Re: Chapter 2: Rising Tide

[AClockworkMelon]

Narcisse aims the pistol out the window, calling aside to Itz, "Don't! There'll be no helping him if we're dead." He fires at one of the reloading Frenchmen.

[spckaufman]

Adriaan will stand behind Narcisse and fire his pistol at another of the reloading Frenchman.

[Lunaticlucas]

Itz will get up from where Zander lying, draw his sword and charge at the enemy before they can reload their guns.

[Mosier]

Quick update: Sorry, not a lot of time for the usual style:


Round 3:

Narcisse orders Itz to fight, as Narcisse himself shoots at one of the Frenchmen, dealing 3 deadly damage.

Adriaan runs up to the window with Narcisse and fires at another one of the Frenchmen, also dealing 3 deadly damage.

Following his captain's orders, Itz abandons Zander. He draws his obsidian sword and runs to the door. He opens the door and makes it outside, but the closest enemy is quite a distance away. If he wishes to attack next turn, it will be a charging attack. (Charging attacks let you cover greater distance, at the cost of losing the benefit of your defense value.)

The Frenchmen scatter upon seeing Itz, abandoning the effort of reloading and instead drawing rapiers. None of them is eager to meet Itz in combat. Even Bastien finally draws a weapon, but his composure fails utterly, and he moves as far away from Itz as he can get.

"He's just one mother-fornicating savage!" Bastien screeches. "Kill him! Kill him!"

Meanwhile, Zander still lays silently, blood pouring freely from the wounds in his chest and abdomen. From Itz' brief inspection, he estimates Zander only has about five minutes left to live...

Edited: Fixed a set of embarrassing brain farts

[AClockworkMelon]

Narcisse tosses the pistol aside and vaults through the window, rapier still in hand. He roars in French, "I told you you would not kill me, Bastien!" He advances alongside Itz, his handsomeness drowned by his obvious rage. "This is your last chance to throw down your weapons!" To Itz, still in French, "If he doesn't surrender, kill him first."

[Lunaticlucas]

Itz will charge at Bastien if he does not surrender.

[spckaufman]

Adriaan, drawing his sword rushes outside behind the others. He will attack anyone who is poised to attack.

[Mosier]

Round 4

"I told you you would not kill me, Bastien!" Narcisse shouts as he leaps through the shattered window. Unfortunately, the glass was not broken cleanly, and Narcisse is cut along his thigh by some of the shards still in the window frame. Narcisse has suffered 1 deadly damage as the result of failing an athletics+dexterity test to leap through the window. He will be in range to fight next round.

Adriaan follows behind Narcisse, although he is not hurt by the broken glass. Sword drawn, he dashes toward the battle alongside the golden-haired pirate. (Adriaan will be in melee range next round)

Itz nearly tramples Bastien beneath his furious onslaught. Powered by the blessing of the sun gods, Itz easily overpowers the French slave master. The chubby European's sword is knocked aside as he tries to parry, and Itz quickly follows up with an arcing slash that crosses the man's chest diagonally. He has suffered an ugly, critical wound! (5 deadly damage)

Amazingly, Bastien keeps himself together and struggles to fight back. He jabs his sword feebly in Itz' direction, but Jacques Bastien is no solder, and he is unable to score a hit on Itz.

The 3 Frenchmen have spread apart, and each pick a single opponent to fight. One of the men attacks Itz, taking the Aztec by surprise while he was preoccupied with attacking Bastien. The Frenchman's sword slices Itz' flank, causing a major wound. (4 deadly damage)

One of the men attacks Narcisse, who easily parries the feeble thrust. Narcisse smiles as he sees blood beginning to soak the man's shirt, the result of the gunshot wound he suffered only a moment before.

The third Frenchman strikes at Adriaan, who less elegantly than Narcisse, but just as effectively, smashes the blade aside harmlessly.

-

I have decided to speed up the battle a bit, since everyone is now in melee.

Round 5

Narcisse manages a combination of finesse and savagery any Aztec would have admired, as he skewers the already injured man before him. The Frenchman's eyes go wide as his gasps in surprise. It's a fatal wound, not through the heart, but close enough. As the man collapses, he slides off the end of Lebeau's rapier and lies in writhing agony on the ground. Narcisse doesn't waste a moment rushing toward Itz' side, as the Aztec battles two opponents in what Narcisse must grudgingly admit is a heroic display.

Adriaan is locked in melee with his opponent, trading blow for blow. However, Adriaan doesn't have the disadvantage of having been shot. The Dutchman has the upper hand, but even if he wins he won't walk way unscathed. (Adriaan has suffered 1 deadly damage, while his opponent has suffered 2 damage, and is near the end of his ability to fight).

Itz can feel the Gods' blessing a final time, as he brings his blade crushing down upon Bastien's skull, decisively ending him.

The only remaining unhurt Frenchman retaliates, slashing at Itz with all his might. However, this time the Aztec is more prepared to defend himself. The Frenchman is unable to land a clean strike on him.

-Round 6-

Adriaan quickly dispatches his opponent, leaving only 1 enemy alive. As he turns toward the final remaining opponent, he sees the man drop his sword and lift his hands into the air.

"I never wanted this!" the man says in French. "Please, spare me. More of Bastien's men will be here soon. I will show you a safe way out, if you spare my life."

Adriaan can see Narcisse and Itz exchange a glance. What could they be thinking?

[AClockworkMelon]

"You haven't learned anything." Narcisse stalks towards the survivor, weapon pointed at his face. "I hope your master was being paid well to bring me in, all the good it'll do him now. Get in the house."

[Lunaticlucas]

"I'd better get back the the Englishman if he has any hope to survive." Itz says as he rushes back to the house and Zander.

[Mosier]

"You haven't learned anything." Narcisse stalks towards the survivor, weapon pointed at his face. "I hope your master was being paid well to bring me in, all the good it'll do him now. Get in the house."

Narcisse can tell the man absolutely does not want to enter Bastien's home. But, what choice does he have? He hesitates for only a moment before walking to the door.

"It was Henry Albright who paid Bastien," the Frenchman says as Narcisse urges him forward. "He wants your ship."

Narcisse carries a contract written by the English merchant extortionist. The contract is only two pages long, but explicitly guarantees the agreement between Lebeau and Albright to repair the Couronne Solair. Narcisse can only deduce that Albright has had second thoughts about the agreement.

In a moment, Narcisse, Itz, Adriaan, and the Frenchman are all back inside Bastien's home, with Zander bleeding on the floor before them. He has suffered one additional aggravated damage since Itz abandoned his healing effort. Itz renews his effort to stop Zander's bleeding. The situation is much worse now, but Itz is still confident he can save the Englishman's life, as long as he's not interrupted again.

"Bastien's son, Jean-Pierre, is coming," the Frenchman further offers. He doesn't even waste a glance at the dying Englishman. "Jean-Pierre could not have missed the noise of our battle. Please, you should leave before he arrives!" The Frenchman knows what his fate will be if Narcisse becomes trapped in the house again...

[AClockworkMelon]

"Sit down." Narcisse gestures to the floor in the corner of the room, sword still pointed at him, only lowering it when their captive complies. "Your master shouldn't have split his party: That's hubris." He doesn't seem to realize his hypocrisy. He uses the brief calm to collect his thoughts, which are interrupted when he finally notices a pain in his leg. He runs a hand along the tear in his breeches before examining the blood now smeared across his palm. He stares at the evidence of his injury in silence, rage invisibly building inside him, grip on his weapon tightening. Finally he turns his still-calm gaze on Bastien's man and it all explodes in an instant. Narcisse roars, slashing at the man with his sword.

Narcisse will use willpower in the attack.

[Mosier]

The Frenchman counts as helpless, as he is not prepared to resist, and is a prisoner.

"Sit down." Narcisse gestures to the floor in the corner of the room, sword still pointed at him, only lowering it when their captive complies. "Your master shouldn't have split his party: That's hubris."

The Frenchman replies, "Jean-Pierre is not part of this plot against you, Messieur. But he lives on this estate in his own home, and will surely have hea....."

The sudden fury of Narcisse Lebeau, Cheveux D'or, takes the Frenchman completely by surprise. Lebeau slashes through the man's throat in mid-sentence while the others look on.

For a moment, the Frenchman's lips move, apparently trying to speak. Then, his hands reflexively go to his own throat, where they stay until his eyes go glassy, and he collapses.

Narcisse has spent one Willpower in his attack. However, he has fulfilled his vice even though it might have cost him more information and help from the man. Fulfilling his vice has restored a point of Willpower.

Itz quickly gets to work, struggling to save Zander's life. The others watch helplessly as Itz performs some obvious actions, such as bandaging the bleeding, and some non-intuitive treatments, like making an incision into Zander's lung and inserting a metal tube, allowing fluid to escape. To the others, it seems like Itz' expert work isn't keeping up with Zander's worsening condition...

It's three long, agonizing minutes before Itz finally stops the bleeding, preventing Zander from getting any worse. However, Itz needs more time if he is going to attempt to actually heal any of Zander's injuries. Itz estimates it will take 3 or 4 hours of work to remove the lead in Zander's body. The Englishman will require much of Itz' attention for the next few days. For now, Zander is stable enough to be carried (carefully) by two members of the crew.

Zander has suffered 5 total aggravated damage. Zander will regain consciousness in 2 days, as his body starts to naturally heal along with Itz' treatment. Until then. if Itz leaves Zander for more than an hour or two, the Englishman may suffer a setback in his recovery...

[AClockworkMelon]

"We're moving him to one of the upstairs bedrooms." Narcisse shoves his sword into its sheathe, the prisoner he executed already forgotten, and turns on the spot to face Itz. "Then we," to Adriaan, "need to start gathering up all the weapons and get them reloaded. It's going to get messy when le fils de ce cochon gets here."

[spckaufman]

NO!, We are best to leave Itz to his own demise. It's his fault he is in this condition. If we leave now we can still get our money and get out of this place. I don't think I can listen to much more of this French pig swill.

We need to move now before we all end up like him.

[AClockworkMelon]

His ship is in someone else's hands, his second-in-command is shot to pieces, and now the land of his birth is insulted by the Dutchman responsible for all of it. Narcisse turns on Adriaan in a rage, sword redrawn. "Get those guns reloaded or there'll be one more corpse when they get here."

[spckaufman]

I agree... But it will be your corpse!

[AClockworkMelon]

Narcisse attacks Adriaan, burning willpower every attack.

[spckaufman]

Adriaan draws his sword and will only defend against the filthy Frenchman. If the opportunity arises Adriaan will walk away from the situation.

[Lunaticlucas]

Itz hearing the sound of battle rushes out to the fight with his sword drawn. Seeing his Captain attacking the Adriaan, Itz will follow his lead and attack with him trying to knock him out rather than kill him.

[Mosier]

Adriaan senses Lebeau's abominable fury, and readies his own weapon.

Only he knows what went through his mind in the split second he had to prepare for the attack from Narcisse. Perhaps he had a flash of anger himself, and briefly entertained the idea of running the French captain through. If he did, it doesn't show now, as he steps away from Narcisse, making no motion to strike back.

Narcisse, however, is overcome with rage and has completely lost control over himself. His only plan for sailing away from this miserable island stands before him, and Narcisse wants nothing more than to stab it to death. He lunges at Adriaan, who neatly parries the attack and steps away, putting the captain off balance.

The Dutchman opens his mouth to further mock the enraged golden-haired captain, but he's cut short by a surprising, off-balanced reverse thrust, which Adriaan barely has time to flinch against. Narcisse's blade opens a gash along Adriaan's right arm. (2 deadly damage).

Adriaan has doubled his defense score by foregoing his attack. Furthermore, he is expert at using a sword in a defensive manner, which also improved his defense. Narcisse has 1 spent willpower as a result of this attack.

As Adriaan decides whether to finally destroy Narcisse, he is taken by surprise by another attacker. Itz slams his body into Adriaan, knocking both to the floor. The force of the impact causes 2 bashing damage to Adriaan, and makes his head swim with stars.

Narcisse approaches the men, sword raised, ready to deal the deathblow to the Dutchman, when an unfamiliar voice suddenly fills the room.

"Are seven bodies not yet enough, Monsieur?" a calm and even-paced voice says from the direction of the open door. Narcisse turns to see a striking young man aiming a pistol at him. The man can not be more than seventeen years old, and does not even resemble the dead Frenchman who claimed to be his father. The man glances toward Zander, and his lip curls with distaste. "Eight bodies, rather."

There is silence for a moment, as everyone collects their thoughts. If this man truly is Jean-Pierre Bastien, why didn't he fire his pistol?

"Ten men stand outside, ready to storm this building and rid the world of you at my command," Jean-Pierre says. His aiming arm is steady and true, and Narcisse has no doubt the man has the skill and character to use the weapon.

Strangely, the man lowers the pistol and walks toward the captain. "Or, if you would rather live than die, perhaps we can discuss this situation like civilized men. I know who you are, captain Cheveux D'or. I am Jean-Pierre Bastien and, as of three minutes ago, Lord of this property."

[AClockworkMelon]

Narcisse looks between Adriaan and Jean-Pierre before relaxing and lowering his weapon away from the Dutchman. "If your share your father's plan," he says in French, "There's nothing to be discussed." Narcisse finally exhales and continues dryly, "He was a breaker of deals and he attacked my men. He brought this all on himself."

[Mosier]

Narcisse looks between Adriaan and Jean-Pierre before relaxing and lowering his weapon away from the Dutchman. "If your share your father's plan," he says in French, "There's nothing to be discussed." Narcisse finally exhales and continues dryly, "He was a breaker of deals and he attacked my men. He brought this all on himself."

The younger Bastien allows himself a small grin. "That is...unsurprising," he says. "I knew his treacherous nature would be the end of him. For such a coward, my father lived quite dangerously."

Jean-Pierre glances back over his shoulder, to be sure none of his men have followed him inside. Satisfied, he turns around, his features full of determination and resolve.

"It is no secret that I hated my father. You have put me in a difficult position, Goldenlocks. If I allow you to walk free, it will be assumed that I plotted my own father's death and aided his killers. If I kill you, it will be assumed I plotted my own father's death, and executed the only witnesses. Neither option is acceptable, n'est-ce pas?

I have only one chance to inherit this property with my good name intact. You have only one chance to walk out of this house with your life. You have killed Jacques Bastien and five of his employees, and seriously wounded one of his slaves. For this you will answer to an English magistrate, who will try you, and judge you. If you and your crew are found guilty of murder, you will hang from the gallows. But, I expect you would have little trouble convincing the judge you acted in self defense."

The crew eyes Jean-Pierre suspiciously. Surely, he can't expect them to just submit to being chained and led to a mockery of a court, as hated foreigners who killed a prominent public figure. Jean-Pierre senses the crew's reluctance, and hastens to explain the rest of his plan.

"Of course, representing the prosecution will be a man of my own choosing. Rest assured, I will not be picking a competent lawyer. I would prefer to see you alive, you see. I have use for men with reason to hate Henry Albright.

But, I am getting ahead of myself. First order of business; do we have a deal, capitain? Will you surrender, and defend yourself in a court of English law?"

[AClockworkMelon]

English law? An oxymoron if Narcisse ever heard one. Hatred smolders behind Cheveux D'or's eyes but he tries his best to keep his face placid and neutral. What better way for Jean-Pierre to get his revenge than to see Narcisse made a mockery of in open court before the drop?

"I'll be the only one tried. Let the sauvage," he glances momentarily to Itz, "take what's left of my crew and I'll go quietly."

[Mosier]

Jean-Pierre acknowledges the crew. "Lebeau comes with me. The rest of you may wait here until you friend wakes, if you choose. I'll make sure nobody else enters."

Narcisse resigns himself to his fate. He drops his weapons and allows Jean-Pierre to lead him out of the house. "Chain him," Itz can hear the younger Bastien commanding one of the soldiers outside. The order chills Itz' blood, but what else could he have done?

Itz and Adriaan have a choice to make. Will they still attempt to meet with Adriaan's father's representative tonight, or shall Itz stay here in the house with Zander? Itz is confident Zander will survive for the few hours the meeting would take, but something about leaving Zander here alone with Adriaan is unsettling.

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