Wardens of Wildemount ((IC))

[Shadowlace]

Priscilla sprang up the stairs her boots left down in the bowels of the ship. The Halfling was not fully dressed her leather jerkin not fully laced up as she pulls out her blades and looks about when on deck.

Once above the protective wood, she blinks seeing action was on deck she rushed over next to one of the huge strange crab creatures. Speed and grace carried her lithe frame into the strange rough dance honed from years on the street. Both nimble blades rolling from strange angles in her underhand grips. Each metal piece found purchase in the chitinous hide on one of the nightmarish lobster things before Priscilla had to hop back and down defensively.

Standing now blades out and slightly crotched the rogue assessed the opponents and wondered now why she rushed in with little support. Still, she knew that her melee was better, giving her more room to dodge and provide openings in her opponents. It also allowed for her small smattering of magic to trick and belie her enemies. At least she hoped it could.

 

[haremfaery]

Finn got top side and pulled out his longsword. He looked around to assess the situation and starting singing a song to motivate* his new companions. He sang of new companions becoming comrades in arms. He sang of their previous battle against the Tempest and how together they vanquished it. He sang to bolster them against their foes.

He sang as he moved towards the halfling and the crab creatures. He knew she would need someone to distract them so she could do what a rogue did best--stab them in the back when they were preoccupied.

Even with his spellsong over, Finn kept singing. The Chuuls seemed interested in his as he got closer. Lovely, Finn thought ruefully. He slashed with his sword aiming for the joint to cut off a claw. He didn't want to get to close to the creature and he had a decent reach between his height and the sword. The beastie was tougher than he thought.

 

[Veroe]

IC: Jaena Pharstreider

Jon had run off to deal with the giant shark trying to ram the ship leaving Jaena alone to deal with the two hulking crablike creatures climbing onto the deck of the Silverpike in front of her. They were almost upon her all over again.

"Oh Troll shit," She cursed bracing for another series of attacks from the pair of creatures, and she wasn't prepared to act just yet. But thankfully Priscilla bounded barefoot past her stabbing one of the beasts with her knives and she heard Finn coming up singing for them of all things. He was just doing it to motivate and bolster their spirits, but Jaena marveled that he even bothered to assist others when confronted with dangerous opponents. These people were amazing...it was inspiring to her.

She smiled at them both appreciatively, "Welcome to the party, friends. Now let's give these crabby-things a warm welcome before booting their asses off our boat."

That said she began murmuring an incantation she'd learned from her mother, the chief gaurd on her father's merchant wagon caravan traveling between Nicodranus and Zadash, not Lepenne's memoir. She felt a rush of wind aiding her dexterous movements helping her duck under a swing from one of the crab creatures as she danced away gaining enough space to draw and fire her bow. The arrow struck the
center of the chest hard punching several inches through the chitinous shell there. It roared in pain the attack on Priscilla interrupted and forgotten as it snarled at her again.

"We'll keep their attention on us," She said to Priscilla while firing a second arrow at the other. This one didn't have near as much punch to it, but struck the other in the shoulder for some moderate damage. However both the beasts attentions were on her instead of the halfling rogue. "Get behind them and see if you can't stick those knives into the chinks in their armor."

She made a glance towards Finn, "Got any tricks up your sleeve to help us out some more here?"

 

[desperado1089]

Jon hopped off the ballista and saw that the crablike creatures were still standing, this time accosting Jaena and Priscilla. He called out to the Sea Gods, and his sword gleamed with astral radiance as it came crashing down onto one of the creatures, cutting through its armor like butter and causing it to crumple to the deck in a heap. Then he hopped back between the two women. "That's two you owe me now, Jaena," he said, pulling out his shield to block any retaliatory strike the remaining crab-man might make.

 

[siobhancan99]

Ulrich is far more concerned about the shark and its rider, given the ladies seem to have the crab people in check. he hears the song of Finn and indeed feels it lift his spirits. He looks over at the man "pretty enough for a tumble" he mutters, then looks back out at the massive shark "oh aye, and don't think I forgot you." he concentrates, calling down another bolt out of the sky to lance through the air and strike the creature. it twists partially out of the way but takes more damage, lifttle arcs of electricity running along its wet flesh into the sea. Ulrich keeps an eye out for boarders nearby, but keeps his primary focus on the thing that threatens the ship. "youll not tangle with another ship so readily if you live, beast" he grins, watching it thrash.

 

[justspitballing]

Diva'ss looked around. Everyone was doing their part. One of the crab like beings was dead, yes, they actually could die, and both them and the fish like humanoids were being kept at bay. Even the massive God of a shark was being kept back by blasts of lightning, but Diva'ss suggestion of shooting at the Warlock leading the group had fallen on deaf ears. Not surprising at all and to be expected, but it meant Diva'ss would have to face down this fellow Warlock on her own.

She lifted her hand and got ready to cast Eldritch Blast once more. The adversary warlock though swung his hand into the air and then nothing shot forth from her hand. Counterspell, dammit.

And after that time had run out. Though the massive, juggernaut, of a shark was held back, the rest of the sharks with their riders made it to the ship. Four of the humanoid beings started to crawl up the walls of the ship, the warlock among them leading the way.

"Dammit!" Diva'ss called out.

The warlock green skinned, fish like brute stuck his face up from the side of the boat with a big grin on his face. And then an arrow flew through his right eye, he fell to the waters below and died instantly.

Diva'ss looked over at her skeleton archer she had summoned that nodded towards them, they had killed their target. It then turned back to dealing with the one remaining crab like beast.

Diva'ss gamble though failed, the attack did not break. The three remaining green skinned fish men came over the side of the boat and Diva'ss had just killed their leader. One went straight for her and slashed at her with its claws, cutting her cheek and drawing blood.

The other two ran for Ulrich, trying to stop his attacks against their shark pet. The fight was not over yet.

 

[Shadowlace]

The battle, and for Priscilla, this was her second time in a real battle. was messy. Though a street waif raised by her mother when not with a client, otherwise she was with an "Aunt" or on the street itself, the young halfling had seen her fair share of fights! This was something more.

The nimble waif of a woman dodged as one of the brine logged lobster monsters fell dead near her. Its ichor and brine spilling onto the deck as she pivoted and rolled underneath the other nasty crab claw. However, she felt the claw hit its rough chitin cutting deep. Hot pangs came to form the wound as salt and impact along with the welling of blood came from her left shoulder. She was hit.

"Vai, dracului monstru de homar, vei plăti pentru asta"* Priscilla growled at the monster in Halfling before she popped out of her roll twisted, and sent two underhand stabs in the back of the creatures left leg above its calf. Both blades sunk in deep, her aim at the softer tissue between the protective plates went through. She then pulled them out, which unfortunately for her was rewarded with a spray of ichor-like blood right across her face and chest.

Covered in the gore she hacked and gagged as she stumbled back wiping her eyes before assuming a more aggressive posture. With the little burst done the halfling rogue began to notice that the dockside legends of shark kissing fishmen were apparently real and also boarding the ship. The Halfling lass was not as prepared for this as she thought! Especially the horrendous stench and stickiness that came along with it!

*Translated from halfling:"Ouch,fucking lobster monster you are gonna pay for that"

 

[haremfaery]

As part of Finn's song he extemorized an explanation that he needed to keep singing for a while longer to fully inspire his friends to greatness. He couldn't do another spell until this one was done. His ring didn't contain anything that would help them right now.

It looked as though the crab beasties were taken care of. He didn't speak halfling but he could speak and understand curses in at least a half dozen languages. He grinned at Priscilla as he ran to the closest shark rider still singing.

A sailor swung a cutlass at one of the shark riders. Finn stepped up to help. Both the sailor and the rider looked perplexed to see Finn grinning and singing as he fought. In another life he might have been a Berserker. He blocked a blow and struck again.

Unfortunately, his song did nothing to help himself.

 

[desperado1089]

The whole time since Jon had last done anything, he had been torn between breaking contact with the remaining Chuul, or staying on and helping. But when Priscilla got wounded, the decision was easy. Sticking his sword between two deck planks, he rushed forward, holding his shield up to deflect any blows that came his way, grabbed Priscilla and dragged her back behind him and Jaena, making sure his shield was blocking her from view a little more than it was protecting him. Wrenching his sword free, he called for Poseidon's favor specifically this time, and his blade once again gleamed with astral radiance as he cut down the second crab-like creature with not the first hit, but the second.

 

[Veroe]

IC: Jaena Pharstreider

She made a glance towards Finn, "Got any tricks up your sleeve to help us out some more here?"

He in a singsong way never breaking the song he was singing Finn explained he could not. So Jaena muttered a quick incantation from a spell her mother had taught her in how to use her bow and arrow. It was a little thing called Hunter's Mark, which she centered upon the surviving Crab creature. She still had the other one to worry about before Jon came bounding in sweeping his mighty sword felled the thing with a flash of light as it struck it.

"That's two you owe me now, Jaena," He quipped to her with a cocky little air as he raised up his shield to fend off a swing from the other monster.

She laughed at that and gave him a wink, "Perhaps when this all over we can figure out a way for me to repay you, kind sir knight."

To maintain a good distance from the melee happening she nimbly leapt up onto the same crate she'd been reading next to earlier and peppered the beast twice with arrows as it was roaring from two stabs from priscilla who was cursing in Halfling over the spray of its rather unappetizing blood from the knifewounds she had just given. Two new arrows sticking into its chest gave it even more to not be happy about.

Then Jon rushed in sheild up to ward off any further attacks from the creature and grabbed Priscilla and pulled her over to Jaena's crate. She looked at the crab-thing. It was looking rough, like it was very much regretting coming up here to bother them. Then muttering a prayer to his god Jon rushed back towards it felling the thing in two swift swings from his gleaming sword.

Jaena nodded to him appreciatively, "Our hero." She gave him a flirty wink. He was far too cute when saving the day. It should be against the law to be that cute.

She waved to Finn in thanks for his assistance as well. He was cute too being all heroic. She was surrounded on a pirate ship with criminally cute boys. Whatever would she do about that?

She came down and gave a look to Priscilla, "You okay, short stuff?"

 

[siobhancan99]

Ulrich mutters a prayer "Kord, salaman ja myrskyn herra, kuule rukoukseni. Lähetä kylmät pohjoistuulet ja jääpalat lyömään vihollisiani armollesi." howling cold winds whipp across the deck around the two shark men. he's centered the spell over the water to avoid most of the crew. One of the shark men is killed by the cold and ice, but the other manages to roll out of the way minimizing the impact. the shark man approaches, stabbing the huge cleric with its trident, opening a gash in his side that makes him lose the lightning spell "blast" he grits his teeth, preparing to square off with the other shark.

 

[justspitballing]

Diva'ss was staring down the shark like, green skin beast. He had with him only his claws, but he seemed to be very well equipped with them. He swung them out wildly, getting far to close for Diva'ss comfort. She stumbled with her feet a little and he swung to make a blow against her, but an arrow struck him in the shoulder, fallowed by a new one going through his head.

The creature fell over dead. Diva'ss skeleton helper/archer ran over to her side. The undead servant had killed her attacker for the second time in a row. They were very good with a bow and she would be sad to see them leave when her spell lost its grasp with the afterlife and they had to return to their grave.

Diva'ss looked from where they came and saw the two crab like beasts were killed.

"Thank Erathis for all the luck. Servant, you help the cleric with the shark beast before him. I have bigger fish to fry," Diva'ss said.

The skeleton did as commanded and ran over to the cleric. Diva'ss at the same time turned toward the open sea. The giant shark had righted itself and was once again now swimming towards the ship. It was going to smash into it in but a moment. Diva'ss also noticed the other sharks, the hunter sharks their attackers had ridden in on, had swam away, no longer being needed by their riders. The sea was empty except for the juggernaut like beast heading their way.

Diva'ss ran to the the side of the ship and jumped off. Her hope was to distract the beast before it could ram them, and to add to this distraction she shot out a spell at the shark. A guiding bolt shot from her hand as she jumped from the ship. It was a blast of light and power that smashed into the face of the shark. The shark seemed stunned from it for a moment, the creature had indeed taken a beaten and looked to be bleeding from several cuts and gashes.

Diva'ss landed in the sea and started swimming away from the ship to draw the sharks attention. The shark looked over at her, blood gushing from its head, turned and then started to swim away from her and the ship, clearly not wanting to die.

"Well, don't I feel silly," Diva'ss said wading in the water as the giant shark made its retreat.

 

[haremfaery]

Finn had a little time to watch a woman--a warlock from what he had seen her do, jump off the side of the ship! Was she a feckin' idjit? He hoped she could bloody well fly because he had no way to help her. On a positive note, she seemed to have frightened the monster shark away. He had to trust that she wouldn't do something so foolhardy without a way of getting abck on board.

Singing a battle song for the joy of it, he made his way to Ulrich and last of the ugly fish beasties. Surely the fishman's morale must be flagging since all of his companions were dead. Finn stepped in to flank and struck a mighty blow on the fishman's shoulder. Finn parried the spear thrust and attacked again. He was neither of the College of Valor nor the College of Swords, but he enjoyed a good fight.

Ulrich attacked as well. Finn gave the killing blow and the fishman lay dead on the deck, in a pool of blood. "Well fought, friend!" Finn looked around to make sure there was nothing else to fight and where was the woman who went overboard?

 

[Shadowlace]

Priscilla was ready to dodge and dance about the feet and legs of the nightmarish Lobster Man when Jon, a literal Knight in Shining Armor came in and not only slew the beast but swept her up as well! Which though a bit flattering was also a bit annoying. She could have had it.

Feet firmly on a crate the halfling lass looks to her 'employer' and winks. "A little scrape, however..." She curls her nose and makes a face of disgust."...I really could use a bath!" Which was true the ichor and brine on her body was vile on top of the fact it was seeping into her wound. Which was never fun. The little street waif would have to find some clean bandages, needle thread, and fresh clean water to dress and clean her wounds.

As the fighting went on the tiny woman noted Diva'ss fling herself over the edge of the ship and the tiny woman sprang into action. Grabbing some rope, the nimble waif flung it over one of the ship's belaying pins, through it, and then looped it through the rail as she then threw herself off as well.

As she fell, the fighting continued on deck. Priscilla assumed the others could handle it, they were competent. More so maybe then here for the less humanoid opponents, Still, Priscilla was full of grit and determination as she dove down and splashed with minimum impact. As she treaded back up her belt attached to her waist.

Wading out the brunette halfling sees Diva'ss smiles and calls out to the woman." Diva'ss! Over here! I have a rope for us to get back on the ship"

 

[desperado1089]

Satisfied that the fight was over for now, Jon rushed over to the belaying pin that held the rope for Priscilla and, soon, Diva'ss. "I'll help you two!", he called out, his thickly gauntleted hands resting on the rope, ready to help them back aboard once Priscilla had Diva'ss safely in hand. This was not his first "person overboard", and it would not be his last, he imagined.

 

[justspitballing]

Priscilla managed to get the rope around Diva'ss with little effort and then Jon pulled the two of them up. As they were slowly dragged up the side of the ship Diva'ss noticed her disguise self spell had worn off and her Verdan nature was showing.

Diva'ss looked over at the halfling being pulled up with her, and up at Jon lifting them onto the ship. She didn't bother casting the spell again. For now, she didn't need it.

They were brought back up onboard and Diva'ss gave Jon a comforting hug and then quickly did the same with Priscilla.

"Thank you for pulling me out of the murky cold of the sea," Diva'ss said, but she meant a lot more then that. She felt like she for once could really count on people, she felt accepted and she didn't feel like she needed to hide anything anymore.

A little voice in her head had always told her she was not worth saving, but yet, these people always kept saving her.

"I can fix up any cuts you may have," she then offered. It was the least she could do.

 

[Shadowlace]

"No problem, Diva'ss," Priscilla says with a wide smile, her teeth showing as well as her cheeks going rosy, despite the still remaining streaks of Chuul gore on her face. It wasn't really a big deal, Priscilla had jumped from higher ground than this ship. In fact the water helped take the sting out more than she had remembered.

It was at that point during the thought and ascent that her wound throbbed. Her adrenaline had worn off and now the pain set in. By the Gods, it hurt. The wizardly rogue winced as the pain from the wound was not the same as one from a few humans she had fought against.

Once on deck, the raven-haired rogue punched hard into Jon's thigh with a scowl. " I could've climbed up here without your help" She then slapped the knight's butt. With a chuckle, she smiled.

" Thanks though, but you owe me!" Came from her lips as the man stopped hugging her. She sighed and began to rotate her left arm. The Saltwater and Gore had not helped it. It throbbed and burned as she tried to work through the pain. Gods she hated wounds. The petite creature had been wounded before. Scars were on her body in a few places, some were avoidable some not. Still, this one would be interesting. A lobster claw wound would be neat. Though her mother would freak out when she sees her again.

"I can fix up any cuts you may have" Snapped Priscilla Springheel from imaginary lecture her mother and Aunts would tell her about taking any hits, especially if they leave a scar. The tiny halfling lass looks up at Diva'ss and nods." Sure is it a potion or bandages? But only after I get a bath, gotta clean this grime and gore off me first" She says with a sorta half-smile as she feigned a bit of bravado.

 

[Veroe]

IC: Jaena Pharstreider

She came down and gave a look to Priscilla, "You okay, short stuff?"

"A little scrape, however..." She replied with a precocious wink before curling her nose and looking down at herself covered in the viscera of one of the crab creatures they'd slain, "I really could use a bath."

Jaena pulled out a handkerchief for her. "I can't help with the smell, but use this to wipe some of that crab shit off."

The battle didn't take much longer the shark-riders beside them soon found there was too much fight on their hands with this ship and those that survived ran off for their lives and easier prey. Diva'ss did fall overboard. Jaena swore but watched as Priscilla and Jon both jumped in to rescue her.

She stood watching the others do amazing things of their own. Finn and Ulrich, Priscilla, Jon, and Diva'ss. She was starting to feel a strange sense of kinship with these people. She'd had few actual lasting friends growing up. Jaena's father was a merchant and was always on the move, living life on the bed of a wagon caravan or in market stalls up and down Wildemount. She'd loved her father and mother, they had taught her to fend for herself, bought her books of histories and languages to feed her interest in long-lost cultures. They had also fostered a love for the wild places just off the road and in the close care of people always on the move. She had her parents and their employees within her family, but she was the only child anywhere close to her age in the caravan.

She was unused to being a part of a group of peers like this. She found she rather liked it, and these people.

"Well, that was something one might possibly call something resembling fun," She commented wryly, "Anyone care for going below to celebrate our kicking of serious ass? If Priscilla swears not to cheat too much we could play a few hands of cards or some rounds of dice?"

 

[desperado1089]

Eyeing Priscilla and giving her something of a playfully admonishing look, Jon said, "That sounds like a wonderful idea. But first, our Halfling friend could use some healing. Save your energy, Diva'ss. You might need it at some point in future." With the implications of that up in the air, Jon's "Hands" began to glow with healing energy, and as he "Laid" them on Priscilla's briny skin, her wound began to knit closed, until it was gone. "Meet me below deck before or after our game, your choice. I have a little spell that might create enough water for a bath," he whispered in her ear before straightening up.

 

[justspitballing]

Jaena invited everyone down below for some dice and card games. Diva'ss was far more a student of a good game of dragonchess then a game of chance, but she needed some kind of way to celebrate such a win that they had. She wondered why they had been attacked, most likely it was a simple raiding party, which of course asked how common that was out here? These seas were full of dangers it seemed, best she enjoyed herself while she could. As such, Diva'ss decided to join in on the fun even though it was not the norm for her.

Before she went down though she saw Jon heal Priscilla and then make a flirtatious comment towards her. At least, that's what it seemed like. He was whispering into her ear, getting very close to her being. It was hard not to make an assumption even though Diva'ss could not fully hear what Jon said. Diva'ss blushed, Jon being so smitten with this lass actually made her feel much more comfortable. Her heart did not belong to anyone right now, so she didn't want to own someone else's heart. She of course still wouldn't mind shearing a bed with Jon though.

As they started to go down below Diva'ss was quick to whisper into Jon's ear.

"Feel free to keep me waiting a bit tonight. If you wish to court her I'll be looking forward to every saucy detail," Diva'ss whispered into Jon's ear and then kissed his cheek and patted his butt softly.

She felt liberated and was ready for a good game of dice. Make way for the high roller!

 

[siobhancan99]

Ulrich looks down at his bloody side and overs his wound with a hand. he kneels and mutters a prayer to kord, and feels the flesh knit itself back together. It's strange and not wholly pleasant, but it leaves him with no pain. He doesn't bother washing the blood off his skin before heading down to the hold to stow his greatsword. The boy from earlier is gone "scared." he grins to himself, then turns to the group "ill not wager money with the halfling, but I'll have a drink and talk while she steals all of yours. that sounds like a capital idea."

 

[Shadowlace]

"First off yes I would love to drink and gamble, Second I don't dracului cheat! I don't all those rumors are unjustified..." Priscilla then sighs and slumps a bit. " Fine, I'll be a good girl and play for real. Maybe Bet shots?" The halfling had been defeated but later she could get some coin from the sailors. They would be more than willing to part with a few coins if she played the room and bets right.

Almost as if on cue, Jon came up to heal her and she winced as the flesh knitted back together quickly. It was a bizarre feeling getting healing like this. The halfling lass shivered a bit bringing back a few memories of her time at the Assembly when she had to be healed and then looked up at Jon. "Um...thanks." That was all she could muster.

"As for the bath, I'll take it now! This gore and stench need to go away., especially in my hair! Do you know how hard it is to get creature gore outta your HAIR!" The tiny spitfire proclaimed as she smiled, showing her white teeth. Priscilla once no longer within reach began to head down to the rooms.

"Come on Mr. Knight, you said you'd give me a bath and I am cashing in!" She said invigorated with the prospect of getting her, her clothes and her gear clean of gore, grime and saltwater was something worth all this trouble. Besides back in Nicodranus it would have been 3 silvers to get all her gear clean and herself! At least with Jon she'll be getting it for free and have a cute attendant at the same time. If getting gory meant a free bath with a cute attendant, Priscilla was just gonna have to be bold more often.

 

[desperado1089]

"You got it, Diva'ss," Jon replied, keeping his voice low. "Tell Jaena I'll take a raincheck on when I said she owes me." He would first stash his armor in the makeshift equipment room the pirates had set up below deck, but keeping his sword because his holy symbol--and thus his spellcasting focus--was engraved into the blade, just shy of the hilt. Then he would go and find Priscilla in whatever room with a tub she had managed to find, clad only in a simple white cotton shirt, brown breeches and leather boots.

 

[Shadowlace]

Priscilla comes down still barefoot and damp from the plunge. The halfling lass, though not really a lass, was ready to shed her clothes and armor to well enjoy a nice bath. To cleanse herself from all the travel and grime she had suffered from this trip and well before. She did skip bath day due to lack of coins. SO she was due.

The brunette found the room and began to unbuckle her armor straps as she looked to Jon. "Well look at you all free of armor." She says as she eyes the man over. She was sizing him up and then chuckled.

"You need to eat more. Look a little on the skinny side. At least in my opinion." Priscilla says with a giggle." Granted my Ma told me always to go for a man with a bit of a belly. That man eats well and has the coin to keep you and yours. Though it didn't do well for her" She says dropping her leather breastplate and then setting it over to the side. As she does she begins to pull dagger, after dagger after dagger from her person. After about ten minutes she had about 20 small blades setting about, followed by a small roll of lambskin within what looked like a strange sausage casing.

The Halfling lass stood in simple loose cloth top and as she shimmied out of her leather padded bottoms, some of her flesh could be seen. A few scars and tattoos began to show. Priscilla was blushing a bit as she struggled at her hips a bit before finally letting the tight water-logged leather slip past showing her lithe yet muscled thighs, along with the thin piece of what looked like silk. The underwear was simple silk of a strange jade hue. More concerning was her face, it had gone from the olive sun-kissed color to a deep red.

Priscilla shifted a bit once her pants were free and reached up to begin to undo her tight braids. She looked away from Jon, this was a bit too intimate for her. The lass hadn't really done anything like this since she was kicked out of the Assembly! I mean it was a bit ago, and it's not like she hadn't down it before, so why was she blushing like a damned school girl.

She growled and worked harder to get her hair free. Eventually, the tight braids went into cascading ringlets that kissed her navel and her tiny yet firm backside."Could you um get the water started? That way I can finish undressing okay?"

 

[desperado1089]

"Absolutely," Jon said, being shaken from his staring. "And I'm not skinny, I'm muscular, which you will soon see..." He took off his shirt and if Priscilla turned around she would see how right he was. Since his sword was, in essence, his spellcasting focus, he drew it from its scabbard and put the point downward between two deck planks, a hand resting on the hilt as he cast the Create or Destroy Water spell, opting to fill the tub about three-quarters of the way. "Afraid it doesn't do anything about soap," he quipped, sheathing his sword and unbuckling his belt, setting the blade with the attached belt on a nearby table, before taking off his boots.