[WFRP] Gold of the Phantom

[-Sentinel-]

Raquel's smile showed more pointy, gleaming teeth in a spooky imitation of a grinning shark. Her two pirate bodyguards kept their eyes on her, obviously tense, and the Southlander seemed ready to seize her arm.

"You have no idea what you'd be missing, captain," she said, her voice low. "This isn't just about gold. There's a lot more at—"

The Southlander elbowed her lightly in the back. Raquel threw him an irritated glance over her shoulder.

"Alright, if that's your last word, captain," said the girl, her smile now an ugly snarl, "let me see Rico."

[LCP]

Renard pushed the man in question forwards to the gunwale.

"Here is your man. See, we have brought him, as we promised."

He cocked his head at Racquel. "I am curious though. What is it, this thing that is worth more than gold to you? Or can you not say?"

[-Sentinel-]

Raquel quite deliberately ignored Renard's question.

"Rico!" she exclaimed, a new smile spreading across her face. "It's such a pleasure to see you again. We missed you. Don't you ever try to flee again, you little rascal!"

A foul smell informed Renard that his prisoner had just wet himself.

"G... glad to be back," stammered the ashen-faced navigator. "I'll... I'll cooperate, I swear."

"Oh, I'm sure you will."

"Yes, yes! There'll be no need for..."

"I'll be the judge of that," said Raquel with the eager grin of a little girl about to receive her birthday gift. "Row closer," she told the Southlander. "Captain Lanois, would you be so kind as to have a rope ladder lowered?"

[LCP]

"Vasco!" shouted Renard. "A ladder for the lady."

A subtle glance at Gino and Svanhildur warned the mercenaries to be on their guard.

[-Sentinel-]

The halfling lowered the ladder into the rowing boat.

"Get up there, slowly," Raquel hissed at Felicia, her pistol still pointed at her hostage's head.

The noblewoman obeyed. Despite her pregnancy and her impractical dress and shoes, she contemptuously declined any help to climb the ladder. By the time she reached the top, she was breathing hard, but her jaw was clenched in determination.

"Stop here," barked Raquel when Felicia was about to step over the Vixen's railing. "Yes, here, where I can see you. You stay here until Rico is safely in my boat."

Her eyes flicked to the Southlander and the Norseman, who were aiming their pistols at Renard.

"Okay, your turn, captain. Pay up."

[LCP]

Renard nodded for the crew to hand Rico over.

"I would appreciate it if your men would put their pistols away, ma'moiselle. They are not doing anyone any good."

[-Sentinel-]

Rolling her eyes in obvious irritation, Raquel tucked her pistol into her belt. Her men did the same, but something about their pose said that they were ready to draw them at a heartbeat's notice.

[Bowerbird]

Svanhildur stands behind her captain, staying out of sight of the people in the rowboat, she leans forward and softly whispers to her captain: "I can climb down the other side of the ship and swim underneath them, in case they try to cross us."

[LCP]

"Thank you, Svan," said Renard, "but I'd rather have you here. Don't want them trying anything while you're still swimming, eh?"

[-Sentinel-]

"Hurry this up, please," said Raquel, smiling again but not quite able to hide the edge of impatience in her voice. "Rico, you don't need us to go and fetch you, do you?"

"N... no," answered the navigator. "C... coming."

Obviously resigned he started down the rope ladder, while Lady Romano stepped on the deck of the Vixen.

"Thank you, captain," she whispered. "Watch out for the girl, she's insane. I almost pity that poor man."



(OOC: Pausing just to make sure Renard proceeds as planned.)

[LCP]

Renard nodded in acknowledgement, not wanting to bandy too many words around in the presence of the young Velasco.

"Svan, if you would take the lady below-decks," he said, watching the clubfoot descend the rope-ladder. "Vasco, I want us ready to weigh anchor as soon as their boat is clear."

[-Sentinel-]

Lady Romano seemed relieved to see at least one woman on the Vixen's crew. No matter how well-treated she had been, her time among pirates had apparently made her wary of seamen.

Rico the Clubfoot nervously sat in the rowing boat, cringing when Raquel smiled at him. Velasco's daughter threw one last glance at Renard.

"You'll live to regret it, captain Lanois," she said cheerfully.

At her command, the Southlander rowed them back toward the Osprey. To the West the sun was setting, basking the limestone cliffs of Gannet Crag in an orange glow.

[LCP]

Nodding to himself, Renard stepped away from the gunwale, turning back to the running of the ship.

"Weigh anchor!" he called, taking the helm. "Dairuin, if you would see to the lady. Vasco, chart a course for that weasel's mark on the map."

Letting the wheel turn idly in his hands, he pulled it to starboard as soon as the anchor was weighed, nosing the Vixen into the wind and heading away from the Osprey. It wouldn't do to look like they were following Velasco's ship.

It wouldn't do at all.

[goblinpaladin]

The elf nodded, already moving to join the Norsewoman and the admiral's wife down stairs. Approaching, he bowed his head to the Lady Romano. "Signora. I am Dairuin Umanyarion, co-owner of this vessel. This is Svanhildur, one of our finer crewmen- she will assist you in any way she is able."

[-Sentinel-]

Above deck

"Just warning you, captain," said Giulio, glaring at Rico's map as if it somehow offended him. "As I told you, this map isn't much good. The X is too large. It's a big area... too big. It could take us a day or two to find Velasco's ship once we get there. And that's assuming Rico put the X at the right place, too."


Below deck

"Thank you," said the noblewoman, seemingly at ease with Dairuin, as if she had dealt with Elves before. "Mind if I sit? I'm a bit tired."

Without waiting for an answer, she sat at a table in the mess room.

"So my husband sends you? I never thought he'd be the kind of man to surrender to pirates. Then again, I suppose he couldn't guess why they wanted Rico... I take it you've been told about the Phantom?"

[LCP]

"The map's our backup, Giulio," said Renard, casually. "We'll run behind the nearest of these islands, wait for the Osprey to get underway - then follow her at a respectable distance."

A thought seemed to strike him.

"It might not hurt to dress the ship, come to think of it. Do we have any paint?"

[-Sentinel-]

"A bit, sir," reported Vasco. "Not nearly enough."


OOC:

Spoiler

Show

Tailing the Osprey will count as an opposed Skill test: captain Lanois' Sail skill versus the pirate crew's basic Perception skill. This test will be rolled in secret once per day.

[LCP]

"A pity," said Renard. "Perhaps if we get the chance, we can make some adjustments to her trim. It's the sails they'll be looking at, after all."

OOC:

Spoiler

Show

Can I still use fortune points on the secret test?

If so, I'd definitely like to do so. If ever it fails, FORTUNE POINT.

[-Sentinel-]

"I suppose we could," said Vasco confidently. "I'll have to ask Sergio, but I think we can take down several of the bigger sails and still keep up with them. Ships that size can't be that fast."


OOC:

Spoiler

Show

It's possible to fortune-point it, but since it's a secret test, it makes things a bit more complicated. For example, the fortune point is automatically spent even if the re-roll is not needed. Additionally, I'll need instructions regarding what is considered good enough and what needs re-rolling: it's an opposed test, so it's entirely possible that both sides succeed at the same time. In that case, the one with the largest margin of success wins.

Of course, if you re-roll, the second result stands.

[goblinpaladin]

Below Deck

Dairuin gestured smoothly to a seat, before taking one himself. He steepled his hands before his face, nodding. "Yes, he declaimed a most magnificent story, all about treasure from the Land of the Dead and an unfortunate accident at sea. So his story holds the seed of truth?"

[-Sentinel-]

Below decks

"It does," Lady Romano confirmed. "All the men are excited about the treasure. They don't have it yet, but already it's tearing them apart." She smiled, a strange gleam in her grey eyes. "If I were captain Velasco, I'd be watching my back."

[goblinpaladin]

The elf returned the smile, his own eyes lighting up. "Ah. That is good news, Signora. What else can you tell us about this treasure, the effect it has on the crew?" He gestured to Svanhildur. "We are all ears."

[-Sentinel-]

"I listened to the pirates' conversations. It's hard to keep a secret when you're on a ship." Lady Romano's voice became hushed. "I've grown up at court. I can notice the signs of scheming and betrayal. And I can say with certainty that Velasco's grip on his crew is slipping."

She paused, hesitating.

"And his daughter, Raquel... I think she's up to something."

[goblinpaladin]

"Raquel, this is the human we met just now, who hinted at something... 'more'?" The elf's expression was open about his doubt. "She seems overly fond of those silly blackpowder sticks, but you suspect there is more to her than bloodlust? What of this thing at which she was hinting?"

[-Sentinel-]

"I'm not sure what she wants," said Lady Romano thoughtfully. "But she's garnering more and more support from her father's crewmen. She's cunning and ambitious. And very, very unpredictable. It's a good thing you declined Velasco's offer. The situation on the Osprey is growing too dangerous for anyone's safety."

She smiled, patting her belly.

"I'm glad you were quick to come: I don't know how long I still have before I give birth. I trust we'll be back in Luccini within three days?"

[Gunther]

Don Juan

The Diestro, having been fairly tense after the uncouth madame's particularly hostile negotiations with the captain of the vessel, had let out a long sigh of relief when things had finally settled. Though he would certainly not crack open the Estalian wine quite yet, he felt he could give a minor sigh of relief. Whilst the ship began to tail the Estalian vessel, Don Juan felt mildly obligated to speak with the captain on a few matters.

"Senor, perdon." He said to the man, "One moment, por favor?"

[LCP]

Renard looked round.

"What?" he asked, a little surprised at being approached again.

[Gunther]

"Senor, I have a request to make of you- and, possibly, an idea of how to acquire the wealth from the capitane of the other vessel." Juan replied, tugging on his gloves, he produced a bit of cologne from within his pocket, lightly dabbing it upon the back of each glove.

"I would like to ask you for the possibility of dueling Senor Velasco. He is an Estalian man, and if we are to indeed raid his ship, I would ask you for the honor of fighting such a man." He stated bluntly, knowing that the finer aspects of approaching such a subject would be lost upon a seadog such as this. He was aboard a sailing ship, not within a ballroom, after all!

[LCP]

Renard blinked.

"You understand, monsieur... that the plan is to stage a surprise attack? A fast one. I do not think you will have time for, ah... duelling. A quick stab in the back is more the thing."

He paused, watching the Estalian's face.

"Even if you did call him out in the middle of the action, his ship would be being boarded. He would shoot you dead."

[goblinpaladin]

Dairuin smiled, a faint up-turning of his lips, and waved one hand casually. "We hope so. The winds, you know? And there are... other matters. Rest assured, senora, we have the health of you and your babe uppermost in our minds. Our ship's surgeon is a most skilled man, should matters come to the-- ah, fore."