Baldur's Gate : The Sword Coast Chronicles : NWN2 Persistent World

A letter is sent to Ulgoth's Beard, the Last Anchor, addressed to 'The Fox'. It bears the Order of Lions' seal. The sender clearly assumes that the Twilight Rose's crew relaxes at the Last Anchor when not on the seas.

A letter is delivered to the Last Anchor, addressed to Captain Desrah Asher. It bears the seal of the Ilmatari.

A messenger delivers a letter to the Last Anchor in Ulgoth's Beard. It is sealed with red wax stamped with an oval sigil displaying a hand pointing to the star of Mystra and is addressed to Aidan Thatcher. Its signature simply "Sirion."

Each morning since Gaven had been named Acting Man-at-Arms he would awaken the guards for their drills. He'd have the men and any women eat a small snack before they begin so there was no real issue of hunger but no pains from eating too much. They knew to keep quiet less to wake any of the customers on board or the Captain himself, happened once wasn't a pretty site. The men gathered their gear including Gaven and would head outside to the dock each man lined up as Gaven inspected them. He would examine their weapon of choice to make sure they kept them in good condition as well as their armor, any he found lacking he would have them drop down right there in front of the others to see to their gear, and then after they would swab the deck before catching up with the rest.

While those who lacked in keeping their gear in proper order were busy Gaven and the others would put their gear on and then move on down the docks where volume wasn't an issue.

"Aye so ye lot know what I say time and time again about your gear. Next time I catch any of you slacking in your upkeep I'm tossing it overboard and you can swim down to get it. Ye lot understand?"

A few 'Yes/Aye' variations along with some nods and maybe one or two grumbles are what met him. Gaven rested his hand on the hilt of his sword during that bit and gave a nod.

"Now you all have gotten a good idea of the ship layout aye? Every nook and cranny as I asked ye lot to?" His gaze drifted over each of them as he got acknowledgement.

"Alright then, most people try to slip out unnoticed if they were to take something. Less attraction, easier retreat. Best way to do that is the front door, everyone comes through their and everyone goes out eh, though if they are caught they try to find the best way possible and that's nay easy on a ship. Less ye are small enough to fit through a porthole which only certain kinds are.

So I've been thinking and I will have to run it by the Captain, but we should have a pat down system as people come and go. May need a couple more men to suit this. Maybe even allow people to store their personal belongings with us behind the bar to keep better eyes on it. Have another one of us posted near there maybe even two to keep people from trying to woo the lass behind the bar and get their way in."

He'd look to his men and or women guards a few nods here some shrugs.

"Right glad ye lot agree."

He would go over different scenarios calling on a different guard each time to see their answer, if it was incorrect he would give the right way or cock a brow as a different avenue was approached that was just as good. The man would grin to them all before clapping his hands together and sets them into their different reps to keep them all at the peak of their condition. Push ups, laps, as well as mock spars or scenarios that could occur on the ship.

As the afternoon approached he would send the man on their way back to the ship or wherever they go if it was their off time. Gaven himself returning to the deck of the ship as he watched out over the sea rubbing at the back of his head.

"Nay thought i would be in this position or close to it again."

Gaven slips a page of parchment under the doors of the various guards, the script on the parchment is a heavy calligraphy.

Guard [Insert your name here],

Return to me your availability in the next tenday as I will be trying to put together a time when we can all get together. If the lot of you haven't met yet which would be surprising, now's the time. We're also going to go over a couple new guard positions the Captain and I have gone over, and a few lessons. Be prepared your gear better be in ship shape.

Acting Master-at-Arms
Gaven Arkalis


----------

A separate one will be left for Vala in her quarters.

Master-at-Arms Reyer,

I will be gathering the guards to meet up if they have yet to, and go over a few guard positions I had intent to speak with you on but have yet to find you about. Hopefully this finds you. The positions I speak of will be one man in the Gamblor room, two to four more in the area where our guests take lodging. For now I believe that to be all but I would request the ships plans from you if possible, as it will be needed when speaking with them.

I will also be giving a few lessons that I believe will be of assistance to some if not all.

I would welcome your attendance once a time is set, if you could return me your availabilty as well I would appreciate it.

Thank you,

Acting Master-at-Arms
Gaven Arkalis


//Guards and Master sending a PM will do thanks!

The letter is read and a smirk is seen on her face. Seems like it's time to get the guards together, perfect timing. She walks over to her desk and sits down pulling out her spare parchment and writing a few letters: one in reply to Guard Gaven and the others to her guards.

After getting dressed and ready, she takes a walk through the ship, going past the crews quarters, dropping off letters at the appropriate places. It's early... Some might even call it late...

She takes a large breath of air as her walkings take her on deck after nodding to her guard posted there. It's time to change things. Time to make sure her guards are ready...

For what? A smirk lingers on her face as the wind wipes strands of hair around her face as she watches the lightening of the sky. If only they knew....

She stands there a while as she listens to the sound coming off the docks, the sound of the workers already busy bustling about their work echoing off the ships at dock, bringing a contended smile to her lips.

I'm back...



//PM sent to each of you.

The creaking sounds of the docked ship was interrupted by the footfalls of another as they approached the aft edge and leaned over, the parchment in full view to a tall human who hovered over the edge via temporary joists and rope.

"What?" Vincent kept his gaze steady on the tools pressed to the wrought iron and glass window he was repairing.

"Issuance." The other's voice called out.

A hand snatched the paper, moving a magnifying optic from his right eye as he looked the document over. "It's been what, four tendays since my occupation here?" Vincent exhaled, shaking his head as he crumpled the document and sent it over a shoulder to the water. "Leadership is by doing, something she sorely lacks, among many other values. Until she's the one paying my way instead of the actual ship's proprietor, actually conducts an act under the leadership role, or pulls up her pants for one moment, she can go to hell." The middle aged Sembite returned the magnified optic over an eye and continued working on the iron reinforcement bar. "Thatcher knows he made a poor decision with her, just as everyone else paid by his coffer. Eventually she'll trip him up enough that his patience won't suffer any more by and won't have a damn shoulder to cry to except that whipped pup at her side. Mind the orders from Thatcher, and then from someone who has a clue, like Gaven and Urth second. The rest are useless where arms are concerned." He calmly returned to his craft, uncaring whom may have heard.

Vala is seen spending as much time as possible with her guard from the Twilight Rose. She trains with them, exchanges stories and laughs with them and shares a meal with them daily. Vala works hard at getting to know the guard personally while preparing them to perform their duties.



...

Vala lugs the pan and the food off the boat over to the fire on the beach at Ulgoths beard. She asks Deleniel if the fire was being used and then begins preparing dinner - a chunky stew of meat and vegetables. The training had gone well today. The work with the Guards progressing well.

Tonight it was her time to provide dinner and while preparing the hearty stew she converses with Deleniel. After a while the Guards start to show up and after a quick word from Vala they dig in. Vala, while they eat, tells the tell of her helping the magician Marlosa in collecting the three special items needed to create the potion for her mother: sap from the tree who's leaves fall into the dancing falls.... drool from a dragon in the endless caverns... and some mineral dust from an underground hold...
...

Captain Aidan Thatcher would be seen showing an armored woman about the ship. The rumors as to why, flew wild. Later all laid to rest when it got out that her name was Freya Evans and she was the ships new head cook. He'd take the time to explain her position aboard, give her a list of her duties and introduce her to the staff while guests come and go from dinner and entertainments.



////wasn't aware this thread even existed till a week ago////