"Well that was a fitting end."
Raush laughs at the demise of his short-lasting captain. "Wahahahah, the look on his stupid face! Oh, this was long overdue. Now then, how do we get these other folks down without getting attacked by the twins down there? I figure they'll be enough arms to allow us to overtake the Man's Promise, if we're fed up with Scourge too, but I can't just bless all this water, even if I had enough silver."
Well how do we get the rest down....and keep your eyes open. We may have drawn attention to ourselves.
Maybe wake them up so they can climbed down themselves?
"Let's try."
Raush swings on the ropes to Rosie Cusswell, pulling up the halfling and slapping her cheeks. "Wakey wakey, Little Miss Fiddle! Don't force me to do magic!"
Rosie's eyes snap awake, looking into Raush's eyes like an MJ and Peter moment.
"Galavari, what a surprise to see you here. Or to see me here for that matter. What say we get the f$%$ out of here?"
"Sure. Hold on."
Raush grabs steadily Rosie with his prehensile feet, wincing as she pulls on fur, and cuts the rope keeping her tied, before bringing her to the others. "Ordrax, if you could remove the chains. The others seem a bit too heavy to carry, but maybe I can bring you up there?"
Sure but first let me see if there is a way to get them down as a group...maybe?
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Stealth: +16 (+2 Ranks +3 Class Skill +4 Dex +4 Size +3 Skill Focus)
Ordrax ever so carefully frees each of the hanging figures, Raush passing them back to relative safety.
Taking his time to get back down safely, Ordrax feel better when he is back on level ground.
anyone figured out who we have here and how bad off they are?
Ravenna shrugs helplessly, as she's not a healer.
Grak watches patiently as Raush and Ordax free the prisoners. Trying to make himself useful, he looks them over as they are freed.
As soon as the last of the prisoners is released, Raush catches his breath, tired from carrying them to relative safety.
"Are they in need of Besmara's favor? I can mend some of the wounds, but we may need Sandara and proper care to get them back into shape."
Grak finds that all of the prisoners have been tortured, really in an expert fashion. Each of them is unconscious but still alive.
We need to get them up and moving under their own power. There is no way we can get back out of here with them in their current state. We need to also look around to see if they had any equipment when they were taken. Not sure why they were tortured....nothing out here to warrant such actions.
Grumbling, Raush unfolds his sash, revealing a skull and crossbones embroidered on the dark fabric as he moves from captive to captive. "Banshee, Reaver, Pirate Queen! I seek your assistance to steal these plundered creatures from death as we stole them from kidnappers!"
Sweat wets his fur as he finishes channeling every drop of positive energy that can pass through his body.
Grak looks at the prisoners helplessly. "I haven't learned how to cure others yet so I'm afraid I'm not much help."
The captives are a motley lot. An inspection of their clothing and accouterments reveal that 6 of them are probably sailors from a Chelish ship. They bear Chelish naval tattoos that suggest they are impressed sailors or in a few cases even outright slaves. The other two wear the red coats of officers. If anyone doesn't get healing, they are probably the best candidates for neglect. Most officers of the navy of Cheliax are probably unlikely to turn pirate.
As the captives awaken, some of their wounds closing and healing at the touch of Besmara's breath, the seem confused about their location and you. A few of them take you for captors and they begin to struggle.
"It's okay, it's okay," says Ravenna quietly. "We're going to get you out of here." She moves among the captives, keeping them quiet and trying to reassure them that, in spite of the monstrous countenances of her associates, they're not about to be eaten.
Rosie awakens with a start. "Monsters! Some sort of octopus goblins. The brought us here. WE HAVE TO GO!" Her eyes wide, she scans the tunnel.
The other captives nod, scream, or shake in terror.
"Easy! Easy! If they follow, we can throw off one of these officers to slow them down, I'll take your word on who's the biggest *******. Now let's try to get out of here safely. Ravenna, mind taking point?"
Quiet down!....we ran into some of them but we are not sure if we found all of them. How many of these Calamari Goblins did you come into contact with?
"No problem," says the picaroon piratess. She brandishes her rapier and starts heading back toward the exit, keeping an eye out for more octo-goblins.
The captives slosh along behind you, balking a bit at the areas where they have to swim. Somehow, no one pursues you. You have the sense of eyes creeping along your skin as you return to the light and the crash of waves.
Ordrax is happy even of it is the surface world. To be dry again is enoight for him.
"Well, that was unpleasant."
Spent, Raush shakes to rid his short fur from the rotten-smelling seawater.
"We were to look for hostiles and to report, aye? Well, now that we are a nice number what say you we take a night's sleep and report that we are the hostiles? If these fine folks are on board -ha, ha- with taking the ship from that sad excuse for a captain that is Scourge, I think Sandara will be on our side and maybe Owlbear."
Grak squints from the sunlight as they emerge from the cave. "I'm glad to be out of there. I'll have to work on my swimming if I'm going to have to do that again."
He smiles and nods in agreement to Raush's statement. "With Plugg out of the way, it should make taking care of Scourge easier. Let's find out what our new "crew" is capable of," he says looking over the newly freed prisoners.
On of the Chelish officers, a short man with broad shoulders and a scarred chin, stiffens at Grak's implication. "Sir, while I appreciate your rescue, I am not at liberty to join your "crew." I am a sworn officer of Her Infernal Majestrix."
ordrax turns and lets his eyebrow raise...
Not at liberty to join....then you stay behind as I am not at liberty to get your ass of this rock. So you can just start walking that way and look for Her Infernal Majestrix. Maybe she will approve of your loyalty and save your ass from this island. Good luck
Ordrax address the freed prisoners.
Look we just saved you...You do not owe us anything but we have a ship to get back to...if you want to be part of that then join us and let us take it from scourge. If you do not wish to be part of that...stay here with Mr. Loyalty. You have a short amount of time to make up your minds. We need to get moving...what say you.?
Raush just chuckles as Ordrax voices his own thoughts. "As he said. A pirate's life is to be chosen freely. But your being escorted out of this place, filled with grindylows and undead, comes at a price."
"You are, of course, welcome to stay here. As they said, I'm sure the Gryndylows would love to have you. It's your choice." Veltisiel says with a grin.
The rest of the prisoners, the other officer included, express their fervor for your cause. The lone voice of dissent remains stiff backed.
Well Mr. Loyal...You are on your own. I would give you a weapon to defend yourself but that would be a waste of a good weapon.
With his comments said he turns and walks away, leaving the loyalist to his own devices.
"Very well then, sounds like we have a fine party to feed Scourge to the fish! Do we want to also bring aboard our, uhm, diversely alive friend? 'e helped us but his dietary requirements could be problematic."
"Good point. What exactly are they?" Grak asks as he looks over at the loyalist.
"As I recall, he wanted fresh meat, that's why he tried to eat us. We- oh. Oh. You thinkin' what I'm thinkin'?"
"Wait a minute, you can't propose feeding me to some sort of beast. There are rules..."
The loyalist seems indignant, not afraid.
"Rules? Here?" says Ravenna mockingly. "What do you think this is, a masquerade ball?"
Now now, he is right. I heard talk of it on the ship, a code of sorts. If I remember correctly, the first one...Every man has a vote in affairs of moment; has equal title to the fresh provisions, or strong liquors, at any time seized, and may use them at pleasure, unless a scarcity makes it necessary, for the good of all, to vote a retrenchment.
Ordrax looks up at the man..
So you see we do have rules...and how do you think that vote will go. Wishing you would not have stuck with her Infernal Majestrix now hmm.
You had your say and now at least own up to it...do not piss yourself now that you chose that wrong side.
Grak raises his eyebrows when Raush catches on and an evil grin comes across his face.
His smile fades when Ordrax agrees that there are rules to follow, figuring their undead companion would be more useful than the loyalist.
He wasn't very good at reading people, and was confused at first at what the kobold was suggesting.
"Well, seeing that he chose not to join us, I don't see why he would get a vote. I see him more as a "provision" we have acquired. It just so happens that only one of us is interested in eating it."
"Ah, yes, of course. The rules for how a captain must treat his crew." Vel comments, supporting his allies, "However, unless I'm mistaken, you refused to join our crew, and thus have none of those rules protecting you. Should you wish to recant, you are welcome to. Otherwise, you can find a different crew to sail with- we can't have any useless mouths while at sea."
Ordrax smiles and it gets bigger when the word "provision" was used.
oh he does not get a vote....well I guess he could vote but from what I hear her Infernal Majestrix frowns on such actions. Demanding loyalty to her voice above all.
He looks at the others...
So what are we to do with this one?
Do we leave him here to his own devices or do we well...ring the dinner bell?
"Bah. Should've used Plugg for that, 'stead of feeding the swimmers. How about a test? One on one -and be glad I healed you, Chelish slaver garbage- to the death, against whoever wants to. If there's no challenge, or if he defeats all who step up, we're a bunch of good-for-nothing landlubbers and 'e walks off free in the next port. If 'e drops... food for Tullus."