For a moment Bleepos squeezes his hands against his eyes in disbelief. It wouldn't be the first time he saw something here that... Wasn't really there. Like the time he imagined the sexy goblin dancers. Or the time he ate a piece of log thinking it was a fresh roast boar leg. But now it looked like he was truly seeing someone he knew... And someone who at least wasn't trying to kill him the last time they saw each other.
Here! Friends! Here! - he shakes his arms with joy, hoping the other will gesture back, and hoping he's not imagining them while in truth it's just a group of flesh eating sahuagins - It's me, it's Bleepos!
The goblin rogue continues jumping and yelling for a while, even if and after being recognized. His big head shakes frenetically to the point it seems physically impossible form him to keep his balance.
Bessie stares in disbelief, trying to understand how the goblin made his way from the Wormwood to this place. She then drops to a knee and waves the little goblin over to them.
Bleepos! You scurvy little pirate! How'd you get here? Is Beket with ya too? Oh, Besmara thank you for guiding another Peril Crew back to us!! Bessie has big smile as she sees Bleepos.
Bessie then crosses her forearms over her chest with her fists up by her shoulders, her right forearm clearly showing a skull and crossbones - the holy symbol of Besmara. With her arms and head she is forming the symbol herself, Besmara's blessings be with us all, and may she sail with us this voyage. It is the same gesture and blessing she made when they first woke aboard the Wormwood after being press ganged in Port Peril.
"Well, ye ain't got squid legs and Bessie vouches for ya. I guess ye'll pass." He turns to the rest of the crew, "Well, another good dagger arm should come in handy. Bessie, you may want to check him for that fever stuff. He looks a little green to me, but I'm not really sure what color he's supposed to be."
Bleepos was just inside the stockade walls when he signaled you. It is likely has much to say about what all has happened to him. From the ridge you can see the whole island. It appears you had passed through all of the somewhat inhabited spots on the island. The abandoned village still lies undisturbed and their is a significant black patch on the island where you set fire to the ghoul tent. The far eastern side of the island has a large spit of rock that you have not checked and there are still the tunnels, which at the time, you did not search thoroughly.
Nasifi greets Bleepos not with a hug, but something that will truly warm his heart. She hands him a couple of big strips of jerky from the provisions she's carrying.
Guillaume is pleased by the reunion, but does little more than smile. His eye is on the mission. Time for celebration later. A captain must concern himself with getting the job done.
Bleepos was truly joyful for seeing his friends, and definitely missed any kind of celebration. He immediately made a reverence to Besmara's symbol on Bessie's chest, trying to keep his composure.
Yet, when he say the jerky on Nasifi's hands, his eyes popped out of his skull. He advanced as a ferocious beast and wrapped all her hands in his mouth - but stopped on the last second with an embarassed smile.
Bleepos thanks you, boom boom lady! - says the Goblin, controlling himself to get the jerky carefully, before throwing it on the floor and jumping on it with his usual famished manners.
Moments after eating, the goblin lift his immense head and spoke towards all, especially Orslaw.
Bleepos green. Always been green. Bleepos don't believe he's poo-poo'ed. - he starts, immediately following with hand gestures - There 'be giant froggos there, ne'r the marshy parts of tha' sweet water patch. 'dey be trying ta' eat Bleepos for a while, but ya' can't outsmart a goblin.
He shakes his head before continuing, proud of his accomplishments.
'Dey don't go where tha' river moves faster, right there, because of big scaly-mouth-lizard-not-lizard. He's large, but sloooow, so easy to jump around and avoid. For Bleepos, I mean. Not for the froggos.
Finally, the goblin turns his body to the cornfield.
Bleepos likes the tasty yellow fruits there, full o'small yellow pebbles, full o'good ole tasty insects. But the little winged ones bite and give poo-poo. Bleepos don't go there.
He starts making fly noises, and gracefully pinches his companions to "demonstrate" how dangerous they are. He then turns to the east.
Not much ther', on that rock outcropping ta' where the sun comes on the mornings. Just barren. And Bleepos never went on that direction... - he points to the cliffs towards the riptide cove - ... Because it's really tall and full o' water most of the time.
As the reunion settles down, Guillaume steps forward, smiling broadly. "It's good to see you again, Bleepos. I believe we were heading for the fort up there" he says, pointing in the general direction. "We should probably head that way."
My apologies for being unclear. You are on the ridge in front of the fort. Bleepos came out of it and greeted you.
As the reunion settles down, Guillaume steps forward, smiling broadly. "It's good to see you again, Bleepos. Is there anything of particular note in the fort? Regardless, we should try to use this height to get a good view of the surroundings."
Nothing of interest remains in the fort. Bleepos has scouted most of the island except for the previously occupied cove tunnels. He has found nothing of interest beyond the animals he mentioned earlier. You do have a good view of the island so he is able to point to each area as he tells his story.
"Should we go to the tunnels then? It seems they're the most promising place left."
How is the tide, we want to go in as the tide is drawing out, and we need to be ready for those hooks and other traps. I would like to get some gaffs and nets.
Bleepos, there are squid-things in the water below the tall rocks. We are going to take a boat in, we could use a brave fighter like you to help, are you up for that?
You can take a small boat in but you will have to lower it from above. The inlet into the cove is underwater. The PCs and how many crew will go in? Anyone collecting corn for food stores?
"I don't think we need food stores bad enough ta risk those flies swarming the fields. I say we search through the caves, then head out looking for that fish man."
He explains to Bleepos that they need to find a sahuagin, no not like the captain, and take him back to some snake people before my head goes *POP*.
The entry from the sea is submerged, so you could purposely swamp a small boat and have Guillaume take it through the tunnel. Using a solid number of sailors from the ship should make dropping the boat into the cove doable. Depends on how many you want to leave aboard.
"That's a good point, Orslaw. Let's leave the corn alone for now. Shall we get some of the crew to lower the boat in?"
So let's find sharkfaced ugly guy then, longshanks! - says Bleepos to Orslaw, shaking his head in joyful agreement - Leave the yellow fruits alone. Good! Flies there carry boo-boo.
He stops for a moment, not really thinking much at all - finding these people was all the goblin wanted.
Bleepos will accompany you! - he replies to Bessie, immediately circling around without a clear path.
Aye Captain Bessie nods in agreement to getting the boat and getting their next adventure under way.
A short time later you have signaled for a second crew to come ashore. Then taking both boats around to the cove you have one lowered at low tide into the bowl. The other six crew members stay up top as the original Peril crew plus Orslaw head into the flooded caves.
It is dark in the caves, so Bessie provides a little light. At low tide you are able to float through the caves but at periodic points you must disembark and haul the boat over shallows. At the first such shallows you come to an intersection. The waters are dark and still since the tide has flowed out and no longer draws on the pools in the caves. Knowing what to look for, you can see the tale-tale signs of the hook areas before you.
Unless anyone has a better idea, lets use the gaffs to hook the hooks and clear a path. Be ready, if anything is still here, they won't like us removing their traps. And be ready to get wet, the first thing they will do is tip us. Bessie moves to the bow with a gaff in hand, and attempts to catch the hooks and pull them to free a path.[/b]
Nasifi moves up to the front to help Bessie with clearing the hooks and making a path.
Aside from the gaffs, she uses her machete to cut ropes so the way through remains permanent.
Let Bleepos try it! - says the goblin, touching his backpack full of weird, small goblin-like tools.
As Bessie struggles , she takes note of how easily Nasifi and especially Bleepos handle the hooks. She says a silent prayer of thanks to Besmara for such capable crewmates.
Hey Orslaw - do you think your falchion is still at the bottom hereabouts? Capt'n think it'd be worth a look below?
Bessie's method or gaff hooking and pulling works but is slow. Nasifi also working with bessie helps slice them so that the lines are gone for good. Bleepos, hanging over the right side of the bow, using his feet like a second pair of hands to grasp the seat, manages to quickly pull four or five together at a time and then quickly slice them with his dagger.
"Aye, Bessie, that's good thinking. Let's take a look." Once they're close to where the Falchion was lost (as best we can remember), Guillaume will go down and check.
"Aye," Orslaw agrees, "I believe it was back the right an definitely worth retrieving. The only issue bein' there were two undead under the water where it went down."
You head south-east. There is a small side tunnel to the south west but it is too small for your boat so you continue floating through the main tunnel. Bleepos clears a solid path through the hooks and you float into the large cavern. Something beneath the surface make a ripple in the water but nothing strikes at the boat. Reaching the far side you find two tunnels leading out of the larger room. The south-east tunnel, the route you believe you went last time, is too thin for your boat. The south-west tunnel, although wide enough for the boat, has two turns in it which you are quite certain your boat cannot make. It seems you will need to proceed on foot from here.
Guillaume looks back and forth between the two routes. "Either way, it's time to get our feet wet. Let's head the way we went last time." Guillaume suits action to words, hopping over the side.
Bessie smiles as the Captain takes the lead. Beats worshiping the holy stone, scrubbing decks.
Time to get wet Peril Crew! Bleepos - you good with a swim, or do you want a ride? Bessie indicates she will give the goblin a piggyback ride if needed as she leaps into the water behind Guillaume.
Bleepos knows the basics! - said the goblin, jumping in the water as well. He blinks his giant eyes, and taps his hands frenetically - but, somehow, able enough to move around.
With it being low tide the water is about waste high on the human sized beings. Bleepos finds it just above his nose and ends up splashing out to keep his head out of the water. Taking up point, Orslaw leads the way. The crew wades through another area of hooks but since they are not swimming it is not as bad. Bessie gives Bleepos a breather and he is able to make short work of the hooks so they will not have to worry about them on the way back.
Nasifi keeps her machete at the ready and takes a position in the front. Bleepos is certainly the better lookout, but Nasifi doesn't have to swim.
Orslaw keeps leading through the water, eyes skimming the darkness ahead. He keeps his falchion drawn, waiting to be ambushed by more ghouls.
"Hold." Guillaume says, holding up a hand. Once he others stop, he points to the tentacle. "Look there."
Bessie scowls. Squid-things know we are here.
She draws out her rapier and readies herself for traps and ticks.
Right behind Nasifi, Bleepos hears Guillaume at the same time his trained eyes see the tentacle. He instinctively pulls Nasifi's arm back.
There! There! - says the Goblin.
Nasifi and Orslaw are not quick enough to catch sight of the thing but everyone now knows the situation. Orslaw points out their previous path led in the direction of the retreating tentacle. On the shallows, Bleepos finds he can stand with the water only coming to his knees. Orslaw faces yet another set of hooks and beyond is the cavern in which they fought the devilfish.
Having had the area where the tentacle was spotted pointed out, Orslaw takes position at the lead, specifically ahead of the hooks. "Bleepos, I'll guard the front if you want to clear these hooks."
Bleepos agrees wholeheartedly as he moves around to work on the hooks. He can't help but keep thinking about the tentacle - but in two different fashions: the danger it might represent, and the fact he never tried to fry such a big tentacle before. Juicy! Spongy! Probably quite unhealthy! But still, overall satisfying for an unending hunger!
The tunnel opens into a wider cavern decorated with hundreds of leering skeletal parts, wriggling with worms. Four dark circular openings exit the chamber. Everyone recalls now, you went to the northwest from this cavern.
Orslaw nods in approval as the small goblin clears the hooks behind him. He's got the respect of the rest of the crew and is definitely proving his usefulness... Orslaw thinks he hears something and looks up, Must've been Bleepos clearing the hooks. Looks like we'll head north west from here.
Bleepos works on the hooks.
Guillaume brings up the rear, ready to provide cover fire as necessary.
Bessie stays between Bleepos and Orslaw as the goblin takes care of removing the hook traps she keeps an eye on Orslaw just in case the tentacles or undead emerge.