Ghosts of Saltmarsh (cbaer8) - Campaign Thread

Boko says that seems like a great idea and offers to help prepare the room for the captives’ overnight stay, searching closely for any kind of secret exit or secreted weapon. The party could watch them through the dome on their watches but she didn’t want to leave anything to chance. And while she was doing this, she does acknowledge verbally to Bayleaf that he is earning plaudits in her mind for how he is acting. 

As Kei begins his ritual to prepare the dome, Boko checks on the prisoners.

"Back so soon?" asks Bayleaf, who is biding his time pacing. The old man is red-faced and struggling against his bonds. The cards woman remains glum and quiet. Boko searches carefully – Investigation: 14. 

...But she finds neither secret exits nor hidden weapons (outside of some basic kitchen implements like pots and spoons.)

Finally, Kei's dome (Leomund’s Tiny Hut) is ready; it is positioned strategically to block the door to the kitchen (which Boko re-closes.)

Everyone can fit inside for a long rest. The air within seems somehow warmer and fresher than the cold, dank cellar.

Boko takes first watch...

Gerrard:

After seeing that the prisoners have been cared for, Gerrard prepares for rest himself, telling Boko, “Wake me for the second shift.”

Lying down still in his light armor, Gerrard gets as comfortable as he can while having his weapons ready for action should something disturb his rest.

Boko would try to keep the door open so the people in the dome can see the captives but the captives can’t see the people through the opaque dome. 

Perception: 12

Kei 

A look of satisfaction crosses his face as the dome takes shape. Having positioned it 10ft from bother the east and south walls, it blocks any passage from the kitchen door. He watches as Boko takes a seat near the edge of the dome "Thanks to you. If you need me you know where I'll be!" He attempts a joke to lighten the mood. 

Prior to taking his spot on the floor he gives a quick prayer seeking aid for the coming day ((swapping out Cleric spells)).

The night passes uneventfully. Dawn breaks, at least in theory. Heavy rain pours outside; the skies are black, and cold rainwater is pooling at the bottom of the ruined cellar stairs. A grumble of thunder reverberates through the old foundation.

But it's nice and warm and pleasant inside the dome. You all receive the benefits of a long rest.

Through the opened door, you can see that Bayleaf remains sleeping, curled up in a corner. The old man looks ill. Cards woman is praying to herself.

No signs of the horrors on the other side of the wall have shown themselves overnight.

What do you want to do next?

After his morning prayers, Dwal will take the scale mail out of his bag and put it on. Armed with his shield, battle axe and holy symbol, Dwal will wait to see what the party will do next.

Peri:

Peri awakens confused and disoriented. He realizes he's lying in an awkward heap near the edge of Kei's magic dome. The last he remembered, he'd been settling in for a deep meditation; apparently it had been deeper than intended. He wipes the slobber from his cheek and starts stretching out a kink in his neck. His stomach grumbles, unhappy at having gone nearly a whole day without eating. "I forget, did we decide whether we were going back to regroup at Saltmarsh, or were we planning on going after those dead things again? We still haven't found the object we came for, so we're gonna have to fight those things eventually. Unless anyone thinks we should give up?" He looks at the others, not really wanting to give up, but he could be talked into it... You know, if the rest of the group was really adamant about it.

Before she goes to sleep, Boko casts goodberry and gives each party member two berries. She rests flat on her back on the ground, oddly comfortable, rarely stirring. She rouses quietly and checks on the captives, and nods. Turning back to Peri, she says, "It seems we must fight them again, unless you think your snow globe is elsewhere."

Gerrard:

"This looks to be a difficult battle, friends, even with our resources at their peak," says Gerrard, looking over at the prisoners, trying to think what would be the most fair way to treat them during their absence.  Noticing the old man's distress, he asks, "The one who quoted the mad god's prophecies seems to be ill, Brother Fiercehammer.  Can you do anything for him?  And what should we do with them while we are gone?"

Continuing, Gerrard says, "Does anyone have any particular magic that might help us, or wise planning based on knowledge of what those creatures are?  Maybe something as simple as a blessing to help us better resist the necrotic aura? I have little to offer for the fight other than my own blades, but hopefully my magic rapier at least will affect the apparitions."

Boko says she can take ten minutes to cast detect magic before going inside to get an early warning of arcane threats. Then, just before battle, she can cast protection from evil and good on one person, which will steel their resolve and help them in battle.

After prayers, Dwal will eat something light. 
"Might be the last meal." he thinks to himself.

"I can give a blessin' when needed but it will keep me focused on tha blessin' and not on any combat." Dwal responds. "As fer tha undead, I can turn 'em again but it doesn't alst an' its not a sure thing an' we got few magical weapons ta battle 'em." 
Dwal stops a moment, listening to the storm. 'But it seems tha fates have us hear fer a while so we'll have ta make tha best of it." 

Gerrard:

After Boko returns from checking on the captives, Gerrard asks, “Can you tell what is wrong with the older man, the one who quoted the mad god?  He seems to be I’ll as far as I can tell.”

”By the way, thank you for the berries,” he adds, though he eats from his own rations to conserve the magic berries for later.

Boko approaches the older man again and tries to find out what's wrong with him. They've had food I assume?

Medicine: 17

Dwal holds up his hand just as Boko is about to go and check the old man.

"I'd be more careful than yer being right now" the dwarf says. "Tha girl is prayin' an' I'd guess she's an acolyte of tha dead priest so she may have a couple spells ta dish out. I am sure they've been up and talkin' about what ta do an all so I wouldn't be too fast ta check one of 'em, like I haven't been." Dwal states.

Dwal pauses.
"Bayleaf, time ta get up." he yells to the group of captives. Dwal will cast Thaumaturgy and cause a small tremor to erupt underneath the sleeping bard. 
Letting the bard get his wits Dwal calls to the young woman.
"Check on yer friend there an' tell me how he's doing." he tells the girl.

Dwal doesn't enter the kitchen and stays just outside the doorway looking in. 

Kei 

With a jolt, he wakes. The dome that kept them warm and protected dissipates. As Boko describes the spells she can help with he pipes in "Never mind the magic detection, our resident halfling has that ability granted to him by some otherworldly being. As for the protection spell, I too can help with similar magic, however only the once. It comes from my cittern."

He stretches as Dwal orders his lackey to check on the other captives. Quickly he draws a card from his deck (3). "Let's see if the cards tell of our fortune today" he says quietly to himself.

Boko checks on the old prisoner. Still bound, gagged, and rolled into a blanket (but fed), the old man's breathing is rough and raspy, and he seems half in another world. Boko's care eases his suffering somewhat, but the old man is not well.

Bayleaf leaps off the floor at Dwal's thaumaturgically-enhanced wakeup call. He looks around in a panic, unsure of what's happening. "What?" he shouts in alarm. "What's happening?"

The cards woman glances at the old man. "He's old and defeated. He's getting ready to make the crossing, I think. Maybe we all are. How long are you going to keep us here? I'm ready to leave this place. I want to go home."

Gerrard:

Somewhat surprised that the cards woman is opening up, Gerrard decides to try and engage her once again.

”I’ll level with you,” he says to the cards woman, “Our purpose here is to clear the island of the cultists and/or pirates we found here, eliminating whatever other threats we find to the town of Saltmarsh.  We were recently attacked by a cultist of Xolor and his Gnoll allies, and many townspeople were slain.”

Looking directly at her, he adds, “I was loathe to just enter this basement and slaughter all within without learning if the inhabitants were evil, so I am primarily to blame for your predicament here.  I would see you given a fair trial and will argue for leniency if you renounce your devotion to the evil mad gods.”  

“First however, my companions and I must finish our mission here.  Hopefully we will be victorious and then leave this place with you,” he says, adding “What brought you to this place where cultists worship evil gods?  What is your name, and where is this home to where you wish to return?”

Persuasion:  22

"My name is Kavanax," says the Cards Woman to Gerrard. "I'm from the Styes. Well, Uskarn originally. I've been on this island since I was fifteen. I don't know anything about Xolor or Gnoll or any attacks. I only left this island but once, and that was five years ago. I still got family in Uskarn. What are you going to do with us?"

Gerrard:

”Kavanax, now that we have taken you prisoner, my goal is to see you safely to the Saltmarsh Council for judgement.  If you renounce Tharizdun and the council judges you to not be a risk to our town, I expect you will be freed to return home if you wish, or perhaps find a place at the Procan temple as Master Fenwader suggests,” replies Gerrard.

”it is not my place to judge your innocence or guilt, though I intend to give you a fair chance to tell your story to the authorities and get you there safely, assuming my companions and I survive our next attempt to destroy the evil forces massing behind the hidden door in the altar room,” he responds, trying to give her a consistent answer as before but put a hopeful spin on it.

Hearing her story, Gerrard realizes much is being left out, but he and his companions have much work to do this morning, and he realizes his own limitations when it comes to teasing out the truth of her background and intuiting it’s veracity.  Still, he listens for deception in her voice as she briefly recounts her time here.

Insight:  5