Ghosts of Saltmarsh (cbaer8) - Campaign Thread

Boko-Cat hops up to a narrow ledge on the second floor, one which would be nearly impossible for a humanoid to balance on. She begins to investigate the shuttered windows. The shutters appear locked, but not necessarily solidly so.

A sudden crack of light appears as the door opens slightly. Dwal's form appears in the doorway, engaged in apparently congenial conversation. He then steps backwards through the open door, and it slams in his face. He stands alone in the alley, Boko-Cat directly above him, and Kei and Lilyn a little ways off in opposite directions. 

Dwal, half relieved half amazed mumbles to himself.
"Well that went far better than I had hoped." he says with some relief in his voice. 

Kei 

Dwal's reemergence from behind the closed door brings a sense of relief to the Bard. More at ease he quickly speaks to Boko-cat.

 "Well that went far better than I had hoped." 

"I take it you found what you were looking for since you've rejoined us?" Kei speaks softly to Dwal as he draws his robe tighter around him. "Is it something we can discuss somewhere...warmer?" His question posed through almost chattering teeth.

Dwal looks to Kei and nods his head towards the Hatchet then, turns to make his way to the tavern. 
"There once was a dwarf who drank too much, to others he'd astound."
"From fine wine to ole rotgut, till his face was red and round" Dwal sings in his deep voice as he makes his way there singing more for those who are behind the door he just came out of rather than himself.

Gerrard:

Calling over the owner of the Hatchet, Gerrard has a quiet conversation with him while awaiting his friends.

Snippets that may be overheard:

Gerrard learns a few things:

Dwal and Kei arrive at the Hatchet, arriving first at the rear kitchen entrance. Are Boko-Cat and Lilyn joining them? Is Boko-Cat maintaining feline form? Are Dwal and Kei entering the Hatchet?

Dwal goes in to find a good seat and the others. If he doesn't see Gerrard he will find a nice spot and have a seat. 

Can Boko-cat climb all the way to the roof?

Dwal enters the Hatchet, and quickly spotting Gerrard, joins him for a cider. (Presumably, Kei follows?)

Boko-cat has managed to make her way to the top of the three-story building. The bitter, gusting wind is very unpleasant; the uneven roof is blown free of snow where the ancient masonry is exposed, and deep drifts fill the hollows, stairwells, and other nooks. It looks like some sort of crops are grown up here in season, but now there's little but stone, soil, and dead plant matter. Visibility is very poor in the storm, so she can't see far.

(Where does Lilyn want to be?)

Boko-cat moves around the roof, looking for anything odd, anything interesting, wondering just what this place is. She spends no more than 5 minutes doing so, then makes her way back to the tavern, still as a cat.

Perception: 17

Kei 

For a moment he considers statiyng and watching a cat climb a building. The falling snow and the intrigue around Dwal's experience quickly convince him otherwise. He walks beside the singing dwarf as they head to the Hatchet. (If Dwal continues to sing Kei would even join in to help further the act).

He grabs a tankard from the bar as he heads towards Gerrard. "Gerry, you'll never guess what happened. It's so extraordinary that I'm not even sure it really happened." He pauses, thinking but more fore dramatic effect. "Dwal was....You won't believe it....he was" he starts to giggle "...he was singing!" The vocalising of what he had seen breaks him. He begins to cackle.

Gerrard:

Smiling in obvious relief as the other two join him, Gerrard invites them to partake of the hot mulled cider he ordered for them earlier.  Laughing at Kei’s enthusiasm and looking at Dwal with some curiosity, the young noble says quietly, “I was worried when I did not find you here as we had planned, Master Kei; Brother Fiercehammer.  I trust the others have begun their reconnaissance?”

Gerrard looks relieved but also a bit on edge, as if he is ready to rush out the door and join an assault should Kei give the word the scouts are in need of backup.

Dwal has a seat and takes a drink. Once it clears he says:
"I ain't sure about what tha others was doing. I was too busy going inside that place an' takin' a look around."
Dwal looks around to see who is about, not making eye contact with Gerrard.

Boko-cat wanders around the roof a little. The tops of the neighboring blocks are connected with this one using planks laid across the narrow alleys. The other roofs look like this one - uneven, varied in construction, hundreds of different building projects over hundreds of years, all organically meshed together over time, and covered in swirling snow. Visibility is still poor. Boko spots a set of curious clawed bare footprints, almost human in size. They are relatively fresh, as the snow is still falling hard, but where they came from and where they lead to are lost to the areas where the wind has blown clear the rooftops. Dropping back down into the alley, she makes her way back to the tavern. The Hatchet looks like an establishment respectable enough to throw stray cats out of. So for the moment, she remains outside the back kitchen door, next to the alley.

Dwal, Kei, and Gerrard sit together, sharing a cider. It's business as usual in the tavern, although one smashed-up nook is roped off, and the manager looks like he has had better days. An all-human clientele enjoy their beverages loudly, if well-behaved  - most of them look like off-duty guards, merchants, and other members of Seaton's rare middle-class. A few sneak looks at Gerrard.

Lilyn remains in the alley near the doorway as Boko-cat descends, deciding her next move. Her stealth spell has expired, and her appearance would likely attract attention in the tavern.  

Gerrard:

“Ah…you joined the scouts, then?” asks Gerrard, confused…

Dwal, still not looking at Gerrard.

"No Lad," he says. "I went up, knocked on tha door an sweet-talked my way inside." 

Kei 

"I was so proud. You should've seen him." Kei chimes in after his raucous laughter subsides. In response to Gerrard's original question he adds "Boko is still out climbing walls and who knows what else, maybe catching a pigeon. I followed Fiercebeard here and left her to it. Lilyn, I lost in the snow. I guess she's waiting for the cat."

Gerrard:

”So, that was your plan, then?” asks Gerrard with a hurt look. “It would have been nice to have been informed of such afore you left our company.”  Looking directly at the dwarf, he adds in a taut whisper, “I assume you took care of the threat as well, given that letting the ancient evil mind-reading creature know it has been betrayed by its spy and leaving her behind to suffer a fate unimaginable is…well…unimaginable!”

Standing up abruptly, Gerrard moves to leave the tavern and race over to the mysterious door, hoping he is not too late to save Boko.

Boko-cat would actually not immediately dart to the Hatchet. She would return to the ground outside the marked door and stand in front of Lilyn, and try to get her attention to move along to the Hatchet, chirping and brushing against her calf to make her point clear. Assuming Lilyn follows, she eventually arrives at the Hatchet front door, analyzing the establishment and wondering if it would allow herself and Lilyn to come inside - perhaps just as Gerrard bursts out the front door?

"Sit yer arse down yer lordship." Dwal tells the young noble. 'She'll be along soon enough I'd wager"
Once Gerrard sits down Dwal will look directly at the young noble.
"My plan," he starts. 'Was ta' let all you do what yer favored at an play my role as support. But with all tha; indecision an sneakin' in an' tha' like an' you all worried we ain't gonna make it to that damned isle ta help out someone we ain't sure of, I knew it weren't gonna work. But I also knew that ya would favor yer sneakin' plan ta' any one I'd suggest. So, I went ta tha' door, knocked an' got inside." 
Dwal pauses a moment then begins.
"Now there's supposed ta be some supernatural evil that reads minds in there, right?" he asks. "If'n it can, just how close do ya think ya would have got if'n Boko tried ta sneak up in there? If'n I remember correctly her mind was tha' one it could read, because she made a deal with it, not one of us. But ya were all set with her leadin' tha' attempt ta get in." 
Dwal pauses and takes a breath.
"What's done is done lad." he tells the young noble. "Now if'n yer settled I'll tell ya what I found and what I suspect." 
The dwarf pauses to let the young nobleman react.