CH. 17: Poison Curse

[Nuke]

Val looks carefully at the three Undine, attempting to discern the attitude of the trio.

OOC:WIS check please

[Breila]

"I will, as soon as the bustling starts and everone just looks toward the bounty" Ouragana answers.

She places the sticky gum arabicum with the eyelash on her dagger hilt to have it and hand, and will turn Gallath invisible as soon as she sees non one is watching them any more.

[BishGada]

Baeros is confused by the strength of the blow from Ouragana, but understand the act and go on his duty, looking from time to time to the captains cabin. As the captain yells about their target he stands up and tries to measure the ship they are going to attack as much as the distance allows it.

[Chris1234]

“Val, please excuse me, this will have to be in the undine tongue, I need to try and sort out some troubles I’ve made,” the dwarf says to her companion.
“I am feeling better, thank you,” Naras replies, with a nod of appreciation. “And I’m pleased that you seem to have recovered too, Shin.” She looks at each of her friend’s three offspring, and says, “I know I can be a windbag and go on a bit, but please try to bear with me.” She pauses to see if there’s any dissent.
Naras pauses again, clearly uncomfortable, continuing, “Serenna, I owe you an apology. I’m sorry for how I treated you. It doesn’t excuse it, but I would like to try to explain: you were right that I was initially distrusting of your people – despite my intent to help, I was nonetheless reacting to the stereotyping from the sailors. That is my fault and responsibility, not theirs. I later felt slighted over your distrust of me, of land dwellers in general I presume, but this is the point, I was all about ’me’. It should have been about ‘you and yours’. I have learnt a lesson from this. For that, I thank you. I would ask you, if you can, to forgive me. Please.”
To Cye , the dwarf says, “In your single look, I saw that I disappointed you in what I have just referred to. For that I am ashamed and am also sorry. Thank you for thinking better of me up to that point. I hope you can do so again at some point.”
“Finally, I want to say thank you to you all for bringing me back here and also for bring the treasure. We shared the danger, and so the proceeds. It’s only right that you have had equal shares to help rebuild your home, or whatever else you choose to do with it. For my part, my temple sorely needs the funds to be able to continue to support my town. ”
Naras holds her open hands out, “I’ve finished windbagging.”

[JadedDM]

Ouragana, Baeros, Gallath and Drav (Poison Curse, Upper deck/Sardonx 16th, 8 AM)
It doesn't take too long for the merchant ship, a simple caravel, to come into view. The Poison Curse speeds forward, the wind in its favor, and its two companion ships flanking it.

The merchant ship appears to be trying to change course, to turn around and use the wind to flee. Scourge chuckles. "Looks like they are trying to run. Do something about that, would you, Sable?"

Sable nods and pulls some components out. "We'll need to get closer," she warns.

"Then let's start with a speed boost, eh?" the captain replies.

Sable starts to chant and then holds her hands aloft, gesturing to the sails. She conjures a sudden burst of wind from nowhere that fills the sails and causes the ship to lurch forward. The Curse leaves its companions behind and is soon within 100 yards of the merchant caravel. They are close enough that the party can see the crew moving about on the ship without a spyglass. The merchant crew are armed and readying themselves for battle.

Scourge nods to Sable and she begins chanting again. This time she conjures a bolt of lightning which streaks from her hands, across the distance between the ships and then strikes the mast of the merchant ship head on. It snaps audibly and catches fire, causing panic as the crew has to quickly put out the flame. They are dead in the water now, as a result, though.

"Get ready to board her!" Scourge roars, drawing his sabre and holding it in the air. The crew cheers and hoots.

Val and Naras (Undine Community/Sardonx 16th, 8 AM)
Unable to communicate with the undine directly, Val attempts to size them up and guess their intent. However, it is of no avail. Whether the undine are just unreadable or she just isn't good at judging one's attitude, Val finds she has no idea what they are likely feeling at the moment.

Serenna nods in reply. "I'm glad you understand the error of your ways. As a representative of my people, I accept your apology. And of course, we are happy to split the treasure with you and your...companion."

"We're also glad to see you are up and about again," Cye says. "And we're grateful for your aid in rescuing our mother and the others that were captured, and thwarted the Ixitxachitl's plans."

"I take it you will be leaving once you are healed again?" asks Shin.

==============

Val makes a WIS check [TN 10] (1d20): 17, fail.

[BishGada]

Baeros looks at the powers of Sable with awe. 'And she fears the captain...' he reminds himself. 'I hope Jocelyn didn't jump too high...' Then he readies his weapons considering how he can on one hand avoid killing innocent people and on the other hand get the favor of the captain or at least not become too suspicious.

===================================================================
(OOC: Who are the other fighters and are we all together? Is it Brock and Drav?)

[Breila]

With everyone's eyes on the merchant, Ouragana (who has been standing back because she doesn't have any weapons save her dagger) uses the opportunity to make Gallath invisible. "Good luck" she says softly enough for no one else to hear over the roars, "you can go now".

[Chris1234]

"Thank you, Serenna. That is very gracious of you," replies Naras, accepting for once what is in front of her rather than trying to force the issue in a particular other direction. "I will tell her, Val, in a minute. I am certain that she would echo my words."
Turning to Cye, the dwarf answers, "Thank you, Cue, and you're very welcome. Frankly I'm pleased to have been able to have done the Ixitxachixl a disservice. And I would have tried to save my friend, your mother, on my own if necessary. Clearly I would have failed here, so my thanks to each of you, too. I would hope, that should we meet again, we might be good friends."
"Good to see you up and about, Shin. I would plan to return with a full set of spells, so perhaps tomorrow morning. But it would be nice to be able to talk with your mother once more before then. Anyway, if I might ask without causing offence, is there anything behind the question? For example, is there something that I, or we, could potentially help with? Or is it the opposite and my, or our, presence causes a concern in some way?"

[spyguy1503]

Gallath nods, then realizes that she can't see him. He turns and heads for downstairs, waiting for someone else to open the door so that it doesn't open on its own, unless nobody is looking. He tries to move silently through the hallways toward the captain's office.

[JadedDM]

Ouragana, Baeros, Gallath and Drav (Poison Curse, Upper deck/Sardonx 16th, 8 AM)
Baeros, Drav, Brock and Ouragana join the boarding parties, their weapons at the ready. They are joined by a couple of dozen other sailors of various races. Gallath, however, as literally disappeared, but nobody seems to notice one missing elf among them.

Quietly, he makes his way to the captain's cabin, the door being on the upper deck, beneath the aftcastle. Strangely, there are no guards. Was he not worried about Jocelyn getting out? Then again, he spots a large and sturdy padlock on the door. Perhaps that is enough to keep her inside.

Val and Naras (Undine Community/Sardonx 16th, 8 AM)
"You and your companion will always be welcome to return here," Cye says with a smile. "I'm sure mother will appreciate future visits."

"Nothing like that," Shin says. "For now, we are only focused on rebuilding. I only assumed you would be eager to return to the surface is all."

[Breila]

Ouragana will stay as much behind as she can, fighting only in self-defense, since she obviously isn't good at it. She will look out for wounded and disabled pirates and bring them to safety as an excuse for not joining the fight.

[BishGada]

Baeros tells the others, "Try to avoid unnecessary killing." seeing some pirates look at him he adds, "We can get higher ransom for the living!" To his friends he adds quietly, "If we can get to the other captain fast and capture him, the battle will be short and with less bloodshed. Move together and protect each other." Then he spots Ouragana, "Hmm... stay between us..."

[Chris1234]

"Thank you, Cye, I would like that too, although I'm not sure that I would be able to find this place again," replies Naras with a genuinely warm smile.
She nods to Shin, "Yes, I still have a problem of the air genasai to deal with, the one that promises and chaos to my home and can Hold a red slaad effortlessly. Anyway, please give me a few moments to bring Val up to date."
Naras translates the highlights of the conversation so far to Val.

[spyguy1503]

Gallath checks behind him, then attempts to pick the lock.

[JadedDM]

Ouragana, Baeros, Gallath and Drav (Poison Curse, Upper deck/Sardonx 16th, 8 AM)
The pirates laugh at Baeros' statement, apparently thinking he was making a joke. "Yeah, let's ignore the funnest part for whatever measly ransom a bunch of nobodies can come up with."

One slaps the ranger on the back in camaraderie. "Don't be nervous, newbie. This your first raid? Trust me, your instincts will take over. Just let 'em. Trust me, you'll have more fun that way."

Meanwhile, Gallath starts work on the lock. He is in plain view and keeps expecting someone to see him, but nobody does, thanks to the invisibility. After a few minutes of working on it, he hears the audible click of it unlocking.

==========

Gallath makes an open locks check on the captain's cabin [TN 55%] (1d100): 55, pass.

Val and Naras (Undine Community/Sardonx 16th, 8 AM)
Naras gives Val a summary of everything spoke of so far in the common tongue.

"Well, if you will excuse us, we have to return to work," Serenna says.

"If there is anything further you need, feel free to ask," Cye adds.