As Brand directs Hareld through the north side of the Mercantile District, he notices that Minton is looking around as if he were something of a tourist and has a slight smile on his face.

When Brand asks about where he will stay on his trip home, Hareld replies that he will spend some time in New Nineveh, but will go home to his village, which is on the southern coast and is called Dora.

Their way takes them past the market stall of Smith & Sons—which is in the same location that Brand remembers—and he sees the elderly Smith sitting on a chair outside the stall smoking a pipe while one of the sons is talking with a potential customer.

Brand quickly checks their wares, then keeps moving. [[ These were armour or weapon makers, I don't recall? ]]

[[Despite their name, Smith & Sons are makers of various types of leather armour.]]

The young son acknowledges Brand's presence with a nod of his head, but continues to talk with his current customer. The older man also gives Brand a nod but continues to pull on his pipe. There is another man at the back of the stall working at applying some sort of liquid to a suit of leather.

The stall's wares seem to be adequate for Constantine, but the armour Brand is already wearing (from New Nineveh, I believe) is of superior workmanship. However, one advantage that this stall's armour would have is that it is of the common type to the area, whereas Brand's current armour stands out as being foreign and of high quality.

As Alaric and Hareld continue on towards Portside, the smell of the sea and the mingled scents of the docks become stronger. When the ships themselves come into view, Hareld asks, "Are you able to take me to your uncle's ship? It's going to New Nineveh on its return trip, isn't it?"

Brand nods, scanning the docks, "Happy to if it's still here. I'm afraid I don't know its schedule, but if its here we can ask."

[[ If Brand sees the ship, or can't see it because its hard to discern, but he knows where it was docked: ]]

Brand guides Minton to the ship, keeping a protective eye on him.

[[ If the ship is not visible and he has no idea where it might be ]]

Brand heads to the [Port Authority/Harbour Master/Other Important person or office], "Excuse me [[Title]], can you tell me where The Luisa out of New Ninevah is berthed?"

[[ Of course, if the port just has a billboard with ship berths, he goes there...this is his old stomping ground after all ]]

[[ I suggested three names for Malacai's ship earlier: The Luisa (his daughter/wife?); The North Star (designed for weathering icy seas?); The Black/Grey Cloud (sturdy and good in storms?) ]]

[[The Luisa is my choice. Roleplaying, so maybe no move tonight.]]

[[ That was my choice as well, in the move above. Boats seem to often have quite mundane names.

Enjoy your evening, don't die, and respond to the move when you have time]]

When Alaric and Hareld get to a spot where the ships at dock can be properly seen, the Luisa is quite easy to see. She is tied up at the restricted wharf where refined ores from the western province of Goth are stored in a bonded warehouse. 

As the two men walk along the docks, they pass many ships, large and small, with cargoes being loaded an unloaded. Hareld is fascinated by all the hustle and bustle...

Brand on the other hand... [[Make a Perception check.]]

Perception: 7

Brand spent a lot of time in the Portside area in his younger years and remembers that the various criminal groups that frequented this area had numerous observers stationed in particular places to keep track of foot traffic. These observers ranged from children on the lookout for potential pickpocket targets through to men whose sole job was to track the movement of the guard and custom agents.

Back then he knew a lot of these observers and informants, some by name. However, it seems that it has all changed and—although he is sure that such people are out there, and that the presence of he and Hareld have been noted by someone and that they are probably being observed—none of the observers he remembers are there and he is unsure of who has replaced them.

Brand probably finds this worrying.

[[The result of this roll is indicative of the quality of the information given. I think in future I will allow a roll for experience if the value of the Check is less than 10, so you may roll again for Experience for Brand.]]

[[To help me flesh out Portside, Dalshar, and the various criminal groups in the area, do you have a name you would like to give to Dalshar's group?]]

I thought we previously agreed The Salts?

Perception XP: 15

Quote from AlaricBrand >>

I thought we previously agreed The Salts?

[[Slaps forehead. Yes, of course we did. Sorry. Heading the way they are, Brand and Hareld will necessarily pass through Salts territory. Is this something Brand wants to do?]]

[[ I think so, unless they have a reputation for extremely risky high violence ;-). My take on the situation is that, mostly, Brand was disguised when out with Dalshar, and that only a few would know what he really looks like. Otherwise, per your much earlier comments, he would more likely have been used for ransom. At the current time, he would be doing his best t look like a sucessful bodyguard working for the Master from the SoOS.]]

[[ You may have missed the XP roll, I assume 15 is a succes vs DC 10. So:

XP updated: was 1260, now 1275 ]]

[[ Edit: Am I correct in assuming most areas are covered by someone's 'territory", disputed of otherwise? ]]

Quote from AlaricBrand >>

[[ I think so, unless they have a reputation for extremely risky high violence ;-). My take on the situation is that, mostly, Brand was disguised when out with Dalshar, and that only a few would know what he really looks like. Otherwise, per your much earlier comments, he would more likely have been used for ransom. At the current time, he would be doing his best t look like a sucessful bodyguard working for the Master from the SoOS.

[[Check. The area has a bit of a reputation of being rough, but this is mainly after dark and mainly caused by visiting sailors, drunk or otherwise.]]

]]

[[ You may have missed the XP roll, I assume 15 is a succes vs DC 10. So:

XP updated: was 1260, now 1275 ]]

[[I did miss this. All good.]]

[[ Edit: Am I correct in assuming most areas are covered by someone's 'territory", disputed of otherwise?

[[There are definitely some areas where there isn't a common criminal presence (i.e., the Temple Ward and Palace Island), but maybe the criminals there are just more official than common ;-)]]

]]

Alaric starts to feel more relaxed once he and Hareld move further south along the waterfront. The northern end of Portside is dominated by a gang called the Undertow, who have been occasional rivals to his old gang, The Salts. However, as he didn't recognise any of the observers he remembered from this area in those days, he is still unsure about the lay of the land, criminal-wise of this area.

[[I wonder if Brand ever gets the feeling that the world is making itself around him... He should.]]

The two of them are now closer to the Salted Meet, which should put them well into the territory of the Salts. The restricted area where the Luisa is docked is still a little further along the water front.

[[Make another Perceptions check.]]

[[I wonder if Brand ever gets the feeling that the world is making itself around him... He should.]]

[[ lol, we all live in a simulation. ]]

 Perception: 5

[[ What does Brand know about access to boats in the restricted area? ]]

Quote from AlaricBrand >>

[[I wonder if Brand ever gets the feeling that the world is making itself around him... He should.]]

[[ lol, we all live in a simulation. ]]

---

 Perception: 23

[[ What does Brand know about access to boats in the restricted area? ]]

[[Access during the day is unrestricted, but the area is permanently guarded by a contingent of Sorendenese guards (i.e., this parts of the dock is technically Sorendenese territory, not Engelian). Access after dark is strictly controlled and normal entry is through guarded entrances. The locals call this area Little Sorenden.]]

Brand is more familiar with this area of Portside and begins to see people he recognises, both those from the 'civilian' aspect of the neighbourhood and those associated with the Salts. He even see some of the observers he remembers from a couple of years ago.

However, of perhaps greater interest is the sea gull with the crooked foot. Brand realises that he has seen this bird before earlier today when they first entered the waterfront. It seems this bird has followed them south along the waterfront.

[[ Is where they first entered the waterfront Undertow territory? How far away is the gull? ]]

Brand keeps Minton moving ahead of him, directing him toward the The Luisa, while dutifuly scanning the area like an alert bodyguard, and incidentally keeping the bird in sight.

Brand leans in close as they move on, "For the next little while I am going to behave like your hired me as a bodyguard. Nothing to worry about."

Brand nods as if Minton said something, "Yes, Master. It's not far now."

[[ Brand does not intend to keep the charade for long ]]

[[ Does the gull continue to follow? ]]

Quote from AlaricBrand >>

[[ Is where they first entered the waterfront Undertow territory? How far away is the gull? ]]

[[It use not to be. The gull when he realises that it might be following them is about 40' away.]]

Brand keeps Minton moving ahead of him, directing him toward the The Luisa, while dutifuly scanning the area like an alert bodyguard, and incidentally keeping the bird in sight.

[[ Does the gull continue to follow? ]]

[[Yes. But the distance between them and it varies. Brand also notices that the other gulls tend to stay away from the one with the crooked foot.]]

[[ As usual, I edited and added some more. Updated below: ]]

Brand leans in close as they move on, "For the next little while I am going to behave like your hired me as a bodyguard. Nothing to worry about."

Brand moves back to a normal distance, then nods as if Minton said something, "Yes, Master. It's not far now."

[[ Brand does not intend to keep the charade for long ]]

[[ Are there any salt lookouts present, who know him in this guise ? ]]

[[ Keep moving ]]

Quote from AlaricBrand >>

[[ As usual, I edited and added some more. Updated below: ]]

Brand leans in close as they move on, "For the next little while I am going to behave like your hired me as a bodyguard. Nothing to worry about."

Brand moves back to a normal distance, then nods as if Minton said something, "Yes, Master. It's not far now."

[[ Brand does not intend to keep the charade for long ]]

[[ Are there any salt lookouts present, who know him in this guise ? ]]

[[At the moment, Brand cannot see any of the Salts lookouts he knows.]]

[[ Keep moving ]]

Hareld is surprised at what Brand says and looks around furtively until Brand tells him to relax. "What's going on?" he asks.

At this point, the sea gull flaps off to join another group of gulls—which scatter at its approach—and is now about 100' away.

Brand shakes his head, "Nothing. We attracted a little more attention than I expected."

He scans the area again, making sure he takes in the location of the bird, then turns back to Minton, "Ah...there it is...just up ahead." he says, pointing at the boat.