Cueta muses as she walks along. "Well, we got Rosie, for sure. And possibly Owlbear. And Fishguts and Ratline, probably. We'd have Cogsward, were he with us." The swab smiles, her thoughts momentarily warmed by her remembrances of the brawler. Then, an unfamiliar feeling - worry for another - washes over Cueta, and she grimaces, as if chewing on a lemon. "But I don't know about the rest. Maybe a couple of others. And we got all of us. Seven of us. I like our odds."
Artevious makes the swab scratch her head. Kicking a bit of driftwood, Cueta takes a swig of her newly filled canteen and runs the back of her hand over her mouth. "Why fight fair when we don't have to? We poison the water. Knock as many out as possible. And then strand those fookers that would do the same to us. If I can find the right plants." Cueta nods to Harmony, and scans the island's scrub, hoping to see something that the party can use.
Shrugging, Cueta looks to Harmony apologetically. "Nothing here. We just stab the fookers then."
Rizz scratches her head, and cocks it slightly as Cueta lists names that she can't attach faces to yet. It might be best to fix that, better to smash things that were approved to be smashed than upset someone that treat her well.
"I can agree to the stabbing!" Rizz says, enthusiastically raising her blade into the air.
"Can I be captain on Sundays?"
Day 9 - Early Morning - Bonewrack Isle
The crew finally arrives at the beach whereupon they landed to start this "quest". Perhaps all the luck was against them as they landed and the luck is back on their side now, or perhaps the crew just learned where to step and where not to step. Regardless, no encounters trouble them on their trek back through the jungle.
However, neither fresh water nor poison root did the crew find on their journey.
The small boat that was utilized to bring them to the island was moored well and has not been pulled out to sea. The boat has enough room for seven on the boat, not the current nine you have with you. Of course, if you dump the barrels that were intended to hold fresh water you'll have your numbers.
Kelizandri is said to be the semi-divine offspring of a brine dragon and a minor godling, and is one of the four powerful beings collectively known as the elemental lords
Ovonovo though is unknown to you...
"Uh guys. If we need fresh water before we leave, we're either gonna have to kill anyone who disagrees. I've gone a few days at sea with no water, and its not fun."
Aqguazula looks at the ship anchor off into the distance.
You've got to f$+&ing with me?!
"Is that a merchant vessel? We're toughest merchants crew in these parts since the Apis sailed in." laughing the whole time.
He looks to Rizz,"I can drink sea water no problem, but if you insist." Aqguazula tears the tops of the barrels off, he begins to chant, click his teeth, waving his arms to in rhythmic patterns.
After some time, Aqguazula fills all the barrels with fresh, drinkable water.
"You made the right choice bringing me along." He eyed over the crew with a fierce intense look, deciding now this was the final time to ask. Now this is it, there no going back. Do we attack them as we get on the ship, beat them unconscious and row them back onto this island to damn them?" Aq said in his deep booming voice, his tone was stern.
"In deference to Artevious' wishes, we will confront them overtly. I want a little time on the ship before we do so, however, to talk to our likely allies like Rosie, to warn them and prepare them before we act. It is now morning. We will act at high noon, or earlier if the ship tries to pull anchor and leave before that. Aqguazula, I want you to not accompany us on the boat. Swim to the ship and wait in hiding outside it until you hear sounds of battle, then join us. Sandara, your job is to drop a rope down to Aqguazula when it is time. Gall, talk to Fishguts and see if he will support us."
"High noon is the time. We will report in and play our normal roles until then."
"There's only room for seven on the boat. Someone will have to accompany Aqguazula as a stealth component, swimming across and then hiding outside the ship waiting. Eriziel, you're a devastating melee combatant. If Plugg and Scourge think we lost you, they'll think us crippled and lessened. Then your surprise assault will throw them off guard when you join the battle." Also, if Aqguazula can't be trusted, Rizz is the one I trust to handle herself. "Will you agree not to come with us on the boat?"
Current plan is to take the barrels of fresh water with us on the boat, which leaves seven spots on the boat: Harmony, Esmarelda, Cueta, Artevious, Gall, Sandara, Conchobhar. They will return to the Man's Promise and say that they found fresh water and the two missing crewmen, but lost Rizz on the island. Meanwhile, Aqguazula and Rizz will swim surreptitiously to the ship and wait for the signal. The main group will communicate with allies on board to set up an eventual confrontation which will occur at high noon or when the ship pulls anchor, whichever comes first. When the confrontation occurs, Sandara's job is to drop rope or ladder so Aqguazula and Rizz can scale up and join.
Comments, disagreements?
Aqguazula nods to Harmony,"very well, I will scale the ship with Rizz when signal is given or battle begins."
Aqguazula forces his fins out of his body, he begins to stretch his webbed toes and fingers, walking over Rizz he stares down at her then scans the sea and looks back at her.
"The rip current will be too strong for your body, you'll get pulled out to sea, it won't be a problem for me. The water here is also very clear, we're going to need to remain underwater among the reef till we reach the ship. I hope you can hold your breath little one." Letting out a low chuckle. He bends onto one knee, putting out his lower set of arms to act as a body harness."I can either hold you or you can jump on my back, your choice."
Rizz agrees though readily, almost as if she's had enough swimming for one day.
"Okay, just be clear about who I can hit or not or I'm gonna starting swinging at everyone. Hey Aqguazaza..., Aqguluza...., Aqguazula!"
Rizz scurries across the ground and throws herself on the back of the fish/man/elf person.
"I swear to the gods i need good rinse after today."
Aq laughs and nods his head at Rizz's comments. "Where did you find this one? I'm liking Rizz more and more, there will be plenty of blood for the both of us, I'll even let you watch sharks feed on the corpses."
With Rizz secured to his back, Aqguazula turns to the rest of the group."Hope this plan of your works, either way we're christening the vessel in blood." Aqguazula turns towards the sea and begins to wades into the warm waters. As the water reaches his knees, he dives into the sea, swimming on the bottom of the bay among the security of the reef. Aqguazula moves with the intensity of a shark stalking its prey, the ship was in reach and unsuspecting of the terror that loomed.
When Aqguazula makes it to the ship, he clings to the bow of the ship preventing those on the starboard and the port from noticing them. Bobbing his and Rizz's head out of the water allowing her to get some fresh air.
Aq whispers to Rizz,"breathe through your nose, now we wait."
With Aqguazula and Rizz on board with the plan for, well, being off board, the issue with the boat becomes resolved. Seven people and two barrels of fresh water. "Let's load her up", Harmony says and grabs onto one of the barrels, waiting for someone to grab it from the other side, and then lifts it onto the boat. Then the other, and it's time to leave Bonewrack Isle behind. The group pushes off the boat and starts to row toward the Man's Promise.
"Aqguazula. We're not merchants. We stole that ship from the merchants." Esmarelda said with a small smirk before she listented to what Harmony suggested for the group.
"Actually, if Aqguacula and Rizz must swim under the water to begin with why not have them swim under the boat? It will hide them and we won't have to worry them out swimming us or us out pacing them."
With that suggested Esmarelda helps Harmony get the barrels into the boat.
Day 9 - Morning - Bonewrack Isle
The crew, less one, begins to row back out to the Man's Promise with two barrels and two saved comrades.
As you get out to sea you hear the familiar voice of Fipps Chumlett, "Ahoy they're alive and their on the way back Cap'n!"
Mr. Plugg heads over to the Starboard side of the ship and calls down, "What've ye got? Missin' crew, why'd ya' waste yer time wit' all that?! I asked ya' ta' get water and get back here ya' lubbers!" He roars in anger as your boat reaches the ship.
Aqguazula whispers to Rizz,"hold your breath, we're going under. Should you start to drowned I can breathe for the both of us, if you bite me. I will bite back." Aqguazula slips back under the waves.
He swims rapidly along the sandbar, coral reefs and schools of fish. Using the natural environment to his advantage, blending in among the marine wild life.
Aqguazula as a safe measure, he begins to cast a spell to aid Rizz. He prays to his demonic and elemental deities. clicking his teeth, praying and creating markings with his fingers. He infusing Rizz with guidance of his deities.
"It took us quiet a while to find drinkable water." Esmarelda said as she got on the ship along with the other. "We did get the water however! After dealing with giant frogs... among other thing."
"Indeed!" I agreed with Esmarelda. I had fallen silent as we rowed out to the ship and our destiny. I was certainly relieved that the vessel was still moored where we had left it -- and hopefully fully repaired and seaworthy. But our next great challenge was ahead and on those decks: to throw off the yoke of slavery and wrest the helm of our fates from our captors.
But until the moment to strike was upon us, we still had to play the part. "It was quite the harrowing tale," I explained to the fellows arrayed upon the deck as we rowed the last lengths to the Man's Promise. "Giant frogs, caverns full of wriggling grindylows, and even a harem of ghoulish harridans! And at the end, we return triumphant, our comrades returned safe and sound! Even though they were a bit... nibbled on. But no matter! That ordeal is in the past! It is just like the Poisson family motto: 'Together for one, and each for the other'!"
Harmony tries to do some fast-talking and lead the discussion away from the concerns that Plugg raised. Most importantly though she tries to mislead the attention of anyone who might be watching in the water.
"It took us a while to find fresh water on the island but fortunately the mornings were pretty humid so it was easy to collect dew from the big shovel-shaped leaves of the native flora which was actually quite fascinating, I haven't seen anything of the like since I was on a foot trek through Motaku Island, well thank goodness it was just the flora which resembled and not the fauna, there are some pretty crazy animals on Motaku let me tell you, and it's a miracle I got away with just a few scars and no, I won't show you those scars even if you ask really nice because some of them are in sensitive places and a girl likes to be wined and dined a little before they allow that sort of thing if you catch my meaning..."
"Wait! Don't-"
Was all she could get out before Aqguazula plunged into the water, leaving Rizz to curse violently underwater as salt water was pushed up her nose. She could hold her breath long enough, but a little more warning would be nice.
Though she heard your warning, she still bites you in displeasure.
Day 9 - Morning - Man's Promise
A line is thrown over by Rosie who hoots at the sight of the crew and their rescued allies. The Crew begin to climb and relate their tales whether fast talk or narative to no response other than an enthusiastic Rosie.
Scourge hisses at Rosie and as Cueta nimbly climbs the rope she can see why,
Artevious
Cueta
Gall
Harmony
the dirty fookers were planning to double cross you all! Materializing from areas near the deck Fipps Chumlett, Jaundiced Jape, Maheem, Slippery Syl Lonegan, Tam 'Narwhal' Tate. Master Scourge, and Mr. Plugg all stand at the ready with crossbow to gun you all down! Owlbear Hartshorn is unchained and has his club at the ready.
The only person on deck who is an ally in sight is Rosie who seems shocked by the turn of events, it seems Plugg and Scourge did not count on someone allowing you all up!
Artevious
Cueta
Gall
Harmony
Rizz
Aq
--
Rosie
Conchobhar
Sandara
---
Owlbear
Evil Crew (5)
Plugg
Scourge
Scourge smiles wickedly at Cueta, "I've been waiting a while now to show you real pain woman!"
He attacks wading in with his Handaxe and his Whip attempting to snatch her weapon right off of her hip!
Handaxe - Damage
Though the whip misses its mark, his handaxe cuts Cueta on the left forearm, drawing first blood in this winner take all battle!.
---
To hell with that banshee's wait, I'm going to check out the situation.
Aqguazula ascends out of the water, hearing a commotion.
Hmm, that was quick.
Aqguazula beings to click his teeth, praying and drawing sigils. He beings to glow and shimmering, protected by his deities.
Aqguazula grabs the lower side of the port, sinking his claws into the wood and begins scale the vessel at a rapid pace.
Suddenly, the entire ship was against us, save for Rosie herself. Our question of mutiny was rather handily answered for us, because we had no choice but to defend ourselves. The likes of Scourge and Plugg had apparently decided on their own to be rid of us, so now our only hope was to wrest this ship from their vile clutches in battle!
I stepped forward, determined to deal with the foul cur that was Mr. Plugg. "You have sailed far from your master's shadow, sirrah," I told him, "and his cruelty will not protect you this day!"
I slashed at him with my cutlass, then stood in a defensive posture to parry any retaliatory strike from him.
"Art! The Owlbear doesn't want to fight us! Talk him down!"
Trusting that the self-styled swashbuckler would do just that Cueta pivoted to the portside and drew two arrows, firing them into Plugg in quick succession. It was just as well they were betrayed before they could be the betrayers. Plugg would leave this world today, either way.
Rizz scrambles off Aq's back and surges forth entering a rage!
She grips the rough leathers that make up her greatswords grip, and brings the heavy metal slab full round, slicing through the nearest enemy she can place.
"Cueta, I'm wounded", Harmony shoots a wry sideways smile at the inquisitor.
Aq scales the side of the ship nearly reaching the deck.
Cueta fires two shots at Plugg, perhaps the most satisfying shots she's ever taken made more pleasing by the fact that both connect! Plugg grunts, "Ye'll pay fer that!"
Sandara calls out to Besmara, "Take them to the depth Mistress!" From out of nowhere a fog settles over her obscuring the vision you have of the foes but also the sight they have of you!
Conchobar climbs over Gall, "I can't see a blasted thing Sandy!" The crew hears his voice echo.
Rosie drinks a potion.
The group hears a crossbow bolt whizz in their direction but doe not sound like it strikes anyone.
Plugg - HP = 38/47 - Masterwork Light Crossbow - - Damage
"Owlbear, we're your friends, it's your time, time to get out from under Scourge's boot heel!" Diplomacy
What if any impact it has cannot be seen as the mist obscures all.
Gall finally hefts himself up and over the side.
"May not be able to see, but I don't need to see to cast a few spells." Esmarelda smirked before she began to cast. Her rapier gleamed a soft golden color.
"Also remember, Maheem is mine." She told them.
"Maheem is yours, check", Harmony says, and then focuses her attentions on Owlbear.
"Owlbear, try to remember. We taught you to read. Remember, books? Letters? How we went over each letter day by day...the squiggly one called 'ess' and so on? Owlbear, we never hurt you, but Plugg and Scourge hurt you every day. Now, Owlbear, now is your chance to be done with Plugg and Scourge for good. You don't have to see them ever again. You don't have to see Plugg and Scourge ever again, ever, if you help us against them now."
"Forget the fog, just fire in yer' bound to hit something!" screams out Plugg. The sound of several crossbows twang...
Fipps Miss 50% vs. Art
Jape Miss 50% vs. Harmony
Maheem Miss 50% vs. Es
Syl Miss 50% vs. Cueta
Tam Miss 50% vs. Gall
Fipps vs. Art Crossbow Attack
Tam vs. Gall - Damage
Whip - Disarm -
Handaxe - Damage
Gall HP = 16/28
Most of the shots hit the deck one whizzes way high over Art's head but Gall catches a bolt right in the left shoulder.
Owlbear sees Gall take the hit and growls, "Stop. Stoop fights!"
Scourge snarls at Owlbear, "Shut up and fight fool, you'll get what we promised you when these Mutineers are all dead!"
He charges at Gall who is just outside of the range of the mist, "Come out come out Cueta!" He teases as his whip snaps at the half-giant. While the whip fails to snatch the weapon, the axe does slice open Galls leg. The half-giant is now bleeding from two wounds.
Rizz pounces off Aq's back, with Greatsword in hand and cleaves at the nearest shadow.
Rizz almost seems to be frothing from the mouth, but in reality, she's just trying to spit all the salt water that got in there during Aq's quick submersion.
"Okay! Someone's going to have to die today to make me feel better!"
Aqguazula pulls his body over the railing, he watches as the gnome hops off his back and rushes into combat.
Aq smiles with glee, whether it's sincere or he's merely barring his shark like teeth is unknown.
He slinks over to the nearest foe, with his spear in hand and teeth in mouth, he was ready to strike. He thrusts his spear into the man's calf and sinks his teeth in to the man's shoulder.
Aqguazula rears his head and yells in Aquan, although the dialect is a rather strange one.
"Te huri i te raupapa, Ora i teie mahana e aore mate ki te honore!"
Cueta laughs, a sharp, condescending sound. "You're a bigger git than I thought, Scourge, you think I'm gonna fight fair!"
Drawing her last two arrows, Cueta stands safely in the fog, and unleashes them out at Scourge in rapid succession.
Scowling as her arrows fly wide , Cueta drops the bow and prepares to draw her pike, thinking she'd still stay safely in the fog if she could help it.
Rizz's bounding attack misses Plugg who look shocked to see her appearing seemingly out of nowhere.
Aq's attacks drop Jaundiced Jape before he even realizes the threat is upon him!
Cueta's shots go wide presumably due to the presence of the fog.
Sandara casts a spell and her hand reaches out from the fog and touches Gall - CLW
Conchobhar casts a spell, "Funny isn't it Plugg, that while you plotted Mutiny, we'll actually succeed at it!"
Gall 28/28.
Fipps - 4/11
who drops to his knees howling with Laughter.
Rosie appears next to Fipps and strikes from out of nowhere. Hand Axe Attack - Damage .
Plugg curses as he laughs, "When I get up I'm gonna kill you myself Con!"
I felt it was high time for the Son of Poisson to make his presence known in this battle. With a fierce "Huzzah!" I stepped forward brandishing my cutlass with a flourish. "Scourge, your promises are as limp as your whip," I taunted as I slashed at him, then readied my blade for his counter-attack.
"No one happens to have eyes on Maheem do they?" Esmarelda called out as she did her best to move out of the fog. Stopping short when she saw Scourge. "You're Not who I'm looking for." she stated before she tried to move away to continue after her main target.
Es dances out of the mist and finds Scourge! Who attempts to trip her and fails ion his attempt.
As Scourge becomes distracted by Es, he leaves himself vulnerable to Art's attack, the swordsman scores at hit against the hated foe!
Gall steps out of the mist and flanks with Art attacking Scourge.
Large Steel Terbutje - Damage
Hs strike nearly knocks the pirate over but he manages to keep his feet despite the two terrible blows he has taken, "Get up here and help me you fools!"
Gall 28/28.
Fipps - 4/11
Scourge - 9/32
Harmony feels unsure about Owlbear but confident enough about her earlier appeal to him that she hopes that Owlbear won't attack her at least. She moves south to get better visibility and begins spellcasting.
The crew streak forth to aid their leaders!
Maheem seers at Es, "Keep her alive, I've still got something for her!" He states as he charges at Gall his cutlass sinking into the back of the half-Giant.
Both Syl and Tam connect on Es but their blows are certainly held back.
Fipps attacks Rizz seeing the danger her small frame presents. But is strike is deflected by the Gnomes armor.
Owlbear screams, "I says stop!" He steps forward and strikes at Tam. His swing misses Tam but the fact that he swung at Tam is what matters...
Fipps Chumlett- vs. Rizz Cutlass - Damage
Maheem- vs. Gall Cutlass - Damage
Slippery Syl Lonegan- vs. Es Cutlass - - Damage
Tam 'Narwhal' Tate- vs. Es Cutlass - - Damage
Scourge - 9/32
Gall - 23/28
Fipps - 4/11
Owlbear- vs. Tam 'Narwhal' - Club - Damage
Scourge Acrobatics - Handaxe Thrown - - Damage
Scourge rolls forward and pops to his feet, too quickly for anyone to strike him, he throws a handaxe at Rosie. His axe sails over her head and into the sea. He draws a punching dagger.
Aqguazula looks for the nearest foe to pounce upon, seeing an officer lying prone on the ground he rushes towards him.
Standing over his foe, he presses all on his weight from his scaly foot upon the mans chest. Swooping in to get a nibble on him and thrusting his spear into this "Plugg" shoulder.
Too stiff to bend down, he relishes "Plugg's" anguish as the spear pierces through his flesh.
"Take them alive if you can! Murder their cronies for all I care."
Cueta watches Scourge for a few seconds, judging how the man fights, before stabbing out of the fog with her pike, aiming for the pirate's chest...
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"That's not a knife. This is a knife!"
Rizz thrusts her greatsword forward at Fipps following the form and an iron pike wedged in the ground.
Aq manages to injure the now standing Plugg with his spear who spits at him and roars, "Not sure what you are or where you came from but now yer dead first!"
Cueta cuts yet deeper into Scourge who is barely standing now...
Rizz cuts Fipps at the knees leaving him screaming out for one last moment before perishing on the deck bathing it in his crimson red.
Hearing the sounds of the crew charging at her allies, Sandara dismisses her spell obscuring sight and casts again, "Your time is up Plugg, the sea shall claim your body and Besmara your soul!!!"
Conchobhar holds his position for the moment.
Rosie attacks Plugg back, Handaxe - Damage .
Plugg resist whatever effect Sandara aimed at him and angles away from the axe attack of the halfling. He attacks Aq with his Cutlass and Cat O Nine Tails but the Sahuagin's scales prove too much for the weapons and do not break the skin.
Gall - 23/28
Fipps - -10/11 - DEAD
Plugg - 30/47 - Will Save
Plugg - Cutlass - Damage . Whip - Damage .
Harmony takes stock of the situation as she finishes up her spellcasting. Rizz and Aqguazula are on Plugg, Cueta and Artevious are on Scourge. Esmarelda is facing Syl and Tam. Harmony channels her spell in that latter direction, aiming to help Esmarelda against her opponents. "Hang in there, Esmarelda!" she calls out as she whispers a few last arcane syllables for spell completion.
"They want me alive, that gives me the upper hand." Esmarelda told Harmony as she spat the blood out of her mouth. "Plus it looks like I've an ally" She smirked as owl bear swung at Tam. Though with Harmony's spell Esmarelda felt safe enough to step up to Maheem.
"Now now, at least try to be a gentleman, if you want me alive you'll have to be the one to knock me out. Also don't expect the same from me, after all. Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned." She grinned, blood still upon her lip. "You want me Maheem, come get me."
The man known as Scourge did not wish to go down, I had to give him that. After surviving a nice cut by myself, Gall, and Cueta, he remained standing and in the fight. I leveled him a steady gaze as I swung my cutlass with a flourish. "Scourge, you face the son of the great Ricardo de Poisson."
My blade slipped past his defenses and was thrust deeply into his side. I leaned forward so his last vision was of only me. "My name is Artevious," I said with a deadly grin. "And your master is next."
Scourge's corpse slips off of Artevious' blade with nary a whisper!
Syl slumps down to the deck though Tam flutters his lips to stay awake, still even awake he finds cold steel in his gut from Es,
DMP ONLY: Scourge - -25/32 DEAD
Gall - 23/28
Fipps - -10/11 - DEAD
Plugg - 30/47 - Will Save 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (11) + 3 = 14
Tam - 1/11 HP
Syl - Asleep
Owlbear- vs. Tam 'Narwhal' - Club - Damage
Owlbear strikes at Tam slamming his club into Tam's shoulder with powerful force, still Tam does not go down.
Gall meanwhile swings at Maheem, Large Steel Terbutje - Damage - knocking Maheem out cold!
Tam drops his weapon as he sees three of his allies fall within a matter of seconds, "I surrender, I surrender!"
Only Plugg remains to resist...
Rizz goes charging at Plugg, her feet stamping on the wooden boards of the deck. She slams into him, directing her force to push him back and hopefully, overboard.