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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
He glances over, eyes not lingering so he doesn't show too much interest to anyone possibly watching them. "It looks like it's powered by some kind of motor. That should help, if it's in working condition. At least we wouldn't be reliant on tide and wind."
no subject
Asking after the power source guess in an easy, conversational tone, winking at one of the sailors who glances their way with narrowed gaze.
"Because whatever it is will need feeding, and if we lack the right ingredients for a meal, we're dead on the water."
no subject
The technology is a little ancient to him, but it certainly doesn't look like magic. The main issue is getting on it in an emergency and only then realizing it doesn't work, but as a last resort, it's definitely an option.
"I've got one last trick up my sleeve, if worse comes to worst." He walks as he speaks, making sure they're somewhere slightly more secluded so he can open his coat and show Licyn a glimpse of a bottle holding a miniature lifeboat. "I found it with an instruction to 'break at sea'." And by found he definitely means stole, but minor details.
no subject
"If you're going to trust your life to untested magic," he says, smiling, "Put the odd suit and helmet on first. That you at least know will work as intended. This? Might as well crush you upon its breaking open. Magic is trickier than anyone likes to think."
Or his justifiable paranoias from his own life means he trusts nothing untested, and nothing found (or stolen) out of convenience. Not to play his life on, at least.
"Take care, love. It won't go back in once it's out."
no subject
That's all he means, because he dislikes things when he doesn't know how they work, but sometimes he just doesn't get the luxury of testing beforehand. This might turn into one of those situations.
"I know." He shoots Licyn a small smile, tucking his jacket back into place. "Don't worry, I don't plan on using it unless I absolutely have to. But I'm not gonna let us get locked up or end up dead at sea if there's even one last wild plan I can try."