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westwhere2022-06-22 08:59 pm
groundrules) wrote in westwhere2022-06-22 08:59 pm
the concord
THE CONCORD
The vessel Concord of the Dawn’s Reach Trade Company once more appears in the horizon. She has learned her lesson from the previous scuffle and the minor charring her sails took at the hands of Sumeragi Subaru: she remains at a cautious distance from the pirate ships. Quicksilver Sam concludes the Concord’s reticence is unlikely to persist long term and asks a delegation of characters to deliver two gifts to captain Maximilian Hawk, in hopes of deterring further aggressions.
He entrusts the peace-bearing party with two items: an especially small scroll, rolled to the length and width of a thumb, and a modest, worn and a heavily locked wooden box to the size of a man’s palm. The scroll, if unravelled, only shows, 39.42116 N. The box cannot be opened, but weighs very little.
✘ OBJECTIVE: deliver the gift to Maximilian Hawk and retrieve his answer.
■ Travel by rowboats to the Concord, bearing large white flags. The Concord will not attack the incomers, but beware hungering, long-clawed mermaids and sharks within the Crossing seas.
■ Once within reach of the Concord, characters are welcomed by a small armed escort that insists all weapons must remain on the rowboats. They check that this instruction has been carried out. Those who refuse to give up their weapons are not allowed on the Concord.
■ The Concord is large, magnificently well attended, clean and armed with the most modern cannons and navigational instruments. The crew comprises trained sailors and graduates of a navy school — the Dawn’s Reach Trade Company’s own academy. Deck patrols and sails and cannon inspections are diligently undertaken every few hours.
■ You reach the Concord by noon. Marcos Diaz is received by first mate John Lattimore for an initial parlay (please wait for NPC thread). Lattimore introduces the newcomers as refugees from the Pariah to the crew.
■ Captain Maximilian Hawk is in deep strategic congress with his employers at the Dawn’s Reach Trade Company until evening. During this time, you remain under escort but can chat with sailors, enjoy a canteen meal, or take a tour of the ship’s deck. Characters also have supervised access to a guest cabin, the captain’s library or the medical bay, as needed. Use your time wisely to learn the lay of the land.
■ Noteworthy on deck: two sailors laundering uniforms and restitching membrane-thin diving suits that allow breathing underwater for two hours; a brawl that leads to four disgruntled men being taken down for jailing in the brig; several sailors carrying or taking tally of small boxes containing delicate, thin white powders (if they are inspected: opiates); two sailors drawing up a perfectly serviceable small steampunk boat to repair its rudimentary engine. Note: no further information or clues are forthcoming on any of these items — they exist as props for your getaway.
■ Come evening, Jim Kirk is finally received to present Maximilian Hawk with Quicksilver Sam’s gifts. (NPC thread link forthcoming!).
■ Discretion seems to have lost some value as everyone waits out the outcome of Jim’s talk in the captain’s cabin. It appears lips have loosened, and the crew has learned that the newcomers aren’t refugees, but representatives of the pirate ships, when a sailor recognises one of them from the Concord's previous altercation at sea. Several sailors spark a brawl, flinging accusations and demanding retaliation for the injuries they sustained when the Concord was singed. They progress from verbal to physical blows, which their superiors try but ultimately fail to calm down.
■ Smooth talk your way into being allowed a clean exit, or better yet, SOS Jim and run. Grab any weapon or valuable you can find, and jump either on the boat you came in, or on the partially fixed steampunk tanker that’s been set at sea. Row and shield to bide Viktor time and cover, if he’s up for tackling the last of the boat's engine repairs.
■ Beware cannons! And head back to the Pariah and Queen Zanyra, you delinquents. Marcos and Jim Kirk can share any learnings.
PLOTTING
no subject
( Which, another long drink of his cup and a second pour thereafter, Captain Hawk appears finally able to progress into: )
You might be excused for believing, when word began to spread of... powers and the unusual unknown that perhaps these issue belong to a realm of fantasy. Men drink, don't they, Mr. Kirk? ( A tip of Hawk's cup, toasting. ) And they have deck sicknesses, and, frankly, they could do with more oranges. But you must understand, most of our... tip-offs begin like this. Words. Whispers. Rumours. The fantastic, the allegorical, the strange. But then, we give chase.
( And they follow, they find, they profit. He seems, for a moment, apologetic — acquiescing. ) Or, when we find the waters have already been muddied by dozens of aggressive, barbaric contenders to find the same, we accept the service of a... representative. So we found ourselves in talks with Mr. Vane. And he found himself accepting our work in the Crossing. Do you follow so far?
I'm so sorry!! The last couple days took a turn. I'm back on the ball.
This is already interesting as it is, of course. He's admittedly impatient to know more, but pressuring Hawk to hurry won't do him any favors.
Well. At least they've moved on from that whore metaphor.
He nods at the question, gesturing towards him with his glass in hand. ]
Go on.
please don't worry at all - hope you're okay!
He gives it with an air of gifting the peasants their first slice of cake. )
Mr. Vane entered the waters of the Crossing equipped with men we paid, a ship we brought to the latest standards, weapons we supplied, coordinates we rescued at dear expense and in singular copy, which has been charmed against memorisation or replication —
( A nod, where half of that instruction still sits staring balefully back from the torn parchment. )
And a box. That box you so quaintly delivered. I am given to understand the Company was first unsure it contained what it claimed to. A piece that calls to whatever it is we mean to find, as insurance he would find it. Don't ask me how the Company discovered it, lad, we've scouts who'll find blood in stone. But they did. And now... that box is empty.
( God damn that thief, Vane. )
all is well, thanks!
So he's taunting you, do you think? And we were just the necessary sacrifice.
[ He'd say that Vane isn't quite in the right state of mind for these kinds of games, but what does he know? Maybe he does know what he's doing. Or maybe someone else on that ship is steering him. Wouldn't surprise him. ]
The box may be empty, but he must have that piece on him. Somewhere, on his ship.
[ As well as the charmed copy of those coordinates. ]
no subject
When the young man before him, clearly possessed of more intellect than luck, pieces the strings together, Hawk rewards him with another silent toast. More brandy, after. )
That's right. That's right, he must do. He's... he's goading me. He's... letting me know he has it, and if we — if we go after him... ( A long, deep swallow. ) It's the only card left for him to play. I'm surprised he's doing it so early. But I expect he's... desperate. Pirates often are. And you're right. He must have it.
( But then he pauses, and his eyes slant, feline-like, and he offers with a honeyed mouth: ) Of course, if you were to find it. And bring it to us... you would not find us ungrateful. As we've discussed.
no subject
He straightens a little more when Hawk suggests that he find said item, the words followed by a silence that lasts a few good seconds. ]
I'm not against it.
[ On the contrary, he is quite against it. Or at least, against the thought of handing Vane over like he knows Hawk wants. Or figures he wants, at least, particularly from the feedback he got about Marcos's talk with the first mate. It goes very much against everything he believes in.
But what Hawk doesn't know won't hurt him. Well, it might hurt Jim, but that's a problem for a later date. ]
Like I told you, I'd need to speak to the rest of the group. But I would need to know exactly what you demand of us, what you would offer in return, and what exactly is this item we're supposed to be looking for.
no subject
( In this, at least, even a band of miscreants and fools is guaranteed the success of the mission they have yet to agree to. )
All we want is what we are naturally entitled to. ( A faint pause, then a wave of his hand. ) And a minor interest. For the time, resources and cost of opportunity entirely wasted. We'll take the Pariah. She looks... fitting enough. Will require upgrades, but...
( Well, what ship doesn't? ) In exchange, we will more than keep you safe, but offer you plain and escorted delivery to your destination of choice, along with a financial incentive to start you will in your new lives at shore. Your cut, if you will. Let's call it, for the sake of equanimity, a quarter of the Pariah's proceeds, and the entirety of the Queen Zanyra, if you can wrestle her from her invader. For you, as the broker, obviously, you can have one of our whores.
( The least said of Caladan Kreil, it appears, the better. And Maximilian Hawk, who has been earnestly running his mouth for the better part of an hour, seems finally depleted of that interest. )
Go. Present your offer to your people. Send me word within a few days — a private exchange.
no subject
All things considered, it has been a useful mission, and if nothing else it has ended on a good, peaceful note. At the very least, Jim thinks he's managed to get them a way out of this ship without getting attacked, so that's a win in his book. ]
Thank you, [ He dips his head, setting his glass back down on the Captain's desk. He can take his cue when he sees it's time to leave. ] I'll get back to you as soon as I have an answer.