The Crown of Oceana (Core Thread) (Inactive)

Game Master Nathanael Love

Round 1
Grin rows and casts Lead Blades. "Strike true and make 'em bleed lads!"

Round 2
He drops his oar and pulls out his sword, stands up and yells "Send 'em to hell!

I don’t think the map updated when I first posted. So, I’d like to change my action.

Myrsko loads his pistol, and fires a round at the closet Sahuagin on the starboard side.

Pistol vs. Touch: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (16) + 4 = 201d8 ⇒ 2

Round 1:
Heskavar:
Swimming a short distance towards the approaching Sahuagin, before casting a spell to increase the impact of his weaponry. He then motions for Fang to not charge forward to attack yet, to not draw the attention of the Sahuagin to them.

Casting Lead Blades and taking a single move action towards the Sahuagin.

Fang:

Fang will stick close to Heskavar, keeping just ahead of him as they both swim forward.

.

Round 2:
Heskavar:
Heskavar quickly sends a command for Fang to move up to attack one of the Sahuagin that has gone over to target those on the boat. As he does, he quickly focuses on himself to become more like an Orca himself.

Activating Animal Focus on himself as a swift action, specifically Orca to boost his Strength.

Fang:
Fang quickly swims up towards the target Sahuagin, swimming around to the far side as he and Hesavar have practiced before in order to draw the attention of the target between them, before moving up and biting at them with their jaws.
Bite (+Bless): 1d20 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (18) + 3 + 1 = 22
Damage: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7

Heskavar:
Once Fang is in position, Heskavar will quickly swim up and charge at the Sahuagin that the two of them are targeting, trident held forward to stab them.
Trident (+AF, +Flank, +Charge, +Bless): 1d20 + 1 + 4 + 4 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 + 4 + 4 + 2 + 1 = 17
Damage (P) (+AF): 2d6 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (6, 1) + 3 + 1 = 11

Round 2
Biligup misses.

Cordelia hits, and the sahuagin slides below the waves, not dead, but unable to swim unconcious.

Grin draws out his sword.

Myrsko hits the (blue) sahuagin, damaging it.

Shad hits twice, severely wounding that sahuagin.

Fang and Heskavar drop another Sahuagin to lifelessly float to the bottom.

The remaining sahuagin attack!

Two try to climb onto the boat.
One provokes from Munrir and one from Biligup here- you can either take an AOO or make a CMB check to push them back into the water as they climb- they will not get an AOO on you if you do that

A third sahuagin turns and attacks fang:
Trident: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8
Damage: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5 miss!

The damage sahuagin withdraws back, and the other two shout "Traitor!" in Sahuagin as they attack Shad:

Trident: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (17) + 4 = 21
Damage: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (7) + 3 = 10
Trident: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5
Damage: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5
one hit!

Munrir casts bless!

Round 3
The Sahuagin leader draws out a potion and hands it to the wounded Sahuagin.

1. Sahuagin Leader
2. Biligup
3. Cordelia
4. Grin
5. Myrsko
6. Shad
7. Heskavar
8. Sahuagin
9. Munrir

Shad: 4/20

Blue sahuagin: -2
Red sahuagin: -13

That brings up the party again!

Round 2 - AoO

Munir stabs wildly at the presumptuous sahuagin.

AoO, longspear: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7
Damage, longspear: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7

Shad back pedals a few feet, pulls a potion out and putting the bottle between his teeth he pulls the stopper and downs a cure moderate wounds.

cure moderate: 2d8 + 3 ⇒ (1, 5) + 3 = 9

Round 3
Shad backs up and drinks the potion

1. Sahuagin Leader
2. Biligup
3. Cordelia
4. Grin
5. Myrsko
6. Shad
7. Heskavar
8. Sahuagin
9. Munrir

Shad: 13/20

Blue sahuagin: -2
Red sahuagin: -13

Pending Biligup, Cordelia, Grin, Myrkso and Heskavar

Reloading his pistol again, Myrsko fires another shot on the blue sahuagin.

Pistol v. touch: 1d20 + 4 - 4 ⇒ (14) + 4 - 4 = 141d8 ⇒ 8

Hope that’s enough to hit.

Round 3:

Heskavar:
Heskavar will give Fang a command to shift target to the Sahuagin that is still in the water next to the two of them.[/ooc]

Fang
Fang will try to swim to a flanking position without opening himself up to a retaliatory attack from his movement.
Acrobatics: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 9

However, he gets a little overexcited in doing so. If still conscious, he will maneuver to an optimal position to flank before striking with his jaws.

Bite (+Fl, +Bl): 1d20 + 3 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 3 + 4 + 1 = 14
Damage: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5

Heskavar:
Once Fang is in an optimal location to flank the Sahuagin, Heskavar will launch his own attack, first trying to bit at them before bringing his trident to bear against them.

Bite (+Fl, +Bl, -NA): 1d20 + 4 + 4 + 1 - 5 ⇒ (5) + 4 + 4 + 1 - 5 = 9

Trident (+Fl, +Bl): 1d20 + 4 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (10) + 4 + 4 + 1 = 19
Damage (P) (+LB, +AF): 2d6 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (1, 5) + 3 + 1 = 10

Round 3
Myrsko fires, hitting the sahuagin.

With the Sahuagin above the water line trying to climb aboard, Fang is able to swim beneath him and position, but still misses with his bite.

Heskavar, however, lads a nasty Trident blow on the (now orange) Sahuagin.

One Sahuagin swims around to trap Shad Full move to flank while the other moves up and stabs at him with its trident:
Trident, Flank: 1d20 + 4 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 4 + 2 = 11 miss!

Meanwhile on the boat, they try to strike at Munrir:
Trident: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (16) + 4 = 20
Damage: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4 hit!

At Biligup
Trident, Flank: 1d20 + 4 + 2 ⇒ (14) + 4 + 2 = 20
Damage: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (8) + 3 = 11 hit!

And at Heskavar:
Trident, Flank: 1d20 + 4 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 4 + 2 = 8 miss!

The (red) Sahuagin swims back!

1. Sahuagin Leader
2. Biligup
3. Cordelia
4. Grin
5. Myrsko
6. Shad
7. Heskavar
8. Sahuagin
9. Munrir

Biligup: 9/20
Munrir: 15/19
Shad: 13/20

Blue sahuagin: -10
Red sahuagin: -1
Orange Sahuagin: -10

That brings up Munrir before the Sahuagin leader, and Biligup, Cordelia, and Grin all have round 3 actions remaining

Round 3
Bless: +1 morale bonus to attack, save vs fear (18 rounds remaining)

Munir drops his spear into the boat and swings the warhammer from his back, attempting to plant the holy weapon firmly into the adjacent sahuagin's skull.

Attack, warhammer: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (19) + 1 = 20
Damage, warhammer: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5

Round 2 AoO: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (10) + 8 = 18Damage: 1d4 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4

Flanked by Sahuagin, Biligup strikes at the enemy flanking him and prepares to try and parry the attack out of his way.

Attack: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (17) + 8 = 25Damage: 1d4 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4
Parry: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (15) + 6 = 21 Riposte: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (12) + 8 = 20 Damage: 1d4 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4
Many blessings to Zailor, who saves me 11 hitpoints.

Cordelia tries another Snowball

Snowball: 1d20 + 2 - 4 ⇒ (3) + 2 - 4 = 1

Yeah I might sit this combat out. I'm already down half my spells and haven't added any value.

Round 3
Biligup sticks the sahuagin as it climbs up, then as it tries to stab him sticks him again, killing it! Regen the Panache you spent on that parry with the KB

Then he sticks the other adjacent sahuagin for good measure! (now purple)

Cordelia misses with the snowball. On the plus side- you know you are still several days sail away from your target location, so it is unlikely you will face another encounter today

Munrir slams the hammer into the sahuagin, knocking that one too back to the sea!

The sahuagin leader swims forward, and uses his longpear to stab at Heskavar!
Longspear: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (5) + 8 = 13
Damage: 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (7) + 4 = 11 miss!

1. Sahuagin Leader
2. Biligup
3. Cordelia
4. Grin
5. Myrsko
6. Shad
7. Heskavar
8. Sahuagin
9. Munrir

Biligup: 9/20
Munrir: 15/19
Shad: 13/20

Red sahuagin: -1
Purple sahuagin: -4

That brings up the party again!

Round 4:
Heskavar:
Heskavar quickly sends a command for Fang to shift target to the Sahuagin leader who just came up to stab at him with their spear.

Fang:
Fang quickly swims around to set up a flanking position with Heskavar (only taking a five-foot step). He then will take a bite at the Sahuagin's body.

Bite (+Bl): 1d20 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (17) + 3 + 1 = 21
Damage: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6

Heskavar:
Once Fang is in position, Heskavar will move up into the flanking position and attack them twice, first with his trident and following it up with his bite.

Trident (+AF, +Fl, +Bl): 1d20 + 1 + 4 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (9) + 1 + 4 + 4 + 1 = 19
Damage (P) (+LB, +AF): 2d6 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (1, 3) + 3 + 1 = 8

Bite (+AF, +Fl, +Bl, -NA): 1d20 + 1 + 4 + 4 + 1 - 5 ⇒ (6) + 1 + 4 + 4 + 1 - 5 = 11

Well, why mess with success.. Myrsko reloads and fires his pistol at the purple Sahuagin.

Pistol v. touch: 1d20 + 4 - 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 - 4 = 51d8 ⇒ 1

The pistol thunders off, but the shot goes wide.

Alas, I only regain panache now with criticals with rapiers. It is one of the tradeoffs of being an Inspired Blade

Parrying the blade to the side, Billi drives his small rapier into the sahuagin's heart and pulls it out. The foe slips off of the boat and lifelessly floats in the water. He turns his attention then to the last foe on the boat, twirling his blade menacingly.

"I'll show you that Deepcroak is no pushover!" He shouts, striking against the foe with quick strikes in succession.

Attack: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (7) + 8 = 15Damage: 1d4 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7
Parry: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (12) + 6 = 18 Riposte: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (9) + 6 = 15Damage: 1d4 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5

Round 3
Biligup misses.

Myrsko misses!

Heskavar and fang position to attack the Sahuagin leader, and fang bites him before Heskavar stabs with the trident!

1. Sahuagin Leader
2. Biligup
3. Cordelia
4. Grin
5. Myrsko
6. Shad
7. Heskavar
8. Sahuagin
9. Munrir

Biligup: 9/20
Munrir: 15/19
Shad: 13/20

Red sahuagin: -1
Purple sahuagin: -4

Sahuagin leader: -14

Pending Cordelia, Gin(?) and Shad

Shad swims to the side and then attacks one of the sahuagin he was facing off to.

claw attack 1: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (10) + 6 = 161d4 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6
claw attack 2: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (8) + 6 = 141d4 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6
Bite attack : 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (1) + 5 = 61d4 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5

Round 3
Shad mooves to the side, but only manages to catch the sahuagin with a single claw! (now orange)

The sahuagin remaining on the deck attacks Biligup!
Trident: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7
Damage: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4 miss! technically the parry goes, but then the riposte misses

The (red) one rushes past Heskavar to flank! Provokes AOO here
Trident: 1d20 + 4 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 4 + 2 = 14
Damage: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9 miss!

While the other two continue to try to assault Shad!
Trident: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (9) + 4 = 13
Damage: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5

Trident: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7
Damage: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 3 = 8 miss and miss!

1. Sahuagin Leader
2. Biligup
3. Cordelia
4. Myrsko
5. Shad
6. Heskavar
7. Sahuagin
8. Munrir

Status:
Biligup: 9/20
Munrir: 15/19
Shad: 13/20

Red sahuagin: -1
Purple sahuagin: -4
Orange Sahuagin: -6

Sahuagin leader: -14

Pending Cordelia if she has an action, Heskavar's AOO, and Munrir before the sahuagin leader

AOO:

Heskavar tries to stab at the Sahuagin as they swim past him.

Trident (+AF, +Bl): 1d20 + 4 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (17) + 4 + 1 + 1 = 23
Damage (P) (+LB, +AF): 2d6 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (1, 4) + 3 + 1 = 9

Cordelia launches another Snowball - this time at the Lead sahuagin

Attack: 1d20 + 2 - 4 ⇒ (20) + 2 - 4 = 18
Damage: 4d6 ⇒ (5, 4, 3, 4) = 16
Confirm?: 1d20 + 2 - 4 ⇒ (3) + 2 - 4 = 1

Round 3
Heskavar catches the sahuagin with a trident stab as it swims past him, wounding it again!

Cordelia blasts the sahuagin leader!

Round 4
The sahuagin leader pushes to the side, to clear away from being trapped between Heskavar and fang, and stabs at the adarro with his longspear again!

Longspear: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (11) + 8 = 19
Damage: 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8 hit!

1. Sahuagin Leader
2. Biligup
3. Cordelia
4. Myrsko
5. Shad
6. Heskavar
7. Lagrin
8. Sahuagin
9. Munrir

Status:
Biligup: 9/20
Heskavar:10/18
Munrir: 15/19
Shad: 13/20

Red sahuagin: -10
Purple sahuagin: -4
Orange Sahuagin: -6

Sahuagin leader: -30

The entire party can act now- Munrir to close out Round 3 and everyone else for round 4 prior to the main set of Sahuagins!

Nice shot, Cordelia! Myrsko cheers as he sees the snowball hit it’s mark. Let’s see if I can’t hit this scoundrel on out boat.

He then reloads and takes aim with his pistol, firing again at purple.

Pistol v. touch: 1d20 + 4 - 4 ⇒ (16) + 4 - 4 = 161d8 ⇒ 4

Grin hacks at the Sahaugin menacing Biligup, stepping up if he needs to.

Attack: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (6) + 5 = 11
damage: 2d8 + 6 ⇒ (2, 5) + 6 = 13

As his swing goes wide, he whistles at Barret and gestures at the fish-man attacking Heskavar, sending the gator that way.

Handle Animal: 1d20 + 4 + 4 ⇒ (17) + 4 + 4 = 25

Bite Attack: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (9) + 7 = 16
damage: 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6

Myrsko, Lagrin, and Barrett all miss their targets!

Pending Munrir, Shad, Heskavar, Cordelia, and Biligup

I believe I'm on my Round 4 action - Round 1: rowing; Round 2: bless and AoO; Round 3: warhammer attack...

Round 4

Heskavar
Heskavar grunts in pain at being stabbed by the longspear held by the leader of the Sahuagin. However, not wanting to leave an opponent behind him, Heskavar will turn to stab at the nearest Sahuagin with his Trident.

Trident (+AF, +Bl): 1d20 + 4 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (12) + 4 + 1 + 1 = 18
Damage (P) (+LB, +AF): 2d6 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (6, 2) + 3 + 1 = 12

Once he is finished with that, he will turn back to face the Sahuagin leader. Swimming slightly forward and to the side, he carefully maneuvers up to be in melee range with them. He then attempts to bite them.

Bite (+AF, +Bl, -NA): 1d20 + 4 + 1 + 1 - 5 ⇒ (4) + 4 + 1 + 1 - 5 = 5
Damage (+AF): 1d6 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 3 + 1 = 6

Fang
Swimming carefully up to a flanking position on the leader Sahuagin, Fang will try to bite at them with his jaws.
Bite (+Fl, +Bl: 1d20 + 3 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 3 + 4 + 1 = 9
Damage: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4

Round 4
With a quick stab, Heskavar sends another Sahuagin to the deep, but misses the leader!

The sahuagin on top attack Lagrin:
Trident: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (14) + 4 = 18
Damage: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (7) + 3 = 10 hit!

While the other two keep stabbing at Shad:
Trident: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5
Trident: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (17) + 4 = 21 one hit!
Damage: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5

1. Sahuagin Leader
2. Biligup
3. Cordelia
4. Myrsko
5. Shad
6. Heskavar
7. Lagrin
8. Sahuagin
9. Munrir

Status:
Biligup: 9/20
Heskavar:10/18
Lagrin: 7/17
Munrir: 15/19
Shad: 8/20

Purple sahuagin: -4
Orange Sahuagin: -6

Sahuagin leader: -30

NOW that brings up Munrir, and still have Shad, Cordelia, Biligup

Inwardly thrilled at finally experiencing some success, as well as some extreme satisfaction at hurting the leader that had nullified her previous attempts via healing magic, Cordelia attempts yet another spell, hoping to achieve a similar result.

Attack Snowball: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4

Round 4
Bless: +1 morale bonus to attack, save vs fear (17 rounds remaining)

Unable to maneuver himself into melee, the gnoll instead steps across the boat behind the grippli. Holding his warhammer skywards in one hand, he reaches down and touches the swordsfrog with the other.

”Let *YIP!* Zailor mend you, friend, that you may *YIP!*YIP!* rend His enemies!”

Biligup, cure light wounds: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6

Standard: casting cure light wounds on Biligup; Move: none; Swift: none; Free: 5-ft step per map; talking.

Shad continues his assault

attack claw 1: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (4) + 6 = 101d4 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5
attack claw 2: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (13) + 6 = 191d4 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4
attack Bite: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (9) + 6 = 151d4 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5

Round 4
Cordelia misses.

Shad hits once!

Munrir cures Biligup.

Round 5
The sahuagin leader backs up to again stab at Heskavar:
Long spear: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (4) + 8 = 12
damage: 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8 miss!

Now in position to do so, he also bites at Fang!
Bite: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (14) + 2 = 16 hit!
Damage: 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4

1. Sahuagin Leader
2. Biligup
3. Cordelia
4. Myrsko
5. Shad
6. Heskavar
7. Lagrin
8. Sahuagin
9. Munrir

Status:
Biligup: 14/20
Heskavar:10/18
Fang: 14/18
Lagrin: 7/17
Munrir: 15/19
Shad: 8/20

Purple sahuagin: -4
Orange Sahuagin: -10

Sahuagin leader: -30

That brings up everyone but Munrir again before the sahuagin rank and file

pressing his attack Shad strikes out with fang and claw

attack claw 1: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (1) + 6 = 71d4 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6
attack claw 2: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (7) + 6 = 131d4 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5
attack Bite: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (11) + 5 = 161d4 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6

Shad misses, but one strike kills (orange) one of the sahuagin!

Pending Biligup, Cordelia, Heskavar, and Lagrin- I know this wonderful ice/power outage weather may be delaying people some

3 enemies are left- one sahuagin by Shad, one sahuagin on the boat, and the leader by Heskavar in the water

Sorry for the delay! The winter storm in Texas hit us pretty hard.

The power of Zailor soothes his wounds and restores his stamina, keeping the froggy swashbuckler in good shape. He launches another attack at the enemy that remains on their boat, aiming to pierce through the sahuagin's tender bits.

Attack: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (12) + 8 = 20Damage: 1d4 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6

Round 4

Heskavar
Seeing the Sahuagin leader bite Fang, Heskavar will carefully swim up close to them in order to get within melee range. Once he is in position, he stabs at them with his Trident, before biting at him with his own teeth.

Trident (+AF, +Bl): 1d20 + 4 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (15) + 4 + 1 + 1 = 21
Damage (P) (+LB, +AF): 2d6 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (5, 4) + 3 + 1 = 13

Bite (+AF, +Bl, -NA): 1d20 + 4 + 1 + 1 - 5 ⇒ (5) + 4 + 1 + 1 - 5 = 6
Not going to bother rolling damage, since I know this misses.

Fang
Squealing slightly in pain at the bite from the Sahuagin, Fang will still remain in combat with them. Shifting position slightly in the water to be in a better position, he then bites at them in return.

Bite (+Fl, +Bl): 1d20 + 3 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (19) + 3 + 4 + 1 = 27
Damage: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7

Grin narrows his eyes at the Sahuagin who hit him and squawks out "That hurt, friend. Hope this does too."

Attack: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (19) + 5 = 24
damage: 2d8 + 6 ⇒ (2, 6) + 6 = 14

He whistles at Barret then and sends the gator to help out Shad.

Handle Animal DC10: 1d20 + 4 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 + 4 = 12
Bite Attack: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (16) + 7 = 23
damage: 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6

Nodachi confirmation: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (7) + 5 = 12
Crit Damage: 2d8 + 6 ⇒ (5, 3) + 6 = 14

Biligup pokes the Sahuagin, then Lagrin follows through and beheads it!

Meanwhile in the water, with fang and barrett biting and holding the leader in place, Heskavar finishes him with a stab with his trident!

The final sahuagin turns to flee beneath the waves!

I believe only Shad in a position/able to catch him if the goal is to not let him escape

The ordinary sahuagin had only their crudely made tridents, but the leader has:
mwk longspear, mwk underwater heavy crossbow with 18 bolts, hand of the mage, agate earring worth 25 gp, pearls (7, worth 100 gp each), 18 gp

I wonder what that was all about. Myrsko looks around from the boat. He then moves back to the oar and prepares to row. Well, back to the ship, I guess.

You return to the ship and make it to the Fair Lands without further incident, arriving at your destination- a small but busy city with a pier and dock that are not deep enough for a ship as large as yours.

Setting forth in the launch again, you are greeted by a human dressed in furs and leather, with an accent he greets you, "Welcome to Theleban. I am Oerthar. I will take you to meet the King."

Orethar leads you through the streets of the small settlement, to what more closely resembles a long hall than a castle or keep. Inside, a burly man, also dressed in furs with a thing band of silver on his head for a crown awaits, flanked by men carrying an axe, a sword, a spear, and a bow respectively- clearly a ceremonial guard.

"Well, Oerthar, these are the ones who say they can deal with this pirate problem we are having? Quite the strange lot, these- tell me, servants of this Sea King- what can you do for us of Theleban?"

Grin shrugs and looks to his companions, then back at the burly man. "Well, yer...leadership, we can take on just about whatever the sea can throw at us. Fought off a plague o' sagaugin leagues past, and afore that we took down and locked up the Blood Queen. I reckon any pirates be botherin' you, we can take them on too. Now, anythin' in it fer us, other'n yer everylastin' frien'ship?"

Pirates? Aye, I think we can handle some more of them. Myrsko gives Grin an encouraging look before he speaks. He nods and mouths the word “Captain”. He waits eagerly for a response, but lets his eyes wonder around him. These people in their furs were strange to him.

The King nods, "Aye, I knew ye might be the mercenary type," he taps a chest beside him, "The best silver the Fair Lands has to offer-- as a bonus. But of course, we will have the long ships we promised to your King and the warriors to man them."

Myrsko eyes the chest and nods at the mention of the warriors.[i]Ah yes. Support for the prince. As if I could forget.[i]

[b]What can you tell us of these pirates, Oerthar? Where have they been giving you troubles?[b]

"We do not have many ships. We are a small Kingdom, pulling our living from the miserable lands here which were know just two generations ago as The Wastes. Little will grow here- millet and grass, yes, but mostly we grow only tobacco. We cannot feed out people without selling that-- and for the past several months these pirates have been intercepting the ships which usually come to buy- ships from Cessport."

"The Cessport merchants won't do business with us now! We depend on them to buy our tobacco, and give us the lines of credit for manufactured goods. . . "

"I am surprised that your ship was not troubled by them, thinking it a merchant!"

The economic system he is describing is similar to the one used in Tidewater Virginia in the 1700s

Cordelia frowns at the mans statement. "So how then do the Pirates know they know which ships are coming from Cessport then? It almost implies that someone is providing them with advanced information - especially if our ship escaped notice."

Do you know any about the pirates? Myrsko adds. Where do they sail from? What flag do they fly under?

"If an ocean going vessel is coming here, it's coming from Cessport- except for yours. We have only long ships, and not many, and what commerce we do with the other Fair Lands Kingdoms is over land, or by Long Ship."

"No flags, and they come and go quickly- what survivors there have been say there is a witch with them. They come in one of those ocean goers you have; take out tobacco and silver, and sink the ship."