Chapter 3.5: Introducing: Swank the Red

[Malazek]

As DeAmonte Von Irdigaard travels through the hills, looking for another set of ruins to sleep in for the night, he stumbles across four camped individuals. They seem to be warming up some stew over a small fire. Behind them, eight horses are tethered to the very ruins he was heading for. They don't seem to have noticed him yet, but that stew smells awfully good.

He was hoping to reach the ruins without incident, because he spotted some "giant" tracks in the woods, not too long ago. Giants are nasty business, so finding a nice place to both hide and set-up camp would have been his first choice ... but now he must decide: befriend the campers? Or move on and hope for the best?

That stew does smell really good, though. It's not uncommon for campers to share a meal with weary travelers, but these four look like civil servants. It's unlikely, however, that anyone from Umbrafall would recognize him, so it might be worth the risk ... but then it occurs to him: the extra horses don't look like pack horses. So, there's probably four more people, lurking about somewhere.

Still, he wouldn't want to run into that giant, alone.

[151prooftattoos]

OOC: From character sheet:

Description
Height: 5' 0"
Weight: 125 lbs. (Very Skinny)
Hair: Long, bright red - tied in a ponytail. Dark red Bandanna on head, topped with a black hat tied on one side with an owl feather jutting from it.
Eyes: Steel gray (wears a patch over right eye in light and moves to left eye when in darkness)
Complexion: Pale
Age: 44
Gender: Male
Hand: Ambidextrous
Other: Dirty - Wears black and gray foppish clothing, dark red silk sash around waist, gold earring. Tiny crow skulls and beads hang from his bright red beard. Wears shackles on both wrists and ankles with tiny section of chain still attached.
History:
     While an infant, the Black Blade Pirates raided and slew DeAmonte's family in their beach cottage. As they always did, they discovered a baby, and stole it - to be raised as their own, with the Black Blade's beliefs. Never lying to the children they raised, the pirate's constantly reminded them exactly how they got to be where they are... Luck and Fate. "Lucky You, kid."
     Although DeAmonte's full name was written on various items in the household when they found him - and the pirate's never kept that from him, they changed his name, as they always did, to "Swank". He later became known as "Swank the Red", or "Swank the Deft"; because, of his red hair and crazy acrobatics (The Black Blade, once members began to show personality, deemed a title after the given Pirate name to a describe member, ie. Zigool the White, Spry the Bitty, etc.).
     From basically birth until his mid-twenties, Swank was a roving, Black Blade Pirate - they raided and pillaged for years until the Daxony Fleet finally caught up with them. Nearly all of the Black Blade were either killed or drowned in the arrest at sea. Swank, knocked unconscious in the onslaught, awoke in a ship's holding cell to find himself shackled to a wall. He spent the next 20 years in Daxony Prison for the offense of Piracy.
     One morning while changing prison cells, Swank seized the opportunity and killed the two guards who escorted him. He ran, and ran, and ran.

[151prooftattoos]

OOC: This character was thought up years before Pirates of the Caribbean and Jack Sparrow, and not the "Arrrrr, Matey!" type of pirate. More spawned from a combination of Pirates like in The Princess Bride and combining them with a Navy Seal type of training. Lol, just to be clear~

Swank steps out in plain sight and slowly walks towards the group, with a large sack thrown over his left shoulder. He raises his right index finger, brings it to his lips and emits,

"Shhhhh!"

The small, red-haired man crept closer. He wore a patch over his right eye.

"Shhhhhhh!" In a loud whisper, "Giant tracks! All over the damn place! Tracks ... see, over there!"

The small, red-haired man crept closer.

Still whispering, "I smelled your delicious stew downwind, about... say... five thousand and some odd... stonethrows away! Now, perhaps giants will come. Will make stew of us. And your horses. Get ready to run?"

The small, red-haired man crept closer.

"Hmmm... now, I could help you gorge it goodbye... and rid the area of this savory stench? Well, if you'd be so kind? Been quite a many a time, since I ate my kindred."

He smiled, and set his bag by the fire.

"Swank the Deft they call me, my pleasure."

[Malazek]

The four campers jump to their feet, reaching for their weapons.
 
"Ho, there!" one says, with axes in hand.
 
Two more begin moving outward, toward an eventual flanking position. Those two are both carrying pole weapons; a spear and a trident.
 
The last puts her sword away, and responds. "Well, of course you can join us."

The other three look to her with surprise. She explains, "He doesn't look like any of the people we were supposed to watch out for."

The others agree.
 
"Come, join us. My name is Glory. It's a pleasure to meet you."
 
"Right. And I'm Flint."
 
"If that giant comes back, let's get him! I want to give his head to Jeremiah!"

"We're out here on an important mission. Hello, I'm Lindy Garvin! Would you like some stew?"

After pleasantries are exchanged, they offer Swank a seat by the fire ... and a bowl of stew, filled to the brim.

[151prooftattoos]

Swank tipped his hat and went to one knee by the campfire.

"Well met and a thousand thanks, friends."

Rudely, he wolfed down the stew like he had not eaten in years and, quite actually, he hadn't. Swank laughed inside, he was no longer behind bars and thankfully he found his secret, buried stash of clothes, weapons, and gear. And thankfully, his gloves and boots covered the remaining shackles - he just could not seem to remove them.

Curses, get these damn things off my wrists is next. He thought.

"Oh my, how delicious," he said. "Bones and crumbs is pretty much all I have eaten in the last... Oh, how rude of me..."

He stood.


"Glory, Flint, Lindy... and... what is your name? Jeremiah?" He asked before belching loudly. "And you are watching out for some folk? Bad folk?"

[Malazek]

"Glory, Flint, Lindy... and... what is your name? Jeremiah?"

The bearded ax-man responds. "What? Who me? No, I'm not Jeremiah. I'm Halvar. Jeremiah is ... um ... not here, right now. But he will be."

"And you are watching out for some folk? Bad folk?"

"Yes!" Lindy replies.

"Well," Glory adds, "sorta. We're watching out for some enemies -- specific enemies -- but, I hesitate to label somebody as 'BAD' ... their goals don't align with ours, so there's that. And ..."

"They are bad," Flint argues. "EVIL, actually. One is a Cleric of the lawless one." (And by "the lawless one," he probably means Loki, the god of chaos and evil). Swank has known a few adherents of Loki in the past ... some were truly depraved, but most were merely eccentric freethinkers.

"... AND," Glory continues, "we're also waiting for the deputies we're assigned to. The four of us are scribes in the employ of the Vicereine."

"That's right," Lindy agrees.

"I'm really glad you enjoyed my stew," Halvar adds. "In fact, have another bowl, if you like ... but, I hope you're ready; if that giant comes wandering back in this direction, I intend to kill it. I hope I can count on you to help?"

"That's asking quite a bit of our new friend," Lindy objects.

Flint disagrees. "Not really. Halvar didn't ask him to wrestle a giant all on his own ... just to help, if the need should arise. That's just common courtesy."

"So, how about?" Glory interjects. "Are you handy with those fancy blades? Or are they just for show?"

While waiting for an answer, Halvar scoops some more stew into Swank's bowl.

[151prooftattoos]

"Blessings, thank you."

The red-bearded man placed his bowl on the ground, stood and grinned.

Quickly, he backflipped with a twist; now, he faced away. He drew both of his thin swords and began no-hand cartwheeling in a giant circle, until he came back to his original spot. He sheathed the rapiers and sat down facing them.

- Acrobatics: Take 10 (Been doing since birth) Acrobatics +9 (5 Ranks +4 Dex)

"Heh!" chuckled Swank. "Guess I will wait until I meet the rest of your clan to formerly introduce myself. And my apologies... I can part ways if you like, if you detest such history... but, I will not lie when I say that I was a former member of The Black Blade Pirates. I just served twenty years in Daxony's foul prison for Piracy." He continued, "They thought I should do more than twenty years... heh... but I thought different."

Swank adjusted his hat.

"And I would gladly help partake in any giant killing."

[Malazek]

Quickly, he backflipped with a twist; now, he faced away. He drew both of his thin swords and began no-hand cartwheeling in a giant circle, until he came back to his original spot. He sheathed the rapiers and sat down facing them.

The eyes of the four scribes follow the red-bearded man, as he makes his tumultuous journey around the campfire. They seem completely bewildered by this unexpected twist of events, staring at Swank with their jaws agape.

I was a former member of The Black Blade Pirates. I just served twenty years in Daxony's foul prison for Piracy." He continued, "They thought I should do more than twenty years... heh... but I thought different." Swank adjusted his hat. "And I would gladly help partake in any giant killing."

"What do you mean by they thought you should do more?" Flint asks. "Do you mean that you escaped?"

"Don't ask him that!" Glory snaps.

Lindy adds "Twenty years does seem like an awfully long time ... I'm ... I'm not even twenty years old, yet."

"Well, it's all the same to me, if you're willing to kill a giant with me," Halvar says.

"Giants, giants, giants." Flint mocks. "That's all you talk about anymore."

"Well, giants are bad."

Glory chuckles. "Ever since he found out we were going to be working for some giant-slayers, he's been obsessed with impressing them."

Realizing Glory is on the same page, Flint adds "He even traded his old battle-ax for two smaller ones, so he could be more like Jeremiah. You don't see me throwing my shield to the ground and claiming I can conjure fantastic creatures from thin air, do you? No!"

"I just figured two is better than one," Halvar says. "They did fell some actual giants, after all."

"Well, I've known Gumphrey a long time," Glory adds, "but I'm not about to trade my sword for a wee little dagger."

"But you HAVE a wee little dagger," Halvar objects, "in the other hand!"

Swank studies the four of them, as they argue among themselves. Lindy is the one with the spear; she's a tall girl with a long, brown braid. Flint is the taller man with the shield and trident. The guy with the two axes is Halvar; he is broad of shoulder and keeps an unruly beard. Glory is a cute little blonde woman with a rapier and a stiletto.

As the four of them continue their discussion, Swank sees something out of the corner of his eye. Turning to look, he spots a rather savage-looking individual heading this way. Dressed in layer after layer of thick animal hides, the hefty fellow has a stout wooden club in one hand ... and ... a rock in the other. As Swank watches him climb the hill, he begins to get a sense of the man's size ... he must be ten feet tall. Oh wait ... that's no man! It's a giant!!

- Swank's Initiative = 12
- The Giant's Initiative = 9

The four scribes seem oblivious to the giant's approach.

[151prooftattoos]

"Well, now is your chance to fell a giant," whispers Swank, tilting his head in direction of the monster.  "Don't make any hasty actions but, we have the ready."

The sailor pounces toward the giant finding the best way to seem unnoticed...

- Stealth +9 (5 Ranks +4 Dex),
- Acrobatics +9 (5 Ranks +4 Dex)

- Move to Giant and in position to attack.

OOC: Could you post a map?

GM Edit: OOC: Sure, I'll post a map just shortly. Also, Swank is pretty sure the giant already saw the him, because he was moving directly toward the camp ... but, there are plenty of trees/ruins for Swank to try and hide behind.

[Malazek]

Surprise Round ...

Init 12
Swank pounces down the hill, trying to place some trees between him and the giant.

OOC: You can use cover (in this case the trees) for a chance to use to use Stealth.

Init 9
Using its considerable strength, the giant throws his rock (which is more of a small boulder, really) at the scribes by the fire. The hundred pound rock slams into Halvar so hard that it takes him off his feet. Halvar is seriously injured.

- Attack Roll = 15 vs. Halvar's flat-footed AC. Hit. Halvar suffers 18 damage.

- Note: the Scribes cannot act in the surprise round, because they were surprised. In Round 1, their Init will be 10.

Round One ...

OOC: Swank goes first.




OOC: Note: On this map, the green contour lines represent 10 feet of altitude (up the hillside). The gray patches represent stone floor, the green represents grass. Black bars represent ruin walls, while the darker gray lines represent half-walls. The trees should be pretty obvious, but you cannot pass through the brown "trunks."

[151prooftattoos]

~ Move to 0-9 / unsheathe rapiers.

Swank flips to the monster's thigh and runs up it - he leaps up and pierces his rapier into the giant's throat. 

~(Acrobatics +9) Roll: 17 + 9 = 26
~(Called shot -4) Roll: 17 - 4 + 12 = 25 
~Damage Roll: 5 + 5 = 10

"Sir, didn't your kinfolk teach you any manners? Throwing rocks is quite rude."

[Malazek]

R&R - Round One ...

Init 12
As the former Black Blade Pirate rushes the savage giant, the hulking monster swats at him with his massive club. 

- Opportunity Attack = 23 (Miss, thanks to Mobility)
- Note: this giant has a 10' reach.

With an amazing display of acrobatics, the red-bearded pirate "runs" up the giant and thrusts his pointy sword through the monster's throat. The giant gurgles and chokes as his mouth and lungs begin to fill with blood.

Init 10
The four scribes rush forward with reckless abandon. Halvar hacks at the giant with both axes, Glory jabs at it with her sword, and Flint stabs it with his trusty trident. Lindy, who uses a long-spear, stays backaways, but still manages to strike at the giant. Unfortunately, none of them seem to able to get through the giant's thick skin ... their attacks proving little more than an annoyance.

- Note: The giant only gets one OA per round.

Init 9
Angered and in pain, the giant retaliates ... bringing the club around to bear, he manages to catch Swank with it, just as the nimble swordsman touches the ground. The impact takes the wind out of the former pirate and Swank doesn't doubt that a rib or two may have broken. Just as he catches his breath, he realizes that the giant isn't done ... he barely gets out of the way before the giant pulverizes the ground, right where Swank was standing.

- First Attack Roll = 24 (12 on the die -2 Power Attack); Hit. Swank suffers 22 Damage
- Second Attack Roll = 18 (9 on the die); Miss.

Round 2 ...

- OOC: Note that Swank can take a 5' step into N9 or N10 to set-up a flank. He can take a "5' Step" as part of a full-round action, meaning he can move just one square and still make two attacks. Also, if he doesn't move, then Flint could set-up a flank by moving to P12.

[151prooftattoos]

~Swank side-flips to N-9.

~Acrobatics Roll: 7+9:16

~Attack Rolls: 7+8:15
                   1+8:9


"He's a meanie!"

[Malazek]

R&R - Round 2 ...

Init 12
Avoiding the giant's massive club, Swank flips to the side, travelling a few steps down hill ... and placing himself directly opposite to Flint (in relation to the giant). He jabs twice with his swords, striking the giant both times, but failing to cause any serious injury to its thick hide.

Init 10
With the giant's attention now averted, the scribes take full advantage ...
- Lindy's Attack Roll = 21 (Hit); 10 Damage
- Flint's Attack Roll = 18 (Miss)
- Halvar's Attack Rolls = 22, 17 (Hit, Miss); 10 Damage
- Glory's Attack Roll = 23 (Hit); 3 Damage

Init 9
Maintaining a vigilant defense against so many enemies proves to be too much for the giant's limited mental capacity. He starts to panic, swinging around wildly with his oversize club. Despite his undisciplined flailing, he manages to crush both Lindy and Halvar. Halvar drops, bleeding profusely from the mouth. You're not sure if he's alive or dead. As Lindy regains her composure, she nods to let the others know she's okay (but, she doesn't actually look okay. She looks like she's pretty bad shape, like she might be having trouble breathing).
- Giant's Attack vs. Lindy = 24;  21 Damage
- Giant's Attack vs. Halvar = 21;  17 Damage

Round 3 ...

Swank ...

[151prooftattoos]

~Attack Rolls:9+8+2:19
                  11+8+2:21


~Damage: 6

"Kill this overgrown..."

[Malazek]

R&R - Round 3 ...

Init 12
Determined to take the vicious brute, Swank stands fast, repeatedly stabbing the enemy.

Init 10
Badly injured, Lindy slowly backs away (to R7). As she does so, she drops the longspear and retrieves one of her javelins. After a couple yards, she sends the javelin flying toward the giant. Unfortunately, the tiny pointed stick bounces harmlessly off the giant's layered hides.
- 15 to Hit (Miss)

Glory thrusts at the giant with her own blade, burying it deep into the giant's back.
- 24 to hit; 3 Damage.

Flint jabs at the giant with his trident, but only manages to dislodge a piece of hide armor.
- 16 to Hit (Miss)

Halvar continues to lie on the ground, limp and unmoving.
- Stabilization Roll = Natural 20! Halvar stabilizes at -10 HP.

Init 9
After being stabbed again by the pirate, the giant turns his attention (and his club) back to Swank. The nimble swordsman, however, manages to dodge the powerful blows.
- First Attack = 18 (Miss)
- Second Attack  = 18 (Miss)
- The giant has suffered 42 damage, so far.

Round 4 ...

Although the giant is wounded, Swank realizes that he and the scribes are is much worse condition than their enemy.

[151prooftattoos]

~Attack Roll: 10+8+2: 20
                   15+8+2: 25

~Damage Roll: 9
                     7

[Malazek]

R&R - Round 4 ...

Init 12
Attacking with both blades, Swank drives his swords into the giant's side. He can tell that the giant's thick hide preventing one of the weapons from digging in too deep, but the other seems to have opened artery.

Init 10
Lindy hurls another javelin (she carries three, so she only has one left).
- Attack Roll = 21 (Hit); Damage = 5

Glory thrusts with her slender blade, cutting into the giant's thigh.
- Attack Roll = 21 (Hit); Damage = 7

With his trusty trident, Flint jabs at the giant, but fails to penetrate the monster's thick skin.
- Attack Roll = 15 (Hit)

Init 9
Although the giant still seems to be "winning" this battle, he starts to realize that it might not come out of this alive. He turns suddenly and makes a break for it ... as his defenses are momentarily lowered, Glory and Flint capitalize on the opportunity, striking the giant with their feeble weapons.

- OOC: Swank, Flint, and Glory all get Opportunity Attacks.
- Swank's OA = 17 (Miss)
- Flint's OA = 22 (Hit); 9 Damage
- Glory's OA = 25 (Hit); 8 Damage

Their last ditch attacks, however, were not enough to stop the brawny brute. The giant bounds down the hill, trying desperately to get away. The enormous savage proves to be faster than Swank anticipated, as well, especially considering he's burden with such heavy layers of animal hide.
- Move to G23

"Is Halvar dead?!" Lindy asks, in a hurry.
 
Round 5 ...

[151prooftattoos]

Swank keeps his eye on the escaping giant.

"Halvar, are you alright?"

[Malazek]

Halvar does not answer.

Glory bends down to check on him. "He's alive ... but in bad shape. Help me get him back to the camp."

"Do you think he'll come back?" Flint asks. "The giant, I mean."

---

OOC: After I read your text, I thought you were going to throw something at him. Did you change your mind?

[Malazek]

OOC: Rule 24

---

Lindy and Flint help Glory drag Halvar back to the camp.

"Well, Mr. Swank," Lindy says, "we sure are glad you were here. That nasty ol' giant might of killed the lot of us, if you weren't."

[151prooftattoos]

"Glad to help!" said the swashbuckler with a grin. "As you are, I'm not very fond of giants."

His smile turned to a frown, "Poor Halvar, I pray he will be alright."

[Malazek]

At that moment, Swank notices someone emerging from the ruins next to the camp.

---

OOC: Now, we can move this to the main "Adventure #3" thread. Go ahead and post there.

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