Avarthiel, we won't be far away. Call us if you need us.
Dantes will see what he can do to get into that supply room. He'll try to be quiet at first, but if it resists too much he'll make noise if he needs to.
Kystra follows Avarthiel into the captain's quarters. Kystra will assist her in gathering up keys and anything else of use. Kystra will also cast Detect Magic to ensure they are not leaving anything important behind.
"Lead on." Kythas agrees with the druid, stepping back slightly to allow her to take the lead with her bestial vision. Smirking at both her and the dwarf he adds, "Mark this day as the first time in history an elf felt his vision limited in compare to his companions."
Striking his sunrod and taking up a position at the middle, Kythas follows far enough behind Lilly so the light doesn't completely give away her position as the three descend into the ship.
Approaching the supply room, the elf sees the red substance on the hatch and swipes his finger along a streak of it to confirm whether or not it's blood as his crewmate wrestles with breaching the barrier.
Turning to Lilly, he suggests, "We should see whats on the other side of that door as well." pointing the sunrod at the door Dantes isn't working to open.
I really should have prepared detect magic...
Avarthiel is relieved when Kystra announces that she has cast the spell and will keep an eye out for any auras. The lithe elf picks across the wall - now floor - with carefully placed footsteps and typical elven grace, avoiding broken glass. Nose wrinkled against the taint of oil, the wizard searches for the right key for the locked drawer.
"What do you see, Kystra? Keep an eye out for a small brass key ... I think that's the one we need." Avarthiel almost whispers. It seems somehow wrong to break the quiet of the captain's cabin.
Best keep an eye out for secret compartments, safes behind the portrait of the captain with a parrot, that kind of thing.
Kystra nods at Avarthiel's suggestion and begins to carefully look through everything.
Avarthiel and Kystra
The captain's cabin is rather empty as you both examine it thoroughly; while one of the keys you find is of brass, it is also too big to the small keyholes of the drawers. One of the keys are a solid black iron, and the last key is tarnished silver, too small for the drawers.
Examining the drawers, you do find that one drawer is locked, while another one contains a multitude of maps - and what appears to be Captain Kovack's journal...
Dantes, Kythas and Lilly
The substance dribbling out of the hatch is, in fact, blood. The hatch into the supply room is very brittle: the eurypterids seem to have been making an effort to break through the hatch to get to the source of the blood.
The door into the larder is unlocked. As Lilly opens the door, she steps back swiftly: a body comes tumbles out, crashing head-first into the inch-deep water.
The body of Rambar.
Perhaps we can succeed where mindless crustaceans couldn't. Dantes will continue to work on getting the hatch open.
When Rambar's body comes out, Dantes steps over. He'll kneel down next to the body. Can he tell how he was killed?
Heal check
Looking hopeful, Kystra says "Perhaps if we can find a sextant we can use it to figure out where we are with the maps."
Kystra holds up the journal and smiles, "In the very least, I have something new to read tonight."
While holding the journal, Kystra will flip to the last few entries to see if they might shed any light on the current situation.
Lastly, she will unsheath her dagger and study the locked drawer carefully. She will spend a couple minutes trying to figure out the best way to pry it open.
Without giving the dead man a second glance, Kythas steps over his corpse and enters the larder to begin searching for anything that is still remotely edible. Taking care to ensure that anything he grabs is still sealed, crated or appears to be safe enough to consider eating.
Perception (to make sure the stuff he takes out looks mostly untampered with)
The elf will pile everything he takes out close to the spot they jumped down from so they can easily transfer it back to the higher area of the wreck as soon as they're done exploring. (keeping water-tight containers on the bottom so nothing gets unduly soaked in seawater)
When he has removed everything he could, he'll return to Dantes and Lilly to see what they found out about the deceased cook.
"What killed the man Dantes?" he asked, seeming more concerned with the mans cause of death rather than the fact that he is dead.
Avarthiel & Kystra
You simply cannot pry the drawer open, despite all your attempts to do so with brute strength. You do know from the sound and feel that you are exceptionally close, however...if only somebody stronger was nearby...
Dantes, Kythas & Lilly
With a quick examination, Dantes reveals that Rambar's neck has been punctured. Inside the larder, there is a small pool of dried blood. Kythas finds that one crate has been soaked with blood - a crate of jerky and hard cheese. A lot of the supplies are in good condition, and likely edible; with your untrained eye, you surmise that there is enough food for two days. You also find a sturdy kettle, though some rust has begun to gather in the bottom...
A cursory glance of the journal's last entries reveal a strange obsession with Ieana, and a growing, ominous side of the captain that you have never before seen...
You are able to discern that he was, in fact, killed - but not by what, nor how long ago...
I can tell he was killed, just not by what, or who, or when.
Dantes stands and steps away from Rambar. But it wasn't just illness, or a failed heart, something natural like that.
Joining Kythas at the larder. Hey, good find! Hopefully we won't be here long enough to need that much food, but it is good to have on hand. Let's load it out. Even if a bit of it looks spoiled, like that jerky and cheese. Maybe there's a priestly sort among the others who can cleanse it and make it edible again.
Kythas, be ready in case something is behind this. He waits until Kythas has a weapon ready, then Dantes tries to force open the hatch. Strength check
That looks promising, but if it doesn't work, he'll take out his hand axe and start hacking at the door until it gives.
Frustrated by the locked drawer, Avarthiel decides to call for help. The elf leans out of the open doorway, and calls out loudly, "Hey! We need a little help in here with a lock. Somebody strong, or good with their fingers!"
Not sure if Dantes and Kythas will hear that...but someone on the beach should. Otherwise I'll just go get them.
"Anything interesting in the journal?" Avarthiel says to Kystra, noticing that she has started leafing through the book.
"Hmmmmm... the elf looked disappontedly at the available food. "Disgusting, dried beef and cheese. Looks like I'll be doing some fishing."
Upon hearing the dwarf's request, Kythas takes up a spot opposite Dantes near the hatch and readies his sharp elven blade to strike at anything that might spring out of the hatch with less than noble intent.
Kystra hands the journal over to Avarthiel to peruse.
"Maybe the fat fool locked himself in the larder after poisoning all of us and accidently poisoned himself?" Kythas mused as he waited for Dantes to break into the lower hold.
Thinking aloud for a moment, the elf suddenly thought of the blood on one of the crates of foodstuffs.
"You know Dantes," he remembered, nodding his head toward the now empty larder, "One of those crates I carried out was soaked pretty thoroughly with blood. If that idiot bled out in there, he probably has a telling wound somewhere on his body." Kythas shrugged as he pushed the concern out his mind, "Well, dead is dead and he'll still be waiting for us when we finish what we came down here for."
Returning back to the business at hand, he hears Avarthiel yelling from above about something he can't quite discern.
"What's that about?" he looked quizzically at Lilly and the Dwarf.
Avarthiel & Kystra
It is Gelik that responds to your calling; you can hear the gnome cursing in Gnomish (or you think he is cursing), seemingly from entering the water. Within moments he is standing in the doorway, with Ishirou looming nearby. The Tian looks hesitant to be there.
"Ishirou says he knows how to handle locks. Besides which, you can tell he's got the body," Gelik winks at you. Ishirou grumbles as he navigates through the sea of shards and oil. At first he starts to fiddle with the lock for several minutes - and when he fails at that, he rips the drawer from the desk in one fell swoop - causing the desk to break apart. The contents - a bottle of brandy, a model ship in a glass bottle, a small chest whose contents are rattling, and a leather satchel - spills out into Ishirou's lap. The man looks at you with an irritated frown as he scoots it off of his lap, rising to his feet. "Was that all?"
In the advent of the broken desk, you see a footlocker stashed behind it - one with a brass lock...
Dantes, Kythas & Lilly
After having carrying the supplies out of the larder, Dantes resumes trying to get through the hatch - and fails. Breaking through the hatch with brute strength only proves to be difficult - the hatch is surprisingly sturdy, for something seeming so brittle. Not moments later do you hear a rattle from the right 'wall' - something just happened in the captain's cabin...
"I'm going to go see what in the Nine Hells they're doing up there." Kythas informs his companions when he hears the 'thud' following Avarthiel's yell.
Returning to the larder where he left the sunrod, the elf scoops it up and heads back to the Captain's cabin to investigate what all the commotion was.
"I'll give a shout if we're under attack." he tells Dantes and Lilly as he leaves them to tear apart the hatch with the axe.
Pulling himself back up through the tear in the ship's floor he returns to where he left Avarthiel and Kystra earlier, leaving the sunrod behind at the tear and creeping up to the cabin, curve blade readied for more action.
Dantes nods in agreement with Kythas. Call if you need us. Dantes face sets in determination, and he draws his hand axe from his belt. This won't be good for the edge, but so be it. He'll draw back and start hacking at the hatch, striking over and over as much as he needs to in order to get through.
Kystra smiles at Ishirou and pats him on the back, "Well done friend!"
Kystra chants forth a quick incantaction and will begin gathering and examining the contents which spilled forth. She hands Ishirou the big brass key, "Could you please try the on that chest over here. In the event that it does not open it, your talents may again be needed," Kystra grins.
While Ishirou starts trying to open the footlocker, Kystra will open the satchel and will also check the small chest to see if it is locked. If locked, Kystra will try to open it with either the solid black key or the tarnished silver one.
Lilly stands by her spear at ready as Dantes chops away at the hatch. Eyeball makes a game of attacking the slivers of wood as they fly from the frame.
Avarthiel, Kystra & Kythas
Ishirou does flush slightly when touched by Kystra, but he almost seems begrudging when ordered. He does as he is asked, however. He pulls out the locker without any difficulty from behind the desk, and the key does fit. With a click, it opens to reveal a suit of leather armour, a beautiful dagger, two potions, a small religious symbol and a pouch full of dusts and herbs - it has all the seeming of belonging to someone religious.
The satchel contains a multitude of potions too; twelve of them to be exact. They are all labelled...
Dantes & Lilly
With enough vigorous smashing you eventually break the hatch - and the overwhelming smell of blood fills the air. Just inside the hatch, you find a dead body.
The dead body of first mate Alton.
He is clutching a blade in his hands, and you can clearly see at least one wound on his shoulder...
Mildly irritated, but relieved that all was well in the Captain's cabin, the elf sheathed his blade and strode out to inform Avarthiel, Kystra and the others of the events that had transpired so far below deck.
Quickly detailing the gathered foodstuffs, the dead cook and the apparent bloodbath that happened at some point deep within the Jenivere.
"We should prepare to leave as soon as possible." the elf explains, a bit nervously as the ship strains and creaks around them. "Dantes and Lilly will no doubt access the storeroom soon and hopefully find some useful materials to aid us in building a suitable campsite."
"Avarthiel, if you want to activate your spell now, we can start piling up the stuff here and add the cauldron and food crates I have already gathered near a large breach in the floor just a bit further down.
"Speaking of which," he concluded, "I am going to get back down there and see if our friends have come upon anything interesting... or worse..." he added, turning to rejoin the dwarf and druid.
Kystra will look at the items found in the footlocker and try to determine their religious significance or affiliation.
Kystra will then return to the small chest and will see if one of the 2 small keys open it.
Lilly will try to determine cause of death.
Heal check
Then search the body before exiting with the bad news.
Avarthiel blanches as the stench of blood and death fills the small cabin. Pale skin turns paler, and the wizard is more than relieved to go and help Kythas and Dantes. "I... ah... needed... ah... outside." With a lurch the elf is out the door and into the fresh sea air.
To Kythas, in between gulps of clean air, "Where do you want the disc?"
Kystra
You recognise this as a symbol to Nethys, also known as the All-Seeing Eye.
The small chest is a coffer; the small silver key fits the lock, and when you open it you find a big pile of gold, easily up in the four hundreds... Gelik's eyes brighten up as he is peering over your shoulder - as well as a gnome can, at least - and Ishirou too seems intrigued by the prospect of all this wealth...
Avarthiel, Dantes, Kythas & Lilly
You take your time to count all the tools in the supply room, finding the following:
A block and tackle,
Three large canvas sheets,
Two fishing nets,
A grappling hook,
Two bullseye lanterns,
12 flasks of lantern oil,
150 feet of hemp rope,
Five shovels.
Alton has two sets of wounds; one set is a little older, and you are fairly certain they are rapier wounds. The other wounds are inflamed, from the eurypterids' stings - and you are very certain that it was the poison that killed Alton.
Apart from his clothes, he wears an exceptional suit of leather armour, and he is still clutching on the short sword...
Kythas walks over to the large breach in the floor of the Jenivere where he and the others initially dropped down to find the dead cook and unusually resilient hatch. "Right here would be a good place for it." he told Avarthiel, remembering the wizard's earlier explanation of the magics limitation in movement. "We'll transfer all the goods up through the hole and load up all the disc can carry, making multiple trips if we must, it shouldn't take long." Kythas jumps back down into the ankle-deep water below the hole and starts passing the foodstuffs up to the other elf once the spell has been cast. His weapons secured on his person and the sunrod wedged into a position on the hull nearby the gash so that the area is well-lit.
Dantes will help with the search for valuable gear, and loading it out. If possible, he'll look for some planks or beams that could be used for a framework of a shelter.
Avarthiel spends the next hour playing the part of an arcane pack-mule. You can tell the wizard enjoys using his arts to make a positive contribution.
Maybe this is what it feels like to be a caravan driver, or a wagon teamster...
Lilly begins the ghastly task of taking the usable armor, and sword from the dead mate, before joining the others on deck.
"It looks like the mate met his end from those lobster things". "Here are his armor and sword". "They seem to be of high quality".
Kystra will collect all the items and will return to the beach. She will display everything to everyone letting them know what they have found. Kystra will cast Detect Magic and will try to identify the 2 potions found in the footlocker.
[ooc]Day 1 - 11:30 AM
The others spend half an hour getting all the gear and equipment, Kystra brings out the rest of the items to the others with help of Ishirou. When you display the items found in the footlocker, Jask speaks up. "Those are my possessions... the potions have healing properties."
He glances at the great black key that you brought too - the same colour as his manacles...
"Lilly, thankyou for carrying out that unpleasant task. We should gather all the resources we can - and such good equipment may be hard to acquire here."
Avarthiel looks around at the group for a moment.
"The armor might fit either yourself, or Kythas. Or perhaps Kystra. As for the sword, if Kythas does not want it I am not sure who will."
"Well done Kystra," Avarthiel surveys her finds. "Those are some useful discoveries."
The elf sighs, then says quietly,"The master said, 'Attend well to the ending of things, for they are also your beginnings.' We must see to the dead. Does anyone here know the rites that they would wish performed? At least we have tools for a burial." Avarthiel nods to the shovels that Dantes and Kythas recovered.
Avarthiel does not meet Jask's eyes, and waits for someone else to reply. I don't know how to treat Jask. Perhaps Dantes will have some idea...
Kythas re-equips his leather and gear once the task of removing everything from the Jenivere is complete and it has been thoroughly picked over for any other salvage of worth, the elf thanks Avarthiel for the handy magic and starts looking for the most ideal spot in the nearby vicinity to start setting up the campsite. Conferring with Lilly about where they should begin the venture.
"We should set up the camp with the intent to be able to take it down and move it freely in case we need to relocate in a hurry." He suggests to the druid, "We'll need to take into consideration the heat, as well as the possibility of rain and winds. We should build the camp fire along the coastal edge in the sand."
"What do you think Lilly?" he asks, surveying the seascape and ominous treeline.
As he awaits the half-orc's response he overhears the chained human prisoner's sudden proclamation of ownership regarding the contents of one of the boxes found in the Cap'n's cabin. Turning to see that the man is still bound, he follows his longing gaze at the iron key and unless anyone stops him, he'll retrieve it and toss it to the man, with a warning.
"You fought with us and used your faith to heal our wounds when we were all but helpless." the green-haired elf looked down at his magically healed arm as he explained his unusually pro-human action, "As far as I am concerned you've earned the right to be free of those bonds. However, make me regret this kindness and I will not stop hunting you as long as either of us lives. I will pursue you into the jungle or the sea alone if I have to and I have a dozen of your lifetimes to find and kill you."
Turning to the others, he adds, "I see no harm in letting him have his belongings, if no one objects." looking quickly at Dantes as he continues, "There are others here besides me that have cast suspicion on this man's incarceration and that, coupled with his actions today, is enough for me to warrant freeing him. Besides, he's of no use to any of us chained and unarmed."
Kystra will list off the items and display them.
* Keys (1 large brass (opened a footlocker), 1 small tarnished silver key (opened a small chest), 1 small solid black iron key
* Small chest with gold coins (over 400 gold coins)
* Leather satchel
* Several maps
* Captain’s Journal (Kystra offers to spend some time reading it).
* Bottle of Brandy (which she tries to keep away from Kythas)
* A model ship in a glass bottle (Kystra believes they could possibly use the glass bottle as a container if needed)
* Suit of Leather Armor
* Fancy Dagger
* Religious Symbol of Nethys
* Pouch of dusts and herbs
* 6 Potions Cure Light Wounds
* 1 Potion Cure Moderate Wounds
* 4 Potions Lesser Restoration
* 1 Potion of Remove Disease
* 1 Potion of Water Breathing
* 1 Potion of Water Walking
"I agree for tonight". "This is not protected from storms however, so it is probably not a good long term camp". "Let's get started".
assist survival.
With everything that has occurred Kystra seem disinterested in determining Jask's fate. Kystra nods at Kythas comments and will hand Jask his gear if he approaches her.
Kythas takes a few moments to look over the accumulated loot as Kystra displays it, taking special note of the brandy and maps.
"Pity there weren't any goblets with that bottle," he mused, eyeing the caramel colored liqueur and grinning broadly at Kystra, "The Cap'n had an impressive collection of crystal in his cabin, and that would have made fine drinking while you peruse what madness was claiming him in his log." Pointing to the maps and charts, he adds, "I'd like to take a look at those after we get settled in and fill our bellies with some poison-free seafood. I'm pretty sure I know where we're stranded, there may be something there to confirm my suspicions."
Kythas will return to the arduous task of building the shelter, and then starting a suitable fire to prepare the big crustaceans.
"If someone can collect some dry driftwood and branches from the tideline for a fire and someone else start hacking apart the eurypterids for eating while the rest of us set up camp, it would be most helpful." he suggested to the other castaways.
When Kythas frees Jask, Dantes tells him You will not regret it. I have never believed that he was the criminal he was made out to be, and if the Chelaxian's justice is any measure, then I will stand by him. He had a chance to plead with me, or bribe me or even attack me. His pride showed, and I believe honor.
He'll clasp Jask on the arm and tell him I am glad you are free. Not ideal circumstances, but freedom nonetheless.
Dantes will work hard to help set up the camp. At one point, he'll pull Gelik aside.
To Gelik
"I... thank you." Jask says as Kythas removes the manacles around his legs and arms. He gives you all a gratuitus bow, before he stretches his body and collects his belongings. "If not too much to ask, I wish for you to keep the potions... so long as they are used for the good of us all."
Gelik and Sasha are nodding along at the decision, while Aerys seems to not approve completely. Ishirou is indifferent to everything.
"Don't mean no ill will, but he was a prisoner," she says with a sigh. She takes another swig from her bottle. "We're in this together, though. Might be best to find a better place to set up camp than here."
She follows Kythas and Lilly as they begin establishing a secure location...
Gelik seems flattered when Dantes speaks to him - a weird expression that does not fit his face. "You want me to entertain you all? I don't... I... yes, you're right! If you can't take the time to face hardship with laughter," he laughs, regaining some of his swagger, "No-one will take what you have to say seriously - and they'd be right not to!"
With urging from Aerys, you return to where you woke up. Just south of the area you find an excellent spot to set up your camp. Within the hour of arrival and moving all the gears, tools and belongings, as well as gathering several well-salvaged pieces of driftwood and branches, you set up a solid camp.
The jungle protects against the relentless sun, while you set up wards and root out hives to protect from insects and other dangerous critters; you construct makeshift shelters for sleep and rest, and dig a firepit for cooking...
You can tell heavy rainfall will soon hit the isle - it will likely last for an hour or two.
As soon as the camp is set and the fire is cooking up some delicious mutant crustacean, Kythas will gather the maps and begin looking them over between stirring the cauldron of giant crab legs.
Gazing back up at the sky with a scowl, he explains to whomever is nearby, "We're in for a bit of a downpour soon. It will last for at least an hour or so. We'll have to make sure anything susceptible to water is secured under the canvas." Quickly rolling up the maps and stuffing them in his backpack, he adds. "I believe we're on an island called Smuggler's Shiv. I do not know much about the place other than it is popular for shipwrecks and not many vessels will venture near. Those that do won't likely be the kind we want to be "rescued" by." the elf sighs a bit loudly, "Not to dampen anyone's hopes, but it is very likely we will be here for a while. If anybody else knows anything about the island through word or tome, I'd be happy to hear of it."
"Food's Up!" he calls out, taking a single large leg out of the pot for himself and placing it on a flat piece of driftwood.
While everyone else eats and relaxes, the green-haired elf gives everything in the camp a second inspection. Tying down anything the wind might try to take off into the jungle or sea and covering anything perishable with left-over canvas or leather, while munching on his food.
Approaching Jask when all is done, "Jask, you have already proven your worth to us earlier today as a competent healer. I would like to ask that you help us while we are here by continuing to use your skills to keep the lot of us as healthy as possible. There are bound to be injuries, disease and heat exhaustion awaiting us, and you are the most capable of all I have seen here to aid us in the event of such peril." handing the pair of healing potions back to him, "We have acquired several potions from the Cap'n's cabin in addition to yours. I think the best thing would be to keep a few here in your care in case anything happens at the camp while some of us are away exploring."
With that, Kythas will leave the human to consider his offer and return to the others. Taking a seat next to Aerys and pulling out his rum to help wash down the mostly tasteless seafood.
Diplomacy
Kystra thanks Kythas for the fine meal. Having seen Kythas pick up a peice of drifwood to use as a plate, Kystra looks down and picks up a similar peice. In the firelight she notices how filthy the wood really is, caked in sand and dried sea foam. There are many holes in it as well, burrowed by insects. She throws the driftwood into the fire and takes a chunk of the meat and holds it with both hands.
Kystra walks away to a secluded spot in the camp and begins chewing away at her meal. Once done, she will lick her fingers clean and will then retrieve the Captain's journal and will start reading it.
Kystra will try not to stay too engrossed in reading the book and will occasionally glance up to ensure everything is fine. She also keeps her mace lying on the ground beside her. Occasionally the wind seemingly picks up around her, causing the pages in the book to flutter out of her grasp requiring her to flip back and forth to find out where she was last reading.
Dantes gives Gelik a warm smile. I knew you of all people would understand. Thank you.
When Kythas reviews the maps, Dantes will be nearby in case he needs some help from someone with geography knowledge. Smuggler's Shiv, eh? You could be right about that. Still, I wouldn't give up hope. We're resourceful folk here.
When Kythas has the cooking well along, Dantes will make a point of trying several of the components that are to be served up, then tell Kythas Keep an eye on me in case I have a bad reaction to any of the foodstuffs. You probably should give me half an hour to digest before calling the food as ready. Dantes will then wait until after everyone else has had a good portion before taking any more food.
After Kythas approaches Jask about serving as a healer, Dantes meets his gaze with a mirthful grin. Well done, my friend.
After the dinner, Dantes will go around the campsite, also making sure equipment or provisions are up off the ground so air moves under them (using driftwood or wreckage). If possible, he'll try to rig hammocks for as many people as possible.
When everyone is close to the camp as dusk approaches, Dantes will say to all We should post guards in case any threats come from the water or the jungle. I can see well in the dark, at least a short distance, so I am willing to volunteer for a shift in the middle of the night. And for that matter, we should have someone designated as a guard during the day, whose only task is making sure that nothing harrasses us or our camp while the rest of us go about foraging for food, exploring and looking for ways to get rescued, or rescue ourselves. Whoever does this would have to be disciplined enough to resist helping with chores and such tasks; they would have to be focused on their vigilance.
Jask looks a little uncomfortable with Kythas's request; mayhap it is his formulation or his articulation, but he seems hesitant. He does smile, if not weakly. "You did free me, and believed in my innocence. Yes, Kythas, I will look over those who need it."
The rain Kythas predicted hit like a storm - and the hour was long before it vanished. You stay at the camp, getting used to it and preparing for as much comfort as you can for the rest of the day - perhaps the wisest choice. When Dantes mentions the security of the camp, there is a bit of quiet at first. Eventually, Sasha rises to her feet, with a gleam in her eyes and a smirk on her lips. "I'll look after the safety of the camp during the day. Just so happens I know a bit about making life a little bit painful for intruders."
"I can guard," Aerys shrugs. She eyes you all carefully. "So long as the rest of you actually make progress on... whatever you plan to do on this island. I'm going to sleep tonight, though."
Ishirou stays for the most part quiet throughout the day. Gelik takes to entertain you all with a comedic routine of his; the humour is slightly abstract, but his physical stunts and improvised props eventually bring out a chuckle from all of you...
An examination of this log reveals that the Jenivere’s captain seemed to be suffering from some sort of madness that grew over the course of the ship’s final voyage. 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 one 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 seems 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...
Kythas chuckled softly to himself as he caught a glimpse of Kystra eyeing her makeshift plate with great disgust before casting it into the fire. "My people call that wormwood because of the holes and that it always seems a bit damp in the middle no matter how long it sits in the sun." he laughed a bit louder at her growing look of horror as he made a point of pressing a bit of his shelled euypterid into the bleached wood before stuffing it into his mouth.
Later in the afternoon before the rain started, he snuck off towards the treeline and found a nice chunk of palmwood to start working on back at the camp at nightfall.
Half-listening to the conversations taking place around him as the rain begin to pour steadily down onto the makeshift shelter, the elf silently carved at the resilient wood, fashioning it into a crude, but workable plate.
this isn't too bad. he thought to himself as the torrential rain lulled him into a deep sense of relaxation. At least until it shifted suddenly and a heavy spray nearly flushed him out of his seat and down onto the surf. Sputtering angrily and retrieving his knife and wood, he quickly changed his mind...
After some additional makeshift sanding and polishing out the splintery pieces, he presented the troubled oracle with the unattractive, but usable platter. "Its not Tian porcelain," he exclaimed softly to Kystra, "but the wood is dry and healthy, I assure you."
Glancing quickly at the log in her lap he asked "Did you find out anything intersting about our missing Captain?"
"Under the night sky I can also see quite well," Kythas says upon returning to the largest gathering of castaways. "I require much less rest than most of you as well, only about four hours, in fact.
I would volunteer to take the entire nightwatch into the early morning. It would best to set out exploring at first light and try to find shelter from the midday heat either back here or under the shade of the canopy."
The ranger peers out into the gray darkness and rain as he considers the situation further. Not sure whether to try to speak with the others personally or wait in case his natural distaste for humanity in general negatively influences anyone else.
Approaching Dantes and pulling him aside, he expresses his concern to the stout monk. "Dantes, I fear that if I speak too openly with the majority of our company that I will only serve to alienate them further. It is important that we don't have anyone else try to run off or worse, grow violent, so I think I will still my tongue when possible and offer my aid through actions rather than words.". After relaying his worries, his mood lightens considerably and he addresses the group once more.
"I can also fish and hunt for crabs near the camp after nightfall in the four hours I would be sleeping were I not an elf. he suggested. "Hopefully, we will be off this rock before we tire of the sea's bounty."
Kystra will read forth some of the more notable entries.
"It is my best guess that the Captain carried through with his plans. Perhaps he poisoned us, leaving us to die, and marooned himself and Ileana on some island, perhaps even on this land that we are at. This is only a hypothesis I have patched together from the journal entries. The sudden change in the Captain's behaviour could simply be due to an obsession, but perhaps it also shows signs of either possession or enchantment." Kystra shrugs.
"Perhaps I am just tired and making up stories where there are none. There doesn't really seem to be much in the journal that helps us. Although, I may take another look at the maps to see if perhaps the captain marked the island he intended to go to. If, we are on the same island then we may know where we are." Kystra shrugs.
"I'm not sure if there is any merit in telling people of my suspicions at this time, however should we run into the Captain or Ileana around here, I will indeed have some questions to ask them."
Once she is done conversing with Avarthiel, Kystra will then review the maps very closely looking for any kind of a small dot or pin prick on an island.
Avarthiel is of some use through the day, but never seems to settle to a single task. The wizard adds a few minor charms against infestation and disease. Helps a little with cooking, holds a board for hammering. The elf spends perhaps most of the afternoon sat talking with Kystra.
She explains what she has found in the captain's journal. The elf considers her words, and at length replies, "Some things start to become clear, but much is still cloudy. It seems clear, at least, that we can trust most of those with us, as they were not in the captain's confidence. I would be interested to learn the fate of Ieana. Your thoughts on enchantment are wise - the bending of another mind is held as anathema by my order, and with good reason."
"Kystra, you have done well to discover and discuss this. I do not believe we should with-hold this information, from at least Kythas and Dantes and Lilly... but I am interested in your thoughts."