>>32351287
The entire structure is, in fact, Captain Ryder’s quarters, and it looks positively luxurious. Silk curtains stretching over both floors of the Captain’s quarters of the Lady Fortuna hang lazily from the railing, and the view from the colossal windows is nothing short of mesmerising. Carpets line the floor and exquisite paintings don the cream walls of the interior.

Captain Ryder sits at a desk piled with paperwork. His thin black facial hair does little to conceal the grim line his mouth forms and his grey eyes are lined with fatigue. He glances up at the pair of you as you step inside and his expression eases a fraction.

‘Good, you’re here. Now perhaps you can tell me what in all eight layers of the Abyss is going on that you were searching in one of my regular haunts looking like you’d gone ten rounds with a wyvern?’

>Excuse me?
>I thought you knew
>Write in?

Rolled 16

>>32351292
You told it was easy money, safe money, you told dagg that too. Dagg dead and his killers are alive.
OOC: it's a bitch cause right now it's 9 am here in the states

File: skyrider.jpg (23 KB, 473x314)

23 KB JPG

>>32351287
Damn, I saw "Sky Rider Quest" and immediately opened the thread thinking it'd be Pic Related.

>>32351292
>>Write in?
"That letter I delivered to you? Someone was after it. They tortured and killed Dagg for it, nearly got me, too. I figured that finding you was my best shot at getting away from them."

>>32351390
Oh, shit, maybe a later time would be more optimal?

>>32351453
I can't honestly say I have any idea what that is, so... sorry?

For a moment there is nothing but silence.

‘When we met, you told me that doing your little courier runs was easy money; safe money… you told Dagg that too. Well Dagg’s dead. My friend is dead, and his killer is still running around.’

Ryder sits statue still for a moment, processing the information. He leans back against his chair and sighs.

‘Well kid, I’m sorry–’

‘Sorry?!’ you roar. ‘What do you know about that? And what in the name of all that’s holy was so damned important about that damned letter that MY friend had to die for it?!’

Your breathing comes out harsh and quick, the rage and grief boiling up inside you making you want to smash something until nothing but fragmented pieces remain.

‘Understand this, boy,’ Ryder says, his tone low and dangerous, ‘as much as it pains me to say this, you have stepped into a very, very dangerous world. I’ve lost almost everyone I’ve ever loved to it, and so have most of my crew. You’re upset. I can understand that. I can relate to that, so I know you’re not quite thinking clearly. But if you insinuate that I don’t understand or appreciate Dagg’s sacrifice then I will run you through right here and now.’

>>32351609
(cont)

‘I suppose though, that you have a right to know exactly what it is your friend died for, and if my sources are correct, then you’re in a situation not too dissimilar to one many aboard this fine vessel have faced. I’m going to tell you what happened, and what may happen, and then I’m going to give you a choice.

With that said, I feel introductions should perhaps be in order.’

He turns to you and gracefully bows and flourishes an arm in a manner you’re not familiar with at all in the slums. ‘I, am Aail Ryder, buccaneer, rouge, scoundrel… and Spymaster of the Visan Republic.’

>…What?
>…What?
>…What?

Rolled 8

>>32351624
What?
OOC: normally not a problem but the folks are dragging me along on a trip.

Hey what happened to that one anon's write-in? I actually rather liked that one.

>>32351668
Huh? Oh, sorry, that was me. I was trying to delete a post in another thread and somehow deleted my post in this one, instead. Some weird lag thing, I don't know. I'll repost it.

>>32351624
>…What?
"...Okay. I guess that explains the assassins."

Rolled 5

>>32351696
You can do that?

>>32351711
Yeah, I've done it before. Not sure how. Something with having both threads open in different tabs while running 4chanx. It's only happened with my laptop, so I think it's something with my connection and not the program itself.

Rolled 3

>>32351727
Alright then.

>>32351624
…

‘Okay? I guess that explains everything doesn’t it.’

Ryder raises an eyebrow.

‘Usually whenever I tell people that, I get much more of a reaction,’ he says. You fold your arms in response.

‘Sorry to spoil your fun but I’m hurt, tired, and – as I’ve mentioned – my best friend died badly just yesterday. So sorry if I don’t play ball.’

The corner of Ryder’s lips twitches in amusement and he straightens himself and clears his throat.

‘Well then, now that’s out of the way, here is what’s been going on: Dagg, your friend, is not my only runner in this city. I have quite a number of them here and there, delivering reports from my agents all across the continent as well as in our great nation, but over the last few months, they’ve been disappearing. I thought nothing of it initially, many of them are poor – some even worse off than you – but then we started finding bodies. Someone knows about my network and is trying to blind me. The letter you graciously handed to me yesterday gave me a list of people who might have the ability to do such a thing.’

>Why would they do that?
>Dagg’s killer mentioned a Theodoric, is he on that list?
>Write-in?

>>32351815
>Dagg’s killer mentioned a Theodoric, is he on that list?

Rolled 1

>>32351815
Dagg's killer mentioned some kinda theodric or something like that. Fucker was in some kinda cult robe or something crazy like that. The fuck is up with that anyway.>>32351815

>>32351815
>"Is a man called Theodric on that list? I hope so cause I'm going to gut the bastard myself."

>>32351815
A thought occurs to you. A strange trio in robes and one with an unremarkable looking man with a skull inked onto his face.

‘Wait,’ you say, holding up a hand. ‘Dagg’s killer mentioned someone called Theodoric or something like that… is there anyone like that on this list you’ve got?’

‘Theodoric? Interesting,’ Ryder murmurs aloud before turning back to his desk and shuffling through the various sheets cluttering the space. Eventually he pulls free a small slice of paper, checks it, and then nods in satisfaction. It seems almost ridiculous that Dagg was killed over something so small.

‘Count Argun Theodoric, a minor Republican Noble; adopted into the house of Theodoric at a young age, and shortly after reaching his nineteenth name dae, both his parents died in suspicious circumstances… though the good Count himself was nowhere near either at the time.’

Ryder grimaces. ‘If that doesn’t read like a culprit’s biography then I’m a dwarf.’

‘Rather hard to say otherwise sometimes Captain,’ Kyd murmurs, a humorous twinkle in his eyes.

‘There were also the crazy guys in robes. It was only Dagg’s murderer who attacked me but he was freakish fast and they all wore the same get-up. The killer had a skull tattoo on his face.’

Ryder raises an eyebrow at you. ‘Now I know you’re making things up. The skull tattoo is a distinctive mark of the most infamous assassin in the continent. If even half of what I’ve collated is true – and I’ve good reason to believe that ALL of it is true – then he’s got a body count large enough to rival every border clash we’ve had over the last fifty years.’

He taps a finger on his cheek and shakes his head, running a hand through his thick, dark hair.

‘As bad as all of this sounds though,’ Ryder says with a heavy sigh, ‘I doubt we can act solely on that alone.’

>Why not?
>Fine, let me at him, I’ll get an answer from him
>That makes sense
>Write-in

>>32352071
So we have a incredibly skilled and dangerous assassin coming after us? Neat. Although he couldn't kill us. That says a lot

>>32352071
>That makes sense
It's all anecdotal, we need something more concrete if we want it to stick. Ryder's not actually a pirate, he's a spymaster, and as such he's beholden to the rule of law to a degree. Besides, if we have better evidence then we can not just take down this man Theodroic but ruin his legacy. That would be so much more satisfying than just kidnapping the guy and torturing a confession from him.

>>32352071
>Write-in
"Wait, wouldn't having a very distinctive tattoo be a detriment to a successful assassin? What, is he handicapping himself because it stopped being a challenge?"

>>32352071
‘Hold on, if that guy’s supposedly a great assassin–’ you start.

‘Not supposedly, he IS,’ Ryder interjects.

‘–then why does he have that really distinguishing tattoo on his face? If people are on the lookout for him, then wouldn’t that make his job harder?’

‘Yes, it would. And I believe that may be the whole point… but we’re getting off track. The problem we face is that we need to do some digging on our friend Theodoric.’

You take a deep breath and try to calm yourself down. Rushing in blindly pointing fingers at a Count – even a minor one – would get you laughed out of the Parliamentary Palace at best, and executed at worst.

‘Okay, so we need to do some digging on this bastard then. Take a look at what he does and expose him for the crook he is.’

‘If he’s really our man,’ Kyd murmurs, shrugging his shoulders when you shoot him a look. ‘Someone has to play the daemon’s advocate.’

Ryder nods approvingly at you. ‘Son, I think you’ll find you fit in fine on this ship.’

‘Thanks, but I–’ you stop short, stunned by the implication.

‘You don’t have anywhere to go, and I’d be a fool to bet money against you having no desire to see justice for Dagg. So, what say you lad?’

>My name’s Cown… Captain
>This is… wow…
>Write-in

>>32352354
>My name’s Cown… Captain

>>32352354
>My name’s Cown… Captain
Might as well. This is Sky Rider Quest, we need to start riding the sky at some point.

>>32352354
And in that moment you know that things will never return to how they used to be… but if doing this sees Dagg avenged, then you’ll take hold of this opportunity and never let it go. Besides, you’ve always wanted to see what it was like onboard one of these ships.

You stand straight and look Ryder dead in the eye.

‘The name’s Cown… Captain.’

Ryder’s lips part to form a toothy grin.

‘Good lad, I’ll be mulling over our options with the Count and how we might go about this business. In the meantime, Kyd will take you on a tour of the ship, before showing you back to your quarters, won’t you Kyd?’

‘I’ll give him the celebrity special Cap,’ Kyd nods, smirking at you.

‘Excellent. I’ll call a meeting of the crew once I think I’ve got something viable to implement. Until then, I suppose we’d best decide on your role aboard the Lady Fortuna. Fortunately, as it happens, we have a few vacancies to fill, so you get to choose. Don’t worry if you don’t have any experience, we’ve got plenty of people who can teach you.’

>Engineering
>Lookout
>Gunner

(going to grab a quite bite, back in a few)

>>32352498
>Engineering

I'm a sucker for building and fixing things

>>32352498
>Lookout
Sounds like it could be fun, monitoring sensors and predicting weather patterns and all sorts of other interesting things.

>>32352603
>>32352667
Another deadlock, guess it'll be another few minutes to wait then until the cointoss gods speak

>>32352498
>Lookout

>>32352498
>Engineering

>>32352498
>Engineering

Rolled 19

>>32352498
Gunner but since that won't work engineering.

>>32352498
>Gunner

Writing for engineering then I guess. Brace for WAITING

>>32353307
>elf waifu incoming

>>32352498
You don’t have much idea as to what any of these three roles entail, but for whatever reason, the engineering appeals the most, surely the working parts keeping this mighty vessel up in the sky must be mesmerising.

‘I’ll take the engineering,’ you say. Ryder shakes his head and smirks.

‘I figured you’d say that, Nyra must have made quite an impression on you after all.’

‘What? No, I just…’ you fluster. The thought honestly hadn’t crossed your mind at all, and you had no idea she was in engineering, though, looking back on her attire back at the Walnut Tree, it certainly makes sense.

‘Fantastic, now I guess I’ve got to go give her the talk,’ Kyd remarks sourly. Your face goes beet red.

‘Easy there Cown, he’s only joking,’ Ryder says.

‘I hope,’ Kyd mutters.

The journey to engineering is a trip through side passages and maintenance shafts so thin you find it difficult to believe a fully grown person could possibly work in them… well except maybe a dwarf, but supposedly no one’s seen one in hundreds of years, which renders those thoughts rather moot.
(cont)

>>32353506
Eventually you come to a rather expansive chamber which is dominated by a massive, hissing machine. Pipes connect and run from it and branch out in all different directions along the ceiling and walls where you have no doubt they power something vital. Two figures are already present when you enter, one tinkers with a valve while the other seems to be taking a quick break to take a glug from a dragonskin canteen.

The one working the valve, you’ve never seen before. He’s a short, stocky man with arms thicker than your thighs, and a beard stained pitch black by oil and grime. His red face is contorted with effort, but he drops his task immediately when he spots Kyd. The other figure is unmistakably Nyra, who wears the same overalls you saw her in yesterday. She pushes herself off the pipe she was leaning against and walks over to you and Kyd with the other man when she sees the two of you.

>Offer a greeting
>Get down to business
>Write-in?

>>32353526

>Offer a greeting

>>32353380
>Dwarf Bro incoming
ftfy

>>32353526
>Offer a greeting

>>32353526
>Offer a greeting

>>32353526
You figure even if you’ve kind of met one of the pair before, a greeting wouldn’t hurt.

‘Uh, hi. I’m Cown and I’m a recent addition to the crew. Captain Ryder offered me a choice in position and, well, I chose engineering, so…’

As far as greetings go, that was probably one of your most awkward. The short man smiles genially beneath his beard, or at least you think he is. You can’t actually see his mouth at all under all that thick, matted, stained facial hair.

‘Pleasure to meet you sonny, and most definitely a pleasure to have an extra pair of hands, eh Nyra?’ his voice rumbles like thunder, but he seems to be of good humour.

‘Hm? Oh, yes. Very,’ Nyra says, studying you curiously.

‘I’m Balfour Brixtweed. Chief engineer aboard the Lady Fortuna, and this plucky lass is Nyra, though I believe you already know that if you know Kyd.’

‘Oh, yeah, yeah,’ you nod, turning your attention back to the short man. He barely comes up to your chest in height, and you can’t imagine the teasing he must have suffered because of it.

‘What’s up boy? Never met a dwarf before?’

>…What?
>Not really
>Write-in?

>>32353929
>Not really
>Do the women really have beards?

>>32353929
>A dwarf? Not really... Wait what?

Rolled 9

>>32353929
Nope have you?

>>32353929
The question strikes you as more than a little odd, and you scratch the back of your head as you answer.

‘A dwarf? Well, no, not really. Have you?’

The entire chamber is completely silent. Kyd and Nyra stare at you completely dumbfounded. Balfour on the other hand throws his head back and roars with laughter.

‘I think I like you already lad,’ Balfour says, wiping a tear from his mud brown eyes. ‘First time I’ve laughed so hard in a long time.’

‘By which he means, last week at the most,’ Kyd whispers.

‘Wait, what?’ you say, completely lost. ‘What just happened?’

Nyra giggles, her short maroon hair bouncing in time with the way her shoulders shake. Kyd shakes his head and fakes an exasperated groan.

‘Okay, okay. Little nugget of info for you: Mr Brixtweed here is our chief engineer, and a dwarf. You know? Like the ones from the stories? Live underground? No sense of humour?’

‘I think he gets it already,’ Balfour interjects. ‘I left them but they’re still my kin and I won’t hear mockery of them.’

‘Easy big man,’ Kyd says with a placating hand gesture, ‘just joking.’

‘Don’t I know it, anyway!’ Balfour says, turning back to you, ‘we’ve got things mostly under wraps here but if you’d like to know some details about exactly what it is we do down here, we’d be more than happy to tell you.’

>Sounds good, let’s hear it
>If there’s nothing for me to do here, then I guess I should get going

>>32354241
>Lady Fortuna
>most of the crew has been through utter hell
>most of the people they used to know are dead
>Lady Fortuna
Whoever named the ship is a fucking asshole

>>32354241
>Sounds good, let’s hear it
Training Montage?

Rolled 6

>>32354241
Sure hit me boss man.

>>32354241

>sounds good, let's hear it

>>32354241
Balfour and Nyra take you on a tour through the inner mechanisms of the ship. Much of it goes completely over your head, and their own enthusiasm for their work makes it worse, but you get the feeling that working down here won’t be so bad once you get the hang of all the technical terms. You learn that any airship has its facilities powered by electricity, provided by a large coal-burning generator, while to lift off and land utilises large gas balloons filled with a flammable gas called hydrogen and large rotors on the aft of the ship give it manoeuvrability.

Your job will primarily consist of making sure the balloons and their hydrogen feeds, the coal generator, and the rotors are in good working order. Occasionally, however, something goes wrong with a light or piece of plumbing and you might be called upon to fix that as well. It sounds daunting, but whoever said life was easy, and Balfour and Nyra seem like they’ll provide good, amiable company.

All things must come to an end, however, and after what you find out is almost three hours, a yawning Kyd offers to show you around the rest of the ship.

>Visit the Canteen
>Visit the Lookout
>Visit the Gunnery
>Visit the Armoury
>Visit the Chapel
>Visit the Bridge
>Call it a day and retire to your quarters

>>32354668
>Visit the Chapel
Ever good engineer has jeebus in his life

>>32354668

Head to the lookout. Maybe canteen afterwards if it's getting close to meal time.

>>32354668
>Visit the Armoury
Sword Git

Me >>32354743
Changing vote to>>32354726

>>32354668
Given the array of choices, the Lookout sounds like it’d be a refreshing change from staring at pipes and various systems for three hours, so Kyd leads on and you follow.

The lookout, as it turns out, is located in a bubble dome right at the bottom of the ship, and boy oh boy, nothing could quite have prepared you for what you see now.

It’s not the various monitors displaying different readings, or the large telescope that sits in the centre of the dome, but rather the fact that the floor of the Lookout appears to be completely made of glass, giving you an in depth look as to exactly how far above ground you are. Part of you thinks it’s the greatest sight ever, while the other wants to go back into the nice, comfortable hallway before you fall through the floor.

‘Beautiful sight isn’t it?’ a voice calls. Glancing over, you see a tall, slender woman with greying blonde hair and wrinkled, milky white skin.

>Yes it surely is
>I’ll probably appreciate it more when my legs stop shaking

>>32354989
>"This can't be safe."

>>32354989

Yes it surely is.

Didn't we scamper across a bunch of rooftops earlier? Not that this isn't different, but we're not timid.

>>32354989
‘This can’t be safe,’ you say.

‘Not quite the answer I was expecting,’ the elderly woman says in a thin, creaky voice, a curious expression on her thin face.

‘He seems to have a knack for that,’ Kyd says.

‘Ah, Kyd, so good to see you. How is Nyra? I’d heard she had a… difficult time in the city yesterday.’

Kyd’s lip twitches and for a moment his easy-going veneer slips a fraction, but it’s only for a moment and he covers it up with a warm grin. ‘She’s fine. A little shaken but I doubt she’ll let that get to her. She’s tougher than she looks.’

‘Much like you are, child,’ she replies.

A brief silence settles before Kyd clears his throat and gestures towards the lady. ‘Cown, this is our Chief Observer, Madam Julianne Wynne, she makes sure we’re pointed in the right direction and that nothing manages to catch us with our pants down.’

‘Nice to meet you and all – I’m Cown, by the way – but is this really–’ you start.

‘Safe? Of course. It’s reinforced scale-glass. It looks fragile but it can take cannon fire. It’s still weaker than deck plating, however, so usually it’s our crew’s duty to try and keep this place out of the line of fire.’

>That’s… comforting
>Oh, okay, so what do you do down here?

>>32355427

>Oh okay, so what do you do down here?

>>32355427
>Oh, okay, so what do you do down here?

>>32355427
Well, that sounds fairly reasonable. Besides you doubt you’ll have much cause to be down here if the ship ends up embroiled in a battle.

‘Okay, that’s that answered. So what do you do down here Miss Wynne?’

‘Such manners, why can’t you be more like that?’ Julianne asks as she gives Kyd a sly look.

‘Hey, I gave your FULL title,’ Kyd protests, but there’s no bite to it, and from the soft expression he wears you’re inclined to think Kyd and Miss Wynne have a history.

‘Anyway, to answer your question Cown, I observe. I make sure our route is clear and check for signs of danger.’

‘That’s what the giant telescope is for, right?’ you ask.

‘Yes, but that’s only half the answer. The various monitors you see dotted around the Lookout monitor air currents, humidity, wind speed, and much more. With it, I can assist our Navigator plot a course that keeps us as safe as we possibly can be.’

‘That’s… pretty incredible,’ you say, meaning every word, and growing steadily more used to the sight of having no ground beneath your feet.

‘It’s not so great, in fact I’d say it almost becomes a bit of a bore, but Aail entrusted this place to me, so I’ll perform to the utmost ability. Will that be all? If you have something to ask, then do so, but as far as the Lookout is concerned, I’m afraid much of it will go over your head, at least if you’re anything like Kyd.’

>Ask her a question (about what?)
>Bid her farewell and leave: (Canteen, Gunnery, Armoury, Chapel, Bridge, your personal quarters)

>>32355674
>Bid her farewell and leave: (Canteen, Gunnery, Armoury, Chapel, Bridge, your personal quarters)
Canteen

>>32355674
>Chapel
muh lady luck

>>32355674

canteen.

>>32355674
As interesting as all this is, you’re pretty hungry, so you tell Kyd, and up you go.

The canteen is a wide, open interior space. A number of long tables are set up to form several rows, while at the far end is another, taller, thicker table, behind which, two similar looking ginger-haired men in their thirties dole out portions of food to the crew. You can smell beef, pork, potatoes, various vegetables and what smells like several different kinds of cheese, as well as the unmistakable scent of bread. It’s heavenly, and you hurry forward as you realise just how hungry you really are.

‘Easy there little bro,’ Kyd says, ‘plenty to go around. The Captain spares no expense.’

Sure enough; come your turn, you manage to have a considerable serving of just about everything, and you plop your full plate down and start gorging yourself. Kyd looks on, bemused by the ferocity at which you attack your food, finishing in very little time. Satisfied, you start observing the people currently occupying the canteen.

Further along the table sits a group of individuals cloistered around a fierce looking red-haired man and a calm, brown haired woman who appear to be playing some sort of game. On the other side, a blond youth only a little older than yourself plays a tune on a harmonica. Behind you sit a group of other crew who appear to be holding an armwrestling tournament. Back at the chef’s table, the two brothers appear to be chatting good-naturedly with each other.

>Keep hanging out with Kyd
>Ask about the gambling group
>Ask about the boy with the harmonica
>Ask about the group of armwrestlers
>Introduce yourself: (chefs, gamblers, harmonica, armwrestlers)

>>32356244
>Ask about the group of armwrestlers
How strong are we?

>>32356244
>Ask about the group of armwrestlers
>>32356302
Good question lets find out

>>32356244
Man, how big is this ship? Videogames have conditioned me to assume that an airship's only going to have like a dozen people crewing it. I guess we should
>Keep hanging out with Kyd
He's sort of our guide, here. I'm sure he'll introduce us to anyone interesting.

>>32356244
‘Who are those guys behind us?’ you ask Kyd, noting with surprised that the scarred man you saw when you first met Ryder is a part of the gathering. He locks his hand with that of his foe, and then on the signal, smashes the hand of his luckless opponent into the table. He sees you watching and gives you a curt nod before moving onto the next one after money changes hands.

Kyd turns his head and spends a moment taking in the details before turning back to you. ‘Most of them are from the Gunnery, though Limwitz – that’s the guy with the scar – runs the armoury.’

‘Is this sort of thing usual?’ you ask, watching as Limwitz dominates another opponent.

‘Oh yeah. Every time enough of the crew have nothing to do, we’ll all gather in here. This is pretty much where all the action happens… outside of REAL action of course.’

Kyd pauses for a moment and looks at you with a sceptical eye.

‘Don’t tell me you’re thinking about joining in with them?’

>Well, yeah
>Maybe
>Not really

>>32356524
>Not really
"Maybe later, after I'm properly healed. I don't want to reopen any wounds. Actually, that reminds me: I never asked how long I was out. What day is it?"

>>32356524
>Well, Yeah
Hopefully the dice finds this amusing and let us win

>>32356524
>Well, yeah
Lady luck favors the bold

>>32356524

>Not really

Ask about the gamblers next

>>32356524
The coin gods have spoken!

Looking at the amount of brawn gathered on that table, coupled with the fact that you’re still a long way from healthy, you think better of measuring your own strength against the Gunnery crew.

‘Maybe later when I’m fully healed. I don’t want to reopen any wound after all… which reminds me, I never asked, exactly how long was I out?’

‘Hm? Well when we found you, you were in a pretty sorry state. Doc fixed you up, as I’ve told you, but you were laid in bed for the better part of two weeks.

That long? Wow…

Still though, despite some aching, and the uncomfortableness of the stitches, you feel in fairly good shape, especially now you’ve had some food down you.

‘Remind me to thank this Doc person,’ you say.

‘Hm? Oh, I wouldn’t bother. He never asks for or expects gratitude, grouchy bastard.’

You turn your attention away from the armwrestlers.

>Keep hanging out with Kyd
>Ask about the gambling group
>Ask about the boy with the harmonica
>Introduce yourself: (chefs, gamblers, harmonica)

>>32356840
>Keep hanging out with Kyd

>>32356840

Introduce ourselves to everyone

>>32356840
>Keep hanging out with Kyd

>>32356840
After some mulling around of different ideas in your head, you decide that you’ll probably get around to being introduced to the rest of the crew at some point in the near future. For the moment you decide just to hang out here with your guide, Kyd, listening to the excited chatter of the rest of the crew and the high notes played by the guy with the harmonica.

>Ask Kyd a question

>>32357026
If Ryder's the spymaster why have posters with his face all over the city?
Also
When do we start working?

>>32357026
‘Hey, you mind if I ask you a question?’ you ask Kyd.

‘Sure,’ the older elf says, leaning forwards on the bench. ‘What do you want to know?’

‘Well, Captain Ryder’s the Spymaster for this country, right?’

‘Yeah.’

‘And he’s also the most infamous pirate in the country.’

‘Masquerading as, but yes.’

‘So, why are there posters of his face all over the place? Surely he’d be able to do his job better if no one knew about him, right?’

‘Ahh, so this is where it was going. You make a good point, and a lot of us here have asked that question, either to one another, some of us even to the man himself. The answer is that Ryder used to be a crook at one point; an actual crook. Then the previous Spymaster took an interest, picked him up and with a little bit of pressure here, some appeal to his inner patriotism, hey presto, we have Aail Ryder: Republican spy. Now when Ryder took over from his predecessor, he maintained some contacts he had in the criminal underworld and he used them, along with some guys in the Parliamentary Palace, to forge the image he has today.'

(cont)

>>32357396
‘To be completely honest, I kind of wish he didn’t have this whole ‘man-behind-the-mask’ thing going on. Being considered a national fugitive makes coming and going to certain places rather tricky, but what works for the boss works for the boss, and if one of us gets scooped up by the authorities, he always pulls through for us. Hell, one of the blokes in the Gunnery’s supposedly been ‘hung’ eight times now.’

‘Nine Kyd!’ a voice calls from the group of armwrestlers.

‘Sorry, my mistake!’ Kyd calls back.

‘So, when do I start work?’ you ask.

‘Not for a few days yet I think, you’re better than you were when we brought you up, but you’re still in bad shape… though I guess I could ask Balfour and Nyra to try and give you the light, easy stuff… in which case I guess you could start tomorrow.’

>I think I need a few more days to get acclimatised
>If it’s not too strenuous, I’m good to go

>>32357429
>If it’s not too strenuous, I’m good to go
Work hard, get strong, win lady lucks favor

>>32357429
>If it’s not too strenuous, I’m good to go
Ain't no rest for the wicked and Bold

>>32357429
You roll your shoulders in their sockets, wincing as the dull ache in your left shoulder suddenly and sharply turns into twisting pain.

‘You alright over there?’ Kyd asks.

‘Yeah, yeah,’ you reply, ‘just trying to see how far I can push it. Figure I’m no use to anyone lying on my bed. Besides, keeping myself active might help with my recovery.’

Kyd cranes his head to the side as if considering this, before nodding slowly. ‘I guess there’s that,’ he says finally, ‘All right, I’ll go talk to the two grease monkeys once the day’s over then. Don’t overdo it though, can’t have our newest crewmate bleed out on us because he got bored.’

‘I’ll be fine,’ you reply.

>Ask Kyd another question (what?)
>Leave: (Canteen, Gunnery, Armoury, Chapel, Bridge, your personal quarters)

>>32357638
>Leave: (Canteen, Gunnery, Armoury, Chapel, Bridge, your personal quarters)
Let's go check out our room

>>32357638
>Chapel
baby pls I just want that luck boost

>>32357638
(Coin tossed: Quarters it is, sorry anon, the luck boost will have to wait)

You’ve probably still got time to check out the rest of the ship, but there’ll be opportunity enough to see the rest of it, especially if you’re now one of the crew. With your spirits raised and your grumbling stomach satisfied, you tell Kyd you’d like him to take you back up to your personal quarters.

On the way up, you learn that the crew of the Lady Fortuna number a little less than a hundred, and from the sheer size of the vessel, you can well believe it. In time though, you reach your quarters, which turns out to be the same room you woke up in today when Kyd came to get you. The sheets have been changed, but otherwise it appears much the same as it was when you left.

‘There’s a small tub the crew on this floor have to share a little down the corridor. Don’t spend too long in it though. Our water supply’s finite and we’re not going to be docked for much longer than a few days at the most. As for tomorrow, it’ll probably be me who comes to get you up, but it might end up being someone else if I’m busy. If it’s not me, don’t panic, just follow them and they’ll take you back down if you don’t remember the way to engineering and Nyra and Bal can take you from there.’ With that, he turns and leaves, giving you a friendly wave.

>Take a bath
>Go to bed

>>32358075
>Go to bath
Then
>Take a bed

Rolled 15, 69, 78 = 162

>>32358075
Take a bath.
You're probably tired and the nine above know how bad you can smell after a good run, not to mention the places you've been.

>>32358075

Bathe, need to keep clean while we're healing.

>>32358075
You raise your good shoulder and take a whiff of your underarms, and your nose immediately wrinkles as you catch a full blast of your own body odour. After all that’s happened, you shouldn’t really be surprised, and while whoever this ‘Doc’ person no doubt cleaned your wounds, you somehow doubt he washed the rest of you. With a little more than two weeks BO, a bath would probably do you – and everyone around you – a whole world of good.

You spend a minute checking your room for any utilities, finding a towel and what smells like soap in your closet, as well as two fresh changes of clothes, all in your size, you note, and a clean pair of pyjamas. You exit your room with the towel and your pyjamas, and walk to the end of the hallway, finally stopping outside a door with a sign reading ‘Bathroom’. Turning the handle, you step inside.

The bathroom is a little more spacious than your own room, with a large, circular tub sitting pretty in the centre, with two taps, one labelled ‘H’ and the other ‘C’. Hot and cold you’d wager quite comfortably. It seems you came at a good time, as the tub is unoccupied.

You stroll over, plug the bath, step inside and run the taps; waiting for a minute until the tub fills up to what you deem an acceptable depth before stepping in. The relief is instant, and you can almost feel your aching muscles relax in the warm water. Still, you can’t take too long. Just because you’ve decided to turn in early doesn’t necessarily mean others won’t have similar ideas.
(cont)

>>32358758
(cont)
You reach over the side and grab the soap, before generously applying it to your underarms and wherever else it might stink, which is to say, everywhere. Eventually you lie in a pool of soapy water, resting your head against the edge of the tub, pondering exactly how you ended up here.

Part of you is thrilled at the adventure this new life of yours promises. Another still seethes and grieves over Dagg’s murder, and the casual ease with which this Scythe bastard butchered him makes your nostrils flare in quiet fury. The last, and most timid part, just wants to crawl into bed and wake up to find Dagg pushing you out of your hammock, bellyaching and grousing that you have a mail run to finish so that you can both afford to eat that night.

Pushing your tumultuous thoughts to one side, you dip your head underneath the water’s surface before rising and stepping out of the bath and unplugging it, draining the water. Towelling yourself off, you change into your pyjamas and leave the bathroom to head back to your room–

–only to come face to face with Nyra.

>Greet her
>Bath’s all yours
>Write-in?

>>32358788
>Greet her
"Hey Nyra how're ya feeling? Kyd said yow was shaken up by what happened at the bar."

Rolled 18, 12, 47 = 77

>>32358788
Greet her.
"Hey Nyra how you doing, you feeling any better after yesterday." Pat her on the back and gesture to the bath and say" It's a lll yours."

>>32358788
>sup

>was nearly raped the day before
>how ya doing?
How do you think shes doing idiots

Rolled 73, 27, 65 = 165

>>32359009
actually fairly good considering she's back on the ship and away from the rapists.

>>32358788

Greet her. Don't mention what happened in the city. Damn autists...

>>32359009
(Two weeks actually, if there's any confusion, then that's my bad.)

>>32358788
You haven’t really had a proper chat with Nyra, aside from the rather in-depth but rather one-sided conversation about the ship’s inner workings earlier today, and from what Kyd said, she’s probably still not feeling too great about what happened back in the Walnut Tree Pub. So, you figure the least you can do is ask as to how she’s doing.

‘Hey Nyra, how’re you doing? Kyd said you were kind of shaken up by what happened back at that pub.’

She blinks, as if surprised at your sudden appearance, and then she shakes her head. ‘Oh, hello. Sorry, Kyd told me I might find you either in there or in your room and you weren’t in your room so I came here and heard sounds in the bathroom, so I thought I’d wait.

‘I wanted to say thank you, for what you did. I thought you looked bad but I didn’t have any idea just how bad until the Captain brought you aboard. Doing all that for me despite your own injuries was… brave of you.’ She seems strangely fragile now that she’s out of engineering, like an eggshell held between thumb and forefinger. It makes sense when you think about it. Down there with all the mechanics, she can lose herself and focus. It must have been a pretty terrifying ordeal she went through before you and Ryder showed up.

>Anything for a fellow crewmate
>What was that about anyway?
>Write-in?

>>32359166
>Anything for a fellow engineer
muh elf waifu

>>32359166
>Anything for a fellow crewmate
>What was that about anyway?

Rolled 3, 88, 41 = 132

>>32359166
"Yeah well, seeing that asshole manhandle you was the last straw and I couldn't just stand back and let it happen, and uh if you could tell me what the shit was their problems with you anyway?"

>>32359166
‘Yeah well, seeing that asshole manhandle you was the last straw and I couldn't just stand back and let it happen… what actually was that about anyway?’

Nyra’s face tightens and you notice her jaw clench. You abruptly feel like an ass for speaking of what was no doubt a highly unpleasant experience for her and you rub the back of your neck awkwardly. ‘I mean, uh, if you don’t mind that is.’

‘No, no it’s… fine. It was a while ago now, I’m past the worst of it…’ she says, but you’re not entirely convinced. ‘You know my people used to be a slave race right? That our emancipation only happened a few short years ago?’

‘What, really?’ you say, utterly shocked.

‘Yes… what, you seriously didn’t know?’ she asks.

>I think I do… (roll d20 for memories)
>No
>Write-in?

>>32359510
>No
We don't get out often

Rolled 52, 73, 28 = 153

>>32359510
No:
I lived with Dagg in that shit hole of a house since I could remember, I had never been outside the bleeding city much less see anyone not human before, look I'm sorry for brining it up and making an ass out of myself." (steps aside) "Baths open for you, again sorry."

>>32359510
>No
Last time I rolled for memories I crit-failed it

>>32359597
>not playing the retard card to get in better with the nice elf lady

>>32359616
>WHO AM I

Rolled 27, 84, 45 = 156

>>32359618
Uhhh thanks?

>>32359641
no, you did the bad, always act retarded to get your way always

Rolled 2, 62, 85 = 149

>>32359665
Ok man whatever you say dude.

>>32359510
‘I kind of lived with my friend Dagg in a pretty crummy little place in the slums. The only times I ever got out was to work, and I didn’t really have much contact with anyone other than humans like me, I’ve not even been outside the city before. As for stuff like that emancipation: well I couldn’t really afford to pay attention to stuff like that, or anything else. If I did, we couldn’t make ends meet and we wouldn’t be able to eat… that’s about it really,’ you explain.

‘That’s… pretty sad,’ Nyra says.

‘Yeah, well, it could have been worse, I mean, look at what almost happened with–’ and before your treacherous mouth can go any further you clamp it shut. ‘Aw hells… sorry,’ you say sheepishly.

‘It’s fine, don’t worry about it. Like I said, I’m over it now,’ she says, but she’s not looking at you when she says it.

Well this certainly feels awkward.

‘Uh, the bath’s all yours if you want it,’ you say, jabbing a thumb towards the door.

‘Nah, it’s fine. My room’s on the deck below anyway, but thanks for offering,’ she says, offering a sweet little smile. You rather like that smile.

‘Okay then, I guess I’ll see you tomorrow then?’ you say, and she nods and turns around, strolling casually away towards the stairwell.

‘Yeah, we’ll see you bright and early. Don’t worry, me and Bal will take care of the heavy lifting.’

‘Glad to hear it,’ you murmur to yourself, rubbing your stiff shoulder as she disappears.

With that you head on back to your room and, once your toiletries are away, flop onto your bed, only now realising that you feel like a mess of leaden limbs and fatigue. In precious little time at all you drift off to sleep, awaiting the events of tomorrow onboard the Lady Fortuna.

>roll d20

>>32359639
>Gets hit with a stone mace
>Falls unconscious
>Rest of bandit encounter plays out
>Comes to
>GM: Could you Roll please
>Me: {Sweating Intensifies} Rolls
>natty 1
>Int gets reduce
>doesn't remember my name, why I'm here, or what the hell I was doing
>Wakes up surrounded by dead, mangled bodies
>Vampire companion is draining remaining banditos
>GM: Can you roll again?
>Me: {Shaking Intensifies}
>Fails DC
>Starts Screaming and running away

Rolled 2

>>32359819

Rolled 16

>>32359819

Rolled 9

>>32359819
>Nat 1
>Assassin sneaks on the ship

>>32359819
Your dreams are haunted. First it’s Dagg, appearing before you as a wasting corpse, hissing and screaming cries for vengeance, but there are other sights there as well. A village held up by trees, built in the deepest part of a forest so thick and so dark that the sun is a mere rumour. You think you recognise this place but before your unconscious mind can place it, you’re whisked away, standing before a colossal stone gate that sits inside a ravine within this forest. On the gate are carved laughing, dancing figures. Horrible things. It hurts to look. You can hear them whispering.

They want to get out.


And that's all for tonight gents. I kept it going until where I wanted to end it, but I think my writing was beginning to slip by the end of it. Should start drinking caffeine when I run these threads.

As always, thoughts and impressions matter. Thanks loads for sticking with this, and I hope to see you all for the next part in 3 or so days.

That exchange with the elf was so cringeworthy and retarded we deserve to die.

Rolled 1

>>32360076
sweet kicks man, can't wait for the next installment.

>>32360076
Adios Frosty