pogre
Legend
Zandyrium
Episode 35
Down on the docks of Zandyrium merchant ships and warehouses once again were bustling with energy. Remnants of the naval battle of a mere six weeks ago were gone. Barrels were rolling and the bustle of the place made Wassabe smile.
“Good to see things back to normal eh?” Wassabe asked Ginny.
“If only they were,” Ginny replied.
“Yer’ as bad as that ole’ sourpuss Heinrich. Today is as good as yesterday I sez’.”
Ginny just smiled in response. The trio made their way over to the dockmaster’s office and learned they might have a bit of problem getting a captain due to demand from the Emperor. The Empire was offering decent contracts to almost every captain on the wharf and most were taking the sure money.
“You need to get a Captain or a mate as they come of a trader to have a chance I’d say,” the Dockmaster advised.
As they left the dockmaster’s office Wassabe again groused that they had left Thray prematurely and that it was ridiculous trying to hire a captain for a boat 450 miles away. Consumed by his own complaining, Wassabe had not noticed that Ginny led him and Thoren to a merchant that had just come on. As he looked up he exclaimed, “Aye! There may be a Captain here. Thoren stay down here on the wharf; we’ll be back here directly.” The pair swung on board to see.
“This is Captain Isomara,” the mate introduced the Captain.
“I see yer’ deliverin’ a merchant,” Wassabe stated.
“True, but I’ve got a mind to walkabout a bit,” Captain Isomara replied.
“We have a sea proposition,” Wassabe said. “Are ye’ under contract yet?”
“Perhaps the gent has missed my earlier statement – I’m aiming for a walkabout,” the Captain replied.
“This is a proposition worth hearing,” Wassabe countered. “Captain of a fine ship, a bit larger than this with free reign on the route and product.”
The Captain tried to appear nonchalant, but Ginny could sense instantly the Captain was interested.
“Terms?” the Captain asked.
“If ye’ be the man, 50% of profits to command and crew. Yer’ division.”
“Let’s see your vessel then,” the Captain stated.
“I need to run you past our folks. How ‘bout supper tonight?” Wassabe asked.
“Tell your folks I want 500 gold on top. Right out front and I pick my own crew or don’t waste my time.”
“Oi! 500 in advance?” Wassabe gasped in feigned disgust.
“We can arrange that,” Ginny quickly interjected.
“Good,” Captain Isomara looked at Ginny. “I will see you at supper.”
*****
As Ginny and Wassabe began walking back to the Princess’s Barrel they discussed the Captain.
“Ye’ jumped the gun – that’s all I’m saying,” Wassabe offered.
“Look, he wants earnest money. We’ve probably lost that much cash already with the Coin just sitting in Thray. Besides he is going to hear about those imperial contracts as soon as he moves around the wharves some. We need this guy.” Ginny picked up the pace as she argued her point.
“Ye’ may be right, but 500 cash is a lot in specie to pony up for a fellow we know nothing about,” Wassabe said.
“That’s where the casters come in. We’ll let them make the call.”
“Fair enough,” Wassabe said. “Can we tell Heinrich it’s 600 up front and have a little fun?”
“No,” Ginny answered.
*****
“We think we’ve found our man,” Ginny announced.
“Really?” Heinrich turned to face the trio. “That was fast.”
“You will meet him tonight at dinner.”
“Excellent!” Heinrich replied.
“But he wants 700 gold up front,” Wassabe warned.
“What?” Heinrich replied.
“No, he only wants 500,” Ginny shot Wassabe a stern stare.
“Can’t a man get a finder’s fee?” Wassabe smiled.
Just then Mercutio walked in and handed Thoren a large bag.
“What’s that?” Wassabe asked.
“Mercutio converted all of my gold to gems,” Thoren answered.
“Yer’ going to just carry 10,000 in gems around?” Wassabe was genuinely taken aback.
“For now,” Thoren answered.
“Let’s go meet this Captain of yours,” Heinrich stated. “I’ll leave a message for Justinius to join us.”
“Whatever happens, it needs to be quick. We need to leave to look for Rothlor tomorrow,” Mercutio said.
“Once I cast a couple of spells in the morning, we will have a much better handle on the scope of our mission,” Heinrich promised.
"I think I just got me a new mission. Where ye' sleeping tonight Thoren?" Wassabe asked.
Thoren rolled his eyes in response.
The group left the tavern and headed back towards the docks.
To be continued…
Episode 35
Down on the docks of Zandyrium merchant ships and warehouses once again were bustling with energy. Remnants of the naval battle of a mere six weeks ago were gone. Barrels were rolling and the bustle of the place made Wassabe smile.
“Good to see things back to normal eh?” Wassabe asked Ginny.
“If only they were,” Ginny replied.
“Yer’ as bad as that ole’ sourpuss Heinrich. Today is as good as yesterday I sez’.”
Ginny just smiled in response. The trio made their way over to the dockmaster’s office and learned they might have a bit of problem getting a captain due to demand from the Emperor. The Empire was offering decent contracts to almost every captain on the wharf and most were taking the sure money.
“You need to get a Captain or a mate as they come of a trader to have a chance I’d say,” the Dockmaster advised.
As they left the dockmaster’s office Wassabe again groused that they had left Thray prematurely and that it was ridiculous trying to hire a captain for a boat 450 miles away. Consumed by his own complaining, Wassabe had not noticed that Ginny led him and Thoren to a merchant that had just come on. As he looked up he exclaimed, “Aye! There may be a Captain here. Thoren stay down here on the wharf; we’ll be back here directly.” The pair swung on board to see.
“This is Captain Isomara,” the mate introduced the Captain.
“I see yer’ deliverin’ a merchant,” Wassabe stated.
“True, but I’ve got a mind to walkabout a bit,” Captain Isomara replied.
“We have a sea proposition,” Wassabe said. “Are ye’ under contract yet?”
“Perhaps the gent has missed my earlier statement – I’m aiming for a walkabout,” the Captain replied.
“This is a proposition worth hearing,” Wassabe countered. “Captain of a fine ship, a bit larger than this with free reign on the route and product.”
The Captain tried to appear nonchalant, but Ginny could sense instantly the Captain was interested.
“Terms?” the Captain asked.
“If ye’ be the man, 50% of profits to command and crew. Yer’ division.”
“Let’s see your vessel then,” the Captain stated.
“I need to run you past our folks. How ‘bout supper tonight?” Wassabe asked.
“Tell your folks I want 500 gold on top. Right out front and I pick my own crew or don’t waste my time.”
“Oi! 500 in advance?” Wassabe gasped in feigned disgust.
“We can arrange that,” Ginny quickly interjected.
“Good,” Captain Isomara looked at Ginny. “I will see you at supper.”
*****
As Ginny and Wassabe began walking back to the Princess’s Barrel they discussed the Captain.
“Ye’ jumped the gun – that’s all I’m saying,” Wassabe offered.
“Look, he wants earnest money. We’ve probably lost that much cash already with the Coin just sitting in Thray. Besides he is going to hear about those imperial contracts as soon as he moves around the wharves some. We need this guy.” Ginny picked up the pace as she argued her point.
“Ye’ may be right, but 500 cash is a lot in specie to pony up for a fellow we know nothing about,” Wassabe said.
“That’s where the casters come in. We’ll let them make the call.”
“Fair enough,” Wassabe said. “Can we tell Heinrich it’s 600 up front and have a little fun?”
“No,” Ginny answered.
*****
“We think we’ve found our man,” Ginny announced.
“Really?” Heinrich turned to face the trio. “That was fast.”
“You will meet him tonight at dinner.”
“Excellent!” Heinrich replied.
“But he wants 700 gold up front,” Wassabe warned.
“What?” Heinrich replied.
“No, he only wants 500,” Ginny shot Wassabe a stern stare.
“Can’t a man get a finder’s fee?” Wassabe smiled.
Just then Mercutio walked in and handed Thoren a large bag.
“What’s that?” Wassabe asked.
“Mercutio converted all of my gold to gems,” Thoren answered.
“Yer’ going to just carry 10,000 in gems around?” Wassabe was genuinely taken aback.
“For now,” Thoren answered.
“Let’s go meet this Captain of yours,” Heinrich stated. “I’ll leave a message for Justinius to join us.”
“Whatever happens, it needs to be quick. We need to leave to look for Rothlor tomorrow,” Mercutio said.
“Once I cast a couple of spells in the morning, we will have a much better handle on the scope of our mission,” Heinrich promised.
"I think I just got me a new mission. Where ye' sleeping tonight Thoren?" Wassabe asked.
Thoren rolled his eyes in response.
The group left the tavern and headed back towards the docks.
To be continued…
