Saphera and Oliver move into the cavern, poking their heads around the pillars and rock outcroppings to try and observe as much as possible. As they move into the cavern they can hear some movement thirty or forty feet to their north.
A female voice suddenly speaks loudly and her voice reverberates through the chamber. "I'm tired of waiting around for you. I know you have to be hungry. Do you smell that? You can have as much as you want, just answer my damned questions."
Ten seconds of silence is interrupted when a man gasps loudly in shock or fear, you are unsure which it is and then begins to whimper.
"No,no, please, no!"
The sounds of whimpering can be heard coming from what you presume to be the man who just gasped. Saphera peeks around the corner and sees a dark haired, heavily tattooed female holding a beautifully crafted cutlass to the throat of a bound Tian man. This is like likely the woman you have been searching for. Alejia Netrav. Standing a few free in front of them is a man holding a crossbow, dressed similar to the crew back on the Lionfish. A second crewman can be heard and barely seen to the northeast where the smell of food is coming from, but what he is equipped with you are unable to see from your vantage point.
Oliver tries to look around but unfortunately he can't see beyond Saphera, only able to catch the echoing voices like the rest of his party.
The female voice adds, "Orrrr I can just slit you throat right now and eat your share of breakfast, I don't really care which it is. My crew will be here to pick me up today and if we haven't gotten answers by that time, I'm afraid you won't be leaving this cavern alive. All I want to know is--"
A male voice from the eastern side of the cavern cuts her off and says, "Cap'n. Heard sumthin, me'b they'd be here 'lready?
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Saphera looks over at Oliver and whispers in a very low voice. “Be ready to heal that man if she decides to injure him." Saphera glances over to make sure the rest of the crew is hidden and ready.
Saphera casts shield of faith then marches forward. “Alejia I presume! Mumbuckle sends his regards. I was told to deliver a message and make sure it sinks in. Mumbuckle is now in charge of the Lionfish. It belongs to him now. You may keep the Titan and rebuild a new crew. If you leave now, you will be unharmed. If not, well that’s where I come in.”
Both of the crewman scramble with their crossbows but get them up and pointed at Saphera. Alejia for her part doesn't scramble, but simple affixes the cutlass against the throat of the helpless man. While holding the blade still she looks at Saphera curiously. "First let me mention if you take one more step forward I will slit this mans throat and have both of my marksmen pin you to that rock you stand in front of. Second, you are full of nonsense. Mumbuckle has been a loyal companion of mine for years, he wouldn't claim control of my ship and send a pretty girl in here to issue his demands. What is your name, silly girl?"
Despite the words, she seems to be considering Saphera's offer. "I'm listening. Who else do you have with you to help enforce these demands? Surely you aren't naive enough to threaten me on your own? You do know who you are speaking to, do you not?"
Without removing her gaze from Saphera the pirate slips into a tongue that most of you do not recoginze, "Nisk, pregăti Holgar și Rolgar dacă ea face ceva ... nocivă."
The male prisoner begins to sweat as he senses the tension building in the room.
The two thugs grunt in dissatisfaction at Saphera's words. "Lemme put one 'tween her perty little eyes cap'n."
The other thug seems to acknowledge the comment made by Aleija and while keeping his crossbow trained on Saphera, he takes a 5' step east into an alcove and places his hand on something on the wall.
Aleija ignores her crewman and sighs, visibly at Saphera. "See. We were working so well together a moment ago. I will agree to leave here, but I have no assurances you will let me go. So here's what we'll do. My crew and I will will walk out of here with this man. You and whatever else you brought with you will stay clear away from us. Once I have boarded my ship I will leave him on the shore, unharmed. If at any point you attempt to prevent me from leaving or decide you want to spring an assault on us, I will slit his throat no questions asked. He means nothing to me and this is not a hollow threat."
As if to prove her point she tightens her grip on the mans hair with one hand and presses the blade into his neck slightly causing a trickle of blood to spill. The man begins to shake and whimper, "p-p-pu-puleeease." He closes his eyes as tears begin to spill down his cheeks.
Aleija continues, "I know you think you are some bold shit walking in here like this. I don't know and I don't care what you want with him. I'll just go get another one just like him anyway."
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Grym makes his way past his comrades, returning his arrow to its quiver but keeping his bow in hand. He mutters to those in the passage, "She just told one of her ruffians to prepare to release the dogs." As he enters the cavern, he calls out, "Vino acum -- nu este nevoie să fie atât de mascate, Alejia."
Keeping his right hand in clear sight of the marauder, Grym returns to speaking in Common. "We represent an organization with a vested interest in studying the history of Varisia, and the Cyphergate in particular. Your maneuvers of late have impeded those efforts. Our objective is the safe delivery of your captive to Riddleport, but we have no direct quarrel with you. I am willing to conjecture that anyone else who had a claim to the Titan are either in the waves or your dogs' gullets. Cede us the scholar, and no more blood needs to be shed."
Picking up on Alejia's reference to 'another one just like him,' the half-elf adds, "Why would a Vudrani picaroon have such a robust interest in academics?"
Aleija flattens her mouth, clearly irritated at either someone knew the dialect she just used or her affirmation there are more people waiting in hiding. "Oh look. A rescue party. How quaint. Tell me, what is it you think you know of the Vudrani?"
She looks between Saphera and Grym, not letting her blade slip as she responds "It's politics. You won't understand as you are not from here. Researching the Cyphergate is a complete waste - its been done since hundreds of years - and have you seen any break through? No. It won't happen. But people in power like to sponsor the scholars. By denying them what they try to protect, they slowly get into an untenable position. You see - I don't care if one more scholar is dead or alive - but others do - others do care a lot. Others, like you."
The captive continues to tremble, despite the fact that is causes the blade to continually prick at his throat. The pirate captain looks between both and says, "Well? I will give you the scholar once I have safe passage. For all I know you've been sent here to kill me by my competition. I want all the members of your party to enter this room and line up along the southern wall. Now. You may split half in front and half behind use, staying at least 30' away from us at all times. Once we are on board I will release your scholar here."
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Grym's eyes narrow. "While I have never had the chance to visit Vudra, I can spot a vishkanya when I see one. Please do not try anything truly dastardly with your bodily fluids."
What are you playing at, Netrav?
You can't really pick up on whether she's being honest or not, your intuition doesn't seem to lead one way or the other on this one.
You haven't heard much on Vudrani other that then it is an ethnicity of people typically located around water who have a dark complexion and have a thing for flashy gold jewelry.
Aleija pulls her captive in front of her, keeping the blade in place. She calls over to her man on the east and asks him to slowly make his way to join them. The two crewmen keep their crowssbows at the ready and wait for your party to emerge. At the mention of vishkanya Aleija's lip curls up in a small smile. "What's a matter my scholar, not interested in some quality time together?"
Looking back to Saphera she nods. "You have my word. I want all of your crew lined up on the wall here. If I so much as get a hint of someone else who is not lined up on this wall when I walk towards my ship, he dies."
The captive opens his eyes and stares at Saphera, silently pleading for his life. He mutters, "don-don-don't let her k-kill mm-mee."
Saphera's actions set in motion a series of events that begin to unfold at a rapid pace.
When the aasimar moves the enemies all act immediately. Both bowman fire their bows but as she predicted, they are unable to connect as she darts around the rocky column.
Realizing what's about to happen the bound man's eyes go wide with horro as he screams,
As soon as the movement begins, Aleija realizes she will not have time to coup-de-grace her captive as she originally had planned. Instead she quickly drags the blade across the throat of her captive as his words drown out in a gargle of choked blood. She cuts the mans throat enough and sends him to the ground in a pool of his own blood, dying.
Saphera moves in to trip Aleija and is successful in taking the pirate to the ground. In doing so however she exposes herself just enough that Aleija expertly places the blade of her shining cutlass across Saphera's chest.
Aleija immediately stands, knowing she won't get far laying on the ground. After standing she swipes angrily at Saphera with her cutlass but is too frustrated from being knocked to the ground. She shouts, "You untrustworthy b~&#+! Why couldn't you just stay to your word! Nist, now!"
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If we never intended to let her go without battle, why did we not ambush the cretins?
Casting a glance back at Oliver, Grym calls out, "Saphera is right -- Gurukaza is imperative!"
The half-elf darts around an outcropping, guessing the pirate with the dogs is behind it. He draws his blade while moving and stabs hurriedly at the thug.
Grym stabs the crewmen who screams loudly. His hand already on the lever he pulls down and a loud metallic clanking sound can be heard from the east. He shouts in pain, "Holgar! Rolgar! Attack!"
The crewmen to Grym's west pivots and fires a bolt into the investigators back. He drops his crossbow and moves around on the otherside of Saphera while drawing a cutlass.
Saphera is able to dig her giant blade into Aleija when the Vishkanya stands, drawing blood. A moment later a bolt from Missy's crossbow sslams into Alejia's shoulder.
Out in the cove the sounds of loud barking can be heard as the pair of hounds from earlier come running towards Cid, foaming at the mouth. They aren't able to get up close enough to bite him this round, but they close the distance.
Aleija sees the dwarf heal the dying body on the floor and growls in frustration. She eyes the exit east of Grym while she licks the palm of her hand. She starts to withdraw to the east, running around Grym and disappears into the cavern to the east. .
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Seeing Alejia trying to flee, Grym sticks out his sword in an attempt to trip her, but he stabs her in the thigh instead. His eyebrows arch in surprise at the result.
The half-elf looks with a touch of pity at the henchman as he sheathes his sword and nocks a blunt arrow. He says softly, "Îmi pare rău că a venit la acest lucru."
As Aleija attempts to run past Grym is able to put the finishing touches the pirate captain. She falls to the ground bleeding next to him, unable to have made her escape. Without pause Grym takes down a second pirate with his arrow.
The last pirate standing sees both his captain and fellow pirate fall down within seconds of each other. The crewmen holds his cutlass up and says, "I'll call off the dogs and put my blade down if you heal my two crewmates and let us leave. Original deal still holds, even after you broke your word. Deal?"
The pirate looks over at Aleija and back to the female voice to the east and asks, "And what. You are the law? You work for another captain? You already broke your word once? You come here to slaughter us all then? She tried to leave peacefully!" His voice escalates in volume and hysterics as he finishes off the sentence.
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Saphera slightly lowers her shield to where she can see the crewman. After observing his stance, she gives him one final chance to take the high road.
"Your options here are, lay down you sword and call off the dogs. I will heal your friends and allow you and the other crewman to leave. Alejia, on the other hand, is coming back to Absalom to be judged. Your other option is to fight right up to Pharasma’s door and be judged by her. Regardless of your decision, Alejia will answer for her crimes."
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"Pirates that kill, kidnap and steal from trading vessels, crying about how they are being murdered in there lair with there people eating dogs. Makes me sick. Call off the dogs or we will put you and them down. We will drop you off at Riddleport Gendarmes unharmed. There is no other deal. You sure as hells ain't about to sail off into the sunset in the recently stolen Topaz Titian."
Oliver is furious.
Seeing the odds are not in his favor the pirate does not take long to consider the offer and drops his blade. He falls to his knees and puts his hands behind his head without another word.
The man shouts loudly "Holar! Rolgar! Nu! Vino acum!"
The two dogs snarling in the dog quiet down and pad slowly over to the fallen man, walking quietly past the party.
Oliver sees that he is in a cave.
Saphera searches Aleija and she finds on her person: potion of cure light wounds (2), masterwork studded leather, hand crossbow with 20 bolts, masterwork cutlass, disguise kit, spell component pouch and a spellbook.
The prisoner turns to Oliver, obviously overjoyed to be alive (and free).
"Very well done! I am Hirako Gurukaza, and I am in your debt for saving me. Rest assured, I will send word of your bravery and dedication to your superiors. I shall do my best to honor the debt of gratitude and I will repay you with my knowledge whenever possible... But if you don't mind, could we please leave this damp place? I have seen quiet enough of it I'm afraid."
Hirako explains, "When we stopped in Kalsgard we were approached by several guards who required a ship inspection. During the inspection the guards attacked the crew of the Topaz Titan, killing them and seizing control of the ship. That disgusting filthy," Hirako looks towards where Aleija is being held, " woman slaughtered the innocents and took me hostage bringing me here."
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Grym shoulders his bow and makes his way to whatever food Netrav had been using as leverage. Handing it to Gurukaza, he says, "I believe you were being taunted with this viand, good sir. As we approached, the brigands were questioning you about something. If I do not pry too deeply, what were they seeking to glean from you?"