** spoiler omitted **
"No!" Asan says a bit louder than he had intended, seeing the chief's wicked blow. Geser is still unconcious, and Suny only just recovered...we can't lose anyone!
He swings his scimitar at the wounded chief, taking advantage of still flanking with an ally;
[dice=Scimitar]1d20+8,-1,-2,+2
[dice=If it hits]1d6+1** spoiler omitted **
Hack swings at the enemy that he hit earlier.
"Foolish man! Do you truly believe that you have the skill needed to land a blow on me? You are deluded."
The man's eyes widen with a ghost of surprise, then narrow.
"Kus umak!" he spits with a growl.
"I kill your friends northman... live with that!"
Polux groans at the severe injury suffered - "Damned boys looking for glory instead of teamwork" - he spits through bloodied teeth, shifting his position, and swinging his weapon with defensive measure.
It seems that the chief intends to make good of his word to Stefan…
Rather than attacking the duelist he turns to strike Asan.
If he cannot manage to hit the nimble duelist, he will slaughter all of Stefan’s friends in front of him…
The second pirate swings down and around and attacks Polux from AB:57.
Via New Coordinates –
Asan……….U:59…….-3 HP
Daya……… V:57…….15 HP
Geser……… U:41……Unconscious but stable
Hack………. Y:56……..15 HP left – (NOTE: 9 normal; 6 from raging)
Polux……… AA:56……0 HP
Stefan……... U:57……24 HP
Suny………. Z:56……11 HP – Stabile
Taissa………Y:55……29
The combined efforts of Asan, Daya, Stefan and Taissa seem to have badly wounded the enemy leader.
Sensing that he couldn’t touch the nimble Stefan, he turned his focus to Asan and managed to drop him to the ground.
Meanwhile, with a mighty swing, Hack was able to drop his enemy, but spent another round in rage and was severely winded, not to mention being already heavily wounded.
Polux moved to attack his foe, but his blow went wide and the pirate dodged about to Polux’s other side to stab at him viciously, causing Polux remain up, but severely staggered.
Hack slips around the fallen enemies to AA58 to attacck the uninjured pirate in AB57.
"I'm not going down alone boy..." - Polux curses through gritted teeth at the enemy in front of him, the pain shooting through his whole body - the blood loss from multiple wounds piling up to take him down.
With a low, determined growl, he swings his weapon again, all caution thrown to the wind in the face of death.
His eyes glazing over from the last burst of energy, he cannot maintain the grip on the large weapon anymore - it falls harmlessly from his hands, hitting the ground at the same time he does.
Diving into unsconsciousness, many things go through the man's mind, but one single sentence, spoken long ago by someone clearly much wiser than himself, gains particular relevance - "Take care of yourself first - no one else will" - as well as a silent vow to make things happen differently, if there is a chance.
As the enemy leader stands before them, Daya uses a against the enemy chief.
Meanwhile, as the enemy’s near her have fallen, Taissa takes a shot at the final villain with her bow –
With the combat concluded and the unconscious members now stabile, Taissa glances around, her eyes noticing the boat in the bay. Dashing over, she grabs it by the prow and drags it slowly up on to the shore, glancing at the silloutte of the ship in the harbor.
Turning to Daya, she asks her bird to scout the vessel and determine what may be left aboard.
None of the company hears any more sounds of battle from the ridge above. It seems that – for good, or for ill – that skirmish is also over.
As they wait for Daya to return, Taissa looks at the others.
”Come, let us gather our comrades in a safe place and then search this camp. There may be things that can help them,” she says to the others.
Soon Asan, Geser and Polux have been moved to the fire to be made warm and comfortable as possible. Taissa picks up Geser’s double-barreled pistol and checks the priming, then moves toward one of the tents and flings it open – easing the muzzle inside to check for any threats.
There are none.
Soon, with the help of Hack, Stefan and Suny the rest of the tents have been searched.
They reveal naught but foodstuffs with strange spices; bedrolls and comfortable places to take one’s ease at.
The center tent – the one that housed the signal rocket – this alone has different gear in it. There are two other similar signal rockets in it, a small table in the center of the tent and a strange pipe on it and a small chest that is locked. There are two other muskets laying nearby, but they are not loaded. Also, there is some powder and shot.
As the party collects the dead into a heap and begins to examine the bodies for anything of value, Daya comes back and speaks rapidly to Taissa. Her eyes narrow in confusion, and she translates to the others.
”Daya said that on the ship she heard the sound of voices below – but there was no one on deck; no deck watch – no sign of a patrol or anyone to observe what is going on at all.”
”This strikes me as strange… If they were to launch the last group of men to the shore to fight us; it would seem that they would have sent the full remainder of men and leave no one behind. Yet if they were to leave a final rearguard – why wouldn’t that one person at least remain on deck to observe what is going on; or in this case at least two people, as Daya heard more than one voice – why wouldn’t they be on deck on careful watch?”
”If their allies had won the fight that is good for them; but if we had won the fight, wouldn’t it be better to have someone on the main deck to repel any threat, should we come near?” she shakes her in confusion.
”I do not know what the answer to this riddle is; but that is what Daya observed.”
1. Scimitars: 10
2. Suits of Studded Leather: 9
3. Single barreled muskets: 4
4. Powder/Shot for Muskets – 10 doses remaining
5. Masterwork Khopesh
6. Breastplate
7. Light Shield
8. Various rations (translate into Trail Rations) enough to feed a man for 20 days (or a small company for less time).
9. Hookah pipe and tobacco (value unknown).
10. Two Skyrocket Fireworks
11. Locked chest – contents uknown
As the party tends to the wounded and does what it can to take care of them, they are startled to hear the sounds of movement from the dark pines near the west side of the harbor.
Marshalling their remaining strength, they prepare for what may come, only to see that it is in fact their captain and the remainder of his crew moving through the woods.
They’re covered with blood, and Uraga is limping badly, his leg covered in blood, but it looks as if the flesh has been sealed by magic.
His eyes take in the beach with a quick glance and narrow as he sees the bodies of your fallen comrades.
”Do they live?” he says without preamble.
”Aye,” Taissa responds ”but they will need proper healing – and soon,” she says responds and John nods.
”Well padre, you were right to hang on to that last bit – looks like you’re up,” he says and the priest nods his head briskly and moves over to the group.
Summoning Uraga forth to him, he instructs everyone who has been wounded to gather around him. Then he lifts a small bag – a totem perhaps – and holds it up and out.
In moments everyone who has been wounded receives back. While this is not much better than they were to start, clearly it is something and allows even those who have fallen into unconsciousness to be revived and move around.
At this time John glances at the boat on the beachhead with curiosity.
”Is that ferrying lads from their ship?” he says asking the others and Taissa nods.
”Daya went to scout their ship – there are still folk aboard; she heard at least two distinct voices coming from the hull of the vessel,” she responds.
John glances at Ren, who seems to be doing well, except for long cut on his arm.
”Oye – Ren; take Khal and Uraga with you – get back to the ship and you all bring it around the bay to anchor in the harbor,” he says.
With the added healing, Uraga is now able to walk more easily, and the three head off into the forest to the beach to get their own ship and bring it about.
As they are speaking you all notice that the priest is carrying a large chest in his arms. The chest looks like it is made from brass or copper and there are curious patterns on it that look foreign.
The symbol of a snake is repeated frequently.
He places the chest gently on the ground on one of the blankets and leans back, stretching the kinks out of his back, clearly looking very worn out.
As John considers options, he looks at the company – now that the are all at least able to stand up and move about, he is confident that they can at least offer their opinions and suggestions.
”Well – what happened here – anything of note?” he says to the company.
”Taissa’s friend here says there’s voices on that ship, and damned if I’m leaving a ship behind when I got enough lads to con her back to port,” he says more to himself.
”Once The Seahawk comes about to the bay I’m taking a boarding party to that ship. Who here wants to come?” he says glancing to the others.
After the priest managed to use his last channeling power on the group, this is all of your current HP.
All of you are up and conscious, but in the meantime you're between one of two options: social RP with crew on the beach, or go with John to explore the enemy ship in the harbor.
Your call -
Asan………. 4 HP
Daya……… 15 HP
Geser……… 2 HP
Hack………. 17 HP
Polux……… 7 HP
Stefan……... 24 HP
Suny………. 19 HP
Taissa…… 29
Warming himself by the fire and clutching his chest somewhat, Asan gives a nod of thanks to the Padre.
"I take it your own part of the mission went well? I had hoped to get a glimpse of the goings on on your end. Perhaps if there is time before we set sail... I'd like to get this all right in my head."
Then to John,
"The sounds from the ship are indeed curious. Did you come across those that were to be sacrificed? I suspect, although I have not seen of course, that perhaps these rogues have more slaves in the ship. It seems logical that they would have more sacrifices in the case of an attack by such as we...or if their current crop seemed unworthy for whatever reason."
He frowns.
"In any case, the other ship should be explored. Especially if there is even a possibility of captives aboard."
Suny will happily offer to help man the ship the better to quickly bring it to the docks. (^_^)
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"I take it your own part of the mission went well? I had hoped to get a glimpse of the goings on on your end. Perhaps if there is time before we set sail... I'd like to get this all right in my head."
The captain nods, but he doesn’t look as happy as he might.
”Well, it went good and it maybe didn’t go as good as it could go,” he says thoughtfully.
”I think maybe we came late… some folk were dead when we got there – already killed.”
”There was one lad left – we might have saved him… we tried to… but the priests there… they killed all the sacrifices when we came in.”
He shakes head in disgust.
”If they had been intent on killing us we may not have made it, but those basterds were so intent on killing them that they had brought with them that they turned from us long enough that we could kill their escort.”
”When the escort went down we could move on the priests directly – but it weren’t easy. They weren’t easy to deal with – they had sorcery on their side and they tried to summon demons to attack us…”
He brushes his hair back a bit, his eyes distant.
”We killed their escorts and the acolytes – but it was a near thing. When their high priest tried his ritual the padre – he broke the summoning circle and the demon went against the priest who called him…”
”I don’t know…” he says with a frustrated sigh.
”The point is; they’re dead and we lived, and that’s that,” he adds a resigned voice.
He presses the toe of his boot against one of the corpses absently.
”I ain’t sure on the gear here – it could be Katapehs or maybe Osirioni folk we’re dealing with, you know?”
The priest turns to the captain and speaks up.
”No – dem be from Osirioni true… Look, see da marks on da chest? It be more marks to da Lord of da Dead, da one who dem be calling – da great Serpent dat some be calling him … he be a foul one…” the grim-faced Halfling says softly, his dark, gore-flecked dread locks shaking over his shoulders.
”Dey got the name of Apep writ on dat box dere,” he says with a thrust of his finger to the box that has the serpent motif on it.
”Now we must be going den to da lands of god kings dat men call Pharaohs; we must give over da piece of power we found... Den we must let da priests of the Sky Father make it good,” he says with a certain voice.
John listens and glances to the others.
”Aye, that's the plan, now,” he says to the group.
”Seems that the whole thing was about some dark god and those priests up there had some ancient relic that they used in the ritual. But we recovered it.”
”Now the padre… he says that we need to take it back to Osirion and give it over to some folk who are priests to some Sun gods or something… he says they’ll know how to destroy it, or at least contain it… so it doesn’t do any more harm to anyone, or is safe, or whatever,” he says with a shrug.
”I’m open to doing it, sure… but, uh… you know… In Osirion the priests there are almost like nobles. They got more powerful than most noble lords – and, well… they tend to be pretty well off… if you get my drift?” he says with a nod.
He rolls his eyes a bit and sighs, a bit frustrated that he has to spell things out.
”Right, so the thing is... we could get there – but even with The Seahawk it’d take us a while, you know… we don’t have enough on board to sail it fast enough to get there in a decent amount of time… now, if ya’ll came with us we could get there and back in less than six weeks – tops! You know?”
”Just saying – if ya’ll pitched in and helped us get this hash to Osirion there’d be a pretty good piece of loot in it for you, I reckon; a lot more than just this caper produced… not to say you won’t get your piece of this action so far… just that if you’d help us get the ship to Osirion we could likely get a bit more loot out of it for everyone, you know?”
He glances to the bay and nods a bit at what he sees.
”We can pinch her easy now... and not counting the price she'd fetch if we sold her, hell... who knows what type of goods and gear is laying around in it already, you know?"
He nods, a pleased look on his face at the potential, but then his eyes narrow as he reviews mentally again what Taissa had told them about the voices that they heard about earlier.
”Of course, before we take that ship we’ll likely have to deal with who’re on board… I don’t get it, though… If they’re enemy they should be attacking or fleeing… unless they’re trying to scuttle the ship,” he says in confusion.
"The sounds from the ship are indeed curious. Did you come across those that were to be sacrificed? I suspect, although I have not seen of course, that perhaps these rogues have more slaves in the ship. It seems logical that they would have more sacrifices in the case of an attack by such as we...or if their current crop seemed unworthy for whatever reason."
"In any case, the other ship should be explored. Especially if there is even a possibility of captives aboard."
John nods at Asan’s wisdom.
”That makes sense,” he says slowly.
”Maybe they had more lads aboard for blood later in the night – or some other reason.”
”Point is – I’m going aboard as soon as our own ship rounds the bay… I take it you’re interested in coming,” he says to Asan, than glances at the others.
”How about the rest of you? Anyone else want to come with – or are you planning on staying here with the padre?” he says with a glance at the others, curious to know what they’re planning.
Suny will happily offer to help man the ship the better to quickly bring it to the docks.
John glances to Suny and nods.
"Alright - so that's two for the ship there - anyone else?" he says looking at the others.
John nods appreciatively at Geser and Polux.
”Sounds good, then,” he says with a grin.
He looks to Blackroot – ”Padre, I’ll leave you in charge here – work with Taissa and do what you can to police the bodies.”
”I want any goods and gear worth resale in a heap ready for fast transport.”
He turns to Taissa.
”I’m going to have you stay here and keep an eye on the woods. If any animal folk are prowling around see if you can get any extra info from them, if possible.”
He glances east and grins; there, rounding the beachhead, is The Seahawk with Ren at the wheel. He is easing it into a position to block the enemy ship from escaping and Ella is manning a swivel gun and training it on the enemy ship – just in case.
John nods.
”Right, now that we got a bit of backup we’re taking the boat to that ship and see what we find aboard it.” he says moving to the longboat.
Taissa and Blackroot begin to gather the gear into a large pile and John, Geser, Polux, Asan and Suny get into the longboat.
Hack and Stefan still wait on the beach, unsure what they will do next even as the Padre moves forward with the locked chest, placing it on the ground near the stack of muskets the and Taissa have been collected.
"And thank you for bringing me back from the Land of the Dead"
”Of course…” he says with a small smile ”you have showed good skill on da field – when we set sail, I shall show you a skill to aid you in your work… if you still hunger for such dings, yes?”
"Yes--I must also thank those who are responsible for my survival."
The priest turns to Geser, his bright teeth shining in the dull starlight.
”Oh yes… you be very welcome…” he says with a low chuckle.
John shakes his head and rolls his eyes.
Suddenly Hack speaks up.
I too will join you.
John’s eyes widen and he grins at them all.
”Sounds good – well, let’s do it, then,” he says with a friendly nod at the party.
John swings himself into the boat and with a quick push you all launch it into the bay and soon you’re moving forward to the enemy ship.
The longboat eases into the bay and gradually moves slowly to the ship, John sees Stefan and he marks how the duelist didn’t suffer any damage.
”Oye – Stef; you’re pretty good in a fight – we could use a guy like you… come on,” he says and motions the duelist to come with them.
As Stefan hops into the boat, John takes another pull of the oars and they move forward into the harbor.
As they tug on the oars, the offer that John made about heading east to Osirion to deliver the artifact – this resonates at least with Geser.
"I will come with you. And removing evil from that artifact you've found is a worthy cause as well. I take it we will depart immediately?"
He speaks with a short voice, worn out from the combat and tugging hard on the oars.
”Nah – not quite.”
”First things first; we get back to Beacon and offload anything we don’t need… then we re-supply with some extra grub for the trip and then push east.”
”It’ll take us about three days to hit Beacon – maybe a day to offload the goods and gear, then we stab east for Osirion the next day at most.”
”We could maybe sell this ship at Beacon, but she won’t fetch much of a price in those waters… not rigged for it. So we could try to re-outfit her before we sell her, but even if we did that it’d take at least a week and the cost of labor. Nah… we’d get better coin to sell it out east, too.”
”All we got to do is push out there on the way to visit the priests to those sun gods; we can sell the ship there and then pick up any loot for the deal,” he says with a grin.
”I’m glad you’re on board, Geser,” he says with a nod and looks at the others.
”Don’t worry about deciding yet, ya’ll – you got time to figure things out in the next day or so.”
"Good captain, you can count me in on you proposed quest. As long as it does not interfere with our obligations to Beacon that is."
John turns a glance to Stefan and grins.
”Great!” he says enthusiastically about his inclusion.
”As for Beacon… I don't think heading east for a bit will be much of an issue. Most of the work you could do out here on ships during the winter months ain’t going to get done; not until at least Pharast when the weather starts to mellow,” he says, naming the third month of the year.
”If I’m right in my guessing, we should be getting back maybe a week before the first of Pharast comes, at the latest.”
He pauses, thinking a bit, deciding to give a broader perspective.
”Now… to be fair… you maybe could get some decent knife-work done in Beacon, if you know some good places. Thing with that is, if you go independent you’ll likely find nothing out there, or you’ll run into a big tribe of scum holed up in some secret base… in which case, unless you’re part of a big company – you’ll likely be overrun,” he says.
"So that means you either work with a larger company to hit some well-known big bases; or it means you can go after smaller bases - which you likely won't find - unless you have reliable information that will point you to a few smaller camps that the big boys won't bother with."
He shrugs, thinking about that last option.
”Now you’re good people; I know a few lads back at town, if you’re really set on staying there I’ll see what I can do to find a few contacts that might need a lad or two on some scouting missions.”
”It’ll be rough work, especially with snows coming on… but it may be your kind of thing; hell, I don’t know…”
”Of course, if you come with us to Osirion and we’ll be dealing with a lot warmer weather, that’s for damn sure, you know?” he grins.
”Anyhow, you think it over – you’ll earn some good coin with me and my gang, and they like you anyhow… plus we’ll teach you some decent skills on sailing which might be handy later. But if you stick around, well, like I said – I know a few guys, I could set you up with some work here. No guarantee that it’ll be easy work; but you’ll be getting your fair cut of the loot either way, once we get back to Beacon,” he says with a grin.
”After we unload, let me know your next move,” he adds as you all continue to row and soon the boat moves closer to the ship.
In moments they move against the side of the ship and John pauses and tosses a grappling hook up to latch on the gunwale and soon shinnies up the rope and hops onto the deck and looks around.
He motions the rest of you on board the ship, and soon you’re on the main deck looking around.
You can see that the ship is narrower than yours, but longer – it might capsize easier in these seas, but it would move quicker through the waves. As John watches you around him, he draws his pistol and moves aft toward the captain’s quarters and halts near the lock and he pauses. Not sure if the door may be trapped, his eyes narrow and he kicks it open suddenly staring into the dim cabin.
A sudden noise comes from below – it sounds like nervous voices. You can not recognize their language, but it is the same language that is being spoken on the beach.
John holds his pistol loosely in his hand and looks at you.
”I’m going to try to find the captain’s log… ya’ll head below and find out what’s going on there, savvy?” he says with a nod at the rest of you.
As Stefan moves to the stairs, Suny halts him gently and directs his attention to one of the hatches and she opens it quietly.
"Why use tha' stairs, which be a killin' zone.... When ye can lift a hatch and see whut be about down below?"
Easing it open she moves down below; Stefan comes after her and the rest move down as well.
Below the ship is fairly dark; only the light of a dim, sputtering lantern shining amidship draws their attention. As the company advances slowly into the hold they can see that there are various hammocks. But the rear of the ship is divided below with a long, low curtain.
Behind the curtain is the sound of talking and you move to it cautiously.
Readying your weapons and gear, you ease the curtains aside to see a large area with various cages. Most are empty, except for five people.
Three of them are fair-skinned human; they are females and look like northerners such as yourself. One of them is an elf female with dark black hair and eyes that are an almost translucent blue-green color. The last is a young girl who is has jet black hair and olive skin. She alone looks at you with relatively fearless eyes.
They are all dressed in rags and there are chains on their limbs.
When they see you with your weapons, they seem alarmed. The humans seem afraid in your presence – except for the dark-skinned girl. The elf girl looks at you all skeptically, and turns her gaze to the dark-skinned girl.
They all become instantly silent at your presence and say nothing, watching you…
Seeing the other Elf Suny instantly bounces across the space and up to the bars,
She says rapidly in her native tongue, even as she looks around for a way to get first the doors open ad thence the chains off.
Suny looks for the deck/cargo hatches to see if they can be opened, peered into.
Unfurling the healing scroll, the man approaches Geser - "You are still seriously wounded, and I still have this with me, so it will be used to relieve your injuries" - he states, as objectively as possible - "Give me a few moments, because this may take a while"
In between attempts, he grumbles and curses at his own ineptitude, but keeps at it, resolute.
After a while, he seems to be able to tap the power hidden behind the magical writing, and a wave of healing washes over Geser.
--------------------
Polux is drawn to the olive skinned girl, curious about the fact that she seems to show no fear, moving closer and standing motionless before that particular cage, observing her intently without speaking a word.
After trying to ascertain any details about her, he speaks - "You do not know who we are, and you have absolutely no reasons to trust us. I don't even know if you understand my words" - he pauses for a moment - "But one thing is clear - you are a captive aboard this ship, and soon you won't be, because we are going to release you"
Looking around and then back to the girl, he adds - "We could spend some time talking, trying to gauge each other's intentions - if the words are spoken with truth or deception, if we are releasing you for some ulterior motive, or if there is some sort of hidden agenda on our end towards the lot of you - I'll save us all that" - he states matter of fact - "We have nothing against you, and are not interested in transporting caged people around - we DO have some other issues to finish with the people who brought you here, and as you can see from my wounds, they are not peaceful"
Looking straight into their fearless eyes, he finishes - "This is straightforward, and you are about to be released - my name is Polux - is there anything you want to tell us before we let you out of your cages?" - the man's bluntness is brutal, but spoken without skipping a beat.
Seeing the other Elf Suny instantly bounces across the space and up to the bars,
Rapid Conversation in the Elven Tongue
She looks around for a way to get first the doors open ad thence the chains off.
Response –
Suny bounces suddenly forward to the caged, chained women who have been locked deep in the hold of a ship.
Still covered with gore from the fight and carrying weapons, the blonde-haired elf's rush at the bars while speaking seemed to startle them all very much.
The elf with the dark hair moves back from Suny almost instinctively and has a shocked and somewhat fearful face as Suny advances forward; her armor covered in gore and weapons in her hands.
This elf is acting much like a person who has suffered a lot of pain and abuse from captors. In short, she seems a bit fried mentally, and to her anything new is a threat.
Suny's fast movements and sudden rush at the bars has startled her, to say the least. It seems she is mistaking your company for more people who may try to abuse her further. You’re not sure what has happened to her in captivity, but you suspect it was not pleasant.
The humans look at you with less fear but certainly some concern, and the four of them glance to the olive-skinned human who moves somewhat protectively in front of the elf.
She looks at you all with cold eyes, though they are cautious – especially considering your open weapons and the signs of blood and combat on you.
Without removing her eyes from your company, the olive-skinned girl turns slightly to the elf.
”Do not fear, Lia, we must be strong."
She stares hard at Suny, continuing to speak to the elf with the dark hair.
"What did the northerner say to you?” she ads quietly to the elf, her eyes continuing to stare suspiciously at your company.
In the brief moment that Suny charged against the cage, the olive-skinned girl’s hand dropped instinctively to where a sword-hilt may have been, if she had been armred.
Still looking around and trying to figure out how the locks and chains and very thing all works Suny absently replies to the dusky skinned lass,
"Oh...um.. I were jus' sayin' not ta' worry an' what we'll have ye all out'a there lickety split"
"You do not know who we are, and you have absolutely no reasons to trust us. I don't even know if you understand my words" - he pauses for a moment - "But one thing is clear - you are a captive aboard this ship, and soon you won't be, because we are going to release you"
Looking around and then back to the girl, he adds - "We could spend some time talking, trying to gauge each other's intentions - if the words are spoken with truth or deception, if we are releasing you for some ulterior motive, or if there is some sort of hidden agenda on our end towards the lot of you - I'll save us all that"
"We have nothing against you, and are not interested in transporting caged people around - we DO have some other issues to finish with the people who brought you here, and as you can see from my wounds, they are not peaceful"
The olive-skinned girl looks from Suny to Polux and studies your company intently for a moment before answering –
She listens to Polux speak, studying him intently.
"This is straightforward, and you are about to be released - my name is Polux - is there anything you want to tell us before we let you out of your cages?"
She nods once at you, her head tilting back somewhat to look up into your eyes.
”It is written – A man is known best by his deeds, not words, northman. If thou art true to thy purpose, then so shall ye be judged. If thou art false, then thy shall contest with me at the least,” she says with a proud voice, but still cautious.
"Oh...um.. I were jus' sayin' not ta' worry an' what we'll have ye all out'a there lickety split"
The olive-skinned girl turns a glance from Polux to Suny.
"Thy speak the tongues of men? Yet thy put thy bloodline over courtesy," she says, her tone odd, and it is as if she is almost annoyed that you seemed to be ignoring her earlier for some reason.
She must be someone important - even in bondage she seems to still posses an air of command and power - someone that has ruled before and is not easily daunted, despite her situation.
Suny blinks and stops looking for how to get people loose,
"Huh? Oh..it were jus' that, y'know, speakin' in'a manner of tha' people's in't tha' bestest at whut I can manage. So..." And Suny blushes as her brain finally begins to catch up with her words, "Um...well.. I s'pose I got all acited? An' jus', y'know, jumped in an' were tryin' ta' get folks all cleared away...an'...stuff..." And she steps back to let the fellows have ago at removing the chains as Suny really realizes she's not doing any good.
Moving around to look through the rest of the stuff in the room for keys or even tools.
"Maybe they's somat layin' around we's can use..." She mutters.
Geser makes sure to come out where the prisoners can see him, because the surprise of a half-orc hidden in the shadows would be far too creepy to women in their condition. However, he remains at the back of the party, where he is definitely out of reach and barred from them, so they may feel some level of protection.
Hack steps forward and simply listens intently as the others interact with the prisoners on board.
*Poke, poke...Prod, prod...*
"You do not know who we are, and you have absolutely no reasons to trust us. I don't even know if you understand my words" - he pauses for a moment - "But one thing is clear - you are a captive aboard this ship, and soon you won't be, because we are going to release you"
Looking around and then back to the girl, he adds - "We could spend some time talking, trying to gauge each other's intentions - if the words are spoken with truth or deception, if we are releasing you for some ulterior motive, or if there is some sort of hidden agenda on our end towards the lot of you - I'll save us all that"
"We have nothing against you, and are not interested in transporting caged people around - we DO have some other issues to finish with the people who brought you here, and as you can see from my wounds, they are not peaceful"
The olive-skinned girl looks from Suny to Polux and studies your company intently for a moment before answering –
1d20+11She listens to Polux speak, studying him intently.
"This is straightforward, and you are about to be released - my name is Polux - is there anything you want to tell us before we let you out of your cages?"1d20+11
She nods once at you, her head tilting back somewhat to look up into your eyes.
”It is written – A man is known best by his deeds, not words, northman. If thou art true to thy purpose, then so shall ye be judged. If thou art false, then thy shall contest with me at the least,” she says with a proud voice, but still cautious.
"I can live with that" - Polux retorts - "First things first then I guess"
"Perhaps the captain's cabin, if there is one. Or the chest we found before?" - he comments to the others.
Still poking around Suny comments absently, distracted as she is,
"Aye, but in't tha' chest also be locked? How d'ye get tha' key out'a somat whut needs a key?"
Asan stands back observing in interchange between his party and the captives. The olive skin girl seems to be "in charge" and he finds that somewhat curious. Considering further though, he remebers how in in times of crisis, often someone must be a "rock" and it is clearly her.
Looking to the capitives, he speaks in a clear, calm voice.
"My companions and I will have you out of these cages in no time. Stand back if you would, please."
Then moving to Hack, he puts his hand on the larger man's shoulder and speaks to everyone.
"The keys could be anywhere on this ship. The cages are of no use to us..our priority should be getting these folk free as soon as possible. We would have them out much faster if Hack employed his axe on the lock, I think."
Stefan reaches into his pack and pulls out a hammer.
"I have my all purpose key right here."Stefan says.
He then hands it to Hack.
"why ruin a perfectly good axe?"
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As the company ponders their next move in the dim light, each of you consider what you have noticed and what your options are.
You realize now that all of the men on the beach, including this girl, speak the Orisioni language as their “Primary” language. It’s very likely that she is from Osirion.
It’s also interesting that the other four girls (the three humans and the elf) seem like they’re “local” stock. As if they were taken from Shoanti tribes or fishing villages for some purpose. The elf is clearly has the coloring of an Aquatic or “Sea Elf”; her dark hair is close to the color of dark, wet kelp and her eyes look very close to the type of coloring found in many types of shells.
That said, you’d think the others are local.
You recall that the captain had mentioned that the priests of Osirion are like royalty; the theory seems to be that if a person has such a profound relationship with the gods that they are able to perform supernatural feats, it is clear that they are more important than the average person.
It’s clear that this girl is acting like a noble might; a somewhat inflated sense of self-importance; a sense of command; the fact that she’s ready to die for a matter of principle, even though she’s in a cage – all of it comes from years of training and isn’t something that can be learned quickly.
She is likely someone from a wealthy house, or a position of standing in Osirion. As to what that is; you do not yet know at this time.
If take 20 is acceptable, Polux will study the chains intently, taking 20 for a net result of 24 - trying to understand what kind of lock they are looking at, and what sort of key they could be looking for.
"We would have them out much faster if Hack employed his axe on the lock, I think."
The girl turns and eyes Asan shrewdly, studying mainly his goods and gear, as if trying to place his culture.
"I have my all purpose key right here."
"Why ruin a perfectly good axe?"
The girl glances between the group, then turns to her companions, as if trying to comfort them. She seems to be a bit more gentle with the elf, however, almost “mothering” her, and making sure she is alright.
The elf looks young, but her maturity is not very advanced. While she has the physical features of a girl in her late teens, in terms of mental maturity in “Elven Development” she’d really be closer to around 12 or 13. It’s likely that her actual age is only 50 or 60 years or so; quite young for an actual elf as they don’t hit formal “Adulthood” until roughly 120 years or so; though she doesn’t look like a preteen or toddler at all, but more like a girl who is roughly 16 or 17 years old, but it is not easy to tell with elven features.
Suny – if the olive-skinned girl is trying to protect the younger elf, it is likely this is one of the reason’s she’s been so defensive of her. Also, if the girl had suffered any damage or abuse from slavers, it is even more likely that it would have a more severe impact on her emotionally, hence her obvious nervousness around you.
With a few heavy hits from the hammer, soon the lock is broken apart and the prisoners are free.
You can see that they are all quite cold, and shivering a little – except for the elf, but you suspect that is because she is more used to cold waters than the others are. The olive-skinned girl seems to be putting a bold face on it, but they are dressed in damp rags that are covered with much of their own filth. It is not a pretty scene…
As they have all been freed, the fair-skinned humans bow their heads to you somewhat submissively, as if they expect one of you to assume a mantle of authority over them.
The elf looks very nervous still. The olive-skinned girl seems to be alone of all them unafraid, but you sense she is doing her best to put a brave face on it.
When you release them she moves in between the girls and you all and touches her fingertips to her forehead, her eyes and her lips as if it is a ritual or greeting.
”I am… I am Layla,” she says after a moment, hesitating a bit before she names herself.
Yeah, that’s not her real name. She’s clearly hiding her name and details on her background for some reason – but as to why? Who knows…
”We are in thy debt for surely thou hast delivered us from bondage,” she says with a nod.
"All thinking creatures deserve freedom to make their own choices."
Asan looks at the girl called Layla quizzically.
"You have been brave to keep your wits under this horror. I am now more glad than ever that the Mother has led our humble party to this area."
Looking at all the women with an awkward smile...almost apologetic;
"Now...lets see if we can't get you all cleaned up and into some warmer clothes.
Asan will look around the boat for anything that the women can wear. Also if there are any blankets, and he'll look for any source of clean water they can wash off with.
Polux observes the captives with attention, taking measure of their stance, complexion, and overall attitude, but keeps his conclusions to himself.
As they are freed from their cages, and Layla moves out, introducing herself, Polux simply nods - "You already know my name. Thank you for putting yours forward"
”We are in thy debt for surely thou hast delivered us from bondage,”
"No debt girl - If you ever find me in the same situation, make sure to break me out, and lets leave it at that" - Polux shrugs - "Doing the right thing and all that"
Looking intently at how the damp rags clamp to their bodies, he adds - "I am with Asan on this - you need to dry up, and get into warmer clothing. We'll see if we can find anything to take care of that" - then leaves to search for dry and warm clothing with Asan without another word.