Winston's bluffed accusations turn to legitimate anger as he realizes that paying Jack was never in the mix for the Tengu, and he says "Now we all see who you really are, Oridine, and I don't like it. You won't like it, either, by the end of this."
He draws his crossbow and warns his allies, "They've got us surrounded, one behind and two coming in the door! Stay calm and, please ladies, let's not harm any bystanders. The Society's already got enough to worry about, I'll say! Cap'n Jack, looks like your business deal has finally soured with this scum."
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A young man, apparently in his late teens, wearing the flowing robes and veiled turban of a Keleshite rushes into the tavern and quickly surveys the room. His dark complexioned face displays a distinctly worried expression as his golden hued eyes franticly search the room. Seeing the red headed dwarf woman sitting alone at a table the young man hurriedly makes his way over to her. The young man appears completely oblivious to the palpable tension in the room, so frantic does he seem. Arriving at the dwarf’s table he gives her a deep bow. “Excuse me ma’am, but you wouldn’t happen to be Kalynn StoneHammer?” Not even pausing to let her answer his question the young man rushes on. “The Venture Captain said that if I didn’t find Kalynn StoneHammer and her group he would skin me alive. I am supposed to join them, but if I show back up at the Lodge without finding them I am afraid Captain Valsin will drum me right out of the Pathfinders.” Finishing in a breathless rush the young man stares hopefully at the dwarf woman before him.
+
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The young man’s eyes widen at the dwarf’s yell but then a small smile spreads onto his face as she acknowledges that she is in fact Kalynn StoneHammer. The golden eyed boy gives Kalynn yet another bow. “Ma’am it is a pleasure to meet you. My name is Nikolos and my help is most certainly yours.”
Nikolos unfurls a razor tipped whip from his hip and begins glancing around the room for the most direct threat to his new found friend.
+
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Nasir rises from where she sat next to the Captain drawing a long breath with a stretch that sends the man's eyes widening despite the dangerous situation.
"It would appear that you will get to see me dance before we even set foot on your vessel." she says with a wink at Captain Jack, drawing the scimitar at her hip.
Oridine immediately runs away, as Captian Jack begins to withdraw his sword and follow after Oridine. Leaving the party to deal with the tengu's.
Winston:
Lenarial:
Kaylynn:
Nigani:
Nasir:
Nikolos:
Tengu 1
Tengu 2
Tengu 3
Initiative Order: (Ties resolved by Int. modifier)
Lenarial
Tengu 1
Nigani
Tengu 3
Kaylynn
Winston
Nasir
Nikolos
Tengu 2
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A little too intent on swaying the Captain, Lenarial was caught off guard for a moment by the sudden tension. She turned about and froze in sudden indecision, not sure what to make of the situation. As soon as she got a clue as to how the situation ought be resolved, she would act. "What is the meaning of this? Oh, Sarenrae preserve....I had not planned for swordplay this morning...."
Winston takes careful aim and fires a bolt at the Tengu approaching from the other side of the bar .
Attack
Damage
Kaylnn and Winston both miss on the tengu's. All three tengu's move accordingly: See map: Combat Updated Map
Alright, we move to traditional combat order!
Lenarial
Tengu 1
Nigani
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Nikolos pulls his eyes away from the blush inducing sight of Nasir stretching and tries desperately to get his brain focused on the fight that seems to be breaking out around him. Slowed in his reaction time since all the blood had briefly rushed from his brain at the lovely sight, none the less Nikolos is determined to prove himself to this group. With his palms sweating from nerves he steps forward and targets one of the Tengu () with his whip.
+
Winston curses as his bolt flies past their attacker, and he sights again and fires at the same Tengu (T2).
Attack
Damage
Tengu 1 moves--Check map.
Next three:
Nigani
Tengu 3
Kaylynn
Tengu 3 five-foot steps, and attacks Kalynn.
Attack Rolls -- Misses.
Kaylynn attacks after her moves and confirms without the flank. She kills him as soon as he moves.
Winston shoots at Tengu 2 and misses.
Last three in Round One!
Nasir
Nikolos
Tengu 2
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Nasir begins to move, a rhythmic movement that seems to work its way through her body, building in fluid intensity as she begins to twirl, her scimitar drawing free of it's scabbard.
Like a dust devil of beautiful flesh and fabric she moves, her rapid spinning movements taking her to come beside the newcomer to face the two approaching tengu, her movement never ceasing.
Nikolos attemps to trip Tengu 2 and succeeds. Tengu 2 stays on the ground disoriented.
Round 2!
Lenarial
Tengu 1
Kaylynn
Winston
Nasir
Nikolos
Tengu 2--Prone
Winston moves forward around the table and gets into deadlier range with the remaining Tengus.
Attack
Damage
He launches a bolt at the Tengu that is still left standing (T3, I believe).
As Nasir moves closer to the first Tengu, she dances pass a bolt that Winston fired right into his neck. And then she finishes the poor thin with an efficient slash across the midsection.
Nikolos and Tengu 2 are up!
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Nikolos steps up to the prone Tengu, drawing his dagger as he moves. Bending down the young man places the edge of the dagger along the creature's throat and says, "I'm thinking that best thing you can do about now is probably drop your weapon there and lay very still. Dieing for some gold your friend owes a ship captain just seems stupid about now."
+
The tengu drops the sword in his hand.
We are now out of combat. What are you doing?
Jack returns shortly after with Oridine's blue belt pouch.
Well me good friends, I thank ye. Come, sit, I know you stated that you had previous business, but I was preoccupied. Now that I am no longer preoccupied, what was it that you proposed?
Jalmeray huh? Says Jack with a smile. What a coincidence that I am going that way as well. But you see, there is a little problem with that big ol' arson that took place. Oh don't look so surprised, ships don't get on fire that quickly by themselves. Nor is it specifically the fastest ships in Absalom as well on the high seas. Nay, that's a good ol' fashioned sabotage if I ever did see it.
He pauses as a tavern maid bring an ale to him. He nods to her, and she nods back at him. She returns to the bar and brings a pint of ale to the entire party.
You see the problem is, the Harbormaster isn't letting anyone in or out. Which is a problem for those wanting to leave, and those who are trying to get in. The floatsam isn't all that friendly when you are stuck anchored in it for a few days. So how are you expecting me to get out of this port anytime soon? He asks inquisitively while sipping his pint.
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With a beaming smile, Lenarial sets to work."We were looking to hire a daring Captain, able to thread through such dangers with his expertise. We are also looking for a man of decisive action, one willing to brave the ire of the harbormaster, and to forever prove his reputation as a capable man at the helm. Are you that man?"
"I suppose we can let this one go with a warning?" Winston says to Nikolos, eyeing the last Tengu with dangerous eyes. "They didn't actually manage any harm, the poor bastards." Then, directly to Nikolos, "And it's a pleasure to meet you, stranger, thanks for the help and we're happy to have you on board."
Seating himself at the table, Winston takes a long drought of ale as he listens to the conversation. Then, "I'm an old-school sea-swaggerer myself, Cap'n, and I hear tell on the streets around here that you might be just the man we're looking for. Now, I'm not exactly a local, and my information is coming second- or even third-hand, but you strike me as a person with at least a couple of tricks up their sleeve. So maybe we should do the asking: have you got any ideas how one might get a ship out of the harbor?" Winston winks at the friendly Captain, and then takes another long drought of ale.
Diplomacy
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With the fight over and the adrenaline wearing off, Nikolos reverts back to the awkward young man that he is. I hope I did ok. I think I did ok. Man, I really hope I did ok in that fight. I really wanted to impress this group. Show them that I know how to hold my own. What if I actually screwed up? Ah man, I hope I did ok…
At Winston’s words Nikolos snaps out of his inner torment to look down and see he is still standing there with his dagger held against the Tengu’s throat. A blush of embarrassment turns his face a dusky shade of pink as he realizes everyone else has gone on from the fight and here he stands with his ‘prisoner’ still. Ah man, I’m an idiot. Why am I still just standing here? Do something, anything…
”Ah, yeah I guess he can go with a, umm, warning.” Pulling his dagger away from the Tengu’s throat Nikolos quickly sheaths it and begins coiling up his whip. “Tengu, get your, umm, feathery back side out of, ahhh, my sight and don’t let us, umm, see your beak around here again.” Nikolos glances Winston’s way to see if he impressed the older man to only find that Winston has turned away and gone to sit with the Captain and the women. Ah crap, I’ll be lucky if this group even lets me carry their baggage at this rate. Finished coiling his whip, Nikolos wanders over to where the group is seated. He gladly accepts a mug of ale from the barmaid and begins nervously sipping it. Come on man, get a hold of yourself. All you need to do is act confident to be confident. At least that’s what Madame Rousho always said.
+
Jack looks at the entire party, he smiles at each one of you while he speaks.
Well I do know the Harbormaster who can help lift the ban temporarily. But it's not going to come cheap. I am looking at about 2500gp minimum in order to get a harbormasters pass. Which means we act as if the harbormaster is on the boat. He takes a drink from his pint.
Find me the 2500gp, and me boat The Cutlass is at your disposal. He says taking another swig. Since me thinks the ban is going to be a little longer than normal due to the circumstances of the fire, I'll be here at the tavern, waiting for you to get the money. In the meantime, this round is on me while you figure it out. Speak with barkeep when you are ready. He rises from the table, nods agreement to all of you, and he then heads back to his room.
"Well, the Society might be able to give us at least a little donation towards getting to Jalmeray, but there can be no harm in just looking around."
Knowledge (local) looking for easy money-making opportunities...
A conniving look comes into Winston's eye and he leans in close to the others, speaking a bit quieter. "Y'know, if we had a good idea what a 'harbormaster's pass' looked like, the thing that Jack was talking about, I might be able to forge us one. I've had to fake official documents in the past before, but needless to say it's a risky procedure if we get caught. If I could get my hands on one for a little while, though, I could at least commit that to memory and give it a shot."