Pathfinders of Pelligrew's Pinnace [IC 01]

[mleibrock]

Lerissa

Lerissa will relieve the corpse of the pouch and make her way back to the rest of the group catching bits and pieces of the conversation as she draws nearer. She will hold the pouch up high and jingle it loudly as she approaches.


"Well, seems we were a bit late in our timing", she looks at Abraxis and lets loose with the first half smile you've seen from the hard woman. She knows it all turned out OK (well for everyone except ole' no-head). "We have been sent by the pathfinder society to retrieve you and the book so it seems we have only accomplished half our goal. Can you give us an idea where your new friends might have taken the book? I guess we should also ask, would you be willing to accompany us on its retrieval?" Looking at the other men chained together, "and how did you all get wrapped up in all this mess?"

 

[mleibrock]

On the man she eviscerated, Lerissa finds a pouch with 193 gold pieces.



One of the old men speaks up in answer to the Aasimar's question. "I am Yargos Gill. These hoodlums are War Hounders, followers of a local crime boss names Nessian. He discovered I'd found a codebook related to an invasion of Absalom planned some eight hundred years ago. I've been translating the codes from this book and replicated the codes to start the invasion on a lark. Much to my shame, as I translated more of the book I realized that the instigators of this invasion had sworn an oath binding even beyond the grave . . . and my replication of the codes has awakened them! They'll start the invasion soon, and now Nessian has the book! Yargos actually starts to weep as he continues his tale. "There's a signal in the book to halt the invasion, but I can't replicate it without the book to reference! Please . . . you've got to help me get it back! Nessian plans to use the book to blackmail the city and take a place in the power structure - he was going to kill me to keep me from warning them!"

Who is "Aasimar"

 

[HolyMan]

[sblock=Aasimar] He was refering to Abraxis's race. [/sblock]

Leaf listens intently to Yargos Gill's story and felt great relief that the men did not go over the edge. Looking over as Lerissa address the group he shudders slightly, (Did that half-smile make her look even a little more evil? No it must be his imagination.)

And now the dead on their way to invade and only a small book can help save the city. It was incredible to believe no matter how true it really was.

"Should we track those War Hounders? Odds are they are heading back to report to this boss of theirs." he says calmly to everyone.

 

[grufflehead]

Yargos had finished his tale, and Leaf's question hung in the air. After some moments, Mustapha pulled himself upright, and turning back to the group said 'we must see these men to safety lest Nessian decides to make another attempt on their lives. After that, I presume Pelligrew would require us to continue on our assignment to retrieve the book. Where do these War Hounders base themselves?' he asked Yargos' group.

 

[Maidhc O Casain]

"I guess we should also ask, would you be willing to accompany us on its retrieval?" Looking at the other men chained together, "And how did you all get wrapped up in all this mess?"

One of the men with Yargos speaks up. "We were just having a bit of a bite to eat with Yargos here when those War Hounders came in and roughed us all up, then brought us up here!"

"Should we track those War Hounders? Odds are they are heading back to report to this boss of theirs." he says calmly to everyone.

"We must see these men to safety lest Nessian decides to make another attempt on their lives. After that, I presume Pelligrew would require us to continue on our assignment to retrieve the book. Where do these War Hounders base themselves?"' he asked Yargos' group.

Yargos looks from Leaf to Mustapha, glances quickly at Lerissa . . . and just as quickly looks away from her frightening visage . . . then back to Mustapha as the Brass Man's words catch his attention.

"Did you say Pelligrew? That Pathfinder fellow? Did he send you after me? I was going to cut a deal for giving the codebook to the Society, but if you'll just help me get it back so I can stop that invasion I'll gladly hand it over to you afterwards! You have to let me go with you, though . . . there's no way you'll be able to decipher the codes in time to put a stop to all this!"

 

[mleibrock]

Lerissa

Something about Yarros' story troubles Lerissa. He seems too eager to have his life put in jeopardy again.

sense motive roll (1d20+8=20)

Seeing Yarros divert his eyes in what maybe fear of her, Lerissa will move so the goliath is between she and Yarros so that he may feel more at easy speaking.

 

[Maidhc O Casain]

[sblock=Lerissa]Yargos' distress about the coming invasion - and the fact that it's his fault for playing around with the codebook - seems honest. He's likely telling the absolute truth.[/sblock]

 

[Rhun]

Abraxis' golden eyes sweep over the men, focusing for a second on each one. "What of this invasion, then? What form will this invasion take? I know of no army within striking distance of the city."


[sblock=Mowgli]Detect Evil on the group of men rescued.[/sblock]

 

[Maidhc O Casain]

[sblock=Abraxis]None of them are evil.[/sblock]

Yargos' eyes fasten on Abraxis; he's plainly decided that the handsome Aasimar is the safest target for his gaze amongst the unusual group. "Well, now, that's a tale in itself . . . would you mind too awfully if we took my friends back to the Soggy Piper as I relate it? There's really no time to waste if we're to set things right . . . and once that's done I'll willingly turn over the codebook to the Society."

As you gather your new charges and begin the damp trek back to the Piper, the drizzle starts again and the wind picks up somewhat. Yargos launches into the following tale; his innate passion for the subject is clear in his voice as he picks up momentum.

"Eight hundred years ago, a hidden armada of ships from Taldor floated off the coast of the Isle of Kortos like a thousand locusts, waiting for the signal to invade Absalom. The plan was simple, but deadly: When the misty weather of Desnus (May) took hold, a fifth column of infiltrators known as Black Echelon would weaken strategic defense points and destroy Absalom’s warning system from within. Once their bloody mayhem was complete, the hidden saboteurs planned to signal the fleet, welcoming them to lay siege to a city now brought to its knees.

Prearranged signal lights were prepared for each phase of the offensive. A red flashing light was the sign for Black Echelon to poison Absalom’s granary. A violet light with three pulses was the signal for a prearranged team to destroy the city’s bell towers, and so on. But when the mists of Desnus descended, the prearranged signal lights never appeared. Unbeknownst to the hidden strike teams, the leaders of the Black Echelon infiltration cell were discovered and assassinated by brave heroes of Absalom. The signal lanterns lay dark, and the rest of Black Echelon sat idle. Several hours later, the fleet’s hiding place was discovered. A quick counterattack by Absalom’s navy ambushed the would-be invasion force and Taldor’s armada was destroyed to the last mast. In the coming weeks, Absalom’s constabulary rooted out the remaining hidden members of Black Echelon and put every last one to the sword.

The failed invasion mission, called the Silent Tide, would have amounted to little more than a cautionary footnote in a textbook of naval battles save for one crucial detail: Prior to entering Absalom, each member of the Black Echelon cell swore an ancient oath, known as the Binding Word. Black Echelon pledged to fulfill their duties, no matter the barrier, no matter the cost. And when I replicated some of the signals . . . well, I was just fiddling around, but the consequences were disastrous! The Binding Word has woken the Black Echelon - they have resumed their work to set the invasion in motion. And I greatly fear that the sailors in the Armada swore the same oath; if the Black Echelon succeeds, Absalom could well be invaded by a host of sailors from beyond the pale!"

 

[Rhun]

Abraxis walks steadily along, back toward the Soggy Piper, as he listens to Yargo's tale. As the tale comes to its conclusion, the aasimar can only shake his head in amazement. "So you are saying that your work has, quite literally, raised the dead?"