Jammers:Chapter 2, Turn 11 Summary

Comments, criticism, and flames always welcome and in fact are requested. I
crave feedback:)

Past turns and further information can be found at the Jammer's webpage:
http://lucas.dfl.doc.ca/emoo/jammers.htm

IC:
Holland slowly gets to his feet, awkwardly due to his hands being bound,
and says, "'Take us away?'  I, as well as these two, have done nothing
wrong as you yourself have already stated.  You on the other hand, have
used hostile magics against us.  It is you who has committed the crime."

Turning to the Sgt Tagart Holland says, twisting his torso so his bound
hands can be seen, "Would you please untie me."

The priest responds angrily.  "I asked you to leave and you became hostile.
So I used a non-lethal spell to hold you until the watch arrived. Latanuut
would prefer I spill your blood on her altar, but I know you were sent by
the Guard or those deceitful priests of Ptah to somehow blame the loss of
their artifact on Shipwrecker and drive her worship from this place.  She
reveals all to her faithful servent, so that her cleansing winds can blow
the fog of deceit away!"

The sergeant steps forward and punches Holland in the jaw, knocking the
mage back down like a sack of potatoes.  "I don't like mages."  Turning he
orders his men to pick the three up and "Bring them along for questioning."

Walking up to the priest he holds his hand out in a blatent manner and
says, "Our time is valuable, citizen, it would be a shame if we were to
respond more slowly next time."

Grumbling, the priest pulls a pair of gold coins from his robes and places
them in the watch sergeant's hand.

Surprisingly, they are reasonably gentle while carrying the the trio
outside then around to the side of the building. They swiftly search them,
collecting all the coins they find,  but even refrain from taking liberties
with the bound Jamila.

"Your a handsome one." Jamila says in a sexy, exotic voice to  the guard
that searchers her, and she gives a wink at one of the other guards behind
the sergeant.

"This should just about cover your fine for disturbing the peace." the
sergeant says, smiling. The other watchmen laugh harshly, "Now, if we let
you go are you three going to cause anymore trouble?"

Holland winces and says, "No Sergeant, we will not cause you anymore trouble."

Following Holland's lead, Jamila says "No sergeant", and glances at 'Pate
to watch his reaction.

Once Holland's hands are cut free he unconsciously brings them to his face
to feel his split and swollen lip.  Not talking any further, Holland rubs
his wrists as he quickly moves through town, taking the long route back to
the ship. Jamila and Italapate follow him.

Putting her arm around 'Pate's shoulder, Jamila follows Holland back
towards the ship, giving one last wink to the handsome guard.

Meanwhile, at the ship:

Leera continues to wait on deck for Holland, Jamila, and Italipate to
arrive. After about five minutes, she looks around and wonders aloud,
"What's keeping them?"

"Surely they could not have run hinto hany trouble hat this shrine that
Comrade Holland could not keep them hout hof," Deigatt replies to Leera's
question. "Hit his likely they have discovered some hinformation habout
this chalice hand har taking great care to make sure the hinformation his
reliable before they bring hit back to share with hus."

"Still," the minotaur continues, "I would prefer they hurry hand that we
depart this harbor soon."

"Yeah," Kain agrees as he drops a copper coin overboard, watching it sink
until it's no longer visible.  "At least.. ah.. on Bral we didn't have to
fight through the mud just to get about.  The storms are.. er.. quite
amazing though, I'd never seen one come in so quickly.  At least one that
wasn't summoned magically," Kain finishes quietly. "We'll.. ah.. also have
to wait for our cargo before we go out for very long," Kain shrugs.
Pulling another copper coin from his pouch, Kain drops this one over the
side also. Raising his arms over his head, palms horizontal, he adds in
sarcastic tone, "And thus do I pay homage to the stormmistress."  Dropping
his arms to his side, Kain snorts somewhat derisively and turns to go
belowdecks, pulling up short when he sees a newcomer at the gangplank.

Nilaroo looks about uneasily at Kain's blasphemy, then his attention is
drawn to the approaching figure.  He has kept his weapons near at hand, but
the bow is unstrung and his sword lies paces away.

He's a thin, unassuming young man with black hair and pleasant but
unremarkable features.  He's wearing standard sailors garb,  again not
unusual and carries only a dagger for a weapon. "Ahoy the ship," he calls,
"Permission to come aboard?"

Ferric looks at the others questioningly for a moment seeing if anyone has
an explanation for this man's presence.  "Well, even if he means mischief
we outnumber him handily.  Keep your axe ready Deigatt and someone check
for others in the water.  No need to be sloppy." he says quietly.

His great axe in his hands, Deigatt stands resolutely before the end of the
gangplank, his eyes focused on the dark-haired newcomer.

Turning to the newcomer Ferric calls down, "While we would surely love the
company may we know your name the nature of your business here?"

The man raises an eyebrow, "Just got a propitition for you,  some cargo you
can post?  Can I come aboard and discuss it? If you're be heading for Bral
within the week that is,  the other ships in port ain't."

Deigatt steps back from the gangplank,  still looking grim.

Smiling nervously the young man comes onboard, walking up to Ferric.

As everyone gets close he says in a low voice,  "Listen, I'm actually
looking for a few sword and spell slingers with a good jammer. You seem
like a likely bunch,  I've been watching you.  I think I've got a real good
idea where that Chalice half the town is looking for is,  and for a fair
split of the reward I'll be happy to take you there."

"We are currently awaiting the return of some of our comrades." Ferric
smiles at Deigatt after stealing the minotaur's term.  "They should be
along shortly with any luck and we can discuss such matters at that time.
Until then we can not agree to anything but we may well be interested in
your offer.  Mister.... what is your name?"

"Periander." the lad answers.

Fishing into his beltpouch Ferric offers the man a silver piece "Well,
Periander, how about if you have a couple of drinks on me and return in an
hour
or so.  By then our friends should have returned and we will have had an
opportunity to discuss your proposition."

Deigatt casts a stern glare at Ferric.

Periander looks at the neighboring galleon busy with teamsters and then
glances at the other activity on the docks. "Tell you what,  meet me
instead at the Grey Cat in the taproom at noon. It's a quiet place and I
feel safe there. If you're not interested, just don't show.  I'll look for
a another likely group."

Turning on his heel Periander walks back down the gangplank and heads down
the dock.

Billy whispers to Kain, "Do you think he can be trusted? If he is truly
honest then I don't think he would mind a spell cast on him to prove his
honesty..."

Kain bows his head and whispers in reply, "I.. ah.. find it hard to trust
him without.. um.. some of us speaking further with'm.  But if he does want
us to help'm.. and he's being straight with us, I.. ah.. don't see why he'd
have anything to fear from such a spell."

Speaking in a normal tone Kain says, "Billy, would you.. ah.. mind showing
me how to use that crossbow of yours?  I'm.. ah.. thinking I should know
how to use a decent ranged weapon."

Leera pulls Kain aside for a moment and whispers something in his ear.
Watching the stranger leave, she waits until he steps off the docks and
then shrugs her shoulder, taking on the appearance of a middle-aged matron.
Her rather plump figure is covered by a cheap gown. She is entirely
unremarkable.

All work on the galleon slows as the sailors who saw Leera's transformation
point her out to those who didn't, obviously talking about the
shapechanging witch.

With a wave to Kain, she starts quickly down the gangplank and follows
Periander.  Despite the commotion the sailor continues walking, heading
towards the Grey Cat tavern,  once there he walks inside.  Middle-Aged
Leera follows him into the tavern.

Catching a glimpse of the reaction to Leera's shapechanging Talus just
covers his eyes for a moment and then sighs.  A few minutes after she
leaves the young half-elf slips down the gangway and disappears into the
town.

Holland, Italapate, and Jamila arrive at the STAR.  Billy watches Periander
leave and his beaten up companions arrive. "Do you still want to look at my
crossbow, or was it just for show?" Billy asks Kain.

"Oh, it wasn't for show, I really *would* like to learn how to use the
crossbow," Kain nods.  "I'll..ah..go into town later to see about getting
one of my own, or maybe just a case or two of bolts, dependin' on..ah..how
expensive it'll be."

Billy looks up to his tall companion, "Well maybe I can show you when we're
travelling.  Things seem to be coming to a head right now. I hope you don't
mind."

"I.. ah.. don't mind at all Billy," Kain smiles.  "I just wanted to be sure I'd
have an instructor before laying down the.. ah.. necessary gold."

Holland comes trudging up the gangplank, his battered face obvious to all
that see him.  Holland first asks Raken, grimicing slightly as he speaks,
"You wouldn't have any healing available to you would you?"

"Hmmm, you always seem to find trouble, don't you?" Raken asks.  "May
Celestrian heal your wounds," Raken says as he lays his hands on Holland.

Holland smiles, "Thank you Raken," with an impish grin Holland continues,
"Trouble always seems to find me.."

As he heals the mage Raken turns to Deigatt. "I think Ferric did the right
thing.  For one thing, I don't trust this fellow. Not yet.  Another, I'm
wondering how wise it would be to continue searching for the Chalice.  We
haven't been here but a few days and everyone knows we are searching for
it.  Undoubtedly these pirates know we seek the Chalice, and will wait for
us.  They undoubtedly have agents in town.  They know who we are and a fair
estimate of our numbers.  We are not so privelaged.  They will ambush us at
the first opportunity.  We don't even know what type of ship they own, what
their numbers are, or where their base of operations is located.  We could
be in way over our heads on this one,"  Raken says.

Grigree says "How do they know we we are? As I understand it, the town is
full of adventurers looking for the Chalice.  And we certainly fit that
description. But I don't think we stand out any more then the crews of that
dragonfly or wasp."

Holland scans them quickly and asks, "Where is Leera?"

After quickly explaining, Deigatt says, "Perhaps, Comrade Jamila, you
should follow Comrade Leera to the tavern to make sure she does not get
hinto hunexpected trouble. She has disguised herself has han holder human
woman." Turning his gaze over the railing, the minotaur remarks, "Hour
neighbors looked hupset by Comrade Leera's transformation. We should keep a
watch hon them hand be ready to hact hif hany hof them head toward the
tavern." Deigatt stands close to the boarding plank and watches the
galleon.

"Ajami."  Jamila says with a look towards the heavens.  "Always looking for
trouble."

"Leera said she only.. ah.. planned on being gone a short while," Kain
interjects as he watches the activity of the market.

Sighing Holland says, "Well, the trip to the Shrine was not a complete
waste.  I was able to verify that the pirates did steal the Chalice;
however, since the others were keeping the Priest off-balance, his thoughts
were pretty scattered.  I was not able to determine the location of the
pirates."

With a slight chuckle Holland says, "Billy, I would stay away from the
Priest in the future, if I was you.  He has a great dislike of halflings
and was thinking about sacrificing you on his altar.  The only reason he
didn't was because of all of the potential witnesses."

Billy laughs and claps his hands, "He did hate me didn't he! I must go down
below and change before someone recognizes me in this getup." Billy looks
down at his raggedy clothes. "Be back in a... giff." He skips down below
decks.

Holland loses his smile and says, "Though the Priest also thought we were
agents of the Guard or of the  Priests of Ptah.  He wondered who talked,
giving up his connection to the pirates.  He finally threatened us with a
weapon and then cast a spell of holding upon the three of us.  Thankfully,
due to the fact that the others had already left and would be suspicious,
he turned us over to the Guard."

"Why did the priest of Ptah suspect him?" Grigree wonders.

Holland replies, "Probably for the same reason that we investigated the
Shrine.  Everyone seems to know that the Shrine is associated with the
Shipwrecker Fellows.  The Priest even thought at one point, 'everyone knows
the pirates took it.'"

"That's backwards.  We went to check on him _because_ the Priest of Ptah
said he suspected the pirates were involved with the shrine.  That Ptahite
priest is the only one whose associated the two.  If that's so why is the
shrine still standing?  I think we are not catching something here."
Grigree replies.

Holland rubs his now healed lips and says, "I think that it would be wise
to get some information on these 'Fellows', it would seem that everyone
knows of them.  Who would like to go out and try to glean some knowledge
from the masses?"

"Maybe this fellow Periander knows something about 'em," suggests Billy.

Holland frowns and says, "The Guard doesn't like Mages that much.  One of
them thought to give me a little reminder of his feelings toward me..  They
also took all of our coins as a 'fine'."

"The Grey Cat you say." Jamila says looking towards town.  "Would  someone
like to buy me a drink?  I'm a little short of coin." she  asks those
gathered on deck with a smile.  "I would look very out of  place in a
tavern without a drink."

Holland says, "This fellow that says he knows of the location of the
Chalice..I think that it would be wise to take him up on his offer. Though,
I temper that with the fact that we need to use a few scrying spells on him
to determine if he is carrying anything that has magical properties to
determine if he has any devices that can mask detection, and if his words
and thoughts ring true."

Kain nods in acknowledgment, "I.. ah.. agree, we should go speak with our
sailor-friend at noon.  But.. well.. how many of us should attend the..
ah.. meeting?"

Holland asks, "Does anyone here but I have the means to read men's
thoughts? If so, then they should use it on this fellow."

"Sorry, no.  Celestrian does not grant spells that pry into another's
privacy." Raken responds.

"I don't think 'Pate or I should go ashore to meet this guy, I'd like to
avoid the watch for a bit."  Holland says, "I am going to relax and restudy
some spells.  I'll be below."

"I'd better be off, there's no telling what trouble an ajami could  cause."
giving Holland a wink she heads down the gangplank and starts off towards
the tavern.

She's only gone a few yards however when Middle-aged Leera comes out of the
Grey Cat and returns to the ship.


Date/time: 9:10 am 1st day of the 5th Month, 5049 OC


"Human life without knowledge of history is nothing other than a perpetual
childhood, nay, a permanent obscurity and darkness." Philip Melanchthon
westermeyer.3@???.edu
Paul Westermeyer
Phd Candidate, History, Ohio State University
Adjunct Faculty, Humanities Department, Columbus State Community College