The talking skeleton head in the aquarium finishes his speech, and begins simply floating around muttering nonsensical gibberish.
You all sit back down at the bar and order some drinks.
As you ponder the matter, the skull pipes up once again.
"You know... if you be seriously considerin' finding these islands, you'll be needin' a ship... I just so happen to know of one that may suit your needs... you might need to liberate her so to speak but she'll be free for the takin'. After that we can speak of crew and equipment... what say you?"
The dwarf chuckles. "You sure have a lot of ideas in this process, don't ya, talking head? But I'll bite. Where's this ship we're talkin' about." He adjusts the large hat on his head, the weathered leather molded to his large noggin, before taking a slow sip of his ale.
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Mario waived off the skull's words impatiently.
"No! Don't listen to the skull in the fishbowl! If he knew where riches were he wouldn't be talking underwater right now."
He toyed with his goblet of wine, turning it to and fro while leaning back in his chair.
"A copper bit he points out that Chelish heavy frigate."
Wiping remnants of ale from his beard with the back of his left hand, Aras reached for his belt pouch with his right.
"I'll take that wager,"Aras growled as he slapped a copper down on the bar, pushing it forward with his index finger.
"But if it's all the same to you, I'd like to hear what the unlucky soul has to say, seeing as how he's the only one spouting off any ideas here."
The skull bobs every so slightly closer to you, nudging the octopus in the tank at the same time.
"Sorry there chap, mind the tentacles...
"And sorry to disappoint, no Chelish frigates be for the taking. I speak of me own ship, The Night Maiden."
"Don't be fooled by my appearance friends, there's more to me than meets the eye. When the old captain and crew eventually made their way back, we were waylaid by bloody corsairs. In panic, I prayed and screamed for aid... and it came in a torrent of blood and claws. The devil asked for payment of course, and when I could offer none, it sought fit to curse me with undeath and dismemberment."
The skull glances slightly to the bartender.
"When Gant here went and unearthed my head from the sandy beach I wound up on, I slowly began regaining my memories. Not only that, but I feel connected to the Maiden in ways I could not explain. I sense her just outside of port, maybe a day's walk up the coast. I can sense presences though, maybe a dozen at most... vile curs, befouling my beautiful ship."
"If you take me with you, I can just as easily guide you. If you can bring me back to my ship and get rid of the villainous scum that sail her, she'll be yours for the taking."
The bald elf was dressed in an odd combination of a desert burnoose and northerner's overcoat and furs. He listened carefully to the disembodied skull, considering every single word. A massive tome was open on the table in front of him. It was full of lose-leaf notes, dog eared pages, bookmarks made from strange odds and ends. The elf occasionally flipped the pages, moving from one strange cypher or cryptic passage to another, glancing at notes written in margins. When the skull said "Night Maiden" the elf became excited, flipping to a passage marked by a bit of old sailcloth.
"The grim skull will reveal the path to the maiden." the elf said with a smile. He laughed. "I always guessed this section was a word substitution cypher. Sometimes the key isn't a key. Clever."
He closed the book carefully, snapping the metal cover closed. It clicked as the bindings locked. He hooked it to his belt by a ring on the spine. It hung there like a weapon.
"When can we leave?"
"Well, if it were up to me, you could just take me out of the tank and we could be off."
The skull glances towards another table where two men sit quietly hunched over their drinks, before proceeding in a whisper.
"But I reckon those two have been listening in on us. I suggest we either do this quietly and leave or cause a commotion. Of course, you could always just wait outside and see if they follow..."
[i]"Or one of the more industrious one of us just walk up to the tank, pick you up, and lead these two outside, so they could be flanked by the rest of this motley sort."[/b] Kilgar stands and walks over, strongly tempted for one of his cigars.
And just to prove his point, he reaches a hairy arm into the tank, and plucks out the skull. "Toodles," he says to no one in particular.
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Mario snorted in disbelief.
"Just outside of port? A lonely place no doubt, just out of reach of help and perfect for mugging credulous fools."
He took another drink, trying to dismiss the idea, but curiosity wormed its way into his brain. The more he dismissed it, the more the idea came back around again, like a sliver under the skin.
When the dwarf walked up to the tank and scooped out the skull and walked off, Mario went still for a long moment then set his cup down and swore quietly.
Then he grinned.
"Well, maybe it wouldn't hurt to take a look..."
He rocked forward and stood up, sweeping his floppy hat with it's bedraggled feather back onto his head. His baldric, on which hung his duelling sword, went over his shoulder as did his cape. Last but not least, he picked up his cup.
Walking by the bar, he fished out a copper bit and rolled it down the long trestle towards Aras.
"He didn't show us the frigate after all." He commented, then followed the dwarf...
As Kilgar grabs Old Grimbone and heads outside, the two men finish their drinks and follow.
The elf follows his dwarven companion.
Scooping up his wager along with his shiny new copper, Aras spun around on his stool and watched his new fellows depart with the harbinger of their fortunes. Raising his tankard he drained the last of his ale, staring over the brim at the two men who were hurriedly finishing up their own drinks. Taking a moment even after the last drop of ale had passed his lips to size up the two, Aras studied both their builds and any weapons they may have carried. He spun back around on his stool as the objects of his study rose to their feet. Plunking the empty tankard down on the bar, Aras dropped the two copper on the bar and slid them towards Gant.
"For the service," he said, hand dropping to his belt pouch once more before thumbing a silver in the barkeep's direction.
"And for the cleanup," Aras added with a wink, pushing off from the bar and hooking his thumbs into his breastplate. He drummed his fingers on the metal covering his chest as he followed closely behind the two men, fairly certain the poor gents were going to be in for a major surprise.
Aras: The men seem indistinct. They both wear cloaks and have no telltale marks that you can see.
Robert waits as the Dwarf passes with the skull. Moments later as the two men pass he notes their relative size and strength, waiting a few moments before standing up and following the procession out of the tavern.
Kilgar grins, drawing his double sided waraxe with his right hand while stowing the skull in his backpack or belt pouch if the latter is big enough. He'll give it a round or two to get the group a decent distance from the bar before he slows, lighting a cigar, and then wheeling around with both hands now firmly gripping the weapon. "Right on schedule, aren't we boys?"
Vedic doesn't say anything. He simply waits, and lets loose with a blast of brain-searing light as soon as the pair get close.
Kilgar, Vedic and Mario are already outside when the two men head out. Robert and Aras walk out behind them. Unless everyone absolutely demands a battle map, I prefer to not use them and simply describe. Kilgar, Vedic and Mario are roughly 10 feet away from the two men when Vedic unleashes his color spray. Aras and Robert are another 15 feet behind the two men. There is no one else in the street at the moment.
Initiative
Assuming Mario and Kilgar do nothing except what they stated, Vedic's color spray goes off a moment before one of the men dodges to the side. His companion on the other hand, draws a sword from his side.
The color spray goes off and...
... the man passes out on the ground, twitching occasionally. His partner also draws a sword and is now pressed against the building, still the same average distance as earlier.
Robert and Aras, you can take a 1st round action, while Kilgar and Mario can make their 2nd round actions.
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Round 2
Whirling about to face the two men when the Color Spray flashes, Mario assumes a Total Defense stance.
Laying his hand on his sword, he grins and says; "Sure you want to play boys?"
With one finger he eases his dueling sword out half an inch. He narrows his eyes as he focuses on the swordsman.
"Don't be wagering more than you can afford to lose."
With his other hand he lazily swirls his cup.
Round 1.
Robert frowns at the sudden need to fight, he had hoped they would just have a conversation and scare off the ruffians. Seeing as that is not possible he moves into action. Quickly rushing the one who is still standing, Robert attempts to get his hands on his new foe.
The hardened dwarf just chuckles, growling low and gripping the axe with both hands. "You're the next notch on my axe, boy!"
Aras smoothly draws his greatsword as he closes the gap between himself and the unconscious man of unknown origin, lowering the blade to the man's neck. Glancing over to the still standing swordsman, Aras smiles grimly.
"Drop the blade and collect your friend. Continue in this foolishness and he pays the price."
Aras smoothly draws his greatsword as he closes the gap between himself and the unconscious man of unknown origin, lowering the blade to the man's neck. Glancing over to the still standing swordsman, Aras smiles grimly.
"Drop the blade and collect your friend. Continue in this foolishness and he pays the price."
Anyone want to try an Intimidate check with that?
The man hesitates for a moment... then drops the sword.
"Meant no 'arm mate. Me and me mate here just heard ya' mention some treasure and we were just gonna ask that skull there a few questions. Honest."
"Why do fools always assume treasure refers to currency?." Vedic says flatly. "Ask your questions."
"Mighty kind of you... We're sorry about causin' trouble. We just hoped you would have left the skull behind when you left."
He leans in towards the skull.
"Do you... do you think the Night Maiden still be intact oh skull?"
Old Grimbones answers.
"Well I should hope so. Why are you interested in my Maiden?"
The man replies.
"Our pa' sailed on her as a child. We heard the name mentioned and we'd dearly love to spread his ashes aboard her... or at least get the chance to see her sailing once again." He looks up. "The name's Danyell. That there's my brother Creg. We truly meant no harm, honest."
"Well, Skully, what do ya say? Trustworthy enough? Or you think they're shady and need the neck tickled with a blade?" He keeps the weapon out, knowing that he still had the speed to get a swing in, if need be.
Aras listens to the exchange between Danyell and Old Grimbone, removing his sword blade from Creg's neck and re-sheathing it. As everyone takes stock of the man's words, Aras leans down to snake his arm under the unconscious man's shoulder and pull him up into a sitting position for when he regains consciousness. Aside from tending to the downed man, he remains silent while waiting to see how the other men respond.
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"hhhnnnnhhhhh", he whines as he watches the others leave the tavern.
Tomas starts at the whine coming from his dog. "You may not have another ale. Too many of those and I cannot bear to be near you for the flatulence."
Rolling his eyes, he gives up whining and proceeds to lick the hand dangling down.
The feel of a slobber coated tongue licking his hand causes him to recoil. "Gah! I hate when you do that." He lifts his head from the bar and notices that they are alone. "Hey! They left! Why did you let me sit here while they walked off? We need to find them." He picks himself up from the stool and heads out the door, looking for the other down on their luck adventurers.
Looking back, he calls, "Come on! You are letting them get away."
He exits the tavern and looks around. Spotting a couple of them walking down the wharf, he hustles to catch up. At the sight of the multi-hued rainbow of light, he stumbles to a stop to gape slack jawed for several seconds before recovering his senses. "That looks like trouble!" Tomas runs to his comrades only to find them talking to one man while another lies still on the ground. "Wha?"
Old Grimbones pipes up.
"I reckon' if they be trying' something you can always just run 'em through. Now, if you want to make it before we die of exhaustion, the Maiden is still a good day away... I hope you all brought a lunch."
Tomas' eyes widen at the skull's words. "A maiden? Yes, let's get to this maiden without delay."
Aras reaches down once more, this time hauling Creg up to his feet. Supporting the unconscious man's weight, he nods an affirmative.
"If'n we have a day's travel, I say we do as the skull says and get a move on. Danyell, a hand carting your brother along 'till he awakes?"
Holding a hand up to Aras, the bald elf "he will wake up in a few moments, though he will be disoriented for a short time."
Glancing over to the newcomer with the dog, he said "The maiden is a boat. It confused me at first too."
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"Pah! Ain't no stinkin' dingy from the sounds of it. If you gonna call the Maiden something, call her something proper: she's a ship." From the sounds of it, this dwarf knows more about this water stuff than someone who comes from underground ought to.
Old Grimbones speaks up.
"Too right she ain't boat you heartless fiend. She's a proper ship as our friend here so clearly put it. Now, if you are all ready, and as soon as our new friend here wakes up we can be off."
Tomas frowns at the elf's words. "The maiden is not a maiden, but rather a boat that is a ship? Ah, well, that explains matters."
"The maiden is not a maiden, but rather a boat that is a ship? Ah, well, that explains matters."
"Might be a ship. Depends on the size. A ship is traditionally a square-backed three masted vessel designed for ocean travel, though some exceptions exist, such as the single masted Ulfen longship. Boats, on the other hand, are smaller. A good way of remembering is that ships carry boats."
"Details are important. Very little is what it first seems."
The young man blinks twice at the elf's explanation. "Thank you. Please excuse me." He says as he quickly makes his way over to a very important conversation at the other end of the grouping.