Angati thanked Amarilde and asked her if she knew of someone at the docks that might feel close to her familys interest, to help them reach the boat at least.

---

"I think we should at least give them a chance to do this peacefully even if it makes things a bit harder for us, dont you think?" she said to Logan and the rest once they were together.

Amarilde chews her bottom lip thoughtfully and considers the question thoughtfully. She leans forward, which has the effect of causing her dressing gown to fall open slightly. Auntie Angati is sure that it is intentional and for Alohan's benefit.

"Well, I don't know about 'close to the family', but I do know a boatman who could be useful. His name is Rodolfo and he is based in the Merchant's District. He is very *ahem* discrrete if you know what I mean, and doesn't mind a bit of risk if you throw a couple of extra gold coins at him. Could be useful if you need to get out to the Blue Nixie without being noticed - his gondola looks just like all the others in the city so it won't draw any interest."

Amarilde gives Angati the address of this boatman.
This message was last edited by the GM at 13:54, Thu 11 June 2015.

Kassius casually rested against the side of the gondola waystation, idly slicing bits of wood into even-lengthed shafts. A man could go through arrows right quick in a pinch, and Kassius had no desire to run out. Continuously making replacements was a useful habit to get into, and it allowed him to keep his hands and eyes busy while still paying attention to the conversation. Things were much less awkward that way.




"Why not do both? Sneak onboard, put a knife to their throat and then offer them a chance to do things peacefully? Might be a bit more appreciative of the law's authority that way I reckon." Kassius puts in, ending with a chuckle glancing up only briefly before returning his focus to his work.

Meanwhile, Kibeti lounges on his belly at Kassius' side, the big cat's eyes fluttering closed before snapping open every now and then.
This message was last edited by the player at 15:59, Thu 11 June 2015.

Celene shifts back and forth on her feet, trying to weigh the options and drawbacks. Finally getting to her own conclusion, she speaks up. "I am with Kassius on this one - we don't have to be naíve in this. We know how they, or at least Vark works, from prior experience. We told you about that, Kassius, right? We have the harbour masters word that this is illegal, and that we are to bring back Vark in chains. We don't need to do it one way or the other - putting them in a bad position before asking for their surrender sounds far more effective. Sneak in, pacify as much as possible, then declare them under arrest sounds fine. But we're not aiming at hurting anybody - unless they resist of course....."
This message was last edited by the player at 21:28, Thu 11 June 2015.

Angati nodded looking at Celene raising her eyebrows with a bit of surprise and a smile on her face "Good to know you don't mind interpreting the law to our advantage, of course showing how rightfully lawful we are while holding a knife to the throat does give the legality of it all a certain extra weight.... ok, fine by me"... she turned to signal a little bit off towards the merchant district "Over there lives a certain Rodolfo, who won't mind taking us there, and might even give us a hint or two on seamanship so that we have a better chance of adding that extra weight to our lawful rights... oh! and he will keep it all quiet for the right amount of money."".

She made a swipe with her arm as a gentleman letting a woman pass at a door "Shall we then ?"

OOC: Why not continue this conversation at the gondolier’s house?

Since there is no action on the Blue Nixie, the party feels that it is safe enough to leave it unattended and walk a city block to the address of this ‘Rodolfo’ that Amarilde recommended. After asking for directions a couple of times, they enter a narrow alley off Stinkgutter Way. The small side street certainly lives up to the name of its parent street, with the walls on either side reeking of piss and for some unknown reason, old cabbage. All the houses are very narrow and three stories tall, meaning the lane is dark and damp. They find the right door, which is placed in the middle of a stucco coated townhouse wedged so tightly between its neighbors that its street-front consists of little more than the door and small side window. Shortly after Angati knocks on the door, it is answered by a man in his early twenties with a fine mane of dark hair slicked back against his scalp, and dressed in a white singlet drop.

“Ciao belladonna! What can-a I do for you-a?” The man has the strongest Thyatian accent that anybody in the party has ever come across – this is an accent that has become almost extinct in Sasserine since the Thyatians were thrown out ten years ago.

Kassius stood off to the side, his bow slung over his shoulder. Kibeti paced at his side, as inconspicuous as a blue-eyed albino mystical panther can be. Which is to say, not very. Kassius looks over the man dubiously. Between the neighborhood and the accent, Kassius is hardly impressed. Still, no need to take first impressions to far.

Kassius supposed he should let one of the others take the lead in the conversation. Angati and Celene both seemed to have a gab with words that Kassius knew he'd never emulate in a thousand years, even if he did want to, and Alohan was apparently somebody of some importance somewhere, from Kassius gathered.

Eh, fark it. When I let other people lead the conversation, it always seems to end up in hours of pointless drivel. He thinks with a shrug, before brusquely announcing. "We need a gondola trip to a boat in the middle of the harbor, tonight, after it's got dark. You need to be fast, discrete, and if they notice us, there's a not-so-slight chance we might be getting shot at. Hence the fast and discrete bit. If you think you can do that, there's a fat purse in it for you. You in?"

Logan smiled and reached out his hand.  "Rodolfo!  Nice to meet you."  He looked past the man into the townhouse.  "Could we speak privately inside?"

Assuming he lets them in...

"We have need of a..." Logan coughs, "discreet boatman who could be persuaded to accept a little risk.  You come highly recommended from Amarilde Vanderboren.  What would say to providing us all transporation out to the Blue Nixie, moored in the center of the channel?"  Logan cocks his head.  "I welcome any thoughts, but I was thinking going just after dark would be best, since we'd like to do it without being noticed.  Perhaps, though, going during the day, and blending in with the rest of the traffic would be best."

OOC: Looks like Kassius' and Logan's posts crossed in the either. Let's see if I can merge these together.



Rodolfo shakes the thief's hand and then pokes his nose out into the street, taking in the sight of the party. A scruffy looking half-elf, a half-naked native, an elderly lady, a young uptight looking novice, a half-orc dressed in a ranger's cloak plus his large cat. "Ahhh.... Frak-a it, why-a not-a?"

The man leads them inside the house - that doesn't take very long. The ground floor is just one room that serves as kitchen, dinning room and lounge, while a stairway up once side leads up to the next level and a window through a back door shows that the house ends on the canal.

"What-a is this all about? Work related I hope..." says the young man, sitting down on a wooden chair in one corner. It is a crush getting the entire team into the room, but they manage it.



"Hmmm... Where are you-a interested in going exactly? The harbour is a big-a place and some parts are better than others-a..."



The boatman shrugs. "O-kay-a, I am interested-a. But Rodolfo no do fighting! When the crossbow bolts-a start flying I am hitting the deck-a. You pay for any damage-a to my boat and ten gold crowns on top, o-kay-a? Although if the pretty girl sitta on my lap'a while we travel there, I make it five crowns, o-kay-a?" Rodolfo arches his eyebrows at Celene several times.

"As to when we go-a. I go-a when you say go-a."

OOC: Just to make things a little fair, I'll give you some info on how your character perceive the situation.

Obviously there is more water traffic during daylight hours, and the Blue Nixie is in the middle of the channel so there are plenty of excuses to get close by - well, reasonably close, when you get to a certain point the guys on-board are going to notice something is up.

Going at about an hour after sundown? About half as much water traffic, but then visibility will be much less - even if they do light lanterns. Maybe you could get closer, maybe not. Hard to tell, it would depend on the alertness of the guards and if they hard low light vision or not.
This message was last edited by the GM at 08:52, Sat 13 June 2015.

"I'll sit on your lap as much as you want Rodolfo, but I don't think that will be comfortable for any of us..." said Angati with a grin, she wanted to make it obvious she was kidding in a good manner. "Anyway, Amarilde that has suggested your professional services, so I do hope they stay professional, and we leave the rest for later".

"Anyway, it is obvious we do not have much knowledge of the canals or seaman-fare on us... and even though we are going representing the law, to inform them that they have moved the boat when it should have been kept docked, we fear they might take it badly, thus the need for as much silence as needed. As you are much more knowledgable in this matters, what do you recon might give us the best odds to get on the boat without raising their alarm ?."

"Oh, thank you vecchia signora, but it wouldn't be the same-a" says Rodolfo glumly.


"Oh, I could pretend to be drunk-a? Oh maybe actually get drunk-a?" says Rodolfo hopefully.

OOC: Sigh. Typical NPC. Totally useless when it comes to ideas.

I'll ask the party caller to make a decision on the plan of attack early next week. Until then, perhaps it would help if the characters could identify any twists on the plan they might want to apply? E.g. Is Alohan going to swim the last stretch to the Blue Nixie? Is Logan going to use his secret power that he hasn't revealed yet? Is Angati going to... well, she will be MF'ing all over the place, but she needs line of sight to apply this, and she won't have that when she is at water level and they are up on deck.

Amarilde's bosoms were on Alohan's mind. Not in the sense that he would like to see them but more in the correlation between hers and Lavinia's. He wondered if all Vanderboren were as well endowed. 'Such fertile women, albeit reckless and foolish,' he thought to himself. He continued to think of the Vanderboren women while headed to Rodolfo, letting others talk and take point in such matters.

Alohan crinkled his nose at the stench of piss and cabbage, not quite used to the smells and sounds Sasserine never failed to produce. Even Rodolfo's cramped quarters had a particular smell about it. He was beginning to miss the dull volcaninc smell mixed with citrus and sea of his isles.

When his attention returned back to the problem at hand, Rodolfo had agreed to help. He felt uneasy waiting for sundown. For one, he wouldn't be able to see and he suspected most of his companions wouldn't be able either. Furthermore, the evening tide will make it easier for the Nixie to depart. By the time they decided to do this thing, the ship could be on its way out the harbor. Now he just needed to convince everyone else. "No need to be drinkin' Rodolfo. And I be sayin' we be going now. Now, when de tide is low and de harbor is blocked. Now when de harbor is busy."

He cleared his throat and tried to explain. "De Nixie be sailing dis evening -we be thinkin'- meaning de crew be resting. Preparations be done and de be no doubt catching de breath. We go now by boat and by sea. Get as close as we can and board de boat."

---

Idea: Alohan is adamant about leaving as soon as possible. 1, the harbor is both busy and blocked. We might not draw much attention as we would when activity dies down for the night. 2, I am getting the impression the ship will be leaving this evening. It would probably have been gone already if not for the obstruction. 3, I am thinking I could swim around the other side and board that way but I dont really know where I could depart from. I would have to dive off the gondola at some point and then swim around the ship. Doesnt seem like it would help if we are going for speed and force.
This message was lightly edited by the player at 11:53, Sun 14 June 2015.

Hearing her companions discussing the time to initiate the raid, Celene wasn't really set for one of the options. As the discussion rolled, she found herself swayed toward Alohans idea to go as soon as possible, feeling that if no other decisive arguments were presented, that was what she would cast her vote for.

Going over the coming ordeal in her mind, she visualised how she would be ready to use her magic on anyone who spotted them getting close to the ship - if they were within range, of course. Until then, laying under cover of some canvas or similar would probably be the best they could do to avoid raising anyone's interest. A gondola with a passenger or two would be inconspicious.

Picking up on a question Alohan asked earlier, she quipped in during the talks. "Alohan, you asked if we could aid you magically in your swimming. We can, but it is beyond the power I currently wield by myself. If you really need it, we could perhaps acquire the spell we need on an inscribed scroll, but it will both take time, and be expensive - I'm guessing close to 500 gold coins. Even if we could raise that kind of money, I think acquiring it would take more time than we dare spend before setting off. What do you think?"

OOC: at least that's what I think! I have a scroll of 'Monkey Fish', but that's only for the caster, and wouldn't even help Alohan, as he's already a proficient swimmer? Otherwise, Waterbreathing would be my next bet, a level 3 spell, costing 450 for the arcane version?
This message was last edited by the player at 21:09, Sun 14 June 2015.

Angati nodded "My vote goes for doing it now too... I also feel better about doing it in daylight, and if they are planning on leaving by the end of the day, we might get lucky and they might not be fully manned until then, also, I think maybe only Kassius here can handle the lack of light, the rest of us, are gonna be blind as bats.... or whatever is blind and doesnt see. I mean unless I am mistaken about any of you".".

Logan shakes his head at Angati's comment.  "I can see in low-light better than the average person, thanks to my mother's elven blood.  But perhaps Alohan is right.  We can certainly get closer without attracting attention if there's other traffic in the harbor.  And this way, we'll all be able to see the ship.  Perhaps Rodolfo can row past, Alohan and I can discreetly slip over board and board the Nixie, then everyone else can join us when we've secured a rope."

Logan thinks a little more.  "I wonder if it might be possible to stage some sort of distraction?  Stage it so that Alohan's swim for the ship is treated as him falling overboard?  Assuming there's anyone on the Nixie to notice there's one or two less people aboard?  Or maybe Rodolfo can just cross her bow close enough that it'd be hard to see us abandon the gondola."

"Hmmm... if they are doing anything that might involve an accident on board while we pass by, I might be able to turn the odds a bit so that an accident occurs indeed... if they are simply scratching their asses though, I doubt I can do anything ... and I'll need to see them... hopefully someone climbing or loading unloading heavy goods..."

"So we're going in the day when they can see us, rather than at night when we couldn't see them. I suppose either works just as well. Or as poorly." Kassius says, with a slight grimace. "In any event, I don't see how talking about it any more is likely to get us much further."

The party makes the necessary preparations. A canvas is obtained to hide Kibeti under and the giant cat is told by his master to stay put. Something in the strange cat's expression makes it clear that he is not happy about this, but he follows the order. The two ladies attempt to disguise themselves by covering up their heads - as it is the hottest part of the day now so this won't look so out of place.

Rodolfo, Kassius and the cat then slowly make their way in the gondola, while the rest of the party assemble at pier five. When the gondola turns up, they just act like normal paying customers except that Logan and Alohan discretely slip into the water rather than boarding the boat. As they perform this little trick down the far end of the pier which is quiet, no-one notices. Rodolfo then steers them expertly into the waters of the main grand canal and heads towards Shadowshore on a path that will bring them close to the Blue Nixie. The boatman is kind enough to ensure that his path takes them upstream of the boat, so Alohan and Logan have the slow current helping them. The confiscated vessel his aligned itself with the current so that the prow is pointing due west.

The barbarian and the thief stay low in the water and on the side of the gondola furthest from the stolen vessel. With the bright sun so high in the sky there is very little other water traffic and the two passengers being dragged through the water are not noted. Fifty feet from the prow of the ship, the sweating Rodolfo says, "O-kay-a, now!". Both of them let go and submerge, and begin the underwater swim to the Blue Nixie.

OOC: OK, no swim checks actually needed because even if you fail you still move 15'. Since Logan needs to make 50' before 10 checks, Alohan before 14 checks, you both make it without any problems.

As soon as the amphibious invasion team have submerged, Roldolfo allows the current to bend their path to the east so they come a little bit closer to the boat. When they are about 30 feet away they can see there are two men standing onboard the vessel. One on the main deck and one on the quarterdeck (the raised deck at the stern of the ship).

The one on the main deck spots their gondola. "Hey, keep your distance," he says gruffly.

"You are anchored-a right-a in the middle of the channel-a!" says Rodolfo as he stops paddling and allows his boat to drift parallel to the boat (still 30' distant, on the starboard side).

"And you'll get a bolt right in the middle of the head in a second. Frac off!" is the response, and he waves a loaded crossbow in the direction of the boatman to emphasise the point.

At that moment, Alohan and Logan quietly surface on the port side of the Blue Nixie, close to where the forecastle ends. They secure a rope each.

OOC: DC10 climb check to get up on deck. If you fail, you fall into the water with a splash. Angati can't help with MF as she doesn't have LoS.

I'll provide a map this evening.

Celene cursed under her breath. "Damn it, guards! And they've spotted us too far from them. Angati, can you be an outraged noblewoman? Maybe even get them closer together? Rodolfo, can you edge us a little closer once she gets their attention? Then I'll take care of him." She did a quick visual scan of the ship, checking if any sailors were present but not obviously visible. Then she started casting behind cover of Angati, hoping to time the spell with Rodolfo getting them closer.

OOC: how close together are the two visible sailors? Are they known to us? Which one is closest to where Alohan and Logan climb up, and how close?

quote:

12:13, Today: Celene rolled 21 using 1d20+3. Perception for unnoticed sailors.

Or is that a roll you want to make, GM?

Celene then starts casting sleep behind Angatis back (sorry, no pun intended). If the two are too far apart (more than 20 feet) to both be affected, she will aim it close to the man on the Quarterdeck, assuming I understand correctly that he is furthest from A+L, and could spot them, as he's not neccesarily looking at the gondola. Obviously I was hoping to get the benefit of Angatis MF, but if not, Celene will just try it without.

EDIT: oh, looking at the map, and assuming one square to be 3 feet, they may actually be close together to affect both?? Well, depends on EXACT position...

---

Free : talk| Swft : | Move : | Stnd : | Full : cast sleep

---

HP: 7/7 |  AC: 11/10/11 | CMD: 9 | Saves: 0/0/+4

Special Notes:

  (De)Buffs :
 Conditions :
  L0 Spells : (unlimited use - DC14)
              Detect poison
              Daze (enchantment +1 DC)
              Flame Burst (special - as Acid Splash but a fire orb instead)
              Mage Hand
              Detect Magic (1/1)
              Light (1/1)
              Prestidigitation (1/1)
  L1 Spells : (4/4 - DC15)
              Charm person (enchantment +1 DC)
              Sleep (enchantment +1 DC)
  Abilities : Flame lance (7/7)

This message was last edited by the player at 10:53, Wed 17 June 2015.

In the water, Logan easily kept pace with Roldolfo and his cruising gondola, making the last jaunt of the swim underwater.  Arriving at the side of the Blue Nixie, Logan took a moment to catch his breath.  Nodding at Alohan, the two men started their ascent simultaneously.  Within moments, Logan knew he was in trouble.  The swim, or perhaps the wedding last night, or the events at Aubreck's manor had left him with a lingering malaise.  Logan was panting hard after only a few feet up.  Suddenly, disaster struck.  A spot of slippery algae on the rope caught Logan by surprise, and he tumbled into the water with a splash.  The rogue quickly surfaced, hugging the side of the boat.

"Frak me," the rogue whispered.

---

Standard: Climb
08:34, Today: Logan rolled 3 using 1d20. Climb.

---

HP: 9/9 | AC: 17/14/13 | CMD: 14 | Saves: 0/6/2
Abilities: Invisibility: 6/6 Rounds

Angati looked at the two guards and pulled her hood back to let her white hair and age show, she was about to talk when Logan's splash was clearly heard, there was not much to be done about concealing the sound so only thing left was playing along with it.

Shepointed at the water right under the guards to this side of the boat "What is that shade ? Is that a manta ray ?"

Kassius groaned at the distinct splashing noise from the other end of the boat. Of course something went wrong. Still, the ladies' quick thinking seemed like the best way to deal with it. And if Angati was going to play the noble, Kassius could clearly only be her personal guard.

"Perhaps my lady. You two up there, have you seen any sign of predators in the waters around here?" He asks, sweeping his eyes around as if looking for underwater foes and drawing out his bow.
This message was last edited by the player at 01:13, Thu 18 June 2015.

Logan's plight was lost on Alohan -he was too busy scaling the Nixie's hull! One hand after the next and the Islander half-pulled, half-hurled himself up the rigging. When his hands felt the hard wood of the ship's rail, Alohan catapulted himself onto the deck, vaguely aware Logan wasn't beside him. The heat inside began to bubble -his inner pele. He had hoped the others were in position because things were about to become very violent.

---

Climbing: Look at the Native climb!
20:57, Wed 17 June 2015: Alohan Nuari rolled 22 using 1d20+4 ((18))
This message was last edited by the player at 01:04, Thu 18 June 2015.

The two thugs onboard the Blue Nixie turn at the sound of the splash...





Both the men turn their attention back to the port side of the boat. "Manta ray?!" cries the thug who had been cursing at Rodolfo. "Where?" he says, peering at the surface.

There is the sound of feet on the deck, and a third thug joins the men on the port side. "Don't beleave that old garbage. There ain't no manta rays in the harbour." The newly arrived beared thug looks up and makes eye contact with Angati. His lips soundlessly spell out the words "oh frac me" as a look of recognition enters both of their eyes. This thug is the one that got away from the dressmakers yesterday morning, after jumping out of the first floor window thanks to the oracle's fear spell.

"It's that witch that got me yesterday! Shoot her! Shoot her in the head!" Marek brings his crossbow down to point at Angati and the other two thugs follow.


Thug 3 - aka Marek. I always intended to recycle him on the Blue Nixie since he is one of Vark's posse



Alohan sees three thugs with their backs to him thanks to the rest of the party's distraction.

OOC: I think I flipped the positions of the gondola and swimmers in the map, but never mind. Also, Alohan is actually one square up and onboard the boat. THe newest thug is just 20' away.


<START OF PLAYERS TURN>

Celene begins casting her sleep spell.

So much for bluffing! Kassius thinks to himself, as weapons are drawn. Figuring he might as well do the same he turns and aims his own bow at the lead thug. "I'd be careful where you point that thing. Someone might get hurt." Kassius call back to the guards.

Then he continues, speaking more softly, "Kibeti, kufu."
, intending for the panther to come out from behind the cloth and aid in the intimidation.

Seeing one of the thugs getting ready to fire, Kassius turns and spins, shooting at the man. However, at the same moment, the gondola moves, and Kassius stumbles, his arrows flying high and wide.


09:46, Today: Kassius rolled 6,1 using 1d20+5,1d6. Readied Attack, damage.
And nat 1 on attack and damage roll. Nice first combat rolls for me...

---

Kassius
Standard Action: Ready action to fire bow at first person who thug who attacks
Move Action: none
Free/Swift Action: Change Kibeti's Animal Focus to Frog

---

HP: 9/9  AC 18, Saves+3/+7/+3
Spells Slots: 1st: 2/2
Other Abilities Remaining: Hunter's Focus (1 minute)

---

Kibeti
Standard Action:
Move Action:

---

HP: 14/14 AC 14, Saves+4/+6/+2
Current Animal Focus: Frog (+4 acrobatics to jump, swim)


EDITED To include readied action text and rolls.
This message was last edited by the player at 13:49, Thu 18 June 2015.