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Harry's Game

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Started 2 years ago by johnosevens
Latest reply from M. J. Young

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johnosevens
Member

I don't need the other inspector for this - I was planning on telling the customs master myself.

I'll elaborate on how it works for my boss and his boss. Basically, I go join their ranks. I tell them a story about who I am. My boss and his boss know the truth. If I'm captured as a pirate, I write home, and they explain what's really going on and get me released. In the mean while, I gain their trust, find out what's really going on, and either hand them over to the authorities complete with all the evidence I've gathered, or find some way to completely ruin them from inside. The important part is that, short of it being time to turn them in, no one must ever suspect I'm actually an Inspector. Of course, since the idea is new here, they won't suspect it, but if anyone found out my life would be forfeit. I'm willing to take the chance to bring down a pirate fleet.

Sat Jul 4 2009 5:02 am #
M. J. Young
Moderator

The point of mentioning the other investigator is that you sent him to question the man still in the tavern. You haven't conferred with him since then.

Your plan is interesting, but they're not sure what you hope to discover. After all, if it were known that these men were pirates, they would be arrested right now for piracy; and if they were caught on the high seas, they would probably be executed at sea. They probably are not going to admit to you that they are pirates, and they probably are not going to accept an applicant for their crew who isn't aware of that. But if you've got a plan to overcome those obstacles and see something that can be gained from joining the crew that can't be discovered otherwise, they'll go with it.

It might be better to send a couple patrol boats to tail the suspects, but then, if he knows he's being followed he's unlikely to attempt to rendezvous with the main ship. The big question really is, how do you get word of your location back to Durnmist if you do discover a pirate fleet?

--M. J. Young

Tue Jul 7 2009 7:49 pm #
johnosevens
Member

That is really the biggest problem. Without access to radios - they might work here, maybe, but I damn sure don't know how to build one - there's no way to relay my position back. The only thing I could do would be to wait until they returned to Durnmist or one of the other nearby big cities and then turn them in that way.

What I would hope to gain would be actual proof that they were pirates. Aside from that, it might be possible, if I were to become part of their crew, to either tamper with their efforts to make them less effective (sabotage), take over one of their ships (mutiny) or otherwise raise hell and thereby make them spend less time actually pirating. If I can get friendly with any malcontents on the crew, I could take a ship pretty easily. If I can capture a pirate ship with six security guys and no plan at all while said ship is actively engaged in (and thus prepared for) battle, I should be able to take a few officers and install a new Captain on a ship that has no idea what it's dealing with.

I'll have to confer with the other Inspector, find out what he learned from the man still in the tavern. Then I will have to explain to my boss about the idea of recording their activities and turning them in upon their return to Durnmist, as well as the idea of completely gimping their operations from within without getting caught.

Tue Jul 7 2009 11:53 pm #
M. J. Young
Moderator
The gist: the man in the tavern is the owner. He has been thinking about retiring, and the three men who came were, he understood, two bodyguards and a negotiator on behalf of a foreign gentleman who wished to start a business here in Durnmist which he could operate upon his arrival in a few months. The suggestion that the men might have been pirates came as a complete surprise to the man, who of course would not have considered selling his business to pirates; but contracts have now been signed and he accepted a reasonable down payment (paper for a thousand diktar through a local bank, they're checking as to whether it is legitimate) plus a promise of the remainder upon the arrival of the new owner (another twenty-four thousand, which the man admits is somewhat generous, but he assumed it was because the foreigners were not so familiar with local values and counted himself fortunate).

The investigators are now brainstorming as to reasons a pirate captain (assuming that is the foreign gentleman involved) would want to purchase a local business. A few ideas have emerged:
- He wants to retire to a safe and honest lifestyle, using his ill-gotten gains to finance this retirement.
- He wants a local establishment to which he can deliver "goods" which are not what they appear, and so smuggling contraband into the city.
- He wants a safe location to store his treasure, again probably delivered under the guise of ordinary goods, such as kegs in which gems and coins are soaking in beer or wine to hide them from customs inspectors.
- He wants a local merchant who can deliver materials to him which he could not so easily buy openly, such as weighted kegs purportedly containing beverages but actually carrying gunpowder.
Your input on this is welcome.

--M. J. Young
Wed Jul 8 2009 10:41 pm #
johnosevens
Member

If he's looking to retire... good riddance, let him sit there like a single barnacle, annoying but harmless.

Anything else is a definite possibility, and all of them bad. But without the man himself being around to spy on, there's no way to tell what his intentions are. Except for the fact that the man who was doing the negotiating, from what I heard, stands to become a pirate captain when all of this is over, which implies that that guy is fairly high-ranking now.
It might do us a measure of good to have a few words with him in an official sort of way.
Should he set foot off his ship again, we ought to take him in. And in that 'he disappeared off the streets' sort of way, as though he had fallen victim to crime himself. If his men think he's been taken in by the authorities, they might change their plans, whereas if he were to simply never come home one night with nobody any the wiser to his fate, well, such things happen to sailors in foreign ports.

Meanwhile, let's get the customs inspector to make certain they take their sweet time being able to leave.

Thu Jul 9 2009 2:39 am #
M. J. Young
Moderator

It seems that your observers have been observed; presently no one is leaving the ship since the one crewman was sent to request permission to set sail. The harbormaster of course said he would give them a departure as soon as he could, but they should sit tight, but they have indeed been readying for departure and keeping all hands aboard since then, including the captain.

Someone suggests you might make something work if an inspector goes aboard as part of the customs team and requests that the captain come to identify a couple men who are said to have been members of his crew who were involved in an incident the other night. That might get him off the ship, if the inspector was particularly persuasive, but it would be known that he left with authorities. He might still vanish, on the assumption that he was waylaid by someone on his return to the ship, particularly if the next day you sent someone to ask to see him again (and that someone was a particularly good actor).

--M. J. Young

Sat Jul 11 2009 12:45 am #
johnosevens
Member

How ironic that you mention acting, a skill I picked up IRL only after Versing out.

Or if we send two separate people and the second one really wasn't in on it. That might be safer than counting on any of us to be a better liar than a ship full of pirates.

Also, that way means we can use a redshirt the second time instead of an Inspector to carry the message. It makes sense that a busy Inspector might send someone he knew would be in the area anyway to deliver the message for him.

Sat Jul 11 2009 1:19 am #
M. J. Young
Moderator

Sounds like a plan. So one of the redshirts from the harbor area is going to be sent with a message that says that two men have been found who might be from his ship, who got into a bit of trouble, and the captain is being asked to answer whether they are indeed his men, and to give any information he might have about them, at his convenience but hopefully today.

Are you good with that?

--M. J. Young

Sun Jul 12 2009 10:42 pm #
johnosevens
Member

Yes.

Wed Jul 15 2009 2:05 am #
M. J. Young
Moderator

In response to the summons, a man shows up claiming to be the first officer of the ship (he stumbles over the name, but gets it right in the end), and says that the captain has sent him to help in any way he can and to see whether there's any possibility that the two men you mentioned were part of his crew. That's at the harbor area office, but you're welcome to be there waiting. It is late in the afternoon.

--M. J. Young

Fri Jul 17 2009 12:36 am #
johnosevens
Member

Is this the same man I saw at the tavern?
Does anyone else recognize him?

Can I get a Read Thoughts on him?

Beyond that, I'd like to put him in the hands of a professional interrogator. This is where I recognize that there are limits to my abilities and training thus far, and let someone else have center-stage for a while.

Otherwise, the plan continues as, well, planned.

Fri Jul 17 2009 3:49 am #
M. J. Young
Moderator

This is not the man who was at the tavern. It is reasonable to suppose that that man was the captain of this probably stolen ship, thinking about the captain of the real pirate ship who sent him for whatever task he intended.

You make the attempt and feel like you're brushing around the edges, but you don't connect.

The interrogator reports his findings. The captain of this ship was looking to buy a local business so that his captain could retire from the sea to something quiet providing a steady income. He claims that they are not missing any crewmen, and when shown sketches of the two dead men he denies knowing them, although he says he did talk to a number of sailors in the local bars, so possibly he encountered them there.

Is it still the plan that this man (who is not the captain of this ship) is to disappear?

--M. J. Young

Sat Jul 18 2009 1:14 am #
johnosevens
Member

Does my boss, and his boss, and the interrogator, think it would do us any good to keep him?

Sat Jul 18 2009 5:02 am #
M. J. Young
Moderator

Since this is your plan, you're called to the conference to make the decision.

Assuming this man is acting first officer on the ship, there will at least be an inquiry concerning his whereabouts. Such an inquiry might be made even if he is an ordinary crewman, even if only for appearances. Whether it would delay their departure is another question entirely, as the captain might be of a mind to write off a ship jumper and leave, particularly if (as we think) his business in town is finished and he wants to make a quick escape. That, though, means he might be sacrificing this man to make his escape.

Of course, if he does, this man might be induced to talk if we then found some way to connect him to the murders at the other inn. Thus far the evidence for this is rather slim, but he might not know that--particularly if he's relying on what his captain said happened there instead of having first-hand knowledge. We might have to let the ship go, put this man in detention, and then get him to spill concerning what he knows of that other event, and send the harbor patrol after the ship.

On the other hand, this man might actually know nothing but that his companions did not return, if the captain kept him in the dark on that. He might have nothing to trade, and simply be the sacrifice being offered to make good the escape.

You attempt again to read the man's mind, but find nothing.

--M. J. Young

Mon Jul 20 2009 12:17 am #
johnosevens
Member

I'll keep on trying to probe his mind. This time I'll do what's been working for me on everything else that fails repeatedly: focus for a full minute before I put it out there.

As for whether it will do us any good to keep him...

If I find out anything useful from probing him: keep him.
If I find out nothing useful from probing him: see below.

If I fail to probe him, I will vote that we keep him. In two out of three of the scenarios above, we eventually find out what they're really up to. In the third - that he is bait buying them time to escape - we still find out about their character, which might be enough to raise some suspicions about that ship the next time she's spotted.

Mon Jul 20 2009 3:12 am #
M. J. Young
Moderator

You finally tap into the man's mind with your new technique.

He is certainly worried about whether he's going to be abandoned here. The chief will wait a reasonable time for him to return, but if he doesn't return soon and they don't get departure clearance, he's likely to bolt anyway. They got what they came for already, and now the important thing is to get the papers back to the captain.

You're still connected to his surface thoughts....

--M. J. Young

Tue Jul 21 2009 2:54 am #
johnosevens
Member

I'd love to try interrogating him myself while I'm connected to his mind. This is going to freak him out in a way I've always wanted to experience, and I don't feel the least bit guilty about doing it to a random pirate who might be connected to a multiple murder in my jurisdiction.

So I'll say we're going to keep him. And get that interrogator back - I don't actually know how to do this so I'm mostly going to play off of him (good thing I do have some experience in improv and know the concept of 'yes, and...' which might come in handy here).

Also, put the harbor master on alert - the pirates are going to be trying to leave soon. Delay them as long as is not suspicious. If they do anything obviously questionable, detain them longer or have them followed. If all else fails completely, they're going to get away, but we do have now a measure of certainty that that is a pirate ship.

Once I've had that message sent, I'm going to go interrogate my prisoner.
"What papers, exactly?" for instance.

Tue Jul 21 2009 4:02 am #
M. J. Young
Moderator

"Papers?" he responds, obviously now very nervous. "What papers would you be meaning?"

He thinks you're on a fishing trip, because you couldn't possibly know about the purchase of the tavern, and if you did you wouldn't be asking that kind of question.

Feel free to give multiple questions and contingencies, to facilitate this interrogation; also, tell the interrogator whatever it is you "suspect" (from mind reading) for him to use.

--M. J. Young

Tue Jul 21 2009 10:57 pm #
johnosevens
Member

This would be the part about me not actually knowing how to interrogate someone. I don't know what questions to ask. It's more a matter of following his thought process and guiding him into giving up important information. I need to know what the captain is really up to, where they are now, where they're going, are they currently pirates, or is he planning to go rogue after their captain retires?

Wed Jul 22 2009 12:42 am #
M. J. Young
Moderator

I need to know what the captain is really up to...,

"Like I told you," Gee, this guy is hard to convince. What is it about these locals, that they can't just accept what looks like an honest deal as an honest deal? "the captain is looking to retire, and sent us to find him a good quiet business he could run for an income in his reclining years." One that would let him bring his share of treasure ashore a bit at a time disguised as imported rum, and spend it as if it were profits from his business.

...where they are now...,

How the blazes should I know that? Obviously this landlubber doesn't know much about seafaring. "We're supposed to meet him somewhere out in the direction of the Greater Syndic. He's on his last trading run, and sent us ahead to find him a place to settle." And if he can increase that treasure a bit while he's waiting, I'm sure he will.

...where they're going...,

Captain will be coming here, probably take over our ship and leave the mother ship in the hands of the first mate. Mother ship's much to recognizable as a pirate vessel to bring her into a port like this. 'Course, word of the stolen ship we're using will reach here eventually, but he'll send that away with one of his other officers before that happens. "Not my place to tell the captain his job; I just do as told."

...are they currently pirates...,

Boy, he is a suspicious one. Wonder what makes him suspect?"Pirates?" he laughs. "If we was pirates, would we simply sail into port and do a bit o' regular business?"

...or is he planning to go rogue after their captain retires?
What kind of question is that? Who is he talking about? "Don't know what you mean, inspector. We're honest law-abiding sailors. If we sometimes transi-gress against the laws of a particular city, it's sure to be an accident because we don't know all the rules everywhere we go, and we'll make repair-rations as needed. I don't know why you think all sailors must be pirates, but I assure you, most are good honest men just trying to make a living, like yourself."

--M. J. Young

Thu Jul 23 2009 2:30 am #
johnosevens
Member

One that would let him bring his share of treasure ashore a bit at a time disguised as imported rum, and spend it as if it were profits from his business.

"Law abiding citizens know there's a tax on imported goods in this town, and the harbor master is very thorough. I'll make sure to let him know you'll have no problem at all with him going over your stock nice and close..."

Captain will be coming here, probably take over our ship and leave the mother ship in the hands of the first mate. Mother ship's much to recognizable as a pirate vessel to bring her into a port like this. 'Course, word of the stolen ship we're using will reach here eventually, but he'll send that away with one of his other officers before that happens.

"Honest sailors? Is that why you're afraid to let us see your flagship? You didn't think I'd honestly believe that stolen rat-trap is all you've got, did you? I did my years at sea, and stole ships right out from under better pirates than you."

What kind of question is that? Who is he talking about?
"I mean you, and this first mate you're planning to report back to."

I'm not really sure HOW to get the interrogator to follow my lead in terms of what I'm getting telepathically, OOC, but I'd like to try IC.

Thu Jul 23 2009 1:01 pm #
M. J. Young
Moderator

"Law abiding citizens know there's a tax on imported goods in this town, and the harbor master is very thorough. I'll make sure to let him know you'll have no problem at all with him going over your stock nice and close..."

I guess the captain's plan isn't working as well as he'd hoped. 'Course, they don't know that it's Jack Sparrow, so they probably won't know whose cargo to check. "No one said anything about ducking custom. That would be criminal."

"Honest sailors? Is that why you're afraid to let us see your flagship? You didn't think I'd honestly believe that stolen rat-trap is all you've got, did you? I did my years at sea, and stole ships right out from under better pirates than you."

What is it with this guy? Nothing seems to satisfy him. "Now, let's not get insulting. We come on our ship, a fine ship out of Haven she is, even if you've seen better in your fair city. We're on an honest bit of business here, and nothing says otherwise, and I don't much care for having you call me no pirate. I recognizize that you are just doin' your job, inspector, and so I suppose I should cut you a little slack, but really, that's uncalled for, and I should expect an apology." I hope that sounds indignant enough but not too much. This job's proving harder than I expected.

"I mean you, and this first mate you're planning to report back to."
Where is this guy getting his information? He coughs and shifts in his seat. "I think you're a bit confused, gov'ner. Or maybe I am. I'm the first mate of this ship."

--M. J. Young

Thu Jul 23 2009 10:26 pm #
johnosevens
Member

"And you're just as honest as can be, like sunlight and roses."

I'll turn to the Interrogator. "This smells like Jack Sparrow's work. Sneaky bugger..." in a sotto voce, stage-whisper sort of way, "We'll have to make sure the dock inspectors check everything in the next few months..."

"I didn't mean that ship," I grumble at the pirate as though it should be obvious.

Fri Jul 24 2009 12:51 am #
M. J. Young
Moderator

"How did you know--I mean, what makes you--why did you mention Jack Sparrow?" This guy knows more than he says. How did he come up with Sparrow's name?

"I think we have enough to detain this man on suspicion of piracy," the senior investigator says. "Probably could detain the entire crew. What I don't see is how we prove it, though--or how we connect it to the murders."

"Murders?" the detainee says. "What murders? I don't know nothing about no murders! You can't pin something like that on me!"

What has Fredrick gotten me into here? He didn't say anything about any murders. What happened to James and Peter anyway? Is that who's dead? Why would Fredrick have killed them? When he said they weren't coming back, I thought he meant they'd decided to stay here in Durnmist, not that he'd killed them. Andrew, old boy, you're in deep now. Keep calm, think of something.

--M. J. Young

Sat Jul 25 2009 12:59 am #
johnosevens
Member

"I did because you did," I say to him, plain as can be.

Then I'll turn to the senior investigator, "We could detain this man, until he gives us enough evidence to go after someone higher up than himself..." I'll trail off, leaving it to the senior investigator to pick up where I left off and say the rest of it - that the alternative is to detain everyone and search their ship from bow to stern to find the evidence we need.

Mon Jul 27 2009 2:34 am #
M. J. Young
Moderator

"Or we can detain them all on this man's confession that they are part of Sparrow's band of pirates, and look for evidence connecting them to the murder from there."

--M. J. Young

Mon Jul 27 2009 11:35 pm #
johnosevens
Member

"Works for me. I'll send word to the harbormaster."

Tue Jul 28 2009 3:59 am #
M. J. Young
Moderator

"Well need backup on this, I think. I can't imagine that they'll come along peaceably. I'll talk to the chief."

In a few minutes you hear the familiar whistle signal calling redshirts to the location, which is the office. A few are dispatched to other offices, mostly near the harbor, to get additional men. While this is being organized, the inspector returns to you.

"So, they tell me you've got experience with ships and pirates. How do you think we should handle this?"

--M. J. Young

Tue Jul 28 2009 11:53 pm #
johnosevens
Member

"Get the harbormaster to dispatch a patrol ship long before we do anything. We can't risk them getting wise and trying to break for open water - we need to be able to cut them off. Once the ship is in place, there's two ways to go about it. Order them off the ship and see if they'll come along, seeing that that they're surrounded, or try to take the ship by force. If we don't have the manpower to raid them and they won't come along peacefully, the alternative is to keep them barricaded in and starve them out. If I were more cavalier I would say 'sink the bastards,' but a good ship is a shame to waste..."

Wed Jul 29 2009 1:58 am #
M. J. Young
Moderator

You have the ship cornered, but no one is disembarking. There is something of an effort on behalf of some crew member to make a claim that they are being unfairly detained in port in violation of the rules of trade, but your chief ignores him.

--M. J. Young

Thu Jul 30 2009 12:43 am #

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