Good idea. Let us get to the ship, as she sit on the wagon with Ajikisshochraos looking through the items.
You leave the peasants to die and decide to return to the ship with your loot.
Once you are clear of the city Adrastus appears before you accompanied by Tiadora. "I see things went well. So how was it? How effective was the weapon?"
When Adrastus appears and Slid starts to give his report, she simply turns around to look at the destroyed town thinking to herself, What a wonderful sight of a town destroyed. pity about the mess. Hopefully nature will take over to restore natural beauty.
Ajikisshochraos lies onto top of the pile of items, as a typical drake would do with it's hoard of treasure.
"The destruction was marvelous," Cori adds. "There were a few pompous knights that tried to rescue some of the townsfolk, but we put a stop to that. Most of the loot in this wagon was once theirs."
"Excellent, there is a temple of those detestable followers of Sarenrea to the north of here that escape the destruction. Those knights likely came from there. If you want to indulge in more destruction then you can go clear the place out, otherwise you can head to the boat. I've paid the captain his "extra" pay to ferry you to your next destination. However, when you arrive kill him and his crew and secure his shipment we are going to use those weapons to gain the services of some orcs to our cause. You can keep his payments for yourselves, consider it a bonus."
Before leaving, Vinnick will reanimate the corpse of the elven warrior that foolishly stood before his tiger. A lowly skeleton was of little use, but a body was a body. And it was a fitting end to repay the damaged flesh.
Hmm.. to assault a temple... a risky endeavor. My minions will be less useful there as well.. Vinnick muses, mostly to the others.
Vinnick speaks the truth. Potential significant risk with an unknown reward. The will likely be entrenched and ready when their knights do not return. It could also weaken us for our taking of the ship, which is our true task. I am opposed withing further intel.
"I would love to slaughter every miserable priest, pilgrim, and penitent in that palace of pretension," Cori replies, "but it would take time to scout it out, plan, and execute an effective incursion. Let's save our energy for that worthless boat captain and his crew."
Remember we need to get to our next destination first before we take them out, unless you know how to make the ship go where you want, without turning around.
So to the boat? Not seeing a clear for or against decision so far lol.
”We’ve got a boat to catch,” Cori says. ”Let’s not keep them waiting.”
You return to the boat and the captain begrudgingly welcomes you back aboard.
The first day of travel is uneventful and you cross the section where you fought the merfolk whiteout incident. The next day however as you are moving past the city of Vellumis a small patrol ship starts following yours.
Kargeld looks at the ship grimly "She’s seen us, sure as damnation. And there is no way the ‘Frost'hamar’ will outrun her loaded like this. One look at our cargo and they’ll know us for exactly what we are – weapon smugglers. Not to mention those..." He looks at the undead Soldier and Tiger.
"So she's seen us," Cori replies, "and she might even be following us. If you start running, she'll suspect you're up to something and give chase. If you sail on, calm and collected, they might not bother to keep following us. As for those two," she says, giving a small gesture towards the undead, "only the tiger might look odd from this distance. All he need do is order it to lay down beside the gunwale, and it will be out of sight."
She looks towards Vinnick to see if he is amenable to that course of action.
Stanislav assumes the roll of a deck hand so as to not draw unwanted attention to their vessel which should not have a contingent of armed men on deck. Looking up from coiling a rope he tries to note the course and speed of the the other boat.
The ship following is smaller than the Frosthamar, it's a single-masted fully-rigged pinnace only thirty feet long. There are thirteen men aboard the ship – a dozen sailors and the captain.
"We will maintain course and speed but they look to be coming in for an intercept they will be alongside us in a few minutes"
"R'yzz, Vinnick, do either of you have any magic that can either hide or shield our ship, or else sink theirs?" Cori asks.
Stanislav watches the boat closing. Looking to Cori he taps his longbow and gives her a questioning look? He tries to see if there is a tiller or helmsman who might be vulnerable to arrows.
.
On spotting the other ship, R'yzzntyg glides down from the crows nest to give a companion barkskin, before heading up to the crows nest again.
Replying to Corri, I can entangle them, do a little burning. I not capable yet to bring forth the force of nature to sink their ship.
"Entanglement could be very useful," Cori replies to R'yzz. She nods in response to Stanislav, also looking for a helmsman, officer, or other ideal target exposed on the small ship.
She sits in the crows nest with Ajikisshochraos hiding out of sight. as she watches the small ship moving closer.
You can see someone that clearly looks like an office at the front but there is no one you can shoot that would stop the ship.
The ships pulls along "So we attack when they get close?" Asks the captain of the ship "catch them off-guard?"
If we let them board and throw down our arms they will not attack. Stanislav offers. We are running their blockade basically and carrying arms to their enemy.
"It would be amusing to play stupid for as long as possible," Cori suggests. "We keep sailing, no matter how close they follow. When they hail us, and demand we heave to, we should act perplexed and ask inane questions about why we are being detained. When they attempt to board, we hit them while they are crossing the gangplanks."
She taps her pendant and changes her appearance to a refined, snobbish looking young noblewoman. Her image bears no visible weapons of any kind.
Stanislav nods. taking his hand from his bow and tending to the ship
Seeing Cori disguising herself, she take on the appearance of the lizardfolk, and pretends to be relaxing in the crows nest, all the while pushing inquisitive Ajikisshochraos' head down to hide her.
The ship captain nods.
You wait and the vessel slowly catches up to you. They shout for you to let them board and the captain of the Frosthamar complies.
You come to a stop and a boarding plank is put in place however as soon as the captain of the other ship comes across the Captain of the Frosthamar swings his axe at him shouting "Take em down!" to the crew.
The crew of the Talderan vessel is shocked at this turn of events are you get a surprise round then roll init.
MAP POSTED IN ROLL20
Cori circles around behind the Captain and Stan drawing her sword as she moves. She lays into one of the boarding sailors as he steps off the gangplank.
Stepping withing 10' feet of a foe, Stanislav tries to quickly dispatch a sailor near him. He power attacks for full effect.
Vinnick conjures up a slippery surface of grease underneath the captains feet, and instructs his tiger to remain hidden. The small area was not particularly the best place for it to fight. His skeletal companion however does move up.
She whispers to Ajikisshochraos in draconic, Not yet, let them bunch up more.
She pulls out her mistletoe and beings wearing her hands as she incarnates in druidic.
Vinnick greases the plank and Ryzz summons a ball of fire swooping down at the sailors while Cori and the crew attack with arrows, javelins, and throwing axes.
The surprised crew of the patrol vessel is quickly overpowered and taken down.
The crew of frosthammar quickly get to work looting the other vessel and finishing off any survivors.
Tempting to keep the boat, but I think we should scuttle it in deep water. Stanislav adds as he cleans the blood from his weapon.
Cori nods in agreement. "I guess it would be a bit of an annoyance to have to explain why we were towing a patrol boat; not to mention the conspicuous absence of its crew. Any ideas on how best to go about that?"
The captain of the frosthammar nods "The boys will take care of it, we've had to scuttle ships in the past."
Having secured the valuables onboard and sunk the patrol boat you move on. The next few days are calm with no signs of further pursuit. The boats going up river into the mountains into orc territory and soon will arrive at it's next destination...
You can actually all go ahead and LEVEL UP to level 5.
Ajikisshochraos has gone noticeable in size since she had reunited with R'yzzntyg after her charge escaped the prison island. She of small size slightly smaller than R'yzzntyg.
During the remainder of the days of the ships journey, R'yzzntyg remained in the crows nest with Ajikisshochraos, reading her dragon book.
After the fight Stanislav looks drawn and grey. It's almost like he has been used up. He eats and drinks little and keeps to himself. This only grows worse as days pass. You might note he tries to stay out of the direct sun light when he can, staying in the sails shadow when possible. He takes his watches at night.
Cori approaches Stan during one of the night shifts. "You're not looking so good these past few days. Is it temporary, or something that's going to be a problem from here on out?" Her tone isn't confrontational, just businesslike. She clearly wants to know if his illness is something that will need to taken into consideration.