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Looks like it's smooth sailing into the harbor of Genzai. The harbormaster will ask for a tribute to his high shoguness, but other than that you are free to bop around
She just lets me play captain really, its good for my ego :P
I understand, I'm married. When we married it was decided that I would make the important decisions and she would make the minor decisions, do you know in nearly 20 years there hasn't been any major decisions
"So what kind of alcohol do the Tian drink? I'm A bit curious to see how strong it is compared to...say Anduran Brandy or Chelish wine."
So are they actually part of the Shackles, and the Pirate nation itself, or are they just a little apart from all of that?
You know I could not dig anything else up on them besides what i posted earlier. I assume they pretty much keep to themselves and as long as you pay the shogun, follow the law and don't have slaves. You should be OK
Randall stretches his legs as he disembarks. He'll follow Ashlei to the nearest tavern "First rounds on me." he says "I wonder if they have decent Mu Shu Pork?"
Rhialla spends much of the journey keeping track of the ship's equipment and stores, as well as endearing herself to the crew, doing her best to convince the newer members that the crew of the Bounty, and it's Captain especially, carry Besmara's favor.
Rhialla spends much of the journey keeping track of the ship's equipment and stores, as well as endearing herself to the crew, doing her best to convince the newer members that the crew of the Bounty, and it's Captain especially, carry Besmara's favor.
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You all are free to go shopping and whatever piratey stuff you feel like
Percy with rolls like that you find an armory full of fighters. They have zero interest in your magicky stuff
You can get either one or both Neela
Defeated, Captain Locke lies tied up, glaring hatred at all of you. Before Randall can get his spell off she produces a pufferfish spine from a false tooth and quickly swallows it. Flakes of foam appear on her lips as she convulses violently on the deck before she falls still, dead.
Searching her lifeless body you find a masterwork rapier, 2 masterwork daggers, a silver headband studded with small red and orange gemstones, an amulet made of bone and silver, and a shark shaped brooch made of a strange blue-black metal.
Randall scans her gear for any signs of magic and finds that the Rapier is magical as well as the headband and amulet. Examining the brooch Randall begins to feel a little uneasy as he is drawn in by it's whorls of color. Shaking his head he snaps out of it.
The metal is known as Deep Platinum and is virtually unheard of above by those living on land. It is actually mined from platinum deposits in the deepest ocean trenches, where it is tainted by exposure to poisonous deep sea vents called “black smokers.” Only aboleths, krakens, or even stranger creatures of the ocean depths can recover this metal from these fathomless trenches. On land, deep platinum has the same value as normal platinum, but it is of inestimable value to undersea races such as the sahuagin, who often ascribe religious or magical qualities to the rare metal.
The amulet is an Amulet of Natural Armor +2
The headband is a Headband of Alluring Charisma +2
During their search of the Thresher Randall and Rhialla find, hidden in a secret compartment of the map table in the captain's quarters, a brass astrolabe. Intrigued as to why this would be hidden away Randall casts another detect magic only to have his suspicions verified as the item radiates magic.
Unlike the heavy cast-brass mariner’s astrolabes normally used at sea, this astrolabe is of the more common type found on land (Pathfinder RPG Advanced Player’s Guide 185), made of flat discs of brass. The famed navigator-astrologer Svingli of Morm, a drowned settlement of old Lirgen, was said to have sacrificed her eye to the instrument to grant her knowledge of things beyond mortal sight, thus giving the astrolabe its name.
In addition to an astrolabe’s normal +2 circumstance bonus, Svingli’s Eye grants a further +2 competence bonus on Knowledge (geography), Profession (sailor), and Survival checks when used to navigate on land or sea. Once per day, the user can make a DC 20 Perception check while using Svingli’s Eye as a move action to catch a glimpse of how things really are for 1 round, as if with a true seeing spell. While using the astrolabe’s true seeing ability, the user can also see through concealment caused by smoke or fog and gains a +10 competence bonus on Perception checks to spot hidden or disguised creatures or objects.
At the month's end Captain Percival bids goodbye to his "wife" and he and the crew of the Besmara's Bounty set sail for the Sublime Shogunate of Ushinawa. After five day at sea the Bounty enters the harbor of the capital "city", Genzei, where you are met by a Tian junk sporting real cannons. After being boarded and agreeing to a tribute large enough to satisfy both the harbormaster and the Shogun's honor you are allowed to dock.
Calling Genzei a city is actually a disservice to others worth the name. The City of Lanterns is home to almost 1,500 people making it more like a small town than anything else, but don't tell them that. Once docked you are free to explore the city at your leisure.
"Deep Platinum..." - the half orc grunts - "Where the hell did they found that? I heard only aboleths, krakens, or even stranger creatures of the ocean depths can recover this..." - he turns it around in his hands for a while - "This will be worth a fortune if we have to deal with any undersea race"
Randall casts another Detect Magic and studies the items from Captain Locke's body.
Holding up the amulet he says "This will magically toughen your skin, making like an animal's hide." Handling the Headband he let's out a low whistle "This little beauty will enhance your natural allure, making you more charming." Finally concentrating on the astrolabe his eyes widen "I've heard of this one. It's called Svingli's Eye. Rumor has it that the famous astrologer Svingli of Morm gave up one of her eyes to create this astrolabe to give her insight into things unknown. Since I've never heard of her being blind I'm going to assume that this is a one of kind item."
"Good to know, though that knowledge should stay with officers only. Don't need someone getting overly ambitious do we?" Rhialla says with a chuckle, taking in the deep platinum. "You should take the headband Randall, increasing your power to charm others will only help to keep us all alive....and probably garner quite a bit of loot too."
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In the city he certainly did his best to take in the sights, preferably with Rhialla at his side. he kept his eyes out for anything exotic that would benefit the ship. (be it from silken sails to crazy weaponry yeah i've watched too many old movies)
Still debating the rock, he did wonder if there would be a way to set up a real small town there, and establish trade routes, merchants, having a home port to repurpose ship captures and the like would be nice, but then again his thinking might be a too grand for their current status.... Nice to dream about it though.
"Raw fish?" Randall says in reply to Neela's food choice "No thank you. I've had my fill of raw fish back aboard the Wormwood, before you washed up. Although I must say you've had quite the, shall we say, sobering effect on old Fishguts. As for me, I prefer something fried but I'll be more than happy to accompany you on your culinary journey," he says as he offers his arm for Neela to take "Perhaps we can see what this city has to offer, together?"
As you leave the harbor strings of continual lit lanterns stretch between poles along the main road giving Genzei it's nickname, The City of Lanterns. Reaching the "city" center you see a large pagoda-like temple to Irori that dominates the village square. Further up, the road ends at a pair of wooden gates built into solid looking stone wall, a Tian style fortress just visible above it's bulwark.
Roadside stands line the street from the harbor to the square selling various local dishes and sweetmeats, each in their own bowls along with some local eating utensils known as "chopsticks". A couple of stands serve a liquor called "Sake", a rice based alcohol served warm in small porcelain cups.
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"You know come to think of it, im not sure what Ol'Fishguts real name is. If you've a moment Neela as you are exploring the place see if you cant find some better equipment for the galley, You've spent time there and I wouldnt know the first thing to look for.
You've seen a lot Randall, Rhialla, What is the proper protocol for a visiting captain? Do we send a gift to the ruler, pretend like we are normal visitors and go about our business? I dont mean to offend by trying to recruit a few more able seaman for some lord or lady of the isles to take offence and try hunting us down."
He began as he took in the differing exotic locale.
Randall thinks for a moment "I'd say that unless we were on some sort of diplomatic mission or some infamous pirate lord we wouldn't be allowed past those gates" he says, pointing to the pair of gates at the end of the main road. "Let's just enjoy the shore leave and get back to finding Captain Wolfe's treasure as soon as we can."
"Ive dealt with a lot of costumes but not to many of the Tien based ones unfortunately , love." Rhialla replies after a few moments' thought.
Smirking, Ashlei shakes her head.
"Saki! I have a feeling it would be as bad as it sounds."
Randall, with Neela and Ashlei with him, orders a bowl of some noodle dish and a cup of the rice wine "Well, sake to me." he says as he knocks back the potent potable. Gasping, he signals the vendor for another cup ass he tries to figure out how to use the chopsticks he was given. Unable to figure them out he asks "Who eats with broken sticks, anyway?' as he tips the bowl and slurps some of the noodles and broth. The abashed vendor shakes his head and mutter something that sounds like "Gaijin" as he pours another cup of sake.
Smiling blissfully Ashlei will sample the sake generously.
"Have you tried this stuff warmed up? Its GREAT!"
While a little too loud and stepping a tad awkwardly now, Ashlei asks for another couple of cups of the warmed sake.
Herzag stands back, and simply watches over his fellow companions indulge themselves from the shadows of an open tent flap.
Percival's search finally pays off as he finds a wizened old wizard who is willing to train him in the rudiments of magic, but before he does he hands the captain a piece of paper and tells him to read it and sign on the bottom. Confused, Percival reads what appears to be a shopping list and signs his name. Taking the list the wizard looks Percival up and down "Good, good. At least you can read and write. You not as dumb as you look. I teach you enough magic to get you started, where you go from there is up to you. It'll take you one week," he looks Percival over once again "maybe longer, and I charge you...500 gold for the privilege to learn from me. We begin tomorrow. Be here early."
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"A week? I spent some time at the academies back home with some studies in the arcane, at this moment I'm afraid I will have to decline... unless you would be willing to take a short trip aboard my ship Mister?..."
He half counteroffered.
"We have a bit of a date with some foolish old captains backup treasure to acquire... I thought some arcane training would be handy cant always rely on our witch you know."
He added
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At the man's just look he couldnt help but smile and shake his head.
"Here early then, Agreed. It was worth the attempt to kill two birds with one stone."
He added before he thanked the man, now he just had to find someone maybe to upgrade the galley, he had to find a smith and commision some silvered spiked guantlets as crew rewards, and get his lovely rhialla one of those silky looking dresses he had seen ladies walking about in..... and well training to boot.
The week goes by uneventfully as Percival studies magic under his teacher's intense eyes. At the end of the seven days the Captain finishes his tutelage and emerges with a newfound knowledge of the arcane arts and a brand new spellbook.
Soon after the shore leave ends and the Bounty hauls anchor and sets sail to Mancatcher Cove. It's a short sail to the archipelago detailed on the map and you soon see the entrance to the cove on the island chain's westernmost island. The islands themselves are almost sheer rock faced cliffs, stretching anywhere from 20 to 60 feet high, with a few small beaches where erosion has ground down the rocks. Each island is crowned with thick jungle growth and you can hear a tribe of howler monkey issue a challenge as you sail by.
The cove itself is a large circular bowl almost 300' in diameter. Sailing into the cove the color of the water changes from the bright turquoise of shallow water to an indigo hue, a testament to the depths of the cove. High overhead a canopy of branches and jungle vines stretch across the cove casting a dusk like gloom over those below. The rough cliff walls stretch from below the surface to the canopy over a hundred feet above. Several cave openings are visible in the cliff faces surrounding the cove as you peer up to the opening above.
Dropping anchor, there is little for you and the crew to do but wait for dawn's early light to illuminate the correct cave for you to explore.
Ashlei's normal juvial mood seems subdued in this place.
"I got a bad feeling about this Captain! This is a nice sheltered cove. Perfect for any deep water craft. Why has no one ever settled here? By Besmara's perfect breasts, I'd swear this place has a nasty secret waiting to cut our throats. Sir? I suggest doubling the watches tonight."
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He paused looking o'er the edge of the ships railings.
"Or worse, could be those damnable squidgobs again... or something else. We will do more than double the watch, lets run with triple the watch, prep the sides of the ship to be cleared if anything tries to clamber onto the decks from the sides of the ship. have a couple of sailors at the bells for warning tolls and no one drinks tonight. Anyone have any other ideas to prep for incoming terrors from the depths...or above as the case might be?"
He asked his officers.
"Sounds about it. Maybe make sure anyone on watch has a ranged weapon in case anyone tries to drop in on us from above from the vines." Rhialla adds.