Czlaplon Quest

[Kasbak]

Yeah, I didn't think I'd make much progress there. The whole enterprise is a frustrating one, but at least we have some other angles to approach from. I suppose I'll just have to wait until they bear results, though I can still keep scanning from my vantage point.

Anyway, enough of that for now. "Hello Mekhitar." I will greet in kind when I find him. I probably can't keep the frustration off my face, but I will keep it out of my voice so he knows it's not directed at him. "Didn't you say at dinner that there was something you wanted to give us?" Yes, straight to the point, that's much more comfortable. And since he has stopped playing, I don't believe I am interrupting anything, so hopefully that will avoid the directness coming off as rudeness. I still try to be careful with that, even though I don't understand how anyone could consider wasting as little of your time as possible to be rude.

[TarlimanJoppos]

Alston: “Oh. Yes.” He seems a bit distracted, and tears his gaze away from the river. Reaching into a belt pouch, he offers you three small folded parchment packets, sealed with wax. “Once you break the seal, the air will start reacting with the powder, so you need to throw it quickly. It stings terribly if it goes off in your hand.”

[Kasbak]

I'll nod as I accept them and slip the packets in to a secure pocket. If it's unstable enough that it will react just with the air, I'd best make sure they aren't placed anywhere that they might get jostled open accidentally. "Thanks," I'll add once I've got them put away, "I'll be sure to put them to good use." Perhaps tying one of these on with a Flame Arrow could give the fireworks effect discussed before.

Unless it looks like he has something further, I'll quietly withdraw and leave him to his thoughts. I have nothing further for the day, so I can head back to my cabin and wind down for the night.

[TarlimanJoppos]

If you don't say anything further, Mekhitar goes back to watching the river go by. And thus the day comes to an end.

The morning of the 29th dawns a bit rough, a crosswind kicking up and giving the riverboat a little more motion than usual. Not enough to interfere with trying to eat breakfast, from a physical standpoint anyway, although from a physiological standpoint, it looks like some of the passengers don't have much of an appetite. Any actions before meeting at the breakfast table?

[Kasbak]

Nothing for me beyond the standard; stretch, get fully alert, equipment checks, and so forth.

[arcomniflash]

Same for me, nothing particularly unusual. Morning exercises, a karma ritual if there is time.

[TarlimanJoppos]

You both have time for all of the above specified actions, and then a leisurely stroll up the gangway to the lounge deck for breakfast. Mekhitar seems back to his usual bouncy self.

“Well all righty then!” He nods to the two of you. The rest of the party are already at table. “So nice of you to join us. And how are you this morning?” He doesn't wait for a reply. “Don't forget, we're making port briefly just before mado'yeh so that you two” - he indicates Garsevan and Isaac with a half-eaten roll, almost but not quite flinging the jam off it - “can put on a show for the patrons. Shaliko has the afternoon storytelling, as we've already discussed, and so everybody else has the day to themselves, although a moment or two spent with the passengers wouldn't go amiss.”

[arcomniflash]

"Good...there's much to be done after the show." I'll nod quietly and finish off the remainder of my breakfast, standing up once it's done. "Please excuse me." I'll spend the remainder of the morning walking around the ship, looking pensive. Though I'm more or less mentally preparing myself for the mock duel with Garsevan, I'll keep note of the other passengers. There might be nothing to be gleaned from this, but a quick scan with Astral Sight might reveal more this morning. Other than that, I'll try not to tire myself out too much, watching for land off the side of the ship."

[Kasbak]

"I have a few directions I could go." I'll offer when I can get a word in. "I was considering putting in a meditation on Stopping Aim, since it's likely to be useful as discussed previously. However, I don't think I will want to miss the stop in port, so I may put that off until afternoon." Not to mention I'll want to see Isaac and Garsevan's show, if for no other reason than figuring out what to do to top it.

"Until then, depending on who has some time, I could work with you, Mekhitar, on adding some flourish for my storytelling, or with you, Kolbeinn, on Throalic. Or I have other diversions I can do on my own." I'm not really committal on any one option, just toss it out there to see who has time on their schedule.

(Also, if we could get the LP's for the previous day so I can make sure that I can do the meditation, it would be appreciated.)

[TarlimanJoppos]

Isaac: There's land on either side of the ship, as the river you're on isn't that wide that you can't see both shores. What you see is mostly wilderness, scrubby bushes down by the water's edge, trees further up, sometimes a fairly steep bank, sometimes a shallow shore with a bit of mud beach. Once in a great while there's a fishing village, or smoke further inland that tells you of inhabitation. Eventually, somewhere close to noon, the ship comes round a double bend in the river and there's a large village with docks big enough to tie off the Athenar's Fancy. The crew swings into action, breaking out lines, tossing the bumpers over the railing, and generally preparing to make landfall. It's a bit of a business, bringing a ship into port, and takes a few minutes of quick and well-practiced action. Soon enough, though, Mekhitar comes bouncing up to you and throws a hand out toward the village in a “voila!” gesture. “It's showtime!” he effuses.

Alston: Mekhitar will be glad to split the time with Kolbeinn, two hours each, so you get two hours toward your Storytelling Skill and Kolbeinn gets two hours toward his Speak Language. Close to noon, Mekhitar will pop round and let you and Kolbeinn know that it's “Showtime, boys and girls!”

(LPs for the 28th: 300 for the day. Everybody 100 LPs for the introductions, now they know your Names. Isaac, 150 LPs for your sword practice with garsevan; you had a small audience for that. Alston, 400 LPs for your time with Audelia, even if her mother wasn't pleased about the results. Alston and Isaac, 200 LPs each for thorough investigation, even if you didn't turn up much. Negative results should still be published.)