Horatio watches the others go about their business after the attack. He pauses and studies the body, noting the tattoo and noting the heap of gear near the corpse. For now, he bends his thoughts to the strange writing and what it might mean…
His eyes widen somewhat and then narrow flatly as he stares at the body.
He glances over at Amen-Set.
”Are you alright, then, lass?” he asks her, his voice kindly, knowing only that this was the first true combat she had participated in since they had been together.
While he waits for her to answer, he looks at the others.
"The sign on her back is a symbol, it's for something called "The Beast of Mancatcher Cove"," he says as he stretches his shoulders.
"The rest of it is a map, with the general location of a buried treasure," he adds, explaining to the others.
"The treasure belongs to some captain named Cyrus Wolfe. Wolfe did a hell of a lot of killing and raiding, pretty damn successful, too. He did it for nearly thirty years, but eventually they caught him and put him to death... I guess they wanted to know where the wealth was buried, so they tortured him bad, but he never spoke of where any of the treasure was before he died."
He peers down at the body and studies the flesh for a moment, noting the ink on her skin and his eyes flicking over to Dhaavan, the tattoo-covered caster.
"Rumor has it that this Captain Wolfe summoned a beast to guard the treasure... So there's a lot of buried wealth, but it's guarded by some monstrous, magical guardian," he adds, almost absently.
"I don't know if this map is true, or false, but I'd wager more than a stiff drink that a caster as powerful as that whore we slew wouldn't tattoo a fake map on her flesh, or any map for that matter, simply for amusement."
He scratches his beard a little, then glances at the rhymes on her skin, wondering a little at their meaning and suspecting that they're likely more than a jolly little song.
"I suspect that this tattoo holds the key to the location of that same buried treasure, as well as... probably... clues on how to beat the monster, or any other subtle traps, if we can understand all its mysteries."
"If I had to gamble I'd also wager there are puzzles involved. Note that the words "Grave Lady" and "Dawnflower", and how they're writ like formal names?"
"Well I'd wager that, maybe, there's some sort of place to dig or search, likely akin to a rock or stone or hill that probably looks like a tooth, and that maybe that's somehow aligned with the goddess of death, maybe, being that it says "Grave Lady"... and that maybe when the last light of the setting sun - as in, "Dawnflower", well, when the last light of the setting sun shines it will likely light up the secret place to dig or travel," he adds, then shakes his head.
"Beg pardon - I meant, the first light of the rising sun... I don't know why I thought Last light of the setting sun, but anyhow..."
He pats his vest down and draws out a small hip flask and takes a drink.
"Ahh... he says with a gasp and then offers the flask to any in his party that are interested.
"Anyway, if this tattoo and map are accurate than it looks like we may have an interesting task before us," he adds.
Then he sits down, his back pressed against the crenelated walls of the tower and stretches out his legs and waits to see what the others have to say.
After cleaning his blade and re-sheathing it, he looks down at the corpse of the sorceress. He's surprised to see the tattoo on her, but tilts his head curiously to one side as he considers the image there.
Seijiro advises the party, "the islands might be an unnamed archipelago in the Shackles north of the Ushinawa Isles and west of Besmara’s Throne. They are about 110 li, excuse me, miles, northwest of Tidewater Rock as the albatross flies, but sailing distance will most likely be a bit farther through all the atolls and archipelagos around the southern Shackles."
Unfortunately, he's unable to come up with any other lore that might help in this regard.
He reaches down and hefts the rapier the woman bore. "I think this might suit me fine... any objections if I take this as part of my share? If so, speak up... if not... " He slips weapon into its sheath, then puts the sheath for the rapier onto his belt if no one objects. He looks a little awkward wearing two rapiers...
Tomo chitters and leaps onto Seijiro's shoulder, starts grooming his hair.
Rain, wiped her brow with her hand, and called out to Jiro, "A well-placed strike, my friend!"
It seemed that Neko had disappeared, again. She was sure the golden cat would appear sooner rather than later -- Neko seemed to possess a mind of her own.
Rain nodded upon Jiro's assessment of the islands in question. "I agree with Jiro regarding where the islands may be located."
As to the stylised sun and tattoo, she could not make out the meaning of it and listened as Horatio seemed to know something about it and the history behind it.
A treasure map? Interesting that the sorceress had it inked upon her back.
Rain contemplated the inscription for a moment. Even with her long life and studies, most of her education occurred outside of books ... on the ships she sailed on or through stories told to her by elder mariners. Perhaps one of the others could enlighten the group from their extensive studies.
"I think this might suit me fine... any objections if I take this as part of my share? If so, speak up... if not... "
Horatio glances over Seijiro, then he looks at the others.
"I have a magical short sword, not very potent, but that's it," he says.
"I wouldn't mind the rapier, if you'd like, we could swap for it?"
Then he glances at the others and pulls out a this piece of rolling paper and taps some tobacco into it, his eyes squinting somewhat as he wets the papers and rolls it tightly.
Putting it between his lips he waves his hand gently and the tip ignites into with a quick burst and he takes a long pull from it.
His left eye squints as he lets out a long exhale from the side of his mouth and the smoke rushes past his cheek.
"But that's just a thought. It's all the same to me either way, I reckon," he says as he takes another pull from the smoke and glances to the northwest, watching where the ship is sailing.
He turns to Amen-set.
"You maybe want to send Horus after that thing? See if he can spot anything of note," he says with a friendly voice to her.
Amen-set nods at once and stands, then points to the ship and the falcon leaps from her shoulders and flies off after the ship.
He watches the bird fly off and turns to the girl.
"Why'd you go down and see how Piper and the rest are doing?" he asks her and she nods again, pauses as she stares at the others, then heads down to the beach below.
"I agree with Jiro regarding where the islands may be located."
Horatio glances to Rain and takes another pull from his smoke.
"Sounds good," he says with a friendly nod at her confirmation of Jiro's information on the island.
His eyes tack back to the northwest as he watches Horus continue to fly and then he wonders something.
"You say that the island is northwest of here, eh?"
He stares after the retreating ship, his eyes squinting as he peers at her wake thoughtfully.
"Meantime, that ship there's sailing northwest now, then?"
He lets out a stream of smoke from his lips as he thinks about that coincidence.
Then he shrugs a little and stretches out his long legs and takes another pull from the smoke, waiting for the others to claim what they wanted from the treasure.
"I kinda like the new rapier more than my old one. We didn't find that one, I had it made for me ... it is kinda special.. but if you want to use it for a while I could loan it to you. I intend to learn to fight with both of them at one time, and then I'd want it back, or one like it."
"We could hope their course is a coincidence.. if not, it might be a race... On the other hand, if they were to get there first, they could soften up the monster for us." Seijiro shrugs with a little smile.
"I kinda like the new rapier more than my old one. We didn't find that one, I had it made for me ... it is kinda special.. but if you want to use it for a while I could loan it to you. I intend to learn to fight with both of them at one time, and then I'd want it back, or one like it."
Horatio turns to Seijiro and glances at him from his spot by the wall.
"Nah, that's not what I meant."
"I meant that this rapier we found on the sorceress is magical. I'd rather have a rapier than the short-sword. I'd rather have the one we found, but I don't want to claim it if you'd prefer it."
"So I figure'd to make things work better, as you asked for it, if I took it, I'd offer you my short-sword to sweeten the deal is all."
He takes another drag of his smoke.
"But that's just a thought. For all I know, Variel'd like the sword; he's the best melee fighter we have, so him having it can't hurt."
"Anyhow, like I said, if I kept it I could toss in my short-sword back into the pot if you'd like. But ya'll pick first, no worries," he says amicably.
He glances after the ship in the distance.
"We could hope their course is a coincidence.. if not, it might be a race... On the other hand, if they were to get there first, they could soften up the monster for us." Seijiro shrugs with a little smile.
Horatio nods and smile at Seijiro's joke about the ship wearing down the monster.
"I guess we'll have to find out," he responds easily, then eyes the corpse thoughtfully.
"Of course, it's only a race if we're going to head that way," he adds after a moment.
"For now we got to worry about the whole crew on this island and how they're doing and so on, I guess, before we figure our next course."
He pulls out his surgeon's tools and lays them down by his side and eyes the body.
"Still, if we do go that way, I guess we'll want to take the map with us. Unless anyone's got any objections?" he says as he juts his chin toward the corpse, his hand patting the surgical tools casually.
Adular listens to Flynn's run down on the map, and what he knows of the treassure and its guardian. At mention of grave lady and dawnflower, he smiles, "religious terms for two gods... Pharasma and Sarenrae "
At mention of the rapier, "Jiro having struck the final blow on that witch, I've no problem letting him claim that new rapier. It's a beaut."
"religious terms for two gods... Pharasma and Sarenrae "
Horatio continues to smoke, but nods at the priest's words.
At mention of the rapier, "Jiro having struck the final blow on that witch, I've no problem letting him claim that new rapier. It's a beaut."
Horatio glances at Adular for a moment, then shrugs.
"Okay," he says after a moment.
Then he swings up and walks over to the body of the dead sorceress, his surgeon's tools in hand.
As he places the scalpel on the flesh near her left shoulder, he pauses, thinking a moment.
Glancing again at Dhaavan, he recalls that the Varisian has many tattoos on his flesh; some of them, like his bird, have unique properties.
Rubbing his chin a moment, he stares at the corpse, then he begins to do a full search on her to see if she also has any further tattoos hidden on her flesh somewhere else.
He looks up again toward Dhaavan.
"So those tattoos you have... do they have magical properties in of themselves? I mean to say, if I was a wizard or something and I had a tattoo on me that looked like a map, and I wanted to disguise it better, I might fix it up so it could be able to shift around a little magically, or something, so the map didn't look right or something," he says thoughtfully as he searches her body.
"If that's possible would that be something that could happen after she died?" he asks, curious as he continues to search her.
Dhaavan claps Sejiro on the back, Good job runnin the b*%$% through, Jiro He does Detect Magic and give her a once over, examining the woman's back both as magic and as an artist himself.
I dunno about magicking a Tatt to shift itself around like that after death, but from what you've all said about the Map, Island and Treasure I'd wager that the Inking is accurate there.
Might be reticent to go taking the map off her back, at least not before copying it down ink to paper first, and doing some referencing to make sure we have all the information we'd need. not really caring about her or the treatment of her body at the moment... =/
If we need to keep it, Adular, you mind magicing the corpse up so she don't stink up the place any further when you get a chance
But mostly he is keeping his anger and revulsion in check, having been attacked by a demon-summoning sorceress in his own home. Now this I'll be taking as payment for tresspassing, if you don't mind, he whispers to the corpse as he takes her Headband.
Dhaavan will storm off downstairs to find his wife and see to his people, and talk to the families of those that were lost.
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When Jiro got behind the sorceress and found a weak spot Variel could barely contain himself as their foe dropped to the ground. The tentacles disappeared along with the demons. the top of the tower was quiet except for the rain that had soaked everything. For that he was glad as he was weary, exhausted, and running out of adrenaline. Looking over for Rain Variel moves to her side and slumps down next to her glad that both of them had made it. Not only that but everyone had survived up here. There was still to be seen how many of the crew and the household were injured but that could wait for a moment. Not caring at the moment who is watching Variel grabs her hand and gives it a kiss too tired for anything else yet content for the contact.
As she walks off to look at the sorceress and the map Variel takes the time to relax for the moment. Stretching his limbs and cleaning his cutlass with Prestidigitation Variel calls out to Jiro, I swear Jiro if I didn't know any better I would have thought you were the one that had trained for years with weapons. You sure have a knack for placing a decisive strike when we need it. What is this now 2 or 3 captains counting Plugg, along with a whole slew of other foes. Mighty fine work Jiro.
Not the most knowledgeable about gods, locations and such Variel lets the others do what they can about reading and deciphering the 'map'. While it wasn't the cleanest or ideas Variel agrred with Flynn as he got out the surgical tools. I think you have the right of it Flynn. We need to preserve that map as best as possible. We can study it more once we get inside and see how Dhaavan's missus fares.
"Not sure I got the spell you're speaking of, Dhaavan, not prayed for it if you're talking preserving. But give me time."
Looking over for Rain, Variel moves to her side and slumps down next to her glad that both of them had made it. Not only that but everyone had survived up here. There was still to be seen how many of the crew and the household were injured but that could wait for a moment. Not caring at the moment who is watching, Variel grabs her hand and gives it a kiss too tired for anything else yet content for the contact. As she walks off to look at the sorceress and the map Variel takes the time to relax for the moment.
The battle could have turned very ugly ... and many lives could have been lost. Rain ran a tired hand over her face and through her hair.
Variel moved to her side, then, and she could see that he was tired but relieved they have survived the encounter and saved the Rock. It felt good to have him close, so she stayed beside him in mutual silence. When he lifted her hand and unexpectedly kissed it in front of the others, Rain smiled and felt the comfort of the affectionate touch. Neko could not deem this moment as inappropriate -- Her cat companion had tasked herself as chaperone and Rain still did not understand why, although she was certain the cat had her reasons/motives. Perhaps once the telepathic connection between them corrected itself, she would find out why. For now, with Neko's momentary absence, Rain enjoyed the smallest of intimacy. She would go in search of her golden cat, if Neko did not reappear soon.
"Not sure I got the spell you're speaking of, Dhaavan, not prayed for it if you're talking preserving. But give me time."
well it may not be needed, but might be ya pray for the power tomorrow if we don't get the map preserved. dhaavan ascents.
Well, I'm an artist, not a cartographer, so if one of you can make a quick copy and notations on the charters, I'll have a surgery readied for Sir Flynn to extract the original. He shouts out the appropriate orders to have a clean room readied with a table, good light, linens, and space for Horatio to work.
Are you well? You looked OK during the fight, but ... He looks his wife over I am... livid, I think. I'm not used to having a home of my own but I find I rather like it, and someone attacking my home, regardless of the reason seems to... set my teeth on edge in an unfamiliar way. You know that I go overboard, so I think it's be prudent to differ to your better judgement, because setting the very seas ablaze to burn the wretched that attacked our home seems a mite impractical...
Dhaavan is searching, literally shaking with rage. There are cinders rolling of him as he walks, traces of sulphur, and the sound of growling dogs following him,
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"From blue bight’s embrace
Spy the Grave Lady’s prize tooth
With the Dawnflower’s first kiss
Climb the Captain’s wayward orb
To claim old king’s hoard"
A DC 20 Knowledge (geography) check reveals the islands to be an unnamed archipelago in the Shackles north of the Ushinawa Isles and west of Besmara’s Throne. These islands lie 110 miles northwest of Tidewater Rock as the albatross flies, but the PCs will likely have to sail a bit farther through the numerous atolls and archipelagos of the southern Shackles.
The stylized eye represents the “Beast of Mancatcher Cove” which was an alias of Captain Cyrus Wolfe.
Nearly a century ago, Free Captain Cyrus Wolfe, a black-hearted rogue with an even blacker gift for the dark arts, plied the waters off the western coast of Garund and brought fear to hundreds of ship’s captains and crews. His daring daylight raid on the fortified Thuvian port of Aspenthar directly under the nose of that city-state’s admiralty left a dozen of the principality’s warships in flames and over a hundred of its citizens carried off as captives for ransom. For that grand audacity, Wolfe was offered the Hurricane Crown by his
fellow Free Captains, but it is said that he simply laughed in their faces.
After 3 decades of terrorizing the shipping lanes, Captain Wolfe made his biggest haul ever when he surprised a convoy of Katapeshi treasure ships returning from secret mine holdings on the coast of southern Garund. It is believed that Wolfe divided up his treasure and hid it in
several different sites, but the locations of most of them have been lost to time. However, one name has stayed at the forefront of maritime legend as the location of his spoils—Mancatcher Cove.
To dispose of the most valuable portion of his plunder, Captain Wolfe selected an uncharted island somewhere in the Shackles—an island shrouded in dense jungle and surrounded by forbidding cliffs save for one cove said to be so deep that it descended all the way to the pits of
Hell. There Wolfe hid his treasure, reputedly using his sorcerous powers to reach down into the very heart of Hell to summon forth a guardian beast to crush any ships that dared anchor in the cove. Before departing, Captain Wolfe made a map of the island and the location of his treasure.
However, less than a year later he was captured by a flotilla of ships commissioned by the queen of Aspenthar and the Pactmasters of Katapesh. Even under torture, Wolfe refused to divulge the location of his ill-gotten treasure, and so he was hung from a gibbet over the harbor of Aspenthar, where his bones were picked clean by gulls and crows as a warning to others.
Since then many of Captain Wolfe’s treasure troves have been located and looted, and copies of his map of Mancatcher Cove have likewise managed to find their way into the hands of fortune seekers. However, unlike at Wolfe’s other caches that were looted, those few ships that came to Mancatcher Cove in search of the fabled treasure were never seen again—victims, it was whispered, of the Beast of Mancatcher Cove. In time, the last few copies of Wolfe’s map were lost, and the hunt for the greatest hoard of Captain Wolfe’s treasure subsided, leaving little more than an old sea dog’s legend.
"The sign on her back is a symbol, it's for something called "The Beast of Mancatcher Cove"," he says as he stretches his shoulders.
"The rest of it is a map, with the general location of a buried treasure," he adds, explaining to the others.
"The treasure belongs to some captain named Cyrus Wolfe. Wolfe did a hell of a lot of killing and raiding, pretty damn successful, too. He did it for nearly thirty years, but eventually they caught him and put him to death... I guess they wanted to know where the wealth was buried, so they tortured him bad, but he never spoke of where any of the treasure was before he died."
He peers down at the body and studies the flesh for a moment, noting the ink on her skin and his eyes flicking over to Dhaavan, the tattoo-covered caster.
"Rumor has it that this Captain Wolfe summoned a beast to guard the treasure... So there's a lot of buried wealth, but it's guarded by some monstrous, magical guardian," he adds, almost absently.
Seijiro advises the party, "the islands might be an unnamed archipelago in the Shackles north of the Ushinawa Isles and west of Besmara’s Throne. They are about 110 li, excuse me, miles, northwest of Tidewater Rock as the albatross flies, but sailing distance will most likely be a bit farther through all the atolls and archipelagos around the southern Shackles."
Might be reticent to go taking the map off her back, at least not before copying it down ink to paper first, and doing some referencing to make sure we have all the information we'd need.
Horatio glances up at Dhaavan and nods.
"Alright, sounds good to me," he says as he plucks the smoke from his mouth and casually extinguishes it.
Then Horatio pulls out his logbook from his satchel and makes a detailed copy of the map so it's not going to get lost or damaged.
As he uses his kit to copy it, he focuses intently on the pen and paper, but speaks casually to the others.
"Don't worry about the map - once I got a copy you're all free to make a copy of it, or however you want to do it," he adds in a somewhat distracted voice, his full attention on his work.
If we need to keep it, Adular, you mind magicing the corpse up so she don't stink up the place any further when you get a chance
As he works, he glances up at Adular and Dhaavan for a moment, then goes back to work.
"Well, I guess if we just take the skin off her back and then stretch it tight so it doesn't start to shrink or shrivel, then it should probably be alright. Dead skin can last a long time, and it normally doesn't stink like a corpse," he says as he goes back to copying the map.
"Back in University I read of a guy named Hannibal. I think he was a ship's cook, or something... Anyhow, he used to take the skin off of dead enemies and make things of it. I heard he had lamp-shades done up around the glass of a lantern; the skin had been tattooed so when the lamp was lit behind it was kind of like stained glass. It wasn't that hard for him to do that sort of cutting, either, as his hands were pretty nimble. Come to think of it, they were kind of like a the hands of a ship's doctor..." he says says with a small sardonic smile as he works.
Pausing a moment to peer at the map, he then leans back and continues to work and his eyes flick to Seijiro.
"Say, speaking of nimble hands, that reminds me... Jiro-san, you mentioned earlier letting me have your current rapier for my short sword? I don't think I understood what you were offering earlier, but if the deal's still on, I'm open to the trade," he says as he talks while he works.
About the Map
Hmmm... I suppose Horatio's response to that might be:
Dammit, Jim, I'm a doctor, not a cartographer!
But anything's possible :)
"DOn't need your short sword, Horatio-san though it's kind of you to offer," he says as he takes his old rapier and sheath off his belt... He hands them over to Horatio with a little bow. "I hope this serves you well in combat."
"Don't need your short sword, Horatio-san though it's kind of you to offer," he says as he takes his old rapier and sheath off his belt... He hands them over to Horatio with a little bow. "I hope this serves you well in combat."
Horatio glances up at Seijiro and sees the bow.
He pauses in his work and stands up and bows in return.
"Domo, Seijiro-san. Kore wa, bisaina gifutodesu," he adds, then gently takes the rapier and bows again and places it with his things.
Then he crouches down again and continues to work on the map.
"Well, I've cut into a man before to remove a growth, I suppose this is similar work," He nods at Flynn's suggestion, and admires the map work.
While the gruesome work of copying and retrieving the map from the woman's corpse commences, Seijiro slips off to find his father and assure himself of the Shinji's safety.
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Indeed it seems that the map is in capable hands so Variel lets Flynn and Adular be at their work. Once everyone has settled down then they could pool their knowledge and see if they could figure out the map and the wording. It seemed that Jiro and Flynn had some of it figured out already.
Dhaavan was leaving to check on his new bride while Jiro oresumably was checking on his father. That left him and Rain. Looking at her with hand extended he says to her but loud enough for all to hear, I am going to check on the crew. Who knows what casualties they took and what damage has been done to the Lady. I will return once I know more and once all are done with their duties we must reconvene to discuss this attack and the ramifications of it. I am sure we will have much to discuss. Rain,, if wish to join I would be honored but if wish to find Neko I understand as well. I have not seen her since the tentacles the first time.
On the way out of the castle and to the dock Variel will take stock of the condition of the tower and defenses and what damage has been done.
Being idle did not suit her and she was not required for the map drawing or the removal of the tattoo, which were in the fine hands of Flynn and Adular.
At Variel's offer to join him in evaluating the condition of the crew and their ship, Rain shook off her inertia and momentarily took his hand before responding in equal measure,
"I must find Neko, first. She cannot be far. Once I am done, I shall join you. If we need to make any repairs to the Lady, then I would start them sooner than later. If we are to find these islands, the ship cannot falter."
Just as soon as she made her plans known to Variel and turned, Rain saw her golden cat companion calmly staring at her. The Elf smiled at the golden minx. Neko then jumped down off the bookshelf and came to her side.
"Well, as you can see, Neko is safe and well. Let us go down to the docks, together."
Horus flies out and returns with no useful information.
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The tattoo does not appear to be magical to any of you.
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"I am quite well, husband. The ruffians who attacked below were little more than a diversion to the real battle above." She looks you over, hand on her hip, and says, "You acquitted yourself well. I am certain now that I made the right decision, offering the Rock to you and your crew. Those bastards did manage to kill several of our guards. As such I want you to go and find them...and kill them. Bring their heads back here and we will display them on the Rock walls for all to see as a warning to those who cross the Lord and Lady Fellwind." By the end she is staring intently at you. It seems there is more to this woman than meets the eye.
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Allowing you to pour the tea he continues "Watashi wa anata ga sugu ni futatabi idō ni naru koto o s%&&te iruto watashi wa anata ga iku mae ni anata ni ikutsu ka no jōhō o teikyō s@&&ai to omoimasu. Watashi wa kage no futatsu no zu no ma de hikisaka Variel to yoba reru mono no bijon o motte imashita. Hitotsu wa, kare o korosu koto o nozomu, to hoka wa kare o riyō s*#*aidesu. Anata wa kono yōna ibento ga watasu tame ni kuru no o yurushite wa narimasen. Ko no yōna ibento no kekka ga rikai suru ni wa amarini mo hidoideshou. Kore wa, shikashi, kare ni iuga, mite, matte, jōki no subete... Anata no norikumiin o hogo subeki monode wa arimasen. Anata wa idaina kitsunedearu koto ga anata ni sore o motte imasu. Anata wa sudeni idaina musukodesu. (I know that you will soon be on the move again and I wish to give you some information before you go. I have had a vision of the one called Variel torn between two figures of shadow. One wishes to kill him, and the other wishes to use him. You must not allow such an event to come to pass. The results of such an event would be too terrible to comprehend. This is not something you should tell him however but watch, wait, and above all...protect your crew. You have it in you to be a great Kitsune. You are already a great son.) You continue to talk for a while but he does not have more information.
Seijiro sits as bidden, kneeling beside his father. He pours the tea carefully, filling his father's cup first and offering to him in proper tea ceremony fashion, waiting for him to taste it before pouring a cup for himself.
He nods at his father's praise and shrugs deprecatingly. "Watashi wa, watashi wa, watashi no yūjin to dōyō ni yatte ita koto ga saikōdeshita. Un ga majo no bōei o watasu tame ni, watashi no soba ni imashita. Watashi no yūjin wa tatakai no tame ni watashi ni meiyo o ataeru tame ni shinsetsudesu. "
(tr)"I only did the best I could, as my friends were doing as well. Luck was on my side to pass the witch's defenses. My friends are kind to give me honor for the battle."
He listens most carefully to his father's next words and nods with grim determination. "Chichi wa, anata no kotoba wa watashi no yūjin to senchō no tame ni watashi ni ōku no shinpai o motte kimasu. Watashi wa kare o totte kara kage o fusegu tame ni saizen o tsukushimasu."
(tr)"Father, your words bring me much worry for my friend and captain. I will do my best to prevent the shadows from taking him."
He sits and sips his tea silently while he contemplates his new task to protect Variel. So much going on... and what of Mother? Surely rescuing her was still possible, it simply had to be...
Adular prepares the proper spells, and when he has a chance, he seeks out Sandara Quinn to see how she is doing and how healing of the crew proceeds, as well as their morale.
Sandara looks up from tending to one of the wounded and says "So how soon do ye want to make sail to get those motherless sons of a sea horses ass?! I says the sooner the better. Them bastards just spit in me face, the face o'me Captain and me whole crew, and I'd like to pay them back in kind! She goes back to tending the wounded and says I'm ready to sail when Captain Variel gives the word but I hope he don't take too long.
Adular, you can see that Sandara has already sent some of the crew to go and fix the minor damage that the Dread Lady incurred with the battle with the other ship. In addition, you see Rain heading down that direction as well, that strange cat sauntering beside her.
"We've a map, Lovely," he tells Sandara, showing the gruesome prize to her, "One I need to preserve later on in the morn when I've gentle repose by the Goddess' grace. So I think the Capn' is definitely going to be planning a bit of pay back, but he's a thinking one, so he may actually want one of them plan things in the doing of it." he grins and waves the bloody prize a bit, "We've taken a pound of flesh from them. I've no doubt we'll eventually go in for the rest."
An after thought, "And you? And the lads? Everyone itching for payback as much as you?"
Dhaavan makes liberal use of and Magic to clean-house and fix the damage where he can. He also heads down to the ship to see if there are repairs to be done. A runner is sent for Flynn, Sejiro, and the Captain, once they've concluded what pressing business they have.
He throws an arm around Adular's shoulder We most certainly will be payback, my friend! My lady wife will be wanting those raiders brought home to face Justice, as it were. Dhaavan says with a smile.
When the others gather Dhaavan discusses his thoughts for their plans Well, boys and girls Looks like we've got ourselves a job to do! We got the map, and there's the raiding crew to chase after. Now Sir Flynn said the attacking ship was headed to the North-West, and that's the same direction as our archepelago, Mancatcher Cove which is awfully darn convenient.
Once the map is copied Horatio stands up and stretches and looks around.
Realizing the others have gone to take care of business, he shrugs and picks up his surgical tools and puts them, and his logbook and writing instruments, back in his satchel.
Not sure what to do with the body, he then picks up the corpse and flings it over his shoulder and heads downstairs with it so that night birds don’t pick at the flesh and possibly spoil the remains.
When he gets to the forth floor of the tower he dumps the body in an out-of-the way spot (preferably in B:11 in the spot behind the stairs in the north section behind the chair) and stretches his back.
Then he heads down and finds one of the mates for The Lady, whoever he comes across first. After inquiring how the lad is doing and how things have gone with the attack, he asks for the conditions of the others – including a body count.
If any of the crew, or the folk from Tidewater Rock, have fallen then he offers his respects and asks the preference for funerary rites.
Given the massive amount of wealth that he and his companions have found, he finds one of the locals and orders a keg so the crew can have some fresh drinks after the battle.
He goes and finds Amen-Set and Piper and asks them how they are doing. Once he gets their status and what they’ve seen he speaks to Piper about the condition of their ship as well as the general status of the buildings which belong to the locals; if they’ve been damaged, and – if so – how badly.
At this point, a runner from Dhaavan approaches him and informs him that: His Excellency; the Honorable Lord of Tidewater Rock has summoned Ser Horatio Flynn, forthwith, promptly and directly.
Raising an eyebrow and suppressing a grin at the formalities, Horatio nods and tells Amen-Set to keep an eye on Piper and that he’ll fetch them both soon. Then he heads to find the "Lord of Tidewater Rock" and see what’s up…
Well, boys and girls Looks like we've got ourselves a job to do! We got the map, and there's the raiding crew to chase after. Now Sir Flynn said the attacking ship was headed to the North-West, and that's the same direction as our archepelago, Mancatcher Cove which is awfully darn convenient.
Horatio plucks an apple from a table and takes a bite as he listens.
”I don't know how the rest of the island is doing, but as of now I sent a few lads around to find out the full status on the island and the conditions of the survivors, but on a whole, I think we gave better than we got,” he says affably.
”Meantime, I dumped the corpse in the forth floor of the tower. I didn’t want carrion to shred the remains of the body, just in case. Anyhow, it’s stuck behind the corner where the stairs are for now, but I suppose you probably don’t want to leave it there all night.”
He takes another bite of the apple and chews it for a little bit.
”I asked about the conditions of any that died and how they want funerary rites, when I get the list I’ll leave that to you,” he says with a nod to Adular.
”I also ordered a keg for the crew to celebrate our victory. I figured it’d be a nice gesture, seeing that – you know, we did win.”
He scratches his chin a little bit.
”I figure we’ll probably want to leave on the Tide tomorrow morning, once the ship’s been looked after and so forth and maybe we can get some sack time, not to mention the casters learn what type of spells they’d like to cast, but that's all up to you all,” he adds
He pauses and considers what Dhaavan had said a moment ago.
”So, just curious... If it was just a raiding crew, than anyone know who sent it, and what was their business here? he asks the others casually then takes another bite of the apple.
As he chews his apple, he suddenly looks around the room for a moment and does a quick head count.
"Say, where's the Pilot-Major? Last I saw of her she was looking for her cat? Is she still looking, or am I just not seeing her?" he asks the others, not certain if Rain is out on another mission, or if he simply cannot see her in the room.
Regarding Rain's Necklace and Sorceress
Dhaavan nods at Flynn's suggestion of a Nightcap, I'd be inclined to agree that we head out with the morning tide, make sure everyone's alright and that we start fresh and make good time. And I'd like to think I've got desert waiting for me, especially since we're a'voyaging till who knows when
Well while she was throwing fire, lightning, and tentacles around and calling her Demons, she was going on about some asshat, Kelp-root wanting Rain to suffer for wearing the amulet of some Deep Prince. I Don't know if I've ever heard of the bastard before, or if this Deep Prince is a title or some kind of Godling or what. Any of you got the Knowledge on that?
in case the Deep Prince is some extraplanar being.
He throws an arm around Adular's shoulder We most certainly will be payback, my friend! My lady wife will be wanting those raiders brought home to face Justice, as it were. Dhaavan says with a smile.
"Well, ain't we just fond of blood thirsty women then?" He grins, "You're a proper husband there. Let's not disappoint the ladies."
When the others gather Dhaavan discusses his thoughts for their plans Well, boys and girls Looks like we've got ourselves a job to do! We got the map, and there's the raiding crew to chase after. Now Sir Flynn said the attacking ship was headed to the North-West, and that's the same direction as our archepelago, Mancatcher Cove which is awfully darn convenient.
"Sounds like a merry chase to me," Adular scratches his chin.
At Flynn's mention of bodies, hers and the fallen, "I'll try to kick her soul on its way so she'll have no chance of haunting us, and as for ours, I'll send them off with style to Besmara's crew."
”If it was just a raiding crew, than who sent it and what was their business here? he asks the others casually then takes another bite of the apple.
"That I don't know. Feels like it was a long time ago already. Maybe the Lady of the Rock knows better than we?" He glances to her husband, "Maybe it weren't for her but us? though that seems unlikely. We'd be easier to catch at sea than a fortified place like this I'd think."
Well while she was throwing fire, lightning, and tentacles around and calling her Demons, she was going on about some asshat, Kelp-root Kelloort wanting Rain to suffer for wearing the amulet of some Deep Prince. I Don't know if I've ever heard of the bastard before, or if this Deep Prince is a title or some kind of Godling or what. Any of you got the Knowledge on that?
"Mmm..."
At Flynn's mention of bodies, hers and the fallen, "I'll try to kick her soul on its way so she'll have no chance of haunting us, and as for ours, I'll send them off with style to Besmara's crew."
Horatio shrugs.
"Oh it's all good with me either way. When they give you the list, do what you got to do," he says.
"Feels like it was a long time ago already. Maybe the Lady of the Rock knows better than we?" He glances to her husband, "Maybe it weren't for her but us? though that seems unlikely. We'd be easier to catch at sea than a fortified place like this I'd think."
He takes a last bite of the apple and tosses the core.
"If it was for us, they'd be pretty clever to know where we were and where to hit us... but then, maybe they used a spell to divine our location?" he says somewhat rhetorically.
"Anyhow, they sailed up and attacked us and we got a full ship of lads and lasses who have had their time before the mast. That means that someone aboard our ship saw their colors and that should be enough to go on for now," he adds.
"Sounds like some kind of Lord of the sea - maybe a deity, or maybe just a ruler of some people, like merfolk or sahuagin or something... perhaps some kind of magical divination or the like might give us further information... Maybe something Adular could do? if not now, perhaps soon?"
"Well, ain't we just fond of blood thirsty women then?" He grins, "You're a proper husband there. Let's not disappoint the ladies."
They are the most fun, I'll say that much for certain. I'd hate to be the one to let either of our lovely ladies down the sorcerer says with a conspiratory chuckle nad a waggle of his eyebrows.
You're right Horatio, I'll have to ask Agasta and we'll have to see what the rest of the crew knows. Dhaavan agrees.
among the crew and the people of the rock for information.
Not sure how they'd find us tho...
I'd be inclined to agree that we head out with the morning tide, make sure everyone's alright and that we start fresh and make good time. And I'd like to think I've got desert waiting for me, especially since we're a'voyaging till who knows when
Horatio says nothing but simply takes a sip from his hip flask, though he does roll his eyes a little and grins somewhat dryly at Dhaavan's mentioning of his plans for "dessert".
Well while she was throwing fire, lightning, and tentacles around and calling her Demons, she was going on about some asshat, Kelp-root wanting Rain to suffer for wearing the amulet of some Deep Prince. I Don't know if I've ever heard of the bastard before, or if this Deep Prince is a title or some kind of Godling or what. Any of you got the Knowledge on that?
He leans back against the wall.
"Sounds more like a title of the captain of some ship or maybe a fleet or something. Or maybe it's a noble title, kind of like "Lord of Tidewater Rock" is?" he says as he slides his hip flask back into the pouch at his side.
"But if that whore was shouting curses at our Pilot-Major for wearing a necklace, maybe it'd be a good plan to ask her if she's got some knowledge on what's up?" he asks the group, glancing around to see what Rain might have to offer on this mystery.
Well, the Deep Prince may have had a Deep Platinum amulet? Some connection there. Maybe that's what they scryed to find us? Whatcha think Variel? you know more about that kinda book-magic than I do.
We'll give out boys a good sendoff DHaavan says by way of thanks to Adular and Flynn.
Horatio nods at the words, but for now he's simply considering what's happened so far, his mind ranges over other possibilities about this attack.
You're right Horatio, I'll have to ask Agasta and we'll have to see what the rest of the crew knows. Dhaavan agrees.
He glances over at Dhaavan.
"So I figure that your Old Lady's been here for a long time, right? That being the case, I figure she's probably heard a lot of strange tales and so on... Anyhow, if you're going to, uh... 'probe her secrets'..." he says with a wry smile "well, why not see if she's got details on both that island we're headed to and also the this whoreson "Keloort", and maybe any news on this "Deep Prince", too?" he asks Dhaavan.
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Variel keeps his around Rain's waist for the comfort but also because that damned Neko was present. Variel knew from previous encounters that Neko was possessive, omnipresent and a thorn in his side. Still that was not going to prevent Variel from trying to push the 'cats' buttons every once in a while. As they walk to the ship Variel glances at the cat and gives a smirk saying 'What are you going to do about this?'
At the ship though Variel stops annoying Neko as he has work to do. First on the list is finding out from whomever the extent of the damage to the Lady, casualty counts, what type of creatures were attacking the Lady, what damage was done to the other ship if any. More than likely though as the other officers arrived they would get the information first as they took over their duties on the ship. That was fine by Variel as it followed the command structure just fine.
There was a lot to do and Variel nodded in agreement to what Flynn, Adular and Dhaavan were suggesting. Drinks for the crew, morale boost for them as well, prayers and respect for any fallen, triage for the wounded, etc. These were pirates and knew their job and Variel trusted the officers to act accordingly.
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At mention of setting sail in the morning Variel holds off reserving and answer till he knew more of what the extent of damage and casualties were and damage to the other ship. To the officers though he gives his immediate thoughts. Pacing as he talks, I would love to sail after those scum and wipe them off the face of Golarion. Yet we would be remiss if we left Lady Agasta weakened with damaged fortifications that would allow another raid to take the Rock. Once we know that she is safe, and the Rock as well, so that Dhaavan can accompany us then we can think about going after those bastards. We must make certain as well that we have provisions for a long trip if it takes us a while to find them. We may not be back here in a safe harbor for a while.
There may be no connection at all to Mancatcher Cove and where they are headed. Regardless if we are near the area that Jiro mentioned then we must also have provision for a lengthy search for the treasure. I do not want to rush out for revenge and lose ourselves. We must think with clear heads and not let our passions rule us right now. the time for revenge and anger will come though when we find them that did this.
I would love to sail after those scum and wipe them off the face of Golarion. Yet we would be remiss if we left Lady Agasta weakened with damaged fortifications that would allow another raid to take the Rock. Once we know that she is safe, and the Rock as well, so that Dhaavan can accompany us then we can think about going after those bastards. We must make certain as well that we have provisions for a long trip if it takes us a while to find them. We may not be back here in a safe harbor for a while.
Horatio nods a little.
"I sent Piper out to check the fortifications and the lie of The Lady. She's a damn good carpenter and tinker and I figure she'll be giving us the straight tip on conditions pretty soon," he responds.
There may be no connection at all to Mancatcher Cove and where they are headed. Regardless if we are near the area that Jiro mentioned then we must also have provision for a lengthy search for the treasure. I do not want to rush out for revenge and lose ourselves. We must think with clear heads and not let our passions rule us right now. the time for revenge and anger will come though when we find them that did this.
He thinks a moment.
"So what's the plan, then? I mean - you want go after the pirates first and take them out directly and then see what's up? Or do you want to go for the treasure first? Or do you want to try to do both?" he asks, curious to know if they'll go after one, then head back to The Rock, and if so - which one? Or if they'll try to do both on the same voyage; in any case, the nature of the mission will likely effect what type of gear and equipment he'll want to pack.
"Also, you got any knowing on the whole Kelroot thing, or this "Deep Platinum" amulet that Dhaavan... er His Excellency, mentioned?" he says with a nod to Dhaavan.
"Cap'n, not sure what supplies we can take on here. We can't leave them without their own source of food, though fresh water shouldn't be an issue with all our casters. I'll get on the food issue right away though."
Once the officer's meeting is over, he starts by going below to assess any damage to the stores and how much food and fresh water is already on board the ship... After totting up the stores, he goes ashore and inquires as to what is available for the Lady to acquire for the journey to catch that ship and find the island on the map.
When he's sure of what is available vs what the ship currently has on board, he makes an assessment of how much more stores the Lady needs and has them onloaded.