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Effort looks around at the scenery, more appreciative of the way the trees look when she doesn't have to walk through them herself. Still, as she notices their goblin escort watching the banks like a hawk, she wonders what they're on alert for and also begins to take a closer look around.
"No stopping," the goblin looks up at the ship's sail, filled with wind. "We're moving fast. Gotta keep moving. Sleep, ha! Yes, you will be sleeping in the boat."
As Brask continues to gaze at passing wildlife, wishing it were his supper, the rest of you start to scan your surroundings for any potential threats. After a bit of time passes, nothing obvious makes itself notable from the shore. It's just trees, mud, birds, some annoying insects. When you turn to the ship, though, your attention is drawn to the lowest windows of the steerage deck. Each has crude but sturdy metal plating over it, but Effort hears something from behind it. And Burik, as you focus in, through a bit of thinning wood around one particular window, you can see flashes of bright light from within. There's not much more than that, and the sensations are vague at best.
The goblins are moving. Cadmael thinks. The ones that were at the ballistas just went below. New ones manning the weapons now. Friendly goblin is one of them.
When the river straightens for a long stretch, two goblins slowly make their way down the chains and onto your boats. They also sport short bows, and seem to have just been eating. They trade places, and the ones that were in your boat make their way carefully up the chains and back onto the ship.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Effort narrows her eyes as she stares at the ship. She turns partially, and notices Burik staring at the same segment of the ship that she was. "What do you think that noise is about?" she asks under her breath, keeping her voice low so as to not alert the goblin on watch to the nature of their conversation. "I could only guess there is some sort of strange arcane device powering this ship. I confess, I know nothing of sailing or tinkering with magics, however."
Effort looks up at the sails of the large ship, and then back again at the banks passing by. Though she's completely unfamiliar with the concept of sailing, she tries her best to judge if the power of the wind and the currents might account for the speed at which the large ship is cutting through the water.
Haha! Even with a 6, you can tell that the wind is blowing pretty strongly in the same direction you're traveling. The sail seems to be a normal sail, as far as you can tell.
"Hmm… well, I hardly think so. Muggers don't generally charge people ferry service." Effort stares out at the banks again. "Does it matter if this is bandit country or not? This is a land that has been overtaken by cultists, worming their way in through the cracks of cities as far away as Lovilra. Even in a wilderness as vast as the one we journied through, we still unearthed their rot along the way. And they're coming from the coast we are traveling to, if our information is correct. Bandits are the least of our worries. Though I am thankful if these goblins are keeping an eye out for said bandits, so long as it gets us to our end goal more quickly. If we don't find the source of this disease, nothing else will really matter in the long run."
The sun slowly drops in the sky behind you as dusk creeps in. The river is beautiful just before nightfall - the orange glow of the sun reflecting off the water and filling the air. A gentle breeze continues to push the boat along, but it's not overly chilly.
After an hour or so, both of the goblins on the trail boats start to doze off. The two old men have been sleeping for awhile already, and other than a little movement right at dusk, there doesn't seem to be much happening on the ship.
Some light fog rolls in throughout the early evening, obscuring Cadmael's vision from the sky. Not much to report from up here. Moon is pretty if you were able to see it through the fog.
Brask has no trouble falling asleep, and his nap becomes a more extended rest. His occasional snore doesn't seem to bother the others who are sleeping. Burik tries to remain vigilant, especially with all these goblins around, but he starts to nod off as well.
Effort, however, is wide awake. Something just isn't right, although she can't tell what it is that's bothering her. As she's trying to figure out what her intuition is trying to tell her, something moves out of the corner of her eye. On the side of the boat, through the darkness, you see a figure climbing over the edge of the main deck. The stature is that of a goblin, and it carefully works its way down the side of the boat, carefully planning out where to place its hands and feet, avoiding windows and heading lower and lower. The moon is illuminating the fog just enough to help Effort recognize the goblin...it's the friendly one with the crooked jaw! He seems to be carrying a bag over his shoulder as well, and when he gets down to the steerage level, he carefully positions himself near one of the plated windows. It's near where Effort and Burik noticed something earlier. The goblin pulls at one of the pieces of wood connected to the metal plating, and it slides ever-so-slightly. He wiggles himself down into it and disappears into steerage.
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Effort narrows her eyes. Cadmael,she sends, directing the bird's attention to the crack left by the goblin. Follow him through that opening. Go see if you can have a look inside.
After giving her familiar the command, Effort sits back and lets her senses fade away, seeing the world through her familiar's eyes.
OOC: Well, my goblin guards have a -1 to perception so I guess they're not catching Cadmael, haha.
Cadmael glides down a few feet to the top of the fog. As he slowly lowers himself, the goblins manning the ballistas come into view. Some are sleeping, some are still alert and looking around at the banks. Cadmael waits...and waits...and swoops down beyond the railing of the ship at just the right moment. He remains unseen.
He clutches some wood on the side of the ship near one of the windows and slowly edges over to the opening. As he peers inside, the steerage deck appears in Effort's mind. It's extremely dark, but Cadmael's superior vision is able to overcome that. One small candle flicks its light against the mildew covered walls, and vertical lines come into view. They're the bars of cages, in fact. And inside, Effort can see figures. Three humans, each in their own tiny cage, sunken down and sitting against the bars. The goblin moves from cage to cage, reaching into his bag, pulling out bread, and handing it to each of them. They tear into it, clearly famished, and the goblin goes back into his bag for some dried fruit. When that is distributed, he picks up the candle and moves to the far end of steerage, where one more figure appears.
She has pale, seafoam green skin with long white hair in a messy braid. She looks young - her skin is smooth and relatively unblemished, outside of a large, purple-ish bruise on her right cheek. Her ears come to a point, as if she was elvish, but this is not like any elf you've seen before. As the goblin approaches, she stirs awake. It's then that Effort realizes she has both her hands and feet shackled to a thick chain that is attached to the wall. The goblin carefully approaches, tearing off a piece of bread and extending it toward her mouth. She reluctantly takes it into her mouth and chews. The goblin motions for her to wait a moment, and pulls out a water skin to offer her up some. He carefully pours a bit into her mouth. She closes her eyes to savor every drop.
After a few minutes and a few more pieces of food, the goblin nods awkwardly, snuffs out the candle, and starts heading back to the near side of the steerage deck. He begins climbing back up toward the opening in the plated window as Cadmael leaps off the side and glides silently back into the fog.
Effort allows her senses to return to her body as Cadmael makes his escape. Stay overhead and watch the ship,she commands him. Let me know if any goblins have their eyes on us.
Then, watching the ship closely for the first sign of the goblin with the crooked jaw appearing, she points her finger at him and casts message towards him, whispering under her breath.
Fear not, for so long as you mean us no harm, then I am your ally. My name is Effort, the tiefling which you saw booking passage on your ship earlier. Do not question how, but I've seen the prisoners that your captain keeps in the hold of your ship. Who are they, and why are they there? Particularly that strange elf with the green skin. Are we in danger? And what of you? Can you find a way to come to our longboat somehow, and perhaps replace the goblin on our watch?
While waiting for the goblin's response, she quietly shakes Brask and Burik awake and puts a finger to her lips. Casting message, she relays to first one, then the other, all that she saw (and anything useful the goblin might have told her), adding on her own observations (if they are at all relevant after the goblin's response):
My suspicion is that they are slavers. If not the two humans, then most certainly the shackled strange elven girl. I had thought it might be a machine that was powering this ship, but it seems more likely to me that this elf girl has elemental powers of some kind, and they are tapping into them somehow against to power their ship. Our goblin guard is asleep right now, and we have but one potential ally on the boat itself. What do you think we should do?
Halfway between the decks, hanging from the side of the ship, the goblin pauses as Effort's message reaches him. He looks frightened for a moment, but calms as she introduces herself. He turns toward your boat and watches you as you send the rest of the message. Instinctively, he begins to whisper...
"Prisoners. Headed for trade...slavery...who knows what? The girl...she is a water genasi. Very special. Very special powers." He looks up toward the railing, making sure that nobody can hear him. "I hear we are taking her to the unnamed island. Don't know why...but I would be careful not to show anyone you also have powers. Especially Umog. She isn't as nice as she seems...they don't let me guard the trail boats. Too weak, they say. Too nice. Can...can you help me? I don't know how...or help with what...but these prisoners don't deserve this. They are not criminals."
A fair bit of what Effort whispers passes Brask by, but he latches onto one word. Slavers. He makes the word silently, no voice just moving his mouth. His hands clench tightly, a and then he grins at Effort, and whispers back. I like killing slavers.
Brask looks around. Inwardly he curses the fact that he didn't pay attention as they were boarding; he tries to remember how many goblins he saw, what the total number of the crew is, and he comes up short. He looks at Effort, and whispers: Nothing now. Too dark. And foggy. Unless you want to try sneak the prisoners out. He shrugs. Don't see how that would work, but not my thing anyway. I'll leave that up to you.
Effort sends back another message to both Brask and Burik: If they are taking the girl to the unnamed island, and the unnamed island is the base of the cult, as the rumors have told us, then we must use this knowledge to reach that island somehow. But you are right… I don't think there's anything we can do until morning's light.
She also messages the goblin on the ship one more time: We will do our best to help you, though I do not think we can plan anything tonight. Do your best to keep the prisoners' strengths up with food and water as you have been for now, and I will see what plan I might work with my friends. And be visible on deck when your guards are feeling lax... so we might communicate like this if needs be.
He nods slowly. "Okay...okay. I will do what I can, but please help them. I won't be able to keep them alive or safe much longer."
Peering over the side of the railing, he quickly hops over and disappears onto the ship. The night is silent and uneventful once again.
The winds pick up in the morning, blowing leaves across the water and once again fully filling the sails. The sun shines brightly to the east, and the goblin archers are awake and perched at the bottom of the chains, waiting for another change. More goblins come down. "We'll be in Green Fork by tonight. Maybe earlier if this keeps up."
I don't think anyone needs it, but you had a long rest.
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DM - Above & Below
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Effort looks around at the scenery, more appreciative of the way the trees look when she doesn't have to walk through them herself. Still, as she notices their goblin escort watching the banks like a hawk, she wonders what they're on alert for and also begins to take a closer look around.
Cadmael Perception: 22
Effort Perception: 14 + Guidance 1
22
"No stopping," the goblin looks up at the ship's sail, filled with wind. "We're moving fast. Gotta keep moving. Sleep, ha! Yes, you will be sleeping in the boat."
As Brask continues to gaze at passing wildlife, wishing it were his supper, the rest of you start to scan your surroundings for any potential threats. After a bit of time passes, nothing obvious makes itself notable from the shore. It's just trees, mud, birds, some annoying insects. When you turn to the ship, though, your attention is drawn to the lowest windows of the steerage deck. Each has crude but sturdy metal plating over it, but Effort hears something from behind it. And Burik, as you focus in, through a bit of thinning wood around one particular window, you can see flashes of bright light from within. There's not much more than that, and the sensations are vague at best.
The goblins are moving. Cadmael thinks. The ones that were at the ballistas just went below. New ones manning the weapons now. Friendly goblin is one of them.
When the river straightens for a long stretch, two goblins slowly make their way down the chains and onto your boats. They also sport short bows, and seem to have just been eating. They trade places, and the ones that were in your boat make their way carefully up the chains and back onto the ship.
DM - Above & Below
Effort narrows her eyes as she stares at the ship. She turns partially, and notices Burik staring at the same segment of the ship that she was. "What do you think that noise is about?" she asks under her breath, keeping her voice low so as to not alert the goblin on watch to the nature of their conversation. "I could only guess there is some sort of strange arcane device powering this ship. I confess, I know nothing of sailing or tinkering with magics, however."
Effort looks up at the sails of the large ship, and then back again at the banks passing by. Though she's completely unfamiliar with the concept of sailing, she tries her best to judge if the power of the wind and the currents might account for the speed at which the large ship is cutting through the water.
Nature: 16 with Guidance: 2
(… nope, not an expert at this XD)
Haha! Even with a 6, you can tell that the wind is blowing pretty strongly in the same direction you're traveling. The sail seems to be a normal sail, as far as you can tell.
DM - Above & Below
Brask is probably napping by now.
"Nothing good I'm sure", as his eyes switch between the goblins on their boat and the ship. His voice in the same low tone as Effort's.
"They could be planning on some sort of mugging." he pauses before reluctantly continuing, "Or... I suppose this could be bandit country...."
"Hmm… well, I hardly think so. Muggers don't generally charge people ferry service." Effort stares out at the banks again. "Does it matter if this is bandit country or not? This is a land that has been overtaken by cultists, worming their way in through the cracks of cities as far away as Lovilra. Even in a wilderness as vast as the one we journied through, we still unearthed their rot along the way. And they're coming from the coast we are traveling to, if our information is correct. Bandits are the least of our worries. Though I am thankful if these goblins are keeping an eye out for said bandits, so long as it gets us to our end goal more quickly. If we don't find the source of this disease, nothing else will really matter in the long run."
The sun slowly drops in the sky behind you as dusk creeps in. The river is beautiful just before nightfall - the orange glow of the sun reflecting off the water and filling the air. A gentle breeze continues to push the boat along, but it's not overly chilly.
After an hour or so, both of the goblins on the trail boats start to doze off. The two old men have been sleeping for awhile already, and other than a little movement right at dusk, there doesn't seem to be much happening on the ship.
Everyone, roll me another perception check.
DM - Above & Below
Brask’s perception: 5
22
Effort: 7 + Guidance 2
Cadmael: 23
Some light fog rolls in throughout the early evening, obscuring Cadmael's vision from the sky. Not much to report from up here. Moon is pretty if you were able to see it through the fog.
Brask has no trouble falling asleep, and his nap becomes a more extended rest. His occasional snore doesn't seem to bother the others who are sleeping. Burik tries to remain vigilant, especially with all these goblins around, but he starts to nod off as well.
Effort, however, is wide awake. Something just isn't right, although she can't tell what it is that's bothering her. As she's trying to figure out what her intuition is trying to tell her, something moves out of the corner of her eye. On the side of the boat, through the darkness, you see a figure climbing over the edge of the main deck. The stature is that of a goblin, and it carefully works its way down the side of the boat, carefully planning out where to place its hands and feet, avoiding windows and heading lower and lower. The moon is illuminating the fog just enough to help Effort recognize the goblin...it's the friendly one with the crooked jaw! He seems to be carrying a bag over his shoulder as well, and when he gets down to the steerage level, he carefully positions himself near one of the plated windows. It's near where Effort and Burik noticed something earlier. The goblin pulls at one of the pieces of wood connected to the metal plating, and it slides ever-so-slightly. He wiggles himself down into it and disappears into steerage.
The night is motionless once again...
DM - Above & Below
Effort narrows her eyes. Cadmael, she sends, directing the bird's attention to the crack left by the goblin. Follow him through that opening. Go see if you can have a look inside.
After giving her familiar the command, Effort sits back and lets her senses fade away, seeing the world through her familiar's eyes.
Cadmael Stealth: 10
OOC: Well, my goblin guards have a -1 to perception so I guess they're not catching Cadmael, haha.
Cadmael glides down a few feet to the top of the fog. As he slowly lowers himself, the goblins manning the ballistas come into view. Some are sleeping, some are still alert and looking around at the banks. Cadmael waits...and waits...and swoops down beyond the railing of the ship at just the right moment. He remains unseen.
He clutches some wood on the side of the ship near one of the windows and slowly edges over to the opening. As he peers inside, the steerage deck appears in Effort's mind. It's extremely dark, but Cadmael's superior vision is able to overcome that. One small candle flicks its light against the mildew covered walls, and vertical lines come into view. They're the bars of cages, in fact. And inside, Effort can see figures. Three humans, each in their own tiny cage, sunken down and sitting against the bars. The goblin moves from cage to cage, reaching into his bag, pulling out bread, and handing it to each of them. They tear into it, clearly famished, and the goblin goes back into his bag for some dried fruit. When that is distributed, he picks up the candle and moves to the far end of steerage, where one more figure appears.
She has pale, seafoam green skin with long white hair in a messy braid. She looks young - her skin is smooth and relatively unblemished, outside of a large, purple-ish bruise on her right cheek. Her ears come to a point, as if she was elvish, but this is not like any elf you've seen before. As the goblin approaches, she stirs awake. It's then that Effort realizes she has both her hands and feet shackled to a thick chain that is attached to the wall. The goblin carefully approaches, tearing off a piece of bread and extending it toward her mouth. She reluctantly takes it into her mouth and chews. The goblin motions for her to wait a moment, and pulls out a water skin to offer her up some. He carefully pours a bit into her mouth. She closes her eyes to savor every drop.
After a few minutes and a few more pieces of food, the goblin nods awkwardly, snuffs out the candle, and starts heading back to the near side of the steerage deck. He begins climbing back up toward the opening in the plated window as Cadmael leaps off the side and glides silently back into the fog.
DM - Above & Below
Effort allows her senses to return to her body as Cadmael makes his escape. Stay overhead and watch the ship, she commands him. Let me know if any goblins have their eyes on us.
Then, watching the ship closely for the first sign of the goblin with the crooked jaw appearing, she points her finger at him and casts message towards him, whispering under her breath.
Fear not, for so long as you mean us no harm, then I am your ally. My name is Effort, the tiefling which you saw booking passage on your ship earlier. Do not question how, but I've seen the prisoners that your captain keeps in the hold of your ship. Who are they, and why are they there? Particularly that strange elf with the green skin. Are we in danger? And what of you? Can you find a way to come to our longboat somehow, and perhaps replace the goblin on our watch?
While waiting for the goblin's response, she quietly shakes Brask and Burik awake and puts a finger to her lips. Casting message, she relays to first one, then the other, all that she saw (and anything useful the goblin might have told her), adding on her own observations (if they are at all relevant after the goblin's response):
My suspicion is that they are slavers. If not the two humans, then most certainly the shackled strange elven girl. I had thought it might be a machine that was powering this ship, but it seems more likely to me that this elf girl has elemental powers of some kind, and they are tapping into them somehow against to power their ship. Our goblin guard is asleep right now, and we have but one potential ally on the boat itself. What do you think we should do?
Halfway between the decks, hanging from the side of the ship, the goblin pauses as Effort's message reaches him. He looks frightened for a moment, but calms as she introduces herself. He turns toward your boat and watches you as you send the rest of the message. Instinctively, he begins to whisper...
"Prisoners. Headed for trade...slavery...who knows what? The girl...she is a water genasi. Very special. Very special powers." He looks up toward the railing, making sure that nobody can hear him. "I hear we are taking her to the unnamed island. Don't know why...but I would be careful not to show anyone you also have powers. Especially Umog. She isn't as nice as she seems...they don't let me guard the trail boats. Too weak, they say. Too nice. Can...can you help me? I don't know how...or help with what...but these prisoners don't deserve this. They are not criminals."
DM - Above & Below
A fair bit of what Effort whispers passes Brask by, but he latches onto one word. Slavers. He makes the word silently, no voice just moving his mouth. His hands clench tightly, a and then he grins at Effort, and whispers back. I like killing slavers.
Brask looks around. Inwardly he curses the fact that he didn't pay attention as they were boarding; he tries to remember how many goblins he saw, what the total number of the crew is, and he comes up short. He looks at Effort, and whispers: Nothing now. Too dark. And foggy. Unless you want to try sneak the prisoners out. He shrugs. Don't see how that would work, but not my thing anyway. I'll leave that up to you.
Effort sends back another message to both Brask and Burik:
If they are taking the girl to the unnamed island, and the unnamed island is the base of the cult, as the rumors have told us, then we must use this knowledge to reach that island somehow. But you are right… I don't think there's anything we can do until morning's light.
She also messages the goblin on the ship one more time:
We will do our best to help you, though I do not think we can plan anything tonight. Do your best to keep the prisoners' strengths up with food and water as you have been for now, and I will see what plan I might work with my friends. And be visible on deck when your guards are feeling lax... so we might communicate like this if needs be.
He nods slowly. "Okay...okay. I will do what I can, but please help them. I won't be able to keep them alive or safe much longer."
Peering over the side of the railing, he quickly hops over and disappears onto the ship. The night is silent and uneventful once again.
The winds pick up in the morning, blowing leaves across the water and once again fully filling the sails. The sun shines brightly to the east, and the goblin archers are awake and perched at the bottom of the chains, waiting for another change. More goblins come down. "We'll be in Green Fork by tonight. Maybe earlier if this keeps up."
I don't think anyone needs it, but you had a long rest.
DM - Above & Below