Torvin will say to Salvas: "The Dragon did not speak to me. I just saw the ship was not a ship but, it was a Dragon. I know not if it spoke with anyone. I was trying to figure out what was going on and I do understand that some things are a 'need to know' thing but, I am very curious and I hope to earn your and the Captains trust whereby I might learn about it.

 forgot to add persuasion roll: 10 

Quote from TheBritGeek >>

 

I'm determined to get to the bottom of this though, even if that means I have to use the threat of force. I will need your help though, I won't be able to do this alone. The captain will have far too many loyal crew for that.

Are you with me?"

 "Aye, I am with ya. I am feeling a bit of the country bumpkin come to the big city. I fear that trust is in short supply on board this boat and I'll be honest when I ya I'll be glad to have my feet on the dirt and stone once more."

"Before we use force I might have a little trick up my sleeve if we can get one of them isolated. Have you spoken with any of the others in our fate-bound group?"

Randrak replies, "No, you are the first I have spoken to. I haven't had the chance to talk with anyone else yet. Tell me more about this trick."

OCC did Mercwri learn anything from talking to the crew?

After breaking his fast, Mercwri will try and find out more about where the ship is bound, since he has not a very clear understanding of that.  How far from the now goblin infested city they fled from were they going.  Were there any other paths from whence one could travel from one city to the other.  What sort of defenses were there to prevent the goblins from doing the same before they even arrived, or after.

"I have magic that makes me a little more charming than normal. This will only effect one person and is not a guarantee for success. If the Captain were distracted by you I could use the magic from a ways off to avoid detection." 

"We could wait until the Captain is on deck away from the others. But I think magic is a last resort for this." 

Mercwri asking around the crew the previous evening you spoke to several who had been ashore during their previous stop. For the most part they had spent their time in taverns and whorehouses, spending their hard earned coin. A few had family or friends in the city and those grew quiet at your questioning, the pain of loss still too fresh to discuss with a stranger. It seems that Torgs expedition to recover them had ended with the entire party losing their lives, except for Torg. A few seemed bitter about that point, though none come right out to say so. The Captain was nowhere to be found after your investigations. (OOC: By this time she was down below questioning the prisoner).

As you continue your enquiries the next day you hear again that you are bound for the fortress of Duragath on the eastern shores of Guldroth. It is the main trade point with Baldenvelt and the High Rock Region. It is four days travel by Stoneship just under five hundred miles. There are many paths to travel the reaches (the lands surrounding the burning ocean) but the only way to cross to the central isle of Guldroth is to sail or fly. The former is only possible by Stoneship and the latter is considered dangerous to the point of insanity. As far as you can discern the goblin horde would have no way of reaching Guldroth in any great numbers.

Torvin you wait in silence for Salvas to reply and after a time he removes the red amulet from his robes. It glows softly in the dim light of the cabin. "The Ship... is what we call soulbound. This amulet forms a link between the spirit and the stone, and as your casting revealed, the spirit is that of a dragon. I will not deceive you and would honour your open mind with truth rather than conjecture but truly I ask you to press no more. She poses no threat to you or your companions and it is through her power that this grand carving remains afloat and is defended."

He is quiet again then for a moment, "It is odd is it not, that the invaders knew to attack myself and the gnome. My display of power may be sufficient to explain my own wounds but the focus on young Mender strikes me as interesting. Almost as if they knew..."  

Quote from Dreamhobbit >>

While Torvin is secreted away with the Rune Shaper, Randrak and Uldran speak quietly apart from prying ears. 

You, Freak wander down toward the galley where you find Torg hard at work mopping the deck. At your offer of help Torg responds with a beaming grin and slaps you in the back with a enough force to send a lesser dwarf sprawling.

"Good lad, good lad. Tell me how are you rats?" he produces a cudgel from his belt and presses it into your hand. "The damned crew quarters are lousy with them and a spry dwarf such as yourself could have a fine time drubbing the life out of the little blighters!"

He points to a bucket by the door, "Take that there bucket and fill her up with the hairy buggers. I'll slip you a silver or two for yer trouble." he gives you a wink and urges you off toward the door.

 Freak nods, takes the cudgel and the bucket and goes rat hunting.

"Hmm," Randrak says stroking his beard. "That's quite an interesting ability to have, though I do not approve of the use of magic. It may be the thing that is required for us to find out just what is going on. Though with so many magic users in the city at the same time, I can't help but wonder if the goblins and dragons were to your use of arcane forces."

Torvin will say to Salvas: "Thank you for the trust. I will speak of it to no one on that you have my word. If I can do anything to help....please ask. I owe your Captain, you, and the ship that much. And yes it is strange. Do you think you have a spy aboard or could they have learned it from some sort of scrying?"

Hitticus walks up to talk to Freak and overhears the the last bit of conversation. "That's not how magic works, summoning dragons is something even the Devine's can do and AND dragons are attracted to wealth above all else. Who knows what brought them!"

"Hmmm, yes I understand your view. My magic is not arcane in nature. I draw upon the energies found in nature, like the vines I made grow or the healing I can perform. These are natural forces that I can accelerate. I would prefer not to have this come to violence, how should we proceed?" 

Hitticus walks off in a huff to find Freak.

"Natural forces?" Randrak repeats. "I shall not pretend to understand what you mean. Though it is certainly still unnatural. Do you need to see your target to be able to work these forces? Either way, if we find the captain in her cabin, then she would likely be alone. One of us would have to go in and speak to her whilst the other stands watch outside. I could try my interrogation techniques, or you could try your magics. Though, I suspect that captain is quite the combatant. She herself could be dangerous if she feels like she is backed into a corner. On the other hand, if anyone comes looking for the captain, then things become more difficult. If we are not careful, an alarm could be raised, and then we could find ourselves in the middle of a fight."

Freak, you set about your task with gusto. Give me a straight Dex roll to see how well you do.

Hitticus, feeling a little snubbed you eventually find Freak in the crew quarters filling a bucket with dead rats.

DEX: 13

By the time Hitticus enters you have the bucket half full with the hairy little critters. You have a knack for this.

(OOC: if we ain't careful Freak is going to jump a level on us just for rat killin'.......LOL)

"Friend Hitticus, have you come to kill rats, too?", Freak says smiling.

Quote from TheBritGeek >>

"Natural forces?" Randrak repeats. "I shall not pretend to understand what you mean. Though it is certainly still unnatural. Do you need to see your target to be able to work these forces? Either way, if we find the captain in her cabin, then she would likely be alone. One of us would have to go in and speak to her whilst the other stands watch outside. I could try my interrogation techniques, or you could try your magics. Though, I suspect that captain is quite the combatant. She herself could be dangerous if she feels like she is backed into a corner. On the other hand, if anyone comes looking for the captain, then things become more difficult. If we are not careful, an alarm could be raised, and then we could find ourselves in the middle of a fight."

 "Randrak! Surely you know that druids exist in our world. We care for the wild places of the Underdark." 

"I do need to be within sight and if used in close quarters she will know what is happening. I think that talking is our best option at this point. I will accompany you but we should talk to the others first and see what they know." 

OOC- Hitticus! You came and went before I even saw your first post ;-)  

"Bah!" exclaims Randrak. "I do not bother to learn about magic; arcane, natural or otherwise. I prefer weapons that I can wield. They're simple to use, and without any risk of drawing attention or going wrong.

I see your reasoning in wanting to talk to the others. But the more involved the more likely we are to be found out. The more likely that Captain whatshername prepares for us."

OOC: I'm no longer sure who is the same room