TheRPGSite

Separately and collectively, you've all fallen into the hands of pirate slavers.  Most of you remember it this way:  You were walking in the countryside near your homes, strolling home from the tavern after a night's drinking, walking down to the river to fetch some water, or gone to visit some lass or lad in neighboring village.  And, suddenly, you heard a thrashing in the underbrush around you, and before you could turn you felt a whale of a blow to the back of your head, and everything went black.

When you awoke, you were in the dark, tiny, stinking hold of the pirate galley, shackled by your wrists to the sturdy beams of the slave bunks, bunks stacked like cordwood.  There were about 40 other captured folk of the archipelago there.  You were sick from the blow to your head and from the tossing of the ship, from the revolting gruel the slaver pirates occasionally fed you, and from the knowledge that you were bound for one of the western slave ports, never again to see your own home.  Mockingly, the keys to your shackles were hung from a hook right by the hatch to the deck, only 5 or 6 feet from the lot of you.  They might as well be miles away.

A few days after you woke up, the ship was hit by a squall, which turned, after half a day of tossing and rolling, into a full fledged storm which blasted spray and curses into the hold every time the hatch above was opened.  Your jailer, a man named Hafkris - maybe a half-orc, it was hard to tell under all that grime and walrus ugliness - brought about half the shackled slaves above decks to man the oars vacated by sailors washed overboard.  The storm continued on another day, and Hafkris took another one-fourth of the slave cargo above decks.  He looked worried.

That was yesterday.  You haven't seen any of the pirates or the slaves since then, and you haven't been fed.  Early today, the shouting and cracking whips indicating that rowers were being kept in line finally faded away to nothing.  Right now, as you're waiting for some sign of life from above decks, there's an enormous crash - a grating, grinding noise and horrible shuddering of the ship around you as it runs aground.  Above decks, there's the sound of snapping spars and a great crash on the deck which you know must be the mast coming down.  You're all thrown toward the bow, but are still held fast by your shackles and suffer more bruises to your wrists.

The bow of the galley is shattered by the impact, and as the galley grinds to a halt, the bow is torn away entirely, letting in a ferocious blast of numbingly-cold air and ram; the port side of the galley is laid open by a huge boulder that the galley has ground against.  A moment later, there's once again only the sound of wind and pounding surf.  Out the open bow, you can see a section of rain pounded beach; you seem to have run aground where a cliff face meets a cove beach.  

Currently, there are nine of you chained together.  There is a dwarf, a halfling, a half-elf, a young woman, and five young men.  The woman looks to be in her early twenties, or late teens, and has long brown hair and beautiful pale blue eyes.  She stands about five and half feet tall and has a good physique.

(http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll43/Drohem/Treasure%20Hunt/Melisana.jpg)

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OOC: What do you all do now?

"Damn!" grumbles Porcius, the squat dwarf. "Is everyone all right? Anyone needs help?" While speaking, he looks around to see if the keys to the manacles are still in their place.

[Questions: Other than the nine of us, what else is attached to the chain? Does it terminate at a ring affixed to the floor? Are there dead captives attached to it? What happened to the other slaves?]

Poricus tries his chains and finds that it's still firmly attached to his bunk.  Everyone's hands are chained their bunks without any lead, and so it's impossible to get any kind of leverage against the chains.  He turns in his bunk and looks over at the key hook and his stomach sinks when he sees that the keys are not on the hook.  Although it was dark in here, Poricus' dwarven eyes spot something on the floor under some splintered wood that might be the keyring and keys to their chains.

"I... I'm alright. I think..."

Arnould slowly shakes his head, his jet black hair covering his face as he tries to understand what is going on around him. He sighs loudly, as if trying to wake up from a bad dream he had to endure in his sleep. He tries to pull on his chain and break free. Maybe his bunk suffered some amount of damage that would help him rip the chains apart from its frame.

Porcius tries to pry up a few of the planks to get at what he hopes to be the keys. If he can't get to it with his bare hands, he looks around for some loose planks - the big ole' rock coming through the side must have left broken wood all over the place, or at the very least weakened the planks around the hole -, and uses those as a primitive prybar.

Jon shakes his head and squints out the bow, before turning back and saying, "Yeah, I seem ta be ok."

He glances quickly in the direction of the keys, then around the floor as he starts whispering a quiet prayer to the God of the Sea, "Lord of the Waves show your humble servants mercy and please aid us in this time of our helplessness and need. Thank You for your life-sustaining bounty, and for the storm you sent to punish our captors."

Turning his attention to the bunk, Jon begins appraising how securely the bunk is still attached to the ship

Moaning and spitting a bit o' blood "Uhhh..merely bruised it seems!" shaking it off as I squint in the light and spray..."We have run aground!" as I pull inefectualy on the chains and look around wildly.

"Mates, I dunno about any of you, but I think we're on our own here. Don't suppose any of you are hidin' those keys are ya?"

Figuring it's useless to mess with the chains themselves, and it's likely too dark for his human eyes to really search for the keys. Is there anyone close to Jono? With the bunks "stacked like cordwood", maybe he can help someone else break free of their bonds, or use another bunk to apply pressure to his own.

Quote from: Tommy Brownell;432906"Mates, I dunno about any of you, but I think we're on our own here. Don't suppose any of you are hidin' those keys are ya?"
.

"We are not so fotunate as that man,they are storm tossed as well!" looking for any possible tool to apply leverage to the chain fittings etc. anything potentialy usefull that has been tossed/moved into reach/out of place by the crash.
I will use my feet to move an object if need be...

I wonder if I can slip my hands out of these . Kelavan thinks as He attempts to slide his hands out of the restraints .
The rain and surf coming through the busted hull should give some lubrication ."I yet live!" he replies to the dwarf .
Search with My eyes hands ans feet for anything that might be of use .

Yeah, yeah, I think I got the key, 'ere." - Porcius replies in a loud grumbling. "Gimme a minute. And gimme a loose plank from that large gap, think I need a prybar 'ere."

The two remaining men sound off as being alive, but completely chained to their bunks as well.  

"Unh, I think I'm alive," the only female says weakly in a dazed tone from her bunk.

She seems shaken up, which can be heard in her voice, and she just lays on her bunk while the others struggles against their bonds.  The men try has hard as they can to get their shackled and chained hands free, but it is in vain.  There is only a few inches at best between their chain and the bunk, and getting any kind of leverage to bare against it is impossible.

"Damn it!" exclaims one of the men, "I can't get free!"

"We're going to die here like dogs!" another man calls out in utter frustration and despair.

In a hesitant tone, the woman calls out, "I think my bunk was damaged in the crash."

Everyone can hear her struggle to break free from her bunk.  He labored breathing and Herculean effort resonates in the ears of the men as the wait for the outcome of her struggle.  After what seemed like an eternity to the men, but in reality was only a minute or two, they hear a scream and loud noise.

"I did it!" the woman says in amazement after she rights herself from tumbling backward and hitting herself against the hull.

In the limited light filtering into the smashed hull, the men can see her shape stand up and about eight inches of chain dangle between her still shackled hands.

Arnould watches as the woman manages to stand up. He doesn't waste any time:

"We've got to stick together. Find the key, free us all, and hopefully, we might have a slight chance to make it. Leave now, without us, and we all die our separate ways."

In an indignant tone of voice, the woman says, "I am no wicked or vile person, I assure you!"

She looks to the peg where the keyring was last seen, and then says in a horrified tone, "the keys are gone!"

"Help the dwarf, then! He seems to think he's spotted something...but be careful, in case there's other damage in here."

"Aye, I think this is the key 'ere, but I can't get to it." - Porcius replies. Girl, now that you're free, could you go look for something to break these planks with? A chisel, a strong cutting tool, something of the sort."

"Be safe Miss , but be quick. We don't know if the tide is rising or falling . If it's falling We have some time, but if it's on the rise We may be drowned in half an hour."

seeing the girl freed fom her bunk elicits the exultation.."AYYY!" with a broad smile.

Jon whispers a quiet prayer of thanks to the Sea God, then says, "We thank you m'lady for your aid. I would echo our companion's urging to make haste, the Sea has been kind to us today, but our Lord is stern and only helps those who help themselves and stay strong... the tide will not wait."

"Do you see the keys, Mister dwarf?" the young woman asks with a very tired and weary voice.

Arnould makes a mental note of the girl's reaction to his invective.
This might prove useful later on.

He doesn't say anything at the moment. He doesn't want to add to the confusion, and hopes the dwarf saw right.

"Aye, girl, I think these are the keys, right 'ere." - Porcius replies. "But I can't get to them, they're stuck under some planks. That's why I need you to go and fetch something I can use to break or pry up the wood."

The woman gets up and wearily makes her way over to Poricus' bunk, which was closest to the keyring, and gets on her hands and knees and starts searching for the keys.  

After several minutes, she exclaims with relief, "I've found them!"

She unlocks the shackles on her wrists, and moves to unlock Poricus' shackles.  After that, she quickly moves down the line one-by-one and unlocks everyone's shackles.

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OOC: What do you do now?

"Ah, much better!" - Porcius exclaims, rubbing his wrists. Thank you, girl. Now," - he turns to everyone, raising his voice a bit - "I think introductions will be in order soon, but first let's attend to immediate business."

"We need to get to the deck and see what's happened. Where are all the slavers - not that I miss 'em, - he spits - but why have they abandoned the ship? So, I suggest we all go up and see what can be seen."

"We must find out where We are. On a reef, a shore or atop a mountain in the middle of the deep"Kelvan says above the crash of the sea .
Please let it be a shore, he thinks to himself. Giving a heartfelt "Thank You!" to the girl as She unlocks his restraints .
He looks about to see if any of the others need help making it above deck .

"Agreed, friend dwarf. As the young lady unlocks Jono, he gives a small bow. Thank you ever so much.

Jono carefully moves to the exit...stairs up the deck, I presume, being careful to test the way, to ensure that it's stable.

"Thanks m'lady," Jon says quietly, "and thanks to Valkur for watching over us. I suggest we make for yon beach."

Jon rubs his wrists as he carefully makes his way towards the bow of the ship.

The young woman only nods as she is thanked by the men, and as they gather to try and exit the slave hold of the ship.  The slave hold runs about two-thirds of the length of the galley, from the bow to about one-third of the way to the stern.  There is only one hatch that leads out of the slave hold and onto the deck.  

Jono moves to the hatch and tries to push open it, but it is locked or barred from the other side because it doesn't budge on bit.  One of the other men moves to help Jono push on the hatch, but it still doesn't budge.

"Sonofa--...it's jammed or locked or somethin'."

as the lady moves to unlock my chains I feel the excitement of freedom buoy my spirits for the first time since my capture "All blessings on you las!" as I hug her quickly after freeing me!
"Now to business." rubbing my wrist and moving towards the splintered bow...walking with care amongst the wrack and ruin.

"We just can't have it easy, can we?" - Porcius grumbles. "Girl, are there other keys on that ring? One of them might open this hatch."

He eyes the hatch and its frame, looking for any weaknesses in the construction that might be exploited - say, by a strong dwarven shoulder or a makeshift battering ram created out of a bunk.

"Well, if we can't get it open, we'll just have to use the big gapin' hole in the side. I'd rather not take a swim, though."

Poricus moves to the hatch to examine it further.  The hatch opens up and away from the slave hold.  He pushes on it to test it, and it is firmly in place and doesn't budge at all under any force he muster.

As the dwarf is examining the hatch, Sterling moves toward the gaping hole in the bow of the ship to look out it.  The Stout halfling is met with a bone-chilling blast of cold air and driving rain.  He sees a world of in shades of gray.  The sky is blackly overcast, but Sterling thinks that it's still daytime.  The wind is sharp and fierce, blowing rain droplets so hard that they sting his face and exposed skin.

He also sees that the ship has run aground on a beach.  On this side of the beach, craggy rocks and cliffs rise to forty or fifty feet.  The cliff descends as it continues down the beach, until it's no more than a line of rocks a few feet high at the far end.

However, the thing that quickly catches Sterling's eyes is the sight Hafkris staggering up and down the beach.  He's about thirty feet away from the galley.  He has a broadsword on his weapon's belt, and he's marching up and down the beach like a soldier on parade while singing grotesque sailor songs.  As he watches silently for a moment or two and the wind shifts direction toward him, Sterling can hear snippets and snatches of Hafkris' singing.

Jon moves next to Sterling and looks out, shielding his face as best he can from the cold and rain with his hand.

Quote from: Sigmund;433485Jon moves next to Sterling and looks out, shielding his face as best he can from the cold and rain with his hand.

OOC: Jon sees the same scene before him as Sterling does.

squinting in the blow I shake my head and look up at Jon with a mix of wonder and confusion. Whispering "...that bastard Halfkris be doin there?" Then loudly "Hey everyone look here!" as I brace my legs wide against the swaying of the hulk and glance about for a stout pole I might be able to use as a staff...

"Damn that rotten bastard" - Porcius mutters when he sees the slaver. "We could try to jump into the water and quickly make for cover, but he's too close: even with the wind and the rain and the twilight I reckon he would spot us. Let's just wait a bit, see if he leaves on his own.

The dwarf retreats into the ship's hold and starts examining the rest of the hull. With some luck, the impact might have loosened some planks on the other side enough to pry them out of place.

Quote from: skofflox;433578squinting in the blow I shake my head and look up at Jon with a mix of wonder and confusion. Whispering "...that bastard Halfkris be doin there?" Then loudly "Hey everyone look here!" as I brace my legs wide against the swaying of the hulk and glance about for a stout pole I might be able to use as a staff...

"He looks mad, may the Sea Captain preserve us." Jon replies. He tries to be careful to remain hidden from Halkris' sight, "My Da has told me stories of folks who go mad when surviving storms at sea... mayhap Valkur has punished his mind... or Umberlee has gotten hold of his soul."

"... or he's dead drunk." - adds Porcius. "That's what you would get if you just lost your ship and your livelyhood, no matter how foul it was."

"The Sea Captain Valkur, Lord of the Waves would protect me, because I wouldn't be some dirty pirate scum. My Da says Valkur watches over all good sailors, and takes them home when it's time, but that Umberlee prevents them from rooting out the pirates for good cuz she likes the trouble they cause. That pirate scum deserves what Valkur gave 'im." Jon says smugly.

A young man that looks to be in his early twenties whispers, "what do we do?  To that bastard we're only meat, and I doubt he'll reason with us.  Especially now that he's acting drunk or deranged."

Another young man who also looks in his late teens or early twenties that has thick black hair whispers passionately, "after the last whipping he gave me, I vowed that I would strangle that bastard until his eyes popped out of his head.  I say we rush him and kill him."

The young woman leans against the hull of the ship and starts to sob softly into her hands.

After taking a peek at the scene on the beach, Arnould looks around the cargo hold. "Some of us could try to get into the water while Hafkris is not looking. Others could just some pieces of lumber, or any projectile we could get. Those in the water wait, try to sneak to a position out of the hole's line of sight. Those of us that remain in the cargo hold open fire at Hafkris. Whatever he does, the others in the water get to him at that moment, and hopefully, he'll be surprised."

Arnould pauses for a moment, then looks at the others. "What do you think?"

OOC: Anything we could use as thrown weapons in the hold? Like bits of wood, ring of shackles, anything of the sort? How far is Hafkris from the hole in the hold?

"Mate, if a sounder of tuskless bush pigs attacked a pig breeder with a pitchfork, they'd stampede him, sure enough" - Porcius mutters, waggling his index finger - "But they won't, because none of 'em wants to be the one in the front that gets skewered, if you catch my drift."

"So if you want to go down there an' get cut down by that sword of his, be my guest - but me, I won't be anywhere he can see us, thankyouverymuch."

"He's what? Thirty feet away? With him pacing back and forth, we won't be climbing out without him seeing. Naw... let's wait awhile. If he's drunk, he'll fall asleep when darkness comes; an' if he's mad, he'll probably just wander away soon enough. We can spend a bit more time in this rotten bucket."

Seeing the young woman's distress, he ambles over on his short legs and pats her gently on the arm. "Now, now, girl. We're already out of the worst of it. Have some faith. Tell me, what's your name?"

Arnould frowns. "What if whatever buddies he's got with him come back before he falls asleep, though? What if he doesn't fall asleep at all, but sobers up while we wait here for him to pick us up?"

The anger born of frustration is plain on the dark-haired man's face, but he remains silent as he gaze is set on Hafkris.

The woman rubs her eyes with her tattered dress and musters a smile at Poricus' concern, and says softly, "my name is Melisana.  What's your name?"

Jon turns from the hole and retrieves his shackles, then returns to the hole and watches the pirate closely.

After listening to the others exchange. "Well I'm all for wait'n ta preserve life, cept that scums." pointing to the slaver "But if the tide comes up sharp or other slavers return that option may be taken from us!" ... I for one don't want ta muck about in the water after dark... "Lets arm ourselves best we can and then take stock.!"  Nodding as I look to the shackles Jon has in hand... "Will you keep watch man?" as I gesture to the beach.

I will continue to look for a suitable staff or something to throw as well as some rope or anything that could be tied together to aid in our escape or anything that could be used as a shield.

Jon nods silently, watching the pirate intensely.

"Porcius Porcus, esquire, at your service" - the dwarf bows with an exaggerated sweeping hand gesture. "Purveyor of the finest breeds of swine in the whole archipelago!"

"And a good thing, too... my merchandise can take care of itself until I get out of this mess and make my way home. Wouldn't want to be a cattle owner at a time like this, no, missy, not me."

"How about getting him," nodding towards the beach, "to come to us?"

"Then we ambush him."

"If we are getting him to come here, that means he'll already know we're around and will be harder to surprise. But if you have an idea, out with it. Maybe we could pretend to be still chained and injured, or something."

"How long does he keep his back to the ship ? Could someone make it to the cliff's before he turns ?
 Kelvan gets a pair of shackles in each hand .

Quote from: Premier;433713"If we are getting him to come here, that means he'll already know we're around and will be harder to surprise. But if you have an idea, out with it. Maybe we could pretend to be still chained and injured, or something."

"Someone could scream bloody murder. Draw him in here while we act like we're still cuffed up...say its their insides or something...then WHAM. Be hard for him to see us all at once...someone should be able to get the drop on him. Just a thought, of course."

"I say we rush him," Jon says while staring intently at the pirate, "I'll go first, Valkur will protect me. My Da always said so. We don't have the time to wait anyway."

Arnould listens to his companions of fortune for a moment. "So.. this is between us getting him in here, some of us pretending to be cuffed while others take him by surprise as he gets in here, or..." He gestures towards Jon, "we charge him and pray to the gods he is too drunk to realize what is happening before it's too late."

He pauses, and then finally says: "I'm fine either way, though the opportunity of surprise might be enough to make sure nobody ends up dead. Charging him on the other hand... there is always that possibility."

Sterling moves back into the hold and starts looking around for something suitable to use a staff, but all most of the pieces of broken wood are small in size and comparable to a club rather than quarterstaff.  He doesn't find any rope or anything else really useful as a weapon or survival gear.

The determined and silent man with black hair grabs up a piece of wood to use as a make-shift club.  The sandy blonde-haired man arms himself as well and picks up a pair of shackles to use as a make-shift flail.

Seeing most of the men start arming themselves, Melisana says quietly, "what are your names and where are you from in case any of us fall?  So that someone might bring this information to others' family.  I am from Ventris and my father is the Merchant Guildmaster Melkeras."

The blonde-haired young man nods slowly as her words sink in, and says, "I am Vithar, son of Master Toglin the Forrester from Highport.  My mother is Alicia, and I have two brothers and a baby sister."

The black-haired man says gruffly, "I am Koli, son of Folkvar and Bergdis from Dennik."

"I am Arnould, son of Bernhart the Tanner. I originally hail from Ventris as well."

"I am Jon Black, son of Captain Tomas Black of Highport, captain of the merchant ship Gold Pelican. The Sea Captain will be with us, our cause is just", Jon says fervently.

"Jono Blackmere, of Jacob's Landing. I have no intention of dying today, so I'm leaving it at that. Jono picks up the shackles and tests the strength of the chain...envisioning them wrapped around the pirate's throat. "If he's as drunk as you all seem to think he is, then taking him by surprise should be even easier."

"I am Kelvan Windspray apprenticed to Master Harken at Coral Bay on Rabin's Reef ." Prepare myself to be third or fourth in line.

finding the closest thing I can to a staff I return to stand near Jon..."Sterling Mossyrocks late of Jeni's Smile." as I sketch a bow to my companions "Send word t' the Ebb, like as not t' raise a glass if I fall here today." miming the toast...

"So, do we take it to e'm or draw'm nigh?,I'm for either." as I cock an eyebrow and look to the gathered. "Prahp's a vote's in order?''

"Porcius Porcus, of Pig Isle. If I die, ask around for directions and help yourselves to my babies." - Porcius says. "And me, I say we lure him here. As he pops his head in, throw him in the face with something hard, kick him so he falls into the water below the hole, then jump on him and drown him."

Quote from: Premier;434073"Porcius Porcus, of Pig Isle. If I die, ask around for directions and help yourselves to my babies." - Porcius says. "And me, I say we lure him here. As he pops his head in, throw him in the face with something hard, kick him so he falls into the water below the hole, then jump on him and drown him."

"And I fear it's too unpredictable, there's nothing to indicate he will react in a predictable manner, that he will be likely to just poke his head in, or that he won't just burn what's left of the ship down, or wait us out until the tide takes us. If we rush him we'll have surprise and we'll have numbers on our side." Jon says stubbornly, "Valkur has been with us so far, he will not let us down now."

"Burn down the ship?" - Porcius replies, somewhat snappily. "How? He doesn't have anything to make a fire with, it's raining, and it's a ship we're in, built of huge, thick beams and planks! Unless he's a wizard of some sort or a summoner of demons, he won't be setting fire to this thing."

Quote from: Premier;434085"Burn down the ship?" - Porcius replies, somewhat snappily. "How? He doesn't have anything to make a fire with, it's raining, and it's a ship we're in, built of huge, thick beams and planks! Unless he's a wizard of some sort or a summoner of demons, he won't be setting fire to this thing."

"Perhaps not,although I would not be so sure it can't be done. However, that's not really the point. We don't know what he will do, and we don't know what he can do, but if we rush him and surprise him we give him less of a chance to think of something," Jon replies fiercely, "I will go first and face him."

Jon hefts the shackles and gazes defiantly out the hole at the pirate.

"As slaves, we are valuable. Heck... the whole ship is valuable, especially since we're all stranded here. This is good lumber for shelter, tools, and on it goes. He wouldn't burn the ship..." Arnould says thoughtfully.

"Though the man is piss drunk, that is also very clear."

Koli, the dark-haired young man, nods at Jon and says in a grimly determined tone, "I'm with you."

Quote from: Benoist;434152"As slaves, we are valuable. Heck... the whole ship is valuable, especially since we're all stranded here. This is good lumber for shelter, tools, and on it goes. He wouldn't burn the ship..." Arnould says thoughtfully.

"Though the man is piss drunk, that is also very clear."

"And possibly not very intelligent."

Quote from: Sigmund;434088"Perhaps not,although I would not be so sure it can't be done. However, that's not really the point. We don't know what he will do, and we don't know what he can do, but if we rush him and surprise him we give him less of a chance to think of something," Jon replies fiercely, "I will go first and face him."

Jon hefts the shackles and gazes defiantly out the hole at the pirate.

Quote from: Drohem;434167Koli, the dark-haired young man, nods at Jon and says in a grimly determined tone, "I'm with you."

"I'm with ya's!,howzaboutit people?" as I heft my bit o lumber...a steely look in my eye as I step,crouched, towards the gaping hole to get a look at Halfkris on the beach. "Maybe one of us should jump down there and bait him away from the ship. Give others a chance to gain the beach safely?"

Quote from: skofflox;434350"I'm with ya's!,howzaboutit people?" as I heft my bit o lumber...a steely look in my eye as I step,crouched, towards the gaping hole to get a look at Halfkris on the beach. "Maybe one of us should jump down there and bait him away from the ship. Give others a chance to gain the beach safely?"

"I will do it." Jon replies, "I will try to turn him away from the ship."

Quote from: Sigmund;434478"I will do it." Jon replies, "I will try to turn him away from the ship."

"And then..." Arnould asks, "what do we do?"

"We charge in and help however We can."

Quote from: Cargoman;434499"We charge in and help however We can."

"Alright, then." Arnould frowns as he grabs one of the pieces of lumber that could serve as a club. "Sounds like a plan to me."

"Easy now Jon...a moment!!" my hand holding the club extended away from my body as a calm washes over me.
Watching from the shadowed hold I will signal Jon when the slaver is heading away from the ship.

"Whatever" - Porcius waves. "I'll be behind you. But guys, don't try to pummel him to death while he's still standing and able to draw his sword. Let's all rush at him, pull him on the ground, and then let him have it."

He quickly looks around for anything slightly pointy - maybe a broken piece of plank from near the hole.

Sterling holds Jon back for a moment while Hafkris turns his back them and starts marching forward up the beach.  A split-second later Koli launches out of the hole in the hull and onto the rocks like a runner at the start of a race.  He ignores the pain in his feet from the jagged rocks and hops onto the sand after a few well placed jumps along the rocks.  Another second or two later he was running silently and at full-tilt on the sandy beach toward Hafkris' back.

=================================

OOC: The group is automatically going to achieve Surprise with a 4 segment difference.  The distance is about 30-feet, so it will take 2 segments to cross the distance.  Anyone charging up the beach to attack Hafkris will be able to attack him in segment 5 of the Surprise round.

Please go ahead and post your intentions and your attack/damage rolls for segment 5.  The make-shift weapons (club or chains) do 1d4 damage.

Jon leaps after Koli at a run.

Die roll for Jon
Campaign: Treasure Hunt

Rolled on: 2011-01-25 09:54:05.047579
1d20;1d4 → [7] = (7)
1d20;1d4 → [4] = (4)

Ambush (http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/2856246/)

I follow Koli as fast as I can and intend to hit Hafkris to knock him out with my club (i.e. subdual damage, if possible, as per p.125 of OSRIC).

*gasp* I fumble... (http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/2856248/)

Mumbling to himself, Jono says "Not my preferred approach..."

He takes off out of the hole himself, but seeing as he's unarmed (and nothing dart-like around), he immediately takes an assessment of the surrounding area, making a circular spin as he heads up the hill, to ensure that there aren't any nasty surprises waiting on us...like a handful of other slavers having dinner on that beach we're about to run to. Jono figures it doesn't do us any good to take down one guy and run into a trap.

Breathing heavily as he tries to keep up with his longer legged comrades, Porcius rushes at the slaver. When only a yard away, he leaps into the air and at his enemy, trying to grab him and keep his hands forced against his body. [OOC: Grappling attempt]

77 on attack, chance to succeed: 110% +/- mods based on defender armour and movement speed

grapple effect: 5  (http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/2856658/)+6 (http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/2856656/)+26=37 +/- modifiers based on defender's stuff (http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/2856658)

"I'm up!"I jump to the beach after the rush of big folk,long club in hand. Looking around to see if other slavers lurk before running to catch Halfkris with the others!

(http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll43/Drohem/Treasure%20Hunt/Shipwrecked-1.jpg)

Immediately on Koli's heels and across the painful rocks, Jon, Arnould, Kelvan, Vithar, and Poricus rush at a full dash across the thirty feet of beach between them and the half-orc pirate's back.  Other than the sounds of labored breathing, the group moved silently.  However, when they were about fifteen feet away, Hafkris turns back to face the onrushing group and his face goes wide with surprise.  

Koli's manacles slam down onto Hafkris' shoulder narrowly missing his face.  Arnould tried for a head blow to knock the pirate out quickly, but missed the half-orc's head altogether.  Both Jon's and Kelvan's attacks were turned by Hafkris' leather armor, and caused him no real harm.  

Poricus moves up to the side of half-orc and grabs his weapon arm, and yanks it forcefully behind the pirate's back.  This perfectly sets up Vithar's attack, and Vithar slams his club directly into Hafkris' face followed by a dull Thud! sound.  Poricus instantly feels the half-orc go limp and unconscious in his iron-tight grip.

Jono and Sterling move directly east toward the narrow pass of beach between the towering cliffs on either side, the move about thirty feet up the beach when they hear the shouts from their companions.

Melisanna had armed herself with a make-shift club and followed the men up the beach up to Hafkris, but did not engage him since there were already so many attacking him at once.  She stood a few feet away waited like a cat ready to pounce, but her aid was not needed after all.

"Huzzah!" Melisanna shouts before she stop herself, but immediately looks sheepish and blush.

==========================================================

OOC: Here is how the Surprise Round goes down:
-- A character can move 10-feet in each segment of the surprise round, and so the characters spend segments 3 and 4 running 20-feet up the beach at Hafkris.
-- A character can close 10-feet and attack in segment of a surprise round, and in segment 5 Koli, Vithar, Arnould, Jon, Kelvin, and Poricus move and attack the surprised half-orc pirate slaver.
-- The red 'x' on the map is the location of Hafkris.  The brown cliffs rise up to nearly 200-feet high.  
-- Koli's attack hits AC 7 for 1 damage (http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/2859256/).
-- Poricus' grapple attack succeeds, and hit puts Hafkris into an arm-lock for 2 subdual damage.
-- Vithar scores a superior strike for 5 damage.
http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/2859245/ (http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/2859245/)http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/2859291/ (http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/2859291/)
-- Jon's attack misses.
-- Kelvan's attack misses.
-- Arnould's attack for subdual damage misses.
-- Jono moves east into the narrow beach area between the cliffs.
-- Sterling moves east too and looks around for signs of any other pirates.
-- Hafkris is unconscious.

What do you do now?

Panting heavily, Jon bows his head and quietly says, "Thank you Sea Captain for our deliverance from this villain. We pray you watch over us your humble servants as we seek to do your good work." Lifting his head Jon looks around at the group with concern, "Is anyone hurt? Have we left anyone behind on the wreck that we need to go help out?" He starts a head count.

The handsome sandy-blonde man, Vithar, looks bewildered at his handy work, and queries Poricus, "is he dead?  Did... did we kill him?"

Staring hard at the unconscious half-orc pirate, Koli stands there breathing heavily with a murderous look upon his face, "I hope so, that rotten bastard!  Let's finish the job to be sure."

Melisanna nods negatively at Jon's question, and says, "no, no one was hit.  Hafkris did have a chance to even react to our surprise rush and attack."

==================================================

OOC: Jono and Sterling, please roll a d20 for me.

Arnould frowns at Koli's murderous instincts. "Killing him now would be a waste. There is too much we do not know yet. We could at least interrogate him and determine whether he is the sole survivor besides ourselves, whether we should be expecting slavers to hunt us down or not. This would help us decide what we do next."

He sighs. "I say we tie him up for now -using some bits of ropes left on the ship, hopefully-, get the hell out of here, find shelter, and then get what he knows out of him, somehow."

Jon examines the shackles he's holding, looking to see if they are still usable and saying, "Perhaps we can just use these."

As the group standing over the unconscious Hafkris discuss what to do next, the adrenaline rush is wearing off and the deep and biting cold starts to settle on their exposed flesh.  They can see their labored breath in the air and they catch their breath.

Koli looks up sharply at Arnould's words, but his berserker-like state melts off his face as he thinks about what Arnould said.

The black-haired young man looks down at the limp pirate and spits on him, and then says, "although I hate to admit it, you're right, Arnould.  But, we may not get the chance to question him if he dies anyway."

Quote from: Drohem;435853But, we may not get the chance to question him if he dies anyway."

Arnould nods purposefully. "Another reason for us to move out of here as quickly as possible."

Quote from: Drohem;435827T
==================================================

OOC: Jono and Sterling, please roll a d20 for me.

OOC: Criminey petes...a 3: http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/search/766716/

"Let's put some of these manacles on his wrists and feet to make sure he doesn't get tricky" - Porcius suggests - "then explore the area a bit. We can get back and question him when he's awake, which by my reckon should be a while."

"If you all want to question him. Or we could just kill the bastard right away." - he adds, kicking the unconscious slaver in the ribs.

breath quik'ning in the chill...
http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/search/766808/

roll: 10

Sterling and Jono stop several feet away from each other and examine the narrow strand of beach between the rock cliffs.  The cliffs climb to several hundred feet high on the north and south side of the beach area.  Looking eastward, both the halfing and human can see no sign of any other creatures.  The sky is dark and grey, and a light rain begins to fall.  The only noise is the pounding surf behind them, and the freezing wind being blown off the ocean and forced between the cliffs.  Other than their companions on the beach surrounding Hafkris' unconscious body, there are no other living creatures spotted or heard.  

==========================================================

OOC:  That was an Attribute check vs. Wisdom so lower is better in this case.  Both Sterling and Jono don't spot anything or anyone in their immediately vicinity.

Quote from: Drohem;435954Sterling and Jono stop several feet away from each other and examine the narrow strand of beach between the rock cliffs.  The cliffs climb to several hundred feet high on the north and south side of the beach area.  Looking eastward, both the halfing and human can see no sign of any other creatures.  The sky is dark and grey, and a light rain begins to fall.  The only noise is the pounding surf behind them, and the freezing wind being blown off the ocean and forced between the cliffs.  Other than their companions on the beach surrounding Hafkris' unconscious body, there are no other living creatures spotted or heard.  

==========================================================

OOC:  That was an Attribute check vs. Wisdom so lower is better in this case.  Both Sterling and Jono don't spot anything or anyone in their immediately vicinity.

As the sky darkens and the rain starts, Jono raises his arms to the side and tilts his head back for a moment, taking in the rain on his face.

"This," he says to Sterling, "this is what freedom feels like...but I will feel better when we are away from this ship, just to be safe. We should inform the others that the way is clear."

Quote from: Tommy Brownell;436127As the sky darkens and the rain starts, Jono raises his arms to the side and tilts his head back for a moment, taking in the rain on his face.

"This," he says to Sterling, "this is what freedom feels like...but I will feel better when we are away from this ship, just to be safe. We should inform the others that the way is clear."

Smiling into the spray I dance a quick, teetering sea legged jig. Steadying myself on Jonos arm.
"Woowhoo...You've said aright boyo! Lets report and keep the others from killing the scum outright!"

I shoulder my club and start to jog towards the group, casting nary a glance at the wreck.

"While You secure Hafkris I will see what can be salvaged from the ship . Fresh water , food ,steel and flint and any weapons that can be found , will all be useful in getting us home." Head out towards the ship to loot anything that might be of use.

Finally, a natural and disarmed smile appears on Koli's face as he says pleasantly, "it will be my pleasure to put the shackles to this one."

The black-haired young man kneels next to Hafkris' body and rolls him over onto his side, and then shackles the unconscious pirate's hands together behind his back.

Through chattering teeth, Melisanna says, "it's cold.  We need to find some shelter and get warm and dry."

Kelvan looks back over to the wrecked ship dangling precariously on the exposed jagged rocks, and he now understands why they weren't able to open the hatch from the slave hold; the ship's single mast is shattered and the broken off part of the mast is lying across the deck and covering that hatch.

The half-elf jogs back to the wreck and climbs up onto the deck cautiously.  As he peers over the railing of the deck, he is greeted with nothing but biting wind and bone-chilling spray.  He climbs onto the deck and takes stock of the situation.  

The galley is a typical Korinn Archipelago galley.  It is about 60 feet long, with 10 two-man oar benches down each side.  Obviously, it carries a rowing complement of 40 men plus a captain and a steersman.  The galley has no forecastle or sterncastle.  There are two hatches that open into the holds; the forward hatch, now covered by the fallen mast, opens into the forward hold, which was the slave hold, and the aft hatch opens into a small aft hold.  Looking at the snapped mast, it's clear that the sails were furled when the squall hit the ship, and the most likely cause of the mast snapping in two pieces.

Jon helps Koli, then stands and looks around the beach for any possible shelter as a bout of shivering sets in. He starts by walking along the cliff nearby, looking for any depressions or clefts that might shelter the band from the wind and possibly rain.

Porcius follows Kelvan back to the ship. "We should have a look at that hold in the back" - he says - "there must be supplies of food and drinking water around, as well as tools, maybe even weapons.

"It is the most likely place . Anything to help , blankets , buckets for fresh water,  sail cloth to make a wind break . But lets be quick before the tide takes  the ship and us with it."
Do as thorough a search as possible in the conditions , bearing in mind that it is no easy feat getting back to the shore .

Jon:

Jon walks over to the northern cliffs since they're closet and walks along the base looking for anything that might shelter the group from the elements here.  However, it's clear to Jon that there's no real suitable place for the group to shelter along the rock cliffs right on the shore of the island.

Kelvan and Poricus:

The half-elf and dwarf approach the aft hatch, and it opens easily enough for them.  It is dark in the hold, but not dark enough for the demi-humans' eyes to see somewhat due to the faint light shed into the hold from the grey skies above.

Everyone else on the beach:

After Kelvan's and Poricus' forms disappear over the railing of the wrecked ship, Hafkris starts to moan, groan, and awaken.

"Whale piss!" the half-orc pirate mumbles as he tries to sit up, but falls back down onto his face in the sand.

It's clear to those standing around him on the beach that he hasn't quite noticed or grasped his situation because he's acting as if still drunk, dazed, or, more than likely, both.

========================================

OOC: Kelvan and Poricus, please roll a d20.

http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/2866328/
11

Jon stops where he is down the northern cliff west of the wreck and looks west to see what he can see before he walks across to the south side and continues his survey back along the southern cliff to the beach, muttering a prayer of thanks to Valkur and thinking.

jogging up to the group gathered near the slaver "Well done! The cliffs seem clear of slavers." as I kneel near the moaning form to catch my breath. "I will go help the others on the wreck,my small size may prove beneficial!"
Starting to shiver,I go to climb abored the ship and lend what aide I can.

========================================

OOC: Kelvan and Poricus, please roll a d20.

Rolled on: 2011-02-02 13:59:27.022819
1d20 → [6] = (6)

There You go good sir .

Kelvan, Poricus, and Sterling:

The aft hold is in bad shape too as the collision with the boulders to the starboard tore open a huge part of the galley's hull here, and the bottom of the old is swamped in seawater and the hold is still partly in the water.  Kelvan and Poricus go down into the water and start searching for anything useful.  A few moments after they entered the flooded hold, they here footsteps above them and look to the hatch in anticipation.  Sterling's round and smiling halfling face greets them, and he lowers himself down into the water to search as well.  The water was about thigh deep for Kelvan, about waist high for Poricus, and nearly chest high for Sterling; and the water was biting cold.  

Luckily for the trio, there really wasn't much to salvage in the hold.  They found four broken barrels of wine that has mingled with the water sloshing about in the hold.  They find dozens of sacks of ruined grain as it has been soaked with wine and seawater.  Kelvan finds a working heavy crossbow and fifty quarrels with five quivers.  Poricus finds an undamaged chest floating in the freezing water, and finds it's open.  Looking inside the chest, he sees a logbook, some navigational charts, and a book.


Jon:

Jon quickly surmises that the cliff sides near the water's edge are not going to offer any sort of protection against the elements.

Arnould, Jono, Vithar, Koli, and Melisanna:

Hafkris tries to roll over onto his back, but the broadsword strapped to waist is at an odd angle and the dazed pirate is too woozy to force he way over yet.

"Argh!  Get off me, wench!" Hafkris grumbles in a slurred voice as he finally rolls over onto his back with a forceful wrench.

The half-orc pirate groans painfully and flutters his eyes open slowly.  

He tries to brings his hands up to shield his eyes instinctively, and when he can't he says gruffly, "what's this?  Meats', it be you?  Avast, you've got me, ye do!"

"Ho-ho! Look at this." - Porcius extends his find towards the others. "A logbook. Might give us an idea where we are. I probably couldn't make much of it, meself, but why don't you two have a look? We could also show it to the others."

"And here's some charts, so once we figure out where we are and get a boat or raft, we can actually find our way home. It just keeps getting better and better."

"And another book, huh. Doesn't look very navigation-y. Maybe something I can make sense of." He lets the others take the logbook and the chart from him if they want to, then goes abovedecks to examine the other book.

Quote from: Premier;437052"Ho-ho! Look at this." - Porcius extends his find towards the others. "A logbook. Might give us an idea where we are. I probably couldn't make much of it, meself, but why don't you two have a look? We could also show it to the others."

"And here's some charts, so once we figure out where we are and get a boat or raft, we can actually find our way home. It just keeps getting better and better."

"And another book, huh. Doesn't look very navigation-y. Maybe something I can make sense of." He lets the others take the logbook and the chart from him if they want to, then goes abovedecks to examine the other book.

fingering the books "Well, I do a spot o' fish'n off Jenni Smiled. I'll take a look after we get back to the others!"

looking at the crossbow..."Nice find that,could spear a fish or two if one had a mind and were quik like. Now, I'm think'n mayhaps we should secure this wreck to a boulder or somth'n with a bit o' rope from topside so's ta keep it near case we need the timber or someth'n later?" as I look back and forth to the others
..."And if we can get a fire goin this grain might do in a pinch." as I pull at a bag of soaked grain.

"Shall we get topside and see if we can salvage some spar,rope and canvas?"

Koli backhand slaps Hafkris hard across the face and says, "shut up, Meat!"

He kneels next to the half-orc pirate and he starts removing Hafkris' weapon belt, broadsword, and dagger.

Hafkris spits out some blood onto the sand while eying Koli as he roughly removes his weapons, laughs loudly and exclaims, "son of bitch!"  

Koli stands up and straps on the weapon belt and broadsword while glaring at Hafkris.  

Once he's finished strapping the belt and sword to his waist, he hands the dagger to Arnould and says, "here."

Suddenly, Hafkris breaks out into song:

What'll we do with a drunken sailor,
What'll we do with a drunken sailor,
What'll we do with a drunken sailor,
Earl-aye in the morning?

Returning to the deck from the swamped aft hold, Sterling starts searching about the deck to find something usable.  Unfortunately, anything salvageable or usable was more than likely washed overboard like the slaves and crew during the violent storm.  Sterling does find bits and pieces of frayed and snapped ropes attached to the ship here and there, but not one piece or length that is over a few feet.

Poricus tries to find some shelter from the rain as he examines the book found in the chest.  At first, the dwarf wasn't even sure what language the text was written in, but after scanning a few page he realizes that it is written in Common.  However, at first glance the book makes no sense to Poricus as it seems to be filled with esoteric and arcane ramblings.

Throwing hands high as I exclaime..."Not a bit o' cord or cloth worth a blink!" looking heavenwards "We gain our freedom with the aide of storm to be left with not to eas the way. Such is the fickle way of the Gods!"

As I collect the frayed pieces of rope "Hmmm, noth'n a good marriage knot wont fix." I will throw the odd ropes to the beach and go back to collect the soaked bags of grain then head back to the group.

The handsome blond man, Vithar, kneels next to Hafkris and starts to remove the pirate's boots.  Once the boots have been removed, he takes off Hafkris' cloak.  

He stands up and hands the cloak and boots to Melisanna with a disarming smile, and says, "who knows how it will be if we find any shelter, or find any at all, and you should use these."

Tears start to well up in the beautiful young woman's eyes, and she nods as she says in a choked voice, "thank you."

Koli kneels next to the pirate again and rolls him roughly onto his side, and then starts to remove Hafkris' studded leather armor.  Seeing Koli start removing the armor, Vithar also kneels next to the pirate and assists Koli in removing Hafkris' armor.

The biting sting of freezing rain hurts as it hits exposed skin, and the bone-chilling cold is settling into their extremities.  Clearly, staying at the water's edge in this weather and their condition could possibly prove fatal if proper shelter and warmth is not found shortly.

Jon nods with a smile and says, "If we have all we can salvage from the wreck, we need to move inland and search for or build some sort of shelter and try to build a fire. I have found nothing suitable here near the beach. Perhaps if each of us who is not carrying any salvage or guarding the pirate could grab what driftwood we can carry we can eventually build a fire." Jon searches about for driftwood to carry, shivering.

"If this is it , let's find some shelter before the light fails us completely."

"Then you must extrapolate the antipodes of the antepenultimate zodiac as per the sympathetic principle..." - Porcius mutters, tracing the lines with his finger.

"Ah, to hell with this. It's wizard-talk. Let's go rejoin the others. We'll need to question that damn slaver and find food and water. Water first."

As he climbs down to the shore, a single thought nags him for a few moments before he dismisses it: "What's an asper and why is it a sympathetic principle?..."

Looking to see the tideline as I pull the sacks of soaked grain beyond that point. I gather the bits of rope and jogg back to the group. "Not much of a find aboard! Others found a crossbow with some quarrels and what I think to be some navagational charts!" " as I squat to catch my breath. "These bits of rope here,a few bags of sea soaked grain and not much else!" seeing the stripped down slaver I manage a wan smile continuing quietly "Shelters a must." as I scan the cliffs.

The bags of ruined grains are very heavy now that they are water soaked, and Sterling will definitely need some help in bringing them out of the flooded hold and onto the shore.

Jono tosses a grain bag over a shoulder...a second if he can manage. "Next time I get kidnapped by pirates and wind up shipwrecked...I sure hope they crash somewhere warmer."

OOC: Sorry, apparently my ISP's spam filter was eating the notifications from this thread the last couple of days.

After stripping Hafkris of his armor and gear, Vithar and Koli sit him up in the sand.  The half-orc pirate breaks into a fit of uncontrollable laughter.  

Koli toes the pirate hard in the ribs, and says, "where are your mates?  How long before they come back?  Where is shelter?"

Hafkris just starts giggling again, and abruptly stops when Koli kicks him again and he starts coughing violently.

Koli looks surprised, looks to his companions gathered around the bound pirate, and shrugs his shoulder.

Walking by with an armful of driftwood, Jon says, "Careful Koli, we do not want to become no different than that villian."

Returning from the hold, realizing the futility of aiding Sterling with the grain...

"The grains are ruined and the exposure will be hazardous if we do not move. Wasting time with this slug, who is refusing to talk, is only going to get us killed, one way or another. He either knows we won't kill him, or he doesn't care."

Quote from: Drohem;439089Koli toes the pirate hard in the ribs, and says, "where are your mates?  How long before they come back?  Where is shelter?"

Hafkris just starts giggling again, and abruptly stops when Koli kicks him again and he starts coughing violently.

Koli looks surprised, looks to his companions gathered around the bound pirate, and shrugs his shoulder.

Quote from: Sigmund;439091Walking by with an armful of driftwood, Jon says, "Careful Koli, we do not want to become no different than that villian."

Arnould nods at Jon's warning. "The man is obviously still drunk. He is laughing for now, may be crying a little while later. Let him. He'll sober up at some point. We'll ask questions then."

"For now, we should be finding some shelter, and quick."

Arnould throws a look at the boat. "What are the others doing? I hope they found something useful in there."

He sighs. He then has a look around, and tries to spot a location that is far enough from the boat, a cave or opening somewhere that could serve as shelter, and yet, would allow them to keep an eye on the wreck at the same time.

Clearly, the survivors of the shipwreck were in dire straights.  Nothing useful to immediate survival was salvaged from the wreck.  The wreck will more than likely disappear shortly as the tide is returning, and it will be dislodged from the rocks and sweep out to sea.  There was nothing to salvage from the beach other than a few pieces of driftwood that Jon gathered up.  They were exposed to the storm and cold without any shelter.  No shelter in this area was found.  The obvious choice was to head west and over the hill between the cliffs that formed this small, rocky bay.

OOC: The half-orc's sword, where is it now?

Are the people who were searching the wreck back at this point?

musing over my bits o rope...rubbing hands and slapping arms to keep circulation as the others consider the prisoner..."Lets be at it then, and get off this windswept beach afore we freeze!" as I jerk my head towards the hilly terrain.

While everyone finally gathered together on the beach, Koli strapped on the half-orc pirate's studded leather armor.  It became clear to everyone that they had to move off the beach and inland to find adequate shelter from the cold and storm.  Koli and Vithar hoist Hafkris up onto his feet and get him moving toward the west.  The group makes their way over the low cliffs on the western edge of the bay.  It was dim from the overcast skies, and the rain blurred vision even further, but they finally have a good look at the island.  

The island is very hilly and the group can see that the highest and most forbidding hills are westward, running the entire length of the island from south to north.  Northward is broken terrain that looks passable, but probably with some difficulty.  The terrain to the east seems to flatten out a little bit, although it is still hilly and broken in that direction.  Unfortunately, the group does not spot any sign of habitation by humanoids; there are no buildings, fires, or smoke to be seen.

==========================

OOC: What do you do next?  Which way are you going to strike out and search for shelter?

"I don't mind a bit wet, but this looks too much for me." - Porcius grumbles. "Why don't we go that way?" - he points west - "We might get a good look of the island from all those hills. Maybe we'll even see where the rest of these damn bastard slavers are, so we won't run into their arms."

Quote from: Premier;439591"I don't mind a bit wet, but this looks too much for me." - Porcius grumbles. "Why don't we go that way?" - he points west - "We might get a good look of the island from all those hills. Maybe we'll even see where the rest of these damn bastard slavers are, so we won't run into their arms."

"Thats the way of it! Lets get the highground and have a gander!" as I glance around for a stout bit of branch to serve as a staff as we walk. "At least a few of us should go take a look." as I indicate the hills...threadbear and sopping wet yet keeping in hi spirits,enjoying the sensation of earth beneath my toes (albeit a bit bandy legged still!)!

Jon, with his armful of driftwood, starts trudging west.

"West it is then, it's as good as ant other I suppose ."
Kelvan will bring up the rear , aiding straglers and keeping an eye out for game trails .

Arnould nods and repeats: "West it is." He somehow has a bad feeling about those hills, but represses the urge to go through another round of decision-making. Better to move fast than stay put discussing what to do next.

As Jono joins the group in heading west, he says to the group, "At this point, I'm starting to think we should be more worried about what happened to those pirates, rather than worry about the pirates themselves."

As the group surveys the island from their vantage point, they discuss which direction to strike out and search for shelter.  The consensus forming from the group is not to dither and strike out toward the hills on the western side of the island to try and get out the storm's fury.  

Jon observes that the winds of this storm are mainly coming out of the northwest.  He knows that this is the storm season and that most storms do blow in out of the northwest.  Jon surmises that if there were any ports on this island, then they would most likely be on the slightly more sheltered eastern or southern coast of the island.

Upon hearing Jono's comment about his mates, Hafkris breaks out into laughter and says, "the Bitch Queen has swallowed them all!"

Arnould walks to Hafkris and grabs him by the collar. "All of them? Are you sure?"

"The most likely spots for a port would be to the east or south of the island." says Jon, who then turns to Halfkris and says, "Perhaps Valkur spared you for a purpose pirate. If I were you I'd thank Him and seek to do His will in return for such a gift."

Hafkris stares into Arnould's eyes and replies, "aye, all of them.  One by one we watched them get washed overboard.  All the Meat we brought on deck to man the oars were also sweep over the deck.  Captain Mauser was a stupid lunatic for sailing so far from land during storm season.  At the end it was just him and me on the deck, and I threw him overboard for getting us all killed."

The half-orc pirate looks over at Jon sharply after his comment, he spits on the ground and says, "they're all the same, Meat."

Quote from: Drohem;440424The half-orc pirate looks over at Jon sharply after his comment, he spits on the ground and says, "they're all the same, Meat."

"Which is why you are disarmed and bound, with your ship and crew gone, and we live and no longer have our shackles on. They are no more the same than you and I are now. Were you to realise and embrace this fact, you would likely find your life to be richer and more fulfilling. I in no way expect you to, but I can hope that wisdom would prevail and you would see how the Sea Captain has use of you if you'd dedicate yourself to Him." Jon replies quietly.

Hafkris looks back into Arnould's face, jerks his head toward Jon, and says dryly, "so, it's torture then, eh?  For a minute there I thought you weren't going to torture me."

Quote from: Drohem;440442Hafkris looks back into Arnould's face, jerks his head toward Jon, and says dryly, "so, it's torture then, eh?  For a minute there I thought you weren't going to torture me."

Jon frowns sadly at Halfkris and says, "I'd wager torture is all you've ever known. Only you know for sure, but if you'd like to know another way, you are free to ask me and I'll share one with you." Jon then walks forward towards the front of the line of castaways.

Hafkris' question bothers Arnould to the core. If we torture him, how then are we any different than the people who brought us on this ship, in the first place. What does that make us? Butchers in service of our own instincts of revenge? What kind of solace would that bring? Do we have any real choice in this? Did the half-orc make a choice for himself, or is he just surrendering to the needs of a broken spirit born out of years of abuse and bizzare predicaments?

He throws the orc back on the ground. "The potential of your survival is in our hands, that is true. But consider this: this is just as much your decision as it is ours. Either you cooperate, and you will see your treatment become gradually better, or you choose to remain true to your mean self, and you will find yourself alone, isolated... and most probably dead. Who knows what might be lurking out there waiting for you to be its next meal? The choice, ultimately, is yours to take."

Without his arms free to balance himself, Hafkris hits the ground hard and with jarring force.  He moans as he rolls over onto his back, and then he breaks out in laughter as he sits up.

Looking up at Arnould, he says in a jovial tone as he spits dirt from his lips, "you got sand, Boyo.  Ya got no humor, but ya got sand.  Look, believe me or not, I don't care, but I'm telling you they're all dead and we're all that's left after the Bitch Queen took her due."

Arnould looks at Hafkris long and hard. He then closes his eyes, turns and starts walking away, westward. He stops, looks over his shoulder, and finally answers: "I believe you."

He then starts walking again, determined to find shelter as soon as possible.

"Did I miss something? We're not really offering salvation to a wretched creature that helped enslave us, calls us "Meat", and betrayed his own captain?" Jono makes the disgust on his face very apparent. "He gave up what we need to know: we're wrecked, Gods only know where, and the fiends that brought us here have met their demise. Perhaps if I were back home, on a hunt with my brother, I might feel more forgiving."

Anger flashes across the half-orc pirate's face at Jono's claim about Captain Mauser, and he says passionately, "that sorry sack of shit betrayed his crew by sailing us directly into the Bitch Queen's belly!  That son of bitch got what was coming to him for killing my mates, along with the other Mea... Er, slaves!"

Quote from: Tommy Brownell;440511"Did I miss something? We're not really offering salvation to a wretched creature that helped enslave us, calls us "Meat", and betrayed his own captain?" Jono makes the disgust on his face very apparent. "He gave up what we need to know: we're wrecked, Gods only know where, and the fiends that brought us here have met their demise. Perhaps if I were back home, on a hunt with my brother, I might feel more forgiving."

Arnould stops. He does not pay attention to Hafkris.

His head turns slowly towards Jono, then his whole body. He slowly steps forward: "So what do you want to do, now? The wretch gave us all the information we seek, after all. You want to join him now and be a murderer of helpless people yourself? You want your revenge?"

He stops in front of Jono. "If you want to kill him, you can go ahead. Use your hands, and strangle him right this minute. I sure am not going to lend you a blade for the job. Look into his eyes during all those long minutes it will take you to take his life away and wonder."

He stares at Jono.

"Wonder how, exactly, that makes you any different from the likes of him."

"I have no forgiveness for a creature that made its life on the literal backs of others. To a man, we were ripped away from our homes and our loved ones because of him and his ilk. Even though we are off of that ship, the elements, hunger or who knows what else may still kill some or all of us. Either luck or cowardice let him survive death. The difference between him and I, is that I did not choose to be here, to rip people from their lives. Apparently, the difference between you and I is that I am smart enough to realize that by choice, or by nature, he is a servant of evil. Neither one is better than the other."

"Nobody is a servant of evil that realizes it and chooses to come back to the light. He has a choice, just like you do in acting on your desire to kill him. Do what you must."

Arnould walks away from Jono.

Quote from: Benoist;440551"Nobody is a servant of evil that realizes it and chooses to come back to the light. He has a choice, just like you do in acting on your desire to kill him. Do what you must."

Arnould walks away from Jon.

"If you insist on dragging him along, then you hold his chains. That way, when he turns on us, any sane persons will have your screams as a warning."

Jono shakes his head in disgust and makes a wide berth from the murdering slaver who has somehow managed to buy his passage with drunken ramblings and absolutely no admission of remorse.

"That's what I thought."

Arnould gets to Hafkris. "If you want to live, you will not try my patience."

He takes a hold of the chains. "We need to find shelter."

listening to the exchange between the others as I keep a look out for any likely eyebrow hieght staff materials and bright colors in the trees/shrubs that may indicate some sort of food. "A fine fettle indeed!"
Chuckling to myself as I trek along "Now there's a thought! Halfkris can be our exotic fruit taster, though not much good after the first poisonous one!" Rope is coiled and hanging around my left shoulder.

Jon shakes his head at Jono's words, "Perhaps Valkur brought us here to save this man's soul. He is a sailor, same as I and my family and ancestors, no matter what he does to others, he lives and dies by the sea same as many of us. As my father has often said, 'all we can do is show others how to live a good life by living one ourselves. The Sea Captain watches over us and protects us from Umberlee's rages, and in return we must aid and forgive each other and respect the sea that gives us life.' Kill this man, who has probably known very little joy in life, and you become him. Ask Valkur what to do, he will guide you." Jon trudges on.

Just my luck, Hafkris thinks to himself with a barely audible groan, I've been marooned with a bunch of Meat priests!

After the passionate exchanges, the group trudges westward in the search for shelter.  Much to Sterling's dismay, there aren't any real trees to be found here, and no pieces of wood remotely the size needed to serve as a proper quarterstaff.  The only vegetation found is moss, lichen, and small  shrubbery.  The group has been on the move for about an half hour or so, and is currently walking along in a depression between two large hills.

After a few minutes of walking in this area, you hear faint noises that are barely audible over the noise of the stinging rain and screaming wind.  It's difficult to make out, but you are certain that it's not a natural noise created by the environment and weather conditions.  It seems to be coming from  your left, beyond the hill to your left.

Jono lets out a sigh.

"Well, odds are pretty good that it's not Orc-Face's pirate buddies. With our luck, it's a whole new crew of pirate slavers."

Jono hunkers down and moves slowly, pinning himself as tightly to the hill as he can, trying to take a peak to see what's there.

Arnould will climb up the hill to the left to identify the threat as quickly as possible. He will try to peek and take cover when he reaches the top of the hill, rather than just provide an easy target for whoever or whatever's coming their way. They are at a disadvantage here, between the hills, but who knows what's going on? Better to assess the situation right away than wait here to be caught, slaughtered, or otherwise miss some welcome opportunity.

Seeing Arnould scurrying up the hill, Jono pulls back, casting a wary eye at Hafkris, who is presumably not being dragged up behind him.

relying on his natural stealth, Sterling dashes to what cover there is then meanders up the hill not far from Arnould,making sure to crawl the last bit ...thinking to myself as I go "Oh what I would give for a stout bit o' oak and a fish ta fill mebelly!"

Kelvan will take a guarding position near the center of the valley , waiting to see what the "scouts" discover .

While the others are busy looking for the source of the noise, Porcius creeps up to Hafkris from behind and prods him to get his attention. "If you ever have enough of these preachers, just tell me" - he says in a low, completely flat voice and a stony face. "Odin and Thor won't mind me killing you, and it might be a relief after the grating salvation yabber. Now, tell me what the hell this Bitch Queen is and where it is and what it looks like and what it does, and then I promise you'll have a quick end when the time comes." His deep eyes betray no emotion, and his composure is like a stone statue.

Jon drops his armload of wood and selects a stout chunk as a club before taking up a position near Halfkris and Porcius with a sigh.

Quote from: Premier;441454While the others are busy looking for the source of the noise, Porcius creeps up to Hafkris from behind and prods him to get his attention. "If you ever have enough of these preachers, just tell me" - he says in a low, completely flat voice and a stony face. "Odin and Thor won't mind me killing you, and it might be a relief after the grating salvation yabber. Now, tell me what the hell this Bitch Queen is and where it is and what it looks like and what it does, and then I promise you'll have a quick end when the time comes." His deep eyes betray no emotion, and his composure is like a stone statue.

The half-orc pirate looks generally confused at Poricus' words and seems to choose his words carefully so as not to set the dwarf off, "she is Umberlee, goddess of the seas."

Arnould, Sterling, and Vithar climb about thirty-five feet up the slope of the hill directly north of the group's position.  As they reach the top of the slope, they quietly and slowly poke their heads above the ground.  Looking northward along the top of the hill's ground level, they can see there three more smaller hills atop this one, and one of the them is directly in their path to the north.  On either side of the center hill there are many boulders of varying size strewn between the strand of three hills.

The trio cannot really see beyond the hill directly north of their position, but they do not see anyone or anything other than the hills, scrub, and boulders atop this hill.  They remain silent for a moment and they can hear the faint noises coming somewhere from the north behind the hills in front of them.

Meanwhile, Koli keeps a grim eye on Hafkris along with Jono, Poricus, Jon, and Kelvan.  Melisana stands nearby the group and huddles inside her cloak.

(http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll43/Drohem/Treasure%20Hunt/Noises_1.jpg)

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OOC: The red 'X' is the location of the rest of the party.  The hash lines represent a 30-foot rise in elevation.  

What do you do next?

Jon nods and adds, "Umberlee is all that is dangerous and cruel about the sea. Valkur is the God who guides good honest sailors and fisherfolk, watching over us and doing his best to protect us from Umberlee's anger and spite. My Da's a priest and follower of Valkur as well as one of the greatest Captains sailing these waters, and he is strong and wise, guided by the hand of Valkur to help and protect all who live and work on the sea. A better man you will not find, and if we make it that far, you would do well to beg his mercy and aid pirate. If convinced of your desire to change he could do much save both your mortal life and your immortal soul." Jon gazes proudly after his companions.

indicating the boulders S. of the center hill..." Howzbout I dash over there, sneak through those boulders, 'n take a gander? My small size may be of benefit here." as I look to my companions.

Quote from: Drohem;442175(http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll43/Drohem/Treasure%20Hunt/Noises_1.jpg)

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OOC: The red 'X' is the location of the rest of the party.  The hash lines represent a 30-foot rise in elevation.  

What do you do next?

Arnould will make his way north-north-west towards the western cluster of boulders, taking cover there. Then he will wait a moment, hidden, trying to spot something and listen to determine where the sound comes from, or what it actually is, for that matter.

Shrugging as Arnould runs off to the NW without a word, I look to Vithar..." Well, I'm for those boulders there. What say you man?" as I indicate the southern group.

The blonde-haired young man looks confused and concerned as Arnould just moves forward without a word from their position, but the look quickly fades when Sterling talks to him.

"I'm with you," Vithar whispers loud enough just to be heard by his halfling companion.

He starts crawling on his belly across the ground toward the right side of the center hill on the rise.

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OOC: Arnould, Sterling, and Vithar please roll 1d20.

Utilizing what cover there is I make my way towards the S. group of boulders,pausing to listen a few times. Planning to skirt as close to the incline of the center hill as possible while staying hidden amongst the boulders untill reaching an area that affords a view beyond the hills.

Roll: 12
http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/search/784097/

I fumble. 1. (http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/2908635/)

As Arnould creeps around the center hill to the west side, Sterling and Vithar creep around to the east side of the hill.  Both groups make their way slowly northward and use the boulders and scrub as cover for their movements.  The noises are louder now and coming from the ravine directly north of their position.  The ravine separates this line of hills from the next ridge, and there's a battle going on down on the ravine floor.  It looks like a dozen goblins and half a dozen orcs are going at it pretty fiercely.  The goblins are armed with bows and spears, while the orcs are armed with axes and polearms.  Most of the fighters don't have any sort of armor, except for one orc, but all of them have cloaks.  

About fifty feet behind the line of orcs there is someone lying on the ground.  It looks like a human man; a white-bearded old man wearing tattered robes.  He's lying down, twisted over to watch the fight, and his arms are behind his back and it looks as though they've been tied.

(http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll43/Drohem/Treasure%20Hunt/Noises_2.jpg)

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OOC: Vithar's d20 check =12 (http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/2908891/).

Map Key:
-- Purple = Anould's position.
-- Green = Sterling's position.
-- Blue = Vithar's position.
-- Orange = Goblins' front line.
-- Olive = Orcs' front line.
-- Red = Group's position (Jon, Kelvan, Poricus, Jono, Koli, Melisana, and Hafkris).

Quote from: Cargoman;441010Kelvan will take a guarding position near the center of the valley , waiting to see what the "scouts" discover .

Until I know what's going on , continue to "gaurd" the main body of the party .

"Eh, why haven't they come back with news yet?" - Porcius grumbles. "Maybe they got in some trouble. I'll go check on them."

He starts descending the slope. "Lad, maybe they found some hogs and don't know what to do with 'em. They'd really be needing my help, heh..." - he chuckles quietly, trying to dissolve his own tension.

Arnould tries to assess the situation further. He particularly pays attention to any orc or goblin that might keep an eye on the old man, and whether the old man is under a direct threat right now.

turning to Vithar..."One of us should go back and tell the others right away!" looking for any way to proceed towards the old man while maintaining cover.
concerned as I ponder 'what is Arnould doing...?!'

Jon watches in the direction the others went anxiously.

Jono watches Hafkris anxiously...

Sterling and Vithar

The sandy-blond haired young man looks at Sterling, back at the ravine and fight, and then nods to the halfling.

"I'll go back and tell the others.  Stay down and low, my friend," Vithar whispers low and in a hushed tone just for Sterling to hear.

He turns and starts slinking back southward on his belly to the lip of the plateau.  He shuffles over the edge and disappears from Sterling's sight.

The Main Group

Waiting anxiously, the group sees Vithar tumble over the edge of the rise about thirty feet up and then roll onto his legs and starts jogging down the hill.  He hustles over to the group and motions for them all to gather in close.

Once everyone is clustered together, he says, "there are several small hills on top of that rise.  Arnould sneaked off to the west around the center hill while Sterling and I went to the east and the right of the center hill.  There is a ravine on the other side and there is a battle going on between a group of goblins and a group of orcs.  Sterling is waiting at our position and I don't know what Arnould is doing right now."

Arnould and Sterling (separately)

Spying from their separate vantage points, both Arnould and Sterling see that a line of three orcs is fighting a line of five goblins in the center of the ravine.  There are three goblins standing behind the front line waiting to fill in any hole that might develop.  There are two goblins archers stationed on the ravine slopes a few feet up on each slope.  Two orcs are hanging back and throwing rocks and knives at the goblin archers, and are also ready to step into the their front line of a hole occurs.  One orc stands directly behind the front line and is grunting what sounds like orders to the rest.  

The goblins behind the front line are carrying spears and have daggers at their belts.  The goblins on the slopes have bows, quivers, and daggers as well.  The orcs on the front line have battle axes, and the orcs on the flanks have bardiches but have leaned them across boulders and are fighting with thrown daggers and rocks.  The orc giving orders has padded armor and a bardiche.  The old man is on the ground behind the orcs and they are all facing away from him.  The goblins seems to be engaged with the orcs only and none of them are targeting the old man on the ground.

(http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll43/Drohem/Treasure%20Hunt/Goblin-OrcBattle_1.jpg)

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OOC: This constitutes about 2 rounds of game time.  What do you do next?

Sterling pulls his gaze from the wild melee and looks for a path with ample cover towards the bound figure from this vantage point.
He will then crawl a bit through the boulders and behind the hill to make off for Arnoulds side of the hill, staying to cover and utilizing shadows....murmmering to himself "Stay calm now, as my ol' Gammer used ta say 'Like as not,the hasty foot's ill palced'!"

Arnould doesn't like this situation at all.

In one sense, waiting for the orcs and goblins to just get rid of one another seems to be the most logical course of action, especially if the old man is not targeted by anybody. On the other hand, who knows what's going to unfold next, if or when they will turn against him?

Arnould then spots Sterling making his way towards him. He will stay under cover and wait for him, checking the old man out to try and determine whether he is wounded, or alive at all.

OOC: What is the old man's condition right now? Does he seem to be mortally wounded, dying, or anything of the sort?
Is he moving at all?

[OOC: Am I already there, with the advance party?]

Quote from: Benoist;443975OOC: What is the old man's condition right now? Does he seem to be mortally wounded, dying, or anything of the sort?
Is he moving at all?

Quote from: Drohem;442603About fifty feet behind the line of orcs there is someone lying on the ground.  It looks like a human man; a white-bearded old man wearing tattered robes.  He's lying down, twisted over to watch the fight, and his arms are behind his back and it looks as though they've been tied.

OOC:  He's alive and conscious.  He doesn't appear to be wounded that you can see.  He trying to watch the fight from his position on the ground.

Quote from: Drohem;443518The Main Group

Waiting anxiously, the group sees Vithar tumble over the edge of the rise about thirty feet up and then roll onto his legs and starts jogging down the hill.  He hustles over to the group and motions for them all to gather in close.

Once everyone is clustered together, he says, "there are several small hills on top of that rise.  Arnould sneaked off to the west around the center hill while Sterling and I went to the east and the right of the center hill.  There is a ravine on the other side and there is a battle going on between a group of goblins and a group of orcs.  Sterling is waiting at our position and I don't know what Arnould is doing right now."

After a brief discussion, it was clear that the others waiting down in the gully wanted to see the battle as well.  Poricus in particular wanted see what was going on once he heard that it was a battle between goblin and orc forces.

"You'd better keep your mouth shut!" Koli says menacingly in a harsh whisper to Hafkris as they start moving, "or I'll skewer you on your own sword."

Once everyone was ready, Vithar nods to his companions and whispers, "follow me."

He turns and leads them quietly and carefully up the rise and onto the plateau with the three hills.  Vithar slowly leads to the west side of the middle hill and spots both Arnould and Sterling in their hiding place.  

The rest of the group slowly and cautiously makes their way on their bellies to the other side and look down into the ravine.  They see a battle line formed between a small group of goblins on the west and a small group of orcs on the east.  They also spot the tied and bound old human man behind the orc lines.

================================

Quote from: Premier;444007[OOC: Am I already there, with the advance party?]

OOC: Yes, everyone is now on the top of the plateau and looking down into the ravine with the battle. :)

What do you do now?

"I think we we should nab that man while these buggers are buggering each other" - Porcius whispers to the others. "I can see two ways of doing this. One, I go in there and nab him, and if any of them buggers sees me, y'all cover me. Two, someone else goes to nab him, and we cover him. I'm fine with either. Any better ideas? Real quick?"

Quote from: Premier;447729"I think we we should nab that man while these buggers are buggering each other" - Porcius whispers to the others. "I can see two ways of doing this. One, I go in there and nab him, and if any of them buggers sees me, y'all cover me. Two, someone else goes to nab him, and we cover him. I'm fine with either. Any better ideas? Real quick?"

Looking to the others with concern I whisper in reply..."What shall we cover you with, sticks and rocks? We are uarmed and threadbare. If we can't sneak down there safe like I say we leave the man for now! Maybe we could wait till this row is over and follow the victors back to their lair or maybe glean some weapons from the fallen?" turning back to watch the contest thinking, feeling for the plight of the captive but... we need food and shelter not more trouble.

Quote from: Premier;447729"I think we we should nab that man while these buggers are buggering each other" - Porcius whispers to the others. "I can see two ways of doing this. One, I go in there and nab him, and if any of them buggers sees me, y'all cover me. Two, someone else goes to nab him, and we cover him. I'm fine with either. Any better ideas? Real quick?"

Arnould frowns. "I do not think this is a good idea either. I would wait a little while longer until just a few of the creatures remain, since the old man doesn't seem to be in immediate danger, but it sounds like you made up your mind." He sighs. "If you want to take the risk, it has to be on you. You can go and we'll cover you however we can - but try to stay away from them as much as you possibly can! Maybe, per chance, they will not notice you."

" Do what You think is right . I'll use this (patting the crossbow) as best I can , if You are noticed ."
Kelvan looks for some cover , with a good view of the battle area .

Jon whispers a prayer to the Sea Captain and then watches the battle quietly.

The wind drove chilling winds across the top of the plateau, and bits of dust and sand stung their exposed skin as they decided what to do in hushed whispers on their bellies.  Hafkris remained silent and alert, and Koli was practically a shadow to the sobering pirate and watched him like a hawk.  The dark haired young man still had anger burning in his soul from his abduction and enslavement, and was looking for any excuse to unleash that fury on Hafkris.  

Melisanna just laid there with the rest of the group quietly while a plan was whispered between the others.  The young woman instantly felt empathy with the bound elderly man in rags and she felt a wave of emotions wash over her as he tried to cope with this seemingly surreal moment.

Finally, she whispers her opinion, "we just can't leave him there, can we?  Should we wait for the outcome of the fight, or try at stealth and surprise as Poricus puts forth?"

Vithar also listened to everyone voice their word on the matter, and then the blonde haired young man whispers in a determined tone, "Poricus, I mean no disrespect, but maybe I should go.  I can run faster if needed.  Or if your mind is set on this course of action, then I will go with you."

"Sure you're faster with your long legs," - Porcius whispers to Vithar - "but are you sure you got the muscle to haul him back quick enough?"

"If you think so, you're free to have  go at it. If any of these buggers spots you and goes after you, try to lure it towards those rocks over there." - he points at a spot that looks like a decent, nearby ambush site. "Me, and maybe some others, will be there to jump whoever gives chase. But if it looks like there are several of 'em going after you, just drop the old man and leg it - I don't think we could take on too many."

Vithar listens carefully to Poricus' words as he speaks, and nods when he points out the ambush site.  Everyone laid on the ground in the cold wind and light rain while the decision was made about the captive old man.  There was a moment of silence among the huddled group, and the sounds of the battle unfolding below rose up on the winds to meet their ears.

"I will do it," Vithar whispers as he nods to Poricus, "just be ready to flee the area and not think about me."

Quickly, the young man turns and slithers away from the group and around to the east, and behind the center hill.  He starts to make his way across the landscape toward the rear of the orc battle line.  Fairly shortly, Vithar is completely out of view and cannot be heard at all.  The group turns their attention to the battle below in the ravine between the line of orcs and goblins.  Although, the group also kept an eye toward the old man and so that they could see Vithar's progress.  However, it just seemed like the blonde-haired young man just disappeared altogether once he left the sight of his comrades on the ridge above the ravine.

The battle continued below and the lines exchanged fierce blow while deadly missiles were fired or hurled from behind both front lines.  A couple of minutes after Vithar left, the group watches as the orc on the right flank is killed by several arrow strikes to his chest.  About another couple minutes later, the group suddenly spots Vithar within several yards of the bound old man on the ground.  The orcs were still not concerned with the old man and kept their attention focused forward on the battle line, and the goblin archers didn't appear to notice him there as well.  A split-second after they noticed Vithar nearby the old man, he quickly moved to the old man's side and knelt next to him while he covered the old man's mouth.  The old man struggled for a moment, but then quickly stopped resisting and tried to stand up.  Vithar quickly helped him to his feet and moved him back and to the ravine's side.

Just as Vithar and the old man moved away from the orc leader, the goblin archer on the right flank is killed by several dagger strikes to his chest.  Unbelievably, the goblins and orcs both don't notice Vithar and the old man back away, and then climb up the ravine slope further down to the south.  The two disappeared from the group's view for several more minutes, and during that time they watched one of the goblin's on the front line get his face cleaved by an axe blow and fall.  In quick order, one of the goblin's in the second line steps forward and takes his fallen comrade's place on the front line of battle.  

In another minute or so, the group is alerted to Vithar's presence suddenly as he and the old man come into view crawling on their bellies toward the group's position on the ridge.  The old man appears to be a scarecrow of a man.  He is bald, has a matted dirty beard that would be white if washed, a sallow complexion, and wide eyes.  Although, he does appear to be alert in the eyes and ready to survive just like the rest of the group on the ridge.

==========================================================

OOC: Vithar rolled 07% on his sneak roll (http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/2965740/).  Roughly ten minutes have passed while the group discussed the plan, and Vithar effected the rescue of the old man.  What do you do now?

"Thank the Captain of the Waves.", Jon whispers with a grin.

Watching with trepidation as Vithar moves off...glancing twixt the battle and the bound form, holding my breath in anticipation as I see Vithar and the old man make good thier escape!

As Vithar and the old man come back to the group I smile and raise a clenched fist towards them...

They are sure to miss the old man when the battle is done. If they weaken each other enough , We might be able to take the survivors . But if we don't kill them all that would alert their camp or village or whatever , of our presence . We could definitely use some of that gear .
In a hushed tone to the nearest person ,"What now ? We should leave a rear guard at the very least .".

"Disagree" - Porcius mutters back. "Rear guard just means they'll have someone to find and kill. I say we better get out of here right now. Whichever side wins will believe that the other had some lurkers about and they took him. Let's go through some rocky terrain and cross some stream on the way, and there's no way they'll follow us, even if it does ccur to them to suspect a third party. At least, that's what I think."

He scratches his beard.

"Unless, that is, you all want to attack the winning side. But all I'm saying is that it's risky. They might have more than one guy left standing, they'll be armed, and we might not be able to make a quiet getaway then."

Whispering quickly "You are brave Vithar! I think Porcius has the way of it. I have no quarrel with those folk (as I indicate the humanoids) and we are unarmed and hungry. Lets away from here posthaste and look for a more defensible location!"

The old man nods vigorously at the notion of leaving the area, and whispers, "I know a safe place away from here!  The orcs and goblins don't know about it yet."

He motions with his hand for the group to come with him as he says, "Come on, follow me."

"If We are going to leave , now is the time . We can talk more about this 'safe place' once we are away ."

Jon nods at the wisdom of leaving, gathers his collected driftwood, and moves to follow the old man.

"I agree with Porcius. Better to keep on moving."

Everyone nods in agreement that they should leave the area quickly without alerting either the goblins or orcs to their presence on the island.  Arnould crab-crawls over to the old man and cuts his bonds with Hafkris' dagger.  

"Thank you, lad," the ancient looking man nods to Arnould with relief in his voice.

Silently, the old starts slinking to the south, over the edge of the ridge, and down into the ravine where the group originally heard the noises of battle as they were walking through it.  He waits for everyone else to make their way down into the ravine, and after several minutes everyone finally makes their way cautiously and slowly to the rendezvous spot in the ravine.  A look of concern crosses the wizened man's face when he sees Koli escorting the bound Half-orc pirate with a drawn broadsword at his back.  

"Follow me," the old man whispers when everyone is near enough to hear it over the wind and rain.

He then turns and starts leading the group through the ravine and away from the unfolding battle between the orc and goblin forces.  He leads the group silently for about a good half hour across rough terrain and hardly noticeable game trails.  The weather made the journey bitter, cold, and draining; there was a chilly wind blowing steadily, and it continued to rain from the dark, swirling clouds blanketing the island in the grip of the storm.  At first it was difficult to tell what direction the old man was leading the group since he moved generally westward to get away from the battle in the ravine.  However, it became clear to everyone after about fifteen minutes that the old man was leading them northward across the island.

Curious to see where this is all going to lead them, Arnould follows the old man, Hafkris not far behind him.

After traveling for a while and a good and sufficient distance from the battle in the ravine, the bald and disheveled old man turns turns as he walks and then starts talking in a torrent of emotion, "you're the first human faces I've seen in more years than I can remember.  Yeah, can't remember right now, that''s true."

"My name is..." the old man's voice trails off as he clearly is trying to remember his name, "my name is... Keestake, yeah, that's my name, Keestake!"

He seems very pleased that he remembered his name, and seems to have found some empowerment in remembering and saying his name out loud.  

He shrugs happily with a toothy grin, and says to the group, "thank the gods you came along when you did to save me!  I know a safe place on the island where we can hide from the orcs and goblins on the island."

"Thanks to Vithar for rescuing you Keestake! Sterling at your service! Originaly from Jenni Smiled late from a slavers hold. Do you know how long you have been on this island?"
as I trudge along hungrily musing as the excitement wears off...biscuits and gravy, apple tarts and sweet cream. Lor just a bowl o leeks would be a feast...freedoms a boon but not very filling after a bit... "ouch" as  a sharp pebble brings me back to the moment.
I keep an eye out for a suitable piece of wood to serve as a  staff.

Arnould keeps checking on Hafkris as they walk. "I am Arnould. And this is Hafkris."

"How did you end up here, on the island, Keestake? And how did you get to know this place you are leading us to?"

Vithar seems to become a little embarrassed when Sterling mentions his name, and the affable, sandy-blonde young man waves it off dismissively with his hand.

Melisana smiles at the old and disheveled man, and says, "Well Met, Keestake!  I am Melisana of Ventris."

Standing just behind Hafkris and to his right, Koli grunts and says, "I am Koli, and this sorry sack of dung is Hafkris- formally a pirate and slaver."

Hafkris had remained quiet for the march away from the ravine battle, and it was clear to all that the half-orc pirate was struggling with a massive hangover and was no longer drunk.  

"Ha!" Hafkris says, "if this old codger has been marooned here for as long as it looks, then he's probably got his sails at half-mast, if'n ya get me meaning."

Keestake smiles at Melisana and stares at her for an awkward moment or two, and says, "you are so beautiful.  I had almost forgotten how beautiful a woman can be.  The pleasure be all mine, Miss."

He shakes himself from staring at her, and looks over at the half-orc pirate plainly, spits on the ground, and says, "a pirate, eh?  It was your ilk that effectively marooned me on this island!  You wouldn't know it to look at me now, but in my day, in my day, I was personal groom to himself — to Viledel, the Sea King.  Yes, this is the Island of Viledel — you didn't know that?  But himself died when the pirates crushed the island, years and years ago, when my hair was still black and my face unlined.  I didn't fight on the day the pirates came, just hid in an overturned, ruined boat no one looked under, while the murdering and the burning went on day after day.  And finally the pirates were all gone, and I've been here alone since then.  Living in the house of the Sea King, protecting the treasure left behind — for the pirates never found the real goods of Viledel, just some of the trinkets and baubles kept in the manor—and becoming tired and gray.  Has it been that long?  60-years now gone all to myself and alone."

listening to the tale as I trudge along...whistling when he mentions 60 years!
"By the Bitch that's a span o' years!" as I shake my head.
treasure?!

Keestake laughs and says, "indeed!  I was a strapping young man when I first set foot on this cursed island, and now I am old and feeble."

Giving a sideways glance at Hafkris, he adds, "Damn pirates!"

Keetstake continues to lead group down back-trails and across rough terrain, and he is still surprisingly strong and spry for his age.  Eventually the group arrives at the hillside below the temple and sees it silhouetted against the dimming sky.  The building before you was doubtless a beautiful temple in its day; it was two stories in height, crafted from well-fitted planks of dark hardwoods brought from the mainland.  The windows were spacious and cheerful, closed against the wind with brightly-painted shutters; a gate of well crafted wrought iron once stood before the large front door, and a trellis for well tended ivy once leaned against the right half of the front face of the temple.

Today, after sixty years of neglect, the temple is a wreck.  The expensive wood is old and pitted, cracked and decayed.  The windows are still spacious, but most of the shutters are gone; the few that remain bang open and closed in the wind, or hang crookedly from a single hinge.  The wrought iron gate is as intricate as ever, but rusted over, rusted clear through in places.  The ivy once planted as decoration now covers the entire right side of the front wall, and continues around the whole right side of the temple.  It's a spectacle of gloom and disrepair.  There are, however, no lights within, no sign of habitation, and the walls may be sound enough to keep out the worst of the weather.

Arnould looks at the temple and can't help but think of all that was left behind when he was taken by the pirates. For all he knows, this might be Ventris's fate he is looking at. The temple represents all the civilized world Arnould can see at the moment. The whole world might just have been lying in ruins beyond the seas, he wouldn't have known it. He pauses for a moment, looks at the old man, and wonders if he will ever see the gentle hills and forests of Ventris again.

He sighs. No point in wishing for something he cannot have. He walks forward, throwing at Hafkris behind him as he yanks his chains: "Remember, pirate. If you serve us well, you may earn your own freedom still. If you betray us, you will die by my hand, I'll make sure of it."

Kelvan "Sigh!".

Jon looks up at the temple with awe.

Keestake leads the group up the gate at the entrance, pulls it open a little-it makes a squeak, alarming but really not too loud-and steps through the still working doors of heavy oak into the temple itself.  Once inside, everyone immediately notices that the main hall is thoroughly shielded against the wind as it has no windows, and the front doors are sound.

nodding at Keestakes rejoinder, looking about sheepishly as I go through the doors...shelter at last, a spot o' food or at least something to drink would be the thing now!...still looking for a stout pole!

Arnould will walk to Keestake at this point and ask a few questions: "What can you tell us about the inhabitants of this island? Do they know about this place?"

"Also, when you get a chance Master Keestake, where might I put this firewood?" Jon asks respectfully.

Keestake cocks his head toward Arnould, shakes his head, and says cheerfully, "inhabitants, eh?  Up until a few days ago, I was the only inhabitant of the Island of Viledel for these last sixty years.  Well, except for the sea birds, rats, and wild goats that is."

Responding to Jon, he points over to an area by the wall, and says, "over there is fine, son.  Thank you."

The old man starts gathering items to create a fire, and starts speaking casually, "The orcs came a few days ago.  They captured me, and said the stories said that the treasure of the Sea King had never been found, which was true enough, I guess.  And they said I knew where it was, which was true, too, but I never told them so.  The goblins came two days ago.  The orc chief and the goblin chief talked, and the goblin chief said they were there to claim the island as their new stronghold, but the orc said they were there for the treasure too, and as soon as he said it the goblins wanted the goods, and there's been war ever since."

Keestake shakes his head, and sighs before continuing his tale while working on getting a fire going, "The orcs are all set up in the old soldiers' barracks, and the goblins are all in the old stables, and the manor in the middle is where they hunt around for treasure and fight one another most of the time.  But there's another place, where they went once but leave alone now - the temple of the goddess."

He takes a moment to look up at everyone, smiles, and motions to the structure around them as he announces, "this is the hall of the goddess."

Keestake goes back to working on the fire and talking at the same time, "the orcs sacked it three days ago, looking for treasures, but they became alarmed when thunder sounded- the thunder that signaled the arrival of the storm that still rages around the island.  They left and won't be back.  While I was their captive, the orcs seemed to be deathly afraid of the place.  But noble youths such as yourself, seeking only shelter, won't gain the wrath of the goddess."

Keestake had led the group through a small antechamber before going into the main hall of the temple.  The antechamber once had plastered walls painted with frescoes of the goddess, and her symbols and her deeds.  The paint and plaster have badly flaked over the years.  There is no furniture in the room, only wind-blown rubbish.  There are two sets of double doors in the room, one leading outside and the other, further into the temple, and in the hall of the goddess.  In this large chamber the group has gathered and Keestake is working on starting a fire.

The hall of the goddess is a very large chamber, and about two stories in height.  There is broken furniture all over the tiled floors-it looks like the remains of chairs, tables, and perhaps low couches.  Most of the wood looks aged, but you can see that the breaks are all fresh.  Everything has been smashed recently.  On the east wall, in the middle, is a set of double doors, closed.  On the south wall is the set of double doors by which the group entered the chamber.  On the north wall, at the east corner, is a very small and inconspicuous door.  All the doors in the chamber are still hanging on their hinges.

The west wall is actually a flight of three shallow steps leading up to a line of pillars.  Between the pillars, one can see that cloths or tapestries, now ratty and sagging, have been hung, blocking off the view of the chamber beyond.  The walls of the hall of the goddess were once plastered smooth and painted with frescoes of the goddess in all her aspects.  Now the paint is curling, the plaster is broken and peeling, and there are large cracks in the plaster- probably from the foundation of the temple settling over the years.  Additionally, someone has taken a club to the walls here and there, evidenced by deep gouges and tears in the plaster, and places on the wall have been smeared with filth.

(http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll43/Drohem/Treasure%20Hunt/Temple_HalloftheGoddess.jpg)

Indisposed, Porcius was walking in the back as the party made their way to the old temple. "Damn that old fool!" - he grumbled quietly. "Talkin' about hidden treasure in front of that no-good slaver pirate! Now he'll be sure to stir up trouble. Jump us, call in the orcs and goblins, kill us in our sleep - why couldn't the old man just shut up? Would be best to kill Hafkris right here and now, would save us no end of trouble."

He only stops sulking when they arrive and the notion of a dry place raises his spirits a bit. "Tell me, Keestake," - he asks the man - "in all these years, why haven't you tried to make a boat or a raft and get out of here?"

nodding at keestakes story I start wandering around looking for edibles...and a stout bit o wood for a staff...after seeing those humanoids go at it and hearing the lowdown I feel the need for some sort of protection!
If theres treasure about those goblins will be stalking this place again soon...

Keestake looks at the dwarf, smiles, and laughs before saying, "with what resources?  With what tools?  Did you see a stand of trees on this forsaken rock?  No, you didn't because there are none here."

The old man wags a finger in the air and says happily, "although, that didn't stop me from trying several times when I was a much younger man.  I cannibalized some materials from the various structures and used crude stone tools.  After the third time I nearly downed and was bruised and battered against the rocky shore, I decided that I would not try again for some time.  'Some time' has turned into, oh, nearly twenty-five years now."

Quote from: skofflox;453823nodding at keestakes story I start wandering around looking for edibles...and a stout bit o wood for a staff...after seeing those humanoids go at it and hearing the lowdown I feel the need for some sort of protection!
If theres treasure about those goblins will be stalking this place again soon...

OOC: Please roll 1d20!

"Well, now there's an entire wrecked ship on the shore" - Porcius replies to Keestake. "Plenty of seaworthy wood in that, and likely some tools as well."

Jon says a solemn prayer to the Goddess for forgiveness for intruding in her temple, promising to show it's properties and sacred symbols the proper respect.

Quote from: Drohem;454045OOC: Please roll 1d20!

roll: 17
http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/3002342/

Quote from: Premier;454082"Well, now there's an entire wrecked ship on the shore" - Porcius replies to Keestake. "Plenty of seaworthy wood in that, and likely some tools as well."

Keestake blows on the burning embers and fans them into a fire finally, and as he slowly places bits and scraps of broken furniture and debris on the fire, he says with gleeful tone, "well, we will see how much of your ship is left after the storm and see if there's anything to salvage."

The fire illuminates most of the large chamber, but parts of the chambers are still engulfed by shadow retreating from the fire's light.  With the fire's warmth and shelter, the painful numbness of cold starts to melt away from their fingers and toes and their scraps of clothing starts to dry.

Quote from: Sigmund;454202Jon says a solemn prayer to the Goddess for forgiveness for intruding in her temple, promising to show it's properties and sacred symbols the proper respect.

As Jon raises his head after his prayer, he looks up directly into the seated statue's eyes of the Goddess of the temple and he realizes that the goddess of this temple is Tymora, The Lady Who Smiles (http://forgottenrealms.wikia.com/wiki/Tymora).  Both Porcius and Kelvin also realize that the temple is dedicated to the goddess Tymora as well after seeing the temple in the fire's light.

Quote from: skofflox;454607roll: 17

Sifting through the debris of broken furniture throughout the chamber, Sterling finds the leg of a large table that is about three feet in length, and which he could use as a quarterstaff in a pinch.

Looking at Sterling's discovery, and noticing that parts of the room are still engulfed in shadow, Arnould will walk around it and try to see if there's more that is salvageable for their purposes. He will start with the western part of the temple, make his way to the northern wall, east from there, and then south, then west, along the walls the whole time.

Quote from: Drohem;455073Sifting through the debris of broken furniture throughout the chamber, Sterling finds the leg of a large table that is about three feet in length, and which he could use as a quarterstaff in a pinch.

"Ahh now here's somth'n!" as I heft the leg to get the feel of it.
now I can give some back if it comes to it as I eye Halfkriss.
Letting the piece rest on my shoulder I gather near the meager fire to get some warmth, replying to Keestake..."You would trek to the beached hulk with those goblins about?"

Jon smiles and whispers, looking into the statues eyes, "Thank you , Tymora, for sparing us and sending your servants to lead us here. As always, we are all your humble servants, even those who live by the grace of the Sea Captain. You have been with us and I thank you humbly and ask how we may serve the Lady Luck."

Quote from: Benoist;455081Looking at Sterling's discovery, and noticing that parts of the room are still engulfed in shadow, Arnould will walk around it and try to see if there's more that is salvageable for their purposes. He will start with the western part of the temple, make his way to the northern wall, east from there, and then south, then west, along the walls the whole time.

Arnould checks the perimeter of the large chamber and side chamber with the statue of the goddess, and finds nothing of note: debris and refuge.  Other than possibly using a few pieces of wood as a club, it seems that Sterling found the largest piece of wood in the chamber.

Quote from: skofflox;455532Letting the piece rest on my shoulder I gather near the meager fire to get some warmth, replying to Keestake..."You would trek to the beached hulk with those goblins about?"

Keestake chuckles deeply, and between breathes, he says, "No!"

Arnould sighs and gets back to the group. He will listen for now.

After his second prayer, Jon pokes around until he finds a suitable length of wood to serve as a club, then moves over by the fire and sits, enjoying what warmth it provides.

turning to Arnould..."May I have the use of that dagger for a bit? This club needs some whittl'n to make for a better grip!"

Jon nods in agreement, "I as well, once Sterling is done if you're willing Arnould. I'd like to shave down a rounded handle and add some grooves for a good grip." Jon examines the length of wood as he talks, hefting it experimentally and glancing around for any possible materials to wrap the grip with.

Quote from: Sigmund;455697After his second prayer, Jon pokes around until he finds a suitable length of wood to serve as a club, then moves over by the fire and sits, enjoying what warmth it provides.

Jon has no problem in finding a piece of wood that would serve as a club in a pinch.

Arnould will now go to the western door, on the wall opposite the statue of the Goddess. He will inspect it, looking at the lock or handles or any distinctive feature, at first. If he does not see anything particular, he will try to open the door from there.

Arnould walks over to the southern door of the main chamber, which is opposite of the statue of Tymora, and looks at the door and handle closely.  At one time the door, handle, and lock were well-made and of quality, but after at least six decades of no maintenance they have lost that luster of quality items in good condition.  After checking the handle, Arnould finds that the door is unlocked.

He opens the door and it pushes out into a hallway.  Arnould only has the dim light of the fire in the main chamber, but he can see that the hallway is about ten feet wide and extends out of his sight to the east.  Also, he can see a door across the hallway and about five feet to the east.  Looking beyond the door to the west, Arnould sees a stairway about five feet away that leads up into darkness.  As he examines the hallway, he can tell that the walls were once neatly plastered and the floor tiled.  The floor of the hallway is now covered in a thin layer of leaves and refuse.  

(http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll43/Drohem/Treasure%20Hunt/Temple_02.jpg)

====================================

OOC:  Sorry I didn't put a compass on the first map.  Consider the statue of Tymora as pointing north on a compass.

Arnould will listen at the bottom of the stairway for a moment. If there is no sound coming from there whatsoever, he will check out his surroundings, to see if there isn't anything lying on the floor that could be of use. If not, he will then proceed with the door to the north (as indicated by Tymora's statue), preferring to stick to the present floor at the moment.

After quickly notching the makeshift club with the dagger, Jon walks over and returns it to Arnould saying, "Thank you my friend. May I join you? I am feeling restless."

Quote from: Sigmund;458344After quickly notching the makeshift club with the dagger, Jon walks over and returns it to Arnould saying, "Thank you my friend. May I join you? I am feeling restless."

Arnould smiles and welcomes the help: "For sure. Who knows what the old man might not have mentioned, or what happened here during his absence? We need to be cautious in any case. We do not seem to be in immediate danger, but the last time I thought along those lines I suddenly lost conscience and woke up on that damn slavers' ship so... yeah - better to mind our steps, me thinks."

Keestake calls from the fire in a friendly tone, "good!  You're hunting for dinner then?  The rats like it in those hallways.  You should be able to find a good number of juicy ones!"

Arnould listens at the bottom of the stairway and hears nothing other than the sounds of his companions and fire in the main chamber.  Looking around on the ground, he finds nothing of immediate use and only sees a layer of leaves, dirt, and other debris.  As he goes over to the door in the east wall of the main chamber, Jon comes over to join him.

Arnould opens the door and finds that it opens into another hallway similar to the open he just examined briefly.  Both Arnould and Jon can hear the sound of some small animals or large insects scurrying away from the opening door and noise of it.  Other than that noise, there is nothing else discernible coming from the small section of hallway that they can view with dim firelight behind them.  Looking to their left and the northern section of the hallway, it is veiled in darkness.  Looking to their right, which is around the door and to the south, they clearly see another door and the terminus of this end of the hallway.

(http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll43/Drohem/Treasure%20Hunt/Temple_03.jpg)

===================================

OOC:  What do you do next?

"I don't like this sound of vermin and talk of rats. What do you think, Jon? Shall we take this door here (showing the door next to them, to the right), or go back to the other room with the stairs and open the door there?"

Quote from: Drohem;458404Keestake calls from the fire in a friendly tone, "good!  You're hunting for dinner then?  The rats like it in those hallways.  You should be able to find a good number of juicy ones!"
 

Watching Arnould and Jon with a grin...
"Ah, Keestake, what exactly have you been living on and do you have any suggestions as to where we may find some foodstuffs. Game, fruit or otherwise?" standing I eye my handy work and heft my club...getting the feel of it...

Quote from: Benoist;458472"I don't like this sound of vermin and talk of rats. What do you think, Jon? Shall we take this door here (showing the door next to them, to the right), or go back to the other room with the stairs and open the door there?"

"I don't think it matters one way or the other, since we don't know what's beyond either area, and this one is closer." Jon says with a grin.

Quote from: skofflox;458546Watching Arnould and Jon with a grin...
"Ah, Keestake, what exactly have you been living on and do you have any suggestions as to where we may find some foodstuffs. Game, fruit or otherwise?" standing I eye my handy work and heft my club...getting the feel of it...

It's clear to everyone that Keestake is quite happy to talk with real people after all these years alone, and he happily answers Sterling's question, "wild onions and rats mostly.  There are some other edible plants on the island, but wild onions are most numerous so I had to be careful not to eat the other plants completely off the island.  Other than the rats and onions, the pickings are pretty slim.  There are birds to catch, and fish to catch if you're patient.  Oh, and there are some wild goats in the western hills.  I've had to be careful not to kill them off either, but it's also pretty difficult to catch them."

"What about predators, Keestake?" - Porcius asks. - "Anything dangerous around here, aside from the orcs, goblins and pirates?"

"Well , I think My hands have thawed enough , to let Me try this thing."(patting the crossbow)
"If it is rats You want gentle host , it is rats You shall have ." Kelvan will then go and see what Arnold and Jon are up to .

Quote from: Premier;458685"What about predators, Keestake?" - Porcius asks. - "Anything dangerous around here, aside from the orcs, goblins and pirates?"

Keestake shakes his head negatively as he says, "no, there are no predators on the island.  However, about a hundred orcs and another hundred goblins on this small island is trouble enough."  

Quote from: Cargoman;458787"Well , I think My hands have thawed enough , to let Me try this thing."(patting the crossbow)
"If it is rats You want gentle host , it is rats You shall have ." Kelvan will then go and see what Arnold and Jon are up to .

Arnould and Jon are currently looking through the open door set in the eastern wall.  As you walk up behind them you can see that door leads to some kind of hallway, but beyond a few feet in either direction your vision falls in near absolute darkness and out of the reach of the fire's light from the main chamber.

Arnould will go back to the shrine and fabricate a torch out of some piece of wood in the main room and refuse such as pieces of cloth, bits of rope, anything that could serve as some kind of combustible wrapped around the stick.

Quote from: Benoist;459092Arnould will go back to the shrine and fabricate a torch out of some piece of wood in the main room and refuse such as pieces of cloth, bits of rope, anything that could serve as some kind of combustible wrapped around the stick.

OOC: Please roll 1d20.

I roll a 17. (http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/3030936/)

Despite Arnould's thorough search for materials to fashion a torch he was not able to scrounge up much.  He was able to find a suitable stick and some crumbling cloth to create a crude torch.  Arnould is fairly sure that his torch may not last as long a normal torch.

===========================

OOC:  What do you do next?

"A hundred?!" - Porcius is taken aback. - "I though they came here on some ships like we did, perhaps stranded here. Are you saying they've always lived here? If so, where are their camps?"

Quote from: Drohem;460669Despite Arnould's thorough search for materials to fashion a torch he was not able to scrounge up much.  He was able to find a suitable stick and some crumbling cloth to create a crude torch.  Arnould is fairly sure that his torch may not last as long a normal torch.

===========================

OOC:  What do you do next?

Arnould will light up the torch, open the door a little bit at first (to unlock the pen), then kick it wide open (the door just on the right of the northern room we just explored) and throw the torch in the room/corridor beyond, taking a few steps back in case something creeps through the frame in the interval.

Quote from: Premier;460699"A hundred?!" - Porcius is taken aback. - "I though they came here on some ships like we did, perhaps stranded here. Are you saying they've always lived here? If so, where are their camps?"

In the flickering firelight, Keestake starts laughing hard but it turns into a hard, racking cough.  After a few moments, the old man regains his composure and clears his throat before speaking.

"Nay, lad," Keestake says, "the orcs arrived several days ago, and the goblins arrived two days ago.  Both the orcs and goblins arrived by ships.  The orcs have a fleet of six ships on their beachhead, and the goblins have a fleet of eight ships on their beachhead.  The orcs have constructed an encampment on their beachhead and have about a score men guarding their beachhead, and the goblins have nearly two score men guarding their beachhead."

The old man sighs, clears his throat some more, and then continues, "both of their beachheads are on the northern shoreline.  The orcs occupy the old barracks in force, and the goblins occupy the old stables in force."

Quote from: Benoist;460716Arnould will light up the torch, open the door a little bit at first (to unlock the pen), then kick it wide open (the door just on the right of the northern room we just explored) and throw the torch in the room/corridor beyond, taking a few steps back in case something creeps through the frame in the interval.

Arnould chucks the crude torch into the doorway, steps back, and waits quietly.  After a moment of nothing, he moves into the corridor to retrieve the torch before it sputters out.  Looking around in the dim torchlight, Arnould has determined that this is still part of the main hallway that he peered into through the southern door in the main chamber of the temple.  He discovers that there are two new doors that he was not able to see previously due to lack of an adequate light source.  There is a door set in eastern end of the hallway and another doors set in the southern wall at the eastern end of the hallway.

(http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll43/Drohem/Treasure%20Hunt/Temple_04.jpg)

Jon looks around the hallway and retrieves the torch for Arnould saying, "Which way?"

Quote from: Sigmund;461625Jon looks around the hallway and retrieves the torch for Arnould saying, "Which way?"

"Let's try the door to the right, by the stairs."

Arnould walks down the corridor towards the stairs and then tries to open the door to his left.

Quote from: Drohem;458654It's clear to everyone that Keestake is quite happy to talk with real people after all these years alone, and he happily answers Sterling's question, "wild onions and rats mostly.  There are some other edible plants on the island, but wild onions are most numerous so I had to be careful not to eat the other plants completely off the island.  Other than the rats and onions, the pickings are pretty slim.  There are birds to catch, and fish to catch if you're patient.  Oh, and there are some wild goats in the western hills.  I've had to be careful not to kill them off either, but it's also pretty difficult to catch them."

"Hmmm...I've done a bit o' fishin in my day." as I nod and sketch a quick bow to Keestake.
Pondering the possibilities of the local fare I wander over to the doorway that Arnould and Jon dissapeared into peering in beffore entering...with a mind to catch up and see whats about...trying to keep my thoughts off of my now rumbling belly.

OOC: I am recovering from surgery Tuesday, and will be logging on very infrequently for the next couple weeks due to a 4" incision in my chest. Please make choices for Jon Drohem when the game needs to be moved along.

Quote from: Sigmund;463495OOC: I am recovering from surgery Tuesday, and will be logging on very infrequently for the next couple weeks due to a 4" incision in my chest. Please make choices for Jon Drohem when the game needs to be moved along.

OOC: rest easy mate...:)