Variel in a fit of rage, slices one of the rats clean in half with his cutlass.
Seijiro growls at the remaining rat, with a very canine like growl... as if trying to intimidate it. . He tightens his grip on his dagger and readies for another strike on the wounded creature.
"Only one left it seems... let's kill it mates, and get out of this hell-hole"
Seijiro slashes at the last remaining rat, his dagger firmly in his grip this time, hopefully to kill the damned creature.
If the rat is dead (I'm assuming SOMEone will kill it, because 2 points of dmg sucks lol), Seijiro suggests to the others that we search the bilge for anything of any value before we leave... never know what we might find down under this water.
Either way, searching or not, Seijiro will try to get out of the bilge before an hour is up, as his con isn't that high. If necessary though, his con roll is:
Yay! no non-lethal for me!
Watching the beast turn and thrash around me - I shall advance a step forward, then raise my rapier and take a thrust at the creature!
While my blade clearly missed - it was obviously intentional!
Though it is certainly true that I could have slain the beast outright with this very stroke - such an action would lack (as the elves might say) a certain "Je ne sais quoi!".
Naturally, I felt it only fair to offer the honor of defeating the last of these scum to another member of my companions, as I had already slain two of the filth with relative ease.
Indeed - my seemingly "wild blow" had the advantage of distracting the rat, and cause the creature to ignore Jiro - who was now in a prime position to flank for especially lethal damage!
"Die and be damned" I call out, with more enthusiasm then I should have in this sweat box of a filth filled stench pit; my own wounds oozing blood and my sword now crusted with their ratty guts!
Ye gods, Flynn; leaping into the bilges without a thought for the ladder; slaying a full twenty percent of these beasts with a few quick sword thrusts, and now your cavalier attitude as you inevitably laugh at death? Ha!
Perhaps being a swashbuckler may be growing on me after all! Then again - it may only be the rum...
The map doesn't show up very well on my phone. If possible Sko will single move and Attack.
Miss chance
Damage
Relieved that all the rats but one were now dead, Rain moves closer to her companions (10 ft to E4) and strikes forward at the rat (DR 5) with her cutlass but it proves too clever and she pitifully misses and hits the filthy bilge water instead.
As Dhaavan had delayed his actions, and the rat may not be dead, he takes another shot with a conjured orb of acid whipping it from his pearch on the ladder.
Touch attack:
For acid
"Just die already!"
Through a combination of strikes and spells, the stubborn last rat finally succumbs to his wounds. Battered and bruised from your fight you all look at each other for a moment. Once again you have been thrust together in battle and come out ahead. The heat and stink roll over you after the high of combat fades. The rats float in the water, twitching feebly in their death throes.
First things first, then…
I glance around at my comrades – my eyes especially keen on the elf who was so badly damaged.
”Is everyone alright? Does anyone need help – are your wounds bad off, that sort of thing?” I say, my voice raw; my head still fogged a bit with the intensity of the battle.
While waiting for a response, I think a moment.
How the hell did so many of these creatures get down here? This space is scant 20 by 30 feet – even so, there was enough vermin hiding under the water that nearly half of it was filled with their filth. Yet the day before I was in here cleansing this place and saw nothing – further; the blue skinned man comes here to rest in the evening and saw nothing then. Therefore – they must have come from above. But from where?
”Best thing for it – “ I say to no one in particular ”let us take a moment to search this dank hole – there may be some sort of hidden opening these creatures were nestled in, or secret means they could have entered from.”
I glance over at Rain and Sko.
”I have heard you have some skills at knowing the wild… Can you track? If these vermin had a berth above – they would have left feces, and needed food – perhaps your skills can aid in finding where they came from, if not down here, eh?”
Seijiro takes a few minutes to search carefully among the muck and water, looking more for anything of value than for how the rats got in.
Wouldn't be surprised if Plugg and Scourge didn't find someone to summon rats for us to fight just to get us down here, trying to break our spirits or worse.
You thoroughly search through the room and manage to find a beaten up buckler and a small bag with gold pieces.
"Hey, anyone need one of these?". Seijiro holds up the buckler for all to see.
He goes back to searching for a while longer before feeling faint from the heat.
"I dunno about the rest o' you, but I wanna get outta this hell-hole. It's hot down here. What say we go topside now? Without waiting for replies, he heads for the rope to climb out, though he waits for the others before actually climbing.
If I leave and declare the rats dead and the others don't follow right away, they'll probably get whipped for dereliction of duty. If I leave and don't declare all the rats dead, I'll probably get whipped... best wait for the others to decide to leave too.
|
Horatio, I would be glad for you to check my wounds once we get out of this place. I am still pretty weak from all those rat bites. Do you think there is any chance of infection from the bilge water entering in these wounds? I should hope not as an illness is the last thing any of us needs with the way scourge and Plugg treat us.
Variel will climb out of the bilge and wait for the rest to finish the search. Not that he doesn't want to help, but rather that is feels too weak to do much but be in the way.
No thanks Seijiro. It would just get in the way for me. Perhaps someone else could put it to good use.
Soon as the water stills and the others begin searching the bilge, Dhaavan climbs up the ladder and sits with his feet hanging over the ledge, massaging his temples. He and his bird have a short soft conversation in their private language, at which point the Thrush swoops down, hopping from person to person searching the Bilges with them, chirping when it catches a glimpse of something shiny.
"What you don't want to get your boots dirty? I have to do all the work here. Sheesh!" the bird tweets back.
Jack's Perception:
to search for where the rats may have been.
Distracted by the dull throb of his head, thumping from last night's rum, Dhaavan squints his eyes and wallows a bit while the others search, something he would be useless at at the moment. Hells below this is awful. Still that fight was a nice change of pace, more fun than working, and i got to cut loose a bit without having to worry about killing anyone. We can take the corpses up top to show we did the work, and then toss em over the edge for the sharks. Still i don't like that the rats were in the food supplies. Maybe I'll stick with Sko's fresh fish just to be safe.
When Flynn discusses where the rats may have been hiding, Dhaavan tells the crew, "While I was working this morning, I found some chewed up grain bags, so they may have been nesting in the stores up above. There may be a few up there right now, so someone that knows anything about animals may want to head on up here to take a look around."
Dhaavan remained up out of the bilge looking out for any approaching crewmen. He shrugs at the Buckler, saying "Interferes with spell-casting."
"Well, if no one wants it, maybe I can trade it for something with Grok." He shrugs, no big deal if no one wants it apparently.
He climbs up out of the bilge and sits with Variel and Dhaavan, waiting for the others, squatting down near the entrance.
"Oye - hold on a moment," I say, wiping the sweat from my brow.
"We all fought down here - the leavings, such as they are - will be split equally. If there are 14 gold pieces, we each get two - that is right and fair, so split the gold that way equally. As for the buckler? I hold no special claim on such gear, but if we can sell or trade it for gold with Grok, I would be pleased, unless someone can use it? But if they cannot, and we end up trading with Grok - then the value of that trade should be also divided equally among us," I add in a tired but matter of fact voice.
Turning I look at Variel -
"Aye - you may be right on the matter of infections. Once we get out of the bilges, I shall give you a proper examination - also, I shall examine anyone else for potential diseases, if they wish it... for I do not think bites from rats can be very healthy for anyone. All you need do is ask me, and the service shall be done."
Not sure if Valeros intends to do anything else to help anyone, I will use another 2 doses from my healing kit to refresh some HP to Variel - and anyone else that especially needs it. But it will take time - and that may not be a luxury we have. Also - this is only something I will do if Valeros does not help anyone; as I do not have an infinite amount of healing doses.
I will at least use the Heal skill to see if anyone is diseased - if necessary. Just let me know...
"Maybe we should think about makin' sure everyone has all their gear back before we start dividing booty equally. I was hopin' that gold would go toward recovering someone's gear who needs it the most. As for the buckler, I doubt it's worth enough to split equally anyway, might as well use that for tradin' to Grok as well. We can worry about splittin' booty equally when we're all fully equipped and ready for more trouble. This cursed ship is gonna see a need fer us to all be at our best, I think. Some of us have got some or all our stuff back, but others haven't. Just my way o' thinkin'. Mebbe we should talk this out afore we go topside."
I glance over at Rain and Sko.
”I have heard you have some skills at knowing the wild… Can you track? If these vermin had a berth above – they would have left feces, and needed food – perhaps your skills can aid in finding where they came from, if not down here, eh?”
...
Not entirely sure how much she can discover with the amount of bilge water currently present, Rain nods to Flynn and begins searching for signs of the rats' movement and nesting. She takes into consideration Dhaavan's information regarding the grain sacks being raided on the level above them. She pushes aside the argument regarding the division of loot and glances once at Variel hoping he does not take with fever from his wounds and the foul water. She looks down at her own wound -- one of the damn rats managed to get in a bite. I will have Flynn take a look at it when we get topside. The heat and rank smell are closing around her but she pushes them aside too for the time being, concentrating on the task at hand.
"If you want to show Plugg the dead rats, then you must find something to carry them in for some are just pulp and guts and you do not want to be touching them with your bare hands."
"Maybe we should think about makin' sure everyone has all their gear back before we start dividing booty equally. I was hopin' that gold would go toward recovering someone's gear who needs it the most. As for the buckler, I doubt it's worth enough to split equally anyway, might as well use that for tradin' to Grok as well. We can worry about splittin' booty equally when we're all fully equipped and ready for more trouble. This cursed ship is gonna see a need fer us to all be at our best, I think. Some of us have got some or all our stuff back, but others haven't. Just my way o' thinkin'. Mebbe we should talk this out afore we go topside."
I turn and give Jiro a flat look as I stand at the entrance to the hatch to the bilges.
”Aye – we are talking about it before we go topside. We are talking about it now,” I respond tonelessly.
”We all did what we could below” I say, jerking my thumb at the hatch to the bilges ”some more than others. If folk need help finding or reclaiming their gear; I shall do what I can to help them. But – we fought and bled together for a common cause. We found some reward afterwards. We fought equally, and earned the reward equally – if someone wants to hand over their share to another; they are free to. But as for now, the wealth is going to be divided equally among all of us.”
I look at the red-haired easterner.
”I like you lad, you are a decent person, and truthfully the gold discovered is such a trifling amount that it is not worth fighting over – but mark me on this now: it is not yours to keep, but all of ours who fought for it, so you will hand it over to divide fairly. The gold is not worth fighting for, aye, but I will be fighting now any that try to rob from either I or any of my mates. Do you understand?” I add, my voice hardening somewhat.
"Never said it was mine ta keep, but as you said, we all fought down there, some more than others, and we all did our share. But it's not mine, nor even yours, ta decide how it gets split or used... that decision belongs ta all of us, so till all of us chime in on the matter, I'll hold onto it just the same."
He waits for the others to say how they want to split up the booty before taking any action with it.
I assumed that post was for me because Flynn specifically posted:
"Then – not certain on how 10 bloody Dire Rats could have gotten into this space – I am going to search for any secret doors or anything to reveal how they got in.
Take 20 on Perception Check to find anything down here that may have housed the Dire Rats"
While I posted:
"Seijiro takes a few minutes to search carefully among the muck and water, looking more for anything of value than for how the rats got in."
I'll wait to see when the DM chimes in then lol
"It is not all the same, I say coldly to Jiro - all trace of weariness gone from my voice.
"You will either divide it now, or fight me for it. At the very least you shall not rob me - and if any here feel it best to let you hold the wealth and hold their tongue - that is their own affair. And," I say moving myself to a more comfortable stance, weapon loose in my hand "if any of these people wish to have their equal share, which you insist on keeping - then I shall fight for them against you."
"This is your last chance to avoid bloodshed - either divide it fairly and equally among all - as is only right - or for your betrayal of those who fought and bled with you, I shall fight you now."
"Do you understand?" I add, my voice tense and my eyes staring hard at him.
I look up at the others -
"All of you know this: the gold is nothing to me now, but I will not see any person who fought with me and stood by me in battle robbed of their fair share of anything, simply because someone decides that they because they are holding it, they can decide what happens to it."
I look back at Jiro -
"I do not want trouble - but you are pushing very hard to keep something that is not yours to keep. Let it go now and we may still be friendly with each other... Keep it, and things will not be as friendly," I add, my voice somewhat softer, hoping the easterner doesn't wish to push things simply to keep the gold to himself.
Hearing the argument grow, and losing patience in the stinky bilges, Rain lifts her head and turns to face her companions, eyes blazing bright and voice low yet assertive,
"Are we to fight among ourselves now? Are Plugg and his creeps or the bloody dire rats not enough for you? If Plugg were here right now, he would relish such show of disunity in our group, perhaps even hoping to escalate it, for I would not put it passed him. Jiro, you should have spoken up when you found the gold -- that you did not does not speak well for your character, no matter your silent intention. Flynn, peace friend. I cannot believe that Jiro means to show he does not agree to fair share. We will sort this out when time permits and cooler heads prevail. I do want to remain here longer than necessary for the stink and the heat are making me grow irritated. And the longer we remain down here the more suspicious the crew up there will get. If any of you would help, then help so we may finish this and get topside and stop wasting time with sitting about and petty squabbles. For what it is worth, because it seems opinion is sought, any item we find when we fight or work together I believe is the possession of the group and together we decide what is to be done with it - split, used or traded."
"Boys, calm down a mement and tet the rest of yer mates what done some fighting get a word in edge wise, eh? We can trade the thing, if nobody needs it, but gettin' so huffy about it and cuttin off these folks don't settle nuthin!" Dhaavan cuts in as Flynn lays down the law.
"I'm with Rain on this one, we got enough enemies on this dingy already and there's enough tension among us as well," Dhaavan says, referring to the issues he felt came up due to his summoning in the brawl, and subsequent lectures about his admittedly irresponsible behavior. He gives Rain an apologetic look for having treated her as such a hothead, and continues in a low hiss, looking around to make sure the group is alone gettin close to Jiro and Flynn to avoid being overheard, "And honestly, seems to me that our friend may not be in the best place having passed out the goods that we're parading around. We likely as not owe 'er a few of the things what we got least so she can tell the Brass that she's not given out loot. So lets take it easy, yeah?"
"Whatever, if you don't care if your mates are equipped and how well, fine, then even split and screw everyone else." He takes two gold out of the pouch and pours the rest out on the floor for the others to take their shares from.
"As for the buckler, I'll see what I can get for it and divide up the value. I've got nothin' ta hide and anyone who wants to accompany me to the quartermaster when I go is welcome to."
He mutters something incomprehensible in Minkaian when he's done having his say.
Valeros snorts derisevly before moving further into the lower hold. Such a paltry amount to be concerned over. Please feel free to keep my two gold if it will cease this bickering. He nods towards Rain. The woman is right, there are bigger fish on the line and this distracts from that. I'll wait for you all to resolve this but know that I won't face the whip tonight for your bickering. Sort this out and let's get on with it.
Valeros stumps away and leaves the others to figure out there resolution. He begins to look around the lower hold, seeing if there is anything of use lying around as he's still missing his gear.
"Sejiro, before ya go, lets see if anybody found the rat's nests in the storage decks. IF there are more rats, or anything we'll get our hides tanned something fierce. You two are gattin a little hasty." Dhaavan says, looking as Rayn searches this this deck for the rat nests, not really able to lend much of a hand.
Aiding Survival to track rats
Dhaavan asks as the Gillman rises form the bilges, "Ya got any magic left for Variel? The elf boy's barely standing up, and FLynn's doctoring'll take way too long to finish up." turning to the good doctor, he adds, "No offense."
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Still recovering up in the sleeping quarters, Variel leans over and joins in the conversation. You can tell he is weary and this type of conversation is not helping matters.
everyone just calm down. Everyone is talking for each other and no one is listening. Both Horatio and Jiro have valid points. We fought together so we should reap the rewar together. However if that comes at the expense of another right now getting that person's personal belongings back then I will help that person out. Previously I found some items down here already. I shared the maces with Dhaavan and Horatio a because they had no means to defend themselves. We were thrust into this situation together and by sticking together we will make it through. For now let's put this issue behind us and if Jiro can get others gear back for a paltry amount that was left in the bilge then do so. If he doesn't want that task, then I have a mind to discuss matters with Grok tomorrow anyways. I will get rid of the heavy maces, buckler and shield in return for the personal effects of others. Further, that axe I mentioned i think is worth a fair price. I am hoping to exchange that for items we can all use. Now will you all cut it out so I can relax a bit before Plugg and Scourge have me swabbing the decks or pumping the bilges in this condition.
I watch Jiro stomp off followed by the typical truculent presence of Valeros. While not as pleasant as I might otherwise be, this is only because of the heat, the battle, the filth and the lingering effects of the rum - coupled with the fact that people I had treated as comrades would push such an issue with me over a pittance.
Grabbing a rag, I clean the blood and gore from my rapier and sheath it quickly and pick up two of the coins, ignoring the rest that lay on the deck.
”I already said Variel, it was not the gold, but the desire to betray one’s mates which vexed me. Well – if Jiro wishes to steal from those who would be allies – so be it,” I say flatly.
I then glance at Rain and Dhaavan.
”You are correct – we have other matters to attend to now. For myself – as I already said – it was not the coin, but the principle. I do not always fight for principles, but I will at least fight for those I consider friends.”
”Variel – did you need healing? If so, let me know, as it seems that you won’t be getting any otherwise,” I add.
I glance over at Rain and Dhaavan.
”So – it seems there are grain sacks you saw earlier Dhaavan? If you show me where they are, I will go with you to examine them. Rats need feed to feast on, likely they ate grain and went to the bilges for water – the heat driving them toward it, I would assume.”
”Sko , if you would come with us, I thank you for it. Variel – I will offer you what healing I can, but let us first move to the scattered grain sacks Dhaavan spoke of and get away from this filth below. If anyone else wishes me look you over, I will do so when we see what we can at the chewed out sacks that were mentioned.”
Then I turn and follow Dhaavan’s lead to the spilled grain sacks.
After a little bit of time arguing back and forth, the heat and after effects of the fight swelling tempers, you head back upstairs to report to Plugg and Scourge. Seeing you coming he grunts and points you back to your stations.
Dhaavan hops up to his feet and guideds whomever chooses to follow to the sack of grain to make sure there are no longer any Dire Rats on board. After adequately investigating the area and ensuring that he's only got normal rats to contend with he keeps the mace at his side to whack any that he finds before getting back to work.
Seijiro goes back to his task as assigned and works until he has a chance to slip down to the lower deck mid-day sometime. He's got little to say, to say to anyone and just goes about his work with no more or less intensity than before.
depending on what he finds he may or may not stash some or all of the loot in Maheem's locker.
** spoiler omitted **
Had a great response - but I just cut and pasted it to a private message. Yay!
Dhaavan spends most of the day running around the ship and rather ineffectually faliling about with the mace, but manages to catch a respectable number of vermine thanks to the sharp eye of his little friend Jack.
Dex check for Job:
Diplomacy:
While tracking, Dhaavan runs across the swab he saw carving away at a bone last evening. He's seen that sort of artwork before, back home in Varisia as well as abroad on his wanderings. "Oye, it's some right fine work you do, mate. Appreciate it, as a bit of an artist myself, where ya from that you picked that up? I love learnin' about art from different places, traveled a lot, but I dunno if I'm familiar with the look of yer carving. I'm Dhaavan, nice ta meetcha."
Dhaavan chats with Jak about their "artistic tastes" is so far as they have them, swapping stories of places they've been and what they've seen. Dhaavan chats with him a bit about the significance of his Varisian Tattoos, and asks about his carving, since he knows some about totems and such. about his work, he says "Nah, I really like the look of it. Hells, if ya want I can ink ya up something ta go with the look of yer carving, or if any yer mates want some, interduce me. Looking to get to know a few more o' the crew. Drink with me t'night, not like we got much choice, while I finish up Sandara's serpent?"
Dhaavan leans up on the "Hey there. Look, I don't want to get us into any trouble and it looks like some of us new folks been gettin gear back, but if yea make a trade, then is there still trouble for ya? If I get ya enough gear ta make up for what we got, then even if the officers catch wind of it, we made a fare trade, yeah? Or is this jest the kinda thing we gotta keep quiet?"