Journals on the Gem Sea

[The Bushranger]

Malvina

I agree, let us sail for Menoah with alcarity. If you'll excuse me?
Mal turns to head belowdecks and to her cabin, both to freshen herself up and also so as not to be spotted by any prying eyes on shore, if it comes to that.

[The_JJ]

Very well. Alston! To the helmsman and get us set for Venapua.
A skinny little man, dressed in the grab fasionable to the Ruby Isle, runs out of a hatch and shoots the captain a dirty look, before running to the helm with his maps and sexton.

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You were already out. He just wanted to know where to.

First to post, roll d100.

[Darkantra]

Wave-Watcher

Continuing to help his new shipmates the druid occasionally checks on his squid, to make sure that it is well attached to the ships hull.

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Let's see how badly I curse us on this random encounter

(1d100)[56]

[The_JJ]

And you reach the Menoah port of Venapua with no problems. It's another smaller port town of wood and plaster buildings. There's the Drunken Sailor Inn (high class) the Tipsy Nob Tavern (lower class), a bank, a small market, and of course, the waterfront warehouses.

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Sorry about all these delays. I thought I made this post already.

[Rettu Skcollob]

Jull, who had been asleep, leaning against the mast and gently snoring for quite some time, after pirates, sea monsters and other horrors failed to appear, to his disappointment; jumps awake as the ship sails into port.

Jxyzqk?! Pirates! Der... every man fer himselves!

Jull looks around wildly, and upon seeing that the aforementioned sea-going bandits are not in the vicinity, clears his throat, sheepishly.

Uh... False alarm?

[ZaneLaCoix]

[Seph]

"Quite. One of the less eventful trips across the seas. We've docked without hitch. Come on, lets go do our stuff." The monk mumbled, clearly bored. He was sitting on the opposite side of the mast, withholding a minor grin from his companion's reaction barely overriding the overwhelming feeling of boredom.

He would hop to his feet, and wait at the plank for anyone else who was going to follow.

[The Bushranger]

Mal

Malvina, standing up near the bow as usual, spins around at first at Jull's outburst, then grins.
Pirates, eh? If there are any here we'll make them all walk the plank!
Clearly in good spirts, she heads for the gangplank the moment it's dropped.

[Darkantra]

Wave-Watcher

The druid steps off of the ship and joins the others on the pier.

"We should start asking about our quarry right away. Maybe if we put out the word that we'd like to buy some gemstones discretely we can get a contact. Though I suggest that one of you do the talking, I don't get along well with most people."

Wave-Watcher's deadpan voice underscores his point.

[ZaneLaCoix]

[Seph]

"I do not have the best of luck at getting information directly, but possible allies I can do--which may get us the info we wish." The monk paused for a moment, pondering. "One to each place of commerce, then meet up at the local inn at around dusk. Sound good?"

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I'll find it ironic if its just us three left with the DM.
XD;

[The Bushranger]

Mal

That sounds good with me. Malvina considers the various options, and grins a bit. I call the Tipsy Nob...

[Phantom Genius]

Zordek:

I'll be startin' at tha Drunken Sailor o'course. Presumin' we're meeting there tanight anyway.

[Darkantra]

Wave-Watcher

"Then I will take the Pickled Penguin."

[The_JJ]

Re Tipsy Nob:
It's a crowded bar full of off duty sailors and dock workers. The atmosphere is rowdy, but not violent. A singer in the corner is trying to drown out the noise, but fail miserably.

Re Drunken Sailor:
The air here is a little quieter. Several round tables, well spaced, are fillled with ships officers or local merchants negotiating with those who just came of ships. The bar is lined with what look like merchents sons.

[The Bushranger]

Mal

Malvina enters the Tipsy Nob with a air of confidence, and heads directly for the bar, taking a seat as she glances around at the other patrons before ordering a glass of ale.

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Spot:(1d20+7)[14]

[Darkantra]

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Oops, I thought we were just making up tavern names to visit.

Guess that's what I get for not paying complete attention . Wave Watcher will go to the market instead of a non-existent tavern.

[ZaneLaCoix]

[Seph]

"I'll search the wharf."

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Helps to read the DM's post fully

[The_JJ]

Re Mal:
You spot... an open stool on the bar.
Re wharf:
You kick around (heh, 'cause he's a monk. Get it?) the wharfs and see a lot of cargo being unloaded, though not much loaded. Aside from sailors pokeing around in boredom, much like you, the only people you see are a few people looking to seperate those sailors from their coin, one way or another.

Re Market:
The evening crush has seemed to set it. Farmers from the surounding country side have come to buy the fruits of civilization and sell... fruit, while small time merchants hawk their wares and the townpeople come to be entertained.

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True story
"And the door to the left contains an unfathomable abyss, on the far side of which is a box."
"What? Box? I open it!"
"But... you can't. Your in this room here."
"Well, I walk over to the box."
"Just walk over there...?"
"Well, yeah."
"Ok, so Timmy just disapeared over the edge of the abyss."
"Wait, what?"

[ZaneLaCoix]

[Seph]

Nothing big around here, mostly same old, same old. The first group he'd approach would be one of a captain, or at least the first mate, someone high up in the ranks--knowledgeable to the ways around here, rumors and such. With a quick salute, he'd inquire to the inquire in mind--or if the person knew of such a person who might know.

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Now come on, you can do better for a pun! Or at least a better punch line, with a follow up kicker.

[The_JJ]

The Crows? Hells man, nobody knows where they come from. They just come outta nowhere and hit yah, bam, grab and go. They like to leave survivors, to take ransom demands home. But the ransomers just drop the money on one island and pick up their loved one on the other. They never double cross on a ransom. Bad for buisness. Huh. They try to do that, they never make anymoney offa ransom again.

[The Bushranger]

(())

When her ale arrives, Malvina thanks the barkeep, then leans forward conspiritorially.
Say, you wouldn't happen to know anyone around here who'd be in the gem business and discreet about it, would you?

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Feel free to make a Charisma (view down front of dress) check if it would help matters.

[the quinn]

Jerren:
I'll follow to zordek to the drunken sailor

[The_JJ]

You see...

The air here is a little quieter. Several round tables, well spaced, are fillled with ships officers or local merchants negotiating with those who just came of ships. The bar is lined with what look like merchents sons.

[Rettu Skcollob]

OOC:

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Blargh, sorry for the non-posting these last few days, life has become irritatingly busy.

Jull watches the others go contentedly, safe in the knowledge that they will return with the information they need. In any case; Jull knew that a 7' 3" Half Orc in full plate would not help the subtle art of gathering information. Meanwhile; he listed around, lost a few loose coppers gambling with the crew, kept an eye on Seph whenever he was in sight on the Wharf, and helping with whatever menial tasks that there were to do, that didn't require particular maritime skill.

[ZaneLaCoix]

[Seph]

The monk would salute once more, then return to Jull. "Well what now? We wait for one of them to take us the the isle, and negotiate terms with them--perhaps even try and talk 'em into a different life style? It sounds like they're honorable enough to trust 'em not to kill us."

[Rettu Skcollob]

Jull rubs a gauntletted hand over the stubble on his chin, thoughtfully.

I t'ink dey'd be easier ta smash, till we gots wot we want. Simpler like dat.

Jull nods his head at this profound wisdom.

Yeh. 'Sides, I don't fink der pirates will sudd'nly turn goods just cos' you asked 'em too.

[ZaneLaCoix]

[Seph]

The monk nodded slightly--well, part of it was worth a shot anyways. "So, we beat them into submission?" He asked letting out a heavy sigh, not really liking the whole idea. "Granted it may be easier, but the chances of them leading to what we want is slim. Perhaps let them lead us the goal, then coarse them into letting us go with said items? How much do you wager that they would be willing to work for a constant pay instead of a variable, never assured one?"

[Rettu Skcollob]

Jull absently tapped his fingers on the side of the boat for a few moments, processing the big words Seph was using.

Hmm. No tax on der booty. 'Sides, if dey didn't enjoy der vilence dat comes wit der piracy, den dey wouldn' have joined.

[Phantom Genius]

Zordek tries to start up some friendly conversations about who the worst (most dread) pirates are in the area. (Diplomacy)
(1d20+10)[16]

Then use that to Gather Info on where the Crows are.
(1d20+3)[7]

[ZaneLaCoix]

[Seph]

"I guess... But these don't strike me as normal pirates. They have honor unlike most--its fishy, if you'll excuse the pun. I'll be back..." Not yet ready to give in to the fact that this group cannot be turned around, Seph heads back into the bin of the wharf asking just about everyone who looked to be of high station, well established, and even those whom were after nothing more than coin about the current query.

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(1d20+14)[16] Diplomacy
(1d20+4)[8] Gather info

[Darkantra]

Wave-Watcher

The druid carefully walks through the marketplace, looking out for the best oranges, kiwi fruit, or papayas that he can find. If not any of those, he will look for the best fruit in season. When he finds a suitable vendor he stops to bargain.

"I would like to buy a crate, to be delivered to the ship Topaz Forever. For the price of buying so much of your fruit, I assume that there will be no delivery charge."

While negotiating a price he tries to turn the conversation around to gemstones.

"Do you know of any gem merchants in town? One of my companions on the ship is trying to start a business in them and is looking for a cheap retailer"

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Gather Information - (1d20)[19]

I figured that some vitamin C would be just what every sailor needs.

Good story by the way, the last time I DMd the players ignored my repeated warnings that the forest they were in had become rife with grey and brown undergrowth that could go up with a spark, as caused by an unprecedented drought in the area. The druid cast and threw a produce flame onto a goblin that was hiding in a tree, killing it and sending it crashing into the underbrush below. The forest fire ended up scorching most of the forest, which royally pissed off the logging community that had hired them.

Guess I should have learned by now to read and pay attention to everything the DM relates, but I've been busier than usual lately and haven't been able to give my all to any of the games I'm in.