More Dragons of Stormwreck Isle [IC][2024 rules][1]

Paddy and Dev, with a bit of straining, you manage to get the heavy iron chest out of the water. In the dim light of the lower deck, you count exactly 54 gold pieces ( ;) ) inside the damp coin pouch. More excitingly, as you examine the footwear, you recognise the fine craftmanship as a pair of boots of elvenkind.

Meanwhile, the packet sealed in waxed fabric bobs along the ripples and washes right over to Lothia, as if inexplicably drawn to her magic.

Back on the main deck, Pev and Val suddenly hear a piercing, distant bird’s shriek from high above. Soon, a small dark spot appears in the sky and it grows larger... and larger... until it swoops down with terrifying speed towards the main mast. 

A hideous 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 large bone like a club and flexes its talons.

The creature peers greedily into the crow's nest for a few moments, realizes its stash has been touched, and begins screeching in a grating, mocking voice: "THIEVEEES, BASTARDS, THIEVES! You die, I killlllll, you die, I eaaaat!"

"All brave and greedy adventurers on deck, we have company!" The red-haired sorceress shouts down to those below deck as soon as she hears the shriek and spots the spot, then trying to find cover inside to peek out and give the returning feathered hag a warm welcome back, sorcerous fire playing in her slender hands.

Stealth if relevant: 10

(Use Minor illusion to create image of door in open doorway where she hides. She would tell those coming from below about the illusion so that they can see through it.) 

Val, you find yourself in the same cabin as Pev. You see through the hole on the floor the rest of the party gathered around a wet iron chest on the lower deck. 

"Leave it be," Dev says urgently.  "Sounds like more pressing matters be up top.  It ain't going anywhere," and he eyes the hole in the deck floor suspiciously, "hopefully."  He drops the rope, then unhurriedly makes his way back up to the main deck.  As he emerges out into the light, he looks around for the source of the horrible screeching.  Confused, a cry from above makes him look up.  "There you be," he says to himself. 

"Ugly bugger, ain't ye!" he shouts up to the human vulture type creature.  "C'mon then, if ye want a fight, but I'm tellin' ye now, there ain't much meat on these ole bones so, I probably ain't worth the effort."  He pulls out his rabbit foot and kisses it, then holds his axe in a defensive position.  "This blade here, is been itchin' for a fight, and she tells me that she'd love to be choppin' off that scrawny neck that ye have up there.  So come'n show me what ye got, ye feathered freak."

Intimidation Check: 11
(Trying to discourage it or make it fly off rather than attacking - looks like Dev isn't really that intimidating!)

Lothia had nodded in response to Dev, but her gaze never really left the parcel. Furthermore, shy of anyone either snatching it up from the water or someone physically dragging her way, the latter being a particularly amusing feat to behold, she feigns turning away to follow Dev up to the main deck, but barely makes it half a step before her eyes are once more on the enticing bit of flotsam. "Oh what's the harm. Could even be what we're looking for." She murmurs, and without a second more of hesitation, snatched up the packet and immediately began unfurling it for a proper look at whatever lay beneath it. After all, surely whatever was going on topside wasn't /that/ big of a deal.... wasn't it?

Pev pokes his head out the cabin as the bird-person threatens them then draws his head back inside keeping his eyes fixed on Dev who responds in kind. Until the violence starts, he stays still and out of site, as quiet as a church gnome. 

Upon hearing what Dev has to say, the vile creature's head cocks sharply to one side. It studies the barbarian with a furious, unblinking intensity, clearly not intimidated by his words. Slowly, it lifts its heavy bone club and points it straight down towards the gnome.

"My treasure. Where? You stole!" it screeches in bitter accusation, its feathers bristling with rage.

Meanwhile on the lower deck, Lothia peels away the layers of stiff, waxed fabric. Inside, completely safe from the brackish seawater, is hidden the captain’s journal.

Tucked into the pages to mark the final entry is a haunting bookmark: a thick braid of long locks of hair - some blond, some black - knotted tightly around two small, brittle finger bones. Brushing the braid aside, you read the captain's final, hurried handwriting:

"That's not just any poirate hat, Dev..." Paddy declares and ceremoniously places the tricorne upon his own scaled head with great pomp and circumstance. "It's a Cap'n's hat! Arr!"

He chuckles and begins rooting through the chest with the gnome, until it dawns on him exactly what the boots are. The astonishment has little time to settle, due to Val drawing attention to the screeching overhead. "Thieves? Where?! It wasn't moi." Panic unfurls across the dragonborn's face, and he strikes the colours before he hopes anyone notices his guilt. 

The criminal sprints up to the main deck, squinting up at the gruesome bird woman. "Looks loike a doxy oi spent a drunken noight with back in the Dock Ward of Waterdeep..." A fond, lewd smile spreads across his face, before he is brought back to the moment by the alarming mention of stolen treasure. "No-one's got any o' yer stinkin' treasure!" He snaps, a little too vociferously.