Session 12 - The Voyage Begins

[avisarr]

Session 12 – The Voyage Begins

Background Information

A great deal of preparation was involved in getting ready for the journey. All three ships were made ready. Long lists of supplied were studied. Finally, the ships were loaded and everyone grabbed their belongings and walked on board.

Three ships are undertaking this voyage.

The Third Wind – This is Callister's ship, a well built, single masted knarr variation. Most importantly, it has two cannons. Very few ships are equipped with cannons at this point in Ithrian history. But on this trip, two of the three ships have cannons. This voyage is important!

The Titan  - The latest and greatest ship built by the Empire. It has some advanced design techniques in its construction and was originally intended to supercede the Black Orchid as flagship. However, it was reassigned to the voyage to Aggradar. The Titan has four cannons.

The Vanguard – An imperial war ship taken off of active duty and reassigned to this journey. True to its name, the Vanguard would sail a mile ahead of the other two ships and risk unseen dangers (like hidden shoals and such).

Each ship has a noble on board who is the imperial representative. Each ship is also transporting a small number of elite soldiers (think Navy Seal team) in addition to the regular crew. The Third Wind is also carrying all of the players who are viewed as heroes in the Empire.

Day 1 - The Launch
We left off with the convoy of three ships having just put out to sea. A great crowd waved to you from the docks. The crew of other passing ships waved you as you left the port of Aridorn. All three ships set sail out into the deep blue sea. Once out on the water, the imperial noble aboard your ship gives a long, fairly dull speech. Later that night, the crew opens up a barrel of blackfall and throws a party.
Give Beth her research notes. [Before Beth left, she had visited several imperial and private libraries to gather whatever information she could about Aggradar. She was using the names on the map to base her research on. She walked onto the ship with an arm full of copied documents which she would study during the voyage].
Callister - unless otherwise specified, the Vanguard proceeds about 2000 feet ahead and the Titan and the Third Wind travel side by side about 1000 feet apart. Long distance communication is accomplished with a code language based on flags and stances. Each ship will signal to the others with flags to update on daily status.

Day 2 - The Warthog
Day two is fair skies and a gently rolling ocean. The lookout spots another ship on the horizon heading in north and west towards Borrell. It's a small one masted cog. Flying Rukemian colors. Upon approach, the Callister sees that it's the "Warthog". Captain Sancho commanding. "Hoa! Third Wind! How cheer ye?." Exchange greetings.
Hey, Callister. What finds you out this far? You gonna sail to the edge of the world or something? Me... I'm just transporting some.. uh... goods.
Both other ships signify all's well. Callister's flagger tells him - The captain of the Titan offers 20 gold coins to the first person to spot land. Callister is currently only offering an officer's longcoat. Prompt a competition between Callister and the other two captains.

Day 3 - Geldren's Deep
The ships reach "Geldren's Deep", the far fishing grounds. Another ship is already there. A large two masted fishing sloop. Flying Rukemian colors. As they get closer, Callister sees it is the Ragged and Beaten. Captain Enchert and first mate Dalgo. Third Wind comes the closest. The R&B says that weather has been fine. Perhaps exchange news. Some role playing for Callister.
Flagger report says that Captain Hayes of the Vanguard offers 25 gold, a promotion and a fire agate to the first to sight land.

Day 4 - The Fugitive
No encounters. Quiet day. Calm sea. Good winds. In the evening, stowaway found on board the Titan. It is a young woman named Ilra who is the daughter of Senator Braxton. She was caught when she left her hiding spot to get food. She snuck aboard to be with a sailor she loved and is running away from her father. Captain Berringer orders one mariner to take her back in a rowboat (given sufficient food and water).
[Due to some role playing that had occurred earlier, I changed this encounter. Instead of a young girl, it was a fat noble woman who is in love with Callister. She had snuck aboard with visions in her head of running away with her "brave sea captain" who would "violate her innocence" in all kinds of ways. She has been a problem for Callister before, albeit a minor one. This woman and one of the nobles were sent back to the mainland. Each ship has one noble on board as an imperial representative. No real authority. More like a figurehead. Beth has been trying to get rid of the nobles ever since they left port].

Day 5 - The First Storm
Based on experience with indicators (sky color, cloud formation, wave patterns) Callister senses a storm coming. A minor storm. Nobles complain endlessly. One of them gets seasick constantly. The storm rages all night. The crew is calm. They have seen worse storms. On a scale from 1 to 10, this is a 4. Should hit several storms this time of year.

Day 6 - The Day After The First Storm
The storm finally blows itself out. All 3 ships have weathered it well. Moderate damage control. Pay the seams. You see a school of grey whales. They ride along side the ships for awhile. A good sign.