Luciano sighs and looks back after Giuliana. He speaks quietly. Dare we investigate the other rooms?
I don't think Giovanni led us astray. But perhaps we ask the wrong questions to the wrong people. I don't know.
If you want to have a look at the crewquarters, be my guest. At least with the quiet rooms. The one with the voices, I don't know whether there's any information likely to be found in there worth the trouble.
Perhaps we should take one of the guards with us, to ask some questions.
Giuliana moves back upstairs towards the doors.
Gabriele gathers his winnings with a smile and stands to greet the captain. Ah, I assume you are Benito Torres, the famous Captain of the Sea Bull. Your crew here claims to be the best sailing the seas, and I have need of such a ship.
I do not recommend hostages if we can remain unnoticed. The others are already taking the conversational avenue. Luciano extinguishes the lantern as they head back up the stairs. The other rooms then, but let us be swift. We tarry here too long.
The first room you look into most likely belongs to the ships navigator and one other, possible the first mate. The clues to this is the desk that takes up the space where another rack of beds would be that is strewn about with maps and sea charts.
The second room has two sets of bunks with closed footlockers at the base of each. Nothing is obvious about whose room this is.
No my good sir, Benito is my father. I am Alejandro and I am captaining the Sea Bull now. Though I can assure you that my fame will soon exceed that of my father. Have you a challenging mission that will help secure that fame? I can assure you that I do not lack for courage and will travel any waters for the right price.
Assuming that no one else approaches him aggressively, Olivier will simply lean against the wall of a nearby building as he waits. He'll stretch his hands out and flex his fingers, humming to himself.
Wits -
7 + 1 + 6 + 2 = 16
Gaspar raises an eyebrow at Alejandro's introduction. Our congratulations on your promotion. May I ask what your father has found so appealing as to take him away from the sea?
Giuliana looks about in frustration befor following Luciano.
Another dead end. About the only hope I have left is that our forced intrusion might spark some reaction. Perhaps we should leave a subtle clue as to our identity. Or do you assume the sailors will remember my face well enough?
Once they are above deck, Luciano responds, though still in a hushed tone. I think we have left enough of our mark to be noticed. And that is good. It makes them realize that one does not cease to play the Great Game once they sail from Vodacce waters. And do not despair, little bella. You mentioned an invitation, did you not? If there is a party, I intend to have myself "invited".
A flash of surprise crosses Gabriele's features as Alejandro introduces himself. I see. He quickly tries to hide it with a smile. Well then, perhaps you shall do just as well. I have need of a fast ship and a brave crew for a dangerous voyage. But perhaps we can speak of this...in private?
The charts show the waters between this port and the one that you had left from.
You are able to slip off of the ship unnoticed as no one has seemed to notice the missing sentries yet.
Nothing could make my father give up the sea. He merely saw fit to name me captain of one of his ships. Alejandro orders another round of drinks from the serving girl. Now, what fine adventure do you gentleman have planned?
Alejandro waves the girl back over to the table, Don't bother bring our drinks to the table. If one of the back rooms are unoccupied we will take them there. The serving girl goes over to talk to the bartender then returns and ask you to follow her to a hallway off to the side of the bar. It goes straight back to an outside door and has two other doors off to each side of it. One of these she opens and sets your drinks upon the table and then leaves.
Alejandro sits down, I hope this is private enough for whatever you wish to discuss now gentlemen.
Luciano relaxes he puts some distance between himself and the Sea Bull. To the Salty Ale, then?
The Salty Ale is a common watering hole for many sailors, as such it is located by the docks not too far from your current location. Most sailors could point you in the right direction.[/ooc]
Excuse me, senor. Luciano tugs at the sleeve of a passing sailor. The Salty Ale? Where might I find it?
Gabriele looks to his companion. I suppose this will do. What do you think?
It goes without saying that what we discuss here must be kept in the utmost confidence. To be quite blunt, what we intend is to...rescue...a child from a Vodacce island. A child of nobility, of course. Once we have him, your role would be making sure the ship could leave immediately and outpace and pursuit.
Do you believe you and your crew could manage that?
The Salty Ale you say? A fine place to grab a drink after a month at sea. Pointing up the street from the docks, Just head right up that street two blocks, then go right down the side street and you should be able to see the sign for it on the left.
A brief look of surprise crosses Alejandro's face before he says confidently, Why of course we can manage such a thing. In addition to payment in guilders though, I would also require that you arrange to purchase some form of goods from the island in order to give my ship a legitmate reason to be there. What ever you do with the goods afterwards in entirely up to you.
Gracias, amigo. Luciano heads in the indicated direction.
Street Navigation w/ Wits (3k3*):
3 + 8 + 1 = 12
* -2 unkept die for an unfamiliar city
Assuming he sees Luciano and Giuliana approach, Olivier raises a hand to them from where he is waiting.
Luciano waves back at Olivier. Did they leave you to wait outside?
Gabriele smiles, Excellent. It seems we might have found our man. What do you think? He says, as he looks at Gaspar.
Olivier shrugs. Some Castilian thugs didn't really like the presence of a refined man from Montaigne. Their friends followed me out here but found quickly that they didn't have the stomach for a fight. Gabriele and Gaspar are still inside. Did you meet with success with...whatever it is that you were doing?
Aside from having a bit of fun, no, sadly. Though there is a party tomorrow to which the captain is invited. I intend to make the guest list.
With a little luck we left enough of a trail that they will want to seek us.
I hope The two Gents had more luck than us.
I'll return to my bed now. Good night, Gentlemen.
Giuliana nods at the two and turns back to the inn, where she goes to sleep with a dagger under her pillow.
Yes, it seems we have found our man. Gaspar sighs, a bit theatrically. What sort of priest have I become, that I embroil innocent young men like this sailor in the madness of Vodacce politics?
Goodnight, little bella. It was truly a pleasure. Luciano turns to Olivier. So. Do we wait for them to finish, or shall we find some other way to make ourselves...useful?
Genius is often mistaken for madness.
Gabriele smiles as he steps towards Alejandro. We'll need men to overpower the boy's guards.
He steps forward again, pulling a large pouch of clinking guilder from his belt. And discretion, of course.
He places the pouch on the table before Alejandro and draws his dagger in his left hand. But most of all, discretion. Gabriele steps behind Alejandro and holds the dagger to his throat. I suggest you use that discretion now, and tell my friend everything he wants to know.
Olivier shrugs.
I'm both tired and bored. Was there anything you thought that we should be doing? I wouldn't mind doing something exciting, but I would mind doing something useless.
Gabriele's actions clearly took Alejandro by surprise as he was too busy looking at the pouch of money, already counting it in his head, when he suddenly finds himself with a knife at his throat. What? What is the meaning of this? What is it you want to know? Are you wanting to ransom me to my father?
Listen to my friend's questions and answer truthfully. Do not speak otherwise.
Only two simple questions about the last Vodacce boy you helped kidnap and smuggle here, the Falisci boy. Who paid you for it, and where was he taken after you arrived?
His resolve crumbling under Gaspar's steely gaze, Please, we didn't harm the boy at all. We smuggled him off the ship in the crates that Don Hernando Rios's men picked up. It was him that paid me. Please, I don't know why he wanted the boy or anything, just let me go and I promise not to mention this meeting to anyone.
Gaspar raises an eyebrow. You dragged a small child around in a crate? I truly wonder Theus will have to say to you when you are finished with this world. He looks at Gabriele. Do you think he knows anything else?
I swear I know nothing else. I didn't want to know anything else beyond how I was getting paid.
And I suppose you've already been paid? The point of the dagger presses against the man's neck.
I received the first half when I agreed to do the job and I am to receive the second half tomorrow night when I attend the party he is throwing in honor of the Festival.
The dagger leaves the man's neck. I suppose we'll be attending a party tomorrow night. Now...what to do with you?
You could just let me go?
I would go for a bit of a row, but I do wonder if it might undermine our purpose here...if we have a purpose here at all. Who's to say that which we seek was not taken on the other ship? We found no evidence in our endeavor. Luciano gazes into the night sky, wistfully. We are far from the carefree streets and alleys of Paix, mon ami. Luciano is quiet for some time.
I would have a drink. He speaks again suddenly. If you think it unwise for you to reenter the tavern, I shall bring a bottle out for the both of us.
Luciano steps towards the entrance to the Salty Ale.
I suppose we could just let you go. What do you know of this Don Hernando Rio?
I know that he has a lot of money. He has a lot of land just outside the city and the horses he raises there are quite famous locally.