The agents continue their defense against the wee ones!
Isador pulls out his increasing mastery of the rapier. He runs his oppenent through the shoulder, yanking the blade out drawing a stream of blood with it. The halfling knife screams in pain but fights on.
Elorand, using superior skill and grace, deftly gets himself out of danger from the flanking duo. His strike holds his attacker for a moment, but misses his diminutive foe.
The wounded knife on Isador rallies to make another attack. He is able to stick the rogue nearly as bad, getting Isador with a good cut just above the kneecap. Only fate kept the injury from being much more severe.
Kat continues her barrage against the pair of halfling archers. This time, her arrow lodges in the building just below one of the archers.
Tarek attempts to bash one of the knives with his chakram, but the deft halfling dodges the attempt.
The 'ling on Caoilte continues his assault despite the difficulty he is having with Caoilte's armored hide. His nimble strike once again bounces off the warrior's armor.
Havelock unleashes an acid glob at the beleaguered knife. It splashes his face and the small assailant howls in pain and falls to one knee dropping his short sword in a clear surrender. The magus' follow up attack misses as the short man gets shorter.
The rest of the gang presses their attacks on the archons.
The knife on Eloriand presses the ranger, taking a 5 foot step to match Eloriand's movement. He swings his blade at the half-elf but misses badly.
The archers continue their volley at Havelock but the arrows sail high and miss the magus.
Caoilte takes another chop at his knife foe. This time the axeman connects and takes a good divot out the halflings clavicle. The little man's eyes roll back into hsi head and he slumps over oozing blood profusely.
The fight against the smalls continues.
Isador continues his defense against the short man but is unable to land another touch.
Eloriand lands another strike on his foe drawing blood but the small man continues the fight.
Kat draws a bead and fires against one of the archers. Her shot strikes true! The halfling cries out in pain, arrow lodged deeply in his chest. He slumps and disappears from the sight of the party, crouching low on the rooftop.
Tarek engages the halfling fighting Eloriand with his chakram striking the knife in the head giving the small man a nice gash above his left eye which bleeds profusely. The 'ling grits his teeth and stays in the fight.
The knife on Isador continues his assault but the rogue manages to turn away the knifes thrust.
Havelock attempts to enter the inn that the halfling archers are perched on. He finds the door locked. The magus manages to get out of line of sight of the archers. He drinks a potion to cure his wounds.
The battered knife on Eloriand presses his attack but the ranger nimbly steps aside to dodge the assailant's blade at the last moment.
The remaining archer on the roof curses as his partner falls and as the magus ducks under the doorframe of the inn. The little man glares at Kat and reaches for an arrow that was somewhere in front of him. He fires the arrow at Kat. Instead of piercing Kat's flesh, the arrow bursts into energy knocking Kat back a step and landing with a resounding thud. She feels the pain.
Caoilte flanks the attacker on Isador but misses the little dancer with his axe.
|
I run along the side of the building past Izzy and then attack the slip, pressing a three on one attack.
I launch a two handed downward thrust at the little runt.
My eyes watch as the ebony blade drives true at the murderous runt.
As I feel the blade connect, I twist and rotate the blade as I pull back, opening the wound and watching the bright red blood splatter on Ae-Dee Ate, contracting with the obsidian blade with the arctic blue glow.
The ranks thinning, the Archons keep calm and stab on.
Isador attempts to poke another hole in the kinfe in front of him but the strike is parried by the 'ling.
Eloriand continues to dance with his smally but the deft rogue is able to side step the ranger's attacks.
The knife attacking Isador continues his assault. The runt is able to slip a blade behind Isador's defenses but the blade catches Isador's heavy leather sleeve, causing a sharp pinprick but causing no real damage.
Kat blinks away the energy that slammed into her. She shakes her head with a sniff and begins to draw another arrow to return fires when her eyes fluttter and she falls to the ground. Eloriand cannot be certain, but the ranger believes he can hear a definite snore from the rogue. She appears fast asleep.
Tarek swings his circle thing at the nearest halfling but is unable to connect.
Havelock steps forward and chops the knife attacking Isador with a wicked downward two handed slash. The magus opens a gash on the little man's clavicle. The rogue falls to one knee, drops his blade and holds a hand up. The 'ling is hurt bad and yields to the agents' might.
The knife attacking Eloriand sees that the tide is turned. He withdraws from the ranger and runs full speed toward the edge of the dock. Once at the edge, he gives the ranger a rude gesture and jumps into the water disappearing from view.
The remaining archer similarly comes to the conclusion his band has lost this fight. He ducks and disappears from view.
|
|
Assessing the the tactical situation, I kick the halfling's weapon well out of reach.
Gents, secure that small shop, the door is locked, but our remaining assassin is in the building!! He is still a threat and may have gone to get reinforcements or help!
I glare looking down at the runt assassin, placing a hob nailed boot down in the center of his back to ensure he will not escape nor is capable of any form of suicidal retaliation, with my blade ready to give him the "final peace" if he should try. You better start talking! Who sent you? Whom to you work for? How much did they say they would pay you? Tell me now or by the Sixth Ferrata of Cheliax I'll crucify you myself over an ant hill! I glance at the blade in my hand and then down at the halfling, and my blade here, Ae-Dee Ate here can tell if you are lying!
Eloriand hurries to Kat's position but she is already sitting up with an annoyed expression on her face. Seems the snoring was a ruse all along.
Havelock puts the screws to the fallen knife. He squirms a bit, but reluctantly acquiesces to the magus' questioning. We just work for the Vudrani—we didn’t know he was sellin’ nobles. That Renmil fellow knew, though. He knew when he told Fredrik to grab her. We were told to take care of you after you shook down that grit biter.
The halfling stiffens but is surprisingly stoic despite the obvious pain he is in.
|
|
Does life mean so little to you, that random acts of murder are all in a days work? Call out for your sniper friend on the roof top to turn himself over to us. See the big guy with ax? He is really good at liberating bodies from their heads in a fight, but on a executioner's block, well...the man is an artist...you don't want your friends or you to become the next canvas, shall we say for the artist do you?
The halfling captive just hangs his head and responds to Havelock's command regarding the archer. Don't bother. He is long gone by now. You may have noticed that we Puddlejumpers do not stick around when a job goes south. He looks over to Caoilte with a resigned expression. You gonna talk all day. Get it over with if you are fixin' to put me out. Probably doing me a favor anyway.
As the party parlays with the captive knife, the sailor's aboard the No Return cease their taunts and appear to fly into activity aboard the vessel.
|
|
My dear Ax-Man, while that would be a very unique way to express yourself so artistically, I think we need to keep our eye on the larger task at hand as I think the puddle jumping boat we are after is making haste to leave. How are your boarding skills, as I think its time to welcome ourselves aboard the NO RETURN I point to the ship and then I lean down and whisper to the slip Your life is mine and you owe me a debt. It may not be today, or tomorrow, but rest assured, I will come to collect a favor from you for my mercy. Do WE have an understanding? Be thankful it is I that holds the blade and not the Ax-Man, for he is not as forgiving as I am.
I look the slip in the eye and after apply a little pressure, I rise up and focus my attention and efforts to getting on the ship.
|
|
Tarek examines the carnage and the wounds of his companions. We did well against our foes and it is good to know there is more than one way to get information that we need. Eloriand, allow me to aid you with those wounds of yours. I agree that we also make haste in securing that ship before it departs. Hopefully the crew will be wise enough to stand aside after seeing the work we made of the hafling brigands. Tarek approaches Eloriand and calls forth healing powers to aid the injured scout
Tarek heals the party ranger and makes ready to deal with the slave ship. Eloriand guards his position, but none of the sailors make as if they are going to loose the ship and embark. Upon inspection, Eloriand can make out only two sailors visible on deck. He also makes out some detail of the vessel.
Capped by a bloody-mouthed dragon ram and carrying a 15-foot fighting tower around her mast, the lateen rigged Katapeshi slave galley, No Return, floats dockside, tethered by four mooring lines. She’s 130 feet long and 20 feet wide, her deck nearly level with the dock, with crew access across three gangplanks: a wide plank mid-deck, and two narrow planks fore and aft.
The sailors, obviously grizzled seafarers, watch the Archons warily from the deck.
|
|
Tarek addresses the group I think the time for pleasantries are far past us but we can still be civilized. I think we should split up and make sure we have each boat ramp covered. We don't want anyone sneaking off the boat while the sailors tie us up with idle chit chat.
once everyone is in place, Tarek speaks to the crew as he approaches the craft from the central ramp Greetings crew of the No Return. I do not think it is a surprise to you who we seek or why we are here. We dispatched the pint sized ruffians on the docks and we would much rather find other means to getting what we want. We do not intend to do anyone harm, as long as our requests are met. Tarek looks over each sailor, watching for any unusual movements. We seek the release of Lady Salahar and to speak with the captain of this vessel!
Tarek addresses the two sailors as the begins to walk down the gangplank. Caoilte, sensing the likely need for a different sort of negotiation, accompanies him down the center walkway. The rest of the party heeds Tarek's advice and spread out with two Archons manning each gangplank to the east and west.
The visible sailor eyes the approaching band skeptically. As they spread out, one of the sailor puts two fingers to his lips and whistles. Very quickly, 5 more sailors spill out onto the deck from below. The sailor addresses Tarek Don't know what you speakn' 'bout silver man. How about you and yours turn around now and leave us peaceful sea farers to our trade, eh? That's right, off ya go then...
The sailor makes a shooing gesture toward the oracle. His sailor compatriots make somewhat more menacing gestures.
|
|
Why my good Ax-Man, you do have a gift for words! I thought fire was always a sailor's worst fear. With all this pitch and canvas and wood, it certainly does not take much for the whole thing to "WOOSH!!".
I look to the Sailors...
Oh gentlemen, I cannot belive that this is how you show hospitality by just wanting to shoo us off, I am sure if you would simply allow us to look for our missing lady friend, and if we find her as a stow a way pretending to be cargo, we would be more than happy to take her back home and return her to her family. I have heard rumors that sailors often feel that the presence of a woman on a ship is severe bad luck and prone to casue all forms of calamities.
|
|
Tarek begins to glide his mailed hand over the inner edge of his Chakram, prepared to give a hurl at the first sailor who makes a move in their direction You may shoo us away like flies but I assure you we sting like hornets. I see that you are men of action and not talkers. To stand against us would not be a wise decision. Allow me to look below for the woman we seek and then we all can return to our daily routine. Does this sound reasonable to you?
The sailor blanches at Caoilte's threat but holds firm. You might be tough en all mate, but looks like we have the numbers, no? The sailor, clearly concerned by Caoilte's threat, eyes his fellows before turning his gaze back to Tarek. Scary as you blokes seem, we ain't lettin' ya on the ship. Now get back to where you was, cause were shipping off. The sailors grimace and takes steps toward the gangplanks but do not step off their vessel.
|
Eloriand re-tensioned his bow and aimed at the individual doing the talking. It seemed to Eloriand the group was at an impass and the sailors were getting ready to shove off. They could not allow this. Since the sailor bothered to mention they had superior numbers, he thought it wise to try to even the odds a bit and lets loose his arrow.
(+2 Human, Precise Shot)
(+2 Human)
|
|
I grow weary of this. With A sigh, I activate a charge off my wand of shield while also drawing from the pool, yes the pool of arcane energy that is stored within.
Must it come this? A pity really, because it is hard to find good sailers these days. It appears that the die is cast. I guess you all failed to see the mess we made of the halflings, its a good thing there is plenty of water to help mop up afterwards.
Eloriand concludes that the only way on board the nor return will be through its crew and takes action. He draws his bow which ignites the already tense standoff.
Initiative
- Isador
- Eloriand
- Caoilte
- Sailor2
- Sailor1
- Sailor7
- Sailor6
- Tarek
- Kat
- Sailor3
- Sailor4
- Have lock
- Sailor5
Eloriand is able to snap a shot off and buries the arrow into the sailor's chest. The man staggers but remains upright.