M'boka attacks are becoming better and he hits the zombie, then Merisiel steps to flank with him and finish it.
Thrugg and Anibal attack the remaining zombie rower without success, leavint it to be silver Warden.
Combat tab
Bold can act
Silver Warden (-2 non-lethal)
Anibal Ibarr (-6 non-lethal)
Merisiel
Thrugg (-2 HP)
M'boka
Green rower
Silver Warden moves to attack the last rower, without success. the zombie not having being hitted, continues attacking the sme target as before, wounding Thrugg a little.
Combat tab
Bold can act
Silver Warden (-2 non-lethal)
Anibal Ibarr (-6 non-lethal)
Merisiel
Thrugg (-2 HP)
M'boka
Green rower
Thrugg slams his shield on the last rower as Anibal ray burns its skin, then M'boka puts himself in position waiting for Marisiel to destroy the creature.
Combat tab
Bold can act
Silver Warden (-2 non-lethal)
Anibal Ibarr (-6 non-lethal)
Merisiel
Thrugg (-2 HP)
M'boka
Green rower (-8 HP)
The elven rogue slips behind the final rower, taking advantage of its distraction to stab at it again.
Merisiel slips behind the last rower and destroys it. Once there's no oposition you search the deck without finding anything useful and get ready to climb a second ladder.
You climb up the ladder to the deck of the ship. The soft glow of sunlight again penetrates into this ice cave, and several braziers burn near the walls. A beautiful woman stands next to a simple chair, facing you. Other furniture in the chamber suggests that this is her private quarters. The woman looks you over as though judging a draft animal, and asks, Have you come to work the oars? I am in need of more rowers.
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After patching up his allies, M'boka travels up the next ladder into yet another icy cavern. The woman standing before them sends shivers down M'boka's spine as he thinks about the "rowers" they had just encountered. He watches her warily, watching for any hint of evil intent on her part, though it would not strain the imagination to suspect such a thing.
I'm Natalya Yagevna widow of Haldyr Bjornsson and owner of the ship you're in.
And who are you and what are you doing in my ship
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M'boka remains somewhat suspicious of the mistress of the frozen ship, but decides there must be no immediate threat since she is asking questions rather than putting them under some strange curse or other. He tentatively steps forward and hails the finely dressed woman.
"Lady Yagevna, we are agents of the Pathfinder Society, on a mission to aid a friend of the Society by the name of Skeig the Ripper. He has fallen under the curse of an artifact that we believe may belong aboard your ship." He turns a motions to whomever is carrying the Lantern, urging them to produce the device for the woman's inspection. "We have come to believe that this lantern belongs here and that returning it to its place will remove the curse from those who have fallen under its affects. We wish to return this artifact and then go back to our land in peace."
Merisiel keeps her rapier drawn, point lowered, and lets the others do the talking.
As M'boka shows the Latern to the woman her attitude becomes more amicable toward you.
I'll apreciate your willingness to return the Latern where it belongs, but before you part thre's still something we need to discuss As she talks is obvious that she's used to give orders and her words are not just a suggestion.
First I must warn you that once we end this negotiation I plan to go back to Irrisen. Second, I don't want to go back as a widow so you have to go back to your land and convince Skelg to come back with me and become my husband.
In exchange I'll use the lantern to cure the curse Skelg is suffering.
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Anibal is notably surprised after Natalya states her conditions.
"Honestly, I never thought I'd be in the matchmaking business.", he laughs, then addresses Natalya again - "Follow up question - Or questions rather..."
He slowly takes out his notes and flips the pages as he speaks: "Does Skelg know who you are? Why are you requesting him specifically to become your man?
You say you'd come back to Irrisen - where are we now, exactly?"
He takes a short break consulting his notes from earlier, then continues: "We are also looking for a certain Tirfyr. Skelg's servant or ... companion - something like that. Know anything about him?"
He raises one of his hands with the index finger extended: "Lastly - As far as I am aware, Skelg desires to die a warrior. Preferably a glorious death in a battle worthy of song - do you have anything to offer that might persuade him to marry you?"
He slowly takes out his notes and flips the pages as he speaks: "Does Skelg know who you are? Why are you requesting him specifically to become your man?
[b]Both questions are related. He knows of me and my former husband, who was slain by his hand. After that he raid this very ship where some guards and I were sent to accompany Haldir to the next life. He has already proven to be a suitable husband.
Anibal is notably surprised after Natalya states her conditions.
You say you'd come back to Irrisen - where are we now, exactly?"
Trapped in an iceberg in the middle of the sea. Not the best place to stay.
He raises one of his hands with the index finger extended: "Lastly - As far as I am aware, Skelg desires to die a warrior. Preferably a glorious death in a battle worthy of song - do you have anything to offer that might persuade him to marry you?"
She answers the last question with a laught, Can't you see me well from where you are? she continues makin you realize her beauty. Also he will be related with Irrisen aristocracy. And he'll have opportunities to live, and die, as a warrior, I don't want a trophy husband, but one who worths it
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The cultural customs of such marriage agreements is beyond M'boka's knowledge, but in his own tribe, such a situation would be considered something nearer to coercion when a man's life is on the line. Of even greater concern is her comment about accompanying her former husband to the next life. Had she been cast adrift on this ship as some sort of death sentence, or did she possess some dark power that allowed her to man her ship with the bodies of the dead?
"My lady, your requests are no small thing. To my knowledge, we do not possess the skills to free your ship from such a large iceberg, and so I wonder how it is you plan to return to your country. And if I might ask, why is it that you were tasked to accompany your late husband to the next life in the first place?"
He pauses for a moment to wrap his cloak more closely about himself. The sweat he had earned in their confrontation with the oarsmen had warmed his blood for a time, but now the icy cold was beginning to bite once again.
"I also wonder if another would be worthy to be your companion if Skeig should refuse. There is the man who brought the Lantern to our side of the portal, for instance. He is in custody now, but if we retrieve him from the authorities, perhaps he would be suitable." Thinking about Bengeirr reminded M'boka that Lady Yagevna had not responded to Anibal's question about Tirfyr. "We also still would like to know what became of Skeig's man, Tirfyr."
I need your help to free my ship as much as I need it to carve some passages in it. My magic is more than enough for it.
Then she ask about who's talking about M'boka and completely refuses to marry with her own son. He's more than suitable for any other woman, but in Irrisen we don't marry our own family.
Regarding Skelg man, I know nothing of him, but some hours ago there were sounds of battle in the lower deck and after that silence, have you searched there?
A proper search of the undead reveals the withered man looks to have been dressed for his own funeral, there's an rower who had beed died from bites and claws and the rest died from arrows or being slashed. It looks like Tirfyr found the same undeads than you, but being alone and less combat skilled.
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While apparently cold, Anibal is thoroughly enjoying the conversation. He excuses himself to go check the lower deck again: "Apologies, I'll be right back."
After taking a better look at the bodies, he returns to the main deck. "Well, that's unfortunate. At least for Tirfyr. I am curious, however - you say you have the gift of magic. How far does it extend?"
He leaves the question lingering for a moment, then continues: "What I am saying is - perhaps Skelg would see it less as coercion and more like a counter-service, perhaps even a thing of honour, if we were to bring back Tirfyr alive... Assuming you are capable of raising him - somehow. Either way - I am sure that would be quite the argument in the marriage request."
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"This is the most interesting situation I have ever encountered."
"We can see what Skelg thinks of this proposal. If he should refuse, is there another bargain we might make with you?"
-Posted with Wayfinder
Merisiel remains quiet, lurking toward the rear of the group and attempting to be a forgettable presence, lost in the crowd.
You ask if I'm able to bring someone to live? If I was able to do that I have done it with my husband. After answering Anibal she refers to Silver Warden stating refusing any other bargaing.
A few minutes later,you go back through the portal and tell Skelg about the agreement, you can perceive he´s interested, but not completely sure.
How is she? Has she good hips? I don´t want a woman who dies in the first childbirth. Has she told you about what she knows to take care of a big house? I have Tyros, but she must know what to do.
After a few smoothing words of Anibal, he decides it's better to face the risks of marriage: Well, being a Longaxe in Absalom is less fun than leading raids in Irrisen. And I´m old enough to start thinking in having family. Skelg words are interrupted by his cough. Ok, marriage can´t be worse than death. Tyros, help me go through the portal.
You go with them to the ship to finish the arrangement. You can see how Skelg and Natalya, as the woman introduce herself, start a extrange courtship wich involves being altive, denying they want to get married and telling stories about how well they can survive being alone.
Both Natalya and Skelg thanks you all to have resolved their respective situation in such a good terms.
Adril Hestram receives you alter beating another man who dared to believe he could be a good sparring partner for the Venture Captain. He listens as you tell the tale about how you discovered Skelg's curse and cured him, but his face becomes more and more serious as you talk.
So, I asked you to save a worthy sparring partner, and to retrieve the artefact of great power involved in his curse and you came here with empty hands??? Not only you have sent the artefact to Irresen but also Skelg?
What were you thinking when you make the deal? Or more exactly, where you thinking at all?
Then, the Venture Captain turns around an goes without waiting for any explanation.
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After reporting to Hestram, Anibal seems disappointed by Hestram's response.
"Hey now! You need to get your priorities straight. Do you want Skelg to live, or do you want the lamp? Because the way I see it, you can still go spar with him in Irrisen, and you can take a look at the artifact while you are at it. His wife-to-be kept it in exchange for curing the condition that would surely kill him."
"Now I don't know about you here, but in Garund, we value a friend's life over a trinket."
I thnk everybody was worried about forcing Skelg into a marriege to think twice about the lantern.
Why couldn't we work one last duel With the VC into the bargain?[/ooc]