GM Shathira's Skull and Shackles

Game Master Kelarith

Morgrym takes the bandanna crap and pockets it wondering to whom may belong, he markedly notes to ask the others when they meet again in the evening as they know the crew of this ship better, he has only been among them for a day or two at least.

Morgrym takes his time with the work he is assigned, ensuring it is done well, no need for any leaks to spring when they are further out at sea after all.

Arenya surveys the seen also taking mental count of the crew and notices Ri'el distress, she then travelling to the holy symbol of Besmara in his hands. "Where is Sandara?" she asks almost too afraid to hear the answer.

Ri'el turns on Arenya aggressively, a harsh and bitter retort at his lips, but as his eyes meet Arenya's, he sees his worry Sandara mirrored in the Tiefling's eyes, and the reminder that he is not alone in his concern for Sandara enables him to swallow back his nearly-misdirected frustration.

"Gone," he replies grimly as he turns his gaze back towards the stern of the ship. "As best I can tell, those goblin-squid things took her. Do you know anything about those creatures? Whether they... whether they take live captives? Or what kind of lairs they live in? And did you see any islands near or after the time we fought those things? They looked part-goblin, so perhaps they spend a good portion of their days on land as well. If there's even a chance that Sandara's still alive, I'm going to find her and get her back."

Still waiting to see whether my profession:sailor roll in post #900 yielded any info about how far we've travelled from the site of the attack. Unfortunately, my perception roll to spot potential lairs was crap, so it probably didn't turn up anything, but Arenya might fare better?

Garavaen shakes his head, "No idea.... but you're thinking they took them, and it wasn't Plugg? That's a much more reassuring thought... if we can get them to stop long enough for a rescue."

Later on while working Morgrm tries to take one of his companions aside, showing them the piece of the bandana he inquires "Does this look like it belonged to either o yer friends thats gone missing? i found it near some oh those things looked to have climed on board. yer Plugg seems to be an underhanded sort but i dont tihk he had a hand in the missin peoples"

Morgrym hopes that if his words are true that they can discover the fate of those people, be it that they are dead and at peace or if they live that they can be saved. first thing he will vote for once the ship is out of plugg's hands is confirming the locations of these crew members. being captive is a horrible thing he wishes upon no one. not after his time in a cage.

Davina recognizes the bandana and gives a gasp of fear and worry, "Crimson..." Davina mutters a quick prayer in her native tongue, "Dorīmā, kurimuzon anata no shidō to un o onegaishimasu."

Arenya thinks hard trying to remember, though in earnest she knows naught about those creatures that came aboard. The bandana though, that was her wasn't it? "Quickly, Ri'el, come see this! Is not Sandara's?" she says looking to the others for a confirmation as well.

As near as anyone can tell, you're still in the same bay around the same isle with the coral reefs, which is most likely what you beached on. The sun starts brighten the sky more, and the crew starts to come to terms with their predicament.

Plugg starts to address the problem by assigning more work. "Pick up yer wags, ya sorry lot. We'll need to pick up the slack fer those what were washed overboard in the storm. Tide'll be comin' back, and I don't want the ship fillin' her guts with sea."

Oh. I got that we were caught on a coral reef, but I didn't realise that we were going around an isle that was surrounded by that reef. Well then, there's really only 1 thing Ri'el is likely to do...

How far is the swim from the ship to the isle? Alternatively, how hard would it be to steal one of the row boats and make a break for the isle?

Plugg see's Ri'el's inactivity, and glowers at the man, "Quit bemoanin' yer girl toy fallin' overboard. We be needin all hands ta fix this ship, or we'll all be sharing the same fate.

So...how far is the swim from the ship to the isle, and how hard would it be to steal the boat and make a break for the isle now/later in the night?

Ri'el nearly lashes out at Plugg for his words, but manages to rein in his fury. For now.

"Rescuing Sandara is the priority. No sense getting myself hurt, exhausted or killed dealing with this lump of refuse."

Ri'el gets back to work, but looks out for an opportunity to speak to his allies as soon as possible.

When would such an opportunity arise?

About the time that Plugg is ordering everyone back to work, Syl calls from the side of the ship. "Cap'n, more bad news. Coral's done fer the water barrel. We patched 'er up the best wot we could, but it's near empty.

Plugg curses when he hears the news and tugs at his beard, when his eyes fall on Ri'el and the rest of the group, "All right ya jacks. Ya want ta find yer friends? More'n like they swam for shore if they fell overboard. Ship needs water, so yer gonna take the cutter, and some barrels'n fill'em with water." Plugg looks thoughtful for a moment and looks at the party, "Repairs'll take a day and a half, an' then we be havin' ta wait for high tide a fore we can leave. Figure that gives ya two days. Yer late, an' we're ta leavin' ya here. Now move yer scurvy arses!"

Morgrym gently places a hand on Ri'el's back and says equally out loud as to Ri'el himself "Looks like we be gettin our chance to look for em, lets not be waistin time. Grab yer gear and lets get to the boats. one o you is gunna need to show me how to use em!"

Morgrym goes with purpose to fetch his gear and secures his pack and makes a small prayer hoping to find their crew mates alive and well. getting back to to the deck of the ship he waits impatiently by the boat for the other "Lets be movin lads, time waits for no one after all!"

*Singing* I've been walking on the rail-road, all my life long day... ;)

Ri'el spares no time in grabbing his gear and making his way to the cutter, where he waits for the rest of his friends to arrive.

"Won't even need to look for water. The spirits will provide all we need. That gives us two days to find Sandara... though I'm pretty sure in those two days Plugg will be preparing some nasty surprise for us when we return... But I'll worry about that after Sandara's safe."

Hearing their new orders causes Davina to give a quiet sigh of relief as she quickly gathers her gear. She meets the rest of her friends on deck and ready to go.

You've got the choice to still mutiny against Plugg now, or go rescue your friends. Course who knows how long they'll survive, or if they're even captured ;)

Astein nods grimply and gathers his gear.

There is a chance he's planning on marooning us, but honestly I don't know if that would be a worse fate than he might have in store otherwise.

Listening to Plugg bark orders to the others, once you all have yours. You don't sense any kind of subterfuge about the repairs taking 2 days. You feel secure that you have at least that long to search for water and your friends.

You prepare the ship's cutter, and wrestle some barrels aboard, and about the time that you are done, the tropical sun breaks through the clouds and for the first time you get a true look at the area. The island is surrounded by a fairly thick coral reef, the very same one that the Man's Promise was pushed onto, and holed on. The waters are crystal clear, and you can see to the bottom of the sea even when the depth reaches 25 ft. The currents around the reefs, driven by the tides are brisk and would be extremely tiring to swim in.

As you pilot the cutter towards the island it is easy to see that the west side of the island is a sharp cliff, and it's plain that there will be no safe landings there, and a fairly treacherous climb in addition to that. As you near the northern jut of the island, you start to see other disturbing features. All along the perimeter of the island are statue like figures, which when you draw close to them you find are made of sinew-twined, scrimshaw covered skeletons. These "statues" reside in the shallows as you pass, but you also see them hanging from palm trees further into the interior of the island. Morgrym realizes that these statues mean only one thing. The island you're marooned on is known as Bonewrack Isle, reputed to be a deadly isle that nobody returns from. Further scouting shows that there are two "safe" landings. One on northern shore at what looks like an abandoned village, and another further along the east along a beach.

Maps up. The x's mark the safe landings, and the ship to the north is the Man's Promise. Scale is one square to 1/3 mile

Ri'el sizes up the island as he steers the cutter (I assume Ri'el is doing it since I think I have the highest profession:sailor modifier).

"What a cheery place...," he says sarcastically, "that ruined village seems like as good a place as any to start looking. We are after all hoping to find the inhabitants of this island as soon as possible..."

"And don't worry about the water. Give me a few minutes with the barrels and the spirits will fill them for us. And it'd be cleaner and safer to drink than anything we might get from this place."

Garavaen says, "I wasn't so much worried about the water... But let's be careful, too. Can't imagine coming back to the ship in a weakened state would be good for any of us. "

Davina nods agreement with Ri'el's suggestion before replying to Garavaen, "I agree Garavaen, that would be asking to be killed...or worse."

"Agreed... and it is good to be away from them so we can plan next steps. For now, lets land at that nearby spot that seems to be a natural harbor and search around for any sign of the squid things that may have taken our companions."

Astein moves to guide the craft towards the northern X on the map. Take 10 on profession sailor for a 15

The 'village' is really not much more than a small gathering of collapsed mud huts when you get closer. Landing the cutter at the remains of the docks, you travel a short way through the ankle high water to the shore. The huts look like they've been abandoned for decades. The jungle seems to be closing in on the village, but there is still a partially cleared path that leads into the swamp, and hopefully through it.

As you look around the village there really isn't much to see, but those statues seem to be everywhere along the perimeter of the island.

At this point your choices would be to head into the swamp/jungle, take the path, or try to climb up the cliffside to the north.

Arenya thans Besamara when Plugg permits them to go ashore in search of water and Sandara, though her excitement is short lived when she realises where they are. There eery atmosphere leaves her a sense she's being watched by something. Whether or not it's true she can't tell.

"The sooner we get of this island the happier I'll be. Which do you think? Any sign of our crew mate's tracks?"

"Let's see," Ri'el replies briskly, single-minded in his goal of finding Sandara as soon as possible.

He stoops down to the ground, trying his best to find any trace of recent activity in the area, especially signs of bodies being dragged to tentacle-legged creatures.

Perception: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (12) + 13 = 25
Survival: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (17) + 9 = 26

"see anything of interest lad? this place dont sit well with me and the sooner we can get out o here the better" Morgrym nervously looked into the trees of the jungle island, they have a purpose here but it looks like this island wont simply give them everything they need and they will need to fight it or abandon their quest.

Garavaen keeps an eye out for threats while Ri'el looks for tracks, his eyes scanning the horizon and the comfortable weight of his crossbow in his hand.

"We have enough trouble aboard the Mans Promise I would not wish to seek more on this island. Let us find our friends and confront our false leader before it is too late." she says as she wearily looks out at the island, unsure of what it might unleash at any moment.

The grounds around the area, much like the huts themselves show no sign of recent activity of any kind. The only thing of note are a few pair of footprints that look like they may be days if not weeks old in some of the more loamy parts of the marsh. They appear to be human adult sized, if small, and you'd guess they came from the interior of the island.

"No sign of recent activity, except for a pair of foootprints that might be a few days or weeks old, larger than a gnomes', but small for a human. They lead towards the interior of the island. If we're going to find any trace of the island's inhabitants, these might lead us to someone who can tell us more. At the very least, we know that whoever made these prints didn't have tentacles for feet."

"We don't have many other leads, so unless anyone has a better idea, I reckon following these tracks is as good a plan as any."

Ri'el fidgets as he looks to his allies, evidently anxious to move on towards anything that might yield a lead pointing towards Sandara's whereabouts.

"We best be moving along then. We aren't getting any younger standing about".

Arenya seems tense but strains against her strong instincts of self preservation that demand she leave this damned island and head back to the ship immediately. Lead the way. I'm sure we will find her. Have faith. Besmara smiles upon her." she says to Ri'el, trying to find a comforting smile.

Garavaen nods, his voice somewhat reassuring, "They may know where the octogoblins lair."

The group follows the overgrown trail for a while, until the pathway slips suddenly into a large green bog. Remnants of an old wooden bridge cross the bog, but only short timber platforms on either side remain, leaving just the pilings jutting from the mud. The salt river flows sluggishly through the area, leaving an area to be crossed of about 70 feet.

As you approach the bog to examine it, you hear something coming through the brush from the pathway behind you.

Garavaen turns his head, simultaenously raising his crossbow in a smooth and practiced motion, staying his finger on the trigger only long enough to determine if the thing approaching is a friend or a target.

Perception: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (16) + 9 = 25

Noticeably worried about what is coming up behind her, Davina turns to face that direction and prepares to cast a spell if she needs to.

Arenya stares at the bod before them. "Oh, great. How are to get past this now." She takes a sip from her canteen as she catches her breath and tries to think.

She sees the others turn towards the path they came by, tensing up. Then she hears it to, unable to make out the sound. She listens carefully her hand instinctively going for her dagger, the small blade out and tightly clenched in the right hand at the ready? "What is that?" she asks the others hoping for a positive answer.

Wispering to the others "We aint got a good idea its a threat, could be just as scared as us, get your weapons up but lets announce ourselves shall we?" Morgrym's sense of duty would not allow him to attack an unaware opponent unless he was certain this opponent was something deserving of death. If they announce themselves and it attacks he will accept responsibility for the danger he put them in but he had to be certain of its intentions first.

Backed against the sluggish bog, the pirates brace for whatever is pursuing them. They hear the thwip splorp thwip splorp thwip of small feet plugging through the mud-sucking soft ground surrounding the trail. In the near distance, a roughly triangular object of cracked leather heaves into view, bobbing like a ship near the tops of the waist-high marsh reeds. The object stops, heels over as if caught in a phantom wind, then drives straight for the pirates, plowing through the marsh vegetation like a war frigate. The thick rushes cloak much of the object and whatever creature is beneath it. But a strange murmuring chant can be barely heard beneath the hiss of the moving reeds. Is it a spell? A diabolic prayer baying for the blood of the unwelcome invaders?

The answer comes quickly as the object/creature closes with the path, and the words begin to become understood as oddly accented Common, "...rate's life for meeeee..."

Crashing from the reed-beds, comes an improbable figure - a ropey green-skinned and red-eyed goblin carrying a stuffed sea-bag and wearing a large leather tricorn hat, piratical pantaloons, and an amused look. He notes the wary stances - and pointed weapons - of his comrades (plus a dwarf) and shares a shark-toothed smile nearly as wide as his 3' high frame. He drops his dripping sea-bag, "I surrender... unless yur planning on ravagin' me, in which case, I'm like to put up a fight and Lovely Grok will have a few things to say about it."

Eli chuckles and starts rummaging through his sea-bag, pulling out a shortbow and quivers. "So, where we headed?"

The goblin rigger from the Wormwood had mostly kept to himself for the last few weeks, hatching plots to drive wedges between Plugg, Scourge, and their cronies. It seemed the most success he'd had was being excluded from Plugg's hand-picked crew for the Promise - making his appearance on this distant island all the more surprising.

Hey guys, I'm BACK and delighted to be here. :D

Davina gets a shocked lok on her face before she says, "Eli!?" She kneels down and grabs the little goblin into a hug, "I didn't think we'd see you again."

Grey embarrassment colors Eli's green cheeks. He pats the Aasimar awkwardly. "I'm like a bent copper piece - I always turn up. 'Sides, I couldn't let you folks have all the fun with Mister Plugg, Angel-girl."

Morgrym sees Davina drop her guard and hug the goblin and returns his weapon to his belt. Not being the shy sort but not sure what to do as the dwarven hatred for goblins and their kin bubbles up he has to take a moment to push aside his prejudices before greeting Eli "Greetings, Me name be Morgrym and it seems that my friends here already count you as one of theirs. What brought you to this murky hell hole of an island? and have you seen anyone else here at all?"

Garavaen keeps the crossbow up for a just a moment, then chuckles, "No sense surrendering... I'm not quite sure what we'd ransom you for, anyway." He then smiles widely, "How in Lamashtu's teats did you get yourself here?"

Ri'el's hair ceases twitching as the familiar goblin trundles into view. He stares incomprehensibly at Eli for a good few moments, unsure whether he is more surprised that Eli managed to find them here on the island or that he managed to swim all this way through last night's storm.

At length, he sighs, resigning himself to the fact that he will never quite understand the ways of goblins.

"Well, if needed, we can attach some tentacle-like things to Eli's lower-body and exchange him for Sandara," he says with a wry grin. "Sorry Eli, I'm happy to see you here. But Sandara's gone missing and we need to find her before the creatures that took her do her any lasting harm, if they have not already."

Welcome back! =)

"Greetings, Me name be Morgrym and it seems that my friends here already count you as one of theirs. What brought you to this murky hell hole of an island? and have you seen anyone else here at all?"

Eli tips his tricorn politely to the dwarf. "I'm Eli, Master Morgrym, nice meeting a fella of proper tallness." The goblin stands on his muddy tip-toes and compares his height to the paladin. He comes up short by many inches but at least he isn't having a conversation eye-to-groin with the man. "Sad to say, I haven't seen nobody... but I swam to get here so it took me a bit longer than you."

Garavaen keeps the crossbow up for a just a moment, then chuckles, "No sense surrendering... I'm not quite sure what we'd ransom you for, anyway." He then smiles widely, "How in Lamashtu's teats did you get yourself here?"

Eli continues donning his scant equipment as he talks. "Well... poor Plugg was so busy what with sortin' out his crew and so forth, he must have accidentally forgot to invite me along. I didn't want to bug the capt'n with the matter and you know how a good sailor does a task that needs doin' without needing to be asked, right? If a rope needs coiling, you coil it - you don't ask the capt'n if you should or not. So, seeing as Plugg would miss me terribly, I decided to come over. it took a bit of convincing for Grok to lend me some of my old equipment," he says sadly, "but, well, a grappling arrow and some swimming later, I was aboard the Promise."

The gobbo cinches his now nearly empty sea-bag and slings it over his shoulder, ready to move on. "Ol' softie that Plugg is, I didn't want to surprise him and see him burst into tears. Never a good idea to unman the new captain in front of the crew. So I made myself a nice little spot in the hold. But now it's sprung a leak. Can't sleep with all the sawing, hammering, and general ruckus. It seemed a good time to take a stroll on this lovely island and catch up with you all."

"Sorry Eli, I'm happy to see you here. But Sandara's gone missing and we need to find her before the creatures that took her do her any lasting harm, if they have not already."

"Fair enough. Let's move along and see what's what. I wouldn't mind getting my teeth on another of those squiddy buggers." He glances around at the remnants of the walkway across the marshes, "We headin' across these posts? Want me to test them out?"

Shathira, let me know what rolls I'd need to make to jump from post to post across the swamp, if that's possible.

Perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (17) + 8 = 25 general looksee and determining if the posts aren't too rotted for me to jump from one to another

Returning his attention to the bog before them, Ri'el looks around for an alternative crossing, or failing that, seeks to ascertain from the flow of the river whether the river might be narrower further up or down the stream.

perception: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (11) + 13 = 24
survival: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (10) + 9 = 19

Arenya relaxes at the sight of the little goblin and is a little slower at reacting but quickly joins Davina in giving him a hug. "Wherever you've been it's good to have you back. As Ri'el mentioned. Sandara got dragged off and we're trying to look for her. Plugg sent us here to find fresh water to restore the ship's supplies and we're using our time to find her. We don't have forever though. Plugg said we had two days and the high tide till they sailed off with or without us, though I don't see how they will manage that threat with a smaller crew and no water."

Looking out over the expanse with Eli she adds "Yes, it seems that would be our way forward though I'm not sure how we will manage it. Any ideas" she asks the party.

"I don't fancy wading through this muck. If we've got enough rope between us, an' we can find a couple stout trees in the right spots, we could rig up a line and go over the muck - maybe using those stumps as steppin' stones."