With the barge moving towards the bend, suddenly a ship looms up from upstream. On board are several men with longbows, and a single leader, who appears to be casting spells on the alligator.
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Ackuda
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Longbowmen
Longbowmen
Longbowmen
Sailor
Sailor
Sailor
Leader
???
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Belka
Miyako
Anail
Dhastrach
Brewslee
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Ackuda, seeing the other boat, squints and draws a scroll from one of his scrollcases. "Up to you types to get closer to them, if you don't want to be filled with arrows before we do." he says. "And watch out for the alligator in the mist. Eheheheheheheheh..." He unfurls the scroll and holds it ready, then points at Belka, closes his left eye and mutters something. Belka will feel more lucky.
The leader keeps casting spells on the alligator as the boat floats closer. The longbowmen meanwhile rain a hail of arrows on the party, but a lucky breeze swipe away all projectiles before they can hit.
---
Belka
Miyako
Anail
Dhastrach
Brewslee
Ackuda
---
Longbowmen
Longbowmen
Longbowmen
Sailor
Sailor
Sailor
Leader
Alligator
---
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Dhastrach attempts to discern what spells the leader is casting.
He draws his warhammer and rolls it around in his hand. Seeing the arrows fly he knows there are more of that coming their way, and reaches his free hand to his spell component pouch, pulling a small piece of paper out.
"By Nethys may magic thrive." She lets out a small prayer from the little holy text, a shimmering white shield appearing around Dhastrach.
Miyako's arrow flutters away in the wind. Anail, Belka and Brewslee, and Dhastrach prepare by casting spells.
The spell caster is not actually casting a spell on the alligator this round, but summoning something.
---
Belka
Miyako
Anail
Dhastrach
Brewslee
Ackuda
---
Longbowmen
Longbowmen
Longbowmen
Sailor
Sailor
Sailor
Leader
Alligator
---
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Ackuda lets out a low chuckle and Belka can feel her fortune continue. He then speaks a word of magic and a thick mist spreads from him to envelop the boat and hide the Pathfinders from the archers, consequently also blocking the Pathfinders from shooting back... "Get the boat close and fight them where we have the advantage." he says.
A thick mist engulfs the boat, hiding the adventurers from view. Suddenly, though, a centipede appears, which tries to bite Miyako
Through the mist, the alligator appears, but doesn't manage to find Dhastrach to snap at him.
---
Belka
Miyako
Anail
Dhastrach
Brewslee
Ackuda
---
Longbowmen
Longbowmen
Longbowmen
Sailor
Sailor
Sailor
Leader
Alligator
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Belka hacks the centipede to pieces, while Dhastrach makes a clumsy swing at the alligator, splashing only water in all directions.
Anail manages to trace the outline of the alligator, which is enough for him to deliver a pinprick
Ackuda moves around, cackling madly and bringing down good fortune on Anail and Belka.
Brewslee moves around the centipede carcass and the alligator, hearing something snapping as he moves by. He quickly retaliates and punches the reptile on the nose.
---
Belka
Miyako
Anail
Dhastrach
Brewslee
Ackuda
---
Longbowmen
Longbowmen
Longbowmen
Sailor
Sailor
Sailor
Leader
Alligator (9)
---
Miyako tries to set the boat on fire, and hits two longbowmen in the process.
The pirates' boat makes contact with the barge, and the longbowmen drop their bows in favour of more intricate weapons as they jump on board and attack Miyako and Belka. Clearly the movement of the boats has sent all of them off-balance.
The alligator in the water snaps at Anail, but fares little better.
The spell caster in the back cries in frustration at so much incompetence, and casts a spell creating a flame in his hand.
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Belka
Miyako
Anail
Dhastrach
Brewslee
Ackuda
---
Longbowmen (9)
Longbowmen (9)
Longbowmen
Sailor
Sailor
Sailor
Leader
Alligator (9)
---
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Dhastrach figures the alligator is either an animal companion or a summoned creature , and thus probably the most competent combatant in the team. Then again he only vaguely sees the fight behind Brewslee.
"Anáil, let's take carre of this beast," Dhastrach says in a hushed voice and then whacks the alligator with his warhammer.
for
Dhastrach concetrates on the alligator, splashing the water with his hammer. Through sheer luck, Anail manages to hit the toothy reptile, giving it a good stab in the head.
Belka dismembers one of the crew members with a single stroke, The other sailors react to Brewslee moving about, and pay a price as Brewslee retaliates with ferocious swiftness.
All through, Ackuda cackles in the background.
---
Belka
Miyako
Anail
Dhastrach
Brewslee
Ackuda
---
Longbowmen (15)
Longbowmen (14)
Sailor
Sailor
Sailor
Leader
Alligator (24)
---
Miyako sends forth another gust of flame, and this time the men caught in it do not survive. The man in the back orders the alligator to disengage, and then turns into an eagle to fly away, in a northwesterly direction.
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Dhastrach is still in the cloud, so he can't really what's the commotion behind the smoke screen. He does hear the fighting end, and emerges from the fog only to see the leader take off as an eagle. "We can't let that go warrn his brrethrren!" he shouts and points at the eagle, "shoot it down!"
Cursing his own short-sightedness of the situation, he quickly starts to stabilize the fallen longbowmen so he can later extort information from them.
Anail picks up a bow from the fallen warrior, and fire an arrow after the eagle. The transformed man is rapidly gaining distance, however, and the arrow splashes into the water after a short curved flight.
The way these men fought, and the weapons they were using is very reminiscent of the gladiatorial combat in Tymon.
Dhastrach manages to save the lives of two of the warriors, the third being beyond help. The three remaining sailor have surrendered as well. Hmpf. one says you were stronger than you looked. I guess the tavern stories weren't right.
Miyako sends another arrow splashing into the dink before the distance becomes too large.
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Dhastrach is noticeably unpleased by the results, but is glad at least most of the crew was left alive.
"Of course they werre false. And you werre all too dumb to believe everything," the dwarf mocks, "let'ss tie these up and starrt questioning."
Once they've been all tied up to prevent escape, Dhastrach will stand back and cast detect thoughts, probing the minds of the captured individuals. He does, of course, expect others to do the interrogation.
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Anáil takes charge and proposes to lead the interrogation.
"You've got yourself in a nasty situation there, friend. You attacked us, most of your companions are dead and there's no one to rescue you. All you can hope for at the moment is our mercy, and mercy we will show if you give us the information we want. You see, there is no point in killing you if you cooperate, but if you don't we won't have a choice. Are you ready to cooperate? Yes, then tell us who you are, who is your boss, and why you attacked us. Oh, and one last thing - don't omit a single detail, you might regret it, friend."
Still, it's strange that they're using such exotic weapons...
We live to fight another day. This time you won, next time... who knows. We were only doing out job here. The man remains defiant, and isn't forthcoming with any information.
As Anail questions the man, he seems to be shocked as the idea that Anail would still kill him. A single name flutters by "Deremin", as well as the thought "because the boss said so". The man is calm and confident.
Eek! Y-y-yes, I'll tell you everything. It was supposed to be an easy job. Deremin, our boss told us of a bunch of incompetent pathfinders, bringing cargo on a rickety vessel. We never expected s-s-s-so much resistance. We operate from a b-b-base upstream, B-Bessie's B-Bayou. You have to wave a torch and makes a pattern in this fashion to let you in... p-p-please don't hurt me!
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Looking over beside the man is Brewslee sitting next to one of the men with a scared look on his face. I will tell you everything! The Venture Captain hired me. He told me to play dumb to trick theshe guysh. Oh godsh pleashe don't hurt me. I don't remember much shince I left Tymon!
The pirates' base is about five miles upriver. It's an abandoned plantation, that was was once prosperous until the West Sellen river burst its banks and left the land drowned. The place is hidden from sight, and right along a small branch of the river that has formed during the flood.
There are many ways to approach the outpost: the adventurers could use the barge to peddle right up, or approach over the swampy, difficult terrain that surrounds the house.
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"Ourr gearr promptly forrbidss uss frrom utilizing stealth ass a successful way of entrry," Dhastrach ponders, "I suggest we do ourr best in camouflaging this vessel and make a strraight-forrwarrd entrrance to the Bessie's Bayou. But you tell me of a betterr alterrnative; I barrely know of yourr endeavorrss orr adventurress and thusly am denied of sufficient inforrmation to base an opinion of yourr competence."
Or incompetence, as it seems, the dwarf thinks to himself afterwards, after taking a glance at Ackuda, Miyako, and Brewslee. He has trouble hiding his disdain.
"Ah, yess, a rrecon would aid uss considerrably," Dhastrach continues, nodding to Anáil in approval of his suggestion.
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"There there," Miyako says as she pats the heads of Brewslee and the captive. "Nothing to be afraid of. We'll all be fine."
When the party starts walking she takes out her wand of cure light wounds and gives herself a tap. "Whoosh!"
Miyako lets the smart stuff to Anáil and Dhastrach, giving the latter a thumbs up when he glances at her. "Good idea! Let's do that!"
She patiently awaits Anáil's return while spending some time conversing with her great-grandfather.
"Yes, I bet snail do possess that ability," Miyako mutters while looking in the direction Anáil went.
The narrow hidden branch of the West Sellen swells to a wide expanse, bordered on one side by a high, forested islet. The other side of the river has no bank, for the water seeps into the ground and creates a broad wetland out of what were once low-lying fields. Cattails and grasses push through the surface and continue off into the distance. Declaring where river ends and marsh begins would involve either lucky guesswork or a surveyor’s eye.
Straddling the border between river and swamp are the remains of a sumptuous house, yet despite the facade’s once- elegant style and trim, the place has seen better days. The paint is faded and peeling, blending in so well with a growth of mold that the place may as well have been originally painted murky gray- green. Vines and creepers are less overgrowing the place than they seem to be holding it together. Other parts of the building have fared less well, and toppled beams jutting from the swamp hint at other wings that didn’t survive the river’s encroachment. Stilts and a narrow boardwalk support what little remains, and a makeshift dock extends into the river proper.
Before he turns back, Anail sees two sailor standing on the dock, guarding the place.
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Ackuda simply chuckles at Dhastrach's disdain, and stares out over the water, rattling his oracle bones in his hand. "Yes, yes. Seek out our foes Anail." he says. "But I agree with Dhastrach. Simply sailing up to the dock may be best, but if we are able to disable the sentries first, better, better."