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Ok, everyone. We're going to make it this time. We can make it if we all agree to work together. A new life is waiting. After doing his best (awful) impression of the Vice-Admiral, Erasmus scurries awaya and begins making preparations. Gods above, I am a terrible speechwriter.
As soon as he sees nobody is interested in his idea to hunt down their new adversary, Erasmus scowls slightly and hurries after the group. All right then. I suppose we're leaving. As soon as they get back to the ship Erasmus begins making preparations to sail.
Soon as his hands are unbound and his weapons returned to him Erasmus shepherds the slaves outside. Once outside he gets to rubbing his wrists and frowns. Well, that was a misadventure. She said the manacles were a gift from someone who knew we were going to be here today. We oughta figure out who anticipated this and where they are. I get the feeling they are due a... friendly visit from us.
No weapons. Strike quickly, escape and regroup. Can return when Mort has magic. Outside we go. Erasmus tries to slip his chains and when that fails, leaps upon the nearest guard, striking at him with his fists.
Erasmus scans the room as he walks in, but says nothing. Manacles make fighting difficult, not impossible. Need to get weapons back. Note: buy extra daggers, conceal in sleeves and boots. Can probably jimmy manacles, if given time. If they know he's a wizard then they may not know who we are. Keep low, get out, make tracks home.
Can't take them all on my own, and if that seal's official then there's gonna be more coming even if I do. *Damn it* we need to find a way to get through this as quickly as possible. Erasmus gives off an exasperated sigh. I don't suppose you know how long this "thorough questioning" will be? We have people to meet and merchandise to move.
Mortimer may be going along with it, but if we're captured and discovered we're done for. Without a ship we can't make it home, but we can't sail anyway. If they realize the vice-admiral's on board we'll end up very expensive hostages. Can't afford that, but if we fight there's nothing for it but to haul overland or find a smuggler. Erasmus looks at Erianna and Esther to see what they do.
Erasmus waits for the dockmaster.
Erasmus draws his weapons and nods, then whispers. On three then?
Erasmus shakes his head vigorously. A ship full of slaves in a port here left unattended might as well be a freshly-killed deer tossed into a den of wolves. Teleport us, Mortimer.
Our only concern should be getting back. We have to worry about a tiny ship full of slaves left unattended regardless of the intentions of our... Adversary there. Erasmus has recovered from his previous shaken state, and seems quite angry at the whole situation.
I don't think we have time. If that's the one who flayed the vice-admiral we need to get back as soon as possible, he may hurt him or the slaves. Mortimer use the ring.
Sorry, just wasn't expecting that.
Erasmus of course follows Mortimer. He emerges from the tree quite visibly upset, his usual cockiness and professionalism gone. Whoa! What?! No! What just happened?! Where are we?!
Think. Magical darkness means someone put it there. Dispelling, is the obvious choice, wait it out? Too long, maybe and we need to be moving. We're in hostile territory. Careful, then. We need to keep moving.
"Shall ye enter?" "Aye"
Erasmus follows Esther, trying his best to stay quiet and following her lead to stay hidden amongst the crates.
After receiving Erianna's message Erasmus moves to the base of the ladder.
I'm mostly going to be MiA for the weekend, and spotty for another couple of weeks. Finals :/
Erasmus will give Mortimer the nod and go a few seconds after Mortimer, and catch up.
Ok, I'm running out of CIA allusions: I suppose that's part of it. I also just like fighting and hate, well, enemies of the state that much. I guess you could say I'm a true patriot.
In Re: (REDACTED): I suppose. My family's fairly wealthy, they sell rugs mostly, my older brothers are a priest and a merchant. I was shipped to a fencing academy at a very young age, and joined the military immediately upon graduation, served in a fort for a few months before moving onto ships which is probably why I'm not much of a sailor.
Top-Secret Official Business.: I was expecting a bit of a younger crowd though. I guess it's still early.
So we're going to call something from another world. Have you done this before?
Erasmus will go with Mortimer, looking for gear. So do we have a plan? What happened yesterday?
Erasmus will sit at the ship, not wanting to leave the slaves or the Vice-Admiral unattended.
Oh believe me, I understand what the higher-ups can do if you get on their bad side. That's precisely why we're making such an investment to keep things quiet, see? Wrong people hear too much about this group, we lose our jobs, and some sissy on a silk cushion has us tossed in a dungeon, see? You get to live like a king for a bit, and you can trust us to stay quiet because we'll be in as much trouble as you.
Erasmus walks over and leans on the nearest post. About that... We're here to deliver these slaves to someone who has requested that we... remain as unofficial as possible. Prying eyes, you know? So could we maybe just forget the ledger and get you something nice? He waves Mortimer over.
Being a career military man, Erasmus is up and ready before Mortimer finishes his sentence. He scurries to the bow and looks ahead. They've signaled us, I assume? Great. I was hoping to go to port somewhere quietly that we can get in without having to declare a cargo of slaves. The man's gonna want us to put signatures on paper, which makes things more difficult to hide and they may need to stay in slave quarters. But what's done is done. We need to keep ourselves as off the paper as possible, so we can't mention specific buyers or markets in mind. I'm sure some noble or another has brought in slaves surreptitiously enough times that there's an unofficial procedure for it.
Or speed as it were. Erasmus nods in agreement. Unless you're one of those monstrosities from back on the island, than it's more like a pair of dueling avalanches.
Erasmus does what he can to help out the slaves while maintaining the ship.
The way I see it, if they are going to try to play us somehow, it'd have to be when we're still in Isteroth. Once we're on the open water they won't likely be able to do much to us without harming their own chances of getting to Amerys. If they try to play us once we're in Amerys, well, if we say they're slavers it'll be all over for them. The trick is going to be someone who gets us to Amerys no questions asked or someone who doesn't care that we're freeing slaves. To me, that says smugglers.
If it means getting these people somewhere where they aren't owned as property, yes.
Erasmus is concerned with the predicament before them.
Erasums turns and puts his hand on Davos' shoulder. Look at me. I came to this mission because I don't want to allow slavery to persist in this world. So let me be frank: you won't be sold as long as I'm breathing.
How are we going to get them back to Amerys, then? I'm not hopeful that we will make a great many friends with the locals who will be willing to help us get slaves to Amerys.
Damn wizards... Erasmus will mkae sure the children and elderly get blanket priority, and keep them together. Please, I know this isn't the best accomodations, but Ms. Esther says that we'll be able to make things better tomorrow. Once he's away from the former slaves he'll conduct a meeting with Mortimer and the sisters, and remove the flag if there is one. Ok, we're not getting these people back into slavery if I have to swim each of them across the ocean. How are we going to make it back to Amerys?
Erasmus sets up a rotating shift of hands among the former slaves. Those not on active duty will be belowdeck where they can share heat. Are there any supplies, blankets, etcetera on board?
Erasmus hesitates at the though of leaving them behind. Look, we don't know if the thing that destroyed our ship is stil out there. You never saw the Vice-Admiral here in action, but the prospect of whatever did this still being around is worth thinking about because he is a very capable man. I'm not about to put you all in chains or nothin' but are you sure you want to stay here? Erasmus starts rubbing his chin. Think! There's got to be a way to rescue them all.
Ok, we have a boat, potentially a crew, and the island. We probably can't fit both all the slaves and the supplies for them for a trip all the way back to Amerys, so our options are die of thirst in the middle of the ocean, stay here, or take our chances with Isteroth. Sadly, none of those are good options.
Erasmus looks at Esther incredulously. You can keep 60 people from drowning?
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