THE HUNT OF THE PIKE

THE PARLAY (Part 1)

THE COUNCIL OF PIKE'S HEAD (Part 3)

THE HUNT (Part 2)

The company opt to take the keelboat into the Bannelach, fixing the smaller boats to the larger on small pulleys. The crew fish for a few days, leaving chum behind. The fishing is good, though not the sort of catch you were hoping for. After the end of the first week, it seems nothing is biting save the usual foolish fish and snapping turtles.

A brief dialogue onboard ensues; Rhulad, making light of the situation, stretches on his deck chair, speaking to Otto, "Should we find nothing but regular fish, at least we have had a nice vacation from the court life." Otto replies with a weak smile, "Quite so." Dajjal, seated on a thick cushion he's brought from his wagon interjects, "Vacations only distract from running a business. We've caught nothing but more for the chum pile." Otto's face tightens as he speaks, "Remember I have more ships. We can use them to send your men, handling any of your business affairs... But it is getting quite annoying at this point." "At least I told my people to keep their ears primed in case it's seen elsewhere. If it's close and we get too mad about this, we might go on a wild pike chase." Rhulad sits up and looks to Kluggman, who is standing at the bow, glaring into the water, "Maybe we ought to bait our line with a man, have you any éloele worshippers in your domain good Kluggman?" Kluggman turns to reply, when Dajjal bursts out in anger, "I am sick of fish at this point. We've had nothing but fried fish, stewed fish, boiled fish, FISH, FISH, FISH. I want to choke that damn pike with my own hands." The day passes without another hint of Pike.

The day after the crew were about to give up, there is a sudden frenzy in the chum. All turn to look, and see a MASSIVE fish leap from the water, coated in blood and guts - it's easily 15' long, if not longer! It's eyes glow with a yellow light, showing far more intelligence than expected to see out of a fish... It splashes down next to the keelboat, threatening to overturn the relatively low-draft ship. As the crew brace, and the pilot gets control of the vessel, there is a obvious line of wake headed at high speed towards the ship!

Otto tosses his fishing rod to the deck and shouts! "INCOMING! HOLD ONTO SOMETHING." Dajjal dashes from his cushion, which flaps about the deck, as he grabs his turban with one hand, and the gunwale with another. Rhulad's garb flutters in a torrent as he scrambles to the mast, holding on for dear life!

Otto is the only one who manages to catch sight of the damned fish as it attempts to slip closer, with great speed and stealth, through the choppy and chum-filled water. The water ripples in its wake, headed directly for the underside of the Keelboat! "Below! Below!" Otto shouts, "Ready your spears when it passes!" Seeing the crew in a state of shock, he calls out, "Get a hold of yourself, men! This is what it's all been for!" Dajjal wretches over the side as he grips on tighter, bracing for impact. "A fat merchant has no place underway in these conditions!" he whines.

The many foresters of Meister Klugmann are spread around the boat, wearing mail and bearing spears. Being as spread out as they are, only half are able to even reach the pike before it can collide with the ship, and of that half, only two land blows against it, one landing a very solid blow. The two other boats list helplessly at a distance from the sudden frenzy.

Heedless of it's injuries, the Pike collides into the ship again, causing all aboard that hadn't braced themselves to fall overboard as the keelboat has flipped onto it's side! There are lots of shouts of panic from among the fishermen as the boat flips on it's side, but they are helping the sinking men as fast as they can...

Kluggman dives into the water off the boat, with his cousin Leonhard and two men at arms. Face to face with The Pike, shows its slimy brown-green scales, and its enormous body, ended in a foul twisted face with six inch fangs, and glowing yellow eyes, a clear presence in the murky water, he grabs onto the hilt as the fish begins to move... On the boat is a strange sight as Rhulad waves his hands wildly, sparking with divine energy, as a great holden ray of light erupts from above, striking the Pike's exposed back, searing it! Kluggman swims up to the fish and spots the hilt of a blade right near it's lower jawbone. The hilt is coated in mud and lake-scum, but still recognizably of elven make. The fish begins diving, at enormous speed, before anyone above water can react! Kluggman braces himself against the fish as best he can and grips the short hilt, giving it a good yank. He flies off the fish as it vanishes into the murky reaches of the Bannalach, but finds himself holding a broadsword! But the Pike gets away...

Otto sighs. "With luck those wounds will get infected in the dirt. Come on, throw the Meister a rope, somebody. And don't rest easy just yet. We came to kill it, it might yet give us a chance!" The boats circle around Meister Klugman and his men, hauling them out of the water. To everyone's joy, nobody is hurt! The keelboat can be recovered, given some time and effort, as it was merely tipped rather than holed. To continue the hunt while it is wounded and wary may prove far more perilous than planned... Rhulad booms in joy at the sight of Kluggman wielding the blade, "While we could not fish a fish, we could fish a sword! I consider this a great success, and perhaps another season we may return and strike a mortal blow on the foul beast." Rhulad declares, wringing out the sleeves of his robes that had gotten soaked. Otto interjects, "I don't think it's going to get very far in its state. Sir Rhulad's spell seemed to hurt it quite a lot. As soon as we get the last bucket out of the keelboat, I suggest we pursue in the direction it went."

Dajjal, still yellow from the jostling waddles over, "I'm tired of fishing. I should be returning to my guild dealings, anyways. The fish is much closer to death, anyhow. We can pick up later." Rhulad puffs his chest proudly, "I am certain that the great light of avani has cowed the beast! That, along with the Kluggmen's poisoned spears may have the beast licking its wounds for a few months, when we may return with a better plan and finish the fell deed." Otto grumbles at this.

Otto grumbles at this,"Then I'll have to be content with this result." Rhulad shows a wry smile, "If you are so intent on getting the fish, perhaps we should have Meister Kluggman throw you into the water to get it yourself!"

Otto lashes back, "These are my ships that are going to be in danger!" And his tone wanes, "With this sword in our hands, we should make a diplomatic mission to Adwyth, and perhaps convince the elves to let us use the river. I would gladly accompany you on such a mission, Meister.I hope it will be well used to rule regardless. It is a weapon of protection and peacemaking, not war and conquest." It is clear why the knight might not be confident in diplomacy on his lonesome, and the sword has nothing to do with it. "Well, noble sirs, kindly vacate my ships. We'll drop you off on the shore, there is a hunt for us to finish while it bleeds." Otto makes a brief pass at the shore, as Rhulad, Dajjal, and Kluggman and his men disembark. His boats, instead of ferrying into port, break into the open water, and give rapind chase the sign of the Pike. Kluggman groans at this missed opportunity. Suddenly, a great peal of thunder splits the sky, and a bolt of lightning crashes into the place where Otto's ships have become the size of children's toys to the eye....

In the city of Potlen, many are already lamenting the death of Otto Von Podenstahl, when his ships arrive back in port, in triumph! Many a sailor and villager stream into the city, speaking of the great deed. His foul mood has turned, and Lake Lynx is trhowing a public party at his expense. The enormous body of the pike is paraded around, and portions of its cooked flesh are offered, but many refuse respectfully, out of sheer superstition. Kluggman pushes himself to the front of the throng of onlookers, hopping on board with help of some of the deckhands, and Grabs Otto by the shoulders, shouting; "Good Knight of Podenstal, Pike Slayer, I applaud your strength and fast ships. You may not be quick of wit, but quick of blade, and therefore always welcome in my hall for the cleansing of the Bannelach."

THE TAKE:

Kluggman claims The Sword of Stille Watchter (Broadsword +2). The sword was given by the elves of the Coulladaraight many centuries ago as a symbol of friendship between the elves and the Brecht peoples. That mood has cooled over the many centuries since then... Also called the Sword of the Silent Watch, it is said to detect those with hostile intent towards the bearer, alerting the wielder in some fashion to their presence. It is also supposed to be all but indestructible. There have been copies of the blade made over the years - usually rapiers, but the original is a broadsword in the leaf-bladed style of the elves.

Lake Lynx is hosting a party in celebration of their guildmaster's successful fishing expedition! Lake Lynx makes use of Meister Klugmann's longhouse once more, preparing a variety of Rheulgardian dishes: venison and mushroom stew, wild boar cooked in apples and honey, fresh bread and cakes from the Burrows, and plenty of wine and mead for all! Meister Klugmann has had some artisans working on a project involving the remaining bones of the Pike, and Otto von Podenstahl has practically had to arm his men with clubs to drive off the fishermen thanking him for his efforts.

THE COUNCIL OF PIKE'S HEAD (Part 3)

FIN