Death in Freeport

[Fabian]

Prologue: A New Beginning

It is now many months since your harrowing experiences in the north, and you have left the frozen mountains with their hideous secret behind. New horizons beckon, and you are making your way to the south, to the city of Freeport in the warm seas of the tropics. To the west lie the jungles of the Amedio, home to savage tribes; to the east lies Hepmonland, mysterious continent of woods and savannah.

Your destination, however, is the island of A'val, whereon lies Freeport, perhaps best described as a pirate city gone legitimate, or at least partially so....

You are onboard ship and a warm southern breeze brings the smell of the city to you as your vessel plies the crystal waters.

OOC: OK, folks, here begins the new adventure! Feel free to have some banter on ship before you dock.

[Agentmolar]

" ah I love a warm balmy breeze, brings back memories of my studies of the great asacimov! Drinking mead at the end of a week with other students in the gardens of the Collegium..... a good life indeed"

Gaius looks wistful as he leans on the railing of the boat.

"Yes, brothers, much better than trudging through snow don't you agree? The lack of deranged asylum inmates definitely adds to the experience"

[Bodhi]

Jadda jadda jadda. What's he on about this time the pompous buzzard*?

"Wh...wh...whatever"
Will mutters, feeling slightly seasick,  while eyeing the crewmembers trying to see if he finds any signs of someone who seems a likely fellow culprit (Trying to asses the character of the crew in other words).
He scratches the deck restlessly with his dagger, doodling small obscenities.

[Custom_Hobby]

Olothros looks up from his spell book "Anything seems better than freezing in all that snow." He looks to his shoulder at Komodo who is basking in the sun. He says to anyone who might be listening, "any chance of a library in the old pirate city?" At least Will should be at home there.

[Agentmolar]

"ha ha.. a library? Freeport may be vying for respectability, but I would wager that Will would sooner own a book before the city of Freeport having a library. It used to be a wretched hive of scum and villainy, we should be moderately cautious"
OOC couldnt help myself

Glancing at the scribing motions of Will, Gaius stares back out to sea

" Will.... you do realise that that particularly vulgar word is spelled with a Q not a K? If you are going to attempt wit, at least impress your audience with the ability to spell it correctly"  Gaius gives a wry grin. " Oh dont pull such a face, one would think this sailors life doesnt suit you...... at least there is no fear of you considering a career in piracy."

[Fabian]

The crew seem neither particularly dastardly nor saintly, just average sailors making a living.

[Bodhi]

Will stops his scribbling and sheets the knife then gets up to lean over the railing with a slightly greenish tinge to his face. Will really doesn't take well to the sea. He feels to sick to bite to Gaius' bait

[cheddarmonger]

Huh?

[Fabian]

Time passes...

You stand on the docks of the great trading city of Freeport. Your journey here was long and uncomfortable, so it's with a sense of freedom that you walk the bustling dockside. Unfortunately, you are not laden down with gold, or even silver. The merchant that hired you on had to cut you loose after his shipment of foodstuffs went bad during the voyage. You were supposed to go to ports beyond but it looks like you'll have to fend for yourselves in Freeport, at least for a while.

The action on the docks is mesmerizing. There are ships in port from all over the world, carrying every manner of exotic goods. Sailors and merchants of all races and backgrounds mingle on the wharves, with money changing hands so fast you can barely even follow. The sights and sounds are so overwhelming that you almost didn't notice the group of men that casually coalesce around your party. They are a rough lot, scarred and crusty sailors with saps and belaying pins. The leader of these scurvy dogs, a toothless man with tattooed knuckles, smiles crookedly and says, "You've all just volunteered for an exciting life at sea. Do you want to go the easy way or the hard way?"

[Bodhi]

Will slinks behind Lunks massive body and tries to see a way to escape as unobtrusively as possible or enable an attack from safe distance. Any narrow alleys close by? Open windows? Doors?

[cheddarmonger]

Lunk eyes the group curiously -- "we just got here.  Dry land good."

[Agentmolar]

Gaius appraises the situation, casually counts the number of surrounding sailors.

" Ah it would seem that our friend Lunk is not the sea worthy type. I dont recommend sailing with a angry sea sick barbarian my friend. Not to mention that a Half Orc vomiting is not good for anyone on a small confined boat. May i suggest some more experienced sailors in the nearest Tavern?"

"Speaking of Taverns,  It would be best for all of us if Lunk has his first drink in months, and as soon as possible!"

Gaius speaks in a calm voice trying to buy time to assess the situation.

"Olothros, wouldnt you agree a short SPELL of SLEEP would be ideal? "

[Custom_Hobby]

Olothros casts the sleep spell. As soon as he is done he looks at lunk and tells him "Feel free to flatten anyone who looks at us in a way you don't like. I'd prefer finding somewhere to get settled"

OOC: We didnt redo his spell book but I'll assume he had the spell prepared since its sort of a staple.

[Fabian]

OOC: Olthy - sorry, I forgot to re-do your spell book. I will do so.

The press gang listen to Gaius and consider Lunk's large size, "Allllright, mates," the leader says, obviously assessing the situation, "Reckon we might need an incentive to, ah, pass ya by..."

He makes the universal gesture for 'bribe me'.

OOC: I'll say the party has a total of 100 gp between them.

[Bodhi]

Will is still hiding behind Lunk and trying to find a means of escape. Is he seeing any? He doesn't even bother commenting on the bribing suggestion. For him bribing is something that happens to HIM, not other people. What about the sleep spell? Any effect?