Guilliaume says, "Arr."

DiegoValdez says, "I seem to be lagging a little."

[7thsea] PerrySimm says, "Log started."

DiegoValdez says, "Arrr."

DiegoValdez says, "It's Corantine, 1668. The height of summer, and you're all in the Vendel city of Kirk, enjoying the hot springs and whatever. Well, those of you who are tourists, anyway."

Signi says, "I am of course hard at work"

GM says, "As part of the whole tourist schtick, some of you have decided to organise a little jaunt around the islands ... couldn't possibly take more than three hours, you think."

GM says, "And you're all meeting at the pier...."

[7thsea] William says, "(yeah right)"

GM raises curtain on scene.

ProfesorJinquele asks (of Merchant Stall), "Do you offer a variety of local comestibles, or is your trade primarily in collecable mementos?"

(From GM) Merchant says, "What?"

[7thsea] Dmitri says, "professor has 2 ss."

[7thsea] ProfesorJinquele says, "But I think 'profesor' only has one."

[7thsea] Signi says, "yeah, but collectable has a t. let's not get picky here."

[7thsea] ProfesorJinquele says, "(Castillian)"

[7thsea] William laughs

[7thsea] Signi says, "er, collectible. bah."

ProfesorJinquele says (to Merchant), "I was hoping to sample some of the cuisine indigenous to this geographical area."

[7thsea] Signi says, "(thus proving that saying about every statement which corrects a typo having a typo in it)"

William says (to Merchant), "(condescendingly translates) I believe what this gentleman wishes to know is whether you have any food for sale."

William says, "Local food."

(From GM) Merchant looks blank, then gets it. "Ah, food. We have an excellent rabbit-onna-stick.

[7thsea] Dmitri asks, "wait a minute, I don't speak Vodacce?"

[7thsea] William asks, "Vodacce?"

[7thsea] Dmitri asks, "er, um. Oh, we're in Vendel?"

ProfesorJinquele says, "Ah, a roasted lupine? I'll take one, thank you."

[7thsea] Signi says, "yes"

[7thsea] Signi says, "luckily I speak avalon"

(From GM) Merchant says, "of course, of course." Rolls his eyes when you're not looking, and proceeds to provide you with a a rabbit onna stick.

William exchanges an amused glance with the Merchant.

William says, "I'll take one as well, please. And leave the ears on."

[7thsea] ProfesorJinquele says, "Also, did I say lupin instead of lapin? Bah."

Guilliaume is of course helping Signi with the good ship Herryng, loading up and all, for the cruise.

(From GM) Merchant smiles and provides. and expects tip.

William tips the Merchant generously.

ProfesorJinquele says, "Ah, of course, the traditional gratuity."

ProfesorJinquele pays.

(From GM) Merchant "much obliged..."

Signi says (to Guilliaume), "how's the loading going? I believe they're almost done looking around here"

William asks (of ProfesorJinquele), "It takes some little time to become familiar with these customs. It is your first time traveling out of Castille, I suppose?"

Guilliaume asks (of Signi), "well, skipper, who're we taking for a ride today?"

Dmitri watches the activity around the docks while waiting for the boat-trip to be ready.

Guilliaume says, "Oof. All done. She's ready to go."

ProfesorJinquele says (to William), "Yes, it is. I just came here via Avalon."

William says (to ProfesorJinquele), "Oh, did you indeed? Excellent."

Signi says (to Guilliaume), "just more tourists -- some kind of scholar loudmouth, an actor (lord knows how he can afford to come), maybe one more"

William looks as though he would like to say something else, but contents himself with standing and watching the boat-loading.

ProfesorJinquele says, "I'm Reynaldo Jinquele -- I am, or was until recently, a professor of natural philosphies at Delfrentes."

ProfesorJinquele offers his hand to shake.

Guilliaume says, "Well, the weather seems good. But we should probably leave soon in case it changes."

[7thsea] Dmitri asks, "did we come here together?"

Signi says, "very well"

Signi walks over to the others.

William ignores the hand and bows spectacularly in what he imagines a Castillian style.

[7thsea] GM says, "you came here in whatever way you like."

William says, "William Glib, at your humble service, senor."

Signi says, "the weather may be changing -- you'd better finish up here and come aboard"

William watches the effect of this to see whether the name be recognized.

ProfesorJinquele says, "Very nice to meet you, Mr. Glib."

William looks to Signi. "Ah, very well."

ProfesorJinquele follows Signi.

Dmitri looks over. "It is a boat-trip to see the islands? Good."

William goes as well.

Signi gives the ship a final inspection before casting off the line and jumping aboard herself.

William watches this performance with bemused appreciation.

Dmitri follows onto the ship, and looks for a place to sit down.

GM says, "The Herryng seems fine and shipshape ... it's a small vessel, easily handled by a crew of two. seats are available."

William sits down.

Guilliaume Gauguin acts as navigator.

GM says, "You pull out from the Kirk pier and begin rounding the island towards the west."

William asks (of Signi), "This ship is yours, then?"

Signi says, "indeed it is -- not as large as what I used to sail on, but all mine"

Guilliaume says, "<ahem>"

Signi says, "well -- all ours."

Guilliaume grins.

William looks over at Guilliaume.

William asks, "I see. Old comrades at sea, were you?"

ProfesorJinquele watches the shape of the wavefronts breaking against the hull.

Signi says, "oh, we go far back"

Signi says, "many's the mistied knot of his I've had to retie"

GM says, "Everythings seems beautifully calm."

William asks (of Signi), "the laces of his boots, for instance?"

Guilliaume says, "I just navigate. that's my job."

Guilliaume exclaims, "Oh, I can lace my own boots!"

Guilliaume's bootlaces are actually untied at the moment.

[Crows-Nest] William says, "heehee"

Signi pulls a knife and stick out of her pocket and begins whittling.

GM has disconnected.

GM has connected.

GM asks (of Jinquele), "There's a shape in the distance, towards the northwest ... a sail, perhaps?"

Guilliaume has disconnected.

Guilliaume has connected.

William has disconnected.

GM says, "(ooof.)"

William has connected.

[7thsea] William says, "(bah)"

[7thsea] GM says, "me too"

ProfesorJinquele asks (of Signi), "Is that another tour boat?"

ProfesorJinquele points at the shape on the horizon.

Signi looks.

Guilliaume says, "There are a lot of other islands that don't show up on the main Vendel maps ... smaller rocks and stuff scattered around."

Signi says, "I didn't hear of anyone planning on taking a boat out, but that proves nothing."

Signi asks (of Guilliaume), "what does it look like to you?"

GM says (to Signi), "Hmmm ... doesn't look like a tour-type boat ... a little large for it.... not a merchant ship either...."

Dmitri looks toward the shape as well.

Signi frowns.

Guilliaume asks (of Signi), "A ... a sail?"

Signi says, "over there -- better keep our distance, perhaps"

Guilliaume nods and gives the wheel a good spin. The ship jerks suddenly to the left.

William grips the bench more tightly

Signi sighs.

Signi exclaims, "gently!"

William says, "I say, this is very good material"

Guilliaume says, "Oh. Sorry, skipper."

Signi stumbles but doesn't fall, apparently used to this kind of thing.

Dmitri asks, "keep distance? Why is this?"

William says, "the-- the rush of nerves one feels..."

ProfesorJinquele is glad he was hanging onto the railing at that moment.

William looks at Dmitri as though only now coming to realize the real nature of the situation.

Guilliaume says (to William), "like a Tempest? Oo, don't say that."

Signi says (to Dmitri), "probably nothing to worry about, but better safe than sorry"

William says (to Guilliaume), "I had a speech once, all storms and pirate-gore-- but now is not the time, I think."

Guilliaume says, "You really shouldn't talk about storms at sea. It just might attract more storms, you know."

GM says, "Almost on cue, the skies darken and there is a sudden flash of lightning."

ProfesorJinquele asks, "Isn't that an antiquated superstition?"

Signi says (to Jinquele), "at sea? no such thing"

ProfesorJinquele says, "Weather is due to atmospheric conditions, and storms are formed in clouds like those over there, not from misfortunate locutions."

William says (to Signi), "If you like I will speak you up a whole sun and midsummer day, by way of apology."

GM says, "Rain begins to fall ... the winds are picking up."

[7thsea] GM says, "Shall I compare thee to a summer's day...."

Signi says (to William), "it can't hurt, although I'm not sure if there's much use for speaking in the storm, or singing in the rain"

William says, "(in a round actor-voice easily heard above the storm) It is a speech they applauded and insisted upon hearing three times in a row last I performed it."

Signi says, "if you'd like, you can go belowdecks, although it'll be a bit cramped"

William looks horribly hurt

Guilliaume begins to look a little green. "oo-er, now i remember why i never liked going up in the rigging...."

William says, "And miss this sort of material? (waving at the clouds)"

Signi asks (of Guilliaume), "do you see an island we can try and shelter behind?"

GM says, "(lightning. thunder.)_"

Guilliaume grabs his chart and begins scanning it. Incidentally, leaving the wheel completely untended. It spins wildly.

Signi curses, and grabs the wheel.

[7thsea] Signi says, "don't make me hit you with my hat, mister"

[7thsea] Guilliaume says, "you know you want to."

William clinging dauntless to the bench begins to declaim something-or-other almost audible about bright beams of the smiling sun.

[7thsea] ProfesorJinquele asks, "Because then neither of you would be holding the wheel?"

Guilliaume says, "There's an island out here towards the w...."

Dmitri is wide-eyed at the growing intensity of the storm, and its effect on the little ship.

ProfesorJinquele says, "I concur with the captain's suggestion, if there's enough sufficient space between the luggage and other accoutrements of the journey."

GM says, "A wave lifts the Herryng high and drops it with a crash beneath another wave."

GM says, "(everybody make finesse+balance checks, dif 20."

[7thsea] Signi rolls 5k3: 5 3 9 10+3 9 | 31

GM says, "(or brawn, if you're holding on to something)"

[7thsea] ProfesorJinquele rolls 2k2: 10+1 1 | 12

[7thsea] William rolls 2k2: 8 4 | 12

[7thsea] Dmitri rolls 2k2: 10+4 6 | 20

[7thsea] ProfesorJinquele asks, "'dif' == TN?"

[7thsea] GM says, "er, right."

[7thsea] Signi says, "land-lubbers, all of you"

ProfesorJinquele is knocked on his back in the middle of the deck.

GM says, "Dmitri just manages to stay standing. William and the professor go sliding across the deck ...."

Dmitri asks, "Maybe is it safer belowdecks?"

William exclaims, "ulp!"

ProfesorJinquele crawls toward the hatch.

Dmitri grabs hold of the nearest rail.

Signi says (to Guilliaume), "help them out,"

Signi says, "I've got to hold the wheel"

Guilliaume says, "It would be rather crowded ... when I heard that William Glib was coming aboard, I decided he would probably want his stuff too, so I put some of his trunks there...."

Signi asks, "trunks?"

William says, "Just a few things."

Guilliaume says, "Oui. I asked at the hotel, and some of the other actors said the stuff was his.... I, uh, thought I might get an autograph."

Signi says, "this was just supposed to be a three-hour trip -- honestly"

Signi is hit in the face by spray and luckily stopped from talking.

William says (to Signi), "One must always be properly dressed. One never knows what the moment may demand..."

GM says, "Another wave rolls across the ship ... finesse+balance TN 20, or straight brawn TN 15..."

[7thsea] ProfesorJinquele rolls 2k2: 1 7 | 8

[7thsea] Signi rolls 5k3: 6 1 3 7 1 | 16

[7thsea] Signi says, "erk"

ProfesorJinquele almost makes it to the hatch before another wave rolls him straight across to the opposite rail.

[7thsea] Dmitri rolls 3k3: 8 3 5 | 16

[7thsea] William rolls 2k2: 9 6 | 15

William manages to hold on to his seat, barely

GM says (to Dmitri), "you catch hold of something to hold you in place."

Signi loses her grip on the slick wheel and stumbles backwards.

GM says (to Jinquele), "you slide back in the opposite direction, tumbling over the rail.\"

Dmitri hangs onto the railing, but starts to look ill.

Dmitri heads for the hatch.

ProfesorJinquele says, "Some <glub> assistance would be <gurgle> appreciated, por favor."

Guilliaume grabs hold of the mast, looking very green. The chart he was holding before is ripped away in the wind.

William looks around for something to extend to the profesor before he drowns

Guilliaume says, "Man overb-- ulp."

ProfesorJinquele disappears below the water for a moment.

ProfesorJinquele surfaces, slightly the worse for wear.

Guilliaume grabs the nearest piece of rope and struggles to untie it.

[7thsea] GM rolls 3k3: 9 2 5 | 16

Dmitri tries to help with the rope.

ProfesorJinquele asks, "Is this region home to many species of carnivorous piscene or otherwise aqueous creatures?"

GM says (to prof), "16 flesh wounds...."

ProfesorJinquele slips below again before any answer is offered.

[7thsea] ProfesorJinquele rolls 2k2: 7 3 | 10

Signi says, "curse it all"

[7thsea] GM asks, "finesse + knotwork, anyone?"

Signi stumbles over to the rope.

[7thsea] GM says (to prof), "1 dramatic"

[7thsea] Signi rolls 6k3: 2 9 6 9 9 2 | 27

GM says, "The knot flies loose, freeing the rope...."

Dmitri says, "I will help hold the rope."

Dmitri moves to the railing nearest the professor.

ProfesorJinquele's head appears again above the waves.

[7thsea] ProfesorJinquele goes momentarily AFK during the lag.

Signi grabs the rope and throws it to the professor.

Guilliaume relinquishes to rope to Signi and Dmitri, then goes back to clinging to the mast.

William tries to help get the rope to the Professor

[7thsea] GM says, "oh, I'm lagging. So that's why nothing seems to be happening...."

[7thsea] ProfesorJinquele returns from being AFK.

ProfesorJinquele reaches for the rope.

[7thsea] GM says (to prof), "you grab the rope and immediately feel it pulling you back towards the ship."

ProfesorJinquele sputters and tries to blink the saltwater out of his eyes, while keeping his hands on the rope.

Signi hauls on the rope.

Dmitri pulls, once he sees the skipper pulling.

GM says, "Lightning flashes again. The ship rocks even more, and there is a sudden cracking sound from above."

Signi looks up, fearing for the mast.

GM says (to Signi&Dmitri), "It's not as hard as might be expected, pulling on this rope ..."

GM says (to Signi), "and looking up, you see why: it was attached to the sail, which is now flying free and 'helping' you drag the prof back onboard."

GM says, "The mast does indeed look like it's in danger of snapping in two."

Signi curses more.

GM says (to prof), "you're within reach of the rail now."

Dmitri sees the mast, and pulls as hard as he can.

Signi exclaims (at Guilliaume), "I'll have to cut the sail!"

ProfesorJinquele climbs up to the railing.

Dmitri says, "(upward, that is)"

[7thsea] Signi says, "(can I cut the sail free from ground level? or would I have to climb up?)"

[7thsea] GM says, "you'd have to climb."

[7thsea] ProfesorJinquele says, "We left the ground an hour and a half ago..."

[7thsea] Signi says, "bah, well, here goes"

[7thsea] Signi rolls 6k3: 7 7 7 2 1 10+5 | 29

Signi puts a foot on the rigging and starts to clamber up.

Dmitri lets the rope fly free once the professor is on board.

ProfesorJinquele says, "You have my sincere gratitude. Without your aid, my life would have been forfeit."

GM says (to Signi), "you get up to the sail and begin cutting. The boat continues to rock."

William is busy clinging to his bench and looking green. He observes the Professor's scene of gratitude with a certain disdain, however.

Signi is slashing with her knife as fast as she can.

GM says, "(who's taking care of the wheel, by the way? <grin>)"

ProfesorJinquele climbs under the bench for shelter.

Dmitri says, "No, I don't need a gratuity. Let's go belowdecks."

ProfesorJinquele says (to Dmitri), "That's an even better idea."

Cadiz arrives, looking for booty.

[7thsea] GM says, "arr. no ghogg. so I'm doing a one-shot."

[7thsea] Dmitri says, "Ghoggless. We're going on a three-hour cruise."

[7thsea] Cadiz asks, "Oh, cool. No early musketeers, then?"

[7thsea] ProfesorJinquele says, "Ender's been idle since earlier."

[7thsea] Signi says, "well, no ender"

[7thsea] Cadiz says, "We asked him earlier an he said probably not, so."

Dmitri crawls over to the hatch.

ProfesorJinquele waits until Dmitri gets the hatch open before trying to get to it again.

[7thsea] Sargent asks, "I assume nothing is going on tonight?"

[7thsea] Signi says, "yeah"

[7thsea] Signi says, "well"

GM says (to Signi), "You finally get the sail free. It tears away from the mast. From here, you think you can see a dark shape on the horizon to the west..."

[7thsea] Signi says, "we're playing a one-shot"

[7thsea] Cadiz says, "OK, I think we'll be off, then. We have to leave tomorro morning and should probably clean and stuff."

[7thsea] Sargent asks, "Ooh. Is it too late to join?"

[7thsea] Cadiz exclaims, "Have fun!"

[7thsea] Signi says (to Cadiz), "you too"

[7thsea] ProfesorJinquele waves to Cadiz.

[7thsea] GM says (to Cadiz), "sure"

[7thsea] Cadiz says (to Signi), "Thanks, butnotthis time."

Signi drops to the ground again.

[7thsea] Cadiz says, "Er, spaces."

[7thsea] Cadiz exclaims, "Wave!"

[7thsea] GM says (to Sargent), "well, don't see why you couldn't ...."

[7thsea] ProfesorJinquele asks, "Er, Cadiz can't have fun this time?"

Signi says, "I can't tell if that's pirates or more storm, but either way it's bad news"

[7thsea] Cadiz laughs.

Cadiz exits stage left.

Signi hurries to the wheel and tries to steer away from it.

[7thsea] Sargent asks, "Um, do I need a new character?"

[7thsea] GM says (to Sargent), "characters are provided. I have left a Vodacce merchant. (Eisen honour-hound still not properly written up)"

Dmitri opens the hatch, clinging desperately to its ring and anything else solid within reach.

GM says (to Dmitri), "With a bit of struggling, you get the hatch open."

[7thsea] Sargent says, "I guess I'll take a vodacce merchant, then."

ProfesorJinquele crawls out after Dmitri.

[7thsea] Sargent asks, "What do I need to do at this point?"

[7thsea] GM says (to Sarge), "sent"

[7thsea] GM says (to Sarge), "just come up with a name and jump in. You're in the middle of a storm at sea, on a small ship that was supposed to be taking you and a few fellow tourists out on a three-hour tour."

[Crows-Nest] Dmitri exclaims, "You go below deck. There is a lot of luggage and a vodacce merchant here!"

[Crows-Nest] William laughs

Signi does her best to keep the ship from running into anything

GM says (to Signi), "in a flash of lightning, you can see that the shape is probably an island with a bit of a hill."

Minico arrives, looking for booty.

Signi says, "maybe the hill will block off some of the storm."

Minico says, "set me=expert"

Signi spins the wheel and steers towards it.

[7thsea] Minico has joined the channel.

[Crows-Nest] Minico has joined the channel.

[7thsea] Minico says, "Here I is."

GM says (to Minico), "I'll say you went belowdecks just as the storm started up."

[7thsea] Minico says, "Arr."

[Crows-Nest] Dmitri says, "That name reminds me of miningco.com"

GM says (to Minico), "So you're there now. The hatch just opened."

[Crows-Nest] Minico says, "Heh."

[Crows-Nest] ProfesorJinquele says, "He's the miniature verison of it."

[Crows-Nest] Signi says, "and his younger brother Aboutissimo"

[Crows-Nest] Minico says, "Younger, poorer brother."

Minico exclaims, "This storm is no better belowdecks!"

GM says, "The boat turns (as if you could tell, given the weather conditions) and another wave practically throws the boat towards the island."

Signi does her best to keep it steady.

[7thsea] ProfesorJinquele asks, "Does that mean we get to fall through the hatch instead of climbling through?"

[7thsea] GM says, "if you want."

[Crows-Nest] Minico says, "I see that Signi is a man within his twenties, dark of hair and eye."

[7thsea] ProfesorJinquele asks, "Do we get to fall on Minico?"

[Crows-Nest] Signi says, "this is just a one-shot"

[7thsea] GM says, "if you want."

[Crows-Nest] ProfesorJinquele says, "She sure is."

[Crows-Nest] Signi says, "signi is actually a 6'3" blonde-hair-and-blue-eyed vesten"

ProfesorJinquele is tipped through the hatch by the rocking of the boat, but luckily lands on something soft.

Guilliaume practically slides across the deck and tumbles into the hatch.

Minico shouts "Ow!" and goes tumbling back in.

Dmitri falls flat on the deck, sees the other tourists are all below, and climbs down.

[7thsea] GM asks, "Um, William?"

William crawls below as well, just barely

[7thsea] ProfesorJinquele says, "I think he's busy declaiming."

[7thsea] Minico asks, "So who are the dramatis personae?"

GM says, "The hatch slams shut. Another wave launches the ship towards the island, and in a flash of lightning those of you abovedecks can make out every detail. You're closer than you would like."

[7thsea] ProfesorJinquele, aka Jota, is a Castillian scholar.

GM says, "There is a horrible crunch. Water begins to pour into the hold belowdecks."

Minico exclaims, "My goods! My goods will be ruined!"

[7thsea] Dmitri says, "I'm schep, but I don't believe I've introduced myself to anyone yet."

[7thsea] William says, "William is an Avalonian actor, sometimes known as Emily"

[7thsea] Minico laughs.

ProfesorJinquele grabs his small satchel to try to keep it out of the water.

[7thsea] William says, "(but only for drag roles, mind)"

[7thsea] Dmitri says, "little thick Ussuran guy, though."

William regards his trunks with dismay.

[7thsea] GM says (to Minico), "heh ... force of habit? you don't actually bring goods on three-hour tours ... besides which, this is Vendel and you're supposed to be on holiday. Not trading."

GM says (to William), "don't worry. They're waterproof. You got them from some guy named Joe who had some wild story about a volcano or something."

[7thsea] ProfesorJinquele says, "Perhaps he's in the business of money-laundering."

[7thsea] Signi says, "although *somebody* apparently decided it was a good idea to bring william's stuff"

[7thsea] Minico says, "Hey, I don't know the setup, so I'm riffing when I can."

[7thsea] Minico says, "figured I'd come to Vendel for trading."

William relaxes, remembering this.

[7thsea] GM says (to Minico), "oh yeah, character sent..."

[7thsea] GM says (to Minico), "check e-mail."

[7thsea] Minico says, "Aha, I'd missed the crucial 'merchant on holiday' phrase."

Signi asks (of Guilliaume), "what was that crash? are we holed?"

[7thsea] William asks, "is a merchant ever truly on holiday?"

Guilliaume says, "(from belowdecks) I think so....."

Minico shouts, "We are taking on water!"

GM says, "On the bright side, the storm seems to be lessening, and the ship isn't rocking wildly anymore."

Signi says, "ai -- I'm not sure we can make the island"

Signi tries to guess how much farther

GM says, "In fact, the ship isn't moving, period."

[7thsea] Minico says, "We're not rocking because less of the ship is above water."

GM says (to Signi), "Not that far ... one more wave could have landed you right on the beach."

Signi says, "well"

ProfesorJinquele says, "While the vessel's bouyancy is reduced by the water in the hold, it does seem that the additional mass is improving its stability."

Signi exclaims, "I'm afraid we'll have to swim for it!"

Signi asks, "you all can swim, right?"

William asks, "swim??"

William asks, "If I could swim, what need would I have for a ship?"

ProfesorJinquele says, "I fear my educationdid not include such nautical necessities as 'swimming'."

Dmitri says, "I can't swim."

Minico says (to Signi), "I've never tried, though my brother showed I was adept at sinking once."

GM says, "The wind is dying down.... a ray of sunlight pierces through the clouds."

Signi says, "well, I don't think the ship will remain stable forever, so we'll have to get ashore somehow."

ProfesorJinquele asks, "Perhaps it could be paddled?"

Minico says, "Or there may be float-worthy barrels."

William says (to Signi), "do you swim to shore with a rope, fix it there, and I shall drag myself in"

Minico eyes William's trunk.

Signi says, "I rather imagine we've grounded."

William says (to Minico), "Do not think it, sir."

William says, "Whole livelihoods rest therein."

Signi says, "but mostly likely it is not that deep."

Minico holds up his hands. "I would have shared room on it!"

William says, "I have heard of Vodacce notions of 'sharing' before..."

Signi grabs a rope, ties a weight on the end, and tries to see if she can see the depth to the ground.

Minico exclaims, "You wound me, sir. I am an honest merchant!"

Dmitri asks, "Where to are we supposed to swim?" He tentatively goes back above deck.

Minico says, "Perhaps I could float..."

Minico climbs out of the hold.

GM says (to Signi), "it's shallow. Too shallow for most vessels."

Signi says (to Dmitri), "the island is not too far away"

[7thsea] ProfesorJinquele asks, "Shallow enough to walk?"

[7thsea] ProfesorJinquele says, "Perhaps not for Dmitri..."

GM says, "almost as suddenly as it sprang up, the storm dissipates. Water is still coming into the hold, and you can see a large bit of rock stick in through the hull."

ProfesorJinquele climbs abovedecks.

Signi goes into her cabin and starts gathering her few belongings.

ProfesorJinquele says, "There's enough broken timber down there that we could probably lash together a small raft."

[7thsea] Minico asks, "How shallow is it?"

GM says, "It's a bit deeper than you are tall."

Signi says (to Profesor), "good enough"

Guilliaume staggers abovedecks.

William looks sadly at the damaged ship. "'O Castor, o Poludoukes, where were you in that fateful hour...?'"

Minico goes down into the hold and returns with several boards and some rope.

Minico says (to Signi), "This should do, I think."

Signi starts tying wood together.

Minico dumps the supplies and goes to gather his several trunks.

William, still declaiming about the gentle shepherds of ships, gathers up one of the trunks and looks about hopefully

ProfesorJinquele gathers some more wood and ropes, and attempts to assemble crank-operated mechanical paddling device.

Signi asks (of Profesor), "are you sure that'll work?"

ProfesorJinquele says (to Signi), "It's certainly worth a try."

GM says (to William), "what luck. This is the one with the costumes from 'Horvendal, Prince of Vesten'. It includes a fencing foil, though the foil has a specially blunted tip to prevent 'accidents'."

[Crows-Nest] William says, "heh"

Minico returns, having selected only the barest essentials and shoved them unceremoniously in one trunk. He seems to be wearing three or four coats, shirts, and the like.

William says (to Minico), "Vodacce sense of fashion is not as keen as I had heard it reputed, it seems."

GM says, "Lashing a raft together is not much of a problem ... it's not expected to have to make a great journey or anything."

Minico says (to William), "Vodacce sense of fashion never trumps Vodacce sense of what has to be done."

Minico shrugs, though it's hard to tell under all the clothing.

Minico asks (of Signi), "Are we ready for our salty trek?"

Guilliaume helps to put the raft together. It looks like it could probably carry you all across, though it might have to make two trips.

Signi says (to Minico), "the ship's ready to go down, so we'd better be"

Dmitri asks, "ahh, uh. How long will it take to fix the boat?"

Minico says, "The longer we talk, the more chance of getting sucked in the undertow of the boat sinking."

Guilliaume looks about. "I have no idea."

Minico shoves his trunk overboard and follows it. Both vanish under the water, then reappear, Minico clinging to his floating trunk.

Signi says (to Minico), "very well then -- you and Dmitri and the Profesor had better go on the first trip"

Minico shouts, "Come in, the salt water will do you good!"

ProfesorJinquele helps lift the raft into the water.

Dmitri steps onto the raft uncertainly.

Signi is looking over the ship, shaking her head sadly.

ProfesorJinquele follows, holding the side of the Herryng for balance.

Signi collects what little she can salvage.

Minico balances the raft as best he can, kicking to hold his position.

William watches Signi thoughtfully

[7thsea] ProfesorJinquele asks, "Are William, Signi, and Guil the only ones still on the ship?"

[7thsea] GM says, "yes."

[7thsea] ProfesorJinquele says, "If the latter two can swim, WIlliam might as well get on the raft."

[7thsea] Signi says, "I'm not sure who's going to steer it back"

William gets on the raft as well, with his trunk

[7thsea] ProfesorJinquele says, "Because if we bring the raft back and forth, we have to worry about whether or not we're leaving two cannibals with one missionary."

Dmitri asks, "Is anything in that trunk useful?"

[7thsea] William grins wolfishly

[7thsea] GM says, "hee"

[7thsea] Dmitri says, "yay, I was just thinking something like that."

[7thsea] Minico says, "Heh."

William says (to Dmitri), "I don't see the raft sinking, sir."

ProfesorJinquele kneels down and starts turning the handle on the paddle.

Guilliaume swallows, then jumps into the water and begins floundering towards the island. not a great swimmer, but he gets by.

Dmitri looks at the water.

Signi piles a few things onto the raft, strips off her cloak and shoes and adds them to the pile, then starts swimming.

Minico grabs one of the ropes tying the raft and pulls on it with one hand, hanging on to his trunk with the other and kicking towards the island.

GM says, "You all eventually get on the island. You're on a sandy beach, with trees to the north and east. It extends slightly out to the west. Beyond the trees, the "hill" rises, stony and barren, above."

GM says, "The hill, as a matter of fact, is smoking. Looks like it might be a volcano."

William says, "lovely"

ProfesorJinquele says, "Fascinating."

William asks (of Signi), "Do you know whereabouts we might be?"

Signi says, "I'm afraid Guilliaume may have lost the map a few hours ago."

Guilliaume grins sheepishly.

[7thsea] Signi says, "(I shouldn't have let him kick it into the stream)"

Guilliaume says, "But I think we're a bit west of Vendel."

Minico says, "Lovely."

Minico says, "Perhaps the stars will be helpful."

ProfesorJinquele says, "When the sun sets we can observe the local stellar phenomena to deduce our location astronomically."

[7thsea] (from Minico) Guilliaume says (to camera), "I'm sorry...I'm so, so sorry..."

Signi says, "well"

Signi says, "we need to find some food and make a fire, if we can"

Dmitri says, "I can find some food."

Dmitri removes his vest, and tosses it aside.

Signi says, "good"

Signi asks, "anyone have a tinderbox?"

Minico sheds his ruined outer clothing. "I can join you."

ProfesorJinquele looks around for anything resembling flint.

Minico exclaims, "Oh!"

Signi asks, "yes?"

Minico opens his trunk and rummages around. You catch glimpes of a number of nice outfits as he does so. Then he pulls out a tinderbox and relatches his trunk.

Minico says, "For you, m'lady."

William frowns

Signi says, "excellent"

ProfesorJinquele says, "I'll help gather wood."

[7thsea] GM says, "I guess he needed something with which to light his cigars...."

[7thsea] Minico says, "A gentleman always has a light for a lady."

[7thsea] GM says, "lag lag lag...."

Signi goes into the woods to start looking for firewood.

Guilliaume says, "um. I'll help ... with ... something."

William looks around, finding himself once again in the middle of a flurry of other people's activity.

GM asks (of William), "Hm. Is that a second column of smoke you spy, a bit west of the one from the volcano?"

Dmitri asks, "Is there anything like some wire here?"

ProfesorJinquele looks for deadwood. Aside from Guilliaume.

[Crows-Nest] William says, "heh"

William looks more closely at the column of smoke. "Methinks we are not alone on this island."

William turns to the others. "Perhaps we can spare ourselves some of the trouble, if the native folk turn out to be friendly."

Signi comes out of the woods with an armful of wood. "What's this?"

GM says, "deadwood can be readily found. As can a few coconut trees."

GM says (to Dmitri), "which reminds you that your mother had this excellent recipe for coconut cream pie."

Signi says (to Guilliaume), "and this time, don't shake the coconut tree while standing underneath it"

Guilliaume asks, "Where do I stand, then?"

Dmitri says, "There's the coconuts, of course."

Guilliaume rubs head.

Dmitri says, "But maybe we can get meat too."

Dmitri asks, "First, should we see who else is here?"

ProfesorJinquele says, "Perhaps they have a boat, as well."

Signi says, "that seems like a good idea"

Minico says (to Dmitri), "Though as William points out, we may be able to spare ourselves the trouble."

William looks around. "I'm game."

Signi says, "of course, they may not be friendly"

Signi says, "in which case we may be in trouble if they find us"

ProfesorJinquele asks (of Signi), "What do you know about the natives in these islands?"

Signi says (to Jinquele), "well, there are always pirates in the islands"

Minico asks, "Is anyone armed?"

William says, "I have a--"

William draws the foil

Signi asks, "is that real?"

Minico taps its buttoned tip.

William says, "well, it LOOKS like a sword, and seeming can be as good as fact, in the right circumstance."

Signi says, "I have my knife"

Minico says, "I have a sword, but..."

Minico shrugs.

Dmitri says, "I have a knife."

Signi asks, "but?"

Minico says, "My training is not what it could be."

ProfesorJinquele says, "Well, if the need arises, I have a small skill with a firearm."

ProfesorJinquele takes the pistol from his satchel.

ProfesorJinquele says, "But I am loathe to engage in needless violence."

Minico rummages in his trunk once more and pulls out his sword.

ProfesorJinquele puts the pistol back into the satchel.

Dmitri says (to Jinquele), "Yes, we only want to be ready."

Signi says, "so next perhaps we should attempt to spy out the other camp"

Signi says, "and see if our weapons will in fact be needed"

Minico fastens his tastefully-worked leather sword belt under his blue cloak.

Minico says, "Oh, if stealth is needed, perhaps my green cloak."

Signi says, "very stylish"

Minico bows.

Signi says (to Dmitri), "you seem like you might be good at approaching people unobserved"

Minico says, "I have a little skill in quiet observation as well."

Dmitri says, "Unseen? No, not more than others."

[7thsea] Minico says, "And remember the cardinal rule: take the cannoli."

Signi says, "anyone else? I suppose I could go myself"

[7thsea] GM asks, "The cardinal's holy cannoli?"

Minico changes cloaks, the better to blend in.

ProfesorJinquele says, "I haven't done much sneaking around the libraries."

Dmitri says, "I think we should stay together, even if someone does see us."

ProfesorJinquele says, "Except to capture the occassional beastiary."

Minico says, "No, no, I'm willing to scout ahead."

Signi says, "we can all go most of the way"

Signi says, "and then you go on ahead"

Minico says, "Fair enough."

Minico asks, "Shall we?"

ProfesorJinquele nods, "Let's."

Signi lets Minico lead the way.

Minico forges ahead, his eyes on the smoke, glancing around occasionally.

ProfesorJinquele observes the local fauna in passing.

GM says, "Heading up the western side ...."

William practices to himself a few speeches of Greeting To Strangers

GM says, "The woods only cover a very short distance. All of a sudden, you're at a ledge about 6 feet above the water of a bay."

Signi looks around, still dripping water behind her.

[Crows-Nest] Minico asks (of William), "Fa ben lalse?"

[Crows-Nest] William says, "heh"

GM says, "The volcano rises up on one side, forming a steep cliff that goes right down into the water. You think you can see what appears to be a cave entrance and a ledge much higher up."

ProfesorJinquele has disconnected.

GM says, "Across the bay is ... a ship."

Minico asks, "Is that truly what I think it is?"

William says (to Signi), "(Someone may have some drier clothes, if it would help.)"

Signi says, "hmm"

ProfesorJinquele has connected.

GM says, "A long, low ship with a square sail and a drachen figurehead. Shields hang along its sides, with oars sticking into the water."

William says, "Good lord"

Signi murmurs "I never thought I'd actually see it."

William says, "It resembles an historical play of recent note..."

William asks (of Signi), "You recognize this-- peculiar vessel?"

ProfesorJinquele says, "Ah, a ship."

Signi says, "that's a vesten ship, sir."

ProfesorJinquele says, "Splendid. Perhaps we can arrange travel back to the mainland."

Signi says, "full of blood-thirsty savages who would think nothing of cleaving all our heads in twain with their war-axes"

[7thsea] ProfesorJinquele asks, "Like Bjorg?"

Minico says, "oh dear."

[7thsea] Signi says, "exactly"

Dmitri asks, "How many crew?"

William says (to Signi), "I admit the prospect of requesting their hospitality has just lost much of its appeal."

Signi says, "well, there must be one man for each oar"

ProfesorJinquele says, "This is a wonderful anthropological find."

[7thsea] GM says, "hee"

Minico exclaims (at Professer), "This might be a wonderful opportunity to be robbed!"

GM says (to Signi), "you count maybe 20 oars on this side."

ProfesorJinquele says, "If we can make an alliance with them, it will give us an unparalleled opportunity to observe their culture from within."

[7thsea] Minico asks (of Signi), "You're vendel, ya?"

[7thsea] Signi says, "right"

[7thsea] Signi says, "so views on vesten are a bit biased :)"

[7thsea] Minico says, "That's what I was wondering."

ProfesorJinquele says, "Unfortunately, it looks like we'll have to travel around the long way to meet them, unless we can scale this cliff face."

William says, "Any alliance that requires us to part with half of our skulls is no alliance for me."

Minico eyes Jinquele. "Your books present wonderful worlds to you, do they not?"

William says (to Minico), "Wholly imaginary ones, I think."

Minico says (to William), "Perhaps we could offer someone else's whole skull for our two halves. Our good friend Jinquele seems locked in his -- I doubt he'd miss it."

ProfesorJinquele says (to Minci), "Si! Let me tell you about the universe of fourth-order differentials as they describe stellar organization later."

Signi says, "well"

Signi says, "can we reach that other cave? it might give us a better view"

[7thsea] ProfesorJinquele asks, "How far up is the other cave?"

[7thsea] GM says, "it's maybe 20 or 30 feet up, about 30 yards away."

[7thsea] GM says, "er, make that 60 yards away."

[7thsea] Signi says, "that seems somewhat out of range"

Dmitri says, "I wonder, about that cave."

Dmitri says, "I can try, but it's far."

William asks (of Dmitri), "oh?"

Dmitri says, "A rope would help."

Dmitri says, "If it was long enough."

Signi says, "I believe i brought one off the ship, but that's a long way away"

Signi asks, "could we approach it from above, somehow?"

ProfesorJinquele says, "It'd mean climbing the volcano from another side. We may as well make our way around in the opposite direction."

Signi asks, "well, so shall we do that?"

William shrugs and follows along.

Minico says, "As long as we skirt the fumarole, that should be fine."

ProfesorJinquele:starts into the woods.

Signi goes along.

Minico follows as well.

ProfesorJinquele inspects the various geological formations as they pass.

[7thsea] ProfesorJinquele asks, "Are we leaving Guilliaume on the ledge?"

Guilliaume has disconnected.

[7thsea] ProfesorJinquele says, "Whoops. He fell off."

GM has disconnected.

GM has connected.

[7thsea] GM says, "grf. major reboot."

Guilliaume has connected.

[7thsea] GM asks, "recap?"

[7thsea] ProfesorJinquele says, "We decided not to scae the cliffs from this side."

Dmitri looks for any signs of animal life as they walk.

[7thsea] Minico says, "We're walking around the volcano"

[7thsea] ProfesorJinquele says, "We're going to walk around the island the other way, possibly looking for an easier way up the hill from another side to come down from below."

[7thsea] ProfesorJinquele says, "Er, from above."

GM says (to Dmitri), "you do in fact spot animal life. Lots of insects ... occasionally, what appears to be a snake of some kind ...."

[7thsea] William says, "mrf, need snackage"

[7thsea] William says, "afk for a sec"

[7thsea] GM asks, "who's trudging in front?"

[7thsea] ProfesorJinquele says, "I think I was."

[7thsea] ProfesorJinquele asks, "Then either William or Signi?"

[7thsea] Signi says, "I guess me, sure"

[7thsea] ProfesorJinquele asks, "I guess that'd mean William next, then Minico, with Dmitri and Guilliaume in the rear?"

GM says, "You go a certain distance, far enough that the volcano is now west of you, and then the ground practically drops away in what appears to be a long, trench-like gully going east-west."

[7thsea] Minico says, "That sounds about right."

[7thsea] ProfesorJinquele asks, "We're facing north now, right?"

[7thsea] ProfesorJinquele asks, "Can we go left?"

[7thsea] Minico asks, "And how deep's the gully?"

Minico says, "Ah hm. This may put a crimp in our plans."

GM says, "You can go towards the left or right, but from here you can't see if you can go around it. The gully is maybe fifteen feet down."

[7thsea] Dmitri asks, "width?"

[7thsea] GM says (to Dmitri), "at this point, about 40 feet across."

ProfesorJinquele says, "If we go east, the gulley could well reach to the ocean."

Minico says, "We might be able to lower each other into the gulley, though it will mean dirtying my cloak."

Minico sighs.

ProfesorJinquele says, "I would suggest going west."

ProfesorJinquele says, "In the hope that the crevice terminates before the summit."

[7thsea] Minico asks, "Same height on the other side?"

[7thsea] GM says (to Minico), "about, yes."

Minico says, "I do think we could help each other down, across, and back up again."

Minico says, "especially with the aid of rope."

Guilliaume says, "I could give it a try."

Signi looks suspicious.

Signi says (to Guilliaume), "well -- ok, we can hold the rope for you"

Dmitri says, "This one I can climb I think."

Guilliaume asks (of Signi), "What could possibly go wrong?"

Dmitri says, "I'll go down last and up first if you want."

ProfesorJinquele has disconnected.

Signi sighs.

Signi says (to Dmitri), "help me hold the rope for him"

Dmitri nods.

[7thsea] Dmitri asks, "are there trees?"

[7thsea] Guilliaume says, "yes."

[7thsea] GM says, "yes."

Dmitri says, "We could tie it to a tree."

ProfesorJinquele has connected.

Signi says, "good idea"

Signi does so, but holds on anyway

Dmitri steadies the rope near the edge.

Guilliaume grabs hold and begins climbing down.

[7thsea] Guilliaume rolls 4k2: 1 7 4 6 | 13

Minico watches Guilliaume with interest.

Guilliaume slips about halfway down and drops the rest of the way.

[7thsea] Signi says, "I'm shocked at that roll"

Guilliaume says, "Oof."

Guilliaume says, "Well, that wasn't so bad. See? Perfectly safe."

Signi sighs, and looks down.

Signi asks, "are you okay?"

Guilliaume says, "Yes! Perfectly fine."

Guilliaume begins poking around the bottom of the gully.

[7thsea] Dmitri says, "the funny part is, that's my roll. Unless it's Resolve for this one."

Minico says, "I'll go down and check on him as well."

Guilliaume wanders off towards the western side.

[7thsea] GM says, "heh"

Signi says (to Minico), "go ahead"

[7thsea] ProfesorJinquele asks, "Is the goal to cross the gulley or to travel east or west, inside it?"

[7thsea] Minico rolls 3k3: 7 10+3 5 | 25

Minico slides down the rope quickly, remembering to bend his knees when he reaches the ground.

GM says (to Minico), "you make it down without any problem. By this time, Guilliaume has wandered around a corner."

Minico exclaims, "Guilliaume? Guillaiume!"

Guilliaume exclaims, "Hey! There's a cave at this end!"

[7thsea] GM says (to prof), "you could choose to do any of the above."

Minico says, "By all that is --" He shouts, "Hold up!"

Signi exclaims, "don't go in! wait for us!"

Minico hurries after Guillaiume.

Signi says, "I'd better go after him"

Guilliaume says, "Okay, not going in...."

[7thsea] Signi rolls 6k3: 6 6 10+6 3 1 5 | 28

Signi slips down the rope also.

Guilliaume is standing at the mouth of a cave at the western end of the gully.

ProfesorJinquele tries his hand at the rope, since no one else seems to be on it at the moment.

[7thsea] ProfesorJinquele rolls 3k2: 1 8 9 | 17

William says, "I'll hold it for you"

Minico peers into the cave, trying to see inside without actually going inside.

[7thsea] ProfesorJinquele asks, "Was it a 15 or a 20?"

[7thsea] Guilliaume says, "15. You also get down without much problem."

Dmitri asks, "Will we still cross, or should we leave the rope?"

William says, "It's tied up here? Best to leave a retreat route, I think"

Guilliaume says (to Minico), "it's dark. The cave inside seems to be pretty large."

William tries his hand at descent, as well.

[7thsea] William rolls 2k2: 10+9 7 | 26

William descends handily, with a little hop at the bottom.

[7thsea] Minico says (to William), "Well done."

Dmitri goes down as well.

[7thsea] Dmitri rolls 4k2: 9 1 3 2 | 12

ProfesorJinquele follows the others to the cave.

Dmitri falls at the bottom.

GM says (to Dmitri), "about halfway down, you lose your grip. Fortunately, it's only a very short drop."

[Crows-Nest] Minico says (to Dmitri), "And now you must kick the head."

[Crows-Nest] Signi exclaims, "yay!"

Signi says, "well"

Signi says, "so did we still have that tinderbox? we'll need a torch"

Minico says, "Last I saw it I was putting it in your hands."

Signi says, "indeed, here it is"

Signi looks around for some wood.

GM says, "The cave entrance is framed by plants and stuff. There are lots of rocks scattered around, but a bit of a distance in, the floor seems to turn smooth."

GM says, "Wood is easily available."

Minico gathers some wood, choosing the drier pieces.

Signi strikes sparks until she is able to light a few torches.

Dmitri listens in case there's anything to be heard from the cave.

GM says, "There is no sound from within."

Signi says, "well, I suppose we should enter."

William approaches as well. "Nothing to be learned if we don't go in at least a bit, it seems."

Minico takes a few steps inside and waves his torch around, illuminating various cracks and crevices.

[7thsea] andyf asks, "Arr. Piracy in progress?"

GM says, "Further in, you find that the floor is indeed smooth and level. The cave entrance is actually a hole in the wall: rocks a scattered across the floor near the entrance."

[7thsea] Signi says, "miseri is running a one-shot game"

Signi asks, "so someone broke in this way? or perhaps the volcano?"

GM says, "The cave itself is a moderately-sized chamber, circular in shape with a rounded ceiling."

GM says, "Smooth walls."

GM says, "There's a passageway opposite."

[7thsea] Dmitri asks, "smooth as in man-made?"

Valentin arrives, looking for booty.

ProfesorJinquele says, "Perhaps we could learn more by following the passage."

[7thsea] GM says, "looks that way."

[7thsea] Valentin says, "Don't mind me, spectating."

[7thsea] ProfesorJinquele says, "Hmm. I would have expected volcano-made to be smoother than man-made."

Signi shrugs, and starts walking along the passage.

Minico follows Signi.

William goes along as well

William says (to Signi), "Do you have this sort of adventure often? It is most stirring to the blood."

GM says (to Signi), "the passage slopes upwards a bit. It's quite long ... after a bit, you come across what appears to be a suit of armour lying on the floor."

Signi walks over to the armor.

ProfesorJinquele examines the armor.

Signi says (to William), "to be honest, once I retired from regular service I mostly stuck to fishing."

Minico pokes at the armor with his foot.

Signi says, "but at the time, yes, there were storms that made this one look small"

GM says, "Well, whoever wore this must have been built pretty funny. The limbs are unusually narrow and long, the breastplate is kind of bulbous, with three holes punched into either side just beneath the arms."

William asks, "...ventilation?"

Minico asks, "or spines?"

[7thsea] Valentin says, "Hey, gotta ventilate the pits!"

GM says, "There's no helmet anywhere, but the opening for the neck is also pretty small. None of you could fit your neck into it."

GM says, "It's also made of an enamel-like material."

Dmitri says, "How strange."

Minico says, "Oh odd."

[7thsea] ProfesorJinquele rolls 5k3: 4 3 4 1 9 | 17

[7thsea] Minico says, "er, *how* odd."

Signi peers curiously at it.

GM says (to Prof), "it doesn't look like any historical style you're familiar."

Signi says (to William), "I have certainly never seen anything like *this* before"

GM says (to Prof), "it doesn't look like any historical style you're familiar with."

ProfesorJinquele says, "Most odd. I can't say I've seen anything like it."

Signi asks (of Profesor), "does it look very old?"

GM says, "Very old."

ProfesorJinquele turns it over.

ProfesorJinquele says, "Yes... it's hard to tell exactly, but it's definitely quite ancient."

GM says, "The other side is damaged, some parts cracked and broken."

Minico says, "I wonder how it came to be here, and what emptied it of its occupant."

Signi says, "I suppose it could have been abandoned"

ProfesorJinquele says, "The damage on this side suggest the occupant may have fallen some distance."

Dmitri says, "I wonder what sort of thing its occupant was."

Signi looks up.

Signi asks, "fallen from where?"

GM says, "Oh yeah. On the other side are also two long, paddle-like pieces, made of a similar material, only translucent."

ProfesorJinquele says, "Perhaps further in -- it could ahve been dragged here."

ProfesorJinquele says, "If its wearer had died right here, there would likely be some remains."

ProfesorJinquele says, "If not bones, dust."

Signi says, "true"

Signi says, "let us continue on, then, and see if we can find the owner"

William asks, "if this is extremely old, then what has it to do with those Vesten?"

ProfesorJinquele raises an eyebrow.

William asks (of Signi), "And do we want to find the owner?"

Minico looks for drag marks around the armor.

William says, "It might not want to be found."

GM says (to Minico), "no drag marks."

William says, "I am in favor of continuing to look, but if I find anything that looks like it could fit in this armor..."

Dmitri says, "I have no idea about it. Let's go on."

ProfesorJinquele says, "I don't hope to find the owner, unless fossilized."

ProfesorJinquele follows the passage further onward.

Valentin has disconnected.

Valentin buckles his swash.

Minico follows Jinquele.

Signi goes onwards.

Signi asks, "well, whatever it is, it isn't vesten. and if it got to the island somehow, perhaps a boat is still here?"

GM says, "At what appears to be the entrance to another chamber, you almost trip over another suit, identical to the first, except that this time the damage is mostly on the front, and one of the paddle-like attachments has been broken off."

Minico says, "Though even you might be willing to choose vesten over whatever was in that -- those suits."

ProfesorJinquele picks up the broken paddle, looking at it more carefully.

[7thsea] GM says (to prof), "wits + natural philosophy"

[7thsea] ProfesorJinquele rolls 6k3: 3 1 9 5 2 8 | 22

[7thsea] ProfesorJinquele says, "Hee. Timing."

[7thsea] GM says (to prof), "you've seen something similar to this before ... now you think about it ... these look very similar to dragonfly wings. Only Much Bigger."

ProfesorJinquele says, "These transparent extensions remind me of certain insectile protrosions, for purposes of aerial locomotion."

[7thsea] GM says, "they even have the same veins, and shimmer a bit when you turn them in the light."

Minico peers into the next chamber.

Signi asks, "wings?"

ProfesorJinquele says, "In particular, a significantly magnified version of the wings of the volintes draonis -- the dragonfly."

Signi asks, "but -- a dragonfly in armor?"

Minico finds his attention drawn back to the Profesor. "An armored dragonfly?"

GM says, "The next chamber is also round and domed, but smaller than the first. There is some kind of contraption in the middle, that looks like tarnished brass."

[7thsea] ProfesorJinquele asks, "Do the 'wings' look like they're just a part of a suit, or like they're sleeves for real wings?"

[7thsea] GM says, "part of."

ProfesorJinquele says, "Were the occupant a dragonfly, it is unlikely he'd find it necessary to fashion artificial wings such as these."

Minico says, "Unless it needed extra help getting off the ground, what with the armor's weight and all."

Signi walks over to look at the contraption.

ProfesorJinquele says, "Although the plentitude of lateral openings may well suggest an unusually high nubmer of extremities."

ProfesorJinquele says, "That is, additional legs."

ProfesorJinquele follows Signi.

[7thsea] Signi says, "(the professor is making me laugh every time he talks)"

[7thsea] ProfesorJinquele says, "Yay"

[7thsea] Minico says, "Heh."

Minico wanders into the next chamber and looks at the contraption.

GM says, "The contraption is largely cylindrical, about three feet high and fixed to the exact centre of the room. It's topped by a circular tray, slightly concave. There is a ring of studs around the cylindrical part, about six inches below the top."

William has disconnected.

[7thsea] ProfesorJinquele asks, "Does the tray extend beyond the edges of the cylinder?"

Minico exclaims, "Ho, Jinquele! Have a look at this!"

Dmitri looks utterly confused. "I thought the world was strange before."

[7thsea] GM says, "a little, not much."

ProfesorJinquele says (to Minico), "Mmm? Mmm. Mmhmm."

Minico mutters, "Those studs are aching to be pressed."

Signi steps back.

Minico grins. He says (to Signi), "Have no fear. My curiousity is in check for now."

William has connected.

ProfesorJinquele says, "Understanding follows experimentation."

[7thsea] William says, "crashy bang"

[7thsea] GM says (to William), "arr"

[7thsea] William says, "sorry"

[7thsea] William asks, "I take it we haven't found the strange creature yet?"

Minico says, "And sometimes a messy death follows understanding in these situations."

ProfesorJinquele says, "Mmm, yes. That is one of the troubles with the science of alchemy."

[7thsea] GM says (to William), "'s okay. found another suit, speculated more about it. also, found strange cylinder-thing in another room."

[7thsea] William says, "hmm"

[7thsea] Dmitri asks, "Isn't it kind of obvious to someone with more general knowledge what sort of place we're in?"

ProfesorJinquele says, "Violently exothermic reactions and all."

ProfesorJinquele inspects the contraption as well as he can without pushing the studs.

GM says, "The room, by the way, has another two exits aside from the one you came in by. One to the left, another to the right."

[7thsea] ProfesorJinquele says, "Probably not a spaceship, although it feels like one."

Dmitri draws a knife, confused by all the talk of danger and violence.

Minico speculates, balancing profit and risk.

William makes a few passes in the air with the useless foil

[7thsea] ProfesorJinquele says, "I'd like to push those buttons, but I know someone will kill me if I suggest it :)"

[7thsea] Signi says, "aw, just push one"

[7thsea] William says, "one could pres one from a distance"

[7thsea] Minico says, "Push it."

[7thsea] Minico says, "If it's bad, we'll spit on your remains."

[7thsea] William says, "with, for instance, the button of one's foil"

ProfesorJinquele says, "Step back -- I'd like to attempt to discover the device's purpose through a more active investigation."

Minico asks, "Is that wise?"

William shrugs. "Very well. Unless you want me to try."

Minico takes a more active interest in portions of the chamber further away from Jinquele.

William stabs an imaginary button.

ProfesorJinquele presses one.

ProfesorJinquele waits.

GM says, "The cylinder begins to hum. A soft glow envelopes the tray."

Minico says, "My word."

GM says, "This last for about as long as you hold down the button."

GM says, "(that's about it.)"

ProfesorJinquele says, "What an unnatural illumination."

ProfesorJinquele tries another one.

[Crows-Nest] Minico says, "Next time, on [The]7th Sea[l]"

[Crows-Nest] Signi says, "hee hee"

Dmitri asks, "Do you know what it is?"

[Crows-Nest] Signi says, "well, I don't have gambling, so somebody else will have to do the playing-chess-with-death bit"

Minico searches his pockets and finds a few coins.

Minico says, "Profesor! Try that button again, but with these in the tray."

GM says, "Same thing as before ... slightly different-coloured glow, though."

ProfesorJinquele says (to Minico), "Certainly."

Minico hands him the coins, then backs away hastily.

ProfesorJinquele drops several coins in the tray and pushes a third button.

[7thsea] ProfesorJinquele asks, "How many buttons are there?"

[7thsea] Dmitri asks, "How big was the tray?"

[7thsea] GM says, "let's see ... seven."

[7thsea] GM says, "the tray is about a foot in diameter."

[7thsea] ProfesorJinquele asks, "What were the colors so far?"

[7thsea] ProfesorJinquele says, "(Assume I've been going in order)"

GM says, "When you push the button, the glow envelops the tray ... the coins glow a bit as well. nothing else happens."

ProfesorJinquele holds the button down.

ProfesorJinquele reaches in to take out one of the coins.

[7thsea] GM says, "colours are different shades of red."

GM says, "Your hand tingles a bit as it enters the glow. But you take the coin out without anything else happening."

[7thsea] ProfesorJinquele asks, "Coin is fairly normal, non-glowy?"

Dmitri asks, "Try two buttons?"

[7thsea] GM says, "yes. only glowy while in tray with other glow."

ProfesorJinquele sets down the coin and tries a fourth button, while the third is still depressed.

[7thsea] William says, "if any of you all start feeling nauseated, losing hair, etc., I'm going to sleep under lead sheeting for protection"

GM says, "There is a soft click, and then the thing is silent."

ProfesorJinquele frowns.

ProfesorJinquele lets go of the third button.

GM says, "...silence....."

GM says, "(what's everybody else doing, by the way?)"

William watches from a discreet distance.

ProfesorJinquele lets go of the fourth button, then.

Dmitri is watching wide-eyed.

Signi is getting bored and staring around the room.

ProfesorJinquele says, "It seems that either something has been activated, or something has beend eactivated."

ProfesorJinquele tries the last three buttons perfunctorily.

GM says, "glow. glow. glow. None of them appear to do anything different."

ProfesorJinquele shrugs, "I'm baffled."

Minico says, "Perhaps we should continue on for now."

ProfesorJinquele nods.

[7thsea] GM says, "lag...."

William let us

Dmitri steps up, and tries to lift, turn, or otherwise move the tray.

[7thsea] ProfesorJinquele asks, "Left or right?"

Signi asks, "well, left or right?"

Minico asks, "Left or right?"

[7thsea] Minico says, "Lag timing"

ProfesorJinquele moves to the left branch.

Signi follows along.

Minico follows as well.

GM says (to Dmitri), "the tray turns freely, but doesn't move in any other way."

Dmitri follows the group.

GM says, "The left branch also rises a little, but not as much. It gets warmer as you go along, but there's a circle of light at the other end."

William goes with the others

[7thsea] Minico asks, "Sunlight, or unnatural light?"

GM says, "Sunlight."

[7thsea] ProfesorJinquele says, "Glowing magma."

Dmitri asks, "the cave-hole we saw earlier?"

Minico says, "one way to find out"

Minico heads for the light.

ProfesorJinquele is still wlaking.

GM says, "It is indeed another cave-entrance, and this time it appears to have been intentionally carved. There's a ledge outside."

ProfesorJinquele looks outside.

GM says, "It's quite hot here."

GM says, "Outside ... you're in the mouth of the volcano."

GM says, "Some distance down from the top."

Minico says, "Lovely."

Signi says, "hmm"

Minico says, "We might have hot magma dumped on us."

ProfesorJinquele takes a notepad from his satchel and begins noting down observations.

Signi asks, "why would someone have built this inside a volcano?"

ProfesorJinquele says, "Perhaps they were able to harness the its thermal excesses in some way."

GM says, "Up at the edge of the mouth, some movement catches your eye, about a quarter of the circumference from you."

ProfesorJinquele asks, "What is that?"

Signi shades her eyes and looks up.

Minico looks intently.

GM says, "There's a stake of some sort, and a pair of tall men in leather are tying a third guy to it."

William asks, "A sacrifice?"

GM says, "They haven't seen you yet."

ProfesorJinquele steps back from the opening.

ProfesorJinquele says, "A punishment, possibly."

Signi asks, "a sacrifice? but what do they expect to sacrifice him to?"

Signi says, "that seems perhaps more likely"

Minico glances down.

Dmitri eyes the wall above the ledge.

GM says (to Minico), "black, steaming rock ... cooled, but apparently not cooled enough."

Minico says, "Fuf. The smell."

GM says (to Dmitri), "steep."

ProfesorJinquele starts walking back down to the cooler part of the passage.

Signi retreats also.

Minico says, "We'll never get to him this way."

GM says, "...arriving back in the contraption chamber."

Minico heads for the third, and unexplored, passage.

ProfesorJinquele does as well.

GM says (to Minico), "That passage goes for quite a long way. You find Guilliaume a good distance in, at an alcove full of shelves. He's admiring what appears to be some kind of model."

Guilliaume asks, "Look, isn't this neat?"

ProfesorJinquele looks at the model.

Minico asks, "What have you found?"

Guilliaume says, "It looks like some sort of ship."

[7thsea] ProfesorJinquele asks, "Was that Guilliaume or the GM speaking?"

[7thsea] GM says, "both"

Signi asks, "a ship?"

ProfesorJinquele looks at it more closely.

[7thsea] GM says, "certainly not any sort of ship you're familiar with. Doesn't even look sea-worthy."

Dmitri says, "if it only be a bit bigger, then."

[7thsea] ProfesorJinquele asks, "Is it somewhat cigar-shaped, or possibly like some sort of shallow upturned bowl?"

Minico goes home.

[7thsea] William says, "heh"

[7thsea] Signi says, "and speaking of shallow bowls"

[7thsea] Dmitri asks, "are there other objects on the shelves?"

[7thsea] Signi asks, "are we going to try it in the pedestal?"

[7thsea] GM says, "sort of shaped like a lozenge, no deck at all unless it's inside. Several sails, though, in odd places."

[7thsea] GM says (to Dmitri), "a few open, empty jars. That's about it."

[7thsea] ProfesorJinquele asks, "Sails at all reminscent of dragonfly wings?"

[7thsea] GM says (to prof), "no."

ProfesorJinquele says, "Considering the oddity of the protective garments we discovered earlier, it is a reasonable hypothesis that their original possessors may have also fabricated this miniature."

[7thsea] GM says, "(the passage does continue on past the alcove, by the way.)"

ProfesorJinquele says, "As neither seems particularly similar to their more familiar analogs."

Dmitri picks up one of the jars and looks at it.

Minico arrives, looking for booty.

GM says (to Dmitri), "it seems perfectly ordinary, though it smells of pine tar."

[7thsea] Minico asks, "What did I miss?"

[7thsea] ProfesorJinquele says, "We found Guilliaume in a room with shelves."

[7thsea] ProfesorJinquele says, "One one shelf is a model of something kind of ship-like, but shaped wrong, and with sils in the wrong places."

[7thsea] ProfesorJinquele says, "Also, a few jars."

[7thsea] GM says, "actually, more an alcove off to one side of the passage than a room."

Minico says, "This is all well and good, but we're no closer to a real ship than we were before."

ProfesorJinquele continues onward.

GM says, "End of the passage is a spiral stair going up."

ProfesorJinquele climbs the stairs.

GM says, "End of the passage is a spiral stair going up."

GM says, "oop"

Minico follows Jinquele.

GM says, "room, short passage off to one side."

GM says, "at top of stairs, I mean."

[7thsea] ProfesorJinquele asks, "Anything in the room?"

[7thsea] GM says, "no"

ProfesorJinquele glances around, but keeps going.

Minico says (to Jinquele), "We seem to be in the lead."

Minico follows along.

Dmitri is following along.

Signi is also wandering along behind.

GM says, "The short passage leads to an immense chamber. Unlike the other chambers, the walls here are covered with some kind of scaffolding, like a web of some kind stretching up the rounded walls and across the domed top. Not that you can see the top of the dome, though. Too high, too dark."

ProfesorJinquele says, "Incredible."

GM says, "And right in the middle of the room, floating about 4 feet off the ground, are several giant disks."

Minico says, "This is more sightseeing than I expected from my vacation."

ProfesorJinquele walks over to the disks.

Signi blinks.

Signi says, "my"

[Crows-Nest] Dmitri says, "The nearest one is stamped in giant letters, 'Ten Cents'"

[7thsea] ProfesorJinquele asks, "How far apart are the disks?"

[7thsea] ProfesorJinquele says, "(Also, how big, what material, how many...?)"

[7thsea] GM says (to prof), "they're randomly spaced."

Dmitri walks up to one disk and touches it.

[7thsea] GM says (to prof), "they appear to be made of copper. it's not important how many there are."

[7thsea] ProfesorJinquele asks, "Do they extend a ways up?"

GM says (to Dmitri), "there's some resistance ... but your hand goes through it."

[7thsea] ProfesorJinquele asks, "Or is the top one within reach?"

ProfesorJinquele takes one of the coins that Minico gave him earlier, and tries to see if the disks will hold it up.

[7thsea] GM says (to Prof), "they're mostly all within reach. If you mean the top of the disks, well, yeah, but it's still a bit above eye-level."

GM says (to Prof), "no."

Signi says, "my"

ProfesorJinquele says, "Indeed."

ProfesorJinquele walks around, and then through the disks.

GM says, "(oh yeah. exits. there's another exit at the opposite side, and several small rooms around the perimeter)"

[7thsea] Dmitri asks, "how big are the exits?"

GM says (to Prof), "if you ever wondered what walking through molten copper was like, now you know. except, of course, that it's not at all as hot as molten copper would be."

ProfesorJinquele looks up at the scaffolding. "I wonder what's up there."

[7thsea] GM says (to Dmitri), "about man-sized."

[7thsea] ProfesorJinquele says (to GM), "You scared me for a moment there."

Dmitri inspects the disk for marks and symmetry.

GM says (to Dmitri), "there does appear to be some sort of design on the bottom, flat side. You can't see the top from where you are."

Dmitri exclaims, "oh!"

Dmitri lies down underneath the disk to get a better view of the bottom.

ProfesorJinquele looks into the side rooms.

GM says (to Dmitri), "It appears that the disk is stamped in giant letters, 'Ten Cents'."

[7thsea] Dmitri says, "yay"

Dmitri says, "Coins."

[7thsea] Signi says, "ok, that rules"

Dmitri says, "That thing downstairs must do this."

Signi asks, "so it projects anything into this room? could it make the ship full-sized?"

ProfesorJinquele says, "Mmm."

[7thsea] Minico says, "Heh."

GM says (to Prof), "Hm. orderly stacks of sheet metal ... many jars, now empty ... construction tools with oddly shaped handles...."

ProfesorJinquele asks (of Signi), "Perhaps, but what good is a ship you can walk right through?"

ProfesorJinquele says, "Then again, it may permit us to inspect its interior."

Dmitri says, "Maybe the ship is different."

Signi asks, "perhaps there is another button which makes it solid?"

ProfesorJinquele looks at the tools.

Dmitri says, "All this must be ... have a purpose."

GM says (to Prof), "Hammers, tongs, etc.. But the handles make them all rather difficult to handle. Unless your hands were shaped somewhat differently."

Minico says (to Dmitri), "though its purpose may be beyond us."

Minico says, "Beyond me, certainly."

[7thsea] GM wonders what William is up to....

ProfesorJinquele pockets one of the smaller hammers.

[7thsea] William says, "mm, struggling with sleepiness I'm afraid"

ProfesorJinquele asks, "Does anyone volunteer to return to the central chamber, to experiment with placing the model into that device?"

[7thsea] ProfesorJinquele asks, "Should this be a two-day one-off, perhaps?"

[7thsea] Minico says, "I'm beginning to wilt."

[7thsea] Signi says, "two-off"

[7thsea] GM says, "mm. RPing through internet slows the process down ... this is roughly the halfway-point."

Signi asks, "I will do so -- which buttons need to be pressed?"

ProfesorJinquele says, "Originally, we tried the first, second, and third individually."

ProfesorJinquele says, "Then third and fourth together, and finally the last three separately."

Signi says, "very well then"

ProfesorJinquele says, "Which ones did this, I have no idea."

Signi says, "you could perhaps stay here and shout for me to stop if anything interesting happens"

[7thsea] GM says, "two-day one-off sounds good, actually....."

Minico says, "Let's set up relays."

ProfesorJinquele nods, "An excellent plan."

Minico says, "I will go a ways with Signi, then stop."

[7thsea] ProfesorJinquele will just keep RP'ing until GM says Game Saved. :)

Signi says (to Minico), "aha, like signalling with flags between ships"

[7thsea] GM says, "heh."

[7thsea] Signi asks, "should we stop pre-pushing buttons or post?"

GM says, "You put the model on the tray and begin to push the button .... <To Be Continued>"

[7thsea] Signi says, "erp"

[7thsea] Signi says, "I had to ask"

[7thsea] Dmitri says, "pretty neat so far."

[7thsea] Signi says, "yeah"

[7thsea] Dmitri says, "Except I'm frightened by the fact that it all seems too easy."

[7thsea] Signi says, "well, there's no explanation of the pirates"

[7thsea] Signi says, "or whoever they are"

[7thsea] Signi says, "and why they're tying a guy to the volcano and so on"

[7thsea] GM says, "Mm ... Maybe I'm a little too easy as a GM...."

[7thsea] (from Signi) GM says "but you all get 50 xp"

[7thsea] ProfesorJinquele says, "The pirates might be unrelated to the artifact-ish stuff."

[7thsea] Signi says, "mmhmm"

[7thsea] Dmitri says (to Signi), "So we can get an NPC who knows something on our side, of course."

[7thsea] Signi says, "but do we have to explore both to get off the island, is the question"

[7thsea] Dmitri says, "probably, yeah"

[7thsea] ProfesorJinquele asks, "Well, how many of us are there? Fivish?"

[7thsea] GM says, "well, you guys did it with coins ... first time I tried this, the sailor character put her (female player) put her hands on the tray while someone else fiddled with the buttons. When they came up, they all had to make resolve checks for the Huge Freaky Fingers reaching across the room, overhead."

[7thsea] GM says, "lag...."

[7thsea] ProfesorJinquele says, "Let's see, about five-ten dozen pirates, probably mostly brutes..."

[7thsea] ProfesorJinquele says, "That's on their ship, I mean. And we have our raft to paddle out there..."

[7thsea] ProfesorJinquele says, "I say let's just take their ship by force."

[7thsea] Signi says, "oh, right"

[7thsea] Signi asks, "well, can we make the normal 7th sea timeslot tomorrow?"

[7thsea] Minico asks, "When is that?"

[7thsea] Signi asks, "um, 7pm PST?"

[7thsea] ProfesorJinquele says, "10 eastern."

[7thsea] ProfesorJinquele says, "Timing."

[7thsea] Signi says, "I know emily is going to be in NY most of the day but is getting back eveningish"

[7thsea] Minico says, "That's way late for me."

[7thsea] Dmitri says, "I'd rather do earlier, if that works for other people."

[7thsea] Minico says, "In fact, tomorrow's bad for me all 'round."

[7thsea] ProfesorJinquele says, "Earlier is better than later."

[7thsea] ProfesorJinquele says, "(Alternatively, early-Musketeer slot)"

[7thsea] Signi says, "another -- right"

[7thsea] Signi says, "which is 4pm EST"

[7thsea] Signi says, "but that can't run too far over, since late musketeers starts at 8pm est"

[7thsea] Guilliaume says, "right."

[7thsea] Minico says, "I could do Sunday."

[7thsea] ProfesorJinquele says, "We could possibly even do earlier than that, if everyone was OK with it."

[7thsea] Signi says, "I could start an hour or two earlier"

[7thsea] GM says, "fine with me."

[7thsea] Signi asks, "..Dmitri?"

[7thsea] Dmitri says, "I do nothing all Saturday. Except sleep."

[7thsea] Signi asks, "but sunday?"

[7thsea] Dmitri says, "Oh, wait. Oh, Sunday, good."

[7thsea] ProfesorJinquele asks, "Likewise for William?"

[7thsea] William says, "sunday is ok"

[7thsea] GM says, "cool"

[7thsea] ProfesorJinquele asks, "Two Eastern, eleven pacific?"

[7thsea] GM says, "I'm fine with that."

[7thsea] Signi says, "ok, somebody bb it"

[7thsea] Dmitri says, "should be good. chance of slightly late."