Asher guns down the sailor enemy in front of him.
Sailor 1 withdraws to where Asher is.
Sailor 2 steps forward hit
Sailor 3 attacks the enemy hit
Sailor 4 attacks hit and the enemy goes down.
Dwarven woman attacks Johnathan with her crossbow hit
The orc moves the ball of fire on sailor reflex dc 17 fail taking and goes down. The sphere then disappears.
Orc swings at Falko miss
John, Falko, Chretien
Johnathan winces and casts Mirror Image.
Cretien continues to try to clear away enemies.
Cretien Thundershot (aimed at someone not in melee with ally)
Turret+Firepower
Chretien and his turret decimate two more sailors and Falko stabs the orc deeply.
And out from the Castle comes the captain of the ship with a nasty looking cutlass and he sees the carnage and says, "Ladies and men, throw down your arms, they aren't paying us enough to keep fighting, we surrender our ship."
Combat Over
There are many wounded sailors from both sides and the first priority is to stabilize as many as you can.
Angus Will just reapeatedly cast the Stabilize Cantrip on all those that he can save
He will also use all of his 7 CLW spell in order to bring back to counsciouness as many alied sailors as possible
Johnathan does the best he can.
"Watch them." Asher says to Cretien, and then goes to help tend to the injured.
After the concerted efforts of Angus, you only lost two allied sailors who were too far gone due to their injuries. Eight of the injured enemy sailors were patched up and should be conscious in the morning.
The captain of the enemy ship walks over to Asher who happens to be the closest person, you get a feeling that this man looks to be a tough customer and he says, "Are you the commander of this mini-armada?" with a heavy Chryssiliri accent.
"I am Kapitano Bernhard Mollinelli and this is my ship 'Il Dracon de Mere' and I must say that was a very clever gambit, mi Amico. This is my crew."
As the opposing temporary commander, when Asher is done tending to the wounded he takes out his musket, loads another shot, but keeps his posture nonthreatening. The message is clear, Asher means no additional violence but by the gods is he ready for it.
"I am LeMond Asher of Risur's RHC." he says with no kindness. He props his gun on his shoulder and pulls his cigarette tin out of his coats inner pocket, opens it with a flick of his thumb and hands it out to Kapitano Mollinelli.
As he does so, he shouts a couple of orders to the sailors. "Tie up the enemy crew and search their ship if you're in fighting shape. Go in small groups, no one alone. Constables, you know what we're looking for. those of you who can find it, assist in the search." He eyes Falko and Johnathan here.
"Kapitano Molinelli, what is your business in these waters, and the hostility you showed toward our vessel upon sighting us? Hold none back."
Despite his offer of a smoke and his current soft-touch as the victorious commander, he speaks this words with narrowed eyes and a growl to his voice that shows he is in no mood for half-truths and deflections in Mollinelli's answers. Asher's finger rests near the trigger of his loaded weapon, and it is a fearsome looking weapon indeed.
Johnathan will try to sniff out the energy source.
Molinelli takes the proffered cigarette from Asher and says, "Orders."
He then takes a drag and says while pointing towards the bow of the ship, "Our matron said that noone should come near from that direction and something bad could happen. What I do not know and she wasn't very specific."
Asher takes his own cigarette, and casually smokes it as he stares down Molinelli with narrowed eyes. "And who is your Matron. What authority does she have over you and your vessel? ... And where is she now?"
The man says, "Her name is Duvall, a tiefling. She is the one who pays us. She is underwater."
"Are you a privateer vessel, or pirate? What are you orders regarding her return?"
The man frowns at Asher's assumptions and says, "Neither, we get offered jobs bringing important people around in protection. Our orders are to wait here until the lady is finished, don't let anyone disturb her project. The orc goes down there every morning and in the evening tells us whether we stand another day or not."
Asher nods as the man replies, not particularly surprised. "That orc there?" Asher says pointing to the one who had downed him with a ball of flame. "He's one of Duvall's men then, not one of yours? We'll question him next I think."
Asher has a couple of the remaining soldier, and hopefully Cretien and Angus join him for interrogating the orc. "Tell me everything about Duvall and the ruins beneath this vessel."
The orc says, "She hired me to provide security underwater. She paid me a great deal of money in advance and promised to keep the ocean clean."
"A spared life is worth more coin than she's paid, I'd wager. Do you possess tools for underwater exploration? Waterbreathing potions and scrolls, for example."
The orc says, "I don't possess any of the sort, I get a scroll from Mistress Duvall every morning. She may have some in her quarters but she set up some sort of pocket down there."
"Pocket? How do you mean? Of air? So Duvall an her entourage stay underwater, for the most part indefinitely? Has she told you of what is down there?"
The orc says, "I dive down there, get a scroll then I swim aroun and monitor activity. Yes, they do they have created a pocket of air. I am not sure how big. Something important."
Ok lets get to Miss duval's room and gather any evidence. Should some of our team go look for that air pocket ? he says casting a
on Asher
The captain says, "We are carrying fire dust and food for three days, I think, you guys killed my quartermaster."
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You go down to Duvall's quarters and there you find a map and about 15 scrolls. You find a letter written in Danoran Slang.
Chretien, DC 15 Linguistics
I was impressed by the flawless professionalism of your clean-up at the High Bayou excavation. The previous expedition was
staffed with cavalier fools, but you emerged unscathed from peril, which highlights your intellect and acumen. I think you have
the potential to benefit my associates greatly, and if your work continues to be of this masterful caliber, I shall recommend you be
brought in more fully.
To wit, I trust you will handle this your fourth dig site with the same skill. However, for your new Drakran bodyguards, this will
be their first time opening a seal. I am confident neither is so loutish and disruptive as Master Rackus was at the ziggurat of Jiese.
Nevertheless, it is imperative that we avoid a disaster like what occurred at the bayou ziggurat.
The magic and defenses at these ruins are complex and secretive, so while I thoroughly trust your familiarity with the dangers, we
need take no unnecessary risks.
Firstly, each of the golden seals were crafted by the Ancients specifically to close a portal to another world. Examination of the
relief images on each suggests hostile creatures had been entering our world through these portals, and that the Ancients used the
seals to slow an invasion. The creatures were not of any known modern race. Be certain your allies are forewarned, and keep close
eye on their mental stability. At least once disaster has struck because someone panicked at the revelation that the world was much
larger than their current conception.
Second, the peculiar nature of the seal magic appears to have trapped a small mote of the other world on the far side of the portal.
I suspect that this somehow redirected the existing portals to this pocket dimension, and that perhaps simply closing the portal was
beyond the skill of the Ancients. Though ages have passed, and we can only assume the invasion forces were stopped somehow, each
time we have opened one of these seals, creatures have survived within. Make sure everyone is armed at all times and ready for
battle.
Third, the hostile creatures appear to have belonged to different factions, as the seals of Jiese, Nem, and Apet depict distinct sorts
of creatures. The Ancients clearly dealt with threats from worlds beyond those known to us today, since the beings that emerged from
the ziggurat of Apet do not match any of the current lore of that world. Indeed, the strange beasts were not even the same sort as
portrayed on the seals. Do not presume that simply because you are opening a portal to the plane of water that any creatures beyond
must share the same elemental affiliation. Use multiple warding circles in your initial explorations; we can afford the expense.
Fourth, either time or magic has had the effect of concentrating the inherent planar energy within the mote beyond the seals. When
the Mavisha seal is finally opened, expect intense energy to pour out. This will probably just be elemental water energy, but as
always, precautions rule the day. Make sure first to know the nature of the energy, and set up appropriate wards. If possible, do not
be nearby when the seal opens.
Finally, while we have endeavored to maintain a certain discretion in our activities, we have attracted the unfortunate attentions
of an RHC squad, and I fear we might be being watched by agents of the Unseen Court. Be prepared for attack from without as well
as within when you’re at the dig. Afterward, maintain the greatest discretion in transporting the golden seal. If necessary, abandon
it so you can make sure to reach me with your research. While a ton of gold is valuable in its own right, we’re fairly certain any gold
suffices for these seals, so your examinations of the abjurations are more valuable than the physical artifact.
Please try to enjoy your journey. Seobriga in Autumn is lovely, and I trust the more rustic charms of the land around the ziggurat of
Mavisha will provide a pleasant respite from the stress of avoiding ancient curses and otherworldly carnivores. I await your return
with an admitted enthusiasm, and I insist you recount your journey with the utmost detail while enjoying the finest wines from my
family’s vineyards.
Do be safe, Finona.
Your benefactor and cohort,
Caius Bergeron
P.S., If complications arise, do try to wrap up before Winter. It would be a treasure if you could accompany me by train from Beaumont
on the 11th. I have a meeting to attend on the 20th in Vendricce, after which I plan to stay in Crisillyir for a few months. I would
love the company of a vivacious young woman, since my host is somewhat too aged and philosophical for my tastes.
Cretien reads the letter in-depth, and recounts its details to his allies, but waits until they are not within earshot of others not privy to investigation details.
"Well, among other things, this letter links Bergeron to Finona Duvall as her benefactor. It contains details of the seals and warnings, it looks like they have a lot of money to burn to do this in a way they think is right. They anticipate our interference in that it will happen, though not necessarily how. Bergeron mentions being on a train leaving Beaumont on the 11th, a meeting on the 20th in Vendricce, and then staying in Crisillyr for a few months thereafter. 'I would
love the company of a vivacious young woman, since my host is somewhat too aged and philosophical for my tastes' suggests, to me at least, that there is an otherworldly entity in charge of Bergeron or considering themselves to be Bergeron."
Asher responds to the captain's comment about the death of his officer with a neutral nod. These things happen in conflict. Though he doesn't show warmth, his nod shows understanding. "Does the firedust yet have a purpose?"
(Later, after searching her room and told what was there...)
"Think it is enough to convict the man?" Asher poses.
He is also interested on if the scrolls will help them reach the underwater site.
The captain says, "For the cannon."
Bergerson also alludes to an organization he is currently a full member off with a keen interest in the magical research as well
Asher will go back and speak with the orc about how deep the water is until you reach the site, and the best entrance to safely enter the air pocket.
"I get the impression that we are potentially dealing with a body-possessor, or a crafty disguise-smith."
The orc tells Asher it is about 50ft deep.
Johnathan takes a look at the scrolls, flipping through them as he answers Falko. "I believe the energies are beneath the waves."
The captains says, "She has two male dwarves and two men with her. They do what she tells them to do."
Do they ever come back aboard to resupply, sleep or rest ?
Maybe we can lay a trop for them here he wispher to the other RHC memembers
The captain says, "Mi amico, She won't come up until she is finished. So if you want to see her you need to go underwater."
You are able to discern all but four of the scrolls. They are 3 comprehend languages, 2 knock, 1 open ancient seal, 1 open, 5 water breathing.