Blown almost off his feet by the wind, Healaugh clutches the wall.
"Reet. Well, at least we know which way to go now. Only have to find blasted boat."
He plods back into the room and examines the walls again, paying particular attention of the professionally carved inscription.
Healaugh examines the brick wall that the plaque is placed on. It seems more recent than the rest of the stonework.
"Did Coinneach even ever mention a prince?" asks Brand with a questioning look on his face.
"Aye. He did. Said Viladel's son died afore him and got proper burial wi' ship."
Healaugh examines the brickwork.
"Reckon we can break through this Brand?"
Brand casts his eyes about for something they might use as a battering ram, if there's nothing apparent he gives a quick utterance "Break the wall!" before falling to the job with scowling fury.
Healaugh chucks himself fruitlessly at the wall in at attempt to help his friend.
1d8+3-5=3, 1d8+3-5=1, 1d8+3-5=2, 1d8+3-5=3, 1d8+3-5=0
Brand pounds away at the brick with his axe causing sparks and bits of metal and brick to ricochet wildly
1d8+3-5=3, 1d8+3-5=1, 1d8+3-5=2, 1d8+3-5=3, 1d8+3-5=0
Brand pounds away at the brick with his axe causing sparks and bits of metal and brick to ricochet wildly
Between them, Conall and Brand chip away at the wall, smashing heftily at it for a minute or so. The mortar is not of great quality, and they have nearly made a man-sized hole.
Over the course of the next couple of minutes they smash away at it. They have nearly taken down enough of the wall to make a hole big enough to extract the boat they can see inside...
The friends can see a small galley, with a wrapped and oiled sail, with a form wrapped in linen lying in it. The figure is surrounded by grave goods of gold and silver as well as a suit of chainmail, a bastard sword and dagger, as well as several small chests.
After another minute or so, the men have cleared enough space to get the boat through. Healaugh clears away the rubble.
Shifting the last pile of rubble, the halfling scrambles trough the hole and pulls out a javelin.
"Let's hope old man didn't make any fool wishes about this lad." he comments, bracing himself for any movement on the part of the corpse.
The corpse does not move in any way.
Healaugh cautiously lowers his javelin and calls out to the others.
"Reckon tis safe enough. Lad here died afore Coinneach got clever with ring."
He gazes at the ship in awe. "That's proper boat. She'll sail fine. Thanking you Brigid-lass."
He looks around to see if there boat can be pushed through the hole in the wall to the ocean.
It can indeed be pushed, but it will require everyone.
Push on! Brand will strain with all his might.
Healaugh helps out ...
"Brand, dost think we should move lad and gravegoods to biers afore sailing?" he pants. "Lighten boat as well, which might help some." The halfling is pink with effort as he tries to get purchase on the boat.
Ynyr, seeing the boat suddenly finds new energy and a reason for living. He joins in the pushing with thoughts of freedom and fried fish.
"Now what were you saying about the body? If you think we should remove it, do you not think we should do so before pushing the boat out?"
Pausing in his exertions, Healaugh nods at Ynyr, a trifle embarrassed. "Aye. That makes sense. Always said you were knowing one."
The comrades carefully remove the prince and his grave goods, and place them in the chamber. With all their might, they move the boat out of the bricked up section of the tombs.
It is all set to launch at the exit to the ocean.
Looking around the chamber, Healaugh shakes his head. "Sad pity all this. Still, glad old Sea King and his kin are resting properly at last. And will be better still seeing pucha scum sunk. This way ladies. Best be stepping aboard afore Brigid-lass loses patience."
He politely offers to help Melisana and Siobhan into the waiting vessel.
Melisana graciously accepts.
Brand waits till everyone is aboard before getting in; partially due to his sense of honor and partially due to the fact he secretly fears the water, for though he grew up on an island he always stayed on land whenever possible. Finally he steels himself and hops in, bidding farewell to the island and feeling really empty inside.
At first he wonders if there was something he could have done to save those that fell...but soon realizes the feeling is actually from not eating in a long time.
Ynyr takes a moment to examine the worksmanship of the boat. "Do you see, this is masterful craftsmanship, isn't it? Would it not be sensible to be getting in and sailing?" He glances at the sky with open concern.
The new crew shove off and leap in the departing boat, you start rowing over the buffeting waves. When you are 20 yards out, you can see a gang of yrchs and pucha burst into the chamber; they snarl and throw spears at you to no avail. Arrows are launched which stick in the mast, oars and benches. Thankfully none hit you.
The fury of the wind and waves seems to mount...
The sky overhead is completely covered by storm clouds, but you can still see the island as you head further out to sea - it seems to be lit by a faint glow, enough for you to see what's going on.
As you watch, tornados - 10 or 12, at least - descend from the heavy mantle of clouds cloaking the sky. The tornados begin tearing along the island and stripping great tracts of territory up into the air.
Hurricane force winds are scouring the island, and from your vantage point you can see ruins of the island's town, along with the manor, the barracks and the stables, begin to disintegrate, being thrown plank by plank and beam by beam into the air.
"Thorough lass our Brigid."
The Fhoi Myore boats on the beaches are being driven up onto the beach, torn apart by the wind and the battering sea. You can dimly see their crews running, scattering, some of them being thrown like leaves up against the cliff side, others swept out to sea by the waves.
By the time you're a quarter of a mile out to sea, the rocking and pitching of your boat begins to subside - it no longer threatens to throw you overboard. But things are worse, not better, back on the island, which seems strangely obscured now, covered from shore to shore by a gray-brown whirlwind of rocks and scrub brush, sand and sea which seems to scour the island.
And that's just what happens; by the time you're a mile away, the whirlwind lifts and the island is grey-white and smooth, resembling not at all the islanf you landed on yesterday. There's not one hill, not one topgraphical feature that you remember. And suddenly, the seas around you are still, the clouds overhead clear, and the stars and moon can be seen overhead.
THE END OF TREASURE HUNT.
CAST....
ZioKai and Amardolem as Bran Stonar aka Brandlaik Stoneheart
Rev Rosey as Healaugh ap Caftenar
Thrugnipp as Ynyr Treiglwyr
Paul T as Conall
Kaos as Siobhán
French Wolf as Tresmeer Torwalker
fopalup as Cyndeyrn Meurig
We Win!! (well sort of) Praise Brigid!! With one last scowl Brand scans the horizon
So pleased we finished Treasure Hunt properly and thank you so much for keeping it going, players and Fabes both.
This is the first pbp game I ever played and it's the first I've finished as a player, so this is a major landmark for me. I'll miss the island.
Please see the Discussion Thread for future plans.
And I will certainly be writing an Epilogue. :D
Congratulations on an actually completed PbP. I've never seen one of those before.
Congratulations on an actually completed PbP. I've never seen one of those before.
My 4E one shot Rune Stones completed as well, but it was a much less major undertaking than this.
Like some of the players here, the adventures of that group are continuing in the savage northern lands.
And ... didn't you complete Foehammer Spires?
Congratulations on an actually completed PbP. I've never seen one of those before.My 4E one shot Rune Stones completed as well, but it was a much less major undertaking than this.
Like some of the players here, the adventures of that group are continuing in the savage northern lands.
And ... didn't you complete Foehammer Spires?
Please see the Discussion Thread for future plans.
And I will certainly be writing an Epilogue. :D
I looked for it, did I miss? My wife's gonna kill me....she thought I was wrapping at least one up. Not that she's anti-D&D, as her dwarf druid or gnome bard would attest, just not fanatical (or maybe demented) I'm not sure which derogatory I want to apply to myself just yet...
Epilogue
The new friends make their way to the nearest port, guided by Healaugh's knowledge of the stars. Through Melisana's contacts the comrades are able to return her to her father, who richly rewards them for their trouble.
Melisana tells her friends that she will now devote her life to becoming a priestess of Brigid, and she wishes them well for the future. For some, the story ends here as they return to their homes and old lives. For others however, adventure beckons...
After the destruction of the isle...
Healaugh looked out over the sea, back towards the island, tired, hungry but strangely elated. "Now, you see, that was quite impressive, isn't it?" Ynyr said after a while.
The halfling nodded, and looked grimly satisfied at the destruction of the pirates. "Ay, tha's real power, that is." he said quietly. Brand also looked back at the island, frowning.
"Yes, the power of the goddess," Melisana murmurs.
Healaugh continued to look out over the sea, when he heard a faint thud against the side of the boat. He looked over and saw a a spear bobbing in the water. It was a spear he recognised. Taking the weapon out of the water, he grinned.
"Ee, reet grand that is." he said after a while.
The End?
Reet proper ending that.