And so half an hour (and about a third of a class level) worth of head-chopping later Foghorn finally laid his blood-dripping choppyaxe on the pile of heads he'd chopped, looked around for someone to cure the masses of nicks and scratches he'd accumulated, and loudly declared he'd had enough for the day.
Problem was, there was nobody around to hear him say this except headless dead people put into this condition quite recently by none other than himself. His friends had all left after watching the first few dozen heads fly, to do other things. How dull......
Ronni and Keyes knew a good opportunity when they saw it. An entire realm, fat and ripe for the plucking, and distracted while its two biggest city states fought each other - does it get any better than that? The two thieves had a wonderful time plundering the place, each returning with a bag of pretty but worthless trinkets mixed in with some highly valuable gems and jewelry. Keyes' bag also had someone's left ear in it - she had a diamond earring she just had to have and been a bit too enthisiastic in its acquisition. They'd taken Knife along as well, for old time's sake, and by the time they were done she was starting to have some interesting memories involving jugular veins, deadly substances, and good pay...it was starting - just starting - to come back to her.
Once done with their spree the sneaks melded into the shadows, returned to the party's barge, and had a party barge barge party to celebrate all the xp they'd just picked up.
Gucci and Freedo found a fine inn, sampled some of their fine wine, got tossed out by a fine bouncer (because, goblins), then made their not-so-sober way back to the barge and joined in the party there.
Sister Jericho, with Pur-Ging for company, went into town and did what quick research she could on the Kraken - what is was, where it might be found, how many others had seen it and lived to tell the tale (very few indeed), and how best to persuade it to do something useful for you like jump up and down a few times. She then quickly hit the market and picked up a small bag of olives and some truly awful retsina wine (her research had both as being good Kraken persuaders, though it was unclear how); and they returned to the barge. On seeing the party they put their gear on board, then returned to shore and kept watch.
And Cholmondley, after his most unusual bout of clear thought and strategic planning, wandered out to a rocky point and sat contemplating the waves, his mind filled with memories of Harrington and thoughts of happy (but righteous) vengeance on the evil Char-Ging.
......and so Foghorn, bleeding from dozens of small cuts and looking quite a bit more badass than when he started the day, made his unsteady way to the barge. The good Sister intercepted him at the head of the dock and practiced her healing magic; then all reunited on what was becoming a boisterous barge full of adventurers..........
