Way of the Wicked - the Fall of Andoran (Inactive)

Game Master increddibelly

I wouldn't mind. What needs to be done to finish it? Not sure what I can do.

I think IB just means you get to story-tell the fate of those poor souls on the St. Martius and return to the ship. That'll wrap up this little unwelcome interlude by "the law".

yep, exactly that :)

but I'll be happy to wrap this up, np :)
Talon-the-Captain waves fairwell to the crew on the Frosthamar, and Commodore Sindran says his goodbyes to the excellent crew and 'Captain'.
'Commodore Lawrence' calls out to his bodyguard "stop playing around with the steam engine and get back to the Frosthamar!".
The Captain, as a friendly gesture, offers to send the Commodore's assistant up, since he is heading to his private quarters anyway - and is NOT to be disturbed for any reason.

Talon quickly changes back to his bodyguard look, and moments later everyone is back on their respective ships. The sailors on both sides remove the ropes and planks between the Frosthamar and the Blade, and both can go on their merry way. If you look really close, the Blade already seems a little jumpy...and we know the pressure is building up, with nowhere to go but 'boom'...

As the Frosthamar crew waves friendly-like to the folks on the Blade, Kargeld releases a sigh of relief, and grabs the nearest crewman by the shoulder : "Open up a keg of Ol' Husky Stout. We have to celebrate our first successful escape from The Law!" and while you share a few pints, to the sight of the sun sinking into the sea, you see the pride of the Andoran navy explode into an enormous mushroom cloud of a million bits of wood, soldier, and brass.

"Heheheh" Kargeld actually has a wicked smile on his face, "The sharks will eat well tonight..."

Kargeld is cautious, and steers the Frosthamar close along the Taldor coast, as two ships full of Andoran troops rush out from the Triela harbor to help the survivors of the Blade. How charmingly naïve.

by this time, we're near the 'Sel' of Sellen river on the map

At noon the next day, the sailor on watch spots a group of small boats hugging the east coast, headed towards the Frosthamar. Closer inspection reveals this group to be three one-man kayaks and a larger open seal-skin canoe with four men rowing. These vessels are closing towards the boat and hail it loudly in a broken common tongue.

The leader of the group calls himself White Tusk, and he's keen to show why : he's holding up an impressive narwhal tusk he claims he slew himself.

Turning to Kargeld, Caladwhen speaks plainly and inquires "Do you know these men Captain? Trading partners perhaps?

Appraise DC20: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (19) + 12 = 31

Eying the tusk closely, Cala furrows her brow and leans over towards the others and whispers in the infernal tongue.

"That tusk is worth at least 2,000 gold by my estimation. The rest of their merchandise would be worth another 1,200 gold. These hunters have done well."

Talon hails them openly, not feeling threatened by them. As Cala leans close Talon smiles, then whispers back "So are we going to take it or try to be nice about it and trade?"

Aerent scowls at Talon's question, "We're going to be nice about it. Their people won't remember a passing boat that traded with them. But they will remember a ship full of people that attacked their traders for no reason. Secret mission, remember? Besides, who knows what else they might have for trade."

He looks at the Captain, "Do you know why they are?"

"I have no idea who these savages are. I usually trade with Westcrown in Cheliax, I don't often come east."

Oret eyes the narwhal tusk greedily. "I could make excellent use of such a thing as that. Whether we trade or take it by force, makes no difference to me, but I would have it."

Talon looks at Aerent "For some reason I thought there was a word that came before paladin in your job?" he laughs "But yes I suppose secrecy is a priority"

Diplomacy (sizing up an opponent): 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (17) + 8 = 25

"The word you may be thinking of is logical. Regardless, it's a moot point. The very fact that they have those horns indicate their fighting abilities are respectable. Trying to take their goods by force would only waste resources and risk lives that would endanger our mission."

"If you please, Captain, let's slow down and speak with these natives."

Diplomacy (nicely asking the Captain to slow down so he doesn't argue too much): 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (12) + 8 = 20

As the small kayaks get closer, Aerent calls out, "Greetings, neighbors. Those are some decent goods you have, what might interest you in trade?"

Kargeld indeed slows down, and tells some of his men to go find the rope ladder, in case someone needs to disembark.

"Herro, Andorians!" Chief White Tusk says with an enormous smile. "We slay g r e a t Narwahl of the Star Sea! " his motions mimic a sea monster with a giant spike on its head, "You see monster head-bone?"
He nods empathically.
"We sell to you!" and he points to you, and if you try real hard to understand the way his mind works, you get the impression he's trying to make you feel it's YOUR LUCKY DAY!

Question is, is it? Can you make a deal here?

Talon whispers to Cala for a moment, then turns to the Chief "Would you like to come aboard Chief? We have some things you might be interested in"

"Yes, come aboard, but we're not Andorians, just visitors."

"yes, yes, I come to your boat!!"
and he does. Happily.

"You have a few items we might be interested in. What would you trade for them?"

I feel like there's an enthusiastic Hawaiin (spelling?) man trying to sell me things lol

Talon can't help but smile as the man boards "Let us sit and talk over this while we have something to drink. Do you enjoy spirits Chief?" Talon waves for the crew to get some drinks, and once everyone is seated with a drink (if for some reason the Chief doesn't want alcohol then Talon will get him water) Talon takes a long drink then says "So we believe you have no interest in official coin, gold, or anything else of no practical value. However, we are led to think you like good metal and weapons, no?"

Moving near Talon and Aerent, Cala speaks quietly in the infernal tongue, confident that the Chief will likely never had heard the language of devils before.

"I'm going to let you two do the talking, his is a culture that likely holds women such as myself in low regard." Looking demurely at the Chief, Cala smiles and continues speaking the infernal language to her companions "I should add, theirs is a hunter society. Gold is of little value to them, but more practical things would be. Weapons for example. Whatever we trade them though, we convince them to be of greater value than what it's truly worth. Their knowledge of fair market value will be limited."

I feel like there's an enthusiastic Hawaiin (spelling?) man trying to sell me things lol

yay! do you know how hard it is to portray characters with just words? cheers for picking up my intention

"We have beauuuuteefuul teeth - and the mighty Narwahl Horn! You can trade? Good metal, goood!"
When it's clear you are seriously interested, he hopefully holds up 8 fingers towards Aerent, who seems to be most serious about buying his hunting spoils.

Sense Motive 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (20) + 4 = 24

Talon looks towards Aerent, then back at the Chief "Pounds of steel, I believe you mean? Wait a moment here..." Talon goes to one of the crates and draws out a fairly basic longsword, but holds it very carefully as if it's valuable "This is a crafted piece of fine metal that is durable, refined, and razor sharp" He holds up the longsword in a fighters stance and looks to Aerent "Care to show the Chief the use of such a weapon?"

Eyebrow raised in her characteristically inquisitive manner, Cala crosses her arms and murmurs "Hmmph. Well, this should be interesting," pausing to scowl, Cala slowly shakes her head and chides "just don't go injuring one another. You two can be so... competitive."

Using infernal, "That isn't ours to give away."

Aerent pulls his (heavy steel) shield off his back and presents it to the chief. Speaking in common, "This shield is made of tough steel - very strong. You could make many spears and knives from this metal."

chief White Tusk barks some unintelligible banter to his subordinates, but his facial expression seems pleased. Then again, in his case, that may very well be a medical condition.

"You have our many tusks, for you round hard ste-al!" - wrapping his toung around the word appears problematic, although more factually correct than the chief will ever realize.

"And you get Chief White Tusk white tusk for two of chief black bird white swords"
As White Tusk leans back, some urgent banter and pointing emerges from the kayaks below, and credit where due, Chief White Tusk doesn't even blink as he raises the ante.
"and we have the pretty slave!", pointing at Caladwhen.

Her smile suddenly turning incredulous, Caladwhen fires a look to Talon and then to Aerent. In the infernal tongue, Cala's annoyance is palpable "Slave? Did that thing just call me... a slave?" Shaking her head with disbelief, Cala snaps her fingers summoning T'larryo and her Draugr minions to her.

Turning on her heels in disgust, the haughty ice princess bounds away from the scene muttering angrily while still speaking infernal "Aerent, finish the deal and let's be done with this savage. I'd suggest that the swords would be better to barter with; you need the shield and we can easily buy two more swords with the proceeds... but do as you will if you truly feel so honor bound to Thorn."

Aerent pauses and watches as Cala manages to control herself enough to not slay the chief where he sits. Recovering, a sly smile emerges, "She will not be part of this trade. But you are a great chief, so I offer my shield and four swords for all tusks and great tusk."

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (18) + 8 = 26

Four swords? That must be almost *nine* pounds! Nonetheless, as Cala strides off, You can see the barely hidden insult on the chief's face, and even though you make a very strong case, he is not about to lose face in front of his men.

"other slave?", he says, halfheartedly pointing at Arryn.

"you realize you've just let him get away with that, don't you? Rather too kind of you if you ask me. The little savage. Let's put him on ice. You DO have ice spells, don't you?"
Don't mistake the raven's comments for anything but stacking insults.

Talon keeps his face calm as his emotions flicker between annoyance to amusement, then he understands the Chief's stance on women and he approaches the Chief, putting an arm around his shoulder "Ah chief, you mistake these women for slaves. You see how the dead follow her? Nah, these are not slaves, these are creatures to fear and respect, the fact they let you gaze upon their beauty and let you hear their voice's is an honor in itself, one you can brag about far and wide"

"yes...yes!" chief WT's face lights up. "I see the terrible Andoran women! They so pretty they wake dead! And White Tusk seen them!"

He turns, and beams brightly to his crew, in victory.
Then, he spits in his hand, and holds it out, smiling.

"deal!"

Sindran doesn't participate in the bargaining, instead watching the natives and their boats from the side.

would floating boats burn, you wonder...

The half-orc muses and decides that they probably will, if recent experience with the Blade of St. Marius is any indication.

White Tusk accepts Aerent's offer, gives the huge horn to Talon and a large sealskin bag full of the tusks.

He accepts the swords, and the shield, and unceremoniously lies down on the Frosthamar's deck to hand them over to one of his crew down below.

As he stands up, he smiles his warm, proud smile: "I now name: Chief Four Swords!!"

In parting chitchat, he asks where you're headed. "You go north? nasty storm ahead. Where river bend? like this?" He make an S-like gesture with his hands. "Storm c o l d. Not natural." He frowns in disapproval of the fierce weather. Then, he breaks his ginormous smile once more, "well - good travel! aye aye!"

and he's off, one more grinning like a madman. As you all go your separate ways, gesturing to show his men the ample curves of the Terrible Andoran Women.

An icy glare aimed at T'Larryo, Cala states flatly "Lars, do you really wish to find out?

Taking a seat at the stern of the boat, Cala folds her legs close to her body and wraps her arms around them, staring distantly out to sea. Her Draugr stand vigil close by, and her physical demeanor clearly reads leave me alone.

Looking briefly over to the bargaining, Cala observes Talon and Aerent brokering a successful deal with the Chief, who is clearly no longer fixated on acquiring her. Though her expression is completely neutral, that probably suggests her satisfaction with the result.

Returning her gaze to the sea, Cala speaks quietly to her avian companion.

Auran:

"Slave. I'll remember that insult Lars."

Smugly, the bird keeps pouring oil on the fire that is Caladwhen-on-Anger.

Kargeld may be gruff, but in the next couple of days he proves himself a very capable sailor, as he navigates the clumsy ship North, upstream of the Sellen river.

Indeed, the weather is growing colder; every evening is worse than the one before. Eventually it begins to snow occasionally during the day – intermittent flurries at first give way to fat flakes and biting winds.

Sindran looks very displeased with the sudden drop in temperature and huddles for whatever warmth he can find.

"Tell me we're almost there," Sindran demands, grumpy face peeking out of his scavenged nest of makeshift blankets. "I hate the cold."

"One week of chilly weather and mister man is cold? grab a blanket and let me work."

Aerent approaches Sindran and hands over a small flask. "Not great, but it will help with the cold."

As he turns to walk away, he smiles, "And cheer up. The chief said this weather wasn't natural. Maybe we'll find a winter fey or snow elemental you can set on fire."

Talon nods and smiles "The warning about the weather is much appreciated, good hunting Chief four swords!"

Talon gives Cala a few minutes, then approaches her "Well I suppose you'll be amused that I convinced him you were a higher form of being and even being allowed to see you was an honor. He said you were so pretty even the dead rise just to be in your precense" he pauses "I come from what you all would call a village of savages, and even though we treat our women equal there are several different tribes or other races that don't, and it is an idea born of ignorance"

As the weather indeed does grow cold, Talon wraps his wings closely around his person instead of letting them drape off his back. He finds Kargeld "If this storm is as bad as the savage said we might want to find solid ground until it passes"

Kargeld points over the bow.
"See that? growlers. If this river freezes over, while we're lying still in the waters, we'd be in so much trouble I don't even know where to start. We are NOT going to sit this out - we have to keep moving. We are even going to sail on tonight - heck I'll need one of you to take a shift."
He seems genuinely worried. Before you can object, he calls out: "HELM! Come here, show this blackbird how the Hamar works."

The helmsman hands the 10" pole he was using to clear the sails from ice over to another sailor, and spends the rest of the day showing Talon and Aerent how to handle a ship.

The rest of you are not deemed strong enough to handle the wheel. Talon, Aerent, Oret : roll 1d6 + your INT bonus; that's your profession(Sailor) skill as of now! It's a class skill for all of you, so add +3.

Profession (sailor): 1d6 - 1 + 3 ⇒ (6) - 1 + 3 = 8

Niiiice.

Sindran grumbles and continues to stay in his corner. He thanks Aerent for the flask and is seen sipping its contents every now and then, alternating between watching them learn how to sail and remembering the times he was stuck out freezing in the middle of winter more times than he liked to count.

Talon nods "Shows my experience with sailing" at the blackbird comment Talon raises an eyebrow "Should I start refering to you pink fleshbags as walking moles?"

1d6 + 3 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 + 3 = 7

Listening quietly to Talon whilst looking out to sea, a slight grin forms on Cala and she whispers in auran "So beautiful the dead rise to be with me... I like that." Standing up and placing a hand on Talon's shoulder, Cala appears her characteristically cool self "Thank-you Talon. I knew theirs to be a backward culture towards women, but slavery? Never. I can barely stomach our forced labor for Thorn let alone that indignity."

With a sly grin, Cala laughs lightly before parting "Actually, you may have just saved those souls from extinction."

Heading over to the Captain, Cala motions at the Draugr "Let me know if they can be of use. They are actually... quite skilled on a boat, and extremely strong."

That is Cala's way of saying I have two undead sailors without freaking him out.

Kargeld looks at the walking bones properly for the first time. Already stressed because of the weather, the sight of the walking dead makes the normally so foul-mouthed sailor turn very polite.
"promise me, if Besmara claims me, don't let me end up like that."

He swallows.
"the can stand guard? I don't trust these waters, and it might feel good to have some eyes out that can...no longer... sleep."

the crew is rotating guard shifts every 3 hours, and they look at you increasingly often.