Nobody
Alexios Group
Posts: 1,409
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Post by Nobody on Feb 5, 2021 1:34:32 GMT
Aethyl looks over the map, lost in thought. At last he looks at those in the room, grinning evilly.
"I think, Livius, that it is time for Firas to visit the captain, and to make an offer for the purchase of his ship..."
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Nobody
Alexios Group
Posts: 1,409
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Post by Nobody on Feb 5, 2021 2:14:52 GMT
Aethyl quickly lays out his plan.
"My thinking is simple: To free the captain, in plain sight, with no bloodshed if it can be helped.
"Iritari, Mairwyn, Rajit and I will return in haste to the guard Lucius, with whom I have made acquaintance. We have not been gone long, and he knows I have some leisure time for shopping before my supposed meeting with his master. I will tell him, in no uncertain terms, that I want this vessel for my own, that I have spoken with you, and that I am stymied by the fact that the captain is held prisoner. I will press him for access to the captain. I have left him (I hope) hungry for coin, and as he has no reason to suspect anything, and may make a profit from the business, he may be willing at least to give us a name to grant us better access.
"This will also allow Mairwyn to accompany us openly, and I would have her with me in this, as she may open doors we alone cannot, and her council I trust implicitly. With any luck we may be able, through bribery or treachery (or both), to secure the captain's release in order to sell his ship to us. I have a plan about that as well.
"In any case, this plan accomplishes three things. First, it gives us a chance at a simple, bloodless, unnoticed victory. Second, if for some reason the plan fails at any point, save weighing anchor and fleeing, no suspicion will be raised at any point, since I am merely a pompous merchant brat with more gold than brains. Third, even if the plan fails, it will allow us to make a second attempt, this time with the advantage of the wealth of information we have gotten from the first attempt regarding the captain's location, guards, best escape routes and methods, and all the rest.
"If we play our parts, and fortune is with us, I think we may yet get away with this and our enemies none the wiser. What say you all?"
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Post by Diocles on Feb 5, 2021 2:28:34 GMT
"Go with Galadrin," the first mate says, then glances at Mairwyn. "I mean, I guess that's your line."
You all leave The Aglaia and make your ways through the maze of docks, for Nirrion is the biggest city in Norivea, and Rania provides all its needs by sea. The guard Lucius suspects nothing and leads you on to the dockmaster's cabin with another gold coin in his hand. The house is indeed guarded by two zombie guards, and candlelight burns from within. You see the glow through the shuttered windows. Low voices are speaking.
Iritari cocks an ear. "Two men inside, speaking Skenje. A blow. A grunt. They're beating him." He holds his hand up to forestall any sudden action. "They're asking him where 'it' is."
Clearly Lucius has no idea why the captain is being held or that he was being interrogated, lest he would have not brought you here at this time.
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Post by Storyteller on Feb 5, 2021 2:29:54 GMT
"I can get inside," I say. "Past the zombie guards, but once I am inside, it would be a problem. The living guards would raise the alarm. Perhaps some of us could draw the attention of some of them in a flamboyant way? Requiring the guards' attention, but not their armed intervention. Then the others could spirit the captain away, possibly having killed his interrogators silently?"
I glance at Iritari and Aethyl.
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Nobody
Alexios Group
Posts: 1,409
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Post by Nobody on Feb 5, 2021 2:45:56 GMT
Aethyl crosses his arms, stamping his feet with frustrated, mincing petulance. He is giving time for Iritari to learn more, but does not want the ruse to go on longer than necessary.
At last, he fumes, and squeals peevishly at Lucius. "What are we waiting for!? Are they pleasuring themselves in there? I did not come here to dawdle while your fellows make a punching bag of my seller. I don't care what you do to (or with) him after, but if you expect any cut from this sale I will need him conscious and intact in order to make my sale legal! Are you going to open this door, or am I going to find another middleman who will?"
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Post by Diocles on Feb 5, 2021 2:54:21 GMT
Lucius bustles forward, and the zombies make no move to hinder him. He opens the door and steps inside, leaving the door cracked. Raised voices demanding what he's doing here. Lame excuse. The others not caring and telling him to get back to watching the docks before he gets fed to the dragon. Lucius scampers out. "Your captain isn't going anywhere," he says. "Best find a different ship!" And he returns with haste to his post. The door is once again closed, the zombies stand as if not paying attention to you.
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Nobody
Alexios Group
Posts: 1,409
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Post by Nobody on Feb 5, 2021 3:11:02 GMT
Unmoved, but watching the zombies carefully, guaging their response to his every movement, Aethyl keeps his feet and body still, and thumps the door loudly, projecting his voice just enough to be heard inside, but not to draw unwanted attention from without.
"Open up in there! And I mean right now! And if you have ruined my seller, it will be the last mistake you make!"
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Post by Diocles on Feb 5, 2021 3:12:10 GMT
As soon as you thump on the door, the zombies grab you.
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Post by Storyteller on Feb 5, 2021 3:15:06 GMT
I turn and slip away, into the surrounding little alleys. As soon as I am out of sight of anyone, I'll go improved invisible, then wraithform. I'll duck into the sea if that's the fastest way out of sight.
Then I'll head back.
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Nobody
Alexios Group
Posts: 1,409
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Post by Nobody on Feb 5, 2021 3:16:28 GMT
Aethyl will remain completely calm, not resist the Zombies, but will continue to voice his complaint.
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Post by Diocles on Feb 5, 2021 3:16:38 GMT
Mairwyn gets away without difficulty or hindrance.
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Post by Storyteller on Feb 5, 2021 3:17:33 GMT
Once I am prepared (improved invis. and wraithform), I'll head back, but it will take me a few moments to cast the spells.
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Post by Diocles on Feb 5, 2021 3:18:43 GMT
The door at last opens, and a confused and irritated Skenje man stares at Aethyl. "What the hell do you want?" The fact that you've gotten this far means you must belong here at Rania, but he doesn't know your exact business.
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Post by Storyteller on Feb 5, 2021 3:21:04 GMT
(Is Mairwyn present for this? As soon as I am, I want to slip inside the building where the captain is being held. I expect that Aethyl and Iritari will expect me to be there when they are.)
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Post by Diocles on Feb 5, 2021 3:22:43 GMT
Mairwyn slips in and finds Captain Nevius battered and tied to a chair. Another interrogator stands nearby, half watching Nevius and half watching the exchange at the door.
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