FLUFF: Jammers: Turn 15 Chapter 8

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:
Date/Time: 3:15 pm, 18th day of the 1st Month, 5050 OC

As the ship is tied off, the crew can see Lady Moune, Post-Captain
Wilhelmina,  and a handful of men in House Moune livery standing at the
dock waiting for the gangplank.

Nilaroo returns to his bunk, and re-emerges with his previous bow, an
unremarkable piece of work that more resembles a ship's spar in the
caliber of the wood.  With his two handed and new longsword in tow,
Nilaroo mounts into the rigging and assumes a slung perch.  With a twist
of the ropes, his weapons are secured so that he can observe all the
activity around.

Holland says, "I know everyone is probably going to want to scatter to
the winds, but now we switch to port guard shifts.  I would recommend,
Leera, that you remain aboard until you regain your spells though."

Leera nods. "I'll head below decks now, if that suits everyone. First
thing in the morning, though, I'd like to take care of the loose cash.
Oquid, can you head over to the Mage's guild now and see if you can hire
a cart and porters to move some scrap metal and armor pieces to a
warehouse tomorrow morning? My shipment is the most valuable of them
all-- almost 10,000 gold, I think. I think it would be best to have at
least a two or three others accompany Oquid and I to the Exchequer and
back again. Who's in?"

"I'm in, if it is done in the morning, my watch will start at noon, eh" Ives bellows.

Leera nods, "Yes. We share the same watch. I plan to be back well before noon, if we can."

Leera smiles. "Very good. So far we have I, Oquid , Ives and Freneth
handling this shipment. Perhaps one more? Anyone?"

"This one would be willing," replies Freneth.  "My watch ends at
midnight this night, and I will be available throughout the morrow."

Talus says, "I'll come with you too."

After arranging everything, Leera starts toward her bunk, but then
turns. "Word will have gotten out about Talus' trip. We will need to be
on our guard. See you all in the morning as soon as I regain my spells.
Oquid, take all the combat spells you can tomorrow."

As everyone makes their preparations to leave the ship, Lellyn
volunteers, "I have a few things to take care of here on the ship, so
any who wish may go in my stead."

While the gangplank is being maneuvered out to the dock below Kain asks
"How do you think she knew we had returned so soon? Bribed the dock
master to send a runner, or has someone employed permanently to watch
which ships arrive. Maybe we should ask her if the DRAGAZHAR has
returned or if she has any news of it?"

After the gangplank is extended Lady Moune quickly walks aboard, followed by the Post-Captain.

Holland turns to the dock and raises his voice, "Well met Lady Moune,
Post-Captain," with a nod to each of them, "It is fortuitous that we see
you now, but pray tell, what brings you to the docks at this hour?"

Raken arches an eyebrow.  "This is a rather...lively welcome.  Does the
Lady Moune intend to parade us through the city?"

Lady Moune arcs an eyebrow and glances at the sun-filled sky, "It is but
mid-afternoon.  I came to discover how your hunt went."

Lady Moune smiles warmly at Ferric and gives the tall, grey warrior a
quick hug, "Welcome home!" Then she looks about including everyone,
"Welcome home, all of you!"

Raken bows politely.

Post-Captain Wilhelmina booms, "'Pon my soul, its good to see you back!  A successful voyage, I hope?"

Holland replies, "It depends on your definition of success.  We lost
some of our crew and reinforced the enmity of another House, but we did
find what we were looking for."

Raken replies, "More or less.  Lost Billy, lost Italapate, fought savage
natives, overgrown lizards, and floating monsters that drive one to
insanity with but a thought.  Fended off pirates and undead abominations
on our voyage back.  Even had a ship explode under our feet.  In other
words, a fairly quiet voyage," he finishes with a smile.

Post-Captain Wilhelmina looks stricken, "Italapate has died?"

Lady Moune frowns, "Italapate and Billy, both?  You paid a dear price.  But you succeeded? You destroyed it?"

Holland replies, "Our deal with Argonui was that his fee for guiding us
to the sphere was to turn it over to him."

Lady Moune smiles, "Good, so it has been destroyed."

Holland replies with an inquisitive tone, "Argonui was very interested
getting his hands on it to destroy it, and it seems you as well M'Lady.
What was so bad about it?  It seemed a harmless tool to me, like any
other weapon--it could be used for weal or woe."

Again her eyebrow cocks and Lady Moune answers, "Your company researched it yourselves, 'tis a pirate weapon."

Holland shrugs his shoulders, "A weapon wielded by pirates, true.
Argonui had personal reasons for wanting the weapon destroyed based on
his earlier run-in with the weapon.  I thought that since you and he
were once associated, that you might have a specific personal reason for
wanting it destroyed as well.

Post-Captain Wilhelmina asks, "How did Italapate die?"

Holland lowers his eyes and says, "Dougal, of House Cartan was seeking
the blade as well.  We met up with Dougal and his ship DRAGAZHAR and had
a short battle.  Cartan's magess, named Delmaria, cast spells of
summoning against us.  One of the summoned creatures, a wyvern, pierced
Italapate's neck with its poisoned tail and put him down quickly.  We
struck some blows at the DRAGZAHAR and they disengaged, we then returned
to Bral."

The giff captain growls, "House Cartan has much to answer for."
 
Holland then pauses and rubs his chin for a second as he looks at Lady
Moune, finally nodding his head to himself Holland says, "Lady Moune, If
you would please humor me..  Might we speak in private for a moment?
 
Lady Moune nods. "Certainly."  Lady Moune looks at Ferric, clearly expecting him to join the tete-a-tete.

Once Moune, Ferric, and Holland move to the other side of the ship and
to the aft, with Holland's back to Bral.  Holland says quietly, "I must
clarify a misunderstanding and I would prefer that the less number of
people who knew it-the best.  While Argonui's fee for guiding us to the
sphere was to be awarded the weapon-when we actually found it, Argonui
agreed to postpone his sentence of destruction, for as long as the
weapon proves itself useful.  Argonui then entrusted us with the weapon.
So it very much is not destroyed and we currently have possession of it.
However, we would rather word get out that it was destroyed.  I
apologize if my comments were misleading, but it was for a purpose."
 
Lady Moune frowns deeply, searching Holland's eyes.  Than she looks at
Ferric.  "Argonui agreed to this?  Do you and he... speak of these
matters?"

Ferric nods, and smiles, "We spoke long and often, of many matters.  He
was a very... informative travelling companion.  In exchange for
Cutlass' we promised him a boon to be performed later."

Lady Moune's eyes narrow, "His memory is long.  He might ask for the
boon on the morrow, or four decades hence."

Ferric shrugged, "We thought it best, as a group."

Lady Moune grimaced, "If you can control the blade.  Who wields it?"

Ferric smiled, "Talus seemed best suited."

"It seems poor repayment for the lives of your friends, the Blade's survival."  Lady Moune then observes.

Ferric shrugs again.  "We gained a great treasure.  We had hoped you
would be willing to hold much of it for us, on account?"

"A subject change, then?" Lady Moune considers then, "For a small fee,
say 3%? I would be willing to hold your funds as you suggest."

Ferric nods, "That is more than fair."

"Come to dinner tonight, we shall discuss the details then.  8 Bells."
Lady Moune turns to Holland, "I shall organize a larger fete in a few
days to celebrate your triumph.  I'll send the details later."

After good-byes, Lady Moune and Captain Wilhelmina then depart.

-----------

The crew return to handling the details of their return.

Allagan says to Sekeht, "Want to go take care of business now before our shift?"

"Even so," Sekeht says. "You have a particular place in mind where we can make our exchange?"
 
Allagan replies, "Probably the Royal Exchequer.  That way we don't get
into any unnecessary trouble.  I know the way, if you aren't familiar
with it."

"The Royal Exchequer," Sekeht says. "That sounds very above board. But
why not? I'm thinking we'll need to rent a cart to carry the lot.
Discreetly, of course."

Allagan asks, "How much coin are we talking about?"

"There are seventeen hundred and some-odd in the chest, and another six
thousand Sembian electrum pieces," Sekeht says. "More than will fit in
my meager pockets."
 
Allagan says, "Uh, yeah, that's a lot of coin."  Allagan thinks for a
minute and then says, "I got it..  Let's head to the Temple.  I can get
a handcart and some trusted porters there."

Allagan looks to Sekeht, "What do you think?"
 
"All right," Sekeht says. "Will these porters cost us anything? Or will this be service to the Temple?"

Holland interjects, "Why don't you guys just load the coins into one of
the chests we found?  They have handles on the sides, you can each carry
a handle.  You could make two trips if you had too."  Holland pauses and
then says, "Or I could memorize the floating disc spell and help you.
It would take me a few minutes to memorize the spell."

Allagan replies with a grin, "Even better, I don't have to carry anything."

Holland says, "Give me a few minutes."  Holland returns to his quarters and studies his spellbook.  

Sekeht and Allagan put the electrum pieces into one of the empty chests
then wait for Holland to return with his floating disc.

After about 10 minutes, Holland returns topside and says, "I'll cast this on the docks, just in case.."
 
On the dock, and far away from the ship, Holland casts the spell.
Sekeht and Allagan then lift the chst up on to it.
 
On their way to the Exchequer, Holland walks slowly as he looks around
the ground in the area after the docks.  Smiling, Holland pauses as he
picks up a large stone.  Afterwhich, Holland's pace returns to a normal
walk.

Date/Time: 3:45 pm, 18th day of the 1st Month, 5050 OC

-- 
"But I cordially dislike allegory in all its manifestations, and always
have done so since I grew old and wary enough to detect its presence.  I
much prefer history, true or feigned, with its varied applicability to
the thought and experience of the reader.  I think that many confuse
'applicability'  with 'allegory'; but the one resides in the freedom of
the reader and the other in the purposed domination of the author."

J.R.R. Tolkien, 'Foreward to the Second Edition', The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, p7.  1965

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