Drusilla deflects the lobbed vial of acid with a word and begins to sing drawing her Scimitar as she whirls toward the Alchemist. She strikes him.
Blacklock runs forward and attacks with the bladesinger.
Tarn sacrifices accuracy for power and misses.
Badger hits twice. His first blow appears to scrape through something before damaging the skeleton.
You adopt a particular style of fighting as your specialty. Two-Weapon Fighting: When you engage in two-weapon fighting, you can add your ability modifier to the damage of the second attack."
Please update your character profile. Thanks
Argyri sees another friend drop--this time, the only one with a connection to the gods that lets him heal people. The memory of her own near-death experience shakes her, and for a moment it takes everything she has not to run.
Then see sees everyone else still bravely fighting, and grits her teeth. Alright, Dyzziq the Dashing wouldn't stop here, and neither will I!
She smiles at Badger's distraction and says, "Hey, take THAT!", swinging with both rapier and dagger.
She smiles at Badger's distraction and says, "Hey, take THAT!", swinging with both rapier and dagger. The last skeleton disassembles.
The skeletal alchemist slashes Drusilla with a claw drawing blood.
Badger circles looking for an opening. He nods when he gains a spot across from where Argyri can get into flanking. He leans in both swords coming in.
”Rargh!” Tarn yelled as he charged in. He swung with enough force to cave in a skull. Sadly, he missed by a hair’s breadth.
Argyri feels a bit bolder after slaying another skeleton. She circles around the opposite side of the skeletal alchemist and strikes again.
Her rapier goes between its ribs and misses it entirely, but she manages to get a hit with her dagger.
Drusilla dances letting the others get in and strike. She continues her singing and stances taking the right opportunity to strike when able, her style a deadly dance of death.
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Badger circles looking for an opening. He nods when he gains a spot across from where Argyri can get into flanking. He leans in both swords coming in.
Tarn is cursed against the undead.
Blacklock raised a knee high up to shoulder height, balancing on one foot. He rapidly kicked the left and right sides of the skeleton's head over and over...
Argyri feels a bit bolder after slaying another skeleton. She circles around the opposite side of the skeletal alchemist and strikes again. Her rapier goes between its ribs and misses it entirely, but she manages to get a hit with her dagger.
Drusilla dances letting the others get in and strike. She continues her singing and stances taking the right opportunity to strike when able, her style a deadly dance of death. Her strike separates the spinal column causing the skeletal alchemist to disassemble.
After destroying the last skeleton, you immediately stabilize Kwin from meeting his divine patron too early.
With moments to breathe, you notice one rib bone on each of the six skeletons is dipped in gold (5 gp). Drusilla suspects the gold provided the magical protection which resisted the first blow.
Beyond the secret door from where the skeletal alchemist entered reveals a clutter of broken glass and earthenware piled on the floor. Three small copper pots lie amid the debris. A bench runs down the west wall of what seems to be a laboratory. On the bench are jars of powders and liquids and several pieces of chemical apparatus, which is probably worth 20 gp.
There is a table against the south wall, forming an L-shape with the bench. A book is open on the table. Also on the table is a candlestick, with a tiny stump of unlit candle still in it, and a variety of other items that, even in the dim light, shine with the warmth of pure gold. In addition to small stacks of gold coins totaling 47 gp on the table, there are objects made of pure gold:
* A human skull (20 gp)
* An apple (5 gp)
* A rose (5 gp)
* A set of five small discs (balance weights, 5 gp each)
The book that lies open on the table is titled Ye Secret of Ye Philosopher's Stone, no author acknowledged. It might be worth a pound of gold to the right buyer.
When Drusilla examines the table, it eventually reveals a concealed drawer that contains the spellbook the alchemist. The book's contents include Dancing Lights, Comprehend Languages, Tenser's Floating Disk, and Shatter.
After Drusilla has time, she discovers that two items that you find on the former alchemist are magical:
* A flat, gray-and-black river stone is inscribed with an unknown arcane symbol and feels cool to the touch.
* A bag
Badger nods thankfully when Kwin seems stable. "Let's git home. Tarn, I think ya need to ask yerself or yer folk if they want this place here at all. I can ask if Saltmarsh sees a reason to garrison here but they haven't yet and likely won't if it don't have an upside. The house is between Saltmarsh and the mine but its not that long of a trip so there isn't a need fer a layover spot."
" Well I for one see potential of it being a nice base for US should we need one? I know the cost of bedding down isn't cheap. Here we can maybe look into fixing it and maybe make a home and study out of it." Drusilla says looking about
" It comes with its own dock, extensive basement. A place for a decent garden. Just needs some sprucing up." She looks at Blacklock and Argyrie.
"Though it may take a few years to get it back up to working order. Unless..." The Elf woman began to pull out some paper for notes.
Mending though small may be expanded upon. Utilizing its principles one may apply it to larger areas to restore ot improve a structure or larger object. It would require alot more magical essence and power then I currently possess,but fundamentally it should work.
”Yeah, best to get this gold back home. Isn’t it beautiful? The way it glitters. It’s proof that the Gods love us.” He said with a contented smile. ”As for this place? Too many spiders for me to sleep easy. Even if they have the potential for being a reasonable sort.”
"But Tarn you seemed to have exceptional skill in speaking with them! I mean you could get them to take out the rest of the vermin and move on!" Drusilla exclaimed as she enjoyed the books and then pointed out some of the gear that could also be sold.
"The trouble with a home like this is if you ain't home that don't mean the guests will wait on the stoop."
You pack up the loot in your jolly boat and return the conquering heroes to Saltmarsh... in time to tell your patrons the news and celebrate again.
Feel free to cash and split your loot. Party, replenish, get ready to go!
Three days after your triumphant return from the destruction of the smugglers' ring at the haunted house, you are hastily summoned to an emergency meeting of the Saltmarsh Town Council. Here it is explained to you that, though the land-based operation of the smuggling ring has been quashed, there must be a seagoing vessel by which the contraband was originally conveyed, and this is still at large. The council, fearful that any surviving smugglers could seek to reestablish their operation from some other base, asks you to apprehend this vessel and put an end, once and for all, to the smuggling. A reward of 400 gp is offered for the successful conclusion of the mission.
The council reasons that the smugglers on the vessel are, as yet, unaware of the capture or death of their land-based colleagues, and a return visit by them might well be expected. Since the last consignment was offloaded only a short while ago, another one is not expected for some time—perhaps during the next new moon, which begins in about two weeks' time.
The council arranges for members of the town guard to patrol the potential rendezvous points each night for the next two weeks in case the smugglers return earlier than expected. If the ship is sighted, the council is unwilling to risk the lives of volunteers by ordering them to take the ship and its crew by force. As soon as an approaching vessel is spotted, the council expects the characters to perform the actual task of boarding.
The council also provides the services of two members of the guard to sail your jolly boat when needed. The guards are not marines so not willing to board the smugglers' ship with you.
As the council reasons about whether the smugglers on the vessel know that their partners are captured Badger pipes up, "While at the house we uncovered a log or code book of the smugglers had dey signals used to let those at sea know its safe to approach or not. Seems like we already have a trap. Unless our previous efforts are too well known."
You share the instructions describing the code, the bullseye lantern, and the window that you found where they placed the lantern to signal the smuggler's ship. The signaling system utilizes the bullseye lantern to communicate the following messages by combining long and short flashes:
Long–short–short–short: "Is it safe?" (The ship initiates the exchange with this signal.)
Short–long–short–long: "Everything safe." (The smugglers respond with this signal.)
Long–long–long: "Ready to unload; come to the ship." (The ship confirms a reply with this signal.)
The arrangement calls for someone aboard the ship to flash the first signal. The shore party replies by flashing the second signal, after which the third signal flashes from the ship. It drops anchor and waits for the arrival of a boat from shore.
| 2 people marked this as a favorite. |
Captain Tarn was excited. Beyond excited, really. For he was now to be a ship’s captain! It was not a title that he would ever have dreamed of holding, given his lack of any nautical experience. Or the fact that nobody had actually given him said title. But those were minor details to the former miner. What really mattered was that he was now a Captain and that he was going to earn some gold. For what could possibly go wrong?
Drusilla will cast Identify on the bag and the rock. After that she will spend her time and money securing a few different spells to add to her book.
After that, she will brush up on some of the books she has procured. During the summons she will nod along and make sure to brush up on the signaling. As she does she'll make sure to keep the book on her,just incase.
Wondrous item, uncommon (requires attunement)
This flat, gray-and-black river stone is inscribed with an unknown arcane symbol and feels cool to the touch. While carrying the stone, you can gain advantage on one ability check of your choice. The stone can't be used this way again until the next dawn.
Curse.
This item is cursed. Attuning to it curses you until you are targeted by a remove curse spell or similar magic. As long as you remain cursed, you cannot discard the stone, which immediately teleports back into your pocket or pack. After you use the stone's magic, your next two ability checks are made with disadvantage.
she will brush up on some of the books she has procured.
Drusilla will tell the group about the Bag of Holding and see which one of us will carry it.
Badger checks with the other town guards to get a feel for the "word on the street." "Hey lads I had ta do a bit o' scout work for a few. Anyting crazy happenin' round here? I know der has been word of smugglers. Might be linked to the Sea Princes." Basically trying to learn any details that might be overlooked. He will go so far as visit prisoners and do a bit of questioning.
Badger finds out that while his team was Haunted House hunting, there was a bloody battle against pirates leaves a Keoish naval squadron undermanned. The squadron came to town to press local sailors and fishermen into service.
=//=
After two weeks, a patrol of the town guard sights a probable smuggler ship laying at anchor just over the horizon from Saltmarsh. After you get the information the next morning, you assemble and jump into your jolly boat.
Drusilla will after a couple of days of heavy research and copying, spend the rest of the 10 days fishing, Crab and Lobster. With her usual nights of mending nets and using Prestidigitation at The Snapping Line, while trying to Impress Hanna Rist with her newfound coat and blade. AS well as maybe try to serenade her with some old Elvish romance tunes.
Badger will make sure he has a full quiver of arrows, from the guard if they have supplies. He will make sure he has food stuffs and a full waterskin.
Badger will make sure he has a full quiver of arrows, from the guard if they have supplies. He will make sure he has food stuffs and a full waterskin.
Badger floats that idea to the team. "We got a place that very likely the smugglers might visit. If we use the signal we don't need to sneak out to the boat."
Blacklock manages to make a personal enemy of Captain Xendros, a female tiefling and leader of the trade delegation in the name of Iuz, a mighty cambion and demigod who rules much of the distant north. Iuz's realm does not produce enough food to feed all its citizens, so it relies on imports for the rest, and Saltmarsh is one of its major suppliers. The Faithful Quartermasters of Iuz maintain a residence in town where they coordinate acquiring large quantities of fish which is salted and preserved for transport.
The minions of Iuz have only rarely come into direct conflict with Keoland, and its ongoing war with Keoland's rivals makes the nation an acceptable trade partner in the eyes of the king. The emissaries from Iuz pay on time and buy shiploads of fish at once, so no one inquires too closely into the captain's sepulchral voice or her penchant for wearing gold jewelry etched with grim designs.
During the days, Kwin gets to know the little town better. He wanders about, getting to know businesses, alleyways, some of the faces around town.
Some days, he wanders a bit further. He takes some of the trails and roads near town, seeing what is nearby.
A couple of days, he offers to go out fishing with some of the locals if they are willing to trade his free labor for a bit of knowledge in their profession.
After about a week, Kwin will take to spending the night in the house, watching out to sea to get a sense of what is normal to sea out there. Since they don't know exactly when the ship may come back (if it does), he wants to be ready.
On those days when he is up all night, he goes back to the inn and rests for hour hours in the morning before going about his day.
So, you spend three nights at the House before the new moon. During the third night, guards arrive in the sea cave in a row boat with the news of seeing a ship.
You head upstairs to the bedroom with the best view of the sea. You wait for an hour without messages. Then, you decide to trigger the conversation utilizing the bullseye lantern to communicate the following message by combining long and short flashes:
Short–long–short–long: "Everything safe."
After five minutes, you receive a response:
Long–short–short–short: "Is it safe?"
You repeat your message:
Short–long–short–long: "Everything safe."
After two minutes, you received the ready signal:
Long–long–long: "Ready to unload; come to the ship."
The ship is lying broadside to the coastline, the starboard side facing landward. The two guards row your jolly boat with you on board, the journey to the ship takes 20 minutes.
If the enemies that we slayed had anything like heavy cloaks, we'll want to use those to try and disguise ourselves in case they shine a light on us.
"Night is never the Ideal time to be out in a small boat. I would love to fish out here though. Might catch some of the rarer fish. Maybe some eels! Though if you fall in at night rarely do you get out alive" Drusilla says as she smiles and hums a jaunty tune.
Argyri's heart beats fast as the smugglers on the ship return their signals.
"It's really working! We've got them fooled. They won't know what hit'm! We'll whallop them harder than when Dyzziq the Dashing defeated the Baleen Bandits in Issue 7 of Tillian's Twilight Tales"
As they sail out, Argyri keeps nervously pulling her rapier half-out of its scabbard, and then putting it back.
She pulls her cloak's hood to better cover her face, and whispers, to Blacklock.
"Say, Blacklock, I heard about your righteous brawl with Carter. Way to go. Dude is a douchebag who acted like every girl in town owed him something."
After a moment, she adds, "Take care of yourself tonight, eh kid? Don't rush in too wild before we know how many we're up against. Then when the battle's over we can try another turn with that magic pipe, to show off our fabulous moves."
If the enemies that we slayed had anything like heavy cloaks, we'll want to use those to try and disguise ourselves in case they shine a light on us.
"Some of who we took out were Bugbears."
"Well here we go."
While the head to the ship Drusilla will cast Mage Armor. It will keep her safe when they strike. As she does she checks her Daggers, sword and readied herself for what will probably be a battle.
The name of the vessel, Sea Ghost, is painted on both sides of the prow. It has a length of nearly 90 feet, a beam of 26 feet, a draft of 8 feet, and stands 9 feet above the waterline to the top of its main deck rails and 17 feet above the waterline to the top of both its forecastle and poop deck. Though the light is dim at best, you can see details of the ship's main deck. In the center, forward of the mast, a jolly boat is lashed to the deck with ropes.
To fore and aft, below the upper decks, stand vague outlines of doors. You can also see ladders that lead to the upper decks, the aft one on the port side, the forward one on the starboard. Aft of the mast is a hatch to the belowdecks area and a rope ladder climbing to a crow's nest above.
Two human figures lean against the rail mid-deck, staring toward the coast. Between them at deck level is a roll of canvas or rope. When you are twenty feet from the ship, they spot you and call out, "they're here." With the noise of the waves, the rest of the ship may not have been alerted.
Drusilla points and strikes with a powerful note.
Argyri whispers, "Wait! Don't attack til we're close enough for the rest of us to engage."
Argyri then motions for the sailors to draw them up beside the larger ship, as quickly as they can...and offers any aid she can to speed the process.