GM Itzi's Skull and Shackles (Inactive)

Game Master Itzi

Harmony stays under for as long as her breath holds, but there's no response to her demands.

Across the bay, Valeria notices movement. Something large, which she can only assume is Cha, is moving out of the bay.

Harmony emerges from the water still wet and still pissed, although she does a better job of hiding it. She is also, obviously, soaking wet but the first thing she does is go to Tessa and give the redhead a long hug.

"Are you ok?" She asks, "I'm sorry I got so angry."

Tessa blinks as she tries to think back on what just happened. She shakes her head, tapping the side of it with her palm before saying "Uh. I'm fine." she says, squeezing her co-captain in a hug. "How's your hand?" she asks, reaching for Harmony's previously injured hand.

The swashbuckler then offers the sage advice of "There are better ways of dealing with anger, you know."

Polli is at the door, concerned frown deeply in place. She is kind enough to give them a moment, then snaps "What in the hells did she do?!?". It is clear she is ready to annihilate the ocean any second now.

While she’s safely underwater where nobody can see her, Val frowns over just about every part of what just happened.

I suspect that’s the last time we’ll get any help from her... I wish she would have talked to me... whatever she really wanted, maybe I could have helped her find it... maybe I can come back another time and get her to talk to me, but for now I better get back to the others.

Swimming to shore, Val returns to her four-armed form and draws her shortswords again as she walks up into the sand. ”She’s moving the octopus right now...” she announces, sort of in answer to Polli’s question, ”we should hurry to the beach and warn the Siren to switch bays or it could get attacked. And we should move the ship’s boat...”

Tessa blinks as she tries to think back on what just happened. She shakes her head, tapping the side of it with her palm before saying "Uh. I'm fine." she says, squeezing her co-captain in a hug. "How's your hand?" she asks, reaching for Harmony's previously injured hand.

The swashbuckler then offers the sage advice of "There are better ways of dealing with anger, you know."

"You're one to talk." Harmony replies, but her smile does actually reach her eyes this time and Tessa can tell her fiance is calming down. She holds up her hand and Tessa can see the tiny motes of light swirling across her skin, fixing the damage.

"We should talk about this later." Harmony whispers before turning to Val. "Quite right! Let's go Sirens! No time to sit around lollygagging!" The old Harmony is back it seems.

The group heads back across the narrow section of the island that separates the two large bays and push out on the longboat and back to the Siren. It seems that there was no time to spare as while the boat is being drawn up the side of the ship you see a large shape swim in to the smaller bay.

A half-hour later and the Siren is anchored in the southern bay, just south of the empty fort. There's no sign of the nereid.

Confronting Bikendi's ghost next?

Tessa nods to Harmony's comment and gives the wounded hand a quick kiss before turning and darting out the door. She scoops up her hat and flips it up into the air, catching it perfectly on her head as she presses forward. "Alright ladies, that's enough lolly-gaggin, it's time to take care of this ghost. Val, up here with me. Dony, please take a look at Vi's hand. Polli, come alone now try and keep up this time."

Dropping the longboat back down in the water, the officers of the Siren row back ashore to pull up near the ruins of wooden docks near the fort. With prepration magic cast, you enter the fort and approach the large stone tower. Once inside you find no ghostly presence and no response to your hails. Knowing where his body rests in the basement below, you descend the stairs.

Descending into the room filled with broken quartz, the invisible spectre of the dead mage floats near the secret door concealing the passage to his final resting place.

"What have you done?" he questions, his ghostly voice fading in and out. "Something ... changed. I can feel it. Have you brought the dreamstone?"

"We have it here." Harmony says, waving towards Marisan, who has been designated 'heavy lifter'. "What about your end of the bargain? Where have you secured your treasure?"

"The stone first. We must properly finish the ritual," Bikendi says in a voice reminiscent of a blowing breeze. He glides forward to the center of the room. "Place it here. I must take possession of one of you to complete the magics correctly. Who is being offered?"

"Our wizard is quite capable." Harmony replies sharply. "Explain and it will be done."

"NO!" the ghost shouts back. "It must be me! Where is the stone? Place the stone here. You do have it, don't you?"

Val positions herself on the opposite side of Harmony from the ghost, five feet past her so there is room for the ghost in between. She studies him as she moves. ”You can possess me,” she volunteers before taking a deep breath and drawing back her shoulders in preparation. When the ghost comes within her reach she silently prays, for Kelinahat, and then stabs it in the gut.

shortsword vs ff (st/judgement): 1d20 + 16 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 16 + 2 = 27
for: 1d6 + 6 + 2 + 2 + 2d6 ⇒ (5) + 6 + 2 + 2 + (3, 6) = 24

”You fool! Did you really think I would give you the key to my immortality?!?”

Harmony gestures for Marisan to bring the stone forward and readies a spell in her mind for the conflict she expects any moment.

Ready: Glitterdust.

The spectral figure slowly approaches Valeria, but distorts in anger as the woman draws her blade.

Combat Begins!

Round 1

Val's blade stabs into the ghostly figure, her magical blade causing Bikendi to fall back in anger. "Betrayers! Villains! You will pay for this OUTRAGE!" the ghost cries out.

Tessa, Marisan, and Polli are up.
Map is updated based on described actions.

Val continues stabbing at the unprepared ghost.

shortsword2 vs ff (2wf/st/judgement): 1d20 + 16 - 2 + 2 ⇒ (17) + 16 - 2 + 2 = 33
for: 1d6 + 6 + 2 + 2 + 2d6 ⇒ (5) + 6 + 2 + 2 + (2, 3) = 20

shortsword3 vs ff (2wf/st/judgement): 1d20 + 11 - 2 + 2 ⇒ (12) + 11 - 2 + 2 = 23
for: 1d6 + 6 + 2 + 2 + 2d6 ⇒ (1) + 6 + 2 + 2 + (2, 2) = 15

shortsword4 vs ff (2wf/st/judgement): 1d20 + 11 - 2 + 2 ⇒ (20) + 11 - 2 + 2 = 31
for: 1d6 + 6 + 2 + 2 + 2d6 ⇒ (5) + 6 + 2 + 2 + (4, 6) = 25

Confirm vs ff: 1d20 + 11 - 2 + 2 ⇒ (20) + 11 - 2 + 2 = 31
for another: 1d6 + 6 + 2 + 2 + 2d6 ⇒ (1) + 6 + 2 + 2 + (6, 4) = 21

"You took control of one of us, violated their mind against her will, and you call us VILLIANS,you vile piece of ghost shit!" Polli screams in rage at the thing that threatened her love, firing a volley of force missiles at it

magic missile: 5d4 + 5 ⇒ (4, 4, 4, 1, 3) + 5 = 21 with toppling is you can knock over ghosts

Tessa sighs at Polli's outburst, shaking her head. "Polli ... Ghosts do not shit. Your insult makes no sense whatsoever."

Intimidate!: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (5) + 14 = 19

"Observe." she instructs, turning towards the creature and declaring loudly "HA HA HAA! You will never leave here, foolish creature! The Siren's shall sing their song of victory once we vanquish you!" she declares in a bold voice before striking.

Attack, Piranha: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (10) + 17 = 27 Damage: 1d6 + 17 + 9 ⇒ (4) + 17 + 9 = 30
Attack!: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (11) + 12 = 23 Damage: 1d6 + 17 + 9 ⇒ (6) + 17 + 9 = 32

"What??? NO, not a ghost's excrement, you ninny..." she realizes she is not supposed to call the commanding officers names so she says through clenched teeth "Captain I meant.... He is a Shit, An Ass, a- OH who the hell's cares." Polli snaps back. After Tessa threw out her line she snorts out a honking surprised laugh coming from her nose "Who calls things 'foolish creature', Really that is your idea of an insult. Are you going to mildly disparage his tea next?"

Tessa steps up and stabs at the ghostly figure with Wayfinder and Valeria reciprocates with her shortswords. Marisan dances past it, striking it with just one blow, but backed up by Polli's arcane missiles it signals the end of the undead wizard.

With a shriek of unfulfilled desires, the ghost vanishes into nothingness.

Combat ends!

Well, ok then.

With the defeat of the ghost, the Sirens feel the oppressive weight of sadness lift from the fort. It feels like that it's finally theirs at last.

Moving back through the narrow secret tunnel to where they found Bikendi's body in the first place, they finally get to take the time to go through all the chests and crates in the room, collecting the treasure there.

A suit of +1 glamered elven chain, a bag of holding (type II), gloves of swimming and climbing, a helm of comprehend languages and read magic, an oil of magic weapon, a potion of lesser restoration, a scroll of control water, a scroll of displacement, a ruby-studded scepter worth 400 gp, a silver tea set worth 75 gp, a gold ring worth 50 gp, two diamonds worth 500 gp each, three sapphires worth 250 gp each, eight fire opals worth 100 gp each, 12 aquamarines worth 50 gp each, 1,754 gp, 2,319 sp, and 6,438 cp.

Also on Bikendi's body itself: a cloak of resistance +2, a headband of mental prowess +2 (Charisma, Intelligence, Bluff ), and his spellbook.

Also on his body you find a journal written in a secret cipher.

"That was significantly easier than I expected" the wizard admits.

Her eyes go wide at the spellbook, picking it up with careful reverence, then holding it to her chest with a smile rarely seen (unless your name is Donomsail that is). While the others gather and assess, she flips through the journal "Why would he write his notes in Cyclops, that is a bit pretentious, isn't it? It would be like me writing everything in Auran." she reads more, eyes going left to right quickly. "This is fascinating, almost a shame we destroyed the stone... though living forever sounds horrible, and we did need the Berry back, I guess. Hmmm... there is a secret horde a few miles southwest of this island. Probably the treasures he promised if we had helped him."

”A few miles southwest?” Val asks, her attention suddenly piqued, “is there an exact location? Does it say if it’s underwater or if there’s a little island out there or something?”

According to the reasonably specific directions the journal gives, the cache is underwater in some submerged ruins. It shouldn't be difficult to locate if everything is accurate.

”Does it say anything about traps or monsters guarding it?” Val presses as her curiosity grows.

”Oh, and there were rumors in Port about ruins full of treasure up in the mountains, so maybe once we get things moving smoothly at the fort we could check that out too?”

There's nothing noted in the journal regarding defenses of the hoard.

"Um... no it doesn't list out all his defenses it seems. That would be idiotic. Of course, he did write down directions to his secret horde in a journal. Probably assumed no one other than his inflated-ness could read Cyclops. The moron."

Harmony never even has a chance to unleash her glitterdust before the Sirens have disposed of their undead foe. "And that is why you don't mess with us!" She says firmly.

As the group goes through their new-found bounty Harmony draws Marisan aside. "Are you ok?" She asks the dark-skinned Mwangi. "You've been really quiet for a while now? You missing your paramour?" She asks, trying to coax out a smile.

Marisan sighs. "Yes. I like Pierce a lot. More than I have ever liked anybody else. I do not like being apart from him. Plus, I miss being on the ocean. We have been fighting many strange monsters here but it seems like we have gained little from doing so. I get that you need to establish your reputations as Free Captains by securing this island, but then what? What comes next? How many hoops must we jump through before we are free to pursue our own course again?"

"Your reputation rather than mine." Harmony says with a smile, "You actually own this island, and the seat on the council that goes with it. I don't."

She takes the brawler's arm and walks the pair of them out of the caves and back into the sunlight.

"I have to agree with you though." She admits once the sunlight falls on them both once more. "I love captaining the Siren, and I love Tessa - but I did this for the freedom, not to be tied down to rulership. If I want that I'll go back to T-, go home." She sighs. "I want to go home one day, I want a family and I want them with Tessa - but for now... you're right, the sea breeze and life on the blue is more than enough."

She looks around, surveying the fort. "We've done good things here Marisan, and with a couple of months hard work we can show the Free Captains something they've never seen before. And no doubt you can show Pearce some things he has seen before but wants to see again." She adds with a wink. "I suppose the benefit is that we always have somewhere to go now. Between this place and Tidewater Rock we will be well supplied with friends, and if Pearce chooses to water his ship here often then so much the better."

She pauses and then looks up at Marisan. "We'd all understand if you went with him Mari. We'd miss you, but I ran four thousand miles to be with the girl I love, the least any of us could do is be happy for you."

Marisan looks towards the horizon, as if trying to find Pierce's ship somewhere out there. She sighs again. "I don't know. You are all my very best friends. I do not want to abandon you. But I feel my heart pulling me in another direction. I have not made up my mind yet."

Harmony just stands with her friend, staring out at the ocean and imagining the lands far beyond. "If there's ever anything I can do, you just have to ask." She says, sliding one hand into Marisan's callused one and squeezing before the two return to their contemplation of their briny home.

Marisan squeezes back, careful not to do it too hard. "Thank you," she replies. She leans her head on Harmony's, taking comfort in her friend's presence...

Val watches with some concern as Harmony and Marisan slip away but knows better than to intrude.

Mari has been quieter than usual, and I don’t think she’s taken another lover since she got together with Pierce... I hope the captain can help her... it has to be hard seeing all of us paired up with each other while the person she wants to be with is far off... I wonder if it isn’t only a matter of time before she looks for a spot on his crew... maybe when the island is ready she could get him to frequent these waters... I don’t know much about the politics of the council, yet, but I’m sure a closer alliance with another free captain would only strengthen our position, plus then if she’s on his ship we’d see her more, or maybe she’d even stay on the island to rule and we could all visit her whenever we want...

When they return, she asks, ”So, Cap’ns, what’s the plan now? We go after the rest of this treasure or is there something else on island to do first? And where are we at with laborers, has anyone contacted the Sea Witch yet about bringing workers and supplies?”

Dony can use sending to deliver the message but Harmony will have to give her the order(s) to send, I think?

"I want the Siren docked here for a little while first." Harmony replies. "We have plenty of time to get the treasure and not much to work on the island. I say we stay here for now, until the Sea Witch can get here. Then once we have more bodies working on shore we can take a little time off to investigate this extra cache." She looks over at Tessa, for all their teasing they are both captains, and this is Tessa's island, not Harmony's.

Tessa wants to declare that they should be searching out for this cache right now. Who wants to WAIT?! She turns to Harmony and decides to concur with her plan "I agree. Since he are waiting for the Sea Witch to get here. Perhaps we can do something useful like go find this extra cache!"

Val is hesitant to get involved with the captains’ decision making process but cautiously offers, ”it might not hurt to have some more coin on hand when the workmen arrive... and who knows what magical treasures could be there, maybe there’ll be things that could help with the rebuilding?”

Polli gives Dony a quick kiss as an apology, since all she will be able to talk about for the next few days is Spells thanks to the lovely new book. She completely ignores the conversation going on as she settles to the ground and cracks the cover.

Harmony manages to restrain her sigh...

"As you say Captain Steele." She says, since Tessa clearly has treasure on the brain.

"See there..." the wizard points to the flourish on one of the cyclopian letters in the book that she was reading. A book she just shifted to let Dony rest her head on her lap. Reading and snuggling, two perfect things that can be enjoyed together.

Back to the flourish of the letter, "The man might have been a moron, but he did have excellent penmanship. I might keep this one once I'm done recording it. If I can find room on our shelves, that is."

Tessa claps her hands, "Excellent! Let us go find some treasure!" She reaches into her pack and pulls out a jug, taking a log pull from with a satisfied "Ahhhh!", wiping her mouth with her sleeve. She holds it up, "Rum, anyone? How about a song!"

She then begins to make up a song about searching for booty, ensuring a risque glance at her co-captain's rear end each time she hits the hook again.

Harmony let's Tessa sing and catches at least one of the 'booty' glances. "Tomorrow then." She agrees with a smile. "Polli, make sure you're as clear as you can be with the directions, we don't want to be gone too long."

Will post for the night on the island after work.

"[bb]What?[/b]" Polli looks up from her book, pushing her glasses up her nose from where they slid down to read. "Oh, yes directions. That way." she points to the southwest before turning to her book, pausing to give the temple of her love a soft kiss, then it is back to ignoring everyone.

Feel free to backpost anything of note. :)

The rest of the day passes peacefully with no attacks, fights, arguments, or any other drama. Although a couple of times later in the day as evening rolls in, at least two different sailors approach Captain Violet with reports that there might be mermaids in the bay based on the beautiful woman they've seen in the water watching the ship.

28th of Lamashan - Day 206

The breakfast meal is served and carries a little extra as it seems that Meiying has broken into the precious stores of dried fruit in a form of celebration, adding it to the normally tasteless gruel.

Audessa approaches Captain Tessa as the meal is finished up. She hands her a small bag filled with coins. "The 'House' traditionally gets thirty percent," she says with a smile. "If we need to negotiate a different rate, I'm open for options. Would you prefer your cut daily, weekly, or monthly? I'm flexible." She winks.

The bag contains 8 gp.

Leaving the island, you make good speed to where the wizard's journal specifies the location of the stored treasure. It's an undistinguished part of the ocean and his directions indicate that the treasure is stored in the ruins of an ancient templed approximate a hundred feet down.

At 100' Swimmers must succeed at DC 15 Fortitude saves every minute (+1 to the DC for each prior check) or take 1d6 points of damage from the water pressure at that depth.

Now I know Harmony's leading the dive ;), but who else is going down and what precautions/preparations are you making?

Stripped down to her skivvies, Marisan stretches and flexes as she prepares for a swim, ready to take on any aquatic menaces with her bare hands and feet!

Flex Aquatic Combatant.

Tessa smirks with the bag and weighs it in her hand before responding "Looks like the crew has been very lonely. Weekly would be fine with me. Thank you."

Tessa will lead the dive with Harmony right by her side, I'm sure!

Polli will need to be retrieved from her room, but will begrudgingly agree when ordered.

Harmony looks at the water with distaste but makes her preparations to go down with the rest, although everyone can see she's holding Tessa's hand and apparently doing so very tightly.

I'll assume Val and Doni are going as well. Any other preparations? If not, I'll take you down in a couple of hours.