Monstrous Compendium Vol. 1: Spelljammer Creatures
Frozen Sick
D&D Beyond Basic Rules
Basic Rules (2014)
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Monstrous Compendium Vol. 1: Spelljammer CreaturesFrozen SickD&D Beyond Basic RulesBasic Rules (2014)Sign in to view your library & saved favorites.
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((Doing okay I guess. Can't really complain))
As you draw closer to the island you can see that the mountain appears to be volcanic, with a bit of smoke trailing up from it's peak. There appears to be a port town here though.
The port settlement on the island stretches uphill from the laborers’ homes and warehouses in the lower town around the port, to the grander homes and shrines of the upper town on the mountainside.
The port looks to have not been fully rebuilt since it was damaged by the ash of the last eruption. The damage looks to be old though.
"What do you think?" Gnorcys asks of the group of you. "Do we dock in the harbor or do we stay back and send a crew to scout first?"
Io does not want to pass up any chance of finding the medusa up. He answers, "I want to check the town. I would like to talk to the people to see what they notice out here, this far from the mainland."
"This is uncharted territory, is it not?" Ritha says excitedly. "We would be the first to record and bring back news of this port town to the rest of the world! We absolutely cannot pass up this opportunity! I really must stop by and then consult with our nautical charts to record this historic event!"
(unless I got that wrong and we sailed back to civilization again?)
Xerronios stared at the rundown village, wondering why the natives hadn't bothered to repair it. "More happens here than is obvious," the bard says. "I will ask Klothys which course of action is best. Why haven't they repaired the damage? What prevents them, or makes them unwilling or unable to do that? Why are they here, so far from anyone or anything? Who do they serve? We must be wary. We have left what we knew as civilization behind."
He waits until they are ready to decide to move into port or send a scout team. Then, moving to the center of the ship, the Leonine pulls out his augury sticks, composes himself cross-legged, and asks, "Mighty Klothys, patron and protector of Fate, should we dock the ship at this port?" He then tosses the sticks and reads the results, awaiting a sign.
Tandor the White, Human Life Cleric
Kanlos turns his spyglass towards the town, looking hard for any sign of the city's inhabitants, "One way or another, I think we should stop."
Perception: 23
Kanlos would see peole moving around, they have seen the ship, with a group gathering onthe docks. They do not look at all hostile, but more like a greeting party.
Gnorcys shakes her head at Ritha. "I have no inttention of leaving this uncharted, just wanted to know if my adventurers wished to check it out first, or if you want us to simply dock at the harbor without scouting."
OOC: How does Klothys respond?
Tandor the White, Human Life Cleric
Kanlos hesitates, "I don't see any reason not to make dock, but I would suggest the crew not separate or leave the ship unguarded. We can try and make contact with whatever leadership they have before the rest of the crew leaves the ship."
"I would be honored to be allowed to do the scouting," Ritha replies eagerly, obviously more excited about the prospect of meeting new life and new civilization than of actually being any sort of cautious. "I would also be most interested to know how they recovered from what appears to be volcanic damage, and if eruptions are a common occurrence here. There's so much to learn! May we take the longboat out, then?"
Io speaks up, "I would like to join Ritha on her scouting expedition. There are a few questions I'd like to ask the locals here myself."
Weal and woe
"Thank you, Klothys, for your wisdom," Xerronios murmurs as he gathers his things. He returns to the others, saying "Klothys has told me that things both good and bad can result from docking at the port. I cannot ask which course will be better so there is no way to know if scouting first is the better course, in her eyes. If we scout first, I will go with that party."
Tandor the White, Human Life Cleric
When you arrive in the harbor you are welcomed by a delegation of landowners who invite you to a feast held by guileful Bésios (he/him, human noble), the island’s leader, in his grand hall. They are immensely hospitable towards the characters and offer them the chance to bathe in warm, mineral-rich volcanic water, and change into finer clothing before the feast. Once bathed and dressed, characters are led to the dining hall, which is replete with fine food, exquisite Minuvoan wine, pleasant company and sweet song, before also being provided with guest quarters.
Kanlos and Io finds themselves feeling disquieted by the unprompted welcome party and feels sickened by the food presented to them, vomiting during the meal on a failed DC 15 Constitution saving throw. You both get the feeling of your god's displeasure with this place.
The people are friendly and open, and the group learns some of the place's history...
Years ago, the eruption of Mt. Minuvos disrupted the peaceful lives of the island’s prosperous landowners. Over six weeks, ash fell across Minuvos, first killing the small game, then livestock, and finally the plants, including the island’s famous vineyards, until only the farmers remained. As the tremors rose, the landowners of Minuvos loaded their families and possessions onto their ships, instead of making sacrifices to Purphoros. In their greed, they demanded their laborers pay passage to sail with them. With their meagre wages, now depleted after six weeks of failing crops, only a few could pay their way. The rest of the Minuvoan laborers were left on the island to die, and they fell to the choking ash and pyroclastic flow.
Last year, the landowners of Minuvos and their descendants returned to the island. The ash had enriched the soil over the years, leaving it more fertile than ever, and the famous wine of Minuvos once again began to be made and sold throughout the Theran world. The returning landowners brought new laborers with them, who rebuilt the island's port, tilled the fields, and worked to bring about what is looking to be the island's greatest harvest yet.
Io's quiet but generally friendly demeanor had shifted to a stony one from the moment they set foot in the island. Had circumstances been different, he would have returned to the ship to wait for everyone else as it is what he used to do years back, before his life had changed. However, he would have to press on. Even though he didn't like the island's atmosphere and the sudden welcoming party stuck out to him as suspect, he was there for a goal.
While the group interacts with the various people of the port and learn the town's history slowly, he would take every opportunity to ask a new face about other visitors to the island in recent time. Also he would ask them if a bundled up woman of a certain height had come to town recently.
The town's history seems to go a bit to explaining the reason for his god's displeasure. There are the remains of the dead here, rotting away somewhere in the earth. No funeral rites were held and no tributes were given to Athreos. Additionally, he wonders if they have taken to praying after learning of their past mistakes to receive the bountiful harvest. He decides to inquire about their religious practice tactfully by asking their guide (I assume there is one showing the party around town and offering them a place to bathe and change), "Are there any temples or shrines in the town? It has been some time since I've visited one and would like to visit a temple in this town to meditate and pray for a few moments, if possible." He figures if there is any god they pray to at all, there would be a temple or a shrine dedicated to them. He purposely does not mention any of the gods' names.
Also CON save: 7
Please give me an investigation check for your search for the individual passing through
"I am sure the laborers have some shrines about." The pretty woman leading you around says with a smile up at Io. "Hard to say what those get into for their prayers though." She doesn't indicate knowing of the shrines herself though.
You are able to keep down the food, quite easily actually. It still churns in your belly though.
Investigation to find out something about the person: 4 + Guidance: 1
Io doesn't have to go further than their guide to learn something of interest...
"Yes, someone like that did travel through here some time back." The guide woman says with a nod. "Hard not to remember someone like that, never did remove her cloak, even while eating, a bit rude if you ask me." She shrugs. "Was clearly a woman, going by how much hair had to be under that hood, as well as the shape of the figure under the cloak." When asked for more details as to when, or how long ago, she cannot really say, just that it was some time back, several ten-days at least.
Io is happy at finding some indication that he's on the right track but can't also help but feel a little frustrated. Last time he came close was back at the port and the gap was 3 days. Now though, it's 7-10. Assuming the woman was indeed Mirrie, he was falling behind. He wonders what could be the reasons for him to take longer to get here. A smaller ship or the lack of Harpie attacks could be a reason for the widened gap in time. Still this is the first lead he had since leaving the last port so he decides to try and get any information out. He asks further, "I see... do you remember if she said anything about herself, where she was from or where she was going? What about the ship on which she came to the island or the one which she took to leave?"
"You'd have to ask the laborers about that sort of thing." The woman says with a flip of her hair. "I don't really worry myself about ship names and such."