A Simple Affair

The ship had been underway less than a day when Scragg summoned them all back to the tiny room they shared below-decks. With the constant heaving amid the rough seas, their entry was probably less dignified than the party might have hoped, though any amusement Scragg might have felt was well-hidden behind saurian features.

First came Roblin. He didn't look much different from his appearance outside the brothel, adding a long coat to his sensible canvas pants and the linen shirt. Scragg had been impressed by his take-charge nature at the brothel, and more so when he'd approached to volunteer for the job afterwards. Managing to hang his coat on the peg next to the door, the big half-breed practically fell into the chair closest to the door as the ship lurched, and opted to stay there.

"Are we sure this tub is seaworthy?" The big man asked, fishing for a cigarette in one of the many pockets on his pants. He was having trouble with the carton with the way the ship moved, however.

"They do not call it the "Gulf of Broken Ships" idly, as I understand it. Crossing is less a matter of skill and more of luck. But I am told this is a very lucky ship." Scragg mused. "Are the others coming?" The kobold was curled into one of the other chairs, his claws curled around the wood, hanging on for dear life as he listened to anything unsecured in the ship shift and thump to the consternation of the harried crew.

Roblin hadn't had the chance to answer when the next member arrived, her dark hair cut short and her dark, flowing robes dripping with sea-spray. She looked rather worse for wear after enduring hours of this weather, pale and miserable. Stumbling against the tilt of the ship, she barely made it to a chair, before she was thrown into it by another wave. "Hetz!" She cursed loudly, glaring at Scragg. "I want nothing so much as to be off this ship, but strangling you is a close second for making me be here."

Scragg chuckled, the sound menacing as it slipped from him. He'd let his hood back and despite his white knuckled grip on the chair, he gave the appearance of being relaxed, rubbing at the side of his snout with one claw of his free hand. "While I apologize, you were going to have to make your way back to the mainland -sometime-, my dear."

She gave a disagreeable grumble, holding up a hand and whispering a sequence of syllables. There was a visible distortion in the air, before bright blue lines of energy began forming complex geometric patterns around her. The two men in the room watched her keenly as she wove the magic effortlessly. The weave seemed to hang in the air a moment as she finished the incantation, and then there was a burst of warmth and humidity as the sea-water in her clothes all boiled away in an instant, leaving her dry, and looking rather more prim.

Roblin cursed as he dropped the cigarette he'd finally managed to free from its case, breaking his attention from the weaver as he tried to catch it, while the rolling of the ship carried it away from him.

Scragg took a moment to look her up and down. "Adeline, we haven't had the chance to catch up. Do enlighten me on everything you've been up to."

Adeline looked back to him, huffing. "As if you hadn't been watching everything I do? Don't think that all of your people are as subtle as you and Ryker would like to think they are."

Clucking to himself, the Kobold nodded. "Oh, I know where you've been, and who you've been with. I disapprove of that Keenan boy, by the way. He's sweet enough, but his family will never let him marry you, no political connections in it for them. I was more asking about your general welfare." The saurian crime lord paused for a moment, before hastily adding, "You do, after all, represent a significant investment on the part of the Syndicate." The weaver didn't seem to catch the small pause, though Roblin raised an eyebrow towards Scragg.

Any answer was held off by Tsan arriving. She slipped into the room, a keen sense of balance serving her well in the heaving ship as she hung her gray hooded cloak next to Roblin's coat by the door. The elf slid the door shut, giving them some measure of privacy in the tiny cabin, and then turned to look at the three occupied chairs around the table.

Scragg had meant to get a cabin for four, but Roblin had helpfully pointed out that managing an elf among a ship full of sailors would be difficult enough already. Tsan, for her part hadn't made it any easier, heading to the prow of the ship as soon as they'd come aboard and roosting there like a knife-eared figure-head, distracting the ship's crew, most of whom had never seen an elf outside a brothel or a public house before. Tsan had simply ignored them, enjoying the sea air as they'd departed Spree while she slowly braided her long blue hair into something more appropriate for travel.

With only the faintest frown touching her lips for a moment, the elf moved towards the corner, intending to perch there. She didn't get the chance, as one of Roblin's heavy paws snagged her around the waist, and dragged her across the room to him, forcing her to sit on his lap.

Tsan had a definite frown this time, clearly not enjoying being so casually maneuvered, and she kept the expression as she smoothed the cream tunic she wore and fidgeted with her skirt. Scragg had provided a few coins for Roblin to take her shopping, as much a test of the former bouncer as it was a necessity before traveling with the elf, and the kobold found himself admiring the result. Her slender frame was well suited by a tunic that fell to mid-thigh made of the undyed linen popular in eastern Van. Her skirt was loose and practical for travel, made of the same cream-colored linen and falling to mid-calf, revealing a pair of cuffed boots rising to her calves. A hooded traveling cloak in gray canvas, suitable for the weather had completed the outfit. Scragg had found the transformation of the elf from a human's vision of sexual attraction to a simple traveler to be fascinating.

"Well then." The kobold spoke up. "Now that we're all here, and underway, I thought it appropriate to speak to you all on our task. Some of you have received partial explanations. Others were simply told where to be, so I'll start from the beginning."

Roblin and Adeline were attentive, and even Tsan kept her gaze flicking to him every few moments while she helpfully fished a cigarette from Roblin's case, lighting it with the man's lighter, the clockwork inside clicking softly. Roblin offered her no thanks, but wrapped a beefy arm around her belly, holding her tight to him while he added a faint, smoky haze to the small room.

"As you are all at least somewhat aware, the kingdom of Volg Lis, far to the north, fell silent around forty years ago. Many thought they'd fallen victim to the corruption of the Elfwood, and feared that the mountains would no longer hold it at bay. Refugees, and an expedition by Van revealed that was not the case, however, and uncovered the presence of Volgmar, the monsters of the Wolfwood." The kobold paused a moment. "The exact nature of the calamity was unclear, but the Volgmar don't appear to be spreading, so Van considered the fall of the kingdom to be less of a priority than other developments in the East."

"Now, I've taken an interest in Volg Lis, in particular its fall, and thanks to many, many interviews with refugees, and one very helpful royal clerk, I think I may have an answer as to what caused the fall of the kingdom." Scragg grinned, showing a mouth of sharp teeth.

Adeline piped up, "Scragg. How's this make you money. There's no way you'd be interested if it didn't make you rich." The lamp flickered, the flame guttering for a moment as a particularly violent motion of the ship threatened to cut off the oil from the reservoir.

Scragg leaned forward, never loosening his grip on the chair. "What if I said that the fall of the kingdom wasn't caused by the disaster in the Elfwood, or the Volgmar, but the Volgmar were the symptom." He paused. "What would Van pay to know the secrets of such a weapon? Even if only to keep it out of other's hands?"

Roblin took a long pull from his cigarette and then rumbled out, "Gov'ments don't like being threatened."

"I can assure you, the way that it will be broached will not be perceived as a threat. Our task is not, after all, to bring back any weapon or artifact, if we find such. We are merely to collect research notes, such as may be found, record any locations, and verify the veracity of the claims made."

Adeline flicked her glance to Roblin, then to Tsan, who reclined against her handler, eyes closed and seeming to doze. Looking back to Scragg, she questioned. "And what claims are those?"

Scragg grinned once again. It was a predatory look. "According to the royal clerk of Wolfsrest, large amounts of money were being channeled to two projects in the closing days of the kingdom. One being a series of fortifications along their north-eastern border, where the mountains give way and Volg Lis borders the Elfwood. The other was a research project, based out of the Arcanridge Asylum."

Tsan showed she was awake, interrupting, "What's an asylum?" She questioned, opening her eyes to look up at Roblin, then at Scragg.

Roblin frowned for a moment, then spoke. "I suppose it ain't the sort of word an elf picks up in Vanesse. It is somewhere safe to put people who ain't well."

That only seemed to confuse the elf more. "So... a hospital?"

Scragg broke in, "For those who aren't going to get well." He explained, noting Adeline pressing a hand to her face.

"Why is she even coming? You're talking about dragging an elf all the way across Van Major and the Deadmoor, and the Mystfens, and into the Wolfwood? There is no way this is a good idea." Adeline offered a scathing glare to the elf, who seemed to wither at the words, drawing her knees to her chest, and curling into an elf-ball in Roblin's lap.

For his part, Scragg struggled to keep himself collected. "Because Arcanridge was home to a number of high profile patients through the years. Mad royalty, mass-murdering nobles and the like. And when it was used for this research project even more defenses were added, to include several enchanted doors. Tsan here, is a breaker. What you make, she can unmake... often in explosive fashion. Which is why you're going to work with her on the journey to train that ability into something less... destructive."

The weaver looked between Scragg and Tsan in disbelief, before lowering her head to pound it against the table. "We're all going to die." She moaned.

Scragg sighed and tugged a map from his bag, spreading it across the table. "Ignoring the drama, we're obviously traveling by boat to Lashen. There'll be three days in Gale Town while the ship loads and off-loads, then a day in Rivenbane to offload cargo to the garrison there and to pass customs. Then It's up the coast to Lashen. We'll get horses there-" The kobold paused and looked towards Roblin and Tsan. "Can you ride?"

Roblin nodded. "If ye can find a decent sized horse, yes." The answer drew a giggle from Adeline, her head still on the table.

Tsan gave a little nod. "I... It's been a long time, but I've ridden."

Tracing a claw along the proposed route, Scragg continued. "From Lashen we'll head along the coast road towards Hammer Crest, but take the fork north before we reach the Dwarven colonies." The claw deviated along a line indicating the spur from the coast road to another thicker line. "From there it's a straight shot north to the king's road. We'll resupply at Whitepool," He tapped the larger town twice, "and catch the riverboat at Wyldcliff to Dreadkeep." He trailed along the blue line indicating the large river forming Van's northern border. "If all goes well, and the pass is open, we can head down the black road to Swiftwick." The kobold now was motioning down the length of a craggy, mountainous peninsula. "The tricky part is bribing a resupply ship heading to Knightscar Keep, in the north of Wolfwood." The claw drew a long arc around territories with increasingly unfriendly names. "Then we can head down to the Asylum, located here," His claw tapped finally at the western shore of the large lake in the middle of the Wolfwood.

Tsan had opened her eyes, leaning in to eye the map curiously. "Why is everything... who names a town "Slaughterwind"?" She questioned incredulously.

Scragg snickered. "The people of the Wolfwood were notoriously... different. They took pride in naming their cities and towns things like Bloodburn and Shiverbreak, and made light when travelers questioned it. It's a very draconic thing to do, honestly."

Roblin, seeing Tsan take an interest, had also leaned forward. "This keep ye want to sail to. Why are there ships going there still?" He tapped a thick finger on the map twice.

"After the expedition to investigate what happened to Volg Lis, Van decided they'd be best served keeping an eye on what was happening in the North. Dreadkeep is too far south to do much besides bulwark the Wyldling river, so they established the watchtower at the southern tip of the bay, and Knightscar at the northern edge of the Wolfwood. I'm told that assignment there is considered a terrible punishment among the Army."

Adeline raised her head slightly. "Why not just go by boat all the way to Swiftwick?" She asked.

Scragg scowled then. "Three reasons: Firstly, crossing the Gulf of Broken Ships, more than just the jaunt around the Sea Spine is horrifically dangerous. These waters earn their names. The second is that Ashenport plays host to a number of pirates who'd like nothing better than to **** a few associates of the Syndicate. Third is customs. We'd be stopped in Stormbreak, and asked where we were taking an Elf." He looked towards Tsan pointedly, and then back to Adeline.

"You could always take off this collar and say my debt is paid." Tsan proposed innocently.

Roblin gave a low sigh before Scragg could think of something. "Tsan, do ye really think that a bunch of corrupt excise officials working a miserable place like Stormbreak are going to care? If ye get into their paws, they'll have ye as a barracks toy, and no amount of paperwork is going to do anything about it.

The elf whimpered softly, and tried to make herself smaller in Roblin's lap. The big man gave her a gentle pat on the head.

Scragg piped up then, seeing an opportunity. "On that note, you should consider where you'll go, and what you'll do should we be successful. On your own, there'll be nobody to protect you from such a fate." He paused pointedly. "Of course, the Syndicate always has need of people with skills. And as you might have noticed, they're far more accepting of "unique" backgrounds, like yours or mine, or Roblin's." He raised a claw before she could speak. "Just something to think on. You have plenty of time to decide. In the meantime, we have at least another day before we make Gate Town. I suggest trying to keep down some food and getting some rest."

With that, the Kobold rose, signalling the end of the conversation. He motioned to Adeline, and made for the door. "Come, I'd do some catching up."

Roblin eased Tsan out of his lap, giving her a stern look. "Ye should consider what he said." His thick finger tapped the collar around her neck, the tag indicating her status as property of the brothel swinging gently. "Y'know yer better off with an owner than without in this world."

He slid to his feet, shrugging out of his shirt to reveal his barrel chest, covered in dark hair and crude tattoos. His boots hit the floor a moment later as he stretched, before laying on one of the three hammocks angled around the room.