Dimitrious yells
(X_X)
Calah summons the ball of water closer to ground level and tosses the unconscious guy in it on the water. She stabilizes him so they can question him later.
"Fools for sure. I wonder who sent them after us. It might be Captain Harrigan... Let's question them to be sure, I think Arjun would like that. Where is he anyway?"
Dimitrious makes his way over to Suny and taps her and anyone else who is hurt healing her up.
Arjun has the fool who was following us tied up and ready for questioning captain
We'll count it as cover as well. It does not matter much either way now ;)
Suny groans as she wakes, "I got poked..." She gently checks herself out, wincing slightly as she inspects the fresh not fully healed scars. Though some of her exclamations are of vexation rather than pain.
"They done mussed up all me silks an' stuff..." Suny sighs a little crossly, "I done leaked over 'em..." So saying she sets about adjusting her silk dress. Cutting and retying the fabric so as to remove the worst and adjusting what remains about her frame.
Once settled she gives Dim a hug of thanks before looking over the vanquished with every one else.
Looking over the 3 ambushers you find:
Potion of cure serious wounds, scroll of invisibility, black adder venom (2), giant wasp poison (2), greenblood oil; +1 studded leather, +1 short sword, masterwork dagger, belt of incredible dexterity +2, 303 gp
+1 arrows (2), potion of bear's endurance, potion of cure moderate wound, alchemical silver arrows (5), cold iron arrows (5); masterwork breastplate, masterwork composite longbow (+2 Str) with 35 arrows, masterwork elven curve blade, cloak of resistance +1, masterwork artisan's tools, 67 gp
+1 frost bolts (5), potion of haste, screaming bolts; mithral breastplate, masterwork glaive, masterwork light crossbow with 40 bolts, short sword, sunrods (2), 27 gp
When Arjun takes a moment to pat the man he knocked out down he discovers the following items.
Potion of cure moderate wounds, scroll of bless, scroll of burning hands, scroll of cure light wounds, scroll of magic missile, alchemist's fire (2), holy water, thunderstone; +1 studded leather, light crossbow with 10 bolts, masterwork rapier, disguise kit, everburning torch, healer's kit, thieves' tools, wizard's spellbook, wooden holy symbol of Cayden, 129 gp
Suny moves about carefully, still a little bit sore from the encounter, and helps gather up the gear and equipment from the fallen.
Then, depending on where people want to carry all the stuff they've just... 'found'... she'll be more than happy to continue along to the meeting the party was heading off to.
Transport and secure the prisoner. Check.
Tie him to a chair in the main hold. Check.
Slap him awake. Check.
The man awakens, his eyes have a momentary fear and then they sharpen. He seems steeled for what will come.
Noro, still a bit wounded from the encounter, She definitely has a bit of payback for those wounds.
She looks to the rest, If you want, I can shtay ere, keep thish dunce company while you head to the meeting. she looks toward him with a smile, after all, they don't call me the Iron Maiden fer nothing.
Well things look to be in hand, I suppose we should head off for our meeting Dimitrious will keep a wary eye in case of more surprises
Arjun rubs his chin in thought. "I have an idea." He lopes off and finds their newest crew member, the marsh giant.
He brings him back and addresses the prisoner. "You see this big guy here? He is your guard. If you try to escape, I am giving him permission to eat you. His teeth are dull, friend. He will have to tear off bits at a time, and you will listen to his crunching teeth and smacking lips as he masticates your flesh and bones while you are still alive and helpless within his grasp." He gets right close to his face. "So sit tight."
He pats the giant on the shoulder. "Thanks, buddy. We'll take care of him when we get back."
The man looks steeled against intimidation. It is hard to tell if what you are saying is sinking in.
Just need to know if Noro is staying.
Your trip up to the Fairwind estate is this time unmolested. You can see it siting on a bluff overlooking the Water. It seems a bit more subdued than the Huricane King's fort. At the large oaken front door you see two guards standing watch. They are dressed well and carry an air of authority with them.
Arjun defers to the captain to introduce their party.
With the giant keeping watch Noro will go with the rest of the crew.
Suny steps forwards towards the guards and then curtsies.
"I yam 'Elanessadrielle'. I has, have been requested to the Lady Fairweather's presence." She informs the pair. (^_^)
(^_^)
At the ship Calah makes sure everyone is all healed up, using the CLW wand she has on her. On the way to the bluff she buys a new one just to be sure.
At the mansion Calah stands before the guards and says "And I'm Captain Calah Riptide, I believe we were expected..."
Dimitrious will try to look as confident as possible in an effort to make his captain look good...and manage to trip over his robe bumping into Suny
The guards look you over for a moment, then the one on the left turns and give the door three hard pounds. His companion remarks, You have been expected.
Inside stands a female halfling butler who bows and asks, Please follow me, my lady will be with you shortly. She escorts you to a sitting room overlooking the harbor. Chilled water is laid out in some glass pitchers with some glasses nearby. How the water was chilled is not abundantly clear. Some comfortable chairs, mats and cushions are set in the room.
Suny curtsies to the butler and then wanders about the room they've been led into. She stands at the window for a while and 'Ooohs' at the pretty scenery,
Before plopping down on a large cushion and happily making herself comfortable. (^_^)
Dimitrious will follow the group in taking interest in the female halfling. I hope she is not enslaved
Noro simply follows along. she is not the best for diplomatic situations.
she takes a sip of the water and makes a rather disgusted face. これは何だ一体のですか？どこクソラム酒はありますか？ she mumbles in Tien.
What the f~@% is this? Where's the f*#!ing rum?
A slender woman walks in with her long red hair worn in a no-nonsense braid. She wears a figure-hugging combination of fashionable finery and practical sailor’s clothes with a tricorne hat at a jaunty angle. Her fine features and delicately pointed ears accent her exquisite looks. Her every movement is graceful and yet assertive.
I would like to congratulate you on your letter of marque. With this letter you also enter into the politics for the shackles. Do you know much of current political affairs?
"I'm guessing my information is a bit dated. We were a tad busy making a name for ourselves lately. I could ask around of course but I'm sure that you could get us up to date better than a bunch of drunks in bars." Calah says with a sweet smile.
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Suny sproings to her feet and, with her usual bright smile, offers the woman a curtsey.
(^_^)
Arjun lies back on a pile of pillows, laces his fingers behind his head, and relaxes with his elbows protruding to the sides. "What the Captain said. We're none too canny to politics in the Shackles right now, but I imagine it's something along the lines of, 'bastards trying to kill each other."
Well there is more to it than that. Kerdak Bonefist’s hold over the fractious pirate lords is perhaps not as strong as it might appear. I am not exceptionaly keen on being the next Hurricane King. However Bonefist's days are numbered and no one is in the position I am in to succeed him. but there is more, Cheliax has long hated our kind and they grow tired of our impudence. I have heard word that talk is gathering in their halls of an expedition to put us down. But for now it is just talk. Regardless, the wise would use this time for gathering allies, and that is why I asked you here. I would like for you to investigate these rumors of Chelaxian interest in the region. You have proven yourself as resourceful newcomers and I would like to have you in my employ.
Suny simply curtsies again and looks from her Captain to Miss Fairweather Captain.... (^_^)
Dimitrious who gave the slightest of bows acknowledging our host
Pardon my ignorance captain fairweather, that seems like quite the undertaking. Where would one even begin to sniff out rumors of this magnitude
Calah does a little curtsey to Miss Fairweather "You have quite the high regard for us, even though we are such newcomers as you say. Still, we all be for gathering allies that can be trusted, something that be hard amongst pirates." Calah finishes with a smile.
She continues talking with a slight frown.
"Still, I was not aware that the Cheliaxans were at the end of their patience. I guess it was inevitable. Do you think that the current, or perhaps future Hurricane King could gather enough captains to persuade them from trying something as foolish as sending expeditions against us in the Shackles?"
Looking at Calah, That may be quite an undertaking, the Chelaxian's only truly understand force and compliance. It would help us to know what their plans are or if this is all just idle speculation.
Turning to Dimitrious, I am convinced that Cheliax has spies and informants working
in the Shackles, and I can think of only two places that might have some knowledge of these traitorous informers in our midst. The first is the House of Stolen Kisses in Quent, a temple of Calistria and one of the best information brokerages in the Shackles. Use this note to obtain an audience with the temple’s high priestess, Dindreann.
She hands Dimitrious a small note written on bone white paper.
The second is the Temple of the Hidden Name, a secret temple of Norgorber said to operate in the town of Beachcomber on Bag Island. If anyone knows of these spies, it would be the followers of the Reaper of Reputation. I have no contacts with the priests of that temple, so I hope you can convince them to reveal what they know.
Thank you for the letter as for the temple of norgorber...I have no doubt in the persuasive power of our crew to convince them to grant us an audience.
"Let's start with Quent. I prefer dealing with Calistrians over those gloom bunch worshipping old Norby.
One matter remains though, a group of pirates tried to waylay us on our way here. We caught one and will question him later. Any idea who could have sent them? "
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Honestly, I don't know, this is a dangerous port in a dangerous time. Find out what you can from the one you caught. While in Quent you will be under my tacit protection and while I rule the city, the people of the shackles are free willed and may not respect that protection.
With our business complete? Dimitrious will begin making his way back to the ship keeping a wary eye for unwanted visitors.
The trip back to the ship remains uneventful. She rests were you left her in the harbor, bright sun beaming down upon her rigging.
Dimitrious will make ready for the journey to Quent
As you arrive at the ship, a package is marked, FOR MY NEW FRIENDS.
The package contains a waterproof box with fine charts inside, as well as a pennant bearing Tessa's colors. As you open it a letter falls out, "As you find these useful, use them".
Suny helps make the ship ready for their journey ahead. She also slips in to watch/help with the questioning of the fellow who's previously been tangled up with every one.
Arjun goes below deck. He dismisses any crew within earshot, and takes a seat opposite from their prisoner.
He makes a crooking motion with one finger and leans in close, his voice barely a whisper. "Listen. Listen real close. Right about now you may think you have this situation figured out. You're a servant of Asmodeus, you're doing his work, you tried your best, and the only reason you failed was because you didn't know you were tailing a ninja who could turn invisible and knock you out with a conk to the back of the head. You served faithfully. Now you have been captured. You know we're going to kill you after interrogating you. All you need to do is either rely on your faith to give you the strength to resist whatever we do to you and not spill the beans... or lie to us and give us false information. Either way, you know we're going to kill you, and you will get your hard-earned reward from your god in the next life. You know all this because you and your buddies tried to kill us, so it's only natural that I hate you."
Arjun looks over his shoulder to make certain that no one is listening and continues. "But here's the thing. I don't hate you. In fact, I rather like you. You showed gumption in trailing a dangerous stranger, and that is something I admire. So... we're not going to kill you and you're not leaving the ship. Big surprise, right? I've decided I want to get to know you better. See what makes you tic. Your thoughts, your hopes, your dreams... who you work for and why you were trying to kill us... I want to know everything. You're going to come with us, and every day you and I will get to share bonding experiences together. Some of my most favorite activities. Things like "force you to drink seawater and lash you to the main mast all day until the sun gives you violent hallucinations." Or we could try out "whip you with a vinegar-soaked lash on every surface of your skin." Or my personal favorite, "tie salt-cakes to your eyes with a blindfold and let your eyeballs slowly dissolve." I bet that by the time we reach our destination in several weeks, I will know you better than any other person in this world."
By this point, Arjun is smiling his most earnest smile. He switches back to a normal volume. "Or you could spoil all the fun and tell me everything right now. But I warn you -- if you tell me everything right now, we won't get to have our bonding time!"
Intimidate
The man's resolve seems to weaken, he stammers a bit looking into your eyes.
I tried to kill you yes, it was what I was instructed to do. He stammers some more, Narthul gave the order.
He set up the ambush, chose the spot and tasked me with following behind you. When you got in position I was to give him the signal and attack from behind.
A small pool forms beneath where he sits.
Arjun makes a go on, go on motion with his hand. "Who is Narthul? How does he lead you? Do you belong to the same organization? What are his plans? Why does he want us dead?"
He leans in close and hovers just by his ear, breathing heavily through his nose for several seconds.
"Details."
Narthul is a light skinned Chelaxian, has a particular pension for poison. The thing is he never shared the whole plan, our lot is to obey. He gives the orders, we follow. Looking terrified, We shipped out of Cheliax last week, that's all I know.
"Are you soldiers? Mercenaries?" What does Narthul do? What is his occupation?"
We serve house Thrune. The Shakles' days are numbered, you would do well to pledge your allegiance to her now while you still can.
SUny watches the events unfold between Arjun and their new guest. When certain things develop she skips out and quickly returns with fresh linens and there's sounds of something large and heavy being set down outside the door, followed by the sloshing of buckets of water.
She doesn't do anything otherwise for the moment.