Voyage of the Horizon Seeker

[Jerrard]

"I actually have two questions. And some business to discuss." the mage nods at the captains cabin, the simple honesty sat well with the mage.

"Firstly, Malika. What do you know of her? I am wary, as I do not know her well. And you seem to have some knowledge of her." he pauses, "next, what of those you wish us to fight.?"

[JadedDM]

The captain smiles slightly to himself. "Was it not you who said that what a person did in the past was of no consequence? But I do know her past, and yes, I can tell you about her, if you wish. I suspect you might not like what you hear, though."

[Jerrard]

"Indeed I did." Jerrard says with a smile. "That does not mean i should be aware the past of those who accompany me." the mage smiles and rests against the door frame.

[JadedDM]

The captain shrugs. "So be it."

He leans back a bit in his chair to get comfortable. "I do not know what she has told you, but the truth is she was always a con and a thief. She was a simple girl from a simple Mikku tribe, but she found she had a special power to her. She used that power to charm most of her village, forcing them to worship her as a goddess. When the spell was finally broken and the truth revealed, she was exiled from her home.

"After that, she traveled from village to village, town to town, always trying to con and trick people out of whatever money or goods they possessed. One day, she got too greedy, and attempted to pull a con on the High Khan himself. But the High Khan was protected by his pet mage, and when the truth was revealed, he was furious.

"He felt that a woman like her would learn nothing from the bottom of a dungeon, so he devised a clever punishment. He had his mage construct a magical device that forced her compliance to whoever held a special wand. 'You like to control people, make them do as you wish?' the High Khan had said. 'Now you shall know what it feels like to have no control.' At first, he had planned to auction her off to the highest bidder. But then he realized that a wealthy man could provide too much for her. Instead, he sent her to the forgettable town of Kalin Ak-Phan, under the watchful eye of a man named Wahid. Wahid is...well, how do I put this? He prefers the company of men, if you catch my drift. Thus, Malika's natural charms could not seduce him. And with the wand in hand, her supernatural charms could not be employed on him at all.

"And so, she has been a prisoner ever since. Although it seems, she has escaped her imprisonment. And here we are today."

[Jerrard]

"As I suspected." Jerrard strokes his beard softly. "Perhaps she had learn't from such enslavement." He shrugs and gives him a look. "Wahid was not innocent, he used her for his own ends, the man got rich quietly on the back of her."

"As I said, her past is irrelevant." watching the Captains reaction he continues, "Thank you for sharing with me, I appreciate your candor."

"So, my next question. The Outlaws, you wish aid to face. What do you know of them?"

[JadedDM]

"Ah, now that is a most unusual story. Perhaps even more so than Malika's? Well, that's up for debate," the captain says. "I am guessing Orin gave you little in the way of details. Perhaps that is why you agreed to help us in the first place."

The captain stands up and starts shuffling through his maps. "The 'outlaws' as you call them that have given us so much trouble are elves. Not Silvanesti, though. A very unusual kind of elf that lives in the sea. They are called Dimernesti. Perhaps you have heard of them?"

[Jerrard]

"Dimernesti?" Jerrard asks, thinking suddenly, "Nomadic Sea Elves? I believe they are bitter and towards the other sea elves. I would see why they might trouble ships, taking what they thought was due to them."

"And they attack ships that pass? Do they target certain types of ship? Or do they attack indiscriminately?"

(Int Check (17): 1d20=6 Pass)

[JadedDM]

"Actually, they avoid attacking when they can. Whenever possible, they attempt to intimidate or coerce their victims. Normally we would fight them off ourselves, but they have a pair of magic users on their side--a wizard like yourself, and a cleric. They use their magic to disable anyone who tries to fight them. We have no magic at all on our side, so we've been forced to relent the last couple of times we passed through here. The supplies they take from us are meant for the Silvanesti, in the efforts of restoring their home," the captain explains.

"As far as I know, they bully every ship that passes through here, although not many do anymore because of their banditry."

[Jerrard]

"We have a Cleric, Locky is actually quite powerful despite her Heritage." Jerrard replies, "Almost as if they wish to stop the Silvanesti re-creating their home? Perhaps these Elves still hold a grudge."

"Then we will stop them, or at least make them realise that what they are doing is, wrong, by force if needed."

"Lastly, I wanted to discuss some business, I left two friends behind in Kalin Ak-Phan." He moves closer to the man, "Two Kender. Yes I know the views on Kender, but I made a promise to them, one I had to break due to a shortage of funds, and of practicality. I would like to know if you would be willing to collect them for me? At a price, of course?"

[JadedDM]

"I assume you mean when I return there?" the captain asks. "What do I do with them once collected? And how much of a price are we talking about? And--I feel that there is a catch here, else you would have done this already yourself, yes?"

[Jerrard]

"They are held against their will in a Brothel, you would return them to Kendermore." He shrugs, "Honestly, the thought just came to me, I have not fully thought it through, and it is not something you can do overnight." rubbings his beard again he carries on. "I will ensure you are suitably compensated, they would need to be bought, freed, and returned to their people."

[JadedDM]

"That's a very tall order, indeed. Taking kender on my boat is one thing, but sailing for Kendermore is quite another! But if the pay is right, and you help us deal with these Dimernesti, I will think about it," the captain agrees.

[Jerrard]

"Then we have an understanding." Jerrard moves to leave. "The two ladies, Malika included plan to put on a show for your crew. I will watch them, and aid where I can." he smiles. "I will not let her charm your crew."

[JadedDM]

The captain's brow furrows. "You have some means of ensuring she does not? Otherwise, it would be best for Malika not to perform at all."

[Jerrard]

"Let me talk to her first." He offers, "Otherwise I have some magical means to stop her, if I need to."