*sigh* What am I doing here? I come all the way out to Port Shaw only to find that two priests have have gone missing and now there is a murderer in Thumb Reach. And I am heading straight for it. She kicks the dirt in annoyance.
"This should be a good experience for you. Expand your horizons," she says in mocking tones, obviously imitating someone. "Ugh. I am in way over my head. What am supposed to do against murderers and disappearances. The best I can hope to do is keep healing myself until they get tired and give up." She stops her moment of depreciation when she notices a ship trying to approach the town quietly. Oh shit. Is that them? The ones causing the disappearances. In a panic she finds the nearest place to hide and watch what happens next.
With Bri's and Jenkie's guidance the Captain aggressively manauevers the listing sloop, "She's heavier than usual, slower."
Jenkie yells, "Captain the sand bar!"
The captain leans on the tiller hard,
and the ship responds to his leveled hand. "Drop the sail." As the momentum of the ship takes it forward with a gently thumb on the dock. Jenkie hops off the dock with a line in hand tying her off.
As everyone moves onto the dock... Captain, your and Jenkie's safety is paramount to me as we have brought you here. Keep safe and look for two lights. Stay moored or move out a ways.Whatever you feel is safest.
Thanks, for the ride.. Sorrin takes two torches and the means to light them.
On the dock, Some light if you please, Astrianna. He holds out his scimitar.
Astrianna hangs on to the side of the ship as they turn hard, laughing at the skillful maneuver. She stands up and checks her gear as they hit the dock. "They'll be fine Sorrin. You worry like a grandmother."
Reaching into her haversack, the bard pulls out her hip flask that is about 3/4 full of rum. She hands it to the Captain with a smile as they depart. "As promised- You earned it for that maneuver back there. Should keep you busy while we're on shore."
The half-elf waggles her fingers and four cool balls of light begin to float above her head, slowly orbiting one another.
"Jenkie, Captain, where's Relgin's abode?" She turns to the others. "He probably won't be too happy about being woken up this late... let me do the talking."
It's not worry, rather responsibility to one's fellow man or woman. You choose not to take any. It is a marked difference between us.
He doesn't seem phased by her refusal to light his scimitar.
Adriel dismounts the belt and stops to clasp the captain on the shoulder.
Your skill is noteworthy. Drink does not become you, Captain. Be here when we return and if you can kick the drink, maybe we can get you on a real ship again. We have business in the town. If we are successful, we will have a ship that needs a crew. Think about how much the bottle means to you while we are gone.
He turns to follow his allies. The man had obvious skill and his problems with the drink would mean he should command far less of a wage than his skill would dictate. A good proposition for them IF they could get him sober.
Astrianna raises an eyebrow at his scimitar. "Oh, you wanted me to cast light on your blade. I don't know that spell." She points up to the light above her. "These are far more effective, I can move them around."
She rolls her eyes at his comment. "I'm helping you, aren't I? We're going to help this town, aren't we? I help people when it helps me, what's wrong with that? Should shopkeepers not accept coin for their services?"
Here is quick map of Thumb's Reach. Everyone is on the dock. Chell I have you on the lower right corner looking from the trees and near a building.
What is everyone doing? From everyone's point of view it looks deserted.
You all can make a perception check.
"A real ship, eh?" The captain contemplates the words.
Adriel speaks a few words as he walks over to Sorrin, then touches the side of the mans sword.
Light. As requested. Now do us a favor and follow about 30ft behind me please? I usually scout out front and that light source will do you no favors hiding, but it will draw attention away from me, which is how I like it.
The elf sends Thrasher to circle 30 ft overheard, his dark coloration and size making him nearly invisible.
Then he utters an acrcane phrase for DETECT MAGIC and begins to stealth ahead of the group.
At the rear of the group, Bri looks about as best she, trying to look for signs of any shark monsters.
Astrianna is in front of Embri, snapping her fingers to dimiss the cooly glowing lights above her head. The moonlight and the light from Sorrin's blade is more than enough for her to see. "Yes, please take the rear Sorrin."
She glances about, looking for possible threats with the others.
She begins to walk forward when Adriel is about 20 feet away, heading towards Relgin's place.
I wager you say that to all the boys...
Sorrin stays behind as requested.
Astrianna continues walking without looking back at him. "No Sorrin, I say that to all the men."
While she watches the others disembark from the ship Chell decides to take a look inside the house she is hiding next to. Where is everyone?
Jenkie would mention, "Try the small building by the pond." (K/L:23-26)
Chell one thing you notice is the large blood splatter field against the wall you are near and on the soil. As you slip inside the building you can see the overturned simple furniture, the table has dried blood dried into the wood, and the savage blood shed that occurred in this building. The rust colored dried blood appears most pronounced in a small bedroom where the flimsy door is off the hinges.
Adriel you pick up a few old signs of fighting, it looks like someone was trying to fight a retreating battle that leads to the southernmost home (R-T:26-30) on the other side of the pond. You can also pick up some relatively new footprints int he sand that head towards the small hut near the pond (k/l:23-26)
At the rear of the group, Bri looks about as best she, trying to look for signs of any shark monsters.
Bri from the rear you don't see any sign of strange creatures in the water or on land.
Chell clamps a hand over her mouth to stifle the swelling panic. She was born and raised on the sea. She had survived its trials and come out stronger every time. But she had not come close to any of the more gruesome aspects of the Razor Coast. She had seen and been in fights against monsters. Seen and healed horrible wounds. But now she was alone in a town with a supposed murderer and the evidence was staring her right in the face. Definitely in over my head. Temporarily forgetting that there are others here of unknown motivation, she exits the house swiftly and shuts the door with a loud thud. She stands there breathing heavily, more from panic than actual exertion.
Sorrin laughs good naturedly. You see anyrhing?
What was that... over there. The girl-child?
Thinking he sees a small person and not a shark-anyrhing, Sorrin begins to walk in that direction at a calm pace.
He whispers to Astrianna, Don't want to spook them.
There is some moonlight and it's a bit brighter than it was on the water. Sorrin you heard the slamming door coming from one of the southern buildings, you think you saw a small shadow but with the limited lighting, you can't be certain.
Adriel you definitely hear sound coming from south of the small pond, your vision extends to a point where you can make out a small shadow by a building. The shadow appears a a bit startled by the noise it just made.
Adriel sees the target but attempts to remain hidden himself as he uses the buildings for cover amd darts from shadow to shadow.
He doesn't draw a weapon, for the glimmer of his blade could give him away as he attempts to close the distance.
Astrianna perks up as she hears the door slam, looking in the direction of the noise. The bard opens up her haversack, pulling a quiver full of alchemical silver arrows from the porch and swinging it over her shoulder, opposite of her normal arrows.
As they move around the side of the tide pool and into the brush, she pulls her longbow from its case on her back, but does not knock an arrow just yet.
She nods at Sorrin, whispering. "Yes. We'll let Adriel scout it out. If we see him begin fighting, we'll rush to join."
Oh, let's not rush... Give him a chance to flit about. I did feel bad for his pet, though.
lol
Astri and Sorrin the elf disappeared into the shadows.
As you approach the small building by the lake hear what sounds like a scraping from within that building.
Here is an updated map for everyone.
Astrianna's lips purse as she loses sight of the elf. Why does he have to be so good at his job? She continues towards the source of the sound, going around the side of the house without brush.
as you round the corner of the pond you notice a dried blood trail heading to that larger building to your left. (Right hand side of the map C-G: 30-32)
Sorrin looks over his shoulder at Embrianna, You going to ditch me, too? I don't mind... just asking.
Adriel pauses and looks into the building (via window or door) his fists clenched and the words of a spell upon his lips.
One threat at a time. If I go loud now at least the other target is in the open.
A look of concern covers Astrianna's face as she lifts a hand, signaling Embri and Sorrin to stop. Her eyes follow the trail of blood all the way to the house on the left. "Blood. Dry, goes to the building over there." She whispers, pointing to the building to the east.
"Keep an eye on that house. We'll search it once this other thing is dealt with. The building by the pond ahead of us should be Relgin's."
Astrianna moves towards the building with the group, hugging the corner and looking about.
Adriel you see forge that looks like it's been ransacked.
"I'm not any kind of a scout or front line fighter. I'll let them find whatever is out there and then move in to help with it."
Bri will wait for either Astri or Adriel to call out before moving up to join them.
Astrianna beckons for both Sorrin and Emrbi to follow her to the edge of the house, wanting them to stay together.