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Ok. After a few moments, Laurastine is able to get ten door open. A musty wave rolls out at you, a thick, humid air. The smell is unlike anything you've ever encountered. The smell of animal waste and something... else.
The room is dark, the only light is from the area you are in, which only allows you to see about five feet in.
The quartermaster, upon hearing the door, shouts Wait! Don't open that! and starts running toward you all, totally ignoring you Harvey.
Suddenly, a shuffling sound can be heard and a loud thunderous stomping sound starts moving toward the door...
I'm sheathing my trident and readying my net. If I have enough time I'll ready an action to trip anything that exits the door.
Get behind me!
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As Nalgi readies his net, a huge beast comes out of the darkness, charging and swinging an armor plated tail. It's body is covered in spiky armored plates, and it has a large, bright green leaf stuck between two of its large teeth. It swings it's tail at Laurastine as it's momentum carries it through the door, shattering the door jamb.
And make a fortitude save
The half Orc rounds the corner just in time too see, and shouts Argh, run! That thing was meant fer Hanscombe, but it be too much trouble. It's killed five men already, it has! Someone subdue it!
Nalgi, make your trip attempt.
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seeing this huge thing come out of that room and just Stomp over the person, I wait till it passes me and then fire at it's backside,
WHAT is that thing?
"It's a primitive animal, a dinosaur. It's a dumb beast, but hardy."
Seeing the wild animal Laurestine tries to avoid it but to no avail. The tail strikes her with great force.
Crying out in pain, she backs away from the creature.
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Delben 20
Antal
Harvey 22
Laurastine 17
Nalgi 13
Ankylosaurus
Harvey, it hasn't quite gotten past the wreckage of the door and wall enough for you to flank, but you'll be able to next round. Your shots ricochet off of it's bony plates, thudding into the wooden walls.
Laurastine, its tail smacks you hard, and you are dazed for one round.
Order:
Harvey
Delben << We are here
Laurastine
Nalgi
Antal
Ankylosaurus
"Laurestine!
Delben will cry out when the creature slams it's tail into her, obviously doing great harm. As a move action Delben will pull his wand of Cure Light Wounds from his belt and as a Standard action he'll begin tapping lightly on his drum, weaving an illusion around Laurestine that shows her lying dead on the floor.
Casts Silent Image.
Silent Image
School illusion (figment); Level bard 1, sorcerer/wizard 1
Casting Time 1 standard action
Components V, S, F (a bit of fleece)
Range long (400 ft. + 40 ft./level)
Effect visual figment that cannot extend beyond four 10-ft. cubes + one 10-ft. cube/level (S)
Duration concentration
Saving Throw Will disbelief (if interacted with); Spell Resistance no
This spell creates the visual illusion of an object, creature, or force, as visualized by you. The illusion does not create sound, smell, texture, or temperature. You can move the image within the limits of the size of the effect.
Delben will quietly whisper to Laurestine,
"I've created the illusion you fell dead. Act with caution."
Nalgi will take the more noble of choices and charge the great beast.
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Antal yelps in surprise and flings a sling bullet.
Chomps moves in to attack the giant beast.
The ankylosaurus bleats a painful sound as Antal's bullet hits it in a small fleshy spot between two plates, and Chomps takes two good claw swipes. It retaliates by swinging its tail in a deadly arc, aiming at Chomp's face.
Chomps is staggered for one round.
On to round two!
Using a move action, Delben will maintain the illusion by spending a round of Bardic Performance (as per his feat Spellsong). Delben will tap out a surprisingly quick beat in his drum, Inspiring Courage as a standard
Taking aim on the creature once more. I fire my shots hoping to hit home
"It's a primitive animal, a dinosaur. It's a dumb beast, but hardy."
Dinosaurs, on a spaceship!!, I mean ship? who comes up with these things Steven Moffat
Laurestine makes to attack while trying to remain out of the creature's reach.
She then moves 30' in the other direction to get as far away as she can.
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Order:
Harvey
Delben
Laurastine
Nalgi << We are here
Antal
Ankylosaurus
Harvey, one of your bullets hits the beast square on, eliciting a roar of pain and anger. Laurastine, your attack lands as well, and the beast momentarily starts for you, but Chomps appears to be the bigger threat, so it squats low, shielding its in armored skin, and rears its tail back, ready to launch another devastating swing.
Nalgi attacks with all his might, trying to pierce the thing with his trident.
His trident slides off the the creatures armor with a sound like nails on glass, and Antal lobs another stone.
The bullet, thanks to Delben's magic, strikes true, further angering the beast.
Chomps is staggered, and tries to recover his footing.
The ankylosaurus takes another swing at Chomps, since he hurt it the most. That massive tail whirls in a circle, taking part of the ceiling down, and then flies at Chomps with impossible speed.
The tail hits Chomps solidly, and in a burst of a million pin pointed lights, Chomps is sent back to his home plane, as his body dematerializes into sea foam.
Onto round three! The creature looks a lot worse for the wear, and is starting to slowly back towards the room it came from, grunting loudly.
Order:
Harvey << We are here
Delben
Laurastine
Nalgi
Antal
Ankylosaurus
Delben will back up 10 feet to avoid this dangerous beast and begin slow, almost painfully quiet beat that will slowly rise in volume until even the sounds of the dinosaur are muffled by the noise. Suddenly he'll cease, the effects of his music clear on the simple animal's face.
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damn this things hide! kill it before it kills us
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Harvey, your shots would have hit full on, but the wiry half orc smacks your arms at the last second, causing them to go wide.
The beast's been beaten, fer Besmara's sake! Ole' Corlean Hanscombe is expectin' that thing two weeks from now, and we all know what he's for if he don't what he wants! 'E be tha most brutal "businessman" ta be dealin' with, and I ain't what fer havin' sneak blades comin' at me in tha night!
He peers into the room, and sighs with relief.
It be beat pretty bad, but we got plenty 'a sleepin spell scrolls so ta keep it quiet. Ya got tha ship, tha beast and tha pay be yours iffin ya wants it, but I'm not keepin' it from Hanscombe. That'd be suicide fer sure.
So... do we just leave it be?
"For now..."
Delben will say to Nalgi. He'll turn to the former quartermaster and say,
"But I don't want any more surprises. Cooperate and perhaps we won't leave you to the mercy of your slaves."
Delben will walk back towards the stairs to get top deck and away from the reek of dinosaur dung. He will call back,
"Let's get this ship plundered quickly, I don't want to run into any more Cheliax vessels today."
Delben will leave to coordinate things topside.
Yes sir captain.
Nalgi will start helping out the crew plunder the ship.
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Delben, you know the name. A ruthless merchant with properties in every port, and his hand in everything that makes money. Pirates use him as a fence, slavers for a discreet buyer, and his own fleet of ships makes trading runs from Absalom all the way to the Northern Coasts near Irrisen. Rumor has it, he's got all the right people paid off, so his ships can sail in Chelaxian waters with no fear. A few years back, when the Free Captain Barnabas Harrigan tried to sell out the Shackles to a Chelaxian armada, a lot of people suspected Corlean of being the conspirator until Harrigan was found out. The people who accused Hanscombe mysteriously disappeared not long after. His base of operations is in Freeport.
Delben you also remember his name as the person who The Horned Trader sold Nalgi's family to. In fact, looking over the books again, almost 75% of The Horned Trader's business was with Hanscombe.
Capt Sir. I suggest we get some one that we trust to guard this door from now on. I am going to finish checking the room around there for any loot sir.
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On the deck, when Delben goes up top, the remaining soldiers from The Horned Trader are standing behind the mighty Urlak.
Captain Delben! My men and I admire your lifestyle. The freedom, the right of the mighty to take what they want, and defend it against others who would do the same. You bested our captain, and so we wish to join you. I can tell just by looking that you are running with roughly half a crew. You must have just successfully mutinied against the Smiling Bastard and needed our ship for supplies, so I know you need the help. As a token of good faith, I'll tell you this: When Arkus saw your sails, he had his Mage brother Typhus send a message to a pirate hunter ship not far from here, a few leagues at the most. He told them the Bastard's sails were on his back. When they don't get a message soon saying The Trader won, they'll start hunting down the Grin. The Bastard made quite a reputation amongst the Chelaxian armada, and they've been itching for a reason to take him down. You might want to get the ship squibbed.
The men nervously shuffle on thier feet while he speaks.
The looter find approximately two months worth of basic food (grains, wheat, barley, dried meats, nuts and the like), barrels of water that would last about two weeks rationed, and enough cannonballs and black powder for five ship battles. There are also four cannons on board. Four cannons were damaged beyond repair in Harvey's men's excellent volley.
There are five loot points worth of slaves, two loot points of standard trade goods (silks, ores, spices, and exotic lumber), and a dinosaur worth ten loot points to Corlean Hanscombe.
There are lot of items you don't need, like weapons, standard ship supplies like rope, and the like.
As everyone starts transporting the things the Grin needs, Antal speaks up.
Sir, I know I said I'd stay with you all the way, but these halflings need help. They also need someone who can read a map and steer a ship. I can do both of those things. Sir, if you'll allow me, I want to take this ship to a safe haven myself. I want to make sure these people make it somewhere they can start new lives. After I get them to safety, I'll meet back up with you at a port somewhere. Where are you headed, and I can try to meet you there?
As he speaks, a group of the halfling slaves walk by, carrying lumber and ropes, heading for where the rudder was broken.
Delben will listen to the crew he just fought, and fix them with hardened eyes.
As these are clearly the most trustworthy swabs Delben has ever met, he'll happily respond.
"Of course, your advice is well timed. Ulrak, we'll be needing a new Boatswain and I could think of none finer. Lets get these men on shifts (preferably not the same ones) and get off to open sea."
Delben will listen to Antal's heartfelt resignation with solemnity, nodding in agreement when he finishes.
"I admit I did feel a bit bad for this lot but had no better alternatives. I'll be sorry to see you go Antal, but they could use your expertise. We'll be headed to , you can see here on my map. i'll make a copy so you may follow."
While the sailors are busy loading their hard won booty, Delben will gather his officers for a moment to discuss their unusual prize.
"I would like to pick your brains as it were. This dinosaur poses a problem, if it is not delivered I know from the reputation of Corlean Hanscombe that he will not take kindly to our interference. Of course Freeport is several weeks out of our way, directly away from Riddleport. We might stand to make a fair amount of money, but as we've seen, this creature would require a great deal of maintenance. Any thoughts?"
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I promise I'll find you in Riddleport Captain. I appreciate everything you've done for me. I'll pay you back when we meet back up, I promise.
He trods off, and Urlak grunts to draw your attention. He strides over to you when you look back at him, and leads you to the poop deck where the soldiers won't be able to hear you.
Well trained soldiers, wantin' to be pirates? It sounds a bit to good ta be true. They'd be handy inna fight though. Might be wantin' ta get tha rest o' tha crew up here. From my knowin', bein' on a ship changes a person, even a soldier. Could be that they get on the Grin, they turn into tha best pirates we ever seen. We could always feed the sharks with tha ones who find they can't part with their honor. Mighten the whole crew could judge em', or scare em, and we can see which ones might be makin' us proud. Don't be fergettin', we're low on crew from the mutiny.