Day 11 — Master & Commander

PachinkoRyutoOona KatoaPunxsutawney

Chapter summary

Pirates, a storm-damaged ship, and a tense return to Kapikala expand the crew’s view of the foreign powers.

Connections

Session notes

We’re in the windless calm. We’re becalmed. Ziggy is learning how to sail from Una. Ziggy announces that there’s land to the south. There’s the great mountain, Old Man Moa. The captain curses. We have drifted very east and south. We’re in dangerous volcano land with pirates. Beau needs to speed up his repair work. The wind is picking up and it’s taking us west from the east.

Sails appear over the horizon. They’re Latin Sails, the triangular ones. They don’t fly any flags. We’re trying to figure out how to outrun them as they are approaching us. We spotted it on the horizon. They’re 10 miles away when we first spot them.

Punx is trying to help us outrun them but it might not be enough. He tries harder. We stay ahead for 2 more hours.

Pachinko builds a decoy raft out of leftover planks. We’re setting up a distraction strategy that involves going dark and sending a raft with torches out, like in Master and Commander. Ryuto is going to go to the raft to light the torches and then come back. Ryuto tries to arrange the lights to simulate the big ship.

Ryuto is now being pulled back to the ship by Oona. He manages to pull back.

Pachinko goes down in the ship to try to improve the cannons and almost manages to blow up one of them but in the end pulls back from the brink of destruction and simply does some routine maintenance to them.

Meanwhile, the ship is trying to run away far enough so the pursuers cannot find us. We start heading north. However, sailing in the night is scary and dangerous. We took some damage by hitting Shoals. They are going to pursue us in a random direction.

The first light of dawn comes. Ziggy goes up and announces that there’s not a soul in sight. The plan by Punx has been successful somehow and we’re not being pursued anymore. Ziggy once again sees another land sighting, earning him another Land-hoe bonus.

Now we see the largest island of the north, the city we’re coming to is Kappicala, named so by the Moans and Columbia by the Albians. It is a very impressive port, even more impressive than earl’s landing. It’s a busy city and port with very impressive vessels. Before, we can adock. A military vessel of Albian design hails us. Captain Jackdoe is worried.

A frigate approaches us and send a contingent of Marines in red and white uniforms. Punx introduces himself as a trader. Pachinko tries to offer our services and be helpful. The marines are wondering about Ryuto’s and his origin. These are humans. The sergeant in charge is not really interested in what we’re saying, he is just looking around to find what’s going on. They’re looking at the captain with disgust.

Ryuto prepares some black dragon tea. They are going to allow us to dock and we should report to the tax office. We’re going to meet the king. After a dense city center then there’s a very villagey village with little huts but there’s also fancy carriages going around. The king is Fetu Moha’Koha and we make use of the facilities to clean up before. The King is a total hunk and is towering over us. He is very friendly to our diverse crew. He first addresses Oona, then Pachinko and then Ryuto. You are not supposed to offer kings food. We introduce Punx as well then we talk about our encounter with the storm and the pirate. The king is fascinated.

We’re going to debrief later with the attendant because the king is busy and we have to leave him. We’re ushered through many hallways by Murph, the Serf. We go to a much less ostentatious office. There’s only a bench. We meet a wizened scrinkly man behind a desk. He forms another form of paper. He wants to pay us for our job. We explain the details of our relations.

We also warn them about the blood magic that was stolen by the Wakin. He comments that they have been assimilated by the Albian empire. A small party passed by the capital 6 months ago. We have to ask Lady Selania about the workings of the Albian empire, she is at the embassy.

Albion controls the port so all import taxes are dealt with them and not the kingdom. The expected tax is 10%.

We got 75g for all of us after negotiating down from 100. Mervin meets us outside of our meeting with the Eminence Grease.

Net profit is 50g so we pay 5g to the tax office and split 45g between us.

It’s time for downtime!

Ryuto is going to try to report to the dragons. Ryuto returns the Woodchuckwood sample and the miraculous ingredient that preserves health against the Blood Agu, Zitrona. Ryuto is trying to also sell his art but perhaps he could donate. Ryuto donates the snake to the chamberlain of the dragons. Ryuto receives many praises for the information and a small thank you for the toy. A one-time bonus of 1000g. He gives 100g to each team member. Everyone is convinced that the snake was sold for this high amount.

Pachinko makes sure that the villagers from the elephant island are set up in town and have some stable jobs.

Punx is going to look for news about his brothers by going to the embassy. Punx meets the Varangian ambassador who is very bored. There haven’t been many Varangian visitors in a while. He is making friends as most Varangians don’t want to deal with the Albions. The ambassador is interested in making a report about the tales that Punx is telling him. The ambassador is not worried about the locals, his problems are with the duopoly of Carolingia and Albia. Many Varangians are turning into pirates. Punx’ brother Phil Pentatonix, he’s been going around hunting pirates. He is a bit shorthanded and overwhelmed by the number of pirates.

We can buy common items up to level 10. We stay for 2 weeks in the docks district and we pay each 5g for lodging.

Items common level < 10, uncommon with check