[Adventure] Marna is Missing (DM: pacdidj, Judge: renau1g)

[Luinnar]

Alnar uses Bann-Ur as a humanoid shield against the rain.

[sblock=ooc]Thanks for updating. You can't update your sig with anything containing hyperlinks anymore unless you pay for an Enworld subscription, thanks to recent forum changes. I've tried to work around this by creating an entry in the play by post signature thread, making a tinyurl for it, and writing out the url in plain text in my sig. That way people can copy & paste or type the short url into their navigation bar to see my characters and games. It's not an ideal solution though.[/sblock]

[sblock=ooc] Thanks [/sblock]

 

[Dekana]

Jezebel slogs through the rain along with everyone else. Her plate armor does not do much to keep her warm, and she has to constantly watch her step so as not to slip. The conditions are miserable, but since the guards won't be able to see her, she's at least thankful for that small favor.

She approaches the Swiftcurrent. Walking alongside Bann-ur, she says to him "Better to speak with Berekis first before we see the guards. Just in case he turns us down."

 

[pacdidj]

On the Swiftcurrent

The party arrives at gangplank leading up to the Swiftcurrent to see an odd scene playing out. Four people stand under a narrow overhang, outside what must be the captain's quarters on the main deck of the vessel: two men, one tiefling and one human, and two women, one human, one half-elf. The tiefling's hair flows halfway down his back in a long braided topkont. He is dressed in what would be a rather flashy outfit of flowing silk robes and fine-cut leather, were it not all soaking wet and carries. In his left hand he holds an ornately patterned silk parasol that is proving a decidedly poor protection against this driving rain. The two women huddle behind the tiefling looking cold and miserable, in spite of the long fur overcoats they are wearing, perhaps due in part to the fact that their coats are soaking wet, but likely also due to the fact that the garments they wear under their coats are skimpy and revealing to the point that they hardly deserve to be called clothes.

The tiefling gestures emphatically with a right hand that is missing both middle and ring finger, as he says to the male human, "I'm telling you Officer Graster, Shayla and Ranelle here are my friends. They've just come to pay me a social call, after hearing that my vessel was in port. We go back a long way, old schoolmates we are. Isn't that right, Ranelle dear?" the tiefling asks the half-elf woman, who nods gloomily, her eyes cast downward and away from the officious looking man opposite the tiefling, "that's why they were so excited to come and see me, even in this dismal weather."

The human, a middle-aged man with a large bushy mustache, wearing the livery of the Daunton City Watch emblazoned with a badge reading 'Customs Duty Officer,' eyes the tiefling skeptically, arms crossed. "You're not fooling me Berekis," he says, "You're already being detained under suspicion of smuggling illegal narcotics, and now I catch you cavorting with these strumpets! Tell you what I should do, I should haul the lot of you in and let the magistrate sort it out, once they've been over this ship with a fine-tooth comb, that's what I should..."

The man breaks off his speech, having apparently sighted your party at the base of the gangplank. "Hold! Who goes there? Who are you lot, and why is that fella unconscious?"

Already on edge from his conversation with Berekis, the guard angrily awaits your reply. The smooth-talking tiefling, surprised by this turn of events, seems momentarily at a loss for words...

 

[Luinnar]

On the Swiftcurrent

The party arrives at gangplank leading up to the Swiftcurrent to see an odd scene playing out. Four people stand under a narrow overhang, outside what must be the captain's quarters on the main deck of the vessel: two men, one tiefling and one human, and two women, one human, one half-elf. The tiefling's hair flows halfway down his back in a long braided topkont. He is dressed in what would be a rather flashy outfit of flowing silk robes and fine-cut leather, were it not all soaking wet and carries. In his left hand he holds an ornately patterned silk parasol that is proving a decidedly poor protection against this driving rain. The two women huddle behind the tiefling looking cold and miserable, in spite of the long fur overcoats they are wearing, perhaps due in part to the fact that their coats are soaking wet, but likely also due to the fact that the garments they wear under their coats are skimpy and revealing to the point that they hardly deserve to be called clothes.

The tiefling gestures emphatically with a right hand that is missing both middle and ring finger, as he says to the male human, "I'm telling you Officer Graster, Shayla and Ranelle here are my friends. They've just come to pay me a social call, after hearing that my vessel was in port. We go back a long way, old schoolmates we are. Isn't that right, Ranelle dear?" the tiefling asks the half-elf woman, who nods gloomily, her eyes cast downward and away from the officious looking man opposite the tiefling, "that's why they were so excited to come and see me, even in this dismal weather."

The human, a middle-aged man with a large bushy mustache, wearing the livery of the Daunton City Watch emblazoned with a badge reading 'Customs Duty Officer,' eyes the tiefling skeptically, arms crossed. "You're not fooling me Berekis," he says, "You're already being detained under suspicion of smuggling illegal narcotics, and now I catch you cavorting with these strumpets! Tell you what I should do, I should haul the lot of you in and let the magistrate sort it out, once they've been over this ship with a fine-tooth comb, that's what I should..."

The man breaks off his speech, having apparently sighted your party at the base of the gangplank. "Hold! Who goes there? Who are you lot, and why is that fella unconscious?"

Already on edge from his conversation with Berekis, the guard angrily awaits your reply. The smooth-talking tiefling, surprised by this turn of events, seems momentarily at a loss for words...

[sblock=ooc]Who is unconscious? We left the guard in a back alley I believe


19 bluff, 20 diplomacy
[/sblock]
Hello Officer... I'm sorry I can't recall your name ever being mentioned official meetings. I am Lord Hamperton; where you aware that I own this ship and this person works for me?!? I hope you were not causing them any trouble; I would hate to have a word with your boss...

Here are the release papers for MY ship. Alnar says handing the papers to the Watchman. I hope everything is in order and we won't have to bother you any further.

 

[pacdidj]

On the Swiftcurrent

Officer Graster is clearly impressed by Alnar's barrage of officious speech, but is also clearly still suspicious. He accepts the papers from Alnar, not looking at them just yet. "Begging your pardon, your lordship, but you're traveling with a awfully motley crew. And who is that giant man carrying, and why is he unconscious?" he asks again, waving his hand in the direction of Bann-ur, who is carrying the still unconscious and snoring Verloc.

"And what's more m'lord," he continues, clearly irritated by having to deal with all this disturbance in the rain, "the Captain of 'your' ship has been cavorting with whores, and is under suspicion of smuggling goods banned by Dauntonian statutes. I have half a mind to haul him in and set him up before a magistrate for putting me through all this..."

At this point, Berekis recovers his composure, and interrupts the guard, stepping forward with his arm outstretched, as if meaning to shake Alnar's hand. "Ah, lord Hamperton! I see you've managed to roust my crew from the tavern, though not before Panben managed to pass out drunk as usual, it would seem. And you've secured our departure papers! This is most fortuitous, now we will be able to maintain our delivery schedule and receive our full commission from the Oans for all this oregano. Lord knows what they want with the stuff. Revolting spice if you ask me."

 

[Luinnar]

On the Swiftcurrent

Officer Graster is clearly impressed by Alnar's barrage of officious speech, but is also clearly still suspicious. He accepts the papers from Alnar, not looking at them just yet. "Begging your pardon, your lordship, but you're traveling with a awfully motley crew. And who is that giant man carrying, and why is he unconscious?" he asks again, waving his hand in the direction of Bann-ur, who is carrying the still unconscious and snoring Verloc.

"And what's more m'lord," he continues, clearly irritated by having to deal with all this disturbance in the rain, "the Captain of 'your' ship has been cavorting with whores, and is under suspicion of smuggling goods banned by Dauntonian statutes. I have half a mind to haul him in and set him up before a magistrate for putting me through all this..."

Obviously your department made a mistake. Alnar says matter-of-fact-ly shaking Berekis's hand. Or else I would not have delivered the release papers for my vessel, would I? As for these... young women; I would like to know about them as well. Alnar says turning to the watchmen.

I believe it is your duty to keep these types off the street? Someone must have been lax in his duties. My associate was obviously offered their services; but was about to turn them away until you arrived. As a gentlemen he obviously tried to cover for them; not wanting them to get in any type of trouble with the law. But take the women away as you see fit, they have been working unnoticed by your department after all.

[sblock=ooc]Do I need to make more skill checks?[/sblock]

 

[Dekana]

"Hamperton's" bluff seems pretty convincing, so Jezebel walks past the guard - deliberately ignoring him - and onto the ship. She makes sure to acknowledge "Captain." as she passes by Berekis. When she's on the ship, she turns to face her comrades.

"Well what are you waiting for, you sea dogs? Get Panben to his bunk, and then let's get unmoored!" And then, rather unsympathetically, she says "Leave our captain's whores be. You've all had enough time on land for that already."

 

[pacdidj]

Obviously your department made a mistake... But take the women away as you see fit, they have been working unnoticed by your department after all.

Aboard the Swiftcurrent

Cowed by Alnar's disparragement, and Jezebel's gruff rebuke, Graster finally opens up the departure papers, muttering, "Begging your pardon..."

Having finished reading he looks back up at Alnar, a mix of disappointment, relief, and chagrin evident on his face. "Well everything does seem to be in order here... guess it really was oregano, whatever that is..."

The gruff guardsman looks you all over once more, and then, seemingly against his own will, says, "Alright Berekis, you're free to go, and you have his lordship here to thank for it. But don't let me catch you soliciting this sort of 'company' on my docks again! Move along wenches!"

Graster then turns and strides down the gangplank, the two drenched and bedraggled women shuffling along in front of him. As they depart, Berekis calls after them, "Farewell, ladies! Shayla, Ranelle! I'll send you a postcard from O. Don't hesitate to come calling next time I'm in port!"

Berekis then turns to one of the sailors who had apparently been peeping out of the raised hatch to the berth decks below and says in a low voice, "All hands on deck. Make ready for immediate departure." You hear a muffled shout from below echo the order. "ALL HANDS!..."

Opening the door to his private quarters the captain of the Swiftcurrent address your party, "Please, by all means come in," and motions you inside with a sweep of his damaged right hand.

He leads you into a richly decorated sitting room that smells of wood polish, exotic spices, and incense. Odd, shiny trinkets, baubles, and instruments of many varieties adorn the shelves lining the walls. He takes a seat behind a modestly-sized desk of solid oak, and motions some of you to take a seat in the two chairs opposite it. He unstops a glass bottle and pours himself a snifter of brandy without offering you any, his facade of politeness having clearly fallen by the wayside. You also notice that he moves with a much less effete air than he did in front of the guard, and his face takes on a darker, brooding quality.

"Alright, while I certainly appreciate you getting me out of a bind 'Lord Hamperton,' I need to know who you people really are, and what you want from me. And come to think of it," he says with a glance in the direction of the snoring figure of Verloc draped over Bann-ur's shoulder, "I'd also like to know why this man is unconscious. Why don't we start with how you knew I needed these departure papers?"

[sblock=ooc]No rolls are necessary at this point, I'll let you know when they are. You are of course always free to make one if you think it would help your character accomplish something in the conversation.[/sblock]

 

[Luinnar]

"Alright, while I certainly appreciate you getting me out of a bind 'Lord Hamperton,' I need to know who you people really are, and what you want from me. And come to think of it," he says with a glance in the direction of the snoring figure of Verloc draped over Bann-ur's shoulder, "I'd also like to know why this man is unconscious. Why don't we start with how you knew I needed these departure papers?"

We were told by the bartender at the Murky Tankard that you needed help and since we needed a boat to Kythira; we were hoping that you could help us in exchange. Alnar says with a smile.

As for him, he says pointing to Verloc, he seems to have tripped a trap while acquiring your papers.

[sblock= diplomacy 24]roll[/sblock]

 

[pacdidj]

We were told by the bartender at the Murky Tankard that you needed help... he seems to have tripped a trap while acquiring your papers.

"A trap?! What do you mean triggered a trap? Do you mean to tell me...."

The tiefling pauses mid-sentance, abruptly stands from his chair and paces back and forth for about half a minute in silence. He then takes a deep breath, sips his brandy, and lets out a sigh. "I'm sorry. Look, if you heard of my need through Udo at the Murky Tankard, then he must have also told you I'd take you to your destination no questions asked. Udo's a good man, and an excellent disseminator of information. I'm sure he conveyed my words to you exactly as I spoke them, and I fully intend to honor those words."

"However, to continue doing business in Daunton, I will need to dock there again at some point in the future, and it would be nice to know whether or not I'll have Customs Officials breathing down my neck again. I would greatly appreciate it if one of you would be willing to tell me how you acquired these papers, and if you left any evidence behind that might be traceable to me. If you choose not to speak, I will still honor our bargain and convey you to Kythira. I do not need to know your reasons for traveling there."

EDIT: Looks like speed reading got the best of me there. Edited this post to better reflect Alnar's lines above.