Tatienne spends her days sparring when possible, especially in friendly bouts with the crew, and the Captain if she can entice a match. She intentionally draws the fights out (if she's better), throwing about a third of them, and tries to learn the ways in which the crew fight, their combat abilities relative to hers, their styles and discipline.
If she's not as good a fighter as her opponent, Tatienne pushes herself to her limits, with the same goals in mind, and if she's able to draw Odenkirk into a match, she presses him relentlessly, whether he eventually bests her or not.
After a couple of days, the relic hunter begins asking questions of her own. How did Geborah find the First? What, in Geborah's theology or training or imagination, would the church look like installed here, in this light-blasted land? And of the Cardinal, what are her thoughts?
Careful to parse her words lest the others hear, Tatienne weighs her conversations with innuendo, always circling around to the same basic set of queries. Does the girl trust the Cardinal? Is there room for both of them in the girl's idea of a church? What is her honest opinion of the man?
As the crew does not understand her language, Tatienne finds herself unable to entice any of them to spar wit her. Captain Odenkirk would not allow such to go on for very long regardless - though he understands her question, he gruffly says he has more important things to do than waste time sparring, and his crew does as well.
Fortunately, she's able to study them well enough to recognize that they are all on the strong side, but also agile. Odenkirk himself has a greataxe across his back that shows clear signs of use, and all of the crew have shortbows and shortswords handy, along with bucklers. Though it's a light studded armor, they still wear armor.
As the crew does not understand her language, Tatienne finds herself unable to entice any of them to spar wit her. Captain Odenkirk would not allow such to go on for very long regardless - though he understands her question, he gruffly says he has more important things to do than waste time sparring, and his crew does as well.
Fortunately, she's able to study them well enough to recognize that they are all on the strong side, but also agile. Odenkirk himself has a greataxe across his back that shows clear signs of use, and all of the crew have shortbows and shortswords handy, along with bucklers. Though it's a light studded armor, they still wear armor.
In her spare time she sends naughty messages to Wraith.
Wraiths response to those messages, include out of nowhere laughter... Giving him the image of being crazy. Talking out loud responses to those messages, again making him look crazy. Finally just plain out ignoring the really troublesome ones.
Once he calms down enough, he responds, "I don't know if your gonna like the answer, but Femur says its for two reasons... One since your my "friend", though companion is a better term, he should get on your birds good side... The second he says has to do with..." Three harsh sounding words come out of Wraith, "Best keep it from the bird if I was you.
As for the trip, Wraith continues to study and make the former Warden's spells his own. Also taking time to spar with Tati if she'll help. His overall goal is in need of some martial training, plus it helps with his control of his minions if he knows how to fight.
The travel itself doesn't seem to bother Wraith too much, queasy the first day. It seemed to pass with some food and rest.
Balam watches with cold dispassion as he watches Timeon practice his forms. His eyes never leave the lad while he judges and measures Geborah's words, even as he orders his squire to flog himself nine times with a reed for each of his three errors. "I have noticed this. It is a sign of the First's bounty. He has favored me with great gifts, and, as always, required a sacrifice of flesh to sign the contract. My devotion to the God of this World is firm and absolute. He has set me upon this path, and I shall follow it, embracing His dark will and the purpose He has bound me to. If you know more of the rituals I must complete, I would hear, that I may serve our Dark Lord ever more fully."
He makes a small gesture with a finger when Timeon is done with his punishment. The boy rises, hands him the switch, and begins exercises. With every movement, the boy recites a devout prayer to Asmodeus.
"Then I'll confer with Wraith. I don't see us preparing any rituals on this boat, though--perhaps after our current mission is complete." The young priestess drums her nails on the ship's railing, deciding how to proceed. "And, ah, speaking of our next mission...will this phase of Timeon's training last much longer? We're going to need to be less conspicuous when we approach the fortress. Flagellation and dark rites are going to raise a lot of questions." She shifts to speaking through their bond. It's not a great matter that the captain and crew have witnessed this, since they'll have to die anyhow, but perhaps it would be best to start practicing *not* looking like champions of hell.
Tatienne raises an eyebrow the first time the girl comes with her questions, taking note of the circuitous interrogation. Still, there was nothing to hide here; the Mitrans could learn a great deal from the glory of the Chelish Empire. And Geborah was driven to excel, there was no doubt; if they were successful in the Cardinal's aims, Taty knew the girl would play an integral part in this new history.
After a couple of days, the relic hunter begins asking questions of her own. How did Geborah find the First? What, in Geborah's theology or training or imagination, would the church look like installed here, in this light-blasted land? And of the Cardinal, what are her thoughts?Careful to parse her words lest the others hear, Tatienne weighs her conversations with innuendo, always circling around to the same basic set of queries. Does the girl trust the Cardinal? Is there room for both of them in the girl's idea of a church? What is her honest opinion of the man?
"My fathers"--Geborah spits a curse at their memory--"were the heirs of traitors, usurpers who turned their back on House Stoker's ancestral worship of Asmodeus and Alichino. But Hell had the last laugh. I was guided to a family shrine dedicated to the Dark Ones, hidden deep below the family seat, where I learned the truth of the world, and first pledged myself to the Infernal order."
"This land is choked with a hundred years of Mitran filth. It'll have to be burned clean before a new order can rise from the ashes. Our Lord has given me gifts for seeing into the hearts of men, for cremating the unworthy and forging the worthy into true steel. I just need to learn how a real kingdom and a real church work, so I know how to weld the pieces together."
"The Cardinal is power-hungry. He's vindictive. He likes to make people suffer. I admire him, of course. Especially because he's fair. He won't ever give us a thing we haven't earned--but when we succeed, he'll lavish us with our hearts' desires. I'm going to learn everything I can from His Eminence. I'm going to make myself irreplaceable. And when in time he goes to join the Infernal hosts below, I'll be there to pick up the reins of power."
Emergency Trail Rations
Geborah snorts and rolls her eyes. Keep your secrets, then, little ones. For now.
"Well, what I was really coming to talk about was Balam. Have you noticed the transformation that's begun? That armor--he hardly ever removes it--has become a locus for negative energy, collecting it and shaping it. Shaping his spirit within it, like a chrysalis. I've a theory that by stripping it from a murdered champion of light and wearing it when he was annointed a knight, he's taken the first step on a ritual path to dark power. Stumbled onto it, really. We must find out what the proper next steps are, and guide him to its end."
Your journey is taking you past the Watch Wall - you are nearly into the wild and savage north. Tatienne is looking over the side of the boat when she sees another boat - smaller than theirs, about 30-feet long, with a single sail. It flies the colors of Talingarde - and also seems be heading straight for you. Captain Odenkirk steps up beside her, a scowl on his face as he grimly assess the situation. "She's seen us, sure as damnation. And there is no way the Frosthamar can outrun her, as heavily laden as she is. One look at our cargo and they'll know what we are - weapon smugglers."
Golachab launches off Geborah's shoulder, speeding high through the air towards the pursuing ship. "She'll be back in a minute with a report of how many armsmen are on board. Odenkirk, what do you usually do in these circumstances? Bribe them?"
Jezabel whistles a jaunty little tune as she pulls out and loads her sling.
Odenkirk snorts at Geborah. "Have you ever tried to bribe a Mitran? He'll refuse to take it and then try to arrest you. I usually outrun them and make for deeper water. A little ship like that can't handle the swells as well as the Frosthamar can. We're too heavy to do that, so I figure we'll let them pull up alongside, then slaughter them all. That's what you're here for, isn't it?"
"No slings. If we're going to fight, we want them in close where Grumblejack and Balam can get at them, not using bows and ship-to-ship weapons."
Geborah watches patiently as Golachab circles the approaching vessel once, twice, and then wings back towards her.
Jezabel lets out a a laugh. "If you'd prefer it bloody I'm happy to oblige."
She puts away her sling and leans up against the rail completely unconcerned and unarmed. She goes back to whistling.
Geborah gets the impression through her empathic link from Golachab that there are more men on the other ship than on the Frosthamar. She can't get a more accurate count until the bird returns.
"Yes, that's why we're here," Tatienne says, absently, her mind already on the logistics of what is about to go down. "We let them board. Then we slaughter the ones that come aboard. While the combat is going on, I'll lead a team to kill those that stay on their boat. Who shall we have where? How combat capable are your men, Captain?"
Drawing her trident and shield, Taty hands it to Timeon. "Time to get blooded, boy."
She can't get a more accurate count until the bird returns.
Geborah waits for her familiar to return.
Golachab returns to the Frosthamar and lands on Geborah's shoulder, crying out, "Fourteen! Fourteen!"
Grumblejack asks, "What you do with me?"
"Very well. Let them divide themselves. Captain Odenkirk, give your men the order to stop. When the Mitrans hail you, say you fled because you mistook them for pirate slavers and claim to be carrying some legitimate cargo. Some of them will come on board to check. Grumblejack, as soon as one of them enters the hold"--she points out the passage belowdeck, just in case the ogre isn't familiar--"smash the nearest Mitran. That will be the sign for the rest of us to attack."
"Wraith, see if you can use your Sleep scroll to take some out of the fight immediately. Tatienne, these sailors won't follow your orders, so take Balam and Timeon as your boarding party. Balam, I will ward you; drop your disguise when Grumblejack attacks, and try to draw attention away from Tatienne and the rest of us. Jezabel..." Geborah switches to bonded mind. Don't do anything to unsettle the crew. The ogre and skeleton are bad enough. Save your appetite for Odenkirk.
The priestess composes herself for the fight. It would be a real struggle, but she is confident many of the fourteen were common sailors, not grizzled sea veterans.
"Aye." Balam nods, and readies himself for the attack.
Jezabel bursts out laughing.
Odenkirk, looks at Geborah and says, "For a child, you're wiser than you look. Just remember, you don't give orders to me on my ship."
He turns and begins bellowing orders to his crew in norspik, who being the process of slowing the ship so that the Talireans can come aboard.
Either way, when the boat approaches, Jezabel leans her elbows on the ship's rail and watches the approaching ship with a smile, being sure to wave pleasantly at any of the soldiers who make eye contact with her.
Odenkirk, looks at Geborah and says, "For a child, you're wiser than you look. Just remember, you don't give orders to me on my ship."
He turns and begins bellowing orders to his crew in norspik, who being the process of slowing the ship so that the Talireans can come aboard.
Ya, Balam will disguise himself. He'll hide any holy symbol of Asmodeus he has, and he'll try to look like an upstanding Mitran paladin. He'll tell Tomeon to act like his squire, hide anything about Asmodeus he might own.
Wraith adjusts his disguise so that he appears to be a human man, and Grumblejack is disguised as an abnormally large human. Jezabel and Geborah both assume their disguise, while Balam appears to be a Knight of the Alerion. Tatienne is the only one lacking a disguise, and she thinks she looks enough like a common guard captain to avoid notice.
As the other boat comes near, you can see the name of the boat on the gunwale - the Blade of St. Martius. The sailors begin shouting, "Heave to, in the name of the King!" Odenkirk orders his men to do so, and the ship slows down before coming to mostly a halt. The other ship pulls up a long side, and a boarding ramp is extended up to the deck of the Frosthamar. Several of the Talirean sailors - wielding spears and clad in leather armor, come across to the Frosthamar, along with someone who is clearly their captain. He has a longsword and shield with the Talirean crest, and wears a breastplate, also emblazoned with the Talirean crest. He steps onto the boat and looks around as he says, "I am Captain Edward Sambryl. I will speak to the Captain at once!" His eyes see Grumblejack, twisting his face into confusion. Seeing Balam as a Knight of the Alerion shifts his face to a more friendly look until his gaze comes around to Tatienne. He looks at her face, then his eyes widen! "It's one of the prisoners who escaped Branderscar! Arrest them all!"
Geborah doesn't flinch from the collapse of the plan--the Cardinal's training has taught her how to react to rapidly changing situations. Can't have our side waver in confusion--I'll put some spine in them.
She gives a loud whoop, and spreads her arms in invocation. "For glory! To WAR!"
A wild smile spreads across Jezabel's face. She thrusts her arms out to the side and sings a creepy little ditty to herself, causing her hands to emanate an ominous wispy blue energy.
Then she drives her fist at the red guard between her and Grumblejack with a mad laugh.
Completely missing the guard!
Snarling, Tatienne steps into the closest guard, glad she has her flail in these close-cramped quarters. Hopefully, the guard goes down soon - Taty needs to secure the enemy ship, and this fool was in her way. With a grunt, she swings the flail once overhead and then at the poor bastard in front of her.
A wild smile spreads across Jezabel's face. She thrusts her arms out to the side and sings a creepy little ditty to herself, causing her hands to emanate an ominous wispy blue energy. Then she drives her fist at the red guard between her and Grumblejack with a mad laugh. Unfortunately, her laughter makes her swing wildly off-target, completely missing the guard!
Snarling, Tatienne steps into the closest guard, glad she has her flail in these close-cramped quarters. Hopefully, the guard goes down soon - Taty needs to secure the enemy ship, and this fool was in her way. With a grunt, she swings the flail once overhead and then at the poor bastard in front of her. Her flail slams into the soldier's chest with a sickening crunch, knocking him from the boarding ramp into the ocean. She then steps onto the ramp so she can move to take the Blade of St. Martius.
Captain Odenkirk lets out a roar of anger and hefts his axe, taking a swing at Captain Sambryl.
Captain Sambryl is struck a mighty blow by the enraged Captain.
Geborah doesn't flinch from the collapse of the plan--the Cardinal's training has taught her how to react to rapidly changing situations. Can't have our side waver in confusion--I'll put some spine in them. She gives a loud whoop, and spreads her arms in invocation. "For glory! To WAR!"
Wraith casts mage armor on his skeleton, who moves to strike the nearest guard. He then steps into the area the skeleton vacated.
The skeleton successfully strikes the soldier twice, felling him.
Odekirk's sailors attack various soldiers with either their shortbows or shortswords.
The first of Odenkirk's sailors fires an arrow at one of the soldiers in the boat, wounding him. The second fails to strike his target. The third drives his short sword deep into a sailor's gut, sending him falling to the ground. Another stabs the sailor Jezabel attempted to strike, causing him to barely keep his feet. The other two fire arrows at the boat, but miss the guards within.
Timeon gathers his courage, and thrusts the trident at the guard before him.
The trident stabs deep, but the guard barely stays standing.
Now the soldiers have the chance to respond to the sudden attack. Those on the Frosthamar heft their spears, while those on the Blade fire their bows.
Light Green, Total Defense (AC 17)
Red, Total Defense (AC 17)
Miss
Miss
Hit
Miss
Miss
Miss
Miss
Miss
The two heavily wounded soldiers adopt defensive stances, while the third stabs Tatienne with his spear. Those on the boat loose a volley at a couple of sailors, Tatienne and Grumblejack, but Tatienne is the only one hit by an arrow, and that a graze. Those closest to the boarding ramp switch to spears, to try and repel Tatienne's boarding attempt.
Grumblejack raises the greatclub high, and swings it at the guard right before him.
His swing splats the soldier, finishing what one of Odenkirk's men started.
Now Captain Sambryl can finally react, drawing his sword and shouting, "For Talingarde! For the King!" and striking at Odenkirk.
Odenkirk takes a fierce blow from the captain.
Captain Sambryl - 55/70
Black Soldier - 5/8
Green Soldier - 0/8, disabled
Odenkirk - 60/80
Tatienne - 20/25
The flail loops above Taty's head, her attention turned to the guard who had stabbed her just a second before, his spear twisting under her mail shirt. Taty's attention is focused, even as an arrow, blunted by her spell, nicks off the relic-hunter's neck; the flail's head finds the face of the guard with a sickening crunch.
Lifting the flail again, Tatienne steps down the boat ramp, the flail head circling above hers, the relic hunter single-minded, tenacious, deadly.
Jezabel gives Grumblejack a wide grin then throws a punch at the back of the yellow sailors head.
Now to thin their numbers before they realize I'm the true threat.
"Auntie Geb" flinches away from the fight between the two captains, trusting that the Mitran will not waste an attack on an old peasant woman cowering from a fight. She steps over two fallen foes to reach the far railing----then barks out the Infernal syllables that evoke flames from her outstretched hands, scorching the sailors clustered on the other ship.
Balam strikes at Captain Sambryl.
Unfortunately, his attack misses.
Jezabel gives Grumblejack a wide grin then throws a punch at the back of another sailor's head. Unfortunately, she is quite wide of the mark.
The flail loops above Taty's head, her attention turned to the guard who had stabbed her just a second before, his spear twisting under her mail shirt. Taty's attention is focused, even as an arrow, blunted by her spell, nicks off the relic-hunter's neck; the flail's head finds the face of the guard with a sickening crunch. Lifting the flail again, Tatienne steps down the boat ramp, the flail head circling above hers, the relic hunter single-minded, tenacious, deadly. The guard crumples, face no longer recognizable.
Odenkirk roars angrily and again brings his axe down on the Captain.
Sambryl again takes a powerful blow from the enraged Ulfen man.
Now to thin their numbers before they realize I'm the true threat. "Auntie Geb" flinches away from the fight between the two captains, trusting that the Mitran will not waste an attack on an old peasant woman cowering from a fight. Unfortunately, she'd revealed her presence as a spellcaster, so he took the necessary time to strike at her as she moved away, dealing her a near fatal wound. She steps over two fallen foes to reach the far railing, then barks out the Infernal syllables that evoke flames from her outstretched hands, scorching the sailors clustered on the other ship.
The five sailors in the cone scream as the flames wash over them, burning them. Their screams quickly fade as they fall to the ground.
Wraith chooses not to do anything but order his skeleton to attack the Captain, since the battle seems to be well in hand. The skeleton moves up and swipes at Sambryl with a claw.
The skeleton misses.
Odenkirk's sailors all switch to bows and fire arrows at the Talireans on the Blade of St. Martius.
Miss
Miss
Hit
Miss
Miss
Hit
Two of their arrows find their mark, wounding the soldiers.
Timeon steps up and strikes at the Captain, flanking with Odenkirk.
However, he seems to experience a moment of doubt, and fumbles his strike.
The sailor closest to the ramp attempts to repel Tatienne's boarding attempt, while the other two try to shoot Geborah with their bows.
The two archers miss, and Tatienne takes a grazing cut from a spear thrust by the one next to the ramp.
Grumblejack, seeing that Captain Sambryl is his closest target, swings his greatclub at the armored soldier.
But he swings too high and misses the Captain.
Captain Sambryl is surrounded and desperate. Still, he knows who his greatest threat is. "Mitra protect me, and allow me to slay these villains!"
Odenkirk takes another mighty blow from Sambryl.
Captain Sambryl - 41/70
Black Soldier - 5/8
Magenta Soldier - 2/8
Blue Soldier - 2/8
Odenkirk - 46/80
Tatienne - 20/25
Geborah - 4/26
Jezabel circles around behind Odenkirk to throw a punch at the foolish knight who had climbed aboard.
While crowing with laughter at the writhing torches that were once sailors, Geborah feels a warmth spreading across her left side. She looks down and sees blood gushing from a wicked cut under her ribs. No pain? That's not a good sign. Well, I've done my part, Asmodeus knows.
"Auntie Geb" dodges back from the front line and takes cover where the archers will have trouble seeing her behind the railings.
Balam sneers at the Mitran fool who thinks himself the equal to the Nessian Knot! He brings his blade down in a wicked slice. Fool! You think you can triumph!? Yueld, and we will be merciful!"
Detect good, if good, he'll smite, otherwise no smite
Pay 1 stamina for dazzling display combat trick
(take a way 3 if Sam ryl isn't good)
. (take away the +1 if Sambryl isn't good)
I'm that hit, he gets to do an immediate intimidate against Sambryl
He'll spend 4 points to select Sambryl and 1 other guard within 10 feet to intimidate (so he gets to keep his nifty +4 bonus to I timidate)
Also, Sambryl and selected dude need to amke a DC 14 will save or be commanded and yeild
With an easy target in front of her, Taty loops the flail and sends it towards the soldier's chest, only to find her foot slipping at the last moment, on the blood of her last victim. The swing goes high, and Tatienne fixes the lucky soldier with a fierce glare.
"Dangle, flunky!"
Take away the +3 if Sambryl isn't good. well... no dice..
Balam sneers at the Mitran fool who thinks himself the equal to the Nessian Knot! He brings his blade down in a wicked slice. "Fool! You think you can triumph!? Yield, and we will be merciful!" Balam's blade strikes the Captain, and he attempts to bow the Captain to his will. The Captain does not yield, however, for he stands firmly in the light of Mitra! That doesn't stop a hint of fear from crossing his face as Balam now strikes him from behind.
Jezabel circles around behind Odenkirk to throw a punch at the foolish knight who had climbed aboard. However, she is unable to get past the Knight's guard.
With an easy target in front of her, Taty loops the flail and sends it towards the soldier's chest, only to find her foot slipping at the last moment, on the blood of her last victim. The swing goes high, and Tatienne fixes the lucky soldier with a fierce glare. "Dangle, flunky!"
Odenkirk continues his enraged fighting as he again whips the axe at Sambryl.
Odenkirk deals Sambryl another powerful blow. The knight still stands - but for how much longer?
While crowing with laughter at the writhing torches that were once sailors, Geborah feels a warmth spreading across her left side. She looks down and sees blood gushing from a wicked cut under her ribs. No pain? That's not a good sign. Well, I've done my part, Asmodeus knows. "Auntie Geb" dodges back from the front line and takes cover where the archers will have trouble seeing her behind the railings.
Captain Sambryl - 7/70, shaken
Black Soldier - 5/8
Magenta Soldier - 2/8
Blue Soldier - 2/8
Odenkirk - 46/80
Tatienne - 20/25
Geborah - 4/26
Wraith shrugs off a lethargy that seemed to mentally plague him for the last "few days". Seeing the trouble this man is in he reaches into his new bag of tricks and draws out one of his new curses.... In a harsh demonic language "Sizlarga la'nat bo'lsin!"
Captain Sambryl needs to make a will save! DC 17 or he will be blinded...permanently
Wraith then gets his skeleton to aid in the next companion's attack.
Wraith shrugs off a lethargy that seemed to mentally plague him for the last "few days". Seeing the trouble this man is in he reaches into his new bag of tricks and draws out one of his new curses.... In a harsh demonic language "Sizlarga la'nat bo'lsin!"
Sambryl's sight fades from his eyes as Wraith's spell takes effect. He cries out, "This darkness is nothing! I do not fear your dark powers!"
Odenkirk's sailors launch another volley of arrows at the Mitrans on the Blade.
3 of their arrows find their mark, and the guard near Talia falls to one.
Timeon steels his courage and thrusts at Captain Sambryl's back.
His trident bites into the captain's back. Sambryl cries out in pain and falls to the ground, dying.
The two remaining Talirean sailors throw down their weapons, shouting, "We surrender! We surrender!"
Balam stalks toward the phone Sambryl, favoring Timeon with a gentle pT on the head, like a well trained dog. "Well done, boy. You have learned your lesson well."
He draws his blade and turns to the others. "Should we end him? Or could he prove..
Useful?"
As for my disguise, his name is Bal Knotten :P and I'm going for a passing resemblance to Sir Balin. The overall goal is to have situations where people might mistake me for him. Gives us some potential victims to hit up for information.
Wraith chuckles at the captains defiance, but is more surprised at Timeon. Even go so far as to give him a nod of approval and a golf clap. As the guards surrender Wraith shouts out, "Grumblejack, grab those men, we need them alive, but if they fight you bit the head of the other first... If he continues start ripping his limbs off." With a dark smirk he calmly orders his skeleton to resume is position by the gear.
Wraith waits to see if Grumblejack does what was asked or someone else steps up, before crossing over to the patrol boat to search it for useful items