This ship belongs to the person taking us to treasure. That ain't you. And I got a score to settle with ya'
Jack advances and takes a swing with his falchion.
"Haha, you stupid mutineer. You supposed to have most of the crew on your side first, now we just gonna string you up for captain. Worst mutiny ever."
Coatl chuckles, striding forward as he talks. When he gets close, he lifts his knee high into the air, then slamming it down on the wooden deck with a thunderous retort that echoes through the cove.
Patzmiqui slithers back across the deck. The flying fish have been tasty so far. Maybe the flightless bird will be just as tasty?
As Coatl approaches, he sees the tengu is not alone, though it would be easy to miss the two halflings hiding behind him preparing to shoot more arrows.
Before snowfeather can do much of anything, Ortun's magic seizes him and holds him tight, causing him to just rock back and forth a bit as Coatl tries to knock him over.
Setare comes on him with the flat of her blade, and Jack quickly behind with the edge.
His two friends grab and pull the tengu back into the captain's quarters, one of the halflings pushing him aside as they try to hold the tight quarters. One of them pulls a short sword from his belt as the other moves snowfeather out of the way. The team can see the broken window in the captain's room, letting them know how they had gotten inside.
PATHFINDERS FIGHT! THE BOLD MAY ACT!
Setare
Ortun
Socrates -3 str
Jack -13
Coatl -5 -3 str / Patzmiqui -1
--------------------------
Snowfeather 11 NL -19
Ellara
Elodin
Jack steps up to the first halfling.
You signed on with the wrong Captain short guy.
Setare dances past the haflings who barely have a chance to react before she whips her blade through the air, the pummel slamming into Snowfeather's head HARD. She hears a little "CRACK" of skull as he hits the ground, and she gets the rather distinct feeling that if she had hit him to much harder she might have killed him!
As the two Halflings stare in shock at one just happened, Jack steps up and cut's one of them down, not even giving time to react. As the Halfling begins to spill blood, his comrade runs to him, dropping her bow and holding his head up.
ELODIN! PLEASE DON'T KILL HIM! She shields her comrade with her body.
Her eyes fill with tears.
We're just hired help! Please!
PATHFINDERS, VICTORY!
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Socraties stopes his song.
I am quite sure the halfling speaks the truth. Let us tie them to the mast and send a runner from the crew to get the captain to decide what to do with them, it is her ship and crew afterall.
If everyone is okay with that I will tap the two unconcoious ones withy wand of CLW oncw they are tied up to keep anyone from dying. I will also let the halfling knowy intentions if it is worried.
Coatl smiles at Setare's kind heart. "You gonna hear this a lot on this trip Fire lady. You too nice for your own good. Maybe that not the right way to say it. You too nice for ship mate's good. I like nice fire lady. Just be careful that niceness doesn't put ship in danger."
Coatl steps forward, patting the conscious halfling down and removing everything but her clothes, allowing her that dignity at least. He still makes sure to pat her down and ensure there are no hidden blades.
"No shoes. No hat, no gloves. Only shirt and breeches. Tie them with their hands high so it's harder for them to be sneaky and try to escape. Not our job to pass judgement. You will face the captain. You sad you get caught trying to steal a ship? Maybe shoulda thought about that before you take job stealing ships."
Coatl picks through the removed gear, using detect magic to look for valuables.
The tengu is still unconscious, and doesn't look like he'll wake up without a fair chunk more healing, but at least he's not dying anymore. The other two wait on the crew's decision, the girl Halfling looking to Setare.
Please, I'm telling the truth! Please save him!
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Setare looks at Coatl with shame.
”Coatl, I am so ... so embarrassed that I ... I wanted to let the evil ha ... hag on board. You ... you were right!“ she says with sad eyes.
She walks to the fallen Halfling and again heals with a touch.
She looks at the halflings and the Tengu and tries to detect evil
Bah, you're lucky Setare is with us. If it were up to Jack, I'd let your friend bleed to death. He'd do the same to me, more'n likely. But she doesn't like to see people die when they could be saved. Even if they are trecherous curs.
Take your friend and get out of her. And by here, I mean Lillywhite. Out of the shackles would probably be safest. If I ever see you again without my friend Setare around, there's a good chance I'll change my mind and finish the job right then and there. Your employer stays with us though.
Setare's gaze reveals that Hyrix radiates a faint aura of evil... he's no priest or demon, but he clearly has evil in his heart.
The halflings are clearly scared stiff, well, the awake one is, and after being stripped down and handing over their weapons, potions, and assorted goods, she runs to the small boat hidden over the back side with her comrade in tow, clearly to frightened to do much else but row for their lives.
The team binds up the unconscious Snowfeather, and waits for the captain.
In a few hours as the sun begins to set, the team seas the captain and a fair chunk of the crew come back.
CAPTAIN COMING ABOARD! is called as Lanteri steps on the ship. She sees the team and the bound Snowfeather, and her jovial smile instantly disappears, replaced with a snarl. She walks up to the team and to Snowfeather, still unconscious.
Tried to make a play for my ship while I was away did he?
She spits on the unconscious bird.
Made a good choice putting you lot on guard duty. Your worth your weight in gold.
She pulls her pistol out casually.
So, tell me what happened.
"Short and quick. Hardly knew what was happening before it was over. Sea Hag tried to board, when we said no she cast heeby jeeby spell. We shot her dead and ate all her flying fishies. Well, Patzmiqui," Coatl pats his snake on the head as he describes this part, "Did all the eating. When she was dead, Bird-face jumped out of cabin, say he gonna take the ship. I laughed, and fire lady hit him so hard he still won't wake up."
"Bird face had a couple of goons, but they ran away. Sorry we missed 'em captain." Coatl has a sheepish look on his face, and now turns his eyes down to his shoetops.
The rest of the crew files onboard, the crew watching carefully as the Captain interacts with the team. The Captain taps her pistol against her hip, staring daggers at the Tengu.
Setare darling, you have a kind heart. But Mutiny is capital offense. I should have him hanged from the mast for it. But frankly, I've wasted enough time on this piece of floatsam, and the cost of a bullet is worth saving the headache of tying him up by his throat.
She continues staring at him.
Good men, good women, both died because they got caught up in this bird's nonsense. I see no reason why I shouldn't execute my duty as a Captain and finish this, right now.
Murmurs among the crew quietly bubble around, the situation growing tenser as they wait expectantly.
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Setare steps forward with a fire burning in her eyes ... and when she speaks it is almost as if she is reciting something.
”I will redeem the ignorant with my words and my actions. If they will not turn toward the light, I will redeem them by the sword. I will not abide evil, and will combat it with steel when words are not enough. “
She then looks at the Captain.
”This man is evil. Yes, he deserves punishment by the laws of this town. But ... if he schemes against us again I will strike him down with my blade for good! Redemption is his last chance! I give you my word!“
The Captain looks at stammering Setare. The whole crew looks at her with a mixture of amusement, confusion, and for a few, awe. The Captain clicks her fingers against gun for a moment as she thinks for a moment.
Your word Setare?
She steps and crosses her arms, to an extent challenging Setare, but with the smile back on her face.
You give your word Setare? You give your word as a Sacred Servant of the Dawnflower, that you, personally will execute this Tengu if he will not give up his schemes? That if he lies, and he attempts to take my ship again, you will personally strike him down?
She stops for a moment, thinking some more. Then, she holds up her hand in the air, showing the number 3.
Three days!
She speaks loudly and clearly, clearly for the crews benefit as well as her's.
In three days, I show mercy to Snowfeather he would not show any of you! In three days he will be marooned on a habitable island and left to fend for himself, the kindest fate a mutineer could possibly receive! BUT...
She stops and points her finger at Setare.
Only Setare may speak with the prisoner. Only Setare may interact with him in any way. And on that third day she will give me her oath that he is no danger to anyone on this ship, that he has forsaken his plans against this ship and it's captain...
Her smile is... more than a little dark now.
Or she'll execute him herself.
She holds out her hand.
You agree to my terms?
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Setare is very uncomfortable. She looks at her companions for support.
”I ... I don’t know. I ... I thought we ... we can take him to prison for tri...trial. I ... I am a really bad ju... judge with respect to ... to someone’s true character. You ... you understand, right?“
Her resistance against an execution, the will to fight against evil ... all of this is rather based on her deep faith than on true willpower as it seems.
As Setare backs down, the crew and team see the Captain circle like a shark.
Trial? Ya here that crew? The landlubber want's a trial!
Some chuckles roll through the crew. The captain moves closer and speaks quieter.
Listen here lassie, and listen here good. Out here? In the sea? In the shackles? I AM the judge, jury, and executioner. I am the captain, and on the captain's ship, their word is law. A mutiny is a heinous crime, and the penalty for mutiny is death. There is no other "Rightful authority" out here to take him to. I AM the rightful authority.
With that she holds up the pistol to the Tengu's head. She speaks loudly again.
And I, as the rightful Captain of this ship, pass judgement on this traitor! He gets exactly what he deserves. He deserves death...
You can see her getting ready to squeeze the trigger...
"You, interloper, will do NOTHING. You will watch as we slaughter your followers and I will save you for the captain's pleasure.
Oturn picks up his longspear and walks across the deck of the Magpie Princess to Setare. Not really knowing what to do he places a hand on her shoulder before exhaling his breathe that he was holding way too long.
"Bit of advice. I know ships. You are a good and kind woman, trying to redeem the nonredeemable. Here on the sea there is order, and rules, and justice. Stealing a ship is worse than murder on the sea. This man, this Snowfeathers, he has stolen from birth. It will not change now. Not with words or deeds.
"You stand for good, but that also means justice. If we were less capable we would be dead, shark food on the sandy ocean floor. Every captain in the Shackles would put a bullet in his head, hells, Golarion, all would do the same.
"Not to mention the crew. What must they be thinking? We don't need them against us or the captain. Here we are, a bunch of no ones, changing the way that ships have been run for thousands of years. Best let captain carry on with it."
Ortun finishes his speech, face blank.
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Setare looks at the Captain with some shock and anger ... but then ... she steps back thinking about her teachings.
The best battle is a battle I win. If I die, I can no longer
fight. I will fight fairly when the fight is fair, and I will
strike quickly and without mercy when it is not.
She turns around to not see the killing shot.
* * *
After hearing Ortun's speech she nods.
"You ... you are so ... so kind. I ... I am very confused as my ... my teachings guided me ... but ... but here everything is so fuzzy ... Coatl and you see .... seem to be very wi ... wise. I ... I will try to fo ... follow you ..." she says with her heart broken.
She excuses herself and retreats.
As Setare relents and begins to walk away, Jack chimes in.
Bah! Jack'll take you up on you offer Captain. Three days - we'll have this birdie singing a new tune and ready to begin a life of isolation and stoicism on some lovely desert island, or I'll do the deed myself.
Jack turns and follows Setare, saying to her Hope you're convincing, or that birdie's gonna be walking the plank in a few days. Hell, he'll probably starve to death on that island - but he'll have a change.
I don't understand it - I'm happy to let the bird here and now, but if you think he's worth saving, I've seen enough of the good in ya' to believe you.
Coatl watches Setare with some sympathy, but is not bothered by the display of justice in front of him.
"River Drakes had to die. It was sad, but they upset the balance of the forest. Eat too many little critters, and the little bit bigger critters starve too. They not belong there. River Drakes life not wasted though. Back to dust. Their blood will feed the earth, their bones will feed the animals. Nature is stronger."
A few eyes turn towards Coatl, confused by this random bit of druidic wisdom.
"Ship is same way. Muntineer upsets the balance. With Muntiny there is chaos on ship. With no punishment, there is no fear of consequences for mutiny. There is no balance. I say Captain gets her justice now. Justice not just for bird face. Justice for rest of crew too. Now everyone knows if they want ship, they gotta come through us first. Everyone does own job. No chaos. Balance."
Coatl leans on his staff. "Coatl not wanna wait three more days. Jack is good orc man. But let's be done with this now."
The captain rolls her eyes in frustration as she pulls the gun away.
Ya surprise me Jack. I did not expect it would be you to be so soft hearted.
She nods to some of the other crew members.
Take him to the brig. No one sees him but Jack.
The unconscious Tengu is carried off.
The Captain turns and steps up onto a box so she stands tall.
ALRIGHT CREW! ENOUGH OF THIS NONSENSE! SNOWFEATHER IS DEALT WITH AND WE NEED TO GET MOVING! REDCLAW'S TREASURE AWAITS!
The crew cheers with joy and sets to work, ready to set sail in 3 days to pursue treasure and glory.
Jack looks at the Captain,
I've got a soft spot for the girl. She appeals to my better nature - don't you worry though, should the bird fail to be properly contrite you'll see no hesitating from me in carrying out his sentence.
Jack will only visit the bird once in the first day, and is going to go for more of a scared straight tactic than a diplomatic route.
Little bird - you're lucky we had Setare along. If not for her you'd be fish food already. She earned you a second chance. I'd take it if I were you. You feel like the Captain wronged you. I respect that. I understand that. But you made your play and lost. You should be dead already, but the grace of a Sarenrite with more hope than sense gave you a reprieve.
Now your choice is to hold on to that grudge and die, or move past it and take a shot at making something out of what life ya got left. I don't care which you choose, but know my blade is waiting for you in three days if you choose wrong.
Snowfeather is cowed by the terrifying Jack, but squawks at him as he leaves.
She'll betray you! She'll kill you just like she killed the captain! She doesn't deserve to be captain! I was the captain's right hand! I was the jinx-eater! I DESERVE to be captain!
At least as of day one, the bird shows no sign of changing his tune.
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After hearing of Jack's first attempt to scare straight the Tengu, Socraties will take the opportunity to whip up a batch of Gravelly Tonic (3 total 50gp). As soon as he completes one he will chase down Jack.
Here Jack, I heard you trying to scare the Tengu straight and thought this might help. It will make you sound even more terrifying. He hands all three over to Jack
As the last days of prep go on Socraties will make a couple new batches of silence dust (6 total costing 120 gp total) and tanglefoot bags (6 total 100 gp total) replacing what he had plus some after appreciating how well it worked against the drakes.
The only actual purchase he will make is a headband of vast intelligence +2 with UMD as it's skill.
Oturn remains silent as Jack takes the tengu away for rehabilitation. He walks over to Coatl and Socraties. "We are all grown, away from our mothers and fathers. We should be wise enough to say what we need to say, and stay silent when words will do no good."
He leaves the men and walks over to the nearest group of sailors. "Well met. If you did not know I am one of captain's new hires. Ortun is my name and I know boats as well and any gnarled sea dog on the Magpie Princess. Game of bones?" he asks as he draws out a worn leather bag. He bounces it on the palm of his hand, listening to the clink of coins.
As Ortun walks up to the men, several crew members, including a half-Keleshite, half-elven man with dreads, brighten up.
Oye, names Xosrov! Any man who knows how to throw bones is a friend of mine!
Come on boys, let's introduce our new crew mate to his first round of bad luck!
A cheer goes up as several men go to join Ortun for a evening of bones...
Ortun cusses at his rotten luck. "Well boys, there will be many a dull night. Glad to be sailing with a crew like you, Xosrov."
Xosrov slaps Ortun on the back as he slides some of Ortun's copper and silver away from him.
The sea and lady luck are both fickle mistresses! Perhaps another night will be kinder to you!
"Bones? I know bones." Coatl smiles, inviting himself alongside Ortun.
The druid also pulls out a worn leather pouch, but the clinking is more like clicking. He pulls the string and tips it upside down, its contents clattering to the floor.
"This is bird skull. Hollow bones so bird can fly. Good luck for when you high in the air, like in crow's nest." Coatl clicks his tongue.
"This one here is snake knee bone. Haha you laugh, it ok. Most people don't know snakes actually have legs that don't work. Like they got stuck when they created by the gods and never finished. What you doing with the number blocks? Oh, you need gold to play this? I'm gonna try this too."
Coatl flashes his naive smile again as he crosses his legs and sits down with the group.
I appreciate the offer - but its not worth wasting that on the bird. He'll change his ways or not - I'm not spending any more breath on him. I'll hold on to it if you don't mind though - might come in handy later.
Three days later, the Captain calls the crew aboard and has snowfeather dragged up from the brig. Tied and gagged, the bird glares with hate at the Captain.
Well Snowfeather, today's the day.
The Captain steps forward and turns to the crew.
Let it never be said I'm not merciful or fair! The punishment for mutiny is death! This ship became mine the moment my husband passed.... even if the circumstances of his death where....
She winces a bit.
Unfortunate.
She refocuses.
I have never allowed any man to hold a weapon to me, and that includes my husband. I loved him, more than I loved the sea or gold. But a man makes stupid mistakes when he's angry, and he forced my hand.
There are murmurs and nods as well as shakes of the head from the crew... apparently, it's still a divisive issue.
But despite the circumstances, there has never been any question about this fact. I am the Captain. This is my Ship. And to Mutiny against the Captain carries 1 appropriate penalty, death.
She turns to Snowfeather and kneels down, taking the gag off him.
Do you repent Snowfeather? Do you recognize me as Captain, and apologize for the men who died because of your greed?
Snowfeather glares at the Captain and caws out.
MAY THE SEA SWALLOW YOU WHOLE WHORE!
The Captain frowns and rams the cloth back into his beak and stands, and turns towards jack.
Alright Jack... You promised me if he didn't change his tune, you'd do the deed. So, the time has come... How shall the bird be executed?
She glares at the bird with a snarl.
After that outburst, I'm in favor of keelhauling.
Jack walks slowly towards the bird.
Justice needs to be done - Our Captain offered him a chance at mercy that he didn't earn and obviously didn't deserve.
Jack mutters under his breath, and the dumb bird couldn't even try to lie to save his skin...
Speaking with a strong, clear voice, once again, Jack unsheaths his falchion, pausing behind the Tengu.
I see no reason to draw it out. Let justice be done!
And with that, Jack will bring his blade down on Snowfeather's neck, decapitating him in one clean blow.
Snowfeather's head bounces on the deck and The Captain picks it up.
And now for the last time Snowfeather... OFF MY SHIP!
With that, she tosses the head overboard, and a pair of crew members do the same with his body.
ALRIGHT CREW! IT'S TIME WE SET SAIL! FOR REDCLAW'S TREASURE!
The sails unfurl and the ship catches the wind, floating out to sea. The crew is busy with the work needed to keep the ship going... The Captain nods to the team.
When your ready, meet me in my quarters... we'll go over the next stage of the hunt.
With that, she heads off to her quarters.
Can I make some sense motive checks to try to discern how the crew and captain feel about what just happened? I'll use studied target on the Captain for the bonus to sense motive. Gonna go ahead and make some checks, assuming that you allow that.
After the Captain speaks, Jack turns to his companions.
I'm ready to meet with the Captain now. I'll be helping the crew get the ship moving until the rest of you lot are ready.
Jack will survey the ship, and try to find a crew member that could use some help with whatever task they are working at - swabbing the deck, working in the rigging, peeling potatoes - whatever. Jack's not snobby and will help out wherever he can.
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Jack you can keep hold of them, I have no need for them myself, as you can tell, I am not very intimidating.
On deck, Socraties watches the beheading without flinching. To him this is no worse than anything he has seen before and is how the justice of the sea works. Once the deed is done, he silently surveys the crew of their reactions seeing what he can tell of their experience, loyalties, and impressions of the team, then follows not far behind the captain to her quarters.
Patzmiqui follows behind Coatl as he ambles around the deck of the ship. After the captain speaks and retreats to her cabin, Coatl doesn't take long before following.
The giant snake slithers slowly in wide, back and forth waves as he stays a few feet behind the druid, approaching the captain's quarters.
Jack and Socrates survey the crew, trying to get a feel for how the crew has taken the execution.
The Captain is the easiest to read. She seems to be relieved that the deed is done, and clearly looks like a burden has been lifted from her.
Horemheb looked unhappy when jack declared the sentence, but smiled when the deed was actually done. You think that Horeheb would have gone harder on Snowfeather, but is happy that justice was executed.
Iulia winced slightly at the killing blow, but not at the proclamation or any of the setup, so you suspect this was just an avoidance of looking at the rather bloody violence.
Xosrov and Anatoly both are making jokes about the execution, and a lot of "Ahead!" puns. You think this is just how they process such things.
Yamtisy was one of the ones who grabbed the body, and seemed to take some measure of joy in chucking it overboard. You think no love was lost there.
You don't know the rest of the crew well enough to get a read on them.
Ortun looks impassively at the execution of Snowfeathers.
Before the crew assembles in the captain's cabin, Ortun stops them momentarily, his face clouded in anger. Oturn begins, "We are all pathfinders, learned and hardened by years on the open road. Beware. You seem to want to change that which has not been changed in thousands of years. On the sea the captain is more powerful than the thrice dammed house of Thrune or any Andoran Lord. " he pauses to look at them sternly "And twice you counterman the captain's clear orders. Snowfeather was guilty of the most heinous of crimes on the sea and you pleaded for leniency and ignored the captain's recommended sentence. You sail uncharted seas here and I for one will not sink with the lot of you should you continue to tack into the wind.
"From here on out I suggest you all fall in line. Captain gives an order, you do it."
He turns and walks in before anyone has a chance to contradict what he just said.
Coatl raises his eyebrows as Ortun stalks into the captain's quarters. He turns to the group as they take in the admonishment.
"See? Balance. He not wrong."
Coatl skips in behind, Patzmiqui on his heels.