She is hurt, but she's not dying. It's quite easy to notice she has bruises and minor cuts and her clothes are tattered and torn. A huge lump on her head is most likely the recent for her state of unconsciousness.
The woman comes around, groaning rubbing the lump on her head. Lukaas re-introduces himself and she thanks him profusely for saving her. Looking down at the grovelling captor she quickly moves away and wraps her arms around herself. "I, I think they were going to kill me!"
Looking at Gaeldrung he says, "I don't know nothin! Trouble bein' you goin' after the capt'n is trouble is all!"
The grunt looks at the woman and shakes his head, "No, no! We were just keeping her, uhm, safe! Yeah, capt'n said to keep her here 'til she returned is all! That's it, we took guard and stayed here. Swear it!"
The woman shivers and tells that these commandeered the ship she was on and captured her. She recalls that the ship’s name is the Lionfish and can succinctly describe it, but she refuses to go to the docks, as she has had quite enough of pirates and only wants to get on with her business at the Cypher Lodge.
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Lukaas is all suave, forgetting any common sense as he's living his dream, saving a lady in trouble. He offers her his bedroll, so she can wrap it around her and keep warm.
What an unfortunate story, worth a lovely song surely..May I enquire of your name, Milady? Could I escort you to whatever place you want? Should I check on you later on, to be sure everything is all right?
The woman swoons over Lukaas. "Why, I'd be honored to have you accompany me! I saw the way that you single handedly took down three of them with your wit and charm, it was quite amazing. If you wouldn't mind personally seeing to my protection back to the Lodge I would be forever in your debt.
Gaeldrung gets the idea that this piece of crap on the floor would likely say anything to make his situation better, but his current plea appears to be honest. The grunt looks up at Frans and shakes his head vigorously., "N-Never! He looks like", the man chokes a few times, "Like he would eat me! Call him off!"
The woman looks to Lukaas and blinks several times and falls into his arms accidentally, "Forgive me sir, I feel quite weak from the days events. Shall we be getting out of this hell hole?"
The woman blushes and says, "Oh my, forgive me, I haven't even let my savior know my name. It's Iatha Oedricius."
Looking over the rest of the party she asks, "Are these, uhm, your men?"
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Sniveling cowards like you cause indigestion. Gaeldrung responds with a scowl. Now, How long were you scheduled to wait? I am getting tired of you, so you better tell me everything. What's the captain like? what are her officers like? How many crew are likely to come ashore? How will they be armed? If ambushed, will they fight, or turn to putrid water like you? It will go better for you if you just spill, I swear.
He pauses for a beat, then looks up at Lukaas doing his thing. Pitiful. He should have challenged her to a ritual sparring match. Everyone knows that the ladies like it when you get drenched in the sweat of battle together.
We're Pathfinders, sweetie, not hired muscle.
He almost says, "and watch out for that rash", but Lukaas hasn't bugged him in a while, so he lets the man have his prize.
Now, How long were you scheduled to wait? I am getting tired of you, so you better tell me everything. What's the captain like? what are her officers like? How many crew are likely to come ashore? How will they be armed? If ambushed, will they fight, or turn to putrid water like you? It will go better for you if you just spill, I swear.
The grunt groans and says, "She said she'd be back when she was finished with her next target, likely tomorrow."
"What's she like? She's a no non-sense, smart one I tell ya. She's full of trick, spells and poison. I'd stay away from 'er if I was you."
"Her men are all equally as competent as we were. She likely has four or five on the Lionfish and another four or five with her on the Titan I'd imagine. Dunno though. She prefers we be fighting with a cutlass and a crossbow, so likely that's what they be using as well. Except for Mumbuckle that is."
"Her number two is a pain in the ass bomb throwing frog Mumbuckle." He grumbles under his breath a little bit and shakes his head.
"If the Cap'n is around,they'll be fighting for fear she'll do them in. She's a piece a work, that one."
Looking up at the half-orc he says, "Look, you let me go and I'll show you where all the valueable stuff is in here? It's yours, ok? I don't even want it anymore?"
Lukaas makes his way back to the warehouse where the group has been questioning the grunt.
All along the way his thoughts are of the young lovely and intelligent Iatha and not much else.
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Gaeldrung's eyes narrow into dangerous slits. Are you trying to bribe a priest of Gorum, worm? To Purchase your way out of Holy Battle? Your soul is nearly forfeit, and you would debase yourself further?
His voice slowly raises to a furious roar. You pathetic mewling babe! How long have you been sucking at Shelyn's teat?
He grabs the man's bloody shirt, throws him against some crates and thunders,
By the Will of Our Lord in Iron and the undeserved grace of his servant Gaeldrung of Absolom, let Holy Combat now be joined for the salvation of this wretch.
He tosses his ax to Frans and faces the wretch. His armor gleams in the slanting, flickering light and his crowned helm easily adds six inches to his already imposing height.
In the name of Gorum, Will You Fight!?
Those who have heard this phrase from Gaeldrung before may only now notice that it is actually a critical question asked regularly of all Gorumites. They may also notice, the wretch included, that he is not asking Can you fight, but Will you fight, a subtle yet critical difference in the matter at hand. Answering incorrectly now could very likely mean his life.
The man looks left and right at the other companions as if to say, Is this guy serious? and stutters, "Hey, look, we don't need to fight. I'm just trying to be helpful. You asked for the information, I gave it to you! Don't hurt me! I'm at the bottom of the chain here, I just protect this warehouse! That's it!"
He drops to his knees and starts to sob as slobber and snot drops from his nose, "Don't kill me! Pleaaaaase don't kill me! I surrender!"
Sniveling he turns to Frans, "But-but-but you are the good folks right? You need to abide by the common laws of a man surrendering and spare his life? I've, I've done nothing but what you've asked!"
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The man's grace just ran out. Gaeldrung wasn't some soft cleric or doughy initiate. His propose in life was to cleanse the world of just such infections as this. His demeanor ices over into a veneer of deadly calm. He takes his ax back from Frans, plants it with an echoing thud on the floor, and proclaims in a somber tone.
By the authority of the Lord in Iron as an Inquisitor sworn to eradicate all who Refuse to Fight, I, Gaeldrung of Absolom, do sentence you to die. May whatever god you grovel you before have mercy on your soul.
In one smooth motion the ax kicks off from the floor, arcs around perfectly above Gaeldrung's crowned helm, and buries itself in the man's chest.
The man cries, screams and wets himself leading up to the axe in his chest. He dies like all other men die as he collapses to the floor.
While most of the goods stored in this warehouse are either ancient beyond repair or spoiled foodstuffs, Frans searches the warehouse and finds several noteworthy items from Alejia’s previous raids.
Three acid flasks and one masterwork longsword, but no money. Digging into it a little further and the slayer uncovers a secret compartment in
the warehouse floor in which the smuggler’s have hidden a crate of ornate silk flags worth 100 gp.
When the group finishes in the warehouse Lukaas and Periel come strolling back to regroup.
Akvius, Lukaas and Frans all switch into the pirate costumes while Gaeldrung and Periel remain in their normal clothes. The party explains to Periel and Lukaas what they discovered in the warehouse and the information they picked up from the now deceased pitiful pirate.
The party is walking along the docks looking for Lionfish when something unexpected happens. Both Akvius and Gaeldrung track the signs of movement of someone following them. They are about to speak up when he shouts in Orc tongue, "Get them thievin' pirates! I followed them all the way from that warehouse!" Two more half-orcs and a dog pop out from in front of the party and surprise them. Their weapons are drawn and they look pretty angry about something.
Two orc and the dog rush up to surround the party and prepare to attack.
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Akvius stares down the purple orc. Raises both hands and motions like he's choking the orc.
"ਸ਼ਕਤੀਮਾਨ! ਇਸ ਨੂੰ ਕਮਜ਼ੋਰ minded ਜੀਵ ਨੂੰ ਕੋਸਣ ਨਾਲ ਆਪਣੇ ਕੰਮਾ ਸਹਾਇਤਾ.
"Watch out everyone. They look like they mean business!
The orc swings his sap at Akvius, but misses.
The orc is unable to resist the choking notion that Akvius puts on him. He shakes his head trying to clear his thoughts and proceeds to whack pirate Lukaas over the head with his sap despite Akvius's efforts.
The dog to Frans's left sinks its teeth into his left calf and begins to violently shake his head back and forth, ripping away some flesh.
Frans puts the dog down in a single blow.