IC Area - Chapter Four - "High Seas Gambit"

[apn]

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WHAT HAPPENED BEFORE...

Three strangers, looking for passage to Khazan or parts north at least were drawn together when the man who recruited them, a charismatic former Pirate known as Rathmere, was struck down by an assassin! With Rathmere clinging to life the Delvers were charged with heading into the jungle to an ancient temple and there to retrieve a rare flower which could be used to concoct a cure for the dying man.

Despite the odds and the fact that the Dhesiri were going through their own version of a civil war the Delvers managed to take the flower from the grasp of the Dhesiri Queen, though at the cost of the ancient Dhesiri Explorer Slyclaw who appeared to die only moments after leaving the temple!

With the help of a Dhesiri turncoat warrior the Delvers have named Glarpy and a group of Elven rangers led by a former adventurer, the Delvers escaped from the jungle, avoiding fights where they could and staggering from the treeline tired, hungry, wet through and caked in tar like Dhesiri poo they see the town of Jepistra in the breaking morning light!

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With legs that felt like lead attached to chains dragging house sized boulders the Delvers saw the palisade around the jungle port. Every few years it would expand because the population kept growing and the jungle would be cut back, but the magical nature of the jungle meant it would grow again so fast that it was a constant battle to hack the jungle back.

Now it looked so inviting... a warm meal, a bath, a bed... the greatest treasures surely!

"'Oo the blummin 'eck are you lot?" asked a town guard from the top of the palisade. Another one joined him. The gates to the town were closed, it still being early. The path to the town gates forked into the town and downhill towards the beach where a number of ships would be berthed in the shallows.

"An' what is that smell?" asked the other... "You ain't comin' in ere stinkin' like that!"

[cupboardgnome]

Firdle
A very tired, very angry Firdle Looks up at the guards.  "Okay, that's fine, we'll just wait out here with the only thing that will save Captain Rathmere from a horrible, painful death.  And be sure to let everyone know that your delicate nose was the ultimate cause of his demise!!"

Actions
Glare at the guards and consider zapping one.

[nialldubh]

Klarrrrchur Deathaxe:

“Well said Master Firdle, I could not have put it better myself!” He then turns to the men on the palisade, “and privates of the city-watch if you not want Captain Franick to hang you up by your privates then you will get doun here fast and open this door or by Aroshnavaraparta and Gristlegrim you will suffer!”

Actions:

Actions of Dwarf... Stand huffing and gruffing, looking impatient, tapping his foot and fists on hips and growls, and....

[houndle]

Will Darness
Simply stands mute and curiously impressive. He's wondering if they should have put Glarpy on a leash.

[cupboardgnome]

FIRDLE
"Oh, yeh. Um, Glarpy - do not eat anything unless you ask us first. Just incase it is someone's pet, or someone."

[apn]

Firdle looks up at Glarpy, giving his advice. Glarpy looks down. "Glarp." he explains.

None the wiser Firdle turns back to the guards.

They clearly aren't impressed by the 'dipped in poop' look and the seven foot lizardman who looks ready to eat anything within reach but the mention of Rathmere and Franick appears to register with the guards who look less sure of themselves.

"Ummm... what you think?"

"Dunno. Klemitz said sommat about some geezers sent on a one way death trip into the depths o the jungle. This em?"

"Dunno. Ask em."

"Oy!" shouted one over the wall. "Are you them delver types Klemitz told us ta watch out fer? You got sommat fer im? This'll get em Frank, you see. We'll see right through their ruse now."

"I dunno Bill. They mentioned the Pirate an' the Sarge. Maybe they should..."

"Frank, let me do the yakking, remember I'm the brains o this bunch. So, you got sommat then or what?"

OOC Assuming someone mentions 'a flower'...

Frank pulls a face. "Go get th' sarge Bill."

"Ees gonna be 'ung over. Be in a right state if we wake 'im up."

"You wanna explain why this lot rocked up an' you didn't wake 'im up?"

Bill pulled a face then vanished from view. Frank leaned over, looked about. "This better not be another trick! There's like... just the three of you an' ya pet crocodile, right? An' them 'orses. Why they been smeared in... never mind. We can't be too careful like. Open th' gate an' hordes o these screamin' lil lizards spew from the jungle, all cackling an' Glarpin' an' Snee in an' that."

"Glarp." said Glarpy.

That made Bill start and he looked nervous now, licking his lips. "Let's just ... uhhh... I'll be right back."

The Delvers could hear footsteps clomping down steps then pounding away...

[houndle]

Will Darness
 "I like this not," mutters Will uneasily. "Let us not forget, there's still someone in the city who wants Rathmere dead, and by extension, all of us!"

A further question comes into his mind.

 "Old Slyclaw, then. After he left his own people. Just how long do you think it took him to learn how to turn into a dragon?" He eyes up Glarpy speculatively. 

[apn]

Glarpy glanced down at Will. "Glarp." he muttered, with an eyebrow sort of raised.

Except it wasn't an eyebrow, more a scaly eye bridge over a yellow slitted 'I will eat your brains without even stopping to wonder if I wanted a side salad' look.

That said, the guards have been gone a minute or two now. Glarpy shrugs then taps himself on the chest and points to the jungle, some fifty yards away. "Glarp?" he asks.

[cupboardgnome]

Firdle
Seeing him point to the jungle "Does he mean he'll wait in the jungle?"

[nialldubh]

Klarrrrchur Deathaxe:

“Darn, I did not know he was so intelligent,” grunted Klarrrrchur, he took the lizard-man hand and shock it, “Glarpy, things might go bad in the city, so if we not see you again. Be free!”

The Dwarf grunted, slammed his fist against his chest in salute to Glarpy and stated at the creature in hope he comprehends some of it.

“Move it guards or Rathmere the Ridiculous will die, and they will blame you for it!” Shouted the frustrated Dwarf.

“Yes, assassins and cutthroats are still within, good idea Will but I'm guessing not part of the city-watch!”

Actions:

Actions of Dwarf... Still wait impatiently...

[apn]

Glarpy tips his head to one side, then seems to bow it slightly "Glarp." he declares and thumps his chest then points at Klarrrchur.

He turns to Will, is about to pat him on the head then thinks better of it and pats him on a clean-ish part of his shoulder.

He turns to Firdle, pulls the wizards hat point up so its stands a bit straighter then declares "Glarp!" before he walks towsrds the jungle. He pauses by the Ponies and turns, licking his lips "Glarp?" he asks, rubbing a hand over his belly.

Then there is a noise of clunking wood as a bar is being lifted on the other side of the door. "Glarp!" the Dhesiri declares once more then bounds into the jungle, vanishing into the trees!

The doors to Jepistra's west side open and Captain Franick stands about twenty feet away with a troupe of around a dozen guards stood behind him in two ranks. "Aha! My friends! You returned!" he declared with arms open and a big smile on his face. "There is no time to waste! Hand me the flower then I'll see the witch gets it whilst you..." he looks and frowns then pulls a face as he realises why the Delvers look like they do "... get cleaned up."

Behind the Captain and the guards the Delvers see another group jogging up the cobbled street (still about 100 yards away) towards the West gate between the leaning buildings that residents call home. There are only four in this group and one of them looks like *squinting* Sergeant Klemitz who is hastily getting dressed and pulling on a boot as he jogs/hops along.

He looks in a foul mood.

[nialldubh]

Klarrrrchur Deathaxe:

Klarrrrchur reaches into the sack and pulls out the plant and gives it to the captain.

“Well, I hope this does some good, because much blood was shed to gain it!” He grunts.

“A bath, it will take the gods to remove this stain, me thinks!” Growls the pragmatic Dwarf...

Actions:

Actions of Dwarf... Feel relieved he is safe and still try option 1 to have a bath, get clean cloths and boots and feel better about himself, i.e., clean...

[houndle]

Will Darness
 "Farewell, noble Slimeclaw," says Will thinking he might never see the Dhesiri again.

 "Fearless friend and fearsome foe
May fortune follow where you go.
Should old friends meet, recall what's passed
And please don't bite them on the -"

But his heart is too full to think of a rhyme.

ACTIONS
Follows the others.

[apn]

"There's no time to waste!" declared Frannick as he held the potted plant in his hands.

With a turn he started jogging away to the side of the open area to go up another street that presumably led to the wharf and the witches' hovel where Rathmere had been kept alive. The Guards looked fed up but jogged behind the Captain who held the potted plant in hand.

Will, Firdle and Klarrrrchur stood alone for a moment aside from one guard near the gate who was moaning as he was having to shove the gate closed on his own.

With a look about, the Delvers saw three main exits from this open area at the gate, each leading down a narrowed cobbled street with buildings one each side.

The Captain, the plant and his entourage had gone down the left hand street, the centre street ran on and twisted this way and that presumably to the centre and the right hand street had the running/huffing/puffing Sergeant Klemtitz and three equally red faced soldiers behind him.

The Delvers started to head for the centre street but paused when Klemitz got there, hands on knees and blowing hard.

"I came... soon as they... told me you were back." he said, straightening up. Aside from not having shaved or combed his hair, bloodshot eyes, sour wine breath and wearing clothes thrown on that had various wine and food stains down the front, the Sergeant looked in fine fettle.

"Where's the plant? Franick said to get it and bring it as soon as you lot returned. I lost ten gold and a bottle of Khazan Red on you lot. I'd bet we'd never see you again." he said, then pulled a face. "Have you lot been rolling in shyte?" he spluttered, whilst wafting a hand in front of his nose.

[nialldubh]

Klarrrrchur Deathaxe:

“It is a difficult job, but someone had to do it!” Stated Klarrrrchur plainly. “Onwards, a bath, new clothes and a hairy arsed female Dwarf!”

The Dwarf stomped down the road towards the centre of town, “keep pace Sergeant Klemitz, the job is done, captain Franick has been and gone, taking the plant to Rathmere and he will be on his feet in no time!”

“We need to relax and tend our wounds, perhaps you could arrange a healer for us three, a magician with healing powers would be a boon?”

Actions:

Actions of Dwarf... Walk to town square and an inn...