Waves of Peril

(OOC Toonary is proficient with herbalism kit, it's something I have him because of the fact that he would be learning how to heal at the temple)

"More not friends, because they pay us, but not not friends"

"Ew. They capitalized 'task'. Pretentious. But I'd expect no less from summin who needs to put a title in fronta their name like that."

Around noon a carriage driven by a tall lanky half orc with a single tusk jutting out of his lower jaw, pulls up to the inn. The half orc introduces himself as, Vertheg, and informs you that he is here to take the Party to Lord Aubreck' s manor. When you come to the manor you are a little shocked at its appearance. it is large, but  run down. The paint is peeling. and a few windows are broken out. The grounds are overgrown with weeds. "Lord Aubreck is expecting you in his study." Vertheg says as he opens the front doors, and indicates a door at the end of a dusty hallway. A rat caught in the open when the front door opened, disappears  into a hole in the left wall.

Toonary hands everyone a piece of bacon.  As he hands one to Grid he says "Pretentious, mean fake money? Real money not look like this, maybe they not be money friends?"

"They'd better be a money friend if they's lookin' ta hire me fer a job. I seen how 'charity' works at tha orphanage and I ain't interested in it."

"This place is sad" comments Seethe while they walk towards the door. " I wonder why Lord Aubrek is so sad..." 

(H'okay! I'm back from a crazy week and catching up. Thank you VERY much Cubester for breaking that down into bite-sized pieces I can digest. Extremely helpful. And yeah, super good luck on me getting that staff lol! Maybe next time I'll have Maya hire Gridolpho to do the bargaining for her. Let's keep things simple for this round...)

 Maya would nod to Seethe, agreeing in silence as she follows the others in.

Standing behind a large desk is a human male with his iron gray hair, pulled back and tied in a ponytail. His clothes while of a fine cut, are worn, and out of fashion. The desk is covered in papers, and maps. Behind the man is a set of shelves with models of ships on them. As you enter the study the man looks up.

"Wonderful, you came. I can't begin to tell you how delighted I am." Lord Aubreck says warmly. He then instructs Vertheg to fetch some chairs, and bring drinks and snacks for the Party. After Vertheg departs the chamber he turns to the characters.

"Now shall we get down to business?"

"Thank you for your hospitality  Lord Aubreck  says Seethe " Please tell us. How we can be of help?" 

"Ohh snacks..." Maya would be distracted for a moment, guiltily eyeing up what Vertheg would bring them. She'd nudge Toonary and point out the goods in case he didn't notice right away. "Yes, thank you." The druid would take a moment to remember her manners before helping herself to a couple bites. "Mmmhmmm." She'd gesture to Seethe in agreement when she asks how they could be of help.

Gridolpho surreptitiously cases the joint.

Investigation: 9

(Gridolpho) You spot a few items of interest but nothing of great value.

Lord Aubreck explains to the Party that a few years ago he invested in a large merchant ship called, "The Emperor of the Waves". He further explains that his contacts in the southern jungles informed him that there was a golden opportunity to invest in the rare herbs, and spices trade in the area. Aubreck sensing a chance to monopolize trade, sold off many of his assets, and converted them into promissory notes, and property deeds. He then secured these aboard the Emperor, and sent the ship south at the head of his merchant fleet. Months later a few of the ships limped back to Saltmarsh. The captains told Aubreck that on the return voyage a great storm descended on the fleet sinking most of the ships. The Emperor of the Waves was separated from the rest of the fleet, and presumed lost like the others.

" A few days ago a ship matching the Emperor's description was sighted about 5 days off the coast adrift." Lord Aubreck informs you, his eyes shining with hope. Aubreck explains further that he wants the characters to board the ship and bring him a magical box containing promissory notes, and property deeds worth a total of 100,000 GP. He then offers the party a fee of 10% (10,000 GP) To sweeten the pot, he offers 200GP  as an advance payment. Theirs to keep, succeed or fail.

To help the Party get to "The Emperor of the Waves" a ship called , The Soul of Winter." The ship is crewed by dwarves, and captained by a dwarf named, Wolgar Windrune. Gear for the Expedition has already purchased and stowed aboard the ship. The equipment exists of the following;

• Studded Leather Armor
• Two Light Crossbows with 20 bolts each.
• Five 50-Foot Coils of Rope.
• Two Grappling Hooks.
• Twelve Torches.
• Two Healer's Kits.
• Six Vials of Antitoxin.
• Two Potions of Healing.
• Two Sacks for carrying treasure.

"Will you undertake this endeverour ?" Aubreck asks you as he looks each one of you in the eyes.

Gridolpho plucks his ever-present toothpick out of his mouth and spears a bit of cheese. He then kicks his feet up onto the table and chews thoughtfully while he waits for his companions to reply. 

(while thinking to himself, “I could use new armor”)

"Toonary see no reason say no" Toonary puts a piece of bacon in his mouth. walks around the desk to Lord Aubreck, tryes to link arms and says "I'll be your friend"

(Toonary) At first Lord Aubreck is a little taken aback by your attempt, but senses you mean no harm, and lets you link arms.

Link arms.: Dexterity check.

"I'll do my best to try to recover your lost ship... " says Seethe. She feels pity for the poor landlord. And she yearns for the chance to be in open sea again. 

Gridolpho swallows his bite of cheese and returns his toothpick to the corner of his mouth.

"Yer lucky I'm teamed up with these do-gooders. If'n it were jus me, I'd try an push for fifteen percent an ask 'bout these properties an yer intent with regards to their current occupants. But it looks like I'm outvoted. Still, it seems like a good opportunity ta test my skills.

I'm in."

With a mouth full of food, Maya would shrug then nod in agreement, grabbing another handful and smile with chipmunk cheeks.

After several days at sea you come upon the shattered hulk of The Emperor of the Waves. Captain Windrune brings his ship within 500 feet of the derelict on its starboard side, close enough to get a better look. The Emperor's masts have been shorn off, but the upper deck appears clear of debris. Its figurehead , once a majestic angel in flight has been hacked and disfigured. The vessel lists noticbly to port.

Captain Windrune orders two sailors to ferry the Party to the hulk in a rowboat. as you draw closer you notice algae growing on the hull. Climbing aboard the Emperor won't be easy.

(Maya and Seethe) Make a DC15 (Nature) check.

(OOC: So pretty much all of us could use the upgrade from Leather to Studded. How do we want to handle the armor? Card game?)

The moment he steps aboard ship, Gridolpho scrambles nimbly up into the rigging. He spends pretty much every waking moment as high up in the ropes and beams as he possibly can.