Ace than casts detect magic to see what the surroundings is like.
The surroundings are devoid of magic (barring your allies there).
> Ace: Look through the spyglass
Ace sees a nice little cove off in the distance.
A pair of grindylows (the creatures from the ship) can be seen cavorting in the water, just having a grand ol' time, splashing about.
Upon closer inspection, one of the grindylows seems to be wearing a hat...one that looks suspiciously like the tricorne Sandra is always seen wearing.
"If only some sort of device that could shoot a metal projectile at a high velocity via an explosion which could kill enemies at range could be invented...."
"Let's get some rest."
It's getting on toward evening by now, so yeah it's a good time to rest up.
You can close the compound door and spend the night quite safely.
Nothing untoward happens in the night. Next morning, aaand what do?
Slickjaw checks through the telescope again.
A different set of grindylows is walking around down there, they appear to be coming from some sort of cave.
"I guess we should get a move on to that cave, allons-y"
"Since the cave is guarded , I suppose that would be where the master/king ginderlwhatchucallems lives"
"Yes. We go now."
"I'll take point."
"Almost forgot..."
Slickjaw checks out the lodge. Stealthily.
Inside is a sinle large chamber, crowded with furniture, most likely looted from a ship. A nice bed, a writing desk, cooking gear, etc., along with several barrels of food...by the smell of which are quite rotten.
Flies swarm all over the room, but especially around the center, where a hooded man hangs from the ceiling by a length of chain, gently swaying in the breeze from the outside.
On the writing desk lies what appears to be a journal, and various treasures littler the area, draped over furniture and such.
Ace pops his head up behind the goblin.
"Seriously now, what the hell is with all the bodies and flies, its like a plague"
Ace climbs back down, saying "If you want to catch some horrendous disease by going in that putrid dump, that's your problem."
You notice as you deliberate that the flies seem to be converging on each other, very slowly.
"Screw this I'm outta here"
[S]Ace: Abscond
Once at a far enough distance, Ace tries to identify if there is anything magical in the shack.
There appears to be a magical aura coming from the pocket of one of the outfits draped over a chair.
Ace calls up "Im detecting something magical in a coat pocket or something, over one of the chairs, could be dangerous, or not, I can see if someone brings it down."
Jrahk gives no f%@#s about the fly situation and marches right through the swarm to grab the outfit Ace was talking about.
Jrahk marches into the room, ignoring the gathering swarm to go after the coat.
He snatches it up and starts back when the corpse in the middle of the room begins to move!
With lightning quickness it wraps its legs around Jrahk's neck.
But rather than choking him, it uses Jrahk's body as leverage to reach up off the ground and grab the chain, freeing itself from the collar that holds the creature to the ceiling.
It drops to the ground, landing with catlike grace and grins at the group.
"Hello, people. Welcome to my humble abode." it says with a thick Chelish accent.
"It's been SO LONG SINCE I'VE EATEN!" it screams, and adopts a ready stance next to Jrahk as the swarm of flies begins to buzz ominously.
"I warned you about the flies bro!!! I told you dog!" shouts Ace as he climbs back up.
That orc was fine last time...
Slickjaw hurls a flask of Alchemist's Fire at the creature.
Creature
Ace
Slickjaw
Cyrdic
Flies
Jrahk
Jrahk begins to hack and cough from the stench surrounding the creature, becoming Sickened.
The creature licks its lips and lashes out at Jrahk with its claws.
Content that it's damaged Jrahk, it quickly sidesteps toward Slickjaw, snapping at him with its sharp teeth.
Ace lets loose with billowing flames to cleanse them.
Yelling at the creature, Slickjaw says "Wait! You can talk, you can damn well think!"
"I have a proposition for you. Y'see, I work on a pirate ship. If you kill us, well, you're stranded here. If you join us, you'll have a sustainable food supply - our enemies. In edition, I'm a scientist - I'd love to study you, potentially enhance you. Wouldn't mithril bones be sweet?"
"So damned hungry...haven't eaten in weeks..." he says, licking his lips again.
"I'll tell you what," he manages to say with supreme force of will "Bring me some fresh meat and maybe we can talk.".
He tries to adopt a non-threatening posture but begins shaking. He has to visibly hold himself back from attacking you again, repeatedly half-lunging forward and then stopping himself.
"I doubt you'll be able to convince my 'friends' though...I suppose I win either way." he says with a nasty grin.
"Deal. Jrahk, get up. Jrahk? Dammit."
Slickjaw administers a potion of cure moderate wounds to the beefy orc.