"I don't see any undead monstrosities on the deck, so I'm going to guess - yes."
When Armanus begins to hear the sounds of combat dying down, he quickly surveys the room, making sure none of the lockboxes are gone.
The lockboxes are all accounted for.
Zyrel waits patiently for someone to return and tell him the combat is over. He dons his armoured coat and spends the time telling Armanus exactly what he saw on deck.
"Mollusks controlling dead bodies?" questioned Armanus after listening to Zyrel's accounts. "I have read of plant life doing something similar, but not any sea life. Curious."
Erick steps out on deck, sees that there is nothing to do, and puts his gun and sword away. He returns back to the cargo hold. He stops along the way to pick up Zyrel's bow though, and return it to the elf. "You left your bird sticker on the deck." He hands the bow back to Zyrel. "Seems like I missed all the excitement up top."
Zyrel nods in thanks "Better to assume a distraction and proceed accordingly. I hoped to be able to engage at range - but they were too close in. The sailors need to post a better watch."
"Yeah, good point Zyrel!"
Kristleifur looks around for sailors.
The first one he finds, he berates:
"Were the watch sleeping or what? We handled things, but it would have a lot easier if we had a bit more warning."
what was the rest of the crew doing?
Captain Whissik bursts out of the cabin, brandishing a rifle almost as long as he is and yells, ”Where are those freaks? I’ll have at ‘em!”
The two crewmembers behind the crates flinch at Kristleifur’s berating, ”We did our bit. The other sailors can’t fight well.” Captain Whissik walks over and motions to the bodies, ”Gods be damned. Get them somewhere cold. Try to keep them from...going.” A few crewmembers take the bodies belowdecks while Whissik turns to the group, ”Thanks for the help. My apologies for this whole mess. We didn’t expect any attacks. Guess that’s why you’re here though.”
Well, yes. And the fact that it is a long way to swim home. Elsa grins Cheer up Captain. I am sure your crew did their best in trying circumstances.
She gestures at the bodies.
After all, being attacked by squid things isn't a usual danger while sailing, I expect.
Kristleifur calms down suddenly.
"Ah, no worries. I don't mind fighting, it's just that I was surprised we were the only ones around. And we're glad to be of help! Sorry to see your men though.", he says, realising the bodies are of sailors.
Zyrel sits in the darkened underdeck, slowly sewing his wounds. He has a fine precise hand, a neat stitch, and a copious quantity of precisely measured herbs.
= heal 5 hp, I believe.
Whissik nods somewhat solemnly and says, ”I’d hope they did. It’d be a shame if they died in vain. Let’s hope that the journey goes better.”
"Aye! Here's to smooth sailing!"
"Any case, I've got to go see to the crew. Thanks again."
"Sure thing."
Once the captain is gone, Kristleifur turns to the others.
"I think we're going to have to keep a few of us up here, rotating. Because this big old lake has some nasty tricks up its sleeves."
Aramnus could not disagree with the gnome's logic, the tiefling nods.
"Your logic is sound, Kristleifur", the sorcerer sniffed. "Since I was fortunate enough not to get injured, I shall take the next several hours walking the deck, while the injured can rest. I will do my best to alert you all in any new developments."
Armanus gathered his things and walked topside.
"A good ideas." Zyrel allows "If I sleep I can speed my healing. Once I am recuperated I'm happy to take the next day's watch - ideally from the..." he hesitates "the lookout place on top of the mast?"
He shrugs "We should arrange an alarm signal for those below. A different bell, perhaps?"
"In the meantime I gather Kristleifur is better suited to guarding the hold?" Zyrel's left eyebrow raises in a gesture probably meant to convey some hidden meaning.
After 8 hours of rest and 1 hour of study he'll take the crow's nest. He should be able to keep watch for 23 of 24 hours without issue, possibly longer. If the additional hour is during the night his owl can keep watch during that period.
Kristleifur takes a moment, then his face lights up.
"Yup! The hold for me!"
I need to rest, and recover my spells. More of those things might attack
The hold is in order, aside from the makeshift barricade. The front lockboxes are all intact, though the ones behind are still concealed.
When the group are alone, Kristleifur whispers in a conspiratorial tone.
"In the late hours, I can have another go at the concealed boxes. Sound good to you all?"
Erick frowns in thought, but then sighs and nods. "As long as you don't make noise, and put everything back where you found it. If you find anything truly obnoxious, preserved child bodyparts, or Black Lotus vials, or the like, let us know immediately, otherwise put it back like you found it and we'll discuss in the morning." He suggests, in a whispered tone.
"Will do."
Kristleifur is giddy at the thought of opening the boxes that night.
Zyrel shudders. "I had forgotten the ways of man."
The rest of the day passes, and the boxes remain tantalizingly closed. Finally, night rolls around.The dinner bell rings, and any in attendance hear a short toast to the dead crewmen, followed by potatoes, mutton, and copious amounts of rum. The ship settles down and Kristleifur's waiting is over.
Elsa cat naps the rest of the day, getting up to eat.
Night falls and the boxes can finally be opened. After a bit of effort, Kristleifur is able to open the mysterious lockbox fourteen. Within is a small wooden box and a few letters. The rest of the hidden lockboxes are empty.
Kristleifur emerges from the wall, carefully carrying with him a small wooden box with a few letters balanced on top.
He quietly notes:
"This was all I could find in fourteen - the other lockboxes were empty."
He looks around, as he gently puts the letters aside.
"I'm checking the box for traps, then cracking it open."
The box is unlocked, and Kristleifur is able to open is with a fair amount of ease. Inside are five faceted blue gemstones, each resembling a pyramid with the top cut off.
Rubbing his bald head, Kristleifur turns to the others:
"So, does anyone know what these are? Or what they're for? Maybe the letters say.", indicating the neat pile of letters he retrieved.
Elsa casts detect magic, and examines the contents.
The gems are magical, though Elsa isn’t able to figure out what type of magic they radiate. The gems are unlike anything that Kristleifur’s seen, with differences in the shade of the gem with each facet.
Erick frowns. "Unless someone knows something I don't, so far it looks like we've been led on a wild goose chase." He examines the letters carefully, trying to note what the seal, if any is present, might be. He also runs a thumb over the paper, to see if there's anything odd about it.
Kristleifur peers around Erick at the letters, trying to fathom their secrets without opening them. A task he will surely realise is not going to be sufficient.
Armanus provides a lookout for Kristleifur's shenanigans.
Zyrel rises, stretches, and carefully looks over the rocks. "Has anyone checked them for auras?"
the gems are magical, but I cannot see their function
The letters are not trapped, and seem to be completely legitimate. Zyrel, with his studies of the arcane, thinks that he would need to further study the magical auras of the gems with a spellcraft check.
"No traps, they're really letters."
The ship sails onward, the voyage uneventful. After a day, the ship docks at Katapesh. As the party walks down the gangplank they see the exotic sights and smells of the city, goods from all over the world. Before they leave, Captain Whissik comes up to the group. He extends a small furred hand and says, ”I’ve got to thank you all. If you’re ever in need of a ship, then I’m glad to take you where you might need to go.”
Armanus keeps his hands behind his back, and give the Captain small smile and nod as they depart.
"You're welcome captain, and I will indeed!", Kristleifur says breezily.