"You need to learn some respect for ladies, Kern! Now cooperate and you get to walk away from this," the barbarian growls at the sailor.
"Yes, yes, whatever you say." Kern is trembling with fear, as the barbarian towers over his prone form.
Xarethi, a little shell-shocked from the explosion of blood from a few feet in front of her (she probably got a little sprayed too), blinks slowly as she finally takes in the current reality.
"Well, that... didn't go quite as planned. Didn't really want to kill the guy, just disable him."
"Oh sorry, I kind of lost my head when I saw them slashing our guys. We've still got one though," Ialda suggests hopefully.
Kowaru glances over at Grogan's limp form, his life blood spilling out onto the dock. He winces, and bows his head slightly. "My apologies, brother. I did what I could."
He lays a hand on Ialda's shoulder. He speaks quietly to her. "When this is all over, sister, we will have a discussion on how all life is sacred."
"Until then," he says, addressing the rest of his group. "Let's continue with the plan. Kern...you are coming with us." Kowaru heads over to Grogan, and picks up the man's cooling body, ready to move on with this quickly disintigrating plan.
"Now, Kowaru, if I hadn't have intervened, we might have been carrying your body instead of Grogan's here," Ialda exxplained to the half orc.
The sailors, it appears, will shed no tears for the death of one of the Sadistic Seven, and in fact, by the smiles on their faces, are quite happy you took one of them out. Nobody is rushing to alert the guard and with the fight over, most of them go back to their cleaning and shipping duties.
Chez scans the area for a place that offers a little privacy. He begins to bend over to pick up Grogan's body but see's that Kowaru is aleady ahead of him on that notion. Chez will pick up all the weapons that were dropped.
"It is unfortunate that this man lost his life. Kern please cooperate and you will leave unharmed from this point forward. Any other weapons that you have, we would like to hold onto for now."
Once they have relocated to a more discreet location, Chez will begin asking questions of Kern in a pleasant and friendly tone.
"How many men are on the ship? Where would we find Vark? Do you know where Vark stores his valuables? Is there anything else about the ship we should know about or that just seemed odd to you?"
Kern's fear is apparent, as well as his willingness to cooperate and live longer. He senses Chez speaks honestly and senses compassion in his heart. He hands Chez his crossbow as well as his boot dagger to show his compliance with his demands. "There's 4 more men on da ship, 3 on top, 1 below in the Officer's quarters and Captain Vark and Ketrana, his lover, in the Captain's cabin. Valuables? If he does not keep them on him, no one is allowed in his cabin except for he and Ketrana. I would suspect they're in there. Anything else? Don't know if this is important, but I knows Vark makes coin smuggling exotic beasts. They're kept in the hold. Never been there myself, but I saw some when we loaded them. Ya know, stuff like, monkeys, parrots, stuff rich people like to buy. Oh and one big one. Didn't see it, was covered up with black cloth, but that sucker was big as hell. He's meeting with another ship tonight to sell them. At least, that what he told us. I duns good, right? Ya gonna let me live, right?"
"I think you've done what we asked of you, Kern. I don't think we need to have any more dealings with each other. Oh, we might need your clothes...nothing personal.
Aeronniell bites her lip again in concentration, looking skyward for a moment while she processes the information from Kern.
Four crew, Vark, a lover... and a possible exotic beastie...
Jovial voice: Nothing your new friends can't handle... if you heal them of course!
The elf nods at Kern, indicating she too is content with what they have learned.
"Well, it seems we have a choice. If the crew sees us coming, they will likely prepare for trouble, and Vark will have ample time to prepare below deck. If only we could sneak up on them... and ensure he doesn't let loose this exotic monster on us as well."
Aeronniell looks to the others, not caring if Kern overhears her thoughts.
"Thank you Kern. We are going to discuss a personal matter with Vark now and although I am hoping that others on board do not end up like your friend, I'd say there is a very real chance you best be looking for another employer. I'm guessing Vark doesn't pay you much anyways so if you do not return to the ship to collect your stuff you really are not missing much. So, here's a deal I'm willing to make with you, provided the rest here are in agreement."
Chez takes a moment to scan his companions reaction and then proceeds, "I'll give back your weapons and 4 gold coins and you leave now, away from the docks. Do not ever return to the ship. Find employment elsewhere. Also, we will be needing your clothes, but I will give you my travelling clothes as a trade, which I must say are in fine better shape than the threads you are wearing. Would you be willing to abide by this? Before you answer though, consider the magical talents of my associates here, should you think about double-crossing us."
"Here is my thought on a plan to approach the ship. With my disguise donned, I could walk in front with my arms around Xarethi and Arionel, perhaps acting both jovial and drunk, with my head hanging low. Kowaru, also in disguise, could walk behind along with Ialda. Kowaru should keep in close, so his face can not easily be seen."
Chez considers his plan.
"When we near the ship, any sailors on watch will see us returning with three women, and will be probably be so focused on looking at the fine women we bring, that they will not even notice us until too late?"
Aeronniell looks distraught at further thoughts of what she may need to impersonate.
"I... I..." she begins, working up her resolve to commit to such a plan, "... suppose that's a good a plan as any."
She squints her eyes trying to image she's inebriated and if Chez and Kowaru could pass for Kern and his dead friend.
"We're quite well armed to come aboard as such women, that might tip off the sailors?" Aeronniell's eyes come to rest on Ialda's massive flail.
That seems like a good reason to not further the ruse.
"We could also await Vark having to send more men to search for Kern? With just four of them, I doubt they'd be sailing the caravel anywhere themselves. If I were Vark, I'd eventually have to resort to sending more men out to find out what happened to Kern here."
Xarethi had turned from the group for a moment, seeking some source of water in desperation. She had found a small very fishy-smelling, salty-smelling wooden bucket of water and quickly wiped the blood from her face. She returns to the group just to hear the last of Chez's plan.
"I'm with Arionel. I don't quite like giving up my weapons, even for a disguise. We might need them... I thought, perhaps, these men could see reason, but now I see that they are stubborn, arrogant, and violent."
"I suspect the sailors, after seeing we three ladies could care less about if we have a weapon showing. They aren't the most discerning lot, I would imagine."
"Thank you Kern. We are going to discuss a personal matter with Vark now and although I am hoping that others on board do not end up like your friend, I'd say there is a very real chance you best be looking for another employer. I'm guessing Vark doesn't pay you much anyways so if you do not return to the ship to collect your stuff you really are not missing much. So, here's a deal I'm willing to make with you, provided the rest here are in agreement."
Chez takes a moment to scan his companions reaction and then proceeds, "I'll give back your weapons and 4 gold coins and you leave now, away from the docks. Do not ever return to the ship. Find employment elsewhere. Also, we will be needing your clothes, but I will give you my travelling clothes as a trade, which I must say are in fine better shape than the threads you are wearing. Would you be willing to abide by this? Before you answer though, consider the magical talents of my associates here, should you think about double-crossing us."
"Sounds like a fair proposition. But while I ain't the brightest tuna around, I sure ain't stupid here. I knows I betrayed Vark and for damn good reason, to save my own sorry skin and I'ms ok wit dat. Seems good enough for me. But I also knows if this goes down badly and you folk don't succeed and Vark kills ya, he will also know it was me who betrayed him and I'ms gonna have to live the rest of ma life lookings over my shoulder waiting for the blade to come in the middle of the night and I can't lives like that. So if you gonnas take Vark out, you'd better do it right, so I ain't haves to worry and excuse me, pretty boy, but ain't no ones gonna mistake you for a sailor. You'se pretty, blonde, gots all your teeth. I've been sailin' with that crew for overs a year, seeing their ugly faces every day and dem seein' mine. They'll spot yous coming a mile away. Hope you gots somethin' better than dat planned?"
"Another possibility: Underwater sneak attack. Surround the boat, sneak on board, kill those who stand in our way. I hate to sound so brutal, but I'm beginning to think this is the only way."
She looks at Kern.
"I'm with Chez, though. You need to get out of here. Take the gold he's offering you and run. I don't want to be responsible for any more deaths than are necessary."
Kern smiles. "My, my...beauty and brains. I'll happily leave lady, once I know Varak ain't comin' after me! How's about this? I can get twos of you on board, I'll says youse looking to buy pretty birds and will pays double the price. Pretty boy there looks like he got coin. Then the rest of ya swim on board, like smokin' hot chick just said, while the crew's concentrating on me. You cans swim, right? I thinks that's worth...er...maybe 20 gold? That ways ya deal with Vark and I leave his employ. What'd ya think?" Kern puffs up his chest, sounding all smart and such.
"I'm always good for a swim if others are. Does anyone have a grappling hook, or should I buy one quickly? It will really help those less skilled at climbing to be able ascend up the side of the ship, especially if it's rope is knotted every two feet."
Aeronniell considers all the various plans as they are proposed.
"I do favor getting onto the Nixie with alerting as few of the men as possible," she nods at the suddenly-useful Kern's plan.
Twenty gold? That's more than I've had in my pocket at any one time this century...
"We could also release Kern now, and a couple of us could row over and call up to the sailors on deck that we're interested in purchasing exotic animals. It's actually not a bad plan, at all."
She nods to her own thoughts.
"Maybe three of us could row over? And two would have to swim, unfortunately."
Would I be one of the swimmers?
Aeronniell studies the other four while wondering who among them are the best swimmers.
"Well, why don't we just approach as a group who is interested in buying exotic animals? I'm not certain if we need to split up."
Chez looks down at his torn noble's shirt and sighs. He calls forth a spell which magically mends the shirt. "Ah, that is better, now I better fit the part."
Chez looks at Xarethi and Aeronniell, "You are simply my companions which I wish to buy animals for. Kowaru and Ialda are my guards. I think we could pull if off?"
"Errrrrr....pretty boy, we only allowed to bring up two people on board at any one time on the rowboat, even for business deals. That way Vark and his crew give off a powerful presence, as he calls it. Putting the fives of you on a boat is crazy but if ya wish to try, I'll be right here on the dock watching youse get shot up by bolts as youse row there."
Chez laughs and sighs.
"Well, this sure seems to be an interesting logistical challenge."
Chez ponders.
"Alright, here's another one of my 'fancy' ideas. We go ahead with the splitting of the group. Firstly, though lets talk about a matter of recruitment. Perhaps our employer would cut this bold man in for a potion of the cut? That would be 100 gold coins Kern. All you have to do is row us over and not interfere."
"There is no way that this does not end badly for Vark. There are no real "authorities" to turn him over to. It may even be in your best interest to help us dispatch Vark. If for any reason our employer is not will to pay you, then I'm sure we could all give a portion of our shares to make up 100 gold for you. I don't want to speak for others and their funds though so I will make up any difference if others already have their funds committed to other causes. I am certain our employer would pay you though, so giving up part of shares would probably not be needed."
"Alas, I get to the plan. Kern will row Arional and I in the boat over to the ship. This will occur after we have given ample time for the rest of you to swim over and board the ship. The guise will be for me to purchase a lovely gift for my fiancee," Chez winks at Aeronniell.
"I ought to be able to make the swim over there, for whatever plan we decide on."
Aeronniell studies the other women a bit further to ascertain which of them might be the best swimmers.
Somehow Ialda's green skin makes me feel like she'd be a great swimmer, but what about Xarethi? Nothing about her screams proficient swimmer...
"Xarethi, you could go with Chez too if you'd rather not swim? I'm not sure how proficient you are, although the water here in the harbor is quite still..."
Kowaru listens quietly for the most part. "I am a skilled swimmer as well. And I am not certain we need to get a rope and grapnel - they have dropped anchor, have they not? We could simply climb up the chain while the two of you distract them on the other side." Grogan's weight began to strain on Kowaru's back. He would have to ask Lady Vanderboren how to proceed after he met with her again - there were deaths in the city he was indirectly responsible for. How many more would there be in pursuit of doing the right thing?
Surprised that the half-orc is still carrying Grogan, Kern says, "Throw him in the harbor, orc sir. It's what we sailors always wish for: a burial at sea!" Turning to Chez, he says, "Mighty good plan, sir, especially the payment part. More than generous."
Xarethi looks over at Arionel. "I don't mind swimming. I'm quite proficient at it. I'd rather have people somewhat skilled at arms at the fore."
"Alright then it seems like we may have a plan. I don't suppose any of you magical types have the ability to mend the scratch across my chest?"
"Check and see if that sea dog has any gold on him before you toss him in. I'm sure whatever he has was taken from good people, anyway. If we need to,, we can give it to Kern here to cement his loyalty."
Xarethi wrinkles her nose at the prospect.
"I'd advise against throwing bloodied bodies into the brink. It'll only attract sharks and disturb the local ecology. Have it bound in something relatively protective first."
Aeronniell nods as she realizes she almost forgot to tend to Chez's wounds.
"At some point, we should likely pick up a healer's kit if we're going to continue to get into this many scrapes. One a day so far!"
Kowaru balks at the thought of dumping this man's body unceremoniously into the harbor. He listens to both Xarethi and Aeron's concerns, and casts about for a solution. He heads over to one of the sailors that had resumed his work after the fight broke out. "I need some sailcloth, brother," he says. "And weights."
Kowaru lays Grogan's body in the cloth, laying the weights around him. He wraps the body up, his face solemn as he works. At last, the deed done, Kowaru examines the bundle he has created. "I am sorry your life ended here, brother. You were not a good man in this life, so your soul will need to be reborn as a lesser creature in your next. It sounds that you and your employer were selling exotic animals on the boat, so I shall pray your next life is as a monkey or parrot. Perhaps you shall feel the freedom your master has taken from those lives, and learn from that life." He steps back, allowing anyone else say something before Grogan is tossed into the brine.
Chez feels the soft touch of Aeronniell's hand as it grazes his flesh. The healing magic she releases causing a pleasant tingling sensation. The swashbuckler feels some of his stoic will drift away as he gazes into the glossy eyes of the beautiful elf that stands before him. Thoughts of love and the act of sharing love quickly fill his mind. Chez then realizes an awkward silence and a few seconds have passed in his day dreaming.
He blushes and bows slightly, "Kind gratitude m'lady."
---
As Kowaru commits the body to the sea, Chez gives a warrior's salute, to acknowledge the worthy opponent.
"Okay, now that that matter has been dealt with, are we going to trust Kern over here to ferry part of us out to the boat? What if he tries to double cross us?"
"That is a valid concern Ialda, but I'm pretty sure Kern is in this for the money, and 100 gold is more than he'll ever make for years of working with Vark. He's also seen how capable we are. I'm pretty certain he knows that to try to double cross us, he would only end up on the point of your spear. Although I must say, that watching his friend be dehydrated by magic also looked quite painful. I'm fairly certain that is not a fate he wishes."
"I think the key to this is, to get to Vark quick and deal with him. I really want to offer him a chance to surrender, but based on what we know of him he's too crude for that and as long as he beleives the numbers are on his side, he won't surrender. If we can get to him quick and with the help of Kowaru, hopefully just knock him unconscious, then perhaps the others on board will surrender."
"Well, let's get to it then . Maybe Kowaru can take down Vark, while I spear a couple of the helpers. That might slow them down a bit, too.
Kowaru narrows his eyes as he looks down at Kern. "You find yourself in quite a dilemma, brother. On the one hand, you have you misplaced loyalty to a cruel man who would not care if you joined your friend at the bottom of the harbor. On the other, unlike your friend, it is not too late for you to reexamine the decisions you have made in this life. You know Vark is a cruel man, and deserves whatever fate the authorities have in store for him. You can help us bring him to justice - in which case, you have taken the first step towards enlightenment by killing the Kern that was. And, if purity of the soul does not persuade you, then perhaps, as Chez says, the promise of more gold than you will ever see working for Vark will."
He turns to Ialda. "I can do that, sister. Vark must be shown the errors of the path he follows."
Kowaru receives some sailcloth and weights, but there is no charge, just a hearty handshake of thanks. With that, Grogan disappears under the waves..
Kern seems confused by everything that Kowaru just said and says, "I'm gonna have go with that last thing you said. Yeah, the promise of more gold, that works for me. That and not having to worry about Vark putting a blade to my throat while I's sleep. Yeah, I pick that."
He then looks at Ialda, Kowaru and Xarethi, "Ok, I will paddle the rowboat around to the north end of the ship. Youse all go to the west end of the boardwalk. When I'm half way there, with their focus on us in the rowboat, start swimmin'. Just don't make too much ruckus in the water or you'll get caught and drilled full of bolts. Ok, you two follow me." Kern leads Aeronniell and Chez to the rowboat, waits for them to get in and starts manning the oars.
Swim Rules:
Aeronniell smiles when Kowaru asks about his injuries.
"Yes, definitely a medic's kit... or even some potions or a wand even" she continues her thought, "since it seems we are all prone to injury, and my talents are rather limited."
"That's just about all I can manage today, let's hope there's minimal trouble on the Nixie."
Swimming
Second try
Xarethi will cast air bubble on those who are swimming so they may swim underwater without making noise.
Swim checks.