Kingslayers: Wild Magic of the Seekers

[BlueWizard]

Crusty Bucket:
OOC- I believe there is confusion as to what surrounds the Bucket at this time . New Galorine has recently boomed as a city you will soon find. It is similiar to Venice in style only far at sea, on floating barges and much, much bigger. These barges are mostly made of rickety wood, and there is a real fire danger.

The crew stands strong pushing back the peasants even more!

Werkain's deck is in confusion, those not fleeing are trying to fight the galley's fire.

Anthony moves down to the ship's deck, and opens the lower hatch to the bunk hall. Smoke billows out at him, and he can see nothing down there. Fallen dead on the Main deck are two men, including the Antarian, Rionico.

Silvas zips by Anthony invisibly and will enter the burnt-out bunk room. {On the way he will notice that very few of the peasants were evil.} Beds and tables are on fire, and dead are strewn everywhere. Among the dead here are Miss LeFeur, Buck, Ambassador Fa-dal, and even the teen Nalfal. Elise is nearby blown over a table, and laying near an unburnt bed. She is dying, and quite burned. In the back of the bunk hall through the burning smoke, Silvas spies the dark robed wizardess standing in the doorway to the rear-hold. She doesn't see him. She is evil.

Cassy dimension doors to the burning bunk hall, and immediately draws the attention of the wizardess. Cassy can sort of see the face, but she can't quite remember which imperial lady this was staring awe-struck at the sorceress. "Cassara?!?" This voice rang no bells either, but it might've been the quiet, studious girl in the back of the class.

She retreats back into the storage area near Latigo's crates of fine wine. Then launches a blue pea in the area of Cassy. {OOC- I will rule that Silvas flew right up to the wizardess, and is out of the ice blast area of effect. Fireball: cold substitute.} This blue pea explodes into a freezing cold blast that puts out most of the fire here, but causes more smoke and steam to fill the bunk hall. {OOC- Any below deck has to make saves after exposure to the smoky hull.} {d:27 Cassy saves vs cold-ball 18+5} Cassy avoids a lot of the freezing damage, and can see that the wizardess intended to also put-out the biggest of the fires here below. She paid no heed to destroying unconscious bodies. Elise was not in the area of the freeze, and is towards the front of the ship, into the mess hall.

The peasants are in a panic, and flee madly away, they are cutting the Bucket's ropes in hopes to swing back to their barge-towers.

End Round 4--------------------------->
Wizardess retreats down to storage area.

Initiatives:
Crew of Crusty Bucket
Werkain and his men
Anthony 8+3
Latigo 1+9
Cassy 3+6
wizard-Lady
Peasant Mob- hundreds!


Hobgob Caves:
Abbie fires an arrow shot and hits the creature on the cavern ceiling. It ignores the sleep effect. {15+17 d:5}

James moves at the next brave bugbear facing off with him. {15+17 d:16} He hacks a chunk out of the bugbear closest to him.

Taros rushes by the bugbears up the dais toward the closing stone slab. {Str Chk 17+3} Taros shoves the heavy automatically closing slab, and blocks it. In the dim light beyond he can see the old hobgoblin quite scared and frightened. Taros is the closest anyone has been, and now sees a silver headband beneath the helmet of the old king. Taros blocks the secret door, and can probably push through it. He did take a few swings from the bugbears, including a glancing blow on the arm with a wicked pole arm. {d:13}

The soldiers volley at the strange monster. Basvarti holds the men back as long as possible. A couple of arrows hit, including one that hits the monster right on the head. It looks quite bad!

The hobgob king sprints away from Taros down the dark passage beyond. Taros will have to squeeze by.

Cara finishes the nasty beast with her brilliant burst of light. She isn't sure if it was blinded, but the results looked good. The dead beast plummets from the ceiling, and splatters on the ground 40 feet below. {OOC- This is an alien aberration of some sort. That is all any of you know.}

End of Round 10------------------------>
{OOC: The Hobgoblins have all retreated or are cowering nearby. Only the last three bugbears gallantly fight to protect their tribe. Taros is in hot pursuit of the Hobgob King! Snake-spider is dead. See spoiler image on OOC thread.}

Initiatives:
Abbie 17+6 d:17
James 15+3 88/105
Taros 13+1 d:13
Soldiers and horses
Hobgoblin King {fleeing} and his bugbears
Cara 5+1 hp 33/68
snake-headed spider! {Fleeing} -QUITE SPLATTERED!

[dauphinous]

Cara
HP 33/68 AC 28

With the...thing fallen to the ground, Cara keeps moving up. Fight first, examine later. The fight seems to be winding down, so she determines that her best use at this point is to begin healing people. Everyone, herself included, seems to be taking hits, just nothing terribly deadly so far. The lightning blast she'd taken had hurt, but not as much as it will when the fight ends and the rush of the battle wears off. Best to heal it before then.

{
Move up to be as close to James as possible.

Drop Radiance and burn a Turn Undead to cast Mass CLW, targeting Cara, James, Abbie, and any single injured soldier nearby: 18

If all of us can't be within 30 feet, then replace whomever is out of range with a soldier. It's a Close range spell (not touch), so she can target someone up to 30 feet away from herself if necessary to be able to get all three of us.

All those active spells are still active.
}

[Roland St. Jude]

Silvas

Silvas' little face reddens as the wizardess attacks his friend. He lashes out at her with his poisoned rapier before ducking behind any nearby cover to avoid further magical duelling. Here to help; taking cover he messages Cassy, just before moving.

Spoiler

Show

Atk - (1d20+17)[25] (no Dex to AC)
Dmg - (1d6)[1] + Snk Dmg - (2d6)[7]
DC 24 Fort Save or d6 CON/2d6 CON Secondary

move to cover, if any (anywhere in 3 dimensions, but not between Cassy and Wizardess)

Move Silently - (1d20+22)[33]
Hide - (1d20+13)[19]

[Eratosthenes]

Taros

"I hate it when they run," Taros mutters to himself. Squeezing by the sliding door, Taros chases after the fleeing king, looking to end his reign prematurely. It was apparent he was likely under the sway of some other force, as he had one of those silver mind-control headbands; it would be best to capture him and find out who.

{
Chase/Charge after the King, though if I see a lever or something to keep the door open, then activate it so others can follow.

Is it a long corridor? Single room? Many others with him? I'll ignore most hobgoblins in lieu of going after the King.

87/82 HP, AC 29
Attack +16 1d8+7 Damage, Use a Smite Evil for an extra +7 on the King
}

[Idiotbox90]

Deaths, always a tragedy. Let's make sure no more- Anthony's eyes widen. "Elise!" He quickly makes his way towards her.

The warlock makes a motion with his ring finger and a small metal wand snaps into his hand. Channeling his eldritch power through it, a small amount of positive energy flows into Elise.

((Use Wand of Cure Light Wounds))

[kariokie]

"Ow!" Cassy whines as the blast of cold freezes her face and hands. She flexes her fingers to try and force some warmth back into them, then breathes out warm air, causing a frosty cloud to gather for a second in front of her face. "Just surrender, would you?" she shouts down into the ship.

Without thinking, she starts running after the woman, dexterously navigating the small space of the ship, "I'm not kidding, you should just surrender."

Spoiler

Show

HP: 25/38
Run after the woman and cast Phantasmal Killer if she doesn't surrender.

[BlueWizard]

Retreating Hobgob King:
Abbie returns to James' side with her sword, but can add no damage. {DM action}

James cuts another bugbear down and the last two begin to show signs of morale failure. {DM action}

Taros can't spy a lever on the inside. He finds a dark passage into the rock. The Hobgoblin King is retreating down it. Taros can give chase. James would've seen the outside lever as well when the hobgoblin king triggered it.

The soldiers form a perimeter at the base of the dais, and bring the horses in protectively.

The last two bugbears try to block James, and attack him before making a slight retreat toward the top of the dais. One of these bugbears is extremely burnt and hurt from Cara's attack.

Cara can get all the injured in her healing except Taros, who is in hot pursuit of the goblinoid king.

End Round 11------------------------------------>

Initiatives:
Abbie 17+6
James 15+3 all/105
Taros 13+1 d:13
Soldiers and horses
Hobgoblin King {fleeing} and his bugbears
Cara 5+1 hp 33/68



Crusty Bucket:
The crew stands strong, and Robero finally decides to launch a small fireball at the galley for good measure. He commands, mostly using the fear already created by Cassy, "Flee! Flee before us! We have no interest in a war!" The soldiers kill more and begin to help organize the deck. A few strong men go to check out the scene below decks. {Highline, Rugus, Omarf, and others...}

Werkain's galley needs a lot of help, as not enough men stayed to put-out the sails, and the center mast fire spread to the other two sails. More soldiers leapt for the barge city.

The sea below was white with shark bodies, none getting enough it seems!

Anthony brings Elise to consciousness with his healing wand. She opens her eyes and smiles at seeing him as her first vision back, "My hero. Is it over?" She still looks very bad.

Silvas pokes the wizardess with his poisoned rapier, and she gasps as it tries to take effect! {OOC- Critical success} The wizardess sweats profusely and looks at the invisible pixie with fear.

Cassy can see the wizardess is trying to take the side stairs down to the lower area. Her eyes going from Cassy to the wine crates. She shakes her head, "You're dead! You... What evil magic brought you back!" She goes on, and will be about to bend down and look at the crates once she reaches the bottom of the stairs.

Cassy sends her frightful image at the wizardess and it doesn't kill her though. The wizardess recognizes the spell, and looks with fear to Cassy."You know dangerous magic Cassara." {d:9}

The wizardess bends down and touches two crates of wine, and then teleports away with them!

The peasants flee madly, and the battle is getting under control.

End Round 5---------------------------------->

Initiatives:
Crew of Crusty Bucket
Werkain's men
Anthony 8+3
Latigo 1+9
Cassy 3+6
wizard-Lady - Gone!
Peasant Mob- hundreds!

[kariokie]

"I was never dead, damnit, I was-" Cassy sighs as the woman disappears, and suddenly the pit of her stomach drops out. Why did I cast that spell on her? Why do I keep doing that?

She turns around to look where she assumes Silvas is, shrugs, and then bounds back up the stairs to see Anthony. "No, I don't recognize her. But people usually remember me more than I remember them, anyhow." She looks around, unable to do anything about the bodies scattered around the cabin. "Why did she take two crates of wine?" Cassy continues to muse as she heads back up on deck.

{Double move to try and get back up on deck and control the situation.}

[Idiotbox90]

Anthony using another charge of healing magic before replying.

"Over? Depends on what's happening on the deck. It's over down here, at least." The warlock laughs when Cassy enters. "She took the wine? That's a declaration of war, that is. She will regret that action."

[dauphinous]

Cara
HP 51/68 AC 28

Seeing no one in dire need of healing at this point, Cara just moves up to help James. The sooner these hobgoblins are dealt with, the sooner they can follow Taros. Thank goodness I thought to put that spell on him. And the other ones, too. "James, did you see how Taros left? I wasn't looking, I just know where he is."

{
Move up, attack with mace
to hit: +10 damage: 1d8+1d6+1

Active spells:
Bull's Strength (Taros)
Blessing of the Righteous (James, Taros, Cara, Abbie, and a bunch of soldiers)
Bless (everyone but Abbie)
Magic Circle vs. Evil (Cara)
Prot From Evil (Taros)
Greater Status (Taros, Abbie, 5th level soldier)
Status (James, Deeker, Reollo)
Daylight (arrow)
}

[Vazzaroth]

James will pursue the un-injured one, then quickly point to where Taros went in.

That way, Cara, behind a secret door. There's a lever!

[Roland St. Jude]

Silvas

Silvas gives a good laugh. "Yes, she shall pay."

Was she looting? Or looking to learn more about us? We got good information from Heron, how much farther do I push this?

"Is Heron still in his cell?" Silvas asks as he and Cassy head up toward the deck.

[BlueWizard]

Crusty Bucket:
OOC- Combat is over....

The armored men, Highline and company, will begin helping clean-up the mess down in the bunk hall.
The situation on the deck is totally under control when Latigo and Cassy charge up onto the deck. Helmav has a few peasant prisoners, and the rest are fleeing.

Robero and the crew have actually pulled the ship back away from the galley, and is going backward down the channel you all just came down. The galley is beginning to go up in flames. The Bucket is still quite crowded by the barge buildings, and many on-lookers have come to watch you all pass.

The burning galley is still in sight when a green robed wizard suddenly appears in the air above the ship. At first, with the sight of green garbed imperial soldiers wearing the red imperial dragon on their chests making their way through the barge catwalks, the crew was ready for more combat. Helmav gets all to remain calm, and listens as the frantic wizard in green, with a red dragon emblazoned around his fine robe splutters, "I am sooooooooooooo sorry! This is terrible! New Galorine is turning into quite the slum! Please! How can I ever help you! I am Don Vallone, master of trade here in this miserable place... Our diviners tell us you have fine wine. Where were you looking to sell? I could offer a price here. We don't get much call for that stuff... we even have the... uh.. good underground stuff... if you know what I mean. It sells well in Kandor."
He gives a commercial grin.
The imperial soldiers begin arresting citizens that are still trying to cause problems. Another team of soldiers goes to make sure the galley fire doesn't spread to the rest of the barge city.

Vollone smiles, and sighs as he tries to be welcoming, "I'm what you'd call law and order around here. The rest is insanity. We can escort you to the Imperial gate... usually for a small fee. Once there the open seas will be quite clear of ruffians. The empress patrols that area with Seekers all the time. No enemy pirates would dare cross these waters. Welcome to New Galorine, if you are truly traders. You've come well defended... wise. This must be a fine wine indeed. I hear Werkain is dead. This will cause all sorts of activity here. He sort of ran the markets here. Well, his will of force did. You actually helped me. I thank you. If at all possible, I'd like to send a commendation to the empress. It'll look good, she sometimes even invites special people to the palace to receive a special promotion. Anything to get out of this corrupt cesspool. Normally people come through the main port of New Galorine... this side of the barge city is no longer under the protection of the empress. It has grown too quickly in population. Wizard architects are designing all sorts of structures out here, and the poor come even though there is only fish and seaweed to eat. You should see the main port some time. We have quite a nice modern city with glass towers and collesiums. Due to your problems, no fees will be assessed here, but if you'd please do business with us I am sure we can offer enough platinum or trade to sample this product you have."

Heron is still where Cassy left him.


Hobgoblin King:
Abbie can see that the bugbears are trying to block the way. She moves to the secret door's lever, and opens the door. Taros can be heard jingling in armor as he runs down the hall.

James attacks the most uninjured of the two bugbears. He cuts it badly, and it begins to shake in fear a little.

Taros is maintaining about a twenty foot distance from the King. It is quite dark.

The soldiers put up a defensive front with their backs to a wall, and horses behind them in the large cavern.

James is unharmed as the bugbears bravely try to defend the passage to the now open secret door.

Cara hits heavy armor with her mace. {7+10}

End Round 12----------------------------------->

Initiatives:
Abbie 17+6
James 15+3 all/105
Taros 13+1 d:13
Soldiers and horses
Hobgoblin King {fleeing} and his bugbears
Cara 5+1 hp 51/68

[dauphinous]

Cara
HP 51/68 AC 28

"Abbie, go after Taros! Don't let him run off alone." Cara focuses on what she's doing. This battered old mace has seen her through many, many fights, and it would see her through this one, too. Somewhere in the back of her mind, she notes that she'll have to clean it herself later, because Cassy won't be around to take care of that.

{
Full attack: mace/mace/shield, +8/+3/+8
mace damage: 1d8+1d6+1
shield damage 1d4+1d6+1

All those active spells are still active
}

[Idiotbox90]

Anthony almost begins to head back below deck when the wizard starts to talk, but instead decides to recline against the railing.

"One minute we're killing; now, we're talking. What a mad world." The warlock laughs. "Captain, I'll leave this matter to you. Good luck."

[Roland St. Jude]

Latigo

Latigo appears from behind a convenient obstruction, "commerce would be my department, Captain," Latigo says smoothly, "by your leave," he nods in momentary deference to the man's position before continuing undeterred.

"Don Vallone, your welcome is much appreciated, if a bit belated. We've lost several men as well as some cargo to this banditry, which we now find was perpetrated by one known to you." The dark, good looking man frowns deeply. "I'm pleased that we could eliminate this impediment to you...Werkain. He had a wizardess cohort who owes us a debt." He looks sternly in the direction of the flaming wreck. "We collect our debts promptly as with that fool Werkain. We'd appreciate your assistance in settling our account with his companion."

Spoiler

Show

Diplomacy - (1d20+19)[39]

[Vazzaroth]

James hopes to bring down both of the guards, to let the troops proceed.
His thoughts wander to one of his old, staple techniques, the Steel Wind. Now, he didn't need that style to attack two enemys, even if this way was a bit slower.

((Full atk: +15/+9, 1d10+8+1d6, 17-20, Recovery for re-atk +2 if misses))

[kariokie]

Cassy rubs her hands together to try and force warmth back into them, her staff held in the crook of her arm. "Yes, what he said with the collecting debts stuff. She set fire to our ship, killed some of our people, and tried to kill me." Well, I tried to kill her too, but she started it. "I would very much like to know who she is and where she can be found."

[BlueWizard]

Hobgob Caves:
Abbie hears Cara {DM action} and darts by the bugbears blocking the doorway. One takes an attack of opportunity, but misses. She can hear Taros clanging after the nearly equally loud old hobgoblin down the passage.

James makes quick work of one bugbear with two slices across its chest. The big goblin falls, and the last bugbear almost decides to follow Abbie. It makes a full retreat, and then decides to run off the dais. This one is still in view, but fleeing after the other hobgoblins. {When it finally acts...}

Taros can hear a lot of activity as many heavy metal things are being moved. Ahead of him the hobgoblin King bursts into a lit cavern. As big as the previous, but lit! Taros can see it is full of strong, mean looking female hobgoblins. As well as strange silver crafts that are hovering in the air and being loaded by human males in silver cloth-like outfits. At the lead of all this were three more of these snake-spider things. And a giant thing with a hood. Taros can't tell what the King says to the strange snake-headed monsters, but the word Neogi came up a few times. And Hulk for the large thing next to the silver crafts.

The crates being loaded are mostly supply boxes, but a few human sized slave cages could be seen. Including a large one for two people, with a giant bed. This one was unoccupied, and left to the side.
This chamber had a few passages off of it. It looked like it had many padded sleeping areas for the hobgob-ladies along niches in the walls. There were also barrels and crates in storage here, which some of the hobgob-ladies were protective of as well as a dark rear area, a likely nursery.

Taros just sees a glimpse of the busy activity beyond, and he can see that he has at least drawn the attention of the Neogis. This only causes them to speed up loading the three silver crafts, and they whip the men in silver even harder.

The soldiers have the horses quite safe.

The hobgoblin King is staying just ahead of the heavily armored Taros. He runs to the monsters pleading something to these Neogis, and the Neogis begin to look like they are threatening him now. The lady hobgoblins back off from Taros, and look to trigger something if he moves into the great inner chamber.

By accident the last bugbear actually runs right at Cara, intending to go by her. She is likely in pain still and in full battle mode. With one mighty mace blow to its chest she finishes the job she begun on this one earlier with holy fire. The last bugbear falls dying to the ground with its ribs shattered.

End Round 13------------------------------------->
OOC- Combat in the throne room over, Taros is okay in status right now, but he might be alerting you all to something; as would Abbie as she'll be where he is now on her next action.

Initiatives:
Abbie 17+6
James 15+3 all/105
Taros 13+1 d:13
Soldiers and horses
Hobgoblin King {fleeing}
Cara 5+1 hp 51/68


Crusty Bucket:
As Latigo takes over the dealings, Vallone is quite fascinated by all the merchant has to offer. He smiles, and looks about nervously. "Can we talk in private..."

When in private: {The Captain's Meeting Room}
Vallone accepts Latigo, Cassy, Anthony, and Robero, and anyone else Latigo deems worthy. Only then will he speak.
Vallone is still nervous when gathered in Robero's cleaned up new Meeting Hall. The Seawell kids are sent to help in the clean-up. "They need to see death sometime... might as well immerse them in it." Robero says as they leave.
{OOC- I assume Anthony went just because his presence does add an intimidation factor, not that Cassy needs any help.}

Vallone looks to Cassy, and then to Latigo, "I'm not sure the Antarian, nor many nobles know of her. She's a farmer's daughter. Worked her way up, even earned a spot in the Empress' Arcane Academy. She was top of her class, but she still can't earn a piece of property larger than her father's farm back home. Werkain pays her well, and she's been the one person I can deal with among his scoudrels. If you want to track her down, she lives on the Werkain barge. I am sure his sons are already feuding over the spoils.... As to compensating for your losses, what I can do is help you unload your wine. I am sure we can arrange a fair price." {OOC- Latigo appraisal: No matter what, Kandorian nobles will probably pay more.} "If you go after Pauline, I can't have anything to do with it. If the other wizards find out... the red or green ones... they'll come after me. We aren't supposed to judge other wizards. I'm merely Master of Trade... I was middle of my class, and I tell you I live like a king on this salary. But, they've been costing my empress a fortune! You are my guests, and under full imperial guard while you are here. How you wish to disperse your trade is up to you. If you want a map of New Galorine... or at least a fairly recent one, that can be provided. I can even supply you with a new crew."

Robero will secretly {from Vallone} shake his head "NO!" most whole heartedly to Latigo while in the meeting room. Vallone looks at Robero several times and can't quite place the name or face. Finally, and just as Robero relaxes from his strange head bobbing to Latigo.
"You sir? Are you one of the McAllisters or Croft boys?"

"No! No! I'm a descendant of Bale though, right enough. That ole evil bastard got into my blood. Bastard of Lady d'Veil's line, I believe. That's what dad said, but uhm... what sailor's dad wasn't or wouldn't like ta be... hehehe." He blushes, his bluff barely passing mustard, but the Master of Trade takes it.

"Right. Right. Anyway, what was your name sir?" Vallone looks keenly at Latigo, now that he realizes that he is the key money man aboard this ship.

[dauphinous]

Cara

Without even waiting for the body in front of her to fall to the ground, Cara takes off after Taros and Abbie. What was he thinking, running off alone like that? Fairly certain that James can figure this one out for himself, Cara just moves as fast as she can, not sparing any effort to speak.

[Eratosthenes]

Taros

Ah hell...

Stopping his pursuit, Taros tries to get a better glimpse over what the spider-like creatures are loading into their crafts as he slowly backs away from the amassed enemies. He was going to need backup.

[BlueWizard]

Neogi Caves?:
With Taros pausing at the door, combat stops, for no-one attacks him. Abbie and then Cara can quickly be at his side.

The great scene continues, with the lady hobgoblins glaring at the lurkers outside their doorway. They also give looks to their threatened King. One Neogi with two black stripes on its head and down its back pulls out a wand and points it at the hobgoblin King's head. The humans in silver continue to load crates. A few human cages can be seen with naked men. Cara recognizes Ethan {James' most exceptional soldier}, and a few other men. There are thuggish looking men in leather armor guarding by the last area of supplies to be loaded.

Already as we speak one Neogi enters a silver craft, and then the whole craft phases into another plane. Taking with it a third of the humans in silver-cloth.


Crusty Bucket:
Vallone will treat the crew and officers of the Crusty Bucket as special guests of the empire. He does check out Cassy, and look at her curiously, but she like Robero could be among any of the pretty noble bastard kids running about the seas. He only gives her a pleasant, nervous, but polite smile. You never know what teen could turn out to be a great arch-mage.

[Eratosthenes]

Taros

"You cowardly bastards!"

Taros charges towards the Neogi, hoping to disrupt the operations.

{
Swift Action: Rhino's Rush
Smite Charge: Attack +21, Damage [1d8+30]x2
}

[dauphinous]

Cara
HP 51/68 AC 28

Arriving just as the first of the vehicles pops out of of the cave, Cara immediately begins casting a spell. "That's just not acceptable."

Spoiler

Show

If Cara can get within 60 feet of at least one of the neogi, she casts Diamond Spray (getting both would be preferable):
affects evil creatures only,
Ref DC 19 for half of 10d6 damage,
dazzled for 2d6 rounds (no save against the dazzled effect)

If she cannot get that close, then she instead casts Curtain of Light (which is basically Wall of Goodness and Light) between the neogi and the two vehicles:
affects evil creatures only
medium range,
10 contiguous five-foot squares,
2d4 damage within 10 feet,
1d4 at 10-20 feet,
2d6+9 if they pass through it,
no save, no SR

Active spells:
Bull's Strength (Taros)
Bless (everyone but Abbie)
Magic Circle vs. Evil (Cara)
Prot From Evil (Taros)
Greater Status (Taros, Abbie, 5th level soldier)
Status (James, Deeker, Reollo)
Daylight (arrow)
Blessing of the Righteous <-- this spell only lasts 10 rounds, so I'm not sure if it is still active.

[BlueWizard]

The Neogi masters will act as well, when Cara and Taros move on them. The two Neogi are not close to each other, but near his own silver craft. {OOC- I will allow Cara to blast one in a surprise round.} Once the hobgob-ladies see Cara's attack the heroes will have gained an ally!

Initiatives:
Hobgob females
Cara 18+1
Abbie 9+6
Neogi
Taros 6+1
James 1+3

[kariokie]

Cassy slouches in a comfortable captain's chair, her legs over one arm and her head resting on the other. She watches Vallone interact with the others, amused. Cara would so totally punch him. That would be cool. Wow, he's boring. What's he talking about now? Blah blah blah. She stretches like a cat and then looks at the others in the room, rolling her eyes in at Anthony in shared sympathy. I bet he's hoping someone would punch Vallone, too.

[Vazzaroth]

((James would have followed Cara))

James charges forth with Taros, even if he did get their a little late. He must save as many as possible.

((Charge:+17, 1d10+8+1d6, 17-20))

[Idiotbox90]

Thoth, I wish someone would punch this guy. Seriously, why? Why does this always end up happening. Hey, good job killing that guy, you did me a real favor there. As your reward, hear me talk for several hours. Oh well, this'll give me a chance to go over my theories. Channel eldritch energy through shoulders, then use it to get rid of excess Hellfire, thus preventing me from dying. Hmm... is there anything else I can do with this energy? Interesting...

Every once in while, Anthony's eyes will flash red for barely a moment. Unless one knows Anthony, it's likely that one would think it a trick of the light.

[Roland St. Jude]

Latigo

"We appreciate your efforts, Don Vallone, and we'll accept your map and escort into open water - assuming that means alongside. I think our crew's had quite enough of unexpected visitors on our decks."

He smiles graciously. "I suspect our wares will fetch more beyond the gate, but I'll be happy to entertain your best offer."

"I'll have to discuss with my associates about settling our debt with Pauline and getting this ship back in shape, if you don't mind." He stands, hoping to see the man off before his friends get bored enough to do something rash - or fall asleep.

Responding finally to the man's question, "Latigo Black, trader and bon vivant," he gives a courtly half-bow and nods for the door to be opened and Vallone ushered out.

[BlueWizard]

Hobgob Caves:
Taros and Abbie can move to position, as does Cara in the surprise round. Off to the right as you go in the huge cavern is one of the silver ships and the Neogi with the hobgoblin king. Cara can blanket this whole area around the nearest Neogi with her cone, including the hobgoblin king. She can still miss the hobgob king and hit the silver craft as well. {OOC- Since Cara can tell the motivation of all the female hobgoblins, I will assume she blasts Neogi, craft, and of course humans in silver.}

Diamond Spray attack: The glittering diamonds come forth from Cara as Pelor grants her crystallized sunlight. A rainbow twinkle colors the spray as a diamonds tend to do. She rips the flesh of the well armored Neogi, nearby. {All the shards going right over the head of the submissive hobgoblin king.} Whatever wand the creature had is destroyed. It still lives!

The silver craft is heavily damaged, and Cara can see she caused it to smoke a strange green colored steam. About 5 humans in silver are slain instantly, as the shards rip them to shreds! The diamond shards dissipate to sparkles of light after they strike!

The creature is going to scream to the other Neogi about 150 feet across the cavern, but Taros obliterates it! {7+21 d:68} His sword connects with it, splattering it like a bug, and sending its legs all over the place. He can tell the smoking machine nearby might blow up. He has probably seen or heard of distant tinker-gnomish steam machines, they are considered VERY dangerous to the operator. Though this is nothing like one.

Abbie moves in with her bow. Normally hobgoblins hate elves, but for some reason these hobgoblin ladies trust Abbie. James can arrive now, as the men take up a defensive position around the dais in the other cavern, and don't move. Basvarti is in charge there.

James will see a few human cages near the far Neogi's craft, one of the men is Ethan another is Lord Wolf. At most the few men here wear loincloths.

End 'Surprise' Round------------------------------------------->
{OOC- The Neogi and company will be reacting now. The hobgoblin ladies will probably aid the heroes as long as the Hobgoblin king lives.}
Initiatives:
Hobgob females
Cara 18+1
Abbie 9+6
Neogi
Taros 6+1
James 1+3


Crusty Bucket:
{Vallone will allow for a discussion alone, he'll be flying above the ship this whole time.}
Vallone scratches his chin, and nods {still using that 20 diplomacy check}, "Well, I don't have a lot of free gold here, but I can offer 120 gold coins for a crate...hehe uhm, for my own personal stash." He smirks, "I do know of some people that might get you in good with some royal traders for the king, they'll get you a pretty penny."

The Bucket will get a full armed escort through the city. On all four sides the boat will be followed by marching soldiers in green with red dragons on the left and right, and small boats with soldiers in front and back.

They will take the Bucket to a great floating wall, behind you from this point you can see a few high towers of crystal and stone! All of them built on floating barges! There is a great gate here, and a huge port with an active market. The Bucket will be taken to the Gate. On the other side is open sea, and the wall has a heavy guard, especially at this point.

This will be as far as Vallone goes. If his offer for the crate is taken, he counts out 12 platinum pieces from a pouch of his. They are imprinted with the empress and emperor, this is a recent minting. {All coins are interchangeable throughout the world.}
Vallone will point at the wall, "The empress had it put up, to keep her seas clean of scum, and as a marker. She doesn't like Galorites."

If all are ready Robero will sail on, happy to be away from New Galorine, however, if you want to safely resupply here and hunt down Pauline the wizardess, the Bucket can find safe and protected harbor here. {Mostly because of the heavy guard it will receive at Vallone's apologetic expense.}
He's mostly concerned about a bad report from good traders.

The inhabitants of this city look like a mix of races, and is quite a surly sort of town, most of the ships are battered merchant vessels, and all look like pirates. Even the old folks sneer as the Bucket sails by, or wonder what precious cargo deserves such special treatment from the empire. Though most imperialites were used to the special treatment the nobles and divine got.