Upgrade your account to a Community Supporter account and remove most of the site ads.

Reply to thread

Message: <blockquote data-quote="Jon Potter" data-source="post: 4700878" data-attributes="member: 2323">[PLAIN][Interludes #6] The Dire Hag[/PLAIN]"As we agreed. Half now," Maleko said, smoothly regaining his composure after the startling appearance of the fiend. He handed the chain devil a bag holding various magic items that they'd each sacrificed to this endeavor - his Tome of Worldly Memory, and Personal Oasis, Del's headband and belt, Cerrakean's extra boots. "But the rest are ours to use until we have found the remaining coins. Not a moment before we are returned to the prime material plane. As was agreed." Maleko's voice was firm, hiding his fear or this creature, a personification of evil such as he had only ever before read about. Seeing such a thing in person was much more frightening than the drawings he had seen. The chain devil scowled at Maleko and the elf felt his stomach turn to water despite his facade of calm."The Captain was not pleased about that arrangement," Shroud hissed, its voice like death itself. It hefted the bag as if judging its worth by weight alone and then, satisfied, nodded once at the group. "I will take you to him, mortals."He turned and Del, Maleko and Cerreakan followed with Bloj putting himself at the rear of the party. He did not seem to want to get in the way of any disagreements there might be.Maleko saw at once that his assessment from the door was correct; there was a three masted ship veiled within the blue-gray mist. He grinned inwardly but thought nothing more of it. Del, however, was intrigued, for where Maleko saw just another ship (albeit one in a peculiar locale) Del saw hundreds of tiny differences between this vessel and ones that sailed the seas of Orune. They jumped out at him as they moved to the forecastle, and he found himself gawking at each mysterious eccentricity in turn.For her part, Cerrakean cared little for the ship or its arcane detailing. Her eyes were fixed on those crewmen that she saw. A few githyanki were loitering about the deck near the stern. Three of the larger ones were pushing around a smaller one apparently trying to get him to do their mundane duties on the deck. It was plain to the hobgoblin that strength ruled in this crowd and weakness was something they preyed upon. Cerrakean smiled. She could work with that.They neared the captain's quarters and the kyton instructed the group to wait before disappearing inside with a rattle of chains. As soon as the devil was away behind a closed door that left the four apparently alone at the front of the ship, Maleko cast a spell. He intended to listen in on the conversation by Comprehending the Language."Little Fairies! I could break them in half and use their bones to pick my teeth," he overheard one crewman say to another. The pair were staring threateningly and unapologetically at him and his companions."The captain thinks that he can make a profit off them, though," the other replied, spitting over the rail. "So we have to behave at least until the mission is done." There was suddenly a loud roar from beyond the closed door to the captain's quarters. "I want payment now tell them! Rules have changed!" Grawl yelled. "There is too much danger and if they die, I don't get my money!" Maleko turned to Del and Cerrakean, equal parts nervousness and resolve written on his face."Look mean," he instructed the pair. "Put your hands on your weapons. We are going in there." Then he opened the door and walked in. The others followed and he told Bloj to shut the door in a firm tone the others had never heard him use. The halfling, used to having orders barked at him, jumped to immediately.The captain's quarters were not unlike those that Del had seen on countless sailing ships. There was a desk or table at the rear of the chamber that was overflowing with charts and maps. A strange device of brass and crystal that the half-elf thought might have been some sort of astrolabe stood atop a metal pole bolted to the floor. The floor itself was covered haphazardly by rugs several layers deep that looked to have once been rich in color and design; now they were all a uniform grayish-brown color and laced with creeping black fingers of mold.Shroud stood in the darkest corner of the room, its eyes and mouth glowing lantern-like from the shadows. A huge Githyanki was stooped before him, his head brushing the ceiling between rafters. His body language and finery told Maleko at once that this was Captain Grawl. The elf strode forward - his boots making unhealthy squishing noises on the carpets - and pointed his finger at the Captain."Your agents agreed to half now, half later. How dare you go back on your word to us? Your name will be spread across the astral plane as a 'kigfarlnal'," Maleko said. He indicated the bag of magic he'd given to the kyton which was now lying at Captain Grawl's feet. "There is half of the items agreed upon." The captain's lip pulled back from yellowed stumps."Who do you think you are, barging in here?" Grawl hissed making a threatening movement towards Maleko who barely flinched. Del and Cerrakean quickly drew their weapons and the chain devil appeared to ready itself for combat. Grawl made no other move, controlling himself - almost as if he were testing the party. He studied them and then nodded."No one profits if we fight. Let's settle down to business," Captain Grawl said motioning for Maleko to sit at the chart-draped table and for the chain devil to stand down. The Githyanki spat on the floor and pointed to one of the maps, seemingly at random. "This mission of yours is much more dangerous than first thought. How do I get paid if you all die while you are off in some area like the God Islands? Do you even have a clue, elf, as to the risks you put us in going there?" Grawl asked showing much more reason than anger in his tone for which Maleko was grateful. It had been a gamble forcing his way into the Captain's Quarters with a show of bravado and if Grawl had taken it as a challenge to his authority he felt certain that this would have turned into a very short voyage indeed."Point taken. Would a percentage of the treasure we find there improve your opinion of this mission? High risk, high reward?" the elf asked, steepling his slender fingers as he spoke. "When your name was mentioned at the World Serpent Inn, it was greeted with great respect... even fear. They said that you and your crew did not know the meaning of fear and were skilled warriors who could handle most anything." Grawl nodded as if he expected nothing less of his reputation. He considered the proposition. Carefully."I want 20%. And an additional 20% if you use any of my manpower," he said at last and Maleko sensed that he'd reached the limits of his bargaining room."Agreed," he said with a single nod that brought a disquieting smile to the captain's face."I will have Zogah show you to your quarters," Grawl said. "And tell the crew that when this is over, they should leave us alone. Any other action would show great disrespect for your authority," Maleko said as he got to his feet. Then in an off-hand way he added, "Of course, I know you have the unquestioned control of your men." Grawl snorted."That I do! They do exactly as I say or there is trouble," said the Captain. He grinned his predatory grin. "They will leave you alone... provided your end of the bargain is upheld." The ship sailed a little bit later. Or rather it ceased to be coterminous with the City of Doors and moved fully onto the Astral Plane. It was hard to say how long the voyage lasted on the astral plane, but it was enough time to for them to stow their gear and get comfortable in their small room.  Since no one could judge time very well on the astral plane they each did various things to amuse themselves or prepare. Maleko read from his tome. Del practiced some sword play, every once in a while catching a glance from Maleko. Cerrakean bantered and argued with the crew members and seemed right at home.  At some point a knock came at the door and the Captain stood there with Cerrakean when Maleko opened it. "Your gem says we are very close," Grawl explained without preamble. "But the ship is going no further because our lookout has spotted a Neogi Deathspider directly in our path. Those foul slavers are best avoided."They followed one another quickly up on deck to view the ship which had brought Captain Grawl's vessel to a standstill. The sight of it made Del's head spin; another improbable image in a time and place already difficult to fathom. It was clearly a vessel, but one that gave the immediate impression of a mammoth arachnid: long slender legs, a bulging abdomen, and sails of glistening webbing. It was both intriguing to behold and frightening, due mostly to the reaction of Grawl's crew. Where they had been raucous and unreserved before, an ominous silence now held them as all eyes beheld the Neogi Deathspider. It hung in the distance of the silver void, a dreadful silhouette before and a little above the bow of the Dire Hag, presenting its stern and a bit of its belly and port side to them.Shroud jangled to the captain's side as soon as he reappeared on deck."They do not attack," the fiend said simply and Grawl nodded, scratching at his leathery chin."Perhaps they've not seen us," he suggested in a whisper and Shroud shook its dark head once, its chains rattling as it did so."At this range? That is unlikely," the kyton said. "More likely she is a derelict.""And a prize bit of salvage at that," Grawl muttered, suddenly grinning like a wolf. He turned to Maleko. "Elf, how would you like to re-negotiate our terms?""What are you proposing?" Maleko asked, tearing his curious eyes away from the spider ship to look up at Grawl's steel-gray eyes."You three scout out that ship for me, secure it, and I'll forgo my 20% claim to any further treasure that comes of your business," the githyanki offered, his eyes flicking eagerly back to the Deathspider. "Deal?"</blockquote>

Verification