Gurthock ate for the joy of eating. It's not that he needed to. He had long since found a ring that took care of his hunger and thirst needs. Still he enjoyed the act of eating meat and drinking wine so he indulged himself on occasion. Ever since he found the pleasure's of feasting enhanced when he partook of it only once in a while rather than daily.
He reached his huge hand to help himself to another serving and call for more wine when the captain spoke. He dropped the portion on to his plate balancing it carefully as not to let it spill on the rocking boat and smiled broadly at him. A disconcerting sight from a half orc.
"Gurthock! Gurthock Fleshmincer, adventurer, at your service! Might I say your cook knows how to prepare a meal!"
He finished his boisterous bellow by finishing his entire cup in a single draught.
Pernella has quietly sat chewing her food giving little to betray her thoughts. As she carefully brings her sloshing goblet to her lips Gurthock's loud voice gives her a startle almost causing her to spill her wine. Regaining her composure she at last speaks up.
"Pernella, sir."
She gives Yuril a quick nod.
Ansha sipped the wine slowly, trying to will herself not to turn up her nose at the taste. She set the wine down again, barely successful at hiding a grimace. "I'm called Ansha, Captain," Ansha said, the melodic sound of her elven voice seeming much quieter in the wake of the half-orc's bellow. She frowned, staring at the wine in front of her. Finaly, a smile crept onto her face as a thought occurred to her. "Say, this ship doesn't have a store of brandy, does it?"
Thayalh sat at the table in reserved silence. Not that it was different from his normal behavior as he had spent nearly all of his time with his companion Streamrunner. He ate slowly, finding both the heavy meal and the waves unsettling to his stomach, but maintained his proud posture and confident demeanor. He responded to the captain with a traditional greeting in the tounge of the Elves before responding "I am called Thayalh Elfheart of the Northern Woods." His eyes flickered to observe the other two of similar heritage for a moment before continuing. "As a representative of my displaced people, I thank you for the service of your crew and this fine vessel."
Ansha looked at the captain and nodded. "I had heard rumors about the waters around here. I'm sure that we will all be happy to help...given that we can't swim that far."
"Of course," he agreed with Ansha, "our fates are very much intertwined." Thayalh's glassy eyes made it near impossible for him to attack at a distance, he was more than prepared to assist in anyway he could.
Gurthock shrugged. "Good! I hate being bored! Captain I doubt there's anyone one with the guts to go on this little misadventure who would shy away a fight with pirates."
"Captain, how did your ship avoid such a fate? Did you fight off the beast, or merely out run it?
Before Yuril is given a chance to respond Pernella speaks up, “Forgive me captain but I have no knowledge of...” she pauses and turns her hand at the wrist several times before continuing “Nautical tactics. Could turn your tale so that even I might learn from it? And pirates! Those that turn to such evil have no honor and will not be spared my wrath.” Pernella’s voice has risen at the talk of pirates, she starts to rise from her chair and raises her fist as if to pound the table but thinks better of it. Lowering herself she gives a weak smile and says, “You have my sword although I am sheepish to admit I have no bow.”
“Won’t you brave adventurer’s tell me your names?”
A voice speaks from the foot of the table. “My name is Durant. I was formerly of the Three Lotus Monastery. Now I am here I suppose.” The voice is controlled but it is clear that the last line is intended as a joke.
The Three Lotus Monastery was a large and well known complex located south of Diamond-Pearl. It was destroyed in the war against the golems.
Durant eats methodically. A soft smile resting on his lips.
Gurthock Fleshmincer “Well met friend. Your love of eating reminds me of my old novice master. She always said food was best carried in the belly, it can slow a punch and you don’t always know when your next meal will find you.”
"…. before they reach you, you win, otherwise..." Between your fine crew and this company I am sure we will survive….to reach the island anyway.”
"Good captain a flask or two of that brandy you mentioned might be useful on the island."
"Blow them apart before they ever get to you?" Gurthock shrugged. Smart. Even if it is boring. He looked at Pernella with an odd glare as she mentioned the lack of bow.
No bow? That's incredibly unwise. What do you plan to do if the enemy decades not to get close to you and that big sword of yours girl? Wave impotently at them with your honor? Taking on a more serious tone he drank more before continuing. That's not a difficult problem though, a good javelin or spear would let you take the fight to them and let you take advantage of whatever muscles you use to swing your sword around. A bow would be preferable but we've shipped off now and I doubt the islands inhabitants will be so helpful as sell you a proper bow. Don't expect evil men to be so generous as to fight on your terms girl.
Turning to the monk he slapped him on the back hard and laughed. If it's all the same to you I think I'll avoid getting punched in the gut on a full stomach!
Durant's voice turns somber. "No. I don't suppose they will 'sell' us anything. Still if conflict cannot be avoided and they have bows. We will not lack them for long."
"So" he says brightening. "As we are all here perhaps this would be a good time to pool resources? I expect we all have tools that the others should know about. I for example have these."
Durant pulls large red bead and a beautify carved netsuke of a swan.
"This bead will produce a small but serviceable campfire in all but the most extreme conditions. It requires no fuel and can be reused every night. The command word is 'castrum'."
"This carving, if thrown into a body of water will call a giant swan. It is large and strong enough to carry this entire ships company, so our band, even with the animals will not burden it." It swims faster than any boat I have ever seen and it does not tire. It will serve us for only a single day but in that time it could carry us nearly 150 miles. I had hoped that the swan might serve as an emergency way off the island. Unfortunately I am informed that the nearest land to the island is well outside this poor swans range. Still it might be useful."
"There is also this" he says as he indicates the suprisingly ornate scrab he wears around his neck. "This charm weakens the golems that our enemy is known to use." Should I fall please make use of it.
Thayalh saw the Palladin as having principles when the bulk of her kin did not. "I'm sure she'll be an asset no matter what we face."
"The objects of magic I carry enhance my own strengths, but the otherworldly powers I can access should be more than enough to heal any wounds that do not that kill. And they are cetainly adequate to end life as well."
“I am more accustomed to taking the fight to the enemy on the battlefield although here it is true that I can hardly gallop across waves. My equipment is also self-serving although I can knit bone, remake flesh, restore a mind possessed by evil and burn the undead. Not to be thought boasting she adds, “I pray such blessings remain unused.”
"You'll pardon me if I simply say that my mind is my greatest weapon. That, and my spells." She smiled. "I was unaware that we would be facing golems on this island. I will have to alter my plans accordingly."
"You'll pardon me if I simply say that my mind is my greatest weapon. That, and my spells." She smiled. "I was unaware that we would be facing golems on this island. I will have to alter my plans accordingly."
Durant bows to Ansha. "We do not know what we will face on the island. No doubt these treasures I rescued from the Monestary will be useless. But I know the enemy has used golems in the past...." His voice trails off and his eyes grow distant.
With a small shake he recovers himself "Well, could come in handy." He covers his obvious embarassment with more wine.
Turning to the second in command to help cover his lapse.
"Tell me Mr. Hawk, how did you come by that nickname? As a person who has only had one name I am intrigued by someone with three."
"Good Captain, you say you have sailed these waters beore. Have you ever seen oue island before? Are there sailors tales or ledgends about it?"
Perception
"I generally rely on my blade, though I have some talent in the Art. Try not to focus too much myself."
Thayalh's perception
Springrunner's perception, for what it's worth
Ansha's perception:
Ansha remains quiet, wistfully swilling the wine in her glass.
"NO!"
It's not that you don't see Druant move, its just that you have trouble accepting that someone could roll across a dining table without touching anything other than a wine bottle. In the face of that the fact that you clearly saw the flames from the candles in the center of the table wrap around his foot seems almost trivial.
Gurthock turned to watch Yuril leave while taking a long draught of his ale. Spitting it out in shock he stood up in a flash a warning on his lips as his hand reached for his blade.
"YURIL! GET DOWN!"
Initiative
Initiative
Initiative
Yuril turns round to see what Gurthock was yelling about only to see a (the) shadowy figure pass its clawed hand throw her chest
Drat I was hoping I might have been fast enough to save her.
SighWell she might survive the claw. We can hope.
initiative
well, Yuril is still alive, though badly hurt, Durant your up
Drawing his blade the burly Half-orc moved into an advantageous position. "Gods I hate Assassins! RRRAAGGHH!!!"
With a mighty cleave he channeled all his muscle and even his Art into the blow.
Move: Move to shadow while drawing Falchion.
Swift: Arcane Strike
Standard: Power Attack w/Furious Focus
Attack Roll
Damage Roll
Edit: Oh look at that a Potential Crit. Good, stupid assassins.
Confirm:
Also +1 damage if I happen to be flanking with Durant.
Thayalh rose to his feet and swifty circled the table and came up behind Yuril. Arcane words fell from his lips as he placed a hand flat on her back.
"This ward will protect you from it's touch," the elf instructed quickly, "As long as you do not attack or approach it."
Ansha stood up from the table at the sight of the shadow, knocking her chair over in the process. Caught by surprise momentarily, she recovered quickly and began incanting several words of power. She splayed her fingers and pointed at the apparition. A trio of bolts of magical force shimmered into being in front of her fingertips, then streaked into the assassin.
Magic Missile:
Spell Penetration, if applicable:
Pernella stands and lunges toward the assailant. Her hand, empty a moment before, now contains a dagger.
Move: Move to shadow
Standard: Power attack with furious focus
Free: draw dagger
If she can charge and/or flank she would do so.
you fail to hit the shadow, so back to Durant
In anycase full flury "Tiger climbs the mountain!"
Snap kick to the knee, hit Damage .
Kidney punch, hit Damage .
Claw fist to face/back of head. hit Damage .
well its dead, dead now, and it was a wraith... (falchion was enchanted)
so the shadow figure disapears in a veil of smoke, what do you guys do now?
well its dead, dead now, and it was a wraith... (falchion was enchanted)
so the shadow figure disapears in a veil of smoke, what do you guys do now?
If we are no longer in combat.
Durant steps away from the injured man allowing the ships healer to take his place. He walks a few paces out of the room straining his ears for sounds of combat. This may not have been the only attacker.
Perception if needed