Episode 5!

[20:19:59] <Tim_the_Narrator> LAST TIME!  While Mina stuffed her face, Moirrey and Harkin put their talents to work outbidding the ambassador Svetlana of Kvetya to gain the services of Captain Amereene, who turned out to be a young, proper girl with a vicious backhand.  Meanwhile, Hayri and one of Svetlana's students found themselves coming into conflict, their lack of a common language not stopping them from testing...
[20:20:00] <Tim_the_Narrator> ...their prowess with wooden swords in the open streets!  At first, it seemed like everything was settled peacefully...until it was discovered that the three surviving thugs who ambushed Pomette are alive, and in the Laughing Goose itself!  What will happen this time!?  Episode five, START!
[20:25:01] Hayri gives Harkin the nod. "Let your keen ears guide us."
[20:27:41] <Harkin> The older man nods. "We'll just keep out of sight until they leave the Goose. Then, we'll follow them back to the ship they intend to flee on."
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[20:29:52] <Hayri> "Without letting them flee, as such.  If I'm going to be a bodyguard, I'm not going to be an awful one."
[20:30:39] <Tim_the_Narrator> ...It's a bit of an anticlimax.  The thugs just don't have the basic decency to leave right then, rather forcing an old man to wait.  The conversation inside the booth spills into speculation about what they'd have done with their share of the gold if this had worked, and where they should go next.  Zappo, apparently the leader, is suggesting they stay together, and jump multiple islands. ...
[20:30:40] <Tim_the_Narrator> ...The two with him want to go to Rossily, since Yurand is out of the question...they don't seem to know who Pomette is, just that whoever that girl was, she was Yurandish and some kind of noble.
[20:32:26] <Harkin> Harkin listens closely, taking it all in.
[20:34:41] <Tim_the_Narrator> Zappo vehemently opposes the idea of doing more than stopping on Rossily, saying that it's too public, and really, they should go someplace nobody suspects.  He claims it's easy for a man to get lost on Ada.  Easier than the Pebbles, anyway.  One of the thugs sarcastically asks about Kvetya, and from the sound of it, gets smacked across the back of the head, judging from the muffled curses...
[20:34:42] <Tim_the_Narrator> ...and apologies.
[20:36:18] <Hayri> "Men like that would have a hard time blending in.  Unless they meant 'get lost' in the other sense."
[20:37:59] <Tim_the_Narrator> Behind you, the knight in the navy-and-white tabard is calling for more ale, "Another pint for the King!"
[20:38:38] <Harkin> That draws a smile from Harkin. "I've never been to Ada, myself. They keep a tight rein on crime, do they?"
[20:39:48] <Tim_the_Narrator> "...Hey, Zappo, you been able to find us a ship yet?" The thug's voice is loud enough, at least, to be heard.  So is Zappo's, "Passage is too damned cheap this time of year, everyone already has more work than they can handle.  This might be the last hurrah, lads, I don't see a way out of this...we might not survive even a few days with those two AND the guards on us."
[20:40:15] <Hayri> "Tight enough... but they're not Adanians.  There are not many there who aren't."
[20:43:00] <Harkin> He nods thoughtfully, but pauses as the conversation shifts. "They haven't found a ship? Hmm..."
[20:45:47] <Hayri> "I wonder who 'those two' are."
[20:47:03] <Hayri> "...there were those two guards earlier, weren't there?"
[20:48:01] <Harkin> Harkin smiles. "I assumed they were probably my subordinates. I tasked two of them with looking around for these men earlier. By the sound of things, they've been getting closer."
[20:49:12] <Tim_the_Narrator> "C'mon, Zappo, you said you could find one for sure!" "Not in one bloody day, you brainless git!  There's a festival on, how many people do you think go home this early during a festival, huh?  Nothing's moving, not for another few days." "So what'll we-" "Pray, and hide out here unless we see that ugly git with that huge knife again."  "You don't think they work for...those other two,...
[20:49:13] <Tim_the_Narrator> ...right?"  Zappo goes quiet, muttering obscenities.
[20:49:43] <Tim_the_Narrator> *with that huge knife, or that kid he had stalking for him."
[20:51:50] <Harkin> "Ahh, that's them, alright," the elderly Yurander says fondly. "It sounds as though they'll be here for some time. If this is all that's left of their gang, maybe we'll just corner them here?"
[20:54:16] <Hayri> "If you think that will work better, my blade is ready."
[20:56:21] <Harkin> "Let's wait a moment longer, see if we can overhear anything else. But then we'll take them. I put great stock in your swordsmanship."
[20:56:53] Hayri nods.
[20:57:54] <Tim_the_Narrator> The men in the niche have collapsed into sullen silence, punctuated with the clink of earthenware mugs
[21:00:49] <Harkin> Harkin scans the street outside for any potential disturbances, grits his teeth, and nods firmly to Hayri. "Okay. Let's not kill anyone we don't have to; I want to be able to cross-check their stories." He stands and heads toward the seated men.
[21:01:13] Hayri returns the nod and follows along in tow.
[21:06:38] <Harkin> On the way over, Harkin touchs a barmaid by the shoulder and quietly asks for her to bring a glass of wine over to the thugs' table. As she leaves to get it, he walks up to the alcove and stands near their table, clearing his throat to get their attention.
[21:06:54] <Harkin> "May I join you gentlemen?" he inquires politely.
[21:09:18] <Tim_the_Narrator> "Private table, gaffer, unless you've got ale or a sunship." One of the thugs growls, and Zappo...
[21:12:25] <Tim_the_Narrator> ...goes white as a sheet, looking over your shoulder at Hayri, "...Kick me into the Shade." His hand convulsively closes on the short, single-edged sword at his belt, but by a stroke of luck, he also notices a table full of Yurandish men-at-arms behind you as well, and slumps down in his seat.
[21:12:41] <Harkin> "I have both," Harkin remarks nonchalantly, "but I'm more interested in what you have: imminent executions,  and information you can trade to avoid them."
[21:13:13] Hayri doffs his round hat.
[21:14:44] <Tim_the_Narrator> Now all three of them have noticed, and are sitting quietly.  Zappo smiles a sickly smile, "L-look, we weren't supposed to hurt the kid, alright?  No matter what anyone thinks, we weren't to harm a hair on her head."
[21:16:51] <Harkin> "This isn't the place for questioning; we'll do that back aboard my ship. May I take it I have your cooperation, then? It would greatly simplify matters."
[21:18:43] <Tim_the_Narrator> "We want your oath, mate, no needles under the fingers, no hot pokers, none of that.  We'll talk." Zappo seems to have figured something out.
[21:21:26] <Harkin> "On my honor as a Yurandishman," says Harkin formally, "you won't be tortured, provided you provide a complete and truthful accounting of events. In exchange, I offer you the chance to leave this island alive. More than you'll get from the Watch, I assure you."
[21:25:13] <Tim_the_Narrator> "Done, mate.  We'll tell you what we know, Cludger might've had a bit more before that pretty thing with the dark eyes cooked his heart well-done."
[21:28:08] <Tim_the_Narrator> "But he's dead and I ain't, so that's the thing of it." Zappo levers himself to his feet.  A tall man, but he slouches a bit, he looks like he was growing one of those trim, pointed little beards, but let it grow a bit wild.
[21:28:44] <Harkin> Harkin's only response to that is a smile. "Finish your ale, then, you three," he says. "We should get you somewhere safe promptly."
[21:31:03] <Tim_the_Narrator> They trade baffled looks.  The other two men have a sort of thuggish similarity that might be blood relationship, with piggy, suspicious little eyes.  Zappo continues drinking, and the others copy him after a few moments of just...staring at the old Yurandishman, expressions somewhere between amazement that things are going this well, and trying to gauge how easily they could knock Harkin...
[21:31:06] <Tim_the_Narrator> ...over and get past Hayri.  There is, however, still that bird churning in their piggy little thoughts, so they follow the boss' example and drink their ale.
[21:33:17] Hayri sits idly next to Harkin, humming a tune while his hand sits lazily on a sword handle.
[21:35:18] <Tim_the_Narrator> Before long, they've emptied their mugs, and are ready to follow Harkin...not exactly trustingly, but still following...back to the ship.
[21:35:33] <Global> [>> $xen.thisisnotatrueending.com] [LordLicorice] fuck your elections, Dog Soldiers on the stream
[21:35:55] <Harkin> "All done, then?" the old man asks as they finish up. He reaches into his purse and leaves enough coins on the table to cover a few rounds of drinks and still tip generously. "We're off, then - we'll take the back streets, try to avoid any patrols. I doubt we'll have any trouble, though." With that, he leads the way out of the Goose and back down toward the Ninivene.
[21:38:06] Hayri follows out, stopping to get Khan from out front for the trip back to the ship.
[21:41:47] <Tim_the_Narrator> Zappo blinks again when the men-at-arms don't follow you, but he doesn't seem exceptionally bothered.  Your common criminal is, at heart, a pragmatist, and snitching has become the most sensible way to survive this, in his opinion.  The other two thugs just seem as intent on staying as far as possible from Khan as possible without looking like they're trying to sneak off.  The back streets...
[21:41:48] <Tim_the_Narrator> ...shift from wooden boardwalks to narrow stone alleys and semi-worked walls quick, since the docks are carved from the living stone of Megama itself.
[21:48:57] <Tim_the_Narrator> Eventually, though, the boardwalks return, and the scene shifts to a certain trio of lovely ladies headed homeward.  Well, shipward, at least.
[21:53:10] Moirrey chews on a sprig of parsley quietly as she walks, after taking a long time to dig through the pouch full of spices at her waist, careful not to knock any of the countless other pouches and knick-knacks hanging from the heavy-duty belt. "...So, what are your two's favorite foods? I'm probably going to be doing most of the cooking once we set sail, so it'll be good to know.
[21:53:10] Moirrey Food is great for morale and all that."
[21:56:21] <Mina> "Aheh...are you sure you want me to get into that?  That could take a while."  Mina responds by rubbing the back of her head, taking up the rear behind the captain, casually walking on but keeping her ears open for anything new and unusual
[21:57:17] <Moirrey> "Yeah, Yeah...Well, I meant favorite, specifically."
[22:00:40] <Tim_the_Narrator> "...Poultry and vegetables, I have little taste for red meat, I'm afraid."
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[22:01:16] <Tim_the_Narrator> "Don't make assumptions, it's just that I've had enough salt pork rations to never want to look a pig in the eye again." Amereene laughs.
[22:02:46] <Mina> "Honestly?  There's this one kind of sandwich I had in Rossily once, and I've never been able to find the name of it again.  It had salted beef, cheese, and a weird sauce over it, served hot, and it was delicious."
[22:03:01] <Mina> "I've been wanting to find the name of it since.  I think it started with an R..."
[22:03:42] Moirrey nods. "I can understand that, no problems. I try to steer away from that sort of thing. Really, spices are what make the difference when it comes to cooking out on the boat. Much more than ingredients do...Sandwich, huh? I'll look into it."
[22:05:31] <Mina> "Yeah.  If I remember the name I'll tell you."
[22:08:48] <Tim_the_Narrator> "...What's a sandwich?"
[22:09:18] <Tim_the_Narrator> "The thing with the meat between bread slices, right?"
[22:09:45] <Mina> "Right."
[22:09:52] <Mina> "You've never had a sandwich?"
[22:10:58] <Tim_the_Narrator> "I've had it a couple of times before, but...sadly, I'm in this line of work for the money.  Where I need to go to make it isn't usually the same places I want to see." She tilts her head, considering, "I suppose that's partially why I took this job."
[22:12:03] <Tim_the_Narrator> "You seem to be going someplace interesting.  My usual practicality may be failing me...but the whole situation has a rather fantastic tinge to it.  Besides, I didn't really want to go to Kvetya, it's not pleasant."
[22:13:08] <Tim_the_Narrator> "Lovely country, but I'm not taking another crew up there, not for a dragon's pearl."
[22:13:16] <Moirrey> "Really? I've never really heard much about that place. Seems odd, if that Svetlana woman was any indication"
[22:13:35] <Mina> "Life's as boring as you make it be."  Mina rests her hands behind her head.  "Hunting down bandits is a lot more fun than just doing some boring job, for example."
[22:14:39] <Tim_the_Narrator> "You're a mercenary, then?  I'd been trying to figure you out, I admit.  The Rillfolk are...interesting...from a sorcerous perspective."
[22:15:52] <Mina> "Sometimes."  She admits it, shrugging her shoulders.  "Right now, I'm just a dancer."
[22:16:12] <Tim_the_Narrator> "Well, miss...Moirrey, wasn't it?  Let's just say that it's a pestilence to have my first mate nearly decapitated for forgetting himself and openly calculating how many bales of silk we had aboard." Her expression sours.
[22:17:00] <Tim_the_Narrator> "I'm sure they were probably just overreacting, and they wouldn't really kill a foreigner for not following their laws, but I didn't have fun on Kvetya.  Not one bit." Her expression sours further.
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[22:18:06] <Moirrey> "Yeah, yeah. Moirrey Dwango. I'm a doctor. And a Chef. Anyway, that sounds a bit of a pain, truth. I'm from Rossily, so i'm...accustomed to laws accomodating trade, not hurting it."
[22:18:52] <Tim_the_Narrator> "Rossily's not a bad place, I've made a good number of trips out there.  Mostly to Helice, if either of you girls have been?" It's a fair guess, with Helice being the capital and primary port to Yurand and Rossily.
[22:18:59] <Tim_the_Narrator> *Yurand and Megama
[22:19:18] <Mina> "Once or twice.  Never on my own, of course."
[22:20:18] <Tim_the_Narrator> "Clanship?"
[22:20:51] <Moirrey> "Yeah, yeah, I grew up not too far from there. T'was a lot more fun to skulk around there with my posse of friends in the big city rather than stick around mom's place when I was a kid, so I've spent a fair breeze there." Moirrey says, nodding to herself.
[22:22:13] <Mina> "Yeah.  I was younger back then."  She stares up at nothing in particular, smiling to herself
[22:23:32] <Tim_the_Narrator> Amereene bursts out laughing, crossing her arms, "I grew up near here, actually.  My mom was Navy, so I've been piloting sunships since I was a little girl."
[22:25:30] <Tim_the_Narrator> "Dad was a tailor, his shop was near the docks because that's where the money is.  They met when she was in the service."
[22:27:49] <Mina> "Have you flown a lot of fast ships before, then?  Not just cargo ships, but ones made for speed?"
[22:37:54] <Tim_the_Narrator> She frowns, propping her chin on her fist in a ladylike manner, "Well, I've flown a lot of ships.  I started out on skiffs as a young girl, for pocket money, then I did a few stints as a mail carrier when the Rossilian Post was at war with Bledsoe's pirates.  I have worked freelance since then, on a wide range of vessels, some considerably superior and more pleasant to operate than others." ...
[22:37:55] <Tim_the_Narrator> ...Her eyes narrow slightly, "Don't even think of fretting.  If it has sunstones lifting it, I can make it soar, guaranteed."
[22:39:19] <Moirrey> "Well, I ain't got any doubts so far, so don't worry about me. I've had some bad Captains in my time, but you seem like a pretty decent one, so far."
[22:39:46] <Mina> (how far off from the ship are we just now?(
[22:39:49] <Mina> )
[22:40:32] <Tim_the_Narrator> (You're decently close)
[22:41:38] <Tim_the_Narrator> "Ah.  I confess, I'm wondering what you do, yourself.  You say you are a doctor and a chef, and you've clearly flown before..."
[22:42:15] <Mina> "I guess you should see it for yourself."  She grins, waiting for the group to walk around the next corner, knowing it'll be in sight then, close enough to pick out.
[22:43:03] <Moirrey> "I've spent a lot of my life serving on ships. Mostly for mercenary operations. Soldiers need medicine and food, you know?"
[22:47:10] <Tim_the_Narrator> "It's certainly a civilized idea, I don't see why I never thought of it before." She comes to an abrupt halt, looking down the line of white-sailed Outer Yurandish ships, circling slightly to get a better look at the smaller one, "...It wouldn't be the pretty little thing there, would it?"
[22:47:25] <Tim_the_Narrator> She sounds as if she's prepared to be disappointed by a 'no'.
[22:48:55] <Mina> "That's the one!"
[22:49:41] Mina radiates pride.  "You thought we were kidding, didn't you?"
[22:53:00] <Tim_the_Narrator> "...Confessions of that nature can wait.  Hold on darling, let me get a better look at you~" Her feet barely touch the ground as she prances over, running her fingers across the wood, dancing from one end to another, peering at everything.
[22:54:02] <Tim_the_Narrator> "Ahhhh...look at the lines of the bow, you can swoop, can't you~"
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[22:55:11] <Moirrey> "Yeah, yeah, it is sort of pretty looking, i'd say. I've been on some flying bricks in my time, so this is a good change."
[22:55:18] Mina glances uneasily at Moirrey
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[22:57:04] <Mina> "Should...should we leave her alone with it?"
[22:57:43] <Tim_the_Narrator> "These wings have amazing articulation.  Most of the time, you can barely steer them or...Grandfather forbid...have to shout orders to a pully team.  This is craftsmanship~"
[22:59:35] <Tim_the_Narrator> There's a knight in familiar lemon-yellow armor peering down with interest at all the fuss.
[23:00:41] <Tim_the_Narrator> "What kind of sceptrestone does it have?  I know someone mentioned amber for the crown's mounting earlier.  T-that's not a spiral, is it?" Your new captain is quite possibly in danger of falling off the wharf trying to get a look.  Ryam Hayward, naturally, responds with a cheerful "It is!" from up above.
[23:02:28] Mina shrugs.  "Come aboard, captain?  You can see it much better from inside."
[23:05:03] <Tim_the_Narrator> "I could-hey, is that kid trying to get your attention?" Amereene peers over Mina's shoulder.
[23:07:20] Moirrey turns to look!
[23:08:06] <Tim_the_Narrator> It's a slender, young, dark-skinned girl...the waitress from the restaurant earlier today.  She's wearing a big smile, and waves.
[23:08:49] Moirrey fully turns around, taking a few steps over. "Oh, it's you. You're that waitress, yeah?" she asks, curious.
[23:09:03] Mina looks back at her, then shrugs. "It happens with me.  Hey there!  I remember you from earlier.  What's up?"  She walks over
[23:09:53] <Tim_the_Narrator> "Sorry, ma'am, da sent me out to look for you."
[23:10:53] <Mina> "Yeah?  What about?"
[23:13:10] <Tim_the_Narrator> "He said that you'd like it.  He says that a lot of customers ordered what you ordered when you left, and that he has a business proposition for you, his way of saying thanks.  That's what he said.  He said you can stop by the Greatkettle tomorrow, say you're here to see Cho'yet.  The Greatkettle's our family place, so he'll be with you quick." She smiles.  She has good teeth.
[23:14:36] <Mina> "A business proposition, huh?  Go tell your dad that I'll be there, and to have a meal ready!"  Mina smiles back, matching her.
[23:16:31] <Tim_the_Narrator> She laughs, "He told me you'd say that!" She takes a moment, regains her composure, and bows to you politely before scurrying back off into the crowd.  Cho'yet's a familiar name for some reason, for both of you, probably something to do with your respective mercenary-related careers.
[23:18:23] <Mina> "Free lunch."  Mina shrugs.  "Where were we?"
[23:20:54] <Tim_the_Narrator> "Waiting." Amereene is at the bottom of the ramp, which itself is rather cleverly shaped, possessing full handrails and carved into shallow steps rather than being a flew lengths of plank between you and the sky.
[23:22:03] <Mina> "Oh right.  Come on, then, I'll introduce you to the old pilot,and he can tell you all about it."  Mina steps up behind Amereene and slips past with a twirl before walking up the ramp.
[23:22:12] <Tim_the_Narrator> Amereene looks about as impatient as you'd expect, while Ryam is taking in events with a rather distant smile, like a bemused owl.
[23:22:52] Moirrey climbs up the nice ramp, interested to see what the pilots will discuss.
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[23:25:12] Mina leads the way up, then pauses a few steps onto the deck.  "We don't need the formalities, right?  He should be down below."
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[23:27:14] Mina edit
[23:28:02] Mina leads the way up, then pauses a few steps onto the deck and turns around.  "We can spare the formal stuff.  The guy over there's the old captain, Ryam."  And a gesture in the proper direction.
[23:29:08] <Tim_the_Narrator> "Morn-er, evening, miladies.  Sorry, came out to tune the old mandolin, realized I had my armor on, and...well, it just wasn't fitting, so I trained for a bit, alone." He has some weapons sitting out on a sheet, and a whetstone set up, "Then I got to taking care of my kit, and then you showed up." He smiles.
[23:34:24] <Tim_the_Narrator> Amereene bows, while already asking questions.  The two of them begin a process best described as 'nattering'.
[23:35:09] <Mina> "Well, that went well."
[23:36:17] Moirrey nods. "I suppose so."