Log7th Sea: The Search for Salvation-2012/07/19-Jason-1

Game log for the 2012/07/19 session of 7th Sea: The Search for Salvation, as taken by Jason

It takes us until the 30th to get to the edge of the blockade. Once get a bit of distance between the ship and San Gustavo, they change flags to Vendel, which makes Castiga look like a perfectly innocent merchant ship. Nikolai mopes a bit, missing the fun he had teaching children to fight, but cheers up when Léon asks for the same questions. Reginald learns to sail. Benito keeps an eye on the needlecomm and amuses himself by watching the trouble the rest of our litle group get into.

The journey passes without difficulty. We pass San Teodoro and almost get to see San Augustin, although we don't dare get too close. The Montaigne blockade has many, many ships deployed. Good Lindsay promptly appears to bind Benito, our "prisoner" who will demonstrate that we're not in any way Castillian. Léon plans what he'll say if asked, making sure he can sell his story. He comes up with a bunch of banal details about his family tree to pretend to be from the legit branch of the clan, without a doubt. The crew change clothes to try to look more legit. Reginald affects the common dress, while Nikolai and Felix stay true to their usual habits. Janisse stays below, Evelina dresses like one of the crew, and a giant crewman named Thorsen plays the role of captain.

Castiga heaves to and the Montaigne board. They're turned out for full effect, sailors and marines showing the habits of frequent action. The leader of the boarding party, gigantic hat firmly atop swollen head, makes conversation with Thorsen, who speaks Montaigne with a Vendel accent. Lt Richard explains that they will be searching the ship, and Thorsen offers his cooperation while also introducing Richard to Léon Praisse du Rachetisse. Léon's eager greeting takes the Lieutenant aback, since the Praisse du Rachetisse family have crazy mad power and influence in (among other places) the Montaigne navy. Their Grand Admiral is a Praisse du Rachetisse, for example. Anyway, the marines immediately become very companionable, offering Léon the hospitality of the Montaigne ship. Felix reverts to academy manners (maximum servility in effect) while Nikolai, lacking such manners, says nothing at all.

On the Montaigne warship, the Carleman, Lt Richard invites Léon into his cabin, where much food has been set out. Nikolai promptly goes for it, requiring a moment of throat-clearing correction from Richard. Léon explains that his larger man's functions do not include fine dining manners. Richard of course is not the captain of such a vessel, a Lieutenant being junior for such a position. The real captain, Deschamps, has been called away. (Read, has seized a chance to get the hell off this boring ass ship.) Richard then asks about his duties, and Léon explains that business has required him to travel to Vodacce and many other places. Richard expresses surprise that Léon didn't go into the navy, but then of course it's become quite a boring occupation. Nikolai, meanwhile, begins eating food again as soon as people stop watching him. Richard also provides gossip from home.

They visit for about 40 minutes, after which Léon expresses a desire to resume his voyage. The Lt walks Léon and his followers to the gangplank and bids him a fond farewell, then the marines return to their ship. To show that the Castiga has been cleared, Carleman escorts her through the rest of the blockade.

Léon explains to Evelina that he regrets the delay, but that the rest of the voyage should be uneventful.

We head for Paix, which means another four days at sea. We have one day worth of thunderstorms. Felix? Janisse? So totally comfortable in one another's personal space. Léon approaches them and asks frankly for Janisse's family name (in Montaigne, so Felix can't overhear.) In Montaigne, she indicates that she requires discretion. Well, see, he also has been quite discreet, but he feels that he may need to reveal certain information. At that point, having been patient for not very long, Felix asks them to switch to a common language. Léon explains that he must reveal embarassing personal information and requires her discretion. Nikolai interjects a remark about a rash, Léon makes a retort about a woman, and then suddenly things get tense as Nikolai reminds him that he's with Mercede. Anyway...

Our Montaigne friend tells us again that his real name is Léon Bisset du Vere. Moreover, his father has been wrongfully accused of treason, forcing the family to flee the country when Léon was only eight. They wound up at Benito's family's house, which is how they have come to be buddies. Now that we're back in Montaigne, we must be sure never to use the Bisset du Vere name. Nikolai asks what Léon's father has done to clear his name. Mssr Bisset du Vere explains that his father did not escape and they believe him to be dead. He hopes that should we remain in country long enough, he might discover who killed his father, and/or clear his father's name. The peanut gallery asks whether it isn't Le'Empreur who'd be responsible, and Léon explains that he takes a narrower view and just wants to find the man who did the deed itself.

Janisse speaks up and asks whether the name he gave Richard was Bisset du Vere, and of course Léon didn't use that one. She asks where he got the Praisse du Rachetisse one, and he explains that was his mother's side. Oh hey, Janisse just figured out exactly who Léon's father was. He can't believe she knows so much about his family, so she explains that she knows many things, including the identities of some of Léon's father's associates, a veritable fraternity of traitors. He questions whether such things could be possible, and she assures him it's merely what she hears - but that inquiry into the matter could be quite dangerous. She declines to say more until they reach Paix.

Felix quietly makes sure that Janisse isn't going to cause a ruckus, and she explains that she's solid and cool, but Léon wants to pick a fight with people who really can't be trifled with. Felix reminds her that he fights for a living and danger happens. Hrm. Best to drop the complicated topics and get back to the nookie.

Nikolai asks Benito if they need to plan for trouble ahead. Yes. Yes, they absolutely should plan for trouble. Both feel an obligation to help Léon out, but of course helping him out will mean trouble all around. It's axe sharpening time!

Benito has a quick chat with Reginald to see, just by the by, whether Reginald is wanted in Avalon - just in case we need to flee to Avalon. Reginald would be delighted to return to the homeland.

Eveline drops us off and explains that she'll be here for another day, and then they'll try to keep in touch. She takes a letter from Nikolai for Mercede. Benito goes looking for a bank in hopes of getting money. He doesn't seem to think that being effectively an enemy national will pose a problem, even if he finds a Vendel bank. He needs to find someone who's truly willing to help. Léon knows how to find those sorts of people, and he also knows that Paix is one seedy town. He locates an Eisen banker who tells Benito that it would be very difficult to do business, then meets with him privately and explains that he can happily provide money provided he gets 20% off the top. Benito does the deal, because he needs the coin. He finds lodging for the group, then spends some of that money buying clothes that will help him blend in. Janisse happens to know someone who can help us out a bit. Seems that she knows a barber with a small flat above his old shop, which he lost due to drink. Nobody wants a barber with shakey hands. Henri Laplace is only too happy to offer up his flat, though we'll fill it up to capacity. Nikolai tries to raid Henri's liquor stash, and Henri promptly pulls a scalpel. Nikolai punches him full in the face, knocking him on his ass and breaking a tooth. The old man drops the straight razor, so Felix and Nikolai promptly help him up.

Felix tries to convince Nikolai not to do violence to our hosts. Nikolai helpfully agrees to just choke the old man next time. Our rent just went up.

Janisse and Léon decide to have their talk at this point. She explains that she knows of the conspiracy, she knows that many members were beheaded, and that she can't say for sure what happened to his father. Oh yes, and she disclaims all responsibility for the consequences of her divulging this information to him. There were three other men rumoured to be in the conspiracy who were said to escape: Pierre LaChance du Toille, Marie Victore de Martise, and Jean-Jacque Frémiet d'Bas. Hey wait, we know that guy. Surprising that J-J didn't recognize Léon - or did he recognize him? Why was this former accused traitor now running around loose, claiming to be doing the work of L'Empreur? Clearly we need to find that guy and work him over a bit. So yeah, this will set young Léon on the path of troublemaking.

Janisse leaves to go speak to another associate. She prefers to go unaccompanied except by Reginald. Felix no likey! Everyone else goes to the tailor and to see the town. Reginald asks for a jaunty hat. Felix somehow (fashion roll: 52) finds a relatively unadorned outfit that suits him perfectly, which causes the tailor to discover a new respect for clean, functional garb. Three months from now, everyone will be dressing like Felix, who gets +2 unkept dice to his next social encounter with upperclass people. Léon finds a great outfit that gives him +1 unkept die in the same circumstances. Other party members get good stuff as well, including a fancy hat for Reginald.

Reginald and Janisse go to the post office. Reginald sends mail to his mom telling her of our recent adventures. Lady Dulcet expresses an interest in hearing his continued adventures and says she might drop in sometime. This gives him new motivation to write lengthy tales of his adventures.

Benito observes that we have money and fine clothing, so now we need to find a party. We're in luck!