Jade pirates

Game Master Dinuci

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Guild map | Jade regent

Here starts the tale of the Jade pirates...


F Human Fighter (Gunslinger)/4 (HP 32 | AC 14 | Str -1 | Dex +3 | Con +1 | Int +0 | Wis +2 | Cha +2 | Init:+3] | Speed 30)

Background:
Jade grew up in a small fishing town called Rayall, on the coast of Malyss. Her father, Ivan, was one of the town’s many fishermen and her mother, Julia, helped him sell the fish to people in other towns. Jade admired her father and often went fishing with him. Ivan taught his daughter much about the sea, fishing, and much more while they were on his boat. On one such day they spent together on the fishing boat, a ship sailing a black flag with three skulls and a crescent moon on it approached the town. Before the ship would spot them, Ivan sailed his boat as far away from the town as he could. He’d recognized the flag for what it was: a pirate flag.
Two days later Ivan and Jade carefully made their way back to the town, which they found razed. There were many corpses scattered in and near the razed buildings, but there wasn’t a single sign of Julia. Ivan and Jade eventually headed back to the boat and sailed west, to Bretona. The large city state was only a couple of days removed from their town and Ivan hoped his wife had fled there, because it was where her sister lived. Once they arrived in Bretona, they were shocked to see the very same pirate ship that attacked their town in the city’s port.

Ivan immediately headed to the authorities, but he was told the ship’s captain was a privateer named Baxter Morley and in the service of Lord-Mayor Haldmeer Grobaras. The city’s guards refused to take any action against Morley and his crew. In a fit of rage Ivan took matters into his own hands and went to the tavern where the privateer’s crew was spending part of their loot on drinks, demanding they’d tell him where his wife was. The men feigned ignorance and mocked Ivan, telling him that if they’d come across his wife they’d take good care of her for him. Ivan’s rage grew and, completely forgetting who he was up against, grabbed a chair and hit one of the men on his head. In the moment that followed Jade saw Morley rise from his seat and shoot the strong father she admired so much in his chest.

In all the commotion that ensued nobody paid attention to ten-year-old Jade. Before Morley saw it coming, his pistol was pulled from his hand and another shot could be heard. The tavern grew quiet as the privateer’s hand went to his face. The shot hadn’t killed him, but it had destroyed one of his eyes. Jade pulled the trigger again, but the pistol had no more bullets in it. Morley then hit Jade with his other hand, knocking her out.

Jade woke up aboard Morley’s ship, amid other captives. Despite the painful loss of her father and her own capture, Jade was filled with relief when she spotted her mother next to her. Julia wrapped an arm around her daughter and they both cried. It didn’t take the ship’s crew very long to realize that Julia was Jade’s mother, and so their happy reunion didn’t last long. Morley had heard that Jade had awoken and had ordered one of his men to bring her and Julia to his cabin. There he made Jade watch how her mother was beaten up, as punishment for the loss of his eye. Morley made the beating part of his daily routine.

One day Morley and his crew ported in Mag-Abyra. Morley had grown tired of beating up Julia and decided to sell both her and Jade as slaves. He found a minor noble, Harbin Alazar, who was interested in buying the two women. In the years that followed, Jade and Julia worked in the Alazar household as servants. Their lives were good compared to those of other slaves, which was mainly due to their pretty faces. The humans who weren’t as blessed as them all magically disappeared soon after their purchase. Yet as Jade became prettier with the years, Julia’s beauty slowly waned. What was more, old injuries from Morley's beatings gave Julia more and more trouble keeping up with her household chores.

Not long after Jade had reached the age of nineteen, she overheard Harbin and one of his relatives talk about replacing Julia with a younger maid. Julia was to have an accident and Jade shouldn’t learn about it, because they wanted to keep Jade around. Jade told her mother about the Alazars’ plan and together they made a plan of their own. That evening dinner was served with poison, and Jade and Julia escaped the Alazar mansion. They made their way to the port, where they hid aboard a ship that set sail next morning. It was only when they were already at sea that they did realize they’d accidentally boarded a slaver’s ship, headed toward distant shores to catch new slaves. If the ship’s crew would discover them aboard the ship, Jade and Julia would be in deep trouble.

The next day, however, the women’s luck took a turn for the best. An Aroulan warship approached that of the slavers, and due to the tide the slavers were unable to escape it. The slaver’s ship was boarded, the slavers killed, and the Aroulans didn’t take long to find Jade and Julia hidden on the lower deck of the slaver’s ship. The Aroulans’ captain, James Kirkwood, and his crew treated Jade and Julia well. They were allowed to use the captain’s cabin during the night, while he himself slept with his crew, and were given clean clothes and proper food.

As the ship made its way to Synéra, Jade helped the crew with whatever task she could. The many things her father once taught her on his fishing boat quickly earned her the trust of the crew, who taught her much more in the days they spent together. Meanwhile Julia found comfort in James’s presence, and the feelings were mutual. In the year that followed the women’s escape from Mag-Abyra and arrival in Synéra, Julia and James married.

Jade joined the Aroulan navy, determined to follow James’s example to fight against slavery. Due to her motivation and prior experience, Jade was quickly accepted by the crew aboard the warship where she was stationed. She rose through the ranks at an incredible speed and two years after her escape from Mag-Abyra, at age twenty-one, Jade became the right hand of captain Audrey Warden. All went well, until one day Audrey’s ship encountered a ship sailing a black flag with three skulls and a crescent moon on it.

In the battle that ensued between the two ships, Audrey was killed when a cannonball hit her ship and caused one of the masts to collapse on top of her. Morale plummeted on the Aroulan side, and even more so when Morley’s crew boarded their ship. Jade, now highest in command on the Aroulan vessel, led what was now her crew in the melee versus Morley’s men. It was a heated battle, but eventually Morley had his men retreat. Morley’s crew had suffered massive losses and the privateer realized he had to retreat. With one of its masts down the Aroulan ship was unable to pursue the enemy ship, but as the distance between the ships grew there was a moment when Jade and Morley locked eyes. Slowly, an expression that was a mixture of surprise and anger appeared on Morley’s face. Then, what seemed like a hint of fear or regret.

After the Aroulan ship had returned to Synéra news spread quickly and Jade was given a hero’s welcome at Fort Synéra, the headquarters of Admiral Harley Corby, head of the Aroulan navy and an elected member of the City Council. With her quick and coolheaded thinking, Jade had successfully assumed command of the ship in the captain’s absence and thus avoided the deaths of her fellow marines. Jade was promoted to captain and was to be given command of Audrey’s vessel and crew, as soon as the ship had been repaired and the crew had enjoyed some rest.

Jade requested permission to pursue Morley, but it was denied. Admiral Corby told her that actively pursuing Morley could lead to severe political friction with Bretona, and that the City Council wanted to avoid war with the large port city. Even though the Aroulan navy would not cooperate, Jade vowed to herself that she’d deal with Morley one way or another. He had to be brought to justice, and she’d make sure it’d happen.

In the weeks that followed Jade’s return to Synéra, she carefully asked around if there were fellow marines with sympathetic minds. Marines who wanted to fight for a good cause, but saw themselves restricted by the bureaucracy the navy imposed on them. The first person Jade approached was Emery Bray. Emery was the navigator on what was about to become Jade’s own ship, and they had become the best of friends over the past two years. She turned out to be sympathetic to Jade’s ideas, and together they decided to pursue Morley. Together they started recruiting other people in secret. Ex-marines, current marines, former slaves, sailors, and many more. It did, however, not take the navy long to find out.

Jade and Emery were summoned to Fort Synéra by Admiral Corby and informed that he had heard of their plans. Though he said that he regretted having to do it, he stripped both of them from their ranks for high treason and ordered them to be imprisoned till there would be a trial. Jade’s short lived crew was disbanded before it was even properly formed and both she and Emery ended up in Synéra’s prison. It was here that they met their next best friend.

Two days after Jade and Emery were imprisoned another prisoner was brought in. A half-elven woman about the same age as Jade and Emery, who introduced herself as “just Valda.” The women talked about the reasons why they’d been imprisoned. It turned out Valda had had a hard time earning food the proper way, eventually turning to theft to feed herself. Valda showed a lot of interest in Jade and Emery’s plan to take justice in their own hands, but didn’t really comment on it. Later that night, Jade woke when someone gave her a push. When Jade opened her eyes, Valda was standing next to her. The half-elf grinned and asked Jade if there was room for a petty thief among her crew, and Jade replied there most certainly was.

With the aid of some small tools Valda had managed to hide on her person, the three women were able to get to their gear. Through intimidation and reluctance from the guards, as those had heard the heroic stories about Jade, they escaped Synéra’s prison. The women made their way out of the city and traveled to Malyss on foot.

After a month or so they reached the city state Maxon. Though slavery was officially not condoned in Maxon, there was a black market for slaves. Jade and her friends went aboard a slavers’ ship and killed the slavers. Jade then gave the slaves aboard the ship a simple option: “You can get off wherever we stop, or you can continue to sail with me. For now, let’s just get out of Maxon!”

Before anyone else in the city was aware of what had happened, the small ship with the three women and former slaves had left Maxon’s harbor. They sailed to various places on the Malyssian coast, dropping off former slaves. Yet a portion of the former slaves stuck with Jade and her friends, becoming Jade’s crew. In the course of the months that followed, Jade and her crew became known as the Jade Pirates. They freed slaves by attacking Gyrdanian slavers’ ships and slave markets, and earned gold by selling said ships and the possessions of the slavers in neighboring countries.

Nearly a month ago Jade heard a rumor that Morley had recently returned to Bretona after a long voyage. Jade had constantly kept an ear and eye open for information about him, but thus far she’d never had the resources to face Morley in battle. However, Jade had recently traded her former slaver’s ship in for a proper pirate ship, with which she expected she could defeat Morley. Thus the Jade Pirates headed to Bretona, where they coincidentally arrived at the exact moment Morley’s ship left the port. In the battle that ensued, Jade’s ship came too close to Bretona and received fire from both Morley's ship and the city's fort. The ship sank, and most of the Jade Pirates with it. Those of the Jade Pirates who made it to shore, like Emery and Valda, were quickly captured by Bretona’s guards. Jade saw this happen and, unable to do anything against it, hid between the floating wreckage of her ship. When she finally got to shore Jade fled to the nearest town, Fort Willow, and stayed there until she had recovered.

Now, two weeks after her ship sank, Jade’s headed back to Bretona. She’s heard rumors that part of her crew, among which her two closest friends, are being held in Bretona’s prison. Jade’s determined to infiltrate the prison and escape with them.

Jade arrived in Bretona, having disguised herself to draw less suspicion. While in the city she learned her face wasn't really known to the people in the city, which was a relief.

Using her anonymity and the name Jay Wilson, Jade applied for a job at the Bretonan guard. Claiming experience in diplomatic affairs and paperwork, Jade was hired for an office job. While working for the Bretonan guard Jade was able to read their records. She learned her friends Emery and Valda were imprisoned in Bretona's prison, and on which floor and in which cell they were being kept. Sadly, there were no records of any other crew mates. Knowing most of her crew wasn't able to swim, Jade realized everyone else had probably drowned.

One day, on her way from 'work' to the inn where she stayed, Jade saw a man being beaten up in an alley. She came to his rescue, and tried to chase off the thugs who beat him. They wouldn't leave, claiming the man owed them money he'd borrowed for medicines. Using the wage she'd earned working for the guards, Jade paid off the man's debt.

The man's name turned out to be Brew. His mother had fallen ill and he'd been forced to borrow money from shady people in order to buy medicines, which ultimately didn't help her recover from her fatal illness. Jade and Brew spent some time talking in a nearby tavern before parting ways.

During her off hours Jade had made contact with an underground organization, which was trying to fight the government's corruption. She struck a deal with their boss, Henry Oval. Jade would be given a small sailboat to escape Bretona with her friends, if she'd agree to also free on of their own from the prison; a halfling named Devi Horner.

And so a crude plan formed in Jade's mind. The prison was situated next to the water, at the city's edge. There were docks, which were often used by the city's guards. She figured she could sail to the docks and enter the prison if tasked with something that required her to be there. She already knew where to go inside the prison to find her friends, and was also able to learn where Devi was being kept. If the situation would permit it, she even knew where to find the storage room where her friends' non-sunken possessions would be kept.

Jade approached one of her fellow guards, a half-orc named Karz. Jade had learned Karz's only reason to have joined the guards was that half-orcs were often discriminated against and being part of the guard ensured people couldn't harass him without repercussions. Karz didn't like Bretona at all, but he had nowhere else to go. Jade revealed to him who she truly was, and proposed to him to join her crew so he could help her create a better world. Longing for change, Karz agreed to join her.

The next day Karz was assigned to locate the whereabouts of a man named Jean Devilious, who performed satiric speeches all over the city to expose the corruption of the city's government. Jade saw an opportunity, and asked Karz to request assistance in the task. Jade stepped up, referring to the experience in diplomatic affairs she'd claimed previously and how she could be valuable in locating Jean.

Together, Jade and Karz learned when and where Jean would be giving his next speech. They followed him after his speech and cornered him. However, instead of arresting him, they struck a deal: to ridicule the government, Jean would let Jade and Karz publicly 'capture' him on a later date and escort him to the prison. There they would free Jade's two friends and the halfling, after which they'd escape.

Jade's plan had just become less crude. She would have a prisoner to deliver to the prison, which would allow her to enter. She also had the help of Karz, who'd been out in the field for some time and had been to the prison before. However, Jade wasn't fully content with her plan. She feared their escape would be too slow if her sailboat would be moored. That's when she remembered Brew.

During their conversation after Jade had rescued him, Brew had told Jade where he lived. She figured she could perhaps recruit him to her cause, seeing as he had told her he had nothing left in Bretona. Jade figured he could stay on the boat while she, Karz and Jean went inside the prison. The moment they'd exit the prison, Brew could detach the boat from the docks and raise the sails to allow them a faster escape.

It wasn't hard to find Brew, but it turned out he was completely wasted after he'd decided to drown his sorrows. After sobering him up by pushing him off the docks and into the water, and giving him some time to get rid of his headache, Jade proposed her plan to him. Brew agreed to help, though Jade would first have to teach him how to raise a sail. Thus the next day was mostly spent making minor repairs to the sailboat and teaching Brew how to raise a sail.

With her plan as ready as it could be, and not wanting to wait any longer after more than a month of planning, Jade set her plan in motion. She and Karz 'captured' Jean during one of his public speeches, causing a lot of discontent among the people in the crowd who supported Jean's ideas. They used a planned escape route to escape the angry mob that followed and made it to the docks, where Brew was already waiting on the sailboat Jade had been given. Together they sailed to the prison, where they moored the boat.

Now, Jade was about to enter and free her friends...


Guild map | Jade regent

Het eiland heeft een drawbridge en een kleine steiger aan de andere zijde, ik verander het laatste stukje iets. Jullie komen lopend aan en het schip ligt aan de steiger.

Brew at the dock:

Stealth Brew disadvantage: 1d20 ⇒ 10
Stealth Brew: 1d20 ⇒ 2

Brew stops the boat near the docks, bashing the boat against one of the wooden poles producing a loud crack.

After the crash Brew quickly tied the boat to the dock and grabbed a club, standing ready at the door to knock out any unwelcome visitors. After a minute or two a confused cook peers out of the supply door to see what happened. He nearly wets himself when the door suddenly opens and a person's head pokes out.

Atk: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (18) + 2 = 20
Dmg: 1d4 ⇒ 1

He brings down the club hard and fast but doesn't knock the cook out. The cook cries out, alarming nearby guards.
"HEEEEELP"

With the boat moored at the supply dock of the prison the plan is ready. Jade, Karz and Jean make their way over the drawbridge and into the prison. Once inside they are greeted by Bert, the lazy fat guard at the desk.
"Evening."
He nods, when he looks up a look of surprise crosses his face.
"Is... Is this Jean whatjacallhim? That's a good catch!"
He sits back down again and grabs his ledger, trying to find a certain page.
"Political prisoners, ah yes. He needs to be placed on the top floor, seaside. So that's the fourth floor, a few rooms should be available. The guard on the floor has the keys to the rooms, ask him what room he wants this fellow in. Any belongings he has should be placed in the storage in the cellar, I have the keys for that room. You know the way right?"
He ushers you on towards the door to the prison cells.

Perception Jade: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 = 8
Perception Jean: 1d20 ⇒ 14
Perception Karz: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (16) + 2 = 18
Perception Bert: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (10) + 1 = 11

When about to enter Karz suddenly looks to the door to the side, where the stairs to the cellar are. When he sees no one else respond to the sound he quickly opens the door op ushers Jean forward, closing the door behind Jade. In a whisper he says.
"I heard one of the cooks yell for help. Bert didn't hear him, so the sleeping shift shouldn't be able to either. What do we do?"

Jouw vrienden zitten op de first floor, (een verdieping boven je) en diegene die je moet redden voor de deal zit op de third floor. (in engels om verwarring te voorkomen, met ground level en first floor s&!@.) In de kelder zit de opslag van ingenomen goederen en de keuken met de uitgang naar de steiger waar Brew op je wacht.


F Human Fighter (Gunslinger)/4 (HP 32 | AC 14 | Str -1 | Dex +3 | Con +1 | Int +0 | Wis +2 | Cha +2 | Init:+3] | Speed 30)

"Where's the kitchen? I'll go 'help' him," Jade responds. "We can't have him blowing our escape route. You stay here with Jean, move toward the storage room and take your sweet time not removing Jean's gear."

Stealth: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (15) + 3 = 18

Jade opens the cellar door with as little noise as possible and, using Karz's directions, quietly moves toward the kitchen. As soon as she feels she's put enough distance between Bert and herself, she quickens her pace.


Guild map | Jade regent

Karz motions to take stairs down to the left. In front of you is a small guard room and to the right a hallway leading to the cells.

You both move downstairs towards the kitchen and the storage.
"Well, let's get your stuff in storage shall we Jean, you won't be needing it anytime soon."
Karz says as he motions to the left towards the kitchen. He turns to the right into a small hallway leading to the storage.

Once you enter the kitchen area you see the cook, who is bleeding from his scalp, back away from the door and a bewildered Brew in the doorway. He holds a club in his hand with a dark red spot on it.

Perception cook: 1d20 ⇒ 17

The cook doesn't seem to notice you as he backs away from the door. As he backs away he grabs a large knife from the nearby table.
"The guards will be here any minute... You will not leave this place..."


F Human Fighter (Gunslinger)/4 (HP 32 | AC 14 | Str -1 | Dex +3 | Con +1 | Int +0 | Wis +2 | Cha +2 | Init:+3] | Speed 30)

Bullying Shot: You can expend 1 grit point while making an Intimidation check to gain advantage on the roll.

Intimidation: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (9) + 4 = 13
Intimidation: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (12) + 4 = 16 <---

Jade closes the kitchen door behind her as she draws her pistol and aims it at the cook's face.

Deception: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (20) + 2 = 22

"There's not going to be any help. The guards are dead. You either surrender now and live, or you also die. Don't be a fool."

Yikes, that did sound even crueler than I expected...


Guild map | Jade regent

Hearing Jade, the cook drops his hand and slowly turns around. He looks terrified and puts his hands up. Brew quickly grabs some rope and ties the man up and puts a piece of cloth in his mouth to stop him from screaming.
"Well... That could've gone better... He creamed bloody murder when I tried to knock him out!"
He peers at the door and sees Karz and Jean moving to the storage to retrieve the gear and breathes a sigh of relief.
"Someone outside might've heard him. You better hurry and get this all over with before we really have to kill everyone in the whole prison..."
Karz unlocks the door to the storage and goes in with Jean.

Wat ga jij nu doen? Opties die ik zie zijn Karz en Jean helpen met spullen zoeken, naar boven om je vrienden te redden, wachten op de gang voor Karz en Jean tot ze alles hebben. Iets anders kan natuurlijk ook altijd :P


F Human Fighter (Gunslinger)/4 (HP 32 | AC 14 | Str -1 | Dex +3 | Con +1 | Int +0 | Wis +2 | Cha +2 | Init:+3] | Speed 30)

Stealth: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (17) + 3 = 20

Jade nods at Brew, puts away her pistol, and turns around to move back to Karz and Jean. Quietly and carefully, just to be sure no one sees her leave the kitchen.

"Karz, why don't you go ahead and ask the keys of the guard on the first floor?" Jade suggests. "I'll search the storage room with Jean, considering I know what to look for."

"The guard shouldn't be aware of the floor you're supposed to be at. Just tell him you have a prisoner, and you need to know which cell's empty. If he asks; your mate's in the storage with the prisoner and will be right up, okay?"

Jade then gets to searching her friends' belongings, also describing what she's looking for to Jean. "The musket's the most valuable object and should stand out. Maybe the rest of their gear's lumped in the same corner... some daggers, thieves' tools, armor, and of course their normal clothes."

Advantage, omdat ik weet waar ik naar op zoek ben en een musket nogal opvalt?

Investigation: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (6) + 0 = 6
Investigation: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (10) + 0 = 10


Guild map | Jade regent

Karz moves away, up the stairs and vanishes from sight.

You head into the storage room and are met with rows upon rows of shelves with labelled boxes in them. Giving the room a quick tour you don't find the gear standing around. It takes you the good part of a minute to find the names you are looking for and you come to the discovery that the box the musket must be in is locked... Valda's gear however is easily retrieved.

Ik doe de rolls voor Karz offline, anders weet je precies wat er boven allemaal gebeurd :P


Guild map | Jade regent

Jade soon finds the right boxes and loots the one of Valda, giving the one of Emery to Brew. Once finished with the items Jade and Jean move up the stairs towards Karz. At the top of the stairs they discover that Karz is unconscious and locked in a cell. Jade, having no other idea, threatens the guards present and puts them into the cell where Karz was. Afterwards they quickly free Valda and Emery.

When they are being freed a man in one of the cells suddenly speaks up, his name is Henry and he asks to be freed and in turn he will join the gang. Jade leaves him for now and sends Emery, Valda, Jean and Karz downstairs whilst she heads up to free the last prisoner and Henry. After killing one more guard she goes into a chase with another one. The last guards wakes the platoon waiting in the sleeping quarter whilst Jade and her crew make a quick escape but not before another crewmember, Brew, is downed.

The whole crew makes their way to Fort willow in their leaky ship. They collect a few necessary items they quickly move on to the next town following Henry's directions. In the town they steal a big boat from the nobleman's son whose father was killed by Henry. The plan doesn't go as planned but they eventually leave the town with nearly two dozen people on the boat.


Guild map | Jade regent

Continuing on the river Jade and her crew soon come upon Runeigh. Runeigh is a small village, if you can even call it that, that marks the last stop before the swamp. She gives a speech to the slaves, giving them the choice to leave or join her crew. They are free folk now but they have a choice to fight back.

Als je je speech nog wil doen mag dat :)

Most of the slaves leave, having family somewhere or wanting a simple life. 5 of them decide to stay, 1 of the maids and 4 of the workers. You bid everyone else farewell and are ready to continue on to the next stop, the pirate village. Henry speaks up before you head out.
"This is going to be a dangerous journey. The rivers change, as I've been told, and it has been some time since I've been there. You never know what'll be under the water. Might want to have someone on the bow as a lookout, so we don't crash into something unawares."
He glances towards the swamp and continues his talk.
"I've also seen weird and dangerous creatures in the swamp, most won't attack unprovoked. But if they're hungry..."
Henry shudders.
"Last time we took the journey it took about 4 days, seeing we're moving upriver for quite a bit it should be about 5."

Wat is je plan/wat ga je doen?


F Human Fighter (Gunslinger)/4 (HP 32 | AC 14 | Str -1 | Dex +3 | Con +1 | Int +0 | Wis +2 | Cha +2 | Init:+3] | Speed 30)

Having escaped from the town of Dring with a stolen vessel and two dozen freed slaves, Jade and her companions follow the river upstream. In her mind Jade can already hear the words of her often repeated speech to freed slaves, but for now she allows them a moment of respite. There's little rest for Jade though, as she keeps a constant watch at their rear to see if they're being followed.

When the town of Runeigh comes into view, Jade calls everyone to attention and delivers her speech:

"My name's Jade Keane, leader of the Jade Pirates. Like you, I used to be a slave. Captured like an animal, and sold off to the highest bidder. I wasn't a person. I was an object. A tool to be used, and discarded once dulled.

But I did not become dull. I became sharper with every passing day, until I was sharp enough to cut loose and free myself. Glad to leave behind the terrible life I'd escaped, I started a new life. A good life, surrounded by kinder people. Yet this life wasn't for me...

There are those who deem themselves better than their fellow man. Those who think themselves superior and would enslave others to do their bidding. I can't let this happen. I won't stand for it. And so I vowed to put an end to slavery.

I freed you with the intention to let you choose your own paths in life. To offer you the same options any other free man or woman has. Some of you will have a family to return to. Some of you will have dreams to fulfill. Others may just want to find a quiet place to settle down. It's all up to you.

My task is hard. Impossible, some would say. Yet for those who wish to fight for justice, and are willing to stake their own lives against the freedom of their brothers and sisters, there's a place aboard this ship.

We're approaching the town of Runeigh. You can see it ahead of us. We will make a stop there, and it is there that I have to ask you to make your choice. For the marshes beyond Runeigh are filled with dangers, as is the place we're headed. Anyone who wants to leave, should leave before we enter the marshes.

Do not feel forced to come along in an effort to repay us. Go live your own lives, be it with us or elsewhere. You all deserve to choose your own futures."

As the boat moors a brief distance from Runeigh, Jade approaches Emery and Valda: "Help me inspect the boat and question those who were doing maintenance on it. We stole a bunch of tar along with it, and I want to know if there's any unfinished work."

Investigation: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (10) + 0 = 10

Niet zeker of dit nodig is, maar ik gooi het er ook maar bij:
Persuasion: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (7) + 4 = 11

--- Later ---

With everyone having made their choice, Jade says farewell to the people who've decided to leave. She then walks up to the four men and the woman who decided to stay.

"Thank you for opting to stay," Jade says with a kind smile. "What are your names?"

After introductions have been made, Jade talks some more with the new recruits while trying to find out if they have any useful skills.

Aangezien het nieuwe mensen zijn:
Persuasion, Man 1: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (8) + 4 = 12
Persuasion, Man 2: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (19) + 4 = 23
Persuasion, Man 3: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (15) + 4 = 19
Persuasion, Man 4: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (13) + 4 = 17
Persuasion, Woman: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (12) + 4 = 16

Ik wacht even af wat er allemaal naar voren komt, voordat ik post hoe en wat met het moeras.


Guild map | Jade regent

The slaves tell you what they did before they were captured, all simple people. The first one calls himself Ben, he was a farmer and is middle-aged. He looks fairly strong. The second one is Ford, he has the same build and job as Ben, same as the third one, Josh.

Next in line is Paul, he tells you he knows something about boats, though not ones as big as this one, and that he was a fisherman. He tells you that he is willing to learn how to sail on a bigger ship and that he could provide some food for the people on board. He could make an excellent deck-hand with room to grow.

The last one, one of the girls who stayed, is Marny. She has a fair face and is still very young (14). She tells you that her family was killed during one of the raids and that she has no one left. The only job she has ever had is as a maid. She does know how to mend clothes and such however, she thinks that may be useful.

Zijn gewoon een beetje standaard mensen. Heb er een beetje flair ingestopt om ze in de crew te kunnen krijgen. Dit zijn echt crew members, geen vast deel van je crew zoals Brew, Karz, Henry, Valda en Emery.

Whilst you are busy talking with the new members of your crew Valda and Emery are talking with Henry to get the boat in top condition again.
"Well, as I see it they did a pretty good job."
Henry says.
"A few loose boards on the deck that have to be nailed down and the stern of the ship needs another coating of tar."
He peers over the side and nods.
"Side looks rood, the rudder needs some small repairs. That should be about it. The stern needs a coat of tar and the boards and rudder need to be fixed. I'll need a good carpenter kit for the last two jobs."
Valda suddenly speaks up from the hold.
"Found one! Seems they were already working on the boards, carpenter kit, nails and boards are down here."
She lifts the items up and Henry places them on the deck.
"I think all in all a day's worth of work."
The group starts their work, ordering the crew around and within no time everyone seems busy.

Emery is commandeering a few people about to get the stern tarred up.
Valda is working on the loose boards with Karz and Brew.
Henry is busy with the rudder with the remaining crew.

Je zit hier vast voor ongeveer een dag om het schip in tip-top conditie te krijgen. Als jij voor de dag erna de crew-layout bepaalt en wat jij verder nog doet in die tijd dan gaan we vanaf dat punt verder.


F Human Fighter (Gunslinger)/4 (HP 32 | AC 14 | Str -1 | Dex +3 | Con +1 | Int +0 | Wis +2 | Cha +2 | Init:+3] | Speed 30)

Jade spends the day talking to her small crew, forging bonds as she gets to know the new members.

The next day she tells everyone which positions to take: "Karz and Henry, I want you to watch the rear and man the ballistas in case they're needed. Valda and Brew, come to the front with me and help me keep watch of what's ahead. Everyone else, stay away from the sides and keep your eyes open."

She doesn't tell Emery what to do; her navigator's already at the helm.


Guild map | Jade regent

Vaar je dag en nacht?

Everyone takes their post and you set sail, upriver into the swamps. The air soon becomes stale, the water murky brown and a smell of rot fills your nose. Your surroundings seem to grow quiet, a stark contrast to the grasslands that you just left.

Water sometimes seems to move on its own, against the flow, and trees almost seem like they shift. As time goes by the deck grows eerily quiet as everyone peers around nervously. Suddenly Valda cries out and points a a large green log. Everyone jumps at the sound and rushes forward to see what's happening. A head pokes out of the water and reveals a huge crocodile. Several people jump back at the sight, not ready to risk their life.

The big creature moves to the side of the ship and swims past, completely ignoring you. For the rest of the day everyone seems extra alert. Eventually night begins to fall without anything of note happening.

Ga je door? Zo ja hoe verlicht je om je heen? Anker je voor de nacht, zo ja ga je aan wal en wie houdt er evt wacht. Maak je een fikkie voor warmte/licht? (is niet heel warm op het moment) enz enz enz


F Human Fighter (Gunslinger)/4 (HP 32 | AC 14 | Str -1 | Dex +3 | Con +1 | Int +0 | Wis +2 | Cha +2 | Init:+3] | Speed 30)

Vorige keer:

In the morning there's an encounter with will-o-the-wisps, which nearly lure Valda and Brew into the swamps. Jade and her crew manage to flee after pinning their hypnotized allies down, and they reach the pirates' den later that day.

While getting her bearings around town Jade runs into a man named Bart, who offers her a job. She accepts the job, which is to locate and find out what happened to a ship that went upriver. Jade and her crew make the necessary preparations and head upstream, where they eventually reach the mountains and a small lake with a waterfall. The lake's surrounded by ancient buildings reminiscent of a lost elven culture, and there are more buildings inside the face of the mountain.

The ship Jade was looking for is located easily, its mast protruding from the water's surface. Closer inspection reveals it sank after being hit by a large boulder, and it doesn't take long before a troll emerges from beyond the waterfall. Battle ensues, and the troll falls. Having witnessed its regenerative ability, Jade makes sure the troll's turned into a pile of minced meat that'll never rise again.

Jade recovers the sunken ship's flag, so she can show Bart some kind of proof of the ship's fate. She's unable to recover Bart's money from the hold, but does manage to secure two small cannons for her own ship. Jade then explores the troll's cave, beyond the waterfall. She frees a pixie the troll had captured, and has a confusing moment as the little creature speaks to her in a jittering language and abruptly vanishes. Continuing the exploration of the ship, Jade finds some coins and a very beautiful elven short sword.

Having returned to the pirates' den, Jade reports to Bart. She leaves out some details while talking to Bart, not mentioning the sword, the pixie and the troll. He notices Jade's not telling everything so Jade ends up telling about the troll after all, informing him she left that part out due to how incredulous it sounds. Bart's seemingly still not entirely convinced she's told him everything, but pays Jade anyway and they part ways.


F Human Fighter (Gunslinger)/4 (HP 32 | AC 14 | Str -1 | Dex +3 | Con +1 | Int +0 | Wis +2 | Cha +2 | Init:+3] | Speed 30)

Deze keer:

The next day Jade goes shopping. She's pulled aside by a man when she leaves a shop and asked what happened to his crew. When she figures out which crew he means, Jade tells him the ship's sunk and she didn't see any survivors.

Jade buys some fishing gear for one of her crew members at All the Wares. When she leaves All's shop she faces some guards, who escort her to the office of Captain McDude. The man who pulled her aside is also there, and accuses Jade of having sunk his ship. Jade does a godawful job explaining what happened while the man's a very convincing liar, but McDude notices a major fallacy in the man's reasoning and tells him to get lost.

Captain McDude tells Jade he has a job for her, and if she succeeds all charges against her will be dropped. Figuring she has little choice, unless she wants to burn yet another bridge she's crossed, Jade decides to ask what the job entails. When she hears the job involves taking out the captain of a slave ship she's quite eager to accept.

Jade learns the slave ship's named the Nivea and decided she wants to own it. Figuring here might be a need for black powder, either for her cannons or to create a distraction, Jade strikes a deal with All.

Jade sets out to meet the slaver's ship, forming several plans along the way. The way she ends up encountering the enemy ship, half a kilometer out of the coast, scraps plans A and B. Plans C, D, E and F are formed, but most end up getting scrapped as well. She's invited aboard the slaver's ship after making their captain believe she's headed in the same direction. Meanwhile Valda's manages to climb onto the enemy ship without being noticed, which is the only part of all of Jade's plans that's actually succeeded thus far.

Jade and the captain play a game of dice for some time, and Jade eventually figures she has no idea how to approach the situation. She leaves the captain's quarters with an excuse, yells really loudly as she pretends to fall, giving all of her own crew the signal to attack. After a messy fight the enemy captain falls and Jade intimidates everyone into submission, once more confirming intimidation's more up her alley than negotiating.

Ben meanwhile has the time of his life, nearly facing a second near-death experience as he barely manages to avoid the two ships from colliding after having nearly been cut in half during the fight.

The slaves are freed, some opting to stay with Jade. Of the enemy ship's original crew the boatswain's requited into Jade's crew. Jade finds some maps in the captain's quarters that reveal details about two sister ships, as well as The Nivea's deed of ownership.

The enemy guards and some of their crew's dropped off at the pirates' den's recruitment office, and Jade goes to report to Captain McDude. McDude seems pleased with the results and takes half of the loot from The Nivea. Jade then visits All to conclude their deal, returning his dubious quality black powder to him.


F Human Fighter (Gunslinger)/4 (HP 32 | AC 14 | Str -1 | Dex +3 | Con +1 | Int +0 | Wis +2 | Cha +2 | Init:+3] | Speed 30)

To do list:
- Change the name on The Nivea's deed of ownership
- Drop off the 9 original crew members of The Nivea some place safe
- Buy a spyglass
- Fix Emery's musket
- Salvage more cannons from the sunken ship and maybe recover the other loot inside
- Fix (all) cannons to The Nivea
- Sell the pinnace
- Get black powder and ammunition for The Nivea
- Chase down the 2 sister slave ships of The Nivea
- Maybe change The Nivea's name some place in an official port, also getting an entirely new and original deed of ownership in the process


F Human Fighter (Gunslinger)/4 (HP 32 | AC 14 | Str -1 | Dex +3 | Con +1 | Int +0 | Wis +2 | Cha +2 | Init:+3] | Speed 30)

Finn changed the name on The Nivea's deed of ownership to Jade Elizabeth Keane. The small cannons were fixed to The Nivea, and the pinnace was sold to Harmen McDude.

Jade dropped off the 9 original crew members of The Nivea in the town of Hallast. Her own crew has received some sailor training, lessons in Common, and has reached a basic understanding of how to hold a sword without dropping it or cutting oneself.

A spyglass and compass were purchased, and Emery's musket repaired. Basic equipment for the crew was also purchased, along with some ammunition for cannons. Orders were placed for more cannons and ammunition.

To do list:
- Salvage more cannons from the sunken ship and maybe recover the other loot inside
- Train new crew to sail (and fight)
- Pick up the ordered cannons and ammunition for The Nivea
- Purchase black powder
- Purchase materials to repair The Nivea in case it's damaged
- Chase down the 2 sister slave ships of The Nivea
- Change The Nivea's name

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