D&D 5E Spell & Crossbones
- Thread starter Quickleaf
- Start date
pathfinderq1
First Post
Flynn nodded to each of the others as they spoke.
"My tale is an odd one, but it deserves to be told- and if you would have me in your crew, you deserve to hear it. Perhaps, as they say, a burden shared is a burden lessened." He took another slug of rum, and his smile widened a bit. "But it is hardly the sort of tale for a sunny morning on an open porch in the heart of town. More the sort of story for a dark night, clustered 'round a single flickering candle, with the devil's own storm beating at the walls." He looked around the group once more, his gaze lingering on Nia's strange eyes, and ending on the captain.
"You'll like it, I shouldn't guess. It has everything: Fencing, fighting, torture, revenge, giants, monsters, chases, escapes, true love, miracles... Until then, though, it seems work awaits."
"My tale is an odd one, but it deserves to be told- and if you would have me in your crew, you deserve to hear it. Perhaps, as they say, a burden shared is a burden lessened." He took another slug of rum, and his smile widened a bit. "But it is hardly the sort of tale for a sunny morning on an open porch in the heart of town. More the sort of story for a dark night, clustered 'round a single flickering candle, with the devil's own storm beating at the walls." He looked around the group once more, his gaze lingering on Nia's strange eyes, and ending on the captain.
"You'll like it, I shouldn't guess. It has everything: Fencing, fighting, torture, revenge, giants, monsters, chases, escapes, true love, miracles... Until then, though, it seems work awaits."
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Quickleaf
Legend
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[sblock=To Blackbeard's Manor]
The trail to Blackbeard's Manor lies deep in the back of Nassau, pushed back in the valley amidst overgrown jungle accessible by a simple wood plank trail leading over an intermittent stream. Overlooking a private little cove, barely visible amidst the thick foliage, it is a well hidden sanctuary. A steady stream of pirates carrying sacks of grain and small barrels of rums up to the estate make the ascent, their wise-cracks and boisterous crude tales become diminished in volume the closer they get to Blackbeard's home. As you approach, you notice the drapes on the second floor pulled back just enough to catch the pale veiled face of a woman watching you.
Setting down a crate of empty bottles, one of the pirates, a churlish man with a thick goatee and a peg leg that clearly bothers him, gruffly refuses help from one of the younger stronger pirates. When he catches sight of your party, he is leaned over a crate wheezing to catch his breath, "Come to pay your respects to old Blackbeard, eh? He don't take kindly to pernicious liars, debtors, or monarchists, so ye've been warned. The name's Grimes. Elias Grimes. I'm purveyor of all you see before you. Blackbeard's Quartermaster and Provisioner. So you think yer worthy of a meeting with th' Captain of the Nine Hells, eh? Well, first you'll need t—"
A booming voice came from inside the house, loud enough to be a bear rather than a man, "Send them up, Grimes!"
His attempt at inflating his own purpose, or perhaps securing a bit of graft, diminished, the old salt Grimes mutters testily to himself, gesturing to the front door. Even before you reach the handle, the door opens vigorously, clattering on its hinges. There, filling up the doorway of the shaded manor, is Blackbeard himself. "I've been expecting you, Katerina del Corazón." His brooding eyes survey your party, motioning you to come inside. The receiving room seems to have become a place for launching ventures and playing cards. Numerous pistols and maritime trophies adorn the walls. "Two Frenchmen," he looks to Etienne and Blaise, "under the banner of a Spanish woman. Why, add a proper Englishman and you'd be halfway to an assassination squad to take my head back to Merry Old wherever the f*ck. The dwarf and Creole I can trust at least," he says in a grave dead pan, only a hint of mirth twinkling in his eyes as he looks to Old Zef and Nia Steeleyes. "And I've known too many Irishmen." Only with his last jib aimed at Flynn does his hardened demeanor break in the slightest.
"So..." he levels his gaze at Katerina. Several chairs and a sofa surround a wooden table made from the stump of some exotic hardwood with gorgeous amber rings. A set of dice poker fashioned of silver and bone rests on the table. "You want my ship, The Coral Curse?"
Queenie
Queen of Everything
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On the way over Katerina had been pondering how she was going to work this scheme. They had all heard tales of Blackbeard, most likely inflated like most tales of her father had been, though there was always a tale or two true enough in there to make any sane person take pause. She hadn't come to any conclusion and even now at this moment she wasn't quite certain how to proceed. One wrong move and their whole venture would be thrown off track, perhaps failed before it even truly began. This was her first true test and to her, the first true test of her crew's mettle and cunning.
"Bien atendidas Capitán," she tipped her large brimmed hat to the intimidating man, "It was about time we laid eyes on each other. And such a beautiful day to make a new friend," she grinned as the words thickly rolled off her tongue. Kat wandered around the room for just a moment, calculated to look casual as could be. She turned back to face him, her sea colored eyes meeting his. "As for the ship, it does not seem like you're using it, and it seems such a disgrace for a ship of Blackbeard's to be lying around in such an abhorrent state. I was thinking we could help each other out?" She wandered right up to him and gave him an even larger grin. "But we've only just met, and perhaps it's too early for business? Or perhaps we talk over a drink?"
Blaise enters the room and silently tries to get a feel for the surroundings. His captain has the lead and he is content to wait until he is needed.
[sblock=Actions]
I want to have Blaise make a perception check to see if he's lucky enough to see something in the room that maybe Blackbeard doesn't want him to see.
Blaise Perception Check on room: 1D20+2 = [19]+2 = 21
[/sblock]
[sblock=Actions]
I want to have Blaise make a perception check to see if he's lucky enough to see something in the room that maybe Blackbeard doesn't want him to see.
Blaise Perception Check on room: 1D20+2 = [19]+2 = 21
[/sblock]
Quickleaf
Legend
Blackbeard levels a brooding gaze at Katerina, his eye twitching slightly when she mentions the word 'disgrace.' A smug smile creeps along the old pirate's craggy face. He turns motioning to your party to take a seat, but then glances back at Katerina trying to size her up. His steely gaze and bearish frame feed right into the stories that have spread through Nassau of the man. However, his beard doesn't smoke like a demon and his home seems more welcoming than fearsome. "You know the stories about The Coral Curse and still you're undaunted? I'll give it to you, girl, you have your father's spirit. Most men hear talk of djab (dark spirits) and they run the other way." Pulling a bottle of rum off the shelf, Blackbeard uncorks it and begins filling seven clay cups. "They say you can tell the measure of a man by what he runs toward as much as by what he runs away from..."
As he speaks, Blackbeard catches Blaise's eyes trailing over the room. Only when Blaise's gaze turns to the parlor-style stairs or a narrow door leading to what might be a library, does Blackbeard squint his eyes suspiciously. Whatever lies on the second floor or behind the library door, Blackbeard clearly doesn't want prying eyes looking there.
Raising his cup, the old pirate offers a toast, "To what we run toward." Downing the rum, and wiping his beard, Blackbeard takes a seat in an old leather chair. "I would consider chartering The Coral Curse to you, not because of your father's name, but because I like your spirit. I'll give you a choice. You can play me for it..." he gestures to the silver and bone dice poker set on the table.
"Or we can negotiate like...civilized men. There are two things I want...
"The first... Captain Piet Hien Van Djik has a secret he's kept from me from during his captaincy of The Coral Curse, and whatever it is, I need to learn it before Piet Hien dies to his illness. Some lingering malady from the yellow fever, they say.
"The second... there's a treasure L'Ollonais is said to have buried somewhere on New Providence Island, and I want it found before The Seawolf comes hunting for it. Deliver me either of these, and then I'll consider chartering the ship to you." He speaks in a gravely voice, confident he has the upper hand in the negotiations.
"And of course, you'll need to exorcise whatever evil haunts the ship." He refills his cup with rum, glancing at Nia Steeleyes meaningfully.
As he speaks, Blackbeard catches Blaise's eyes trailing over the room. Only when Blaise's gaze turns to the parlor-style stairs or a narrow door leading to what might be a library, does Blackbeard squint his eyes suspiciously. Whatever lies on the second floor or behind the library door, Blackbeard clearly doesn't want prying eyes looking there.
Raising his cup, the old pirate offers a toast, "To what we run toward." Downing the rum, and wiping his beard, Blackbeard takes a seat in an old leather chair. "I would consider chartering The Coral Curse to you, not because of your father's name, but because I like your spirit. I'll give you a choice. You can play me for it..." he gestures to the silver and bone dice poker set on the table.
"Or we can negotiate like...civilized men. There are two things I want...
"The first... Captain Piet Hien Van Djik has a secret he's kept from me from during his captaincy of The Coral Curse, and whatever it is, I need to learn it before Piet Hien dies to his illness. Some lingering malady from the yellow fever, they say.
"The second... there's a treasure L'Ollonais is said to have buried somewhere on New Providence Island, and I want it found before The Seawolf comes hunting for it. Deliver me either of these, and then I'll consider chartering the ship to you." He speaks in a gravely voice, confident he has the upper hand in the negotiations.
"And of course, you'll need to exorcise whatever evil haunts the ship." He refills his cup with rum, glancing at Nia Steeleyes meaningfully.
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Etienne doesn't know how to speak with dead, but he remembers something was said about the ogre L'Ollonais. He handles his notebook.
(to himself) "humm.. The Narrows. is it shallow or deep ? The best way to access shallow waters is the Island's native canoe. Or maybe my own Rabaska. But the treasure may be more valuable than the ship. We should then buy the ship a lump sum. Let's wait and see. Maybe the captain will conclude it as well in moments..."
(to himself) "humm.. The Narrows. is it shallow or deep ? The best way to access shallow waters is the Island's native canoe. Or maybe my own Rabaska. But the treasure may be more valuable than the ship. We should then buy the ship a lump sum. Let's wait and see. Maybe the captain will conclude it as well in moments..."
"An interesting proposal," Nia says dryly. "We take de risks and bear de costs of dis exorcism, and returnin' de ship to seaworthiness while you keep possession of de ship and can take it back when you wish."
She opens her mouth to say more, then looks at Katerina and subsides back into silence.
She opens her mouth to say more, then looks at Katerina and subsides back into silence.
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