Grumbling, Hanro picked up his backpack, and went towards the area that the halfling directed to. "What be a quarterdeck, anyway?" he grumbled to himself. "Or port, fer tha' matter?"

"The quarterdeck is the smaller deck above this one," said the thin voice of Szaz. "It is where the officers control the ship, you vill note," he continued with a slight, barely audible accent. "Port is the left-side of the ship as it is facing forward. Thus, from our direction, it would be the right-side door that the halfling was referring to, and hopefully the one housing the captain."

Hanro just grumbled further. He didn't exactly ask for the lecture from the drazai, nor did ask anything at all from the drazai, but keeping the little blighter's mouth shut would probably be impossible, short of using force.

Best to keep his temper down, thought Hanro. It would was going to be a long expedition, after all.

"That gnome was trying to rob us?" Szaz asked.

"Prob'ly," replied the dwarf, "though ti's apparent that 'e didn't think this u'n through."

"How so?" asked the drazai.

"Simple," Hanro continued. "Once this 'ere boat get's a'movin', can ye find any way off? Or," he continued, his callused hand lightly passing over the handle of his large axe, "or a job fer a sailor wi' only one hand?"

"Surely you vouldn't have cut off his hand?!" the drazai exclaimed. "The captain can discipline his own men, after all!"

"Prob'ly wouldn'ave taken it," Hanro nodded in agreement. "Would've settled with a finger."

brain not functioning due to fever, so apologies for crap writing today.

Bedge glanced from the gnome to the halfling and scratched the back of his neck thoughtfully. So, it was going to be like that, eh? Well, he'd served on ships where half the crew didn't want him and the other half wanted to kill him. Arsey little gnomes wanting a half hour alone with his luggage was fairly typical. Years ago he'd taken to leaving a sewing needle in the lock on his sea chest. A clumsy touch with the lockpicks could see a sharp prick in a would be thief's fingertip. While it wouldn't hurt much, no burglar would ever risk assuming that the needle was anything less than poisoned. Maybe he should soak it in vinager if he could find some on the ship, to make that little gnome really sweat at the stinging... Still, his chest didn't hold much of great interest to anyone but him or another would-be navigator.... an empty log book waiting to be filled, some copies of his own coastal charts... a cutpurse would ignore these and just take the bottle of wine he kept under his spare oilskin cloak. Anything of real value or importance, Bedge kept on his own person as much as possible.

Goryn shruged and hefted his sack back over his shoulder. He didn't like the look the halfling gave that gnome, or the gnome's too innocent reply, but it wasn't his concern. When the half-elf in front of him seemed to have a little difficulty in lifting his chest, Goryn silently stepped up to lend a hand, almost toppling the half-elf over from the sudden shift in weight. He listened intently to the drazai's explaination of nautical terms, but the half-elf already seemed to know where to go, so together they made their way to the door in question.

Corben went back to pick up his tent once more, glaring at the retreating gnome as he did so. He easily hefted the tent over his back and turned to Mr Thistle, returning his look of disdain.

Once he was sure Mr Thistle had seen him, he followed the others who were going to the captain's cabin.

Dom blushed all over, for trusting that gnome too easily, even offering him cookies. His shoulders sank even lower and the bag of cookies hastily stuffed in his backpack, he followed the others to the captain's cabin, too embarrased to meet anyone's eye.

As the scouts make their way to the cabin, they may notice some things about the crew and the ship.

The crew are about sixty to seventy percent human. There's also a goodly number of half-elves. There are several half-orcs, speaking to each other in heavily-accented common. They all have the look of sailors about them. A few look up from what they're doing to stare at the scouts, and some even wave.

The ship is the largest in the port. In fact, it's the largest ship any of the scouts have ever seen. One or two of them, if they've done much sailing or come from Endrok, would have seen it before it was refitted into an airship. The main differences are the sigils carved into the timbers, and the new arrangement of the sails.

There are a pair of fairly large metal tubes on the foc's'le, as well as what look like giant crowsbows. There are crewmembers tending to these as well, polishing them up and cleaning them.

[dice]d20+2 = 844834508 = Fixed[/dice]

Bedge recognizes the ballistas, and, though he's never actually seen one before, he knows that the tubes are bombards, siege engines that use smokepowder to fire stone balls at enemy ships.

[dice]d20+2 = 1992279622 = Fixed[/dice]
[dice]d20+2 = 785290959 = Fixed[/dice]

None of the scouts know anything about the captain they're about to meet, except that his name is Strombady. They have been told he was one of the best captains in the East, but not very much else.

When they reach the cabin, a tall human man opens the door. He's got long, black hair and a flowing beard, with two piercing blue eyes. He wears a heavy blue greatcoat and a black bicorne hat. He grins in a comradely way to the group. "Ah, so you're the scouts, are you? Come in, we've got some things to discuss. I'm Derno Strombady, captain of this vessel." He ushers the scouts into his cabin.

In the cabin, they see a number of charts and maps on the walls, as well a few of the captain's personal belongings. There's a bed along the far wall.

"Now, lads, and lass," he said, flashing a brilliant smile at Silja, "First thing's first. You're to need some to take the ship's coin if you're to serve with us." He walks over to a fancy brass and green glass lantern. From beside it, he takes a stack of copper coins. "These'll let you through when we have the alarm up. Keep these with you at all times, or else you'll set the alarm off." He hands one to each of the players.

"Now, I saw that you already met two members of our happy family. Don't let either of 'em fool you. Arnes may be a scallywag, but he's not stupid enough to steal from other crewmembers. He was just trying to figure you out to see which of you has gold, and which of you he can seperate from it. Don't play him at cards or dice and you'll be fine. Thistle... He may be a ass at times, but he's damn' good at what he does, which is navigation. We'll all be glad of him before this voyage is out, I'm sure." He looked at the group, and seemed to be looking each one of them in the eyes. "So, tell me about yourselves. I've been told a bit, of course, but I'd like to know just what you have for us. And tell me why you've signed on, if you would.

Corben walked up to the captain and saluted, "Corben Taylor, sir! I'm a soldier first and foremost, a swordfighter." he gestured to his greatsword currently sheathed on his back, "They asked for volunteers and I stepped forward, thought it would be good to try something different."

Posted for Roman:

"I am Szazzkur of the Tranmitz Clan," the drazai said, pocketing the coin. "I seek knowledge, Captain Strombady. The halls of home were no longer enough for me," he said simply. "I am a student of the arcane arts, as well as of the knowledge of the planes and other, more common forms of percieving the world. I have also been taught the skill of armorsmithing. One," he concluded, "can never know too much."

"The name's Hanro Warpacer," said Hanro with his typical gruff tone. "Just figured this would be a good place to start wi' carvin' a name fer meself. There's a dwarf back home in Thunderaxe Hall, can kill just 'bout anything that walks the land and some of the things that walk above or below it. Taught me this an' that. I be wantin' ta follow in 'is footsteps, ta restore the order of the Battleragers in the clan. As fer me skills..." he said, hefting his axe, "I think me gear speaks fer itself."

Checks made for Garner:

Bedge's Spot
[dice]d20+3 = 2029814776 = Fixed[/dice]

Bedge's Knowledge (Geography)
[dice]d20+5 = 2105540111 = Fixed[/dice]

Bedge's Profession (Sailor)
[dice]d20+2 = 414837817 [/dice]

Bedge's Bluff
[dice]d20+6 = 295399601 [/dice]

Goryn's Knowledge: Religion
[dice]d20+2 = 1459436306 = Fixed[/dice]

Bedge is able to make out a few of the details on the maps and charts, but can't figure out their meanings. Goryn sees a small silver anchor and a pearl hanging around the captain's neck, on a silver chain and a piece of hemp with a goldren thread wrapped around it, respectively.

When Faddenmerith was given his coin it seemely disappeard into the folds of his robe... somewhere.

"Name's Faddenmerith Ranger." He said, looking straigt at the captain. "This is promising to get exciting." When he'd spoken he stod back a step and looked thoroughly bored, looking neither at the captain nor the other scouts, instead he let his eyes roam around in the cabin.

blaming fever for further crap writing... gonna have to find a new excuse soon though:

Bedge quickly studied the maps and charts in sight whenever the captain's eyes were not fixed on his. When the captain did look him in the eye and give Bedge the coin, it vanished as Bedge stood up straight and said smartly, "Bedge Talom, Cap'n. Coastal trader and merchant adventurer, sir. If it pleases you, I'd be happy to work with the ship's officers during our voyage. I'm here as much for new markets as I am for a chance to sail on this new ship! She's certainly a beauty, Cap'n. It's an honor to share her maiden voyage with you!"

Goryn eyed the amulet the captain wore aroun his neck curiously, but decided it was not his place to ask questions. When the captain handed him his coin, he calmly took it and placed it in a rough leather pouch that hung just over his heart. As he retied the pouch's string, a small but detailed tattoo of cracked and fissured earth was visible where the pouch normally rested. "I am gods-talker to my tribe. Ameso has blessed me with visions that I would be needed here. This voyage will need me, and I will need it. More than that I do not know."

The slow, quiet rumble of his voice died away, and Goryn seemed content to stand there, impassively staring at the captain until finally the half elf coughed politely and said "Have you got a name you'd like to share, or just a spear and enough scars for an army?"

Goryn turned his head to look at the half elf, then at each member of the party in turn and finally answered, "I am Goryn. I am Slave-to-Dreams. My spear stands with yours."

edit: words missing. missing bad. words found now.

Silja decided to cut it short - "My name is Silja Viskinnar, and I guess I can simply be considered an extreme case of Wanderlust. I've worked as a scout for many years, and both fernweh and experience led me to think that I could offer something to this crew, and then see what my gains might be."

She smiled what she hoped to be a relatively shy smile, and took the opportunity to take a short glance at everyone in the round - particularly at both Bedge and Goryn.
She had never quite made up her mind which ones had to be observed more closely, those with ambition or those on a mission...
Well, at least those on a mission, however hard to fathom out sometimes, were, mostly, in a way honest...

Dom rumbled something like "I'm Domonohov Kannin, an artificer and I am here for the experience", all the while looking at the floor.

The captain nods to Corben. "A good answer, lad. This will be something different for all of us. Stand fast, think clear, and it'll be profitable too. Oh, call me Captain. Sir's a bit too military for me. We aren't navy, no matter what those silkshirts say."

He turns to the drazai. "There's a lot to learn on this trip, starting on whether or not this ship'll stay in the air more'n a league. But what the hell, life's an adventure."

To the dwarf, he says, "Anyone can carry an axe, Hanro. We'll see how well you can use it when the time comes."

At the elf's response, he says, "It'll be that... Let's call you Faddy. Never met an elf whose name weren't as long as the Walker's beard."

Then Bedge speaks up. "A sailing man, are you? Well, that brings up another point. You'll all be expected to pull your weight on board this ship. When you hear an order, you'll snap to you, or else we'll know the reason why. Still, it's good to know we have a... sailing man with us." The captain smiles knowingly at the half-elf. "And you are right about the Morningdark. There's not a better ship in the world, you can lay to that. Though, this isn't quite her maiden voyage. She's been at sea near as long as I have. Pride of Endrok, she is. They've changed her a bit, put their magic in her, but it's the same ship underneath it all."

To Goryn, he gives a nod of his head. "Well, I guess you have to do what the gods say. That's why I follow Baralos." He touches the silver anchor. "Old Seasalt might send storms or fair wind, but at least he doesn't send orders." He grins. "That's what captains are for."

"And what's this, two more lookin' for new things? Ha! Careful, friends, or they'll start thinking we're explorers, and not cautious businessmen." He laughs, and then reaches for a trunk that was under his desk. "Got somethings for you, lads. From the halls of Trenmitz to the merchant's guild of Endrok, to you."

To the half-orc priest and the young artificer, he handed wands, each with a thin strip of parchment around them. The one handed to the half-orc was made of oak, and had a stone at the end carved in the shape of a bee. The one handed to Dom was made of pinewood, with runes carved along its length. "These're for you. This one is for bringing creatures to do what you tell them. The other fires some sort of bolt of acid or somesuch. The words are on the parchment. Point, concentrate, and say the word." When Dom takes his, he can feel the buzz of power.

He pulled out a set of leather armor with metal studs set into it, and handed it to the half-elf, and then gave the elven ranger a chain shirt. "You never know what you'll find when we land. This is special armor, to keep your hide intact long enough for you to report back to me."

He pulled out a sword over four feet long that glowed faintly orange, and handed it to the swordsman. "This sword's bespelled to cut straight, but magic will only get you so far. You'll have to have skill behind it."

To the dwarf, he gave a shield. "This will help keep you from getting too banged up if you meet with someone unfriendly."

He pulled out a flask of a clear fluid. "Swallow this, and no one can see you. Careful, though. It only lasts a few minutes, and you can't attack anyone, so be careful."

To the drazai, he hands a scroll. "There are some spells on there. You're a smart lad, so I'm sure you won't need to bother the ship's wizard in figuring them out."

He gestured to the door. "You'll be wanting to store your gear. Anything you won't have on your person, check with the bo'sun, Terug. He's a half-orc, one eye, and he'll probably be talking with First Mate Orgul. You'll be sleeping in the foc's'le, unless you want to sleep on deck. Meals are when the bell rings, keep out of the way until you're ordered, and try not to fall overboard."

Corben stared at the sword, slightly transfixed by the orange glow. Without looking up he said, "Thank you, Si-.... Captain."

Hanro took the shield, examining it closely as he held it. It was finer than any that he had seen before, and there was no doubt that the shield, wrought of fine steel, was magical. Hanro nodded to the captain in thanks.


Szzazkur could not keep the excitement from his eyes as he unrolled the scroll. It contained two spells, as far as he could see. He studied the arcane writing, trying to decipher what it meant.


Spellcraft Checks:
[dice]1d20+9 1d20+9 = 1390797531 [/dice]