Deciding to take the fight to whomever these people are, Gad quickly stands and flips over the railing of both ships,
then launches an attack with his sword on the first goon to his right.
.
Brezik kneels waiting for the attackers to close for a fight. As they draw their weapons the dwarf stands and smoothly releases one of his throwing hammers at the pilot of the attacking vessel. The hammer travels true striking the man.
You raiders chose the wrong boat to attack this night!
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Allister considers trying to follow Gad'larr over the rail, but the deck is slippery, his armor heavy, and the ankle he injured on the muddy slope still troubles him. He decides instead to try a javelin.
He drops his greatsword onto the wood deck, moves between the enemies and Qina, and draws a javelin.
"Hey Brezik, what do you call a follower of the Living God after you hit them with your hammer? Dead! HA-HA-HA-HA!"
"Gad, where are you going?" Qina shouted. "You're on the wrong boat!" She clutched the flask hanging from her necklace as she fired off a ray of cold at one of the Privateers.
Your immediate and violent actions cause stuttered curses to flow from the lips of the privateers. The first falls as Gad'larr drives a cut across the man's arm, sending him to fully straighten in pain and allowing Brezik's thrown hammer to crush the majority of his skull. Qina's ray moves with a blinding flash of ice blue and hitting a second privateer in the junction of her neck and shoulder, causing her lips to turn blue and her teeth to begin to chatter.
Bel follows Gad's lead striding the gap between the craft.
Sweeping his scythe back, ready to strike.
The woman hit by Qina turns to Gad'larr after looking at what he and Brezik did to her companion, "Y-y-you'll p-pay for that!" chattering out between still-blue lips. She swings her sword ignoring accuracy for power.
She manages to sheer through the invisible force Qina placed around Gad and deliver a cruel blow before stepping away.
Her still living companion, seemingly invigorated by the sight before him, bellows at Belathorian before swinging.
He also slips through the invisible force and delivers a large cut just as cruel as the gash opened on Gad'larr.
Brezik Moves forward to engage the closer Privateer but is laughing at Allisters joke so hard that he loses concentration on the swing.
Ignoring his pain, Gad Steps up and attacks the foe Vivian just bashed with several snap kicks!
-Includes Dragon Style!
+ Flurry!
"HEY! Those are MY FRIENDS!" Qina shouted. She reached into her spell pouch and pulled out a slab of butter. As she chanted the magic words, she rubbed the butter between her fingertips while her hands swirled around and around. Finally, she hurled what was left of the butter at the Privateers still standing. Bits and pieces landed on the deck of the other ship, coalescing into a slippery pool at their feet.
The tag team effort of Gad and Vivian take down the second privateer, knocking her out of the fight completely with crushed ribs and broken bones.
Qina's spell has taken affect, but the final privateer maintains his footing, invigorated as he is by his powerful swing from before.
Allister's javelin takes the man across his thigh. Any closer and he would've bled out all of the deck in seconds.
Stepping for a better angle, Belathorian hooks his beautiful scythe behind the last pirate's heel and pulls
Standing over the prone figure Belathorian growls
" We have demolished your friends, your boat is ours. You are at my mercy. Submit"
The privateer sneers around his curled lip, "Yeah, sure I'll surrender."
Brezik looks down at the prone man and sees through his deception. He swings his axe like a bat hitting the privateer across the face with the broad side of the axe blade knocking him unconcious.
Sorry, no one hurts my friends... So what are we naming our new boat?
Chuckling at Brezik's jest, Gad replies.
"Brezik's Honor sounds like a good name to me."
The final privateer slumps into unconsciousness covering himself with more of the grease from Qina's spell. Now being able to take the time to look at this tub properly you assess that it is in poor condition with rotted boards, tattered sails, and a hardly responsive helm.
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"I like it, well done Keepers! I'm going to secure us a hostage to interrogate. Gad, how long can we expect to stay afloat on this thing? It's, um, kinda scary for a non-water type.."
Vivian looks over the three people, searching for someone in not too rough of shape. She starts with the man Brezik clobbered with the side of his axe.
Selecting the Privateer that will be the best candidate, Vivian casts Stabilize on them. Next she grabs a piece of rope that is on the deck and binds the man.
"Yeah, just like that.. nice..and..tight.."
"Ok, this one isn't going anywhere. Let's get him and what ever else you've found back onto our ship."
Without her armor, Vivian appears to be able to move the man.
The woman has died of her wounds, the first man is seconds from greeting Pharasma's psychopomps, the last unconscious in a pile of grease.
We should load up all three pirates... might be a bounty on their heads...
Brezik takes a closer look at the boat now that the fight is over and shakes his head only seeing the damage and how much work would be necessary to fix it up.
HAHAHA!!!... Brezik's Honor... Looking at the boat you must noth think much of my honor Gad.
Brezik starts searching the boat and gathers what he sees as possibly being useful in his bag of holdin gwhen he finds the lock box. He grabs the whole lockbox and brings it back to the cabin of the barge.
Well what do we have here... My honor might not be worth much... but I do have a nice Chest... HAHAH!!!!
Upon searching the contents of the lockbox...
And what do we have here, but a nice piece of paper worth allot of coins... Oh and look at this some coins too.... HAHA!!
The Dwarf is obviously taken with the process of looting the small vessel laughing and joking the whole time, stuffing things that are obviously worthless in his bag of holding simply because he can.
"I don't know Brezik. The holes aren't too bad, and the steering still works, mostly. It still floats. I bet someone would cough up a couple hundred gold pieces for it. Or maybe our guide captain can use it for pieces or parts." She shrugs her shoulders. "What do you think Gad?"
"By Irori's twisted tassel! I intended no disrespect Brezik! The 'Honor' part was meant that the boat was to be NAMED in your honor...but I guess I muffed that up in my explanation did I not?"
"You are right Qina. While it does not look like much, it is worth it to try and sell for salvage. I could try and sail it and follow along, or if the good captain would want to tow it, we could sell it for a decent fee."
Turning to the captain of the barge, Gad looks curiously.
"What do you think good captain? Sail or tow? We don't want to slow you down, but we could cut you in for a portion on the sale of this scow."
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Allister stands close to the rail between the boats and helps the others as they pass the prisoners over, then helps them with a hand as they climb over themselves.
"Well fighted, friends. Sorry I didn't join you over the rail - I was afraid I might fall in and my armor drag me under."
Allister will cast Lay on Hands on his friends.
Gad'Larr first:
"May the light shine in you, friend."
Belathorian second:
"May the sun warm your soul, friend."
He saves his final Lay on Hands for one of the prisoners.
Walran looks over at the ship pulled alongside the Mist. "Hmm...Looks like an optimal crew of three would be best for sailing that, and we're only a few hours away from port. If one were fast enough a single person would be able to sail that thing all by theirself."
A mere two hours later you pull into the harbor, lit only with several guiding torches. In the dark, Tamran glitters with hundreds of tiny lights, emanating from the windows and lamps that dot the city. It has the look of a new town, built primarily of wood, though some older buildings linger here and there, many showing signs of damage from the war with Molthune to the south. Cracked walls and burnt remnants can be seen even from this distance, fresh scars from the long conflict.
Walran and Ewem dock the Black Mist and help everyone off the barge. "Once again I'd like to thank you for helping out with the journey," the captain begins. "We even got to eat better than rations of hardtack and cheese thanks to little Qina here, a rare treat for sea-dogs such as myself. Now that we're here I'd suggest finding a place to stay for the night, the best safest establishment close to here is the Gar's Last Meal." Walran tugs on his beard a bit and gives a gracious bow, Ewem nodding as well.
Gad'larr will offer a proper bow in return.
"May your sails ever be full, your cargo light, and your profits unending dear Captain. Our journey on the Black Mist will be a favored story in the future, I assure you."
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"It was an honor serving with you both, Captain, Ewem. May you see calm waters."
She starts to don her armor on the docks while she turns to the group. "I would like to temporarily revive one here in the seclusion of the docks first. Get a read on who they really are and who they're affiliated with, maybe learn about Tamran. We don't know what the law enforcement is like yet, maybe in the Living God's pocket.."
Before she starts and if Belathorian agreed to help her, she says to him, "This one was pretty close to the bag. Once he comes to, your knowledge and connection to Pharasma might help convince him to be useful." She then nods to the group, trying to indicate that anyone else who wants to talk to him are welcomed to join.
She starts off with the usual types of questions, "Who are you? Who do you work for? Why were you attacking us."
While he does not have anything to contribute directly, Gad has no reason to disagree with Vivan's idea to interrogate the prisoners.
"As long as we give them over to the proper authorities when we're done, I have no objections."
"I think I'll keep watch while you guys do the questioning."
Qina moved to the edge of the shadows to keep her eyes open.
Brezik makes the rest of the Trek on the river with Gad'larr on the Brezik's Honor. During the trip Gad will most likely catch Brezik "petting" the boat. He might not be able to say it out loud but Brezik was obviously pleased with Gad's compliments.
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As the group makes there goodbyes with Walran Brezik reaches into his bag and hands the dwarf Captain a small decanter of brandy. We drank most of it already... but there should be enough for you two to share. Brezik turns and walks away from the captain without actually saying goodbye to him.
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With the discussion of questioning the captive Brezik starts to look a little uncomfortable...
I hope... er.. You guys ain't...uh ... You know what I'll go keep watch with Qina.
Brezik goes and stands next to Qina purposefully keeping his eyes away from the questioning.
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"Question him if you like, just promise me you'll treat him with respect - we owe him that much. Their fate is for the city to decide now. We turn them in as soon as you're finished."
Allister walks away towards Qina and Brezik, but then keeps walking until he is on shore. From there he throws small rocks and branches into the water, listening to the ropes creak and strain to hold their boats to the dock.
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Seeing Brezik and Allister react a touch uncomfortably, Vivian takes an introspective look at her plans. 'Is this wrong of me? Respect? I never thought of how he would feel, but he tried to kill us. We killed his friend.. Is waking him up worse somehow? Maybe I should just heal him instead of letting him fall back into a coma?'
"Guys, I, can heal him fully if you'd feel better about that. He just tried to kill us is all and I thought letting him go under again would be safer. Regardless, we can absolutely turn him in after."
Smiling, Gad will nod at Vivan's turn of attitude and move to help with the prisoner.
"That is probably best Vivian, noting that our companions feelings are obviously not too comfortable about your original idea.
I will help make sure he is subdued if needed. Your observation is very wise by the way...a welcome quality in a leader to be sure.
Especially a leader who is willing to listen to those they lead, whether they actually say something out loud...or not."
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To Allister, the idea of "questioning" carries negative connotations. He knows the Dawnguard often question their enemies, and their enemies are never the same afterwords, if they survive at all. For Allister, the choice to fight those who are clearly evil, or defend yourselves from their attacks, is no choice at all. But once those enemies have been subdued, he does not see them in the same light. He pities them. Allister would rather his enemies be slain in battle than survive to face the consequences of their actions - because the line between punishment and evil are often blurred.
Once he sees that his companions did not stoop to the same level, he smiles.
These are good people. I should have more faith in them, they have never let me down before.
Belathorian remains quiet helping Viv with the prisoners.
If this man has information on the living god's followers in this area that information may greatly help us. Their morals lead us to unnecessary complications. We are not monsters.
When the man awakens...
"You are living in an unusual position. You have glimpsed the gates of my Ladies garden, and yet you were dragged back by the grace of my coleagues, it is not yet your time. Few share that experience, cherish it. I am not your judge on this mortal plane, but I would here your story. Who are you?"
The man wakes before the woman, who still has a pale and waxy complexion. "M' name's Mal. Don't matter much what you do, piracy is only rewarded one way in Nirmathas, 'specially Molthuni pirates."
Bending down to the ear of the man Belathorian continues
"We both know there are worse things in life than cessation, than the embrace of the Lady Most Kind. I need information on a priest of the living god, recently active in the forests around the Nirmathan town of Kessen, lost his mask. What can you tell me Mal of Molthune?"
Mal's eyes glaze over at Belathorian's words, then brighten considerably with Vivian's. "I don't know anything about gods of any sort here in Nirmathas, 'M a simple privateer. However, I'd be more than willing to help you out in the city if my companion and I were to be set free..." His fingers play over the rope binding him and his eyebrows wiggle freely.
Crossing his muscled arms, Gad will flash his filed teeth and speak plainly so the pirate can hear.
"NO. You will be handed over to the Nirmathas authorities and branded a privateer. You WILL face Nirmathan justice.
HOW we hand you over, such as saying you cooperated MIGHT go in your favor. MIGHT."
The light disappears from Mal's eyes and he curls within himself.
"I don't know. It's hard enough to believe people you like when you question them and they don't wanna be. Pressi never tells me the truth when I ask her if she's been in my room or messin' with my stuff. And she's my sister. My own flesh and blood. At least that's what poppa says. I don't know what they want to ask that man but I don't see how they could trust what he says. Maybe they just haven't learned that yet. I mean we gots families. Belathorian doesn't seem to, that I recall. Vivian just lost her pa. Gad hasn't really seen his in years. You and I, we see ours all the time. Maybe we just gotta teach 'em that.
Anyway, let's go see Allister. He looks lonely."
Qina walks over to Allister, picking up a few pebbles on the way over. She had spent many an hour throwing stones into the river in Kassen so she knew how to spot good throwing rocks. She took his big hand in hers and dropped some of the stones into his big mitt. Looking up at him, she said "don't worry big guy. We're with you too."
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Allister smiles at Qina and the goodness in his heart shows in his eyes. One of the stones she dropped in his hand is smooth and flat so he curls his finger around the edge and slings it at the water.
PpltbbLLlb. The stone dives straight into the water.
"Baeloth used to "question" prisoners. He's my brother. Used to say "anything to help the Dawnguard," but I seen what he did to those people. I seen the look in their eyes, and the look in his eyes, too. He liked to do it, but it never helped us one bit. Baeloth is evil now, his heart is sick. I don't want my friends to be like Baeloth. Not ever."