Augustus will watch the party begin the head back into the boat, and get up with a sigh, "Ah, well I'm not hangin' around to be harpy bait should more arrive while yer down there!" He'll then put the new boots on, hoping that they keep out the water better than his usual pair. He'll then ring out his old boots and hang them from his pack to dry, following the group back into the belly of the ship.
Augustus - Uncannily, the new [Tooltip Not Found] fit you perfectly. What's more, they seem to make absolutely no sound as you step across the otherwise creaky deck of the ship.
Everyone - You move down to the lower deck and start searching the crates. In total you find goods and supplies worth a total of 220 GP...
Five bottles of fine wine (worth 10 gp each) packed in straw, plus one broken bottle
A 20-pound sack of whole cloves, worth 60 gp (a dubious valuation considering where you pulled them from, but I digress....)
Ten small, 1-pound bars of silver (worth 5 gp each)
A pair of candlestick holders carved from bone to resemble dragons, worth 25 gp each
And, A fine lute with mother-of-pearl inlay, worth 50 gp
You've moved onto opening the less preserved barrels with diminishing returns when you begin to hear sloshing movement coming from down in the hull. Something, or a lot of somethings are slowly moving towards your position. Might be a good time to skedaddle.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
DM - Classic Adventures Reborn
Rylan - L1 Human Paladin - Barty's "Princes of the Apocalypse"
You barely see hints of the setting sun through an unnatural haze as you maneuver the rowboat to shore. As you row, the haunting chill in the air seems to coalesce around the boat... Whispers in the wind seem to follow you as you move through the water... pleading voices, most of them... but others mutter angrily... or growl out profane curses and incantations or pleas for release...
Some of you keep your focus on the dark surface of the water, looking for any sign of movement. Every now and then you swear you see illuminated bodies down below, reaching upward uselessly toward the boat and swaying with the tide like a ghastly kelp forest... But you know that's impossible. It's too dark to see anything down there. It's probably all your imagination playing tricks after all the horrors you've seen.
The ship finally touches ground on the shore about a mile from the cloister. Somewhere far off in the distance, as you're climbing out of the boat, you swear you can hear an echo of the harpy's voice... raspy, atonal, more a spine-tingling death rattle than a luring song... But then it fades away again.
Fortunately, the cloister is not far. About a mile and a half by foot. You won't make it in time for the evening meal, but you'll arrive well before most of the congregants have retired for the night.
You make the trek up the cliffside path to Dragon's Rest without too much difficulty.
As you move closer you move to the temple of Bahamut, the chorus of whispering voices following you seem to fade away, replaced by the tranquil sounds of the cloister at rest. The few kobolds still awake are in the midst of their evening chores. Yet, one figure stand vigilant, seemingly awaiting your arrival.
"You've returned..." Says Varnoth, before turning her gaze out in the direction of the archipelago. "How did you fare?"
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
DM - Classic Adventures Reborn
Rylan - L1 Human Paladin - Barty's "Princes of the Apocalypse"
Sir Beauregard bows to Varnoth. “The sea crawls with undeath and that has not changed. We destroyed too few to matter. We also downed two Harpies but they may have risen already. All we have for our efforts, apart from a pair of boots for Lord Silver, is a packet that was lost in the wreck. I think you should examine it for it may be tied to the evil. And I hope you do so quickly for the dead are restless.”
Silver chews on the stem his unlit pipe, blowing air through it to clear the seawater, but steps forward as he's mentioned, adding on once Sir Beauregard finishes speaking, "Aye, I found a collection of personal effects of one Willion Cromwell." He'll retrieve the box from his pack, offering to Varnith, "and these boots which just so happen to fit beautifully! However, if they could be useful to another, my own Silver-Made boots have served me well for years, and I would happily offer these to one in need! Vinn here's got the packet, but I must say, this was previously lost to the depths, and that which has sunk and then returned is never a good omen."
Varnoth accepts the packet from Vinn and studies it, turning it over and over in her hands. "This, you say, is the source of all the trouble?"
She considers what to do for a moment, then breathes a sigh. "Mistress Runara is away at the moment... But, if what you say is true, and the dread harpies have, themselves returned from death, it might be unwise for us to wait for her return." Her eyes lift to the end of the cliffside path and she seems to relax slightly.
"Come." She says. "We will open this mystery in the presence of The Platinum Dragon."
With that, she leads all who wish to follow, to the The Temple of Bahamut at the end of the road.
You feel a sense of serenity as you pass between the sea-weathered columns of the temple. In the center of the temple stands a stone statue of a kind-looking old man with canaries perched on his hands, shoulders, and head. The moonlight has a curious effect on the statue, making it appear as if the old man were smiling down on you all.
Varnoth lights some candles near the base of the statue for light. She then takes a knee before the statue, whispers a prayer and holds out the package, as if asking for consecration. You witness no magical effect, but it's hard not to feel that you are, somehow, more protected now than you would be otherwise.
"Be ready." Says postulate Varnoth. "There's no telling what might occur when we open this package."
With that, she proceeds to unwrap the wax paper... Her face registers some surprise when she finds, not some evil grimoire or ghastly relic but a simple sea captain's journal. Opening the book she finds a braid of hair is stuck in the pages like a bookmark, indicating the log’s last entry.
She lifts the braid from the book with two fingers, extending it outward into the flickering candlelight like evidence gathered at a crime scene. Those close enough to inspect what she's found notice two small finger bones entwined within two long locks of hair - some blonde and some black.
"Curious." Says the former mercenary in almost a whisper. She then carefully sets the braid into a small depression at the base of the statue, one that exists for offerings to the Dragon God.
Turning her attention back to the journal, she looks to the page that the braid marked and begins to read:
19 Tarsakh
Our journey is ended, though I fear my own is to continue in the most horrible way imaginable.
Compass Rose wrecked on a shoal south of Neverwinter. Many sailors perished with the initial impact, and Aleitha was gravely injured. As I tended her wounds, she clutched something in her palm and breathed soft prayers. Looking closer, I saw that it was a talisman crafted from two braids of hair and a pair of finger bones. I asked her what the talisman signified.
She told me love. Her husband waits for her at Dragon’s Rest, having pledged his service to the dragon there. The talisman is made from their hair, woven together. A promise to be reunited no matter what fate might befall them.
It might have been a beautiful story, had it not been for Aleitha’s gruesome end—and the words of the prayer I heard as she breathed her last. For she was begging Orcus, the Prince of Undeath, to reunite her with her husband.
I held her hands as the breath left her, and I felt a horrible chill pass through her. Next I knew, she was sinking her teeth into my neck. At the same moment, I heard moans begin to rise from the dead sailors all around us.
What curse has she brought on us all?
Already I feel a creeping chill overtaking my body. I am securing her talisman with this book in my chest, in the hope that someone who comes after us may end this nightmare by bringing Aleitha’s talisman to her husband.
As she finishes reading the journal entry, she lowers the book and meets eyes with all of you.
"A tragic tale." She says. "But perhaps we can put an end to it."
She looks to all of you, waiting to see if you have suggestions on how to proceed.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
DM - Classic Adventures Reborn
Rylan - L1 Human Paladin - Barty's "Princes of the Apocalypse"
"Perhaps we should rest, and await Mistress Runara to return?, " Z questions the others, "seems her consultation on these findings may be important. In saying this, (to Varnoth) where has Mistress Runara gone to?"
“Mistress Runara keeps her own counsel. I would not wait for her return. Without a husband to reunite with Aleitha, I think a rest would be wise. If there is the hand of a Demon Prince in this, we will need all of what little strength we have.” The knight frowns looking out at the waves. “I cannot breathe water as some of you can. I have not the wit to puzzle where Aleitha may be now. But she may well come to us before the dawn.”
"That which has come from the depths must now find its way to the hands of her lover, or her lover must find his way to the depths." Augustus will retrieve his journal where he took down a sketch of the couple in the painting and the inscription found on the ship, offering it around for everyone to see. "It seems to me we must find this merchant, 'Brastos', and ensure the pact is fulfilled. We can only hope he still lives or remains here at Dragon's Rest."
Vinn, the information far beyond his head, gives the group a serious look. "Are you saying we need to drown a man, this Brastos fellow,, so the two can be reunited?" He turns to Augustus. "You're good looking enough. Maybe she'll take you-- you have that whole 'undeath' look down to a Tee if that's her type..."
Morlock will also join Vinn and keep watch.
D&D since 1984
Augustus will watch the party begin the head back into the boat, and get up with a sigh, "Ah, well I'm not hangin' around to be harpy bait should more arrive while yer down there!" He'll then put the new boots on, hoping that they keep out the water better than his usual pair. He'll then ring out his old boots and hang them from his pack to dry, following the group back into the belly of the ship.
Augustus - Uncannily, the new [Tooltip Not Found] fit you perfectly. What's more, they seem to make absolutely no sound as you step across the otherwise creaky deck of the ship.
Everyone - You move down to the lower deck and start searching the crates. In total you find goods and supplies worth a total of 220 GP...
You've moved onto opening the less preserved barrels with diminishing returns when you begin to hear sloshing movement coming from down in the hull. Something, or a lot of somethings are slowly moving towards your position. Might be a good time to skedaddle.
DM - Classic Adventures Reborn
Rylan - L1 Human Paladin - Barty's "Princes of the Apocalypse"
Sir Beauregard is all for skeddadling, but he’ll take the rear guard in case any of the party skeddadle too slowly.
Vinn, arms full of items, looks around wildly when he hears the sloshing. "Let's make like a tree and leave!"
He uses his action to cast Skedaddle.
Agreed, let's us depart before we wear out our welcome.
D&D since 1984
(What do I roll for Skeedadle?)
Z follows the group.
Augustus will do the New Boot Goofin' version of skeddadling.
Northern Archipelago
Early Evening
You barely see hints of the setting sun through an unnatural haze as you maneuver the rowboat to shore. As you row, the haunting chill in the air seems to coalesce around the boat... Whispers in the wind seem to follow you as you move through the water... pleading voices, most of them... but others mutter angrily... or growl out profane curses and incantations or pleas for release...
Some of you keep your focus on the dark surface of the water, looking for any sign of movement. Every now and then you swear you see illuminated bodies down below, reaching upward uselessly toward the boat and swaying with the tide like a ghastly kelp forest... But you know that's impossible. It's too dark to see anything down there. It's probably all your imagination playing tricks after all the horrors you've seen.
The ship finally touches ground on the shore about a mile from the cloister. Somewhere far off in the distance, as you're climbing out of the boat, you swear you can hear an echo of the harpy's voice... raspy, atonal, more a spine-tingling death rattle than a luring song... But then it fades away again.
Fortunately, the cloister is not far. About a mile and a half by foot. You won't make it in time for the evening meal, but you'll arrive well before most of the congregants have retired for the night.
What would you like to do?
DM - Classic Adventures Reborn
Rylan - L1 Human Paladin - Barty's "Princes of the Apocalypse"
Vinn follows the group's lead, but is happy to be back on shore. He digs his feet into the ground, enjoying the solid ground beneath them.
Looks like we’re heading to the monastery.
Z will follow the group.
(not knowing much about the monastery, if anything at all...so, will be "happy" to be amongst a possible additional alliance)
You make the trek up the cliffside path to Dragon's Rest without too much difficulty.
As you move closer you move to the temple of Bahamut, the chorus of whispering voices following you seem to fade away, replaced by the tranquil sounds of the cloister at rest. The few kobolds still awake are in the midst of their evening chores. Yet, one figure stand vigilant, seemingly awaiting your arrival.
"You've returned..." Says Varnoth, before turning her gaze out in the direction of the archipelago. "How did you fare?"
DM - Classic Adventures Reborn
Rylan - L1 Human Paladin - Barty's "Princes of the Apocalypse"
Sir Beauregard bows to Varnoth. “The sea crawls with undeath and that has not changed. We destroyed too few to matter. We also downed two Harpies but they may have risen already. All we have for our efforts, apart from a pair of boots for Lord Silver, is a packet that was lost in the wreck. I think you should examine it for it may be tied to the evil. And I hope you do so quickly for the dead are restless.”
Silver chews on the stem his unlit pipe, blowing air through it to clear the seawater, but steps forward as he's mentioned, adding on once Sir Beauregard finishes speaking, "Aye, I found a collection of personal effects of one Willion Cromwell." He'll retrieve the box from his pack, offering to Varnith, "and these boots which just so happen to fit beautifully! However, if they could be useful to another, my own Silver-Made boots have served me well for years, and I would happily offer these to one in need! Vinn here's got the packet, but I must say, this was previously lost to the depths, and that which has sunk and then returned is never a good omen."
Varnoth accepts the packet from Vinn and studies it, turning it over and over in her hands. "This, you say, is the source of all the trouble?"
She considers what to do for a moment, then breathes a sigh. "Mistress Runara is away at the moment... But, if what you say is true, and the dread harpies have, themselves returned from death, it might be unwise for us to wait for her return." Her eyes lift to the end of the cliffside path and she seems to relax slightly.
"Come." She says. "We will open this mystery in the presence of The Platinum Dragon."
With that, she leads all who wish to follow, to the The Temple of Bahamut at the end of the road.
You feel a sense of serenity as you pass between the sea-weathered columns of the temple. In the center of the temple stands a stone statue of a kind-looking old man with canaries perched on his hands, shoulders, and head. The moonlight has a curious effect on the statue, making it appear as if the old man were smiling down on you all.
Varnoth lights some candles near the base of the statue for light. She then takes a knee before the statue, whispers a prayer and holds out the package, as if asking for consecration. You witness no magical effect, but it's hard not to feel that you are, somehow, more protected now than you would be otherwise.
"Be ready." Says postulate Varnoth. "There's no telling what might occur when we open this package."
With that, she proceeds to unwrap the wax paper... Her face registers some surprise when she finds, not some evil grimoire or ghastly relic but a simple sea captain's journal. Opening the book she finds a braid of hair is stuck in the pages like a bookmark, indicating the log’s last entry.
She lifts the braid from the book with two fingers, extending it outward into the flickering candlelight like evidence gathered at a crime scene. Those close enough to inspect what she's found notice two small finger bones entwined within two long locks of hair - some blonde and some black.
"Curious." Says the former mercenary in almost a whisper. She then carefully sets the braid into a small depression at the base of the statue, one that exists for offerings to the Dragon God.
Turning her attention back to the journal, she looks to the page that the braid marked and begins to read:
19 Tarsakh
Our journey is ended, though I fear my own is to continue in the most horrible way imaginable.
Compass Rose wrecked on a shoal south of Neverwinter. Many sailors perished with the initial impact, and Aleitha was gravely injured. As I tended her wounds, she clutched something in her palm and breathed soft prayers. Looking closer, I saw that it was a talisman crafted from two braids of hair and a pair of finger bones. I asked her what the talisman signified.
She told me love. Her husband waits for her at Dragon’s Rest, having pledged his service to the dragon there. The talisman is made from their hair, woven together. A promise to be reunited no matter what fate might befall them.
It might have been a beautiful story, had it not been for Aleitha’s gruesome end—and the words of the prayer I heard as she breathed her last. For she was begging Orcus, the Prince of Undeath, to reunite her with her husband.
I held her hands as the breath left her, and I felt a horrible chill pass through her. Next I knew, she was sinking her teeth into my neck. At the same moment, I heard moans begin to rise from the dead sailors all around us.
What curse has she brought on us all?
Already I feel a creeping chill overtaking my body. I am securing her talisman with this book in my chest, in the hope that someone who comes after us may end this nightmare by bringing Aleitha’s talisman to her husband.
As she finishes reading the journal entry, she lowers the book and meets eyes with all of you.
"A tragic tale." She says. "But perhaps we can put an end to it."
She looks to all of you, waiting to see if you have suggestions on how to proceed.
DM - Classic Adventures Reborn
Rylan - L1 Human Paladin - Barty's "Princes of the Apocalypse"
"Perhaps we should rest, and await Mistress Runara to return?, " Z questions the others, "seems her consultation on these findings may be important. In saying this, (to Varnoth) where has Mistress Runara gone to?"
“Mistress Runara keeps her own counsel. I would not wait for her return. Without a husband to reunite with Aleitha, I think a rest would be wise. If there is the hand of a Demon Prince in this, we will need all of what little strength we have.” The knight frowns looking out at the waves. “I cannot breathe water as some of you can. I have not the wit to puzzle where Aleitha may be now. But she may well come to us before the dawn.”
"That which has come from the depths must now find its way to the hands of her lover, or her lover must find his way to the depths." Augustus will retrieve his journal where he took down a sketch of the couple in the painting and the inscription found on the ship, offering it around for everyone to see. "It seems to me we must find this merchant, 'Brastos', and ensure the pact is fulfilled. We can only hope he still lives or remains here at Dragon's Rest."
Vinn, the information far beyond his head, gives the group a serious look. "Are you saying we need to drown a man, this Brastos fellow,, so the two can be reunited?" He turns to Augustus. "You're good looking enough. Maybe she'll take you-- you have that whole 'undeath' look down to a Tee if that's her type..."