"Are you guys with me?"
Sykala gives Fippin a frustrated look and begins tending the elves again trying to bring them around.
"Are you guys with me?"Sykala gives Fippin a frustrated look and begins tending the elves again trying to bring them around.
"Are you guys with me?"
"With you in mutiny? I don't know..." Ixius puts his head down. Then looks up at Fippin again. "Why don't we just let Esteban keep piloting the boat for now? I don't think he will do anything to us if we watch each other's backs. If he tries anything, then we kill him."
Well I wasn't suggesting we kill him. I am proposing that we tie him up, and ask him a few questions I have on my mind. We keep him tied up either for the rest of the trip or until it looks like he's willing to play nice. If the rest of you aren't up for that, then we should at least go together and confront him now. We explain to him our concerns, and if he seems like he's going to be reasonable then we leave him be. If he's still acting like a shit then we tie him up. I don't want to be on this boat, worried that my boss is going to be stabbing me in the back.
Sykala continues to attend to her prisoners/patients in silence.
Tarren:
Sykala continues to attend to her prisoners/patients in silence.
Tarren:
** spoiler omitted **
Sykala:
Listening to Sykala's instructions, Baas begins knocking down the box with his earth breaker while trying to avoid hitting the unconscious elves.
After Fippin makes his speech and Ixius and Sykala pipe up, Baas stands tall, noticeable for the first time since the incident with Esteban. He speaks calmly, but with a tension in his voice.
"Although I will not allow a man who pointed a blade at me threateningly to go unpunished for long, I wonder how we shall fare with a mutiny on our hands. Will Hurg listen to us once we have finished with Esteban? Or Faruq, even? There is no love lost between Esteban and I, and I will make sure he gets what he deserves in the end, but we must be certain of our decision before we make it. If you want to tie him up, kill him, I will go along with it. The faster we get going again, the faster we can get to Nightfall and get out of this stinking miasma."
He turns to Sykala: "What do you think we should do with Esteban?"
Afterwards, he looks at Fippin with an arched brow, pointing out his many scrapes, gouges and cuts currently covering his body.
"What do you think we should do with Esteban?"
Sykala looks up at Baas, "He not important. Need wake elves. Keliwyn ask want know. Good answer let go. Bad answer kill. Not know yet. Do before Esteban back. Not problem."
"Fine then, Let's talk to the elves and then go see what kind of mood Esteban's in, but if he's still being a right stroppy ass, I vote we tie him up. I still want to know why he's really in such a hurry to get to Nightfall station. There's something there he wants or at least he thinks there is.
I don't think these elves are going to tell us much, but we'll see. Where'd Keliwyn go?"
Hi all. If you have any feedback on the Beta rules, let's post it here.
Keliwyn is clearly disturbed by all that has transpired, and after listening to the conversation, he shakes his head sadly. "I've got a bad feeling about all this. First, we get ambushed and Choul gets killed. Then Esteban loses it, apparently not for the first time. Now, we're talking about mutiny or even outright murder of an Apsis captain."
"Let's find out what we can. First, with the elves, then with Esteban. Although I'm more concerned with the latter, speaking with our captives may well play into how things go with Esteban. But, I want to know what's going on in that head of his. Clearly, there is more at stake for him that just the possibility of Aspis losing an outpost. I also want to know about his hatred for these jungle elves. It's obvious he's run into them before."
"Well, let's get started. Baas & Ixius, I'm going to ask that you keep an eye on him and Faruq," Keliwyn says with a nod toward the pilothouse. "Sykala, Fipping, let's see what we can do." With that, he turns to the elves.
In elvish, he speaks to them, translating for the others as he goes.
"Who are you, and why did you attack us? We meant you no harm, and are merely traveling through these parts. Tell us quick. The captain wants to slit your throats, and may well order his crew to do so. We're trying to keep that from happening, but it may well depend on what you tell us."
Fippin spends two charges of the wand to get the elves conscious (prior to Keliwyn questioning them). He is pleased that his allies are starting to take some action, and he stands by Keliwyn with his shortsword drawn, but hanging at his side.
He also heals Bass (I don't really know how much healing Bass needs). I give him 3 charges (I'd rather just take averages for healing if you don't mind Tarren). He would get 15 hp back.
"Well, let's get started. Baas & Ixius, I'm going to ask that you keep an eye on him and Faruq"
Ixius nods and moves to the base of the stairs to the pilothouse so he can intercept Esteban if he comes out while Keliwyn is questioning the elves.
Sykala seems to be paying rapt attention to everything Keliwyn and the elves say trying to make sense of it.
"Who are you, and why did you attack us? We meant you no harm, and are merely traveling through these parts. Tell us quick. The captain wants to slit your throats, and may well order his crew to do so. We're trying to keep that from happening, but it may well depend on what you tell us."
Keliwyn:
The elves glare silently for a moment and then one angrily warns: "The short ears tear away at the jungle, steal our kin, and violate our dead. The short ears will die. You will die. You will never leave here."
The other adds "Let us go and you will die later. Keep us here, and you will die today."
The arguing in the pilothouse grows silent as Faruq watches and listens from above.
Assuming Keliwyn translates this, Fippin nods.
"That was about what I was expecting to hear from these savages. I doubt we're going to get much useful out of them."
(sorry I read it just after you put it up before you inserted the spoiler tag)
"Who are you, and why did you attack us? We meant you no harm, and are merely traveling through these parts. Tell us quick. The captain wants to slit your throats, and may well order his crew to do so. We're trying to keep that from happening, but it may well depend on what you tell us."The elves glare silently for a moment and then one angrily warns: "The short ears tear away at the jungle, steal our kin, and violate our dead. The short ears will die. You will die. You will never leave here."
Assuming Keliwyn translates this, Fippin nods.
"That was about what I was expecting to hear from these savages. I doubt we're going to get much useful out of them."
(sorry I read it just after you put it up before you inserted the spoiler tag)
"Well, let's get started. Baas & Ixius, I'm going to ask that you keep an eye on him and Faruq."
"Fine." says Baas, as he moves over to the pilothouse stairs next to Ixius. He makes sure to keep an eye on the questioning, however.
As Keliwyn translates Sykala's face grows grim, "Ask if follow Gozreh."
The elves glare silently for a moment and then one angrily warns: "The short ears tear away at the jungle, steal our kin, and violate our dead. The short ears will die. You will die. You will never leave here."
The other adds "Let us go and you will die later. Keep us here, and you will die today."
Keliwyn translates and then responds, "Calm down. You attacked us, if you remember correctly. Me & my friends are new here, and we're trying to figure out what is happening. As I said, we have no fight with you." He pauses, and then sits cross-legged across from the captives, so he can be on the same eye level with them, before continuing. "Tell me what you mean when you speak of tearing away the jungle, stealing your kin and violating your dead. Those are not things me or my friends approve of, and again, we take no sides here. If what you speak of is true, we may well choose to side with you, and we could be powerful allies. You already know that I share the same blood with you, and this one," he says, pointing to Sykala, "is a priestess of Gozreh."
Keliwyn:
The elves are silent for a moment looking at each other as if trying to decide but then one responds: "You come into the jungle with the short ears, you die with the short ears. The jungle will kill you if our kin do not. Your flesh will be eaten by her insects. Your blood will feed her earth. Her children will chew on your bones. We will sing of your passing. Let us go now and we will tell the jungle to kill you quickly."
Hurg climbs down the ladder and disappears into the cabin, shooting an angry look at Baas who had no orders to stop him from going to his staion.
Faruq leans out of the cabin and shouts: "Put them ashore or throw them in the river. We're leaving before more arrive and we are not taking prisoners. ... That's just inviting trouble! Anyone having second thoughts, there are a couple of canoes in the back."
The paddlewheel starts with a crackling buzz and a chug-splash-chug-splash rhythm.
Fippin looks back towards Faruq, and then towards Keliwyn and Sykala.
"I think he's right. They're not going to give us anything useful. It's pretty much as we figured. The Aspis have obviously angered the locals with whatever they've been doing here, and if we keep the prisoners their kin might come after us sooner rather than later. It's probably best to kill them, but killing in cold blood like that really isn't my way. I'll leave it up to you two to decide what to do with them. I'm going to check on Esteban."
Fippin then turns and walks away, heading toward Faruq.
He calls out to Faruq.
"How's your boss doing? Is he still being a right stroppy old git?"
Sykala shrugs and says, "Jungle do that you too. Is way." She looses their bonds and points to shore.
Keliwyn shakes his head at their response, and watches as Sykala cuts their bonds. He points to the dock, and says, "You misunderstand us. We mean you no harm. Go, and be warned, if you attack us again, we will defend ourselves."
Ixius finally speaks up:
"Look at Chuol; he's dead. He was a worshipper of Gozreh too, yet they killed him anyway, and they will try to kill us if given another chance. And we're going to let them live? I think its foolishness."
Sykala walks over to Ixius, looks up at him, and says in a voice only he can hear, "Not them killed Chuol." She glances meaningfully in the pilothouse's direction.
Ixius finally speaks up:
"Look at Chuol; he's dead. He was a worshipper of Gozreh too, yet they killed him anyway, and they will try to kill us if given another chance. And we're going to let them live? I think its foolishness."
"I understand your anger, Ixius, but killing them now would be cold-blooded murder, and that's not something I'm willing to be a part of. Of course, we could just keep them tied up . . . then they can't harm us."
"I understand your anger, Ixius, but killing them now would be cold-blooded murder, and that's not something I'm willing to be a part of. Of course, we could just keep them tied up . . . then they can't harm us."
"You all have more wisdom in such matters than I, so I will willingly go along with whatever decision you make. Let them go if that is your wish. But if I see them again I will not hesitate to kill them."
Sykala places a hand on Ixius' arm, "Not angry at wounded bear who kill family, angry at hunter that hurt and chase bear into family. Elves go talk people. Maybe help." She tilts her head as if listening, "Still go Nightfall. Gozreh want." She looks up at the pilothouse again and then turns her sky blue eyes back to Ixius, "We be together tonight. Esteban angry, not trust."
Sykala places a hand on Ixius' arm, "Not angry at wounded bear who kill family, angry at hunter that hurt and chase bear into family. Elves go talk people. Maybe help." She tilts her head as if listening, "Still go Nightfall. Gozreh want." She looks up at the pilothouse again and then turns her sky blue eyes back to Ixius, "We be together tonight. Esteban angry, not trust."
"I understand now."
Ixius then motions towards Chuol's body. "We need to do something for him. Do you have a prayer of Gozreh you would like to give him? And I suppose Fippin would like to say a prayer from Desna as well."
"How's your boss doing? Is he still being a right stroppy old git?"
Faruq looks back over his shoulder at Esteban and then grins at Fippin. "No real change there. He's been like that for years now. Still, this is his boat and ye'd best not forget yer place on it. No guests that are bringing trouble. And you Baas, you disrespect him again and I'll back him up in taking you apart."
Faruq then turns back to Esteban and shouts, "You still can't hear me, eh? Let me tell you something: your breath smells like bad cheese and you snore. ... You remember that chain you lost in Azir? I stole it and bought those peach coloured boots you hate! ... That night they chased us out of Port Peril and rapier point? I sold them the information. I wanted to get to Eleder in time for the flower festival!"
Faruq turns back to Sykala, and shouts "Thanks for this. It's great to confess but you hurt him again and I'll eat your heart you little wormwitch."
Fippin again turns away and goes over to Choul.
"Keliwyn and Sykala why don't you leave the elves on the dock. They can stay tied up. I'm sure some of their friends will arrive for them soon enough."
He turns back to preparing Choul's body.
"Gather around my friends. Let us say a few words for our fallen friend and then give his body to the river."
Baas.
Nameless? You ready to get in at the Keep in the Cinderlands PbPs?
Yintarah is going to be leading a group into the Caves of Chaos. Jal Dorak is making a sorceror. She'll need some muscle and/or stealth. 3rd level, 24 point buy + racial hit die.
Orlan and Manfred are returning to the spires. We will have four PCs in the spires but I might consider sending a rogue or ranger up there.
With a slightly impatient look, Baas quietly watches the ceremony from about ten feet away.
For Tarren:
Thanks!
With a slightly impatient look, Baas quietly watches the ceremony from about ten feet away.
For Tarren:
** spoiler omitted **
Baas.
Don't post it on Paizo. Send it by email. I'll explain why later ;-)
Faruq dons clean "mourning whites in the Qadiran tradition" and comes down from the pilothouse for the ceremony.
Hurg pops his head up from below but disappears again as soon as he realizes this will take a while.
Esteban appears at the window one time but only to figure out where Hurg went, his ears not giving him the needed information.
Sykala pays little attention to proceedings instead watching Esteban very closely.
Ixius pays close attention to the ceremony, forgetting about Esteban for the moment.
Fippin recites a short eulogy to choul
"We are gathered here to give our blessings to the soul of the brave warrior we know as Choul. Though, we only travelled the path of life for a short time together, we came to know him as a capable and courageous individual who was willing to sacrifice himself for our safety. There are few people walking this world with that sort of spirit, so we must be thankful that we had the privilege of spending time with such a being. May Desna guide Choul's spirit to the afterlife, and may Gozreh see to it that his body is used to help replenish the earth with life."
With that Fippin then sings a song traditional halfling mourning song in his own language, and has Keliwyn and Ix cast the body off the side of the boat.
Upon catching the last part of the eulogy Sykala looks toward Fippin and smiles. He does understand
Seeing Sykala smiling at Fippin seems to trigger old memories in Baas. His expression becomes one of frustration, and he quickly moves into the cabin, laying down on one of the beds.
He keeps an ear out, however, as he is still wary of Esteban.
Esteban's hearing has returned. His voice booms out from the Pilothouse: "If we have no other cleaning up to do, let's get moving! Hurg, you hairless maggot, give me more power. Faruq, push us off. And the rest of you ... do whatever it is you do."
A few moments later, the ship is underway. The elves have been left on the dock.
"Nicely done," Keliwyn says to Fippin. With that, he takes a place at the back of the ship, watching the ekujae as the ship moves up the river as he contemplates the days events.
Fippin too quietly watches the river. He's none too happy about how things have worked out lately, and he goes over to his canoe and take shelter under it and tries to fall asleep, but not too deeply.