In reply to Skeeter (msg # 183):
 Cassandre eyerolled at Skeeter’s lurid puns.
  “She’s just a kid, don’t get any ideas…”

“It’s ok, buttercup; don’t let the horny hobbit impress you. We’re here to help. I’ll take care of him later.”

She may look scary now, clad in black and red and gold and with ribbons in her horns, but she does mean to help spooked little gnomes.

Bellinha and Cassandre, you count up your beans...



Anyone else hunting beans?  Please have your Per. check rolls in by Saturday.  Thanks

---

Kamatar, you see the next target coming.  It's almost directly overhead.

Funny you should ask. Yes.

Because you are right on top of it, you can choose to automatically hit it and not move.  Or roll to hit an AC 12- and be able to take your move action.

---

The gnome sputters and is too busy knocking water out of her ear to mind Skeeter's skat Cassandre.

She sort of half glares, half mopes at the two of you and then mutters, "Thanks, I guess.  Uhm...are you guys gonna kill me?"

---

Jack, the merchant chokes on a snore, smacks his lips sleepily, mutters, "...no...don't put the butter on my toes..." and then rolls over and goes back to sleep.

Kamatar sees the next target flying in the air above him, the draw and firing of his bow smooth and sure. His arrow struck the target cleanly through the center. With a slight smile of satisfaction, the half orc moved on.

Leaping from one side of the broken ship, he jumped high into the air above the ship and then dropped gently back down onto the centerpiece section of the ship, landing as gentle as a feather despite all his visible size and muscle, awaiting the next target.

Kamatar Yu Pan rolled 26 using 1d20+10.  Arrow fired at 3rd Target, DC 12.

Kamatar Yu Pan rolled 36 using 1d20+16.  Acrobatics/Jumping roll. (Woo Hoo!)

Kamatar leaped from J8 to M8 to prepare for his 4th shot
This message was last edited by the player at 07:38, Sun 03 Mar.

Jack leaves the room, locks the door again and goes off n search of Cassandre and Skeeter (or one or the other)

"If I was going to kill you, would I have thrown you a rope and helped you out of the water?" Skeeter scoffs incredulously.

"'She fell in and drowned' is such an easier explanation than 'We pulled her up onto the dock and then she fell on a dozen knives,'" He shrugs, smiling at his joke.

"No, seriously, we're not gonna kill you. We're just curious and have some questions for you. Can you come with us somewhere you can dry off and get warm while we ask you some things?"

Kamatar, I will update tomorrow morning. Having some technical issues with my map.

Jack, did you take anything out of the merchant's room?

Jack, you catch up to Cassandre and Skeeter as they seem to have found the (soaking wet) Gnome.

You walk up as Skeeter is joking about drowning and stabbing her.

The Gnome slowly nods her head, then looks away.  "I guess.  And...uh...yeah.  I guess I do need to change into something dry..."

She stares at the boat The Happy Homewrecker.  "But...uh...I gotta...uhm...I'm waiting for a friend who's supposed to be getting on this boat...and...uh..."

She obviously can't come up with a good lie.

Waiting to hear from one person, and then I will announce the winner of the Figgy Jam!  I know you've all been holding your breaths on that one.

And we will be moving onto the next story arc in a few days.

Woo-Hoo!  Good times!

Jack did take something in the Merchant's room but he didn't take it FROM the Merchant's room.  Instead, he hid the key under the carpet at the door.  He did it because he thought it was funny.  Jack enjoys a good prank, does Jack but hes not proper malicious.

He looked at the gnome girl and said.  "I could tack you up a nice dress right here and now, but you'd have to come back later for proper stitching."

Cassandre interrupted the convoluted way Skeeter was attempting to reassure the young gnome to just say «  We’re not going to kilt you », but then still let him finish because it was funny.

«  What’s your name, love? » she asked in an attempt at sympathy, before asking again :
«  You look like you’ve had a tough time of late, how about you just tell us all about it and we can help you ? »

She used her magic to dry her clothes.

The gnome seems overwhelmed by all of your kindness.  Or she just wants you all to stop paying attention to her Jack, Skeeter, and Cassandre

"A new dress?  I mean...that'd be swell...but now...uh...Huh?..You can use magic to dry my clothes...oh.  You just did.  Thanks...uh..."

A man starts walking down the dock, heading in the direction of The Happy Homewrecker.

The gnome blinks and then seems to panic, grabbing Skeeter and Cassandre and pulling you both with her behind some crates.  She waves at you Jack to come over as well.  She seems to have decided you are too big to pull over.

The man turns and walks up the gangplank of a different ship.

She groans, and then looks at you all.  "So...uhm...would you believe me if I said I'm trying to steal a rare book that has a clue on the location of an old tomb because it's the only way I can break up a gnomish slave ring?  My name's Peekepsie by the way.  But you can call me Keps."

---

Kamatar, you make a fantastic leap, managing a mid-air somersault and landing with your arrow nocked.  The judges all have to give you a 10 out of 10.  Even the Russian one.

The next target comes up...

AC 12.  Thanks for your patience.

---

The town is abuzz as Orus let's it be known the beans have been turned in and the points have been tallied.

Everyone gathers in front of the fish market, whispering as to who...oh who!..will take th Figgy Jam!

Orus steps up on a counter and whistles until the voices die down enough for him to be heard.

"Alright! Looks like we're all mostly no longer hung over!  Hope you had a good time last night!  And hope tha one you were with had one too!"

Lots of people chuckle and glance towards Bellinha and Breya.  Also towards Wilbur and the Widow Madrigal.  But that's another story.

"Alright.  We counted up the points and such.  So...let's get these prizes distributed!

"Our third place runner up is...Miss Cassandre Lagrene! Did I say that right?  Cassandre...you win...this parrot!"

He waves and someone hands him a birdcage.  A big, brightly colored parrot is perched uncomfortably inside.

"I understand his name is Deadly Mr. Buzzbones.  Or Buzzy.  He knows a lot of words, and most of 'em are clean! Come on up and take your prize Cassandre!"

After the parrot situation is sorted out, he announces that second place went to...Biff!  Yes, Biff was closest in points to first place without going over.  And Biff wins....a new carriage!

Everyone goes crazy.

But then then stop going crazy.

Orus smiles and gestures.  Someone hands him what everyone has been waiting to see.

The jar of Figgy Jam!

"Alrightie...and it was great personl pleasure that I present...our first prize...a jar of the famous Figgy Jam to...

...MY NIECE BELLINHA GRUNNEL!  Come on up and get your jam Bell!"

The crowd goes nuts!  They seem to want to pick you up Bellinha and crowd surf you to the stage.

Many are asking the same question:

"What are you gonna wish for Ms. Bell?"

"Are ya gonna go off and get rich?"

"You're gonna become an insurance adjustor, ain'tcha?"

You are soon given a palm sized jar of Figgy Jam Bellinha

Kamatar sees the next target flying in the air above him, the draw and firing of his bow not quite as smooth as his previous shot. Again, his arrow strikes the target clearly but not quite as centered as the previous shot. He calmly accepts the result and attempts to move on.

Leaping from the center section of the ship towards the stern of the broken ship, he again jumped high into the air, the effort of jumping clear on his face, this time landing a bit less gracefully, taking two steps before awaiting the next target.

Kamatar Yu Pan rolled 28 using 1d20+10.  Arrow fired at 4th Target, DC 12.

Kamatar Yu Pan rolled 21 using 1d20+16.  Acrobatics/Jumping roll, attempting to land on Q4.

Jack doesn't go hide with the others but instead turns around to look in a different direction until the man has gone onto the other boat.  "There's only one of me so I don't need to hide. He's not looking for me and half-assed attempts to hide only attract attention."

Then in response to the gnome girl's truer explanation nods. "Yes and I thoroughly disapprove of slavery.  How can we help.  Oh and by the by, how good a thief are you?"

  “I would believe you instantly without asking for you to produce any proof of what you advance; in fact it feels as as if I already knew that and you have merely reminded me of it.”

 “I’ll help you, I like books, I enjoy a good heist, and I’m generally against slavery too. Though I keep a goat, a cat and now a parrot captive, but I think that’s a different story.”

 She pretended to scratch her ear to take a look at the man, wondering if she knew him.

---

Cassandre was very surprised. Which was surprising, because she is never surprised. That’s part of the soothsayer life style really, you can’t really be good at the job of you go around being surprised at everything. Despite her internal Uberaschung, she displayed a curated ennui as she walked to the dais to collect her winning.
  “Of course, Deadly Mr Buzzbones it’s my prize. That’s the only reason I collected those stupid yellow beans in the first place.”
 “And it’s La-Grenn. It’s old Acadian. Means the Seed. Good or bad, I don’t know.”
 “Merci, for the loud bird… I shall make good use of him. I guess…”

She walked away, Apollo the cat in tow, and stared the bird down.
“All right, Mr Buzzbones… I reckon you can speak… but can you talk? Do you understand what I’m saying, and can you respond? Or do you just regular swear words for a laugh?”

She did wonder if this was in fact the Quasit she had asked for Christmas, arrived late and in a bizarre guise…

Breya laughed and applauded for Bellinha winning the figgy concoction.  She was just glad she had contributed in some small way to her victory.

Some part of her hoped Bellinha understood the gesture in other ways too.  There were things Bel was just better at, and Breya, though pigheaded, wasn't too pigheaded to support her when that's what was necessary.

For the most part Breya was just happy at not only what had happened the previous day (and night, and then again later at night), she was happy to be considered part of the furniture among normal people.  Well, normal was a strong word.  People who didn't keep other people in cages.  Just parrots with strange names.

Skeeter narrows his eyes at 'Keps', "Believing people at first blush tends to get me in more trouble than I'd like. That being said, if what you're saying is true, then you've probably found the best allies you could ask for. Ones who know the benefit of explaining that a certain individual tragically drowned, but are not opposed to expressing shock and disbelief at an individual's terrible luck in falling repeatedly on a dozen knives." He grins like a shark. "Tell us more. And who are we hiding from?"

Sense Motive on Keps: 11
Perception on the guy we're hiding from: 23
Stealth: 15 That's a 1. Why are my Stealth rolls Feast and Famine? One moment I'm a ghost in shadows, the next, I'm knocking over piles of rope and bouys. *Sigh*

Kamatar, you land a little harder than you would have liked.  But it doesn't throw your shot off too badly.  You nail it mid point over the ship.

One last one to go...

You may fire when ready.  AC 12 as well.  You got this I'm sure

---

Don't worry too much Skeet.  This time the stealth check doesn't mean too much. This time.

Deadly Mr. Buzzbones squawks at you Cassandre.  And then says, "What the *#&$ do you think I #(#*$& am?  Ya @@*#&$ off half (@&*#$& of a @($%$&!  I'm the @(##$$&%$ing great Brixby Buzzbones!  Greatest @(@#$&%$ wizard that's ever lived!"

He is silent a moment.  "I'm just kinda...in between forms with opposable thumbs is all."

---

Keps looks anywhere but at you Jack as she answers your question about her thieving ability.  "I'm...a pretty good thief.  I could be better...but...ya know.  Who couldn't, am I right?"

She laughs nervously, a nervous laugh which trails off and ends in a throat clearing cough.

"A-anyway...so.  There are these two merchants.  Well.  Smugglers actually.  They aren't directly involved with the slavers.  Mostly cos they aren't gnomes.  But they carry stuff back and forth for the slavers.  There's this book they have.  The slavers want it because it supposedly has a clue about where to find this tomb.  There's something in the tomb a client of theirs wants. This client has bought a bunch of slaves.  I'm hopign if I can get my hands on the whatever it is first, I can use it as leverage to get the slaves back from the client.

"The merchants are named Bill and Ted...no relation...and the book they have is one called GREAT TALES OF COURAGEOUS TURTLES."

Deadly Mr. Buzzbones laughs when he hears the title.  "Are you @(#$*%$& kidding me?  That book is just a legend!"

"I spotted you lifting that pouch with the note from across a crowded room. I lifted it off you while I was digesting industrial strength magic grease. Darlin, you need work. But you're trying, I'll give you that." Skeeter smiles genially.

"And what sort of book is that, that smugglers and slavers alike desire it so much?" he asks, mostly of Keps, but also to the strange parrot on Cass's shoulder

Kamatar quickly takes a centering breath following the two steps he made after landing on the stern. Releasing the breath, he seems to shoot from the hip, turning and firing on the moving target seemingly without any effort. Only his clearly calm expression and focussed look reveal his intensity to those who know how to look.

While his arrow strikes the 5th airborne target, he looks ahead to the path he'd already chosen to reach the last place he needed to reach to make his final shot. With that path seeming relatively clear of trouble, he quickly and deftly moved across the stern until he was there.

From his position at the furthest corner of the broken ship's stern, he took a knee and fired directly at the target. With the bow string singing and the arrow flying a nearly perfect path, he let a smile spread across his face. He stood with his arms raised with awe and joy.

Kamatar Yu Pan rolled 21 using 1d20+15.  Perception to check the path ahead (from Q4 to V4)

Kamatar Yu Pan rolled 29 using 1d20+10.  Arrow fired at Last Target, AC 12.

« Great tales of courageous turtles… I’ve heard of it. I think. What is it again? » she asked the parrot, but also rescued her own brains for clues.

« Mysterious books, wicked slave mongers, forgotten tombs, … sounds right up our alley, does it not? » She turned to Skeeter  and Jack.
« How about we take this to Beauty and the Best, see what they think of it? And I’m sure Kam would be keen to join too. If he’s done with his entry test to the Archery Swingers Club. »


Got a 19 in knowledge and 18 in lore (of which I have ranks in The Coast and Pirates) — does it yield any further information on the book ?
This message was last edited by the player at 00:10, Wed 06 Mar.

Once again, Bellinha felt her face go red from all of the attention given to her love life by the townsfolk.  She leaned closer to Breya in about as much of a display of public affection as she could muster at the moment.  Eventually she'd either get used to the attention or the town would find something else more interesting to gossip about.  Still, it was nice to know that the townsfolk felt so highly about her.

She waited for the results with baited breath, and ended up jumping for joy, and whooping some, when her name was called.  Getting to the stage was easier than she had expected, with the crowd practically pulling her all the way there.  Bell took the jar of jam from Orus and gave him a quick hug that she would blame on the emotion of the moment.  Then the questions started flying and Bellinha had to pause.  She'd been so focussed on winning that she hadn't given any thought to what she'd do if she did win.


"Oh hush.  Just enjoy the moment."  Bellinha said softly.  She gave some non-committal answers to the questions shouted by the crowd, with a few humourous responses mixed in, before leaving the stage.


"...ignoring you...Breya!  We won!  Can you beleive it?"  Bellinha threw her arms around Breya, hugging her tightly.  "Thank you so much for your help."

The crowd on the beach goes nuts Kamatar.  They are cheering and giving you thumbs up.

Darcy is standing there, her mouth gaping open a little bit.  O'Haggan pats her on the shoulder and says something.  You're too far away and it's too noisy to hear.

When you get back on the beach, she has a sullen expression but with a sigh, wipes it off her face and offers you a handshake.  "That was incredible.  I...have to admit.  I can't best that.  It wasn't the way you shot.  It was the way you incorporated it into your movements...well.  I concede.  I obviously have a lot to learn still."

---

People slap you on the back good naturedly Bellinha as you make your way back with the figgy jam to Breya.

So now the only question is...what are you gonna do with it?

---

Cassandre, you rack your brain.

Meanwhile, Keps answers your question Skeeter.  "Like I told ya...the book supposedly has some clue on how to find this tomb.  And inside the tomb is supposedly this necklace.  But it's some kind of magical do-hickey.

"But let me back up.  There's a client that these slavers have.  This client buys up a lot of slaves. But she supposedly isn't killing them or anything.  I don't know what she has them do.  But they are working for her.  But this client is waaaaaaaaayyy too powerful to just try to go in and free everybody.

"With me so far?  So the client put in a request to the slavers to find this book for her.  And they did.  Well.  Their contacts did.  The merchants are carrying it to the slavers who are supposed to give it to the client.

"I did find out that what the client wants is that necklace from the tomb.  Don't know what they want it for.  But they are paying top coin to get it.

"So I thought if I can't beat 'em, blackmail 'em.  I was gonna get the necklace and use it to bargin for the slaves being freed.

"Got it?"

Kamatar looks at Darcy and her husband both before speaking. "I have been training from before I was allowed to pick up a bow. When I was allowed, I trained with every type of bow and arrow I could find as well as learning how to build bows and create arrows for myself and others. While I consider myself an archer, bowman, and arrowsmith, I still look to learn more so I can improve my skill and my self, everyday."

Here he paused to look them both in the eyes. "For all that I am and that I seek to be, I am envious of those who have someone to share their heart with. Please, treasure yourselves and each other." He concludes quietly.

In reply to Bellinha Grunnel (msg # 205):

Breya smirked, and lifted Bellinha high up on her shoulder like she was weightless.  "Show 'em the jam!"

"Breya!"  Bellinha managed to squeak in surprise as she was hoisted up onto the taller womans shoulders.  She hastily tried to arrange her skirts but ended up showing off a good length of leg anyways.  Raising the jar above her head Bellinha shouted out in triumph.

The crowd around her seemed to be waiting for something, and Bell was pretty sure that it wasn't for another victory yell.  She looked at the small jar of jam in her hand.  Everyone was probably expecting her to eat the jam.  Bell gave a mental shrug and popped the top off of the jam.  Using a couple of her fingers, she scooped up an amount of the confection and showed it off to the assembled crowd.  With as much dramatic flair that she could muster, Bell sucked the jam from her fingers.  The jam tasted pretty good so she repeated the process.

After a third helping, Bellinha raised her voice up to the assembled crowd.  "I want to thank you all for an amazing couple of days.  I hope that you all had as much fun as I did during this festival.  I knew that Salt Lick had amazing people living here and you have not disappointed.  As a token of my appreciation for you all, I would love to buy everyone a drink."

"But what if you could beat them? I mean, maybe not you in particular, but a group of capable individuals who really dislike it when people force other people to do things against their consent? Because I think I know a few people like that. People who would be willing to do more than just blackmail someone like that."

He pauses for a moment, taking his hand off the handle of his favorite knife where it had gone of its own volition, "People who might also be interested in magical do-hickeys as a side benefit." He adds with a shrug.

Keps nods slightly at your question Skeeter.  "Well yeah.  That'd be optimal.  But..see...the client might be just a little bit of a lich.  Sorta.  Just around the corners a bit.

"But yeah.  A lich."

---

The crowd cheers as you eat the figgy jam Bellinha.  It really is that good...

Don't forget to tell me where you want to take the bonus.

---

O'Haggan laughs heartily while slipping a big arm around his lovely wife's shoulders.  "That was nice.  Bit cringey.  But good.  You're a good man Kamatar Yu Pan."

Darcy chuckles, gets up on tip toe, and kisses her husband on the cheek. "Alright.  Enough of this mushy stuff.  This man has earned a prize!  And I keep my word."

She walks over to one side and comes back with a case.  "I think you earned these.  Take them.  Please."

Inside are four arrows.  Each arrow has blood red fetching, a shaft made of a wood almost completely black in color, and silver tips.

They're actually kind of garish.

But you can also tell that, as arrows, they are exquisite.  Probably magical in nature.

"We found these in a tomb we explored a few years ago.  There were five arrows then.  I shot one of them when we had to fight an umber hulk.

"The arrow I fired made the umber hulk disappear.  Completely disappear.  No trace of it left.  I think these others do the same.  Please take them."

Alright.  We will meet up tomorrow our time/the evening of the Figgy Jam Bonfire, and you can all regroup.

We will then be heading out.  Where?  We'll figure that out starting tomorrow.

On to the next arc!