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As the Grinning Pixie lurches and sways in the storm, Venture- Captain Calisro Benarry of the Arcadian Mariner’s Lodge grins widely as she slides a clay jug of strong Sargavan rum across her table. Though broad-shouldered and half a head taller than most humans, the intimidating half-orc speaks with an almost childlike excitement in her husky voice. “My apologies for all the secrecy,” she says. “I had to make sure some pirate rascal didn’t catch wind of our mission. Now that Drenchport’s a week behind us and we’re hugging the Eye of Abendego, it’s time to give you lubbers the full run-down.”
Benarry waits for the jug to make its way back to her, then takes a long swig. “I mentioned in Drenchport that the Society wants you to explore a recently discovered ruin somewhere north of the Shackles. Well, that was partly true, but it wasn’t exactly the whole story.” Benarry’s eyes narrow and her grin becomes unsettlingly sharklike. “We’re actually sending you to the Gloomspires, to Old Sevenfingers’s tomb.” Chuckling softly, she slides the jug back across the table. “Here, have another nip. Looks like you need it.”
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Sitting on a barrel so to see over the table, the 3ft halfling Marra grins as she takes a swig from the jug passing it on to the next.
Eye wide with excitement "You've found Sevenfinger's tomb! As kids we played pirate raider games and Old Seven was the scariest."
-Posted with Wayfinder
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A young woman of otherworldly looks stands in the room, her gaze lost in the vague as if she was contemplating something invisible to the eye. She doesn't acknowledge your presence at once. Her physical appearance is weird to say the least. Despite her typical Varisian traits, her skin is ebony black. Her hair is medium-length and white with purple shades and wisps of longer hair. Yet the strangest thing about her is her eyes - purple iris surrounded in pure black. The young woman's clothes are Varisian in style, despite a few Mwangi lucky charms around her neck or wrist. A small dinosaur can be spotted in the folds of her kapenia scarf, curious and much more wary of the surroundings than her mistress.
She abstains from consuming any alcohol, and reflects on the Venture-Captain's words.
Sempet Sevenfingers was a legendary pirate who was active in the region 300 years ago. From his dreaded flagship, the Voracious, Sevenfingers commanded a small fleet of pirate ships. He was feared and despised for using cannibals and madmen to augment his boarding parties.
The Gloomspires are an ancient field of massive stone columns that rise from the Arcadian Ocean. Most sages say they were already old when the Ghol-Gan Empire was young. The Gloomspires are hollow and contain many chambers and passages, all of which are
believed to be cursed, monster-infested, or both.
“I’ve been researching the Gloomspires for a very long time. Before I sailed to Absalom and joined the Society, I was a Free Captain here in the Shackles. Back then I learned about the Gloomspires, Old Sevenfingers, and all the treasure and secrets the old devil took with him when he sealed himself in his tomb.”
A long, rumbling growl of thunder makes Benarry pause, and she takes the opportunity to wet her lips with another swig of rum before she continues. “Since joining the Society, I’ve been able to learn even more about the Gloomspires. Most importantly, I’ve discovered that they’re tied to certain alignments of the stars, and that twice each year—beginning on the nights of the summer and winter solstices—the columns cease moving for exactly three days.
“So, tomorrow’s the summer solstice. Now that you know the ‘where’ and the ‘when’ of this little caper, you need to know why the Society’s sending you.” Benarry pauses before continuing in a more conspiratorial voice.
“I recently came into the possession of a logbook once owned by the pirate captain, Mazzer Thrennt. Before Thrennt ended up as lusca-bait seven years back, he was a moderately successful pirate who shared my obsession with the Gloomspires. It turns out his log contains an inventory of the plunder he liberated over the years, including the loot he found in Sevenfingers’s tomb. One item on Thrennt’s list immediately got my attention: His log described with perfect accuracy a relic from lost Lirgen called the Orb of Stars. I’m certain that this device can manipulate the alignments of the stars—or at least how we perceive them— and historical accounts suggest we could also use it to trick the Gloomspires into thinking that the solstice lasts more than just a day. The Society and I both want that orb, and it’s going to look really good to the folks back home if you’re able to secure it. Here,” she says, passing a sheet of parchment across the table, “I’ve written down some of the particulars.”
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Without introducing herself, the wizardess proceeds to giving an impromptu lesson regarding the Gloomspires and Sevenfingers.
"Interesting. The Gloomspires are described as ancient stone columns rising from the Arcadian Ocean. Scholars usually date them way before the fallen cyclops empire of Ghol-Gan. These columns are said to be hollow, and to be cursed as well as overrun by monsters. As for Sempet Sevenfingers, he was a pirate of legend from 300 years ago. His flagship was "The Voracious" but he commanded many vessels, and used Groetus-touched men and cannibals as his crew. Fierce they were indeed, if the records are to be trusted."
She then listens to Benarry with great interest, and inspects the parchment.
"A few questions, if you please. Do we need this star alignment to open the sealed tomb? If so, shall we remain trapped if we stay there more than one day? If the case arose, would the recovery of the Orb of Stars allow to free us?"
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Castien takes a small swig from the captain's flask, then turns red-faced as a fit of coughing takes him. He passes the flask to the next in line.
As the information flows from the captain, he tries to absorb as much as he can, and lets the others ask their questions so as not to distract them with his stutter.
It seems like the Orb of stars can lock the Gloomspires in place long enough for us to study the site properly. The spires stop moving for three days, so you do have more than one day to finish your business even if you do not find the Orb.
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Though the woman looks a typical example of a beauty from the frozen north, the pale blue tinge to her skin and a hard to place feeling of 'otherness', about her suggests an unearthly heritage - she seems somewhat glacial. Despite her well groomed and polished presentation, scars and bruises are still visible, and her athletic build does nothing to hide her obvious calling as a martial practitioner.
Her breastplate, gauntlets, and greaves are of blackened steel and highly decorated with tiny imps worked into the metal - closer inspection notes the Imps wings are all razor sharp. Her jerkin bears the red and black of Cheliax, and her cloak secured by a brooch pin bearing the insignia of an infernal eye looking out of swirling portal.
In her hand she holds a silver wayfinder bearing the image of a dragon, and she looks into it absentmindedly as she takes bearings from time to time as the others speak, looking up to take the jug and have her swig.
"Why do I get the feeling that I'll be stabbing some centuries old undead pirate in the face before this errand is over" she takes one more swig from the jug then passes it one.
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Adrianna also passed on the rum, adhering to her strict diet of plant-based foods and water. Although the rest of the crew teased her about eating the goat food, she had been on this regiment for so long that eating meat actually made her ill. "So we are to find this tomb, the Orb, and whatever else we can find, recording or bringing out as much as we can, and trying not to die or destroy the world...does that about sum it up? Sounds like my kind of mission!"
She wears light brown and white monk robes - loose fitting to allow maximum movement and yet covering almost all of her young body. She is a young human female - barely into adulthood. And yet there is a sense of purpose, or perhaps destiny, about her.
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Bright golden-haired gnome ran into tavern. He took a cautious look behind him as he was closing the door, as if he was expecting someone may actually follow him. Then he took out crumpled piece of paper and run through lines, comparing to parties he saw around tables. As he found one, he was looking, he satisfied, pick up his human-size spear and joined others.
"Oh, sorry, I'm Maeglin and I am late... ", he took a big gulp out of mug, and then suddenly his face became red and eyes went out. It took him couple of moments to regain back his breath and he continued, "My friend Ariward is busy, learning some stupid legal things and he asked me to travel with you and bring some blessing of Shelyn upon your heads."
He looked around and noded Svetlana.
"And this one is for you, specially", Maeglin brought a single red rose out of his scroll case. It was wrapped in thin sheet of parchment depicting merchant scales, hanging on a golden chain. like this
"So, for new journey!", gnome took a gentle sip and passed cup further.
After two more days of sailing, a dense fog appears on the horizon, and soon engulfs the ship. Tall, dark shapes can be faintly discerned as rising from the water, gigantic spires. The fog seems to play tricks on the senses - there are strange sounds, scents and even tastes teasing the adventurers, shadows seem to move the wrong way, and the light of lanterns just seems to go where it pleases.
The ship finally halts at the base of a spire, where a narrow staircase leads up.
t takes nearly two hours to climb the narrow, winding steps to the summit of the great stone column containing Sevenfingers’s tomb. Although the swirling chaos of the Eye of Abendego lies only a hundred miles away to the east, the violent storms it constantly hurls across the seas seem to have forgotten this eerily quiet place. Surrounding the monolith are dozens of nearly identical columns, their ominous outlines stretching down into the mist. And here, atop Sevenfingers’s tomb, is a small clearing surrounded by a thick and utterly silent veil of tropical trees, hanging vines, and thick undergrowth, all shrouded in fog.
A lush canopy of tropical trees, flowering vines, and thick undergrowth forms a dark green wall around a small clearing. A broad trail cuts through the foliage and vanishes into the mists to the northwest. To the south and east is the edge of the column, and a sheer five hundred-foot drop. The ground here is a soggy carpet of thick green moss and black soil.
The plants here have been stripped of all edible fruits and seeds.
Somewhat hidden away are the remains of a weeks- old campfire that contains the charred skull and bone fragments of a humanoid. All of the bones show signs of gnawing.
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Clearing the last few steps, Marra complains "Why is it they always make the steps for larger people! Should have taken into account that halflings like to explore tombs too!"
Marra surveys the surroundings, nodding at the campfire remains pointed out by Svetlanas, adding "A few weeks old. Looks like whoever it is have stripped the plants of anything edible. So, keep your eyes open for Cannibal pirates who like flesh with side order of salad." the halfling finishing with a grin.
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"It appears you are correct in your observations, Marra. Well done." says Ouroboreia with a kind but weirdly unemphatic tone. The wizardess gaze at their surroundings, her purple eyes trying to pierce the area's mysteries. She shakes her head. "Agreed, we'd better prepare for company."
She takes out an ebony wand from her magical haversack, uses it on herself, offers Adrianna to cast it on her, then sets it in one of her spring-loaded wrist sheaths.
Looking carefully, Adrianna also finds humanoid tracks leading along a thin trail to the north.
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"Marra, I also hate when they do long stairs like this.", said Maeglin.
As they reach campfire, he looks with an interest, but recognising humanoid skull grins with disgust.
"Sorry, friends, I think I'd like to have my mythical friend besides me, when we meet some trouble." He started chanting and drawing some symbols with a spear.
"Dear Gorazio! Hear my call in the deeper darkness, where you fight your eternal battle with all the servants of evil and cruelty", as he was speaking a glowing symbol appeared on his forehead, looking like wild rose, whose stem with torns went under gnome's hair, "and come to our world to assist me in my trouble. I offer you this spear to take and bring to this world truth and...", the air thinned and through it, somewhere from outside planes, a human-like figure with same glowing symbol on her head appeared saying more to himself, than to someone else: "Good!"
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"Good!", said Gorazio.
As a part of ritual he took a spear from Maeglin and bowed his head.
"Friends?", he asked looking around.
"Yes, friends,", quickly answered Maeglin, "but there are cannibal pirates nearby."
Gorazio looked around with disgust and asked "My armour?"
Maeglin brings out wand and cast a spell
A clearing is shrouded in shadows thanks to the thick jungle canopy overhead. A dozen makeshift beds of leaves and palm fronds surround a sickly campfire that barely manages to keep smoldering in the humid air. A few splintered bones and cloven skulls litter the clearing, and all show signs of being gnawed upon.
Eight figures sit around the campfire: a savage and menacing-looking leader, a single man that sits motionless, as if in a seance, and six more men that gather up as soon as they spot the adventurers.
These men are fatigued and underfed, except for their leader
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Castien
Gorazio
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Cannibal Medium
Cannibal
Cannibal
Cannibal
Cannibal
Cannibal
Cannibal
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Maeglin
Svetlana
Ouro
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Cannibal Leader
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Marra
Castien fills the area with a thick smoke, causing all of the cannibals to disappear from view.
--
Castien
Gorazio
---
Cannibal Medium
Cannibal
Cannibal
Cannibal
Cannibal
Cannibal
Cannibal
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Maeglin
Svetlana
Ouro
Adrianna <-- (edit) --- she is now
---
Cannibal Leader
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Marra
The entranced cannibal unleashes a savage, inhuman shriek, and the other men seem to be under the sway of this supernatural sitting individual. Blinded by the smoke, they stumble around, until one of them emerges from the smoke, letting out a primal grunt as it charges up to Gorazio.
--
Maeglin
Svetlana
Ouro
Adrianna
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Cannibal Leader
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Marra
Castien
Gorazio
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Cannibal Medium
Cannibal
Cannibal
Cannibal
Cannibal
Cannibal
Cannibal
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Ouroboreia greases the floor, and the two cannibal lose their footing. Svetlana makes short work of both them in two brutal strike, crushing the windpipe of the first, and piercing the chest of the second, all under the encouragement of Maeglin and the watchful, amazed, eyes of Adrianna.
The leader casts a spell, and surrounds himself with a magical shield of chaotic hues.
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Marra
Castien
Gorazio
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Cannibal Medium
Cannibal - Dead
Cannibal - Dead
Cannibal
Cannibal
Cannibal
Cannibal
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Maeglin
Svetlana
Ouro
Adrianna
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Cannibal Leader
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Charging her weapon with arcane power, Marra starts a battle dance weaving her scimitar in deadly arcs as she swings about waiting for a for to approach.
5ft shift and attack
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