Chapter 4: Battle in the Ruins

[Rhialto]

Rostam bows to Sonja:
I will try not to disappoint your expectations, captain.

As for a plan, my only plan today was to find food, shelter, and maybe a weapon.
In this I have succeeded beyond my wildest expectations.

To Teruk (which somebody might have to translate):
I apologize for intruding upon your hospitality.
But I am also glad to have a stout ally to fight against these evil pirates.

To Sonja and the rest of the group:
The camp, yes.
Of course, I observed the guards closely before I esacped

OOC: what does Rostam know about the camp?
How many pirates are there in total, and how many of them appear really dangerous?
Are there any spellcasters besides the captain?
-> I know about Maroo the priestess from the background story, but she would probably aid us; any others?
How are the pirates guarding the camp?
Are any people staying inside the ship at night?
Where are the prisoners kept?
And in what state is the ship, i.e., how long would it take to repair?
-> about 5 days, according to the background story

Edit: should have re-read the background first

[MevlyTM]

Maju says to Rostam, "Oh, one more thing. You said that Jab-Afri had summoned a Djinn. Did he do this using some sort of object? Perhaps a small bottle, or maybe a staff or wand? Or did it simply spring from his hands?"

Maju then stroked the back of Taku's head and neck and whispered to her, "Go see what's happening at the ship. Try to count the pirates that remain if you can. Some of them were killed by the great lizards. Also, keep an eye out on the way. There may be a war party on their way here now. Mind that you keep your altitude for your own safety." He then lifted her into the air with a flourish.

OOC: The pirate leader has suddenly become much more interesting to Maju.

[Rhialto]

I need Longman to provide the information for Rostam here, sorry.

[Longman]

Rostam - you do not know how the Djinn was summoned. You think Saracen would probably know, however.

Maju - your bird flies into the air and comes back much sooner than you expected - after about twenty minutes.

PIrates! Coming this way! Over the dunes and in the desert! Jab-Afri is coming! Eeek! Kreee!


When you manage to calm her down a bit she reveals that 9 pirates - including Kanya and Apinya - are coming towards the camp.

They spotted your familiar and started shooting at her, but she was too high.

[quozl]

Only 9? That's odd.

DM: That's Jab-Afri and 8 other pirates. A real handful.

[Woe]

We're pretty far away from cover, right? We're just out in the open on the beach?

Any concerns if we both disarm Saracen and put his equipment to use? He has a scimitar and rifle with a few of us can use, and I'm sure his spellbook would be of interest to Maju. As for the barrel of powder, I have a few ideas for that too.

[Longman]

You are not on the beach. You are in the ruins, miles from the beach.

I see no reason why you wouldn't loot Saracen's stuff, personally.

[MevlyTM]

Maju conveys Taku's observations to the rest of the group, including Teruk's men.

Then he says to Teruk, "These pirates are bad people. If they capture any of us, they will make us slaves. This includes your men. I'm sorry that we've put you into this dangerous situation, and you would be fully within your rights to flee. Still, if you are willing, we would greatly appreciate your help in defeating these evil men, should we choose to fight them. If they are allowed to escape the island, they might even return so as to enslave your people and sell them in distant lands. It would bring me great sorrow if that came to pass."

Maju then says to everyone, "The falcon required twenty minutes to return. That means the pirate band is only 10 minutes flight away. Thus their arrival is imminent. We haven't much time. As I see it, we have three possible courses of action. We can run, we can hide, or we can fight. There are only nine of them. However, if the captain is able to cast a spell that summons an elemental, he is a very dangerous and powerful mage. He should not be taken lightly. I have some magic I can wield in combat. I might be able to dispatch some of the lesser pirates early, but their captain will not fall easily. But once my magic is spent, I have little else to offer. The brunt of this battle will fall on those of you who are trained fighters. Also, Kanya is with them. We've seen her in combat also. She is most capable. Sadly, it will be no surprise to them that Teruk and his men are with us. So they can't really be ambushed in that way. They have rifles. So we'll need to remain behind cover as long as we can. That's if we decide to fight."

Maju then walked up to Saracen and gagged him saying, "This one can use magic also. So we need to keep his hands bound and his mouth shut. Also, he must remain guarded." Maju then took Saracen's spell book and placed it into his own satchel.

DM Edit: Woe's pirate character (now an enemy) is called Kanya. Her old ranger character is Sonja. Edited your post.

[quozl]

There is no use running in the desert. We should take cover behind these ruins and wait for them. They will parley or they will fight. We will be ready for either.

[Longman]

Morale
Teruk thanks Maju for his offer, and speaks to his men, and notifies them that the fight ahead will be bloody if they stay. The ten 1st level fighters are pretty sure they do not want to be red-jacket cannon fodder and are happy to leave, moving back towards the mountain to escape the fight, Most of them are teenagers or early 20s men. The rest all decide to stay, as does Teruk. You'll have Teruk and 7 extra guys - some tough fighters, but no long range weapons among them.

Timeline
The pirates were warned some time ago by a note delivered by Saracen's eagle and met the camel pirates (Kanja and Apinya) in the desert. They will be here in about an hour, you estimate. Still time to plan and do stuff. If you flee, you will probably outrun them.

Saracen
Before he is gagged, Saracen the Sea-Elf managed to get out the following words, in common:

Don't do this! You should run! Leave me here tied and gagged! Jab-Afri can do more than you think! He can put a dozen men into a coma with a single word! He can summon the wind, the rain, the lightning! I don't want you to be harmed! I just got sick of being picked on by the damn villagers that I helped rescue! Flee! Leave me here!

Then, Maju gags him. But you are pretty sure he is genuine...mostly...