"...I f~*~ing knew it." Jaina growls.
"Heck no."
Edward, not quite standing at the railing of the ship, looks over towards Diana.
[Message]"Looks like we get unwanted playtime after all."
Diana raises her hand, glances at her siege crew and then at her captain. waiting for the order.
Edward will use his 1 a/day loremaster to take 20, for result of 24 in whatever knowledge is needed.
Isaac eyes the creature as it flies to Morton's shoulder.
At Morton's "request" for a tribute, Isaac chuckles, an idea forming in his head. "Well. Tha' may be a probl'm. Caus', technically, we don't be needin' saf' passag'. We can go bac' th' way we be comin'. We be needin' to talk to ye. An', mayhaps, be workin' a deal. Bu', bein' so forc'ful won't be helpin' eith'r o' us. So let's be keepin' it civil, likin' th' gents we be. Savvy?"
You remember reading about these things once; they are small creatures of elemental air called Mephits. They are often conjured and retainsed as familiars to powerful wizards.
Morton raises a hand in a salute to Isaac's intent to maintain a civil discourse , "Oh , I savvy, Cap'n! It's just that I'm mighty territorial, and even goin' back....we'll I claim th' seas clear to the horizon. Ya ken? " he shouts back, "As you seem a nice enough feller, I'll be givin' ya one more chance. Put up the toll....please." he says, emphasizing the sarcastic "please" with an elaborate bow.
As he does so, amazingly, the satyr figurehead rises from the bow of The Dryads' Grave picks up a nearby ballistae and points it menacingly at The Shrike.
Realizing the creature is a mephit, Edward quietly tells this to Isaac.
"I am guessing this guy is a wizard of sorts, things like that creature are also encountered as familiars."
"Hold on a minute, captain! This is outrageous. He-, and Edward points to the shadiest/sleaziest looking crew member of the other ship, was paid a sum of 500 gold back in port, and in return he would make sure we were excluded from paying toll. Or am i to understand that he has kept all the money for himself, and not split it as upfront payment to you and your crew?"
"-i will talk to my captain, it shouldn't be too difficult to do-, were his words, i recall."
Edward assumes a pose of a man whose pride has been hurt. He hoped, likely in vain, that sowing discord in the ranks would give the team an edge when it came to starting the fight.
For a moment the other Captain appeared nonplussed, but then he claps his hands together and lets out a loud guffaw. He's joined by many of his crewmen as he shouts across, "Ah...tha' was a good one! You almost had me ther'! "
His visage then grows serious, "Last chance, Cap'n! Just a wee bit o' yer cargo...and you'll be on yer way! " he shouts, motioning towards the open sea with his hand.
Diana lowers her arm in apparent defeat, as if she expects her captain to pay the toll.
Figuring nothing he'll say will likely come across creditworthy, Edward quietly talks to his compatriots.
"It was worth a shot. So, we go to the old 'if words fail, make them feel it' ?"
Edward summons a mandoline that bears some slightly different sounds from a regular one, and starts playing the first few notes of a melody.
Isaac sighs in resignation. "Ay'. It be seemin' tha' we be havin' no choic'." He turns to Diana. [b]"Be givin' th' ord'r wh'n ye be ready.{/b]
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magic circle against evil - 70 minutes
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Rake the deck! Diana orders as she points out high threat targets, including the captain and his creature.
Jaina's eyes light up and a manic grin appears on her face.
"ABOUT TIME WE GOT TO BUSINESS!" She roars, pumping her fist in the air.
As The Shrike's siege engines roar to life, so to do those on the The Dryads' Grave
Captain Morton shouts, cackling . He then turns to command his sailors.