After the plant and its minions are destroyed, you notice that life in the way of birds and insects starts to return to the clearing.
Neltji scans the are with magic quickly to see if there is anything of value. If not she points southeast, Shall we continue on?
Retrieving his arrows, Munkustrap agrees with Neltji.
Thorion turns from the destroyed dead and begins to follow Neltji. “Hopefully there aren’t any more of those moving about.” He stated while placing his scythe over his shoulder.
Rii-Chi retrieves the arrows only to find that the creaures blood has damaged them beyond repair, before nodding excitedly. "Onwards! Find more new things, and not get eaten!"
giant, tattered,cobwebs cover the cave. Judging by the gaping holes, whatever spider or spiders made these webs have not been here in sometime.
A ninety-foot-long shipwreck leans against the cliff side and several jagged reefs here, encrusted with salt and moss. Its masts remain intact, but the sails have long since rotted away. At the bow, a leering demonic figurehead of green-caked brass provides an intimidating greeting.
Neltji looks over the wrecked ship and takes a step back.Well guys...not the most delightful scene...Any of you fancy exploring it? I can keep watch from here as I don't think I would be much help on a wreck like that. I would probably cause it to start sinking or fall in myself.
Thorion takes a long look at the wreck in an attempt to discern a clear path to it.
"We will need to explore such paces if we have any hope of getting out of here."
"I'll go." Rii-Chi says, handing his bow and arrows to Neltji. "Climbing is easy and I can swim too! We want everything good?"
Knowing that Rii-Chi was the only one who could reliably climb the cliffs, Mischa nodded. "Alright, but be careful. If you get into trouble, come right back."
Judging the exploration dangerous to all but Rii-Chi, the vanaran goes it alone.
Following his vanaran friend, Munkustrap descends to the wreck.
Rii-Chi and Munk make it back to the others with no harm.
Just as if the coffer will remain locked, Munkustrap hears a click.
Munkustrap skims the documents quickly. "Seems Jask was telling the truth all along. Not sure what good it'll do him here, stranded on the 7th plane of Hell, but at least he has that going for him. Ready to head back?"
"Jask is not wrong? Good! Maybe now he will be happier!" The Vanaran exclaims. "Now friend Munk, we should go, before everyone up the cliff gets sad and lonely without us!"
Reaching the top of the cliff Rii-Chi explains, roughly, what happened. "Everyone dead, but we found Captain treasure. Pretty picture of girl-friend. Shiny knife which Munk is holding because he likes knives and documents which say Jask is a good man afterall!" The Vanaran bounces a little, clearly having fun.
"So. Back to camp? Make Jask happy?"
"Why thank you my good friend." Munkustrap twirls the dagger in his hands before hiding it in his sleeve. "Heading back to camp and showing these papers to Jask is a wonderful idea. if we ever get out of here he will be an exonerated man."
Munkstrap follows the others as they head back to camp.
"Why, that's wonderful! He'll be so happy hear that. Let's go."
Neltji breathes a sigh of relief as Munk and Rii-Chi come back from the ship healthy. I was so worried for you.I was hoping that he ship would not have any of those creatures that we ran into last time.
When told about the notes proving Jeskar's innocence Neltji smiles appreciatively. I am sure that he would love to get his hans on these documents as soon as possible. It does prove his innocence but it also makes me question this place that much more. We still don't know why we were left here in a healthy condition and our stuff arranged in a pile as well. Still, every bit of good news is welcome here.
"If we get out of here." Thorion says quietly, with a deep sigh, as he continues to follow the group back to camp.
"The question of our rescue from the ship does way heavily, Neltji. I still think it means that there is someone about this island who knows much about us, and about whom we know nothing. There's a gap in knowledge that I don't like," Caine frowns.
"Still, I can't say that this excursion hasn't been an interesting adventure. I'm still waiting to see what more magnificent beasts we may see as we start to explore closer to the interior of the island."
That night as you are are preparing your evening meal before you continue back to the campsite, a ghostly visage arises out of the fire! It is skeletal now, but at one point must have been a human male. despite the fire, his tattered cloak is dripping as wet. He wears a tricorn hat and his arm ends not in a hand but a hook! He snarls at you, Thieves! Scoundrels! What have you done with my Aeshamara?
Neltji jumps back from the fire in alarm waving her hands before her in protection. We don’t have anyone by that name. I swear. We are stranded here and haven’t stolen anything.
Castmage armor on herself and move 30ft away.
While concentrating on the fire, Thorion quickly casts create water in an attempt to douse the flame.
Munkustrap is so startled that he tumbles off the rock he was sitting on to the sand below him.
Instantly both his magical daggers appear in his hand.
Before he gets the chance to attack, the fire goes out plunging the beach into darkness. His cat like eyes quickly adjust to the low light of the moon as he advances and slashes out with both his daggers.
Thorion douses the flame but the ghost still stands there!
"A little busy, here. Feel free to cheer me on if you don't want to rot here."
The ghost wails! You lie! It is no longer where it once was. One of you thieves has it!
Munkustrap strikes at the ghost, but his daggers do not do the damage he thinks they ought to do.
"You mean pretty lady?" Rii-Chi asks, somewhat slow on the uptake as a ghost appears from thin air. "Here she is!"
He pulls the locket from his neck and lobs it at the ghost, still thoroughly confused by the whole situation.
The ghost reaches for the tossed locket. My Aeshamara! He wails. So beautiful! As his ghostly hand touches the locket, he vanishes.
Thoroughly confused by what just happened, Thorion glances over at Rii-Chi. "What was that all about?"
Munkustrap looks slightly embarrassed, though he is not sure that any can see in the moonlight. "Well, Rii-chi and I found that on the Brine Demon. Didn't know that a ghost would chase after it. After the ghost appeared and my knives sliced through it, was hoping that you, Thorion, would be able to cast your spells and chase it away, but no matter, can't lose what you don't have."
Munkustrap sheathes his daggers in his sleeve as he kneels in the sand striking flint to spark a fire.
Neltji slowly creeps closer to the fire. Is it gone and did it take the locket with it? What was ‘it’ anyways and what are we to do if it returns?
"Found locket with pretty-lady." Rii-Chi says with a shrug. "Ghost liked pretty lady too..."
At Neltji's question he shrugs again, fur rippling. "Dead ship captain man. I think. Not come back now it has locket?"
Mischa just stares wide-eyed and stunned where the ghost appeared -- and then vanished.
"I... What..."
She shakes her head and nervously goes back to preparing their food...
The next day you make it back to camp where Gelik greets you with a All hail the conquering heroes!
Neltji pauses as Gelik greets them wanting to respond with a quip or retort. Instead she smiles at him. Thanks Gelik. How is everything here while we have been gone?
"Conkers?" Rii-Chi asks, looking around. "I see no conkers? Conkers are fun! We should play! I could be a conker hero!" He looks around to see if anyone got the joke, laughs and bounces over to Jask.
"You are free man Jask-friend. We found papers to make you free!"
Mischa smiles and hands the papers over to him to examine. "Congratulations."
Thorion simply finds a comfortable spot and makes himself comfortable while ignoring the non-helpful commentary.
Thanks Gelik. How is everything here while we have been gone?
Just Ducky! Making campfires. Fishing. Hunting. What's not to love?
"Conkers?" Rii-Chi asks, looking around. "I see no conkers? Conkers are fun! We should play! I could be a conker hero!" He looks around to see if anyone got the joke, laughs and bounces over to Jask.
Conkers? No. Bonkers, which you most definitely are, yes!
Tears fill the man's eyes as he is presented with proof of his innocence. Thank you all very much! I wish there was a way I could repay you. Wait! I know some mantras and focusing chants I could teach whoever is interested. I could teach them to you in about a day.
Thorion steps up and volunteers. "This will be an interesting change of pace."
"Man-bra's and focusing charts? Sounds like fun!" The camp 'Bonkers Hero' volunteers with a smile!
Munkustrap looks at Jask. "Not sure that is my thing, but I'll try anything once. There was this woman, chest like ...." Munkustrap trails off he he regales the group in another outlandish story of the Shackles.