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[4E, Legends of Novus IC] Sandstooth Island Ambush - New Map/Inititave! Finish Them!
Talonrazor
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Registered User regular
The Legends of Novus
Part I: Genesis
Part I: Genesis
Thaco Garrus stood on the deck of the vast aviary carrack Glory of Baelon. The immense box-shaped aft of the vessel was alive with the cries and screeches of the highly trained Imperial hippogriffs. The birds were excited; they knew a mission was at hand. Handlers of the Imperial Navy Arial Service were strapping equipment to the intelligent beasts while riders underwent a final review of flight patterns. Behind him on the deck, men scurried about in preparation. Stretching before him in the darkness of the night was a rolling ocean. Over the horizon was the target; a small island of the Jumari chain that harbored enemies of the Imperium.
“General Garrus.” A young Legionnaire was behind him, stiff at attention. Garrus turned to the man and coolly regarded him. “General Sir, the men are ready.” Garrus followed the man into the square box that housed the thirty or so hippogriffs and dominated the rear three decks. Inside, twenty men in black leather armor and dark robes stood clustered in the narrow walkway between the hippogriff pens. Garrus braced himself against a wooden pillar as the ship rolled. It was dark inside as lamps had been dimmed so the ship would disappear into the darkness of night.
“Soldiers of the Emperor’s Fist,” Garrus began, looking at each one carefully, “you have all been selected personally because of your valor, your faith, your ability to carry out your task in adversity. What the Imperium asks you tonight is worthy of the honor of the Fist, the First Legion. Tonight you get the chance to strike directly at those who would murder and kill the citizens we protect. Tonight we get to strike at fiends who have the blood of innocents on their hands. Tonight we get to strike at evil. This is a blessed task. The Emperor asked me personally to pass on the Eternal’s blessing. To secure His favor, Avout Selenius of the Sanctuary is here to bless us.”
The men bowed their heads respectfully as the cleric prayed. Garrus watched them for signs of nervousness, but nothing betrayed them. As it should be. Every single one was a veteran of the First Legion, the Emperor’s personal legion and the defenders of the great city of Nuemar. Ser Ashen, a Knight of the Silver Tree, the order that personally guarded the Emperor, stood in the middle with his head bowed solemnly. The prayer ended and the cleric circled his hands in the ending blessing. Garrus grabbed a beam overhead again as the ship pitched. “You men know your duty.” The twenty-odd men slammed their fists over their hearts in unison, belting out “Forever First,” the creed of the First Legion. The General straightened and returned the salute. “The First Forever.”
The men spread quickly, each to their hippogriff. The Service riders were already in strapped in their saddles, waiting quietly. Each Legionnaire lowered himself to the underbelly of the hippogriff and sailors helped strapped them to the carrying harness that sat below the belly, in-between the powerful legs. The Legionnaires coiled the release straps around their hands; a quick tug and the harness would release them several feet to the ground to painfully slam onto their bellies. Equipment bundles were loaded onto several other birds and finally the Roost Chief gave the General the thumbs up sign. Each hippogriff bay’s hatch swung open and the cold wind of the ocean ripped through the bays. Garrus yelled loudly to be heard over the noise. “Live forever, Legionnaires!”
The riders slammed their heels into the beasts and twenty-six hippogriffs exploded out of the ship, disappearing into the gray sky. Four days later, the private venturing company Wildlands Security[/I] was contacted by an aide-de-camp of a General Thaco Garrus.[/I]
The Opening Prologue
The Pascony merchant galleon Stellar Record entered the waters near Whitesands Port right on scheduled time. The Halfling captain beamed at his impeccable record and announced to the group of passengers of their arrival uneccessarily. It had been obvious they were arriving, as the gorgeous clear day had allowed a view of the beautiful island with long white beaches for several hours. The ship slowed as the sails were taken in, the anchor hitting the water with a loud burst. Several small skiffs from the island were already pulling up alongside the galleon, ready to unload passengers and cargo.
Handsome Jumarican men and women smiled and waved. The bundled hair of the Jumarican was laced with flowers, the shirtless men with bright-colored shorts and seashell necklaces while the women wore bright robes that fell around their tanned bodies. On the docks a ways away, music from a Jumarican drum-and-flute band floated across the clear water. Passengers descended onto the skiffs, smiling and laughing. Flowers were handed out and the skiffs departed full of happy people to the docks.
A cluster of beings sat aboard a skiff rowed by four Jumarican men and steered by a beautiful native. They were the members of Wildlands Security and they weren’t visiting Whitesands Port on some merchant trip or vacation. They were here for business of the Imperium. One member clutched the parchment closely. It stated simply to find Adruis Orrin, owner of the Drinking Wharf. What they had been told flooded through their minds as the small town of Whitesands Port drew closer.
The aide spread out the information before them. A team of elite soldiers from the Emperor’s personal legion, the First Legion or the Emperor’s Fist, led by a knight from the esteemed Order of the Silver Tree, were inserted on the island by gryphons. Not a single team member was heard from since. The spy in the town of Whitesands further reported that no more boats from Sandstooth have arrived. Something happened on the island and no one knows what. General Garrus explains that the Imperium doesn’t want an incident and wants to make sure the manner is handled discreetly. They also want to ensure that the camp is utterly destroyed and remove all evidence that it was Nuemarians who did it. In addition, they fear that the Knight of the Silver Tree, Sir Isaac Ashen, has been captured. As one of the twenty-two knights who personally serve the Emperor, his survival is very important.
The group is to infiltrate the island, find out what happened to the team, rescue anyone left alive, destroy the camp if possible and wipe out all rebels. The General has arranged transport to Whitesands Port on For Tolas, there the group will rendezvous with the Nuemarian spy, an Emperor’s Eye. To aid in the destruction of the camp, the Imperium Navy has stationed an aviary carrack off-shore. Once the group locates the camp, they can call in a gryphon airstrike to destroy it. With the training camp destroyed, the group is then to quietly extract any of the survivors from the camp to Whitesands, where an Imperium vessel disguised as a merchant ship will take them away.
The first priority is hiding all evidence that Imperium had entered the Jumari Isles; the second is utter destruction of the training camp. Other major objectives include finding and rescuing Sir Ashen, discovering what happened to the team and eliminating all rebels on the island. The Imperium also requested a few other chores completed once on island, but only to be done as the mission allows. The capture and extraction of a living rebel would be very beneficial to the Neumarian cause, more so if the captive is a leader. Any information or maps captured would also help. The Imperium also believes that the rebels have a small caravel hidden somewhere on the coastline that they use to travel to the main coast. Destruction of this boat would hinder the rebels. Lastly, as a tertiary goal, the Imperial Archeologists Guild has requested that the Chief Imperial Science Councilor lobby the group to explore and record any Anigun ruins on the island. Due to the political and military complications, the Guild hasn’t had a chance to study the ruins, which they believe are significant.
The town of Whitesands Port was sprawled along the shallow bay, with only a few larger buildings and a smattering of modest dwellings. Many tanned Jumaricans were unloading fishing skiffs that were starting to come in from a day’s work. Groups of fishermen were entering the local taverns and alehouses while merchants from the cargo ships scurried towards larger and nicer inn that dominated the north beach. A large town hall and baron’s house were alongside a small temple to some minor deity. The group moved along, attempting to find their contact. A crowd was flowing out of the local market as the stalls closed for the day.
The Drinking Wharf ended up being a tiny building built on the end of a long dock that had dozens of tiny fishing skiffs tied to it. Inside, a small counter ran up against one side while a row of windows looked out over the bay and the several merchant galleons anchored a ways offshore. About a dozen Jumaricans fishermen were inside, talking loudly. One table had four halfing merchants while another sported three Khorellian harriers and two dwarfs that sported markings of the Sea Dwarfs of Khorellia. A beautiful Jumarican women was washing mugs, hair tied in bright ribbons. She smiled at the group as they entered. A short human was lying a platter of fishheads in front of the Jumarican fishermen. He coolly regarded the group; they could see he had the distinctive hook nose of a Nuemarian.
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"Adrius Orrin?" The revenant's voice was a soft whisper, coming from the depths of her cloak, just loud enough that the other members of Wildlands Security and the bartender would be able to hear her without strain.
Kavaki tucks his head back into A Dragon's Rallying Cry: The History of Vervitas and tunes out the world once more.
The bartender grunted her opinion of the idea as Adrius leaned forward. He was a shorter man, squat in build with a face that gave away him for a Nuemarian. The distinctive hooked nose and thick darker hair were features prominent in Nuemarian humans. His accent was a crisp Imperial one, obviously belonging to an individual raised in the rhetoric schools of the Imperium. He wore a bright saffron shirt that was too big for him, in the style of Jumaricans. Rough white canvas shorts, a necklace made of shark teeth and wood sandals completed his ensemble. "I take it you are the friends. We don't get much of your types around here so you are all pretty goddamn conspicuous." The table of fishermen erupted into laughter and pounding. One of the sea dwarves muttered something but the harriers remained quiet, murmuring softly. Adrius leaned back in his chair as Tissa set a number of mugs around the table and left.
"We'll leave here as soon as it is dark. I've got a skiff to take us across the channel to the island. I take it they told you well enough the plan? I have a packet I've been prepping for you all, it's a basic map of Sandstooth. I've been scouting out the area for a few days in preparation for our landing. Did some sketches, should give you some rough references. You'll need to prepare a good cover story for why you are here, something you can spread around town. Its imperative we keep the Imperium covered in this role." He sipped the mug. "Luckily, two Peninsula merchant ships arrived over the past few days, the crews are enjoying shore time as they just came off a Marathi trade route. Their Khorellian escort caravel is here as well, so there are a number of harriers about. Should be easy to pass you off as more various outsiders. The town has been so busy and full the past few days people are distracted, which will work in our favor."
She crosses her arms over her stomach and looks around them, studying the general look of the tavern's occupants. "That plan should work. We certainly look unusual enough to be passing travelers." She nods her agreement and leans forward, putting her elbows on the tabletop and gesturing with her massive-gauntlet-clad left hand. "Let's see these maps."
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A delicate hand slips out from underneath her robe, the fingers tipped with black fingernails, looking substantially more like talons. "The map, please."
Waving the bartender back, he asks for something colorful. "Never get out to the islands, might as well try it while I'm here," he says.
"Ahh yes, maps, may I?"
Something catches his eye, and he frowns. "Kavaki, what is that you're reading?"
Kavaki's brings his head back up and cocks an eyebrow. He stares at Garret for a heartbeat before bringing the book up and showing him the cover and spine.
"It's A Dragon's Rallying Cry: The History of Vervitas. It's a complete history of the Dragon's part in the final battle for Vervitas, told from the perspective of a Cleric there."
Kavaki returns the book to its previous cover-down position, nods his head down, and starts to read again.
"Hey mawn!" One of the fishermen roared out from across the room, their table falling quiet. Adrius closed his eyes and rubbed the bridge of his nose. The Jumarican who had spoken got up from his table, mug in hand. "Hey... hey mawn. Watcha' ya bin sayin'? Ya talkin' 'bout da wyrms? Why ya makin' sach a fass? You bringin' ta talkin of 'da daemons an' 'da wyrms? Who 'da hells be ya?" Adrius turned around. "Look, he is sorry. He didn't know, how about free ale on the house?"
The fisherman slammed his mug down on the table and glared at Adrius. "Why ya havin' congress 'wit sometin' that brings 'da wyrms here? Ya 're bad omens, yea mawn." The fisherman pointed at the book. "Badda luck, mawn. Why ya bringin' such 'ting here?"
"Can you please just give us these maps before we get the entire damned tavern engaged in some imbecilic theological debate?" The tone and steadily-rising volume of her voice is a very clear indicator of her irritation, and she has to fight off the urge to slam her fist against, if not through, the table.
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Some of the other Jumaricans started to protest but one of the harriers turned slightly so a pistol was poking out from his long green waist coat and they quickly shutup. The fisherman moved back to his table as the bartender laid out some more cups and a bottle, they quickly returned to their previous talk, satisfied by the halfling's talk and the harrier's threats. The dwarf nodded at the human, who sat back down. The dwarf turned back towards the group. He was wearing a traditional Khorellian coat that reached to his knees and was purple in color with gold buttons and trim. A large smokestack-style hat sat on his head with a white feather. A brace of pistols were tucked into his belt along with a traditional large-blade rapier of the Razor Steps. His beard and hair was braided with an assortment of beads and bright tokens and he had the lighter blond coloring of the Khorellian sea dwarves. He eyed the group for a moment and suddenly doffed his hat and made a wide bow with it.
"Sorry about that, esteemed friends. These locals are merely simpletons, you must excuse their ignorance. It is a good thing you have a true bokor with you," with this he threw an extravagent wink at Kavaki, "and they respect us harriers or else you would have been mobbed by angry suspicious fishermen by now. Captain Jake Willington Buffors Tylingdale the Third, of the Hornet's Nest, at your exquisite service." He put the large and silly-looking hat back on his head and puffed his chest for a moment. "Perhaps you've heard of the Hornet's Nest, wherever you may be from? Fastest ship in the harrier fleet," he tugged a beard strand, "but perhaps you hail from some distant part of Tamara, where the wilds keep knowledge of such lustrous men at bay?" He grinned broadly, as if he had told some elaborate joke. He turned and waved the bartender forward. "Whiskey, for my new friends. The best you have. On the Hornet's tab, my lovely lady!"
He quickly pulled an empty chair forward before anyone could protest and flopped himself down, leaning forward as if some fellow conspirator. "But my, my! Aren't we a strange lot? Forgive my rudeness, it is such bad form but I am such a curious dwarf. I love new people and especially the strange, and beautiful," with this he threw another extravagant wink but this time at Shreya, " and this group definitely fills the bill with such interesting and beautiful creatures. Now you, my good and curious friend with impeccable although plausibly inappropriate for the setting literary tastes, you must indeed hail from Tipher, no? The clans along the Tipher highlands? I've been there, you know and there isn't a finer people in all of the lands. Little men like me and you," he nudged Garret with an immense smile and twirled a beard strand, "we must indeed respect such powerful men! And intelligent as well! Those dragons," he leaned forward and whispered it as if they were all in on some great secret, "are an interest of mine too. Fascinating stories! Such sacrifice! I wish Vervitas wasn't such a horrid place now, with all the death and dying and undying, or else I'd very much like to visit it." His immense verbal onslaught paused for the briefest of seconds as he pounded down a shot of whiskey before resuming the intense deluge without a second's breath. "And traveling with such a beautiful high elf as well! The rarest of rares! I have never gotten the hostility that my sometimes horribly misguided brethen share, for how can one hate such beauty? It is impossible, no?" He nodded at Karamir. "And one of the Sleepers! A brother of the Ship! How fascinating! A truly remarkable place, Aenir is! Are you from there? It is an incredible sight! The Sleepers have such an ethereal presence about them! Ahh, I have prayed many times that I get to return to there. And then we have yet again another beautiful creature," he was turning to Miss now, "a dark and mysterious one. In all my travel, I don't believe I've seen one quite as dark and exotic as you, ma'am. Gnome, perhaps? Someone from the Marathi? Or perhaps more exotic? Maybe across the Endlesse Sea? Ooohh, how exciting!"
He pounded another shot extremely quick and instantly directed his attention to Aaron. "And yet her beauty is matched by your intrigue! A man of the amazing city of Vaspuccia, all the way out in the Jumari. Fascinating. The city you hail from, friend, is indeed my favorite. Such wonders! It is like nothing you have ever seen! A simple dwarf of the sea like me can't help but wonder at such modern displays! My people have prided themselves on crafting and engineering," he leaned forward again and spoke in a voice as if he was sharing a deep dark secret, "something I find rather boring, mind you, but Gods strike me down if I wasn't impressed and envious of such immense displays of technical knowledge. I hear you speak of ruins and I can't help but think such a wide and varied group of yourself, with such pleasant and fine beings of indescribable intrigue and wonder, might not have assembled for a little adventure. I think to myself, I think to myself Captain Jake Willington Buffors Tylingdale the Third, of the Hornet's Nest, here is a group from almost every place you have visited assembled into the very bar you have arrived at, assembled for the old fashion reason of adventure and exploration and Syril's mercy if that doesn't tickle your beard and appeal to your grizzled old dwarven sea heart. I say to myself, Captain Jake Willington Buffors Tylingdale the Third, of the Hornet's Nest, why don't you toddle over there old boy and give those folks a right proper introduction. I then thought, I'll even do better then that. I'll offer them the cheapest passage aboard the Hornet's Nest that I can afford. So there you have it, gentlebeings. If it's adventure you seek, Captain Jake Willington Buffors Tylingdale the Third, of the Hornet's Nest, can be your shining guide!" He slammed another shot.
"But enough about me and my tired old speech. I want to hear from my new esteemed friends! Tell me, your humble servant, exactly what brings such lustrous and wondrous companions to such a place as this, the glorious tavern that it is." With this, he doffed his hat to Adrius and placed both elbows on the table, resting his head in his large hands and leaning forward with a smile, as if he was about to hear some wondrous secret.
The revenant's taloned hands wrapped around her pint as she took a slow sip, the black orbs of her eyes never leaving Captain Jake Willington Buffors Tylingdale the Third's face.
Who is this man, so friendly and open? I do not trust him.
Kavaki stops his labourous reading and tilts his eyes slightly up. When none of his companions come into view, he quickly yanks his head out of his book and starts to frantically search around...before finally seeing them sitting by a Dwarf.
A Dwarf? Were we supposed to meet a Dwarf? I don't remember anything about a Dwarf. Was I reading then? I don't think so. Well, I snuck that page in, but he was just talking about how we were going to get transportation! Plus, everyone else was listening. No, there wasn't a Dwarf in the briefing. Why are we talking to him? And when did everyone get a bunch of drinks?
As the Dwarf makes a comment about his reading material Kavaki quietly slips into a chair and takes a brief sip of wiskey...and immediately gags.
By the spirits! Is he trying to poison us?
"As my collegue here has stated, we are interested in the island. Perhaps you can provide some much needed information about it and the ruins?"
With a sigh, she draws back her hood and slides her goggles back up onto her headband. Instantly, the heckling gets louder, and a few particularly drunk individuals go so far as to get out of their seats before they're pulled back by their more sober friends. "Adrius, was it? Could I at least have my map?"
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"I do love little more than adventure, my friend," he says with a smile before turning to Shreya.
"Now now, don't get your feeling ruffled. There'll be none of that. This is Wildlands Security, not Shreyalands Security. I'm sure Good Captain... Tyllingdale," he says, looking questioningly to the dwarf for confirmation of the correct clan name to use, "will share the map with us."
"A local drink, please," he asked of the bartender. "Juice of some sort, with whatever you'd recommend mixed in."
"...we don't get much of your types around here so you are all pretty goddamn conspicuous."
Ha, Thoth thought, says a man with a face that allowed us to spot him as soon as we arrived.
Staying at the bar as he waited for his drink, Thoth let Miss handle interaction with Adrius. Himself, he took a surreptitious look around the bar for anyone who might be surreptitiously looking at him, or his companions.
With the burst of attention given them as Kavaki's reading material, and Shreya's heritage, caused a stir, Thoth instead turned his efforts to studying the dwarf who had taken such an interest in them.
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Garret clinks a coin purse meaningfully as he continues. "I can't say for sure whether we'll take you up on your most generous offer immediately... we've only just arrived, and this does seem a fine place to relax and enjoy life. But who knows? Perhaps we shall tire of it quickly, or perhaps we'll find that you're still here when we're ready to move on. In any case, I say to you again, well met, Captain of the Hornet's Nest."
The Captain seated. "I beg a thousand pardons, my fair sylven maiden. Rough men with little courtesy deserve not a room with such beauty as you and your much taller then a gnome friend. Adrius, my good man, I am sorry for evicting paying customers but my men have filled in the hole no doubt caused by their inexcusable behavior. But lo! I see we have a problem here around this table of esteemed adventurers! You are looking for adventure and good times around the Sandstooth, I take! A bit of exploration and a bit of adventuring, eh?" He winked at them all and looked at Kavaki as he gagged. "Sorry lad, whiskey isn't your thing? Why, perhaps a good hard stout!" He turned his attention back to the group as Thoth studied him.
The dwarf didn't give off any betraying sign of ill-will or malice. Instead, he showed the traits of an extremely gregarious and hearty dwarf who was used to getting his way and having a rousing time at it. The dwarf continued as he slammed down yet another shot without a single sign of affect. "I say, I am most intrigued! It is not often I come across such an interesting lot and it appears such a meeting is good fortune! You, needing a daring captain to transport you to adventure and me, a handsome, daring captain" with this he threw an opulent wink at Miss and Shreya and nudged Aaron as if indulging in a great joke, "who thrives on transporting brave adventures into a daring caper. It's a match made in heaven! I say, my new entertaining friends, what if we retire to my ship, the fastest vessel of Tamara, and continue this conversation in more pleasing setting?"
He suddenly turned to Adrius as if in great error. "How accursed of me! May the gods rip me into shreds for my most grievous of trespasses! I dare not intrude on such private matters, it is obvious you have business with our esteemed and generous host! No slight, my great man, on this tavern! It is the finest in all of the lands." He frowned for a moment, as if he was figuring out some intricate problem. "But of course! Adrius must accompany us! Yes, yes! This is the answer to a dilemma. There, our women shan't be harrassed and we can discuss travel arrangements and maps and delicious adventures and all these other matters of great importance in a much better surrounding." He wrapped an arm around Aaron, a struggle for a moment, and another around Garret.
"I shall have my cook, a tamed Orge who makes the best mincemeat pie, whip us up a delicious feast and we can sample my extensive wine cellar. I have fresh cigars from Marathi, an exquisite blend, and you, my finely read friend, must see a Basci original painting of the Dragon of Vervitas. Yes, a real oil painting from the famous Dragonborn artisan!" He leaned towards Aaron, whispering at a level where everyone could hear. "I plucked that out of some chapel an evil troll had claimed as his home and had stored priceless works. I was naked as a jaybird and had only a candlestick to slay the troll. After I did so, I saw that painting and I knew it would look exquiste above the fireplace I finished installing in my captain's quarters."
He swiftly stood. "But enough talk! You are seeking revelry, relaxation and excitement and by the gods, Captain Tylingdale can provide it all!" Adrius was saying and rubbed his nose again as the dwarf slapped him on the back with a mighty boom. "Come, come! My men shall row us out to the Hornet at once and I shall send a bird to tell them to prepare a feast worthy of my kingly, and queenly," another wink and immense grin at Shreyva, "guests of sword and honor!"
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"Right," Thoth acknowledged. "I did ask for it."
Sliding silver over the counter for the drink and tip, Thoth placed five calloused fingers around the glass and brought it to his lips... tilted it a bit, and...
Ahhhhhh. Not bad. ... Ohp, there goes Adrius.
The dwarf had an arm around the Nuemarian man, and Thoth now recalled Captain Jake Tylingdale's long and windful boast... and offer of dinner. Well, with their contact in tow, they didn't have much choice in the matter, so...
But... the drink...
Clandestinely pouring out an inferior Nymbodian wine he'd picked up in a hurry before they'd left, Thoth funneled the... what had she called it? Right, the silvajuice, into his flask, and took a quick swig.
Hopping up, he gave Shreya a quick pat on the back as he followed the group out of the tavern... to an airship!
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"Thoth, I was going to ask you at some point," she begins, stepping up beside the man, "Did I ever fix your glaive so that it stops doing that thing where it ejects the barbs for no reason? I don't remember if I did and the thought of more malfunctions irks me." She furrows her brow and glares through her goggles at the dwarf as he leads them to his ship.
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"Captain, there's no need to be quite so loud. If we are going to a private place, perhaps we should not draw quite so much attention to ourselves?"
"Please don't attempt to kill our rather loud dwarf captain with a malfunctioning weapon. All we have to do is survive him for a few minutes, then we'll be on the island and he'll be on the ship and he won't attempt to give us any more of that horrible poison again."
Miss looks at Garret incredulously, and he laughs. "Okay, I'm probably more comfortable with it than Shreya. But honestly, I'd rather get a move on toward the isles or spend our time relaxing quietly. But we have a duty to the Imperium, and avoiding suspicion means acting like all the other tourists around here."
[22:18] <M1ss> Miss ignores Adrius and the dwarf simultaneously, one hand underneath her cloak on her sword blade as she watches the captain closely.
[22:18] <Kavaki> Kavaki replies in hushed tones. "The crowd will be looking at him, not us. Hiding in plain sight. I read about it somewhere. I think?" With that, Kavaki pulls out a seperate book and starts flipping through it.
[22:18] <Shreya> Shreya rubs at her temples with two fingertips. "If you'd given me the map, we could have been gone by now.
[22:19] <Garret> Garret admits that this has gone further than he intended, but agrees with Kavaki. We'll be remembered as flashy tourists, but not connected with anything we don't want linked to us.
[22:19] <Aaron> So Captain Jake, where's this Nest of yours?
[22:19] * Kiamar agrees with Garret, this is a good enough cover that we are not Impereum related
[22:19] <TheDM> The group was heading to two large rowboats tied to the docks. The harriers quickly began untying them and getting out the oars. The dwarf moved to seat everyone to his liking, roaring and thundering about this or that. He finally settled down next to Shreyva. "My dear! I must admit, I was rather perplexed to see an elf in these parts! You must forgive me if my brethen have...
[22:20] <Shreya> Just... let them know that if any of them touches me, I will punch them out of this boat.
[22:21] * M1ss settles in the rear of the boat, making sure she has line of sight to everyone else.
[22:21] <Aaron> "Nonsense, I'm sure you've got something in that bag of your's that'll teach them better than a splash in the ocean
[22:21] * Garret chuckles.
[22:21] <Garret> "Shreya gets slightly more attention than she'd like, I'm sure you understand.
[22:21] <TheDM> He mulled over the words for a moment. "...soured your thoughts against my kind. Not all of us harbor such violent desire!" He turned to the other sea dwarf who was slowly pulling the rowboat out to the ocean, heading towards a caravel anchored offshore. The dwarf regarded the elf coolly. "No... we don't." The Captain chuckled heartily and slapped Aaron again, an activity that was becoming quickly a favorite of his. "There! You see? I must apologize, I lack the incredible fare of your people aboard the ship. I hope the paltry feast I throw you all will at least not completely embarrass me in front of such fine company.
[22:21] * Shreya frowns. "I have lots of things in my pack, Aaron, but I'm not looking to electrocute anyone to death just yet.
[22:22] <Aaron> "My brother was trying to show me something about capacitors once, can't you use them to dial down the voltage? I'm terrible at it, but I mean... you...
[22:22] <Kiamar> "Perhaps we should begin focusing on the task at hand, and not the racial background of Shreya, intruiging as it is
[22:23] <M1ss> "No need for food. We do have business to take care of, this is not merely a pleasure cruise for us, Captain.
[22:23] * Garret looks at Miss curiously, wondering where she's going with this.
[22:23] * Kiamar nods at Miss, "she has the right of it, there is much to explore in this world and little enough time
[22:24] <Shreya> "I don't know anything about Vaspuccian technology, but in Nuemar we used transistors for that kind of thing, Aaron.
[22:24] <Aaron> "There's never a time where food is not an option, Miss. Especially when we've been invited. It'd be rude to turn down the offer
[22:24] <Aaron> "Something like that, yeah.
[22:25] <TheDM> The Captain regarded her with a smile. "Surely, my mysterious lady, you can spare an old grizzled lonely dwarf a tell or two? You seem like interesting folk and I do love a good adventure or two. Just a simple feast and drink and smoke and I will have my boys deposit you whenever you need to be!
[22:25] <Kiamar> "Perhaps the Captain an provide us with some extra information to aid us in our travel
[22:25] <Garret> "I'm sure we have plenty of time for dinner.
[22:25] <Aaron> "See, simple feast, drink, and smoke. Nothing we don't have time for.
[22:26] <Kavaki> Kavaki looks up from his book...and makes eye contact with the rowing sea dwarf. His eyes go wide and he silently nudges Shreya.
[22:26] * M1ss doesn't look too enthralled with the Captain's offer.
[22:26] * Shreya nudges him back and raises an eyebrow in his direction as if to ask, What?
[22:27] <Kavaki> Kavaki thinks for a moment before digging through his pack. He reopens "A Dragon's Rallying Cry" and opens to one of the begining pages.
[22:27] <Kavaki> "And lo, if only the Elves and the Dwarves had given up their rivalry, perhaps this entire event would of been avoided. But to this day, they have not, and thus I have a..."
[22:28] <TheDM> "Aye, your comrades have the right of it! There is all the time in the world. Ah, there she be!" The boats were drawing closer to the HORNET'S NEST. Lights were hanging from the ship's masts and lively music was being played. A violen and flute kept a quick beat as one of the harriers called out to the ship, "Captain coming aboard!"
[22:28] <Kavaki> He underlines with his fingers "rivalry" and then "to this day, they have not"
[22:28] * Shreya shrugs.
[22:28] <Shreya> "You get used to it, Kavaki. Don't worry.
[22:29] * Aaron leans over to Captain Jake.
[22:29] <Aaron> "Your ship is a beauty, Captain.
[22:29] <Kavaki> Kavaki shakes his head and flips to another page. "Assassination". He jabs his finger at the word.
[22:29] <TheDM> Ladders were tossed over and the Captain quickly and wirely sprinted up it. A loud roar went up from the deck as he emerged. The rest slowly followed up. On board, two dozen men, women and a couple of goliaths were gathered around the deck. Several barrels were being hoisted up from the boats below as the Captain swept his hand over the group.
[22:29] * Shreya purses her lips.
[22:29] <Shreya> "... well... the crew isn't ALL dwarves, right?
[22:30] <TheDM> "These are to be my guests for the night, esteemed adventurers seeking glory and game and a little excitement. Thus, they have come to the HORNET to share their tales and drink their fill. And since, my hearties, I demand the best from each and every one of you," the barrels landed with a thud on the deck and the Captain sprang up on top.
[22:30] <Kavaki> Finally free of the rowboat, Kavaki whispers in frantic tones. "No, but it only takes one dagger to kill someone.
[22:30] * M1ss leans against the rail on the edge of the ship, cooly observing the crew. "This seems... excessive.
[22:31] * Shreya heaves a sigh and stands at the spot where the ladder meets the deck, hesitating a moment.
[22:31] <Shreya> "My kingdom for a map.
[22:31] <TheDM> "I only give you the best! The finest whiskey and rum in the entire Isles! Let us feast and drink tonight! We shall make such a noise, that all of the Dancing Green shall hear us!" The crew cheered again, much louder this time, and surged towards the barrels as the Captain sprang off. He motioned for the group to follow him and headed towards the aft cabin.
[22:31] * Kiamar takes a visual survey of the crew, looking for anyone who seems to not be all that happy with the guests who've arrive.
[22:32] * M1ss catches Shreya's comment and simply nods. While not a bad cover, this seems like a giant waste of time and they still have no map.
[22:32] <Aaron> "Ahh Shreya, if you had a kingdom I'm sure someone would care. As it is, enjoy yourself. It's not like we're not going to get started anyway. Might as well take it all in now.
[22:33] * Garret takes a few steps after the captain before turning to look at his friends.
[22:33] <Shreya> "I pulled my hood up and everything. If the captain would have just kept his mouth shut..."
[22:33] * Aaron follows the captain walking backwards with a huge grin on his face
[22:33] * Shreya grits her teeth, shakes her head, and falls into step behind everyone else.
[22:34] * Kavaki puts his book away and looks around, much more alert than he has perhaps ever been.
[22:34] * Kiamar follows along, still surveying the crowd looking for any signs of malcontwnt
[22:34] <TheDM> The crew seemed more concentrated on the barrels of rum and whiskey then anything else. The fiddler struck up his tune again and a massive goliath began dancing a lively jig as the crew started to clap and cheer. The Captain opened up the double doors and led the group into an opulent, well-decorated cabin that signaled wealth. A Vaspuccian music box began playing a piece from...
[22:35] * M1ss grits her teeth and follows everyone else into the cabin.
[22:35] * Aaron hurries to the music box.
[22:35] * Garret is unimpressed by the cabin, but pretends otherwise in an attempt at diplomacy
[22:35] <Aaron> "Captain... you have amazing taste.
[22:36] <TheDM> The Vaspuccian Harmonic Symphony. The beautiful and gentle piece floated through the air as the Captain pointed out several velvet couches. "Sit, sit, my friends! Would anyone care for a cigar? Fresh from little khorellia, it is handrolled by beautiful maidens and blessed by Phosophine himself!" The dwarf opened a cupboard and revealed an immense rack of bottles and glasses. "Drinks, drinks!"
[22:36] * Shreya strides over and stands beside Aaron, leaning forward to peer down at the music box.
[22:36] <Garret> "Ah... only water for me, thanks
[22:36] <Shreya> "Gilded, sophisticated, and ultimately useless. Yes, I can tell this is Vaspuccian.
[22:37] <Aaron> "Aww, jealous?
[22:37] * Garret sprawls across one of the couches
[22:37] * Shreya smirks and playfully elbows Aaron in the ribs, maybe a bit too hard, before stepping away.
[22:37] * M1ss takes a seat on the edge of one of the couches, pulling back her hood for the first time since they set foot on the Isles.
[22:37] <TheDM> A cursory glance around the place reveals several elven-weave rugs, immense in their value. A magnificent painting from a well-known elven artist hung on the wall. Next to it was a painting of the Dragon Who Fell, by the dragonborn artisan Basicci. Exotic animal heads and ivory dotted the room as well. A model of the HORNET sat on a elegant desk, with strange carvings and runes all over it.
[22:38] * Kiamar declines the alcholic beverage, his past is uncertain enough without anything else fogging it up. "I will partake in one of your cigars, in the interest of good relations of course"
[22:39] <Kavaki> Kavaki manages to forget all of his pent up fear in a moment as he wanders over and stares at the Dragon painting, mouth slightly agape.
[22:39] <TheDM> Several shelves of books lined one side of the room, containing hundreds of opulent bound books. It is appearent that the room is filled with trinkets and knick-knacks from every corner of the known world. A map of Tamara and Lesser Tamara dominates the far wall, with dozens of small flags sticking out of it. The dwarf finished pouring drinks and served them.
[22:39] <Aaron> "Smoking is one thing I will not join you in, Captain, but I'll gladly make myself a Vaspuccian Rosewater, if you have the spirits."
[22:40] * Aaron wanders over to the cabinet.
[22:40] * Shreya takes up a position just inside the room, leaning back against the wall beside the door, arms folded.
[22:41] <Garret> "Such an impressive cabin, captain. Your ventures must be successful indeed."
[22:42] <TheDM> The dwarf handed Kiamar a massive cigar that smelled of deep, well-mixed tobacco. He turned to them all and slowly lit his, puffing a few times. "Yes. Back in the days, I was a fellow venturer. I traveled the world, seeing things and experiencing events that no one shall ever believe. It opened my eyes to the wonder of the world and showed me that you must never lose a sense of curiousity."
[22:43] <Shreya> "Is that why you're so eager to help us? I don't want to say you're living vicariously, or anything, because you've been around..."
[22:44] * Garret sips his water glass.
[22:44] * Aaron sips his drink slowly, wanting to hear the captain's response.
[22:44] <TheDM> He puffed a few more times and eyed them all. "I am considered a loud, flashy, sometimes annoying individuals. People like when the see the HORNET arrive, they know coin and good times are to come. My crew is loyal to the end because I treat them fairly. I am sucessful in what I do because I know how to do it." His tone changed and he sipped a bit of his brandy.
[22:45] * Shreya bites back an abrupt snort of laughter after his first sentence.
[22:45] <M1ss> "This has precisely nothing to do with a small group of travellers on their way to Khorellia."
[22:45] <Shreya> "I'm sorry, that was rude. Continue."
[22:46] <Aaron> "That is perhaps true, have you ever heard the story about the gift horse, Miss?"
[22:46] <Garret> "Miss, be civl!" snaps Garret. "Forgive us, some of us are less at home in civilization than others."
[22:46] <TheDM> His smile slowly faded. "I am not, however, a fool. Many have made that mistake, erred in their thinking. This was their downfall. I knew the moment you walked into the group what you were. I knew without a doubt. I also know what Adrius is," at this the Nuemarian's eyes snapped open and a handed went down to a pouch. "so it was easy to understand exactly what is happening here."
[22:46] * M1ss places her hand on the hilt of her sword. "That would be...?"
[22:47] <Aaron> "If you would indulge us..."
[22:47] * Garret draws his weapon immediately.
[22:47] <Garret> "What exactly are you saying?"
[22:47] * Shreya curls her gauntleted hand into a fist, and lightning crackles along the digits.
[22:48] * M1ss smiles. "And I'm uncivilized, now? Let the dwarf explain himself before drawing steel."
[22:48] <Garret> "A fair point, my friend. But I'm loathe to trust someone who draws us to his dwelling under false pretenses."
[22:48] * Kavaki spins around at the sudden symphony of loud voices. At everyone drawing their weapons, he quick stows his glasses and grasps the hilt of his Greatsword...but doesn't draw it quite yet.
[22:48] <Aaron> "PEOPLE!" Aaron yells. "Seriously, put those away. When Miss is the one lecturing you, you know you've done wrong"
[22:49] <Kavaki> "Wait. Why are we drawing weapons?"
[22:49] <Aaron> "Now, Captain Jake, please, what exactly do you mean to say?"
[22:49] * Garret ignores his friends, awaiting the dwarf's response.
[22:49] * Aaron waves dismissively to Kavaki, then gesturing to the dwarf, as if to say "Pay attention, you'll hear"
[22:53] <TheDM> The dwarf was silent for a moment, sipping again from his glass. He smiled broadly. "Come, come. Did I make that bad of an impression? Put away your steel good sir. I have invited you into my home, under Khorellian law you are under my protection and hospitality. My men and I would die before harm befell you all." He puffed on his cigar.
[22:54] * Shreya furrows her brow, but unclenches her fist, and the hiss of flowing electricity ceases.
[22:54] * M1ss 's hand remains on her sword
[22:54] * Garret 's bow remains in his hand.
[22:55] <Garret> "Make your meaning clear, please. "
[22:55] <Aaron> "Thank you, now, if my companions will put away their weaponry," he says, eyeing Garret, "we can continue,"
[22:55] <Kiamar> "forgive my friends here captain, dangerous times you know..." "perhaps you could do a little more explaining for us to ease their tensions"
[22:55] <Shreya> "Yeah. Excuse us for being a bit on edge, but explain what you mean when you say you know exactly what is going on here."
[22:55] * Kavaki takes his hands off of the hilt of his Greatsword, puts his glasses back on, shrugs, and goes back to studying the painting.
[22:55] <TheDM> He turned suddenly and thumbed through a pile of documents on his desk before pulling out a parchment. "Now. Let us not mince anymore words. You are a private venturing company contracted by the Nuemarians. Your job is to retrieve the incredibly botched job of removing that seperatist camp on Sandstooth that everyone knows about."
[22:56] <M1ss> "And?"
[22:56] * Shreya groans.
[22:56] * Garret looks to Adrius for a reaction.
[22:56] * Garret stows his bow for the moment
[22:58] <Aaron> "Thank you," he says to Garret before looking the room over. "Everyone happy? Can the good Captain continue?"
[22:59] <TheDM> Adrius frowned furiously but remained silent. The dwarf turned back. "See, there are always opportunities. I have here in my hand the report two Jumari fishermen told my crew after 'strange activities' on the island. I also happen to have spotted the aviary carrack Nuemar positioned nearby. It doesn't take a Vaspuccian engineer to figure out what exactly is going on."
[23:00] <M1ss> "Annoying doesn't begin to cover it. The point, if you will."
[23:00] <Garret> with the mention of the aviary carrack, Garret resigns himself to the conclusion that the dwarf knows exactly what is going on.
[23:00] <Garret> "Yes. Perhaps you could elaborate on the opportunities you lured us here to discuss."
[23:00] * Aaron raises his eyebrows at the sheer level of information Captain Jake has acquired, but says nothing.
[23:01] * Shreya murmurs under her breath. "Nuemar intelligence at its finest."
[23:02] <TheDM> The dwarf paced back and forth, ignoring anymore comments. "Now, don't tell me, let me guess. I must admit, this sort of thing amuses me greatly. Ah, the excitement! Let me see here, the aviary carrack must have a flight of Imperial hippogriffs stationed onboard with goblinbombs. I imagine our friend Adruis here was going to give you scentbeacons to place near the camp once you located it."
[23:02] * M1ss stands up and heads to the door. "If you are going to merely repeat things that you assume we already know, I have no desire to deal with you."
[23:03] * Shreya rolls her eyes and gestures towards Adrius. "Did you write this man a LETTER?"
[23:03] <Kiamar> "hang on Miss.. we may as well hear what he has to say"
[23:03] <M1ss> "I'd rather not spend a year aboard this boat."
[23:03] <TheDM> Adrius groaned slightly and the dwarf nodded as if he had expected it. "I also imagine the Imperium has stationed a ship nearby to pick up you all up once you rescue the poor Imperial souls on the island. I bet it would be a merchant vessel, something easy to explain its coming and goings but small enough not the attract attention. I would say the.... GLASS EYE, an Arastille flagged ship."
[23:03] * Garret is unsure who to support... not trusting the dwarf who seems to be stalling for something, he finally stands and moves toward Miss
[23:04] <TheDM> Adrius groaned again. "Ah," the dwarf was getting happy. "I also know something none of you do about this boat." He raised his voice slightly, so Miss could hear as she neared the door. He paused and puffed on the cigar.
[23:04] * M1ss attempts to open the door, not even bothering to acknowledge the captain anymore.
[23:04] <Shreya> "Yes, Captain, we all know our plans. Apparently, half of the Jumari Isles knows about our plans. So tell us about this boat; we're getting impatient."
[23:06] * Aaron eyes Adrius warily.
[23:07] * Garret stands next to the door. He is ready to leave but unwilling to split the party
[23:07] <TheDM> He nodded at Miss. "Mi'lady. If you desire to leave, just inform the goliath dancing, that's Jeckle, and he will happily row you ashore. None of you are trapped here." He puffed again. "Now, about what I know that you don't. This vessel, the GLASS EYE, it has just recieved the Spotted Death. The news hasn't made the town yet, the harbormaster just got done talking with the crew."
[23:08] <Kiamar> "spotted death?"
[23:08] * Aaron nods to Kiamar
[23:08] <TheDM> He puffed again. "The ship is quartantined and denied port of entry to the Jumari Isles. Effectively, you are stuck without a ride out of here and believe me, once the rather niave Jumaricans figure out that you tresspassed on their cursed island you are going to want out fast."
[23:08] <Garret> "And I suppose you will provide that out... for a price?"
[23:08] * M1ss pauses at the door, holding it halfway open. "Again, to the point, please. You want us to do something for you."
[23:11] <Shreya> "Spotted Death, Kiamar. It's a plague. You break out in spots, that then break out in blisters, and then you die."
[23:11] <Shreya> "Oh, and then the blisters explode and infect everyone else around you."
[23:12] <Kiamar> "And this 'escape ship' you brought up is infected"
[23:13] <TheDM> The dwarf nodded. "The ship will have to host the Mark of Death aboard and no harbor shall take it. So you have a problem. And I have a solution." He puffed a giant smoke ring. "I wasn't lying when I said I was interested by you. I rather am. A high elf, a Vaspuccian, a dragon-loving goliath and a mysterious lady? By the gods beard, if that doesn't strike my fancy."
[23:14] <Kiamar> "and your part in our exploration would be.. aside from the adventure of it all?"
[23:14] <TheDM> He was pacing again. "I also just came off of the longest and most boring merchant run I have ever been on and I am rather keen to do something that causes my heart to pound and the sword hand to move." He stopped. "But this wouldn't explain why exactly I would want to help the all of you, as entertaining and beautiful as you may be."
[23:14] * M1ss walks over to Adrius. "The map, please. I'll meet you all on the island. I have no desire to talk to a stuck-up popinjay who is utterly obsessed with refusing to say an actual meaningful word"
[23:16] <Shreya> "If you're expecting fame out of this, Captain, you're going to be disappointed. This is SUPPOSED to be a secret, although we can all see how well that worked."
[23:16] <TheDM> "I have no love for the Imperium, I am sorry my good friend Adrius. I harbor no allegiance to the Emperor. So yes, you might wonder what I shall do." He puffed. "It is this: I shall offer safe refugee and escort you away from the Isles, as you complete the mission. I will ask no fee, no compensation. I only ask one, small, tiny favor that shall be easily enough filled by your secretive mission."
[23:17] <Garret> "What Miss has referred to many times as 'the point.' The nature of this miniscule favor?"
[23:18] <Aaron> "Ahh, there it is."
[23:20] <TheDM> He shrugged. "Excuse my theatrics, I always rather enjoyed the theatre and I am a dwarf that does love the sound of the Common langauge on skilled tongues. The favor is merely this." His voice dropped to an icey cold and his eyes stared at them, piercing. "You kill every last Fold seperatists on that island. Every one. No one must survive."
[23:20] <Shreya> "... that's a lot of murder, Captain."
[23:20] <M1ss> "Done. Shall we go to the island?"
[23:21] <Garret> "And what turn has the Fold done you, that you hate them so?"
[23:21] * Thoth blinks.
[23:21] * Aaron offhandedly says, "I always liked Dwarven" in said language.
[23:21] * Shreya replies, "Nobody asked you" in the same language.
[23:22] * Thoth injects, "But it's good to know" in the language of the Dwarves, as well.
[23:23] <TheDM> The dwarf smiled and clapped his hands at Miss' response, ignoring all others. "Excellent! Let us feast, then!" He turned to Shreya and Aaron, speaking in the sylven tongue. "I much prefer the voice of beauty then of revenge." Turning back, he nodded at Miss. "While I am most assured of your desire to arrive and do the deed, as it were, we must await for Tiida's cloak!"
[23:23] <Aaron> "Huh?"
[23:24] * Aaron looks to Shreya
[23:24] * Shreya groans again. "The language of whoring and opium," she replies in Elven.
[23:24] <Shreya> "I'll stick to Common, Captain."
[23:24] <TheDM> "There are still several hours of light left and so let us feast and postpone any talk of nasty business! Come, I want to hear stories of granduer and glory! BARK!" A human boy instantly entered the cabin. "You may bring in dinner!" The boy disappeared just as quick.
[23:24] * Aaron glares at Shreya for being unhelpful.
[23:24] * Shreya raises a brow.
[23:24] <Garret> "They're speaking Elven."
[23:25] <Shreya> "Yeah, it's Elven. He asked me how the weather was."
[23:25] * M1ss cracks a smile at that.
[23:26] <Aaron> "Well yeah, thanks. I recognize it. Doesn't mean I speak it"
[23:26] <Shreya> "Be grateful. Someone would probably beat you unconscious for speaking it."
[23:26] <Garret> "The dwarf called it the language of beauty. The resident elven beauty had a different opinion."
[23:27] <TheDM> Soon, several humans brought in platters of steamed meats and cooked fish, bread and vegetables, exotic fruit. All sizzled with flavor and a long table was quickly setup in the room for everyone to sit. The dwarf clapped Kavaki on the back as he studied the painting. "Beautiful, isn't it? Such power. Such sacrifce."
[23:27] <Shreya> "Such tact, Garret. I called it the language of whoring and opium. What's this about dinner?"
[23:27] <Aaron> "See," he says, winking at Shreya, "that wasn't hard"
[23:28] * Aaron stares at the food for a moment before realizing there was a seat for him.
[23:28] <Shreya> "Hush. Go play with your music box."
[23:28] <Kavaki> "It is a very beautiful panting..."
[23:28] <Garret> "Sacrifice? I'm afraid I have a different interpretation."
[23:29] * M1ss eats very sparingly. The requirements of her mostly-dead body aren't that high.
[23:29] <Garret> "If we're going to be working together, I suppose proper introductions are in order. Garret Andershard, former student of the faith, musician extraordinaire, and leader of the company with whom you are so enthralled."
[23:29] <TheDM> The captain nodded. "Aye, it is indeed. You must be a fan of the wyrm, Kavaki. A true student, I take it."
[23:29] <Garret> "Apologies for the deception, though I suppose you have little right to complain."
[23:29] <Aaron> "Leader, eh? Good one Garret"
[23:29] * M1ss shakes her head, and quietly murmurs to Shreya in elven. "I certainly hope we aren't going to be working together beyond a simple voyage."
[23:30] <Garret> "You would prefer founder?" Garret answers Aaron
[23:30] <Kavaki> "I'm reading and learning. I guess that makes me a student."
[23:30] * Shreya sinks into a chair beside Miss, props her elbows up on the table and leans over to reply. "You and me both."
[23:31] * Garret turns and answers M1ss in common.
[23:31] <Garret> "We won't."
[23:33] <TheDM> The dwarf nodded. "Ah, yes. Learning is the greatest adventure of all! I think I have something for you." The dwarf turned and searched his shelves, pulling out a thick green book bounded in rich green leather and enscribed with bronze metal plating. It simply read "Dragons". The dwarf handed it to Kavaki. "You simply must read this, my very tall friend. It is the defintive work on the subject!"
[23:34] <Kavaki> Kavaki nods, takes the book, opens the first page, and starts reading there and then.
[23:34] * Shreya rolls a pomegranate from the tray onto her plate and picks idly at the skin, her chin in her other palm.
[23:34] <TheDM> He looked at the book fondly. "It was written by a very dear friend of mine, who was a member of the Archival Congress. It contains the history, known family clans and lines, anatonomy, lifestyles and more. The information has been passed down from many a dragonborn. Treat it carefully. There is much knowledge.. and power in those pages. Guard it well, my friend."
[23:35] <TheDM> The dwarf turned to the table. "Now! I believe there was talk of introductions! I much desire to learn more about each and every one of you!"
[23:35] * Garret is visably uncomfortable at the turn the conversation has taken.
[23:36] * Aaron laughs.
[23:36] <Thoth> "I am Thoth Athenarov. Traveler."
[23:36] <M1ss> "No."
[23:36] <Aaron> "Aaron Mitchell, of Vaspuccia, obviously"
[23:37] * M1ss takes a small bite from the equally-small fish in front of her.
[23:38] * Shreya watches Miss out of the corner of her eye, rolling the fruit in circles around her plate.
[23:38] <Shreya> "One of these days, I'll figure out how you can eat so little and not collapse."
[23:39] <TheDM> After a bit of small talk and table chatter, Adrius wipes his mouth and pulls out a small parchment from his cloak. "Since the Captain has so quickly figured out this plot, I might as well begin telling you what I know. This here is a map of the island. We have no indication where the terrorists are hiding but there is a good chance the camp is in these central jungles, here."
[23:39] * Shreya lifts her arms high above her head in a brief jubilation as the map is revealed, and sits up to listen attentively.
[23:39] * Aaron stands from his chair and walks around to stand over Adrius's shoulder
[23:40] <M1ss> "Where are the ruins? It seems sensible to camp where there is already shelter."
[23:43] <TheDM> "Numbers, uncertain. We believe a new shipment of recruits has arrived so there should be a lot of inexperienced hands about. We think maybe twenty or so veterans are there. Once again, we have no real grasp on numbers. I take it you are aware of your goals?"
[23:43] <Aaron> "Yes, the ruins do seem like a good place to start a search..."
[23:43] * Aaron 's eyes light up at the mention of the ruins
[23:44] <Garret> "Captain Jack, you mentioned the previous expedition. Do you have any information the Imperium might lack about what befell its members?
[23:44] <Garret> "
[23:44] <Shreya> "Our objectives are to rescue Sir Isaac Ashen, destroy evidence of the camp, and APPARENTLY murder every single rebel on the island."
[23:44] * Shreya glances at the dwarf.
[23:47] * M1ss glances at the map, committing it to memory. "Unless the ruins are actually cursed, that's where the camp will be."
[23:47] <TheDM> The dwarf nodded in agreement. He then pointed at the map. "During our run by of the island as we positioned for the merchant's arrival, I had my men do a sounding test around it. We hit a few fathoms shallow all the way around it except the south beach. I think that will be the only spot you can get a skiff up there. As for the previous occurences, all I know is that there were screams and growl
[23:48] <Thoth> "Could we row out to the cliffs, directly to the east of the ruins, and climb our way up?"
[23:49] * Garret looks at Thoth as if he has lost his mind.
[23:50] <Shreya> "I guess we could theoretically... but I think I like the skiff idea more. I'm not much of a climber."
[23:50] <Thoth> "Don't worry, Garret, I could carry you in my pack.
[23:51] * Garret chuckles, eyeing the warden.
[23:51] <Garret> "I bet you could, at that.
[23:51] <TheDM> Tylingdale shook his head. "The cliffs are pretty tough and I think you would be a pretty exposed target scaling there." Adrius nodded. "They do have a small ship hidden somewhere, we don't know if they do patrols or not.
[23:52] <Thoth> "A small ship? Surely if we lured it out, the NEST could destroy it.
[23:53] <Shreya> "That does not sound very condusive to the 'stealth' portion of this assignment.
[23:53] <M1ss> "We don't want to draw attention to our being on this island, Thoth.
[23:53] <Aaron> "Exactly, if those rebels go underground, we'll never find them
[23:53] <Shreya> "Best-case scenario, none of them know we're on the island until we're slaughtering them.
[23:53] <Garret> "It seems the skiff and crossing the island on foot is the way to go.
[23:54] <TheDM> The dwarf chuckled. "I like you, human. Destruction and straightforward violence is the way it should be! However, I must keep my involvement in this affair relatively quiet. I do extensive business in Jumari and must protect my own interests.
[23:54] * Thoth sighs. "I have a bad feeling about this.
[23:54] <Aaron> "Understandable, Captain.
[23:54] * Shreya frowns. "Join the club, Thoth. It's been one mishap after another since we got here, but we gotta do the job.
[23:55] <TheDM> Adrius nodded at Aaron. "It will be a dark night tonight, bless the Eternal. We must be quick and quiet. If the entire island is alerted to our presence, we may face doom at the very beginning.
[23:55] <Thoth> "An island with only one apparent entry point... and we're using it?
[23:55] <Aaron> "Not many other options
[23:56] <Shreya> "It's either that or risk painful death on jagged rocks.
[23:57] <M1ss> "If we move swiftly and silently, we can move to the encampment before they know of our presence.
[23:57] <M1ss> "But if there is only one entrance, that also means only one exit.
[23:57] <Thoth> "We could disguise the profile of this airship, and make a drop of our group in the jungle.
[23:58] <Shreya> "All of these ideas just sound like ways for me to impale myself on sharp objects. My vote is for the skiff.
[23:58] * Garret stares
[23:59] * Aaron laughs.
[23:59] * M1ss sighs heavily.
[23:59] <Aaron> "See, Shreya, I knew you had a sense of humor in there somewhere
[00:00] <Shreya> "I have a remarkably robust sense of humor, Aaron. You just don't see it a lot because most of the time I use it to mock you.
[00:00] <Garret> "Okay, so when do we leave on this skiff?
[00:00] <M1ss> "When it's dark.
[00:01] * M1ss stands and looks out the window of the cabin, watching the sun set.
[00:01] <Aaron> "Oh, you wound me," he says, with mock anguish
[00:02] <Shreya> "I'm playing the world's tiniest Vaspuccian music box for you.
[00:03] * Aaron weeps fake tears.
[00:03] * Shreya rolls her eyes and gently lobs her pomegranate in Aaron's direction before standing.
[00:03] <Shreya> "Time to kill a few hours, I guess.
[00:04] <TheDM> THAT NIGHT......
[00:05] * Aaron dodges the fruit and sits back down, digging into some sort of delicious looking meat dish.
[00:15] <TheDM> The night was black and the fog thick around the island. The skiff moved slowly through the water, silent. The island was up ahead and everyone stay still and quiet. A point of light glowed ahead. Adrius nodded at it. The skiff glided quiet through the fog and the beach came to view. Four figures huddled around the campfire, cooking a fish over a stick. Adrius notched his bow and nodded at them.
[00:17] <TheDM> The figures hadn't noticed the encroaching boat. All four of them wore long hooded cloaks, black in color and rough in make, and two of them had goblin firelocks slung over their shoulder. A few spears were laying in the sand, swords on all of their belts. Above them, the dark rolling clouds cracked and lit up the beach for a second. The four figures were all human and looked rather cold.
[00:18] <M1ss> Miss slipped into the water without making a sound, shadows wrapping around her as she approached the campfire
Initiative
Thoth
Kavaki
Miss
Shreyva
Adrius
Beach Sentries - Not acting due to surprise round!
Garret
Karamir
Aaron - ??? No initiative roll so going last
[Next Up: Shreya][On Deck: Adrius]
[Next Up: Adrius] [On Deck: Garret]
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[Up Next: Garret][On Deck: Karamir]
His words are words of power, seeming to reverberate and echo in the quiet night. It's not clear at whom his outburst is directed, under one of the men cries out in pain. He presses his hands against his ears, screaming, before falling to the ground, motionless.
18+10=28 vs. will (irc roll) - dude is dead.
[Up Next: Karamir][On Deck: Aaron]
3d20+9 Vs Fort 10 18 18
[Up Next: Aaron ][On Deck: Thoth ]
Attack Roll 1d20+9 12
[Next Up: Thoth][On Deck: Kavaki]
Crimson creeps across the sand, leaking from the four fallen bodies, as the fire crackles on in the quiet of the night.
Attack Roll: 1d20 + 10 = 24 | Damage Roll: 2d4 + 5 + 1d6 = 16
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"... I think we're alright," she murmurs, sheathing her weapon.
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