Talia addresses the one who called them villains, "You don't have a choice." She emphasizes her statement with a thrust into his gut.
She then dives under and swims to the boat, with a twist to avoid the dolphin's strikes.
Rose was bruised and bleeding, she gave the captain a short nod and swatted the Triton leader hard with her hammer.
"Fish, you talk too much."
Then she awkwardly moved toward Kevlar, her aquatic legs not nearly so impressive on land.
Kelvar rolled his eyes at Timeon's whining, then proceeded to move close enough that one of the Triton crossbowmen was in range, then once again spoke a word of Infernal and hurled his axe at it.
Shaking his head as now Talia is surrounded by the aquatic creatures, the Doctor steps forward, pulling out a vial and shaking it up. He then tosses it at one of the dolphins.
He smiles to himself upon seeing all the fire before reloading his crossbow.
After that seemingly titanic struggle with the Triton, Rose feels more tired than any exertion she has made in the past. As he dies to her final attack, one last breath escapes his lips and she can't help but overhear the whisper, "The shining sun has seen
the wickedness you hide in hearts. And thus it will be the son who brings your doom." He draws no further breath.
Kargeld hears it too but is more worried by the ogre that is damaging his boat. He commands his men to take up their bows and walks towards Grumblejack. "Ogre stop! It's dead. Look, you can eat this one here if you want." Grumblejack has buried his axe in the deck a second time before he stops and turns on Kargeld. He looks aggressive, clearly having no respect for any other small ones but his masters. Fortunately he sees the corpse that Kargeld offered him, dead and tangled in the net and relaxes. "Water no bones. Grumblejack like crunching bones." Kargeld's men are relieved that they don't have to fight an ogre as well as the elementals and lower their bows as they watch Grumblejack thud over to the dead Triton.
The Triton that Kargeld hit fires back at him blindly before diving below the water along with the other 2 remaining tritons. The dolphins too melt away from around Talia until she is the only one left in the water. Several arrows from Kargeld's men chase the retreating figures.
A coughing sound comes from Timeon, with more cries for help and even more panic. "Help!" More coughing, then quiet. A hand appears over the bulwark and he finally manages the not-that-difficult feat of climbing back aboard. He collapses on deck, exhausted from using so much energy and promptly starts shivering.
Kelvar walks over to the boy and throws him a blanket. "See? I told you you had the ability to do it yourself. Had you not panicked, you would have accomplished the task sooner. Remember, fear will kill you more quickly than an enemy's blade. Keep yourself calm, and you will face death far less frequently than you would otherwise."
He then takes out the wand to heal the wounds taken by the group.
Talia looks at the corpse as Grumblejack chews. "A pity I could not have finished him." she says.
She did get hit once, so she will take her poke from Kevlar.
She also notes to the Doctor (and anyone else who happens to be listening), "Interesting trick with your firebomb. But if you need to harm me to hurt the enemy worse, do so without hesitation."
Rose was too tired to realize at first that Kargeld had just fed her captive to Grumblejack. She whirled back, about to say something, but it was too late. She chuckled and leaned against a crate, her form melting back to it's original shape. She gave Kevlar a thankful smile as he stabbed her in the arm with his demonic healing stick. She was wounded enough that he needed to stick her a second time.
"You did good, Timmy." she said looking down at her pathetic squire. "You fought, you didn't die, and you managed to get back on the ship all on your own. That's all yours."
Timeon curls up in the blanket and soon falls asleep.
"Disgusting. Thorn better be compensating me for the damage it caused..." Kargeld gives orders to his men. An extra man stands watch and twice the normal amount of torches are lit. "I doubt they'll come back. See how they ran after we got the ring leader? Better to be safe though just in case." He reasons.
Masterwork Trident(detects as magical)
Sea shell and Pearl Holy Symbol of Mitra(worth 100 gp)
Masterwork Sea-shell Breastplate(treat as bone)
The Doctor nods towards Talia, the corners of his mouth curling up in a smile. "Noted. Normally I can aim it in more or less just the area I wish to hit, but it's ranged is a tad limited, I'm afraid."
He pays no mind to Kargeld's grumbling. It didn't really matter if he got compensated or not. However, he does ask, "Is it normal to find such creatures in this area? Are there other would-be threats we should make note of for the rest of the trip?"
Using the wand to provide healing for the group, Kelvar will then say, "Perhaps I should have looked into acquiring a lighter armor for sleeping in, if we're going to be attacked in the night by random Mitrans."
"That's what I did." Rose said, tapping her now-wet dark red leathers. "It's really just the arming doublet for my plate, but it does the trick. "
Kargeld grumbles, "You've a chance to find plenty of unpleasant things the more north we go. Where Talinguarde's authority ends, freedom reigns. Strange to see them Tritons though. They usually stick to the depths. Some say they have huge cities on the bottom of the ocean filled with gold." He trails off with a greedy look in his eye.
"But that's why Thorn sent you. To safeguard his delivery from the dangers of taking the scenic route around Talinguarde controlled waters. My men can fight but they aren't soldiers. They're just northmen that don't want to be told how to live."
For that night and the next few Kargeld keeps double the men on watch just in case the Tritons return.
You are now far out of reach of any Talinguarde authority and well into the north. Here the coast turns into a bay and instead of sailing straight across the mouth, Kargeld diverts the ship's course west into the bay. "We are a little light on fresh water I think. We are passing Seal Isle and there is a stream that feeds into the bay there. We’ll take on water there. I’ll send a party to the shore. Of course, that means we’ll spend a day in some of the richest fur seal hunting grounds all along this coast. I’m thinking of organizing a hunting expedition. Interested?"
Kelvar raises an eyebrow. "Is this your way of telling us that you're stopping to hunt seals and we can either join in or sit on the ship?"
Rose didn't care much for the idea of hunting animals. She liked furs though. Her laziness was suddenly at odds with her greed.
She looked over at her useless squire. "Ever been hunting, Timmy?"
Kelvar examines the trident, trying to determine the magical properties.
"Giving you a chance to join in on the fun. If you want to sit here and guard the boat with my men feel free. Maybe we can have a little seal hunting competition." Kargeld tells Kelvar and those listening. The boat continues into the bay and a few hours later an island appears on the horizon.
Timeon shakes his head, "Uh, no. I always hoped too but I only learned how to handle and ride trained animals."
There are two boats Kargeld uncovers and offers you command of one while he will lead the other one with several of his men. Kargeld decides the seal are so plenty that he will hunt for several more days. After 3 days of hunting most of the seals have fled and he orders the journey north to continue. Each seal pelt is worth 50gp.
Talia isn't particularly interested in hunting. If somebody asks her to assist, she will. Otherwise, she'll guard the boat.
Rose was of similar mind to Talia. Why should she work when she has someone to do it for her?
"Timeon, if you want to learn, go with the Captain. It's your choice. You should always do whatever you want, as long as you can afford the risks."
Being more academically inclined, the Doctor likewise had little interest in such things as hunting. Though admittedly, he did like money. It tended to be required to buy reagents, lab supplies, books, people, etc.
He found competition pointless, so he ignored that part of the captains offer. "I suppose it couldn't hurt to have some extra coin in our pockets..."
Kelvar considers the Captain's offer before saying, "Sure, why not? I'll see how I do with it."
Kelvar will join in the hunting, along with the Doctor and Timeon, if he would like to as well.
Timeon accompanies Kelvar and the Doctor in one boat and Kargeld goes with 3 of his sailors in the other boat to the opposite side of the island so as not to interfere with each other's hunts. Though Timeon was not of any help and got in the way more often than not you managed to catch 4 the first day to Kargeld's 8. He smirks when he has caught more than you. The second day he comes back quite angry and with only 1 to show against your 5. The third day his attitude is not much better when he only has 3 for you your 5 again, making the score so far 14-10. You have won this little competition. "Well done. But you got lucky and got the more populous side of the island. I would have surely caught far more on your side of the island, and if I didn't have to deal with a capsize..." He sends a sidelong glare at one of the men who accompanied him and who is standing as far away on the ship from Kargeld as possible. "But the game is up. Too many of the seals have fled and it's not worth my time to stay here any longer. Tomorrow we continue north." It's true the seals are fleeing, but it seems his pride is also hurt by you catching more than him.
With the skins worth 50 gold each both Kargeld and yourselves have had 3 very profitable days.
"Thankyou for taking me hunting with you." Timeon says, "There were so many of them, I don't see why it is illegal in Talinguarde. There are many other animals that are allowed to be hunted. Do I get to keep the one that I killed?"
After the first day of hunting, as he saw Kargeld's much greater haul than his, he merely said, "You seem to be quite the skilled hunter. My compliments and respect to you."
He said nothing on the second day, not wishing to agitate the captain, and on the third he said, "Indeed, we were quite fortunate. Perhaps the seals feared your prowess so much they fled to our side of the island in the hopes they would avoid being hunted."
To Timeon he says, "I see no reason not, unless Lady Rose says otherwise."
The Doctor remains uninterested in the Captain's quibbling over who won or who lost. The Captain has seemed to be the only one interested in it in the first place. The Doctor was more interested in the price it would fetch.
"I guess this will give us something more to do in the days to come. While the cold out here may be enough to preserve our gains, we will not always be in such cold weather. Kelvar, judging from what I saw, it is likely you know more about such things than I. Perhaps you might show me how best to butcher such a creature?"
After a couple more days sailing, skinning and preparing the furs and keeping watch for Tritons or any other trouble, you are sailing at a good pace and the wind has become favourable. Around noon one of the sailors at the bow of the ship calls out to Captain Kargeld who moves to look. A group of small boats are hugging the coast headed south and will soon pass you.
As they get closer it is revealed that they are 3 kayaks and a larger canoe. They do not appear threatening and hail you towards them in a broken common. "Yutak." Kargeld murmurs and his sailor have also identified the men and grabbed their bows. "My boys come from a rival tribe. Before I hired 'em they were savages just like these." He orders his sailors to relax. "I think they want to trade. What's that they're waving in the air. Not weapons... looks like ivory."
The kayaks and canoe head towards you when they notice the Frosthamar slow down and drop her sail and anchor.
Talia will raise her inertial armor, and when they approach, she will thicken her skin.
"Trade, you say? Well, if these pelts are illegal in Talingarde, do you think the Yutak will value them?"
Rose's eyes brightened at the word Ivory. It was one of her favorite things. Basically bone, but so much prettier.
"Good idea. Let's hear what they have to say."
Kargeld's sailors prepare the boats for you to go meet the Yutak party. Rose, Talia and the Doctor row one of them while Kargeld, Kelvar and a sailor row the other. The Yutak have beached their craft and stand awaiting you.
You row in just south of their canoes and as soon as your boats are secured a man with a white-painted face speaks, "Welcome, southern men. I, Chief White Tusk, send my hello to you. My people seek trade with southern men. Together benefit ourselves." Even through his unskilled use of common you understand that he wishes to trade and create peaceful relations between his tribe and Talinguarde (such has not existed previously). He even speaks a greeting in Norspik to Kargeld's sailor. The Yutak hunters stand to the side and in front of the chief. They are at ease but if they see weapons they become wary. They each carry several throwing spears on their back, made of bone, and hold one metal tipped spear with its base in the sand at their side, tip facing the sky. There is another man next to the chief that is not a hunter but a medicine man or druid. This man also speaks up, "I am Joseph Calls-Fire-From-Water. Our new chief journeys south to trade. He has recently ended a very successful hunt and gained a new name. We have ivory to trade including the horn of the great beast that he did kill with his own hands."
This horn is that of a Narwhal. A rare and ferocious sea beast and a very worthy and dangerous opponent. The horn could be worth more than a thousand gold based on its rarity alone.
"If you wish to inspect the quality of our trade then step forward." One of the hunters removes a covering cloth from their goods revealing 15 walrus tusks and an 8ft. long Narwhal horn. A very valuable hoard. "Our chief desires the finest southern clothing and metal weapons and tools. We know the southern men are much skilled at mining ores and we have but little on our islands."
The Narwhal horn is worth 2000gp or more depending on who it is traded or sold to. In its current form it could function as a masterwork staff. It is also able to be enchanted with less material expenditure and in a quicker time than usual. In total the walrus tusks are worth about 1,200gp.
"Look at that. Incredible. We are lucky we met them rather than Talinguarde." Kargeld speaks to you all quietly. "Today could be more profitable than 10 days hunting seals. We have many weapons thanks to the Cardinal. And food. If you're willing to part with some of the fine clothes or gifts the Cardinal gave you."
"We, Kargeld?" Rose said with a hint of acid in your voice. "I believe you were paid handsomely to transport the goods on your ship. They are not yours to barter. If you wish to trade today you'll have to sell your own weapons and clothes."
Without waiting for a response she turned back to the tribesmen.
"Yes, I thong a trade can be arranged." Rose said, sweeping her eye over the goods. She had expensive taste and an eye for quality. She smiled at the chief and his representative, stepping forward to begin haggling.
Talia will stand to the side, unreadable, watching for any sign of trouble.
Shortly before hitting the shore, the Doctor downs a concoction to help him better understand the men. It's possible it wouldn't be needed, but it was always good to listen in when those talking did not think you understood.
He raises an eyebrow at the haul, but otherwise remains silent, letting Rose haggle on their behalf. Every once in a while he might murmur something to her in infernal if he thought she should try to get more based on the value of the items.
We can probably trade this from Captain Sambryl's body.
masterwork longsword
dagger
masterwork breastplate
masterwork heavy steel shield
I'd also suggest that if we have any noble's outfits or anything, we might want to trade those, as well. After all, it's not like we can't use the circlets to look like whatever we want to.
Kelvar will remain observant of the other tribesmen, cautiously observing them.
With the Doctor's and Rose's knowledge combined you are able to get a very favourable trade with Joseph and their desire for fancy clothing and need for metal allows you to trade these items at 200% of their worth.
"You let me worry about the cargo on my ship. You're just the mercenaries here to protect my men and my ship. Remember your place." Kargeld glowers and when he goes back to the ship to get items to trade he cracks open a crate, fully intending to trade it for the ivory. "They won't miss a few weapons from the entire shipment. Thorn won't know either. Everyone will be happy and I'll be rich."
Rose gave Kargeld an acidic look, eyebrow raised, but said nothing. Instead, she focused on her own trading.
masterwork longsword - 630 gp
dagger - 6 gp
heavy steel shield - 40 gp
masterwork breastplate - 700
Total - 1376 gp
Kelvar will return to the ship with Kelgard to get what the group is going to trade. Seeing Kargeld crack open a crate, he approaches the man and says, "Captain, do you really think Thorn won't know? Do you honestly think a man willing to send weapons north, beyond the Watch Wall, in defiance of Tallingarde law, doesn't have means of verifying that everything arrives at our destination? You were well-paid to deliver these goods, Captain. Should not everything make it, likely all of our heads will end up on pikes. Perhaps, instead, you should trade your own goods, and leave Thorn's property to the correct buyers."
Talia appeals to the Captain's future interests. "Think of the profits. If Thorn can establish a foothold here, he'll need somebody reliable to ship things with. But he's wary of the church and often uses divinations to see if anybody is betraying him."
"He's made up his mind. We're just mercenaries. He's the captain. Rose shrugged.
When Kelvar and Talia join Rose in telling the captain to leave Thorn's cargo alone Kargeld's face goes dark and he seems to think twice about his actions while studying one of the swords he has picked out. Every single weapon and shield has the Fire-Axe symbol etched into it. "If these tribesmen continue south and Talinguarde sees these weapons... I don't want anyone waiting for me at the end of this trip." He puts the weapons back and his men seal the crate again. "Perhaps it wouldn't be a good idea to let them get to Talinguarde. The last thing we need is for Talinguarde's influence to extend north." He says something to his sailors and they all seem angry and grab their weapons. The Doctor's concoction tells him that Kargeld just told his men that White Tusk was going to Talinguarde for help to conquer the other tribes including theirs. Whatever White Tusk's real intentions are, Kargeld is definitely making this up.
Rose drew her axe and her shield when the sailors armed themselves. She gave the rest of her companions a sly smile with her back to the sailors.
"I guess the captain has made his call."
She backed up into their midst, taking formation in their line.
Talia's blade appears in front of her as she nods.
Kelvar was not so sure as Rose was - he thought the Captain could be dissuaded. "Captain, a better idea. Why not just let us purchase everything? We could give you a portion of what we get upon our arrival at our destination as a thank you for a safe, swift trip. If they don't have anything left to trade, they won't continue South and run into any of the Talireans. What say you?"
While the captain had been arguing with some of his companions, the Doctor had been debating if he wanted to sell his nice clothing. Sure, he could look like he was still wearing it, but he would know he was actually in peasant's clothing. Plus he could feel the difference, the inferior fabric against his skin. Though it would be only temporary as he could buy another once he returned to civilized land. So he would only have to rough it for a relatively short time, which he would likely have to do anyway once they reached land. And the things he'd trade them for would be quite profitable.
He had finally convinced himself to do it when a disagreement went on. He tended to agree with Kelvar. As the cleric tried to bargain with him, he softly added, [small]"أشياء كثيرة يمكن أن تسوء.لست متأكدا من أن الخطة حكيمة."[/small]
"Glad to see you have come around." Kargeld seems glad that his leadership is not being questioned anymore when Kelvar interjects. "Purchase everything? Do you want to give them one of your magical hat things? Best to get rid of them like we did with The Blade. Except this time we'll have a greater advantage and they're just a couple of savages."