"So is that the plan, then? Drop the ogre off with Sakkarot, and pick him up later, while bringing Timeon along as a source of information and to tend the camp?" Daidalos asks the group, "Any objections?"
Ineluki just shrugs, not having a strong opinion regarding the ogre. Grumblejack might prove useful to have along... I guess. Not too sure about the boy... He's likely to see and hear things that will give his 'conversion' pause... I guess we'll find out. Left here, he's likely to piss someone off and get offed himself.
"Sure, fine. As long as we don't encounter any patrol vessels we should be ok as this captain sounds like the type of guy who won't ask questions if paid enough."
Timo sits silently letting everyone discuss what to do with the Ogre and the squire. "I don't care what we do with the two of them so long as we are gone from this place. I'd prefer to be away from Thorn's presence sooner rather than later."
At a break in the conversation, Timo speaks up. "Bring the boy if you want. However, I think he would be a liability. How will you explain us working with bugbears? I see your web of lies falling apart on this journey. As for the Ogre, I must admit I have grown fond of the beast. Bringing him to fight with Sakkarot would work." As he finishes, Timo sits back down and sips his wine letting the rest of the room discuss.
"It's true, chances are good that with the things he'll see we'll blow it with him. Perhaps we should question him before we leave, so that in case we're forced to toss him overboard, we'll still have the information he knows. I can probably get him to talk, I can be quite persuasive," Affyria says, as she lets her last sentence sizzle in the air.
"I think we can manage it. A few more days, and I'm pretty sure he'll trust what I say more than his own eyes. He already doubts his memories, it would be a simple matter to make him doubt his own eyes at this point. Besides, worst-case, we kill him and dump him overboard," Daidalos shrugs.
Price's face betrays no emotion. "What Timo and Affyria have politely suggested, I'll state flatly: the boy is a liability, not a benefit, to our mission. Although we haven't discussed the details of the actual job yet, I grew up in the Borderlands. So here is what I anticipate we'll find. Correct me where I'm wrong, Your Grace." She gives the Cardinal a nod. "Balentyne will be a sizable fortress. The lands around it will be regularly patrolled. There will be something from the size of a village to a small town built on the skirts of the keep itself or hard by. To avoid drawing attention from the patrols as 'campers' would, we'll have to stage our activities from within the town itself, making use of our iron crowns. If that is correct, then unless His Grace plans to offer us a crown for the boy, he will probably see and be seen by family and friends - raising questions, not to mention taxing his loyalties and ability to lie. And unless you can keep him utterly ignorant of everything we do, he will figure out that we plan to feed his family and neighbors to a rampaging horde of bugbears. I agree with Affyria. Let her question him here for whatever dubious information he can supply... and then leave him to the Cardinal's people to convert - or not - as he sees fit. I can't imagine what useful intelligence he might offer us in Balentyne that he can't remember now."
With a glance at Timo, she continues, "I too am fond of Grumblejack. He was trustworthy, followed directions, crushed our enemies, and made me smile. I think he's a useful fellow and if he wants to pillage with the bugbears, so much the better. Having a friend in the Fire-Axe's camp would be wise. In my opinion he has earned a reward, not an ignominious death. As the lesson goes, 'Be ruthless to thy enemy but reward those who serve thee well.'. Grumblejack served well and may yet serve again." She glances at the Cardinal for any corrections to her analysis of the situation or an unguarded response to her argument in favor of the ogre.
Thorn listens without watching, his eyes focused instead on the firelight as it plays in the ruby depths of his wine. Though, when Price finishes, he adds, ”Indeed, a quaint hamlet named Aldencross sits in the tower’s shadow. The fortress is quite impressive, though built to defend against an attack from the north. Your approach will, I imagine, be a fair bit more subtle.”
"I think Price has good points... We should leave him behind.. He'd likely betray us if he isn't fully converted to our cause by the time we get there, and even if he is one with our cause by then, he's young and inexperienced and we won't have the time needed to coddle him. Leave him here."
With Timeon's fate determined, you prepare for the journey on Captain Kargeld's Frosthamar. Arriving at the dock behind the manor house, you see it is a single-masted knaar with square sails, similar to a longship but wider and with a deeper hull better suited to carrying cargo. And the Frosthamar is obviously loaded with cargo, sitting as heavy in the water as she does.
The captain is a grizzled northman with a wiry beard, pale blonde hair and countless scars. His crew consists of a half dozen grim sailors who speak little. As you approach the ship, the captain looks up and growls, "So, you're the last bit of cargo? And with an ogre, too? Huh. I hadn't been told there'd be an ogre. That'll be another 100 gold."
Grumblejack, outfitted with some new gear courtesy of Tiadora, accompanies you to the dock in high spirits. Never has he eaten so well and done so little. He even managed to bathe and have his hair brushed by the slaves. It's an incongruous sight, a well groomed ogre. Yet there he is.
In his broken common, he expresses genuine pleasure at being reunited with all of you while also confessing a bit of uneasy with the hostess of the manor house. "Grumblejack swear... me not sure sometimes if pretty lady going to feed Grumblejack or try to eat Grumblejack. Me pretty sure me could kill her but... she strange." He shudders slightly at the memory.
Upon arriving at the boat and Kargeld Odenkirk's demand for money, the ogre simply glowers as a low rumble comes from his meaty throat.
Asturu almost felt sorry for Grumblejack. The ogre had helped them escape and in a sense, all of them had bonded. Still, he was an ogre and if hunger struck him, they were simply food that could run away. Regardless, like a boy being forced to leave behind his pet dog, Asturu sucked in his lips and nodded firmly at their former companion.
Before they leave, Daidalos visits his young 'pupil' one last time, making sure he's relaxed, like it's just another friendly chat, "We're leaving now, Timeon. Don't worry, you'll be in safe hands. It's been great getting to know you, friend. As it is, we're being sent out on a mission by the Crown to the Watch Wall. It's our job to covertly assess its strength, looking for weak points and potential points of failure. I thought I may as well ask you if you know of anything that we should look for. What would be the things that are most important that they do not fall? Where are the greatest points of failure? Are there any commanders that are liable to be a point of failure- likely to be bribed, simply incompetent, or actively malicious? Anything you can tell me, the more thorough we can be in our check, and the safer everyone will be."
When the captain demands extra payment, Daidalos rolls his eyes, "Did you inquire to the race of the passengers you'd be taking? No? Okay then, no complaints. You were hired to take passengers, and unless you specified a certain size, you can't alter a contract after it's been made. Or, if you did, then we will happily pay you… once we arrive at our final destination. Is that agreeable to you, Captain Odenkirk?"
Price pats the ogre's massive arm with real affection. She says quietly to him, "I think we've all felt the same about the pretty lady."
She nods in agreement with Daidalos. "If you arranged that with the master of the house - fine. If not, then just consider him another passenger."
Odenkirk growls and waves a hand dismissively, "Fine, fine. But rules of the sea apply... if we get attacked, you're all helping in the fight. Looks like you can do that much." Grumblejack's expression switches to a toothy grin as he climbs into the boat, patting the captain with a first the size of a dog. The captain shudders slightly under it before he starts barking orders to prepare to cast off.
I think he's afraid of Grumble... maybe that's why he wanted to discourage him coming along.
Asturu nodded and got onto the ship,"Alright, captain, and thank you for having us." It would take the man some time to find his footing and come to grips with this altogether new experience. All he could hope was that his body wasn't prone to seasickness.
Daidalos sits along the bow of the boat, meditating, and the cold sea spray and chilly air not seeming to affect him at all. After some time at sea, he makes his way to those interested and relays what he learned from Timeon to them. However, for most of the journey, he doesn't do much of anything.
The first leg of the journey is placid and peaceful. Everyone has plenty of time to gain their sealegs and get acclimated to shipboard life. However, the Frosthamar may be a fine ship but it is not a ship that caters to delicate sensibilities. There are no cabins and everyone must sleep under the stars with the rest of the crew. There are no garderobes or chamber pots; the crew simply relieve themselves over the railing. The rations are hardtack and beer, though Kargeld does stop a couple of times to hunt deer along the wilder parts of the coast.
It takes half a day to sail down the Varnyn River and out into the open ocean. From there, the Frosthamar sails north, hugging the coast and from the ship you can see countless farming communities and fishing villages go by. More than a few of the fishermen wave at the Frosthamar. Kargard is always sure to wave back. "Wouldn't want 'em to get suspicious, eh?" he says with a glower. (Grumblejack is made to lay low, literally, through this part of the voyage, to the ogre's outsized consternation.)
The Frosthamar is not swift so heavily-laden and averages about forty eight miles a day. It takes a week for the ship to pass along the settled coast of Talingarde passing the great city of Daveryn, the largest center of civilization along the western coast. When his crew makes noises about stopping there, Kargeld is quick to squash the idea. “This is no pleasure cruise. Besides, I won’t get our cargo within a mile of a Talirean harbormaster.”
One day as the Frosthamar is sailing up the coast near the eastern end of the Watch Wall, Daidalos notices a blue-sailed vessel approaching. It's a Talirean patrol ship and it's sailing to intercept the Frosthamar!
Daidalos, in his usual position at the bow of the boat, looking backwards, opens his eyes for a minute, for no particular reason. However, he stands up suddenly, trying to see something approaching. Seeing what it is, he springs into action, "Patrol ship! Everyone, get ready! We could be in for quite the battle." He concentrates for a moment, slipping on a new face for this interaction, hoping to stay unnoticed. He also casts a basic defensive spell on himself.
Hmmmm.... If not for the ogre, we might be able to talk our way out of this. Ah well, what's done is done, and he'll no doubt be useful in this fight.
"Listen here, little one. When we're out, I want you to keep yourself unseen. Always remain invisible, unless I say so. We're going on a dangerous journey, to an even more dangerous place, on a mission of infiltration. People's ignorance of your existence could prove extremely useful."
Affyria looks miserable during the entire trip, and is quiet. She doesn't bother with a magical disguise at any point, although Kiffex remains nowhere to be seen. When approached, she grunts and mutters, "I f%+$ing hate ships. And these stinking sailors as well."
Ineluki stands behind some of the others, so as not to distress the sailors and changes form to a bat, resting on Price's shoulder for the time being, though he'll hide when the patrol ship gets closer. He meeps softly while he waits.
Price thrusts her crown in Grumblejack's hands and looks for a tarp or something to hide the giant near the cargo. "Put this on then picture yourself as a human. You'll still be large but maybe you can make yourself a bit smaller and you need to look human. We've got to hide you if possible."
Asturu changes his appearance slightly by making his hands appear to be more calloused, puffier weather-worn cheeks, nose to have been broken more than once and the color of his eyes to be a muted green. Where the others might be worried about the approaching ship, the aristocrat-in-disguise is more so worried about the captain's reaction. Would he sell them out? Unlikely, but vermin such as him were not to be trusted.
The ogre holds the dainty circlet in a pair of arm-sized fingers, looking at it dubiously. But, with the slightest of shrugs, he puts it on his head and, after a moment of concentration, seems to shrink to the size of an enormous brute of a man... but at least he now looks like a man.
He extends an arm and looks at his hand, then the other, and grins at Price with a chuckle.
Kargeld reacts to the news with his usual grace and easy-going nature. "Gods damn it! This thrice cursed voyage and I'm not being paid nearly enough. Bad luck, it is! You! You're bad luck. Damnation!" He begins yelling at his crew to grab boarding pikes but to keep them below the railing. "If they get one look at this cargo, it won't matter what the ogre looks like. We've got to either bluff them away, or let them get close and take them out quick."
A short while later, the Talirean ship has closed within range to communicate and a sailor near the bow yells, "Heave to in the name of the king!" He repeats this several times and Kargeld orders his men to comply, furling the sail and pulling up their oars.
"Alright lads, get ready," he snarls through an oversized smile as he waves at the Talireans.
Daidalos stands by the railing, off to the side. While not making it look like he's trying to hide, he's also trying to stay out of the way. "Affyria!" he calls out in a low voice, "Your holy symbol! If they see it, we're in for quite the fight!"
While he doesn't do anything aggressive, he's on his toes, ready to spring into action at a moment's notice.
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Price gives Grumblejack a discreet thumb's-up then looks herself over. She was wearing her 'middle' dress - one that said 'moderately successful business woman'. It left her unarmored but her appearance was utterly benign. She makes sure her silver Mitran holy symbol is prominently displayed. She snatches up the bat delicately, "Sorry." She slides him down into her cleavage. Her bodice was designed to hide a knife, the bat was smaller. Some men would find it a pleasant place to be... Given Luke's romantic tastes, Price hoped it wouldn't scar him.
She smooths her skirts to doubly hide the mace sheltered behind one of the ship's ribs. Then she leans lightly on the railing, ostensibly to steady herself against the sea's rolls.
She smiles broadly at the approaching ship and calls out, "Good day, Captain! Mitra's blessings upon you and your men! How may we be of service?"
Ineluki let's out a tiny startled eek and the settles in silently , trying not to scratch Price. If things go south, he's ready to claw his way out (claws to fabric, not skin) to help.
With the call of a patrol ship, Timo stares at his armor and is lost in thought. "I wear the armor, I give us away and if we have to fight there's the threat of drowning .... f%*$ing boats." With a sigh he covers his armor with a tarp and does his best to look as a muscled sailor before heading to the deck with the others. "Hopefully Daidalos and Price can talk our way out of this."
Kargeld notices the passengers preparing for some obfuscation and orders his men to hold fast but be ready for a fight. Gruffly, he offers to let you take the lead with the Talirians. "Seems ye have a better way with words and lies than me. Maybe you should see if you can get these buggers to piss off."
As it approaches, you see a plaque on the approaching vessel: "The Blade of St. Martius". The crew looks sharp and capable but also not necessarily primed for combat. A man wearing a more decorated tabard and vest stands near the bow as, behind him, the crew furls sails and begins making the final approach with oars and tosses over a rope to you to aid in bringing the ships together. As soon as he no longer has to shout to be heard, the man calls over, "Good day to you, citizens. I'm Captain Sambryl of the Blade of St. Martius, in service to His Majesty, King Markadian the Third. Who is your captain?"
"For the purposes you're asking about," Daidalos speaks up from the bow of the ship as he walks down to the main deck, "I am captain. My name is David, and while I don't sail the ship, but I did charter the voyage and am in command of the crew. We're traders, chartered by the Crown to travel to the Lands of the Yutak for the purposes of hopefully establishing trade relationships with the natives. We actually have a charter- oh, where did that go...." Daidalos makes a big show of patting down his pockets trying to find something, before pulling out a piece of paper, "From the King himself, authorizing us to- no! Ah, catch that paper!" He "accidentally" lets it slip through his fingers, and the stiff, frigid wind swiftly blows it overboard and into the water and out of reach. He looks up at the other ship sheepishly, "I don't suppose you have a spellcaster, do you? I don't want to make one of my men go and get that- though, I suppose it would be all waterlogged by now, and likely to fall apart at the slightest touch. Well, I suppose it's past its usefulness by now, I suppose.... It was mainly used in the ports we stopped in to show our tax-exempt status for this voyage. But, there goes our proof of who we are, damn it. You believe me, right? We're simple traders, and until two minutes ago, I had proof of that. Is there anything else you need?"
While he's speaking, Daidalos paces up and down the deck, trying to get a gauge on how many soldiers/sailors are on the other ship, and what they are carrying.
The Frosthamar's crew grabs the thrown over rope and, somewhat slowly, begins pulling the two ships together before tying the rope to a cleat. Sambryl steps across in the company of two of his men who bear spears and short swords. The men remaining on the Blade are similarly armed but also have bows resting casually at their sides. In total, there are thirteen of them, including the captain.
He looks sympathetic as Daidalos "loses" the charter. "Ah, poor luck that. New to these seas, are you? Have to watch out for those gusts. They come down the coast without warning. Nearly lost a man to them once." He casts a casual eye over you, the rest of the passengers and crew, and the crates and tarp-covered masses of "supplies". "What exactly do you have here that you'd be trading with the Yutak?"
As you converse, one of the guards who boarded the Frosthamar moves towards the bow and begins exchanging words with Kargeld's crewmember who tied off the rope.
Crew: "It's a proper knot, you git. Just how my daddy taught me and his daddy taught him."
Guard: "It is not. Tie it proper. Now."
Daidalos shrugs, "Metal things, mostly. Cookware, tools, a few weapons. Yutak aren't too keen on luxuries, from what I've been told. You're welcome to take a look, if you want. Timothy! Astar!" he signals to Timo and Asturu, "Will you help the Captain with these tarps?" he motions for them to take up position on either side of Sambryl, hoping they understand his intent is not to boss them around. Meanwhile, he surreptitiously stands to one end of the Frosthamar, trying to find the proper angle to leave all the Mitrans within range of his spells. Aware that his ruse was likely about to collapse, he preps his mind for a quick cast of a spell.
Price can feel the little bat tense in her bodice... as if holding his breath... he wriggles a little as he triest to get where he can just barely see between the laces of her bodice without revealing himself.
'Astar' gets up and pushes his shoulders back to stretch out and crack his back. "Sure thing, captain. Not like I got anything better to do." He then moves to take in the position as ordered while taking a swig from a tiny earthenware flask.
From amidship, Price keeps a casual eye on everything, hands held demurely behind her back... resting on the handle of her mace. She inserts herself into the interchange between the boarder and the deckhand with a deferential curtsy. "Forgive his lapse, sir knight. Some of our seamen are a bit sloppy in their sailorly habits...unlike yourself."
Affyria keeps to the background, barely remembering to hide her holy symbol. She stays out of the conversation, and gives everyone that approaches her dirty looks.
Timo moves into position, following Daidalos's lead. As Asturu drinks his potion, Timo sighs, "This is not going to go well"
The Talirian guardsman looks gruffly at Price then to the sailor. "Indeed. Regardless, tie it down, properly."
The Frosthamar's sailor looks a bit bewildered, looking at Price and Asturu, then Kargeld.
The Talirian captain looks over at the commotion in puzzlement. "Hey now... what's the problem o'er there?"
Price plays to the confusion, hoping to change the Talirian Captain's focus. She manages to look flustered, irritated, and flummoxed. She glares at the sailor. "Tie it as the good knight asked, sailor... around that wooden thing with a uh... sheepshank knot." She looks with desperation at the Captain and 'David'. "Honestly, David, I told you we should pay a little more to hire a more experienced crew! Apologies, my Lord Captain. We are literally out of our depth in this venture and I fear we are frustrating your able crewmen and taking your valuable time." Price looks practically on the verge of tears.
Ineluki stays very quiet and still lest any movement in Price's bodice be noticed while she talks and has the Mitrans' attention focused on her.
Daidalos stands by Price, "I'm sorry, dear. But, I'm sure that, once we get up north, we'll live like in comfort for a long while. You just need to be ready to leap at the opportunity and seize the moment, as I always say." he puts a comforting hand on Price's shoulder, looking her in the eyes for a brief moment. He then removes his hand and holds it in a half-curled position, holding it by his forehead, seemingly in partial exasperation, "And now I'm just talking nonsense, aren't I? I'm so sorry, Captain, this trip has been one problem after the other."
Ineluki readies himself to crawl out of Price's bodice and send a wave of sonic energy at the Mitran ship captain.