Shayla 

Perception check 15

DM

Shayla looked closely at the boots, they seemed to move in her hand to become her size. The boots are decorated with embroidery of vines. If you are not mistaken they are of elven make. She had heard of them but considered them fiction. Boots of Elvenkind while you wear them your steps make no sound regardless of the surface beneath them. You have advantage on all dexterity rolls including stealth.

Shayla

She hands the boots to Krack, "Here, these will benefit you best I think. They muffle your footsteps and help your sneakiness."

OOC: We haven't seen Barakas or Veneer for a while, otherwise I would give them the boots.

DM OOC Barakas is in the room with you after rescuing a barrel of brandy. Veneer and Trilaxa are no longer playing.

Krack

He takes the boots from Shayla "Wow! Thanks! Look at these beans!" he says, holding them up. 

[Assuming they shrink to his feet size, he will immediately put them on.]

DM

The boots glow slightly then flow to fit a bootsize good for Krack

DM

The journal wrapped in waxed paper seems to have some form of hair as a bookmark. No-one has unwrapped it yet

Shayla

Is the journal readable? If it is, Shayla will read it. And put the hair thing in her pack as it's a little gross - hair? Really?

DM

Shayla carefully opens the packet, it is the captains log kept watertight by the wrapper. A braid of hair is stuck in the pages like a bookmark indicating the last entry. The talisman is formed from long locks of hair - some blonde some black braided together and knotted around two small finger bones. She opens the book  to find the last entry:

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 her talisman and breathed soft prayers. 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 locks of their hair, woven together as 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.

Theodor

The colour drains from Theodor's face at the mention of Orcus. "I guess this... Talisman is the source of the undead plague wrought upon this poor island. We need to find this Aleitha's husband. Could it be Tarak?"

Shayla

"In any case, this thing needs to be taken to the temple so they can properly destroy it."

She shivers in revulsion and repacks the hair and the book.

Barakas

As he heard that story his eyes would widen and he would try to see if his tiefling background and connection to hell would give him more information regarding the book or the talisman

DM Passive perception check.

Barakas  recognises the name of Orcus and shares his knowledge with the others.

Orcus is known as the demon prince of undeath and the Blood Lord, a fiend whose powers rival that of a god. Ruling over hordes of demons in the nightmarish plane of existence known as the Abyss. Orcus wishes to transform the multiverse into a ghastly place of death. Many undead creatures worship him or seek to bargain with him in exchange for some fragment of his power over undeath.

DM 

You hear a heavy thump on the deck above you. Your luck has just run out, the harpy has returned.

Barakas

He sighs "OHHHH ****! Now you? Any idea how to make that flying thing die?"

DM

You hear screeching from above. She knows that intruders are aboard, her nest has been robbed. All the pretty shiny things are missing and like a petulant magpie she won't give up looking for them. Luckily you are below deck and she can not fit through the doors.

Shayla

"Maybe we can reason with the creature?"

Shayla takes a step outside and shouts "Hello there! What seems to be the problem?" She is ready for violence but is hoping for a peaceful resolution.

DM

A terrifying monster perches on the top of the crow's nest, spreading its scraggly wings and screeching harshly. Its wings and legs resemble those of a mangy vulture, while its head, torso and arms look almost human. It clutches a human leg dripping in blood as a club and flexes its talons.

'Thief!' she screams in common.

Shayla

"Ah yes, you do have a point. I did go there and find some things which I guess belong to you. My memory is bad though, could you tell me what kinds of things are missing?"

She pulls out her pouch with 4 gems and holds them up. "Are these thine things you've lost?"

DM

All the shinys, all mine! Now I'll have yours too. She screamed then tore a piece of flesh off of her club and ate it. Blood streamed down her jaw.