"It is true I'm afraid. He certainly wont be back anytime soon. I'll miss that lovable oaf. But, with his loss has come a changing of the guard. My hope is that this comes with new opportunities. Do let me know if you'd like to stop by the newest addition to our fleet. I would be honored to accompany a tour."
Krom sighs, and grabs a drink from the nearest table.
"Turns out there's one way to put Jrahk down for good: Lock up his soul in a place he'd never want to leave. Basically, Jrahk managed to fumble his way into a demiplane that forms itself in accordance with his subconscious desires."
"Through sheer luck, bravado, and foolishness, he managed to steal someone else's afterlife. Say what you like about Jrahk, but he was a pirate to the very end."
He raises his cup, then takes a hearty swig.
Sorrinash overhears this and chuckles a bit, seemingly slightly more personable with a bit of booze in him.
"Sounds like my kind of guy. Real fighter."
"Don't know where that leaves the rest of you though. Any of you really cut out to be a war leader?"
Krom smiles.
"None of us are strangers to fighting, but I'm guessing you mean someone who fearlessly charges into the fray and kills anything in his path. That'd be me."
"I know what you're thinking: 'This guy? Really? He's only got one leg!' But actually, I've got five legs. As well as four arms and a pair of wings."
As if on cue, Gurram flies majestically over the crowd and lands at her master's side.
"Fangs, claws, and lance - when the two of us charge into battle, nothing can stand in our way!"
Gremory claps politely when Krom finishes. "You enjoy your theatrics, don't you Krom? I prefer a much more direct approach to these things." She adjusts her rifle for emphasis.
"What about your new captain? Does he make a good tactician? More to a scrap than just charging in."
"He's a potent spellcaster," Daliya replied. "He is most capable of supporting spells and powers."
"And there's more to a... 'scrap' than the conflict itself. Several of our ranks are capable on other fronts. As captain, Ixrul has proven resourceful. Quite resourceful." Gremory offers her take on the new captain.
"Let me give you some perspective: Captain Jrahk was belligerent, egotistical, and hated dealing with problems in a non-Orc-y way. But when Ixrul advised him to take a more cautious or subtle approach, he usually listened. He had learned pretty quickly that Ixrul had the brains to come up with a plan that would lead to certain victory."
"Yes. It was when he was more... headstrong that he was punished for his nature. Case in point: his fight with Harrigan. And his 'death'."
"Give me the tour. Fortifications look new. Gives me a chance to see your defensive mindset, and you to show off what you know."
"Gladly. Step outside with me."
"The walls are, as you can see, fitted masonry, avoiding large contiguous sections that can be breached with a single spell."
"They are granite quarried from elsewhere on the island , able to withstand cannonfire."
"If you could just follow me to the ramparts..."
"From this point on the island, we have view of the easiest places to dock a ship, and can see the avenues of approach a war-party could take."
"Magical precautions are in place, with more on the way - but," Ixrul says with a chuckle,"I'm sure you'll understand if I don't list them all off."
Sorrinash grunts his approval at your assessment of the walls.
"They look solid, yeah. Good construction. Like what you've done with those lookout towers."
However, he frowns at your appraisal of the coastline.
"Not quite. I can see a few spots from here an enemy force could hide. You should look into clearing that hill over there, trimming those trees a little, and maybe collapsing that little cove." he says, pointing at each of the offending features in turn.
"A small strike force could dock there and work their way up out of sight with the cover between here and there. They'd have to be good, so it's not likely, but the kind of people good enough TO do it are ones you don't want to have the element of surprise if you can help it."
"A very fair point. I'll have to think of something to do with the lumber from the trees once we have it down. Perhaps for construction of a more proper location for docking."
"We could also use it fortify that smaller cove," Daliya suggested.
"Do what you like. Not a bad job though." Sorrinash then unceremoniously walks off to drink some more.
The entertainment arrives, your newly hired waitresses sashaying provocatively while carrying their trays of drinks, putting on a show to the music as they see to their other duties.
In corners of the halls, your bards weave 100% factually accurate tales of all your exploits while playing music of their own. At a distance, everything sounds like a bit of a mess, but in each respective corner of the room the two melodies strike a harmony to enhance the tales.
Most of your guests seem pleased, though one pirate expresses his displeasure.
"What kind of blasted feast doesn't have jugglers!?!" he shouts, a scowl on his face. The fine quality of the liquor soon erases it, however.
Pierce and Tessa wait patiently for Sorrinash to finish his duties, but chime back in once he's gone.
"Now, I believe you owe us a tour of your new ship?" Tessa says with a smile.
"Is she as big as that great beast you were sailing in last time?" Pierce adds.
Lady Bloodmourn approaches Ixrul after the festivities get under way and she's had time to listen to a few stories.
"Such fabulous stories. All the complete and unembellished truth, I assume?" she asks with a twinkle in her eye.
"They're telling a fair few, but I suspect they're not ALL you've ever done. Tell me, what is your favorite story from your escapades?"
Pierce and Tessa wait patiently for Sorrinash to finish his duties, but chime back in once he's gone.
"Now, I believe you owe us a tour of your new ship?" Tessa says with a smile.
"Is she as big as that great beast you were sailing in last time?" Pierce adds.
"Oh don't twist my arm about it dear, but if you insist. Ah, follow me if you would kindly." There's more than a hint of pride and joy in Gremory's voice over the subject. On the way to the ship, the gunslinger calls one of the servers over with a finger and whispers to her.
"If one of our guests begins to get... unruly while I'm not around to watch tell Krom, the Commodore, Ace, Daliya, or myself. Am I clear?"
"It saddens me to say that our first addition isn't the same size as our flagship, but really now, it wouldn't be much of a flagship if that weren't true. Lady and gentleman, I would like to introduce you to the Devils Bullet." She shows the pair onto the refurbished deck, the newly spun sail , and the new figurehead, simply a mermaid with a trident on a cannon. All features created of course, to remove all trace of the ships former identity. Except the figurehead. Gremory wanted that.
"Quite the beautiful ship, I must say. A bit smaller, but a very sleek looking vessel." Tessa comments.
"Does it carry much cargo? It has the look of a smuggler's vessel, but you've clearly modified it." Pierce wonders.
"My favorite story? Well, it's actually not a story from the high seas - it's from when we had cause to go ashore."
Ixrul tells her a names-redacted version of their hunt for Giles, ages ago, with some... embellishment.
"My! Clean in HALF you say? Astounding." Cerise says, enraptured by Ixrul's slow and easy tale spinning.
About 5 minutes into the story, one of your servants/dancers comes out, looking slightly distressed though hiding it as best she can. She sees Ixrul is otherwise occupied, and speaks to Krom instead.
"Ah! Sir, um, we request your presence and that of anybody else in the crew who can spare the time to come to the kitchen to, um, taste the courses before they come out? Follow me if you would, please."
"Quite the beautiful ship, I must say. A bit smaller, but a very sleek looking vessel." Tessa comments.
"Does it carry much cargo? It has the look of a smuggler's vessel, but you've clearly modified it." Pierce wonders.
"Good eye, but you know something? I haven't had the opportunity to see for myself. Certainly over the course of our remodeling we made quite a bit of space below deck. Speaking of, would you care for a look down below? "
Krom sits in a corner, nursing his drink while listening to a song about Jrahk and his merry crew claiming the treasure of Mancatcher Cove. Gurram dozes nearby, curled up like a huge cat.
When the servant approaches him, he seems happy to have something to do.
"I'm sure whatever you've prepared is excellent, but if you insist."
He follows her, with Gurram close behind.
"Quite the beautiful ship, I must say. A bit smaller, but a very sleek looking vessel." Tessa comments.
"Does it carry much cargo? It has the look of a smuggler's vessel, but you've clearly modified it." Pierce wonders.
"Good eye, but you know something? I haven't had the opportunity to see for myself. Certainly over the course of our remodeling we made quite a bit of space below deck. Speaking of, would you care for a look down below? "
[dice=Diplomacy]10+20
--
You arrive and the waitress quickly shuts the door behind you.
"You can, um, see the problem." she says.
Rats are wandering around in the kitchen. Just a few, for now, but you hear a chittering in the walls that suggests MANY more.
"We saved the food, none of it's been contaminated, but this needs to be dealt with before...EEEK!" she screams as a large number of rats surges out from behind a cabinet, tipping it over.
Krom seems surprised, but not very worried. He casts Evolution Surge on Gurram, extending the Reach of her claws.
"All yours, Gurram. I don't have my weapons, and I don't want any rat gore on my suit."
Gurram charges into the swarm, squashing dozens of rats with her claws and chomping up a few more.
Daliya raised an eyebrow. "How did so many get onto the island?" Not that it mattered. She began to murmur softly, calling up some creatures that should be excellent ratters...a small pack of Velociraptors.
Ace, unarmed at the time, calls forth his blade from his quarters with a snap of his fingers.
Gurram chomps on the rats, with the velociraptor finishing off the few remaining stragglers.
You spend time killing any rats that appear until FINALLY it seems you've gotten them all.
Once the excitement dies down, Gremory catches a whiff of a strange scent coming from the cellar.
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The festivities go on with none the wiser about the goings on in the kitchen.
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The ship has indeed been modified, to the delight of Pierce and Tessa. The smuggling compartments of the ship arenot only welld hidden, they are extradimensional spaces, allowing to much more cargo than they appear to be able to.
The ship as well has several helpful features aboveboard and below water, the rudder and keel having been modified for extra maneuverability, and the sails have been expertly crafted to be able to snap to with a mere flip of a lever.
"My, my. What a fine prize. What poor bastard did you 'purchase' this one from?" Pierce asks. Tessa simply waits for the answer.
Once the excitement dies down, Gremory catches a whiff of a strange scent coming from the cellar.
Krom opens the cellar door and lets Gurram look around with her Darkvision.
Daliya moved up, her Velociraptor returning to the ether as she kept one eye on Gorum. She was glad her new body was also able to see in the dark.
Gremory gives the ship a thorough look-over, appraising it for potential upgrades.
"Of course. We should find evidence of Endymion's continued involvement in Chelaxian affairs. Such a shame he turned out to be a liar." The Chelaxian herself suggests a course of action.
Ace, being not so eloquent with words, and being the only armed one, follows Daliya and Gurram.
The ship has indeed been modified, to the delight of Pierce and Tessa. The smuggling compartments of the ship arenot only welld hidden, they are extradimensional spaces, allowing to much more cargo than they appear to be able to.The ship as well has several helpful features aboveboard and below water, the rudder and keel having been modified for extra maneuverability, and the sails have been expertly crafted to be able to snap to with a mere flip of a lever.
"My, my. What a fine prize. What poor bastard did you 'purchase' this one from?" Pierce asks. Tessa simply waits for the answer.
"One wererat by the name of Fargo Vitterande. Have you heard of him? He was quite amiable to our terms. He was simply dying for us to take the ship off his hands."
"Never heard of him. I suppose we won't have a chance to ever hear of him again, now?" Tess says.
Pierce shudders at the mention of a wererat. "Vile creatures. I'm glad you took him for all he was worth."
----------------------------------------------------
You find a number of tunnels that the rats tunneled in from, as well as a strange substance none of you can identify. It seems manmade, however.
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Sorrinash continues to get sloshed, while Darimar listens in on the story Ixrul is telling Bloodmourne.
Harrigan, meanwhile, is sowing his own seeds, telling any who will listen that you only got your seat due to a technicality in winning the race, not by any actual skill.
"And they change captains like a noble changes shirts! There's summat suspicious there, mark my words. They can't be trusted by anyone."
"I bet the commodore could tell us what this stuff is."
"Some kind of lure for the rats, perhaps?" Scooping a sample from the walls for later, Daliya looked at others. "Shall we have the crew scrub the rest of this clean and seal those tunnels?" She glanced at the tunnels themselves, trying to assess how recent they were, or if there new home was likely riddled with passages they knew nothing of. Sadly her skill with stonework was limited...