Gunnar, Corrin, and Crusk grasp onto the lip of the boat, and lift. the boat is lighter than expected, and lifts high into the air.
Bugs and small animals scramble and scurry out of the sudden light, darting for cover and shade. Mice and voles abandon nests, scattering seed and fluff as they flee.
Under the boat, sheltered from sun, rain, and wind, you see several dozens of bottles of different types. Wine and ale bottles, and the glass mason jars filled with strange, grey glop. Seven clay jugs, no larger than a man's hand, sealed with bright red wax, stand stacked in the middle. Three oars lay upon the ground at odd angles. More bones of the mysterious dwarf figure are exposed, an upper torso and skull. the glint of gold and silver glitter upon its chest. A large leather satchel sits upon a half dozen empty glass bottles.
Sazzat's interest perks up a bit and if no one stops him he carefully begins to examine the contents of the leather satchel while glancing at the everything before him as he moves to pick it up.
Sazzat pauses in seeing what is within the satchel and continues to focus on the oars saying, "Just a heads up these oars are radiating magic. Should be able to tell you what kind here shortly."
"Magic?" asks Crusk. Crusk ponders with this. "Maybe the dwarf was blown off course and was beached. Then someone killed him and tipped over the boat to hide their crime?"
Sazzat looks about then asks what he feels is a very evident question, "And how did it get all the way up here? This is a long way from the water line and not somewhere that..." he pauses for a moment in his dialog as he more closely examines the oars. Perhaps these oars might explain why this boat was all the way up here, they were magical after all.
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Gunnar says "Oh, nuts..." When the others look at him inquisitively, he says "No, really, nuts. There's nuts in here. Also some raisins. Must have been sealed to prevent losing the crispiness." He takes a handful from the jar and starts nibbling on the mix.
He has to admit, he is more curious now. He says "Nothing here would identify this dwarf, would it?"
As they talk, Zeldana moved her way down to the end of the skeleton to inspect something.
Whatever caused this dwarf to perish, it sure looks like he drank his last days away.
She watches curiously to see what Zel has found.
Loxley watches as Gunnar sets about giving the Dwarven remains proper, or at least as proper as possible at the moment, rites. When he moves to help Corrin and Crusk with the boat she makes sure to keep herself out of the way.
For some reason she can’t place, she finds it a little comforting that so many little lives were benefited from this loss of one life. Despite the cruelty of fate.m, life persists one one form or another she supposed.
She gave Gunnar a raised eyebrow and smirk as he stuffed the preserved trail rations into his mouth like a little boy.
”Boys will be boys.”
She managed a chuckle before turning her attention to Sazzat after his remark about the oars having magic.
”I can try to identify them, if you need.”
She offered, if the rouge liked.
”I have the proper spell prepped.”
Meaning she had the Identify readied.
Crusk examines the oars. "Well, only one way to find out!" he said.
Perhaps knowing how they are magical will help him understand the story of this dwarf.
Sazzat continues to examine the oars but replies to Loxley, "Give me just a few more moments. Still it may not be overly necessary to identify these right now as they are just oars and we can examine them when we get back to town at our leisure. Save magic for when magic is needed."
Gunnar grunts suddenly, leaping to his feet! His eyes bug out, his face flushes brilliant red, his jaw stops moving! He blinks, and tears begin to wet his eyes. he chews several more times, grimacing before swallowing.
The urge to push the boat the edge and back into the sea is strong but he manages to just barely not try to push it.... He tilts his head and watches the party investigate things.. pausing and studying Gunnar a moment balanced on the balls of his feet in case something was very wrong witht he human... but he managed to work himself through it it seemed.
"Everything...... okay?" He asked hand hovering near his new mask.
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After breathing in and out a few times, Gunnar touches Corrin on the shoulder and says, trying to sound as calm as possible, "Yes, yes, thank you. Spicy!"
Without another word, he fights the urge to throw everything into the ocean and puts the lid back on. It's good that I only tried to nibble it., he thinks.
The cleric performs a short and arguably resentful service for the dwarf's remains, then says with his voice cracking "Shall we move on?"
While gunnar performs a rather jilted ritual of passing for the fallen dwarf, and as Sazzat examines the oars, Crusk slides over and squats over the discarded satchel.
hmm, lets see here he says, more to himself than to anyone else as he flips the flap over and pulls out a leather wrapped object from the inside.
Unfolding it carefully, noting the slight greasy feel to his fingertips, he removes a medium sized book from the wrappings.
oh ho! he says just as loudly.
He cracks the pages open, and looks upon perfectly squared runes of the dwarven language.
can anybody read dwarven? he asks more loudly to everyone
"Can anybody read Dwarven runes?" Crusk asks.
After ascertaining what that oars do he shares that information with the group, "We will probably want to take these back to town as perhaps we could find an interested buyer. That is unless we plan to go boating anytime soon."
The straight lines iconic to dwarven runes, harsh angles of shape, squiggle and writhe upon the paper, transformed into Common.
You look upon a book, more specifically a log. A captains log for a sailing vessel. The first page shows the ships name Argonite Edge.
you flip through the pages and read entries. some are long and complicated, detailed list of cargo being hauled and port locations, the person the Captain talked to, how much money was exchanged, weight, dimensions of boxes and barrels, storage locations on the ship. Some of the cargo lists entries of livestock. Cows, Horses, Sheep, goats.... elves. humans. gnomes. Gnolls. Goblins. And listing of prices for the livestock. Some entries simply say "loaded cargo X in ocean transfer. received 200 gold for help"
Other entries are short. simply readings of weather, speed of ship, status of crew morale.
the last couple pages are informative.
3168, month 4, day 14, three hours past dawn
The cyclone comes out of nowhere from the southwest. I fear it is magical in nature. Perhaps a do-gooder seeking to force us to make landfall near their home base. I know not. If course is unchanged, i shall course correct into Varasian Gulf.
3168, month 4, day 14, high noon
the storm follows us. I course correct to the gulf. I ordered full sail, and employed the chained water elemental to gain more cutting. We fly as the bird.
3168, month 4, day 14 sunset
The gulfs ring of islands breaks up the cyclone. Rain lashes our ship, yet our pet elemental pushes on. The cargo cries out, but the men lash them to still their tongues. Crew morale grim.
3168 month 4, day 15 high noon
The cyclone overtook us in the night. it was weak, passing over the islands. Rain lashed, our sails took a beating, but the men are to be commended for their actions in the rain and wind.
The Argonite performed well, remained stable.
in the middle of the night, during the storm, the slaves broke their bonds and charged the deck. they killed Agate and Slab. The men retreated to their assigned defensive locations. The slaves made it to the deck, several with makeshift weapons. I commanded the elemental to wash the deck clear. It responded well, and swept the freed slaves overboard. Losses, at that time, were 15,000 gold pieces in slave stock.
Just as the men emerged from their defensive positions, a lightning bolt hit the deck, blasting a large hole into the interior.
it was the death sentence for the Argonite.
the bolt broke free the binding runes for the water elemental. The elemental vented past commands upon itself upon the Argonite.
While the vessel was lashed and thrashed, my men made for the safety boats.
Gilt is to be commended for his foresight. the enchanted oars are worth their weight. As the Argonite sank, we rowed, and we never tired.
We came upon this strange island near the shoreline. The rocks are jagged, making for easy handholds. We lay upon the hard rock, and slept.
This morning, we woke to peaceful skies. The elemental, its wrath vented, has gone.
3168 month 4, day 15, sunset
The waters below hold a red tint. the slaves that swam well made it to shore, but the creature below, a bunyip, enjoys its meals.
There is a cave upon the shoreline, across from our island. the sea monster makes use of it.
The men camp upon this island. They are angry, but hopeful.
3168 month 4, day 16 sunrise
We need water. Our supply is limited. Feron has requested to swim the narrow gap between island and shoreline to help create a rope bridge.
3168 month 4, day 16, high noon
Feron, has made it across. The rope has been strung out across the gap and Feron has come back. He reports that he looked into the cave of the sea monster. He has spied one of our treasure chests still chained to the decking it was on in the ship. Must have slipped in in the night without us seeing it. The men wish to go retreive our treasure.
3168 month 4, day 16, sunset.
Water was found not 1200 steps north of our rope bridge. a small spring. bitter. men report bird noises.
3168 month 4, day 17, sunrise
Goblins attacked in the night. Sneaky, green goblins! no sound at all. Bilk stood watch. he was cut from ear to ear. His blood dried upon the stone face next to the rope bridge. Belk, the brother, died with a rock dagger thrust through his eye.
THe men are eating their jarred rations of fire nuts and meal. They wish to get the treasure and leave this place. Best to be done during daytime hours. The goblins here are silent, skilled hunters. Not like the duddards encountered in the mountain chambers.
I shall leave Geb here to guard the boat, the food, and shall lead the men into the cave to get the chest.
a final entry, in a hand that is not like the other reads
It has been 3 days. I have fended off several attacks of goblins. No one else has returned from the cave. I cannot stay here. I shall come back.
Crusk is anxiously waiting. He then says, "So, what does it say?"
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As Gunnar reads the book, his expression goes through many emotions. However, from early on, most of the emotions seem bad. Towards the end, he takes a look at the remains, then back the way the group came, then back to the book. The more observant can detect a slight movement upwards of his ears towards the end.
Finally he says "Well, my friend Crusk, this is a logbook from a ship captain. The ship was called Argonite Edge and the entries are from long ago, year 3168. First, it's important to note that the ship's crew were slave traders and didn't deserve any sympathy. I only hope that after so long being dead, this dwarf's soul may have found redemption and be welcomed in Desna's realm. He was called Geb, according to the text." he looks at the quick burial he made and looks a bit angry.
He dismisses his feelings and continues "It seems they were sailing deep waters when they began being chased by a hurricane. They suspected that it was summoned by someone trying to stop their slave trade. To try and escape the hurricane, they entered the Varisian gulf so that the land would be a deterrent to the harsh winds. They had a bound water elemental to help navigation. Their plan seemed to have worked, as the hurricane lost strength, but they spent a night in a heavy storm. Their need to tend to the ship allowed the enslaved people to break their bonds and start a riot. They had the elemental wash them overboard."
At this point, Gunnar breathes in deep in what seems to be a sad moment for him. Yet he presses on "However, the storm lashed out a lightning bolt that broke the elemental free. If the damage from the lightning wasn't enough, the elemental also attacked the ship, which drove the crew to go for the safety rafts. They rowed to shore and saw that the few surviving slaves were being devoured by a creature in a cave nearby. It's called a... bunyip?" He pauses to confirm the creature's name in the book, then continues "The interesting thing is that this creature's cave had also become the resting place of one of their treasure chests. So they made camp to rest, built the rope bridge back there, but started to get attacked by goblins and ate the food that was supposed to be merchandise. After a while, they decided to go for the treasure chest and left Geb here to guard their things. It seems their attempt at the creature failed, as Geb waited 3 days until he started venturing out himself. I'd guess that the goblins got him at last."
He clears his throat after this tale, and takes another gulp of water to douse his dry tongue. Finally he says "So there's an unaccounted treasure chest nearby, but it seems to be guarded by a people eating creature, if it's still alive." Then he looks out to the sea to let all of this sink in.
Loxley troed not to laugh at Gunnar’s unfortunate discovery of Dwarven spicing.
”And that is why I am leery of true Dwarven cooking.”
She chuckled.
She was quiet and respectful as the cleric preformed last rights for the remains of the poor soul. Though she was sure she heard something in the man’s tone that had her having to resist another snicker.
When it was over she glanced at Sazzat when he asked for anyone that could read Dwarven. Loxley had to shake her head.
”I’m afraid I’ve meant to, but just never had a proper opportunity to.”
She touched her chin thoughtfully.
”I really do need to return to my studies. This whole matter has been something of a, ah, distraction.”
The Arcanist grimaced.
She watched as Gunnar, though, cast a spell of comprehension.
She listens silently, her feelings complicated. Her held no sympathy for those that dealt in the flesh of other sentient creatures. But it was so long ago that any anger seems wasted on those long dead.
After a moment Loxley takes a deep breath and exhales it.
”Well, seems there are more secrets to be found around here.”
She gives a mock exaggeration of a sigh.
”Yet, more distractions.”
She chuckled.
”We should check the other side of the keep. Maybe it’s safer than the way we came.”
"There's only one way to find out, my lady," says Crusk gallantly. "That's by checking the other side. Slavers or no."
Now that the boat has been explored Sazzat begins to meticulously check the exterior walls for any potentially hidden entrances.
He listned to the others while daydreaming about throwing the boat off the edge of the cliff. He knelt near the others while the discussed this ship and its treasures...
"You know i wonder if this beast he describes was the one we killed in the water to save Yeda? It looked big enough."
He walked to the edge of the cliff face slowling near the edge in case the ground wasnt as stable here. He looked down to the water and tilted his head... man that was a fall.
"its really high up now that im looking at it. I think there was a bit of luck invovled that i didnt splatter myself intot the water when i jumped down after you Yeda eh?"
a stiff ocean breeze whirled by him and he shivered slightly.
"and this wind ... You know we ought to like go down there and check for the treasure.. i dont think the sea monster that was guarding it is still with us... man i really wanted like the head of that thing... or one of the tusks.....
He looked about the place and sighed... they had certainky went through a lot of troubles here now that he thought about it. and eventually they would have troubles here again. The goblins at some point were sure to retrun here unless he could convince the town to send a small force to restore the keep here. It was just far enough away from the city though who would want to make this trek on occosions or work on all the work to restore it not to mention the money it would take.
"I still cant believe i jumped from all the way up here and hit that creature in the water with my spear... i wish i could have seen it from your perspectives.. I barely reemeber the win rushing past my face as i plummeted like a spear hiolding comet down....
"Sea monsters aside, there is the goblin tribe on this island," says Crusk. "If they can overwhelm one dwarf, they can overwhelm us if we aren't prepared."
He held his finger up and opened his mouth then closed it...
"We uh... killed their chieftain... convinced their druid to leave and uh... well most of them fled i believe....
He grinned in kind of an aw shucks sort of way.
"We uh.. have had a busy week."
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Gunnar looks at Corrin wide eyed as he remembers attacking the creature. He says "That must be one heck of a story. Please tell it in more... appropriate circumstances."
He then says "Unfortunately I haven't any more fly spells for today. Although, if this treasure has been sitting here for over a millennium, it will also be here tomorrow. Probably."
Sazzat says softly basically to the wall as he continues to examine it, "Yeah assuming someone has not heard your words on the wind, like folks seem to be able to do when it comes to unprotected treasure."
Yeda laughs nervously.
Yeah, it maybe wasn't the best spot for cliff diving like I used to do back home. It can absolutely be done, you just have to know the terrain better and that there isn't a big rock just out of sight under the water you're diving into. We could climb down there and look around, Corrin!
She concurs with Corrin's last statement for sure.
That certainly was quite a week... They don't all need to be so filled with excitement. There's nothing wrong with spacing it out a bit!
You find no portal through the wall, you do find signs of worn handholds set into the tall wood planks lifting above you. Spaced for a goblin sized creature, they run from the ground and out of sight at the top of the wall. From where the group stands, if you hadnt gone looking for it, you never would have seen the notches in the thick brush.
Yeda laughs nervously.
Yeah, it maybe wasn't the best spot for cliff diving like I used to do back home. It can absolutely be done, you just have to know the terrain better and that there isn't a big rock just out of sight under the water you're diving into. We could climb down there and look around, Corrin!
She concurs with Corrin's last statement for sure.
That certainly was quite a week... They don't all need to be so filled with excitement. There's nothing wrong with spacing it out a bit!
"Well, excitement is our middle names," Crusk says. He looks around for any sign of an enemy. "It just doesn't have to be capitalized."
Crusk leans against the boat. He gazed up at the sky. "Of course, we attract the weird."
Sazzat glances up the wall saying, "Well it appears the Goblins used a different entrance to get inside, should I check it out to see where it leads." He then glances, pointedly, back at Loxley to see what the will of the now princesses would be. He cannot help but smirk a little at the whole thought. Still someone had to be the leader, he was just very thankful it was not him. That kind of responsibility he definitely could do with out.
"Oh, hello Bandit." Zeldana said looking up with her eyes at the raccoon on her head playing with her hair. "What can I do for you?"
At Bandit's name Sazzat's eyes shift over to Zeldana and he gives a little sigh and thinks to Bandit, 'Seriously buddy, did you find some fleas or just hoping you will?' as he wandered what Bandit was actually up to. Perhaps he was just looking for fleas, ticks or bugs as he used to do in the past but he had seemingly changed recently so what drove him now was a bit of a mystery to Sazzat. Still his gaze did not linger long before shifting back to Loxley to await her response.
Loxley shot Crusk a sideways glance, looking for any hint of insult at the ‘my lady’. She didn’t notice any, and felt bad for reacting.
She thought about what Corrin said.
“Well, it was certainly a large threat.”
She walked over to join him at the cliff edge and looked down.
“We can, but it might be wiser to get a boat from town and come back by water than attempting to scale these cliffs.”
She patted him on the shoulder and shook her head at Yeda.
“And we are all glad you survived your act of heroism, and you probably saved Yeda’s life.”
She nodded back at Crusk as the conversation turned back to the threat of goblins.
“It’s true we struck a mighty blow to them this time. But like most things that thrive in the muck and dark, even one can cause trouble if ignored. So, being cautious and prepared is wise.”
Loxley gave Crusk a smile and nodded in agreement.
“I’m sure once you hear it, it won’t sound nearly half as exciting as you imagine.”
She teased Gunnar
“But given a few drinks and the praise of the locals, I’m sure Crusk could spin it into quite the epic.”
“As much as stealth would be a blessing, you know as well as anyone, this group is too big and untrained for it to be a valid option. So we’ll keep our trust in you to be our eyes and ears.”
She says to Sazzt as she walks back towards the others, not noticing the rogue’s deferance.
“You and your better half.”
She chuckles as Bandit enjoys Zeldana company.
“Now you’re just mocking me.”
She smirks at the raccoon.
“But given a few drinks and the praise of the locals, I’m sure Crusk could spin it into quite the epic.”
"Give me a few days with it," said Crusk. "I can spin it worthy of the storytellers of Belkazahn."
Sazzat thinks back to Bandit, 'Thanks nice to know, I will pass the sentiment on for you and buddy I never must know just a bit more curious these days now that we can sort talk to one another. Truth be told, there was a time when I would have liked to mess around in her hair as well.'
Sazzat nods to Loxley's verdict for him not to check out this other potential entrance then says, "Hey, Zeldana in case you were curious, that is how Bandit hugs folks. So, he seems to really fancy you."