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The pathfinders continue their assault on the thugs with fire and arrows. The remaining thug ducks and dodges keeping the wounds to a minimum. Seeing his partner and the boat's monkey executed, he calls for the Faith Barge to release its grapples. The ropes hold the barge to the Abacus fall limply in the water and the two boats start to drift apart. He screams murder and vengeance over the water before retreating below decks from the hail of arrows.
Captain Passad doesn't look too worried. I don't be thinking that we will see much more of them. The crew will clean the deck off and Mister Ruprecht should see to those wounds.
After a couple of hours the Abacus sailing briskly on the Glass River. The winds are favorable and the captain indicates that you are making great time. As dinner draws near, the captain starts to ask the Pathfinders how they intend to get near the inn without drawing unwanted suspicion.
Metella interjects quickly, suggesting that you should masquerade as religious pilgrims seeking answers to spiritual questions that require privacy and freedom of movement.
Before she can elaborate on the plan, Captain Passad scoffs at the idea, clearly transparent to anyone looking out for a potential rescue. Metella is not pleased with the ship's captain.
Amauhak suggests posing as simple merchants seeking a way station. At least this idea would allow them to get a good meal and a solid bed.
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Wow! Metella and Captain Passad sure contradict each other a lot … I wonder if they’re secretly married?
Eadie finds an offcut piece of sailcloth to wipe the ape blood off her blade before ladling some fresh water from the scuttlebutt onto her whetstone.
As she passes the priestess of the Everlight, she will say in a low voice, “Have you performed a marriage ceremony recently, Lore? I’m going to have some fun with Grim.”
She goes over to the Inquisitor of Erastil and offers him the use of her CLW wand – “You would do the same for me and I haven’t used any charges yet.”
“So, Grim. Metella’s quite attractive, isn’t she? The way her moustache crinkles when she smiles is so cute! She’d be pretty wealthy too I’d say. Time is marching on you know … and I’m sure you take any vow to Ol’ Deadeye regarding starting a family and continuing your line seriously.”
She nudges the dwarf. “Best to act quickly. You never know when you might get another chance. Oh, and Ruprecht mentioned to me how much he enjoys being in Metella’s company, isn’t that right, Ru?”
Before they arrive at the Gray Revelation Inn, Eadie will find 15 minutes to hone the edge of her falchion, back to its original state of sharpness.
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“I agree that acting as merchants would make a better cover. I would have thought pilgrims, other than those devoted to Razmir would be persecuted in Xer, and I don’t know enough about the Razmiran cult to be able to pass as a follower.”
Eadie reflects. “I think I could manage being merchant Tomoe’s bodyguard no problem. I would store my Wayfinder in my backpack though so nobody thinks I’m a Pathfinder.”
The young follower of the god of Merchants tries to recall some of her Abadarian religious instruction to help with her cover.
“The clergy kept talking about buying chairs in an owlbear market, sitting on them and then selling them in a minotaur market … but the amount of the furniture in the temple never seemed to change.”
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Captain Passad smiles and Metalla storms off the sulk. Either way, the party has made its' decision and the Abacus makes it way down the Glass River. The river is open to the sky above and the sun starts to set in the west. The captain announces that you''ll be making land in just a few hours.
Suddenly and without warning the waters explode to either side of the boat. Two creatures emerge from the water, tossing the boat side to side! These creatures appear to be small dragons! With graceful wings and wide fins, these sleek dragons look equally well equipped to glide through sea and sky.
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Eadie and Ruprecht both take a good stab at the drakes but they both fail to connect with the gliding beasts. Grim's might blow shakes the Drake, sending its scales flying everywhere.
The drake on the left bites and swipes it tail at Ruprecht. and and
The alchemist dodge the bite, but the drakes tail slices him twice
The drake to the right presses forward with the attack as well. and and
But is unable to connect with either fighter.
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The warriors on the aft end of the boat take turns bashing the drake. Its scales and blood coat the warriors at the miniature dragon sinks back into the river.
Meanwhile Eredax and Lore focus on keeping the party fighting a full potential!
Ruprecht's shot misses the mark, but Tomoe is able to find a hole it the drake's scales. The drake responds by trying to finish off the alchemist.
The young Alchemist manages to avoid the worst of the attack, but is caught by one of the spikes on the tail at that last moment.
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“Ruprecht, the square you are in is the only one I can reach the drake from this turn. If you take a 5’ step, I can take your square and attack.”
Eadie will delay until after the elven alchemist.
If Eadie can’t take Ruprecht’s square, she will move to the square to the south-west of Lore and try to goad the drake into moving to attack her, instead of Ruprecht.
If it moves, I’m thinking Ruprecht can take an attack of opportunity and the beast won’t be able to full attack.
“Right here – let’s go!”
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Lore's flames scorches the hide if the drake as Eadie's cuts through the air and just barley misses the young monster. eredex's spear finds a soft spot in the drake, causing some of its guts to spill out. Grim and Ruprecht reposition for the kill.
The drake tries to strike back at Eedie
And takes a tail swipe at Grim .
And takes a tail swipe at Grim .
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Lore's flames scorches the hide if the drake as Eadie's cuts through the air and just barley misses the young monster. eredex's spear finds a soft spot in the drake, causing some of its guts to spill out. Grim and Ruprecht reposition for the kill.
The drake tries to strike back at Eedie
And takes a tail swipe at Grim .
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With renewed energy, the Pathfinders press hard against the remaining drake. Arrows, blades, and acid pour down on the poor creature and he slumps hard on the deck of the Abacus. Its weight slowly pulls him into the water and he slowly sinks out of site.
After a few moments, the river is calm. The crew look around terrified as Captain Passad starts to give orders to secure lines and get the sails back in order.
Once Captain Passad is happy that the boat is well taken care of, he turns his attention to the Pathfinders. The Pathfinder Society continues to amaze me, and it seems to me increasingly prudent to enter into a business arrangement that would certainly be to our mutual benefit—particularly for those with an eye for spotting profit. Let me make my case simply: my trade network is growing and already blankets the Inner Sea like no other, and the dwarves cannot hope to compete with the prices I offer. Let us not forget that the Pathfinders have had many mutually profitable business dealings with me in the past.
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Eadie bumps fists with Grim. “Good teamwork, everyone!”
"That lizard's got more tails than a....well, a thing with a lot of tails!"
“ … more tails than a kitsune, eh Grim? Though I’m pretty sure they’re just a myth, aren’t they Tomoe? Are you originally from Minkai?”
“Thank-you for the healing, Eredax. If anyone still needs a healing boost, my wand is available – though I can’t actually cast the spell myself.”
If there’s a spare 15 minutes, Eadie will again hone the blade of her falchion with a whetstone, before stripping her armor to douse it and herself with river water to remove the worst of the reptile blood.
She will then address Captain Passad and the others casually. “OK, what’s next?”
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"Aye, good work everyone. You had a worried old dwarf for a minute when it started chompin on poor Ruprecht. We 'ave been thru too much to lose you to a river lizard friend!"
Turning to the captain.
"Well, we have defended your ship from interrogations and now from sea lizards. I suppose that ought to help in any negotiations with Pathfinders forming a trade partnership, aye captain? Tho, I am not sure if we are in a position to make any bargains yet. And I, for one, would want to consult with our emissaries. However, the mutual benefit part sounds good for both of us!" Grim grins at his last comment, thinking himself quite clever.
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Hearing the Pathfinders talking with the Captain, Metella chimes in with her own words: Yes, Temel has his bejeweled fingers in many pies and can offer cheaper wares, but consider the advantages of a business relationship with my mercantile concern: our network is many centuries old, and the quality of our goods is unrivaled. Furthermore, an arrangement with a firm with such deep roots in the Five Kings Mountains would reinforce the military alliance the Society is already negotiating.
Eadie is able to clear her armor and weapon while the boat continues its sail down the Glass River.