A frown crosses Sykala's face as the two men talk but she stays quiet and accompanies the others as they leave apparently lost in thought.
Tarren:
A frown crosses Sykala's face as the two men talk but she stays quiet and accompanies the others as they leave apparently lost in thought.
Tarren:
** spoiler omitted **
Sykala:
The ship isn't going to be floating any time soon, but the engine is still intact, if flooded, and once several boards are replaced, it should be repairable.
Looking at the spell, with a CL of 5, you should be able to warp a large object with each casting. That's a significant section of wood but it wouldn't seem to be the whole boat.
Also, the station has a boatwright, some carpenters, a smith, and a very large workshop. I think the station is a lot bigger than you guys thought it would be with a lot more men. You will soon find out they have about 24 guards. Hard to justify such an extensive set up, eh?
There are about fifteen men in the dining room. From the looks of them, the majority are or could be guards and mercenaries. A few others don't seem young, tough, or able-bodied enough for that type of work.
The entire room turns and looks at you as you come in. Those eight guards who have already met you stare with amusement at their fellow guards curious looks rather than at you but you are obviously the subject of attention at every table.
The room has enough seats for twice this number. You can find a space off to yourselves or join others.
An open door on the north side leads to a kitchen and a cook shuffles out with a large bucket of stew and a laddle in one hand and some bowls balanced on the other. He looks at you impatiently, ready to serve you as soon as you sit.
She takes a bowl and after it is filled goes to a corner away from strangers.
Tarren:
Fippin takes a seat beside some of the guards he's already met. Though he didn't get a chance to chat with them much, he will take the opportunity now.
Before eating he stands on the table and makes an announcement to all the folk in the room
"My name is Fippin. I am a servant of Desna and I have served as the chaplain for our expedition . I have had little chance to speak with any of you, but I imagine that you have all been enduring your share of hardship during the time you've spent in this wild jungle. If you need spiritual guidance or wish to receive the blessings of Desna I offer my services to you. If you have physical ailments that need treating I can aid in that capacity as well. May Desna bless you."
After that he sits down to eat. While eating he will chat with the guards (more to come).
She takes a bowl and after it is filled goes to a corner away from strangers.
Tarren:
** spoiler omitted **
Ixius takes some food and sits with Sykala, listening to Fippin's speech.
Fippin looks at one of the more approachable looking guards.
"Your name is Miguel, right? You know, it was quite a harrowing journey to get these supplies here. We've been plagued by all manner of trials the entire trip, but the jungle elves have seemed to have been causing us the most problems. How fairs the garrison here? Have you men had trouble with the elves?"
Fippin's speech creates a lull in the conversation but when he finishes talking, the conversation resumes with a few lewd comments about Desna thrown in.
Fippin looks at one of the more approachable looking guards.
"Your name is Miguel, right? You know, it was quite a harrowing journey to get these supplies here. We've been plagued by all manner of trials the entire trip, but the jungle elves have seemed to have been causing us the most problems. How fairs the garrison here? Have you men had trouble with the elves?"
Miguel reacts to the question as if it the answer should be obvious but then realizes you've just arrived. "It's a war of attrition. The elves. They come out of the jungle, kill, and disappear again. Ain't no sense to it. Who knew there were so many blasted many of them."
Well we're here to help as best we can. At least until Esteban wants us to leave. Can you give me an idea of how many men you've lost and how many still defend the station? Also what sort of man is your commander?"
Well we're here to help as best we can. At least until Esteban wants us to leave. Can you give me an idea of how many men you've lost and how many still defend the station? Also what sort of man is your commander?"
The man ignores the question about the number of men lost but responds to the others.
"Gorse? He's the luckiest son-of-a-whore in Garund. Everything he touches turns to gold. 'Luck-of-the-Gorse' they call it. They says he was cheated out of his inheritance by an older brother who's still sitting back in Cheliax waitin' for his father to die. In the meanwhile, Gorse just 'as gone and made a significant fortune for himself rather than crying about bad luck and worse kin."
"We got enough men 'ere to defend the station I guess. Twice the number of guards as what ya see and a bunch of others as it takes to support us besides. A few are bound to be 'eading back to Bloodcove soon as the Queen has her holes filled I guess. I guess you'd be there replacements."
Keliwyn grabs a spot with his comrades, and digs in. He's friendly with the strangers and makes casual conversation, but looks around the room for any other elves. He also ponders whether they were all brought to the station simply to fill in as replacements, or whether Esteban had them in mind for something else.
At a lull in the conversation, he asks, "So, how long has the station been here?" and although he has other questions, he let's them go for now.
So do you have any idea why the elves have been so hostile?
Keliwyn grabs a spot with his comrades, and digs in. He's friendly with the strangers and makes casual conversation, but looks around the room for any other elves. He also ponders whether they were all brought to the station simply to fill in as replacements, or whether Esteban had them in mind for something else.
At a lull in the conversation, he asks, "So, how long has the station been here?" and although he has other questions, he let's them go for now.
Keliwyn sees no other elves amongst this lot. While no one is outwardly hostile to Keliwyn, they ignore his question.
So do you have any idea why the elves have been so hostile?
Miguel sneers. "These aren't elves. They're Ekujae. He's an elf," Miguel nods towards Keliwyn. "The Ekujae are savages. More like jungle cats than elves. No need to ask yourself why. That's your answer right there."
"Well that's what I suspected, but I just wanted to make sure. However, if that's the case than this posting is a death sentence. There's probably thousands of them out there, and I have a feeling they won't end their attacks until there's nothing left of this place. If you ask me there's no sense staying here. I'd get out while you still can. It ain't worth the money."
Ixius laughs at this. "Well they can't get out now. The boat's about sunk."
That's why we brought the canoes Ix. And if we need to we could make more.
A large man wearing a dirty smock enters the room with noisily. He's barely through the door before he notices Fippin. "AH! A halfling! Wonderful. Has he danced on any tables yet? Quick! Someone play a merry jig! We could alllll use the entertainment!!"
The men laugh before one responds, "Careful Carlus, he's a deadly one, he is. Esteban brought us in some professional killers to hunt the Ekujae ... least that's what I heard."
Do I detect sarcasm?
Do I detect sarcasm?
There's a little laughter at Fippin's response.
"Sarcasm? No. Though I'm a bit ticked off as I'm hearin' I'll be having a lot of work to do on The Queen. Couldn't have kept it afloat for me a little longer?"
The man pulls up a bench at your table and sits down. "Name's Carlus. 'm the engineer here."
Do I detect sarcasm?
There's a little laughter at Fippin's response.
"Sarcasm? No. Though I'm a bit ticked off as I'm hearin' I'll be having a lot of work to do on The Queen. Couldn't have kept it afloat for me a little longer?"
The man pulls up a bench at your table and sits down. "Name's Carlus. 'm the engineer here."
Upon Carlus's announcement of who he is Sykala's interest is piqued and she watches and listens to him closely.
Yes what happened to our boat is a little on the suspicious side. Let me know what you think happened to it after you have a look.
Everybody:
Everybody:
** spoiler omitted **
The man pulls up a bench at your table and sits down. "Name's Carlus. 'm the engineer here."
Keliwyn holds out his hand and says, "Carlus? Nice to meet you. Tell me, what have we gotten ourselves into? What do we need to know about the situation here, and how can we help?"
There are about fifteen men in the dining room. From the looks of them, the majority are or could be guards and mercenaries. A few others don't seem young, tough, or able-bodied enough for that type of work.
The entire room turns and looks at you as you come in. Those eight guards who have already met you stare with amusement at their fellow guards curious looks rather than at you but you are obviously the subject of attention at every table.
The room has enough seats for twice this number. You can find a space off to yourselves or join others.
An open door on the north side leads to a kitchen and a cook shuffles out with a large bucket of stew and a laddle in one hand and some bowls balanced on the other. He looks at you impatiently, ready to serve you as soon as you sit.
"Finally, a chance to perhaps have a serviceable meal."
With that, Baas ignores the goings-on and goes to sit by himself to enjoy his dinner in solitude.
Keliwyn holds out his hand and says, "Carlus? Nice to meet you. Tell me, what have we gotten ourselves into? What do we need to know about the situation here, and how can we help?"
The man pulls up a bench at your table and sits down. "Name's Carlus. 'm the engineer here."
Carlus doesn't hesitate to take Keliwyn's hand. "The situation here, is that we're outnumbered by an enemy who knows the terrain better than we do. We've only got a couple of tricks up our sleeves that are holding them back but we're under seige. We're running out of food, weapons, and alcohol. The supplies you brought us should help but with the boat gone, our gratitude will be short lived. ... You did bring alcohol, right?"
Were you planning on evacuating this place? If that is the case we have a few canoes, and we could possibly make more. The problem is that the boat provides safety at night. With canoes you'd have to camp in the jungle.
Were you planning on evacuating this place? If that is the case we have a few canoes, and we could possibly make more. The problem is that the boat provides safety at night. With canoes you'd have to camp in the jungle.
"Evacuation? That won't be happening," Carlus complains. "Don't ask me why but Gorse refuses to let go of this hellhole. And as for your canoes, I heard you have a little fun on the way in. When they showed me The Queen she had about five dozen thistle arrows stuck in her. How'd that have worked out for ya, had ya been in a canoe?"
Were you planning on evacuating this place? If that is the case we have a few canoes, and we could possibly make more. The problem is that the boat provides safety at night. With canoes you'd have to camp in the jungle."Evacuation? That won't be happening," Carlus complains. "Don't ask me why but Gorse refuses to let go of this hellhole. And as for your canoes, I heard you have a little fun on the way in. When they showed me The Queen she had about five dozen thistle arrows stuck in her. How'd that have worked out for ya, had ya been in a canoe?"
"I mean no offense, and please correct me if I'm wrong," Keliwyn says, "but that makes it sound like you are all just waiting to die, and you don't even know why. What, exactly, is the whole goal of the Apis Consortium here? It can't be to just die at the hands of the Ekujae. They must have some interest."
Ixius now starts to pay close attention to the conversation, since he was wondering the same thing himself.
"I mean no offense, and please correct me if I'm wrong," Keliwyn says, "but that makes it sound like you are all just waiting to die, and you don't even know why. What, exactly, is the whole goal of the Apis Consortium here? It can't be to just die at the hands of the Ekujae. They must have some interest."Were you planning on evacuating this place? If that is the case we have a few canoes, and we could possibly make more. The problem is that the boat provides safety at night. With canoes you'd have to camp in the jungle."Evacuation? That won't be happening," Carlus complains. "Don't ask me why but Gorse refuses to let go of this hellhole. And as for your canoes, I heard you have a little fun on the way in. When they showed me The Queen she had about five dozen thistle arrows stuck in her. How'd that have worked out for ya, had ya been in a canoe?"
Carlus looks around nervously and then licks his lips. "They're a bit dry, me old lips. Water doesn't wet them nearly as well as whiskey might."
Before you can respond to the rather obvious hint, a man at another table snaps, "Carlus. You want a conversation, you have it with me."
Carlus looks sheepish but then another man says, "The same goes for whiskey Carlus. You can have your whiskey with us too. I'll get it for you."
Carlus nods and excuses himself with a shrug and a wink.
"They don't want us to know what they're doing here, do they?" Ixius whispers to Sykala.
"They don't want us to know what they're doing here, do they?" Ixius whispers to Sykala.
Whispering back, "Is not good. We look. See what." She gets up and begins to head toward the exit obviously expecting Ixius to follow.
"They don't want us to know what they're doing here, do they?" Ixius whispers to Sykala.
Keliwyn shrugs at Ixius's words. "Maybe they're just here to earn some gold, and don't like strangers. I'm not sure any of this lot knows any more than we do. But I do plan on finding out what I can."
Ixius nods to Keliwyn andfollows Sykala out the exit.
.
Sykala stops and feels the air currents, "Air not right here. This where Gozreh want me." She then heads off looking at everything....
Fippin decides that he will head upstairs while the rest of the party is outside.
He gets up from the dining room table and moves to the staircase and starts to walk up. He isn't trying to be sneaky, he just walks purposefully (bow slung on back and sword sheathed at his side).
Keliwyn watches Sykala and Ixius leave, and Fippin head upstairs. He mutters under his breath, just a little too loudly, "Fine, go ahead, leave. You all don't know good work when you see it." With that, he pushes away his plate, pulls out his harrow deck, and starts flipping the cards over in an improvised game of solitaire. "Baas! What do you say? Care for a game of Towers?"
As Sykala moves back into the foyer, she sees Esteban and Gorse. Gorse beckons her and gestures for her and those who follow to join her in an office off to the side. Another man sits in the office.
As Sykala moves back into the foyer, she sees Esteban and Gorse. Gorse beckons her and gestures for her and those who follow to join her in an office off to the side. Another man sits in the office.
A flash of irritation crosses her face at having to stay indoors yet longer. She does, however, go see what these men want.
Mostly Fippin wanted to meet Grose anyhow, so he'll go into the Foyer and the office to join them.
Ixius is curious about what Gorse and Esteban have to say.
Keliwyn continues to play with his deck (hah! he said deck). "Anyone care to lose a little money?" he says, looking around.
The office only has two chairs so once everyone has entered Esteban sits down in one. A muscular older man with the look of a grizzled veteran is sitting in the other in front of a table. On the table are some bark covered notebooks and some small pouches. The veteran begins to stand to give Gorse his seat but Gorse gestures him to sit back down.
"Natis here takes care of our accounts. I understand you had a great deal of trouble getting The River Queen this far and that we owe you thanks for ... well, for the continued survival of this station, as a matter of fact. This is payment for services rendered," says Gorse taking the pouches one at a time and handing them to you with a nod and a word of thanks for each of you. Although you were barely introduced to him, he thanks each of you by name.
"There's a small bonus there but it really does not begin to reflect our appreciation. Now, I know I should really let you rest but I would like to invite each of you to continue on working for me at Nightfall Station ... or on the Queen if you prefer and once she is ready to make another trip out to Bloodcove ... for as long as you wish. We will continue to pay you the same rate of 20gp a day. (Of course, I'd ask that you not discuss that salary with anyone outside of this office.) So," concludes Gorse with a triumphant smile, as if you've already agreed. "What say you?"
Keliwyn continues to play with his deck (hah! he said deck). "Anyone care to lose a little money?" he says, looking around.
A man looks like he's about to approach you but his companion puts a hand on his arm and mumbles something about 'Elves' and 'mages'.
Ixius takes his payment and mutters thanks.
"What say you?"
"The deal sounds good to me, I will stay here. I'm done with boats and Bloodcove."