Brice thinks about this for a moment, then nods. "Perhaps it would be best for me to be the craftsman side of the business, with dearest Genevieve as my wife and darling Charmaine as our beloved daughter. Florian could be my brother, who happens also be the salesman side of the family business, and you, Silarsha, being his wife and the model for our wares. After all, we must have someone to demonstrate our blades, and," the ex-noble's words practically drip with sarcasm, "'If it is easy enough for a common housewife to use, than you, good ser, should have no problems at all!'" Brice bursts out laughing as he finishes the supposed sales pitch, both at the irony of it and the hilarity of Silarsha being a 'common' housewife. The laughter fades and he continues.
"In all seriousness, it would provide a passable justification for your being armed. You are, after all, only demonstrating how comfortable it is to carry our wares and how easy they can be to draw and whatnot. As for the soon to be dead captain, I would say that we should hear what he thinks we are before telling him anything. If we can get away with him believing the lie that our weapons are 'useless' in our hands it might be a better advantage over him in the long run."
"Yay! Sounds fun to me!" Charmaine says, throwing her hands in the air. "Anything we need to prepare before tomorrow morning? I think I'm just about set!"
________
"That sounds passable to me," she turns to Brice, "my husband." She gives him a smoldering look. After a moment or two watching to see if Brice squirms, she breaks out into laughter. "I believe you are right, this may indeed be fun Charmaine."
<A family, huh? I hope this turns out better than our last family.>
Soon the time comes to leave. You are lead down to the docks to meet the Frosthamar. It is a 60' long single-masted knarr with a square sail. the deep hull is well suited to carrying cargo. And the Frosthamar is obviously loaded with cargo. Sitting heavy in the water, she holds twenty four tons of weaponry, arrows and shields emblazoned with a flaming axe. Overall, the Frosthamar is a fine ship, seaworthy and strong hulled. Its clinker-built hull is resilient but flexible and well suited to surviving the rough icy seas of the northern ocean. It is smartly rigged and well maintained.
The captain is a grizzled north-man with a wiry beard, pale blonde hair and countless scars. This is Kargeld Odenkirk and he is, as promised, a ruthless mercenary with little thought of anyone but himself. His crew consists of a half dozen grim sailors who speak little of the common Talirean tongue.
The grizzled man approaches Brice, “You will guard our boat all the way north, yes?” he asks, ignoring the others.
You get a feeling of smug satisfaction, <I see we're finally recognized as the leader. About time.>
Looking over the ship, Silarsha feels a pang of homesickness as she remembers her Father's ship.
Trying to look the ship over with a practiced eye without being obvious about it, she decides she likes what she sees.
Good ship, seems built well. We'll see if I can find anything wrong once onboard.
When the Captain appears and approaches Brice, she glances over him over from head to toe.
Not bad. Finally a man with a real beard. And those scars; I'll bet he's got some amazing stories of how he got them. Too bad he needs to die, he might have been worth rolling around the blankets with.
As the Captain speaks to Brice she thinks to herself;
Just as predicted. No eyes for anyone else but the men.
Brice, oddly enough, holds Genevieve's look for the duration, smiling amicably enough. <Anything would be better than that, dear sister.> He mentally thinks to the blade in his most calming voice. <Besides, the family that slays together....>
"Indeed, my darling sun blossom, this will be a grand time. Do make sure that our darling angel doesn't get caught getting into the knives again... so hard to explain when people's pets come up missing." He gives both of his "girls" a laugh.
<Don't let it go to our heads, eh? Our father and brother are 'leaders' and look what good it does them with their lack of vision.>
Brice looks over the captain, and then his boat and crew. "Primitive, but effective. Provided you take no needless risks on the trip up, then yes. You have my honor that you will be protected on the journey up." And not one moment more....
I wonder if we'll be getting our own cabin in this place. It'd suck to have to sleep out in the open. What happens when it rains? Have I even been on a ship before? I think only one of those little paddle boats to serve the family while they played in the pond... Playing in the pond would have been fun. Maybe I will once I get exact my revenge.
Sticking to her role, Charmaine holds two of Genevieve's fingers as they approach the ship, a delicate red bow bouncing on top of her head. When Odenkirk makes his appearance, she quickly slinks behind her leg and peers out with one eye. Stabbing this guy is going to be so priceless after this!
Florian stands quietly beside Silarsha as the ship's captain goes to speak with Brice, trying his hardest not to act as hungover as he feels. He casts his gaze over the Frosthamar. Looks sturdy enough, though I'm no expert on ship construction.
He glances over at Silarsha in time to see her appraising Odenkirk. Though unsure what she's actually thinking, he decides it wouldn't hurt to play around for a brief moment. Anything to distract him from his throbbing headache. "Come now, my dear," he says, his voice low and head tilted slightly toward the her. "Wandering eyes." He chuckles, evidently quite amused with himself.
Silarsha reaches out taking Florian's hand in her own. She then leans in close to give him a kiss. As her lips lightly touch his cheek she whispers; barely audible:
"Have no fear dear husband. My eyes might wander, but my heart will always be yours alone."
She then slowly pulls away grinning ear to ear.
Her face returning to a neutral expression; she turns back to matters at hand.
The captain raises an eyebrow and looks around. "Will it just be you two doing the protecting then?" he says to Florian and Brice. "I hope I won't be losing my ship because of you." He shakes his head and stomps off, calling out orders to get the boat moving.
As the captain moves along he can be heard muttering to himself, "Women and a child. Can't be thinking right."
Brice laughs, good-naturedly, at Kargeld's remarks. "My dear fellow, I have promised that you will make it safely up, and so you shall. My brother and I," he gestures to Florian, "have yet to lose a shipment under our watch. Our families will not get in your way unless you bother them." His tone is friendly enough, but there is an implicit threat as to what might happen if someone is unfortunate enough to get in their way.
Turning to Genevieve and Fontaine, he smiles taking his daughter's hand. "Come, child. Papa promised you would get to sail this season, and so you shall." Winking to them both, he shoulders his pack and begins heading down the wharf behind the captain.
"Ok Papa!" Charmaine says, the presence of her father seemingly aiding her courage. She eagerly takes his hand and walks with Brice. Throughout the walk, she peppers him with myriad questions about the basics of sailing.
Silarsha lets Florian take the lead as they head to the ship.
In her head, she briefly entertains handing him her pack to see if he'd fall over, but knows it wouldn't look good to embarass her "husband" in front of Captain Odenkirk, and his crew.
Instead she leans over, dropping the pack to the ship's deck, then hiking her skirt up to her knees, she clambers over the rail and steps aboard.
The captain scowls after you, but says only “Then I will take you to the cursed north past hope and life.” The sailors move around quickly and the Cardinal watches you sail off, as the boat pulls away from the dock and begins to travel downriver.
It takes half a day to sail down the Varnyn River and out into the open ocean. The Frosthamar hugs the coast and from the ship you can see countless farming communities and fishing villages go by. More than a few fishermen wave at the Frosthamar. Kargeld is always sure to wave back. “Wouldn’t want ‘em to get suspicious, eh?” he says with a glower.
The first leg of the journey is placid and peaceful. There is plenty of time to gain your sealegs and get acclimated to shipboard life. Though the Frosthamar may be a fine ship, it is not a ship that caters to delicate sensibilities. It has no cabins and everyone sleeps under the stars, and the northmen snore like buzzsaws while the anchored ship still shifts and slaps against the coastal waves. There are no garderobes or chamber pots. The crew simply relieve themselves over the railing. The rations are dried cod treated with lye and small beer, though Kargeld does stop a couple of times to hunt deer along the wilder part of the coasts. The cod must be soaked in water to even make it edible, and the smell is constantly hovering over the ship.
As heavily laden as the Frosthsmar is, the ship makes slow going. 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.
Genevieve follows close behind Bryce and Charmaine onto the ship, she looks around. "Not quite what I'd imagined when you said a getaway my dear, but I suppose it will do." She has the servants carrying her chest place it down and then stands next to Bryce, a huge smile on her face. Despite her smile, her eyes seem to give off just the faintest bit of thunder. He'll see how useful we are when we kill them all. Genevieve's smile widens and she nods to the captain.
It doesn't take long at all for Genevieve to find her legs working properly on the swaying boat. Before they're even into the Ocean, she seems to have a handle on the movement of the boat. Overall, she adapts rather well to the ship. She doesn't seem to notice the snoring at all through the night, and seems momentarily confused the first time someone brings it up. Though she recovers quickly.
Genevieve spends her time "teaching" and playing with Charmaine while watching the sailors. She watches closely to make sure there is no betrayal from them, but makes her wandering eyes seem more friendly and familiar.
Silarsha as Sylvia easily returns to life aboard the ship. With no hint of unsteadiness in her walk, and no traces of seasickness. She even eats the Lutefisk ration without complaint, though she's happy to eat the venison they hunt in its place. Her one concession to the role she's playing as a soft townswoman is that she'll ask Captain Odenkirk if they could use some rope to be able to hang a blanket curtain near the side for the women to use washing up, changing clothes and using the lack of facilities.
At nights, the snoring doesn't seem to bother her, and if asked by the others, she'll reply with a simple "I've heard worse." When it's time to sleep, she'll bed down next to Florian like a good and faithful wife.
With that said, she tries keeping a low profile during the voyage, staying out from underfoot, but not giving away any sign that she's been around sailing ships all her life. Much of her time is spent talking to the others in the group, watching the sailors for signs of treachery, and watching the Captain for a weakness that might be exploited when the time comes.
(+1 to detect being lied to)
(+1 to detect being lied to)
Kargeld glowers at Silarsha's request, but finally shakes his head and waves his hand, "Do what you want, just don't get in our way," he growls.
With Captain Odenkirk's approval, Silarsha as Sylvia picks a spot near the aft to set up her privacy curtains. While cramped, it gives the women enough privacy to take care of necessities with a modicum of dignity.
A few days into the journey, she'll pull Genevieve aside when the sailors and Captain are all occupied and away and in a bare whisper;
"They are speaking Skald. Nothing threatening, just sailor talk. They seem to think you and I have the qualities of excellent wives. At least based on physical appearance. Oh, and the short one with the greasy beard would like to see us "dance" together just for him."
While the idea of sailing and being on a ship is cool to her, the practicality of the situation is far from. Despite easily adapting to the sway of the ship, Charmaine spends the first three nights tossing and turning. Between the sloshing slaps of the waves against the ship and the nocturnal lumberjacks, sleep evades her pretty much entirely. Miserable, the act of being a moderately well-off merchant's daughter on a poor-man's ship comes all the more naturally, although Silarsha's quick thinking takes some of the edge off.
By the third day, fortunately, her exhaustion over takes her and she sleeps soundly through the night. Having finally had a decent night's rest, she begins to watch the main deck, taking in all the action with childlike wonder. So much wonder, in fact, that she isn't even sure what game she and Genevieve have been playing. Occasionally, she even asks one of the sailors about the rigging in an effort to learn something about the ship. Might serve as a good distraction to have some of the main lines cut at an inopportune time...
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Florian's first real excursion at sea goes only slightly better than he thought it might: though he managed to avoid any sort of motion sickness, it takes a few days for him to truly get his sea legs under him. Despite this he quite enjoys the idea of sailing and adventure at sea, and hardly takes notice of the smells or sounds that might otherwise disturb him.
The young man wakes before even most of the sailors each morning, and in the early hours can be found sitting down in a quiet, out of the way spot. During these times he is hunched over, something clutched close to his chest, a blanket over his shoulders in order to hide exactly what is in his hands.
The rest of his time Florian alternates between walking around the ship, reading, and speaking with the others, particularly his "wife". He is constantly assessing not only potential danger to the ship, but also the capabilities and habits of the crew itself.
During their voyage, "Aiden" mostly keeps to himself when not doting on his "wife" or "child". After the first night's... meal... he start taking to saying "prayers" over his food and his fellows. Little did the captain or his crew know that he was using this as an excuse to alter the flavor of the briny fish to something more... palatable.
Throughout the way up, however, Brice constantly acts like he has a cough, covering his mouth and muffling sounds. If the captain asks him, he waves it off as the sea aires not agreeing with him. His companions, however, know the truth. Each time he "coughs" one of them hears observations he has on the crew and their surroundings.
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Sitting quietly near the rear of the ship, Florian glances up from the small book he has in his hands. He looks first toward the bow of the ship; other than a few looks from the Ulfen sailors, they didn't seem inclined to give him many problems at the moment. He turns his gaze out over the stern, watching the slow, undulating movement of the sea, when he sees something that looks out of place. A ship, a patrol ship, gaining quickly on the Frosthamar.
He curses quietly and jumps to his feet, replacing his book as he goes to find Odenkirk. "Captain? We've got company," Florian says bluntly. He points toward the approaching ship. "Talirean patrol ship, most likely. We've got maybe..." He pauses a moment. "Ten minutes before they're upon us. We can try to send them away without a fight, but I thought you ought to know."
Silarsha is seated on a crate in a shady spot under the mast, Using a needle and thread to mend a small tear in one of her shifts. At Florian's warning, she stands and gathers up her sewing then stows it back inside her pack.
Walking to the stern, she looks where Florian is pointing, and sees the ship in pursuit.
"Probably right about a Talrean Navy patrol. Not many actual pirates sail here these days."
She checks to be sure the sword at her belt is loose in its scabbard.
"I expect that they won't be happy seeing all these armaments. How do we want to do this?"
"What if we throw a biiiiig blanket over all of it?" Charmaine suggests from Genevieve's side. Ugh, they'll probably want a tithe and a Navy patrol that goes missing would be greatly suspicious unless we made it look like an accident. We'll see what Odenkirk thinks here.
Tugging on mom's hand for her to bend over, she whispers, "We might have to follow Odenkirk's lead here, I doubt we can make this decision for him. Especially in front of his crew."
________
Genevieve growls. "I think not little one. If it devolves into a fight, we can let them handle it, but we are not useless now." She turns to the captain, "What paperwork would they need to see this shipment as legitimate, and do you have a copy of one? Even if it's old? Quick man, I could likely forge a document, but I need as much time as possible." Genevieve then immediately turns to her trunk and pulls out a large book and begins leafing through it.
As she leafs through the book, she speaks sweetly to her husband, "Aiden dear, what was the name of the master of arms at the Watch Wall, or if you cannot remember him, maybe some other knight that could order such a shipment?"
The captain glares down at the woman giving orders about, but then glances back up at the ship worried.Finally he shakes his head, "Fine, a writ from one of the dockmasters declaring duties paid would do. I don't have one though."
Glaring back at the captain, Brice says to him, "You wanted our protection. You are getting it. You will show gratitude for it."
Turning back to Genevieve, he smiles at her in a way that almost screams "Isn't it so hard to find good help these days?"
"Darling, how could you have forgotten Lord Thomas Havelyn, Lord of Aldencross and commander of Balentyne? Or his lovely master of arms, Captain Franz Mott of Balentyne? From the few orders we have had from them, I remember having both signatures on purchase requests. The one from Mott making the requisition and laying out what was needed, the one from Lord Havelyn approving the purchase and authorizing payment for the equipment."
Genevieve's smile grows, "Ah of course, how could I forget such nice gentlemen." Genevieve sets the book down and pulls out her writing supplies. Hmm. Paper will likely do for the writ, but the letters should be on a stationary . . . She continues to talk to herself as she works forging two letters and a writ, constantly looking between the book and her letters. Finally she finishes and begins packing her things away. "Let the ink dry for a moment, but that should do it."
Finally after a few moments, she folds up the letters and hands them all over to Aiden, "It's probably all you and Martin now. It's likely we'll be ignored, being of no use in a fight." She gives a significant glance to Charmaine and Silarsha.
"The women should get in position to ambush the soldiers should the men fail."
Watching Genevieve work her magic, Silarsha's smile grows bigger and bigger. Turning to Florian, she says "And that dear husband, is why I love my sister in-law so."
Taking the hidden meaning from Genevieve's statement she watches as the patrol boat moves closer, and moves to place herself to be closer to whichever side the Talreans choose to approach from.
Kargeld grumbles, but reluctantly turns and says, "And if your plan works, I'll be thankin' you, but not before then."
He turns and barks an order to his crew.
<Ooh. This sounds fun. Now don't forget to stand a little slumped. A merchant would never stand quite that tall. No not that much, just a little. . . .>
She keeps going on for an excessive amount of time, giving little bits of advice here and there.
Keeping up the ruse, Charmaine hangs around Genevieve while they wait for the boat to catch up. The Halfling makes a point to pull her a little to signal going on the opposite side of Silarsha, but offers no resistance to whichever side she ultimately chooses. "Are they bad men, Mama?" she asks. "Is Papa in trouble?"
<I know, I know... and I will adopt that slight accent they had in the markets. Still, if they don't buy this be ready. I bet their boat doesn't float when burned.>
Smiling at his 'child', he tossels her hair while Genevieve works. "Naught to fret, sunshine. Mama just has to make sure that our documents are in order and we will be on our way." He coughs a bit as he says this, though.
"If they don't buy this, be ready to knife them. We might need to accelerate the timetable on the captain in that event though, so stay patient."
Looking up to his wife, he gives her a smile and takes the documents from her. "These should do nicely, love. Perhaps you should take Fontaine and Sylvia behind the privacy curtain. No sense in these... good customs-men... being distracted by your beauty."
The ship comes close and the sailors begin shouting "Heave to, in the name of the King."
Karlgeld and his crew comply and the ship soon comes to a stop, the other comes up along the side. Five armed sailors come aboard. Four of the men carry spears and dress plainly. The fifth is dressed in nice clothing under well fitted armor, carrying a sword and shield at his side.
"I am Captain Sambryl of the Blade of St. Martius. Who is in charge here?" The man looks around waiting for someone to step forward.
Karlgeld stands back eyeing the men warily as he fingers his axe.
<Someone in charge, that's us. Quick step forward before that ninny of a captain does.>
<I know, I know... just can't be too eager... mustn't appear un-merchant like...>
Smiling a greasy smile and adopting a hunch as if he had spent years bending over a forge, Aiden approaches the Captain.
"Well met, guv'nah. I ain't bein' the Cap'n, mind, but I reckon that, as the orderer of this luv'ley cruise to the north, I am. May I ask why ye be stoppen the lawful transit o' me goods?"
He looks somewhere below the man's face as he addresses him, not making eye contact, as if conscious of the difference in class status.
<Just like they used to do with us. Remember his name for me... we shall have him groveling before the end once we have power again.>
Laughter fills your head, <Of course, of course!>
Captain Sambryl nods, "We just have to be checking sometimes. Wouldn't want any scoundrels roaming about, doing whatever they want, would we?" The captain glances towards Karlgeld, then back to "Aiden." "What is it you're carrying? You're ship looks to run rather low in the water. Do you have the papers for it?"
Silarsha demurely glances over the sailors, and their leader as they board the Frosthamar. Smiling sweetly at any who look at her, and mentally noting thier positions and weapons as she lets the men-folk handle business.
Genevieve stands behind the men, waiting and watching as they go through the paperwork.
Giving the Captain a knowing nod that he hopes is equal parts understanding, grateful, and deferential, Aiden smiles as he hands over the requested paperwork.
"Too right, too right guv'nah. Can't be too careless just cause most folks are honest, wot wot. Here be the manifest and orderer, guv."
He leans in closer, as if he is an old woman sharing juicy gossip with one of her neighbors. "Seems that Cap'n Mott up in Balentyne needs more gear. We, bein' such patriotic blokes, 'ere more'n happy to bring 'em what he be needen. Can't be haven that bloody lot north of the wall given hell to our heroes, eh? Keep'en the wall supplied be a right honor, guv'nah, a right honor." He beams a smile up at the man as he looks over the papers.
<Be ready... now is the moment of truth.>
Charmaine clenches her jaw a little as Captain Sambryl begins looking over the paperwork. This is it! Either I start stabbing someone or we keep going on our merry way!
Captain Sambryl looks over the documents before him and listens to the merchant.
Finally he nods, "Well, sorry about the inconvenience then. Here's your paperwork back. I know you must make haste with those foul creatures gathering at the Wall." He turns and motions to his soldiers, where they all reboard their own ship and sail off.
<You did a good job. The voice was a little much, but it worked. But . . . well, I wish we could have killed just one or two of them. Maybe next time.>
Kargeld sighs and shakes his head, shouting something to the sailors around him, "Farðu aftur að vinna. Við höfum ekki allan daginn!"
He turns back and looks at Genevieve and Aiden, "Thank you," he says through nearly gritted teeth. Then he turns away and continues steering the ship downriver.
Brice smiles and takes the papers back deferentially, waving to the soldiers as they sail off like a kid at his first parade. As they finally leave range of sight, he stops and straightens up his posture a bit, spitting over the side.
<How do those merchants do that for long? Ah well, their time will come soon enough sis.>
He coldly nods to the captain. "You are welcome. Now, get us to our destination. Without further annoyances, please." He turns and gives Genevieve a quick kiss on the cheek.
"Well done, wife. Quick thinking with the documents... we could probably get through Balentyne itself with them."