Harry simply gets more comfortable in his chair, as though none of this has anything to do with him... "Reckon you go shouting that name long enough Omur and the Ogres just might oblige you".
"Sir Karlan, just letting you know that if this bunch of rubes goes running up the Hill and get captured, like they will, I will call it 'just deserts' and wont hear about any rescue missions"
Me no care about those who get lost during fight...war is easy, you kill or you be killed.
Omur replies matter of factly.
Karlan shakes his head and drinks deep of his flagon. "If you fight it like a war you're going to lose. And it won't be pretty. You're trappers, hunters, men of the woods. Not soldiers. Come at i from that angle."
Alana sits quietly, smiling politely and sipping her drink. "What would you have these men do, Sir Karlan?"
"Better they learn to keep their eyes open and sharp on the horizon for unfriendly Ogres, better they learn to avoid the great walking Man-o-war's altogether"
Ailetha looks at Alana:
They should set traps and prepare to attack from a distance. Even the strongest can be felled with enough arrows and other long range weapons. But, I have to agree with Karlan and Harry, that if these good men are to stand face to face with the ogres, it is unlikely to end well.
"Ogre's still bleed. Ogre's still get poisoned, get sick, get killed. They're greedy, so prone to fall into traps if done right. You said yourself harry we could do it one by one if we had the time. They may not be able to do what we can do but they have more people and a better lay of the land than we can hope to have. Men have accomplished far greater feats with far less hope. My order considers that a tenant. So tlel me friend." KArlan turns back at the red haired man. "What happened to the casino's owners once the boat burned down?"
"Yeah we could pick 'em off nicely, the only problem is that we don't know how much time we have. I'm in no rush though, and if that Kreeg comes down here then we can sort that out when it happens"
Celestra sits beside Alana and enjoys a drink of ale as well. Under the table she squeezes her hand. She is glad for the rest but she wonders how the company is going to proceed.
May good ole Cayden Cailean protect us wherever we go!
Alana listens as both Harry and Ailetha take turns answering her question aimed at Karlan, her usual pleasant look on her face, but it is clear that she was truly asking what Karlan would have them do, and it is his answer that seems to satiate her curiosity.
Having had her answers, she turns to smile warmly at Celestra's presence, returning her lovers hand squeeze.
Omur doesn't seem to be very impressed by the truth in Karlan's words
We fight as we can and as you want us to...but we will give no quarter. When we start? My people follow the sign of the Burning Tree and I will set one afire to mark the begin of our raid.
actually this guy seems to be more orc than half-orc...
"Have all the bonfires you like, I'm going fishing" Harry pulls out the map and tries to work out here the floating sin house went down, sipping his beer.
"Reckon we get to checking that out first"
"If there's any records people want to check about the Kreegs, or the Fort, or any other questions you need solved then get to it. Either way I leave at first light for the wreck"
Alana looks absolutely appalled, her whole body tenses, and her voice sounds tight and constrained, "No, you must not set any trees on fire."
KArlan ignores the suicidal half orc for now and continues staring at their red bearded new drinking buddy.
The trapper looks at the map and points a meaty finger at the centre of the lake
Here i' was...I mean dats de place whe' de ship sunk...umm but the lake's deep, you nee'a good diver 'ere.
Omur just snorts at Alana's comment and leaves the table...
Celestra squeezes her companion's hand and remarks, "I agree with Alana. There should be no reason for burning trees unnecessarily. Perhaps we could find some dried wood instead."
Turning to the map and looking where the ship sunk, she asks, "How deep do you think the water is at that point? I could prepare water breathing for about two hours for each of us. It would not improve your skill at swimming, but it might give us a firsthand look at the wreck, if you are willing to dive that deep. "
The trapper scratches his big red nose and shrugs
Me ain't no fisherman, mam...but I'd say about 60 feet.
"With magic it sounds doable, I don't suppose we have any talented pearl divers amongst us, so that's going to be how it happens. I appreciate your abundance of talents Miss Zomesco, I appreciate them very much"
"With magic it sounds doable, I don't suppose we have any talented pearl divers amongst us, so that's going to be how it happens. I appreciate your abundance of talents Miss Zomesco, I appreciate them very much"
"You are most welcome." Celestra replies with an appreciative smile. "I'm glad to be of service. Now, do any of you have any means to find monsters once you get down to that depth? I cannot imagine that fireball would be of much use."
Ailetha looks to the others:
I imagine most of my abilities using spoken word or singing will be less effective beneath the water. I can still use dance or other acting to lighten your hearts and make your weapons strike harder. Unfortunately, I have no magic that will be particularly helpful beneath the waves.
"Find the monsters? If they're down there they'll find us soon enough, so in turn we find them" Harry offers with usual cheek.
So? What's the plan?
"So, is there a ship we can borrow to get us out there? I wonder if I can pinpoint it's location with a divine spell of mine? I will have to spend a short time in preparation, but I'm sure it can be done. First, I will need a clear image of the ship. Do we know of any pictures or models of the vessel?"
[b]A boat? Mam, tha' ain't no problem I guess...'ere still two o' three fishermen down at de harbour.]/b]
"Well, I'm sure they wouldn't mind helping out this lass and her companions! I think we could make this work. Let's sleep tonight and tomorrow I will prepare to depart with water breathing memorized. Ladies and Gentlemen, is there anything else we should do before we continue on the next part of our adventure?"
Alana speaks quietly, quietly enough that Celestra sitting so close to her might be the only one to hear her, "Make sure that brute doesn't go around burning down trees."
"Suppose I could make sure of it. You know, a lot of laves would be saved if that brute wasn't around encouraging people to follow him into slaughter"
"Maybe you could make sure of it without, you know, actually killing the guy? He is trying to help, after all, in his own way?" The look on Alana's face is hopeful, trustful, and perhaps a bit naive.
If we're planning on a diving incursion, might I ask what we seek to find in the depths? I believe the lake to be too large and too deep for an unguided look-around. If we are searching for one objective and prepare our efforts accordingly, then maybe we have a chance to find it.
"Were looking for a sunken ship on a fairly shallow lake, reckon the local fishermen should know the spot"
"What do you hope to find down there anyway?
"All I keep hearing about is this grand desire to find lost details of treason and plot, and the secrets of Thassilon and all the rst of the guff, and yet the floating love shack of one of the grand conspirators lies underwater after a bit of misadventure and people don't seem keen on poking about looking at it. Tell you what, if it was a gambling house there could well be some gold left behind too... so look at that, my interest is piqued. I'd prefer to go on an errand for lost lore with the suggestion there could be gold, than go get killed on the side of a hill by Ogres for the pittance we have received so far"
"Either way going fishing is better than sticking around this hole of a town full of the sad and depressed, no decent wenches, the Ale is poor, and they seem to only export mud and grief, and dead Rangers"
"I'm just trying to keep things in focus. It sunk, yeah, but it was also on fire. Mud and pikes might be all we find."
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"Alana speaks quietly, quietly enough that Celestra sitting so close to her might be the only one to hear her, "Make sure that brute doesn't go around burning down trees."
Celestra replies, reassuringly. "I'll keep an eye on him when I can. I trust he won't try a thing like that with us two standing nearby."
""Either way going fishing is better than sticking around this hole of a town full of the sad and depressed, no decent wenches, the Ale is poor, and they seem to only export mud and grief, and dead Rangers"
"If you wish, I can try and procure some of Cayden Cailean's finest. At the very least, I can give the beer a blessing."
"Still, a better lead knowing it was at one stage a base, than risking ourselves in a fort with much slimmer links. Suppose also a walk around the lake might be in order, for all we know there's a disused wharf out there with a trail leading to some hidden lair"
"I mean lets be honest, there's nothing to do here, no one left to talk to and nothing else to be gleaned, its a dead end"
The red bearded trapper wasn't idle during your conversation and has brought one of the fishermen to your table
Sers, I saw 'im stan'ing at the bar and so I thought I'll just ask him te help ye.
The fisherman seems a bit confused by the whole seituation but manages a shy smile
Yeah...uh...how can I help you?
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"We want to go fishing, over the wreck of a formerly floating gambling house. When can you take us there?" Harrys question is delivered in such a way to suggest 'now' is probably the correct answer.
Uh...now?
they may be hillbillies, but they aren't idiots...
"What a kind offer, let's go" Harry picks up his things and waits for the others.
Celestra finishes her ale and then grabs her backpack. "All set, Harry. I'll just need some time on the boat to prepare water breathing. It will be nice to be back on a boat, don't you think? Let's just hope the fisherman knows what he's doing."
Alana follows the along, tossing a worried look back over her shoulder at the man who thinks setting trees afire is an appropriate way to signal his men.
KArlan follows along unsure on this course of action. Half tempted to stay behind and organize things so no one blunders into the fort needlessly.
Ailetha looks to the others:
Before we go, I would like to find out from someone on the boat the night it burned what caused the fire. Was it simply a knocked over lamp, or something more sinister?
Not sure the best way to handle this, I am looking for anything that will tell us what might have been on the boat other than gamblers and the Lamia. Was it attacked from the water? Or did it simply burn which seems unlikely with the powers we are fighting.
Knolwedge(local):
Diplomacy(gather info):
Pretty soon Ailetha finds ou that the ship sunk without any survivors - at least no one knows about anyone who made it to the shore alife. So no one is able to tell her any details about the fateful night in which the boat sank.
Together with the fishermen you reach the pier some minutes later. The lake looks like a grey mirror, only small waves are curling on the surface.
It's about to start raining again...do you really think this is a good idea?
the man asks and gives the sky a weary look.
"What, like sitting around in that bar was a better one? No, there's nothing of interest in Turtleback other than blowhard country rubes, lets just check this boat quickly if you are worried about the weather"
"A little rain shouldn't be much bother to experienced sailors such as yourselves. Besides, Harry and I have had some time aboard boats and we should be able to help you out, if needed."
Yeah, okay...
the man helps everyone into the boat and then begins to row to the centre of the lake...the scene has something surreal with you in that small sloop in the middle of the vast lake - all in the strange grey twilight of the mountainland afternoon.
That must be the place...
Alana seems more on edge, and more apt to cling to Celestra's hand once they've left dry land. She whispers nervously to her lover, "I have never been much good at swimming. I do not know, I suppose I just never liked the idea of not being able to see the sky above me and feel the ground below me. What about you, my love, do you enjoy this sort of thing?"
Alana seems more on edge, and more apt to cling to Celestra's hand once they've left dry land. She whispers nervously to her lover, "I have never been much good at swimming. I do not know, I suppose I just never liked the idea of not being able to see the sky above me and feel the ground below me. What about you, my love, do you enjoy this sort of thing?"
"Well, my love, do be honest, I do love the freedom that comes with sailing on the open sea. There is adventure in sailing that is hard to put into words. The sea is a mighty power, but it can be fun to dance with it. However, if you are scared, just stay near me. We will be of comfort to each other. And if things start getting rough out there, we will tie ropes to each other so that we may always pull each other close in case we should find ourselves cast overboard. "
Celestra takes Alana's hand and holds it tenderly. She then kisses her forehead, followed by a gentle kiss on the lips. "We will not be away from land for long, and when we return to the earth, we will hold each other in a tight embrace, keeping each other safe. So, will you stay by my side for this journey, my dear? I know the others will appreciate having you accompany us."
With so much emphasis on the weather, Harry the Pirate stops to look carefully at the clouds, the lake and the rest of the vista, "Is there something indeed going on?" he wonders aloud.
Prof (Sailor)
Survival