Ghosts of Saltmarsh (cbaer8) - Campaign Thread

Dwal looks to the party then looks back at Bayleaf. 

"Alright." he finally says. "Since yer all about saving yer hide" Dwal pauses for a moment then says. "an ya work fer who pays ya. I'm in need of a footman. I ain't sayin' I am offerin' ya a life of luxury but I can guarantee ya work and not being killed right now. Fore ya jump at tha chance, know that ya double cross me or tha others, you'll not survive an yer life will have little ta no meaning."

Dwal pauses for a moment to let this sink in to Bayleaf and the party. 

Boko brings out the books with a look of distaste, and to the others, quietly asks if anyone is good with locks. If not, she'll help Gerrard try to pry open the desk. She knows the books will be good to keep to prove that this is indeed a dangerous cult, but she would rather burn them.

Gerrard:

”Of course, that is contingent on a favorable judgement from the Saltmarsh Council,” interjects Gerrard,  “Letting someone pass because of offered service is just as bad as letting one pass because of offered gold—it is just a currency of a different type.”

“Yet you do have options here…renouncing the worship of an evil god will get you my argument for leniency,.  Master Peri and Brother Fiercehammer have suggested good options and no doubt hold sway with the council as well.  I urge you to carefully consider their words,” he adds.

Persuasion:  17

Bayleaf nods to Dwal. "Oh, I'm an excellent footman. I'm cheap and loyal. I make good tea and play a good fiddle! You won't regret my services. My wish is your command." He bows his head as best he can from his bound state.

He clears his throat. "Your wish! Did I say 'my wish'? Your wish, I meant! ...I also cook. You like fish? Blackfish? Brownfish? Eel?"

Peri:

Peri stares in astonishment at Dwal and Biscuits -- er, Bayleaf. "You're not sure you can trust this fellow, so you're gonna make him your valet?" He shakes his head and mutters as he walks away, "I swear, if I lived as long as a dwarf I'd be no closer to understandin 'em..."

He remembers the plan to clear all of the rooms before resting and figures he should get back to it. "I never learned to pick locks, bein a reputable seaman and all, but I did bring along a master key," he tells Boko, offering her the crowbar. He looks the room over with his Eldritch Sight and points out anything with a magical aura to her. Then he goes to the next room clockwise, and begins searching it. Perception 14

Dwal listens to Peri's statemetn and says little but nods to Bayleaf.

"We'll work out tha particulars once we make tha mainland." Dwal tells his new employee. "Get yerself up and dressed. I know my companions an' if they even imagine gold is near by they won't stop till they find it, or find proof it's not about." 

"If you untie me I could be of more service," offers the greasy bard, referring to his binds. 

Peri and Boko determine that the magical signature emanates from a pair of spell scrolls tucked into one of the nondescript ledgers on the bookshelf. Neither Boko nor Peri recognizes either spell.

Peri opens the next room clockwise. It's a large, square, makeshift kitchen. A large cauldron filled with smoldering charcoal still burns in the center of the room. Assorted cookware and seasonings rest on the floor and on shelves. There is also an ornate scroll tube on the shelf. The room is fairly clean, but the air is humid and greasy. A large tub of dirty water stands in the corner, surrounded by dirty dishes.

Peri:

Peri scrutinizes the scroll tube with his Eldritch Sight, wary of traps. Seeing none, he opens the tube to examine its contents. He figures it's even odds it contains a magic spell or a recipe for burnt offerings to the chained god.

The "scroll" is neither. The scroll tube on the spice shelf contains a sheaf of ordinary kitchen recipes – flatbread, fisheye stew, and seagull loaf.

Boko wrinkles her nose, and moves on to the door in the SE corner and repeats the process.

Perception: 18

Gerrard:

Concentrating on guarding the prisoners, it takes a moment for Gerrard to realize Boko is requesting his help.  After checking to make sure there are sufficient guards on the prisoners, he moves aside and responds to her, “I have no such skill with locks…perhaps there is a key hidden somewhere?  I will help try and break it open if that is what you would like, though it could get messy.”

If other options fail and Boko wishes to help Gerrard pry open the locked desk:

No key turns up. But with a little prying, Gerrard manages to pop open the desk with a bang. Within is a sheaf of high-quality papers (blank) and a couple of fancy-looking vials of ink. Nice ink, Gerrard notes. For scribing and fine documents.

Boko opens the next room, a small chamber reeking of wine. Small kegs are scattered everywhere. A floor-to-ceiling wine rack filled with bottles dominates the southern wall. A crudely made pallet of rags and sacks covers the center of the room.

A careful search of the room reveals that all of the kegs and bottles are empty. The foul-smelling pallet reveals a pouch containing 25 gp and a fancy dagger with a laminated whalebone handle and scabbard. Somebody also stashed a high-quality suit of studded leather armor and a pair of sturdy leather boots in one of the kegs.

Gerrard:

Gerrard will add the inks and papers to his calligraphy kit, at least as much comfortably fits, then he will go back to guarding the prisoners so the others can continue searching.

Peri:

Peri leaves the revolting recipes in the kitchen -- don't want Armand to get any ideas! -- but keeps the fancy scroll case. It might make a real nice case for his charts once he gets a ship. He goes to the last door and throws it open, clearing the last room. Perception 10

Dwal uses Mage Hand to loosen the bonds of Bayleaf.

"That should help ya get sorted out."
Dwal maintains his crossbow and keeps his distance of the bard. Dwal lets the bard dress but not arm himself.

"Once yer dressed, just wait fer a few till we sort the rest of this out."

Bayleaf wriggles out of his loosened bonds, shakes his arms and hands, and gathers his belongings. He eyes Kei's new boots. "Nice boots," he remarks, with a hint of sarcasm. "Glad they fit."

He takes a step toward the old man, still deeply unconscious, and nudges the old cultist's head with his toe. "So, you want me to kill him, boss?" he asks Dwal. "Or is there going to be a trial and whatnot?"

Meanwhile, Peri crosses the room and opens the last door. Another large room, similar in size to the kitchen. Three crude pallets lie on the floor, and a large iron kettle stands in the center of the chamber. In the northeast corner is a jumbled pile of broken lumber. Looking closer, Peri finds that the pallets hold nothing but rags stuffed inside flour sacks to make crude mattresses. The kettle, used for heating the room, contains ash and charcoal. A hoard of weapons is stashed behind the lumber in the corner: five spears, a shortbow and quiver of twenty arrows, two shortswords, three daggers, two shields, and one suit of chain mail.

Gerrard:

Looking darkly at the freed prisoner, Gerrard says, “There will be trials for all of you who fought with the cultists of Tharizdun, though your renunciation carries great weight with me.  Perhaps the old man will make the same choice when he awakes.”

"They'll be no killin' of them that ya worked fer. Atleast by your hand. Let 'em be fer now." Dwal tells Bayleaf.

The remaining twilight has faded outside. It is evening, and the night is pitch black. 

All of the rooms but one (the black velvet room) have been relatively thoroughly explored. (Although you're certainly welcome to go back if there's something you want to inspect more closely.)

You have not yet paused long enough for a short rest.

The cards woman continues to look down, silently, defeated. 
Bayleaf finds an abandoned bowl of cold stew, which he begins eating.

The old man wakes with a start, and emits a full-blown scream, shattering the quiet. He sits up. Then he begins to loudly preach:

"Whatsoever we have made we will destroy! Verily their way shall be filled with disaster; lo, then we shall rest. Come, do thou destroy their way which is strong. Then verily by day thou shalt find peace, and by night thou shalt have rest! Apsu heard us, his face grew bright, for that they were planning evil against the gods, his children!"

Gerrard:

Startled, Gerrard levels his glowing rapier at the man and tries to think what his words might mean...they seem more historical or religious than a direct threat...

History:  15