The Maiden's Bounty

[tristenc]

Nis approaches the man gently, humming a soothing song almost absently as she smiles in a benevolent fashion. When she is near, she knees beside the bed and lays one hand gingerly on his upper arm where he is not injured. My name is Niserie Silverwreath, and Lady Mave is quite correct, we mean no harm to you. In fact, we seek to help you. Do you understand our language? she asks softly.

If he is cooperative and indicates he understands common, then she will ask if he knows how to read. She will then produce the pictograph, and if he knows how to read she will list the letters of the alphabet at the bottom as well. If not, she will continue with the questions; giving ample time for him to respond or deal with any rmotion they bring up. She will first ask his name, thinking that even if he is generally illiterate he may at least know how to write/ spell that.

She will of course invite the others to interject questions as they see fit, or to add things to the pictograph board.

Questions:
Name? (If able) Are you a sailor?
Where are you from? Near, far, N,S,E,W? Etc
Were you headed for Gull's Landing?
What was your purpose coming to Gull's Landing?
How did you end up adrift?
Is there still danger?

Who was responsible for what happened?

will add the following to the pictograph:
Speak, Work, Message, trade

[Revenant]

“When the lambs is lost in the mountain, he said. They is cry. Sometime come the mother. Sometime the wolf.” ~ Cormac McCarthy, Blood Meridian

As Thena casts her blessings upon the man, it is as if a sudden wave of relief settles over him. He tries to speak but only crude sounds come from between his lips. He then bows his head to Thena, his long straggly hair falling forth over his face hiding his eyes for a moment. Then when Nis approaches he shivers slightly at her touch but remains calm. When she asks if he can read, he shakes his head yes. Looking at the pictagraph she presents to him when she asks his name, he moves the right stub of his arm to the letters...R - E - N - Y. He nods his head yes when she asks if he is a sailor. Where is he from, he points to the letters B - E - L - A - Y. When asked if he was headed to Gull's Landing, he shakes his head no. When asked how he ended up adrift he points to the board...Pirate. When asked if there is still danger, he shakes his head yes vigorously. He then uses his stub to point at the letters N - O -T - J - U - S - T - M - Y - E - Y - E. And he raises his stub to his right eye.

As he does this there is a heavy knock on the cabin's door. When the captain tells them to enter, it is Aeryn who quickly says, "Captain, there's two ships on the horizon. No colors and approaching fast from both the north and the south."

[Rex]

Bryne

"Great."

She heads to prepare for battle.

[tristenc]

Nis examines the indicated eye to try to discover what he might mean...

With the knock and the message about two ships flying no colors she grimaces. Pirates. She turns to the man again. Is this how it began for your crew? Ships flying no colors?

She will take up her bow. They will not find us easy prey. Her voice drips with menace.

[spanningtree]

Thena

Heads up to the top deck to take a look, pondering if she and Jacinthe should take their armor off...

[Darithe]

Mave

Mave with surprising speed draws her rapier. "Captain, I pledge my blade and bow to your ship. These brigands will rue the day, they targeted your vessel!"

[McThunder]

Dorian’s eyes narrow as he turns toward the threat. His hand rests on the hilt of his sword, his stance steady. He doesn’t rush, but his mind sharpens in preparation.

After a brief moment of silence, he steps forward, raising his voice, “Prepare yourselves. If they board, we meet them with courage and steel. We fight not out of anger, but out of duty. And we will drive them back to the sea where they belong.”

[GreyWolfVT]

Torvik hair on the back of his neck stands up and he gets a strange sensation "Somethin bad is gonna happen me thinks."

[Revenant]

“One could mention many lovable traits in Smee. For instance, after killing, it was his spectacles he wiped instead of his weapon.” ~ J.M. Barrie, Peter Pan

Nis examines the indicated eye to try to discover what he might mean...
With the knock and the message about two ships flying no colors she grimaces. Pirates. She turns to the man again. Is this how it began for your crew? Ships flying no colors?
She will take up her bow. They will not find us easy prey. Her voice drips with menace.

Nis examines the man's eye, though at first there appears nothing abnormal about it, but then she notices a bit of color etched onto the underside of the lower lid and then she finds a matching color on the upper. When he closes his eye she can see the tiny rune tattooed on the edge of each lid. She asks if this is how it began for his crew, the man vigorously nods his head yes.

Lando frowns and says, "To the decks!" And he darts out the cabin door and up towards the deck like a sail newly raised...

On deck the ship pitched, though not in the storm, they are still in its outer reaches. Those who move to the deck see two ships, one close to the south, another further away to the north, outlined by lightning and a raging storm beyond. Lando calls out, "Man the ballistas! I want them fired at the first ship to get into range." As if in answer to his call, some of his crew move to what you at first assumed to be lifeboats covered in canvas. As the canvas is pulled away it is revealed as a large ballista on each side of the ship. The men load heavy steel-headed bolts into each weapon. Seeing LeCrux at the rails, Lando says, "Mistress LeCrux, be ready with your magicks should they try to board." Lando calls out again, "MEN READY YOUR BOWS!" One of the crew, whom you recall as named Lavoisier moves to the captain's side and you hear him say, "The ship to the south is the Corsair, commanded by the Mayfly. I recognize it from when I sailed on The Melita out of Emereal and we were attacked by her."

Athan glances at Dorian and readies his bow as he moves the railing. Vari does the same as she says, "I knew trouble was coming. I blame Bramsey." Bramsey ignores the remark and moves to Torvik's side, "P...p...pirates," he stutters. "What are we gonna do Commander?"

Abaessa and Mediphera had been on deck with De'Ath when the ships were sighted. Mediphera a worried look on her face says, "We need to get her below."

Jacinthe asks Thena, "What do you wish me to do Sister Thena?"

All the while the ship pitches to and fro tossed by the waves on the edge of the storm.

[spanningtree]

Thena

In response to Jacinthe: Let's get below and get this armor off. Shields and swords only for the time being (and cloak), prepare to repel boarders, stay near me and the middle of the ship.

The two go below and take off armor, extra weapons. On second thought, lets stay just below deck until we have boarders. The first engagement will be ballistic, before melee, we wait our turn.

Thena and Jacinthe will wait just below deck for the moment, checking above often.



OCC: I think ACs for the two goes to 8. Thena has shield and +1 cloak, Jacinthe has shield and +1 dex bonus.

[Rex]

Bryne

Bryne readies her bow and moves to the center of the ship. Planning on moving to wherever she is needed once the shooting begins.

[Darithe]

Mave

Mave switches from her rapier to her bow as she takes position at the ship's railing.

[GreyWolfVT]

Torvik gets out his crossbow and takes up a position "Me I'm gonna aid tha crew an kill as many pirates as I can. Bramsey yer gonna help if yah got any spells yah can use ta help defend us er hurt them use em wiseley. Otherwise see what aid ya can bring tha crew er me and Vari."