2021.01.07 A Hop and a Skip

A Hop and a Skip
The crew of the Journeyman sail for Panama City. But under the clouds of sabotage, the crew makes a startling discovery
IC Date	2020.01.07
IC Time	8:00 AM PST
Players	Cicada Clover Conn Erin Maggy Timand Wick
Storyteller	Tabin
Location	Varies
PRP/TP	Privateer
Spheres	Changeling
Themesong	A theme song for the log

Writ of Service

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                             WRIT OF SERVICE                               
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I, Roger Almsley, on behalf of my employer, do authorize this WRIT OF SERVICE to one Captain Tabin Murphy and the crew of the NRS Journeyman, to perform the following task therein:

For the shipment of 3 parcels, afixed with the seal of the Kingdom of Pacifica, for transport and delivery to our cousins at Caer Cullis, located in Panama City, Panama.

In acceptance of this Writ, the NRS Journeyman may fly the standard of the COUNTY OF EMERALD DALE, due to it's status as servants of the County.

For performance of this service, my employer authorizes the release of 6 cannons and munitions to arm the Journeyman for this task. My employer also provides the reward of up to 48 drams of Dross upon completion of this assignment. Captain Murphy, and the crew of the Journeyman, are hereby allowed to keep 1/3rd of any and all extemporaneous earnings while under service of this writ. 

The parcels will be transported to the La Playita de Amador Marina, in Panama City, where the parcel will be bequeeth to it's intended recipients. Reward will be provided to the Captain following their swift return to home port. 

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Scene

It is 8 in the morning when the Captain demanded that the crew of the Journeyman meet at the Marina. The last vestiges of the munitions are being loaded onto the ship as we speak! What is normally a typical yacht that looks to Kithain eyes like a sturdy caravel that can ply the waves, the addition of the cannons gives it more of a adventurous flare. Tabin, for his part, is standing dockside next to a portly fellow of modest means. Like any Boggan the man is short, about 4'9" and sports a rather scandalously epic set of mutton chops that coincide with curly, untamed auburn hair and large bushy eyebrows.

"And I expect, ~Captain~, that you and your crew will be able to keep the parcel safe? My employer has LITTLE REGARD for sloppy work."

"Relllaaaaax." Says Tabin, puffing on a joint on deck. "I got myself a rather pimpin' set of peeps. We'll keep your little gift boxes safe until we get to Panama City."

"Good! Because you will receive NO REWARD unless we get their cert back that they received the parcel." The Boggan, harrumphs.

---

Wick is still rubbing at his eyes as he turns up at the Marina so bright and early. But one look at the Journeyman and a broad smile dawns across his features. He's dressed warm for this stage of the trip - bundled up in a peacoat - but he's got a backpack with snacks and clothes for warmer weather. And with him, he carries what appears to be a simple walking stick. Hopping up onto the deck, he heads off to the ship's wheel, casting a sunshine smile off at Tabin.

---

Conn profers Tabin the Dashing the most formal and elegant of Courtly bows, replete with full flourish at the wrist. "Captain Tabin, presenting myself for duty, not a moment late, and well armed and ready to man my station." Conn is, in point of fact, sporting three swords. His Noble Knightly treasure, hidden in the Autumn by Chicanery but on full display to faesight, and hidden beneath his coat there is a ceramic alloy steel blade and a chimerical sword. He has come dressed for war because he has signed on the dotted line. And Trolls take their word seriously.

---

Timand comes walking down the dock, backpack on his back, Clover on his shoulders. He's holding onto her legs to make sure that she doesn't fall off, since she seems to be bouncing with excitement. He looks a little uneasy at the waves in the marina, then says "I'm not gonna get sick..I'm not gonna get sick." The dock rolls a little, and he says "I'm not gonna get sick yet..i'm not gonna get sick yet." Still, he spots the Journeyman and Tabin, and starts making his way over towards him. "Hey Cap'n...he calls out to the Eshu.

---

Well one for usually being late Erin and Kringer are here on time. She has a backpack with who knows what and the big old cat has sadle bags with stuff in them a sword and bow can be seen as the cat looks ready for battle. Erin takes a breath as she looks around then waves as she steps over to where Tabin is at "Sup" She does look like she got out of the shower not too long ago too.

---

Maggy drags herself along. The final bouts of a -really- early morning surged full of enthusiasm....and 5 hour energy shots. Her usual over-clocking through caffeine making her slightly jittery - but wary none the less amongst the others. Spying Wick she head-tilts a bit; shrugs..and ultimately follows along. Giving a toothy grin and quick salute to Tabin as they approach and head upon the ship. The general call for crew having brought the curse that is Maggy upon them. Not fitting anything in particular though - she was more or less along for the ride. With grubby little freckled hands ready to squ--do what ever was needed of her in any given situation upon the ship. Finding a spot to sit near Wick she crosses her arms and legs, gently elbowing him for his attention,"Cross tailin' high weighs fer tha' drag, yeh?" snickering under her breath,"Fill takin' wide an' rough, 's a fall packin' dredge for tha' tint-ways." she lets out with a nod of her head in a matter-of-fact way.

---

Cicada has already planted her ass on the side of the boat. Kicking her toes out over the open water and enjoying a Bubble Tea as she waits for them to set sail. She has rough worn backpack covered in paper talismans on the outside and a large purse in the shape of a wall-eyed goldfish. Those with chimerical vision would see the fish-purse as lively and moving. In an endeavor to be 'helpful' Cicada seems to have taken the liberty of placing a few paper talismans for good luck, but who knew if the captain would appreciate the Hsien's 'decorating' of his majestic vessle. When familiar faces begin to arrive she chips up to those she recognizes: "Ohayo! Yagi-kun! Maggy-chan! Ojisan!" That last moniker seems directed at Conn. "Don't worry about drowning! I'll tell the sea not to... if you fall off."

---

"Onward, my steed! Faster, faster to our ship! Adventure awaits!!" Clover calls from her perch atop Timand's shoulders, and he's right. She can barely keep still with her excitement! The girl, well, she looks more like Pippi Longstocking today than Clover, thanks to the hair and outfit, and she has a backpack on her back and it's stuffed full! Clover catches sight of the ship and she starts to squirm more, tucking her legs back so she can nudge the tips of her boots into Timand's sides as she wiggles about, saying, "Lemmie down, lemmie down!" She giggles feverishly and scrunches her nose, red braided tails wobbling about as she shakes her head. Wick rather glows as the Journeyman soon starts to fill up with punctual adventurers. He watches Conn's formal saluation with an affectionate warmth. And he gazes off across the others with growing delight. He offers Cicada a bright nod and waves over from his post at the ship's wheel. "Hi Cicada! Thank you. I hope it listens to you." But the moment he catches sight of little Clover on Timand's shoulders, in the spitting image of Pippi Longstocking, he gasps. "Clover! Oh my god... You look..." He shakes his head, overcome by her cuteness.

---

Tabin gives greetings to those as they come by, looking back to the Boggan. "See? A spotly crew. Can't go wrong. Now if you don't mind, gimme my writ and we can get your spiffy little toteboxes to their intended kiddies all Santa like."

The Boggan gives a grimace. Eyeing Conn, for a longer moment than usual, and giving weird glances to Cicada. The odd one of the bunch that doesn't seem to sit well with the Boggan. But the Boggan provides the writ, first by word, then by paper, to Tabin.

---

Timand but squints up at Clover, muttering something about not being a horse, but he releases his grip on her legs and lets her jump off. He places his hands on his hips and looks over the ship, then gives a nod of greeting to everyone else here that he knows, and peers curiously at Cicada for a moment. He gives a little shrug, then moves over to Conn, asking him "Did ya happen ta get me an axe from Ethan?"

---

Conn profers a similar courtly bow to the Boggan, not wanting to leave the Boggan any room to take offense and nods to Timand "Yeah, and a machete for Clover, they're in my satchel. Pointy end in other person, Cicada. Permission to come aboard Captain?" he says, pausing before the gang plank.

---

Maggy just raises an eyebrow at Wick and rolls her eyes, standing up to move to the edge of one of the railings, over at least near Cicada. She gives a light wave,"Slippery tickin' on tha' wood, yeh? Surprise surprise pall driven to tha' carry fer a slip 'n pen." shrugging,"Still tottered bright yer callin' in." to Cicada proper. Pausing then to listen to the writ. Nodding her head a bit - knowing a bit about these sorts of contracts. Wincing a bit at the 'one third' but shrugging ultimately to herself. None of her business that.

---

Erin looks at the ship and then takes a deep breath. She pats her kitty "This will be fine" she assures him as they wait their turn to get onto the ship once the captain gives the order.

---

"Permission granted, Mr. Conn." Tabin gives a salute to Conn, and then snatches the Writ from the Boggan. "Pleasure doing business with you, Mr. Almsley but we gotta schedule to keep." The Boggan seems...relatively disenchanted about the whole affair, turning to depart with the remnants of who was loading the ship as Tabin comes aboard behind Conn.

"WIIIIIICCCCCK. Set our heading. Clover! Get those sails ready to go. I want full sails! Conn I want those cannons inspected, cuz I trust our Boggan friend about as much as I trust a bully to not steal my lunch money. Everyone else! Prepare for departure. Get your gear stashed or tied up. We're leaving!"

---

Annnnddd she's off! As soon as Clover's boots hit the dock she's off and running towards the ship, with her eyes wide and smile bright, a goofy sort of grin taking over. She runs like she means it, too, with her forearms up and elbows 'a swaying, tongue tip sticking out slightly to the side of her mouth as she goes. She's saying a quick, "Hi!" to anyone she comes across, but then.. eerrrrk! She skids to a stop and turns, looking to see, "Ollie! Ahh! You're joining!? Oh goodness! Oh boy! Yeah!" She cheers, jumping up and down in place a few times before she's aiming a rather energetic bounce Wick's way to give him a tight hug! She hears Tabin and looks up, shouting, "Aye-aye, captain!" and she salutes. She'll be getting up there right away!

---

Timand takes a breath, then steps onto the ship. "Wow, I can feel th' waves already.". This statement does not bode well, since they have not even left the dock yet. But he follows captain's orders, gathers up his and any of Clover's gear that may have fallen off her back during her mad dash and goes belowdecks to store and stash. After a few minutes he comes back up and stands by the railing, looking to see what needs to be done.

---

Erin gets on board and begins to look around at things because that's what she does best make sure that things are running smoothly and stuff. She doesn't say much as Wick begins to give orders. Erin smiles but continues doing what she does best. She salutes Tabin and just kinda watches.

---

Wick smiles off at Maggy and returns her wave. But catching the Pooka's riddle-riddled words of hers, he blinks, rather lost. "Slippery... ticking?" But before he can get a chance to try and work out what she said, there are incoming orders! Gazing off at Tabin he gives a sharp nod and stashes away ihs backpack and walking stick in a nearby cabin. And returning to the ship's wheel, he sets about setting that heading. Because apparently, that's something that he knows how to do. But he does spare a moment to wrap Clover up in a tight hug. "Come find me once we're out at sea. Before you head up to the look-out. I've got something for you."

---

Conn inspects the Cannons!	Conn rolls Perception + Alertness vs 7 for 2 successes.

You definately find that you cannot trust a Boggan. Of the 6 cannons on deck, three of them (so a whole side of the ship), are compromised. They cant hold gunpowder (a hole in the cannon tubing will just pour it out onto the deck).

---

Gasping at Wick, Clover asks, "Is it a magical kaleidoscope telescope for star gazing?!" Her eyes widen and she giggles, bouncing off then and running on up and onto the ship. As soon as she's on she breathes in deeply and stretches, arms up wide and she says, "Just breathe that ocean air!" Even though they're.. well, still right where they were. She grins wide as ever and starts off to the sails, first checking ropes and seeing which clutch needs to get unlocked first. This and that gets done and ship things happen, and Clover calls over to Wick, "Lemmie know when you're ready for me to send 'er up!" She reaches up with a free hand to tug her eye patch down into place. It's officially fun time now.

---

Hearing the call upto the deck, Maggy departs and heads on up. Traveling light - just what she brought. Naught much else but a small side-bag with her drinks in it. She has need of nothing else really. Skirting up she'd Salute Tabin once more - then standing upon the deck she'd gaze around,"Where ya'll hockin' tha' wolf, ehh?" probably one of the more clear things she's ever said," 'R is it a placin' take fer tha' grabbin' whenever's caked full an' need a pair 'f grabbers?" Hands on her hips while looking about between things, and people zooming about.

---

Cicada squints right back at the Boggan, but mercifully behind her mirror shades. With a wiggle of her carp-tail she turns around and slides off the side of the rail, sandals clacking onto the deck. She wanders off for a moment, vanishing from everyone's sight only to return shortly later in a change of attire. Now garbed in a single-piece swimsuit of black swirled with teal green patterns with boy shorts and wide open back that dipped low enough to accommodate for her tail. She's accessorized with a wide-brimmed straw hat that is nearing ridiculous proportions. Only a harpoon would have completed the look, but alas she had no harpoon. She was instead carrying a spiked club nearly as tall as herself over both shoulders, she wobbles over to her position on the ship as bosun. She was now clearly ready for battle. "Hmmm. I'm no good at all with Wood Alchemy so... don't be looking to me to fix any holes." She says, fanning her mouth as she yawns.

---

Erin continues just looking around moving here and there. Kringer gets tired of following Erin and finds somewhere to lay down at and just lay there not at all happy he is on a ship, who brings a giant cat on a ship.

---

Wick... actually seems to kinda know what he's doing. He nods off at Clover and calls for her to start opening the sails - following through on Tabin's orders. And to Erin he calls, telling her to pull this rope or that rope. And under the guidance of his hands on the ship's wheel, the ship stars to pull out of the Marina and heads out for those bright open waters.

---

Conn steps aboard and takes mental stock of where everything is, building a mental picture of the ship so that he can keep her in memory. He strides to the canons and starts a visual inspection of each, then takes a small hammer from his inside pocket and starts to tap away on the metal to ensure they are sane and healthy, continuing his appraisal with dilligence. Nodding as he finishes the starboard side. The inspection on the port side doesn't take nearly as long. "Uh, captain, we've got a problem here. These three have been sabotaged, I can't fix them on the fly, I'm nowhere near a Nocker's level of capable. Erin, what do you think? I don't think Infusion will hold. If they were Autumn Canons, we'd have to refound them from scratch, but do you think that between Dream Craft and Infusion we can reverse the damage?"

---

Clover waits for the go ahead before she goes ahead, and once it appears as though they are ready she's releasing the clutch and easing out the sheet, getting things prepared. She heads over to start pulling the halyard, which does take a bit of tugging to get going, and once it does she's jumping and grabbing it, pulling down hard until she's squatting down low. Then it's up and jump, doing it all over again to get the sail up and in position! She'll have to repeat it for others, of course, but one at a time!

---

Timand has nothing to do at the moment, not having any boarders to fend off, so he stands by the railing watching the dock pull away with a little bit of trepidation. He seems ok..wait...no no...A bit of a swell rocks the boat, and he seems to have changed from a blue to rather sea green. "uhh....'scuse me..." He hurries to the stern of the ship and takes a few deep breaths. Nope, didn't do the trick. Up comes breakfast, dinner and maybe even lunch from the day before, all spilling into the harbor water.

---

Tabin looks to Wick. "Take us out when your ready Wick. Be nice to her. She has character." He says in regards to piloting the ship. And with that, the Journeyman begins it's maiden voyage into the wild blue yonder. And for a ship it's size, it's rather fast for just using sails.

Once out to sea, and California turning into a fuzzy blue splotch on the horizon Tabin grits his teeth when Conn says that the cannons have been compromised. "I fucking knew it!" He spits overboard. "That Almsley piece of shit. This definately means we're gonna have some company on our hands if they are rigging our defenses against us." He frowns, and since Conn has already asked Erin, the Midshipman, to do Midshipmanny things, he leaves the matter be.

Apart from the snafu of the cannons, the trip crossing the US/Mexico nautical boundary is rather...tame. For now.

Save Timand, who gets to watch fish come out of nowhere to eat his offerings to the sea in real time. Such an environmentalist. Yes. Not seasick. Compassionate to the fishes.

---

Erin was helping Wick since he asked for her help and nods "Just a moment Conn" she finishes what she is doing or at least till Wick says she can go and she walks over to check out the cannon's now to see what she can do.

---

Wick peers at the compass in his hand and makes adjustments to the navigation once they're a little further out on the water. Adjusting for any hints of drift. He smiles as Cicada returns dresed in that fantastic swimsuit. With that massive spiked club. He shakes his head, smiling off after her. But then he winces a bit as he catches the comotion about the cannons. But once the course is set and things seem smooth as far as navigation goes, his voice lifts off across the ship with a bright smile. "Clooover! C'mere a sec!"

---

Conn takes some scrapings of the chimerical gunpowder from the hole in the bottom of the chamber where a spur had caused it to gather and rubs it into a strip of paper freshly torn from his journal. He twists the strip once and folds it in place, forming a mobious strip. He puts the mobius strip into the chamber and lights it. The Dreaming responds to the cantrip which everyone immediately recognises as Chronos' Backward Glance. It is considered the height of offense to use against a Changeling, Noble or Commoner, without consent; but technically this is an inanimate chimera, it can't consent or dissent.

Conn casts Backward Glance!	Conn rolls Intelligence + Fae vs 6 for 3 successes.

Time displaces itself to your perception and you see from the perspective of the cannon. Which is weird. It has no eyes. But you get the vague feeling of being around two people. "This seems counterprod-FUCK-tive." A nasally voice, not the Boggan, is heard. "Why would you want a c-ASS-on, with a GLORY-hole in it?" Another voice, this one more eloquent...somber, and poised says "Because they cannot -survive-. No trace of this can be had. None must know. Loose lips sink ships. Besides...they're Commoners. No one will miss them. Now do as I command, or are you a loose ship to?" The nasally voice says "What-THE FUCK-ever."’

---

Cicada props up her feet and gets to sunbathing! It was very important to use this time to work on her tan, slathering herself down with tanning cream. pipes up when she overhears Conn say something is amiss. "Nani?" She flops over in her seat, aggressively flipping up her sunglasses to glare towards the damage. "Akan de..." She says looking to the canons, her lips pulling in a grimace around her tiny tusks and mouth full of shark teeth. She looks up from her seat to the Captain. "You mean that Aho tried to screw us over or is he just a cheapskate?" She shrugs and then leans back to watch what Erin was up to. "Well I haven't regained my power over steel yet... so..."

---

Erin notices what the problem is and ohs softly "I got this not a hard fix" she moves to Kringer and takes some flower petals from one of the bags it sounds like she has all kinds of shit in there as she comes back she begins to rub the petal in the hole and does a little chant "elements of metal and sea please plug the holes of these. May the be strong and firm so they can fire with with " she looks thoughtful "With strenght" she shrugs not her best work what can she say sometimes rhymes just don't come out that easily sometimes they flow like a hot knife on butter. She steps back to examine her work.

Erin Heather Balms the Cannons!	Erin rolls Stamina + Prop vs 5 for 6 successes.

The flower rubbing slowly grows metal on top of metal, restoring the cannons to their usual condition.

---

By the time they're out and on the ocean and there's more water than land in sight, Clover's already up in the nest. Her backpack is sat down and she's leaning against the rail, the wind in her face and a hand above her eyes to keep the sun out. She looks as happy as can be up there, looking around the ocean and back down to everyone on the ship below. "Ya alright down there, Timand?" she calls with a wicked laugh, her eyes bright and smile cheerful. She scans the deck some more, eyes the shenanigans with the cannons, the body being slathered with tanning stuff, and then Wick. "Okay!' she calls down, saluting to him as she starts climbing on down so she can head on over once she's on the deck.

---

Timand is oblivious to all the fuss over the cannon, he's busy hanging his head over the rear railing, watching fish swiming after him hopefully. Unfortunately for them, or fortunately for him, he's out of food to feed them, so he weakly rises to his feet and stumbles down the stairs to the cabins below. Up he comes a few minutes later, carrying an empty box of dramamine. Normally one of those goes behind the ear, but Timand has decided that more are better, and he dabbed the circles all over his neck and face. Frankly it kind of looks like he's come down with smallbox or something. He glances up at Clover and gives a little wave "Oh, I'm just fine, don't worry bout me..." Plop into a chair he goes.

---

Wick sets the ship's wheel to keep it from spinning for a moment and quickly ducks into the cabin. He emerges a few moments later, just as Clover has reached the deck, wearing summer clothes and holding something with great care in his hands. And once she draws near, he shows her the little mechanical bird. It eyes her a moment before fluttering to her shoulder. "You remember Lark. He has agreed to help keep an eye out up there. He'll start chirping if there's something you should notice - something more that you're not seeing. He'll keep watch over us all."

---

Tabin looks to Cicada. "Dunno, Bosun. That Boggan is a sly little weasel. He's no Boggart...but he is close as close can get. Scrupulous, double-sided. Not your usual humble tradesman. I suspect he wants us to drop it off and probably snipe us on the way home. Way to keep us from getting paid I'd suspect."

---

Conn nods "So the intent was very specifically for us to die, which means that we are going to be attacked and they expect us to have only three cannons and to know which side to attack us on, we should probably spell the canonballs so that we can not only hit them when they're not expecting it, but harder than they thought. What do you think, Tabin? You're the boss."

---

Maggy huffs under her breath,"Drab tint tha' drills left on tha' paint." nodding to the cannons as they're repaired,"Fuss trackin' fer a bit of fair clink in tha' palm...jus' to toss a slag heap crumped tight on tha' souls." shaking her head,"Fair stickin' that, best drive tha' post rough ways in tha' gravel on tha' cross'd fuck." looking to Cicada as she sunbathes. Chuckling a bit at how casual the 'Bosun' takes things.

---

Clover smiles as she heads over to Wick, and when Lark is shown she giggles, saying, "Why, hello again little friend. Didn't think I'd be seeing you so soon." She winks at it then reaches up to gently give it a soft brush with a fingertip, and then she smiles more at Wick. "Thanks! I'll make sure to take great care of him. We'll be best friends, right, buddy?" she calls up to him, giving a little whistle. She catches what's being said about attacking them and planning to snipe and.. Clover just keeps smiling. She keeps her focus on Wick, saying, "Thank you," again before she turns to go check on Timand. She heads on over and reaches to pat his shoulder, and she leans in to murmur something to him. She grins wide and steps back, casting a glance to the nest. She won't be on the deck for too long!

---

Erin looks thoughtfuil and now she decides to make a better inspection of the ship now that the cannon's were messed with just to double an tripple check to make sure they are all good and ther eisn't any foul play that will happen to the ship or something.

As Erin inspects the ship she will find everything else in working order. Either they didn't sabotage the ship, just the cannons, or it's already been tended to. Everything appears fine to her inspection.

---

Tabin considers. ".....Enchant a round of them." He says to Conn. "Teach 'em to fuck with us." He lets out a heave. "Now I'm curious as to what -exactly- we're transporting if a Californian is looking to scrub the people shipping it to Panama. He taps his finger to his chin.

---

Timand seems to be looking a bit better as time passes, and he looks up at Clover as she pats him on the shoulder and says something to him. Whatever it is gets a loud snort of amusement, and he replies "Carefully." Whatever that means. He overhears the chatter about the cannons. He stands up, still perhaps a little wobbly, and makes his way towards Conn and Tabin "So what yer sayin' is, our employer tried ta screw us? Does that mean his lil' two thirds percentage bit is now ours?" He uhhs a bit, then says to Tabin "Is he jus' the middleman? Is diggin' around in his employers cargo a good idea? Any chance they are boobytrapped ta shit? Would openin' em prevent us from gettin' paid?"

---

Tabin shakes his head at Timand's questions. "Oh I'm sure it's booby-trapped. Especially now that we're dead people walking basically. Almsley? Definately middle-man. That guy has 'bureacrat' written all over his face. He's not a ringleader." He shakes his head. "Well that ain't for me to decide. If we're gonna snoop at the cargo, it's a crew decision."

---

"He should be banished to the Hell of Being Eaten Alive," Cicada denounces the treacherous Boggan. She stands up and leans over the side of the boat so much that her feet dangle about a foot off the deck on the ship side, calling down to the water itself. "Ohaaaaayo!"

---

Wick winces with a soft smile as Lark eyes Clover with great doubt. But he tolerates the brush of her fingertip. "He'll come around. He takes a bit." And smiling off after them, he returns to the ship's wheel. And after cheking their course, he makes a few more adjustments to account for the drift. As Wick catches something about booby-traps and dead people walking, he catches his lower lip. Lark seems to catch that too, as he immediately takes flight up to the crow's nest where he keeps out a sharp, beady little eye.

---

Erin continues to walk around doing good knows what. The cat looks soooo bored and it even gives a heavy sigh. She looks over to Tabin and Timand curiously then looks towrds the water then looks towards the rest of the crew.

---

Conn nods and chooses three canonballs. Affixing them in his mind, he performs, as well as he can, the dance that Aang and Zuko performed in learning to Fire Bend from the dragons, when he finishes the dance, he fires a charge of chimerical fire from a firetube on his belt. When the dance is over, there is a small chimerical flame frozen in place at the heart of each canonball, ready to erupt with all the power of a dragon's breath for one moment. "I think if we open the cargo we'll have broken a Contract. And the Dreaming takes that shit kinda seriously. I don't know if Soothsay constitutes tampering, a cagey captain could want argue that it is just doing everything in his power to ensure it gets there safely, and if the seer just happens to find out what was in the cargo, well, that's an accident now isn't it. But if you're talking about intentionally and wilfully tampering with the contents, I have to vote no."

Conn loses one Magical Essence Conn loses one Magical Essence

Conn makes a round of explody cannonfire!	Conn rolls Strength + Fae vs 6 for 7 successes.	GL GL

---

Timand mmms as he considers that, then shakes his head "I vote no, don't go snoopin. One, it could blow us all up. Two, its breachin' a trust. Three, we let th' people know who we are shippin' it to that their middleman coulda screwed them outta recieving their packages. Four, we getta rep for bein' honorable an trustworthy we are gonna get more jobs."

---

Grinning at Timand's reaction, Clover's work here is done. She looks up after Lark and calls, Hey! You forgot about me, partner!" She giggles and heads back to the post then, climbing on up and back into the nest where she stands near Lark and looks around out over the water. She looks happy as can be as she glances around, keeping an eye out for anything strange!

---

Maggy's flat expression grows to a wide grin watching Conn's hanging go off. She Just whistles and continues to be quiet. Not much for her to say or do beyond this point with everyone busy-busy.

---

Maggy goes all lawyer on the contract. CAN they know the boxes' contents?	Maggy rolls Intelligence + Law vs 6 for 2 successes.

Nothing in the writ says you are banned from knowing the contents

Maggy rolls Pooka-stuff	Maggy rolls Willpower vs 8 for 1 successes.

---

Cicada communes with the Pacific Ocean	Cicada rolls Manipulation + Shui Tan + 7 vs 8 for 0 successes.	M.E

---

The trip, as expected, is uneventful. No pirates. No nothing. Nothing but the wide ocean blue, the faint illusion of a coast off the port side, and open ocean. The trip? 2 full days. Thankfully Tabin stocked up on food, so good food (but not large full plates, gotta keep in mind the return trip! Thank you samwise gamgee) is had. On the morning of the third day, the Journeyman hits La Pacita de Amador - a private marina in Panama City, Panama. Unlike California, Panama is a place of tropical climates and trees and flora and fauna. It is /hot/ here, and not too far off you see the beginnings of the big-huge-Panama Canal.

"Clover! Hoist those sails. Wick, take us in with the engines." Tabin says to the Helmsman. No need for papers, the group standing at the docks are Kithain, though perhaps they are not the most friendly welcoming committee and probably made sure you two . Two Sidhe and a Troll seem to gravitate in your direction as the ship comes to port, following the ship toward it's intended dock. They are wearing gold plate and green tabbards, with a distinctive spanish style of making. Even one of the Sidhe's helmets reminds you of the old Conquistadors of legend.

---

(Maggy) Sits up thinking then on things, Her smile continuing before clearing her throat to Conn and Timand,"While your opinions are valid. I would like to add that from the legal standing of the Writ of service. There's nothing that says we can't look - an' it wouldn't break said contract." She points below deck,"Last chance if you wanna..." as they're pulling upto the deck and see the parties presented for Pickup.

---

Third day in and Clover's still as excited as the day she stepped onto the ship. She made the nest more at home by keeping a blanket up there and stringing some battery-operated string lights around the nest, and a nice stash of candy has made sure the girl stays awake and watching. When Tabin gives the order she calls, "Aye-aye!" as she has been, and she shimmies on down from the nest to get the sails as they should be!

---

Erin finds herself stuff to do and of course pet the kitty alot because he wants attention. She smiles at him and the looks to Maggy as she shares the news then looks to the others. She still shakes her head.

---

Conn likes ships, he likes the romance and the elegance that they engender. And in spite of the subtefuge and political poison going on surrounding the packages, he's enjoyed the trip as a whole. "I'm inclined to worry about the optics of it either way. If the writ doesn't specifically forbid us from looking, given someone wants us dead for ferrying it, we probably should."

---

Wick seems to still be smiling from having witnessed Conn's fire-bending dance as a bunk. And his focus lingers more full on the conversation over at the cannons. But with the command to take them in, he calls out "Aye, captain!" And calling for the sails to be hoisted, he gets the engines running and takes them in with care. Catching Maggy's words, he says, "If... if it's not against the writ... we could take a look. Right? What if it's something we shouldn't be delivering? Or... I dunno."

---

Timand has adjusted to the sea, other that a miserable first morning he's gotten over his motion sickness. In fact he seems to be taking to it, having spent a good part of the second day fishing in the pacific from a homemade fishing rod, catching a few fish to suplement the onboard rations. As they get towards dock he gives a little nod to himself, and finds way to make himself useful, be it hauling cargo out, pulling the lines to dock the boat or whatever. Seeing a fellow troll, he gives him a respectful nod and a 'Heya."

---

Cicada leaves her post to move up to the north side of the ship. She leans over the side rail, reciting: "Sunny vacation, yet another plastic straw, return to the sea," she says down into the waters below. This was followed by a stream of Japanese as she attempts to talk to the waters. Talking turns into angry Japanese cursing and strings of foreign obscenities. But there seems to be little success in her endeavor. The Suijen returns to her post, stamping her feet and visibly furious as her stubby tail thrashes. She rolls out a towel and spends any time she's not being asked to do something sunbathing. It takes days for that angry pout to fade...

---

The crew votes! Examine the crates or leave them be?
Examine	Leave it alone
Conn	Erin
Wick	Timand
Maggy
Clover
Cicada

The Journeyman's hold is held under a tight-fit panneling on the main deck that goes down into the hull. There are three boxes, like plywood, stacked on top of each other. There is a large box, about 6 feet long, and two that look to be the size of large footlockers. On each is a chimerical stamp of the Kingdom of Pacifica, and each are bound with straps and nailed shut to keep from accidentally spilling open.

---

Erin sits by Kringer grumbling about them peeking in the bag. She isn't a happy camper just saying.

---

Wick sets the wheel of the ship to keep it from moving again. Just for a little bit. Just so he can slip down after everyone into the cargo hold to peeeer around from behind Conn and the shipments. "Any way that we can look inside without actually... opening them?"

---

Timand sits near Erin and shakes his head "This is a bad idea, I jus' know it." He doesn't seem too happy either, and is perhaps a little tense, as if waiting for something bad to happen.

---

Curious to see, yet not wanting to leave her post, Clover murmurs to Lark, "Keep an eye out, won't cha?" She tugs her eyepatch up and onto her forehead, and she glances down to the others, holding her hands up to her face and making circles with her thumbs and first fingers to bring some makeshift binoculars to her face. She peers down and watches, waiting patiently.

---

Conn sits in something vaguely approximating cross legged, he's a Troll grump, he's fit and healthy and (for his age) flexible. But his sitting is accompanied with fuss and grumbles, the effort bringing a sweat above his eyes eyes, purely because of how long he prolonged the sitting action. He draws his fingers through the sweat and touches it to the crate. "Well," he whispers to the crates, "it sure is nice to meet you. My name's Conn. I don't suppose many a person actually sits and talks with you. Which is a crying shame. Not many people are lucky enough to know their lot in life, but you're a crate. You know exatly what your lot in life. You crate things. I was wondering, fair crate, do you happen to know what you're crating?"

Conn talks to boxes!	Conn rolls Stamina + Prop vs 6 for 1 successes.	WP

......."Yeah." The creak of the crate sounds mopey. Monotonic, and bland. "I carry stuff...no one cares that I carry stuff." Says the big crate.

"Yeah!" Says the medium box. A bit more chipper. A bit more fresh. 'new' perhaps. "We carry stuff real good!"

At the question of the crates the big box answers. "A person."

The medium box says. "Oh I dunno what I'm carrying. But...but there's a LOT OF STUFF in here. Lots of tubes and metal and wood. And little egg-shaped things. With rings! Ohhhh lots of rings."

---

Maggy's mischevious grin just sort of gets...stuck. She can't help but be bright-eyed and bushy-tailed for getting things in motion on direction or the other. On the case of the crates though - she hung her gaze about them - ever curious. Watching Conn with delight as he whispers sweet nothings to the plywood boxes.

---

Cicada lounges on her towel, pouting with a bit of jealousy as this all transpires. She shakes up her bottle of sunscreen. "Maggy-chan! Comere before your cheeks match your tail!"

---

Conn nods "You carry it all so well," he says to the crates in a whisper before addressing the room with his normal voice, startled momentarily by the sound of it "Well the big one's got a person in it. Mind you the crate said person, not body. I don't know if it knows the difference, I didn't ask. I think the medium crates are carrying guns. Metal tubes and wood and little egg shaped things which I think are guns and bullets. Lots of rings. Which could be ... I dunno, chainmail?"

---

Wick's eyes widen and he covers his mouth with his hands. "A- a person? Are we... is it... trafficking? We have to get them out!" He hesitates a little at the mention of egg-shaped things and rings. "Um. Could be... explosives? Like. Grenades?" He glances to Tabin. "I think I see why the cannons might have been sabotaged."

---

"Wow-wee, didya hear that, Lark?!" Clover asks the bird friend. Or sorta, maybe one day friend. "A person and guns! Or just fancy antique eggs and lots of rings for piercings or something. What a wacky assortment," She giggles, then looks down again and arches a brow as she calls to Wick, "What sorta person you know that can stay in a crate without air holes for a few days. Either a vampire or a dead one," she notes with a grin, looking back out to sea.

---

Tabin looks at Wick, frowning as Conn makes the discovery known. "...Hmmm." He scratches his chin. "I doubt it's a corpse. There's no reason to ship a corpse right? Like...why?" Which means they have to be alive right? "It's a matter of moment, Wick." Tabin interjects. "If we're gonna crack the person to get 'em out, it's gotta be a crew decision. We're all in this together." He says.

---

Maggy humms to herself in wait. Eager in anticipating things - though the call out from Cicada makes her laugh gently. Pulling her cloak down then to cover her backside. Still able to spit a bit of truth from her concentration she winks,"Ain't nothin' my ass gotta worry bout...got them genes blessin' my backside 'gainst the sun." nodding her head before stretching and continuing to await,"You should come an...see what's we're findin' instead." she yells back. Upon hearing COnn's words an,"OOOOoooo...." slips over her tongue. Clicking it against her teeth before snapping her jaws like a beast,"A person an' some guns....na' bad..na' bad. Bet they're upto somethin'....but...over all 's not much skin offa our nose. Course...kinda rude to take us all down jus' cause of a person in a box." eyerolling,"Wouldn't even have wanted to know if'n they'd not tried to sabotage us fer combat 'r anythin." she snickers,"They got a lotta holes in their plans..." looking to Conn and then to Wick,"An' skip the pay? C'mon now...'m sure tha' these folks we're passin' to 'r standin' well on the escheat. They wouldn't do somethin' illegal there I bet." humming softly,"...Prolly a kinain' 'r dreamer bein' passed from one family to another, or fer resources sake." on Clover's words she'd nod,"Well...if it can't breath, can't be livin." ultimately shrugging as she heads up on deck to Cicada,"I'm fine with either decision. It'll be fun with 'r without tha' drama, I think."

---

Erin looks over to Wick as he shows his concern "See this is why we don't find out what is in the boxes, so now what are you all going to do huh? If we let him out then what is there going to say he or she is going to go back in there and are we all willing to lose our fair for the missing crate... " she sighs.

---

Timand rolls his eyes and stands up "Listen, why are we fuckin' with this stuff in th' first place. It ain't our job, it ain't our business. There is nothin' in there we should be messin' with. We signed a contract ta deliver this stuff. Are we gonna be breachin' that contract?"

---

Wick glances up at Clover's suggestion of it being a dead creature with a hint of alarm. But then he looks to Erin and Timand with a frown. "You think... it's better to just leave someone in the box? That's not right. If they were being shipped willingly, we'd have a passenger... not someone trapped in cargo."

---

Conn looks at Erin as she explains why she didn't want to know. "We would always have been morally responsible for delivering the crate regardless of its content. We do not know the circumstances surrounding the crates contents. And, as my friend Timand rightfully points out, we have been Contracted. We've also already been double crossed. They mean us to die, specifically die mind you. But as long as the contents of those crates get to their intended location untampered with, we will have filled our contract. What happens thereafter is largely beyond the bounds of our Contract. As I understand the matter, mind you."

---

The crew votes! Open the crate and save the person? Or leave it closed and deliver the parcel?
Open it!	Leave it!	Drink Beer!
Cicada	Erin	Timand
	Conn
	Maggy
	Wick
	Clover

---

"But you're so white, Maggy-Chan!" Cicada was about mid-way through squeezing a freeze glob of tanning lotion into her palms. When echoes across the deck start to rouse that there was a person in the box she looks up from her cozy spot on the beach towel. She clearly forgets what she was doing with the sunscreen and it just keeps pouring out into her palm. "Nande ya nen..." She blinks, taking in the implications of what the live cargo could be. "Mmmm! Someone knock on the box to see if they wake up! Then ask them why they are in a box!"

---

Erin huffs at Conn "Think that maybe the sabattaged the ship cuz they figured we weren't going to be honorable enough to keep our nose out of the crates and were nosy to see what was inside and now we know too much?" she points out then shrugs "So I say we do what we contracted to fucking do unless you want to damb us from getting more jobs!"

"Sometimes you git tha' short end of a stick."she notes to Wick on her way up,"Life ain't 'bout everythin' bein' filled with bright lights and sunny dispositions. Takes some bad to make sure the good matters in my opinion....but I'm stickin' to my gun here. I'm for 'r against, wha'ever ya'll're pushing fer." chuckling a bit as she makes her way up completely from the cargo area, sitting herself up on the deck. Only to see Cicada get up an' distracted by things,"White yes - but yeh'll find tha' sun don' bother my skin none...least not no more." chuckling as she sets herself up on deck,"Ehh...if it's sealed tight - sound might not even come through...we're all wastin' time I think though." her words carrying a teasing tone about them.

---

Timand givesa little shrug to Wick "We knew comin' inta this that this was not exactly on th' up an up." He considers something, then says "They knew we was gonna snoop, and wanted ta off us to keep us silent about what they was carryin.' He rubs his head a bit "Fucked if i know what ta do. I am gonna have a beer instead of makin' a choice."

---

Wick tilts his head as Conn suggests rescuing them after the delivery. But chewing his lower lip a bit, it's clear the Satyr wants very much to rescue whoever it is right away. As Erin insists on just doing the job and delivering the crates, he stares at her with stunned shock. Then shaking his head, he shifts away from her. "We can't just leave them. If we deliver them... we have to make sure who they are and what happens. Or open it /now/ and not risk it. Now or later. But we have to help them."

---

Timand says a bit softly as he walks up from below decks, carrying a corona and lime. No judgements. "Who says whoever is in there wants ta be rescued Wick? Maybe its someone tryin' ta get smugged away from a harsh master. Maybe its someone who's got a price on their head. Maybe its just none of our fuckin' business." He shrugs and takes a swing of beer.

---

"Mmm. I don't know the laws of your lands," Cicada says, seeming to notice the mass of sunscreen in her palm. She pulls a face and turns the mess over, watching it splatter into the sea. The foreigner expresses her insight. "However... under the Mandates of Heaven. This would be very bad for your karma. If they intended us to die upon returning? It is perhaps because you are doing a criminal act, and they do not want you to talk about it when you return to your own lands. If you were to transport living cargo, I think that should have been disclosed in the deal." She shrugs. "If you do not free whoever is in there. They will return and be your enemy."

---

Clover leans down over the rail at the nest and she suggests, "Why not deliver it, then follow it and try and get it open then? I'm wondering who could be cozy in a box like that for so many days." She tilts her head a bit and smiles, looking over to the others to read the reactions of those she knows. She ends up watching Wick, smiling a little.

---

As the Journeyman approaches the Marina, the hull is closed up and the boxes remain intact.

The Journeyman comes to dock with some sick sail-maneuvering by Clover and helmsnaning by Wick, with the Green-and-Gold plated Sidhe and Troll waiting at the ends of the gangplank once it's dropped. With the contents of the crates known, but not opened, the Captain is quite quiet when the entourage are allowed aboard. To no one in particular. "Gracias, mi compadres del sueño." He says giving a dip to the crew. The Troll, at the direction of the Captain, is shown to the crates, where he bundles them up. "This will serve us well in the coming days. Havrad! Careful." The Troll, 'Havrad' apparently, gives a scoff...but takes a more delicate task with handling the crates, which he carries all three with ease.

---

Wick frowns up at Timand. "We'd hide them as a passenger. Not cargo. The job would have been different. This... I mean if we follow the crates. And see that whoever it is is releived to be there. And they're ok. Then FINE. But. We can't just abandon them. We need to help. We have to. At least, I am." The little Satyr all but glowers as he stomps back up to the ship's wheel. And still frowning, he follow Tabin's call and takes them in with the engines. Fluent in Spanish, he follows any conversations with solemn-faced care.

---

Erin stands out of the way as the crates are being taken off the ship. She looks to Timand "Where is my beer?" she gasps then looks over to Wick and the others as she takes a sigh.

---

(Maggie) Looking to Clover with a crooked up eye, and just sort of relaxes back and watches things unfold from here - shrugging a bit to Cicada's words. As they dock and things get fully under-way Looking to the Sidhe and their entourage. A silent two finger salute given in their direction as they set to work lugging things and getting everything together. Her Tail swaying behind her with swift woosh-and-swings. Waiting for the party to be over so they can be on their way and discuss things further.

---

Conn nods at Wick "Yeah, if I could have figured out a way to get my lucky coin into the crate without tampering with the seals, or to tie a cantrip to it that I could guarantee wouldn't be detected, but nothing is foolproof. I don't know if we can soothsay the person in the crate without having seen them, I've never tried before, but I can try."

---

The Troll, with no real issue, descends the gangplank with the crates and takes them to yet ANOTHER boat. This one far off in the marina, but still visible from the Journeyman.

With no inquisitiveness (but definately some back-planning happening), one of the Sidhe hands something over to Tabin. A document it would seem. "Our contact should be expecting this. Buenos dias. Welcome to Panama."

The Sidhe make no fuss nor lollygag. A passive crew means a passive transaction. The Sidhe depart the Journeyman and trail after the Troll.

"If yer gonna do somethin', better do it quick." Tabin advises. "I need me a drink and Panama has some -sick- margaritas."

---

Run Paused

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