Patch gets the servants to bring him some of whatever Hoga was drinking. "Great party!" he calls to the host, guzzling his drink.
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Once he's had a few drinks, Hoga jumps up on the table and starts doing his "sexy dance."
Patch sets the mood for Hoga with his birdpipe "music."
Just a FYI in case things get rolling again: I won't be able to post from next Friday til Tuesday.
Having quenched his thirst with a good supply of ale, Patch was only too willing to tell tall tales about life at sea, proudly showing off his Eye of Abendego hand tattoo and "sahuagin-bone" birdpipes to the young boys. He keeps an ear out for Serephina's answer, though. At the feast, Patch didn't need to be told twice - he dug into the food with gusto, as though he hadn't eaten in months.
Patch bowed, his damp shirt sticking to his skin. "Twas an honor to be of service, as our mate here says. We wouldn't dream of taking the pleasure of hosting a feast from you. Why, I may even play a bit of music if the occasion arises," he offered brightly. Finally, a reward!
Sorry, just been having a hard time keeping up with everything. Life's been busy. No worries, just glad to know you haven't dropped the game. :)
Did something happen to our DM?
Patch did his best impression of non-pirate-scum, thinking uncomfortably of what Janon had said about their fate.
Looking a bit relieved at having escaped a meeting with the law unscathed, Patch became more his cocky self. He even offered the women an arm, which was probably the height of his conception of mannerly behavior. I bet we'll get a huge reward for saving the girls. Riches, here I come!
Patch goes along as well, rowing them expertly through the wreckage.
Patch looked a little ill at the mention of going to the authorities, but didn't protest, instead waiting to see what the others would say.
Patch shrugged. It didn't sound like Daria would help them unravel the mystery of the debt owed the pirates. "I guess you'll be wantin' to check on your friend. Follow me," he said, leading her down to where the other women were. Then he returned to the deck to see what the others had to say about what he'd heard.
Here's the list of loot so far - let me know if I forgot anything. A battered log
Daniel:
Deron:
Hoga:
Lunthawg:
Patch:
Patch grinned, pleased to be playing the hero in front of all the women. Leaving the sisters to talk under Signe's watchful eye, he went up to tell the others of what Serephina had told him, leaving puddles where he walked. Seeing the last hostage on the pirate ship, Patch waved for her to come over to the Sea Dragon. "Who might you be, then, and can you tell us anything about this raid that we should know?"
Patch thanked Jens once they were aboard, then took the soaked woman to Luciana and the other girls. "I'll try and find you something to dry off with," he promised, but stuck around long enough to see Luciana's reunion with her kin. Returning with a towel/cloth for the wet woman, Patch asked her why the pirates had targeted her town.
Patch caught hold of the woman in the water and began towing her with remarkable swiftness out from between the two ships. "You're all right now," he soothed her as he swam. "I'll bring you on board our ship."
Patch, seeing Hoga heading for the pirate captain, yelled, "Get the captain, Hoga, I've got the woman!"
Patch, too, tried for another lucky shot against the captain.
Patch continued to target the caster with his crossbow bolts.
Patch switched targets to the caster, thinking him the most likely to cause unexpected trouble. Concentrating to avoid hitting the woman, he fired.
Patch joined Hoga and Daniel by the rail, firing one of the ship's crossbows at the closest archer he could spot (or if he could see him/her, the captain).
The gold amounts are the split benefit from all of the sold goods I assume? Yes, and including the Chelish gold we got on the wreck, minus the 100 Hoga used to get some thieves' tools.
"Hey Lunthawg, can you set fire to that ship's sails from here?"
Here's the list of loot so far - let me know if I forgot anything. A battered log
Daniel:
Deron:
Hoga:
Lunthawg:
Patch:
Patch groaned at being woken, but was up and about quickly anyway, habit of a life at sea. When they saw the burning ships and harbor, Patch frowned at Luciana. "You'd best get below, lass. No sense in tempting them." He brightened at Daniel's suggestion, and called up to Hoga, "Can we catch that longboat before it makes it back to the ship?"
After a hard day of haggling, Patch reluctantly returned the money he got to the ship, then went back out to carouse with the ladies of the night and anyone who cared to join him.
Here's the list of loot so far - let me know if I forgot anything. A battered log
1049gp (incl. 400 gold pieces bearing the marks of Cheliax) Daniel:
Deron:
Hoga:
Lunthawg:
Patch:
Patch grinned at the little goblin. "Just about. You didn't set anything on fire yet, did you?"
Patch slapped Hoga and Deron on the back and whooped. "Let's live it up!" Stuffing his money and pardon into his vest, he put on his sandals and prepared to venture into the town.
Patch smiled encouragingly at Lyssanna. "That there's a right fine trick, I don't mind sayin'," he said, watching her with interest. "I always had a knack for magic myself, which is why Signe done brung you to me. Tell you what: you teach this old seadog to do what you do, an' I'll teach you what I know, too. Magic's a fine toy to have at sea, or anywhere else I reckon. But first, the most important lesson of bein' at sea - swabbin' the deck. Here's your mop, and when you're done we'll see about gettin' you into the rigging and dealing with the ropes." At her expression, he relented a little and whispered, "Magic's good for this kind of thing too. Here, I'll show you how it's done." With a gesture, he sent the mop squelching around the deck on its own.
Patch grinned at the blushing girls and winked whenever one caught his eye. He had a hearty appetite, though, and was too busy eating to threaten anyone with more pipe playing.
Patch was happy to do anything the girls asked, and thankfully put his birdpipes away to do it. Clambering back down from the crow's nest with Lyssanna, he instead regaled her with outrageously false stories about the things he had seen on his journeys.
Patch rather liked the idea, and was quick to say so. "Hard to find a crew more loyal than one you've saved from a fate worse than death," he said. "And it'd help to have extra crew aboard when we next see pirates. Signe could whip them into shape in no time, I bet. Besides, could be it ain't all of 'em what want to stay."
Always eager to show off in front of the ladies, Patch made a show of doing his work and answered questions readily enough - but ruined whatever impression he might have made by playing his birdpipes when he had the time, obviously convinced his music was quite good rather than the horrifying noise he actually produced. It didn't help that he appeared to be sweating heavily, though it wasn't too warm. Thankfully, he didn't actually smell of sweat, despite his damp clothing, but the shrill music was enough to drive anyone away. I'm glad I can cheer those poor girls up with some music, he thought obliviously. It will take their mind off their problems. In that, it was possible he was right.
"Aye, the captain's plan is fair," Patch chimed in. He looked a bit relieved - he hadn't been looking forward to the girls' reactions at being dropped off somewhere to fend for themselves, or worse, essentially toss them back into slavery. Then he clapped Daniel on the back. "And you've proven your worth, patching us all up. Who can argue with the gods?" he shrugged with a grin. "Now all we need is to be treated as saviors and not pirates by what kin the girls have left."
Luciana stare down at the locket and ring for a few moments as what Patch said sinks in and she realizes that her brother is dead. Then she starts crying loudly which gets everyone else's attention. Signe rushes over hissing, What did you say to her? and then tries to comfort the poor girl. Patch made a warding gesture with his arms, hoping Signe wasn't about to pound him. "Er, just that we found her brother on the first shipwreck we saw on the way from Cheliax..." He too tried to soothe the distraught girl, though considerably more awkwardly than Signe.
Patch nodded at Lunthawg's idea. "Surely at least some of the girls are from homes that are missin' 'em." With a guilty glance back, he added, "A'course, that'd just be in the way of a 'thank you' an' not a demand or nothin'."
Patch shook his head slowly. "I'm sorry, lass... but if'n that man be one of your brothers, the gods have taken him in now. That wreck was scavenged by fish-men, and your brother fought them off together with the captain 'til they couldn't fight no more. He was carrying these, which I reckon belong to you now." Patch fished the pouch of gold from his vest and pulled from it the signet ring and locket with Luciana's portrait within. Tucking the pouch away again, he dropped them into her hands and clasped his hands around hers. "I'm sorry for your loss, lass," he repeated with sympathy.
Haha, I should be so good at math! I know one I play with IRL and he's always mocking my lousy math skills. :P After the slavers are gone we all get healed, right? Here's the list of loot so far - let me know if I forgot anything. MW trident
Daniel:
Deron:
Hoga:
Lunthawg:
Patch:
Luciana's eyes begin to fill with tears as she responds to Patch's question. Yes, I was sold to them. The lord of my home town had requested that a six young girls be sent to him to be handmaids to his new bride. We thought it was quite an honor to be picked. It was quite a surprise to find out that he had different plans for us. He sold the lot of us to slavers. Why he would do such a thing I don't know. I don't even know if my family has any idea of what has happened to me. Patch patted the girl's arm awkwardly. "You know, we found Tashi on a wrecked ship with a nobleman from Cheliax." He described the dead nobleman to Luciana. "Was that the man what sold you? Are you a noble your own self, lass?"
I'll probably be unable to post this coming Friday, at least until pretty late in the evening. Also, I might as well update the loot list:
MW trident
Daniel:
Deron:
Hoga:
Lunthawg:
Patch:
Patch joins the girls quietly, waiting until Signe is finished to see if he can draw Luciana aside to talk. "Listen, lass, I know you've been through the storm with them slavers, but I have to ask - how did you get into this mess? Were you sold to them?"
Patch scooped up two of the rings and examined them for a few moments, then bounced them in his hand as he raised his voice to address the others. "Got a bit 'o magic here, buckos. Looks like protection from a bad fall - Nimwi coulda used that - and a bit of protection from fire." He eyed Lunthawg as he said the last, thinking that with all the fire the goblin slung around, he could probably use such a ring. In case of accidents. Once the loot was divvied up to everyone's satisfaction, Patch went below to knock on the door of the room the girls were staying in. He was still a bit curious about the one whose picture was in the locket he had.
Here's the list of loot so far - let me know if I forgot anything. MW trident
Daniel:
Deron:
Hoga:
Lunthawg:
Patch:
Patch patted Tashi's shoulder in sympathy, then left her clutching Ragnar and went to examine the loot. "A pretty penny for a short day's work, eh lads?" he said, plucking up the head slaver's cutlass and admiring its shine in the growing light.
He gave the rest of the slavers' booty a mere disinterested glance, then sighed and peered at it a bit harder.
Patch's reaction was much like Daniel's, though he wasn't terribly surprised. With a wave of his hand he made sure that the slavers' weapons were well out of reach. "Off you go, slavers, or we'll give the girls your weapons and let them deal with you. If you're fast, you might find a bit of your ship to cling to." Patch didn't leave Tashi behind, though he'd have liked to knife the slavers before sending them over - just to be sure.
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