The unexpected encounter with the Queen's Hand has provided you with quite a windfall and five potential new crew.
Thren takes some time to get an idea about what they'd plundered from the Queen's Hand while Sandara brings up the newcomers to meet her.
"I see we have a handful of brave lads and lasses, all who seem to think that Chelish boats are a bad place to be," the tiefling begins congenially. "This is the Fearsome Tide, the very ship once sailed by Captain Jemma Redclaw. I am her new captain, Free Captain Threnody Nocturne." Her smile is bright and open; counting up loot does seem to make her happier.
"I said I'd give any of you a berth on my ship if you wanted to leave the devil-crazed idiots behind. I meant it. I've gotten to talk to a few of you but not all. I still want to hear who you are and what you bring to my ship."
She awaits replies expectantly.
Riori steps forward without hesitation. Stripped to just a tunic and leggings, you can see the woman with wavy blue-black hair and violet eyes is obviously half-elven, but compared to the other half-elf on the ship (Sal), she is relatively tall where Sal is short, and quite slight where Sal is muscular. She squints at Thren as though she has trouble seeing her, even though she stands not that far away.
"Captain, I am Riori Stargazer, a servant of Desna. Perhaps in your search of the ship you found my belongings, which would include my cassock and starknives, which would make that more apparent, but..." She waves a hand to summon a simple sparkly orison. "I have traveled many years in my homeland of Varisia and upon the sea, and have served as a ship's healer among other things in the past, including fighting all manner of bandits and undead. As a full disclosure, my vision is impaired, but Desna has compensated with giving me gifts of magic and prophecy. As such, I am also gifted in reading the Cosmic Caravan--understanding that interpretations can be misleading or incomplete at times," She pre-emptively glares at Ekote, daring him to comment on it. "But it can be a helpful ability when one is at an impasse or having trouble hunting particular quarry."
She continues. "Having traveled far I have learned to negotiate and flatter when needed to survive, but I will be blunt as I find honesty is the best policy in these conversations: I have my reservations about joining a band of pirates, but I know of your reputation in freeing slaves and slaying monsters, which I would be glad to assist in. Moreover, as a Korvosan I am well familiar with the dark legacy Cheliax leaves behind, and obviously there are too many of them in Shackles waters of late. I would like to join you and help clear the seas of such filth, if you would have me."
She nods to Ekote, standing nearby. "I met Ekote here in Plumetown some time ago and he is an impressive seacaster--the most impressive I have seen. But he can speak for himself."
The man to whom Riori refers stands easily, arms over his chest. He's taller than the captain, a full six feet in height. But his frame is a bit sparing, though there is a little bit of a belly on him. Tanned skin, dark hair flowing down his shoulders, and blue eyes give away his origins as from Garund, though where? He wears a pale blue robe wrapped around his body and sandals as well.
"Captain." He bows politely and speaks with a slight accent. "I am Ekote Avzim, formerly of Sengkor. It is as Riori said. We met in Plumetown, each seeking guidance of our fates. The guidance of the seers sent us to find heroes. We found...Chells." He looks at Riori, frowning slightly. "Perhaps the fates sent us a roundabout path? I cannot say. But what I can say is that I am indeed a seacaster. The blood in my veins is nothing but the sea itself. I come from a family of many generations that has loved the sea and worked on its shores. I learned my craft at Magaambya; I left a brother there when the sea's call grew too strong. And here I am now. My skills are in the arcane arts, particularly the magic of water, but I have tried to learn other spells over time to increase my usefulness in other ways. Consider me at your service, if you need a seacaster or not."
Thren looks at Sal and Sandara, one eyebrow raised, a half-smirk on her face. "We could use a seacaster, and another healer." She turns to Riori. "I think we found your belongings, Ekote's too, and you can have them." She smiles and then turns to her officers.
"Your opinions? We've had a time keeping seacasters for some reason. And we do get banged up a lot. I'm sure the other three will be able warriors too." Thren adds, remembering the men she found in the brig.
"The more the merrier, 's'far as I'm concerned," says Sal. "I don't reckon they're spies and we can use all the help we can get. Though we should warn'em we tend to get into rough waters from time to time. Even this island we 'won' in the Regatta is like to have surprises. Though if they can survive the Shackles and being taken prisoner by the Chelish Navy, they can probably handle what gets tossed our way."
She straightens. "I'm Sal, Master-at-Arms here. As keeper of discipline an' the like I guess I'm obligated to note you'll be expected ta earn yer keep, and do as our bosun Yamtisy assigns ya. But it's not like we run crew ragged or nothin'; I wouldn't stand fer it myself if we did."
Riori shoots up an eyebrow at the suggestion of spies but shrugs. As Sal finishes, she says, "I am more than able to earn my keep--and shall."
"As Riori has said. I will earn my keep. I know my way around a ship well enough, and my magic can certainly help deal with any 'surprises' we encounter." The lanky mage agrees. "So we are off to an island?" He asks mildly.
"Good answers, the both of you. Welcome aboard." The captain smiles.
"As for the 'island' Sal mentioned...yes. We're off to claim one. The winner of the Free Captain's Regatta is awarded a seat on the Pirate Council and an island of their own. Or so they said. What Bonefist meant was that I can't claim my seat unless I also claim the island he picked out for me and secure it as a base within a season. So we're on our way there now to do just that. I hope you both manage as well on land as water. It's sure to be full of one-eyed giants, or undead, or giant bugs, or all of that plus more, given the last island I had the displeasure to explore." Thren raises a hand to her chest in memory.
"Good timing though. Now we can leave a stronger force behind to secure a base camp while we clean the place off, one step at a time."
In the light of day it is easier to distinguish between the three unkempt Garundi men. Taye is shorter than the other two, but still tall, more than 6 feet, and looks older. All three of the men bear a remarkable resemblance, enough to make you think they must be related.
Taye introduces himself first, "I am afraid, Captain Nocturne, that these men are not sailors of the great seas. We know well enough the small craft for paddling in rivers and lakes. Before a short time ago I would have said that the Bdonge is vast, but now I know that it is only like fingers splayed against a great tree when compared to this water. But we are not useless men. We can hunt, and fight, and we are makers of useful items. What you ask of us we will attempt, for you have returned to us our freedom. I am Taye, as I said before, and these two are my nephews Issalu and Desi. Issalu is the son of my first sister and Desi is the son of my fourth sister. They are only recently come into being, but they are men."
Issalu is taller, and his hair is closely and roughly cropped, which you suspect is likely a punishment for some infraction aboard ship. He has a scar on his right hand that looks like the results of a rope burn poorly healed. "Thank you all for your mercy. I am Issalu, I am well known as a shaper of wood and and the quiet of my feet. My spear is yours. Or, I should say my sword, since that is what I have."
Desi is slower to speak, and quiet. He, too, is tall, but his frame is heavier than the other two. You would not want to squeeze by him in a doorway, unless that is what you are into. His eyes are an unusual yellow-orange. "I am Desi, and I am your humble. I am far from the trees of my home, but I will defend this clan as my own."
The captain takes in their words and carefully answers back in Polyglot.
"I do need warriors. I also need those who can build. A ship is made of wood, so a shaper of wood is certainly welcome here." She nods to Issalu. "I am also not averse to warriors on my ship. All pirates learn to fight, but they are mariners before warriors for the most part. I will also not turn down huntsmen." Now she looks to Taye and Desi.
Presuming their capabilities get translated to her, or she hears of them in Elven, Sal observes, "Sounds like the got the right kinda skills to help us set up a base camp on the island--and get things fortified once we clean any undesirables out."
Meanwhile Riori works on recovering her gear. Re-dressed in her armor and purple Desnan robes she looks much more the part of priest. With her tinted specs on she looks a bit bookish, perhaps (although some cruder might joke about other reasons people in pirate lands wear tinted lenses), and certainly thoughtful as she explores. Her Shingles-origin accent seems at odd with the serene priest look, though perhaps makes her seem a little more "real," somehow.
She begins to explore the ship, in part to satisfy curiosity and in part to memorize the layout well enough that she has a sense of what is beyond her immediate range of vision at any given moment.
"With your permission, Captain, I will rearm myself and then acquaint myself with your vessel. Starting with my berth to stow my gear, and then the rest of this wonderful ship." Ekote bows lightly as he speaks.
Once free to go, the mage gets his gear and works his way around the ship, familiarizing himself with the vessel. At the end of the day, he is found at the bow, watching the water cleave to the passing of the mighty vessel.
Thren pilots the Fearsome Tide past the shoals and reefs with practiced skill. "Eyes up! Conchobar, if you see anything up there, let's hear about it!" The tiefling woman calls.
The water wizard keeps his eyes on the waters about the ship in case of hidden foes, such as grindylows, sahuagin, giant crabs, sharks, or other unpleasant wildlife.
Having evaded pursuit, you continue on toward your prize, known as The Isle of Empty Eyes. As you approach the island, you spot a number of low lying shoals and barrier reefs surrounding your destination. You can navigate these hazards to find safe harbor or leave the ship off shore and use ships boats to reach the island.Either make 3 DC 20 sailing checks or 3 DC 30 Knowledge (nature) checks. Spotters can assist the pilot with DC 20 Perceptions checks to grant a +1 bonus on the sailing checks.
If the ship stays off shore, you can take a +5 bonus to the sailing checks, but the ship remains 1/2 a mile (2100 ft) offshore. You need to decide before you roll.
Sal marches up and down the ship and climbing halfway up masts (when she's not in the riggers' way) to help report shifts in the sea terrain.
She recommends to the officers finding harbor rather than leaving the crew that stays behind cooped up on the ship. While they should make it clear that the crew should not wander off far on their own and task some of the more jobsworthy types to ensure that doesn't happen, making them stay on the ship and live solely off of ship supplies may be a bad idea if something delays the exploration party.
Her limitations making her a poor spotter and a poor pilot, Riori puts herself to a different kind of use. She sits down at the table in the officers' quarters and draws up a star chart.
She consults the movements of the Cosmic Caravan, focusing on the following concerns:
1. Are there any sentient beings living on the island of empty eyes?
2. Are there any sentient beings unliving on the island of empty eyes?
3. Do we possess the capacity to handle any dangers we may encounter on the island?
4. Will the crew left behind with the ship be reasonably safe?
5. Is contracting diseases (excluding sexually transmitted ones) a potential danger on this island?
6. Is poison a potential danger on this island?
7. Are we being followed to this island by the Cheliaxans?
8. Are we being followed to this island by anyone else?
9. Are there any major threats that would affect our crew's supplies?
1. Are there any sentient beings living on the island of empty eyes?
Riori observes an orb moving through the eye of the Stargazer. (Yes)
2. Are there any sentient beings unliving on the island of empty eyes?
Eox also resides within the Stargazer at the moment. (Yes)
3. Do we possess the capacity to handle any dangers we may encounter on the island?
(Yes)
4. Will the crew left behind with the ship be reasonably safe?
(Yes)
5. Is contracting diseases (excluding sexually transmitted ones) a potential danger on this island?
(Yes. There are portents of ancient plagues)
6. Is poison a potential danger on this island?
(Yes)
7. Are we being followed to this island by the Chelaxians?
(No)
8. Are we being followed to this island by anyone else?
(No for some time.)
9. Are there any major threats that would affect our crew's supplies?
(The ship is not threatened, things brought ashore are).
Riori reports to Threnody and her first mate. "I have communed with Desna via reading the Cosmic Caravan. I would be the first to note that these readings can be tricky to interpret and we should of course use our common sense first, but nonetheless the results indicate useful follow up which also serves common sense: There's no indication that the Chelaxians are following us. There are sentient beings--alive and undead--on the island. We are capable of handling what we encounter. The crew will be safe if they stay on or close to the ship. Castrovel is square with Bretheda and my experience suggests that means we should expect to need to treat both disease and poison. This can also suggest spoilage or ruin, since Bretheda is retrograde in the Bridge--but moving toward the Wagon, so I think what that means is if the crew stays on or close to the ship our supplies should not be harmed."
The tiefling's expression goes through a variety of responses to Riori. Disbelief, amusement, wariness, concern, determination: Thren shows all of that and more.
"Thank you for asking Desna what you did," Thren says respectfully. "That's useful information to be sure. I'd planned on keeping the crew near the ship. Too much trouble on too many islands for me to let them wander. Poison and disease, good to know." She mulls this all over as she sails the carrack.
Riori offers a wry smile. "I know what it sounds like. You can laugh... a little."
"I won't laugh. Magic works in a lot of different ways. I also prefer to treat my crew with respect and save the laughter till we know one another better. And why laugh when you're giving me useful information?"
White, sandy beaches encircle this deep, sheltered bay, stretching nearly two miles in every direction. To the north, a massive waterfall plummets from a high escarpment rising just above the treeline. The white stone walls of a seaside fort gleam on the western shore. A single tower reaches skyward from the fort, crowned with a torchlike fixture of dazzling crystal.
Even Sal's keen eyes and waterborn skill aren't enough to detect the stealthy predator moving beneath the ship. Nothing reveals its presence until tentacles burst from the water on both sides of the aft forecastle.
A massive tentacle, violet and yellow speckled, bursts from the water and lashes out at Riori, but fails to connect with the seer.
Ekote starts as tentacles erupt around the ship. But trained reflexes take over and he murmurs a quick incantation, pointing a finger at one of the overlong limbs.
Five bolts of magical force streak out to find their target.
"A proper welcome I see," Thren mutters sarcastically. "Sal, you wanted a big one to fight, here's your chance!" The tiefling moves to the rail, yanking out her bow and an arrow as she moves. The arrow goes to string, glows red for a moment, and then streaks down into the water near where the tentacle has erupted.
Sandara brings her large crossbow into play, slapping a bolt home, taking steady aim, and opening fire.
Her bolt hits the water and sinks.
"Fer the gods' sake git the priests outta the way!" Sal moves up from the center of the ship to the forecastle where the octopus is attacking. With a high overhand swing trying to avoid hitting Sandara, she jabs at the huge beast with her ranseur.
While it's not exciting, Riori has no interest in being fish food and thus does as Sal says and carefully steps backward.
Based on the size, the coloration of the tentacles, and the tactics, Sal thinks this is a spyglass octopus, an octopus that grows to great size and is more aggressive and territorial than most octopuses. They are ambush predators who have a poisonous bite.
Tentacles erupt from the water on both sides of the ship, sending plumes of saltwater into the air. Tentacles wrap around Crimson, Tilly, Sandara and Rosie, dragging them off of the deck and into the water, releasing them to seek out more prey...
Round 2
Ekote shakes his head as several members of the crew are tugged overboard. He murmurs an incantation again as he gains the rail beside his new captain.
Thren decides to up her crew's game. She sweeps out One Reason to Live and blows a mighty blast upon it before beginning an old battle hymn of Gorum's faith.
Then she quickly nocks another arrow and lets fly.
But her arrow streaks into the water and is lost in the depths below.
"These bastards are just big fish, but they're territorial and poisonous!" Sal warns the crew, just as the tentacles grab several of the crew and toss them into the drink.
Sal scowls. "All right, that's it, no octo-pussyfootin' around!" She breaks into a run, leaps over the rail, and swims down to look for the body of the octopus, using her waterborn capacity to breathe water.
Riori mutters a prayer to Desna, granting her allies good luck and the octopus bad.
Sandara calls on Besmara's power to create an illusion of herself in the water, hoping to use it as a decoy.
The spyglass octopus might ripple with pleasure to have brought prey into the water. It zeroes in on one of the prey, Sandara.
Its tentacles wrap around Sandara, drawing the priest beneath the water and into its beak. The bite injects Sandara with a debilitating poison...
Sal follows the movement of the octopus and closes in to strike it as hard as she can.
Dodging the grasping tentacles, Sal thrusts her ranseur into one of the beast's three throbbing hearts. Black ink and dark blood roil out into the water in a dark cloud, obscuring sight and burning your eyes, but when you blink away the irritation, you see that the creature's tentacles are now moving listlessly, without intent.
"Let's get everyone back on deck!" Thren drops her bow onto the deck and grabs the nearest line, throwing it over to whoever is nearest her position. "Hey Sal, you know if that things edible? That's a lot of octopus to go to waste if it is!"