02.03: The Road to Pennryn Keep
Cara had spent the final length of the journey locked in conversation with Huarta and her prisoner, emerging from the hold only as they were pulling up to the docks. She was wiping one of her long knives clean on a piece of black cloth as she did so, though she made no mention of what might have stained the blade. Instead she just sheathed it, staring at the harbormaster as the crew began to throw out lines. Harbormaster Anniel Martin was a stout woman, broad of shoulder, with a heavy footed gait that thudded down the docks. Classically Kumlaran of features, she had ratty curls of dark brown hair that she kept short and mostly hidden under a grey cap. She wore the faded purple sash that was her badge of office over a thick traveler's tunic and vest.
Anniel had held the title of Harbormaster for the last seventeen years, having "inherited" it from her late husband. At the time of his passing, the general consensus among the townsfolk had been that she'd been the only reason he'd held the office at all, and that his death would do little to change the well structured efficiency that they had all grown accustomed to. She had a reputation for being stern with the Khundari, but Huarta had confessed to having a liking for the woman, due largely to the Harbormaster's observance of the Khundari naming conventions. Titles were just as important as the bonds of Clan, and any Kumlaran who understood this found their dealings with all who plied their trade under Blue Sails. She nodded as the vessel drew up to her dock, recognizing both the ship and its master.
"Grainmother Huarta Patil, I hadn't expected the Hundari Kornmara for another moon." She shouted, in a voice more akin to that of a roaring bull than a human being. "Though I can't say I'm displeased." She was savvy enough to not say why, for if the Matriarch learned that a caravan of grain out of Janonton had been lost to the Mondain a week prior, her asking prices likely would have gone up. Not cruelly so, but the Grainmother was shrewd, and would seize the opportunity. She'd find out on her own soon enough, the Patil Clan had their own contacts here, but Anniel wasn't about to serve up such information to the Khundari on a silver platter. For her part, the Grainmother let out a crooked smile, easily jumping from the railing of her still moving vessel onto the dock. "Someone made me an offer I couldn't refuse, Harbormaster Anniel Martin." She said in answer, handing the woman a small pouch of coin and a scroll containing the ship's cargo manifest.
Cara's feet touched down on the deck a half second after the Grainmother's, though she waited for the rest of her companions to join her before she set off. "My apologies that I was so occupied, I wasn't expecting that. We should have spent some time planning for what we intend to do here, and how we will get to Pennryn. We could travel with Grainmother Patil, but her caravan will not set out until tomorrow, and it will be slow going. We'd move much faster if we traveled on our own. I've some eyes and ears here too, a Clanbound who owes his debt to House Yisil. He will be able to give us some idea of what has occurred here, and will like as not be able to lead us to Pennryn."
Describe the Action: Cara is attempting to find someone within Grainmother Patil's operation who is knowledgable about the area and properly Khundari enough to be accommodating to an Oathsworn. Given that she is outside of her normal stomping grounds, this is a Fair (+2) Roll.
Roll the Dice: 18:08, Today: Cara rolled 0 using 4 Fudge dice.
Determine Approach: Contacts, bring the total to +3
Choose an Action: Create an Advantage.