Ko goes looking for a +1 Buckler.
high is good
The pirates work their tales over ale, fists, dice, and good ol'fashioned barking. The party finds tremendous success!
I believe you mean 2 days sir
Let's look for rumors & such. Maybe even hear about Harrigan?
I'll lead this, unless Lucky overrules me. If that happens, consider this an aid roll.
Boys, we need to stay here for at least another day, while my new weapon commission is completed. We should also see if we can find a corvus for sale...
Boys, we need to stay here for at least another day, while my new weapon commission is completed. We should also see if we can find a corvus for sale...
Kiltem looks a little confused. Does it matter what kind? A raven or a crow? The druid pauses again. Why do we want a bird anyway...
Kiltem looks a little confused. Does it matter what kind? A raven or a crow? The druid pauses again. Why do we want a bird anyway...
Boys, we need to stay here for at least another day, while my new weapon commission is completed. We should also see if we can find a corvus for sale...
Art blinks a couple times, then barks out a laugh. It's a siege weapon, my feathered friend! Makes it easier to board another ship. Although...it does take a bit of know-how to get it hooked up right. Is there anyone on the ship with any of that know-how?
I believe yes.
I think Adam gave Lucky a rank in Engineering. I know he did it specifically for siege weapon stuff
Yes, its under the "party bucket" header on Kiltem's sheet.
1233gp left after Kilt bought a couple CLW wands for party.
Ready to shove off? You could spend another day spreading your name, but if you're too successful, expect people to start looking for you.
I need 2 total days for weapon enchantment. How about looking for rumors/adventure on the 2nd day in port?
also, Kiltem, can you dock 500 from group pot? We're getting that corvus, dammit.
we have outstanding quests to do? I have to reread...will try to do that tomorrow.
Kiltem reminds the Capitan of Tidewater Rock. The druid can't think of anything else. His brains are weak, maybe he forgot something.
While waiting around, Art stumbles on a rumor most tasty, and a bit dangerous. Apparently the Pirhana was not far off in its worry about Captain Harrigan and the Wormwood left port a few days before you got here. They had just taken a ship and left as soon as it was retrofitted.
Art's silvered tongue gets a bit more. Apparently the Captain and the Wormwood set sail South on some secret treasure hunt, but their new ship.... their new ship headed Northwest to Brightglass Isle with all speed. Despite having next to no crew and no armaments aboard, they left as quick as the wind would take it. The contact adds, "It's a rare mistake for a man like that! He be cautious as Besmara's lover usually. He must be counting on speed to get his splinter crew to get to the isle."
Art gets a corroborating account. "Aye, the Captain had a meeting with the Hurricane King. You don't EVER be late for those. I'm guessing there's some sweet booty he didn't want to miss out on. That's why he sent such a poorly equipped crew."
Harrigan went south and sent a skeleton crew and undefended ship to Brightglass Island. That ship has a 48 hour head start.
Harrigan went south and sent a skeleton crew and undefended ship to Brightglass Island. That ship has a 48 hour head start.
Sounds like an easy ship to take if we can catch/find it.
Lets take the ship if we can. who is the hurricane king?
"They have two days lead on us Cap'n, but we know where they went, and we suspect they are picking up a juicy bit of booty.... maybe we lie in wait for them in the lane betwixt their first stop and a rendezvous with Harrigan?"
Does Lucky have any ideas as to where we might lay a trap?
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[dice=Know Local]1d20+12
"They have two days lead on us Cap'n, but we know where they went, and we suspect they are picking up a juicy bit of booty.... maybe we lie in wait for them in the lane betwixt their first stop and a rendezvous with Harrigan?"
[dice=Know Geography]1d20+9
Does Lucky have any ideas as to where we might lay a trap?
Kiltem smiles with a crooked tooth grin. He nods his head, Most superior predators are good at ambushes.
"Ok ambush it is! We lie in wait off shore or in a shipping lane we suspect they will use! Cap'n? Sound good to you? Where should we set up?"
Lucky ponders the charts and his extensive knowledge of piracy and seamanship, he thumps his fist on a certain spot on the map with decisive effect.
"If I were that ships captain, coming off Brightglass laden with booty, I would sail this strait here. Given the currents and weather we can expect... our ideal spot to get the drop on them will be here."
The rogue then points to a precise location with the tip of his dagger.
I take 20 (total of 26) for my know local check on the Hurricane king, and the next day I will get information about this island since it is at least a 2 day sale.
Of course we can let them sack the island and take their losses and get them when they try to leave.
Lucky points on the map.
Slappy gives a detailed rundown. Captain Kerdak Bonefist, the Hurricane King, is the leader of the Free Captains and accordingly effectively the head of state of the Shackles. He earned the position in 4674 AR by virtue of possessing the strongest fleet and holding Port Peril.
In addition to ruling Port Peril, largest of the ports of the Shackles, he also commands the man-o'-war Filthy Lucre, flagship of the pirate fleet. Bonefist has an obsession with firearms, and owns a magical pistol which he claims to have used to kill over a hundred people.
He would like to wrest control of the free port of Ilizmagorti from the Red Mantis, but so far he has been unable to get the other captains to agree to support such a bold venture. This could be the thing that draws Harrigan to the King.
His fortress home in Port Peril is known as Lucrehold. For the last few months though, he's been on the seas...
Lucky points on the map.
The druid looks to the skies, and the waves. He ponders the winds. After some consideration, he lays a course for the ship.
Survival
Kiltem sets a course for a five day sail to Brightglass.
It's smooth sailing until the last day. Foul weather slows progress, and it's hard to spot a good place to weigh anchor because of it.
The island shows no sign of recent civilization. A thin beach of yellow sand circles most of the island, except where steep gray crags jut from the sea. Bird songs echo constantly from the thick canopy that covers much of the island. The strangest feature is the black stone structure that rises from the water on the northeastern side, forming a jagged cliff whose surface and edges resemble a giant black coral reef. There is no sign of any other ship.
Kiltem does spot a place to weigh anchor and send an away team ashore though...
Do we think we beat the other ship here?
We see no signs of it?
Lets weigh anchor and beam the away team over.
The party takes the jolly boat over to the island. There seems to be no signs of the ship that's supposed to be here. Eventually something stands out from the thick flora. A twenty-foot-tall stone monument rises above the brush in this small clearing. The monolith bears rows of weathered inscriptions. About thirty feet to the southeast, at the far end of the clearing, a large waterfall pours down from the cliffs above into a clear pool of water. There is writing on the stone, but the language is something extremely exotic.
It's written in Cyclopean.
BOTTING FOR LUCKY:
Lucky looks at this strange writing in puzzlement. He tips is head each way, squints, looks up close....finally, he holds a hand over one eye and laughs.
OOOOOHHHH!!! This is written in Cyclopean! Maybe I can glean a few words... (with a linguistics of 19?)
So you can only read it with one eye?
Art only seems to be able to make out one word, and even then it's a shaky translation. He think it means either "lighthouse" or "temple."
So you can only read it with one eye?
The druid stares at the monolith and cant make much out. He does however cast Detect Magic and he scans the strange structure.
Finally, the druid figures there will be trouble on the island sooner or later. He decides to call upon the greatest of The Mother’s gifts. Kiltem wildshapes into a very large tiger. He pads around and sniffs the air.
Perception extra +8 for scent perception
Kiltem in tiger form feels a breeze on his whiskers that he didn't notice before. It's coming from the waterfall. He circles around behind it and finds something quite interesting.
A cracked landing of laid stone spreads before a pair of great stone doors. Vines and other plants grow over much of the waterfall-soaked granite that forms the walls and ceiling of this hidden entrance.
The doors, set about ten feet into the cliff face, are covered with runes and depictions of powerful one-eyed warriors and robed spellcasters fighting serpentfolk. Each side of the landing bears an alcove with a ten-foot-tall, chiseled humanoid statue with a single great eye, standing vigil. Piles of weeds and vines lie at the base of the doors and both statues, apparently recently cut or pulled from the rock. The floor of the stone landing is covered in mud and rocks. There are no visible windows or other entrances other than the main doors.
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Good kitty!! Art rubs Kilt-a-cat behind the ear a most excellent find! Shall we see who is ahead of us? Any other preparations we need to make?
He bounces his small skull pendant on his palm. The Lookout is ready.
So is Tooth... he touches his sword, then his new dagger pistol ...and Nail!
Survival already added scent
The druid uses all his senses to check the area. Can he tell anything about the recent people who were here? Humans? Pirates? Can he tell if they came back out of the big stone doors?
Kiltem struggles to find tracks due to the rain from earlier coupled with the waterfall, but confirms that these doors haven't been opened in a LONG time.
So...the flora was recently pulled down to uncover teh doors, but they weren't opened? Curiouser and curiouser...
Before anyone tries to start opening the stone doors, Tiger-Kiltem herds everyone back across the clearing to the big monolith.
Everyone gives this a good search, before we move on.
Perception
Several of the party even try climbing it to see if there is anything else to find/explore on the strange Cyclopean structure.
Climb
Lucky tries to scramble up for a peek.
Kiltem easily mounts the obelisk, but sees nothing of note. There doesn't seem to be any text, or insight as to what's going on here...
Kiltem easily mounts the obelisk, but sees nothing of note. There doesn't seem to be any text, or insight as to what's going on here...
Okay, back to the stone doors...
The doors seem heavy, but unlocked. Lucky sees no signs of traps either.
The doors seem heavy, but unlocked. Lucky sees no signs of traps either.
** spoiler omitted **
The rogue opens the doors...
The Tiger-druid is ready to pounce on any threat coming thru the doors.