Journals on the Gem Sea

[The_JJ]

The man in front of you smiles in relief, dropping the facade of serious barganing. Thank you. The ship is manned by what's left of my father's old... well, we're from a recently assimilated part of the empire, so we still have some vestiges of the old feudalism/patron system. They're loyal enough, but neither skilled in combat nor the best sailors, as far as navigation goes. We've hired a navigator and a profesional captain. They should be loyal to a point.

[ZaneLaCoix]

[Seph]

"Alright, beggar's can't be choosers. So, when do we shove off, or is there more we should know?" He was more than excited, he couldn't wait to get his "Sea legs" back '"on." Sure, land was nice, it allowed for this monk to be of help where he could, when asked, but the sea was better.

Yeah, this was going to be fun.

[Darkantra]

Wave-Watcher

Like Seph, Wave-Watcher feels a wash of contentment as their host tells them that their mission lies at sea. To feel the ocean beneath him again and to swim with his squid in the open expanses... Wave-Watcher lets out a contented sigh.

"I have spent most of my life on the water, and form the looks of it Jull and Seph are well acquainted with sea travel. Even if they are not the best of sailors we should be able to handle the vessel."

I assume that you know the location of the Black Crow who has your gems. I assume that by now they hold a lot of power. Do you have any idea of how many pirates we will face to get your property back?

[The Bushranger]

Malvina

Aye, it'll feel good to get back out into the blue again. I think I should be able to handle any sort of sea-dogs you throw at me.
The roguish young woman chuckles and gives their host a wink.

[the quinn]

"I guess I am the only one here who hasn't spent much time on the sea. Thought I am skilled in combat and the divine arts, I'll do my best. When do we leave?" Says Jerren with a confident tone.

[The_JJ]

It seems Ozia lucked out and got me an eager bunch. You leave as soon as you can. As far where the bloody carrion birds put in, I don't think anybody but the very best of spymasters and the navigators on the ships know. As for who has the gems, I'd say Robert 'Black' Crowe is the most likely candidate, good news, he says at home while all the pirates go and play, hasn't been seen since his raid on my father's ships, though his captains all scream his name as they jump onto boarded ships. Bad news, we don't know where that home is, nor who he keeps near him. He sighs. It's taken me two years to work out this crew, get the ship, all under secrecy. We need you out of here soon if that is to be preserved, because Jade is getting suspicious, but after that, I just want the job done right, not fast.

[The Bushranger]

Malvina

It sounds like the finest party I can imagine getting paid to go to. I'm ready, lets go.

[the quinn]

JERREN
"I agree"

[Phantom Genius]

Zordek

"Aye. 'Tis a good test o' skill and the right t'ing ta do."

[Rettu Skcollob]

Jull nods, in a way he most probably thinks makes him look wise.

I agrees.

[The_JJ]

Very well. Sani, take them to the ship.

[ZaneLaCoix]

[Seph]

The monk swiftly moved out of his chair, then slid the chair back into its proper position. "What are you all waiting for? The longer we wait the higher the possibility of us not catching them." Were it not for the human wanting to be all "prim and proper" he'd be literally bouncing on his feet in anticipation.

[The Bushranger]

Malvina stands as well, grinning in anticipation.
So let's go see about this ship of yours...

[Rettu Skcollob]

Jull grins, his lower canines protruding from his mouth.

Just point der way, friend!

[The_JJ]

Sani takes you out on the cart again, rumbling back to the city. The docks are bustling and you soon blend in. The cart rolls its way to a pier where you see a small crew, most of them also with darker hair and skin like your employer are loading supplies onto a two masted ship. Sani drops you off, waves to a few friends on the dock and takes of.
A balding man with a big walrus mustach walks up to you and nods. You're expedition leaders? I'm Captain O'Bren, and this is the ship, Topaz Forever. We'll put out as soon as you're on, and then you can tell me what I should do. Oi! You there! Keep moving!

[The Bushranger]

Spoiler

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I am the walrus!

Malvina

Malvina Reynolds reporting aboard, Captain O'Bren. She looks to be a fine ship.
She hurries aboard with her things.

[ZaneLaCoix]

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I'm getting the sinking feeling with a Druid's Animal Companion following. XD

[Seph]

Probably one of the fastest members of the crew, or party Seph would literally run up the plank, claiming the bow of the boat for the time--at least until they had set off.

"Greetings crew, Seph Baelzara here. My apologies for boarding the ship before introduction, but I could not wait. I do believe it'll be a pleasure to work with you all."

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50 ft. walking speed with a 250 ft run speed FTW. XD

[Darkantra]

Wave-Watcher

As soon as arrive at the docks Wave-Watcher walks down to the shore and dips his hand into the water. Within a minute a squid swims through the murky water and coils itself around Wave-Watcher's arm. As it starts to clack its beak at Wave-Watcher the druid smiles.

"Yes, I was gone a while, but now we've got work."

Wave-Watcher walks up onto the pier with the squid swarming up onto his back.

"Captain O'Bren, I am Wave-Watcher, and this is my companion. He'll be following along beside the ship or attached to it, so we would both appreciate it if your men didn't try to catch him."

The squid climbs back down Wave-Watcher's back and drops into the water beside the ship.

[Rettu Skcollob]

Jull waves cheerfully to the Captain, as the party draws towards the ship, moving towards him, he engages him in conversation.

I be Jull, and I may not be der best saila, but I be good at der smashin' stuff, so I can guards whatever needs proteckshun. So, er, wot kind of ships dis be? Oh, yeh, sorry.

Jull salutes heavily, bringing a gauntlet up to his forehead.

Ow.

Slightly disorientated, Jull blinks and looks back at the Captain.

Anyways, so, yeh. Nice to be meetin you, Cap'n.

[The_JJ]

Umm... thank you. Are we all aboard? Good, let's put put.

[Phantom Genius]

"Guide us, Mighty Thor as we embark on this noble journey."

Zordek
-ready to set sail

[Darkantra]

Wave-Watcher

Stepping aboard, Wave-Watcher takes stock of the inexperienced crew and starts to lend assistance to them. He makes sure that the rigging is well in place, and that none of the ropes are frayed or set improperly, as well as giving the ship a once over to check it's seaworthiness. As he helps, he takes a minute to face the sea and gaze out into it, smelling the air in an expert manner to try and catch how the day ahead would go.

Spoiler

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Sailoring check to help get everything running smoothly, and a survival check to predict the weather.

Profession Sailor - (1d20+7)[27]
Survival - (1d20+13)[21]

[The Bushranger]

Malvina

Mal heads for the bow of the ship, to feel the wind in her hair and the sun on her face as they set sail.

[The_JJ]

The captain waves to the helmsman and the first mate, who go about the bussiness of untying the ship and setting out to the open water. He lets you take awhile to get acclimated, and then finds Mal. Err... have you any idea of where we're headed to? I'm afraid that Oziah fellow told me that you, that is all of you, would be in charge.

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Re the prof sailor check: Natural twenty! omg! Uhh... they seem relativly competent, and the speed with which they are loading the ship speaks well to both cohesion and reliability under pressure. The Topaz Forever, apparently recently renamed, is a decent all around ship, if not the fastest or most manuverable, she could certainly take a beating. She has not been equiped with any balistas, but you can see swivels lining the rails, presumably to hold heavy crossbows stored somewhere else.
The weather seems fine.

[The Bushranger]

Malvina

Mal gives the captain a smile and shakes her head slightly. We actually dont have a particular destination in mind, Captain. We're looking for somebody, and we'll have to check a lot of ports to find out where they are. We have the time to do that - but we are in a hurry to get out of port.

[Darkantra]

Wave-Watcher

A strage look blossoms on the druid's normally reserved face and he suddenly starts laughing loudly.

"Bwahaha! Yar, so we be findin' pirates eh? You!" he points at one sailor, "Clean th'scruppers, the rest o' ya bilge rats get movin', we got some pirates to string up! Arrrr!"

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Yarrr, it be international talk like a pirate day!

[The_JJ]

The crew gives the druid an odd look.

The captian give Malvina a flustered one. Well... I suppose the nearest port would be the Crane Tower. That's on the mainland Empire, if you can't tell by the name. But if the heats on here... well maybe Menoah sounds better?

[Darkantra]

Wave-Watcher

The druid comes down from whatever took hold of him.

"Yes, if we were able to get the information we seek from the Gem cities then our employer would have done so already. Let us set sail for Menoah."

[Rettu Skcollob]

Jull shrugs, his armoured feet clanking loudly on the deck.

Iffen we needs to be gettin' out of here, mebbe we shoulds start wid der movin', before we start wid der talkin'?

[ZaneLaCoix]

[Seph]

The monk would give a light chuckle, turning towards the group.

"Wiser words have never been said, my friend. Now, I do believe we all, as Jull said, should raise anchor, and shove off before unwanted ears come too close."