”Do ye realize what this means Cass? We can’t take this to the authorities, not when the plot has infiltrated the court! Who would believe the word of a simple merchant, no a pirate captain over the word of a baron? Which Baron is it anyway? And who is this Gatekeeper?”

“Aye.  It’s a right mess it be!  Me needs to think about it some and figure it out, and what to do about it and who to trust!  Ari, what yer thoughts on it?

Cassandra reads through it a few times.  “We needs to get this information to the king of Ottera, methinks.  Without letting anyone know we know.  Who is this Baron, I wonder?   And the gatekeeper sounds like a bad one.  In any case we ain’t got much time afore the new moon!”

"We need to weed out the traitor. But we also need to infiltrate the party. Now that we know when and where they're coming from, we can prepare correctly. And then," She grinned. "We can knock some heads. I'd say we shouldn't disclose this information to anyone though. We don't know who else we can trust. We don't even know the Baron. However, we need to consider that since this letter has not reached the Baron, he won't know about making the king host his birthday as a holiday. We could potentially deliver the letter ourselves and pose as the Earl, so we can set a trap for the oncoming Crimsons."

Cassandra replies” I like yer thinking!  Yer a bright one to be sure.  Well I think I gots the disguise down pretty good.” Here she smiles, and instantly transforms into the (still smiling) Earl- clad in fine clothing.  “Me hats good fer that” the Earl says.  “Aye me mateys, tricken em and messing wit they plans twill be jolly times.  Any other thinkin ye all gots?”

(hat of disguise.  You might pick up on a slight issue with having Cassandra wear it! :) 

So its decided. You want to pay a visit to the king?

(OOC-  Cassandra thinks we should go to the king of Ottera first, if we can get an audience, and then maybe try the plan of delivering the message disguised as the Earl.  We should move fast to do that.   Other ideas welcome!). 

Quote from Tesservett >>

(OOC-  Cassandra thinks we should go to the king of Ottera first, if we can get an audience, and then maybe try the plan of delivering the message disguised as the Earl.  We should move fast to do that.   Other ideas welcome!). 

 Good idea, here's some things to consider:

1. how long ago was the letter written? 
2. Do you have time to do this ?
3. Will the king trust a foreign ambassador over one of his own barons?

A warforged walks out of the trees “May I ask what that explosion was?”

A middle aged nobleman, dressed in finery, steps out of a crater in the beach,  looks at you and says in a female’s voice- “ and who might Ye be, and what are you doin in these here parts? And most important- tell us yer thoughts on the Crimson Empire?”   The nobleman seems to start as he sees his own arm and then says “BUGGER”,  then smiles, and transforms into a beautiful, yet tough looking redheaded human woman in a captain’s hat? Wearing armor and carrying a shield and curved longsword.   “I be Captain  Cassandra of the Temptress.   Talk fast afore we decide to do anything we all might regret”   Despite her words, she seems friendly enough.

Quote from Great_Axeblade >>

Quote from Tesservett >>

(OOC-  Cassandra thinks we should go to the king of Ottera first, if we can get an audience, and then maybe try the plan of delivering the message disguised as the Earl.  We should move fast to do that.   Other ideas welcome!). 

 Good idea, here's some things to consider:

1. how long ago was the letter written? 
2. Do you have time to do this ?
3. Will the king trust a foreign ambassador over one of his own barons?

 Good questions!  Ceesh, Ari?

“My name is Nine. I am here because my maker’s lab is below this island and was destroyed by a fire. I have no knowledge of what the Crimson Empire is. Do you happen to know where a ship called the skipping stone is? He pulls out a book and flips to a page “The instructions in this book say if the lab were to be destroyed, to find that ship and that I would know what to do once I got there.”

She smiles and says “we’re pleased to meet ye to be sure. Yer In luck, methinks-  Captain Ceesh here, pur leader, is Captain of the Skipping Stone.”  She gestures to an Otterfolk in a captain’s hat.  

“Greetings” Nine shows him the book “Do you know why my maker wanted me to come to you?”

Ari retrieves Harold and joins the group.  He is soaking wet from his fearful plunge.  

Captain Cassandra - Can you dry me off with a little of that magic.

He mimes the hand gestures associated with the Shape Water Spell. 

Ari sees the War-forged and cocks his head - his gray eyes lighting up.  He looks between his metal monkey and Nine a few times and nods approvingly.  A smile lights up his face as he comes before Nine and circles him in appraisal.  

Intriguing - I have never seen a warforged this close before. I hear you can feel pain and emotions, is that so?  

Ari realizes his lack of manners comes out of his musings. He extends a hand in greeting.

Apologies - Ari here, first mate of the Temptress.  This little guy is is Harold. 

______________________________

At first glance you may think Ari was of elven lineage - his deep brunette hair is shoulder length and braided down the sides in elegant Sylvan Fashion. The human ears beneath a silver circlet prove otherwise. He always wears a smirk and a chaotic gleam dances in his gray eyes. Greens and other natural tones adore his clothing - most notably a billowing emerald green cape and long elbow length brown leather gloves. A whip is on his belt and a small wooden hand crossbow attached to his wrist - both self adorned with twisting vine carvings.  A metal monkey homunculus is perched on his shoulder - his design reminding you of plate armor.  

“Yes, I can feel pain and emotions.” Nine will shake Ari‘s hand “Nice to meet you.” He notices the monkey “Is that a homunculus servant? I think mine is flying around here somewhere” He whistles and a metal seagull with blue eyes soars down

Red will cast prestidigitation on Ari “There, that should help dry you off”

Cassandra waves her hand and says a few words and all of the water on Ari floats up into the air, coalesces into the shape of a monkey, and lands on the ground as a small ice sculpture.  “Now yer dry!” She says. 

The seagull starts playing a song and Nine presses a button and it stops. “Sorry, this thing can be a bit finicky, I’ll make repairs to it tonight”

The pleasure is all mine and yes he is a homunculus, but made more from magic than machinery. 

Ari points at the seagull

A flying homunculus, how unique and useful! 

I pray you shall be joining us on our travels. 

The others may make note that Ari seems to speak to Nine with more respect and admiration than any other member, save Cassandra.