Looking over the body again, it is obvious that the last half orc is dead.
On the body of the wizard, Opal finds:
Potion of cure moderate wounds, scroll of knock, scroll of water breathing, wand of shield (19 charges), masterwork falchion, masterwork light crossbow with 10 bolts, cloak of resistance +2, rope of climbing, bicorne hat, periscope, watertight engraved bronze scroll case (worth 75 gp), spell component pouch, spyglass.
After defeating Vakarla, you all can easily see through the illusion cloaking the area. You also notice the shattered remains of two sunken ships in the shallows. Both wrecks are recent, sunk within the last couple of months. One of them is the lost Lady’s Sting. Both ships have been thoroughly broken up and picked clean.
It is fairly easy to backtrack using the wrecker's rowboat to their base.
The wreckers’ base contains cargo and supplies worth 6 points of plunder, primarily consisting of leather, spices, timber, and various ships’ equipment. The base also contains three longboats and a crude alchemist’s laboratory in one hut.
Bjorkus unearths Vakarla’s sea chest lies buried under a thin layer of sand beneath a bunk. The unlocked trunk holds a mithral dagger set with aquamarine gemstones worth 900 gp, a Shackles Ensign, 320 gp in mixed coins, and Vakarla’s spellbook. He also discovers a golden statue of a wasp wrapped in oilcloth and stuffed in an empty barrel— the Golden Vespal, stolen from the Lady’s Sting.
Shackles Ensign
Aura moderate enchantment; CL 10th
Slot none; Price 10,800 gp; Weight 3 lbs.
This red-and-black naval ensign displays the grinning skull and crossed manacles of the Shackles. While the flag feels as sleek as silk, the material is stronger than the toughest sail canvas. Openly flying a Shackles ensign improves the initial attitude of most hostile or unfriendly pirates by one step, and worsens the starting attitude of those opposed to piracy by one step. The ensign has no effect when not properly mounted on a ship. Once per day, a Shackles ensign can be hoisted and unfurled on a ship to impose a sinister sense of doom upon
an opposing ship’s crew. It takes two full-round actions to raise the flag. All non-pirate creatures (defined at the GM’s discretion) within 300 feet who are able to see the flag take a –1 penalty on attack rolls, weapon damage rolls, saving throws, and skill checks for 1 minute. This is a visual mindaffecting effect. In addition, all allied creatures aboard the ship flying the Shackles ensign gain a +1 luck bonus on attack rolls, weapon damage rolls, saving throws, and skill checks
for 1 minute.
CONSTRUCTION
Requirements Craft Wondrous Item, prayer; Cost 5,400 gp
The booty in tow, Bjorkus returns with the party back to the ships to see to the repairs.
When you get back to your respective ships, both crews tell you that it will be two days before you can move anywhere.
After the first day, you find yourself covered in more black fur and you seem to have sprouted tiny tusks. Though when you wake up on the second day, you find all the changes have reverted. You feel fine, with not even a speech impediment.
After the two days have passed, Bjorkus looks over the pairs.
”I’d say that’s good enough. We can finish cleaning things up when we’re in port. Let’s get back to Quent. I have a date that’s waiting for that golden statue.”
The minotaur snorts when he sees Kal again.
”You’re looking better. Maybe we won’t need the priestess’s help after all.”
For now...
Kal nods at the bull. "I feel fine... gave me a bit of a scare, but I guess my system finally kicked it... whatever it was. Perhaps we can use that portion of the bargain to get ourselves some other useful information."
"Perhaps. She should take another look at you anyway. Just to be certain."
Kal shrugs, but nods his acquiescence.
Not the full moon if that's what you're insinuating. I would never be that cliche. :)
"Are we ready to head back, then?"
"Are we ready to head back, then?"
Bjorkus nods and directs the crews to get moving.
You make your way back to the house of Stolen Kisses and request an audience with the lovely Gabrielle Maven. "So have delivered revenge on those foul wreckers? And did you get the Vespal back for me?" She saunters over to Bjorkus while putting a hand on his cheek.
Bjorkus rumbles with growing excitement and he presents the trinket.
"We ended the lot of them. The one in charge was some kind of witch that used magic to fool ships into wrecking themselves. You won't have anymore problems with them."
"Kal's looking better but I still think you should take a look at him."
"That is excellent news. I would be more than happy to look at your friend."
"Hhmm... Physically he seems fine. But there is something else there, you can see it in his eyes. But I do not know what it is. Where did you get this affliction from, again?"
Kal describes the spring east of town, and mentions the rumors surrounding it as well as the hungry boar he met on the way there.
"You didn't mention that part before", Bjorkus says with a grunt.
"You ever see something like this?"
Kal shrugs, a wry grin on his face. "It didn't seem significant at the time. Did you want me to tell you what I had for breakfast along the way as well? Because I don't remember..."
"That does sound familiar. I'll need some time to find the texts on it. Well it looks like a very powerful curse, though not a life threatening one. You should avoid immersing yourself in water for the time being."
"Anyway on to our agreement. One of the our patrons, a scrimshander in Drenchport named Jaymiss Keft, says he knows of a spy operating in the Shackles. He'd be your best bet for a lead, assuming he wasn't just blustering for one of my girls. While you're busy there, I should have enough time to figure out your friend's affliction."
Kal's eyes widen incredulously. "Avoid water?! Surely you jest. Water is my lifeblood..."
"And look where it's gotten you?" Gabrielle smirks. "On second thought, go right ahead. I'm sure your friends will be amused at the results."
The druid narrows his eyes dangerously at the woman. "And what results do you expect would obtain?"
"Like I said, I'm not completely sure so it would be foolish of me to say. But it isn't harmful or deadly if you were wondering."
"Fine, what do you suspect would happen? Why the suggestion of avoiding immersion, woman?"
"Because swimming in water got you this way so swimming in more water would make it worse. And would you really like to know what would happen? We can have a demonstration right here."
The young man mutters under his breath, glaring at Gabrielle. After a few moments, he turns and stalks out of the room.
Nothing happens, other than your leg having some water on it now.
Bjorkus snorts as Kal makes his departure and brushes up against the priestess again and a very unsubtle manner.
"Drenchport's a long ways a away. Tonight'll be your last chance to get a piece of this. Are you ready for another ride?" the bull rumbles.
"Oh of course I'm always ready. Now, the question is are you? Stage fright is only cute the first time."
Bjorkus pushes himself even harder the second time around and Gabrielle's cries can be heard even back at the ship that night.
======================
The long trip that turns out to be about 10 days is rather uneventful.
He eyes the ocean doubtfully, the pull of his heart warring with his wiser instincts.
As the sun sets, he finally turns from the ocean and makes his way back to the Sanbalot in port.
Bjorkus takes a moment during the post-coital bliss to plumb the priestess for more promised clues.
"What of the Brine's Banshee?" the bull rumbles. "You mentioned having information about its whereabouts."
***
"That was a quick trip", Bjorkus comments as he steps hoof on the docks.
"I did say I would tell you that." She says twirling her finger through his chest fur. "There's this retired ship’s doctor named Haneilius Fitch. He says he can find it, but he needs someone to bankroll his expedition. It might be a scam, but he's in the Port of Ollo if you were interested." She lifts up the sheets and smiles. "Speaking of interested..."
===============
The party sets foot in the damp and gloomy city of Drenchport on Tempest Cay. After asking around reveals that the gray-haired old half-elf spends most of his time by the fire in the Carvers’ Hall, a communal building where Drenchport’s scrimshanders work together on larger projects and sell their finished works.
On the seventh day of the journey, late in the night after everyone is asleep, Kal sneaks out of his bed. He stealthily creeps on deck, avoiding the watch, and silently slips into the ocean, summoning a water elemental to watch over him.
As you slip into the ocean, the change happens almost immediately. Being immersed in cold water destroys any chance of resistance. The elemental watches as you make your transformation. "I don't think that's a good form for swimming.." It says to you in Aquan. You try looking down at yourself but find your neck is too short for you to do that. You do however notice your tiny little black cloven hooves.
After learning about this Carver’s Hall, Bjorkus takes the captains and the officers that direction.
”On the way back we need to stop in Ollo. It’s out of the way but rumor has it that’s where the Brine’s Banshee might be.”
You feel meeker and thus not as strong a swimmer, but your innate sense of the water helps overcome that. You also find that you can't speak back to the elemental atleast not aquan, though you can mime your instructions easily enough. You can lifted out of the water and you do not change back.
Bjorkus leads the party into Carver's Hall. It seems more like a tavern where people happen to do work than a factory or other place of business. You see people ordering something called Black Kelp beer, and from the looks of it, its served warm. You notice the middle age half elf sitting in the corner.
Bjorkus orders a round of the favored drink and has it delivered to the elf’s table as the group approaches.
”Jaymiss is it?” the bull rumbles softly. ”We’re here to do business.”
You try to will yourself to change but find that you cannot. It seems like whatever it is that changed you into this form is keeping you in this form. At least for the time being. Perhaps if you tried changing out of the water..
"What kind of business? I don't suppose you wanted some scrimshaw done?"