrated edges). He will happily give you a demonstration of them if you wish. He has the exotic weapons from the basic PFSRD, and additionally if you would like to suggest exotic weapons from third party sources it is possible he will have those - this last thing goes for anybody, and he really does have the skill to train you in them for a price. As for the two unique weapons, I'll wait for the demonstration to post the stats.

John - although you fail to find something that even vaguely resembles a traveller's tool, you do manage to find replacements for your lost or expended items you manage to find a rather impressive-looking store selling guns - it's far from the bazaar, in the shadow of the clock-spear tower, and looks more like an engineer's testing ground than an actual shop. You've managed to find replacement powder and shot from the market stalls with no problems, but this place looks like it carries a slightly higher level or product... As for the pearl of power, definitely a possible at the black market later tonight.

As you stand in the doorway, marveling at the craftsmanship of the weapons in the windows you notice two things - Roger, heading toward what looks a lot like a doctor's office, and Miria sitting alone at the outside tables of an eatery and inn. She notices you too, although Roger seems too distracted by his destination.

Roger, you stride toward the nearest place that looks like it might be able to help you, your head pounding, ignorant or the people around you. Stepping up to the door of the doctor's office you find it open, the interior brightly lit and too-whit. A pleasant looking lady behind a wooden desk smiles at you instinctively as you enter, her facade dropping as she sees your expression. 'Are you alright, sir?' she asks, genuine concern in her voice. You hear the creaking of a chair from the backroom and an elderly man pokes his head round the doorframe, looking you up and down.

Jack, your search through the bazaar leaves you with the majority of the objects you seek - everything, in fact, apart from somebody willing to sell you additional formulas. One of the larger alchemical dealerships (that happily furnishes you with oil and alchemist's fire) suggests that it might be an idea to wait for the return of Arnaud, something of a local hero when it comes to the ill-defined and esoteric arts. If he can't help you himself, he's almost sure to know somebody who can.

Miria, you manage to find a table at one of your favourite local spots, and have only been sitting there for about half an hour before you see John wandering around the area, stopping in front of the Grell Unbecoming, a local gunsmith of the highest caliber. Pun intended, because I'm a terrible person.

You have roughly two hours of game time before your meeting by the Clock-Spear.

Going to leave the pale-skinned man for spoilers, need to do some looking up

As Sallrana, has time until later to night and the back market, she go's looking for a gun shop and is surprised to find after asking around, John looking into a shop with a fine salutation of guns.

coming up behind him she says

"John, have you found any thing you like"

She is taking out her Revolver and gun case, ready to get replacements.

Roger will look down at the lady and say "I need someone who can tell me some stuff about what's happened to me recently. While I've always been a big guy, after I got surgery I woke up like this. The people who did the surgery say that it shouldn't have made me bigger, so I need someone to tell me what's going on."

Roger nods his head as if agreeing with himself that he didn't forget anything.

Roger, you're led into a surgery of sorts. The walls are decorated with poorly-printed anatomical charts for various races, but the instruments you see lying around are clean and the floor is well scrubbed. The elderly doctor introduces himself as Hathaway, and spends the next few minutes asking you as many questions he can think of about your symptoms before ordering you to remove your clothes and performing a thorough (but mercifully businesslike) examination.

He spends some time studying the graft on your back, noting the rawness of the skin around it but the apparent lack of associated pain, and minute after uncomfortable minute pass.

After what seems an age he allows you to dress and sit as he paces the room, muttering to himself. Just as your patience is beginning to reach breaking point he spins on his heel and addresses you.

'Tell me, young man... have you ever heard of psionics?'

there are some good pieces here, a little out of my price range. The powder supply and tools are good. I take it you have a gun cleaning kit? These are good kits if you don't.

John turns to look out into the street. Was that roger going to that doctors. Odd, I don't think he's sick. It is odd though. I remember him being...smaler when we first met. In a garden I think. With others? Damn this memory loss.

John turns to shallrana, after a quick look around to see that no one is close. He speaks quietly to her once the coast is clear.

@gun shop

"Yes I agree they are find kits, I may looks to improving parts in the one I have, I also need some more precaution caps and powderer.

She nods as John talks then go's to talking to his mind, so they are not over herd.

::"Yes that was Roger and I agree he seems to have gained some high. Even on a bed he was not that large. I surmise he's seeking a way to take away Hawcroft ability to remove out Prosthetics at will, some thing that was alluded to in out talk with them. Not a bad idea, that lug head is not as dumb as he looks or indeed acts."::

Pale Skinned Man
Realising that he is in the presence of an expert he asks "Do you have a weapon for stopping very big flying thing from flying away?"

Enormous Orc
Seeing the orc near as tall as him, Jack drops what he is doing an hurries over.
"Wait! Hello! Please talk to me!"
giving up he drops into Orcish
"Jeg håper du vil ikke tenke meg uhøflig, men jeg har ikke før sett noen av høyden din redde meg selv? Kan jeg spørre hvordan det er at du har kommet til å besitte slike uhyrlige? Du har mine unnskyldninger for klossete måte som jeg har introdusert meg selv!"

"sigh-on-iks? what sort of crazy, made up word is that?"

Pays got some gun equipments IN the ship.

"So John where to next"

::"There is a black market tonight, it's probably a trap but may not be, I'm looking for some items so will be going, I think it best you not, nbut outside, well that's another matter"::

Out loud john saysI guess to find some decent trail rations, and to see if abador has a church here. Some scrolls might be good. Then somewhere that serves a good meal. After all, it would be the first since my eyes were restored.

"I shall go with you John, most of my shopping is done, and it would be good to have company in a strange city. It also seems you gun gains you respect, I think we will be accosted if two of use where so armed."

She go's to a changing room and comes out dressed as a steam punk gun slinger, corset and crystal spine, laced boot, small pack pack, with skin tight pants showing if her figure. Her finely engraved gun belt and revolver hang on her hips, her boiler hat on at an anger, shaded glasses cover her eyes. All speak of style and class. She walks up to the counter.

"Thank you boys, and keep shooting strait you hear"

She pulls her revolver out and spins it before slipping it back into its holster. Picking up her gun items and paying for them, She small at the assistants and few customers in the gun shop before walking out. Jaws open behind her.

Jack, the pale-skinned man considers your request for a few moments before nodding tentatively.

'Normally I'd say no... but seeing as the efficacy of said potential weapon depends on the size of the user... well sir, without meaning to cause offence, in your case I'd say yes.' He rummages behind him and then shows you (with a little more flourish than necessary) a curious contraption that he identifies as a 'raiding hook'. It seems to be a sort of grappling hook edged with iron barbs, almost like a long-toothed bear-trap on the end of a rope. 'Of course, it would take me a day or two to come up with anything useful for a man of your... stature... but with a little increase in size and some chains to replace the rope, I'd dare say you could uproot a tree with one of these. - as long as you have an accurate throwing arm, of course.'

Roger, the doctor suppresses a slight chuckle. 'No dear boy, psionics - all one word, if you can believe it. It's a discipline of the mind, reasonably rare around these parts but studied with a sense of ferocity by those that can. It has the capacity to utilise parts of the brain that we don't even understand, and in particularly gifted individuals...' He continues to talk, getting further and further away from the topic of you as he does so - he'll continue until you interrupt him.

John, your trail rations are easily found... although your church is not. The city has several minor shrines, but these are dedicated to individual facets of positive character; you find a rather womanly representation of 'glory' to be particularly distasteful. You can, however, find yourself a hot meal - what kind of food are you and Sallrana looking for?

John of the wains always looks for steak! With the trimings! And Coke! LOL

John likes pretty much anything that's not an insect. But he looks for something a bit high class.

as her Ladyship is paying a nice inn or restraint,.

Spotting a small bistro where you can see the cooks working. It seems full of well dressed locals. She go's asking for a nice table, and a gold coin got her one. A nice treble over looking the street on the second floor. She ordered a light wine, fried mushrooms and noddles, steamed lobster or crab, fresh vegetable, any kind of roast bird, after fruit tart hot, with cream, or yoghurt and what ever John wishes to add.

She gets up to go to the water closet and comes back, stunningly dressed in a light summer outfit, Tasking HexQin to keep an eye on her bag she sits and after the food comes talks to John.

"This is not bad John. Next I think I shall see if this city has a science academy! but 1st have a look at this wonderfully crafted sword "

She brings out and shows him the Katana

A katana? Most impressive. Silken death I've heard them called. Not quite my thing but a fine weapon. Not exactly your style is it? May I?

if allowed john takes the blade and unsheafs it. Then John tests the sharpness with a piece of cloth, watching it cut without effort. He tests the balance and then resheafs it, and hands it back.

A very fine weapon. In the kingdom that would fetch a pretty price. How did you find it here? Oh wait, that weapon shop, with the pale fellow. Still, I prefer my pistol, or my mace.

John, Sallrana... it takes you a few moments to realise but the buzz of conversation from the eatery has stopped completely, eveybody there looking with disbelief at the lady in the summer dress and what they must assume is her bodyguard, with his weapon drawn, in the middle of a pleasant restaurant.

A serving boy calls out from the rear of the kitchen.

'Sir, if you could...' he gulps, audibly, 'If you could just sheathe the blade, that would be... that might be for the best, sir...'

Several of the diners around you look paused to run for cover, even though the katana is now out of your hands and sheathed.

She busted out laughing

::"Gosh no John, its not for use, its for my town house. It will look splendid on the wall next to the my mothers portrait in the Brown room. really John what kind of Woman do you take me for, no John please don't..."::

To late the sword is out.

'Sir, if you could...' he gulps, audibly, 'If you could just sheathe the blade, that would be... that might be for the best, sir...'

::"John place put the sword back in its sheath and hand it to me, I need to put it away. I need to take action now.::

She laughs then giggle with a "silly me" look on her face. thowing her hands up in the air, She gets up and taking the sword puts it away in her bag. Looking around at the others in the room she says,

"O Silly me, I am so terribly sorry dear proprietor and fellow eaters of course, my friend here was just admiring my new find, a very decorative piece of air nothing more, and soon to adorn my lovely house as obja-de-art, please forgive my crassness."

Performance1d20 + 8 ⇒ (5) + 8 = 13 to look an Air head

Diplomacy on the eaters1d20 + 8 ⇒ (4) + 8 = 12 to make light of the fo-pa

she sits back down, still looking like a air head and blushing, placing her head in her hands.

"I feel such a fool, I should have thought silly me"

::"Note to self John, we are back in civilisation now"::

She looks serous, hopping the others around will let it go at this, she gos on talking to john.

::"I Know we come from different parts of the civil service John and yes you where right back there. Mine is one that works in the darker places of a culture, but I'm not an assassin John. I like that sword for the craftsmanship that went into its making nothing more. As a weapon in real sword fight I pity the poor fool seeking to use it. A single edged slicing blade with little or no hilt. No, it verses my Elf Steel Damascus steal Repair. A bland that can cut with both sides, can thrust with a deadly tip and with a guard that can disarm. Much more deadly, piratical and civilised. I am not only be talking about the blade John, if ever the Inelegance core has a true motto John its is that, we are trained to be deadly, piratical and civilised. Where as your branch is Just, Honest and Harsh. The Hammer to our Blade."::

She sips her wine.

The diners and staff seem to accept your explanation and go back to their meals, but there are a lot of looks shot your way throughout the rest of your stay there, and a lot of whispered conversations where people 'just happen' to indicate the pair of you in some way.

To be honest, if you'd done it in a pub you'd probably have just gotten a 'watch where you're pointing that thing', but you did choose a nice upscale place to eat...

Roger interrupts the doctor: "but what's that gotsta do wit me?"

i see you point, well they sat back down that's what matters, a bit of gossip is always good over lunch, and now gives her a profile on the scene, albeit a reputation of being da
mysteries and dangerous, but that's not to the bad.

She looks at the dinners as they point, She nods at one elderly man pointing there way, and a few others! looking at them with a smile polity.

::"I made a mistake showing you that blade here, we now seem the subject of gossip. The strange couple eating lunch and waving swords around. One would not do that normally, There is a thing, call social engineering, the altering and changing of a culture. Case in point, I just waved a strange and exotic sword around this fine eatery. Illogical to most of the dinners here, but let's make what I just did logical to them, let them see this event as the start of a trend. Let me illustrate." ::

Sallrana sits back then in a louder voice, projected so that others around can hear.

"It's a wonderful pice John and will be the perfect gift for my Brothers collection of rare and unusual weaponry, he's such a collector. I'll tell him the name you said it was called and the fact your happy it's not a fake. One can never be to carful with spending that much coin on a collectible item, I think all in all a good investment and such rare items never lost money. They only ever go up in value."

She lets that hang in the air, wealth and money like nothing better than to know what the next trend in investments may be.

::Now my having you with me and waving a sword around is not so illogical, in fact, the idea I just placed in the minds of the dinners here, people of influence may
take hold, rare swords are hot, buy, invest, and say in a day or two, even a week or year I could sell that sword for a profit.::

She moves on to her fruit tart, she dos not eat much, but elves never do.

::But john fun with the locals aside, John I foresee soon we may have bigger problems, the gateway. Right now the main subject most here are walking about was not us but the gateway that's come into being. What is it? Where did it come from? Is it a danger? The powers that be here will be being asked the very same things, but they will have added, why is it growing?. You did note the ice sheet was expanding John, as we left, well trust me it was. The sea is freezing over, slowly yes but it's growing. Now the powers that be here, They will have all ready started to look into what it is, this magic light display, 'who did it' will be top of there list, and that's going to soon become a problem for us. They will be investigating, and at some point that will lead them to the ship, seen exiting the location when the event happened, then to Hawcroft and us. Any crew member can point out us, and given coin or the rack will, so we best be ready when it happens"::

She gives him time to think on what she just said.

John looks around with a little surprise a the patrons reaction. He frowns at the serving boy lad if I was going to start slicing and dicing I don't think I would be doing it here. Off with you. And don't you good folk have things to be doing? Johns glowing blue eyes coldly stare at the room. Then with a sudden snap he sheafs the blade with a loud, ominous click.

intimidate: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (13) + 9 = 22

Then hands it back to shallrana, ignoring the customers. A shame to see such a fine weapon on a wall, but it would look fine there.

Nervous bunch. Wouldn't last five minutes in the wild. Besides I have a reputation to maintain. John dismisses the other patrons from his notice, As his attention leaves them a audible sigh of relief echos from the crowd.

so do you think hawcroft will try to pin the gate on us? Seems to be something they would do.

sorry gatsby, about the minor rewrite, it what john would do. If you don't like it just ignore.

Say says this so other can hear,

"John your scaring the them, but its good to know your good at you job, one feels so safe with you around"

::"I have to go on the idea that this reality is very close to my own, near identical in fact. In mine the ones behind this little experiment where Marshall Wellness Corporation. But here they seem to be linked with Hawcroft corp. The odd thing was the rep back on the ship. I read PSI-profile report on Ueno Hawcroft and he was no to keep at all on Psionics most of all any that read minds being in his organisation. It seems his adopted daughter Theria whos now running the show in all but name is not of the same way of thinking. I was mind-wiped, that BS about our shunt going wrong was just that. They whipped us, not well but they did and then dumped us out in he open. This makes me thing there is a group at play here inside the Marshall Wellness Corporation and Hawcroft with there own agenda. That Gateway coming into being my no in fact have been an accident it could have been there intent all along. I did not get a good look at that Device they used, but I do know such things can be rigged to fail. When I asked that I be allied to go back and close the gate, they just ignored me. I dont thing the wish it closed at all. They wish us out the way now we have done our job, that story about exploring an remote Ireland. That to just sounds off, that 'could' have be been the testing ground for us, but look where we are now. That rep knows a lot more John than he's letting on and he's mind shielded. I just get the feeling there is more than one agenda at play here. So yes I think they may have sent us here to be the fall guys for the gate event. That argument was real so, it could be something has gone wrong. This way we act as a distraction wile they stay safe at sea trying to work out what to do next. I feel this is right as its what I would have done in their position"::

John, no problem - rewrite was good.

John and Sallrana, your combined attempts at explanation and intimidation are a success. Although many of the diners are now scared of you the conversation and rumour-mongering have ceased, and you're sure that several of the wealthier patrons are now quietly wondering whether they're missing out on a new trend in home decoration... or how much it would cost to hire someone like John as a bodyguard.

Either way, you continue your meal in peace.

Roger, the doctor tries to explain, as best he can, that you yourself may actually have some sort of latent psionic potential that is now coming to light. Affecting the size and strength of your body is something that he personally has no clue about, but he can tie the rest of your symptoms to a psionic awakening event.

Pays the bill 12gp and gets up to go.

"Shall we go John, things to do and all that"

::"I think a walk over to see how Roger is doing may be in order, you never know he may have found out help us with our implants"::

John laughs out loud, a sharp bark of a laugh. Its possibly the first laugh he has made in sometime. All of the customers clench at the sound, relaxing once they understand he is amused by something. Relief fills the bistro as he walks out the door. Relief removed as his voice echoes back with you know I quite liked that place. I'll have to come back sometime
Walking out with Shallrana he thinks at her Roger? I'm the one who believes in miracles, shallrana. We had a discussion on it once. Or at least with your counterpart. Did you have the same talk? I wonder if your conclusions were the same. Still we better check on him.

Roger blinks for a second then says "So I can blow things up with my mind?"

Walks to the doctors office where Roger went, and up to the stall where they can see Roger, large form talking to a doctor type. she waves at Roger and the take sets in the office.

"I think we best take a seat, John I'll get HexQin to ask Roger what he's found out"

Then shifting mind link she talks to Roger.

::"Hello Roger this is HexQin, I am with the lady Sallrana siting just out in the waiting area, you know the one you like to call Nob. Im talking into you head, I am sorry if it makes you a bit shocked but she asked me to. Mam asks would you be so kind as to tell us what this nice doctor has said about your implants?"::

::He said that I can blow up things with my mind!::

Looks a bit shocked

"It seems the doctor may be a quack John, he just told Roger he blows things up with his mind! that is unless Roger is some kind of Psionicly gifted which a seriously doubt."

She has a chat with HexQin

::"Master Roger sir, mam has hashed me to ask you to ask the doctor about your implants, she wants to know if they are safe and most of all long lasting.::

Turning to the doctor, Roger says "I think you're right! I can hear a voice in my brain asking me to ask you about the implants on my back. The voice wants to know if they're long-lasting and safe."

The doctor looks confused for a few moments. 'I don't think that's generally how it works...' he mutters, but then seems to snap to attention. 'Your implant, yes. Damn clever - whoever gave you that is on the cutting edge of medicine, I don't doubt. A stabilised mixture of negated ooze clinging to a shell-structure to ensure that it keeps shape, and bonded with the muscles and nerves in your back in order to (as best I can see) bypass your spine entirely. Fascinating work...'

'But not permanent, of course. The more mechanical parts will stay, no problem, but the ooze will denature after a time, or possibly solidify. It may even regain some of its more... dangerous... natural properties. It could be prevented, or at least delayed, with further applications of whatever agents the creator used to treat the mixture in the first place... but I have no idea what that might be. Looks like you've got a good while without problems to go though - weeks at the very least, most probably more.'

Jack accepts the pale-skinned man's deal, and offers to shake on it.

He will revisit the Alchemists tomorrow, hopefully he can meet this hero they talk of.

As for the orc
"I will come." he answers, casting a careful glance at the sun-shadows to estimate time.

The pale-skinned man shakes your huge hand enthusiastically, and then leaves the stall in the charge of some of his attendants as he begins work right away.

Jack, you have maybe half an hour until you should meet the others.

"Must be quick. Back at..." he mimes the sun's position in half an hour.

The large orc looks crestfallen, and he shakes his head.

'Tomorrow' he says to you in careful common, and points to the distant mountains, miming a rising sun, before pointing at his feet. You think you can understand his meaning, Jack...

Jack nods.
tomorrow morning, I assume?

You got it.

Roger will learn everything he can about his "newfound" abilities and ask "So did the surgery make me this way?"

'It's a possibility, I suppose... this kind of procedure is not the kind of thing I see every day. Although I would assume you had some sort of latent ability, and the surgery... well, 'activated' you in some way.'

Roger thinks really hard you can almost hear the hamster getting a heart attack! and says "So, what kinda psionics can I do then? besides hear other people's voices in my mind, I mean."

The doctor laughs pleasantly.

'Would that I could tel you, young man, but I can't. For that you'd need to find another of your kind, one with experience. They would be able to give you far greater detail than I. Until then, I recommend that you simply focus yourself, mentally, when attempting the same kind of things you do every day.' The doctor looks over you critically. 'Which, unless I've missed my mark, would appear to be things of a violent persuasion. Not that I'm judging, of course.'

Roger chuckles and says "I prefer threats of violence instead of actual violence. It's more fun, and I don't have to work up a sweat doing it."

You know I'm a little a sea at the moment, as I had a train of thought roleplaying vs shallrana and now she's gone from the plot. I think I'll pick up at the night market as I try to find a pearl of power. I still want to have intimidated an entire restaurant though, LOL

No problem John, but probably better to meet at the Clockspear - We'll assume that you left the restaurant and you and Sallrana went your separate ways.

On the subject of the Clock-spear, everybody please take your last action and then meet there. when you've all posted that you're on your way, we'll get things going again.

What does the doctor want for his help, anyway? whatever it is (within reason), I'll pay it. Then I'm gonna wander over to the clockspear tower to meet with the group.

Roger, the doctor wants nothing material - but he does ask you to come back again before you leave the town, as he thinks that a study of your augmentation by some of his peers could be mutually beneficial.

I can do that =)