GM Shathira's Skull and Shackles

Game Master Kelarith

Ri'el looks over at Jack, Eli and Garaveen.

"From what I've seen, Eli is the best fist-fighter amongst us, and it'll probably be most embarrassing for Plugg if someone of Eli's stature defeated his prize-champion," he thinks to himself.

"If we get a say in this, I'd like the goblin to represent us."

Garavaen shrugs, "If Eli wants to go, then by all means."

"Awww it's so cute that ye all want ta volunteer to help each other. Makes me want ta shed a bloomin' tear. If ya don't figure it out in the next 5 minutes, I'll be chosin' who fights the 'Bear." He looks over Arenya and Davina with a leer, "An' I'm thinkin' ya won't be likin' my choice."

Eli still has his clawed hand out to Owlbear, "I'll do it. Never tangled with a fella this big before."

"Though...'The Story of Davina and the Goliath' has a nice ring to it..." Ri'el finds himself thinking as he moves close to Eli.

"Be careful, friend. Whilst I can't interfere with the fight, if anyone tries anything funny during or after the fight, I've still got a spell ready for them. You watch the opponent before you, I'll watch your back."

Through the course of the fight, Ri'el will keep an eye out for any signs of potential foul play, especially from Plugg and his groupies.

perception: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (9) + 12 = 21

He will watch Plugg in particular for any sign that he might be planning something.

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (16) + 14 = 30

With reference to the rolls in the previous post, Ri'el readies an action to cast colour spray. If he notices anyone aiming a hidden weapon or blowgun at Eli's back during the fight, or someone using a dirty trick to put Eli at a disadvantage, that person can eat a readied colour spray to the face. Whether or not he actually take the readied action will depend on how lethal it looks and how immediate the threat is.

Looking doubtfully at Eli, "If you think you can do it then I have faith in you Eli." She bows and then kneels down and gives him a quick kiss on the head before standing again.

"HA! They realize they don't have a chance, so they're sending the Gobbo. Plugg I don't think you'll have any takers on bets!

With that, you see that a few more coins hit the deck, as Syl and Aretta both place bets on the Goblin.

Plugg casts a quick glare at Scourge and then laughs as well, "Aye, but it'll be fun seein the goblin get the stuffin' beat out of him by Owlbear. Alright, runt, a fight to unconsciousness. Owlbear don't kill him!"

Owlbear lets out his grunting laugh and the yells "Dead men tell no tales!" and looks around at the rest of the crew with a smile seeking acceptance.

Initiative:
Eli: 21
Owlbear: 8
Eli gets the first strike!

I'm assuming that the Bless from the Bilges is still on, let me know if it isn't.

Eli, armorless, slides in towards the behemoth cautiously, throwing a light punch (or two) at his calf before the man's guard is up, testing his reactions.

STAND: Attack (defensively)

Including an AoO roll just in case he doesn't have IUS.

Owlbear howls as Eli hits him in the leg, and swipes at the goblin, and Eli hits him AGAIN. attack: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 3 = 8 The swing goes over Eli's head, and Owlbear looks confused, like he's never fought somebody this small before.

The bless from the bilges is down, since that was applied hours ago, before you did your searching.

Roger that. I've removed Bless.

~ Rnd 2 ~

Eli ducks beneath Owlbear's haymaker, rolls to one side forcing the big man to slowly pivot to keep his ham-sized fists aiming towards the goblin. Eli again steps in cautiously and throws another set of punches at the same leg - working it like a speed-bag. This time his punches have a little more force behind them.

FREE: 5' move to Bear's side
STAND: Attack (defensive)

Kick his ass Eli!

Owlbear howls in frustration as Eli moves side to side and hammers blows into Owlbear's leg. He takes a swing at Eli attack: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (20) + 3 = 23 and roars in triumph as he clips Eli on the shoulder damage: 1d3 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4 Eli rolls with the blow, and lands another glancing blow on Owlbear's leg.

Eli, give me a perception check please

Plugg watches, jaw tightening, and throws a club into the "ring", which Owlbear immediately starts to move towards to pick up.

Owlbear picking up the club will be his next turn, which will present an attack of opportunity for Eli

Ri'el you can hit Plugg with a color spray if you REALLY want to.

Not to slit my own throat but that is a critical threat you rolled...

Perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (3) + 7 = 10

Do I have any idea (even a vague one) how hurt Owlbear is? It's going to effect my tactics.

I rolled the confirm just now in Hero Labs, and rolled an 8, so no confirmation ;) Owlbear is hurt and you can tell that he's favoring the leg you've been pounding on.

Eli notices that as he's juking from side to side, that Owlbear has trouble following to the left. Something inhibits his vision, and Eli is fairly certain that if he forced the combat to the left, Owlbear may not be able to hit him at all.

Each round give me an acrobatics or bluff check, your choice, to stay in Owlbear's blindspot

Garavaen lifts his crossbow and fires at the club, trying to knock the thing back out of the circle, saying, "Ah-ah. None of that. Let's keep things fair, shall we?"

Crossbow: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (16) + 4 = 20

Sadly, the deed that would let me sunder it from back here isn't so much a level 1 thing... Still... I figure at this range, pushing a club on a deck should be doable.

-4 for firing into melee brings that down to a 16.

Plugg looks up enraged, "You'd fire a deadly weapon at crewmembers?!" Several of the crew look over at Garavaen, clearly not pleased. "Ye'll be on the post fer 6 lashes. Just be glad ye didn't hit anyone, or ye'd be clapped in irons."

Owlbear lumbers after the club, which skittered out of his reach, but one of the other crewmembers kicks it back into the ring.

I think there've been a few clues dropped in the GM's earlier posts that make this a worthwhile gamble...

Ri'el suppresses the urge to fire off his spell in Plugg's face...but he has been observing the large man as well, his reactions to the crew and their treatment of him. Taking a deep breath, he seizes the costly distraction afforded by Garaveen's actions and steps into the ring, slowly but deliberately approaching the man that has been referred to as 'Owlbear'.

"Whoa there. Wasn't this supposed to be a fist-fight? A contest of strength and skill between two fighters? I've seen how these men laugh at you, how you strive for their approval, any approval, even if it is just a mockery, a mocking approval for a clown. And the marks of their ridicule are still on you, the tar, the feathers. It is painful to even watch."

He takes a step closer as the big man's hands close over the club's handle. "But I've also seen you fight, and when you fight, I see something else. That roar when you struck your oppoenent, and the fire in your eyes. A fire I have seen in the warriors of my tribe. It is not the mocking of a clown that you desire, but recognition as a man, as a warrior! Am I mistaken? Are you simply a clown for these men to laugh at? Or does the pride and dignity of a warrior lie within you?"

He stops just before the big man and extends his hand. "If there is, give me that club and your name. Your REAL name. And bellow it out proudly as you finish the fight, win or lose, with your head held high. It may mean nothing to these men, but you will have at least one man on this ship whose respect you will truly have."

He looks over to the friends he has made on this ship, then back to the big man and, with his hand still outstretched, adds, "and quite likely more than one."

"What say you? Fool or man? Clown or warrior?"

diplomacy: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (18) + 9 = 27

Even as he delivers his speech, however, a part of Ri'el wonders whether all he will get for his trouble is a club to the face.

Thanks for ignoring that crit chance and/or the Gods of HeroLabs! Could have ended this fight way early.

~ Rnd 3 ~

The goblin plays off the hammer blow as if it doesn't hurt and blocks out the distraction of the crowd, keeping his focus on the fight. The skittering entry of the club into a 'fair fight' doesn't surprise him. Plugg had the ethics of a wharf whore and would use any excuse to ensure the bag of coins stayed his.

Eli gives Owlbear a mild warning, not that he thought the addle-pated man would understand it... but Plugg, Scourge, and the rest would. "Touch that club and I won't play nice." He slides left and closes in, even as the bear of a man reaches for the club.... then Ri'el steps into the fray with words of peace. Oh no.

The goblin continues moving, having little faith that words will penetrate Bear's skull. He holds long enough to see comprehension - or a lack thereof - in Bear's eyes then delivers an uppercut to the bent over man's jaw as soon as he grabs the weapon. He spins around the giant and follows the first blow with a flat punch to Owlbear's already bruised left leg. With his opponent armed, Eli finds wisdom in fighting cautiously for awhile yet, though he's starting to take the measure of the man.

Given the 'intent to harm' clause that generally negates Diplomacy in combat, I'm assuming that the battle will continue. If Owlbear looks like he has a sudden change of heart, I won't attack... otherwise, I'll take my AoO for him grabbing the club and call my attack a ready action triggered by his starting to swing the club to crush someone's skull - Ri'el or mine. :)

FREE/MOVE: Keeping to Bear's blindspot
READY: Attack (defensive) if Bear starts swinging

Acrobatics (blindspot): 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (8) + 12 = 20

Well, I kinda hoped that he wouldn't see me, 8 str bean-pole that I am, and moving slowly, as a threat, and that by stepping in I could create an opportunity to talk.

I have enough experience stepping in between fights to know that it sometimes works... though other times it achieves nothing but a black eye of your own for your trouble. XD I'm hoping from the GM's narrations about Owlbear's interactions with the crew that what Ri'el says has a chance of striking a chord with him. If I'm right, it would mean another ally on the ship, and this one could be a potential powerhouse. Worth the risk by my reckoning. Heck, if we win him over and gain influence over the crew, I was thinking this guy might even approach Eli and ask to be his disciple. XD

If I'm wrong, it's 1d6+4 clubbing damage to the face. If that knocks me out....um...well...one of you still has a healing spell, right? XD Guys? Guys?

"Get yer scrawny arse out of the ring! This was between one man and Owlbear! Ye just earned yerself 6 lashes at the post."

As Ri'el comes into the ring, Owlbear grins and looks at him with a cocked head, and then swings a meaty fist. attack: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (7) + 3 = 10 which connects with the man's side damage: 1d3 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5

As Owlbear does, Eli lets loose a flurry of blows, one snapping the big man's head back and the other striking Owlbear's midsection with a whoosh of released breath. Then the strange starts to happen. Owlbear whimpers and backs away from Eli, but the crewmembers push him back into the ring. Each time, Owlbear cries piteously, and scrambles away from Eli's fighting stance.

Does Bear have the club? I'm including an AoO just in case he doesn't.

~ Rnd 4 ~

Eli continues to circle cautiously, flitting in and out of the big man's blindspot, but doesn't immediately attack. "I think 'Bear has had more than enough of this fight. He's beat, Mister Plugg. Call the battle done."

Having some inkling of Plugg's cruelty, Eli expects the battle continue until someone drops. He cracks his knuckles and balls them into hard fists, preparing to finish this fast and hard - to put Owlbear out of his piteous distress. "Sorry, big fella."

FREE/MOVE: Keeping to Bear's blindspot
STAND: Attack (if Plugg doesn't call the fight)

Acrobatics (blindspot): 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (13) + 12 = 25

My goal with Owlbear is identical to yours, Ri'el. I'm hoping that if I can beat him and be kind afterwards, he'll like me... since I suck at the warm and fuzzy skills. :)

Plugg bellows for Owlbear to continue fighting, but the big man still cowers back from Eli, whimpering and crying, throwing his hands up defensively to ward off any more blows from the goblin, but clearly the fight has gone out of the man.

Knowing that it'll probably go worse for 'Bear with Plugg if he doesn't fight, Eli moves in to finish things.

Please use my Round 4 attack

Seeing Eli about to clobber the poor man, Davina calls out to him, "Don't hurt the poor man anymore, can't you see he is done? There's no reason to hurt him any further. Please Eli, let him be."
diplomacy: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (7) + 5 = 12 Add +1 if the charming trait will apply to you Eli.

Eli glances at the Angel-woman, "I see that... but I ain't calling this dance, am I?" He shoots red eyes briefly towards Plugg, indicating the man who is keeping the fight going. The goblin returns to his fighting stance but wheels turn in his head. An idea strikes him that might end this fight nicely, with no additional damage to Bear, and might just make a friend, but it was dangerous and hinged on Bear having enough brains... a poor bet at best.

Waiting to see the results of the current round before I try something potentially quite stupid.

Arenya casually watches the fight a nice spot, standing a stop a barrel, paying as much attention to the rest of the crew as the fight. "This might be a good chance to improve our relations with another member of the crew. I'll have to have a word with the big fella after the fight. Show him that there are those who look out for their own." she thinks to herself barely containing a sly smile.

Eli moves in to the cowering big man and slams one more punch into Owlbear's side, and it just causes the big man to cower away more. Clearly there is no more fight in him, and it would be easy to continue to beat him into unconsciousness. Owlbear squats down, holding hands up warding his face which is turned away from Eli, and yells " Ship's Flying the Jolly Roger, Flying the Jolly Roger."

Eli steps back, trying to catch the big man's eyes. "Owlbear. Hey Owlbear! I salute the Jolly Roger. Friends, eh?" He throws a salute and a smile at the huge sailor and steps a little further away, trying to show he means no threat. He looks to Plugg, "Are we done here, sir?"

Darn, it didn't work. Well, at least Eli won anyway. XD

Btw, GM, my AC is 12, so Owlbear missed me with that attack roll of 10.

Ri'el sucks in a sharp breath as his leather armor absorbs the blow from the big man's punch, and scowls as Plugg pronounces his punishment.

He withdraws from the ring as Eli wraps up the fight.

"Just a clown then. Disappointing," he says with a sigh as he sees Owlbear cowering.

Astein says loudly, "By Besmara, I do believe that is 100 gold for Eli, Mr. Plug. I know Besmara's blessings and curses as well as any, and I'm certain that you wouldn't want to bring ill luck on ship and crew by welshing on a fair bet, isn't that right, Mr. Plug? Cheatin' with a club is one thing, but welshing could bring a kraken down on us all."

Garavaen says loudly, his voice almost a snarl, "Wasn't me putting a deadly weapon into your little ring... Shot went exactly where I wanted - if I'd been trying to hit your fighter I could hardly miss at this range. If the punishment for putting a weapon into the ring be lashes, well then, you'd best be going first, I reckon... Unless that club weren't there, in which case, I didn't shoot anything at all... But I can understand how a body might get confused in all the excitement. "

Ri'el bites on his inner lips as Astein and Garaveen openly suggest Plugg was cheating.

"Tread lightly, fellows. The man's not reasonable or capable of being reasoned with..."

With attention diverted from him for the moment, Ri'el retreats to a corner (around a corner if he can) and quickly casts his goodberry spell, thinking that he might need the berries very soon.

2d4 ⇒ (4, 4) = 8

"Arguin' then? It'll be nine lashes. Keep mashin' yer gob, and it'll be lashes with the cat, or days in the sweatbox." He looks at Astein with a sneer, "Terms o' the bet were till one fighter was unconscious. By my sight, weren't neither one of the fighters knocked out." He looks at Scourge and the rest of the cutthroat crew. "Lock this good for nothin' simp in the sweatbox for a couple o' days so he can see what happens when he disobeys." With that, he picks up the bet money and pockets it as he goes updeck to where the captain and the others are.

Ri'el waits till Plugg is gone before saying "the terms were also that it be a fair fight, no magic, no weapons."

He grits in teeth frustration. Not so much at the prospect of getting whipped - he'd felt the sting of the lash many times before whilst a slave in Ilizmagorti and on Barrel-belly's ship, and was no stranger to the stripes. Plugg's rank abuse of his position was another matter entirely. Somehow Ri'el doubted that an appeal to Harrigan or any of the other officers was going to achieve anything positive, but he silently vowed to make Plugg pay in spades some day.

"At least the spirits have favoured me," he thinks to himself as he inspects the berries enchanted by his spell. He passes half of them to Garaveen as they prepare to go up for the pre-grog whipping hour.

"Hold these in your mouth during the whipping and eat them one by one as the lashes come. They'll help you recover a little between each of the lashes."

Ri'el will hold his own berries between his teeth and his inner cheeks before the whipping, and swallow one after each lash. Hopefully he and Garaveen will still be conscious after the whipping... Garaveen can survive 6 more hp damage than Ri'el, but will also have to deal with 3 more lashes...

Scourge and several of the others, move towards Owlbear, who stares at Eli when the goblin doesn't strike him down. The huge man relaxes a bit, and offers a wan, tentative smile at Eli before the others grab him and take him towards the box.

Garavaen's anger is plain to see, but he feels a tug at his belt, and looking down he sees Rosie Cuswell, "Bide yer time, ye addle brained hero. Now, in front of the captain and the others is not the time ta show what kind of balls ya have."

Eli watches in horror as they drag Owlbear away. He looks at Eli, with no comprehension of what he's done wrong, and then at Davina with that same look on his face. Eli, looking up sees Grok with a wide smile on her face, and nods to Eli, clearly happy with his decision to not beat the fallen man.

Jack Scrimshaw approaches Astein, [/b]"I was w-wondering if I could get cards read tonight?"[/b] He pulls Astein slightly to the side, looking at Plugg and then back at Astein, and giving a quick shake of his head, with a warning look on his face.

Jack and Ri'el both see Sandara looking at you, and when it appears that neither of you is at a point where you might attack or do something foolish she looks relieved.

Arenya, watches as the big man is locked into the sweatbox and realizes that if she's going to influence him, she'll have to figure out some way to do it through the sweatbox, or figure out a way to help him while he's inside it.

Ri'el swallows his trepidations about the coming whipping and gives Sandara a brave smile as he goes to her side.

"Am I mistaken, or do I detect some concern for me?" he asks with feigned levity. "Don't worry, I've been a slave and a sailor even before being on this ship. I'm no stranger to the lash and I've developed a little trick to help me deal with the whippings," he adds as he shows her the goodberries he'd kept for himself.

"Besides, if it means you showing you care, well, I'll take a whipping every day for that and consider it well worth it," he laughs as he gives her a playful wink.

Eli gives Owlbear a sad thumbs-up of support as he's dragged off. It bothers him more than Plugg's cruelty and far more than the loss of the coin pouch. He was different and he knew what it was to be the whipping boy.

The goblin turns from the sight, irritated, and approaches Syl and Aretta. "Thanks for bettin' on me. I hope you can collect on your winnings even if 'Bear wasn't laid out cold."

Arenya moves upto Eli and the other and whispers, "We need to figure out a way to help that big fella. He didn't seem to have his heart in it just like the others only seemed to be doing what Plugg put him upto. I was keeping an eye on the rest o' the crew and it seems like Pluggs suport is waining like the moon. With a little help there is a chance we can bring the 'Bear onto our side. One less opponent and more friend sound pretty good ta me."

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Once the lashings are under way Arenya sneaks towards the box. "Hey there she calls out. It's me Arenya. I've got something that will make you feel better. Give me your hand." She calls upon her magical reserves, not having used much during the day on the light mending magic. She focuses her energies and releases them in a healing wave to the big fellow in the box. Don't worry big fella, we'll take care of you."

Cure Light Wounds: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 = 8

Garavaen sighs, "I knew it wouldn't change Plugg's mind, but figured it was worth giving the others something to think about... and to show them that there's nothing even close to fairness around here."

He takes the berries from Ri'el with a friendly smile, "Thanks... Hopefully these can keep me awake... just to make sure that we keep Plugg good and frustrated."

"We need to figure out a way to help that big fella."

Eli nods, "Maybe we can sneak him some food and water on off-hours."

After Eli's victory, and the danger of the confrontations during and afterwards, Davina lets out a sigh of relief that everything has resolved itself, she gives Eli a deep bow, "I doubted you would give the man quarter and I was wrong. I ask your forgiveness for my misjudgement."

Garavaen says, "I'm glad that you did, Eli. As much as I reckon he'd have crushed if you'd let him.. or if he got a hand on the club... it's clear he's been warped like a bowspan, and made into a toy for their amusement..."

He shudders, "No man should be treated like an animal, even if he be a mite simple. And that one had the look of one who sought approval he'll never get from Plugg and his ilk."

"I doubted you would give the man quarter and I was wrong. I ask your forgiveness for my misjudgement."

Eli rubs at the panty-bandana on his head and shrugs, "Ya don't know me yet so I can see why you'd think that. No harm, no foul, forgiven and forgotten. I got no wish to beat any man who hasn't done me real harm... especially not some poor addled bastard thrown into the fight. But, I mighta done Owlbear a bigger favor if I had knocked him out. It might have saved him a few days in the box and Gods know what cruel punishments of Mister Plugg.... And, to be honest, I gave that notion a good bit of thought before I stopped. So maybe your judgment wasn't so wrong - but for different reasons." The goblin frowns, bothered by what happened and by what might have happened.

Garavaen says, "I'm glad that you did, Eli. As much as I reckon he'd have crushed if you'd let him.. or if he got a hand on the club..."

Eli grows a large feral smile. "Yeah, he's a hazard when he hits... but his left-eye 's blind. Keep to his left and he'll hit water before he hits you." He knocks Garavaen lightly on the thigh. "You made a good shot on that club. I thank you for it. Sorry, about the lashings you got comin'."

He shudders, "No man should be treated like an animal, even if he be a mite simple. And that one had the look of one who sought approval he'll never get from Plugg and his ilk."

The goblin nods, "Yeah, poor fella. I'd like to make things a bit better for him."

Her face lighting up as she is forgiven, "Thank you Eli!" Davina quickly kneels down and pulls Eli to her, giving him a hug. Given their different heights, he finds his face pressed into her cleavage for a moment before she lets him go.

The goblin has a shade of grey added to his green face, embarrassed and giddy over where his head just lay. "You, uh... You feel free to apologize any time, Angel-girl!"

Lol, poor embarrassed and lucky little goblin.

She let's go of Eli, [b]"Just so you know Eli, it's not angel girl but azata girl. My mother's family was blessed by a lillend a long time ago and ever since, some of us are born as aasimar."[/ooc]

Garavaen says, "If you'd knocked him out, I reckon Plugg would still punish him for losing. At least this way he got a small measure of mercy.".

He sighs, "Something I'm not expecting come post... Have to say I was sorely tempted to show him what I mean about my shots going where I want them to by using his attack's apple as a target. But I know, now's not the time."

He then shakes his head, getting back to the topic of Owlbear, "I'd try to sneak him my rum ration, but I'm not sure I'll be conscious tonight. "