CHAPTER 08
Aboard the Cecelia, gods know where, heading toward Imbrear
Early December

The good ship Cecelia, helmed by the courageous Captain Jonathon Lucas Pri'chard, who was hired by Boreas "Garfunkel" Highwind and his allies under the supervision of Darris's associate, A'tril, still sails the stormy seas.

The stars suggest the ship to have been blown three days off-course, and in those three days, little of interest has occurred. A half day, at best, remains before the captain expects to reach the port of Imbrear, which is nestled in northern Drynn.

The absence of the ship's stores of meat has been noticeable, and the bland meals that followed your encounter with Boil the Hardened taste watered down. Still, food is food, and the end of the journey seems near at hand.

That is, if the winds continue to cooperate.

[Crossroads]
This message was last edited by the GM at 18:49, Tue 25 Feb 2014.

In reply to DM (msg # 1):

Maeve spends the next few days at sea much as she did the first part of the journey.  That is to say:

• speaking with Kurr
• reporting anything of interest she learns from Kurr to Boreas, that he may better keep up his cover as "Garfunkel."
• being amused by A'tril vomiting over the side of the ship.
• climbing the rigging as far as she can to gaze out to sea.
• perfecting the ideal cup of coffee with Zuriel.
• avoiding Lyriel and Zuriel's cabin like the plague.

If she has the opportunity, she'll also Send to her father letting him know that she and her companions have since moved on to Drynn.

Boreas will use the hat once during the remaining journey to Send to Darris, informing him of the encounter and updating him on the ship's progress.

He will periodically check Filbert's notebook for word from Baldwin, as well.

Zuriel keeps to his cover, and doesn't speak much. He spends the rest of the voyage

-Perfecting chalice-generated coffee with Maeve
-Discreetly learning how to activate magic devices from Boreas
-Asking questions of the Book of Answers
-Playing chess with Lyriel

*****

Zuriel finds Boreas in the mess hall the day after their encounter with Boil. He looks around to ensure they were not overheard. Still, he keeps to their cover. "Garfunkle, I'd like to learn how to use magical implements. Do you think you can teach me?"

Making a show in case anyone is watching, "Garfunkel" responds.

And what prompted this sudden interest in the arcane, Al?  I suppose I could take some time to show you what I know.  Always useful to have someone else around who can invoke a little power.

He begins teaching Zuriel the basics of how to "trick" magic items into working for you.

In reply to Boreas Highwind (msg # 5):

Keef resumes his usual ship-underway procedure:

-Studying and experimenting with his books and, when he cannot sit still,
-Running around the ship like a maniac singing songs and looking for Mermaids, decks in need of swabbing, yardarms and trying to 'scuttle' things (though since he has no idea what that means, it mostly means more running about and asking questions).

"It's just...Mistress Leanna has several arcane trinkets in her possession. If she were to be unable to activate them herself, I don't want to be helpless to assist." He sits down next to Boreas, shifting his weight so that his pendent glints conspicuously in the lantern light of the cabin. He shoots Boreas a meaningful look.

Zuriel pays rapt attention at Boreas' lesson, and finds that what he lacks in know-how and academic knowledge, he makes up for in force of personality.
This message was last edited by the player at 20:09, Tue 25 Feb 2014.

There you are, Alphonse. I've been looking for you. Lyriel walks into the mess hall, finding Boreas and Zuriel hunched over few trinkets. She nods imperceptibly to the two in approval. It will be good to have another person capable of activating magical items. Still, as important as their work was, there were appearances to keep up.

She beckons imperiously to Zuriel. Come, Alphonse. I'm utterly bored out of my mind, and I believe it's your move. I don't know how you think you can possibly salvage victory with both your bishops and one of your rooks gone, but I do so enjoy seeing you struggle against fate. She lifts her chin, walking back down to their cabin. Do not keep me waiting, or I shall be most displeased, she calls over her shoulder.

[OOC: Keeping Water Walking and Underwater Breathing prepared for the rest of the voyage. Preparing 3x Sendings a day. If anybody wants to Send something that allows a response, let me know.]

Zuriel nods his thanks to Boreas, collecting some minor device on which to practice before following Lyriel down the corridor. Work work work.

[OOC going to try to study my pendent, if possible, in a way that doesn't risk activating it.]

In reply to Zuriel Silendril (msg # 9):

(AUTOFOLLOW)

Sazed continues to do the sorts of things one might expect from an Arcane Shaman and planar traveler, including chatting with the crew, looking at whales, and helping Keef with his research.

Unautofollow

Harassing Zuriel about his burgeoning romance, but in an endearing, paternal way
Singing sea Shanties with Keef
Harassing any and all members of the crew and chewing their ears off about the dragon turtle
This message was last edited by the player at 18:35, Wed 26 Feb 2014.

In reply to Sazed (msg # 10):

Imbraer is soon within sight, a faint promise of land that slowly grows from a gray splotch on the horizon to a mighty city that looks to rival even Ikuabai.

The city nestled among the jagged cliffs of the Sea of Tears, which surround the peninsula on which Imbraer stands on its northern and western sides.  To the east, the cliffs gradually shrink to a more manageable beachhead. There are no sands for the waves to lap against by the eastern shoreline, but rather an endless smattering of dark pebbles.

It is here, on the eastern edge, that the harbor has been built. Five hundred slips made of blackened wood and stone jut out from the shore, defended by a pair of mighty jetties on either side of the harbor area.  Twin towers stand at the edge of each jetty, lit by a beacon that glows like a second sun.  Warehouses line the harbor, as they did in Ikuabai, but here the similarities end.

The harbor does not adjoin the city of Imbrear directly, but is instead located beyond a tall wall of onyx.  This wall surrounds Ikuabai's eastern and southern approaches, with no wall needed to bolster the natural defenses of the northern and western edges, which abut against the high cliffs. Both walls possess a gate, though the eastern one -- which separates the harbor from the city itself -- appears to be more of an archway, the portcullis raised so high you can't be sure it exists at all.

A keep, tall and proud, rests in the northwestern corner, taking advantage of the cliffs to provide an ideal high ground. It's a standard enough affair, consisting of its own walls, a squat main building, and a taller tower rising above the rest.

The banner flying in the vigorous breeze proudly displays a coiled serpent, the insignia of Kazul. More than half of the ships docked here bear similar colors and devices upon their sails, though there are a fair number of Gaelian ships, as well.  A score of warships fly the iron fist of the Dominion as well, but always below the serpent.

Captain Pri'chard directs the good ship Cecilia toward a trio of open slips, settling it into the central one to create a little elbow room -- there are no ships to either immediate side.

What crew are not involved in the docking procedure are conscripted by A'tril to help move the cargo to the top of the deck, though Geof is left to supervise the task.

Soon enough, the gangplank is lowered to admit a squat, sour-smelling man with a wiry black beard and a black, weather-stained cloak several inches too long for him. He holds a ledger in his meaty fingers, and he speaks without looking up from it.

"Name, origin, cargo, and business?" he barks, his quill hovering over the ledger as he waits for a response.

"The Cecilia, of Ikuabai. Construction materials, delivery," A'tril says silkily.  The man scribbles a few words down and speaks again.

"Slip 47's warehouse is available for $50 a day. The slip itself is $50 a day. The harbormaster will be making the rounds shortly."

The man scribbles a few more figures down, rips the parchment in half, and hands the bottom half to A'tril.

"You'll need to produce this to the harbormaster when asked.  Consider it a deed to your ship; if you lose one, you lose the other. Welcome to Imbraer."

The man hurries away to the next ship, which is docking a few slips down, leaving the P.A.R.T.Y. to itself.

"Keep moving the cargo above the decks," A'tril advises, tucking the paper into his tunic.  "I'll speak to the harbormaster when he arrives."

In reply to DM (msg # 11):

The harbormaster's arrival does not take long -- perhaps 30 minutes -- but A'tril hovers at the top of the gangplank like a hawk until the man is before him.

"Docking ticket," the man demands, sticking out a leathery hand when he reaches the top of the plank. It is not a question.

A'tril produces it promptly, and the man glances at it for only a moment before returning it to the dark elf's waiting hands.

"$50, up front, for today's docking, plus $25 for the crown. You want the warehouse, that's another $50."

A'tril nods, and motions for Boreas to step forward.

"Our charterer will pay you your $125," the dark elf oozes when Boreas gets close enough to speak without raising his voice. "And how's Ptolmy these days?"

The harbormaster blinks, then glances up at the Cecilia's sails.

"Bloody handsome, as always, and strong as an ox," he murmurs, turning toward Boreas expectantly, hand outstretched for the promised money.
This message was last edited by the GM at 15:28, Wed 26 Feb 2014.

Boreas steps up and hands the Harbormaster his money.

"Garfunkel" approaches A'tril.  So we're here.  What's the next step, and who do we settle up with?  Time to collect our payment, both in coin and in information.  And the 125 gold I just had to pay, that we didn't negotiate in the earlier agreement.

He turns to the PARTY.

Help get the cargo unloaded, then meet me on the docks after you're finished.

Lyriel discreetly taps the party with a wand of conceal alignment. Just in case.

In reply to Boreas Highwind (msg # 13):

Maeve rolls her eyes as Boreas orders his "associates" to unload the cargo, but does as instructed.

Who's Ptolmy? she asks to the assembled group at large, which presumably also includes Kurr.

In reply to Boreas Highwind (msg # 13):

After the harbormaster leaves, A'tril smiles.

"Ptolmy's smoke and mirrors, nothing more, but still knows more than such things should. In his name, I have learned that our contact is holed up at the Handsome Ox, an inn I happen to know well.  Mind you, it's nothing like what you're used to -- instead of a common room, tavern, or restaurant, the rooms rest above an active smithy. The rooms above contain beds, but you'd be a fool to sleep there.  Fortunately, they also contain tables and chairs, and thus are used mostly as meeting space.  The racket of the hammers and the forge makes it quite difficult for anyone to overhear what is said."

He folds his hands, content, and breathes deeply of the salty air tinged with fish and pitch.

"Once the warehouse is loaded and the crew has been paid, I'll take you and your lackeys there. You don't have to come, of course, but my contact has your money, not me. In all likelihood there will be additional work for us, as well. Are we agreed?"

"Garfunkel" nods.  I'll gather my crew and meet you there.

He finds Captain Pri'chard.  Well done, Captain.  We wouldn't have made it without you.  Meet us on the docks and we'll pass along the pay for you and the crew.  I trust you can distribute it.

Boreas heads to the docks to meet with the rest of the crew and to see who's receiving all this cargo.

[OOC]Before arriving, we clicked each member of the PARTY with the wand of Undetectable Alignment.[/OOC]

Zuriel looks upon the city with a vague sense of foreboding. This isn't at all what I expected. On the surface, it just looks like any other city. Still, something about it...the air here sets me on edge.

He follows the party, looking around at passers by to see if he can detect an unusually high proportion of evil denizens of the city, or anything else distinguishing this port from any other port in the world.

In reply to Zuriel Silendril (msg # 18):

Just another city, but a NEW city.  Zuriel and Maeve are careful to keep on either side of Keef as they travel lest he vanish into a nearby warehouse, aboard a ship, or into a random tavern.

In reply to Keef (msg # 19):

The goods are slowly but steadily unloaded into the warehouse assigned to serve the slip, after which Captain Pri'chard produces a bill for their services.



"It's been a pleasure doing business with you," the captain says.  "We'll likely be here for a few days, until a ship bound for Gaelia requires a crew, at least. Unless you'd like to retain us for a return voyage?"

Boreas collects the funds from the PARTY and pays the captain the required sum.

Not sure when we're heading back, Captain, but if you're still in town when we do, we'll be sure to hire you.  Until then, live long, and prosper.

[OOC]Once we get our money, it's not a huge deal who the funds came from, but until then I suppose it matters who forks over the cash.  Also, Zuriel and Lyriel are footing the bill for the medic.[/OOC]

Boreas and the rest of the PARTY head to the inn that A'tril mentioned, if there are no objections.