After our LENGTHY talk with Dradeel, the Ship of the Balduran awaited!
There was indeed a big hole in the side of the ship. As soon as Khalid and Jaheira entered, we were best with wolves of all sorts. Dire wolves, vampire wolves, dread wolves, and wolfweres, of course.
This wasn't a particularly big fight, but I had Branwen pull out a wand of Sleep for it to help control the sheer numbers of opponents. Dire wolves were taken out of the fight, leaving us fewer things to deal with.
Woot, I'm getting use out of my Sleep wand! Finally! I could have used the scrolls of sleep as well, but whatever!
These fights in such close quarters are easily controlled by sending the tanks in first to grab the attention of hostiles, and send in the rest once the whatever-wolf-whatevers were engaged with Khalid and Jaheira. Jaheira needed a little bit of help to tank the wolfweres (at least an effective AC of -12 vs slashing), so she was buffed with Protection from Evil by Branwen periodically. QED.
There were more groups of whatever-wolf-whatevers, but this tactic served us well all the way up to the highest level. I picked up a Werebane, a silver dagger +1 or +4 vs lycanthropes. No doubt it would prove useful very soon...
-
"Who dares to come unannounced? Torture and death to all who intrude upon bloody Karoug!" one especially burly human declared. At least he looked human. Funnily enough, he was carrying a wicker basket on his back which held a baby in it.
So this must be Karoug himself. As for the baby...
"We-we-we are the party of Sonny. We have come to put an end to your reign of terror over this island," Khalid announced, somewhat distracted by the sight of a baby. That's something he didn't expect.
"Reign of terror, outsiders? You speak to Kaishas, yes? She tell you lies about my people. It is not truth. Karoug will tell you truth."
Khalid had frozen in place, still glaring at the baby. So Jaheira responded on Khalid's behalf, "You have my attention. Go ahead."
"They have told you that my people are evil but truth is different. They hate us because we are not like them They kill us on sight. They set fire to our home. You should kill the others, we are innocent."
"That story is quite different according to our knowledge. In fact, we were told that you killed a hunter and took his child," Jaheira said, pointing at the baby Karoug was carrying. "The child that I see you holding matches the description. How would one explain that contradiction?"
"The child is mine now! It is no concern of you."
Jaheira scowled, her mind racing. Could it be?...
"The child's mother has a claim to the boy. IF you do as well, say, as his father, I commend your sense of responsibility," Jaheira said to Karoug. "Yet, you should really talk to his mother about custody of the child properly."
Karoug's eyes flashed with anger. "You do kill my family and dare to question me! Die if you cannot understand."
-
Four more wolfweres joined the battle.
Greater wolfwere, for that was what Karoug was, had 66 hit points and AC -2, but oddly no magic resistance. It has a very impressive Thac0 of 3, and 3 attacks per round.
Karoug had an actual mage with him who will cast Horror before turning into a wolfwere.
-
I would have said this was a climatic battle, but that would have been a lie. In fact, we had actually overbuffed. I forgot that Khalid was wearing the Golden Girdle, so his effective AC vs slashing was a huge -16. Then I had him drink a Potion of Agility, had Neera cast Protection from Evil on him from a scroll, and finally buffed the whole party with Defensive Harmony before sending him up. Vs the greater wolfwere's Thac0 of 3, that meant it needed at 3+16+2+2+2= 25 to hit him which was capped at 20 anyway. The mage's Horror spell bounced right of our Remove Fear buff, of course.
With Khalid's defences so high, defeating Karoug and his cohort was simply a matter of beating them down before they could critically hit Khalid enough times. My fancy new dagger, Werebane (+4 vs lycanthropes) immediately removed one of the wolfweres, and the rest of the part focused down the rest quite handily.
---
After the battle, we found a number of things here: Dradeel's Spellbook, the Sword of Balduran (bastard sword made of gold that that can hurt Loup Garou), Butter Knife of Balduran (worth a pretty penny to collectors), and Balduran's Logbook.
The Balduran's Logbook was in a state of disrepair, but snippets of information were still readable.
"This is the logbook of the goode ship Wandering Eye, under the command of the mos... orthy Balduran
...will return once we have again seen far off shores. The men are restless, but the promise of wealth rivaling our last voyage will keep them well in line...
...weather is clear and we shall make Anchorome in goodly time, of that I have no doubt...
...have calmed the crew, though nervouse they will remain. I blame them not, for it was not a pleasante encounter in the least. Bloody elves would do well to remember that the sea belongs to no one, save the gods that guard her. I shall avoide the northerly passage just the same, if only to prevent another overzealouse boarding party. Such paranoia from the "Fair Folk..."
...arrived in Anchorome, and I am remembered by a goodly number of people, not all fondly...
...but "His Grace" has deemed me worthy to proceed through his lands. I am quite sure the two hundred-strong complement of the Wandering Eye aided in the decision. Still, we were received in goode humore, and I will not request tribute...
...adventure it has been! Such wealth as this... only in the deepest ruins of home. Here it is almost for the taking, with only a measure of "diplomatic" discussions as the cost...
...attacked, and barely made it to the ship in time. Dradeel did warn of such, but who is to trust a worde from his mouth? I do sweare, his senses seem addled at the best of times...
...the crew, but a larger share for the remaining will keep them well and truly happy. I shall conscript replacements from the local populace this night, and we shall set our sails at dawn...
...delays, but with one hundred and fifty new hands, one must except the going to be slow at the start. They seem quite calm and orderly, not at all as I expected...
...should have searched! We cast him out, but his words... eady inflamed the crew. I know not what was worse, the shaman's constant... or the reaction of the crew when he was committed to the sea. Their eyes are... and resigned. I dislike a crew with no fire in their bellies, but I do suppose it is better than a fire in the hold...
...weather unseasonable, and the moode does worsen. As well, beetles have beset the food stores, and we shall surely be hungry long before reaching the coast of home...
...set aground to forage. It is a small isle, but it will yield what we need. Perhaps I shall... on my own while the crew... time on land will do them goode...
...original men seem quite shallow in the face, quite different from the pallor of the new recruits, but all are most definitely ill..."
We also retrieved Maralee's baby safely, somehow unharmed in the battle. Well, both sides we taking care not to harm the baby so I suppose it is an expected result.
---
As soon as we gave Dradeel his spellbook, he cried out, "It is done! Freedom!"
And he teleported away, without so much as a thank you.
I knew it was going to happen from memory. But it was still so bloody irritating!
---
Back in the village, we had a whole lot of quests to turn in before reporting back to the chief woman.
-
Lahl was thankful that we avenged his wife. "To tell you the truth I didn't think much of you when you first arrived, but now, I have to say you'd make welcome additions to the pa... er... village."
He was about to say 'pack' but caught himself.
-
Delainy had a bit more to say after we gave her the cloak she wanted. "I am grateful beyond measuring, but I sad as well that I have nothing to give. Perhaps there is something else you wish that I can help."
I chatted for some time, asking about her. "Are you happy here? Do the dangers not frighten you?"
"Your interest is charming, to say least. no, I am not frightened here. We are not weak, just few in number. Our pack is strong within, and the wall keeps those away that would harm. I am happy, though there is much out there, yes? Perhaps I will see someday."
"Perhaps that day is close at hand. You are smarted than your fellows, and would do well on the mainland. I could take you away from here," I suggested.
"I... I beg pardon? If you please, talk not to me like that. I am suddenly... uncomfortable."
"My sincere apologies, m'lady. I meant no disrespect. Please, speak of your people."
She told us nothing new beyond what we had learned from Dradeel. At the end of her tale, she had one last task of me. She wanted some flowers from beyond the wall, Belladonna.
I had been holding on to these the ENTIRE time, but there was no use for the flowers until now.
Delainy was delighted to have them all. "I thank you. Beautiful, are they not? They smell so strongly of... I know not what. These will do nicely for what I had in mind. They are for you. They grow in only a few places, as does friendship... and more. Take them from me, and this kiss as well."
...what?
Delainy leaned in, and gave me a slight peck to the cheek.
"I think... well... of you," she then said.
I think I must have been blushing. Do people here have a thing for halflings? Do people in remote villages have a thing for guys who like like children? Good gracious!
"I-I-I am flattered beyond measure, m'lady. I do not know what to say," I stammered out.
Meanwhile Neera was glaring at us both something fierce, though I know not why.
"Say nothing, and go on your way soon. I must remain here, regardless of how I feel. You are an outsider. You do not belong, and you would not wish to. I know this. You must know this too."
My heart sank. Delainy could very well have been my ONLY path out of eternal bachelorhood. Well, I did know it was not to be. "If you wish me to go, I will. I have enjoyed speaking with you, Delainy. Please remember that outsiders are not all to be feared. Some can be considered rather charming, I hope."
"You are with words a charmer indeed. Perhaps... another time... no, another time and things would be the same. Go with my thoughts, and please be well."
As we left, Neera was staring daggers at me but refused to say why.
I don't get women, really.
-
Maralee was overjoyed to receive her son back. "My son, my son! I have missed you so much! Thank you, friends. I am forever in your debt."
"You're not going to kiss him as a reward, are you?" Neera asked sardonically.
"What? Of course not!" Maralee said immediately. She looked at me uncertainly. "Unless, that is what you-"
"NO!" I said immediately, "No thank you, we're happy to help, take care and may your son grow strong and healthy!"
I led the party away quickly, giving Neera the stink eye.
-
Farthing was thankful for her dolly too.
Neera eyed the little girl. "At least you wouldn't have to bend down if you wanted to give him a-"
"You're welcome little girl, we're in a rush, bye!" I quickly said and led the party away.
-
Evalt was also thankful for the return of his brother's body.
Neera sneered. "Oh, now if this one decided to reward you with a kiss that'd be a sight-"
"Oh, look at the time! Time for us to go, bye!" I said quickly and led the party away again while giving Neera a death glare.
What is her problem?
-
Anyway, it was time to report to Kasishas.