"Well, I haven't any specific reason to think he knows, but it seems worth a try" Catherine responds. Something about what he said puzzled her, but there didn't seem to be a cause to ask. "I really hope we can get to the bottom of this." She prepares to follow her guardian.

"Well, I'm not really sure," Brie responds to Grimsby. "I suppose it depends on how you accost him and bind him. He'll certainly wake up at some point during the process."

"I don't have enough talent to keep him asleep during all that. Not sure anyone does."

"While I can't quite read his mind, I do get impressions. And I don't think he's what you think he is."

"Shall we go talk to him then?"

In reply to Brie O'Malley (msg # 870):

     "Oh, I don't know," Joseph says, "I think he's just a hired hand.  After all, he got stuck, here, watching the ship, while everyone else got to go into town.  Sounds like Low-Man on the Totem Pole, to me."

Grimsby remarks, "I do not quite follow what an aboriginal carving has to do with it, but I agree that he may not be a man of high rank among our foes, if that is what they are." 

"Actually, the 'low man' on a totem pole is the most important person in that village or clan... usually the Chief or a local god," Brie replies to Joseph.

"Yes, I know, in most common usage, the expression refers to the least important person, but that's just ignorance."

"It's a bit like Atlas holding up the Earth. Would you really give that job to some feeble peasant who's likely to drop it? So, low man on the totem pole is actually holding up everyone else."

"So, which meaning applies to our sleeping crewman? Is he just a peon or is he important?"

"Either way, why would they trust him here all by himself?"

Grimsby comments, "I suspect they believed an airship would be so unusual that no-one would be looking for it. It could be found by a careful search, but they probably did not expect one."

"It's also possible he's the boss, he didn't want to do the work himself" Catherine suggests to Joseph. Given two possibilities, she'd usually guess the more exciting.

As near as Brie could pinpoint a location, the unknown crewman is forward and below deck. There doesn't seem to be any way to get to the front of the ship by going below deck, but getting there across the open decks is easy enough.

There's a ladder up to the forward quarterdeck, and another ladder up to the smaller foredeck.

To the left of the lower ladder is a door that opens into the gun room. As you all observed the ship from the side, you saw that it mounted two guns on port side, but until you entered this room, you weren't positive that it also had two guns on the starboard side.

Most of the room is taken up by ammunition. But, immediately to the right of the door, against the wall where the ladder is on the outside, there is a hatch. It's hinged near the wall, and is currently fastened in the open position. There is a ladder leading down.

So, who is going first?

Grimsby says, "As far as fighting skills go, I suppose Mr. Hunnisett and I would go first, but Miss O'Malley might be nearby to work on the fellow's mind." 

In reply to Grimsby H. Baskerville (msg # 877):

     "Sounds like a plan, pardner." Joseph agrees quietly, "Grimsby, you and I will sneak down the ladder, here.  When we get to the bottom, Miss Brie, you quietly join us."

     "Once the three of us are at the bottom, Miss Brie, you attempt to narrow down your idea on the location of our sleeping thug.  When we think we have a direction, the three of us will move forward, quietly, while everyone else--if they wish--follows us very quietly..."

     Joseph give everyone else who's followed into the "Gun Room" a significant glare, then relents,

     "However, if I can convince any of you to remain up here, in order to protect our route of retreat--should we have need of such--I cannot stress just how important that could be."

In reply to Joseph Rudyard Hunnisett (msg # 878):

Grimsby nods approvingly at Joseph's plan and says, "I think the three of us should be able to handle one sleeping thug, so the others could stay here and watch the rest of the ship."
This message was last edited by the player at 03:57, Mon 16 Dec 2019.

"Yes, it would be quite a good idea to keep a watch out, just in case," Dr. Solar responds.

"I guess that would be me, Catherine and Felicity. Besides, it's such a small space down there, I doubt if we could all fit anyway."

"Here, let me cover you all as you descend and I am happy to stay here."


-

"Oh but I-" Catherine protests for a moment when Joseph indicates they should stay. She meekly finishes "Yes, sir" when her guardian agrees with Joseph. It was a shame to miss out on the excitement, but she'd try her best to protect the area.

Joseph climbs down the ladder a bit cautiously, still unsure about Brie's assertions.

Once down to the lower deck, his eyes soon adjust to the dimmer light, and he can that it is set up as common living quarters... several bunks are stacked in two rows. One of them is occupied.

The person appears to still be sleeping, but as Joseph approaches, he notices two things: the person also appears to be a kid of uncertain age and seems to be shackled to the bunk.

Felicity tips her head down, hand coming up to met the brim of her hat in asset to the plan. She lets the men go down into the hold, while her eyes turn out toward the road. Scanning beyond the boat, in case any other claimants of the ship should turn up. Keeping silent, but for the clatter of the metal of her boots against the wooden floor.

In reply to GM SteamRoller (msg # 883):

Grimsy had followed Joseph with his hand on his larger pistol just in case, but seeing the shackled child he takes his hand off the gun and moves to examine the shackles to see how they might be removed. He murmurs "It looks as if this is one of the victims, not the villains, but perhaps he can tell us something useful about those who captured him if we release him."

In reply to Grimsby H. Baskerville (msg # 885):

     "I reckon you've got the right of it." Joseph quietly agrees with a nod, "That's what I get for making assumptions."

     Joseph turns to Brie, "I'm not casting any doubts, Miss Brie, but...are you sure there ain't nobody else on this ship?  I mean, I don't claim any know-how as to what it is you're doing, but...all this time, while you've been keeping the kid, here, asleep, have you picked up on any...I dunno...prisoner anxiety, or some-such feelings like that, from the kid?"

"Once he wakes up, I might be able to glean something from him," Brie replies, "but it gets tricky depending on what you are trying to accomplish."

"If you establish a bit of friendship with him first, that will certainly help. Also, if you ask him a question, I can probably tell if his answer is the truth or not... at least as far as he believes it."

Catherine stays on guard, nervously pacing back and forth. "They could be facing all sorts of hazards down there!"

     "Well, the boy seems secure enough." Joseph whispers, spinning his LeMat pistol back into it's holster,

     "Alright, Miss Brie, why don't you cease whatever it is you're doing to keep him asleep, and, uh, do what you said a moment ago.  Y'know, uh, read his mind, or whatever, as he wakes up." Joseph says with a nod towards Brie,

     "Grimsby...go ahead an gently wake the boy.  Let's assume he's a prisoner, and not some freaky minion who likes to sleep chained up."

Grimsby gently touches the boy's right shoulder, saying, "Wake up, my lad. We've come to set you free."
This message was last edited by the player at 04:04, Fri 20 Dec 2019.

Brie had only been monitoring the 'crewman' in case he did wake up; she hadn't been keeping him asleep. She'd only put him to sleep.

She was now prepared to read his mind as he woke up. There'd be vulnerable point between sleep and wakefullness where his mind would be a bit fuzzy for a few seconds. Unless, of course, he had any psychic ability himself. She didn't think so; otherwise, she wouldn't have been able to put him to sleep so easily; BUT... you never knew.

"Wha...? What? I'm not sleeping! I wasn't! I was just resting my eyes!" the boy protests at being woken up.

As he comes fully awake and his eyes flutter open, the glances around and has a moment of panic as he sees strange people.

"Wait! Who are you? What are you doing on my ship? What do you want? Where is Herr Schilling?"

He then spots Brie and seems to calm down a bit.

In reply to Petras Valois (msg # 892):

OOC: Just because I am a lazy, lay-about Cowboy, does not mean I look like a lazy, lay-about Cowb....yeah, never mind....  ^_^