After the sweep is made and you get the report from the Drake you find it was relatively peaceful in the night. You'd have to say suspiciously so after the attempts to sabotage your feast.
"Kung... ahh... happy about that?" His eyes are on Marnir when he says this, the captain's suspicion making Kung unsure of how he feels. "What next, Captain? Party good, right? You become Hurricane King now?"
Niobe takes Callidora's hand as the two sashay off to the kitchen staff like a pair of schoolgirls. "Thanks! It was just a ditty that I had half-finished and sorta came up with the rest on the spot. Wasn't my best performance... I was really nervous. I've never sung for a group of important people like that before!"
"So... legs, huh? Takes some getting used to!"
~~~~~~~~~~
The next morning Niobe is up and about bright and perky.
"Good morning captain!" she says cheerfully as she spots Marnir. She taps him lovingly on the arm and suddenly all of his nausea and slight hangover is gone.
When Kung arrives she greets him too. "Good morning Kung!" she says and gives him a brief hug, which similarly removes any remaining traces of lingering illness.
"How is everyone this morning?"
Marnir feels substantially better thanks to Niobe's spell, his building nausea disappearing at her touch. "Not too shabby thanks. Seems like no-one tried anything funny overnight, thankfully. How are you two doing?" he asks Niobe and Cally.
"I've always loved listening to you sing. Yes, legs definitely take some getting used to...not as useful in water as a tail,....and nowhere near as beautiful, but they have their plusses."
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"I'm in a pretty wonderful mood this morning." Callidora says with a smile. "It looks like things went well aside from the dog losing control." the witch says with a touch of disdain in her tone "Though whoever dosed him bears looking into, I think you have a lot of support after last night."
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"Yes! Very much so!" says Niobe enthusiastically in reply to Callidora. She runs her free hands down her thigh and says, "They're not nearly as sleek or powerful. Sometimes I feel like I'm balancing on sticks! Took so much getting used to."
"Honestly," she continues, "I never would've tried this if I weren't inspired by you! You were - are - always so confident, so ready to try different things, unafraid to chase your magic wherever it takes you. So thank you."
~~~~~~~~~~
"Me too! I guess we should take an accounting and make sure that everyone's intact. And if there's a way to make sure that our guests left in one piece, that's probably a good idea too. Would be bad for the reputation if everyone at the party suddenly has a terrible accident at sea right afterward."
Callidora squeezes Niobe's hand flashing her a smile full of warmth, "It means the world to me that anything I did inspired you! My magic took me to a lot of places, and taught me a lot,but...I don't think it' the only thing I was chasing.....whether I knew it or not."
She takes a deep breath, licking her lips a she continues. "When you left, home didn't feel like home anymore, I traveled all over, but honestly nowhere did......until now."
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"We can check on all the ones that spent the night here, I'm sure I can guess which." Callidora adds with a grin "And maybe send thank you messages to anyone else that attended."
Niobe ducks her head and giggles nervously and says, "You're so sweet!"
Looking up again she says, "I wasn't... really sure what to expect when I fell in with these folks. I... I mean sometimes it's rough and tumble, and they're pretty boisterous, but Marnir's a right honorable captain and Kung's just like a big brother who will protect you from anything and anyone. Pirates and privateers and smugglers are exciting and dangerous yet somehow I got lucky and found a few who are decent folk."
She giggles again and says, "Fun too. And so driven! This whole place... Marnir brought us here, carved it out of the jungle, and now it's becoming this... amazing palace, like nothing I've seen before, even in the ruins along the coast!"
"Plus nobody gives me any trouble for being... y'know, not a land-dweller."
~~~~~~~~~~
"Hah, I've never heard of a pirate sending a thank-you note for a party!" says Niobe with a chuckle.
"I don't think we're like most other pirates," Marnir replies with a smile. "I'd rather we looked more like Captain Fairwind than Captain Sorrinash, so a letter of thanks is a good idea. Perhaps not with my handwriting though..." he says, trailing off.
Callidora smiles, realizing just how much she'd missed the sound of Niobe's giggle. "I'm so glad you found this crew and good people. There were...times when I found myself wondering where you ended up, hoping that you were doing well and that nobody tried to take advantage of you having such an open nature." she continues, giving Niobe a sidelong glance. "It looks like you really did well for yourself!"
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"Definitely not like most other pirates I've heard of or encountered, and that's a very good thing." Callidora answers with a grin. "If you like, I could write them out, just tell me what you want to say in it!"
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"Maybe we can get to that in a day or two," Marnir suggests, "but first I think we have an appointment with Sefina. I know we don't know much about her, but it doesn't seem likely that she'd help us out one day and try to screw us over the next. We need to find out what's going on with her."
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"There were a few moment where things were a bit sketchy... but one of the tricks I learned as I developed my ability to change my form is that I could become fierce!" says Niobe. She makes a mock clawing motion. "So while there were a few times that folks were a little weird, they got the idea pretty quick. And nowadays if anyone tried anything funny Marnir and Kung would be right there to stop it. And you too!"
Squeezing Callidora's hand while she pulls open the kitchen door, she says, "Ooo! Can we go comb each others' hair like we used to do, back when we would sun on the rocks back home?"
She and Callidora disappear into the kitchen, where the last sight of the two is Niobe sweeping up a glass of wine as they continue on their way to their final destination.
~~~~~~~~~~
"Yes, we need to follow up with Sefina," says Niobe. "I um... I am not really sure how to proceed with something like this? I don't really have spells of sensing deception or finding clues or anything like that."
"Well, I suppose we swim with her and talk. Between the two of us maybe we can figure out the truth." Callidora replies. "People tend to relax when they are doing something they enjoy or around friends. I doubt it was her as well, but even if it was, her reaction to mentioning the party might tell us something."
Marnir spends the day with his guests, aside from the prematurely-departed Captain Sorrinash, answering their questions and trying to give as good an impression of their outfit as possible in order to secure the three captains' backing for his place on the Pirate Council.
He also keeps an eye out for any suspicious goings-on as he shows the captains around the fort and their burgeoning town, acutely aware of the ongoing risk posed by the unidentified saboteur.
"Kung, can you check in on the guards from time to time?" he asks his master-at-arms. "I want to hear about any weirdness before it escalates."
Niobe says to Callidora, "C'mon, let's go find her. You're the charmer so you do the talking and I'll help out."
Callidora's face lights up with a radiant smile. "Okay, let's go!"
Taking Niobe's hand she heads out to the beach as they head towards Sefina's cove.
Niobe & Callidora arrive at the nereid's grotto soon enough, however she is not happy to see the pair. "Why, why did come? Now I have to fight you." She wails.
She lights the fuse on a sky rocket fire work that she was holding. It shoots into the sky with a loud scream and explodes in a burst of red smoke, visible for miles around.
You both see that Sefina does not have her shawl on her. This means someone else has it, and as it hold a portion of her life in it she must obey whoever has it?
Marnir & Kung you are at the fort.
By chance you are both outside when you see the signal rocket explode in the sky.
What is everyone doing?
"What the hells was that?" Marnir shouts as he sees a bright red explosion in the sky. "Did Niobe and Cally go that way?" he asks Kung.
Understanding why Sefina was being forced to act against them, and how, Callidora realizes the danger in the situation. At the same time, the mermaid feels her anger rising at whoever was responsible. Sharing a quick glance with Niobe she raises both her hands while taking a step to one side, hoping to make it difficult to focus on both of them at once. "Hold on Sefina" she says in a comforting, soothing tone, her voice full of compassion. "Someone took your shawl didn't they? They're making you do these things. We don't want to fight, we came to swim with you. What horrible person did this to you? Tell us and we'll help you get your shawl back safely."
Niobe starts to back away immediately. "We can't talk her into stopping, she's compelled... and that signal flare means that whoever controls her now knows that we're on to her!"
While the ladies are dealing with an unhappy and unwilling Nereid, Marnir & Kung sprint to the walls of the fort to scan the area.
It is Marnir who just manages to spot a small, translucent figure slipping through the waters towards the moored ships of your guests.
It seems to be the Fluid form spell.
School transmutation [water]; Level alchemist 4, sorcerer/wizard 6; Subdomain flowing 6, rivers 6; Elemental School water 6
CASTING
Casting Time 1 standard action
Components S, M (a mixture of oil and water)
EFFECT
Range personal
Targets you
Duration 1 minute/level
DESCRIPTION
When you cast this spell, your body takes on a slick, oily appearance. For the duration of this spell, your form can stretch and shift with ease and becomes slightly transparent, as if you were composed of liquid. This transparency is not enough to grant concealment. You gain DR 10/slashing and your reach increases by 10 feet. In addition, you can pass through small holes or narrow openings, even mere cracks, with anything you were carrying at the time the spell was cast (except other creatures). Finally, you can move through water with a swim speed of 60 feet and can breathe both water and air for the duration of this effect. You are treated as if you had the water subtype while this spell is in effect.
What are you doing now? Niobe & Callidora are a distance away up the coast, so will be speeding back.
"There's something out there, looks like it's heading for the ships!" Marnir calls, pointing out at the figure slipping through the water. "You - go and get Niobe and Cally!" he says, grabbing the nearest guard and giving him directions to Sefina's cove.
"Kung, we need to alert the captains, and their crews. Send one of your men down to get some boats ready, we'll need to get out to the ships fast," he says, before turning round and running back towards the inner fort. He's at a full sprint when he reaches the main hall and he slides to a stop, looking round for Captains Fairwind, Darrimar and Bloodmourn.
Sefina looks desperate. "He has it, he has my shawl! The scarred, little man took it and I have to obey him! Kill you all while he destroys the visiting ships"
If you back away she does not follow you, standing there and wringing her hands in worry.
"We promise we'll be back to help!" Callidora says following Niobe as she backs up. "We'll stop the bastrard from whatever he has planned and do out best to get your shawl back."
The seawitch's eyes promise suffering for whoever this 'scarred little man' was. "Let's get back to the ship Ni. Cioldrys, we need to be as fast as possible!" she says as they head to the water.
The shimmering little dragon darts around both mermaids, uttering in draconic as he makes arcane guestures, water swirling around both women.
Kung nods, concern on his brow, but he takes the initiative to alter Marnir's command slightly, running down to the docks himself. No crew faster than Kung! Running as fast as he can, he grabs the three nearest sailors at the docks. "Quick!!! Need three boats, go alert three ships!" He points out the sails of Fairwind, Darrimar, and Bloodmourn's command ships. "Danger! Sabotage!"
He then grabs another nearby sailor. "You make other boat ready! Captain Marnir and Drake officers follow soon!" He looks off in the direction of the signal flare, scanning the bay's surface for any sign of Niobe and Callidora's return.
Kung & Marnir arrive at the small port below their fort. The visiting captains had moored their ships out in the water rather than mooring at the docks. Pirate captains tend to be a touch paranoid at the best of times. :)
However with the alarm raised the crews on watch have managed to detect the stealthily approaching enemy and drive him away with weapons fire.
What are you doing now?
Callidora keeps an eye out for any sign of danger as they swim back.
Callidora & Niobe. As you hurry through the water with your natural grace you both see a Halfling suddenly pop up ahead of you with a muffled curse. What ever he was using to travel through the water has worn off, leaving him both slower and more visible.
What are you doing now?
Niobe you remember that as well as forcing poor Sefina to commit crimes for him, a scarred Halfling is responsible for killing Louisiana Jane. Could this be the same one?
Happy that the visiting captains' ships are safe, Marnir calls to the lookouts on the shore. "Any sign of that swimming thing?" he shouts, suddenly unsure of where the potential threat has gone.
"Callie, look - I think that's the fellow who killed one of our crew! We should at least see if he has Sefina's shawl."
Niobe continues her swim, altering course to intercept the halfling and seeing how he responds to the sight of two sinuous merfolk headed his way - one of whom, if he is the culprit, he's fought before (albeit in her land-form).
"Then let's make sure he isn't going anywhere." Callidora replies, swimming alongside Niobe and splitting in the other direction to come at him from opposite sides. As she does, the sea witch calls upon the mother of the deep, making the ocean a more hostile environment for their quarry.
The scarred Halfling begins to struggle in the suddenly hostile waters of the bay. Looking around he hurriedly drinks a potion and vanishes from your sight.
What are you doing now?
Cioldryss surges forward toward where he last saw the halfling, unleashing a cone of boiling water when 5ft away from where he was last spotted.