The Commodore's Caravan

[CommodoreFluffy]

Bob Purser enters the room and states with a drunken drawl, "Get anything you need done here out of the way, just...some small amount of time.
I need a nappy."
and promptly collapses onto a pile of assorted cloths in the corner.

[Daryk]

Thierry chuckles slightly, "Oh, I am... looking forward to this." Thierry speaks slightly darkly as he pushes himself off of a crate with a light shove, and looks over his shoulder. "Indeed."

His eyes widening only slightly, Maeleg nodded and said, "Ah, ok. At least that makes two of us glad to get on the road, then."

"I'm mostly looking forward to reaching our destination and beginning my work there," he says to no-one in particular, "but I am curious about what we will be transporting."

Looking at Vos and pointing at their nominal foreman, Maeleg said, "Well, so much for asking Bob. I suppose we could ask the boss, if we knew where he was..."

Striding over to the door, Maeleg whistled a few notes and waited for Rakir to return. Shortly, the raven took up an overhead pattern circling the street outside the warehouse.

"Yes, master?"
"Go find Mr. Walthers, and report his whereabouts to me."
"Again?"
"Yes, again."
"And if he throws something at me like last time?"
"Try not to be seen. Especially if he's... indisposed."
"So, find your boss without getting caught. Right. On it, boss."

Muttering under his breath in elvish, Maeleg resisted the urge to throw something at his departing familiar himself. Returning to the warehouse, he picked up the conversation where he had left off:
"Rakir should let me know where the boss is soon. In the mean time, did you need a hand with your armor Vos? My stuff is pretty much packed, and all I really need to do is fill my water skin."

[Ranthog]

"Aye, I can't think of anything... I mean we hardly stop anywhere long enough not to be ready." Thierry shrugs, "But I'd like to go where no one knows us and we don't know anyone. Its an adventure of sorts." He smiles a bit and gathers up his sword belt, strapping it on.

[Bonecrusher Doc]

Vos tilts his head to one side until his neck pops, then rolls his shoulders, satisfied. "Thank you, Maeleg. I was waiting to hear if we would be leaving today before doing my morning devotional, and I must now promptly spend some time with holy Kord. I will ask for blessings to help us on our journey, and a special blessing for you. If you are still here in an hour, I will gladly accept your help. Since we will not be leaving until the sun is high in the sky, it would seem that we will not travel far from the city this day, but it is still wise to be prepared for any attack." After politely nodding to Maeleg and the others in the warehouse, he walks over to the far corner behind a bale of cotton, where a sunbeam has just appeared from a chink in the east wall. Face to the corner, he pauses, then assumes a wide stance with his fists clenched and his head bowed.

[CommodoreFluffy]

The bird comes flapping franticly towards the crowd, shouting (only understandable to the longtime companion of the fowl)"He is moving for the speaker, cover your ears!"

Unfortunately for all of you, you had no time to react, and promptly, the squeaky arrogant voice of your employer crackels over the treble amplified "communication portal":

"We Leave within the hour, Get the carts loaded onto the Boats, We sail for...*shuffling of papers*...umm. Just a Sec, well Nevermind, We leave soon. (i never get to say anything cool, *sigh*)

Your ears are barely intact, nearly shattered by that insanely acute sound.

[Bonecrusher Doc]

If the interruption disturbed Vos, he makes no sign of it, but continues his prayers.

[Ranthog]

Thierry just keeps preparing, frowning a little bit at how loud the voice was. He just shakes his head as he collects up his stuff and adjusts his sword belt. "Well, I hope for a quiet little voyage. At least we don't have to break and make camp." Theirry chuckles slightly.

[Daryk]

"Oh, a sea voyage. Lovely. Rakir, first of all, where was Mr. Walthers? I may still need to talk to him. Second, fly down to the docks and see how many ships large enough to carry our four wagons there are. Third, report where they are berthed to me," Maeleg said.
"Boss, are you talking to me? I can see your lips moving, but there's no sound," replied the raven, rather more loudly than necessary.
"Are you kidding me, Rakir?"
"Master, you can cover your ears when he uses that thing. I can't. You can either give up on what you're trying to tell me, or wait for my ears to stop ringing."
Maeleg said something impolite in elvish, and briefly contemplated writing out his directions, but decided against it. Paper was expensive, and he had little coin. Looking at Bob Purser's prostrate form, and the teamsters standing around looking at each other, Maeleg sighed and started thinking.

"Thierry, could I trouble you to head down to the docks and see if you can figure out what ship we're supposed to be loading the wagons on? Or maybe see if Bob has a bill of lading? I'm not sure if waking him up will be helpful at this point. Jim, please see to loading the supply wagon, at least. We shouldn't have too much trouble figuring out what goes on that. James, I'm inclined to believe the boss' wagon is loaded, since he's the only one with a key. If you could get a team hitched up, and head down to the docks with Thierry or one of the other guards, that could save us some time. Everyone else, please help Jim with the supply wagon until we have a better idea of what's going on. All we know for certain at this point is that we don't have a lot of time. I'll see about Vos."

Maeleg gave a few seconds for his requests to sink in, then quietly walked over to the corner of the warehouse where Vos was engaged in communing with his god. Waiting for an opportune moment, he said quietly, "Vos? Terribly sorry to interrupt, but it seems we have rather less time than we thought, and we could really use your help getting the wagons loaded."

[Ranthog]

Thierry looks over quietly for a moment, "I'm sure Mr. Walthers will let us know where to go." He shrugs slightly and starts to collect his backpack. He gets that look he often does as when he'd consider something not in his best interest. Not that that has ever troubled his compatriots to ask such. He just turns towards his backpack, checking over his supplies quietly and carefully. He lets out a soft sigh before looking over back towards Maeleg and gives a shrug.

[CommodoreFluffy]

Purser wakes up for a moment to grumble "Somebody really has got to get that [insert impolite word here]ing thing away from him...My ears"...His eyes widen and reality hits him like a frying pan thrown from a train by an epic level fighter. "Walthers didn't actually hire a ship, I thought it was provided by the state! I'm going to have a word with him"
The man marches over to the thin sliding door with the letters "Ofise" messily scrawled, and enters for a little chat.

[Bonecrusher Doc]

Vos holds up one hand for a second, perhaps indicating that he would like to be left alone for a few more moments.

[Daryk]

Maeleg nodded silently to Vos and padded over to just outside the "ofise" in an effort to eavesdrop on the conversation within despite his ringing ears.

[GimliFett]

Bazral Strakeln

With a loud snort, the dwarf sits up in his wagon and rubs his eyes. "We ready ta goo, yet? Och! I swear this's tha slowest caravan Ah've ever ben a part a!" He clambers out of the wagon and hitches his mules up once more.

[The_Shaman]

Hkil Cavepick

The short, nondescript rogue has been writing something in his journal for a while and given the odd nod of understanding every now and then before the speaker interrupts it. He winces and turns to Thierry, noting Well, I'd certainly hope that it's quieter than that. He goes near the "ofise" door and leans on the wall as if tired. He shuts his eyes and concentrates on what his ears hear.

((Two rogues, twice the fun ;) ))

[Daryk]

Maeleg smiles faintly at Hkil on the other side of the doorway, then returns to focusing on the discussion within the "ofise".

[CommodoreFluffy]

Important DM Announcement:
I will not be able to update on this until saturday (because of finals), at which point we will continue. i suggest that you do some character development roleplaying, such as talking to other PCs. Also, you could try to act for the NPCs, to flesh out them a bit too. See ya soon

-Toodles, The Commodore

P.S. Your DM is getting a Fender Strat for Christmas, YAY MINDLESS COMMERCIALISM AND ENSLAVING CAPITALISM!

[Daryk]

After a few moments of straining to make out anything through the "ofise" door and the ringing in his ears, Maeleg gave up and mouthed a silent "good luck" to Hkil before quietly returning to the wagons. Back amongst the teamsters and other guards, he set to lending a hand as best he could loading the supply wagon while Bazral and James got their respective charges in traveling order. Jim Cook had rigged a sling to ease the loading of the heavy barrels of flour and other dry goods; the other food stuffs were generally easier to handle. Normally, the dry goods would have been in lighter sacks and simply kept under cover in the supply wagon. For the sea voyage, several sacks had been sealed in each barrel to keep them from getting wet.

[Bonecrusher Doc]

Vos returns from his prayers, helps load goods, and asks Maeleg for help with the more unwieldy pieces of his armor. Addressing everyone, he says,
"Are we certain this is a sea voyage? Mr. Walthers sounded a little...distracted."

Spoiler

Show

Spells Prepared: Purify Food & Drink, Guidance (x2), Resistance, Cause Fear, Obscuring Mist, Bless, Enlarge Person.

Spoiler

Show

Can we try to keep the OOC stuff either in spoilers or in a seperate OOC thread? I like to get into the flow of the story.

[GimliFett]

Bazral Strakeln

Having finished getting his mules and wagon prepared, Baz takes a good look around the group of merchants and guards. "Aye. Ah dinnae ken this was goon ta be a sea voyage, boot when oopertoonity knocks, ya gotta answer, nae?"

[Daryk]

Maeleg shook his head slightly, and tugged at his ears. "Bazral, could you repeat that? I couldn't quite make it out over the ringing in my ears," he said.

[Ranthog]

Thierry saunters on over twoards his horse, to prepare her. He starts to brush the horse down as he speaks. "Now, I look forward to it. Ought to be a nice change from having to gaurd the caravan. No walking or camping at all." Theirry beams happily. "I mean what could happen out at sea?"

[GimliFett]

Bazral Strakeln

The dwarf snorts loudly, but mutters under his breath, "Whot could 'appen indeed? Wrecked ship an' droonin', fer one." Baz turns to Maeleg and repeats himself, but much louder and slower. "Aye. Ah...dinnae...ken...this...was...goon...ta...be... a...sea...voyage...boot...
when...oopertoonity...knocks...ya...gotta...answer ...nae?" When finished he stares at Maeleg a moment before winking.

[Bonecrusher Doc]

"I'm certain we'll just be passengers; Mr. Walthers must have booked us passage on a boat or ship that already has a captain and crew knowledgable in seafaring, and the sea voyage may only be part of our journey."

[Daryk]

"Thanks, Bazral," Maeleg said with a sheepish grin. Continuing to help Vos don his armor, he added, "I must have been standing in just the wrong spot, because my hearing still isn't back to normal."

Spoiler

Show

Sorry about that Doc... I missed Vos' request for aid at first.

[Ranthog]

"Eh, I'm sure they'll be good enough.. I mean the state has money to blow anyways." Theirry brushes off the nay saying as he meticulously brushes down the horse, getting her ready to go. Its a fine and well trained horse at that. She may just be a plain shade of brown, but she doesn't flinch at anything.

[The_Shaman]

Hkil

After a few more moments waiting to overhear something, Hkil goes towards the others as well. Well, a lot of things may happen at sea, he shrugs But I don't know anyone who got rich sitting on their rocking chair. Bazral's right, when we get a chance, we go for it. Vergadain willing, we may know better times than these. he says off-handedly as he loads some materials onto his mule.

[Daryk]

"Don't you think it's a bit odd we're taking the wagons with us on the ship? Don't they have wagons where we're going? Or mules, for that matter?" Maeleg asked no one in particular while supporting Vos's back plate. The massive half-orc was buckling the many straps that connected the back and breast plates, and it was impossible to get them cinched properly without help.
The slender elf's own experience with armor extended to nothing heavier than the chain shirt his Sergeant had worn at his border post. Maeleg had judged it far too noisy for patrolling the woods in a proper fashion, and had commissioned his own armor as soon as he could afford it.

[CommodoreFluffy]

Time flew by as you discussed the impracticality of the entire trip, ans soon, the stout, short man known as Mr. Walthers bursts out of the "ofise" and says in his high, squeaky voice, "Lets go! we need to get to the docks within 45 minutes, no time to lose!" the carts get set, the boxes loaded, and the people on the move. there is not much that any of you can catch in the chaos of moving, but you all end up in the gigantic ship headed to the Western mainland, with all the carts and mules in the hold, you await your arrival in the new land.

Bob enters the room, pulls up a stool, and casually asks, "so... what do you guy's think it's going to be like"

[Daryk]

Maeleg looked speculatively at Bob and said, "Well, I haven't heard much about the Western lands, but judging by the way the Westerners dress, I'd say it's a bit hotter there than we're used to. That doesn't leave much hope for forests, or at least not the sorts of forests we know. Perhaps they have trees that can tolerate the heat better."

[The_Shaman]

Hkil

The dwarf looks appraisingly over the crates. Maybe the people we get here are used to our weather instead. Speaking of which, I wonder how well Mr. Walthers picked the kind of cargo we're having... I don't mind sightseeing, but it'd be best if we had something that'd sell well.