Summon the Crew

The seven bells of St. Ikeen on Ancleisle sound out a Forlorn Dirge every morning, two hours after daybreak. But the busy harbour and crowded shipping lanes make leaving at this most auspicious time an impossibility. A worthy crew, however, is expected to report with the chimes even if the Captain has not given them the traditional warning at dawn.

You had sent the the first runner in blackest night and the second with the first fickle ray of the Sundered Sun. {if Connected: The Almost Archaeologist = 1} Your passenger, her luggage long since stowed and secured, arrived a good while before noon. She appeared to be in high spirits, her good mood undiminished by the delays. And the harbour pilot arrived some time later, but you sent him on, your Crew still absent. {else} A harbour pilot arrived some time before noon, but you sent him on, your Crew still absent. {endif} You then send a third courier and a fourth. {if Hull = 2} And you take the time to check on the hull and its patchwork repair, applying a second layer of tar if only to pass the time. {endif}

The pilot returns three hours later, with the first Mariners and two flatfoots. {if Cider > 0} You remind the Greencoats that neither the City nor the Empire levy any export tariffs and that a search would be thus both pointless and illegal. It takes some convincing and a long breath but they do relent eventually, leaving the Demeter just as the final members of your crew stagger aboard. {else} Neither the City nor the Empire levy any export tariffs, rendering their demanded search both pointless and illegal. But you have nothing to hide and you let them tire themselves out with the attempt. They leave, muttering half-hearted apologies, just as the final members of your crew stagger aboard. {endif}

The pilot and his small boat have been paid by your patron and they are ready to guide you through the shipping lanes and out to the Sea.