Road Pirates?

[patransom]

Having agreed to assist Alodar in investigating the whereabouts of old friend Caladar's precious cargo, the party sets out from Durham toward Simonton, accompanied by new comrade Gahmahmee. The travel is easy, as the road from Durham to Simonton is a major trade route. The road heads south out of Durham, skirting the foothills of the Serpentcoil Mountains. After several days, the road turns east to follow the coast toward Simonton. It has been a week of travel and Alodar explains that the majority of the journey is over - it should be only three more days to Simonton. Suddenly, as you travel, you can smell the ocean, suggesting the road is closer to the coast now than it has been previously. Lorn comments that you must be near a large inlet that he's seen on the maps he's familiar with. However, you cannot see Lorn's alleged inlet, as the road here is closely grown with thick forest.

You Are Here2.jpg

Suddenly, a woman steps into the center of the road ahead of you. Appearing to be in her twenties, she has pleasant features, freckles, and is very well-proportioned. She wears a well-fitted suit of red enameled studded leather armor and has a lute slung across her back. Her long and unruly black hair is held back by what appears to be a red Captain's hat. With both hands, she waves a large skull-and-crossbones flag and shouts in a loud and somewhat high-pitched voice,

“ Ahoy! Stand fast! Surrender your arms and your booty and we will spare your miserable lives! ”

As she yells, two other men step from the undergrowth beside the road, with light crossbows leveled in your direction. These two men are barefoot, unwashed, unkempt, and dressed in ragged pants and tunics. They appear to be pirates.

OUT-OF-CHARACTER:    We are not in combat yet, but here are some relevant details: the terrain off the road is overgrown and counts as difficult terrain. The big green lumps off the road on the map represent trees. In places, the canopy of the trees overhangs the road a little. You can move through squares in the trees (although they still count as difficult terrain) and inside those squares you would have cover from the bushes and tree trunks.

[Benji]

Lorn raises an eyebrow at this woman's choice of words. “A little far from a ship for that kind of talk and dress, I would think.” He calls over to the woman in a calm voice. “Besides, I'm sure we have no plans of surrendering our equipment any time soon, so I suggest you leave the road and let us continue on with our journey.”

[Badlapje]

Gahmahmee takes a step forward, leaning on his quarterstaff as though it were a walking stick, and exclaims “Take heed of the wise words of my friend here. He whom i serve doesn't take kindly to brigands and pirates waylaying peaceful travellers. It would be a shame to have to send one as beautiful as you to the next world.”

[klakxor]

Alodar smiles at the womans threats, even as her companions come from out of the brush.

He steps back while the others interact with the pirate captain, holding his hands in the air.

“My fair lady, perhaps you are quick to judge what you see. We four are travelling along this road towards Simonton. We have no crates, barrels, carts or anything with us for you to rob. It would be more wise for you to look to brigand poor folks who are leaving Simonton with their wares and goods just recieved at port.”

[Badlapje]

OUT-OF-CHARACTER:    for clarification, the idea of Gahmahmee stepping forward is to let him go into the next square (5-foot step)

[Ludyee]

Tana does not believe conversing with thugs who level crossbows in her direction is such a good idea. She dives for cover off the road in order to give the two with ranged weapons less of a target. She will also scan the woods she just entered to try and spot any other ambushers who might be trying to flank the party.

OUT-OF-CHARACTER:    Feel free to do a standing jump check or whatever for Tana to end up in a square that provides the most cover, be it 1106 or 1105.

[patransom]

OUT-OF-CHARACTER:    Diplomacy check for Lorn: 20-1=19 Diplomacy check for Gahmahmee: 5+11=16 --> successful aid another (+2) on Lorn's check Diplomacy check for Alodar: 7+3=10 --> successful aid another (+2) on Lorn's check Grand total of your diplomatic efforts = 23. Not bad at all.

Lorn, Gahmahmee, and Alodar attempt to persuade the pirates that their attempted robbery might be unwise. In response to the three's well-reasoned arguments, the two crossbowmen glance over at their flag-waving leader, who seems suddenly thoughtful and uncertain.

In the meantime, Tana goes diving into the bushes. She suppresses a gasp of shock when she lands right next to a large wolf! The creature, however, merely sniffs at her and, once she thinks about it, Tana senses something familiar about the animal...

As the pirate lady considers her next move, from the woods to the north, you hear the obvious chanting of a spell being cast. The voice has a dwarven accent and is surprisingly familiar. Glancing in that direction, you see, hidden rather poorly behind the trunk of a tree, none other than Rurak!

Rurak's spell causes a downpour of water to erupt above a tall tree just to the northeast of your position on the road (1106). From the branches of that tree, you hear an outburst of surprised sailor curses. Looking up, you spy another pirate lurking in the branches, now soaking wet. From the next tree to the east (1306), a voice calls out, “ AVAST CAPT'N! THEY'S GOT SOME MAGICAL ESCORT! I CAN'T SPOT 'IM, BUT I HEARS 'IM CHANTIN' IN THE WEEDS. ” You can now see the source of this warning: another pirate hiding in the tree branches.

OUT-OF-CHARACTER:    With the hidden ambushers now revealed and a previously unseen spellcaster added to the mix on your side, I'm adding another +2 circumstance bonus to the Diplomacy check, for a total of 25

The pirate lady lowers her flag ever so slightly and looks a bit uncertain about this new development. “Well there, matey, you got a good point, so maybe a parlay is in order...” she says to Lorn, “I suppose we could be lettin' you go with nothing more than a small toll. A gold coin each and we'll let you walk free...”

OUT-OF-CHARACTER:    Still not in combat, thanks to some excellent diplomacy results. On the map below, the two pirates at 1106 and 1306 are up in the tree branches. Hiroki is well hidden in the bushes; only Tana and Rurak are aware that he's there. The party members have spotted Rurak, but it's unclear if the tree pirates know where he is.

[Dink]

Rurak looks over to Tana and points up in the trees and shows three fingers.
Then he gets down into the bushes and say's just loud enough so that the first two pirates up in the trees can hear him (1106+1306):
“The others will be in position in a bit - as you just saw.
Make the pirates wait a bit longer.
Please let me take down the three in the trees with a lightning.
I am ready at any time. Just run at the Lady and I will fry those in the trees.”

Then he starts to chant again (without really casting a spell, but he figures it's good enough for the priates to believe in magic).

[Benji]

Looking over at Rurak in surprise, Lorn grins at the arrival of another old friend. Turning back to the pirates; “A gold coin each seems somewhat fair.” Lorn starts fiddling with his coin purse, happy that this was avoided without bloodshed. “My original question remains though, if you don't mind. I'm still somewhat curious as to why such obvious seafaring people are doing inland?”

Not knowing whether or not everyone else will be willing to pay, Lorn will pay for all of the group.

[Badlapje]

“Hm, i'm afraid i'm not in agreement at all with my friend over here. My faith forbids me from paying toll money to brigands such as yourself, and if you insist upon trying to shake our purses because you are under the mistaken impression that we are easy game ... i shall have to show you the wrath of my Lord. Either repent, or be ready to deal with the consequences.”

[klakxor]

Alodar, unfamiliar with the person in the woods, takes another step back and puts his hands down.

“Trust me, I certainly do not wish to pay any more then necessary to travel on a free passage. However, safety is my main concern and I do not see issue with keeping our route safe by the loss of coin.”

Assist Lorn's continued Diplomacy.

[Badlapje]

“The problem here is that my faith commands me to smite these unsavoury people and their rather fine-looking captain if they are indeed brigands who prey upon unwary travellers. So unless they repent and vow to henceforth stop bothering peaceful travellers, i'll have to show them the error of their ways.”

[Ludyee]

Tana understands the tenets of faith and expects Gahmahmee's stand to lead us all into violence. She smiles a bit and concludes it is time for these highwaymen to learn a lesson.

OUT-OF-CHARACTER:    I suppose Tana will delay awaiting an imminent sign of a fight to erupt.

[patransom]

OUT-OF-CHARACTER:    Bluff check for Rurak: 3+1=4

Rurak whispers, loudly enough to be overheard, about reinforcements and his plans to call down some lightning. He then begins chanting, as if to cast another spell. Even the superstitious, uneducated pirates are able to tell he's not really about to cast anything. They also seem unconcerned at the mention of potential additional combatants.

The Pirate Lady is pleased as Lorn and Alodar seem to agree to her toll. However, she frowns when Gahmahmee interrupts with his objections.

OUT-OF-CHARACTER:    Diplomacy check for Gahmahmee: 9+11=20 Adding -2 for Rurak's failed bluff, -2 for the apparent disagreement among the party, +2 because she wasn't very committed to her demand for the toll in the first place gives me a total of 18. Still good enough to get her to buy in to Gahmahee's seriousness.

The woman sighs and shrugs her shoulders. “Alright lads,” she calls to the pirates in the trees, “These folk don't have plunder that's worth the trouble. Let 'em sail on.” She moves off to the side of the road, adding, mostly to Gahmahee, “Alright priest, you and your friends can pass for free. I s'pose it won't hurt us to do right by your god. Just be careful. There's worse than us poor sailors on these roads.”

OUT-OF-CHARACTER:    XP has been awarded for a peaceful resolution to this encounter. If you have anything to ask the pirates or other actions you'd like to take, please post them. If you're ready to just move on, please post that too so I know everyone's ready for the next validation... Also, I still need a picture for Gahmahmee...

[Badlapje]

“Well met, Mylady, i'm glad you can see the error of your ways. Be wary though, as my Lord is ever watchful and there are more priests of his that he can send in the event you should bother other travellers in the future.”

With that, Gahmahmee sets off again and walks past the pirates, keeping his staff at the ready though trying to conceal this fact by using it as a walking stick.

[klakxor]

Alodar appears ready to move on.

“Thank you my lady. Please be wary of other travelers as we may not have much in the way of plunder, there are others who travel with much more protection and arms.” He smiles to her as they walk past.

[Benji]

Lorn heaves a sigh of relief and moves past the pirates, smiling amiably as he goes.

When out of sight, he will scowl at Gahmahmee, but otherwise not say anything.

[Dink]

Rurak orders Hiroki to wait where he is. He calls his horse and steps out in the opening with the horse to the others.
Once he is at 1608 he will call Hiroki to follow him.
He will follow the others with the horse and Hiroki.

Rurak will behave as best friends with the new party members he, for as long as the pirates are around.

[Ludyee]

Tana will stroll alongside Rurak's horse and Hiroki. She has nothing to say to the "pirates," her distaste for thier kind evident.