Mists over the Musarde, Chapter Two

[Brock Marsh Runoff]

As the group gatheres, he will emerge from Norzak's room. "Hold, friends," he tells the group as they prepare to leave. "We cannot simply leave this girl here. Especially if Van Diecks knows about our office. At the very least, surely there is a nearby temple we can leave her with."

Regarding Jon's request, Dorgio eyes the thug and says, "I'll bandage that wound, but the Morninglord, he grants me only so much of his divinity each day. For now, I must save my prayers for those who deserve them."

[steveflam]

"We could see if Denys could take her in for the night" Norzak says. Then he looks to Jon "Glad ta see yer up n about. Thanks for the healing on tha boy, Dorgio." He pauses, glaring at the thug. "Yer lucky ta be alive, cuz me dagger has yer name on it after Van Dieks, unnerstood?"

[ewancummins]

After leaving Marie with a surprised Sancerre household, the investigators make their way to the riverfront, seeking out the spot where the prisoner had told them they might find Van Diecks' boat....

It's midnight now. The moon is a crescent of silver-white in the sky above you as you walk down towards the river. Busy by day, this neighborhood seems abandoned by night. There's no one around- no one else you can spot, anyway. Now and then, one of you may see - or think he sees- movement out of the corner of his eye, somewhere among the dark alleyways or the lightless warehouses and closed shops. The only sound other than your party's footsteps and breathing is the sussuruss of the Musarde as it streams on its way towards the distant sea.

Ahead, at the end of a wooden pier, you all see a large houseboat. It has a lateen-rigged sail mounted over a large wooden cabin that covers most of the deck. From bow to aft it's as long as two whole carriages with teams, drawn up one in front of the other. A light burns within, behind a glass paned porthole in the side of the cabin facing you as you approach. There's no sign of activity on the deck. Getting closer, you may notice that the rope tieing it to the pier has been severed. The houseboat is drifting away, borne downstream by the current. The broad triangle of sailcloth stirs, fluttering in the night-breeze.

[JMaytr]

"That's no good." Jonathan says to Norzak. "Now we gotta swim. We could ride the current but that wind is against us. One thing is certain, we have no time for debate."

Jonathan kicks off his shoes and dives into the water.

[Adam]

Bennedict looks doubtfully at his crossbow and heavy metal breastplate. "Is there another way to get aboard? I don't think I can make it with all of this gear. Perhaps someone could climb aboard and toss back a line for us to tie off?"

[steveflam]

Norzak looks at Benn before following Jon into the river "I be tossin' ye a rope from the boat, don' ye worry. He shoulda went in the water quietly stead a makin that noisy dive." With that he turns and slips into the water, following Jon to the boat.

[Le Noir Faineant]

In his heavy armor, Cirdan will wait what the others do,
and try not to get into the water...
If there is another way to get on the boat, he'll choose that one...

[ewancummins]

After swimming to the boat, Jonathon pulls himself over the portside, along the narrow open deck that runs about the oversized cabin. A moment later, Norzak crawls up onto the vessel near Jon.

The dwarf grabs a long coil of rope laying nearby and casts it out as far as he's able. It lands on the quay, and Benn is able to tie it off before the houseboat drifts any further away. Now the vessel lists in the stream, a taut line of rope stretching between it and a wooden piling at the dockside. The rope is maybe four feet from the surface of the water. It ought to be possible to crawl across it to reach the boat- or even to draw the boat closer by heaving on the line, though that would probably take the strength of the party working together.


Aboard the hosueboat, Jon is able to spy movement inside the cabin, when he peeps through the glass-paned porthole that's located midway down the length of the 'house'. Inside, a sleazy-looking brunette in makeup and a cheap gown is drinking from a pewter cup, seated at a little table. Jon recognizes her as one of the whores from the Lorelei. The room has two visible means of egress- a top hatch and a door that opens into what must be another room further inside the cabin complex. Jon could easily climb atop the cabin and reach the upper hatch.

Anyone walking around the deck and checking the perimeter of the cabin will find two doors which allow access to the cabin. One is to the fore, the other aft. Both are closed and locked.

[JMaytr]

"Whats the plan Norzak?" Jon whispers to the dwarf, pulling out his knife. "They will notice the boat isn't moving soon." Jonathan waves at the others to do something, crawl along the line Alain and Dorgio...

[Adam]

Mein gott, Bennedict thinks, looking down at the swirling current, Give me vampires. Give me ghosts. Those things I know how to deal with.

With a grumble he slings his crossbow over his shoulder and starts climbing awkwardly along the rope towards the deck.

[steveflam]

Back! Ok here we go...........

Norzak looks at Jon when the youth asks him what to do. Once he's sure that there's a door as well as the porthole, he grins. "Ok" in a low voice. "The hatch up top it is. We's gots ta be quick and take this dolt by surprise. The other doors are locked but we's kin get em open from the inside if we needs to. We're on, bub."

As with Jon, Norzak waves to the others and points to the top of the cabin, then both he and Jon. Then he climbs atop the cabin, and removes his dagger. He moves silently across to the hatch. Looking at Jon in the moonlight, he nods and as painstakingly slow as possible, tries to open it. If he has to use his dagger, he will. Looking to Jon, whom he's sure has joined him atop, he points to himself then down below. Then he does the same to Jon. He hands the lad a crossbow and loads a bolt for him. He winks and opens the hatch slowly, trying to peer inside and get a good look.

[JMaytr]

"Someone should guard the back. Alain, can you watch those doors in case the villain tries to flee again?" Jon tries to whisper hoping the masked man can hear him. Jon readies the crossbow and waits for Norzaks move.

[Lord Skybolt]

Alain will be going over to the boat by use of the rope .He nods at Jon's suggestion and positions himself to cover the other doors, but also will be checking to make sure no one cuts the line moring the boat to the pier .

[Lord Skybolt]

Alain sign's to Jon and Norzak to wait and listen before breaking into the room .

[JMaytr]

Jon notices Alain's signal and readies himself.