Got it, a mountain landing.

Except the mountain retreats from you as you come down, and you find yourself in the middle of a field. One a bit larger than the 150' of the mountain that was in the middle of it. You've landed.

There are other folks under the tree line, as well as a Coach and horses.



OOC:
Best I could come up with for a signal of where to land was Hallucinatory Terrain. Lower levels were too small, and higher levels more than I wanted to establish for a hired mage.

And, of course, your lower deck has changed around again.

Jediah makes sure that utensils and food stocks are secured now that he knows gravity shifts.  No one wants to be stabbed by falling cutlery.  Upon landing, he gathers his gear and heads for the nearest porthole.

Keira wakes with a few moments of panic as she impacts the hammock and some of her belongings impact their new floor. It wasn't a common occurrence yet but this was far better than hitting the floor. With two assistants her morning preparation went by swiftly and she was ready to perform turnover. Hund carried her old weapons and the saddle bags.

She held her book of drawings plainly in her more recently tattooed hand, "Captain, are ship's duties on hold for shore? I'd like to shift my enhancement from the ballista to this giff bullet thrower... I can use it! There are a few problems with extended use though and I want to make a detailed study of it. I have more ideas for the ship too... When you have a bit of time. Did you want to sleep?"

She also would regard Klak-Nik a bit closer to regard the insectoid anatomy and whether a pack or saddlebags would best suit their companion.

Callvyn approaches one of the more experienced crew, "Now that we're landed, should we figure out a way to keep our cargo from shifting, as well as our personal items? I'm sure it's going to be a mess down there."

It had been an odd experience, thinking one was landing and then the land becoming something different entirely. But then again there was more space than originally expected so it has been nice not have to worry about perfectly parking. Klak-Nik winced at the sounds of a few upturned people's and belongings at inversion but it didn't seem so bad as last time. Good they were learning.

As the others started getting ready to alight from the ship, Klak-Nik waited at the helm. He was cittering away again and waving his antennae about in his natural form of communicating. [Language unknown: "Wiad i no prpano, stroutiouany ticonehersta onha? Riouss eknd amero areaterom, tedwasant arto osas ck ho meteof. Osess ni icancewil proainsti."]

Projecting himself about the ship until he could see what all was waiting for them he then projected to where he could see Glass. "The hive is wondering if we will be expected or accepted here. If we need to remain on board we can do that. Would like to see some of this world. Very curious about it."

Well, for perspective on that: it's a couple of Hippomen that come out from the Damselfly to decouple the ships.Or, to put It another way, Atlantis and Egypt are enemy states, more or less, and a couple of people that look like Egyptian gods are wandering around the new ship.

The 2 Giff are joined by a human and a 12 foot tall blue giant once the ships are separated and the tow rock reclaimed.

There ARE crew left behind on the Damselfly.

The Giant and his entourage are approached by a coupl of people from the area of the coach, while one approaches the Shrike.

In reply to Klak-Nik (msg # 43):

Mentally, Captain Glass answers back, "Your species isn't wide spread here, so let me inform the contacts and then you can come and take a look."
Glass goes down to meet the representative on the field. "Morning? Or evening? Hard to tell these days with space not having a time cycle and all that. Our only cargo is the trader group we told you about, but I do have a couple of new crew who've never been to Earth before. One of them is an insectoid, so he may draw some stares or worse if that's an issue. Can they take a tour of the city before we depart again? Also, we could use some cargo of unusual objects for our next stop, which will be Mars. We've been told it's a martial planet, so military gear would probably sell well."

Struck out by DM to remind Klak-Nik that he didn't hear it.
This message was last edited by the GM at 15:52, Thu 27 Oct 2022.

The man, dressed in what passes for Business Finery on Atlantis looks puzzled, "I'm afraid there has been a misunderstanding, I'm here to collect your communication stone."

Curious himself, Glass passes over the Stone. "Oh? Are we getting an upgrade?" He asks.

The man looks even more puzzled, "No. You've completed your contract. You no longer work for us."

Captain Glass is stunned by this announcement, saying "But, but I've ALWAYS worked for Trident! You just mean this particular contract right? Not my career in the Company? There's cargo trade possibilities out there! I can make amazing inroads in new markets!"

Keira was a little offended at Glass moving off through the ship, "Klack-nik, do you fit saddle bags or a backpack easier? Hund was nearly canine in shape when we started, I adjusted that since we had ladders even on our first ship. Now I find myself in possession of extra saddlebags that he won't fit into anymore. Koolu is too small for them. Are you familiar with the operation of a crossbow? Those Captain didn't say anything I'm going to transfer my enhancement back from the ballista onto my personal weapon.

Oh, Callvyn, my trusty old mace is also available. I'll get those weapons if you all want them from my trunk as well as the saddlebags once I transfer this enchantment."

He looks at you with a bit of pity, "Poseidon is our Patron. You have gone as far in the company as you could, and, frankly, we don't want your...connections, involved in the next stages of our current ventures.

"You and your people have been well paid for less than a month's work: Room and board, and, if you were able to get a decent price for the ship we gave you, 125 gold or more each. We consider all contracts fulfilled. We would appreciate your absence by dawn. A giant wooden bird would be hard to explain. Ever since Troy such things have been considered bad omens."

Glass is stunned speechless for a minute, unable to consider life without being part of the Company, and the dismissal and insistence to leave quickly - almost an exile! - disturbs him even more. "Uhh, very well, if that's what's needed." He says uncertainly, heading back to his ship. Once back aboard, he's visibly shaken, grabbing the railing firmly and thinking hard.

Klak-Nik was focused on watching Glass' interaction on the ground from the helm when his focus was broken by Keira's question. His immediate response was of course in his own language which as always came across as lots of antennae motion and mandible clicking. [Language unknown: "Korrutpro? Hoinonacnd? Caro urle dayromkor Ng hi tr nisean iv manconcom? Ce ave ivck Useen lo k wi hiiewi omer preicaome ouswh chdin. Heweng ioac nclin not ain ng wickac...."]

The apparently agitated words were quickly followed though by a calm thought projection.

After a moment's pause and projecting ones self to a point on the ship where observation of the captain could continue, Klak-Nik would project himself about the ship finding each member of the crew and thought message to everyone something along the lines of "The captain seems disturbed. Prepare for bad news. Maybe someone down there to back him up."

In reply to Klak-Nik (msg # 53):

If you've landed, you're likely not powering the Helm, hence you aren't benefiting from it.

If you ARE powering, physics gets twisted, and I need to know.

For one thing, Glass won't be able to disembark. Well, not without climbing up to the bottom, climbing the leg, and holding on the the "sky" for dear life until he's out of range.

And what happens to anyone who walks too close will be entertaining, as well.

The issues come in when someone jumps or flies while in overlapping gravities. The local wild life might be bothered, but probably that's it.
This message was last edited by the GM at 22:54, Thu 27 Oct 2022.

"Indeed. I will go see what's up!" Lyra said. She walked over to the Captain to see what was going on, "Captain, what's the situation?" she asked.

Keira frowned as she transferred the repeating shot infusion to her pistol. She was crossing the deck to go back and answer Klak face to face, "Koolu, go back to my room and bring my crossbow from the chest to Klack-Nik, it will be Klack's should they want it. If they leave it for greater than twelve seconds leave it with Callvyn, then return to me." It was a light crossbow, but not small in size particularly, if someone new could use it, that was better than taking it to town to sell it.

Keira passed the two officers and assumed she would be told if there was a problem they thought she might help with. She continued on to the helm space.

"Klak, I'll do what I can to help any of our crew improve in weapons and armors but until we have a way to do that in space and gain resources to work with... I'm somewhat limited. I'm just offering my old gear because I have improved my situation through salvage funds."

Bit more involved than that. You're on the ship, he isn't. It will take a couple of rounds, including ladder time.
This message was last edited by the GM at 01:26, Fri 28 Oct 2022.

Again, infusions done first thing after a long rest. If you're in another room chatting with Klak-nik, it'll be tomorrow before you can make the change. Shouldn't matter as I dont' expect combat before then. Also it's best to post such things to me before hand so timing can be dealt with, rather than posting them as an afterthought during another situation. Especially when such things are timing sensitive. That's why I give a long (1-2 day usually), break between updates. Please use THAT time for spell and infusion changes.



Which two officers? And you are leaving the Helm space if you were just talking the Klak-Nik, and he's still on the Helm.

After a bit, Captain Glass somberly heads back onto the main deck, sighing. "All right, people, I've got news. Not sure if it's all that good, but it's news."
Once the crew is gathered, he makes his announcement. "We've been released from our contracts. As far as Trident is concerned, we've filled our duties, and they...want us gone by dawn. Our payment is our shares in the sales we did. Anyone who wants to stay on Earth is welcome to do so, but the impression I get is you'd be on your own. Those that stay with our ship - we'll need to discuss plans." His somber attitude shows he is deeply troubled by this life change.

"Released from our contract? Interesting. And what of this ship? Do we get to keep it? I think we should take it anyway."

He rubbed his chin in thought. "Anyone get a look at the crew on the other ship. Bunch of Egyptian god puppets if you ask me. Seen many statues like them when I was there. Not far from what their crew is looking like. Did we approach them Master Glass or did they approach us first? Gotta wonder about that surely?

"Any idea whether tossing us aside was originally planned or have we been set aside? And why would they want us gone so quick? I say take the ship. Find another port. Stock up and go trading ourselves. What was the original plan? Mars? Let's do that then."

Glass answers "The ship is ours, and all the gold and loot we've acquired in our short adventure. The hippo-like beings are called the 'Giff' and are a very well-known species in space. The blue being is a Mercane, one of the traders in magic that Trident," He pauses here for a moment, "Will be contracting with from now on. We are not needed."
"The tossing aside part - I have no idea. None! I've spent my entire life working in the Company, for the Company, and I thought my future was going to be forever WITH the Company! They've abandoned me utterly with this, this uncaring SEVERANCE! They were my HOME!" He says, getting louder and upset in his grief.

Some things to keep in mid, at least some of which would occur to anyone with the Merchant backgroud, and other bits to individuals:

-The Helm is Brian's. She furnished the material component that is most of the cost, and the knowledge to make it. The Wizard that made it was paid with a new spell in his book that no one else on the planet had, and that gave him a (short lived, as it turns out) monopoly.
-The Orrery is Brian's
-The ship was bought with salvage by the crew. It's yours outright.
-The first ship was sold on their instruction

All that Trident can claim is the Hotplate and some basic tools and food supplies.

You were under an open ended ("plausible deniability") contract. You worked for them with just one specific duty, which was find a source Orrerys. And that was verbal.

They have no real hold on you anymore, even on paper. Now they have no responsibility of you do something embarrassing.

And now you can do what you want, and have a well supplied start.
This message was last edited by the GM at 15:49, Fri 28 Oct 2022.

"Oooh, are we looking at crushing them at their own game or just crushing them? We know some pretty big rocks from near Ceres... I only ever had teachers, this ship has seen my most brilliant works. The crew, my closest to family. Sad as that may be. I'm all in with the Ad Astra."

Keira turns to Brian, "Can you help me understand the construction of the Helm? I don't want to go into making them just yet, it is just that while I can infuse two objects at any time and tinker magic another three... I want to explore and then maybe retire to teach magical crafting to some apprentice of my own."