The dog runs away after the jerky, even after Leon tries to hit it. The wolf wags its tail, eager to play instead of fight.
The dock's isolation from the rest of the harbor shelters the Pathfinders. The combat does not draw the immediate attention of other enforcers. In fact, there isn't another soul around besides the lone wolf. The wolf paces back and forth on the dock, waiting for more jerky.
And unfortunately for Nitre, it's not that easy to leave. Their boat is securely tied to the docks. The knot affixing the rope to the boat is coated in dried tar and cannot be undone.
But she moves towards the rope and slashes it. The boat starts to drift away from the dock...
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Jaek finds a bucket of fish, the crew's catch from the morning. He pulls out a nice sized fish that will keep the dog busy and fed until they leave. He tosses it onto the pier.
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Wait! Don't cut the lines yet!
Jaek shouts to his companions.
Bring the bodies aboard and we'll dump 'em far from town.
He flashes a smirk at his friends as he darts down the gangplank to grab a body.
Give 'em a burial at sea.
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Leon shrugs at Mitre, ”Eh, no bigs. Y’all were so readuh ta kill I figured ya were fine wit da cleanup. No bodies, no ded ta talk tuh.”
He heads down the gangplank (assuming the boat is resecured or never got cut free) and grabs the other body. He is about to say something about just using water to wash the fresh blood off but apparently he has a mage on his team. He just grunts at Eurkar, ”Noice trick.”
If the wolf gives them trouble, I expect they will still be in initiative. Otherwise he ignores the animal.
The wolf doesn't seem to be giving them trouble, except for wanting to play fetch. The group brings all the dead bodies aboard, perhaps to dispose of them further out in the river.
The Abacus sails smoothly up the Glass River without any further complications... for now. Amauhak ask the Pathfinders about how they intend to perform the rescue mission, namely how they will gain access to the inn without arousing unwanted suspicion. Metella, Passad, and Amauhak wait to hear and are keen to gauge your cleverness.
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Leon goes about his business, tying the bodies to heavy weights before pushing them overboard a few miles away from town.
He explains his reasoning as I’m sure everyone is waiting on his every word. ;)
”Ya ehn’t godduh make da bodies impossible tah find, just get em down dere for a cupplah weeks, den we long gone.”
He also wonders how they will discretely navigate an Inn. Murders there are a lot harder to cover up.
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Well, that was grim. But I guess we didn't have much choice either.
Still, the half elf woman isn't at ease, and looks around nervously at Nitre.
I concur to that feeling, to be seen as an outlaw makes me sick.
"Welcome to the life of a pirate!"
Jaek calls out, waving his tricorn hat."Seriously, though, lass. We're only outlaws to them Razmirans. I wouldn't want to live me life on their side, I tell ya. Nope. Not a minute."
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Merida gets some more fish and plays fetch with the wolf (giving it some petting and belly rubs in between), trying to lead it on board."Who's a good boy? Who's a good boy? You are!"
Hesitant to bring an animal on the ship, Jaek looks on at Merida as she coaxes the wolf aboard.
"We can't be training the dog to do anything, but maybe it can have a good life on board 'til we reach next port."He thinks to himself.
Jaek addresses his fellow Pathfinders and the ship's crew.
"If the captain and crew here don't mind havin' a stowaway aboard, I be fine with it. His master was probably a good-fer-nuthin'-scallywag anyway. Whadda ya say? Get this puppers a good life later on."
Jaek has some words with the captain and crew of the Abacus, trying to convince them of allowing the dog aboard.
"As long as the dog don't create trouble, and I be willin' to feed it me scraps, I will be personally responsible fer it's actions."
He salutes those aboard as Merida continues to coax the dog aboard.
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The wolf curls up at Passad's side. Passad chimes, "So what's your cover story?"
The dwarf pipes in, "Perhaps you can pose as religious pilgrims seeking answers to spiritual questions that require privacy and freedom of movement."
Passad shakes his head, "That's transparent nonsense. You should pose as merchants seeking a way station for a regular trade caravan, as such a cover would require unfettered access to the property in order to assess its amenities."
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After departing Xer, the Abacus travels up river. The river narrows ahead, flowing around a central isle thick with trees and vegetation. The northern fork of the river runs beneath a canopy formed by the isle's overhanging trees and riverside foliage while to the south, the river is open to the sky above.
The captain looks at the Pathfinders and ask which way they want to go.
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Eurkar looked over the group and assessed their skills, noting that more then half the group composed of knuckle draggers like himself. "Might want to go as merchants. Jeak, you act as the merchant, trying to open a trade route from Mendec to Kerse. Merida and Corbrae are your advisors, with Leon, Nitre, and I as your body guards." he suggested.
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Eurkar looked over the group and assessed their skills, noting that more then half the group composed of knuckle draggers like himself. "Might want to go as merchants. Jaek, you act as the merchant, trying to open a trade route from Mendec to Kerse. Merida and Corbrae are your advisors, with Leon, Nitre, and I as your body guards." he suggested.
"Merchants it is! I've spent much of me life aboard merchant caravels."
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"North route is fine with me. Some shade from the sun will be a nice respite."
The group talks about which tactic sounds best for them. Merchants perhaps? Either way, they have plenty of time to discuss.
As the boat chugs along the river, the group decides to head underneath the canopy of trees - the shade provides some respite from the day's heat.
Suddenly, the waters ripple as a giant water snake gets flung onto the deck! Jaek is the only one to notice something else in the water... But the snake is ready to attack...
A large dragon shaped creature lifts its head and flies towards Corbrae! It goes in for a bite...
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[u]Surprise Round![/u]
Drake
Jaek
Snake
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[u]Round 1[/u]
Corbrae
Eurkar
Merida
Drake
Jaek
Snake
Nitre
Leon
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Leon grunts at the warning and watches everyone scrunch up their faces trying to recall knowledge. Thinking is for... well, not him.
He tries to remember where he put his scythe. It should make quick work of these critters.
The big man spins around looking for the weapon, not aware it is still strapped to his back.
Cobrae and Eukar are unsure what the dragon-like creature is. For all they know, it could be the most powerful dragon on the face of this planet! But probably not.
The snake, as Nitre recognizes, is a small () viper. Though it's small, it packs a powerful poison in its bite. But a breeze of wind could easily knock it out (3 hp). And it looks annoyed...
It slithers up to Merida and gets ready to strike.
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[u]Round 1[/u]
Corbrae
Eurkar
Merida
Drake
Jaek
Snake
Nitre
Leon
Eurkar enters a rage and nearly chops off the head of the dragon-like creature! But it still stands. And it's angry. Corbrae attempts to follow suit, but blood splatters on her face and she loses focus.
Merida nocks a bow and easily puts an arrow through the head of the snake. It falls to the ground, dead.
The drake goes to bite Eurkar, howling in pain!
And it successfully takes a chunk of flesh from the barbarian's side (-4 hp to Eurkar!). Then it looks around, realizes its out of its league, and dives down into the water. ()
Eurkar lobs the head off the drake as it tries to escape! It will no longer haunt this section of the river. Hopping on to the riverbank, the Pathfinders discover a crudely dug out hole containing a small stash of uncut garnets and gold nuggets! Hopping back on the boat, they continue to head upstream.
Passad and the envoys emerge from belowdecks soon after. "Amazing work. I knew you had it in you," the Kalistocrat praises them. "The Society clearly has sent the right agents for the task. But does your wisdom match your martial skills, I wonder?"
"The Pathfinder Society continues to amaze me, and it seems to me increasingly prudent to enter into a business arrangement that would certainly be to our mutual benefit -- particularly for those with an eye for spotting profit. Let me make my case simply: my trade network is growing and already blankets the Inner Sea like no other, and the dwarves cannot hope to compete with the prices I offer. Let us not forget that the Pathfinders have had many mutually profitable business dealings with me in the past.".
Passad then hands over a a potion of cure moderate wounds. "A sign of good faith." He chuckles.
Metella approaches and makes a counteroffer. "Yes, Temel has his bejeweled fingers in many pies and can offer cheaper wares, but consider the advantages of a business relationship with my mercantile concern: our network is many centuries old, and the quality of our goods is unrivaled. Furthermore, an arrangement with a firm with such deep roots in the Five Kings Mountains would reinforce the military alliance the Society is already negotiating.". Metella is looking directly at Nitre, hoping that the dwarf will better understand where he is coming from.
Then Metella hands over a potion of bear's endurance. "A way of showing you my appreciation."
Amauhak stands off to the side. If asked, he waves his leathery hands in the air, claiming ignorance. "In the words of the Diamond Sage, 'Ask not the blind to describe the sunset.'"
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Leon thinks on the question for a bit then replies to Amauhak, "Dah blind guy prolly jus say it get cold."
He considers this situation resolved and goes about counting and recounting the gems from the cache.
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Jaek huddles with his companions.
"Kind of a bit of a quandary here, me maties. Passad be offerin' great prices and his merchant empire is spread far and wide. On the other hand, dwarven craftsmanship be quite renowned throughout Golarion. Having a military alliance with the dwarves of the Five Kings Mountains would be very beneficial to the Society."
Jaek thinks about it for a moment and then pulls an old silver piece from his pocket.
"I can't decide. Coin flip it is. Heads, it's Passad. Tails, the dwarves."
"Passad it is."
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Corbrae uses the same spell to clean herself of the grime and gore, and asks for one hour of reflexion to ponder her answer.
Abadar considers Kallistrade's whorshippers as allies, but dwarfen craftmanship is nothing to be qcoffed at.
But while Abadar is for mutual benefit, Kallistocrad are more interested in personal gains.
Slowly but surely, the scales of judgment tips toward the dwarves.
I do appreciate your offer, Passad, and I hope to make business with you in other opportunities, but I will deal with Metella and associates this time.
Metella nods. "No ale now, but when we finish the mission, you'll have your choice of beer. May the taps flow!"
The boat continues to sail. Near dusk, the captain of the point points out a pleasant country inn up a hill on the north shore of the Glass River, where a small dock offers berth for the Abacus.
Passad chimes in, "That's the Gray Revelation Inn - where you are tasked to go. We'll stay here for the night while you go execute your mission"
Amauhak interrupts Passad, "I implore you to refrain from violence on Razmiri soil, if it can be helped.". Both Metella and Passad node, in rare agreement.
A stone path leads from the docks about 200 yards through some light tree cover to the villa. All appearances suggest a very cozy establishment, and the inn certainly serves the purpose of a way station for travelers. A sign above the wide wooden gates reads, "Welcome to Gray Revelation Inn.". The gate leans open invitingly, and the smell of fresh flowers wafts on the cool breeze.
To the right are the stables. To the left seems to be the inn.
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"So. This is the place where the captives may be held."
Jaek says after drawing in a deep breath of the fresh air.
"There could be a secret entrance around back. Wait here for a few minutes. I'm going to sneak around there to look for another way in."
Jaek crouches and sneaks around the back of the main building.