DM Praedonum's Skull & Shackles (Inactive)

Game Master Dennis Harry

Cueta nods to Harmony and makes her way ashore, looking for anything that would seem to be a store or vendor - preferably one that sold weapons. The Bosun stretched and turned around, taking in the small village. "Surely there's somewhere here to buy some fookin arrows, yeah?"

The Shackles - Rickety’s Squibs

On the Ship - Artevious and Es

"Been a drought lately, seems like the water from upland hias been trickling down to us. Now its been damned oppressive hot round here mind ya' but even wit' the heat tha water should no be flowin' to a trickle. While I've some hardies don't ye doubt they're fer security not galavantin' in the jungle. Those days're behind 'em.

You though've got a strong legs and back and a buncha youngens on the crew. Head upstream, see what's what. If it's nothing well good to know. If it's somethin' and ya' handle it, mayhap I'll bring the price down further dependin' on the dangers faced. If it's a damn beaver dam I'd not give ya' but a token reduction but fer somethin' more, well, we'll see".

---

The Taphouse - Rizz and Aq

The female barkeep hops to back behind the bar with the appearance of the silver. Those in the drinking "establishment" continue their conversations but keep an eye on Aq.

Sandara slides next to Aq, "Let me give you some advice, shipmate to shipmate, it's best not to undercut the Captain until he's made mistakes worthy of undercutting. Especially with a crowd here that no doubts got wagging tongues.

You've been with the crew for a cup of caf', Artevious has been through some wars with his mates. Mayhap you'd be a better Captain but the best way to show it is to show it. You take my meaning Aqguazula?'

The half-elf is still watching and listening to the conversation.

Thar takes his drink and interrupts, "To Aq for setting us free!" "Here, here", replies Nax. Both down their drinks, "Nax then speaks, [b]"Part of me wants to just go home. I was a merchant on a marine ship, this life I've never thought was for me. If I, we, stay, what's the pay for this job?"

Let me know if you want a run down on how Plunder works Aq as that is the market for Piracy.

---

The Market - Cueta and Harmony

Harmony agrees to accompany Cueta to shore. As the two women pass closer to the folk of this hideaway it becomes more and more obvious that these are normal people, not hardened Pirates. They seem more like Laborers and Skilled Experts than high seas criminals.

Both women step inot teh commons and can see that Rizz, Aq, Sandara, Thar, and Nex are already drinking. Across the other side of the Commons is the market stall. It seems to be a general store and on one side indeed are some weapons for sale, some of surprising quality.

I rubbed my chin as I pondered the man's offer. I had to admit, after our previous tropical island adventure I wasn't overfond of another so soon. Yet, the promise of one reduction of the cost bringing the price of the squibbing within our means -- and the possibility of even further reduction if our search yields a tale or two to tell -- was simply too much to pass up.

"You're in luck!" I announced. "We have quite the experienced band of jungle trotters, so we'll find the source of your water woes and deal with the problem if there's a solution to be had!"

I again proffered my hand for a shake, then turned to Esmarelda once we were out of earshot of Rickety. "As quartermaster, you know as well as I that our coffers do not run so deep as to meet the man's price. I can sell the magical short sword to make up around half, but we'll still need to do this man's favor to bring the price within reach. We'll have to collect whoever is yet sober and get underway as quick as we're able. Unless you can think of another source of coin?"

Sure why not? Correct me if I'm wrong but I believe 1 "plunder point" is worth some thousand Gp, right? and every time you make it to port you're suppose to pay each crew with a plunder point."

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (3) + 7 = 10

Aqguazula listens to Sandara, he remains irate and vexed. Bitting his tongue, trying to show an ounce of patience and temperance.

"Save it priestess, it's not the place of the men to judgment me. Let the gods cast their judgment upon this vessel."

Aq puts his drink back on the counter top.

"Both he and I have had our fair share of battles, I've sailed with many Slaver Captains from the Arcadian to the Obari. I know a sailor that's worth his salt when I see one. In my tribe we respect, the strongest or the smartest or the most cunning. I just don't see it in him and I'm just surviving, like I always have."

Aq brushes aside his bronze unholy symbols, revealing a nasty old scar from a blunderbuss wound. He sniffs his drink, taking a sip of the backwater ale.

"Keep in this in mind Priestess, It wasn't Artevious that saved you from the lacedons or this thing. I did." Aq raises his voice slightly, grabbing the massive severed head of the creature, still tirec to his waist and in much need of a brine soaking.

Aqguazula turns his back on Sandara, he walks past Thar and Nax, clinging his drink into theirs.
"We get paid in whatever the gods allow us to take, if you've got the mettle for it?'

Aq approaches the table the half-elf is sitting at.
"It's rare to see a worshiper of Brackish Emperor. Mind if I take a seat? What brings you to these parts anyways?"
Diplomacy: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (18) + 11 = 29

Gotcha, Artevious. Thought it'd be a good guess into your seriousness as Captain. Was a bit off.

"Artevious is alright, but he gets mad when you shorten his name. I'm just gonna call him Cappy for a while, and see if he get's that mean glint in his eye."

Rizz swivels on the stool a bit, bouncing so as to lift a pair of its legs into the air before leaning the other way and repeating the process.

"And I can swim, thank you. It's just it's kinda hard when sea monsters are grabbing at you and the floor is up to everyone's waist but over my head.."

Then off Aq goes, to nibble at some other problem that Rizz finds bothersome or boring.

"I'm not too worried about it, though I would like to point out. This town is in a drought, lets say it's natural and there is nothing we can do about that. We've a cleric who can make water. Some empty barrels a few spells, and they'd be worth their weight in gold. For natural droughts can last a very very long time. Not to mention fresh water can be sold to ship that come here as they'll need supplies." Esmarelda said as the merchant's daughter began showing itself more than the pirate she'd been trying to be. "This all assumes that he doesn't have his own way of making water mind you but if he did, I doubt he'd be that worried about a drought."

Harmony walks around the settlement for a little while with Cueta, getting her bearings and finding that the people living here are perhaps less criminal than she's on guard against. "Maybe I'm being overtly careful", she tells Cueta, "but I'm all right with that. After what we've been through, the absolute *last*, *LAST* thing I want right now is to be captured by anyone again. These people seem fairly unthreatening, but my orders still stand; let's be on our guard and have a system."

After checking out the settlement and chatting with Cueta, Harmony is ready to rejoin the others whenever Cueta is ready too.

I nodded my agreement with Esmarelda, then escorted her ashore. I decided that it would be best to gather the officers before they were too far into their cups. The sooner we could finish the business of refitting and renaming our ship, the sooner we'll be back on the high seas, being proper pirates.

Finding most of the crew in the small tavern, I hailed my comrades. "Look alive, mates! We have ourselves a bit of an adventure. A mystery, even! If we can figure out what's got the jungle stream down to a trickle, and better yet, get the waters flowing again, Rickety will give us a sharp discount on the refit. Part of the pirate's life is never knowing where the winds of fate will take you. Now, I daresay, they're blowing inland! Who's up for a little walk now that you've got land under your feet?"

Esmarelda gave a slightly surprised look when Artevious escorted her off of the ship. It just wasn't something she had expected after the talk they'd had but she welcomed it all the same.

"I'm a city girl, I don't relish treks in the jungle", Harmony says after she and Cueta have met the others in the small tavern. "I had this one really awful experience on the island of Ollo, long inland trip. I was working as a porter on the expedition and the muggy, humid air... I seriously recommend sandals. Inside boots, your feet will turn into toxic sludge, I swear. But then you have to look out for all the venomous snakes and insects and...ugh. The city might smell bad, but..." She shakes her head and takes a deep breath. "But if it gets us a discount on the refit, it sounds like a good idea. We'll want to make sure we have a solid, trustworthy complement to leave behind. Gall should have the conn."

Up the River

Before Aq can continue, the rest of the crew enters with Artevious proclaiming, "Look alive, mates! We have ourselves a bit of an adventure. A mystery, even! If we can figure out what's got the jungle stream down to a trickle, and better yet, get the waters flowing again, Rickety will give us a sharp discount on the refit. Part of the pirate's life is never knowing where the winds of fate will take you. Now, I daresay, they're blowing inland! Who's up for a little walk now that you've got land under your feet?"

Sandara shrugs, "I am game Captain. By foot or by barge shall we travel?"

One of the locals steps over, a human male of middle age, "Either way you'll need a guide. I'll charge 5 silver a day. I know the way by boat or on foot..."

Aq Sighs as Artevious enters, he turns to his captain.
"By the gods, can't a man have a mere moment of respite?! I'll join you on your forsaken adventure, let me finish my drink at least."

Aqguazula downs the backwater ale, it might not the be the best but considering what he's been through, it will do.
His attention is returned to the half-elf.

Rizz puts a hand into the air with a thumbs up.

"Sounds good to me Cappy. I'm tired of drowning anyway."

Rizz reaches up to the counter for her drink, determined to finish it off before they set off.

Cueta grins. Slapping some coin on the merchant's counter, the bosun grabs three quivers of arrows. Turning to Harmony, Cueta winks, and is about to say something about arrows in quivers, very dirty and not terribly original, when Artevious enters and announces the need for volunteers.

"Aye! I'll go."

Harmony probably would have appreciated Cueta's comment, having been at sea for quite a long while now with not a lot of privacy. Her previous words should indicate a desire to come along for the expedition, since she suggested leaving Gall the conn, it probably means she's not sticking around with the ship herself.

"Does anyone know if this region has crocodiles or any other sort of large aquatic predator? I'm not going to be eager to ford any river if it does..."

Anyone have Knowledge (Nature) for local fauna?

"Ah Adventure. It's going to be better than that island isn't it?" Esmarelda asked with a small smirk. "I mean... uha." She shrugged.

"Ask the guide." Esmarelda said as she pointed to the man who offered to be their guide. "If we're going to take him up of the offer that is."

Cueta bites a little at her index finger, worrying at a nagging hangnail. "Aye, it isn't so different from home. Lots of creatures could be found in the jungle around here..."

Stuffing her finger back in her mouth, the bosun winces, a little too much of the hangnail coming off between her teeth.

nature: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (17) + 8 = 25 That's a 27 for creatures. Should be enough to give us some idea of what to expect, flora/faunawise.

Up the River

Cueta, you bet there's some large poisonous snakes, swarms of flying insects, and maybe even larger insects. On top of that hippos and likely crocs. More unnatural threats may even involve Lizard Folk of some sort though if that is the case, this settlement might have been overrun if their numbers are large.

The guide grins at Es, "That's right, I'd not take ya' if'n I didn't know what I was doin'! By boat'll allow ya ta' avoid most water threats as no fordin'd be necessary".

"...large poisonous snakes," Cueta says, spitting the hangnail from her mouth. "mean fookers, ten feet long. Swarms of biting, stinging bastard insects. Figure out who they like the most, and stick close to that one - it'll save you some misery. Maybe some large - like dog-sized large - insects too. Flying wasps and shit. There'll be hippos for sure - mean sons of b*&*$es, would just as soon take a bite out of your face as anything else. An' crocs of course. Maybe we'll find some intelligent tribes out here as well, Lizard Folk most likely, though the guide would know that - I'm sure that Squib's would've been overrun if there were many around."

Flexing her fingers, Cueta looks around. "My bet is the stingers and biters like Rizz the most."

Our party was assembled, and we had managed to procure a guide, though Cueta's own apparent knowledge of the various hazards of a jungle trek would be useful as well.

"Jolly good!" I extolled. "I believe the dangers we'll face will be the source for yet another rousing tale! And we save quite a bit of coin getting our ship in shape."

I then turned to the man who had offered himself as a guide. "What's your name, good sir? And since you suggest we go by boat, would you happen to have one available? Otherwise, I suppose we could use the jolly on our vessel. Actually, let's do that, then. Should we get the waters running again, we can ride back with ease all the way to our ship."

"Ugh, crocodiles", Harmony sighs and pinches the bridge of her nose.

Aq turns his head to the rest of the group.

"Crocs you say? I could use some new leatherwork or a fancy necklace." Aq places his spear behind his waist, rotating his body to crack his burdened spine."My money on that little Rizz bites them."

"Ugh, hate bugs." Rizz admits. She moves her now empty flagon as if to squash some imaginary insect in front of her. She puts it back on the counter.

"We going now, or do I have time for another drink?"

"And you'd make good money on that bet, Aq."

I was pleased that many of my stalwart companions agreed to take part of this spot of adventure. I also couldn't help but be glad that Aqguazula decided to come along, since I wondered if he would have decided to make mischief while the captain was away from the vessel. Instead, Gall and Kroop were able-bodied souls who would manage affairs whilst we were away.

"Rizz, I suppose you have time for one more small drink while our guide gets his wits about him. But considering we will be trekking through the jungle, I would advise that drink be water."

"Rizz please, don't go biting crocs. It'd make it easier for them to bite you..." Esmarelda pointed out with a small laugh.

"Captain shall I go have one of the jolly's lowered so that we might use it before they properly begin?" She asked.

Rizz frowns and shoots a look to the bartender.

"Are crocs tasty?" she asks, knowing full well the answer would decide her actions when they came across one.

Up the River

The guide places his hat on his head and tips it to the Captain, "Tug's the name. Used ta' Captain a vessel that'd pull ships out of the shackles for the Captains, till I got over my head in debt that is.

Only been here six months but I got the venturin' bug in my soul so I's headed up the river a time or twelve! Yer jolly, my flotilla, whatever yer preference".

Sandara turns to Art, "Why not both?"

---

"Capital idea!" I agreed with Sandara. "Yes, Esmarelda, we'll take our jolly and Mr. Tug will use his to make sure we have ample space for the lot of us. That way, in case Rizz finds a croc's flavor to her liking, we'll be able to bring a haunch or two back with us."

I waited until the boats were positioned at the mouth of the river and lent my assistance where necessary. "Right, then! Adventure lies upstream!"

"Crocs..." Harmony says quietly, rubbing her temples as if she had a migraine.

During the trip up the river, Harmony makes it a point to be on a different boat than Artevious, after all you don't want both Captain and XO to be hit by the same trap. "Cueta, you and Aqguazula join Artevious -- our sharpest eyes and our best waterborne combatant will make sure that our Captain is safe. Esmarelda, Eriziel, you're with me on the Tug-boat."

"Understood, I've been meaning to rework my swimming legs." Aq nods to Harmony's order. Feeling assured that she was level headed and a capable leader.

"Sounds like a fair plan if I do say so." Esmarelda said with a nod to Harmony. After all the woman was second in command and she had to admit with two minds like theirs in play what could go wrong?

Nodding in assent, Cueta takes the prow of the boat, her bow strung and arrow nocked in case of attack. Despite the heat and nagging bugs, the bosun keeps her composure, alert - for the most part - throughout the day's journey.

perception: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (10) + 9 = 19

Hearing the captains approval to her securing a meal should they find the beast, Rizz excitedly downs her glass (and then a water as she's not completely insensible) and get's ready to go.

"Gonna bite it, and then chomp it, gonna salt it and roast it on the fiiiiire," Rizz hums to herself as she checks the strappings of her leather armor ,and the wear on her blade.

Up the River

The first day up the river is hot, really hot! The two groups spot a croc but cannot get weapons to bear before it sinks beneath the surface.

As the trip was started a bit late in the day, and the boats struggle against the current upstream, progress is solid but not spectacular.

Tug points to a spot where the boats can be moored, a long abandoned dock, "I've rested here before. Usually with my boat tied off and inside with a tarp over me prayin's I'd not get spotted while I slept. It'll be nice to do it with a bunch o' you formidable folks lookin' over my shoulder. Let's set up camp!"

Watch order?

Our progress was slow, yet steady. All in all, a perfectly serviceable first day's outing, if not ideal. The old dock was a fine spot to make camp, and I heartily agreed with Tug.

"Good job, everyone! Let's set about to make this camp as comfortable as can be had, shall we? First order should be checking the area at hand to make sure we're not intruding too close to the lair of some creature. Then we'll set a small campfire and a watch."

I considered the watch order. "Rizz and Aqguazula, I expect you each have better night vision than the rest of us. So you two would need to have separate watches, and during the darkest time of night. Cueta, why don't you take first watch with Tug, Esmarelda and Rizz take second watch, I'll take third watch with Aqguazula, and Harmony, you take last watch."

Aqguazula snarls,"you can put me on two watches. My body and mind only need four hours of rest."

Aq lumbered off into the darkness, to gather firewood and dig out pit on the beach that allowed water to channel through. Ensuring it was damp for his skin and comfort.
Survival: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (17) + 3 = 20

"That works out then!" I reasoned. "You can also watch with Harmony on the last hours of the night."

"Okay Cappy," Rizz agrees, huddled by the fire for the time being.

"Uninterrupted sleep; I'm not complaining. I have a hard time getting back to sleep if I wake up in the middle of the night", Harmony says as she starts staking up the first of three tents that she brought along. "One tent for the boys and two for the girls." She almost adds, "Unless you want to go with Artevious", but catches herself before saying it out loud.

"Much the same for me. The more I rest the greater I do with combat." Esmarelda said with a nod. "Wait we actually brought tents? Well then, nice to see you thought ahead." She said with a small laugh as she helped Harmony set them up.

"Ahh, Esmarelda, my sweet child. You are still so young", Harmony teases with a little laugh. "I am *not* sleeping without shelter in a malaria mosquito jungle. So here we go. A bunch of tents to set up, for anyone who wants to do the work", she nods to the two tent packages still lying on the ground as she's working on putting up the third.

"I hope that whatever we find here is less gruesome than the horrors of Bonewrack Isle. Perhaps there's a dam built by giant beavers. I hear beaver skins are really good for fur clothing up north. Imagine a horse-sized beaver. The things you could make from a skin that size. Of course, the warmth inherent in fur clothing is a bit lost in these climes... A fur bikini, perchance? If there are enough giant beavers, we could make a fur bikini the uniform for the ship's entire crew. There's a name for the ship, huh? The Furry Beaver, eh?"

Aqguazula continues to his pits along the shore, seven holes in a circular pattern with an eightieth hole in the center. All connected with dig out channels, adjacent to each pit is a drawn in glyph. As the waves reach the shore and pits begin to fill with water, Aq begins to pray and chant in the central pit.

I set about assembling the third tent while our master at arms dug into the mud along the bank of the river. An odd chap, I must say.

I listened to Harmony's hope for what we'll find upriver. "That sounds like quite the odd fashion choice for a vessel of fierce pirates. Especially if the menfolk wear the fuzzy articles. I daresay that would strike a very different sort of fear in our enemies," I mused.

Up the River

The first night goes by uneventfully. The group eats breakfast loads up the boats and continues up river.

Once more the progress is slow but steady. The light of the day causes odd shadows in the jungle around you. Tug seems unfazed by the shadows but the feeling of being watched is there. Whatever it is at the ends of your vision that you cannot see makes it frustrating. Of course, it may just be your imaginations.

As the daylight begins to fade, there is no dock in sight. This time, grounding the boats and finding dry, flat land will be a bit more difficult.

Make Survival checks to find the most suitable stop.

Harmony's Survival sucks, so she will forgo the dice roll, peering around but spotting nothing.

"I wasn't expecting a days-long trip. Whatever's causing the problem is further upstream than I thought." She spends a lot of her free time spotting birds and writing down some notes about the local avifauna. Perhaps some scholar somewhere could use the information. "I should get a pet", she muses somewhere along the day. "I wonder if it should be a bird. Those could escape so easily. Maybe a monkey of some kind would be easier. And perhaps more amusing. I could put it in a fez and teach it to play some instrument. It would be funny, I swear."

"Well there is Geach, you could bring him around." Esmarelda said with a grin as they made their way. "Also Harmony I think a bird would be very good for you. Maybe a parrot?" She suggested.

"Aye, Geech! Forgot about the rat - where's it been?"

"There's plenty of monkeys in Bloodcove. Mean bastards, will steal your lunch if you turn your head for a second."

Closing her eyes and clutching her dessicated claw, Cueta murmers a quick prayer to the Pirate Queen and starts scanning the riverbank. Pointing to a small overgrown hillock, Cueta smiles. "There. high enough to avoid a flash flood, and we can get a good view of anything approaching by water."

survival, Deadeye's Lore: 1d20 + 10 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 10 + 4 = 20

I had been entirely perplexed about where to find our next camp site. We had traveled an entire day without finding the reason why the water was flowing slower than normal. The problem was, we didn't exactly know what "normal" was. But our guide did not have any particular concern that the river was back to the way it ought to be, so I trusted his judgment.

Thankfully, the sharp eye of Cueta identified a spot of land a nice distance from the river bank. "Good job!" I said earnestly, and set about pulling the tents and camping supplies from the boats to haul up to the spot she identified.

Survival: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7

Unfamiliar with jungle terrain, Aqguazula served little to no good finding shelter. "The ocean is where I belong, not these mangroves. Fresh and brackish water sicken me."

Once camp was set up, Aqguazula patrolled up and down the river bank. his bare feet touching the water activated his electroreception. Should anything approach within 30ft of him, he'd know.

Up the River

Cueta sets discovers a place which appears to be perfect for camp. Once more the night moves along smoothly and nothing disturbs the camp.

The group eats breakfast loads up the boats and continues up river, once more.

As the boats glide along at yet a slower pace both Harmony and Aq pick up on a faint buzzing that grows ever louder as it approaches. Giant Wasps, six of them, and they appear to be heading in your direction!

Round 1 - Es, Cueta, Aq - GO!
Wasps (6)
Harmony, Rizz, and Art

Currently, the Wasps are 60' away and about 25' in the air. Coming out from the jungle.