Ash bumps him back, “To be honest, I wanted to loot the rest of the ship just as much as anyone!… Worked out well in the end really, anyway... I think we managed to get as much as anyone could have gotten!!…”. she gives him a drowned-rat toothy smile, and searches his face for any deeper meaning or something she missed.
Ash nods to Korrik, not really knowing what she’s nodding about, and still dazed from the whole affair.
She would normally chastise herself after mentioning loot in front of a charmed prisoner. But she’s barely more than a traumatised survivor pulled out of a burning building herself, now that all the adrenaline and feline instincts are wearing off.
But as Ben cleans and dries her fur, she starts feeling more like herself again.
Ben, you knowing generally about Lolth is an understatement to say the least! You've heard a lot about this demon lord and goddess worshipped by the drow elves. Evil to the core. She takes a few forms, one being a dark elf (an exquisitely beautiful one) and one being a horrific giant black widow spider with the head of a female drow peering from between the eight spider-eyes. Sometimes, the two foremost pair of her spider-legs are actually humanoid arms.
Wait... could Ben have once had a time with this demon queen in her elf form?? No. That CAN'T be it....
Maybe it was a drow though that Ben was with one night who told him all about her. Yeah that probably makes more sense.
Maybe. :)
Krell doesn't really say much when you introduce him to Stumpy and the others. He's not really a social chap. He kind of grunts and says "Yeahhhhh ok ok friends yes. All Lolth worshippers yes aarrgghhh..."
Ben, when you speak to the captain, he would've at least also heard of Lolth and so he would reply "WOW. Ok, aye what an ordeal this has all been. I have just the spot for scum like that down in the brig."
"What, don't look at me like that. Glad we have it for times just like this."
Ess would not say a word to the half orc and just go with Ben's lead. He's used to it by now, dude.
Ben, I think with your floor 20 persuasion along with the fact that Krell is charmed he's going to spill everything about the history of why he's on that ship. Which is cool because it's a neat story. I won't RP it, but here it is. (Happy to RP questions back though as Krell if you have any!)
Krell lived on an island inhabited by tribes of primitive humans, orcs, and goblins, ruled by cruel druids (he is one of the head druids) who worshiped Lolth in her aspect as the Queen of Spiders. The tribes easily killed the few remaining sailors washed up in the Widow on the island and they claimed the ship as a sign of favor from their dark goddess.
In time, the island’s population became fractured into two factions, each of which tried to exterminate the other. One group claimed custody of the ship and used it as a headquarters, stocking it with supplies and defending it from assaults by the enemy group. When the war entered its final throes, the ship was in danger of bring overrun by the land-based forces. In response, rather than staying and fighting it out, the cultists aboard the ship pulled up anchor — and thanks to an offshore wind, they rode the waves and left the island far behind.
Krell and the monsters and vermin on the ship have been living there for quite some time.
A few days ago, the ship came under attack by that octopus.
The rest is history.
Korrik, Krell doesn't understand the humor. He just grunts and looks at you both in a funny way.
Oh, I'm definitely downplaying all of this, but Ess is so happy to be alive after all of that and would've hugged all of you a few times and is just really looking forward to getting back home. "Bros and Ash... this guy Aubreck's gotta know what the heck happened man, like bros, that was CLOSE. Way too close. I tell you he better not have known about all of this."
Ess would say to Korrik "Dude, why were you even trying to go in that room? I mean we could've made it out of there way faster.... anyways bro, I'm just glad you're alive bro. And....." he tears up "dude I'm sorry I left you in that moment. I guess I'm not as brave as I think I am when it all comes down to it. And yet still you waited for me to get off the ship. I will never forget that. I will try to be braver next time."
"My dude... I love you, bro." and he hugs you.
he then wipes his tears and says "DRG 4 LIFE BRO! ha ha ha" and he makes a very awkward sign with his fingers' trying to create a 'D' and a '4' with his fingers and failing miserably.
Korrik, the dwarves would bring you the hot towels and some dwarven tea. Their attitudes of you have changed a lot after what has happened and if they had the room they would've upgraded your cabins. They said they would have you in the main quarters for breakfasts if you all would like. Eating in the cabin would not be ideal.
Ash, they'd let you fish off the deck on the way home for sure.
((Ben would be up for it either way, who is he to stop his magnetism that transcends planes. He just wouldn't have made any deals with her and probably would have needed some more time with the local priests afterwards...
I will have to RP later, kids school is closing early today.
I think we would probably hit Aubreck up first? Unless someone else has something to do first?))
"Glad you're alive too, bro. No way I was leaving that ship without you! I'll... fill you all in once we're not... entertaining guests."
((Head druid in the wild shaping sense? Do we need to take additional measure to make sure he stays put?))
When it's just the four of them, Korrik will come clean.
"I... I'm sorry. I didn't know if they'd still be here, but I had to check. Thought we'd be able to get what Aubreck needed and that I'd have time to see if what we... I left here was still there. Didn't think we'd get attacked by a forking octopus big enough to eat a ship."
He twists off the two rings, tossing one to Ash and the other to Ben. Ess is too busy trying to keep from vomiting to play catch.
"Our mother gave them to us... me and my brother Breldo, with our initials inside. Family name is Tallpine, by the way, if I hadn't mentioned that. Anyway, we stashed our rings before we were caught and..."
He goes quiet for a while.
"When I heard about the Wave Widow, first thing I wanted was to kill Tresten... but then it was just a drifting wreck, figured it'd be something I could just check out while we were doing the job that actually pays. The rings aren't worth the trip to anyone but me, it was my only chance to get aboard, even before the octopus sunk it. But I slowed us down getting out of there. I put some of you in danger. I hope you can forgive me."
Once they are underway, maybe a day or two in, Korrik will leave his cabin and head up on the deck at night.
When the Captain or one of the other dwarves gives him noise about staying below, he replies, "Look... I spent a week in that cabin already, then just escaped from a ship that was sunk by the biggest octopus I'd wager either of us has seen. I am going to spend a few hours with the sky above me, and then as long as I no longer feel a need to punch holes in the wall, I'll return to the cabin. I'll stay to the aft, out of the way. Don't even need to see the stars, just need to not be in a wooden box.", he waves at the overcast sky.
Without waiting to see if they object, he strides to the rear of the ship and perches on the rail, feet dangling as he looks out into the night sky, pulling the shadows close around him. He twists the rings on his fingers, still getting used to their presence, and pulls out the pipe of remembrance and packs it, lighting it with the sparking lighter. He puffs away, and the smoke surrounds him, eventually taking shape and replaying some of his most impressive feats, though more and more of his exploits with Breldo have been replaced with things he's done with Ben, Ash, and Ess. When the smoke dissipates, he tamps out the pipe and sits in quiet meditation.
After an hour or more, sitting wreathed in shadows, perhaps it was a shift in the wind, perhaps his attention had waned, but the ship lurches slightly under him and he pitches off the back of the ship. His reflexes fail him as he reaches for the railing and comes up short, before twisting and shifting to be able to knife into the water without a splash.
Fork., he thinks to himself, the knifing dwarves are gonna take this as proof I should have stayed belowdecks...
He keeps pace with the ship as best he can, trying to figure out how he's going to get back on board without calling out to them. His eyes scan the ship, not yet in a panic, but certainly growing more and more concerned. His eyes latch on to a pool of shadows that beckons him, and he instinctually reaches out to it... and finds himself crouched aboard the ship, dripping water. Huh.... well, that's new.
He waits a while for the worst of the dripping to dissipate, then gets gives it a try again, spending some time practicing stepping from shadow to shadow before making his way back to the cabin, in a much better mood than he has been in quite some time.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
DM:Forged in Chaos, Spiders of the Abyss, The Sundered Way, Champions of the Citadel
Ash listens to Korrik’s story, now that’s she’s clean and dry and back to herself a little. “I’m very glad we could help you retrieve yours and your brother’s rings. If you would have only said… I would not have hesitated to aid you in this!…”. She gives him a big smile and a hearty pat on the shoulder.
Aside from that, Ash is going a little stir crazy on the boat and can’t wait to be back on dry land!!
To while away the time, the party might see her palming and disappearing a gold coin or two, or making it travel along the back of her knuckles, faster and faster. Or seeming to push one of Korrik’s cigarettes into her eye and pulling it back out of her mouth. All just simple sleight of hand, but she is getting very good at it with all the days to practice.
She alternates this with practicing with her thieves tools on any lock she can find! She also polishes them, and files off a few corners so they act the way she likes in her hand.
((On level up, Ash gains ‘Expertise’, with both sleight of hand (+10) and thieves’ tools (+10).)).
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Ben listens to Krell and nods along with the story.
"Well, I'm glad you've been busy in the service of the Queen! Unfortunate about those apostates back on the island. Glad you made head druid! That mean you can change shape and all that? I'd love to see you as a spider! Oh, and the things we recovered, Ash can you show him? What are they?"
After the answers to those, he snaps his fingers like he's just remembered something,
"Krell, you'll excuse me a moment. The captain wanted to speak with me once we set sail. With any luck it will be about getting us a bigger room."
He'll head up and give the captain a run down on Krell and explain,
"He's a spell caster so I would suggest a hood, gag and chains. (And if he can change shape, liberal beatings to keep him unconscious). I'll bring him up to talk to you and we'll apply the first of the beatings and you may toss him in your brig. Or the ocean."
Ben does that and it almost certainly goes as planned when Ash, Kay and Ess knock him out. Ben will chat with the captain about the trip back as they do that.
----
Once Krell is dealt with he listens to Ess apologizing for running and shrugs mentally. About Aubreck knowing,
"It seems very unlikely he knew, this was a Lolth cult from some gods forsaken island. The man is lucky he hired us."
---
Ben catches the ring and gives it and then Kay an appraising look.
He takes a slow deep breath through his nose after Kay's tale and presses the prestidigitated clean ring back into Kay's hand.
"I agree with Ash, you should have let us know. But, no harm, no foul."
He brightens,
"In fact, perhaps it was beneficial to everyone. Ash, let's take a look through what you found in there."
(Any spells Ben could read on the scrolls? Here is an Arcana if Krell didn't know everything he had: 15)
---
Ben spends his time in the mess listening to the dwarves and recounting the group's adventures. After a couple of stories he notices that a few of the dwarves don't speak common, or only very haltingly and haven't been getting the true Ben experience.
The next story he really focuses on making sure the intent of what he is saying is carried to those dwarves and smiles when they clearly understand a joke made a Kay's expense.
(Universal Speech - you have gained the ability to make your speech intelligible to any creature for and hour.
Ben's other stuff like counter spell and unfailing inspiration are hard to RP. Unfailing inspiration means that you get to keep using a bardic inspiration from him until you succeed from it's usage!))
---
At some point in the trip he'll also ask the party when they are alone,
"I think we are all considering it but it needs to be asked. Are we planning on... relieving Aubreck of the total value of the contents of this box? I'm inclined to see what is inside before I decide. If he bungles our order for the lizardfolk I'm even more inclined to do so."
He looks around for input, cleaning Ess's vomitous as he creates it out of route habit now.
((Cool! So no need to hold back because you're not sure if the roll will make it on it's own? Like if you roll a 13 without it, and the DC was 12, if you tack on the bardic to bring it up to a 15 it doesn't use it?))
"It might be worth considering that Aubreck might be someone with more jobs in the future. Like you say, it might depend on how competent he is on filling the order, but if he handled that, and we're reasonably sure that he didn't purposely send us against a Lolth cult... He might be more lucrative as an ally in the long run. Maybe get a sense of his opinion of Gellan... he's hungry, looking to regain his power and wealth. If we're looking to sink his Gellan's slave trade, a bit of a conversation on the side to Aubreck beforehand... with Gellan out of the picture leaves a hole. I don't know about the rest of you, but I'm not looking to be tied down to running a shipping empire, perhaps better for a known player like Aubreck, if we think he's up for it, to fill that hole. And he'd certainly be very grateful to the crew who put him back at the head table."
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
DM:Forged in Chaos, Spiders of the Abyss, The Sundered Way, Champions of the Citadel
Ash is happy to show and share the found items (1x cloak, 2x potions, 2x scrolls). She’s keen to find out what they have saved from the wreck.
In relation to Aubreck, she will offer these thoughts: “I think we can only play it by ear. But I’m not one to look a gift horse in the mouth, and this is a very large payout for a legitimate job done well. That’s not to be sniffed at”.
”I’m not totally against relieving Aubreck of the whole value of the box. But I feel that will be more troublesome than we think. If it’s full of IOUs and promises, then maybe only Aubreck can cash them in himself. And even if we can get the value out of the contents that may be a long hard game”.
“It might be best to take good money from a job well done and move on. We burn no bridges that way”.
”But I’m happy to keep an open mind. How do you suggest we find out what’s in the box? Aubreck will not be inclined to show us, and we risk everything if we attempt to open it before then. I know we need to see how this plays out before we decide, Ben, but what’s your best guess, or best plan based on what we know right now?…”.
It’s clear she’s very businesslike on the matter. Happy to eventually go with the best plan.
"Heh, it might be filled with his version of 'a pair of rings from his mom'. I'd have paid a lot for a chance to recover Breldo and my rings, but they'd not be worth much more than the silver to anyone else."
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
DM:Forged in Chaos, Spiders of the Abyss, The Sundered Way, Champions of the Citadel
((@Spider, not really. You keep the bardic until you succeed with it. The exact language is -
When a creature adds one of your Bardic Inspiration dice to its ability check, attack roll, or saving throw and the roll fails, the creature can keep the Bardic Inspiration die.
So more a you roll a 7 on a DC 12 check and use a bardic to bring it up to an 11 but still fail. Then you'd keep it.))
Ben drums his fingers on the bag of holding as the two lay out their thoughts, nodding.
"Good points, both of you. A good, legimate contact is potentially more valuable than whatever is in the box, beyond what is owed us. Particularly a contact that is in our debt. If Aubreck shows himself to be competent I am inclined to test Kay's plan. With a bit of a warning of what's coming Aubreck would be in a far better position to capitalize on Gellan's fall than we would. I don't want to run a shipping empire, but I wouldn't mind being a key shareholder."
He thinks then adds,
"If the box is full of IOUs Aubreck is going to find himself on my bad side very quickly. I don't plan on waiting the months it will take to gather what is owed us without significant interest and Aubreck should expect to never leave my sight."
He looks between the faces not in a bucket and strokes Bimz,
"I think we are in agreement then? We wait and see what Aubreck has accomplished. We won't open the box but will insist on him opening it. I've ways to compel him should he not be inclined. Once we know those two things we'll be in a better position to decide whether we continue our business relationship with him or we, how did you put it Ash? Yes, burn bridges."
Ash holds her fist out for a fist bump. It feels like a fist bump moment. Or maybe it’s just the close quarters getting to her. It was either going to be a fist bump or one of those all-hands-in… woahhhhh… go team. And break! Things. She hopes she made the right choice.
((Oh, and could we have asked Krell if anyone had been there before us and what was in the white cocoons? The answer to those could clear up the whole how much did Aubreck know issue.))
Korrik requests dry towels and some hot beverages from the dwarves, and inquires what time their breakfast would be delivered.
He sits next to Ash, leaning into her to bump her briefly with his shoulder.
"Thanks. For back there."
DM: Forged in Chaos, Spiders of the Abyss, The Sundered Way, Champions of the Citadel
Active Characters:
Breldo, Halfling Ranger | Kathryn, Wood Elf Rogue/Ranger | Kroshav, Dragonborn Paladin | T'laren Farsiel, Wood Elf Fighter | Trill, Kenku Bard | Val "Janellae", Mark of Shadow Elf Warlock
Ash bumps him back, “To be honest, I wanted to loot the rest of the ship just as much as anyone!… Worked out well in the end really, anyway... I think we managed to get as much as anyone could have gotten!!…”. she gives him a drowned-rat toothy smile, and searches his face for any deeper meaning or something she missed.
GILLAIN OF ATHKATLA - Human Paladin - Into the Mists PHILLIP THE GRUNG - Grung Eldritch Knight - Tomb of Annihilation
ROBWIN WINDROBE - High Elf Wizard - Dragon of Icespire Peak EVE DARKSHORE - Tiefling Warlock - Rime of the Frost Maiden
ASH OF THE FIRE - Tabaxi Rogue - Ghosts of Marshswamp LIA STARBORN - Aasimar Bard - Out of the Abyss
His pained eyes meet hers before flicking them to Ben's new friend.
"We'll talk later, yeah?", he says, squeezing her arm and turning his attention to Ben's questioning.
DM: Forged in Chaos, Spiders of the Abyss, The Sundered Way, Champions of the Citadel
Active Characters:
Breldo, Halfling Ranger | Kathryn, Wood Elf Rogue/Ranger | Kroshav, Dragonborn Paladin | T'laren Farsiel, Wood Elf Fighter | Trill, Kenku Bard | Val "Janellae", Mark of Shadow Elf Warlock
Ben, eventually noticing that Ash is wet and having long since dried himself, will dry and clean her while Krell talks using prestidigitation.
He'll also clean the half orc, because why not.
He tries to subtly wave off Ash's talk of loot as well.
Ash nods to Korrik, not really knowing what she’s nodding about, and still dazed from the whole affair.
She would normally chastise herself after mentioning loot in front of a charmed prisoner. But she’s barely more than a traumatised survivor pulled out of a burning building herself, now that all the adrenaline and feline instincts are wearing off.
But as Ben cleans and dries her fur, she starts feeling more like herself again.
GILLAIN OF ATHKATLA - Human Paladin - Into the Mists PHILLIP THE GRUNG - Grung Eldritch Knight - Tomb of Annihilation
ROBWIN WINDROBE - High Elf Wizard - Dragon of Icespire Peak EVE DARKSHORE - Tiefling Warlock - Rime of the Frost Maiden
ASH OF THE FIRE - Tabaxi Rogue - Ghosts of Marshswamp LIA STARBORN - Aasimar Bard - Out of the Abyss
Ben, you knowing generally about Lolth is an understatement to say the least! You've heard a lot about this demon lord and goddess worshipped by the drow elves. Evil to the core. She takes a few forms, one being a dark elf (an exquisitely beautiful one) and one being a horrific giant black widow spider with the head of a female drow peering from between the eight spider-eyes. Sometimes, the two foremost pair of her spider-legs are actually humanoid arms.
Wait... could Ben have once had a time with this demon queen in her elf form?? No. That CAN'T be it....
Maybe it was a drow though that Ben was with one night who told him all about her. Yeah that probably makes more sense.
Maybe. :)
Krell doesn't really say much when you introduce him to Stumpy and the others. He's not really a social chap. He kind of grunts and says "Yeahhhhh ok ok friends yes. All Lolth worshippers yes aarrgghhh..."
Ben, when you speak to the captain, he would've at least also heard of Lolth and so he would reply "WOW. Ok, aye what an ordeal this has all been. I have just the spot for scum like that down in the brig."
"What, don't look at me like that. Glad we have it for times just like this."
Ess would not say a word to the half orc and just go with Ben's lead. He's used to it by now, dude.
Ben, I think with your floor 20 persuasion along with the fact that Krell is charmed he's going to spill everything about the history of why he's on that ship. Which is cool because it's a neat story. I won't RP it, but here it is. (Happy to RP questions back though as Krell if you have any!)
Krell lived on an island inhabited by tribes of primitive humans, orcs, and goblins, ruled by cruel druids (he is one of the head druids) who worshiped Lolth in her aspect as the Queen of Spiders. The tribes easily killed the few remaining sailors washed up in the Widow on the island and they claimed the ship as a sign of favor from their dark goddess.
In time, the island’s population became fractured into two factions, each of which tried to exterminate the other. One group claimed custody of the ship and used it as a headquarters, stocking it with supplies and defending it from assaults by the enemy group. When the war entered its final throes, the ship was in danger of bring overrun by the land-based forces. In response, rather than staying and fighting it out, the cultists aboard the ship pulled up anchor — and thanks to an offshore wind, they rode the waves and left the island far behind.
Krell and the monsters and vermin on the ship have been living there for quite some time.
A few days ago, the ship came under attack by that octopus.
The rest is history.
Korrik, Krell doesn't understand the humor. He just grunts and looks at you both in a funny way.
Oh, I'm definitely downplaying all of this, but Ess is so happy to be alive after all of that and would've hugged all of you a few times and is just really looking forward to getting back home. "Bros and Ash... this guy Aubreck's gotta know what the heck happened man, like bros, that was CLOSE. Way too close. I tell you he better not have known about all of this."
Ess would say to Korrik "Dude, why were you even trying to go in that room? I mean we could've made it out of there way faster.... anyways bro, I'm just glad you're alive bro. And....." he tears up "dude I'm sorry I left you in that moment. I guess I'm not as brave as I think I am when it all comes down to it. And yet still you waited for me to get off the ship. I will never forget that. I will try to be braver next time."
"My dude... I love you, bro." and he hugs you.
he then wipes his tears and says "DRG 4 LIFE BRO! ha ha ha" and he makes a very awkward sign with his fingers' trying to create a 'D' and a '4' with his fingers and failing miserably.
Korrik, the dwarves would bring you the hot towels and some dwarven tea. Their attitudes of you have changed a lot after what has happened and if they had the room they would've upgraded your cabins. They said they would have you in the main quarters for breakfasts if you all would like. Eating in the cabin would not be ideal.
Ash, they'd let you fish off the deck on the way home for sure.
*BAAARRRFFFFFFFFF*
Ess gets sick again on the way back.
Prisoners returned + 16 / 07:00AM / Marshswamp Docks
I assume you will be returning to Aubreck immediately upon return? Or, to the Snapping Line Inn? Or somewhere else? It is 7am, overcast.
Krell is going to be taken into custody unless you say otherwise.
Let me know if I forgot anything!
P.S. don't forget to level up and feel free to RP that as well! I will RP Ess's level up next post. (I forgot this time)
((Ben would be up for it either way, who is he to stop his magnetism that transcends planes. He just wouldn't have made any deals with her and probably would have needed some more time with the local priests afterwards...
I will have to RP later, kids school is closing early today.
I think we would probably hit Aubreck up first? Unless someone else has something to do first?))
Korrik returns Ess's hug(s).
"Glad you're alive too, bro. No way I was leaving that ship without you! I'll... fill you all in once we're not... entertaining guests."
((Head druid in the wild shaping sense? Do we need to take additional measure to make sure he stays put?))
When it's just the four of them, Korrik will come clean.
"I... I'm sorry. I didn't know if they'd still be here, but I had to check. Thought we'd be able to get what Aubreck needed and that I'd have time to see if what we... I left here was still there. Didn't think we'd get attacked by a forking octopus big enough to eat a ship."
He twists off the two rings, tossing one to Ash and the other to Ben. Ess is too busy trying to keep from vomiting to play catch.
"Our mother gave them to us... me and my brother Breldo, with our initials inside. Family name is Tallpine, by the way, if I hadn't mentioned that. Anyway, we stashed our rings before we were caught and..."
He goes quiet for a while.
"When I heard about the Wave Widow, first thing I wanted was to kill Tresten... but then it was just a drifting wreck, figured it'd be something I could just check out while we were doing the job that actually pays. The rings aren't worth the trip to anyone but me, it was my only chance to get aboard, even before the octopus sunk it. But I slowed us down getting out of there. I put some of you in danger. I hope you can forgive me."
Once they are underway, maybe a day or two in, Korrik will leave his cabin and head up on the deck at night.
When the Captain or one of the other dwarves gives him noise about staying below, he replies, "Look... I spent a week in that cabin already, then just escaped from a ship that was sunk by the biggest octopus I'd wager either of us has seen. I am going to spend a few hours with the sky above me, and then as long as I no longer feel a need to punch holes in the wall, I'll return to the cabin. I'll stay to the aft, out of the way. Don't even need to see the stars, just need to not be in a wooden box.", he waves at the overcast sky.
Without waiting to see if they object, he strides to the rear of the ship and perches on the rail, feet dangling as he looks out into the night sky, pulling the shadows close around him. He twists the rings on his fingers, still getting used to their presence, and pulls out the pipe of remembrance and packs it, lighting it with the sparking lighter. He puffs away, and the smoke surrounds him, eventually taking shape and replaying some of his most impressive feats, though more and more of his exploits with Breldo have been replaced with things he's done with Ben, Ash, and Ess. When the smoke dissipates, he tamps out the pipe and sits in quiet meditation.
After an hour or more, sitting wreathed in shadows, perhaps it was a shift in the wind, perhaps his attention had waned, but the ship lurches slightly under him and he pitches off the back of the ship. His reflexes fail him as he reaches for the railing and comes up short, before twisting and shifting to be able to knife into the water without a splash.
Fork., he thinks to himself, the knifing dwarves are gonna take this as proof I should have stayed belowdecks...
He keeps pace with the ship as best he can, trying to figure out how he's going to get back on board without calling out to them. His eyes scan the ship, not yet in a panic, but certainly growing more and more concerned. His eyes latch on to a pool of shadows that beckons him, and he instinctually reaches out to it... and finds himself crouched aboard the ship, dripping water. Huh.... well, that's new.
He waits a while for the worst of the dripping to dissipate, then gets gives it a try again, spending some time practicing stepping from shadow to shadow before making his way back to the cabin, in a much better mood than he has been in quite some time.
DM: Forged in Chaos, Spiders of the Abyss, The Sundered Way, Champions of the Citadel
Active Characters:
Breldo, Halfling Ranger | Kathryn, Wood Elf Rogue/Ranger | Kroshav, Dragonborn Paladin | T'laren Farsiel, Wood Elf Fighter | Trill, Kenku Bard | Val "Janellae", Mark of Shadow Elf Warlock
Ash listens to Korrik’s story, now that’s she’s clean and dry and back to herself a little. “I’m very glad we could help you retrieve yours and your brother’s rings. If you would have only said… I would not have hesitated to aid you in this!…”. She gives him a big smile and a hearty pat on the shoulder.
Aside from that, Ash is going a little stir crazy on the boat and can’t wait to be back on dry land!!
To while away the time, the party might see her palming and disappearing a gold coin or two, or making it travel along the back of her knuckles, faster and faster. Or seeming to push one of Korrik’s cigarettes into her eye and pulling it back out of her mouth. All just simple sleight of hand, but she is getting very good at it with all the days to practice.
She alternates this with practicing with her thieves tools on any lock she can find! She also polishes them, and files off a few corners so they act the way she likes in her hand.
((On level up, Ash gains ‘Expertise’, with both sleight of hand (+10) and thieves’ tools (+10).)).
GILLAIN OF ATHKATLA - Human Paladin - Into the Mists PHILLIP THE GRUNG - Grung Eldritch Knight - Tomb of Annihilation
ROBWIN WINDROBE - High Elf Wizard - Dragon of Icespire Peak EVE DARKSHORE - Tiefling Warlock - Rime of the Frost Maiden
ASH OF THE FIRE - Tabaxi Rogue - Ghosts of Marshswamp LIA STARBORN - Aasimar Bard - Out of the Abyss
Ben listens to Krell and nods along with the story.
"Well, I'm glad you've been busy in the service of the Queen! Unfortunate about those apostates back on the island. Glad you made head druid! That mean you can change shape and all that? I'd love to see you as a spider! Oh, and the things we recovered, Ash can you show him? What are they?"
After the answers to those, he snaps his fingers like he's just remembered something,
"Krell, you'll excuse me a moment. The captain wanted to speak with me once we set sail. With any luck it will be about getting us a bigger room."
He'll head up and give the captain a run down on Krell and explain,
"He's a spell caster so I would suggest a hood, gag and chains. (And if he can change shape, liberal beatings to keep him unconscious). I'll bring him up to talk to you and we'll apply the first of the beatings and you may toss him in your brig. Or the ocean."
Ben does that and it almost certainly goes as planned when Ash, Kay and Ess knock him out. Ben will chat with the captain about the trip back as they do that.
----
Once Krell is dealt with he listens to Ess apologizing for running and shrugs mentally. About Aubreck knowing,
"It seems very unlikely he knew, this was a Lolth cult from some gods forsaken island. The man is lucky he hired us."
---
Ben catches the ring and gives it and then Kay an appraising look.
He takes a slow deep breath through his nose after Kay's tale and presses the prestidigitated clean ring back into Kay's hand.
"I agree with Ash, you should have let us know. But, no harm, no foul."
He brightens,
"In fact, perhaps it was beneficial to everyone. Ash, let's take a look through what you found in there."
(Any spells Ben could read on the scrolls? Here is an Arcana if Krell didn't know everything he had: 15)
---
Ben spends his time in the mess listening to the dwarves and recounting the group's adventures. After a couple of stories he notices that a few of the dwarves don't speak common, or only very haltingly and haven't been getting the true Ben experience.
The next story he really focuses on making sure the intent of what he is saying is carried to those dwarves and smiles when they clearly understand a joke made a Kay's expense.
(Universal Speech - you have gained the ability to make your speech intelligible to any creature for and hour.
Ben's other stuff like counter spell and unfailing inspiration are hard to RP. Unfailing inspiration means that you get to keep using a bardic inspiration from him until you succeed from it's usage!))
---
At some point in the trip he'll also ask the party when they are alone,
"I think we are all considering it but it needs to be asked. Are we planning on... relieving Aubreck of the total value of the contents of this box? I'm inclined to see what is inside before I decide. If he bungles our order for the lizardfolk I'm even more inclined to do so."
He looks around for input, cleaning Ess's vomitous as he creates it out of route habit now.
((Cool! So no need to hold back because you're not sure if the roll will make it on it's own? Like if you roll a 13 without it, and the DC was 12, if you tack on the bardic to bring it up to a 15 it doesn't use it?))
"It might be worth considering that Aubreck might be someone with more jobs in the future. Like you say, it might depend on how competent he is on filling the order, but if he handled that, and we're reasonably sure that he didn't purposely send us against a Lolth cult... He might be more lucrative as an ally in the long run. Maybe get a sense of his opinion of Gellan... he's hungry, looking to regain his power and wealth. If we're looking to sink his Gellan's slave trade, a bit of a conversation on the side to Aubreck beforehand... with Gellan out of the picture leaves a hole. I don't know about the rest of you, but I'm not looking to be tied down to running a shipping empire, perhaps better for a known player like Aubreck, if we think he's up for it, to fill that hole. And he'd certainly be very grateful to the crew who put him back at the head table."
DM: Forged in Chaos, Spiders of the Abyss, The Sundered Way, Champions of the Citadel
Active Characters:
Breldo, Halfling Ranger | Kathryn, Wood Elf Rogue/Ranger | Kroshav, Dragonborn Paladin | T'laren Farsiel, Wood Elf Fighter | Trill, Kenku Bard | Val "Janellae", Mark of Shadow Elf Warlock
Ash is happy to show and share the found items (1x cloak, 2x potions, 2x scrolls). She’s keen to find out what they have saved from the wreck.
In relation to Aubreck, she will offer these thoughts: “I think we can only play it by ear. But I’m not one to look a gift horse in the mouth, and this is a very large payout for a legitimate job done well. That’s not to be sniffed at”.
”I’m not totally against relieving Aubreck of the whole value of the box. But I feel that will be more troublesome than we think. If it’s full of IOUs and promises, then maybe only Aubreck can cash them in himself. And even if we can get the value out of the contents that may be a long hard game”.
“It might be best to take good money from a job well done and move on. We burn no bridges that way”.
”But I’m happy to keep an open mind. How do you suggest we find out what’s in the box? Aubreck will not be inclined to show us, and we risk everything if we attempt to open it before then. I know we need to see how this plays out before we decide, Ben, but what’s your best guess, or best plan based on what we know right now?…”.
It’s clear she’s very businesslike on the matter. Happy to eventually go with the best plan.
GILLAIN OF ATHKATLA - Human Paladin - Into the Mists PHILLIP THE GRUNG - Grung Eldritch Knight - Tomb of Annihilation
ROBWIN WINDROBE - High Elf Wizard - Dragon of Icespire Peak EVE DARKSHORE - Tiefling Warlock - Rime of the Frost Maiden
ASH OF THE FIRE - Tabaxi Rogue - Ghosts of Marshswamp LIA STARBORN - Aasimar Bard - Out of the Abyss
"Heh, it might be filled with his version of 'a pair of rings from his mom'. I'd have paid a lot for a chance to recover Breldo and my rings, but they'd not be worth much more than the silver to anyone else."
DM: Forged in Chaos, Spiders of the Abyss, The Sundered Way, Champions of the Citadel
Active Characters:
Breldo, Halfling Ranger | Kathryn, Wood Elf Rogue/Ranger | Kroshav, Dragonborn Paladin | T'laren Farsiel, Wood Elf Fighter | Trill, Kenku Bard | Val "Janellae", Mark of Shadow Elf Warlock
((@Spider, not really. You keep the bardic until you succeed with it. The exact language is -
When a creature adds one of your Bardic Inspiration dice to its ability check, attack roll, or saving throw and the roll fails, the creature can keep the Bardic Inspiration die.
So more a you roll a 7 on a DC 12 check and use a bardic to bring it up to an 11 but still fail. Then you'd keep it.))
Ben drums his fingers on the bag of holding as the two lay out their thoughts, nodding.
"Good points, both of you. A good, legimate contact is potentially more valuable than whatever is in the box, beyond what is owed us. Particularly a contact that is in our debt. If Aubreck shows himself to be competent I am inclined to test Kay's plan. With a bit of a warning of what's coming Aubreck would be in a far better position to capitalize on Gellan's fall than we would. I don't want to run a shipping empire, but I wouldn't mind being a key shareholder."
He thinks then adds,
"If the box is full of IOUs Aubreck is going to find himself on my bad side very quickly. I don't plan on waiting the months it will take to gather what is owed us without significant interest and Aubreck should expect to never leave my sight."
He looks between the faces not in a bucket and strokes Bimz,
"I think we are in agreement then? We wait and see what Aubreck has accomplished. We won't open the box but will insist on him opening it. I've ways to compel him should he not be inclined. Once we know those two things we'll be in a better position to decide whether we continue our business relationship with him or we, how did you put it Ash? Yes, burn bridges."
((Ah, okay. So no need to save it if you think it's questionable if you'll get enough to pass.))
DM: Forged in Chaos, Spiders of the Abyss, The Sundered Way, Champions of the Citadel
Active Characters:
Breldo, Halfling Ranger | Kathryn, Wood Elf Rogue/Ranger | Kroshav, Dragonborn Paladin | T'laren Farsiel, Wood Elf Fighter | Trill, Kenku Bard | Val "Janellae", Mark of Shadow Elf Warlock
Ash holds her fist out for a fist bump. It feels like a fist bump moment. Or maybe it’s just the close quarters getting to her. It was either going to be a fist bump or one of those all-hands-in… woahhhhh… go team. And break! Things. She hopes she made the right choice.
GILLAIN OF ATHKATLA - Human Paladin - Into the Mists PHILLIP THE GRUNG - Grung Eldritch Knight - Tomb of Annihilation
ROBWIN WINDROBE - High Elf Wizard - Dragon of Icespire Peak EVE DARKSHORE - Tiefling Warlock - Rime of the Frost Maiden
ASH OF THE FIRE - Tabaxi Rogue - Ghosts of Marshswamp LIA STARBORN - Aasimar Bard - Out of the Abyss
Korrik extends for the fist bump, and seeing Ess a bit distracted, grabs his sleeve and lifts his hand, grimacing at what clings to it.
"Ben, if you'd be so kind? Ess... make a fist if you're in."
Once Ess has a clean fist for a four way bump, Korrik will put his and Ess's into the middle.
DM: Forged in Chaos, Spiders of the Abyss, The Sundered Way, Champions of the Citadel
Active Characters:
Breldo, Halfling Ranger | Kathryn, Wood Elf Rogue/Ranger | Kroshav, Dragonborn Paladin | T'laren Farsiel, Wood Elf Fighter | Trill, Kenku Bard | Val "Janellae", Mark of Shadow Elf Warlock
Ben will clean Ess's hand and joins the bump with a sigh, having Bimz ride his fist in so he is part of it too.
((Oh, and could we have asked Krell if anyone had been there before us and what was in the white cocoons? The answer to those could clear up the whole how much did Aubreck know issue.))
((Agreed.))
DM: Forged in Chaos, Spiders of the Abyss, The Sundered Way, Champions of the Citadel
Active Characters:
Breldo, Halfling Ranger | Kathryn, Wood Elf Rogue/Ranger | Kroshav, Dragonborn Paladin | T'laren Farsiel, Wood Elf Fighter | Trill, Kenku Bard | Val "Janellae", Mark of Shadow Elf Warlock