Blistering Barnacles! Devin thought of one of Cap'n Rummyfangs favorite sayings as he noted the departure of the Man O' War. That was a naval warship. It was headed out, but was that as lucky as it appeared? He turned to look over the fluyt, a merchant ship with cargo holds. It was possible this ship was here for the carver and the naval ship had been its escort, but that didn't make sense for the naval ship to leave, unless it was a trap. He needed to find out more.

He slipped the cutter smoothly into the merchant side docks He didn't want to attract attention by getting too close to the fluyt. They might also need another exit. A quick enhancement and the cutter looked fairly older and somewhat battered. Devin took his lute and sauntered towards Coin Alley. He kept his ears and eyes open as he began to hum.

Devin will learn what he can of the Man O' War and the fluyt while being casual. When did they arrive? Did the ships arrive together? Was anything unloaded or loaded aboard? What do the locals know? Do the locals know of the carver? He will wander down Coin Alley, exchange some coinage and scout. He will visit the port establishments to play tunes and talk to the ladies in a pleasant exchange of news. He will try to track down any crew from the fluyt or listen to any naval sailors. He will keep an eye on the fading light and make sure to be able to summon a couple of seabirds before it gets too late. What news he gathers he will send one bird to Cliodhna and another to Captain Jac. He will nonchalantly take another stroll down along the waterfront in case any birds appear with messages for him. If he hears nothing he will prepare for the arrival of Captain Jac's people and the start of the disturbances.

Time to turn in my chess piece. Devin will casually find out what knowledge he can about the Man O' War, the fluyt, the carver and what local gossip the ladies and sailors might know. He will send the news by seabird to both Cliodhna and Captain Jac, then wait for messages and prepare for the arranged distractions.

(For anyone interested, my signup post has finally been edited to include recent history, complete with references to key moments in the unfolding story of Grog'tial's extended family.) :P

Grog'tial suggests he'll be on the team Bellandra won't be on, so both teams have a crossbow-wielder with them.

He'll pack 10 regular, 10 AP and 5 explosive bolts in his belt quiver, with two regular bolts loaded.

In the waiting time before the mission gets underway, he'll find a quiet place to sit and toss his rigged dice, keeping careful track of the numbers they produce, so as to ascertain which type of games he'll be most likely to win with them. If anyone wanders by and shows interest, he'll put his newfound knowledge (if any) to the test.

"Stealth, eh? Anyone got a potato? I be serious here. Po-ta-tos act as a silencer fer muskets like the ones meself carries. Otherwise, I can sneaky sneak and backstab foes with me stakes or talk me way out o' most situations with me charm."

That ash the vampirates give off sounded very dangerous and thought it may be best to also take a pair of gloves for close quarters combat. "May I, perchance, take the pair of fur lined gray leather gloves? In case I have to get close to stab those fowl vampirates."

BenKii requests some potatoes to silence his musket and a pair of fur lined gray leather gloves.

"No wastin' jolly potatoes in silly ideas. Get by with t'is there!" Argy gives Cap'n Benkii a basket with a few partially rotten sweet potatoes, apples and fish heads.

"Thank ye Argy! These'll do nicely." And then BenKii realized the smell will give them away without him even firing off a shot.

Plugging his nose he responds, "Uhhh, Argy? Perhaps we best do wit something a wee bit less...smelly?"

(If anyone has ever smelled a rotten potato before, then you know it is the most God awful smell you've ever smelled in your life.)

"So be it. Serve yerself..." Argy points to the supplies of potatoes and sweet potatoes. "Thar be plenty of pineapples,too, if ye prefer" She turns away, mumbling something about wasting food to no good.

That be quite a history. Very entertaining. Me thanks for filling in the background for Devin's dossier. :P

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Additional to above actions -
Devin will scan the merchant docks for any vessel that is out of place. He will closely look over the fluyt, C69 prison and carver's with fey, magical and any goddess-blessed senses and scan the docks, port and harbor buildings with the same. He will be on high alert for any signs of life drain and vampirates, greater and minor shadows or other extraplanalar minions.

I be attempting to cover everything magical and non. If there be anything I may have missed, Fair One, ye be most free to tell Devin.

You tell him Argy, not like we can just go to any port and buy more potatoes... or park somewhere and wait till we grew more food. And as much as I enjoy fishing let's not make me do it more than I have to, because otherwise I won't get other tasks around the ship done.

Captain BenKii receives the fur lined gray leather gloves. At least his hands will be protected when his potato musket explodes ... :P I'm not sure of this yet, and the dice and your Luck card will have a say. I feel you should be informed that this GM has been known to look up wild and crazy ideas for possible outcomes (like putting chicken droppings and cow manure in garlic grenades). You've been warned. ;)

Kyp receives the soft tan leather gloves.

(Looks like the admiral needs to get some leather and make more gloves here. Argy, do you have any fish-skin leather available?)

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(roll dice) GM mumbling, shifting through tables, looking at exact wording ... ah! *evil GM grin* ... Reads Devin's next post. Arrrgh! (rerolls dice) Looks at luck card and swears at Devin's skill with both dice and deck!

I knew I shouldn't allow Devin to play chess. Actually, I blame Captain BenKii. He was too distracted with wooing to properly distract and beat Devin at chess. Fine, I'll have your results to you soon as I find the fine print loophole!

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Grog'tial, nice summary! :)

Yeah, you tell him Argy! LOL!

I don't think there is such a thing... Kyp or some other crew members could hunt something, but there would be no time for tanning. Maybe people could sacrifice some old garments, tapestries or something to get leather :)

[

Mission 5 - Turn 0.5, Aboard Ship
*Turn Ends 11PM UTC, 3 October 2024

The Ship sails silently under stealth in the late evening hours, dark as the night itself, no lights beyond that of its own dim currents of spectral energies, and those hidden from mere mortal eyes. Above there is just a little more than a crescent moon, not enough to give them away on the dark sea. It didn't matter to Cap'n Rummyfangs, for his Felinoid eyes were now spectral and could see quite well in the dark. There were no problems nor encounters on their sail here. However they were very careful considering Devin's reported siting of a departing Man O' War. With ease he slides the Ship into its selected hiding area.

Bellandra, as the Ship approaches you attempt to sense your kin other than the three already with the Ship. (roll dice) You sense one, a ship which is docked somewhere in the harbor. From Devin's sent message, you know it is a fluyt, a cargo ship, that is docked at the Smuggler's Dock, perhaps awaiting the carver and figureheads. It seems unawakened, only a faint flicker. You do not sense anything among where the figureheads or prisoners should be.

Kyp, Refyx and Aeshma have worked on the acid and placed it in rubber lined sealed buckets and given you and Pearl (shipkin mermaid) applicators for it. Refyx advises you both to apply it to two links where they join in the chain, so that part of both links will dissolve and break easier. Closer to the H1 side entry pillar will break it quicker when the chain be tightened. Pearl has already grabbed her bucket and is ready to swim off towards the harbor entrance. Finn (shipkin seahorse) is waiting for you to hop on to go with her. You have your crystal flask and your gloves ready.

Argy, you have brewed and drank your Orange Spice tea. (Disease Resist)

Count Karnstein, you have brewed and drank your Mint tea. (Fire Resist)

Captain Baldbeard, you have brewed and drank your Lemon Ginger tea. (Cold Resist)

Grog'tial, you have filled your belt quiver with 10 reg, 10 AP and 5 explosive bolts and have 2 reg bolts preloaded in your crossbow. You wear your Backpack Parachute.

Captain BenKii, you have a potato for your musket.

All orders have been delivered. No further orders will be done until end of mission.

Zephyr is ready to take the teams. His necklace is on and he stands on the Main Deck waiting.

Considering Devin's report, Cliodhna would first brief Captain Aylar and then the Crew. Devin saw a warship leaving the Naval Harbor. A shipkin fluyt (cargo ship) is docked at the Smuggler's Dock but is reported not loaded yet. Most of its crew is drunk in town. The carver is still there, reported in ill-health, 1 half-orc and 1 human guard seen outside, there could be 1-2 inside. No traps were detected. However there looked like recent activity to the east at C52, possibly undead. The prison is quiet, no traps detected but approx. 30% increase in guards reported. She cautions the Carver's Team to be wary and stealthy, especially with C52 off to the east. Perhaps Gilius can increase the foliage for them as a protective screen.

Teams:
Team 1 - Carver and Figureheads: Bellandra, BenKii, Gilius, Durik.
Team 2 - Prisoner Rescue: Aylar, Argy, Grog'tial, Baldbeard, Karnstein

The Ship arrives late evening. Bellandra senses only 1 shipkin docked in the harbor, unawakened. Kyp and Pearl are ready to depart. Zephyr is ready. Strike teams are designated. Preparations are complete.

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GM Note: Giving a little extra time to consider Devin's coming information. Updated Harbor Map.

Before boarding Zephyr, Grog'tial will put on his backpack parachute. Not only does that give him that bit of extra confidence up in the air - knowing he'll remain in control of his own destiny - it might even offer him some protection against backstabs and -shots. He'll do this automatically from now on every time he'll go flying.

Devin sends messages to his lady and Captain Jac. The one to Captain Jac is written coded and short, harbor/ship/port only: MoW s. dpt.hW[time] CS-smdk/cw@pt hb.qt r&w

His lady can still birdspeak so his report is more extensive. Translated Report: Man O' War departed harbor West [include time]. Beware possible trap. Fey Shipkin fluyt tied Smuggler's Dock, most crew drunk in port. MoW and fluyt arrived together yesterday. Small offload, 3 long crates to warehouse west Coin Alley, now empty. MoW loaded supplies/crates. Fluyt yet to be loaded. Carver home, ill-health, 2 guards seen, human and half-orc, suspect another 1-2 interior. No traps magical/non detected. Prison quiet, no traps magical/non detected. Increased guards at H1 tower and C69 prison ~30% reported. Beware C52 for signs recent unknown activity, possible undead aura detected, not confirmed. No suspicious activity/ships detected in Grand Harbor. Awaiting Captain Jac. Ladies ready.

Devin sends messages to his lady and Captain Jac.

GM Note: Updated Mission Turn 0.5 Aboard Ship, Post 177 above, and attached Harbor Map with Devin's reported information.