"Attention?" says Hareld, looking around a little less suspiciously this time.

Then he turns to where Brand is pointing and asks, "Hmmm. I can see Sorendenese guards at the entrance to that dock. Why are they there? Do you know?"

"It's more carefully guarded, I think because of the value of the cargoes that they carry."

Brand keeps Minton moving, still scanning the crowd and making sure his gaze skims over the gulls location.

[[ Based on your earlier comment, I assume that's a good approximation, correct? ]]

[[ I think you said we were previously in the south of the docks....I assume that means the bonded docks are in the centre or north? Is that correct? This is also Salts territory., but not the restricted area? ]]

Quote from AlaricBrand >>

"It's more carefully guarded, I think because of the value of the cargoes that they carry."

Brand keeps Minton moving, still scanning the crowd and making sure his gaze skims over the gulls location.

[[ Based on your earlier comment, I assume that's a good approximation, correct? ]]

[[Partly. It is also a territory thing. These docks are where official tribute from the province of Goth (in the form of refined ore) is stored and transported to the Empire from. Formally, the King of Engle has no power in this area.]]

[[ I think you said we were previously in the south of the docks....I assume that means the bonded docks are in the centre or north? Is that correct? This is also Salts territory., but not the restricted area? ]]

[[The bonded docks (i.e., Little Sorenden) are at the southern end of Portside; I have updated the region map to show this. I have also added a few new regions and removed the Brand specific references.]]

The gull continues to follow Brand and Hareld staying at a respectful distance of about 100'. When they reach the entrance to the restricted area, the guards watch as they pass but don't try to stop them and shortly they are standing at the gangplank of the Luisa. The ship is currently being loaded with what looks like bags of grain with the loading being supervised by a man Brand recognises as being the captain of the vessel: Captain Victor Abrass.

Abrass is an interesting man. He is thin and weedy in physique, but Brand gave up trying to beat the captain at senet on the trip up from New Nineveh, the man was just too good.

Brand keeps clear of the men and machines doing the loading and calls out, "Captain Abrass, if you have a moment please?"

The captain turns and after a moment gives Brand a smile of recognition.

"Master Alaric," he says gesturing for them to come closer; he himself is out of the line of the loading. "I did not expect to see you here. Are you ready to return to New Nineveh so soon?"

Brand smiles and offers his hand, "No Captain. I would like to introduce Master Minton from the School of Occult Studies." Brand gestures to Minton.

"Master, this is Captain Abrass of the Luisa. I warn you, he is a masterful chess player!"

Brand looks back to the captain, "Master Minton is hoping to book passage on a ship south, and I immediately thought of you."

[[My turn to do an edit out of sequence: 'chess' has been changed to 'senet'. Chess doesn't exist in this world, and it is now likely that Brand did manage to win a few games as senet involves luck as well as skill; it's sort of like backgammon.]]

Abrass looks at Hareld for a moment and then, sounding a bit doubtful, says, "The School of Occult Studies? Does that mean you are a magus?"

Hareld immediately responds, saying, "No. At least I'm not one now... It's a long story."

Looking a little less concerned, Abrass glances at Brand and then says, "Stories, I like stories, and I look forward to hearing it." Then he adds, "We generally don't take passengers, but as Master Alaric can attest, the cabin we do have available is clean, has a window and the ship's cook hasn't killed anyone yet with her food."

Hareld looks at Brand and then asks, "How much would the trip cost?"

Abrass replies saying, "In the past, I've charged passengers sixteen Engles for the trip, but as we are leaving on the outgoing tide tomorrow morning, I'm willing to take fifteen if you can make it here by dawn. I will also need half the payment when you board and half when you disembark. How does that sound?"

[[I'll leave it there in case Brand wants to add anything, but that's it for tonight. Ciao.]]

Brand frowns, "You leave so soon? I suppose that makes sense since you are loading now."

He turns back to Minton [[giving him an easy out with good grace]] "Is it too soon for you, Master?"

[[ Nothing else to add, unless the price is notably steep (it does seem high to me, but I haven't looked into it) ... don't want Minton throwing away money. ]]

"No, no," says Minton, "and the price seems fair."

He then offers the captain his hand and says, "I will be here before the Dawn Ceremony."

The captain nods and shakes Hareld hand to seal the deal. "Now, if you'll please excuse me, I have to keep careful count of these bags of wheat and make sure they are stowed away securely."

Turning away, the captain goes to where an abacus is lying on a crate and adds numbers to a tally.

"So soon," says Hareld a little wistful. "But still, the price is good. I think you have saved me some money Alaric."

Then he turns and surveys the ship. "I would like to go and make a sacrifice to Oannes for the coming journey. You can accompany me, if you like, but don't let me keep you from other business. You probably have lots to do seeing as you have only just recently arrived back in Constantine."

[[ Back to the scene of the crime in only somewhat different clothing. Hmmmm. Maybe not. ]]

Brand nods, "I do have some.other business, but perhaps we could meet back at the School.later?"

Brand will walk with him toward the temple district, then part ways and head to the bank of Engle in the mercantile district, or to Smith and Sons, whichever is nearer.

Quote from AlaricBrand >>

[[ Back to the scene of the crime in only somewhat different clothing. Hmmmm. Maybe not. ]]

[[Brand would know that the actual temple of Oannes is in Portside, not the Temple Ward. The recent actions occurred at a shrine to Oannes that is in the Temple Ward. So, if you go to the Temple instead of the shrine, it is a different place.]]

Brand nods, "I do have some.other business, but perhaps we could meet back at the School.later?"

Brand will walk with him toward the temple district, then part ways and head to the bank of Engle in the mercantile district, or to Smith and Sons, whichever is nearer.

[[See the above just in case you want to change Brand's move.]]

[[ Thanks, didn't realise, but until he has a change of clothes, he might avoid temples for now, so to get agreement to meet back at school etc as above ]]

Brand and Hareld leave the restricted area and walk back north along the Portside waterfront to a point that Brand remembers is the approximate border between the territories of the Salts and the Undertow.

At this point, the two part company as Hareld takes some stairs down to a floating landing where a green-robed follower of Oannes is helping a couple of older people into a row boat.

A few minutes later, Hareld gives Brand a wave from the stern of the boat as it is rowed out to the permanently moored ship in the harbour that is Constantine's Temple to Oannes.

Brand waves back to Minton, then glances around to check for familiar faces on either side, also looking for the gull, then heads to whichever is closer: the bank of Engle or Smith and Sons.

The Bank of Engle being closer than Smiths & Son, Brand heads off in the direction of the Mercantile District keeping a lookout for observers both human and otherwise.

[[Make a Perception check. Once again this is a quality roll.]]

Perception: 15

As Brand leaves the Portside area he only sees one observer, one belonging to the Salts, who apparently pays him no mind more interested in people entering the area than leaving. It also appears that the sea gull no longer finds him interesting because it is conspicuous by its absence.

Re-entering the Mercantile District, Brand makes his way to the Bank of Engle without any incident. He soon finds himself in front of the large stone building that is the head branch of the bank.

[[Entering this building will require Brand divesting himself of his weapons.]]

[[ I assume he's done this before and would know the rules. Has he gone in with weapons in boots and satchell before? He'd do what's normal, if that means removing g all his daggers,fine ]]

Quote from AlaricBrand >>

[[ I assume he's done this before and would know the rules. Has he gone in with weapons in boots and satchell before? He'd do what's normal, if that means removing g all his daggers,fine ]]

[[He has been here before and been asked to remove all weapons previously.]]

Entering the bank, Brand is stopped in the foyer by the leader of a hand of Constantine town guards. Brand realises that the guards are on high alert and all of them are eyeing him with suspicion.

"Who are you?" says the hand leader brusquely, looking Brand up and down. 

"My name is Alaric Brand, I am a customer of the bank. What's going on? "