Posts: 342
Threads: 1
Joined: Mar 2018
Reputation:
0
02-01-2020, 11:55 PM
(This post was last modified: 02-02-2020, 01:28 AM by Dekaru.)
Finch does not respond to Houbenen and instead directs his attention to the captain. Gesturing towards Tuwan, he gives her one last offer
[Ob-Lob]-"Give us Hobounen and half the cargo he brought on board and the Boushman's handkerchief stays clean. If not, I'll be taking one for the road for you when this is done"
(Finch attempts an intimidate roll)
Posts: 1,492
Threads: 100
Joined: Sep 2017
Reputation:
2
Cool factor:
Andrea nods in approval. [Imperial] "I thank thee for thy consideration Hobounen, I seest now thy story holds some weight!"
She turns back to captain and crew. [Imperial] "Hold fast fellow Sky Sailors, and we may win the day without needless bloodshed."
[Imperial] "As thou hast display'd us honesty, so shalt I in kind," she calls to Hobounen, "Coin and treasure be'est our main concern, more'n whatever quarrel there is twixt you twins. If'n thou could only furnish us a generous enough offering of valuables, thou mayst continue on thy way- and we can ensure this man doth trouble you no more." She gestures, and Vala grabs Tuwan.
Posts: 222
Threads: 0
Joined: Feb 2018
Reputation:
0
Orkan sidles over to Finch, and whispers into his ear, [Ob-Lob] “Oi, Cap’n, we trying to take this u’a alive? Maybe I just give him a little razzle-dazzle, get him nice and toasty for the barbie?”
Posts: 393
Threads: 12
Joined: Mar 2018
Reputation:
0
[Command+Intimidate-2d roll for Finch: 5,6,7 Result: Fail]
Finch's threats are not enough to shake the nerves of Krashagrashara. She ignores his words for the time being.
Aredfln approaches Finch and speaks in hushed voice:
Aredfln-[Imperial]: "Captain we needst be cautious of the crew's mind on the matter. The crew hath only laboured past their first moon. If they be of mind that we art butchers of noblekind then make it of an imperial sort. But if they believeth Hobounen an innocent confed'rate gentle then his blood shall be as poison to their trust in thee."
Vala grabs Tuwan, who is too injured to resist in any meaningful way. Another moment of silence before Hobounen replies.
Hobounen-[Imperial]: "I fatten the purse and in doing so hope thine desires I do tempt. Ten pieces more, twenty five confederate pounds in all if thy honored captain is inclined to yield yonder vermin to us."
Posts: 342
Threads: 1
Joined: Mar 2018
Reputation:
0
02-02-2020, 12:49 PM
(This post was last modified: 02-02-2020, 02:36 PM by Dekaru.)
Finch grumbles incomprehensibly to himself in frustration to how much the negotiations have devolved out of his control. Sheathing his saber and sighing as he speaks to Orkan and Aredfln
[Imperial]-"And people be wonderin' why I don't take knights on this ship."
Shouting now, audible for everyone to hear, Finch makes an attempt to resolve the issue at hand
[Imperial]-"Enough with the two way parlay! This bein' a conflict of decision I'll make this easy. Per code aboard this ship every man an' woman gets a vote of the matter. So give yer vote and let us be on with this. Me? They be hidin' more than twenty five confederate pounds on that ship and that man is aboard an Imperial vessel. By my reckon', he be a defectin' and I'm so inclined to hang the man myself and take all that they're hidin'!"
(Fascinate roll)
Posts: 1,492
Threads: 100
Joined: Sep 2017
Reputation:
2
Cool factor:
Andrea raises her eyebrows. [Imperial] "Oh, a... vote? And every man and woman gets one! How gracious art our captain, that all art treat'd as the highest nobility in this matter. Though I suppose we all be Sky Sailors here."
"As you know milady, 'tis a common occurrence in mine homeland," Matyas says with a practiced ease, as if he has explained this many times before already.
"Indeed, yet I still find it so interesting." Andrea assumes a serious expression and clasps her hands as if sitting at a table. "Well, let us vote then. Vala, what vote dost thou giveth?"
Vala is flustered by the sudden attention. [Imperial] "Eeh? Wherefore ask me first? Was't not thine idea?"
Andrea nods. [Imperial] "A pass from Vala for the moment, as 'tis her first time at a formal vote. As for me, I cast mine vote in favor of yielding Tuwan to yonder ship and leaving them be, in exchange for the twenty five confederate pounds."
[Imperial] "This be mine vote as vell," Matyas adds. [Imperial] "And mine as well," Vala finally says.
Posts: 393
Threads: 12
Joined: Mar 2018
Reputation:
0
Dark faces hidden by the mask of night call out their votes one after another. By the end of the tally the will of the crew is clear: Sell Tuwan, claim the purse and call it a night. Finch relays the decision to Krashagrashara to which she responds:
Krashagrashara-[Ob-Lob]: "Bringin ya vessel 'roun 'n we can cease our chest puffin. Wez set some da veil aside for ya when ya in position. Cannons ta Ozzies ye?"
Posts: 342
Threads: 1
Joined: Mar 2018
Reputation:
0
[Ob-Lob]-"Canons to Ozzies yes"
Finch turns to Andrea with a scowl
[Imperial]-"Since ye be the one who yielded this course ye be the one to deliver on it. Deliver the dying man to the Imperials ."
Posts: 1,492
Threads: 100
Joined: Sep 2017
Reputation:
2
Cool factor:
[Imperial] "Aye aye, captain!" Andrea takes Tuwan from Vala and prepares to cross over once the ships are close enough (and Hobounen has presented the money).
Posts: 222
Threads: 0
Joined: Feb 2018
Reputation:
0
[Ob-Lob]-"Cap'n, I know ya wanted a grand ol' scrap, but we'ah not fahkin' strong enough yet. We can use this windfall ta regroup, gathah mawah blokes, 'n return ta our rightful place as the bloody scourge of the bloody skies. Bloody oath Cap'n. We'ah'll be back."
Posts: 393
Threads: 12
Joined: Mar 2018
Reputation:
0
The ships coordinate amongst themselves to bring the Espiegel alongside their negotiation partner. The barrier of solid smoke contracts and shifts to form a portal 30 feet wide to grant passage for boarding ramps.
During the boarding setup Tuwan slings insults and desperate pleas towards Finch.
Tuwan-[Imperial]: "If thou be without honor so be'est. Yet thou couldst maintain thine family's reputation in preserving our agreement!"
Tuwan-[Imperial]: "This be conspiracy with Imperial mongrels! The lot of thee knaves and turn coats to thy fatherland!"
Tuwan-[Imperial]: "Cowards eating scraps ... were there one ounce of courage amongst thee then the Espiegel wouldst overflow with splendor!"
Finally the board and net are cast between the two vessels. Tuwan is restrained at the wrists and shoved along by Andrea. She crawls along the wide plank behind Tuwan onto the enemy ship. Halfway along Tuwan snarls at Andrea for the only the two of them to hear:
Tuwan-[Imperial]: "I may be'est of two loyalties yet I be'est not the fool who fell prey to schemers. Blighted be this land, and with my death no army shall be sent to undo this coming tragedy. Thus lest this be'est my final moments thou must seek aid uncorrupted. Try peasantwoman or lord or scholarly enchanter all, this demon will still prevail."
The two board the enemy ship and Andrea is greeted by Hobounen, Krashagrashara and a few armed sailors. Up close Hobounen is plainly Tuwan's twin. The only differences between them must be products of upbringing and not birth. Even their manner of dress is nearly identical. Krashagrashara's garb is a typical Ob-Lob captain's attire. Red coat, shoes and bright orange shirt mark her apart and above the others. The men and women escorting the duo wield curved arming blades of a make not commonly found in Broadland or Uld but their skin tones match the hue of any Helusan. The ship is well stocked with supplies on the first deck but also marked by damage from a recent battle. Deep cuts and punctures in the deck and the support beams revealing dry jagged wood indicate there has been no time for repair. This is matched by the faces of the crew nearby, who upon closer inspection have swollen skin beneath their eyes and make sloppy movements. There is billowing smoke coming further towards the prow but from here Andrea cannot make out the smoke sculptor responsible for the barrier.
Andrea knows all these details are rather ordinary given the circumstances, except one. A man covered by loose robes and a hood standing by the helm and looking down upon the exchange. She notices that his chin and lower lip that protrude from the shadows across his face are tinted green and even seem to glisten as though a thin layer of fat was marbled across his face.
Krashagrashara-[Imperial]: "We happy thou no fight. Here thou purse. Be with haste."
The Captain throws down a sack towards Andrea's feet. It gives off the sound of small metal pieces crashing against each other.
Posts: 1,492
Threads: 100
Joined: Sep 2017
Reputation:
2
Cool factor:
[Imperial] "Oh, be quiet," Andrea says as she tugs Tuwan along, "Thou told us precious little on the way, may the company of thy 'brother' make a more honest man of ye."
The robed man presiding above seems quite peculiar but that is not the reason Andrea is here.
She picks up the sack and opens it for a quick examination. Once its contents are verified she will release Tuwan into their custody and return to the Espiegel.
Posts: 342
Threads: 1
Joined: Mar 2018
Reputation:
0
02-02-2020, 05:47 PM
(This post was last modified: 02-02-2020, 07:00 PM by Dekaru.)
Finch remains stone faced through Tuwans desperate attempts at salvation and maintains a silent vigil over the exchange from the bow of the Espiegel; his loyal hound by his side and one hand on nervously resting on his saber
Posts: 393
Threads: 12
Joined: Mar 2018
Reputation:
0
Andrea confirms the bag full of rare gems and currency from broadland. She returns to the Espiegel without interruption.
Posts: 1,492
Threads: 100
Joined: Sep 2017
Reputation:
2
Cool factor:
[Imperial] "A fine transaction, if I'm any judge. I bid thee farewell, and safe travels!" Andrea waves at the other ship, curious as to what will become of Tuwan.
[Imperial] "How about that? Money for nothing. Well, almost nothing," she remarks in a softer voice not meant to carry over. "Not bad for mine first day as a Sky Sailor."
[Imperial] "I was concerned for thy safety, alone on that ship, but it seems all is well," Matyas adds.
Posts: 342
Threads: 1
Joined: Mar 2018
Reputation:
0
Finch gives a wave as he turns away from the Imperial vessel and barks out orders to get the Espiegel under way. As the Espiegel starts to pull away he shouts
[Ob-Lob]-“A hui hou.”
Posts: 393
Threads: 12
Joined: Mar 2018
Reputation:
0
The last image Finch sees is Tuwan's expression of surrender as the torches are snuffed out one by one and the gateway is sealed by smoke.
Posts: 393
Threads: 12
Joined: Mar 2018
Reputation:
0
Finch secures the purse in his cabin. When he returns to the deck he can hear Edmond finishing his explanation on landing procedure. The first mate approaches the captain with a weak smile.Edmond-[Imperial]: "Portents of blood na' come tha' wai Cap-tane. Buh ne'er free will lamentations to tha fury o' the sky Cap-tane. Ye be summoned ba tha call 'CAP-TANE FANCH-RO-KU-MA!' an tha call be legend!"He turns to the crew.Edmond-[Imperial]: "HARK! Une sun an une mun born and die an cap-tane rip fro' FATE goo trah-zha fer a crew green in e'ery korn-er! Chant his fame! IA! CAP-TANE FANCH! CAP-TANE FANCH! CAP-TANE FANCH!"The crew joins in his chant.Crew-[Imperial]: "CAP-TANE FANCH! CAP-TANE FANCH! CAP-TANE FANCH! ..."Edmons praise has raised the crew morale. Indeed their captain has brought them victory and a taste of riches within a single day of enlisting. Their zeal carries them through the descent procedure and mooring. The next morning after a short rest Finch orders the Espiegel to Nrovthbar, a respectable city and the gateway to the Imperial border.-----
[15.1.343] Seven days later. The eternal shadow cast by the empire is broken on the horizon by a haze of dim light. It is Nrovthbar, bastion of the north and its burning daylight pyres. The city is smaller than Temming's rise by half but commands twice the fortifications. Nrovthbar castle rests upon a great hill and sturdy walls cordon the base of the terrain from the reach of raiders, Imperial forces and migratory nightmares of the lightless jungle.The Espiegel finds space at the sky dock. There are five docks and one of the stations is already occupied by a three decked sky ship bearing a faded red coat and a multitude of Ozcrows along the sides and top. Ten well organized sailors are maintaining a relaxed patrol of the perimeter and deck.After the Espiegel is docked and the harbormaster is satisfied by Finch's writ of privateering the crew is free to leave the ship in shifts. They eagerly collect their shares and find the nearest tavern. Even Aredfln and Edmond leave the premises of the Espiegel to find some entertainment and proper meals alongside their new comrades.Finch, Orkan, Andrea and her retinue are on the Espiegel. Fortunes ebb and flow, it is in these war torn days that the Espiegel and his crew will have the chance to grab the reigns of fate and decide what comes, for themselves, and for many more.-- Chapter End -- [Finch gains 3 XP - Attendance, Thespianism, Dramatic Plot Alteration]
[Orkan gains 3 XP - Attendance, Thespianism, Dramatic Plot Alteration]
[Andrea gains 4 XP - Attendance, Thespianism, Out of Character Enhancement, Dramatic Plot Alteration]
|
1. Skyway Robbery - Rise
