Jammers:Chapter 5, Turn 20 Summary

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

Past turns and further information (such as who's who and list subscription
info) can be found at the Jammer's webpage:
http://www.geocities.com/RainForest/Jungle/3001/jammers.htm

----------- = Meanwhile, elsewhere...
*********** = Later...

IC:
<Grigree & Leera>

Grigree steps defensivly between Leera and the mouth of the alley. "Rrr...
trouble," he says, taking Leera's shoulder and urging her out of the
creatures' line of sight.  He reaches up and draws a sword, keeping his
eyes on the alleyways and streets. "We should head back," he continues.
"Streets getting rough. We come back tomorrow."

Seeing the mayhem in the streets, Leera remarks to Grigree, "Yes, I don't
think we'd be very likely to make it to our destination. Let's get back to
the ship before we regret leaving it!"

Walking close together, Grigree and Leera quickly make their way back to
the docks.  Grigree keeps his sword drawn, and partially concealed under
his wings, until the pair reaches civilization.

As they move down Grand Street, they see another reason to clear the
streets, a company of the Royal Bralian Army is marching forward. They are
obviously intent on restoring order as swiftly and brutally as needed, many
are wielding light crossbows their using to fire at the little demons.

---------------
<Italapate follows a lead...>

Italapate walks inside the Black Bull and sidles up to an empty space at the
bar. He surreptiously pulls out six gold coins and slides them discreetly
across the bar. "Small shot of 'firewater', kind sir, and an ale chaser."
He follows the bartenders gaze to the coins.  When he gets the drink, he
asks discreetly if the tender knows "Druasnon Sunderbow."

The bartender points out an elf in a back corner. 'Pate slides over six
more gold, and asks for a bottle of wine he and two glasses.

'Pate takes the wine, and moves next to Sunderbow. He sits himself down,
and pours two glasses of wine, sliding one across to Sunderbow.  "Honorable
Druasnon Sunderbow?" he asks. "My name is Italapate, but my friends all
call me 'Pate' or 'You Idiot', take your pick. We need your help. And we
can pay..."

The figure in the corner shadows slowly shifts position as the newcomer
approaches, his left hand dropping below the table. After seeing the wine
glasses placed and filled, his left hand reappears empty. "My help,"
Druasnon snorts as he moves slightly to glance over the newcomer's
shoulder. "you must be in one hell of a mess."  The stench of numerous
alcoholic drinks wafts forward to Italapate's nose. The last phrase is said
with a slight internal chuckle that drops the elven face unintentionally
out of the shadows. It reveals a thin frame, to judge from the sunken dark
rimmed eyes. Their brown color almost lost in the perpetual dark circles
that surround them. A cluster of alburn hair hangs over his brow in a
disheveled mass, carelessly shoved aside. He is covered in what was once a
fine shirt bright blue in color, now worn and frayed with grime to a state
of being almost black in color at what is left of the cuffs. An arm reaches
for the wineglass.

'Pate grins, openly and warmly. He pours a little wine for himself, then
sets the bottle down nearer to the elf. "A helluva mess indeed," 'Pate
says. "I got your name from Valiss, a close personal friend of my family."
'Pate looks around, then leans forward and confides. "My group has lost a
friend of ours. Don't really know how or why yet, but we have a lead on the
where. Valiss told me you could help. Even the highest ranking shaman of
Coyote on Bral... such as myself... needs help sometimes. Now is one of
those times." He leans back. "Our group can pay, as I offered before, and
it looks like you might have some free time." He grins. "Whaddya say?
Wanna get back in the game?"

Silence. Druasnon's eyes fix at a point on the table. His face goes slack
his boot scuffs on the floor. "What use could you need of me?" He seems to
be talking mostly to himself. "Your not foolish enough to try to go THERE
are you?.."  Not waiting for an answer he laughs, "..and you've come to the
condemned himself asking for directions?" another laugh, nowhere near
pleasant. Standing with no little effort, the drunken elf says seriously
"Very well, I new I'd have a price to pay one day. It might as well be
today. Lead me to your vessel."

'Pate shrugs and shakes his head. Finally, he stands, offering a steadying
hand to the elf. "It will take us a while to get back to the ship, with all
the fighting. Stay close to me, we will try to keep in the Halfling Guild
section as much as possible, it seems to be easier here. When we get to the
docks, I will take you to our ship. If this is a good plan sway to your
left." He lets go, then grins. "Excellent. Then lets go." Pate leads the
way out of the bar, looks both ways down the street, then sets out for the
ship.

'Pate's estimatation of the street fighting appears accurate, and the two
make it back to the ship without event.

---------------
<back on the ship>

Raken is asleep in his room.

Above decks, Seguld works furiously, though often his attention is
sidetracked by a sudden, great new idea that pops into his head. Each time
he is brought back to the real world as he realizes that Nilaroo is not
interested in his
ramblings. Quickly he returns to the task at hand, though his verbalizing
does not cease.

Allagan says to Ives, "Let's question Bosil about Iceberg."

Allagan goes to the prisoner and says, "Bosil, I believe you to be a smart
dwarf, so I will not insult you with physical threats. The simple offer is
if you answer our questions truthfully, we will let you live and return you
to Bral. Understand we have the means to magically verify your
truthfulness. The deal will be voided if you are anything less than
truthful."

Bosil looks at Allagan and snarls, "Listen, pretty boy. I already told the
giff my conditions. Swear on your gods to set me free and alive and I will
tell you every thing I know. If not, you will get nothing from me."

Allagan says, "I swear by Zeus' beard we will let you live and set you
free.  Now.."

Allagan says, "What are the barbarian halflings' missions for tonight?"

Bosil grins, "To kill halflings."

Allagan says, "Where?  Are they targeting somewhere specific?"

"The Burrows." Bosil answers.

Allagan says, "With you out of the picture, who will step up and take your
place?"

"I don't know." the dwarf says.

Allagan says, "How many of the barbarian halflings are there?"

Bosil shrugs, "Perhaps fifty."

Allagan says, "Where is the asteroid, 'Iceberg'?"

Bosil looks confused, "Never heard of it."

Allagan says, "Who was behind the rat attack on the docks and parts of Bral?"

"Wererats." Bosil answers.

Allagan says, "How many wererats are there and where is their lair?"

Bosil shrugs, "I don't know."

Allagan says, "How many Red Masks are there still on Bral?"

Bosil shrugs, "I don't know."

Allagain says, "Take a guess."

"Twenty." Bosil says.

Allagan says, "What was discussed between you and Herminard just recently?"

"He wanted an attack on this vessel, I introduced him to a wererat friend
whose services he hired." Bosil answers.

Allagan says, "Who was the wererat?  How do we find him?"

"Toltos. He used to stop by the Twsited Thumb every few days." Bosil says.

Allagan says, "Describe him so if we see him we will recognize him."

"He stinks like a sewer, has a pock marked face, and stringy brown hair.
His clothes are usually old and dirty, and he carries a shortsword." Bosil
answers.

Allagan says, "Tell us all you know about Herminard."

Bosil shrugs, "He's a second rate assasin with a ship and some pretties on a
string. He works freelance and survives by staying off our turf."

Allagan says, "Who leads the Red Masks?"

"The Masked High Council." Bosil answers.

Allagan says, "How many are on the council, who are they and where do they
meet?"

"I don't know any of that. Only the Councilors would know that." Bosil answers.

Allagan says, "What are some of the names and covers of other leading
members of the Red Masks?  Or at least your contemporaries?"

"Gwardolith, he lives in the Muave Mansion boarding house in the Middle
City, his cover is that he's a gambler. He's my contact with the High
Council. You saw him at the Thumb, did he get away?" Bosil answers.

Allagan says, "Who else do you know in the Red Mask organization?"

"The lizardman you killed, Reodry. And the bartender." Bosil answers.

Allagan says, "Who was behind the assassination of Ferric Gundson of House
Moune?"

"Who is Ferric Gundson?" Bosil asks.

Allagan says, "Ferric was a big gray colored skin guy, recently
assassinated by a crossbow sharpshooting marksman."

Bosils shrugs, "I've no idea who he is or why someone would want him dead."

Allagan says, "What are the Red Masks future plans?"

"Run the Halflings off Bral." Bosil answers.

Allagan frowns, "Please elaborate. Other than sending the barbarian
halflings to attack them, what other means are the Red Masks going to use?"

Bosil shrugs, "Attack the businesses that pay them protection money, all
the stuff we've been doing."

Allagan says, "Other than the Twisted Thumb, where are the Red Mask hide-outs?"

"I don't know." Bosil answers.

Allagan says, "The Twisted Thumb is the only place you ever met? I do not
think so. I have already warned you once about not being truthful. Let us
try it
again: Where are the other Red Mask gathering places, hide-outs, guild
headquarters?"

"I told you, I don't know." Bosil answers.

Allagan says, "What magics does your prosthetic arm possess?"

Bosil says, "I've used them all. It was a one-shot device."

Allagan says, "Where is the secret lair of the Shipwrecker's Fellows on
Shipwrecker?"

"How should I know?" Bosil answers.

Allagan says, "What other information, you possess, would we be interested in?"

"I'm certain you plan some treachery, setting me free in the void to
suffocate or some other treachery. I assure my curse, should you betray me,
would make you rue such." Bosil smiles and gets a gleam in his eye, "But I
can pay you good, solid coin to let me go. Far better then the runts can
offer. I'll lead you there, if you promise to take the gold and leave me
there alive and unharmed."

Allagan says with a touch of anger, "I have vowed you shall be set free
unharmed, and so you shall. What assurances do we have that this 'gold' is
not in the middle of the Red Masks' main guildhouse and most certainly a
trap?"

Talus looks puzzled, "Lead us where?" Before a greedy grin alights on his
face, "And how much coin are you talking about?" the young thief asks.

"Fifty thousand gold lions. In a cellar in Midtown." Bosil answers.

Talus's eyes widen at that, he murmurs in a voice of awe, "Fifty thousand"
before shaking his head at the dwarf, "That sounds nice, but I don't doubt
it will be a trap." The half-elf steps back and watches Bosil with a frown.

"No trap." Bosil says, "I need you folks on my side. No matter what, the
Masks'll gut me now, they'll see me as a traitor because i was captured.
It's not a forgiving sort of guild. So, it's be killed by you, or be killed
by the Masks. Unless I can convicne you to let me go, then maybe I can get
off the Rock before the Masks can find me. Start up new somewhere else.
Maybe Refuge."

Allagan says, "50,000 gold is a lot; whose gold is it? Who will be guarding it?"

"It's mine, saved from my pay. Only traps guard it, but you'll need me to
get through them." Bosil answers.

Allagan says, "Speaking of pay, where was the gold you were to pay the
halfling barbarians for their night's work?  You didn't have any large sums
on you."

"It was in the tavern's safe." Bosil answers.

"Bosil for the aforementioned gold we may well be able to transport you to
a neutral planet, say Ironpiece. Would that be acceptable to you, or would
you prefer to be shipped off by another vessel of your choice?"  Ives asks
Bosil calmly.

"That's okay." Bosil says, best we keep our deal simple. I lead you to the
gold, you set me free. Much easier that."

Leera and Grigree arrive back at the ship, Leera asks Grigree to check on
the interrogation of Bosil. Allagan comes back and quickly recounts the
conversation.

Leera asks, "Were you able to verify any of his answers? I'm sure he'd not
be above lying!"

"No." Allagan answers.

Leera shrugs, "I suppose I'll go see if he can keep his story straight."
She goes down to see him, and just before coming into his view, stops and
makes a few quick movements while muttering a few arcane syallables. As she
does so, her appearance changes and she becomes an older woman whose black
hair is beginning to go to gray amd whose apparently once attractive figure
has become a bit stopped. She's wearing a plain brown robe.

Leera starts, "I'm going to repeat some questions we've already asked, just
to make sure you can keep your story straight. Now then, are the... fifty,
you say... barbarian halflings going to attack the Burrows tonight?"

"No" Bosil says, "I said I would have had them attack the Burrows. I doubt
they'll do it now, without being paid or given instructions."

She asks, "And you don't know where the asteroid, 'Iceberg', is?"

"No, as I have said." Bosil answers.

Leera asks, "The Herminard hired the wererats to attack just our ship?"

"Yes," Bosil says, "But they were planning the larger attacks anyway,
adding your ship to the target list was simple enough."

"Hmm... " Leera asks, "And you know nothing of the 'The Masked High Council'?

"Nothing." Bosil answers, "Gwardolith, my contact might."

Leera challenges, "You truly know nothing of the assassin who killed Ferric
Gundson of House Moune with a poisoned crossbow bolt?"

"Nothing, By Mahl's beard." Bosil answers.

Leera scoffs, "And you really want us to believe that this treasure cache
of yours isn't a trap?"

"No, I want you to let me prove it isn't." Bosil answers.

Leera fixes Bosil with hard look, "Tell me everything you can about that
magic arm of yours!"

"It could cast a handful of spells, now used up. I took it from a mark a
decade or more ago." Bosil answers.

Leera frowns for a moment and then turns. "We'll discuss your information
and decide if it's worth not turning you over to the halflings."

-----------------

Italapate and another figure approach the ship. Billy looks to the
gangplank and smiles when he sees his buddy. He walks away from observing
the catapult's installation labours to meet with 'Pate.

"Ahoy the ship!" 'Pate calls out before coming aboard. He helps the elf
accompanying him to walk up the gangplank. "Watch yer step," he grins. "It
kinda sways here on the gravity plane."

Freneth watches with curiosity as 'Pate and his elven friend climb on
board.  As the pair ducks below decks, his eyes return to roving the docks
and ships nearby.

Watching as the various members of the group talk with Bosil, Robert stays
up on deck keeping an eye out on the docks and who's where. "Are they going
to hang out there all the time?" Robert asks noone in particular as he
glances up at the Elven / Scro stand off.

Once atop the deck, 'Pate looks about, then directs the elf belowdecks. Staying
away from the hold where Bosil is being questioned, he leads the elf to the
bridge.

As they enter the helm room, 'Pate smiles at Deigatt. "Hey Deig, look what
followed me home... can we keep 'im?"

>From the helm, Deigatt stares sternly at the elf and says, "He's drunk."

'Pate says "Guys, I want you to meet Druasnon Sunderbow. Dru, this is everybody.
Dru is going to show us where Iceberg is... as soon as we get him some stiff
coffee, or a good _cure serious hangover_ spell."

Billy grins. "I know just the cocktail that will fix him up good." Billy
lists off the items on his fingers. "Start with a mug of ale. Add to it a
shot of rum;
raw,  pureed, chicken livers, crushed garlic, ground hot pepper seed, a cup of
milk, some  scavver liver oil and a sprig of parsley for taste."

Pate's face drops in horror. "By Coyote's Ugly Mug, Billy! We need him
_ALIVE_!!!"

Billy smiles, "You usually don't have to drink it. Just the smell of it, or
the mere thought of having to drink it sobers you up quite quickly."

Dru's head turns trying to follow the conversation. After a delay, he blanches.
"chicken livers?" the elf manages to get out, before his knees give out on
him. "That sounds awful, just awful!" he says looking up at Pate from the
deck where he lays.

"Great," Pate grins. "now he's gonna puke. You get to clean it up, Billy!"
Pate smiles as he helps Dru to his feet. "Come on, Frosty, lets get you
someplace more comfortable than the deck. Then you can tell us how to get
to where we need to go....."

Vais shakes his head at the sodden mess on the deck.

Jax blinks from where he's drifted off while lounging and then
ineffectively stifles a loud yawn while trying to greet the elf.  "I'm
going to sleep.  Wake
we when we leave."  Jax heads for the crew quarters and goes to sleep with
his sheathed shortsword on his chest, clasped in his hands.

Leera and Allagan enter the helmroom.

Allagan says, "Italpate, what was in the sack you got from the safe?"

Italapate struggles to shift Dru's weight, as he looks at Allagan and
shakes his head.  "Is this the time?" he asks.  He reaches into a large
pouch on his hip, and pulls out a sack. He shakes it so it jingles. "Coin.
Lots of coin." then he puts it back in his pouch. "Now, can we get Dru
someplace comfortable so he can help us find the Captain?"

Billy helps Italapate with Dru.

Allagan nods and says, "That confirms what Bosil said about the barbarian
halflings' payment. I was just checking. Thanks."

Italapate brightens.  "Oh, I see," he grins.  "Maybe they won't be so
interested in maiming if they don't get paid...."

Leera (still with her altered appearance) reports on Bosil. "I used my Art
to verify his answers. He's telling the truth about most of it. He does
know of the 'Iceberg', despite his protests to the contrary. He's afraid
we'll sell him there. The 'Masks were planning on having the wererats
attack us anyway; Herminard just paid them to do something they were going
to do anyway. Bosil's quite smug about that. He really doesn't know
anything about the attack on Ferric. He does believe that the Masks will
order him killed, now. I think he may be mostly telling the truth about the
cache of treasure." Leera pauses, and then concludes, "He'll need to be...
uh... persuaded to tell us what he knows of Iceberg.

'Pate grins. "Great. Between the two of them, Dru and Bozzy, we should be
able to find the place <snaps fingers> like that!" As Dru starts to slip
from his grasp, he hurriedly brings his hands down to help the elf stand
once more.  "Okay, you gotta trust me on this one, guys," he says looking
at them all. "I got it on the best authority he can help us out..... If we
can just let him rest for a bit......"

Dru looks over the group watching him, shifting his weight to drape his arm
over Pate's shoulder. He says "Why did'nt you tell me the Captain of your
vessel was the one missing?" Dru pulls Pate towards the table and says
"Find me the charts, I'll have a course laid out to you in ten minutes."
Dru turns his attention to Allagan and says "I've mapped my way to that
hellish ice chunk for seven decades. And I've done it in worse shape that
this. I'll get you there. If you agree to ask one favor of your Captain."

"Come on," Pate says. "Billy, lets get him a map, all right?"

Allagan says, "I can not speak for the Captain, maybe one of the others
could; but I will convey your request. Can you plot a course?"

"I can speak for Captain Holland," Pate grins. "What favor do you need?
Like I said, if you help us, we can pay, however you like that payment."

Dru shifts position, moving his hands back and forth a little. Then he says
"All I want is an exchange. I will plot out where Iceberg is, and the
safest way to get there, If you agree to take me ship as a full crew
member."

Dhebun shakes his head as he looks at the besotted Druasnon. "Elves," he
harumphs and folds his arms across his chest, glaring from beneath his bush
brows.  "Well if he can help us find Iceberg that is something. We needn't
bother with what Bosil knows about the place then."

Cupping his whiskered chin in his hand, the dwarf regards Leera
questioningly.  "So what all did Bosil say about this treasure cache then?
He said it might be trapped did he, or guarded perhaps? And has anyone seen
Freneth?"

Date/Time: 8:00 pm 5th day of the 7th Month, 5049 OC

Paul Westermeyer,  westermeyer.3@???.edu
Phd Candidate, History, Ohio State University
Instructor, Humanities, Columbus State Community College