Angry Frans sends the pirate adjacent to him crashing to the ground in a bloody heap. The party quickly disables and takes the pirates on the ship, only the grippli remains. The frog-like creature shakes his head vigorously as squeezes another vial tight in his hand. "Fools. Fools!"
A creature that is glued to the floor (or unable to fly) can break free by making a DC 17 Strength check or by dealing 15 points of damage to the goo with a slashing weapon. A creature trying to scrape goo off itself, or another creature assisting, does not need to make an attack roll; hitting the goo is automatic, after which the creature that hit makes a damage roll to see how much of the goo was scraped off. Once free, the creature can move (including flying) at half speed. If the entangled creature attempts to cast a spell, it must make concentration check with a DC of 15 + the spell's level or be unable to cast the spell. The goo becomes brittle and fragile after 2d4 rounds, cracking apart and losing its effectiveness. An application of universal solvent to a stuck creature dissolves the alchemical goo immediately.
Frans moves up and around the sticky Gaeldrung.
The frog-creature breaks free of Lukaas's attempt to daze him, and shakes his head back and forth several times. He shouts, "No-no-nonono you don't fancy tongue!
Periel's assist proves fruitful and the poor pirate collapses on the deck.
Akvius swings to face the grippli and starts to cackle it this time. The grippli attempts to throw a bomb in Gaeldrung's face but that cackling from that damnable tiefling unnerves him and the throw sails west and hits the ground at Frans's feet.
Indeed, that has done.
The fury of Frans and Gaeldrung is unleashed upon the frogman in vicious fashion. Blood and gore explode from the grippli as metal and blades rain down upon its body. Seconds later when the sounds of multiple objects hitting the deck can be heard below, there are no less that four pieces of the grippli laying at the feet of the two warriors.
No more pirates appear to be in sight, if they were they likely would have abandoned ship after seeing that massacre. With all of pirates dead and dismembered, what will the party do with their newly acquired Lionfish?
The grunts each have Combat a tanglefoot bag, thunderstone, masterwork studded leather, light crossbow with 10 bolts, cutlass, thieves’ tools and 35 gp.
The bloody pieces of the frogman have a masterwork studded leather, +1 light crossbow with 20 bolts, rapier and his formula book with his prepared extracts.
Once the party finishes gathering the gear from the pirates, they search the ship and stumble across its stores of rations and weapons. They find
a masterwork hook hand, 5 barrels of cheap rum, and a Large, ornate treasure chest with a sextant in it. In addition, in the captain’s quarters are the nautical charts that the captain entrusted her crew with, which plot the planned coordinates of the Topaz Titan. Several notes
to Mumbuckle from Alejia, delivered via carrier raven, inform you that Alejia has boarded the Topaz Titan at Kalsgard and that the Lionfish is to meet her at sundown on Moonday, which is 2 days from now.
Since none of you are trained in the art of sailing, you are quite unsure how far away you are from this since you are unable to read these nautical charts.
The sound of a female clearing her throat loudly can be heard over the starboard side of the ship.
The angler adds, "No needs t' be takin' this beauty into port."
Smulwarts Gultrock, the dwarf who ferried you out to the Lionfish looks up at your crew from her skiff. "I be knowin' a cap'n who might be able t' help ye wit' this here problem ye be facin'."
An exaggerated pause is present before she adds, "Fer the right price that bein'."
The dwarf responds in kind, "I was hopin' ye would ask! How about I offer me services o' transportin' ye around fer an agreed duration o' time? I be having' a crew 'n will loot care o' thar wages as part o' th' agreement."
The dwarf nods and says, "Agreed then. I'll return t' shore 'n grab me crew. We'll plan t' return in two hours time. We shall needs some time t' prepare our journey t'... Where are we journeyin' t' again?"
She waves a dismissive hand and shakes her head with a smug look of determination. "Nevermind that, we'll meet back here in two hours time 'n ye can fill me in then. Do we needs any additional provisions fer th' journey?"
Gultrok departs for shore and returns in the agreed allotment of time with several weather hardened and lean men. You share with her the coordinates of the Topaz Titan per the information you discovered onboard the ship. She explains your destination appears to be Viper Cove. The captain notes dryly that the weather doesn't looking particularly good for you land lovers for this evening, but she she should make it to your destination in two days. Since this is the timeframe that was outlined on the note you found near the nautical charts in the captains quarters you all agree to depart.
Captain Gultrock takes the wheel and begins shouting out orders to everybody. She uses a lot of nautical terminology that most of you have no such knowledge about besides "swabbing the deck" and "hoisting the main sail".
The weather is good, for a few hours at least. By late afternoon the weather has soured as large waves keep you stomach in knots and hard rain continually blasts those up on deck. The weather passes after you have cleaned your stomach of your latest meal. Eventually sleep comes followed by a day of favorable winds and calmer weather. The captain and crew do their job and sail sails the seas with the Lionfish.
Around dawn the captain notifies you that you are nearing your destination ahead. The only landing point on the rocky islet called Viper Cove seems to be through a cavern entrance that leads to a shallow cove concealed within the island itself. The walls of the cavern are lined intermittently with torch-adorned sconces, and another ship is already moored on the northeastern side of the embankment—Topaz Titan is emblazoned across its hull in orange letters that shine brilliantly even in the limited light. Several hastily-sealed cans of paint, a wood rasp, and sandpaper are barely visible on the ship’s deck. On the eastern side of the large cavern, two exits lead further into the cave complex.
Gultrocks wakes those that are sleeping to inform you that you have arrived at your destination. She asks if you want her to take the ship in or if you are going in another method. She's about
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In spite of his inability to keep anything down, Gaeldrung is still up with the dawn and chanting his victories to the glory of Gorum while pounding on his armor and shield. This was a test, nothing more. He has endured worse.
When they arrive, Gaeldrung looks suspicious at the ship. Why do I get the feeling that that ship wasn't the Topaz Titan until just recently...
Gultrock eyes the ship and cove ahead and asks, "Shall we keep her here or are requestin' I takin' her all th' way in?"
Lukaas and hte rest of the party hop into a small raft and make their way to shore without incident. Two obvious exits from your current location are down a set of steps to the north or a passageway through the cavern to the west.