Bay 12 Games Forum

FLIRTY: "Oh dear, lovely ladies rarely come my way, especially in pairs~" The two look at you. Then, while 'Vanessa' has the look of someone wanting to murder you, her long-haired companion lets out a laugh.

"I like the way you speak, dear~" She leans in closer, laying her elbows on the counter and pressing her hands against her bust so it becomes more prominent.

"In fact, I am very happy to hear this from a handsome young man like you."

"I thought you wanted some synthol, not someone to sleep with?"

"I will gladly have both, you know." She looks you over and then smiles. "Well, how about some Blue Fire for me?" The mercenary girl crosses her arms and stares at you dispassionately.

You recall not being able to get Blue Fire recipe the last time someone requested it, but maybe this time...

Connecting...

Done!

Queries: blue fire

>1 result found:

BLUE FIRE: 51c

4 Shots of Wóda
Shot of Buenberry

Serve in a tank glass with ice.

That's a simple one, all things considered. You pour some Wóda in a tank and add crushed ice, then some Buenberry. The drink quickly gains neon-blue coloration to it, and you pass it to the fashionable woman. She pulls a gold-and-red credchip from the pocket of her jacket, letting you scan it. (+51c)

Today Earnings: 51c
Monthly Earnings: 5401.5c

Patron ID: Arma Mint
Occupation: Philantropist, Grand Duchess of Rix Prime (title revoked)
Conv.Style: FLIRTY
Liked drinks: sweet, fiery
Disliked drinks: bitter

She takes a sip and then purrs in delight.

"Just as I like it~"

To Arma:

A) "Thank you, I try."
B) FLIRTY: "Oh, and am I fitting into what you like about men as well~?"
C) CHATTY: "Well well, I did not expect to serve former royalty today, I am honored."

To 'Vanessa':

A) "Not gonna drink anything?"
B) FLIRTY: "Don't put on that face, I can manage two adult ladies at once~"
C) CHATTY: "So what about you, I hope you're not going to stay disgruntled at me for no reason?"

You open the hailing frequencies and-

"My name's Vanessa. Are you part of the crew?"

"Yes, I'm the bartender and sole crew of-"

"Are there any other patrons on board?"

"Uh, no."

"There's a ship docked at your station though, I can see it clearly on my sensors."

"I believe its sole crewmember is asleep right now."

There's a long pause.

"Alright. Has there been any pirate or Centaurian activity around in Beta Carotenii in past 24 hours?"

"None that I know of."

"Hmph. Fine then. Seems safe to disembark. We will be coming for drinks."

She abruptly closes the call before you can say anything.

A) Rude! So I shall return the rudeness and hail them back!!
B) Time to man the drone bar! Drone the bar? Bar the man??

You go for some bartending trivia.


You find a very interesting article about a drink called Five Finger Discount. It began when some bartender in year 1093 started handing out very precise mixes of cheap synthols to patrons who wanted something 'cheap' but couldn't be bothered (or were too drunk) to be more specific. The simplicity of the recipe and general usefulness of it meant that it quickly gained popularity amongst bartenders first at the Outposts on the same planet (Beta Aries IIa), then elsewhere, until it finally made its way into Mix Database of the SRC.

FIVE FINGER DISCOUNT: 41c

Shot of Wóda
Shot of Skinjuice
Shot of Grenadiere
Shot of Ribesnero
Shot of Cherrybomb

Serve in a tank glass with ice.

Your wetware chip memorizes it without problem. The security console pings and you check what's happened.

The Black Dragon of Angierach has cleared the docking slot and is headed for Madagascar Jump Gate.

Oh, well!

A) Who cares, more trivia!
B) Let's have some Zirconius now.
C) Let's watch the stars!

aaaa
bbb

---

You explain that you will meet with the Wildlings head-on!

The howling and screaming coming from northwest an hour later indicates that they've found you - and you've found them.

5*

The battle is a great chaos from the very start. Your archers tried to pelt the first line of Wildlings with arrows, only for them to raise primitive shields made of fur and leather, something they've not done before. Secondly, their mass was surpisingly orderly, for Wildlings, and they crashed into front of your lines nearly at the same moment.

But that was still not enough - your skillful ordering of troops and plain ol' large numbers of your troops was more than enough to overcome this and all other tricks.

9!*

While the initial few minutes were quite even, after that it is a slaughter. Wildlings fall down, cut down by your men's axes, maces and spears, and few that try to run away are easily shot down by your eagle-eyed archers.

Before the sun even begins to set, it is over. Amongst the dead Wildlings there's a bigger, nastier looking one with human skulls as his shoulder pauldrons and one of a wolf that served as his helmet.

As the Marshal explains that almost a hundred of your loyal soldiers won't be going home, while some three hundred and eighty Wildlings were killed, some warriors bring to you a gift.

The young-looking Wildlings, barely bearded and dressed in lesser furs, can't be more than youths, some perhaps as young as twelve, but you never know with the Wildlings. A fifth of the group is girls.

"We've captured twenty three Wildlings, sire." Says the blood-stained warrior who led the group of warriors that captured the youths.

"Whatever should be done with them?"

A) "These are kids, and they've received their lesson they will never forget. Release them back into the Wild!"
B) "Turn them into thralls, they shall till our fields with plows attached to their backs!"
C) "What stupid question is this? These are Wildlings! Put them to axe at once!"
D) "Time for something radical - they shall be clean-shaven and made into servants at my palace!"

"Would we have time to start at Sebastias, and then do a circuit along the whole coast, through Copana, Guidea, Las Argentas, Pointas, Nuova Lucia, Aridias, and St. Maria?" The Purser, the First Mate, and the Company Man all hum and ponder and scratch their chins thoughtfully.

"Wish we brought the Navigator in here with us."

"Ah, from here to Sebastias if you do not anchor at Saint Marco you could be there in four days. To go to Copana you would experience winds both mild and sideways to your sails, so perhaps four days?"

"Going along the Karibs Proper all the way from Saint Alonso to Fedeira took us usually 10 days, but that's in near straight lane along the winds. What's the weather like along the Coast of Columbia, Roberto?"

"Ah, I wouldn't know, except that the winds are northwesternly for sure. The gulfs probably have small waves and weak winds. In fact, there's some pirates that have oar-driven ships to catch up with larger, but slower Ships."

"Let me get Alberto, Captain. He knows the maps and the winds, he can probably make a better estimate than any of us here." The First Mate leaves his seat and exits the office, while the Purser and the Company Man look at you.

A) "For now that is all, let us go to the markets now."
B) "I have another question, this time about... (insert topic here)"

"A pleasant chat will do well to soothe my nerves about this journey! Lead me to the Company Man!"

You are lead to the Company Man, who lives in a small office down the dock.

"Greetings, Roberto." Says the First Mate, lifting his hat to the small, obese man sitting at the desk, who stands up.

"Ah, Luis! Xavier!" He quickly wades across the room. "Nice to meet you again after all these months." The man looks you up and down. "And this be whom?"

"This fine monsieur is our new Captain, Scott Finley, of Albion." The rotund Company Man quickly shakes your hand.

"Ah, pleasure, great pleasure to meet you, sir!"

"Pleasure's the same."

"Please, be seated." You three sit in front of Roberto's desk as he returns to his own chair which creaks most painfully under his weight.

"How can I help you?"

"We need information."

"Ah! Information..." Roberto tilts himself away on his chair, lacing his fingers on his vast waist. He hums quietly for a while, then leans forward again. "The seas are calm around here. Pirates have avoided our waters for the last few weeks, thanks Goddess for that! Sugarcane harvest has only recently begun but I'm told it's huge this Winter. Oh! And I've heard that some establishments on the island are searching for a supply of Fruitbrew for the new year's celebrations already. Do you have Fruitbrew on board your ship?"

"Not much, only few dozen barrels."

"Ah, but still - you might be able to sell each barrel few dozen Ducats more than on the Market if you ask around the place. There's quite a few taverns in the town, there ought be at least few who are still searching for the expensive vintage and are willing to pay the price."

A) "Thank you for your information, we shall be on our way!"
B) "Would you have any information about... (insert topic here)?"

"I see. Let's go to Capus!"

"Aye, sir!"

Soon the anchor is pulled up, the sails set, and the helsman leads Santa Julia out of the harbor, out of the Lusian Bay, and into the Atlantean Ocean. The first voyage of Captain Finley to the Karib Archipelago has begun!


As the sailors lift up the body of the dead man off the hold's floor, others begin cleaning up the spilled grapedrink.

"What has happened here?" You ask as the First Mate and the Surgeon turn to you.

"Sailor Travera was crushed by a failling barrel." Says the Surgeon, shaking his head.

"Seems that the rope wrapped around the barrels on that shelf has snapped." The First Mate shows you the rope - its musty and green-tinted. "It's an old and rotting one, and I believe Travera himself was one of sailors in charge of securement of the ropes. Mayhaps it be he brought this fate upon himself. Unfortunately, the barrel cracked open when it crashed upon his head so the grapedrink stored within has spilled."

"Two hundred and eighty of Ducats gone, gentlemen." The Purser says from behind you, already scribbling in his ledger.

"Better that than the pricier stuff."

"Check the ropes and other bindings. We can't let this happen again."

"Already on it, Captain. The crew will check each and every one of them once we clear this mess up."

Later, it is found that this was the only rotting rope used for bindings, and all other cargo is completely secure.

Wages:
2 Ducats per Sailor a Day for 149 Sailors over 5 Days from Lusia to Capus: 1.490 Ducats

Some of the sailors disembark for the evening, while the First Mate and the Navigator come up to you.

"I spoke briefly with the Company Man on Capus. There was nothing in particular he had to report. Ships sailing from Garas haven't seen any Stygian boats or pirate Ships there. The seas in the region are currently calm and smooth, fishermen say."

"Captain, where shall we head next?"

A) "To Saint Alonso!"
B) "To Garas!"