"It should be quite the treat," Bashir says from where he stands near Selim. "I have read about the pyramids and the sphinx. But never did I think I should ever have a chance to see them with my own eyes."
The sun sets, the sun rises. You sail all day, eat, chat, maybe take in some sailing skill if you are interested. Roberto is a bit of a hobbyist. You may notice he never gives out orders. He talks with Johan, and Johan gives orders to Ximo and Jimo as needed.
You are approaching the coast, Alxandria is within sight.Several many other ships are sailing in and out as well. Roberto stands at the prow, looking dramatic, smiling.
FOR THOSE WITHOUT PArMA AND WHO ARE AFFECTED BY THE GIFT...
As he stands there, a dark cloud hovers over Roerto's head making him look sinister. You can recognize this as a sudden shift of feeling that was not present moments ago, and for any who are accustomed to the Gift they might recognize it as such. But despite understanding, he really *does& seem sinister! He is a butcher, a murderer, an arsonist, a friend to Muslims/Heretics/Infidels (take your pick).
Carlos immediately recognizes it. He is not used to it any more, but he has a good memory of what it was like before True Love gave him the Gentle Gift.
"Sancho..." [sup]1[/sup]
[sub]1 Using the name Sancho as a figure of speech may be of Mexican origin and not Spanish at all. I do not know, and I can find no reference. Xavi might know. If it is Spanish, it probably was inspired by Sancho Panza, which makes it anachronistic in either case. Anyway, the word is used a lot as a response when someone sneezes. I have been told by several sources that Sancho is a sort of slang for a cuckold, and is a joke response in the belief that sneezing is cause when your wife cheats on you.
Draw your own conclusion. Carlos has drawn his.[/sub]
Bashir takes a step back from where Roberto stands. He's worked with magi before, and so he knows about the effect of the Gift. But here it's presence is unexpected. Roberto was supposed to be 'safe.' His Gift was gentle. Somewhere in the back of his head, a voice tells the Moorish doctor that this change in attitude can be explained. But his gut speaks in a louder voice, telling Bashir that Roberto is just the sort of man who attacked Mallorca and gave him the leg injury he bears to this day. With narrowed eyes, Bashir watches Roberto suspiciously.
Off to the side, Lucas continues to stare at the sea ahead of the ship, oblivious to this sudden change in attitude.
Adan is still new to the covenant, he has not acclimated to these magi. He does not trust them, but they protect him. He even has some theories... but Roberto is strange, the taint of magic seems to come and go from him, though he has only felt it a couple of times. He would like to ask him about that, it might be important. If there are 4 realms, and 4 faces of God, this cannot be coincidence, and perhaps he should learn more of the different realms. He will ask Roberto about this. Some other time.
You are reaching the point where you will soon have to engage with authorities and pay the toll to travel the river. Roberto is still blithely unaware that his Magical Air is relapsing and is preparing to speak with them. Carlos approaches to say something, then just like that it fades into remission.
Roberto states that you guys are merchants on your way to Cairo, pays toll and dock fee. The ship pulls into port for the night before proceeding.
Feel free to stretch your legs and wander. Be back at the ship before midnight. I want to set off at dawn.
"Sir, if you have some time, I find myself wondering about what happened to you back there, and back on Mallorca when we were leaving, and was wondering if you could give me some understanding of this phenomenon."
Eh? What in the world are you talking about?
"The bad effect of what you magi call the Gift seemed to briefly reassert itself around you," Bashir offers, taking a step closer to the speakers. "For a short time just before we docked I felt the same uneasy feeling around you that I have around most other magi. Then it disappeared as quickly as it arose. I suspect that's what Adan is speaking about."
Antoni says nothing, but he has drawn his own conclusions: Roberto is as bad as the others. A dirty bastard that'll send them to their death without caring at all. And if he seemed different, it's because he held them under some kind of spell, surely.
Antoni doesn't like this at all. He is ready to do his duty, even to selfish pricks as magi. He is ready to face men and beasts. But he expects at least some mesure of truth, like "Die fighting this dragon while I flee like a coward!". Tricking them like this, trying to pass as their friends... Too bad, he liked Roberto, actually.
Miquel talks lowly to the other grogs about this.
See? I told you. A lying bastard, like the rest of them. Like all the so called "superiors" as they call themselves. I told you we cannot trust them. They will use and discard us for their own enrichment without caring about is. Rights they say? yeah,their rights for sure, not ours. And he even has those ass-licking dudes with him. it gives me the creeps. if we are ever to be treated well we need to present them with our demands together. Otherwise they will squish us like bugs. And that cannot be.
Lucas can see the trouble brewing and determines to try and quell it as best he can. But first, he gives himself a little help. Silently and without motion, he begins to appear more forceful, authoritative, and believable.[sup]1[/sup]
"Please," Lucas says, holding his hands up to try and calm the grogs down. "It's not like that. We're not all out to get you, and we're not untrustworthy. Step back from these false feelings and you'll remember that the covenant treats you very well, with good pay, good food, and free treatment when you're sick or hurt. I'm sure you all know that we don't reserve Bashir's talents for the magi, but use them for the benefit of everyone in the covenant. You know in your heads that the Gift can poison the way you feel about a magus in your gut. Listen to your heads right now. Remember what the covenant has done for you, and don't let this unfortunate aspect of the Gift rule your feelings."[sup]2[/sup]
[hr][/hr]
[sup]1[/sup] Spontaneously cast Aura of Ennobled Presence MuIm10 (without words or gestures); Casting Total (goal of 10): [5 (Im) + 12 (Mu) + 2 (Sta) + 1d10]/2 = (1d10+19)/2 = (1d10+19=22)/2 = 11, success, if only just.
Lucas takes one Fatigue.
[sup]2[/sup] Lucas makes a Charm (2) + Pre (0) + bonus (3) check = 1d10+5: 1d10+5=14
"That is what I was referring to, and I apologize if you were not aware of the shift. I have been wondering if the realm of magic parallels the Holy Spirit, or perhaps the Garden of Eden, as it seems to reflect an ideal but terrestrial world, but the effect of the Gift, amongst some other details, has me uncertain f these ideas."
Roberto looks like he is getting angry.
What in the world are you guys talking about?!?
"As I said," Bashir repeats, wondering how much more explicit he could have been. "Despite the way it has been since I met you, your Gift does not seem to be entirely what you magi call 'gentle.' Periodically - it has happened twice now in the past day - the aura of mistrust that surrounds most magi returned to you. In short, the gentleness of your Gift seems to be fading."
The Gift, my ass mutters Miquel for himself and those with their heads near him. A convincing fella this one, seems trustworthy, but never trust them completely. You know that a boss is always a boss and will try to screw you if that provides him with a tinny bit of improvement. True what he says, but also biassed. I doubt he will put his neck up for us if there are real problems. Bosses never do. We can only really trust each other.
Miquel is quite an ass when it comes to authority, so he will be doggedly acting like a moron even if everyone is cheering Lucas and claiming he is the best thing since potato omelette.
Waiting to see if Lucas's Charm attempt had any effect.
Carlos sees the expression on Antoni's face and his eyes glare at Miquel's first outburst. Lucas tries to calm them, Adan and Bashir alk to Robero. Johan shrugs his shoulders (he felt it, he just doesn't care that much). Roberto gets angry, Bashir talks some more and so does Adan.
Them Miquel's second outburst. Carlos gets pissed. The short little Spaniard stands toe-to-toe with the taller Catalan. "You shut that hole right now. That man will kill for you and would die for you. Bah. What are you? Just a mercenary. You don't like the job? Just quit and you can walk home from here.
Presence 2, Leadership 2, roll of 1d10=4, total equals 8
meh. Respectable, not intimidating.
Roberto looks even angrier. No Magical Air, just a normal sort of angry face that someone gets when they are surprised by outrage.
"That, it's not... That's not possible!"
He digs around in his satchel and produces a seashell. Carlos grows wide eyed.
"Oh no you don't! ¡Pendejo! No seas un idiota estúpido! I see that look in your eye!"
"Bah! Herecleion is only a mile off shore, well within range."
"And underwater! How you going to breath? We had that bubble-thing last time."
"Been back plenty of times on my own, this is a connection to the Airy Court."
BAMF!!
"...estúpido idiota tonto pendejo...
...
[tab][/tab]...
...
"meow?"
Miquel looks at Carlos with a small smug smile in his face, and shakes his head slightly, like he thinks Carlos does not understand crap, but backs down. He has made his point for anyone willing to listen anyway and will not try to convince willing slaves. Not now at least. Besides, Carlos has done what his sergeant always does, except that he has not been clubbed in the head in the process, and he appreciates that :mrgreen:
Antoni feels moved by Lucas words, although he thinks lucas might be deceived, and then
Just like I thought.
This one, lucas, he means well, but he spend so much time living among magi, he doesn't realize how they may treat the little people. Clearly, he has no idea how backstabbing they may be. He's probably too decent to even think that possible. He's wrong if he thinks I won't do my duty, though. But I'll also watch my back, and the one of my fellow soldiers