Corvax was just tucking into the second course and swallowing his third glass of the excellent wine when he hears a muffled scream and a few faint thumps from the deck of the ship. With a great effort he swallows his half chewed mouthful and clears his throat.
"Sorry t'interupt bu' I think we go' a fight on our 'ands. There is a load a'thumpin' an' shoutin' comin' from t'deck Cap'n an' your crew don't seem the types ta scuffle wit' out cause."
Corvax pushes back his chair, stands and walks over and pulls open the door to the cabin to go find out what in the hell is going on.
Yeah, and I don't expect them to...what? the surprised captain interrupts his talk with Winter and looks at Corvax...Oh I hate this shithole of a pirate den!
He grabs the sabre that was lying on the large desk and storms ouf of the room. Through the opened door you can smell burning wood...
just when we get to a meal that I recognize and enjoy. These feckers are gonna pay I tell ya.
Kabal jumps up and races from the cabin behind the captain drawing his falcata as he goes.
Corvax takes the Captain's violent reaction as a cue to draw his own blade and charges out onto the deck after the other man, the smell of smoke and the knowledge of what that smell meant on a ship inspiring him to a full tilt sprint up the narrow corridor, sword held low before him.
As you reach the deck, you spot the bodies of Pedaro and another sailor, both have been stabbed from behind. Several figures wearing dark cloaks have just left the ship and run down the quay, trying to melt with the masses populating the harbour. They have set the sails on fire and barricaded the hatch that leads to the quarters of the crew. Obviously they tried to do the same with the captain's cabin since scattered boxes and carts lie around in front of it.
Corvax! You saved our lifes, they wanted to burn us alive! Sable, Sebastian, I know wizards have the power to quench flames or at least can control them, can you do anything to extinguish that fire?
The flames have slowly begun to eat the sail, soon they will reach the mast...
Why cant we get a moment of rest?!
Kabal will get to work on the mess thats barricading the crew quarters.
Corvax takes one look at the burning sails, decides his skillset doesn't exactly cover putting out a fire that big and instead charges off down the gangplank after the dark cloaked figures, sprinting as hard as he can to catch up with them before they disappear into the crowds.
Strength -
"Unfortunately my magic is more subtle. Controlling fire is beyond me."
Sebastian rushes to Aid Kabal by throwing a shoulder into the pile blocking the door.
Winter steps forward and Enlarges Kabal, "That should get the job done quicker!
Sable uses the power of his levitation spell and by that is able to cut the burning sail off the parts that haven't caught fire by now. The burning cloth falls to the deck and Josper and Winter are able to throw it into the port basin. Meanwhile the enlarged Kabal has freed the trapped crew who storm outside, alarmed by the smell and the sounds.
The ship is saved, but wouldn't have Corvax heard the commotion, you all would have burned and died like poor Pedaro and Joseli who lie on the deck in large puddles of blood.
Corvax is able to follow the attackers for quite a while but in the end loses them as they part and further melt with the crowd. Frustrated he has to give up the pursuing.
Winter checks the bodies over, and realising its too late, says a prayer on their behalf.
"It seems Captain that there are agents looking to prevent our passage, I am sorry for your loss"
The captain looks over to the city proper and a vengeful fire burns in his eyes
As soon as I have brought you to Devil's Elbow, I will find the one who was responsible for that. Thank you for your blessings, Winter. We won't have repaired the damage until tomorrow and I would gladly have you stay aboard to help my men take watches this night, okay?
"I feel duty bound to at least do my part as you have done yours, and will of course oblige staying aboard and maintaining vigil with your men"
A very large Kabal will use his new height and strength to help out in any way.
Looks like we'll be toasting Corvax this evening. You can count me in for watch tonight as well captain and if any of those lilly livered bastards dares to show up again I'll cut them down.
Corvax returns to the ship panting with exertion and shaking slightly with adrenaline and anger. He walks back up the gangplank and then stands hand on knee for a bit to get his breath back before speaking.
"Nearly 'ad t'f&!!ers bu' they cut through a fish market an' I lost'em. Wha' kinda man starts a fire ona ship? Cap'n, we get back from t'elbow an' you ain't found 'oo 'ad this done, I'll find the bastard meself an' deliver 'im to wha'ever punishmen' you see fi'."
Thank you Corvax...setting a ship ablaze and trapping men in it is plain murder. Where I come from there is only one punishment for that.
The jovial expression is now gone from the youthful captain's face. He shouts some orders to his men who start to clean up the mess and bring the two bodies below. Then he leaves for his cabin and slams the door shut.
We should split up the watches so that there's brains and brawn on each one. Winter and Bree, Sebastian and Corvax and Sable with me. Plus thatll spread out the better than normal eyesight some of you have.
"Makes sense ta me. I'll take firs' watch if nobody minds, no' gonna be able ta sleep fer a while after all t'excitement. Make sense too as me an' Sebastion don't have fancy eyes an' first watch'll be t'brightest."
Alrighty then pal. Second or last makes no difference to me. Ill be sleeping til then.
Kabal will strip out of his breastplate and make up his bedroll by the center mast since he wasnt assigned a cabin. PLus he'd be close by if there was need.
"Mother is an elf. So I have some advantage in the hours around dusk and dawn."
Sebastian will take up station in the prow. Looking landward, but on occasion checking seaward as well.
Perception checks for Kabal's watch.
Perception checks
Winter takes his shift, and seems to be not terribly bothered by the gentle movement of the ship at its mooring.
Percep
Percep
The night is quiet and the crew is able to organise some cloth from one of Zincher's warehouses. As soon as he had heard of your problems, he had sent some men to make Creesy an offer that the captain couldn't reject.
As the new morning dawns, the captain assembles his crew at the centre of the deck and the ship's Gozreh priest, Alusard, speaks a silent prayer for the fallen of the last day and bids Gozreh to send fortunate winds.
Once the short ceremony is over, Creesy shouts his commands in a way only a captain can and walks up to the wheel.
A fresh breeze blows from behind and under full sails, accompanied by a large flock of seagulls, you leave the harbour.
Kabal calmly gets out of the way of the crew and takes a spot leaning against the rail. He thought it strange that Clegg had learned of their need for more sail so fast and wouldnt put it past the man to ahve started the whole mess just to make some gold. He kept his eyes on the horizon and hoped that their trip would be over soon.
The winds don't remain favourably for long and thus the journey takes an additional hour and the sun has already reached its peak when you approach the forested island. It's quiet as the ship draws closer - no signs of life are immediately apparent. A low ridge forms a spine along the length of the island, its slopes covered with dense forest and its shores affording very few places to land safely. Two stone towers rise above the level of the surrounding trees along the top of the island's ridge, one to the east and one at the island's center. A thin plume of smoke rises from a point about midway between those two towers at the height of the island's ridge. But all things you can make out are overshadowed by the gigantic crater on the island's southeatern slopes. The crater must be several hundred feet wide and is surrounded by burnt trees that have been knocked flat.
You really wanna land here?
The captain asks, without the bravado that is so typical for his voice.
Bree gather's her things and heads to where the gangplank will let her down, she is determined to save her brother and right now this is the best lead she has had since they were separated.
Kabal turned to the captain with a wry smirk writ plain on his face.
I wouldnt say that we wanna land here bub but we are determine to do so. We got some dark days ahead of us but if we dont find that drow b1tch soon the rest of you might never wake up to the sun again.
"This looks like the spot. The hundreds of foolhardy scoundrels that raced here before us can't be wrong."
Getting a good look at the crater,"If that Drow were up to whatever the Blot was, I do wonder if this was some form of divine retribution. Luckily she was not working that evil from beneath that cave beneath our home."
Creesy looks over the railing and nods as if speaking to an invisible companion. After a moment of looking through his spyglass, he says
We'll land at the old harbour. I won't stay close to the island but sail back to Riddleport. If you want to be picked up again, use this he hands Sebastian a scroll when you are on top of the tower in Witchlight. Then we will set sails and take you with us, kay?
Then he takes a second parchment out of his pack and says Here, a map of the island. The old harbour is here , ok?
"Thank you Captain, we will signal as you direct. I hope our stay is not extended."
Winter prepares to disembark.
The captain steers the ship around the island and soon the old harbour comes into view. Dilapidated warehouses, some collapsed labourer houses and a barracks sit around the piers that are falling into disrepair.
The scene is quiet and the captain relaxes a bit.
I won't dock...we will put you and your supplies in our sloop and row you over, kay?
Between the buildings you spot several arm-long bright red centipedes.
Winter was halfway through unpacking his shiny platemail, then begins repacking it, preferring to stay in his Leather until the smaller boat reaches landfall.
"As you wish Captain"
Perception
Winter is too preoccupied with the repack to notice anything.
Perception -
Kabal was eyeing the small boat with disdain when his attention was grabbed by the sight of the centipedes on shore.
We got bugs near those buildings and from the looks of them I wouldnt want to get bit.
He hoisted his kit and stowed it in the sloop as they prepared to drop it into the water. He took the time to shake hands with the captain and a few of the sailors and climbed on in the craft.
Fare you well Creesy. Appreciate the pick up offer.
Sebastian stows the scroll and map. "Many thanks Captain."
Looking out over the docks, "Strange that no one is here. With so many prospectors, I would expect at least some activity." It is then, when Kabal mentions the centipedes. "I guess that would explain it. Lara had said the island was overrun, it seems that is still the case."
"Those are rather large bugs... I'm sure if we are careful to not get too close to them they'll leave us alone, right?" Bree's voice seems as if she is not giving reassurance but asking for it instead.
As you man the sloop Sebastian muses a bit about the centipedes and concludes tht these insects are not more dangerous than cats. However, they are very uncommon in these regions and normally stem from Garund. They are called fire centipedes since they are quite immune to great heat and Sebastian is sure that these creatures could ruin the island's ecological system in mere months...this has most probably already happened.
The sailors row you over and after they are sure you aren't attcked at once, return to the ship. Creesy has meanwhile already turned the Cloud and you feel a bit awkward now that you are alone.
As the ship begins to move out of sight you suddenly hear a gruff dwarven voice coming from one of the dilapidated buildings
Parlay-ay! Goldhammer Expedition here, we don't wanna foight, just talk!
Kabal listened intently to the Sebastian's description of the snake like bugs and filed it all under 'not a threat' in that very small part of his brain that handles such matters. When he heard the voice he immediately tried to figure out where it came from.
Perception -
The door of one of the houses is thrown open and several crossbows are poked outside. After a moment they are pulled back and a sturdy, old dwarf steps out of the building.
Come over if ye are neither demons nor aliens! I'm Gravin Goldhammer and Oi dun' wanna foight!
Aside to Kabal, "It means to speak, to talk. Parlay, that is. They use it on ships and in battle a lot when one party is asking the other for peaceful talks. Kinda like a temporary truce to sort things out. Copper use to use that word a lot when talking with other... uh, groups like ours."
"Greetings, I am Bree Longfield. This is Kabal, Sebastian, Corvax, Sable and Winter; and we have not come to fight with you."