It was not a good start of an adventuring career. Your trip to Forked River had been difficult, but you had made it, and there was no sign of the bounty hunters that had been chasing you.

  You had heard of the famous Phoenix Blades, a local guild well known as defenders of the underdogs. You're not sure why, but Noric really seems to have taken a shine to them. A bit of questioning told you where to find them, as well as stories of one of their member, the Giant of the Phoenix Blades.

  You thought your luck had turned when you heard that said Giant was in town, and you even manage to spot him climbing aboard his ship... leading a gaggle of women. You sneaked aboard, only to find a room full of women standing in a room, gazing at a drawing of three rings arranged around a circle. In a daze, the women offer no resistance to the two burly men tying them up...

What do you do?

Istvan studies the situation...

(13:57, Today: Istvan Vanoson rolled 6 using 2d6 ((3,3)). (I forgot the +2 for Wis, so 8)

What here is not what it appears to be?)

Two things jump to Istvan's eyes.

First: all the women have the same flower pinned to their dresses.

Second: although the rings and circle looked like some abstract drawing, the presence of candles and other items in front of it seems to point to it being a holy (or unholy?) symbol.

Well, that didn't help...

(15:59, Today: Istvan Vanoson rolled 10 using 2d6+2 with rolls of 6,2.  Guidance..)

Istvan can hardly believe that a Phoenix Blade would allow something bad to be happening on his ship, and he really doesn't want to start a fight with the two large men... He prays (successfully) to Noric for a little Guidance for this situation...

Istvan couldn't remember the last time he felt Noric was angry... but if he had been as angry as he was now, he WOULD have remembered. Like a whisper, Istvan learns what that symbol is. Three manacles, linked by a circle of chains... the mark of Vendak the Keeper, god of slavery..."

You feel Noric hide you, and helping you to approach these detestable slavers.

MEANWHILE...

On the docks, a man looks at the ship Istvan slip in with cold eyes. His watch in only interrupted when an impressive barbarian draws near, accompanied by a warrior. He jumps in front of them, and the barbarian, Gilfred Horneater, smiles as he sees him. "So you're Morti's nephew. Nice to meet you, Khaaven. This is Vos, a warrior who wants to join the guild, and helped me get here in time. Have you found the imposter?"

"Yes, I am the nephew and they are on the ship which is about to set sail. Nice to meet you all, let's talk more later after drinks. NOW there is fighting to be done, lets go before they escape." after which he quickly makes his way to the ship before it can sail.

His rapier and parrying dagger at the ready, his body protected by dueling leathers which are worn but in perfect order.

Since no one has noticed him yet, Istvan tries just whacking the nearest guy with his mace.

(11:53, Today: Istvan Vanoson rolled 2 using 1d6 ((2)). 2 damage...)

The blow rings with a satisfying ring, like striking a brass bell. Unfortunately, heads aren't considered vital organs for barbarian slavers, and only give a pained "YEOW!" as he turns around, holding his head. He looks at Istvan in confusion, barely standing on his feet, but drawing a wicked-looking knife...

From the other side of the room, the second slaver says "What is it? Did you cut your pinky again?"

(Welp, I guess now is the time to use the Hack and Slash roll I rolled earlier...

08:54, Today: Istvan Vanoson rolled 7 using 2d6 with rolls of 3,4.  attack a guard.

On a 7–9, you deal your damage to the enemy and the enemy makes an attack against you (or the GM causes something else problematic to happen).)

Istvan attacks again, hoping to finish the guy off quickly...

(12:57, Today: Istvan Vanoson rolled 1 using 1d6 ((1)).

Aw, heck. Dude takes 1 new damage, woooo.)
This message was last edited by the player at 17:58, Sun 11 Oct 2020.

"Can i help ya find the impostor?". Says with fast tone.

"Any help would be appreciated." Gilbert says, as he observes the vessel. "It seems there's a lot of slavers on board."

---

Inside the ship, a quick slap of the mace sends one of the slavers to the ground, but drawing the attention of the second one. "What? What's going on here!?" He makes his way through the dazed women toward Istvan.

Thanks, where is him?

looks toward the ship once again, "Yes they have the numbers but we have surprise and something worth fighting for not to mention we are trickier."

With that he moves forward and engages the enemy at the ship. Channeling his inner energy into his blade he attacks. It was a solid slash, but what followed next was a thing to behold.

18:26, Today: Khaaven Gryphonblade rolled 4 using 1d8 with rolls of 4.
This message was last edited by the player at 23:13, Sun 11 Oct 2020.

Gilbert easily points out the imposter. Among the slavers, one of them is almost a full head taller than the rest. That would be impressive... if you didn't stand next to someone who's at least seven feet tall.

You can't wait any longer thought, as you see the slavers casting of, and the ship head away toward the Mistshroud Ocean. With a grunt, Gilbert runs down the dock before jumping on the ship. You follow soon after, Khaaven seemingly splitting in two, and striking down two of the slavers at once.

The rest are stunned for a moment, before their leader snarls "Get rid of them! For Vendak!"

Khaaven singles out an opponent and attacks him with a furious assault of blows never giving him a chance to recover properly.

Your attack ends with a flurry of strikes that your opponent must dedicate effort to blocking or avoiding. If they instead attack you in response to your attack, deal your damage again (this does not apply techniques).

Target takes 2 damage if he attacks me he will take 4 instead.

22:45, Today: Khaaven Gryphonblade rolled 2 using 1d8 with rolls of 2.

22:44, Today: Khaaven Gryphonblade rolled 7 using 2d6+2 with rolls of 1,4.  Arcane Bladework .

Istvan grabs for the first guy's dropped dagger, to cover up the slaver god's image.

(10:21, Today: Istvan Vanoson rolled 4 using 2d6+1 with rolls of 1,2.  grab dagger, block image from view of ladies. FAIL.)

Istvan ducks down, grabs for the hilt of the dagger, stands up straight again, grabs the drape--

--and drops the dagger. Oops. And here comes the bad guy...

(Well, there's my first XP point...)

The slaver snarls as he finally reaches Istvan, and tries to tackle him to the ground...

---

Khaaven moves on to attack the next slaver, pushing him back and wounding him... but at the same time, a second slaver makes his way to the arcanist's side...

---

Meanwhile, a lone figure on the docks observes the battle...

"Gilbert."

The huge barbarian woman grinned as she saw her contact leading the charge against the slavers. Her long legs pounded her down the dockside, and a prodigious leap followed as she landed on the deck.

Drawing a greatsword from between her shoulder blades, she bellowed to get the slavers' attention.

"Cowards! Dishonorable dogs-not-men! Come show me what you do against a real woman, eh?"


11:47, Today: Ingris rolled 8 using 2d6+1 with rolls of 4,3.  "What are you waiting for?!". The weakest or the most foolhardy of the crew will see me as their target, and I will gain +2 damage on them.

Corded muscle flexed in the barbarian's neck and shoulders, and her grin became feral. "Come. Come to me you motherless wretches."

Three of the slavers look away from their original targets... and decide to turn toward Ingris instead... including the one trying to outflank Khaaven. Another three are busy facing Gilbert. That leaves two against Vos, an injured one on Khaaven, and the leader gritting his teeth in the back.

Khaaven continues his attack on the wounded slaver, once again channeling his inner energy only to be distracted by the battle unfolding before him. "Damn, I know better just need to focus and relax . It is what I have trained for  my entire life."

13:34, Today: Khaaven Gryphonblade rolled 5 using 2d6+2 with rolls of 2,1.  Arcane Bladework .
This message was last edited by the player at 17:38, Mon 12 Oct 2020.

Istvan tries, as nimbly as he is able, to dodge getting tackled...


(12:48, Today: Istvan Vanoson rolled 9 using 2d6+1 with rolls of 3,5.  dodge the tackle.

(If Istvan had been really lucky, he might've tried just sidestepping and whacking the guy in the head, but it doesn't appear that he was that lucky...))

OOC: Sorry, but could someone give me a bit of context? I am completely lost.

OOC: The quick recap: as Vos, Khaaven, and Gilbert were looking at the ship, it started sailing off. You jumped on the deck, and attacked the slavers. Another barbarian, Ingris, jumped after you. Currently, she has three foes on her, Vos has two, and Khaaven has one.

Istvan tries to step out of the way, but the slaver's knife makes that a dangerous proposition...

OOC: Tough choice time: do you want to avoid getting grappled but get slashed, or do you keep away from the knife and let him grab you?

---

Khaaven's foe, seeing an opening in his defense, decides it's time to get rim of him for good! He shoulder-tackles the duelist, trying to push him off the ship. How will he defend himself?

(The first thing. Istvan'll risk taking slash damage to actually getting grabbed.)

Istvan jumps back and avoids the tackle, but not quite fast/far enough to avoid the knife in the large man's hand...

Khaaven see's the area around him and places himself in an area that if tackled he will at least not be thrown from the ship. This pause in action did in turn gives his opponent enough time to tackle  him.


10:46, Today: Khaaven Gryphonblade rolled 4 using 2d6+2 with rolls of 1,1.  defy danger.

One of the approaching slavers slashes at Ingris, cutting into her side. Looking down at the wound, her grin widens further. "Such as I thought. Useless mongrels!"

The pommel of her greatsword snaps out, smacking the attacker in the face. There's the crushing noise of a cracked nose, and the slaver flails backwards, landing on the edge of the deck.


09:56, Today: Ingris rolled 7 using 2d6+2 with rolls of 3,2.  Attack one of the approaching slavers.
09:57, Today: Ingris rolled 14 using 1d10+4 with rolls of 10.  Damage!
Oh jeez. That's gonna leave a mark!

The slaver's blade bounces off Istvan's shield. The women around the dueling men slowly move away, leaving them battle freely.

12:35, Today: The Patchwork God, for the NPC Slaver, rolled 1 using 1d6 with rolls of 1.  Slash!

---

Khaaven's move spares him from a dangling fate... but leaves him on the deck of the ship, with a slaver holding him down.

You're held down, but you can free yourself with another Defy Danger... or you can just Hack and Slash with your dagger.

A gurgling scream followed by a splash are the last things you hear from the first slaver. The attack, desperate to remove the biggest threat by far...

And boy do they hit! A massive 7 points of damage before your armor!

12:52, Today: The Patchwork God, for the NPC Slavers, rolled 7 using 1d6+1 with rolls of 6.  Double slash!

Khaaven, while being held to the deck of the ship relaxes himself stares over the slavers shoulder and  smiles. "You can't miss him, Just drive the sword home." Then in a sudden jerk using his whole body rolls free throwing the slaver off, grabbing his rapier, getting to his feet.

12:59, Today: Khaaven Gryphonblade rolled 12 using 2d6+2 with rolls of 5,5.  defy danger.

Once back on his feet he again channels his energy through his blade lashing out at the slaver striking him a solid blow to the already wounded slaver. Once again mirror images of Khaaven appear to suddenly strike at the slavers engaged with Ingris the female barbarian.

13:06, Today: Khaaven Gryphonblade rolled 13 using 2d6+2 with rolls of 5,6.  Arcane Bladework .

13:06, Today: Khaaven Gryphonblade rolled 3 using 1d8 with rolls of 3.  Damage.

You create illusions of yourself that strike additional enemies near your target. Illusions deal your damage but do not apply any techniques.

Seems like there's nothing for it now but to fight (again). Istvan swings his mace at the fellow...

(13:05, Today: Istvan Vanoson rolled 8 using 2d6 with rolls of 3,5.  hack and slash..)

Vos tries to attack the slave in front. Doing a horizontal cut.


15:23, Today: Vos rolled 15 using 1d10+13 with rolls of 2.  Hack and Slash .

Yes, yes it hurt. Quite a bit, in fact, but Ingris was rarely one to show pain, especially against enemies she'd called upon herself. Still, instead of words, she let loose a ferocious growl as she swung her massive blade at the poor sap who stabbed her, clipping him only slightly aside the head, but taking off an ear (at the very least!)

17:37, Today: Ingris rolled 8 using 2d6+2 ((1,5)) - 17:37, Today: Ingris rolled 6 using 1d10+4 ((2)).

With a strength born of desperation, Istvan smashes his mace in the slaver's rib. The man chokes, and falls to the ground with a gurgle. He's not getting up anytime soon.

---

Outside, the melee only gets more chaotic. Khaaven manages to throw the slaver off of him, before striking both of the ones attacking Ingris, seemingly at the same time. He then darts out of the way, as Ingris swings her blade in his general direction, decapitating the slaver who tried to grab Khaaven.

At the same time, Vos slashes one of his opponent, leaving him bleeding to death. Alas, his swipe was not enough of a deterrent for the second slaver, who stabs him with his own blade.

The slaver deals 4 points of damage. You armor blocks 2 of it, so you're down 2 hp.

Quickly, Istvan gets the two daggers and pins the drape up, totally covering the slaver-image.

(Not rolling for it this time, because who's gonna stop me?)

Khaaven quickly steps back into melee with the two still up that were attacking Ingris. Once again his strike was a solid hit  and other images of him also attacked the remaining one. "I will take these, go after the leader. I will join you in a second or two."

11:56, Today: Khaaven Gryphonblade rolled 4 using 1d8 with rolls of 4.

11:56, Today: Khaaven Gryphonblade rolled 11 using 2d6+2 with rolls of 4,5.  Arcane Bladework .

You create illusions of yourself that strike additional enemies near your target. Illusions deal your damage but do not apply any techniques.

With the holy symbol covered, the woman start to slowly recover their senses. They still look kinda drugged, but they're no longer completely lost, asking Istvan what's going on, and where they are.

---

Khaaven assists Vos, taking out another slaver. Looking about, only two of the criminals who went to attack Gilbert are still standing... at least until Gilbert is done beating them up with the unconscious body of their acolyte.

The slaver's leader snarls as he steps closer. "I'll take at least one of you down, if it's the last thing I do!"

Khaaven makes his way to the slaver and leader and attacks which was an utter failure.

23:08, Today: Khaaven Gryphonblade rolled 5 using 2d6+2 with rolls of 1,2.  Arcane Bladework .

"Lllllllladies... Istvan Vanoson, cleric of Noric, deity of Freedom, here... For some reason, Noric is interested in the famous Phoenix Blades, and I was told one of then, Giant, was here... and I thought I saw him leading you on board this ship... But when I got here, you were all staring at an image behind that drape-- don't look under there-- three manacles, linked by a circle of chains... the mark of Vendak the Keeper, god of slavery, whom Noric really, really hates. These two guys I just knocked out were tying you up... before I knocked them out..."

(08:57, Today: Istvan Vanoson rolled 10 using 2d6 with rolls of 6,4.  Spout lore flowers.

OOH OOH i tried to Spout Lore about those flowers the Lllladies are wearing and I got a 10

quote:

On a 10+, the GM will tell you something interesting and useful about the subject relevant to your situation.

)

The slaver avoid Khaaven's blow with surprising agility, replying with a strike from his bastard sword. Thankfully the blow was light...

The slaver deals 3 points of damage to Khaaven, before armor.

---

As looks more closely at the flower, Istvan notices a strange smell from the flower... a smell that makes him dizzy. These flowers seems like some sort of drug, probably meant to keep the women docile and easy to manage.

Khaaven grins at the slaver once he was struck, "If that is the best you can do, you will be dying without taking anyone with you." He once again  attacks but when the slaver is struck no other images  appear instead it is as if the damage caused to the slaver instead is healing Khaaven.

08:17, Today: Khaaven Gryphonblade rolled 14 using 2d6+2 with rolls of 6,6.  Arcane Bladework .

08:21, Today: Khaaven Gryphonblade rolled 6 using 1d8 with rolls of 6.  Damage.

Your attack heals you for 1d4. Heal 1d8 instead if this attack kills your target.

Is no need to roll for the heal as I only took 1  damage, wanted to heal to make sure didnt get  to far behind and as a morale  factor to let him know whatever damage he does I can heal and kill him at the same time.

Ah ha! Thought so!

Istvan starts taking the flowers off the women-- he'll toss them in a corner if that's the handiest thing-- he'd rather toss them out a porthole if possible.

The slaver stumbles, before snarling. "Damn you... May Vendak take your soul! May he bind you as he bound the genies of old!"

EDIT: Named the wrong god...

---

The room doesn't have any windows, but there is a door leading to a small storage area, mostly filled with ropes and shackles. But as Istvan discards the removed flowers there, he notices a box of spices on a shelf.

With the flowers removed, the women snap out of their daze, but turn to Istvan for guidance. "Is it... is it safe to leave?"

OOC: The spices are poppy seeds, and are worth 5 coins if you sell them.
This message was last edited by the GM at 14:31, Sat 17 Oct 2020.

Istvan takes the box of spices.

"Good question, ladies. Hold still and quiet, and let me take a look."

Istvan heads to the nearest exit door from the room, and takes a tiny peek.

(I'll roll Discern Realities if you want me to; just let me know.)
This message was last edited by the GM at 13:55, Sat 17 Oct 2020.

Khaaven once again attacks the slaver with a flurry of attacks, leaving no opportunity to attack unless being struck again.

on phone rolled a 9 and 4 damage. if he attacks will take extra 4 damage.

Istvan looks outside to see if the coast is clear... only to see an out-and-out warzone. The crew he had avoided previously is scattered on the deck, either bleeding or dead. The 'giant' he had seen is getting stabbed multiple times by a half-elf duelist. And before he can recover, a man the size of an ogre grabs him from behind, and with an terrifying suplex, shouts "That's what you get for impersonating me!"

Only four persons remain standing: The half-elf duelist, a tattooed barbarian woman, an armored man with a well made sword, and the seven feet-tall barbarian with a scary battle axe.

And they all look at Istvan, waiting to see his reaction.

"Um, heyyyyy, guys... Istvan Vanoson, cleric of Noric, here... You know, Noric, god of Freedom?" (Depending on who he's talking to, sometimes Istvan glosses over the also god of darkness and thieves part at first, and this is one of those times.) "I've knocked out two big guards and rescued a whole bunch of lovely ladies in here... so... is it safe for them to come out now, I take it...?"
This message was last edited by the player at 16:56, Sat 17 Oct 2020.

Ingris bellowed laughter, largely ignoring the gashed wound on her side.
"Yes, little priest! Come, let us take saltwater for the victory*! All is safe for you and the women!"

*Saltwater for the victory I plan on being a barbarian custom to introduce the group to.

Istvan turns and addresses the lllllllladies behind him. "All right, ladies, it appears to be safe to come on out... I think someone was impersonating a Phoenix Guard, but he's totally been dealt with. You may or may not have to drink a little seawater but I'm sure that's healthy in moderation maybe."

As the women steps on the deck, careful to avoid the many bloodstains strewn about. Their eyes bulge when they see the barbarian step up. He holds up the wooden amulet around his neck, and from it, an image appears of a sword pointing to the sky, flanked by flaming wings. I am Gilbert Horneater, member of the Phoenix Blades." He says.

The women whispers among themselves. "He's the giant of the Phoenix Blades?"
"I thought the other guy was tall..."
"Are they all from the Phoenix Blades?"

As you do your best to reassure the slaver's victims, Gilbert asks "So... do any of you know how to stop a boat?" as the slaver's vessel drifts out of the harbor...

Khaaven quickly goes to the helm and starts to maneuver the ship back to the dock. It doesn't take long as they were just starting to leave. "Before we leave best we search everywhere for coin and information on their operation.  So that we can punish all responsible parties."

on phone rolled 13 spout lore so just took us back to the dock

Khaaven knows enough about ships... to know it would take an actual crew to safely maneuver this ship. You do find a nice purse on the slaver's captain, giving you 5 coins each.

"I can tell you who they were working for." Gilbert spits to the side. "The tribes of Nuath still practice slavery to this day. Half the country's army is dedicated to holding them back, but they always find some way to slip through the cracks."