The impact was stunning, to say the least, knocking the breath out of him. Thankfully, Marius had enough sense left to him to hold his breath. Under the circumstances, Burian's aid was most welcome, getting him above the surface and pointed more or less in the right direction before he began striking out for the ship under his own steam. He was definitely going to feel those bruises in the morning, but it was a small price to pay for being away free.
As Ghirrak (swimming) and Phillip (rowing) pull away from the ship, Bryson summons a Water Elemental, who forms a rolling wave that passes them heading towards the swimmers.
Burian, Devon and Marius see the longboat pulling for their position, and moving faster, a vaguely humanoid wave also coming closer.
Having stuffed such fare into her naffy little bag of holding, she next turns her attention to salvaging some of the sets of block and tackle still hanging from the ship's rigging with quick cutting of ropes.
These too go in the bag.
Bryson will summon more elementals to help bring the refugees on board and to protect them from the natives. "Phillip! Get those men back here!"
Summon Monster III water elemental
Summon Monster III air elemental
Summon Monster II water elemental
As the longboat pulls even with him, Devon quickly hauls himself aboard.
"Thank you for the help! I am Devon and those others are my fellow ex-captives of that rather hostile tribe above."
He then readies himself to help the others aboard.
Phillip flourishes his palm frond hat after helping Devon into the longboat. "Phillip Pharlan, and glad to be of service my good man. Pleasure to make your acquaintance."
Gesturing toward one of the other swimmers coming to the surface he says, "Over there lads and hand me that line." He then tosses a rope to the nearest person in need of help.
Seeing Bryson and Phillip having the rescue under control, despite Brson once again resorting to posturing, Ghirrak takes a deep breath and dives after the blond streak.
Burian nods to the water elemental giving him a boost, and says something sibilant in gratitude.
Upon being met by beings more fleshy... "Impressive assistance. Thank you. I'm Burian." He bows as deep as his balance allows before getting to work wringing his sopping cloak over the side. He sees the monk go back under for Sunny "Uhh..", and starts to suggest he not to chase her - she will think it's a game, but Burian can't get the words out quickly enough.
Marius took advantage of the rope to haul himself aboard, "Many thanks," he said simply, sitting himself down and letting some of the tension of the last days start to ebb away. "Marius Hawk. Good to see some friendly faces."
In your looting/salvaging of the Galleon you come across a number of things overlooked by previous searchers, whether hidden in or buried under rubble:
1) Crossbow, repeating heavy [Broken] : 202gp
2) Shortbow [Low Quality] : 28gp
3) Sledge [Standard Quality] : 1gp
4) Sap [Standard Quality] : 1gp
5) Holy symbol (Demogorgon), wooden [Standard Quality] : 1gp
6) Bell [Standard Quality] : 1gp
>Gems and Jewels Breakdown
Obsidian 5gp,
Azurite 2gp,
Agate 4gp,
Blue quartz 2gp
>Coins Breakdown
gp: 9
sp: 30
cp: 100
At this point, you note a brutal looking half-orc swimming slowly towards you.
At this point, Bryson's elementals comb the surface, but don't find any other people swimming in the water.
As Marius and Burian are borne back to the ship in the lap of an animated wave, and Devon is hauled aboard Phillip's longboat, Spinnaker Jon called down from the quarterdeck.
"Welcome aboard the Savage Kraken! Is there anyone else that needs a rescue?"
Finishing tucking her new found shinnies in her bag Suny looks up and sees the person swimming down towards herself. With a happy grin she swim up to meet the person, coming to a stop in front of them and waving merrily. (^_^)
After all are on board, Bryson will have the elementals attack the natives.
Devon clambers aboard the ship wringing water from his clothes along the way.
"Thank you, sir, but that is all of us."
He looks up to the top of the falls.
"I wonder if they will continue the chase. I hope they do, I need some retribution."
"If it weren't for bringing further burden to our rescuers, I'd be inclined to agree."
He then addresses said rescuers.
"What brings you out to these shores, and how may we assist you toward your intents? I pledge we have many skills beyond fleeing from mobs."
"Hey-YA there!" Are the first words said by the tanned Elf when Ghirrak breaches. (^_^)
"I can live without retribution," Marius said, "Living well is revenge enough for me." Between the mayhem of their capture and their hectic escape, he'd largely used up any spells useful for exacting revenge in any case.
"There's nobody else to rescue," he clarified, "It's just ourselves and Sunny left of the crew." He nodded towards the newly-surfaced elf.
Then came the call from the Crow's Nest.
"LOOK! UP ON THE CLIFF!"
All eyes turned up to see...
There had to be more than a hundred savage tribesmen lining the top of the cliff. They were stunned at first, looking down at the square masted ship in the middle of the lake; but they got their ferocity back quickly enough. Several started to gingerly climb down, but most started firing their bows at the ship and people in the water. It was a long shot for them, but they had shear quantity on their side and individual arrows started to hiss and thud into the ships deck.
Spinnaker Jon looked up, and his pipe fell out of his mouth.
He swore sulfurous sailors' oaths, then grabbed the bell and rang it hard.
"ALL HANDS ON DECK! UP ANCHOR! FOREMAST MAINSAIL FIRST!..."
Footsteps thudded on deck as the crew swarmed to their tasks. Some got the handles out and attached them to the capstan, attached the anchor chain and started to heave to; slowly it started to turn, retracting the ship's anchor.
More scrambled up the ratlines aloft, untying and unrolling the sheets.
Spinnaker Jon leaned out over the railing.
"Pharlan! Bonden! Booker! Take the ships boats and get the shore parties! Make for the inlet and we'll meet there!"
Seconds later you see the first of Bryson's Air Elementals make contact with the clifftop savages. You see three or four tribesmen fly back, and one flung forward screaming in a long fall ending in a fatal cannonball at the base of the cliff, not too far from Ghirrak and Sunny. But suddenly, the elemental is rebuffed; it recoils away from the natives.
"I can help with the sails, you seem a bit shorthanded at the moment." As Devon scrambles aloft to aid in making way.
Burian watches Devon expertly leap into action.
"I'll do what I can... it has been a while, and that was a single mast cog.... " Burian winces as the "lump" under his cloak nips him for his lack of confidence. He had almost forgotten Welt, the giant isopod hanging high on his back - the vessel for his long dead ancestors' power, guidance, and meddling.
Burian does perform as he'd expected, but takes in what he can with the experience, and receives comforting strokes on the back of his neck from Welt's foreleg.
Sunny looks up and blushes, "Oops.. I fegots about them...." She admits quite abashed to Ghirrak, then she notes the activity on the ship and the beginning drizzle of arrows falling int the waters around them,
"Hey! Tha' big boat, it be leavin'!" She exclaims and ducks under, beginning to swim towards the boat... then slows to a stop noting Ghirrak isn't as handy in the waters as she is herself, circling back to help 'push' the other fellow.
Though her initial efforts seem... some what less than helpful... (>_>)
"Hey! Yer sails bits all come'd off!...." *Holds up brusquely removed pieces of garment which couldn't withstand the towing...*
A fireball spell would come in so very handy right about now, Marius reflected, looking at the tightly-packed tribesmen up on the cliff. Still, no use dwelling on it. It looked as if the tribesmen were protected from the elementals, so that distraction was lost to them.
His instinct was to stay out of the sailors' way, but it looked as if there was a spare spot at the capstan which he could fill, and an extra hand raising the anchor couldn't hurt.
Ghirrak shakes his head, a mixture of reigned and amused as he begins to swim, his powerful frame surprisingly fluid as he cuts through the water.
"We should probably get moving, we can have introductions later."
Tossing the scraps of cloth aside Sunny moves gracefully through the water along side Ghirrak.
"Okeys!" (^_^)
Bryson goes to wherever Annie is to help.
If she is on shore, he will turn into an Air Elemental and help them (her) get to safety.
If she is on board the ship, he will go help the crew on the southern shore.
He will help Ghirrak if Ghirrak calls for aid.
Seeing the other boats heading for the north shore, Phillip quickly turns his boat and crew to the south and rows hard for the shore.
Seeing the arrows falling on his crew, and knowing how slow it is to raise the anchor, Jon paused in agony, then gave the order to cut it away.
Phillip and the other ships boats oared frantically the half mile or so to where the various landing parties had camped out, gathering fresh fruit, coconuts, clams and oysters.
Freed from the anchor, the Savage Kraken slowly turned in the river current until the sheets caught the onshore wind and made way to where the lake flowed through the inlet to the sea.
Ghirrak and Sunny caught up to the ship before it had moved too far, and Bryson successfully occupied the native Shaman long enough for the ship to retreat out of his range.
The boats, hastily loaded with the shore parties and what fresh food they could quickly pack, met the ship at the inlet and clambered aboard.
Now, with the entire crew present, all sail was made and the ship crabbed her way through the mouth of the inlet and into the open ocean.
Once safely offshore, Spinnaker Jon set the crew to repairing the damage and delegating Annie to healing those who were injured in the attack.
The newcomers (Devan, Burian, Sunny and Marius) he invited to take a meal with himself and the ship's partners (Bryson, Ghirrak and Annie) and Phillip in the Captain's cabin.
Spinnaker Jon offered everyone a glass of a fine verdielo white wine along with fresh crab and vegetables from the shore expeditions.
He raised his glass in a toast to survival as the sunlight coming through the cabin windows fell on the richly laden table.
"Come on and dig in! I'm sure you've got a tale t' tell.
"As for us, welcome aboard the Savage Kraken. We're on a voyage to the far side of the world carrying supplies and settlers to a colony called Farshore."
The ship's boy, Tavey Nask, bustled around serving everyone dishes and carrying away the leavings.
Sunny scampers about helping as much ass she can.
Even trying to help with bandaging. (^_^)
Scruffling through the gear she's brought aboard Sunny offers Ghirrak some of the cloth she's picked up in her travels as replacements for those that he... lost... (>_>)
Come the evening whence every one is to present themselves to the Captain's table, Suny does her best to present herself. (^_^)
"Not much for us to tell, our ship was driven aground somewhere along the jungle," Devon pauses to think. "Not even sure how long ago."
He pauses again to eat, it is obvious that all of them are a little worse for the wear.
"At first things were fine, but then many of us got sick, including each of us here. That's when we were attacked by the natives. With so much of the crew down, our resistance was feeble at best. I myself don't even remember the battle.
Afterwards, we spent a time in captivity losing crew members every night as they were dragged off. Then, last night, somehow we were free of our bonds. My memory is hazy, still feeling the effects of the fever, but we quickly stole our stuff and got out of there quick.
It is most fortuitous, Captain, that you were here as I have no idea what we would have done otherwise."
Devon raises his glass in silent toast to the Captain and his officers.
"It's fine," Ghirrak says quietly. "Just a shirt. Welcome aboard."
The half orc is mostly silent during dinner, wrapped up in his own thoughts.
Burian lifts his glass. "Aye... that's the heart of it." Burian nods. "Been out of it myself since the illness struck me. If I'd been in my own bed with such a foul brew in my guts I'd likely plead to be put out of my misery. Tis a credit to those salvages for they brought to mind new fears to my possible passing... for one, the thought it may come to pass, with pass the salt in the words of their salvage tongue - not to mention the passing itself. Such a frightful end stoked a fire under ours to take flight at first chance. And chance came... As Devon states.. on fate's rarely tender wings." then another slight raise of the glass before a sip.
"Well, ya'll here now. So you're welcome to stay on board till we git to our place of call or you can git off at the next stop. Your choice."
"A daring escape and fine tale you tell." Phillip says after taking another sip of Spinnaker John's fine wine. With a smile to the captain he says, "It seems your ship is destined to pick up lost souls marooned among these isles and in danger from the native fauna be it men, spiders, or other savage beasts."
Turning back to Sunny and the others, "We've a good crew, but a few more experienced sailors would be more than welcome." He says.
Jon nods in agreement.
"Aye, there is a village of friendly Olmen that is our next stop. But yer more than welcome ta voyage with us as passengers to the colony of Farshore. In all honesty this ship is the only thing you might consider civilization fer the next few months. We can't turn back now, and the earliest we would be able to return to Port Sasserine is next year sometime.
"If yer sign on as crew, we'd love ta have the help. Pay is the usual sailors portion, but you'd be way less bored. And anyone able ta endure what yer did and escape is welcome on our ship."
He leaned back in his chair and lit his pipe.
"Can ye tell us a little about yerselves, yer background and skills?"
Sunny presents herself cleanly (As only some one who can freely swim about in the ocean can) and wearing a rather long/large shirt of silk.
Though any colour or patterns have long since faded to a pale cream. The shirt-front itself held together with naught but three different buttons. One each of copper, brass and some sort of white bone. Each seemingly attached because of the interesting shape, size and or pattern embossed upon them.
Sitting cross-legged upon her chair, Sunny enthusiastically partakes of the meal, trying more of the beef, venison and such types of meat.
"Cheee-KHAN!" Is her second most favored fare of the available meal. (^_^) Of the alcohol she sips inquisitively at any and all placed on offer... though seemingly none to impressed by any of it. What seems to be her most enjoyed staple is rum, which she drinks with as much relish as she eats of the diner.
Spinnaker Jon leaned back in his chair and lit his pipe.
"Can ye tell us a little about yerselves, yer background and skills?"
Sunny finishes what ever it is she eating or drinking and politely awaits for her 'turn' in providing an answer. With a nod to Burian and Devon she begins. First by settling herself a bit, closing her eyes for a moment, seeming to gather her thoughts.
"Well, me crew mates tell tha' tale right enough..." And she also describes their previous ships initial journey, the changing of the weather, the riding of the storm and thence their capture by the cannibals.
Their ship's demise has Sunny making much 'whooshing' and arm waving motions to embellish the 'dramatis' of the happenings.
"An' then them peoples who took us when we's all weather worn our selfs?" She grimaces and makes 'clawing' motions with her hands "They was... all wrong an' right nasty!" She looks to her companions for their agreement of her assessment of their previous captors. Having told her side of the events which immediately leading up to Sunny being where she is now she turns again to Spinnaker Jon,
Now.. as fer m'self? I were asked ta' join on account of me skills. I am a dab hand at tha' riggin'. Can handle tools fer workin' at tha' wood. Am good in'a waters an' I can be handlin' m'self in'a tussle, be it on'a land or in'a waters." She nods, smiling at those gathered about the table though she does look to Burian and Devon for support.
"I were seen as a... um... ah... 'Tasset'...?" She looks to her companions for a little help in her explanations...
"Afore that? Well.. I were kind'a new ta' almost every thing about tha' peoples! T'is not long since I were back home, on'a islands amongst me kin." And colour rises in Sunny's cheeks,
"I still be findin' me way abouts things." Her head drops a little, "Peoples even be still pointin' out how bad me speakin' be..."
(^_^)
Bryson follows Sunny's story with attentively. He is particularly taken by how she describes the weather and the waves. "Ah got no problem with yer words. You sound right good to me."
"Well... that had mostly to do with her manning the crow's nest. Not one of us certain what contraction of words she would be calling out - half of us would follow her finger with swords drawn, half pleased to hear there's a rainbow over sternside." He smiles and winks at Sunny.
Without his bulging cloak and layered gear, you see Burian for the relatively small man he is. His long white braid takes up as much space on his chair as his bony rump.
"I myself was born at sea. Not to conjure an image of a wee babe trimming the sail... My mother was a lifelong passenger. And I her stowaway ... though it was my father which had done the creeping aboard." He cuts up and portions his last few bites of food on his plate, and slathers it on a half hunk of roll.
"I found unskilled work on docks and other ships. I had sea legs, but the rest was as green as a goblin. Stayed in Shadowshore for a time and did what I could to steer clear of trouble, but the district and trouble seem to be joined at the hip.... Was quite thankful to fall in with my fellow good folk here." Burian gestures to the others, then slips the roll into a pocket.
Sunny grins happily at Bryson and Burian's encouraging words. Even offering them a toast of her mug of Rum. (^_^)
"Farshore," Marius mused, "The name seems familiar. Well worth a visit, I'm sure. I'd be happy to sign on for the rest of the voyage."
He'd been eating with all the enthusiasm of somebody who'd had none too much to eat lately and intended to make up for it. He'd scrubbed up reasonably well, though his borrowed clothing was still a bit loose on him.
"I hail from Sasserine myself, spent most of my life as a denizen of the city. My family had money, and gave me a good start in life, but I was never in line to inherit. I daresay I've had the usual youthful experiences and indiscretions. I'd signed on with a trading expedition in order to see the world and hopefully make my fortune, which seemed to be going quite well up until the shipwreck."
"My own skills lie in wizardry - I'm academy trained, and I daresay I have a decent amount of skill, both in terms of spellslinging and the crafting of magical items."
"You're offer is more than acceptable, Captain. Of course, the alternatives are somewhat dire." Devon waves in the direction of the shore.
"That does tend to increase its attractiveness.
"As for me, I grew up in Magnimar, so the sea is in my blood. I have a good amount of sailing experience. For a while I used to compete in the arenas, but they grew ever more hungry for blood and less for skill. Anyone can hack at each other indiscriminately, but the crowd and owners didn't have any appreciation for true swordsmanship so I grew tired of it and decided to head back to sea. As luck would have it, my first ship decided to crash here."
"I am also more than able to work landing parties. The only reason those natives captured us is because I was down with fever, otherwise there would just have been a bunch of dead natives." Devon finishes with complete confidence.
Continues to enjoy the fine Rum and keeping up with the table conversation as best she can. (^_^)