"I had that last feeling as well. Which is fine, undead are a specialty of mine. Besides, crew to run a ship are easy enough to find."
Alistair will say, his cheap tobacco hanging in the air around him.
Micha's face grows still and she becomes even more quiet than usual.
The life of an inner city Goblin is a dangerous one as is the life of an Agent of the Citadel. And while this expedition sounds rather dangerous 200 Galifers will buy him a comfortable return to Sharn and thus all the Goblin has to add is.
Good when do we depart?
Illyri, who has been eyeing all the loot on the table, speaks
"Well I don't care much for ships, but even without the ship, we'll probably find plenty more to pay our selves. Goods have probably spoiled and rotted, but on his crown ship, there's bound to be magical wares aboard to keep or sell."
Hoping to get the rest them onboard with the idea so to speak Avicia speaks up...
You may not care much for ships but think of the possibilities it gives, especially in these waters where the sailors actively worship their boats and captains are treated like form of nobility. The ship could be the gateway to plenty of plunder, fame and status... I don't know about all of you but that does appeal to me, I was once a Thranian commoner and thus in most respects a slave... I will never be that again.
Micha scratches absently at her collar. "Well, if the ship is obtainable, I have no issue in helping you in your acquisition. However, I do not feel that it should be our primary goal, Avicia. We are yet to know what we truly face once we board the ship, and we may find that it isn't worth the risk to our lives."
"Practical. Smart."
Alistair will say absently as he smokes.
"At the very least, it seems as if we are all agreed that this job is worthwhile, and if there are indeed some side benefits, like the ship itself, we can deal with that later. I admit I originally thought we were headed out tonight, that's why I didn't go all out in that alley brawl, but if we're spendin' the night all the better, I can re-prepare my spells for the task at hand."
Alistair will take another long drag from his cigarette, blowing the smoke into the air.
"Well, should we call our employer back?"
Might as well, I advise that we grill our employer for details on what happened to his ship...
Micha slides from her chair before anyone can holler across the room, "I'll go ask him to rejoin us." She makes her way to Aubreck and motions towards the table, "Please, won't you rejoin us? My apologies, I do believe that there are more questions they should like to have answered."
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Aubreck wipes his mouth with his kerchief and walks back over to the table, giving Avicia a wide berth.
Vertheg abruptly ends his conversation with the half-orc barmaid, much to her chagrin and her father's appeasement, to return to his post against the wall.
Aubreck takes his seat. "I hope that you were able to resolve a few things? I will be happy to offer whatever other information you think will benefit your decision."
"To be honest, we were hoping to squeeze a bit more info outta you regarding the particulars of this boat. You say this ship vanished, and now it's back. How long was it gone?
Obviously you gotta get a rough and tumble crew like us ta get whats yours back, you didn't just hire this ship captain and his crew ta jump aboard. So I'm guessing this ship didn't come back without a few passengers, some hostile ones maybe. What exactly are we dealin' with?
You don't gotta worry about scaring us off boss. Most of us are good and interested, we just want to know what we're walking into."
Dharatatak nods at Alistair's words this one is smart. Dharatatak has learned that for a Goblin it is good to keep smart Humans around oneself.
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Aubreck looks a bit forlorn as he recalls, "It has been nineteen years since I have seen Emperor of the Waves. I do not expect any of my original crew to still be numbered amongst the living, Dolurrh keep them safe. Truthfully I thought the ship was as lost as my reputation, which is why I am so eager to reclaim a small portion of my glory through hiring you. Though the Emperor has been seen and identified, no one to my knowledge or employ has yet stepped upon the vessel. Is there anything else I can answer for you?"
"When do we leave?
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"Tomorrow at first light. The Soul of Winter waits for us at the docks, or will be by dawn. The captain doesn't like to make port here often. He is a dwarf and not a Cloudreaver, so the longer he stays here the more encouragement his kin put him under to join their fleet." Aubreck looks around at each of you, the look on his face clearly says he hopes he hasn't offended any locals.
"Alright then. If my companions here are up for it, we have a deal."
Hold I have a question of my own, what type of ship was this flagship of yours?
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Aubreck beams, "She was a four masted galleon, with a beautiful figurehead of a Syranian maiden, an amazing sight. Though not a Lyrandar vessel, the modifications the Emperor had kept the ship faster than most mundane counterparts. The violence of the storm that led her astray was uncanny, I think not even a d'Lyrandar khoravar could have steered her through it..."
Difficult to commandeer, but that be one powerful ship if she were outfitted for war...
What is the disposition of the ship to be?
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"If The Emperor of the Waves is seaworthy, I shall use her to rekindle my lost glory, but I do not have much hope for a ship that hasn't seen a dock in nearly two decades to be in condition to sail very far. I assumed she found her way to the bottom years ago. If you manage to sail her back to me, I shall triple your payment, to begin with."
Vertheg's eyes go wide when his employer makes such an offer, but he quickly composes himself again.
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Triple payment? The ship is worth far more then that fool is offering... Time to demonstrate what I am.
As Avicia speaks you swear that her voice is becoming more guttural, like the demons in children's tales... In addition her eyes start to glow like two dark fires that are not red but a distinct purple and black color...
Pathetic, we are not some run of the mill mercs just off the boat from some Brelish pigsty! We are accomplished veterans who could slice or in my case burn you to death in an instant! Ten times the original payment for bringing your bloody boat back or else when I board I'll put a few holes into her so that she sinks to the bottom!
Intimidate (gunboat diplomacy)
As Avicia speaks she nudges the hobgoblin and the half elf woman with her foot trying to send a message...
Micha's eyes grow cold as she places her palms flat on the table before speaking with a quiet, measured calmness to Avicia. "I was raised by my country to disdain all people from Thrane. I had so hoped that on chance you might give me evidence to support my personal belief that a person should not be detested simply because of where they hail from, nor the blood that their body is filled with. It would appear that you will not be the one to provide me with that evidence. I should hope, at least, that although you are so clearly filled with a darkness that I do detest, you would at least have the common courtesy to not threaten and intimidate a noble man who has come to us with a need. A man who has acted with apparent honesty, and offered recompense for your time. I regret that I was wrong."
To Aubreck, "If you will excuse me, sir, I shall be in my room tending to my wounds should you have need of me. I wish not to hear anymore of this sort of talk. I shall rejoin you shortly."
Micha calls to Poppy, and with one last glance towards the half-orc woman across the room she makes her way to the room assigned to her.
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Vertheg steps forward, his hand going to his mace, "You arrogant bi-"
Aubreck cuts him off, with a gesture. Wide eyed, he swallows before addressing Avicia. "When the Emperor was lost to me, that was the beginning of my end. I had promised three hundred galifars each as a start if she was able to sail again, and I must confess, that alone stretches my coffers thin. If I had the luxury of still having enough coin left with the Kundaraks that I could offer each of you a thousand galifars for her return, I wouldn't have need of being in this piss-stained slum hiring veterans with no place in a world without war. I will honor my agreement of one hundred golden coins now and another one hundred for the return of my box. If you return my ship to me in sailing condition, I am willing to negotiate further payment and employ. I respect your tenacity, madame, I only wish I had the current means to reward you for it. Do you accept the offer I have on the table? For if you do not, I have precious few hours to hire a new group, lest you take my advancement and seek her on your own should you choose to leave my employment. I am a tolerable but weary man. I have taken great risks to attempt to rebuild my name. It is not much, but it is what I have left. It is not a name to cross."
Only if I get to bring some "company" along with me for the ride, make room for a dozen or so additional passengers on board the ship you have chartered... If the captain cops an attitude about it point out that the extra muscle may be the only thing that stands between him and being turned into a "red cap" by the Cloudreavers... If that is not enough to convince him I may well be making a "red cap" myself.
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"I have booked passage for myself, Aubreck, and you here at the table I have hired, plus the halfling. There is not enough room on Captain Windrune's vessel, nor do I have the time to negotiate for the extra muscle you think you need. If you lot are as accomplished as you claim, why the need for extra hands? I have no intention of hiring another dozen porters and thugs, unless you would see your share spread so thin?" Aubreck looks at Avicia cooly before glancing around the table. "And the rest of you, do you have anything to add?"
You misunderstand, many of them bear the aberrant mark. I am quite willing to spread my share thin to bring them along as well... As it is you need them, your drudging the bottom of the barrel here. Either play with the hand you have been dealt by the dealer or take a knife and end your misery here on Eberron...
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"Yeesh lady, for a self proclaimed pro you need to learn to go with the flow. You don't force an ultimatum on a desperate employer who is only interested in your employ 'cause of his lizard pal's supposed prophecy. You worried about a disagreement with this captain? Talk to the group getting employed don't go bringing in your own. A boat ain't the place for numbers anyway, you bring quality to a fight like that. Our foaming-animal toting ally is right girl, you're into some dark stuff, and I get how that can mess with you. Just take a breath, do the job, and see what you can squeeze out of it, some of us are from a Brelish pigsty, but at least we know how to take advantage of an opportunity..."
Alistair will finish off most of his cigarette and put out the smouldering ashes on the table, giving Avica a wry smile. He'll turn to Aubreck and say,
"For what it's worth boss the rest of us are interested, er, at least it sounded like it, so rest assured, that box is as good as yours."
This job will go to Kyber mark my words, when that happens your going to need allies behind your back who are fearless. The Boilers may be insane, they may be gutter trash swept off from who knows where to here but they will fight. They won't give a damn when demons show up out of nowhere, their already at the bottom and they will either climb up or die trying... You need them.
bluff(make him think he needs em)
Dharatak nods to Alistair. He finds himself agreeing with the man from Sharn a lot must be Brelish common sense.
Lady. He has the right of it! I say if you see no use in these allies around this table and Dragon Lady's prophecy go find yourself a new job with your fearless lot!
In her room, Micha takes a deep breath to clear her mind. Securing the door, she disrobes to examine the extent of the damage. Deciding that if she is going to use the last of her healing spells on herself, she had best wait until this night is good and over. For now, she cleans the wounds the best she can, and reminds herself to get bandages and other healing supplies at first light before getting on any ship with these strange new people. She dresses herself again and examines her armor, before deciding it's probably best to put it back on for now.
It's not you I am questioning goblin, or anyone else who fought in the alleyway. I dislike this job to say in the least, too many unknowns and a low payment even if we get the ship back... Think carefully goblin, how much is that ship actually worth in galifars, then compare the price to what this man offers you will find that they don't add up. Now if this man can provide other things of value, such as say favors with the high and mighty of these waters or Breland I might be inclined to not bring the Boilers along...
Illyri returns the the kick.
Now, now, Avicia. Let's not be too greedy. I'm sure if he could, our employer will pay more. And if our employer gets back on his feet, it would be best for us to be in his good graces, so we are first in his mind when he needs help again.
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"By the Host, girl, you want to bring Khyber-marked to my ship?!" Aubreck sighs heavily and places his head in his hand. "Damn kobold. I do not owe him this many favors." He looks up back to Avicia. "If you think you need additional cohorts, take it up with your friends here. I will not... no, cannot pay them. Even if I had the coin I'm not going to drag down the last of my name by hiring abberants. They'd like burn my ship to ash or cause the sea to boil as they would be to help. If you retrieve my container of possessions, I will already be in your debt. If you return The Emperor to me in a sail-worthy condition, I will be indebted further, and would have no hesitation to work my way through my contacts to ensure your names were known to places like the Wayfinder Foundation or even Morgrave." Aubreck pours himself another glass of wine shakily and drains his cup in one pass.
No, you misunderstand... By favors I mean favors that are actually worth a damn... Think House Cannith and House Kundarak, those houses can supply gold like there be no tomorrow. I must admit you have interesting "tastes", you won't let aberrant marked aboard your ship yet your willing to hire a hobgoblin...
As Avicia speaks her tone becomes maliciously gleeful...
Perhaps that's a sign of yer tastes, don't worry I don't judge... My last employer was dating a medusa from Droam you see...
After some time, Micha returns to the common room. She glances towards the others at their table before searching out the half-orc woman who had been so keen to watch Micha so closely.
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The half-orc still sits in the corner, her eyes on the table where your companions banter.
Aubreck looks at Avicia exasperated. "If my contacts are no good to your greed, then perhaps neither is my employment." He stands with the assistance of Vertheg. "Madame, I do not know where you found employ during the War, but the dragonmarked houses do not empty their banks simply by request or for the return of a merchant vesself of a has-been." He shakes his head. "You have much yet to see of this world. I would like to retire for the evening, but I cannot do so knowing my expedition is starting on such shaky grounds." He addresses the group. "Where do you stand? What are your terms?"
Oh I'll fight for you, I ain't looking for the dragon mark houses simply for gold... The fact of the matter is if one wants something done anywhere in Khorvaire the houses can make it happen, they can also give one access to things no one else can get... Morgrave and the Wayfinders by contrast can't deliver what I'm looking for. Throw House Lythander on the list to of favors, with what I'm looking to purchase having contacts in all three of those houses will be useful.
Micha walks back to the group when she sees Aubreck rise. Moving so that her back is to the half-orc woman she assures Aubreck that she will aid him however she can before quietly asking all present, "Have any of you reason to suspect that you might be being followed by the woman behind me. I have noticed that she is rather interested in our gathering, and perhaps myself. I do not know her, and have no reason to think that she would be here for me other than her eyes have followed me a few times more than could be simple coincidence."
Alistair will roll his eyes at Avica, giving the sickly young woman a look reserved for those with obviously unbalanced psyches. Much more interested in the Halfling's warning, Alisatir will unabashedly stare at the Half-Orc woman, seeing if he can't figure her out a bit from her gear and mannerisms. While literally just off the boat in the provinces, he's managed to learn a few things about its inhabitants.
"Maybe we should just ask her what she wants?"
He'll say to Micha with a sly smile.
"Indeed, that was my plan. With Poppy at my side, of course. I thought it only wise to bring her to the attention of all of you first, however, in case she was in fact someone one of you knew?"
Or just buy her a few drinks and see if that I'll loosen her tongue...
I'm with you!Dharatatak replies as he eyes Avica warily.
Alistair will turn back to Aubreck, replying in his grating tone.
"I'm with ya too."
He says, giving a nod to the agreeable Goblin.
"The rest of us find your preset terms acceptable, uh you did say you'd set us up with rooms right?, and we'll leave tomorrow to get ya yer box back and right on yer way back towards your former status. Five of us as promised."
Alistair finishes with a hard look at Avica.
"I'm sure you're keen on gettin' outta here, and we all have to meet up to split our take an make some preparations, if you got anything else for us let us know, otherwise we'll see your boy tomorrow morning."
Alistair will reach out his hand to shake Aubreck's hand, the only kind of contract he really respects, and afterwards will stand up steching and shivering. He'll turn back to Micha when everything is said and done and give her a crooked smile.
"Well I'm no Wolverine but I can at least back you up if this chick gets rowdy, let's go miss.
I have things to attend to I'll meet ye tomorrow on the docks...
with that Avicia heads off to the boilers to set a plan in motion...
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Aubreck smiles, and thanks each of you in turn, including Avicia. "Thank you. Yes your rooms are taken care of, as are your meals. I shall see you in the morning, here, just before first light." Aubreck makes his way towards the back of the inn to the downstairs rooms.
The female half-orc sits coolly in the corner still, boots covered in mud and propped upon the table, one had holding a smoldering pipe, her right hand at her side draped in the shadows.
Micha finds herself returning Alistair's smile despite herself. She still isn't quite sure what to make of the man who would use necromancy. "Very well."
Micha approaches the table that the half-orc woman is seated, and keeping the table between herself and the woman she speaks to her saying, "Pardon the intrusion, but I could not help but to notice that you seemed to have taken an interest in my group. Is there perhaps something I can help you with?"
The half-orc chuckles. You can see now that you are closer, she is fair of features, but very gruff. She takes another drag from her pipe before setting it on the table. She leans forward, the Siberys-stone necklace catching the light as she does so. With a grin she brings her other fist down on the table. Instead of the green flesh matching the rest of her body, it appears to be a massive spiked gauntlet with three large fingers.
"A ragtag group of outlanders stumble through the Doorstep, taking shard bribes from kobolds before returning battered with a stuff-shirt in tow? Yes, you could say I've taken an interest. However, seeing as your sallow tanked Thrane friend has eliminated the option of hiring extra help, no, I do not believe there is something you can help me with." Her grin widens and she continues to speak before you have a chance to reply. "Larra. I'm Larra 'the Lock.' Finder for hire, specializing in dragonshard prospecting and bounties."
"I see. It's a pleasure to meet you, Larra. My name is Micha, and this is Poppy," She pauses, giving Alistair the chance to introduce himself should he be inclined. "I suppose I could introduce you to the man who has hired us, if you like? Perhaps you can negotiate something with him after all?"
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Avicia will go to the boilers den...
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Slipping through the broken boards, you make your way into the abandoned fishery where the Boilers makes their home. Brother Rotscale seems to be absent. A couple of the children are awake, even at this hour. You recognize the meek halfling girl they call Ragamuffin, staring into the smoldering hearth, her bright eyes contrasted by the green fungi growing up her neck. There is also the half-elven lad Amethyst Damir, though young he seems to have an eye for you. He usually stays in the Den as the rough violet crystals that end on his fingertips hinder most pick-pocketing. His scarlet mark emblazoned upon his face seems to glow of its own accord. As always, the wide-eyed mute changeling Zo sits cross-legged staring into oblivion. You have never seen the youth sleep.
Stepping over slumbering forms and discarded refuse, you find The Rake, a ringleader of sorts to the younger children. Were it not for his unkempt greasy hair and disheveled clothing, the Lhazaarite boy would have no problem making his way through society, and he uses this to his advantage. When Brother Rotscale is absent, the urchins turn to the Rake. His toxic green eyes pierce the dark room as he notes your entrance. "Hey Sister. Why has the Traveler brought you Home tonight?"