[IC] The Port Opal Underground - Part One

[Tonguez]

"So le'me get this striaght" Kaufman's eye twitched and he stopped humming "you expect people to give you money so that you can give it to other people and hope they pay it back. It sounds too far fetched, and trust me I've had friends who worked similar rackets.

Why on earth would I want to give you my money so that you might get rich from it or might loose the lot?"

 

[maddmic]

Frem smiles at Haley. "Ah, yes that cheese was given to me by a very good friend of mine. Somewhat of a going away present, I'm afraid. I always thought that he had it delivered from somewhere exotic. Probably paid a hefty price for it too." Pausing just long enough to finish chewing on the cheese and swallow, he continues talking to Haley, but in a voice loud enough so that some of the others will hear. "So, a bank that loans money huh? Well, I can see why certain people are worried that others will try to take advantage of you and run with the funds. However another good friend of mine once told me that in order to make money you have to have money, unless you steal it. Then you're no better than a common thief."

Turning to look at the rest of the people in the crowded room, Frem asks, "So, it would seem that you have one amongst you who does not wish to part with his coin in order to help start this little business up. I am curious, what ammount are you wanting in order to join this Union and what are your criteria for joining?" Looking back at Haley, he smiles and whispers, "Well, I was also told by my cheese friend to never look past an opportunity."

 

[Inez Hull]

At the talk of the 'union' and lending out money for starting businesses, Marec goes pale and his expression turns icy. When Haley and Kelly make off-the-cuff remarks about punishing loan defaulters Marec abruptly stands up, bumping the table and sending gaming chips flying. His face contorts with rage and he spits out venomously, "don't be too quick to plan the demise of hard working families. Better you become honest thieves who at least wear their intentions on their sleeves." With that he storms out of the room and heads up to the deck of the ship.

 

[Reprisal]

After watching Marec storm out, Kennewick furrows his brow and says "Well, Kaufman, we don't really need anyone else to give us any money up front, you see, because we already have a tidy sum of gold and silver already in place." He places a stone and digs into his backpack and brings out a small bottle of blackberry wine. He pops it open and looks at it for a moment, "Moira?"

Moira turned to look over at Kennewick, seeing the bottle, she nods and walks over to a wooden chest and opens it. She brings out six porcelin cups and hands them to the gnome.

"To be honest though, Kaufman," the gnome says, "I'm a bit surprised at Marec's outburst. We've been doing this in Guelphia for years now, and it's not nearly as bad as the elf makes it out to be." He pours out a cup and gives it to Moira, and then gestures to you and anyone else if they want any. "It makes us sound like petty thieves -- which we're not!"

Haley nods, "It's too bad that's it not more common, it's much more tasty than the goat cheese I grew up on." In response to Kennewick's offer, she nods again and turns to Frem, "Would you like to try some blackberry wine? It's fairly good, but it's an acquired taste. A lot of people seem not to like sweet liquor." She rolls her eyes and smiles, "Why that's true is beyond me." He takes a sip and says, "But you're right about needing money to make it. The thing is that we already have a lot of money over there. Mischa sent is younger brother over with at least 2000 pieces worth of gold two years ago, we should have much more than that already."

Kennewick ponders for a moment, "To be honest, Frem, I don't think there's been anyone wanting to join our little venture since our trip to Taebrook. Beyond Mischa, Nikita, Tweek and myself, there hasn't been anyone wanting to sign on with us. Our plan was to hire some help, that's partially why the Blackwater boys came with us. So, at this point, I'd have to discuss it with Mischa, but if you want to join, I suppose it would be an amount of money up front -- which would be fairly high -- or you could work for the Union like Nolan and Kelly."

Kelly agrees with Kennewick and says rather excitedly, "Yeah, Mischa said he'd pay us just as well as the Imperial Soldiers! That's thirty-five silver a week!"

Nolan shrugged and started to pick the fallen chips up, "Yeah, well, he did pay for half of this boat ride... Steady work is never a bad thing, I suspect." He gathers all of the chips and sighs, "Well, you all want to start over again? I can't remember how much we all had after these two hands..."

Kelly throws his hand onto the table and shakes his head, "I'm not really into it anymore. Maybe I'll go topside and see if there's anyone interesting around here." Kelly stands up and walks over to what appears to be his bunk. He puts a leather coat on, attaches a dagger to his belt, and then puts a green cloak on over it all.

Nolan shakes his head, "You wimp, it's not that cold out there!"

Kelly ignored him and started to walk out of cabin twelve after Mischa, Tobius, Mongrés, and Marec.

- - - - -

OOC

Stay tuned for the next post: Topside on the Illumina.

 

[maddmic]

Frem accepts the sweet wine and sips it sparingly. "This is quite good actually. Can't say that I've ever had sweet liquor before, but it's not something that I wouldn't want to have again. I have a bit of a sweet tooth as it is, so this could be bad for me to get hooked on." Frem lets out a little chuckle at this remark. Turning to Kennewick he continues. "Well if the start up costs are too much, then perhaps I could sign on as hired help. I really don't have anything waiting for me over there, so it would be nice to secure a job before arriving. Perhaps I could work my way into the Union. Y'know use my wages to pay for the startup costs involved. I'm not trying to be pushy here, just saying that I do have ambitions in life and being well off is one of them."

 

[Toric_Arthendain]

Brenodan looks around the table at the quickly scattering players, wondering if he is supposed to take his gold piece back. Seeing that several are going up on deck, the dwarf decides that he might as well check out the sights too.

Leaving his gear where he tossed it, he follows Kelly. "Wait fer me!" he says, checking to make sure his dagger is safely tucked in his belt. He figured that bringing the Urgrosh up on deck wouldn't be a good idea.

 

[Frelaras]

Pondering for a moment whether he should bring his fiddle topside, Tobius decides against it- the sailors will have plenty to keep them busy right now. Later, on those dead-dog days with no sight of land for days, the sailors would be glad for it. Now, they'd simply find the little halfling underfoot, and probably give him a boot for his efforts.

Still, he whistled a jaunty tune as he headed up-deck with Mischa, keeping an eye open for things, and people, of interest.

-Frelaras
AS Tobius Roeper, Halfling at Large

 

[Tonguez]

Kaufman turns back from watching the Elf storm out and accepts the wine, sipping it and letting the sweety sticky flavour slide across his tonsils

"I susprect that it was not the bank that pushed Marec" he ponders "I'll wager he has a few more shackles dragging on him"

He listens intently to Kennewicks explanations and the idea of employment on arrival seems good. he places another black stone trying to block Kenniwicks progress before frowning

"so have you heard back from this younger brother of Mischa's?" Kaufman looks up concerned "a lone halflick with that much gold would make a prime target I'd think..."

 

[Krug]

Mongres savors the bite of the sea as he waits above deck...

 

[Reprisal]

OOC: Sorry to keep you waiting!

- - - - -

Brenodan spots Mischa, Mongrés, and Tobius halfway down the corridor in the direction of the stairwell leading up, to the crew's level and the surface; and down, to the cargo, mess, and other assorted, lower level "quarters." As he starts to move, he notices the curtain of cabin eleven open and reveal a perplexing sight. Inside are not a huddled mass of little folk, but rather a handful of crewmen fretting over the placement of an impromptu heating stove, placement of several extravagant rugs, and curtains over the porthole. One of them looks over at Brenodan and shrugs, "Orders are orders."

Another one walks over to the entryway with a box of candles and steps by Brenodan. This one nods and greets him in rough formal dwarven and then continues in Imperial Common, "Sorry to trouble you, sir dwarf, but if you don't keep moving, you'll hold up the line. If you're looking for the mess it's right down the corridor and down the steps."

- - - - -

Mischa sighs as he points toward the stairwell, "That's the main stairwell on the ship for the passengers. It's busy. So busy that they keep a watch on it at all times. If you're ever in any trouble, just head here." He stops and chuckles as he passes a guard who pats his shield in greeting, "But if you're ever the cause of any trouble, you may want to steer clear."

It soon becomes obvious that heading up the stairs is in stark contrast to the rest of the people, who are scrambling to secure their own little corner of the lesser holds. Eventually, however, you make it back up topside and note that the line is now moving quite freely. People are merely being counted, marked off, and given a red token. They are told to keep it on them at all times... lest they be caught without it, and punished.

The air above deck was quite exhilirating, though quite cold. Fortunately, the winds have picked up and it seems that the ships will be under way within the hour.

- - - - -

Marec finds himself at the stern of the ship looking back toward the old world before him. It was cold, but it didn't seem to bother him. As he surveyed what was before him, he found himself watching a curious sight. It seems there will be another addition to the passenger compliment of the Illumina, this time from the glorious comfort of the flagship of this little fleet, the Unity. Marec watched as a procession of crewmen followed a trio of young elven women leading a young half-elf with a piece of white cloth tied around her eyes.