Soon enough the crew members give Cyril a hand as they continue to pull the rope up. Then Arthur and finally Saronis. With you all in they quickly get to work and the ship takes higher to the skies.
You have several days...
Once onboard, Cyril asks captain Moon to confer with the treasure map once more.
Information on the barbarian tribe movements:
Tiger clan has been fighting with the River clan over territory and access to the Silver Pike River.
The Elk clan is near the northern edge of The Verge. Though not with the intention to claim the Verge.
The Goliath clan holds the mantle of the Verge as they have for the past seven years.
The goblin tribes continue to dwell in the Glittering Hills and the Green Grotto.
There is a new hobgoblin outpost to the West of the Green Grotto.
Cyril would want Arthur to join him as he confers with Captain Moon about the new Verge intel Stavian received from TaLia. Ultimately the goal is to find the treasure, but Cyril wants to take into account others motivations, like attacking the barbarian tribes.
Arthur gladly joins the meeting. He listens intently taking in all the factors.
She has Saffire, Sir Issac, Kralla Khan, and Maya join the meeting. After looking at the notes again she relays, "Unless someone has business elsewhere we will head straight to the Verge. Kralla you will have your blood with the Goliath tribe. The rest of us will support the orcs, once the barbarians are on the run we will regroup in the center of their village. From there we enter into the lair."
He grunts out his agreement and states, "This sounds good."
She then offers, "We will take the left flank with Athur and Cyril. Saronis praises you for your advancements."
By the morning Cyril is all leveled up. Arthur likely is as well.
He spends some alone time with his cook and the captain each day, you even see him sneaking the cook into the Captain's Quarters.
He plays on his lute an hour, likely playing with Cyril as they watch the clouds pass.
When he wakes up he does his pushups, calisthenics, shadow sparring, and general pushing himself likely with members of The Bright, Saronis, and Cyril.
Maya offers a duel and summilarily defeats Arthur pinning him to the ground multiple times.
He eats meals with the crew doing his best to be affable and liked.
Taking some time before bed time he casts spells and works on arcane work.
He does not spend much time sleeping, he has invited Cyril and Saronis to craft in his dimension, though when he opens it, it stays where he opened it as the ship cont8nues on... "Oh... uh... at least I didn't put a hole into the ship?! Okay since this didnt work I am going to talk with the Caprain and see if we can get a workshop made in the hold. You are all welcome to help in anyway you can."
The second day the ship stops for a few hours to get fresh water. Also to clean out the honey buckets. During this time Arthur is no where to be found. Arthur collects Cyril, Saffire, and Saronis taking you down to the hold where he has been busy since last night. In the belly of the ship working on making a workshop including a forge to craft with. Saronis is helping with the logistics as Arthur works on the arcane side hopefully with Cyril's aid. He keeps sending Saffire to find materials to help be used in the workshops construction. One of his last wishes is to make the ship's structure in the hold to be fireproof. But it doesn't work. "Well at least we can use the hammer and anvil."
By the morning Cyril is all leveled up. Arthur likely is as well.
"I beg pardon, Saffire. But..I can feel myself in the process of going to the next level. You spoke about your own experiences. may i please have you assistance?"
He spends some alone time with his cook and the captain each day, you even see him sneaking the cook into the Captain's Quarters.
Cyril sees Stavian visit the Captain's Quarters, and does his best to also get an invite.
Arthur plays on his lute an hour, likely playing with Cyril as they watch the clouds pass.
When he wakes up he does his pushups, calisthenics, shadow sparring, and general pushing himself likely with members of The Bright, Saronis, and Cyril.
Cyril does take part in musical accompaniment with his bardic friend, much to the crew's delight. Though Stavian is clearly the favorite performer of the two. The young noble also partakes in the fitness regiment offered.
During some other quiet time, Cyril takes out The Black Book, the holy text of The Mistress, reading and rereading the text, to better help understand his new divine patron.
Seeing Arthur's dimensional faux pas, Cyril will wait to get back on solid land to check on the contents of his dimensional pocket, with the goal of trying to find out the value stored within from the golem processing.
The second day the ship stops for a few hours to get fresh water. Also to clean out the honey buckets. During this time Arthur is no where to be found. Arthur collects Cyril, Saffire, and Saronis taking you down to the hold where he has been busy since last night. In the belly of the ship working on making a workshop including a forge to craft with. Saronis is helping with the logistics as Arthur works on the arcane side hopefully with Cyril's aid. He keeps sending Saffire to find materials to help be used in the workshops construction. One of his last wishes is to make the ship's structure in the hold to be fireproof. But it doesn't work. "Well at least we can use the hammer and anvil."
"Stavian!" Cyril exclaims. "I know you share a..", the young noble tries to spare the others of the details, ..special relationship with the Captain. but did you get permission to set this up on HER ship?!?"
With Arthur's permission, Cyril will identify the horn and belt from the tomb.
Saffire agrees to help Cyril. No complications arise.
The five of them have many oragies.
To make it simple the books confers a trait bonus to the checks after the needed time of study.
He states as if it is obvious, "Yes I got permission." Then he adds in an enlightening manner, "I told her anyone could use it and I would create her every tenth item. It is a high commodity and only increases the value of the ship. Well unless a fire gets out of hand. But that is always a threat to a boat."
"So, how far does this partnership go? Are you effectively a partner in The Lighting Gryphon?" Examining the hammer once more, Cyril comments, "Hard to believe the price to pay to use the hammer's creative abilities is so low for sublime individuals as we are."
The investigative wizard rescinds himself and speaks. "I have prayed to The Mistress to become a member of her faith. And She has accepted my plea. I jst thought I should let you all know."
"Not yet but that is a great idea! Especially since we get along with them so swimmingly!"
He shrugs and offers, "Or at least that we have seen yet. I need the spell bestow curse or break enchantment to work on taking off the curses. You should try identifying it every day to see if you gleam any new info on it!"
A bit intrigued and surprised he states, "Well welcome to the cloth, fold, whatever. I don't think it has been formalized, likely need a cleric to help with the connection but I pray to her and work at following her ways. Though it has been walking through mud as I don't have a holy symbol or text to guide me. Maybe we look for a cleric when possible!"
Cyril smiles, then accesses his cosmic ring to produce The Black Book. "You may borrow my copy", the new convert said. "I received it as a gift. It waited for me in my dimensional pocket."
"Nice that would be great! Oh cool!"
He shrugs and offers, "Or at least that we have seen yet. I need the spell bestow curse or break enchantment to work on taking off the curses. You should try identifying it every day to see if you gleam any new info on it!"
"Well, I shall attempt to identify more of the anvil's properties tomorrow. I will identify the belt and the horn today," Cyril concludes.
"I understand you need some type of crafting expertise to use the anvil properly, but I've never had the inkling to learn. Acquiring knowledge was my passion, not metallurgy."
He quickly offers, "No worries, now I have something to go to sleep by! See you tomorrow!"
Cyril bows in consent. "Sleep well." Then turn s to leave the shop.
The young noble discreetly enters Saffire's quarters, and studies his spellbook until bed.
The next day you wake up to being jostled. Then a shrill whistle can be heard.
Cyril wakes up abruptly. Understanding the whistle may be an alarm, the young noble dresses quickly, grabbing his gear. The investigative wizard makes a bee line to the deck.
Several more times the ship is jostled. Upon coming onto deck you see the crew members scurry around trying to secure loose sails and rigging. Then you see a shadow fly overhead. Dragons of one sort or another are attacking the ship! You see some of the crewmembers with long polearms as others work to setup a ballistic.
Ed barks up at the flying lizards!
He stands at the railing with one hand on it as his other is on his chest. He looks prepared for battle with armor. In a flash his bow and arrows are in his hand and he lets the arrow fly!
Lord Cyril casts a spell at the dragonic form overhead then talks into his hand. message
a dark blue dragon, its wings immense and its tail tipped with a hooked stinger, lands on deck wirh its two taloned feet and roars a challenge. You have seen at least five of them circle the ship.
Although constantly hungry and prone to mayhem, a wyvern that can be befriended (usually through a delicate combination of flattery, intimidation, food, and treasure) becomes a powerful ally. They often serve giants and monstrous humanoids as guardians, and some lizardfolk and boggard tribes even use them as mounts, although such arrangements are quite costly in terms of food and gold, for few are the wyverns who would willingly serve as steeds for lesser creatures for long.
A wyvern is about 16 feet in length, half of which is tail. The average wyvern weighs 2,000 pounds.
It has a poisonous stringer that can paralyze.
The contacted Wyvern responds in draconic, "You have entered our territory. Will you offer gifts for safe passage?"
"Captain MOON!" Cyril shouts over the noise. "They are wyverns. We have entered their territory and wants tribute for safe passage!"
Realizing that Cyril is in communication with at least one of them shouts, "What do they want, gold, animals, or something else?"
After relaying the message, the dragon responds in Draconic, "We will land and parlay."
Hearing from Cyril shr says, "Let them land. Everyone on alert, no attacking unless I give the order. We are going to have some large scalely guests."
Two dark blue dragons, their wings immense and their tails tipped with a hooked stinger, lands on deck wirh their two taloned feet and roars a challenge. Though neither of them act anymore. With no attacks from the crew members a larger darker wyvern comes to land on the front portion of the ship and speaks in Draconic, "You wish to parlay? Bring your offerings before me!"
She nods to Saffire and takes the helm from her. Saffire quickly goes down the stairs gathering several crew members on the way. Several minutes pass and then they bring up several goats, turkeys, and some large slabs of frozen meat. Next a large eel is brought up in a barrel. Last Saffire returns with a decent sized chest and once it opens you see much glittering gold.
Then the captain says in common letting Cyril translate, "We offer up the animals to sate your appetite and offer three hundred gold as tribute. You may have the chest and will find it mostly filled with gold."
Cyril cancels the message spell and steps next to captain moon.
"We are currently under parlay. They did not say what type of offerings they wanted. Just to bring to before them."
The young noble translates for the wyverns.
"A nice tribute as far as I can tell", Cyril whispers to the Captain Moon.
"We accept your gifts and tribute but expect the sme if you come back through our territory again!" The big one points at the chest and does a come hither motion with his finger. When the chest is within reach he grabs it and jumps off. The other wyverns snatch the goats and the eel before doing the same.
As thew wyverns fly off with their tribute, Cyril stands next to the sea captain.
"Captain Moon, that was a very impressive negotiation. Well done!"
She says with relief on her face, "Well it would not have gone so smoothly if you had not been here. Thank you Cyril!"
Saffire comes over and gives Cyril a hug and then comes over to take back the helm.
She offers before going to her quarters, "Would you keep an eye out we should be seeing red dragons next, and we don't have the tribute they will ask for. Crew attack on sight of red dragons!"
Cyril gave a jaunty salute. "Aye-aye, Captain." The young noble began to climb the mast to the crow's nest.
Most of the day passes and below you see hills that turn into mountains. Warm mountains that may have a few speckles on the tallest tip but mostly bare of snow. A large red dragon flies up to investigate the ship but as the batista shoot off bolts towards it, it just veers off.
The next day a huge red dragon comes towards the ship but a squad of large golden dragons chase it off. One of them returns with a rider. He drops from the dragon and slams into the deck ungracefully. Pulling himself up he states, "Welcome to the Verge. Are you associated with a guild or a force?" He casts some minor healing to help speed up the healing.
The captain comes over and offers him a hand to get up. She states, "This is my ship, we belong the the Free Runners, among holding several elite troops too. Thank you for running off the dragon. We are headed up to the Goliath Camp, will your forces escort us?"
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"We see them as a foe and a challenge before our true mission. Send the signal and let us have a conversation with your leader."
He shakes his head, saying, "I think you got the wrong idea. I am merely a messenger and foot soldier to the Golden Army. I can signal them to come back but my commander would have to make that decision. Though it does matter if you see the Goliath tribe as friend or foe?"
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"Good, they have allied with several Reds. I am sure they will happily help." He pulls out a mirror and aims it toward the dragons.
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Soon enough the fleet of five large golden dragons land upon the railing or upon the deck. The one wearing a crown of some kind and has several obvious magical items steps forwards, [b]"Greetings Wanderers, my soldier has told me that you are foes to the Goliath Tribe and seek our aid. What treasure do you seek? We need to know the magnitude of it before we answer to agreements and contracts.
Cyril stands with the others on deck to witness the utter majesty of the gold dragons. These Kings among Dragons. These utter monarchs. The heroes of untold stories and legends. Paragons of Goodness and Justice.
Cyril shakily steps forward and kneels before them, averting his gaze, for he feels unworthy to meet these mighty creatures' eyes.
"My Lords. Thank you for communicating with us in our native tongue. I am Cyril Lucan of House Lucan of Avalon, descendant of Sir Lucan the Butler of Camelot. It is my highest honor to make your acquaintances."
"Of course! I know of your line! My father dealt with your ancestors, allied with them if I remember correctly. Oh let me make it less stressing." With that the frightful presence falls from all the dragons.
Cyril feels the heavy presence of the dragons fade. The young noble stands and addressed the gold dragon. "Captain Moon", the wizard directs the dragon's attention to ship proprietor, "is sailing several parties on this ship into the Verge. Some wish for revenge. Some for glory. Some for Good. I am here following my father's map. To what ever end, who can say. But Captain Moon has more authority to discuss finer details than I."
The dragon shifts into a human form obvious with draconic features and nods to his other dragons. Sagely he calmly states, "Then we shall discuss the finer details in private."
A few minutes pass by before the draconic human returns to the deck. He looks pleased and walks over to the railing before jumping over it. After he drops 50 feet he transforms into a dragon and the others swoop after him. The guard being held by one of the dragon's feet.
Cyril looked on with concern. "Goodness! I hope that man wasn't to be considered a snack."
A nearby crewmember states, "No he was brought to us by them before."
The captain comes out and blows her whistle, which is the signal for everyone assemble on deck. She gives them exactly two minutes and then states, "We have secured a contract with the golden dragons. They will escort us and if possible a larger brother will be helping us with the Goliath Clan. A slight detour to the Golden Dragons territory, we will be their guests for two nights. On the third day we venture out with the best aid available. Cyril and Arthur will be running the diplomatic aspect of the night's festivities. You may all drink and eat to your hearts content on the first night."
Within an hour chests of tribute are ready, the ship is coming into port landing in a lake ontop of the large mountain. It appears to arrive at a stone pier. Human commoners work in securing the ship. No guards and very few weapons are even sheathed. A beautiful elven woman in a blue dress comes to greet you and escorts you all to the feasting hall. "Please make yourselves at home your hosts will be with you soon."