FLUFF: Jammers: Turn 53 Chapter 7

The Adventures of my Jammers PBEM game.

I hope folks are enjoying these, if there is a consensus that they 
suck I will be happy to stop posting them. Let me know what you folks 
think. (My players should feel free to comment as well:))

Website: http://lost.spelljammer.org/Jammers/

----------- = Meanwhile, elsewhere...
*********** = Later...
{} = Actions and descriptions within these brackets take place within 
the psionic mindscape and are OOC knowledge for all accept the 
parties directly involved.

IC:

Holland asks, "What do you know of the Kopru?"

"Could that tale wait until we are Bralward, Holland?" Sekeht asks. 
"It is a long journey and we will have quite a bit of time to kill, 
when we're not counting our newly acquired booty."

Allagan adds, "While it might make a good voyage story, I'm curious 
how you know the fishies' race name."

Argonui answers, "I spoke with some of the Island's inhabitants, that 
was they name they gave for the creatures.  They seem to be highly 
intelligent, and they have mind powers.  But they seem much fallen 
from former glory."

Holland replies, "Yes, we learned about the mind powers.  They 
possessed a few of our party and forced us to fight each other.  It 
was a very near thing.  I'd be glad to be rid of this sphere and them 
forever if it weren't for Cartan's jammer.  They attacked us and are 
no better than pirates in my eyes."

Holland asks Argonui, "Would you be willing to help us track them 
down before we leave this sphere and end their threat?"

Argonui nods assent, "If you wish.  The witch is a very powerful 
spellcaster, I'm surprised you did so well in your first encounter. 
But it would take a long time to find them.  It's a big planet.  They 
could repair and flee the planet without us ever knowing they left. 
Unless you have magic to track them down?  The witch, I'm sure, can 
track you.  The longer you wait, the more prepared they will be."

Holland replies, "I am not sure how we would track them.  My thought 
had been to fly in the direction they fled and start looking.  They 
couldn't have gotten too far.  But that is by no means a very sure 
method."

Holland turns to the Cutlass, "Cutlass, do any of these magical items 
we found with you have some means of tracking that other Jammer?"

"Shiver me timbers, lad." Cutlass replies, "Until I've got yer solemn 
oath not to destroy me or leave me stranded somewhere, a fool I'd be 
to give ye me lore."

Holland says to Argonui, "We will accept your offer of keeping the 
Cutlass in lieu of performing a boon, that isn't unethical, immoral 
nor illegal, for you sometime in the future."

Argonui looks the group over, his gaze lingering for just a split 
second on Ferric, then he nods. "I'm confident Vais will find my task 
for him very agreeable, so we'll call it a deal." Argonui smiles, 
"You should know, lads and lasses, I've no task in mind.  I just find 
such favor tend to be valuable.  I won't ask you to act against your 
own interests, either."

Holland then says to the Cutlass, "We will take you into our group 
and keep you for as long as you remain useful and not a threat to us."

"No offense, matey, but I would like everyone's oath on it." Cutlass replies.

One by one, everyone swears the same oath as Holland.

Holland then says, "Now, is there anything we found you with, or 
anything that you know or can do, that can help us track the other 
Jammer?"

Cutlass says, "I would the hoard had such an item.  'Tis mostly 
battle magic.  But I think ye should seek these foes out, the ye 
leave is the foe as will end ye.  Where the Art fails ye, however, 
yer wits may succeed.  Look at yer charts, then put yerself in the 
helm of yon jammer.  I've not seen her lines afore, can she land in 
water or just ashore?  Her bow's stove in, she's afire, and she's 
left a healthy foe behind.  She's a long way from her home stone, eh? 
The lubbers'll want to refit afore they raise anchor again, no? 
Where would they do that? By the fishies, says you? Nary a chance 
lad, says I.  They'll want no more of them mindmelders then we do. 
Amongst the natives, says you?  Nay, says I, the natives be at war 
and not friendly like.  They'll want a snug harbor, lads, where they 
can repair as they be able, then get food and water afore the trip. 
They want it quick, since flying ye be able to see them more easily 
they want to go to ground sooner then later.  The Isle o' Dread be 
large, mateys, but ye can rule out much of it I'm thinking."

Holland replies, "We'll look at the chart in a minute.."

Talus says, "Nilaroo, they took some damage hitting my invisible 
wall, they were hit by a fireball, and I set fire to their wardroom," 
Talus briefly explains what he did and what the fire looked like 
before he evacuated the ship, "How damaged are they?  What type of 
repairs will they need to make in order to make the journey back to 
Bral?"

Nilaroo quickly breaks down what he knows of the shrikeship's damage. 
He explains that the ship took significant damage, but had not lost 
her keel.  he estimated that with a skilled shipwright and lumber she 
could be repaired and ready to sail in no more then two weeks, 
provided at least a dozen or so of her crew remained for the labor. 
They could sail sooner if they loaded the lumber for the repairs on 
board.

Holland asks Kain, "Kain, can you use your mindbender abilities to track them?"

With his gaze lowered studying his toes Kain replies, "Um, well maybe 
I could sort of feel roughly how far away the witch was. It would be 
easier if I knew her mind better, but it might just work. I only get 
a feel for distance though, direction does not really mean much in 
the psionic landscape."

Holland says, "We know the rough direction they were travelling. 
Please check to see if you can figure out how far they are away, that 
would give us something to work with at least."

Holland addresses the rest of the crew, "What about the rest of you? 
Any ideas on how to track the other Jammer?"

Allagan shakes his head, "I don't, and none of my Father's blessings 
would be of use either."

Holland replies, "Raken?"

Allagan adds, "But in the meantime, shouldn't we be at least headed 
in the direction they fled?"

Kain meditates for a few moments but quickly stops and looks up, "I 
do not know her mind well enough, I thought I caught a glimpse during 
the battle, but now I can not pick it out from the others on this 
planet."

Holland asks, "Kain, what about Raddick?  He was aboard the ship and 
you are more familiar with him..  Do you think you could pick him 
out?"

"Yes, yes, of course." Says Kain excitedly, "That is much more 
sensible, I will try again."

Holland adds quickly, "We don't want to alert him that we can contact 
them mentally.  We just are looking for their location."

Kain thinks for a moment, "He should not notice anything, unless 
Radick has mental talents of his own, or someone else is protecting 
him. I could check one of us here to see if they notice if you want 
to be sure."

Holland lets out a laugh, "If you can say one thing about Raddick its 
that he doesn't have much in the way of mental talents.  Go ahead and 
try to locate him, I don't want to waste your strength in a test run 
on one of us."

Leera laughs aloud. "My captain, that's the most accurate thing 
you've said today!"

Kain closes his eyes and meditates briefly.

Date/Time: 2:55 pm, 12th day of the 11th Month, 5049 OC


-- 
"Check it out -- I'm a FUNCTIONAL ILLITERATE!  Don't know why I 
didn't think of it before.  That's one sweet quirk.  HEH...  I'm 
immune to books! What I can't read can't hurt me!"  Dave Boswell, 
_Knights of the Dinner Table_

Paul Westermeyer, westermeyer@????????.net