Harliss smiles at the party, "First of all, land lubbers, now that you're all fine and well, it's time to settle accounts. Where's my gold? And you'd better have it, unless you want me to start carving my initials into yer chests! Second, what brings you all to this little piece o' hell? You sure weren't on my ship!"
"I'm not sure what gold we owe you. But I'll tell you exactly while we are here. We are chasing that scurvy bastard Vanthus! He's tried to have us killed and now I'm here to get my revenge on him."
Harliss' face turns red at the mention of the name and she begins to scream, "Vanthus?? Vanthus Vanderboren?! That lying two-timing scummy motherf#~#er, a&!*!*$, son of a b%*%&, bastard child of a thousand pirates...." And then she really gets mean and you all blush a little at the litany of curses and profanities that come out of the attractive woman's mouth for a good 2 minutes! Then she calms down a little and proceeds to sit on a crate and sheathes her rapier and dagger, letting her anger go.
She then glances up, a serious look on her face, "Again, I ask, where is my gold? And by the way, greenie, what did that scurvy Vanderboren do to lot o' you?"
"You know, the basics...lured us to an island, trapped us to die with a bunch on zombies, stole all the gold from our friend and employer. And more things than that. Why do you hate him? How much gold do we owe you, by the way? If you saved us, it was worth every penny."
Baolo chuckles at Captain Harliss's rant about Vanthus, "Nice ta see we're na de only ones Vanthus has dat effect on. He prolly has ya gold too mon."
'Left-Ear' is about to correct Captain Harliss on his nickname when she begins spitting some of the most vile curses to ever crawl from the depths of Hell itself. He leans back against the wall, just listening to the shocking blasphemies she spews, until the torrent has finally passed. "Lassie," he says finally, an earnestness in his voice that had previously been absent. "That were...beautiful. There be a stirrin' in this ol' salt's heart, especially since ye have a charter against Vanthus as well." He reaches into his pouch and produces a handful of gold. "Here. Five pieces, as promised, and another five for teaching an old sea dog a few new ones. Honestly, 'choke on the afterbirth of a succubus an' a porcupine's union'? Now that be poetry!"
He takes a seat upon a nearby barrel as well, opening a hip flask and taking a long draught from it. "As fer me, he killed a mate o' mine. Poor damned Penkus. Killed in the same zombie abattoir that he aimed to dispose of Em an' the rest o' this crew. I'm lookin' fer vengeance 'pon his thrice-cursed scalp, or my name ain't 'Left-Ear' Louis Patterwell!"
Ialda laughed at her two mates competing in the "Who hates Vanthus more" competition with seemingly everyone else in the world. "He is truly an utter and complete piece of scum, isn't he?"
Baolo's chuckle turns into a full-blown laugh. "Damn blood o' dem savages must've curdled ma head mon! A bet's a bet. Here's ten from me too. Now let's hear 'bout ol' Vanthus!" Baolo tosses his part of the bet plus an extra five to the Captain.
The Captain's face brightens, as she quite nimbly snatches both sets of coins out of the air. "Ahh, I see Vanthus has been spendin' his time making more enemies. Because you see all of this..Harliss gestures to the corpses of the deformed savages on the ground, "and what nightmares ye must have endured to reach me, it was all Vanthus' doing!" You can tell Harliss' anger is rising.
"The vomitous pig came to me with his hussy, Brissa, that poor wretched soul over there, whom you happened to have sent to the other world, and he pretended to be a black marketer lookin' for shiny stuff and my men and I allowed him to stay. Told him we had a ship comin' in today full o' exotica for him to shop. Seemed like a nice enough chap, but then, not an hour ago, he dumped a hold full o' whale oil into the cove and lit it up, the bastard son of 1000 whores!"
"I was on the Slippery Eel at the time when I came out my cabin and caught the bastard and his whore on board red-handed tryin' to rob me. Tryin' ta rob ol' Captain Javell? Can ye imagine their gall?! I stuck the fool in the arm with me blade and he squealed and dropped what he were tryin't rob. A black pearl. Th'size o'a man's fist, mind you! As it fell it cracked like an egg, some o' Vanthus's blood spattered the pearl and it boiled and flashed with light. I saw foul, chokin' green gas spewin' from it, burnin' through the wood like acid. I grabbed th'thing, ran up and threw it inta'the water, but as it struck, the thing exploded!"
Harliss stops for dramatic effect.
"A black pearl you say? Lucky the green gas didn't effect you."
"Yeah, thank the gods. The gas did make me dizzy and I heard a voice in my head...like someone who was very hungry! And I felt such rage, like nothin' I've ever felt before. I felt an urge to kill and devour, but I fought it off and the feelings subsided. That pearl did something to the crew and Vanthus' girl, as you can obviously tell. The bastard dove into the sea and got away in the confusion, as I started fighting them off. Dat pearl turned the men into man-eating freaks, with no hopes for redemption! So I took it upon maself to introduce them to the pointy edge of my rapier! The bastards turned to goo and tried to ruin ma boots, but I wouldn't let them."
"Anyways, I followed suit and jumped into the sea and found ma first mate, Devoraz, who also resisted turning, and a couple of others but there were too many of them freaks and they just ate the poor souls, right in front of us! And it wasn't just them, the animals turned too so I came into the caves with some mates to barricade ourselves. Guess I'm the only one left, unless you rescued anyone? But don't worry about ol' Vanthus, I gots a surprise waiting for him. Ya see, I know where's he live, in Eleder. So I sent Devoraz a few hours ago to pay her a visit. Ya know what happens when you cross the Crimson Fleet?? Do ya?? Not only does the Crimson Fleet kill you, it kills your mum, pop, brothers, sisters and all yer friends! That'll teach any fools to try and cheat us. Know what I mean, boyo? So Vanthus' pretty sister is in for a rude surprise! Devoraz isn't the nicest of men, if ya know what I mean." Harliss grins, as she maintains her hands near her weapons, projecting an air of menace.
Ialda's mouth drops open in horror as she realizes what the woman's words mean. "Call him back. Vanthus's sister is our friend. We are trying to find him and kill him at her request. He killed both their parents not long ago! Call this Devoraz back right now!"
'Left-Ear' listens to Captain Javell tells her tale, nodding at the appropriate places. He appreciates a good rollicking tale of piratical derring-do, and he doesn't seem to find anything wrong with her tale, up until Ialda mentions they've had good relations with Vanthus' sister. "Hmmmm, Em's got a point," he says, offering her a tipple from his flask. "No point in murderin' an' bespoilin' if'n th' right bastard's got no love lost betwixt him an' his family. The sea be a cruel an' fickle b+%+$, Captain, an' if'n ye try ta enter into a catfight with her, ye'll end up losin' every time. Any chance Devoraz'll listen to ye if ye call him off?"
"Ya mon, Lavinia's na likka Vanthus. She wants 'im dead as much as we do. Get Devoraz baak an' we can go aftah 'im togettah."
Shaking her head, Aeronniell worked to quiet all the voices competing for her attention as Harliss told her tale.
Calm voice: The pearl. It is the source.
Roguish voice: How BIG was it? Can you imagine what it'd be worth?
Jovial voice: Lad, ye wouldn't want to be selling it. It's some sort o' cursed artifact that would only bring doom and destruction in it's wake.
Roguish voice: But think of all the drink it could buy! And all the woman! Oh the women!
Quiet you all! She said something about Lavinia!
Calm voice: It *is* getting crowded in here.
Shaking herself from a distant look, Aeronniell dons a worried expression and works to appeal to the female captain.
"Yes! Please, Captain. Lavinia and Vanthus are certainly not friends. The surest way to foil Vanthus is actually to *protect* his sister. He will only dance in celebration should your men succeed!"
Without much thought, Aeronniell begins moving out of the cave with haste, as if her actions can somehow single-handedly alter their orders.
"How are they getting to town? By boat? By foot? And how long ago did they leave?"
Hearing your pleas, Captain Harliss' face softens a little. "Well, this be a fine pickle, huh? I had no idea that smug Vanthus would be happy if we killed his kin! I suggest you rush back to Eleder and try to stop Devoraz' attack. The best I can do is write you a note to tell Devoraz to call off the attack. I wish you luck mateys. For now, it's best we say our goodbyes. I need to be headin' off and so do you, unless there's anything else ya need?"
"Could you tell us more about him? We need to know who to show the note to. Race, build, looks, etc?"
"True, how silly of me. Devoraz is a very muscular and sadistic half-orc, that's what made him such a good first mate. He looks a lot like your man there, Gruug. Except he has numerous tattoos on his body, is about 6'3", and wears a patch. He took a crossbow bolt in the eye this one time but kept on fightin' and saved my bacon that night on the seas! He's garbed in studded leather and fights with an enchanted scimitar. I don't think you can miss him, not after that description! Hahaha!"
"Is he heading there by ship? What's the name, if so? And a random question...I don't suppose you've found a cure for this black pearl sickness have you?"
'Left-Ear' grins as he wins a smile from the beautiful pirate lass. He removes his tricorn from his head and gives her a respectful sweeping bow. "I'm glad we could come to an accord, Captain! If you ever need a master o' th' tops, keep in mind ol' 'Left-Ear,' I'd be as pleased as a Taldane nobleman thrown into a pit o' prostitutes to sail under your colors."
Replacing his hat upon his head, he turns to the rest of the group. "Back to Eleder, mates! Step to!"
"No, he left by land, down the coast. Said he had to stop and recruit some allies for the assault in the Bandu Hills. He has a few hours of head start on ya but ya may be able to catch and stop him."
"Thanks for the warning. Let's go, everyone. Check those savages first though," Ialda says as she casts Detect Magic, quickly scanning the bodies before heading back to the ship.
"If ya's got the taint, then I feels sorry for ya, girl. And I'd better leave before ya turn and try to eat me. Maybe some priest fella can fix ya right up in Eleder, assuming you hold on till then. Luck!"
On the corpse of what used to be Brissa, you find a +1 studded leather, a MW rapier, emerald clasp worth 20 gp, and a silver locket containing a portrait of Vanthus (worth 10 gp). Among the dead bodies, you find a +1 rapier (with bronze hilt in form of a griffon), 10 gp, and 3 silver bars worth 30 gp total.
Ialda grabs the valuables as the group heads out.
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Aeronniell winces as she observes the portrait of Vanthus within the locket.
What a creep...
Quietly, she collects her things and smiles a reluctant thanks to Captain Harliss, pausing momentarily as she exits the cave to pray to her goddess.
"Blessed Desna, please watch over Lavinia as we make our journey, and keep her safe in light of this wretched misunderstanding."
Breathing in the salty sea air, she gives the cove a long meaningful gaze for signs of an undamaged vessel which can swiftly bring them back to port.
The party makes it back to the jollyboat that Left-Ear rented and you left on the beach. You begin the 2-day journey back to Eleder, hoping that your infected party members, Ialda and Left-Ear, are able to resist the effects of the savage fever and that you arrive in time to save your benefactor.
Fort
Fort
Aeronniell detours from her duties in sailing the boat at times to check on both Ialda and Left-Ear.
First, she examines Ialda.
"Let me see the bite... oh dear."
Roguish voice: Hey I wonder if she's green *everywhere*... do you think you can check for me?
...
Then she examines Louis.
"I think it's healing..."
Jovial voice: Back in mah day lass, we used to pee in a wound like this. T'would kill any parasites inside.
...
Sacred Council (2/day) (Su) As a move action, you can call upon your ancestors to provide council. This advice grants you a +2 bonus on any one d20 roll. This effect lasts for 1 round. You can use this ability a number of times per day equal to your Charisma bonus.
During the journey, Baolo heals himself from the brutal fight and attempts to assist Aero with checking on Ialda and Left-Ear.
With the aid of his 3 daily healing bursts, Gruug will ensure the party members are all healed up.
Left Ear Fort saves
One
Two
Ialda and Left-Ear both survive the 2-day journey without anymore Intelligence loss. As you row your boat into Portside around noon, you see the colonials of Eleder have been swept up in a festival of celebration of their Independence Day! Explosions of light and color light up the sky and the colonials are all dressed in blue and red, drinking and partaking of the local stands that have been set up along the streets. Throngs of people are in the streets and children roam around playing and admiring the jugglers, acrobats, and other circus performers parading around the street, entertaining the locals. It appears no expense has been spared to celebrate this day and at least the colonials seem to be enjoying themselves greatly. You imagine that the Zenj population outside the city walls...not so much.
"We must get to the Lady's manor quickly. Devoraz must be stopped!"
"Aye, no time to lose, Em," 'Left-Ear' says, frowning slightly as he steps foot back on solid ground, moving as swiftly as he can through the crowd as his rolling gait will allow. "The longer we take, the more alonetime Devoraz has with her, an' that ain't good for the poppet."
"Ya mon, and wit all dis crazy nonsense for the collies, dey might not hear if she is in trouble." Baolo joins Ialda and Left-Ear making a quick pace for the manor.
Gruug of course falls in behind his boss.
Aeronniell frowns upon seeing the throngs teeming about the city.
"Hopefully we beat the men here, and can use Harliss' note to quickly resolve the misunderstanding."
You make your way through the crowds on the waterfront celebrating and pass numerous performers, some blowing fire from their mouths, others juggling, and dancing in the streets, entertaining all. You eventually make it New Haliad and rush over the best you can to Lavinia's Manor. More intricate performances are seen in the streets, as you would expect from the wealthy neighborhoods who have the funds to pay for higher quality. The rich are also dressed up in their finest gowns and suits. You rush past the crowds entertained by acrobats and tumblers, some even on stilts, the majority of them dressed as harlequins. You are close, perhaps 2 blocks away from the manor.
Between his desire to ingratiate himself with a noblewoman, his need for revenge upon the noblewoman's brother, and his concentration on denying his inhuman hunger, 'Left-Ear' notices absolutely nothing.
Sense Motive
Ialda was fairly perceptive as she scanned the crowd, looking for a way to get to the Manor quicker. She admired a couple of the wild outfits as she sprinted by.