[05.15: As though we were smugglers, not poor honest men?]
[He fights and runs away, lives to fight another day…]
--
[Trader's Journal: Day 1336]
[Current Dimension]
Old Republic Star Wars
[Current Location]
Fortune's Chance's, on the move
[Trading Report – What we got before we retreated from Nar Shaddaa, sold our mined ore, etc, along with various credits we'd assembled]
346 X Blaster Rifles {various types and quality}
247 X Blaster Pistols {various types and quality}
42 X Suits Light Armour {various types and quality}
22 X Suits Medium Armour {various types and quality}
48 X Suits Heavy Armour {Bounty Hunter/Mandalorian style majority}
43 X Crates various modification to armours {jetpacks, sensors, etc}
2 X Medical Droids {Republic model}
1 X Administrative Droid {Accounting Audit Model}
42 X Medpacs {Trooper variant}
60 X Medkits {Starship variant}
1 X Lightsaber {Red}
[Diary Entry]
See? This dimension is out to get me!
Anyway, right, we're on the move to the Malachor system so we can finally be free of this place, be, feck it, we've blundered into the wannabe God's minions. Who were clearly out to catch us, or me in particular I suspect, so we are running hard and fast since we just stomped down hard on one of his Dreadmasters;- who we left unconscious and drugged back on Nar Shadda along with her equally out of it troops. Kinda had to be big on illusion and charm magic to get us done and gone without trouble, so, yeah, we've attached attention yet again – and yet again we're legging it afterwards.
Same with while we travel, myself, Zee, Amelia, the others, we're all taking turns maintaining a basic veil on us as we power along side routes. Because we are being hunted, I just know it, and our Pathfinder is gearing up for the 'jump' through the wound in this dimension at the nightmare battlefield system. Thankfully we didn't actually need to fight our way clear of the moon once we made it to the ships, so we've been moving at a pretty fast clip from system to system, even it its driving up our energy costs much more than we'd like. I am just done with this place, just totally done with it. Yeah got weapons and tools and everything else, but it's just not fun being hunted by the Sith Emperor. That fight is out of my league let's say.
Right, trying to focus on the things other than that threat. For one Azula doing rather well, mentally I mean, even if time has been scarce to deal with her and the others of late. Hell it's been time consuming that I've been unable to get info off our prisoner witch for example, or even do up some writing and studying myself. So, positive side, let's go. We've bought plenty of weapons and armour, along with medical packs, to help with our security forces, though mostly just blasters and armour as we can source the explosives and munition based weapons for better prices in other realms. Or simply just better 'slug-throwers' as they call them here, with an easier support base for us.
Nathan's happy at least. Well about enough small arms to equip said small army right now;- he's not overly super about the mad emperor and his fleet trying to kill us all, or our next leg of the voyage being dangerous to an unknown level. But, hey, what can I do about that but what we're doing. Anna's not overly happy either, since, as Chief Engineer, I've been driving her hard to get us to there, so the engineering staff are at full deployment to keep everything's a-okay with power and such. Thunder Child is in the same boat, and in truth we're more worried about that on its maiden voyage.
Need to stop stressing over that. Time off. Relaxing. Doing the things. Yes. Time off, writing plotting, planning, waiting for Kara to get her shower. Things like that. Several days on limited sleep does not a happy Callum make let's say. Or a very awake mage either. So, I'm going to rest and relax, and then get a nice long sleep at long last. That's what sensible people do after all according to various people amongst my crew. So here comes the sexy, I'm letting myself be distracted. Yay.
--
{On the road again, we're on the road again…}
"What in the Gods happens here?" Ruffio, our Pathfinder muttered as our ship entered the nightmarish horror that was the Malachor system. Thankfully we were within our own little dimensional reality bubble that was the ship, so the arcane currents were merely sensor readings and memetic-hazard blocked analysis to us, rather than the whirling, twisting, vortex of chaos that it would be to the unprotected. I merely sat on my Captain's bridge, looking out at the broken system, at the 'fresh' tainted wound in reality that it was as best I could tell, nodding to our guide.
"Superweapon of some sort, then lots of deaths, oh, and space magic….lots of evil space magic"
He sighed, rubbing the back of his neck "Hah….yeah, I can see, no matter where you go it always seems to be the same. Aye, it is….okay Lord Captain, are your ships starting to starting to ramp up their drives?"
I nodded, resting back in my chair and looking out at the visibly dead system overlaid with the still roiling cascades of energies that infested the places. *Things* were here, sliding through the temporary gap in reality to burn and fresh mortal minds…that thankfully weren't here to suffer that. No wonder Revan and his allies had fallen to the dark-side…this place was just *wrong* and an emotional, organic, reaction was likely the only way they didn't get consumed by the…Things…out there, or driven to be mindless cannibal beasts. The 'Force' was healing here, sealing the dimensional wound so that a few decades from now, a century or two at the most, it'd be clean again…
'Well…. Dark, but certainly no Elder God Waking levels of fucked up' I mused sadly, then glanced at our Pathfinder "We've followed your instructions, never fear my friend, do you envision any difficulties based on what you've seen"
"Nay Lord Captain, tis messed up in the eyes of the Gods, but for our task it is ideal in terms of power to fuel our ritual. Protections against such dangers are an essential part of them after all"
I nodded in understanding as myself and Zee had reviewed the planned ritual-work beforehand…so we didn't end up in the Abyss or somewhere else equally dangerous. Yeah, sure, mildly paranoid, but that as just the nature of the trade really – trust, but verify "That's something I can get behind Pathfinder, safety first, and our defences are up and ready should there be trouble. One hopes so at least"
My fellow half-orc nodded "As you say Lord Captain, then I'd suggest moving both vessels into position and begin our portal work"
I glanced to Kara, who nodded, then Quinn, who did the same, before nodding back to the Pathfinder "That is agreeable Pathfinder. Kara you'll Captain and I'll handle the arcane side?"
"Go ahead, best to get started before we have trouble if we delay" she answered with a smile, then sigh "I'll get Zatanna and have her help you"
"Thanks" I replied with a smile, hand reaching over to rest on the crystal orb and moving to submerge myself into the ship itself as the protective barriers around me hummed into a stronger existence. Now I could 'taste' and 'see' the whirl maelstrom of darkness and madness screaming like a vortex before us…me. Bracing myself behind the dimensional barriers I could observe it calmly, carefully, as the engines drew in the eddies of power from the madness, slowly increasing in intensity as we…I….observed the tear in reality.
There'd been…odd…ship contacts on the way here as we skirted the edge of the galaxy, avoiding the Horror and Unease that was the Great Barrier, as well as Sith space. It was clear the unready madman was looking for us, desperately, but thankfully nobody knew our goal but ourselves and I calmly, coldly, forced reality around us to bend to our well as we prepared to embark on the next leg of the journey. Shields slid into place as I felt Zee's soul touch mine, following my guidance and strengthening my will and anchor as directions were called out, then ritual beginning, power flowing.
'That's a bit of issue in showing up though' I thought, Zee's presence giving a buzzing touch of amusement as we touched, soul-to-soul, communicating by feeling and thought. Faralda was doing similar on the Thunder Child, though linking to us and following our lead as I followed the ritual of our hired Pathfinder, edging the Fortune's Chance into the dimensional beach, barriers and wards forming up protectively around us behind spells and physical barriers thanks to Monitor systems. Hope's Grave wasn't exactly the best sounding name for what was on the other side, and moments passed into both a flash and an eternity to my mind. Power flowed, the magic burning into the darkness…a dark flame in the vortex that hammered and pushed the Force in this region into submission. Then we were through, into the void…
--
[05.16: As though we were smugglers, not poor honest men?]
[Quiet the graveyard is this night…]
"Touch nothing. Signal nothing if you can avoid it. Just follow the course and we stay as quiet as we possibly can till we get out of here" our Pathfinder had instructed moments after we'd entered…
Well, this broken, mashed together dimension that wasn't truly a dimension anymore. Everything was…wrong…here for lack of a better word to describe it, even if it looked 'normal' to some degrees to the naked eye. Because I had to do that upon entering, blocking out any urge to look upon the place in arcane manner as the place was…wrong. There was no space out there truly, nor air, nor emptiness…just a void filled with shattered dimensional energies and planets that floated/not-floated to form an existence that was capable of being traversed.
The sensors had to be shut down, even the Monitor one as they'd been busy freaking-the-fuck-out within micro-seconds of our arrival in this not-place. Instead, we focused on 'tethering' the Thunder Child securely to us as we were guided between shattered planets…
Shattered Minds part of me idly observed for some reason. Whatever had happened here had been disturbingly apocalyptic, Graveyard part of the name certainly been true as we 'navigated' from one shattered remnant of reality to another like jumping from rock to rock over a river of nothingness. That was the most disturbing part, even with my reduced senses and every info-hazard and counter-memetic system and spell in operation…as that was just bizarre. Time didn't work here, instead we were relying on the 'bubble' of realty that was our two ships to navigate safely through this place, and I was glad it wasn't me 'pathfinding' us through this…
Wrongness.
'Yeah. Yeah. Not looking forward to doing this again' I thought to myself as I sat on the bridge as another hour passed by…or maybe it was a day. Time was a bit unnerving and hard to track here outside our own internal chronometers, and even there it had an unreal feel as we'd official passed four days here now, but that was impossible to tell as time outside looped and warped, twisted and flowed backwards as best I could tell. Not that I wanted to know of course, nor did I want to risk 'investigating' anything out here considering many of these 'dead things' counted in the Dead Gods Sleeping category of dangers.
On the screens reality shifted again, going from a shattered planet sized war-machine to floating green fields, with light shining on them, but no sun or source of light in sight. Just green fields that looked perfectly normal as we crept along, two ships in ridiculously tight formation as our exhausted pathfinder moved us towards the exit. My guard was up of course, even with Geas Bond between us, as exiting could be into an ambush, or trap, or anything above and beyond. The simple urge to *get out of here* was disturbingly strong after all, even after my initial desire to just get out of the Star Wars dimension what with situation with the Dread Masters and their Emperor.
"Well, we'll definitely take the long way back"
"If you wish" the stressed Ruffio replied to me after I hadn't realised I'd spoken my thoughts on the situation aloud "I won't object. We are nearly there…or we are there, just…be ready to exit any time from the next few minutes to next few hours"
"Understood" I told him turning to the current bridge crew, led by Barbara as my current executive officer, placing my hands on the control crystals "Notify the Thunder Child, and sound general alert and everyone to their stations. Remind them, and remember, no flames can be generated externally"
"Aye-aye Boss man, glad to be gone from this place" the redhead replied, coffee in hand, and then doing as asked while I exerted increased control over the spelljammer potions of the Fortune's Chance. Entering this place had taken effort by both myself and Zatanna, and I really wanted the others awake and ready should the need arise on exiting. Sure, it counted as 'uneventful' but this place was just unnerving in its….wrongness, the graveyard of civilizations and Powers shattered in some long forgotten multi-dimensional war. I didn't dare think on who or what had been involved, or what they'd done to do….this…
"Thunder Child says she's matching us, sending updated data feed. When your ready guys"
"Thank you" I replied to her closing my eyes and very carefully reaching into the 'sensors', but trying hard not to actually 'look' at anything outside of the bubble of reality that was the ships "Whenever you're ready Pathfinder, let me know"
…time that 'arrived' about an hour later by internal time keeping as reality outside our vessel twisted and warped in an insane display of colours I didn't recognise. Nor want to. Instead my sole focus was on safely bringing the two ships through the maelstrom Ruffio was guiding us towards and through said swirling maelstrom on insane reality breaking. Dude had certainly earned the high price tag on his services as a Pathfinder. How he'd figured out this route…I didn't know and didn't care, right now I was just glad to be out of that place as the Fortune's Chance shuddered in the 'storm' before both it and the Thunder Child slid out into Aetheric Space.
Or, to be more accurate, as no flames dared emerge from our ship, within the Phlogiston, the so-called
Rainbow Ocean. It was certainly pretty as we surged out of the maelstrom into 'fog' of many colours, and our sensors came back on and I inched the Fortune's Chance into 'The Flow'. Hazy memories granted to Sean were there, sort of, and that was a hazy-vague enough familiarity to let out a breath of relief, even if things were likely more dangerous here than in the Bad Place we'd just bee. I took a weary breath, looking to the exhausted looking Pathfinder, who female companion was helping him into a chair as the 'maps' updated on the screen as our two ships moved slowly forward into swirling fog.
"Isn't that very pretty?"
"Yeah, sort of, and dangerous…and no, we're not sampling it Quinn. We are not risking it getting inside and hitting a spark and making a large explosion in the hull" I told Quinn as I continued to sit in my Captain's chair watching system after system reactivate and move to full capacity. What the exact situation was in Rainbow Ocean was right now wasn't fully known to me as my own 'information' if you call it that, was several centuries our of date at best, likely millennia. And, out here, I couldn't exactly call up my deity, or another deity, out here in the sea where the Gods couldn't reach long distance.
"Yes, that'd be best" Ruffio offered taking a bottle of water and drinking thirstily, then grunting "Ooof, Gods, that's not fun…"
He took a breath, looking up at the screens "Annnnnd…..halfway there already"
I nodded "Good job so far…" then glanced at Quinn and Barbara "We're going to have a meeting of senior staff, and then crew briefings over the next day…now that we're here. But first I need to get some rest, and so those he, so get Zee, and we'll rework the roster…"
--
[Trader's Journal: Day 1354]
[Current Dimension]
The Phlogiston
[Current Location]
Fortune's Chance
[Trading Report]
None obviously.
[Diary Entry]
I'm tired, just done briefing the crew in detail about the fact we're now in the magic swirly fog that exists between Crystal Spheres, and that its very different to space or void. And why certain groups are not be visible, my orcish crew members for one, along with being careful of what our elven members say. Time has passed, but the Imperial Elven Navy still exists, albeit heavily weakened according to 'recent rumours' from our Pathfinder group and the Seal we bare. My layered illusions should suffice, what with the polymorph and protections, but if looked at it should seem a simple glamour to keep me 'pretty' to a mage's sight. Hide in plain sight and all that, even if The Rock of Bral likely has orcs around according to our 'guide'.
So, we are flying along at a ridiculous speed, even if we don't look like we are. The Flow amidst The Phlogiston is like that, and the main stress point is watching to ensure that none of the fog enters the ship proper. That'd led to explosions if it penetrated into certain areas, and I rather like having properly cooked food on the voyage though this place. It's hard to tell out here, as it looks the same everywhere, and the 'fog' that makes up the 'Ocean' is very hard to 'see' through, even with sensors on maximum power. Problems of not being optimised for such travel basically, and we have to be careful to ensure both us and Thunder Child stay in close formation.
Kara and Zatanna are handling our prisoner Jennifer, the not-so-bitchy-now sorceress of dino-land. I've been rather busy with keeping us in line for the approach, as well as handling the next part: Breaching the Crystal Sphere if necessary. They close up apparently, so no guarantee of easy access immediately, so that's been a significant period of my time, along with dealing Team Fire Nation, most prominently Azula who I'm making take time to learn and reflect on her mentality. With Doctor Chen watching and talking to her, to get a handle on the messed-up mentality her father installed in the entire family.
Next stop the Rock of Bral, the larger, proper one, out in its own little crystal sphere. Then we can start organising sale of our goods, and the getting a shipyard to start overhauling the ships. Fun times. Fun times indeed.
--
[05.17: As though we were smugglers, not poor honest men?]
[Snow globe, snow globe, magical, magical, snow globe…]
"Jesus that's huge"
"Eyup" I agreed with Quinn as the Fortune's Chance came into the range of the gigantic artifice that was a Crystal Sphere, the small 'egg' in the distance now a looming monstrosity that went on and on, seemingly beyond limit to our current viewpoint "Entire solar system inside a protective bubble…mostly because if the Phlogiston got inside in a large quantity and reached the sun. Well. Bad things happen supposedly. Really bad things"
There was a 'Broken Sphere' out there, Ouiyan, where the sun had supposedly go up in a massive explosion when just such a thing had occurred a long, long, time ago. But that was vague knowledge from an ancient orc, as well as what hazy knowledge we'd purchased in Sigil, much of it out of date by centuries, let alone years or even decades. Spelljamming was like the Age of Sail, except worse, as long range communication, while not impossible, was virtually impossible as finding routes for both Spelljamming and Planeswalking that overlapped…
Well, the work of millennia had only gotten the Elves a few such locations, supposedly, or were those like the Rock of Bral with weak links on the Planes side. Or so it was in theory, with much of my knowledge massively out of date at best as I prepared my spellbook for breaching said sphere of otherwise impervious and invincible barrier. It'd been several days on intense study to ensure I knew what the fuck I was doing for this point of the operation as knowing wasn't always the same as doing. That and avoiding any 'tell-tale' impressions of being a half-orc mage follower of The Shrouded Lord of Nishrek in my spellcraft, or simply falling back into Illuskan style magic.
'Pure Netherese it is then' I'd decided, which was its own kettle of magical fish, but plenty of people used Netherese spells these days, even thousands of years after Karsus Folly. The days of 'Oh Shit! Netherese! Kill on Sight/Run AWAY!' had long since vanished from people's memories thankfully. So, I waved away Quinn and Kara, with Zatanna handling the arcane guidance of the ship itself as I focused solely on the task at hand – and it would be bloody draining most likely. This and a proper sealing of our entry point were going to be an experience certainly.
Taking a deep breath, I stood in the arcane circle we'd installed on the bridge, and began to cast through the Fortune's Chance, speaking slowly and concisely as I moved my fingers and free hand while I held the spellbook in the other. Time. I had time, and that meant using that time to cast 'above my level' somewhat using tools and artifacts to boost my ability and maintain protective wards. Thunder Child was our 'guard ship' anyway, and within a few minutes massive arcane runes began to illuminate on the crystal landmass in front of us, then 'flowing' open like water parting before us. First a few inches, then sufficient space and a bit for for our cargo ship sized vessels to enter into the local realmspace.
"Bring us through Babs" I heard Kara order as I continued maintaining the spell "Signal the others to follow us through"
In the 'books' and 'stories' it so much easier than this…
The pressure on, arcane and almost physical, was crushing down on me as I opened up the crystal sphere, then continued monitoring it as I moved unto the next phase;- shutting it behind us rather than risk it 'naturally' healing as some texts indicated. The fact both the Fortune's Chance and Thunder Child were larger than your 'standard' spelljammer by a decent margin wasn't helping me right now as the breach had to be significantly bigger to allow them easily to move through. Great, Fantastic, were my immediate thoughts on that matter at the moment as the discomfort grew painful as I maintained my focus and concentration.
Thankfully, after a gods-damned eternity, the two ships had exited into realmspace as, sweating heavily, I began to chanting anew, this time in the 'reverse' as the sliver, relative to the star systems size of the sphere, we'd cut into the crystal sphere healed over, it's source hidden away hopefully. That done, I closed my spell book, walked over a few metres, and then collapsed back into a seat breathing hard and taking the bottle of water shoved into my hand by Kara "You don't look so good Callum"
"I don't feel so good either" I replied before taking a big gulp of the cold water, then shaking myself as if I 'd turned into a cat jumping out of a bath "Ehhhmmmm, ugh. Right. Yeah. That was fun. Very fun. We are through? Systems, okay?"
"Everything is in the green guys…will we light off the sub-light engines?"
"No" Kara answered Barbara for me, shaking her head "Not yet. We'll go forward slowly, scan to make sure there's none of the fog-stuff lingering or anywhere nearby, and then we'll risk it"
I just sat drinking water, nodding stupidly in agreement as she ordered Thunder Child to the same. Caution thy name was not Supergirl in the past, but Kara was a lot more sensible now when things could go boom and hurt people around her. So I tuned out the general scanning and discussions as I desperately avoided falling asleep from the drain on my reserves from the spells. By the time I'd 'zoned back in' the displays were showing visuals from the cameras of the system, though scanners were less beneficial in aetheric space. Aether made 'sensors' a bit less useful…a lot less useful honestly…than in 'harder' reality space where space didn't have aether present, or as much present.
"Oh" I asked, finally, standing back up and looking at the displays "We have visuals I see?"
"You're only notice that now?"
I shrugged in response to Kara's amused tone "Sorry, sort of out it. Telescopic cameras were a good idea I guess. Good ol' Monitors for that, good design, should give a gift card"
"Your babbling"
"I'm tired Kara" I muttered studying the long-range pictures of the Rock of Bral….
Which was significantly bigger now than vague memories of other Shards would have indicated or would have been in Karguk's 'Holy Books' all those centuries or more ago. That Rock of Bral was supposed to be large asteroid, with maybe ten to twenty thousand people on it, but this one was more reminiscent of a sprawl, with other asteroids brought into orbit around it in a ring structure…with a good many ships in orbit or in berths judging by the distant movement. Oh, they were tiny on the screens, like ants around a hive in size, but that was only due to our distance across the system. But even from here my 'memories' and mental image was quick wrong compared to what it was now.
"And here we are, at long last…" I murmured glancing at the indicators on the displays "So…three days at current speed?"
"You could go faster, but you're best staying at expected speeds" our Pathfinder offered after standing silently nearby through most of the entry as asked "Those images are great, but they don't have adequate clarity yet to see whose ships are there, and whose watching us potentially. It's the safer approach and lets everyone know we're coming with plenty of time"
I glanced at Kara and Quinn who nodded and shrugged respectively, and I nodded as well "Sounds good to me, and I am going to lie down for a little then. Maintain course and alert me if anything happens…"
--
[05.18: As though we were smugglers, not poor honest men?]
[A den of scum and villainy…]
"Berthing rights have been granted Mage-Captain" the half-elven woman's spectral avatar told me as I stood on the bridge of the Fortune's Chance looking out at the asteroid city of the Rock of Bral "Though shipyard access will have to be discussed further with Port Authority in person, in conjunction with the Shipwrights Guild. Place the Guidance Skimmer so your spelljammers may safely birth. Significant fines exist for damages caused by careless docking, and primitive and bulky design, nor inadequate arcane knowledge, is not accepted as a defence I will reiterate"
'Yes, you dumb techno-monkeys, don't break anything because of your big ugly piece of techno-junk' I mentally translated as I smiled and nodded back to the ghostly image within the summon circle "Thank you Honoured Mage, your advice is appreciated and shall be listened to. We shall the skimmer with utmost care and respect"
…and then she vanished with a curt nod. Barbara Gordon glared at the spot she'd been "Rude"
I sighed, shrugged "What can you do? We're in an arcane and divine energy usage dominated civilization, mostly, and, well, big metal ships, big dumb hicks is the general impression of us. We're not the only ones here looks like, thankfully, but, well…we have an uphill battle for respect from the likes of the lady there"
My *real* concern though was the Elven Imperial Fleet Man-o-war in the shipyard with its large, ethereal, crystalline wings stretched out and looking damaged along with the other one docked in the harbour. Likely an escort for its damaged fellow, and much more powerful than our ships with its arcane ballista against our missiles and energy weapons. Yes, they didn't legally couldn't touch us here, and the presence of a Mindflayer Nautiloid in harbour showed that, but it was a concern in my mind, just like said brain eating mind controllers were also a concern. Or the slave market and various heroic crewmembers of mine…
"It's a pirate port…yarr"
"Thank you Quinn" I replied at his amused comment "But, no, it's a Free Port, Piracy being strictly illegal in system, etc, etc…but if some goods happened to fall off the back of a random truck somewhere? Why we don't ask questions here! Welcome to Bral!"
Then shrugged "Anyway, we can't complain since we're looking to sell our stuff here to all these friendly not-pirates, smugglers, traders and the like, and then having our ship modified in their shipyards. So, we be really respectful even as we watch for them trying to rob us blind"
The Rock of Bral had always been like that, and Ruffio, the Pathfinder, had confirmed that the warnings remained the same the despite the large town now turning into a large city-state with its own large spelljammer fleet it looked it. The outer 'ring' was made up of asteroids connected by the wrecks, or simply retired, spelljammers secured together somewhat in the Elven and Dwarven manner to give both a platform to walk on, but also defensive capacity. I even 'recognised' one of the vessels as a Scro warship, but everything else was very different to what I'd expected to be honest…beyond centuries passing and Elven warships still largely being the same. Even down to mostly the same colours.
"It's going to be hard with shore leave, isn't it?" Barbara asked as I moved and began to prepare to guide the Fortune's Chance, slowly and carefully, into the docking berth allocated to us "Full armed escorts?"
"Mostly likely, and we'll also be here for some time unfortunately" I admitted "Especially with the shipyard work and the auction. But we'll discuss that when we are docked. Everyone to your stations I want courses checked and called out as we approach, reconfirm, verbally, all course changes to me as I make them"
Now was the time for focus and concentration, even down to not proving the annoyingly snobby half-elf right in her notifications. It was the minor problem of a civilian crew like this in that we weren't a 'trained' crew per se, and interactions were informal, even when we needed to be more formal. So, times like now, I tried to enforce some level of professionalism on everyone so simple mistakes didn't get made and damage the ship, or made it look like idiots. That meant at least trying to act like we were competent…
--
[Trader's Journal: Day 1363]
[Current Dimension]
Spelljammer territory
[Current Location]
Fortune's Chance, docked at the Docks of The Rock of Bral
[Trading Report]
150 Gold Coin Docking Charge (we're being ripped off!)
500 Gold Coin Insurance Policy (per week) with Auction House on Items supplied. Starts upon transfer of goods to them.
400 Gold Coin Legal Fees (current) with Wolf, Ram, & Hart and a further 200 Gold Coins with Tedex & Cleugath as Auction House costs.
That's all without stepping foot outside the frigging docks!
[Diary Entry]
Welcome down to Bral, gonna rob you fuckin' blind!
Sorry, it's just been a costly a few hours and we haven't moved into the city yet. Understandable costs too, but that doesn't make me not want to grumble about it. Yeah, yeah, pittance for the fact we're aiming for a large sum in the auction, and the costs of staying here for an extended period, but it's the first costs after arriving and I'm grumpy about it. Though, honestly, it's more the fact now I've got to organise shore leave for my merry band of misfists, from Team Fire Crazy, to the Skyrim Mages, to the happy sunshine people I have to check if I can let out. I'm half-orc after all and I'm covered in illusions and a polymorph to cover up that fact with an Elven ship docked and, well, Servant of the Shrouded Lord, and therefore servant of Doug the Great and Terrible.
It's Sigil field trips all over again, and it's something that has to be done. Largely because nobody wants to be trapped on the ship for weeks to months after already been onboard for so long. So, yes, that's to be discussed and planned out in the morning after I get some bloody sleep as we're cleared with what counts for customs around here. Funny how situations like this can be stressful, what with the bored white dragon loli, my 'apprentice' the fire princess, our prisoner Jennfer Morgan, and also the crack team of goblin commandoes that are trouble either side of staying/being let out. Bored goblins are destructive goblins, but free goblins are a problem that causes more problems.
Right now, I have simple plan; - get shiny rocks to Auction House under Bond. Have Shiny rocks sell for many shiny things in a few weeks in an auction, all while the ships undergo upgrading. That's being discussed tomorrow as well. Largely the sooner I can talk to the shipwrights and spellcasters the sooner we can make a decision on the upgrades and seeing what is available. There are technological systems available here, so we can see what can be module-fitted to us and the Thunderchild. Us for long-range operations, and a better Helm in the arcane sense, and Thunderchild is straight forward refitting as a warship with some ability like a spelljammer helm.
Next part is renting a house in the city. That is the plan for a few days. That allows shore leave and some degree of control. That or renting most of an inn. Need to look around and get a lay of the land before can decide that little gem. So when they all get roaring drunk it's in a guarded environment for our more 'innocent' or 'destructive' members. Rules here are simple, relatively, but it's also a place filled with thieves and pirates playing nice with each other as well. Where starting a fire of a certain size can get you arrested and 'gifted to the Embassy' for crimes – ie eaten by the Mindflayer Ambassador. Neat and practical way of solving the Stupid Idiot problem while keeping the evil brain eaters fed in an 'ethical' way. Because there's always idiots – and I don't want it to be my idiots.
So. Scouting. Deals. Talking to many people. Needing sleep now first.
--
[05.19: As though we were smugglers, not poor honest men?]
[To market, to market…]
Duncan Sheckjen was a busy dwarf, and more work had just come in for the shipwright he to report to his fellow shipwrights as he sat down at the table with a flagon of ale in hand and a platter of meat in front of them all. A good hearty meal and a good drink were important when talking business, and it was efficient too, merging business and pleasure for a true dwarven worker. Dealing with new clients was always worthy of, and needing of, a good drink afterwards anyway so Duncan took a big gulp, then burping as the others stomped into the room to take their own seats.
Ottar Shatterbrand was fiddling with his pipe, filling it with imported tabac and generally looking bored;- as well he might been stuck working with those damned elves and their every increasing demands. Duncan was glad he didn't have to deal with that particular problem as elves both wouldn't let you near their precious inner spelljammer, but also constantly demanded you understand things they didn't want you to understand. It'd be weeks, at a minimum, to get that blasted Man-o-war repaired he reckoned, and then the elves would either refuse to pay, or simply try short-change them in what they did, eventually, pay.
"So, Duncan…" the human mage, Ostmeer, asked sitting down with a wine instead of a proper drink "…what about our friends in the steel hulks?"
Duncun grunted "What you want to know first? That didn't build those ships of theirs? At least ah reckon they didn't anyhow, maybe they're an ancestor's unless they're the more likely option; scavenge"
"What are they looking for?" Ottar asked as the dozen or so of the Bral Shipwrights Guild took their seats and started into their drinks "They got here, so they know how to sail their spelljammers at least"
"True" he agreed with a nod "Their Captain's a wizard of some sort, and there seem to a have a few spellcasters among them, but the other two senior ones seem to be artificers of some sort if I had to guess. The second ship they seem intent on magic for idiots in terms of controls…but, anyway, ah was lookin' over the innards, that they'd let me see, an' whoever built'em knew magic, or ran into folks who knew it, but they didn't use it overmuch emselves'. That and them innards are a hodge-podge of artifice from what ah' saw. Bits of wizards work, bits of some steam and comp work, bits of stuff they don't really know what they are emselves'…but, the spelljammers emseslves' seem built to take on parts, magical or not, pretty easy"
Then took a moment to gobble down some hard sausage and grits, followed by a gulp of ale before continuing on "As to what they want…one of'ems a smuggler, or lookin' ta trade in hard places, an' manys a dimension; they want a Major Helm, Cloaking one at that…"
A few heads nodded at that, confirming his own suspicions in their minds as those were damned expensive and the favourites of folk looking to trade, but likely not be seen doing so "…and that's a biggin' cost as she's big brute of a ship an' need a half dozen ancillary helms to make'er work at full functionality. Power innit a problem fer either of'em, as ah said, they're someone elses long past. Probably warships, though the weapons are long gone with dat armour an' the power they've got"
"And the other ship?" Ostmeer queried "And total work all in?"
"Conversion back inna a warship, both arcane an' article. Reckon we can sell'em some of them pha-zors we got sitting idle in the stores and the like as the artifice part. Probably need you or Yarus ta look it over Ostmeer for the arcane, talk to the wizard moreso" Duncan pointed out simple pulling out his notes and throwing them over to the mage supervisor "Maybe even bringin one of'em gnome crews fer some of the weirder artifice. Ah reckon shes gonna be a warship in some backwater Lord's little fleet an' she'll never move into the Phlogiston, like or not even from her own dimension, beyond times like this ta get fixed. Ah've book time fer tomorrow, so we'll need decide afore we break fer the night"
Ottar nodded, senior amongst them "Aye, aye, best done and best tell'em it'll be a hard cost and takin' some time to what yer describing Duncan. What say the rest of ye on it? What crews be best to put on it with sorts that have only a few mages and likely more primitives and outsiders amongst'em…"
--
{Meanwhile, across the docks…}
"…and be careful with that!"
I watched, quietly, as the solid steel and magic blessed container containing Sozin's Comet as unloaded from the Fortune's Chance and into the hands of the local guards and guards from the Bral Auction House. It was a Container of Holding at that, as the actual comet was a rather massive thing, and this container was only large enough to sit atop an oxen drawn cart. Magical enhanced oxen due to the weight of course, just like the ones pulling the other cart containing the giant-ass Krypton rock taken in payment for the abuse suffered during my first time in Skartaris. Magically enhanced oxen due to the weight, and it was an interesting sight.
We'd taken small samples of both the Comet and the Green Rock for our own use at a later point, but they were only a few hand-sized chunks and took nothing away from the large building sized lumps that were both items we were putting up for sale. Now, with the exchange made, the items were the responsibility of the Auction House rather than us in the even of attack, damage, or theft so we were getting a payday regardless of what happened. Even if it was costly enough for that 'insurance' in case of any of those potential problems here in the 'Free Port', it was security for what we were going to suffer in costs for the ship overhauls.
I walked over to the armoured knight, a Warden of sorts for the people taking charge of our property, and I held out the paperwork with arcane seal to him "I trust all is in order"
"Aye Sirrah, it is" the armoured warrior, I wasn't sure if it was a he or a she, or even human, behind that metal helm and armour as the gauntleted hand took the papers into hand, and then stamped them with his other hand, magic burning unto the scrolls from the arcane stamper "And I take responsibility for these charges as laid out under Oath and Bond for this Trade House"
I took the papers back, placing them into my secure trader's pack "Thank ye kindly Sir Knight, it is good to know these artefacts are in safe hands"
He/she nodded that big, armoured helmet-head of theirs "These items will be escorted to the Auction House and assessed by qualified assessors per confirmation of goods transfer for the auction. You will be notified within the tenday of the status of the sales within the upcoming auction, along with associated costs and responsibilities of both parties involved in the sale"
"We are aware good Sir and will follow those contractual responsibilities to the letter" I replied, really meaning that 'No, it's not some fake artefact. We're giving you exactly what we checked with you yesterday on the bloody ship!'. But that'd be rude, so I didn't say it as I handled the 'sales' aspect of our little venture here while Quinn stayed aboard the ship while Kara and Barbara had a team preparing the rented building across from the Repair Docks "As we expect of you and yours. When you have clarified the status of the auction, we may have some minor artefacts to sell during the Barter Market as described, so if the costs and status of a stall could be clarified within that tenday it would be beneficial to both of our parties"
Said auction was over a month away after all, and the ship upgrades would take double that at the very least, so we were going to have to handle things during an extended shore leave. That meant paying for everything, and that meant using up our 'hard currency' like the gold and silver coinage, all of which had to be drawn from hard reality. No star trek replicator 'shit' accepted here where people could tell *how* a coin was created by magical or psionic means; - something we thankfully didn't have anyway. Getting large, efficient, 3D printers to go with the Androsynth Manufacturing Unit was one of my goals after all, along getting a proper magical system installed unto the ship.
"The lands beyond those of the spirits certainly are a mystery" I glanced at Prince Iroh, who'd been standing as silently as I had been, at least till I'd approached the knight anyway. Now only speaking as said armoured fellow merely walked away after giving me a nod in response "So many wonders and terrors, and yet this scene could be out of the Earth Kingdom or one of the Colonies"
'It could be?...ah, many of the guards are Shou I think?' I mused to myself for a split second, glancing at the uniforms of the guards and the fact many were armed with spears, or spear like halberds. Shrugging in response to him "Perhaps. Free Ports are…well, sometimes cultural practices overlap or are similar. Right now I'm just glad to have first part of the deal done. Valuable things secured aboard…"
"Attracts unsavoury attention" he replied with a nod, glancing around and almost seeing somewhere else it appeared to me "Disturbingly familiar, yet I am eager to explore"
I sighed resting on my sword-cane "Well, that's something we'll do in nice, security escorted, groups. So, please, please keep a handle on your nephew and his ladies. Princess Azula is…being handled by myself for any travel. Just make sure Zuko doesn't try explore without a group. I've enough headaches without trouble with what counts for law enforcement around here"
--
[05.20: As though we were smugglers, not poor honest men?]
[Tavern Party Time…]
'Ugh. Yeah. Sure. You look *stunning* Ellie' Ellen Eleven told herself sarcastically as she looked at the person in the mirror, still frightened every time she looked back at herself. The short, scrawny, thirty-three year old woman with mousey hair and thick circular glasses, instead of the teenager, albeit her old, nerdy, self, half of her memories recoiled at. Oh, it wasn't as bad as those first few weeks when she'd broken down weeping at all that time she'd lost, all that time taken by the Villains…and seeing what she'd become in that Other Time, where The Fraternity had failed.
Now she felt like crawling into her robes and hiding…even though this was what she'd always wanted her younger self almost screamed at her. This was learning magic and seeing new sights, even more than that, stepping into danger as an explorer! But that had been the goals and naïve dreams of a girl barely a teenager, not even an adult, and the defeat had been cruel…why they'd been so cruel to them, all of them. Little memories of petty humiliations over the years, the villains laughing in the shadows as she'd suffered, even if she'd been spared the worst of the abuse…or that her mind didn't *remember* such things.
"Ellie. Hood. Down" her tormentor, and boss, and 'guardian' for the night stated, hands grabbing the hood of the robe Ellen had chosen to wear and pulled it down "Show pretty smile"
Asa…was almost dressed conservatively tonight. For Asa anyway, wearing a 'wizard's robe' just like Ellen, save one showing off the 'good doctor's' bosom, and split down the sides to let greyish-white legs be easily visible. She'd forced Ellie into near identical robes, but, thankfully, a little work had allowed Ellen to cover herself into modesty, small breasts helping *for once* in the situation, even if the occasional flash of leg as still visible up to her knees. The high heels had gone after all, and Ellen had fought off 'Nightmare Nurse's' designs to get her into such things. Ellen forced a fake smile and Asa rolled her eyes.
"Yes, let's go with that as an improvement" Asa told her with a roll of her eyes, grabbing Ellen's arm and half-dragging her own the door "Now come you! We are already late, and I want to see the city"
…and then she was being drag-walked through the familiar corridors of the ship as Asa hummed to herself, ignoring Ellen's protests to slow down even as the demoness doctor walked more easily on her high heels than Ellen did in her 'frumpy-dumpy' shoes as Asa called them. It was really aggravating to still be this clumsy in her thirties as it had been when she'd been a child, or to have her protesting 'whining' ignored as they came to where the four others of their party were waiting. No one was allowed out without security, or a 'buddy', even if it was to the markets and for a few drinks.
Security in this case being Evan and Annabelle, Annabelle Durant being from the Earth where The Fraternity hadn't taken over and Evan from the 'Slide Hell' Earth as he called it. Both were dressed…well, oddly, in army like fatigues under metal breastplates and armed with pistols and swords, along with a stun gun like the one shoved into Ellen's hands. Well, not exactly like hers as hers just looked like fancy taser while there looked one of those 'Star Wars' ones. Most importantly she had money, or fancy golden and silver coins that counted as money here at least, and so she followed along with the others as they exited out into the strange streets of this interdimensional city.
All sorts of creatures were here, and Ellen had listened careful to the *extensive* briefing on what to stay away from at all costs from Captain Callum and that Pathfinder fellow. So, she tried very hard not to gawk at everything and everyone they passed as they moved into the crowds as they exited the 'Docks' and into the market district according to the map. Asa was taking the lead for them all, moving with purpose and swaying hips despite the satchel held one handed over her left shoulder "What…what are looking for Asa?"
"Medical and alchemical books!" came back cheerfully from Nightmare Nurse (which Ellen found a silly name since Asa was the Ship's Doctor) as she looked about seemingly unbothered or unconcerned by the various evil creatures milling about with ordinary humans "Your education never ends Ellie dear! So much knowledge to claim! So many exciting new and gruesome procedures to update!"
"Yes!" the elf, Faralda, agreed enthusiastically, slamming on hand into the other, while the other of their group, Chief Engineer Sanchez merely gave a bored shrug of her shoulders "Knowledge is our goal…save for the gruesome part. The Archmage prefers we avoid that inside the grounds of the College"
"Or on the ship thank you" the engineer replied drolly "As I have to fix such things. So. No Gore. No Destruction. Shopping and being polite people"
"Then we all get drunk" their guard Evan offered unhelpfully, earning a glare from the engineer and Ellen, while the elf and demon nodded in agreement "Hey, time off ship, time to have drink. We are here for an extended shore leave right?"
"I'm buying books to learn magic and…"
Asa gently bonked Ellen on the head, interrupting her retort, voice mock serious as she interrupted "Yes, but you will drink and socialise tonight as well Nurse Grumpy Pants. Doctor's Orders"
"Awwww" was Ellie's response to that as they headed towards a store that hopefully sold said books…
--
{The Githzerai Monk…}
Oralis sat quietly, sipping at her herbal tea, as Haeteloloth gulped down another mug of some dwarven alcoholic concoction in competition with some of those dwarven fools. The 'strange human female' disguise fooled many, and the 'drinking game' was a favourite of Oralis's companion for 'raising coins' when she got a little bored or simply greedy. Greedy was the current setting most likely she decided as her White Dragon companion slammed down the large mug in an exaggerated manner while shouting for more. Oralis had carefully lifted her cup of tea in advance of the blow, eyes closed, and the redeposited it again as the dwarves and humans continued their loudness.
She estimated 'victory', as her friend saw it, likely an hour away, perhaps a bit more if the most bearded of the dwarves was as bottomless in constitution as he seemed. They really should have smelled a 'rat' as it were with the young human 'mage' outdrinking so far, but it seemed pride and then alcohol had lulled them into making quite the coin-purse damaging mistake tonight. For her though…it was a chance to observe and gather rumours and knowledge, as it ever was, while her loud and noisy companion distracted others. It was useful, and there was always so much to learn that could be beneficial at a later date, or for ensuring enemies of the Gith were dealt with as they should.
Leaving Sigil was a rare thing, though best done as soon her Dragon friend would be unable to remain there as Age and Power worked against her presence in The Cage. Already Haeteloloth had the occasional 'headaches' and 'stress' when in her empowered state that Oralis, and Haeteloloth as well, knew well as the signs that within years or decades the Doors would be closed to her. Unfortunate, so best now to seek out an adequate plane to migrate too when the time came by means such as this. That, and for Oralis's purposes, ensuring these planeswalkers hatred was ensured of the brain-eating monsters that were allowed wander around this city-port free and unmolested.
It was a great test of her discipline not to simply discard her hooded cloak and the amulet of glamour upon her body of a human female to seek out the nearest abomination and slay them where they stood. That of course was why The Way of her people was superior to that of their more bloodthirsty kin;- for slaying one here would do little but cost her her life in exchange. Likely eaten by one of the monsters in their 'Embassy'…
So, she would listen and learn, and then inform those needing informing should the time and knowledge arise from a useful target. For now, it remained to her to continue to stoke the flames of first distaste, and then eventual hatred, amongst the crew towards the abominations. Though it with the half-orc Captain such means seemed unnecessary with his following of that deity of the Orc pantheon, whose dislike with bloodshed towards the Enemy was well known. There would be no objection there to the spending of her own 'reward' for this expedition upon mercenaries to slay abominations in righteous revenge.
'Which should be significant considering the interest such artefacts as hauled will inspire' Oralis thought idly to herself three teas later as the last of the competitors fell before the bottomless pit that was her Ancient Friend's stomach. Most of the drunken talk and whispers within the tavern were worthless, but a handful did speak of useful things that bore investigation as Oralis opened her eyes as her friend slammed down the last flagon, then gathering up the coins into a bag of holding. Then sighed as Haeteloloth's eyes fell upon her next victim/target/friend and his cluster.
Without a word Oralis followed behind her 'sister' according to the lies they had told the locals, and they were close of 'look' from their glamours after all. Then, just as quietly, took her seat behind the young monk girl, Ty Lee as she grinned at them, then even more at Haeteloloth marching over to the Dragon-blooded human Prince on the other side of the Ty Lee and sitting on his lap. Claiming her territory as it was Oralis guess, the younger giggling at the red face of the young male, while his mate-candidate on the other side meekly back down at Oralis's friend's glare.
'Another sign of some dragon blood within that bloodline that she recognises a Dragon's glare such as that, and best to accept it' she thought silently as always. Haeteloloth had decided to take charge of the boy, and instructed Oralis to train the females as need be;- easiest with the young monk, but the skills with the knife of the senior female mate was also impressive, albeit not Oralis's strongest point personally. Her friend could be playfully cruel like that to others, though the view of 'Blessing' rare worthy champions was the name of the game here of course. The fact the boy's family had a long history with Dragonkind or his world merely made her friend's focus on asserting a claim on them all the more focused in case of a future place to lair with 'Blessed' servants or champions allied/serving her.
Oralis's own eyes were beyond that anyway. New worlds. New enemies to made for the Great Enemy of all Gith and so aid the Gith in removing the stain of the Ithilids from the multiverse…
--
[05.21: As though we were smugglers, not poor honest men?]
[Fix it, Build it, then Drink the night away…]
--
[Trader's Journal: Day 1376]
[Current Dimension]
Spelljammer territory
[Current Location]
Fortune's Chance, Docks of The Rock of Bral
[Trading Report]
More day-to-day costs currently. Largely the usual headache of translating payroll, which is largely barter for services and knowledge for many of the crew, into physical funds now we're here in what counts for civilization. Right now, that's translated into a stipend of 25 gold coins each per ten-day. Grossly extravagant but considering the situation its reasonable investment in keeping everyone behaving.
So, in lieu of being paid in that many coins, we've taken borrowings from what counts as the banks here against sale of various items. Basically, we no leave Docks till bills paid. Not a major issue as we've plenty of goods to sell separate to our primary sales point in the Auction. Our main costs after all are with the ship upgrades, so that's consuming all the gold and silver reserves we brought with us, and then some. Thankfully the allied governments paid us very well to pay for the ship upgrades, so, technically, not our money we're spending!
Current upgrades:
Fortune's Chance
- Major Spelljamming Helm with five auxiliary helms to ensure full coverage. With artefacts to ensure it can be repaired should it be damaged.
- Illusion magic-based camouflage system to go on the outer hull to support the existing monitor systems, which are modular and allow us to add the spellwork without much trouble.
- Protective Wards in adamantine runic arrays to protect against Evil, Chaos;- the usual basically for all things demonic and daemonic.
- Adding an Alchemy Lab with associated storage area and protective wards.
- Improving the Library to anything beyond 'We've a few books, innit great?'
We are also doing out own upgrades now we're in a proper dock;
- Two missile launchers to the outer hull tied into defence grid.
- Three blaster cannons acquired in the 'Star Wars' verse that are light anti-ship.
- Further work on shoring up internal space and wiring with outside help if need be.
- Also furnishing the rooms for passengers for those of a more magic based society.
- Re-organising the forward 'engineering' bay into a proper engineering/forge/manufacture workshop
Thunderchild
- Major spelljamming Helm with three auxillary helms for full coverage, plus repair capacity. Helm is 'magic for dummies' in a way, so not as responsive, but can be used by cantrip level training.
- Two phaser arrays. Why they had these I don't know, but they are going on the warship and will make everyone happy back on the Earths.
- Since there's no dimensional tampering with the internals like Fortune's Chance we're armouring the internals.
- Same with adding External and Internal Protective Wards as the Chance, along with hardened innards in case of boarding.
- Adding a repair and engineering bay where the 'landing bay' is. Small troop insertions possible, but no shuttle/helicopter capacity now.
Otherwise, we are buying weapons, but that is still to be clarified as it depends on what available after the Auction essentially. We are also selling weapons, in this case four crates of M-16s and two crates of grenades as a starter.
[Diary Entry]
Busy, busy, busy. That's me and Kara and Quinn.
I'm handling business negotiations. Along with 'teaching' Azula. Because that can be super-fun let me tell you, though she is attentive now that the mental break has passed. She's very intelligent, and I like her company, save for the fact she's also sort of a bomb waiting to go off at times. Her family brought her up terrible, and I count Mother and Father in that based on what she's told me of early childhood. Royal families can be really messed up, and hers is, well, up there with the Ottomans at times in trying to drive heirs bonkers with stress and expectations. Let alone the fact the totally-not-evil dragon has decided she likes them. Joy. At least she hasn't eaten anyone I suppose?
Small mercies.
Anyway, yeah, I'm sort of Azula's guardian by dint of Kara and Zatana handling Jennifer Morgan, and Quinn, well, being Quinn. For now I've distracted him and The Mechanist with working on the redesigned workshop area and general ship upgrades. Azula I've got reading on the Hapsburgs, along with the fall of the tsarist regime in Russia, the second on how not to rule a nation and screw everything up, and the first because she found the book in the computers. Industrialisation and other things are options, but lets try and stay away from that for the moment while I'm distracted, so those two things and learning to explore the insanity of the markets is our current port of call.
Which, yeah, is pretty good for showing how fucked up things can be. Bral has certainly expanded, in both size and power, and the fact that slavery, ie the markets, is now public rather than hidden is a sign of that. The fact that there are even elven slaves allowed in sight. Yeah. That's a shock to me, because in Karguk's time and after that would have had nasty armoured elves stomping about and killing. Apparently, the still ambush people outside the Cystal Sphere, the elves I mean, so that's to be expected, though there are a handful of half-orcs around her to my further surprise. No actual full crews, so I'm still keeping my lot hidden, along with my own status.
Imperial Man-o-war in harbour after all, and another nearby. That particular alliance hasn't ended, even if Bral seems to have built its own fleet and has all these 'little things' that I find odd. Realpolitik at work;- Bral needs the Elves, the Elves need Bral, and everyone holds their nose at the others actions outside of the port. Things feel tense with that ship in harbour, let alone with the others coming into harbour as well. Such as the freaky boneship with the living person as it's figurehead. Poor woman, though the necromancer at the helm dresses a dandy. Here to sell or buy at the auction, probably both judging from what I saw being offloaded from the ship.
Yes, I'm nosy. I'm trying to get a feel for things when walking the markets and listening for rumours. Ships sighted out on the edges of the system. Trade meet and greet basically. I sort of need to meet my 'fellow captains' even if they are filthy pirates, or murderous assholes. Yes, many are actually decent people as well, but the evil ones stand out and need to be most wary of. It also lets me shape a bigger picture of how things are in the larger universe. I've already bought charts, older ones, and seems that Scro territory expanded a bit, along with maybe Illusk based on the sudden No Elven Armada over Greyspace (Toril) according to charts. They haven't done that since Netheril ran them out of the sphere.
Not my concern though. Right now, it's ensuring crew safety in this place while shopping, and getting roaring drunk. The positive there is that each night I've assigned DO NOT GET DRUNK soldiers to play escort, so, so far, so good. That plus the fact the boarding house is near enough to the tavern to ensure ease of moving drunks to beds. Has to be done, even the trained soldiers need time to unwind. Otherwise we'd all crack up from being extended time on the ship alone. Everyone wants to see strange, and dangerous, new worlds after all.
Now I'm going to spend time with Kara. Outside the ship. Because we also want to 'relax' and have a meal and drinks that isn't always at stations and such, or between work. Day off, sort of, and sleep in. Everything arranged with a Watch schedule. Anyway. Slán.
--
[05.22: As though we were smugglers, not poor honest men?]
[Azula! F*k Yeah! Gonna save the mother*ckin' day, yeah!…in her own 'special' way, yeah!]
Iroh sipped his tea, contemplating the sights and sounds around him as he 'relaxed' under the stars outside 'base camp' within this port. Or, rather more accurately, he sat in deep concern at a table in the 'beer garden' as he observed the continued terrifying implications of recent week…recent months. This place, this port, had merely put things in even more focus as the days passed since their arrival and he got to look upon the streets and people of The Rock of Bral as it was called. From the merely strange looking, to the bizarre, and then unto the nightmarish.
What it spoke of…concerned him. Deeply.
Oh, their not-quite-abduction at the hands of their current 'crewmates' had been a shock for the world, as had the first days of being aboard and the insanity of it all. Of the power disparity he could see. Of the threat they could be to The Avatar, to the world as a whole. Of the mental state of Zuko, but then even moreso of Azula who had broken under those blows. Something Iroh would never have believed could happen, but had even as Zuko had been worried enough to comfort his sister…as if she was his younger sister basically. All while having his own problems with everything, along with the White Dragon deciding she 'liked' them. All very worrying for The White Lotus to consider…
But what was truly terrifying was here and now…those he travelled with, despite the frightful power imbalance towards the Fire Nation, weren't even a minor power. That this place, this terrifying place with all its walking monsters and spirits and benders beyond reckoning…it was all to familiar to him. This was a *mere* free port, an up-jumped city-state or large family holding, that thrived on edges of laws and the dark deeds of pirates who remained uncaught. There was no great empire here, yet its power and that of many here was beyond that of a force that had almost casually defeated The Avatar, then toppled a small kingdom and taken away its sorceress champion as a prize for past crimes.
How was one to stop such nightmares coming to his home?
That dominated the thoughts of the Dragon of the West, along with other matters related both small and large, as merely looked to enjoying the sights of some of the scantily clad dancers across the way from the yard. No easy way exist to protect anything, and yet the change he'd seen and talked about that the sheer difference in cultures even with his 'human' shipmates. Of the knowledge that in the building of defences…could…would shatter a nation, maybe not the Fire Nation so much, but those most conservative such as Earth Kingdom. Predications of bloodshed and collapse even with peace worried him in the tomes he'd read, that bare fraction of all the knowledge out there…
"Uncle"
…and Azula still retained the unnerving ability to sneak up on people when she wanted to, just like Zuko did, Iroh thought not displaying any surprise as he nodded, sipping his tea "Niece. Please. Sit"
His niece was dressed in the garb of the foreign culture of this 'League', though still largely retaining Fire Nation colours, as she sat across from him. The young Captain was both a boon and a curse for influencing Azula Iroh found;- almost contemptuous of Iroh's brother's efforts as Fire Lord and a Father, but the beliefs he did bring weren't the best influence upon his recovering niece neither. Opening Azula's mind was….good, potentially, but educating her as a sort of Apprentice was…
Concerning. That was the word.
He smiled warmly at her as she sat, glancing at the shouts as someone began to sing across the garden, then back to him "You look like you have matters on your mind Azula"
"Yes Uncle" was the immediate response, and she appeared serious rather than bothering with false politeness, at least among 'family' now. Something from Captain Callum perhaps, Iroh wasn't sure what to make of Azula being 'more honest' with them lately "I know you have noticed. This place and the others are concerning. For the safety of the Fire Nation and the world at large"
"Indeed, that had crossed my mind my beloved niece" he replied with forced joviality "Most everyday from the time we joined this merry adventure into the unknown I believe"
She nodded "I've been thinking on the matter"
'Always a dangerous thing with our bloodline' was Iroh's opinion of that "Indeed?"
"Yes, and talking to both Callum and Haeteloloth, along with reading what is available…" to take your mind off the cracking he suspected. Strategy and Tactics had long been ways to avoid pain and grieve for those of the Royal Family "…and the situation won't be safe if any of these dangers arrived in our home. Things must be done to allow us to survive know that we know the enemies and dangers lurking in the dark"
"The Great Spirits do help us" he did point out, though having seen that…they hadn't stopped his brother getting threatened "But, yes, I do agree much needs to be done. Such as ensuring the Avatar is trained and knows of these dangers"
"Yes, that would be a start. Father will be a problem I now see…"
…well, that was progress…
"…but the industrialisation and development needs to be more organised, more resources needed…"
Or not.
"…and for the world to be at peace"
"I am surprised to hear you say that niece" he replied politely "What with your…recent views"
"The world was so large then. Now it seems so small and fragile" she replied bluntly a cup in her hand, hopefully not filled with alcohol "Even down to the dragon that has decided to look after Zuzu's love life because he's taking too long with making Mai happy. No, the world needs to be protected"
"Excellent niece, that's…"
She nodded "Which is why I must marry the Avatar"
….
……….
Iron sipped his tea. Maintaining composure and realising she was being completely serious and not joking in anyway "Ah…why is that beloved niece"
"The Avatar will be the most important piece to bringing peace and restoring the Air Nation"
'Okayyy….just. Ask' he mused "Restoring the Air Nation?"
"We need Airbenders now, and in the future. It's unfortunate our ancestors were so efficient at eliminating them but I have a step-by-step plan to restore them in a few generations" she replied as if it was making tea "But to do that we need peace, and to do that the Avatar will be needed. I will be Fire Lord. The Water tribe girl, Katara is the daughter of the Southern Water Tribe Leader, and lusts after the Avatar. She will lead the Water Tribe…"
It wasn't quite like that with the Water Tribe's he was going to interject as Azula counted out on her fingers…
"…and that is two Nations. Mostly, the Northern Water Tribe we can marry some of our nobles daughters and sons to. The Earth Kingdom…"
Iroh coughed "Has a King, and a…"
"My preference is to overthrow him and his Generals, because they incompetent and corrupt, and replace him with the Avatar's Earthbender who beat up Zuko. Toph I believe. Then she would be the third ruler-wife. World Peace. And then we start the next step…"
"What if she…ah, objects to the Avatar?"
"A reasonable concern" Azula admitted "The boy seems very flighty. I'll have to work on that, yes, but a valid reason not to want to marry him. Anyway, she might like Zuko I admit, so then we marry her to by brother and ensure the Earth King marries and produces a daughter. And is a figurehead ruler with more competent folks in charge"
He sighed. Starring into his tea "And if…that Avatar objects"
"What? Three beautiful wives and many concubines to birth Airbender Warriors?" she starred, paused, hand under chin "Hmm…Air Monk, perhaps he prefers boys like Ty Lee says. Well"
His niece moved her fist into the palm of her other hand "If he wouldn't do his duty to following my plan, hmm, I'd just challenge him to an Agni Kai and then, when I have defeated him, I would ensure he did. Problem solved"
'Okayyy….' He smiled, nodding "And the Avatar's other companion? The, ah, Prince of the…"
"Oh, the Moon Spirit has claimed him and I'm unsure if She's willing to share or ensure he remains chaste for her" Azula came back with a shrug "Ideally we'd marry him off to one of ours, I'm taking Lady Tamsin's daughter, or Lady Ashanda's, but it's best not anger one of the Great Spirits. Since we'll need them for defending the world and making deals with this League of the Captain's worlds for mutual defence"
Iroh sipped his tea "You have this…thought out in depth I see"
"Barebones" she admitted "I have to talk more to Haeteloloth on a few points as she's good the…understanding boys…thing"
'No. No. The Evil Dragon is not' he wanted to retort, but, compared to his niece….
Who sighed "And Callum, that'll help. But I'm at twenty-seven marriages, minimum, so far. Oh, and yours too Uncle, you need…"
'Well' he thought brain confused over….everything he was hearing as if a War Council, in utter seriousness, from his niece 'Azula has turned Good. She wants to save the world. It's utterly terrifying and maybe we were all safer when she listened to my brother and merely wanted us all dead…"
--
[05.23: As though we were smugglers, not poor honest men?]
[Preparing for auctions….]
--
[Trader's Journal: Day 1432]
[Current Dimension]
Spelljammer territory
[Current Location]
Boarding House, The Rock of Bral
[Trading Report]
[Day's Acquisitions]
145 Gold Coins - Masterwork Alchemist Tools
860 Gold Coins – Assorted High Quality Arcane Ink and Scribe Tools (large quantity)
600 Gold Coins – 50 High Quality (arcane energy imbued) Blank Scrolls
120 Gold Coins – 3 sets mage robes. (High Quality) (Male)
200 Gold Coins – 20 sets mage robes (Alchemical Standard) (Male)
200 Gold Coins – 20 sets mage robes (Alchemical Standard) (Female)
800 Gold Coins – 2 x (Enchanted) Dwarven made battle-axes (1 to put crudely)
[Day's Sales]
226 Gold Coins – 47 AK-47 Assault Rifles plus 47 X crates of associated ammunition
580 Gold Coins – 2 x Rubies (High Quality)
925 Gold Coins – 16 x Emergency Healing Kit (Including Healing Potion, Bandages, Stimpak, Stim, etc)
712 Gold Coins – 39 x assorted (light) body armour
519 Gold Coins – Sale of assorted literature (non-arcane) (largely books on chemistry, survival tactics, etc)
Trade has been fairly good past few days as word of us spreads amongst the new ships. People have arrived and want gear, and we're happy to provide. I think we've got a chunk of adventurers here to dispose of their loot, along with pirates doing the same, though the adventurers are out looking for things to fill out their stores for the next trip. Things happening nearby apparently, though large auctions do draw them in like flies to honey. I'm just focused on trading our junk stock and then assembling a small armoury of varied gear for a later date ourselves.
[Diary Entry]
Busy days. Tiring days. Another one today, though at least I get to relax now for a bit. Thank heavens. I'm really tired and I've an Auction not to far away. So, tonight is drinking and time with Kara, a day off tomorrow, and then the auction house. That's the plan and I'm intending to stick to it. Funny how being here an extended period of time makes me glad I get to leave soon enough now we're edging towards completion of work on the two ships.
Fortune's Chance should be finished in another ten-day to use the local parlance, which is good, even if Thunderchild will take somewhat longer. We've even got that automated magical ballista up and functional ahead of schedule. Dwarven workers, even ones in this crappy place, are just that good. But, yeah, getting through the auction is the next plan as the city-state is literally filled with people now, ships been arriving day after day to trade. Not necessarily with us, but there is plenty of low-level trade to be made as this is sort of like a trade meet over horses or whatever, even if many of the folk here aren't all that savoury. Hence why security has tightened up for the crew.
Adventurers in town, in numbers, so, yeah. Best avoid trouble. Because groups like that'll cause trouble and I'd rather it be trouble with people not me. Thankfully all the horrible monsters and slavers about are getting the ire of those sorts, so, yay for that I suppose. It sets Kara's teeth on edge, same with Zee, but, as I've told them and Barbara – we can't do anything about. No heroics from the heroes, because they are not the heroes here. Even when the city, legally, hands criminals over to have their brains eaten by the Mind-flayer 'Embassy'. They've an embassy for that lot, but not orcs?
That's fucking racist I tell you!
Anyway, big crowds, increased danger, more trade – our little 'packages' of medical kits as laid out by Asa are selling well. As our remaining stocks of that Russian arms we brought along to sell if need be. Yes. Our best sellers are guns and drugs, and probably booze too if we had brought enough. Sadly, I didn't, so we'll have to settle for being drugs and weapons dealers to pirates for the time being. Faralda doesn't seem much bothered by, over on Thunderchild, nor do our military 'liaisons' for the League. Kara doesn't like it, but she understands, thank the Boss.
Not that the magical side of the heroic members of my crew are complaining all that hard. Magic books and easy access to arcane devices and scrolls?
Yep. Just keep'em away from the terrible people and monsters and they can distract themselves between all those goodies, and the need to organise the 'Library' on the Fortune's Chance. Hence why Faralda and the College Team have, for the moment, returned to the Fortune's Chance from Thunderchild. Not magic talk on that ship as it's a warship and we're building a nice little alchemy and arcane study area because we are a trade and exploratory ship. I haven't had much time to work on that part, but the plans are in motion and everything is being rechecked by us. Safety first after all.
So, to more rumours for my daily amusement; -
- There's war between another group I haven't heard of, and other people I don't know save their maybe werewolves? It's not particularly relevant to us as we're leaving.
- Haeteloloth and the Fire Royals are plotting. Not against me, but rather for new homes and terrible ideas of how to rule. Also talking to the League soldiers.
- The dockmaster is crooked as crooked can be apparently. But also prone to paperwork and staying bought as well. Good that we have paperwork then and paying the bribes.
- There's a big shipment of dwarven brandy arriving soon. I intend to buy as much of it as is feasible when it does. Big stone head ship (dorfs fer yer life!) is on approach there now.
- Our rocks got mentioned re the auction. So, hype there. Even if they were Fire cultists of some sort that were discussing it amongst themselves.
- Apparently somewhere is doomed and somebody wants spelljammers to join an expedition to try collect something before that doom. Or something. Rumours be vague like that.
- There's talk of some, maybe, useful items coming, so I'm going to keep watch for magical weapons at the auction start tomorrow. Ideally a spellbook or two.
That's nonsense anyway, so I think it'll be myself and Quinn and then assorted others as our escort for the markets. Needs to be sorted but everybody both wants to come, but also doesn't want to deal with the darker side of these events either. Which is of no use to us, because BAD THINGS LEGAL HERE as I keep reminding certain people, or, with the Goblins, that NO YOU CAN'T GO OUT AND CAUSE TROUBLE. It's like herding cats at times here.
Then there's teaching Azula and the checking in on Jennifer Morgan our prisoner-worker. Yes, that's why I'm taking a day off before things get busy. Or busier as the case may be in this scenario.
So, that's it for the day I think. Off for a drink now.
--
[05.24: As though we were smugglers, not poor honest men?]
[Not all those who wander are lost. Some are just looking for yard sales.]
Dress well. Dress prepared. That was my motto for tonight as I buttoned up the white waistcoat, the brace of blessed silvered throwing knives secured in place with it. Kara was leaning on the doorframe, looking at me and shaking her head in amusement or annoyance as I got ready for attending the auction. Something that meant dressing like a noble, or, at least like a merchant in high quality clothing and limiting my weaponry to less obvious sorts. I had to look *respectable* in this scenario, formal even, as did the rest of my little group of attendees.
"You look very pretty Callum"
I rolled my eyes at her mocking as I adjusted my clothing again, looking in the mirror at my half-orc self and then giving her a flat look "Hey! Business needs me to get all gussied up"
"I know" she teased back "That's why I'm watching you…so you don't mess up. Also, it's funny because your suit is basically the same as the last few times"
"Maybe…but it's tailored for me personally and at least lightly armoured" I retorted putting on the jacket with its pockets, also white, trimmed in faint silver lines like the rest of the clothes and shoes. Preparation was key for a wizard, to be ready for many problems, and I was doing my best despite this being a, in theory, safe occasion for this place "So, lots of minor changes…"
"That only you can see?" further teasing came back from my lover "And you make fun of me for taking for-evarrr…"
"Please don't copy Stargirl"
"Foor—evvarrr getting all prettied up" she replied back in Courtney, Stargirl, speak bemused as I straightened the jacked, turning this way and that to check no stay magic leaked out, nor any loose bits of cloth. Then let out a breath "Are you sure this'll go okay Callum?"
"Hopefully?" I replied honestly, buttoning up after placing the pistol in its storage pocket within easy reach near my chest. She likely picked up on my own nervousness, but we were committed now, and this was the whole point of being here. Sighed "We are as prepared as we can be. We've been over this"
"I know…I'm both angry at not being there if there's trouble…" she told me walking over to me, hands reaching up and straightening my tie, and the silver clip in it "But also glad….I don't think I could hold myself back at some of what might be there. There. No longer crooked"
"Thanks"
She kissed me before I put on my mask, and I lingered a moment in it before breaking it and placing the blank white mask over my face. Then turning from half-orc to human as I pulled my gloves, then cast a further illusion upon the polymorph as if a minor glamour and protective spell. Even seeing through the first layer of the spell would merely see 'me' beneath it, or me as a human anyway, and then if beyond that then a maybe-human wearing protective gear. It was an 'onion' tactic as someone called it, though I couldn't remember who, and effective in this scenario where people would possibly be privacy orientated in some cases.
"Where's my kiss?" the third person in the room, just across from me and looking in her own mirror as I placed my hat on my head and summoned my sword-cane into hand as a walking stick "Am I not pretty? Huh?"
"Unlike him I trust you to dress yourself Babs" Kara replied to Batgirl who was dressed in…well, a very stylish, albeit somewhat revealing, short back-less black dress "And no, no kisses for you. Not from me or him. Bold girl"
"Ah, boo, I'm broken hearted" came back the amusement comment as Barbara placed a choker collar around her neck with a bright red gemstone in the centre over her neck. She looked merely dressed for a fancy dinner party in Gotham, but the choker, the golden bracelets, rings, and shoes were enchanted with strong protective spells along with strength and speed. Even the high-heels had spells on them increasing dexterity, something shown as she turned and 'presented herself for us, bare arms outwards "Ta-da! Behold Bat Beauty"
"Uh-huh, yeah"
"Yep, uh-huh"
…was both mine and Kara's response to her at that, and Barbara huffed, shaking her head as finished the ensemble with the utility belt disguised as a gold and black belt for the dress "Thanks guys"
I shrugged. Barbara was one of the few heroes emotionally capable of attending this particular event without dropping into moral panic and getting us all killed. Kara had *insisted* Barbara go and play my escort for the night along with Quinn and Faralda. Four was the permitted number, and we'd promised the College of Winterhold Faralda's attendance at such things before we'd left earth, and Quinn I could trust to evaluate technical matters. Zatanna had been the other potential, but…I knew Zee, and while she dealt with lots of bad shit with John Constantine…
She also tended to act before she could think sometimes, and I already fulfilled the mage role, as did Faralda, and Quinn wasn't a fighter sans armour. So Batgirl was our martial artist for the night That and Kara would be very annoyed if she couldn't go due to moral issues and Zee went instead. I wasn't quite that stupid after all!
"Yes, you're very pretty Barbara, we are on the clock I think, so we can discuss dress codes later" I replied taking out my silver pocket-watch, noting the time as Kara nodded.
"I'll keep order here. Babs. You all get out safe. Okay?" she insisted walking over to Batgirl and straightening something or other. Barbara nodding seriously as she threw on a cloak, black on the outside and gold inside, over her shoulders. I ignored the interplay as I did one last check of my own spells, as well as those in the sword-cane, before we moved outside to meet the other two with us tonight, as well as the escort from here to there…
--
{Just over an hour later…}
The Auction House of Bral was new, at least by my reckoning of the universe from memories not my own and once Holy Books. Of course it'd been here for a century or two now of course, as Bral went from a small pirate port to a large totally-not-pirate-port in that time period;- the veneer of civilization in effect. The large crowd attending all in their finery and prettied up were largely still the rag-tag group of pirates, monsters, and abominations as at the port…
But here the large Guard presence, mages on watch with them, as we entered the very fancy, but very well defended, building and its grounds as our escort of a dozen solders from the Fortune's Chance security departed at the gate. No large armed retinues let in here, and we were all under Bond of Peace. Meaning Guards and Mages employed by the Nice People hosting the auction would descend on us like the hammer of an angry god on those breaking it. That was the nature of Neutral Grounds after all as myself and Barbara walked hand in hand through the large golden, and rune etched, doors just ahead of Faralda and Quinn attired in their own best.
'Ah…their own dimensional space. Impressive' was my immediate thoughts as we stepped into the building and through a threshold into a massive stadium sized location. The Auction House was an impressive sized Mansion, for Bral, but that was three stories in total and not that large….but here was massive, it's own mini-city or sports stadium with a roof towering high above us so that even giants would have to looking up to see its painted vistas. Arcane orbs illuminated the area as we were ushered by staff into a sort of display area, with glass chambers…along with servers with trays held in their hands, offering food and drinks.
"What's for sale?" Barbara murmured to me as we were handed pamphlet-like stone tablets…stating the item number bringing up a summary and painted picture of the item on. We were handed one, which Barbara took in hand, nodding as her assumption was confirmed. The 'display cages' were the items, or more so the larger items, even if I didn't see ours as yet. Seemingly arranged into various 'zones' as turning the tablet showed a map of those areas, from inanimate to animals to slavers. Barbara made a face at that but nodded a moment later to me, then Faralda and Quinn as they stood beside us.
"It seems we get to explore for some time first, followed by a…dinner?"
I read the night's plan from the staff. The Rules of everything "More a banquet alongside the sales, drinks and food and gambling to encourage certain things from us most likely. So, we best plan out our route and what we want to see. Our entry fee was at least covered by our putting items up. That means enjoy the free food and drink from our point of view"
"Yes, very Nord behaviour, but let us seek out the arcane artefacts if we may?" Faralda interjected 'politely' as stood apart a moment, much like other groups I imagined. They were trying to sell us stuff, so best to see what was here and hopefully avoid trouble. That and avoid the more morally repugnant items, but my main concern was selling the two primary items we'd put up, and hoping that delivered a big pay day for us…
--
