Dragos pulls his crossbow out and fires the arrow.... which flies right between the eyes of the fey enemy! She screams in pain for just a moment before her eyes cross and her brain fails to function, slumping down into the water as it recedes from the shore.
PATHFINDERS WIN! VICTORY!.
Jenesara whoops for joy.
We got her! My herd is safe!
Jenesara dives down into the water and comes up soon with a Conch shell. She holds it out to Jack.
A deal is a deal. Sound this and a Hippocampi will come for each note you play... their good steads and will listen to your commands. So long as you have the horn, they'll come no matter how far away you are. That way you won't get stranded again!
as a standard action to activate any one of these functions:
• Calm rough waters in a 40-foot radius. This reduces the
DCs of Swim checks in the area by 5 (to a minimum
of 10). This effect lasts for 5 minutes.
• Summon up to six hippocampi. The creatures appear
with bit, bridle, and a riding saddle crafted for aquatic
use. They serve willingly and well, entering combat
and risking attack unflinchingly if a rider directs them
to do so (treat them as combat-trained mounts),
though they don’t make attacks of their own. These
hippocampi serve the PCs for up to 2 hours.
• Create a soothing effect in a 40-foot radius that affects
only animals and magical beasts with Intelligence
scores of 1 or 2 that also have the aquatic or
amphibious subtype. This otherwise functions as calm
animals (Will DC 12 negates).
The sounding of this magical horn can be heard by all
tritons within a 1-mile radius.
With their means of transportation secured, the team looks out over the waves... ready to go after the captain that left them behind, and the treasure of Redclaw.
SECTION COMPLETED! VICTORY!
Dragos releases a deep breath he didn't realize he was holding, fluttering his beard in the process. After a few moments to make sure the fey really is dead, he stows his crossbow, then pulls his whip out just to be sure he isn't empty handed.
In the end, it doesn't matter of course.
"Glad ta be of service ma'am." he smiles, though his eyes are on the conch shell, making it obvious that he wasn't really in this for charity.
"I hope that was just the start of me making up fer not telling you all sooner." he kicks the sand at his feet. "Whaddya say we blow this jesse and ride fer the magpie princess?"
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Setare is still not really sure they did the right thing.
"She ... she wasn't evil ... you know? Ki ... kind of hard to ... to fight a... all the time but no... not knowing if it was the ri... right thing to do." Setare says a little consternated.
"I... if I wouldn't have you ... I ... I trust you guys to ma... make the right decision ..." she says and looks at you all with a smile.
"Dragos, yes ... le... let us find the magpie and fi ... find out what is go... going on!"
Soon enough, the team takes to their hippocampi mounts and sets out over the waves, Socrates directing them towards Brightglass Island. With only half a day's travel on the fast water horses, they see the island begin to take shape.
The island shows no sign of recent civilization. A thin beach of yellow sand circles most of the island, except where steep gray crags jut from the sea. Bird songs echo constantly from the thick canopy that covers much of the island. The strangest feature is the black stone structure that rises from the water on the northeastern side, forming a jagged cliff whose surface and edges resemble a giant black coral reef.
The Magpie Princess is anchored near the largest beach on the island. A small rowboat is visible on the beach, dragged up to the edge of the jungle where a small trail leads into the vegetation.
I'm guessin' she's probably ashore at the moment. Probably doesn't trust her own crew with knowin' how to get tha' treasure. Should we pursue her directly, or talk to the crew first? I'm inclined to speak to the crew first.
Friends. Nyvorlas begins as he dismounts the hippocampi and runs a hand affectionately on its head. "Time is our allay. The good captain does not expect us here. If we can follow her to the treasure, we can have our reckoning first.
"The crew may be implicit in her deceptions, but I like to think the good lads and ladies we have sailed with these years would show a bit more loyalty to one of their own. I chalk their treason up to obeying captain's orders, however hard they must have been to swallow.
"Regardless, I shall need Moselle for whatever we are to undertake. Excuse me a moment."
"While I think talkin to tha crew would be good, t'wont help us get the treasure. They'll be on our side or not, but that won't be changin whether or not we chase the captain down. If we chase the captain and the treasure down, and return to the ship with the treasure in our hands, then the crew can join us or stay on the island here. Whatever goodwill ye've bought in yer time here will have an affect on that, as will the pile o' gold we bring. I'd rather chase the captain, and make the crew decide after we've brought her to the sea's justice."
Dragos looks down at his feet when he finishes, realizing he was complicit in this last part, and didn't see this coming as he should have.
After Nyvorlase summons Moselle, the team approaches the Magpie princess. As they draw closer, the harsh, bearded face of Horemheb looks out over the deck...
and breaks into a huge grin!
OY! FRIENDS COMIN ABOARD! THEY'RE BACK! THE BLASTED SCALLYWAGS ARE ALIVE!
You hear cries of "Alive? Oh by the gods they made it!" as the crew lowers down ladders for the team. Belina gives Socrates a kiss on the cheek, as Yamtisy and Anatoly give Jack bear hugs in turn. The doc lifts her spectacle3s and smiles at Dragos.
Glad to see you alive old timer.
Xosrov gives Nyvorlas a soft punch on the shoulder.
Ya just won me 20 silver! I told them you'd be back.
Horemheb nods his head.
Couldn't bloody understand the Captain's orders... leaving our own folks on that island like that. But she just busted out of the cabin, sayin we had to move and we'd come back once we got the treasure.
He shakes his head.
Then we get here, and she, Creed, and young Heartbreak head off into the woods with him piping some tune on the strangest pair of horns I've ever seen, looked kinda like the ones we've been collecting, all twisted together.
Dragos shakes his head with a chuckle at Setare's unflinching naivete.
"Good to see you too Doc." the old man smiles, pleased at the reception.
"Seems painfully obvious now that the cabin boy was here to play his part in getting the treasure all along, must have to play some sort of music to unlock what needs unlocking." Dragos muses.
"We're going to be following the captain ta get some answers. It's not gunta be a comfortable conversation." the old pirate adds. "How long did she tell ye she'd be gone?"
Horemheb looks out into the forest, his smile fading to a worried frown that seems more familiar on his face.
She said to giver her a few hours... that if she ran into to much trouble she'd come back for backup... but she's well overdue...
He looks at the team and shrugs with a stoic face.
And with our fixers gone, I wasn't about to send any of the crew after her if whatever is in there was good enough to best the captain.
Seeing the crew being fairly friendly, Jack stands in the back and seethes, saying little.
No need to make waves with these folks - they're friendly to us, but if they know their captain is as good as dead once I find her, they might be less friendly...
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Socraties notices Jack's difficult attitude and offers a few words.
Jack my boy, it would seem even the crew that The Captain kept with her believed that they would come back for us. Now we won't know the truth for sure until we catch up with them, but let there be some opening within you for her redemption.
Horemheb shakes his head.
No clue Ms. The Captain's the Captain. She gives orders, we do as she says... only way to stay alive on the open seas. But I'd be lying if I said it didn't concern me more than a bit to leave crew behind. But she promised she'd be back and I was gonna hold her to that promise.
As he speaks, a bird alights on the side of the boat, it's brilliant plumage colorful greens and reds.
BWAAAAK, Play ya tune, BWAAAAK!
Horemheb growls.
Damn annoying parrots.
He shakes his head.
Jaspin so he could play that ridiculous instrument I guess... Vancid cause the man is almost as dangerous as you lot and the Captain herself. He's good in a fight and resourceful.
The bird croaks in a perfect mimic of Horemheb.
[I]BWAAQAAK, Good in a fight and resourceful! BWAAAAK!
He scowls again.
Gods above I hate those things.
Horemheb raises an eyebrow.
Well... it ain't singing right now... but those blasted birds can sound like anything they've heard before.
BWAAAAK ANYTHING THEY'VE HEARD BEFORE BWAAAK!
He let's out a frustrated sigh.
The problem is getting them to say what you want them to say... or sing in this case.
As if just to annoy Horemheb, the bird open's it's beak and let's forth a discordant note... seemingly a deep melding of 3 notes. It's fairly unpleasant to hear actually. The sound causes Horemheb to jump, then he glares at the bird.
I'm going to give you to Cobb to boil you daft bird...
"Arrr ye daft bird, get on me shoulder! Ye look like ye belong there. I'll tell ye a story or three fer ya ta repeat and annoy Horemheb later." Dragos chuckles, trying to coax the parrot to perch on his shoulder. He quickly realizes that food is probably the best way to get what he wants, and offers a bit of dried fruit to lure the bird.
”Can we take the bird? Might need it to sing that song.”
Socrates... senses that the bird is a bird. It squakes at him.
BWAAAK might need it to sing the song BWAAAK!
Horemheb sighs.
Feel free, but good luck catching it.
Sarenrae smiles upon her paladin, as Setare whistles gently to the parrot. The parrot flies over, whistling back. The two whistle in chorus for a bit, before the parrot nuzzles Setare in the shoulder. As she handles it, she apparently scratches just the right spot.
BWWWWWAAAAAMP! As it let's forth the discordant note. A bird can't smile, but you suspect the bird is smiling as it settles into it's new perch on Setare's shoulder.
Horemheb scratches his head as the others laugh.
Leave it to the fixers!
The bird whistles.
BWAAAK! JUST FOR TODAY, BWAAAK!
The others shake their head and point off into the forest.
The captain went that way.
The team follows a path clearly cut by the captain as they head deeper into the island. A twenty-foot-tall stone monument rises above the brush in this small clearing. Soon enough, they come upon a small clearing. The monolith bears rows of weathered inscriptions. About thirty feet to the southeast, at the far end of the clearing, a large waterfall pours down from the cliffs above into a clear pool of water.
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Socraties is intrigued by this monolith. He will take a quick look to make sure the area is safe enough to take a closer look, then attempt to decipher the writing, while taking down a few sketches and notes of the monument for his own records.
If Socraties can't get a reasonably good idea of what the monolith says with his linguistics, he will pull out a scroll of comprehend language and cast it upon himself. (let me know if the linguistics does it or not so I know to expend the scroll or not)
This place used to be a cyclops outpost long ago. The inscription speaks of their march to victory and refers to this place as 'The Lighthouse of the Ghol-Gan
"See tha space there behind the waterfall? Three sets 'o tracks go behind it, we be on the right trail." Dragos confirms for the group, standing from his crouched position. He flips his coiled whip from hand to hand as he takes in the picturesque surroundings, keeping his ears keen to the sounds around them.
"The captain knows how good ye've been at being fixers, so it be smart ta assume she expects us ta follow. Keep yer eyes peeled for traps or ambushes." the besmaran disciple warns his companions before leading the way behind the waterfall.
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After conferring with Jack for his talents in the cyclops language and taking a few notes Socraties is satisfied with the monument and keeps in mind that cyclopi may have trapped the path ahead long ago.
Thank you for the assistance Jack, there are just so many languages in our world it is hard to know them all.
Dragos I believe you are correct my companion. Here let me help us may sure we don't lose these tracks. Socraties says as he pulls out a does of tracking powder laying it about in the area. It seems straight forward that they went to the cave, but this will help us if it branches or there are other troubles ahead to following them. Shall we head forth then?
As the team approaches the edge of the water, they can tell that the water is rough, and the water fall is poring down with force. While it doesn't seem to deep, it'd be easy enough to get pushed back by the water.
Dragos fishes through his pack briefly as they encounter the waterfall, pulling a potion of heroism from it, unstopping the cork and draining the contents.
He looks briefly at his potion of touch of the sea, but figures he can give the waterfall a go before using that up.
The force of the water, nearly pushes him under, and it is all Dragos can do to keep from losing his tricorn hat and drowning. He backs off, looking a bit sheepish. Shrugging his shoulders, the pirate tries again.
And comes up sputtering a second time.
"Oh well..." he chuckles, downing the potion and turning his hands and feet into webbed, swimming wonders.
Jack will pull a length of rope out of his pack, tie it off to a nearby tree.
After I make it through, ye lot can use this to help make it through if'n ye can't make it on yer own.
With that, he dives into the water, and will find a spot to tie it off on the other end if he can. Otherwise he will just hold it and brace as people use it to guide themselves through the falls.
Just before Dragos takes a quick pull on the potion bottle he sees Ol' Jack making it look easy. With a shrug and a smile, he puts the potion back and uses the rope, only losing his footing a couple times but holding on with the assistance.
"Nice work mate." he smiles and claps Jack on the shoulder.
Nyvolas is pulled through by jack and his wife follows sooon after him.
A cracked landing of laid stone spreads before a pair of great stone doors. Vines and other plants grow over much of the waterfall-soaked granite that forms the walls and ceiling of this hidden entrance. The doors, set about ten feet into the cliff face, are covered with runes and depictions of powerful one-eyed warriors and robed spellcasters fighting serpentfolk. Each side of the landing bears an alcove with a ten-foot-tall, chiseled humanoid statue with a single great eye, standing vigil. Piles of weeds and vines lie at the base of the doors and both statues, apparently recently cut or pulled from the rock. The floor of the stone landing is covered in mud and rocks. There are no visible windows or
other entrances other than the main doors.
[Spoiler=Linguistics DC 20]You are able to pick out the transcriptions of the notes among the rest of the chatter on the wall. You think you might be able to replicate it.... maybe.
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Hidden behind a waterfall, AND a special door opening mechanism. Very interesting, someone must be trying to keep some splendorous loot hidden.
Take 10
Realizing the need for his musical talent Socraties pulls out his Masterwork Violin and coats it with a does of his Oil of the Masters.
Roll+Normal+Masterwork Instrument+Alchemical.
The doors begin the rumble, slowly swinging inwards to allow the team passage.
The entry hall stands open. Its carved stone ceiling is twenty feet high. A cyclopean marble statue stands on the left side of the hall, and a pile of rubble lies opposite it. Just past the statue, shadows envelop the hallway in absolute darkness. The walls depict religious rituals performed by giants with a single eye in the center of their foreheads and battles
between the giantfolk and serpentlike humanoids.
The interior walls of the ruin bear runic carvings, an early written history of the cyclopean masters of the Ghol-Gan Empire. At a glance, the
writings detail the rise and fall of various chiefs and the establishment
of cyclops enclaves across the pre-Earthfall region that later became the Shackles. The carvings include scenes of ritual blood sacrifice and a great war against the serpentfolk and reveal that the temple/lighthouse served as a center of guidance and divination.
A stone monolith lies shattered in this diamond-shaped alcove, reduced to large chunks of rubble. The larger fragments resemble the pylon standing outside the waterfall, though they bear different inscriptions. The withered body of a giant lies face down amid the wreckage.
Here, the paths branch to the left and to the right.
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"So ... Socaraties, this was so ... so beatiful!!" Setare says with a big smile.
She looks at the parrot and then points at Socraties.
"You ca... can cut a slice of tha ... that artist!"
She looks at the figure and steps back.
"This is a Gholdako, an undead of cylopian make, a guardian left to protect areas of great importance."