”Should I cut the bodies loose, Captain, or just leave them alone?" asks Gerrard.
"Whatever you see fit – just don't bring it on board. This ship smells bad enough already," replies the captain.
Peri climbs a mast. From his new vantage point he sees a large mass of corpses – not just the one dwarf – barely visible below the water’s surface near the rowboat, bound together in a large fishing net. Looks like at least a dozen bodies. The large rowboat is half submerged; its hull has several holes. He also sees a hint of movement below the corpses – perhaps large fish feeding?
Boko realizes something. "Gerrard, as I said, I did not break into the fortress, but the tower yielded some things of note. This bag,"and she reaches into a small black bag she's been carrying and pulls out her own familiar larger pack, plus a few other items that should not fit inside. She also pulls out a a moldy journal. "And this. I realized I showed this to the others before we joined you."
"The diary was written by a military man, Archais, who tells of a sunken ship, the Tammeraut, that sank near something called the Pit of Hatred. I have not heard of the writer, but I have heard of this ship, helmed by a fearsome pirate sorcerer named Syrgaul, who followed Orcus, the demon lord of the undead. I thought he disappeared ten years ago. This diary says otherwise,"and she hands it to the respectful warrior.
Most of the journal is moldy and illegible. The last few pages are intact, and they relate the events surrounding the coming of Tammeraut:
Our worst fears are confirmed. Virgil has brought word of disaster. A war galley fully loaded with pirates approaches from the southwest. It flies the flag of the raiders and bears the name of the cursed ship Tammeraut. We must prepare what feeble defense we can muster. Woe to the folk of the coast at the approach of this bloody tide.
•
Miracle of miracles! The storm lord has answered the prayers of our illustrious chaplain. A furious storm blew in from the open sea and swept the war galley to its doom. But I believe that the vessel went down near the Pit of Hatred, an ill-starred undersea chasm two miles south of Firewatch Isle. This does not bode well, for the rift is said to be a passage to a source of interminable evil that was long ago sealed away. If the wreckage should rupture the wards, terrible darkness might be unleashed. I must mount an expedition to the sunken hulk and make sure all is well.
•
A fell wind blows this evening. I fear the wards on the rift have been broken. I must set out first thing in the morning to inspect the wreckage.
"This island is the one my druidic teacher Luca asked me to look into -- his friend Vortanim in Uskarn heard that no one could get to some peaceful order that was on this island and that bodies had begun washing ashore,"she says at last. When she says the word Vortanim, she looks at the Uskarnian captain and crew for any sign of reaction.
"Now, just because my mentor mentioned this island does not mean we need to look at it, nor do we need to look at it now, exhausted. I would be up for a short scouting foray while there is still light, if the group wishes to go, but no more. That said, I do not know which is safer for the night: here floating among a gathered pile of bodies, or that island. Confirming it is empty would not be a bad thing. That diary suggests there is more danger under the water than above it, but it could be ravings of a madman."
Stopping what he is doing and listening to Boko, then reading the journal, Gerrard says, "I agree, Mistress Alcor, let us check the island for further clues while there is still light. Then once the storm passes we can head back to port, rest and recover, then perhaps investigate this wreckage of the Tammeraut. We should also endeavor to determine how to restore the wards of the Pit of Hatred so that we can prevent this terrible evil from escaping."
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Gerrard Feldren - Human Noble in Ghosts of Saltmarsh
Kerric Brightblade - Elven Warrior in "Apocalypse"
"If you're determined to go now, we better take the boat. There's somethin' stirrin' under those bodies. If we're real lucky it's just some sharks. But I don't remember the last time I felt lucky."
When the others are ready Peri will unfold the boat on the side of the ship away from the bodies.
Peri unfolds the boat on the other side of the ketch. As he does, something large breaches the black water with a sudden splash. A huge pincer, nearly the size of Peri himself, grabs for his arm.
Pincer Attack: 8. Hit: 13 bludgeoning damage and Peri would be grappled.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Thwack
The tiny kobold yelps as a claw, bigger than himself, whizzes past and snaps at Peri "SNARP! Yap!". Instinctively, his arms pop up into a fighting stance.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Gerrard:
Needing some room to maneuver, Gerrard hops over to the smaller folding boat and makes his way to the prow to engage with the exposed claw of the submerged creature. Drawing his weapons and saying the command word for the dagger, he stabs and slashes at the claw!
Acrobatics if needed to hop over: 17
Flaming Dagger: Attack: 19 Damage: 15
Flaming Dagger: Attack: 25 Damage: 16
Elegant Rapier: Attack: 12 Damage: 6
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Gerrard Feldren - Human Noble in Ghosts of Saltmarsh
Kerric Brightblade - Elven Warrior in "Apocalypse"
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Peri recoils and checks he still has all of his fingers. Didn't think we'd be that lucky. He throws two quick jabs into the claw, wondering if his is one of the hides Qivys is damning. Then he leaps into the Peri Ferry before it can drift too far from the ketch.
Unarmed Strikes: 24 for 9, 27 for 8
((Peri's weak little legs only get him a 4' standing long jump. If the boat is more than 4' he will spend a Ki to use Step of the Wind to double that. If it's more than 8' away he can't make it, so he won't spend any Ki. If he doesn't Step of the Wind he'll make one more unarmed strike: 17 for 6))
Gerrard leaps across into the smaller boat. Then he spins and hacks at the exposed claw with his dagger. But this creature has a very tough, armor-plated shell; only the first of Gerrard's three strikes manages to pierce it.
Peri also manages to crack its tough shell slightly with his second well-aimed kick, but with Gerrard now in his way, Peri runs and leaps diagonally into the stern of his vessel. (No Ki spent, but no additional strike opportunity, either. Also no opportunity attacks, as he is still evidently in reach of this massive claw)
Qivys steps forward and whacks at it as well, also managing a single hit (the glaive, with slashing damage?)
Thwack is up, as is Boko (presuming she rolls an initiative 5 or higher!)
The water begins to boil. An old man's dead face comes to the surface, staring blankly at the sky. (Just a corpse, not animated.)
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Thwack
((Assuming Gerrards forward position on Peri's Ferry puts him within 5ft of the Claw))
Thwack clambers onto the railing to better see into the waters below. He catches sight of the claw as it begins disappearing back into its salty home. He makes a clawed fist, as if holding a ball, and throws it at the predatory pincer. His other hand swings like it's slapping someone in the face.
"Whatever you see fit – just don't bring it on board. This ship smells bad enough already," replies the captain.
Peri climbs a mast. From his new vantage point he sees a large mass of corpses – not just the one dwarf – barely visible below the water’s surface near the rowboat, bound together in a large fishing net. Looks like at least a dozen bodies. The large rowboat is half submerged; its hull has several holes. He also sees a hint of movement below the corpses – perhaps large fish feeding?
Boko realizes something. "Gerrard, as I said, I did not break into the fortress, but the tower yielded some things of note. This bag," and she reaches into a small black bag she's been carrying and pulls out her own familiar larger pack, plus a few other items that should not fit inside. She also pulls out a a moldy journal. "And this. I realized I showed this to the others before we joined you."
"The diary was written by a military man, Archais, who tells of a sunken ship, the Tammeraut, that sank near something called the Pit of Hatred. I have not heard of the writer, but I have heard of this ship, helmed by a fearsome pirate sorcerer named Syrgaul, who followed Orcus, the demon lord of the undead. I thought he disappeared ten years ago. This diary says otherwise," and she hands it to the respectful warrior.
Most of the journal is moldy and illegible. The last few pages are intact, and they relate the events surrounding the coming of Tammeraut:
"This island is the one my druidic teacher Luca asked me to look into -- his friend Vortanim in Uskarn heard that no one could get to some peaceful order that was on this island and that bodies had begun washing ashore," she says at last. When she says the word Vortanim, she looks at the Uskarnian captain and crew for any sign of reaction.
"Now, just because my mentor mentioned this island does not mean we need to look at it, nor do we need to look at it now, exhausted. I would be up for a short scouting foray while there is still light, if the group wishes to go, but no more. That said, I do not know which is safer for the night: here floating among a gathered pile of bodies, or that island. Confirming it is empty would not be a bad thing. That diary suggests there is more danger under the water than above it, but it could be ravings of a madman."
Gerrard:
Stopping what he is doing and listening to Boko, then reading the journal, Gerrard says, "I agree, Mistress Alcor, let us check the island for further clues while there is still light. Then once the storm passes we can head back to port, rest and recover, then perhaps investigate this wreckage of the Tammeraut. We should also endeavor to determine how to restore the wards of the Pit of Hatred so that we can prevent this terrible evil from escaping."
Gerrard Feldren - Human Noble in Ghosts of Saltmarsh
Kerric Brightblade - Elven Warrior in "Apocalypse"
"If you're determined to go now, we better take the boat. There's somethin' stirrin' under those bodies. If we're real lucky it's just some sharks. But I don't remember the last time I felt lucky."
When the others are ready Peri will unfold the boat on the side of the ship away from the bodies.
Gerrard:
"Noted," says the young noble, taking an involuntary step away from the water until Peri has the boat ready.
Gerrard Feldren - Human Noble in Ghosts of Saltmarsh
Kerric Brightblade - Elven Warrior in "Apocalypse"
Peri unfolds the boat on the other side of the ketch. As he does, something large breaches the black water with a sudden splash. A huge pincer, nearly the size of Peri himself, grabs for his arm.
Pincer Attack: 8. Hit: 13 bludgeoning damage and Peri would be grappled.
Roll initiative!
Peri pulls his arm back before the massive thing below can grab it. The folding boat, unfurled, floats free, untethered and unoccupied.
Initiative:
Submerged Monster: 2
Captain: 7
Jax: 15
Pieter: 8
Boko:
Gerrard:
Peri:
Qivys:
Thwack:
"Damn all yer hides!" Qivys yells out.
Initiative: 17
Thwack
The tiny kobold yelps as a claw, bigger than himself, whizzes past and snaps at Peri "SNARP! Yap!". Instinctively, his arms pop up into a fighting stance.
Initiative 16
Gerrard:
Gerrard suddenly becomes fully alert as the threat surfaces—at least partially—and prepares for battle!
Initiative: 13
Gerrard Feldren - Human Noble in Ghosts of Saltmarsh
Kerric Brightblade - Elven Warrior in "Apocalypse"
(Gerrard, Qivys, and Thwack may act. Boko and Peri may roll initiative.)
Initiative: 19
Gerrard:
Needing some room to maneuver, Gerrard hops over to the smaller folding boat and makes his way to the prow to engage with the exposed claw of the submerged creature. Drawing his weapons and saying the command word for the dagger, he stabs and slashes at the claw!
Acrobatics if needed to hop over: 17
Flaming Dagger: Attack: 19 Damage: 15
Flaming Dagger: Attack: 25 Damage: 16
Elegant Rapier: Attack: 12 Damage: 6
Gerrard Feldren - Human Noble in Ghosts of Saltmarsh
Kerric Brightblade - Elven Warrior in "Apocalypse"
Peri recoils and checks he still has all of his fingers. Didn't think we'd be that lucky. He throws two quick jabs into the claw, wondering if his is one of the hides Qivys is damning. Then he leaps into the Peri Ferry before it can drift too far from the ketch.
Unarmed Strikes: 24 for 9, 27 for 8
((Peri's weak little legs only get him a 4' standing long jump. If the boat is more than 4' he will spend a Ki to use Step of the Wind to double that. If it's more than 8' away he can't make it, so he won't spend any Ki. If he doesn't Step of the Wind he'll make one more unarmed strike: 17 for 6))
"Always got ta poke this or pull that or go see this or that!" Qivys curses out. "If'n I die doning this I'll haunt ya fer tha rest of yer days."
Qivys moves forward as he yells out and makes his attacks.
1st att: 23
Damage, if hits: 6
2nd attack: 13
Damage, if hits: 9
Boko initiative 20
Gerrard leaps across into the smaller boat. Then he spins and hacks at the exposed claw with his dagger. But this creature has a very tough, armor-plated shell; only the first of Gerrard's three strikes manages to pierce it.
Peri also manages to crack its tough shell slightly with his second well-aimed kick, but with Gerrard now in his way, Peri runs and leaps diagonally into the stern of his vessel. (No Ki spent, but no additional strike opportunity, either. Also no opportunity attacks, as he is still evidently in reach of this massive claw)
Qivys steps forward and whacks at it as well, also managing a single hit (the glaive, with slashing damage?)
Thwack is up, as is Boko (presuming she rolls an initiative 5 or higher!)
The water begins to boil. An old man's dead face comes to the surface, staring blankly at the sky. (Just a corpse, not animated.)
Thwack
((Assuming Gerrards forward position on Peri's Ferry puts him within 5ft of the Claw))
Thwack clambers onto the railing to better see into the waters below. He catches sight of the claw as it begins disappearing back into its salty home. He makes a clawed fist, as if holding a ball, and throws it at the predatory pincer. His other hand swings like it's slapping someone in the face.
A - Attack: 17 Damage: 6
BA - Attack: 20 Damage: 7
9 Sneak Attack damage on first attack to hit
Running around to the other side of Boko, Thwack further mangles the exposed, snapping claw.
More of the creature surfaces – a massive, crustacean-like head bearing wriggling pinkish-purple tentacles, and a second huge claw.
Boko may act next!