"Thank you, Mr. Merchant."

There must be some rich history etc here, especially behind the suspiciously foggy waterway ... but I can't recall any.

where are we http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/3010522/

Torinn graciously accepts the reward offered by the merchant, "And thank you for letting us travel with you."

At Gourmert's inquiry, Torinn tries to get his bearings. So where is their ferry? He takes a moment to look around and tries to recall something he heard about this place. One of the crew pointed something out that should have helped him with where to begin looking...

"We might find something if we ask over there."

Where are we now? History check: http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/3010526/ (10)
Share whatever I know with the party
Where should we go? Streetwise check: http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/3010533/ (14)

Sureiya receives his payment and thanks the halfling for the job. Then he gets a strange feeling, apparently Waterdeep is not that mysterious for him, he probably visited or read about it some time ago. If he wasn't that shy maybe he could find the ferry.
History and Streetwise checks: http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/3010775/
Suddenly, Sureiya becomes useful.

"Waterdeep ... I have visited this place once."

History: (DC 10) Waterdeep has for centuries been a bustling, open market of free trade and tolerance. In the days past, Waterdeep sported a mounted force known as the Griffon Cavalry, which patrolled the skies above Waterdeep, and the City Navy. Both of these units were dissolved in the years following the Spellplague, with the warships scuttled and the griffons long dead. The city guard and watch used to be separate units divided against external and internal threats, but the absence of the city guard and the influx of refugees fleeing the Spellplague has forced both to combine into a single City Watch, which now boasts impressive numbers that guard nearly every city corner with eight or more soldiers.

Streetwise: (DC15) (success on History gives you a +2 circumstance bonus to the Streetwise check) Waterdhavians are largely a tolerant and law-abiding people. Visitors to the city are often surprised to learn that racial tensions are largely absent in the City of Splendors. This is no more apparent than in the selection of the city’s quasi-independent Magisters ("Black Robes"). This quorum of city judges recently welcomed a tiefling into its ranks with the appointment of Kylynne Silmerhelve.

In the adventurers' search of the Dock Ward, they find the people here are somewhat rough around the edges--clearly working class, and not afraid to tell you if they don't like you. They're loud, rude, and easily annoyed. With that said, Torinn and Sureiya are able to find enough exceptions to this rule to find out that someone's been prepping a river ferry bound for Many-Arrows. Though they seem a bit hesitant to talk about exactly who it is, you are pointed towards the west end of the docks, just east of the Mistvale. Here, you find a goggles-wearing gnome in grease-stained work clothes sitting atop a small-sized river ferry, a bit distant from the other river boats.

The ferry itself is largely a flat, wide, long piece of timber, carved into a smooth shape that's clearly only designed for a few passengers and no cargo. The most striking thing is that there doesn't seem to be any place for a captain or someone to steer the ferry. Instead, there is a collection of differently-colored gemstones embedded in the front of the boat, which glow with arcane energy of some sort. More of these gemstones line the sides of the boat, and the wood is painted in patterns that resemble ritual circles. This matches the peculiar sight the harbor-folk seemed apprehensive of... it might be your ticket to Mithral Hall.

The gnome doesn't seem to have notice you yet, and Gourmert seems content to let you make the first move.

Arcana to try and guess about the boat.

Somewhat puzzled by the boat, Myn decides that the time is appropriate to test his summoning abilities, calling forth a small book imp to augment his knowledge as he ponders the workings of the vessel.


Summon book imp.
Arcana to try and guess about the boat: http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/3012037/

Myn: As far as you can tell, there are two kinds of magic active here. One spell steers the vessel, and one is for interface--it transmits commands psychically from the one interfacing with it to something else. The spells were probably designed to work in tandem, with magically commanding the vessel. In addition, at least one of the gemstones and probably several were designed to store commands for the spell.

The gnome wipes his brow, rises from fiddling with one of the gemstones, adjusts his goggles, and strokes his beard thoughtfully. His gaze wanders over to the adventurers and dwarf approaching him, and he calls out in greeting, "Hey! You keep aw--wait a tic, you guys... you're the ones here for my boat, aren't you?"

Gourmert strides forward confidently and engages the gnome in conversation, "Aye, tha we be. And ye are?"

The gnome pounds his chest proudly and looks up towards the sky, "Sid Silversprocket, at your service, mates."

Gourmert scratches his head before replying, "Hm, ye be from Baldur's Gate? I think I know ye."

"Of course you know me! There ain't a soul in Baldur's Gate who hasn't heard of the great arcane contraptions built by Sid Silversprocket of the Arcanimus!" Sid replies, sounding almost condescending. "Good thing I was in Waterdeep when the duke put in a call, or you'd be waiting all day for some dingy little raft! Instead, you have my S.S. Carpgristle 5000 to take yous all the way to Mithral Hall!" as he says this, he again looks at the sky and spreads his arms, as if announcing something very magnificent. "Fully automated, yes sirree! Already got a path set for yas, only stop a few times for ya'll to sleep. Probably best not to let it running when you're resting, even if it's perfectly safe. Don't need a crew for this rig, hah! It'll save us a ton of gold... in the long runs, anyway. So! What'dya think?"

Sureiya stay in silent, amazed by the magical artifact.

>>2430
"...It doesn't fly, does it? Like the other ship?"

>>2430
"...How fast is this craft?"

>>2430
"....Is this thing tested and confirmed as safe..?"

"Deary dear," Sid replies to the bombardment of questions. "This boat's fast enough to get yas to Many-Arrows in 'bout two-and-a-half week's time. And dear heavens, no, it can't fly! What gave yas that idea? Flying boats? Lunacy!" then he finally turns to the warlord and replies in a steady voice, "Now, she's been tested for short distances, but not long. I assure you however, she's perfectly safe! Just trust ole Sid here to get yas through, right-o?"

Almost three weeks?, I hate long trips
"Sir Gourmet, I'm ready whenever you are"

>>2439
"Good enough for me. You boarding soon?"

>>2439
A nod. So flying ships are, thankfully, silly.

Insight check in hopes that Sid is being honest. http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/3015207/

"Good, good. Now that we've got that worked out, she's ready to set off as you are," Sid replies, stepping aside. "Good luck on yer journey now! And if yas ever need anything, give ole Sid a call."

Bernkastel: (Insight) You get the feeling the question about flying surprised the gnome, and made him a bit nervous. You're not quite sure why. He doesn't seem to be outright lying, but his talk of flying boats being silly seemed a bit forced.

Sureiya stay his silent nature,however he can't deny he is a bit nervous about this thing.

The shaman's companion explains Sid's attitude to her.

"Mr. Silversprocket, is it possible to manually pilot the ferry?"

Sid thinks for a moment, then replies, "Well, ya COULD, if ya had some oars or something, and the magic was nonfuctional. ...Oh! Speaking of which," the gnome reaches into a side pouch, then produces a tube made for holding a scroll. "This is an old-fashioned summoning scroll, from before the Spellplague. They're getting quite rare these days. If something happens with the boat, ya can use this to summon me to ya and I'll have a look-see." With that settled, the gnome nods, and prepares to see you off.

OOC: All I need now before we set out is some sort of sleep/watch cycle from you guys, so work that out! Just a quick plan of who is sleeping and who is on watch, when. You'll all need to sleep, and the boat will stop at night to allow you to camp on the shore until dawn. You don't all have to sleep when camping, though. Someone should probably keep watch over the others.

Whenever the sleep/watch cycle is brought up, I'll volunteer to sleep during the day to keep watch at night.

>>2462

Myn reaches out and takes the scroll, smiling.

"Thank you for your assistance, Mister Silversprocket."

Wait a second, fully automated? So we are in our own?
"Sir, and what about the return trip? Is the ferry already set to return in some days?"

>>2480
The gnome regards the half-orc with a bit of surprise, "Ah, return? Well, it's not programmed for that. But don't worry, ya'll be at the Mithral Hall! The dwarves'll see to it you get back safe and sound."

"I see, well thank you very much sir, we will try to don't break your little toy"

The gnome doesn't look too appreciative of his finely-crafted boat being referred to as a "toy," but he decides to let it slide as Gourmert and the adventurers board. Once on board, Myn has little trouble activating one of the gemstones, and the runes carved into the boat glow faintly as it begins to move on its own, pulling out of the docks before heading south, out of the sea-gates of the city proper and back out to sea.

>>2489
Next part!