"Stupid bastards!" Kyra raises her shield and bull rushes the crossbow wielding enforcer in front out of the ship with a charge.
Hskovati cuts down one of the enforcers, who falls overboard into the water. A next splash quickly follows as Kyra pushes the next enforcer overboard, but note before Annalisa lashed out and caused a deep knife wound. He seems to have a hard time swimming, with his armour.
Hotspur eagerly bites as Kyra lets her guard down
Yakanzi swipes at hotspur, and draws a large gash across the creature.
In the ensuing chaos, the last crossbowman fires, and hotspot snaps, but none of them are any real threat.
The shockwave seems to have reached the dock. Though the place is largely abandoned, as few startled workers look up.
---
Yakanzi
Yaroslav
Hskovati
Annalisa
Kyra
---
Enforcer - Dead
Enforcer (9), in water
Enforcer
Hotspur (9)
---
Kyra steps ahead to the side of the monster wolf while drawing her scimitar, creating a flank for her allies.
With a movement of her scimitar, Kyra cuts the slips of the ship letting the ship free.
Kyra then attacks the wolf with an arch of her scimitar.
Kyra hacks at the wolf, drawing another line in its fur. Yakanzi finishes the howling creature off with a clean cut. Turning around in time, Annalisa fires an arrow at the final enforcer, and down him in one shot.
There's some commotion on the dock, but Kyra manages to cut the rope now that the threat is gone, and the ship manages to sail away before any more resistance can gather up.
That was close Metella remarks, clearly embarrassed. You'll definitely need a ruse, you see how suspicious these people are. When you're going to the inn, you should probably disguise as religious pilgrims, seeking to answer questions of spirituality. Youu claim you need peace and quiet, so you'll be able to explore the inn.
Abadars scales! Temel exclaims what transparent nonsense! They'll see through that immediately. It's much to pose as merchant, seeking a way station for caravan. Through inspections, you can have a complete view of the place.
The embarrassment of the dwarf and the kalistocrat is easily forgotten when friction comes back into play. All the time, Amauhak stays stoically silent.
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Annalísa narrows her eyes as she unbelievingly looks at the dwarves who start their bickering again, before snapping at them angrily. "Would you just shut up? We've all seen how your idea not only failed miserably, but you also couldn't even hide yourself properly AND did not lift a finger to help us during the fight! You're lukcy none of us were killed back there! Unless you want to do things yourselves, we'll make the decisions from now on, without your so-called 'assistance'," she says, waiting to see how the other Pathfinders react before her next move.
A bit surprised by Annalísa fury Kyra says "Easy on An, it will not help with them. We just went out of a very tense situation. Let's see, from all the ideas posed by, the one I feel more comfortable with is the one of the pilgrims. I already consider myself a pious one, and thus it will be easy for me to behave as one of another religion. We can also try an stealthy approach, but I am not shiny on that."
As the discussion continues, the river narrows ahead, flowing around a central isle thick with trees and vegetation. The northern fork of the river runs beneath a canopy formed by the isle’s overhanging trees and riverside foliage while to the south, the river is open to the sky above.
Suddenly, a large rush of water can be heard, following by the flopping sound of a snake landing on deck, amidst the path finders. About ten feet away from the boat, a small river drake has emerged from the water, throwing the snake, and hissing at the disturbance of its territory.
---
Kyra
Hskovati
Yaroslav
Annalisa
---
River Drake
Water snake
---
Yakanzi
---
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The bickering dwarves bring a renewed migraine as the reptilian paladin contemplates whether she did the right thing in fighting off the boarders. While her attempt at thinking brings little conclusion, the sudden appearance of the snake and the drake bring a welcome respite. Hskovati hisses at the snake as she draws her greatsword, step in and strike at the boarded creature.
Annalisa sees the luck of Desna shine on her, and only misses the snake by a narrow margin. Hskovati finishes with force what couldn't be gained with luck, and chops the snakes into two pieces.
---
Kyra
Hskovati
Yaroslav
Annalisa
---
River Drake
Water snake - Dead
---
Yakanzi
---
Kyra draws her sling and loads it with a stone.
"You, evil thing, go away!"
The river drake looks at the adventurers gathered on the deck of the Abacus, and spits a ball of goop at them.
Annalisa sees the luck of Desna shine on her, and only misses the snake by a narrow margin. Hskovati finishes with force what couldn't be gained with luck, and chops the snakes into two pieces.
---
Yakanzi
Kyra
Hskovati
Yaroslav
Annalisa
---
River Drake
Water snake - Dead
---
---
Kyra dodges the mud ball but the splash stills hurts her a bit on the back.
Still, she manages to look at the beast with great focus and unleashes a stone at the flying creature "Take that monster before it finishes us! Dawnflower, give me your aim!"
She then reloads the sling again.
Yakanzi is covered in the sticky goo, and finds it difficult to move. Annalisa and Hskovati fire their bows, and while the first only manages to create a splash in the water, the second manages to lodge his arrow deeply in the creature's flesh. Kyra's bullet also seems to have effect, bruising the creature as it hovers above the water.
---
Yakanzi
Kyra
Hskovati
Yaroslav
Annalisa
---
River Drake (8)
Water snake - Dead
---
Yaroslav lets the healing power of the god of dreams wash over his comrades in this godforsaken land. The flying drake flaps his wings and moves up to Annalisa. A row of sharp teeth flashes at her, drawing deep cuts in her arm.
--
Yakanzi
Kyra
Hskovati
Yaroslav
Annalisa
---
River Drake (8)
Water snake - Dead
---
Hskovati knows an opportunity when he sees one. He stabs the flying wyrm with his danseur, and opens a deep gash in the hide of the draconic creature, spouting jets of gore.
--
Yakanzi
Kyra
Hskovati
Yaroslav
Annalisa
---
River Drake (21)
Water snake - Dead
---
Yakanzi manages to shake off the caustic mucus and is able to move freely again. Annalisa, not appreciating being nibbled at, stabs the creature in the heart with determination, and the dragon plummets into the water, almost before she can retract the blade.
Temel, who has watched the battle awe-struck, breaks his silence after he has checked that everybody is ok.
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.”
Of course, Metella, who herself represents a powerful dwarven trading clan, is not averse to a little antagonism: “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.”
"I would prefer the prudent approach Yakanzi. We can very easily overwhelmed unless we play our cards good." Kyra looks at the dwarves "And why the Society shall bother about getting a mercantile partner? We are devoted to find relics and solve problems. Why should we care about getting in the logistics business, it is a quite complicated one, and just getting a few extra coins doesn't seem to make the deal to me. We need the one who is gonna make the less trouble to us."
"As for the way to conceal in the inn, I prefer the pilgrim, but if you all know so much about trading, we can go with it." states the cleric of the Dawnflower.
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Hskovati collects and sheathes her weapons before rejoining the conversation. "Yakanzi sspeakss rightly, though coarssely. We can make the approach directly, and demand jusstly that they return our people."
As for the trade discussion, even the snippets the reptilian paladin caught was enough to feed the migrane, and she chooses to leave the negotiations to those better able to understand what each is offering.
Near dusk, the captain of the boat points out a pleasant country inn up a hill on the north shore of the Glass River, where a small dock offers a berth for the Abacus.
We'll wait out the night in our cabins, it is too risky if we are seen here. This is the Gray Revelation Inn. You are the professionals, I'll let you handle it from here. Temel says.
Amauhak, in a rare moment of talkativeness says This is Razmiran soil, and these people don't take kindly to violence. I would be wise to abstain from it, if it can be helped.
A sign above wide wooden gates reads, “Welcome to the Gray Revelation Inn.” The gate leans open invitingly, and the smell of fresh flowers wafts on the cool breeze.
"So, please, fellow pathfinders... can we agree into an approach to the matter? It will be problematic if we don't coordinate our movements. I suggest we are a silk trading company and are looking for some business to produce services for the country altars. What are your thoughts? We will likely have to improvise at some points. Who should talk?"
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Annalísa's face reddens a bit after Yaroslav's proposal, although she isn't sure whether she's proud about it or doesn't think she can actually do it. "Very well, I'll do all the talking. We'll be traders of liturgical instruments. Candles, incense, various textiles and so on. I don't know much about religion but it seems that all temples have those. Yakanzi and Hskovati can be our bodyguards - they definitely fit the type. Yaroslav, Kyra and myself would be the actual traders. Let's say Yaroslav is the quiet, rich partner. It would help if you could also disguise yourself - and to a less extent Kyra and myself - with some jewelry from the dwarves. If it gets to that, Kyra is going to be responsible for the actual trading while I am more of a middleman, finding contacts and connecting between buyers and sellers. We'll go in, have things calm down for a while as we sit in their common room and eventually start poking our noses and find the captive dwarves."
"Let's do it that way then. You can also try to have a look around the inn while they are distracted. I am quite sure you are the best fit for that. But don't risk too much, and don't go far from the rest of the party." that said, Kyra prepares her scimitar and spells.
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Remembering what she's seen of Annalisa's work in their prior efforts together, Hskovati nods at the suggestion. "I agree with Yarosslav. Annalissa is most capable, and sshould sspeak on our behalf." Glad a decision has been reached, the nagaji rubs at her temples, trying to chase away the last of the migraine.
Seeing there is agreement in the party, Kyra nods and approaches the inn once all the preparatives are don, opening the doors and entering the building courtyard.
The profusion of flowers planted around this lovely courtyard fills the air with an enchanting fragrance. An oaken door to the north is the obvious entrance to the inn, while south are the broad doors of a stable. Wooden gates allow egress to west and east, and a roofed well lies at the east end of the main court.
There's a stableboy rushing out from stables. He moves up to the adventurers and says, in a low, sullen voice. Hi.
He's obviously a simpleton. Hi, he says again, then gestures, and points at the door of the main inn building. There.
"Hi!" answers Kyra politely "Take a look at our mounts and belongings while we have a comfortable lunch child. Do you have goat cheese in the inn? I love goat cheese." Kyra hands one copper to the guy, then looks around "This place seems quite peaceful, you don't have a lot of people around, haven't you? I can give you some hints to improve the amount of income." then looking where the child points out "There you say? Ok. This place seems big, is all restaurant and rooms?"
Horse here, you there. the boy says, and points out obvious fact that the stables are on one side, and the inn is on the other.
Dark oaken tables, chairs and benches fill this comfortable, L-shaped common room, and the faint odors of tobacco and ale permeate the air. Narrow windows with panes of smoked glass along the north and south walls allow some light into this welcoming space.
An old matronly woman clad in peasant clothing and an apron sits at the centermost table of this room. Her voluminous white hair is piled atop her head and secured in a conservative bun. She wears a red scarf about her neck and a wry smile on her face. Visitors, visitors, she says with a cracked voice, observing more than addressing. Welcome, she then says looking up, as if caught in the act - even though she was doing nothing as Yakanzi stepped in. She finds her composure and finally says Welcome to the Gray Revelation Inn, she says warmly, though slightly programmed, Do you seek lodging for the night? Some food for a weary traveller?
Such a diverse group. What brings you to our paradise, Razmiran?