Ursion's and Harold's assaults bring down the crabman!
Patches cuts free a claw and tosses it into the bottom of the boat. Looking to Glub Glub, he says, "It's best if you boil shellfish fresh, but I think this'll hold until we get back to the ship."
Looking around at the others, he asks, "Anyone have a healing wand? I think some of us could use one."
Shoallana pulls out a healing wand and taps it to Patches. "Here you go, dearie!"
Looking around, Shoal asks. "Whadya' all reckon we do next?"
Ursion looks up at the hanging corpse, shading his eyes with one hand. "Besmara's priests want his body left there, so we'd better not do this the easy way. I'm thinking a couple of us climb up there, tie off, and open up that leg. All we need is the paper, right?"
Glubby looks up there and thinks to himself. It ain't that high.
"I got this guys!" Glubby pulls his bicorne on tight as he uses his little frog legs to leap up the rocks to get to the hanging corpse.
Once he is on the rocks, he will deftly climb across them to the hanging corpse.
If he reaches the corpse, he will try yanking it off after scanning for traps.
If the leg don't come off easy, then Glubby draws his dagger and cuts it free.
If permitted, Harold will ask to use the wand of healing for himself.
Glubby climbs up the rock archway and reaches the hanging corpse, but not without some peril....
He is able to recover Harkalm's peg leg though and within finds part of the Three Reasons to Live along with a tightly rolled Tome of the Transmuter with the preparation ritual in tact but missing its lock. There is also a small immovable rod stored inside the leg.
So, what do you have there? And, are you gonna be OK?
Glubby shrugs off the magic guarding the corpse. "Ain't no b&&#+$*& curse gonna work on ol' Glubby!"
He leaps off the rocks and plummets down to the deck of the ship, using the webbed skin between his limbs to glide to safety.
He tosses the manifesto to the rest of the party and plays with his shiny new rod. He keeps pressing the button and playing with it before stowing it in his small pack.
Shoallana pulls out a healing wand and taps it to Patches. "Here you go, dearie!"
Patches nods and gives Shoallana his trademarked flat stare.
Patches watches Glub Glub climb to the corpse. He would have done so himself, but he was busy thanking Shoallana. When he returns with the pegleg's contents, he thanks Glub Glub too.
"What's this missing lock?"
Having recovered what you came for, the Captain turns the ship away from Blackwarn's Gallows and further back out to sea. A little while later, just after dusk, a sudden storm grows abnormally quickly-probably spawned from the Eye of Abendego. As the rain pelts down and massive waves rock the ship, a blinding bolt of lightning strikes the main mast.
In the wake of the lightning's dazzling flash and thunderous boom, a flickering violet mass of pure energy blazes out of the topmost spar. Three of the crew are still aloft in the rigging attempting to replace broken lines, and find themselves caught with the unnerving thing between them and the way down.
Comozant wyrds have no society as such. Seafarers regard them with considerable awe for the danger and mystery that attend them, but few are brave enough to attempt conversation with living plasma on a wooden ship, especially mid-tempest. Displaying such mettle is a sure way to earn considerable respect from any ordinary sailor—persuading a wyrd to abate its storm could inspire outright awe.
Comozant wyrds rarely speak even to those fluent in Auran, preferring to communicate in a more primal way, using their illuminating flames. Those who have “conversed” with a wyrd in this way describe an alien mode of communication that is as much raw emotion and image as it is concept and word, and a mysterious mixture of knowledge and ignorance. For instance, when first encountered, a wyrd apparently does not understand how different from itself mortals are, or how dangerous storms are to mortal creatures. Overlying everything is an unsettlingly alien but somehow childlike inquisitiveness, mixed with rage or fear if the wyrd feels threatened.
The strange creature sends buzzing purple flames towards one of the crewmen above, shrouding the upper half of the man in the effect.
"What the hell is that!" yells Glubby to his mates as he draws his rapier and net, wondering what they might do against pure energy.
Patches thoughts mirror Glub Glubs and he looks to his companions as he draws his dragon pistol and unload it, hoping one of the others can enlighten them on the strange effect.
Shoallan peers at the thing, then shakes her head in wonder. "A wyrd! Comozant wyrd to be exact. Stay your arms, it might be reasoned with!" She says, then waves at the creature, motioning to it. She calls out in Auran. "සුබ පැතුම් මහේශාක්ය එකක්! ඔබම ලෙස රැස්වීමට ගෞරවයක්, නමුත්, ඔබේ අපගේ කාර්ය මණ්ඩලය බිය උපදවන කරන්න. කුණාටුව ඔබ අපේ නැව ගිලෙන්න හැකි සමග! ඔබ, intensisty අහස සංචාරකයා වූ කුනාටු බෙහෙවින් අඩු කළ හැකිද?"
The comozant wyrd pulls its flames back, leaving the frightened sailor alone. "What did you way to it? What does it want?" he shouts from above as the creature of pure energy descends the mast to close in on Shoallana. As it nears the undine, the wyrd sends out a buzzing flame to engulf her....
Ursion lowers his blades and lets the bard do the talking.
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Harold also eases his stance, trying to seem as friendly as possible considering the circumstances. As the bard talks, he tries to share the same empathy with his posture and facial expressions.
At Shoallana's words Patches slowly holsters his pistol and raises his paws in a non-threatening manner. "If it can be reasonable, then so can we."
Glubby stands by, keeping his rapier and net at the ready. Admittedly, he does enjoy the rain and sea salt on his face.
As the wyrd moves up and bathes her in electricity, Shoallana drops her arms and closes her eyes, opening her mind to the creature. She tries once more to explain, communicating through thoughts, her party's intent and that they want no trouble.
After trying to explain their intent, Shoal tries to communicate her thoughts of the storm and dangers it can have on the crew and the ship.
The alien dialogue of images and raw emotions is troublesome to Shoallana at first but after a few tense seconds the wind picks up and with it the wyrd is washed away into the storm. The rain seems to be letting up though and the lightning has stopped. Soon the storm has subsided and all seems back to normal....
Shoallana opens her eyes as the wyrd departs, gripping and leaning on the deck rail for support. Shaking her head in wonder, she exhales loudly. "I had the strangest vision....."
"That's right! You better run, energy thing! Glubby's on this ship an' he don't play no mess!" yells the little frogman after the wyrd.
He sheathes his rapier and tucks his folded net back into his pouch on his waist.
"Where now to, boss lady?" he asks the Captain.
Captain Lanteri's next destination is Kelizar's Atoll; Varossa briefs you on how she hopes to proceed against hte fearsome brine dragon guarding this area. In revenge for the death of his mother, the dragon Nicorydine, Kelizar sank the Saber's Kiss within his territory. "I believe one of the pieces of the Three Reasons to Live was on board when it sank, and I am too smart to risk being caught stealing from a dragon's territory. I want Kelizar to grant permission for you to visit the sunken ship and retrieve a 'memento of only sentimental value.'"
"The Magpie sports a different masthead now that it did when Warvil helped kill Nicorydine, thanks to your efforts, and I have changed cosmetic details on the ship to alter its lines, but I still don't want to face the dragon personally in case it recognizes my involvement. So you'll go barter with Kelizar and pretend that one of you is the captain; I'll stay in the cabin until this is all done."
"Kelizar is believed to have an appreciation for Taldan items and dress. It's said that an explorer from Taldor once washed up near Kelizar's lair and regaled him with Taldan folklore and stories of knights and princesses. The dragon is now widely rumored to have a high regard for courtly manners and poetry. To help with negotiations, you might try dressing like Taldans. I picked up some costuming supplies when last we landed."
Shollana raises her eyebrows at the plan, then glances at her party. "I'm not the most Taldan looking lass, but if you want me to try, I can. I can put on "airs" when I need to!" She says with a wink.
"I know a little about them."
You want to talk to a dragon? Not my thing, I'm afraid. I better sit this one out.
Glubby leaps to the railing, striking a valiant pose. "To the brine dragon!" He rapier points off in a random direction as he doesn't quite know which direction they should travel as his little cape flutters in the wind.
"I could fake the silly accent, and I'm familiar with the way they parade around, but I doubt I could pass as one." Patches says, making a dismissive gesture with his white-furred hand. "I say Ursion plays Captain. I could play the part of first mate. Help with negotiations."
On route, Patches goes through the ship and supplies, as well as looks over the sailors, collecting items and clothes that fit the Taldan style.
Shoallana, Ursion, and Patches help everyone pick out clothing that will you look more "Taldan".
As the Magpie Princess approaches the atoll, Kelizar makes himself known by bursting out of the ocean a hundred yards in front o the ship and then ascending to several hundred feet in the air before soaring majestically down to land on the Magpie Princess' bowsprit, challenging the captain. "Who dares sail through my territory? Address Kelizar or meet your immediate doom!"
Ursion gulps, then bows floridly and does not draw his kukris. "Tales of your...magnificence have even reached Taldor, but they don't do you justice. You are, are amazing. I don't have the words." He gives Shoallana a pleading look.
As she speaks to the dragon in Taldan, she begins unbuckling her sword belt, and setting her bow on the deck of the ship. She continues in Aquan. "ඔබ, බලවත් Kelizar දැකිය හැකි ලෙස. මම ඔබේ ශක්තිය හා බලය නිහතමානී පිළිගැනිම ප්රදර්ශනය ලෙස පසෙකට මගේ ආයුධ තිබුනා."
"Hrrmmmm," Kelizar ponders, considering who you are and the request you make. "I am not opposed to this idea; I have already stripped the wreck you speak of and nothing of real worth remains. My indulgence, however, will need to be compensated. Why exactly do you need this trinket back? What it is and what is the story? I could do for an amusing tale...."
"Well..." Patches begins, looking around at his companions for a moment to buy some time to gather his thoughts. "I don't rightly know if it would be a story worthy of your time, great dragon of the sea. But if you want a story, I'll try to give it right."
After a pause, the catfolk man looks at Shoallana. His flat stare seems almost predatory, like a cat about to play with a mouse. "Well as you know, Warvil was a Pirate Captain, a freebooting thief, and a damned fool. But he also had an obsession for dance and music. Kept it secret because he had two left feet and ears completely deaf to a tone. Well, one day he sails into the port of Oppara and hears of a young bard named Flinder playing at the Kith. Flinder was new to the city, and so good with his horn that jealous rumors had begun circulating that it was magical, and thus the true source of his skill."
"Now Warvil was always on the lookout for something to make up for his complete lack of talent, so he invited Flinder to his ship for a private performance. But when the young bard arrived, he had his men subdue him and claimed the Horn for himself."
Pausing to cast his cat's gaze across he water toward the site of the wreck, Patches says. "As it turned out, the Horn was neither magical, nor particularly well made. Just a present from Flinder's mother."
Patches glances at Shoallana. "Our Captain here, she met Flinder recently and heard his tale. She tells us she could get some gold out of him if we recover his horn, but you ask me? I think she's sort of sweet on him."
Glubby finger his rapier as the party decides to try and win over the dragon with words. His finger idly traces the flowing design of his rapier's guard as he awaits the slightest sign of aggression from the dragon.
Blasted dragons. Thinking they are all cool with their wings and their being 12' tall. Well, you know what else is 12' tall? Trees! And trees suck! Yeah, I'll say that to the dragon. You're just a tree! Take that!
Shoalla puts a hand to her face as if covering her embarrassment. "Flinders, his name is Flinders, with an "s"." She says quietly. Turning her attention back to the dragon, she nods. "Tis' true what Puss in Boots says, the majority of it, at least." She says, glaring at Patches. "I've been working on song about our travels to this point, if you'd like to hear it." She begins quietly humming, tapping her boot on the deck of the ship, then begins a slow melody about a sea captain and a dashing man who's lost something close to him.
The dragon listens to the story, clearly enjoying it. "Very well, very well! I shall grant you passage through my territory, that you may find this horn. Perhaps your tales will include, in the future, word of my benevolence and greatness. I suppose that peons like you can not breathe under water, so I will grant you some magic to allow such." He offers a casting of water breathing on each of you and then takes his leave.
As the Magpie Princess sails into the atoll, the shipwreck of the Saber's Kiss is visible within its clear, shallow waters. The wreck lies 40 feet below, but the tip of its main mast still juts up above the waterline. A large breach in the hull can be seen on the port side. The rest of the sandy sea floor bears scattered outcroppings of coral and colorful aquatic plant life.
Shoal nows deeply to the dragon. "Indeed, I will be composing a ballad in your honor as soon as we finish our little errand." When the dragon bestows the ability to breath underwater, Shoallana grins wide. "Your generosity knows no bounds, mighty lord of the sea! I vow to make a most grand epic in your name!"
If need be, Harold can walk on water for an hour a day. He could go out to the area of the ship and investigate the wreck from the surface for any clues or danger.
Shoallana steps to the rail and readies to dive in, clearly relishing the idea. She pauses and looks over her shoulder to see if her companions are ready. "I can swim quite well, due to my heritage. I could cast a spell to vanish for a few seconds and scout out the wreck."
Sounds like a good idea, however I'd hate for you to go it alone. Harold will do as I had suggested and walk out to the area of the wreck in case things go wrong for Shoallana.
Harold and Shoallana work together to scout the area and discover that the coral in front of the wreck is patrolled by a small tribe of great whites and adaros, shark-like creatures.
Seems we'll either need to deal with them now or try and lure them away and possibly have to deal with them later. What is your preference?
"Rumor is sharks can smell blood a mile away. Let's test it."
Taking out a knife, he cuts his paws and let's some blood drip overboard.
Patches drips some blood over the edge but the adaros seem to be too smart to let themselves or the sharks close in on a boat where they could easily be fired upon....