In reply to Judge Messalen (msg # 54):

OOC: Just for clarification, does ENS see any deeper slips near the shore? Or does he think a ship would have to anchor further out? He's trying to gauge how far these small boats would have to go (i.e., a few 10s of yards offshore or more than 100 yards).

In reply to E.N.S. Ringgenberg (msg # 55):

OOC: Despite the fact that ENS is no expert in maritime matters, his opinion is that no ships will come closer than say, 100 yards of the shore. That's not to say that there is no chance of the existence of a nearby slip of appropriate depth; it simply seems unlikely based on his observations. That said, and moreover acknowledging that Jake is no maritime expert either, the factor of the tides may actually have an impact on the probability of a sizable ship coming nearer to the shore. Of course, the key word here is probability. If the slavers were to make this delivery 100 times, perhaps a few times it would involve a slip closer to the beach. Is this one of those times? PROBABLY not, but one cannot rule out this possible outcome.

In reply to Judge Messalen (msg # 50):

Stretching, to get the kinks out, the wrangler stands and walks to the window. As he observes the street below in morning light, he sighs.

Well Coop, I believe I want to go see an old friend. I reckon her shop is open by now. You're welcome to come along. I don't expect I'll be long. I just want to check on a few things before we get down to business at the brewery. I could also use some coffee and a bite to eat.

In reply to Cole Trayne (msg # 57):

Coop nodded. "Coffee and a biscuit would do me good as well. What sort of shop does your friend open on a Sunday morn?"

In reply to Judge Messalen (msg # 56):

Lowering his field glasses, Jake muttered to ENS, "I cain't make head nor tails of this lookin' out into the water. I reckon I could keep doin' it all the live-long day, an' I still wouldn't figure out nuthin' much from it."

"'Less you can see more'n me out yonder in the water, what do you think 'bout doin' some scoutin' 'round on the beach an' tunnels an' such?"

In reply to Alfred Coopwood (msg # 58):

Cole inclines his head, in general agreement.

Hers is a general goods store. Sure enough, you're right, her store is closed. But, she never was a regular church goer and sometimes she spends Sunday mornings getting the store ready for the coming week. With luck, we might find her. Let's go get a bite to eat first, though.

In reply to Jake Richardson (msg # 59):

ENS lowers his glasses and sighs.

It looks to me like the ship would have to anchor a ways out... depending on the type of boat they use to bring the girls to shore and the number of girls, it may require multiple trips; though I imagine they'd try to avoid that. Still, we may need to hold action until they are all ashore.

ENS pauses to rub his chin.

There is also the possibility that they whisk each group off as they come ashore... that would leave us with a hard choice: save the ones just landed and probably sacrifice the ones still aboard ship... let's hope it doesn't come to that.

ENS turns to look at Jake directly.

Regardless, you're right Jake... let's get a good look at the shoreline! Will join us Mr. Conway? Travis?

ENS gets up and puts away his binoculars and gathers in his oil lamp and matches.
This message was last edited by the player at 18:58, Thu 04 Aug 2016.

In reply to E.N.S. Ringgenberg (msg # 61):

OOC: As per msgs 48 and 49, Conway is not present at the Albion. The Judge realizes that ENS might have simply made a typo when he asked whether Conway (and Travis) wanted to join them, meaning to ask JEB and Travis, but I figured it was worth clarification.

The four men who returned to the Albion, based on their own statements and noted by Conway are:
JEB, ENS, Jake and Travis.

And we know that Travis won't be posting this week. He will tag along with others as decided (the talk in the apartment was that the men would scout in groups of two, but that can be changed now that these four men are together at the Albion). The Judge asks only that the PCs make it clear who is going where and with whom, if and when any of the four men go out on foot.
This message was last edited by the GM at 21:23, Thu 04 Aug 2016.

In reply to Judge Messalen (msg # 62):

Travis and I will scout the upper basin, Ringgenberg and Jake the lower. Meet back here in 3 hours.

In reply to Cole Trayne (msg # 60):

"I'm following you." Coop buckled on his gun belt and holster.

In reply to James E. Beauregard (msg # 63):

Giddy-up.

In reply to James E. Beauregard (msg # 63):

"Fine by me," Jake replied to JEB's efforts to organize the morning's activities.

"You good with that, Perfesser?" he asked ENS as he first checked the loads in the cylinder of his Colt, then placed the leather loop of his field-glasses over his neck.

"Reckon I'll leave the carbines here, even though I feel half-nekkid without 'em," he told ENS. "Seems like citizens hereabouts ain't seen too many folks carryin' long arms around, an' it always seems to draw their attenchunn to me. So I s'pose I'll hope that I don't need 'em none this mornin', an' go out half-nekkid."

In reply to Jake Richardson (msg # 66):

I recommend you scout fully armed considering what happened in Chinatown and I doubt constables patrol the basin.

In reply to Alfred Coopwood (msg # 64):

As I recall, there should be some decent places down by the docks that might be open. Let's head on down there to find a quick bite to eat. Then we'll head to Kate's and see if she is about. With any luck...

With that Cole heads on out.

In reply to James E. Beauregard (msg # 67):

"Carryin' a long-arm'd be my own preference, that's for shore," Jake replied to JEB with a nod.

"I wasn't worried 'bout no poe-leece, but I was thinkin' that thaere might be some sorta tie-in betwixt them that smuggle in the wimmin -- either them that sail the ships or the Celestials, or both -- an' the folks here at the Albion, seein' as how the smugglin' all taekes place right underneath the noses of these Albion folks. I reckon I just didn't want to set no tongues a-waggin' amongst them as is here at the Albion."

"But if'n that ain't an issue, I'll shorely do it."

Cole and Coop turned up their collars as they reached the docks. A crisp breeze blew through the wharf. A few revelers remained in the streets from the night before, although the area was right now as quiet as it ever got. A shanty near the wharf served a plain Sunday meal; Trayne made his way towards it, with Coop recognizing the surroundings and noting that he had heard of this place, but had never taken a meal there. Waiting in a queue, the two men turned their backs to the breeze on another chilly San Francisco morning. Before long, they had found  their way to the front of the line, taking a mug of coffee and a bowl with a gravy-covered biscuit and heading out of doors to find a place to squat, as they had seen others do before them, on account of the crowd.

JEB and Travis gathered their gear and set out from the Albion. A stiff breeze greeted them now, much like the previous morning. Walking down the slope, they pause to give the tin star a chance to see the cistern and the small cave. Knowing that the professor had expressed interest in exploring the cave in the light of day, they left that matter to him. Nonetheless, it made good sense for both the gunslinger and the lawman to see the site in the morning light, as it would give them an idea of what they might be looking for along the stretch of shoreline north of the brewery. Based on JEB's suggestion of meeting three hours hence, there would be no need to hurry, and so the men begin their northern trek at a deliberate pace, inspecting the landscape as they walked.

ENS and Jake had started down the slope just as JEB and Travis had begun their stroll north. Like JEB, the rifleman wanted a gander at the cistern and the cave. That was fine with the professor, who had expressed a desire to inspect the area around the Albion more closely. Whether they would do that now, before heading south, or complete that task after they had scouted more of the shoreline, remains a question, at least in the mind of Jake Richardson. And so Jake scans the area, impressed by the cistern that serves as the water source for the brewery's operations and intrigued by the cave slightly above. From here, the cave seems small and not conducive to moving a group of people through it, but perhaps as the professor had noted, there is more to seen than was possible the night before.

-------------------------

OOC: The Judge made a couple of basic rulings to move things along. PCs should provide the Judge with confirmation of weapons being carried at this time, as well as any other gear not regularly carried on their persons, and offer descriptive actions, narrative, preparations, skill checks, etc., as they use the morning to scout the basin.
This message was last edited by the GM at 12:49, Mon 08 Aug 2016.

In reply to Judge Messalen (msg # 70):

As ENS and Jake pause to look at the cistern, ENS looks up at the cave.

Well, we're here right now... what do you say we take a look at that cave Jake?

OOC: ENS has his Colt, fully loaded, in it's holster under his coat, his knife on his belt, a compass, matches, and extra ammo in his pockets, and the oil lamp. He left his own binos when he saw Jake taking his.

In reply to Judge Messalen (msg # 70):

JEB brings the carbine, Webley and Remington. Carbine is concealed as discreetly as possible under his duster.

Take 10 for skill checks navigate, spot and search while scouting the shoreline until such time the judge requests a roll for special circumstances.

As he enjoys his breakfast, the wrangler observes the passersby. Careful to ensure that no one is even close to hearing distance, Cole remarks in a low voice.

So Coop, tonight should be interesting. You ever spent any time working on a boat?

In reply to E.N.S. Ringgenberg (msg # 71):

"It don't look all that im-pressive up close, does it?" Jake commented as he eyed the cave. "But you know what they say 'bout not bein' able to tell 'bout a book from its cover. Long as we're right here, I reckon we oughtta at least poke our noses in."

OOC: Jake is wearing his field glasses, hung from their leather strap around his neck. He carries his Spencer carbine in its custom sling/holster diagonally across his back, and his Colt in its holster at his waist. He wears his leather duster, with a box of extra ammunition for each weapon in a pocket.

He will leave his carbine holstered while he is out-of-doors and has a good field of view to all sides. Upon entering a cave (or any area where his field of vision is limited), he will have it in hand.

In reply to Cole Trayne (msg # 73):

"Not me," said Coop. "I've been on a ship, but i wasn't doing any work. And you?"

In reply to Jake Richardson (msg # 74):

The rifleman and the professor angle up the slope towards the small cave. Now standing less than ten yards from the opening, it's fairly clear that this cavity serves as a storage area for aging beer, and probably nothing else. Both casks and bottles line the walls, perhaps 20 feet in at its deepest, although the cave's shape is far from regular.

If there are tunnels connecting to this cave, finding them will involve moving stuff around.
This message was last edited by the GM at 12:50, Wed 10 Aug 2016.

In reply to Judge Messalen (msg # 76):

"Seems like this here's a false trail, Perfesser," Jake observed to ENS after glancing into the small cave.

"Don't seem to me like the brewery folks'd be wantin' them heathens to use their storage area as a pass-through."

"I reckon we might not want to cross it off entire-like -- but I'm in-clined to move it to the bottom of our list an' not pay it much never-mind 'less we don't find nuthin' else more likely as the pass-through."

"What're your thoughts?"

In reply to Jake Richardson (msg # 77):

ENS answers while still looking.

Sounds reasonable Jake, let's see what we can find down the shore... let's have one more look at that cistern though.

OOC: Can we get a little more detail about the cistern? is it totally in the open? or does it go into the slope as well? any other doors or openings?
This message was last edited by the player at 18:34, Wed 10 Aug 2016.

In reply to E.N.S. Ringgenberg (msg # 78):

ENS moves to get a closer look at the cistern, which has an open air entrance in the side of the slope. A small stone wall frames a sort of entryway, although most of the water fllled cavern is underground. Neither the professor nor Jake spies any kind of door or other opening, aside from this entrance. Although they can't be certain with only a visual inspection, it appears to be a few feet deep here near the entrance, and perhaps deeper farther back. It appears to go no more than 15 yards long.

A few buckets rest just inside, on a small rock ledge. A pulley hangs from the overhead rock, apparently used for extracting buckets of fresh water from the cistern's main body.