Clearly Harrigan is loathe to disobey the Master of Storms, who is observing your race to the close. Invisible Stalkers are something that he can slip by the watchers.
Several of the crew rush below to change their pants when Kung starts attacking anything near him.
Marnir & Jane can now see the two misty creatures hurtling towards the Drake at their full speed. They will reach you next round.
What are you doing now?
Jane aims her loaded crossbow at the nearest of the two stalkers. "If anyone has Glitterdust, cast it at my target." she says as she fires.
Seeing her arrow go a little wide, she comments. "They are about 5 feet away from the stern starboard side of the ship. Two things."
Marnir sees two angry-looking clouds flying at the Drake from the direction of the Wormwood. "I knew it, that bastard," he mutters under his breath. He steps towards the gunwale, draws his axe, and roars at the approaching creatures, the force of the magic channelled through his words setting the air around them alight.
"Step on this ship or threaten my crew and you'll be dead before you know it!"
Niobe calls her air elemental back to her and says something strange to it.
Both the Invisible creatures flinch as Marnir's words lash them. One is now outlined by flame.
Seeing one of these flying creatures become visible, or at least seeing the flaming outline of the creature, Kung draws one of his amentum-wound javelins and throws it at the creature.
HP 96/96
AC 26 touch 14 flat-footed 23 (+8 armor, +3 dex, +4 natural/barkskin, +1 deflection)
DR 1/-, resist electricity 20
Speed: 40 ft
Fort: +13, Ref: +12, Will: +6 (+4 morale vs fear)
Conditions: barkskin, resist energy
Melee (javelin): +11 (+8 BAB, +3 str)
Melee Damage (javelin): 1d6+6 (+6 str)
19/19 rds Rage remaining
Jane aims her loaded crossbow at the nearest of the two stalkers. "If anyone has Glitterdust, cast it at my target." she says as she fires.
Markizio virtually raised his hand, "I have that! I always have that memorized."
He started his spell and asked again, "So... there?"
He then unleashed a fine ray of glittering sand that exploded in a cloud around the invisible stalkers.
------------
HP 85/85
AC 22, touch 13, flat-footed 20
Conditions: shield so AC=26, acid on blade
Melee (+1 keen falcata): +10/+5 = +1(magical) +6(base) +3(STR)
Melee Damage (+1 keen falcata): 1d8+4 = +1(weapon) +3 (str), 17-20, x3
+2 dam if arcane strike, -2/+4 if 1H power attack
6/8 arcane pool
Spell used: shield, haste, magic missile, scorching ray, glitterdust
Both of the creatures are now outlined by glittering lights. Red finches as it is blinded.
kung's javelin misses.
Yellow moves in to attack Marnir
It's blow missing.
Red is circling, looking to regain it's vision and doesn't attack anyone this round.
The party may now have their actions.
The now glittering cloud thing buffets Marnir harmlessly. "I warned you," he says before attacking ruthlessly with his axe, his blows timed perfectly with the roaring warchant that is so familiar to everyone by now. The rational portion of Marnir's mind tries to identify the creatures, hoping he could recall a song or a story about these cloud-like invisible things.
HP 93/75
AC 22, touch 13, flat-footed 22 (+8 armour, +1 deflection, +2 Dex, +1 dodge, +1 natural armour, -1 inspired rage)
Speed: 30 ft
Fort: +15, Ref: +9, Will: +16 (+4 vs fear) (+2 heroism, +2 Fort & +3 Will inspired rage)
Conditions: inspired rage, heroism, resist electricity 20
Melee attack (+1 furious battleaxe): +15/+10 (+6 BAB, +4 Str, +1 enhancement, +2 heroism, +2 inspired rage, +2 furious, -2 Power Attack)
Melee Damage (+1 furious battleaxe): d8+20 (+6 Str, +1 enhancement, +2 Arcane Strike, +3 inspired rage, +2 furious, +6 Power Attack)
19/22 rds raging song remaining
Smiling at his own success, the magus stepped forth and brought his blade into the fray.
-----------
HP 85/85
AC 22, touch 13, flat-footed 20
Conditions: shield so AC=26, acid on blade
Melee (+1 keen falcata): +10/+5 = +1(magical) +6(base) +3(STR)
Melee Damage (+1 keen falcata): 1d8+4 = +1(weapon) +3 (str), 17-20, x3
+2 dam if arcane strike, -2/+4 if 1H power attack
6/8 arcane pool
Spell used: shield, haste, magic missile, scorching ray, glitterdust
Kung moves up onto the quarterdeck, looking for an opportunity to strike.
He first looks to target the stalker that ended up outlined in reddish gold glitter, keeping the fiery and glittery yellow one in mind if he can't reach.
HP 96/96
AC 26 touch 14 flat-footed 23 (+8 armor, +3 dex, +4 natural/barkskin, +1 deflection)
DR 1/-, resist electricity 20
Speed: 40 ft
Fort: +13, Ref: +12, Will: +6 (+4 morale vs fear)
Conditions: barkskin, resist energy
Melee (+1 furious greatsword): +15/+7 (+8 BAB, +6 str, +1 enhancement, -0/-3 power attack)
Melee Damage (+1 furious greatsword): 2d6+19 (+9 str, +1 enhancement, +9 power attack)
19/19 rds Rage remaining
Jane loads and takes aim at the closest foe.
Since she can see the stalkers now, Niobe casts faerie fire to make sure they stay outlined after the glitterdust wears off.
Marnir hits his opponent twice with savage blows.
Kung & Markizio both hit Red.
Jane just misses.
Red
Red is still blind and tries to leave the deck, giving Kung & Markizio a AOO each.
Yellow surges and tries to hammer Marnir
[ooc]Oh come on![/b]
Missing both times.
The party may now act, Kung & Markizio can take their AOO's then Red will be 20' up in the air.
Marnir feels one of the cloudman's blows slam into his chest, momentarily disrupting his chanting as he tries to catch his breath. Undeterred he chants more loudly and forcefully than before, swinging his axe again and again at the invader on his deck.
HP 93/75
AC 22, touch 13, flat-footed 22 (+8 armour, +1 deflection, +2 Dex, +1 dodge, +1 natural armour, -1 inspired rage)
Speed: 30 ft
Fort: +15, Ref: +9, Will: +16 (+4 vs fear) (+2 heroism, +2 Fort & +3 Will inspired rage)
Conditions: inspired rage, heroism, resist electricity 20, fast healing 4
Melee attack (+1 furious battleaxe): +15/+10 (+6 BAB, +4 Str, +1 enhancement, +2 heroism, +2 inspired rage, +2 furious, -2 Power Attack)
Melee Damage (+1 furious battleaxe): d8+20 (+6 Str, +1 enhancement, +2 Arcane Strike, +3 inspired rage, +2 furious, +6 Power Attack)
18/22 rds raging song remaining
Marnir shreds Yellow with an awesome blow, practically spinning in a circle with the force of it.
HP 88/75
AC 22, touch 13, flat-footed 22 (+8 armour, +1 deflection, +2 Dex, +1 dodge, +1 natural armour, -1 inspired rage)
Speed: 30 ft
Fort: +15, Ref: +9, Will: +16 (+4 vs fear) (+2 heroism, +2 Fort & +3 Will inspired rage)
Conditions: inspired rage, heroism, resist electricity 20, fast healing 4
Melee attack (+1 furious battleaxe): +15/+10 (+6 BAB, +4 Str, +1 enhancement, +2 heroism, +2 inspired rage, +2 furious, -2 Power Attack)
Melee Damage (+1 furious battleaxe): d8+20 (+6 Str, +1 enhancement, +2 Arcane Strike, +3 inspired rage, +2 furious, +6 Power Attack)
18/22 rds raging song remaining
Kung slices at the stalker covered in the reddish sparkles as it begins rising in the air, and then spins around to attack the other just as Marnir obliterates the thing. Kung looks back up in the air to try to find his original target again, ready to attack it should it swoop down again.
HP 96/96
AC 26 touch 14 flat-footed 23 (+8 armor, +3 dex, +4 natural/barkskin, +1 deflection)
DR 1/-, resist electricity 20
Speed: 40 ft
Fort: +13, Ref: +12, Will: +6 (+4 morale vs fear)
Conditions: barkskin, resist energy
Melee (+1 furious greatsword): +15/+7 (+8 BAB, +6 str, +1 enhancement, -0/-3 power attack)
Melee Damage (+1 furious greatsword): 2d6+19 (+9 str, +1 enhancement, +9 power attack)
19/19 rds Rage remaining
Jane loads and aims her crossbow at the red one.
Jane sees her arrow hit the red one dead on.
Niobe raises her arms in a familiar gesture and calls down lightning to smite the visible stalkers.
Markizio was right next to Kung; he liked fighting next to the big guy.
With the captain taking care of one of the invisible beings, the magus relaxed some and quipped, "Sure, try to run away now, will you? But did you know that my big friend here has a big sword? You better fly to the Eye itself to get away from him."
----------------
HP 85/85
AC 22, touch 13, flat-footed 20
Conditions: shield so AC=26, acid on blade
Melee (+1 keen falcata): +10/+5 = +1(magical) +6(base) +3(STR)
Melee Damage (+1 keen falcata): 1d8+4 = +1(weapon) +3 (str), 17-20, x3
+2 dam if arcane strike, -2/+4 if 1H power attack
6/8 arcane pool
Spell used: shield, haste, magic missile, scorching ray, glitterdust
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Kung & Markizio dispose of the last Stalker easily.
M. Finish Line
The finish line of the regatta lies at a tiny island called Coaming Point, about 25 miles northwest of Cauldron Rock. The first ship to sail past the island wins the regatta. At this point, as you and the Wormwood streak toward the finish line, the time has come to determine the winner of the race.
You win easily leading the Wormwood by a considerable margin. Harrigan makes a determined effort to catch up, but he has no chance of winning. You are victorious, crossing the finish line as the clear winners.
Having won the regatta by your own luck and skill, you have now more than ever earned the undying enmity of Captain Barnabas Harrigan.
After giving you a hate filled glare he leaves the area quickly.
With good reason it seems, as less than an hour later, the Pharasma’s Price sails out of the Eye and limps to the finish. On board the ship is one of the crew of the Barnacled B!+&*, which was lost just past Pinnacle Atoll. The survivor, Zarena Visk, tells a harrowing tale of how the Wormwood maliciously rammed and sunk the B~!!%, losing all hands other than Zarena.
It was only sheer luck that the Price saw Zarena in the storm-tossed waters and picked her up. Even more damning, she has solid proof of her story—a piece of the Wormwood’s dragon figurehead that broke off during the attack, to which Zarena clung to stay afloat.
As winners of the Free Captains’ Regatta, you receive the regatta’s rich prize purse—with 16 entrants, including yourselves, the purse totals 8,000 gp. More importantly, you gain a seat on the Pirate Council of the Shackles.
The Master of the Gales ceremonially attaches a broken, silver-plated manacle on Marnir's wrists as a symbol of this honor, representing your freedom from the constraints of other nations’ laws and authority, but also the responsibility that now binds them to the welfare of the Shackles and its people, whom they now represent.
Finally, the Master of the Gales presents you with a deed granting them lordship over a small island in the north of the Shackles. But a deed is only a piece of paper; in order to truly claim dominion over this island, you must explore it and deal with any monsters or other inhabitants there.
"Yeeaah! Draaaakes!" Marnir roars at the top of his voice, pumping his fist as the Drake sails over the finish line the clear winner, with the Wormwood still many leagues behind. He calls for the sails to be shortened to slow the Drake back to a sensible cruising speed, before taking a short walk about the deck, chatting with and congratulating the crew. He makes sure that everyone knows how impressed he was with their handling of the ship and promises extra pay once they get ashore.
He returns to the quarterdeck and sails the Drake back into Port Peril. "Bloody good work everyone," he says to the officers, more pleased than ever to be able to call them all friends.
The news of Harrigan's treachery reaches Marnir's ears quickly as they make their way to the winners' ceremony. "What a f@#@ing snake. I know he's a cruel bastard, but I didn't think he'd stoop so low as to sink a ship just to win a race."
The ceremony is well attended and Marnir soaks up the rapturous applause as he and the officers are awarded their purse and the island deed. The shiny symbolic manacle fits comfortably on Marnir wrist and he raises it high, the sunlight glinting from it as the crowd cheers. After the ceremony he tries to catch up with the Master of the Gales to confront him about what censure Captain Harrigan will face for his actions during the regatta.
Niobe jumps up and down excitedly as the ship crosses the line, clapping giddily and squeaking. She hugs Kung, then Markizio, then as she closes in on Marnir she clears her throat, ceases her bouncing, and becomes still again - though with an enormous grin - and says with a simple inclination of her head, "Captain."
Still, the intoxication of victory, and all the attendant perils and adventures of the regatta have left her giddy and high-spirited. She alternates between moving among the crew like a jewel trapped among a bed of seaweed, glittering with excitement as she sways and flits about the deck, and leaping into the water to splash and play in her mermaid form, so pleased that she cannot contain her excitement in a simple human shape.
When the crew meets the Master of Gales, she is almost paralyzed with anticipation. She shyly hides behind Kung, and clearly she holds the master druid in very high esteem. She manages to stammer out a simple Druidic greeting before blushing and backing away quickly.
Once the celebrations die down she rejoins the officers a bit more soberly for the inevitable discussion of what's next.
"Captain, I hate to say it, but I doubt that the Master of Gales will do much to Harrigan. He's clearly violated the regatta and won't be allowed to sail in it again, but it's up to the Council of Free Captains to discipline him and his crew. Essentially, if we want to teach him a lesson, it'll be up to us."
After the Master of Gales describes the island that the crew has "won," she thinks a bit...
"I think I might know the island the Master was talking about? I may have seen it on a chart once? So exciting."
Fist pumping, hand clapping, always grinning Markizio soaked in the excitement. The adrenaline that this race gushed forth was exhilarating.
He received Niobe's hug and then and hugged all the other officers, even his captain, wrinkled clothes be damned.
"Our own island eh? But we already have the Rock; remember that you are a married man, captain."
Kung joins the rest of the officers and crew in their revelry. He thanks the crew for their masterful command of the ship while the officers fought off the elemental, and he gives and receives hugs all around.
His joy, though, is somewhat tempered when he learn of Harrigan's treachery. "One day, Kung give him what he deserves. He never learn."
Turning back into her normal sized self, "That feels better. I don't know how you people can stan that much space between your feet and head." she says.
"If you don't want the Island. I'll take it."
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Niobe quips to Jane, "I usually get by without feet, that's how." She grins and winks.
"I'm assuming that not every island comes with a potential wife. At least, I hope not," Marnir grins, "one wife is enough work for any man."
He looks thoughtful. "Another island might be useful, particularly if it's a good way from Tidewater Rock. Another place to stage ourselves from opens up a lot of opportunities."
"I'm not married, so if this island comes with a wife, I could have one," says Niobe, clearly still in a humorous mood.
Having proved your mettle in the Free Captains' Regatta you return to Port Peril with the rest of the fleet. Tales of your exploits have
raced ahead of them and spread to every tavern in the port, where bards embellish your heroics and those who lost their lives and ships to the Eye, earning you free drinks in every establishment.
Your friends and allies offer their hearty congratulations, as does the Shackles' Pirate Council, which hosts a fete in honor of your victory.
The Master of the Gales does not partake in the victory revels, but at some point during the celebrations he pulls the you aside to explain their prize-an entire island that they can call their own, located in a remote archipelago north of the Rampore Isles.
"It's called the Island of Empty Eyes," the Master of the Gales
explains, "for the queer statues that leer over its shores.
Uninhabited and fraught with danger, make no doubt, but naught that pirates of your capabilities can't handle. You've landed a seat on the Pirate Council as well, but winning a race don't make a sailor a captain, nor a freebooter a lord. You'll need to show the Council you can tame the island and make it your own, if you want to claim your seat. The lords of the Council will come calling in three months to see if you're worth the honor that's been bestowed upon you, and they'll expect to be feted as befits pirate lords of their stature. Provided you
look like you know what you're doing, they'll take your oath of
loyalty and grant you your seat on the Council. If not. .. well, you
wouldn't be the first winner of the Regatta who failed to live up
to expectations."
The island lies in the northern part of the Shackles and has no known settlements, but Chelish warships have sometimes been scouted in the
waters near the island.
Sailors claim the island got its name from the large statues along its shores. The statues' eyes are missing, though some say the bare sockets
once held enormous gemstones.
Colonists settled the island once before and built a fort there, but they disappeared soon after. Some say they left on a treasure hunt, but others claim they perished and their spirits now haunt the island.
Some say giant-sized ruins stand in the island's highlands. They're filled with ancient treasure, but ravenous dinosaurs fiercely guard the ruins.
The island's ruins date back to the time of ancient Ghoi-Gan-an empire of cyclopes that once spanned the entire west coast of Garund.
You're in Port Peril, are you shopping for anything? Doing anything you want me to note, or sailing for The Island?
"Cap'n, the island in question is near some Chelish warship patrol zones. If you decided you wanted to tangle with the Chelish navy, that would be a perfect hiding spot, a place to sail out, make a quick strike, and then swiftly head back to a hidden port," says Niobe.
"Hey! Guys! I have an idea!" Niobe suddenly says excitedly while the group is shopping around Port Peril. "Let's all get matching tattoos to commemorate our victory in the regatta!"
Marnir listens to the Master of the Gales' story intently, hoping to glean as much detail about their prize as he can.
"I've heard stories about that place," Marnir adds. "It was part of the ancient Cyclops empire of Ghol-Gan, though the empire crumbled thousands of years ago. Their structures still stand in the centre of the island, though they're mostly ruins by now . Supposedly they're still filled with ancient treasures. Some say that it was settled once by some colonists, but they all disappeared. No-one knows where - though there's supposed to be a lot of dinosaurs on the island - but I've heard tales about the whole place being haunted by their restless spirits."
He muses for a second before saying "Sounds like a load of b%~*#@@s to me. We'll claim it and we'll show the Free Captains that the Unbound Drake is the best bloody ship with the best bloody crew in the whole Shackles!"
"Matching tattoos - that's a great plan!" Marnir exclaims at Niobe's idea. "We could get a version of the Drake's figurehead - a giant dragon smashing out of it's chains."
"I was thinking the Drake sailing past the Eye," says Niobe, "but whatever you think looks good."
"Matching tattoos is fine but we need to find a good artist. I won;t let anyone just touch my skin."
He added, "Do we know any more information about thsi island? Any maps of its layout or its structures?"
He shook his head, "So we're supposed to host a pirate party? That's our price for a seat in the council?"
------------
Kung smiles and slaps Markizio on the back. "That perfect! Kung already know best pirate party recipe. Rum, grog, ale. Lots of it! Simple!" He slugs back his own tumbler of... well, you're not sure what Kung has been drinking tonight, but his enthusiasm sure seems high!
_______________
Niobe says, "It's Port Peril, Markizio. There must be a master tattooer here. Every pirate in the western seas comes through this place!"
The journey to the Island of Empty Eyes takes several weeks and is mostly uneventful. A high plateau forms the north and central portions of the island, surrounded by 500-foot high cliffs. Two long peninsulas jut from the plateau to the southeast and southwest. Two sheltered bays offer the best anchorages, a large one to the south (area A) and a smaller
bay to the east (area K). In addition, a number of beaches
where boats can land line the island's shores.
Scattered across the island, but especially along the beaches and cliffs of the central plateau, are large, weathered statues of giant cyclopes. The statues are all clearly of great age, but their single eyes, which once contained large and valuable gemstones, are now just empty holes-the reason for the island's mysterious epithet.
Approaching the island, the Unbound Drake discovers a number of low-lying shoals and barrier reefs just offshore. Under Captain Saltvig's mastery the ship easily glides through these perils.
So where are you anchoring your ship?
"That's a good idea Niobe. The Drake emerging from the Eye would be a great memento of our victory, as will the tales we can dine out on for the next few weeks!" Marnir says, hoping that he'll make at least few free drinks out of the story. "A pirate party shouldn't be too hard, but we'll have to get it right for a lot of different tastes - I suspect the council has plenty of members who'll want different things."
_________
With their purchasing and drinking done, and with the crew satisfied with an extended period of shore leave and some extra pay for a job well done, the Drake sets sail north to their new island.
The journey is long and dull, but finally their destination appears. Sailing through the shoals and reefs proves no difficulty and Marnir heads the Drake towards the main bay to drop anchor and make a plan.
"Several weeks? Weeks you said?"
Markizio did not like the sound of that one bit, "Why couldn't the island be closer?"
He turned to his fellow officers, "We'll have to work to get an island closer to Port Peril. I feel we may miss out on a lot of stuff by being so far away."
He ended up smiling as they finally reached the island, "Well, at least it has a nice cove to dock our ship. It should provide plenty of protection."
He virtually jumped off the ship, "Well? What are you all waiting for? We have our very own island to explore!"
Jane hears the abundance of time on their hands and smiles. ”If anyone needs any potions or tattoos, let me know and Niobe and I can prep some.”
"So, uh, where does the tattoo go?" Niobe ponders. "I know that sailors' tattoos have meanings... should this go on the arm? The leg? With a tattoo like this you want to show it off."
~~~~~~~~~~
As the ship slows while reaching the treacherous shoals, Niobe doesn't hesitate, but leaps over the railing and shifts forms in a flicker. Her powerful tail propels her through the water past the shallows to the land, where she crawls up, then slowly stands as her tail splits back into humanoid legs.
She surveys the eerie eyeless statues and then turns back and hollers, "Come on in, the land is fine!"
Jane smiles. "They can be put anywhere that is visible. But only one in a spot. I don't know about the middle of the back if that's what you were thinking."
~~~~~~~
Jane watches Niobe leap from the rails and land in the water. Smiling, Jane pulls out her vial she prepared the day before and drank from it. Flying overhead taking a quick look at the island. before coming back to the group. It's not that bad of a place.
Niobe wrinkles her nose at Jane's comment. "Ew! No, not that. I was just thinking that if we get matching tattoos we should all get them in the same place."
"Shoulder seems good. Or collarbone."
Kung slaps his left shoulder hard. "Eye on shoulder, big and blue, swirling." He drags his fingers along his bicep, marking he area for the ship: "Drake come forward down arm, sails fluttering." His finger's travel stops with a quick double-tap at a spot almost three-quarters of the length down his arm. "Eye of ship-nose-piece real big like it too close, staring at you."
"Two big eye." He taps back and forth between his shoulder and the lower part of his bicep. "Abendego Eye and Drake eye. Rarrrrr," he leans in, leering one eye forward in his own impossible imitation of the Drake's figurehead.
Kung takes enough time to ensure that the crew is buttoning things up with the Drake--which of course they are--and grabs a pirate walking by. He points up into the rigging at the crow's nest. "Somebody up there, all day. All night. Every minute keep watch. Land and sea. No surprises. That you job now." And he starts walking towards the gunwale.
At the last minute, he quickly turns around. "Not only just you! It OK you sleep! But you make happen. You master of crows nest now! You get it?" The pirate grinned a grin of amused familiarity, to which Kung nodded. "You get it. Good. Keep up good stuff."
Satisfied that the ship was now safe due to his careful touch, Kung takes a running leap into the bay, and swims to shore in smooth, powerful strokes.
A. Bay of no hospitality.
White, sandy beaches encircle this deep, sheltered bay, stretching nearly two miles in every direction. To the north, a massive waterfall plummets from a high escarpment rising just above the treeline.
The white stone walls of a seaside fort gleam on the western shore. A single tower reaches skyward from the fort, crowned with a torch like fixture of dazzling crystal.
What are you doing now?
Marnir enjoys Kung's enthusiasm for tattoo design. "I like the idea, but perhaps something a bit smaller. A bit more compact. A swirling Eye on the shoulder, with the Drake emerging from it. That'd be enough."
"That looks like a good place to start," Marnir suggests, pointing at the glistening fort as they come ashore in one of the ship's boats.