Vah Jo Gyaan Chaahata Hai turns to Rokah and says "ah but we thank you for your kind offer but as we are not fully cognizant nor au fait with local politics and the right or wrong of yourclaims of nefarious actions by the Flaming Fist we would prefer not to get involved in your scheme. Once again thank you for the offer however."He turns to Keyleth, Kirinar and Ransyl and says "come colleagues I believe we have a ship to catch and I suspect that even though we have bought tickets, Captain Otimay will not wait!"
"I don't know, maybe this is a chance to do some good for the city?" Keyleth says to the group. "The Flaming Fist certainly sound like they need taking down a peg, and it doesn't strike me as at all unlikely that they're cooperating with pirates to maintain their reign of terror."
Rokah looks disappointed when you give him your decision.
"I had hoped you could help. The Fist does need to be taken down a peg as you say. They plunder the wealth of Chult for their own gain and greed. Are you sure you will not aid me? To stop both the Fist and pirates would help Chult immensely! "
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Vah Jo Gyaan Chaahata Hai turns back to his colleagues and says "perhaps we were a bit hasty in rejecting this man's proposal. he does seem I think"(Perception roll - [9] / Insight roll [16]) "genuine in his conviction. Perhaps there is merit in reconsidering our position?"
Growing impatient with this line of questioning, “Listen, I’m ok with letting you aboard, but as for helping you... your going to have to prove that we can trust you. I’ll have my eye on you.” Ransyl crosses his arms, resting his hand on top of two daggers.
Rokah grins as you accept his offer and agree to aid him. "Excellent. I am ready to go now." He reaches down and picks up a small pack he had on the ground next to him.
As a group you make your way to the harbor ward and find the Brazen Pegasus where she was the night prior. The same hulking man whose face is almost hidden by a heavy beard streaked with gray stands on deck. As he sees you approach he turns around a disappears for a moment.
Ortimay Swift and Dark then appears on deck and hails you. "I almost feared you weren't going to show and we would have to take tomorrow's tide. Come aboard quickly, we set sail immediately." She does not question the fifth party member, though you don't know if that's because she didn't know your number, cares, or some other reason. She takes your 10 gp as payment for passage.
You make your way quickly onto deck and a crew member pulls the gang plank. Ropes are untied and the anchor pulled up and the ship sets out into the bay. You see that in addition to the captain, the hulking man is introduced as first mate Grig Ruddell. Other than shouting orders at the crew and conversing in low tones with Captain Ortimay, Ruddell barely speaks. There are 6 crew members, 2 women and 4 men. You do your best to stay out of the way and find your way aft where a tarp has been rigged across the aft portion of the deck for shade from the tropical sun. You see that there are no permanent shelters or cabins on the main deck of the Brazen Pegasus. The lower deck houses Captain Ortimay’s cabin and the cargo hold, which doubles as the crew’s cooking, eating, and sleeping area in foul weather. In fair weather the crew sleeps on deck.
You pass the statue at the center of the harbor that represents an ancient Chultan king in full regalia, resplendent in a loincloth of leopard skin and a headdress of feathers, shells, and tyrannosaurus teeth; draped in a cape of girallon fur and monkey tails; and wielding the traditional oval shield and yklwa of Chult. Residents call it Na N’buso, the Great King.
A flame burns atop the lighthouse day and night to guide ships through darkness, fog, and rain to the harbor. Ortimay tells you various powders can be added to the fire to create thick columns of colored smoke that can be seen from Fort Beluarian and from the mines along the Bay of Chult. You also pass the fort at the entrance of the harbor that contains a winch for raising and lowering an immense iron chain stretched between the fort and the lighthouse. When the chain is raised, no ship can sail into or out of the harbor. The chain hasn’t been raised against attackers in decades, but it’s used occasionally to prevent a ship from slipping out of the harbor with criminals or contraband on board. The fort also mounts two ballistas that can launch heavy bolts or canisters of alchemist’s fire.
Ortimay seems to know much about the Port. "Naturally, I have been sailing these seas for many, many years." You recall that gnomes can live for hundreds of years.
(so it looks like 8-10 hours. Why does this cruise sound kinda like Gilligan's Island? =D
Kirinar explores the tight confines of the ship - above and below decks, unless it is an obvious "No Entry" space. He likes to get a feel for where everything is and what tactical opportunities they might present. Can he set an ambush in the cargo area? How much swinging room is there on the main deck if everyone is there? Is there somewhere up higher where an archer can cover the deck? All of the things his combat master taught him to evaluate.
Keyleth begins the journey standing confidently on the main deck, but having been a city dweller all her life she is quickly beset by agoraphobia with nothing else to focus on but the open air and water, and retreats below deck to spend the trip in a more enclosed space.
Five uneventful hours pass as you watch a peninsula to the starboard side slide by. Ortimay has told you you that as soon as you finish passing the peninsula they will steer east and head almost directly towards the location of the Fort. You learn the Fort is not on the shore but further inland but a clear path leads to it as much traffic passes between the Fort and the bay.
Dr. Rbutaveyu seems right at home on the water and Kirinar finds he easily adapts to the shifting deck. Ransyl is unsure but despite her ease at the constant movement of the deck Keyleth finds she does not like the open water despite the proximity of land.
You sense a change in the demeanor of the crew as they begin to swing the ship eastward. Ortimay suddenly calls for the sails to be furrowed and the ship slowly stops in the now rougher water. The water had been fairly calm up till this point.
You here the first mate mutter under his breath. "He is coming."
The sea ahead roils and churns, and waves crash over the bow of your ship, driven by saw-toothed hills rising from the heaving foam. Water streams off the rising crags like rivers crashing down a mountainside. At last the emerging island stops growing in size, although the sea around still tosses your ship like a drifting feather. Then a huge blast of steam erupts from the waves, and through the drifting, rainbow-crossed mist, you see an immense beak and a milky eye the size of a hogshead cask staring blindly in your direction. As the water calms, you also spot a dozen or more shark fins circling the ship.
At first the dragon turtle slowly circles the ship. You find you must continually circle the deck of the ship to maintain face-to-face contact with the creature, but eventually it creates an eddy that causes the sloop to revolve at a rate matching Aremag’s motion. It is obvious to everyone that the dragon turtle could easily sink the vessel.
Aremag's voice then calls out in Draconic. "PAY THE PRICE OR I WILL FEED ON YOUR BODIES."
Ortimay stands at the edge of the ship and calls back in draconic "I carry no goods, only passengers. You see that we are light in the water!"
"NEVERTHELESS YOU MUST PAY." Aremag responds.
Secret DM roll 5
Ortimay turns to you. "Pay the tribute or he will sink us."
(OOC - what a pain in the bum I craft a beautiful post in Maori as I thought that a Polynesian language was the most appropriate language for Aquaan and the computer tells me it is spam! - AAAARGH)
Vah Jo Gyaan Chaahata Hai turns at the disturbance as Aremag surfaces and calls out in Aquaan "Greetings on great and ancient one. My name means he who seeks after knowledge but that is too long so please call me Dr Arbataveyu. In the Great Library at Candlekeep it is recorded that Aremag is the keeper of the Bay of Chult and that he has been so since time immemorial and will be so for many years to come provided that the Soulmonger does not claim him first. We are explorers who seek to find and deactivate this Soulmonger and thus save Aremag from his fate. We recognise that as the Keeper of the Bay of Chult, Aremag has the right to charge tribute but we would ask that he look favourably on us as we go to prevent the Soulmonger from activating and possibly claiming Aremag before his time on Toril is due to expire."
"Well, Rokah, this is your cue. Yu offered to pay the tribute - and now here is the dragonturtle demanding a tribute. Fortune smiles upon us that these two equal parts of the equation be present in the same situation..." Kirinar says to the newest member of the group.
"Ah, Tortle, there are not many who speak to me in that tongue and I am pleased to hear it. I care not for this Soulmonger unless it is treasure you wish to throw to me! I STILL DEMAND TRIBUTE!"
Rokah stands and approaches the edge of the ship. "I have your tribute here Master Aremag!" He shouts
He then proceeds to begin to pour some gold into a sack. You guess he adds about 100 gp but the dragon turtle is not satisfied. "MORE!" it yells
Rokah then adds several gems of various values and colors until the creature bellows again. "THAT IS WELL, THROW IT OVER ONTO MY SHELL AND I SHALL LET YOU PASS."
Rokah heaves the bag over the edge of the ship onto the turtles back. Satisfied the creature dips under the water and disappears from sight. Eventually the water calms.
Rokah looks to the party. "That was about 250 gp worth of gold and gems. I have upheld my end of the bargain, you had best uphold yours." He then goes and sits back down again. Ortimay gives you a strange look but says nothing.
Soon the sails are unfurled and the ship vessel begins to move again.
"One day I am going to find that creatures lair. I'll bet there are millions hidden within it. As great as any dragon hoard I'll say." Ortimay comments as they make way once again.
A few more hours pass but you make the rest of the voyage safely. You find a couple docks but Ortimay does not get closer than a half mile from shore when she drops anchor. You can see a few log buildings above the tide line. There are row boats at the docks.
It is now early evening, approx 5 pm.
Ortimay approaches again. "I will stay the night on ship. It is about a days march along the path that you see straight east to the fort. It is easy walking and should be safe enough as the Fist runs constant patrols. You can sleep the night on ship with us or we can signal the soldiers and they will row a boat out and bring you ashore. You can then proceed as you see fit. For 10 gp I will wait here for you to bring you back to the Port or for an additional 10 gp per day we can continue around the coast to the east and I can drop you where you wish. Kitcher's Inlet and Fort Castigliar is about 5 days from here. That would be 2 weeks on foot through thick jungle full of zombies and dinosaurs. Refuge Bay and the remains of the city of Ishua is another 3 days voyage past that." She shows you them on the map (East side).
"Thank you, Captain. Let me talk with my comrades a moment before we commit one way or the other." Kirinar will collect the rest of the group and pass on Ortimay's offer. "What do you think? I don't think we could afford that dragon turtle's tribute again...not sure if it only demands payment coming in or every time a ship passes it...I'm OK hacking down some zombies myself, and we aren't quite sure where we are headed. Also, should we wait to cause our ruckus for Rokah until we're ready to leave this area?"
"A good plan Kirinar. I agree we should not ask Ortimay to stay but rather take our chances" Vah Jo Gyaan Chaahata Hai says. He then turns Rokah and asks "do you have any suggestions how best we go about creating the so-called ruckus and how long do you need to get in position?"
" Once we get to shore we can travel together to the fort. They don't need to or will know we are in league. We will be separate parties when we arrive. This way they will hopefully not suspect you are helping me. Whatever you do I will just need time to slip away and enter her office unseen. Just do something that draws the forces away. Lure zombies to attack, start a fire, whatever, just don't get caught. " Rokah replies.
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Vah Jo Gyaan Chaahata Hai turns to Rokah and says "ah but we thank you for your kind offer but as we are not fully cognizant nor au fait with local politics and the right or wrong of yourclaims of nefarious actions by the Flaming Fist we would prefer not to get involved in your scheme. Once again thank you for the offer however." He turns to Keyleth, Kirinar and Ransyl and says "come colleagues I believe we have a ship to catch and I suspect that even though we have bought tickets, Captain Otimay will not wait!"
DM - Stopping a god in his tracks
Kirinar is eager to get underway and experience the thrill of the seas!
Love God. Love Others. Any Questions?
"I don't know, maybe this is a chance to do some good for the city?" Keyleth says to the group. "The Flaming Fist certainly sound like they need taking down a peg, and it doesn't strike me as at all unlikely that they're cooperating with pirates to maintain their reign of terror."
"Darvin" | Changeling | Hexblade 1 / Swords Bard 6 | Descent Into Avernus (AC 19; PP 14; 52/52 HP)
Anton Chergoba | Human | Battlemaster 4 | Lost Mines of Phandelver (AC 20; PP 14; 36/36 HP)
Rokah looks disappointed when you give him your decision.
"I had hoped you could help. The Fist does need to be taken down a peg as you say. They plunder the wealth of Chult for their own gain and greed. Are you sure you will not aid me? To stop both the Fist and pirates would help Chult immensely! "
Vah Jo Gyaan Chaahata Hai turns back to his colleagues and says "perhaps we were a bit hasty in rejecting this man's proposal. he does seem I think" (Perception roll - [9] / Insight roll [16]) "genuine in his conviction. Perhaps there is merit in reconsidering our position?"
DM - Stopping a god in his tracks
"I'm game, but I said that already," Keyleth replies.
"Darvin" | Changeling | Hexblade 1 / Swords Bard 6 | Descent Into Avernus (AC 19; PP 14; 52/52 HP)
Anton Chergoba | Human | Battlemaster 4 | Lost Mines of Phandelver (AC 20; PP 14; 36/36 HP)
Growing impatient with this line of questioning, “Listen, I’m ok with letting you aboard, but as for helping you... your going to have to prove that we can trust you. I’ll have my eye on you.” Ransyl crosses his arms, resting his hand on top of two daggers.
"We're going to miss the tide and be stuck here for another day or longer. Let's go!"
Love God. Love Others. Any Questions?
Rokah grins as you accept his offer and agree to aid him. "Excellent. I am ready to go now." He reaches down and picks up a small pack he had on the ground next to him.
As a group you make your way to the harbor ward and find the Brazen Pegasus where she was the night prior. The same hulking man whose face is almost hidden by a heavy beard streaked with gray stands on deck. As he sees you approach he turns around a disappears for a moment.
Ortimay Swift and Dark then appears on deck and hails you. "I almost feared you weren't going to show and we would have to take tomorrow's tide. Come aboard quickly, we set sail immediately." She does not question the fifth party member, though you don't know if that's because she didn't know your number, cares, or some other reason. She takes your 10 gp as payment for passage.
You make your way quickly onto deck and a crew member pulls the gang plank. Ropes are untied and the anchor pulled up and the ship sets out into the bay. You see that in addition to the captain, the hulking man is introduced as first mate Grig Ruddell. Other than shouting orders at the crew and conversing in low tones with Captain Ortimay, Ruddell barely speaks. There are 6 crew members, 2 women and 4 men. You do your best to stay out of the way and find your way aft where a tarp has been rigged across the aft portion of the deck for shade from the tropical sun. You see that there are no permanent shelters or cabins on the main deck of the Brazen Pegasus. The lower deck houses Captain Ortimay’s cabin and the cargo hold, which doubles as the crew’s cooking, eating, and sleeping area in foul weather. In fair weather the crew sleeps on deck.
You pass the statue at the center of the harbor that represents an ancient Chultan king in full regalia, resplendent in a loincloth of leopard skin and a headdress of feathers, shells, and tyrannosaurus teeth; draped in a cape of girallon fur and monkey tails; and wielding the traditional oval shield and yklwa of Chult. Residents call it Na N’buso, the Great King.
A flame burns atop the lighthouse day and night to guide ships through darkness, fog, and rain to the harbor. Ortimay tells you various powders can be added to the fire to create thick columns of colored smoke that can be seen from Fort Beluarian and from the mines along the Bay of Chult. You also pass the fort at the entrance of the harbor that contains a winch for raising and lowering an immense iron chain stretched between the fort and the lighthouse. When the chain is raised, no ship can sail into or out of the harbor. The chain hasn’t been raised against attackers in decades, but it’s used occasionally to prevent a ship from slipping out of the harbor with criminals or contraband on board. The fort also mounts two ballistas that can launch heavy bolts or canisters of alchemist’s fire.
Ortimay seems to know much about the Port. "Naturally, I have been sailing these seas for many, many years." You recall that gnomes can live for hundreds of years.
You then head out into the Bay of Chult
1 hex = 1 hour of travel.
(so it looks like 8-10 hours. Why does this cruise sound kinda like Gilligan's Island? =D
Kirinar explores the tight confines of the ship - above and below decks, unless it is an obvious "No Entry" space. He likes to get a feel for where everything is and what tactical opportunities they might present. Can he set an ambush in the cargo area? How much swinging room is there on the main deck if everyone is there? Is there somewhere up higher where an archer can cover the deck? All of the things his combat master taught him to evaluate.
Love God. Love Others. Any Questions?
Keyleth begins the journey standing confidently on the main deck, but having been a city dweller all her life she is quickly beset by agoraphobia with nothing else to focus on but the open air and water, and retreats below deck to spend the trip in a more enclosed space.
"Darvin" | Changeling | Hexblade 1 / Swords Bard 6 | Descent Into Avernus (AC 19; PP 14; 52/52 HP)
Anton Chergoba | Human | Battlemaster 4 | Lost Mines of Phandelver (AC 20; PP 14; 36/36 HP)
Five uneventful hours pass as you watch a peninsula to the starboard side slide by. Ortimay has told you you that as soon as you finish passing the peninsula they will steer east and head almost directly towards the location of the Fort. You learn the Fort is not on the shore but further inland but a clear path leads to it as much traffic passes between the Fort and the bay.
Dr. Rbutaveyu seems right at home on the water and Kirinar finds he easily adapts to the shifting deck. Ransyl is unsure but despite her ease at the constant movement of the deck Keyleth finds she does not like the open water despite the proximity of land.
You sense a change in the demeanor of the crew as they begin to swing the ship eastward. Ortimay suddenly calls for the sails to be furrowed and the ship slowly stops in the now rougher water. The water had been fairly calm up till this point.
You here the first mate mutter under his breath. "He is coming."
The sea ahead roils and churns, and waves crash over the bow of your ship, driven by saw-toothed hills rising from the heaving foam. Water streams off the rising crags like rivers crashing down a mountainside. At last the emerging island stops growing in size, although the sea around still tosses your ship like a drifting feather. Then a huge blast of steam erupts from the waves, and through the drifting, rainbow-crossed mist, you see an immense beak and a milky eye the size of a hogshead cask staring blindly in your direction. As the water calms, you also spot a dozen or more shark fins circling the ship.
At first the dragon turtle slowly circles the ship. You find you must continually circle the deck of the ship to maintain face-to-face contact with the creature, but eventually it creates an eddy that causes the sloop to revolve at a rate matching Aremag’s motion. It is obvious to everyone that the dragon turtle could easily sink the vessel.
Aremag's voice then calls out in Draconic. "PAY THE PRICE OR I WILL FEED ON YOUR BODIES."
Ortimay stands at the edge of the ship and calls back in draconic "I carry no goods, only passengers. You see that we are light in the water!"
"NEVERTHELESS YOU MUST PAY." Aremag responds.
Secret DM roll 5
Ortimay turns to you. "Pay the tribute or he will sink us."
(OOC - what a pain in the bum I craft a beautiful post in Maori as I thought that a Polynesian language was the most appropriate language for Aquaan and the computer tells me it is spam! - AAAARGH)
Vah Jo Gyaan Chaahata Hai turns at the disturbance as Aremag surfaces and calls out in Aquaan "Greetings on great and ancient one. My name means he who seeks after knowledge but that is too long so please call me Dr Arbataveyu. In the Great Library at Candlekeep it is recorded that Aremag is the keeper of the Bay of Chult and that he has been so since time immemorial and will be so for many years to come provided that the Soulmonger does not claim him first. We are explorers who seek to find and deactivate this Soulmonger and thus save Aremag from his fate. We recognise that as the Keeper of the Bay of Chult, Aremag has the right to charge tribute but we would ask that he look favourably on us as we go to prevent the Soulmonger from activating and possibly claiming Aremag before his time on Toril is due to expire."
DM - Stopping a god in his tracks
"Well, Rokah, this is your cue. Yu offered to pay the tribute - and now here is the dragonturtle demanding a tribute. Fortune smiles upon us that these two equal parts of the equation be present in the same situation..." Kirinar says to the newest member of the group.
Love God. Love Others. Any Questions?
Dr A, a persuasion roll with advantage please.
Persuasion roll - 10
DM - Stopping a god in his tracks
"Ah, Tortle, there are not many who speak to me in that tongue and I am pleased to hear it. I care not for this Soulmonger unless it is treasure you wish to throw to me! I STILL DEMAND TRIBUTE!"
Rokah stands and approaches the edge of the ship. "I have your tribute here Master Aremag!" He shouts
He then proceeds to begin to pour some gold into a sack. You guess he adds about 100 gp but the dragon turtle is not satisfied. "MORE!" it yells
Rokah then adds several gems of various values and colors until the creature bellows again. "THAT IS WELL, THROW IT OVER ONTO MY SHELL AND I SHALL LET YOU PASS."
Rokah heaves the bag over the edge of the ship onto the turtles back. Satisfied the creature dips under the water and disappears from sight. Eventually the water calms.
Rokah looks to the party. "That was about 250 gp worth of gold and gems. I have upheld my end of the bargain, you had best uphold yours." He then goes and sits back down again. Ortimay gives you a strange look but says nothing.
Soon the sails are unfurled and the ship vessel begins to move again.
"One day I am going to find that creatures lair. I'll bet there are millions hidden within it. As great as any dragon hoard I'll say." Ortimay comments as they make way once again.
A few more hours pass but you make the rest of the voyage safely. You find a couple docks but Ortimay does not get closer than a half mile from shore when she drops anchor. You can see a few log buildings above the tide line. There are row boats at the docks.
It is now early evening, approx 5 pm.
Ortimay approaches again. "I will stay the night on ship. It is about a days march along the path that you see straight east to the fort. It is easy walking and should be safe enough as the Fist runs constant patrols. You can sleep the night on ship with us or we can signal the soldiers and they will row a boat out and bring you ashore. You can then proceed as you see fit. For 10 gp I will wait here for you to bring you back to the Port or for an additional 10 gp per day we can continue around the coast to the east and I can drop you where you wish. Kitcher's Inlet and Fort Castigliar is about 5 days from here. That would be 2 weeks on foot through thick jungle full of zombies and dinosaurs. Refuge Bay and the remains of the city of Ishua is another 3 days voyage past that." She shows you them on the map (East side).
"Thank you, Captain. Let me talk with my comrades a moment before we commit one way or the other." Kirinar will collect the rest of the group and pass on Ortimay's offer. "What do you think? I don't think we could afford that dragon turtle's tribute again...not sure if it only demands payment coming in or every time a ship passes it...I'm OK hacking down some zombies myself, and we aren't quite sure where we are headed. Also, should we wait to cause our ruckus for Rokah until we're ready to leave this area?"
Love God. Love Others. Any Questions?
"A good plan Kirinar. I agree we should not ask Ortimay to stay but rather take our chances" Vah Jo Gyaan Chaahata Hai says. He then turns Rokah and asks "do you have any suggestions how best we go about creating the so-called ruckus and how long do you need to get in position?"
DM - Stopping a god in his tracks
" Once we get to shore we can travel together to the fort. They don't need to or will know we are in league. We will be separate parties when we arrive. This way they will hopefully not suspect you are helping me. Whatever you do I will just need time to slip away and enter her office unseen. Just do something that draws the forces away. Lure zombies to attack, start a fire, whatever, just don't get caught. " Rokah replies.