Hun grumbles something along the lines of "not like there's a better way" before aloud saying, "Much as I'd like to disagree still with this whole open challenge business, as still feels too risky, I... say we go with. All our luring will do is rattle the beehive even more, and solidify our concerns being towards protect'n and rescue'n the tortles. And when that happens, the shell backs are right and properly  screwed, as Young Blue has mentioned." Hun then grumbles. "If I was but a Huntsbold, I wouldn't have minded sneaking in and find a sniper's perch for when things went tits up. But as it stands, none of us are all that great at that sort of thing, so... May Gond be with us, and may Beshaba **** right off." 

Yulmiath nods along. "If we need to bust a few heads on the way in, I guess we can do it in the friendliest way possible. Until daddy dearest come out to play at least. Krodhen, how do you want him handled, if it comes to it?"

Krodhen steps out in the open a bit and stares down the path and directly at Ahoyhoy's south gate. "If it is a formal challenge we are bringing, then let us make sure he is thoroughly defeated in front of his crew. I have no doubt he will either win or find a way to rob us of our victory, but should we prevail, if you have it in you, I ask that you allow me to perform the killing blow." Krodhen turns to the rest of the group. "It is an honor to do this alongside each of you. Let us show them that a real crew is not bound together by fear, but by battle-forged trust."

With that, Krodhen leads the Snack Pack to the gate. You can hear the sounds of the pirate crew moving around, arguing, and getting ready for something. The door is closed but unguarded.

Krodhen turns and whispers to the group: "Should I knock or do we have an entrance plan?"

Kairus looked shocked. "Who is knocking while issuing a formal challenge? Maybe I get the pirate code wrong, but I would assume the more noise - the better. If we can blow off this door, that would be the best entrance. Or..." He dived into his backpack and after a few moments of search produced a horn. "We can use this if the door is locked. I'm sure I can make it sing loud and offensive enough".

He summoned the helping hand to check if the door is actually locked. If not, he would prefer a dramatic entrance by throwing the door open.

(Should the group choose the musical entrance, Kairus would play a popurri made of well-known and most rude shanties he could remember, arranged in a way to produce the most possible noise. Performance: 21 , will even burn Luck for it if needed: 17 )

(No burning Luck)

Rhogal pulls out an assortment of different-colored scale-shaped mushrooms: one each of red, blue, white, black and green, and offers "Anyone want a lil' more bite to their weapons? Jus' ta let you know, they work on only non-magicky stuff."

Hun scoffed and grumbled at Krodhen's words, yet hadn't exactly the mind or courage to deny the Half-Orc's claims. He instead rather eagerly made to follow the group from Mrs. Thinn back, and busily made a few last minute adjustments and add-ons to various bits of gear upon him in preparation for the battle over the horizon.

At Krodhen's later whisper, he too looked incredulous up at the Half-Orc, prior to then let out a snort of amusement. But with Kairus pretty much beating him to the punch and even making a sound offering, the kobold mostly gestured to the Triton before adding in hushed tones, "If we can do both, all the better. Shame we couldn't have Krodhen ride in on Deadly Treasure to really sell his coming up in the world 'n all that. But, I rather not have that beast accidentally go on a rampage should it catch a stray arrow from one of the jackasses inside." He turns afterwards to Rhogal. "If not of a mind to save it, then let it be for Mr. Yully, Young Blue, and Krimshaw have at'em, Mossbeard." With that said, Hun settled in to await the results of the grandoise entrance with some enhancement to the performance from Kairus, neglecting to mention on his part having no intention of paying for any damages.

Krodhen responds to Rhogal first: "It won't work on my enchanted flail by the sounds of it, so why not hand over your colorful mushrooms to Yulmiath? Are you offering more than one set? If so, then I agree with Hun that Kairus could smear some of that magical juice on his crossbow. From what I have seen, the kobold's half-spear is magical enough as is, and you can turn the magical spores on your own fighting stick on and off at will."

(OOC: Final decisions regarding Magic Weapon and Warding Bond can happen somewhat retroactively. For now, I'll move the narrative forward a bit.)

The paladin then addresses Kairus: "You are right. I must not forget who stands on the other side of this door. A formal challenge need not be a gentlemanly affair... not here, not today." The bard's floating hand checks the door and confirms it only shut, not locked or barred. Krodhen smirks as Kairus pulls out his horn and begins to play. The half-orc throws a heavy foot on the in-swinging half of the gate and announces the arrival of the Snack Pack.

"Hear me, ya sea scum, for the new captain of the The Renegade has arrived to stake his claim on the failing ship. Failing only in leadership, for she shall traverse the Faerunian waters in glory once again the moment she is helmed by a worthy crew. Look around you and feast your eyes on the Renegade's new owners. Resist and none of you shall ever take her on another journey, for your blood shall soak the sands on this beach forever more!" 

Several pirates, now engrossed in Krodhen & Co's arrival, begin to approach the party. Some seem taken aback, other smirk, showing with their faces that they remember their captain's son. It doesn't take long for Ozor to make an appearance after that. From within one of the hatcheries, a tall, impressively built orc in full armor emerges. "Hahahaha--- Who's here to claim me seat? Is that the cry-baby's yappin' I hear? The Sea B*itch prizes me with a second chance at killin' you, boy!" He takes off his feathered tricorn hat, revealing a healthy mat of brown hair tied in a knot at the back and shaved sides. "You want this hat? You'll have to take it, but it won't be easy to do so after I sever ya hands, brat. There won't be a need to tie them up after I'm done with you." 

Krodhen replies: "We shall see who emerges victorious today, your group of pitiful deck scrubbers or my squad of honorable sailors. Your decaying tusks or my smiting justice. We might be few but we have swatted away every challenge The Wavemother has throw at us. You are just her next pitiful attempt, the bottom of the barrel, the scum that rides the wave. I am not afraid of you, old bilge rat. I come here today to prove that The Renegade Captain is nothing but a lubber, a scallywag, a picaroon."

Ozor: "Ya can talk, young one, but ya can't swing a weapon as good as I can. My deck scrubbers will swarm your little tavern act and add all of them to the bounty we already collected in this here settlement."

Krodhen: "Claim what you will while you can. By nightfall, none of it will be following you to hell."

Ozor, getting visibly irritated now: "Ya'll eat those words, boy!"

Krodhen: "Pick your best four fighters, father. Let them prove their loyalty to you. Five against five. Before you die this day, you'll see each one them turn their back on you."

Ozor: "Ahhrgrghrhgahr! A challenge then! Are ya afraid my number's advantage might be too much for ya to handle? Why would I ever agree to that?"

Krodhen: "I am only giving your man a chance to live at least one more night. Only those hwo fool enough to wish for death are bound to follow your command in this fight."

Ozor: "I will prove you wrong, Krodhen! I will rip your heart out and remove your jaw from your face. You are not worthy of the tusks I gave you!"

Krodhen: "My tusks are my own. Yours shall be fish food before sundown."

(OOC: Pausing here to leave space for anyone to add anything. At a minimum, someone should go ahead and roll a deception, a persuasion, or an intimidation check here to see if Ozor agrees to or falls for your formal challenge. Use your own modifiers or Krodhen's.)

Before battle:

Yulmiath reaches out and takes the mushroom. "Do I eat it, or rub it on my greataxe? Both?"

(@MoistBooks Which one? red=fire, blue=lightning, white=cold, black=acid or green=poison?)

"Sadly, I ken only do at a time, so Big Red will have ta make the most of it. I'll also have ta remember ta use shorter-lived magic fer the time being..."

Rhogal gives Yulmiath the mushroom of his choice.

"Jus' shake it over the blade, the spores'll do the rest."

Kairus suddenly burst into laughter, interrupting the intense scene. If there ever was an offensive laugh, the triton recreated it perfectly, even wiping tears from his eyes. "Oh, Captain Krodhen, when you told me about your father, you made him sound like some kind of famous - or infamous - daredevil. By the Umberlee's tits - you have a great sense of humour. That coward in front of us can not be that ... What was his name again?"

He looked at Ozor sizing him up, and then spat on the ground. "Are ye a true pirate or just a cowardly landlubber?" Kairus added a bit of sailor's slang to the mix for proper authenticity. "Aye, we challenge ye to a duel four by four, mano a mano, to prove yer mettle and keep the respect of yer crew. If ye win, ye'll prove yer worth, get rid of yer son forever and no one ever here will dare to challenge you. If ye refuse, ye'll be forever known as a yellow-bellied, lily-livered coward, unworthy of the title of pirate captain.
I see ye have a fierce crew, but what kind of leader are ye if ye can't stand up to a single challenger? Are ye afraid of losing, or are ye afraid of what yer crew will think if ye do?"

Kairus again looked Ozor up and down and asked with a mocking smile. "So what say ye, captain? Will ye accept the challenge of yer son and show the crew what kind of pirate ye truly are? Or will ye cower behind yer crew, forever branded as a coward who couldn't face a fair fight?"

(Persuasion: 19 , again, with Luck if needed: 29 )

Prior to Entry...

"Whoa, whoa, whoa! One more thing, Young Blue. Put this on." He offers Kairus a platinum ring with some kind of thin copper wiring around a point, as well as several symbols seeming etched into its surface. "I know Kroddy here could probably use it. But between you and Moss Beard over there, you two could use the added protection more." He asserts and waves the ring again more in the Triton's direction. Once put on, Kairus would see the wiring about the ring briefly warm up for a second, before cooling again. The same feeling Hun had from the matching ring he wore and kept out of sight.

Short of being pressed on the intricacies of the enhancement before after its donned, Hun stayed silent and content to let things play themselves out from there...

At Present...

Knowing or at least believing any "hype manning" on his part is doomed for failure, and leery still of any sudden moves on his part earning him a bolt to the head, Hun licked his maw out of nervousness, but otherwise kept quiet and focused on the orcling pair. Though that said, the kobold visibly struggled to keep doing so once Kairus started mouthing off. Even knowing it was for the good of the cause hadn't kept Hun from grimacing at one point, before trying to mirror the Triton's bravado in letting out a hissing laughter at the name calling. All to further enhance Kairus performance for sure, and totally not mask any lingering nervousness! And yet all the while thinking 'Frickity Frack! Starting to regret not giving Krimlen the other ring now!' 

Prep(prior to Gate Opening):
-Casting (2nd level)Life Synchronizer on Kairus, lasting 1 hour and granting him +1 AC and Resistance to all damage.

BEFORE THE GRAND ENTRANCE:

Rhogal hands a colorful mushroom to Yulmiath and Hun ties his life to Kairus's with the help of a pair of platinum rings.   

AFTER GRAND ENTRANCE:

Despite the intensity and seriousness of the moment, Krodhen has to stifle a laugh as Kairus joins on the verbal roasting of his father. 

Ozor: "What a bunch of mouthers! I'll make all o'y'all regret insulting the Renegade Captain. I ain't afraid of ya'r lil act and I'll prove it. Get ready to die." He points to one of his crew members and orders: "Go get the rest of the crew. I want all to witness the death of Krodhen and his suckerfish." He then points to three (four?) others and does not wait for volunteers: "Ya better find ya'r weapons. Ya're fightin' in this lil duel." 

(OOC: Is the duel supposed to be 4x4 or 5x5? If the former, who is sitting out from the Snackers' side? Also, I'm counting the 16 roll not as Luck but as advantage from Hun's help action. Not that it matters with that 28!)    

((That was purely my mistake. Can we decide that Kairus said "5" not "4"? If not, consider him as meaning crew, for captains will fight by default (so, you - and four of your men))).

For the lack of time for debates, Kairus accepted the ring without much fuss and attempted to indeed protect Krodhen first (as the supposed main target).

He did not push his luck now, when Ozor agreed to the fair duel. He just focused on projecting confidence and assurance that he was taking the correct course of action. Kairus clapped Krodhen on the shoulder. "We'll get you your ship, Captain." (Bardic Inspiration to Krodhen) The rest of the time he was studying the future battlefield and checking out his weapon.

Preparations for the formal challenge take some time to be finalized. Mainly, just as the Snackers got a chance to prepare for the fight, so do the pirates. There are plenty of pirates arriving from and heading to the ship during this preparation period. An area around the north gate is selected as the starting point for the fight, but then switched for a spot closer to the water. The general area is cleared of most debris, some fires are put out, and the few tortle corpses laying around are dragged to the sidelines. The party can't help but notice that one such corpse belonged to the tortle druid, part-time guide, and follower of Ubtao, old-turtle Mudgraw himself.

The "defending champions" are introduced, if not by name, then by reputation. Krodhen would know the names that are not offered to you ahead of time and can tell them to you.

1. The pirate warlord and scourge of the seas: Ozor, the Renegade Captain.
2. The old man, human navigator of the crew: Cardmon.
3. The muscly pirate in his prime and helmsman: Freddy Mangels
4. The wise woman of the group, a halfling seafarer: Dinsly Windblower
5. A novice pirate who looks completely out of place, human female: Barbara

As the time to start the bout approaches, many other pirates come closer to spectate. You can only assume that this is indeed the entire crew, give of take a handful of pirates. Including those ready to join the challenge, there are 15 pirates here (5 participants and 10 spectators.)

Ozor notices something: "Now now... A fair fight's a fair fight. Who's that metal lady with the flower on top? Yar sixth challenger. You better tell her to sit down or ya'll forfeit this challenge even before it begins!"

Following that resolution, Ozor lays some rules:

1. No mercy shall be shown. Everyone fights to the death.
2. No outside interference, including summoning of allied creatures, divine intervention, or use of magic that makes copies of oneself.
3. Leaving Ahoyhoy's enclosures means forfeiting the fight, which leads to death (see Rule 1.)
4. No healing allowed. Fighters are to wear their wounds proudly til the end.

You are given a moment to mull over the rules and finish your preparations. The fight will start soon. 

"All this blabbering, Orzo. Some of us have fought to the death before. I'm ready."

Yulmiath raises his greataxe and points towards Freddy Mangels.

Seeing as the pirates were going the extra mile for preparation, the Kobold initial used that time to do a few mental scan of the surface thoughts of various crew, hoping to gleam any further insights on the captain, the people likely to called in as his support for the duel, and any hints of how they might interfere with the proceedings should their captain truly wind up in a jam. Subtly, of course, or as subtly as he can while seeming to play with the amulet about his neck. However, his focus inevitably shifts during part of the setting up process.

Hun couldn't help but stare at the corpse of the old druid for a long moment as it's dragged away; his face all the while a stony mask. But as Ozor pipes up about Mrs. Thinn, his tail whipped in the air as he turned on Ozor glaring and growling out, "Calm your tits ya old ****!" For the first in a long while having truly lost his composure. Then before Ozor can bark back a response, he turns on the construct and hisses something in a completely alien tongue, prompting her to salute once, and then join the gathering spectators, muscling her way as needed into position near those closest to the boat/water.

"... There. It's done. Now let's get this over with." He all but demanded as he secured his shield and broke out the Shiskabober.

"Aye... Les' show these cowardly sea-rats what happens when folk actually fight back," Rhogal says as he takes out his staff of withering while some fruiting bodies grow on his hair and clothes (Using last Wild Shape for Symbiotic Entity).

DM' Screen:

"Very well, let's be done with this. I have beaches to raid and lives to take. Let's start right here." This is all the response that Yulmiath, Rhogal, or Hun get from Ozor at this time. They look ready.

Hun's mental scan extracts only the expected. Among the crow, there is a mix of fear instilled by their captain, excitement for the fight, expectations for additional loot collected from the challengers bodies, doubts that the captain will stick to his own rules, some disgust for Rhogal's new form, and one guy who is getting ready to collect bets from the others.  

As for the fighters, their minds, at least at the surface, exude confidence in their victory and excitement for the fight. Barbara seems worried but willing to believe in her teammates' battle prowess. Dinsly is mentally reciting the words for a spell, which you suspect she has already cast. Freddy Mangels is eyeing Yulmiath with strange psychopathic thoughts. Ozor is mentally wondering if he should rush Krodhen or the blue-skinned loudmouth next to him. Cardmon is surprisingly calm and quiet. He is thinking of about a book he has been reading. 

Mrs. Thinn finds a spot on the shallow waters, close to a couple of pirates.

Here's what I have for your preparations. Please double check:

• Yulmiath: Elemental Weapon (Thunder)
• Kairus: Warding Bond
• Hun: Warding Bond, Detect Thoughts 
• Rhogal: Symbiotic Entity
• Krodhen: Bardic Inspiration

Note that the fight has been relocated to the beach (I made and edit to my last post).

Alright, ROLL INITIATIVE (please go ahead and roll your own initiative for this key fight!)

Yully: 8