From Shore To Sea (Inactive)

Game Master Baerlie

Eshshah thinks out loud "Seems normal enough, clearly not very prosperous though... What should our approach be?"/

We are looking for our assossiate mr Gerlach? By his last letters its possible the man is delusional and had made a fool of himself, but we need to check on him anyway.

Kiyomi barks encouragingly, but stays foxy.

"Ask around, I suppose," Clandelve says, though he appears to have no idea who to ask.

diplomacy (gather info): 1d20 - 2 ⇒ (9) - 2 = 7

"We ought look for the largest building; it will no doubt host those with whatever may pass for power in such a place," Iason says with a shrug. "Either a temple to Gozreh, or the house of the chieftain or mayor or whatever they call their leader... Or, possibly, a public house, though I cannot imagine a town such as this receiving many travelers."

Iason strides into the empty streets of the town with the assured self-confidence of a Chelish man on home soil. His servant trails behind, hood and cloak once more in place. Iason glances about for such a building as he has mentioned.

"Of course, if no such option presents itself, then we wait at the shore for the fishermen to start coming in for the night, and ask questions as they return."

As soon as he spots a villager, Iason attempts to corral them. "Good morrow, friend. Who ought we talk to, as visitors just arrived in town? We are told Blackcove has troubles, and we mean to set them right."

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (10) + 5 = 15

Mollok joins Clandelve and Iason in their efforts to gather information.

A. A. Diplom Iason: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (7) + 6 = 13

A typical cottage in Blackcove consists of a three-room structure on raised stone foundations with weathered wooden walls and a thatched roof. All show generations of constant wear and repair. The dark sand of the cove invades some of the newly abandoned cottages; their doors hang loose and rap out sharp cadences.

Nets hang half-knotted and boats thump hollowly against the docks. Other houses have been totally neglected for years if not decades, and some even have washed out to sea, leaving only their foundations.

A storm is brewing, and a light rain begins to fall as you begin their explorations, gradually increasing as night approaches. In addition, high winds blow off the cove.

A washed-out path provides the easiest route through the village.

Kiyomi whines a bit, unnerved by the creepiness of the seemingly abandoned town.

This village seems abandoned. Maybe... Mollok stops for a moment squinting his yellow eyes. Did you see that figure dive into the waves by the docks?

"Just looks like everybody is out fishing, I doubt they can afford much leisure. My vision is clouded by smoke at long distances so I will take your word about the figure, perhaps the Skum even lurk in town while the 'folk go fishing."

Iason frowns as they progress into the village and find... nobody, and the houses claimed by sand and sea. "This doesn't seem right," he mutters to himself.

At Molluk's words, he nods, sharply. "I did. The man-- if it was a man-- standing at the far end of that dock.... it seemed to me he simply stepped off into the waves? I cannot be sure at this distance, and with the rain... Perhaps it was not man at all, but one of the skum?"

His bodyguard intones a bit of doggeral in a rasping tone:
"Water always shapes itself to its holding vessel
"And shifts and shivers like a whore who closer yet would nestle.
"Untamed by bowl or channel, though, the sea's a natural liar
"Hiding bones and secrets, beyond the reach of fire."

"Yes, thank you for that," Iason says absently, shading his eyes with his hand as he peers towards the dock.

"Hello!" he shouts after a moment, his voice loud in the sea air-- but whipped away by the rising winds. He calls to the seemingly abandoned homes: "Is anybody here? We are travelers, seeking succor!"

As he waits for any response from the more intact homes, Iason says to the others at a normal volume, "Adler didn't mention the town in such bad shape as this. Half these houses if not more look to be reclaimed by the elements. I suggest we approach everything cautiously, and not rush forward to anything."

Kiyomi again pads over to Iason's friend and stares at him for a moment, having heard much wisdom coming from him. Her curiosity about this creature increases the more she learns of him.

Slowly Mollok tries the door of a nearby house.

Etrigan crouches down and offers the fox another grin, as well as one of his hands to sniff. (The hand so offered has nasty claws on the end of it, and smells of sulfur, brimstone, and, currently, saltwater crustacean.)

"Little foxy doxy, jammed all full with moxie
"Eating your biscuits, like any good stray
"Along came a devil who in carnage reveled
"And who offered to ruin your day--"

Iason is abruptly at the elbow of the cloaked figure, clearing his throat. He issues a stream of harsh-sounding language at his servant. "একযোগে আরে থামো তো. আপনি নিয়ম. হুমকি, কর্মচারী হতে ছেড়ে দিন. আপনি আজ রাতে শৃঙ্খলাবদ্ধ করা হবে. সহ্য করা হবে না আমার ঘুরাঘুরি ২ বিরুদ্ধে, তেরছা বা উহ্য বা না জানি. এটা একটা আদেশ."

There's an annoyed snarl from beneath the hood, and then Etrigan turns and lopes towards one of the ramshackle huts on the far side of the street, running like an ape with knuckles occasionally dragging the ground. The brutish figure rips open the door of the hut he has found, with far less care than Molluk used on his.

"Anyone home? Halfling or gnome?"

Still enthralled with the strange creature despite his smell, Kiyomi gives a quick bark of irritation at Iason and then follows along with the group, sniffing up a storm.

You see a man fixing his boat at the docks with a simple rope and unloading a barrel. "Hey, do you need help?" he asks. "The houses are all empty, everybody is out fishing or at the lighthouse." The man waves you to get over.

Eshshah speaks to her companions as she heads over "See, all out fishing."

Then in a much quieter voice "Be on your guard though...

"Every last man, woman and child is out fishing?" asks Li, regarding man and boat with amused detachment. "And with them all chickens, dogs, pigs and rats? I thought I understood Avistan better than it seems I do."

"Women and children are in the lighthouse, you know." the man says. "Excuse me, my name is Nicolaius Gavendi." the aging, ugly man with distorted features and a keen shipman’s axe tucked in his belt says. He looks into his barrel. "Bah! Poor catch again! Something stirs the deeps, and the fish flee in fear! We haven’t had catches this poor in years!" he says. "How can I help you. You are not visiting Blackcove because of the nice weather, I suppose."

I guess you already saw the map of Blackcove. You are at the docks in the middle of the town.

Kiyomi bounds up and sniffs at the few fish the man caught, then barks happily at him in way of greeting.

Hello mister. My name is Mollok, we are looking for mr Gerlach. Do you know where we can find the man? By the way, why are all the women and children at the lighthouse? The tiefling says trying to start a casual conversation with the man.

Iason eyes the man sharply, while gesturing for his servant to hang back and not come too close, yet.

"Yes... why are your women and children out in the lighthouse? Is that customary, Master Gavendi?

"As Molluk says, we're seeking a chap of our acquaintance. How long have your catches been poor? Has something happened, of late, to frighten the fish?"

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (11) + 5 = 16
Sense Motive: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4

Kiyomi barks happily, jumping around the man and showing how nice and friendly the group is.

Diplomacy aid: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (17) + 2 = 19

Mollok smiles to the man and nods.
A.A. Diplom: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (4) + 6 = 10
SM on the answer: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (20) + 15 = 35

"We fled there for our own safety, venturing out only to collect mussels, pay homage at the shrine, and scavenge for supplies. The rest of us is praying to the gods. It's customary since the gods have foresaken us." Gavendi answers. "I haven't seen Gerlach for some time now. Recently he was traveling to the ruins of Nal-Kashel very often and one day he did not return. Maybe his boat turned over at one of the sharp rocks and he was killed by the sharks. We looked for him, but without success. I'm sorry for your loss." after a minute the man continues "The interesting part is that since Gerlach disappeared the catches started to get poor. The men say it's because of the underwater monsters which appeared, but I have not seen one."

The man gets friendlier as he talks to you. Mollok thinks that he speaks the truth and does not hide anything.

"Please excuse me, I have to take care of the catch." Gavendi says and takes the barrel with him to a house.

Iason quirks both brows upwards at this information. "Hold just a moment longer if you would, sir-- the shrine, you mention-- a shrine to what god? Gozreh, or some other? How long ago was Gerlach last seen?"

Before the man leaves Mollok asks a couple more questions.
Why are your people hiding in the lighthouse? What is happening to this place? And how can we get to those ruins?

"Conditions seem especially dire, hidin' all together..." Clandelve mutters.

Gavendi turns around and answers "A shrine to Asmodeus. I haven't seen Gerlach for weeks. He disappeared from his cottage and hasn't been seen since then. We are hiding in the lighthouse, because the sea and it's creatures already took some of us. Look at the houses, some of them are almost washed away. The only way to get to those ruins is by rowing boat. But I suggest you find a safe place to sleep that night, the storm is getting stronger." he says and points at the sky.

Clandelve's sharp eyes catch some tracks behind the man.

"Aye, yer villagers are likely dead, 'less they can breathe underwater," the dwarf scowls. Somethin's dragged 'em back ta the sea..."[/b] he says as he points out the tracks to the others.

survival: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (14) + 9 = 23
sense motive: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (10) + 1 = 11

Perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (2) + 8 = 10 with low-light vision and scent

Kiyomi sniffs around where Clandelve was looking, but unfortunately her nose is too filled with the smell of dead crab to get anything useful.

Surv: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (19) + 13 = 32
SM: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (20) + 12 = 32

Thank you mister Gavendi, good luck. While looking at the beach Mollok finds fresh seaweed and clawed footprints in the sand. He points it to the group.
Look, it is as if something came up out of the water to drag the villagers back into the sea.

Iason survival: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (19) + 1 = 20
Iason Sense Motive: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3

Iason looks with the others towards the tracks in the sand, frowning. "Yeees," he murmurs.

"Hm. Who is your priest here, then? Can the clergy of our Master of Law do nothing about these-- snatchings? Well, I suppose the faithful of Asmodeus such as myself may help see a return to law and order in these parts, if your current authority cannot do so," he says with a faint smile. (The sound of a snort can be heard coming from beneath the hood of Iason's bodyguard, who is standing some feet away.)

Turning to the others, he says in a lower voice, "Well, then: shall we seek to use one of these buildings for the night, and try to investigate tomorrow with a fresh dawn? Or do we brave the weather, to start as soon as we can?"

GM, what time of day is it right now?

It's evening, and becoming dark already. The storm and rain is getting stronger.

"Our pastor is Lira Saruven. At this time of the day you will find her at the lighthouse, but she's more like what you would call a druid and less a clearic." Gavendi answers and starts to drag the barrel with a few fishes to his house.

I has returned from GenCon/

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10

Eshshah nods to her companions acknowledging their correctness in the direness of the situation.

"I know I spoke of haste earlier but think we should join them in the lighthouse, break bread and learn more about these shores before venturing out into the sea at night."

Clandelve nods at Eshshah's suggestion.

"Ye speak wisdom...we should join th' lighthouse tanight."

Mollok smiles at the mention of a druidess. Yes, I think its best if we avoid the dark for now until we gather more facts. Lets make our way there. He says agreeing with the group.

Kiyomi barks her agreement and starts toward the lighthouse with the others.

Li remains calm at the mention of the dark god of the east, for all things must are in balance in the universe, and for every dark god, there is one of light.

"The villagers are in the lighthouse, as is safety. Let us go there now."

He looks around for a boat.

Just confirming, GM: the only way out to the lighthouse is by boat? On the map it looks like the rocks miiight connect, but I'm guessing the gaps between them are too big.

"Very well," Iason says, in agreement with the others. "At the least I should like to speak to this Lira, and see that the worship of Asmodeus is being properly conducted, here."

He eyes his servant a moment, then holds out a hand. "You'd be a burden on any rowboat. Go home; I'll call you when I have need of you again."

The bodyguard gives a lazy shrug of his brawny shoulders, as if to say it's all the same to him. Etrigan removes his tattered indigo cloak and a pentagram made of brass, handing them over to his master. Without the cloak serving as a half-hearted disguise of his features, the bodyguard is more obviously inhuman than ever.

"Farewell, farewell
"I'm off to Hell
"For this damp clime does not agree
"With constitutions such as mine.
"Adieu, toodle-oo
"So nice to have met you
"We'll meet again beneath the deep blue sea--"

"Excuse me," Iason interrupts irritably, "I said go, not compose an exit monologue." He gives his servant a little push in the center of his chest, and the muscular figure abruptly disappears from view. (The scent of brimstone and sulfur momentarily becomes stronger, but quickly fades to naught in the sea air.)

"Well then; let us hunt a boat," Iason says brusquely.

Kiyomi whimpers a little at the disappearance of Etrigan, having decided she likes the strange creature. She then follows the others in hunting out a boat.

The imposing structure rests on a jagged stretch of rock that juts out several hundred feet from shore. The crashing waves have worn away most of its paint, yet the lighthouse gleams a dirty bone white against the dark cliffs of the cove. Large windows punctuate the cardinal directions on the second floor, and the top story glows with a bright red light of obviously arcane origin.

The rocky way to the lighthouse is hazardous by foot. You can see a man in a row boat near the lighthouse. He waves and comes closer.

The lower story of the lighthouse is 50 feet in diameter and damp with collected pools of seawater. A rusted staircase rises 15 feet to the floor above. Here, blankets, cots, and makeshift beds take up the entirety of the 40-foot-diameter floor, where the villagers have taken refuge for almost 4 days, following the last attack. The stairway continues another 15 feet to the top of the lighthouse, where a 5-foot-wide walkway encircles the magically blazing light enclosure.

Built to ward ships away from the dangers of the sunken spires in these shallow waters, sailors call this lighthouse the Red Eye of Asmodeus. The three dozen frightened citizens who remain in Blackcove have fled here for their own safety.

"Greetings! My name is Gervus, I'm the lighthouse keeper. I think it's best to use the boat as long as it is still possible. The storm is making the sea rough." he shouts through the storm and rain.

Clandelve eyes the boat warily.

"Ye mean ta say we 'ave a perfectly good path o' stone an' ye want me ta get in a boat!? Defies common sense, lad!" the dwarf yells into the rain.

Okay, so to be clear, the path by land is too treacherous, so he wants us to get in the boat, right? If so, someone else can wave the man closer...just trying to RP what this dwarf would say.

Mollok looks at the treacherous wet rocks and wonders if Clandelve has lost his marbles. Friend, lets take the boat. Those rocks are a gruesome accident waiting to happen.

Turning to the lighthouse keeper he yells.
Good to meet you good sir, please bring the boat. We are looking for shelter for the night.

"The rocks are wet from the rain, they are slippery like ice. Believe me, the algae growing on the rocks will make you drop faster than you can say shark. Which are most likely waiting in the water to get a bite if you drop." the man answers. He's now at the shore, trying to balance the boat against the waves so you can board.

Gervus is a strangely hunched man with a lopsided gait, he carries the distinctive look of the villagers of Blackcove: his skin is pallid and waxy, his dark, thin hair recedes into a sharp widow’s peak, and his brow furrows deeply, showing only the faintest wisps of eyebrows. The man might have been uniquely handsome once, with a wide, toothy grin and large eyes, but the harsh Environment has taken its toll.

Kiyomi jumps into the boat and barks at the others to hurry and get in as well.

Eshshah joins Kiyomi in the boat.

Li Shuo walks lightly onto the boat, quickly assuming the rolling gait familiar to sailors everywhere. He stands relaxed at the gunwale, observing the lighthouse.

"Bah!" Clandelve spits. "Ye've no concept o' dwarven stability...traversin' that cliff'd be like walkin' o'er a wee stone fence fer a dwarf! Me feet'd never leave the ground! But if the rest o' ye won't venture ta take th' best route, we best stick together!" the dwarf murmurs as he enters the boat.