[Audio/Visual] Dude where's our map? [Date TBD?]

[naturaltwohands]

[Drizzt's human hands are holding up some paper, his eyes focused on a note in neat Imperial Calligraphy:

I have your charts. If you want a chance of ever leaving this benighted island, bring me the Bando rebels’ box and give me safe passage back to the Empire.

K

Drizzt's gaze continues to linger on it as he speaks out loud, voice even but laced with anger. Yes, he's got a young teenager's voice. And yes, it doesn't do anger very well. Also yes, shut up.]

As the note says, our sea charts have been stolen. [You know, the ones Drizzt found after they didn't need them anymore?] I found this ransom note on the back of our charter.

Does anyone possess clues that might lead to the identity of the traitor? What course of action should we take? And where exactly would we meet this individual? They've neglected to mention a location with which to meet.

Comments

[memoryandtheft]

Be careful what you wish for.

We're going to either need to set an ambush, or track the thief once we've handed off the decoy. Either way, it's probably going to get messy.

[naturaltwohands]

Only for myself, of course.

Messier still if I directly involve myself with the execution of the plan. As you well know, I am not particularly skilled at either acting or lying. It would also seem odd for an adolescent to be the one to handle such a dangerous request when there are adults about. That, and I could potentially expose the plan by revealing it if guilt or second-guessing gets the best of me.

[He at least knows he'll set the plan on fire?]

[memoryandtheft]

I don't think anyone wants you to be involved in the hand-off.

[Mostly because he's a kid, for her part, but being unable to lie to save his life is definitely a consideration.]

But we're going to need people keeping an eye out in case anything goes wrong.

[naturaltwohands]

Anyone who knows me would most assuredly not.

[Drizzt would be annoyed if he knew that his age has anything to do with this besides appearances. :[ He's capable. Just not of deception.]

I am capable of watching from afar, and staying hidden more than easily enough, even in this form. But I am not certain if I should be involved even that much.

[fruitknife]

Sure. If I'm not in the kitchen I'm in Liminal Space.

[thornsofmalkav]

We'll say you twisted your ankle or something and were recuperating in the boat with Shinji.

[theflyingone]

Give us solutions, then. How can you take this person alive?

[theflyingone]

There are limits to how often I can make a portal. I would rather save that for an emergency. I hope you are in the Cornu's galley.

[ He's trekking over there anyway, it's not far. Luckily he has his drawing materials on him, as an island is less navigable than a city, and warrants more drawings of it. ]

[loyalrebel]

...I can also just take off my metal arm and use that injury.

[thornsofmalkav]

... that's even easier, really.

[naturaltwohands]

[Drizzt knows that Altair is giving him a chance to consider alternate solutions. It's not an attack on his thoughts. He leans back where he's sitting, not that Altair can see, and deeply considers this.]

Not I, but the man I suspect is my father's Overlay. He was able to get the jump on me--which is no small thing--and could remain hidden. Zack also knows a sort of martial arts that allows one to disable an opponent without harm, and he was able to disarm me with hardly any effort when he demonstrated his abilities to me.

... Of course, it's likely this person will be hung anyways regardless of the efforts we go to.

[fruitknife]

Lately the emergency's been called 'nighttime.' [Especially once they worked out the damn whale was weakening people's immune systems. Shinji's immune system is crap enough as it is.

In any case, Shinji is indeed in what he's stubbornly referring to as the boat's kitchen, when Altair gets there. (He's Japanese and they have a thing about not inventing different words when there's a perfectly serviceable one right there, okay.)]

[memoryandtheft]

[It's not even his age so much as it is the fact that in this shape, he reminds her of the kids she cares for, all of whom she would shelter from harm if she could, no matter how powerful they are in their own rights.]

Do we need to lock you in the basement so you can't cause trouble?

[naturaltwohands]

[This shape that represents his true age. He could use a bit of sheltering from the world. Or at least, this.]

... That is not particularly a bad idea, truthfully.

[theflyingone]

What of magic? I know the land of Bando was not without it. Our target may have some. I can incapacitate people as well, but disarming will do no good if this person can, say, throw fire at us.

[ He'd rather another Traveler not go through being burned alive like he did. ]

Should capture be successful, at least this person would be executed after a measuring of their crimes in as best a court as we can gather. And, an interrogation may turn up useful information, such as where our maps are.

[naturaltwohands]

Most magic in my world requires some sort of incantation, spell component, gesture, or a mixture. But we cannot rely on other magic to be the same. We would have to reliably disable magic altogether—anti-magic items are rare in my world, and the only one I know of was likely created during the Time of Troubles when gods were thrown from the heavens and almost all magic failed. If we could find something like that, it would be fairly simple. If not—knocking them unconscious is a start.

[Being burned alive sucks, yes. Also, hearing Altaïr mention a court judging the person causes waves of relief to come off of Drizzt.]

A court in any form would be better than this. Can you do anything to change their minds? I cannot; I do not have their trust.

[And then a thought occurs to him, and Drizzt almost laughs.]

There is also Faerie Fire. I can outline someone in colored flames that do not burn. I have used it before as an open threat, saying I will let the flames burn if they do not submit.

[theflyingone]

I will not go anywhere near flames.

[ This is said with more vehemence than really necessary. He regrets even mentioning fire. ]

Threats do not work anyway, when your enemy's abilities are so unknown. That would allow this person to slip away. I will not take that chance. Deadly or not, our first strike must be our last.

[naturaltwohands]

[He starts a bit in the physical world and Guenhwyvar raises her head up to look at him curiously. There's apology tinting his words now]

... No Faerie Fire, then. My apologies.

[Then, back to business.]

Which only leaves some way of disabling magic during our attack. But you are correct, we must act decisively and with a single strike. I truly do not know if t is possible to take this person alive, but thank you for at least considering it.

[memoryandtheft]

...You know, if you have a better idea, you can speak up. "Not murder" is usually a pretty good option.

[naturaltwohands]

Can I? It sounded as if my concerns have already been dismissed.

[It's said without malice.]

[memoryandtheft]

Then you weren't listening.

We all agree we need to keep the box from the thief, and get the charts back for the sake of the other ship. If we can do that without anyone getting killed, that's the best outcome - so come up with a plan, or figure out how to find them before anyone has a chance to go Wile E. Coyote on things.

[naturaltwohands]

Malik wants the person dead.

[But Drizzt goes quiet for a moment in thought.]

Can we rig the box to be trapped itself? My people have hand-held crossbows. The darts used are often either dipped in sleeping or paralyzing poison. Not permanent, but enough to render our foe defenseless.

[memoryandtheft]

He's one man, and not the only vote.

[There's a pause, and when she continues, there's a sharp note of wariness in her voice.]

...How long do they put the victim out for?

[Please don't say a hundred years.]

[naturaltwohands]

I suppose that is true.

[There's slightly heartening that they're listening to him.]

For hours, normally, and they begin working almost immediately.

[memoryandtheft]

[Oh, thank the oak and the ash. It's not elfshot.]

That sounds like it would work, if we could find a way to rig the box to fire one when it was opened. Mechanical traps aren't really in my wheelhouse, though.