8th Day of Ascending Water, RY 768
Late Morning

Ever since his graduation from the Brotherhood of Night, Xander Lucian has been waiting, and watching.

His masters in the brotherhood have given him the task of taking to the seas to gain experience in the art of assassination and deception. But it is a task easier said than done. One cannot simply choose any ship for such an undertaking -- it has to be one that will have use for a silent killer, one whose crew and captain may have many enemies, one who will sail boldly into dangers that will put everything he has learned from his brothers to the test.

So Xander waits, watching the harbor from the window, keeping an eye out for likely candidates sailing into shore. He is currently lodging at the Daring Blade Inn of Seahaven, close enough to the docks that he can smell the strong scent of fish with every breath he takes. It's still far enough that he could get a good long look at anyone coming from the docks, though, and decide who he might approach (or who's ship to stow away on, if he chooses!)

After a moment a rather plump but pretty serving girl comes by, dark-haired and unsmiling. She looks at Xander expectantly, waiting for his order -- breakfast, or anything else.

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OOC: I'm starting you alone mostly 'cause the others are *approaching* Wavecrest, and you're looking to leave it. ;) We'll have to play solo a bit but I do intend to put you in with a bigger group ASAP.

Xander smiles at the girl exuding a calm presences. "What do you have for breakfast today?" He had been waiting a long time for a ship but that didn't mean anything one had to be patient in his line of word.  He is currently in the guise of a craftsmen of modest skill. His story is that he's looking for a ship that could be in need of his services both as a carpenter to repair the ship in case of an attack and as a dragon blooded who can help prevent damage in the first place.

The girl actually smiles a little then. Just a little. "If it pleases you, sir, we have dark or white bread, a warm fish broth of the morning's catch, and ale or water to drink." Not the best fare ever, but then again, the Daring Blade isn't the best, either. Still, the fish and bread would definitely be fresh.

As she talks, Xander notices from the corner of his eye a rather impressive ship pulling into port. It is a large, single-masted yacht of twin golden oak hulls, with a deck of teak and fittings in brass and red lacquer. It looks sharp and sleek on the water -- definitely the vessel of a wealthy lord, and one unafraid to attract attention.

Others have noticed the ship as well, some of them talking excitedly to one another, some actually sprinting out the door to get a better look.
This message was last edited by the GM at 00:02, Wed 26 Nov 2008.

Seeing the boat pull into the harbor Xander's heart quickens. He feels that this could be the one he was waiting for. He keeps this all from his face of course. "Looks like something exiting going on. I'll just have a loaf of white bread to go."
This message was last edited by the player at 01:18, Wed 26 Nov 2008.

"All right. Two cowries please." The serving girl leaves briefly, and returns with a fresh loaf of bread wrapped in a spare cloth, holding her hand out for the shells that pass for Western currency.

Once payment is made Xander can make his way toward the dock and get closer. Will he be trying to remain unseen?

Xander hands over the shells then taking the bread he slips out of the inn. As he walks he seems to become more and more normal. Its nothing special like a charm its just a combination of things. How he holds himself, how he walks, even how he eats seems to exude normality and forgetability.  He makes his way through the crowd weaving out of some peoples ways and brushing past others.  He keeps his eyes on the ship watching for people to go on or off trying to find out anything he can about it.  As he nears the docks he stops next to a dock worker. "Pretty nice ship ain't it. Ya have any idea whose it is?" His voice is half curiosity half business.

"She's definitely a beauty, I'll say that!" the bearded dockworker replies enviously, eyeing his foreman before he takes another furtive glance at the ornate ship. "Well, we've got a name. 'Helkar's Folly'. But no idea who's on board yet, the harbormaster's the one who'll get to know first." He jabs a thumb towards the man in blue and white with the logbook that waits as the Folly completes docking.

"Back to work!" snaps the foreman, and the worker grins apologetically at Xander, scurrying back to the task of unloading cargo from one of the larger merchant ships at port.

From here Xander can see three figures standing out amongst the competent crewmen on the Helkar's Folly working to secure ropes and lower anchor. Standing at the wheel is a young, well-dressed, stocky looking man with reddish brown hair, wearing a tricorned hat tucked with feathers. With him are a tall, wiry man with blue-violet hair with the features of a man Chosen by Mela, and a shorter girl -- no older than a teenager -- wearing heavy gauntlets and boots of a solid white substance: jade?

Xander mutters to himself quietly examining the ship. "Hmmm curiouser and curiouser. A strange but beautifully crafted boat. Certainly a target for all sorts of pirates and yet unafraid. The primary crew seeming to consist of young man, probobly the captain, a fellow chosen of Mela, and a young girl armed with jade." Xander continues on his way to a spot where he can hear any conversation with the harbormaster without being seen. The more he thought about it the more he suspected that this would be the ship. Still he didn't yet know what the best way to get invited on would be but that was all a matter of time.

As he edges closer, Xander actually sees the girl with white jade nudge the captain and nod in his direction. He isn't totally sure it was just coincidence or whether she was actually pointing him out. Nonetheless it makes him a bit uncomfortable.

He can hear the harbormaster talking. It isn't anything particularly interesting so far. Just the usual things one might expect a harbormaster to ask a foreigner coming to dock: "What are your intentions in Seahaven?" and "You will be required to declare your cargo," and such. The captain and crew on board has yet to give a response.

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OOC: Depending on your reaction, or that from the other thread, you may end up getting pulled into the scene with the other new PCs soon. :) Also, if you want to hide from whoever seems to have spotted you, you'll have to roll again along with your post. This time Wits+Stealth.
This message was last edited by the GM at 03:25, Thu 27 Nov 2008.

"Its impressive if she actually spotted me and if she did hiding now would only draw their suspicion not ease it." His face has a look of curiosity on it tinged with hesitation as if he wants to ask a question but isn't sure how. "I'll continue under my current guise of a craftsman. Its only normal that I would be interested in the people that own or sail such a beautiful ship. He continues over towards them with a slightly hesitant gait though one without fear. He stops several feet away from them clearly waiting for them to finish their conversation before he butts in.

OOC: Yup, closing thread. You can post in "Prelude - Helkar's Folly" now.