Welcome to the IC thread for Episode 3 of the Adventures of Teyth and Rhaegar.
One-by-one, he turned Queensgangers against Captain Waynab, until he had enough of the crew to mutiny and take over the Annabel. Those four the crew did not trust were put ashore on the nearest island, which is where Waynab, Verrin, Xeran, and Cildad find themselves.
The island is a strange one. Perfctly circular, it's formed of a smoothish stone and covered with algaes and seaweed, though there's no other vegetation. The sides drop off so steeply that the dinghy which escorted you off the ship could not beach itself, and Short-John forced you to jump from it to the island. The Annabel has sailed off to the Northwest (the direction Waynab is currently shaking his fist and shouting curses in).
But the natural strangeness is nothing compared to the structure built on it, of which you have never seen the like. A vast metal dome, completely seamless, covers most of the island. It is covered with innumerable small holes, perhaps the diameter of a pinky finger. Looking through them you can make out a stone floor below. An arched entryway lies on the southern side of the dome, though there is a heavy metal door (with no visible means of entry) blocking passage. On the door is an inscription in a language none of you are familiar with.
The Annabel is approaching the horizon to the Northwest when a much smaller sail appears on the horizon to the South-by-Southeast. What do you do?
He tasked you with intercepting and sinking a small pirate vessel, the Annabel, which had plagued a few of his merchant ships of late. He gave you 1,500 gold (already accounted for you in your possessions) and promised another 18,500 when you brought him their flag, figurehead, or the head of their captain.
You haven't actually caught sight of the Annabel yet, but you've been tracking it by rumors in taverns, sightings by other vessels, and the hired divinations of various island shamans, witches, and priests, and you're pretty sure you're getting close.
Ahead of you, you suddenly see a small island, perhaps 100 feet in diameter and rising at most 8 feat above the see. It's profile, though, is shockingly circular, and more interesting is the domed structure rising above it. (A crude reconstruction, as viewed through your spy-glass. The island is actually that flat and round.)
Verrin begins to examine the giant metal colander that features as the centerpiece of the island.
K(Nature):Auto succeed with a +16
K(Engineering):
Linguistics:
Xeran paces and addresses the rest of the marooned crew, "I would not deem it the appropriate time to discuss matters of blame and to instead consider courses of action to remedy our current dilemma. Captain, should you wish to stop the band of mutinous wretches that overtook our ship, give me an order, and I shall cause them to descend to the floor of the ocean with a vicious whirlpool."
Meanwhile, Zoggie (Xeran's familiar, a water mephit) decides to take a quick dip. She floats in the water just off the shore and perks up when Xeran mentions a "vicious whirlpool". She eventually looks up to see the approaching ship on the horizon and yells, "Ooooh! A ship! A ship is coming! Lookie lookie!"
Waynab sighs. "No, let them go. If I had wanted them all dead, I could have killed them all easily. Let them go. Price of letting them be free, I suppose." He sits, dejected, on the metal dome.
Xeran says very matter-of-factly "Very well. Their deaths would not be necessary in either case. Zoggie, you mentioned a ship coming towards us?"
Zoggie leaps out of the water and excitedly points out the ship coming towards the island "Over there! Zoggie see a ship, but Zoggie think that ship doesn't see Xeran and rest of crew! Zoggie want crazy gnome to make big BOOM!" Zoggie waves her hands in the air to emphasize the "boom".
What a perceptive little creature - "crazy gnome" sounds about right! Oh well, I suppose it isn't entirely Waynab's fault that his crew were pirates. If we get out of this alive, I'll report that the Annabel and her crew have engaged in piracy, and then no doubt I'll meet them again.
Verrin laughs, before saying "Your pet is remarkably perceptive, Xeran. Signaling that ship is a good idea." She then calls out to Waynab, "So how about it, former captain?"
** spoiler omitted **
** spoiler omitted **
"Excellent plan Zoggie. That ought to catch their attention.
Say, have the rest of you taken the opportunity to observe this sort of island which we have been marooned upon for the interim? The architecture suggests that this dome was constructed over 10,000 years ago. And if you look at some of the plants, this variety, Kappaphycus alvarezii, is found primarily on the bottom of the sea floor. Furthermore, note the eroded nature of the coral here. Perhaps this "island" only recently rose to the surface of the ocean."
Now what was that golem's name again? Toph? No, Tooth? Teeth! That was it!
"You know, Waynab and I once traveled briefly with a golem called Teeth who claimed he was about that old. I wonder if he might know more..." Verrin muses.
** spoiler omitted **
Before Xeran gets a chance to respond, Zoggie says, "Yes! Zoggie will look!"
Zoggie dives underwater and checks out what lies beneath the island.
Xeran sighs and whispers something to Zoggie via message:
Zoggie perception:
Zoggie K(Nature):
Zoggie K(Arcana):
"Do be careful down there Zoggie. And while you're there, why don't you see if there are any kind of interesting plants or remnants of arcane devices or magicks?"
As Zoggie dives below the mysterious colander, Verrin turns to Cildad and asks him, "So how long have you and Waynab been together?"
Zoggie will dive down about 50 feet. Just enough to figure out if the island is floating or not. Zoggie will see the cylindrical nature of the island and report back.
After a little bit, Zoggie resurfaces and interrupts Verrin.
"Zoggie back! Island is completely a cylinder, made of same coral-metal rock Xeran talked about, yes! That's what Zoggie find."
I been sailin' with Waynab fer about three years, plus I fought with 'im fer two 'n' a bit in Joanna's Rebellion.
Xeran ponders the current situation. "Interesting, indeed. Verrin, would it be possible for you to describe your former golem acquaintance at all? Any knowledge you might be able to glean from your memories of him could prove to be relevant in our attempts to ascertain the significance of this island."
Tayth clearly sees the fireworks going off on the island. AEGAR, THERE ARE SPELLS EMANATING FROM THE ISLAND IN QUESTION. HYPOTHESIZE THAT THEY ARE TRYING TO SIGNAL US, ALTERNATE HYPOTHESIS, THEY HAVE EXTREMELY POOR AIM. AM MOVING TO INVESTIGATE.AEGAR, ARE YOU EVEN AWARE THAT AM SPEAKING. Tayth proceeds to steer the boat towards the island, completely oblivious to the fact that he may have just said something which could be construed as a joke.
The sailboat is about 45-50 minutes out, though we can fast-forward that if no one has anything else to do.
"Turf was an ancient golem who was designed to adapt to any situation, but his versatility also made him highly erratic. He had no social skills whatsoever, and was prone to malfunction. Plus, he was also kind of dumb for something so intelligent."
"I see... so an ancient construct has walked among your ranks. And by your description, I gather he was somewhat obselete compared to more modern means of acquiring construct companions. It is as said in the Code of Rylara, 'One who tries to succeed in everything will succeed in nothing.'"
Xeran takes the time to sit down on a rock and waits for the ship to approach. Before the ship approaches, Zoggie will hide behind rocks or whatever else she can find to remain unseen.
Zoggie stealth:
Rhaegar seems to recover from his drunken stupper, wipes his mouth with his sleave and then looks up at Teyth.
"Ah, an island eh? Seems to me that the Annabel may have gotten wind of us following her. Maybe she made port at this uncharted island to try and throw our trail. Little does her captain know how good old Rhaegar's nose is. Make straight for it Teyth."
Once the boat reaches shouting distance, Verrin shouts out, "Long time, no see! What brings you here? Also, I think we may have found a relative of yours!" Verrin then gestures at the large domed structure on the island.
"Hello there! Care if we join you? This island is not as hospital as most!"
Profession Sailor Check:
"You might be a fine sailing machine Teyth, but no one can land a ship on that thing. It looks like they are having some local celebration anyway, might be best if we don't interrupt the islanders and their rituals. You never know what spirits we might call down upon ourselves."
Tayth surveys the island in a manner which would be unblinking even if he had eyelids, searching in vain for a place to dock the boat. AEGAR, PLEASE EXCUSE ME FOR ONE MOMENT. APOLOGIZE. And without further ado he leaps overboard making the easy swim towards the island in a practiced manner.
Tayth says something which you cannot make out from shore and then leaps over the side of the boat in a flash of silver and begin weaving his way through the water in a streak nearly indistinguishable from the silvery reflections of light on the waves.
Yep, that's fine. Teyth reaches the island.
The island is a strange one. Perfctly circular, it's formed of a smoothish stone and covered with algaes and seaweed, though there's no other vegetation. The sides drop off so steeply you don't even think a rowboat would be able to come aground.
But the natural strangeness is nothing compared to the structure built on it, of which you have never seen the like. A vast metal dome, completely seamless, covers most of the island. It is covered with innumerable small holes, perhaps the diameter of a pinky finger. Looking through them you can make out a stone floor below. An arched entryway lies on the southern side of the dome, though there is a heavy metal door (with no visible means of entry) blocking passage. On the door is an inscription.
Xeran studies Teyth carefully before responding, "Greetings, construct. My name is Xeran Rylaras and I have only recently become acquainted with your old companions. It is quite serendipitous that you would arrive on this peculiar island. Allow me to introduce my familiar to you as well."
He then looks over towards Zoggie's hiding spot. "Zoggie, you may come out now. These sailors come in peace."
A blue imp-looking creature darts out of a series of rocks. She runs up to Teyth, looking somewhat bewildered, but quickly composes herself. She offers her hand and excitedly says,
"Hello mister! Zoggie glad to meet you very much, yes! Zoggie REEEEEEELY happy that nice rockman save Xeran and Zoggie. From now on, Zoggie will call you Rocky!"
You think that Xeran's familiar is a water mephit, commonly found in the Plane of Water. They are known to be jokesters, and Zoggie seems to fit the bill.
Rhaegar scowls to himself, and then mans the wheel. Pulling the ship around Rhaegar attempts ot circle the island.
Profession Sailor To circle the island:
You see the vessel begin to circle the island, going in loops about the place.
Teyth greets both Xeran and Zoggie with a handshake ALUTATIONS, AM TEYTH'ANDRASKEHAR. T HAS BEEN LONG SINCE SAW ONE OF YOUR KIND, MEPHIT. He turns back to Xeran. O YOU HAVE ANY INSIGHTS OR OBSERVATIONS ON THE NATURE OF THIS ISLAND?
He then turns to shout towards Raegar circling the island.
AEGAR, IT WOULD BE OF VALUE FOR YOU TO MAKE THE ACQUAINTANCESHIP OF THE INHABITANTS OF THIS ISLAND.
Xeran suggests, "In that case, Teyth, why don't you take a look at these peculiar inscriptions? Neither Verrin or I could determine their significance or translate them accordingly, but perhaps they would have more meaning to you."
Xeran leads Teyth to the inscription and will help him in his attempts to decipher them.
Teyth, please do make attempt the knowledge checks I offered.
You hear a large growling voice shout of from the ship,
"IT WOULD BE OF VALUE FOR YOU TO BUILD A PLACE TO LAND THE SHIP. I AM NOT SWIMMING OUT THERE AND LEAVING THE SHIP"
NE MOMENT, PLEASE, APOLOGIES. Teyth shouts back.
But for your first question, once you identify the script as Quadrapatian, you are in fact able to decipher it, as it's in Common.