"We've been spotted! Hold!" He says in a loud whisper as he draws his bow and crouches down in hopes to avoid being seen.
Tyrrol shrugs, but stays 'in the bushes'.
The man on the wall scans the area in Tyrrol's direction.
"Hey, there's someone out there! "
The work crew drops the log they are holding. One of them hops back to avoid it as it bounces his way. They begin to scramble for weapons on the ground. "Is it one of those weird zombies?"
"Not sure. Looks like a man, maybe two."
There's enough scrub and cover to at least partially hide you.
Kuva:
"Crap!" Lothan turns to the others, continuing to whisper loudly. "Well?! Now what do we do?! Attack or see if they'll talk?!"
"We might as well present ourselves, and take advantage of what hospitality they offer. Of the groups sent here, they seem the only ones to have successfully fended off the tentacle-hounds." Mordecai says, attempting to sound reasonable.
And if they attack us, we can accidentally kill them all while 'defending ourselves'... he thinks, practically.
Lothan stands from his crouch. "Alright, if you say so. Let's get this over with."
The men in the camp stand looking out in your general direction. Several armed men, including a big shirtless man with a huge warhammer emerge from the tents.
The man on the wall shouts, "You out there! Show yourselves."
Lothan looks around at the others, then answers, Then turning to the others, "I'll let you go first Mordecai. You gotta better speaking attitude towards these scum than I do. Either that or let Tyrrol go first. That way if they have even the slightest hint of wanting to attack, they'll think about it if they see the big fella stroll on outta here first."
Mordecai steps forward, weapon at his belt, and hand upraised to show that he is not holding a weapon. "Greetings, gentlemen! We don't want any trouble! This island seems dangerous enough, don't you think?"
Shrugging, Tyrrol strides forward purposefully, making no further attempt to hide himself...
"They're men! .... And a halfling!" The campers all relax visibly. Weapons are lowered. Stances become casual. But no one actually sheaths their blade.
The bare-chested man throws across his shoulders and steps forward. He's remarkably graceful for such a large man. "Who are you then
?"
"Well, we've managed to rid ourselves of some of those zombie tongue freaks; taken out several of those four legged... whatchamacallem's; and lastly, but most definitely not least, was able to save this pretty little lady from certain death." He motions to Samaritha.
"Soooo, the way I see it," He looks around at the eclectic group, then back to the large man, "that would make us big damn heroes, sir." He says with a smile as he props his bow on his shoulders, thinking that's a pretty good summation.
"Well, we've managed to rid ourselves of some of those zombie tongue freaks; taken out several of those four legged... whatchamacallem's; and lastly, but most definitely not least, was able to save this pretty little lady from certain death." He motions to Samaritha.
"Soooo, the way I see it," He looks around at the eclectic group, then back to the large man, "that would make us big damn heroes, sir." He says with a smile as he props his bow on his shoulders, thinking that's a pretty good summation.
"Good thinking, Lothan," the Sandpoint native whispers. "Getting them to laugh at you should help quell the tension." He looks over the large man to see if he recognizes him.
"Good thinking, Lothan," the Sandpoint native whispers. "Getting them to laugh at you should help quell the tension." He looks over the large man to see if he recognizes him.
Lothan winks, accompanied by a wry smile.
Tyrrol continues to wait impassively, waiting for the trigger that will initiate a slaughter...
The big man smiles. "We could use some big damn heroes. We're settling here for a fortnight until our boat comes back and the tentaclemanes and zombie tongue freaks have already killed a number of us. Would you be looking to join us for mutual security?"
Lecian:
"Indeed, we would be interested in joining forces. We encountered a number of the tentacle hounds and wormtongue zombies at the lighthouse, but the building was destroyed in the ensuing fight, leaving us with no roof over our heads." Mordecai says, gesturing towards the tents set up in the encampment, as he continues, "Your expedition seems far better prepared, for such circumstances, having brought your own accommodations. A credit to your foresight."
"Hmmm...wait a minute, Mordecai. Let's talk about this among ourselves first."
The big man drops the head of his hammer to the ground and leans on the handle like a walking stick. "Take your time, but not too much. I don't have a date tonight, but we want as much of this wall done as we can get by tonight."
"Jaimey, get the crew back to work. Sly, let Clegg know we've got company."
As the group gathers, "Alright Lecian, what is it?"
"I would prefer not to fight them, at least, not yet. The island seems to have dangers enough, without us creating additional enemies." Mordecai says, although it is hard to tell whether he is serious, or just interested in skipping a fight and sitting down next to a fire and having a cup of whatever they're having.
"Why would we want to fight them?" Samarintha asks. "That fence and their numbers will make defense against those creatures and tongue zombies a lot easier. I bet there will be plenty of fighting if that's what you really want, Kuva. Better to make a deal. They probably have a boat coming to pick them up sometime too."
"You know, Kuva, I'm afraid I'm gonna have to agree with Mordecai and Samaritha. Now, I don't like these guys no more than you, but at least are odds of surviving are greater if we join up." Lothan then smiles wryly. "Look at it this way; if we do get jumped by the cat creatures or the tongue zombies, there are far more of their crew to become targets than there is of ours." He winks.
"Perhaps it does increase our chances for survival, but join them may also minimize our chances for recovering any of what we came here for to begin with. Are you all ready to give up? I know some of us have nothing to look forward to back in Riddleport."
Tyrrol shrugs.
"I do not really care either way. One skull is very much like the next. Still, we do not really intend to share what fell from the sky with these people, do we? We will eventually have to... put them down..."
I find myself in the un-characteristic position of cautioning against an unecessary bloodbath. Mordecai says in a low tone, attempting to avoid speaking loudly enough that anyone lurking nearby may hear, appearing somewhat nonplussed at the direction the conversation has taken. I do not object to killing these men so that we do not have to share the spoils with them, but I am not sure that this is the wisest moment to take this action...
Perhaps we should have some sort of vote? Some are in favor of immediate attack, some in favor of combinging forces with them, at least temporarily, and at least one in favor of making our own campsite and avoiding them entirely...
"I'm good with the temporary force joining. And don't look at it as giving up, Lecian, look at it as... biding our time." He says with an underhanded yet confident tone.
"It is settled then? We join for now? At least until we feel like it's time for us to move on. Correct?" He asks as he looks around at the others, waiting for clarification. "This ogre," he quickly snaps his head in the direction of 'hammer man', "ain't gonna wait on us all night to decide." Pausing a moment, remembering Lecian's concern over this, "Lecian? You good? It seems most of us are willing to at least tolerate it for a while. How about you, bud?"
The big man clears his throat.
Lothan looks around and seeing no objection, "Alright!" Lothan claps his hands together as he steps toward the large man. "We're good. Joining forces sounds good. So... what now?" He asks him.
"Now we talk terms. This is Clegg Zincher's camp. Clegg's the boss. I'm Akron Erix, Clegg's righthand man. Come on into camp and we'll talk."
Akron leads you into the center of camp to a rough table beside the embers of a large bonfire. The work crew watches you as you pass. Samrintha draws a chorus of wolf-whistles, a cheer, and a blunt invitation to copulation. She scowls back at the crew.
"We've got water and some hard tack left from breakfast. Sorry I can't offer better. Clegg chose not to bring alcohol. He thought the men would be better sober on this job."
Erix leans his hammer against the table and straddles one of the split log benches lining the table. "So, you fellas have a spokesman for the group or do I sign you up individually?"
[ooc] Bonfire at E1. table not shown on map.
Mordecai pokes at the hard tack, his face carefully neutral, thinking, Pity it isn't infested with beetles. At least that might add some flavor..., before replying. "I could offer myself up as spokesman, but I'm sure some might protest. We are an independent minded group, or, perhaps, the remnants of two groups that did not fare so well on our own." he says, gesturing towards Samaritha and Lothan, "The lady-mage and her husband joined us after we arrived on the island, and have proven quite handy, although their previous companions have, sadly, passed on..."
Mordecai places no special emphasis on naming Lothan as Samaritha's husband, but shoots the pair a pointed look, as he describes them so.
"I offer my services as priest and healer, although my faith in the Pale Lady has left me quite familiar with digging graves, and I would be willing to assist in digging trenchworks, if that is required to shore up your commendable defensive perimeter."
..."I could offer myself up as spokesman, ..." ... "The lady-mage and her husband joined us after we arrived on the island, and have proven quite handy, although their previous companions have, sadly, passed on..."
Mordecai places no special emphasis on naming Lothan as Samaritha's husband, but shoots the pair a pointed look, as he describes them so.
Erix gaze follows Mordecai's toward the mages. One eyebrow shoots up as he looks at Lothan.
"I offer my services as priest and healer, although my faith in the Pale Lady has left me quite familiar with digging graves, and I would be willing to assist in digging trenchworks, if that is required to shore up your commendable defensive perimeter."
"We could certainly use another digger. Most of the crew would rather be out hunting skymetal even though the shares are the same.
"Speaking of shares -- that's how we work out pay. Most of the guys here are getting a share apiece. Clegg and me and a couple of the others are getting more than one share. When we get back to Riddleport, we'll sell the loot and split the pot by share."
"What the heck, I'll help dig too. At least it'll keep me busy." He shrugs. "And as far as I'm concerned, Mordecai's the guy you wanna talk too. He's our fearless leader." He says with an almost, nearly wry smile.
Tyrrol shrugs, but remains impassive.
"Digging is not where my skills lie. Killing, on the other hand...
Lothan moves up next to Akron, "And he's not kidding." He nods in emphasis. He then looks to Tyrrol, then back to Akron, then back to Tyrrol, then back to Akron again. "You know, you two cats are probably about the same size. I just bet, that our...," he immediately thinks better of finishing that sentence, "nevermind. So, we gonna dig all night or is there a place we can get some z's around here?" He nonchalantly steps away from the big man, moving back over next to Samaritha.
Erix smiles, "Ok. A share apiece for you two. Two shares for you big guy, if ... you're good enough. No doubt we'll find out soon. What about the married couple and this well-armed halfling?"
Lothan looks in the direction of whom Akron is speaking. Noticing he's eyeing Lecian, "Whoaaaa there big fella! He," Lothan points at Lecian, "ain't married to Samaritha! Whatever gave you that idea? Samaritha's my lady!" He points a thumb at himself as he places his arm around her, realizing he stated that a bit more emphatically than he expected. Turning to her, "Isn't that right, um, sweetheart?" He asks as the sweatbeads begin to roll down his face. Is she my girl? Have we even discussed this? Oh crap. This could be bad.
The wizard furrows his brow at Akron's response to Tyrrol. "I suppose I could help with the digging," Lecian offers half-heartedly. "...but what do you mean 'if you're good enough'? What, or who, do you plan on killing?"
Erix looks at Lothan. "Sorry. I misunderstood the Urgathoan."
Samaritha smiles, "Of course, dearest." But her posture is slightly rigid.
Erix looks away from the pair and rolls his eyes at the others.
The wizard furrows his brow at Akron's response to Tyrrol. "I suppose I could help with the digging," Lecian offers half-heartedly. "...but what do you mean 'if you're good enough'? What, or who, do you plan on killing?"
[b]"As many of those zombies and dogsquids as we can. They've brought down a bunch of us, but we're going to finish them."[b] Akron cocks his blocky head. [b]"Digger, eh? One share for you then."
He big man turns back to Lothan and Sam. "So is the wife working?"
Lothan internally breathes a sigh of relief. In response to the big man's question, "Well, um," he looks at Samaritha, trying to get a read on what she wants to do, "I, I don't think so, no." Hearing himself sound a bit too overbearing, he makes an attempt to prevent any possible hard feelings. "Unless you just want to... sweetie." Man I'm screwing this up! Ooooo wait, that sounds pretty good! He thinks as another option suddenly comes to mind that he offers to the big man. "Orrrrrr, if it's cool with you, Samaritha and myself could both go with Tyrrol and your gang and help rid you of some of those beasties? That sounds a lot better than digging. Whaddaya say?"
Samritha flushes. "I may not be as strong as some of the men, but I can do plenty to help. I'll take a share and help out with chores here in camp and minor spells when I can. I don't want to go looking for these monsters, but I'll help kill them if they attack."
Akron Erix tilts his head and looks at her. "Spells? You were one of the cypher-mages, weren't you?"
Samaritha concedes she was and explains that the rest of that group is dead, "No thanks to Zincher." Distaste drips from her words.
Akron holds up his hands. "I am sorry about that. That was Clegg's decision. We didn't know how bad it would be here with the zombies and tentaclemanes and we thought you'd grab too much of the skymetal. Nothing personal and I'm happy to have you aboard as long as I'll have no trouble." He cocks an eyebrow at her.
Samritha mutters back, "You'll have no trouble with me. I just want to get off this island and back to civilization."
Akron peers at her, then nods his head, apparently satisfied. "OK then." He looks up at the rest of the group. We're not going out hunting today. We want to get this wall up first. Then maybe we'll take the fight to the bastards."
He negotiates briefly with Kuva. The proud halfling wants a double share and guard duty. After he's done Akron smiles at the group, "Welcome aboard, then. Don't worry if you think you deserve more than a single share. Clegg's hard, but fair. If you're worth more than what we've set here, you'll get it. If you're not worth the price, he'll let you know."
"Any more questions?"
Know (local) DC 12 --
"Nope. I'm good." He looks around at the others to see if they have something to ask.