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 Recent Posts
Marwan looks at the overcrowded boat. "O Najm, Master of the rolling waves, grant us safe passage and easy winds as your faithful brave your father Krakis' realm." Marwan attempts to help get everything set.
The stiffness in Marwan's wounds make him a little clumsy and slow to respond to the small boat.
Marwan bows to Fazaam as he assists him in preparing the small craft for seaworthiness. "Although I fear that the leaden ill-formed ramblings of your humble servant can never approach the skill and erudition of a gentleman, I will endeavor to earn my place in your crew by concluding an acceptable resolution to our future discussions with our unmet boat-owning friend."
Marwan is still a bit groggy from his near-death experience, but he rallies to the cause. "Friend Yrar, that greasy son of a marmot would give you heartburn for days. I say we just give him a clean death if he will not divulge whatever nasty little secret he harbors. As the Book of the Navigator says, 'A boat that will not sail true risks the shoals with every voyage.' You sail perilously close to the shoals now friend Nebucs, and you have but one chance to see yourself safe into harbor." Marwan works a sharpening stone over his battered short sword as he makes his declaration to Nebucs.
The bluish liquid trickles down Marwan's throat. He stirs and coughs wetly, the ragged gashes on his back and face fading as the healing magic takes effect. "By the Navigator's Infallable Compass! It seems I have survived the attentions of that lout Ermosh!" He looks up at Ghari. "Thank you for reviving me, I am in your debt. Waht has happened? I thought I was headed for the Far Shore for certain that time."
The force of Ermosh's spiked chain hitting Marwan in the face staggers him, the light growing dim as the sounds of battle fade into the distance as if down a long hallway. Marwan feels light, as if his body was on strings like a marionette. His dimming mind sends out a last thought. "Steer me through the shoals in safety, O Navigator of the Seas of Fate." Suddenly, Marwan feels energy flowing through his body as Fudrick infuses him with divine power. The sounds and sights of battle return, and Marwan takes another slash at the jeering bully Ermosh, screaming curses as he thrusts. "Vile son of a cannibal and a syphillitic sow! May devils impale you with their barbed members you wretched spawn of Tellora!"
Ermosh's evilly-spiked chain whirls at Marwan, but with a speed that seems supernatural in such a thick man, Marwan avoids being struck. Grinning, Marwan slashes at Ermosh again, crying out as he does so, "Luck guide my arm true!"
Marwan sees with Fazaam's attack that the time for talking is over.
Calling out to the undecided crewmen: "You can follow this vile dog dropping to your deaths or take your destiny into your own hands!"
Taking but one more brief moment to flick his hair back, Fazaam says, loudly but calmly, "Or, I have a better idea 'Erwin'!" And steps boldly forward ... You can all come and work for ME!" He declares, grinning like he just found a treasure chest. Marwan sees the stakes are being raised and chimes in with Fazaam "Aye, Fazaam, I would rather sail under your colors than some mangy son of a sahaugin like Ermosh. I'm sure some of our other crewmates would as well." this last part addressed to the six crewmen. "Now we can sit here and fight each other, weakening our chances of survival, or we can join together under a true leader, not some scruffy bully boy who just wants to lead us into ruin!"
Marwan sees the stakes are being raised and chimes in with Fazaam "Aye, Fazaam, I would rather sail under your colors than some mangy son of a sahaugin like Ermosh. I'm sure some of our other crewmates would as well." "Now we can sit here and fight each other, weakening our chances of survival, or we can join together under a true leader, not some scruffy bully boy who just wants to lead us into ruin!"
"I want nothing less than to leave this island. I saw my three crewmates destroyed most foully by something which I have no interest in ever seeing again." Marwan shudders theatrically, his large frame quaking. "Now I have no love for you, my fine Ermosh, and I know you have no love for me, but if that hellspawn is taking over the Sea Harem we need to do something about it. And if Zerea is actually in leauge with that abomination, then we are all doomed." Marwan raises his voice in a theatrical moan. "DOOMED I SAY!"
Spot: 1d20+2=13, Listen: 1d20=11 Marwan cries out to the suspicious pirates "I have not been touched by those demon's tentacles, thank the Sultan of Serendipity for that! I am the sole survivor of our provisioning crew. Hassan, Mumtaz and Ibrahim were all foully murdered by some black sorceror and his demon minions." Marwan raises his hands over his head as he enters the clearing. "As the Great Navigator is my witness I am not tainted by the touch of those foul beings. What has gone on at the Sea Harem?"
Marwan nods at Fazaam "I believe that this is the best ploy my noble friends. If they are hostile, we can at least get closer to them. If they are fighting the hellspawn who have taken the Sea Harem, the Sea Gypsys have a wise saying, 'The enemy of my enemy is my friend.' As for bait, your humble servant you see before you can run like a hind and talk the very birds out of the trees. Please allow me to make first contact with these scruffy sea lice."
Marwan nods at the two. "Noble Fazaam I think perhaps deception is a way to figure out what is going on. I wonder whether the three n'eer-do-wells are surprised by the six crewmen on the shore. I think that they can be tricked easily, especially if the sailors on the beach are fleeing the hellspawn that we suspect boarded the Sea Harem." Marwan shudders "I would counsel that we approach them, but not running, rather as members of the crew. The others can stay hidden and watch. we can interrogate them about what is going on, and if they begin to act hostile our new friends here will be the ace in the hole."
Ghari says, "If we slay Ermosh and Jernash, the others may panic and flee or surrender, but I'm not sure, I couldn't see who it is. Nebuc is a coward. If we can isolate him, I'm sure he will surrender. Although we'll have to watch for a knife in the back. Only problem is the men on the beach may take the boat and fly to the Sea Harem. If Fazaam or I am so unfortunate as to be recognised and any word reaches the witch Temusa's life is not worth a fig."
Marwan nods at the two. "Noble Fazaam I think perhaps deception is a way to figure out what is going on. I wonder whether the three n'eer-do-wells are surprised by the six crewmen on the shore. I think that they can be tricked easily, especially if the sailors on the beach are fleeing the hellspawn that we suspect boarded the Sea Harem." Marwan shudders "I would counsel that we approach them, but not running, rather as members of the crew. The others can stay hidden and watch. we can interrogate them about what is going on, and if they begin to act hostile our new friends here will be the ace in the hole."
It would be well if we could beat them to the beach , but I think that unlikely. If we bide our time here for a bell or two and mark where they land, we may come upon them in the dark. That may be our best chance to speak a friendly sentry, or steal Temusa away by midnight raid." Marwan nods as Ghari speaks I agree with what you say, noble Ghari, but for one thing: I think we need to put some distance between us and that" Marwan points to the pillar of smoke from Roman's unfortunate playing with torches experiment. "Perhaps we can travel a bit away and keep them in sight as we go? Remember that we have others to worry about then just the sailors from the Sea Harem. We must be alert for those tentacled demon creatures. Everyone and everything on this island knows where we are right now."
Marwan squints into the glare of the water towards the distant ship "I fear that Najm is going to test us this day. Do you think we should try to meet with the fleeing boat?"
Marwan, still stunned by the events of the past hour, spares not a glance to the Sea Harem as it rides in the swells off the island.
"That's why it should be Fazaam and me. We're the fastest. Even if we're dragging Roman we should be able to catch you by the time you reach the beach. If we all go up the hill, Fudrick and Shulim aren't fast enough to avoid any .. hellspawn." Marwan sighs "As the Book of the Navigator says, 'Know when to trim your sails'. Go with Najm's blessings upon your noble brows, and may the Navigator chart a safe course for you until we meet again." Marwan gathers up whatever needs to be gathered and prepares to go with the others to the beach
Marwan pauses from his contemplation of the pillar of fire "My friend, there is not just the matter of Roman's continued existence. We have no idea what Hellspawn was released by the blast. We have no idea what Hellspawn is heading towards the blast from other areas. For now I say we all go together. Divided we will only be the weaker. We all go to find Roman"
Marwan hurries down the path as the hill erupts in fire behind him. Jinking and weaving, he manages to avoid the falling debris. "By Krakis' soggy pizzle! The surly water elf really went through with it! Friends, we must see if he is alive! Then we must flee! If there are demons about they will be swarming here. Not to mention the others in the urns! O Najm, turn not your face from your unworthy follower today!" Marwan gazes back at the explosion, judging when it would be possible to return safely to the site.
Marwan flexes and stretches, eager to work the kinks out of his spine from all the stooping and squinting at glyphs "If you would listen to such an unworthy as myself, I would echo my friend Fazaam and vote to return to the ship." Marwan's face assumes a wistful look "Although I am not immune to the lure of gold and silver,"Marwan glances at the pit "I would like to be somewhere where I am able to spend those riches. As the Book of the Navigator says, 'A man who tries to swim carrying a chest of gold is a drowned fool'. First things first. Let us secure the Sea Harem, then perhaps we shall have the time to explore this ruin further."
Marwan flits from arch to arch, and peers down the pit, squinting and muttering as he tries to dredge up his lessons in ancient scripts
"While I agree with my new diminutive friend here that we have something to fear with these demons, I believe the Navigator has set a challenging course for us for a reason. If not for the demons, may they be sent back to the blackest hell from which they crawled, Fazaam, Ghari and I would still be under the thumb of Zerea. This is our chance to fall upon two enemies while their forces are in disarray. " Marwan pauses to mop his brow in the early dawn humidity "But before we go further I would like to look around and see if there is anything my humble sailor's eye can learn about this site."
The last tale told of Temusa, was that she had been taken out of captivity and made to act as Zerea's handmaiden. Still alive but no longer beaten. "Ghari, you know how life was on the Sea Harem. Zerea has a hold on her crew that is downright diabolical. Najm turned his face from me the day I crossed her path. As for Temusa, your sister was in good health last I saw her. She had been taken out of captivity and Zerea was using her as a handmaiden. She was no longer being beaten, and had improved somewhat from before."
For future checks be aware that Knowledge checks are trained only (unless I say otherwise). However under the circumstances I'd rather the party didn't blow up. You can all thank the sea elf's luck that he had a sunrod last night when you first entered...
Marwan sees the greenish elf ready to light a torch and throw it in the hole ... just as he was about to say something the others chime in. "Whew! That could have been quite interesting." Marwan looks around at the group. "I believe before we all get embroiled with torches and explosive gas, some introductions are in order. My name is Marwan Al-Bahri, lately a gentleman of the seas. Fazaam and Ghari I have seen aboard the Sea Harem but discussions among crewmembers were frowned upon. I was shanghaied by the Witch's crew almost a year ago, and I have served on her ever since. Although my encounter with these tentacled fiends has not been pleasant, the Book of the Navigator says 'A wise man sets his course by how the wind blows'. I am not happy to deal with demons, but I will thank Almighty Najm that I have slipped the bonds of that harridan Zerea." Marwan skteches a bow to the company "Could this humble sailor ask your names?"
Marwan looks at Fazaam "I think many on that ship have fallen prey to the devious Witch, Fazaam. I swear by the name of the Forunate One that I do not serve the Witch willingly, and I further swear if you let me stay with you I will be your good right hand." Marwan looks over at the pit in the ground. Drawn to it, he walks over INT check 1d20+2=8, Decipher script 1d20+4=16 Marwan peers into the hole "What in the name of Najm the Fortunate?" Marwan squints to see the glyphs graven on the urns. "Seem to be about a death ritual. What was in those urns?" Marwan catches a whiff of the cloying honey smell Knowlege: Dungeoneering 1d20+2=22 "I smell honey gas down there. This whole place could blow."
Marwan advances towards the group slowly, keeping his hands in plain sight The Witch sent several of us to garner provisions in the jungle. Hassan, Ibrahim and Mumtaz were with me, may Najm safely navigate their souls to the Furthest Shore." Marwan experiences a full body shiver "I was in the jungle collecting fruits when I heard a scream. When I returned to our ship, a group of monstrosities were tearing the shore party apart. There was a man in a tattered robe whose are was covered in some sort of giant suckers. He ripped into Ibrahim's chest like it was paper! Then another demon literally chewed the face off Mumtaz! The worst part was this pig-like demon with two tentacles that chased down Hassan. The man in the robe was some sort of dark sorceror and he shot Hassan with a bolt of blackness. The pig demon devoured him. Then the man in the robe directed his porcine minion to find me!" Marwan shivers again, his large frame quaking "I didn't stay to hear more. I ran towards you all this past day, hoping that perhaps someone was left alive on this accursed island." Marwan stops in thought. "The robed tentacled man also said that he was going to take over the Sea Harem. If we are to leave this horrible island we need to do something!" Marwan begins to look a bit wild-eyed.
Marwan takes stock in the dawn's gloaming "By the hand of Najm, I cast my fate to the Winds of Fortune this day."
Spot=1d20=17, Listen=1d20+3=18
By the whim of Fortunes' Favorite, the Farthest Traveller, the Minstrel of Luck's Flute, I remain your most humble servant.
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