Shards of the Titanswar

Game Master EldonG

Nia'Nikta would look at the others and even though her waterskin was full of the blessed water she would to to the shore and drink from there. This would be for those that needed it when they needed it.

As Aya worked, she would get to know the ship captain and his crew looking to get the boat ready to head back to the dock. Also, she was making friends.

"So Captain, any interesting stories I should hear about your travels. I love new stories."

Nia was worried about the town with the fact they had been gone a while but that couldn't be helped.

Ah - not a whole lot. I just take the boat up and down the river, usually, an' out to a ship. Sometimes it's loads to the ship, an' sometimes to the village - usually during the festival, it's loads out to ships, 'course. That's when I make my money. This year weren't so good, though. I hear strange stuff happened a lot.

The boat captain answers between bites, as he starts reloading the now better-than-ever riverboat.

Now - them sailors got int'restin' tales to tell. They tells of pirates, out near Torpin Island. They say there's some bad 'uns out yonder. Some even thinks they's allied with sea beasts, or somesuch. There's sure plenty o' wrecks out that ways.

The captain finishes loading up, and turns to everyone.

Are...are you fine folk ready to go?

Yes. and Aya loads herself and gear on the boat.

Nala rolls the cask she made towards the ship. "I may need assistance in putting this on the boat. Any ropes would likewise be of value. I am curious to see what effect the pure water will have crops, in addition to us." she says to no one in particular. "We should be careful not to overexpose the outside world; giant insects are the last thing farmers need to worry about."

"Sadly." Sakuro moped, boarding the vessel. One day, though - one day, she WOULD get to the bottom of this, gosh darnit! It was too interesting to leave unresolved! ...And she may have been juuuuuust a bit crazy about all of this.

Antonio pitched in to help Nala with her cask.

A point I'd like to clarify - Detect Magic always shows minor magical background noise - the world is a magical place - but any experienced practitioner of magic learns to weed out the ambient magic, and find the specific stuff. The island's ambient background noise is very high - and though it gives you no specifics, it does tell you that magic is a powerful part of the nature of the place.

Ok, loaded up, the captain and crew push the little craft back into the lake, and wait for all to board before making for Lakeroot.

They seem pretty happy to go, at this point.

Antonio broadjumped aboard and hung onto the ratlines as he peered into the waters ahead of the ship.
"Ah, we're moving again!" He said with satisfaction.

Nala calmly and quietly climbs aboard, then looks back to the island, watching it as they leave.

"Goodbye, fair island - we hardly knew ye."

She... seemed rather regretful to be leaving the place (it was magic), but they didn't really have a choice at the moment, since the stupid place had managed to thwart their efforts.

Your arrival back in Lakeroot is quiet, but within moments, the children see you, and come running to welcome the little village's heroes home. The adults follow suit, albeit more slowly - but it still doesn't take long before a number have gathered, questions flying.

I heard you kilt a huge monster! Izzit true?

How do ya fight sumpin what's ya can't see?

People been sayin' y'all went to that island where everybody dies. Was there some kinda monster? Didja kill it, too?

- and from a small child:

Hey! You're an elf, ain't ya?

"Perhaps you could show me to the location of the abomination you mentioned?" Nala asked, ignoring the children as she began to unload her cargo. They weren't there for her, anyway. "We should find a way to destroy it, if possible."

"We would have to talk to the farmers. They may have moved it." She tells Nala quietly and would move forward towards the children with a warm smile.

"Hi there. Yes, we did kill a big monster, as for how we could fight it. You see that beautiful young woman over there. Her name is Sakuro and she cast magic that helped us see part of it so we could fight it. Then as it tried to grab at everyone she made them all greasy so it couldn't hold on. Aya, used her magic to confound the great beast and keep it distracted. Baldek, Antonio, and Auric fought bravely. Baldek with his Axe and powerful dwarven rage, Antonio with his Rapier and quick wit, and Auric with his Greatsword and his god's power. Reiko here grew as big as the monster itself and fought it also. But, we did lose a friend in that fight. Our Friend Alyra died when the monster got so angry at her healing us that it attacked her with everything it had. But the Monster didn't know the power our friend had. So with her dying breath she healed all of us completely and gave us the power to kill the creature. She was very powerful. I will miss her greatly."

She smiled at each of them and at the question about the Island. "We did go to an island. It had a large octopus gaurding it. As big as a horse! It tried climbing onto our boat but everyone fought it off. The brave captain of the ship was even able to get the damaged ship all the way to the island. Then we ran into a giant crab! It was as big as the octopus. With big giant claws! We fought it too and defeated it. We found this young woman on the island. Her name is Nala. Everyone, say hi to Nala." Once that was done she continued. "Then we explored the island while the captain and his crew worked on the ship and cooked up the crab. We came back after the ship got fixed up."

Looking around she would see if she could spot some of the farmers that had said they would deal with the body of the great beast.

I heard you kilt a huge monster! Izzit true?

"Oh yes indeed we did! It was HUGE, slobbering, with tentacles! And FANGS!" Antonio said cheerily.

How do ya fight sumpin what's ya can't see?

"Easy enough!" Antonio bragged. "We just threw stuff at it we COULD see!"

People been sayin' y'all went to that island where everybody dies. Was there some kinda monster? Didja kill it, too?

"We did! And there was! A big, HUGE one! We did slay the creature, or knocked it over, maybe both..." Said Antonio, thinking back.

The little crowd acts as your escort to wherever you're headed. There are plenty of 'oohs' and 'ahs' as the stories get told, and you also get presented with small gifts of food and drink.

What are the plans, now?

Herding everyone into the tavern to a table just for them, Antonio ordered a drink and a bite to eat for everyone.
"Alright, my proposal stands;" He said, drinking deep from his mug of Ale. "We make for the ancient monastary and investigate it."

Nala wanted to make sure the creature we fought is disposed of. So, let's go check that out. Then possibly we can head to the monastery where we thought the scary mists were coming out of? What are other people's thoughts.

Nia would accept the food and water happily wanting to go check on her horse but also asked the villagers where the beast's body had been moved to/had it been destroyed.

"Sounds good to me." Sakuro said, nodding at Antonio. At the very least, they'd been unable to do what she wanted - and she wasn't selfish enough to deny others' desires just for her own sake, no matter how much she loved her magic. You had to limit yourself to what you could truly do.

Once interest is expressed in the remains of the great monster - the story gets told.

I was one of the bunch that volunteered ta clean that mess up, but, truth be told, by the time we had shovels in our hands, there weren't nothin' left but a giant stain on the ground, where all the plants done died, and some nasty ichor, what settled into the dirt even as we tried scraping it off. There ain't much to see.

With that, farmer Gotson drinks, a weary expression on his face.

By the by, I'm sellin' the farm. What with only me and Miriam left, I just can't keep up with the duties - and she's done run off, too. She's a good girl, but she's always been prone ta doin' a bit of wanderin'.

Farmer Gotson raises the mug again, but stops halfway.

I really wanna thank you fine folk again. Without your help, she wouldn't even be anywhere, anymore, except a hole in the ground, upslope.

Antonio choked on his ale.
"Ran off? Do you know where? Did she leave a note?" He asked worriedly.

Her aunt said she said somethin' about taking charge of her own life, an' not bein' a burden. Said she was gonna make it on her own. I figure she'll be back in a few days - 'course, she'll always be welcome - but I'm gonna move into the village, here, get a room at the inn. Too many memories.

With that, the old man slugs down his ale, and heads to the bar for the next one.

Reiko just spends his time meditating, and preparing himself to explore the monastery.

Antonio sank back down into his seat.
"Well, hell. I hope she's Ok." He said worriedly.

Once again, you guys do have time, if you take it. The festival is still going on, and you have people offering all sorts of minor gifts - you are the heroes of the village - but should you wish to take time alone to do what ever preparations you want - for a day or even a week or more, you can, and with very little interruption. Let me know how you guys want to do it, and I'll pick it up there. :)

Sorry for the Delay, haven't been inspired to post, then had to go to the hospital with my mom yesterday. She'll be there for a few days, and I'll be visiting.

Nala seemed significantly withdrawn from the larger crowds of people, preferring smaller groups for company, if groups were even necessary at all. For now she seemed happy to simply study the short term effects of the life water when fed directly to a smaller berry bush Assuming she can find one that is in season.

As long as the group was staying in town, she'd not use the water on herself; there was little purpose; she could simply prepare what was needed the next day.

Nia would nod to Farmer Gotson. "I am glad the group could help. We will keep an eye out for her in our travels." She tried to comfort Farmer Gotson how she could, but she knew the events that transpired would forever be inscribed in his mind.

Checking on her horse she would give him a good rub down talking with him of her adventure. Nia would also purchase another couple of waterskins so she could have regular water with her. To her, there was no need to drink the water. It was better used for the others. The next day after the rest and purchase she would go to everyone.

"Do you wish to enjoy the festival or should we continue our investigation?"

Antonio raised his glass.
"I move we should sing, dance and drink to excess tonight!
"Tomorrow, we get up at the crack of noon, drink our lunch, and continue our quest to the monastary!
"Who's with me?" He said enthusiastically.

Nala listened to Antonio as he made his suggestions, one brow lofted... then shook her head and headed back outside to spend her night amongst the stars. She had much better things to do than get drunk and then wish she had been sober the next day.

You all have different ideas on how to spend the night, and that's fine.

Antonio discovers that he never has to buy a drink unless he wants to - though it's not usually the best the house has to offer, as it's mostly coming from farmers; Nala finds a quiet clearing among the trees at the edge of the stream that was actually untouched by the bizarre horror's earlier rampage, and the slowly sinking sun grants her peace; while Nia finds that her telling of the story of the heroes' exploits incredibly popular, and already out of proportion; and Reiko finds a quiet spot on the back porch where the party just doesn't seem to reach, for serene meditations. What goes on inside - his thoughts - only he knows.

Everyone else has their idea of the right way to spend their time, and there's not much to stand in the way of that.

The next day brings the group together again, as they decide.

I make the assumption that you're all meeting up for a trip to the monastery?

Yep. Meet at the common room, pick up food and drink to go.
Then; we ride!

Or walk, as the case may be.

Meeting in the common room brings the attention of a friend.

If yer gonna head out ta that abandoned monastery...I ain't gonna try ta scare ya off...but...yer gonna need a boat. It's stuck out in the water, ya know.

The sheriff looks over the group, then loads his pipe.

Ain't nobody been there in ages, far as I know. Supposed ta be real haunted.

Antonio groaned.
"More boat travel?"

"Well, as long as I don't have to keep summoning dolphins." Sakuro muttered, though a small part of her hoped she actually would be doing that at some point. Dolphins were fun - and not just when they were magic dolphins, either.

"You intend to travel to a partially submerged ruin?" Nala says, looking from person to person. "What sort of preparations have you made for this journey?"

The sheriff nods, looking Nala over.

They been talkin' 'bout it fer a few days now, at any rate. I ain't been over that way since I was a kid.

"Stuck out in the water as in on an island or half submerged? I will have to keep my horse stabled it seems for longer. As for preperation there isn't much I can do. Unless we can get items to help. What do you suggest? Also Sheriff what do you know about the monastery?"

The sheriff takes a deep draw on his pipe, then answers.

Half submerged, at least. It sank - a judgement o' the gods, they say. It's a place where evil festered, long ago. It was a holy place, at one time. Protected folks fer miles around. Then - somethin' bad happened, and - I dunno.

The sheriff turns toward the bar, and signals for another ale.

"I do not know, honestly. More capable members of my order would be able to navigate a submerged temple through magic, but there are limits to what we can likely find. I,for one, have little in the way of money. Significant investments would assuredly make things easier, though."

Antonio shook his head.
"I don't think we can get anything that could give us the ability to breathe underwater, and we are cash poor anyway. Let's just go out there and find out if we NEED something like that. Way I hear it, its only partially submerged." He said, taking a drink.

"It is a festival, a market festival at that. I will go ask around and see if they have something just in case we need it. But we should go investigate. That mist came from there as far as we can tell. I don't want it revisiting the town again if I can help it. If someone is good with research maybe we can find hints in the library. So, who want's to shop and who want's to do research? I am decent at both."

Nia smiles at the others and would wait to hear what they had to say. She had some money but she was still frugal.

"The only thing I can think of that would be of use are additional waterskins such that we may fill them with air to breathe if we need to pass through an unknown amount of water." she shrugs a little, not offering to do either; she was good at neither.

Nearby, Sakuro was quietly staring at a book held in her hands - a difficult, complicated expression on her face. "I'll do research." she said, clearly listening to the others even if she did seem distracted. "Where is that library, anyway?"

Nala was very much more a do'er than a talker. Unfortunately, there was little that fell within her realm of expertise just now. On the other hand, she could make herself useful; she decided to head to the local church to inquire about the spirits that had plagued the town recently and anything that the priest might know about dealing with such things.

"The library is above the tavern I believe. You can ask the sheriff to be certain. Thank you Sakuro. Hopefully you can find something useful."

Nia'Nikta saw no one else speak up so she would head out to go see what the festival offered in the way of water breathing, or swimming aids. Asking around with the locals and the merchants.

While it was tempting to drink the water and make her presence more likable she refrained. That wouldn't be a good thing in her eyes. If she couldn't do it as herself that what sort of story teller would she be. The power of the water should only be used by the hero's she traveled with.

Diplomacy(Gather Information): 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (13) + 16 = 29

FIXED