TUW: Out of the Maelstrom

[MacConnell]

Day 305: Aboard Ship

Sannit strokes his beard... San-Bolo will reclaim any of their gear from the captain's quarters and Bolo will inspect her new bow to make sure it is in proper working order. As cooks they will make sure everyone receives an equal portion of food.

Bulywif, Tor's father, approaches Sannit and speaks to him quietly. "Nephew, if I may, it is not that these men lack courage, for if they did they would not have gone so far as to be remanded to this ship. These are not the criminals they are named, no more than am I. Every member of this crew has at some time tried to convey to the people of Asylum what an unjust, despotic system they are living under. They lacked the means and the talent to walk away like you all were able to do, but each had tried, at one time to make a difference.

Now we are all half-starved and abused prisoners on this accursed ship. Having taken command, you now have it in your power to give this crew the means to stand against this corruption, to strengthen itself, and to take up an actual fight. I wish to stay with this crew, perhaps to even lead them. With you on the land and us on the sea, we can strike back at the Magistry on two fronts."

Standing close enough to Sannit to have heard what was said, Sheldon moves aft toward the Quartermaster. "I can see it in the First-mate. It makes sense that he would readily shift loyalties. He feels relief like a great burden has been lifted, almost like this crew. The Regulars aboard are simple soldiers. That leaves you. How can we trust you? What would make you abandon and even appose your Magistry."

The Quartermaster clears his throat and swallows. The expression on his face shows a combination of sincerity and trepidation. "I have a talent for sailing and I like the open sea. My father was a simple dockhand. I am from the Wharf district. I joined the Ansylin Regulars as a boatswain. With my working knowledge of rigging and sail learned from my childhood and perhaps a natural gift, I was quickly promoted to the position of pilot. There is a certain cruelty expected from ranking soldiers. A cruelty I cannot muster. Because of this I was stationed as Quartermaster of this ship. My talent is still used, but I am out of sight and out of mind.

The First-mate and I are of a similarity in this. There is no future in Asylum for either of us. It is in my best interest to align with your interests. At least there is a hope for a future."

Sheldon nods, satisfied with his answer, and looks to the faces of his friends to see if they are like minded. He then turns to the Regulars and announces. "SOLDIERS. YOU ARE HEREBY REPATRIATED AS MEMBERS OF THE CREW. STOW ALL WEAPONRY AND TAKE YOUR PLACES AMONG THEM. CREW. MAN YOUR CHOSEN STATIONS. YOUR WORLD IS ABOUT TO CHANGE."
[sblock=Purchasing Power]

OOC: Store Credit in Southroad Fair: 1123 clams 60 Plates: (platinum coin, 3000 clams) 10 Gold Ingots (200 clams) 50 Dublins: (gold coin, 1000 clams) 50 Rupees: (silver coin, 500 clams) 76 Ocrin: (tin coin, 76 clams) 20% Southroad Fair Olive Trade Proceeds

[/sblock]
[sblock=Current Party Holdings]

OOC: 2 Windrunner Stallions 8 Windrunner Mares 2 decorative saddles (San-Bolo) 4 standard saddles (Tor, Sheldon, Indigo, Merin, Vadin) 4 Windrunner Colts (with pack rigs) 2 Harnin Mining Mauls 2 Harnin Mining Spikes 2 Harnin Pick Axes drawing of Assassins' Guild symbol parchment containing known message

[/sblock]

 

[Kwargrow]

Sannit says to Bulywif, "It is good that you wish to lead these men. I suppose as the Seekers we have had too much success for us to be able to relate to the downtrodden. We have faced many dangerous trials, conquered our fears and done many things we did not want to do in order to be victorious. I took for granted that others would wish to be strong like us." Sannit will spend some time with the crew, telling the story of the Seekers and about the community of Southroad Fair in order to give them hope so that they will not quail and want to throw their lives away at every setback.

Bolo will continue to take turns in the crows nest and wonder how Turtle is getting along without her.

 

[MacConnell]

Stunned at the Avarice

Sannit says to Bulywif, "It is good that you wish to lead these men. I suppose as the Seekers we have had too much success for us to be able to relate to the downtrodden. We have faced many dangerous trials, conquered our fears and done many things we did not want to do in order to be victorious. I took for granted that others would wish to be strong like us." Sannit will spend some time with the crew, telling the story of the Seekers and about the community of Southroad Fair in order to give them hope so that they will not quail and want to throw their lives away at every setback.

Bulywif balks at the avaricious decree. "Nephew, I do not know what has happened to you. You walk away from the mundane life of the silk caravan, then become an economic success and reckoning force of Southroad Fair. You have one setback from a long established and superior foe, and now you want to condemn everyone without your talent and fortune as downtrodden and weak? What good would it do to undermine a despotic system of rule if you despise those who are ruled by it as much as those who rule it? You wear no collar about your neck. You cannot understand what it is to live with the imminent threat of death.

Once we make shore, I am sure you will want to immediately depart to leave us half-starved, weak, downtrodden, condemned men to our own devices. These collars chafe; but away from the whip and the chain, we will learn to ignore them. You all have a gift not imparted to very many. I saw you free yourselves with it. Is there nothing remaining within you to prevent you from becoming the exact embodiment of malevolence you opposed in the form of the Ansylin Magistry?"

Sheldon touches the elder man on his shoulder. "Easy Uncle! Sannit is angry. We are all angry. It is beyond frustrating to see that those who are ruled could walk away from their oppressors but do not. It is impossible to understand why they will not. As I gather from your resolve, your colleagues on this ship are all men who once tried and failed. We shall, indeed, separate ways once we make landfall. We have an army to stop. Once our ire has been sated, we will return on more peaceable terms to check on your situation. Maybe by then we can even rid you of those collars."

 

[Tellerian Hawke]

Tor says, in a quiet tone so that the rest of the crew cannot overhear, "I think it's less avarice, and more cynicism, father. All of us have become perhaps more than a bit jaded. Sheldon is correct, all of us suffer from anger and frustration, born of our recent defeat at the hands of seemingly unbeatable foes. The only thing that gives me hope is the fact that I witnessed Merin melt Suausedeserp into a puddle of goo. We simply need a little more time to develop our talent, and to try again. In the meantime, we've all become a bit grouchy, I suppose."

 

[MacConnell]

Day 305: Coming ABout

Sheldon nods, satisfied with his answer, and looks to the faces of his friends to see if they are like minded. He then turns to the Regulars and announces. "SOLDIERS. YOU ARE HEREBY REPATRIATED AS MEMBERS OF THE CREW. STOW ALL WEAPONRY AND TAKE YOUR PLACES AMONG THEM. CREW. MAN YOUR CHOSEN STATIONS. YOUR WORLD IS ABOUT TO CHANGE."

GM: Bulywif nods to his son, and waves a gesture of peace to Sannit and Sheldon as he walks to stand beside the Quartermaster. He gestures a command at the First-mate who has taken a position on the bow. At the last of Sheldon's words the soldiers removes their weapons and stow them in the ready rack. They join the crew in positions along the rigging. Bolo is amazed at the sway of movement from up in the crows nest. Though the ship heaves and lists with its movement and the movement of the sea, the feel on the deck is nothing compared to being aloft. Occasionally she has to hold to the tether on the mast to keep from being pitched from the perch. This is definitely not a job for the feint of heart, not really a job for any common individual.

At Bulywif's gesture he says to the Seekers, "You might want to hang on."

At Bulywif's gesture, the First-mate, gaining boldness from the change in events, finds his courage and bellows his commands from the forward deck. "RIGGERS, FURL THE HIGH SAILS. BOATSWAINS, FOLD THE MAIN SAIL. GROUND THE CROW. PREPARE TO SWING THE BOOM STARBOARD."

The nearest sailor clarifies one of the commands to Sannit, "Signori, your mate needs to come down or she will be pitched from the ship."

GM: The crew, and even the soldiers, move with a practiced efficiency. There is nothing easy about the work they engage and it must all be done quickly.

As soon as the furled sails are tied the First-mate calls again, "RIGGERS TO GROUND. BOATSWAINS SWING THE BOOM STARBOARD. QUARTERMASTER BRING US ABOUT PORT."

GM: The guide sail swings on the boom and is halted by the men holding its rope. Once this is tied, the wind catches it puffing out the middle of the triangle. The Quartermaster turns the wheel and the ship swing with a violent force. The process of commands are ordered so that the ship is again set for full sail heading in almost the opposite direction. In a day and a half, the land becomes visible and the desert sand on the horizon is left behind by an outcropping of the Spine stretching into the sea. The jungle is skirted until fresh water is seen coming from within and then the ship is carried inward until anchor can be weighed a suitable distance from shore. Rowboats are maned and beached on the leeward side of the river's outlet. Everyone finds themselves on a narrow strip of beach with a dense jungle looming to the north. Vast sounds of life come from within its foliage.

[sblock=Purchasing Power]

OOC: Store Credit in Southroad Fair: 1123 clams 60 Plates: (platinum coin, 3000 clams) 10 Gold Ingots (200 clams) 50 Dublins: (gold coin, 1000 clams) 50 Rupees: (silver coin, 500 clams) 76 Ocrin: (tin coin, 76 clams) 20% Southroad Fair Olive Trade Proceeds

[/sblock]
[sblock=Current Party Holdings]

OOC: 2 Windrunner Stallions 8 Windrunner Mares 2 decorative saddles (San-Bolo) 4 standard saddles (Tor, Sheldon, Indigo, Merin, Vadin) 4 Windrunner Colts (with pack rigs) 2 Harnin Mining Mauls 2 Harnin Mining Spikes 2 Harnin Pick Axes drawing of Assassins' Guild symbol parchment containing known message

[/sblock]

 

[Kwargrow]

Sannit nods to Bulywif and replies, "Uncle, I suppose this time I became impatient with these men looking to me for answers. It is not for me to say if they are weak or not, but from their own minds."

He will help with what work he can, not as a leader, but as one among equals.

Bolo will climb down from the crow's nest before the ship makes its turn.

 

[Tellerian Hawke]

Upon landing, Merin and Tor check their gear one last time, in preparation for the upcoming trek through the jungle. Both are extremely pleased to be off the ship. After ensuring that his Phoenix Feather is still in his pouch where he left it, Merin gets out his pen and parchment, and attempts to sketch the landmarks of their beach landing site. Tor slips his hand into his shield's arming strap, pleased to feel the sensation of the worn leather, and weight of the shield within his grip once more. With his other hand, he draws his sword, and gives it a couple of test swings.

Tor grins, "Welcome home, my lovelies. It is nice to have both of you back."

Merin nods in agreement, "Indeed!"

 

[Kwargrow]

Before they land on shore, San-Bolo will inspect the ship to make sure none the Seekers gear is left behind. During her last time in the crow's nest Bolo will carve 'San-Bolo was here' in the wood of the mast.

Once on shore San-Bolo will look for a suitable place to camp. When that chore is done, Bolo will set out for a hunt, not wanting to take any food from the sailors, and wanting something fresh for the fire. Sannit will help scout out the immediate area, looking for any signs of hostile tribes or larger creatures.

 

[MacConnell]

Day 320: Landfall

Upon landing, Merin and Tor check their gear one last time, in preparation for the upcoming trek through the jungle...

Before they land on shore, San-Bolo will inspect the ship to make sure none the Seekers gear is left behind...

GM: The Seekers find that they have reacquired all of their gear.

Once on shore San-Bolo will look for a suitable place to camp. When that chore is done, Bolo will set out for a hunt, not wanting to take any food from the sailors, and wanting something fresh for the fire. Sannit will help scout out the immediate area, looking for any signs of hostile tribes or larger creatures.

Sheldon and Indigo will move in a different direction to look for game as well. While they are out, they will also see if any useful herbs, or minerals can be located. At this point, they are no longer concerned if the sailors realize that they have gone hunting without the benefit of a bow.

GM: The western side of the river flowing from the jungle produces a considerably different flora than the eastern. While the eastern side sprawls into a deep jungle, the western side develops into a towering conifer forests. The difference is likely due to the nature of the soil. With less undergrowth to deal with and better timber to fell, the chosen location proves to be a good site for staking a camp and further developing into a regular homestead. The river proves to be rather shallow and the collection of drinkable water becomes a simple matter of walking inland for a bit. The farther inland a person travels, the better the water quality. Some of the sailors busy themselves with making a camp while others return in the longboats to gather more supplies from the anchored ship. The ship is rather obvious, having to have been anchored outside the reef, but this is not a major concern at this distance from Asylim.

OOC: [sblock=Hunting]Effectiveness: Mind + Knowledge + Commercial + Mercantile This active task is applied to finding and identifying animals or people by their passage. The specificity of the information known is determined by the rarity of the creature. The base score without the addition of the random roll represents the passive knowledge to notice the presence of other creatures or the tendency of the area to contain such. The addition of the random roll represents an active search. Success is determined by meeting or exceeding the predetermined rank requirements of the Encounter Table, found under the Denizens of TUW section. Check: Effectiveness + Empathy (Collegiate) + d100[/sblock] Bolo: 35 + 28 + 50 = 113 Sheldon: 36 + 51 + 51 = 138 Indigo: 36 + 38 + 42 = 116

GM: The hunting expeditions produces two medium harvesters and one small peccary, which is enough meat to fill eight people. Since the sailors have casting nets and seines, they are able to provide fish, which seem to be plentiful.

OOC: [sblock=Forage]Forage: Effectiveness: Mind + Knowledge + Commercial + Mercantile This active task is used to locate usable plants within the area, whether medicinal or edible or toxic. The effectiveness without the addition of the random roll represents the passive ability to recognize useful plants in the vicinity. Also, the effectiveness of this task may be augmented by the passive Collegiate technique of Konokoro. Check: Effectiveness + Konokoro (Collegiate) + d100[/sblock] Indigo: 36 + 38 + 20 = 94

GM: Indigo is able to locate a considerable variety of edible plants but nothing medicinal.

OOC: [sblock=Prospecting]Effectiveness: Mind + Knowledge + Commercial + Mercantile This active task is applied to the search for usable metal or stone. The results of the effectiveness are determined by terrain and availability of material. The base score without the addition of the random roll represents the passive knowledge to notice the presence of an ore or mineral or the tendency of the area to contain such. A minimum rank of 50 is need to passively notice the most base mineral, which is slate, and a minimum rank of 60 is needed to passively notice the most base ore, which is zinc. The addition of the random roll represents an active search. For those who can manipulate Way, holding a piece of the desired material while making an active search, increases the total score by 100. Also the total effectiveness may be augmented by the passive Collegiate technique of Konokoro. Success is determined by meeting or exceeding the predetermined rank requirements of the Minerals and Ores Availability Tables. Check: effectiveness + Konokoro (Collegiate) + d100[/sblock] Sheldon: 36 + 51 + 88 = 175

GM: Following the river as it cuts between the pines and jungle, Sheldon and intriguing green rock and 3 ingots worth of magnesium.

OOC: [sblock=Observation]Effectiveness: Mind + Knowledge + Commercial + Mercantile This active task represents watching and listening to the immediate area to determine patterns, anomalies, or dangers. It can also be used to determine a person's intentions or motivation. While animals tend to be motivated by fear, hunger, or preservation, people are more complicated and can be driven by greed, jealously, avarice, etc. This task may be countered by Blend, Introversion, or Stealth, whichever is most appropriate to the situation. Check: effectiveness + Empathy (Collegiate) + d100[/sblock] Sannit: 34 + 34 + 50 = 118

GM: Circumnavigating the proposed development site, Sannit finds sign of various animals and even sign of some people having passed near, but he finds nothing that would indicate and immediate threat.

[sblock=Purchasing Power]

OOC: Store Credit in Southroad Fair: 1123 clams 60 Plates: (platinum coin, 3000 clams) 10 Gold Ingots (200 clams) 50 Dublins: (gold coin, 1000 clams) 50 Rupees: (silver coin, 500 clams) 76 Ocrin: (tin coin, 76 clams) 20% Southroad Fair Olive Trade Proceeds

[/sblock]
[sblock=Current Party Holdings]

OOC: 2 Windrunner Stallions 8 Windrunner Mares 2 decorative saddles (San-Bolo) 4 standard saddles (Tor, Sheldon, Indigo, Merin, Vadin) 4 Windrunner Colts (with pack rigs) 2 Harnin Mining Mauls 2 Harnin Mining Spikes 2 Harnin Pick Axes drawing of Assassins' Guild symbol parchment containing known message

[/sblock]

 

[Tellerian Hawke]

Merin and Tor have a few ideas to get things going.

As Merin is finishing his sketch, he approaches Sannit.

Merin says, "We should hack some trails into the jungle, to make it easier for the sailors to gather building materials. Those trails will also serve as the beginnings for what will eventually be a road to the next nearest settlement."

Tor mentions, "We should also see to building a fence over the next 4-5 days, to give them a defined perimeter to patrol, and to help prevent this position from being easily overrun."