Cadmael will fly down in the ship, searching for Brask. When he finds them, he'll give advantage to the first melee attacker who's actually making an attack. Otherwise, just reporting to Effort what he's found below deck.
Burik, battered and bruised from the fight, offers the only mercy he knows.
Cadmael swoops past the scene on the main deck and, seeing that only allies remain, ducks into the cargo door. He sees the genasi approaching the only remaining enemy goblin, cruising past his head. As the goblin swats toward the owl, the genasi grabs his face with the palm of her hand. He's on the verge of death, but she shoves his head back against the wall as if he were the toughest villain Oshait has ever seen. As he struggles, she casts Produce Flame.
Attack: 13 Damage: 1
His head ignites, and for a brief moment he knows a horrible, unimaginable pain. Then he falls away from the wall and her hand, dead. She stands over him for a moment, then spits on his corpse.
Finally, she turns toward Brask and the friendly goblin. "Thank you. Thank you both." She helps prop up the goblin and gives him a tender hug. Gesturing toward the cargo door, she nods upward. "Shall we?"
You're all out of combat. Genasi's attack didn't even hit but figured it was time to end the fight since he had 1 HP against all of you, haha.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Brask is in a good mood, surrounded as he is by dead slavers. He begins to search the corpses, starting with the former captain, then proceeding to the goblin boss and all other goblins. He's whistling merrily as he does so. Performance6
Brask, the friendly goblin, and the water genasi emerge onto the main deck, somewhat bloodied, to find even more carnage. Goblin bodies are slumped over on various parts of the ship. Burik, Effort, and Cadmael join you near the cargo door, each nursing their own pretty serious wounds. Brask attempts to whistle, clearly in the most upbeat attitude of anyone, but it's mostly just spittle and blood that fly from his mouth. Everyone pretends to not notice.
When Brask asks about Umog, he's told that her body was flung from the ship. All he's able to find of her is some burning hair and a scorched eyeball on the main deck.
The clouds part, and the water genasi shields her eyes from the sun's rays. It's obvious she hasn't seen the sky for some time. After a moment, she relaxes a bit, walking over to the side of the ship and looking upriver. She turns back toward you all. "I don't know who you all are, but I can't thank you enough." She extends her hand. "I am Murmur."
While resting on his hammer, which in turn is resting on what's left of a goblins head, Burik gives her a short bow, "I am Burik, glad to be of assistance". Leaving his hammer embedded in the goblin, he fumbles through his pockets/pouches/backpack for a couple of rations that he hands her. "I am sadly unable to offer much else that than freedom and fresh air, but this should at least help to regain some of your strength."
"Rest a while, enjoy freedom once more. I'll clean the place up a little then we can talk further." He'll then start to throw the goblins overboard once Brask has checked through them all, healing himself a little in the process before sitting down for a short rest while they talk further... (cure wounds11 and short rest?... 11 )
Brask, says the minotaur as he continues his search. He inspects the eyeball briefly for weird magic before tossing it over the side. Good job in the fight, Murmur.
Hey you,he calls to the friendly goblin with the crooked jaw. What's your name?
"Greetings to you. My name is Effort," Effort says to the others. She looks down at the wound in her side - the ballista really tore into her, but somehow, there is very little pain. A part of her recognizes the reason for that - she could feel it, each time she slew an opponent. And many opponents fell to her magic, this time.
Not my magic,she realizes as she inspects the wound, knowing full well she should have been approaching death several times over. I took their lives… I literally stole it from their very souls, and used it to patch up my own wounds… like a vampire would. She can still feel it; the life force she siphoned off of her foes as they fell into darkness is still with her, and will likely remain until she finds a bed for the evening, a reminder of her patron's victory… and boon. She looks up and sees Cadmael watching her, his eyes swirling with their strange colors.
Shaking off the uneasy feeling, she turns to Murmur. "There were two other prisoners below, yes? Do you know of where the keys might be, or will Brask here need to free them as well?"
"I...I never had a name," the friendly goblin looks down and shuffles his feet for a moment. He then looks up, though, and gives what you assume is a smile. "But now I don't have to work for her no more."
"Three more down in the steerage cells," Murmur reports. She moves toward the cargo door opening but plants in the wrong place and stumbles. "Ugh. I better sit here for a second, actually. Used up what was left of my strength in the fight." She holds her empty hand over her head. Clenching her fist and reopening it, a stream of water trickles down onto her head. She closes her eyes, letting the droplets run down her dirty face. She lies on her back and lets out a sigh.
"Boss has a set of keys in his pocket. Should still be down on the cargo deck," the friendly goblin nods toward the door. "Those three down there...they were intended as slaves for some buyer in Green Fork. We should be there in a few hours if we stay on the river. Does...does anyone know how to steer the ship?"
Everyone, roll a history check.
Everyone that wants to search bodies and quarters, roll an investigation check.
You may short rest while on the river, but you won't have time for a long rest before you get to Green Fork - if you decide to stay on the ship.
Brask continues his search, and continues his attempts at whistling, despite the poor results. Investigation to search the bodies: 16
As part of his search, he also looks for the keys to free the other slaves, and if he finds them he hands them to Effort, figuring she's less scary for the newly-liberated former slaves than a big growling minotaur.
No name, huh? he says to the friendly goblin. Easy enough to fix. He looks at the creature for a moment. I'm gonna call you Pipsqueak. That's a good name for you because you're small and weak. Oh, you're brave too, I'll give you that. You helped us and you fought with us. But you also got yourself almost killed after one hit. So, yeah, small and weak, that's you. Don't worry,he reassures the newly-named Pipsqueak. we can work on toughening you up while you're paying off your debt.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
History: 7 + Guidance: 2
Effort, having no idea how to steer a ship of this size down the river, says "We might have to retire to one of the longboats and make for the shore, unless someone here actually knows what they're doing on this boat." She retreats below deck to free the other prisoners, keeping an eye open for anything useful or valuable on the way down.
Investigation: 11 + 1
Cadmael, she instructs to fly high above the ship and keep an eye on its progress down the river - including if it's listing, drifting towards one of the sides of the river, or picking up unusual speed.
The friendly goblin doesn't seem to be bothered at all by Brask's not-so-veiled insult, and nods approvingly. "Pipsqueak! Yes, that sounds good."
Brask, as you're searching downstairs, you find the goblin boss and he has a big ring of keys attached to his armor with a crudely hammered ring. It's not easy for you to break it off. As you're doing so, something clicks. Murmur sounded familiar, and now you remember why. Her name was on the list that you found on the cultists back on the other side of the mountains.
Burik's mind is too cloudy to recall anything as he sets to work getting rid of these disgusting goblins. He knew they weren't to be trusted, and was glad to help dispose of them. Each seemed to be hoarding a few gold coins on their person, along with their scimitars, a short bow, and not much else. The goblin boss is wearing a chain shirt, and had been holding a shield that is now lying on the cargo deck. He has no gold on him, but you find two small coin purses in his quarters. Umog's body is long gone down the river, but you find the most gold in her quarters by breaking open a small wooden chest that was stashed under her bed. She has a few random things in there as well that probably hold some value - a roll of fine parchment, a bit of silk. In the cargo hold you find a few small boxes of tobacco, probably totaling about a pound. There's also a few crates of ginger, rolls of cotton cloth, and a small amount of cinnamon.
Effort helps with the search, but then takes the keys from Brask and heads down into the steerage deck. There are three men still locked up, all alert and anxiously holding their bars, waiting to see who emerged from the chaos on the higher levels. When you enter, they look relieved but hesitant. "Are...are you going to free us?" One timidly asks.
The river continues straight for a few more miles, Cadmael thinks. It looks like it starts to bend to the right further up, though. We'll want to get off or figure out how to turn it by then.
"We'll be in Green Fork before too long. People waiting. Slavers." Pipsqueak chatters nervously. "We should abandon the ship...or be ready to fight some more." He tries to say it confidently but doesn't seem particularly excited at the prospect.
Murmur tends to her wounds. "It would be a shame to just let this ship just smash up on shore." She looks to you all. "Up to you, though. I wouldn't mind dealing another blow to this operation, but I don't know what this crew of slavers is going to look like."
You collectively find 652 gp, along with goods worth another 100gp that you could theoretically sell if you decide to carry them with you.
(I'll add the 100 gold worth of goods to Brask's inventory - we can sell it when we have the chance. Are we splitting the gold with the other survivors? Brask votes no.)
Pip for short, Brask says to the little goblin. Short names are good.
To the discussion about what to do, Brask's contribution is: We fight. Kill the slavers. That's always the right choice. It's not legal round here, right? I guess we might have trouble in the town with the law, if we can't provide their slaver scum.
He mentions what he remembers about Murmer being on the list to Effort and Burik. You wanna tell her? Might be important.
At some point, he sits down with Pip for a private little chat. So, the healing potion was worth fifty gold, and we'll throw in another fifty for me saving your ass and fighting off your attackers. That's a hundred gold you owe me.
Effort gets to work freeing the other slaves and helping them back to the deck. As she returns towards the surface, she mentions to the others the bend in the river, and the potential trouble it might cause. "We should also bring those other fellows in the longboat up on board. They're probably wondering what in the nine hells is going on up here."
Effort has no problems agreeing with Brask to hoard the goods they found, she does chastise him slightly - "The goods we took should be enough to pay for our services. The only other capital these people have is this ship, and I've no interest in collecting this floating mass of wood for ourselves. I wouldn't have the faintest idea what to do with it." She does say to Murmur - "But seeing as we're only interested in the cargo we took - this ship could be yours and Pipsqueak's, if you can figure out how to save it from smashing against the shore when we reach the bend." When Brask mumbles something about the list, it clicks in Effort's mind.
"Murmur - it seems the cultists we are hunting were specifically targeting you as their quarry. You wouldn't happen to know why the cult of Yeenoghu was so desperate to spirit you away to their off-shore island, would you?"
Pip grins approvingly at his nickname, but looks puzzled when Brask talks about owing him gold. "Oh...I-I never had any gold of my own before. I-I...I-"
"Oh, lay off him for now," Murmur chimes in. She slaps Brask on the shoulder as she walks by and leans over the railing. "So you all are hunting those pieces of shit? Yeah - I know what they wanted with me. Umog more or less told me. They wanted my powers, to use them for their own purposes. Same reason she joined up with them, rather than become a pawn. I refused, and Umog and her crew attacked. Took out three of her little minions before they overpowered me. She tried to sap some of my power when they had me locked up, but apparently this cult is turning powerful magic users into soldiers for this dog-faced demon. No way am I going to let that happen to me. I'll die first."
Everyone gives her words the space they deserve. You're all a bit surprised at how forward and brash and capable this young, pretty water genasi girl seems to be. A moment later the two older gentlemen climb up onto the ship. The slightly younger one steps over first and then assists the other one. "Well...didn't quite see all this happening when we booked passage! You all...ain't going to do nothing to us, right?"
"No, we ain't going to do nothing to you, old man." Murmur joins the group, addressing Effort now. "I could use the ship to get back home. Rally those that need rallying. Could use some coin to stock up on food and necessities when we get to Green Fork, of course. Where are you all headed, anyway? On a river. On a big boat. Seems like an easy way to travel."
She looks over to the two older gentlemen and nods at the stern. "Any chance either of you know how to steer this thing?"
"Ha! Not anything this big," the younger man responds. "But I did used to drive a smaller boat, back and forth between Lovilra and Blueshield. Hell...that were, fifteen, twenty years ago. But I could give it a shot if you can all take orders from an old man. Need someone strong to turn the wheel up there. Rest is just getting the sails up and down and turned in a timely fashion, I think."
"I'm sure we can manage," the water genasi looks around at the rag-tag party that doesn't resemble Umog and her goblin crew even a little. "But if we're staying on this boat and fighting more slavers, we better have a plan. I'm afraid they're going to sniff this out a mile away."
Speak for yourself, Brask says to Effort. My services don't come so cheap. Unless someone spots him and objects, he will just keep the full 652 gold to himself, at least for the moment.
So, Umog was in deep with the doggie cult,says Brask, thinking out loud. As soon as they see she's not here, they'll know. He looks at Effort. Is this a magic thing? Can we make it look like she's still here? Either way, we do what we can to make an ambush. The ballistas will help a lot.
Effort crosses her arms and eyes Brask. "Oh? And who do you think wiped the deck of most of the goblins up here? Shall Burik and I charge you per bodies we produced on this deck? Plus a small helper's fee for Cadmael as well? Think a little about whom your friends are, and whom you want your enemies to be, before you act so mercenary." Sniffing haughtily, she pointedly ignores Brask after that, at least until he bothers her with another question. Rolling her eyes, she turns back to him.
"I'm afraid I'm not the best at disguising myself anymore. It's a skill I lost in order to gain Cadmael's trust," she says wearily. "We'll likely have more success dressing up Pip to look meaner than he does, and placing him promenantly on the helm." She closes her eyes, thinking. "The best way to conduct a deception, is to surround it in elements of truth. We need to think of some way to signal that the ship was attacked somehow. Those goblins were looking out for something. Draw some slavers closer to this ship to provide assistance. And then attempt to ambush them as they are approaching to aid us. That would be my thought."
It's hard to concentrate on a plan when Effort is still digesting everything that Murmur revealed about the cultists. Namely, what is likely happening to Promise - was he lucky enough to get away, too? She rubs her head, feeling a headache developing, and a feeling of worry worming its way through her gut.
"We're not going to hurt you," she assures the two men on board. "In fact, it sounds like we're the ones who desperately need your help. Please, take the helm - you're the only one with some semblance of competence at steering this thing in any regard, and I'd rather not have succeeded against these slavers only to die from a shipwreck."
Pip puffs up his chest as much as he can. "I will help. Just tell me what to do." He walks over to the railing and peers up ahead. "Slavers are big, strong. Don't think any use magic. Not like the cultists."
The three prisoners from downstairs all agree to help out however they can. They're relative young and seem to be in decent shape other than being tired and a little malnourished. One of them is fairly big, actually, although none of them seem to be confident about their abilities.
The two old men go to work adjusting the ropes and staring up at the sail. Eventually the younger one comes over to you all. "I think the wind could help us get around the bend in the river, but somebody is going to have to work the main rope. Stronger is better," he says, nodding at Brask. "Turning won't be a problem...just need to time everything correctly."
"If this turns into a fight, I won't be at my best. Challenges are laid before us, and I'll not shirk from this one, but.... Just don't go down..." Burik would then move to help Brask pull on the ropes.
"Many hands make light work" he then gives the rope a bit of a tug to test it, "Well... lighter work at least"
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Burik attacks with both weapons at the goblin.
Hammer 21 : 3
Spiritual Weapon 23 : 4
Cadmael will fly down in the ship, searching for Brask. When he finds them, he'll give advantage to the first melee attacker who's actually making an attack. Otherwise, just reporting to Effort what he's found below deck.
Burik, battered and bruised from the fight, offers the only mercy he knows.
Cadmael swoops past the scene on the main deck and, seeing that only allies remain, ducks into the cargo door. He sees the genasi approaching the only remaining enemy goblin, cruising past his head. As the goblin swats toward the owl, the genasi grabs his face with the palm of her hand. He's on the verge of death, but she shoves his head back against the wall as if he were the toughest villain Oshait has ever seen. As he struggles, she casts Produce Flame.
Attack: 13 Damage: 1
His head ignites, and for a brief moment he knows a horrible, unimaginable pain. Then he falls away from the wall and her hand, dead. She stands over him for a moment, then spits on his corpse.
Finally, she turns toward Brask and the friendly goblin. "Thank you. Thank you both." She helps prop up the goblin and gives him a tender hug. Gesturing toward the cargo door, she nods upward. "Shall we?"
You're all out of combat. Genasi's attack didn't even hit but figured it was time to end the fight since he had 1 HP against all of you, haha.
DM - Above & Below
Brask is in a good mood, surrounded as he is by dead slavers. He begins to search the corpses, starting with the former captain, then proceeding to the goblin boss and all other goblins. He's whistling merrily as he does so. Performance 6
Brask, the friendly goblin, and the water genasi emerge onto the main deck, somewhat bloodied, to find even more carnage. Goblin bodies are slumped over on various parts of the ship. Burik, Effort, and Cadmael join you near the cargo door, each nursing their own pretty serious wounds. Brask attempts to whistle, clearly in the most upbeat attitude of anyone, but it's mostly just spittle and blood that fly from his mouth. Everyone pretends to not notice.
When Brask asks about Umog, he's told that her body was flung from the ship. All he's able to find of her is some burning hair and a scorched eyeball on the main deck.
The clouds part, and the water genasi shields her eyes from the sun's rays. It's obvious she hasn't seen the sky for some time. After a moment, she relaxes a bit, walking over to the side of the ship and looking upriver. She turns back toward you all. "I don't know who you all are, but I can't thank you enough." She extends her hand. "I am Murmur."
DM - Above & Below
While resting on his hammer, which in turn is resting on what's left of a goblins head, Burik gives her a short bow, "I am Burik, glad to be of assistance". Leaving his hammer embedded in the goblin, he fumbles through his pockets/pouches/backpack for a couple of rations that he hands her. "I am sadly unable to offer much else that than freedom and fresh air, but this should at least help to regain some of your strength."
"Rest a while, enjoy freedom once more. I'll clean the place up a little then we can talk further." He'll then start to throw the goblins overboard once Brask has checked through them all, healing himself a little in the process before sitting down for a short rest while they talk further... (cure wounds 11 and short rest?... 11 )
Brask, says the minotaur as he continues his search. He inspects the eyeball briefly for weird magic before tossing it over the side. Good job in the fight, Murmur.
Hey you, he calls to the friendly goblin with the crooked jaw. What's your name?
"Greetings to you. My name is Effort," Effort says to the others. She looks down at the wound in her side - the ballista really tore into her, but somehow, there is very little pain. A part of her recognizes the reason for that - she could feel it, each time she slew an opponent. And many opponents fell to her magic, this time.
Not my magic, she realizes as she inspects the wound, knowing full well she should have been approaching death several times over. I took their lives… I literally stole it from their very souls, and used it to patch up my own wounds… like a vampire would. She can still feel it; the life force she siphoned off of her foes as they fell into darkness is still with her, and will likely remain until she finds a bed for the evening, a reminder of her patron's victory… and boon. She looks up and sees Cadmael watching her, his eyes swirling with their strange colors.
Shaking off the uneasy feeling, she turns to Murmur. "There were two other prisoners below, yes? Do you know of where the keys might be, or will Brask here need to free them as well?"
"I...I never had a name," the friendly goblin looks down and shuffles his feet for a moment. He then looks up, though, and gives what you assume is a smile. "But now I don't have to work for her no more."
"Three more down in the steerage cells," Murmur reports. She moves toward the cargo door opening but plants in the wrong place and stumbles. "Ugh. I better sit here for a second, actually. Used up what was left of my strength in the fight." She holds her empty hand over her head. Clenching her fist and reopening it, a stream of water trickles down onto her head. She closes her eyes, letting the droplets run down her dirty face. She lies on her back and lets out a sigh.
"Boss has a set of keys in his pocket. Should still be down on the cargo deck," the friendly goblin nods toward the door. "Those three down there...they were intended as slaves for some buyer in Green Fork. We should be there in a few hours if we stay on the river. Does...does anyone know how to steer the ship?"
Everyone, roll a history check.
Everyone that wants to search bodies and quarters, roll an investigation check.
You may short rest while on the river, but you won't have time for a long rest before you get to Green Fork - if you decide to stay on the ship.
DM - Above & Below
Brask's History check: 9
Brask continues his search, and continues his attempts at whistling, despite the poor results. Investigation to search the bodies: 16
As part of his search, he also looks for the keys to free the other slaves, and if he finds them he hands them to Effort, figuring she's less scary for the newly-liberated former slaves than a big growling minotaur.
No name, huh? he says to the friendly goblin. Easy enough to fix. He looks at the creature for a moment. I'm gonna call you Pipsqueak. That's a good name for you because you're small and weak. Oh, you're brave too, I'll give you that. You helped us and you fought with us. But you also got yourself almost killed after one hit. So, yeah, small and weak, that's you. Don't worry, he reassures the newly-named Pipsqueak. we can work on toughening you up while you're paying off your debt.
History 4
Double checking bodies before throwing them overboard 18
History: 7 + Guidance: 2
Effort, having no idea how to steer a ship of this size down the river, says "We might have to retire to one of the longboats and make for the shore, unless someone here actually knows what they're doing on this boat." She retreats below deck to free the other prisoners, keeping an eye open for anything useful or valuable on the way down.
Investigation: 11 + 1
Cadmael, she instructs to fly high above the ship and keep an eye on its progress down the river - including if it's listing, drifting towards one of the sides of the river, or picking up unusual speed.
The friendly goblin doesn't seem to be bothered at all by Brask's not-so-veiled insult, and nods approvingly. "Pipsqueak! Yes, that sounds good."
Brask, as you're searching downstairs, you find the goblin boss and he has a big ring of keys attached to his armor with a crudely hammered ring. It's not easy for you to break it off. As you're doing so, something clicks. Murmur sounded familiar, and now you remember why. Her name was on the list that you found on the cultists back on the other side of the mountains.
Burik's mind is too cloudy to recall anything as he sets to work getting rid of these disgusting goblins. He knew they weren't to be trusted, and was glad to help dispose of them. Each seemed to be hoarding a few gold coins on their person, along with their scimitars, a short bow, and not much else. The goblin boss is wearing a chain shirt, and had been holding a shield that is now lying on the cargo deck. He has no gold on him, but you find two small coin purses in his quarters. Umog's body is long gone down the river, but you find the most gold in her quarters by breaking open a small wooden chest that was stashed under her bed. She has a few random things in there as well that probably hold some value - a roll of fine parchment, a bit of silk. In the cargo hold you find a few small boxes of tobacco, probably totaling about a pound. There's also a few crates of ginger, rolls of cotton cloth, and a small amount of cinnamon.
Effort helps with the search, but then takes the keys from Brask and heads down into the steerage deck. There are three men still locked up, all alert and anxiously holding their bars, waiting to see who emerged from the chaos on the higher levels. When you enter, they look relieved but hesitant. "Are...are you going to free us?" One timidly asks.
The river continues straight for a few more miles, Cadmael thinks. It looks like it starts to bend to the right further up, though. We'll want to get off or figure out how to turn it by then.
"We'll be in Green Fork before too long. People waiting. Slavers." Pipsqueak chatters nervously. "We should abandon the ship...or be ready to fight some more." He tries to say it confidently but doesn't seem particularly excited at the prospect.
Murmur tends to her wounds. "It would be a shame to just let this ship just smash up on shore." She looks to you all. "Up to you, though. I wouldn't mind dealing another blow to this operation, but I don't know what this crew of slavers is going to look like."
You collectively find 652 gp, along with goods worth another 100gp that you could theoretically sell if you decide to carry them with you.
DM - Above & Below
(I'll add the 100 gold worth of goods to Brask's inventory - we can sell it when we have the chance. Are we splitting the gold with the other survivors? Brask votes no.)
Pip for short, Brask says to the little goblin. Short names are good.
To the discussion about what to do, Brask's contribution is: We fight. Kill the slavers. That's always the right choice. It's not legal round here, right? I guess we might have trouble in the town with the law, if we can't provide their slaver scum.
He mentions what he remembers about Murmer being on the list to Effort and Burik. You wanna tell her? Might be important.
At some point, he sits down with Pip for a private little chat. So, the healing potion was worth fifty gold, and we'll throw in another fifty for me saving your ass and fighting off your attackers. That's a hundred gold you owe me.
Effort gets to work freeing the other slaves and helping them back to the deck. As she returns towards the surface, she mentions to the others the bend in the river, and the potential trouble it might cause. "We should also bring those other fellows in the longboat up on board. They're probably wondering what in the nine hells is going on up here."
Effort has no problems agreeing with Brask to hoard the goods they found, she does chastise him slightly - "The goods we took should be enough to pay for our services. The only other capital these people have is this ship, and I've no interest in collecting this floating mass of wood for ourselves. I wouldn't have the faintest idea what to do with it." She does say to Murmur - "But seeing as we're only interested in the cargo we took - this ship could be yours and Pipsqueak's, if you can figure out how to save it from smashing against the shore when we reach the bend." When Brask mumbles something about the list, it clicks in Effort's mind.
"Murmur - it seems the cultists we are hunting were specifically targeting you as their quarry. You wouldn't happen to know why the cult of Yeenoghu was so desperate to spirit you away to their off-shore island, would you?"
Pip grins approvingly at his nickname, but looks puzzled when Brask talks about owing him gold. "Oh...I-I never had any gold of my own before. I-I...I-"
"Oh, lay off him for now," Murmur chimes in. She slaps Brask on the shoulder as she walks by and leans over the railing. "So you all are hunting those pieces of shit? Yeah - I know what they wanted with me. Umog more or less told me. They wanted my powers, to use them for their own purposes. Same reason she joined up with them, rather than become a pawn. I refused, and Umog and her crew attacked. Took out three of her little minions before they overpowered me. She tried to sap some of my power when they had me locked up, but apparently this cult is turning powerful magic users into soldiers for this dog-faced demon. No way am I going to let that happen to me. I'll die first."
Everyone gives her words the space they deserve. You're all a bit surprised at how forward and brash and capable this young, pretty water genasi girl seems to be. A moment later the two older gentlemen climb up onto the ship. The slightly younger one steps over first and then assists the other one. "Well...didn't quite see all this happening when we booked passage! You all...ain't going to do nothing to us, right?"
"No, we ain't going to do nothing to you, old man." Murmur joins the group, addressing Effort now. "I could use the ship to get back home. Rally those that need rallying. Could use some coin to stock up on food and necessities when we get to Green Fork, of course. Where are you all headed, anyway? On a river. On a big boat. Seems like an easy way to travel."
She looks over to the two older gentlemen and nods at the stern. "Any chance either of you know how to steer this thing?"
"Ha! Not anything this big," the younger man responds. "But I did used to drive a smaller boat, back and forth between Lovilra and Blueshield. Hell...that were, fifteen, twenty years ago. But I could give it a shot if you can all take orders from an old man. Need someone strong to turn the wheel up there. Rest is just getting the sails up and down and turned in a timely fashion, I think."
"I'm sure we can manage," the water genasi looks around at the rag-tag party that doesn't resemble Umog and her goblin crew even a little. "But if we're staying on this boat and fighting more slavers, we better have a plan. I'm afraid they're going to sniff this out a mile away."
DM - Above & Below
Speak for yourself, Brask says to Effort. My services don't come so cheap. Unless someone spots him and objects, he will just keep the full 652 gold to himself, at least for the moment.
So, Umog was in deep with the doggie cult, says Brask, thinking out loud. As soon as they see she's not here, they'll know. He looks at Effort. Is this a magic thing? Can we make it look like she's still here? Either way, we do what we can to make an ambush. The ballistas will help a lot.
Effort crosses her arms and eyes Brask. "Oh? And who do you think wiped the deck of most of the goblins up here? Shall Burik and I charge you per bodies we produced on this deck? Plus a small helper's fee for Cadmael as well? Think a little about whom your friends are, and whom you want your enemies to be, before you act so mercenary." Sniffing haughtily, she pointedly ignores Brask after that, at least until he bothers her with another question. Rolling her eyes, she turns back to him.
"I'm afraid I'm not the best at disguising myself anymore. It's a skill I lost in order to gain Cadmael's trust," she says wearily. "We'll likely have more success dressing up Pip to look meaner than he does, and placing him promenantly on the helm." She closes her eyes, thinking. "The best way to conduct a deception, is to surround it in elements of truth. We need to think of some way to signal that the ship was attacked somehow. Those goblins were looking out for something. Draw some slavers closer to this ship to provide assistance. And then attempt to ambush them as they are approaching to aid us. That would be my thought."
It's hard to concentrate on a plan when Effort is still digesting everything that Murmur revealed about the cultists. Namely, what is likely happening to Promise - was he lucky enough to get away, too? She rubs her head, feeling a headache developing, and a feeling of worry worming its way through her gut.
"We're not going to hurt you," she assures the two men on board. "In fact, it sounds like we're the ones who desperately need your help. Please, take the helm - you're the only one with some semblance of competence at steering this thing in any regard, and I'd rather not have succeeded against these slavers only to die from a shipwreck."
Pip puffs up his chest as much as he can. "I will help. Just tell me what to do." He walks over to the railing and peers up ahead. "Slavers are big, strong. Don't think any use magic. Not like the cultists."
The three prisoners from downstairs all agree to help out however they can. They're relative young and seem to be in decent shape other than being tired and a little malnourished. One of them is fairly big, actually, although none of them seem to be confident about their abilities.
The two old men go to work adjusting the ropes and staring up at the sail. Eventually the younger one comes over to you all. "I think the wind could help us get around the bend in the river, but somebody is going to have to work the main rope. Stronger is better," he says, nodding at Brask. "Turning won't be a problem...just need to time everything correctly."
Brask, roll a raw d20 sailing check. :)
DM - Above & Below
"If this turns into a fight, I won't be at my best. Challenges are laid before us, and I'll not shirk from this one, but.... Just don't go down..." Burik would then move to help Brask pull on the ropes.
"Many hands make light work" he then gives the rope a bit of a tug to test it, "Well... lighter work at least"