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

The mention of myconids makes Devizes snort a laugh.  "Knew one of them mushroom folk afore," he says.  "Real fun guy."  His face changes to one of concern at Tarak's words.  "How do you mean they've been quiet lately?  They ain't the most forward of folk anyhow.  Seem to like to keep themselves to themselves.  I guess we could check on 'em for ye, see if they be okay?"

Dev tucks into the food with enthusiasm like he has not eaten for weeks, his appetite much more impressive than his stature.  "All them ships that been wrecked," he asks between mouthfuls, "do ye think it be a coincidence or something wrecking 'em deliberately?"  

He can't help but laugh at the kobolds antics and grins at Lothia.  "Ye do be the size of a mountain, ain't it true!  Ye be better lookin' than a bugbear mind!"

Nature check on Myconids: Nat 20 (22)

Dev,

“No, it was me that used to frequently visit them,” Tarak says. He proceeds to tell you he would visit the sea caves on the south side of the island to trade food scraps and other unwanted leftovers for heart cap mushrooms from the myconids. He uses the mushrooms to make potions of healing. But the myconids have installed a fearsome guardian at their caves—a fungus-covered octopus monster—that has turned him away on his latest visits, and he is worried.

“I don’t think their behaviour is connected to the drowned, but I can’t be sure. If you have time after you finish with the drowned, perhaps you could visit the sea caves and see for yourselves,” he finishes.

Myla looks up at Pev. “It is not peaceful everywhere,” she shakes her reptilian head. “Bad things live here! Bad! Hungry, icky, blood-sucking, bat-things!” she shivers. “But… Runara helped Myla. And now Myla helps here. Myla good with magic and tinkering.” She suddenly looks very sad despite the positive note that she ends on. “Myla has work! Myla goes!” and she leaves.

Rix beams with pride at the compliment but his attention snaps to the conversation when he hears about the crashing ships. “Rix see one crash! Ship go BOOM. Ship broke.”

Varnoth nods. “If I have to venture a guess, there is a reason why the wrecks happen so often. Runara told us of a ship, called the Compass Rose, that crashed in the same area some forty years ago, killing all passengers onboard. That’s when the zombies first began appearing. Every wreck seems to send new waves of drowned ashore. But in the last few months, we’ve had more wrecks than for all the years I’ve been here combined.”

One of the other kobolds comes back and brings a piece of folded paper. It's a map of the island, provided by Runara.

"Perhaps the these mushroom people simply want to be left alone, but if you think something needs investigating then we could try to sneak inside and find out what is going on there." The red-haired sorceress says as she start gleaning the map that she unfolds and places on the table for all to see. "Would it be difficult to reach the wreck and the sea caves?" She asks their hosts as she studies the map.

After taking a spell to look over the map, Lothia shook her head and leaned back in her seat. "Either course looks like rough going no matter how shake it, darling." She says Val whle still frowning at the map. "'specially if we don't have a proper row boat or two. But arguably, if whatever has that old sea hag pumping out more of the drowned they usual, and seeing as they've already been encroaching further near the Rest, might be better to start there and sort that out 'fore we go messing with some not-so-funguys." She delivered with a very serious look about her. However, if she so much as catches a wiff of a smile or laugh, then there would be no helping her from laughing at her own joke as well. 

"Rix! You said you see a ship crash? That be the same one near the northern tip there? If so, you see anything else when it went boom? Or even better, you see anything strange when before or when it did?"

Dev listens to Varnoth’s rales of the wrecks with close interest.  

“Something be in the water then, collecting souls and ships.  Do ye ken if there were anything special about that ship, The Compass Rose?  Something aboard that be giving sailors to the sea?”

”Them Myconids.  They be gentle folk for the most part.  Unusual to see ‘em become aggressive.”  

He nods to Val.

 “Sneaking be a good idea, but if we get caught might be we really upset ‘em.  Better to try ‘n talk to ‘em first….” 

He grins. “Anyone here be talkin’ mushroom?”

Valeria raises an eyebrow but then smiles as the giantess calls her darling, then lets out a good natured groan at the fun-gi word pun.

"I would prefer talking too, but there was mention of a guardian octopus that I assumed wasn't much of a talker so I thought we should perhaps sneak past it and then try to find some mushroom people to talk to." The red-haired sorceress says with a small smile. "And I suppose you had some way to communicate with them?" She turns and asks Varnoth.

“Personally, I find the thought of forty years of restless spirits abhorrent, and the ungrateful dead killing and adding innocent sailors to their ranks … rankles. I think we should find our way toward the compass rose, and undo the compass rose’s raising corpses.” Pev puts his mind out there, in a quiet, unobtrusive moment. 

“Rix see the ship going up, past the rocks! It almost gone, then... zap! It turns back and goes back to BOOM in the rocks!” Rix explains, his claws miming a sudden, violent u-turn. He’s a bit too excited, so Varnoth shoots him a stern look, and the small kobold quickly ducks his head in shame.

"It makes no sense," Varnoth says, her voice low and sharp. "The ship I saw did the same. It was heading west, well clear of the reef, when it suddenly swerved south as if pulled by a magnet. It steered itself straight into the rocks."

She leans forward, her one good eye scanning the group. "The area is easy enough to reach. There is a rowboat tied to the beach below. It will fit you all, and in this weather, it shouldn't take more than two hours to reach the wreck."

"We don't know if there was anything special about the Compass Rose," Tarak adds with a slow shake of his head. "Nobody has dared to investigate it before. Why don’t you start there? In the meantime, I’ll prepare some offerings for the myconids. You can take them to the caves later, if you’re still in the mood for exploring."

Pev, as Tarak speaks, a sudden, cold sense of déjà vu hits you. In your dreams, you've seen ships shattering against massive, pale columns that shouldn't be there. Looking at the others around the table, a heavy certainty settles in your chest. You are exactly where you are meant to be.

"It is settled then. We rest here and then we head out to the shipwreck by rowboat." The young red-haired sorceress says with excited confidence, looking around at her new companions for agreement. Val would appreciate a long rest to be fully prepared. Also she wouldn't turn down a chance for a bath. She want's to look her best if she's about to venture forth where no other has dared go before.

 Whereas Varnoth is stern to Rix, Lothia only looked amused and thoughtlessly went to pat the kobold's shoulder had he been in reach. "Hmm~ And by rest, you mean to have us stay overnight before setting off by the sounds of it, Valerie? Such a shame. But, by the looks of things-" The goliath went on to scan the group. "-Umberlee's playthings did quite a number on you, if only exhaustion wise, huh?" She hardly waits for answer before clicking her tongue, and then let out a soft sigh of defeat."Fair enough.. I suppose. Guess in the meantime, uhm, after we've eaten and gotten cleaned up, might we get a grand tour of the place?" 

Dev nods in agreement.  "I doubt them zombies be going anywhere soon, if there be more of them."  He grins.  "Better getting stuck in after a nights rest and a hearty breakfast.  Like a magnet ye say?"   The gnome leans back in his seat and contemplates this and enjoy's Rix's antics as he describes the ships demise.  "Does sound like they be drawn in somehow."  He addresses Varnoth directly.  "There be unusual magic on this 'ere island?"

Pev listens and nods his head at the appropriate places. His dreams… these happenings cannot be coincidence, and he feels Runara must know more. 

“I agree. Best this is done in the light. Perhaps, in the dawn, we can ask Runara if she knows the cause of this malady.”

Paddy seems spell-bound by Runara's presence, the Elder's aura reminding him of a priestess he knew long ago. For long moments afterward, he is  entirely silent, saturated in the serenity and calm of this place, absorbing words spoken and glances exchanged without so much of a stirring of his tongue. Eventually, a raspy chuckle breaches his quiet, amused by Devizes' terrible pun. 

"Heh heh heh. Oi never did meet a talkin' mushroom - wonder how it'd taste in a grand ol' beef bourguignon stew?" The dragonborn smacks his jaws together at the thought, then pre-emptively waves his hand dismissively at any accusatory stares. "Like ye weren't all thinkin' it too!"

The old criminal rubs his hands greedily and glances over his shoulder, golden eyes seeking out Mumpo, whatever brief flash of spirituality he experienced diluted by the avarice that still seems rooted at his core. He turns back to his new companions, the adventuring company formed at Valeria's direction. "Oi'd not be against travelling to this Compass Rose. But we'll need t' mind ourselves, t' be sure. The sailors back in Waterdeep used t' tell me tales o' sirens who'd drive captains clean mad with love fer them through their songs, till they'd dash their own ships on the rocks just t' have a clearer glimpse o' them. Or maybe it's a kraken, a big, hulkin' cousin o' this octopus you mentioned! But then again, there's them damned shambling dead... Some curse?" 

He scratches his chin, wondering if he's ever heard the name the Compass Rose before, then begins devouring the food on offer with thorough gusto. When his plate is cleared and re-filled, and cleared once again, the dragonborn finally rises to his feet, tipping his large, crumpled top hat. "Compliments t' the chef. Oi think oi'll be settlin' in fer the night in them monk's quarters the Elder mentioned. Goodnight!"

Dragon’s Rest is quite small, and there isn't much more for you to see apart from a look inside the buildings.

The most notable, besides the temple, is the Library where Runara spends nearly half her time studying, copying, and annotating the collection. Bookshelves line every wall, with three free-standing shelves in the west half of the room. In the east half is a table with two benches, writing implements, book stands, and glass-shielded lamps.

Whoever needs a bath, as promised, Myla and the other kobolds help by hauling clean water from a nearby stream and warming it up inside the winch house. Whenever you are ready to take your rest, you are shown back to an empty monastic cell where one of you can sleep on the bed and the rest can use their bedrolls on the floor.

As dawn finally arrives, you are welcome to take the rowboat from the beach. It is big enough to fit all of you comfortably and has two sets of oars for whoever is keen on rowing. The weather is much milder with a soft breeze today, and the sea is mostly calm.

Before bed. Dev explores the temple complex for a while, and he's drawn to the library.  He spends a little time looking around the place familiarising himself with the layout, though he avoids disturbing any others that are using the place.  He will have to return the next day and investigate the place properly - who knows, he might even find some clues here to that damnable schematic that he's carrying around.

The gnome sleeps like a log, much to the annoyance of anyone within 1 square mile, as his snoring is appalling. 

He wakes up refreshed and bright eyed and after breakfasting makes his way down to where the rowboat is located.  Dev takes a deep breath of the clear sea air drifting on the breeze and sighs happily.  It's a good morning for zombie hunting.  

Jumping into the boat, he experiments with the oars and humphs, as he finds them just a little too far apart for his liking.  With the boat still tied up, he gives the oars a few experimental swings through the water, then nods to himself, satisfied.

He looks out towards the rocks where the wreck of the Compass Rose is located.  "How long ye reckon it'll take to row out there?" he asks the others.  "Looks like a fair way."  He snorts a laugh.  "I be small though."

Valeria would cherish and enjoy a long soaking hot bath, then taking a curious look around the temple although not quite having the patience to delve deeper into the library, instead making it an early night where she lays awake and wonders what adventures the next day would bring. She is partly annoyed and partly strangely impressed with the snoring of the hardy gnome, but eventually she still drifts off into a pleasant enough sleep.

The red-haired sorceress would join Dev at breakfast, in passing mentioning she had almost thought there was an earthquake last night, or that the isle's dragons of old had finally awoke from their geat slumber. She would not bother with the oars at the boat, instead watching the hardy gnome with a good-natured but amused smile. "I believe Varnoth mentioned something about 2 hours to the wreck." She answers Dev as she find a good seat for herself and her gear. "We should be back by dinner right?" She adds with calm confidence.

"Two hours, eh!  Back afore lunch, I reckon!" Dev grins.  "It be a perfect morning to be choppin' up zombies," and he pats his axe happily.

Lothia had been absolutely ravenous where it came to supper, so long as she's given half the chance to prove it! But such was unlikely to come to pass, what with her first love of collecting stories meaning spending any waking moment trying to tease out a tale or two out of locals and non locals alike for the remainder of the evening!

... Or so she would try, in any event; but, the promise of a hot bath assured folk would be spared for at least a few minutes at some point. Eventually, sleep claims her as surely as the rest. And once it did, not even Dev's ability to wake the dead with his snoring would earn so much as discomforting twitch out of the giantling.
---
Lothia awakens the next day as a great big bundle of energy. So much so, that if she hadn't spotted Rix at breakfast, her first few minutes out and about would've been spent searching for the kobold, and subsequently trying to kidnap the little one. Not to harm, but in truth 'gently grill' the kobold about any songs his people or the locals favored. Then during breakfast, she'd try to replicate them on her bongos! 

Failure on any front hardly diminishes her spirit. Rather, she simply took things in stride, and settle on playing a more traditional, upbeat song with such enthusiasm and practiced ease that it would be hard for at least Dev and Pev /not/ fill a little inspired. 

(OOC: With my musician feat, Dev and Pev gain a Heroic Inspiration!)

Soon after breakfast, she's down with the others at the rowboat looking eager to get under way. "Could be we'll be back even sooner than that, darling. If we play our cards right. But between you and me, I hope we don't!" She exclaims, then after a brief pause of rethinking things, snorts as she settles in one of the rower positions. "Could've worded that one a bit better, but I think you darlings get my meaning well enough."

(OOC: As per my Pact of the Book feature, Lothia would also have conjured a new one before stepping out for breakfast. The new book now containing Sorcerous Burst, Resistance, Acid Splash, Detect Poison and Disease, and Detect Magic. Although if the material component for Identify would be waived, or if she could start off with it for free, I'll keep that instead of Detect poison and disease.)

While the others take advantage of the hot baths, Paddy calls dibs on the only bed in the monastic cell. He sleeps soundly for the majority of the night, until the last few hours nearing dawn when small, melancholy sobs emanate from the old criminal's maw. When he wakes, the first name on his tongue is of his dear Ysolde, and with a forlorn sigh, the golden dragonborn consoles himself with a hearty breakfast.

He chortles at Lothia's inauspicious phrasing, and settles down in the rowboat opposite Dev. He's far from the strongest, but isn't afraid to put a shift in if necessary. Sleeves rolled up, cigar clamped around his teeth, he begins drawing the oars clear through the waters. At first his stroke is inelegant and clumsy, but in time, he manages an acceptable rhythm. 

Athletics: 10

At breakfast as the bongo music sounds out, it is not long before Pev finds his little feet tapping. As inspiration finds him he can’t help but join in.

”Beneath the hill where soft lights gleam,
I sing to Garl Glittergold in a golden dream,
My small drum hums like a hearth at night,
With blessing and mirth in gentle light,
A whispered jest, a kindly art,
Great joy made bright in a little heart.”

It is with this new little song in his heart that he finds himself in the boat, later that morning, foot still swinging where they hang from the bench, song still spinning in his mind.