Vic steps just out of the shelter and drops a bouncing spongy fireball on one of the flying bugs, as the poison in her blood's made her hands a bit shaky to fire off any rays.
Dantes continues to bolster Chumtooth's prowess, relying on his invisibility to protect him.
+2 enhancement bonus to strength for one round.
Satinder breathes, steps in and looks the creature in the eyes. She locks her gaze with the beast, and side steps one of its many attacks. She, almost calmly, hacks once at the neck of the beast. She gulps before twisting the blade and looking at Chumtooth.
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Working together, the group makes short work of the wasps and quickly ushers the woman into cover. The wasps, with no more targets, soon take flight and retreat into the jungle.
No sooner than the wasps have moved on, the residents of Rickety’s Squibs come out from cover. Several workers lie on the ground where they fell to the wasps, and a few were carried off by the giant vermin as they headed back into the jungle, but it seems that casualties were lighter than they could have been. Suddenly, someone shouts an alarm and people once more scatter for cover. A Chelish galleon can be seen anchored in the cove and an armed party is clambering onto the docks from their launch.
Chumtooth moves quickly to retrieve his harpoon and stands ready.
"Who are these people?! Have they come to destroy this place?"
His voice carries a cautious, suspicious tone.
Victoriana spends thirty seconds studying the Galleon's sails, to see if she can get any insight into the ship's captain or purpose.
"Chelishmen," she says out loud, seeing Chumtooth's confusion, "The world's greatest criminal outfit, masquerading as a country. I wonder if they're here to take slaves, or just on a murdering spree."
EDIT: Oh, right, forgot about healing. Assuming we've got at least 30 seconds between the wasps leaving and the ship showing up, Victoriana quickly waves off the party's wounds.
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"We will see if these ones choose to fight," Chumtooth says, eyeing them suspiciously.
Knowledge (local)
Dantes stands quietly behind Chumtooth, ready to augment him should the encounter go that way.
Chumtooth places a foot on the carcass of one of the giant wasps and presses down until the carcass begins to crack.
"Fighting will not end well. Put away weapons and talk with us, or leave this place."
He drives the point of his harpoon into the wasp's head, pinning it to the ground.
Vic waits, curious to see how the tallfolk plan to resolve this situation.
Satinder steps forward, nodding at Chumtooth for giving her the time needed to straighter her clothes and hide her wounds.
"I believe it is customary that the new guy introduces himself first at a party? However, since tradition is broken anyhow, I will let you know that you have the honour and privilege of addressing Satinder Morne, and her crew."
She turns around and waves her arms around over them, in general.
^"Now, who might you be, Chelaxian?" she asks without putting too much hate into her voice at that last word.
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The man's face breaks into a broad smile. "Of course," he laughs aloud. "Where are my manners? Captain Merrill Pegsworthy, of the good ship Strix. You'll forgive my intrusion, I hope. I was unaware that your vessel was being squibbed, and I fear that I have broken social contract."
"Please, allow me to make amends. It seems to me that I've heard of a recent theft of a vessel by the name of the Man's Promise from Barnabas Harrigan, and your vessel there bears a slight resemblance to her lines. I'm sure that when Rickety is finished, her own crew wouldn't recognize her."
"Now, don't you worry. I've no love for Harrigan, so your secret is safe with me. In fact, if you'd have it, I'd like to do you a favor. It looks as though the refit will be complete in a couple of days. At that time, I'd like to rechristen the vessel for you."
"That might depend on whose flag yer flying," Victoriana pipes in.
"We are all free," Chumtooth says with a growling tone. "But Satinder is cap-i-tan of our crew."
He gives Captain Pegsworthy an appraising, but suspicious look as he wrenches his harpoon from the giant wasp, and begins coiling the line.
Satinder understands the feelings of her crew all too well, as Chelaxians would be no more welcome than the pox on a ship.
"I appreciate the offer, but don't see how rechristening a vessel would be a favor? I mean," and she looks around at the smarter people in her crew to jump in, "it's only smashing a bottle against the rump of the hull, no?"
As Chumtooth chimes in, she chuckles.
"I am indeed the cap-ee-tan, and my desire is to stay a Free One, just like you. But tell me, how come you hold no love for Harrigan? An enemy of my enemy, and all that."
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Captain Pegsworthy smiles. "Unfamiliar with tradition, are you? It's good luck to have a Free Captain or a lady of noble standing christen your vessel, and no offense to Rickety, but I doubt that you'll find such a woman these parts." Ambrose Kroop, the former cook, nods sagely.
"It's your mind, of course, you being the captain and all, but I'm here and I'm willing. As for Harrigan, you're not like to find a more underhanded and dishonorable scoundrel. We've skirmished in the past. He has no respect for the mantle of a Free Captain and less for basic humanities."
"Good luck is better than bad. We should consider the gift this one offers."
His tone is one of offering opinion or advice.
Knowledge (local)
Dantes cups his chin in his hand as he says "Captain, it is something I've seen with some regularity around the Shackles. Indeed, I worked in a shipyard for a few seasons and nearly every ship leaving there was christened thusly. It can't hurt, and it may make recruiting a bit tougher were we not to do so."
"Nothing wrong with the concept," Vic chimes in, "But I'd like ta hear first why yer ship's got all the locals running scared."
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"I think it's just because our arrival was unexpected."
"That it were," a voice behind you states. Turning, you see Rickety himself. "And that makes me think that somethin' has happened to me lookout."
"Indeed," Captain Pegsworthy confirms, "I saw no signal flag when I sailed into the cove. That's why I went ahead and came in."
Rickety turns to your group. "I'd be much indebted if you'd go and check out the situation for me. I'd even knock another 100 gp off the squibbing if you were to find out what happened and report back."
"If I say 'attacked by giant wasps,' that's not enough for payment, is it?" Victoriana adds hopefully.
"In all seriousness, though, we've saved yer island from quite a few monsters at this point, and when we finish this I'd like to discuss the possibility 'f knocking down the price a bit more, or addin' a few extra modifications."
"If we are to go now, then leave these wahh-ssps with the snake-creature. Do not bury them, burn them or throw them in the water. These trophies are mine," Chumtooth says to both Rickety and Pegsworthy.
Satinder looks at het crew, and nods her head.
"I understand the importance of the watch tower, and we will check it out. However, I also find some good ideas in what my new crew member has said. We will talk about it when we get back."
She signals everyone to gather up, and eyes the elven scout to do his job and go into the bushes and find a good way.
"Anyone need to get stuff from the ship, they'd best hurry up!" she says with a harsh tone for bystanders, but the smile is visible on the edge of her mouth.
Chumtooth, harpoon in hand, moves to follow Satinder.
"Right then, to the tower," Victoriana adds, following up with, "Anyone mind if I kip a crossbow pointed at the newcomers as we go?"
"Ask them.." is all Satinder says as she starts walking, without fear turning her back to the new arrivals.
"When she came to ask this one questions, she spoke the Kuru tongue. She may understand what is being said now, or she may have used her magic for that moment only."
Chumtooth's tone in conversational, with a hint of caution.
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The trail itself winds through the jungle behind the Commons, then follows the knife-edged ridgeline as it climbs along the headland. The way is rocky and steep, overgrown with jungle foliage, and drops precipitously to the cove 50 or more feet below. Chumtooth leads the way along the ridge, when, from ahead comes a loud grunting sound. Around a corner appears a pair of large boars. They grunt and squeal anxiously and the foremost moves into an attack position.
The boar moves to slash at Chumtooth with its tusks, opening a gash in the kuru's leg.
INITIATIVE
Boar
Chumtooth
Victoriana
Dantes
Satinder
Chumtooth snarls in pain, and lunges with his harpoon.
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Satinder tries to shout a warning, but by that time Chum had already a gap in his leg.
"Damned filthy things. Can't just run away from a Kuru like humans?" she says while taking her boarding pike and stabbing the boar from over Chumtooth's shoulder.
"Bacon!"
Vic drops another flaming sphere.
"Hmm. Wouldn't it be a shame if one of them just fell off the cliff..."
Dantes will cast Glitterdust. If he can get both boars with it, he will. Otherwise, he'll target the one further away.
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Hit by both Satinder and Chumtooth's attacks, the foremost of the two boars squeals in anger. Victoriana conjures a flaming sphere between the two. Both manage to keep their footing on the cliff's edge, but only the closest manages to avoid the worst of the flames. Dantes throws out a handful of magical glitter, but neither of the two boars seems affected. Despite the severity of its wounds, the foremost boar keeps coming.
The boar strikes at Chumtooth again, but this time the kuru avoids the slash.
Boar #2: HP 5
Chumtooth lunges with his teeth, attempting tear into the bristly hide.
Vic whistles, tilts her head, and lets the sphere keep burning.
Satinder takes her boarding pike and stabs at the boar again from over Chumtooth's shoulder.
In case one of the boars manages to break through the warriors, Dantes takes a moment to fortify his defenses.
Casting Mage Armor.
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Chumtooth bites at the angry boar, but his teeth cannot find a hold in the bristly flesh. Fortunately, Victoriana's flaming sphere slips in between the creatures, burining both fiercely. The first boar falls over, dead, while the second advances. Dantes casts mage armor on himself, as Satinder attacks from behind the protection of Chumtooth, her pike finding the boar's throat. The wound is savage, but the creature comes on. It slashes wildly at the kuru, but Chumtooth withdraws slightly, evading the attack.
Boar #2: HP -14