Cap'n Voodoo's Freebooter PBP

Game Master voodoo chili

Dibbs narrows eyes on the feathered pr1ck, working up a loogie as his mind's put to task...

Sense Motive at +8 to see if Dibbs gets a hunch on the Grackle's part to play - with, against, betrayal, all that stuff.

...dispensing the loogie onto the ground before him Dibbs growls to Kaul "Keep an eye on them statues eh?" and the Groom "I'd keep tha crossbow onnim, specially iffin he looks like e's got sh1t on his fingers" before narrowing gaze back to the Grackle... wary of duplicity "Well judgin by these ugly marble pieces o sh1te... I guess she's expected yersel a few times inna past too."

"What's yer feckin play an where's Hinsin."

The crowman's feathers puff up as he bristles. "Thought we had a bargain," his comments seem directed at Jim. "Partners taking the ship, but then you forgot all about poor Jim Stork. Made Hinsin your first."

Don't forget everyone is still hasted at the moment if you want to close.

Dibbets rolls his eyes at tengu-driven-melodrama, but gives Jimmer a chance for his say. Instead the Halfling keeps his eyes roving, searching for where the Siren 'might' come from...

Scoping out the entry / exits from the room other than where we came in. For clarity he's looking for spots where he could deploy his clairaudience / voyance to good effect.

"He did't go down easy. I wonder if he's part way to being her next rock idol."

knowledge:arcane?]d20 + 7 (+3 vs monster characteristics)

At Dibbet's warning the Groom heads toward the courtyard, crossbow ready, to see about cutting off the alarm.

That was supposed to be a knowledge arcane check, although spellcraft may have been more useful. Was trying to judge why Naked Sammie was such a tough brute.

knowledge:arcane: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (11) + 7 = 18 With a (+3 vs monster characteristics) or a straight +8 for spellcraft

the Groom keeps the bow aimed at the Tengu, "Been wondering if'n he'd bleed black or red. If he gives me the excuse, I'll find out quick enough.

Kaul nods and moves to one of the statues, Lopper readied;

"Want me tae crack em'..?"

Was trying to judge why Naked Sammie was such a tough brute.

because he was a prize fighter (L5 brawler) with lots of hp and a couple good rolls : p

Never bring a fist to a sap fight...

Could have been worse though: Cockfight

Jim closes his eyes and pinches the bridge of his nose, breathing deeply. "Feck. I have had enough of this sh1te. You want Magpie? Take her--I'm out of here. Let's find ourselves a fresh crew, mates. I've a notion of where to find a better ship." He turns and stalks off.

The Grackle gives a little victory caw, but takes Madman Jim's capitulation with more than a trace of suspicion.

Grackle sense motive: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (11) + 1 = 12

Kaul eyes the Grackle, then realising their Skipper is on the out the thug see's his opportunity to cause mayhem diminish...

"Time to mark me mark!"

He sizes up the statue in front of him (Full Round - Auto hit) then sets about it with Lopper in quick fashion (still hasted?)

Power Attack Damage (ignores Hardness): 1d10 + 9 ⇒ (1) + 9 = 10

(Hasted?) Power Attack Damage (ignores Hardness): 1d10 + 9 ⇒ (1) + 9 = 10

Dibbets doesn't move, instead just standing there to deliver a flat "What?" and when Jimmer doesn't stop calling out to his back "No really - feckin what?"

Unable to resist a little random vandalism, Kaul sics Lopper on the nearest birdy beefcake statue. A couple whacks send the pigeon head rolling and shatters a muscle-laden arm and bit of the torso. Dibbets stares after Jim in disbelief.

Dingus hasn't been paying a whole lot of attention, but then starts as he sees the incredible actions taking place... The Captain is walking away from his ship and crew; Dibbets seems to be looking for a head or something, The Groom is bird hunting, but not shooting, and Kaul is attacking innocent statues. He frowns and looks at big bird.

1d20 + 10 ⇒ (5) + 10 = 15Spellcraft

"What have you done to them you fickle, feathered, fiend"?

Kaul emits a hacksaw chuckle as his wrecking continues, moving onto the next statue;

"Hur-hur-hur... Look better broke!"

Unless stopped he full round auto hits the next inanimate victim

Power Attack Damage (ignores Hardness): 1d10 + 9 ⇒ (8) + 9 = 17

(Hasted?) Power Attack Damage (ignores Hardness): 1d10 + 9 ⇒ (1) + 9 = 10

I'll let Jim chime in, but Kaul's def exacerbating the situation.

the Groom not entirely sure he is up on the troupe's dealing since their reunion is willing to let Jim take the lead here. He starts backing out after Jim keeping the weapon on the Grackle. "Magpie is a feckin' sissy name anyway. Ain't fit for my Queen's fleet, except maybe to shuttle the male harlots about for those with that carnal taste."

I'll let Jim chime in, but Kaul's def exacerbating the situation.

He is a thug after all :) Default modus operandi is exacerbating and antagonism situations...

Dibbets senses that the contentious command is already taking its toll on Jim. Dingus can't see that there is any spell directed at the crew though there is some appearance of a confusion enchantment.

the Grackle just shakes his head at Kaul's ax spree. "I really wouldn't do tha-" He is interrupted at the sound of shattering stone.

An irate woman's voice comes from above. "What is going ON out there, Grackle?!"

Broken from his reverie Dibbets looks back to see scarred and nuggety gone a bit chop happy, while soggy and foreboding is backing aways after Jimmer. Sensing the roil in the waves that his ship of life is sailing through at present, and realising that half their firepower is already sowing seed out of the fight the halfling hisses at Keelhaul "Kaul! Nuff o' that... out we go now lad. Tides' goan out an tha winds changin, can't linger or our sails'll get luffin inna breeze. Right?" before turning to glance at Dingus "You too eh..."

Once his mateys have started after the Groom and Jimmer, Dibbets exhales a belch of foetid stagnant mist to fill the void behind them.

Lay down some covering mist in our wake.

Kaul admires his handwork as he heeds his wee shipmates warning.

"Right ye are Dibbs!"

As the grubby oracle lays down a manky mist, the thug takes a deep breath and makes for the exit.

"You blokes were sailing with that idiot? I think I finally got a sailfull of what you all have been going on about. I thought we were looking for two men, not one man and a feathered rat."

Looking out the door while waiting for Dibbetts, "Well, we pissed in her grog. Where do we want to wait for the response?" The boat? First thing we do is sand the name off her." Heading back into the daylight, "I am partial to the Queen's Regard or an old term Garundi term, Bête de Nuit or the Night Beast."

Kaul mugs a grin as he covers the retreat of his mates;

"Ain't we the best at these glorious messes eh lads!"

At The Groom's sage words he bobs a scarred head;

"Bet de N'weet sounds my kinda tub... Hur."

Just as Dingus gets ready to join Kaul in destroying statues, the fun is just like that... over, and he follows the others out a little disappointed, but thankful that his garb was unsoiled.

Sensing they are in unknown territory, the crew shows atypical discretion and hastily retreats to reassess the situation.

I thought elves speak French... ;)

I thought elves speak French... ;)

that was my first thought too, then I thought they spoke Finnish like Tolkein. I like the Elf=French better if we can roll with that.

Dibbets doesn't share the chipper disposition of Kaul, instead chancing an occasional glance backwards as he limps on in Jimmer's wake. Responding to the Groom he adds "I dinnae think ye've the read o' tha winds there Groomy... Jimmer jus gave o'er the ship an left behind what was the First Mate. Smiley here jus p1ssed off tha Siren intae tha bargain s'well. We've a bit more tae think on than jus sandin off a name onna tub that ain't yet ready tae even float bar put to water."

"Huh. I didn't think we were really gonna give it to him. I thought it was to lure Chuckles to the boat, like. Then we settle things without Siren interference." the Groom gives the group a sideways eye as if seeing them for the first time that day, "I guess I have been on my own too long lately. I just ain't getting a good reading on y'all at all...except Chaos...you guys reek of it."

"Mebbe... but bein tha Cap'n's been a bit o' a yoke fer Jimmer since he took it. We ain't in good shape iffin Crowfoot, Siren and Soreballs all come fer us at once... we might hold station, but most o' what crew we gots'll melt like wax under tha flame."

Kaul nods at Dibb's concerns;

"Yer right... Let me take care o' muscles eh? He's out cold... One good Lop and he's done fer! One less concern hur!"

The thug taps hook to ax expectantly...

Cap'n - can you clarify how far we've managed to safely 'withdraw'? - will colour how Dibbs looks to deny Kaul's request for bloodletting...

Great minds - was about to ask the same thing...

Cap'n - can you clarify how far we've managed to safely 'withdraw'?

sounded like you had just stepped out the front door

Dibbs grumbles a quick nay-say to Kaul's desires "Feck that... s' behind us now, keep steppin"

The thug looks disappointed, but holds his tongue.

He makes do with a obscene gesture toward the villa as he hustles along.

It's a long walk through the mid-day tropical heat back to town.

returning to the ship directly?

I would assume so, not to speak for the crew, but it seems they have a fair bit of treasure on board to claim before the title is signed over.

Kaul trudges along, and as the group's resident thinker - shares his musings as they walk;

"Reckon we need tae vote a new Skipper afore we re-name the tub... or we give 'er up an' make fer dry land and a life o' lubberdom!"

Throats dry and legs leaden after the long walk, the mates reach the wharf to find Cobb has kept the crew hard at work and the makeshift repairs are coming along quite well.

On the long walk back, Jim is mostly silent and fuming, but as they near the ship he looks over at Dibbets. "So why *did* you offer Hinsin that post, anyway? He was Lanteri's bedwarmer and not much more."

Responding to the now verbal Jimmer's query Dibbs is direct "Cos e were harmless enough, popular enuff, were part o' Lanteri's inner crew afore so would keep any loyalists happy... an ye could be pretty damn sure 'e werent gonna end up gettin airs an tryin tae off ye. Figgered the rest o' us could keep the tub floatin an he'd be a decent buffer between ye an the rest o' tha useless fecks that were happy enough tae strand us."

Kaul eyes the terse interchange, but offers no wisdom.

Instead he looks to the others;

"So lads... Another successful foray hur! What say we find somewhere to wet our throats eh?"

"I'm not sure what is happening here. We defeated that beautiful naked man, and killed a few statues, then we ran away. Somebody just tell me what I'm supposed to do".

"Get ready to back a story. It's even mostly true, and they're the best kind. Unless one of you wants to wear the hat, I'm thinking we tell the rest of the crew that--because of our, ah, previous history with the Siren and the Grackle, we thought it best to step away from the ship to keep them out of the bull's-eye, and we're terrible sorry to have dragged you into our previous affairs, we'll just take our cut and be on our way."

"There is still the matter of the Sahaugin and the Priestess. 'Cept it ain't a bedtime story. Your new lot might not appreciate a rescue with little chance of loot except the gold shark teeth we knock out. Maybe your share can get something smaller and more nimble in the shoals, crewed by us and those we call friends, and we run the 'hat' up the flag pole and salute it as our captain."

Kaul's mention of a drink to slake your thirst and a pause to discuss the Magpie situation seems a good idea. The ship is certainly in poor repair and likely to require time and expense to get her back in fighting condition. Your contact in Freeport had promised a squibbing, but you aren't sure if he'd pay for a full rebuild. She might be more trouble than she is worth.

A smaller ship might be more manageable for starters. Maybe you can call in some debts in Freeport or just take something. Also, there is still Jemma's heavy coral-encrusted Fearsome Tide that is your right for sale, salvage, or trade back beneath the cyclops ruins.

"We've still got much in a vault in Freeport, and between that and our shares of Redclaw's gold we may be able to get a decent little cutter. I'd still like to take Fearsome Tide out at some point."

That was the one that Jim was thinking of, actually.