Quest #15 "Taking Down Captain Bing"

[ravenn4544]

Alordan continues to make no sudden moves. If things quiet down a little, he'll take some food out of his pack and offer some to his new native 'friends'.

[kruk]

Stop! Lerrick yells at the giant in front of the crates. Stand down my friend!

[tkrexx]

Lightfinger keeps trying.

Friends, yes! We are all friends here, His smile is becoming painful, but he points to Lerrick. See? Even he knows we are friends. There, big hairy bear-friend. Even bigger, not smart friend, naked and tearing things up. What are friends for, right? Quiet friend, He gestures to Alordan, He's the smart one. Talaris is our friend, too, but where is she? She is a girl. A girl friend. Not MY girlfriend, but she's a friend. And fireball friend, with the oddball hat. If not for this friend, we might all be slaves now, yes! You! You are my friend, yes? What is your name? Your name! I assume you have one... Mine's Arte. My name. I have a name also, and it's Arte. Arte! He places both hands to his chest as he repeats his name several times, then gestures to the peculiarly-attired native. And you are?

[ChubbyPixie]

Having had his pride wounded and patience tried, Chauncey smiles thinly, palms out, and repeats the word "friend" like the others, bowing very slightly. Finally, after an uncomfortable moment of watching Lightfinger try his best to communicate, he will carefully (and non-threateningly) withdraw his bear pommeled dagger and present it in the flat of his palm, hilt first, to the native's apparent leader. "A gift for you, friend," he says, bowing slightly lower this time.

If the gift seems to please him, Chauncey will smile and point to the chief, then to Lightfinger, then point at his mouth and ear and wiggle his fingers in the universal sign for "magic" before looking back to the chief questioningly as if asking for permission.

Trying to convince anyone of anything has worked so well for Chauncey in the past, I thought I'd give it a shot.

[OGRE MAGE]

Emancipation!!!
It Is A Good Night To Be Alive
Starday, The 6th of Goodmonth
Evening, Hot, Muggy, Smokey

Monocar turns around with a piece of jerky hanging from his mouth and grins happily. He holds out two big fists full of food as he walks over. I was looking for Bonnie and found this! Lots of it! The food appears to be salted meat, nuts, dried fruits, and preserves. The natives look upon the strange site of the huge, naked human with a mouthful of meat with confusion and a bit of disgust.

The chief nods and grunts along with everything Arte says to him, but continues to blurt out the same two words over and over. "Keilif! Frien!" The colorfully painted leader is astonished once the mage offers him the gift of his beautifully carved blade. He looks at it, then into the face of Chauncey many times before reaching for it, still not sure if this is all some elaborate trick.

During the proceedings, the group starts to retrace the steps of their battle, not really certain how much of the action these natives actually witnessed. However much they saw, they still treat Lightfinger as if he was the clear leader of the group. But once the mage gives up his shiny new dagger as a gift, the mood in the cave lightens a bit, despite the still chewing Monogre.

The chief eventually takes the dagger and literally jumps around the place shouting for a moment. The natives with him look upon the blade in awe, wondering if they will receive such a wonderful prize as well. Watching the mage closely, he eventually grabs him by the arms and hugs him tight, kissing him on the mouth, then on the ear, and then on his fingers. He continues to embrace the mage tightly over and over, clearly very pleased with his new gift. Finally making a motion with his arm to encompass all of you, he states. "All we frien!"

Actions?

To avoid further confusion......Talaris is the male cleric and Lerrick is female. Unless I missed the part with the girdle of femininity/masculinity.

Luther R3 6/26
Chauncey MU3 5/16 CL, DM, RM 0/2 first 0/1 second Enlarge: 2
Monocar F3 3/31
Lerrick C1 8/8 0/3 first
Lightfinger T4 1/19
Alordan R3 3/18
Talaris C1 9/9 0/3 first

[tkrexx]

Lightfinger is relieved.

Yes, yes, we all friends, yes, The Hobbit can finally relax, and he gives Chauncey the thumbs up and a wink, happy his part in this first contact seems to be complete. I'll fill you all in later, He says with a sigh, Right now I'd like to rest, if indeed it would be possible. By the way, thanks to you, Licorice, or Tailoris, or whosoever pulled me back from the brink.

[ChubbyPixie]

Chauncey, seeing that they seem finally to have won the trust of the natives, begins tentatively and with as friendly a demeanor as possible to cast Comprehend Language. He then motions for the chief to take his hand. “No dog piling, now, please,” he says quietly, as he does so.

[Bluehorse]

Monocar

Swallows the big mouthful and looks at the others. We have to find Bonnie and the others! Any ideas where they might be? I won't be a giant forever... if we need to smash into a jail, let's do it now!

[ravenn4544]

Alordan contemplates his dagger also as a gift since it went over so well. He decides against it, however, as that was the weapon that saw him through this battle...

[OGRE MAGE]

Emancipation!!!
It Is A Good Night To Be Alive
Starday, The 6th of Goodmonth
Evening, Hot, Muggy, Smokey

Both clerics just shrug when Lightfinger asks which one actually healed him. He starts to get a bad taste in his mouth, quite literally. Talaris points to the native with the black sludge still dripping from his teeth and gums.

Chauncey starts up his comprehension spell again, and this time the natives do not prevent him from doing so. Once it is finished, the wizard and the chief shake hands and embrace again. Suddenly, Chauncey can understand the strange grunting and chanting from the native leader.

Chauncey is the only one who understands this.

"I don't really know what you are trying to do here, but I hope you can spare more of your sharp, shiny metal. We have suffered greatly at the hands of those bastards you helped us eliminate. They killed many of us before we realized that we were so overly outmatched. We had to do whatever they said or they would go out and kill more of our women and children who were hiding in the jungle. But we stayed close anyway, so we could watch over our warriors."

"After your small child there freed some of our warriors, we knew it was our chance to fight back against the leather skinned men with the sharp metal sticks. Keilif told us that your people would help us if we ever needed it, and he wasn't lying. Where is our friend Keilif now? He must be very special if he can tell the future."

The rest of you only hear the chief grunting at the mage, but can easily pick out the words friend and Keilif again.

Monocar looks around for a jail cell, but there is no such thing anywhere in this cave. The 2 natives with the chief begin tearing into the other unopened crates, but they don't bother with any of the strange food. It seems as though they are searching for something else.

Loud shouts and celebrations from the survivors can still be heard coming from outside the cave. The chief turns to look towards the opening at two figures approaching the cave with a large bundle of something in their arms.

Actions?

Luther R3 6/26
Chauncey MU3 5/16 CL, DM, RM 0/2 first 0/1 second Enlarge: 1 Comp Lang: 15
Monocar F3 3/31
Lerrick C1 8/8 0/3 first
Lightfinger T4 1/19
Alordan R3 3/18
Talaris C1 9/9 0/3 first

Things look a little different around camp now after the fires die down.

IMG_2231.JPG (445.1 KiB) Viewed 627 times

[Urson]

Luther

Lightfinger- little man- you may have been the one to save all of us, this time. We- I- started the battle before we were ready and in place. We'd probably be dead now if you hadn't gotten these warriors free. I owe you my life.

Since it seems that the locals aren't so hostile, Luther will _slowly_ collect his weapons and secure them. If no one objects, he'll help himself to a strip of jerky, gnawing on it thoughtfully.

[kruk]

Lerrick moves forward to grab a piece of jerky as well, but stops as she notices the two people coming forth with the large sacks.

[tkrexx]

Lightfinger swallows some water.

Much as I'd enjoy taking credit, He begins, trying to wash away the shared black goop from his mouth, I must believe these Warriors have been observing this place for some time, waiting for the perfect moment to strike. The slaves themselves were in no condition to put up much of a struggle, tho they did try. I believe they made quite the pile of mincemeat of what was left of an Ogre that came to investigate the hubbub I caused in the fields. I will, however, take credit for the Ogre, The regular, haughty Arte returns just for a second, smirking, But, these fellows, He indicates the native Fighters, They turned up after I joined the battle. I can't explain their presence. Maybe Clancey can fill in the gaps for us, once he's finished conversing with Chief Ain't-Gotta-Name.

The Tallfellow changes subjects. Monocle, is there anything in there besides food? Supplies or weapons, perhaps? I am in desperate need of bullets for my sling. I seem to have misplaced some of mine...

[OGRE MAGE]

The 4 crates are all filled with preserved foodstuffs; hard breads, salted meats, dried fruits, nuts, and jarred preserves.

The 2 barrels contain fresh drinking water.

There is nothing else in the cave that you can see.

The natives drink some of the water after smelling it closely, but they don't seem interested in any of the strange food at all.

They do watch closely as Luther stows his weapons away, looking longingly at his hard steel as he sheathes his blades.

[Bluehorse]

Monocar

To Arty. food! Glorious food! Enough for everyone! He looks around, stepping out of the cave to let out a big bellow at the top of his enlarged lungs. Cupping his hands to his mouth as he does. BOOOONNNNIIEE! ANYBODY! WHERE AAAAARE YOOOOUUUU?! WE'REHEEERREEEE! HOLLEEER SO WE CAN FIIND YOOOUUUU!!! He cups his ear listening for a reply.

[kruk]

Lerrick, seeing the food, takes a piece of bread and a slice of salted meat, then sits against the wall and eats. She continues
to observe the actions of the natives and smiles at the action of Monocar as he yells outside the cave entrance

[ChubbyPixie]

Chauncey's eyes light up as the spell takes effect and the man speaks. He opens his mouth to respond when he remembers the spell will not allow the Chief to understand him. Chauncey nods to show he, at least, has understood then holds up a finger. Then moving towards the door, he beckons the chief to follow. Moving to the nearest fallen brigand, he will turn the man over and recover his sword or dagger or what-have-you, then hand it to the chief. He will then indicate all the other fallen brigands and point to the Chief and his warriors, indicating that the brigand's weapons are now theirs.

After letting that sink in, he will say "Keilif?" then shrug and point down the length of the river to indicate the priest has gone.

[tkrexx]

Lightfinger scarfs.

Making his way to the stashed food & water, the Halfling realizes war is hungry work. If not quiet. Monocle, my good man, shouting in this area at this time must certainly be a bad idea. Your doubled size has also doubled your vocal prowess. I must believe the lass Bonnie would have heard you by now, were she within a mile or so. And so would every less friendly creature. Surely our position is compromised.

[ravenn4544]

Alordan eats as well. As he takes some time to reflect on the evening, still not believing how things turned out, he considers the smugglers. "Those that fled will return. I doubt that Captain will just walk away from this, do you? We need to be ready come first light that we'll see another force upon us. We need to plan for another fight... will our new saviors help us?"

[OGRE MAGE]

Emancipation!!!
It Is A Good Night To Be Alive
Starday, The 6th of Goodmonth
Evening, Hot, Muggy, Smokey

Chauncey smiles wide once he is finally able to understand the native chief. He listens intently before trying to point out all of the battles spoils. As he begins to point around at the fallen pirates, the two natives enter the cave and drop two armfuls of already gathered swords and daggers upon the ground there. The chief and the other natives look pleased with the haul.

Chauncey understands more of what the dark skinned man is saying.

"Yes, yes. This is very good. We will take the weapons of the fallen enemy and use them to battle the rest of these evil bastards. I think this skinny paleface can understand me now, he seems to be more like Keilif and not like one of these invaders. He must have powerful magicks at his disposal. These are clearly the friends that Keilif told us about."

Once Chauncey points out that Keilif has left with the captain, the chief continues.

"Why would Keilif leave with the evil captain? Keilif was a friend to us and wanted to help us. The captain only wanted to kill us and steal our crops. Perhaps Keilif has gone to the source of the evil to chop off the head of the serpent in its own lair?"

The natives all jump when Monocar starts shouting for Bonnie. They look at him with confusion and disgust, there eyes clearly indicating that he should stop doing that. Arte lets him know that he feels the same way. The natives are about to use their spears on the loud human when he suddenly shrinks back down to his normal huge size. They gasp audibly and take a few steps back from the transmutation, not sure what they are seeing.

Luther, Alordan, Lerrick, and Lightfinger enjoy some food and drink in their exhausted state, But Talaris does not join them. He remains deep in thought and in constant prayer to his lord Pelor. He seems to be taking his vision and his enhanced healing ability very seriously. The group finally starts to relax, hoping that the worst of the fight is behind them. Alordan reminds the group that their fight is surely not over yet and that a good plan will need to be in place for first light.

The natives in the cave with you start to develop an interest in the food that you are eating. They sniff at the salted meat with turned up noses, but happily engage in eating some of the nuts and dried fruits with you. Outside the cave it is starting to become dark again once all the fires have run their course. There is still a bustle of activity as the natives clean up the mess, trying to get their lives back to normal in the darkness. There is no reply from Bonnie or any other members of her former party. Occasionally a slight misty breeze flows into the cave from the nearby raging waterfall. This cools off the inside of the cave nicely, making it almost tolerable to rest in.

Actions?

Luther R3 6/26
Chauncey MU3 5/16 CL, DM, RM 0/2 first 0/1 second Comp Lang: 14
Monocar F3 3/31
Lerrick C1 8/8 0/3 first
Lightfinger T4 1/19
Alordan R3 3/18
Talaris C1 9/9 0/3 first