"You found the captain's keys, correct, Allia?" Petry asked the woman. "The captain let him on deck a few times, he wasn't treated like a murderer. I hate seeing people tied up - and shipwrecked as we are on this island, we're going to need every able body we have. I say we unlock his manacles. It's not like he's going to run off."
"Yes, I found his keys" she nods in response "I'm not worried he runs away, I'm worried he'll kill us or worse. He's been locked up for weeks or months now, are ten minutes more till we find out why really that terrible? It must be something serious, or do you think they'd hunt an apple-thief across the world into Cheliax? It must be something serious, right?"
At Kalis' words, he brightens. "I am innocent. I swear it!"
Hearing Allia mention finding his things, he turns to her with intensity. "You found my things? Was my holy symbol inside?" Then, in a little more desperation, "Please, please, please. I am innocent. Undo these chains and allow me to help us!"
Petry sighed at Allia's stubborn face. Turning to Jask, he said, "Jask, if it was up to me, or my skills at picking locks were better, you'd be free of those manacles right now. But," Petry continued, looking at the sensuous brunette sideways, "you're going to have to convince us to let you go, without a heavy guard, which we can't afford, shipwrecked as we are. Tell us your story. Tell us why you should be freed, and not kept a prisoner. Tell us what's in this box labeled with your name. I'm afraid others here won't agree until you tell them."
Kalis' face surprisingly softens when he turns to Jask. I hope you are innocent, the spirits are not kind to the guilty. I can not prove it though, nor can you. We will focus on what we do know instead. We should look in the chest, and if the captain had any papers, then we should look at those as well.
"That's all I'm asking" she replies to Kalis.
"I have the keys here, one of them should unlock the chest with his name."
She moves over to the chest and tries out different keys on it.
Turning to Petry, Jask says, "Thank you for words. I am in chains because I spoke the truth about people more powerful and important than I am." His voice breaks and he is silent for just a moment. That is when Kalis starts speaking.
As he finishes, Jask says, "But I can prove it - or rather - we - can prove it. Just please, release me."
After trying a few keys, Allia manages to find one that will open the footlocker. Jask gasps as it opens and tries to move over to peer in. Immediately, Ishirou stands and blocks his way. "You wait here," he says.
Inside you find Jask's gear - a masterwork dagger, a suit of leather armor, two potions, a holy symbol of a two-faced deity, and a spell component pouch. Additionally, there is a note written to the captain. Allia reads it aloud:
This prisoner, Jask Derindi, is to be returned to Sargava for trial. It is in your best interest, to keep him separated from the crew and passengers - he is not dangerous, but my employer requests that he not be allowed to speak with anyone. Should you disobey this request, it would be unpleasant for you and your ship. Additionally, he requests that you keep this prisoner's gear for safe-keeping. I do not know why - and do not care to ask.
You will be paid the standard fee of 350gp for his transfer and the final amount upon his safe arrival in Eleder. Of course, should you have any problems with this man, you are free to kill him. Should this be necessary, you forfeit 50% of your delivery fee.
It is simply signed "X".
After reading the letter aloud, Allia sits back and sighs.
"Well it says here he's not dangerous, and that letter sounds real, doesn't it? I don't know, I'm no expert with criminals. Maybe one of you wants to check?"
She holds out the letter for anyone to take.
"That letter is certainly suspicious. I'm more interested in the holy symbol. Jask - you're a cleric? Can you tell us who you represent? Or can anyone identify this holy symbol?" Petry asked.
Allia picks up the holy symbol and looks at it closely, trying to remember if she saw it before. She is fairly certain it's not a symbol depicting Calistria, but other than that, she had no idea, and so she simply puts it back or hands it to someone else to examine, and shakes her head.
"I am a follower of Nethys, yes. I have served him all of my life." he says. He quickly adds, "If any of you are familiar with him, you can attest that he is not an evil or nefarious deity."
Dragolan mulls over what Jask said. "I am no religious scholar--odd, yes, but once upon a time my family thought that would separate me from my Mystery. So I cannot say. However, I would ask: Ishirou, do you have a particular reason for seeing this man continue to be restrained?"
"The captain was not a fool. Nor was he cruel. If this man is locked up, I believed he should be locked up." He pauses. "But this letter...I don't know. You do with him as you please. He is of little concern to me. He is too old and frail to hurt any of us - except perhaps the captain's...servant."
Aerys is growing impatient as well. "Oh, just free the man. He's a harmless old cleric. Now, was there any rum left on board? It would help...calm my nerves."
Meraxes shakes the chest a little bit to hear rattling of what is in it.
"hmmm"
"I say free him. We're most likely trapped on this island for the time being. I care not for petty contracts like that."
"I agree. I tire of hearing his whining. And surely all of us can subdue him and put him back in the manacles once we are rescued to claim the rest of that reward, no?" Gelik chuckles. When Jask looks at him in anger, he says, "I'm jesting, of course! I'm sure we will come to adore you and believe in your claims of innocence. Isn't that how these stories always go?"
"Well... would his captors, those people that allegidly set him up for crimes he perhaps didn't commit, would they write "he's not dangerous"? Wouldn't they write "incredibly dangerous" if they were lying about what a threat he is? So maybe that part in the letter is the truth?"
Kalis listens to each person talk in turn until there is a pause. It is clear that most of us agree on this, and even Ichiro does not object strongly. Why wait? Let us take off his...manacles.
If no one objects, Kalis takes the keys and releases Jask. He nods at Jask as he unlocks the last manacle. Please do not make us regret this decision.
"I don't remember Nethys being one of the devil-worshiping groups in Cheliax, at least." Petry said out loud. (General Knowledge check: ) "Allia, please give Kalis the keys. I think we can trust him. But I still want to hear his story, later, when we have time. Right now we need to get out of this hot sun and near some shade." The young man was still breathing hard after moving all that equipment.
Allia nods and hands Kalis a whole bunch of keys "I don't know which one is the right one"
She looks up at the sky and nods "Yes, maybe that's the best. We can go through what we found then."
You don't remember anything specific about Nethys, but you are certain he isn't associated with evil.
As Jask's manacles fall away, he stretches his arms, obviously glad to be able to move them fully again. "Thank you," he says. He goes over to his equipment and looks down. "May I?" he asks.
"If no one else objects, neither do I." Ishirou says quietly. "Now, we need to set up camp. I believe Brin knows where to lead us."
"I shall help."
Kalis walks off, assuming that Jask will be allowed his gear. He picks up a hand axe and walks off into the jungle and cuts down several small trees. He brings them back to use to make slings with the sailcloth. He splits up the gear, so the group can more easily carry. Finally, he looks up at Brin while getting under one end of one of the slings, and says You have spotted a campsite?
Jask kneels, picks up his gear - kissing the idol before placing it around his neck. He dons his armor and stows his dagger and potions. He brightens greatly.
Stepping into the jungle a little, the group manage to find a large enough open area to make a camp using the canvas sheets, lumber, shovels and various other tools found on the ship. The work is extremely hard-going, and various insects plague the party. Dragolan quickly realizes that disease could be a deadly problem here, best combated by using the shelter you have built to sleep and minimized by keeping a fire constantly burning, which will help drive the insects away.
The work is tough, but even the depressed castaways help out. Jask is a whirlwind of energy, grinning like a young man again as he goes to and fro. The heat becomes more and more oppressive as the midday sun approaches, and Kalis and Brin think that the midday to early evening sun is likely to be so hot that the best thing to do is stay put for a few hours each day, or risk severe heat fatigue.
The group settle down for their first lunch on Smuggler's Shiv - mark off 11 rations please for the whole group's meal .
"I cannot express my gratitude to you for believing me. Since you have done such, I will tell you my story, if you care to hear it."
"I have already told you I was innocent - but not of what. I was once employed by the Sargavan government, but when I uncovered evidence of corruption involving illicit deals with the Free Captains of the Shackles, I confronted my superior, only to be betrayed and framed for the same crimes. Faced with imprisonment, I fled all the way to Corentyn, where I've lived in relative peace for a decade." He pauses before continuing.
He begins with a little more anger in his voice. "I thought my enemies had forgotten me, but a Sargavan agent - the "X" who wrote the letter to the captain - caught up with me and put me in irons. The agent handed me over to the captain of the Jenivere for delivery to Eleder to be tried for a crime I didn't commit."
"I know that it is hard to believe that I am innocent. That I was framed."
Gelik snorts "You got that right, old man," Jask ignores him.
"One of the incriminating papers that I found so long ago indicated that one of my superior’s contacts in the Shackles was a man named Avret Kinkarian. Kinkarian’s ship, the Brine Demon, was said to have wrecked here on Smuggler’s Shiv. I...know it’s a long shot, but if we could track the ship and explore the wreck, there may be actual evidence aboard to prove my innocence." As he finishes, he realizes that he has spoken more to you than any other person for some time.
Allia listens to the story Jask tells, and once he's finished asks him "But isn't the alliance of Sargava and the Free Captains public knowledge and about a century old already?"
As Jask announces that he will share his story, Kalis squats down and settles on his heals, a position in which he seems comfortable staying for hours. He gives Jask his full attention and nods at the parts he understands, although there is much that he does not seem to really be able to connect with.
After a few moments of contemplation he says, I do not understand all that you have said, but I know what it is to have someone put the blame on you for something they have done. Weak, evil people act the same, whether in your cities or in the wild. My suggestion for what we do after we have settled in camp was to send out a smaller group to find food and to see what we may find on this island. If we find this boat, this Brine Demon, then I see no reason not to search it then. That is only my word though, others may see it differently.
"I don't know about Sargava." Petry tells Allia and Kalis as he finished up.
Captain's Quarters:
several keys
one set of ordinary manacles (previously owned by Jask)
several sea charts and maps
the captain’s log
a bottle of fine brandy (50gp)
a darkwood model of the Jenivere in a glass bottle (100 gp)
a small coffer containing 350 gp
long leather satchel
four potions of cure light wounds
potion of cure moderate wounds
four potions of lesser restoration
potion of remove disease
potion of water breathing
potion of water walking
Large footlocker marked with crude writing, reading Jask Derindi: a masterwork dagger, a suit of leather armor, two potions, a holy symbol of a two-faced deity, a note, and a spell component pouch. (Jask gets everything inside.)
Supply Room:
masterwork studded leather armor
masterwork short sword
block and tackle
3 large canvas sheets
2 fishing nets
1 grappling hook
2 bullseye lanterns
12 flasks of lantern oil
150 feet of hemp rope
5 shovels
Larder:
48 days of food-11
From Petry's backpack to add to the party:
fishhook and 100 feet of twine as fishing line
2 days of rations
1 two-man tent (for the ladies)
2 bags of caltrops (two 5-foot squares)
(and if anyone else needs ink, Petry has 8 vials of ink to share)
Petry will take:
the sea charts and maps
the captain's log
1 potion of cure light wounds "We should spread these out." he said.
Once everyone is settled in the new camp, Allia opens her backpack and takes out the things she found in the captain's cabin and shows them around to everyone.
As Petry tries to grab the captain's log, Allia herself tries to stop him "Hey, that's not yours. The captain will want that back, once we find him!"
She picks up the bottle with the model ship afterwards "I'd like to keep this, for memory's sake. You know, since the real one is gone now." She sounds genuinely sad and after a few more moments examines the masterwork armor "This one seems to be alot better than mine, which is itching and pinching me everywhere. It's fine to wear for a few minutes, but not all day. I think it was maybe made for a man. If someone wants my old one then, you can have it", indicating her normal studded leather armor.
She doesn't really seem to care too much about everything else in the pile.
"I think we should divide the rations up so everyone has the same, right? But they won't really last that long, do you think we'll find food here?"
Petry, surprised, said "I'm keeping the maps and journal because I like maps, and this way we can turn them back into whatever company he was founded from in Eleder. I was just keeping it in one place."
"Oh you can have the maps, I don't know how to use them, but maybe one of you can figure out where we are. But the journal is the captain's and I'm keeping it." It didn't sound like she was willing to budge on this.
"Fine. Keep the Captain's log, then." Petry tells Allia, too tired to argue any further.
Gelik is pleased that the camp has come together so quickly. He draws himself up to his full height, his aristocratic clothes somehow still immaculate despite the labours of the morning.
"Now, I have been thinking about this camp that I supervised the setting up of. Obviously any exploration of the camp should be left to you lot," he says, gesturing at the PCs. "But to ensure our survival, we at the camp will have to take on roles. This island is bound to be hostile, and having a safe haven is critical. I say again, CRITICAL!"
Defender: A defender works to set traps, shore up a shelter’s walls, and see to the safety of the campsite. Sasha and Ishirou can serve as defenders.
Entertainer: An entertainer helps to raise hopes for rescue—each entertainer grants NPCs a +2 bonus on Will saves to increase morale (wel'll talk about morale, soon). Gelik and Aerys can serve as Entertainers.
Guard: Each guard reduces the chance of a wandering monster attacking the camp during the day or night. Aerys and Ishirou can serve as guards.
Hunter: Each hunter provides enough food and water for eight Medium creatures per day. Jask and Sasha can serve as hunters.
Medic: Each medic reduces the chance of being exposed to disease and increases the number of hit points healed naturally during a night’s rest in the camp by 2. Gelik and Jask can serve as medics (note, with shelter and a fire your chance for disease is already decreased).
Jask, overhearing Petry and Allia's little disagreement, moves over. "You have the captain's log?" he asks. "Would you be willing to allow someone to review it to perhaps uncover what happened?"
Every time Aerys drinks from her flask of water she grimaces. Turning to Allia she asks, "I don't suppose your little cold water trick could make this water brandy, could it?" She doesn't sound like she's joking.
A few moments later she begins to cry. Her head is buried in her hands as she quietly sobs.
Kalis listens carefully to Gelick's clearly well planned speech and responds The little peacock says wise words. I believe his plan is a good one.
Kalis seems very uncomfortable with Aerys' crying, his eyes darting around looking for someone to step forward to speak to her.
Allia shakes her head "No, I'm sorry, I can't do that. I heard of some people that can do it, but it tastes like cheap, low quality wine. But that's not important, because I can't do it."
She looks around over the rest of the loot, to see if they recovered a barrel of rum or something, and if she doesn't see any she picks up the the bottle of brandy she found in the captains quarters, from among the things, actually surprised Aerys hadn't seen it already. "No, I only found this bottle here from the captain's private stash. But it seems it's the very last we have, so if you drink it all, then that's it till we're rescued, so you best ration it"
"I'm with Jask about the logs, Allia. Please let us see them."
"They're the captain's logs, he wouldn't want anyone to read them." She sighs, really uncomfortable with this, but she begins to see that they are right "Does anyone of you know anything about how a ship works? Otherwise I don't think you'll understand what he wrote in there anyway."
"What a loyal slave you are! Bravo! No one here can doubt your loyalty and devotion." Meraxes sarcastically applauds Allia.
"Now, please hand them over, girl. They could very well hold the keys to survival. survival. You want to get off this island, don't you? I'm sure someone here can decipher them. Possibly, even you."
At Allia's question about knowing how a ship works, Aerys looked up from her crying, but says nothing.
Allia glares at Meraxes for a second "Fine, I'll see what he wrote"
She opens the journal and searches for the last pages, and begins to read.
As Allia flips through to the later pages, the log reveals that Kovack seemed to be suffering from some sort of madness that grew over the course of the ship’s final voyage. She notes that earlier entries from previous voyages are precise in recording progress and events along the way, as are entries from the first two-thirds of this last trip. Yet as Allia reads further, the more recent
the entries get, the less common they become. In some cases, several days are missing entries. What entries do appear are strangely short, focusing more and more on one of the passengers — the Varisian scholar Ieana, with whom the captain seemed to have become obsessed. Several entries are nothing more than poorly written love poems to Ieana, while others bemoan Captain Kovack’s inability to please her or catch her attention. Near the end, the entries begin to take on a more ominous tone with the captain starting to complain that other members of the crew are eyeing “his Ieana.” In particular, he suspects his first mate is in love with her, and writes several times about how he wishes Alton would just “have an accident.”
The final entry is perhaps the most disturbing, for in it the captain writes of how he’s changed course for Smuggler’s Shiv at Ieana’s request. He hopes that the two of them can make a home on the remote island, but also notes that the crew are growing increasingly agitated at the ship’s new course. The captain muses that “something may need to be done about the crew” if their suspicions get any worse.
The more Allia reads in the captain's journal the wider her eyes become in disbelief and shock. More than once she flips the pages to go back to previous entries to compare them to the most recent ones.
At first she tries to shoo anyone away that would try to peek over her shoulder, even going so far as closing the book completely till they left again, but those attempts grow weaker fast, and in the end she doesn't even say anything anymore.
"No no, this can't be true. Why would he do that... it can't be..."
"What does it say?"
"It says that he brought us here on purpose, because that woman, Ieana, told him to. I mean the ship, because she wanted to go here. Thats why he changed the course. And I think he wanted to kill Alton, the first mate. But that's not like him, she must have put a spell on him! He's not mad!"
See! I told you! Kalis slaps his knee and stands up. Someone put a spell on her. Ieana was probably not even a woman, she was probably just an evil spirit!
Meraxes is taken back for a moment. Both elated that his pressuring of Allia lead to news about their predicament and didn't make him feel like a total ass but at the same time the news only adds another layer of the mystery of their wreck and leads them no where closer to getting off this island, back to eleder, nor an answer to these headaches that he gets.
"Well....that wasn't what I expected."
He thinks the news over for a few minutes.
"Well at least it sounds like the captain is alive. Possibly insane with love for Ieana, Possibly charmed by Ieana, Possibly just simply insane, but alive!"