"Ah, of course" says Zambe with a friendly smile.
Now, if I just transpose the variables...here!
Zambe will then slip past before they have a chance to even react and enter the warehouse.
One of the sailors curses as Zambe vanishes before his eyes, ”By Besmara's left tit, he's gone! Quick, Randalo, bar the door!”. The other sailor whirls and slams the warehouse door shut, and locks it fast with a loud clang. It is too late as the sun-mage has already slipped inside.
The interior of the warehouse is dim and stuffy, with the only light coming in from vents high in the ceiling. The smell of spices and fine silks fill the space, with heaps of them packed in. Literally tons of the precious items are everywhere, with the value far beyond Zambe's comprehension.
He hears some sounds and move toward them. On his way he sees another sailor lying on the ground, a round bump on his head. He is still breathing, but he won't be getting up anytime soon. A trickle of blood runs down his face.
Farther one, Zambe sees Bukka cornering the still terrified sailor. The sailor looks unwounded by the tengu looks to be losing his patience.
"Calm down, everyone!" Says Zambe's disembodied voice.
"We are trespassing in this warehouse and the guards will soon be coming for us. I highly suggest that we work together for a better outcome. We mean you no harm, young man." This is directed at the sailor but obviously nobody can tell which way Zambe is looking.
The young man panics at Zambe's voice and tries to make a run for it. Bukka collars him and throws him onto the stone-flagged floor. The sailor cringes there, finally beaten.
'What...what do you want? Just ask me and go away!" he says, sniveling in the spicy dust of the warehouse.
"Please. Your last voyage. The map that was stolen. Anything you know. We have very little time."
The young sailor, panicked shouts, "A map? I don't know, I was on a ship from the Sodden Lands. Good pay, easy voyage. Fallow's ship. We were attacked by pirates. Halflfings the lot of them. They took everything and turned us out in boats. Barely survived floating somewhere else. Please, let me go!" he tries to rise and escape but Bukka kicks him down.
'What do we do with him?" the tengu asks, his voice a harsh croak.
Even as he asks the door slams open and Zambe hears the rush of many feet entering the dusty warehouse.
'Stay where ya' are, thieves!" he hears a loud, deep voice call out. "The master is here to defend his goods!"
From around a bale of silks, Zambe spots at least a dozen armed pirate come into view. At the end is a large, blond haired man, with a jagged scar down the side of his face, warping his mouth into a perpetual frown. His clothes are flashy and dramatic, and his belt holds a supply of bottles and pouches. Zambe recognizes many of them as magical reagents and such.
He has a cutlass in hand, and points it at Bukka. "Throw down yer weapons and I'll let ya live long enough to confess yer crimes! And that goes for you to, skinny fella. I can see you just fine."
"Bukka, do as he says."
Turning to face the pirate.
"Ah, my dear sir. We have been pursuing this fellow and he, rather foolishly, ran into your warehouse here. We have him now, so if you would allow us to simply return to Master Fallows..."
Hoping the name drop will make things easier...
The blonde pirate eyes them darkly as Bukka disarms himself. The sailor just openly starts to cry at how terrible his life has become in the last few minutes.
”Fallows? That dried up old corpse? Is that supposed to scare me?” he waves the cutlass as Bukka. ”I thought I recognized you. One of his agents, right? Well, you'll be ransomed then.” He turned to his men and nodded, 'Clap them in irons and take them to the Last Island. They'll be safe in the hold there.” The men move forward and the pirate smirks. ”You are about to be captured by Captain Zagwell. I have heard it can be an unpleasant experience.“
Zambe's going to look around and examine the structure of the shelves to see if there is any way he can make them collapse with mage hand from here. Hopefully onto Zagwell, or at least distract him.
While the items are heavy and well-stacked they are all stacked with t e assumption of friction. A good spell of Grease could easily bring down tons of fabric and silk onto the heads of everyone.
A few pirates break off and start to move in, belaying pins in hand. Bukka looks a trifle nervously at you.
Zambe meets Bukka's eye for a second in a way that he hopes implies "get ready, I'm going to try something".
Using the rest of my action I would like to ready for when the stuff falls so I am not too covered.
As Zambe casts the spell the pirate captain starts to yell. "He is using magic, stop him!"
But the Sun-Mage is too quick and next to them, a giant pile of silks and fabric start to slide and shift, suddenly coated in slippery grease.
In the chaos, two crossbolts ring out, shooting right at Zambe and Bukka.
They each take one, Zambe's hitting his upper arm.
Meanwhile piles of greased fabric cover the scene knocking the pirates off their feet for a few precious seconds. Zagwell curses and starts to reach for his belt of alchemical items.
"Run! Now!"
If everyone is coming I will take my own advice, if the young sailor isn't coming I will drag his arm and try to pull him. If he resists too much I will just let him stay.
In the confusion, the sailor is startled by the rough, loud voice from an invisible wizard. With a start he takes to his heels, running for a door on the far wall. Bukka and Zambe follow him.
Zagwell curses them but he is too slow with whatever magic he has and the trio clear the door, free of any guards or pirates. The bright tropical sun beats down, causing them to squint. They face the docks, with ships of many nations rocking in the breeze. The sailor looks around, 'Can I go? I have to get out of here!" he glances back over his shoulder into the cavernous warehouse.
"Get out of the city for a while, lie low. Zagwell shouldn't trouble you, he doesn't even know your name, and besides, we didn't actually steal anything. Those thugs at the inn, though, knew where to look for you, and they will find you again if you stay. My advice is to go on a long voyage and sign on with an assumed name. Hopefully by the time you return we will have dealt with the matter entirely. If there is anything else you know about the stolen chart or the voyage or anything, please tell me now, the sooner I am able to solve this the sooner you are safe."
The young sailor looks a bit anxious to get going but says, "Star chart? I don't know anything about that. We were carrying a load of goods out of the Sodden lands, very hush hush. Then, all of a sudden pirates come out, all of them halflings. The rest of the crew seemed to recognize him, as if they were famous or something. But I am new.."
He blushes and adds, "Then I got hit on the head by a belaying pin and fell overboard. Next thing I know I'm dodging sharks to make to some lumber that fell overboard. That is really all I know." he turns to go then turns, "Uh, thanks for saving me in that inn. I owe you one." then vanishes into the maze of docks.
"Well Bukka...that could have gone better. I don't suppose you've heard of an all-halfling pirate band?"
While talking, I will be walking back towards the better part of town, so I can interrogate the populus again if Bukka doesn't know. After all, that worked so well last time!
Bukka gives Zambe an odd look, 'You really are new to these parts. There is really only one halfling pirate lord in these waters. Jolis Raffles. He mostly sails out of Bag island, his own little fiefdom. Rumor is he has a terrible temper." the Tengu shrugs. "Don't ask me how to get there, I'm not navigator."
Zambe remembers looking over some navigation charts while on the voyage here. Did he see Bag Island...?
Zambe did see Bag Island but the Shackles has hundreds of island. he recalls it is tot he West but that is little help. Every island is west of Port Peril. He does know it is a major island with plenty of trade, and will not be hard for an experienced seaman to find.
Zambe will head to the docks and try to negotiate passage on a ship headed to Bag island.
With Bukka's help Zambe finds the office of a sprawling trade company, one with tentacles all throughout the Shackles.
The office is right down on the docks, a large white-washed timber building. Captains, merchants and passangers come in and out as the Sun-Mage enters. Inside, the place is filled with racks of scrolls and books, tracking ships and cargos, profit and loss. While not nearly as fancy as the Fallow's place of business, it is clean and well-kept, the walls covered in varied maps.
The staff is helpful enough, doubly so after Zambe 'drops' a few silvers. He is given a few options to Bag Island.
The first is Captain Stron of the Stout Duck, a honest enough merchant ship owned by this company. He is going to Bag Island but is first stopping at the Devil's Arches, an island slightly out of the way to pick up some supplies. He is the cheapest but slowest.
Second is Captain Jewell of the Dancing Lady, a female half-elf with slightly dodgier connections. A known smuggler in other ports, the staff hesitates to mention her. She does have a fast ship, and she is rumored to be heading to Bag Island next. Her ship is tied up at the docks.
Lastly, the staff mention Captain Dawg, master of the Floating Cannon, a real pirate although his reputation isn't as bloody as some. The staff only mention him because he is a dedicated enemy of Jolis Raffles, the hafling ruler of Bag Island, and is willing to drop anything to trouble the hafling pirate. It would probably be a free trip straight to Bag Island.
OK, Zambe is going to approach Captain Jewell first to feel out a price. He wants to get there fast, but he isn't here to get involved in pirate disputes, he just wants to retrieve the item as soon as possible.
Bukka and Zambe find the Dancing Lady rather easily, out in the rougher parts of the docks. Riding at the end of a pier, the ship is smaller then most, only a two masted ship. The crew is all over her though, tending rigging, scrubbing the decks, stitching sails. It is a clean, well-built ship though and the crew seems active and lively enough. A large number of barrels and casks seems to take up most of the main deck.
A large man, with skin even darker then Zambe's, spot shim and calls from up the gangplank, "Who are you, friend?" he says in friendly enough fashion, but Zambe notes he has a large belaying pin close at hand.
Zambe hears an odd buzzing noise somewhere nearbye.
Zambe smiles warmly.
"It is rare indeed to find a kinsman in these parts, do you speak Polyglot? I am of the Vanji dialect."
If he does I will continue in Polyglot, if not then obviously continue in Common.
"I wonder if you can help me. I am looking for speedy and discreet passage to a particular location. Perhaps you know of someone who could provide me with such a service?"
Playing it safe, this place is full of scheming, being as vague as possible until I'm sure seems the best bet
The man squints a bit, as if remembering. When he speaks it is in Polyglot, but a fairly rough dialect, with a heavy accent, "I was born here, but my family hails from the Vanji. Well met."
After he hears Zambe's request, he turns and shouts up at the ship, 'Ahoy, Captain!"
In the rigging, a small figure turns and shouts back, "Ahoy, sailor!" and, grabbing a rope, swings out over the sparkling water and landing, with a loud thump right on the gangplank by Zambe.
The captain is a slight woman, wearing the usual linen clothes covered with leather vests and coat, well embroidered. Her hair is dyed a vivid green, and she has two cutlasses tucked into her belt. She holds a packet of needles and thread in her left hand though, obviously used to repair the rigging.
The sailor says, "A possible passenger, Captain."
Captain Jewell looks Zambe and Bukka over saying, 'Oh? And what do you say for yourselves?" her tone is questioning, but not harsh.
"Ah, good afternoon to you madam. I wish to obtain passage to Bag Island for myself and my colleague here. I had heard that you were the person to talk to for speedy and discreet transportation...?"
Her eyes light up, 'Aye, if you are willing to pay. I am going under open flag this time." She waves at the deck, and the loud buzzing. 'Transporting bees, if you'd believe it. Apparently the keepers will pay top dollar for new breeds." she shrugs and goes on, 'Speaking of money...1,000 gold. In coin, before the journey. No questions asked. You got that kind of money?" She asks.
"Bees indeed? I hope you have someone who knows how to keep them!
Quickly trying to remember if he has any sting soothing spells...
"A reasonable price. Half now, half on arrival?"
The captian waves a hand at a stumpy dwarf on her deck, who is carefully going over the barrels. 'The finest bee expert in the Shackles!" she shouts, loud enough to hear.
"Apiarist" the dwarf corrects absently before getting back to his work. The female captain chuckles a bit then grows serious when Zambe starts to negotiate pricing.
Jewell eyes Bukka and Zambe carefully then says, Three quarters now, the rest on arrival. My risks start now. My full rights I should make you pay up front but I like the look of your face.
you got any skills that might help cut costs? Any ship experience?" she askes the last doubtfully, looking at Zambe's scrawny frame.
"Bukka here is a strong lad! And as for myself? I have some small arcane talent I might use to help. I can grant your sailors to climb the masts like monkeys, or perhaps survive the extreme cold of a storm. Or repair broken items about the place. And so forth. I am also a fairly able geometric scholar which I could use to help with navigation."
Bukka gives Zambe a glare with his bright, raven's eye but says nothing outloud.
Jewell nods at the list of magical aids. Finally, she says, 'All right. Half now, half then. We sail in two hours, and I'm not waiting for you. If you miss ship, you 'll have to swim! Anything else I need to know?" She says, holding out a fair (but weathered) hand for the coin.