"_Great," Azzedar mumbles as he hears the voice. He turns around once more and sees the woman who could only be the leader of whoever lives in these caves.  But still, Azzedar knows when to keep his mouth shut, and when to answer.  He answers with a soft, yet still heard, "Yes ma'am."

Hoat is suprised to see a woman claim to be the captain of this rock, but he knows how to take orders when necessary. In any case, why pass up the opportunity for loot and grog?

But Hoat is his father's son, after all, and he replies with a very obvious leer,

"Aye, Aye!..... Captain"

Hearing the unexpected voice of a woman, Hogar the Hapless turns around.  When the promise of grog is made, Hogar nods.

"Well Captain Lassie, I be ye Dwarf, if'n ye have the grog, promise of loot and a chance to chase the Dwarven Lassies.  I can follow ye orders as well as the next scurry pirate that be on ye crew."

"I be called Hogar the Hapless, do ye want us to sign ye ship's articles?"

Tensing as the hands come down on his back, several magics leap to Zorlax's mind. Slowly turning around, he start a quick chant for a few magic bolts. He pulls up short when the woman speaks and gets a puzzled look on his face. Press ganged? <Looking from side to side>. Where is the gang? He turns back to the other pressed "sailors" and rasies an eyebrow as if to ask "Do we take her?" This plan is dashed as the others seem to jump right on board, so to speak.
"interesting... to meet you...umm Captian. But I see no ship, nor press gang. I am not sure if I should join you for your... adventures. I have certain obligations I cannot drop just to simply hop aboard the first ship that presents itself, or rather almost presents itself. However with the right temptation, I could become a useful wizard in your service. Perhaps we can discuss this over a mug of wine, as I have never admired grog." (In a lower voice)"These others are a troublesome lot. Can you handle their type?" As he finishes he takes stock of the self-styled captian to see what her reaction to his last comment is.

"The ship be newly looted and is on it's shakedown run. As fer me press-gang, they're watchin' ye, ye can be sure o' that.
Yer payment will be in scrolls...ye like the idea o' that, magic-boy? If'n ye be wantin' wine in favour of grog, ye can 'ave it, provided ye do yer job...though you'll 'ave less t' drink than the other lads." She smiles as if all is satisfactory before whispering in Zorlax's ear Ye'd be wiser askin' if'n ye can handle MY type.
She lets go of Zorlax's shoulders and disappears!

She appears instantly in front of Azzedar and eyes him up before smiling.
"Ship'll be back within the hour. I'll be in me 'office' if ye wants me." she points at a piece of stone on a higher level to where you're all standing. "Feel free to wander about 'till the boat gets back."

She disappears again, leaving only what looks like a whisp of black smoke behind her. Appearing once more, outside the piece of rock she just pointed at. She seems to put her hand through the rock then brings her entire body through the rock wall.

Zorlax turns and wanders deeper into the cave looking for anything of interest.

'Well, well, well.  Let's see how all of this turns out.'

Azzedar doesn't let off much surprise at anything so far.  He didn't even so much as blink when the captain appeared in front of him.  Well, she was about as good as anyone so far, at least she had the courtesy to show her abilities, even if they were minor, up front instead of hiding them away as the others are.  This might have been a good move after all.

Shaking his head, Hogar calls out, "But Captain Lassie, where be the grog?  Me throat be mighty dry."

Once she is gone, he looks over at Hoat grinning, "Well me fine tall giant of a friend, ye can show me how to get a bit of drink out of a forsaken rock, since our new Captain has disappeared into yonder rock."

Azzedar aits back to wait, but soon gets bored of the waiting.  He stands back up and walks around the rock, searching fpr any secrets or stashes of this 'pirate' ship and crew.

The cove itself has 2 floors. The ground floor which contained mooring for a sizeable boat and the upper floor wahich was really more of a balcony that ran around the walls with sairways leading up to them.

Azzedar and Zorlax walk around the cove, exploring each wall for more illusionary barriers. It turns out that there are several of them. Each having what feels like doors dehind them. A couple are simply holes, obviously only meant for storage or perhaps ambushes for invaders. Yes, this was a very defensible base.
Zorlax is the first to find something of interest. A bunch of barrels was in one such storage hole, probably filled with liquid. What could be in them? Grog? Alchemist's fire?

Azzedar finally gets bored of eyeing his new 'home' and sits back on the ground.  Leaning his back up against the rock that the captain had blended into, he takes out his rapier and eyes it critically, as if trying to determine any fault or crack.

[Private to DM N1NJ4C0W: Okay, Sleight of Hand to get the Black Adder Venom out of my pouch and into my hand and another to apply it without anyone knowing.

Sleight of Hand: 24
Sleight of Hand: 17
Poison Check (5% chance): 29]

OOC: How big are the barrels?

OOC: About 3 feet tall by a foot wide

Hogar wanders around and in due time finds the barrels, checking out the bung hole of one he take a deep sniff.

[Private to GM: Be it Grog or something foul?  Hogar be thirsty!]

-PL-

[Private to Azzedar: You manage to apply your venom without anyone noticing.]

[Private to Hogar the Hapless: It's not grog but it smells alcoholic.]

Taking another deep breath, Hogar announces to any within hearing, "Shiver me timbers, tis not grog, but it smells good to me."

Tilting a barrel over to one side, Hogar pours out some of the liquid and tries to catch it in a mug.  His aim is a bit off and more ends up on the floor than in the mug.  However he is able to get a mug full and overflowing.  Letting the barrel sit back, he picks up the mug and take another deep smell.

"Well here goes, down the hatch!"

Hogar takes a deep sip of the liquid.

The tste is familiar to one such as yourself. It is Dwarven Red eye and really quite powerful.

[Private to Hogar the Hapless: Take a DC 14 fort. save.]
This message was last edited by the GM at 09:59, Thu 10 Nov 2005.

Zorlax watches with amusement as the dwarf downs the contents. He pauses then says casually You don't suppose that is the captian's merchandise do you?

Hogar starts to glup his mug of spirits, tis ol' Red Eye.  A good barrel of spirits.

[Private to GM: Fort Save: 10  Let the fun begin!]

"Ho there dwarf! Save some fer th' rest of us!  now where's a mug round here?"

Hoat casts about for a spare mug. No one out-drinks Hoat Hundemar, but that dwarf looks like a mighty contender...

(OOC:  Sorry I have not posted much lately - I hope to pick up the pace shortly)
This message was last edited by the player at 06:15, Fri 11 Nov 2005.

Azzedar sits in with his back against the stone with a half smile on his face as he watches the others go about their business.  Finding mugs for ale, worrying about merchandise, it really doesn't matter until this woman's ship gets back, anyway.

Finding a mug, Hoat taps the barrel, once the drink is finished, it seems a contest has begun.

[Private to Hoat Hundemar: DC 14 fort. save please.]
[Private to Hogar the Hapless: Take 2 wisdom damage and 1 dexterity damage (both temporary)]

Hogar finishes his full mug of 'Old Red Eye' and with eyes closed smacking his lips, you can tell that he is putting this taste into his memory.  After a few heartbeats he opens his eyes, if possible they appear to be a bit more bloodshot than before.

Looking over at Hoat, "Welllll, ye not being need to squeeze the rocks for ye drink.  There be good Old Red Eye here.  Now watch ye-self, it have a bit of a kick for those of ye that were not raised on such fine drink.  Once I even seen it knock a half-troll back on his arse when he tried to drink a snort of the good stuff. No regrowing parts for him, just burned his insides out all the way through.  Of course it had nothing to do with the vial of acid I poured in his mug. Hogar booming drunken laughter explodes as he remembers the past.

For some reason Hogar is content to sit for the time being.

The mug of 'Old Red Eye' is empty within seconds, and Hoat wipes his beard with a filthy hand. He laughs saying, "Har dwarf! You'll not outlast a Hundemar in a drinkin' contest! You're already lookin wobbly, an' this stuff's weak as mother's mi..."

At that moment, Hoat blinks and takes a step backward, as if something has just struck him on the head.  Another blink, and Hoat lets loose with a great "Whaaa-hoooo!"

Now-it'sss onn dwar'!"

Hoat refills his mug and again empties it in a single swig.


17:30, Today: Hoat Hundemar rolled 10 using 1d20+5. Fort Save. #1
17:42, Today: Hoat Hundemar rolled 8 using 1d20+5. Fort Save #2.

This message was last edited by the player at 22:43, Fri 11 Nov 2005.

Shaking his head at Hoat's great boast, Hogar pours himself another mug full.  Pointing the mug at Hoat, "Ye big louts are all the same, ye thing, uh, ye think, yea that's right. Ye think that speed is the way to win.  It be how long ye last that wins.  Be it with the cups or the lasses."

Then he lifts the mug to his lips and slowly drinks it down without stopping. Enjoying every moment that the 'Old Red Eye' travels over his taste buds.

Fort Save: 23