"Nature is both providing and savage Davor. Creatures fight for resources and territory. It is just part of life. Me too, I am not liking to end lives such at that, but it is the nature of the wild, to put us at test in this island... if we stop fighting, it will take us mercilessly" Shalissa gives back her point on the meaning of this fight.
"Mmmm... not the Brine Demon. We do not know if there might be something for us there, but it might be worth checking if there is something of use, what do you say?" the elf checks the mood of the others to see if the group is eager to check the wreck or continue the exploration "We came to explore after all, isn't it?"
Assuming the group decides to go for it, Shalissa will wait for the rope to be set before climbing.
once the rope is set, Gregor carefully takes his time and descends.
Using the rope you climb down easily before Davor loosens it at the top and follows the other on his own.
Now you are standing on the beach trying to decide whether to explore the ship first or move north or south looking for that campsite.
Once you stand on the beach, you are sure that you can walk over to the wreck as long as the tide is low. From the last few days you know that his should give you another two hours.
But from here you also notice that the ship is not in a good shape, with holes in hull and large parts missing.
Gregor glances at the others and starts for the ship, Might as well check it out in case we find something interesting ehh?
"Yes, let's explore the wreck while the tide is low!" Shalissa follows Gregor to wade the low waters until they reach the ship.
As they close up, the elf observes the engineering marvel and tries to assess where is the best area to access from with safety.
You quickly decide to use the low tide and wade over to the Bloody Doll. The nearer you get the clearer it becomes that this is a fruitless endeavour. Barely anything is still standing and most useful things are long gone.
After Gregor almost drops through a floorboard, but Shalissa is able to shout out a warning in time and you avoid a nasty fall.
After searching some more on the ground floor you give up before anything worse might happen.
You wade back to the beach and discuss where to explore next.
"Someone probably took whatever was left by the currents long ago" Shalissa takes the opportunity they walks the low tide to collect a few seashells from the bed of the sea "So what if we continue heading south until that natural heaven, I think that is the limit by where the fire column might have come from. Once at the bay we can have a rest then head back north tomorrow following the coast?"
"It's a shame these wrecks don't have more to offer us, but it makes sense, I guess." Father Kerndrew looks down the beach. "Well, this will be easier than climbing back up. Let's looks for that campfire."
Davor agrees with the others. "With the wrecks we've found so far I don't think we could get enough usable wood to create a decent sized raft! I was kind of hoping to find a ship's boat that would be salvageable to use transferring stuff from the wrecks that are offshore. But so far...."
"Yep, perhaps we can try to build a raft. If could help navigate the island even if it is not sturdy enough for open sea" Shalissa looks back to the north "We will be busy moving the camp for the next days but maybe afterwards"
Seeing there is agreement in the party to follow south, she starts to guide through following the coast line up to the natural heaven.
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Day9 (Midsummer) - On the beach near a natural Harbour
Noon
--------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------
You travel another 2 hours along the beach before the endless cliffs lining the beaches of Smugglers Shiv finally receede and rise towards the center of the island becomes much more gradual.
A bit further on you reach the entry of the natural Harbour. A ninety-foot-long shipwreck leans against the cliff side and several jagged reefs here, encrusted with salt and moss. Its
masts remain intact, but the sails have long since rotted away. At the bow, a leering demonic figurehead of green-caked brass provides an intimidating greeting.
Shalissa walks by through the coast line, she sometimes stops to smell the salty sea breeze, collect a shell here and there or chase a crank "To be truth, if this was less dangerous place... it feels nearly as home. Have you ever lived from the sea resources like this before?"
When they reach the bay and find out its waters hold another shipwreck cleaved against the jagged reefs, Shalissa smiles wide behind her mask "A demonic figurehead... captain's Kinkarian Brine Demon perhaps?"
Once again, Shalissa will study how to better approach the ship, if swimming is an option and how hard, and when will there be low tide again.
Davor looks the area over looking for the easiest route to get to the ship. "Worth checking out regardless what ship it is. The masts haven't fallen so the wood shouldn't be rotten."
You climb onto the nearby riffs from the beach and from there onto the ship, which looks sturdy and is able to hold your wait without problems.
From here you can either proceed towards the after or front cabins or into the cargo hold.
The doors to the after cabins are closed, while there is only a gaping hole left where the doors to the front cabins where.
Davor waits until everyone is comfortably on the deck. "Weapons ready everyone. Something may have nested here since it seems stable."
Following Davor's advise Shalissa readies her trident "Agreed, let's check the front cabins first. Afterwards we can have a look at those closed ones. Does any of you know how to force a lock?"
The elf leaves Chivito on the safety of the main deck, then she slowly sneaks to have a look through the gap holes into the darkness.
The area where the ships name is supposed to be painted has crashed against the riff andc the name is not eligable anymore. it might have ended with -mon or -non or -ron
Inside the front cabin you spot some remains of the former inhabitants. adn set of stairs leading downstairs. The room is empty.
Shalissa moves inside the cabin very cautiously behind the broader shoulders of the group "Too calm here. It unnerves me..."
She gives a look downstairs trying to find out what's below.
Turning to the group half-orc she adds "What do you say Davor? Your kin is known to have good eyes on darkness. Will you lead the way into the hold?"
Gregor had his axe in hand and wa standing on the deck keeping an eye on the chicken, and of course the surrounds. If this was the Brine Demon, they needed to find proof of Jask's innocence.
"Certainly I'll lead. But if anyone has light it should be ready for those that can't see."
Shalissa nods to Davor "Totally right, Halfy" the elf touches the leaf amulet hanging on her neck and says Shirak! a light shimmers in her hand, she touches Gregor's battle axe and the light is transferred making the darkness recede in the cabin "Just maintain your weapon covered until we need the shininess"
Just in case Davor faces problems, she also casts guidance on him as he walks downstairs.
You hear a slow shuffling of feet from downstairs and as Davor Sneaks down he spots a group of Skeletons wandering around in the hold. They dont seem to have you spotted yet.
As soon as Davor says there is a bunch of skeletons in the hold Shalissa reaches for her holy symbol "We cannot retreat now. We will face this. It can be Kinkarian's ship"
She then casts bless over the stairs rail reaching the whole party "Winds, clouds and waves of Smuggler's Shiv, side with us to cleanse the corruption left in this vessel!"
The elf then descends the stairs into the hold, leaving some space in front for the others to take the lead.
Father Kerndrew lets his sword fall to his side as he moves down into the hold, inviting the skeletons towards him with his shield held high and front.
Davor shrugs when Shalissa urges the group into combat. He steps forward to be in front of her. "I need a better weapon...."
Gregor here's the exclamation of those in the hold, and here's Shalissa announcing what she knows about Skeletons. He then puts the axe away and looks around for a stout piece of timber from the deck.
Father Kerndrew positions himself at the bootom of the stairs ready to expect the undead, while Shalissa blesses the group before following the others down into the hull.
Looking through the broken Barrels and chests in the hold, Davor and Gregor are easily able to find a piece of wood to use as a club before bringing themselves in postiton for the battle.
----------------------------------
When Shalissa starts chanting and Davor rummages around for a club the skeletons notice the explorers and quickly approach, while striking out for the nearest living being with there cutlasses. Father Kerndrew strikes out at the first attacker, but misses.
After looking at the poorness of the wood he could find, Gregor decides to just use his axe and draws it before heading down the stairs
Father Kerndrew slams the flat face of his shield into the bony face of the lead skeleton. "Pharasma's been looking for you! In Iomedae's name, go, find her!"
Davor grunts when he feels the blade from one of the undead. He swings the crude club with all of his limited strength, hoping for the best.
Solrissa sees all his new companions being blocked by the skeleton shields, but she does not panic. Raising her holy symbol as high she can she speaks words of divine power "Sky Father! Bring your fury over this mockery of life!"
While the others are trying to fend of the skeletons with. their improvised weapons, Shalissa is calling a wave of positive enrgy down on the skeletions, exploding one of them.
Two skeletons continue to attack Davor trying to exact their revenge on him, but the sailor is easily able to avoid their attacks. The last one is helplessly trying to get around Kerndrews shield to no avail.
The skeletons are shuffling their feet and raising their weapons ready to strike again.
Shalissa waits for a bit to see how her companions deal with the skeletons, but when she sees they are grasping for them again, she raises one more time her holy symbol "Sky Father, keep that going!"
Gregor slide forward pst father Kerndrew internally flinching knowing he would draw an attack from the Skeleton, and brought his axe around in a side swipe looking to sever its spine. His swing was hampered by a barrerl of water as it came around.
Gregor sees the evil glint in the eyes of the skeleton light up as it raises its weapon to strike him down.....
..... But just before it can strike its bones crumble to dust under the onslaught of positive energy. The other two skeletons face a similar fate.
When the skeletons crumble to dust consumed by the heavenly pulse Shalissa breaths calmer "Is everyone ok? I saw you stumbling around and got a bit scared"
Tossing the dust with her right foot she adds "I think that will make sure they do not return"
Then raises her eyes and starts looking around the hold "Let's see if we can confirm what ship is this and get some new supplies"
Looking through the forer crews quarter you find a few tidbits left from the former inhabitants
150 sp
a beautiful coral gemstone
There is a door leading into the main cargo hold further on.
"Oh, look! That is a beautiful piece!" Shalissa takes the coral gemstone and sets it on her wavy brunette hair. Once the group has collected all the coins she laughs "I do not know if we are going to get out of this one but we are getting rich"
The elf follows the group through the next door and into the deeper areas of the hold.
Davor grins at Shalissa as she laughs about the coin and the coral gemstone. "Rich is relative. We're a lot wealthier than these poor sods...."
He drops the improvised club and readies his rapier again. "And thanks for that.... whatever it was that destroyed them. I would've probably been hurt a lot more if I'd had to beat them down with that hunk of wood. Gotta get me a proper weapon for them things if we're going to run in to any more. My sticker here is good for fighting things that bleed...."
"That said, I'll lead again."
Opening the door you soon notice that that ship is not sailing anymore as you almost immediately step into water flown in through some huge holes in the wall.
However on a nail next to the door you find a lonely leftover hooded latern waiting for you to rescue.
Shalissa eyes Davor "You talk like you are used to handle large sums of coins" her tone becomes more cheerful after he talks about the skeletons destruction "Oh, that! The Sky Father is a god of life. The priestesses taught me how to commune with him, and he has always helped ever since when facing those that are not really dead"
"Perhaps I should hold this for you" Shalissa attaches the trident to her back and takes the lamp instead "It can help us to have another source of light beside's Gregor's axe. Do you happen to have any pint of oil with you?"
Taking attention to water she tries to look forward deeper into the hold "Do you think there is anything else further down? Otherwise I propose we head to the cabins at the other side. Perhaps the Captain's cabin still has some hint of what happened here"
Gentle waves are laping against the broken hull and seaweed is waving back and forth. Nothing to find here.
"If your elven eyes don't see anything in there, Shalissa, then there's nothing to see--or it hides so well that we probably don't want to see it anyway. Let's check the other side."
"Agree!" while Shalissa follows the others to the closed after cabins she approaches Kerndrew "I noticed the others call you Father. Why is so? I think I am missing some kind of human cultural reference as I cannot believe they are all your children. But my Chelaxian is not perfect despite my fluency, so maybe I got lost in translation"
When they go back to the main deck, the elf makes sure Chivito is ok. She soothes the chicken and proceeds into the unexplored cabins with the others.