Hair of the Duck
EDITOR'S NOTE: The original title of this event was _Hair of the Dog_, but I took liberties with the title. Read the log, and you will understand why.
The booze is missing.
This is an unforgivable crime, of course, committed against booze. It is missing, you see, and that means no one can drink it! The booze in question is a special vintage, they say, one crafted with the finest of mushrooms from the depths of Khazad Duin's mushroom farms, and then brewed in Rune. Said to expand the mind and allow one to grasp aetheric concepts more easily.
So, you're chasing after mushroom booze that makes one hallucinate. More specifically, is meant to make wizards hallucinate.
And it was stolen.
Worse still, it was stolen on the watch of a number of guild adventurers who allowed themselves to be lured into drinking a bottle of it in the first place by one of their own, and then left them to their rather terrifyingly confusing (if colorful) trip through the universe.
This is where you come in, you see. The Guild desperately needs to right this wrong as a matter of face and its investigation has lead it to being tipped off that the brew in question is going to be shipped out tonight on a particular boat at a particular hour, destination unknown (it's totally Tashraan, this brew could fetch a pretty coin or two from the ridiculously wealthy merchants of the city-states) and you're here to go after the would-be smugglers. It's early evening, and you've been stationed in a nearby warehouse with a small window that one person on a ladder can look out through to see if the ship -- the Coldcocked Gnome -- is getting busy with its late-night shipment. When it is, you're to intercept the delivery and seize the booze back, with the blessing of the city watch which will be on sight soon after you create the disturbance in the first place. Should work out just fine, right?
Right.
Oh god, someone got into the Mage Hammer.
One hears many things when one goes to school in Rune. Learns of many, many chemical, alchemical, and aetherochemical 'study aids' that are the last bastion of the desperate, lazy, and already hung-over student. All of them agree, Mage Hammer can't even be classified as a notional study aid. There's still a small but determined movement within the student body to have it classed as a tool for religious rites, but it's been spinning its wheels for the last hundred years.
So of course Magpie signed on to interrupt the smuggling of such a dangerous, addictive, mysterious, curious --ahem-- substance. While stealth may not be her forte, even she knows the value of a good shutting up, and it's a skill she's practicing at the ambush point right now.
Over/under on whether she'll make ten minutes of it?
Oh boy. What an assignment. Still, money is money, and Dolan is in no position to quibble, not after having half of his gear enchanted. Money is a necessity, if he'd like to eat. Besides, if it was stolen, stealing it back is quite acceptable.
Not that he wants any part of booze made from mushrooms. That just seems - sketchy.
He waits now, armed and armored, near the bottom of the ladder, arms crossed over his chest and tapping one foot, eyes on Magpie. So long as he's not moving, he'll be quiet. Once he moves, all bets are off, and his eyes go to the top of the ladder.
It's always strange when working with people for the first time on one of these 'missions' from the Adventurer's Guild. Never quite knowing what everyone else can do, their personalities, their experience, tactics, and... it's just a great big unknown where anything can happen. At least that's how Taran looks at it. Since only one person can look out at a time and it's likely not his turn, Taran studies the others. Eventually he rumbles out softly in a smooth smoky baritone of a voice:
"I am rather wasted in here like this. Probably better if I snuck down closer to the ship. From what I recall there were a number of places a small individual like myself could hide away. If no one minds. Better to have two pairs of eyes out there yes?"
Small. Says the over seven foot tall Giantborn, but he seems to be rather serious about the offer.
Waiting, not patiently nor quietly, is Integrity C Truefeather, esquire, the 'C' is for Concerned, a blue-jay patterned egalrin of questionable utility. He can't sit still, and paces the space, wings flapping, waiting for a turn on the ladder to look out the window, only to hop off it as soon as he can see out.
"I can't tell, it looks like they're ready to go. Have we decided what sort of distraction we're going to make? I can be distracting! I can filibuster like no one's business. Are we going to threaten to be violent, or actually be violent?"
His feathers ruffle, and he gravitates to the two he recognizes, Barclaiigh and Dolan, "Tell me what I should do? I came to count the barrels. I've got some armor..." He reveals a chain vest of fine links, "... and a sword." He struggles to draw a rapier, which seems stuck. "I'll just stand behind you? Ok? Or should I stand behind the b... little guy?" He glances at Taran. "If you're going I can go with you."
Vasilly, having grown up in the pirate kingdoms and possessing a penchant for alcohol, could have made the list of suspects. But, she had an alibi during the time of the theft - drinking libations that were far cheaper than what's missing while getting into fisticuffs at a nearby tavern. (Yes, /while/ getting into fisticuffs, not /before/ getting into them). She still smells a bit like her alibi, as the faint scent of stale booze wafts from her. Still, it must've been a good night, as she's smiling, her expression cheeky and relaxed. Approaching the group, she lifts a hand to wave.
"You're a little tall for sneaking," she remarks to the Giantborn, her smile kind, then introduces herself, generally: "Vasilly."
It seems Crius is always short on coin, and a job like this seemed like a perfect way to make some quick coin. Dressed all in blacks and grays, he's made to sneak about. The chainmail shirt he wears is muted, blackened, and silenced with the light leather and cloth he wears. To those with a keen eye, they can see other than the short bow and arrows he carries openly, he has a few short swords and daggers stashed all over his person.
Nodding to the others in the group when they all meet up, he points to the ladder and quickly climbs up to peek out to watch the ship. Sliding back down to the ground he nods again then replies to the group, "I can sneak out ahead, take up a position closer to flank any guards that may be on the ship... Maybe work on sabotaging the ship so they can't set sail at all..." Trailing off he looks to the door that leads out of their hiding spot while his fingers twitch, ready to head out. Looking to the group he nods while pointing to himself, "Crius."
"Looks can be deceiving." Taran says to Vasilly with a wry amused smile, "I am Taran, and I promise I am better at sneaking than I am at fighting." He shifts the huge warmaul to rest on his shoulder with a soft clink of chain hidden under his tunic.
"Ain't the fanciest brew I ever heard'a... but it's danged close," Barclaiigh observes from the back of the warehouse. The Khazadi man with the chaotic poof of wavy auburn hair is seeing to a full-sized black bear in studded plates of boiled leather armor. His own armor seems to be equal parts fire and wood and the runed spear on his back glows a soft green. (There's a reason he's not close to the window!)
"Gotta be careful with mushrooms, though... 'specially if yer fermentin'm'n tossin'm in booze." He draws in a quiet breath and gives an 'mmm' of consideration. "Reckon I'd have a go. Been a good stretch since I had a good ol' talkin' with Gaea..."
The dwarf gives the bear an affectionate rub on the stout and turns around, smiling a guileless smile. "Barclaiigh Stoutbrew. Of the Redridge Stoutbrews..."
"Don't we gotta know where to sneak in to do the sneaking?" The blond gnome whispers, then claps her hands over her mouth. Sighing, she fishes a silver piece out of a belt pouch, and flicks it Dolan's way. "I'm Magpie, and yeah, maybe it'd be nice to ask them to, like, stop, but it's probably going to get stabby out there. So... be ready to bust arms, and maybe heads?"
"...Also maybe don't start fires. Mage Hammer loves fire. They get along like... well... a ship on fire."
"When we find it, one of us is going to have to drink it to make sure it's the right stuff, and not a fake," Vasilly remarks, in response to Barclaigh's comment about being careful with mushrooms. She winks, then looks back to Taran, nodding agreeably to what he's said. "I'll keep that in mind."
She flashes a pleasant smile, then carries that look toward Crius. At what he says, she tilts her head, remarking: "That sounds smart, but," a nod to Magpie. "I'm more the head busting type than the planning type myself, don't let looks deceive you," she jokes.
"If you're thinking of sneaking, you'd be better off posing as a deckhand, maybe one headed for the dives," the one-eyed man at the base of the ladder suggests. The right side of his face in the dimness of the warehouse is twisted and furrowed, a bright green gem in a steel-and-bronze ring where a chocolate-brown eye should be. "Brydion Donnelly, some call me Dolan," he introduces himself, flashing a grin at Barclaiigh for his observation.
"Yeah, no fire, Magpie," he agrees, appearing to recognize the blonde gnome. "Too much pitch around here, and Guild does enough damage by accident, if the rumors are true. "Maybe the bear'd like to cause a little trouble."
Taran does give Jay a rather concerned look, "Sneaking requires less... energy than you're displaying, are you sure you are up to it?" He looks over at Magpie and cocks his head to the side, "Aren't we watching the ship where we know they're going to try and smuggle it to and out of the city by? So I could sneak down the dock as a drunk hobbling on my cane." He pulls his cloak up over his head and across his shoulders, flipping the mail to tuck it under his armpit with the head up high giving him a hump on one back that he adjusts his stance to and it makes him appear less... well, big.
He stops for a moment and flips his hood up a bit, reaching for a flask. "Nobody tends to notice a drunk cripple heading to find a place to sleep." Taran rumbles with a smile. "I don't know how being followed would help with that though. I'm no meat shield once the fighting starts."
"Well met." Crius says to the group, nodding in turn to each and everyone when the introductions are being said. Listening to the conversation he lets his gaze drift back to the ladder and then to the window at the top as if thinking over what he was able to see. "I think we know the boat is where we want to be, right?"
Clearing his throat he looks antsy, ready to head out. "No fire. Got it. Well if we go walking up there with this crew they're going to know it's trouble so breaking heads will end up being a thing." Chuckling softly there is a slight pause and he adds, "I'm going to sneak out there. Get in position to either take some shots with the bow or be able to help you all if things go bad. Good?" Slipping to the door he adds with a smile, "Vasilly can lead the rescue if I mess up and get caught."
"Oh. Ah. Oh. Um. Ah." The bluejay flaps backwards from Taran, protesting in a shrill squawk, "I can be quiet! Really quiet! Quiet as a ... quiet thing." The bird stands alone, his wings pulled in, his voice lowered.
"Are we actually going to... stab people? Is that legal? Do we need a permit or something? Is it self defense if we go into the dangerous situation? I've never tried to kill anybody ... or even fought. Sisters count, right?"
He steps back into a corner and starts fiddling with his clothes, adjusting his shirt and checking everything is still attached to his belt.
GAME: Taran rolls perception: (11)+9: 20 GAME: Dolan rolls perception: (17)+8: 25
"Folks breakin' the law," Barclaiigh observes, his sandals swish-slapping as he walks across the floor to size up Jay. "We ask'm nice-like t'stop. This many of us maybe they see reason?" His sausage fingers hook over the gorget of his breastplate and his bent arms hang, framing the boar's tusk and Yggdrasil token fetish.
"'Comes to it you swing that fancy thing around'n keep yerself safe," the dwarf nods at the bluejay's sword. "At least Dolan'n I'r handy with a splint. Reckon we can patch folks up what get stuck. Ain't no one needs t'turn fertilizer over some booze."
He grins again and winks one of his tiny eyes, "'n that's comin' from a fella named 'Stoutbrew.'"
Porter huffs from the back of the warehouse. He's bored.
"Eh, just hang back a minute," Vasilly remarks to Crius, sizing him up. "Unless you want to steal the booze for yourself and beat us to the punch, in which case, have at it, my friend." She's teasing, clearly, and smiles at him to punctuate her words. To Jay, she remarks, with that same light, teasing air to her tone: "I was expressly told there would be stabbing. If there isn't, well, I'm asking for my money back."
Magpie's eyes dart to Dolan, the gnome raising an eyebrow at her friend. Then, she turns to Jay, and the smile on her face is not at all one of pity. Concern, certainly, but definitely not pity for the poor bird about to get a taste of literal mortal terror. "Hey uh... Jay? Maybe you can do me a favor? I'm not all that great in an actual fight, people could step on me and that's before the knives come out. So, like... I'd really appreciate someone looking out for me if things get ugly?"
Big Gnome Eyes, deployed. Don't let the poor widdle gnome get bullied by big mean smugglers!
"What he said," Dolan nods to Barclaiigh, but directs his words back to Jay. "The guard knows we're here. Maybe don't kill unless you have to, but don't think they'll come quiet." As he talks, he climbs the ladder and peers out the window. "Looks like they're moving. Get ready." He doesn't give Magpie another thought, so intent is he on watching movement through the window.
Taran holds up a hand as he looks out one of the small windows, "Got some people leaving the ship. Could be going to get the goods. Nobody on approach yet but could be soon. Assuming it doesn't take long for the negotiations and such." He assumes there's going to be negotiations on this smuggling venture they've been hired to interrupt.
Crius doesn't leave just yet though he keeps looking to the door. Settling in to wait, he watches the group and the lookouts as they do their thing. Smiling he gives a nod to Vasilly, "Yeah, I get it. I'll wait." Snapping his mouth shut he nods to Taran as they get an update.
"Yes! Yes! Sure! I can do that. Sure!" Integrity hops in place. Wings out, wings in, bobbing his head at Magpie. "Ok! I'll think of something. I will!"
More head bobbing. The bluejay fixates on Vasilly, "You're like my sister, Tempty. Temperance 'I' Truefeather. She likes stabbing things. She gave me her sword!" He pats proudly at the rapier on his hip; someone in his family knows how to use it.
"Can you see how many Little Guy?" Jay asks Taran, "Are they as small as you, or smaller?"
Taran holds out his hand, fingers opening to a five count, "Five. Probably a bit smaller than me for the most part. Hard to say."
"Time to go start some shit." Dolan grasps the sides of the ladder and slides down it rather than climbing down, turning away from the window and checking his belt, armor, and weapons. "Let's go defend some booze." A cheeky grin accompanies that, making the artificial eye just a bit less disturbing for a moment. Maybe.
"You ready, little one?" he looks over at Magpie. "Maybe that grease spell could cause a ruckus."
Taran raises an eyebrow, "We probably want to wait for them to come back with the booze."
"That's a good lookin' sword," Vasilly compliments Jay. "You like to stab like this - " she mimics an underhanded cut. "or like this?" she demonstrates a slicing motion, "Or this?" and then she demonstrates a more overhead, Psycho-shower-scene-esque stab before trailing off, her eyes lighting up as she realizes there's about to be some action.
"More like a..." Jay makes several rapid thrusting motions, poking or pecking might be a better description, at the air, "... this. That last one, that's completely Tempty though. She likes the big armour too."
His wings flex in and out, he hops from foot to foot, and keeps checking the items on his belt, which is a rapier and a large pouch, so there isn't much to check. Thus, he does so several times.
GAME: Dolan casts Shield of Faith. Caster Level: 2 DC: 14
Barclaiigh looks from the folks gathering near the door and mutters something in Khazdul, summoning the bear. Porter stands and lumbers over, pausing long enough for the Khazadi druid to fondle his boar's tusks and chant in an arcane and guttural cant. Little zephyrs begin to play around the bear's paws.
"Safe," commands the portly dwarf in a low tone, pointing tattooed fingers at the one-eyed inquisitor. Porter gives rumbled agreement and lopes into place behind Dolan, dropping his shadow over the man.
Then, chanting again, Barclaiigh's form shrinks and twists, feathers replacing wavy auburn hair until there's an eagle standing in the middle of the warehouse. Eyes blink, his head twists, and then the Barly Eagle hops and flaps to sit on the window sill. He waits there for the others to advance. <khazdul>
GAME: Barclaiigh casts Longstrider. Caster Level: 5 DC: 16
The bear - likes him? That's a new one on Dolan, but after a surprise glance at Porter, he pulls the sunburst around his neck and grasps it in one hand. "Holy Knight, lend me your shield as I stop those who would take what is not theirs." A warm, sunlit glow forms on armor and skin, surrounding him in a soft halo. He'll be visible as hell on the docks.
Crius looks to the group and then points to the door. "If we're going to be rushing out there..." Trailing off he motions to the louder, more flashy members of the group. "I think I'd like the option to slip out before all the lights and sounds start. I can't help but think slipping around, maybe a few of us, to cut off retreat to the boat would be ideal. That is, so the booze can't be rolled onto the boat while we're distracted with the crew on the ground..." Looking to some of the members that look like they can be a bit more of the sneaky types he smiles, "Or we flank the whole group meeting up and hit them from the front and back."
Taran offers to Crius, "I intend to get out there too before the glow." He looks at Dolan for a few moments, "Get closer to the ship so if they break for it we can cut them off, catch them in a pincer." He rumbles his opinion, heading for the door to also slip out into the night.
Once the sailors started heading off their galley, they find their way down the docks to a specific spot and their they wait. A short time later, they were joined by a trio of men, a wagon being lead by a donkey with them. They start to have a quiet conversation, followed by an exchange of coins, whereupon the back of the wagon is opened and the sailors and them start to unload crates.
Time to go!
The auburn-feathered eagle flaps its wings, taking to the night sky to observe from above.
Porter, the armored black bear, falls into step before Dolan. The animal's claws glint a blue-silver in Eluna's light. His teeth, too.
GAME: Vasilly rolls bluff: (3)+1: 4 GAME: Magpie rolls bluff: (19)+9: 28
"Welp, let's kick this pig," Magpie says, frowning in thought... then all of a sudden, her entire face lights up, and she's off to the races.
Running toward the ship, arms raised and loose sleeves flapping in the wind as she pelts toward the ship. "Ducky! Ducky where are you!! DUCKY IF YOU CAN HEAR ME SAY SOMETHING!" As she gets near enough to the ship, she pauses behind a barrel to break eye contact with the smuggler group for a moment, she mimes a sneeze.
- QVACK* comes a noise from the boat's lifeboat.
...So like a Stormgardian Murder Duck?
After listening to Jay's stabby-stab share, Vasilly nods agreeably. Then, it seems to be party time. But, ah, how to join this party. She's learned that she's /not/ the right person to take point. So, when the gnome takes the lead, her expression lights up. She goes tearing off after the gnome, with all the enthusiasm and guile (none) of a great dane puppy. "Hello Ducky yes - Ducky you need your pants!" She improvs very wrong, clearly. "Come here, you Ducky Ducky you! It's time for you to go to school!"
All right, it's go-time. Dolan nods to Taran and Crius, gesturing that they should go on ahead quietly, and waits until they are gone before striding out of the warehouse, taking up all the space he can manage, which is a fair amount when one has a greatsword on one's back and a bear for one's shadow. He strides like he owns the place, directly towards the working sailors. "Oy, what is with the duck? I said dock, not duck!"
He shakes his head in disbelief at the pair of them. "Get back here, both of you."
The sailors are flummoxed as a gnome goes racing towrds their ship. Then one of them says, "Hey, isn't that Vasilly?"
"Yeah, didn't she used to run with that Tovias fellow?"
"...yep."
"...wait a second.."
The smugglers are staring too. One of them places a hand on his weapon, anxiously. They're distracted, but not unarmed.
GAME: Jay rolls stealth: (8)+9: 17 GAME: Taran rolls stealth: (10)+7: 17
Jay's crest pops up in alarm as things switch from awkward socialization to action with little warning. Barclaiigh, an acquaintance from Blar who seems to be pretending not to know him - much like his other acquaintances from Blar, has turned into an eagle and taken flight.
There's a wistful sigh and longing gaze as the egalrin watches him depart through the window. Barclaiigh's bear, while disconcerting, seems well behaved and has been easy enough to overlook. He's not flying anywhere, at least. It will be a very rough day when bears fly.
Then, everyone is rushing outside and calling for ducks. Especially the little gnome that he's sworn to protect. He takes a step, his beak opening and closing. Allegedly, to protect. He stands in place, "Ah... I guess we go?"
He slips out the door, using the Ducky distraction. Despite being a dramatically contrasting white, black and blue bird the size of an average person, he manages to be inocculous. He hunches, skirts the edges of mana lamps, stays near the water and stays out of sight. He's also quiet, feather down does muffle sounds.
He finds a place where he can cut off the retreat.
GAME: Crius rolls stealth: (18)+8: 26
Crius gives Taran a nod and a smile in agreement as they seem to be on the same page related to getting around between the boat and the booze. Slipping out with Jay and Taran, the mul grins at the other group just before he sticks to the darkness to make his way around the group of smugglers. He's made for the dark and stays in a loose formation with the other two on team sneak.
GAME: Barclaiigh rolls Stealth+4+1: (8)+2+4+1: 15
For such a big guy, even if he says he's small, Taran is quieter than one might think, and sticks to the shadows, using the darkness of his cloak to help him blend in with the shadows. Slipping down the side of the dock at a steady pace but not quick enough to draw attention to him. He's careful about where he puts his feet too, well aware his mass could cause even a dock to creak if he steps on the wrong spot.
He looks over at the others, and is surprised when he seems to lose immediate sight of Jay, if not Crius. 'Well done.' He thinks to himself, using the distraction as best he can to get in a position to cut off the path to the ship... or wait for the 'distraction' team to go from distracting, to head busting.
"...what the hell? Oi! Stay away from there! You and your.. duck? What?"
The sailors are alarmed. They don't like this, calling after team-distraction and waving at them to sotp that. A couple of figures on the deck of the ship move to the gangplank to block the way. This lets Team Stealth slip into place relatively unnoticed, except for teh twitchy looking smuggler with his hand on his sword, who sees them.
"...who the hell are you people?" he demands.
"..crap, I think we're blown."
GAME: Magpie rolls bluff: (18)+9: 27
"Lemme up!" Magpie shouts, pelting toward the gangplank. "You don't understand! Ducky's on Uncle Fizzwhack's special antipsychotic feed! If he misses a meal he's going to start eating faces!"
- QVAAAACK*
"Seriously we only have like an hour left LET ME UP THERE."
She certainly seems genuine enough, and what sane gnome wouldn't have a medicated murder-duck for a pet?
GAME: Vasilly rolls intimidate: (19)+9: 28
Hearing her name, Vasilly drops the 'where's Ducky' act, probably figuring it'll give Magpie a little extra cover if she distances herself from the gnome. Instead, she turns her attention on the sailors and smugglers, strutting toward them with an easy, confident stride.
"Hey boys!" she calls, with a big, toothy, even friendly smile - after all, this imminent beat down is just business, it's nothing /personal/. Her hands reach for her holstered short-swords, drawing them with a flourish. "Heard you were having a party -- did you forget to invite me?"
Vasilly shakes her head, eyes sparkling with amusement, even as her smile turns a bit more feral, like she can already hear them screaming for mercy. "You guys are lucky I don't offend easily."
"No one of consequence," Dolan answers from behind the bear that lumbers down the dock, striding himself with purpose and coming up behind Vasilly. "Partying with stolen goods, looks like," he agrees. "Guard won't much like that." He stares hard and none-too-kindly at sailors and smugglers alike.
GAME: Dolan rolls intimidate+1: (6)+9+1: 16
The circling eagle lands on the crow's nest of the smugglers ship. Likely, the bird doesn't realize there was assigned seating. Hopefully, there are no crows nearby to take offense; the last thing they need here is a murder.
The auburn-feathered bird gives a screech, blinking as it watches the events on the dock from on-high. Maybe he's worried about the duck, too.
Since they were noticed, Taran gives up the failed sneaky approach. Even the distraction wasn't working against that twitchy sailor who was on look out. He straightens and swings his hammer out. "You know you're done." He calls out, his deep voice carrying easily. "Only two ways this goes. The painless way where you give up to the guards on their way here. Or the painful way where we deliver them your unconscious bodies." The earthbreaker maul is readied with a meaty *THWAP* as he spins it up to the ready and grasps the haft high and low with both hands.
GAME: Taran rolls intimidate: (3)+3: 6
Crius doesn't speak even when it looks like they're seen. Instead, the mul draws both of his short swords in an imitation of Vasilly. Readying the blades, he starts to move deeper into the darkness and off to the side, ready to flank and fight if needed or to slip towards the wagon if it appears there is an opening.
He's been spotted! Integrity does the only thing he can think of. "Qwack!"
And then the fillibustering starts, "I'm not really a medicated murder duck. It was a blind date that went really wrong. She's completely obsessed with me, and she projects! I'm trying to find escape. Say, where is this ship headed? Far away? Really Far?"
GAME: Jay rolls bluff: (17)+5: 22
"A murder duck?"
"..this is Alexandria. Anything is possible."
The 'voice' has the sailors on the boat very, very alarmed, but they're looking around nervously.
Meanwhile, the smugglers and the sailors are now surrounded, more or less, and a couple of them put their hands up. One slaps the donkey on the back, sending it barreling down the docks in a deliberate effort to disrupt things, while that smuggler, in the darkness, bristles with frustration. "Son of a bitch. After all the trouble... EVERYONE SPLIT."
And they start to all run.
GAME: Dolan rolls weapon2: (4)+6: 10
"GUARDS!" That's your cue, Alexandria's finest, as the sailors and smugglers scatter in all directions. Dolan drops the harness holding the greatsword and _lunges_ for the smuggler, but in twisting the blade to subdue, it goes wide, and the smuggler doesn't even have to work to dodge. "You little shit, hold still."
GAME: Jay rolls athletics: (16)+5: 21 GAME: Jay rolls acrobatics: (8)+9: 17 GAME: Whirlpool rolls 1d20+4: (18)+4: 22 GAME: Whirlpool rolls 1d20+4: (15)+4: 19 GAME: Whirlpool rolls 1d20+4: (18)+4: 22
The smugglers have split up, putting on the speed and running like crazy. Of them, two are making it down the docks while one is glancing behind him at Dolan and squawking loudly in fear.
The squawk is full of unrepeatable curse words.
Squawk!
Things are moving! So is the bluejay egalrin. As the donkey takes off, taking the wagon with it, Integrity leaps into action and tears along the docks, head down and wings aerodynamically angled and tailing behind him. He trips, just a little, making him fall forward and run even faster in an attempt to catch his balance. The tailgate of the wagon is within reach.
He lunges, leaping forward, flapping hard and leveraging himself over and up, into the bed with the barrels. He caws out, "How do you stop a horse?"
GAME: Crius rolls 1d20+4-1-2: (15)+4+-1+-2: 16 GAME: Crius rolls 1d20+4-1-2: (19)+4+-1+-2: 20 GAME: Crius rolls 1d6+1: (2)+1: 3 GAME: Crius rolls 1d6: (3): 3 GAME: Crius rolls 1d6: (1): 1 GAME: Crius rolls 1d6: (6): 6
Crius looks like he'd chase after the donkey but nods in approval as Jay is able to jump on the wagon. Watching as everyone scatters he follows the crowd with his eyes and then sprints after the sailors trying to escape. He's able to catch up to one and slashes with his blades, cutting the sailor down from behind using the flats of the blades with the edge to cut and slap until he subdues his mark. Quickly turning away from the downed sailor he looks for his next target.
The sailors are on their way. Running. One of them is dropped by Crius, of course, and they can't exactly rush towards the ship -- they're caught off there. Some of the sailors retreat more onto the ship, while others are now lighting a lantern and trying to find that murder duck ...
...when the sails of the ship SUDDENLY IGNITE. Thanks Barclaiigh!
GAME: Whirlpool rolls 1d20+2: (6)+2: 8 GAME: Whirlpool rolls 1d20+2: (4)+2: 6 GAME: Magpie casts Grease. Caster Level: 2 DC: 15 GAME: Whirlpool rolls 1d20+2: (18)+2: 20 GAME: Taran rolls perception: (13)+9: 22
"Y'know what fine, Magpie grumps, as the fight upends her carefully-improvised story. Whirling, she catches sight of the smugglers scattering, and looses a sharp bark of laughter. "Hey where you goin! Guards gonna want to have a chat!" Tottering after one of the smugglers, she rakes a hand through the air, gathering a lump of shiny, oily, green-brown energy, and hurls it at the seat of her quarry's pants. "Siddown, I said!"
GAME: Taran rolls 1d20+4: (5)+4: 9
Taran takes a look at the sailors and the smugglers, frowning when he doesn't see anything being carried. "If one of them has it, it's hidden well!" He calls out, and to the bird he calls out, "Egalrin! Grab and pull the reins!" while he slips a dagger out from his cloak and then wings it at one of the fleeing smugglers nearby but having to throw it in a different fashion, it goes horribly wide to clatter uselessly.
GAME: Vasilly rolls weapon1: (19)+11: 30 (THREAT) GAME: Vasilly rolls weapon1: (6)+11: 17 GAME: Vasilly rolls 1d6+7: (4)+7: 11 GAME: Vasilly rolls 1d6+7: (2)+7: 9 GAME: Whirlpool rolls 1d20+5: (8)+5: 13
"Hey idiot - " Vasilly calls out, at one of the smugglers trying to get out of there. "No - stay put - " she whips her right arm back with that sword, looking for a moment like she's briefly forgotten the whole initial briefing that she was supposed to have set herself to stun, rather than kill. So she aims a little blow the major organs, instead sending quite a zinger over the smugglers hip and rump, taking him down.
GAME: Whirlpool rolls 1d20+4: (9)+4: 13 GAME: Whirlpool rolls 1d20+4: (19)+4: 23
Jay scrambles past the barrels and crates bouncing in the back of the wagon to get up on the front board and grab the reins. His talons tighten to hold him down, and his wings spread in an attempt to air-brake. Integrity realizes, this is an actual trained task, something people do as a profession and he has NO idea what to do. He pulls back on the reins, pulls harder, lets them go slack.
"It's not working! What else should I try to do? Put a bag on the horse's head?" He calls, holding on.
Two of the smugglers are now racing down the docks. Escape is more important. One decides the waters are a better bet and dives in while the other still up takes one look back at Dolan and Vasilly and just tries to go even faster.
GAME: Crius rolls bluff: (1)+7: 8 (EPIC FAIL)
Crius looks around, and gets a good feel for the rhythm of the battle. Pointing with one blade to the downed sailor at his feet he uses his other sword to point to all the rest of the sailors and smugglers, "Surrender! You've been beaten, the watch is on the way-"
It's then that Jay can be heard trying to get the wagon under control and failing, his worried cries for help ringing out loudly along with Taran's commands bellowed back while his dagger misses its mark. All of this doesn't help the mul's case and with renewed vigor he steps forward to close in on the sailors, trying to get their attention before he stumbles over the arm of the unconscious sailor, botching the sentence he was going to say as he fights to keep his footing while his arms windmill to help him catch his balance.
The sailors take one look at Crius and just run even harder.
"no way the watch is here," they say, "no way."
GAME: Whirlpool rolls 1d20+2: (8)+2: 10 GAME: Magpie rolls ranged: (7)+4: 11 GAME: Magpie rolls 1d3: (2): 2 GAME: Whirlpool rolls 1d20+3: (18)+3: 21 GAME: Taran rolls Athletics: (1)+6: 7 (EPIC FAIL) GAME: Vasilly rolls weapon1: (9)+11: 20
Normally Taran is a fairly strong swimmer, and he jumps into the water after the sailor that had jumped in before him. Unfortunately, Taran doesn't usually swim at the docks.
Sploosh-THWACK!
Taran? There are pillars and other things in the water you didn't think about. He's thinking about them now as he knocks himself nearly senseless, gets tangled in his now sopping wet cloak, and has to struggle to even tread water.
GAME: Vasilly rolls 1d6+7: (6)+7: 13 GAME: Vasilly rolls weapon2: (10)+11: 21 GAME: Vasilly rolls 1d6+7: (6)+7: 13
Vasilly is having the time of her life. Turning from her first smuggler down, she spots another, about to get away, and she lends an assist with her blades. It's not the most pleasant way to be taken out, but at least it'll keep the healers busy, later. He goes down and then she whirls, looking to see who might be left.
GAME: Jay rolls disable device: (12)+9: 21 GAME: Jay rolls reflex: (11)+7: 18
"How do you stop this crazy thing?" Jay squawks loudly, once more pulling on the reins. Advice, is not forthcoming, rescue is not coming. There's a brake lever, which he yanks on. Success!
The brake lever breaks off.
"I need some assistance!" Integrity wraps the reins around the lever and then shoves it into the spokes of the driver-side wheel. The brake lever works this time, the wheel immediately jams, pulling the donkey to the right. It's a hard turn on a planked surface and the wagon vaults horribly. The donkey feels an enormous impediment to its forward motion and stops, braying in confusion.
The egalrin has launched! He is nearly thrown clear, only a reflexive back-flap putting him back in the driver's seat. "It's okay! It's halted, allegedly!"
Dolan quickly begins to tie up one of the smugglers.
GAME: Crius rolls 1d20+4-1-2: (15)+4+-1+-2: 16 GAME: Crius rolls 1d20+4-1-2: (8)+4+-1+-2: 9 GAME: Crius rolls 1d6+1: (6)+1: 7
Crius is feeling pretty dumb after his epic bluff fail. With both swords in hand, he gives chase to the fleeing sailors. Slashing at the back of the closest, he misses a slash but follows up with a vicious slap of the flat of his blade to the back of the man's head. Falling in a crumpled heap to his feet, the mul pauses and takes stock of the remaining enemies, looking for where to move next.
GAME: Magpie casts Grease. Caster Level: 2 DC: 15
With the ship on fire, the guard is now on its way. It's only been less than a minute since the havock started, and it'll be a few minutes until they arrive. They had to hang back, after all, bbut bit seems you've nearly gotten things under control...
... to a degree of control, anyway.
The rope nearly thwacks Taran as he struggles with the water and being tangled up in his cloak, next time, take the cloak off before you dive in, idiot Giantborn. He grabs the rope and not even realizing it's just a /gnome/ trying to act as anchor for a 300+ lb Giantborn, he yanks to try and pull himself out of the water.
Hard.
"It stopped! Stopped!" Jay hops to his feet, standing on the driver's seat. The wagon and donkey aren't going anywhere. He climbs into the back, examining the crates, looking for any that popped open, or might be leaking.
Somewhat unwisely, he touches a dark stain and licks his fingers. Birds are known to eat bugs and poison berries; it might not affect him as it does others.
"I don't think it's this, I don't think it's this." He has, unsurprisingly, a small crow-bar that can pry open the crates, which he does enough to check the contents.
"Waaaaugh!"
Without time to even try to tie the rope off, thirty-odd pounds of Gnome cannot hope to anchor three hundred pounds of Jotun. And thus, the amount of hang-time Magpie manages to achieve is... impressive. Hitting the water with a fairly pathetic splash, the motley-clad sorceress flails and struggles against the frankly rude water. Really, not even providing a safe place for feet to stand...
As Magpie goes flying overhead and the rope goes slack, Taran finally has the presence of mind to take his cloak off and let it sink. It's just a cloak. He can get a new one. Seeing Magpie sputter and splash Taran swims over to the gnome and reaches out to try and rescue her, "Calm down. Hold onto me." He must think she can't swim and is trying to rescue his rescuer now.
Well, swimming was never high on Magpie's list of favored activities, given in Rune the sport tends to involve actual pools over infinity. Wizards...
The moment Magpie feels a giant hand in her vicinity, she all but wraps herself around the jotun's forearm, shivering and wide-eyed. "I didn't think water was allowed to be that salty..."
"Ooooo-aaah. Cha! Ki-yah! Hai! Urrrroaaah!" The bluejay egalrin is perched on top of the crates, making strange monk-like moves with exagerated noises. His face isn't one for expressions, but his wide-eyed stare and wider beak suggests he was successful.
He found the magic booze.
It's a display, both threatening and attractive, that he keeps up until the guards and fellow hirelings arrive to take the cargo safely back to where it belongs.
Fair woman at the window, repulse monkeys, snake creeps down, and he finishes in... a crane stance.
Fortunately, it's a dock, and therefor safety is not that far away. As Jay discovers the booze they were after, Taran pulls himself and Magpie out of the water, "I didn't know there was a rule to how salty water could be." He rumbles in his smoky baritone with a chuckle following. "Up and out."
Taran makes sure Magpie is up on dry land, or the dock at least, before climbing up and out himself finally. That Sailor? The watch will get him eventually.
Magpie has left.
It's time, you know, for the guards to show up. Finding the magic booze isn't that hard. There's a whole crate of the stuff amidst them, and yes, some of them are leaking. You might be able to get a taste if you want to risk having hallucinogenic episodes.