To Change the Way of the World: A Better Valcia Begins Today (Inactive)

Game Master Darksmokepuncher

Erianna moves away from the debate, to stand guard at the door to the Hall, watching the area outside.

Perception: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (14) + 9 = 23

very well then what is you idea of a plan then ? she gently ask

Mortimer turns to the slaves. "If you know anything or have any tricks, now is the time. Knowledge of the surroundings, of the underground, anything at all." Mortimer stands up and begins pacing, a curious thing since he's still floating a few inches off the ground. "If we know the underground won't flood we can hide down there. Stealing a large vessel would be ideal, much less painful than wandering through the countryside. But we would have to have food for the journey."

Mortimer and Erasmus know that the cave they entered floods at high tide. It is possible that there are other passages in the water that could take them elsewhere under the island.

Biel's report, Eriana's eyes, and the chatter of the slaves leads you to believe that there are no hostiles about. Biel can also affirm the presence of a single unscathed schooner. It may be able to hold all of you if you're willing to be cramped.

All you know of your surroundings, sadly is that you are on a relatively small island just west of the main land at the Erenese/Isterothi boarder. Sailing east will take you there; sailing west will cross the entire sea, but take you home to Amerys.

Ok, we have a boat, potentially a crew, and the island. We probably can't fit both all the slaves and the supplies for them for a trip all the way back to Amerys, so our options are die of thirst in the middle of the ocean, stay here, or take our chances with Isteroth. Sadly, none of those are good options.

"Isteroth is my preference unless we can get enough food for the long journey, which I doubt." Mortimer begins running through his spells. "I don't have much damage left. Diamond spray and burning sphere. Still have some utility left: Dispel magic, blindness/deafness, invisibility, disguise self, alarm, ray of enfeeblement, and feather fall."

if we try to steal the boat now i would like to point out that there is a a high possibility that we run into whatever burned down your ship.

An old, old man hobbles forward, his cobweb beard brushing his knobby knees.

"I am from Amerys. I went north to visit my sons at the front in Thelkon when I was taken. I think Erenon is a better choice then Isteroth."

"The land is fairer and will provide more sustenance. Also, these guards," He indicates Targ's former warriors. "They were trained in Erenon and will know something of the country. Moreover, they will help you blend in as slave merchants, because, unless you find fresh clothes for all of us, we will be known as slaves immediately."

"I suggest we head for the house of Rudianos. Thery are known for training highly skilled slaves and treating them well. They will pay you for us and we will gain a home. With that money, you can get home to Amerys."

"Just be sure not to give away who you really are. You have likey cost that house hundreds of thousands of gold."

"I am Davos, by the way." The man raises his heavily hooded brows and smiles a toothless grin.

Mortimer offers a hand and a grateful nod. "Erenon it is." He pauses and looks at the other slaves. "Do you all want to remain slaves, even in a better country and treated with more fairness? We wish to bring you to Amerys so you may be free, but we will not bring you against your will."

"We would not choose to be slaves, but I see no other way to save us all. At least we'll be treated well."

A number of young men and women at the back of the press shake their heads. A young woman steps forward.

"I am Eunice and some of us would not be slaves. We ask to collect the weapons of the dead so we can hold this island as our own. We would be our own masters."

There are 53 total slaves. 12 are soldiers. 21 are the youths who'd like to stay behind. That means, if you allow it, you will have 32 souls to care for. Just FYI.

"Decide amongst yourselves what you would do, we shall not intrude if you hold this isle or travel with us. If you do decide to come with us we will travel to Erenon then Amerys and you may leave whenever you like."

Eunice and her follows scoop up discarded swords , spears, and shields and tropp off to excplore their new island home.

Mortimer stands, suddenly wanting to move. "Biel says we actually have a clear path, but we must move now." He looks at the remaining slaves. "Since you are still here I take it you intend to leave, either to go to Erenon or Amerys. Either way, now is the time to move. You will all have to swim a decent distance." Mortimer begins flying just a few inches off the ground. "I'm going to stay low so I don't attract attention. Biel will be our eye in the sky."

Assuming no one objects.

32 freed slaves, and four freedom fighters march out of Targ's hall and down to the beach. The crossing is difficult and more than once, someone had to be dragged from the water. All in all though, things go smoothly and the day's failing light sees the ship, named Carion Call gliding east through calm waters.

Go ahead and talk about your feelings or whatever. Let me know when you're ready to move on :)

Mortimer finally feels his fly spell start failing and he drifts down onto the ship. He does a head count, making mental notes of everybody on board before going to the others. "How's the Vice Admiral?"

How do our supplies look?

Enough to feed and water everyone comforably for two weeks. Rationing could extend it to 6 if needs be.

Erasmus hesitates at the though of leaving them behind. Look, we don't know if the thing that destroyed our ship is stil out there. You never saw the Vice-Admiral here in action, but the prospect of whatever did this still being around is worth thinking about because he is a very capable man. I'm not about to put you all in chains or nothin' but are you sure you want to stay here?

Erasmus starts rubbing his chin. Think! There's got to be a way to rescue them all.

DM: Esther will grab tarq's corpse so that it be be dropped in deep water during the trip. She doesn't want someone to raise him from the dead. She will Also use air bubble spell (on her and erianna erasmus to help overtake the ship and help people swim across.

during the first few hours of the trip she will also cast a detect magic / poison to help her make a new diagnostic concerning the vice admiral. She will also administer long term care as well as lesser Restoration spell to improve / recover his mental stats.

Water won't be an issue she can create gallons of it.

Erianna and i will look after him but here is what i currently think about it: the man's mind was unhinged with magic. However through physical torture and mental trauma, potentially delivered by or in tandem with extra-planar beings, the man is truly mad. Ending the magic's affliction to his mind could help to bring him back. Killing the extra-planar creature or creatures responsible could help. Just getting him around familiar places and people could help. Unfortunately, all I can do is help with my magic. The climb back to sanity must ultimately be his own.

If there is a ship we can secure lets all make our way there and sail off.

I'll throw in an identify and my knowledge to help Esther in the diagnosing.

Dang! Erianna would have suggested we stayed behind, and actually make the island OUR base of operations... Couldn't post before.

Erianna stands on deck, looking towards the island, as it fades away in the distance - That was true courage, and perhaps they souldn't have been left alone - she ponders, staying there until land is no longer visible.

"Esther..." - she starts without turning around - "Will they be ok? Should we have stayed?"

Mortimer would have left, regardless if every other member of our group wanted to stay.

The sun dips below the horizon and a chill wind blows from the stern: gaining you speed, but cause palbable discomfort among the poorly clothed slaves, particularly the small children.

Mortimer approaches the others. "Unless I set them on fire I can't keep these people warm. Any ideas?"

i can but it will have to wait until tomorrow. As for the vice admiral i have done what i could now he needs a really powerfull divine spellcast that can use the following spell: break enchement and heal.

Taking her sister to the side she will whipser

yes i beleive we made the right call here, the man probably encounter a very powerfull spellcaster. One that was able to reduce his intellect to animal level, and bring enough destruction to whipe out the ship and the reinforcement mortimer was counting on. We freed some slaves and killed tarq. We accomplished what we had set out for. There was no way we could have held that island if that spellcaster was looking for us.

Talking to the cold people she will gather them so that they are very close from one an other in order to maximize body heat.

Also esther will spend the necessary time using her mend spell to repair her bow

Erasmus sets up a rotating shift of hands among the former slaves. Those not on active duty will be belowdeck where they can share heat. Are there any supplies, blankets, etcetera on board?

Some. yes.

As Erasmus begins setting up watch Mortimer puts a hand on his shoulder. "I need only sleep two hours a night, so if you stay up late and sleep in I can keep an eye on things the rest of the night."

Damn wizards...

Erasmus will mkae sure the children and elderly get blanket priority, and keep them together.

Please, I know this isn't the best accomodations, but Ms. Esther says that we'll be able to make things better tomorrow.

Once he's away from the former slaves he'll conduct a meeting with Mortimer and the sisters, and remove the flag if there is one. Ok, we're not getting these people back into slavery if I have to swim each of them across the ocean. How are we going to make it back to Amerys?

Mortimer sits with his hands folded. "I don't know. Hopefully we can find sympathizes to our cause. We also need to get Trinton any and all help he requires. I have various scenarios that could happen, but they are all subject to several variables that are skeptical at best."

As Erasmus begins setting up watch Mortimer puts a hand on his shoulder. "I need only sleep two hours a night, so if you stay up late and sleep in I can keep an eye on things the rest of the night."

"I also do not need much sleep - two hours will be more than enough for me, so we should be able to articulate the watches easily" - Eriana comments.

Well what ever we do, we have to remember that we only have up to 6 weeks of food if we ration out. And lets hope the weather stays clear cause since we are no sailors a storm would capsize the ship. So Erianna given you geographical knowledge what is the closest non hostile port we can aim for?

Knowledge (Local): 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (15) + 12 = 27

"Good that you asked that sister. I was pondering the exact same thing"

:D

great sister think alike and support one another she winks at her.

Since none of you have KN:Geo, I will give you what I can with that KN: Local.

The nearest is Port Illin, but that is an Isterothi Port. Going to Erenon will take longer, and while they too are hostile toward Amerys, they are also more likely to make a favorable deal. (3 days)

The nearest Erenese port is Port Nasen (which lies due west of Fort Mirance. This is a military establishment, and not likely the best place to strike a deal. (1 week)

The next nearest is Veir, the capital, and seat of the King and Council of Erenon. An option to be sure, but you'd have to play your cards perfectly. (15 days)

Since you're going to Lehrehn and House Rudianos, another option is the Fairn Delta. It flows into Fairn Forrest and becomes Saun River. The best part is that it flow directly to Lehrehn on Lake Saun. (2 weeks 4 days)

And how close is sailing right back to Amerys? Too far I would imagine?

Right back to Amerys is like 3 weeks, but, in open water there's more that could go wrong. Sorry, I meant to say that last one too.

Well shiiit, I'm considering just sailing back there, hang the consequences.

6 weeks of food and water, plus Esther's magic? Damn I wish I had Profession Sailor... yeah my vote is Amerys.

YOU'RE A SWASHBUCKLER AND CAN'T SAIL?! WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU?! Lol

here is what I could advise: Aim for Port Nasen. Sell the ship and build a caravan for the ex-slaves and head toward Amerys by land. While on our end we could head toward Veir to see if we could get help for the vice admiral. There should be powerful spellcaster there and an Amerys embassy also.

I'm a marine. I do amphibious assaults and invade enemy ships.

Davos shyly approaches.

"Apologies, miss. I weren't trying to overhear,but I did. We heared they burnt the Amerysi Embassy some years ago when we turned Democratic. I'm afraid you won't find official help there."

"As to goin' home by land, well, that sounds like a journey ain't none of us would live through. Too many countries to cross says I."

HERE'S THE WORLD MAP AGAIN

Mortimer gestures for her to sit. "We appreciate any and all help. We do not pretend to have positions of authority by rank or wisdom over you, we are merely trying to help." He folds his hands again. "I don't want to risk dealing with them without an embassy. I think our best options are either Veir or the Fairn Delta. Veir would be less time consuming and is closer to Amerys, but going to the Fairn Delta might be less political hassle."

Also, in case it comes up. That "30 Miles" sign on the map should read "300 Miles"

"I take no offense, Wizard. I am too old and frail to do so even were I offended." he smiles his toothless grin, eyes crickling at the edges.

DM if we try to sail to Veir as you said (2 weeks) we can make it to Port Maverik in a bit less time as it appear to be closer ?

The trip to Port Maverick takes longer because you have no coastal current to help. PLus, you'll have to vary speed for weather more often.

well my vote is to follow the coast south then aime straight west for Port Maverick

Mortimer shakes his head. "Nobody here is a skilled sailor. I think it's too risky to stay for weeks on the open sea without the knowledge for emergencies."