Bunions and Flagons Part 3

Posted on Mon Jun 1st, 2020 @ 8:56am by Ka'see 'Cassie' Anderson (*) & Fordyce Kirschler PhD & Chief Engineer Michael Burnstein & Chief Helmsman Eden Bowers & Executive Officer Jake Ford & Liha t'Ehhelih

Mission: Mission 11 - Prospecting
Location: SS Mary Rose - Ward Room
Timeline: -MD03 20:00
1690 words - 3.4 OF Standard Post Measure

"I know the way," Cassie piped up, not having a clue, but it was an easy direction and she could make stuff up if it came to it. "We depart the shopkeeper and move further into the Wintercrest crowds, pass the alehouse and the... " she faltered for a moment before smirking, "brothel and bakery into the square."

“Wait, we’re passing the ale house and brothel?” Jinx asked with a grin. “Bree notes their location for future endeavours,” she told Jake.

"Once we've talked to Martha, the tavern will be a good place to stop to seek information," Burnie said, and flashed a grin. "And to get a drink. Or three."

"Three?" Liha raised an eyebrow. Burnie was no more of a lightweight than most Humans, but he wasn't that much of a drinker.

"Aye, at least! We dwarves are short, but we can drink most of you bigg'uns under the table!" he replied in character, slapping the table for emphasis.

Liha snorted. "I guess that's one way to compensate."

Cassie snorted herself into her wine and tapped the man's arm in sympathy. She loved watching Liha and Burnie interact, it was light hearted and like siblings, which had always interested her.

“So we’re at the orphanage now? I’ll go up and knock on the door,” Jinx said.

Jake nodded. "You knock. And a few minutes later the door creaks open and a young human woman peeks out. She clearly looks quite poor from the way she dresses and holds herself. 'Can I help you?'" he added, with a little falsetto.

"Varish steps forward," Ryder declared. "Right beside the halfling, and he bows his head respectfully to the woman on the other side of the door crack. "We hear tell that the orphanage is coming on to hard times, and we are here to assist in that endeavor. We were told to speak to Martha on such issues. Is Martha residing here?"

"I am she. The woman looks at you all. Who are you?"

“We are the…” Jinx looked around at the others. “Do we have a name? Anyway, we were told by the short, hairy being down the street -- he’s called a dwarf, right? -- that someone stole stuff from the children here, and we would like to help.”

Cassie shrugged a little and put her hood up on her cloak, for a moment distracted, before she glanced at Jink again. "Nope, no name. We are the Nameless," she conceded as she took a sip of her drink. She had to admit this was fun and regretted all the nights that she had refused to join Ryder to play it now.

Liha suppressed a cringe at 'the Nameless' -- that was a bad title where she came from -- but it had clearly been improvisation. "Basically, we're troublemakers." She grinned. "But the trouble we aim to make is for whoever's stealing from you."

"Oh, I see. Well in that case... The woman looks at you all. I was expecting a caravan of supplies to come through sometime in the last few days. But there have been rumours of bandits and even monsters on the road down from Whitestone. Please, if you know anything or have any kind of compassion in you...if you're able to find out what happened, I would be forever grateful."

"Madam, we are indubitably the very embodiment of compassion and shall hasten as the wind to, uh," Ford began, speaking quite theatrically, but starting to lose steam somewhere toward the middle, "check out them bandits down yonder."

"We should really start a drama club onboard after all of this," Cassie commented with a small eye roll. It was hard to tell if she was joking or being deadly serious.

“To Whitestone then!” Jinx-Bree exclaimed, raising one of her scimitars. “Wherever that is!” She tossed Zambi another treat, as the cat-sized raptor was sniffing around the room.

"To the tavern first," Burnie said in his dwarf voice. "We need some information, and whoever is stealing must be selling to someone." He grinned. "Besides, if we have to wander through the mountains we'll need supplies."

"Supplies from a tavern?" Liha lifted a brow.

"Aye! You can't expect a dwarf to travel without ale," he replied firmly, slapping the table for emphasis.

"Or an elf, for the matter," Cassie piped up, agreeing with the notion of the tavern. It felt like it was a concept that crossed all known species and times, wherever alcohol was drunk by a lot of people there would be loose lips and information to be gathered.

“Saw a general store next to the tavern,” Jinx added. “Shouldn’t be out of the way to stop in.”

Ford squinted a little and looked at Armory Ford. "So, how much latinum we got to spend?"

"Wait, we use latinum here?" Cassie spoke up, confused for a second. Sitting up a little straighter to get her thoughts into her order. She had been so intent on not looking like the completely new person that she was confused that she did not know that. It did not sound very DnD to her

"Uh...no..." Jake frowned. Evidently not quite everyone was clear on the setting. "The currency used in the game is gold, silver, copper pieces. Trade and bartering, that sort of thing. It's a primitive cultural setting."

Cassie nodded, glad that she had cleared that up, as she had been confused for a moment. She was going to ask more about what currency they had on them, but she thought that might be going into it too much.

Ford looked a little disappointed. Who the hell used useless stuff like gold, silver, and copper? Were these people obsessed with conductive materials? Either way, it at least explained a portion of the system he'd obviously overlooked. He started to suggest whoring as a means for acquiring currency, but remembered he was playing one of those holier-than-thou types who'd probably frown on that. What did paladins even do for money, anyway? Blessing things for coin seemed extortionary, and killing the undead for money didn't seem very virtuous. Shit, he thought, why didn't I pick something more profitable? Didn't he once see some Vulcan monks begging on Cestus III?

Dr. Kirschler glanced around the table and then typed out a message on his padd before sliding it to Cassie next to him. It read: In the name of Tyr the Even-Handed, the Maimed God, the Just God, Grimjaws, the Blind Overlord, the Wounded One, Wielder of Justicar, I request a small donation of one million gold pieces that I may go forth -- always true and just in my actions -- to reveal the truth, punish the guilty, and right the wrong.

Cassie looked at the message and then the man and smirked at the request. They had been becoming close after the adventure in the Grotto, and it allowed them a bit of a joke and laugh now in their relationship. He was someone like Burnie who did not know her ex-husband or show the pity that others did. "I have no idea what half those things are, but I am pretty sure even a sorceress would not have that many pieces of gold. Better luck asking the dwarf. Do they not dig mines or something looking for diamonds and gold?"

"Hey, just because dwarves like living underground..." Burnie huffed. "Sure, that usually means a mining commune, but we look for things of real value, like iron that can be forged into weapons." He hefted his axe for emphasis.

Ford eyed the axe hard. He thought about engaging him in a debate on value, but he knew he'd lose it because he just wasn't well-acquainted with holy virtues enough to know what a paladin might find valuable. Instead, he nodded and kept his mouth shut.

Ryder gave a shrug. Seemed like everyone had their ideas in mind. "Vavish doesn't have a need for much from the supply store. He's been outfitted well enough, but the tavern is the best idea. Who knows who's going through there?"

Cassie nodded. It was a logical step ,and an investigation should take them to where they could get the most answers from. "Grebella leads the group to the tavern. From the outside, it looks humble, rustic, and cosy. Clay and stone make up most of the building's outer structure. It is impossible to see through the large, curtained windows, but the voices from within can be felt outside."

Liha smiled smugly. "I go to a window and use my superior hearing to listen in on the conversations."

“I’ll do a circuit around the building,” Jinx said. “Or Bree and Zambi will.” Her raptor perked up at her name, and Jinx gave it a treat. “Make sure there’s a back door in case we need to leave quickly.”

Jake was about to reply when the comm sounded.

"Umm...is Burnie there?" The voice of Cami came over the comm system. "Sorry to break up your evening, but Jea and I came across some problems with the broken evacuation corridors and we could use him to take a look. If he's free...?" Jake glanced across the table at Burnie and shrugged.

"Frak," Burnie cursed quietly. "Just when we were getting somewhere." Then responded for Cami to hear as he got up. "Yes. I'll be right there."

"I should go too," Liha said. "If only to vouch that despite that outfit he's no more insane than usual."

"Hell, if the ship's got problems, then we all do. We can pick this up later?"

OFF::

Eden Bowers
Chief Helmsmen
SS Mary Rose

Jinx Jorasco
Chief Science Officer
SS Mary Rose

Jake Ford
Chief Armoury Officer
SS Mary Rose

Michael Burnstein
Chief Engineer
SS Mary Rose

Liha t'Ehhelih
Engineer
SS Mary Rose
(PNPC Burnstein)

Ka'see 'Cassie' Anderson
Biologist
SS Mary Rose
(PNPC Gregnol)

Fordyce Kirschler
Chief Operations
SS Mary Rose