Kyson backs away from the water, even looking for a rock or boulder to climb atop.
I've heard of 'jumping the shark' but that don't make a lick of sense here...maybe they mean that 'sharks can jump'. I better get away from the water.
You can all eventually make out forms moving in the water, though you can't see exactly what they are. Initially four of them, before two more seemed to show up from the southeast, they seem to be patrolling the shoreline.
"Careful," your prisoner warns, "they're smart and nasty-vicious. Rowyn made some deal with them. They're called exactls, or something like that.
At the prisoner's description of exactls, Kyson hurriedly tries to climb the rock again.
Climb check
"If she can bribe them, so can we. What did she offer them, mate?"
"I think she gives them some coin every month, plus lets them have anything in any ships they bring down for us."
"H'mmm"
Sekathral ponders for a moment, then makes a decision.
"Well, if they're sea creatures, they'll speak Aquan. I'll go and see what'll make 'em b*gger off for a bit"
Sekathral walks to within speaking distance, then speaks to the creatures in Aquan.
One of the creatures quickly responds to Sekathral's entreaty.
"Strange, another two-legs who knows how to speak," it responds. "We have an agreement with the redhead two-legs, but a gift might distract us enough that we would not notice someone in the water in this cave."
Kyson looks at Sekathral as it sounds like he's drowning in air.
Silvio, having missed the start of the conversation, looks bemused at Sekathral. "Is he talking to the fishes?"
** spoiler omitted **
Watching from the shore, Khaz wraps her arms around herself in worry. "Is he supposed to sound like that? "
We will take coins, but we would prefer magic items. Something ... suitable ... to the favor you request.
Sekathral walks back to the rest of the group.
"Right, me buckos. They'd like a magic item off us, preferably - something suitable for a bunch of... whatever you said they were... who want to be persuaded to look the other way. We've got the rapier and matey's disappearing chain shirt - what else've we got?"
He takes a large swallow of rum. "Besmara's salty breeches, I'm more phlegm than elf at the moment."
"I'd sooner knock their heads then pay a toll to that lot," Dargon complains.
"You were talking to the fishes!" Silvio exclaims and gives the rogue a hearty slap on the back. "You are a crafty fellow, my friend! Should you ever need a recommendation you need but ask and Silvio will endorse you wholeheartedly! Silvio's word carries alot of weight, you know. Just look at the at the captain Vark who Silvio bested at sword point and was sent fleeing from his own ship. Have you heard of him lately? No! He has become but a peasant in Silvio's shadow!"
"Ta, mate"
Sekathral rummages around in the sash around his waist and takes out the invisibility potion Zstelian handed him earlier.
"I wonder..."
He walks back to the sea-beasts, holding the potion out.
He demonstrates the potion by shaking out a drop onto his fingertip and holding the vanishing digit out to them
"Very well, we shall accept your gift. Please feel free to explore this cavern."
Sekathral wades/swims over to the gate and opens it warily, scanning the scene beyond it as he does so.
The sea creatures swim rapidly around you as you swim to the gate. It opens inward, revealing an egress out into the waterways of Eleder, which would eventually lead to the harbor.
As you turn back to return to shore, the creatures block your way.
Land-dweller, we let you go to the gate. Now you must give us your promised gift if you wish to return.
Sekathral gives them the potion.
Silvio moves his hand to the hilt of his sword and steps up to the water's edge. "Are they giving you trouble?" he calls out to Sekathral.
"Nah!", yells back Sekathral. "All a-tanto! There's nothing there but a f**k-load of dirty water, anyway, so are we heading back up?"
With the sea creatures seemingly pacified, you can quickly search the rest of the watery caverns, which appear to contain little more than more crabs and sea urchins. You think you've explored everything in the caverns, leaving you with a few captors, a scared kobold and various small creatures down here.
"So, the coward Vanderboren is nowhere to be found", Silvio finally says when the whole complex has been searched through. "Now we spring the thieves then find a bar to discuss our next course of action, yes? Silvio has developed a thirst."
"I give that as many votes as I have hairs on my arse, mate", replies Sekathral, ethusiastically. "Let's lug the swag back to port, then get three sheets to the wind. I make all my best decisions when p*ssed"
"I give that as many votes as I have hairs on my arse, mate", replies Sekathral, ethusiastically. "Let's lug the swag back to port, then get three sheets to the wind. I make all my best decisions when p*ssed"
"Yes, let's. Some decent food, a drink or two, and a good night's rest sound like just the thing to help sharpen our minds."
Kyson happily leaves, hopeful of seeing the sun again.
"Yeah, food is good too. And sleep. Definitely sleep," Kyson says wearily as if he had been up for 4 days straight.
"Put 'em all on da elf's tab!" Dargon jests to the barkeep as he walks back to the tab with a full mug in each hand.
Dargon moves to sit down with the rest of his friends downing the first mug before he's even completely seated. "We should check on da Vanderboren girl..."
"Put 'em all on da elf's tab!"
"A tab? I've got a tab?!" Eyes gleaming with delight, the elf cackles maniacally and scuttles off to the bar. Moments later, disillusioned and very much deflated, he returns to his companions.
"We've been led up the f**king garden path all along, mates. I reckon he's been hiding in the background laughing himself silly watching us pelt about all over Eleder looking for him. It's bloody odd that he wasn't down in that sodding flea-pit down there and that everybody we spoke to said he hadn't been there for ages. Dargon's got the right idea - let's ask the Lady. She might have some other ideas."
"We should show the lady Vanderboren the map the reptiles had. The one with the pins on", Silvio suggests with abit of a slurred speech.
Kyson refrains from the drinking...too tired to attempt carousing.
Before returning to his room, he will pose the question: "Maybe we should meet at the Lady's estate at noon tomorrow? I might even be able to sell some of our useless gear by then."
As you celebrate, Zstelian, you begin to feel hotter and hotter, as if you're burning up. You feel weak and stiff, as if your muscles were simply not working right.
Zstelian shifts uncomfortably in his armor and coughs.
"I might need a few day's rest. I'm not feeling so well", the Varisian warns.
"You don't sound so well, either." Khaz frowns a little, positioning her scarf over her face to protect her from any ill humours Ztelian might be shedding.
"perhaps we should get you to a temple or something?" Kyson hadn't looked so well either, she remembers, but she'd just thought him wilted from lack of light.
Dargon looks Zstelian over, not noticing anything wrong with the old man he blurts out "Ur fine, ya need another round is all."
"Yes, you do look abit pale", Silvio agrees. "Perhaps you should be careful with that ferret that you run around with. You never know what things they can catch. Tell you what, you go and rest and Silvio will ask around and find out what there is to find out about the coward Vanderboren!"
The chelaxian rises to his feet and adresses the whole bar. "It has been a fine evening and you are all lovely people but the time has come for Silvio to depart", he announces, bows gracefully and walks out to the street. Silvio spends the rest of what time remains before nightfall to walk the streets trying to pick up gossip.
Kyson arises in the morning early not just to pray and thank Sarenrae for her gifts, but also for his own need to see the sun again.
Being inside too long makes me sad...unless I'm reading or copying books. Then it's okay.
After praying, Kyson will spend most of the morning sorting through the goods and loots from the latest expedition.
"It's not that bad. I just need a few days bed rest", the Varisian denies as he coughs and clears his throat again.
Sekathral will spend the rest of the evening (and following morning) wallowing in debauchery, finishing off with a fight and a (possibly voluntary) dip in the nearest body of clean-ish water.
Sekathral, you think Zstelian might be suffering from filth fever, something you can probably help him with.
To treat a disease means to tend to a single diseased character. Every time the diseased character makes a saving throw against disease effects, you make a Heal check. If your Heal check exceeds the DC of the disease, the character receives a +4 competence bonus on his saving throw against the disease.
Silvio, most of the people in the city seem to be getting ready for the Colonization Day festivals, which are apparently coming up in the near future.
Dated two days before the fire that killed the Vanderborens:
... My parents have grown soft. I'm not worried in the slightest that they suspect anything, my delicate flower. The fund you've trusted me with have been more than enough to pay off the local guards, the harbor watch, and the ship's crew to say nothing about the new cargo. Hell, they even offered to help load the barrels! Of course, I didn't tell them what was inside -- I'm sure they'd sing a different song if they knew just how much alchemist's fire we loaded into the hold of my father's new plaything. I'll be following the ship's progress for a few days to make sure the fire does the trick, so you'll not be seeing me for at least half a week. Keep your bed warm for me.
Dated three days after the fire:
... It's unbelievable! Sure, she's the eldest sibling, but she knows nothing of life! She spent the last half of her childhood learning how to fold napkins and play the violin for Hell's sake! It just goes to show you how insane my parents really were, leaving everything in her care like that! Whatever. She'll need the house to live off of, I suppose. Lavinia's not a bad lass, really ... I kniw of miss our time together, to tell the truth. Think she'd be interested in joining the Lotus? I doubt it. And anyway, a second Vanderboren tragedy might get too many people curious. No, for now, whatever's in the vault will have to do.
Dated two days ago:
... I really wish you could have been there, my little dragon, to see their faces before I closed the door! Lavinia's never going to get anywhere hiring folls like them. I wonder if they've found Penkus yet? I hope they didn't die too quickly.
In any case, on to the purpose of this letter. Brissa's in the other room, getting ready for a night out on the town, so I'll have to be quick. Remember that thing she hinted about to me? About the pirates who were supposedly using Kraken's Cove as a base for their smuggling operation? Turns out she wasn't spinning tales -- I've heard that they'll be arriving within the week with a particularly rich cargo. I'll bring her with me on the pretext of joining up with them, get their guard down, and when they're not expecting it, my men'll light the ships on fire! It'll be a simple task to pluck the treasure from the water once all those fools are dead. Should be more than enough to make up for what we lost when Lavinia inherited rather than me. I tell you ... burning people to death on their own boats? It's the best way to make money yet. Wish I'd thought of it years ago!
In his room, Kyson finishes sorting out the goods and loots from the latest adventure.
Kyson will memorize Detect Magic in the morning and cast it upon the unidentified armor, attempting to learn its properties.
Spellcraft
Oh well, I'll try again tomorrow. I'm sure I can figure this out.
Kyson will take some time to appraise:
Appraisal on 2 coffers full of jewelry*
Appraisal on alabaster statuette of a succubus*
Appraisal on onyx statuette of a strange cat-like creature with tentacles sprouting from its shoulders*
Appraisal on silver statuette of a rearing unicorn*
Appraisal on several stuffed stirges, cobras, mounstrous spiders and even what looks to be a giant shrew the size of a cat*
Kyson will thumb through the books as well. Appraisal
Sekathral will spend any downtime whooping it up in Eleder, joining the others at Lavinia's the next day (if he isn't in jail)