|
The dour Dwarf raised an eyebrow at Spinnaker Jon's strangely undiplomatic question. "What's it to you, longshanks?"
Dgrim asked about Vanthus and Panchi scratched his head. "Let me think...snotty guy, had a goatee? Never met him."
As Annie spoke, the demeanor of the Dwarf softened. "Penkus, yeah that was the longshanks that tried to haggle with me. I smelled so much liquor on his breath I was practically drunk, but he was an okay sort. That fella with the goatee he had with him, I didn't like him too much. I could tell just looking at him that he didn't care much for me either, and his friend--your customer, I mean--he didn't see the gleam in this lout's eyes. I think the rich little punk was just using him for all he was worth, and that's a hundred and twenty years experience talking. I've been selling boats a long time. I know when somebody's up to no good. This fella with your man Penkus, he was up to no good. Can't say for sure where they were going, but I gave 'em a fair price and they went east."
A nervous-looking half-elf glanced in the window of the shop and quickly backed away when he was noticed.
I'll run after him to find out why he is so nervous.
It was hard, terrible hard to hear that Spinnaker Jon's old friend Penkus had taken up with Lavinia's brother; the one who had been revealed as a thief. Could Vanthus be worse than a thief?
Penkus was a sailor like him, perhaps they simply sailed off somewhere.
Jon took some comfort in the thought; but... somewhere down deep he just didn't believe it.
He desperately wanted to ask more questions, but having run aground in that respect he didn't dare try again. Annie had him eating out of her hand anyway. Turning away, he stepped outside to take a look at what "they went east" might look like. Perhaps he could see a clue. Looking around he spotted Bryson persuing a frightened half-elf. Wondering what the deal was, he pursued them both.
"Penkus, yeah that was the longshanks that tried to haggle with me. I smelled so much liquor on his breath I was practically drunk, but he was an okay sort. That fella with the goatee he had with him, I didn't like him too much. I could tell just looking at him that he didn't care much for me either, and his friend--your customer, I mean--he didn't see the gleam in this lout's eyes. I think the rich little punk was just using him for all he was worth, and that's a hundred and twenty years experience talking. I've been selling boats a long time. I know when somebody's up to no good. This fella with your man Penkus, he was up to no good. Can't say for sure where they were going, but I gave 'em a fair price and they went east."
"Oh! What did they get? A sailboat?" Annie gave a little self-depreciating chuckle. "I'm afraid I don't know much about boats, myself."
Fhirrak simply stood back, observing the interaction as he studied those involved.
Dgrim lets Annie take care of the talking and goes outside to wait.
"Seems like we need to find more about this Penkus feller...I wonder where they mights be hiding..."
Hanging back a little, Spinnaker Jon followed.
Sneaky waits outside the shop leaving his more loquace mates doing the job... images of seas and boats fullfill his thoughts.
Bindlplotz makes sure his current load in his rifle is a dry load with as damp as it's been today.
Throws his arm around Dax Thuras shoulders and continues the song [to the theme from "Scooby Doo"]
"Wee need some help from you now!"
Nonchalantly following, Spinnaker Jon pulled out his pipe, filled it with pipeweed and lit it with a small match. The smoke gathered over his head in an oddly threatening manner before he broke it up with a wave of his hand...
Seems like another dead game...I wish I could get in just one game that lasted long enough to level!!!
The only AP that I have played in that I've levelled in, is the one I took over...sheesh!
OK, let's get a roll call of who would like to continue.
Spinnaker Jon!
I'd like to continue.
I have enjoyed my adventures thus far, and would like to continue them.
I'm in
Definitely.
Sneaky, you still here?
When last we left our story...
Our heroes went in search of Vanthus Vanderboren, suspected thief of his sister Lavinia's family fortune. After canvassing the city, they come across a couple of clues.
One leads towards the Azure district, where he was seen with a notorious pickpocket.
Another leads to the Shadowshore district, where the proprietor of a used boat shop "It Still Floats!", recalled selling a boat to someone matching Vanthus' description, as well as an old friend of yours; a sailor by the name of Penkus.
"Oh! What did they get? A sailboat?" Annie gave a little self-depreciating chuckle. "I'm afraid I don't know much about boats, myself."
In case it's needed, another diplomacy check: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (9) + 8 = 17
Panchi seems to grow more friendly towards Annie as he leans a little closer.
"Well darlin', they bought a small Pinnace. You know, kind of a large rowboat with a mast. Can carry maybe up to eight guys and some cargo. You can row or sail it with as little as one guy. They were real exited to get going too; hardly argued about price at all. Bought a couple of casks of lamp oil and some coils of rope as well, 'fore they shoved off. Last I see, they was headed west."Now little lady, can I interest you in something more... personal?"
Meanwhile outside, Bryson Deepwinter easily runs down the half-elf in the work yard of "It Still Floats!". Having herded him until he was trapped against an upturned hulk and the dock that lead out to the sole ship currently moored there.
(What appeared to be an Ice Barbarian longboat that had been cut in thirds, the middle taken out and the fore and aft sections nailed together again.)
Spinnaker Jon came up behind them wheezing, and Dgrim after that.
The half-elf turned and threw his hands up in surrender.
Here comes Sneaky... just found our rebirth...
Bryson finally gets the fellow to stop.
“Hey there you sure can run. Ah jus’ wanna axe you sum questions.”
Bryson seems sincere in this (he has the honest trait).
“You know Vanthus Vanderboren?”
“Why’d ya run?”
Dgrim waddles hurriedly behind Bryson and Jon. When he catches up, he backs up Bryson in his questioning, aggravated. "What the hell is wrong with you?" he demands of the half-elf. "You got something to hide?"
Intimidate:
Girrak walks up behind the others, quitly observing, his face expressionless.
"Now, now, take it easy dwarf!" The half-elf backs away from Dgrim, crowding against the overturned hulk.
"I just hear you was all askin' questions about Lord Vanderboren; and I was wonderin if there was a... reward."
Panchi seems to grow more friendly towards Annie as he leans a little closer.
"Well darlin', they bought a small Pinnace. You know, kind of a large rowboat with a mast. Can carry maybe up to eight guys and some cargo. You can row or sail it with as little as one guy. They were real exited to get going too; hardly argued about price at all. Bought a couple of casks of lamp oil and some coils of rope as well, 'fore they shoved off. Last I see, they was headed west.
"Now little lady, can I interest you in something more... personal?"
Annie laughed a little and waved her hand at Panchi. "Oh! Why sir, you flatter me! If I didn't have other errands to see too...but really, I appreciate your time, and I'll let everyone at the Parrot know of your honesty and discretion!"
She sketched a quick curtsy and went outside. Where had everyone else gone off too?
"You just tell us what you know and we might let you go without hurting you too much."
Intimidate
Edit: see
Glancing at Dgrim, the half-elf yells "OK, OK, I'll tell you! Just... don't let the dwarf hurt me! I heard about the... things they do.
"I was hired by Vanderboren to help him in some kind of smuggling scam. He's been holed up in a secret base in some old tunnels on Parrot Island. I can take you to the secret enterance! Please don't kill me."
He crouches down quivering in fear.
"OK. We'll gather our friends and you'll take us there."
Panchi, looking for the cute girl who was just in his shop, comes out the door and spots the heroes down by the dock..
Snatching up a spiked mace from somewhere he shouts; "IF YOU LOUTS AREN'T GONNA BUY SOMETHING, GET OUTTA MY WORKYARD!"
The few layabout workers who had been listening in to your conversation abruptly find work to busy themselves with elsewhere.
When the half-elf mentioned Parrot Island you recall...
Annie followed Panchi's gaze at his yell and saw her friends talking someone she didn't recognize. She hurried over in an attempt to keep them out of trouble and heard the half elf they were talking to mention Parrot Island.
When the half-elf mentioned Parrot Island you recall...
"No one's gonna kill you," Dgrim says gruffly, "but if you can't help us out, perhaps the authorities would like to hear of your situation."
Knowledge (Local):
"Parrot Island? Parrot Island..."
Knowledge: Geography +5=7
"Oi remember a Poirot island, but not a Parrot island." Even though he looked at a map that morning in a cartographer's shop, and failed to notice it.
Go to Parrot Island.
K:Geography
"We should git a boat and go there right away."
Sneaky is watching the sky, trying to leave his mates doing the job for him this time. His ability with the words is not very high and he prefers to stay outside to breath the fresh sea air. He ears they are talking about Parrot Island... Parrot Island...
Knowledge (Local):
Spinnaker Jon walks out on the dock.
"Arr it's right across the way! We could row across t' it in ten t' fifteen minutes!"
"We should git a boat and go there right away."
"I do recall from conversations in the Parrot that the island is a little tough to land on." She chuckled softly. "It's not too surprising I'd hear talk on the island there, given that the establishment and the island share a name! But these sailors mentioned the island is surrounded on most side by high cliffs. There's a place to land on the eastern edge of the island - a small beach. I would guess that's where they've landed their boat. Nobody lives there - evidently the parrots are quite loud and annoying - but the island is heavily overgrown." Annie reached down and grabbed a handful of her heavy skirts in each hand and pulled the cloth back against her legs to look down at her feet and her simply embroidered walking shoes. "I know I'm not prepared for a trek through the jungle in this!"
"But this guy said he could lead us to Vanthus. He helped him hide on the island."
Annie glanced over her shoulder at Panchi.
"True. And we have to follow the lead. But, first, let's get off the man's workyard before he calls the watch, " Annie smiled apologetically back at Panchi and then looked at the cornered half elf, "and I'm sure our new friend wouldn't want there to be any unpleasantness with the watch, now, would he?
"Besides, it will be good to get a little more information on what we'll be facing. Were they carrying weapons? Other gear? We'll surely need supplies before we go exploring tunnels on this uninhabited island. A few minutes preparation and a change into a stout pair of boots might save us a lot of trouble later."
Annie gestured toward the alley beside the workyard, keeping her hand near her sheathed rapier. "You don't want to give us any cause for worry, fellow, isn't that right?"
Bindl looks around, "Oi don't want no guard either, Annie..."
Bindl hefts his rifle.
New DM: