"I think oww. Not much else is coming to mind yet. I'm not entirely sure of all what happened, but I'd rather not get arrested as well."
"I say we leave the man here. perhaps we guard him but whom? Both Asmund and I needs must meet the merchant broker."
I'll do it, you fine folks go on about and i'll stand watch over this poor soul.
Ula! Ulo finds him self a wall to lean against a bit away from the man but with a clear line of sight and leans against it humming a tune to himself and watching the man like a predator tensed and ready to spring into action at a moments notice.
"That is settled then, let us hurry"
Ula! Ulo takes off his traveling cloak and drapes it over the man, tucking it in slightly and lulling his head to the side, so it looks like the man is asleep drunk and his wounds are hidden from a passer by.
Before returning to his post Ula! Ulo takes a moment to check that the man won't die while he stands watch.
+ = 17
You check on his bandages, though soaked in blood, they seem to have stopped the bleeding. The man still breathes. You move him off to the side and make him as inconspicuous as you can.
While going over his person, you notice he's carrying a satchel under his cloak.
Ula! Ulo grins at the feel of the satchel and relives the man of it, going back to his wall and looks through it while keeping a weary eye on the man.
You find 6 silver bits, 4 copper pieces, and 12 copper bits.
You also find a small, plain looking key, some bone dice, and a folded letter.
Ula! Ulo, quickly reads the letter, then returns it to the satchel slinging it over his shoulder and returns to his post watching the man and waiting for his friends return.
-P
"Was that just a mugging? I don't feel like we're the right people to just mug..."
"No way, one of them mentioned they had been payed. Let's sort out this shipment and get the hell out of here."
"Agreed, and let's do this quickly, I don't like leaving Ula! alone in the streets like this, no doubt he is able to handle himself but..."
[ooc]Assuming we make it to the warehouse uninterupted[/pooc]
"As agreed we are here"
The contract agent greets you in a large, open warehouse subdivided into lots. He shows you the cargo, each bale securely wrapped in canvas and rope. He gives you some documents to sign.
The terms we agreed to, the statement of transport for the cargo, the tariff documents, and the security documents. Go over them as you need and sign. My man over here will help you load the goods into the wagon and take it to your ship. Your still good to sail today as we said?
"Yes indeed, we move with the tides this evening, once we are loaded and secured we leave, I'll take a look at these paper and everything should be ready. Do you have any competitors which might attempt to stall your shipment? or any agents that might intercede in an attempt to delay or halt us?
Sayyid looks over the papers carefully,
42 to ensure there is no disshonest or binding papers which are not normal practice.
45 Law and contracct to make sure we are recieving a fair and honest contract.
shouldn't be, not for a cargo this small.
Papers are all in order, standard language and the terms are what you agreed to earlier.
The laborer helps you load the goods into a wagon and takes the reigns, ready for you to leave.
Asmund takes the other two aside and mutters quietly. "so what do we do about our friends in the alley?"
Sayid thinks for a moment
"Perhaps we take a moment to pick up another cargo? or some such story?"
"Let's just get everything ship-shape and on the ship. One of us should go get Ula and help him make it back with or without our new friend. We could also bring them aboard right before we set sail."
"Ade, why don't you check with Ula! Ulo, We'll get this stuff loaded up as quick as we can. If you can get some answers out of him there, great. Otherwise we'll have to take him on board."
'Agreed
"Yeah alright. See you on board later. Also if we aren't there an hour past sundown come look for us please."
Ade heads off back towards the alley, making sure to take an indirect path there and keeping an eye out for trouble. She doesn't fancy getting any more head wounds today.
Asmund lays hand on Ade's shoulder before she leaves. "keep your wits about you, we don't know if there are more folks lookin' for us. Be careful and stay with Ula."
Ade makes her way toward the lace you left Ula. She hesitates a few times, but is able to find the spot again.
The rest of the he party heads off with the wagon towards your ship. You make it through the streets without incident and quickly transfer the cargo to your ship without difficulty. The laborer heads off again with the wagon.
Ula! Ulo catches sight of Ade nodding in acknowledgement raising a finger to his lips.
Don't want to wake our drunken friend.
Ula! Ulo reaches into his cloak and pulls the letter out handing it to Ade.
What do you make of this?
Stooping Ula! Ulo lifts the unconscious man.
+ = 22
Ade mind draping an arm over you? I got his weight but for appearances sake.
While they wait for Ula! Ulo and Ade to return Asmund takes Sayyid to go and acquire provisions. food, water, and lantern oil for three weeks. After sending Sayyid back to the boat he finds a dockworker selling rush, and purchases a nice pouch full (10 doses).
Ade puts one of the unconscious man's arms over her shoulders and reads the letter as they make their way down the alley.
"Hmm. This isn't great. At least they haven't connected me and Asmund. They have our full description though, and there aren't tons of this particular quartet running around. Anything you can do to keep covered on our way to the boat, Ula? We should probably just get the hell out of town for now. I'm concerned about how much interest the magisterium has taken - hopefully it's just one of them being pissy.
Asmund spends 3 silver sovereigns resupplying.
Ade and Ula! make their way back through the streets, their prisoner now starting to stir slightly, but still incoherent and clearly out of it.
As you get closer to the docks, a two-man guard patrol addresses you.
Guard: Whats wrong with your friend there? Does he need a healer?
Ahh our friend here has had a long and rough day, just need to sleep it off on our boat and he;ll be right as sun tomorrow.
+ + = 17
The guard doesn't look look disbelieving, but he is clearly worried about the man's condition.
You sure friend, that man looks to have endured quite a stretch more than a hard nights drinking. There's a house a healing but a few streets from here, you might do well to let them have a look at your sailor there.
Ahh well I had not known there to be one so close, thank you sir.
Ula! Ulo heads in the direction he indicated, waiting for the guard to lose sight of us before heading back to the boat.
To get a sense of If he is being watched.
+ = 14
To help lose himself in the crowde
+ = 20
You double back and evade the guards, continuing on your way to the docks.
The man starts to come too, and begins moaning and mumbling incoherently, drawing you some curious glances as you make your way to the ship. But you reach your vessel unmolested.
With Sayyid's help Asmund preps the Companion for departure while they wait. As soon as Ula! Ulo and Ade arrive he ushers them below deck and Blind folds the man.
"Let's learn what we can quick, and then be on our way. I don't want to be here any longer than we have to."
"I say we sail now, no reason to wait till we have from the man if he doesn't talk we can drop him in the sea. If he gives us what we want we can drop him in port."
Sayyid winks as he mentions dropping the man in the sea.
Turning away from the man and looking at his companions Ula! Ulo thinks for a while before speaking.
In my travels I've heard the saying lose lips sink ships, there are some looking for us we best set sail with all haste. Once upon clear water, with fresh winds we can clear our heads and think of how best to proceed with out friend here.
"Let us set the sails and leave this place"
"Fair enough, but I'd rather not kill the bloke if we don't have to. Ade man the sails, Ula! Ulo you keep an eye on the prisoner, let us know the moment he's coherent. Sayyid, get me a heading!"
Asmund seems relieved to finally be away. He pulls a wad of herbs from his pouch as he pulls the companion out of port, he rolls it between his fingers for a while before tossing it up and catching it in his mouth.
You cast out from the dock, and begin to slowly sail back down the river towards the ocean. You glide by the last flurry of evening activity, gangs of workers rushing to get the last of the day's cargo organized and stowed away.
As you slowly slide out into the bay, you warily eye the cutters lazily patrolling the harbor and the larger war galley's tied up below the two fortresses guarding the mouth of the river. But if they have clear descriptions of your person's, your ship at least remains relatively anonymous and you pass unmolested.
You sail out into the open ocean, headed west. The sun moves slowly down the horizon ahead of you, your path marked for you by a path of beaten gold glittering across the waves...
Sayyid moves above deck and whistles for Taliba, then sets the fastest course.
Ula! Ulo, clears his throat standing on the bow of the boat and flourishes the letter from the thugs satchel.
Ula! Ulo begins reading the letter.
+ = 17
He looks at the thug...
I for one have some questions for that man.
The man appears awake, but seems in bad shape. Hes pale, swaying a bit, and his focus seems to wander.
Ula! Ulo nimble jumps down from the bow of the boat, and moves towards the man.
{b]would one of you care to help me in aiding this man?[/b]
'Ade see to the man, I'll take over the sails, watch him carefully"
Ade hands the rope she was holding to Sayyid and crouches down by the injured man.
"Hi handsome! How are you feeling?" She turns to Asmund "Could you throw us some of that gross helpful chewstuff? I think our friend could use a hit."
Asmund grumbles to himself as he reaches into his pouch, the old sailor is clearly not too pleased to diminish his stores. Nonetheless he tosses a small bundle of rushweed to Ade. "If he's not up to chewing just mash some of it up and rub it on his gums. Not quite the same but it might help clear his head a bit."
You feed the man some of your happy fun-time leaves and after a few moments he appears to regain a somewhat greater degree of consciousness, although he still appears in fairly poor health overall.
He stares around, and asks for water in a low mumble.
Ula! Ulo unslingsa water skin and slowly pours water into the mans mouth.
There you go friend, not too quickly, sorry about the whole mugging thing and how that turned out, your friends are ok, and we have just this one short delivery to run and then we will bring you back to them.
Ula! Ulo looks off into the distance and grimaces.
But this is a small boat, and since you won't be able to help out in your condition we are going to need some answers, so rest and regain your strength and think long and hard about how much you want to tell us.
Ula! Ulo stands up and returns to his tasks on the boat, as he does so he calls back to the man.
We have the letter, so why don't yous tart by telling us your name.
My name is Semwell he croaks.
"Semwell you say, you are a smart man, know your letters, I'm a sailor. I know waves and stars, tell me, what does this letter say, read it to me?"
Sayyid produces the letter and hands it to the man.
"If you would"