Melisana, who has remained hidden until now, slides down the ravine and makes her way over the bound and gagged man. He wears a makeshift robe, with rags wrapped around his feet, his long wild hair and beard is white. Large, ugly black bruises cover his face, and dried blood covers his lips and chin. He has obviously been beaten.
"Doesn't look much like a pirate or a ghost, does he?" she asks standing over him.
Lusith will gather up one of the daggers and a spear as well as two cloaks and food packs before moving over to the bound man and using a dagger to cut him free, offering one of the food packs, "Here, eat. My name is Lusith, may I ask yours?"
Afterwards, having seen Lyle's idea, he'll use the other cloak and some of the rope from the boat to make a haversack to carry.
After Janey has warmed a little and her belly is full, she will return to the pile of weapons and help herself to a bow and 8 of the arrows (leaving the other 8 for whoever takes the other bow). She will then lift the battle axe, trying it out with both hands and feeling its power decides to hold onto it as well.
Tearing a strip of cloth from one of the cloaks, she returns to a seated position in order to fashion a belt with loops for the arrows, dagger and axe.
My name—haven't needed it in a long time —is Keestake, and you're the first humaniod faces I've seen in more years than I can remember. It's true.
And you wouldn't know it to look at me now, but in my day, in my day, I was personal groom to himself—to Viledel, the Sea King. Yes, this is the Island of Viledel—you didn't know that?
But himself died when the pirates crushed the island, years and years ago, when my hair was still black and my face unlined. I didn't fight on the day the pirates came, just hid in an overturned, ruined boat no one looked under, while the murdering and the burning went on day after day. And finally the pirates were all gone, and I've been here alone since then. Living in the house of the Sea King, protecting the treasure left behind—for the pirates never found the real goods of Viledel, just some of the trinkets and baubles kept in the manor—and becoming tired and gray. How long has it been?
The orcs came a few days ago. They captured me, and said the stories said that the treasure of the Sea King had never been found, which was true enough, I guess. And they said I knew where it was, which was true, too, but I never told them so.
The goblins came two days ago. The orc chief and the goblin chief talked, and the goblin chief said they were there to claim the island as their new stronghold, but the orc said they were there for the treasure too, and as soon as he said it the goblins wanted the goods, and there's been war ever since. The orcs are all set up in the old soldiers' barracks, and the goblins are all in the old stables, and the manor in the middle is where they hunt around for treasure and fight one another most of the time. But there's another place, where they went once but leave alone now —the temple of the goddess. It's on the far side of the hill overlooking the manor, and if you and your friends want to take shelter there, no one will bother with you.
Perking up at the mention of shelter, Eurim moves over and picks up two of the goblin cloaks, finding that together they provide enough square footage to cover his broad but short frame. Thoughtfully chewing some of the tough, rancid smelling salted meat, he replies: "Shelter would be welcome, but why do they leave the temple alone? A hilltop building would be an ideal position to spot enemy movement."
He blinks abruptly.
"What are you trying to say, hinting that you know the location of some vast treasure? Like as not, there is no treasure, and you are only trying to connive a way to steal from us after we slaughtered your captors. I bet you have compatriots in ambush near that temple - there is no escaping violence on this island. Kill or die. Hunt or be hunted."
With a grunt, Eurim sits again, a callused hand clutching his side. He tears into his meat with savage gusto, glaring at the old man with dark eyes.
Raking through their prizes, Denethir throws one of the cloaks across his back and round his shoulders, before grabbing one of the smaller goblin cloaks and putting it on back to front, essentially creating a mismatched poncho for himself. Feeling warmer by the second, he picks up a brace each of daggers and handaxes, and is about to sling the bow over his shoulder when he notices Lyle eyeing it up. He walks over to the halfling and offers it to him. "I've done a spot of hunting with a bow, in my father's forests, but lining up a shot to bring down a stationary deer is markedly different to downing an orc charging at you with murderous intent. If you can use it well friend, then take it."
The half-elf listens to Keestake's story, and Eurim's rebuttal, rolling his eyes at the dwarf's lack of trust. "Eurim, my good dwarf, if he seeks to steal, he has surely selected his marks unwisely, no?" Denethir throws his head back and laughs, before turning to Keestake and gesturing to the remaining pile of loot on the ground. "Steal from us if you must, old fellow, may these riches improve your life for the better! Before you make off with our wealth though, the temple does sound rather intriguing, and I would know more of it. Speak truthfully, old man!"
Nicholas staggers back over to the pile of equipment, and sits down hard, staring out into space. He takes the rations from Lyle without a word, and begins to eat slowly, despite his hunger. Slowly, he seems to come to and gather his wits. "Thank you, friend. I wasn't sure that was going to go as well as it did." Nic says to Lyle. He pulls the cloak around him, thankful for the warmth.
He rises to his feet and digs through the equipment, pulling out a spear, 3 daggers, another 3 rations, and another cloak. He'll take one of the axes, lay the spear across a flatter rock, and cut off the head, trying to make a crude quarterstaff, mostly as a walking stick over the rocky ground. He then pulls the padded armor out, and, looking around to make sure no one was eyeing it, dons it, feeling a bit sheepish for having taken so much. As he finishes, hearing the conversation between Keestake and Melisana, he drifts over, studying the man carefully. Eurim's comment distracts and surprises him, and he eyes him suspicously.
After everyone has taken what they wish, Lusith will try and use the remaining rope and cloaks to try and bundle everything up, "Waste not, want not," he cheerfully remarks.
Lusith will smile at Eurim's suspicion of the temple being a trap, "Of course these foul being leave the temple alone, they would feel unwelcome in such a holy place, and no one in their right mind would dare violate the sanctity of such a place with an ambush. I think heading to the temple sounds like a wonderful, not to mention warm and dry, idea!" And he will take several confident steps before, "Um, sorry, where is it again? Do you think you could lead us there?"
”I sort of... hate... that man (pointing at Lusith). No one should be soooo... um... happy.” Lyle just stares flatly at Lusith. “Of course, if I’d come floating out of the water like that, I suppose I might be a bit mad, too.”
Keestake looks at the dwarf, "No one but me has been on this island since the pirates killed the Sea King."
"The temple, well, it was here from the before times. From the first people as they came east, or so it is said. The King left it alone, as did all his people. Only a couple of priests would journey to it once a year. Clean it and hope for the Goddess good grace, they did. It isn't far, east and a bit north of here. Know this island like I know myself."
"I have been on this island many, many years alone. Promise me, on whatever Gods you have, that I will get my share and I will lead you to it. Yes, the treasure. There's a lot of it. You know what grave-goods are? Where Viledel was from, they like to bury their noble dead with presents. When the dead wake up, in the time that the gods decree, they still have their favorite play-pretties with them. Viledel had him a son who died, and the Sea King buried him with weapons and armor and sacks of gold and a few servants and a little boat to sail 'em all over the seas. We can drag that boat down the catacombs to this place you can get at from the inside, but not the outside. But gettin' at the goods is going to be hard. To get into the burial catacombs, you have to get into the manor where all them inhuman monsters is killing one another. We can figure out how to do that when we're all warm and rested."
Eurim remains suspicious, but remains quiet, content to let the rest of the party voice their opinions. In the spare time, he takes a brittle flake of rock from the bottom of the ravine, and begins to carefully, slowly, carve rough dwarven runes into the handle of the heavy crossbow, using the blade of his new battleaxe for some of the more refined, careful work.
"I don't like the idea of looting the dead, but I can't think of any other reason the gods would have brought us here and put him in our path. I'm in."
“I mean... graverobbing isn’t usually my thing, but treasure is treasure, and that boat sounds like a way out.” Lyle strokes his chin and watches the others for their thoughts.
"The gods did not deliver us here Lusith, and I would not place in them your trust that they have a higher purpose for you here, revolving around grave-robbing. This is survival, pure and simple. Weapons and armor would appear to be essential to our survival here, at least until an opportunity arises that will see us back to civilization."
Addressing Lyle's comment, he continues, "I suspect that if Keestake expects us to drag a boat through catacombs, then it may not be best suited for the high seas, especially in weather that has recently claimed a large slaving ship."
Finally, he aims another question at Keestake. "Your master, and his followers, were any of them practitioners in the arcane arts? I ask in the hope that there could be a magical means off this wretched island."
As the others are discussing, Janey listens, but is distracted somewhat by her choice of weapon. Moving to Lusith, who is attempting to bundle up the remaining goods, she returns the battle axe to the pile and instead selects a second dagger, before deciding she is satisfied.
Finally satisfied with her choices of weapon, she interrupts the discussion with a pointed question for Keestake: "I am still not clear as to why you would want to help us find this treasure, after you have been protecting it for so long."
Lusith will smile at Denethir's comment, "It's not about trust, it is simply the way things are. The gods determine our paths and send us signs to follow, we must only learn to look. It may not be a grand purpose, we may only be here to retrieve an item of significance and pass it to a real hero on the mainland. Simple errand work is enough for me, I have no pretensions of glory or heroism, simple acceptance of my role."
Nicholas shakes his head as the two engage in a high-minded debate. “Warm and dry sounds good to me. If there’s treasure to be had, great. Finding a way off this island should be our priority. And as for the old man...”
Nicholas pauses and will take a dagger, which he’s been testing the balance of in his hand, and attempt to make it disappear through mundane illusory magic.
Sleight of Hand: 14
“...if he underestimates us and attempts to cross us,” here Nicholas pulls the blade back out, “we’ll make him pay.”
"The temple isnt very far, maybe 15 minutes from here. See that larger hills there? Notice how it looks sorta squared off? That's the temple. The King's priests always said there was still power there, and the King ordered it not to be profaned.
You mean like wizards and such? There was an old man. He could make sounds and things appear and disappear. Make things catch on fire. All of us children spend time with him to learn our letters. He had books with funny looking letters and writhing on them always on his desk.
Nicholas’s ears prick up at the mention of magic. He’d seen it occasionally on the streets, mostly at festivals when mages would come and display their illusions or create spectacular displays of fire and light. He’d long held interest in learning more. And then there had been that one wealthy archmage he and Lyle had ripped off, right before all this had started for them...
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Melisana, who has remained hidden until now, slides down the ravine and makes her way over the bound and gagged man. He wears a makeshift robe, with rags wrapped around his feet, his long wild hair and beard is white. Large, ugly black bruises cover his face, and dried blood covers his lips and chin. He has obviously been beaten.
"Doesn't look much like a pirate or a ghost, does he?" she asks standing over him.
"ALWAYS GIVE A MONSTER AN EVEN BREAK!"
1st Edition DMG
Lusith will gather up one of the daggers and a spear as well as two cloaks and food packs before moving over to the bound man and using a dagger to cut him free, offering one of the food packs, "Here, eat. My name is Lusith, may I ask yours?"
Afterwards, having seen Lyle's idea, he'll use the other cloak and some of the rope from the boat to make a haversack to carry.
After Janey has warmed a little and her belly is full, she will return to the pile of weapons and help herself to a bow and 8 of the arrows (leaving the other 8 for whoever takes the other bow). She will then lift the battle axe, trying it out with both hands and feeling its power decides to hold onto it as well.
Tearing a strip of cloth from one of the cloaks, she returns to a seated position in order to fashion a belt with loops for the arrows, dagger and axe.
My name—haven't needed it in a long time —is Keestake, and you're the first humaniod faces I've seen in more years than I can remember. It's true.
And you wouldn't know it to look at me now, but in my day, in my day, I was personal groom to himself—to Viledel, the Sea King. Yes, this is the Island of Viledel—you didn't know that?
But himself died when the pirates crushed the island, years and years ago, when my hair was still black and my face unlined. I didn't fight on the day the pirates came, just hid in an overturned, ruined boat no one looked under, while the murdering and the burning went on day after day. And finally the pirates were all gone, and I've been here alone since then. Living in the house of the Sea King, protecting the treasure left behind—for the pirates never found the real goods of Viledel, just some of the trinkets and baubles kept in the manor—and becoming tired and gray. How long has it been?
The orcs came a few days ago. They captured me, and said the stories said that the treasure of the Sea King had never been found, which was true enough, I guess. And they said I knew where it was, which was true, too, but I never told them so.
The goblins came two days ago. The orc chief and the goblin chief talked, and the goblin chief said they were there to claim the island as their new stronghold, but the orc said they were there for the treasure too, and as soon as he said it the goblins wanted the goods, and there's been war ever since. The orcs are all set up in the old soldiers' barracks, and the goblins are all in the old stables, and the manor in the middle is where they hunt around for treasure and fight one another most of the time. But there's another place, where they went once but leave alone now —the temple of the goddess. It's on the far side of the hill overlooking the manor, and if you and your friends want to take shelter there, no one will bother with you.
"ALWAYS GIVE A MONSTER AN EVEN BREAK!"
1st Edition DMG
Perking up at the mention of shelter, Eurim moves over and picks up two of the goblin cloaks, finding that together they provide enough square footage to cover his broad but short frame. Thoughtfully chewing some of the tough, rancid smelling salted meat, he replies: "Shelter would be welcome, but why do they leave the temple alone? A hilltop building would be an ideal position to spot enemy movement."
He blinks abruptly.
"What are you trying to say, hinting that you know the location of some vast treasure? Like as not, there is no treasure, and you are only trying to connive a way to steal from us after we slaughtered your captors. I bet you have compatriots in ambush near that temple - there is no escaping violence on this island. Kill or die. Hunt or be hunted."
With a grunt, Eurim sits again, a callused hand clutching his side. He tears into his meat with savage gusto, glaring at the old man with dark eyes.
Denethir
Raking through their prizes, Denethir throws one of the cloaks across his back and round his shoulders, before grabbing one of the smaller goblin cloaks and putting it on back to front, essentially creating a mismatched poncho for himself. Feeling warmer by the second, he picks up a brace each of daggers and handaxes, and is about to sling the bow over his shoulder when he notices Lyle eyeing it up. He walks over to the halfling and offers it to him. "I've done a spot of hunting with a bow, in my father's forests, but lining up a shot to bring down a stationary deer is markedly different to downing an orc charging at you with murderous intent. If you can use it well friend, then take it."
The half-elf listens to Keestake's story, and Eurim's rebuttal, rolling his eyes at the dwarf's lack of trust. "Eurim, my good dwarf, if he seeks to steal, he has surely selected his marks unwisely, no?" Denethir throws his head back and laughs, before turning to Keestake and gesturing to the remaining pile of loot on the ground. "Steal from us if you must, old fellow, may these riches improve your life for the better! Before you make off with our wealth though, the temple does sound rather intriguing, and I would know more of it. Speak truthfully, old man!"
Persuasion: 17
Nicholas staggers back over to the pile of equipment, and sits down hard, staring out into space. He takes the rations from Lyle without a word, and begins to eat slowly, despite his hunger. Slowly, he seems to come to and gather his wits. "Thank you, friend. I wasn't sure that was going to go as well as it did." Nic says to Lyle. He pulls the cloak around him, thankful for the warmth.
He rises to his feet and digs through the equipment, pulling out a spear, 3 daggers, another 3 rations, and another cloak. He'll take one of the axes, lay the spear across a flatter rock, and cut off the head, trying to make a crude quarterstaff, mostly as a walking stick over the rocky ground. He then pulls the padded armor out, and, looking around to make sure no one was eyeing it, dons it, feeling a bit sheepish for having taken so much. As he finishes, hearing the conversation between Keestake and Melisana, he drifts over, studying the man carefully. Eurim's comment distracts and surprises him, and he eyes him suspicously.
Insight: 7
After everyone has taken what they wish, Lusith will try and use the remaining rope and cloaks to try and bundle everything up, "Waste not, want not," he cheerfully remarks.
Lusith will smile at Eurim's suspicion of the temple being a trap, "Of course these foul being leave the temple alone, they would feel unwelcome in such a holy place, and no one in their right mind would dare violate the sanctity of such a place with an ambush. I think heading to the temple sounds like a wonderful, not to mention warm and dry, idea!" And he will take several confident steps before, "Um, sorry, where is it again? Do you think you could lead us there?"
Lyle turns to Nic.
”I sort of... hate... that man (pointing at Lusith). No one should be soooo... um... happy.” Lyle just stares flatly at Lusith. “Of course, if I’d come floating out of the water like that, I suppose I might be a bit mad, too.”
Paladin - warforged - orange
Janey, who had been listening to the exchange between Keestake and her new comrades, decides at this moment to speak up.
"Why is it that you have chosen to tell us about the treasure?" She asks the old man.
Keestake looks at the dwarf, "No one but me has been on this island since the pirates killed the Sea King."
"The temple, well, it was here from the before times. From the first people as they came east, or so it is said. The King left it alone, as did all his people. Only a couple of priests would journey to it once a year. Clean it and hope for the Goddess good grace, they did. It isn't far, east and a bit north of here. Know this island like I know myself."
"I have been on this island many, many years alone. Promise me, on whatever Gods you have, that I will get my share and I will lead you to it. Yes, the treasure. There's a lot of it. You know what grave-goods are? Where Viledel was from, they like to bury their noble dead with presents. When the dead wake up, in the time that the gods decree, they still have their favorite play-pretties with them. Viledel had him a son who died, and the Sea King buried him with weapons and armor and sacks of gold and a few servants and a little boat to sail 'em all over the seas. We can drag that boat down the catacombs to this place you can get at from the inside, but not the outside. But gettin' at the goods is going to be hard. To get into the burial catacombs, you have to get into the manor where all them inhuman monsters is killing one another. We can figure out how to do that when we're all warm and rested."
"ALWAYS GIVE A MONSTER AN EVEN BREAK!"
1st Edition DMG
Eurim remains suspicious, but remains quiet, content to let the rest of the party voice their opinions. In the spare time, he takes a brittle flake of rock from the bottom of the ravine, and begins to carefully, slowly, carve rough dwarven runes into the handle of the heavy crossbow, using the blade of his new battleaxe for some of the more refined, careful work.
"I don't like the idea of looting the dead, but I can't think of any other reason the gods would have brought us here and put him in our path. I'm in."
“I mean... graverobbing isn’t usually my thing, but treasure is treasure, and that boat sounds like a way out.” Lyle strokes his chin and watches the others for their thoughts.
Paladin - warforged - orange
Denethir
"The gods did not deliver us here Lusith, and I would not place in them your trust that they have a higher purpose for you here, revolving around grave-robbing. This is survival, pure and simple. Weapons and armor would appear to be essential to our survival here, at least until an opportunity arises that will see us back to civilization."
Addressing Lyle's comment, he continues, "I suspect that if Keestake expects us to drag a boat through catacombs, then it may not be best suited for the high seas, especially in weather that has recently claimed a large slaving ship."
Finally, he aims another question at Keestake. "Your master, and his followers, were any of them practitioners in the arcane arts? I ask in the hope that there could be a magical means off this wretched island."
As the others are discussing, Janey listens, but is distracted somewhat by her choice of weapon. Moving to Lusith, who is attempting to bundle up the remaining goods, she returns the battle axe to the pile and instead selects a second dagger, before deciding she is satisfied.
Finally satisfied with her choices of weapon, she interrupts the discussion with a pointed question for Keestake: "I am still not clear as to why you would want to help us find this treasure, after you have been protecting it for so long."
Lusith will smile at Denethir's comment, "It's not about trust, it is simply the way things are. The gods determine our paths and send us signs to follow, we must only learn to look. It may not be a grand purpose, we may only be here to retrieve an item of significance and pass it to a real hero on the mainland. Simple errand work is enough for me, I have no pretensions of glory or heroism, simple acceptance of my role."
Nicholas shakes his head as the two engage in a high-minded debate. “Warm and dry sounds good to me. If there’s treasure to be had, great. Finding a way off this island should be our priority. And as for the old man...”
Nicholas pauses and will take a dagger, which he’s been testing the balance of in his hand, and attempt to make it disappear through mundane illusory magic.
Sleight of Hand: 14
“...if he underestimates us and attempts to cross us,” here Nicholas pulls the blade back out, “we’ll make him pay.”
"The temple isnt very far, maybe 15 minutes from here. See that larger hills there? Notice how it looks sorta squared off? That's the temple. The King's priests always said there was still power there, and the King ordered it not to be profaned.
You mean like wizards and such? There was an old man. He could make sounds and things appear and disappear. Make things catch on fire. All of us children spend time with him to learn our letters. He had books with funny looking letters and writhing on them always on his desk.
"ALWAYS GIVE A MONSTER AN EVEN BREAK!"
1st Edition DMG
Nicholas’s ears prick up at the mention of magic. He’d seen it occasionally on the streets, mostly at festivals when mages would come and display their illusions or create spectacular displays of fire and light. He’d long held interest in learning more. And then there had been that one wealthy archmage he and Lyle had ripped off, right before all this had started for them...