Dot in here when you're ready.
...
..
Ready!
All of you wake up, in a dimly lit cell. Occasionaly, it rumbles. You see your equipment in a chest nearby, when a man walks down. "Welcome to my brig. There's only two ways out of here, & one is to die for." He snickers loudly, thinking he's real funny. "But the other, you pirating folk might be interested in. I've got a job I need done, & you're gonna do it. What do you say, wanna live, or die?"
The man rises from his sleeping position and stretches. He is a tall muscular but lean man with sun-bleached blonde hair and intensely blue intelligent eyes. His skin is tanned from long hours in the sun.
The man smiles, "It seems I have been 'shanghaied'." He chuckles. "It is always better to be alive than dead, so it looks like I'm working for you."
The man works out a few more kinks in his shoulder, "Name is Seerus. Seerus Forstee if you didn't know already."
The man lets Seerus out, but men still guard the equipment chest.
"You'll need to test you, to see if you can handle it."
Seerus, if you want, you can make a sense motive check.
Owen opens a bleary eye as he rolls toward the voice. Unaccustomed to physical pain he groans slightly as he does so.
Looking at the man with derision, but otherwise staying on his side Owen allows the man to finish. After the bad pun Owen rolls his eyes and groans again as he pulls himself to a sitting position.
"I believe i'm of more use to both of us alive.' He says somewhat condescendingly. "therefore lets see what is is you have in mind."
Finally pulling himself to his feet Owen motions toward the door while looking at the man. Owen's body language is visibly paining him throughout the interaction. "Lead on." Owen says as he begins to roll out his shoulders and neck from a very uncomfortable nights sleep.
"Someone is gonna pay for this..." Miijoka mutters to himself as the fog in his head cleared. Listening to the man's demands, he rolled his eyes. "Has everyone forgotten how to hire people in this world?" He glares at the man. "What is it you want?"
"In this economy? It's a miracle anyone is hiring at all. " from the corner comes a scratchy voice from a man laying in what can not be a comfortable position. As if he was tossed in the cell unconscious, woke up, and couldn't be bothered to reorient himself.
With a grunt he eventually stands and stretches is back. "What exaclty is on this test of yours?"
Seerus laughs, "It looks like I will have some interesting companions for this job."
He then looks at the 'employer', "Test huh? Things become more interesting it seems."
After you've all been taken out of the cell, the man looks at you.
"For your test, we have a group of orcs that needs dealt with." He sneers. "If you survive that, then I'll tell you what we need.
After you've all been taken out of the cell, the man looks at you.
"For your test, we have a group of orcs that needs dealt with." He sneers. "If you survive that, then I'll tell you what we need.
"Presumably you mean murder them all. I have no inherent issue with killing the brutes, but I'm curious as to why. Are they in your way? Have they wronged you in some way?"
He looks at Owen. "Sure as hell they wronged us. They took our money. They said we weren't honorable & took our ship too."
Seerus: The test seems more dangerous than he's letting on.
Assembling his gear from the aforementioned chest "well, you're far and away the most honorable jailers I've ever had."
The worn but hearty man picks up a worn but hearty axe-musket "hello beautiful..." he says tenderly to no response.
"So we deal with these orcs. Sounds simple enough. Any specific instructions or is this more of a play-it-by-ear kind of thing? "
He looks at Owen. "Sure as hell they wronged us. They took our money. They said we weren't honorable & took our ship too."
Seerus: The test seems more dangerous than he's letting on.
Owen raises an eyebrow then turns to collect his things.
"They took your ship, money, and presumably some of your crew's lives. Which prompted you to acquire a few more *pause* Conscripts to take your revenge. We are said conscripts. Seems a perfectly reasonable thing for pirates to do. "Owens tone is one that relays he understands the reason for taking the action, but not the action itself. Less so since it involves him.
Assembling his gear from the aforementioned chest "well, you're far and away the most honorable jailers I've ever had."
The worn but hearty man picks up a worn but hearty axe-musket "hello beautiful..." he says tenderly to no response.
"So we deal with these orcs. Sounds simple enough. Any specific instructions or is this more of a play-it-by-ear kind of thing? "
[Dice=Knowledge Local: Orcs in this part of the world] 1d20+4
"We should do some recognissance first to make sure we understand what we're dealing with. Then formulate a plan to maximum effect."
Seeing the others retrieve their equipment, Seerus goes along and retrieves his stuff as well.
"Orcs can be tough and reconnaissance is always a good idea regardless of foe."
He then turns to the 'employer', "Since they took your ship, have they left port yet?"
1. You all have your equipment back.
Arther: From what you know about this area, chances are he's talking about the local storm orc tribe. They're led by a dark orc that works directly for the orc emperor.
Looking at all of you he says "Ready to go?
"Looks like it. Lets go bully some orcs." Seerus smirks.
After sitting around for a few hours on the ship, you arrive at the orc village. You see a large airship docked, & several valkrie troops.
While heading toward the docks he checks his rifle and pistol, then gently caresses his elegant rapier. "Capture a pirate," he looks at the others, and ruffians to go after some orc pirates. This should be interesting."
Checking his gun over, Miijoka nods. "I am ready."
Arther walks with an aloof swagger, hands in the pockets of his jacket.
Gesturing toward the docked airship, Arther says"That airship looks plenty stolen. Seems like a good place to start poking our nose into other peoples business. Maybe we'll get lucky and stumble across the specific orcs were looking for."
When they get outside initially Owen looks around and whistles loudly. A small wind comes gusting around a corner and right up to Owen. The amorphous form zooms around Owen twice before coming to rest at his side. The amalgam of cloud and vapor coalesces into the shape of a sleek hunting dog.
Owen speaks a short phrase while caressing the "dogs" head and ear, which oddly seem to be solid enough for this purpose.
Owen proceeds to trudge along with the rest toward their destination.
Upon first sight Owen appears legitimately surprised.
"An airship? That was...unexpected."
Knowledge Local
Perception (looking for Orcs)
Arther, Seerus, Owen: Valkries are orc troops that use mechanical wings to get an advantage.
Everybody roll Initiative.
Arther sighs audibly.
Owen: You rolled 2d20 for initiative.
Owen: You rolled 2d20 for initiative.
Initiative
Init Order:
Orcs
Seerus
Mijoka
Owen
Arther
You guys get a surprise round.
The captain lowers down a rope so you can get onto the ground. Getting down takes 1 move action, no climb check.
casts mage armor
Seerus draws his rapier with his right hand and pulls out his pistol with his left hand. "Looks like they may have been expecting us."
"They're not really attacking us are they? Guess that's what we get for showing up."
A greeting party from the orcs shows up. A smaller, sagely orc exits from the center of the group. His voice amplifies, & he says "Who are you, & why have you come here?"
Seerus lowers his weapons but doesn't put them away, "We are representatives from a certain business man that asked us to approach you for a business proposition."
Yeah. "business".
"GUARDS!!! INVADERS!!!"
Orcs emerge from almost every building.
"That could have gone better."
"Ya might say that!" Miijoka said, drawing a Thunderstone from his pouch and hurling it in the midst of the Orcs.
"Good recon, everyone. Did Pirate McPirateface mention exactly how many of these orcs we're after? A brilliant plan wouldn't go amiss."
The captain lowers down a rope so you can get onto the ground
With the order by the orcs to charge, Seerus raises his pistol and fires at the Sage and yells, "BLOODY HELL!" as his pistol jams. He then yells to everyone, "FALL BACK! DON'T LET THEM SURROUND US."
; ;
It is the next round.
Valkries surround the ship, & start shooting upon everyone. There are about 10.
Valkrie 1 hits Owen.
Owen takes a 5' step back if any are in melee range. He casts a spell and touches Boreanas's Canine head. Lightning energy briefly crackles across Owens hands before transferring to Boreanas.
Having done this many times before Boreanas waits for his master to act. Now charged with his masters magic Boreanas lunges at the closest enemy.
His legs and body become trailing mist as he moves leaving nothing but a crackling angry canine face. Boreanas snaps at his enemy as he flies past.
Touch attach Shocking Grasp
Arther peers down the barrel of his firearm. Following the flight of one of the Valkerie carefully, he takes a moment to line up his shot. "one hit is better than two misses," his old firearm instructor used to say "...except in the bedroom o'course".
"Gotcha!" he shouts, finding his shot. Arther pulls he trigger and is axe-musket makes a smug BOOM.
You hit both the tanglefoot bag, & the gunshot.