D&D 5E Spell & Crossbones

[Quickleaf]

Blackbeard seems to shrink in his seat at Blaise's foreboding speech, and that mountain of a man slips deeper into his chair, resting his cheek on his index finger while his other fingers drape over his mouth, leaving his eyes visible. Astoundingly clear brown pupils in seas of bright whiteness, dilated with fear. A singular dread from a time long ago. His brooding gaze is locked on Blaise, riveted, unable to tear himself away no matter how much he may want to.

After a moment, he leans forward, uncorks the rum bottle, refills his own glass, and takes a long draught. "It's true, that ship is tied to my name. And it's true the tasks I've asked benefit me. What man wouldn't seek his own advantage? But for all your perspicacity, you are without a compass when it comes to me, boy. The Coral Curse is Blackbeard's ship. That's how folks speak of it. A shameful ruined haunted thing. But it could be worse... I could give it to an incompetent crew who loses it to Her Majesty's Navy... I could give it to men who turn on me. In the end, it's still tied to my name."

Pausing to slide the bottle over to Blaise or any others who wish to refill their cups, Blackbeard offers a grim smile, "But rest assured, if the only matter on my mind were escaping whatever darkness lurks on that ship, I'd give her to you in a heartbeat. Though whether I was doing you a favor would be hard to say." He chuckles grimly, though his white knuckles gripping the armrest reveal how much Blaise's speech rattled him.

 

[Matthan]

Blaise nods, “A man's name is a precious thing. I believe that we can all agree on that point. Let me assure you of one thing though. Le Ge Rouge du Petro will not bring any glory to your name.” His eyes bore into Blackbeard's with a supernatural intensity as Libète begins to burn hot inside of him, “Whoever holds that gem will receive a fury and vengeance that this world hasn't seen since Bondye himself brought his wrath down upon Sodom. The curse that will fall on that man will be so severe that men will fear to speak his name even in a whisper. All the deeds of his life will be ground to dust one by one so no memory of him will remain on this earth. Every life that carries his blood will be hunted down and devoured. His soul will not suffer in the abyss of death with the vilest of murderers. No, such a fate is to kind by far. Instead, it will have a special home so far away from any other spirit that it shall never hear the cries of another. It will endure such a unique, consuming, and unending torment that he will wish that he had never been born. You fear the djab and rightly so. I tell you the truth, the terror that will come after that gem will make a man wish for a djab to take him in the night to spare him from the coming wrath.”

Blaise's mood shifts suddenly as a manic smile crosses his lips, “But that is an uncomfortable topic, and we came to talk of happy things. Whether the ship's title is in your name or not, you claim people will call it yours. We can help with that. Sign the ship over to us. Break the connection and let us face the djab. You desire glory. Baubles do not purchase glory or a legacy. No, that only comes from great deeds that will be remembered from generation to generation. You must become a legend that men speak of in awe.”

“That kind of glory can be yours, noble Blackbeard. Picture the story on the lips of every man, woman, and child in the Caribbean. The great and mighty Blackbeard striding out in the dead of night for one final glorious battle to prove his mettle to the world once and for all. You stride onto the Coral Curse in the dead of night when the djab is at its mightiest. You draw your blade without hesitation for no man nor spirit can lay claim to what belongs to Blackbeard! It is a battle for the ages! The spirit claws at your very soul, but Blackbeard's heart is stronger than the foulest of black magics and you drive your blade into a heart darker than night and banish the spirit back to whatever dark hell spawned it. For generations, men will compare themselves to the pirate lord who slew a djab singlehandedly and find themselves wanting. Men will hold their manhood cheap while your story is told while women will weep that they will never know the touch of a man of such strength. It will be a feat never matched and a legend unending. And you do not have to lift a blade. Meet us in the dark tonight. You must be there for the story to take root afterall, but that is all you must do. We will deal with the djab. If we perish in the attempt, you are no worse than today. If we succeed, we agree to our dying breath to tell the tale of your glorious victory over the djab. Afterwards, we will make a show of what has already been signed. You will publicly give the Coral Curse to Captain Katerina to repay a debt to her late father. In your moment of triumph, you will seal your legacy as a man of honor. This is your opportunity for the kind of greatness that most mortal men will never touch. You can be a legend.”

 

[Quickleaf]

GM: Love the detail you're using [MENTION=20005]Matthan[/MENTION]. I delayed my reply to let anyone else chime in who wanted to, but it looks like Blaise is taking charge of the negotiations. Correct me if I'm wrong, but it seems like the counteroffer that Blaise is making amounts to: Give us the ship title in exchange for us clearing out the djab...and Blackbeard can take the credit. Is that right? If so, I'm not sure that's substantively different from "Give us the ship title in exchange for us clearing out the djab", which I think we've established isn't enough for Blackbeard to seal the deal. Since there's uncertainty about whether the counteroffer comes across as substantively different...this is usually where I'd call for a Charisma check. As you can see, I'm trying to avoid Charisma checks and just play out the scene, but if your intention is to "force" a Charisma check, let me know that too, and I'll construct a check (with succeeds by 5+/ fails by 5+ results) like I've done for other checks you've made so far.

 

[Matthan]

[sblock=OOC]Well, the counter is more, give us the ship and we'll make you a legend, but that's only because Blaise doesn't have much to offer but puffery at the moment. My thought is that he is after a legacy so it was more a direct appeal to his aging ego (what old salt doesn't dream of one last shot at glory that eclipses all the tales of his youth and shows the world he's better now than he ever was?). To my fellow players, if Blackbeard wants a legacy, I am fine with us flying his flag or even giving him a share. I am also fine with doing one of the tasks he laid out. What Blaise won't go for is giving up those gems. To be fair, he hasn't communicated that to you yet, but that's what drew him out of his silence and further discussion of them will most likely be greeted with a lively response. [/sblock]

 

[peterka99]

Étienne was neither bad or good at the deduction game. A simple Man (not to say mind), he has trouble following the mental joust played in front of him.

He understands Blackbeard should fight the spirit, win ... and would rather not be around. He is then evaluating how to disguise himself to take the part of the Man... Officially...

 

[Quickleaf]

GM: OK [MENTION=20005]Matthan[/MENTION], how is this... Make a DC 13 Charisma (Intimidation or Persuasion) to convince Blackbeard not to pursue the Ge Rouge du Petro, since that's Blaise's main concern. On a failed check, Blackbeard will make a counteroffer. If you achieve an 18 or higher, Blackbeard is so terrified he drops the topic completely and he won't bring it up again. Moreover, Blackbeard will view Blaise as a bit of a confidante when it comes to supernatural matters...not wholly trusting him, not wholly fearing him, but clearly regarding him as someone "in the know" when it comes to spirits. However, if you roll a total of 8 or less, you must choose one of the following complications: Blackbeard grows suspicious of Blaise's interest in the gem, and while he drops the matter, he quietly sets plans in motion to figure out Blaise's connection to the Ge Rouge, including sending a spy after the party. Blackbeard is offended, turning hostile (though not immediately violent) toward the party, and Blaise in particular! Blackbeard cryptically agrees to all of Blaise's demands, but is convinced they're in league with evil spirits and plans to betray the party when he meets them at the beach at night after they clear the djab from the ship! Blackbeard is so terrified that he decides to do what he believes he should have done years ago — burn The Coral Curse! Your party now has limited time in which to exorcise the spirit before Blackbeard organizes a mob of pirates to burn the cursed ship down!

 

[Matthan]

[sblock=Rolls]You guys like narrative complications, right?
Blaise Intimidation Check on Blackbeard: 1D20+3 = [5]+3 = 8 I'll take the interest in Blaise's connection complication (option 1 with the spy)
Someone else want to pick up the negotiation ball and run with it before I get us all shot?[/sblock]

 

[peterka99]

OOC: Étienne low IQ leaves him one step behind in this converaation, but is he perceptive enough to understand Blackbeard should be... motivated (Etienne intimidate skill is good) to forfeit his plans and accept his impersonation as a djab killer ?

 

[Quickleaf]

GM: I swear half the time [MENTION=6787234]peterka99[/MENTION] I know you're saying something insightful and meaningful, but for the life of me I just can't decipher your English. Is there a language barrier thing happening, or am I just crazy? I think you're saying you want Etienne to try to pass himself off as a professional djab killer? Is that right? If "yes", then what's your goal in doing that? To get Blackbeard "to forfeit his plans" means...what?...you want to convince Blackbeard to reveal his motives in the negotiation? Which motives? I think you'll need to break down exactly what you want to try for me a bit more.

 

[peterka99]

OOC: It is very hard to quote from a cell phone interface. It is true you had a lot of dialogs from Matthan. Let's summarize...

You fear the djab and rightly so. I tell you the truth, the terror that will come after that gem will make a man wish for a djab to take him in the night to spare him from the coming wrath.” ...
Break the connection and let us face the djab. You desire glory. .... You must become a legend that men speak of in awe.” ...

“That kind of glory can be yours, noble Blackbeard. Picture the story on the lips of every man, woman, and child in the Caribbean. The great and mighty Blackbeard striding out in the dead of night for one final glorious battle to prove his mettle to the world once and for all. You stride onto the Coral Curse in the dead of night when the djab is at its mightiest. You draw your blade without hesitation for no man nor spirit can lay claim to what belongs to Blackbeard! It is a battle for the ages! ...

OOC: Etienne is not bright but perceptive. Was he able to follow-up and understand some points of interest from Blaise's speech ? : - He should help Blaise intimidate Blackbeard on the djab issue - He looks a bit like Blackbeard and can be the Stunt performer impersonating BB who will fight the Djab and let him get all the glory from it. Étienne has advantage on Charisma checks from a spell or two and his marine soldier background may help him convince bystanders he is Blackbeard.