Elven Navy Delta Squad: Thought Taker

[perivas]

Amanu, with arms crossed, replies to Marcus' comments, "Such actions will breed distrust and sow resentment. It is better to gain the crew's trust and work with them towards this end. Such doubt of the Symbol's judgment is misguided." Yes...listen to the Symbol. It knows the way. Amanu then begins picking at his fur, combing for lice apparently.

 

[Keia]

Marcus stares intently at Amanu.

"Amanu, how am I trying to breed distrust with the crew - by asking them if they've ever traveled this way before? The patrols on the deck are for security and the mission. The search is for something they may have missed. We're trained for this, they're not. We are working with the crew. We do what we do best, the crew does what they do best." Marcus says as he calms somewhat.

"And how have I doubted the 'Symbol's' judgment? We need to hash this out now! I need you with the squad, Amanu. "

 

[GruTheWanderer]

Thought Taker thanks Marcus for the team's quick response, and directs him to use the marine quarters (area 10 on the deckplans) as he sees fit. He orders the helmsman and the rowers to move out, so the ship begins moving as Amanu and Marcus discuss protocol.

The crew seems nice enough, although a little green when it comes to spelljamming in general and this ship in particular. They seem a little uneasy about Thought Taker.

A quick scan of the ship reveals that the cargo bays contain nothing unusual, just provisions and replacement parts. The ship is old, but it has been repaired recently.

 

[perivas]

Marcus stares intently at Amanu.

"Amanu, how am I trying to breed distrust with the crew - by asking them if they've ever traveled this way before?

SNIP

"And how have I doubted the 'Symbol's' judgment? We need to hash this out now! I need you with the squad, Amanu. "

"Though you think your actions wise and prudent, one can never know the true intent in the crew's heart. The Symbol had charged us with the defense of the Thought-Taker from external sources and to trust him. He may yet hold secrets which he does not desire us to see. Forthright manners is a rarity in the vast reaches of space. Be careful what you seek, you may just find it."

 

[Old Fezziwig]

Akodo leaves Marcus and Amanu to their conversation and goes off to check out the rest of the Eel. As he turns to leave, he looks over at Chjargal, Grillon, or Theryndil to see if any of the three of them want to join him. Either way, he first hops down to the main, enclosed deck and checks out Delta Squad's quarters — assuming nothing's all that out of the ordinary, he then continues over to the bridge to get a feel for how things run in the command center.

OOC — Note that Akodo isn't intentionally slighting either Marcus or Amanu, they both just seem busy right now.

Edit — Changed the move slightly. Added OOC commentary. Italicized OOC comments.

 

[Keia]

"Well, Amanu, you've got me confused - though I'll admit its not the first time I've been confused." MArcus thinks for a few moments about what Amanu said, then continues, "Don't worry, we'll do as Battlepoet ordered. The more things we can be sure of, the better we can do our job," Marcus said to Amanu. "You're a valuable member of our team, Amanu, and I'm glad to have you with us."

"Let's have a look around then. Let me know if you find anything amiss," Marcus says to all.

Marcus will stow his gear in one of the Marines quarters, except for Cramp and his worn items, then have a look around.

 

[GruTheWanderer]

Before long you've settled in to the quarters, toured the ship, and prepared for the long outbound flight. Delta Squad, like most military units, alternates between long periods of boredom and brief periods of excitement.

Hector, the sailmaster, is a capable sailor and exerts his best efforts to training the crew. He tends to say the wrong thing at the wrong time in social situations, but you get used to it.

Elaine, the chief helmsman, is a cleric of Celestian (god of the stars). She is willing to talk about anything, and frequently describes the scenery to those who are willing to listen. She lets Chjargal, Akodo, and Amanu take turns at the helm.

Thought Taker spends most of the day in his quarters, coming out occasionally to discuss the route with Elaine. He is courteous towards her and you, but you notice his attitude is somewhat disdainful of the sailors. Apparently they do not rate as equals to his thinking.

 

[Mirth]

Chjargal wonders how someone could spend so much time crafting a ship such as this and end up doing such a horrible job.

I'll have to see what I can do to make repairs. She's obviously seen her better days.

The bugbear also makes a point to contact the crewmembers individually and ask them a series of questions:
How were they approached about the job on the ship?
Were they all hired at once or picked up in different ports?
What were they told about what they were going to do and who they were to be working for?
How long has the crew been together?
What made them decide to come to the Elven Navy for help? How does the crew feel about the Navy being on board?
What is the destination that we are heading towards?
How have the crew been treated by the illithid?

He will share any answers with the squad.

 

[GruTheWanderer]

Most of the crew were hired around the same time by the sailmaster at one of the more populous asteroids in the Chain of Tears (the nearest asteroid belt). All of them crew up among the asteroids and are familiar with local navigation, but none have been out of the sphere before. They've been together for the last week.

The advertisement offered an excellent wage for a two month space voyage. More than four dozen sailors answered the ad, but almost two-thirds left when they found out an illithid owned the vessel. The others agreed to come once he submitted to a zone of truth spell.

Apparently Thought Taker had already arranged matters with the Elven Navy. The Escaflowne was their first destination. The crew is somewhat reassured to warriors aboard, although some are clearly confused at the presence of a dark dwarf, a bugbear, and a cyborg.

The crew is unaware of the destination. Thought Taker possesses the only map, and the symbology is quite alien. He explains it telepathically to Elaine and the others when they are at the helm.

 

[GruTheWanderer]

Five days out from the Escaflowne you run into your first obstacle. Everyone feels the ship drop out of spelljamming speeds into tactical speeds (which happens whenever another object of sufficient mass approaches).

Hurrying to the weapons deck, you spot the reason: a seagoing ship which appears distinctly out of place among the stars. Its sails are up and its oars are out, but you are certain a spelljamming throne sits aboard.