Sasha does seem overly encouraged by Priyya's grim attitude but manages a smile and answers, "Hey, it's me, I'm always careful, right?"
Both have +10 modifiers. Auto-success even with accelerated climbing.
Stealth Checks ×3
Without comment and only a raised eyebrow in Gelik's direction, Priyya descends the magical climbing rope follow swiftly thereafter by Sasha. Helpless but to watch, Gelik lays on the ground near the top of the rope and peers down at the scene below.
To the east, Lureene and Grak try to circle around, swooping down behind the wreck of the old ship. Miraculously, the captain doesn't seem to seem to notice Lureene's 15-foot wingspan, and even though Grak thumps into the partially buried prow of the ship, the *THUNK* goes unnoticed. On the side of it, they can read a tarish plaque bearing its name: Brine Demon
Upon reaching the base of the cliffs, Priyya and Sasha attempt to conceal themselves behind a scraggly shrub as the ghostly sea captain shambles thru the lapping surf tinged red by the full moon. Looking towards their two allies 100-feet to the east, the two women share a glance before drawing their bows and waiting to see what happens.
Stealth Checks
MAP: G-The Brine Demon, (Round 00)
The Brine Demon? How...appropriate.
Lureene sees the two women take position on the other side of the ghostly apparition. She softly utters another protective spell on herself and studies the movements of the ghost intently, looking for any clues as to what is driving him.
I wonder if he is looking for something...
Just as she's about to peer around the Brine Demon to have a look at what the ghostly captain is doing, she notices that there is a large hole torn in the side of the ship's hull at mid-ship exposing the dilapidated hold within. It looks like there might be room enough to enter if one so chose.
I wonder if it is safe in here...
Lureene remembers all too well what she found in the hold of another ship. Still, this was worth the risk. Indeed this was much safer than dealing with a possibly very irate spirit.
She mentally instructs Grak, Keep watch on the spirit and warn me if he returns to the Demon, before she casts an Invisibility spell on herself and slips quietly into the hold of the ship. Once inside she has a look around.
Suddenly, a loose board that Lureene had stepped on tears free and flies up batting the invisible succubus square in the forehead. Somehow she manages to stifle a yelp of surprise. Outside Grak winces, peering around the ship, but the ghost is still ranting about 'damnable yellow-bellied curs' and doesn't seem to notice anything else.
'Misssstressss watch the firssst ssstep!'
As Lureene waits for the stars she's seeing to fade, her eyes easily adjust to the darkened interior of the ship. The insides are a complete jumble. There are old, broken crates, long-since looted, barrels of foodstuff that rotted long ago, and more than a few skeletons that have been picked clean. Further to the back, she can make out what appears to be a closed door with an axe still stuck in it.
Behind her, toward the beach, much of the foreward hold has been crushed by the force of the impact and it is now full of sand and debris. Other than the aft door, the only other ways to go would appear to be back out of the ship, or up onto the deck thru one of the hatches.
Gods...I HATE shipwrecks!
Lureene's attention is immediately drawn to the closed door, and she stealthily maneuvers her way over to it.
I wonder why this door has not been forced open yet.
Lureene detects no magic coming from the door, although as she draws closer, she can see that the door has been heavily damaged as if others were attempting to break in.
Well...this is interesting. Is the reason this door still has not been breached because of the ghost? I guess I am about to find out...
Lureene examines the door for any surprises, then draws her dagger and starts to slice an opening through the door as quietly as possible, figuring the adamantine edge should have no problems with the soggy wood.
It doesn't take much for Lureene to hack the door to pieces, although it's impossible to do so in silence. Outside, she can hear a pause in the muffled ranting followed by further cursing about 'lazy good-for-nothing scallywags'.
Working quickly, the last of the rickety slats clatter out of the way and she finds that on the far side a sturdy chair had been pushed up against the door. Peering within, she sees a skeleton slumped on the floor, its bony hands clutching at a well-made, watertight darkwood coffer sitting in an opened secret compartment in a rotting desk.
Outside, Priyya and Sasha grimace when they see the ghost react to the noise coming from inside the Brine Demon. "Crap, it's walking toward the ship, what should we do? Think we should make a distraction?"
Stealth Checks
Unfortunately, it seems that Sasha's question provides its own answer as the captain points in their direction and shouts back at the ship, ""
Softening his tone, he waves toward the cliffs and calls out, "Now come on out here you hussies, and tell Captain Kinkarian the sailors what paid you so he can set the matter a-right."
Lureene sees the skeleton and gazes at it. I wonder if this is the Captain's corpse...What could be in this chest...Uh-oh! I think he saw Priyya and Sash! I had better get out of here!
She reaches down and grabs the coffer, sliding it into her pouch before she looks around her for the nearest hatch.
"Hussy? Doxy?" Priyya fumes.
Sasha pats Priyya on the back, and whispers in reply, "Oh, he's probably talking about me, not you. Don't sweat it, I'll keep him busy."
As Sasha starts to step out, she sees Captain Kinkarian stiffen and turn towards the ship. He begins shouting incoherently, waving his hook seeming at the empty air.
"DAMNATION AND RUIN! YOU CAN DRAG ME TO HELL, BUT YOU'LL NEVER TAKE MY AESHAMARA AWAY FROM ME!"
With that declaration, the captain floats up into the air, flying slowly after the invisible succubus as he draws his wispy cutlass, rage taking hold of him.
With a curse, Priyya hisses at Sasha, "Wonderful, what did she do to upset things this time? Can you see what he's going after?"
"Uh... I–" Sasha shrugs, holding up her hands, "I don't know? It looks like he's chasing something, but I don't see anything."
At Sasha's comment, Priyya rises to a crouch, bow at the ready as she spots the flying ghost. "I can still see Grak. Lureene must have turned herself invisible."
But where is she going?
Although her friends cannot see her, when Lureene looks back, she notes that the enraged captain is matching her speed and doesn't seem to be fooled by her invisibility spell.
SONOFA...How did he know I was there?
Lureene struggles to gain altitude, still not quite used to this flying on her own without the aid of magic. She realizes frantically the coffer she absconded with was related to the ghost in some way.
Well, if he wants it so bad...then he can have it! Without thinking any more about it, she takes the coffer out and circles away back over the beach and drops the coffer onto the sand.
The moment the coffer beings to fall, the ghost immediately breaks off its pursuit and swoops after it. In futile desperation, he attempts to catch it, but the small boxes passes clear thru him before falling into the sand below.
Further away, Sasha points and hisses, "Priy, she just dropped something! Come on!"
With that, Sasha takes off, trying to reach the coffer before the ghost can get to it.
Sense Motive Checks:
Of all the stupid, suicidal...
"IDIOT, LET IT GO!"
I swear, if we survive this I'm going to thrash some sense into those two if it kills them...
His incorporeal fingers unable to catch his precious coffer, Captain Kinkarian floats down after it, wailing and moaning, "AESHAMARA," in horror and anguish over and over. He desperately tries to open it, but his hook and fingers pass clear thru the darkwood and whatever it contains.
It is only when Sasha draws closer that he suddenly stands bolt upright. Upon seeing the red hair huntress, he drops his sword and falls to his knees, arms outstretched. In a shaky voice, he calls out, "Ae– Aeshamara? Is it truly you my crimson-haired elven goddess? Have you come for me, my love?"
, Priyya, Sasha, Kinkarian
MAP: G-The Brine Demon, (Round 03)
Wow...I guess he is mad with grief. Still, there may be a chance to salvage this situation...
Lureene flies over to the other side of the ghostly spirit, landing gently on the damp sand. Willing her invisibility spell to end, she calls out to the bereaved soul in a clear voice, tinged with compassion.
"Captain of the Brine Demon, we apologize for disturbing your torments. Indeed, none of us meant to hurt you any more than you have already suffered. No soul should have to suffer like this. I can tell your love for Aeshamara holds you here. Unfortunately, the lady who stands before you is NOT your beloved."
She pauses for a moment, then continues more softly, "I regret removing your personal property Captain, i am no common looter, and I will gladly return the coffer to you. I can also help you open it and retrieve whatever it contains, if that is what you wish."
Priyya and Sasha both stand motionless as Lureene speaks, breath catching in their throats as they wait to see what happens. The ghostly captain seems to be entranced by Sasha, only just barely heeding Lureene's words until she makes a fatal mistake...
"Unfortunately, the lady who stands before you is NOT your beloved."
"Not Aeshamara?" As Lureene pauses, the captain looks from Sasha to Lureene and then back again before rubbing his eye sockets with the back of his one hand. Even as the succubus begins talking again, his slack jaw clenches and you can hear the sound of his teeth grinding as his eyes blaze from green to red.
"No... NO!" He claws at his tricorn in grief and rage before pointing his hook accusingly at Sasha. "YOU ARE NOT HER! TREACHEROUS WENCH! DAMNABLE DECEIVER!"
With that, he flies straight at Sasha, and swipes at her with his hook. Immediately, she is covered in a swath of lacerations from hip to shoulder where she was struck, the flesh suddenly looking as aged as an old woman's!
Fort DC 18
As Sasha screams in agony, Priyya rushes forward, bow drawn, trying to find an angle where she won't hit Sasha. As she loses, she shouts out,
All right! This guy is TOAST!
"HEY, DRIPPY, OVER HERE!"
With that Priyya fires a single shaft which flies clear thru the undead captain and into the surf beyond. There is the faintest distortion in his form with its passing, but he seems virtually unfazed.
Well that won't do it.
"SASHA, FALL BACK!"
this
"El, what did you do?!" Sasha gasps in pain as her heart falters from Captain Kinkarian's touch. Without further urging, she turns tail and runs as fast as she can across the sandy beach, trying to reach a safe distance, clutching at her chest as she goes.
Still bent on vengeance, the ghost swipes at her again missing her only by inches.
, Kinkarian, Priyya, Sasha
MAP: G-The Brine Demon, (Round 04)
Gelik grows pale as he watches the scene below go from bad to worse. Seeing Sasha, drawing the spirit away from Lureene, he racks his mind, trying to think of some bit of lore about ghosts that might help.
That's it!
"THE BOX" he shouts, OPEN THE BOX!"
A GOD?? Haven't we dealt with enough Gods on this forsaken rock?
Lureene winces at Sasha's plaintive cry, and for a second fury clouds her mind.
I am gonna make him pay for hurting Sash like that!
She reaches down to pick up the coffer dropped, intending to hurl it against the brow of the sunken ship, Gelik's words reach her just in time. She carefully opens the coffer, while wondering what could be in there to be so valued to him.
Lureene grabs the coffer and attempts to open it but notices that it is locked. After fumbling with the lock to no avail, Panic for Sasha seizes her, lending her strength. Putting everything she has into it, Lureene strains against the lid and there is a pop as the clasp yields!
Ignoring the pain of the nail she just broke, she quickly looks inside and finds a number of objects: several a fat ledgers and journals, a well-wrought dagger, and a tiny locket hanging from a gold chain.
Lureene looks over the items briefly before she focuses on the locket. It reminds me of my own... she thinks, as her hand strays to her own locket.
Returning to the present, she pulls out the locket and holds it up in front of her and calls out to the ghost, "Captain, is this what you desire?"
Still obsessed with unleashing pain upon his tormentor, the ghostly captain drifts across the sand nearly catching up to the fleeing woman as his litany of profanities continues, "AND AFTER I KILL YOU, THOSE MUTINOUS SCOUNDRELS WHO PUT YOU UP TO THIS ARE NEXT, GIRL!"
However, when Lureene holds up the locket and speaks, Captain Kinkarian halts and turns his head. "The devil-winged angel?!" he exclaims, seemingly in awe. Slowly, he begins walking back towards her, his dripping form seeming to grow more substantial as he draws closer to the sea.
In a desperate tone, he mutters, bony hand outstretched, "If I can only see my Aeshamara one more time..."
Priyya grits her teeth, and holsters her bow even as she draws her scimitar and moves to interpose herself between Sasha and the ghost.
I hope she knows what she's doing for a change...
Behind her, Sasha keeps running until she grabs hold of the climbing rope and begins making her way back towards Gelik.
, Kinkarian, Priyya, Sasha
MAP: G-The Brine Demon, (Round 05)
Lureene swallows hard as she now has the ghosts full attention.
"Of course, Captain..." as she opens the locket so he can see the picture contained therein.
I hope this works...
Captain Kinkarian approaches slowly, his hand and hook shaking as he attempts to cradle the tiny effect. Lureene would swear that she could see tears of relief pouring from his empty, glowing eye sockets.
In a trembling voice, the ghost says, "Dear sweet Aeshamara... how I wished I could have made it back to give you and our little girl the life you deserved..."
As the captain's form begins to drip away, running back to the sea, he says softly to Lureene, "Angel... heaven or hell, I'm ready. Captain Avret thanks you."
With that, a pale blue glow suffuses the spirit and he disperses into the air. The only sign that he was ever there are the droplet of water on the sand from his tears.
When she is finally able to move again, Lureene looks into the open locket to find that it contains a tiny, incredibly detailed portrait of a beautiful, red-haired half-elf woman. A fancy script along the bottom edge reads "Aeshamara".
Lureene watches the ghost dissolve and flow out to the sea, his last words echoing in her heart.
Angel? I don't think so...at least not yet, anyway.
She sighs softly and takes the locket and returns it back to the coffer. she then packs the coffer away in her pack.
'Lis would like to know of this. Perhaps we could find this Aeshamara and let her know of her husband's fate. But that will be for another day.
Sending a mental message to Grak to meet up with the others, she launches herself airborne. Circling over the wreck one more time ensuring the ghost is truly gone she returns to the others, and embraces Sasha.
"I am sorry for scaring you like that, Sash! I did not expect him to react the way he did. Next time we run into a ghost, we are just going to let him be!"
"Oww," Sasha moans as Lureene hugs her, "Yeah, I'm right behind you on the ghost thing. Look what he did to me, I look like a wrinkled up old prune that got all sliced up! I thought my heart was going to quit on me..."
"Now, now, Sash, you're not all pruney, just where he hit you — still beautiful as ever. Although... it is a better look when you're soaked in someone else's blood," he says with a wink.
"Experience is one b1tch of a school-mistress."
Suddenly Lureene feels something hard brain her atop the crown of her head sending stars throughout her field of vision once more. When he turns around, she sees Priyya standing there holding her sheathed scimitar with a surprised look on her face.
"Don't tell me that hurt, I thought you were numb from the neck up!"
Before the dumb-founded succubus can reply, she feels Sasha shake in her arms. "Oww, oww, oww! Stop making me laugh you two! Uugh..."
Lureene shakes the stars out of her eyes (with some effort).
I suppose if I was her I would be upset as well, but at least we took care of that restless spirit. I would think she would be happy about that.
"Heh...yeah I learned my lesson. No more ghosts for me!"
I wonder if maybe she doesn't have just a smidgin of demonic blood in her, she seemed to enjoy that!
For the remainder of the night, Lureene's group encamps atop the cliffs overlooking the sea. While Priyya's healing is able to close Sasha's lacerations, it does nothing to reverse the supernatural aging she suffered. Not only does she remain quite weak from the injury to her heart, but the normally spunky ranger is also quite distraught by her shriveled left breast and the swath of wrinkly old skin from her right hip to her left shoulder.
While the exhausted red head rests, the rest of you discuss the situation and it is finally Gelik who presents a possible solution.
"I know she might not want to hear it but," the gnome reaches into his pack and takes out the carefully wrapped bundle containing Aycenia's fruit. "Both of you said that Alis seemed to grow taller. Lureene, your wings have obviously been strengthened by something, and Priyya you–"
The priestess casts a curious glance at the gnome at once both sharp yet amused. "And I...?"
"Hmm, well how to put this," he removes his hat and runs his fingers thru his short, blonde curls.
"Well let's just say, I think you've acquired some additional booty beyond what we pulled from Captain Quellig's stash."
As Priyya raises one white eyebrow and turns to check out her own tush, Gelik is quick to add, "Not a lot mind you, it's just when you happen to be waist high you tend to appreciate certain wonders."
When the cleric stands up and starts to approach, he quickly tries to amend, "Oh and there's a bit more bounce in your step elsewhere too if you," he holds his hands in front of his chest, "know what I mean. Ye gods I'm a dead man."
Even as Gelik cringes and covers his head with his hands, Priyya reaches down and picks up his fruit. Without a word, she walks calmly past him and approaches the tent where Sasha is resting. Just as she parts the tent flap and crouches to enter, she turns.
"What you lack in eloquence, you make up for in enthusiasm. Mind you," she smirks at Lureene, "some curves are more dangerous than others."
With that, she enters the tent and you can hear her whisper to Sasha, "Just so we're both clear on this, you are going to eat this and you are going to like it. No ifs, ands, or– well, no ifs or ands anyway."
Lureene watches the tent flap where Priyya is ensconced with Sasha, chewing absently on a lock of hair. Gelik, observing the beautiful succubus, notices that particular lock of hair is becoming quite frayed as of late.
After a moment she turn to the gnome, an anxious look on her face. "Gel...did I just take that ghost too lightly? I mean he sounded so...bereaved..."
Lureene's question catches Gelik in the middle of trying to coax a few drops from a pewter flask that is sadly quite empty. With a sigh and a shrug, the scholarly gnome places it back in his haversack and strokes his goatee thoughtfully. "He was most definitely bereaved, that's true. The problem is, tragedy, rage, betrayal... overpowering emotion is what gives birth to a ghost."
He reaches out and takes one of her hands in his, patting the back of it gently while meeting her bright blue eyes. "Your intentions were in the right place, dear heart, but there was really no way you could have known what would set off our recently departed apparition."
Hopping to his feet, he stands on the same level on which Lureene is seated and gives her a hug, cradling her curly blonde head against his shoulder. "You did the best you knew how, and now you've learned some knowledge that might better help you in the future. I'm not sure than any of the rest of us could have done any better. Sasha will be fine, don't worry your pretty golden head."
Lureene takes comfort in the gnomes embrace, trying to keep the tears from filling her eyes.
"Those are good words, Gel, but I fear they are little comfort when someone gets...hurt by my actions. I just wonder if it was worth the risk, I mean Sash could have died and it would have been my fault!"
"Well, it's dangerous business being stranded on a tropical island, it's true. However, I'm sure that old captain's soul thinks it was worth it."
Gelik gives Lureene a kiss on the forehead and stands by her, one arm around her shoulder so she can rest her head on his. "That's the risk of being a do-gooder though, you realize that right? Most people? Why they'd probably have steered clear just on general principle. Of course most people also don't traverse the planes, sip wine with princesses, and soar thru the sky without the aid of magic so we might be a bit short on data for what other winged, magically-gifted, young-adult beauties with hearts-of-gold might do in similar situations."
Lureene relaxes next to him, her wings curling around them both. "Awww...you are SOOooo sweet! I am doing the best I can, I just hope and pray it will be enough..."