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[highmax28]

Get some information at the local pub about viable targets by asking about any trade vessels that are coming in or leaving. If anyone asks why I'm making it my business, make it sound as if I'm looking for news from the Isles I hail from (which isn't a lie) and getting a message to some family overseas (which is a bold faced lie). If someone says I'm lying and makes it sound like I'm making it a big problem, make it sound like I'm not asking about the Isles I hailed from but of other lands. Find out (with explanations why in the () if they get curious on why I want details) the time of departure (so I don't miss them), the destination (see if its where I'm headed), size of the vessel (preferred smaller vessels because they're usually faster), how many men usually man it (in case if I request passage myself and they won't take people due to having too many deck hands to worry about) and especially if its one ship or a small fleet (easier to spot at port).

[Iituem]

[Gather Info: 15+1] You start asking people about departing ships and then one of them just points you to the harbourmaster's office.  Apparently there's an actual board up with scheduled trade ship departures.  You inquire as to why and receive an explanation that a lot of these heavy cargo ships take cargo from multiple merchants (where they aren't rented out by a whole company) and occasionally even passengers, so it is to their benefit to make their departure times and destinations available to potential customers.

Unfortunately, there aren't many ships in dock at present.  Aside from a handful of light fishing boats, the only ships of interest are the Mercury, a galleon headed to the Samakhet Isles with [Gather: 10+1] a cargo of ceramic crockery, tools and other manufactured goods, boasting a crew of around 20 sailors; and the Sheba's Pride, a light frigate headed to Moun [Gather: 18+1] with a cargo of processed steel, some twenty crates of it, and a dozen crewmen - although you learn that the frigate's crew know how to handle themselves in a fight.  A visual examination reveals that the Mercury has four ballistae on either side, although you seriously doubt her manoeuverability.  The Sheba's Pride has two ballistae to a side, but she looks rigged for speed.  According to the manifests, the Mercury leaves in two days, the Pride in three.

[highmax28]

Inform the others and suggest the Mercury

[Iituem]

You return to the rest of the crew and pose the Mercury as a prize to Greene.  He seems satisfied with the target and agrees that the Shallow Hope will make sail then.  You settle in and enjoy life in port for a couple of days.

Since you're a bit low on cash (and you haven't told me otherwise) the pair of you eke out your wages on a reasonable (if sparse) stay at the inn.  You stay on bedrolls with blankets and pillows before the fireplace, eat slightly thin chicken stew with stewed vegetables and drink beer.  It isn't extravagant, but it is filling.  The two days cost you a ducat and six shillings, leaving you 10 ducats and 4 shillings each.

You each gain 10xp for your (lack of) choice of lifestyle!

[Gather Info: 8+1, 11+3] As you spend time in port, you hear a little of the news on the waves.  Galam's new flagship, the Avenging Star is on a maiden patrol around Galam's waters, crewed by its new captain David Richards.  There have been reports of heavy storms off Dallanor that show no signs of stopping.  Shola and Polca continue to engage in a cold war.  Nothing terribly new.

On the second day, Greene returns with the proceeds from selling off the cargo.  It is a-plenty, and each of you receive 840 ducats(!) as your share.  In fact, this is enough that several of the crewmen decide to leave, but such an obvious bounty makes it extremely easy to replace crew.  The Shallow Hope now has 15 crewmen, more than enough to run the ship, although most of them are better seamen than they are fighters.*

Greene actually has to give you the money in part as solid gold bars, making them rather bulky and obvious to carry.  Some of the more experienced sailors suggest that you take what time you have left in port to either put it in a bank (though they'll charge you) or buy more portable jewellery with it that you can sell elsewhere.

Greene indicates that the Mercury will leave port shortly, and intends to head off in two hours' time.  You have an hour to perform any last tasks you are interested in before the ship departs to follow its prize.

NB:  Players should now have 850 ducats and 4 shillings to their name.

Spoiler: The Shallow Hope (click to show/hide)

Light Corvette
Intact.
Speed 6, Manoeuverability 4.
General Crew Experience: 5
Navigator Experience: 4
Gunner Experience: 4
Crew: 15/10
Guns: 2 Port Ballistae, 2 Starboard Ballistae

Supplies
600 man-days' rations, grog & water
8 shortbows; 100 arrows
8 scimitars
20 javelins
20 steel ballista bolts
50 wooden practice ballista bolts
12 healing potions

Cargo
Capacity: 15
-

Treasure
-

*Because the Hope is taking on new crew, there are new slots for players.  Make up a level 1 character if you want to join.

[Tawa]

((What do you think about putting an ad in Plug Without Shame to get new players?

Also, Galan has been Alpha'fied.))

[moghopper]

I'd be willing to play, what time does the game run?

Nevermind, I forgot this was play by post.

[Iituem]

((What do you think about putting an ad in Plug Without Shame to get new players?

Also, Galan has been Alpha'fied.))

Alpha-fied?

[Flying Dice]

((Still taking players? If so, how many flaws/traits will you allow us to take?

Also, would you allow eventual multiclassing into Incantatrix?))

[Tawa]

((What do you think about putting an ad in Plug Without Shame to get new players?

Also, Galan has been Alpha'fied.))

Alpha-fied?

Moved to the Sheets Alpha.

[Iituem]

((Still taking players? If so, how many flaws/traits will you allow us to take?

Also, would you allow eventual multiclassing into Incantatrix?))

Yeah, that seems balanced.  And still taking players.  You can take up to one flaw & trait because that system is terribly min-maxy.  If your character has other traits (as I have no doubt it will) they are simply not severe enough to confer mechanical advantage/penalty.

[Flying Dice]

There we go. Ex-slave sorcerer with a grudge as deep as the sea.

[Iituem]

There we go. Ex-slave sorcerer with a grudge as deep as the sea.

In, although not clear what mechanically your flaw is.

[Iituem]

Amongst the new arrivals aboard the Shallow Hope is a gaunt, ragged-looking young human with exhausted, angry eyes.  He doesn't look like much of a sailor, but Captain Greene hauls him on board and shoves him in Galan's general direction, muttering something about "the other wizard".

Marorin: You're running short of money and you heard mention in the dive you were staying at that some pirates had struck lucky.  When their captain came back with sacks of gold, that got your attention.  You decided that you were tired of Vasir anyway (what you were after wasn't here) and that life at sea might prove interesting.  The captain took a look at you and dismissed you at first, but a simple prestidigitation got his attention soon enough (bloody rubes are always impressed by a handful of glowing lights) and he agreed to take you on, grabbing you rather bodily by the rags and shoving you in the direction of a crazy old man while saying "Great, get to know the other wizard on board."

[20!] You start to fall forward and manage to turn it into a roll, tumbling forwards and springing to your feet before the old man.  Huh.  Looks like you're getting your sea legs already and you've barely left port.  A heavily armoured Weylander stares at you from the ship's rails for a moment before staring out to sea.  The effect of your acrobatics is somewhat spoiled when a fat ginger tabby clambers onto the ship, walks straight up to your leg and curls up, falling asleep on your foot.


Later, after any interactions that might occur...

The ship makes sail, tailing the path of the Mercury for a day or so until the captain reckons you've left Vasiri waters.  Spirits are high during this time, despite the foggy weather and only minimal breeze.  The tabby cat manages to successfully evade any attempts to get it off the ship, and seems to perpetually hang around Marorin, one of the newcomers.  In the distance, if only by a sharp eye or a spyglass, the sails of the Mercury can be seen.

The Mercury is doing good speed for the lack of wind; she has more sails to make up for poor windage, despite the Hope's better overall speed.  The Hope can keep pace with her for a while, but it would be a test of navigation and crew skills as to whether she could overtake her without waiting for the winds to pick up.  The Hope would certainly need to get into ballista range to attack, as well.

The captain seems to muse upon a possible course of action.  One could suggest one to him, if one wished, or otherwise just prepare oneself for potential battle.

Spoiler: The Shallow Hope (click to show/hide)

Light Corvette
Intact.
Speed 6, Manoeuverability 4.
General Crew Experience: 5
Navigator Experience: 4
Gunner Experience: 4
Crew: 15/10
Guns: 2 Port Ballistae, 2 Starboard Ballistae

Supplies
600 man-days' rations, grog & water
8 shortbows; 100 arrows
8 scimitars
20 javelins
20 steel ballista bolts
50 wooden practice ballista bolts
12 healing potions

Cargo
Capacity: 15
-

Treasure
-

[Flying Dice]

Marorin wanders around in search of what sounds vaguely like another practitioner of the art. That, or a traveling entertainer, given the apparent lack of knowledge on the part of that lout calling himself a captain.

There we go. Ex-slave sorcerer with a grudge as deep as the sea.

In, although not clear what mechanically your flaw is.

((It's one of the standard ones, sorry. It's -2 to all melee attack rolls.))

[Tawa]

Galan wanders around, drunkenly, as usual, and notes some ragged-looking new guy. Being inebriated, he greets him warmly, his hat askew and a freshly-emptied bottle of vodka in his hand.

"Ah, so yer the new one! 'm G*hic*alan, 'n I'm the official ship sorcerer! Nice ter meet yer."