Walking into the sailors galley (section 9, on map) the group sees pots and pans litter the floor, along with the foul reek of food, and vomit. cups and plates also litter the floor along with the two main tables overturned you see that two sailors appear to have been crushed with the ship went aground. you know that the ship had a private galley for paid guests that doubled as their common room. (section 10 on map) and behind them were the first and seconds mates quarters. (12a and b)
Nali covers her snout. "ugh, what a sight. Strange that they were here. It means no 'all hands on deck' was called, nor any alarm. Or they were too lazy or too drunk to care...
They might have a dagger or so, and I'll check under the table to see if it holds more than cheat cards. The cook might have something stowed away, here, but it's probably not much. Same goes for the next room. However, the room for the paying clients should be interesting, and the mate's quarters might hold that key you're looking for...
We've spent about a quarter hour on this wreck, so far, let's make sure we no more than double it. As Thraxis said, we probably want to spend some time on the submerged hold"
Nali obviously knows her way around looting a ship, and her confidence in this familiar situation makes her unconsciously take charge.
Henris shakes his head. "Captain Kovack was far too disciplined to allow any crew to be so lazy or drunk they wouldn't come for an alarm. These two being here means there was no alarm - or they were incapacitated by the same poison that got us. Which means we ingested the poison before any attack occurred, if one did."
"Correct me if I am mistaken, but sailors do not usually become seasick. The presence of vomit implies to me that they were also victims of poison."
Thraxis investigates the food preparation area for the crew for any signs of tampering.
hmm... Yes, maybe it was this food
Nali sniffs the food.
Almon covers his nose at the fowl stench in the galley, but bends down and also examines the remnants of the meal carefully.
When he can't take the smell any more, he quickly exits, giving a brief glance around as he does so.
@henris- among the mess you find your Trident, you can assume it was dropped.
@nali- You can detect the food was tainted but not what type of poison.
@Almod- you see nothing unusual.
@thraxis- you see nothing unusual.
"Ha!" Henris says, pulling something from under a table and holding up his trident. "I hoped I hadn't lost this. We should move on to the next room and see what else we can find."
Roland nods, his face drawn tight in an expression of disgust.
Nali comments: "There is definitely something off with this food, poison wise. Just can't say what. I'll give a bit to my fellow alchemist, who just fled the scene."
She grabs a spoon, puts some food in an empty mug, and brings the mug outside to Almon.
"Here, you can take a look at it without the rank stench putting you off. I wouldn't mind assisting you with any alchemical research back at the camp. Rejoin us when you're ready?"
She leaves Almon with a friendly pat, which, because of their height difference is quite close to his behind.
Then she returns and responds to Henris: "Yes, let's go."
As you make your way into the private sitting room, you see that furniture hand been overturned and food has also been splashed on the floor. there is no sign of any bodies.
the other door leads into the kitchen.
Henris searches for any signs of any evidence of what happened in the private sitting room.
While Henris is searching through the sitting room Roland pokes his head into the kitchen.
"Ah, thank you. I'm afraid it was a bit overwhelming." Almon takes the mug and examines it, but is unable to find anything more than Nali could.
Almon heads into the sitting room and examines it with the others.
Searching the sitting room you find several nice plates and silverware. You also find Art tools and several well worn and used books. (some might recognize the books or have already started them depending on your character, I'm telling Almond because he is most likely, but everyone knows the same.)
@Almond- you recognize two of the books, The theory of the Eye by Firan Black, and Jungles by Daylight, by Verus Naidle. the first is about the Eye, the second is about dangers of the jungle.
@roland- Looking inside the Kitchen you see it is a mess with the large cooking caldron turned over. in addition you see the body of Ramblar the Cook of the ship. dead with his throat slit., half hanging out a bottom cabinet.
"Here's something that might be useful." Almon says, holding up "Jungles by Daylight". We should take these other books and paints too. "We don't know how long we'll be stranded, so they'll alleviate the boredom if we're lucky enough to get some. "
"Oh gosh... Uh guys, you ought to take a look in here. I know the cook's food was bad, but he didn't deserve this..."
Henris nods, although he's a little disappointed he was unable to find his copy of Hymns to the Winds and the Waves. At Roland's call, he pokes his head in and, seeing Ramblar, says, "This makes no sense. In some instances, we see clear signs of violence done. In others, there is no sign of violence. What could have happened? And where is Captain Kovack's and First Mate Devers' bodies? Captain Kovack would never abandon the Jenivere, not until everyone had evacuated. The first mate is no different. There was also another passenger - Iaena. We haven't found her, yet. What could have happened?"
Nali seems disturbingly nonplussed by the violence, although she sometimes responds negatively to the smells a little.
"Seems like a pretty well orchestrated assault to me. Wonder who or what the real target was"
Thraxis looks at the grim sight. "So, was he killed because he poisoned the crew, to get him out of the way so someone else could poison the crew, or to stop him from talking about the poison."
He thought for a moment "Does anyone remember who served the last meal? Was it the cook himself?"
As Henris speculates about the captain, Thraxis has his own theory to add "If the captain wasn't killed in the fighting and thrown overboard, then maybe the ship ran aground during the fight. The captain overcame the mutineers and ordered an abandon ship to the survivors. It would explain why an effort was made to save us as we were still his passengers and responsibility.
There was a storm raging at the time it is also possible that there was a mishap during the evacuation since none of us woke up in a lifeboat even though some recall being placed in one. If the skiff capsized maybe they were washed to sea or are now on some other part of the island. We will need to comb the beach in the next day or two to see if we can find other survivors."
Roland nods as Thraxis finishes speaking, "I don't know if we'll ever know what really happened, but that last part you said, about combing the beach and looking for others, that's good sense." Then he turns back to the kitchen and drags the cooks body from the cupboard and lays him down on the floor. He thne proceeds to search through the room for anything useful that can easily be carried away.
When Roland grabs the body to move it, you see the creature eyes open up and attacks.
Surprise
Group initiative
Creature int
The creature goes first, it stands up his first round (Roland no AoO due to you not going yet), you see the creatures mouth moving but no words come out. except a low moaning.
- combat rules -
heroes round 1 Go!!!!!
Creature AC 12
Roland curses as the monster strikes him. Thankfully the chain shirt he'd donned just a few minutes ago saved him from harm. He takes the cutlass in two hands and with a savage yell strikes at the moaning wretch.
Enraged that he was caught off guard, Roland refuses to retreat barring the creature's path.
Henris moves to assist Roland but, seeing how cramped the kitchen is, says, "Roland, lure the creature out here! We can all get to it then."
Henris moves behind Nali, and then prepares a prayer to Gozreh to channel a burst of holy energy to stop the animated corpse.
At Roland's shout Almon clumsily frees his dagger from its bindings. He peers into the galley to try and catch a glimpse of the attacker and prepares to attack if it comes in range.
Nali goes with Henris's luring plan, so she draws her rapier and makes ready for attack. She says: "make sure to have eyes on the other dead. They might be similarly enchanted"
Nali readies, planning to make an expert stab at the creature's head.
not confirmed unless flanking
double if flanking (because then it's a crit)
Thraxis pulls out three small stones that he had collected for use with his sling.
With a whispered prayer to the earth spirits for providing the stone, and to Groteus for blessing them with ruin he infused the pebbles with destructive magic. Magic that was particularly potent against the undead.
He then drew his sling from his belt and took a little step to get into position should his companions be unable to put the animated corpse back to rest.
- because everyone went and I happen to be on -
Round 2-
the Creature staggers after Roland's attack, Giving a moan the creature swings out with a vicious left but Roland was able to dodge out of the way ducking under the attack.
@Almond- you recognize the creature as a Zombie
@everyone- reading a attack has no effect yet. the zombie staying focused on the closest character.
heroes turn-
Zombie - taken 10 damage - AC 12
@everyone, I forgot to mention the creature has Green glowing eyes. you don't know why. (currently no explanation)
@alomond- you have never hear of a zombie having green glowing eyes. (you can currently chalk it up to the weirdness of the Island.)
Almon calls out "Someone's made a zombie of our former chef. But the glowing eyes are odd, I've never heard anything like that before. Watch out for any tricks."
He remains in the outer room but keeps his dagger in hand ready.
Roland calls out, "No, it's focused on me here. I don't want to turn my back on this thing." Then he takes another swing at it.
with a vicious two handed swipe Roland manages to split the head open, the Glowing light fades from its eyes and the Zombie falls to the ground.
As Roland cuts it down, Almon moves in to examine the zombie more closely. "How disturbing. I never cared for the man's cooking, but he didn't deserve this. The question is, did someone deliberately turn him into a zombie, or was it from some other cause? Either way, we'd best be aware around the other bodies, and we should burn them as soon as we can."
"Perhaps we can set the ship ablaze when we're done looting it? It would efficiently dispose of the corpses, and might draw investigations from any passing ships with the smoke. Roland, are you hurt?"
Nali's pack mind kicks in to fuss over Roland a little.
"The green eyes are special, right? Creepy, too! Gellik might..."
And then her mood sours a little. She concludes in a slightly more grim tone: "Let's just move on. Be careful of touching the dead"
Henris lowers his trident as Roland finishes off the zombie. ”That is the question - was he intentionally animated, or was it caused by some other force. I’ve heard Smuggler’s Shiv is cursed.”
Roland steps back as the corpse slumps to the ground oozing gore and let's put a sigh. "I don't know, but we will have to be even more careful now. I'm not sure if we should burn the ship, but it's worth considering."
Then he returns to searching the kitchen.
@everyone- you can hear something moving around the front of the ship after the attack. it sounds like small creatures scurrying your combat might have drawn some creatures.
@almond- what is the perception for? (if your looking at the body it would be heal) so i assume the room. looking around the room see several cooking supplies, enough to add to your group total.
@Roland- you see several cooking supplies, and enough food to add to the group total but unfortunately nothing else
"I hear scuttling and scurrying. Shall we try to give whatever that is a few corpses, before they eat our food, or us? I'm not strong enough to move corpses quickly, so I'll be quick to check the two last rooms."
Nali checks the remaining two rooms, weapon drawn.
--
Almon lifts his head up. "Yes, I hear something too. Feeding them a corpse does seem a little.. distasteful, but I suppose we can ignore some social mores when our lives may be at risk." He stands up from the corpse of the cook. "Probably not the chef though, I believe many scavengers shy away from tainted meat."
Once he's sure others are following, he takes a breath and heads back into the galley. He hefts up one of the corpses and carries it towards the front of the ship.
Henris is highly discomfited by the idea of feeding a creature a corpse, but he acknowledges the gravity of the situation. "I'll help you, Almon. Roland, Nali, could you provide us cover while we do this?"
He will help Almon move the body into the fore deck.
"Wait a moment, we need this food,"
Roland says he gather what he can find and puts it into his backpack. Then he turns to go with the others. "I don't like the idea of feeding a man to anything but the worms. I won't stop you, but it seems a terrible thing to do."
There is something that happens when you check the room, so I going to make some assumptions, because everyone said what they are going to do, I think the Corpse idea is brilliant, that a lot of "good" groups probably wouldn't consider, so I'm going to go with it.
When Almond starts back towards the opening to the flooded floor he can see three Ochre Eurypterids, (they are creatures that look like a scorpion of the sea) description- Two large pincers grasp at the air before this sleek creature, while a finned tail bristling with a long, thin stinger rises from behind. When Alomond throws the corpes at the creatures they immedataly start eating it. (that should keep them busy for a while. so Almond has time to address and the group has time to move things to the top. after they are done with below.
When Nali opens the door and starts looking in the First mates room, dust , cloth from the bed, and uncovered pages from the desk swirl around the room as you see the first mate form as a intagable Spirt, the Ghost immedatly looks at Nali, and Says "So you awoke, I was hoping you would." looking at the other party memeber through the door, the Spirt addresess the rest of you, "Good, the Others awoke also." yo see that the eyes of the Ghost are not green, but a brillant white.
When Roland sees the ghost he is taken aback. After a moment he speaks to the First mate who had befriended him during his time as a part of the crew. "What happened to you Aerys?"
With the eurypterids distracted, Henris joins the others in checking the First Mate's and Navigator's rooms. Seeing the manifestation, he stares in complete shock and startlement at the apparition of the former first mate.
"We...awoke, but...what happened?" Henris asks in shock.
Thraxis did not object to the plan for the cook's corpse. It would be returned to nature in one form or another and this was an acceptable means to do it. Once he had seen the source of the noise though, a thought crossed his mind "Now that these creatures are distracted, might I suggest that they themselves look edible? If we took them by surprise they could help us with our food situation."
With that said, Thraxis was startled by the ephemeral voice coming from the cabins. He quickly went to investigate, sling in hand and magic bullet loaded. His eyes narrowed upon seeing the ghost. An undead creature, its spirit and body severed from the natural order. It would need to be put to rest one way or another.
Nali squeeks a startled squeek when she first opens the door, but quickly composes herself with her usual bravado. Perhaps even overdoing it, when she says: "Why do I get the feeling you're going to tell me what to do even in death?"
Nali's voice sounds a little scared, but she is bravely standing her ground, feigning nonchalance.
"The sound was some strange scorpions. They're distracted for now, but we should.. good heavens!" Almon starts in surprise.
He waits for the spirit to reveal more, while keeping an eye and ear open for the scorpion-things
@roland- (the first mate is Alton, btw. Areys is the female brawler.) "After I was able to get you to safety saving as many as I could by myself, I came back to the ship to get supplies. Unfortunately while i was on the Lowest deck the ship shifted and the water rushed in killing me. I am Sorry."
@Heris- "It was the Scholor, Ieana. She cast some sort of spell on Captain and several crew members. They...… they turned on us. it wasn't their fault, they were bewitched. during the melee I talked some into helping load as many as I could but we were overwhelmed. That's when we hit the Shoal at full wind people were dyeing that's when i took who i could. several went overboard when the ship hit...…."
@Nali- "Alas no, We are no longer Crew. now your one of the few left, Do the Jenieve Proud."