Round 4
Astrianna dives under the water, trying to make some sense of the carnage through the bloodied waters.
She sees the shark next to Chell and looses a single arrow towards it.
Bri orders her eel to attack the remaining shark.
Bri will then hover over top the mantaman, close enough to reach down and touch him to use her healing hex upon him.
Astri you see a plume of black ink blocking vision below you. Perhaps it's a squid or kraken coming.
The mantaman floats face down in the water and his body begins to drift under the water.
Round 4
Chell backs away further from the thrashing sharks and comes up to the surface. She yells over the fighting "Sahugin deep below us. They seem to be retreating but I can't see them." Some of the water got in her mouth and she noticed it tasted more metallic than salty. As she looks around she notices for more blood than water in the vicinity. Dear lord, how was Sargas still alive after loosing all that blood? By this point, most of the sharks are belly up or not moving except one. She takes and launches the shark several feet in the air with a burst of sound from below.
Sargas drinks a CSeriousW.
Bri's eel hits but not not grab the great white shark. the witch then proceeds to fly near Sargas and heals him some, but he is not moving.
The massive flaps on the Sargas finally move and he pops his head over the waves. He gasps for breath and grabs a potion just as the witch touches him with a healing spell. Aye...what did he get himself in to?
Initiative Order: RD 4 update
Sargas - breaks hold and quaffs a cure potion
Sorrin -
Chell - sound burst 2 hp, saved.
Bri - 15 hp healing on sargas, injures shark 17
Sharks
sahaugin
Astri - nearly dropped bow.
Sorrin moves and attacks the last shark he sees nearby.
Sorrin plunges his blade into the last - nonslumbering shark - and kills the shark.
The crew members paddle towards the jolly and in the distance you can see the sails of your ship rounding the Beacon Island. You can gather some of the crates and barrels floating nearby. The battle from below ceases.
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Another rough battle, right at the cusp of another. Why did their have to be so much evil around this island? Not just Dajobas either, something else too. The Sahugin were doing something more than just preying on wounded sailors. But that could wait. The usual white caps of the ocean nearby were still tinted red. More sharks would be by.
She swims over to the main source of the blood and pulls out a wand. She drains the last of one and the charge of another to remove the worst of the wounds. "You said your name was Sargas Hawk right? Well Mr. Hawke, that was brave, swimming to save those people knowing the sharks were there. But it was also very stupid. I can't imagine how painful these are in the salt water. Hope you earned a lesson," she says more motherly than anything. "But you saved several lives." She smiles, happy to have met another selfless individual along her journey. She floats away, holding his gaze a moment longer, letting him know she at least appreciated what he had done here.
The sea priestess then swims over to the survivors to check on wounds and emotional state. "Is everyone okay here? Any survivors you've seen nearby. Don't worry, that's our ship on the way. Just hang on a little longer."
About an hour later your ship arrives and retrieves you and the crew. They were able to pick up two more sailors (alive) and they fished out three dead sailors. You also know there are 4 half eaten bodies floating in around your current position. Overall there was crew of 35 on the ship.
Astrianna sighs underwater, causing bubbles to blow up to the surface. Why did I even get in the stupid water?
She crawls out of the water and back into the jolly, using presdigitization to quickly dry herself off. A pool of blood-tinged water soaks into the wood of the jolly.
Seeing there was no one else to propel the craft, she begrudgingly takes the oars and rows over to the survivors and their raft, helping people up into the boat.
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Sulking, Astrianna looks over the face of the rescued crew. No Thalios. Or anyone I remember.
As a last-ditch effort, she makes use of the time between now and the arrival of the ship. High in the air Astrianna creates a Silent Image of Thalios' precious lucky amulet, concentrating on it for a good 30 minutes. It was unlikely he could see it, or make it to them if he could, but it was worth a shot. At least they would know they were looking for him.
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Calmbering aboard the ship, Astrianna stretches and looks around the deck for Captain Donovan, requesting a report on their food supplies. "Took us longer than expected. Bastard wyverns demanded food, didn't they? How much did they take?"
Sargas feels lucidity and vitality steal back into him, and when he surfaces he whips his head back so that a whip of water flies back in an arc and looks to Chell.
"Brave and stupid, hey? Sometimes it's hard to tell the two apart. Specially when your friends are dying and you've no time to figure out the odds." Still, he doesn't seem offended, and instead grins at her. "I appreciate the help! Most timely. You're wicked with that wand. A life saver!"
That said, he soars through the water toward the survivors, and pulls himself out of the water with a hearty laugh, clapping ome on the back and crouching next to the other, telling them of the Captain's survival assuring them that their ill streak of luck is now finally over.
Still, its hard not to see the corpses, and when no-one's looking the exhaustion and emotional toll become evident on his face. He boards the ship with the others, than turns to Chell once more.
"So is this your vessel? Who's your captain? What are you all trying to do out here? Trade goods? Salvage?"
In due course your ship, Baron of the Tides drops sails as it approaches. The crew toss down cargo rope netting and lines for the jolly's retrieval. The deck is a flurry with activity and a strong voice can be heard from the bridge. "Get those survivors up and by all means be ready on those balista in case we get visitors!"
There's a pause then a shout from the crows nest. "All's clear Captain, but I do see more wreckage a quarter mile off, looks like the main sail and mast. 3 more bodies floating."
On board the ship the Mother's Blessing captain is walking the bow, with a spyglass in hand calling out bodies. He yells down to Sargas, Astri, and Bri, "Much appreciated. You see Thalios?"
"No sign of him yet, Cap'n."
The yet is important.
"I learned quickly you can't save lives if you're dead. But I understand the impulse," she starts. "Astrianna says we're pirate hunters but we came out here to solve a bigger issue. You've already met them. The sharks that walk. I mean we did stop a pirate once but we haven't been at it for long." When Donovan speaks up she points him out. "That would be the captain...sort of. It's kind of complicated at the moment. I'd love to fill you in more but their is a lot more work to be done." She excuses herself from Sargas and heads for the hold captain's room where they have been keeping looted valuables. Realizing it would take a while to find what she was looking for, she instead finds their impromptu quartermaster. "Astrianna? Do we have any powdered silver or a means of turning it into powder? I want to finish what we started here after we search the waters. I mean to destroy that alter or Dajobas power will remain strong here, followers or not."
Sorrin senses a lot of talking coming on... So, add soon as he's on board he politely asks about any casualties while they were away.
Then he gets down to work, diving into the rigging and directing ballista.
Astrianna ponders Chell's question for a moment. "Well we have silver coins. While I loathe the thought of destroying perfectly good money, that altar needs to be destroyed. We don't have any means of easily powdering it, but maybe if I...This seems unorthodox, but if we use some of my adamantine arrow heads and attach them to a rotating device...."
Astri is able to rig her a couple adamantine arrow heads and get the grinding of silver coins underway. After another 2 hours of searching the are you find more cargo, and
The gist of what you begin to hear from crew is members were taken alive under the water by the sharkmen. There are a few stories of crewman burning with the ship and another trapped in the bilge and below deck.
One story is told by two sailors each recovered from different areas. A glamorous story about Thalios leaping on the back of one....no, two... sharks and riding them out to sea. On the other hand the survivors ahve been traumatized and they are dehydrated being at sea this long.
Sargas figures out he's about one quarter caught up to speed. "Altar? Dalang? Powdered silver? Full moon?"
He looks around to see if someone's willing to explain what's going on.
While someone on the ship works at making silver powder, Chell uses her time to swim through the detritus searching for survivors. There are many dead floating amongst the wreckage. But their are also many alive. That is good, but their stories are disheartening. Their seem to be a lot more weresharks out there than they thought. And what were the Sahuagin doing? Unfortunately, they didn't have time to answer all the questions this island presented.
After two long hours of searching, it is decided they are likely not to find anymore survivors. Chell personally checks over each survivor for any signs of Lycanthrope and, if their wounds aren't life-threatening, she hands them off to her subordinates for food and water.
After that, it was time to see to the alter. She approaches captain Donovan, blood still staining her hands and pants from the last of the survivors. "Thank you for bringing the ship around in a timely manner. We saved a lot of lives because of it. Can you weigh anchor again near the sunken ship by the sea serpent statue? After removing the taint of the alter to Dajobas here I want to have a look around in it. I believe it was a ship captained by my own church. Their might be something of value on it or some more info about what is going here. After that, we should be able to leave, Quell forbid another ship runs afoul here, our own included."
After that, she swims to shore and finds the hole they created to escape and shimmies down using rope. As she enters the room with the alter, a wave evil power rolls over her like cloud of some foul smelling smoke. She steels herself against the evil and sets about setting up a ritual to counter it. Using the silver powder and holy water, she blesses the alter, sabotaging the evil protecting it and leaving it vulnerable to the lightning she calls down upon it. She keeps blasting until it is a pile of rubble.
After that, this day is exhausting she swims out to the sunken ship. She keeps one eye out for danger, Sahuagin, shark or anything else, and the other on searching for what happened, on who or what did this? Whether she can tell or not from, Chell grabs some netting and looks for anything of value to either her church or the crew. Anything found is put in the net and swam back the ship.
After that, she finally flops into a chair out of sight, tired, both mentally and physically. Arms and legs aching, head pounding, mind racing. Its a lot to take in, to accomplish, and it is along while before she gets the strength to stand up and help with the cast off from this horrible, horrible island.
Sargas figures out he's about one quarter caught up to speed. "Altar? Dalang? Powdered silver? Full moon?"
He looks around to see if someone's willing to explain what's going on.
"Later. Sorry," Chells says with a sigh. Bet he doesn't believe half what we tell him. Better let Astrianna fill him in. At least it will sound cool.
"I am sure that Thalios is just waiting for a suitably dramatic moment to return, thus making for a better story for him to tell at taverns."
Not receiving any further information, Sargas shrugs and spends time with his crew mates.
"Well, I'm not much of a storyteller. At least not unless it involves my sexual exploits. But I can give you a quick summary. While in Port Shaw, we uncovered a plot by Dalang and a bunch of weresharks to wreck havok there and leave the city awash in blood. We're attempting to throw a serious wrench in his plans by coming here to this island and killing as many of the weresharks that we can, desecrating an alter and anything that presents itself as detrimental to the weresharks and beneficial to us."
Sargas nods, frowning. "And this Dalang. He a captain, or..? Why not just find him and do him in?"
"He is The Chosen of Dajobas and is a powerful priest and a wereshark. Formerly a priest of Quell before his corruption and turning. He could be on this island somewhere, or he could be swimming as a shark somewhere out in the ocean. That makes it rather hard to find someone."
A chill goes up her spine as Chell prepares the ritual to Consecrate the alter of Dajobas. It felt like someone out in the world had just harmed the reputation of her church. Like they had implied that Dalang, a powerful cleric of her faith, was of sound body and mind, and not cursed, and was actively plotting the downfall of Port Shaw with weresharks, of his own free will, even though that wasn't true. At all. Must be her imagination.
Chell the survivors on the ship are weather worn but show no signs of being bitten by weresharks.
Sorrin as it turns out there are no additional threats in the water. Eventually the order goes out the ease back but stay ready.
Essentially the story that you git is Mother's Blessing set out from Port Shaw Captained by Longplanks, Thalios Dondrel was acting quarter master and Sargas acting Sergeant at Arms. The weather turned foul, which you realize is the same storm you were caught in, they suffered some damage to one of the masts, but when the storm broke a ship of giants tossed rocks and ice furthering the mayhem. The giants were moving in for the loot when the weresharks hit the ship. This you figure was Dalang and his minions that you drove out of the cavern complex.
When all is dead and living members are gathered you have rescued 9 sailors alive, plus Sargas, Rita and Capt Longplanks. There were 21 dead. Leaving 5 crew missing, along with Thalios and one officer.
You've retrieved two loot point of cargo (2000 gp).
"Later. Sorry," Chells says with a sigh. Bet he doesn't believe half what we tell him. Better let Astrianna fill him in. At least it will sound cool.Sargas figures out he's about one quarter caught up to speed. "Altar? Dalang? Powdered silver? Full moon?"
He looks around to see if someone's willing to explain what's going on.
Sargas does not go with Chell, having no reason to.
Sorrin's conscience will not allow him to see her go alone. His own hangup.
He goes with.
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As they work and move side-by-side, Sorrin updates the new guy. Glad to have a... strong man in the bunch.
Situation is dire, Sargas... Dajobas, the Devourer Shark-god seeks to return. And, the Kraken as well. Who bows to whom, or if they are equal partners... is hard to tell. At least for this foreigner.
The most immediate threat is the Kiss of Dajobas, whereby his followers seek to infect the entire population with a form of shark-lycanthropy. Washing the ocean and land with blood. The most troubling aspect, that the high-priest of Quell has been turned to suckle at Dajobas' teet. This is why, Chell is destroying the altar. It's why I must go with her.
Sorrin is quiet for a long pause. Hey... do sharks have teets? I never really looked. Shrugging, he contnues to work.
We've formed a company of privateers, each with their own skills to contribute. We've purchased this ship, The Baron of the Tide. We've hired on a Captain... and not just any captain, a Wave Rider true.
There's history there, as the Kraken dealt the Wave Riders a crushing blow and ended the band's operation. Have a care around him. He's also put off the drink, attaining a clarity he's not had in years. Let's respect that also. You want in? We could use your arm and skills. Even share.
Chell and Sorrin were able to consecrate the alter to Quell's satisfaction. They get back to the ship to discover that thing are well in hand with the two notable Captain's roaming the decks. Astri and Bri have set in motion a plan to bring the ship a bit closer to the ship wreck.
Astri thoughts begin to wander, Maybe this is Pirate King Garr Bloodbane's finally resting position. Imagine the RICHES, screw Port Shaw with this ship and that treasure I...err, we,...could go anywhere. "Yes, I agree with Chell we should investigate that wreckage. It could contain the vile sahuagin there." Her pouty lips purse a smile. "Keep those filthy hands off my treasure.
Sargas listens grimly as Sorrin recounts the troubles they're mixed in with, and finally nods, gripping the gunwhale and gazing out over the waters.
"It sounds like a bad business, but perhaps that's all the more reason to get involved. With my ship gone, I'm a free man. If you'll have me, I'd like to pitch in. See if I can help in some way, no matter how small."