Slip nods and states, "The Reaper of Reputation knows much that is hidden, but secrets always have a price. The Temple of the Hidden Name deals in information; secrets are our currency. We have the information you want but you must pay with another secret of equal value. Fortunately, there is information the temple wants."
"Have you heard of the famous ship Brine Banshee? It mysteriously disappeared several months ago. It was said to have been one of the fastest ships in the sector, with unparalleled handling for a vessel its size. If you can find what happened to it and discover the secret of its unprecedented speed and maneuverability, we can trade you for the knowledge you seek."
Slip nods and states, "The Reaper of Reputation knows much that is hidden, but secrets always have a price. The Temple of the Hidden Name deals in information; secrets are our currency. We have the information you want but you must pay with another secret of equal value. Fortunately, there is information the temple wants."
"Have you heard of the famous ship Brine Banshee? It mysteriously disappeared several months ago. It was said to have been one of the fastest ships in the sector, with unparalleled handling for a vessel its size. If you can find what happened to it and discover the secret of its unprecedented speed and maneuverability, we can trade you for the knowledge you seek."
I am Xerxes, and during the Captain's recovery you will speak to me, secret master. You have a deal. Would you know any tale that might get us on our way?
Karter whispers to his mates, "I had heard of this, the Banshee disappeared after taking off from the moon of Ollo. But it did stop in Quent on its way to Ollo so perhaps we're going back to the House of Stolen Kisses for another lead...?
"Anything else for the fearless free captains?", he asks Slip.
Slip shakes his head. "That will be all until you have the information we need. Then I can present you with what you have requested."
---
With another quick trip back to Quent, Dindreann is surprised to see you again so soon. "Something bad hasn't happened, has it? I did all I could for Captain Francis, I thought the procedure went well."
Seeing Francis walking behind, quiet and solemn but very much alive and healthy, she breathes a sigh of relief. When she hears you ask about the Banshee, Dindreann thinks a moment. "No charge for this one, old friends. There's a retired ship's doctor in the port of Ollo named Haneilius Fitch. When the Banshee went missing, I heard a rumor-one that he was spreading himself, I suspect-that he had a means to locate the ship and was only looking for someone to bankroll the expedition. Ollo is a foul place and I suspect no one has taken up his offer simply because they don't believe him. But I know Haneilius and I don't think he's bluffing on this one; he's not one to say something like that for a quick buck."
"Well then, let's pay a visit to Fitch and see if can persuade us?", Karter checks his mates, "Plot a course to Ollo!".
Ollo is indeed a foul and wretched place, as you were warned, and its miserable residents are sullen and close-mouthed but eventually you can find the address of Haneilius Fitch's surgical offices.
Haneilius is a gray-haired gentleman who introduces himself as a retired physician. When you bring up the Brine Banshee, he holds up a glass tube containing a human leg bone suspending in solution. "This tibia previously belonged to Vargus Brack, one of my old shipmates. Vargus was grateful to be rid of it-he'd have died of gangrene if I hadn't amputated his leg. It's a good thing I kept it as a specimen, since he was an officer aboard the Brine Banshee when she last sailed. Vargus and I were good friends-he came to visit me the last time the Brine Banshee was in Ollo, as he always did when he came this way. He mentioned in passing the course the Brine Banshee would be taking, and said he wouldn't be back for some time. The Brine Banshee had an abundance of riches aboard her, and together I believe we could salvage them. Are you interested?"
Fitch goes on to explain, "Although I knew somewhat of their course, I'd need some Force to find the exact location where the ship went down. There's a ring that can be used to find a corpse, provided the wearer already has a piece of the body. I know a captain who wears just such a ring: a ring of the iron skull. That's where you come in. You've got a ship and are strong enough to take the ring from him. I've got the leg. You give me equal share of the treasure you find on the Brine Banshee, enough money that I can live the rest of my life in modest comfort, and in exchange I'll give you the leg and tell you where to get the captain who has this ring you'll need."
Sh'yl listen to the old man, trying to find the lie between the truths of his words.
Finding none, he says
It seems a fair trade for me. I'm on board for this.
"Good," Fitch says with a nod. "Then you'll want to look for a pirate named "Milksop" Morton, show sails the Dryad's Grave. He's the one who's got the ring. And fortunately for you, it's due in port here in Ollo later this week. He's got quite an eclectic crew, I've heard, but he's an unaligned pirate with no letter of marque. I think Pirate Captains like yourselves can handle him and his misfits."
Francis emerges from his quarters to find the group negotiating. Catching the tail end, he gladly shakes the hand of Haneilius. "We got a deal. The treasure shall be split five ways. One share for each Free Captain and one share for you, Mr. Haneilius, per your request." the Captain says with a smile.
Before the man can react, Francis radios to the bridge. "First Mate, we are docking here in Ollo for the week. Tell the men that they have shore leave but need to be ready to back aboard on a moment's notice."
Haneillius shrugs. "If what I've heard is true, that'll be enough for me to live comfortably for a while."
---
Sure enough, a few days later the Dryad's Grave comes skulking into the port and docks. After a few routine checks the captain himself comes strutting out the airlock with a small blue flying creature whizzing about his shoulder.
Give us your ring of iron skull or face the consequences of your refusal.
Says Sh'yl.
Captain Morton cocks his head in surprise. "I can't imagine that's all you want. Besides, nobody steals from me and lives to tell the tale."
"Actually, that is all we want." remarks Francis. "We need it to hunt down a corpse, but we'd be happy to give it back in a few weeks if you'd just let us have it."
I assure you, this fight will not finish well for you. Better lend us your ring than your life
Sh'yl says before adding I am Sh'yl M'sshakul, Lord of Tidewater Rock, servant of the Force, chaplain of the Millenium Yack, son of Sh'aar and Sh'uu M'sshakul, blood scourge of the Space, Captains of the Starship Blackdeath. And This is Francis Ulhutch, Free Captain, owner of the Millenium Yack.
Morton puts his hands on his hips and taps his foot for a few seconds. "Interesting proposition. Would you be willing to put it in writing? The agreement, I mean? I give you my ring and you return it in say... 14 days. In return, you pay 10% of the ring's cost up front: 1,080 gold. And if you don't return in 14 days, rest assured I will hunt you down."
”Hell yes!”, Karter slaps his credit chip down, more than happy to not find out what 'electic crew' means, ”From my personal account! Where do I sign?... Seal it with a round of Ruby Bleals?”.
Morton relaxes his stance a bit. "Well... this is turning out better than I expected, to be sure. Newly-minted Free Captains waiting for me at the dock, I was expecting a take-over for sure. I'm glad it hasn't come to that; the Dryad's Grave is very well-stocked..."
Once you have acquired the ring of the iron skull, Haneilius Fitch tells you that the Brine Banshee began her last voyage in Port Peril, then headed to Quent for resupply and shore leave. From Quent she sailed to Ollo, stopping briefly to sell cargo before journeying northwest around Shark Nebula’s outskirts.
Using the magical connection of the ring and the bones, you track the Millenium Yak along a similar course until the ring indicates a watery rogue planet just outside the nebula's reach.
”Great, more water”, Karter checks the long distance scopes then grabs the trident, ”Well fellas, we came this far, let's go fishing?”.
"Well that was easy." remarks Francis. "I was sure that he would have put up a fight."
The man shrugs before heading back to the ship and plotting the course for the Shark Nebula.
---
"Maheem, take us down into the atmosphere. Run a diagnostic scan on the environment. Captains, suit up for landing. Rest of you keep your ears peeled and a foot on the accelerator! I bet this corpse isn't going to just give us what we want." Francis barks as his commands circulate through the ship.
A yak is heard mooing near the kitchen.
Xerxes relaxes as he sees the Truxican standoff devolve into a peaceful arrangement. Yet something appears to bother the protoss. Too bad, the Dryad's Grave would have proven a worthy take for newly minted Captains such as us. Instead we get to pay to be deprived of a good mark.
*****
Approaching the watery planet, Xerxes readies himself for exploration, suiting up.
The Brine Banshee is indeed floating on the planet's surface, which is almost entirely water. Maheem reports, "Several life signs in the area, Captain. But all this water is messing with the sensors, I can't tell exactly how many or where they are. I'll set you down on top of the ship."
After transporting to the top of the ship, you look around and indeed see the dull yet calming surface of endless waves that make up this lonely planet. As soon as you appear, though, a strange man sticks his head from the water. His skin is blue and his hair is purple, wildly sticking out at all angles. "More fools entering my territory? I have declared this place as my own, you would be well to leave this place to me." He hoists a trident from the water and moves closer to the edge of the ship.
"Well hang on there, skipper", Karter holds up his trident in faux surrender, "See? We're just here on a fishing trip. Let our Captain explain...FRANCIS!!!".
Following Karter's lead, Sh'yl tries again to end the fight peacefully.
Don't need to fight, we want something from you and I'm sure we will be able to come to an agreement. Captain Francis a Free Captain don't try to fight, it will end badly for you
The purple-haired man asks in rage, "You're here to fish? You would hunt my friends? Wrong answer!" He then tries to wrest control of Karter's mind!
"Free Captain Karter always has a way with words..." Francis says aloud with a chuckle.
Seeing that the creature is still exposed to the air, he smiles. Time to die, fish man.
He snaps his fingers as a gut-wrenching, bone-shattering force seems to press in on the fish man. "I learned a new trick when my consciousness was sent adrift into the realms of the Outer Gods." he says with a smile.
Xerxes, somehow content to see the situation developping into a worthy brawl, closes the distance with the fish-man and strikes!
We have tried to warn you ! May the Force be with me !
Says Sh'yl who casts a spell on himself and moves to attack Ormandar
He's now ready to block any physical attack against him
The blue-skinned alien cries in pain as Francis' spell does untold horrors to his skeletal structure. Meanwhile Xerxes and Sh'yl move to the edge of the mostly-sunken ship and strike at him, although only Xerxes manages to hit him.
”I meant we are fellow water lovers!”, As Karter shakes off the scolding, ”And that water looks freezing! Very shellfish of you!”.
"I bet it hurts to swim with broken bones... especially all of them." remarks Francis with a wry grin.
Karter fights off the command and encourages everyone to fight on. Ormandar only retreats a bit further from the ship so that you can't reach him and waits....
Karter continues the banter and unslings his heavy rifle, taking aim at Ormandar.
>>
What do we do captain ? Do we dive in and follow the man in deep water ?
Asks Sh'yl waiting for Francis' order.
Karter takes out his sonic rifle and sends a feeble blast at the alien aquaman!
"Hold your fire!" bellows Francis as Sh'yl asks his question.
"Fish man! We have come to find a body hidden in your depths. As you can see, we are quite powerful, however my chaplain has me reconsidering outright brutality on a weekly basis." he proposes.
"If you stop hostilities, then we will not mercilessly butcher you, however if you take us to the object we require, then we will leave your planet posthaste." Bill says with a charming smile.
"No deal!" Aquaman spits back at the captain!
"Fire at will, lads." remarks Francis as the fishman responds.
Following his captain's order, Sh'yl dive in the water to pursue the aquaman.
Sh'yl dives in but his extra kasathan limbs are surprisingly useless in the water...
Xerxes wades in the water to reach his opponent, then thrusts at his with his psyblades.
Karter takes another blast at Ormandar!
Xerxes misses but with Karter's shot the merman starts sinking under the water, unconscious!
Still trying to swim towards the merman, Sh'yl sees Karter's shoot taking their opponent down.
Well done Karter !
He swims to the unconscious man, casting stabilize on him and began searching for what they are looking for.
Ormander carried a +2 (space!) trident, and bracers of (space!) armor +2.
The bow of the Brine Banshee lies on its side, resting at a slight angle caught in the sand in this shallow part of the sea. There’s plenty of debris and wreckage in the bow, but no corpses. Clearly they have been picked over and eaten by the local wildlife. Many of the ship’s railings are smashed, hinting at the violence of the Brine Banshee’s crash. The main cargo hatch is still fastened shut, but you can simply swim around through the tremendous opening where the Brine Banshee split in two.
Unsecured furnishings and equipment lie strewn against what was the portside wall and is now the “floor” of one of the cabins, apparently formerly the quarters of the first mate and navigator. Almost everything of value has been destroyed by seawater, but you do find an expertly crafted sextant inlaid with silver (worth 1,000 gp) in a box inside the top drawer of a locker and an oil of slipstream in a battered case lying among other debris.
Below this cabin is another, although this second cabin’s porthole lies buried under several feet of sand and the easiest access is now to bash through the floor of the previous cabin. This was the quartermaster’s berth; the smashed remains of writing equipment are scattered along the curving hull at the bottom of this area. Other remnants of furniture lie clustered near the porthole. Hidden under the rotten fragments of a mattress is a large iron-banded sea chest. The chest has two good locks, further warded with a security lock , on opposite sides that must be opened simultaneously.
Rows of shelves follow the hull’s curving slope in a large storage area, but the crates they once held now lie in a large, jumbled heap at the bottom of the hold. Rotting remnants of food and other ship’s stores float near the top of the chamber, and tiny fish dart through the water, feeding on the decay.The seawater has ruined the ship’s cargo of furs and cloth, but several small, sturdy metal drums containing fine oils have survived, and are worth a total of 500 gp.
While the Brine Banshee’s bow holds some treasure, it provides no clues as to the secret of the ship’s speed and maneuverability. In addition, the ring of the iron skull indicates that Vargus’s remains lie within the rift in the seafloor...
Xerxes takes point in the exploration of the wreckage, making sure the environment is secure before the captain can set foot in there.
Upon examination of the chest's lock, the protoss retrieves his Tech-tools to open the lock, taking his sweet time to make sure the chest (or the lock isn't trapped), then opening the complex lock.
This should do the trick. Hold on for a second...
Xerxes breaks through the security on the box and finds quite a treasure within. Inside is the undistributed portion of the ship’s payroll: 156 pp, 1,486 gp, 3,172 sp, and 781 cp.
”Payday boys!”, Karter calls over the comm, ”Send in the crew, pillage this bucket for spare parts! It looks like we might actually have to get wet afterall. The ring says the dark is in that crevice, and I don't like crevices, especially dark ones. Moo?”.
Moo indeed. Into the fray, I guess. That being said, do we have any high-pressure suits in stock? They might prove helpful.