Ansha murmured a cantrip, then looked around the room.
"There's something off about that statuette..." she said, reaching out to touch it with one ungloved hand.
If so History,
Religion,
Gurthock is informed though for now he puts his massive voice and frame to better uses encouragnig and terrifying the crew.
Ansha touched the statuette gingerly, then picked it up and shook it lightly. "I think that these statuettes were used to spy on--or possibly communicate with--Hawk and the captain."
right, so you guys want to skip to when you arrive back at port?
Or until the next atack or the captain wakes up enough the question about who exactly sent him the statue.
I figure a couple of dedicated days of work by the magical amongst us should unlock exactly what the statues are for.
What was on that letter we found in Hawks room? Exact wording would be nice but any clue to the 'old friend' would be great. I assume the letter writer did not refer to themselves as 'an old friend'
Thayalh left the ring alone since it appeared to be harmless, or even beneficial, to the captain. Looking around he found a cloth, either a hand towel or piece of clothing most likely, and covered the statue before hefting it under one arm. "Good captain, I'll be borrowing this for the time being." Not that he expected a coherent response.
Exiting he grabed the poisoned drink and brought it to Gurthock. "Careful, this is the drink that seems to have poisoned our captain. Perhaps you could track down where it originated from before someone else gets sick? I need to converse with our Mage. Do you require an assistance out here with the ship?" Not that he would stay himself when he had a magic artifact of sorts to address. He would send out one of the others.
Entering Mr. Hawk's cabin he looked around the room. If there is any open drink he would cast detect poison before speaking. He set the statue on a table and pulled off the cloth. "You were correct, master monk. There was a similar statue. Ansha, did you likewise detect divining magic? These may have been how we were so easily found and besieged."
Ansha nodded, still rather carelessly shaking the statuette. "I did, and I believe so as well. I was actually just about to inspect this trinket more closely. I don't suppose you are familiar with identification magic? I wish I had a spell like that about now."
Ansha studied the statuette more closely.
Durant pauses in thought.
"If this is how we were found then removing these figures and making sure there are no more might allow us to continue our mission.
There is also this letter found in Mr.Hawks chamber. Should we choose to return to port this 'R.T.' may provide a lead.
There are many paths you cannot walk yet they are still paths."
Ansha looked up after studying the trinket for a few minutes. "Interesting...There is definitely a scrying spell of some sort on this. One that allows for multiple people to view it at once. Thayalh, are you familiar with curses? I think these statuettes curse their owners as well, though I don't know how."
She carefully sets the statuette down, then looks herself over.
Durant calmly walks out of Hawks quarters and beckkonc Ansha and anyone else in them to follow him.
If Thayalh is here with the other statue he will bow to the elf and hold out his arms wordlessly requesting the statue.
If everyone complies: Quickly place the captain's statue in a handy closet or room other than Hawks and close the door and the door to Hawks quarters. "It would be best not to say anythin important around those artworks. They most likely know their magic has been discovered but no need to give away too much. I suggest that the ships carpenter rig two barrells or boxes with ballast and sails. We then put the statues covered in sacks in these little boats and send them away. That should prevent our foes from tracking us."
Having healed the crew, Pernella waits for her companions to finish their investigation by donning her armor and patrolling the deck of the ship, periodically casing detect evil at the sea.
Eventually when she is informed of what was found she nods along at the idea of casting the statues adrift. After several hours of thought while stalking the ship she goes to Ansha and asks, "Ansha if you will pardon the intrusion, I am no student of the arcane but is there no way to use these statues in anyway against our malefactors?"
Ansha shook her head. "Any method of doing so is beyond me. I am a bit curious whether these devices serve as foci for scrying, allowing them to see the whole ship at once, or whether they can only see what is within line of sight to the statuettes. Either way, Durant's idea to jettison them should work."
Ansha shook her head. "Any method of doing so is beyond me. I am a bit curious whether these devices serve as foci for scrying, allowing them to see the whole ship at once, or whether they can only see what is within line of sight to the statuettes. Either way, Durant's idea to jettison them should work."
My only concern is that sending the statues away may make saving the captain more difficult. Breaking the curse may require the focus that cast it.
Still the lives of the crew are more important.
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Ansha
Ansha studied the statuette again, chewing on her lower lip gently. After a few more whispered words and a bit of time, she spoke. "Actually, I think I recognize the auras on this statuette. The curse only affects the person who claims to 'own' the statuette, and causes mindless undead and the like to follow and attack the 'owner.' A spell used to remove curses would work to neutralize the curse, but...I don't have knowledge of that spell, and we would have to destroy the statuette to make the removal stick. Or have the current owner give it to someone else, which would make them the new cursed owner."
She raised her eyes to Durant and Pernella. "So I don't think that sending the trinkets away on a bit of flotsam--or just throwing it overboard--would work. We should probably be on the alert for further attacks as long as the captain is on the ship, too."
She raised her eyes to Durant and Pernella. "So I don't think that sending the trinkets away on a bit of flotsam--or just throwing it overboard--would work. We should probably be on the alert for further attacks as long as the captain is on the ship, too."
Durant looks thoughtful "Perhaps if we sent Mr.Hawks trinket away in a barrel-boat and moved the captain's to a sealed box in the bilge we might divide the attention the foe can spare us. At least until they discover which is the lure and which the fish."
She raised her eyes to Durant and Pernella. "So I don't think that sending the trinkets away on a bit of flotsam--or just throwing it overboard--would work. We should probably be on the alert for further attacks as long as the captain is on the ship, too."Durant looks thoughtful "Perhaps if we sent Mr.Hawks trinket away in a barrel-boat and moved the captain's to a sealed box in the bilge we might divide the attention the foe can spare us. At least until they discover which is the lure and which the fish."
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The boat on its way back drifted a bit out of course, and how after a week of travel you are back to the main land, though arriving at an elven harbour rather than the one the boat left from. This elven harbour hasn’t seen much conflict and seems intact, you’re about 10 minutes from reaching the bay, and the captain has recovered but is still bed bound.
In any case the statues will be sewn into multiple layers of bags and the boxes tightly packed with okum or whathave you. I want neither light nor sound to reach those dammed things. The boxes will be stored in Hawks room with the door locked.
The harbor.
Questions.
Do I know this harbor? Have I been here or nearby before?
Or do I know of it?
Does the harbor seem normal? Smoke from cooking, birds flyng about, fishing boats, normal approaching land smells and sounds, nothing odd in the water?
Is there a pilot/customs/patrol boat heading for us?
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Durant
there are a few fishing boats on the ocean but no one is heading towards you
Durant speaks to the others.
"This town has grown. Perhaps there will be a temple where we can free the captain of this curse before the next attack."
"I will remain onboard to guard the captain. Please go ashore to find a priest and inform the local military authorities of our failure."
Ansha frowned, then nodded. "I'll see what I can find."
With that, the elf enchantress walked off the gangplank toward the bustling port.
Durant walks onto the deck and calls.
"Hold on Ansha. I'll buy you breakfast."
Behind him the Captain can be seen leaving his cabin wiping off the makeup and talking on his cell phone. Talking to his agent from the tone of voice.
Around then the set crew starts to break down the boat. Johnny, one of the zombie/stuntmen walks by carrying the two statues back to props.
"Yeah.. it looks like we've been cancled. Still I know a little place down on tenth. They do a killer plate of huevos rancheros."