The mercenary grins. “Aye, ye’ can be sure there’ll be more coming.” Then he glances at Saralyssa’s fire bolt and his smile disappears. “Listen,” He says urgently, “I’m just a grunt, a House Deneith muscle for hire. All’s I know is, our boss was hired by a man who wanted something in these ‘ere dwarves’ possession. The higher-ups never told us what it was. The man knew the when and where, he just needed men to do the dirty work. So ‘e came to House Deneith, the best in the business. He never gave his name, but our boss called him The Toad.”
Suddenly muffled thuds and wild yells descend from the upper decks. The mercenary laughs, blood bubbling from his nose and mouth. “They’re ‘ere!” He coughs.
The dwarves, who have been watching impassively, sigh deeply and exchange a look. One of them reaches into his cloak and retrieves a small chest, while the other produces a key.
”This is what the men are looking for.” The first says gruffly. “And they will find it if it remains on this galleon. That is why we have decided to entrust it with you. The honor of House Kundarak demands that we see out this job, even if we lay down our lives to do so. The mercenaries will be looking for two dwarves, and me and my brother should be able to distract them long enough for you to escape.”
The second dwarf hands the chest over to Wisp, who is overwhelmed by the strong aura of magic which emanates from it. She identifies counterspells, defensive enchantments, and arcane traps that have been placed on the chest, and underneath it all... a nightmare. She shudders in fear.
The first dwarf hands Saralyssa the key. “This key is the only thing that can unlock the chest without setting off the enchantments placed on it by House Kundarak’s greatest mages. Only the most powerful wizard could open the chest without the key.”
There are now at least a dozen mercenaries swarming the decks above you. The first dwarf begins to speak quickly.
“We do no have much time. Know that we have been hired, just like our House Deneith friends, by an unknown employer, a cleric of the Silver Flame. She gave House Kundarak this chest and told us to bring it to a wizard in Fairhaven who had the power to destroy it. But our position has been compromised. The Toad found out about the delivery, and even now his men roam Aundair, searching for the chest. You must make a decision. Attempt to fight your way through an army and deliver the chest to the wizard in Fairhaven, or return it to the cleric of the Silver Flame, who resides in Flamekeep.”
He presses a crumpled piece of parchment into Seeker’s hand before turning away. “Use the emergency boats to escape ship. We are less that twenty miles from shore. Me and my brother will distract them long enough for you to escape. May the gods above guide you.”
With that, the two dwarves shake hands and bow to one another before running for the upper decks.
Wisp hurriedly stowed the chest away, more than eager to get it out of her hands after all that she had sensed on it. More information was needed but they hadn't the time for the conversation, she would have to go with her gut that this was bad. She looked to Saralyssa, then to the others gathered in the hold, "Well, we need to make sure he doesn't tell the others where we've gone, or what we look like" her hand went to small dagger on her belt as she looked down at the man they had in custody. It was a terrible thought, killing a man, but sometimes it was necessary to complete the mission. Taking him with them wouldn't only slow them down, and he'd have the chance of escaping later and telling the others anyways. This was their only option for a clean getaway.
Seeker will look curiously at the gnome as she puts away the box, “Whats in there thats so powerful or dangerous?” Then he’ll kneel down next to the merc, “You have a choice, live and be silent, or die now, convince us that we should spare you, please.”
"I'm not for harming someone who has surrendered..." Saralyssa says as she tucks the key away. She will definitely have to look over that chest at a later date, but now she figured it was time to get away. "As they say, if the sproket's comin loose, best not be on the titan beholder any longer..." She starts looking for the escape ships. "You know, I suggested they use a thicker sproket on the titan beholder, if they had it wouldn't come loose all of the time..." she tells anyone who is near her as she heads towards the small row boats.
Urmdir looks at Wisp's dagger in dismay. "Come now, friend. There is no honor in killing a surrendered opponent. If he keeps his word, all the better. If he does not, we will weather whatever storm comes. I am Urmdir Volsung, and I vow this by my name. Also, many on the ship could identify us - we cannot quiet them all. I say we make haste - I can handle a small vessel on these calm waters."
Urmdir reaches out to clasp Seeker's hand. "Seeker, I am Urmdir. This is my brother, Siggur. It was an honor to fight with you. You are well-built and capable."He then turns towards the gnomes and moves to shake their hands as well. "I am Urmdir. You fought bravely, and I will see this through. Your names?"
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
PbP Lost Mines of Phandelver -Squelch (Kenku Grave Cleric)
What Lies Between - Cragworm (Goblin Oathbreaker Paladin)
Embers in the Dark - Martin "Uncle" Flintmore (Human Rogue)
Adventures in Esyldien - Khorzik Fume (Hobgoblin Transmuter) - retired
A Machine's Ambition- Canavar (Shifter Zealot Barbarian) - retired
What Lurks Below - Urmdir Volsung (Human Fighter) - retired
Sarallysa stops and walks the few steps back to the group. She knew she should take a moment to just relax, but it was so exciting to be part of something like this, she was ready to just burst.
"Yes, you seem well-built." She says to the warforged. "I bet you don't have a square gasket, but the proper round one..." She nods in approval. "You do know that they kept trying to put a square one in that square hole made for it, but it needs to be round, I..." She trails off. "Sorry..." She shrugs to the warforged. "Sometimes I get carried away..." Glancing to the others. "I am Saralyssa Lorridan Adredar" She gives a short bow to the group.
Wisp nodded, removing her hand from her dagger. "While he's the only one that knows I have the box, I'll take you at your word Urmdir. As to my name. I'll not speak it in front of this one..." she said as she nodded toward the mercenary, "...but once we are separated from this boat I'd be happy to exchange the pleasantries"
When you emerge onto the upper deck of the galleon you sight the dwarves making a valiant stand, surrounded by a ring of grim mercenaries. None of the screaming passengers pay any attention to you as you make your way to the escape boats and lower one into the water. The sun sinks behind the distant shadow of Stormhome, and the water below shimmers with the reflections of millions of stars.
Behind you the mercenaries hurl themselves onto the dwarves, and the gold cloaks of the Kundarak guards are buried beneath the green of the Deneith thugs.
Siggur takes one of the oars and helps row the boat. "20 miles to shore is no small feat in a little jumper like this. Just hold tight. My brother and I should be able to get us to shore." He rows for a few strokes then looks towards the gnomes. "Now might be a good time to get to know one another and figure out what to do with this...box."
"I'm Siggur Volsung. I served as a medic and front line combatant during the war." He says between rowing and keeping an eye over his shoulder towards shore.
The mercenary grins. “Aye, ye’ can be sure there’ll be more coming.” Then he glances at Saralyssa’s fire bolt and his smile disappears. “Listen,” He says urgently, “I’m just a grunt, a House Deneith muscle for hire. All’s I know is, our boss was hired by a man who wanted something in these ‘ere dwarves’ possession. The higher-ups never told us what it was. The man knew the when and where, he just needed men to do the dirty work. So ‘e came to House Deneith, the best in the business. He never gave his name, but our boss called him The Toad.”
Suddenly muffled thuds and wild yells descend from the upper decks. The mercenary laughs, blood bubbling from his nose and mouth. “They’re ‘ere!” He coughs.
The dwarves, who have been watching impassively, sigh deeply and exchange a look. One of them reaches into his cloak and retrieves a small chest, while the other produces a key.
”This is what the men are looking for.” The first says gruffly. “And they will find it if it remains on this galleon. That is why we have decided to entrust it with you. The honor of House Kundarak demands that we see out this job, even if we lay down our lives to do so. The mercenaries will be looking for two dwarves, and me and my brother should be able to distract them long enough for you to escape.”
The second dwarf hands the chest over to Wisp, who is overwhelmed by the strong aura of magic which emanates from it. She identifies counterspells, defensive enchantments, and arcane traps that have been placed on the chest, and underneath it all... a nightmare. She shudders in fear.
The first dwarf hands Saralyssa the key. “This key is the only thing that can unlock the chest without setting off the enchantments placed on it by House Kundarak’s greatest mages. Only the most powerful wizard could open the chest without the key.”
There are now at least a dozen mercenaries swarming the decks above you. The first dwarf begins to speak quickly.
“We do no have much time. Know that we have been hired, just like our House Deneith friends, by an unknown employer, a cleric of the Silver Flame. She gave House Kundarak this chest and told us to bring it to a wizard in Fairhaven who had the power to destroy it. But our position has been compromised. The Toad found out about the delivery, and even now his men roam Aundair, searching for the chest. You must make a decision. Attempt to fight your way through an army and deliver the chest to the wizard in Fairhaven, or return it to the cleric of the Silver Flame, who resides in Flamekeep.”
He presses a crumpled piece of parchment into Seeker’s hand before turning away. “Use the emergency boats to escape ship. We are less that twenty miles from shore. Me and my brother will distract them long enough for you to escape. May the gods above guide you.”
With that, the two dwarves shake hands and bow to one another before running for the upper decks.
Wisp hurriedly stowed the chest away, more than eager to get it out of her hands after all that she had sensed on it. More information was needed but they hadn't the time for the conversation, she would have to go with her gut that this was bad. She looked to Saralyssa, then to the others gathered in the hold, "Well, we need to make sure he doesn't tell the others where we've gone, or what we look like" her hand went to small dagger on her belt as she looked down at the man they had in custody. It was a terrible thought, killing a man, but sometimes it was necessary to complete the mission. Taking him with them wouldn't only slow them down, and he'd have the chance of escaping later and telling the others anyways. This was their only option for a clean getaway.
Seeker will look curiously at the gnome as she puts away the box, “Whats in there thats so powerful or dangerous?” Then he’ll kneel down next to the merc, “You have a choice, live and be silent, or die now, convince us that we should spare you, please.”
The mercenary looks around wildly. Clearly his loyalty to House Deneith is not as strong as the dwarves’ to House Kundarak.
”I swear on my mother’s grave! I’ll pretend ye’ knocked me out and I didn’t ‘ear nothing. They won’t think twice!”
Wisp shook her head, "No matter what he says, we'll have no real guarantee ya'll, but it's not just up to me"
"I'm not for harming someone who has surrendered..." Saralyssa says as she tucks the key away. She will definitely have to look over that chest at a later date, but now she figured it was time to get away. "As they say, if the sproket's comin loose, best not be on the titan beholder any longer..." She starts looking for the escape ships. "You know, I suggested they use a thicker sproket on the titan beholder, if they had it wouldn't come loose all of the time..." she tells anyone who is near her as she heads towards the small row boats.
Seeker insight: 18
Urmdir looks at Wisp's dagger in dismay. "Come now, friend. There is no honor in killing a surrendered opponent. If he keeps his word, all the better. If he does not, we will weather whatever storm comes. I am Urmdir Volsung, and I vow this by my name. Also, many on the ship could identify us - we cannot quiet them all. I say we make haste - I can handle a small vessel on these calm waters."
(Urmdir and Siggur, you may both make History checks.)
Seeker, the mercenary appears to be telling the truth.
History: 8
Seeker will stand and relax, “Seems honest to me, if we are doing this we should go now. I am called Seeker by the way.”
Urmdir reaches out to clasp Seeker's hand. "Seeker, I am Urmdir. This is my brother, Siggur. It was an honor to fight with you. You are well-built and capable." He then turns towards the gnomes and moves to shake their hands as well. "I am Urmdir. You fought bravely, and I will see this through. Your names?"
Sarallysa stops and walks the few steps back to the group. She knew she should take a moment to just relax, but it was so exciting to be part of something like this, she was ready to just burst.
"Yes, you seem well-built." She says to the warforged. "I bet you don't have a square gasket, but the proper round one..." She nods in approval. "You do know that they kept trying to put a square one in that square hole made for it, but it needs to be round, I..." She trails off. "Sorry..." She shrugs to the warforged. "Sometimes I get carried away..." Glancing to the others. "I am Saralyssa Lorridan Adredar" She gives a short bow to the group.
Wisp nodded, removing her hand from her dagger. "While he's the only one that knows I have the box, I'll take you at your word Urmdir. As to my name. I'll not speak it in front of this one..." she said as she nodded toward the mercenary, "...but once we are separated from this boat I'd be happy to exchange the pleasantries"
(History: 9)
(Nothing on the History rolls.)
Urmdir nods to Wisp in agreement. "I understand." He activates Vigilant Guardian Ward on her as long as she carries the box. "To the emergency boats!"
Urmdir stays in front, moving quickly but staying with the group and watching for ambush.
Perception: 20
As the group now appears to be ready to move, Saralyssa will scamper ahead, trying to recall where the life boats were kept in boats like this.
When you emerge onto the upper deck of the galleon you sight the dwarves making a valiant stand, surrounded by a ring of grim mercenaries. None of the screaming passengers pay any attention to you as you make your way to the escape boats and lower one into the water. The sun sinks behind the distant shadow of Stormhome, and the water below shimmers with the reflections of millions of stars.
Behind you the mercenaries hurl themselves onto the dwarves, and the gold cloaks of the Kundarak guards are buried beneath the green of the Deneith thugs.
Siggur takes one of the oars and helps row the boat. "20 miles to shore is no small feat in a little jumper like this. Just hold tight. My brother and I should be able to get us to shore." He rows for a few strokes then looks towards the gnomes. "Now might be a good time to get to know one another and figure out what to do with this...box."
"I'm Siggur Volsung. I served as a medic and front line combatant during the war." He says between rowing and keeping an eye over his shoulder towards shore.