The rapier slides through Narwhal's leather vest and out his chest. His scream of agony turns quickly to gasps for air as he grasps for breath from a perforated lung before falling to the ground unconscious.
"Back off or you get what he got." she says while gesturing to Narwhal. "Grab him with you and get over on that side. Now!" she says harshly to Fipps.
Sabinae is glaring at Fipps and is visibly angry. She is holding her rapier in a guarded attack stance.
"Felix, let's get out of here."
Felix covers his gash with his hand. "Sounds good to me. Thanks you two, I owe you one."
I keep my short sword pointed at Fipps. I look to Felix. "Grab Narwal's dagger. I think things aren't going to be the same after today." I look back at Fipps. "Did Plugg and Scourge put you up to this? Why? Why kill a hard working devoted member of the crew? I saw the looks on those men's faces, I know they knew what was going to happen here."
Intimidate:
Fipps seeing he's outnumbered backs into the corner but keeps hie knife ready.
"Aye, we was told it would go better if we off'd that one.." He points at Felix. "But that ain't go'a to matter none, who's the captain going to believe, you bilge rats or His First mate and his master o' arms? Fipps is clearly nervous but also ready to attack anyone who comes at him.
"It doesn't matter if you are dead. I would gladly gut you now and take the keelhauling that's coming just to be rid of gutless swine like yourselves. Matter of fact, I think I will. Gan, Felix? How about we make fish food today?"
"Well, we already got one of them, and were already gonna get beaten for it...." The half elf trails into thought
I look at Fipps harshly. I speak to Felix. "They meant to kill you. No strings attached. Means the bosses want you dead for some reason. Now that we drew weapons and defended you, we are as good as dead also. That said, I have had enough of Plugg, if I'm going to die then I'm taking that little bastard with me. The rest of you don't have to come with if you think you can survive without killing him or you can join me and then we have a better shot."
The Shoanti enters the bilges. Looking at the dying sailor. Hmm, this is not good, not good at all.
He position himself blocking the exit and ready an attack against Fipps if he tries to run for it. I heard you before Fipps, so what you are saying is this fine sailors here should kill you so you wont speak. Not very bright are you?
Turning to the others.
And while I would love to see Plugg and Scourge dead I have strong believes against dying myself. You would too if you knew what awaits... he mumbles almost to himself. A direct assault is certain death. There must be a better option than suicide.
"Maybe rally the crew?" Felix sugests
I look at Skulls in disbelief. I'm all for killing off Fipps at this point but Plugg intended to kill Fealix for no reason. If we are seen leave with Felix alive and these two dead, our lives our forfeit anyways. Plugg will accuse us of murder regardless of what we plea and will have us all killed." I pause for a moment at Felix's suggestion. "Maybe. We have a few friends. Plugg seems an inept first mate. Maybe if were lucky, he and his buddy Sourge will be the only people we have to kill. It's a long shot but it's a better idea than waiting for them to kill us. I think the best way to buy ourselves some time is to finish off Fipps and Narwal. Felix, you head up and tell Plugg you were attacked. You took Narwhals from him in the fight and being the excellent warrior you are, beat both men and defended yourself. While you distract them, the rest of us sneak out and deny involvement. With luck, Plugg and Sourge may fear you and see you worth keeping around, especially with two men already dead. It's a long shot but it might work."
I look at the others for their thoughts.
"Hmm, the more I think about it the more I want us to live. Skulls, how about you heal Narwhal? This way he doesn't die and we don't get punished. So we bide our time. I don't think our time to revolt is just yet. The odds are against us here."
At all this talk of killing him or not Fipps is looking more and more agitated. His hand with the dagger is shaking and he has a nasty snarl on his face.
I shake my head at Sabina. "We are not suppose to be down here, Felix was meant to be killed, Narwhal and Fipps are likely to make up all sorts of things to get us executed. Explain how we are suppose to be forgiven when we've gone where we weren't suppose to to save a man who was suppose to die by drawing our weapons on the first mates men, wounding one of them in the process. Explain please."
At this point a ragged gurgle of a breath comes from Narwhal as he expires on the ground. His lungs filled with blood from the deep wound...in his back.
Looking at Narwhal:
"Well. Healing him is out of the question since he is dead. We should just kill Fipps and be done with it. If we are going to fight the captain and those loyal to him we might as well see who is on our side."
She looks back over to Gan.
"I proposed healing him as it would have meant less punishment for us but now....if we can get enough with us we can take over the wormwood."
Not terrible excited about all this discussion about killing him Fipps seems to believe that he's better off trying to draw some attention to his predicament.
Help! They're attck'n me! Help!!!
I move in to stab him.
Attack: For:
Sabinae glares at Fipps and moves to attack him.
"I'm going to kill you Fipps." she says with an odd look in her eyes.
Shut up Fipps you will only make things harder on yourself.
Not really convinced that his argument could have any effect on the pirate the shoanti tries to hear for any movement outside and impale the fat scondrel.
The blades rise and fall and fipps falls to the water in the bilges with a splash, still alive but blood seeps from open wounds on his body. It's clear he will most likely die soon.
You don't hear any foot steps from above in response to his cries
If you search the bodies you just find the two daggers, 5 gp. Nothing else of value it seems.
My suggestion is this: We sneak back to our jobs up on the ship. Felix waits 15 minutes and report upstairs to the officers that this two scum tried to kill him and that he defended himself. Do it in public, in front of everybody.
We will use the situation to arouse the rest of the crew in your defense, maybe even againts the officers. Best case scenario we will win the crew to our side an intimidate Plugg and Scourge so they dont try it again. They may put the elf through some harsh punishment but we can sneak in to help him endure it. The down side of this gamble is that Felix can end up dead. he pauses for a second and look at the elf warrior. But i think its our best shot. Our only chance is to unite the rest of the crew against the officers.
My suggestion is this: We sneak back to our jobs up on the ship. Felix waits 15 minutes and report upstairs to the officers that this two scum tried to kill him and that he defended himself. Do it in public, in front of everybody.
We will use the situation to arouse the rest of the crew in your defense, maybe even againts the officers. Best case scenario we will win the crew to our side an intimidate Plugg and Scourge so they dont try it again. They may put the elf through some harsh punishment but we can sneak in to help him endure it. The down side of this gamble is that Felix can end up dead. he pauses for a second and look at the elf warrior. But i think its our best shot. Our only chance is to unite the rest of the crew against the officers.
"I like the idea. Felix? Gan? I think there is a good chance. If I need to make a distraction I can sneak out and take any attention off of the rest."
I look at Skulls in disbelief. I'm all for killing off Fipps at this point but Plugg intended to kill Fealix for no reason. If we are seen leave with Felix alive and these two dead, our lives our forfeit anyways. Plugg will accuse us of murder regardless of what we plea and will have us all killed." I pause for a moment at Felix's suggestion. "Maybe. We have a few friends. Plugg seems an inept first mate. Maybe if were lucky, he and his buddy Sourge will be the only people we have to kill. It's a long shot but it's a better idea than waiting for them to kill us. I think the best way to buy ourselves some time is to finish off Fipps and Narwal. Felix, you head up and tell Plugg you were attacked. You took Narwhal's dagger from him in the fight and being the excellent warrior you are, beat both men and defended yourself. While you distract them, the rest of us sneak out and deny involvement. With luck, Plugg and Sourge may fear you and see you worth keeping around, especially with two men already dead. It's a long shot but it might work."
I look at the others for their thoughts.
I look confused. "I thought I suggest something like this already this already?" I roll my eyes. "Yes of course I approach"
"Well, let's do it then."
Sabinae will sneak out to let Felix do his thing.
If we are going to do that you cant come on deck looking like you just got out of your beauty bath elf. Srry Felix, its going to hurt more in you than in me...
The shoanti swings his spear making a long slash across Felix torso, more ugly than deep. Then he punchs him in the face a couple of times. He adds some dirt to make the overall result worse than it actually is.
If someone ask these two jumped on you, you wrestled Fipps for his weapon and killed him with it, than finished the other as he tried to flee. The corpse's wounds would agree with that tale.
Having said that Four Skulls clean the blood of his weapon in the bilge water and sneak out back to his work.
those of you who sneak back on deck have no problem making your way unnoticed. You do notice Plugg and scourge having a conversation on the bridge and Scourge seems to be all smile with his gold teeth glinting in the sun.
Four Skulls continue with his work scrubing the decks as if nothing had happened.
Gan will also attempt to return to his duties making sure to clean up any blood stains and acts as though nothing is wrong.
You all make it back on deck, about twenty minutes later you hear some yelling and cussing as Felix is dragged up in deck, his hands bound with rope. Plugg, Scrouge and two other pirates, slippery syl and Maheem, drag Felix up on deck.
He's tossed to the deck while Plugg storms off to have a word with the captain.
A moment later the captain storms down the stairs from the bridge grabs Felix by the collar and hauls his bound body across the deck. Scourge opens up a large metal box on the deck, the sweat box and Harrigan tosses Felix inside. Scourge locks him in.
"I said no damn murdering one another, I need every able hand on this ship and I'll not suffer this *&%#! There'll be a keelhauling tomorrow mark my words! Scourge I want two men stationed round the box all night, he'll have no food ner drink till he goes under the boat tomorrow at the bloody hour.
Harrigan storms into his cabin slamming the door. Scourge and plugg seem to exchange a small smile with one another and then turn and smile at you before ordering everyone else to get back to work.
The shoanti spits on the floor. We all saw you take away the elfs weapons. If those two stooges have come back here with the elf's corpse would you kneehaul them too? Or would Felix have "sliped" and broken his neck on the stairs? Will you get us all murdered too? One by one?
So I guess were done huh?
Four Skulls, Plugg waves a dismissive hand towards you, [b]"get back to work you Shoanti Dog er i'll wipe you like the cur ye ar."[b]
Scourge lets the wipe unfurl to the deck and looks very ready to use it.
A few of the other pirates around you sem swayed by yer speech and there is a silent murmer, in the crowd. Likewise an equal number simply scoff at you.
Sandara doesn't look too happy about the entire thing, nor do a few of the others who you've come to befriend this last month.
Sabinae slides up next to Four Skulls.
"I want to hurt him too but now is not the time. He has too many allies here. Come." she whispers.