FLUFF: Jammers: Turn 32 Chapter 7 pt 1

The Adventures of my Jammers PBEM game.

We've had a hiatus but now we are back... :)

I hope folks are enjoying these, if there is a consensus that they
suck I will be happy to stop posting them. Let me know what you folks
think. (My players should feel free to comment as well:))

----------- = Meanwhile, elsewhere...
*********** = Later...
{} = Actions and descriptions within these brackets take place within
the psionic mindscape and are OOC knowledge for all accept the
parties directly involved.

IC:

Raken retorts "but wasn't Aroguni tossed overboard?  The natives
might have taken him by surprise, 'killed' his human form, and then
tossed him overboard.  At which time Aroguni the dragon returned to
human form, took stock of the situtation, and then thought it best to
head back.  Back towards us!"

Raken paces a bit, "The dragon we saw had silver or white scales.
You mentioned some sort of play with an 'iron' dragon... iron that
from a distance could be mistaken for silver or white color.  It all
makes sense!" Looking just a bit pleased with himself, he continues
"like it or not, I think we've been dealing with a dragon all along.
Of course, what's our next move?"

Holland looks over at Ferric, "So, is this Argonui a dragon in
disguise? You obviously know something about him."  Holland frowns,
"I am getting tired of all these secrets."

Ferric shrugs, "What I know is that he and Lady Moune were
adventuring companions for a time back in the days before I was taken
in by her. They were close friends from what she has told me though
they parted ways years ago.  Since he has joined us I have spent some
time with him and he seems quite an agreeable gentleman, well
traveled and experienced in the ways of the spheres.  Beyond than
that I cannot say anything with a certainty but Lady Moune has never
mentioned traveling with a dragon and I am as her son so I think she
would have confided such in me were it true."

Shaking his head a little Ives booms out "Holland, step back a
moment.  Argonui, if he is indeed the dragon Blackclaw would not want
that knowledge spread throughout spheres or even yes among trusted
comrades at arms.  Being a 100ft engine of destruction tends to make
people wary, after all no likes a fire elementalist among the powder.
A mild deception to take on a persona and keeping to it isn't unknown
even among the Giff being sound strategy.  The best scouts and agents
are masters at it what!"

"So I suggest the following, Argonui's true nature matters not.  What
matters is finding a way to see justice done for the Cutlass's
misdeeds as a pirate, Argonui satisfied justice has been done and a
certain fraction of the Cutlass's knowledge and lore taken by us as a
payment. Ways to bind the Cutlass and Argonui can be found, perhaps a
more powerful version of the contract the Company signed originally
with Lady Moune"

Raken ponders the situation.  "Well," he begins, "I don't think
Cutlass could be considered a murderer per say; he would not be in
control of such actions, as he is both a weapon and a thinking being.
He could convince people to do evil acts, but unless he has magical
abilities to take control of someone, the ultimate guilt resides with
the person using him to kill.  I believe the proper crime would be
sedition to commit acts of piracy.  Under different circumstances, he
might have been hailed as the weapon of a hero against an oppressive
empire, such as Iuz, the Great Kingdom, or Falx." Quitely, he says "I
wonder... perhaps against such a foe Cutlass could redeem himself."

"Whatever the exact crime which I have no doubt a whole Whaleship of
barristers could spend a lifetime arguing over what! The Cutlass is
still Blackjammers blade.  Besides which the Cutlass, for justice to
be done, needs to take an active role in righting his wrongs.  I can
think of several appropriate tasks, one would be to serve with the
Company of the Chalice aiding them in killing undead, or under the
Seekers sharing his knowledge of the spheres for all to know, or even
join us as privateers protecting Bralspace."  Ives replies and slowly
looks each member of the company in the eye.

Raken shrugs, "Regardless, such a decision would be beyond our
control, if indeed Argonui is who I believe he is.  By rights, the
blade would be his, and we have little claim to it, least we tangle
with an angry iron dragon several centuries old."

"We recovered it," Sekeht says. "By rights, it's ours, dragon or no!"

Allagan replies, "No Sekeht, we made an agreement with Argonui.  He
would show us how to get here and he would get the Cutlass.  It
wouldn't be right for us to
break our agreement."

"But the circumstances have changed, friend," Sekeht says. "We're
stranded here, we've lost our ship. We have to take all that into
account. We could use the
Cutlass to regain everything and more."

Ferric frowns at Sekeht"We do not break our word when an agreement is
no longer convenient Sekeht. That is not the sort of name that the
Company wishes to have for itself and not one that I will tolerate
myself to be associated with. Fret not, providence rewards
determination and I for one am very determined to make these people
pay for their betrayal."

"There is the matter that we are privateer's for Bral what! Letting a
powerful magical artifact out of our hands into a" Ives closes his
eyes for a moment and twitches his ears then continues on "revenge
driven, and most definitely chaotic individual is not in the best
interests of Bral. Besides which handing over an individual to be
destroyed without a proper trial isn't quite proper what!"

Holland stirs and says, "We gave our word to turn over the Cutlass,
and we will do so. Our circumstances do not change that fact that we
gave our word."

Holland looks over the group, his eyes lingering on Ives and Sekeht,
and says harshly "I will not tolerate any further comments on
breaking our agreement. Is
that understood?"

Without waiting for comment Holland's voice softens as he continues,
"Raken, you have a point but it isn't really our place to make
decisions concerning the Cutlass' fate. We can talk with Argonui and
see if he is willing to entertain such ideas but ultimately it will
be his decision."

Raken nods.  "It is his decision."

Holland says, "In the interim, we will head back to the village. By
keeping in contact with Leera's apprentice we might be able to locate
the ship along the way."

"Yes," Raken says, "recovering our ship is most important right now.
Once we have that, we will be in a much better position."

Kain joins the conversation haltingly, "Well of course our word ... should
be good, and to break it just to ... satisfy our own ... greed would be
a foul crime. But ... and we don't really ... know all the ...
details at the moment so ... just maybe if ... we had entered into an
... evil bargain it would be ... better to break our ... word than
... continue simply for the sake of honour.

Looking around nervously Kain continues "We would not ... kill an
innocent ... child simply because we had been ... tricked into giving
our ... word?"

Talus says, "We weren't tricked into anything.  We wanted to get to
this sphere and Argonui volunteered to lead the way for a price.  The
Cutlass is his for services already rendered."

Kain looks concerned but presses on, "Yes well, you're ... right, we
do not ... know we were ... tricked, I ... hope we were not. But ...
perhaps Argonui did not ... reveal all the ... facts. What would you
say if we ... discovered he was a ... famous ... pirate disguised and
... intent on using the ... cutlas to ... rule the ... flow. Maybe we
will ... find that the ... price is not ... quite what we ... thought
when we ... agreed. I would rather break my ... word and keep my ...
conscience; than ... keep my word and ... have my ... conscience
eating me ... away."

"Be careful, Kain," Sekeht says. "The wizard has spoken. You might
find yourself amid a fireball because you disagree with his opinion."

Talus scoffs, "You might want to be careful of your smart-mouth, I
don't know why 'the wizard' puts up with it.  I'd have stapled it
shut with a dagger by now."

"This one must agree with Holland.  Our word was given that we would
turn the Cutlass over to Argonui.  No other factors were included
other than he help us find it, which he did,' Freneth thinks for a
moment, then adds, " It was not said when the Cutlass would be turned
over to him though."

Allagan looks up and asks, "Kain, have you warned Italapate?  If the
rest of the village is in on the betrayal, and not just Masawa, then
Italapate might be in danger."

Kain looks worried, "No, I did not ... think of that, do you think I
should try to ... warn him now?"

Holland nods his head, "That would be wise.  Who knows, maybe the
entire village was in on the betrayal.  If so, Italapate could be in
the hands of those fish creatures now."

While the others formulate plans Kain moves slightly away from the
group, and turning to face roughly south stares off into the distance.

Turning back to Sekeht Holland says, "I think we should go recover
our ship first.  It seems they have a little base camp and maybe a
few more of those fish creatures.  We'll have to be careful, but I
think we can manage it. That is," Holland continues, "if they stay
there for a little while, but Kain can keep tabs on Oquid, so we
should know if they leave before we reach them."

Talus asks Holland and Leera, "How many people can you two cast
invisibility on? I can handle myself and one other."

"Once we have the _Night Wind_ more options are open to us.  Getting
it first is the priority, besides the trickster did not come with us
after all what!" Ives booms out. "Although I do hope that rope bridge
can take my weight"

"I agree," Sekeht says. "If Italapate's come to some ill end, it's
the choice he made. We've got to get our ship back."

"Though this one disagrees with such a callous sentiment, unless
Italapate is in dire trouble, the ship will give more options to us,
and at least 2 of our friends are in need of help on the ship.  Also,
if the hunters are connected to the fishmen, which seems to be, and
the fish are related somehow to the empire of Cold Ones, then we have
just delivered a means to regain the heavens, and regain the war of
domination they started in the beginnings of time."

"I meant no disrespect to Italapate," Sekeht says. "I believe he
would also hold himself responsible for the choices he makes."

Holland cuts in, "That's enough, both of you. One step at a time.
First we recover the ship, then we rescue Italapate." Holland looks
over at Kain, "Have you been able to achieve contact with Italapate?"

Kain shakes his head and stretches gently; "No .. I could not ..
reach him. I can not say .. why, maybe If I try .. later."

Holland replies to Talus, "I can probably manage turning two people
invisible. I don't want to waste the spells I still have memorized
because I will not be able to replenish them. We can figure out our
battle plan once we get closer, but it will definitely involve
sending a small invisible contingent onto the ship to free the
prisoners."

Allagan replies, "I'll take care of freeing the prisoners."

Leera stops and thinks before answering. "One today. If that's the
plan, I can study the spell more tonight.... then I could handle
three at a time.  If we time things right, we could all cast at
night, then rest, study in the morning, and cast again. The spell
lasts a whole day, so if we attack in the morning or early afternoon
we could have a large number of us invisible.

Talus says, "Hey, that's right.  We should be able to get a strong
group aboard the ship."

Snorting a little Ives then booms out "No use setting the ball before
the powder what! Lets worry about getting over that rope bridge and
down to the river first."  Turning his head to Holland Ives continues
on "So other than Raken up front what's the marching order?"

Talus says, "I'll scout out as before but the are seems very sedate.
Everyone keep an eye out for Jammers above them."  With that Talus
winks out of visibility.

Raken nods.  "I'd suggest Ives near the rear; he'd have a harder time
moving quietly than I would.  It'll be easier for us to hear an
approaching beast, which may be our only warning.  No offense, Ives!"

Holland nods, "Yes, I think Ives in back would be good."  Holland
then outlines the party order:
Talus
Raken
Ferric
Dhebun/Freneth
Leera/Holland
Allagan/Sekeht
Kain
Nilaroo
Ives

Ferric knocks an arrow and assumes his place behind Raken.

Ives keeps his shield ready, and a hand on the hilt of his sword.

Date/Time: 10:15 am, 9th day of the 11th Month, 5049 OC

------------

As late afternoon draws down the party approaches the cliff and the
rope bridge, Talus, flying about the party, sees a large group of
dinosaurs approaching the group stealthily.

There are perhaps a dozen of the creatures, bipedal and perhaps six
feet long.  They are striped, brown and black so that they blend into
the high grasses of the plains extremely well.  In fact, were Talus
not invisible and flying, able to see them as they move, he doubts he
would have noticed them at all.

In three groups of four they are converging on the party from behind,
being perhaps 200 feet or so away at this point.

Talus' voice is heard, "Um, guys?  There are 12 six foot lizard
creatures sneaking up behind us, about 200 feet away."

Holland says quickly as he draws a starwheel, "Draw weapons!  Raken,
Allagan, isn't there anything can you do?"

Raken is already in preparation, getting out his holy symbol.  "Yes,
I have spells that give me power over beasts.  Not entirely sure if
they will work on these creatures, but if I'm successful, we could
have new allies.  I will try to earn their friendship with a spell;
damn, this would be easier if we had some meat on hand.  I might just
try to send them away."  Raken moves back to be protected by other
members of the company while he casts his spell.  "Be wary," he
warns, "an attack can from any side!"

Ferric steps sideways to get a clear shot and draws his bow back
preparing to fire.

Talus replies, "I can create an invisible wall that will stop them.
Don't launch any attacks or spells until I tell you, because the wall
will stop them too."

Holland says, "Talus, let me know when it is clear and I will hit
them with a fireball."

"Holland we should get the more fragile and shorter members some
cover." Ives booms out as he passes Holland his two loaded
starwheels. "If the winds blowing the right way we could force them
to attack us through a fire. Need to magic the fire up though" Taking
a moment Ives licks his finger and checks the wind direction then the
grasses to see how dry they are.

Nilaroo draws his sword and faces the rear, walking backward.  "No
bow shot in this grass.  Holland, what do you have, hoom, on the
order of fire and wind?"

"NO!" Raken warns, "do not set the field afire; such a fire would be
more dangerous than the creatures themselves!"

Flicking his ears upwards at Rakens warning Ives sighs "I wasn't
going to suggest we light a fire upwind of us." Turning back to face
the back trail Ives keeps his sword at the ready. In a low voice
heard only by those close to him Ives says "Can't even burn a
grassland these days without everyone getting upset. Where's the fun
if you can't even attempt to burn something. Next thing they'll be
saying 'starwheel pistols are too dangerous for Bral' and 'using fire
as a weapon must be stopped'".

"Hoom, the wind blows away from us, towards our hunters.  I am quite
in favor of burning the grasslands down *behind* us," Nilaroo replies.

Freneth hurriedly takes out several lengths of rope, and starts tying
one length to each of his javelins with practiced ease.

Kain turns to face back along the path the group had been travelling.
He unslings his crossbow and checks the bolt and the safety while
moving slowly backwards towards the center of the group. His eyes are
flicking from side to side watching for movement, in the long grass.

Looking over the loose clumping Ives says "Lets at least have a
semblance of a line.  Make it more difficult for the beasties to get
through."  Dropping his gear and the figurehead off Ives moves to
directly face downwind with his shield up and sword out.

Freneth pops in, "Talus, how far is the bridge?  Could we not get
across before these creatures catch us?"

There is no answer.

Freneth looks about for a moment, obviously looking for something.
Apparently satisfied, Freneth says, "I'll be right over there,"
toward Dhebun.  He silently slips into the grass just off to the side
of the party, using his sizes to good advantage as he tries to
disappear into the tall grass.

Dhebun smiles grimly as he hears Freneth, his eyes grow wide as he
notes how easily Freneth blends into the grass. Waving silently to
the young halfling, he draws his own short sword. "I shall cover this
side," he promises as he positions himself on the opposite side of
the party from Freneth and is likewise lost in the grasslands.

Suddenly there are several thumping sounds, quickly followed by
high-pitched caws and screeches directly in front of the group.
Talus can see where his wall has stopped the group of four directly
to the front about forty feet from the party. They bump and sniff at
the invisible wall, clearly confused, and they are making the loud
calls.

The other two groups have slowed and paused, clearly listening to the
calls, but not replying themselves so the calls all come from the
front.  They are close, within fifty feet of the group to either
flank.


Continued in Part 2...
--
"...How shall a man judge what to do in such times?!"
"As he has ever judged," said Aragorn "Good and evil have not changed
since yesteryear..."
J.R.R. Tolkien, _The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers_

Paul Westermeyer,  pwestermeyer@????????.??.com