Quest #26 "Wet Rays Of Sunshine"

[Ahlmzhad]

Feanol

"Captain, what can you tell us of these Dwarves and the people of Beachtown?"

[OGRE MAGE]

Why The Hostilities?
Starday, 20th of Goodmonth
Late Afternoon, Hot, Humid, Sunny, Buggy

A cargo net is tossed over the seaside of the moored ship and a sailor hurries down it to hook the lifting ropes onto the dingy. He urges you to climb back up onto the deck of the Fate. The captain calls down to you. "You will be safe enough with us, for now. I dont think the dwarves have any qualms with us at any rate."

The old salt looks concerned after hearing that some of the members of his away mission actually shot and killed some of the dwarves, but he lets everyone re-board his vessel all the same. "We cant really tell what's going on in town, but those dwarves seem pissed off about something. They were going around picking up black rocks from all around the town, and they chased away with weapons anyone who was giving them resistance."
He continues calling down but keeps his eye on the town in case the dwarves decide to attack.

Actions?

Jinx's stuff:
Black Leather armor
Small wooden shield
Shortsword (Brandy)
Hand Axe
Shortbow (Feanol)
Quiver of 24 arrows (Feanol)
Backpack
Waterskin (Brandy)
Belt pouch
Tinderbox flint and steel (Feanol)
Rope 40’
5 Candles (Brandy)
2 Iron rations Per week (split up equally/ 3 each)
Thieves tools (Keyon)
Sling (The Knife)
Quarter Staff
Coin (already split/ 2gp and 4sp each)

Keyon 6/6
Brandy 12/12 3/3 First
Feanol 4/4 CL, DM, RM 0/1 First
Elnaerel 10/10 2/3 First
The Knife 5/5

[Jernau35]

The Knife

Once back on the ship, the gnome starts another yet one-person conversation. "What do you mean 'I told you so?' It was your idea to shoot...YES IT WAS! OH DON'T START PLAYING THAT GAME AGAIN! NOW LOOK..." He stops and looks around at the rest of his companions.

"Err...this is just an idea, but perhaps one of you might like to climb up the rigging a bit? See what the dwarves are up to? Possibly...someone who isn't instantly recognizable to the dwarves on account of certain acts he or she may have recently committed?"

He begins to mutter again. "Pre-Emptive Self-Defence on Behalf of an Unknown Third Party? Where did you go to Law School"?

[Darklin2]

Brandy

Brandy climbs up the side net and runs to the bow of the Fate and kneels down next to her pack. She sits down her quiver so she can get to it and readies her Long bow and watches for any Dwarves that try to come down the pier. Keeping eyes on and will fire on any that try to board the Twisted Fate.

We need a look out up high. Give us warning about any Dwarves approaching the boat.

[Paladin]

Keyon

The elf watches the scene play out, his brow furrowed. "Drakkar and Fitz are out there," he says. "I hope they've managed to stay alive." His mind churns on the black rocks. Perhaps these dwarves aren't after slaves after all, he muses. Some mineral or metal they can burn out of these rocks? Perhaps the colonists just had the bad luck to plant a town on the richest vein of what the dwarves are here to find.

He groans inwardly as his comrades call for a lookout. "Aye...aye. Keep your pants on," the elf says with a tired grin. "I have your leave, Captain?" He asks with a gesture toward the top of the mast.

Despite aching bones and tired muscles from a long day, Keyon stretches to his full height and shakes off his lethargy. He leaps into the air and catches a thick line, using it to climb arm over arm, leaping rope to rope, until he finds a perch at the very top of the gently swaying mast. He loops an arm around the sun-warmed wood and smiles as it seeps into his bones.

Up here, he feels free of the weight of the day's events. Free of the memory of Jinx's sodden form going limp in his arms. An escape from the rays, the dwarves, the whole thing. He sweeps the shoreline to see what he can make of the happenings there.

[Ahlmzhad]

Feanol

The mage slowly, and with effort makes her way up the net. Getting back on deck she takes time to rest and listen to the conversation about the Dwarves. "Captain, thank you for letting us ride this out with you. If you want any details about the encounter I will be happy to provide what I can. I do have a couple of questions. You speak of these dwarves as if you've never heard of or encountered what must be a sizable community on this island? Is that correct?" She'll pause for him to answer.

" On our return about half way here we were still on the beach, and we heard strange music coming from in land. Have you heard of this phenomenon?"

[Karaunios]

Elnaerel climbs up the net into the Fate. "Thank you for taking us in, captain, I really appreciate it." When he hears what he says and then Brandy, she looks the cleric-ranger sideways. "I think it'd be better if you hold your fire for the time being, Sister Brandy. They didn't even seem to be taking slaves or hurting the townies..." She looks up to Keyon: "What do you see, Keyon?"

[OGRE MAGE]

Why The Hostilities?
Starday, 20th of Goodmonth
Late Afternoon, Hot, Humid, Sunny, Buggy

Feanol has quite a bit of difficulty climbing back aboard the ship, actually unable to pull herself up without a little help from her friends. Once everyone is over the rail and back aboard again, Brandy rushes to the rail with the other shooters, ready to kill a few more dwarves with her bow if necessary. She and The Knife (who is currently feeling a bit guilty) suggest an elevated observation point to see if any information can be sought deeper into this little village.

Before the captain can say no, Keyon is half way up to the crows nest at the top of the main mast. From up there, he can see that the five dwarves that were chasing them have recruited a few more of their kin and appear ready to start down the dock with a group of about 20. It appears that the other dwarves are rounding up several of these strange black rocks from many places about the town and methodically carrying them back into the jungle. Dozens more dwarves continue to keep the townies at bay with swords and axes, finding little to no resistance from them.

Elnaerel cautions the others about any more shooting until they can figure out what is really going on, while Feanol speaks with the captain for answers. "The dwarves came here a few weeks ago, in that monstrosity right there." He points to the blocky looking wooden ship anchored off shore a few hundred yards from the Fate."I was told they found some mine or something inland, but they have never been a threat to the townsfolk until now. I dont know what they want with those stones, but they sure came in a hurry, tossing folks around and grabbing them all back up as fast as they could."

Actions?

Jinx's stuff:
Black Leather armor
Small wooden shield
Shortsword (Brandy)
Hand Axe
Shortbow (Feanol)
Quiver of 24 arrows (Feanol)
Backpack
Waterskin (Brandy)
Belt pouch
Tinderbox flint and steel (Feanol)
Rope 40’
5 Candles (Brandy)
2 Iron rations Per week (split up equally/ 3 each)
Thieves tools (Keyon)
Sling (The Knife)
Quarter Staff
Coin (already split/ 2gp and 4sp each)

Keyon 6/6
Brandy 12/12 3/3 First
Feanol 4/4 CL, DM, RM 0/1 First
Elnaerel 10/10 2/3 First
The Knife 5/5

[Paladin]

Keyon

"Couple dozen dwarves are banding up to come this way, looks like. Led by the ones we encountered on the beach," he calls down. "The rest are carrying those rocks into the jungle. They don't seem to be hurting the folk, just keeping them at bay."

He examines the dwarven ship as well, shading his eyes against the sun to pick out details. Does he see many dwarves aboard the ship?

[Darklin2]

Brandy

Captain do you have any Flame arrows on board? Maybe it we launch a few in their sails they will concentrate on the ship and not town folks. These Dwarves got to leave these people alone. This is an act of Aggresssion from a outsider.

If they start after the ship we will give them a volley. Be ready.

[Jernau35]

The Knife

The Knife looks over to Feanol and Captain Quark. He motions to Brandy. "She's a bit...er...urgent, isn't she?"

He calls out to Brandy. "I don't think the townsfolk have much to worry about! We might be the ones with the problem!"

The Knife moves over to the ship's rail near the gang plank and tries to get a peek at the dwarves without giving away his own position. He tries to guess how long it would take the dwarves to march up the dock and board the ship.

[Ahlmzhad]

Feanol

"Unfortunately we were the ones that acted aggressively, more so than the dwarves. I don't care for what they seem to be doing, but sometimes in the world might makes right, and for now they have the might. Let's talk first and shoot later this time. We may be able to reach a just conclusion to this without anymore blood being spilled. And, knowing what I do of Dwarvish justice those of you that fired at the Dwarves have your purses ready to pay for your actions. After they have been satisfied and leave we can begin to find out what these dwarves are about, and take any action that is necessary to stop them if they are indeed poor neighbors."

Feanol would like to think if she has seen anything like those rocks before to see if she can start to deduce what the dwarves are after?

[Darklin2]

Brandy

I dont know what city you came from but these Dwarves are stealing from these people who have pretty much nothing. In the wilds you make your self a target if you are a push over. By letting these Dwarves take from these people where is the line drawn. Take a few people for slaves, burn the town, kill all the villagers. If you let them do what they please they will be back to take any time they want. I will swim to their boat and sink it before i pay them one copper.

[Karaunios]

Elnaerel starts getting her sling ready. "I agree with Brandy on this one, but look at the odds. They probably outnumbers us and we don't know if there are more of them. Perhaps Captain Quark can answer that, as he saw them coming to the island for the first time. She looks at the captain, urging him for an answer. "I want to see what they want to do first this time. I'm not gonna be the first one to attack nor wouldn't like our side to start firing again... But, seriously, I doubt, they're all in for parlaying, after having lost three of their own. No amount of money makes up for a dead companion."

[Darklin2]

Brandy

They attacked the village and are brandishing weapons. They attacked first. We just evened the odds. If we meet them at the gang plank we limit how many can engage us at once. With two good warriors up front and a couple archers on each side then their numbers wont matter because only one or two can gat to us at once. Archers fire at the ones in line and the priests keep the warriors healed. Maybe the sailors can toss oil on them from above. We need to grease the gang plank too. Harder to fight when your sliding around in oil.

[Paladin]

Keyon

Watching the preparations from above, Keyon heaves a sigh. "Damned elves," he mutters, with a lazy grin at the irony of his statement. "We know less than nothing about this situation and the factions involved. The dwarves might be in the right, for all the information we have." He falls silent and continues his perusal of the dwarven ship.

What are you doing? He asks himself for what must be the hundredth time today. You came here to start anew, mate. And this doesn't look much like the fresh start you had in mind. He glances down at the group on deck.

Perhaps it's time to remember who you are, he tells himself. You're a pirate. You make your way with luck, charm, and the blessing of the fates--so long as your struggles amuse them, at least. His gaze lingers on the figure of a particular elf, dressed in midnight blue with long silver hair, and his brow furrows. You're far too interested in that one, he scolds himself. It'll cloud your judgment. Best look to yourself and let that crew do the same.

He returns his attention to the party of dwarves gathering to, presumably, approach the ship. "Focus, mate," he says quietly. "Won't be a fresh start of any kind if we don't get out of this mess alive."

[Ahlmzhad]

Feanol

"Still talking of the Dwarves killing and enslaving, but there is no evidence of that. Searching for something because they're stronger yes, which isn't nice, but hardly a call to war against the coming evil. Stop trying to drag others into the mess you created with rash action. You can try to justify it with your imagined wrongs to the masses, but the only person that has shed blood as far as can be seen are you three. Dwarves will usually except a ransom for the lives lost, and I would suggest you figure out a way to parlay and pay it. I doubt our good captain will want to endanger his boat and crew to back you in this fight and 3 of you against several times your number is not going to be a winning option. Yes, in the end you may be right that they have to be dealt with, but today if you go out there to fight them if you're right you'll be dead right."

[OGRE MAGE]

Why The Hostilities?
Starday, 20th of Goodmonth
Late Afternoon, Hot, Humid, Sunny, Buggy

Keyon looks towards the dwarven ship as he tries to keep his own mental bearings. From his elevated position, he can see nearly the entire deck of the other ship, and it looks nearly empty. There are a few dwarves milling about, one in the rigging looking towards the town, and another at the bow rail, also espying the current situation on shore. He can tell from looking that there are not currently enough dwarves on the vessel for them to set sail, unless there are several more below decks that he cant see.

Captain Quark listens to the argument spurring from the folks who obtained his ray while his sailors continue hauling up his dingy. Looking at the fish in his net, he takes a pail of water and douses the lethargic monster again, to check if it still lives. Once the dwarves start ammasing at the shore, he speaks.

"Gods be damned! I really dont need this shite right now!" He stands in front of Feanol and nods his head. "The frail flower has the right of it, of course. These bastards will want their revenge if'n ye killed some o their own." He looks over the situation again, listening to the threats from Brandy. "I would practice holding mi sharp tongue when dealing with them, young missy. I've seen plenty o' folks with an attitude like yers get themselves killed real quick in situations like this. You shoot as much as a pea at their ship while aboard mine, I'll hand ye over to them meself, so hold your tongue AND your actions."

The Knife looks over the rail, assuming it would take the armored dwarves on shore at least a full minute to reach the plank that leads up to the ship, even at a full charge. His concern starts to grow when they appear to be preparing to do just that. Elnaerel sides with Brandy, but prefers the shooting to cease until this can be sorted out. She beseeches the captain as to how many their might be, to which he solemnly responds. "Last report we got said hundreds, 3 or 4 hundred by best estimations. We simply cant take on an enemy that size, so hold yer damn fire unless I commands otherwise!"

Keyon blinks the sun from his elven eyes, suddenly spotting something else on the horizon, beyond the dwarves ugly craft, in the area where they found the rays. He believes it to be another sailing ship, approaching up the coast from the west. The 20 dwarves on shore begin slowly marching up the floating dock in pairs of 2 towards the ship.

Actions?

Jinx's stuff:
Black Leather armor
Small wooden shield
Shortsword (Brandy)
Hand Axe
Shortbow (Feanol)
Quiver of 24 arrows (Feanol)
Backpack
Waterskin (Brandy)
Belt pouch
Tinderbox flint and steel (Feanol)
Rope 40’
5 Candles (Brandy)
2 Iron rations Per week (split up equally/ 3 each)
Thieves tools (Keyon)
Sling (The Knife)
Quarter Staff
Coin (already split/ 2gp and 4sp each)

Keyon 6/6
Brandy 12/12 3/3 First
Feanol 4/4 CL, DM, RM 0/1 First
Elnaerel 10/10 2/3 First
The Knife 5/5

[Karaunios]

Elnaerel sighs after hearing the terrible odds they're up against. "Brandy, please, hold your fire. You've heard the captain, there are hundreds of them. We've already gained their enmity. Let's try to not make things worse. There might be other solution than just being killed. Besides it woukd be unfair to the captain, who welcomed us aboard his ship, as well as to Feanol and Keyon." She still holds her sling with a bullet in it, in case something goes bad.

[Darklin2]

Brandy

Brandy lowers her bow and loops it over her shoulder.

Then you see her dragging her back pack to the starboard rail as if preparing to abandon ship.