Belagroff Bearjaw & the Buckaneers

Belagroff Bearjaw sits on the boat Watching the riverbank slid past. You had made your way to Gamulur where tales of an influx us previously unclaimed wealth had drawn you. After a few simple iquiries you learned that a major expedition was the source of all the wealth. However once it made its way to Gamulur the local dwarven marchanst were quick to strip most of the reacily accessble loose change from the flow. Deciding to get closer to the action Belagroff toke passage on one of the supply ships heading down river.

The large beastkin man rolls his head to the side to look at you and a deep low rumble accompanies the words You may call me Adrik. Do you challenge me sword skills? If not then let me sleep. And closing his eyes again proceeds to do just that by the sound of his slow deep breathing.

The fancy looking elf glances at the wolfkin swordman then you and back to the river with a slight sniff just as the captain calls from the rear That means the other two of you have got the dawn patrol. The duende is in charge.

The rest of the day passes leisurely and Belagrof finds a corner to lean against so as to get his face out of the sun and get a few hours of shut eye.

You are awoken by the rocking of the boat and looking up you see the shore a short span away. The crew busily ties the boat up and drops a long plank across the gap. According to the red and blue sky you have maybe a half an hour of daylight before full dark.

Relieve yourself and get your grub. You are welcome to sleep on the shore but me and the crew stay onboard and shove off at the first sign of trouble.
You dwarf, your watch starts in a couple hours. If you see any trouble just ring the bell and he gestures to the iron bell hanging from a pole set into the stern of the boat.


Adrik rises from his bed of crates and moves to the shore, sniffing the air. I will be back in time for our watch. You may accompany me if you can be silent and still he says as he glances down at you.

The trees are in the way of noticing anything so Belagroff moves cautiously towards the smell. Glancing back you note Adrik is already out of sight again. You creep along looking around for anything problematic.roll a test to spot anything, 3d6 for your trait.

You instantly freeze as you spot a flicker of firelight. The source of the smoke smell. Searching for guards you are surprised there are none and double check to be sure. The problem is that the fire is in a dense corpse of trees and as you search you catch a few faint voices discussing something. The voices are too low and the distance too great to pick out what is being said.

Roll a test if you want to get close enough to hear without being noticed or let me know your plan

Belagroff inches his way forwards hearing mixed voices
. . .
Hush now you lot. Just remember how hard your lives were before we gave you this job. We wait for a bit before sunset then go launch the raft. Same as last time. Just get the guards distracted then we slip it, knock them out and make off with the goods.

Female 1 Yeah, that's what you said last time too. Only. . . . That was a lot of blood and he didn't get back up

Listen Gyna, we do what we can to be reasonable but it they struggle we have to protect ourselves. These merchants have all the money and the guards signed up for this so it's only fair if they get hurt. It's what they get paid for. Who pays us??? No one, that's how. So you just get in that tattered old dress and make sure to be distracting at the right time or you don't get your cut.

As you move to a point you can see a few of the figures you make out a man an woman, from the tones it sounds like they are in charge of things here, heading away from camp.

You best get them in line Marta. If one of my men gets hurt cause they cant do there job we'll just dump em and get more. There's always more poor folk in need of a job. I'll go get the boys ready

Now sounding much weaker with a trace of panic in her voice Don't worry Sephek. I'll make sure the job is done. Haven't I been a good crew chief. Twice as good as that old hag Janna . . .

They continue talking as they head upstream along a small trail away from the campfire and the 3 other women around the pitiful flame.

Do you want to follow the two or wait till they are gone and confront the three women or head back to camp or something else ?

You regroup with Adrik who confirms your report, having heard much the same but arriving a bit earlier he adds that he heard mention of 5 pirates pluss the captain and women.. You recount your tail to the sailors and a quick conference commences. Basically there is a split on whether to try and ambush the pirates or simply sail off down river and avoid the entire situation.

The captain turns to Belagroff and Adrik. You saw the river rats, do you think we can take them?

The boat has a crew of 6 and besides you and Adrik there are the other two passengers

Captain Helgar pulls a couple of his cree aside but tells you he doesn't want to inform the rest or the other passengers. He suggests you and Adrik go to sleep early and he will try to "keep the women from disturbing you".

Adrik is a bit annoyed at the ruined hunt but seems excited about the prospect of upcoming conflict. You both get a decent meal and get to your beds early enough to be down by time the women arrive on a ragged homemade raft looking miserable and pathetic.

Let me know any preparations and plans you want to make before going to bed. Do you stay awake, tell the captain to wake you at a later time, sleep on the boat or on shore, etc...

Captain Darz shrugs at the need for a signal but likes the idea of an ambush.

As the sun is setting, causing deep shadows and a heavy glare off the river up stream, you hear splashing from the water. Looking upstream you vaguely make out a pathetic raft of rough trees tied together with 4 women half on and half in the water. They look tires and shiver from the cold of the river. One of the sailors on the boat upon seeing them calls out to them. You know this to be one of the ones Darz did not forewarn, perhaps so he would react naturally?
The women cry out in relief and begin kicking their "raft" to shore and arrive down river of your boat. Several of the men quickly grab blankets to help warm the women, all of whom you recognize from the small campfire you found earlier. Gin seems aloof to the commotion but Silla joins the men trying to comfort and aid the women.

The women clutch the blankets around their shoulders and a few lean into the sailors as they "stumble" from fatigue. Silla and the sailors guide the ladies back to the campfire though a couple cast odd glances your way with a smirk, smile, or shake of the head as they listen to your song.

ok give me a Perception test, 3d6

As you watches the women you see Silla slip something to one of the women who quickly conceals it in her tattered cloak and hugs the blanket tighter around herself.

The sailors seem to be in a bit of disbeliefe but acting in the "better safe the sorry" mentlaity and looking to their captain behind you for the final word. Silla is definitely nervous, bordering on outright panic. While the ladies are even more ajitated looking to each other but mostly to Marta who is gathering them up like a mother hen.

Check her Darz commands the sailor who promptly and thurroughly searches the landy. A knife and packet of some powder are found on the lady. The knife is soaked and the lady obviously tired to keep the packet dry as it is barely wet from being hidden in her cloths.

That's not from me, I know nothing about that! Silla exclaims. He's framing me, making stuff up. I have no idea why but he is. The Hin sound desprate as he looks about for support.

Darz onveride the paniking man Fine, we'll setle this old school. Your honor's been besmirched so deffend yourself as best you see fit.

He gives a few quick commands and the men search the rest of the women, relieving them of a few other small weapons before herding them away from the boat and you and Silla. Silla look on and tries to argue but is ignored by the men but a few keep themselves at his back. blocking any flight from camp. Finaly sillan tuns to face you.

Glaring at you angily now Silla pulls a small club from his belt I dont know what your game is but I dont appreciate the trouble you put me in he states loudly as he advances on you.

Then in a rush he closes the distanc between you and swings his club, cracking you on a hastily raised arm. 1 damage. As the club strikes you a faint cloud of some powder is knocked off of it and falls onto you

Roll a Save test, 2d6, to aoid breathing in the powder

Though you try to avoid it, some of the dust gets into your eyes and a slight trace is inhaled. This causes your eyes to water and you start coughing.
You roll with disadvantage for 1 round.

It is your turn and you have 2 actions to perform. Note that you only need to Move as an action if you are covering great distances, like running away or chasing something.

Your failure to connect emboldens Silla who strikes at you again but stays cautious, ready to evade your attacks.

Belagroffs last strike sends Silla tumbling and he rolls over pleading. Dont'e kill me. We were just going to steal some stuff. No one would get hurt. Then glares at you I was giving the ladies a sleeping powder to help you all sleep through the comotion. If we fought you would all die. Their pirates, that's what they do.

Darz has his men restrain the women and Silla is bandaged up. The women quickly lay out the full plan, most of which matches what you overheard, and Darz decides it best to simply avoid trouble and packs up the camp to sail down river. I know this stretch good enough that floating all night wont be a problem. We'll get a mercenary group out here to clear out the scum. With the information from that rat Silla and the women we should be able to get them this time.

You sail down river on half crew, many too jittery to sleep well on the now somewhat cramped boat. In the morning the other half of the crew takes over and you make your way to the expeditions base