There's Angelites on the ship, which marks the second risk point for perpetual mocker and serial identity thief Song-in-Strings. The silk makes a point of preparing a second, more thoroughly considered Angelite identity for the purposes of moving about the ship freely and giving him some insulation during any planned distractions. (Rolling Underworld Lore, which is +13. Song's Deception DC for avoiding detection is 28.) Roll

Mercantile Lore to get a crate aboard Mercantile Lore

Stealth for Artifact Research xxPlaceholder

Tégla "There. Some of my finer work, I think," Nine-Fingers said. The old forger had lost the little finger on his left hand in a polite dispute with a previous iteration of the Broken Guild's management, but he remained one of the best in the business. With a few quick movements, he carefully blotted out the ink and passed the scribbled looking document to Tegla. "Your discharge papers, ma'am." Zef Finding information on the Mercy wasn't the easiest task in the world, but if you knew the right taverns and bought drinks for the right folks, you could learn quite a bit. And since Zef did know the right taverns and did buy drinks for the right folks, she learned a lot. Among them, that her tolerance for alcohol was not what it could be, sometimes. The St. Kelzsei's Mercy was about twenty years old, a veteran ship but hardly aged or battle-scarred. Like many Westerships, it followed a three-level body plan. The top level of the ship (below the balloon, that is), was for the crew. This was mostly organized around the three major chambers. At the very back was the harmonic engine, with its supplies of ichor and glass. This would pull the ship forward. Amidships, the single largest part chamber of the vessel was the mossery, where trays and trays of skymoss grew and produced the vital cloudblood gas that kept the ship flying. This was also easily the most dangerous part of the ship--a little cloudblood was disorienting, but in large concentrations it would push the safe air out of your own lungs, causing unconsciousness and death in very short order. It also, unlike ichor fumes, tended to get through most mask filters. And as if that was not enough, it could ignite. Only the lift crew went into the mossery, and they did so with scrupulous care. Finally, at the prow of the ship was the bridge, where the captain and her officers actually directed the vessel. Everything else on the crew level was shoved in wherever it fit. Dormitories, officer quarters, kitchens, supply closets... there was a perch at the very back for the two celray, just behind the harmonic engine. Interestingly, the Mercy was also armed, with eight cannons, four to a side. Below the crew chamber was the passenger deck. The front room, just below the bridge, was the observation deck, which also doubled as the lounge and dining room and basically was the only place for anyone to socialize. Immediately behind it were the two suites, then the private rooms, then the steerage compartments at the back. Finally, the lowest deck was for cargo. The Mercy could carry an enormous amount of cargo due to its vast lift capacity, and would be loaded to the brim on this trip. Mostly dried fruit from Dobrolchur, though chests of tea and spices were also there. As you got a Critical Success, if you have any questions about the configuration of the Mercy, you can simply ask. Gulichd Masza Ulgiphen had been duly grateful for Gulichd's help, and with any luck this'd help his disguise later on. Curiously, aside from Masza, none of the other assistant engineers had been too eager to help out with the engines. Slackers, the lot of them. Valivia In science, a negative result was still a result. By those standards, Liv had been vastly successful. By most other standards... The one thing that was proving clear was that the Soruliens had played this close to their chest. A few scholars had been asked to opine, in very theoretical ways, on sketches or designs or possible questions, but no seemed to have actually seen the object directly. Song "She's one of the survivors. Too young to get caught up in the purge back in '46, so they've been grooming her for bigger things since then. Probably going to end up running the Ilphalssem investment in the Six Colleges--she's been around there pretty regularly, especially Morainhall and Elderhall, and I think she studied at Elderhall. Well educated in science, philosophy, rhetoric, magic, the works. Pretty good musician too." "Also a regular on the social circuit. I think she's got a fiance in Hold Falchesse, but it's one of those Spiker things where it's more contract than marriage, and doesn't stop either one. Puts on some salons, goes to others. You'll know her if you spot her--she's tall, pale white-blue, got some expensive tattoowork, pretty like a knife's a pretty." "Personality's like a cat. She likes you, she's all fluff and cuddles, but she'll scratch you when she feels like it. Cat's sense of humor." "Nothing to do with the salvage business, though I don't think there's any Ilphalssem that doesn't know at least a little about it. Don't know why she's going to the Continent either, but it's not unusual. The Hold has a lot of business dealings there, they sell cannons to half the armies in the Iron War, and sometimes you want a Spiker handy to seal the deal. Makes the customer feel important, you know?"

The first and most important thing to Tégla is, of course, getting her axe on board with her. A sensible choice for a sensible bodyguard. Obtain a weapon license with Deception: Roll

Preparations, Day 1 Zef spends the first day learning everything she can about the ship. Whether this ends up playing into their egress or not, a good getaway driver needs to know what they might be working with. Research the vessel with Driving Lore: Roll / Hero Point

Preparation, Day 1 Gulichd Everyone called it Red Tree, the little gathering place by the Arsenal's long haul docks. The patch of soil and its veilflower tree were the product of some long-dead spiker's fascination with westerships. You could smell the ocean salt, hear the peeps of glittering axissave fisherbird begging for fish. The breeze tousled the tree's feathery leaves, casting dappled shadow on the half dozen or so faded rugs and cushions below. The Compass, the mosaic at the base of the trunk once said; all but the last three letters were chipped away long ago. It was a the best kind of park, comfortable, calm, and lively. It was an informal club of sorts, the social circle of those who frequented Red Tree, mostly old cutter crew there to play a round of plagues or swap stories. Gulichd was one of the youngest attendees, but he shared their romantic fascination with the great vessels. It was a rasp against his heart, an approximation of justice. They echoed with her. That mostly stayed below the surface, now, and Gulichd genuinely enjoyed his occasional mornings at Red Tree. There was enough distance from that life to smooth the rough edges. Memories of creaking wood, clouds, the low song of distant celray. Of the askew, almost vertiginous sense of a harmonic engine stutter. shifting fluids. <><><><><> There was always a crowd when a new engine came in. It was only once or twice during the post-monsoon season, but inevitably the reopening of continental traffic would flood the Cloudyards with ring-twisting merchants and others willing to enter a bidding war for the first births. It was easy for Gulichd to move in the crowd, just another small Blood in worker's darks. It was similarly easy to rope in Iphi. Beryl was a miserable prick of an ashpelt, but she adored Iphi, and she was smart. Iphi liked Gulichd. They'd drink and play plagues every so often, and the younger man would let Gulichd play in silence when he was in a black mood. Gulich said he would bring a bottle of the good stuff next time. Iphi and Beryl would cause some chaos during the next day's harmonics transfer, and Gulichd would find an opportunity. At the appointed hour, Beryl landed, chattering and sparking with spellcraft, putting the full fear of Wrath in the stevedores' hearts. Two bolted, their stave abandoned, the whole engine frame tilting dangerously to one side. A flicker of breath, a focusing of will, and Iphi frayed the bindings of the main ichor coupling. One daring component rescue later, and Gulichd was shaking hands with one of the engineers aboard the _St. Kelszei's Mercy_. ((and through conversation Gulichd tells them his name is xxName and he's actually aboard the next voyage, and he knows how hard those long hauls can be, if he can lend a hand and lighten the load he'd be happy to hooray I have the aspiring engineer identity thing I'll edit this later)) Cloudcutter Lore

Preparation, Day 1 The Ilphassem scion could be a problem, depending on whether or not they had any hand in the salvaging operation. Song-in-Strings did his best to cover his tracks, but there was no surer path to a swift end than being certain of your own thoroughness. His first day was spent gathering what he could on this Arish - who they were, what reason they had to be on the ship, and how closely connected with the Ilphalssem salvage business they were. Song asked after Arish via his usual channels, doing his best to cover his tracks by saying he might have an item that would spark the Ilphalssem's interest. His Deception DC is 28. Roll

Preparations, Day 1 Valivia reaches out to her connections in the Six Colleges to investigate the artifact, hoping to ascertain its nature, or at least, the preboreal experts Hold Sorulien brought it to and their particular specialties. Her Deception DC to evade drawing Hold Sorulien's attention is 27 (or 29 if I can use Stealth instead of Deception). Research the Artifact with Society

Liv did her best to keep her face on a neutral, bordering-on-smug expression, but she was relieved by Tégla's approval of her plan. Tégla had talents Liv lacked, but she also lacked some of the talents Liv had entered this world with. Lying, mainly. She wasn't great at it. They didn't call her the Brick after some canny knack for blending into crowds or feigning conformity. Valivia suspected the other woman found it tedious. She fell into step with Tégla as they left the room and spoke softly. "Did you see the passenger list? There's an Arish hel Ilphalssem in the Port Suite. Will this pose a problem?"

Tégla nods. By now, her trust in the Guild to do their jobs and do them well is strong, but her trust in Liv's ability to lie goes beyond that. While the rest of the room could certainly live undercover just as well, Tégla doubted anyone would relish the job the way Liv would, or talk them out of potential scrapes with the same panache. Tégla nods again, considers leaving it at that, and then decides to break her silence. "An excellent plan. If you lot run into any trouble, or anybody needs quick silencing, I would prefer to be conventionally armed." And I can't think of anybody better to speak for me than Loquacious Liv, she thinks, a slight smile threatening to disrupt her bearing. She clears her throat, replaces her scowl. "Just tell me whose back needs covering, and I'll do it."

"I'll deal with the tickets however you need them," llsejzan said. She rose then, gently ushering you out of her study and into the wider Hall. At the door, Ilse paused, glancing back at Goldfang. Something unspoken passed between them, Ilse's gaze intense, Goldfang's casual and guileless. Whatever Ilse was hoping for, she wasn't entirely thrilled with what she got, as her lips were pressed thin and her eyes narrowed as she left the room. "One last thing," Ilse said, as you walked. "Watch out for Chane Grethale. Grethale's a senior agent for Hold Ilphalssem, one of the people who 'makes things happen', if you know what I mean. He's a smart and dangerous man, and I suspect he'll be your greatest threat." "He's also an old..." A hesitation, just a brief one, but noticeable. "...friend of Goldfang. If Grethale gets hurt, Vee won't thank you for it. And if he gets killed..." Another pause, more deliberate this time. "Stay on the continent." "Good luck, and may the Angel smile on you." {}{}{} {}{}{} {}{}{} {}{}{} {}{}{} {}{}{} {}{}{} {}{}{} {}{}{} {}{}{} {}{}{} {}{}{} {}{}{} Preparations! You have three days (the 12th, the 13th, and the 14th) in which to prepare for your departure in the early hours of 15 Hend Moon. We will treat this as three rounds of preparations. In each round, each player may take a single action (which will usually be a single roll). I will then inform you all of the results for that day (so you don't know what any other actions that day got until after all actions are done), and you may then plan and plot for the next one. What follows is a non-exhaustive list of possible things you can do, but I fully encourage you to think of other clever ideas. You can Research a Person. Roll a skill check, and on a success you will get a basic description of the person, and on a critical success you will get something Spicy (assuming there is any, but there often is). However, there is a complication. If the person is the sort to keep an eye on who is asking after them (such as Chane), then they will be able to respond to your investigation with a Perception roll against your Deception (or occasionally Stealth) DC. On a success, they know that someone is asking after them. On a crit success, they know that you, specifically, are asking after them. (This Perception roll is secret). You have the option of going Loud or Quiet. If you go Loud, you gain a benefit of +1 to +5 (your choice) on your Research roll, but anyone trying to Perception you gets an equal bonus. If you go Quiet, you take a penalty of -1 to -5 (your choice) to your Research roll, but the penalty likewise applies to any counter-investigation. DCs and applicable skills are: Public Figures (Velche hel Sorulien, Arish hel Ilphalssem, Capt. Alicha Chorishara): Diplomacy or Society, DC 15, but crit success requires hitting a 30, not a 25. Prominent Folks (Ship's officers or senior crew, doctor, navigator, etc, or anyone in a private room): Diplomacy, DC 18 Minor Folks (minor crew, people in steerage): Diplomacy, DC 21 Feel free to substitute a suitable Lore skill (Liv could use Ichor Lore to learn about the chief engineer, say). Also, do not assume that only Canon NPCs have interesting secrets. Research the Artifact. Same as above, including a likely counter-check from the Soruliens. Suitable skill at DC 20. Casing the Ship. Same as above, including a likely counter-check from the ship's crew. Stealth or Deception at DC 20. Acquire a Resource. You can roll Underworld Lore or Crafting to get an item that can help you (DC is equal to 10 + the item's level for consumables, or twice the item's level for permanent items). GM san check here since I can't think of every possible item out here. Smuggle a Crate Aboard. Put something into the cargo, DC is a Society or Mercantile Lore, you get an amount of Bulk equal to your roll -20. Your result is also the DC for anyone trying to find anything Suspicious. Preparing a Cover Identity: Procure documents or references that shore up your cover (Suitable skill at DC 20, just explain how the skill will help you). The first success will let you Take 10 on all Deception checks to pretend to be who you are. Second success lets you take 14, third lets you take 18. You can prepare a Cover Identity for a different character. Get a Weapon License. Become a bodyguard or mercenary who carries their weapons at all times. This is a DC 12 for a Simple, Light weapon, with the DC going up by +3 for each proficiency step (so DC 18 for an advanced weapon) and for each Bulk (so a Bulk 2 weapon is +6). For any roll, you can call upon the Broken Guild's resources to make the roll instead of you. The Guild has a wide range of informants and agents, and so rolls with a +20 modifier for all skill checks. However, the Guild is also a big, porous institution, so each time the Guild acts, it gives all attempts at counter-investigation, for that day and future days, a +1 circumstance bonus to their Perception (max of +5).

"Reconnaissance on the St. Kelszei's Mercy itself would be of tremendous value, as well as anything we might learn of the passengers and crew. I'm... unconvinced the two of you should stick together, however, given we're meant to be a group of disparate persons and Song-in-Strings has volunteered for distraction duty. The two of you knowing each other and each creating your own commotions will be more immediately connected than the two of you as separate passengers happening to have entirely unrelated problems or performances." Liv brushes a speck of dust from her shoulder before continuing. "I'm also of the opinion that, as I am most suited to posing as a person of means, likely the daughter of a smaller merchant family, and that as Tégla's best cover option is to pose as my bodyguard," she glances at the other disgraced spiker a moment, hoping to gauge Tégla's reaction, "that our mission is best served by the two of us, B and I, rooming privately and with each other." She clears her throat, hoping it is evident and not worth questioning why Song and Zef knowing each other is bad for the mission but Tégla and herself knowing each other is fine and, actually, good. "The daughter of even a small merchant family would not be traveling abroad without escort, and a cover as my bodyguard is a reasonable way for me to speak on B's behalf, and it explains why she must be so extremely well armed while we travel."

Zef hops up, eager to get moving. "Sounds like we've got some planning to do. As for rooms, as long as Song an' I are together, I don't much care where you put us." She returns the metal to its original key shape and slips it back into her pouch. "I'd like to go take a look at this ship ahead of time, if that's possible? On it is best, but at least a glance from the outside wouldn't go amiss."

Somehow never saw your reply, sorry! They're about 28, so definitely could have crossed paths with the others.

{}{}{} {}{}{} {}{}{} {}{}{} {}{}{} {}{}{} {}{}{} {}{}{} {}{}{} {}{}{} {}{}{} {}{}{} {}{}{} Pay a man enough and he'll walk barefoot into hell. --Thimesh Issfel, State Inquisitor {}{}{} {}{}{} {}{}{} {}{}{} {}{}{} {}{}{} {}{}{} {}{}{} {}{}{} {}{}{} {}{}{} {}{}{} {}{}{} A place for various bookkeeping and tracking. Current Hero Points Gulichd = 1 Song = 1 Liv = 1 Zephyr = 2 Thezzeli = 1 Tegla = 1 Hero Points Beginning of Scene 1: Drowned Rat = +1 to All Skills Bookkeeping = +1 to Zephyr

"I'll get that taken care of then," Ilse said, making a small note. "I'll also see about getting you some funds." You have an initial budget of 100 gp to buy any special equipment or such that you need, or to pay bribes or what have you. Likewise, I think we've hit all the key points for the briefing, so make your final posts and then I'll move you forward to the Preparation Downtime.

Gulichd nodded at Valivia, realizing they were likely on the same wavelength. He appreciated that. That every once in a while Valivia hel Bressephen had the same distracted gaze as Vademph, well. Nobody spends more than a decade in the Broken Guild without something going off in the smokehouse.

Valivia looked up from the passenger list and locks eyes with Gulichd. One of them was going into the Starboard Suite to steal the artifact, and the other would be left hiding it after. Miss Thezzeli could case the suite too, maybe, and getting her into the suite would probably come easier. Gulichd drew eyes in a way Miss Thezzeli didn't. She started running scenarios through her head; what would happen if Sorulien lackeys questioned Gulichd or searched him for the artifact? What were his tells, and would they see them? No. He had to be the one in the suite, and she would palm the thing after. "Multiple distractions, multiple escapes. If we miss a rendezvous with a fishing boat so be it, we paid a fisherman for naught but insurance. Better to have the option than wish for an out we forewent."

Song likes taking things - attention prominently included. He produces the lyre and gives it another strum, giving off a brief burst of music by way of demonstration. "I volunteer as the distraction," he says, grinning. "I know my way around a good distraction. Long trip on a boring boat? Song or two ought to make the time pass faster. And if that means you're looking at me while these people I've never met, no sir, no idea who those fellows are, are sneaking around behind you, well, all the better."

"An old friend taught me that the best time to pick a pocket with your right hand is when the mark's watching your left," Goldfang said, sinking back in the cushion and half-closing his eyes. "Normally, I'd like to do a job like this with a lot more advance time, but we're in a rush. Getting an inside man would also be good, but no blighted time." "You'll want to plan some distractions, something to draw everyone's attention. Two at least, three would be best," Ilse continued. "During the first distraction, you case the suite, figure out the security, see how close you can get. During the second, later, you do the job. Third is just in case, or to cover an exit." "Best case, no one knows that you've stolen anything till you get to Ven Kalisz, and you can just disembark," Ilse said. "Failing that, figure out where you'll hide the thing, because they will look for it." "You also don't need to all go as a mob," Goldfang said. "Once on board, you don't know each other, you've never met, no sir no idea who that fellow is. Lets you work a few angles." "So figure out who's the distraction, who's the burglar, who's dealing with the guards, who's hiding the loot," Ilse said.

Zef twirls a key in one hand, idly shaping and reshaping the metal. "You've been in this business longer than any of us," she says, nodding to Vee and Ilse. "Any suggestions?"

Gulichd rolls up his kit, stands, and joins his colleagues. The top of his green-hooded head just barely reaches the shoulders of the crouching Horn. This close, there’s the faint smell of dust and dull copper from the powder he uses to pain his lips a red that’s almost black. “That’s my main concern. Big unknown in this relic,” he says, inclining his head toward Liv. “I welcome anything that we can scrape up about it, or those handling it. Or the other passengers, for that matter.” ”And I agree with my young cousin. Bringing the prize back to Ourichor will be the difficult part. Mid-flight would be cleanest and hardest. A westership should have its two mossbacks and the jolly balloon. Neither fast, nor large. Enough crew and passengers to make commandeering the Mercy… not high on my list.” He closes his eyes, nodding slowly as he works through what he knows of the immense merchant vessels. “Not much to work with other than what we bring—there will be the cloudblood beds, some kit for maintaining the harmonic engines. The crew’s personal armaments. Likely a gun locker.” [roll=Underworld Lore for passenger info or connections]1d20+10[/roll]

"Dr. Javin Eszedurik-Korcz..." Liv reads, "an incredible coincidence for the doctor to be aboard this cloudcutter at the same time as a Preboreal artifact, if coincidence is what this is. Dr. Eszedurik-Korcz was a professor of Preboreal history at St. Belzsein's College." She narrows her gaze on the doctor's name and speaks more softly, as if questioning the paper itself, "are you working with Hold Sorulien, or is there a second scheme aboard the St. Kelszei's Mercy?"

Thezzelli scans the passenger list casually. "A Sorulien's in the starboard suite, huh? If I were toting a Preboreal artifact, I wouldn't leave it to casual freight. It's almost surely in that suite, which is also almost assuredly under even more heavy guard than a Spikeholder on the way to take a piss." She harrumphs. "Still, long trip, best to case the whole tub." She resignedly nods to Song. She lights a cigar. "Any thoughts on who's taking what rooms?" She exhaled a plume. They're gonna put me in steerage. I know it.