RQG 29 - The Scrimshaw Redemption

## Summary

Zolf is brought before the Nautical tribunal, where Hamid is able to clear his name, although he still needs to pay his commission. The party head to the Temple of Poseidon to meet the Navigator.

## Synopsis

At the hotel The Rangers (minus Zolf, who is still in jail discussing romance novels with the jailor) eat breakfast with Brutor.

Over the next couple of days, Hamid, Sasha and Bertie plan for the legal case: Bertie looks into Linguistics for assembling the legal narrative which is acceptable; Sasha into Intelligence for building the argument which is passable, and Hamid into the Diplomacy for how to present it, which he does exceptionally well.

Looking into the statements of the other crew members, Jonah said there was a freak storm and their ship hit a rock. Tellulah agrees with the storm, but denies the rock, saying they came under attack from something. The captain did not give a statement and instead retired.
In the interrogation room, Zolf explains he was below deck, didn't see anything, And was able to swim to safety. There is a commotion outside the door, and Hamid checks to see a human Navigator of the Cult of Poseidon, an extremely high rank, who has come to remove Zolf from the jail. Bowing, Zolf explains the situation. Hamid explains that they are confident that they can get Zolf off and the Navigator tells Zolf that he expects him in 5 days at the Temple, regardless of the outcome.

Later that day, Barnes turns up for the hearing. Barnes leads the party through the flooded town to the courtroom. There are three people behind a table: a military woman and a bookish man and woman. Zolf pleads not guilty and Hamid launches into his pre-planned defence and makes an inspirational closing speech. Zolf is cleared, but has to pay his commission: 3,000 gold to be paid in the next 12 months.

Immediately after Zolf's hearing The Rangers head to the Temple of Poseidon. Zolf opens the doors to the Temple with a command, inside they head down a tunnel and through huge mithril doors into darkness.

## Quotes

**Alex**: "And what characters are you playing?"
**James**: "Sir Bertrand MacGuffingham, the finest legal mind of his generation."
**Bryn**: "Hamid Saleh Haroun al-Tahan, single female lawyer."
**Lydia**: "Sasha Racket, dagger enthusiast, in the face of all challenges, legal, linguistic, diplomatic, problem solving, puzzles, solving riddles. Dagger enthusiast."
**Ben**: "Zolf Smith, romance enthusiast."
―Character introductions

"It’s good food. Do you think Zolf’s getting good food in the prison, where we left him?"
―**Sasha**

**Jailer**: "Honestly, did you see it coming? I didn’t, honestly. Jeremimah is the wrong woman, she is the wrong woman."
**Zolf**: "I know. Look, honestly, at the start, with Richard, the way that he’s initially presented to you he comes off so badly, but throughout books 2 and 3 you really get to know him. You see inside his soul. It’s incredible! Thank you for putting me onto these."
―Zolf and the jailor discuss Harrison Cambell novels.

**Lydia**: "Montage! Hamid is gesturing with pleading eyes, cut to the audience, some of them are in tears!"
**Ben**: "I’m in tears. They’re in tears."
**James**: "Bertie is holding up Brutor who is wearing a little wig, Brutor’s in tears."
―Hamid delivers an impassioned defense of Zolf.

"If this man has not served his country, then who can say they have! *Thank you!*"
―**Hamid delivers Zolf's defense, dramatically and tearfully**
## Dice rolls and Mechanics

* Sasha makes an Intelligence check to build the argument: 10
* Bertie makes a Linguistics check to turn it into a legal narrative: 11
* Hamid makes a Diplomacy check to write and present it effectively: nat 20 (30)
* Hamid makes a Diplomacy check to appease the Navigator: 22
* Zolf casts *enhanced diplomacy* on Hamid, giving him an additional +2.
* Hamid rolls a Diplomacy check to make the argument: 31
* Sasha makes an Appraise check on the door: 19