(Adventure) A Tidy Profit... [Judge: Uriel]

[Scorpio]

D'Artagnon continues to examine the pump and the area around it, and the floorboards, looking for anything that seems 'out of place'. He even turns the crank on the pump a couple of times, listening for an obstruction, or something.

 

[silentspace]

Atella will press his ear to the barrel and turn the crank a few times, seeing if he hears water being pumped. If he's confident this is the bilge pump, he'll pull out his tools, search, and open the barrel.

 

[Jack Haggerty]

The pump crank turns easily, and after a few turns water can be heard gushing through the pipes. Atella pulls out his leather case of thieves' tools, but the pump itself has no latch or lock to pick open and none of the tools are hefty enough to break open the barrel of the pump.

A quick search nearby reveals a long metal handspike, perfectly suited for use as a crowbar. With D'Artagnon's help, Atella manages to pop a few rivets on the metals bands holding the barrel staves in. Levering out several f the wooden slats opens up the whole side of the pump, and releases a sluice of stinking bilge water.

In the faint torchlight, D'Artagnon and Atella discover a small, black bundle lashed tightly to the plunger in such a spot as to not affect the motion of the pump.

 

[silentspace]

Although it seems unlikely, Atella searches for traps nonetheless, as he carefully removes the package and opens it.

 

[Scorpio]

"Watch for the leeward side", D'Artagnon says sarcastically. "What do have here?"

 

[Jack Haggerty]

Atella can find no booby traps set in or around the pump.

The outer wrapping is black tarred canvas stitched tightly closed with thick twine. A sharp dagger makes quick work of the stitching, and on the inside is a small leather envelope. Untying the short thong that holds the envelope closed reveals a worn piece of parchment.

It appears to be a map that marks a cache of treasure, though directions to the locale are conspicuously absent...

 

[Scorpio]

[OOC-Gee, if some lazy mapmaker would get off his a** and do a map of EW, maybe could match this thing up somewhere...
Nice map, BTW]

D'Artagnon glances at the map. "Doesn't say much, eh? Maybe there's something else that goes with it?" He scrounges around the area, cautiously, on the leeward side of the boat...

 

[silentspace]

Atella nods at D'Artagnan and puts the map away as he helps search. "After here, let's check out the cabins. There may be maps in there."

 

[orsal]

OOC: Just to let you know -- I'll be out of town Wed-Sun, and not sure if I'll be accessing ENworld. If the action shifts back upstairs and Jo has something to do besides twiddle his thumbs, feel free to handle as you deem appropriate.

 

[Scorpio]

D'Artagnon will help search the area, as thoroughly and quickly as possible.