Here is the gameplay thread for the Savage Tide. Post if you're a member.
"Hello, everyone."
Dot
Checking in
As the day falls upon Sasserine, the wails of the gulls from the harbor and the bustle of the docks starts to fall silent. Each of you is reflecting on the day's events, when a wizened halfling woman dressed in elegant, though serviceable clothing tries to get your attention. "Hello?" she speaks.
Lila blinks in surprise when the halfling woman fearlessly approaches and addresses her and her recent traveling companion; most folks tend to give the orc-blooded Mokhai a wide berth, even in a rough frontier town like Sasserine.
"Can we help you with something?"
As Lila had been, Mokhai exhibits a measure of surprise at their being addressed by the small woman. He pushes out a chair with the toe of his boot. "Have a seat, perhaps?" Not until after he's done this, he realizes he should've checked to make sure his boots hadn't been especially dirty when he'd done that. Too late now, he thinks to himself, visibly shrugging.
Nayala looks down at the halfling and smiles.
"Hello. What can we do for you?"
Iorskan merely yawned, curling up at the feet of the group. The wyrm was about the size of a large dog, and looked thoroughly disinterested in the newcomer.
Greetings friend, i am Malek De Nico You are? a young Adult man with Skin the color of ash, Long bright pinkish red hair, veins that look lava or fire. long upward pointing horns offers a hand in friendship. Dressed in Red and black studded leathers bearing a large metal shield, A Fancy shimmering dagger is at his side, a short spear strapped to his back and one of his gloves bearing a Cestus.
He's clean and well dressed, his shield and weapons all bearing the symbol of his family, a minor family awarded nobility for their many heroic deeds
Richter rubs his knee, working out the kinks. Even after all these years the peg could still be uncomfortable after a long day.
"Come on now, let's not be crowding the poor woman." he says.
The halfling woman looks at all of you and says in a clear alto,"We are called Kora of the Whistlegaps. Our mistress, Lavinia Vanderboren, would like to engage your services over dinner at her manor on Festival Street and Blue Skink Lane in the Merchant District. She has a task that may fit your certain set of skills, and would like to make sure she can acquire a group with some sense of discretion. Should you wish to know more, please follow me or go to the manor, and we will receive you shortly. Thank you for your concern."
Mokhai raises an eyebrow, lured by the prospect of paying work. Since he and Lila had arrived in Sasserine, the two of them had tried to stick to "legit work." He'd signed on as a crewman on a fishing boat, and hated it almost as much as the piracy he was trying to put behind him.
He looks down at his... "well-broken-in" clothing, and says to the woman, "If your mistress isn't gonna have a problem with the way I'm dressed, I'm as ready as I'll ever be." Mokhai checks himself, and turns to Lila. "What about you? Any reason we don't mosey over there now?"
"I for one would be happy to follow you right now, if you're ready to lead. Not much else to do here but burn our pocket change."
The brow over Lila's good eye raises as well, though her reaction comes when the halfling uses the 'Royal We' while introducing herself. In response to Mokhai's questions, the young woman smirks and replies, "Why not? It's on the way home."
”Here we go again.” Iorskan muttered as he got to his feet and lazily stretched. Speaking in the common tongue just didn’t feel right. It was as undignified as wearing pants. Which meant that it was something that he was willing to do, but it didn’t mean that he’d enjoy it.
"Sure, why not? I'm happy to hear a job offer, and see what the good Lady has in mind."
Lavinia Vanderboren…, Lila reflects as the group moves through Sasserine's streets and across its bridged canals. Have I heard that name before in my short stay in this city?
"I for one would be happy to follow you right now, if you're ready to lead. Not much else to do here but burn our pocket change."
i have nothing to do at the moment, lets go Malek nods
As they walk, Mokhai notices the shift in body language that indicates Lila is lost in thought. Walking up on her right, the better to not surprise her, the half-orc asks, "What's on your mind? You looked a thousand miles away; just wanted to make sure you don't miss a step in the street here." He smiles what he hopes is a reassuring smile.
Lila looks up at the half-orc and then returns his smile. "I'm fairly certain I've heard the name of this Lavinia Vanderboren--or at least the family name--since we've been in town. I just can't quite recall the details."
After a pause, the short woman adds quietly, "I've learned to know as much in advance as possible about who I'm dealing with. If I had known Captain Carver's reputation, I'd have kept my mouth shut and maybe not lost an eye."
"I've learned to know as much in advance as possible about who I'm dealing with. If I had known Captain Carver's reputation, I'd have kept my mouth shut and maybe not lost an eye."
At the mention of Carver, Mokhai frowns. "I had known Carver was a mudak, Lila, but I didn't know he was that kind of mudak. If I'd known, I'd have tried to warn you..."
After a long pause, he continues in a low voice. "Sorry I didn't do anything to stop him. Right then, it woulda been me against the whole crew. I'd just be dead, and you'd still be there."
"If shes a Lady, for real, then I wouldn't worry about anything. These noble types ain't gonna knife you in the broad daylight. Nah, they're more likely to grab you up outta bed and then 'poof' nobody hears from ya again. So if shes looking to hire on a crew, its probably more that than the first. "
Mokhai nods at the blue woman's comment. "Sure, but who knifes someone in broad daylight? Knives're best for moonless nights." He pauses for a second, thinking. "Unless you get in a fight in the kitchen. Yeah. Then any time of day is knife-bells," he grins.
Lavinia Vanderboren…, Lila reflects as the group moves through Sasserine's streets and across its bridged canals. Have I heard that name before in my short stay in this city?
[dice=Lila the Black Knowledge (local) Check]1d20+7
Lila is able to recall that Lavinia Vanderboren is a member of the Vanderboren noble family. They are a noble family that gained their titles through adventuring and wealth, and eventually settled down to invest in the city's sea trade. The Vanderboren scions are Verik and Larissa Vanderboren. They had two children, Lavinia, their eldest daughter and Vanthus, the younger son. She also notes that the elder Vanderborens died in a tragic fire about a month ago.
The wizened halfling woman tilts her head for a moment, as if listening to the wind. She then speaks: "Excellent. Let us walk to the manor. It will be about a 20 minute walk given the current traffic on the streets. We will be ready to receive you, as well as our mistress.
The party begins its travels without incident.
Iorskan waddled along, his head held up high. He was glad that he was being given an escort. The little wyrm was always pleased when his innate majesty was appreciated.
Lila averts her eyes briefly when Mokhai offers his apology, but eventually she meets his eyes again and nods. "If you hadn't stolen that boat and helped me escape, he probably would have done worse...."
"Boat...that's where I heard the Vanderboren name!" The young bard goes on to tell the others of the recent boat fire and what she knows of the surviving children.
i love boats, the ocean... the smell. All of it Malek comments off hand eyes darting back toward the ocean, distracting him from the walk
Mokhai nods at the blue woman's comment. "Sure, but who knifes someone in broad daylight? Knives're best for moonless nights." He pauses for a second, thinking. "Unless you get in a fight in the kitchen. Yeah. Then any time of day is knife-bells," he grins.
"You knife someone in broad daylight when you know nobody's saying boo about it. Nobles are not in any way above it, and who's gonna stop them?"
Lila averts her eyes briefly when Mokhai offers his apology, but eventually she meets his eyes again and nods. "If you hadn't stolen that boat and helped me escape, he probably would have done worse...."
"Boat...that's where I heard the Vanderboren name!" The young bard goes on to tell the others of the recent boat fire and what she knows of the surviving children.
Richter frowns. "That's terrible. No wonder the woman seemed on edge. She's probably known the family a long time."
Once nobility gets brought up Malek immediately rejoins the conversation most nobles care about their reputation, they won't knife someone period. They usually pay someone else to do it, or do it in their own home. Nobles have responsibility above that of normal folk, it's a give and taken system. If a noble fails their duty to their land then say what you will, it's the common mans job to stop them. Checks and balances for everything
Richter looks sidelong at Malek.
"Paying somebody to do your dirty work for you puts just as much blood on your hands as doing the deed yourself. No amount of 'responsibility' in the world is enough to wash those hands clean afterward."
"Yeah, I'm not so sure they care all that much about clean hands and the like. But look at it this way, she sent her halfling friend to come fetch us, we ain't losing money by just meeting with her, and if it comes to a fight I think we stand a good chance of getting outta it. So theres no loss to talking with the Lady, right? And just maybe, she wants us to go fetch some treasure or find a long-lost heir or something adventurous and quite profitable. That would be grand."
As Nayala walks, her bouncy, childlike step shows a bit more of her otherworldly heritage. She practically glides from one stride to the next, seemingly only partially connected to gravity.
"So, any bets on the job? Steal back a pirated boat? Dig up lost treasure? Raid a bandit camp? Fight off a giant snake and bring back its heart?"
Richter shrugs.
"I'd be grateful for just about anything at this point. Too long in port is making me antsy."
The group eventualky arrives in the Merchant District after being led to a gondola. The porter steers you and Mika into the open water of the bay and leads you along the canals to the west. After the ride, the gondola docks near Red Skink Lane. Mika pays the porter, and you can see a walled three story manor in the distance. Mike gestures to the manor, and the group moves on.
Entering through the gate, you see another wizened halfling who looks extactly like Mika, though wearing chainmail and carrying a sword and shield. The two don't even make eye contact, but Mika simply passes her twin as you get closer to the front of the manor.
Lila raises the eyebrow over her good eye upon spying Kora's (Mika's?) doppelganger as she reassesses the halfling's earlier instance of calling herself 'We.'
"Got yourself a twin sister there, miss? Don't see that too often."
"Oohhh...do you think these Vancaskerins are doing some halfling breeding and raising projects? Like, snatching babies away from their folks and rearing them up to be mini warriors or butlers or what have you? I heard stories of nobles doing all kinds of kooky stuff, so maybe that ain't so far off."
Nayala openly gawks at the buildings and the apparent twin of their guide, fascinated with how "the other half" lives.
I highly doubt there's any breeding projects or child snatching. I would have heard about such things... You all have a rather negative opinion of Nobility i'm starting to notice
"Not nobility, just people in general," Mokhai replies to Malek as he eyes the halfling women. It won't be creepy until there's a third one of them.
Iorskan didn’t see what the big deal was. Soft skins all looked the same anyways. That’s why they wore clothes, to tell each other apart.
"Well, you know what they say about power and corruption, right? And money and titles only give someone more power than they'd have otherwise. So you do the math. I mean, this Lady might be super nice and on the up-and-up, in which case I will gladly admit I was wrong in being suspicious. But rich folk that hit adventurers in a dockside bar in Sasserine? I mean, c'mon..."
Malek pulls out his Family signet ring My family the De Nicos were gifted Nobility for our deeds service to the city and To the common man. We save and help people, yet we are noble blood.
Judging by outward appearances is foolish period.
Malek pulls out his Family signet ring My family the De Nicos were gifted Nobility for our deeds service to the city and To the common man. We save and help people, yet we are noble blood.
Judging by outward appearances is foolish period.
"And you know darn well in that case that most nobles wouldn't even agree your family counts as 'true' nobility."
Their personal opinion on the subject doesnt matter. They cant openly denounce a family that shows allegiance to the city... that would reflect poorly on them. Malek gives a Surprising Smirk Rebellion and hate are poor ways to beat the system, violent and messy. Its better to beat them at their own game. Then theirs the fact that some houses will side against others out of spite, or with some on principal. Nobility may dress better, but they think the same.
Kora replies to Richter, "We are all Kora. That is Kora the Protector. I am Kora the Handler. The 5 other Koras serve the Vanderboren line in various roles, from healer to bookkeeper. As need arises, we will change titles or roles so outsiders and the Vanderborens can keep us sorted. Now please come along, Mistress Vanderboren is waiting in the receiving room to greet you." The wizened halfling leads you into oast the entry foyer and into a well furnished room, with three well crafted armchairs, a medium sized table set for 7, and green/blue carpeting with stone carved walls covered in a variety of paintings of adventures, sea scenes, and family portraits.
Seated at the head of the table is an attractive blond haired woman in her middle 20s, with blue eyes. He hair is styled to be long and wavy, almost like a wave or waterfall. In the center of the table, food sits reads to be eaten, as does drink of various kinds. As you arrive, the lady turns to you and says "Be welcome, my fellow citizens of Sasserine. I have a business proposition for you all that requires a group of discreet and skilled adventurers to undertake. I hope you will all do so after you hear my tale." She motions for you to be seated, while Kora the Handler disappears through another door to the west.
Iorskan plopped down on the floor, ready to listen.
"A business proposition requiring skill and discretion, eh? I am hearing the jingle of coin in those words, your Ladyship. Perhaps you spill your yarn and we can talk about compensation for the deeds?"
Nayala also takes a seat, preferably leaving a clear line to the door or a window if possible.
Lila quietly takes a seat at the table, gently kicking out a chair for the half-orc, Mokhai. The young human doesn't speak yet, but her one good eye is fixed upon the young Lady Vanderboren with interest.