Melira, seeing how she is backed into a corner, drops her bow and pulls out her short sword and attempts to stab Sergei, but fails.
Her snake tries to bite Bormann, but can't get past the dwarf's armor.
Sergei simply keeps swinging...
...delivering another punishing blow.
The element of surprise over Kurag abandons the idea of grappling the woman and making her talk. Instead he does the enxt best thing as he draws his greatclub and tries to knock her out.
Greatclub non lethal for
A smashing blow from Sergei causes Melira to fall to the floor,bleeding out.
Greta casts Guidance on Kurag.
Bormann does his best to try to finish off the snake, still a bit confused why this human is trying to kill them. The snake - less of a mystery...
Greta casts stabilize on Melira.
I have no idea but we need to find out, Kurag agrees as he lifts the woman up before any bilge water can cause her to drown. Anyone have any rope to tie her up with before we revive her and start the questioning?
"I've got rope. I'll get it from my gear," Bormann volunteers. "Search her for a hopeknife. We can't have her cutting herself free." He adds as he heads back to the cabin for his backpack.
Kurag does as Bormann suggests and searches her for not only a hopeknife but anything of merit that might lead them to understand her actions.
Greta, do you want to wake her up down here or up where Bloodtusk can witness her story as well. I am inclined to learn what we can now and bring her after the fact to ensure nothing happens to her 'by accident'.
"Probably better to wait until Bloodtusk can witness. We don't want any accusations of bias on our part." Greta allows the lads to carry the unconscious prisoner to the Captain's cabin. Once there, she heals her enough to bring her around to consciousness.
"Now young lady, let's talk about why you sought to do us harm."
"Oh gracious me." Greta pulls the locket she found during the first attack and holds it up to the one around the neck of the girl. "She believes we killed her beloved. She is seeking vengeance for her love." Greta sighs deeply and her eyes tear up. "Poor, poor thing."
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"Oh yeah. These pendants are linked if I recall." BB slumps his shoulders. "But wait! Greta, you stopped him from bleeding out, right! He stood trial for his crimes after we defeated him." BB is a bit happier about that, but...
"An eye for an eye leaves everyone blind, missie. He came to Trunau and tried to kill everyone. We took him down, made sure he was alive, and brought him to trial. I guess you didn't hear that part. Instead you snuck aboard this ship and tried to kill us. I'm guessing it was your plan to weaken the crew so we crashed or somethin.'
"That wouldn't help anyone. Not the crew, they weren't part of the fight against Skreed. Not us, obviously. Not even you. I mean, so you get revenge. You kill us. So what? You spend the rest of your life pining over lost love? You need to grieve, yeah. But not like this. Why don't you tell us who sent you on this crazy mission in the first place so we can stop the real mastermind, who sent you and your beloved on suicide missions."
Melira spits at Greta. I don't need your pity! she says between clenched teeth and you better give me back my locket - and Skreed's too!
She laughs at BB. Mastermind? You don't even know Grenseldek has planned! But you will! You will!
Where is Chokehold? Did you kill him as well? I would expect nothing less from the cowards you are! she seethes.
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BB scratches his head. "Oh yeah, that Grenseldek lady wanted some of the artifacts buried in town. Skreed infiltrated Trunau on her behalf. He murdered a young man to cover his tracks. That wasn't nice."
"I don't think you know what Grenseldek's plans are, either... you really did just follow orders, blindly. Poor girl. Uh... what's a Chokehold? And why do you think self defense is cowardice? Man, you're weird."
Sergei sighs, regretfully.
"Yet another poor, deluded fool... We should probably see what the Captain wants to do with her; it is his vessel, after all..."
Greta sighs. "I do not offer pity, child, I offer my sadness. Your beloved lives and if you had acted honorably we would have told you so and sent you to him. He owes Trunau a debt but once that is paid, you could have been with him again. Now you both owe debts and who can say when all will be paid? Your own actions have condemned you and all for lack of good common sense. "
Melira laughs bitterly at Greta's words. I see the hopeknives around your necks! Do you really think my beloved would ever walk a free man again? He is mostly likely dead already! His execution would have been public and degrading! You could have let him go or killed him like a warrior, but instead his death has or will become blood entertainment for the masses!
She then snarls at BB. Chokehold was my snake companion. Another whose blood is on your hands!
When the interrogation is done, you take he to Bloodtusk. On hearing you summarize the interrogation, Bloodtusk sighs audibly. So she almost destroys this crew and vessel for revenge on what you all did to her? He then mumbles under his breath, Last time I do a favor for Halgra!
He then shouts, I have no use for her or Gashnakh! Throw them overboard for the crocs!
As crewman approach, Bloodtusk looks at BB, seems like you're the cook now!
Kurag sighs with frustration as the situation. Here they were trying to help the city of Trunau and their own loved ones and yet their direct actions resulted in the capture and public death of Melira's true love. Live was not fair nor kind. It was cruel in these moments. Kurag should not have any pity for this woman yet her story still pulled at him. As Bloodtusk ordered her thrown to the crocs he pauses before Melira, I can not and would not have done any differently in defense of Trunau, yet I would spare you the fate in store for you with the crocs. With his back to Bloodtusk and Melira in front of him to try and shield what he is doing he offers her his dagger. So you may spare yourself the pain of the river and join your love in the afterlife.
He then steps back away from the commotion and does not watch her final act.
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"Right. So as long as you don't know the people who were killed, it's not a problem." Something about her lack of empathy really gets under his skin. "If you knew the law of Trunau, you knew what the punishment was. Don't come cryin', telling me that I killed your boyfriend the wrong way. You spill innocent blood, and that's it."
BB is done talking to this inconsiderate woman. Now his attention is turned to the captain. "I'll do my best as the cook. Although I don't know if I can cook something that good again..."
Bormann watches Melira carefully now that she's been armed with Kurag's dagger. "I do bear your snake's blood on my hands. And I bear it proudly having won it honestly in battle not by dishonorable treachery, unlike the blood on Skreed's hands or yours. Skreed will have died as is right for him to die, like the filth he was."
The dwarf's eyes narrow. "How will you die? Like Skreed? Or better?"
Melira uses the dagger to cut her bindings and instantly wiggles her fingers and mumbles something softly.
Bloodtusk turns and says, You know! I just had an idea! Let's keep that one alive! She might have a family that would pay to get her back. Secure her in the hold!
Melira smiles at you all threateningly and whispers, Guess I'm not going anywhere!
Gashnakh meanwhile is being dragged to the rails whining, It was all my idea! It was all my idea!
Greta will give Melira back her truelove locket, as well as the one they took from Skreed.
Bormann gives Melira a hard shove. "What sorcery is this? What did you do, woman? Put the captain or that pathetic fool Gashnakh under your spell?" he angrily interrogates her.
Kurag raises an eyebrow at the captain's change of mind but does not question it at this time. Instead he turns to Melira, I will be having my dagger back please. Letting you decide your own fate in the water is different than leaving a prisoner with a weapon.
I will be having my dagger back please. Letting you decide your own fate in the water is different than leaving a prisoner with a weapon.
Melira pauses for the briefest moments before sighing. Here you go. I will have to find another way to kill you, dwarf! she says as she hands over the dagger.
Slipping the lockets around her neck before she is bound again, Melira taunts Greta with, Don't think that this means we are friends.
"What sorcery is this? What did you do, woman? Put the captain or that pathetic fool Gashnakh under your spell?"
Melira feigns mock innocence. Why I have no idea what you are talking about! she says with a wicked laugh as she is led back below deck by some crew members.
Meanwhile with a shove Gashnakh is thrown overboard. His screams can be heard as the crocs close in. After a few blood-curdling screams and the loud sounds of thrashing-water, bones-breaking and flesh-ripping all is quiet. The mood of the crew is somber as many reflect on Gashnakh's fate.
Greta sighs. "Child, you need help, but I respect love, in all its forms, as my goddess taught me."
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BB knows there is no point to arguing with the captain. If he weren't doing this to protect Trunau, BB would have gotten off as soon as they found somewhere safe. Merila certainly had a way with half-orcs. Skreed, Gashnakh (may the gods bless his soul), and now the Captain thinks she could make a good ransom. Ransom!
For now, BB continued to cook. He had a duty to fulfill.
"Hmm, that's pretty good. It could have been better..."
"I held back because I was curious what grudge she could have against us. I now regret that decision. She will receive no more mercy from me," Bormann vows darkly, keeping his voice down. "This trip just got more dangerous because we now know she can and will manipulate the captain and crew. Keeping watch will be all the more important."
You are right Bormann, but do not have any regrets. we know the source of the problem. That and we all honored our ancestors by our actions today. We acted as we should and no one can give us any fault for doing so. However you are also right that the next time no quarter will be given. If Melira acts out again we will be duty bound to end the threat once and for all.
Kurag watches as they lead her away shaking his head. Such hatred and violence born of misinformation and I'll conceived notions. All of this could have been avoided if she sought the truth and simply asked what happened at Trunau.
The crew, hearing about Gashnakh's poisoning attempt, are a little leery about BB's meal, but hunger overtakes them and when finished they say it was fairly good-all things considered.
After the meal, the crew prepares the first scheduled stop of the journey-Lastwall. The crew tells you that Lastwall is a riverside way station staffed by the Knights of Ozem. The station services river traffic and provides a disembarkation point for people and supplies heading inland to Castle Firrine. Bloodtusk will be delivering an arsenal of battleaxes, spears, and chain shirts to the knight staffing the way station.
As the boat pulls up you all see that a broken pier rises from the gently flowing waters of the river, its pilings blackened by fire and splintered by axe. Only a few waterlogged planks remain, hanging drunkenly from twisted nails. A path leads up from the dock toward a small stone building atop a low hill nearby.
Bloodtusk rubs his chin, Hmmmm...It didn't look like that when we were here 15 days ago! He looks at all of you, While my crew try to figure out how to dock ths boat, why don't you all take the jolly boat and row ashore and scout the area?
15 days ago? Why that would have been right when Trunau was attacked. It's possible that there were multiple attacks happening at once. As BB says, we must be prepared.
Kurag dons his new mail and strings his bow. Before he gets in the jolly boat though he walks over to Lucky and gives e horse a quick rub on the head. Be good for me. I will be back soon. No more adventures for you today. The drakes were enough and I think you still need to recover from that.
Greta nods to the others and loosens her mace in her belt while cranking her crossbow back and loading a bolt.
Bormann gives Bloodtusk a surly look as he and his fellow dwarves, once again, are called upon to take care of the boat's security. Silently, he gathers up his gear and heads for the boat, ready to row to the ruined pier.
Once BB points out the corpse Kurag moves over to fish it out so they can inspect it closer. Might be interesting to find out how long ago it died and how. You able to take a look Greta and see what happened here?
heal aid check
Turning back to BB as he glances up at the surrounding area. I don't know for sure BB but I have a feeling before this night is over we will find out one way or the other. Hopefully we can capture one alive and question them like we did back home.
Greta examines the corpse. "It's definitely dead. Arrow to the heart. Oddly romantic in a way."
Kurag looks at Greta with one eye raised as if to question her take on romance. Figuring now was not the time to discuss matters of the heart he turns away from the dead orc to continue the trek onwards. Well that is what be less orc to worry about right now. The question remains where are its clanmates.
Perception for threats
As he gets farther along the path Kurag moves slower and quietly hoping to not give away his location.
Stealth
Bormann clambers out of the jollyboat preferring to be back on dry land.
"Bloodtusk says this was intact 2 weeks ago, but it could have been wrecked much more recently than that," he says as he starts to poke around and look for tracks, trying to get an estimate on when this happened.
As you disembark, and head to the way station, you see the ground littered with a couple of orc and dire wolf corpses. Those furthest from the way station have been shot with arrows, those closest have been slashed with a blade.
There seems to be some stables and the raised way station .