The Seas of Blood - The Price of Fame (Chapter One)

[IcyCool]

"There's some who'd say that the Waverunner is a swift ship, what sort of speeds can she reach? What routes does she usually trade? Was the ship crowded or did you travel with a smaller crew? Did you ever have problems with pirates? I hear tell her captain made a deal with a well known pirate, Fontaine." These are some of the many questions Bart weaves into his conversation, trying to make it sound more like idle curiousity than an interrogation.

OOC: Specifically, Bart is looking for the answers to the following questions:

1. How fast is the Waverunner.
2. How many crew does she carry.
3. How is she armed.
4. What routes does she usually travel.
5. What sort of cargo does she usually carry.
6. Anything unusual about her.

And Bart will try and make it so that the offering of this information appears to be Smith's idea, rather than at Bart's prompting.

 

[Phoenix]

"There's some who'd say that the Waverunner is a swift ship, what sort of speeds can she reach? What routes does she usually trade? Was the ship crowded or did you travel with a smaller crew? Did you ever have problems with pirates? I hear tell her captain made a deal with a well known pirate, Fontaine." These are some of the many questions Bart weaves into his conversation, trying to make it sound more like idle curiousity than an interrogation.

[sblock]
OOC: Specifically, Bart is looking for the answers to the following questions:

1. How fast is the Waverunner.
2. How many crew does she carry.
3. How is she armed.
4. What routes does she usually travel.
5. What sort of cargo does she usually carry.
6. Anything unusual about her.

And Bart will try and make it so that the offering of this information appears to be Smith's idea, rather than at Bart's prompting.[/sblock]

[sblock]Bluff check (Opposed DC 10) +17 - Success
Diplomacy check (DC 13) +17 - Success
[/sblock]

Smith downs his ales swiftly, tolerating Bart's presense solely for the free drinks that the bard provides. After half an hour Smith is swaying visably and Bart's gilded tongue begins to pry at the drunken sailor's knowledge. After chatting for at least another 30 minutes, Bart comes away satisfied that the drunk man can offer no more intelligence about the ship than what he has given.

[sblock]

1. How fast is the Waverunner? Certainly no match for the Moon Goddess in any circumstance.
2. How many crew does she carry? Thirty sailors, at least a dozen marines, and a wizard.
3. How is she armed? She has a mighty ram able to split through lesser ship's hulls and four ballista attached capable of moving their lines of fire mid-battle.
4. What routes does she usually travel? This time of year she usually runs the ore route from Girlide to Loridunne.
5. What sort of cargo does she usually carry? This time of year, iron ore, maybe some precious metals for particular artists' needs.
6. Anything unusual about her? She has openly mobile ballistas and a wizard capable of enchanting their shot. Also the Captain has changed recently, now it's a woman from the Albir Gulf, they're all a bit strange down that way.

[/sblock]

 

[Hypersmurf]

Several dozen barrels are being loaded on board the vessel, salted meats and fresh water no doubt by the look of it. It seems obvious that the ship is resupplying while in port, though even from this vantage point it is impossible to see what is happening on the ship itself.

What sort of size is the ship? How far from the harbour wall is is anchored?

 

[Phoenix]

What sort of size is the ship? How far from the harbour wall is is anchored?

The ship itself is a large sailing vessel converted for larger shipping space and reinforced hull to defend against ramming and missile attacks. It is only several dozen meters from the harbour wall, as if it is readying itself to be the first to leave the city.

 

[Hypersmurf]

OOC: Is Tavernport's harbour deep enough for ships to moor at the wharf, and is that common practice? (For example, where are we moored?) Or is it normal to need small craft to ferry people and goods to shore?

I get the impression that the Sovereign isn't particularly close to the dockside? /OOC

 

[Phoenix]

OOC: Is Tavernport's harbour deep enough for ships to moor at the wharf, and is that common practice? (For example, where are we moored?) Or is it normal to need small craft to ferry people and goods to shore?

I get the impression that the Sovereign isn't particularly close to the dockside? /OOC

OOC: The harbour is deep enough for ships to moor at the wharf, which is the current position of the Moon Goddess. Ships can also ferry people to shore if they wish, and also if they pay the harbourmaster enough to allow them to. Tavernport isn't a particularly lawful city after all.

 

[Hypersmurf]

OOC: The harbour is deep enough for ships to moor at the wharf, which is the current position of the Moon Goddess. Ships can also ferry people to shore if they wish, and also if they pay the harbourmaster enough to allow them to. Tavernport isn't a particularly lawful city after all.

OOC: Okay... could someone else, perchance, pay the harbourmaster enough to cause him to revoke that privilege?

And can I get your opinion on the question asked in this thread? /OOC

 

[Phoenix]

OOC: Okay... could someone else, perchance, pay the harbourmaster enough to cause him to revoke that privilege?

And can I get your opinion on the question asked in this thread? /OOC

OOC: Perchance, should said person meet the harbourmaster first to determine the demeaner of the man....

And I agree with you, a disease is a disease after all...

 

[Hypersmurf]

OOC: Perchance, should said person meet the harbourmaster first to determine the demeaner of the man....

OOC: Sounds like a plan! /OOC

After observing the Sovereign for some minutes, Lukda heads off for the harbourmaster's office.

OOC: Of course, with my stellar social skill modifiers, this should be a breeze! /OOC

 

[Phoenix]

OOC: Sounds like a plan! /OOC

After observing the Sovereign for some minutes, Lukda heads off for the harbourmaster's office.

OOC: Of course, with my stellar social skill modifiers, this should be a breeze! /OOC

At the end of the busy pier a large wooden building rests on an outcropping of rock that oversees the entire harbour area. Around the building stand an assortment of men dressed in breastplate armour and holding longbows, their eyes always scanning the busy docks that are closest to them.

Before the building is an extremely fat man that is shouting orders at sailors while listening to messengers at the same time, his multitasking skills allowing him to analyze what is happening on his docks at all time. Though he has no special uniform or marks upon him, it seems obvious who is running the port of Tavernport.