Szordrin casts another spell and launches two bolts of energy. This time they strike at the Captain.
tsk, tsk Captain. 10 Gold. I am worth lot more than that and since you brought it up....500 gold coins to any crew member that Kills the ex-Captain and brings me his balls. I am also willing to pay each of you 100 gold coins as a bonus right now to be our new crew. If you should decide that they old captain is not worth dying for, then dispatch him and let us be on our way. This offer will only last so long......so chose wisely.
Szordrin sends two bolts of arcane force energy at Kargeld hitting him in the chest.
Elisa again attacks the Orange sailor.
Elisa throws a bomb at some of the sailors mindful to not hit Alaric as well.
PASS
FAIL
FAIL
And Saulric makes Kargeld pay for taking his sword...
While bloodied the raging ship captain swings the sword at Saulric with both hands...
... ... narrowly missing the man with the attack.
The sailors swing once more at the group with some moving to get better attacks...
...
... HIT
...
...
... HIT
...
3rd Rnd
Elisa, Szordrin, Alaric (-11) Saulric (-3)
Kargeld (-55), Orange (-10), Teal (-6), Pink (-6)
the others
Trying again. Third bomb of the day.
Elisa aims at the Orange sailor.
Alaric again takes his attacks on the captain, hoping if he dies, his crew will stand down.
Elisa blows the orange sailor up with a bomb as Alaric and Saulric both chop and pummel the sea captain to death. This takes the fight out of the remaining sailors who jump ship into the water. As the wounded ones struggle to swim due to the damage taken from explosions the sailors become easy pickings with ranged weapons and succumb to damage or drowning.
The four of you are now in a position to take one of the smaller boats from the Frosthammer, load up your belongings into it, torch the larger vessel (port authorities know this rascal Kargeld and his boat) and then make your way to shore in the cover of night.
"We don't need the whole vessel, just a longboat... Let's search quickly, take what we can or need and burn the Frosthammer to the waterline."
Alaric begins by searching the captain's body... then goes looking for his quarters, where any personal or portable booty might be.
Joining in the search for anything useful or valuable.
Saulric reaches down and unstraps some sheathes from the captain's body and buckles them on deciding to keep the two axes. After settling the new burdens he retrieves his sword. A pity Captain, this could have been far less painful for you.
Alaric shrugs... "His doom was foretold regardless... it was his time. but aye, it could have been much quicker and cleaner."
I'm going to need to get some new equipment when we get to town. The captain and I do not share sizes.
Szordrin walks over to the captain and stands over him. He looks down and smiles...
Ten Gold Coins.....
He spits on him
Keep the change you filthy animal....
The group hurries and searches the boat for anything of value. They do find a large wooden chest that poses no difficulty in their opening with the captains greataxe. Beneath the captain’s foul, flea-infested wardrobe is 6000 gp neatly stacked in an unlocked wooden box. Additionally a small silver statuette of a nude mermaid (worth 50 gp) and 115 gp in loose coinage clatters around the sea-chest. A wooden crate labeled ‘emergency rations’ contains six fine bottles of whiskey worth 10 gp apiece.
You torch the boat and set it adrift with dead bodies around it in the water and on it. You leave for shore and land in the dead of night.
You are close now. Just a few miles from here sits the small market town of Aldencross and less than a mile from there is the watchtower of Balentyne – your goal. Already Sakkarot’s horde gathers and prepares to move. Within two weeks, they will be in a small valley north of the lake awaiting your signal. Fire the rocket into the air at just the right moment and you will take the first step towards claiming vengeance against Talingarde.
Destiny has taken you here. Destiny has given you a mission. There is no doubt that the future of this green and pleasant land lies in your hands. You could go to that town right now and warn them of the plots of the sinister Cardinal Thorn. You could give yourself up and face the justice you deserve. You could turn back from the horror and the slaughter that you are going to inflict upon these Mitran sheep. This is that moment. This is the turning point. After this, there is no going back. Any one eager for redemption?
I thought not. Come, my friends. We have work to do.
We must burn Balentyne.
Aldencross is a market town and it is not rare for smaller traders to come from all over to peddle their goods here. This will not be seen as suspicious or anything unusual. Adventurers bound for or returning from the savage north are not unknown.
Aldencross is a fine place to buy supplies. There is an alchemist in town who sells all manner of potions. There is a scribe with a fine selection of scrolls (1st and 2nd level only). In the market place are found the random magic items that a town of Aldencross’ size usually has for sale. Normal equipment is available in abundance. Aldencross is a soldier’s town so there are numerous smiths who make arms and armor. They’re eager for some side business to supplement their contracts to the crown.
As you make your way into town you realize you need a good cover story, disguises, and a place to sleep.
Alaric makes sure his silver Asmodeus medallion is tucked inside his tunic...
1634 gold 8 silver 7 copper each with 2 copper left over. Need to work my share out after taking my axe out. (Decided to sell the throwing axe and buy a compound bow)
Hmm. Any of you been here before? I'd like to find a place to rest with a soft bed.
I think we should get a room and then get some supplies. Once we are settled in we can start to collect information on our objective. We can be simple adventures returning from the north to resupply and take a break before heading back.
Szordrin says quietly to the others before they move in..
Agreed. Saulric takes out his circlet and changes himself to a handsome knight as he tucks the asmodean synbol away and walks towards the town.
The group stops short of the town near a hilltop copse and plan their entry. Saulric decides to enter the town as a knight changing his appearance to look handsome for once in his life. The others contemplate how they will enter before joining the "errant" knight. A quick asking around reveals there is but one inn decent enough for travelers, The Lord’s Dalliance. There are a few seedier hostels that cater to the poor and downtrodden but those establishments are frequented by patrols for civil disturbance issues.
Spending some time observing the establishment reveals it is a pleasant enough place with strong drink and adequate food. In the evenings there are often off-duty soldiers and even the occasional watch captain. Dancing girls and comely bar maids ply the soldiers eager to earn a share of the king’s gold.
Alaric changes his own appearance to that of a non-descript human in clothing appropriate for an unarmored follower... "If you don't mind, SAulric, I'll pose as your squire. Of course, I'll expect you to offer me enough respect to not treat me in too demeaning a fashion." He gives Saulric a little wink and a smile to show that's a suggestion, not a threat.
A fine idea. The better to hide how dangerous you are without armor.
Run ahead and procure us a room. It's better that you be seen being kept busy if we're to sell such a ruse. In the meantime I shall look through the stores to better equip myself. Is there anything you'd like picked up?
Alaric shakes his head... "Nothing for me, but thanks." He heads into town whistling softly to himself. He'll procure rooms at the inn if they have such available. If there aren't enough for all, he'll get at least two if possible, one for the lady, the others for the men.
Saulric nods. Elisa, Szordin, shall I get anything for you while I shop?
Szordrin appears as a human of moderate comeliness. His clothes are what you would expect of the humans in this area.
Saulric, I am good. I am not certain what is available in town so I will look into my arcane supplies myself.
Ha, I wouldn't know what to get. I was thinking more along the line of basics like rope.
"I would like a mithril shirt if one is available thank you." Elisa politely responds. She now looks like young human woman, with brown hair and average features.
It is ok. I will be fine. I just need to locate the correct shop and I will see what I can get.
Saulric nods and holds out his hand for Elisa's coin and goes to grab some gear. Saulric himself is looking for a +4 composite longbow as well as generally trying to check out the fortress to note any weaknesses that might be exploited.
Saulric finds a money changer to slowly get enough local coins so as to not raise suspicions.
Alaric uses his guise as a squire to find three rooms available at the Lord's Dalliance for the quartet. The Innkeeper, Bellam Barhold, finds it odd the knight did not need stabling of any horses when the rooms were booked.
Szordrin spends his time walking through the market to collect bits and pieces of oddities he may need as he tries to think of a good reason for the purchases.
As the group is out and about they do hear some tidbits of information that may prove useful... or may be false... hard to tell at this juncture...
Szordrin: Mad Martin is a strange one! He tends the rookery in the Watchtower. They say he never leaves except for necessities. He talks to the birds like people and has named every one!
Elisa: Have you ever been to the choir hall of Balentyne? Amazing! The priests are such beautiful singers and sometimes the stone saints that adorn the place join in the chorus. Such a miracle!
Alaric: Lord Havelyn is a good soul but so grim and gloomy. For so great a lord to be unhappy, he must be guilty about something!
Saulric: That Captain Zack Eddarly is a handsome one, isn’t he? Such a gallant! And still unmarried at his age. He’ll make some lady of proper breeding quite a catch won’t he?
After securing rooms, Alaric goes out to find Saulric... Once he does, he will mention the oversight of the 'missing' steed to him, and suggest he have a plausible story ready to explain it. Then he'll head back to the inn, not needing anything to purchase
Simple enough. A beast invaded our base camp while scouting on foot. By the time we returned the beasts were slain.
We did not.
Saulric heads off to the inn with Alaric to speak to Elisa about her armor and options. Being an armorsmith himself he could quite possibly make it himself and for cheaper. However it might not be finished by the time they'd need to storm the fortress.
And he would need to rent out a stall in a shop with people wondering why a knight is doing common folk work instead of off fighting dragons...