"How long until we throw party?"
Callidora casts her spell and discovers the Rum has been poisoned. Her knowledge of Alchemy tells her that it is harmless though, another part would need to be added before it effected people.
"It's poisoned alright, though as it is it won't do any harm." she mermaid witch informs Marnir. "It's a two-part poison, so by itself it's harmless. Mix it with the missing element though, and there'll be a line to the jakes like a salmon run."
Callidora takes the time to reassure Niobe that her actions weren't at all her fault, comforting her and healing Cioldryss, who begrudgingly absolves her of any wrongdoing.
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Niobe uses her healing magic on Cioldryss to cure the wounds that she caused.
"So... that means someone was planning to come back here and apply the second part. We need to be on watch for another saboteur."
"Or we could just go get some different rum. Just sayin'"
You make Hell Harbor easily, as befits a pirate port selling a ship that recently sailed out with a different captain and crew is done easily. Not one eyebrow gets raised.
It's time to seriously consider your upcoming party. You have hired professional hostesses. Set people to rebuilding the fort to a livable standard, and acquired some half quality rum.
Anything else you can think of before you set sail to your island?
With the profits from the sale of the Grin stowed in the ship's lockbox, Marnir calls his officers together to work out what else they need to host an astounding party for the visiting Free Captains.
"Maddie has it right - we can't risk giving all our visitors the squits. If we can find a good quantity of excellent rum to serve, then we should ditch the poisoned stuff over the side. Speaking of consumables, we're going to need food. Good food, and lots of it. We need to find a few good cooks and acquire some provisions while we're here," Marnir suggests.
"There is the option of magical food. I know that powerful god casters get the ability to summon a magical table of food, so we could always try and get someone to do that."
This is the port where the high quality rum was purchased, as for food it's likely that hiring a good cook would be a good idea, unless you want to risk Fishguts being on a bender that night?
"Kung always like Fishguts cooking, but Kung always like everything. Maybe get cook--or use magic--for food everybody always like instead of just Kung."
Kung scratches his head as something else that was said earlier finally brings fruit. Though it landed in his brain a while ago, it took some time to gestate and process. "Earlier you say poison in rum not work if it not get other half of poison to make real. So this rum okay to drink now, right? We no need to dump; Kung happy to drink! We buy new rum, can't be poisoned, and Kung use poison rum as personal supply. For while, at least, not forever. Not even that much rum keep Kung happy forever!"
"If you want to drink it, it's yours," Marnir says kindly to Kung in response to his enthusiastic outburst. "But I think we'll buy some new supplies for the party. I didn't know about magical food," he says to Maddie, "but I bet it'd be much more expensive to hire someone who could cast spells like that. If we can find someone then it's worth thinking about, but otherwise we should look for a group of chefs who can set up a normal kitchen."
"I could prepare a few bountiful banquets, depending on how many people we want to serve," says Niobe. "Though we should supplement that with regular cooking for things like bread and desserts."
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
"Why haven't we been eating like that before?" Marnir cries with mock indignation. "With magic like that we can serve the Free Captains and their entourages a feast worthy of the name. I agree with hiring on a few extra cooks though. We might need to provide midnight snacks for when the drink is flowing!"
While Kung destroys his liver you can put the word out for cooks, what are you offering to get the best?
And how many do you want?
Should we hire some musicians/entertainers?
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Fishguts comes through, he may be a bit erratic in the galley, but he has improved a great deal, his friends in the culinary trade have noticed this and when he talks up how good it is to work with a captain like Marnir it attracts applicants.
All have worked for restaurants and ships, bringing with them good references. Opening a business in a new port nicely located to catch ships circling the eye is a chance to be taken.
What are you doing now?
Marnir welcomes their new cooks aboard and makes sure that they're ready to help out Fishguts on his more erratic days. "Who's the best rum supplier hereabouts?" he asks the new cooks as they're settling in.
The cooks huddle together for a moment and then turn and let their spokeswoman Marita Blacktooth speak for them, a Half-orc woman built on generous lines who clearly likes her own cooking, but looks attractive with it, and capable of beating a non paying customer to a pulp.
"Well Captain go see Pickleton over on Gallows row. He's just got a shipment of Two knights rum in from up north. That's good stuff. Too good to waste on a ship day to day, but it'll keep Sorrinash happy. Lady Bloodmourn favors Taldan Fire-brandy and Captain Darimar is fond of Sealord whites. Pick up a crate of those for those two and you'll be getting smiles."
You notice that Avimar Sorrinash doesn't get the tone of respect the other two captains are given?
Marita leans in a closer and in a low voice asks you ."Is that First mate of yours seeing anyone?" Casting a covert but admiring look in Kungs direction.
What are you doing now?
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Marnir shakes Marita's brawny hand as she introduces herself and listens to her expert advice on which spirits would appease their guests. "I'll take a trip to see Pickleton then," he says gratefully. "Sounds like he's got everything we could need drinks-wise."
He's somewhat taken aback by her conspiratorial tone as she glances over at Kung. "Not as far as I know. He's not the sharpest sword on the rack though, so I'd approach him fairly head on."
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Once the favored booze is bought and safely stowed on board you set sale for the Island of empty eyes.
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Kung looks up in surprise. "Ummm, okay! Kung have Officer bunk: good beams, strong hammock! We see if we can break it?"
It's a fast trip to your island, despite the constant rocking caused by violent action in the first mates cabin.
Once you moor your ship at the dock, freshly constructed by the work crew hired to repair and upgrade the fort for you. You are greeted by the overseer of the work crew who reports that construction is going well, but they have two men missing.
Both were beach combing on their break and haven't been seen for days?
What are you doing now?
"Nothing's ever easy, is it?" Marnir grumbles. "Show us where they were last seen," he tells the overseer, concerned about mysterious disappearances interrupting the preparations for the Free Captains' arrival.
"Were there any marks or signs of a fight in the area they were last seen?" Callidora asks the overseer while he leads them there. "Also, what time of day was it?"
Kung scowls at there already being trouble when they landed. "Got work to do, Marita. We continue later." He sends her off with a wave to situate the fort's kitchens as he walks over to Marnir to begin searching for their lost workers.
The chief of the work crew scowls. "Damn fools got greedy is what it is. I told the crew there ain't no lost treasures lying on the beach to be picked up by the first fool who came along. Cause that don't stop fools going off looking for it!"
No signs of a fight. They headed off in the afternoon after working and didn't return for grub."
He shows you the map and marks to where the beach has been searched.
What are you doing now?
"I bet you've had words with the rest of the crew already," Marnir says to the overseer, "but I don't want anyone else wandering away from the fort until I say so."
He turns to his senior officers. "We'd better take a look. Who knows what could be prowling round?"
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
"Sure," says Niobe. "I have a sneaking suspicion that they were lured away rather than just wandering off, because... well, that's how sirens operate, after all. But who knows what we'll find? Best we settle this before we have a bunch of important guests."
You walk along the white sands, there is little sign of anyone walking this way before you. After a distance of several miles you come upon an unusual thing.
N. SEFINAS GROTTO
The sound of singing echoes among the rocks along this sandy beach. Footprints lead from the shore to the bay, where crystal blue waters provide a clear view of a deep pool and grotto below.
What are you doing?
"Sirens?" Marnir says with alarm. "I heard stories about sirens from some of the older boatmen when I first went to see. Seems everyone knew someone who'd be lured to a grisly death by a siren."
As the sound of singing drifts through the still air he stops at the edge of the lapping tide. "Looks like we're going for a swim. Who's got what magic that's going to help us out down there?"
”I don’t have too much in the way of magic to help everyone, but I can give one of you the ability to breathe water for the rest of the day.” Callidora says after a moment of thought. ”Of course Ni and I are fine in the deep.” she continues flashing Niobe a grin.
”My magics are much like the sirens though, I might even be able to give them a taste of their own treatment,” the alluring witch says with a mischievous smile. ”Or at least cloud their minds enough to give them something else to worry about.”
It was abundantly clear that the witch was looking forward to the opportunity to venture underwater.
Cioldryss flies down from his usual spot on Calli's shoulder to look more closely at the footprints.
"I've got you covered, cap'n," says Niobe. "And Kung still has that magic helmet, right?"
"Yes! Kung love his helmet!" He takes it off and turns it around so that he can look at it face on, then holds it out so everyone else can see it that way too. He puts it back on his head with a smile.
"Siren sing fancy song though, right? Kung maybe worried 'bout that. Kung like songs; what if song too nice and Kung can't ignore?"
"Thanks Niobe," Marnir says with a grin, before turning to Kung with a smile. "That helmet is very nice. I think I can help you with the song though, assuming it is sirens we're worrying about."
Before you can enter the waters of the bay the source of the singing pops her head out of the water and smiles happily. "Oh hello. Are you from that big ship?"
She is a Neriad.
What are you doing now?
"Yes we are!" Callidora answers with a smile of her own, "Have you had many visitors from ships?"
The creature rising from the water is almost supernaturally beautiful and Marnir is taken aback slightly. He has no idea who or what she is, but the fact that she doesn't immediately attack is reassuring.
"I'm Marnir Saltvig, and I'm the captain of the big ship. I'm also the new owner of the fort," he adds, pointing back down the beach. "What's your name?"
Kung's eyes can't seem to leave the glistening woman, all memories of his recent dalliance with Marita wiped from his mind... for the moment at least.
"Callidora, see the... you know... how she doesn't...." Kung grows ever more flustered as he tries to point something out, finally just blurting it. "SHE'S NAKED!!!"
Niobe is about to speak but pauses as everyone else speaks up; no sense confusing things further.
"A nereid Kung, our beautiful friend is a neried, a fey of the water." Callidora replies with a smile, Kung's outburst spurring her memory.
Serafina looks slightly confused by [b[Kung's[/b] outburst, then shrugs, causing a rather lovely effect. "Why do they always say that?" She asks .
When Calidora asks her regarding others she nods nods agreeably. "Oh yes. There were two the other day, but they looked a bit dim, so I just watched them go past. Maybe the big octopus in the next bay has them?"'
If questioned further she tells you that there is a giant Octopus that recently arrived to feast on the occupants of the large Kelp beds that the bay holds.
What now?
"A giant octopus? When did it arrive?" Marnir asks, hoping that someone isn't sending giant sea creatures as an act of sabotage. "If you've spotted anything else odd going on, or you'd be happy to keep an eye out for us, I'd be very grateful," he adds, wondering whether Serafina would be keen to make a deal to act as a watchful eye for him.
"Maybe sometime Niobe and I can come and swim and sing with you. We're both mermaids." she says with a conspiratorial smile.
"Yeah! I'd love to share songs."
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Serafina looks puzzled at Marnir's question. "But if you're going to live here shouldn't you have explored first? She asks you.
When Callidora & Niobe mention songs Serafina perks up and claps happily. "Oh yes! I love songs and stories."
What now?