Czlaplon Quest

[TarlimanJoppos]

Isaac: Shaliko nods. "Why don't we get a drink and retire to the aft lounge?" he says. The mysterious brooding act seems to be fending of most of the passengers thus far.

Alston: After you get your preparations done, you're spotted by Mekhitar within just a few breaths of your "making yourself available". He gives you a "come here" nod.

"We'll all go in to the reception together," he says. "Shaliko and Isaac went off to discuss business, and Gudrun is thumping around in her cabin trying to make herself presentable." He sighs. "I had a word with the second mate, and she's already got the largest cabin they had available. This ship just wasn't built with trolls in mind."

[Kasbak]

"I know the feeling, though I usually have it on the other end of the spectrum." So many races just can't seem to think outside their own scale. "We'll just have to make do with what is available. I doubt there are many ships that would have better accomodations." My only other thought would be to set up space for her in the hold, but there would be a mess of complications there and probably isn't worth he effort.

"Anyway, I'll stick close to Kolbeinn and play translator again as long as that's useful. I know he's working on his Throalic, but I'm not sure how far along he is." That's assuming he hasn't joined us by this point; in that case I'll just put the question to him. "Any other special tasks from me that would be helpful? Perhaps a Flame Arrow off the bow as we launch? I don't know the Explosive knack, so unfortunately I can't quite make fireworks, but even just the light show at dusk may get a few oohs and aahs."

[arcomniflash]

I'll sit down with Shaliko in the aft lounge, peering around to see if anyone else is present when we talk. If someone is then I'll try to subtly indicate that we need to go somewhere quieter. If there's no one obviously present, I'll make sure by checking the surroundings with astral perception, given it is a lot easier to hide your body than your astral signature. Once I am satisfied that only he is hearing what I have to say, only then will I tell him what's going on, lowering my voice to do so while casually having a drink so that if anyone should walk in I can quickly change the subject.

"I think I've spotted someone suspicious. I wanted to inform you. I saw a human woman who acted as if she were a lot taller than she appeared to be...ducking under things she had no need to. She was observing us without being particularly obtrusive, and this time I'm fairly sure she didn't notice that I saw her. However, it lends credence to the theory that someone is disguising themselves with magic to spy on us, for whatever reason." I'll try to describe the woman, but freely admit that it might not be relevant now, the person may have simply assumed another form at this point.

[TarlimanJoppos]

Alston:
“Also,” says Mekhitar with an expression of mock terror, “trying to put Gudrun in the cargo hold might be seen as an insult, to katorr if not to kat'ral.” He shakes his head and makes a common curse-averting hand gesture. “I'm sure Kolbeinn, ah, hello, there you are.” Kolbeinn chooses this moment to arrive, and seems a little nonplussed at being the center of attention. “You'd be appreciative of Alston parking on your shoulder and translating for you when the Throalic gets a bit thick, wouldn't you?”

Kolbeinn nods agreement.

“A Flame Arrow or two,” says Mekhitar, returning his attention to Alston, “would be useful during the reception, but we don't cast off till morning. Nobody with legitimate business casts off at eventide.” He smirks. “Although I've set out at sunset a few times. Hm. Perhaps.” His attention wanders off somewhere else as he strums a chord on his lute.

Isaac:
Make an Astral Sight test.

“Spotted her, did you?” Shaliko says. “Didn't tip your hat to her or anything?”

[arcomniflash]

(21 on the astral sight test, 6+2+8[+5])

"No, of course not. Thank you for confirming you're actually Shaliko, by the way." Not that I won't check him out astrally just to be sure, I've always been one to hedge my bets on important matters. "As far as I am aware she...or he, doesn't know that we know they are on board. I'm still not sure of their goals personally, but with this much obfuscation they can't be benign. Perhaps once we're out of the spotlight a little we can get everyone together and let them know what's going on."

[Kasbak]

I'll make a dismissive gesture to Kolbeinn's expression when he arrives, just to indicate that the attention on him isn't anything to worry about. Playing translator is actually a position I kind of enjoy. Even in the midst of all the new experiences, it's nice to have something familiar to fall back on, and immersing in Elven language and culture, even if it's only cultural references, fits that nicely.

"Oh yes. Forgive me, I'm just not fully used to operating on a riverboat during what is considered legitimate business time. When you hunt pirates, you often have to work on their schedule." I'll have my own memories to reminisce over at that, though I'm sure they're not as dreamy as Mekhitar's. "Anyway, just give me a cue when and where to fire from." Just in case I can't tell for it myself. Some situations would be obvious, but it's not from my Discipline to read a crowd and know what prime presentation points there are in a performance.

[TarlimanJoppos]

Isaac: Other than Shaliko's True Pattern, which you've become reasonably familiar with and could readily spot a problem with, you don't see anything much astrally. The “aft lounge” that Shaliko directed you to isn't actually a lounge, just a bit of deck on the fantail that sticks out over the river at the stern. There's a couple of deck guns under canvas, and a crewman who's probably supposed to be on watch but is goofing off with a sort of yo-yo like toy, sending it out over the aft railing and reeling it back in. He's got no active magic.

“Probably better if we pass the word as opportunity presents itself,” Shaliko says. He seems amused at your sardonic thanks. “Intelligence operations work best if there's no centralized meetings. Having a meeting indicates there's something important enough to pull everybody together for. I'll have a look at her during the reception, when there's an opportunity. Make one if she doesn't seem to be distracted by our Troubadour.”

Alston: Mekhitar comes back to himself with a bit of a startle. “Oh dear. Well, I suppose the difference between piracy and demanding bakshevas is all in the presentation, isn't it?” He doesn't leave you room to comment on that. “Can you go find Shaliko and Isaac, let them know that Kolbeinn and I are going on up to the lounge deck? We'll hang about at the stern railing until we get everybody gathered, so that we can make a Grand Entrance.” He sweeps his arms theatrically, indicating the expansiveness of the entrance you will make.

[arcomniflash]

I'll nod quietly at that, and find something to lean on nearby. I'm not particularly looking for anything, but it is good to have some time to myself. With a sigh, I'll regard Shaliko. "I hope we get time away from the guests during this voyage, we have lots of things to be worried about besides entertaining people..." With a small smile, I'll add. "I suppose it's my fault for getting Mehkitar to find us a boat, at least it was cheap."

[Kasbak]

I don't think I'll really have much to comment on that anyway, not really in my experience. In my head I'll just dismiss it as one of those stories where you just had to be there. Troubadours.

Having the Archer go find a target? It's almost as if he's playing to my skills. "Spotting those two shouldn't be difficult here. With all the flash and bang in the design of this ship, their dull and drab makes them stand out like a sore thumb." Kind of ironic, that, though of course I would never say it to their faces. I'll check their rooms first just to be sure, and failing that I will fly upwards and take position on higher points to scan over visible areas. Just one of the advantages about flying, I don't have to stick to the walking paths, not to mention it should help prevent me from getting held up by any of the passengers for now. I'll start going towards the lounge deck where Mekhitar and Kolbeinn are headed and make my way outwards from there.

(Preparing ahead of time if you need me to make a Perception test. Results on 2d6+d10(karma)=2+4+4=10)

[TarlimanJoppos]

Isaac: Shaliko frowns. “Cost isn't always in coin. Finding time to meditate may be difficult.”

Alston: You spot Shaliko and Isaac on the fantail, down on the cargo deck and all the way aft. While it does put them out in the open, vulnerable to a shot from a distance, it also gives them a measure of privacy, as they'd be able to clearly see anyone attempting to eavesdrop on them, and, leaning on the railing, they're facing away from the boat and towards the water, making lip reading impossible.