FLUFF: Jammers: Turn 15 Chapter 1

The Past Adventures of my Jammers PBEM game.

For me, one of the joys of PBEM gaming is the ability to revisit the
old adventures by reading the turn summaries. I think they make great
fan fiction.

This game has been going on since September, 1997. I thought folks
might enjoy reading the old turns in order, as fluff fiction. I know
I post the current turns as fluff as well, but the past turns were,
well, six years ago and new list members, as well as some old, may
still enjoy getting the old reads in their mailbox once per week. If
not, let me know and I'll stop sending them.

To give folks an idea of how much is still to come, the game is now
in Turn 32 of Chapter 7. Chapter 1 has 30 turns...

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

IC:
Upon entering the tavern, Holland's eyes quickly scan the occupants
glancing briefly at each of their faces.  With a slight sigh, Holland
walks over to the Innkeeper and says, "Innkeep, I would like to get a
private room for the next two nights and my friends," Holland says with a
wave of his hands to include the entire group, "will need accommodations
as well.  What are your prices?"

"Welcome!" he smiles and nods his head theatrically, "I am Etedrilin,
innkeep" a chuckle.  "And you are?"

Holland gives a warm sincere smile in return and says, "I am Holland
Wellhouse of the Company of the Silent Star.  Greetings."

"Rooms are 4 gp a night,  no more then two per room." he smiles, "How many
will you need?"

Holland's eyes run across the members of the company stopping briefly on
Leera before moving on, "Talus, would you care to share a room with me?"

Talus gives the human a questioning look, "I don't know, do you snore?"

Holland smiles and says, "No, I do not."

Holland then turns to the Innkeep and asks, "What is included in that
price?  Baths and breakfast?"

The innkeep grins, "Breakfast, aye, but you'll have to go to a bathhouse
for a soak.  Water's too dear here for inns to just hand it out."

Leera says "Inkeep! How many rooms do you have? Might I rent one for
the night?"
She then says to the group as he rents her a room "I think I'll stay alone
tonight. It'll make a pleasant change." Her eyes twinkle "Of course, I'm
open to suggestions."

"Whatever suits your fancy, my'lady," Raken comments with a slight bow.

"I don't think I will be staying here tonight. I have some halfling friends
that would probably not mind having me over." Billy says.

      Kain hangs his heavy cloak upon one of the pegs on the wall, and
settles his swordbelt on that same hook.  Pulling a small pouch from
his pocket, Kain releases the clasp that holds it to his belt, and pays
at the innkeeper's desk for his room.
      Taking a seat at one of the larger tables, he waits for one of the
sisters to pass before raising his hand in a summoning gesture.
"Naught but water for me, ma'am, and a bit to eat if it wouldn't..ah..
well, be too much trouble."

         Grigree sits down at the table Kain picked out and hands his swords
onto the back of his chair.  He then orders a drink.

Radick grabs the seat beside Grigree and lays his battle axe across his
thighs.  He then calls out to one of the serving girls for a drink, and
flashes her a quick smile and a wink.  Radick then turns to Grigree, "Mind
if we split a room? They cost too much with what we have been paid to go it
alone."

"Sounds good to me," Grigree replies with a shrug.

"I'll have a Night Scavvar stake, served with mushroom sauce and an
Urnst ale, if you have any," Raken says to the waitress as she is taking
orders.

Leera watches Raken order Night Scavvar steak.  When it arrives, she
asks "Friend Raken, that indeed looks to be an interesting meal. Might I
taste the scavvar to find whether I like its flavor?"

"Sure," Raken comments as he cuts a fair-sized piece of meat for Leera
to taste.  "Get used to it, we'll be likely dining on it many a times."

Leera tastes the steak, finds it to be to her liking, and orders one for
herself.

      Once she leaves, Kain scans the room silently before looking
back to his companions.  "When we leave, what flag will we fly?"
the young man asks.  "Shall we devise our own, or are we to
fly the flag of the House, or even that of Bral itself?"  Kain clasps
his hands together before him, "If I hadn't left my things with my
sword and cloak, I'd..ah..show you a few ideas, but..hmm..well,
I'll just have to try to explain.  For a flag of our own, perhaps a
single star upon a field of black, or a group of stars, one larger
and brighter than the others, again on a field of black."

Grigree smiles before saying, "That's just what I was thinking. Well, I
would be if I was thinking about flags."

Kain seems to be enjoying this, speaking softly enough so that
other patrons aren't inconvenienced, but speaking without his
usual hesitation.  "Another one I like would be a shooting star on
a plain field, or on a multicolored field, but that would be more
appropriate if our ship were called the shooting star."  He looks
up from his spiel, smiling as he waits for his drink to return.

"Ah," Grigree says, as he leans back in his chair to stretch,  "should've
spoken up sooner."

      "Ah," Kain shakes his head.  "I may have, but the images didn't
seem right.  Shooting stars are notoriously short-lived, their existence
ending in a fiery change to little but ash.  Giving a ship that namesake
appeared a bit cynical to me."  Kain shrugs, "Besides, my mind doesn't
work like that, images and pictures come readily to mind, but names,
I've always had trouble with names."
      When the barmaid returns with his water and his meal, Kain reaches
into his coin pouch.  Thinking better of the silver he'd originally
intended to add, Kain tips the woman a gold coin.  "Hmm...well, I've lost all
sense of how much to tip now," he smiles.  "Ah..guess it'll take some getting
used to, Bral, that is."

Holland frowns in thought and says, "I am not sure if we are obligated to
fly the House's flag or if we are free to come up with our own.  I will
stop by the House and ask in the morning.  However, if we are able to fly
our own colors, I like Kain's idea of a single star upon a field of
black."

Radick simply adds to the others, "I would prefer a pair of crossed axes,"
he chuckles as he takes a drink. "Actually, it doesn't matter much to me.
Just so long as it isn't the Lady's symbol. Per the contract, we do not
work directly for her, and I would rather be seen as more of a separate
group then as some of her flunkies. Let Wilhemina serve that roll."

Leera smiles at Kain's idea. "I like the idea of a single star on a black
field."  Walking over to Kain, she stands behind his chair and leans over
his shoulder, steadying herself by placing an arm around the chair-back.
She asks, "Could you draw the star as you would have it appear on the
flag?" She remains standing behind him, waiting to watch him draw.

"Sure," Kain agrees, clearing a small space in front of him.  Searching
through the pockets of his vest he manages to find a folded half sheet of
paper and a small pencil.  Drawing the shape of the flag, Kain then begins
to sketch out the star, directly in the middle of the flag.  With a
practiced hand, he draws four 'main' points, following the four main
compass directions.  After the primary arms of the star are drawn, Kain
adds four smaller points, where the NE, NW, SE, SW compass points would be.
Smiling when he's done, Kain shows Leera the eight pointed star.
"Hmm...that's what I had in mind, ah, when I suggested the star" he says.
"It'll look better in color," he adds quickly.

Leera smiles approvingly at the design. "I like it, especially your
original design, without the border. I'm afraid the border would be lost
at a distance. Of course, you could just change the color of the star --
or the color of the border. Ah, well, I trust your judgement, Kain. I'm
sure it will look great flying above the Silent Star!"  Leera lingers
another moment, and then returns to her seat to await her steak.

Deigatt sits quietly at a table in the tap room sipping a bowl of vegetable
broth he's bought and paid for. He observes without comment the discussion
of the banner for the ship, and occasionally he casts a worried look at the
tiny spiral staircase that leads up to the inn's guestrooms.

Holland follows Deigatt's gaze to the stairs and then smiles and lets out
a soft chuckle.  In a soft voice to Deigatt he says, "I am sure we can
figure something out.."

Grigree takes a deep breath before saying.  "This Bral place is turning out
to be not what I was looking for.  I can't wait to be back on a ship
again."

"This leads very nicely into a point we need to consider, Grigree. When
next we board our ship, where will we fly it, and in whose service?  I
don't recall asking Lady Moune if she had any assignments ready for us."
Nilaroo leans back on his chair until it creaks dangerously under his large
mass.

Leera takes a long draught of her ale and declares "I don't know about you
lot, but the first place I'm going tomorrow is one of those bathhouses the
inkeep
spoke of. After I'm presentable, I'll gladly join a group canvassing the
city."

"Well, my newfound companions, it seems we should keep our eyes and ears
open for some form of employment, because if we are not out of here in a
few days then I will have nothing to show for my time served aboard the
Flowfish.  Since, none of us are captains, I suggest Holland and Italapate
take care of our dealings with Lady Moune, and the rest of us split into
our own little groups and see what kind of business we can drum up.  Of
course no one has the right to commit our services until we all agree on
it. Any problems?" Radick leans back imitating Nilaroo, but uses his toes
to anchor himself to the table, and the butt of one of his hand axes to
support his weight.

"Comrade Nilaroo," Deigatt asks, "har you planning to hoversee the
refitting hof the ship?"

"I will certainly inspect her once the repairs are made, but I do not think
the repair crew needs or will accept my supervision, since that would cut
into their own purse."  Nilaroo replies.

Deigatt raises his left eyebrow at this response, but he makes no further
comment.

"Agreed.  In a port as busy as this one, we're bound to find work.
However, I suggest groups no smaller than three; otherwise, we're asking
for trouble.  In the 'morning,' I'll head down to the merchant's guild and
see if I can't scare up some offers for escort duty.  If that doesn't pan
out, I'll try the Elvish Embassy.  Though I don't know if they will hire a
ship full of humans and other non-elves, but it's worth a try."

Holland nods, "I'll go in the morning and inform the Lady that we are
actively seeking employment and ask if she has any offers for us."

      Kain waits until Holland finishes, then speaks.  "How many of us,
have, ah, more than passing knowledge about this..hmmm..city of
Bral?  Italapate, Nilaroo," Kain continues, nodding to each as he
says their name, "you both seem to know about the Rock.  Raken,
you too appear to..ah..know your way around.  Anyone else, Holland?"
Kain asks.
      "Myself, I can count the, ah, number of days I've spent here on
one hand."  Kain shrugs, "So, well, the only help I can be is to
go with someone to make sure they aren't waylaid in some alley."
      Kain shrugs again, "Other than the merchant's guild, where else
..ah..should we look for work?  Or should that third group, apart from
Raken's and Holland's, just kind of, well, wander and see what
comes up?"

Leera takes another long draught, drains her tankard, and orders another
(her third). "I musht warnsh you, though. I know nushin about this rock. I
wash only here a day before I hired on the Flowfish."  Leera thunks her
tankard on the table for emphasis, gazes around (a little) bleary eyed, and
proceeds to nurse the ale for the rest of the evening.

"I myself must visit the shipwrights' guildhouse in the morning.
While I am there I will see if they have any possible work.  After my last
ship was attacked, we may end up running escort duty."  Nilaroo mentions as
he sips on his ale.

Talus looks up from his meal and comments, "I don't think I would be of
much help getting work from the Lady or other merchants.  While you try
them I will go and nose around the marketplace and see what sort of rumours
I can find, as well as what I can find out about this Laocoon character."

Holland nods in response to Nilaroo and Talus' words, "That would be
excellent. I have spent the past several months here on Bral.  I have
become familiar with it."  Holland then finishes the stew that he
previously ordered and draining his mug of light ale he slowly rises and
says, "I apologize but I am quite tuckered out.  Please excuse me, I will
see you all in the morning."

With a slight incline of his head to the group Holland heads up the
stairs to get some needed rest.

Billy mutters "I have a few places I'd like to visit to see if they have a
need of our  services. Kain, would you mind going with me? I believe that
you and I need  to find someone who would be able to help us... How shall I
say? Help us
develop our talents..."

      Kain sets his mug of water down on the table, and pauses in thought.
His eyes dart to Talus before he looks back to Billy and nods his head.
"Sure, I'd like to go with you Billy" he smiles.  "Ah, do you want
to..ahh.. meet me here in the morning?"  Having finished his meal, Kain
slowly works on his water, listening to the conversation at the tables.

Radick notes Kain and Billy and adds, "Perhaps you might like a little
extra muscle with you tomorrow?  I have no plans and I am sure that those
friends of yours who are going to provide you some training, might provide
some employment opportunities as well." He then looks each, Billy and Kain,
directly in the eyes and makes a slight head nod of affirmation.

  "Sure," Kain shrugs, "you're welcome to come along if you want Radick.
You'll have to ask Billy where we're going though," he smiles, "as I have
no idea."

After a little while more, Kain also excuses himself, collects his things
from the lobby, and takes to his room.  Walking up the stairs, he can be
seen pulling his sketching tome from his rucksack, placing his index finger
where his bookmark is.

One by one the rest of the party drifts back to their rooms (or, in Billy's
case, begin the long walk to the Burrows).

Date/time:  11:45 pm  15th day of the 4th Month, 5049 OC
--
"...How shall a man judge what to do in such times?!"
"As he has ever judged," said Aragorn "Good and evil have not changed
since yesteryear..."
J.R.R. Tolkien, _The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers_

Paul Westermeyer,  pwestermeyer@????????.??.com