Well, splitting the party in PBP is not the headache it is in tabletop games. And if you want to cover each one, we can.
Pedro and all going with him are escorted down to the docks by a page from the Valnastium townhouse. ((Need to know who's speaking what, it appears that Pedro is in charge, and he knows Spanish and Flemish.)) The boat looks odd, as if it were carved from a solid block of wood.
[hr][/hr]
Back at the townhouse Roberto and everyone with him are invited to sit in a larger sitting room. A few hours later, a young man with arrives and is brought in to the room by Venerio. He introduces himself to the room, "I'm Feló, and I am at your service. We can depart on the morrow, as the last of the supplies are being delivered today. When the last of the supplies are brought aboard we will have a week's worth of food for 15 men. The journey should only take two days, based on the speed of the ship."
Pedro speaks Spanish and Flemish, Alberto speaks Spanish and Latin, and Allen speaks French and Latin (and Basque). So I am thinking it will work out. And if these locals are speaking Italian, then Spanish is probably close enough. A -2 penalty maybe?
Johan (who speaks only Flemish) shakes his head. That boat will capsize and sink in the first storm it hits. The thing is too rigid, it won't twist and flex as needed.
Pedro claps him on the shoulder. Looks strange to me too. But from what I understand, it ain't a boat at all. It flies instead of sails. Being able to sail also would probably have been a good idea. The thing looks conjured. Anyway, Alberto, ask them if we can explore the interior.
Meanwhile...
Roberto greets Feló and introduces himself. He listens carefully at all Feló has to say, then responds.
Extra precautious? I would have stocked up for three days and reloaded in port when we got there. But they call me reckless, so maybe overcaution is the normal mode of thinking.
Okay, a weeks worth of supplies. Seven times 15... Plenty of margin incase the journey gets detored or if we pick up additional crew for whatever reason. That also gives us a head start on supplies as we settle in &/or prepare to do whatever.
What is your imagined timetable? I am thinking, myself, that we will take a least a month and am guessing it should not take up more than the rest of the summer season. I am figuring we can lodge on ship or rent out a wharehouse nearby. I have not yet seen the ship, so I cannot tell quite yet. But in any case, I have a friend who will come to us at that location and cast an Aegis. I have the vis for it, and I know it seems a little excessive, but it secures our base of operations against magical influences of the opposition and keeps out any demons.
Now, the reason I brought this many grogs with me, as well as the other measures, is because I am unsure exactly what I am supposed to do. I want the tools at my disposal to deal with the situation as it develops. And as part of a crew of European merchants, we thereby blend in. A lone stranger seems suspicious, a group of strangers ironically seems more normal.
We should bring some trinkets and tradegoods. Claim that we are salesman trying to open markets. We have no cargo, just samples of the whares we have access too.
So we set up shop. Then we have some of the guys keeping shop and maintain our facade. We will send someone out and about posing as a salesman making contacts. We will send others out and about to gather what intelligence they can. There is no such thing as useless knowledge. Rumors, gossip, news, street layout, etceteras. We don't know what is more useful than what until we start to zero in. What we need is a hot lead. Your mom told me that you have an Arcane Connection to this thief? Whe can start there, but need to maintain a low profile. We don't wanna scare off the little fish before we find the big fish.
((Considering that the RAW for Classical Greek and Romaic Greek is a -2, I'd say Spanish and Italian would have to be further apart than that, -3. I just saw a mix of characters who didn't all share the same language, and they are in a foreign port/land.))
The gondolier who ferried them to the ship is indicating he'd like them to get off, so he can go and find his next fare. Says something about continuing the argument about the strange boat on board the boat, and probably throws in a few curse words, too. The page page arguing with the gondolier, that he wants to be taken back to the townhouse. After a few moments a very skinny man comes up and starts shouting in Italian to the gondolier and the page. The page shuts up, while the man on the boat and the gondolier begin to argue in earnest. He tosses down a ladder and in rough Castillian says, "Come aboard." Once aboard the ship he says to the gondolier, "Va fa Napoli."
[hr][/hr]
"We have a rather large supply of silver, of... English origin, which should be sufficient to acquire spices, or cotton, or whatever, but you can leave those details to me. Having a warehouse setup near the Cairo docks shouldn't be too difficult, but casting the Aegis in the city will be challenging. Like most cities, it has an aura contrary to the practice of magic, although you sense it is a bit different."
Feló corrects Roberto, "I have an arcane connection to the book. The book was moving about, so we presumed it was with or near him. It stopped in Cairo and hasn't moved since, we expect he is conducting field research to locate the Alabaster Lioness. Once we arrive in Cairo, we should acquire or make a good map of the city to further refine the location."
Pinhas catches Roberto alone, and hands him two small leather pouches, each one on a string so it can be worn around the wrist or the neck. "Here. Minor amulets of protection. Should be good against small demonic things. Tell the wearers to never take them off, not even when they bathe. I can make one or two more, if needed, but will need time -- and supplies, if there's a Jewish quarter nearby."
(( Physical form: leather pouch, piece of paper inside with an invocation and a Star of David, sealed with wax that has kabbalistic symbols carved into it.))
(( 'Lab Total': Dex 0, Craft Amulets 4+1, Shape/Material Bonus +5 (Star of David), Aura +6, Limited effect seal +5 = 21, halved is 10.))
(( Effect: Adjuration level 3, "Protect wearer from magic/faerie/infernal effects of level 13 or less", +1 Touch, +2 Worn. Total level 10. Limited effect: protects only against the Infernal.))
(Roberto can't wear that, he is Catholic and his Parma depends on his use of the rosary and crucifix. He will pass them along to whichever grogs wants one, maybe Miro and Punky Brewster.
Roberto continues conversation with Feló.
For the Aegis, I got a guy that [strike]is not as good as I thought[/strike] will take care it for us. The connection to the book, that is what I meant. I misspoke. That will be a good start. I also have a reccomended conact at a nearby covenant. Things are off to a good start.
Wen puts the amulet/talisman around her neck with a grin, then gives Roberto a flying tackle-hug, squeeing and saying "Thankyouthankyouthankyouthankyou!" in French.
The men come aboard via a rope ladder that is tossed down to the gondola. After they come aboard the gondolier moves off and the captain of the ship watches him carefully. The captain shouts a final curse at the gondolier, whereupon his gondola begins to sink, evenly as if being pushed down from above equally. Once the water gets to halfway up to the gondolier's knees it stops sinking. The gondolier mutters to himself, and then proceeds to push his gondola slowly away from the odd ship.
Turning to the men, continuing in Castillian, "Gentleman, welcome aboard."
[hr][/hr]
"Whatever my lord magus thinks best. But if I may, there are risks to what you propose. First, the divine aura of Cairo is an obstacle to be overcome by whomever casts the Aegis. I have it on good authority that it is a third magnitude aura (Aura 3) over most portions of the city. Secondly, the casting of an Aegis is a long arduous process that will attract some degree of attention. Of course, casting it on the interior of the warehouse will reduce this risk. My last question is what do you intend to use for Aegis tokens, and do you have these, or is it something you wish for me to procure on your behalf?"
Thanks. I'm Pedro Herrero, an agent of Roberto of Flambeau. The other place wuz getting overcrowded, so the boss sent some of us to lodge on the ship here, and to give it a throughrough looking over. The kid here, Johan. We call him Junior. He sailed with Dutch pirates growing up, so I use him as my specialist go-to guy for all questions related to sailing and crap. But I am supposed to ask you, like, a million questions about this thing. How large is it? How seaworthy? Does it really fly? What are it's defenses? What sorta magic does it use? Things like that.
[hr][/hr]
meanwhile...
((OCC: For some reason I thoght Korvin, the guy who has agreed to teleport in and cast an aegis for me, knew a 20th level version of the spell. Looking closer, it seems he only knows a level 35 version that he can barely cast. And know that this saga is sticky about ward & aegis penetration. So I am not so sure if that plan is gonna work as well as I hoped))
but reckless is as reckless does...
Let my guy take a look at the situation and see if it will work. And yeah, interior casting is what I had in mind. As for tokens, we can use a hand full of coins or whatever. Don't matter really. We shall see what is u when we hit ground. I intend to make a quick visit to the Covenant of Pyramids. Maybe they can cast an Aegis much more efficiently, or just a simple ward against demons will let people sleep easy.
And you know what? Screw it. Maybe we will do that, maybe not. Maybe we will spot the guy on the street the first day and wind up chasing him into the desert and a wharehouse with an aegis will be a wasted effort. So anyway, you have an arcane connection to the book. Once in Cairo and we have an accurate map, I can try sponting a spell or maybe a magus of the Pyramids can be of greater help.
((The magnitude of Korvin's aegis is 4. He learned it because we were running out of people to cast it. If Roberto know wizard's communion, he can help.))
"You can inspect the ship as you see fit. She does fly, and as to how large she is, she's large enough for most tasks that need being done. I'm Aeolus Jerbitonis." Identifying himself as a magus. He's unlike other Jerbiton magi that they have met, since they have that instant tendency to dislike him.
Pedro can see that the boat is quite large, that it could take on quite a bit of cargo. Going below decks he'll find that everything is setup barracks style with a couple of private rooms. One, the smaller one, appears to have been claimed, as there are some items within, and a writing desk with implements on it. The other one is appointed with decorations and in the style of Leon.
Junior can see that there is very little for a sailor to do, or things weren't designed for a sailor to do, and are probably done magically, instead.
[hr][/hr]
"Even if the Aegis can't prevent beings from might from entering, it will still prevent and inhibit their ability to work magic, while leaving yours intact."
Fast forwarding to the next day, when everything is delivered, Junior is knocked out before Wen comes aboard, the party sets sail towards Alexandria. Once out of port, and out of sight of any ship, Aelous attempts to make the ship fly, it gets about 6 inches above the water, and then crashes down back to the water. Repeated attempts to get it to fly fail, and never bring it above the waterline. "What the deuce is going on?"
I've done this before, should'a invented the spell. Maybe I will. The ship counts as a structure....[size=50]base 3, +1 touch, +1 Conc, +3 Structure, = 20[/size]. Want that I should cast a spell to make it fly?
While the two high-falootin' wizardy types are arguing about something or other in that lingo of theirs, Wen is going to lift herself up on the railing and look around to see if she can see what's holding the ship down. Maybe it's a kraken or a giant octopus or something.
Roberto silently wonders if it really is true that Junior is cursed, and what would happen if he tossed him overboard. Or the girl...
Do you have a rug on board? I am going to see if I can spontaneously create a flying carpet, take the kid in tow. He has this superstitious fear of women on ships, and I am wondering if he is actually cursed.
Aeolus responds, "Just the rug in your quarters. Doubt it's big enough to carry two men. We have provisions enough for sailing. As to curses, I don't believe it, most of the curses are old wives tales. My ship is just cantankerous, at times. If you're a mind to do it, though, I can conjure a skiff and he can sail it back to Venice on his own, before the sun sets."
Feló has indeed provisioned the ship well. It appears that Roberto has little sailing knowledge, but he's heard that the journey from Venice to Alexandria is about a month. They aren't that well provisioned...
Roberto does have a little sailing knowledge. Profession-Seaman 1
(and you said I would never need it;) )
Anyways, he gives a wry smile
You don't believe in curses, eh?
But we're wizards! We see supernatural stuff all about us all the time!
Anyway, let's try the skiff. I will spont cast upon that. Not neccessary to make it fly, just float upon the air. We'll stick the kid on that and tow it behind us.
Or better yet, maybe we can dangle it underneeth us. Maybe?
"Indeed, we do, but I've also seen mundanes blame on the mystic or fae what is really a mundane cause. My ship is made from some of the same wood from an ancient forest used in the construction of the ships of Favonius, in Thebes. This isn't the first time she's refused to fly, so I'm more willing to ascribe it to her, my ship, rather than the other man."
In response to creating the skiff and towing it with a rope, "We can do whatever you'd like. I know the same spell with moon duration. I haven't used it since I last recovered my ship from the mutinous crew who stole her."
There is no such thing as the mundane, for everything is an emmination in some degree of the most omnipotent Divine. It especially annoys me when the magi of my covenant refer to non-magi as "Muddles"[sup]1[/sup].
But this is a tangent. Your ship may be tempermental, Junior's wyrd may be tempermental. That's twice as tempermental I suppose. We shall employ a variation of "Apromor's Test of Negative Response"[sup]2[/sup]. If you know the right spell, cast it upon the skiff and let's tow junior behind us. If it doesn't work, then we know that is not the problem.
And I's be interested in learning that spell myself. Perhaps we can make a deal between the two of us? I will gladly trade you a grimoire[sup]3[/sup] of my spells for one of yours.
I know.
A coin I termed years ago, I reasoned that the one way you can tell for sure if something is a Demon is to cast DeO upon it. If there is no effect, then it is not a demon. Same goes for a ward vs demons. I named the DeO test after Apromor, because he is the grandfather of all Perdo Flambeau.
By Grimoire, I specifically mean a seasons worth of writing out Lab Texts (Latin x 20 levels).
((You really don't need Profession: Sailor, IMO, that's what grogs are for, and I probably won't run a sailing adventure very often, with only a few experienced sailors.))
"I don't know the spell to make a ship fly, just a spell to create a ship for the standard sunrise or sunset durations or between the major aspects of the moon. The Verditius who built this ship for me enchanted it and added the ability to fly. I've added other effects over time. But if you want to trade for spells we can discuss it, but as I understand it you're landlocked, so the spells I know will be less useful to you, since they normally deal with ships, and sailing." He takes deep breath and the continues, "But we can have the ship fly, and tie him off and drag him behind us. Tie him to a bed, keep him asleep, because it's going to be a rough ride for him. Or let him sale the conjured ship back to Venice, since he seemed a capable enough sailor."
