"Speaking as a man accustomed to being the man with nothing to lose... Is it really best that the man with nothing to lose, with the least understanding of himself and of the circumstance, choose how much we risk?"
Seeing Snake raise the red rag, Gristav stretches, and settles.
"Well, the torches indicate the scene be torchlit. That is to say, they do this work by night. Probably for discretion. So I've time to return to our prisoners, in any case. It would not do, if the usual method was for the flag to begin a conversation by mirrors, and we could not hold that conversation."
"I'd strike the pennant until we know how it's used. It may ward away, as likely it draws."
Unless stopped, Gristav will return to the prisoners.
Braddon follows Tendal into the tunnel and gets comfortable.
"It'll be okay. People don't come out of hiding without a reason, but pretty much any reason will suffice. I just hope they don't take too long. I hate waiting."
Tendal and Braddon retreat into the cave to keep an eye on the hidden beach from a place of concealment. Gristav begins the trek back through the tunnel to the cave beneath the clearing.
While the others settle in under the cover of darkness inside the tunnel, Gristav takes his leave from them there to retrace his steps through the long and tedious passageway.
It has been generally observed that it seems to take longer to get to a new place for the first time than it does to return by the same route: something to do with the unpredictability of the original journey in comparison to the return. Perhaps it is due to Gristav's highly-limited visual range provided by his firefly-cantrip, or perhaps to the difference between traveling a dark subterranean passage known to be frequented by enemies with four companions as opposed to alone, but the way back does not seem any shorter to the lone traveler. If it weren't for the fact that there are no branches, he would have wondered if he'd taken a wrong turning, it seems to take so long before he finds himself back at the end of the tunnel, where he must step down onto the damp rim of rock around the underground pool.
The time doesn't pass any more quickly for the men waiting for something -- anything -- to happen in response to their raised signal. Crouching in silence in a dark tunnel is a difficult activity to keep up for an extended period of time, both physically and mentally. From their limited perspective on the outside world (consisting almost exclusively of the offshore boulder) it's difficult to gauge the passage of time, as visible in the effects of the passage of the sun across the sky. Braddon is quickly bored, and all are uncomfortable maintaining their positions in the comfortless tunnel. The thought is crossing all of their minds that the flag could be intended to stay up for days or weeks until the ship it's signalling passes this particular stretch of the coast when a small boat appears, its oarsmen pulling it around the edge of the concealing rock.
"They must have a ship hidden here somewhere," Braddon grumbles.
"I'm not sure where, though, 'cause I couldn't see any from the tower."
Gristav skirts the trickling pool and steps up onto the sloping mud-and-rock floor of the large cavern beneath the clearing. The dim shafts of indirect sunlight entering the cave from the two holes in the ceiling are almost unbearably bright to the half-elf's eyes after his long journey underground with only a cantrip to light his way. To his relief, the rope is still dangling from beneath the trap door in the tower.
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Back at the other end of the tunnel, the waiting men watch as the boat draws nearer the shore. There appear to be five men within: four at the oars and one at the tiller. As they approach the shingle, the boat itself passes out of the field of vision afforded by the cave opening, but the landing can be heard, first by the shouted orders and grunts of the oarsmen, then the splash of the landing party hopping overboard and the scrape of the hull against the pebbled beach as it is made secure.
Tendal pantomimes, holding up one finger then twiddling his finger in a mystical manner before bringing his hands together and then splaying them out in a fan before him. He then mimes a thumbs up followed by a thumbs down while looking questioningly at his companions.
Braddon looks confused for a moment and wiggles his own fingers. Light dawns upon him and he grins widely and nods yes. He stands quietly and silently draws both his weapons, sneaking to just inside the entrance of the cave.
Shaking his head at the over eager ranger, Snake turns to Tendal and nods before retrieving his morningstar and turning his attention to the oncoming threat. Yeah this is gonna go smooth, he thinks sarcastically.
Gristav skirts the trickling pool and steps up onto the sloping mud-and-rock floor of the large cavern beneath the clearing. The dim shafts of indirect sunlight entering the cave from the two holes in the ceiling are almost unbearably bright to the half-elf's eyes after his long journey underground with only a cantrip to light his way. To his relief, the rope is still dangling from beneath the trap door in the tower.
"Fair and faithful friend, feeble faint fae flitter-flame... thank you.", Gristav breathed, scarcely more than thought. A foolish fancy, imagining a beinghood in a light he knew to be conjured - that he himself had conjured - but if being needed to be allowed, or imagined (and would it not?), he did not wish to deny the mote that advantage. Some things had to be believed in, before they could exist. And if they didn't exist, what harm in believing in them, anyway?
He dismissed the faelight, feeling no guilt in ravelling the threads of worldweft he'd looped into luminescence. He wasn't silly, after all, only just... fae.
Braddon sneaks up the tunnel until he can see some of the men that have just landed on the beach. From their appearance, he presumes they are pirates.
--------------------------------
Gristav climbs the rope with some difficulty; his hands are red and smarting from slipping on the rough hemp by the time he grabs hold of the edge and pulls himself up into the tower. Going up the stairs around the circular wall, he regains the roof, greeted by the pigeons' coos, and turns his gaze out toward the coast. Just above the cliffs, the raised signal is a tiny speck of red against the sea beyond. A ship is anchored offshore, only its masts and sails visible above the rocky hills.
Tendal attempts to move quietly up behind Braddon and Snake, mentally preparing himself to cast his spell.
In the gloom of the cave, Tendal moves a bit too quickly for the unevenness of the floor. His foot catches and turns in an unseen crack causing him to fall to the side. He reaches out and steadies himself on the wall, saving himself from a spill, but his cane taps against the wall, a wooden sound out of place amidst the natural sound of wind and wave. He grimaces.
"That likely spoiled it. We should strike now." he says in a stage whisper and moves out into the sunlight ready to do battle.
Braddon rolls his eyes and dashes out beside Tendal, making sure not to get in the way of his spellcasting but sticking close enough to fight off anyone attacking the noble.
As Braddon creeps toward the mouth of the cave, the pirates can be overheard talking among themselves.
"Grab the goods, and let's get underway!"
"Where are they? I don't see anything."
"Check those crates."
"What the--? There ain't nothing here!"
At that point, Tendal stumbles and raps his cane sharply against the stone wall. At the mouth of the cave, Braddon sees the eyes of the two men he can see swivel in his direction. If he can see them, then...
Snake moves past Tendal to get a better view of who it is they're facing.
A slight smirk crossing his face at the sound of an old acquaintance, Phillip mentally reminds himself to reintroduce himself in a manner befitting their history. Decrying the longshanks that are in the way of a straightforward introduction... Phil lurks forward to a better vantage to offer pointed greetings...
Braddon charges the startled pirate before he can react, the oversized blade of his bastard sword ripping open his belly and spilling his entrails to the sand, where the pirate's body quickly joins them.
Tendal remains behind cover, waiting for an opening to move and cast. Snake slips past him, eager to lay eyes on these new enemies.
The other pirate on the starboard side of the boat steps back against its gunwale, grabbing a boarding pike to defend himself.
Tendal exits the cave with alacrity, pushing past Snake and moving forward as he begins his weaving. Tendrils of light start to snap and sputter between his hand and the end of his cane as he moves as quickly as he dares on the loose sand. Blinking in the suddenly bright sunlight, as his vision resolves he takes in the sight of Braddon, bastard sword in hand, standing over the prostrate body of a sailor, and the remaining men beyond, one of them now arming himself with a long pole and hook thing, the name for which Tendal could not immediately recall.
"Aspergine Multiplorum Hutesium." he intones, and the sunlight is replaced for the briefest instant by a nauseating rainbow swirl of colors erupting from the end of the cane.
Tendal follows Braddon out of the cave entrance and quickly casts a spell. A disabling pattern of lights and colors flashes over the three nearest men, and they drop insensate to the ground. The bearded man on the far side of the boat is left without allies before he can even react to the sudden turn of events.
Braddon darts around the bodies and the boat to behind Brett Scabb.
He raises one sword over his head and points the other straight at the man, but pauses in place.
"Hi," he grins unpleasantly. "Try something."
Braddon moves both to threaten the unarmed man and to cut off any retreat toward the sea.
--------------------------------
Gristav descends the winding stair through the tower and exits via the annex, intending to revisit the bound prisoners left in the underbrush; however, he steps out the door to be met by the business end of a loaded crossbow, being held at the ready by a Varisian man he recalls seeing when the party passed through the campsite in the clearing earlier. The man watches him warily, glancing over his shoulder to see if anyone else is going to follow him out of the tower complex.
Gristav descends the winding stair through the tower and exits via the annex, intending to revisit the bound prisoners left in the underbrush; however, he steps out the door to be met by the business end of a loaded crossbow, being held at the ready by a Varisian man he recalls seeing when the party passed through the campsite in the clearing earlier. The man watches him warily, glancing over his shoulder to see if anyone else is going to follow him out of the tower complex.
For his part, Gristav, also, tries to sense beyond the obvious, hoping his elven ears offer evidence of any other... others.
"Oh, put that down; there is no point to picking that quarrel with me.", Gristav says in Varisian. "Come in, you must be curious about what they've been doing to endanger your folk, to bring such gadjos as we amongst you. You're brave, to come alone. For family, no? That would be my guess. Emiliu? Not Costica, he would not inspire backup, and Cappi, I doubt anyone feels such affection for him. So, Emiliu? He'll live, and learn. Youth, and folly, time forgives. Sometimes, the worst villains, seem the best chance, to make good."
Given that the situation seems well in hand, Phillip holds his position at least until Scabb has given up his intent - lest his sudden appearance sway decision in one direction or another.
The bearded man, overtaken by circumstances, slowly and carefully raises his empty hands in the air. "You have any particular grudge against us," he asks pleasantly, "or is this just random banditry?"
"Oh, put that down; there is no point to picking that quarrel with me.", Gristav says in Varisian. "Come in, you must be curious about what they've been doing to endanger your folk, to bring such gadjos as we amongst you. You're brave, to come alone. For family, no? That would be my guess. Emiliu? Not Costica, he would not inspire backup, and Cappi, I doubt anyone feels such affection for him. So, Emiliu? He'll live, and learn. Youth, and folly, time forgives. Sometimes, the worst villains, seem the best chance, to make good."
"Zer? Ez, dut .... Bertan uzten duten bezala bizirik bada, guztia egingo dute hasteko garrasika eta jendetza oso bat daukat hemen atzera ongietorria. Hori izan zen arduragabekeria. Zer joko zara jolasten?" He glances nervously over Gristav's shoulder again, neither lowering the crossbow nor overtly threatening with it.
"Neither... that I'm aware of," the tall man says as he makes his way toward the pirate. He studies him and his gang a moment before shaking his head. "Who are you?"
"We'll start with the second and move on to the first."
Braddon sheathes his bastard sword to free that hand and starts removing Brett's weapons and belongings. With his other hand he keeps his short sword at Brett's throat while he does so.
Stepping out from the shadows as Braddon looks to disarm Scabb, the halfling keeps his crossbow loaded and while not aimed directly... it definitely wouldn't take much movement to set it neck-wards. With a wry and self-satisfied smirk on his face he adds "Oh grudge is such a pedestrian word for the Wasp Queen's work... you are known to me Brett Scabb, does recollection cross your mind to see me?"
"Gentlemen, if I could have some assistance securing the incapacitated individuals lying on the strand, it would be greatly appreciated. I also recommend securing the remaining bearded gentleman." Tendal says, as he moves to truss up the pirates.
"What? No, I've.... You leave them alive like that, they'll all start screaming and have the whole pack here to welcome you back. It's sloppy. What are you playing at?" He glances nervously over Gristav's shoulder again, neither lowering the crossbow nor overtly threatening with it.
"Asmatzen dut, ahaztu egin duzu Balezta, agian zu baino eskaini nahi zuen, zure galderari puntu gehiago emanez. Nahi ez duzu fidatzen hobea, espazio gabe eman zehar emandako erantzun bat?
Orain, zer naiz jotzen dut? Desagertutako lagun bat daukat, eta beste batzuk laguntza behar dut, eta beraz, nirea dute. Beraz, hemen nago. Eta badirudi, gerra horiek etxean heriotza aholkuak? Edo esan nahi duzu, gags bakarrik? Ez dugu espero laster esnatuko horiek; batzuk nahiko zauritzen dira. Eta gag bat hil ditzake, hala nola gizon bat. Baina bitxia naiz, zer egingo duzu. mehatxu adierazten dute, agian nik baino hobeto Ziur naiz ni baino hobeto ezagutzen duzu
Baina aukera hori irudikatzen ezagutzen duzu? Hemen zer behar dute, eta nola erabiltzen ari dira? Non beste muturrean dago, eta zergatik? horiek amaitzeko izan liteke dugu, baina ez dugu behar hori amaitzeko.
Beharko aukera mintzatzean izan dugu? Gurekin arteko balezta batekin?"
Now, what am I playing at? I have a missing friend, and I need the cooperation of some others, and so, they have mine. So, I am here. And it seems, at war, with those... you advise the death of? Or did you mean, only gags? We don’t expect them to awaken soon; some are quite hurt. And a gag might kill, such a man. But I AM curious, what you advise. You know the threat they represent, perhaps better than I. Surely better than I.
But do you know the opportunity that’s represented? What they have here, and how they’re using it? Where the other end is, and why? We might have to end them, but we don’t need to end that.
Should we be speaking of opportunity? With a crossbow between us?
Tendal is able to locate a coil of rope in the jollyboat to bind the temporarily-quiescent pirates. Braddon removes a rapier from the belt of the man he is holding at swordpoint. Phillip answers Snake's question as to the bearded man's identity.
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Back in the clearing, the Varisian shows his teeth in a mirthless grin. "Zaude medikuak ez. Gizon bat zen jada laguntza negarrez. Hura isilarazi nuen. Eta bere lagunak buelta eman bada," he waggles the crossbow thoughtfully without lowering it, "nahiago dut zure etsaia agertzen ziren zure laguna baino. Duzu mintzamena arma gabe, nire heriotza-zigorra izango litzateke, zer egin duzun hemen kontuan hartuta."
"Ez zenuke utzi Sczarni bizirik, beren anaien ari zaren jarraitzeko behera mesederako ezean."
You should not leave Sczarni alive, unless you are hoping for their brothers to track you down.
Stepping out from the shadows as Braddon looks to disarm Scabb, the halfling keeps his crossbow loaded and while not aimed directly... it definitely wouldn't take much movement to set it neck-wards. With a wry and self-satisfied smirk on his face he adds "Oh grudge is such a pedestrian word for the Wasp Queen's work... you are known to me Brett Scabb, does recollection cross your mind to see me?"
He frowns. "This is Ishana's work?" he ventures.
With satisfied smirk still nestled upon his face Phillip slightly shakes his head "No... I stand before you a man following the statue, but not the throne... I'm freelance." preferring not to say too much until the disabled pirates are seen to restraints.
"Scabb, huh?" Snake thinks on the name a moment... drawing nothing. "Ishana?"
Neither name is familiar to Snake.
Braddon tosses the rapier to Snake's feet and continues looting his prisoner.
"Ishana? Is she the cute Garundi woman? Or Mwangi? I can never tell the difference. Is that Araska's Tooth out there?"
Adding enigmatically to Serpe and Braddon's questioning "Ishana is of the faith"
Tendal racks his brain for a moment thinking back to the discussion with the street urchins.
Knowledge (Local):
"'Cute?'" Brett Scabb barks a laugh as well as he can with a knife at his throat. "It'd be the first time I'd heard her called that. Now look," he addresses Phil deprecatingly, "are you working for Ishana or against her? Because you have to know I've got nothing to do with the tiefling's business, if you're looking for vengeance, and if you're looking to hurt her, Besmara knows she cares nothing for my fate, nor any of ours."
Braddon finds a rather nice dagger slipped inside the man's boot and removes it.
Tendal inexpertly trusses one of the unconscious men and regards his handiwork doubtfully. A pirate is shaped rather differently than a capon....
Braddon adds the dagger to his own collection.
"That shape-shifter killed my Gramma," Braddon snarls.
"Where is she?"
Self-satisfied chuckle growing from his gullet before spilling quietly across his chest and from his maw, Phillip adds "Worse and better than that... the slights we're chasing run the gamut from murder to zilarrezko iruzurra." keeping his crossbow at the ready and adding to Braddon "Braddon - best put eye to the ropes on the others... then we can take our time with our maitea gonbidatua"
Back in the clearing, the Varisian shows his teeth in a mirthless grin. "You are no doctor. One man was already blubbering for help. I had to silence him. And if his friends turn up, I would rather appear your enemy than your friend." he waggles the crossbow thoughtfully without lowering it, "Speaking to you other than across a weapon would sign my death warrant, what you've done here."
"You should not leave Sczarni alive, unless you are hoping for their brothers to track you down."
Gristav glooms at the thought of a bound man 'silenced', but it is fatigue and not ire in his eye as he replies, "Nago medikuak ez. Era berean, nago harategi ez. Ez trebetasunak ohar. Beraz, nola ez, zure mozorrotzeko babesten dugu, nire etsai gisa, eta zergatik ez, traba dugu bazaude benetan hain? Beraz, ondoren, zauden ez. Benetan beraz. Nola, ondoren, eszena honen irten nahi duzu?"
"Mitxel bataila bat izan genuen gero, frogatu dut uste dut, duzu bizirik uzteko joera nuke."
"If we did have to fake a battle, I think I have demonstrated, I would tend to leave you alive."
The Varisian shrugs. "Besteak beste, ez erruki marjina daukat. Itzultzen naizenean, alarma bat igo beharko dut. Ezkerretik dituzun bizirik gizonek ere gaitzetsi egingo. Marzo bere mendekua izango dute. Ezean...," he hesitates, "...badira bizirik ez eta ezean bere gizon guztiak hil zutela aurkitu nuen. Hildakoak kontatzeko ipuinak ez, eta nire lagun konpentsazio ... gure oroitzapen lausoak eta gure ikusmena ahula topatuko dugu." He watches Gristav appraisingly for a reaction.
Noticing the flimsy job Tendal is doing on tying up the thugs, he looks to Braddon, "Raccoon is right, might be better if you tie up the loose ends. We'll watch this one." He moves behind Scabb, taking Braddon's place, blocking any possible escape route. As Braddon is occupied, he keeps his voice marginally low, "You might wanna start talking, bub, that one is kind of loose in the head," he nods toward Braddon. "If you refuse to share info on this woman, there's no telling what he might do. Well... you seen what happen to that one," he motions to the one laying in a pool of his own blood, "I'd guess that's pretty close to what he might do," he says as a matter of fact.
Sheathing his other sword, Braddon scowls and heads over to the unconcious pirates. He kicks one sulkily, snatches the rope from Tendal and starts roughly binding his unfortunate victim.