As Siobhan calls out to the man, she and Healaugh notice to their horror that the fellow is none other than Hafkris, staggering drunkenly, broadsword in hand!
Luckily, over the rain and wind, he doesn't appear to have heard Siobhan calling out to him; he stumbles away a little bit more.
Silencing herself with a small suprised expression Siobhán stills herself and watches him stagger away. Quietly she informs her companions who the leaving man is "..Hafkris.."
"Buggerme" whispers Tresmeer.
"Ee looks dun in. Shall us give 'im a lickin? 'Eee bin beatin' us plenty!" adds the nervous farmer grimly.
Nodding at Tresmeer, Healaugh looks grim. "Wish I had my fish spear. Could hit him easy with that." The glowering halfling scans the surrounding landscape for a substitute.
"I be likin' a sling and some sharp stones an' I cun knock 'is eye out, I reckon."
Tresmeer looks round at Bran, Cynderyn and Conall.
Hands Healaugh the other club.
'Well Healaugh and Tressemer shall we go and greet meet our friend on the beach?.'
Tresmeer shakes his head, shrugs his shoulders and murmurs,"Dis woan get the lamb on the table."
"If'n we cun get the chance to chat wiv 'im dat would be good. Tell us where we be. But dat Hafkris is nasty."
The farmer lifts his long beard over one shoulder out of the way.
Healaugh puts the club down. "No sense in that lad" he comments quietly. "Me size is against me".
He muses for a moment. "Can we trip him up somehow now, trap him and talk to him?"
You all know in your hearts that Hafkris will not be amenable to suggestions of common-sense co-operation. He has demonstrated in his attitude and his speech that he thinks of you as nothing but 'meat' or 'cargo'. He will either shackle you or kill you. You know this.
Right now, however he seems to be marching up and down in a parody of a soldier, and when the wind blows your way you can hear him singing snatches of filthy sea shanties and sailor's songs.
One of his steps sends him into a spin. He turns round. He sees you.
"Aha, I didnae ken anyoos scum 'a' ma' i'!" he exclaims in a gutteral manner with drunken disgust.
Healaugh reaches down and grabs a handful of pebbles. "I'll see if I can get behind him".
'Conall here!' as I throw the other club to him. 'Tressmar lets get him.' as I charge Hafkris.
damage roll if attack is successful.
Initiative = 16
Attack roll = 8
Damage = 6pts
Tresmeer has +2 on his initiative by the way.
A little shaken by the turn of events Siobhán moves a little slowly. Unsure of how certain the other woman is in a combat situation she moves in front of her before picking up a rock from the beach and hurling it at Hafkris.
The roller defies me today - if I hit feel free to roll my tiny damage for me! ;)
Jumping down onto the beach Conall takes the offered club and sighs a little. Oh wonderful he thought.
Conall is going to reluctantly join in the charge. Taking the usual penalties to AC and the +2 to hit.
Before rushing to attack he quickly glances at the ladies. Have to keep them safe from that drunk.
As he darts sideways, Healaugh calls out "Careful lads - he'm dangerous"
Initiative for woman(1d20+1=19) Attack roll, Damage roll (1d20+1, 1d2=[7, 1], [1])
Attack roll, Damage roll (1d20+1, 1d8+1=[7, 1], [6, 1])
The woman picks up some pebbles as well and shouts "You're not chaining us again, fiend!". Her stone flies wide however, and is ineffectual.
Conall bravely charges the vile slaver and with a great swing connects with Hafkris' head. The drunken sot reels and letting out a great roar of rage, slashing wildly at his attacker. His blade cuts a wide arc, blood spraying from the brave kennel-keeper as it cuts deep into him.
Bran and Tresmeer run to his aid but fail to hit Hafkris in the confusion. Healaugh chucks a rock, but this also misses, as does Siobhan's.
Healaugh flinches at the sight of Conall falling before the thug. Biting back his impulse to shout in horror, he forces himself to think only of his next move.
Concentrate you halfling fool he tells himself, before unleashing another rock at the back of Hafkris's head.
1d20+4 ?¨ [9,4] = (13)
Reeled by Hafkris blow to Conall, Bran prepares another attack on the pirate with his club.
'Not another one, not another! He thinks as he tries to strike Hafkris almost flashing back to the pirate raid on Highport years before.
"I'll not let you harm another soul pirate scum!" Bran yells as he swings his makeshift club with both hands.
damage roll if attack is successful
Tresmeer face goes pale at Conall's wound. But Hafkris is still the danger. Instinctively Tresmeer moves a little round the side of the man and unleashes a furious blow.
Attack roll 5 (inc flank bonus), damage roll 5, maybe not a combat specialist?
"Buggerme, 'Oim no good, I be a farmer!" shouts the moorman starting to lose heart for the battle.
A small suprised squeak escapes Siobhán and without caring over the danger it puts her in she rushes over to help Conall, ripping at the cleaner bits of her own clothing as she goes.
"Don't give up Tresmeer!" She encourages the young man more capable of fighting than herself as he sounds dejected.
It was almost slow motion the sword swinging into his side. He tried to move but the speed of his charge had unbalanced the man and as much as he'd tried the momentum was too much. Folding up around the cruel blade Conall could at least take some satisfaction in the fact that he'd delivered a solid blow.
Crumpling to the ground he seemed surrounded by a red haze, Goddess this hurts, it seemed to last forever but when next he could catch a thought he realised that it was just seconds later... Must get help
Attack roll for Woman (1d20+1=20)Damage roll (1d2=2)
Hafkris attack-1d20+1=7
Your female companion throws another stone and this hits Hafkris on the arm. The pain makes him miss his slash against Bran. "Ye wee bi'! Ah gut yas all!" he slurs
Conall staggers away from his assailant, as Siobhan runs to his aid. Bran and Tresmeer are still daunted by their former jailer's slashes. But a rock from the intrepid halfling fisherman (obviously his skill was honed by stone skimming) whacks right into Hafkris' forehead sending him to the ground, blood oozing from a gash on his forehead, his already greyish skin growing paler.
Siobhán watches Hafkris with sad eyes for a moment before returning her attention to Conall, making sure he's comfortable and not in too much pain.
"Is anyone else hurt?" She asks in a concerned tone, starting to shiver as she realises she's ripped away some of her clothing and she's sat on a windblown beach.
Well that was clever of you Siobhán She silently berates herself, it had seemed like such a fine idea at the time.
Bran stands over his fallen foe. Looking at his wounded companion and the bravery of fellows, he now considers his options.
Before taking Hafkris weapon and clothing Bran looks about the beach where they are and survey the scene before him.
"Anyone have any idea as to were we are?" he askes the group. "You young lady,' he directs to the attractive blonde. "what is your name?"
Dropping the stone he carried in his other hand, Healaugh glances across to his companions. He nods to the strange woman "Nice shot" he says, slight respect in his voice.
Crossing back to where Siobhan tends to Conal, he pauses by Hafrik's body for a moment. "Sharkbait" he mutters in disgust, kicking his mortally wounded foe.
"What's he got worth taking?"
The other woman looks stunned momentarily that you all have so quickly brought down your oppressor.
"Sorry, what?" she says, "Oh, I'm Melisana. Of Ventris. That was horrible... I'm not normally- it's just he would have killed us all."
She can't take her eyes off Hafkris as he lies, thick dark blood welling from his wounds. But Conall's condition draws her attention, "You were incredible! But, what are we going to do?" she asks as she helps the half-elf support Conall.
"Could use you all as crew." says Healaugh. Something in his tone tells the others that this is a high compliment from the halfling.
"We'll be fine" She gently assures Melisana "We're through the worst and as long as we can get Conall here to somewhere he can rest until morning I'm fairly certain I can ask the Earthmother to heal his wound. I've never been beyond Rabin's Reef so it may not work but we have to hold onto hope"
Melisana looks at Siobhán with curiosity and then notices the other woman's ears and her eyes widen slightly, "Oh, well, hadn't we, er, better , get him off this beach then?" she adds.
"I don't know how long we can stay out here for in this weather."
"Need to know where we are before we know where to go. Anyone got an idea?" asks Healaugh.
"Melisana's right. Sky's not good." he adds.
"There's the rest of the ship, over there," Melisana says, pointing to the other half of the wrecked ship (that is, not the one you escaped from) "The aft section; but that's not going to be much good in the long term"
"Out of the elements is best, we can search for somewhere better later" Siobhán decides quietly before falling silent, shifting uncomfortably as the other woman spots her ears. Shifting her hair in an attempt to cover the slight points once more she puts all of her effort into supporting Conall
"Want me to scout ahead? Find a safe spot?" asks Healaugh.
What's up with her? he thinks, noticing Siohban's discomfort. Nothing that won't keep. Get that lad out of the open first.
"If it's any incentive, my father is the merchant Melkeras of Ventris. He'd certainly pay you all a rich reward if we were to make it off here alive." Melisana says between chattering teeth.
"You'll be needing to get under cover" remarks Healaugh. "Or using some of the sharkbait's clothing to warm you up a bit. And I'd not recommend that."
He sets off cautiously towards the remains of the wreck.
He will also (c) keep an eye on the weather, using his massive +9 Knowledge Nature and call a warning to the others if it turns suddenly nasty.
The moorman stands to one side now that the fight has ended.
He listens to the others discuss everything. Then he follows Healaugh heading towards the wreck.
"Yum did good Healaugh."
Bran moves over to Siobhán. He eyes the wounds on his new found comrades body and seems to be lost in thought. As he comes back to his senses the situtation before him seems dire indeed.
"Siobhán I think I can carry him to the aft section were the others are going so we can get him other of this weather." Bran says.
I procede to as gently as I can pick him up and walk with Siobhán and the others to the aft section of the ship.
With the wounded kennelman safely supported the group slowly makes its way to the aft section. Healaugh presses ahead to have a look before they get there.
1d20+9 ?¨ [15,9] = (24)
which will hopefully be good for something.
Siobhán wraps her arms around herself as Bran takes over the duty of supporting Conall. "Why would we need incentive to keep you with us and safe?" She asks Melisana quietly, a little suprised by the rich woman's words. "We're all int his together, I have no need of money, just to get back to my village"
Once Tresmeer catches up with the halfling, he keeps an eye on the surroundings.
"Yum be seeing dat the other man is garn off? Sebum of us in dere hold, now dere be six. Eee must 'ave wondered away when us fight 'Afkiss. Maybe 'im scared, Oi wus a bit." He admits quietly.
"No blame to him. Reckon we're all scared." Looking up at the tall farmer, he adds,
"Reckon as well we need to stick together. We're not cut out for this you and I, but we'll be learning fast, eh?"
Healaugh sighs as they walk on towards the aft section. "Fish are easy compared to this."
"P'haps us'll foind awt where we is from this bit of dee bawt. I iddunt much fur prayin' but tis maybe a good time to start."
Tresmeer practise swishes his club as he walks. Trying to get a better feel for hitting things with it.
"I cun heft a spade, so dis shouldn' be a problem."
"Need to make you a sling and find me a spear" suggests the halfling, "Wonder what Conall and the lasses could use? Need to keep our eyes open."
"So there I was down by the sea brook, washing fleeces an' dryin' um on dere rocks, when I twas grabbed by dees big chaps. Never saw wot 'appened to me fleeces."
"'Ow yum get ear?" asks Tresmeer.
He struggles to keep a sensible stride length for the halfling. His long legs are made for great big mile eating strides.
Healaugh breaks into a jog to match strides with Tresmeer.
"Stupid is what I was." he says. "Celebrating best catch this season with me crew, very cheery. Sets off home, takes the back route, get hit."
He grunts disgustedly.
"Been warnings too, but I paid no heed. Thought I knew better and scum'd never bother with halflings - too small to be any use to 'em. Wrong wasn't I?"
"Nope. Hafkris got the wrong of it. Look at 'im now."
Healaugh and Tresmeer make their way into the wreck of the aft hold. It's in no better shape than the forehold where they came from. The collision with the boulders has torn open a huge part of the galley's hull here, and the bottom of the hold is swamped in water.
Searching around they find:
Four broken barrels, which have spilt ale and wine everywhere
Dozens of grain sacks, their contents spoilt by wine, ale and seawater
A heavy crossbow
50 bolts (in a case) for said crossbow
A chest
Healaugh
Even as they hunt, Healaugh keeps an eye on the growing storm. Never seen anything like this, in all my years. he thinks. I wonder if there's something unnatural about it?
Turning to Tresmeer, he says "Worst storm I've ever seen brewing. Better get sheltered up somewhere warm, or lad on't beach isn't going to make it."
Bran looks as Healaugh and Tessemer walk off toward the aft section of the ship. He listens to the conversation that Siobahn and Melisana are having noting the reward offered and Melisana sutter.
Wonder if she is unsettled because of having to kill Hafkris?he thinks to him self
He looks off into the distance beyond the aft of the ship and to the surrounding area paying peticular attention to see if any caves are nearby or some other natural shelter.
"Aye Melisana, Siobahn's right we are all in this together and no matter what you should not feel bad at all of having finished off that pirate scum." he tells her to reassure her that she did the right in killing Hafkris.
"Siobahn you said you can use the power of the Earthmother to help him. Are you cleric? Or perhaps some other agent of her will?" he says in an enqusive manner.