Round 6
Fort
Leylyn, slowly rises, leaving her backpack in the slimy mess on the floor. She makes what sounds like a slow hysterical laugh, but it if obviously fueled by agonizing pain. She then whispers; D-darkness, veil me w-within your shad-shadowy arms, and protect my f-flesh from the mor-mortal light... She then takes a very wobbly few steps back, nearly loosing her balance. Leylyn looks as if it is taking nearly all her strength and willpower to keep standing.
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Jon drops his rapier and falls to his knees, placing his hands on Leylyn and administering first aid, he tries to so slow the flow of poison and help her fight it's effects.
Noting that the worm he was fighting has followed him, Charles turns, and regarding it with open contempt, attempts to finish the job he started, by slashing it apart...what little life the grub had left in it, now lies splattered on the deck, another grub lays slain at Charles' feet.
Harry shakes himself off and gathers himself together, clearly affected by the oozing bite and signals Thumper to prepare for the creatures return. The big dog lets out a low growl and watches the flour intently, reminiscent of a cat watching a mousehole for the inhabitants eventual exit. The dogs jaw rushes forward as the creature emerges, biting a chunk out of its flesh, leaving the dog's mouth dripping green flesh and ouze. Harry, effected by the poison hits the creature, in a strike that he was sure would harm it, but the bug seems to just shake off the weaker blow. Harry, takes a step back to allow the dog and himself some space, the bug follows out, seeking to return the punishment to Thumper for the nasty bite it received. It slithers onto the deck, turning and biting through the dogs armor into its chest, drawing flesh and blood onto the deck to mingle with the light dusting of flour.
Leylyn, slowly rises, leaving her backpack in the slimy mess on the floor. She makes what sounds like a slow hysterical laugh, but it is obviously fueled by agonizing pain. She then whispers; D-darkness, veil me w-within your shad-shadowy arms, and protect my f-flesh from the mor-mortal light... She then takes a very wobbly few steps back, nearly loosing her balance. Leylyn looks as if it is taking nearly all her strength and willpower to keep standing. As she does this the intense burning in her blood subsides, her body fights back against the rampant poison and some colour returns to her cheeks, although she still remains weak.
Lysandra is just about to climb back down the stairs, when she hears the captain's voice carry sharply across the deck, "Leylyn, where are you going, did I say you could go. STOP! What's all the rush about? Stay here and continue your song, the men appreciate your efforts and I'm sure it will make our journey through this area all that much quicker. Sing along with the lady, gentlemen Hahahaha...." as the wind blows through the sails and the ship moves smartly forward. "So what have you all been up to down there, found what caused Ursel's injuries?"
Jon Heal check replaced by one in text.
M2 vs Thumper
Attack 1 M2
Damage M2
Grab M2
Poison
The party group round the last bug, left stranded on the deck, unable to retreat into its burrow of white flour and quickly dispatch the bug. There is no evidence of further bugs in this area of the deck.
Jon follows Leylyn as she steps away from the grubs. "Let me take a look at those wounds Leylyn" he says as he examines the marks that the grubs left.
"Ugh this stuff is horrible"
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Harry brushes off loose flour and the worst of the slime, and washes the gore off Thumper with his canteen
Charles tries to clean the worst of the vermin blood from his clothes and blade.
"I vote that we should try to dispose of the bodies quietly, and clean-up the area as quickly as possible. The Captain should be informed of the specifics, of course, but if the crew found out exactly what was down here, it could cause panic..."
He then glances towards Harry, and Thumper.
"Are there any more of those little beasts around here?"
Lysandra is just about to climb back down the stairs, when she hears the captain's voice carry sharply across the deck, "Leylyn, where are you going, did I say you could go. STOP! What's all the rush about? Stay here and continue your song, the men appreciate your efforts and I'm sure it will make our journey through this area all that much quicker. Sing along with the lady, gentlemen Hahahaha...." as the wind blows through the sails and the ship moves smartly forward. "So what have you all been up to down there, found what caused Ursel's injuries?"
Lysandra give the captain a quizzical look, having been called Leylyn, but continues her song none-the-less.
Charles tries to clean the worst of the vermin blood from his clothes and blade.
"I vote that we should try to dispose of the bodies quietly, and clean-up the area as quickly as possible. The Captain should be informed of the specifics, of course, but if the crew found out exactly what was down here, it could cause panic..."
After regaining her sense of direction, Leylyn tries to pick up her backpack. after a few painful struggles, the backpack stays where she left it. If it... ain't to... much to ask... I might... leave that... to you... guys... Still short of breath. She felt so weak breathing has even become difficult. She makes her way to the latter to the upper decks, and looks at it ominously... Haha... ha... ha, I'm... always... the lucky... one... She gulps and then attempts to climb out of this hell hole.
Climb
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Sorry about the name, your DM gets tired and really tries to get this stuff working, its his age... :)
The captain calls Lysandra up onto the bridge, "You sing well my dear, perhaps we should share some wine together tonight, please come to my cabin at 8:00, I'll get Joeseph to rustle us up a nice little tasty morsel." The captain seems to hold out his chest, showing off his broad manly shoulders. He waits for a reply.
Draevin, looks across, his brows knotted together, his eyes narrowed and dark. His lips curl in an unpleasant twist, his yellowing teeth just visible. As he sees Lysandra look towards him, he turns his back and spits on the deck, where George is scrubbing down. Draevin walks down port side, looking out to sea, searching the horizon.
"Are there any more of those little beasts around here?"
"I sure hope not. C'mon Thumper, lets make sure there aren't more"
Harry and Thumper go back to their search and sweep the ship to be sure.
"As lovely as that sounds Captain, we should be rationing our supplies after the grubs ruined a fair amount of our stores." Lysandra says, trying to diplomatically refuse the captain's offer of what would assuredly be more than dinner.
"Excuse me, Captain. I must be off to check on the others."
After leaving the captain's side, she stops by where Draevin watches the horizon.
"Draevin, why is it you scowl at me so? I have not knowingly done anything to you."
Jon catches Leylyn's arm as she tries to climb out of the hold. "Let me help you with that..." he says and puts her arm around his shoulder as he leads/carries her to her quarters. "I think you need a bit of rest for now."
He holds forth his holy symbol and says a prayer to Cayden Cailean as the room is filled with a soft yellow glow.
Jon closes the door behind him and goes back up on deck.....
Hahaha...Thank...you... She says as she lets Jon take most of her weight. yeah... ha...ha... rest sounds good... she says as she lets jon nearly tuck her into her hammock. she does not allow Jon to remove her hat or hair from over her eye. Leylyn tries her best to rest despite the weakness and pain from the poison's damage.
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The captain is taken by surprise from Lysandra's reaction to his invitation, his eyes open wide as he is speechless for just a moment. He is left thinking about what she has said, as it sinks down into his gray matter and for once his sharp wit and repartee leave him.
Draevin turns to the woman, equally surprised by her reaction to the captain, in a low voice he speaks to her so no one will hear, "You fool." and laughs quietly to himself, before continuing. "You are our Captain's guests, and humour us with your seamanship." The sneer returns as he all but ignores your existence.
On the bridge, the captain's face has turned a red colour, and his eyes stare towards Lysandra, as he starts to shout "What was that? Your friends can wait! Dreavin take the bridge, keep her steady." As the Captain advances down towards Lysandra.
Meanwhile in the upper hold deck, Leylyn is being taken to her bunk for rest and to aid recovery of the poison, just as Ursel. As the group come onto the upper hold deck, the Joeseph is bustling towards them. As he sees Leylyn being helped up, he looks very concerned, "Oh my, are you alright? Not another one, just like Ursel, oh dear, oh dear, what's the Captain going to say! Someone's gonna be for it!.", as his brow knits and he seems to look slightly more hot and sweaty than usual.
The captain is taken by surprise from Lysandra's reaction to his invitation, his eyes open wide as he is speechless for just a moment. He is left thinking about what she has said, as it sinks down into his gray matter and for once his sharp wit and repartee leave him.
Draevin turns to the woman, equally surprised by her reaction to the captain, in a low voice he speaks to her so no one will hear, "You fool." and laughs quietly to himself, before continuing. "You are our Captain's guests, and humour us with your seamanship." The sneer returns as he all but ignores your existence.
On the bridge, the captain's face has turned a red colour, and his eyes stare towards Lysandra, as he starts to shout "What was that? Your friends can wait! Dreavin take the bridge, keep her steady." As the Captain advances down towards Lysandra.
Meanwhile in the upper hold deck, Leylyn is being taken to her bunk for rest and to aid recovery of the poison, just as Ursel. As the group come onto the upper hold deck, the Joeseph is bustling towards them. As he sees Leylyn being helped up, he looks very concerned, "Oh my, are you alright? Not another one, just like Ursel, oh dear, oh dear, what's the Captain going to say! Someone's gonna be for it!.", as his brow knits and he seems to look slightly more hot and sweaty than usual.
"Joeseph...give me a hand with her will you?" Jon says, "So someone it going to get it, huh? You think someone on board has something to do with this?
6hp/1STR.
Dog also got bitten for 6.
As Harry searches the ship, his normal jovial demeanour is replced by one of deep thought, his normally relaxed and easy eyes have subtly taken on more of a suspicious set and his Orcish heritage begins to show through with a gentle touch of malice, his familiar axe is bringing him some obvious comfort.
"Thumper my friend, I don't think those stow aways were an accident, I just wonder if the saboteur might still be on board..."
The big dog looks at his master momentarily, and goes back to searching.
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"Joeseph...give me a hand with her will you?" Jon says, "So someone it going to get it, huh? You think someone on board has something to do with this?
Joeseph is unsure how to answer Jon, "With one of his crew out of action and now you, he won't like the voyage being disrupted like that. He'll be blaming someone, for whatever happened. If it effects his profits, he can become quite riled. How did it happen?" Joeseph, quickly gets to help Jon and Charles with Leylyn, although he seems to get in the way more than help. His large frame making the movement more difficult in the confined spaces below deck. He is however very concerned and trying to be very helpful, fussing over Leylyn, asking if he can do anything more to help. "The captain may have something to help in his medical supplies, I don't know, but it all costs gold. He doesn't like to loose his money, its the price of him paying us well."
Indeed, it would be in the pass later.
Once Harry has had a sweep of the ship, he will return and try tidy up some of the worst of the blood and mess, and throw the grubs overboard.
At the same time, keeping his eyes and ears peeled for nasties, both the crawling and the two legged kind. There could be a saboteur, and it always pays to be paranoid.
On the bridge, the captain's face has turned a red colour, and his eyes stare towards Lysandra, as he starts to shout "What was that? Your friends can wait! Dreavin take the bridge, keep her steady." As the Captain advances down towards Lysandra.
Hearing the Captain's furious approach, Lysandra spins on her heel, turning to face the red-faced Captain with steely gaze far different from the pleasant smile that is normally across the young woman's face.
"Yes, Captain? She says, in a cold even tone, that is difficult to tell whether she is more angry with the Captain or Draevin.
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Trueheart looks both angry and worried, his face shows a concern and seriousness not seen before, it is also crossed with savage rage as his face is deep crimson. His sword hand hangs onto the hilt of his sword, his knuckles tight and white clutch at its ornate handle. "What's this! Rationing the food, why? As he reaches Lysandra, he grabs her arm and roughly pulls her closer, not as Lysandra feared in a way that leads to intimacy, but as a father would scold a child. In an angry but restrained quiet voice, Trueheart continues, And grubs, what vermin have you found that have caused such havoc. Shouting out these things in front of the whole crew, do you want to spook them for me. I had you down as having more sense than that, it seems I was wrong. On my ship, I'm the one you come to with such tales not the ships company. So what's been happening? since we had Ursel carried below to rest and let his sleep take him until he is strong again. What's this about spoilt food and what have you found?" His hot angry breath, surrounds Lysandra's face, as they look eyeball to eyeball.
"Captain, there is no sense in sugar coating anything. A number of the supplies were ruined by some sort of large rot grubs. Jon should be able to cleanse a number of our supplies, but it would be very prudent to alter course for a closer port to reprovision."
Lysandra takes a deep breath before continuing, trying to regain her composure.
"These things are not terribly uncommon, so I doubt such an occurance should shake an experienced crew...As for your crew, Ursal" looking back to the hatch for the hold "and now apparently Leylyn, have been greatly wounded by the creatures."[/b]
Jon meets up with Harry and Charles after putting Leylyn to bed.
"You fellows look pretty rough after that scrum. One sec..." He pulls out his holy symbol and a yellow light fills the area of the hold where they stand.
fitfully resting...
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Captain Trueheart, unmoved by Lysandra's comments, "Come, show me what you found and the damage done to the supplies." His face begins to return to its normal bronzed color as he takes control of his emotions, but the look of concern does not leave his face. He almost leads down the stairs to the deck below, but waits for Lysandra. "However experienced a crew, superstitions abound, misconceived thoughts jumbled with truths and half-truths can provoke a worse response than an actual crisis, these things you must know, as a lady of stories and song."
Joeseph, stays with Leylyn, his helper until he can stay no longer and goes to the galley to prepare food and cook. He takes a wet cloth and gently wipes her brow, he joins in any talk with those around.
Lysandra grabs a lantern, and leads the captain below deck to see what's left of the grubs....and the supplies.
Once he is satisfied that the hold is free of more of the vermin, Charles will return to the site of the last battle, to try to determine just how much of the food stocks have been contaminated...
After sweeping through the ship, Harry and Thumper report back to the party and to the Captain, discretely, that there was nothing else found.
Thanking Jon for the salve to his wounds Harry finishes any outstanding chores before grabbing a little bit of rest; his axe just that bit closer to hand than previously on the voyage...
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Lysandra leads the Captain Trueheart down into the first deck you encountered the grubs. The Captain is aghast at what he sees, in particular he opens the barrel with the holes in. At the bottom is a pulp of bug excrement, it sends out an obnoxious smell, which turns the Captain's face pale in the glow of the lantern, but it does not stop him from looking carefully at the barrel. As he finishes looking at the barrel, then at the corpses of the bugs, he speaks angrily, "Damn and blast, this is worse than I thought, this is sabotage. These giant grubs do not end up in barrels unless someone put them there. These giant types grow rapidly, unless found they can destroy a ship supplies and leave the crew to starve. Did you find any others and have you destroyed them all?" The Captain distracted by his thoughts, replaces the lid of the barrel. Hmm..bad, very bad.....its gonna take some careful thought....
You overhear the captain as he quietly mumbles to himself in his thoughts, "With saboteurs and enemies, we must avoid going to the ports, it's too dangerous, we must keep it quiet."
"Charles, Harry, Jon, and Leylyn were searching for signs of more, based on the poor shape Leylyn was in, I imagine they found more."
Fortitude Save:
Perception:
Profession Sailor:
Lysandra's stomach turns, reeling from the stench of ruined food.
"Ughh...What an awful stench...Wait, enemies? Saboteurs? What are we transporting, Captain? Keep what quiet? There is little sense in keeping secrets at this point, we are aboard your ship and surely your enemies are our enemies now whether we like it or not."
Charles nods to the Captain and Lysandra when they come below.
"There were five of the giant grubs in total; two on the upper storage deck, and another three burrowing around in the flour down here. We searched the rest of the hold, but did not find any trace of more, thank the gods."
He then sighs.
"I think we should try to keep quiet about exactly what was found down here, so as to not spook the crew. We can dispose of the bodies over the side of the ship, and clean-up the food stores as best we can until the morning, when Jon can purify what is left."
Charles pauses, giving the Captain a long look.
"Assuming that that is alright with you, Captain?"
Leylyn tries to sleep, but the she cannot get comfortable in her weakened state, she tosses and turns and turns right out of the hammock.
Hahaha...ow. She slowly rises, a bit wobbly at first and makes her way out onto deck. Unless she sees one of the party members, and if she does she asks if they can retrieve her things, she makes her way to the kitchen to help with food preparation.
Jon walks up to where the Captain and his comrades are standing below.
"Sabotage Captain? Do you think the saboteur is still on board?"
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The Captain turns to Lysandra, surprised she heard his curses amidst her , "No ship wants these vermin, they don't arrive in barrels without someone putting them there. As for my enemies, let's just say I may have crossed a Guild or two in Westcrown, it seems I came by some information which they would rather I hadn't. Sometimes to make a profit, one has to sail close to the wind. It seems that which you can obtain legally in Westcrown, still doesn't stop some 'Houses' from regarding you as fair game. They are doing their best to ruin me, and I'm sure they have tried to arrange my meeting with Pharesma earlier than I would care for. I appreciate your concern, but that is why you are hired, to protect me from the long arms of those 'Houses'. I have been safe trading in Coretyn before, but now it looks like their tentacles have reached out for me even there. No matter, we must deal with this devastation first."
As Jon enquires about the saboteur, he replies, "No, I doubt it, this would most likely be done at Coretyn, I trust my crew. I've sailed with them these past few months, some even years, without any reason to think they would do such a thing. I pay well, it earns me their loyalty."
As Charles comes over to Captain and Lysandra, the captains cheerful demeana returns, "Charles, what have you to tell me?......Take me to the where they were found in the flour." Lysandra and Charles take him below, carrying lamps as they go to light the way.
As Trueheart surveys the damage done to his cargo, his smile disappears again and his face drops. He turns round to Charles and Lysndra, This cargo of flour is ruined, we must ditch it over the side forthwith, these bugs look to have made a nest here. We cannot afford to have eggs lie here, maybe dormant for another trip, or maybe even hatch later this trip. Charles, get your group to remove this cargo, over the side with it. Do it after the ruined food has been ditched, for even there they mak have laid their eggs. Unfortunately Lysandra, you may be correct, we may have to start rationing the food that's left. Can I leave you all to do that? You have done well so far.
A distraught captain, returns upstairs and speaks with joeseph, to ration the food,but to double the rum rations for a few days to lessen the impact. He then returns to his cabin.
Seeing Leylyn coming to the galley to prepare food, in her weakened state, Joeseph throws his hands up and starts to scold the young elf. "Now what are you doing here young lady, you're not strong enough yet to start work. Oh my, Oh my, lok at you, and how did you come by those black and blue marks. ..... Oh Oh, you need to rest, you need your strength, I can carry on many be one of your friends can help instead. You back to bed with you girl...." As the realisation dawns that the marks are from Leylyns run in with the bunk, he tells Leylyn to get her belongings, blankets and bedding and bring them to the galley. He clears one of the preparation tables and lays a straw paliase on the table, in preparation for Leylyn. "Here, this is your bed til you recover, so I can keep an eye on you."
Lysandra approaches Jon...
"Jon, I've heard it said that even novice servants of the gods can create an unsavory, but filling gruel. Is this something you could do to supplement the food we must now ration?"
Lysandra goes about taking an inventory of what is left of the ships stores and provides the Captain with the list and a suggested rationing scheme.
"Captain, here's what we have and how we will have to ration to make it to Bloodcove. Jon should be able to add to that with prayers to his deity, but I would still suggest we port an reprovision as soon as it is reasonablly safe to do so."
"Hmmm...I think Cayden might like the Captain's idea of more rum." he says with a wink. "I'm sure I can help with our food situation until we arrive at a port to replenish our supplies."
Hahaha... I'm weak joe, not plagued. The poison has done it's damage, its all uphill from here...er, I mean, I will only get better. I can't really lift anything, but I can still help. I'll lose my head if I do nothing but lay around until I'm better...
If Joe keeps assisting, Leylyn will then retire to her new bed, but she is stubborn, and will sneak out of bed and random times to help, more as she gets better until Joesph finally lets her help fully again.
Charles will follow the Captain's orders to the letter, Being careful to dump all of the 'tainted' cargo, and then scrubbing-out the surrounding areas to make sure that any possible taint is removed.
The Captain mentioned the possibility of eggs, and I for one do not want to fight any more of those things. Harry and I might be fine, but poor Leylyn could not take much more of that...
After completing that, he will go looking for Leylyn to see if he can do anything to help...
...trying to entertain the 'unusual' creature with stories of exploration.
"Well Cap'n, Thumper and I have checked back over the ship and not found any more of those...things...and he seems to have a good grasp of the scent of 'em, so I'm thinking we might be in the clear. Always worth being that bit more vigilant though, as who knows what other 'surprises' there may be..."
Given the lack of obvious immediate threat, Harry gets back into the labours of sailing.