"It mostly the jungle was hunting us but we proved to be less edible and more "hunty"." Kairus winked to the Dragonborn adding that comment to Yulmiath's offer. "Will be glad to share, of course. But say, did you get here from Fort Beluarian alone? The place is not bad, especially if you appreciate the militaristic way of running things, and they pay well there for some deliveries, but the journey through the land has to be dangerous. Truly, at every step, the jungle was trying to literally eat us! Feels very at home, come to think of it."
While chatting, Kairus was helping too - firewood, water for cooking, setting another camp, some small jobs accompanying the preparations for the night. "You know every name of the dead ships down there. Have you been on each of them? Like Hun said, we are interested in the most recent, but I would not mind hearing the story of the oldest."
The Sea Mare was a merchant ship that fell prey to pirates twenty-four years ago. One of you previous crewmates, an older human man with barely any teeth in his mouth, claimed to be part of the crew who raided this merchant ship, though you always felt a hint of exaggeration in his tales. After the pirates killed the ship’s crew and looted the hold, so the tale goes, they tried to set the ship ablaze before abandoning it. A sudden rainstorm whipped up and extinguished the flames before they could do much damage. Nonetheless, this old sailor claimed that strong winds blew the derelict vessel to its doom and the pirates had no choice but to simply abandon it, claiming it was destined to travel the seas as a haunted, crewless ship.
@Yulmiath, regarding the Carcerius:
You heard the tale of the Carcerius at some point during one of your first seafaring travels. It serves as a cautionary tale for pirates and sea merchants who may have the evil inclination to engage in the foulest of trades out there. It is said that not even the Sea ***** may have tolerated such trade. The caravel was transporting slaves around Chult when it was caught in a storm seventy-five years ago. The crew was swept off the deck, leaving the slaves chained below. When the ship finally slammed against the rocks and sank, all of the slaves drowned. It seems the Wavemother did not show any mercy, neither to the traffickers not their victims.
@Kairus, regarding Fort Beluarian:
You are well acquainted with Fort Beluarian. The leader of the fort is a stern woman called Commander Liara Portyr. Her fort serves as a trade hub in northern Chult on behalf of the city-state of Baldur's Gate. It is located on the northern tip of Chult, northeast of Port Nyanzaru and near the eastern shore of the Bay of Chult. It receives supply shipments from the nearby stretch of beach referred to as Beluarian Landing. There is always plenty of work to be found at the port, be it hunting monsters or the undead in the nearby jungle, serving as a jungle guide for would-be explorers, or participating in the fort's monthly jousting tournaments. Any adventurer in Chult worth their salt has visited Fort Beluarian at least once, as it is know as the last safe haven in northern Chult.
When Yulmiath and Kairus bring up the fact that they brought dinner with them, Eeyal seems quite pleased. She admits to knowing only the basics about hunting, preferring to fish her meals instead. Once the cooked meat is passed around and a second bird is brought out for further cooking/smoking, the tortle share some thoughts: "And it is not just any game you went hunting... or who found you, as you put it. These large birds can be quite stubborn." She points to the campfire: "It is one of the reasons it might be a good idea to keep a fire going, even if you have to step aside briefly and leave it unattended. Keeps the beasties away. Well, some of them at least."
Yulmiath steers the conversation to the words "High Horn." Eeyal smiles at the dragonborn's gesturing and confusion, admitting to never having thought about it that way. "High Horn is the name of the northern tip of the island, where we now are. But I guess it could very well be named after either the statue or the lonely mountain. This here is the Snout's Herald, and that there,"she points to the mountain in the distance, "is the Northern Peak."She then shrugs and adds: "I guess they are both landmarks within High Horn. The statue is meant to serve as a warning to approaching ships so they don't come crashing into the rocky shore. The mountain... well, there is not much to say about it. It is just there, housing wildlife and not much else, I think."
Kairus brings the conversation back to the topic of shipwrecks, which lights up the tortle's eyes. "Indeed I know a thing or two about them. I enjoy exploring them even in the occasions when I have little to show for it by the time I surface back up."She looks at the sea, which shines brightly with dusk rays. "There are six shipwrecks here in High Horn, some being easier to explore than others." She points to a burnt wooden nub poking out of the water in the distance: "That there, for instance, is the Virago. The high tide has come in, so you can't see much on of it now, but at low tide you can see its scorched deck and enter through it." She then points to a the open sea, to a spot that is quite far away from the beach below. "On the other end of the spectrum, there's the Sea Mare over there, the farthest wreck from the island. You can't even see it at high tide. Tortles have tried numerous times to plunder the wreck, to no avail."
When asked about the most recent wreck, Eeyal is glad to share her knowledge: "Do you see that forward section of a ship that is lodged between rocks, canted to one side with its broken mast pointing south. That's the Dawn Avenger. A little over a year ago, the captain of that ship came to the south shores of Chult with a charter to hunt pirates. Instead of doing that, she ran her ship aground. She blamed thick clouds of smoke from the volcanoes to the north, which hampered visibility. Seven survivors including the captain made it to the Snout, but they didn’t stay long. They used salvaged rowboats to cross the northern strait, landed on the mainland, and disappeared into the wilds of Chult. As far as I know, no tortle on the island knows what became of them." She adjusts her goggles: "Anyway, the ship broke in half, and Its aft section was dragged out to sea by the current by the looks of it, but you can still explore the front portion of it if you'd like. The starboard half is submerged now on account of the high tide, but what's left of the wreckage is entirely visible at low tide."
(OOC: You are all welcome to keep those history checks coming.)
At recalling the foul story of the Carcerius, Yulmiath spits into the fire as if to recall its deeds has left a foul taste on his tongue.
"I won't tell the story of that one except to say it's deeds stand as warning to all who might engage in such dark acts. It should stand as a warning to all on the water that the Sea ***** doesn't discriminate, she'll take all into her watery embrace, guilty and innocent alike and you've not a lot of choice in the matter once she turns her gaze upon you."
Yul spits into the fire again. Umberlee's doings bringing the taste of bile to the dragonborn's throat. He crosses his arms and stares into the flames of the fire as it spits and crackles and his thoughts drift back to the Wagtail.
(OOC Assume that advantage still applies to the the history checks as before - if so: 20.)
(OOC 2 Would Yul need to make some kind of survival check to gauge when low tide would be? Given his seafaring background would he even need to roll dice? Or would be able to benefit from advantage?)
Kairus was sitting leaning against a boulder nearby, listening intently while absentmindedly playing some soft melody. "To no avail? Very interesting..." He sat in silence for a few moments, looking into the fire with half-smile and thinking. "You know, why don't we try it first in the morning? It is clear our human was not on any of these wrecks, but since we are already here... What do you say? A shipwreck no one could touch for years!" Actually, what it meant, the big part of the goods (even if some were there) was destroyed by the seawater, but the deed itself - to reach the ship no one saw for years - was worth it in Kairus's eyes.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
"Well, its probably haunted to be frank." Hun commented on absently while staring into the flame. "The Sea Mare too, that is. You probably don't remember Mr. Yully. But Old Toothless? He used to brag about being on the raid of that one. Not sure how much of what he said was true, but... it was a merchant ship. And if the Tortles haven't been able to get at it right, it prolly still has some goodies left over still, but... eh. Just speculation on my part."Hun said, throwing out a shrug towards the end.
"As for the Dawn Avenger, that one's business doesn't like something Mr. Volo, as you rightly stated Young Blue, would hitch a ride on... unless... unless there was something more to the crew or its goals than bad luck and pirate hunting." Hun drifts off for a bit there having the massage mean work double time to help clearing his mind and focus on the Avenger.
"Bah. Mr. Yully? Khroden? Either of you good with a crossbow by any chance? If so, and assuming we're still checking out the wrecks, which I kinda still hope to do, I could outfit my crossbow to help with dispatching spooks and give it to one of ya."
"Ye bearded gods! All o' those instances makes my landin' here seem more like a slightly uncomfortable pleasure cruise!"Rhogal excalims. "Certainly makes shudder 'bout the trip back from where I came from after this tour."
The Virago was a merchant vessel out of Zazesspur. Thirty-odd years ago, it ran afoul of pirates and was chased around the Chultan peninsula. Your old captain claimed he was targeting this very ship but a rival pirate crew ended up being the one who managed to reach it first. The story goes that the Virago would have escaped had it not sailed into a pyroclastic ash cloud and caught fire. The burning ship drifted for days before, it now seems, the current bore it to High Horn. It is now clear to you that the Virago then sank right at this location.
@Hun: You fail to remember any more details about the mentioned ships so far, but at least you notice that Eeyal has only mentioned four ships by name out of the six she claims have wrecked in the area below.
(@MB: Yes, please roll a tide check with advantage due to your sailing experience.)
Much like Eeyal told the brief tale of the Dawn Avenger,Yulmiath and Hun share what they know about the Carcerius and the Sea Mare, respectively. None of these tales are particularly pleasing, as Rhogal rightly highlights, but they should serve as some background information should the group choose to explore those wrecks.
The tales get the adventurer juices flowing within Kairus, who proposes the group sets out to explore them in the morning. Eeyal enjoys the bard's reaction but delivers a warning: "Just be sure to wait for the low tide. A nasty beast roams the wrecks during the high tide, and may even show up during the low tide if you travel far enough. Be careful." Hun, thinking ahead, offers more water-friendly gear to some of the party members.
(OOC: You are welcome to start your Long Rest as the OOC Chat seemed to be leaning toward. Set up your watches as you see fit and describe what you do during the rest. The conversation with Eeyal can certainly continue during the rest. Also, who is rolling that smoking meat check?)
"I doubt we'll see any gribblies out among the wrecks. Bones of dead ships, leftovers and the carrion that feeds on them. Keep your crossbow, Hun, I got all the protection I need."
Yulmiath pats his great axe as he replies to Hun. He narrows his eyes as Eeyal mentions beasts prowling the wrecks though. A more tangible foe he can believe in.
"What sort of critters are known to be down on the beach and hidden in the tides? Anything we should be keeping a wide berth of?"
(OOC - Here goes nothing with the survival check - 21. Happy to take any watch during the long rest. I think Yulmiath is just keeping the fire going and keeping an eye/ear out for anything, particularly flapping wings. Perception - 23.)
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
The fight, the unexpected meeting, the stories about the ships and the tomorrow expedition - all of it kept Kairus awake and he offered to keep the first watch. Yulmiath did not have to work alone on the improvised smoke chamber, but the young triton, while his hands were busy (Help action to Yul) continued talking with the turtle. He was familiar enough with sea-habitants, though, so close to the shore of a remote island the fauna could be different. Still, he hoped the description could help to recognise some.
Hun simply nodded, accepting the rejection having half-expected them in any event. A nugget of concern had him still glancing to his shield, to Krodhen, and then finally to Yulmiath with a thoughtful expression etched into his mug. Yet after a moment, the kobold just shrugged and saw to snagging a bit of whatever happened to be cooking for the evening meal. "Meh, We'll be careful, or try our best." He assures Eeyal.
With that said, as much as Hun seemed tempted to join in on the smoke house project later on once officially underway, other concerns eventually pulled his focus elsewhere. That being taking some time during the long rest to run both maintenance on the cage, as well as switching out the bird for a makeshift psuedodragon. And then using his know how with creating magical trinkets, recording his voice speaking a warning in draconic and hooking it up to the machine. This way whenever it was to go off, he knew he'd hear a trusted voice delivering the news. After all that though, the Kobold happily digs himself a little dug out in the ground and partially burying himself in earth to mask his position for the evening. More than that, such as the matter of watches, he happily leaves to the others to figure out.
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DM's Screen:
16
@Yulmiath: You are well-acquainted with the tides in this region of the world. You expect the low tide to come in the deep of the night and last until about sunrise (think 12am until 6am) and then again about half a day afterwards (think 12pm until 6pm). If the group wants to go for a swim during low tide, you'll have to wake up really early or wait until noon tomorrow.
@Kairus: Nothing that you have seen or heard so far seems too indicative of a special habitat, though that could be due to your own knowledge of the place so far as opposed to the lack of special features. You imagine the group is likely to come across the type of marine fauna and flora associated with coral reefs, including octopuses (octopi?) and reef sharks. Anything beyond that would be simply guessing at this point.
"Your main worry should be the plesiosaurus, that is, the beast I mentioned a moment ago." Eeyal answers Yulmiath's question. "And this one is a special threat too. Some sort of mutation has gifted it with a second neck and head. This nasty beast is enough to keep many other would-be threats away, but not all of them, especially in the low tide when the plesiosaurus is less likely to appear. And that's not even considering whatever may have taken residence in the wrecks the tortles have not explored fully or since they were last visited. You never know, so I advise you'll to be careful."
Rhogal internalizes the message well, encouraging the group to indeed be more careful. The discussion has the opposite effect on Kairus, whose sense of adventure is tingling at the moment. Hun agrees to be careful to a degree. Krodhen remains observant but silent. Soon, the entire group settles down for the evening.
@Kairus: You volunteer for the first watch, taking advantage of it to help build a crude smoke house (results pending a survival check by anyone in the party.) Because of the lent hand, your attention is divided and you can't keep an eye out for dangers the whole time. You reckon something might have bypassed your attention, though you cannot be sure. You mention your worry to your dwarf companion, who will be taking the next watch.
@Rhogal: Keeping in mind the bard's suspicions, you decide to remain attentive during your watch as opposed to trying to multitask. You can hear the nocturnal wildlife in the distance, but it looks like Eeyal's claim that the fire seems to keep most of them away is indeed panning out. You identify no danger during your watch. Eventually the torlte herself appears to take your place.
Eeyal's watch passes, but the group is asleep.
@Yulmiath: The tortle calls on you for the last watch. You make sure the fire is properly maintained and keep an eye on the horizon so you have an idea of what time it is. Since you know the tides best, you feel it is up to you to decide when the party should be woken up, if at all. Anytime will do, though, as you are pretty sure there are no looming dangers surrounding the camp this night/morning.
Say what you want, but that was a true life! Kairus was surprised how quickly and (aside from occasional attacks) painlessly he adapted to the full dry-land existence. His first look at the morning was directed at the sea still and he would leave the land behind in a heartbeat without regrets, but admittedly, he was enjoying that expedition.
The others woke up to his song. "Sunrise, sunrise, A beautiful start to the day..." jolly sang Kairus checking how the smoked meat was doing and making breakfast. The day promised to be great!
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Having checked his gear during his watch, Yulmiath finds little to occupy himself once the sunrises. Watching the waves receding from the shore, he waits until he feels the lowest point of the tide is still an hour or two off. At that point, he circles the others and gives them a nudge to wake them. Kneeling beside Hun, he places a gentle hand on the kobold to wake him.
Standing and taking a step away from the group, Yulmiath adds "Daylights wasting now. Best we get started, there's a lot of ground to cover and who knows what waiting down there. I'm going to check those ropes, best make yourselves ready."
(OOC Here's a survival check to see if the ropes will hold the parties collective weight as they make their descent. If sleight of hand or investigation is preferred, take 1 or 2 (respectively) for either other possibility. 13)
OOC: Sorry all - another tough week with work deadlines - just caught up on the narrative - nice.
Not the one to make meaningless inputs when dealing with matters he is not familiar with, Krodhen listens intently to the discussion about the ships and takes the evening and its rest to ponder how they could make the task a little safer, and as they wake and prepare for the descent.
"Morning all.....a day of adventure and possibilities awaits, but danger as well no doubt. The water can be a fickle mistress - what say you all to tying in to each other as we head out and allowing some space between each?"
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"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;
Hun grumbled and groaned, but eventually would heed the call of Yulmiath and the rest. It wasn't as if he could go back to sleep with Kairus adding to the ruckus with his sing-a-long to boot. "For the life of me, I'll never understand all ya'll enjoyment from seeing the sun. If I didn't know any better, I'd mistake you'd all be worshipers of Lathander." He groused further, and yet saw to it all the same to do at least some light maintenance on his gear before truly waking up to greet the day.
"I'd say that's a risky way of getting tangled up or caught between debris, when we get that point. But up to you whipper snappers. Let's just get down there and start with the Sea Mare, before working our way to the easier ones. Or vice versa. I'm not particular feeling picky today." He admits.
--> New spells prepped, but no infusion changes
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Raising an increasingly blood soaked bag into view, Yulmiath tries to reassure the tortle that they have plenty of food to go around.
"We actually did some...hunting earlier. If you'd be willing to share the fire, we could share the spoils with you."
Looking up to the statue of the tortle and then back to the nearby mountain peak they spotted on their here, Yulmiath turns back to Eeyal.
"Quick question; is the mountain High Horn, or is the statue High Horn? I might have thought it was the mountain. High Horn."
Yul mimes a single horn sprouting from his head as if he was some kind of scaly unicorn while standing on tiptoe.
"But looking at the statue, it might be High Horn."
He switches to mimic the pose of the tortle statue blowing a musical horn.
(OOC - Never expected Yul to make an intelligence roll with advantage... here goes nothing... history - 20)
History: 23
"It mostly the jungle was hunting us but we proved to be less edible and more "hunty"." Kairus winked to the Dragonborn adding that comment to Yulmiath's offer. "Will be glad to share, of course. But say, did you get here from Fort Beluarian alone? The place is not bad, especially if you appreciate the militaristic way of running things, and they pay well there for some deliveries, but the journey through the land has to be dangerous. Truly, at every step, the jungle was trying to literally eat us! Feels very at home, come to think of it."
While chatting, Kairus was helping too - firewood, water for cooking, setting another camp, some small jobs accompanying the preparations for the night. "You know every name of the dead ships down there. Have you been on each of them? Like Hun said, we are interested in the most recent, but I would not mind hearing the story of the oldest."
Meili Liang Lvl 5 Monk
Dice
@Hun, regarding the Sea Mare:
The Sea Mare was a merchant ship that fell prey to pirates twenty-four years ago. One of you previous crewmates, an older human man with barely any teeth in his mouth, claimed to be part of the crew who raided this merchant ship, though you always felt a hint of exaggeration in his tales. After the pirates killed the ship’s crew and looted the hold, so the tale goes, they tried to set the ship ablaze before abandoning it. A sudden rainstorm whipped up and extinguished the flames before they could do much damage. Nonetheless, this old sailor claimed that strong winds blew the derelict vessel to its doom and the pirates had no choice but to simply abandon it, claiming it was destined to travel the seas as a haunted, crewless ship.
@Yulmiath, regarding the Carcerius:
You heard the tale of the Carcerius at some point during one of your first seafaring travels. It serves as a cautionary tale for pirates and sea merchants who may have the evil inclination to engage in the foulest of trades out there. It is said that not even the Sea ***** may have tolerated such trade. The caravel was transporting slaves around Chult when it was caught in a storm seventy-five years ago. The crew was swept off the deck, leaving the slaves chained below. When the ship finally slammed against the rocks and sank, all of the slaves drowned. It seems the Wavemother did not show any mercy, neither to the traffickers not their victims.
@Kairus, regarding Fort Beluarian:
You are well acquainted with Fort Beluarian. The leader of the fort is a stern woman called Commander Liara Portyr. Her fort serves as a trade hub in northern Chult on behalf of the city-state of Baldur's Gate. It is located on the northern tip of Chult, northeast of Port Nyanzaru and near the eastern shore of the Bay of Chult. It receives supply shipments from the nearby stretch of beach referred to as Beluarian Landing. There is always plenty of work to be found at the port, be it hunting monsters or the undead in the nearby jungle, serving as a jungle guide for would-be explorers, or participating in the fort's monthly jousting tournaments. Any adventurer in Chult worth their salt has visited Fort Beluarian at least once, as it is know as the last safe haven in northern Chult.
When Yulmiath and Kairus bring up the fact that they brought dinner with them, Eeyal seems quite pleased. She admits to knowing only the basics about hunting, preferring to fish her meals instead. Once the cooked meat is passed around and a second bird is brought out for further cooking/smoking, the tortle share some thoughts: "And it is not just any game you went hunting... or who found you, as you put it. These large birds can be quite stubborn." She points to the campfire: "It is one of the reasons it might be a good idea to keep a fire going, even if you have to step aside briefly and leave it unattended. Keeps the beasties away. Well, some of them at least."
Yulmiath steers the conversation to the words "High Horn." Eeyal smiles at the dragonborn's gesturing and confusion, admitting to never having thought about it that way. "High Horn is the name of the northern tip of the island, where we now are. But I guess it could very well be named after either the statue or the lonely mountain. This here is the Snout's Herald, and that there," she points to the mountain in the distance, "is the Northern Peak." She then shrugs and adds: "I guess they are both landmarks within High Horn. The statue is meant to serve as a warning to approaching ships so they don't come crashing into the rocky shore. The mountain... well, there is not much to say about it. It is just there, housing wildlife and not much else, I think."
Kairus brings the conversation back to the topic of shipwrecks, which lights up the tortle's eyes. "Indeed I know a thing or two about them. I enjoy exploring them even in the occasions when I have little to show for it by the time I surface back up." She looks at the sea, which shines brightly with dusk rays. "There are six shipwrecks here in High Horn, some being easier to explore than others." She points to a burnt wooden nub poking out of the water in the distance: "That there, for instance, is the Virago. The high tide has come in, so you can't see much on of it now, but at low tide you can see its scorched deck and enter through it." She then points to a the open sea, to a spot that is quite far away from the beach below. "On the other end of the spectrum, there's the Sea Mare over there, the farthest wreck from the island. You can't even see it at high tide. Tortles have tried numerous times to plunder the wreck, to no avail."
When asked about the most recent wreck, Eeyal is glad to share her knowledge: "Do you see that forward section of a ship that is lodged between rocks, canted to one side with its broken mast pointing south. That's the Dawn Avenger. A little over a year ago, the captain of that ship came to the south shores of Chult with a charter to hunt pirates. Instead of doing that, she ran her ship aground. She blamed thick clouds of smoke from the volcanoes to the north, which hampered visibility. Seven survivors including the captain made it to the Snout, but they didn’t stay long. They used salvaged rowboats to cross the northern strait, landed on the mainland, and disappeared into the wilds of Chult. As far as I know, no tortle on the island knows what became of them." She adjusts her goggles: "Anyway, the ship broke in half, and Its aft section was dragged out to sea by the current by the looks of it, but you can still explore the front portion of it if you'd like. The starboard half is submerged now on account of the high tide, but what's left of the wreckage is entirely visible at low tide."
(OOC: You are all welcome to keep those history checks coming.)
At recalling the foul story of the Carcerius, Yulmiath spits into the fire as if to recall its deeds has left a foul taste on his tongue.
"I won't tell the story of that one except to say it's deeds stand as warning to all who might engage in such dark acts. It should stand as a warning to all on the water that the Sea ***** doesn't discriminate, she'll take all into her watery embrace, guilty and innocent alike and you've not a lot of choice in the matter once she turns her gaze upon you."
Yul spits into the fire again. Umberlee's doings bringing the taste of bile to the dragonborn's throat. He crosses his arms and stares into the flames of the fire as it spits and crackles and his thoughts drift back to the Wagtail.
(OOC Assume that advantage still applies to the the history checks as before - if so: 20.)
(OOC 2 Would Yul need to make some kind of survival check to gauge when low tide would be? Given his seafaring background would he even need to roll dice? Or would be able to benefit from advantage?)
Kairus was sitting leaning against a boulder nearby, listening intently while absentmindedly playing some soft melody. "To no avail? Very interesting..." He sat in silence for a few moments, looking into the fire with half-smile and thinking. "You know, why don't we try it first in the morning? It is clear our human was not on any of these wrecks, but since we are already here... What do you say? A shipwreck no one could touch for years!" Actually, what it meant, the big part of the goods (even if some were there) was destroyed by the seawater, but the deed itself - to reach the ship no one saw for years - was worth it in Kairus's eyes.
Meili Liang Lvl 5 Monk
Dice
"Well, its probably haunted to be frank." Hun commented on absently while staring into the flame. "The Sea Mare too, that is. You probably don't remember Mr. Yully. But Old Toothless? He used to brag about being on the raid of that one. Not sure how much of what he said was true, but... it was a merchant ship. And if the Tortles haven't been able to get at it right, it prolly still has some goodies left over still, but... eh. Just speculation on my part." Hun said, throwing out a shrug towards the end.
"As for the Dawn Avenger, that one's business doesn't like something Mr. Volo, as you rightly stated Young Blue, would hitch a ride on... unless... unless there was something more to the crew or its goals than bad luck and pirate hunting." Hun drifts off for a bit there having the massage mean work double time to help clearing his mind and focus on the Avenger.
History: 16.
"Bah. Mr. Yully? Khroden? Either of you good with a crossbow by any chance? If so, and assuming we're still checking out the wrecks, which I kinda still hope to do, I could outfit my crossbow to help with dispatching spooks and give it to one of ya."
When you realize you're doing too much: Signature.
"Ye bearded gods! All o' those instances makes my landin' here seem more like a slightly uncomfortable pleasure cruise!" Rhogal excalims. "Certainly makes shudder 'bout the trip back from where I came from after this tour."
Extended Signature
@Yulmiath, regarding the Virago:
The Virago was a merchant vessel out of Zazesspur. Thirty-odd years ago, it ran afoul of pirates and was chased around the Chultan peninsula. Your old captain claimed he was targeting this very ship but a rival pirate crew ended up being the one who managed to reach it first. The story goes that the Virago would have escaped had it not sailed into a pyroclastic ash cloud and caught fire. The burning ship drifted for days before, it now seems, the current bore it to High Horn. It is now clear to you that the Virago then sank right at this location.
@Hun: You fail to remember any more details about the mentioned ships so far, but at least you notice that Eeyal has only mentioned four ships by name out of the six she claims have wrecked in the area below.
(@MB: Yes, please roll a tide check with advantage due to your sailing experience.)
Much like Eeyal told the brief tale of the Dawn Avenger, Yulmiath and Hun share what they know about the Carcerius and the Sea Mare, respectively. None of these tales are particularly pleasing, as Rhogal rightly highlights, but they should serve as some background information should the group choose to explore those wrecks.
The tales get the adventurer juices flowing within Kairus, who proposes the group sets out to explore them in the morning. Eeyal enjoys the bard's reaction but delivers a warning: "Just be sure to wait for the low tide. A nasty beast roams the wrecks during the high tide, and may even show up during the low tide if you travel far enough. Be careful." Hun, thinking ahead, offers more water-friendly gear to some of the party members.
(OOC: You are welcome to start your Long Rest as the OOC Chat seemed to be leaning toward. Set up your watches as you see fit and describe what you do during the rest. The conversation with Eeyal can certainly continue during the rest. Also, who is rolling that smoking meat check?)
"I doubt we'll see any gribblies out among the wrecks. Bones of dead ships, leftovers and the carrion that feeds on them. Keep your crossbow, Hun, I got all the protection I need."
Yulmiath pats his great axe as he replies to Hun. He narrows his eyes as Eeyal mentions beasts prowling the wrecks though. A more tangible foe he can believe in.
"What sort of critters are known to be down on the beach and hidden in the tides? Anything we should be keeping a wide berth of?"
(OOC - Here goes nothing with the survival check - 21. Happy to take any watch during the long rest. I think Yulmiath is just keeping the fire going and keeping an eye/ear out for anything, particularly flapping wings. Perception - 23.)
The fight, the unexpected meeting, the stories about the ships and the tomorrow expedition - all of it kept Kairus awake and he offered to keep the first watch. Yulmiath did not have to work alone on the improvised smoke chamber, but the young triton, while his hands were busy (Help action to Yul) continued talking with the turtle. He was familiar enough with sea-habitants, though, so close to the shore of a remote island the fauna could be different. Still, he hoped the description could help to recognise some.
Nature 11 Perception 15
Meili Liang Lvl 5 Monk
Dice
Hun simply nodded, accepting the rejection having half-expected them in any event. A nugget of concern had him still glancing to his shield, to Krodhen, and then finally to Yulmiath with a thoughtful expression etched into his mug. Yet after a moment, the kobold just shrugged and saw to snagging a bit of whatever happened to be cooking for the evening meal. "Meh, We'll be careful, or try our best." He assures Eeyal.
With that said, as much as Hun seemed tempted to join in on the smoke house project later on once officially underway, other concerns eventually pulled his focus elsewhere. That being taking some time during the long rest to run both maintenance on the cage, as well as switching out the bird for a makeshift psuedodragon. And then using his know how with creating magical trinkets, recording his voice speaking a warning in draconic and hooking it up to the machine. This way whenever it was to go off, he knew he'd hear a trusted voice delivering the news. After all that though, the Kobold happily digs himself a little dug out in the ground and partially burying himself in earth to mask his position for the evening. More than that, such as the matter of watches, he happily leaves to the others to figure out.
When you realize you're doing too much: Signature.
"Clearly, our 'best' is barely seein' us through..." Rhogal says with a shrug, "We gotta be doin' better, as much sense as that makes..."
He takes a shift to look out for dangers.
Perception: 15
Extended Signature
DM's Screen:
16
@Yulmiath: You are well-acquainted with the tides in this region of the world. You expect the low tide to come in the deep of the night and last until about sunrise (think 12am until 6am) and then again about half a day afterwards (think 12pm until 6pm). If the group wants to go for a swim during low tide, you'll have to wake up really early or wait until noon tomorrow.
@Kairus: Nothing that you have seen or heard so far seems too indicative of a special habitat, though that could be due to your own knowledge of the place so far as opposed to the lack of special features. You imagine the group is likely to come across the type of marine fauna and flora associated with coral reefs, including octopuses (octopi?) and reef sharks. Anything beyond that would be simply guessing at this point.
"Your main worry should be the plesiosaurus, that is, the beast I mentioned a moment ago." Eeyal answers Yulmiath's question. "And this one is a special threat too. Some sort of mutation has gifted it with a second neck and head. This nasty beast is enough to keep many other would-be threats away, but not all of them, especially in the low tide when the plesiosaurus is less likely to appear. And that's not even considering whatever may have taken residence in the wrecks the tortles have not explored fully or since they were last visited. You never know, so I advise you'll to be careful."
Rhogal internalizes the message well, encouraging the group to indeed be more careful. The discussion has the opposite effect on Kairus, whose sense of adventure is tingling at the moment. Hun agrees to be careful to a degree. Krodhen remains observant but silent. Soon, the entire group settles down for the evening.
DM's Screen:
5
@Kairus: You volunteer for the first watch, taking advantage of it to help build a crude smoke house (results pending a survival check by anyone in the party.) Because of the lent hand, your attention is divided and you can't keep an eye out for dangers the whole time. You reckon something might have bypassed your attention, though you cannot be sure. You mention your worry to your dwarf companion, who will be taking the next watch.
@Rhogal: Keeping in mind the bard's suspicions, you decide to remain attentive during your watch as opposed to trying to multitask. You can hear the nocturnal wildlife in the distance, but it looks like Eeyal's claim that the fire seems to keep most of them away is indeed panning out. You identify no danger during your watch. Eventually the torlte herself appears to take your place.
Eeyal's watch passes, but the group is asleep.
@Yulmiath: The tortle calls on you for the last watch. You make sure the fire is properly maintained and keep an eye on the horizon so you have an idea of what time it is. Since you know the tides best, you feel it is up to you to decide when the party should be woken up, if at all. Anytime will do, though, as you are pretty sure there are no looming dangers surrounding the camp this night/morning.
Say what you want, but that was a true life! Kairus was surprised how quickly and (aside from occasional attacks) painlessly he adapted to the full dry-land existence. His first look at the morning was directed at the sea still and he would leave the land behind in a heartbeat without regrets, but admittedly, he was enjoying that expedition.
The others woke up to his song. "Sunrise, sunrise, A beautiful start to the day..." jolly sang Kairus checking how the smoked meat was doing and making breakfast. The day promised to be great!
Meili Liang Lvl 5 Monk
Dice
Having checked his gear during his watch, Yulmiath finds little to occupy himself once the sunrises. Watching the waves receding from the shore, he waits until he feels the lowest point of the tide is still an hour or two off. At that point, he circles the others and gives them a nudge to wake them. Kneeling beside Hun, he places a gentle hand on the kobold to wake him.
Standing and taking a step away from the group, Yulmiath adds "Daylights wasting now. Best we get started, there's a lot of ground to cover and who knows what waiting down there. I'm going to check those ropes, best make yourselves ready."
(OOC Here's a survival check to see if the ropes will hold the parties collective weight as they make their descent. If sleight of hand or investigation is preferred, take 1 or 2 (respectively) for either other possibility. 13)
OOC: Sorry all - another tough week with work deadlines - just caught up on the narrative - nice.
Not the one to make meaningless inputs when dealing with matters he is not familiar with, Krodhen listens intently to the discussion about the ships and takes the evening and its rest to ponder how they could make the task a little safer, and as they wake and prepare for the descent.
"Morning all.....a day of adventure and possibilities awaits, but danger as well no doubt. The water can be a fickle mistress - what say you all to tying in to each other as we head out and allowing some space between each?"
"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;
Hun grumbled and groaned, but eventually would heed the call of Yulmiath and the rest. It wasn't as if he could go back to sleep with Kairus adding to the ruckus with his sing-a-long to boot. "For the life of me, I'll never understand all ya'll enjoyment from seeing the sun. If I didn't know any better, I'd mistake you'd all be worshipers of Lathander." He groused further, and yet saw to it all the same to do at least some light maintenance on his gear before truly waking up to greet the day.
"I'd say that's a risky way of getting tangled up or caught between debris, when we get that point. But up to you whipper snappers. Let's just get down there and start with the Sea Mare, before working our way to the easier ones. Or vice versa. I'm not particular feeling picky today." He admits.
--> New spells prepped, but no infusion changes
When you realize you're doing too much: Signature.