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Mission Log: The Gondola Gamble
🌊 Splitting the Waves at the Molo
Deciding to bypass the dark, confusing maze of pedestrian streets, the party moves south, stepping past the grand twin pillars of the Lion of St. Mark and San Teodoro. Ahead lies the bustling stone pier of the waterfront. Despite the fading twilight, the lapping waters of the Bacino di San Marco are crowded with sleek, black wooden boats. Shifty-looking gondoliers use their long oars to maneuver through the currents, calling out for passengers in thick Venetian accents.
The agents approach a wide stone staircase leading down to the water level. The crimson arrow on their spatiotemporal extrapolators points directly west and slightly north, where the massive river basin narrows into the entry of the famed Grand Canal. But a challenge presents itself immediately: the team looks incredibly strange to the medieval locals, and the ORUS-provided currency in their pockets is dangerously limited. To secure a boat without raising suspicion or getting ripped off, a combined team effort is mandatory.
Lucy takes the lead, stepping onto the damp steps with a dazzling, disarming smile. She catches the eye of an older, weathered gondolier whose boat is tied to the post. Relying on her quick wits and effortless social charm, she begins spinning a tale about being foreign merchants separated from their main caravan after the recent January earthquake. She flashes a heavy, authentic Venetian silver coin to prove they can pay for a direct charter.
To seal the deal, the rest of the crew steps in to assist. Dr. Steven Stevens stands confidently right behind her, using his vast historical knowledge of ancient trade routes to casually drop accurate local place names and merchant guild terminology into the conversation, giving their cover story flawless academic credibility. Meanwhile, Corporal Morgan Osprey puts his security instincts to work, stepping into the boat first to help steady the rocking wood while simultaneously using his intimidating stature to subtly discourage nearby rival boatmen from interfering or raising the price. Finally, Dr. Stella Pfennig keeps a keen eye on the gondolier's physical reactions, stepping forward to hand over the exact coin value with a calm, clinical authority that leaves no room for hesitation. The collaborative maneuver works like clockwork.
The party works in perfect synchronization, stacking their unique attributes and professions to maximize their chances of securing a safe trip down the Grand Canal.
Result: Normal Success. Convinced by Lucy's smooth negotiation and backed by the undeniable weight of genuine silver coin, the gondolier nods respectfully and ushers the agents onto the cushioned wooden seats. With a powerful push of his oar, the boat glides out onto the dark, shimmering water, cutting past incoming merchant ships and steering smoothly into the mouth of the Grand Canal.
🧀 Cornered at the Formaggio e Fuoco
The gondola weaves deeper into the heart of the Serenissima, passing grand gothic palaces whose marble facades reflect the flickering torches of the night watch. Following the pulsing crimson arrow on their wristbands, Lucy subtly signals the gondolier to make a sudden right turn down a narrow, shadowy side canal. They pull up along a low stone walkway, step out of the boat, and step right into the sights and sounds of a raucous dockside party.
“You find yourselves at last in a narrow street next to a tavern called the Formaggio e Fuoco, where you see flickering torchlight and hear the noise of shouting and laughter. A crowd of about 20 roughly-dressed men and women are gathered around three figures. Two are men in sailor garb and the third looks like Rth-thya-lyi, the Deep One you are seeking. Rth-thya-lyi is dressed in a large, brocaded doublet, a matching hat that covers its huge, gilled fish head, and wears an oversized golden earring.”
“As you elbow your way to the front, you will see that a pair of enormous rats have been dressed in little liripipe hats, and they are dancing on their hind legs.”
“Rth-thya-lyi is playing a battered and out-of-tune vielle as the crowd claps and stomps to the beat, and his two companions have their hats out, encouraging the crowd to toss in coins or bread. The two companions look a little pale and sweaty, despite the coolness of the evening.”
The party spots three lightly-armored figures loitering against the wall of the tavern nearby, completely ignoring the festive dancing rats. Their pale skin, sweaty foreheads, and visibly swollen necks clearly indicate they are heavily infected with the plague—and their hands are resting tightly on the hilts of their swords. They spot our heroes approaching and instantly swagger forward with cold, hostile eyes.
⏳ Ready to Alter the Fabric of History?
Enjoying the reality-bending exploits of our ORUS agents? You can jump into the timeline yourself! Gear up with your own spatiotemporal extrapolator, hunt down CthulWho's escaped anomalies, and protect the space-time continuum in this standalone Timepunk adventure.
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