The mephit blinks at Eya, seemingly in shock. The hellhound keeps snarling over him, a bit of superheated drool falls, and melts a part of the small creatures arm. "Ooow! Okay, okay, I'm yours. The kind option sounds nice."
"Excellent, you've made a wise choice today, Snowflake. You shall address me as Master...or Fire Queen," she says to the mephit. While still tied up, she pulls out a wand from her pack and casts a spell on the mephit. Slowly, his wounds begin to heal up. "If you ever try to flee or betray me or my companions, then you will NOT get a second chance. Is that understood?" she asks him.
She tells her hound to monitor the mephit until the summon ends and to kill him if he tries to flee the ship. Once everything seems settled she unties the mephit.
"My name is... Um, never mind, Snowflake is fine... Master."
After being untied, and keeping his wings furled, Kiliketz limps over to where one of the ice elementals had been dispatched. The mephit scoops up some of the chunks of ice left behind and crunches down on them, slowly restoring the missing pieces of his body. After that, the mephit finds a quiet place to sit and avoid attention from the crew he'd just tried to kill. He's muttering to himself the whole while, and once can be heard saying, "Fire queen. Great, I got stuck with another crazy one. How in the planes does this keep happening?"
Kiven sits down with his bow on his lap, studying it over and saying to Dun' Valkar "we have some work to do, my friend." "That will not do."
After a few moments to himself the elf looks up and asks "Captain, has that ever happened before?" "Should we expect more of such encounters on this journey?"
Captain Odenkirk looks to Kiven briefly, "That? Not exactly, but strange things happen in these waters. I didn't ask for some additional muscle for no good reason. The rest of the journey might be peaceful, but I wouldn't count on it. Normally I can outsail near enough any threats, but with a load this heavy..."
"By the way, I suggest that you do a better job of keeping that girl of yours in line. That... thing she conjured could have burned the ship down, and now she's made that ice demon her pet?"
---
Kiliketz spends a good deal of time sulking as he watches his home disappear over the horizon. He stays out of everyone's way. Once or twice it looks like he might be considering flying off, but then he looks to the Eya and settles back down. The next day, Kiliketz approaches Eya furtively, "So, um, Master, what exactly do you want me to do?"
---
The ship continues to make its way up the coast, hurrying through some reaches, and lingering in others. One afternoon however, Captain Odenkirk starts swearing up and down as he watches the horizon through his spyglass.
"Damnit all, they must have changed up the patrol schedule, that or Jiles bilked me, I'm going to strangle that clerk when I get my hands on him. There's a patrol ship coming our way. There's no way we'll outrun them. Somebody toss a tarp over the freaks!"
Turning to the group he says, "They're going to want to come on board and take a look. I can open up a crate or two of harmless goods, but if they spot anything suspicious, or look too closely at the rest of what's here, they're not going to let us go without a fight. If you have any... tricks that would be helpful, now is the time."
Kiven is naturally tempted to respond to the Captain and put himself above Eya and the others, but remembers his disguise. After pausing for an extra second or two he says "hey, I just work here, boss." He does add "she seems to know what she's doing, though, even if it's... disturbing."
Jesla frowns as she hears of the approaching patrol ship. She walks over to Respar. " I don't like this. Anything out of the ordinary worries me. " She lowers her voice. " Besides....when it comes down to it he plans on turning us over to them anyways. Be ready for anything. " She will assist with the tarp if Eya can convince Grumblejack.
Respar nods in acknowledgment to Jesla, and makes sure his disguise circlet is in place and functioning. He thinks to himself, {At least one of the crew was lost in the battle. I was hoping for one or two more...}
Eya squats down to meet Kiliketz and to get a closer look at him. A few seconds pass as she inspects him.
"Hmm, you are kind of cute," she says nonchalantly.
Then, she responds to his question, "For now you just need to stay hidden and quiet. I don't have a specific job for you yet. With that said, your general role going forward will be reconnaissance only. It's something you actually excel at since you're small and can go invisible. If you need any food or healing or if you have any other concerns, then come talk to me."
--
When news of the patrol comes, Eya pulls her party off to the side privately and says, "We could try and look like Mitran soldiers. I already look like a cleric of theirs. Maybe we can convince them that we're on a top secret mission or something. We just need to think of someone who would make sense to send us on such a mission. Several of us know of Sir Balin since he captured a few of us. We also know the former Warden, though now...I'm not sure that would make any sense. Any other thoughts or ideas?"
She also tells Grumblejack to stay quiet under the tarp and practice his sneak. She tells Kiliketz to stay quiet and invisible.
Grumblejack's not happy about having to do this again, but he lays down in between some crates while the tarp is stretched over him and said crates. Making it look like its just more cargo being protected from the elements. Kiliketz picks a corner and hides as bidden.
Meanwhile, the patrol ship continues to approach, she is a small single masted pinnace, lean and fast. The name proudly written on the bow reads, "The Blade of St Martius" About a dozen men can be seen on deck, moving about as they prepare to intercept the Frosthamar.
Kiven asks "so what is it then, Mitran soldiers?" "Perhaps we are taking supplies to Aldencross or Balentyne Keep? We have no orders in writing, or a name to tie them to. Just tell me what to do, and be quick about it."
"Captain, what tale would you normally tell here?"
Odenkirk grimaces, "I don't tell tales here, I do my damndest to avoid it. We're too far north. D'ya see that white speck on the coastline over there?" He points to a small dot on the horizon. "That's Estyllis, the easternmost part of the wall, and the northernmost point any cargo ships are ever supposed to go. The only legitimate traffic in these waters is either headed there, or coming from it. If we were further south, that is where I'd say we were going, I even have papers to that effect." He digs out a legitimate looking, if slightly tattered, bill of lading, and waves it at Kiven.
"The catch is, that's also where these bastards are undoubtedly from. If we try that, I would bet anything that they'll insist upon escorting us into port, and take refusal as proof that something is wrong."
"Unless you've got one heck of a trick up your sleeve, we're probably going to have to hit them when they're lulled and sink that ship."
The crew of the Blade of St Martius start calling for the Frosthamar to heave to, and Odenkirk begins to do so, slowing the Knarl to a stop.
Jesla smiles grimly at this. " It's up to you two to be clever. " She looks at Kiven and Eya. " If that doesn't work then......" She grins at the others.
Respar frowns. "I doubt they'll believe we're on a mission for the Mitrans, but I can't think of anything better. Let's just hope for the best, but be ready to fight our way out of this."
Kiven follows the lead of others and changes into the appearance of a Mitran guard, asking Respar if his disguise looks alright. He eyes the Captain and crew to see how they react to everyone using magic to change their appearance. The elf stows his bow at his feet under the tarps on the far side of the ship from where they will be boarded, then just folds his arms and stands there with a scowl. As usual he'd prefer Respar, Eya or the Captain to do the talking in such situations.
Jesla shrugs and changes into a Mitran guard also. She has a very uncomfortable look on her face as she does so. Seeing the ship nearing causes her eyes to gleam. " If this trick fails then we must stop that ship at all costs. We can't allow it to get away and summon help. This....ship won't outrun anything that is sent after us. Hopefully we can capture the ship and have two if It comes to a fight. It would give us more flexibility. I hope it's a fight actually. I have some little experience at this type of thing at sea. "
Right as Kiven mentions them not having orders, Eya rushes off in a hurry and says, "I just need a few minutes to try and forge one. Respar, I might need a couple extra minutes. Just talk to them and try to stall a little for when I show up. The story is that we are on a secret, undercover mission North for Sir Balin of Karfeld."
She runs off to the other side of the tarp/supplies away from visibility of the other ship and attempts to forge a legitimate looking set of orders signed by Sir Balin.
Eya begins to try and write the document, but can't seem to manage to produce a legitimate looking one while the ship is swaying and under such a time crunch. She grits her teeth in frustration and crumples the parchment up. Then, she goes back to the group and prepares to talk to these people.
Marking down 1 parchment used. Guess we have to rely on bluff.
The mephit blinks at Eya, seemingly in shock. The hellhound keeps snarling over him, a bit of superheated drool falls, and melts a part of the small creatures arm. "Ooow! Okay, okay, I'm yours. The kind option sounds nice."
"Excellent, you've made a wise choice today, Snowflake. You shall address me as Master...or Fire Queen," she says to the mephit. While still tied up, she pulls out a wand from her pack and casts a spell on the mephit. Slowly, his wounds begin to heal up. "If you ever try to flee or betray me or my companions, then you will NOT get a second chance. Is that understood?" she asks him.
She tells her hound to monitor the mephit until the summon ends and to kill him if he tries to flee the ship. Once everything seems settled she unties the mephit.
"My name is... Um, never mind, Snowflake is fine... Master."
After being untied, and keeping his wings furled, Kiliketz limps over to where one of the ice elementals had been dispatched. The mephit scoops up some of the chunks of ice left behind and crunches down on them, slowly restoring the missing pieces of his body. After that, the mephit finds a quiet place to sit and avoid attention from the crew he'd just tried to kill. He's muttering to himself the whole while, and once can be heard saying, "Fire queen. Great, I got stuck with another crazy one. How in the planes does this keep happening?"
Kiven sits down with his bow on his lap, studying it over and saying to Dun' Valkar "we have some work to do, my friend." "That will not do."
After a few moments to himself the elf looks up and asks "Captain, has that ever happened before?" "Should we expect more of such encounters on this journey?"
Captain Odenkirk looks to Kiven briefly, "That? Not exactly, but strange things happen in these waters. I didn't ask for some additional muscle for no good reason. The rest of the journey might be peaceful, but I wouldn't count on it. Normally I can outsail near enough any threats, but with a load this heavy..."
"By the way, I suggest that you do a better job of keeping that girl of yours in line. That... thing she conjured could have burned the ship down, and now she's made that ice demon her pet?"
---
Kiliketz spends a good deal of time sulking as he watches his home disappear over the horizon. He stays out of everyone's way. Once or twice it looks like he might be considering flying off, but then he looks to the Eya and settles back down. The next day, Kiliketz approaches Eya furtively, "So, um, Master, what exactly do you want me to do?"
---
The ship continues to make its way up the coast, hurrying through some reaches, and lingering in others. One afternoon however, Captain Odenkirk starts swearing up and down as he watches the horizon through his spyglass.
"Damnit all, they must have changed up the patrol schedule, that or Jiles bilked me, I'm going to strangle that clerk when I get my hands on him. There's a patrol ship coming our way. There's no way we'll outrun them. Somebody toss a tarp over the freaks!"
Turning to the group he says, "They're going to want to come on board and take a look. I can open up a crate or two of harmless goods, but if they spot anything suspicious, or look too closely at the rest of what's here, they're not going to let us go without a fight. If you have any... tricks that would be helpful, now is the time."
Kiven is naturally tempted to respond to the Captain and put himself above Eya and the others, but remembers his disguise. After pausing for an extra second or two he says "hey, I just work here, boss." He does add "she seems to know what she's doing, though, even if it's... disturbing."
Respar says, "We need to hide Grumblejack and the imp. Eya, they listen to you. Can you get them to stay quiet and out of sight?"
Jesla frowns as she hears of the approaching patrol ship. She walks over to Respar. " I don't like this. Anything out of the ordinary worries me. " She lowers her voice. " Besides....when it comes down to it he plans on turning us over to them anyways. Be ready for anything. " She will assist with the tarp if Eya can convince Grumblejack.
Respar nods in acknowledgment to Jesla, and makes sure his disguise circlet is in place and functioning. He thinks to himself, {At least one of the crew was lost in the battle. I was hoping for one or two more...}
Eya squats down to meet Kiliketz and to get a closer look at him. A few seconds pass as she inspects him.
"Hmm, you are kind of cute," she says nonchalantly.
Then, she responds to his question, "For now you just need to stay hidden and quiet. I don't have a specific job for you yet. With that said, your general role going forward will be reconnaissance only. It's something you actually excel at since you're small and can go invisible. If you need any food or healing or if you have any other concerns, then come talk to me."
--
When news of the patrol comes, Eya pulls her party off to the side privately and says, "We could try and look like Mitran soldiers. I already look like a cleric of theirs. Maybe we can convince them that we're on a top secret mission or something. We just need to think of someone who would make sense to send us on such a mission. Several of us know of Sir Balin since he captured a few of us. We also know the former Warden, though now...I'm not sure that would make any sense. Any other thoughts or ideas?"
She also tells Grumblejack to stay quiet under the tarp and practice his sneak. She tells Kiliketz to stay quiet and invisible.
Grumblejack's not happy about having to do this again, but he lays down in between some crates while the tarp is stretched over him and said crates. Making it look like its just more cargo being protected from the elements. Kiliketz picks a corner and hides as bidden.
Meanwhile, the patrol ship continues to approach, she is a small single masted pinnace, lean and fast. The name proudly written on the bow reads, "The Blade of St Martius" About a dozen men can be seen on deck, moving about as they prepare to intercept the Frosthamar.
Kiven asks "so what is it then, Mitran soldiers?" "Perhaps we are taking supplies to Aldencross or Balentyne Keep? We have no orders in writing, or a name to tie them to. Just tell me what to do, and be quick about it."
"Captain, what tale would you normally tell here?"
Odenkirk grimaces, "I don't tell tales here, I do my damndest to avoid it. We're too far north. D'ya see that white speck on the coastline over there?" He points to a small dot on the horizon. "That's Estyllis, the easternmost part of the wall, and the northernmost point any cargo ships are ever supposed to go. The only legitimate traffic in these waters is either headed there, or coming from it. If we were further south, that is where I'd say we were going, I even have papers to that effect." He digs out a legitimate looking, if slightly tattered, bill of lading, and waves it at Kiven.
"The catch is, that's also where these bastards are undoubtedly from. If we try that, I would bet anything that they'll insist upon escorting us into port, and take refusal as proof that something is wrong."
"Unless you've got one heck of a trick up your sleeve, we're probably going to have to hit them when they're lulled and sink that ship."
The crew of the Blade of St Martius start calling for the Frosthamar to heave to, and Odenkirk begins to do so, slowing the Knarl to a stop.
Jesla smiles grimly at this. " It's up to you two to be clever. " She looks at Kiven and Eya. " If that doesn't work then......" She grins at the others.
Respar frowns. "I doubt they'll believe we're on a mission for the Mitrans, but I can't think of anything better. Let's just hope for the best, but be ready to fight our way out of this."
Kiven follows the lead of others and changes into the appearance of a Mitran guard, asking Respar if his disguise looks alright. He eyes the Captain and crew to see how they react to everyone using magic to change their appearance. The elf stows his bow at his feet under the tarps on the far side of the ship from where they will be boarded, then just folds his arms and stands there with a scowl. As usual he'd prefer Respar, Eya or the Captain to do the talking in such situations.
Jesla shrugs and changes into a Mitran guard also. She has a very uncomfortable look on her face as she does so. Seeing the ship nearing causes her eyes to gleam. " If this trick fails then we must stop that ship at all costs. We can't allow it to get away and summon help. This....ship won't outrun anything that is sent after us. Hopefully we can capture the ship and have two if It comes to a fight. It would give us more flexibility. I hope it's a fight actually. I have some little experience at this type of thing at sea. "
Right as Kiven mentions them not having orders, Eya rushes off in a hurry and says, "I just need a few minutes to try and forge one. Respar, I might need a couple extra minutes. Just talk to them and try to stall a little for when I show up. The story is that we are on a secret, undercover mission North for Sir Balin of Karfeld."
She runs off to the other side of the tarp/supplies away from visibility of the other ship and attempts to forge a legitimate looking set of orders signed by Sir Balin.
Eya Linguistics Forgery: 23
Eya begins to try and write the document, but can't seem to manage to produce a legitimate looking one while the ship is swaying and under such a time crunch. She grits her teeth in frustration and crumples the parchment up. Then, she goes back to the group and prepares to talk to these people.
Marking down 1 parchment used. Guess we have to rely on bluff.
Respar prepares to speak with the approaching ship, confident they will probably have to fight...