[Game Thread] Act One: Caller in the Night

[Solomon777]

Captain Rolo looks around and hears the sense that is coming from the orc’s mouth. “Yes, yes…Assym and the Vudrani will be fine with the people of Tradepoint. I will also fair easily as I am from here. Drow,” He looked to Ulker, “You will not, you may be imprisoned for the events of this night. The rest of you may be handled as best the folk of Tradepoint would treat any other monster. Does anyone have a ship where we can talk as one, get out of the weather? I need a new ship, a crew, and you need a way out of town.” Though the weather was not the best and the townsfolk who were brave enough to venture out in the storms ventured closer for a better look at the figures who stood on the pier.

[Grogg Tree]

As the darkness concealed the figure on the ship, both Kyra and Elizabeth cursed silently at their luck, trying in vain to see the person better. Having no luck, the summoner turned back to the bodies that Tenmar was piling up and watched for a moment, deciding what to do. Finally, she made up her mind to separate herself from the eidolon and allow Kyra to return to her little safe haven. Focusing internally, the Shoanti began to feel the ties between them untwist and loosen. After only a few seconds, the large, armored figure began to grow more translucent until it disappeared from the visible eye.

Shaking her blonde locks, Elizabeth pulled her gray shawl tighter around her shoulders, feeling the evening's chill for the first time in a while. As the duergar sized the woman up in what she assumed was surprise, the fair woman prepared to simply shrug her shoulders at the inevitable inquiry that would present itself due to her transformation. I really shouldn't do that in front of people... they can hardly handle the shock. Hopefully I wasn't too hasty about changing back either, as it takes a long while to summon Kyra and I forgot my leathers and crossbow at the inn. Just then, a sudden movement caught the corner of the summoner's eye and she snapped her head to see what it was.

-

[Anon315]

The drow gave an incredulous look to Captain Rolo. "Pardon me?" His blade had only recently been sheathed and it gave all appearances of being nearly pulled out again. "I am an ambassador from Razmir, sent under flag of peace. Taking action such as this to imprison me will be seen as an act of aggression, one that I doubt your town could survive after this incident. Besides which, I saved the lives and freedoms of your precious townspeople this day, and this is how you seek to reward my efforts? Truly, they call me evil. Insofar as I repay my debts accordingly, it seems I am more goodly than you." Either way, swords remained sheathed. He took no aggressive action outside of his outburst, but the machinations and plans of such an individual could be seen coalescing behind his mirrored eyes.

[Kshnik]

Jarek turned to the drow and bluntly stated Ambassador, if the roles were reversed would your people react any differently? I know my people would not. Tempers will be flared for the next couple of days. As an Ambassador isn't it your job to assess situations and do what is best for those your represent. Fate has give you a choice; press on in a disadvantage and volatile circumstance or wait a few days before re-approach and come back in an improved environment which would be more beneficial for your desires.

[Eilaer]

Tenmar eyed the weird woman as all of her transformations ahappened and couldn't help but feel irate. While it was most defiinately an impressive spectacle, his stubborness didn't allow him to do more than give a surprised look at first.

"Remind me to choose someone less likely to vanish on me the next time I'm in a city being attacked. While I can manage myself, I don't much care for following someone into a needless battle only to turn around and lose sight of them when it is over."

He didn't mention the part about not minding the beautiful finishing blow he landed on the one he fought and how his target's companions fled the sight of their friend's sudden ability to be in two places at once.

"At least say you know how to get this bucket moving. I don't much like the idea of being armed and in a town just raided by pirates. People aren't normally.. receptive to my kind and I would like to not be here when they try to pin the blame on me."

They wouldn't much like the outcome of that if they tried. He figured if they were slaughtered by the pirates that attacked and he had fared as well against them, it stood to reason that the villagers would be even simpler to dispatch. Still, avoiding this fight seemed far more practical and if the hob didn't arrive back at the boat soon, he would take ownership of the boat.

[Achard]

Kha-Boom noticed no one following him as he walked across the pier and back to the small ship that had somehow become his in a matter of an hour. What he would do with it now was an open question that he was furiously attempting to solve. The logical choice was to board it, make it his new home and place of work. It was unlikely he would ever find his way back home anyway, and in a way, when he thought about it, he was not entirely sure he wanted to return to his kind. He had tasted freedom, if only a small drop of it, and although it scared him to suddenly be in charge of his own life when all decisions had been made for him up until now, he knew he could not go back. Not now.

He needed a crew, that much was sure, and there was bound to be no shortage of sailors in a town like Tradepoint. Only problem was, then, how would he be able to pay them for their services? He had little money on his person, and even with his limited understanding of human economics, he was quite certain the keg of ale he had left on the ship would not be a sufficient wage for professionals. The only economic model he was familiar with was what he had learned in the hobgoblin society. He knew slavery of some kind was an essential part of building a society that thrived and allowed some to achieve a status much greater than the rest. His rational mind could not comprehend why the obviously power-hungry humans would oppose such a natural part of true progress so fiercely. For a brief moment, the thought of shanghaiing a crew crossed his mind, but a mistreated thing like Kha-Boom could empathize only too well with oppressed individuals; if he did own slaves, there was a high chance he'd start treating them like living beings equally able to dream, hope and want as him, and then they would no longer be his slaves. Even if he wanted to, he could not bring himself to hold even one slave, let alone several.

Still, there was a tiny, unrealized part of Kha-Boom's heritage that attempted to rally him forward, make him take control of not only his own life, but that of others as well. A part that showed glimpses of him as the leader of a large marine empire, a fleet of a thousand ships striking fear into the hearts of his enemies everywhere. A part that made Kha-Boom subconsciously puff up his chest as, through the power of his imagination, it conjured up an image of him standing on the deck of a massive ship, dressed in a crimson cape and a striking, wide-brimmed hat with feathers from an exotic bird, his sickly gray, scarred face twisted in maniacal laughter as his right hand grasped a cutlass and his left hand held a powerful bomb, one carefully put together by him, Kharbon the hobgoblin, master alchemist and dread pirate king of Golarion. No one would ever again dare to ridicule him, laugh at him, underestimate him. All would bow down to him and despair!

Just as quickly, his posture drew back into a familiar hunch. In his heart, he knew those thoughts were not his own. When it came down to it, he desired no power, infuence or prestige. This seemed a strange trait for a hobgoblin, but Kha-Boom's past had not been one that exactly encouraged his ambitious side to manifest, although it still lingered beneath the surface, hidden from his conscious mind.

Kha-Boom's thoughts cleared when he saw the gray dwarf talking to a strange figure near the vessel, a humanoid with odd, human-y style of clothing. Hobgoblins of his camp held accessories taken from other races in no great regard, so he couldn't be sure. Nevertheless, he coughed as he came up to the two to get their attention. He attempted to sound like a believable candidate for a pirate king as he pointed at the ship of which he was very jealous during these dark times, while aiming his words to the taller humanoid.

"Th-this is m-my ship..." he started, but his faked confidence died along with his sentence before the words left his lips. After a few seconds, he tried again. "Who... who are you?"

[RayzRyd]

Laylah on Seadrayke

Seeing her opportunity quickly slide away, Laylah breaks into a sprint for the edge of the boat before anyone takes notice of her. She would prefer to avoid risking the side of the ship, but trusts her swimming ability if she should miss her jump. Just as she reaches the edge of the ship, she plants her foot on the rail and

Dice Acrobatics:

1d20+1

(13)+1

Total = 14

launches herself across the gap towards the dock and says a quick prayer to Desna that her feet don't fail her.

[Wolfman]

Kid left the group and followed the hobgoblin (Kha-Boom) towards one of the ships, the creature almost seemed to be talking to himself, but he was not really sure. He was not really sure about hobgoblins at all, having seen few and those that he had seen were other slaves and often quite mean.

As they neared the ship the hobgoblin pause and then approached a dwarf and a woman of striking looks and long blond hair. Where did she come from, I know I would remembered if I had seen her before. Maybe she is from with in the ship. Just then he hard a splash off somewhere farther out in the harbor, but paid it little heed. He was much more interested in the woman. Slowing his pace, he hopes to remain unnoticed but able to here the conversation too.

[Solomon777]

Seeing a few of the gathered begin moving toward a nearby ship Captain Rolo was of like mind and began to follow. He looked the Drow square and replied, “I meant no disrespect, only an observation to how you may be perceived, mate. If you please, join us for a clearer parlay session.” he turned his attentions to all and said aloud “Please, all of you, come join us!” He turned to Assym and said curtly, “Mate, stay the village-folk until I can speak wit’them. Take your newest shipmate along to let the people of Tradepoint know we ain’t the regular types.” Assym nodded.

Assym nudged Athiss, "Ready to prove your worth?"



As Rolo turned to look at the vessel they all traveled to he noticed the figure of the maiden Elizabeth coming through the windy rain of the passing storms. Inwardly he smiled, Strange days indeed. He felt through his pockets and then looked about the ground, not finding the treasure of which he sought.

 

More people from the conversation on the pier begin heading for the vessel where Tenmar stands. At that moment, a woman of angelic features rolls onto the deck from the passing dragon-headed ship. She comes to a halt a few paces away from the dark-skinned dwarf (Tenmar).

[Upright Citizen]

Athiss was confused, emotions seethed within that he didn't know he had. He did want to kill the drow, however his captain stayed his hand and so would he. Authority must be respected. He nods to Assym, "Yesss...I think I can sssshow them what we are."

[Eilaer]

Tenmar looked at the hobgoblin and repressed a sigh, "Ease down big fella, as far as I can tell she's fine. A bit flighty, but given the chaos I suppose that's to be expected. How many will we need to get this bucket moving?"

Before he could get an answer, Tenmar found himself reacting to the sudden appearance of someone rolling onto the deck roughly in his direction. Before she even came to a stop he had both blades out and was ready to attack or flee depending on what the situation called for. The fact he quickly realized that it was a woman that he knew would pass as very attractive for most races didn't phase him. Often times in nature, the more beautiful something was, the more deadly it was. Still, while he would have the ability to strike before she could get her bearings, doing so in front of the other two might prove to be a bad call so he held his attack for the moment.

"You have one chance to prove you aren't hostile."

[thedragonwarrior]

Bangis follows the steps of the Vudrani. The wind coming from the sea makes him flip the hood of his robe back on again. He really never liked this part of the town, the wind is strong and the smell of the air seems to be of some dried fish. He gives out a sigh as he thought about the time he could have spent in a bed at the local inn and now, all of it is gone. The meal, ale and even the god forsaken pirates has vanished.
Bangis looks at the ship where they are heading and sees a fair woman and a Duergar aboard. What am I putting myself into now , he asks himself. It seems to him that his part of this battle has not ended after he sheathed his sword. He would have loved it, if only the pirates has chosen to linger and tasted his blade for entertainment yet they chose to flee like flies disturbed by dogs from their meal. He now hopes that this weird bunch is planning to launch a counter attack and of course, have him compensated for his service. But all that is to be concluded once they board the ship. Curiosity will kill the cat, so it seems , he thought as he slowly makes his way along with the Kid towards a very uncertain future.

[Solomon777]

Assym motioned for Athiss to follow onward and he headed to the first line of villagers to present themselves for his attention. He began holding both his hands in the air to show he had no weaponry, “Folk o’Tradepoint, be calm while we set our next course o’action against these vile pirates!”

The first villager, a fisherman of thirty-plus winters barks out, “Who are you to say be calm?”

Without missing a beat, Assym brandishes a medallion and places it over his head, “On t’is, by t’is here I decree my right to influence as Court Inquisitor to our Prince. We are amassing a crew now to hunt down these brigands and bring our people home.”

The same man asks, “Is the Governor not around, or did he fall to the pirates?”

Another voice answered from nearby an older man walked up holding an infant child to his chest, behind him a few younger girls and boys who had much the same features as he did. At the end of the group was a haggard looking woman. The gray-haired man spoke, “No, I am just fine. What is happening now?” He looked at Assym and then to Athiss and his eyes widened with amazement.

“We are amassing a crew now to hunt out your enslavers.” Assym stated again.

The Governor nodded and handed the baby to the woman behind him. He nodded to Assym and then to the villagers around, “Everyone, please let us sort this out, I will address you all as soon as we understand this treachery.” He then turned to Assym, “Take me to the captain who will be leading this hunt.”

Meanwhile…aboard the small, merchant vessel Laverus….

OOC Everyone else please see the events of Posts #234, #236, #237 I will post again shortly, possibly tonight to continue with the story.

[Kshnik]

Interesting that the infant I saved happened to be the daughter of this towns Governor. Jarek thought as he stood, relaxed, among the various other 'montsters' in the town.

[Anon315]

Ulker remained quiet in the gathered group, which was probably wise. The less attention he drew to himself the better. He looked around at those assembled and couldn't help but feel superior, as he should. They were not immersed in the glory of Razmir, nor were they of his proud heritage (much though his heritage was not proud by Drow standards). These weaklings would have been crushed underfoot had I not intervened. He chuckled to himself, grinning in a manner that would likely unnerve viewers.