"Silvio approves of this plan!" the chelaxian announces. "I look forward to best this Soller in a game of wits!"
"... if someone feels like spreading a few
rumours beforehand..."
"Bah, I've no talent for that." the dwarf rumbles, his patience being tested by the fact the Blue Nixie is moored off shore and he can't just walk up to Soller Vark. "Spin your tales as you see fit, just get Soller off Lavinia's boat."
Kyson is initially skeptical of the plan to talk to the Captain on land.
"He may or may not come, but if he does and doesn't cooperate, we don't have much leverage. He knows that he can just up and leave. On the boat, he's more cornered. As much as I hate the water, I think just going to the boat is a more direct way to proceed."
"He's unlikely to let five armed men waltz on to his ship if he's up to no good, though" Remarks Sekathral. "Plus, he's going to have all his bullies with him, and I don't see the sense in going in when we're outnumbered two to one. I'm willing to try it - I bet he's got some good stuff on there - but for safety's sake I say we get him away from the vessel and pile the pressure on when he's alone"
"I'm not sure what kind of distraction you have in mind, Sekathral," Finn responds. "Most of my preparations are designed with myself in mind. I've spent countless hours preparing and honing my body to accept all manner of eldritch modification."
He pulls out a small sticky clump of plant matter. "Stinging nettle and drain spider venom," he explains. "I've been building up resistance to this preparation, and now, when I take it, it's an incredible stimulant. But it's also a potent irritant. It's only mildly distracting for me, but if you or Vark were to try it, you might just end up spending the next hour feeling like your intestines were on fire."
Finn puts the preparation away and thinks for a moment. "I'm not particularly worried about getting aboard, myself. A crate of supplies or something was delivered just yesterday. I could stow away on something like that with ease. If we want to get aboard, that would be one way to do it. Do we know anything about the loyalty of the hands on deck?"
Sekathral rubs his chin. "Nice. What we could do, then, is put that in a bottle or barrel of something special and deliver it to the ship as a present - complements of the harbourmaster or something. Then we wait a while for it to take effect and climb on board - even if they don't all drink it, hopefully enough of them will to make our job an easier one. I think we'd all better go, though. What d'you think?" He asks the rest of the company.
Sekathral rubs his chin. "Nice. What we could do, then, is put that in a bottle or barrel of something special and deliver it to the ship as a present - complements of the harbourmaster or something. Then we wait a while for it to take effect and climb on board - even if they don't all drink it, hopefully enough of them will to make our job an easier one. I think we'd all better go, though. What d'you think?" He asks the rest of the company.
Dargon groans, "Doing this offshore ain't me favorite idea. But if that's what it takes, I'll swim out to the Blue Nixie."
Kyson is happy to do whatever to help.
"Maybe I could take notes on the meeting. Yeah know, to keep track of how much pesh is to be traded and how money is around. I think the smugglers might really appreciate a good account of the meeting, right?"
Kyson looks at this scroll case to be sure he has enough paper.
Sekathral looks a little confused. "Are we going out to the ship or are we getting Vark to come to us? " He asks. "If I'm going to set up a meeting, I'll head out as soon as I've got enough pesh to make my story plausible. Silvio, do you know where I can pick some up?" He pauses, picking his teeth. "Finally, where am I taking him once I've snared him? We'd better decide now."
Finn shakes his head. "I'm afraid the barrel idea won't work quite like that," he responds. "The preparation dilutes too easily, there probably wouldn't be a noticeable effect in anyone--certainly not enough to affect multiple people at once."
Finn scratches his chin. "The more I think about it, the more I think that the best place to take him would be his own quarters--or in this case, aboard the ship. We'd like to be sure there's the least chance for Vark or his lackeys to approach the constables."
Sekathral nods. "Good thinking, mate. Combination plan - we go on board with the bootleg pesh, which is a special delivery for Mr. Vark only. We do whatever we can to get him alone in his cabin, then we put the screws on him. How does that sound?"
Sekathral nods. "Good thinking, mate. Combination plan - we go on board with the bootleg pesh, which is a special delivery for Mr. Vark only. We do whatever we can to get him alone in his cabin, then we put the screws on him. How does that sound?"
"Alright then, we got a boat ta get us 'ere or am I needin' to get me beard wet?", the dwarf aks while combing his fingers through his beard.
"We get a boat" replies Sekathral, poker-faced. "Coming on board looking like drowned rats might not quite give the impression we're after. What we'd better do first is make the connection for the pesh - then we can see about getting some transport out there. Best be quick"
"We get a boat" replies Sekathral, poker-faced. "Coming on board looking like drowned rats might not quite give the impression we're after. What we'd better do first is make the connection for the pesh - then we can see about getting some transport out there. Best be quick"
"Eh, 'ur pesh plan worries me, elf. Too many ways for it ta get turned around, making us look like da shady ones. Best to just go face 'em head on.
Sekathral frowns. "You can do all the confronting you like once we're on board. " He says to Dargon. "Boarding a hostile ship isn't a stroll in the bleeding pleasure gardens - I should know - and we might as well have a plan that'll at least get us where we want to be. If you're worried about your good name, I haven't told you anything, and as far as you know, we're escorting a consignment of honey-cakes from the Iomedaen Mariner's Aid Society"
"Silvio is tired of this arguing. While you two decide what you want to do, Silvio will go see if he can find someone with this drug. ...
The generally smiling human turns to leave, then turns back with a perplexed look.
"Does anyone have any money that Silvio can borrow?"
Sekathral searches in his various pockets and pulls out 30gp . "Here you go, cap'n - that should do. Jackal's Howl's the stuff to go for" He turns back to Dargon, trying to smooth things over. "Listen, chief - I know this ain't your way of doing things, but we need to get going. Once we're safely on the Blue Nixie , we can drop the act and you can crack a few skulls or whatever you like - I'll back you up. Now, we'd better go about finding a boat."
Kyson's gaze travels from speaker to speaker, watching the whirlwind of idea pass to and fro but capturing little of nuance of each proposal.
Kyson keeps his head in the discussion.
Sekathral searches in his various pockets and pulls out 30gp . "Here you go, cap'n - that should do. Jackal's Howl's the stuff to go for" He turns back to Dargon, trying to smooth things over. "Listen, chief - I know this ain't your way of doing things, but we need to get going. Once we're safely on the Blue Nixie , we can drop the act and you can crack a few skulls or whatever you like - I'll back you up. Now, we'd better go about finding a boat."
1d20 +3
Dargon gives Sekathral a slight disapproving look for a moment then relents, "I'm off ta find us a boat ta rent then."
Dargon is able to find a tender boat pilot who's willing to let you borrow his boat.
"It'll be a silver piece an hour during th'day," he says. "Y'want it at night, it'll be five gold."
He gives you a searching look.
"Y'want me to not realize y'took it if anyone comes askin', that's another five gold."
Dargon is able to find a tender boat pilot who's willing to let you borrow his boat.
"It'll be a silver piece an hour during th'day," he says. "Y'want it at night, it'll be five gold."
He gives you a searching look.
"Y'want me to not realize y'took it if anyone comes askin', that's another five gold."
Dargon goes into his pouch and pulls out 3 silver. Handing it to the boat pilot he confidently says, "Aint needin' mor'en two."
On the boat ride out, Kyson will focus primarily on finding safe ways to stay inside the boat, stopping just short of lashing himself in.
Boats. Why'd it hafta be boats?
Sekathral will hand over the five gold necessary to ensure the pilot's silence, then spend the time before Silvio (hopefully) returns with the pesh locating a discarded cask on the quayside and filling it with enough debris to make it slightly weighty He will also locate a bowl, bucket or similar container and hand it over to the nervous-looking Kyson with a knowing wink. Once Silvio returns, he will shepherd the other party members and his 'cargo' into the boat and fix with Silvio whether he wants to row or steer.
Silvio returns with a couple doses of Pesh. "Silvio has returned," he says. "You have got a boat for us? Row or steer? Silvio will steer. It is much less work, after all."
You can all get into the boat -- which is just big enough to hold the six of you -- and make your way to the Blue Nixie. As you get close, you can see a pair of humans holding crossbows on the main deck, and another on both the quarterdeck and forecastle deck.
Finn taps his foot nervously in the boat, wishing he could just break out into some calisthenics right now.
"Not sure about my role... but I have the utmost confidence we will be successful!"
As they near the Blue Nixie , Sekathral hails the vessel [b] "Ahoy there! Delivery for Soller Vark! Pass us down a whip for the cargo!" [/]
Kyson holds on to the edge of the boat with two hands, thankful for the morning sun on his face as he traverses the gap between shore and ship.
Blessed Sarenrae, you warm the world. Keep me safe.
Kyson has his shield unequipped, stowed on his back so that he can swim (gulp!) if he needs to.
Dargon stand ready to react if things go wrong, whispering to Sekathral, "Hope ya know what yur doin' elf."
The two men on the main deck come over to the rail and look down on you. "Delivery, huh? What d'you got there, elf?"
Silvio pays no mind to the two crewmen on deck, he just sits in the boat with his eyes dreamily focused on the ropes hanging at the side of the ship. If you didn't know better the young chelaxian was just sitting there daydreaming. Which is actually exactly what he does. Upon spotting the ropes, and aided by the calming rythm of the waves, Silvio drifted off into a daydream where he deftly jumps to the robes and acends to the deck. Tripping one of the sailors atop the other he sends both men crashing to the water and then defeats the captain Vark in a duel that takes the dream through the entire ship to end in the captains cabin, where Silvio with great skill trips Soller into an open chest and closes the lid.
Sekathral nudges Silvio to wake him up, then jerks his thumb towards the cask. "Load of the black bane, for Vark. Good stuff, and the buyer wants it offshore sharpish." He holds the lump of pesh up and leers knowingly "You must be tired. Here, take a sample and let us worry about getting this onboard" . He leaps onto the ropes and scurries up the side
Once on board , he hands a portion of the pesh to each of the sailors, encouraging them to move away from the side.
Kyson will grab the boat's edge and rope, fearing that Sekathral's bound off the boat and onto the ship will send him to the water.
So close to being on the big ship. Hang in there.
While Dargon climbs up the ropes (Climb ) he tries to take in the scene (Perception ), while keeping a skeptical eye on the two brutes (Sense Motive ).
Silvio snaps out of his daydream and immedietly dons a smile. He grabs a rope and starts to climb up to the deck after helping to haul the cask to the ship.
"So, Silvio has arrived!", he announces. "Who does Silvio see about payment?"
"Pesh, huh?" one of the men says, "Didn't hear nothing 'bout that, but sounds like somethin' Soller might like."
As you reach for the ropes, however, his companion raises his crossbow. "Whoa, sailor, we'll take your delivery, but ain't no one allowed on the ship, see."
Sekathral shakes his head. "We've got orders too. We've got to put this into Mr Vark's own fair hands, or our boss ain't gonna be pleased." He looks straight at the two sailors. "The amount of pesh in that cask doesn't come cheap, and he wants us to make absolutely sure it gets to Vark. I wouldn't want to be in your shoes if he finds out you've been wasting our time..."
"Well, then, you'll have to deal with your boss. Vark's order are ain't no one gettin' on this here ship."
1d20
"Well, then, you'll have to deal with your boss. Vark's order are ain't no one gettin' on this here ship."
Dargon, unable to hold to the charade any longer, burst into action, shouting out,"I've 'ad 'bout enough o' tis orc wash!"
Dargon pulls out his throwing ax, throwing it at the brute that looks the most threating.
Dargon scales the closest rope.
Dargon quickly scales the closest rope, attacking the closest brute with a powerful headbutt.
Throwing Ax , DMG
Climb
Melee (headbutt) ; DMG
Initiative
Round 1
Continue climbing + Standard action: Headbutt
Att
Dmg
Init
Kyson looks forward to nice, peaceful resolution to all this.
Init.
Round 1
Attempt to leap up side (acrobatics)
Dmg
Silvio is just about to offer some soothing words to diffuse the tension as his would-be-diplomatic efforts are interrupted by Dargon and his axe. Instinctively the fighter goes for the dagger at his hip only to realise that his throwing daggers where not one of the items he managed to smuggle off the Maiden's kiss when he was exiled from the vessel. Managing not to part with his dueling sword had been quite a feat and now that was the only weapon the chelaxian had to hand. It is also the only weapon he needed. Silvio jumps to the ropes with a deft leap and climbs onto the deck, beginning the first act of his reenactment of the recent daydream.
Sekathral -- 21
Silvio -- 20
Sailors -- 20
Soller Vark -- 15
Dargon -- 8
Zstelian -- 7
Kyson -- 6
Finn -- 4
As Sekathral and Silvio scramble aboard, the sailors on deck let out a cry -- "Hey! Intruders on the ship!" -- and level their crossbows, letting two bolts fly at both of the men. Three fly wide, falling harmlessly into the bay, but one hits Sekathral, slamming into his arm.
Dargon finishes climbing aboard, and tries to slam one of the sailors, but the sudden reaction to his comrades' presence on the ship moves him from where Dargon was expecting him to be, and he hits nothing but air.
Victim determination:
Attacks:
Damage:
Mystery roll:
Round 1, Init 6
After bolts fly and sounds of battle & swearing commence, Kyson spends a few seconds deciding whether he'd rather be safe on the small boat or unsafe on the large boat. His mind gets decided when he realizes that he'd be a sitting duck (well, sitting chicken, really) if he stayed in the small boat.
Kyson will attempt to climb his way aboard, double moving at the top to get away from the active brawlers (a safe spot when the map comes up).
Climb
AC 18, touch 13, flat-footed 15. (+5 armor, +3 Dex)
hp 10
Spd 20 ft.
Fire Bolt (1d6+0) (7/day) (Sp) 30' Ranged touch attack deals 1d6+0 Fire damage.
Touch of Glory (7/day) (Sp) Grant +1 to a CHA-based skill or ability check.