Duty Session 410: Still Tide Pirate Lair

After a particularly ill-fated expedition against the Still Tide Pirates, Goldenblade is making another attempt. The last mission was plagued by bad luck, misplaced preparation, and ... well, mainly bad luck. This time, it will hopefully be different. It's not part of the Japanese culture to accept blame for poor decisions, so things like the last mission are attributed to bad luck rather than any slacking on GB's part or half-hearted efforts or anything else she might have done poorly. She's American, though, and will take the hit if, by learning from her miscues, she can do better next time.

In any case, she's here and prepared to go again, refitted and ready, on the far side of the Isle of Beginnings, where a rocky outcropping overlooks the raging seas below. This is where the guild had had everyone assemble in preparation for the mission.

    Ahoy! There be content in them hills! Seriously, though, even with everything else going on, Nariko is still all about the content, so here she is, ready to punch pirate faces as hard as possible. "Stupid pirates.." she grumbles. Was she even at the last attempt? Or maybe she went herself in a PUG? Who knows!

Still Water Pirates? Yar! Haru is already on his way to pirate life with an eyepatch made of glass. Technically this is a monocle, but thems be details and pirates don't need details. They need swords to swash and buck. Haru has an orb to cast things with. He begins to question how pirate or anti-pirate he is. It doesn't stop him from signing up for the Hunt with a couple familiar faces.

At least the view is really nice! The white haired human stands on the cliff overlooking the seas below. "Man, this place will be rich," in puns of course. Haru smiles.

Seems to be a gathering of people that had poor luck in their previous attempts, as Shiruba is here as well. Bad luck, ill preparedness, it doesn't really matter what the issue was last time. This time they were going to do better. Or at the very least she was going to be better prepared for things to start going sideways, as a leader should be.

Kaydon has been way too focused on war preparations to actually do any of the game's content...But that stuff won't just stop being a threat just because the Palace Lands have decided to be one too. So the gnoll is on scene, along with Shiruba, frowning a little bit as he looks at the gathered group. Hopefully this'll work a bit better this time around.

The path towards the Pirates' lair leads the Adventurers down a precarious bit of rock and stone that weaves along the steep edge of the cliff face. Eventually, the party reaches a point along the path where a larger ledge can support them all, gathered together.

There is a large amount of scraped rock here, as if things were moved from somewhere within. However, there doesn't seem to be any obvious opening in the rocks. There is the more direct route, which continues downward into the caves below, but there has to be something hidden here, right?

Goldenblade looks around, says, "Well, this has the look of a secret back door place, but it's pretty well hidden. If we can find a way in, let's use it. Otherwise, down the cliff and fight the main way in."

    Seems Nariko is more interested in punching pirate faces instead of searching for entrances, which is what's suggested. Sure, she has a little experience at that, but Indiana Jones she is not. "Ah..." she skims the wall, "I don't see.. anything.. here.. at all.."

Shiruba pauses to take a look around, and when she doesn't seem much of indication shakes her head. "I think we should just head directly in. If we spend too long out here, they're going to learn we're here, and then getting deeper into their hideout is going to get even harder. Swift and direct." Thankfully, her species is a mountain variety of wolf, so she's not going to have too much difficulty making her way down the cliffside.

"A secret entrance, you say," Haru replies to Goldenblade with a monocle glinting in the light of an articial world. "I love finding a secret entrance," he begins as he picks up a rock in particular, looking at it carefully, "thats where the prime booty is, according to all pirate lore." Not that he is an expect on pirate lore. If he was, he would have a parrot. The rock is tossed at a wall to listen for the response it makes. A hand is cupped, focusing. "Not here." He places a hand on the wall, doing a formal appraisal of the area segment by segment before needing to press on. He feels it is so close, but thats why it is a secret. "The front entrance also works," he says, appreciating the pragmatism from Shiruba there.

"While I'd love to find the hard way in, I'm not in the mood to sneak around and act nice." Kaydon says, "Let's just get right in there and kick the door down and take these guys out." He doesn't really bother doing much besides a cursory search.

Goldenblade points out a path she thinks looks promising, but the party is moving on for some reason. Haru's search is fruitless, as is Nariko's. Shiruba and Kaydon articulate the group's unspoken concensus: Kick them in the Face. So they proceed down to the pirate encampment, itself.

For some, it would be a familiar site on the edge of the pirate encampment. Many of those who used to be part of the Still Water Bandits have found their way here, though it appears that most of the standard Lander races are treated as second-class citizens here.

The Landers live in run down hovels, their clothing filthy and their expressions bleak. The monsters who run the group seem to have truly beaten down their spirits over time. So much so that they barely even acknowledge the Adventurers in their midsts.

A few rise up, but it's clear that they don't really want trouble.

These poor Landers! "What misfortune," Haru says as he asides to one of the dispirited residents, "to befall you and yours." The Lander in question looks at Haru with distant, blank eyes. "Would you like a snack, you look hungry," he attempts to continue the conversation. A set of '...' appears in response. "What about water, a drink perhaps something stronger?" Haru continues on to get a wedge into gaining enough good will for a discussion about this place. Silence befalls him. "Perhaps a well timed joke," he asks as the Lander visibly turns away with a broken spirit. He remembers a time he could laugh once, before his traumatic backstory that Haru will never know. "Well," the Artificer steps back, "make good choices, friend."

A head shakes as Haru presses on with the party, "The sad levels are way too high here."

This time Shiruba came prepared.

That is to say, she brought as much spare gold coins and such as she could carry, to pass out/pay off the lingering outcasts. "There is better than sitting here skulking in the shadows of those who care not for your being more than an obstacle. Go into the nearest town, get some food, maybe a nice room for the night, and see about finding some honest work instead of hoping for handouts of scraps from these salty seadogs." Sure, sure, it's a handout to get them through, but she's also sincere in the effort to get them to realize there's better they could be doing with their lives.

Kaydon's not exactly prepared for this. He doesn't really have anything to offer. No food, no booze. All his stuff is still in storage, not exactly helpful in this moment. So he presses on.

If they're getting up to get in the way, they should understand what a fist is, but for sooooome reasons that's not an option? Blah. Fine. "Ah, water? Are you thirsty or ... something?" No? Hey she tried at least. She's no brewmaster, it's all she had to offer!

Goldenblade's explanations of why they should let us through, given the current geopolitical situation with the Palace Landers is met with profound disinterest. "Pay us or screw off," they reply to her. This works for Shiruba, however, who's brought graft. But not enough for everyone, it seems. Haru's people skills are, sadly, not quite up to the level of despair here, nor are Nariko's modest offers. Kaydon just shoves his way through without even commenting. The rest of the party, minus Shiruba, winds up having to do this also, the pirates want stuff, but not badly enough to fight with adventurers.

The outer ring of run-down hovels and tens gives way to a finer structure. Made of wood and metal, an imposing fort has been built upon the edge of the water, the timbers rising high into the darkness of the cave. Fires are lit at the ramparts, casting shadows on those approaching below.

At the entrance to the fort, there are a series of humanoid monsters of various sorts. Lizardmen, Gnolls and Kobolds are most common, with a few Gargoyle-like creatures which have perched on the higher places of the fort's entrance.

As soon as the Adventurers approach, they spring to action, brandishing not only their claws, but finely made weapons and armor. The monsters are clearly running the show, here, and they have the supplies to make sure their lair is well defended.

Once they are passed the destitutes Shiruba is all business, drawing her bow and readying arrows, even as the group starts to approach the fort.

And then proptly lifts it up, remembering the gargoyles that perch overhead from before. Eyes narrow, honing in. "Not this time." She fires, using her piercing arrows to get through the monster's thick stone-like hide, turning the would be predators into her prey. "Take them down!" And again. And again. She draws and fires as quick as her skill allow, denying their enemies the aerial support that would otherwise give them a severe advantage.

Its rare when Haru is relieved to see some combat in the adventure. Fun, sure, against the monsters of the realm, but to shake off the sadness of missing pirate secrets and tales of woe from the denizens here. "Change of pace," the Caster admits, falling into a simple set of Wave Artes from the back row. Nothing fancy. Quick casts of fire that streak across the field to pepper the angry mobs at a distance. "A welcome," pew, "change," pew pew, "of pace." PEW! There isn't a lot of volume of these fire bolts. Haru looks at his casting orb and considers. Fireball? No. Pew!

Right. No more Miss Nice Tiger. "Claws? Swords? Pfffffft...." They're already having a rough time so instead of just leaping in, The martial artist takes a stance, fists tight, before a leg slides forward and scrapes a half circle, but in the that wake rock, stone, and dirt float up forming a sphere that catches -fire- a few moments later. "We are -going through-. Thanks!" Said sphere receives a step-over round kick, and the massive fireball goes roaring into the enemy mass!

Kaydon's blade bursts into flames as he adjusts into the fight. He's not having any intention of allowing himself to be stopped by these jerks. With the flaming sword in hand, he lets out a battlecry and rushes in, swinging massive strikes with no regard for himself or his opponents.

Goldenblade's flaming agility pins many of the enemy fighters in place, where they can burn or be stabbed, neither of which is a good option for them. Shiruba, meanwhile, is picking off the gargoyles one by one. Haru's small fire attacks don't seem to cobtribute as much, sadly. Nariko shows how to do it, blasting a huge firebally mess into the pirate elites. They are unhappy with this, and Kaydon makes them more unhappy, but not for very ong because after a pretty brutal fight, they are dead and presumably no longer unhappy.

The outer guardians of the fort are numerous and take quite a while to fight through, but eventually the Adventurers find themselves inside those outer gates, working their way through the inner hallways of the fort itself.

One of the larger rooms that they encounter is certainly strange. There are fine murals painted on the walls by hands that seem too skilled to be those of many of the monsters who now call this place their 'home'. Depicted on the mural is a massive sea creature which ooms out of the water, attacking nearby ships.

At the center of the room is a deep pool of water that seems to be somehow connected to the lake outside. Throughout the room, there are bits and pieces of writing, but they are hard to see in the dim light. There are strange markings around what must be a door that leads onward into the heart of the fort.

Oh. More puzzles. YAY. Just... Yay. "Uuuuuugh, stop, please, developers, why...?" Nariko grumbles as she starts to look around the room without much of a clue what to do. "I really miss guides.. and mentors.. and ANYTHING that can HELP with this STUFF. UGH. I neeed to find a table.."

Well if nothing else comes of this duty at least that's one less band of monster pirate thugs to harass people. That makes Shiruba feel a bit better. They've reduced their numbers for a time, and can at least stay positive about that.

Once they make their way inside Shiruba zooms in on the strange writings, trying to pick apart their meanings. ".. looks like they've been using runic writing as a means of posting coordinates and sailing routes. That's actually kind of clever, not a lot of people unfamiliar with codes or glyphs would be able to puzzle it through."

As is someone might have to grab her and drag the wolfgirl on before she gets all wrapped up in nerding over the strange scripts.

Writing. Writing is important. Haru takes some of the scriptures and goes to hold them up to what lighting exists. "Nekto. Feritim," the Artificer rambles off, squinting to no avail as he rustles through. Nothing too helpful. It ends up coming up like a paragraph where only one word every four is available. "Puzzles are fun," he says, tossing the paper back onto the table, "but I imagined there would be more Pirate stuff going on. Traps. People swinging from ropes. Parrots." Clearly his expectations have been awry here. "Are we sure this is a Pirate adventure and not a Troll one?" Because they are getting trolled pretty hard here.

"Uh. Crap." Kaydon isn't very good at puzzles either. It shows when he tries to figure out something to do with the light reflecting off of his sword.

To anyone else it looks like him standing there trying to figure out how to get his sword to reflect light.

Goldenblade has not the foggiest idea what to do in this room. She still, after over a year in the game, does not entirely have the hang of the sort of puzzles that happen on missions. Shiruba's beeter at it, but she's got into tunnel-vision now, and has to be led back to current events. Goldenblade sighs to Haru, "This is not 'The Day The Earth Stood Still'." Kaydon is helpful in keeping the floor from floating off, he and GB can watch Shiruba slooooowly puzzle the /whole thing/ out without contributing.

As the party /finally/ does work out the way beyond the strange doorway, they find that it opens upon lavish chambers. There is a fine rug beneath their feet and the spoils from many raids upon lander villages and ships displayed upon shelves and along the walls. Many stone pools make up parts of the chamber, as if it, too, were connected to the lake, somehow.

There, sitting upon a throne, looking at them with fingers folded, is the Pirate King. He is dressed in fine armor, with a wicked set of scimitars across his back. His face is elongated, looking like some sort of reptilian creature, but none that are easily identifiable.

"You've caused me enough trouble. I suppose I should handle you, myself." He rises, drawing his blades, his movements remarkably fast as he initiates combat with the party.

"But it could be," Haru asides to Goldenblade about what this is and is not. Eh. Ehhhh?! No. It couldn't. Haru heads onward with the party at a brisk pace. "Ok. I'm thinking that the thing down here is a Kraken. A Kraken or a Ghost ship." He snaps his fingers, "Ghost Kraken." That is when there is a scream for help. That is when he sees the Pirate King. "Or a Pirate King. I think that was too obvious. Where is the twist?" For a caster, he is light on his feet. Able to make off commentary while evading the blows handily, "Maybe," dodge, "we are the pirates all along for," dodge again, "invading this place?"

Once they finally make their way into the boss chamber Shiruba has her wits back in order. They know this is a big fight to come, no matter how prepared they are. But as is typical for her, Shiruba does her best to be as prepared as possible anyways.

She steps cautiously into the chamber, already drawing back on the string of her bow... though her companions would notice it's not with an arrow in it. Because Thundersnow Howl doesn't need physical arrows for the Spell Fletcher's elemental storm magic.

Instead of firing at the Pirate King directly as he rises from his throne, Shiruba tilts her aim up and fires. A shot that hits the roof of the chamber, causing it to fragment and send ice shards raining down. Some might even pelt the Pirate King himself. But he's actually not her immeadiate focus.

Every shard that falls into one of the pools of water causes it to burst up, and then freeze. Several of the pools are turned into icy pillars and spikes, which give her partymates defense to hide behind and break up the otherwise devestating wide-reaching area sweeps the Boss would make with his dual scimitars.

FINALLY. Someone to beat down. "Alright freak! Bring it!" That's all the warning the lizard-pirate-thing is going to get. Nariko is office to the races, dodging, weaving, avoiding all of the attacks before she zips around behind and simply puts her shoulder, at high speed, into the pirate king's back. It isn't the flashiest attack but it'll hopefully set up the others for some good hits!

Kaydon takes a moment to pop his neck as he looks at the pirate king, and clenches his left fist.

"You talk too much."

He rushes across the field, right hand wielding his blade but the left hand landing multiple one-two hits with the punch and then the hidden blade in the gauntlet. Kaydon dances around the arena, striking hard and fast multiple times in order to drop the pirate king

Shiruba's timely special attack is quite helpful in keeping the rest of the party safe from the worst of the Pirate King's attacks, the ice spoiling more than one slash. Haru is able to stay well ahead of the attacks as he fights back, in between strange speculations. Nariko sets everyone up to attack by striking the Pirate King off balace, and Kaydon DPSes the hell out of him. Goldenblade is nowhere to be seen in all this, at least at first, though every now and again, a chunk of one of the Pirate King's health bars will vanish with no explanation.

The Pirate King is no easy encounter. Even without support from his allies, he makes for a fearsome foe. The twin scimitars allow for intense and damaging area attacks, and his quick movement means that it is difficult for the Adventurers to land solid blows to his multiple health bars.

However, he seems to lose the edge early on. One of the Adventurers manages to knock a vial of strange liquid from his hand, causing it to fall into one of the pools. Cursing, he focuses on damaging them, in particular.

However, without the aid of whatever that potion would have done, his health soon begins to wane. "Help me!" He calls out, as if to thin air.

Then, there is a rumble beneath them. A huge tentacle reaches up, bursting through the ice, wraps around the Pirate King, and starts to pull him towards one of the pool. "No! No! I did what you asked! Why?" He calls out, just before being dragged down into the murky depths below.

This time the Pirate King becomes a victim of his own monstrousity.

Shiruba peers down in the water for a moment. "It might not actually kill him though. Lets grab what we can of his horde and get out of here before his crew comes to investigate the screaming." Or to fill the void of power left in their chain of command, but we won't bring that up.

Haru is rather pleased that there was something that /might/ be a Kraken. He points where the King was taken away and grins at it, "Yes! Now thats what I am talking about. Betrayed by his own Kraken. Lets not stay too long, I've seen enough movies to see how this ends." At least no one is a magical schoolgirl here. He thinks. Plus its practical to make good use of the time and Haru can get behind that idea! His monocle lights up with small white lines against the purple lens. This helps him appraise and sort through the loot in short order to get a bag of the high quality stuff over the typical bag o coins. No, its a bag of coins+, full of quality goodness.

"I doubt we're lucky enough for that to be the last time we'll see him." Kaydon says, as he twists his blade and then sheathes it on his back, "Grab what you can and lets get out of here."

    LOOT! Wonderful loot! "Sweet, more money! I'm so ready to get my training on with all this," Nariko decides as she holds aloft her bag like an elf in a green tunic. "Lets gooooooo!"

Goldenblade nods agreement with Shiruba and Kaydon. "That sounds like a plan." she agrees, picking up loot as fast as she can. Haru seems to have a particularly good eye for the loot, GB will just catch as catch can. There's enough that it kind of doesn't matter. Nariko's pleasure at the amount of loot is shared, but they will get going, indeed, before more bad guys show up to see what happened to the king.