The Necromancer's Pact VIII: The Rising Tide

[Erikkin]

Fizahn:

Fizahn drops his hand and grins. "I'm sorry for believing you were born yesterday. Maybe it had something to do with the way you treated me when we first met, despite my obviously having friends amongst the party. Not to mention my superior speed and training. You can't always think you know exactly what a person speaking a different language is saying Grynde." Fizahn then spits out a sentence in draconic. To the people who don't know draconic, it seems like he is insulting the violent half-elf. The party members who do know draconic, however, recognize that it is more along the lines of professing his undying love of cheese. He pulls out a gold piece and grins at Grynde once more. "I'd keep track of more than just your ring though, if I were you," he says, while flipping the coin into the air. On the final flip as he catches the coin, it disappears. "Right, going to talk to Callos and Elthan now." His grin fades as he turns to find the spellcasters.

Gorrammit, I'm going to make a sleight of hand check!: - (1d20+14)[33]

[Callos_DeTerran]

Callos

"Knock it off, all of you. This is hardly a matter we need to get into another fight over, especially when theres such better things to do it over."

Callos said sharply as he approached this newest source of in-fighting and fitting the 'kill' ring unto his skeletal hand...logic held that less people would be willing to steal it. Inserting himself between the two arguing groups he looked back and forth between the two of them before his eyes settled on Fizahn and Damien.

"Theres no need to be hostile with him. He may be rude but he's not the enemy and we won't treat him like one, will we?" He said, empathizing the last word with a glare before turning to Grynde fully. When next he spoke his words were guile-less and open, unlike when he had first spoken to him. "Grynde...I'm not going to speak down to your or insult you. This is too serious for that, but Damien brings up a point. Are you going to see this through to the end? The very end? Thats what taking that ring means, that you'll not stop until Sethra is defeated...no until he's dead for good. If you drop out later, then thats it. I'll not have this matter treated like a hobby you can pick up whenever you feel like it. But if your willing to swear, to swear on your elven blood and life, that you'll see this through...then I'm willing to give you the chance to prove it. So whats your answer? If you won't...or plan on selling that ring...then just hand it back right now, no bad feelings for it at all. This is a bit overwhelming for some so if you don't want to be cemented into this, I can understand."

[King_of_GRiffins]

Elthan

Elthan simply stares at his simple ring with great interest, more than such a plain magical trinket deserves. He seems almost captivated in thought about it, but doesn't actually formalize or follow through with anything that comes to mind about it, simply letting his subconscious run about circular object. He doesn't seem to pay much attention to what's being said around him, but as Callos hands Grynde his do-to-die statement, he mutters out loud as if a merely a chorus to a play.

"He won't do it you know. I sense no dedication from him, and he hates himself to much to do anything for others. Besides, I've seen bigger heads produced by plants."

He quickly looks up from his hypnotic state as he hears his name, turning his dull gaze to the gnome. "You require something Fizahn?"

[Matticus]

Grynde

His eyes roam the immediate area, from the pair of taller people who've recently threatened him, to the shorter one who'd tried rather poorly to steal back the ring, then to the necromancer directly before him, the only one not obviously trying to get the better of him. Thinking, for once, before he speaks.
...I can't say I'll be here until the end. With the way things are going he gestures towards Damian and Tiriel I probably won't be here tomorrow. But this Sethra prick he lifts his head upward, baring the fresh scar a ghoul implanted upon his neck has some things to answer for. I'll tell you what. If I suddenly get the urge to leave, I'll give you the ring. But I specificly WON'T give it to those three. Another gesture in the direction of Tiriel, Damian and Fizahn. He chuckles, and switches his gaze to Elthan.
And you, murderer, can talk about decency, huh? Just to prove you wrong, half-human... I swear on my Elven blood that I, Grynde, will do my utmost to aid the majority of you in this quest to defeat Sethra and anybody willingly associated with him.
I just don't hold much stock in my blood...

[barawn]

Damian

Also, this marks the third time you've threatened me. Please refrain from doing it again, it's quite rude.

"Good. I'm glad you've realized that. Now you can stop threatening other party members as well, and I'll stop threatening you. Then we can move on to finer points of social etiquette."

With that statement, a good amount of the hostility in Damian's stance fades out - almost as if a switch had been flipped - and his typical emotionless pallor comes quickly back. When Tiriel and Callos begin questioning him, he merely stands there quietly. He swiftly catches Khazrael's toss of a ring, and nods to him, glancing back at the active argument with an unsaid "later" passing between them.

When Grynde finishes with his speech, a look of frustration shows up on his face and he rolls his eyes. "What in the world makes you think that the rest of us should work with you, then, Grynde? I left that ring there for whomever the group decided to give it to. Even you. But you took it without even asking, and now you say you won't give it to three of us, regardless of what the rest of the group decides."

With a quick glance over to Tryntha, he looks around at the others. "This is what I meant when I said this had nothing to do with me. Right now, it's a ring that Grynde grabbed for. Next, it may be a room that he charges into before the rest of us are ready. Or a trap he sets off. Tanner stated it eloquently before, but said simpler, we have to work together, and Grynde simply shows no willingness to do that."

He sighs, and his shoulders shrug slightly. "I'm certainly being too harsh, but I don't see how Grynde, if he continues to act like this, isn't more of a liability than an asset, and I would love for someone to explain to me why I'm wrong."

[King_of_GRiffins]

Elthan

Elthan seems to grin just a bit as you attack his 'decency'. His own wit was dull from bad magic and poor use, but he was sure he would only need half of his wit with this one."Murderer or not, I know I have more civility and tact than you seem to observe. I doubt that gesture moments ago was preserved for polite company."

Alert now, he pockets his ring before continuing his rebuttal. "But, swearing on your Elven blood to me? Simply, you are as Elven as a brick; That oath does not count for much coming from you. If you must, swear on your human side. You seem to hold that in higher regard."

[Matticus]

Grynde

He stares at Elthan, temper rising quickly. He struggles to control it as Damian and Elthan verbally assult him. He turns towards Damian.
See, this pathetic excuse for a half-elf is the reason I threaten other people in the party. First it was Khazrael, manipulating me through magic. Then it was Fizahn, who suggested I was a coward. And now it's this prick he gestures at Elthan saying things I'm going to find it hard to forget. If any of you actually want this ring back, maybe you should stop making me threaten you. And you he rounds of Elthan can shut the bloody hell up right now before I become the second half-elf murderer in this party.

[kuja.girl]

Tiriel

"Enough! All of you!" Tiriel shouts looking at Damian, Grynde, and Elthan. For the moment, she seems to have forgotten that she'd been the one to further provoke Grnyde.
"Damian, you can use Khazreal's ring or I can pay you, it's you're choice.
Elthan, just.... just, shut up. You're not helping things. And you," she says rounding back on Grynde, "Can start proving that you're worth more than trouble by acting like an adult and not a snippity child. Everything you accuse us of is something you've provoked out of us with your attitude. Just don't ever, ever, joke about murdering someone. That's the last thing we need right now."

[Callos_DeTerran]

Callos

"Grynde...you must stop taking everything everyone says so personally. We all insult and play pranks on each other, but we don't threaten to kill. Turn the other cheek is the best policy for us all to get along here, alright?"

Callos said evenly, trying not to show the anger that was currently boiling inside of him. Nobody should be threatening to kill Elthan, not when he was trying to right his own wrongs. And especially not when Callos was around and still thought highly of him, but he had seen Grynde react to honesty and diplomacy instead of threats and insults so he'd give it a shot...despite what his instincts were telling him.

"Remember Grynde..you can't do this alone. None of us can so we need to look out for each other. I'm willing to...try to look out for you and everybody else but I want the same sort of feeling, not that you'll knife someone in their sleep for a slight. And I'm not saying you aren't capable...but you don't know what we're up against and you don't have all the skills needed. So I'm asking you nicely...don't take everything personally. If you get angry then come talk to me about it and we'll resolve things right, not with killing people..." Callos said helpfully, laying a friendly hand on the half-elf's shoulder. Still he didn't raise his voice or become condescending, he knew how hard it was to avoid one's instincts.

...But so help me, if you touch a hair on anybody's head I'll put you down like a diseased dog.

[kuja.girl]

Tiriel

A prank!?! That's not all it was! There's something else going on in there... well when I'm involved at least...
Yeah. Go to Callos. Because he's the least likely one to suddenly act on impulse....and fry a wolf, or throw his skeletal hand at people...

[ooc] internal monologue: Always good for a laugh, and the last word [/ooc]

[Matticus]

Grynde

With nothing but glares for Tiriel, he listens to Callos, knowing what he said to be true.
I'd never kill someone in their sleep. Although I don't suppose you'd take my word for it. He glances at the hand on his shoulder, and thinks better than to shrug it off.
I can't gaurrantee anything. But I wouldn't mind if someone taught me just how to activate this ring.

[Callos_DeTerran]

Callos

"Your right, I can't take your word for it. Not yet anyway. But I'll make you a deal...I'll teach you how to use the ring and in return you tell me a little about yourself. I'm curious about how you became you. Deal? We can have the actual talk later in private of course." Callos said, shrugging his shoulder and glancing over his shoulder at Tiriel, asking her to back off with his usually sleepless eyes. Turning back to Grynde he extended his good hand and waited expectantly.

[Matticus]

Grynde

He hesitates; obviously uncomfortable sharing his past with anyone.
I don't discuss that...I can tell you a little. But I will not go into any great detail...Alright?
Putting a great deal of trust into Callos not "doing a Fizahn", he stiffly extends an appendage and shakes hands with Callos.

[Dr._Bob]

You ride away from the city to the south, just a small group riding on horseback, except for Aeroz, who is carried in a small cart.

Some rings are exchanged, and several of you bicker and argue along the way, hardly paying attention to where you are going ...

As dawn breaks to the east, you are led to some desolate cliffs, pockmarked by caves, at the edge of Lake Ashane.

The sky to the west remains dark and stars are still visible on the horizon, while the sky lightens behind you. A few gulls circle overhead and cry as small waves crash against the shore.

The fourteen of you, plus your Rashemi escort - two young warriors - dismount, your boots crunching on the pebbly beach. The warriors tie the horses to lead lines and ride off, back toward Immilmar to the north, leaving you alone on the desolate shore.

The air is chilly and damp. Despite your gear, some of you shiver.

[Koji]

Khazrael

Khazrael stares lazily at the birds and stifles a yawn.

"So...what," He says, "Are we waiting for these magic boats I keep hearing about?"

[blackfox]

Anika

Anika stays quietly unobtrusive throughout the argument, ready to disappear if a fight breaks out.

When the group reaches the shore, she says, "I don't know... I don't really know what's going on here. We had talked earlier about breaking into smaller groups--are we going to do that now?"

[Darius]

Tanner Gondsman

Damian

He sighs, and his shoulders shrug slightly. "I'm certainly being too harsh, but I don't see how Grynde, if he continues to act like this, isn't more of a liability than an asset, and I would love for someone to explain to me why I'm wrong."

Tanner watches as the party implodes. He says nothing but listens intently. Part of him is disgusted with everyone's behavior, but another part of him is glad - for this is the first time any member of the group actually seemed to care about the group instead of themselves...other than the rings, that is.

Then, there is Damian. Knowing that if he spoke up to answer the mercenary's question, he would be a hypocrite, but Tanner does think to himself, "He has been an asset bringing us closer together. I trust him more than I do you, Damian. I wonder where your loyalties will lie if our enemy offers to pay more than we?"

Tanner waits until the party is traveling before he approaches Grynde. Speaking to him he says, "I trust that you will do your best. I am glad that you are with us. The others may not have noticed, but I have - Grynde, you have been working to temper yourself. I know that this is difficult, for I am trying not to be so vocal. But, I wanted you to know that I am proud of you and your efforts. Do not let what happened earlier be a setback. I would be glad to have you in my boat." Tanner rests his hand on Grynde as he speaks his last sentence, then continues his trek.

[barawn]

Damian

After the firestorm breaks, and the party sets out, Damian ties several loose threads during the travel to the beach. He heads first over to Khazrael, since he had given him his former ring, speaking quietly as they ride. There's no hint of the sharpness in his voice or demeanor from the previous day, which had, in fact, disappeared later into the argument in any case. "I really don't need a ring, so if you were trying to give it to me to 'make up' for Grynde, you don't need to worry about that. Fizahn said he'd pay me. I don't really care when, considering I've got a job to do first, and strange as it may seem, I actually trust him to do so. If you want the ring back, or there's a better person for it, just let me know."

(and to save time...) He also heads over to Tryntha later - his voice is less quiet this time. "You seem to have some distorted opinions of my intentions, Tryntha. Do I look like someone who cares about money? Khazrael has more adornments than I've ever had, and I freely stated that if someone else would want the ring for the battle, they're welcome to it. The money isn't important. It's the intention behind it. Fizahn could've offered me an old trinket from his mother, worth nothing, and I still would've taken it, so long as it had some importance to him."

"When someone hires me, it's much less about the money and much more about them clearly offering something of value to them because they value what I can do. In return, they get my loyalty. I don't go jumping to the highest bidder. Why would I? Someone who merely offered me more clearly thinks very little of me."

"As for me being quick to draw steel - I've only drawn a weapon on Grynde, and that's only because he's threatened others and repeatedly shown no interest in what the group wants. I don't think I was too quick at all. He's a danger to the rest of us - and to himself - as long as he continues to act without care for the rest of our opinions."

"Last... you're freely entitled to your opinion, and unlike others, I do actually respect others' wishes. But in my opinion, you're risking yourself, and others, with the stance you took on my abilities back there. Combat is not a time to concern yourself with ethics and morality. I don't use other people's abilities on a whim. In fact, I typically don't do that at all unless the person in question asked me to. The one time I have used it here it was because Tanner wanted me to try to heal Olfacht while he went to rescue the rest. If you want to keep that stance, like I said, that's your choice, it doesn't bother me at all. But you're not limiting me. You're limiting yourself."

He sighs, and spares a glance around to the rest of the party. "I tried to make it as clear as I could three days ago. When someone hires me, I'm hired until that job is over, period. It's... not about the payment." His face looks a little strained... as if struggling to come to grips with something, and his voice drops to a near whisper. "It's about being valued."

[Frojoe21]

Aeroz

Waking up when the party reaches their destination, Aeroz steps off his cart in a rather groggy state. Unclear of what has happened in the past few hours, he does notice that there was a rather dramatic change of scenery.

"I'm going to leave the filling me in on what has happened up to this point for another time, but could someone please refresh my memory of what exactly are we doing here? Also, what happened to that nice ring I snatched earlier?"

Sensing the tension in the air, he backs off and waits for an almost assuredly irritated response.

[OOC: I'm back!]

[Erikkin]

Fizahn:

"Aeroz. How nice of you to get up. We're assassinating a vampire. It seemed like the thing to do under the current situation. Your ring was given to someone else. We felt it would be more advantageous for a conscious person to have it, sorry." Fizahn leans in closer to Aeroz and starts to whisper. "If you want to snatch one, I'm sure everyone would much rather you had it than Grynde."

[Darius]

Tanner Gondsman

Tanner listens to the loud conversation between Damian and Tryntha because he was supposed to overhear it, obviously. He does his best to not roll his eyes as he thinks to himself, "Those that pray and profess themeselves loudly and in full view of others do so in order to give the facade of faith. I think the same goes for you, Damian. You profess this and say that money isn't what is important, but the intention behind it is. What are YOUR intentions, I wonder?"

Once at the place, Tanner says to the group, "It seems that we need to split into our groups. Have we made our final decisions regarding who will be in which boat, who will have which ring, and who has the silversheen and silver weapons?"

[blackfox]

Anika

Anika rolls her eyes. "We haven't made any decisions about anything, yet. People have made their own decisions about what weapons to take and so on, and as far as the silversheen goes, it's pretty simple--whoever doesn't have a silver weapon gets silversheen. The rings might take some work, as well as the groups."

[Koji]

Khazrael

"Hey, come on now, it's a nice day, and for probably the last time for a good while, we're not standing on the edge of certain doom. Let's all try and relax," says Khazrael.

[kuja.girl]

Tiriel

Tiriel backed off after Callos, somehow, managed to calm the half-elf down. While not happy that Grynde still has one of the rings, Tiriel doesn't feel like pushing things too far before a battle.
"We shouldn't forget that we're probably not going to face just the vampires. Last time there were three of them, two or three demonic horses,* a bunch of bats, and a hoard of skeletons. The silver weapons aren't as strong as steel and blades don't work very well at all against skeletons so really, not all of us need silver weapons.
"The rings on the other hand," and she glances at Grnyde and Callos before continuing, "Are helpful against any foe. So we should make sure to distribute them to those who can make the best use of them. Well, that's what I think any ways."
Tiriel smiles at Khazreal, "Yeah we'll see how long that lasts. But I guess you're right, we might as well enjoy what we can when we can."

* Nightmares. There were the 2 that came after us in the building and maybe another that Valentine was still riding.

[Naleh]

Retay

The barbarian mostly ignored the fight, much as one would ignore a pair or squabbling dogs. He continued to glare at his nonmagical bow.

When Khazrael declares the goodness of the day, Retay turns to him. "Aren't we? It looks like the edge of certain doom to me. Well... someone's doom, at least."

Grunting, the barbarian drops his pack and sits down on the pebbly shore, watching the sunrise and waiting...

[Dr._Bob]

Three boats appear silently out of the darkness to the west.

Each of the boats is a two masted felucca, but none has sails raised. The boats appear to move under their own power, leaving a clean V-shaped wake behind. "Witchboats ..." someone whispers for those of you not familiar with these uniquely Rashemi vessels.

Standing at the prow of two of the vessels is a masked hathran. The third vessel is pilotless, and is being towed by one of the others.

The boats crunch into the shore, and the hathrans beckon you aboard. "Quickly! The others have sailed on ahead ..."

...

The first boat is weathered and gray. Its hathran wears a long gray dress.

The second boat has been recently painted with red and gold trim, giving it an almost gaudy, festive appearance. Its hathran wears complementary yellow robes.

The third boat has no pilot. It is shiny and black with sleek lines than make you think of an obsidian dagger.

[Koji]

Khazrael

Khazrael gives the yellow-robed hathran a grin and hops into the red and gold boat, admiring its flashy design.

"We'll look good sailing to our doom, at least."

[Darius]

Tanner Gondsman

Tanner's brow furrows with Anika's short comments. Tanner holds up the canister and says, "Very well, Anika. Is there one among us who needs this silversheen?" He then looks about and will continue, "Since time is of the essence, I have pieced some of the comments addressed by the group. Are these boat groupings acceptible to everyone?

The gray boat here will be Anika, Khaz, Retay, and myself.
The red boat will be Adalmar, Elthan, Grynde, Tiriel.
And the black boat will be Aeroz, Callos, Damian, Fizahn, Gala.

It may be helpful if we use the color of the boat to denote a need of the group to go someplace or attack a certain foe. For instance, 'Gray - attack the demon horses.'

Finally, there is the matter of the octagon ring. Retay has spoken up and has a sound arguement for using the ring. I think it will be wise to have it in his hands."

[barawn]

Damian

"I could use silversheen if there's any available. I'll survive without it, but I could use it. The wand made it so I couldn't really afford any myself."

When Tanner lists the groups, he winces slightly, but recovers quickly. "It might make sense to switch Tiriel with Retay or Gala. Tiriel is likely to work best with people she knows best, such as Anika or Fizahn. Other than that I have no disagreements. I'm presuming that Tryntha is intended to go in the black boat." And far away from Grynde. They both have tempers, they don't like each other, and I don't trust Grynde to be able to control his.

[namo]

Adalmar

Leaving Immilmar and getting closer to danger weighed on his mind, so he found himself drawn to his usual quietness again.

He sighs inward when he realizes he's being saddled with the 'difficult cases'. I'll just have to find a way to make them go along. Outwardly, he seems well-prepared for the fight to come : his bow at the ready, strung with a brand new string, a mix of silver and mundane arrows in his quiver.

He heads for the gray boat, letting Kir take flight from his hand. The hawk's piercing sight will be useful to detect anything out of the ordinary.