Van shakes his head and runs a hand over the woman's eyes, closing them. "I'm afraid she's too far gone. Her souls already departed for the River, and I don't have the power to bring back the dead." He stands up and sighs. "We have to find answers another way." He says, as he begins picking through her belongings.
Picking up the locket, he peers at it, then hold it up for everyone to see. "Isn't this Skreed? They was a couple?" He says in wonderment. "That man was pure ugly."
"Great job, brother!" Torgan says as he claps Jorgan on the back. "Ye got 'er!"
As Vanderhoff informs them of her death and the locket, Torgan looks closer. "Steed? He ain't no steed. He's that bloke 'n th' cave."
The dwarf turns to the Captain and salutes, unsure if he has to, but he likes the motion. "She's some lass who fell 'n love with an orc we skewered beneath Trunau. Set siege an' nearly destroyed our brewery. Deserved it an' more, I say."
|
Spellcraft - wand #1
Spellcraft - wand #2
Wren tests the bow, seeing if he can pull it easily or not with his weak, noodly Elven old arms.
Examining the lockets, Wren hands both sides to Jorgan (but almost hands them to Torgan), thinking of his yak, Hops.
"I'll keep these wands for now. Maybe I'll figure out the command word for this one tomorrow," Wren holds up the translucentish wand.
By the time the magic of his armor fades and Kraygan has returned to normal size, the fight is well over. His beard bristling in a scowl, Kraygan grumbles loudly to himself.
"Dragons, monsters, assassins wives. Can't even fight proper here. What else does this bloody boat have in store for us? Damned thing will rob'ly sink tomorrow..." His eyes drift to Torgan's shortcut between decks. "Let's not put any more holes in this thing, eh?"
His mood lightens a little as the group goes over the woman's belongings and Wren offers Jorgan the lockets. "That'll look good on Hops!" He elbows his cousin and gives an exaggerated wink. "Truuuue Loooove. Har!!"
Turning back to the other items, he plucks the bowstring, looks down the edge of the sword, and fingers the fine mithril shirt. "Too girly." Holding up the one potion, he asks the group, "Mind if I take this?"
|
|
Wren smiles as he is able to draw the bow without too much difficulty.
"This is not a bad bow, I would take it as my own if you all don't mind. Anyone wish to take my old one?" Wren offers his new old bow around to the dwarfscluster.
Wren gets up off his knees, rubbing his legs and feeling the pain now that the combat is over. He considers leveling a kick at the woman, but realizes that might be more painful than not.
"Well, let's get her overboard before she begins to stink up the boat." After all her gear is removed, Wren will grab an arm and seek help in getting her in the water.
Jorgan grunts when he sees his cousins' magic fail. "Sorry, I think I broke her."
Jorgan accepts the lockets from Wren with a thanks. He pulls out a (non-magical) locket he was already wearing under his clothes and removes a portrait of Hops to place it in the magical locket.
Jorgan leaves the rest of the loot to the others and goes to check on Hops.
Van nods to Wren and helps drag the body of the woman to the rail and lift over the rail. As she sinks into the river, he intones a prayer ushering her soul to the Boneyard to be judged.
Gingerly feeling his wounds, he motions to his cousins. "Let's heal ourselves before something else happens."
Torgan (32/40)
Vanderhoff (30/31)
Kraygan (31/38)
Jorgan (33/39)
As wounds begin to knit themselves together, Vanderhoff sighs. "Tis all the healing I have available for today." He glances up at the sun, wondering how much daylight is left.
|
|
"Let's heal ourselves..."
Wren gives Vanderhoff a look as if the dwarf was the reason for everything gone wrong on this godforsaken Heart of Darkness trip. He sneers, then controls himself, limping back to the top deck without saying anything, just dragging the body.
Watching the body splash in the water, Wren reconsiders.
:"Dwarf, should we stay on this boat much longer? It seems cursed...maybe your brethren was right: we are pursued by an evil spirit, cursing our actions. It is said that many evils cannot cross running water...but maybe this spirit is tied to the water itself. It might be we find safety upon our yaks mounts to either side, than on the water."
Wren looks around at the orcish crew.
"This is truly the ship of the damned."
Spellcraft - wand #1
"I dunno, elf. Seems like that might take longer an' I got beer brewin' 'n what's left o' me kegs." Torgan reminds Wren. "I doubt another Giraffe o' its girlfriend can find us at sea."
---
"Thanks, cousin. Much needed while we sail this ocean. Maybe we shall brew a beer 'n honor o' th' occurrence. Salty Dwarf, me thinks." he says as Van cleans up his wounds.
---
After situating the ship back to its fairly normal state, Torgan attempts to repair the hole. He roots around in their packs for some tools and wood. He pulls out a handful of small twigs of wood from the communal Haversack. "Oi! I'mma fix th' chimney I created. Figure I can hammer these twenty sticks into th' hole an' it'll be right as rain."
|
Unfortunately? :)
The crew gets back to their duties as he body is unceremoniously hurled into the river. The crocodiles following the boat quickly begin to devour the semi-fresh meal.
Evening begins to wane as the colors of the sky turn all manner of colors between red and blue.
Captain Bloodtusk calls from the stern of the ship. The Knights should be just around the bend He points in the short distance.
Walking down from the wheel he walks the deck until he sees Vanderhoff.
He leans on the railing next to Vanderhoff being careful not to avoid the broken section. You lot have done well by me, even if you have wrecked a bit of my keelboat. He says with a smile.
You know I started this whole route after I earned my freedom fighting as a gladiator in Urgir? It is fair trade and great scenery. Well except for the overgrown river Vultures. He says looking off over the river's bank.
You Tomorrow we are going to turn into the River Esk. The currents are going to be a whole lot tougher. I am going to bring my horses ashore to help pull the boat against the current but I may need the assistance of your yaks as my best horse was injured. Do you think that will be alright?
Earlier...
"Har! Hops is me true love too, but I ain't talkin 'bout a yak!" Kraygan pulls out his keg, holds it up as if to illustrate his meaning, and takes a gulp. He is having a great time poking fun at Jorgan and continues laughing...
Jorgan accepts the lockets from Wren with a thanks. He pulls out a (non-magical) locket he was already wearing under his clothes and removes a portrait of Hops to place it in the magical locket.
His laughter dies. "Wait a minute. Is that a drawing of...? BWWAHARAHRHARR!"
Bellowing now with great belly laughs he doesn't even notice Vanderhoff's healing. "I think.. Har! That I could ... Hahar! Use one of them... wands on me. Oh, bloody beards and rusty axes. Truuuue Loooove." He shakes his head, for the moment forgetting all the the trials and tribulations of the death barge.
Now...
Captain Bloodtusk calls from the stern of the ship. The Knights should be just around the bend He points in the short distance.
Kraygan pokes his head out of the stable. "Well it's 'bout time!" He replies before pulling his head back.
Vanderhoff nods thoughtfully at the captain's story, then stiffens slightly as he he listens to the request. "Aye, yours appears to a be a life of freedom and determining your own path." He says with the slightest hint of wistfulness in his voice.
Shrugging, he leans on the rail and peers out over the river as if trying to see into the future. "I'm sure the yaks could lend their strength, but I have to ask, what sorts of troubles is the area known for?"
|
|
You have seen the lot of it by this point. The oversized river vultures, whatever is waiting in the river and or course the marauding band of orcs.
The Captain claps Vanderhoff on the shoulder. Your group has held their own against al of them so far though. You have the crews thanks and my own. Well except fer yer cousin chopping his chimney in the floor. The Captain says with a hearty laugh.
|
|
Wren grumps, taking his tools and going below deck. He will return to the locked cage and the presumably drugged/unconscious girallon and try to open the lock, making practice with the tools for the first time.
When he fails/succeeds enough on that lock, he will move to other locks and the remaining traps left by the woman. He will begin to learn to use his tools, to understand locks and the traps as much as an angry, focused elf might.
Though his legs may hurt, his mind and initial reflexes are still sharp...so he hopes, even believes that he might be able to master the lock and trap eventually.
He will work into the night, on door, lock, and trap alike until it is time for bed and the morning. He pushes out of his mind what travails the knights and getting to the knights might bring.
We *should* make our way on foot from there. Staying aboard this boat is a mistake.
Jorgan ignores his cousin's derision as he goes up to check on Hops for a moment before rejoining the Captain and others. "Aye, Hops'll be glad for the work. I think he's tired of being cooped up here on the ship, to be honest, as I am too. Not used to the seafarin' life."
| 2 people marked this as a favorite. |
Torgan sets the new-found wood pieces down and picks up one, feeling that it is a bit tacky. He shrugs and places the first piece in the hole with some nails he found. He line up the nail and...
---
A slightly singed and panting Torgan runs up the steps. "Ack" his black spit hit the ground as you can see a wisp of smoke coming from the door behind him. "Where d'ya keep th' buckets again?" he asks the Coxswain before seemingly remembering and rushing a bucket downstairs after dipping it in the ocean.
You hear a splash and sizzle a few seconds after Torgan rushes back downstairs with the bucket of seawater.
---
A little while later, Torgan hands the 19 tindertwigs to Wren. "These'll probably do more fer ye than th' ship."
|
|
The Captain begins to explain some of the Knights supplies to Vanderhoff. This riverside waystation is staffed by the Knights of Ozem. The station up ahead is one of the only places to disembark to take supplies ahead to Castle Firrine. I have been requested to deliver the arsenal of battleaxes, chain shirts and spears to the Knight currently stationed at our stop.
Rounding the bend his mouth drops as he clenches his hands on the rough wooden railing. Pounding a fist he rushes to the whell. Damned raiders.....
A broken pier rises from the gently flowing watersof the river, its pilings blackened by fire and splintered by axe. Only a few waterlogged planks remain, hanging drunkenly from twisted nails. A path leads up from the dock to a small stone building atop a low hill nearby.
When the captain mentions Torgan's chimney, Van merely gives a slight grin and a shake of his head. "Just be glad he....they....we're on your side." He says, a hint of a joke in his voice.
As the captain explains the supply drop off, Van nods distractedly, but jerks to attention when the captain curses. Following his look, he runs a dirty, fish-gut-stained hand through his gnarly hair. Swearing softly to himself, he calls out loudly. "Steelkegs! Elf! To the rail! We have more trouble......"
is heard from below deck.
A few minutes later, Torgan trundles up the deck, his arms and forehead coated in a light sheen of sweat. "We made it, eh?" he says jovially.
He turns to see the destruction and yells out. "Kraygan! Jorgan! Prepare the yaks! We got problems out here!"
|
|
Wren ignores the first cries, then the second, trying for a moment of peace.
Wren screams back from his work on the traps and locks. Wren yells, slamming his kit to the ground, then reaching over to pick up the parts and putting htem away. He stiltedly walks up to the deck to take a looksee.
Seeing the destruction, Wren can only pat the Capt'n on the back.
"I hope you got paid in advance for those weapons, Capt'n," Wren says, "Looks like your buyers won't be buying. So...how long to our destination?" It doesn't even occur to Wren that we even have need to stop, let alone get involved with the Knights anymore.
"Prepare the yaks!"
Wren looks at Torgan, then around, very confused. He jaw drops as he tries to process what the dwarf intends.
No! No yaks!! Don't prepare anything!!
"What do you mean? We can just sail on by! We have places to be...we don't need to stop, do we?"
Voyage.Of.The.Damned.
Edit: Wrens previous info
Van glances at the captain after Wren's suggestion. Stroking his beard, he squints into the distance, trying to spot anything. "Do you have a spotting glass, Captain?"
|
|
Have we rested since the last battle?
The Captain looks at Wren. You spot to the Marsh is probably a couple days out on foot. Same on this boat as we will be going against the current.
"What do you mean? We can just sail on by! We have places to be...we don't need to stop, do we?"
The Captain grunts We probably don't now but I am a bit worried. I stopped here 15 days ago and that dock was sturdy and whole. I hope the Knight on duty is alright......
Hearing Jorgan ask for a spyglass the Captain hands one to him. He places the small tube to his eye and looks around the area. Near the bank he spots a bloated orc corpse tangled in the nearby reeds. On the eastern side of the building are what look to be a set of stables that once contained a knights majestic steed. Now two horses lie slaughtered on the ground in a large pile of blood soaked hay as several black tipped javelins now pierce the unfortunate beasts flanks.
Vanderhoff hands the spyglass back to the captain and sighs. Glancing at Wren, he shrugs. "As much as I want to agree with you, I suspect we better check it out, though I wish I had more prayers at my call....any prayers....at all."
Shaking his head, he gives the captain a look of doubt. "You said "knight"? There was only a single knight stationed here? That's ridiculous, they was asking for trouble."
"What do you think we should do?" He asks his cousins.
"We should investigate 'fore 'eading up river an' gettin' trapped." Torgan thinks aloud.
"Let's drag that orc's body aboard an' see what might 'ave 'appened."
Hearing Torgan ask for a spyglass the Captain hands one to him. He places the small tube to his eye and looks around the area.
Unbeknownst to the Captain or the other dwarves, Jorgan earlier applied a thin layer of ink to the rim of the eyepiece of said spyglass and as the other dwarves take their eyes away from said fixture, they are left with matching black rings around their right eyes.
Suppressing his snigger, Jorgan nods at his brother's suggestion. "Aye. Hops is ready. Let's see what that orc is carrying and then head ashore for a bit."
HearingTorganVanderhoff ask for a spyglass the Captain hands one to him. He places the small tube to his eye and looks around the area.
|
|
Hopping in the Jolly boat, Coxswain lowers you all into the river. The boat sinks considerably with the yak aboard but overall looks as if it should stay afloat.
Grabbing the paddles Torgan begins to row. It seems as if he might be getting used to it now as he head towards the shattered dock and the orc body caught in the reeds.
Making it to shore Jorgan wades into the knee deep water and grabs the body dragging it to shore. Methodically he begins to search the orc. he finds very few items and a small sack of coins.
- Shadow Essence (1 dose)
- studded leather
- falchion
- javelin
- spiked guantlet
- antitoxin
- 45 gp (9 ea)
Vanderhoff gets ashore and pauses to pull off his boots and shake out the river water, then puts them back on. Scanning the area, he says. "I suggest a perimeter search, then check the structure."
|
|
Wren goes with (not that he really considered not going), but does so under protest and with a sour look upon his face. He chooses to go on foot, having wasted his horse magic on protections from sun and sky for the day.
As they row out, Wren relates what he knows of the Knights of Ozem.
"...and so maybe the humans of Golarion have succeeded at something worthwhile in defeating the Whispering Tyrant."...of course, those humans also had dwarves dragging them down as well, if I recall my history correctly.
Wren keeps an eye out for danger, an arrow knocked in his new bow.
Perception
"Aye, sounds like a good plan Hoff." Kraygan replies from the back of Haggis, rubbing at his own telescope-blackened eye, marked when he snatched the telescope away to get a closer look at the fort for himself. Not one to let a joke go unanswered, he promptly gave his cousin a balck eye in return. With his fist.
Eager to get off the boat, Kraygan hadn't waited for the jolly boat. After saddling Haggis, he had both himself and his yak lowered off the side where Haggis towed the heavily-armored dwarf ashore.
"Can't believe there was only one knight here." He echoes Vanderhoff's sentiments. "I see two horses. Wonder what that could mean. Why would one knight need s boatload of weapons and armor?"
Once the group is ready, Kraygan will ride in the lead.
Vanderhoff garbs a piece of driftwood and draws a crude sketch of his intended route of reconnoitering. Once everyone is ready, he glances at the building. "Should one stay back to make sure no one is in there and tries to get away?"
|
|
Walking closer to the front of the building Vanderhoff and Wren are able to see into the open door. A flight of steep stairs and a lowered drawbridge lead into the dark interior of the waystation. Inside a single room contains a large fireplace, a table and chairs, a pair of bunks and stacks of crates and barrels.
Wren hears a loud thud in the building as he sees a blond haired woman wearing armor get slammed into the ground. Her head snaps against the stone wall causing her to bleed from her eye. More crashing is heard from within.
As he group draws near Wren and Vanderhoff hear a low guttural growl come from the eastern side of the house. The sharp loud noises within the open door quickly become silent as the pair of horse corpses begin to twitch from the side of the building.
Go find out what that is!
From within the house three orc raiders appear in the doorframe wielding deadly looking falchions. The group seems to be applying a black, thick tar to their blades as a pair of dire wolves appear from within the stables. The wolves maws drip with the fresh blood from the recently deceased horses within.
The orcs leave the building in all directions to see what the noise was outside.
The green orc rounds the side of the eastern building and is a bit surprised to find a group of black-eyed dwarves riding a yak of all things.
THEY'RE OVER HERE! The orc yells in a deeps voice.
-----------------------------------
Orcs
------------------------------------
Kraygan
Torgan
-------------------------------------
Dire Wolves
-------------------------------------
Wren
Jorgan
Vanderhoff
Kraygan wastes no time as the orc's and their wolves make ready. Commanding Haggis into a charge, he lowers his lance and calls out a battle cry as he rides by the closest wolf.
Torgan grabs Agrimmosh with both hands and rushes up to smash in the orcish dire wolf. "Orcs! It had to be orcs!" yells Torgan.
|
|
Urging Haggis forward Kraygan rams the tip of his lance into the dire wolf's flank. The wolf stumbles in the dirt, letting loose a painful yelp.
Torgan decides to take advantage as he sees the wolf stumble from his cousin's mighty blow. Charging in he slams Aggrimosh into the animal's shoulder
Turning in anger the wolf snaps it's sharp steel trap-like jaws at Torgan.
+ Trip
The wolf bite's Torgan's leg and attempts to drag him to the ground to finish the wriggling dwarf off but Torgan seems to havetorn himself free from it's grasp.
The red wolf bristles past the orc, pushing it to the side with force, as it bounds at Haggis. Kraygan swings his lance back around at the wolf but is too late as the wolf dodges the slower lance and bites at Haggis.
+ Trip
The wolf leaps at Haggis, it's teeth tear deep into the yak's neck. Haggis falls to the ground hard as the wolf strikes something vital.
-----------------------------------
Orcs
------------------------------------
Kraygan (31/38)(Haggis -2/18)
Torgan (24/40)
-------------------------------------
Dire Wolves (yellow -36)
-------------------------------------
Wren
Jorgan (33/39)
Vanderhoff (30/31)
|
|
Round 1, Init 12
Haggis falls to the ground hard as the wolf strikes something vital.
Wren frowns as Haggis falls. Poor guy, but it might be that we have meat for the stew tonight.
Drawing himself up, he prepares his little trick, the glittery trick that seems to work so well.
Wren shuffles closer to the house.
HP: 25/25
AC: 13
Effects: Endure Elements
Right: bow
Left: nothing
[ dice]1d20+8+1[/dice] to hit; (PBS)
[ dice]1d8+1[/dice] damage.
"Haggis!!"
Kraygan tries to pull his yak back from the fire wolf's teeth, but Haggis screams and goes down from the attack. Kraygan himself, proving he is a skilled rider, even in the worst situation, kicks free and lands on his feet.
"Dirty dog, you'll pay for that!" He growls.
Van swears loudly, then moves southeast to swing his hammer at the wolf.
"C'mon, Hops!" Jorgan pats his yak on the shoulder and yells to the others, "We'll cut off the orcs on the other side!" He and his yak then take off around the building, Hops moving in to flank the red-clad orc.
|
|
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Looks like the yellow wolf is closer to Torgan, not Jorgan so I'll assume that attack went against him. I also added a token for Hops since Jorgan brought him out earlier with the intention of bringing him along.
The yellow wolf closes it's eyes just in time as opposite wolf and orc were not as lucky. Golden sparks flash before their eyes blinding them.
Jorgan circles back around the building as Hops comes bounding off of the beach as he hears Jorgan's sweet voice. The two run in slow motion as Jorgan gazes at the picture of Hops in his new locket.
The orc looks confused as another yak comes bounding out from the wooded area near the beach.
Vanderhoff slams his hammer into the yellow wolf as it shuts it's eyes from the blinding light. His dull hammer smashes in the wolf's soft skull dropping it to the ground.
The green orc fumbles it's way towards Kraygan as he feels his way around the wolf.
He draws his falchion and swings it at the area where he believes the dwarf fell to.
The orc swings wildly expecting to strike the dwarf but just strikes open air.
The blue orc moves behind the wall in the stable. He seems to be carrying a weird looking skull in his hands. An ember glow emits from the blackened skull of what looks to be a goblin.
The orc hurls the vial skull straight at Vanderhoff.
The brittle looking skull lands next to Vanderhoff. It breaks into a bunch of small fragments like a glass vase though nothing seems to happen further with where the skull landed. Looking back at the orc it gets a terrified look as the orc himself suddenly immolates into flames.
Quickly patting himself the flames die out leaving a flame scarred orc before you. Small smoke tendrils rise from it's clothing. The orc looks like it is very near to just dropping on the ground.
The red orc draws his falchion and slashes it at Jorgan.
+ Shadow Essence
The poisoned blade slashes across Jorgan's midsection. The thick black liquid begins to turn his blood a purplish color as it slowly crawls up his chest.
-----------------------------------
Orcs (green-blind; blue -21)
------------------------------------
Kraygan (31/38)(Haggis -2/18; bleeding)
Torgan (24/40)
-------------------------------------
Dire Wolves (Red- blind)
-------------------------------------
Wren
Jorgan (19/39; need a fort save)
Vanderhoff (30/31)
Kraygan throws down his lance and whips out his new waraxe. With furious anger he plants his feet and lays into the wolf with a powerful two-handed chop.
Jorgan's dwarven blood fights off the poison on the orc's blade. "C'mon, Hops, let's show him how it's done!" He waits for Hops to step into flank and then both coordinate their attacks on the orc.
Torgan draws his dagger and attacks the dire wolf.
"That's was me arm, ye foul beast! "
-Posted with Wayfinder
|
|
Kraygan slams his lance into the ground and quickly unlatches his waraxe.
Seeing the wolf stumbling around blindly he snaps the sharp end of his blade into the wolf's haunch.
Torgan moves right past the blinded orc. He breaks the wolf's hind leg with Aggrimosh.
The wolf turns it's head snapping it's jaws at Torgan.
+ Trip
The wolf pounces on Torgan with large powerful paws, dragging him to the ground as it bite's into his chest.
Shaking it's head the wolf gets the glitter out of it's eyes. The black beady eyes bear down on Torgan as it stares a mere inch from his face.
Jorgan's body fights off the poisonous infection leaving him unaffected. In retaliation Jorgan and Hops assault the orc with axe and horns. Hops slams into the orc's back, breaking it's ribs as the sharp blade of an axe greets it's shoulder.
-----------------------------------
Orcs (green-blind; blue -21; red -33; staggered)
------------------------------------
Kraygan (Haggis -2/18; bleeding)
Torgan (15/40)
-------------------------------------
Dire Wolves (Red- 29)
-------------------------------------
Wren
Jorgan (19/39)
Vanderhoff (30/31)
|
|
Round 2, Init 12
Wren peaks out from his hiding spot, looking for the one who just blew stuff up with fire. He fires at the red wolf through cover then moves back out of any further blastings.
to hit; (PBS,-cover)
damage.
HP: 25/25
AC: 13
Effects: Endure Elements
Right: bow
Left: nothing
[ dice]1d20+8+1[/dice] to hit; (PBS)
[ dice]1d8+1[/dice] damage.
Vanderhoff hefts his hammer over his head, then charges south. With a primal scream, he swings hard at the orc.
|
|
Wren steps around the building ad fires an arrow into the large wolf's neck as it stands over Torgan. The wolf's eyes roll back init's head as it looks near to falling over right on top of Torgan.
Vanderhoff rushes into the stables and slams the orc's head against the wooden wall with his hammer, adding the orc's blood to the sticky hay. The wooden wall cracks deeply from the resounding dull thud.
Hearing Torgan fall the blinded green orc slashes his falchion at the direction of the sound.
The blade comes close to striking the wolf atop Torgan as the orc gets turned around.
The red orc spins around slashing his Falchion at Hops.
In such tight quarters the orc is not able to get the large blade around with enough force to injure the yak.
-----------------------------------
Orcs (green-blind; red -33; staggered)
------------------------------------
Kraygan (Haggis -2/18; bleeding)
Torgan (15/40; prone)
-------------------------------------
Dire Wolves (Red- 36)
-------------------------------------
Wren
Jorgan (19/39)
Vanderhoff (30/31)