[Game Thread] Prologue: Rockport

[LupusRegalis]

Tagus nods to Den to show he would, and looks around. Archie was checking on the young magus, and Ruzor was tucked in to his cot, slightly snoring. Tagus wished he could do the same but first had to make sure these messages went out. Besides, he'd sleep better once they put to sea.

"Does anyone have any paper, pens?" He looks to Elran and Den, not having the items himself "Otherwise I'll have to see the Captain for them."

[Nocturnal]

Elran smiles, chuckling. "Here paper have I, but on it, written is." He pulls a ledger at random from his pack, leafs through it and rips out a piece of paper without much of interest written on it. "Pen, ink, have not." He pauses, looking all around and back at Tagus. "Mebbe, all enemies know all we know to write so make sure, good idea is not?" Shrugging, he hands the paper to Tagus.

 

Perception check for paranoia: 36
I plan to make these every turn that I'm awake so nobody sneaks up on us or eavesdrops without my being aware of it, and it ought to average some 5 better than passive.
I also meant to make active Insight checks against every member of the crew I met so far...

[Phil]

Originally Posted by Mike

Once above decks, the mage sought out the captain. Smiling through his exhaustion, Archaemelion extended a hand toward the man. "The arcane have informed me it'll be hot today, with mild winds to the north. Archaemelion, master of magic, at your service. Once we've gotten out of port I'll gladly summon a stiff breeze in the direction of your choosing."

"Jacob Fabian, good to meet you." says the bearded man, smelling at the air a bit, tiliting his head back to examine the sky, almost as if to confirm Archie's prediction. "North'll be fine. We're not due on port in Drysdale for two days, and frankly we're safer out to sea than sitting in port for more time than we've got to. If we need a shift in the winds, Steven can manage that much. Appreciate it though."

"I suspect I'll be working closely with your mage, Steven. He's young, but he's got quite a set of spellbooks. I trust you won't mind if I show him a couple tricks, weather spells, mending spells and the like. Quite handy on a ship like yours. It'll be easier to work together if we practice a bit, you see, and a mage's work is much easier with some good help about."

"Hrm." the captain grunts. "Well, I'm sure he'd appreciate that. You should know he's never finished his apprenticeship, so be careful he doesn't get too attached. Poor lad could never get together the funds for a proper education, had to go the old-fashioned way, and you see how that turned out for him."

Meanwhile, below deck, Tagus remembers Steven had parchment and pens on his desk.

Elran's eyes dart nervously from side to side, keeping a wary eye all around, worried about whoever the traitor is sneaking up on them in the night. He notes another door to the fore, most likely leading to the crew's quarters. The two small, round windows on each side of the cabin do not appear large enough to fit through, but it's possible a halfling could manage. A small door to the starboard side, on the aft end of the cabin, leads to a small room called the "head", little more than a bench with a hole in it leading down into the bilge. It's disgusting, but it would be possible for someone to squeeze through the hole, crawl through the bilge, and emerge at another head: presumably there's one in the crew's quarters and the captain's cabin. None of the doors have locks on them.

He notes these possible means of entry, and is confident there are no others. Nobody appears to be eavesdropping on their conversation. In his mind, he runs over the crewmen he's met so far. He's not convinced he can read either of the Garrows well enough to make a judgment about them. Kavil is quite shrewd, while Merric is charismatic, and both are likely excellent liars. They seem sincere enough, but it's hard to say.

Rolen and Steven seem more readable. The first mate is cautious, paranoid, but that's to be expected. While the halflings had seemed legitimately saddened by Mahroy's death, it didn't seem to phase the elf at all, but then again, he didn't try to fake any mourning either. Whatever Rolen's past, it's likely he's seen alot of death, and is no longer phased by it. He's clearly an experienced mariner, and is very comfortable with his bow.

Steven's shock at the sight of Mahroy's body was genuine. The young mage strikes Elran as an extremely insecure person, someone who is harboring a great deal of stress and performance anxiety. The look on his face when he saw the body bore an almost "is this somehow my fault?" quality to it, but then again its entirely possible this insecure young man worries everything is somehow his fault.

[LupusRegalis]

"I'm not...okay, sure" Tagus mutters and takes the paper Elran offered, shaking his head slightly in bemusement. He looks around the room while he thinks, then moves off to back-track the way they'd come. Once out of the quarters he folds up the sheet of used paper and tucks it into his pouch. His feet lead him to the room set aside for the young mage. Tagus knocks on the door-frame just to announce his presence and then continues into the room. He removes his helm, having forgot he had it on. Then he glances around the room, getting another look about the place, before addressing Steven.

"Morning, Magus. I need to ask a small favor." he begins "I need some writing supplies; pen, ink and something to write on. I figure you or the Captain should have some available, and you were closer."

Belatedly he stretches out a gauntlet clad hand and introduces himself "I'm Specialist Tagus, by the way."

[Nocturnal]

Well, that's about as secure as I could expect, and I'll have plenty of time to talk to the crew further on the voyage. The soldier is taking care of the message, so I can catch me some sleep. Elran thinks. "Little nap I go take now, if something need, you say." Elran says at Tagus's departing back. He stretches out on his bunk, arms folded behind his head, closes his eyes and yawns deeply. He mumbles absentmindedly to himself, "First mate to talk I need, suspect, and boy-wizard, nervous he be, secret has?" The bear spirit returns to his side and soon disappears into aether.

[Phil]

Originally Posted by LupusRegalis

"Morning, Magus. I need to ask a small favor." he begins "I need some writing supplies; pen, ink and something to write on. I figure you or the Captain should have some available, and you were closer."

Belatedly he stretches out a gauntlet clad hand and introduces himself "I'm Specialist Tagus, by the way."

The young wizard stares at the marine's hand for a moment, and blinks a few times, as if unsure what to do with it. "Uh... yeah, okay." he grabs a pen from a silvered cup, taking a second to pull back the wellcap, drawing ink into the pen, and puts the pen in the marine's outstretched hand, and opens a drawer pull of neatly stacked parchment and grabs a piece of it for Tagus.

"You know how to, um..." Steven stammers, and pantomimes writing. It's likely he had been asked to pen letters for other members of the crew in the past.

[Mike]

Since he was standing right next to the man, the old wizard considered asking the captain about their planned route and suggesting a direct journey to Torlund, but decided that the task would probably require more diplomacy than he could muster without a good night's sleep. Besides, one of the others would probably mention it to the captain, and it seemed better to wait until they were out of Rockport anyways. The old wizard trundled below decks and made for the bunks.

On his way to the passenger's quarters, Archaemelion saw the others still engaged in their sneaky correspondence.

"Hey guys," the wizard spoke in a hush, so only the King's men could hear him, "I've gotten the greatest idea about your message. Write something innocuous for me. I'll put the real message into the paper magically in a way that only the King will be able to read."

It'll only delay my sleep by ten minutes, the old mage thought. After that I'll hit the sack for six hours or so. In the early afternoon I can tend to Mahroy and kick up a little magic wind to get this boat going.

[LupusRegalis]

"You know how to, um..." Steven stammers, and pantomimes writing. It's likely he had been asked to pen letters for other members of the crew in the past.

Tagus blinks at Steven as he takes the offered supplies, surprised. He decides not to take offense from the mans actions and instead thanks him. "I can. Thank you, I owe ya a small favor back." He gives the mage a nod and heads back out, making his way to their sleeping area. He notices that Elran has also hit the sack, and sighs wearily. Looks like I'll be runnin' this to the couriers as well he thinks. He sits down at the table and sets out both pen and paper, then looks at the two while he arranges his thoughts. He's just picking up the pen to write the message as Archaemelion returns. He pauses and looks at the mage, then listens as the Man stated his idea in a conspiratorial hush.

Tagus nods in agreement with Archie and pens a short update for King Jamus, minus anything of real value concerning their recent activities. Being a practical man, he figures even the innocuous message should be informative.

To his Royal Majesty King Jamus the First, New Nerathi Empire My Liege, I send you greetings and a short update on our current status. As required I have met with your other Agents, and am now proceeding with the mission. I am satisfied with the competence of the group, and believe ourselves well equipped to achieve your desires. I was disappointed by the state of the departure point however, and suggest your attention may be necessary. I will send further updates as opportunity allows. By your command, Sturmulfr Tagus Specialist, New Nerathi Royal Marines

He then passes the drying letter over and sets the pen on a blank section to hold it in place. "Done, Magus. When you are finished I will run it to the couriers and see it off."

[Mike]

The old mage accepted the note. He wandered into the bunks to find a secluded spot, and then set the paper on the floor and tugged a bit at the fabric of reality in the air above it. Despite the dramatic results of this particular ritual, it was surprisingly easy. Archaemelion had once marveled at a universe which allowed inanimate objects to speak. That was a long time ago.

He spoke to the letter in a sort of wizardly sign-language. Paper, when you are held by King Jamus, speak thus:

"Jamus, it's Archie. Make everybody leave, and get out something to write with."

Now, paper, pause for a bit to allow him to follow these instructions. Then continue:

"Rockport is as bad as I've ever seen it. They burned down the Fisherman's Wife, Jamus. Your boy Mahroy was crossbowed thoroughly by a man called Boss Bloom. Samuels took off with nary a farewell, so feel free to drop her payment into your war chest... or to forward it to the bereaved Trannyth family. Oh, best of all: I had a little chat with the bard post-mortem, and he had picked up the notion there's a traitor on the Windrider. Of all the boats you could have floated us on, you picked the one with the Mad King's finger in it. Well, we're going through with the mission anyways. Tenacious lot of scoundrels you found here, oh Destined One. I sincerely hope the war preparations are going well."

Then repeat the message, paper. Then promptly forget how to speak.

"It's done." The wizard returned the paper to Tagus. "Better shake a leg, marine, they're fixing to leave." As the soldier spun on his heel and made a dash for the courier, Archaemelion retired to the sleeping quarters for a six hour nap. He felt it was roundly deserved.

 

I cast Magic Mouth on the letter.

[Phil]

Tagus has little problem locating a Courier's guildhall, not too far from where the Windrider is docked. The marine demands the best in the hall to carry a letter directly to King Jamus in Fallcrest, and there doesn't seem to to any dissension amongst the couriers who holds that rank. A man by the name of Aaron Equs agrees to carry the letter for twenty five gold today and twenty five upon delivery. A very steep price to be sure, but a price well reflective of the hazards of such a high priority mission. Tagus looks over Aaron and, convinced the man can is quite capable, hands over the letter and payment.

The marine makes it back to the ship in reasonable time, though the rope is already pulling urgently at the dock as the tide goes out. Captain Fabian frowns at the marine, a bit annoyed, as he orders the crew to set out. Tagus moves below deck, sails behind him unfurling, to where the rest of his companions have already settled down to sleep. The marine quickly follows suit.

......

A knock at the door awakens some of our heroes, and another awakens the rest. The rest has been refreshing, though most of them can still feel their eyes and lungs burning from the smoke encountered hours ago.

"It's lunchtime, travellers!" Merric's voice calls out from the other side of the door. "Past lunchtime in fact, foods getting cold. Figured we'd let you sleep as long as we could, but the captain would like to speak with you lot when you come up.

Those with timepieces or an innate sense of time realize it's around one o'clock in the afternoon, nearly seven hours after most of they had taken to bed. Longer, perhaps, than they'd meant to sleep, but it seems to have done them all good. A quick survey of their belongings show nothing's been taken or tampered with, and a smell from the galley beyond the door begins to call to their empty stomachs.

[djm]

Den, his stomach growling like an angry dragon, quickly clothed and darted out of his bedding, overly eager to eat. As he crossed the threshold into the galley, he eagerly looked around, attempting to spot the food. As soon as he physically could, he darted over to where he assumed the line was, hoping he was doing this right and not making a complete fool of himself. Licking his lips, he waited for both his food and for his companions to catch up to him and designate a place to sit.

[Phil]

Continued in Chapter 1: The Windrider