Jammers Summary: Chapter 2, Turn 9

----------- = Meanwhile, elsewhere...
*********** = Later...

"Ah.. going as supplicants would probably work," Kain shrugs. "Though I don't know whether.. ah.. it'd be better to mention the Chalice or to just ask for a safe journey into the mountains. Either way, you can use the ESP on the one's who show a reaction, right Holland?"

Holland nods his head affirmatively and asks, "Talus, Leera, Italapate? Would any of you be willing to accompany Billy and do a little acting?"

Italapate looks up at the sound of his name. He shrugs. "Whatever."

Leera's face suddenly becomes very serious-looking. Drawing herself up to her full height she glares at Holland in mock indignation and demands "Holland! Are you suggesting that I would willingly take part in something that involved deception?" She breaks into a grin as she continues, rubbing her hands together in anticipation. "You're right, of course.... When do we start?"

Holland gives a similar grin and with a wink says, "For some odd reason, I thought you might say that."

At Leera's proclamation, Talus gives her a sidelong look, "I think you will have enough help Holland. I will wait here."

Clearing the spot on the table in front of him, Kain spreads out the map of the countryside. Taking a clean piece of paper from his rucksack, Kain begins making a copy of the newly acquired map. Scratching his forehead just below his headband, Kain sits nibbling on the end of his pen. As he begins to copy the map Kain says, without looking up from his work, "I'll go if I'm needed, but I don't think I'll be of much help trying to fool anyone into believing what we want them to believe."

Holland asks the group, "Do you think that it is too early to go to the Shrine? I would think that they would at their busiest now, right after such a storm, with people giving thanks that they survived the storm. Though we can always wait until later in the day. What is your opinion?"

"We should take care hof this business has quickly has possible," Deigatt grunts. "Ham I correct hin thinking that Comrades Grigree hand Nilaroo hand I will remain haboard ship during this pilgrimage? Possibly Comrade Kain hand Agent Ferric has well? Heveryone helse, I hassume, will follow Comrade Holland to this shrine? His this the plan?"

Holland nods and says, "That sums it up, I think," Holland stands and says, "If there are no other questions or comments, I will head over there now. The others should follow me after about five to ten minutes or so."

From his position leaning against the ship's railing Ferric has been listening to the whole plan. "I shall indeed be staying aboard ship my good Tauran friend. Oh, and Holland you of course realize that the shrine is dedicated to the goblin goddess and that the pirates on the have gained their name from the fact that they base themselves on the planet. I just wanted to make sure you remembered all that so no one gets out of control at the temple." he smiles and looks innocently at Leera for a moment.

Seguld steps up from where he has been sitting and reviewing his purchases and sales. "Well fellas, if you are thinking about a chance of mixing it up with Shipwreckers, then I think I would be best off not taking an active role. You know it could hurt my business presence and all, which of course would not be good for your merchant trade.." His speech is very slow and hesitant. He pauses with a look of thought and then guilt crossing his face. "But thenagain, youwerethereforme andnow Iamhereforyou." He puffs out his tiny chest and holds up his mace. "Justletmeatthem!" He charges off for a few seconds then skids to a halt. "Who'rewe clobberinganyway?"

"Don't worry, Seguld," Raken says as he comes up from behind, "we'll take care of the pirates. Anyway, what is this plan? I was checking the rigging and didn't get all of it."

Holland and the others quickly fill him in, then Holland strides off towards the shrine.

Billy says, "Well, I might as well get ready." He leaves the galley in the direction of his bunk.

"Good luck," Kain says as Holland leaves for the shrine, "try not to get stuck in the muck."

A few moments later, a raggedy Billy walks out on deck, looking like an impoverished sailor: bare foot, ripped and filthy tunic, and breeches which may have been tan at one point. "How do I look?" Billy asks as he spins on one foot. "Not bad, eh?" Billy gives the thumbs up and heads for the shrine.

A short while after Billy has left, Italapate sighs. He grabs his medicine bag and tomahawk securing both about his waist. "I suppose it is my turn ......" Without another word, the shaman strides off the boat making no attempts to disguise himself... magically or otherwise.

Leera waits a few moments after Italapate's exit before rising to her feet. "I can't let them have ALL the fun!" With a wave she exits the ship.

Rising from her seat and wiping off the last of the stew, Jamila slowly shakes her head. "Ajami and priests, someone had better keep an eye on them." With that, she collects her weapons and with a last "Saheeda" to those left on the Star, Jamila starts the walk to the shrine.

As Jamila reaches the end of the gang plank Ferric calls after her, "Be careful and do try to keep the others out of trouble. It wouldn't do to have them all end up in a cell or worse."

Seguld skips along behind Jamila to catch up to her. "I'llhelpyoukeep aneyeonthem." He says as he reaches her side. "Nowmindyou," he pauses a moment in his stride and speech. "I shall watch from a certain outside vantage point that I know of."

At the Shrine:

After leaving the ship Holland heads for the Shrine. Once on Fishton he ducks in between two buildings and after a few minutes emerges from the other side of the small alley in the guise of a short human with dark hair and a scar on his forehead. Placing a perpetual sneer on his face, he swaggers an arrogant walk towards the Shrine.

Fishton lives up to its reputation, urine from the tanner's competes with rotting fish to see which can cause the most disgusting stench. The island is relatively quiet and deserted, the small fishing fleet is still out trying take some bounty from Shipwrecker's ocean and the girls of the Palace are already asleep. The sawmill is running, however, and the screeching sound of metal slicing through wood provides a constant background serenade.

Approaching the shrine, Holland sees several children and old women sitting on the docks, mending nets and watching for the return of the fleet. The shrine itself is a small, nondescript building. From the outside it looks just like the other two family cottages the fishermen live in on the island, except the door facing the docks doesn't quite have that "lived in look" and has a crude drawing of shattered galleon in flaking purple paint above the open door.

Stepping inside Holland sees that the main room of this former cottage has been turned into a shrine, at the back of the room stands a large wooden table covered with a purple cloth and supporting a large stone statue of a harpy clutching lightening bolts in one hand and balancing a funnel cloud on the other. Several scented candles stand on either side of the statue and burn fitfully. On the dusty wooden floor in front of the altar lies a black woolen rug, perhaps three feet square. A scattering of copper and silver rests on it, as well as a few pieces of colorful coral and other knick-knacks. The walls are covered by fish nets, but the room is otherwise bare.

Disguised, Holland steps forward and drops a copper on the rug, then moves towards the back of the shrine and kneels in prayer. He glances about but no one else seems to be present.

Along the way to the shrine, Leera ducks behind the Grey Cat Tavern. Seeing no witnesses about, she looks down at herself, shrugs her shoulders, and transforms into a middle-aged female dockhand. Her short black hair is unkempt and knotted and her clothing is well-worn and practical-looking. She appears traveled, world-worn and her musculature indicates that she is not unused to hard work. The only item which remains the same is Leera's dagger which still hangs at her belt. Checking her disguise again, Leera then heads over the bridge and towards the Shrine.

As Scruffy Dockhand Leera enters the shrine, she pauses, Billy can be seen looking down at the rug and contemplating the statue, while a short, dark haired man with a scar kneels at the back of the shrine.

As Leera and Billy consider their next move, one of the fishnets festooning the back wall suddenly shifts and reveals an opening door. A short man with flaming red hair enters the shrine. His dark purple robes and red sash make his priestly status fairly obvious, a fact confirmed as he moves to the altar and begins tending the candles, replacing those which have burned to low and relighting those which have gone out. As he works the dim interior gradually lightens.

"Remember that Shipwrecker judges a petitioner's sincerity by the worth of the donation," the man says as he works, "You must show a great deal of respect to avoid Her Wrath."

Leera replies, "That was quite a storm! I think I ought to show my appreciation for living through it. Where's the donation box?"

The man motions towards the woolen rug covered with coins and knick-knacks, then gives Billy a suspicious glance.

Italapate walks into the shrine at this point. "Great Thunderbird was terrible angry," he announces. "Am here to heap thanks upon spirits and gods. Am glad trip to Happy Hunting Grounds postponed little longer." He brandishes several trinkets from his medicine pouch. "Have many beads to offer." Then he pulls out two gold coins. "Course, some people prefer shiny round stones."

"Gold is preferred by Shipwrecker." the priest replies, eyeing Italapate's savage appearance.

Outside, as Seguld and Jamila approaches the shrine he points over to the local brothel, "I'll be over there keeping an eye on your rear." He smiles a mischievous smile as he dances off to the other building.

"Men!" Jamila mutters as she parts from Seguld and enters the shrine.

Entering the shrine Jamila sees a short man with dark hair kneeling in the back, while a priest with flame red hair is speaking with Billy, Italapate, and a lady dockhand next to the altar.

She doesn't see Seguld's disappointed look as he finds the brothel's doors locked and a closed sign hanging from the window...

Meanwhile, Back at the Silent STAR:

After the party going to the shrine has left Ferric turns to the others staying aboard the ship. "I don't know about the rest of you but I'm going below to get my bow. I think I'll leave it strung until they get back. You know, just in case the first rank of an angry mob needs eliminated to allow them to make it back to the ship without being lynched." Ferric goes below and sets his strung longbow on the ground by the mast.

Nilaroo spends the time on board puttering about, working on the thousand small jobs that always crop up on shipboard. However, his massive bow and sword are never far from reach, and he will often stop and gaze towards the settlement, watching for signs of his friends.

Watching Nilaroo and Ferric's preparations, Kain shrugs, checks his gear, and comes back topside with his swordbelt. Hanging the belt on a belaying pin, Kain sets to work checking knots and positioning of the lines. "Ferric," Kain says when he pauses to take a break. "Ah.. so how long have you, ah, been working for the Lady Moune? If, you don't mind my asking, that is," he qualifies.

"I don't mind at all." Ferric replies as he turns from where he had been surveying the docks at the railing. "Let's see, I guess I've been _serving_ House Moune for about 10 years now. I started running messages between lessons with my tutors at age seven. The first seven years of my life House Moune served me. That is the Lady Moune took me in as a newborn orphan when I was left on her doorstep. She raised me pretty much as a son. She's a wonderful woman and I'm not the first youngling she's taken under her wing. In fact she is the closest thing to a mother I have. She paid for all of my schooling and is now sending me abroad so I can learn more about the ways of trading in the spheres." Ferric returns his gaze to the docks watching the people going about their lives. "How about you Kain? Where do you hail from?"

Kain says, "Oh, ah... Westgate, on Toril." Kain's face reddens a bit.

Talus sits nearby admiring Ferric's bow. Seeing his friends discomfort he asks, "Friend Ferric, would you be able to teach me to use the bow? I have always wanted to learn but never really had the chance."

Ferric nods, "Certainly, I'm sure we'll have time during our journey's, though we should be sure to get plenty of arrows first!"

Just then, Grigree spots one of the fishing boats returning to harbor at a very quick pace, the sails are up and the crew are tugging mightily on their oars. Everyone heads over to the rail, curious about the reason behind this haste.

The fishing boat heads directly towards the Bralian squidship at the Royal docks, as they get within 100 yards or so a man stands in the bow and begins shouting something to the watch on the squidship's deck. His words are lost on the wind, but there impact is apparent. A sailor starts ringing a bell on the squidship's quarterdeck and the crew begin pouring above decks and taking up sailing stations. When the fishing boat comes along side to men clamber from it on to the squidship, then the squidship pushes out from the dock and heads into the central harbor. As soon as the docks are safely cleared the helmsman takes the red warship up out of the bay in a steep climb. Sails are trimmed and the ship banks about till her prow is pointed north, soon she is out of sight in the morning glare.

On the docks and in town business quickly returns to normal, a gang of workmen arrive at the galleon berthed next to the Silent STAR and begin loading a cargo of lumber.

Date/time: 8:30 am 1st day of the 5th Month, 5049 OC