Rio Negro

[Captain Enema]

[b]South America[/b]

Doctor Jorge Silvar isn't really a Doctor of anything. He's a robber of graves who used a fat bribe to the Dean of a University to get himself a Doctorate in Archaeology. He's used his bogus credentials time and time again to gain access to Universities around the world. Once inside these marble halls of learning he picks the minds of the regional specialists for potentially lucrative finds. His recent discovery is at best a rumor.

The Ancient Incan civilization came apart at the seams with the conquest of their nation by the Spanish Conquistadors. The Incans leadership slaughtered by Pizzaro's men and left the Incan people and armies to fend for themselves. In most cases the Incas surrenders to Spanish rule. This is more or less an accepted believe by Historians, Archaeologists, and other enthusiasts. However, Silvar recently had a short conversation with a wizened half crazy professor in a small South American university.

What he learned left him drooling at the prospect of untold riches. Gold, gems, and other precious metals rumored to be worth billions stashed away deep in the heart of the jungle somewhere along the Rio Negro River. No one has been able to ascertain the exact location or the nature of the rumor, no one until the half demented professor who wandered lost in the jungles for weeks on end after becoming separated from his team during the high point of the Holy American Empire civil war.

As far as Silvar can decipher the crazy old bugger had gotten lost, stumbled onto a ruined complex, and managed to work his way into the center of it somehow. During all this fumbling and bumbling around the old coot located a huge trove of valuable metal and gems. Silvar at first was inclined to not believe the story at all, but found himself convinced when the crazy professor showed him a series of drawings, pictures, and journal notes that clearly cataloged the site and its approximate location. What stupefied Silvar beyond belief was the fact that this had not gotten out before and Silvar was hardly shy about asking.

"How has this remained a secret?" Silvar asked.

"God swore me to secrecy," the crazy professor replied.

"God god or something else god?" Silvar asked back.

"God god," the professor responded.

"God god as in the Jesus Christ God or God god as in the Sun God or something?"
Silvar requested.

"God god as in Jesus Christ God," the professor explained.

"Oh, well why didn't you say so, that makes all the more sense," Silvar s!@#$%*ed.

"God tested my faith, he showed me this, but swore me to silence," the professor answered ominously.

"Why?"

"Those who go to this place will die."

"Like the guy who nicked himself with his razor on the Howard Carter dig in Egypt and died of an infection?"

"No, more like a plague of locusts or something. This is God we are talking about man, if you piss him off enough its always the locusts or boils or rain of fire."

"Oh ok."

"I can prove it."

"How?"

"Watch this," the crazy professor replied as he turned on a video player on his laptop and showed Silvar a series of short videos he took during his exploration of the ruined city.

"Shoulda shown me this first, you have any notes and maps?"

"Everything is right here," The crazy professor replied as he motioned to his laptop and box of journals and maps.

"Good, say hello to god for me," Silvar replied as he stabbed the professor to death.




[b]Manaus[/b]



Silvar spent the next six months moving pieces on the board. He wasn't about to join this expedition. He has other irons in the fire. None the less he wasn't about to not invest in a group to go upriver to find the ruined city and make him filthy rich either. His first task he completed was finding a river boat.

This took him all of an hour of wandering the riverfront of Manaus.


[img]http://www.fredhoogervorst.com/oni.app/local/upload/11935.jpg[/img]

He plunked a wad of cash down and ordered the owner to get the hell off it. Once it was empty he paid several men to clean it, fix the engines, paint it, install a new CB radio, 5 watt portable generator, 15 extra 5 gallon water cans, and to make sure it was worthy of the river. While this was going on he paid a few more to purchase food, fuel, and other supplies in bulk and had them load the riverboat once it was ready.

The next problem was the crew. He solved this by hiring 4 of the stronger looking men who did the shopping and the repairs. Their leader, Ortario, was told, "Make sure no one gets drunk and sets fire to the boat." Once this was solved he sent Ortario down to a local black market with a large wad of cash and orders to buy a crate of shotguns and ammunition for the boat.

Ortario managed to pick up six working 12 Gauge Pump Action Shotguns and four boxes of 3 inch magnum rounds each. As he purchased the weapons in bulk he was offered four .45 ACP Smith and Wesson revolvers as well with ammunition, which he purchased. Ortario had a steel box for the ammo installed in the rear of the boat and a weapons locker for the shotgun made of sheet metal in the front of the boat. Both are locked with a heavy padlock and the keys are kept in the pilot house on a hook clearly labeled, arms lockers. While he was doing this Silvar was out sorting out other arrangements.

The most important of these arrangements was a helicopter. Silvar managed to find a cranky old beast of a helicopter that looked to be about 50 years of age. He was somewhat shocked the old clunker could even stay in the air. Despite its age the piston engined helicopter clattered its way through the sky in regal fashion and managed to slightly impress Silvar for its healthy appetite for cargo. Silvar pulled out another wad of cash, greased the pilot's palm, and said, "You sir are hired. Here is some money, here is a phone, be ready to fly when called."

[img]http://www.rotaryaction.com/images/riptide7.jpg[/img]

With this done Silvar created a selection of maps and instructions for the people he hired to conduct the expedition. Each resupply point they reached they would get new instructions and locations to search as the proceeded up river. This allows Silvar, who is incredibly paranoid, to keep some control over the expedition without actually being on it. The first set of maps and instructions will be hand delivered to the expedition prior to departure by either Silvar or one of his assistants.


Silvar has also included a folder with five pictures of the trove from the professor's files. Just enough to keep the appetite of the expeditions members good and hungry, but not enough to give the experts amongst the party any real clues they can use to find the location without the help of Silvar. The logic being that Silvar wants to keep pace with the expedition and swoop in at the last minute to make sure he gets his share of the find without doing any of the work.

Thus Ortario finds himself hot and sweaty as he waits for the expedition members to arrive. The humidity sticks to him like a wet blanket and he occasionally swats at a mosquito. The other men who crews the river boat amble about with a lazy look in their eyes as they are content to do little for the money they are making. Not that Ortario cares, he knows his job as boss is more or less over the minute the expedition is assembled, which is fine with him, he still expects to be paid the same no matter what.


OOC: Get on the ship.. let's roll, skip all the travel rp.

Edited December 19, 2011 by Tidy Bowl Man

[Sarah Tintagyl]

For most travelers to the Manaus region of the Amazon they could enjoy a scenic river boat ride from the Delta on the northeastern region of the continent. [url="http://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/_img/chars/char_26001.jpg"]Sonia Belendes[/url] on the other hand refused to fly around almost the entire world from her office in the United Federation of the East and instead tempered herself on a pleasant flight to the Republic of Peru and then one of the most fearful, rickety travels by sea-plane over the Andes Mountains towards the trading city of Manaus. When the Peruvian plane finally touched down where the Amazon and Negro rivers branched off, she was just happy to be near the ground again. Falling off the plane, she jumped onto the wooden dock and had the urge to kiss the ground.

"Eh, Senorita, you liked the plane?" Yelled the Peruvian over the whirls of the blades.

Sonia glared back as she pulled her luggage from the small compartment door. "You're lucky we didn't die somewhere in the mountains. That was terrifying."

"Ah, you're over-analyzing." He chuckled, "That river you're about to travel on is much more dangerous than the sky."

"That's doubtful, but I'll take the warning as best I can." She reached into her shirt pocket and took out the pilot's payment and as he took it, he grinned. "Well if you need to get back to Peru, I'll be here, a river ride shouldn't take that long and you've given me enough to warrant a return journey. Plus I like looking at your face."

The professor sighed and turned her back to the plane as she started to head off towards the riverboat. As she pulled her travel bag along the dock towards the boat, she started to have a few other regrets as she looked at the crew. This was the River Expedition that she had signed up for and if it was being organized by a fellow learned man there couldn't be much to worry about, but even then, Sonia knew various professors who were not exactly the most stand up people. After she handed her credentials to one of the crew members and was happily received on the ship, perhaps even a bit too happily, she found a seat near the end of the riverboat and pulled out a few of her own pocket sized maps and a book about the Northern Inca tribes and other Amazonian peoples. At that point it was hard to read however, as she hoped deep down in her heart that she woudln't be the only other person on the expedition.

Just in case, however, Sonia had not come unarmed, in her boot was a small knife and tucked into the back of her jeans was a pistol. For all of her expeditions, it was always wise to have some self-defense in a foreign country, the weapons were registered and she had the papers to prove it. While she couldn't be termed an expert shooter or a professional knife-fighter, for a woman of the ivory halls of Ehestadt, Sonia could definitely hold her own.

[TheShammySocialist]

[url=http://i1192.photobucket.com/albums/aa325/VictorDeltaRomeo/hugh_jackman_by_ambr0-d3gb5gl.jpg]Victor Lafayette[/url] sidled along the line of wharfs lining the waterfront of Manaus, the Central South American city was ablaze with the heat and everyone seemed to have a shiny sheen of sweat covering them as they went about their daily business. Being from the backwaters of the Louisiana Gulf Coast, Lafayette was used to heat and humidity, but even Manaus seemed to have its own oppressing features that found no equal in Louisiana. Despite the hot and humid climate, the Cajun mariner had elected to wear light khaki military surplus pants, along with a t-shirt, and a floppy full brim hat, which shielded his face and neck from the sun beating down. He had been able to get used to the climate in the days preceding his rendezvous with this expedition, having arrived a few days early to get himself used to the environment.

He was carrying a simple rucksack on his back, as well as a slung satchel around his neck, an old medic's bag he had found at some old army surplus shop back in Baton Rouge, the faded Red Cross could still be seen amongst the worn, bleached-looking exterior of the bag. He carried with him a small set of tools, as well as extra clothes, including a pair of boots, that were slung over his other shoulder, his diving knife, which he had been able to talk the security attendant at the airport into letting him keep. His rucksack also carried a number of freeze-dried food packets, just in case, as well as a light blanket, toiletries, a high-power headlamp and flashlight with batteries, and a shelter sack. In his satchel, he carried navigation equipment, including a solar-recharged global positioning system, compass as well as an extensive collection of lightweight, waterproof topographical maps in a sealed bag. In a side pouch on his rucksack, he also carried a speargun, which he had been able to pick up at the local market at a very low price, the vendor providing him with extra spears as part of the deal.

He looked at the crumpled piece of paper, on which he had written the quay number where to meet the vessel which would bear them upriver, and as he checked it again, he realized he was looking at the vessel. He raised an eyebrow at the craft, which appeared to have seen better days, either it was the new coat of paint, or just his imagination, or maybe just the truth, but the craft looked sturdy enough. He hefted his bag higher onto his back, and made his way down to the boat, there appeared to be crew ambling about the vessel, as well as what looked like one of the expedition members, a woman with dark blonde hair, who appeared to be checking a few things she had pulled out of her bag. He would hand his notice of incorporation into the expedition to one of the crew members, who let him on board, adding that he might be needed later, as he was a marine mechanic. [i]That's ominous[/i], thought Victor, with an uncomfortable look at the crew member, before walking forward towards the pilothouse and a seating area.

Victor would shrug, and then amble his way onto the boat, passing by the female expedition member without a word, before setting his bags down a couple seats forward of her. He turned to notice her looking at maps, and smiled to himself, before sitting down and saying, "Glad to know I'm not the only one who brought the maps." He would lean back, and offer his hand, "Victor Lafayette, mechanic and navigator."

Edited December 20, 2011 by TheShammySocialist

[Sarah Tintagyl]

When Victor came on board, Sonia adjusted her book and map to get a better look at the stranger. Though surprisingly, he didn't feel like much of a stranger compared to the rest of the crew. The others may have been tall and dark, but at least he was tall, dark, and handsome. As he turned back around, Sonia put her book back up to her eyes until he sat down next to her and she tried to hide the grin forming on her face, not only had she been saved from being alone, but saved by someone who she wouldn't mind looking at for the rest of the trip. Furthermore, he didn't seem like a lout, but that remained to be seen, so Sonia stayed on a light guard and put her book down as he offered his hand.

"Professor Sonia Belnedes," She smiled and shook his hand. "It's a pleasure and yeah, I'm glad I'm not the only one on this little expedition, well aside from the crew, but I'm not sure if they speak all that much. I'm guessing you replied to the ad the company sent out or are you hired specifically for navigation? The ad said something about relics up the river, so," she smiled and pulled out a small camera and notebook. "It should be quite the adventure."

[TheShammySocialist]

"A pleasure to make your acquaintance, Professor Belnedes," nodded Victor, as he shook the woman's hand with a firm grip, his hands were weathered, and callused. "I assume we won't be the [i]only[/i] ones besides the crew, the promise of treasure tends to perk up many ears and eyes," he said, with a grin, before she asked about his own specialty he was bringing to the expedition. "Well, I guess you could say I am a jack of all trades, when it comes to boats and sailing, which is why I was hired more than anything else," he said, adding a simple shrug of his shoulders. He added, "I'm used to giving fishing tours in the bayous of the Gulf, so this will definitely be an adventure for me."

"I assume you are one of our archeologists?" he asked, as he flicked his eyes down at the notebook and small camera, then back up at hers, with a warm smile. "Maybe you could even teach me a thing or two while we are sailing upriver, I've always been interested in salvaging historical artifacts, but I just never got the background for it."

[Aggressivenutmeg]

[url="http://www.jesusjournal.com/images/stories/hr_the_mummy_brendan_fraser_as_rick.jpg"]Lokir Falkberg[/url] strolled down to the waterfront of Manaus. He was sweating profusely in the heat and humidity of the jungle, being from Northern Europe he was unaccustomed to the weather. He had however dressed for the occasion. He wore tiger stripe cargo pants and a khaki shirt, a pith helmet and a lot of sunblock. He carried a backpack with a change of cloths, more sunblock and insect repellent, ammunition, a satelite phone, a compass, a map, about 30 feet of rope, some food, medical supplies (bandages, disinfectant, etc.) and plenty of room for his loot. He hand an old Lee-Enfield No.1 Mk.III slung over his shulder, at his waist he had an M1917 revolver in .45 ACP. He also carried with him a Sykes-Fairbairn commando knife and a machete.

When Lokir finaly found the boat, he noticed two of the expadition were already their. "Hello, is this the Rio Negro Resources expedition? I'm Lokir Falkberg, one of the treasure hun- err, archaeologists."

[Centurius]

[url="http://brians-mnm-wiki.wikispaces.com/file/view/rdanderson_oneill.jpg"]Silvio Giorno[/url] was a military man at heart, recently retired from the High Guard Razors in the Hellenic Forces he still wasn't finished just yet, when the advertisement had come on the expedition not much of a thought was needed before he applied. Now he found himself ready to depart on the voyage, at all times he carried most of the standard Razor issue, at least as long as it was available for civilians. In the end this would mean he carried a Beretta Px4 Storm with sufficient ammo, a Razor fighting knife, a basic medical kit, satellite phone, some rations and water and finally flashlights with some reserve batteries in his backpack. You never knew what you would encounter on these expeditions and coming armed sure was some security.

He would step on the boat as soon as he found it, once aboard he noticed some of the other expedition members but decided they had enough time for introductions later on.

[Evangeline Anovilis]

[url="http://imagecdn.bodybuilding.com/img/user_images/growable/2008/09/08/16625012/profilepic/2379832orig.jpg"]Charles-Albert Amaury[/url] had only one goal in life. To be like his jesuit predecessors, a missionary, converting the natives to the right faith by leading through example and by helping the natives with his knowledge. Sadly, since the advent of satelites the amount of nw land had decreased drastically, so that he now faced a situation where there were almost no white spots on the map anymore. And the white spots still existing would be too cold to host live.

When he had packed his suitcase, Charles-Albert remembered one thing. He had to convert the indigenous to believe in god, so he had to be a good example and too, believe in god. And so, he was sure that God would fix the situaton, as he embarked on the journey only with his monks clothing, a bible, a rosary and a cross (OOC: to spank the unbelievers...). Everything else was secondary, if not unimportant. And so, he boarded the boat, greeting the other guests slightly with a wink of his bible, though he greeted god, the omnipresent with a Pater Noster.

Edited December 19, 2011 by Evangeline Anovilis

[Shadowsage]

[url="http://fc05.deviantart.net/fs70/f/2010/290/5/0/imperial_guard_by_robban_o-d30xea6.jpg"]Exar Azazoth[/url] was a man with a history. He was born in the Valentin Republic in the imperial year 24 BF (Before Foundation). The world of South America at that point was a largely untamed wasteland rife with bandits and ethnic strife rivaled only by tribal conflicts seen in twenty-first century Africa. In the forgotten backyard of the world the continent had become, Azazoth grew up knowing hardship and violence as the norm. When first the Republic of Daorim and the Imperium of Man began expanding southward in a vision of unifying the myriad of peoples under the Imperial genus, he was one of the first to sign up for the rapidly expanding military. The lifestyle he had led prior to the coming of the Empire served him well. He rose through the ranks quickly and became a commando; the Emperor's Champion.

When the Empire finally began its' descent into madness and horrific nuclear annihilation, Azazoth finished his final assignments and vanished without a trace. Only later did he show up when the frantic clashes between Nergal and Legion's forces smashed against the unfinished Quarantine Zone. With his help it barely held, and in the time since he had been trying to find the two leaders once again in order to finally bring an end to the Imperial Regime. Azazoth's life had come full circle; once more he relied only on the weapon in his hands and the terrible things he could do with it.

To that end, the brutally utilitarian rifle he held in his hands was a battered MK-14 which dated back to the age of expansion he was born in, where Imperial soldiers cared less about efficiency and more for reliability. The angular block of metal could lie submerged for days and fire without a hitch. The only comfort conceded to the user was a grip in the front of the weapon used to control the jarring recoil of its' 7.62 mm rounds. In his rucksack Azazoth had stashed a 4x scope for the weapon, a combat knife that doubled as a bayonet, as well as sufficient rations and water to see him through the week. His kit was improvised and thus many luxury items would have to be purchased at a later date.

He stepped aboard the boat and immediately noticed several people clustered around maps of the area. "Is this the Rio Negro expedition headquarters?" The normally clipped high-latin that Imperials had adopted as their dialect was somewhat growled by Azazoth: a parting gift of his throat being slashed years previously.

[Markus Wilding]

[url="http://www.2flashgames.com/photo/file/matthew_gray_gubler/Matthew_Gray_Gubler_0009.jpg"]Christoforo di Firenze[/url] walked calmly to the boat, checking the ammunition in his .38 revolver. His machete was sealed in a sheath on his back, covering part of a plain khaki shirt. He had enough ammunition for about 10 reloads packed in a case on his belt, and various other supplies in a hip pack. Adjusting a wide-brimmed hat onto his head, he asked in Italian-accented English, "So, this is the expedition eh?"

Edited December 20, 2011 by Markus Wilding

[iKrolm]

[url="http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/bb26/iKrolm/orig-10336.jpg"]Galvin "Guy" Valentin[/url] arrived wearing a brown bush hat, tan khakis and jungle boots. Hidden under his shirt, he also wore a small cross on a stainless steel chain around his neck and an analog wrist watch around his left wrist. At 170cm and 80 kilos he was a bit above average for a Filipino man but on the shorter side amongst the largely caucasian group assembled on the boat. Not that this bothered him, and he carried himself well despite adding some of that weight quite recently.

With him, Guy carried a large duffel bag and a pair of long, black, locked cases. He was a large game hunter, and these were the tools of his trade: a .458 magnum rifle and a .30-06 rifle, both bolt-action, carefully oiled, and perfectly maintained. The cases also contained cleaning kits, ammunition, accessories, plus ridiculously expensive scopes for both (who ever heard of a .30-06 hunting scope with knight vision?!)--certainly more expensive then he could afford if not for an advertising deal between the expedition company he worked for and Selenarctos-based Precision Tactical.

In the duffel bag were the standard supplies: clean clothes and personal items, a cleaning knife, a machete plus sharpener, sunglasses, rope, a camera, a compass and a GPS unit, a .40 caliber handgun ("Hunting rifles are for sport, handguns are for the animals that hunt you!") plus ammunition, a sleeping bag, a compact tent, insect repellent, matches, a water filter, and a small supply of cigars (he usually kept one in his breast pocket too, for special occasions). He also had several game bags of various sizes plus Guyana-issued hunting tags and permits for his rifles and a first aid kit. A daypack inside the duffel bag contained a water canteen and a flask of vodka (for 'medicinal purposes'), a small first aid kit, a pair of binoculars, a flashlight plus spare batteries, three MREs (hopefully food would be provided, but one never knew), and 500NSC in local [Guyanan/Lunar] currency. Finally, he'd packed a set of Selenarctos Army surplus jungle rain gear and a pair of surplus night vision goggles he'd bought just because they looked neat.

On board, he introduced himself--"Galvin Valentin, Large Game Hunter--but everyone calls me Guy," stowed his gear and began to meet his fellow shipmates.

Edited December 20, 2011 by iKrolm

[TheShammySocialist]

As he was interacting with Sonia, Victor noticed another individual approach, and raised an eyebrow at the weaponry that the individual appeared to be carrying, compared to what many would consider to be his own "meager" arsenal.

"This would be it," nodded Victor, looking up at the newly-arrived archeologist. He added with a chuckle, "I didn't know we were going on a hunting expedition, Mr. Falkberg. Victor Lafayette, navigator, mechanic, and whatever else associated with boats." He offered the newly-arrived archeologist a handshake, before addressing Lokir and Sonia, " Now if you two will excuse me, I'm going to make a check of the boat before we get underway, I should probably be making myself useful."

Victor strolled forward to where the person overseeing the boat at the moment was leaned up against the pilothouse, lethargically watching the crew amble about in a sluggish pace. Addressing the fellow, he said, "Pleased to meet you, Victor Lafayette, expedition mechanic and navigation that RNR hired, I was hoping to get a look over of the boat before we got moving."

"Ortario," replied the taller individual, regarding Victor for at least half a minute, appearing to be deciding on whether or not it would be prudent to let him look over the vessel. Ortario would simply shrug, and say, "Should make it quick, we're going to leave fairly soon, if we want to remain on schedule."

Victor would nod, and ask a nearby crewman to show him around the vessel, going down to the engine, which appeared to be fairly new, something of which at least gave Victor a little better feeling in his stomach for the vessel and who had procured it for them. After touring the engine below decks, the duo would move the upper deck, the crewman taking his time as he strolled ahead of Victor, who was used to being on a tight schedule, especially in the tourist business. The lack of initiative by the crew was a little harrying, but if there were more individuals coming on the expedition, and everyone put in their hands to pull at least some of the weight, they'd make it through, even with a crew that didn't seem to care very much.

As he looked over the pilothouse, Victor would notice some large lock boxes, and turned to the crewman, and asked, "What are in these?"

"Protection," shrugged the crewman.

"More guns than people on this boat probably," sighed Victor, under his breath, as he looked at the control panel of the pilothouse. Turning to look at the crewman, "Any depth gauges? Or sonar?" asked Victor, as he noticed more people coming on board.

"None, senor."

"Alright, medical supplies?" asked Victor, grimacing, as he pulled out a notebook and began making some notes.

The crewman reached into a cabinet above the wheel, and pulled out a gritty looking medical kit that looked like it belonged in the first world war, and tossed it to Victor. Victor opened it up, only to find moldy band-aids, causing him to raise an eyebrow and look at the crewman, who gave him a shrug. Victor threw the medical kit back to the crewman in a unsatisfied fashion, the crewman emitting a grunt, and giving him a questioning look. "Radio?"

"Right here, senor," nodded the crewman, putting the useless medical kit aside and pointing to a CB radio that was haphazardly strapped to the ceiling above the wheel. Victor made another note in his notebook, and nodded at the crewman, before making his way out to Ortario.

"Engine looks good."

"Good boat," nodded Ortario, with a shrug, giving him a look as Victor produced a line of notes.

"If you can get this stuff before we get underway, it'd be most helpful," said Victor, handing him a list. The list was short, but fairly comprehensive, including a depth/sonar system, a high frequency radio with a large antenna, a complete medical kit, as well as a backpacking filter. Victor handed Ortario a wad of cash, and said, "For the water filter, please get spare filters with that, if you can."

After getting another questioning look from Ortario, who sighed, but ambled off the boat and out onto the quay, Victor walked back to where the other members of the expedition were gathering, and plopped down in his seat, with a sigh. The expedition seemed to be haphazardly thrown together, and it was already beginning to worry him, and the lines on the boat had yet to even be slipped from the moorings. He collected his thoughts, before turning to survey the rest of the expedition's members that were put together, looking over the assortment of individuals that had collected themselves for their little boat trip upriver.

Edited December 20, 2011 by TheShammySocialist

[Sarah Tintagyl]

[quote name='Aggressivenutmeg' timestamp='1324334754' post='2882130']
When Lokir finaly found the boat, he noticed two of the expadition were already their. "Hello, is this the Rio Negro Resources expedition? I'm Lokir Falkberg, one of the treasure hun- err, archaeologists."
[/quote]

After conversing with Victor for a few more minutes, he excused himself from Sonia's presence to have a look around the boat. In the meantime, more members of the expedition began to show up; a few mercenaries it seemed like, who she wanted to avoid, a priest, but who caught her eye immediately was the other 'Archeologist'. Someone else on this trip for the same reason, she thought to herself, as she closed her book and maps inside and strolled over towards Lokir after he introduced himself to a few of the crew members.

"Professor Falkberg, was it?" She said offering her hand. "Sonia Belnedes, Anthropologist from the University of Ehestadt. I'm making an assumption you're here about the relics we're supposed to be recovering. I was wondering if we could compare notes about the region. I'd be interested in working with you once we reach the archeological site, if you'd be okay with that?"

[Owned-You]

[url="http://fashionstorez.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/cristiano_ronaldo_haircut_thumb.jpg"]Francisco Bourbon[/url] was a 23 year old man belonging to the ruling Bourbon family of New Spain. As the King's oldest son he had been groomed to rule the Kingdom and as a result Francisco had an air of arrogance to him. Being destined to rule over one of the largest Kingdom's in the world had made an endearing mark on his psyche by providing him with the constant fact that nothing was out of reach. If he truly desired to accomplish something he would gain it either through his own merits, or his namesake. Francisco had been blessed with exceptional physical talents and was known as the "Bourbon boy genius" growing up... a title he wore with disdain. At the age of 9 he had successfully tracked and killed his first wild-boar much to the terror of his mother and father given they had not consented on his spur of the moment hunt when visiting Navarre. At 11 he successfully scaled Mount Vesuvius on a trip to his uncle's estate in Italy which was again met with disdain by his royal parents. By 14 Francisco had gone on so many adventures out into the wilds of Spain, Italy, & Mexico he was more at home in the wild then in the plush palaces his family afforded him. Hence when Francisco heard of an expedition upon the Rio Negro a river system that held the potential for untold riches and more importantly glory he found himself aboard alongside a cadre of other men seeking these same items.

Francisco stood tall at 6'6 an imposing man in any location and that remained true on this trip. His long thin body stood covered in his jungle hunting vest, green camo pants, jungle boots, a wide-brimmed hat and his customary survival watch. For him this would be just another trip to add to his growing list of expeditions. Knowing that the region had a very long history he had contained within his nap sack a number of items he deemed important for the journey ahead. An empty journal, maps of the region, a compass, climbing rope, and 3 jugs of fresh water and some food rations. Knowing that all he needed to survive in the wild would be provided by nature he felt that these bare goods would be enough to see him through the expedition; all else could be made from scratch or hunted. Knowing that there are untold dangers and perils to be found in the jungles of any location he also brought a machete given to him as a gift from his Uncle Emilo for his 16th birthday; accordingly he also carried a model 83 .500 Wyoming Express and surplus .45 ammo which was more or less for emergencies should his prey come to close given he preferred to trap his game and kill it up close.
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Stepping aboard the craft he would instantly notice the crowd of men huddled upon the boat... he took his time surveying the men and women on board who would be journeying alongside him on this expedition. He would not announce his presence, preferring instead to preserve his anonymity for as long as possible. He would simply observe and listen keenly keeping his profile low as possible for a man his height.

[Aggressivenutmeg]

[quote name='Sarah Tintagyl' timestamp='1324344161' post='2882232']
"Professor Falkberg, was it?" She said offering her hand. "Sonia Belnedes, Anthropologist from the University of Ehestadt. I'm making an assumption you're here about the relics we're supposed to be recovering. I was wondering if we could compare notes about the region. I'd be interested in working with you once we reach the archeological site, if you'd be okay with that?"
[/quote]

"Professor Belnedes" Lokir said taking her hand. "Please call me Lokir. I am indeed here concerning the relics. I have had little chance to gain any first hand research of South American cultures, this will an invaluable experiance for me, my particular expertise are in myth, religion and lost treasures." Lokir dumped his gear on the deck. "Of course your welcome to work with me at the dig site, your knowledge of the local peoples would be an excellent help."

Edited December 20, 2011 by Aggressivenutmeg

[Captain Enema]

[quote]The list was short, but fairly comprehensive, including a depth/sonar system, a high frequency radio with a large antenna, a complete medical kit, as well as a backpacking filter. Victor handed Ortario a wad of cash, and said, "For the water filter, please get spare filters with that, if you can."
[/quote]

Ortario pockets the cash and takes out another wad of cash that was given to him earlier by Silvar for contingency purchases. Obviously this trip is going to go quite the distance is fattening his pockets. With a smile on his face he waves his way to the local market and begins to haggle over the prices of the various purchases and within two hours he has managed to find them all. He hires a taxi and has himself and the purchases delivered back to the dock and has the other crewman pile the equipment in the corner of the pilothouse.

Once finished he takes the invoices and puts them into the pilot house's strongbox for safe keeping. With this sorted out he wanders off to take a nap as he's not a crazy foreigner who enjoys getting his brain's deepfried in the heat of the day. "Siesta time," Ortario mumbles happily as he crawls into his hammock for a nap.

[King Timmy]

Matches Malone arrived on the boat with the sun blazing down on his head. This was much too hot for his liking but it's nothing he hadn't endured before. He didn't much like the scent as he stepped into the river faring craft but there wasn't a lot he could do about that either. He carried on only what he needed. A medical kit, a water filtration kit, a change of clothes, black as opposed to the jungle camouflage he was currently wearing, a gas powered grappling gun with 30 feet of high tensile wire, a Smith & Wesson Model 29 .44 Magnum, a box of rounds and two cases of electrical scanning equipment used for finding antiquities and other things. As well as all this he had a machete slung across his back, a dagger on his left boot, a survival knife attached to the front of his belt and six throwing knives in holsters on the left side of his body. Knives were most certainly his favourite "tool of the trade" so to speak, he had trained with them for most of his life. He was a pretty goo shot with a pistol but he preferred knives, they were quiet and in his hands just as deadly. He had trained in several martial arts, focusing mainly on aikido in which he held the highest rank. At 5'11'' and 180 pounds the 30 year old 'explorer' could handle almost anything thrown at him.

He gave several muted greetings to the other already on the boat as he got on and took a seat at the rear.

[TheShammySocialist]

As Ortario went to the market, Victor would exchange pleasantries with a few of the individuals coming on board, whilst studying navigational charts of the river, looking for potential spots of trouble. The potential dangers of even just getting to this site were many; snags caused by trees falling into the river and lying just beneath the surface, shifting sand bars. The interior of South America was potentially full of hazards as well, not just natural, the collapse of the Holy American Empire and the lawlessness that could still exist in hinterlands outside towns could be potentially dangerous. He made a check of his gear in his rucksack, making sure his global positioning system was charged and ready to be used.

Once the crew leader came back, however, Victor thanked Ortario for getting the equipment, and went to work at his job, pulling off his shirt and shoes and donning a pair of swimming trunks in the rear cabin of the boat, enlisting the assistance of a crewman to help him install the fathometer, before diving into the water. Victor would surface near the boat, and tread water as the crewman slid a rope net down into the water, so he could stabilize himself as he worked. Selecting a spot above the waterline and along one of the boat's beams, he grabbed a hand drill he had entrusted to the crewman earlier to hand down to him, and drilled a hole, and screwed in the mounting fixtures for the fathometer, which he then attached to the mounting fixtures, making sure that small instrument extended underwater. While the fathometer that Ortario had provided for them wasn't a top-of-the-line model built into the boat, to install a top-of-the-line model meant properly drydocking the boat for the installation, especially on this type of boat, the one he provided would still do its job.

After nailing heavy-duty staples to hold the wiring for the unit to the hull of the ship, Victor would pull himself back up on deck, and help stow the net the crewman had gotten out for him, he went to the pilothouse and installed the fathometer reader next to the helm. Provided the unit needed power, Victor unhooked the wires for the CB radio, and severed them, before going below decks to disconnect the wiring for the CB radio from a spliced connection. He would then run a new two-wire connection from the splice beneath the pilot house to provide power for both the fathometer, as well as the new radio that Ortario had procured. Once finished with the connection in the cramped decks below, Victor would go to the pilothouse again, and install the wiring to the new fathometer, and installing the new radio unit. Climbing on top of the boat, he would replace the old antenna with a longer one to provide more radio coverage, before jumping back down to check the power to the connections.

After finding a loose wire on the fathometer and fixing it, Victor would turn both newly installed systems on, and much to his delight, they both seemed to work. It wasn't even mid-afternoon, and despite the cool dip in the waters only about thirty minutes before, it felt like his skin was going to melt off. The pilothouse was oppressively hot, having little ventilation, and the open windows did nothing to dispel the heat that had emanated into it. As he sat down against the pilothouse, his feet propped up on the gunwale, delighted that his work, at least for the minute, was finished. He took a swig from the canteen, before pouring some water over his head, and laying his head against the pilothouse and closing his eyes.

Although he could revel in the fact that his work at the moment was finished, but the work had made the feeling of exhaustion that was caused by the climate any better, of course, it only felt worse. [i]And some people call Louisiana hot[/i], thought Victor.

[Captain Enema]

ooc: Boat will be leaving soon. Will have Silvar drop off the maps and wish everyone good luck soon. Have to go teach a class, but when I get back I SHALL return.

IC:

Jorge Silvar exits the suite he is staying in at a local hotel. The palatial comforts of it please him massively. The small room off to the side of it is filled with VHF equipment and a few computers that pass itself off as a reasonably effective looking command center. Tucked under one arm is a tube of laminated maps, a DVD, and a few other items are tucked away in his pocket.

He also has an assistant carrying along a few last minute items that include:

Jungle hammocks
Mosquito nets
Machetes
canteens
rucksacks
DEET
MREs
two small handheld radios
bag of gold coins to be used as trade goods
Water filters for camping uses

[Evangeline Anovilis]

[quote name='Tidy Bowl Man' timestamp='1324424210' post='2882853']
ooc: Boat will be leaving soon. Will have Silvar drop off the maps and wish everyone good luck soon. Have to go teach a class, but when I get back I SHALL return.
[/quote]
OOC: I'd be suprised if you wouldn't return upon returning...

[Captain Enema]

OOC: I have returned upon returning.

IC:

"Everyone, LOVELY to see you here. I am your humble servant Jorge Silvar of the Rio Negro Company. I will be taking care of all your needs via our command center here in Manaus. My assistant Cabronu has some last minute supplies for you as well," Silvar says as he motions Cabronu to deposit the mountain of camping equipment onto the deck of the river boat.

"Here are you maps! A DVD with all the relevant information you'll need about the dig! The company is currently using hired satellite technology to scout the possible jungle locations and I will be sending further maps with further possible sites as you progress upriver!" Silvar says excitedly.

"Now I'm sure you have many questions, but I don't have anytime! Everything you need is right here on this DVD! Good luck my friends, Go with God, and good luck some more!" Silvar gushes as he hands over the laminated maps and DVD to the person standing near him and he heads for his waiting car with Carbronu in tow.

Map 1

[IMG]http://i.imgur.com/xgjSu.jpg[/IMG]


Map 2

[IMG]http://i.imgur.com/1wd7g.jpg[/IMG]

Map 3

[IMG]http://i.imgur.com/ggmV1.jpg[/IMG]


Contents of DVD

Short video of the professor's inspection of the ruins and the trove. Displays a number of obvious artifacts of significant monetary value due to being made of gold, silver, and/or having gems built into the piece.

A copy of the email sent by Mikhail Markard inviting the exhibition to lay over at his plantation.

Weather reports showing that for the rest of the week the weather is calm, hot, and sunny. The week after heavy rainstorms are expected.

The cellphone number for Silvar, the radio frequency for Silvar, the radio frequency for the Markard Plantation, and the radio frequency used by the helicopter pilot.

[Sarah Tintagyl]

[quote]
"Professor Belnedes" Lokir said taking her hand. "Please call me Lokir. I am indeed here concerning the relics. I have had little chance to gain any first hand research of South American cultures, this will an invaluable experiance for me, my particular expertise are in myth, religion and lost treasures." Lokir dumped his gear on the deck. "Of course your welcome to work with me at the dig site, your knowledge of the local peoples would be an excellent help."
[/quote]

"Well then I think we'll make a good team. I'm not much of the identifier of artifacts, but I brought along a few tools that might help us." She pointed over to her backpack, filled to the breaking point with maps and books. "If we can understand the cultures, we can understand the treasures that they created. So I can't wait to arrive at the dig site, though I don't believe Doctor Silvar said much about it. So I'm hoping we aren't starting from scratch."

She turned away from Lokir for a moment and watched the mess of people come on board, mercencaries to be sure, it seemed like the ship was overrun with gunslingers. Is it really going to be that dangerous on the river, Sonia thought to herself, as she walked over to her backpack. This seemed a bit much for a river expedition, but perhaps it was different here in South America. She fingered the dagger in her boot making sure it was still there. The only woman on the boat, she had to be prepared to defend herself.

[Markus Wilding]

Christoforo grunted as he looked over the map. Maps...weren't really his strong suit. He did security work, not adventure into far-off lands for riches. Though, this was an exception. He turned the map every which way he possibly could, until he finally gave up. Seeing a lone female, he came to her. She looked like she knew her stuff, plus her pack was filled to the brim with all sorts of other junk anyway. "You look like you know this stuff better than I do. Help me and I'll help you, eh? Any artifacts or crap I come across, you get a cut of the pay."

[Sarah Tintagyl]

[quote name='Markus Wilding' timestamp='1324435708' post='2882970']
Christoforo grunted as he looked over the map. Maps...weren't really his strong suit. He did security work, not adventure into far-off lands for riches. Though, this was an exception. He turned the map every which way he possibly could, until he finally gave up. Seeing a lone female, he came to her. She looked like she knew her stuff, plus her pack was filled to the brim with all sorts of other junk anyway. "You look like you know this stuff better than I do. Help me and I'll help you, eh? Any artifacts or crap I come across, you get a cut of the pay."
[/quote]

Sonia looked up from her seat at the Portuguese man and smiled, he was a shady character, not someone that the Professor hoped to call company for the rest of the trip. However, not in the business of making enemies, she took the map from him and looked across it. "I think we're all going to the same place. As to what we find, I'm actually not sure how so many treasure-hunters and mercenaries got stuck on this expedition, but I guess that's the name of the trade. But honestly, I'm not really looking for a cut. Doctor Silvar said that these relics would be brought back to his company in Manaus I'd assume. If anything I'd like to bring a few back to Ehestadt with me, to display in the museum there. So as to cut of the pay, I don't know how much I'd be interested. I'm under strict assignment already, I don't want to step on people's toes."

[Evangeline Anovilis]

Charles Albert looked at Jorge Silvar in disbelief. "Maps? Really? If the Lord wants me to find my goal, I will find it. Why would I need a map? Mon Dieu. What Heresy is that?" He couldn't belief that. Charles-Albert had never used maps. Of course he needed longer to find his way, sometimes he had missed it completely, but this was never due to his poor navigation skills. It was merely gods sign that his real goal was elsewhere or that he should devote more time on religious thought before reaching what he went out for. But god was infallible, therefor using maps would just be a sin. As he arrived here, the missionary took out his rosary and prayed to the Holy Virgin Mary to forgive the souls of the expedition members for their hubris of challenging gods path-finding skills.