"Oh goodie. We are going on a boat ride. We should get fishing gear. maybe we can do some fishing?" The rogue is excited about going on a boat then she gets an idea.
"What about taking the boea you guys found me in? It belongs to our lady anyway."
Yes, unless he is catching gold plated fish that is far too expensive... At that thought Ignius pauses realizing he doesn’t know a thing about fish. There wasn’t such a thing as gold fish was there?
Does it really matter? It is an investment.
"Good sir, I think that 50gp is a large sum for a single day of fishing. Perhaps you would be willing to take less? Say 25gp for the day - and you know from our prior dealings you can trust us. That has to be worth something."
"Or maybe your price is fair after all, it's certainly cheaper than purchasing our own boat, and you are definitely a fine sailor who can keep us safe and headed in the right direction. Here is your gold."
The fisherman pockets his fat purse of gold with a gap-toothed grin and welcomes you aboard his mighty sloop. Soon you are skipping out of the harbour mouth and heading out towards a lonely speck of land. A number of other small boats ply the waters in the area and your captain waves a hand and cries greetings to some of them.
The island itself, is little more than a rock outcropping surrounded by 30 foot high cliffs save from the eastern end, where a narrow beach affords an easier approach. The fishing boat slightly grounds itself to allow you make your wet way to the shore.
"Am I to wait for ye here then?" The fisherman asks.
The isle is thickly vegetated. the trees above serving as the roost for hundreds of noisy, brightly coloured parrots. A small skiff has been pulled onto the shore and rests in the shade of a palm tree, a rope securely fastening to the trunk.
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Justified is quiet on the ride over. His long weapon stowed, he tries to look as much like a fisherman as he can and to be helpful where he can as a deck hand. After everyone gets off the boat Justified pushes it back off the beach and explains. Wait for us, but for safety, anchor a few yards off shore. That way no one can quickly board you. We hope not to be long, but you've been well paid. Plan to wait at least til this time tomorrow With that done the fighter moves to investigate the skiff. On the way he looks over the part of the island he can see.
There, a goat trail he points.
For the 50, you think you could fish... While keeping an eye on this beach. I'd be grateful for a fisherman's stew or grillin'. When you see us, come back to the beach.. Grun rubs his own belly.
Grun gains his gecko's saddle and the creature pads off slowly towards the trail. The intent to keep pace with the tracker when and as he moves. Grun himself, draws and loads his crossbow.
Moira waves goodbye to the fisherman and then starts looking around the beach hoping to find any clues.
"Huh!!!???. Did you just say a goat trial? I see no goats."
Moira begins to search around and notices a section in the growth that could have been a trail."Oh lookie here. This probably was a trail that was allowed to grow back. I would suggest we follow it."
A quick search of the skiff reveals nothing out of the ordinary. It matches the description of the boat that Vanthus and Penkus bought.
Following the trail leads to small clearing at the top of the bluff. You poke about a bit looking for the trap door that is supposed to be there and find it easily enough at one end of the clearing. Pulling it open reveals a dark hole int ground. Just under the lip of the door is a thick, rusty iron hook with a new looking rope securely tied to it, dangling down into the darkened depths below.
Grun pats his gecko mount. Do you wish us to descend?
Darien looks at Ignius, "Are you able to shed some light down there before we descend? I'd hate to climb down into a pit of vipers or something even more dangerous."
Yes, I can do that Darien, just a moment. Closing his eyes Ignius calls upon his fiery heritage, in a moment four small flickering flames appear to rise up around Ignius. Pointing, the Ifirit directs them down the hole.
Moira stand in awe at Ignius proficiency in the arcane."You must be a great wizard to have the lights dancing before you. Can you turn Mr. Grun over there into a handsome prince? If not, do I need to kiss him in order for your magic to work?" Her questions are innocent. Her knowledge of the arcane is quite obvious as posed by the questions.
After the rogue's awe fades away she asks the group "Hey guys, you want me to climb down? I'm a good climber. Some kids at the guild once said that I must have monkey blood running in my veins."
Ignius' magic lights find the shaft to descend only 30 feet into the bedrock of the island before opening up into a larger room.
Moira does a quick investigation of the entrance, rope and iron hook, but finds no nasty surprises.
Moira gives a thumbs up to Justified. "You got it big man."
The rogue moves before the hole and removes her tools to check for any traps.
Grun's mount slips into the hole and begins to scale down the wall, with the grippli on his exotic military saddle.
Show off.. Ignius grumbles watching Grun effortlessly make his way down the hole before scaling the way down himself.
The room at the base of the shaft is a featureless 10x10 foot room. To the west, there is a single 5 foot exit leading to a hallway that curves around a corner a short way in.
Darien climbs down and pulls his sword, then leans down to examine the floor. "Let's see if we can spot any sign of our quarry."
Moira descends down the rope and kneels, inspecting the ground.
Remaining mounted, Grun is a lookout as the others investigate the landing area. All clear so far.
The walls are lined with brick and thick with moss and slime. The floor shows sign of the recent passage of many booted feet. There is no illumination save for Ignius' spell and the light shining down the shaft. The passage twists and turns for some 40 ft before ending at a warped and mildewy wooden door.
Moira, without being told, goes to the door and starts checking for traps.
Darien keeps watch to the rear, making sure nobody sneaks up on the group.
And if you don't mind, I'll just move up ahead of you. Ignius whispers, moving past Darien but behind Justified. Miss Greyshadow, will you be needing additional light? Ignius intones, a flickering blue flame, seeming to dance along the older man's fingertips.
The young girl smiles at the sight of the mage's command of the blue flame. For a couple of seconds she looses her thoughts at the sight of the blue flame. She regains her focus and says,"Why yes sir. The added light will be of great help." Moira then goes back to work on check for any nasty traps.
Moira delicately checks the swollen wood of the door. Finding no traps, she slowly eases it open and its rusty hinges creak shockingly loud in the silence of the tunnel. The door opens onto a 1o foot wide corridor running perpendicular to the one you're in.
To your left and right, the passage runs for twenty feet before ending in double doors. The doors to either end stand open.
Moira halts everyone before entering as she starts to study the ground
"There are track...relative recent...probably more than one. See lookie here. Some of the tracks looks like they are walking with a gait. You guys have any idea could have made these tracks?"
Hmm... What would walk with such a shuffling gait? Doesn't seem... natural.
Moira gets up and brushes the dirt off of her. Looking up to Justified, she says "Ok big guy....lead on."
I'll take your word for it. The scholar intones peering down the hallway. I worry however what implications might result from whoever was down here. Are you able to determine how fresh the tracks are?
Moira shrugs in Ignius' direction. "Beats me. Let's just go right."
Creeping down to the wreakage of the double doors, you can see that they were forced open into the hallway. Beyond the door, a large room(25'x25') opens up there is another set of double doors directly across from your entrance and another exit to your left, heading back towards the direction you've entered from.
The room shows signs of battle. A pair of discarded daggers lay forgotten on the floor and blood stains are everywhere. Eerily, there are no signs of any corpses. A smear of blood, like that of a dragged body, head out through the other set double doors. More tracks and blood spatter lead towards the other exit.
Momentarily going wide eyed at he splash of blood and the discarded daggers, Ignius gives a stifled gasp. Closing his eyes momentarily, the magi takes a single calming breath before breathing out slowly and opening his eyes. Well, I suppose we have some cause to be alarmed. The magi begins, waving his hands in a complex gesture and calling upon a sliver of his elemental heritage. Completing the spell, an ethereal robe that seems to flicker like the muted embers of a fire settle over Ignius's white robes.
Looks empty...