Dockside Diversion/Still Waters

[jkason]

Nathan Tchanlach, human sorcerer

The gnome points to the cooperative halfling and informs her companions, "What that one is saying is... well... does not sound right. Something is off about what he is trying to give us."

Nathan looks to Zelena, then frowns down at the halfling groveling before them.

"I'm trying to show you mercy, and you're lying to us?" he says, glaring. "Perhaps you haven't noticed, but there are multiple people on this vessel with multiple reasons to slit your throat and feed you to the river. You need to think very, very carefully about what you say next, little man."

[sblock=mini-stats]
Nathan Tchanlach Human Sorcerer 4
Initiative: +4 Perception: +0

Conditions: Mage Armor (+4 AC / 1 hour)

AC: 15 (19)
touch: 14 (18) ; flat-footed: 12 (16)
(value in parenthesis w/ mage armor)
HP: 22/22
CMB: +2 CMD: 16 Fort: +3* Ref: +4* Will: +5*
* Additional +1 trait bonus vs. divine spells
Resistances: Resist 5 Acid and Cold.
In Hand: None
Spells: Cantrips (DC 14): Dancing Lights, Detect Magic, Drench, Mending, Message, Prestidigitation, Spark
1st (DC 15): Bless, Grease (DC 16), Magic Missle, Snapdragon Fireworks, Summon Minor Monster. Remaining: 4/7
2nd (DC 16): Glitterdust (DC 17). Remaining: 2/4

Heavenly Fire: 7/7 remaining
Wand of Mage Armor: 47 charges remaining
Used: CLW potion
Used: 5d6 bead on Necklace of Fireballs
[/sblock]

 

[perrinmiller]

Borric Hawkins, Male Human Fighter

Borric shakes his head almost sadly, "You still think us fools or hayseeds."

"I have a better idea. The one that tells us now the exact instructions gets to live, the other dies right now."

"We only need one of you. I can guarantee that we will keep the one who talks alive, because if we follow the directions and don't find the camp, then we will want to lay our hands on the trickster afterwards."

OOC: Borric has Intimidation Skill, but not nearly as good as Nathan's so he is better off doing Aid Another.

[sblock=Mini Stats]Initiative: +4
AC: 26 (23 without shield, 21 flat-footed, 13 Touch) - Platemail
AC: 20 (17 without shield, 18 flat-footed, 13 Touch) - Chain shirt
HP: 43 Current: 53
CMB: +8 CMD: 21 (23 vs. Trip/Disarm) Fort: +7 Reflex: +4 Will: +3 (+4 vs. Fear)
Conditions in Effect: Ioun Torch (night), Bless (+1 Attack), Heroism (+2 Att/Skills/Saves)

Current Weapon in Hand: +1 Flail
Chakram: 2/2 MWK & 6/6 Cold Iron remaining
Light Hammers: 2/2 remaining[/sblock]___________________________

Borric Hawkins

 

[Gerald007]

"Just tell us the truth and this can be over. If not, he will have your head on a pike," Syl says, nodding at Borric. Syl holds back, letting the group handle this sensitive issue.

OOC: Think I'm slowly on the mend. Hope to be back fully be Monday. PM, I'll check the other site this weekend.

 

[GlassEye]

The halfling who is proving to be the more informative of the two shakes his head, exhales and seems to settle into a fatalistic calm though the gleam in his eye seems to strengthen. "What could we do? The Ouhm River Trading Guild won't stop their trade, too much profit in it, and every ship that cuts through Tal Ouhm's back is offensive to us. I'll take you to our retreat…"

"Betrayer! Heretic! I'll kill you!" The change that comes over the cooperative halfling is drastic as his face contorts in hatred and rage and he bares his teeth and lunges at his companion. He can do little with his hands tied, however, and ends up tripping and falling flat.

The other shakes his head sadly and looks towards his dead brother. "I've only now come to learn what Mokk was telling us all along: we live and die at the whim of the World Serpent. I'll take you to our retreat if that's what you want." His angry brother roars wordlessly but the halfling continues despite that. "It's a day away but longer by foot. Your… boat… won't make the waterways required to get there and ours are too small for your use. There are only a handful of priests and warriors there at any time but I'm afraid I cant be more specific than that; our brothers come and go irregularly.

[sblock=Tal Cults, Knowledge (Religion) DC 10]A few cults throughout EN worship nature spirits, often called Tal, as gods. Most of the spirits are minor, local nature spirits that inhabit a particular terrain feature.[/sblock]

OOC: Good to hear, Gerald! Not the slow part, but the mending part...

 

[perrinmiller]

Borric Hawkins, Male Human Fighter

Borric smiles at the talkative one, "Way to be smart."

"You had your chance, fooker," he snarls as he turns to the other one. With the haft of his flail he beats the now hostile one unconscious to shut him up.

"Captain, this one can be executed. You want me to do it?"

[sblock=Mini Stats]Initiative: +4
AC: 26 (23 without shield, 21 flat-footed, 13 Touch) - Platemail
AC: 20 (17 without shield, 18 flat-footed, 13 Touch) - Chain shirt
HP: 43 Current: 53
CMB: +8 CMD: 21 (23 vs. Trip/Disarm) Fort: +7 Reflex: +4 Will: +3 (+4 vs. Fear)
Conditions in Effect: Ioun Torch (night), Bless (+1 Attack), Heroism (+2 Att/Skills/Saves)

Current Weapon in Hand: +1 Flail
Chakram: 2/2 MWK & 6/6 Cold Iron remaining
Light Hammers: 2/2 remaining[/sblock]___________________________

Borric Hawkins

 

[Songdragon]

Zelena watches and cringes slightly... As Borric deals with the deed, she moves over to the spellcasting/druid-like halfling that fell, and checks to see if he is truly dead or merely in a state of unconsciousness.

 

[Gerald007]

Syl listens to the halfling, trying to recall anything about the Tal cults he mentioned. "Tal Cults? Oh yes. A few cults worship nature spirits, often called Tal, as gods. Most of the spirits are minor, local nature spirits that inhabit a particular terrain feature."

"Do we really want to get sidetracked chasing down these pirates, though? We have saved the ship and can move on, forgetting these little bastards."

 

[GlassEye]

The captain shakes his head at Borric's question. "My boat, my responsibility. If a man can't take care of his own dirty work he needs to be in a different line of work. I'll do it." He draws his dagger and dispatches the halfling lying in the dirt yelling obscenities until the moment his life is cut short. The other halfling closes his eyes, tears leaking down his face, but remains quiet.

"Bad work, that, but likely better'n they'd receive at Hruthrip." He shakes his head appearing somewhat dismayed with the situation before glancing up to listen to Sylvain's comments. He nods. "Another thing to think about: I can't wait for you to traipse through the swamp, deal with them and return. I've cargo to get to port and I'm paid by the journey, not by the day like a city-soft clerk."

[sblock=Sylvain]Wow! Stunning roll! Most Tal Cults are small and local but these halflings have repeatedly mentioned Tal Ouhm. If the spirit they worship is of the entirety of the Ouhm River it would be incredibly powerful. But, you know, the more powerful it is, the more likely it is to be sunk into a deep, not-conscious on this plane, sort of slumber. As a witch of the Elements, this entity might be very enticing to Sylvain.[/sblock][sblock=OOC]

GM: I'm not trying to dissuade you from raiding the raiders. You are free to take whatever path you like (or none of them if this game/my DMing doesn't suit you). We are nearing a decision point for the characters, however, and a decision sooner would be better than later as the next step hasn't been approved by a judge yet. (The more open nature of this adventure means a set of encounters would require tweaking depending on when they are encountered). Your choices at the moment: continue working for Sekmun; track down dwarven treasures with Aldino; hunt down the raiders; some direction I haven't thought of yet that you have.

[/sblock]

 

[perrinmiller]

Borric Hawkins, Male Human Fighter

Borric watches the execution impassively. Once it is completed, he turns to the other one, "Well, you can see we true to our word. What's your name, runt?"

As the Captain tells them about not being able to wait, the fighter shrugs, "Captain, I think we understand."

"I feel that we were hired on for the voyage, I think we should see that through. We can always return to deal with the pirates and their retreat later. If they runaway after this, then the waterway is rid of their presence just the same."

He looks to the others for an opinion.

[sblock=Mini Stats]Initiative: +4
AC: 26 (23 without shield, 21 flat-footed, 13 Touch) - Platemail
AC: 20 (17 without shield, 18 flat-footed, 13 Touch) - Chain shirt
HP: 43 Current: 53
CMB: +8 CMD: 21 (23 vs. Trip/Disarm) Fort: +7 Reflex: +4 Will: +3 (+4 vs. Fear)
Conditions in Effect: Ioun Torch (night), Bless (+1 Attack), Heroism (+2 Att/Skills/Saves)

Current Weapon in Hand: +1 Flail
Chakram: 2/2 MWK & 6/6 Cold Iron remaining
Light Hammers: 2/2 remaining[/sblock]___________________________

Borric Hawkins

 

[Gerald007]

"Now before we get all hasty, lets think about this. From what I recall about these cults, most of them are small and local but these halflings have repeatedly mentioned Tal Ouhm. If the spirit they worship is of the entirety of the Ouhm River it would be incredibly powerful. Where there is incredible power, I would suspect there would incredible knowledge and riches as well. Maybe much more than simply guarding against pirates. Just putting it out there for discussion."