Rogue Trader: The Hand of Fortune

[Vehrec]

Well, if the Lady Navigator would rather wait, he would squash his gentlemen's instinct. His bow was short, but deep and he had already made profound supplications to the Lord Captain when he came aboard. They both knew that spacing Commod would have placated the crew or allowed the Captain to claim more salvage, at the risk of making an enemy of the Mechanicus. All that it had gained him was the possibility of a finders fee at later date and a very thankful Explorator who was currently doing a passable job of paying his way. And this dinner, Commod thought, might go a long way towards undoing that.

[rhoenix]

Having filed in with the others ahead of Ravion, Magnus walked into the Captain's personal dining room. As he entered, he bowed politely with a smile, the hood of his robe covering his sightless eyes. "You have my thanks for your gracious invitation. May the Emperor bless us all in our goals."

He then sat in his appointed seat, watching the others filing in with various weapons. His own sidearm had been left in his quarters, showing nothing but a similar cloak to the one he usually wore (except more finely-made), the finely-made clothes he wore now, and a much nicer belt, the buckle emblazoned with the symbol for the Adeptus Astra Telepathica as his only real symbol or implement. He had no allegiance to any real house, as his lack of House symbols showed. Even so, he carried himself with calm decorum, watching the others' actions and reactions in this situation.

[Cynical Cat]

"Please be seated," said Umbrius Karakan with a magnanimous wave. "There is food begging to be eaten and wine to be drunk." He wiped his hands on a napkin and sipped a pale vintage. He reached out an grabbed another megaprawn, dipped it, and bit into the crunchy morsel. He dipped it again and finished it off.

"I suppose you have questions about why I have extended this invitation, but as I dislike repeating myself you'll have to await the arrival of my rapscallion nephew. Until then be content knowing that he, and by extension you, are being offered an opportunity to greatly increase your wealth and glory."

[White Haven]

Graylen grunts quietly in satisfaction as the guards make no move towards any of the relatively light weapons carried by many of the attending guests. He steps aside for a moment, letting other arrivals move past him as he savors the chance to inspect one of the lord-captain's rarely-seen sanctums. The sheen-polished servitors draw a speculative look from the man's craggy, cratered visage, practiced eyes narrowing as he searches for the hairline seams that would indicate hidden weaponry.

His inspection is interrupted by the host's invitation, stepping away from the doorway and towards one of the chairs to one side of the table. After a moment's consideration, he inclines his head towards Lord Umbrius and rumbles in a gravelly voice, "Thank you, my lord. I'm certain your table and fare will more than suffice until then, and I believe I can speak for all of us when I say that we are...intrigued."

With that, he unbuckles the belt that holds both bolt pistol and power sword and hangs it on the back of his chair before seating himself, symbolically disarming himself out of respect. The obvious lump of the weapon beneath his jacket adds another layer of meaning to the action, saying without words I respect you, but I know better than to trust you completely.

[Hotfoot]

Ravion raised an eyebrow as it appeared that everyone, save his navigator had entered. He motioned for her to enter ahead of him and reinforced it by indicating that anyone that arrived after him was not a part of his retinue. As he entered the familiar extravagance of his "Uncle's" Mess, he could not help but smile. His Uncle had a wonderfully eccentric style that Ravion found utterly fascinating. It was a signal that his own eccentricities would one day be allowed to blossom, once he could start the next leg of his destiny. As he entered, he bowed fluidly to the Elder of his line, making sure to never let his eyes break contact with the greater Karakan, "Greetings Captain Karakan. I am honored by your invitation, and I look forward to whatever endeavor you have planned."

Formalities taken care of, he took his usual seat at the table, being sure to quickly glance at the entire setting, checking to see if there was anything out of place, his mind always checking to see if there was some sort of test being set before him. The food, of course, looked incredible, but why shouldn't it? His uncle was a Rogue Trader in command of a light line ship. Extravagance was not just expected, it was mandatory. Ravion got a smile creeping across his face as he planned out what his mess would look like one day.

[Cynical Cat]

"Take your seat my boy and get some of the megaprawns while they're still hot." The servitors ghosted across the room on cat quiet workings, placing bowls of lettuce and avocado salad with a light lemon and vinaigrette dressing before each person. The megaprawns and sauce remained.

"So," said Umbrius, "have you figured out yet that we have changed course?" He raised a hand for a moment, wrestling with a grave decision. The hand dropped, picked up a gold fork, and speared both lettuce and avocado slice before taking it to Umbrius's mouth.

[fgalkin]

Berenice put down the megaprawn she was peeling with a set of golden tongs and looked up at the Rogue Trader.

"We are heading for the Expanse by a route unknown to me," she said. "If our course holds true and the Emperor protects us on this journey, we should emerge somewhere near Winterscale's Realm."

------------------------------------
Have a very nice day.
-fgalkin

[Hotfoot]

Ravion took a megaprawn with a smile, dipping it deeply into the sauce as the salad was brought to him. As he chewed he pondered his Uncle's words, waiting for Berenice to respond before chiming in. "The question is what glittering goal awaits us in the wildly charted realms of Winterscale?"

[fgalkin]

"If that is indeed where we are going," Berenice shrugs. "I make no such prediction, we are still too far away for me to know our destination."

-------------------
Have a very nice day.
-fgalkin

[Vehrec]

Commod tore his eyes away from the lovely craftsmanship of the servitors to consider Umbrius' question. Such grace and beauty spoke to him as both a brother of the Mechanicus and as a man of the Imperium. He made a note to descritely inqurie as to their maker at a later date for if the man still lived he might be willing share some of the secrets of their construction.

He truthfully hadn't know of the course change, but then again, he had little hand in the direction of his ship. However, the query fired his brain and prompted him to speak just after the lady navigator admitted their arrival was unpredictable. "And our destination may not lie within the realm of Winterscale at all. It may simply be convenient for Lord Captain Umbrius to have his fun with our guesses before our final course is truly set." Commod stopped and considered their host for a moment before speaking again. "It is not likely, true. But still, in this case I will defer to the knowledge of those more expert in the subject."

[Marcao]

Lord Umbrius Karakan had a smile that indicated that he knew a great deal, his words merely reinforced that fact. Faced with the undeniable truth beneath the words of Umbrius he merely nodded his head in wordless acknowledgement that he was indeed correct. Ambition was the driving force of humanities conquest of the stars. It was a critical element that separated the weak from the strong. "You honor me with your attention." he said but he was pleased by it as well. Lord Umbrius was a man that could recognize talent and to be sharing his table was indeed an honor that heralded a new beggining. Ultimately, he would serve his nephew but as his nephew rose so would the rest of House Karakan.

He had been about to answer the final words that Umbrius had shared with him when the others began to arrive. At that moment, he decided that holding his tongue was the best course of action. He went silent and watched as the other members of Ravion's retinue made their way to the table. He watched wordlessly and sought to understand the driving forces to the men and women that shared Umbrius table. His right hand reached out and poured himself some wine. He could have asked one of the nude servants to assist him in such a matter, but he was not an invalid. He brought the glass to his lips and savored its contents before his left reached for a megaprawn and dipped it in the hottest sauce he could find. The sauce spread liquid fire across his tongue but it did not water his eyes.

After two more such megaprawns, he settled on exploring the tastes and textures of the bowls which were placed before them. Such food was a rarity in space and he would certainly enjoy it while it was available. In the end, he was surprised by Umbrius comment. He had not felt anything but that was not surprising. In real space, he would have felt something but the warp was alien to him. His head turned and he glanced towards Berenice as she spoke.

Winterscale's Realm.

The thought lingered in his mind for a moment as he sought to answer the puzzle without success. Still, he could make a series of educated guesses. The exchange between Ravion and the Navigator was noted dimly as he explored the possibilities within his own mind. There were a multitude of possibilities and yet one stood as the most likely in his mind. Ravion required what every Noble Trader did. He needed a place to call his own. A tool to ply the stars with, to fill its cavernous bays with cargo or men. He needed the means to capture glory and bring it back to House Karakan kicking and screaming.

Ravion needs a ship.

[Cynical Cat]

Umbrius Karakan took a sip of wine. "The Lady Navigator is quite correct. We know of a route through the warp storms around the Expanse that is not the equal of the Maw, but will serve our purposes. You remember your cousin Abernath?"

That really wasn't a question. Abernath Karakan wasn't quite Ravion's cousin the same way Umbrius wasn't quite Ravion's uncle, but there were more reasons that blood ties to remember him. Abernath Karakan had achieved the captaincy of Serendipity, a heavily upgraded freighter. His first five years had been full of glorious success before the reversals that had haunted the Karakan line had started to take their toll. The last anyone heard, Abernath Karakan was plying the Expanse.

Umbrius continued on. "The poor boy ended up getting his ship chewed up by Ork raiders. On his way back to Footfall, he stopped at an unserveyed system to effect emergency repairs. Blind luck or the Emperor's Will meant that he found more than a few useful asteroids."

[Someshta]

Goodwinne had been bored, the decadence these men were so found of was beyond insipid and the lowest form of entertainment. Now though there was something more interesting than a few overgrown sea creatures or shiny servers. Leaning forward he hung on Umbrius's words now.

He wondered what this "cousin" of Ravion had found that warranted their attentions. Orks were always such a bother, but Goodwinne doubted there would be any where this cousin decided to stop and make repairs. Speculation was silly though, Goodwinne was no seer and he knew it, he would just have to wait for Umbrius to get to the point. Though the old blunt seemed to love building up to it for his own enjoyment.

Supposing it was better to be forced to be subject to this past time of Umbrius than some of the old man's others Goodwinne settled back in his chair content to wait him out.

[Cynical Cat]

"Now we are worthy of Master Goodwinne's attention," said Umbrius. "I must apolgize for being a deficient host. Is the food not to your liking? Does the wine disagree with your palate?"

[rhoenix]

The slight smile on Magnus' face widened a little at the news from the Captain. "Most intriguing, Captain Karakan. I could hazard a guess as to what they found in that area, given why we're here, but please - do elaborate on what he found."

[Cynical Cat]

Umbrius struck Magnus with a gaze that would cut through steel. "That is not the subject at hand," Umbrius said in a voice dripping warmth and solicitude. "Master Goodwinne is clearly not enjoying my table. What is the matter Master Goodwine?"

[Someshta]

“Your hospitality is exquisite as usual Lord Umbrias. I am however troubled by things which food cannot assuageâ€

[Cynical Cat]

"Of course I will," said Umbrius. He gestured and a white haired man in his second century of life entered the hall. He wore severe black and silver livery.

"My Lord Captain," said the major domo with a bow.

"Lucius, Master Goodwinne here is feeling some discomfort. Escort him from my table and to his quarters so that nothing untoward happens. It may be prudent to see that a medicae treats him."

"As you will, Lord Captain." The major domo turned to the psyker. "Master Goodwinne?"

[rhoenix]

His smile growing a bit more widely, Magnus nodded once in acquiescence to Captain Karakan, as he wished to..."speak" with the other Astropath here. His senses telling him multitudinous things about the situation, Magnus simply observed for now.

He'd attempted in a small way to help a fellow member of the Adeptus Astra Telepathica by changing the subject away from his rather unwisely distracted demeanor, but anything further would be squarely on his own shoulders. The rest of this voyage should prove interesting, Magnus thought to himself.

[Someshta]

"Lead on" Goodwinne says as he rises smoothly from the chair, and moves to follow the major domo from the dining room.

[Cynical Cat]

Umbrias finished his salad before speaking again. "The true servants of a great lord do no show him thinly veiled contempt. Do not bring him to a meeting with anyone you wish to impress or teach him respect. Or fear. An iron bar and a strong bosun can be effective instructors. Now where was I?"

The servitors brought in two enormous silver platters. One held roasted grox in chariba fruit sauce. The other held small, perfect Orissiba pheasant. "Ahh, the main course."

Umbrius plucked two thick sliced of grox off the platter. Thick, red sauce and the large, heavy berries pooled on his plate. As he did so two bowls of steaming vegetables in black bean sauce and two more bowls full of steamed rice arrived. Umbrius added them to his plate.

"Yes, of course, the find. Anyway, your cousin had far too few crew and resources to properly take command of the ship. Not that he would have been able to do much with it, given his financial straits."

He paused to take a bite of grox. "Exquisite." He pointed to Ravion with his fork. "Find yourself a good chef boy. When its feast, eat the best. When its famine, well he can make all but the worst food bearable."

He took a long drought of dark red wine. "Anyway, so here's young Abernath, limping into Footfall with a crippled ship and the remnants of his crew and not enough Thrones to change that. So what does he do? He contacts me. I give him enough money to refit his ship, hire a crew, and get himself back above water. He gives my the location of the find. I'm sure by now you've have a pretty good idea of what that is."

[Hotfoot]

The younger rogue trader leveled a cold glare at the Astropath. He had given the psyker a chance based on his previous merits, but now, it would be hard for him to continue forward in his career. He was intrigued by the mention of the bounty Abernath had found but been unable to secure for himself. He didn't expect his retinue to be as socially graceful as he, but he at least expected them to show respect and know when to act appropriately. Showing disdain for being given respect enough to be given a seat at the captain's table was the height of stupidity. After being given several chances to correct his behavior as well, but alas. Ravion looked at the rest of his retinue with hard eyes. There would be words later with the Astropath. Beyond that, he could not say, but he nodded solemnly as his Uncle chastised him.

He ate his food, the delicious food tempered by the failure of the astropath. Outwardly, he quickly returned to enjoying his food. "I will search long and far for a chef that approaches the skill of yours, though I have to ask Uncle, what sort of ship did my dear cousin find? It sounds...suitably impressive to say the least." A sly look appeared on his face, his interest piqued. Another Dauntless-Class Cruiser, perhaps something more? Could this be the first step into his destiny?

[Cynical Cat]

"What captain in waiting can resist the lure of a ship?" asked Umbrias Karakan. "To answer your question nephew, a frigate, of considerable antiquity if our kinsman is to be believed."

He paused to eat a slice of grox and wash it down with fine wine. "Thus our course change. You will take possession of the ship, with an appropriate salvage and skeleton crew, and take it back to Footfall to complete repairs. From there you will follow your destiny and hopefully restore the luster to our family's faded glory." He turned to one of the servitors. "Bring it forth."

The servitor departed. "Of course an independent command would rate a warrant in its own right and they are not easily obtained." The servitor returned with a gilded admantium case.

"There are a handful of warrants still in our family's possession. This one has been entrusted to me for a hundred and seventeen years, ever since it was recovered from the wreck of the Silent Wake. The Baykalize killed Camilla Karakan and her crew at the Battle of Seven Moons, but half their family joined her ship in death. This was recovered from a void safe."

"Open it," he commanded the servitor. Inside the admantium case was a stasis field generator and a piece of old vellum. Six heavy seals of authority adorned the ancient document along with the signatures of a Lord Segmentum, an Ecclesiarchy Cardinal, and a Mechanicum Arch-Magos. It was the Morrechai Warrant, named for the man it was first issued to, the second greatest warrant of trade the dynasty possessed.

[Cpl Kendall]

Steel enjoyed the food on offer, despite being rather uncomfortable in such august company and opulent surroundings. For a man once press ganged and forced to serve in the lower decks, such luxuries were almost overwhelming.

He made sure to pay attention to the goings on at the table but to curb is tongue, better to be thought a fool then demonstrate it.

[Hotfoot]

A frigate, an ancient one no less. While his sights had been set on grander, this would certainly be enough to start his legacy, though he would have to be exceedingly clever about it.

The real prize, however, was the Warrant. The ships were the tools, but the Warrant was the power, and this Warrant assured compliance from any that know of its history. Ravion gazed upon the warrant and smiled. "Uncle, this is truly a wondrous opportunity and a gift beyond compare. I will repay this with every endeavor to make my mark with this Warrant, to increase our family's standing, and with any luck, achieve my own desires."

The younger Karakan stood and raised a goblet to the air, "My Dearest Uncle, I thank you for this gift and this opportunity to prove myself, and I think I speak for all assembled here that we are grateful. To your health, wealth, and wiles, Uncle, may they never wane but wax. Now, at least, you can rest knowing that your finest liquors are safer without my presence." A wry smile rested on his lips as he toasted, his appetites well known to his uncle.