Pathfinder 1E Crowns of Ice - A Tale of Blood and Betrayal - Chapter I - The Isle of Heildam

[Fenris]

As Alec waited on the beach, from the trees six men emerged. They paused as they emerged into the open to be seen. None of the men carried anything more than a seax, and were not wearing armor. One man holds up his hand in greeting. "Hail Jarl MacTier. If you would follow us, your daughter, as well as your host await your arrival." After the greeting and without waiting for an answer, the men turn and in single file walk back down a small game path, slow enough that they may be followed easily.

If Alec follows the men:
[sblock] Alec and his men follow the emissaries, they walk only a short distance to the west before heading around a small rise. They emerge into a clearing. In the clearing there is a long make shift table set up with tree trunks as stools around it. The table is laid out with fish and root vegetables freshly roasted. Bottles of wine are lined up along the table. At the far end of the table sits a tall warrior, a man Alec must assume to be the SeaKing. The only other person at the table is a young woman, with familiar red hair. [/sblock]

 

[tglassy]

Alec merely stares at the men as they depart, his arms crossed, stone faced. He had traveled far enough. This Sea King would have to come to him.


Sent from my iPhone using EN World

 

[Neurotic]

"Come, Jarl Alec. No sense in delaying the inevitable nor leaving your daughter in their hands longer than is necessary. You will have to talk to him here or there. No combat on this island. And starting power play at the beach is small benefit for potentially very large cost of making things harder. You said it yourself, they will not leave the island without a fight. But here and now, you need to get Astrid back."

Arvid is not stupid enough to take Jarls hand and pull him forward. But diplomacy has worked before. And maybe they will all come to an understanding once this business is concluded. Poor pirates, of all the traffic on the seas, they captured one woman that was sure to get them killed.

"And maybe I can find new home if Einar really falls as Gataberg did." he thinks to himself.

 

[tglassy]

The look Alec gives Arvid is cold enough to freeze the hells and hard enough to shatter diamonds. He didn't say anything, but the implication was clear. They would wait.


Sent from my iPhone using EN World

 

[Neurotic]

"Jarl, I am here as Einars representative. While I would prefer to face the pirates with you, I am fully entitled to retrieve Einars bride without you. Please, do not make me do this. They shouldn't see tension between us. At least tell me why are you doing this, they are out of the earshot now. What would your daughter think when they return without you?"

OOC: We are off at the great start - we didn't even meet the pirates we're supposed to fight and we're already fighting. Below is thinking not talking so please do not respond to it

Behind the pleading facade, Arvid is tense, even frustrated if not outright angry. He stares at the Jarl Alec, waiting for some hint of the answer.
"If we tarry too long, we'll lose them. And this stubborn Jarl doesn't help. Like we have something to bargain with. Bah! Losing energy on gestures instead of real action. Oh, if I just could stalk them, they would soon regret it...alas."

 

[tglassy]

OOC: You're the only one fighting. Did Arvid bring any men or is it just he, Alec and Alec's guard?

Sent from my iPhone using EN World

 

[Neurotic]

OOC: Arvid has a ship. With the crew. But here, it is only him. And no. We're fighting, you're just Being strong and silent type . I was kinda hoping for a dialogue, that would keep Arvid here and I'd hate to split us up. PbP is slow for that. And yet, letting you dictate his actions (if Arvid remains) kinda puts him into going with whatever you're planning. Hmmm, dilemma. Could you put some ooc reasoning or ic thoughts of Alec when you get to the computer?

 

[tglassy]

OOC: His daughter was kidnapped by pirates. Those pirates then demanded he he meet them on an island. Alec is a Jarl. He's a ruler. There is power in getting someone else to come to you. It makes you the one with the upper hand. Alec is not going to come crawling to a Sea King to get his daughter back. The Sea King will meet him on the beach. It forces the Sea King to get off his high horse and approach Alec, rather than having Alec approach him. Sending a lessor man to "fetch" Alec was an insult, even if unintentional. And Alec will be paying no random. Either the Sea King gives his daughter back, or they all die, and if Arvid pays the random against Alec's wishes, his ship will likely not make it back to Einar. This father is in no mood to compromise, treaties be damned.

Sent from my iPhone using EN World

 

[Neurotic]

OOC: This is why I asked earlier that we discuss the tactics and how we deal with this. You're essentially telling me I need to do what you decided or you will kill my character. I can understand the insult part although I wouldn't read it as such. Even between two rulers, the one visiting is escorted by lesser jen to the ruler visited. And you cannot expect pirates to know that. Finally, Alec behaves as if the daughter is secondary and his power everything. You could also say let's get this over with and then sink everyone leaving the Island. Disclaimer: this is ofcourse my view and yours is different. Just stating that in PbP we cannot do a quick over the table discussion. Moot point since know we're on the same side, just please take other PCs into consideration when doing something this absolute. I'll play along. Can I assume you told this aloud? Or Alec remains silent?

 

[Neurotic]

"Fine." huffs Arvid "We do it your way." Arvid finds a good rock to sit upon and rest his leg. He rests the Hands upon cane round head and waits.