"Come on Hawkins. Snap out of it- you're acting weird again!"
He rolls his eyes a little.
"Look - when we met I was a little skittish, I'll admit that. I didn't know who anyone was, and I was just getting to know you."
"Then I went gods damned crazy - it wasn't fun; let me tell you, and it took a little bit for me to get some perspective on things," he adds.
"Anyhow, I figure I haven't been that fun to ship with lately; but I'm "On Leave" so I'm going to try to have some fun for a while. I can't always be walking around with a stick up my ass, you know?" he says, giving her a little wink.
"You're part of this trope and I don't want to believe you'll corpse when the limelight shines on you for your solo- and shine it will. Come on. Come with us."
The bard extends her hand and beckons him with two fingers.
His drama is worthy of a backstage dressing room, but the man is useful.
David sees the look and his eyes widen, then he nods and glances up at Alabaster with a sly smile, his eyes still on Astrianna.
"You got to excuse her - she's been crazy for me since the beginning..." he says with some relish as Alabaster lets out a deep sigh.
"No, it's true!" David continues with open sincerity.
"So this one time me and Darius were in our cabin and she comes to our place all dolled up and acting naughty, you know?"
"So of course - seeing that she's acting naughty - I give her a spanking... Next thing I know she flings herself out of my lap, grabs me by my shoulders flings me into the bunk... yadda-yadda-yadda - next thing I know she insists I got to buy her a drink!" he says with a nod.
Alabaster merely rolls his little eyes.
Walking with the Father, Astrianna gives an affirmative.
"As for plans, we're going to meet a shipmate at The Broken Skull, and decide from there."
David shrugs.
"Well - I guess anything's possible," he says with a grin.
The priest continues to offer his information to Astrianna, doing his best to ignore David's attitude.
"Tulita shamans mark their most sacred lands with huge, wooden posts elaborately carved with the designs and faces of revered deities. Known as Pounua Carvings these great posts can be interpreted by shamans to tell a story. They connect the spirit of the people to Pele through Maternal Earth and Father Ocean, and document their spiritual lineage and mutual obligations to both gods and ancestors. Others tell of their legendary past, marking sites of historical significance such as ancient battlegrounds or places where ancient leaders received divine epiphanies."
David's eyes widen.
"Hmm... Interesting... So do those things got any magical powers attached to them? Or are they just historical markers?" he asks.
To David: "That depends what you find. Some are strictly religious or story markers, while others contain magic...so I've heard."
"You may think you're able to make rules yourself but mark my words you'll spend a half year in the dungeons of Fort Stormshield if you try."
David's eyes widen.
"Huh... So it sounds like the lads up at the fort aren't that tolerant," he muses.
"Or am I way off there, padre?" he says glancing at the priest.
While David's mood has been obviously a caricature of a low-class sailor who's just arrived in town; a man without skill, cunning or any real wits - the mask seems to drop at the last sentence.
Clearly, despite his better efforts, David is very curious to know if his current opinions on the military in this town are unfounded - or not...
She laughs at Embri's suggestion. "A play isn't good enough for you? I always have songs in my plays. All right, how's this?" The bard clears her throat.
"His chains- they snapped.
"A face- it cracked."
"The rogue- he dashed."
"A smile- he flashed."
"And ev-er-y wo-man felt her knees goooo weeeeak!"
The bard begins to snap her fingers in a slow beat, her hips swinging from side to side.
"One lov-o-ly mai-den in par-tic-u-lur,"
"Squeaked as she was sudd-en-ly perp-en-dic-u-lar."
Still snapping with one hand, she reaches her hand out, curving it down and around an imaginary companion.
"The rogue had swept her into his arm,"
"Yet in it she felt there was no harm,"
"For he had plant-ed a deep kiss up-on her liiips!"
She holds the last note dramatically, before kissing the imaginary figure. Grinning, she spring back into step. "Good start? I think the kiss could use some work."
Listening to the priest now, she digs out her journal and scribbles a few notes as they walk. taking in the information. "We had the misfortune of encountering one of these posts that some genius decided to use a mast. Whatever god inhabited that totem was more pissed than two tomcats in a tied sack."
She perks up at the mention of the Jade District. "That does sound like my locale." She scoffs, however, at the mention of her "looking like that." "Fine." The bard taps her hat to activate its powers, her armor and garb suddenly becoming a form-fitting bright yellow and white silken gown with billowing sleeves. Her raven hair nestles around a beautiful golden tiara studded with small rubies, and her feet are now adorned with matching silken slippers. She struts along, a princess from a far off land.
"So Falken escaped you say." he chuckles. "While I don't know Falken, I've only been back in town a few weeks, but I did grow up with my Father in here. Falken is the most feared pirate since Garr Bloodbane death or defeat. Falken is dangerous don't get me wrong, lots of bad deads involving piracy and robbery but he was never a true killer...like they say he is. Always believed it was better to leave 'em alive then kill 'em, so they can be robbed again." He winks at Bri. "Many a merchant enjoyed being robbed by that man."
He continues, "Rumor is he ran his ship Nightslink aground down the coast. They say he ruthlessly killed his crew, but strange enough all the cargo was still on the ship and there were no bodies on the bloody deck."
To David: "That depends what you find. Some are strictly religious or story markers, while others contain magic...so I've heard."
He nods thoughtfully.
"They sound pretty interesting..." he says casually, marking instantly the hesitation that Zalen expressed.
He's hiding something...
He turns to rub Alabaster thoughtfully, hiding his expression.
I reckon everyone's got secrets... I'll have to remember that...
Without skipping a beat, Adriel replies,
A dick? Dear 'Captain' if it took THIS long for you to notice, then your powers of perception are as weak as your willpower. I TOLD you what I was like on the ship the last time I bothered speaking to you.
He tosses Hawkins a salute, a reminder of his time under compulsion on the haunted ship. Then he smiles.
Besides, dick's have drive and purpose. Designed to stab things. I believe that was my role on this crew, thus far, your assessment is that I'm doing a good job. Come with me to the brothels later and we'll see if we can remove that self pity stick from your rear.
He turns and bows to the priest, Forgive his rudeness, Padre. The man unfortunately is overly sensitive about failed leadership aspirations but he DOES possess the tools, simply lacks the required confidence and charisma, but we are working hard to help him overcome it. Watch, someday this man will be a venture captain one day
"No they are tolerant enough, they have hard job to do keeping peace in this town and defending form outside attacks." He shrugs, "Like any professions you have good ones and poor ones - there are good bartenders and poor bartenders in the world. Just like some padres stir your passion and others don't. That doesn't mean they are intolerant."
At the mention of the ship being run aground, and taking into account their recent experience with the damned ship, Sath asks the priest, "Where exactly did the ship run aground father? And the crew's bodies have not been found either?"
He looks at Sath, "I'm sorry, I don't know."
"Rumor is he ran his ship Nightslink aground down the coast. They say he ruthlessly killed his crew, but strange enough all the cargo was still on the ship and there were no bodies on the bloody deck."
David waves his hand.
"Oh balls!" he says with contempt.
"Of course it's naught but bullocks," he adds.
"Outside the three mile limit the captain's the gods damned Master and Bloody Commander, am I right?" he says looking at the cat.
"So if he killed his own men then legally the law would back the captain's play; unless the captain broke the law - but legally that can't happen on a ship; especially if the captain's protecting himself from mutiny."
"But let's just assume the captain's a cold-blooded little whore who killed his own men without cause," he says with a grunt.
"Who exactly was the witness to this terrible crime? I mean - does the authorities always manage to know what's going on when no one is there to say what happened?"
He spits to leeward.
"I never heard of any government that put the decisions of the acting captain beneath the decisions of a mutineering crew - but maybe the government in The Razor doesn't favor captains as much as the folk back east," he says with a rolls of his eyes.
"Of course, maybe the crew didn't mutiny - I'd ask the survivors, but there weren't any," he adds.
He glances at Alabaster.
"Of course - if the authorities discovered that the captain was a criminal they may have the legal authority to seize all his possessions and wealth; which would be pretty handy if the captain had a lot of money from his travels in the past couple of years," he says with a grin at the cat.
Alabaster gives David a long look, and David's eyes narrow.
"Hmm... On the other hand - maybe the government didn't make a play for the guy's loot by blaming everything on him... Maybe they think he's honestly guilty - and maybe he did what he did because he was possessed with some gods cursed dark magic that made him think his crew was a bunch of mutineers..."
"Something like that happened to that lad Thalios we traveled with - I think..." David adds.
"In fact, as I recall it - Thalios seemed to maybe recognize that Falken guy... Almost like they might have been old shipmates..."
"But Thalios was on a ship that had a curse on it that made the captain think his crew was trying to mutiny..." he says thinking of Falken, then looks at Alabaster as the cat gives him an arched eyebrow.
"Well, if the authorities made up false charges to screw the guy over or if the guy went crazy and thought his crew was trying to mutiny... Either way you slice it, I feel for the guy for some reason," he says with a sincere nod.
- Hat of Disguise- on head.
- Studded Leather Armor +1- on body
- Masterwork Darkwood Composite Longbow +1 Str (Chimera) - in a bow case she wears under her haversack, slung on right shoulder.
- Quiver- 16 arrows, slung on left shoulder.
- Masterwork Cold Iron Longsword (Echo)- In its scabbard, on her left hip.
- Dagger- In right boot
- Spell Component Pouch- on belt
- Bandolier (8/8): [PCLW (1d8+3) x4, PCMW(2d8+6) x2, PCSW (3d8+10), Oil of magic weapon]-across chest
- Handy Haversack- on back, strapped over shoulders and over other straps. Contains everything else she owns.
There are 7 children walking towards you some are carrying stick.
Astri you see there is a man laying on the ground about 50 ft ahead and to the left, he is being kicked by three men while two other burly guys are standing lookout.
There some carrion on the side of the muddy path, what looks like the remnants of dog.
Sath turned to Dirk, watching him get worked up-
Forgive his rudeness, Padre. The man unfortunately is overly sensitive about failed leadership aspirations but he DOES possess the tools, simply lacks the required confidence and charisma, but we are working hard to help him overcome it. Watch, someday this man will be a venture captain one day
David's eyes widen at Adriel.
"You know, I'm getting kind tired of your insults," he says with a surprised tone.
"Don't insult me again unless you're planning on killing me outright. You got me?" he says with a friendly voice.
Astrianna's emerald eyes glance between the children and the burly men in the distance, and she frowns. "Kids walking towards us look rough. Ahead there is a man laying on the ground getting his face stomped in by some thugs- no, don't look directly at them. Not our problem- at the moment."
Sath views her surroundings with the suspicious eyes of the port city petty thief she was as a child before learning the ways of the sea from her father...
Astrianna's emerald eyes glance between the children and the burly men in the distance, and she frowns. "Kids walking towards us look rough. Ahead there is a man laying on the ground getting his face stomped in by some thugs- no, don't look directly at them. Not our problem- at the moment."
David has his weapons out and is now holding them intently.
"The guy getting his face kicked in maybe doesn't think so," he says to her.
"I don't like guys getting their face kicked in," he adds.
"It bugs me..."
Sath turned to Dirk, watching him get worked up- ** spoiler omitted **
He glances at her and nods.
"Fair enough, sorry..." he says softly.
The half-elf rolls her eyes at Hawkins and Adriel. "Shut up you two, and look tough. You can bicker over some drinks later."
She touches the tiara in her hair, dispelling the illusion, hoping the extravagant outfit was not noticed by many. The bard curses her ego for making such a stupid illusion in the rough part of the city.
Her head turns to Hawkins, giving him an incredulous look. "You going to fight all those kids too?"
The half-elf rolls her eyes at Hawkins and Adriel. "Shut up you two, and look tough. You can bicker over some drinks later."
He looks at Astrianna and laughs.
"Relax, sweets - I always look tough... Except when I look like an ass," he says, giving her a wink.
"But I wasn't bickering - that was me being sincere," he adds, his tone pleasant, though somewhat exaggerated.
As he watches her dispel the magic, he sees her turn to him.
"You going to fight all those kids too?"
He glances at the kids.
"Well, maybe not all of them... Some of them may be smart enough to piss off..." he says with a grin, but his eyes are like cold ice as he readies his weapons.
Darius had been quiet most of the walk from the chapterhouse. The bickering between Hawk and Adriel was annoying, but he had no stake in their dispute. It would be best for the two of them to get their differences settled now than to stew on it for long.
The clergyman's discussion about the life here in Port Shaw, however, kept his attention, though he preferred to keep quiet and soak it all in rather than interrupt the man.
When the conversation turns once again to the pirate captain fugitive, Darius' eyes roll and he again focuses on their surroundings and his path towards this widow's home.
At Astrianna's jest, Darius squints his eyes and takes stock of the group seriously. "A kid can slide a blade between your ribs just as well as an adult can. If they want to start trouble, they'd best be ready to pay for it."
__________
"A kid can slide a blade between your ribs just as well as an adult can. If they want to start trouble, they'd best be ready to pay for it."
David turns toward Darius.
"Looks like it's time to kick ass and take names, eh?" he says with a grin at the taciturn man who stands brooding besides him.
"Hey, it's all good," he adds to Darius "besides... today is a good day to die, right?"
"I can think of several ways I'd prefer to go out, most of which include spending an exorbitant amount of coin on beautiful women, fine food, fine drink, and a warm bed."
"I can think of several ways I'd prefer to go out, most of which include spending an exorbitant amount of coin on beautiful women, fine food, fine drink, and a warm bed."
David laughs out loud at Darius’s words.
”Stop it, you’re making me blush,” he says, as he continues to chuckle.
His eyes flick to the man on the ground and he watches the thugs kick the crap out of him; his eyes narrow - the humor extinguished from his voice.
”Look... I'm sorry, but what they’re doing to that guy…” he shakes his head and prepares to wade in; alone if need be…
He pauses a moment, then glances at Darius even as he’s ready to advance.
”Hey; so, you know, if those little scumbags out there do end up killing me I can count on you to say something appropriate at the funeral, right?” he asks with a confident voice.
His gaze turns to the advancing threat; his eyes cold...
”Oh – and keep an eye on that cat – he’s good people,” David adds, his eyes on the advancing kids, his own weapons out and ready.
Forgive his rudeness, Padre. The man unfortunately is overly sensitive about failed leadership aspirations but he DOES possess the tools, simply lacks the required confidence and charisma, but we are working hard to help him overcome it. Watch, someday this man will be a venture captain one dayDavid's eyes widen at Adriel.
"You know, I'm getting kind tired of your insults," he says with a surprised tone.
"Don't insult me again unless you're planning on killing me outright. You got me?" he says with a friendly voice.
That smile continues to stay on the elf's face.
I'm a Sellsword 'Captain'. I have been ready to kill you since before I met you, no one had made an offer yet. I said you had the tools to be a leader, maybe I am wrong. Believe me, boy, when I really want to insult you, you'll know. Till then, I'll continue to speak how I damn well wish. Care to make me shut up?As Darius draws attention to the children and the man being beaten, Adriel decides to be decisive.
He flies over to the man being beaten (10 feet in air), drawing his weapon along the way.
Something wrong here, Gentlemen?
Darius the Captain only had 143 platinum on hand most of the passenger paid in gold. He would have offered to pay 100 pieces in platinum, you can do the conversion and weight.
I generally don't like intraparty conflict there is plenty of fighting bad guys and that should satisfy your needs. That being said if you two choose to escalate this tension don't ask me to intervene if someone dies.
Bri sighs and tries to speak quietly. "Oh for all we know that man could have robbed someone and is getting beat for it. Can we not start a ruckus as soonn as we get to port before we even know what all is going on in the city? And for all we know the kids are on their way to play stick ball somewhere."
"Well, I can ask them something any reasonable child in the city would know and see what kind of reaction I get from them."
If close enough to speak to them. Bri gives a smile and friendly wave to the children. "Hello there, in exchange for a bit of coin could you fellows tell me where I can the best pies to be had in the city? I surely miss eating fresh fruit pies when I am out at sea."
You all should begin to realize the squalor that you've walked into. There is a keep you eyes down mentality about the people there trying to mind their own business. You don't see any type of law enforcement.
The men kicking and stomping on the down man are haloed in red.
The initial group of kids carrying sticks is in navy.
You can see more kids coming out from around the shacks. Several are twirling slings.
** spoiler omitted **
In fact, Adriels main spell FROSTBITE inflicts NON-LETHAL damage. So even in a proper fight Adriel knocks foes out. They only die if he chooses to stab an unconscious foe, which in David's case Adriel would not do. I am cool if David wants to go with leathal attacks, since as you know IRL I enjoy rolling new chars anyway. If the 'cocky smartass' doesn't mesh well with the party I can bring in a goody two shoes instead. Depending on time I could bring in Duncan or Daniel in a pinch, since this group doesn't have a tank.
Edit: initiative order
Red Thugs
Darius
Zalen
Adriel
Bri
Dirk
orange and pink kids
Astri
Sath
blue kids
RD 1: initiative order
Red Thugs
Darius
Zalen
Adriel
Bri
Dirk
orange and pink kids
Astri
Sath
blue kids
Everyone can see that this little situation can quickly escalate into a major conflict.
RD 1: Red Thugs
Three of the members finish the beating they are levying and then roll the man into the ditch, he hits the filthy water with splash. The other two men fixate on your group both have pulled a loaded crossbow from under their cloaks.
"I'm going to try to web the kids on our right if someone would be kind enough to grease the bridge to our left."
Bri casts a large web between two of the houses that a group of children have appeared from.
There, that should just leave a group of kids in front of us. Maybe they will back off when they see that their reinforcements cannot get to them. At least I hope they will, I really don't want to have to hurt any children. Wonder if I can try to temporarily blind some of them next?
Bri's attention is torn between the children and her own group, wondering how the others will treat them.
Round 1
Astrianna points to the bridge on their left as she yanks Chimera out of her bow case. "Hawkins, grease that bridge! I'm going to try and scare them off."
The bard exhales slowly, pulling a bit of fleece out of her spell pouch with a free hand. She wiggles her fingers and concentrates on the alleyway to the west. A group of uniformed dragoons materialize from far down the alley and come marching between the buildings, looking startled as they exit the alleyway. They scramble out and draw their assorted weapons, turning to face the North and South while looking menacing.
Rd1, The elf is not at all threated by the prosect of children. He draws his Sap (move action) and enchants it with his arcane pool (+2 enchantment, swift) then cast a RIME FROSTBITE into the small weapon.
I am not a fan of Harming children, spare them as much as you can.
Darius sees the trouble appearing to brew over, and the rest of the group planning defensive strategies. Darius moves up through the group, slowly spinning his glaive as he does so, and says, "Father, you may want to step behind us."
Once at the front of the party, Darius goes into his practiced routine with his weapon, spinning it around in a furious performance of bladed fury. He finishes with the blade slung behind him by his right hand, his left hand free and pointing at the groups on their side of the ditch.
"Best be moving along to some easier quarry, all that you will find here is death."
__________
Adriel nods at the elf. "I don't want to kill any of the runts either, but if one tries to shank me they'll lose more than a few teeth."