Daurros Erdai |
Daurros comes out of the sky and alights next to Ardanto and Finn. "Lady Vanderboren, it is good to see you again." He nods to the Ravens, "And all of you, as well. While I do not wish to interrupt the reunion, I must ask what happened here. Is there a risk of another attack? Are these two ships the only ones? And is this the first time the colony was attacked?"
Keeper of Forbidden Lore |
Before Lavina has chance to say much another force comes from deeper in the Colony. They are lead by a tall hansom man with a well groomed beard, dressed in bloody and ash covered Chain of the finest make. He leads what looks to be a rag tag band of colonists and Guards. He seems to take the group in as well as raising and eyebrow to Lavina and Ardantos embrace at which point she does seem to pull away a bit.
The man seems to scan the area , seeing the fight seems well in hand he simply Nods to the group. "I am assuming you know the lady Vanderborn. I am also assuming those crewmen attacking the Pirate vessel are yours as well." At which point he turns to the people with him "Well do not stand there go help!" The turns back to you. "I am Lord Manthalay Meravanchi, leader, eh one of the leaders of this Colony" He says with a glance at Lavina.
Ardanto Valanto |
Ardanto meets Lord Manthalay's look with a nod of acknowledgment "a relative of yours is around here some where m'lord, Avner Meravanchi," he gestures towards the beech. "The ape demons of the jungle extracted a terrible toll on his mind and you will find him perhaps more quite and withdrawn than the last time you may of met. Once the battle is truly won, I shall see to it he is escorted to be your ward."
He turns back to Lavina, "If you will excuse me, I have a boat to capture." Ardanto then takes off at break neck speed back to the docks to aid the crew.
Keeper of Forbidden Lore |
Lord Meravanchi seems surprised by Ardantos statement "Avner? Here and demon apes?" But as Ardano runs off he simply says "Yes clear the docks me and the boys can handle this. He also seems taken about by Finn "Uh yes, the fighting is mostly seems over, just a few to push into the sea"
Lavina Nods to Finn We will speak of events this evening at my manor, by all means if you can round up and question a few of the attacks do so.
By the time you arrive the fight for the ships is not going well for the pirates, The first ship seems to have fighting going on below and the second, with a tiny crew is desperately trying to set sail.
Ardanto Valanto |
Ardanto rushes to where ever the fighting is the most fierce yelling a rallying cry as he goes "Yield to surrender you pirate scum and you may yet get to live, try and flee or fight and I'll put you all to the sword or rope!" He will take quarter of any that do surrender, figuring that he will need some new crew members when they retrieve the Sea Wyvern.
Daurros Erdai |
My fly spell should still be active ... Daurros flies into the bay. Staying outside of the Pirates bows and crossbow range, but still close enough for a fireball, he yells to them, "Give up now, and you may yet live. Continue to try and escape, and I will burn your ship and flesh around you!"
Finn Killshrike |
Finn intones some words of magical power and grows to twice his previous size.
He sprouts wicked-looking fangs and claws and turns to one of the pirates.
"All right -- Who is your leader? What are you looking for? How many more are there of you? Answer me, or I'll grind your bones to make my bread!!" he roars.
cast Enlarge Person then Intimidate (including +4 for larger size):
1d20 + 21 + 1 + 4 ⇒ (15) + 21 + 1 + 4 = 41
Keeper of Forbidden Lore |
Arando and the crew start to make way to chase the ship as it tries and flees, bow shots reach toward Daurros but do not hit him.
On the shore The enlarg3ed Finn has terrified the captives, most cower from him. One does speak "He, he...umm..he went shore to lead the attack. Pete were his name...."
Daurros Erdai |
As the arrows come toward him, Daurros grimaces and shakes his head. "A pity," he yells. "I might have let you live." With that, he sends a fireball to detonate directly in the midst of the largest group he can see.
damage 9d6 ⇒ (1, 3, 4, 4, 5, 2, 5, 6, 5) = 35
"If you do not surrender, I will send another!"
Daurros Erdai |
Daurros sends another fireball at the wounded ship, using his bonded ring to cast the spell.
damage 9d6 ⇒ (6, 6, 4, 1, 1, 4, 2, 1, 1) = 26
After that, he leaves the remnants of the pirates to those giving chase, and flies back to land. He starts directing the colonists to begin gathering the dead pirates together into a single pile, and instructs them to strip the bodies. (At some point, he will of course check for magic.)
Coming upon Finn and speaking with him, Daurros answers his question, "Yes, there is, but it is divine in nature. Arcane spells cannot speak to the dead, unfortunately."
Keeper of Forbidden Lore |
While there is no why Finn knows to talk with the dead, the living captives are scared as they can be of him. A pitiful example called "Lefty ( he seems to be missing an ear) wet himself and spilled everything he knew. He tells Finn the pirates are from someplace called "Ratsend". A small island off the main shore of the Isle of Dread. "The captain were post to just be scouting, but he rounded everyone from ratsend up and made a full attack. Thought we could get it ourselves he did. Without thr fleet"
Duarros throws another firball at the ship, it is now burning and any fleeing pirates are easily rounded up.It might be possible to even save the ship, if actions are taken to put out the flames before they spread past the sails.
One of the Guards nods at Karkalla. "Not sure it'll hold em all, but we can find someplace to holds em before we hang them"
Keeper of Forbidden Lore |
Ardanto leads his crew aboard the ship to try and save it Give me three Prof sailor checks
Back on shore.
Lefty still looks scared and unsure "I don kno! They be wanting to ransack it. Its village with no fleet, we shouldna come. The fleet will kills us!" He breaks down and tells you everything. A large group of pirates called the Crimson fleet promised the Rats in bunch a place within the fleet if they scouted farshore. Pete never told him how many ships were coming or just why. All he told lefty and the rest was they had two months to ransack the colony and leave before the fleet arrived.
Ardanto Valanto |
Ardanto leads his crew aboard the ship to try and save it Give me three Prof sailor checks
Profession-Sailor +10 (+0wis +7 Rank, +3 Class Skill)
1d20 + 10 ⇒ (12) + 10 = 221d20 + 10 ⇒ (16) + 10 = 26
1d20 + 10 ⇒ (1) + 10 = 11
Good to see the dice still hate me.
Keeper of Forbidden Lore |
Heh, no. The guys at rats end had two months until the fleet showed up to loot and run. As they rats end pirates were double crossing the fleet buy ransacking Farshore
Ardanto and the crew manage to save the ship, but not without some damage. They lost most of the sails and the main mast will have to be replaced as well as some other work upon the hull and decks. A few weeks work at lest, but the ship is salvageable.
Ardanto Valanto |
The name crimson fleet rang a bell, so doing a search for it on this thread turned up a few matches. Apparently the female pirate captain we fought very early on in the caves was a member of the Crimson Fleet. From a quick scan of the postsd, Finn did not like her very much at all as she had sent her now dead first mate to exact revenge against the Vanderboren household for Lavina's brothers crimes. I didn't see any more info than that.
Ardanto gets the second pirate ship towed back to port and secured, he plans to dry dock it and repair it at some point. But before that he needs to take a stock of the crew and round up the prisoners, he checks on each crew member individually and on the fate of any who have not survived the skirmish. Any unwounded survivors he instructs to search the two captured ships for pirate treasure, hidden crew members or anything of interest. He also casts an eye over the captured pirates, starting an assessment of those who are pirates by virtue of their circumstances and not due to blood thirst or inherent evil, [ooc]Lacking any real skills in sense motive, this is just a cursory examination of their general demur now they are prisoners.
Keeper of Forbidden Lore |
Yes the Crimson fleet is a well known "gang" of pirates. They tend to have their hands in anything underhanded and illegal. They are well known to be bloody and totally ruthless
Old lefty claims not to know how many, just that Pete wanted to loot and scoot. Of the crew you lost Deven and Velous Coust looks like he will lose a hand without magical healing. Of the pirates if asked a few (such as lefty) claimed they had little choice, taken by pirates they had the option to join or die.
Ardanto Valanto |
Ardanto knows full well that the colonists and possibly several of his own party are going to want to hang the pirates, but he looks at his depleted crew, the two captured ships and how the colony almost failed against this rag tag bunch and wonders if the prisoners could be made to pay for their crimes in other ways. He tells the pirates as much, "well you sorry lot, you know full well that the crime for piracy in a civilized land is to be hung by the neck from the local gallows." He pauses to let that notion sink in before continuing "but we are far from civilized lands and I don't see any gallows yet, just plenty of trees that could make a nice big one," he gestures the surrounding jungle. "So while I am all for a good hanging party, I am going to put my neck on the line to try and save some of you. Now while there is no guarantee that some one as charming and devilishly good looking as me can pursued these colonists that you are worth more alive than dead, I am willing to give it a go.." he cuts off any murmurs by emphasizing the first word of the next line "BUT! if these noble people agree to allow you to live, then you are mine in body and soul, you will work your debt off and show total loyalty and respect to the words of me and of my officers. Earn my trust and I will set you free with a fat wage for your services, try to mutiny, disobey or piss any of us off and you will wish you had gone to the rope in the first place." He glares at all the assembled prisoners before finishing, "so think it over while I go an see if their thirst for justice can be swayed by my staggering charisma."
Diplomacy +13 (+1 Cha,+9 Rank, +3 Class Skill) 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (16) + 13 = 29
Ardanto will ask everyone he can to find magical healing for Velous, he knows at least one or two potions of curing were divided amongst the party (he gave his to Tavey to given to the unconscious man). He will buy the potion/curing if required, refusing to give up hope that he can save his gunners hand.
He also tries to organize a plot of land for Deven to be buried in holy soil, so at least one of the fallen crew will rest in peace. He wonders how many man he has to lead to their death before the blood staining his hands begins to show.
He finds Avner and escorts him to his relatives care as carefully as he can.
Finally meeting back up with Lavina he greets her warmly once more before trying to get her position on the prisoners and a general feel for the mood/blood lust of the colony.
Daurros Erdai |
Did we find anything of value among the pirates? Don't forget Daurros will check all of their gear for magic as well.
Daurros waits to speak privately with Finn and Ardanto. "I suspect we must prepare these people if an attack is expected in two months time. We should also get a full update from Lavinia as to the situation here. Let's get the prisoners secure, the town stabilized, get some rest, and then convene as to our plans. Don't forget, we also need to return this idol immediately. We gave our word. And it might bring us additional allies, as well."
Finn Killshrike |
"I agree, we must talk to the leaders of the colony and inform them of the situation. Ardanto, I suspect you were a little premature in promising those pirates leniency, but it's true that Lady Vanderboren does have a tender heart..."
Finn helps get the prisoners squared away in one of the undamaged buildings and makes sure they're kept under close guard, confiscating any weapons or treasures the reavers might have.
Ardanto Valanto |
Ardanto nods his agreement with first Daurros and then Finn. In response to Finn he adds "If the colonists agree to allow the pirates to live, it will not be leniency they will be getting, but a chance to earn their redemption through hard word and pay back this colony for their losses. These burnt building will need rebuilding, coastal defenses constructed and men to man them. Unless we are going to recruit the local tribesmen and their undead relatives, I see every prisoner as an extra member of the milta. If the town decides to put them to death, then at least my conscience will be clear and the blood will be staining their memories. But let me worry about that, we need to see what else we can do to prepare them for the next wave of pirates. Shall we go an talk to Lavina?" Ardanto looks a little to eager to be reunited with lady Vanderboren after months of dreading their first meeting.
Keeper of Forbidden Lore |
The pirates seem to jump at the chance, even a slim one of avoiding a meeting with the keeper so soon. Still it is likely Ardanto will have to do some fast taking with the locales to stop a hanging.
Daurros takes and interest in the dead pirates. Most have little of real value. A total of maybe 60 GP in coins and trinkets. The ringleader however had some things of value. magical armor (+2 studded leather), his sword as well (+1 keen rapier), two potions (CMW) a masterwork punching dagger, a crystal frog (350gp) and gold deaths head amulet(150 gp) and several gold bracelets (100 gp total) and 35 gp
Lavina does ask you all to come to her manor for dinner and to freshen up.
I'll move to the manor Monday, RP if ya like
Daurros Erdai |
Daurros makes sure the loot is properly secured, especially from the captured pirates. He personally doesn't care what happens to them, although he does mention in passing to Ardanto, "You must watch them like hawks. I fear that when the Crimson Fleet arrives, they may be very willing to switch sides in the hopes of getting back in their good graces. This bunch was obviously quite poor; probably why they thought they would try to take on the colony on their own. In truth, you may not want to dissuade the colonists from their justice too vehemently. We might be better off."
At that point, something occurs to Daurros, and it surprises him a bit. Before heading to Lavinia's with the others, he finds himself using the remaining duration of his ability to fly to scour the colony until he finds Arainn, just to ensure she has come through the battle unscathed.