Dwal settles in his now cottage, firing up the stove. The beds and benches are hard, the rooms are sparse and plain and smell of freshly-cut wood. The waves are loud outside in the cove. It's bitter cold out, but the cottage is warming up nicely. Hearing a noise, Dwal catches a rat outside gnawing on the doorframe.

Brinehald is delighted to see Peri, even after dark. Upon asking about ghost ships, and the arrival of a round of salted tea, Brinehanded immediately launches into the story of the Pale Prow - an old ship whose faded hull and rat-gnawed sails belie its speed and the ferocity of its crew. Pale Prow is a ramshackle warship with an ornate rudder made from bone and wood. The rudder is not attached to the ship’s wheel and is instead operated by a team of vampires, who turn it at the command of its dread captain. Pale Prow doesn’t sail under the sun, and its appearance is always preceded by a heavy fog that appears without warning. It is said that Pale Prow has never been touched by a shipwright, despite its many injuries. By what means the ship is repaired, none can say. Pale Prow is commanded by an elven vampire who sails from an island hidden by fog, where his harbor and mansion have fallen into disrepair. He is searching for something - no one dares ask him what. The remainder of the crew of Pale Prow is composed of undead servants, both corporeal and ghostly, and a specter is said to serve as lookout in the crow’s nest. A silver skull embroidered on a white field and trimmed with silver fangs flies from the tall mast of Pale Prow. 

But he knows nothing about the Emperor of the Waves - only that it vanished a few years ago.

While christenings are not practiced in Saltmarsh, Brinehald will gladly bless your vessel in the morning for ten gold. His acolytes make the arrangements (although you're not yet able to answer exactly where your vessel is.)

Xondros greets Peri and Kei coldly. The price for the slippers has gone up to 350 gold. She is extremely intimidating.

Quote from leapingmountain >>

Dwal

During dinner Dwal, always overly cautious isn't too keen on sharing so much of the party comings and goings with anyone in this town.
"Lads, this town don't smell right ta me. There ain't no reason that pirates an' smugglers can survive without someone helpin' 'em. If ye remember the watch is involved with 'em." Dwal says. "If'n we want to thrive and succeed, keep our circle small. The bigger it gets, the more fingers can get into tha' Haggis. 

 Gerrard:

"I am sure you are right, Brother Fiercehammer.  I just wanted them to know we would be gone for a good while but were not abandoning the village or the alliance," says Gerrard humbly.  "I tried to not give too much away, but perhaps dropping Aubreck's name was not the best choice," he adds, asking, "Of whom on the council are you suspicious?  Who might have something to gain by betraying us?"

Quote from cbaer8 >>

 

While christenings are not practiced in Saltmarsh, Brinehald will gladly bless your vessel in the morning for ten gold. His acolytes make the arrangements (although you're not yet able to answer exactly where your vessel is.)

 

Gerrard will pay the gold for the ceremony, then approach Peri before bedtime.  "I have thought of a good name for the vessel, should we be able to recover it...In honor of her captain, actually.  What to you think of the name 'Waverunner'?" he asks the aspiring captain.  "Oh, and we still need a group name, but I am stumped on that one," adds Gerrard, his creativity exhausted for the moment.

Peri:

Peri listens attentively to Brinehald's tale of vampire pirates. "I suppose the crew coulda been taken by a bunch of vampires and, havin' no use for the ship, they mighta just left it adrift. Doesn't really explain why it's been missin' for years though. Still, thanks for the scuttlebutt and the tea. If we run into any 'mysterious fogs' at night we'll know what's comin'."

"Three fifty!" he exclaims when Xondros tells him of the inflated price. "Are they that much faster than they were before? But all right, you caught me in a good mood. I'll take 'em. Don't reckon my new boots're ready yet anyhow."

When Gerrard suggests naming the ship Waverunner Peri's smile broadens. "Aye, that's a worthy name. Though you can call her The Heap o' Sticks and I'll be just as happy, so long as I'm standin' on my own quarterdeck. Say," he says in a little more sober tone. "I know I've been runnin' around with my head in the clouds ever since Aubrek offered us that ship. I hope I haven't been too insufferable. My ma says I've only enough brains for one idea at a time, so when one gets stuck in there nothin' else is gettin' in. As for a name for the group, maybe you should ask our friendly bard. Isn't that what they do: make up stories about brave heroes and spread 'em all over?"

Xondros silently makes the deal and delivers a rather grotesque pair of slippers to Peri. They are made of a black, wrinkled hide with talons of some sort - or could they be pointed human toenails? - masterfully glued onto the tips. "Enjoy them," she says flatly.

Kei 

"Jeepers. They've go to be the ugliest pair of footwear I've ever seen. You actually mean to put those on your feet?" Kei teases the halfling about his new purchase. "Guess other won't look any worse than a naked halflings foot."

Whilst eating dinner Kei listens to Dwal's concerns. "I concur Master Dwarf. The attention that was given to us with the mention of the Emperor was unusual. That Skerrin fellow seemed a bit shifty, and that's coming from me." He smiles proudly, as if his comment was a badge of honour. "If you all like, I could have a few words with him and his master. All quiet like and all." 

Dwal

At dinner, responds to Kei's suggestion.
"Well, ye may be confident in yer ability but we don't really know what sort of folks we're dealin' with. I'd say let sleepin' dogs lie fer now."

Unless you have further business, the evening concludes.

The cottage is a striking change of accommodations. The surf outside is loud and unsettling, as are the sounds of scratching on the roof all night, as if from branches of an invisible tree. The beds are hard but solidly built.

Morning breaks. A thin snow is falling. You wake to a rapping on your door.

You find a rather decrepit, hunchbacked old man in your doorway holding a sack. "You the strangers want the cook?" he shouts. "I'm Armand. I cook. My nephew says you need a cook! You them fellows?"

Peri:

Peri rushes from his room, half-dressed. "Armand! Yes, welcome! I'm Periwinkle Fenwader, just Peri is fine. Lankus spoke very highly of you!" He leads Armand into their bare-bones kitchen. Seeing it as it must look to a professional cook, he feels a little self-conscious. "We just moved in yesterday, so there's not much in here yet. Uhhh... I've never had a -- helper? -- before so I don't know what's expected." Peri, who stepped into command of the smugglers' ship like he'd been a captain for decades, is utterly flummoxed when it comes to directing a servant. He looks around desperately for Gerrard. Nobles know all about these things, I reckon.

"You like toad heads? I cook 'em in butter! God where's the stove? You got pots? Stew pots? You fellows got anything? You got food? God! Guess I got my work cut out. I'm gonna need some stuff. You know you got rats chewing your door? You like tea? I'm going to need some money for flour. Spices. You like shellfish? God!" Armand storms around the common room kicking things with his foot.

Gerrard:

Moving over to gently but firmly put himself in the man's path, Gerrard says, "Greetings, Chef Armand.  You have correctly diagnosed the sad state of our kitchen and empty larder.  We are desperately in need of competent help to get this place under control."  Pulling out his coin pouch, he says, "We are preparing to go on a trip and will probably be gone for the better part of two weeks.  How much gold do you need to get this kitchen in good working order and stock the larder by the time we return?" as he starts pulling out gold pieces and starts stacking them on the counter.

Persuasion if needed:  19

OOC:  Crappy roll, but hopefully with the gold it isn't needed.  Not sure if I want Napolean Dynomite as our cook anyway.

Armand pauses very briefly. "Ten gold! Gimme ten gold! I'll fix you right up. I got my knives with me but you need a stew pot. Ye' need spoons. Ye' need a pan! And some food! Bread! Cheese! Ever roast a seagull beak? I got some special spices. Does the halfling eat regular food?"

Gerrard:

Counting out the gold, Gerrard flinches at the question.  Resisting making a “short” joke, he keeps pulling out coins and lets Peri respond as he sees fit.

Finishing counting, he holds out 30 gold pieces to the man, saying, “Here is two weeks’ worth of salary and the extra ten gold you need to prepare and stock the kitchen.  The extra is for you or anyone you choose to employ to drive away the rats.”

Dwal

Dwal will pitch in 10 gold as well. "This is fer ye keeping an eye out in the place." 

"A lotta money ye' got here. A lotta money," says the old hunchbacked cook. "I'll do you good. Count on me! You like livers? Organ meats? You a dog man or a hog man? Dwarves like beer and uh... shrubbery, roughage, right?" he asks Dwal.

"Rats. Yeah I can get some good poisons. I'll take care of it. You see? They're eating your door here!"

Kei 

"If you treat us right Armband, you will see your share of wealth. Treat us poorly or steal from us and you will have all of us to deal with. The group that defeated a pirate smuggling ring. The group that forced back advancing gnolls. The group that enabled a peace treaty with the Lizard people. That is who will hunt you down. Hunt down even family and friends. " Kei's stern words over the top. He knew that, but this cook had seen more gold just passed around than he had probably seen in his entire life. Kei had had to deal with greedy people for years and knew it was best to nip things in the bud early on.

With the law laid down he turns to the group. "So, I've been wracking my brain, searching for inspiration, trying to come up with a name for our little enterprise. So far I have Sorcery, Combat And Music.  We could put the initials on a sign at the door. What do y'all think? I mean, it really gets to the heart of what we do, yeah." He looks quite proud of his effort and seems oblivious to how the sign may actually read. He reads out the letters separately. "S.C.A.M. Enterprises. I like it!"

Dwal

'Well if'n we're trying to get the name down right away I'm gonna suggest "The Saltmarsh Ventures Company." Ta my mind it sounds respectable and gives a bit of legitimacy to it, more than some name with that word Raiders, Mariners, or even Rogues." Dwal says. 
"That's my 2 coppers on the matter fer now." 

Peri:

"Does the halfling eat regular food??? No, just leave some kibble out and I'll take care of myself!" Peri barks (maybe yaps?) furiously. He is beginning to doubt Lankus's judgement. He does find the bit about dwarves, beer, and shrubbery pretty funny, but still... "You just put together a regular breakfast this morning: eggs, toast, sausage, whatever looks like a good breakfast to you. I've got to get dressed. I've some pressing business at the docks." He stomps back into his room, but before the door slams shut the others can hear him muttering, "Can't have anythin' nice in this blasted town! Might as well hire a lizardfolk cook..."

He emerges, now fully dressed, in time to hear the discussion about naming their group. "I'm not sure those initials are going to improve our image. I like the 'Ventures Company' part of Dwal's name, but I'm loath to tie us to this town. Anyone's ever been here has to know nothin' good comes from Saltmarsh. You could name us after the dwarf stronghold we uncovered, what was it, 'Krakatoa' or somethin'? Or maybe somethin' in the town, but not the town itself. Wicker Goat? No, sounds fragile. Ooh, what about the tower? 'The Hoolwatch Ventures Company'. Sounds like we're used to dealin' with danger."

Peri gives Gerrard 10 gold for his share of Armand's pay. If the old hunchback has managed to make anything edible he'll eat; otherwise he'll head straight for Solmar's offices to arrange for delivery of their rigging. It's a measure of his excitement that he's willing to skip breakfast.

To Kei's threat, Armand guffaws. "I ain't a thief! Lookit my legs. They look like sneaking legs? I'll cook you up some good food." He turns to Peri. "You got eggs? You got toast? Look like you got nothing but rats and sawdust here. I'll get to the green market and get some things. No breakfast. You here for lunch? When you leaving?"

Gerrard:

"I suppose that depends on the tide and how fast we can get the ship loaded, doesn't it, Master Fenwader," says Gerrard in response to the cook's question as he looks at Peri.  Gerrard is dressed and ready to go, once again choosing his Mariner's Scale since they are headed on a nautical adventure.  "I'll tag along while you make the arrangements, if you like, Master Fenwader," he adds.