A Dohwar, a Giff, and a Satyr walk into a bar [IC Thread]

[Melville]

This is where Melville uses his mind reading while the Captain is speaking, trying to gauge any motive or hidden agenda of Captain Threadvine, he decides that at least on the surface Threadvine is being honest. 

Insight (advantage) [1d20+3] = 3+3 = 6; [1d20+3] = 7+3 = 10; Investigation [1d20+5] = 15+5 = 20

Melville begins to pore over the documents, looking for any hidden parts of the contract that might be unfair or even beggar his comrades and him. Aside from the obvious inequities of Threadvine and Ashheart seemingly being able to assign or deny extra shares on a whim,. He looked deeper into the document to see if such things were more clearly defined, assuming that Threadvine had merely been giving the broad strokes rather than the finer details.

While he does so, he decides to clarify the details of portage fees.

"I have no cargo as yet, but I wanted to make sure that it was understood that I do not intend to let my accumulated wealth idle. I would put it to work to build more wealth. How would portage be assessed? Space and tonnage required? Comparative safety or danger of said cargo? Value of the cargo? "

[GM Anthraxus]

Bazz picks up the contract and begins to read it carefully.  He was slightly concerned about the division of shares but not really for himself.  As a Jack-of-all-trades, he could slip into almost any roll and had no problem with taking a few shifts of Spelljamming.  But what of the Gif who couldn't help with spelljamming?  It would seem his earning potential would already be at a disadvantage.  

[OoC: I don't know if we need to make a skill roll or which skill to use.  Would it be investigation or insight or something else?]

"Captain, I'm curious.  You say, 'a share is defined as a even split of the final profits of the expedition, after the cost of food, air, and water as well as any healing or other limited resources used by the crew are taken into account.'  So does that mean I will be compensated for using my healing ability on the crew?  I obviously don't mind healing the gravely injured but I don't want to be expected or ordered to use up all my healing so there's none left for me or my companions and then be expected to pay for our own healing.  That doesn't seem fair." 

[OOC: A skill check would only be needed if you are trying to convince him to change terms in some way, or to allow some kind of exception.  Reviewing the documents support that the Captain is simply covering the terms of the contract.]

He nods at your question, "Fair question.  That is in reference to purchased healing such as potions and the like, not caster healing as that is a renewable resource.  If you have healing magics, for the duration of the expedition, you would be expected to use them when needed for anyone of the crew, but conversely anyone on the crew should be using their spells or the ship's healing resources to help you when needed as well.  That clause is specific to defraying the costs of common resources for the entire crew, not any individual healing acts.  If you have your own stock of consumables that you are bringing on in your personal stores, those may be used or not at your own discretion, although choosing to let someone die when you have resources to save them will likely put you in poor graces with the crew as a whole, not much can be done about that."

[GM Anthraxus]

This is where Melville uses his mind reading while the Captain is speaking, trying to gauge any motive or hidden agenda of Captain Threadvine, he decides that at least on the surface Threadvine is being honest. 

Insight (advantage) [1d20+3] = 3+3 = 6; [1d20+3] = 7+3 = 10; Investigation [1d20+5] = 15+5 = 20

Melville begins to pore over the documents, looking for any hidden parts of the contract that might be unfair or even beggar his comrades and him. Aside from the obvious inequities of Threadvine and Ashheart seemingly being able to assign or deny extra shares on a whim,. He looked deeper into the document to see if such things were more clearly defined, assuming that Threadvine had merely been giving the broad strokes rather than the finer details.

While he does so, he decides to clarify the details of portage fees.

"I have no cargo as yet, but I wanted to make sure that it was understood that I do not intend to let my accumulated wealth idle. I would put it to work to build more wealth. How would portage be assessed? Space and tonnage required? Comparative safety or danger of said cargo? Value of the cargo? "

[OOC: Other than mild boredom at reviewing information that he has reviewed hundreds of times before, you do not get a feeling that he is trying to screw anyone over or lying, and that he sees the terms that he is covering as fair to everyone involved.  You get the feeling that he seems to consider himself fair-minded and that he does have a drive to be liked by people he ships with.  You can tell that on the topic of assigning or revoking shares he does not consider it a tool of punishment or control, but rather a tool to reward those willing to take greater risks for the expedition and to prevent crewmembers from being lazy or destructive. There is also an underlying hope that the expedition will turn up enough Junta rarities that everyone on the crew will be rich afterwards so a few coins more or less for individuals will wind up not really mattering.  You can give me a History check to recognize the term "Junta" in this context.

On that investigation check, you pour through the two of three pages of terms and find nothing that is an obviously planned 'gotcha' clause to allow the Captain to seize the entire value of the loot or anything like that, although it is apparent that with their capability to adjust the final number of shares given that some kind of game of share devaluation could be setup fairly easily.  Based on your mind-reading however, Threadvine is not planning on trying to pull anything like that.  It seems like the terms of the contract are written with an eye towards preventing any one crewman brought on from screwing over the others, with final adjucation falling to Captain Threadvine.  There is nothing in here that Melville or Bazz hasn't seen in similar crew contracts elsewhere.  Compared to some of the contracts that Melville has seen, this one is actually pretty clearly worded and simple enough that even your common sailor or lunk-headed fighter would be able to make out the major points.  Glancing through it all, you quickly realize that the stack of papers is actually three copies of the same contract, likely to facilitate the multiple filings that Threadvine mentioned earlier.]

Threadvine looks thoughtful as he considers your question, running a hand through his hair.  As he does so you all get a much clearer look at the ugly scar where his left ear was apparently crudely bitten or torn off.  "Yes, in addition to the raw tonnage and space the cargo requires, the risk to the ship and crew would also need to be considered.  Remember that any cargo space you are allowed for mercantile pursuits is space that can't be used for findings and general loot that will be split with the crew so some compensation to balance that is in order.  We are also headed into unknown space, so there is no guarantee of viable trading ports along the way, that's why so many of the terms have resolution on return to Bral as the point of origin and best market for findings available.  Phlogiston travel is also going to be required so goods that cannot be transported safely through the Flow would of course be blocked. As I said, I don't think I ever had a crewman make a similar request, so we are in uncharted waters here and I'm trying to find the path that is most fair to both you and the rest of the crew, including your companions here.  It should also be clear that if the three of you elect to sign on, that will hit the general composition and count of crew that I was looking for, so we will be looking to ship out as soon as possible, likely as early as tomorrow, once the contracts have been filed with the Dockmaster and we finish provisioning sorting and loading. So if you don't already have your potential cargo ready to be loaded, allowing time for you to pull something together is another consideration."

[Bazzalan Horngrin]

"As I assured you earlier, I would gladly help anyone gravely injured especially if we're laying down for a long rest and to not use those spells would be a waste.  But I'm no cleric.  I don't want to be put in a position where I'm expected to use all my 'renewable' resources to save someone from spending a few gold pieces.  My magics are different than a wizard.  My friend here chooses what spells to memorize, while all my spells are available until I run out of strength.  Let me put it another way, If the sailors ask me to use all my humble resources healing them, I won't have a sleep spell to quickly eliminate the 6 pirates that might board us later in the day.  Which is more important, curing someone who could just use a potion or eliminating the damage potential of 6 pirates?  But this all is probably just mountains and mole hills, correct?  All of us seem like reasonable people so I'm sure everything will be just fine.  Now let's sign this contract and celebrate!" 

[GM Anthraxus]

"As I assured you earlier, I would gladly help anyone gravely injured especially if we're laying down for a long rest and to not use those spells would be a waste.  But I'm no cleric.  I don't want to be put in a position where I'm expected to use all my 'renewable' resources to save someone from spending a few gold pieces.  My magics are different than a wizard.  My friend here chooses what spells to memorize, while all my spells are available until I run out of strength.  Let me put it another way, If the sailors ask me to use all my humble resources healing them, I won't have a sleep spell to quickly eliminate the 6 pirates that might board us later in the day.  Which is more important, curing someone who could just use a potion or eliminating the damage potential of 6 pirates?  But this all is probably just mountains and mole hills, correct?  All of us seem like reasonable people so I'm sure everything will be just fine.  Now let's sign this contract and celebrate!" 

Threadvine nods in agreement, and says, "As with most things that is a discretionary call. Rrr'chk'chk and Mrr'ksh are trained field medics and Anders is a neophyte cleric, so I would expect most of that kind of request to go to them. If I or Ashheart ask you to heal something or cast a particular spell that we know you have, you would be expected to do so as a direct command.  If random members of the crew just ask for some such usage, that would be your discretion to do so.  As we never know when the next danger will appear, an argument could be made to never expend any spells unless absolutely required, but conversely that means often those spells would be wasted entirely.  You are not a newly weaned babe, however, and I think you will make the best call you can in each instance.  If there are no other questions there are three copies of the contract for each of you to sign, to be filed as previously mentioned."

[Melville]

"It is much the same way with my spells that are limited, I guess.  I am somewhat adept at ritual magic though, so certain types of spells I can cast non-stop all day long, those are quite handy, like my ability to comprehend languages or detect magical auras.

{OoC which brings up a point, since ritual spells do not use spell slots, how are they affected by spelljamming? Would I still have access to them after a turn on the helm?}

[Rupert Gladestone]

[OoC: I believe your ability to cast rituals and cantrips is basically unlimited, although rituals tend to be limited by the casting time]

Rupert gives the contract a read over, Perception Check = [1d20+5] = 9+5 = 14, if he doesn't catch any hidden clauses to question he will sign his name to the contract.

[DM Vitkyng]

[OoC: I believe your ability to cast rituals and cantrips is basically unlimited, although rituals tend to be limited by the casting time]

Rupert gives the contract a read over, Perception Check = [1d20+5] = 9+5 = 14, if he doesn't catch any hidden clauses to question he will sign his name to the contract.

[OoC not all of  Melville's rituals, as Order of the Scribe (Tasha's) he get can once per long rest cast a ritual at the regular casting time rather than adding 10 minutes. ]

[GM Anthraxus]

[OoC: I believe your ability to cast rituals and cantrips is basically unlimited]
Rupert gives the contract a read over

[OOC: That is correct.  Cantrips and Rituals are unlimited.  From the description of minor and major helms in the ruleset guide:
Minor Helm: A static chair and helmet built into the hull. Supports up to 50 tons of ship. Speed is equal to 2/3 the level of the operator’s highest unspent spellslot, rounded down, to a minimum of 1. A creature must have at least one unspent spellslot to operate the helm. Casting spells, aside from cantrips, is not allowed while operating. 
Major Helm: A static chair and helmet built into the hull. Supports up to 100 tons of ship. Speed is equal to the level of the operator’s highest unspent spellslot. A creature must have at least one unspent spellslot to operate the helm. Casting spells, aside from cantrips, is not allowed while operating. 


As an action in combat:
A character operating or adjacent to a Minor or Major helm can spend their highestlevel spellslot to boost the speed of the ship by one for one round. 

Unlike the 2e version of spelljammer using a helm does not drain all of your spellslots for the day.]

[GM Anthraxus]

[OoC: I believe your ability to cast rituals and cantrips is basically unlimited, although rituals tend to be limited by the casting time]

Rupert gives the contract a read over, Perception Check = [1d20+5] = 9+5 = 14, if he doesn't catch any hidden clauses to question he will sign his name to the contract.

[OOC: Looking through the contract, everything seems to line up with what the Captain said.  Rupert can't find any hidden clauses, and actually the terminology is even more straightforward and clearly understandable that the clan contract that you had been working under on your last ship.]