The Ship - RPLOG
From Rusted Promises
Participants
Date
1/11/475
Log
Allistar It is late afternoon on the docks, and an unfamiliar ship bobs on the waves. A merchant had arrived that morning bringing many supplies to the city. But lately rumors have emerged. The ship did not just bring supplies, it brought artifacts. Not only that, there are whispers that some of that cargo was stolen. So what will citizens do now? And how to proceed...
It is late afternoon on the docks, and an unfamiliar ship bobs on the waves. A merchant had arrived that morning bringing many supplies to the city. But lately rumors have emerged. The ship did not just bring supplies, it brought artifacts. Not only that, there are whispers that some of that cargo was stolen. So what will citizens do now? And how to proceed...
Sally arrives at the docks at word of a suspicious foreign trader. She is dressed officiously, with house Solacious bangle dangling from the end of her tail and her various rank and insignia badges polished brightly.
Shliek heard of this ship's arrival through his less-than-lawful channels and decided to come take a look for himself. Arriving clothed in dark garbs and a mask over his face, he makes his way towards the ship and starts looking around for a subtle point of access.
For Valentine, the word of the smuggler is like the time-bomb on the go. What if any of his merchandises put any citizens in danger? "Anything is possible", the thought rushes through his head as he is approaching the docks.
Walden curiously approaches the docks as he's been working the markets and overhearing some things. It's the sight of Sally that causes the armadillo to look somewhat concerned, and he starts to approach with a wave. "Good day, my lady. I doubt it's coincidence we're both here, hmmm?" He looks over this unfamiliar boat curiously, considering this. "Wonder just what's inside."
A rather bulky merchant emerges from a small door on the ship, his round frame forming a contrast as he turns sideways slightly to fit. He trundles down onto the docks blinking at the group and fidgeting. "Oh dear, hello, I'm afraid my supplies are not set up yet." he quickly explains. "Nothing for sale." he finishes.
As he spots the familiar shilouettes, the grin show's up on Valentine's muzzle. "Guess we meet each other yet another time. Funny coincidence, by my standards". Then, as the merchant shows up, he eyes him suspiciously. "And what are the things you want to sell here?"
Sally nods her head at the merchant, "It is always a fine day to barter, hmm. You don't appear to be one of the usuals. What country do you bring your exotic wares from?" she asks, tail twitching with a soft jingle of the various dangling bits colliding.
The little bearded dragon hides behind some crates nearby the onramp to the ship. Flexing his fingers, he watches with dismay as a small group becomes drawn to the ship, making his ability to get onto the ship unseen all that much harder,
Walden wiggles finger to Valentine in greeting and gives a nod to Shliek, but he doesn't address either of them directly yet. He glances at Sally for a moment as she speaks; he considers this, but goes quiet. She's said just about the best thing he could think of.
The plump merchant regains composure quickly. He smiles broadly. "I am from many places" he admits rubbing his carefully groomed chin. "I had heard there was good selling here, I have basic supplies, cloth, foods, simple knick-nacks." he says. Darkening slightly he gestures to the ship. "Sadly a few items have gone missing, so setting up has been slow, I'm sure I've simply misplaced them." he concludes, looking about the group.
Sally raises a brow, "Hmm, it is unusual for a ship to have misplaced things, being what it is. Was it known before you docked?" she asks, looking around at whatever stand has been created thus far, "It would not do to have our guests being predated upon."
Shliek decides to wait out the overly talkative folk. As he adjusts some of his straps, he leans a little bit too much onto one of the not-as-securely-stacked crates and tumbles forward, knocking the crates over and him with them.
Surprised by the noise, skunk jumps up in shock, then laughs at himself overreacting.
The crash from the crates is clearly audible in the evening air. A small crate busts open when hitting the ground. Sets of sandles spill onto the dock.
Walden rubs his hands together and glances at the boat, and at the spillage of goods. He shakes his head slowly and lets out a quiet sigh. "Could be errors when you left your home port, even. You've gone over the cargo manifest thoroughly?"
The merchant nods, frowning distinctly at the sight of the crates . "Yes, I'm sure it is just a mistake." He murmers distractedly motioning for a dock worker. "I do appreciate the concern." he says quietly.
Sally gives a glance towards Walden, snorting softly, "Ah, yes, well, you came at an interesting time. I am sure you have heard of the Cliffside actions outside our gates. You are fortunate they are not suicidal enough to consider a naval action, or you may very well have not reached the dockside."
Shliek scrambles up and scurries back behind the crates to rub at a bruised elbow. Cursing his bad luck in murmurs, he plots his next move.
A dock worker quietly scurries over and begins putting the goods back into a crate. He pauses a moment and squints at a piece of something metal. The merchant makes his way over surprisingly quickly snatching it and pocketing it. "I see, well, yes, fortunante." he says hastily before making his way back onto the ship. "I think I'll search again. I'm sure the docks will be secure for a few hours?"
Sally follows after the merchant, "You misunderstand. The docks are secure. The siege I speak of is land based. You didn't see any foreign war vessels at sea, did you?"
Walden lifts a hand and points toward the merchant. "Hey, wait a minute. What was that?" he asks. "That didn't look like footwear. What are you hiding something in these barrels?" Oh boy. He's gone right out and said it.
Seeing as there was too much attention currently on the ship, he rethinks his approach. "Looks like I'm going swimming..", he thinks to himself as he crawls towards the edge of the dock, looking for a place to climb down.
The plump merchant freezes in his tracks. "Just a mis-sorted item." he mumbles in response. "It's nothing." he says as convincingly as he can.
Sally cants her head at the retreating merchant, "Huh. I suppose you will not mind the Sweetwater army insuring the safety of your boat and cargo while you are enjoying yourself then," she says softly, moving over towards the gangplank of the ship without a hint of shame.
Being unsure as he is, Valentine just nods and follows Sally towards her destination.
Shliek slips quietly down towards the water, but rests himself on one of the crossboards supporting the dock. He reaches into his pack and pulls out some interesting devices which he slips onto his hands. They appear to be little more than a sharp spike sticking straight out from his palm. He makes a daring jump towards the ship and attempts to latch himself onto the side.
"I, uh, I'm afraid you can't do that." the merchant says rather crossly as he tries to keep up with Sally. "I take private contracts, it's a breach or privacy for my clients." he says matter-of-factly, if a bit out of breath from moving to the gangplank at a higher level of speed.
Sally shakes her head, "I am afraid to be coarse, but 'privacy contracts' can be taken by the Creators themselves during a time of war, twice so during active combat. Now I've tried being sociable, but I think that time has passed." She pulls free her staff, lantern swaying at the end of it, "What are you hiding?"
The merchant's nose scrunches up as he squints at the lantern. "Time of war or no, I have business." he huffs. "And my business is my own." he says very unhappily gesturing for dock workers again. "Now if you please, I cannot have you boarding my ship!" he protests.
Walden has been quiet for a moment, a little embarassed and unsure of himself after his own outburst. Thankfully Sally's been able to distract attention away from himself. "I suggest you don't try to stop her, Mr. Merchant," the armadillo says, catching up. "If you have nothing to hide, this'll go by pretty smoothly, won't it?"
Shliek finally pulls himself over the edge of the boat and rolls behind another set of crates. He surveys the deck, waiting the the people to clear before making his next move.
"I think we should let Sally investigate, while our friend here-" Valentine points at the merchant "-stays with Walden and me."
Sally wags the staff, lantern waving left and right, "Are you saying that the military of this very dock is not permitted on your boat? You are very brave indeed, perhaps foolish? But no matter. I will not have unknowns in my docks while the enemy is at our gate."
After a short while, the skunk tells "I have a better idea. Walden, go with Sally and leave him with me. I will keep him safe, meanwhile you can go and look for any suspicious items... You are a man of many trades, perhaps you can tell if anything there is dangerous or illegal."
The merchant is unable to answer, obviously taken aback. He responds by throwing the unknown item into the waters around the dock before submitting. Sally of course searches the boat finding several referances to special shipments with the help of Walden. As to the nature of the shipments, they remain a mystery.
Sally sends in people after the object, even in the night. Surprisingly, against odds, the find it. A small metal cube, obviously an artifact. They take it as evidence and also take the merchant. The rest of the cargo will take some time to sort, but it seems Sally and the other's have discovered something very interesting. That and some in the group may have had some personal gain from the encounter.
