Sailors on the Seas of Fate - Rana Mor!

"Let me tell you how it was back when we made the journey to Rana Mor. A crew we needed, hardy souls. And a crew we found..." Old Captain Terezian

Day 1 - Coral Bay

For the past few days you have made a sojourn in the town of Coral Bay, a coastal merchant outpost; it sits at the mouth of the Ran Pe river, and is a small island of civilization in a region of dazzling blue sea and verdant jungle covered islands.

The sea-merchants of Minros established Coral Bay a few years back to harvest gemstones, spices, ivory, and tropical hardwoods from the wild coasts, trading iron tools, textiles and other manufactured items to the local tribes. Northern settlers have carved out a few miles of plantations and grazing lands in the humid grasslands of the coast, but Coral bay is a frontier town - the jungle begins a few miles to the south, and no civilized person knows for certain what secrets lurk in the trackless forests.

Your band is currently at the docks on a bright morning. It is the last day of your intended stay, and then who knows where you will fly? There are many rumours to chase; lost Imarran wizards' towers, fabulous fountains of wealth, a legendary oracle, and many more. People of all races and lands are here, the tanned folk of Minros and Belcadiz, here and there a Nimean with clan markings evident on his or her face, and others from as far as Nordmaar to judge by a giant bearded warrior cradling his axe. You even spy one of the Lizardfolk of Shazak, loading up a vessel.

The town is surprised by the arrival of an unexpected visitor - the sloop Blue Heron, a slim coaster carrying the pennant of the Blue Star Company. Shortly after it anchors, you are approached by a messenger bearing a letter. The man asks after Theon, and upon confirmation of the young Minroan's identity, he provides him with a letter of invitation from Lady Balama Theron.

[sblock=Theon]Balama is an old friend of yours from Minros, a merchant-mage of great beauty (from her Belcadiz mother). The letter reads as follows: My dear Theon, I had hoped to find you here and am glad to be proven correct. As you can see, I now have my own vessel and a fine crew. I have heard of the unfortunate circumstances of your family, and I am saddened by them indeed. I have need of your resourcefulness and your able companions in a matter of business, and can make it worth your while. A longboat is awaiting you to bring you aboard. Please advise my man Sicratos of your decision. Yours, Balama Theron.[/sblock]

Theon Marinatos--Rogue 4/Sorcerer 1

Theon smiles and nods to the messenger when asked to confirm his identity. Who would be sending me a message? I don't know anyone in the Blue Star, and few messages from outside the company would garner such speed.
He accepts the message and reads its contents, pleased for his friend to have found such a good station. With a private smirk, carefully hidden from her crewman, he thinks about the pleasure he'll get from seeing the lovely Balama once again. He then turns to his companions and fills them in on the contents.
"It would seem that fortune smiles on us, my friends. The captain of the Heron would like to discuss a matter of business with us. What say you? Shall we hear her out?"

Artemis Marsei. Human male, Ranger/Swashbuckler/Fighter

Noisely sucking a concoction placed inside a decorated pineapple, Artemis discards it by throwing it far behind his shoulder without even looking back to where it would land. "I'd only consider it if GREAT fortune smiled upon us instead." A sudden crash from behind, followed by a screaming rooster and an angry shopkeeper yelling "What!! Where? Who?" causes Artemis'es eyes to dart hesitantly to the side, even though his body remains statue still so as not to attract any unwanted attention. "On second thoughts, how soon can we leave?"

Zariv Morandr, Low Imarran (Human) Abjurer 5

Zariv scowls at Artemis' brashness, but says nothing. Instead, he looks at Theon for a moment, and then stares off into space. While you have known him for only a short period of time, you know that when he gets that look in his one working eye, he is set apart from the world of mortal man.

"I cannot be sure where this will lead us, lordling. The tides of fate eddy about us like a whirlpool, a maelstrom that will suck us in and destroy us if we are not strong in spirt. But we cannot fight against the tide; we can only be aware of it. We go."

Zariv will also consider any information he may have concerning this lady. However, he knows Little (KNow/Local. 1d20+9=10)

OOC: First roll of the game and it's a one. This doesn't bode well.

[sblock=Zariv's Spell List]
0th: Detect Magic, Disrupt Undead, Message, Message, (Resistance). 21
1st: Enlarge Person, Kelgore's Fire Bolt, (Lesser Deflection), (Protection From Evil/Chaos/Law/Good), Ray of Enfeeblement.
2nd: Bull's Strength, Cloud of Knives, (Resist Energy), Summon Monster II
3rd: Clairvoyance/Clairaudience, (Dispel Magic), Haste.
[/sblock]

Anemone, sitting near Artemis, erupts into laughter at his predicament and brushes her long hair back behind her ears, showing the curl of her clan marking along her cheekbone and curving down like an eagle's claws.

"Yes! We've been ashore too long. Give me a ship and I'll bring the wind and waves, only just get me off this confounded stone...floors...!"

She stomps her feet on the flagstones, ineffectually trying to make them undulate like water.

[sblock=Zariv]OOC: You can always take 10 on Knowledge checks in non-stressful situations so I'll treat it as a result of 18. Zariv knows that Balama Theron and the Blue Star Company are well known in the area. Lady Theron's company is a minor trading coster specializing in small high-value cargoes such as ivory, spices, and gemstones. She's considered a little eccentric, but has an excellent reputation for fair play and generosity.[/sblock]

[sblock=Theon]Balama is in her early thirties, and is slightly eccentric; she is generous and a fair dealer however.[/sblock]

"I can assure you, my friends. I have never been given reason to doubt Balama's truthfulness in a business deal. She will treat us fairly, although I wouldn't want to predict what she'll have in store for us."
Theon looks the note over once more, searching for any hidden message or warning that might be in the words. Finding nothing, he still wonders at what the Blue Star company would need a band of adventurers for.
"Perhaps we should maintain a little ace in the hole anyway. Anyone have any ideas about how we can protect ourselves from treachery, just in case?"

"I always say the best defense against treachery is a reputation for furious wrath," opines Anemone, slamming her little fist on the table with an unimpressive thunk. "We wait for someone to doublecross us, and then we really do a number on them. Then word gets around...and then..." she pauses uncertainly, and hastily concludes, "Profit."

A gull flaps down with a loud cry of "Brawk!". It lands on the pierside and looks at your group with an interested air, and then flies off again in disgust at the lack of viands on offer.

Lady Theron's crewman coughs politely in the awkward silence after Anemone's energetic speech. "If I may ask, sir, what message should I bring back to the captain?" he asks in a neutral tone.

Theon looks up, startled by the crewman's words. "Eh? You're still here? You shouldn't go around hiding like that. Ah, well, I suppose you should tell your captain that we would be honored to accept her invitation, and that we'll be along shortly."
He then looks at his companions and shrugs. That probably won't be a good report to Balama, but she won't be surprised to hear that I lost sight of somebody standing right in front of me, either.