Episode 3: The Tidewall Chest

Gokrenxia    Prose    The Longest Journey      Episode 3: The Tidewall Chest

Manijave Bay, Kingdom of Tahlerun

After taking possession of the first of Cassian's four chests, the ships of the imperial mage-sailors – the Khudrohara, they had been called - trailed the Sin'glyyd Selash for two days from Manijave Bay, turning away just after they passed South of Tahlerun's Torgeta province border.
They're no doubt serious about outsiders not entering their territory, thought Cassian. I wonder what they're hiding?
Captain Kryvat and the crew seemed to breath a collective sigh of relief, returning to their games of chance and jovial camaraderie.
Cassian watched from starboard rail as the lush green forests lining the coast thinned substantially, replaced by low-lying wetlands. The waves pressed through tall grasses, causing them to sway in mesmerizing patterns in their wake.
"Something on your mind Inglewood?" came the Master-at-Arms' deep voice.
Cassian shook his head. "Not really. I was just thinking how the tides must impact the coast there. I wouldn't think it was inhabitable. Sort of like the Synagrav Peninsula but here, there's no land mass in front of it to buffer against the waves. It's completely exposed."
"You're not wrong. That's why there's not another settlement for five days travel, provided the weather holds. And that's your next port, Morum-Kalyrd. You seen the Tidewall before?"
"No, but I've heard of it."
"It's quite the thing," Mwangi smiled.
The weather held over the next five days and spirits were high as the next leg of their journey drew to a close.

The Longest Journey Maps by Azgaar's Fantasy Maps

Disclaimer

What follows is an Ironsworn RPG solo session. My notes will generally be captured in the form of: Character Initials: action

six-sider/ten-sider/ten-sider-result(Strong, Weak, Miss)

Effect

Actual Play

CI: Set course (Manijave Bay>Torgeta Border)

8/6/7-S+1M

CI: Set course (Torgeta Border>Morum-Kalyrd)

8/4/6-S+1M

Morum-Kalyrd Harbor, Kingdom of Tahlerun

The Master-at-Arms hadn't exaggerated. Even from a great distance, the massive stone wall thrusting upward from the low-lying sandy coast, interrupted by periodic towers, was a marvel to behold. As the name "Tidewall" suggests, it was meant to protect the city in the event of a massive tidal wave. Thus far, in the hundreds of years since it was built by kynekin slaves in the First Age, it had withstood every storm. Cassian tried to fathom how much effort must go into maintaining such a wonder.
What's more, it was not just stone and wood. Thick, bright green vines stretched down the walls at such regular intervals they could not possibly be coincidence. They were finely manicured and shaped to almost appear to be identical in length and width from one plant to the next.
As they closed, Cassian could begin to make out workers suspended by pairs of ropes performing maintenance of the wall and care of the greenery. The crew masterfully guided the ship into the deep harbor and anchored. Following Cassian's instructions, two crewmen loaded the designated chest into a tender hanging off the side of the ship.
Noting Mwangi hanging back from the work, Cassian approached. "You're not coming?"
"No," Mwangi chuckled with a strange look in his eye that made Cassian uneasy. "Better for everyone if I stay here."
Not fully understanding, Cassian nodded and boarded the small wooden tender alongside the two crewmen. They were lowered to the water, withdrew oars, and rowed for the docks, maneuvering between an array of ships.

* * * * *

Cassian knew what docks were like. He’d spent a fair amount of time around them growing up. Seedy places with shady folks. Greed and grime. The smell of sweat, of sex, of booze. Every palm standing ready to be greased and every eye willing to turn away, for the right price. Yet the docks of Morum-Kalyrd were none of those things.
They were clean and well kept. Kynekin workers scrubbed and swabbed each and every plank. The dockmaster, an almost comically fancy human male, stood atop a tall, centrally-located wooden lectern overseeing and directing the work in a strong voice.

Tidewall Recorder by dream by WOMBO

A similarly dressed man in a grass-green petticoat and white ascot waited pier-side with a scroll and quill as they approached. He had white hair, a white-powdered face, and dark liner around his eyes. "Ship name and port of origin," he called without looking up.
Cassian glanced to the two crew members, whose looks told him they were more than content to be silent. Clearing his throat, he responded. "Sin'glyyd Selash, out of Ag'yajiri."
"Purpose of visit?"
"Cargo delivery," responded Cassian, trying to sound more confident than he actually felt. Much to his relief, after scrawling the information on his scroll, the dock worker turned on heel and strode away.
As the crewmen lashed the tender to the pier, Cassian withdrew and unfolded a parchment from an inner pocket. He reviewed his notes for the name and location of where this chest was to be delivered, silently hoping things would go without incident.
It took several hours to secure a horse and cart, load the chest, and garner directions to the oldest of the Morum-Kalyrd districts called the Jidamar.

Actual Play

Settlement: Garish CI: Secure an Advantage (+wits)

Preplanning for meet

7/7/9-M

CI: Pay the Price

04: An individual or community you care about is exposed to danger

Falome Manor, Jidamar District

Morum-Kalyrd, Tahlerun

Lady Falome by dream by WOMBO

Cassian bowed low in the sitting room of Falome Manor, showing proper respect to the Lady of the house. She was a strange woman to look upon, pale and gaunt with unnaturally red hair and matching lips. Her eyes were an empty shade of blue, distant, lacking life and depth. She sat perfectly still and upright in her high-collared navy blue dress with red accouterments, seeming more like a statue save for the slight rising and falling of her chest.
The two crewmen practically dropped the chest onto the floor, earning a disapproving glare from both Cassian and the house guards.
“Lady Falome,” he began. “I am…”
” …Silence,” she interrupted, rising. Utter disgust roiled just the surface of her chiseled facade. “I know who you are. Rather, I know who you represent. And how dare you. How dare you bring this problem to my doorstep. I’d just as soon send your heads, along with this chest, back to your masters. Guards! Remove this rabble from my sight at once.”
Cassian spun, hands raised in a non-threatening manner to face the three guards at the rooms only entryway, as his pair of pirates loosed their swords from their scabbards.
He swiveled his head back and forth between the Lady and the guards, frantically trying to think of a way out. "Listen! I've seen these men massacre scores of soldiers in their travels. They are fearsome, unscrupulous, and seasoned warriors who cut down guards like you before they sup on dinner. It doesn't have to be like this. No one has to die."
The guards glanced past Cassian to Lady Falome. "You pirates are free to go. My quarrel is with this one," she accused, pointing to Cassian. The two crewmen looked at each other, looked at Cassian, sheathed their swords and scurried from the room.
"Cowards," he muttered, drawing his dagger.
The guards fanned out swiftly, in a three pronged approach from the front and sides. Cassian did the only thing he could think of. He leapt backwards, grabbing Lady Falome as human shield and pressed the dagger to her neck. Her perfect composure broke into panic. She screamed, followed by the shouts of more guards rallying throughout the household. Time was clearly not on his side.
"Truly I'm sorry about this," he said, shoving her forward into the guards. With all haste, he crossed the room, stepped onto a wooden chair, and launched himself through a large, stained glass window into the unforgiving hedge beyond.
He sprinted away from the house, and straight into two guards on patrol inside the front gate. "Why are you standing there?!" He exclaimed. "Those pirates! They attacked the Lady Falome! You've got to help her inside! Quickly!" The guards rushed toward the manor, while Cassian made his escape.

Actual Play

Descriptor/Focus: Foul Home Foe: Trained guards

Rank: Dangerous

Progress: 0/10

CI: Enter the Fray (+iron)

5/4/6-W-In control

CI: Compel (+shadow)

Scoundrel +2

6/1/8-W-In a bad spot.

CI: React under fire (+shadow)

5/4/5-W-1H

CI: Endure Harm

5/4/6-W-1M+1H

CI: Face Danger (+edge)

3/5/8-M

Burn momentum

9/5/8-S+1M

CI: Face Danger (+edge)

2/9/10-M-New guards

CI: Enter the Fray (+shadow)

6/5/7-W-In control

CI: Compel (+shadow)

Scoundrel +2

7/4/6-S+1M

Ship's Galley, Sin'glyyd Selash

The ship bobbed on the ocean waves and wind filled the sails as it pulled away from the harbor. Master-at-arms Mwangi Braam dropped a wooden platter of unappetizing slop on the weathered table, taking a seat across from Cassian.
"They just left me there," Cassian accused. The entire hall fell silent, all eyes on the two.
Mwangi broke the tension with a gregarious laugh, who was immediately joined by the crew. "Come on now," he said leaning in. "You're not paying enough for them to die fighting trained guards serving a noble in the heart of a fortified city."
"I'll keep that in mind going forward."
"A wise choice. Now, have an ale and let's put the Tidewall behind us."
Cassian's voice grew distant. "The faster, the better."

Actual Play

CI: Deliver the Chests

Progress: 6/10

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