This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Kairus happily led the way, or, better say, simply swam forward in anticipation. "Let's open this thing," declared he once the sarcophagus was reached but, nevertheless, entered the ship carefully, watching out for potential danger. (Perception: 23 (23))
Everything about that part of the expedition was exciting, beginning with the opening itself - Kairus was waiting to try the scroll for a long time. He read it through again to be sure he did not miss anything. "Oh! It says that once used, we only have ten minutes to open the thing. Swim closer, everybody, there will be not a moment to lose here!"Only when everyone took an appropriate position did Kairus unleash the words of magic written on the scroll. "Did it work? Let's push!"
His help was probably not needed but he would Help nevertheless (if you need Athletics: 8 (8))
"No doubt, no doubt."Hun had said to Rhogal in a somewhat distracted tone. For by then in seeing the sharks, Hun thoughts drifted towards the grim, elicting a grimacing and a muttering of, "Those chuckle ****s are gonna be a problem."He's startled from his thoughts by Kairus enthusiasm in leading the way right /into/ the waters without a care in the world. But after a moment of staring flabbergasted after the 'youth' from the beach, he sighed heavily, issued commands for Mr. Thicc to follow after Kairus, offers Krodhen the bubble helm collar, and then looked to those who hadn't quite been as quick to follow the Triton.
"Tymora willing, yesterday meal of that double headed terror was plenty enough for the sharp tooths. And if not, there's always whatever bullshit young blue pulled with the dolphins might work and be enough to keep the sharp tooths at bay. But be on your guard and stay close to one another. We're to get in and get out as quick as possible."He remarks, before making his way to the water. "And don't get me started on a 'stealthy' approach. For all too likely are mucking with the coffin will draw attention regardless.. But if folk wanna try we can. Just need to wrangle Young Blue 'fore he gets too far." Hun said, and would all too willingly change up his approach going forward to match that of the majority... with the presumptions of using whatever pieces of wreck, coral, or pathing might allow for being less noteable in approach, if again it comes up.
If/When they would reach the sarcophagus, it's at that point he'd take it upon himself to take on a more supervisor role once the protections are removed and kept back at least twenty feet after tuning up Mr. Thicc up a bit on the spot.
With less enthusiasm than Kairus', but then most of the other Packers were less enthusiastic than the Triton even on his worst day.
Putting his shoulder to shifting the lid of the sarcophagus, offering a silent prayer to whoever wants to hear him that whatever is in there is already dead.
( guess with the perception roll 23 Kairus had to notice the sharks.)
So, before opening the sarcophagus (we can leave already posted for the future), Kairus would suggest the obvious. "I can try to talk to them"(of course he would try to talk to them) "don't know if it works, though. The only sharp thing they have is their teeth. But (!)" (Kairus emphasized that "but" very pointedly) "it might be good as well. If they are not smart enough to understand, they are stupid enough for bait. We do have lizard meat still, right? Can be used here. Say, I swim with a sack of meat, taking them away, then fly up out of the water leaving the sack. Can shoot one from up there, so others will be busy eating their own. What do you say?"
Suggested topics for future conversation included hag nearby as a better target (she had tasty crabs with her, did not she?), the already mentioned lizard meat rations and simple explanation that the group here for a moment and will leave right away.
While the group finalizes their plan, Kairus takes the initiative to approach the sharks blocking their way. Transmitting simple concepts to a pair of sharks nearby, the triton offers raw lizard meat as food, making sure to swiftly swim away after getting the sharks' attention on the red meat. There is enough here for both creatures to get a sizeable chunk, but they end up eating less than what Kairus would have expected. The bard tries repeating the same trick with other sharks: some take the bait, others don't. Nonetheless, the end result is satisfactory: although the many sharks continue to swim about, they now seem uninterested in the party. Observing this whole ordeal from afar, Hun has a feeling he understands what is going on.
Once Kairus gives a signal, the rest of the party swims onward. Krodhen continues to walk on the surface, while Hun and Mr.Thicc try to give the general area a wide berth (the kobold does so more efficiently). But again, even for those swimming straight ahead (Yulmiath and Rhogal), the last leg of the watery trek is much calmer than the presence of the sharks would suggest.
The Sea Mare remains as it/she was left by the Snackers, defeated captain and all. Knowing what to do, Kairus unfurls his spell scroll, ensures its magical ink is not vulnerable to sea water, gives it a few practice reads, and makes sure to mentally select the sarcophagus as his target. Then, he reads it while tugging on the Weave. The bard's words take the form of visible red runes as they lift from the scroll, encircle the sarcophagus, and flash brightly into a completely different color: light green. Kairus instinctively knows that green means 'go', and understands that the effect will last for about 10 minutes. In his hands, the parchments dissolves into ash.
Yulmiath and Mr.Thicc were ready for this, and they won't need to wait for 10 minutes. Kairus also lends a hand, but he knows his companions were not counting on his involvement in the physical portion of the plan. Under the pressure exerted by dragonborn and construct, the lid gives away, albeit reluctantly, now that it's arcane lock has been suppressed. Interestingly, the sea water does not rush into the sarcophagus as some may have expected, likely some secondary effect of the locking spell that is not fully suppressed.
Inside, the Packers find the mummified corpse of an archmage. His dried bones and stretched skin have some resemblance with the undead creature the party fought recently. Despite expectations that this archmage might rise to defend his belongings, no such thing happens. Most of the corpse is wrapped in a black shroud. Other items inside immediately get all the group members' attention. There is a respectable, though not absurd, amount of coins inside the sarcophagus. There is also a stoppered bronze scroll tube that rests at the corpse's feet. Lying beside the deceased, you see a staff fashioned from a single branch of pale white wood and whose top is shaped like claw.
Kairus gave it a long few seconds for the corpse to rise and attack before concluding. "Just .... dead? Ok, now I feel bad."(The rhyme was obviously unplanned) "Why would the undead guard the simple corpse? Or was it guarding the treasure, which is somehow dangerous?" The coins did not look all that suspicious to him but who knows? Maybe the scroll or the stuff is for demon summoning? "Shall we even touch it? And what do you normally do with the corpses? By the sea law let it drown or should we carry it up and bury or burn?"
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Unaware of what is going on below, Krodhen attempts to peer beneath the waves, looking for signs that any sharks in the area are starting to get more curious, but otherwise continues to try to jump the swell that comes and goes, figuring that the threat in the Sea Mare has been dealt with
Perception: 20
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
"Bubbles the Barbarian" (Locathah - Lvl 9) - Locathah Rising; Shai'ere Delatete (Githyanki Monk - Lvl 9) Rrakkma (deceased - MindFlayer); Saros Rockfoot (Deep Gnome Diviner - Lvl 5) - The Lost Kenku & One Grung Above; Tagret (Goliath Barbarian - Lvl 2) - Tales of Faerun;
Destroying the body in some way won Yulmiath's vote. Make sure it can't come back to life and start handing out a whooping. Beheading. Burning. Preferably both?
The sooner the better most likely, before it can wake up and its eyes can start to glow.
The rest? Oh boy! This was salvage. This was plunder. Dare he say it, this was booty!
Yulmiath readies his greataxe and looks to Hun. This is a big call, it requires a grown up to give the ok.
As Hun opted to float a fair bit a way, it's only after it's opened that he muttered a curse, realizing far too late a particular mistake on his part. Still, seeing as nothing ill begotten had immediately basseted the muscle crew, he warily swam on closer to the group; both to better hear them, converse, and look into the sarcophagus himself... before making decision.
"Ah, now I see... hmm... hmm... Well, there's no guarantee its not cursed in some fashion. The dead despite all logic have a hard time at times not letting things go."Hun explained. There's another long pause as the Kobold stared thoughtfully into the ancient coffin. "... Technically any desecration has already happened even before we got to thing too, so..."He muttered as well, sighed, then finally looked up the others. "Behead it if you wish, Mr. Yully. But ultimately we aughta take the corpse up top to burn. The coin we keep. But NOONE except Mr. Thicc should handle that staff and tube. 'cause if I had to guess, it'a be those two things especially that had that other spook up in a tizzy for so long. Once I and Kromagnum have had a proper look over them later however, we can figure out what to do with them. Agreed?"He looks pointedly at everyone else each in turn before nodding to the construct to proceed.
If it could then take out the scroll tube and staff without any ill effects, Hun briefly passes along the Bag of Holding for the construct to stuff the items into while others dealt with coinage and corpse.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
When you realize you're doing too much: Signature.
In the Sea Mare, Kairus expresses some disappointment at the find, clearly expecting to be pushed to his limits again. The underwater team agrees that the corpse needs to be destroyed and, after Hun gives him the green light, Yulmiath begins the process by bringing his axe down and easily decapitating the body. Noticing no reaction, the kobold himself goes for the scroll tube. The stoppered bronze scroll tube goes into the bag of holding, and the clawed staff soon follows.
Kairus produces a length of fabric that is quickly tied into an improvised bag and used to scoop the coin within the sarcophagus. Mr. Thicc helps with the scooping. It falls to Yulmiath to hug the dead body and severed head and begin swimming upwards. Looking back to make sure they did not leave anything behind, the quartet swims toward the surface.
Above water, Krodhen and Rhogal had been keeping watch. The most obvious threat still is the many sharks swimming about their newfound territory. As best as the duo can tell, however, the animals are still not in need of an immediate meal. Other sea fauna is also swimming about, none of them being bothered by the sharks.
Reunited, the party hauls their new belongings over to the beach. While passing the Dirty Bastard wreck, Yulmiath, Rhogal, Mr. Thicc, and Kairus (passive perception) notice the sparkling green eyes of Myldryd the Sea Hag watching them from within. Despite the observer, the Snackers reach dry land. They themselves, however, are quite wet, including the corpse they had planned to burn to ashes.
"Don't want to alarm anyone, but The Ugly Lady was watching us. Maybe it's better to bring everything up the cliff. Just in case." Kairus fully enjoyed the trip (a peaceful resolution he decided to see as a boon, rather than a disappointment) and did not even bother to shake off the water (whatever for?!). However, he understood, that wet bones (or wet-anything, for that matter) usually do not burn.
Kairus did his best to help haul everything up the cliff and search for the wood to make a proper funeral pyre. Even went so far as an attempt to dry the bones a little with magic.
As Kairus' is warning the others, Mr. Thicc had been in the process of pointing from his eyes to Myldryd in the classic 'I got my eyes on you' gesture. "What?"Hun questioned prior to glancing back to see for himself. Regardless of whether he saw the hag or not for himself, the kobold turned away scoffing and shaking his head.
"Figures she'd be lurking. Meh! Can't say it'a be worth it to go bugging her. Just grab what dry drift wood you can, and we'll burn the bastard top side a fair ways from the cliff. Afterwards, eh... I guess we can take an hour to give everything a once over. Me using my expertise in the arcane, and Kroham and Rhogal with their... whatever the nine they got going on to sense bad ju-ju, Also, count up the coin! Which on the subject of it, I'm gonna give up my share of to be frank."
"... But after that hour is up, I say we dig up camp and start heading straight back to ahoy-hoy to figure out our next step."He went on to say in transit to their next destination.
Deciding not to pay too much mind to Myldryd, the group prepares for one more climb from the beach to the top of the cliff. Yulmiath secures the corpse to his person and hands over the loose head to Rhogal so the dwarf can do the same. Despite their best efforts, small bits of the extremely dry (but now damaged by water) corpse dislodge or shift or flake away. Krodhen picks up a few of the bigger chunks that fall back onto the beach before beginning his own ascent. Hun hops into Mr. Thicc and the construct brings in the rear. Kairusfloats past his colleagues.
Once atop the cliff, Kariusdries the corpse as best as he can and the group prepares to head inland for a little while as suggested by Hun. Collecting sticks on the way, the party eventually stops advancing and makes camp somewhere along the grassy rolling hills of the northern tip of the island. The breeze here is perfect to fan a campfire without overwhelming it. A camp is put in place, a pyre is erected, and the remains of the demon-worshiper (or about 96% of it) are loaded on prepped wood.
The corpse is set aflame unceremoniously as the group takes advantage of the flames to rest nearby. Led by Hun's study, the group uses the next hour or so to collectively examine the items they salvaged and count the coin they claimed:
TREASURE
60 gold pieces
1,000 silver pieces
2,000 copper pieces
Two gold lockets with a painted portrait inside: one of a mustachioed human male and one of an elegant human female (worth 50gp in total)
Two copper chalices with silver filigree (worth 50gp in total)
A carved bone statuette of a rooster (worth 25gp)
A small mirror set in a painted wooden frame (worth 25gp)
An embroidered silk handkerchief; the design is quite abstract (worth 25gp)
A stoppered bronze scroll tube (worth 25gp); inside the tube, you find:
A dry sheet of parchment bearing a message in Abyssal.
Hun is the only person who understands Abyssal, so he alone can read the message.
@Hun:
“Orcus, claim your prize! The secrets of lichdom remain yours, but my deeds and magic will live on, as will my soul in the Abyss.”
Visual reference for the wand:
Visual reference for the staff:
(@MuggsHill: Give me a medicine check to retroactively see if you can perform underwater surgery and extract some of the undead captain's bile from within whatever sack it might reside.)
Hun breathes a sigh through his nose after looking over the message, and seemed all but ready to casually ball it up and cast it over a shoulder. However, after stopping mid-motion and considering the message again, it's tucked back away in the bag of holding. And if anyone asks what the message entailed he'd simply say, "Nothing helpful. But I'll keep this as a souvenir."
True to his word, Hun appeared content to speak up for none of the treasure even after his sorted out. If any might have a mind to ask his opinion, then he'd be sure to give it. But feeling at least somewhat better about the admittedly macabre magical items following the study session, Hun for once hadn't voiced further caution. "Just don't be too greedy now, least we invite any lingering bad ju-ju to stay." He asserts more in jest than genuine concern.
Once everything is ultimate is sorted out one way or another, and assuming it wasn't too late in the day to do otherwise, he'd encourage trying to snag a few more hours travel before officially camping for the night. Though if others think otherwise or the request proves a faulty one in hindsight, then he'd need no convincing, and would merely while away his time further tuning up Mr. Thicc.
Kairus could have many flaws but greed was not one of them. He did not refuse his share of the money, but only glanced at the staff and the wand with a clear held back disgust, and out of all the treasures picked up (to see closer) the statuette of a rooster. "Funny bird. It is a bird, right? Do not remember seeing one of these around here." The statuette returned to the pile and the triton was ready to get back to Ahoyhoy. "Let's check on your human, Grandpa. Hope he is well enough to speak. Still waiting for his stories".
With no-one else more qualified seemingly interested, Krodhen considers going after it himself, even drawing his longsword, but pauses when he considers the potential downside of that stuff exploding out again. With the pain still fresh in his mind he stops short, sheathes his weapon and backs away, letting the others do what they planned, his attention now focussed on the bounty they have earned in coin and trinkets!!
Kairus happily led the way, or, better say, simply swam forward in anticipation. "Let's open this thing," declared he once the sarcophagus was reached but, nevertheless, entered the ship carefully, watching out for potential danger. (Perception: 23 (23))
Everything about that part of the expedition was exciting, beginning with the opening itself - Kairus was waiting to try the scroll for a long time. He read it through again to be sure he did not miss anything. "Oh! It says that once used, we only have ten minutes to open the thing. Swim closer, everybody, there will be not a moment to lose here!" Only when everyone took an appropriate position did Kairus unleash the words of magic written on the scroll. "Did it work? Let's push!"
His help was probably not needed but he would Help nevertheless (if you need Athletics: 8 (8))
Meili Liang Lvl 5 Monk
Dice
"No doubt, no doubt." Hun had said to Rhogal in a somewhat distracted tone. For by then in seeing the sharks, Hun thoughts drifted towards the grim, elicting a grimacing and a muttering of, "Those chuckle ****s are gonna be a problem." He's startled from his thoughts by Kairus enthusiasm in leading the way right /into/ the waters without a care in the world. But after a moment of staring flabbergasted after the 'youth' from the beach, he sighed heavily, issued commands for Mr. Thicc to follow after Kairus, offers Krodhen the bubble helm collar, and then looked to those who hadn't quite been as quick to follow the Triton.
"Tymora willing, yesterday meal of that double headed terror was plenty enough for the sharp tooths. And if not, there's always whatever bullshit young blue pulled with the dolphins might work and be enough to keep the sharp tooths at bay. But be on your guard and stay close to one another. We're to get in and get out as quick as possible." He remarks, before making his way to the water. "And don't get me started on a 'stealthy' approach. For all too likely are mucking with the coffin will draw attention regardless.. But if folk wanna try we can. Just need to wrangle Young Blue 'fore he gets too far." Hun said, and would all too willingly change up his approach going forward to match that of the majority... with the presumptions of using whatever pieces of wreck, coral, or pathing might allow for being less noteable in approach, if again it comes up.
If/When they would reach the sarcophagus, it's at that point he'd take it upon himself to take on a more supervisor role once the protections are removed and kept back at least twenty feet after tuning up Mr. Thicc up a bit on the spot.
If Stealthing:
-Hun's Attempt: 22.
-Mr. Thicc's Attempt: 6.
If lifting the lid is a group check:
-Mr. Thicc's Athletics: 15.
When you realize you're doing too much: Signature.
With less enthusiasm than Kairus', but then most of the other Packers were less enthusiastic than the Triton even on his worst day.
Putting his shoulder to shifting the lid of the sarcophagus, offering a silent prayer to whoever wants to hear him that whatever is in there is already dead.
Athletics - 22
(OOC Yulmiath will take up Rhogal's performance enhancing fungi if no one else wants it.)
( guess with the perception roll 23 Kairus had to notice the sharks.)
So, before opening the sarcophagus (we can leave already posted for the future), Kairus would suggest the obvious. "I can try to talk to them" (of course he would try to talk to them) "don't know if it works, though. The only sharp thing they have is their teeth. But (!)" (Kairus emphasized that "but" very pointedly) "it might be good as well. If they are not smart enough to understand, they are stupid enough for bait. We do have lizard meat still, right? Can be used here. Say, I swim with a sack of meat, taking them away, then fly up out of the water leaving the sack. Can shoot one from up there, so others will be busy eating their own. What do you say?"
Suggested topics for future conversation included hag nearby as a better target (she had tasty crabs with her, did not she?), the already mentioned lizard meat rations and simple explanation that the group here for a moment and will leave right away.
Meili Liang Lvl 5 Monk
Dice
Animal handling check: 7 (And use 1 Luck point if needed: 14)
Meili Liang Lvl 5 Monk
Dice
While the group finalizes their plan, Kairus takes the initiative to approach the sharks blocking their way. Transmitting simple concepts to a pair of sharks nearby, the triton offers raw lizard meat as food, making sure to swiftly swim away after getting the sharks' attention on the red meat. There is enough here for both creatures to get a sizeable chunk, but they end up eating less than what Kairus would have expected. The bard tries repeating the same trick with other sharks: some take the bait, others don't. Nonetheless, the end result is satisfactory: although the many sharks continue to swim about, they now seem uninterested in the party. Observing this whole ordeal from afar, Hun has a feeling he understands what is going on.
Once Kairus gives a signal, the rest of the party swims onward. Krodhen continues to walk on the surface, while Hun and Mr. Thicc try to give the general area a wide berth (the kobold does so more efficiently). But again, even for those swimming straight ahead (Yulmiath and Rhogal), the last leg of the watery trek is much calmer than the presence of the sharks would suggest.
The Sea Mare remains as it/she was left by the Snackers, defeated captain and all. Knowing what to do, Kairus unfurls his spell scroll, ensures its magical ink is not vulnerable to sea water, gives it a few practice reads, and makes sure to mentally select the sarcophagus as his target. Then, he reads it while tugging on the Weave. The bard's words take the form of visible red runes as they lift from the scroll, encircle the sarcophagus, and flash brightly into a completely different color: light green. Kairus instinctively knows that green means 'go', and understands that the effect will last for about 10 minutes. In his hands, the parchments dissolves into ash.
Yulmiath and Mr. Thicc were ready for this, and they won't need to wait for 10 minutes. Kairus also lends a hand, but he knows his companions were not counting on his involvement in the physical portion of the plan. Under the pressure exerted by dragonborn and construct, the lid gives away, albeit reluctantly, now that it's arcane lock has been suppressed. Interestingly, the sea water does not rush into the sarcophagus as some may have expected, likely some secondary effect of the locking spell that is not fully suppressed.
Inside, the Packers find the mummified corpse of an archmage. His dried bones and stretched skin have some resemblance with the undead creature the party fought recently. Despite expectations that this archmage might rise to defend his belongings, no such thing happens. Most of the corpse is wrapped in a black shroud. Other items inside immediately get all the group members' attention. There is a respectable, though not absurd, amount of coins inside the sarcophagus. There is also a stoppered bronze scroll tube that rests at the corpse's feet. Lying beside the deceased, you see a staff fashioned from a single branch of pale white wood and whose top is shaped like claw.
Kairus gave it a long few seconds for the corpse to rise and attack before concluding. "Just .... dead? Ok, now I feel bad." (The rhyme was obviously unplanned) "Why would the undead guard the simple corpse? Or was it guarding the treasure, which is somehow dangerous?" The coins did not look all that suspicious to him but who knows? Maybe the scroll or the stuff is for demon summoning? "Shall we even touch it? And what do you normally do with the corpses? By the sea law let it drown or should we carry it up and bury or burn?"
Meili Liang Lvl 5 Monk
Dice
Unaware of what is going on below, Krodhen attempts to peer beneath the waves, looking for signs that any sharks in the area are starting to get more curious, but otherwise continues to try to jump the swell that comes and goes, figuring that the threat in the Sea Mare has been dealt with
Perception: 20
"Bubbles the Barbarian" (Locathah - Lvl 9) - Locathah Rising; Shai'ere Delatete (Githyanki Monk - Lvl 9) Rrakkma (deceased - MindFlayer); Saros Rockfoot (Deep Gnome Diviner - Lvl 5) - The Lost Kenku & One Grung Above; Tagret (Goliath Barbarian - Lvl 2) - Tales of Faerun;
Destroying the body in some way won Yulmiath's vote. Make sure it can't come back to life and start handing out a whooping. Beheading. Burning. Preferably both?
The sooner the better most likely, before it can wake up and its eyes can start to glow.
The rest? Oh boy! This was salvage. This was plunder. Dare he say it, this was booty!
Yulmiath readies his greataxe and looks to Hun. This is a big call, it requires a grown up to give the ok.
As Hun opted to float a fair bit a way, it's only after it's opened that he muttered a curse, realizing far too late a particular mistake on his part. Still, seeing as nothing ill begotten had immediately basseted the muscle crew, he warily swam on closer to the group; both to better hear them, converse, and look into the sarcophagus himself... before making decision.
"Ah, now I see... hmm... hmm... Well, there's no guarantee its not cursed in some fashion. The dead despite all logic have a hard time at times not letting things go." Hun explained. There's another long pause as the Kobold stared thoughtfully into the ancient coffin. "... Technically any desecration has already happened even before we got to thing too, so..." He muttered as well, sighed, then finally looked up the others. "Behead it if you wish, Mr. Yully. But ultimately we aughta take the corpse up top to burn. The coin we keep. But NOONE except Mr. Thicc should handle that staff and tube. 'cause if I had to guess, it'a be those two things especially that had that other spook up in a tizzy for so long. Once I and Kromagnum have had a proper look over them later however, we can figure out what to do with them. Agreed?" He looks pointedly at everyone else each in turn before nodding to the construct to proceed.
If it could then take out the scroll tube and staff without any ill effects, Hun briefly passes along the Bag of Holding for the construct to stuff the items into while others dealt with coinage and corpse.
When you realize you're doing too much: Signature.
Rhogal keeps an eye on the seas for any dangers that may approach the Snackers in the ruined ship.
Perception: 13
Extended Signature
In the Sea Mare, Kairus expresses some disappointment at the find, clearly expecting to be pushed to his limits again. The underwater team agrees that the corpse needs to be destroyed and, after Hun gives him the green light, Yulmiath begins the process by bringing his axe down and easily decapitating the body. Noticing no reaction, the kobold himself goes for the scroll tube. The stoppered bronze scroll tube goes into the bag of holding, and the clawed staff soon follows.
Kairus produces a length of fabric that is quickly tied into an improvised bag and used to scoop the coin within the sarcophagus. Mr. Thicc helps with the scooping. It falls to Yulmiath to hug the dead body and severed head and begin swimming upwards. Looking back to make sure they did not leave anything behind, the quartet swims toward the surface.
Above water, Krodhen and Rhogal had been keeping watch. The most obvious threat still is the many sharks swimming about their newfound territory. As best as the duo can tell, however, the animals are still not in need of an immediate meal. Other sea fauna is also swimming about, none of them being bothered by the sharks.
Reunited, the party hauls their new belongings over to the beach. While passing the Dirty Bastard wreck, Yulmiath, Rhogal, Mr. Thicc, and Kairus (passive perception) notice the sparkling green eyes of Myldryd the Sea Hag watching them from within. Despite the observer, the Snackers reach dry land. They themselves, however, are quite wet, including the corpse they had planned to burn to ashes.
"Don't want to alarm anyone, but The Ugly Lady was watching us. Maybe it's better to bring everything up the cliff. Just in case." Kairus fully enjoyed the trip (a peaceful resolution he decided to see as a boon, rather than a disappointment) and did not even bother to shake off the water (whatever for?!). However, he understood, that wet bones (or wet-anything, for that matter) usually do not burn.
Kairus did his best to help haul everything up the cliff and search for the wood to make a proper funeral pyre. Even went so far as an attempt to dry the bones a little with magic.
Meili Liang Lvl 5 Monk
Dice
"Might be she had her eye on it since we removed the guard? Good thing that the thing was locked up else we might be paying her a visit too."
Yulmiath eyes some of his rope and starts to work out how best to lash the body to himself for the climb ahead.
"Suppose you brainy boys might want to take a look at our finds before we head back to town, or do we set a fire, do our thing and make for homebase?"
Looking at the corpse Krodhen wonders "Hey, do you reckon it'd be worth getting some of that ink that 'she' sprayed - might have some use or value?"
"Bubbles the Barbarian" (Locathah - Lvl 9) - Locathah Rising; Shai'ere Delatete (Githyanki Monk - Lvl 9) Rrakkma (deceased - MindFlayer); Saros Rockfoot (Deep Gnome Diviner - Lvl 5) - The Lost Kenku & One Grung Above; Tagret (Goliath Barbarian - Lvl 2) - Tales of Faerun;
As Kairus' is warning the others, Mr. Thicc had been in the process of pointing from his eyes to Myldryd in the classic 'I got my eyes on you' gesture. "What?" Hun questioned prior to glancing back to see for himself. Regardless of whether he saw the hag or not for himself, the kobold turned away scoffing and shaking his head.
"Figures she'd be lurking. Meh! Can't say it'a be worth it to go bugging her. Just grab what dry drift wood you can, and we'll burn the bastard top side a fair ways from the cliff. Afterwards, eh... I guess we can take an hour to give everything a once over. Me using my expertise in the arcane, and Kroham and Rhogal with their... whatever the nine they got going on to sense bad ju-ju, Also, count up the coin! Which on the subject of it, I'm gonna give up my share of to be frank."
"... But after that hour is up, I say we dig up camp and start heading straight back to ahoy-hoy to figure out our next step." He went on to say in transit to their next destination.
When you realize you're doing too much: Signature.
Deciding not to pay too much mind to Myldryd, the group prepares for one more climb from the beach to the top of the cliff. Yulmiath secures the corpse to his person and hands over the loose head to Rhogal so the dwarf can do the same. Despite their best efforts, small bits of the extremely dry (but now damaged by water) corpse dislodge or shift or flake away. Krodhen picks up a few of the bigger chunks that fall back onto the beach before beginning his own ascent. Hun hops into Mr. Thicc and the construct brings in the rear. Kairus floats past his colleagues.
Once atop the cliff, Karius dries the corpse as best as he can and the group prepares to head inland for a little while as suggested by Hun. Collecting sticks on the way, the party eventually stops advancing and makes camp somewhere along the grassy rolling hills of the northern tip of the island. The breeze here is perfect to fan a campfire without overwhelming it. A camp is put in place, a pyre is erected, and the remains of the demon-worshiper (or about 96% of it) are loaded on prepped wood.
The corpse is set aflame unceremoniously as the group takes advantage of the flames to rest nearby. Led by Hun's study, the group uses the next hour or so to collectively examine the items they salvaged and count the coin they claimed:
Hun is the only person who understands Abyssal, so he alone can read the message.
@Hun:
“Orcus, claim your prize! The secrets of lichdom remain yours, but my deeds and magic will live on, as will my soul in the Abyss.”
Visual reference for the wand:
Visual reference for the staff:
(@MuggsHill: Give me a medicine check to retroactively see if you can perform underwater surgery and extract some of the undead captain's bile from within whatever sack it might reside.)
Hun breathes a sigh through his nose after looking over the message, and seemed all but ready to casually ball it up and cast it over a shoulder. However, after stopping mid-motion and considering the message again, it's tucked back away in the bag of holding. And if anyone asks what the message entailed he'd simply say, "Nothing helpful. But I'll keep this as a souvenir."
True to his word, Hun appeared content to speak up for none of the treasure even after his sorted out. If any might have a mind to ask his opinion, then he'd be sure to give it. But feeling at least somewhat better about the admittedly macabre magical items following the study session, Hun for once hadn't voiced further caution. "Just don't be too greedy now, least we invite any lingering bad ju-ju to stay." He asserts more in jest than genuine concern.
Once everything is ultimate is sorted out one way or another, and assuming it wasn't too late in the day to do otherwise, he'd encourage trying to snag a few more hours travel before officially camping for the night. Though if others think otherwise or the request proves a faulty one in hindsight, then he'd need no convincing, and would merely while away his time further tuning up Mr. Thicc.
When you realize you're doing too much: Signature.
Kairus could have many flaws but greed was not one of them. He did not refuse his share of the money, but only glanced at the staff and the wand with a clear held back disgust, and out of all the treasures picked up (to see closer) the statuette of a rooster. "Funny bird. It is a bird, right? Do not remember seeing one of these around here." The statuette returned to the pile and the triton was ready to get back to Ahoyhoy. "Let's check on your human, Grandpa. Hope he is well enough to speak. Still waiting for his stories".
Meili Liang Lvl 5 Monk
Dice
With no-one else more qualified seemingly interested, Krodhen considers going after it himself, even drawing his longsword, but pauses when he considers the potential downside of that stuff exploding out again. With the pain still fresh in his mind he stops short, sheathes his weapon and backs away, letting the others do what they planned, his attention now focussed on the bounty they have earned in coin and trinkets!!
"Bubbles the Barbarian" (Locathah - Lvl 9) - Locathah Rising; Shai'ere Delatete (Githyanki Monk - Lvl 9) Rrakkma (deceased - MindFlayer); Saros Rockfoot (Deep Gnome Diviner - Lvl 5) - The Lost Kenku & One Grung Above; Tagret (Goliath Barbarian - Lvl 2) - Tales of Faerun;