Sebastian keeps up his lecture. "This boat is recently moored. Their sealegs might not be settled. Rollicking feints might throw them off...but so will this!" Sebastian cants some arcane words and a pool of grease sloshes across the deck, putting the standing off the pirates in front of Caterine.
Even though his chest aches and his arms burn like fire Kabal throws all his weight in the coming attack. The ferocity of this attack totally underestimating Gaston is too slow too parry and Kabal nearly beheads the man!
The incredulous look on the man's face proves that never before he has encountered such a foe. Quickly he spins around and directs his next attack at Kabal
but as he raises his hammer high over his head - ready to strike down like a comet - he suddenly slips together with his captain.
Before Gaston is able to get up again, Sable's flames engulfs his head and the man dies nearly instantly.
Rd 7
Winter (resolved)
Sebastian (resolved)
Bree (resolved)
Caterine
Sable (resolved)
Silena
Captain Treeg
Pirates
Kabal
Reflex -
Kabal was almost shocked when he damn near cut right through the brute but was definitely shocked when slipped in a puddle of something and hit the deck.
...what the feck?!...this is no time to be crawling around like some milk drinking babe bub...get up!...
He wasted no time in standing up and using deep reserves of strength to take a swing at the slimy captain that in his mind was responsible for this whole mess.
Power Attack -
Damage -
Round 7:
Smirking at the big one and captain go down, Caterine redirects her attention onto their leader. Mercilessly lashing down on the prostrate marauder...
Whip (non-lethal): for
Enforcer:
Sebastian is momentarily thrilled (and slightly surprisd) by how successful his spell was, dropping the Captain and his thug, but bites his tongue when his grease flows under Kabal as well.
"Ha! It is as I thought, their balance is suspect. Lo! How the mighty have fallen. And now to shut up his wench...no offense ladies.."
Muttering a few more arcane words, Sebastian points to just behind the rear mast (I-6) dropping a zone of silence on the ship's aft deck.
The captain also jumps up again - a bit shaken by the cracking whip, but still determined to make Kabal pay for what he did
His men, shocked by the death of Gaston, hesitate for a second but then decide to turn the tide
In the back Silena calls forth the power of her gods and casts a hold person on Winter.
Rd 8
Winter
Sebastian (resolved)
Bree
Caterine
Sable (resolved)
Silena
Captain Treeg
Pirates
Kabal
As Gaston falls dead, Bree moves forward a few feet to ensure the Captain isn't out of her range (G17) and takes a shot at him.
Round 8:
Caterine sees the pirate loom up before her and steps away, whirling as she does to deliver a horizontal whip strike that seeks to have the cracker dig into the flesh in the man's armpit...
Whip (lethal): for
R8
AOO on Pirate 2
Damage
Will Save
***
Winter takes a 5' Step (Edge to J14) then...
Lay hands on Kabal
Heals
Mercy - Removes Fatigued condition
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Rd 8
Winter (resolved)
Sebastian (resolved)
Bree (resolved)
Caterine (resolved)
Sable
Silena
Captain Treeg
Pirates
Kabal
The bolt whirls past the pirates, but Cat's whiplash nearly tears the man's arm off!
With the bolt stuck in her right arm Selina hisses a Curse at Sable and sprints back to the helm, while the other pirates advance
after attacking Kabal, the captain takes a step back from the imposing man.
Round 9:
The thought bubbles up Someone should deal with that lass at the back... as Caterine applies thought to motion and starts moving through the cluttered deck. Stepping lightly but with purpose down the centerline of the vessel her head turns to the right as she passes Winter's enlarged form. Whip flashing out to the side, the cracker seeking Captain Treeg's ankle...
Kabal takes a backhanded slash at the pirate that rushed him. He felt the weeriness wash away thanks to Winter's spell.
AoO vs Pirate -
Damage -
And the pirate and his Captain both retaliated against the mercenary with two glancing blows. The big man took the cuts stoically and stayed close to the captain.
And swung his wicked falcata at the captain knowing that you kill a snake by cutting off its head.
We're gonna be swabbing this deck with your blood bub!
Attack vs Treeg -
Damage -
Crit Confirm -
Crit damage -
R9
Winter just laughs as the blades fall way short of the mark, bouncing off his heavy armour. He replies in kind, his massive blade striking true on what appears to be a massive mess of dead pirate bodies. He is starting to lose count of how many he has killed on the deck....
"Would have thought they were smart enough to flee"
Attack
Damage
Round 9
When Caterine moves in front of Bree, she breaks her line of sight on her targets. Seeing that Caterine doesn't intend to stay there long, instead of moving herself she delays her shot until Caterine has moved out of the way once more.
"Bloody hell!" Bree growls as her bolt goes long, lost to the water.
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Sebastian follows Caterine up the middle, but when she stops to whip, he continues to close on the woman at the aft. Arcane fire flicks from his blade as he prepares to strike. His recitation goes silent as he passes through the center of the ship.
You all wonder how sharp Kabal's falcata blade is - the wide swing he takes at Captain Treeg seems to cut right through the man. Kabal aswell as the captain both pause for a moment - then Treeg's head rolls off his shoulders.
The surviving pirates gawp at the scene and lose the grip on their weapons...clattering...then silence and only the low rolling of the waves.
Hahaha...well there you have it.
Kabal wondered slightly at how prevalent his afore mentioned theory on how to kill a snake became before turning to the other pirates with their captain's blood still dripping from his blade.
Whoever doesnt want to be next has about five heartbeats to drop any weapons, empty their pouches and start pounding sand.
Intimidate -
Well?!...
When Bree hears Kabal begin hi declaration, she tears her eyes from the fallen head to listen. Midway through, about the time he says "empty their pouches", an insane sounding giggle escapes Bree's lips before she snaps her jaw shut and her eyes go wide.
Just making her way amidships when Kabal renders the conflict moot, Caterine does not stop moving. She walks calmly to the helm, coiling her whip as she walks. Catching the attention of the pirate lass, she jerks her head to indicate that she should move forward and bunch up with the other pirates.
"Well done friends!" Winter cries. "You seem to have matters in hand, I'll leave them in your care".
Winter looks around to see the state of any injuries.
Selina mutters only silent protest and walks over to the other pirates who look down at the planks, shying away from Kabal but doing as he told them.
What is going to happen now? Treeg is dead - are you going to kill us?
Selina asks matter of factly.
But before one of you can answer one of the pirates bursts out
Spare my life! I'll show you the hidden treasure chamber!
Sebastian is surprised when Selina apparently gives up as her eyes go wide. He carefully turns to see what she saw, and sees Kabal standing over the two pieces of the Captain. He drops his silence effect and helps round up the pirates.
"Now that sounds a bit more hospitable than the first offer we received. Lead on, I think Kabal and company can keep an eye on things while a few of us check this out."
Kabal's brow furrowed more than usual since none of the pirate's took his threat serioulsy.
What the feck are you lot still doing here?!
He points at the turncoat who promised to share the location of the booty.
This one stays. The rest of you get one more chance to drop your gear and high tail it out of here or this sword starts swinging again. Savy?!
Winter addresses his answer to Selina, however it is clear the address is to the whole enemy crew. "The smart Pirate here will do as he has offered and take my friends Sebastian and Bree to the treasure. The rest of the crew will empty their pockets on the deck and drop their blades just like my friend Kabal has ordered, but you Selina, you will be staying here a while longer."
Winter strides towards her, still giant and imposing.
"As a leader of such a despicable bunch you have a weighty moral debt you owe to society at large, so I am giving you one single opportunity to atone for it here and now. You must swear to do service and good in earnest to the community, to use your powers to help and aid for one year and one day, asking nothing more than modest food and shelter in return. Swear this now and walk free free from this place so bound in honour, or be taken back to Riddleport and dealt with by the normal custom extended to an enemy Pirate officer captured in conflict... branding irons and a gibbet"
There were times like this one where Kabal marveled at how the goodly priest's somewhat gentle reminder's of moral obligations sounded a much more dire threat than his promises of violence. These were also the times when his respect for Winter grew.
Caterine rolls her eyes at the evangelical motions being taken by the faithful of the stag. Muttering "Would've been cleaner if she wasn't breathing at the end of the fray." and instead steps forward to rifle through the decapitated Captain's pockets for valuables.
Bree looks up and up and up to Winter. "Honestly, I don't know why you bloody well bother! Even if she promised, she's a bloody pirate, Winter! You can't trust her to keep her word unless you follow her around for that year to enforce it!"
Bree moves to Sebastian, prepared to follow him down.
"Everything you say is true Bree, she is a Pirate, and bound by no more than her word, which might not be the most valuable currency, however if we don't give people the chance to change their ways we send the message that the task is impossible and in turn those wretches who might have a mind to live a different path would give up hope and never have the courage to change themselves and join us in light and decency. To be certain she did carry out her word I would indeed need to follw her for the whole time, like leading a horse to water - the choice to drink or not will be hers, though should she not change her ways then I would suggest her next captors will treat her to a horrid death, for should she continue as she is then a bloody death is inevitable. Should we personally encounter her again upon the roads and oceans and still conducting herself as a wicked villain then she will be treated to the full extent of the Laws of Riddleport with no clemency or mercy, for this is her one and only chance. I really hope not to be disappointed."
Bree listens to Winter's words before scowling at the woman. "You let that big man down and I'll find you and show you my version of Riddleport law."
Then to Sebastian, "Let's get on with this, Sable are you coming too?"
The turncoat grins a bith sheepishly - just happy that Kabal hasn't killed him - and leads Sebastian and Bree below deck.
Selina is outright shocked and for a short period of time it seems like she is really considering taking option two, but in the end she nods
I will do as you told me...but...what happens to the ship?
-----
Below deck the turncoat opens a secret door behind several empty barrels deep in one of the store room of the ship, the contents of this room together with the things you looted on the deck made a nice pile of treasure:
Magic:
Scroll X2
Scroll X2
scroll
Wand
Token
Longsword
Cutlass
Bottle
Ring
Amulet
Wand
Masterwork:
Shortbow
Studded Leather X2
Whip X2
Other Loot:
100 Platin
1200 Gold
10 Flasks of Alchemist fire
Barrel of finest Ustalavian wine
"The ship is forfeit, spoils of war. Should you feel that this is unlawful then I will certainly welcome you submitting a petition to the Overlord in Riddleport and submitting the case before a judge, however I do believe the law is fairly clear in this matter. Your crew launched the attack upon us, and whether one likes it or not, the boat itself was on the water - had the fight taken place upon the docks or wharves where the ship was berthed then perhaps matters would be different... so the laws relating to the open seas thus apply do they not?"
Winter seems quite genuine in his explanation and very businesslike.
For a moment he considers the motley bunch, then hands them back two cutlasses, some rations, and five gold pieces. "If I send you away with nothing then one of two things will happen; you will either be eaten by the creatures roaming about, or will resort to thievery even if only to survive. A small mercy given now avoids me sending desperate men amongst the unwary miners out there... see that my trust is not misplaced, or pray deeply that I never find you"
Checking items at the next opportunity...
Scroll x2 - Spellcraft
Scroll x2 - Spellcraft
scroll - Spellcraft
Wand - Spellcraft
Token - Spellcraft
Longsword - Spellcraft
Cutlass - Spellcraft
Bottle - Spellcraft
Ring - Spellcraft
Amulet - Spellcraft
Wand - Spellcraft
Caterine moves to claim the two whips, uncoiling them slowly and checking the leather for imperfections as she does. Once unfurled she gives them a few speculative cracks - nodding an easy respect for their quality.
Winter she leaves to his proselytizing, knowing that should wouldn't trust any of the blackhearts with either a knife or behind her.
Sidling up to Winter when he is distant enough from the crew "And how are ye expecting to keep the ship? Soon as we leave it these blaggards will be quick to get back aboard... or are ye planning to fire it in our wake?"
"I had been wondering the same thing myself; whether to gamble on them continuing to flee inland, or just burn this vessel to the waterline. Unless of course someone here is skilled in the piloting of such a vessel and we can limp it to Croats camp...depends on its condition and our skill"
"Suppose that is a conversation we can have once all the valuables are off. Lets not let that last Pirate go too far then, as we may well have a use for him yet"
Winter ensures the Pirate turncoat sticks around, he might well get a promotion to Captain for a few hours.
Great...getting eaten by island predators sounds like a great future... Selina remarks dryly and takes one of the cutlasses.
She and the other pirates then leave the ship, they have spent half their life on. There is more than a bit of woefulness in their eyes...
The turncoat however grins, feeling promoted and very important. As he notices your inquiring gazes, he says
Ye will need more that a handful of men to sail these ship. At least 15 I'd say. We were about 75 when we ran abeach.
Wand of cure light wounds 24 charges
Anchor Token
Wand of magic missile 18 charges
Amulet of natural armour class +1
someone should keep a list of still unidentified items.
Kabal was just slightly glad that the pirate's finally got the message to leave the ship. He didnt give them much of a chance on the monster infested island and figured that they deserved what ever they got. He went to the side of the ship to make sure they were moving away and to check on Mercus.
Where are you boy?!
Sebastian will search out the captain's cabin and look for any thing else of value. And then the other crew cabins. And finally a check of the hold to see what the cargo might be. He momentarily goes to the larder to gather supplies, but remembering the cannibal stories, decides to pass on any food stuffs.
Once the ship is emptied, and while the others are looking through the cache of goods, Bree sits atop a crate, her back to the water, the island to her front and begins cleaning her nails with the tip of a blade waiting to see what her rag tag group is going to do next. Occasionally she glances up and scans the waters, looking for movement.
Scroll of Web X2
Scroll of Animate Rope X2
Longsword +1
Cutlass +1
Eversmoking Bottle
Ring of Protection +1
The cargo hold of the ship is mostly empty, however, there are some chests with finest silk and linen from Absalom.
Meanwhile, Kabal spots Mercus climbing up to the crow's nest
Just to get a better view of the island!