Obi will look to see who all is armed at this particular dinner, as well as what topics are seemingly taboo or less than favored, for the various ones at the table.
(Ooc) what topics of conversation are the non party members bringing up? Boneduece in particular and the Lieutenant?
Viscount Senegar Deepwarder's niece and several of the other people's children are leaving on an expedition tomorrow so there is much talk about that. Also the talk about the lieutenant commander leaving today. Some ask several of you how you captured the evil doers? As for how people are armed, the gentlemen wear rapiers at least most of them. None as fancy as Bonedeuce's.
After the meal Gregory will be brought his violin and he will perform for the group. He is well skilled at it. He only plays the classics, however. He asks Silas if he would like to perform a tune himself.
At some point during the meal, Beth asks Gregory Boneduce about the dragon smoke smuggles. "Thank you for your welcome, commandant. Did you manage to get information by interrogating the smugglers we captured? Did they tell you where they keep their goods and how well it is defended? Otherwise, more of them will just come in and sell their poison again."
Morgan attempts to subtly charm all - ladies and gentlemen and any children present with his "simple yet honorable native scout" persona. He talks down the actual specifics of the jetty battle, allowing only that the official forces were "mighty fine men" and that "we couldn't have done it without them - and my sturdy brother here" indicating the beaming and gregarious Sandman….
Obi decides he will try to schmooze as well, and show his equally savage friend how its really done.
"But you mustn't forget to tell all the wonderful parts too." Obi stays away from gorey but makes it as heroic sounding as Obi truly believes it to be, congratulating folks he believes would have had a hand in the proper training or whose command the people were under.
Morgan is impressed despite himself by Obi's loquaciousness and crowd pleasing tale-telling. He cannot help a scowl where specifics are mentioned, especially anything relating to Tiki...
Tiki beams proudly wherever his part in the exploits is divulged and made heroic by Obi, much to Morgan's consternation.
Obi manages to impress the table. Bonedeuce makes it clear that his inquisitor will get all the information he needs in time.
Sandman spends most of his time eating and laughing and eating some more, his grin never leaving his face.
Silas smiles at Bonedeuce as he offers to play a tune. "Of course, Commandant, I would be delighted." With a flourish of his fingers his Kit Fiddle is summoned into his hands. He waits for the tale of derring do to be finished and embroidered and then at a suitable point breaks out into a tune.
Morgan catches the lilt of an old, log forgotten reel in Silas' playing.
He closes his eyes, transported to another place, a childhood in another place, fog-shrouded and bustling - a smoky tavern and the smell of food not too dissimilar to this set before him - and a seat at his father's side, a father long lost to the sea that now claims him.
He remembers his place and opens his eyes, but cannot resist humming along, his voice breaking out as he sings along. He cares not for the niceties of decorum, this music is in his veins, his blood, his people.
It has been a long time, and although he almost forgets a word or two here and there, he is proud to realize he has not truly forgotten who he once was, or how he came to be here.
Bonedeuce plays as if it were single combat, just besting Silas without the aid. He smiles when Morgan aides him to perform just slightly better.
Unable to add to the festivities of the playing and singing, Jequette will politely excuse herself to stroll on to the porch or veranda staying within ear shot of her companions. To herself, "Oh, how happy mother would be today. If I had only paid closer attention to the dance and singing lessons and less time in the books. But all that would have done is land a husband and I too would have become property. I have my freedom and knowledge."
"Well played, Commandant. We should play again another time."
After two hours the meal is over and the guests take their leave. Bonedeuce again thanks you for your assistance with the smugglers and tells you that he will contact you if he is need of your assistance again.
Beth bows out, relieved to get back outside. Waiting for the guests to disperse, she whispers to her companions. "Back to the grubby world. I guess we've got a heavy package to deliver."
As they start to make their way back surreptiously towards the Barnacle Silas quietly comments to the others, "I don't think the Commandant likes us very much. I may have to look at embarrassing him in a duel."
Morgan walks casually, buoyed up by a little wine and a lot of food. "Well, the banquet tasted beautiful!
With the battle of instruments over, Jequette will ask the others if they were ready to depart and go back to the chapter house. If the banquette is truly finished...Jequette will graciously thank our host for the hospitality ensuring that each is addressed by name, rank and some small detail to ensure that they know she embraced the social gathering attentively.
"Maybe it's better if we do not all get into the building. If you keep watch outside, Silas and I can go and get the package", proposes Beth looking for a shop to buy a linen to wrap the dwarf in.
Morgan has little idea of the machinations at work here.
We want to know who he worked for and who comprises the leaders of the Ring.
"He might know the rat bone wearing half-caste that stole the Tulita jawbone perhaps - or location of said ne'erdowell?"
1. Who told you to kill or despose of Archibald Noellis?
2. Give us all the names of people who you know to belong to the Ring of the Kraken?
3. What is the name of a rat bone wearing half Tulita?
Trying to get questions as specific as we can be because I do so love how they might be misinterpreted :)
Leaves us with one question. I suspect that depending on answers to the first two we may want a different second two.
1 He was an ugly human
2 Ring? What ring?
3 Rat bone? What do I know of Tulita?
Sorry, all I needed was an average roll.
Morgan is not impressed b the attempt to wrest information from Barrett's corpse.
"Hmmph. The dead should not be disturbed. We didn't need his information anyway - most likely he would have lied. Let us make plans to approach the cove's cove."
"It was worth the try. Let's return him to his acid jar and discuss the next steps. We may need to buy a few things."
Returning to the vat room and making sure everyone masks up to deal with the fumes Silas looks to disable the secret door to avoid anybody interrupting when they deal with Barnett and the half orc.
"The cove looks like our next logical step, whilst we keep looking for the location of this jawbone thief."
A crowd of onlookers gathers by a pier on the Fort Stormshield side of the docks. Whispers of “Falken Drango!” and “They caught that bloodthirsty killer at last,” and “I can’t wait to see the bastard swing,” rush through the throng. Twin three-masted war galleys manned by the blue coats of the Municipal Dragoons make their way toward port.
After they dock, a contingent of Dragoons hustles down the gangplank and clears a path through the curious onlookers.
"From what I recall we heard rumors that he was a pirate of quite notable repute, who had gone mad and murdered his own crew."
Opening her eyes and ears, Beth tries to understand the feeling of the crowd. Are they just interested, revolted by the man?
Falken Drango is a renown pirate and is rumored to have killed his own crew. As for the mood of the crowd, many want to see him hang, others are there just as spectators.
Is anyone going down to investigate what is going on?
Moving through the crowd, Beth tries to get as close as possible to the front row to see the captured pirate.
Morgan is always interested in colonial spectacle, as it reinforces his basic mistrust and dislike of his former life.
Where they make a wasteland, they call it law
A Dragoon escorts a tall wiry man, his hair in
long black braids adorned with gold and silver bands.
The prisoner sports an unkempt beard crusted with
blood, most likely from the numerous cuts about
his face. Though badly beaten, his eyes retain a
sharpness and fierce intensity. Another Dragoon
appears behind him, prodding the prisoner with
the shaft of his short spear. The man flashes his
captor a feral grin, earning himself a sharp jab from
the spear’s haft to his teeth. The captive stumbles
and spits a mouthful of blood out onto the crowd
below, which withdraws with yelps, as if the man
rained acid upon them. Heavy iron manacles clapped
about his wrists jangle with every step he takes down
the gangplank.
A lieutenant greets the Dragoons as they descend
to the docks, and they salute sharply. “At ease.”
The lieutenant regards the prisoner coldly, “Well,
the infamous Falken Drango. Now we can add
the murder of your own crew to your ample list of
crimes. Do you have anything to say for yourself?”
The lieutenant obviously enjoys the eyes of the crowd
on him as he confronts Falken Drango.
“Just one thing you ought to know, ye lordship…
these manacles are a bit loose.”
The pirate’s manacles clatter to the deck at the
dumbfounded Dragoons’ feet, and the pirate’s fist
cannons into the lieutenant’s head. The officer drops
like stone in water and the pirate bolts through
the crowd.
Do you aid the pirate in his escape, the dragoons or just watch?
"Want to try something ?", says Beth, putting her hood on and moving back through the crowd parallel to the escapee, "If he's innocent, he will make a good ally and if not we can always bring him back."
While moving, she reaches into her pocket and, holding her Pyxes of redirected focus, she concentrates on the wisps of fog coming from the sea.
"Well if our priest is going that way who am I a loyal servant of Quell to argue?"
Silas moves ready to head after the escapee to allow us to talk to him once he's free.