The sounds of waves and the smell of salty air peels you away from the torpor of sleep. Fighting a headache and a stiff back, you open your eyes just wide enough to realize you’ve been chained to a pole deep in hull of the sailing ship, The Star of Nostro.

Your last memory was sharing a Bon Voyage party with kith and kin, the ship’s captain Kristene de Keradel, her consort Dahut, and the ship’s crew. You were all celebrating your last night on your island home before departing to seek a better life working in the copper mines of Lys.

After your eyes adjust to the dark, you realize you are bound to a wooden pole with two others—three-to-a-pole—by a rusty chain shackled on your wrist.

To add to your despair is the gagging odor of rot and mold. The source of the earthy smell is not obvious. Not so for the decay: over half of the shackled aspirational miners are starting to burst from the bloat of death.

Naturally, someone shrieks out in terror. Turning towards the noise, you see one of your fettered neighbors struggling against a small black dragon! With a quick snap of its jaws, the dragon severs the man’s hand, ending his mining career (had it even begun?) in a single bite. As you struggle against your fetters, four more of them traverse the deck towards the nearest extremity.

Location: Below deck
Time: Unknown
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

If you meet or beat the dragons' init of 19, you may post ahead of them.
DC 13 str to be a chain breaker; DC 13 agi to be a chain wriggler.
This message was last edited by the GM at 22:12, Sat 18 Jan 2020.

10:24, Today: Quadrakill rolled 5 using 1d20+1.  Aine init.
10:23, Today: Quadrakill rolled 14 using 1d20.  Obtentir init.
10:22, Today: Quadrakill rolled 16 using 1d20-1.  Fouillis init.

10:26, Today: Quadrakill rolled 21 using 1d20+1.  Aine wriggle chain.
10:26, Today: Quadrakill rolled 6 using 1d20+1.  Obtenir break chain.
10:25, Today: Quadrakill rolled 3 using 1d20.  Fouillis break chain.
This message was last edited by the player at 15:27, Sun 19 Jan 2020.

Josh rolled 10 using 1d20.  Initiative.

These three poor souls are taking too long to come to their senses, and will not act just yet...

Darnius, realizing what is going on, immediately looks at the other 2 attached to the pole with him (ZoeBreal, and Dashagog).

"If we all pull at the same time, we can break free", Darnius yells.

On the count of three they all pull, but weak at fatigued from being chained up (for who knows how long), the shackled men cannot muster the strength to break free.

However, Dashagog refuses to give up, and notices a weak link in the chain. Using this to his advantage, he manages to pull free!


16:16, Today: Momentum rolled 10 using 1d20.  Dashagog Chain Breaker.
16:16, Today: Momentum rolled 4 using 1d20.  Zoebreal Chain Breaker.
16:16, Today: Momentum rolled 10 using 1d20+1.  Darnius Chain Breaker!
16:12, Today: Momentum rolled 19 using 1d20.  Init.
Dashagog burns 3 luck.
This message was last edited by the player at 21:35, Sun 19 Jan 2020.

The three strangers tied to the pole blinked awake bleary eyed at around the same time due to the shrieking, dimly recalling their revelries of the night before. Even through their addled minds they realize the danger, amidst shrieks of their own start jerking at their shackles like madmen!

The fortunes appeared to smile on Kovac, or perhaps his chain was rotted more than the others, and snapped, sending him tumbling forward. Instinctively he fumbled around for a weapon while backing away from the small dragons, lips pulled back in a rictus grin of horror!

"Guards, there any guards here?" he yammered feverishly.

---

ooc: Kovac is free!

Initiative of 20

Today: The Three Strangers rolled 7 using 1d20+1.  Alrik chain break.
Today: The Three Strangers rolled 13 using 1d20+1.  Kovac chain break.
Today: The Three Strangers rolled 7 using 1d20+1.  Zulk chain break.
Today: The Three Strangers rolled 20 using 1d20.  Initiative.

Of the fifteen awakened chattel, two, a smuggler and a fallen noble, break the link between their chains and their poles. They each now brandish lengths* of chains with which they can wield as weapons in the manner they choose (d3 dmg).

With so much temptation, the dragons choose their prey at random from among both the comotose and non-comotose livestock--with one of them having already gained its first prize.

One swivels over to the island's best-fed beggar and clamps down on an exposed thigh (1 dmg to Kat). If not for the many folds of the mendicant's wraps, he might not have lived to panhandle again.

With a crunch, the next bites at the halfling's glove-making hand--which he yanks away just in time to escape with a flesh wound (2 dmg to Twanep). With his expert glove-maker's eyes, he appraises his attacker's scaly hide and concludes its stony scales more closely adhere to the pattern of the common island iguana than a swamp-dwelling black dragon. Curiously, the scales are coated in a veneer of slime and have an earthy ting.

Pierre, the farmer, doesn't breathe his last breath as a free man (3 dmg -- kills). He is also never reunited with his prize hen. But one of the ?iguanas? has his left forearm proudly displayed between its jaws.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

?Iguanas?--Atk bite +0 melee (1d4); AC 11

*The smuggler rolls a d30 on Common Shipboard Chains table from the DCC annual supplement: Chains at Sea. The noble rolls a d30 on the Fetters of Antiquity ("Compedes Veritates Antiquitus Acceptas") tome (which is only rumored to exist).
This message was last edited by the GM at 16:09, Mon 20 Jan 2020.

Aine étrange slips effortlessly from his chains as the two who are unfortunate enough to be his friends look on in disgust.  “Am I not a beautiful dream?  One moment I am a slave, and the next... dégager!  I am free as a bird.  Am I not spectacular?  Am I not le’mazing?”

Fouillis snorts, then folds his chained hands, pretending to say a prayer of gratitude for being allowed to coexist with Aine.

“Get us out, you pompous son of a bitch!” Obtenir screams, as he nervously watches a nearby dragon.
This message was last edited by the player at 20:42, Mon 20 Jan 2020.

Kovac

"Back, back I say!" Kovac screeched, whipping his manacled chain in front of him as if to keep the creatures at bay. Desperately he looked about him for some way out of this murderhole; it seemed to him they had been bound below the deck, which meant there must be a ladder leading out. Assuming the trapdoor up top was not locked ofcourse, which it likely was meaning they would all be eaten alive!

"Someone, anyone got a light?" he called out desperately as the dragons scrabbled ever closer, one of them munching on an arm.

---

Zulkandar & Alrik

The scruffy, bearded and elder looking Zulkandar had regained much of his senses and noted in the darkness how Kovac and another of the prisoners, a dim shadow he did not know, had broken free. He turned to Alrik and said, "Pull together, with me!"

Alrik nodded back and both the men pulled, the bulkier Alrik putting his body weight into it, while the skinny Zulkandar attempted the same. With a crack both tumbled free as their chains snapped, falling forward offbalance, the heavier Alrik landing on top of Zulkandar.

---

Kovac

Hope surged into Kovac as he noted the duo he had celebrated the night before break free of their bindings. There was another, a stranger in the darkness that had freed himself along with Kovac moments earlier as well. It appeared they had a chance!

"Quick, kill the beasties and save yourselves!" he snarled at the ones who had freed themselves, trying to use rage to fight off his fear. He cracked his chain like a whip, lashing it at one of the creatures while trying to maintain distance.

---

ooc: Kovac attacks one of the dragons with his chain! Attack Roll: 18; Damage: 02 (includes +1 to damage from STR)

Before attacking Kovac will look about him to try and find a way out of their current location/deck, such as a ladder leading to a trapdoor or what have you.

Today: The Three Strangers rolled 2 using 1d3+1.  dmg.
Today: The Three Strangers rolled 18 using 1d20+1.  Attack vs dragon.
Today: The Three Strangers rolled 16 using 1d20.  Alrik chain break.
Today: The Three Strangers rolled 17 using 1d20+1.  Zulk chain break.

This message was last edited by the player at 22:31, Mon 20 Jan 2020.

Darnius yells at Dashagog, "You got free good! Now help us you fool! Don't just stand there staring at the beasts! The more we have to fight the better!"

Dashagog shaking from excitement goes to help Zoebreal break out of his chains. Together they manage to break free.

Darnius also manages to break free.

Darnius yells, "Ahaa! I'll take the ugly one!"

ooc: Darnius and Zoebreal break free
16:40, Today: Momentum rolled 17 using 2d20 with rolls of 15,2.  Dashagog help break chains of ZoeBreal.
16:39, Today: Momentum rolled 13 using 1d20+1.  Darnius break chain.

Twanep and Kat Pentak both kick frantically at the vicious reptiles.  The halfling, with his stumpy legs, has little luck, but the human is just barely able to connect.

Meanwhile, Neftas just looks at the chain around his wrist and says "I'm sure that shouldn't be there."  A moment later, it mostly isn't, save for a bit that he could still whip around if the idea occurs to him.

At the same time, a couple pillars away, two out of the three prisoners manage to wriggle free of their bindings...

Josh rolled 1,9 using 1d20,1d20.  Kicking desperately.
-Kat spends 2 Luck to make the latter roll a hit, but I don't remember what to roll for unarmed damage

Josh rolled 18 using 1d20.  Escape (N).

Josh rolled 8,13,15 using 1d20,1d20,1d20.  David's characters, rolling to escape.

It's a festival of limbs, at least from the hungry, hungry lizards' perspective, and they're not attached to any in particular, at least until they are. They attack the bipeds at random, whether they're trying to shoo them away, club them with chains, or still sleeping against their poles. Two of these sleepers die before they wake after offering their wrists to the saurians.

No guards respond to Kovac's yammers. Perhaps, Kovac could find several of them amongst the corpses in the room.

In the chaos, Kovac and others look about for a way out of this charnel house. It is definitely below deck as there is a wooden hatch on the ceiling and on deck. They look kinda massive (like they're meant to impede, rather than aid, egress), and the above one can only be accessed from … above.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

?Iguanas? Atk bite +0 melee (1d4); AC 11; HP >2
?Iguana? Alpha: -2
?Iguana? Beta: -1
?Iguana? Gamma:
?Iguana? Delta:
?Iguana? Epsilon:

# of Surviving Sleepers: 9 8 7

20:32, Today: Autarch rolled 21,17,2 using d24,d20,d4.  I5.
20:32, Today: Autarch rolled 16,7,2 using d24,d20,d4.  I4.
20:32, Today: Autarch rolled 9,4,4 using d24,d20,d4.  I3.
20:32, Today: Autarch rolled 13,18,1 using d24,d20,d4.  I2.
20:32, Today: Autarch rolled 10,7,1 using d24,d20,d4.  I1.
This message was last edited by the GM at 00:14, Thu 23 Jan 2020.

Darnius
"Now stand back as I beat the ugly outta' this lizard." Darnius, being overly-cocky, rambunctiously attacks the nearest lizard. He slashes at the lizards side with his broken chains; smiling as they split the outer substance of the monster.
"I'm here to eat meat and mine coal, and since there's no coal!..."

Zoebreal
Happy to be free, looks at the others still shackled, and feels the fear pouring from the still chained people. He rushes over to help the nearest chained, (but may still be able to help) alive bipeds.

Dashagog
Realizing the 2 doors, concludes this must be a multi-decked ship.
"Either we are food for the monsters," (not unreasonable from the smell of the rotting corpses), "or they managed to escape while being escorted. Or... maybe the ship is under attack." He peers for an obvious, "forced" sign of entry, which would eliminate the "food" theory, and dashes at the deck scuttle, hoping it's unlocked. Either way Dash RIPS at the door, thrashing to try and open.

ooc: Darnius does 2 damage (preferably to the one that already got hit)

22:32, Today: Momentum rolled 18 using 1d20.  strength check to open locked(if it is) door.
22:10, Today: Momentum rolled 2 using 1d4+1.  damage.
21:59, Today: Momentum rolled 18 using 1d20+1.  Darnius attack.
This message was last edited by the player at 01:14, Sun 26 Jan 2020.

With no help whatsoever from their ‘friend,’ Fouillis and Obtenir have another go at breaking their chains before they end up as lizard snacks.  The former fails rather spectacularly, while the latter succeds.  Now he must choose between attacking Aine or doing battle with the black dragons...

01:44, Today: Quadrakill rolled 13 using 1d20+1.  Obtenir break chains.
01:44, Today: Quadrakill rolled 1 using 1d20.  Fouillis break chains.

Meanwhile, Aine swings his chain like it’s attached to his body.

“En guard!  Take that... and that!  When when le spoken to, filthy dragons!  I’ll teach you to keep a man from his wine!”

01:48, Today: Quadrakill rolled 2 using 1d3.  (modified to zero!) Damage.
01:48, Today: Quadrakill rolled 17 using 1d20.  Aine to hit w/ chain.

While struggling to break free, Fouillis trips... he'll spend next round getting back up.
This message was last edited by the player at 15:56, Wed 22 Jan 2020.

Zoebreal decides to help Fouillis, realizing he can't break free.

ooc: Zoebreal breaks Fouillis free

Zulkandar

Scrabbling to his feet Zulk glared about at the creepy crawlies with crazed, wide eyes. "Group up and kill them, three to a lizard!" he announced, swinging wildly with his chain. Unfortunately, not really being a fighting man of any sort, Zulks chain whipped around him, tying him up and nearly taking off his own head.

ooc: Fumble. Fumble Result: 03 (-2 penalty on next attack roll)

---

Kovac

The resourceful Kovac spotted a trapdoor up top and shouted this fact to everyone. He then took another lunge at the serpent he had smacked earlier, whipping his chain at its scaly, slithery hide. "Someone try and open that damn door!" he screamed.

ooc: Attack: 15; Damage: 02 (@ same Iguana he attacked last round)

---

Alrik

Alrik was finding it hard to get his bearings in the dark and simply tried to follow what the others were doing around him. Sadly this meant he did little save flail at the air with his chain.

Attack: 05

---

“Diex aye!” Claude screams, swinging clumsily at a dragon, using his former fetter as a weapon.  He uses so much strength that he disarms himself!

10:56, Today: Quadrakill rolled 5 using 1d6.  Bonus damage. (Total damage 7)
10:54, Today: Quadrakill rolled 0 using 1d4-2.  Claude crit roll.
10:52, Today: Quadrakill rolled 2 using 1d8-2.  Claude damage.

0 or less Force of blow shivers your weapon free of your
grasp. Inflict +1d6 damage with this strike and
you are disarmed.

This message was last edited by the player at 15:58, Thu 23 Jan 2020.

With panic in his voice, Kat shouts Neftas, strike this one!  The dwarf obliges, whipping his chain at the monster which his companion had kicked a moment ago, but striking with little force against its scales.  At the same time, Kat pulls hard and manages to break free of his own chains.  Twanep is unable to do the same, and remains bound and threatened for the time being.

Josh rolled 3,17 using 1d20,1d20.  Escape (T, K).

Josh rolled 14 using 1d20-1.  Attack (correct dice this time).
-Josh rolled 0 using 1d3-1.  Damage.  But at least that still rounds up to 1.

Gnori

Gnorii woke to darkness, despair and terror. Somehow he freed himself in a stupor, and followed the lead of the other survivors, lashing out with a manacled chain.

He had never been a strong man, or even a weak one, feeble was the word most used to describe him. Still, he was quick and managed to (barely) connect with one of the lizards with the slavering teeth.

---

Attack: 15; Damage: 01


22:25, Today: The Four Strangers rolled -1 using 1d3-2.  damage.
22:25, Today: The Four Strangers rolled 15 using 1d20+1.  Gnori attack.

To Dashagog, everything appears to be in shipshape order, fetor of decomposition not withstanding. The cargo hatch resists his admittedly mighty effort. It would take, he surmises, the efforts of multiple men to lift this hatch. As for the overhead hatch, it is not accessible from this deck. The hold is secure.

The last of the lounge lunges at Darnius's terribly exposed chain arm--just as it's locked in full extension after fatally flogging beta. Though it is only three feet long, a third of that length is dedicated to head, snout, jaw, and incisors. Clamp! Rend! Triumph! Beta displays the diehard coal miner's arm in its jaws. The blood drains from the aspirational picker's face and he drops to the deck, dead.

The brains and the whores never survive, and it is for the survivors to conclude which was Darnius.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

?Iguanas? Atk bite +0 melee (1d4); AC 11; HP 3
?Iguana? Alpha: -2 --killed by Kovac
?Iguana? Beta: -1  --killed by Darnius
?Iguana? Gamma: -2 --killed by Gnori
?Iguana? Delta:
?Iguana? Epsilon:  --killed by le Clod

# of Surviving Sleepers: 9 8 7

19:16, Today: Autarch rolled 4,20,4 using d21,d20,d4.  Delta .

Twanep continues struggling, and curses his luck - clearly he has the smallest wrists here, what with being a halfling, and yet he seems to be the only one who still can't pull free of his manacles.

Kat and Neftas, having already broken free, now do their best to thrash the nearest reptile with their chains.

Josh rolled 6 using 1d20.  Escape (T)

Josh rolled 19,18 using 1d20,1d20.  Attacks. (I forgot to add the Str penalty for Nef, but even so he still gets an 18)
-Josh rolled 1,3 using 1d3-1,1d3.

As Fouillis gets back up, his comrades swing their chains like there’s no tomorrow.  (And for some of them, there might not be...)

09:59, Today: Quadrakill rolled 1 using 1d8-2.  Le damage au’ Clod.
09:58, Today: Quadrakill rolled 14 using 1d20-2.  Claude to hit.
09:58, Today: Quadrakill rolled -3 using 1d4-4.  Le damage.
09:58, Today: Quadrakill rolled 19 using 1d20.  Aine to hit.
09:57, Today: Quadrakill rolled 9 using 1d8+1.  Le damage.
09:57, Today: Quadrakill rolled 16 using 1d20+1.  Obtenir to hit.
This message was last edited by the player at 15:00, Sat 25 Jan 2020.

After Kat and Neftas team up to slay the last member of the lounge, other fall upon the corpses with their chains, breaking their bony hides and spraying themselves with corpse meat until their limbs hang loose and their pants echo throughout the deck.

The festival of limbs is over. There is evidence of the celebration of another.

Some of chained passengers are disemboweled, while others have bled out from a missing hand or foot. The entire area reeks of death and an earthy musk.

Among the dead are two of the crew. Their faces are covered with cloth masks resembling large bird beaks. They are slumped on top of a coffin-sized box in the center of the berthing. Their hands are gripped to the lid of the box in their death pose, and their swords remain sheathed at their sides.

A narrow ladder leads to the deck above. There are two large cargo hatches, one overhead and one in the deck.

The light of dawn filters in through the opening for the ladder. You can hear the sound of clucking and bleating from above deck and the force of a steady wind, propelling the ship onward.

Location: Human Livestock Hold
Time: Dawn

Cheered by the death of the creepy crawlies, Kovac immediately fell upon the fallen sailors and began stripping them of their swords. One he immediately grasped in a hand while the other he tossed to Alrik. He then began patting down the sailors in search of anything that might be of use in their pockets.

"I've never used a sword before!" Alrik sputtered, barely avoiding stabbing himself as he grasped the blade.

"Learn fast if you want to live," Kovac snarled back. The smuggler wasn't a swordsman himself, but it didn't take a genius to know you had to stick 'em with the pointy end. And a few feet of pointy steel between you and certain, horrible death couldn't hurt.

"Good, now both of you be sure to stay in front of me with your swords!" Zulkandar squawked, peering at the corpses of the crew-members, and at the box they clutched in their death grips in particular. "I wonder what's in there, maybe its our stuff?"

Gnori was silent, but stared at the cargo hatches in mute appeal. "We should get together and force one of those open," he finally observed, staring at all the survivors in turn.

Dashagog
Hearing Gnori's rhetoric words come across his ears, gives a silent eye-roll, and replies, "Yes, yes, let's do that. This one first I suppose, since I'm already here. I have concluded we are the nourishment for these foul beasts." He says, wondering if he has ever seen a monster like this before. "The doors were clearly opened and locked by something with opposable thumbs. Probably the clacking we hear coming from above. Not that the rank smell of decaying flesh, or the metallic smell of iron in our comrades flowing blood appeases me in anyway, but I'm not sure we are ready to go up a ladder, 1-by-1, into whatever can control these things. I think we should formulate a plan first. In the meantime, let's open this door. I can't imagine they put anything more important than meat fodder below our deck. I'm Dash btw."

Zoebreal
Rushes over to help Dash open the door. "I'm not much of a fighter, but maybe we could hide on the side until they open the door to retain the lizards, and when they come in, we AMBUSH them! Of course, maybe we should wait to see what's in that box before we make any rash decisions. good to meet you Dash, I'm Zoe."

They both try vigorously to open the hatch.
This message was last edited by the player at 01:49, Sun 26 Jan 2020.

Neftas strolls cheerfully through the carnage to the large box and, without a second thought (or possibly even a first one) pushes it open.  Or at least tries to.

Kat, meanwhile, is left to help Twanep out of his chains on his own.

As his companions rush over to see what’s in the box, Aine examines the bodies of the dead lizards.  Could their bodies be hollowed out and used as disguises, perhaps?  He thinks this is a brilliant idea, which is unsurprising since he came up with it.

Alrik and Kovac help themselves to the dead sailors' short swords, each imagining bravado will pass for skill. While they don't find anything else useful on their persons, they learn that their cloth masks are filled with coffee beans.

Zul, the healer, possesses knowledge of anatomy and examines the corpses of the two crew members to learn more about the cause of death. Unlike Darnius, they still have their full complement of limbs. It's the internal organs that can't be fully accounted for: each lacks a liver. Fascinating, assuming Zul finds such things to be so.

Gnori, Dash, and Zoe all attempt the mighty feat of opening the cargo hatch*, Dash's sarcasm, formidable as it was, having failed to do so.

Aine appraises the quintet of dead saurians as though he were a trapper or taxidermist. Since he knows nothing of such trades, he concludes, sure, yeah, I've got this. Little bits of still sizzling membrane and slime, which he notices now that the festival has concluded, attached to their hides do give him pause. So would, one imagine, the lack of a tanner and tanner's workshop.

Neftas pries the fingers off the lid of the box the sailors died trying to close and blithely opens it. He beholds manure, soil, and mushrooms and inhales a most stupefying aroma .

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Location: Human Livestock Hold
Time: Dawn + 5

*3 characters need to succeed at DC 12 Str checks to open the hatch. Each attempt takes 5 minutes.
This message was last edited by the GM at 00:36, Tue 28 Jan 2020.

Fouillis utilizes his expertise as a professional chest-maker as he carefully examines the box.  Does he notice anything suspicious and perhaps indicative of a trap?

Ontenir looks for something he can use to probe the soil and manure.  Meanwhile, Claude tries to help get the hatch open.

Being a superior being, Aine has different priorities.  He grabs a handful of coffee beans and begins chewing them one at a time.

14:15, Today: Quadrakill rolled 18 using 1d20.  Claude strength check.

Fouillis examines the chest for any traps yet to be sprung and bumps noses with Neftas while doing so

Ontenir scavenges the gore-slick deck for a digging implement (DC 10 luck roll).

Zul, even though preoccupied with his abdominal cavity search, scents the stupefying odor and peers towards the opened box (DC Int check (healing) to identify it).

Three of the islanders all strain to lift the cargo hatch, wedging their fingers in wherever apertures allow. Twice fingers go for the same opening, causing embarrassment for their owners. After all of the digits have settled in, the hatch starts to rise--when Dash's left foot, braced against one of the poles, starts to slide past on a pool of viscera.*

Meanwhile, Aine insouciantly tosses one coffee bean after another into his mouth.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

*For this attempt to succeed, Dash would need to burn 3 points of luck. Alternatively, another attempt could be made after they have recovered from this one (5 minutes per attempt).
This message was last edited by the GM at 01:07, Tue 28 Jan 2020.

Until very recently, Neftas was a pig farmer.  The contents of this box do not threaten him in the slightest.  He grabs a mushroom and sniffs to see if it's edible, then digs down for the more interesting contents he is sure are hidden beneath the dirt.  He is perfectly content to dig with his hands if Ontenir doesn't find something better for him.

02:40, Today: Quadrakill rolled 12 using 1d20+1.  Obtenir luck roll.

Even as he announced the missing organs of the dead sailors, Zulkandar was arms deep in their bloody inner cavities, trying to check if there were any other body parts missing. "Very strange," he muttered out loud.

It was true Zul had often 'experimented' on his patients, a fascination with blood, bone and pain having been the reason he had been apprenticed into the healer's profession in the first place, a practice, along with other 'interests' he had taken morbidly too far until he had been driven out of his village.

"It seems we may have a sorcerer on board, or someone collecting body parts to sell to a sorcerer," he remarked to the others, not divulging how he knew about such things. "It is possible we were abducted for this very purpose as well, for the harvesting of our internal organs," the skinny man added in a tone intermingled with disgust, anger and even a faint bit of praise for some strange reason.

His attention was diverted then upon smelling the faint whiff of a stupefying odor, and his brow wrinkled as he tried to recognize it. As a precaution he moved back away from the opened box quickly, gesturing at Kovac, Alrik & Gnori to do likewise, as well as anyone else paying attention. No telling what foul gases could be let lose from their sealed captivity in the box in this foul place.

---

Int Check: 08

Obtenir discovers a Klabautermann-branded back scratcher near the dead sailors. The grinning kobold of the seas promises to reach every crevice, provided you have a partner. It has a small warning chiseled in an inconvenient place: vigorous scratching may result in catastrophic splintering.

That's the thing about pig farmers: they don't practice fungiculture. As Neftas' dwarf digits delve deep into the nightsoil in search of coins below, his head starts to feel heavy...

Those foul gasses do rise forth from the coffin-shaped box and filter throughout the room, with stupefying, dizzying, and possibly even worse effects.

Luck is with three of the islanders and they raise the cargo hatch with the gasses billowing about them.*

Everybody in the human livestock hold must make a DC 20 Fort save**. All except for Aine who feels pretty caffeinated.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
*DC 10 reflex check to drop down to the deck below and avoid stupefaction or worse.
**+4 for The Four Strangers

Aine rushes to his friends, urging them to try these magnificent coffee beans!  They might not be worthy of them, but he greatly prefers to keep them alive...

13:22, Today: Quadrakill rolled 11 using 1d20-2.  Calude fort save.
13:22, Today: Quadrakill rolled 6 using 1d20.  Obtenir fort save.
13:21, Today: Quadrakill rolled 4 using 1d20.  Fouillis fort save.
This message was last edited by the player at 18:24, Wed 29 Jan 2020.

Though forewarned by Zulkandar it appeared it was too late, the gasses were already swirling around them, invisible tendrils of doom & decay. They would have to be very lucky to survive this...

---

Fort Saves: 

Zulkandar:16
Kovac: 05
Alrik: 06 (+1 from Guardian Angel for a total of 07)
Gnori: 17

Note: Zulkandar & Gnori will burn their luck to make their saves, unless it is obvious failing the saves will not result in death. So -4 luck for Zulk, & -3 for Gnori. Upon making the saves they will drag Kovac and Alrik who were affected by the gas to the cargo hatch and jump down with them, assuming being affected doesn't mean the latter two are dead.


This message was last edited by the player at 20:03, Thu 30 Jan 2020.

Neftas breathes deep, and quickly succumbs.  Further away in the hold, his companions Twanep and Kat Pentak are not far behind.

Josh rolled 3,7,2 using 1d20-1,1d20+1,1d20.  Fort - N, T, K.

Dice roller is apparently punishing me for springing the trap.  Fair enough.

Zoe and Dash both jump through the open cargo hatch. Curiosity at their fingertips. Zoe feels the not-so-fresh air rush into her depleted lungs. Distracted from the gas, she also loses her grip on the fall, and crashes without any balance. Dash, however, was more than happy to get away from the stench of death, and immediately looks around at his surroundings upon arrival.


17:14, Momentum rolled 2d20, unique dice with rolls of 3,13.  Zoe and Dash reflex.
17:12, Momentum rolled 20 using 1d20.  Dash fort roll.
17:12, Momentum rolled 2 using 1d20.  Zoe Fort roll.

No sooner had they awakened to the merrymaking of the Festival of Limbs, but a nonet of islanders had succumbed to the fungal gasses and found themselves in a "Deep Shroom Sleep Coma." Gnori saves himself by donning one of the bird-shaped masks and Zul saves himself by burying his head in … well … some cavity or other. Meanwhile, Aine, the coffee bean fairy, flits about the hold offering his beans to all takers. Zul and Gnori, at least, are in a position to provide consent should they choose to do so--and should Aine believe consent must be obtained. Is there a maritime law against non-consensual coffee bean insertion?

Claude, Dash, and Zoe all vault through the hatch to the deck below, with two of the three agilely sliding down the ladder before planting their feet on wood. Zoe hooks his foot in a rung and windmills the rest of the descent, with the head part of the windmill clipping a crate near the bottom of the ladder at the end. His body twitches a few times and blood pools around his head (Zoe takes 3 pts of falling damage and dies). The contact with the crate made barely any noise at all.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Location: Human Livestock Hold
Time: Dawn + 10

The narrow ladder from the main deck descends further into the ship’s cargo hold. The area is dark and cramped, and smells of yeast, rot, and whale oil.

The filtered light of dawn fails to reach this far down below.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Location: Below the Human Livestock Hold
Present: Claude and Dash
Dead: Zoe
Time: Dawn + 10

Gnori took one of the proffered beans from Aine and popped it into his mouth. Zulkandar snatched one as well from the floor of the deck where he dove to avoid the gas and chomped on it hard. Both had seen Aine somehow able to avoid being knocked out by the gas after eating the bean, so it was a no brainer, personal preferences for caffeine & beans aside.

"Let's get these lumps down below and wake them up," Zulk said to Gnori, gesturing towards Alrik and Kovac, both of whom were lying on the deck, Alrik even snoring loudly.

Zulk sheathed both of their swords into their belts before taking Kovac's legs and dragging him towards the now open hatch. Gnori did the same with Alrik's prone form.

As they reached the hatch Zulk glanced down and said, "We have to get them down without hurting them our ourselves. I say we both pick each of these ingrates and carry them down the ladder carefully."

Gnori simply nodded mutely, letting go of Alrik's legs and picking up Kovac by his shoulders, while Zul held Kovac by his legs. Then carefully they began descending down the steps into the deck down below.

---

Zul & Gnori will pick up and take Kovac and then Alrik down the stairs carefully, taking their sweet time, lest any of them slip, fall and break their neck or something.

Aine must have been a loving mother bird in a past life, because he chews up a whole mouthful of coffee beans and then spits some of the brown frothy mess into each of the mouths of his slumbering companions, starting with the three oafs he knows best.  After treating his last patient, he swallows the rest and cries, “Le doctor supreme!”

Location: Human Livestock Hold
Time: Dawn + 15

The self-titled "Le Doctor Supreme" and self-annointed mother bird surrogate watches the gullets of his three chicks. They don't move. The frothy goop, fortunately administered in small quantities, bubbles through their lips and down their chin with each exhalation.

Neftas remains slumped over the coffin-shaped chest from which the fungal gasses continue to emerge. The two sailors, who had died just after closing its lid, now lie dead at its base.

Any number of other islanders, named and nameless, remain in their comas.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Location: Below the Human Livestock Hold
Present: Claude, Dash, Zulk and Gnori
Dead: Zoe
Time: Dawn + 15

Skill Check: DC 5 str for Zulk and Gnori to lower Kovak and Alrik from the HLH to this deck.

The narrow ladder from the main deck descends further into the ship’s cargo hold. The area is dark and cramped, and smells of yeast, rot, and whale oil.

As Claude and Dash's eyes adjust to the darkness, they can make out more of this cargo area:

The entire area is crowded with crates and barrels carefully stacked and tied together. Along the bulkheads of the ship, tied down with numerous ropes and elaborate knots, are several masts, sails and other items in order to repair the ship while at sea.

Gnori and Zul carried the bodies of their comrades down the steps as carefully as they could. They took Kovac down first, and found the going to be easy enough, albeit perilous due to the dark and the strenuous events they had been through.

Laying Kovac down on the floor of the deck below they climbed back up and began to bring Alrik down. The fatigue of the past few minutes as well as the gassy air appeared to be taking their toll on them though, as both Zulkandar and Gnori felt their arms burning from the strain.

Zulkandar was able to power through the pain by sheer willpower, but Gnori found his arms beginning to give out as they moved down the steps carrying the snoring Alrik.

"Hurry!" he hissed to Zul, trying to move faster.

---

Str Checks I (Carrying Kovac): Zulkandar: 14; Gnori: 05;

Str Checks II (Carrying Alrik): Zulkandar: 18; Gnori: 0

Gnori will burn 5 points of luck to make his second Str check a success

Seeing that his patients are stubbornly refusing to respond to treatment, Le Doctor Supreme resorts to slapping them while signing his name on their foreheads with a spit-coated finger.  He will stop at nothing to restore his friends to health!

In a corner of the hold two more unfortunates awake, rather belatedly, from their unfortunate slumber.

Olfred

Waking up in chains is not an entirely new experience for Olfred, although lately they had been more metaphorical than physical. These chains are sadly quite physical, but with a quick twist of his sadly not very muscular arms, he is able to wriggle out of them.

Endo

Endo awakens at the moment Olfred shakes off his chains in a disappointingly non-dramatic fashion. He takes a moment to survey the room, which is mostly composed of bodies, either appearing to be dead or literally dead. This is a somewhat familiar sight for him, and he briefly considers the sadness of so many corpses as yet unburied. Briefly. Then he realizes he is himself in chains, and with a mighty yell and strain, he completely fails to break them.


23:11, Today: Coily rolled 5 using 1d20+1.  Endo break chain.

23:10, Today: Coily rolled 16 using 1d20+1. Olfred wriggle chain.

Location: Human Livestock Hold/Below the Livestock Hold
Time: Dawn + 20

Despite the ferocity of the good doctor's ministrations, the sleepers refuse to stir, that is until they do. As Aine signs his name to Le'Blanc's forhead, Obtenic's eyes blink open. The man leans forward and expels the last of caffeine-rich pap. So to does Le'Blanc - Bonk! -- and two foreheads crash together. Nef, Twan, and Kat awaken as well but with significantly less trauma.

Eventually, enough of the islanders put their heads together to liberate the newly awakened man and shut the chest, lest more poisonous gasses permeate the room.

A few more minutes pass and everybody has had a chance to clear their heads. There isn't much to hear beyond the creaking of the ship and occasional breaking of a wave against its bow.

During this time, you remember some ripe rumours from your Bon Voyage party.

When ready, you can descend the ladder to join the others in the cramped cargo berth below or ascend a ladder to the deck above.
This message was last edited by the GM at 03:29, Thu 06 Feb 2020.

Twanep vaguely recalls someone having checked the hatch above, but he was preoccupied at the time.  So he climbs up now and listens for any activity up top, or any other audible indication of what might be up there.

The eyes of the islanders fully adjust to the dim lighting of the cargo and crew's berthing, the light of dawn having been all but exhausted when it reached this level.

The narrow ladder from the main deck descends into the ship’s cargo hold. The area is dark and cramped, and smells of yeast, rot, and whale oil. The entire area is crowded with crates and barrels carefully stacked and tied together. Along the bulkheads of the ship, tied down with numerous ropes and elaborate knots, are several masts, sails and other items in order to repair the ship while at sea.

Both fore and aft, you see many posts with rows of hammocks fastened between them. The crew’s lockers are neatly stacked against the port and starboard bulkheads. Five unlit lanterns sway over the bunks.

Several corpses of sailors lie rotting on the deck. Like the others you’ve seen, they are bloated and rancid, and appear to have been disemboweled. Rats feeding on the corpse’s extremities scurry away as you approach.

Exits include a ladder leading upwards, the cargo hatch overhead, and a smaller closed hatch in the deck.
This message was last edited by the GM at 21:08, Fri 07 Feb 2020.

This message was deleted by the player at 22:03, Fri 07 Feb 2020.

Kovac and Alrik came too, and immediately took stock of their surroundings. Snatching their swords from Zul and Gnori, they started poking about the lockers trying to find anything of value.

Zul gazed at the dead sailors with their missing organs with morbid interest. "We need to figure out who has been gutting these poor lads, for whoever it is, is likely still aboard," he warned the others out loud.

---

ooc: Kovac and Alrik will search the lockers and hammocks for anything of interest.

Feeling that there is strength in numbers, the Quad Squad descends into the dismal cargo hold, joining the others.  Aine promptly finds a hammock to lounge in, and Claude tries to figure out a way to light one of the lanterns.  Fouillis and Obtenir help search the lockers, and otherwise try to make themselves useful.

Dash has another thought aloud, "How long have we been on this ship? Were the 'shrooms keeping us asleep? No one naturally sleeps that long." He thinks about how the Bird masked men were slumped over the open crate, and about how long it takes a body to bloat. "Why aren't we dead like the others? Could it be that we looked dead, and the killer ignored our slumped over bodies as we dreamt'?" So many questions. "And WHY ARE THESE DAMNED LIZARDS ON THIS SHIP!"

He heads over to the smaller hatch in the deck, already expecting it to be locked, and rips at it to open.
This message was last edited by the player at 01:40, Sat 08 Feb 2020.

“You might want to wait until we’ve searched the room to do that,” Aine says as he rocks gently side to side in his hammock.  “Just a thought.”

After an absurdly long time struggling and flailing, Endo manages to finally break free from his chains. Olfred, his companion, has been watching in amusement. "Glad you managed get out at last. We should probably get a move on, there are other people on this ship."

With haste and some degree of nausea, Olfred and Endo join the others below in the cargo hold.

--


13:27, Today: Coily rolled 18 using 1d20+1.  Endo break chain.
13:26, Today: Coily rolled 7 using 1d20+1.  Endo break chain.

Using a bit of common sense, the searchers wait for Claude to light one of the swaying lanterns. Retrieving a Klabautermann (TM) fire stick from a barrel full of them, he lights the wick and there is light and shadow in the hold. The stick then spontaneously splinters in his hand, lodging a deep one in his left pinky. It'll probably become infected without field surgery. Is there a … Doctor Supreme … on the ship?

Dash opens the floor hatch and peers below at what could only be the ship's bilge. It's filled with water save for the platform the ladder from the hatch leads to.

Studiously avoiding the meticulously secured crates, barrels, and spare sails and such for the nonce, Fouillis and Obtenir open a couple of the (unlocked) lockers. The dwarven chest-maker opens one and discovers: steel helmet, a small hammer, and a smattering of coppers (26). As he scoops up the coppers, he wonders if he might find something else within.

The wheat farmer finds one vial pf holy water (1 vial), club, and a backpack. He roots about in the backpack for another something maybe.

The smuggler also picks another locker at random, finding 32 coppers, a staff, a crowbar, and no pet sow.

Lastly, the cheesemaker gets a grappling hook and a mess of coppers (36) from his chosen locker.

Up above high on the ladder leading to the ship's deck, Twanep hears what sounds like barnyard above. And scraping, long sustained scrapes.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Location: Cargo and Crew's Berthing (two levels below deck)
Time: Past Dawn
Lockers: Anybody who opens a locker should make a DC 10 luck check.
This message was last edited by the GM at 03:27, Sun 09 Feb 2020.

Claude begs for medical attention, but Le Doctor Supreme is indignant.  He still hasn’t paid the bill for the last time!  And he has no insurance!  What does he think this is, a charity ward?  But Aine finally condescends to remove the sliver for him, if only someone will be kind enough to lend him a small hammer for this purpose.

Meanwhile, Fouillis dons the steel helmet, then tests it by rattling his length of chain against it.  Having done this, he lets out a rebel yell.

Obtenir keeps digging through the backpack, greedy for every item he can find (including the backpack).

Claude swallows hard and prepares to take his medicine.

Dash, peering into the dark, bilge looking, opening informs everyone, "Looks like we might of found the last deck. This might be better locked up. Too much water, and after what we've witnessed here I'm definitely too worried to question what may or nay be down there."

Dash proceeds to close and lock the door. He looks for a wedge or something heavy, whatever makes more sense for the type of hatch.

"Looks like we are headed up. Let's gather what we can."

Dash joins the others in searching lockers.

rolled 1 using 1d20-1.  Dash opening lockers.

Olfred observes the others eagerly rummaging through lockers. "What is even happening here? Who are all you people? What are we doing?"

Without looking back, Endo strolls over to an unopened locker and yanks on the door. "What we're doing is getting the fuck out of here. Ask fewer questions and grab anything useful you can find."

With a shrug, Olfred reaches for a locker of his own.

--


21:25, Today: Coily rolled 18 using 1d20+1.  Endo locker search.
21:25, Today: Coily rolled 16 using 1d20.  Olfred locker search.
This message was last edited by the player at 19:33, Sun 09 Feb 2020.

The four strangers chose their lockers and began rummaging through them with abandon, hoping to find something, anything of use. After the lockers they also foraged through as much of the rest of the cargo in the hold as they could reach.

---

Search checks: Not sur ewhich attribute to use as a modifier, probably intelligence but not sure. So I'm rolling flat d20s for all my peeps, except Kovac who gets the +2 bonus from his background.

Kovac: 12; Zul: 05; Alrik: 05; Gnori: 17.

“Never fear, mon amie,” Aine tells angsty Olfred as he gently swings in his hammock and blows on his nails.  “I have all le answers.”

Kat Pentak joins the others down below, checking the lockers for anything useful.  He tells Neftas to follow him, and he tells Twanep that he will try to grab something for him too, if there is anything left to grab.

Twanep, meanwhile, climbs a little further up the ladder and peeks up just enough to look over the top deck and hopefully spot the sources of all the various sounds.  He hopes that his small size will be enough to keep him out of view while he looks around.

Josh rolled 18 using 1d20.  N opens a locker for himself.
Josh rolled 14 using 1d20.  K opens a locker for himself.
Josh rolled 10 using 1d20.  K opens a locker for T (if permitted).

The islanders finish plundering the lockers and find all of their non-living belongings. Whether they are restored to their rightful owners is another matter.

Dash thinks a crowbar would be just the thing to secure the hatch leading to the bilge, if its current handler is willing.

Additionally, Olfred and Endo find a little something extra: a set of giant dolphin teeth (8 sp) and flute shaped to resemble a spindly Klabautermann, with the mouth piece right somewhere below the belt and above his knobby knees (12 sp).

The smuggler secures the crates next to, above, behind, and just too close for comfort before opening his chosen one. It's filled with...yak pelts? WTF? Likewise, but with even more dexterity, Gnori does the same and finds a crate filled with foodstuff: dried dolphin steaks, plantains, peas, lemons, and more.

Alrik and Zulk, though, lack the nautical chops to secure the crates. Alrik knocks an adjacent one with his elbow, hears a *thwip* as a tightly bound rope slips its mooring at the same time Zulk clumsily kicks a box below his intended... (DC 13 reflex saves for Alrik and Zulk).

There does seem to be some confusion about Claude's insurance coverage. While he had been eligible for AlvizHealth, as are all Alviz residents who earn less than 30% above the federal poverty guidelines (so all of them), it would appear that he failed to provide AlvizHealth with a job update form before embarking on his career as an aspirational miner. These are things the Squire of Alviz had never considered; his page had always seen to his paperwork. Unless there is a class three or higher social worker on board, Clause may indeed need to pay out of pocket.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Location: Cargo and Crew's Berthing (two levels below deck)
Time: Past Dawn

Kovac wasa taken aback at his find, but then shrugged and donned one of the Yak pelts with a flourish. Would help to keep the chill off the cold sea air, and if he got to land, well he might be able to sell it. At the very least it might offer some protections against sharp lizard teeth.

Gnori smacked his lips at the find of food, and scooped up a handful of lemons and a couple of steaks, tucking them into his pocket and belt. He looked around for something that could be used as a backpack or travel bag, or heck a sack to carry more food in.

Zul was taken aback by his own clumsiness and could not react in time to what he had set in motion. Alrik luckily did note and leapt to push Zulk and himself out of the way...

---

Zulkander REF: 05 (doesn't have enough luck to burn to make the save); Alrik REF: 07 (will burn luck to make the check).

Alrik will also try to push Zul out of the way, not sure how that will work dice-roll wise, luck roll perhaps? Zul can burn any luck if needed...

Obtenir, oblivious to the crate-tastrophy occurring nearby, continues to excavate the backpack.  If he finds nothing else worth mentioning, he puts it on.

Claude literally begs for health care on his knees, sobbing profusely until Le Doctor Supreme relents and effortlessly removes the splinter.  Then Claude helps pull his shoes off and gives him the first of many foot massages, grateful that he doesn’t have to use his tongue this time.

Fouillis drops to a three points stance and practices getting ready to ram something hostile with his helmet.
This message was last edited by the player at 22:56, Mon 10 Feb 2020.

Kat and Nef delight in their discoveries: two more Klabautermann-inspired instruments, a set of tambourines with the "Kobold of the Seas" emblazoned on their dolphin skin surfaces (12 sp) and a fiddle (11 sp). They also find a rather unsettling sample of scrimshaw (11 sp).

The subtle shift in weight caused by Zulk's kick dislodges an anchor from its netting. Before he can leap back, it lands flush on his left foot then falls forward so that it rests easily against a crate--at which point he executes his leap back a full three feet. Relief washes over him! He had thought for sure that the anchor would have pinned him in place. But why is the floor around the anchor red and why is his balance off?

Blissfully, not more than ten feet away, Aine enters the seventh heaven of reflexology.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Location: Cargo and Crew's Berthing (two levels below deck)
Time: Past Dawn
Notes: (1) Obtenir has yet to make a luck check, so it's impossible to determine if he finds anything in "his" backpack. (2) Yes, Alrik can burn one less point of luck. (3) Alrik is not yet capable of heroic feats of that magnitude. See 4. (4) Zulk takes 5 dmg and dies.
This message was last edited by the GM at 03:51, Tue 11 Feb 2020.

With an air of sadness, Olfred holds the giant dolphin teeth in hand. "Such a majestic creature to end up with bits and pieces scattered about this hell-hole. I can't imagine how, but maybe this will be useful eventually."

Endo can't be bothered to respond, fascinated instead by his new wind instrument. "Odd that there are so many musical instruments down here, right? Not much time for music in a mine." With a shrug and a noticeable lack of knowledge or talent, he attempts to play the flute.

Twanep climbs back down the ladder to find the rest of the group.  He is grateful for his things to be returned to him.  Once that is settled, he says "I found some animals on the top deck.  Some dead sailors, too, with swords.  Don't know what killed them though.  I'm going to go find out, before it finds us down here.  Who else is coming?"

Kat stoically agrees to join him, and Nef follows as well, grinning all the way.

After locking the hatch to the bilge,  Dash joins the others headed up the ladder. He grabs the nearest useful looking thing and heads up.

"What is le matter with you?" Aine says in response to Twanep's call to arms.  "Can't you see that I'm taking le nap?  Dead sailors are of no interest to me... they don't pay doctor bills!"  But he changes his mind as Claude abandons his foot massage post and heads up.  He is frustrated at having to put on his shoes by himself, however.  Fouillis also heeds the call, but Obtenir is still trying to discover a new Canadian species of tyrannosaur in the backpack.

13:42, Today: Quadrakill rolled 13 using 1d20+1.  Obtenir luck check.
This message was last edited by the player at 18:45, Tue 11 Feb 2020.

"Perhaps we should get out of here before we experience any more crate-related deaths," Olfred suggests helpfully and redundantly, then heads up to the next level with the others. Endo follows behind, making a (hopefully not literally) ungodly racket on his newfound flute, like some cursed drummer boy going into battle.

Kovac and Alrik shook their heads in shock at Zulkandar's sudden death. Gnori was horrified and scared, but tried to appear brave.

"Lets get out of here," he remarked, echoing Olfred's words, and the trio took whatever items of interest they could loot from Zul's corpse and headed up with the others.

You stand on the main deck of the ship. The ocean stretches sightless in all directions around you beneath an eerie red sky. Despite loose sails, the ship moves smoothly along in the water under a fair wind. High on the mainmast above, you see the ship’s unmanned crow’s nest.

The two-handed lever of the ship’s bilge pump is affixed near the port side of the ship. The ship’s animal livestock is on this deck, but many of the cages have been jostled open. Chickens, pigs, and a few goats wander the deck aimlessly, happily clucking and bleating. As they roam, you notice a trail of slimy mucus clings to their feet and hooves.

Three sailors with swords near their bodies lie dead on the deck. Based on their pallor and lividity, you’d guess they’ve been dead at least 24 hours.

There are four doors leading into cabins (two port and two aft), and separate ladders leading up to the fo’c’sle and poop deck. Another ladder leads down to the deck from which you awakened, and a second narrower ladder descends deeper into the ship (the one you ascended from the Crew's Berths). Sail rigging can be climbed to the crow’s nest above.

After Neftas clambers onto deck, one of the pigs thunders towards the group and him in particular.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Location: Main Deck
Time: Past Dawn
Notes: (1) Obtenir finds an ivory comb (10 sp) (2) The bilge has been sealed from the rest o the ship. (3) Not matter how diligently Endo diddles with his flute he can produce little more than discordant notes and dyspnea. (4) Prob go with a Pied Piper reference rather than  a little drummer boy one--at least they're both wind instruments (but I still like the though of the eerie drummer)
This message was last edited by the GM at 16:51, Wed 12 Feb 2020.

Dash begins to take in the salty sea air, but is startled by the rushing creature. "More dead sailors! What does it mean? Could 'le doctor' possibly diagnose those deaths?" Dash heads towards the aft doors, choosing the 1 to his right.

Seeing the goats, Fouillis lets out a cry of joy, scratches his helmet and then runs up to one and tries to mount it (the way John Wayne would mount a horse).

Aine marches up the steps to the fanciest-looking cabin door and beats on it with both fists, insisting that he is Le Capitan and demanding the finest cheese and wine as tribute.

Claude prepares to fight the aggressive pig, if need be.

Meanwhile, Obtenir combs his hair as he climbs up slowly to the main deck, humming an old nursery rhyme as he goes.

Neftas shouts "Porcelina!" and spreads his arms to catch the charging pig in a warm embrace.  Clearly things are looking better for the dwarf now than they were an hour ago.  For the pig too, from the look of it.

Kat, meanwhile, walks over to the dead sailors and picks up one of the swords.  He examines it briefly, but his old life as a beggar didn't exactly teach him what he should look for.  Eventually he decides he is satisfied and starts looking over the bodies for a sheath or belt he can take.

"More dead bodies. Awesome," Endo mutters to himself. Then, seemingly on autopilot, he meanders towards the nearest corpse and starts searching it for anything interesting.

Olfred, with an air of confusion, wanders over to pet the nearest goat.

Those islanders who listened closely would have heard the dwarf chanting to himself...

"No, I would not give you false hope
On this strange and mournful day
But the dwarf and sow reunion
Is only a motion away, oh, little darling of mine"

...before Neftas shouts "Porcelina!" and spreads his arms to catch the charging pig in a warm embrace.

Yes, it is a dwarf and pig reunion.

Perhaps jealous, Olfred, the (re)indentured servant, looks to befriend one of the three goats. Pity the man isn't a goatherd with a fistful of hay or leather straps or whatever.

Endo trots over to the three dead sailors who all died fighting … something. That something seems to have burrowed in their midsections in search of … livers, a phenomenon already noted by the real doctor.

Meanwhile Aine pounds on the fanciest of the doors (aft-portside) to obtain his tribute, so he can continue his scrimshanking in style. None is forthcoming. Just to the right of him, Dash opens the other door, the grease-stained one, (aft-starboardside) and looks in on the ship's galley.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Location: Main Deck
Time: Past Dawn
Exits: A-P Door->Captain's quarters, judging by the door.
A-S Door -> Galley
Stern-Port Door -> ??
Stern-Starboard Door -> ??
Ladder to fo’c’sle
Ladder to poop deck

There are a lot of exits. You should probably split up into six groups.

Notes: (1) The swords are worn on thin leather belts with open-tongued demi-sheathes. (2) The dwarven chest-maker plays a lively game of goat mount but the agile goat beats him at every turn.
This message was last edited by the GM at 21:47, Fri 14 Feb 2020.

Sick of being given the cold shoulder by this insolent door and not wanting to pound his fists into hamburger against it, Le Doctor Supreme gives up and follows Dash through the other door.  Realizing that the pig only wanted to be reunited with the little man with a big heart, Claude runs after Aine, eager to ensure the safety of his health care provider of last resort.

Meanwhile, Obtenir comes up on deck, hacks up some more phlegm to lubricate his new ivory comb, and tells Fouillis to leave the goat alone.  But Fouillis wants at least one free ride.

17:07, Today: Quadrakill rolled 6 using 1d20-1.  Catch goat and ride.
This message was last edited by the player at 22:08, Fri 14 Feb 2020.

Obligingly, a few of the islanders slip into the ship's galley to see what's cooking.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Location: Main Deck
Time: Past Dawn
Exits: A-P Door->Captain's quarters, judging by the door.
A-S Door -> Galley (Aine, Claude, and Dash).
Stern-Port Door -> ??
Stern-Starboard Door -> ??
Ladder to fo’c’sle -> ??
Ladder to poop deck -> ??

There are a lot of exits. You should probably split up into six groups.

Note: (1) Nope, not going to happen. Foullis skins his knees in his next attempt to mount the goat. Given the viscera-coated deck, he'd better have those licked clean lickety split or hello cellutis.

Fouillis is outraged by the goat’s uncooperative attitude!  “See what you did?  You made my knees get skinned.  Do you know what that means, you thoughtless animal?  With all the viscera coating the deck, I’ll get get cellutis unless they’re licked clean.  So get over here and start licking!”

When the goat’s response turns out to be suboptimal, Obtenir struts up to him, hocks a loogie and spits it on Fouillis’s skinned knees.  He refuses to lick them, but does offer to comb them for him.  Finally, Fouillis gives up on anyone in this world doing right by him and tries licking his own knees.

Meanwhile, in the galley, Claude tries to convince Aine to return to the deck.  “Come on, boss.  This place is no good for you.”

“This place will be fine once the dead bodies and coal learn some manners!” he retorts angrily.  “Stop rattling, coal!  And you, dead body.  Throw yourself out le window.  Can’t you see you are in my way?  Le chef supreme wants to prepare the fantastiq meal of le century, so scoot.  It does not say dead body storage on le door!”
This message was last edited by the player at 02:06, Sun 16 Feb 2020.

"Time to gear up," Endo suggests helpfully, grabbing the sword from the nearest dead sailor. He instructs Olfred to do the same, since it doesn't appear anybody else has bothered to do so.

"Looks like the shit really hit the fan up here," Olfred observes. "Guess that means there's only one thing to do now," he finishes. With a knowing nod Endo joins him and they both head for the poop deck.

Kovac breathed the salty deck air with some relief, yet it appeared they were not out of the woods yet. The sea stretched around them and the eeire red sky was not a good sign at all.

Alrik made a sign as he glanced at the sky and muttered, "Bad omen, that," and gripped his sword more tightly. It certainly wasn't a good omen; the ship was moving despite a crew but to what direction, no one knew. Were they going towards landfall or deeper into the ocean? And then there were more dead sailors here, no doubt with more missing organs...

As the other ex prisoners started exploring, Kovac decided he and his group should do the same. Anything to kill the time before it killed them.

He signaled Alrik and Gnori towards the Starboard door, standing to the side with sword in hand as Gnori moved to open it.

---

If no one else takes the 3rd sword from the dead guard after Endo & Oldred take the other two, Gnori will help himself to it.

A few islanders disappear within the stern-starboard cabin as two make their way to the poop deck.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Location: Main Deck
Time: Past Dawn
Exits: A-P Door->Captain's quarters, judging by the door.
A-S Door -> Galley (Aine, Claude, and Dash).
Stern-Port Door -> ??
Stern-Starboard Door -> The Three Strangers
Ladder to fo’c’sle -> ??
Ladder to poop deck -> Endo and Olfred

There are a lot of exits. Good job, you've already split into four groups. Next, read aloud any skin-bound tomes. Any music boxes you find should absolutely be sampled as well. Coupling (or tripling) should definitely be on the immediate agenda as well.
This message was last edited by the GM at 02:51, Mon 17 Feb 2020.

Kat straps on the sword belt he had picked up earlier.  With the others having all gone different ways, he shrugs and walks over to the door that seems to lead to the captain's quarters.  He knocks hard a few times to make sure that anyone in there can hear him, and he calls out "Hello, Captain?  Are you there?  We'd like to have a word with you about the condition of your ship!"

Neftas and Twanep (and Porcelina) edge closer to see what happens, but they are not standing so close that they might be mistaken for backup.

This message was deleted by the player at 00:53, Tue 18 Feb 2020.

Aine gasps as he sees a stony iguana hit the galley floor with hostile intentions.  He is shocked not by the threat, but by the audacity of this reptilian interloper.  And it dares present itself to him in such a condition, all covered in coal dust!  Surprise soon turns to rage.

“Putrid lizard, you die!”

16:34, Today: Quadrakill rolled 0 using 1d3-2.  Le damage.
16:33, Today: Quadrakill rolled 7 using 1d20.  Aine to hit with chain.


“Oh my God... there’s a combat and my primary physician is my ONLY physician!”

Claude defends his health care self-interests by charging bravely to the lizard.

16:36, Today: Quadrakill rolled 1 using 1d3-2.  Damage.
16:36, Today: Quadrakill rolled 10 using 1d20-2.  Claude to hit with chain.

Hearing a battle in progress, Obtenir and Fouillis rush to the gallery brandishing their chains.

There is a great clatter of pots, pans, and knives emanating from the galley. Someone must be making ratatouille. Yeah, that's it.

As Kat attempts to obtain an audience with the ship's captain to file a grievance, Porcelina nudges Neftas insistently. Now, everybody knows there isn't a smarter barnyard animal than a pig and the dwarf immediately kens his sow's warning: "Those other pigs are fakin' bacon!"

And, sure enough, when the sow's master looks over at the three pigs, he sees them rise to their hind legs and thunder towards him and his group at the captain's door.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Josh: You get +2 to your init check against the ?pigs?. Meet or exceed init 4 to act first. They have AC 10.

Location: Main Deck
Time: Past Dawn
Exits: A-P Door->Captain's quarters, judging by the door.
Main Deck: Nef, Twa, and Kat
A-S Door -> Galley (Aine, Claude, Obt, Fou, and Dash).
Stern-Port Door -> ??
Stern-Starboard Door -> The Three Strangers
Ladder to fo’c’sle -> ??
Ladder to poop deck -> Endo and Olfred

Olfred and Endo have barely made it halfway up the ladder to the poop deck when they hear the commotion of combat and some unsettling pig squeals from whence they came. Olfred, taking up the rear, hesitates and looks back.

"We have to keep moving," Endo declares grimly. "It's every man for himself out here, and we still don't know what we're up against."
This message was last edited by the GM at 03:24, Fri 21 Feb 2020.

Kat draws the sword he had just picked up a moment before.  With his wiry figure he does not look quite as intimidating as he had hoped, although the scraggly, unkempt beard helps a bit, maybe.  As the pseudo-pigs advance, he lunges at the nearest one.  He has never actually used a sword before though, so his arm is not positioned correctly to actually hit his target with enough force to matter.

At his sides, Neftas and Twanep draw their weapons as well (or rather, the most threatening of the gear they had recovered earlier).  The dwarf wields his herder's staff, while the halfling has a sharp awl.  Only the latter has any luck hitting a target, stabbing one of the oncoming creatures in its considerable belly.

Josh rolled 16,16,18 using 1d20+2,1d20+2,1d20+2.  Initiative (N, T, K).

Josh rolled 8,19,4 using 1d20-1,1d20,1d16.  Attack (N, T, K).
-Josh rolled 2 using 1d4.  Damage.

Twanap and Hammy Hams trade blows. The ham survives; Twanap does not.

Fake Bacon crashes into the captain's door with its superior wood and falls prone, bruised and broken.

Phony Pork trips over the prone rasher but is otherwise uninjured.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hammy Ham --  AC 10  -2 hp
Fake Bacon -- AC 10  -4 hp and prone
Phony Pork -- AC 10  prone
This message was last edited by the GM at 21:45, Fri 21 Feb 2020.

Porcelina falls upon one of the fallen bipedal ribwiches. She worries its throat in a manner that Neftas unfailing interprets as: "To thine own self be true, and it must follow, as the night the day, thou canst not then be false to any pig."

Porcelina does not intend for this man-pig to rise again, so rise again it shall not.

Fake Bacon expires an honest pig.
This message was last edited by the GM at 23:12, Fri 21 Feb 2020.

Aine and his surviving companions, Fouillis and Obtenir, rush back out of the galley, investigating the new racket.  "What new trouble is this?  Le pigs?  But I did not call the police département!"

The Quad Squad Minus Claude prepares to join the battle.
This message was last edited by the player at 00:28, Mon 24 Feb 2020.

"Tres bon," Nef says to the little pig, encouraging her to continue in her brutality.  "I think you have the right idea."  He follows this up by swinging his herder's staff down and giving a good whack to the other pigman who is still prone.

Kat, being a little more firmly planted in reality, swings his sword clumsily at Hammy while shouting for anyone else to come and help.

Josh rolled 11,6 using D20-1,d16.  Attack (N, K).
-Josh rolled 2 using 1d4-1.  Damage.

Phony Pork rights itself from its prone position. Not that there is anything right about that.

Hammy clatters into the beggar man, breaking bones and knocking him towards the edge of the deck (2 dmg and DC 8 Ref save, please).

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Notes (1) All on the main deck may post. (2) The poop deck is not all that removed from the main deck...at least according to the ship schematic.

Hammy Ham --  AC 10  -4 hp
Fake Bacon -- AC 10  -4 hp and prone
Phony Pork -- AC 10
This message was last edited by the GM at 03:39, Tue 25 Feb 2020.

The charge of the anti-pork brigade commences!

Aine le damage: 1 point
19:06, Today: Quadrakill rolled 17 using 1d20.  Aine to hit with le chain.
19:06, Today: Quadrakill rolled 3 using 1d20+1.  Obtenir to hit.
19:05, Today: Quadrakill rolled 2 using 1d3.  Fouillis damage.
19:05, Today: Quadrakill rolled 16 using 1d20.  Fouillis to hit.

Kat has faked pain plenty of times, but he's never felt it for real this badly before.  He stumbles toward the rail and just barely manages to grab hold before the rocking of the ship would have sent him over.  He takes a few seconds to catch his breath and come back to his senses.

Meanwhile, Twanep is starting to lose his temper, something that has happened so rarely he doesn't even know what's going on.  He takes another wild swing at Phony but barely connects.

Josh rolled 2 using 1d20.  Kat - Ref save.
-spending 6 Luck to pass the roll

Josh rolled 10,1 using d20-1,d4-1.  Nef - attack, damage.

After disappearing for an unusually long time on the poop deck, Olfred and Endo reappear coming down the ladder. They draw swords and move with, perhaps, not as much haste as would be expected towards the man vs. pig showdown. Perhaps it was just the wind, but the other adventurers suspect they hear Olfred mutter "Maybe it will be over before we get there..." Meanwhile, Endo just looks excited to cut something.

--

08:16, Today: Coily rolled 3 using 1d20.  Endo Init.
08:16, Today: Coily rolled 14 using 1d20+1.  Olfred Init.

*I rolled individual initiative but I'm not sure if that's correct since the book suggests one initiative per player...

Phony Pork, standing on his last (hind? fore?) leg, nuzzles his snout through the rent in Aine étrange's stomach wall, chomps down on a length of intestine within, and then yanks its prize into the light. It's more than any man could withstand even one as supreme as Aine (4 dmg and death for Aine).

Notes (1) All on the main deck may post. (2) Josh, I rolled an attack for Kat last round. No luck--especially for Aine.

Hammy Ham --  AC 10  -5 hp
Fake Bacon -- AC 10  -5 hp
Phony Pork -- AC 10 -4 hps

“What an artist the world has lost,” Aine gurgles as he dies.  “A tout le monde!”

In a state of shock and outrage, Obtenir and Fouillis swing the chains of vengeance.

22:27, Today: Quadrakill rolled 4 using 1d3+1.
22:27, Today: Quadrakill rolled 9 using 1d20.  Obtenir to hit.
22:26, Today: Quadrakill rolled 3 using 1d3.  Damage.
22:26, Today: Quadrakill rolled 10 using 1d20.  Fouillis to hit.
This message was last edited by the player at 03:27, Sat 29 Feb 2020.

Kat makes his way back to the melee, where he and Neftas fall in on the last of the savage swine.  Neftas does nothing of note with his staff, but the proud beggar finally strikes true with his sword.  When he withdraws it from the creature's body, he wipes off the blood on his shirt and says "I just needed a little practice with it.  Anything is possible if you work for it, right?"

Today: Josh rolled 15,8 using d16,d20-1.  attack (K, N).
-Josh rolled 5 using 1d6.  damage.

And the last of the bipedal swine dies, its jaws locked on a ribbon of red tethering it to Aine.

Most of you still stand on the main deck of the ship. No land is in sight, but a fair wind propels the ship smoothly along.

High on the mainmast above, you see the ship’s unmanned crow’s nest. The two-handed lever of the ship’s bilge pump is affixed near the port side of the ship.

Chickens, please let them be chickens, wander the deck aimlessly, happily clucking and bleating. As they roam, you notice a trail of slimy mucus clings to their feet and hooves. A few goats feast on all that is on offer.

Three sailors, already relieved of their swords, lie dead on the deck. So, too, do two recently liberated emigrants from Alviz.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Location: Main Deck
Time: Past Dawn
Exits: A-P Door->Captain's quarters, judging by the door.
A-S Door -> Galley (Dash)
Stern-Port Door -> ??
Stern-Starboard Door -> The Three Strangers
Ladder to fo’c’sle -> ??
Ladder to poop deck ->

Olfred and Endo run up to the remainder of the group and their fallen friends and foes, breathing heavily from their "run" but showing no other evidence that they were in any particular haste. "Damn, looks like we just missed it," Olfred says with utmost sincerity.

Endo sheathes his sword with an inscrutable face. "Shame about our healthcare," he mutters. Then, louder to the group, "Quick update for everyone left in the land of the living. The helm of this ship is busted, so we're totally out to sea in more ways than one. More importantly, we found a ledger containing the ship roster. The Captain, first mate, and surgeon are all unaccounted for. More weirdly, there's some sort of Priestess of Alkar-Az in stasis somewhere on this ship. Sounds like a bad lady, but I suspect she has some answers for us if we can find her."

Fouillis is a dwarven chest-maker, so he examines the helm, wondering if there is some way he can repair the damage.  Obtenir, on the other hand, prefers to set out with a search party to look for the priestess.

Kat has a different idea - since his group had been trying to get into the (presumed) captain's quarters when the pigmen attacked, why not resume that bit of exploration now?

Foullis concludes that if he had a spare wheel, he could re-attach it to the pedestal at the helm, thereby connecting it to the ship’s rudder.

Kat leads the way into the captain's quarters:

Compared to the other areas you’ve explored on the ship, which are tightly packed with equipment and cargo, this stateroom seems opulent and spacious. Inside the cabin is a bed against the starboard wall, six chairs which surround an ornate table, a writing desk, and a wardrobe. Affixed to one wall is an elaborately crafted rope mermaid which sparkles in the light.

Along the aft wall is a block of windows which have been smashed open, allowing fresh, salty air to permeate the cabin. The floor of the cabin is covered in broken glass and slime trails.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Location: Main Deck
Time: Past Dawn
A-P Door -> Captain's quarters (Everybody but Dash and the Three Strangers)
A-S Door -> Galley (Dash)
Stern-Port Door -> ??
Stern-Starboard Door -> The Three Strangers
Ladder to fo’c’sle -> ??
Ladder to poop deck -> Helm (needs a wheel)
This message was last edited by the GM at 23:40, Mon 02 Mar 2020.

“Great news,” Fouillis says.  “If we can find a spare wheel, I can attach to the helm!  Then we can control the ship’s rudder.  Ain’t that a gas?”

“You’re a genius,” Obtenir mutters, and Fouillis thinks he’s serious.

The pair soon joins Kat in the captain’s quarters.
This message was last edited by the player at 02:48, Tue 03 Mar 2020.

Kat has never heard of a rope that sparkles, so he goes to investigate this.

Nef, meanwhile, takes Fouillis' suggestion and starts looking for a spare wheel.  He starts by checking the wardrobe, and he tells Porcelina to root around under the bed in the meantime.

"Was this window broken from the outside?" Olfred asks, noting the strewn glass on the floor. "Hard to imagine what could do that." While pondering the question, Endo walks over to the writing desk to look for any suspicious papers or any indication of what has happened here.

On top of the desk, Endo discovers an ocean map showing several islands and coastlines, with one identified as Alviz and another as Lys. What's a grave digger to make of this and how will his shovel help?

The desk also has a closed drawer in the front.

The wardrobe has zero spare wheels.

Porcelina snuffles about under the captain's bed, and a wriggle of her tail says, no, there is no spare wheel here.

Meanwhile the guild beggar studies the rope mermaid: it is a 3-foot tall woman with the torso and head of a maiden and the trunk of a fish or something like that. It is constructed from a mesmerizingly knotted and twisted rope which is attached to wooden planks.

Olfred ponders the shattered windows. Are they a point of ingress, egress, or both?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
OOC (1) Endo may make a DC 15 Int check to read the navigational charts. (2) Kat may make a DC 15 Int check to learn more about the mermaid rope.

While Obtenir hits on the rope mermaid, enticing her with money, social status and meats aplenty, Fouillis tries opening the drawer.

The chest maker, perhaps too distraught at the loss of Aine to remember his art, opens the captain's desk drawer precipitously, too late realizing that the master of the ship couldn't allow prying hands to rifle through his desk any time they pleased (DC 12 reflex save to avoid the trap).

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Note (1) Obtenir may also make a DC 15 intelligence check as gets up close and personal with the ropey, fishy maiden.

The reactions of both men are surprisingly efficacious.

19:08, Today: Quadrakill rolled 17 using 1d20.  Obtenir intelligence check.

19:08, Today: Quadrakill rolled 13 using 1d20-1.  Fouillis reflex save.

Endo ponders the nautical map for an insufferable period of time, muttering to himself occasionally. The others hear him repeat the name Alviz several times, as well as something about needing a good stiff drink. Finally he snaps out of his reverie with a realization: "I just remembered I'm not the smart one in this group. Maybe somebody else can make sense of this."

Meanwhile, Olfred gingerly pokes his head through one of the shattered windows, hoping to find anything of interest on the outside of the ship's hull which may indicate was caused such momentous damage.


19:47, Today: Coily rolled 7 using 1d20-1.  Endo int.
This message was last edited by the player at 23:51, Sun 08 Mar 2020.

Kat stands there, staring at the mermaid, mystified by it.  Eventually he determines that he will not be able to make any more sense of it.  But he takes it down from its mounting anyway, on the off chance that it is some kind of maritime good luck charm.

Josh rolled 12 using 1d20.  Kat - Int check.

As the islanders get in line behind Kat, each waiting their turn for mermaid time, Obtenir has a revelation about her true purpose

With a subconscious twitch of his finger, Fouillis avoids the needle sprung by the opening the drawer. Within it, he finds a spyglass, a purse containing 15 gold pieces, and the captain’s log.

Meanwhile, Olfred looks about for signs of a window-wrecking intruder...
This message was last edited by the GM at 23:04, Mon 09 Mar 2020.

Fouillis pockets the spyglass and then shows everybody the gold and the captains log.  Is it covered in pecans?

Obtenir explains that if he rubs his Pierre all over the mermaid, she’ll reward him by casting spell for him.

Kat stops in the middle of prying the mermaid off the wall and gives Obtenir a cross look.  "That sounds like something made up by sailors who have been at sea too long."

Neftas helpfully responds "Well how long have we been at sea now?"  He then says to Obtenir "What kind of spell does she cast?"

A few more minutes pass -- with dawn giving way to day -- as the islanders loot the captain's stateroom and marvel at the riches therein. It turns out they made the right career choice after all.

"A spell that would enable me to breathe even in the darkest, briniest nether fathom, or a spell to counteract a bogue enchantment," Obtenir replies.  "Say, got any French fries?"

Meanwhile, Fouillis continues to swing the captain's log around, in the hope of impressing the ladies.
This message was last edited by the player at 13:01, Thu 12 Mar 2020.

Foullis continues to act the clown as he waves around the captain's logbook, containing, no doubt, the captain's final entries before she was identified as "missing" on the ship's ledger.

Gulls screech, their screeching nearly eclipsing the sound of scraping along the ship's hull.

Those looking towards the shattered windows, specifically the one Oldred peers out of, see the man tense and …

Meet or beat init 17 to post first

12:27, Today: Quadrakill rolled 11 using 1d20.  Obtenir rolling init.

Josh rolled 11 using 1d20.  Initiative.

18:26, Today: Coily rolled 13 using 1d20+1.  Init.

The formerly indentured servant lurches forward, his head abruptly encased by a stony lizard's embrace.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Olfred: Meet or beat a STR check of 26 to avoid reverse defenestration.
Others: You're up.
This message was last edited by the GM at 18:47, Tue 17 Mar 2020.

Fouillis and Obtenir try to grab onto Olfred in order to prevent the reverse defenestration in progress.

16:56, Today: Coily rolled 15 using 1d20.  Olfred strength check.

Sadly Olfred only has 10 luck to burn, which does not appear to be sufficient

Fouillis and Obtenir rush to the smashed windows to save Olfred and there he was -- gone. Following his trail of screams, they see him making a swift descent into the ocean blue, his head cradled in one of the creature's arms while the other makes some exploratory incisions into his midsection. They both disappear with splash below the surface.

And then there were nine little islanders.

Is there anything we can use to block that window?  That seems like a good idea.

It's an entire bank of windows, so there doesn't seem to be anything, at least in the captain's quarters, that could do that. Go where you haven't been/look at what you haven't looked at.

F and O decide they really don’t like it in here, so they go back outside.

Nef and Kat, having no better ideas at the moment, follow those who are leaving.

Endo ponders the empty space where Olfred had been standing only moments previously. "Alas, poor Olfred," he intones. "I knew him only a little bit." With a determined nod, he follows the rest of the group out of the cursed room.

Nine little sailors hold a powwow on the main deck. Two of them, Gnori and Kovak, sport gnarly tats.

No land is in sight, but a fair wind still propels the ship smoothly along.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Location: Main Deck
Time: Early morning
Exits: A-P Door->Captain's quarters (navigational chart of the seas)
A-S Door -> Galley (corpses and foodstuff)
Stern-Port Door -> ??
Stern-Starboard Door -> First Mate's Quarters -> ??
Ladder to fo’c’sle -> ??
Ladder to poop deck -> Unrepaired ship's wheel
Human livestock deck -> Lots of corpses and a few sleepers
Cargo and Crew's Berthing -> Ship supplies, murderous crates
Bilge -> Currently sealed off

Fouillis asks if anybody has a deck of cards.

Endo gathers around with the rest of the survivors. "Well, the captain's quarters didn't turn out so great," he observes unnecessarily. "Maybe we should work our way down the chain of command and see what the first mate has to offer?"

Fouillis and Obtenir shrug, not really caring what they do next.  They are two leaves, ready and willing to be blown wherever the winds of fate desire.
This message was last edited by the player at 05:35, Sat 04 Apr 2020.

"Any plan is better than no plan," Kat comments.  "We might as well stick with that."  With sword in hand he heads toward the chosen door, though he does not volunteer to open it first (Nef might do that, if no one stops him).

The three strangers, having already been in the first mate's quarters, lead the five other islanders into the room and divulge what they discovered there (see new post in main game thread).

It's a spacious cabin with a simple bed, wardrobe, and locker for storing personal effects. There is evidence that it has recently been used as a makeshift tattoo parlor: spilled ink, preparatory sketches, the whiff of hairspray.

A hatch on the opposite wall leads to a forward cabin:

Entering this large stateroom, you feel like you’ve stepped off the ship and into a cave. The walls have been adorned with clay and rock in such a meticulous and ingenious manner, the cabin resembles an underground cavern.

On one side of the “cavern” is a small sitting ledge with an open scroll and candle. Laying on the floor is Dahut! You recognize her from your farewell dinner with Captain de Keradel the night before departing on your voyage.

Dahut’s arms are crossed over her chest and she’s holding an ornate rock pick, but both she and the tool are transformed! Dahut’s flesh is in a state of petrification, half flesh and half stone. It’s as if she’s been gazed upon by a basilisk!

Meanwhile, somewhere in the dark recesses of the cargo hold, a young man covered in blood slowly regains consciousness.  His head throbs from the drug used to render him comatose while the vile slavers had stripped him and his companions of weapons and coppers and trussed them like cattle in a corner.

Somehow, netting (or was that a hammock?) had fallen on their environs and even now, as they all began to stir, it seemed they had been unmolested by killer lizards and also undiscovered by the rest of the escaped slaves.  A sharp rope edge had sliced a cut above Xander's eye, but otherwise they were unharmed.

Zobart's eyes were bulging, his breath coming in gasps as he panicked while Yolanda merely hissed and struggled against thr bonds.  Eventually Xander managed to free himself and then the others.  He cuffed the annoying older man into silence once he started to babble.  "Quiet!  We don't know what's out there!"

A quick stalk to the ladder later, and they were cautiously creeping onto the deck.  The rot of the older corpses and the deathstink of the newer filled them with nausea and a dread fear of what was in store for them, but also spurred them to move quickly.

On the deck, Yolanda immediately fell in with the animals, clucking with the chickens and searching for her beloved pony.  The wolf-girl was much more at home in the company of beasts than people, whatever the sort.  Zobart beelined for the bodies crates, desperate to find some booze.  Xander looked all around, trying to make out land or anything on the waters.  Content that the area was deserted of threats, he began looking around the open area.  Perhaps somewhere he might spy his woodaxe ...stepped up to the crates and hunted for his woodaxe.
This message was last edited by the player at 02:49, Wed 08 Apr 2020.

Endo ponders the half-stone woman lying in stasis. "This must be the priestess of Alkar Az mentioned in the log we found," he observes. "I wonder if she's rousable." He cautiously reaches out and gives the flesh side of her face a gentle poke.

Not for the first time, perhaps, Endo has egregiously overestimated his power of arousal as the stone woman does not respond to his digital poke of her cheek.

Neftas, who may have been a little confused about the use of "livestock" in the journal, picks up his pet Porceline to nuzzle the petrified woman and see if that has any effect.

Only a woman with ice in her veins could resist the nuzzling of Porceline. Or a woman of stone in this case.

0 for 2.
This message had punctuation tweaked by the GM at 19:39, Thu 09 Apr 2020.

Fouillis and Obtenir struggle to arouse the stone woman by caressing her all over while reciting vulgar lullabies.  If that doesn’t work, they take their clothes off and do weird tricks with their anatomies.
This message was last edited by the player at 18:31, Fri 10 Apr 2020.

It is a strange thing, mystifying, that the duo's exertions fail to arouse the stone woman, even where her anatomy has yet to calcify.

~~~~~~~

On the main deck, Zobart finds the bodies of the sailors have been picked clean, no rum to be had. Xander scans the horizon for dry land in vain. He does spot shark fins in the ship's wake, periodically appearing and then disappearing beneath the surface. Even Yolanda finds the company of chickens and goats to be … lacking.

From one of the stern cabins can be heard infernal grunting.
This message was last edited by the GM at 02:35, Sat 11 Apr 2020.

On the main deck, Zobart finds the bodies of the sailors have been picked clean, no rum to be had.
Undeterred, the desperate man suddenly decides he has a terrible thirst and even water will do.  Zobart might claim to be allergic to such things, but in truth he was as mortal as the next worm.  So, he keeps searching.  A pocket comb, a tin toothpick, an empty skein with even a droplet, such were the treasures he sought.

Xander scans the horizon for dry land in vain. He does spot shark fins in the ship's wake
At least the weather was good.  If a gale blew up, they'd surely die due to their lack of seamanship.  Sharks ... could such beasts be fished for?  On land, one did not hunt the predator but what about here?  Xander's thoughts do not wander, though, there was livestock aplenty for the trio for weeks.  They'd die, though, from a lack of water, in mere days.

"We need to crack every cask and find water," he tells the others, hopeful his sister will comprehend but doubtful the malfeasant would co-operate.

From one of the stern cabins can be heard infernal grunting.

Moving cat-like to investigate, Yolanda's face shows bared teeth and a hungry expression.  Xander heads her off, though, putting a finger to his lips that the wolf-girl understood with the slightest of feral nods.  There could be any manner of monsters inside.  Gripping pieces of wood like clubs, they approach the door, leaving Zobart behind.

Xander listens closely, then steels himself and throws the door open, ready for anything.

Kovak considered the petrified woman but couldn't make head or tail of the situation. Gnorii & Alrik appeared likewise to be stumped.

"Probably the doing of whatever black sorcerer's been mutilating the bodies and causing all this?" Kovac offered a wild guess with a shrug.

Monomaniacally, the gambler scours the deck and searches the dead men's persons for water, potable or otherwise.

Meanwhile, the woodcutter and animal trainer throw open the door to the "cavern at sea," the chamber of the Stone Dahut. There they behold what can only be described as an aboriginal mating ritual: two naked aborigines perform unlikely feats of concupiscent acrobatics, the penile pole vault and the scrotum toss among them, upon a fertility idol. Sometimes they involve the idol in the form of a semi-petrified priestess; sometimes they do not.

The woodcutter squints at the two performers. Wait. Didn't he buy a chest to store his special cuts of wood from one of them? Could it be? What madness is this? And why do all the other islanders of Alziz just stand and gawk?

Monomaniacally, the gambler scours the deck and searches the dead men's persons for water, potable or otherwise.DC 10 Luck Check

Was this going to be Zobart's lucky moment?  In the left hip pocket of a particularly putrid corpses, his hand closes on something ...

20:33, Today: Ecla rolled 15 using 1d20.  Is Zobart Lucky?

Meanwhile, at the doorway, Xander just stares while Yolanda hisses.  He recognises many of these folk from the party the previous night, as they had toasted new horizons and bragged of finding a new way and a new career off-island.  One looks just like a shopkeeper he knew.

"What ... what ... where's the captain?!"

Fouillis and Obtenir suddenly realize they may have made a false assumption concerning the petrified woman's sexually.  They get dressed, forgive her and then head in the direction of the infernal grunting.

Endo stands still, in awe, as if petrification is intended to be his fate as well. Finally he speaks, "Of all the horrors we have witnessed on this ship, nothing comes close to . . . that," he gestures vaguely in the direction of Fouillis and Obtenir. "I am glad poor Olfred did not live to witness it."

After shaking his head a few times, he joins the group in moving towards the stern-port door, from whence some ominous sounds are emanating. "Be careful, more baddies most likely."

On one side of the “cavern” is a small sitting ledge with an open scroll and candle. Laying on the floor is Dahut! You recognize her from your farewell dinner with Captain de Keradel the night before departing on your voyage.

Dahut’s arms are crossed over her chest and she’s holding an ornate rock pick, but both she and the tool are transformed! Dahut’s flesh is in a state of petrification, half flesh and half stone. It’s as if she’s been gazed upon by a basilisk!

Wisely, Xander presses to one side and lets the others pass without a further word.  There was magic at work here (or worse), and he decides the villages are ensorcelled or similarly driven from their right minds.  Behind him, Yolande crouches and hides in a rocky recess.  To the girl whose life thus far has been forests and taming wildlife, this was an alien dreamscape.

Then there was the matter of this bizarre room.  Not looking at Dahut, there were the items: scroll, candle.  Was there anything else, such as a bed, dresser or similar?  He scans the place very closely, waiting for Zobart to arrive and explain Dahut's fate .. the older man was world-weary, he would know what to make of this.

To everybody's embarrassment, the islanders realize that two of their own had been grunting infernally. Cavern acoustics.  An easy mistake.

As part of his examination, Xander first examines the scroll recounts the priestess's attempt to survive by casting a spell of "sleeping stone" upon herself, only to awaken "when [her] body reaches dry land." It also states the two ways in which she might be aroused (from her semi-petrified state) before satisfying this condition:

• Casting Dispel Magic upon her person.
• Performing the Blood from a Stone ritual by extracting a few drops of blood from her not-yet-petrified heart.

The cavern is pretty bare bones. Perhaps, the holy lady didn't sleep in this chamber.

Back on the main deck, Zobart retrieves a pack of playing cards from the dead man's person. Could it be? Might they be?

Almost as an afterthought, he notices a barrel of rain water not more than three feet from the fallen sailors.
This message was last edited by the GM at 20:42, Mon 13 Apr 2020.

Back on the main deck, Zobart retrieves a pack of playing cards from the dead man's person. Could it be? Might they be?

Knowing a thing or two about cards, Zobart scans them intently.  Finding them marked, the swindler would approve.  Finding them unmarked, he knew what he had to do.

09:40, Today: Ecla rolled 11 using 1d20.  Lucky part deux.

Next, Zobart cups his hands into the barrel and - should there be any water therein - drinks two mouthfuls greedily.

Then he shuffles over to where Xander and his shadow disappeared into the interior, not wanting to remain on deck with only horned or beaked company.  Passing through the ante-chamber and into the rocky area, he overhears Xander saying something.  "I don't know anything about these spells, but I think we'd best leave her like this.  These people are evil, look what they did to us."

The woodsman is passing a parchment around to a gang of others, and there's a strange sight on the floor.  "Survivors!  Are we saved?  Dahut ... um .. Is the whole crew dead? Where is this boat heading with no helmsman?  Who here can sail?"

As the questions tumble out, Zobart sags a little with (perhaps quite premature) relief.

They are. They are a set of playing cards with the "Mermaids of the Ibisian Sea" theme. Marking them would be sacrilege. They should be sleeved -- immediately.

------

"There's a strange sight on the floor." -- What are you referring to?

“Hey, wait a second,” Obtenir says, suddenly realizing something.  “I’ll bet if I rub myself all over that rope mermaid in just the right way, I can cancel the spell on the petrified woman.”

“Criminy,” Fouillis replies.  “Let’s get right on it, then.”

They go back to retrieve the rope mermaid and bring her to the petrified woman.

It's a DC 16 spellcraft check to cast Dispel Magic with the mermaid rope scroll. 0-level pcs must attempt to do this with a d10.

Kat shakes his head impatiently at the two with the mermaid and says "Best leave her be for now.  If she has anything to offer us at all, we're more likely to make use of it after we've explored the rest of the ship."  And with that he heads out to the forecastle (a part of the ship which, in Kat's opinion, did far too much work to be reduced to such a disrespectful abbreviation).

Now that the initial shock of their capture and the grisly fate of the crew has lessened a little, Xander contents himself over the next few hours with a steady stream of work .. which took his mind off missing a meal and the general anxiety of their whole situation.  While the other survivors mill about in accordance to their own bizarre whims, the young woodsman first clears the deck of bodies by lugging each to the ship's rail and heaving them over the side.

Once or twice he is tempted to try to climb the rigging for a better look around the horizon.  Maybe later.

With each such burial at sea, he whispers a prayer to the gods as best he can.  Meanwhile, Yolande has been instructed to try to rustle up as much livestock as possible.  Dealing with animals gives her joy, and Xander figures the beasts were going to be their food for ... who knows how long ... and they'd best not waste a specimen or let it stumble overboard.  If there are no true pens, then some would have to be quickly jury-rigged.  Hopefully some of the others would help in this task.

Which left Zobart.  At first Zobart tries ingratiating himself among the other survivors but, generally ignored (as was wise), he eventually satisfies himself with thoroughly searching and looting previously explored areas, starting with the various cabins.  He is too cowardly to go anywhere new alone by himself, of course.  Every so often he takes out his pet dice, and, should no one be looking, whispers to them fervently.

Questions: Do we see a ship's wheel anywhere in the explored area?  Poop deck?
Describe the sails please (just curious if this is a two or even three sail ship) and if we wanted to reef (lower) the sails do our PCs know how do to this?
X, Y & Z will get their start gear from the crew's berths.  Not touching anything else!

Yolande counts 3 goats and 10 chickens and all and busies herself with returning them to their cages. One goat in particular seems leary of human (or even wildling contact) and eludes her first, second, and third attempts at capture (DC 10 Animal Handling check). Xander also turns to industry and, for the time being, begins the grisly work of corpse clean up.

Kat climbs the rigging to gain the fo'c'sle.

From the fo’c’sle, you have a magnificent view of the ocean and all of the skarks swimming therin as the Star of Nostro continues to glide through the water against darkening skies.

A peculiar dog-like humanoid figure has been carved into the foremast. The creature is approximately 2-feet tall, has a canine face, stands upright like a halfling, but has webbed hands and feet. It is dressed in traditional sailor’s attire and is holding a hammer and smoking a pipe. It appears to be smiling cheerfully.

There is a broken ship's wheel on the poop deck. It is reasonable to expect that a three-sailed ship would have spare supplies on board.

Only the smuggler could make a trained attempt to reef the sail. The rest would have to make untrained attempts.

Is anybody else joining Kat in the fo'c'sle? If you haven't already, please specify what your islanders are doing currently.

Endo wanders the ship aimlessly. He seems confused, perhaps a bit lost. Maybe a nice fresh body to bury would make him feel more at home. But alas, while bodies are currently in abundance, fresh soil to bury them in is difficult to find. His antsiness seems unlikely to be beneficial to the rest of the sorry group of survivors. Finally, he comes to slightly and elects to follow Kat to the forecastle. Perhaps something of interest will happen there.

Obtenir and Fouillis soon tire of each other’s company and part ways, for the time being.  The former stuffs the rope mermaid head first into his backpack until such time as he finds a use for her.

Stepping back on deck, Obtenir notices Zobart doing something strange.  He tries to figure out what he’s up to without the fellow realizing he’s being watched.

Meanwhile, Fouillis makes his way to the foremast, where he admires the carving of the dog-like humanoid.  He wonders what it has to smile about... so he asks it.

It was inevitable that ennui would settle in. Several islanders wander off; most crowd the main deck. Up on the fo’c’sle, Foullis attempts to strike up a conversation with Klabautermann, the Kobold of the Seas.

The sound of scratching disrupts the midmorning doldrums. The appearance of a 6-feet tall bipedal lizard banishes them entirely. Its stony hide has begun to resolve into a mottled gray/black color. Depending from its rear is a nascent spiked tail. After it gains the main deck, it advances towards the first available liver.

Meet or exceed Init 13 to post first.
DC 10 Int Check for Foullis.

After it gains the main deck, it advances towards the first available liver.

"Monster!" cries Zobart, whose liver is certainly a contender for fattiest.  He flees without a second glance, into the first available cabin with a door, which he promptly tries to bar/lock/barricade/jam.

Yolanda squeals, the small girl immediately beginning a quick climb up the rigging, destination: the crow's nest.  Below, she fears for the lives of her poor flock but perhaps the lizardman will eat the ornery goat before disappearing from whence it came - and thus do everyone a favour.

Only Xander seems willing to face the beast, but not alone.  He waits to see which of the others will fight, while keeping a distance away.

Init 15
Actions:  Z runs and hides, Y climbs.  X backs away out of melee distance but towards other survivors

14:03, Today: Ecla rolled 15 using 1d20.  XYZ Init.

Kat, seeing the newcomer from up above, panics and loses a few precious seconds.

Neftas, having just strolled back out to the main deck, does not even notice the commotion.  He is more focused on checking behind him to make sure that Porcelina has followed him out.

Josh rolled 5 using 1d20.  Initiative

Endo espies the new horrifying beast. He is momentarily distracted by the somewhat comforting thought of new bodies. They are, indeed, his kind of people.


18:53, Today: Coily rolled 8 using 1d20.  Endo init.

Fouillis isn’t ready to go on ‘Jeopardy!’.

20:50, Today: Quadrakill rolled 7 using 1d20.  Fouillis int check.

As for Obtenir....

Slowly he turns!  Step by step, inch by inch until he faces the reptilian rapscallion.  “At last I shall have my revenge!”

20:55, Today: Quadrakill rolled 3 using 1d3+1.  Dam.
20:55, Today: Quadrakill rolled 13 using 1d20+1.  Obtenir to hit w/chain.
This message was last edited by the player at 00:56, Wed 22 Apr 2020.

The pieces move around the board. One up on the fo’c’sle peers at the kobold of the seas. Something scratches at his memory but doesn't make any headway.

Two pieces are removed entirely from the board after the antagonist removes their livers (Gnori and Kovac) and secrets one in each cheek.

Another piece has the temerity to strike the lord of the board. With a crack, his chain clanks off its stony hide, leaving a crack behind (2 dmg).

All but Obt may post.
Star of Nostro has been updated with current piece positions.

Indecision mars the woodsman's youthful face for a moment.  Surely the beast would kill any that fought it as quickly as it had already ended two: in an eye blink.  However, hiding would do no good.  "Come on!" Xander howls to the others as he steps forward with his axe.  "We have the numbers!"

Slicing down, Xander aims for a foot.  If he can cleave off a clawed toe or two, maybe the thing would jump back in the water.  The axe-head bites into the deck instead, causing a stream of curses to erupt from its wielder.

Actions: X Axe* attack, +1 for STR = 9, misses

21:54, Today: Ecla rolled 8,3 using d20,d6.  X vs Liverlover, handaxe attack.

* Double checking the thread, it looks like the intent to retrieve start gear was only discussed in the OOC forum.  Sigh, I beg leniency as that's something X would have done before beginning body disposal

Meanwhile, safely (?) behind the door, Zobart turns to look closely at his surrounds.  Maybe in this cabin he'd find a weapon of miraculous providence, such as a loaded crossbow or blackpowder pistol or a twenty-sixer of whiskey.

Actions: Z Search cabin for missed lootables

Kat would never call himself a model of bravery, but neither is he one to turn tail in a moment of desperation.  He is about to draw his sword and charge, but then remembers that he has a sling.  And, more importantly, actually knows how to use it.  So he draws that instead, and grabs the nearest small item he can find, then fires it right at the new monster's forehead.

Josh rolled 17,4 using 1d20,1d4.  Kat - attack.
This message was last edited by the player at 15:22, Sun 26 Apr 2020.

As the violence begins to escalate, Endo ponders the immutable fact of life that there are times when you just have to make the dead bodies yourself. What's this? He's already holding his sword? 'Twould be a shame not to use it. And so with some impetus, he moves towards the approaching beast/aficionado of hepatic culinary delights, and swings the sword.

15:58, Today: Coily rolled 18 using 1d20+1.  Endo attack.

The sword connects with an utterly satisfying whump.


15:58, Today: Coily rolled 6 using 1d6.  Endo sword damage.

The pieces on the board comport themselves with ELAN and rain blows upon the "Great Kobold" piece! Sword, stone, and chain crash against the liver lover's hide, and by any reckoning, the great blows should have ended this scourge.

They don't.

Cheeks full, the Lord of the Board moves with alacrity to the ship's edge and slips over it. When the closest of the pieces peers over the edge, it's already beneath the surface.

And just like that, it's quiet again except for the sound of the wind and the cry of an albatross in the distance.

Zobart, see PM.
The "Great Kobold" takes 1/2 damage from normal weapons.
This message had punctuation tweaked by the GM at 02:22, Fri 24 Apr 2020.

"Well fought!" Xander says to the ones that had.  The primal emotions of the battle - gut-wrenching fear and adrenaline thrill - mark his flushed face.  He watches the bubbles marking the sea monster's passage for a moment as they disappear into the wake.  Then he takes a massive calming breath and turns to the crowd.

"Look .. we are all strangers and this situation is crazy, but we're all dead unless we work together on this.  We need to find out what happened to the crew ... fix the wheel, turn this ship around and sail home ..."

Where-ever that was.  He lets the last words go unspoken as he looks from face to face.  "I'm Xander.  My sister is Yolanda.  What do we know so far?"

"They've got animals here," Neftas replies helpfully.  "Some of them are mean, but some of them have been nice.  And I even found my lost piggy!"

Kat certainly can't contribute anything beyond that.  He has just been struggling to stay one step ahead of the various threats so far.  Trying to put together the pieces of this strange puzzle on top of that hasn't been working out very well.

“Not enough, obviously,” mutters Obtenir.  “I wish Le Doctor Supreme was here to tell us what to do.”

Meanwhile, Fouillis stares intently upon the image, shaking his gray matter as though it was a pair of backgammon dice in the hope that a few neurons will stick together this time.

With a grimace and a face rub, Xander sighs, remembering the early scene with Dahut and strange obscenities.  These folk were addled, rudderless, quite possibly already mad from the desperation of this situation.  Well, some had fought well when forced to, so not all was lost.

"ZOBART!" the woodman bellows, looking to see where the schlub was hiding.  "Get your yellow hide out here and help us get out of this mess."

At this time, Yolanda has scuttled back* from the crow's nest and immediately attends a flustered chicken that is flapping crazily in its pen.  The woman-child is wide-eyed, hair tousled from the wind as she tries to ignore the two new bodies just lying there.

*  Presumably; please let me know if it's not that easy.  She is definitely taking her time to avoid a fall
Made it
11:41, Today: Ecla rolled 18 using 1d20.  Y DC 5 Agility check to descend .

Xander does his best to organise the survivors.  Since they are lacking someone to tell them what to do, then he will try his best.  If there are places on board still not searched, he intends to do so along with as much help as the others can muster.  People that don't want to come along are free to do whatever .. just stay out of the way.

"I'm not a sailor, this is my first time on anything beyond a canoe," Xander tells them, looking from face to face with a plaintive expression, hoping someone, anyone, knew of ships and the sea.  Rudders, wheels, masts .. how to pilot such a thing as a ship this size?

"If no one has experience, we should consider reviving Dahut .. perhaps she can tell us something .. anything .. about how to proceed."

"Storm," Yolanda says, quietly humming to herself.  Was it true?  Were the clouds getting worse and the seas rougher?
This message was last edited by the player at 18:41, Sun 26 Apr 2020.

At this point in Xander's peroration, in the blink of an eye, Alrik leaps over the railing and into the sea, having decided his own fate.

And then there were eight little islanders.
This message was last edited by the GM at 20:26, Wed 29 Apr 2020.

Alrik leaps over the railing and into the sea, having decided his own fate.

"Maybe he's the wisest one of all," the older man says after the splash.  Zobart has emerged from a doorway and now he walks over and frowns at the bodies .. including the jumper, was that three dead in a mere minute?  At this rate, no one would be left to see high noon.

"Look, Xander, lad, don't doubt it.  Mess?  No this isn't just a mess.  We're in real trouble here.  By point of argument, that way," he points to where he just came from.  "Ship's barber was doing some poking around a body, looked like.  Had him all opened up like a book."

Zobart blows out his cheeks and gnaws on his lower lip, then shrugs but holds the contrite expression.  He isn't sorry that he'd skipped the battle, but he does feel bad the youngster is taking it all so hard.  All they needed to find was a good bottle of the good stuff, and everything would be much better.

"Fine," Xander says flatly.  "Let's keep busy.  I'm going to clear the deck and then break open the ship's stores and see what's what."

Actions for the next while:
X tosses the liver-less overboard, then goes to investigate 'Cargo and Crew's Berthing'
Y follows and helps as she can
Z explores the captain's quarters and learns things (assuming logbook is still there)
This message was last edited by the player at 04:55, Mon 27 Apr 2020.

Endo very helpfully yells in the direction of Zobart, "Hey, the logbook was actually by the helm! Also I can just tell you what was in it."

He catches up to Zobart and, demonstrating impeccable memory, recites the contents of the ledger he found:

Captain Kristene de Keradel, missing
Connant (First Mate, male), missing
Stone Dahut (Priest of Alkar-Az, female), in stasis in her stateroom
Lowell (Surgeon, male), missing
Chincho (Ship’s Cook, female), dead
McCann (Captain’s steward, male), dead on the operating table
Ricori (Master-at-Arms, male), dead in the human livestock deck
Ship’s Carpenter, Boatswain, Ship Master, all missing
The “Livestock” – all the names of the islanders, 10 dead passengers, and 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 additional passengers still in vegetative states
This message was last edited by the GM at 20:27, Wed 29 Apr 2020.

Having nothing better to do, Fouillis and Obtenir help throw the liverless overboard.  Then they help Xander examine the cargo.

He catches up to Zobart and, demonstrating impeccable memory, recites the contents of the ledger he found

They all listen to words that confirm what they've seen: the whole crew was dead except Dahut.  "Missing just means eaten by the .. thing," Xander says.  Zobart grimaces.  Yolanda grrrs.

From all the clues* and putting their heads together, they come up with as good a summary as they can:

• They were poisoned by the mushrooms to sleep.  Why is unknown, simply slaves?  Crew wore masks and used caffeine to avoid falling asleep
• Some kind of stone idol "exploded" when Tirrem (unknown) failed a ritual off-ship.  Sounds like "eggs" were implanted in crew
• Regardless of how/why it appeared, the Skrag killed the crew (anyone missing a liver) while the islanders slept.  It's had babies since apparently, so the islanders were asleep quite some time.  For all we know there is more than one Skrag.
• Dahut cast a spell to survive the skrag's attacks, but it half-failed.  Even so, she's not been attacked.
   Reviving her seems possible, but wise?  Unknown

So what now?  Xander has stopped in his tracks.  Searching the crates can wait.  "We need to fight this thing and kill it, before we lose more people.  We know it's hide is stony, but I think it can be hurt if keep at it."

"Once it is dead, we fix the wheel.  Then, we read the charts.  Then, we we sail home."

In the young man's mind, it was that simple.

* I trust my fellow players can forgive the OOC-ish/meta-y nature of the list in this post

You can search the cargo and crew's berthing for anything you might expect to find there.

• State the object of your search.
• Someone makes a DC 10 Agility check to secure the crates.
• If failed, the searcher must make a DC 13 Reflex save.

What you've seen might resemble a water troll. It might resemble the Great Kobold. You know what some of the crew believed. But none survived an encounter with it.
This message was last edited by the GM at 21:06, Wed 29 Apr 2020.

Obtenir and Fouillis are tired are swinging chains, so they search for their equipment.  Obviously the meager weapons they’re now carrying aren’t getting the job done.

Neftas has never exactly been a font of wisdom.  Anyone's opinion about this might or might not change when he says "Well, if it's so hard to kill, why don't we just trap it instead, so it can't eat us and it can't swim away?  We've got boxes and chains, we can do something with that, right?"

From Yolanda's expression, she really likes the idea of trapping the skrag.  But how?  The thing was huge and walked on two-legs which meant it was probably too smart to fall into your typical snare.

"Don't look at me like that," Zobart snorts.  "I will not be bait for your hook!"

Meanwhile, in the dreary crew's berthing, Xander glares at the crates as if they were responsible for half of all their misfortunes.  While Fou and Ob search for their precious professional possessions, the woodsman muses.

"Somewhere in here is a spare ship's wheel.  We should use our tools to minimise risk and save lives.  Do we have crowbars and similar?  I have a my raft paddle.  Come on people, let's do this!"

Proposal: use 10' pole, ropes, chains and other implements to reduce the DCs on those checks  :)

Reason for days-later edit: mixed up PC names, now it makes sense to read
This message was last edited by the player at 00:35, Sat 02 May 2020.

Having found their equipment, Foul and Ob return in an upbeat mood.

“Trap it?  Sure.  Why not?  What the mind of man can conceive and believe, it can achieve,”

“Or die trying,” Ob adds.

“That too.”

Foul and Ob return in an upbeat mood.

So glad to have found them in this mood, Xander asks Foullis politely to see the Captain's Logbook.

Meanwhile, back to the dreary crew's berthing.  Yolanda and Zobart concoct a plan where the latter would supervise and the former would take all the risks.  While the former seems willing, if hesitant, the latter seems completely confident and happy with this scenario.

"Remember, a wheel," the gambler says, pantomiming a large circle with gesticulations, "a large wheel.  Good luck, now, there's a good girl."

Either ignoring the man or really not understanding at all too well, wolf-girl stalks and prowls the crates, light on her feet and ready to succeed!

State the object of your search:  Yolanda searching for spare and unbroken ship's wheel to attach to helm
Someone makes a DC 10 Agility check to secure the crates: Yolanda rolls a ... 14, success!

17:23, Today: Ecla rolled 14 using 1d20.  Y DC 10 Agility check to secure crate.

Endo watches Yolanda's acrobatics with interest and poorly-concealed admiration. It is difficult to scamper about on an impending avalanche whilst wielding an entire ship wheel, h observes only to himself.

"So we have a wheel now. Can it be re-attached to the helm? It looked pretty busted up when I was up there. Also, does anybody know how to navigate? Won't do much good having a wheel if we don't know where we're steering."

With animalistic agility, Yolanda retrieves the spare ship's wheel from its spot, nestled, as it had been, cozily within a crate of yak pelts, the crate itself on top of a tripod formed by spare masts. Well, you get the idea.

She slides down one of the masts and springs off midway, planting her feet perfectly when she lands. Proudly, she displays the wheel to Zobart.

Everybody down there in the dour and fuggy Crew's Berthing feels something special has happened.

The wheel can be mounted to the pedestal at the helm on the poop deck without difficulty.

Proudly, she displays the wheel to Zobart.

A brown-toothed grin is her only reward as the older man snatches it and promptly orders Xander to lead a brave expedition to the poop deck to begin repairs.

With a chuckle the woodsman concurs even as his stomach rumbles.  "Fresh air would do us good."

The trio and anyone else who wants to come along exit the lower level.  Once the wheel 'was mounted on the pedestal at the helm without difficulty' ... what next?

does anybody know how to navigate? Won't do much good having a wheel if we don't know where we're steering."

Zobart snorts.

"Er, hello.  Endo? Was it?  Navigate?  Looks like you and I volunteered to learn how.  Let's go grab those charts in the captain's cabin and figure it out.  I mean, if sailors can do it .. well ... "

(Semi) Random Ideas

• Use the bilge pump to empty the bilge and explore it
• Read the Captain's Logbook
• Clear out the galley of corpses/horrors and have/cook lunch (even hopeless DCC schlubs with zero futures get hungry .. hey, maybe a good meal restores lost hps or even a LUCK .. who knows, merciful GMs exist!  hahaha)
• Read the Navigational Charts.  Was that INT check possible for everyone, or is it just one attempt/roll per day or something similarly restrictive?
• Something else I haven't though of .. anyone ?

This message was last edited by the player at 17:52, Sun 03 May 2020.

“I think you’re forgetting something,” Fouillis opines.  “That big-ass monster that keeps eating our livers.  Shouldn’t we do something about that before we fix the wheel or whip out the captain’s log?”

About 20 minutes have passed since the last creature attack.
Anyone can attempt to read the maps with each attempt consuming 5 minutes.
Trying to set up an ambush for the creature would be a DC 15 Int check (+2 for having an applicable background)--assuming you have an idea for this trap.

All should declare what they plan to do with their next turn.

Note: this post is not intended to convey actions for XYZ (those are forthcoming), it's instead some IC dialogue regarding sea music and musings

While the survivors milled about, putting their plans into action, Zobart starts humming a popular pirate tune. He has a terrible voice, and tends to ad-lib off-colour lyrics.  Hearing it, though, Xander realises something:

"You said the ship's figurehead is a ..Klab-water-man?" he asks, not quite pronouncing it right.  "I've heard tales of those, they're .. mythical things, like forest pixies on land.  I mean, they're good luck charms.  Some people think that when sailors are in really deep trouble," here he looks around at everyone, "that singing can call one to help.  I can't think of a better time than when the monster shows up again!"
This message was last edited by the player at 22:58, Tue 05 May 2020.

“That’s your plan?” Fouillis asks angrily.  “Wait until we’re attacked again and then sing to some lousy statue for help?  Nothing personal, monsieur, but your plan fils de pute with merde.”

“Yeah.  And it sucks, too,” Obtenir puts in.

“Now, if you’ll excuse us, my compatriot and I shall attempt to save all of our skins, worthy and unworthy alike, by constructing a trap.”

“A deadly trap,” Obtenir specifies.

03:51, Today: Quadrakill rolled 15 using 1d20.  Obtenir build trap.
03:51, Today: Quadrakill rolled 19 using 1d20+2.  Fouillis build trap.
This message was last edited by the player at 07:51, Wed 06 May 2020.

Xander listens closely as the once-upon-a-time rapers berate him for bringing up the Klabautermann.  He shrugs, supposing that when the time came, those who believed would be saved and those who did not would be eaten.  In any case he is glad to see those guys up to something productive, but a deadly trap needed bait.  "We can set up the trap on deck or down below .. I leave it to you two," he tells Fou and Ob.

Logically, they knew what attracted the monster.  It took some time, but he finally was able to convince his sister of the need.

The girl was quiet, squirrel-skittish and would probably never fit into society.  But Yolanda did know animals and their care.  Gently humming to the penned-up goats, she selects a suitable one with large, sad eyes and leads it onto the deck.

It was left to Xander to do the actual the killing, with a quick stroke of the axe blade.  A few minutes later the girl held aloft the prize: fresh liver.

***

Meanwhile, Zobart has been poring over the sea charts in the alarmingly de-fenestered captain's cabin.  Maps were like table odds, right?  If you memorised enough of the detail, then you knew when you when to hit, or stand.  Every so often, he takes a glass eye out of his pocket, and looks through it as if unseen secrets might be revealed.

Actions
Xander discusses the merits of singing to save lives while slaughtering a goat
Yolande provides bait for the deadly trap: rolled 18+2 = 20
Zobart reads the charts, messes around with a glass eye:  3, 8, 20 .. took 15 minutes?

09:54, Today: Ecla rolled 18 using 1d20.  Y DC 15 Int check, help with trap.
09:53, Today: Ecla rolled 20 using 1d20.  Z DC 15 Int check, read the charts, attempt 3.
09:53, Today: Ecla rolled 8 using 1d20.  Z DC 15 Int check, read the charts, attempt 2.
09:53, Today: Ecla rolled 3 using 1d20.  Z DC 15 Int check, read the charts, attempt 1.
This message was last edited by the player at 16:58, Wed 06 May 2020.

In a moment of inspiration, Endo plunges a hand into one of his surprisingly accommodating pockets. "Aha!" he shouts in some semblance of triumph. In one hand he holds an ornately carved flute, and in the other a set of sextant and astrolabe.

"This flute has one of those klaubautermann things on it! Perhaps it can be used to summon help? I tried playing it earlier but couldn't produce much of a tune of any sort, but maybe there's more to it?"

"Also, I have these navigation tools. These would probably be better served in the hands of somebody smarter than me..." he trails off.

The offer to take the navigation tools from Endo is open. Meanwhile, he begins scrutinizing the flute, giving it experimental puffs and running his fingers over the holes. Perhaps some more dexterity would produce something worthwhile?


19:58, Today: Coily rolled 12 using 1d20.
19:58, Today: Coily rolled 6 using 1d20.  Endo flute agility.

For most of the islanders the next ten minutes is a flurry of activity. Those without a role in the trapping seal themselves off in the Stone Dahut's chamber.

Endo passes his fingers inexpertly along the length of the flute whilst aspirating noisily, his thoughts consumed by the klaubautermann, the Kobold of the Seas, the Patron Saint of Sailing Men.

For Zobart's first two attempts, he calculates the odds of the kraken pictured in the southwest corner of the chart defeating the herd of giant squids pictured in the northwest quadrant of the chart in open sea combat. Then, he brings the sextant and the astrolabe to bear.

After searching the galley, Foullis finds a jumbo tub of foie gras. He and Obtener, after having first obtained consent in triplicate, slather the bait in liver puree from head to toe and a few of the parts in between. With the super-sized goat liver tucked between her lips, Yolanda descends two levels to the Cargo and Crew's Berthing and then ascends to the top of Le Murder Crates and perches there like some livered-up albatross.

A scratching sound is heard on the hull.

Then a thump as something large lands on the deck.

Demonic screeching as it descends one level and another.

A breakneck scramble up the crates of meticulously stowed cargo.

And Yolanda jumps off, triggering an avalanche with one deft kick--just as F and O had instructed her.

The murder crates do their work. The screeching reaches a peak and then dies away. The islanders gather round to view their prey.

And there it was: Gone. It had just up and dissolved before Yolanda's very eyes. The nooks and crannies of the wooden deck, slick with black ick, speak of its passage to the bilge below.

You estimate you have 30 minutes before it returns.
This message was last edited by the GM at 20:51, Fri 08 May 2020.

The nooks and crannies of the wooden deck slick with black ick speak of its passage to the bilge below.

"Look .. blood .. we hurt it!" Xander says, mostly for his own benefit.  He gives his terrified, foie-gras covered sister an appreciate hug for her bravery and then directs to her to a quiet corner to wash up.

Now what?  Did they dare take the fight to the thing now that it was wounded?

It lairs in the bilge?  How was it getting in and out?  Could they seal that off better?

The woodsman barely understands the concept of a bilge, hoping someone could explain.  It was full of water?  Why would that be?  There was a pumping mechanism?  So many mysteries.

Meanhile, Zobart claims to know exactly which way to go.  "Now, we just have to decide where.  Onwards to Lys, where slavery and death await, or back home?  Come on, one and all, lay your bets."

The smarmy swindler nods appreciatively at the aspiring flautist.  "Keep trying Endo my lad.  I for one, believe that the Klabautermann will save us .. somehow .."

“Down to the bilge,” shouts Fouillis.  “If it’s down there, let’s kill it while we still can.”

“Aye,” snarls Obtenir, who is seriously considering piracy as a career when this is over.

"I know I made a horrible racket," Endo apologizes, "But when I attempted to play my flute somebody responded! I heard another flute coming far off from the Northwest. Perhaps if I go up to the crow's nest, one of you guys can shout out the next time the monster appears and I can flute in some assistance?"

Without actually bothering to make sure everybody is okay with the plan, Endo heads resolutely to the crow's nest.

There had been some confusion before, with Neftas the fool preparing to stroll out into danger while the trap was set, and Kat needing to intervene before he inadvertently got the whole lot of them killed.  Unfortunately this had meant both of them losing the opportunity to help in any meaningful way with the last encounter.  This time, Kat is quick to volunteer Nef for joining Endo up in the crow's nest, and Nef is quick to agree.  Kat then draws his sword and prepares to join the hunting party going to the bilge.

Neftas, Endo, and Olfred clamber up the ladder to the human livestock deck and then up another one to the main deck where they scramble up the rigging to the crow's nest. Endo, more than the other, gazes wistfully to the northwest but sees scale nor hair of the kobold of the seas. He must be just beyond the horizon.

Olfred sings a mournful tune:
Are you going to the Alviz Fair? Endo, Kat, Neftas, and Aine.
Remember me to one who lives there, she once was a true love of mine.

Porcelina, unable to gain purchase on the rigging, waits for her master on the main deck. She contents herself with nibbling on the carcass of a freshly sacrificed virginal goat.

Way down below, in the deepest, darkest recesses of the Star of Nostro, all of the other islanders invade the bilge. Well, three of them. The other three have to wait for their turn.

Crouching low, you climb down the ladder and step onto the platform above the bilge water. The rank water is a ripe mixture of sea water polluted with the filth of sailors who, for weeks now, have used this area as a latrine.

Towards the aft, a tube descends from the deck above and into the water. Towards the fore of the ship, protruding up through the water are four large, veiny, leather sacks covered in mucous. You nervously intuit that these may be some sort of unearthly, or unholy, eggs.

As you examine the sacks, a scratching and clawing sound can be heard originating from the bottom of the ship. It is the unnerving sound of someone, or something, trying to claw its way through the hull.

The water is roiled by unnatural currents, causing the fetid water to slosh onto the platform.

Roll init. Meet or Exceed 18 to act first.
Only room for 3 on the platform (Kat, Obtenir, and Foullis). X, Y, and Z are ready to join them.
This message was last edited by the GM at 02:25, Sun 10 May 2020.

Kat's nerves get the better of him, and he is unable to act before the adversary.

Josh rolled 5 using 1d20.  Initiative (K).

The rank water is a ripe mixture of sea water polluted with the filth of sailors who, for weeks now, have used this area as a latrine.

"How is it possible that this gets worse," Xander gags.  Yolanda merely shrugs, quite unconcerned with such small matters as feotid odours after what she'd just been through.

Only Zobart treads the middle ground of indignation between her indifference and his irritation.  "Typical sailors, too lazy to climb the ladder and use a midden.  No wonder thar beastie is upset, it got pooped on so much it took revenge!"

"Shhh .. shhhh ... shut up ... something's moving ..."


19:17, Today: Ecla rolled 8 using 1d20.  Bilgewater Beauties  XYZ  Init.
This message was last edited by the player at 02:22, Sun 10 May 2020.

This message was deleted by the player at 22:12, Thu 14 May 2020.

The indefatigable tag team of F and O perform the only logical action for these circumstances: Obtenir hoists Fouillis onto his shoulders and then charges through the bilge towards the nearest mucous-covered leathery sack.  Clutching the chisel that its mother warned it about in both hands, Fouillis divebombs the evil egg, feverishly intending to stake it right through the ovum.

They scream together, “BONZAI, BITCH!”
This message was last edited by the player at 22:22, Thu 14 May 2020.

Frozen for spell on the platform, Kat, Obtenir, and Foullis examine the eggs, four in number, from 15 feet away. They look to be leathery ovoids with hissing, sizzling membranes. These seconds also allow for identification of the cause of the churning of the bilge water: eels thrash about in the bilge, feeding on excreta and anything else tasty. One of them sinks its fangs into an amalgam of waste, ripping off a chunk. It could have just as easily been a chunk of islander flesh. As can be imagined, the smell of bilge be heavenly.

All islanders in the bilge area may post.
A complex construction of the hull’s frames and spars reduce movement within the bilge to 5".
O and F, you may revise your post if you like given this new intelligence.
Losing init didn't matter because the I figure the eels won't attack unless disturbed. Sailors must have used the platform with impunity.

As Obtenir and Fouillis prepare for their charge, Kat hurriedly says to them "Mes amis, wait!  Don't risk your own safety attacking those sacs, just get them down into the water for the eels to eat."

Towards the aft, a tube descends from the deck above and into the water.

A sudden understanding dawns somewhere in Xander's mind.  The tube ... they could suck the water out ...

"Yes, yes, wait," Xander says, trying to stop Fou and Obs from wading right into their deaths.  "The eggs are too well guarded!  See that tube?  We can use the pump upstairs to drain the water and the eels will die."

Not waiting to argue with the pair, Xander and his shadow hustle back to the main deck to man the bilge pump.

"Fine, I'll just wait here then," Zobart mutters to himself, watching the water carefully and ready to smack any eels that came probing onto the platform.

"Just tell us if it's working!" calls down a rapidly retreating voice.

Actions
XY: Since the eels aren't attacking, assume it's safe to disengage the scene without drawing OA-type reprisals and head to main deck to work the pump
Z: Remains on platform in defensive stance

Yes, that's a safe assumption.

F and O snap out of the madness that had seized them before they could act on impulse, and return at warp speed to the main deck where they assist with the far more logical Plan Tube.
This message was last edited by the player at 22:49, Fri 15 May 2020.

Endo and Neftas remain at the crow's nest, one pair of eyes gazing expectantly towards the northwest.

The rest expeditiously relocate themselves from the bilge and onto the main deck and take turns working the bilge pump in pairs.

Form an uncertain location, Olfred produces a haunting melody:

It's been a long time,
Since I've seen a su-u-u-u-u-u-unny day.
It's been a long time, Aine,
Since you wore your pillbox hat.

It's been a long time,
Since we've been a-a-a-a-a-a-board this tomb.
It's been a long time, Aine,
Since you wore your e-e-e-e-e-expensive French perfume.

One round per attempt for the bilge pump. 1 in 8 chance of success.

Ooc: Are we rolling once per round for all of us, or once per player, or once per character?  Sorry if this is a dumb question.

It takes two characters one minute to have one chance to pump an eel out of the bilge. So if O + F spend 10 minutes pumping (the bilge), they would roll 10d8, with ones counting as successes.
This message was last edited by the GM at 23:49, Sat 16 May 2020.

Understood, the clock is ticking until the Skrag reforms/regenerates/re-livers!  My characters will pump for 5 minutes then take a break

Wordlessly Xander directed his foundling sister to the machine.  She wasn't too physically strong but he hoped to make up for it.  It was hard work and soon they were breathless and glad for a relief shift.

Down below, Zobart kept one foot on the ladder up and another planted firmly on the platform, squinting into the darkness and trying to figure out if anything was happening.

Five attempts for 5 minutes

Looks like one success.  Can Y burn 2 luck to turn a "3" into a "1"?  Jus' wonderin'

17:56, Today: Ecla rolled 8,4,3,1,6 using d8,d8,d8,d8,d8.  XY bilge pump for 5 min.

From down below, Zobart watches the waste water start to slush about as it is sucked through the tube and up towards the deck. Twice, he witnesses a serpentine shape get caught in this same suction and disappear into the tube.

Up above, the siblings spend an exhausting five minutes working the bilge pump. At first, only sewage spews from the end of the pump and onto the deck before properly flowing down the scupper and into the sea. Then (is it luck?) an oversized eel is launched from the mouth of the pump. It flops alarmingly, snapping its fangs and making the noises that angry eels make. But like the sewage it gives into gravity and flows into the sea. It is soon joined by a second of its kind.

Yes, you can burn luck for this check.

F and O will pump for ten minutes.  It’s a nice break from pumping each other.

17:29, Today: Quadrakill rolled 36 using 10d8 with rolls of 7,8,1,2,2,3,2,1,3,7.
This message was last edited by the player at 21:29, Tue 19 May 2020.

While the duo pumped mercilessly, Xander sent Yolanda back downstairs to see if it was working.  "Try to count how many there are," he asked her.

Zobart cringed at her approach, worried that something was wrong.  Then, they counted together and Yolanda returned so Xander could decide if there was time for another round of eel-vacuation, or if they were almost out of time and needed to wade in and tackle the eggs before it was too late.

Looks like 4 eels total gone, how many left?  15 minutes time elapsed means 15 minutes left to liver-geddon?

It is confirmed that the bilge waters lie silent save for the roiling caused by the occasional cresting of an ocean current.

Feel free to suggest the amount of time consumed traversing the ship and add that to the 15 minutes of non-stop pump action.

I would say between post#198 and now we've spent 5 to 10 minutes moving around between decks, including a mad dash back to the platform:

"That's all of the !@#$ers! Come back down!" Zobart called, initiating a mad dash back to the platform.  Smaller than the rest, Yolanda moved the fastest and she was splish-splashing in the foulness first, eager to destroy the egg-things and help end the horrors.

Xander found Zobart hesistating, and grabbed the man by the collar.  "After you," he growled and together they pushed through the interstices towards what Xander severely hoped was the end of this particular part of this living nightmare.

Actions
Y then Z then X are moving into the nest, weapons ready

Kat had stayed down in the bilge to monitor the results of the pumping (seriously, that's what he was doing, honest!).  Now that the path to the egg sacs is clear he joins the others preparing to lay waste to them.

The heartiest of the hearties descend to the depths of the Star of Nostro, now a depopulated domdaniel save for four leathery eggs. Those most eager for retribution wade through the waters of Archeron and fall upon one of the four.

With sword and crutches, you chop and whale away at the leathery membrane, heedless of the acid spray such chopping and whaling creates. What is a momentary burning of the skin when the reward is sweet retribution?

Once shredded, the egg divulges its secret: a squirming, lizard-like, larval embryo. One of you ends it, and it ceases its squirming and flexes its inchoate claws no more. Three remain.

From below the hull, the creature, for what else could it be, wails its distress and scratches at the underbelly of the Star.

Meanwhile, Endo has had quite a harrowing time in the crow's nest. While trying to stretch his hearing for any sound that he should summon the Klabautermann, he has been tormented by the sound of ethereal singing in the voice of his now long-dead companion Olfred. "I wasn't even that fond of him in life, but now he's just annoying," he mutters to himself. Finally, in desperation he descends from his perch at the sight of increased activity on the deck. Some of his companions seem to have descended into the depths with violent looks on their faces. "What should I be doing?" he inquires uncertainly. "Do we anticipate another attack soon?"

With a wave, Xander entreats the crow's nesters to join them before disappearing below decks.

Choppy-choppy goes the axe, each wailing cry from the skrag a fantastic feeling of revenge for all the eviscerations they'd suffered so far.

Realizing that the time is short, F and O rush back down to the bilge.  They hack without mercy at the remaining eggs, but only after taking the time to relieve themselves on the wretched ovums.

It takes a brave man to wiggle his willy amidst a flurry of whaling crutches and chopping axes.

It takes an even braver band of men to exterminate a clutch of eggs whilst the brood mother scratches and wails at the hull of ship -- directly beneath those same men. Such was the frenzy of extermination, that the islanders did not pay heed to the increased frenzy of that same scratching and wailing.

Wood splinters and waste water intermixes with salt. With its monstrous arms, the demon hoists itself through an opening and into the bilge itself, sundering the hull.

Meet or beat 14 to act first.
The ship is foundering. It will sink.
It's 15 feet to the ladder.
Movement is reduced to 5" in the bilge.
Endo, Neftas, and Porcelina remain on the main deck.
This message was last edited by the GM at 22:52, Sun 24 May 2020.

Satisfied, Xander wipes goo from his axe with a dirty rag.

Terrified, Yolanda points at the breaking wood and begins to bolt, but sticks with her brother.

Horrified, Zobart can only stare at the skrag.  "Nice doggy," is all he can manage.

Y burns 2 luck, down to 4 ...

The girl raised by wolves can not stand it anymore, and she breaks for the platform.  Xander follows right behind, with the goggling gambler sloshing on his heels.


Init 12+2 luck = 14, whew does not beat 14.  Mommy.

Questions three:
1) Did we see lifeboats anywhere in our previous explorations?
2) Can individuals burn luck to improve INIT?
3) Diving into the water and then swimming under the ship and popping up around is at least possible, yes?
This message was last edited by the player at 22:25, Sun 24 May 2020.

Neftas had climbed down from the crow's nest when this was indicated, but had chosen to stay up top, watching the sea together with his prized pig.

Down in the hold, Kat sees the monster rising, and turns toward the ladder.  As he scrambles to climb up to the main deck, he shouts to the others "The song, the song to summon help!  Let us all go top side and try it!"

Even if that doesn't work, at least up top there will be more room to escape the monster than down in the cramped bilge.

Josh rolled 13 using 1d20.  Initiative (K).
-burning 1 Luck to bump that up to 14
This message was last edited by the player at 20:27, Sun 24 May 2020.

04:11, Today: Quadrakill rolled 19 using 1d20.  Init roll.

Without bothering to put away his meat, Fouillis chops desperately at one of demon mom’s arms with his chisel.

04:14, Today: Quadrakill rolled 1 using 1d20.  Fouillis to hit.

Meanwhile, Obtenir tries to ram his pitchfork down her throat, for some Freudian reason.

04:15, Today: Quadrakill rolled 3 using 1d8+1.  Damage.
04:15, Today: Quadrakill rolled 19 using 1d20+1.  Obtenir to hit.
This message was last edited by the player at 08:16, Wed 27 May 2020.

Having no flight instinct, Foullis and Obtenir must fight. Foullis loses his footing on an unflushed eddy of offal and shatters his chisel on an overhead pipe (chisel and all it represents--destroyed) in the subsequent flailing. The farmer pierces the demon baby mama (3 points halved to 2).

Four islanders, having more flight instinct than fight, flee. They once again wade through the bilge water and reach the base of the platform--from which they can ascend the ladder to the surface world.

In a hot-blooded rage, the demon attacks indiscriminately. Poor Kat. Obtaining his status as guild beggar had been the crowning achievement in his life and had afforded him a 5% discount on the purchase of his crutches. Now, he lies face down in the muck, his liver safely ensconced within the monster's left cheek, having been transferred their by its ever active right claw.

Up above, Endo engages in some mild stocktaking.


As if in answer, that same ethereal voice croons,

If you're going to San Francisco
Be sure to wear some scrimshaw in your hair.
If you're going to San Francisco
You're gonna meet some gentle kobolds there.

What! San Fancisco? Where is that? Who would want to dance with kobolds there?

Islanders are up.
This message was last edited by the GM at 20:49, Wed 27 May 2020.

It happened too fast.

Zobart found twenty-something legs on a forty-something frame and pushed past everyone, climbing the ladder to the main deck two creaking, decrepit rungs at a time.  Xander was after, finding it hard to go fast with one hand on an axe and another on a row paddle all the while feeling like he was about to drown.

And then.  "DIE!" he heard below, and he looked down to see Yolanda raising the billy club he'd given her all those years ago to help her tend goats.  He saw the same look in her face when he told her about poachers.

"NO!"

Before he knew it, he was yanked onto the deck, already starting to list.  "Nothing to be done, lad, now be a good sort and find a lifeboat.  We're days from port."

Xander struggled for a good moment before spinning and decking the old gambler, right in the kisser.  After all, it was his fault they were on this ship, his fault they'd all be dead very soon.

"Boat?  There's no boat!  Over the side, swim for a cloud, that means land?" Xander cried, running to the railing and looking for anything that might suffice - outcrop, reef, anything.

Actions
X to the main deck and railing, looking for land
Z shepherding
Y attacking the skrag with club: 6 to hit for 2 damage, minus 1 for bad STR, won't cut it


21:35, Today: Ecla rolled 6,2 using d20,d4.  Y vs Skrag.

Kat was taken so quickly he didn't even have time to utter some pithy last words.  But at least his last moments had been full of the hope that he would escape, rather than the despair of knowing otherwise.

Up in the main deck, Neftas and Porcelina look over to see Xander and Zobart emerging from below.  The dwarf calls to them "I ain't seen any sign of the monster!  What's going on down there?"
This message was last edited by the player at 03:28, Sat 30 May 2020.

Enraged at the destruction of the chisel with which he’d been hoping to father a masterful new race of progeny, Fouillis swings the chain that used to keep him down, hoping to knock the liver right out of the demonic baby mama’s filthy mouth.

19:00, Today: Quadrakill rolled 1 using 1d3.  Dam.
19:00, Today: Quadrakill rolled 16 using 1d20.  Fouillis to hit.

Meanwhile, Obtenir targets the monster’s crotch, making a beeping sound with his mouth as the bloodythirsty tines hone in on their target.  Once a lock is acquired, he launches the four-headed missile deep inside the infernal homeland of the enemy.

19:04, Today: Quadrakill rolled 6 using 1d8+1.  Damage.
19:04, Today: Quadrakill rolled 21 using 1d20+1.  Obtenir to hit.



This message was last edited by the player at 23:05, Mon 01 June 2020.

Three islanders remain in the bilge. Before striking, Obtenir studies the demon before him. So much breeding, such a prolific brood -- but no evident external genitalia. He is no initiate into the mysteries of demonic miscegenation.

The jaws of the cacodaemon lunge towards Yolanda, enveloping her within a mephitic cloud. With a last second twist, she avoids the full chomp (3 dmg).

As the blood and ichor is spilled, the water level rises. The corpse of Kat had been bumping about at shin level and now he's inching up to knee level.

From the deck of the sinking ship, no land of any form can be sighted--no surprise given the days of sailing to reach either known destination.

4 more damage for a total of 6.
All islanders are up.
This message was last edited by the GM at 02:32, Tue 02 June 2020.

The jaws of the cacodaemon lunge towards Yolanda, enveloping her within a mephitic cloud. With a last second twist, she avoids the full chomp (3 dmg).

Hardly feeling anything, the girl raised by wolves swims back and leaps forward, once again trying to club the thing into submission.

Meanwhile, although Xander is keenly aware of Yolanda's fate and utterly miserable, he can't give into despair.  "The Klabautermann ... the kobold of the seas .. save us!" he cries at the waves and the seabirds.

"That's it, the lad's gone cracked," Zobart mutters, sitting on his butt and rubbing his jaw while waiting for the end.

Actions
X prays
Y attacks: 10 to hit, minus 1 for bad STR .. assumed miss
Z reclines

14:02, Today: Ecla rolled 10,1 using d20,d4.  Y vs Skrag, part 2.
This message was last edited by the player at 21:04, Tue 02 June 2020.

At the sound of turmoil and carnage emerging from belowdecks, Endo awakes from his haunted reverie and grabs his flute. Sensing the urgency of the situation, he begins to play with all of his minimal might and talent.

Neftas takes out his recently procured "Kobold of the Seas" tambourine and starts playing along with Endo.  He keeps the beat better than might have been expected.  He starts stomping in time as well, inspiring Porcelina to dance along.  The dwarf and pig together make for an incongruously joyful sight, given the circumstances.

The music seems to drive F and O into an almost Dionysian frenzy and they start dancing and singing, punctuating each phrase with another weapon strike into the cacodaemon’s foul flesh.  “Dum da da dum da CHA!”

07:03, Today: Quadrakill rolled 6 using 1d8+1.  Dam?
07:03, Today: Quadrakill rolled 9 using 1d20+1.  Obtenir to hit.
07:03, Today: Quadrakill rolled 3 using 1d3.  Dam.
07:03, Today: Quadrakill rolled 16 using 1d20.  Foullis to hit.
This message was last edited by the player at 11:04, Fri 05 June 2020.

And just like that, two more islanders expire in ignominy: Yolanda and Fouillis. It wouldn't be correct to say the demon stands above them cheeks bulging, more like wades above them with cheeks bulging as the waste water has reached thigh level. Multiple corpses now bob about the bilge, bumping against Obtenir in far too forward a fashion.

Up top, a novelty act of sorts performs for the first time. Mercifully, twenty seconds into this performance they cease their ungodly racket to listen to Olfred's hearty, though still distinctly funereal, reply:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TVY8LoM47xI

2 more damage for a total of 8.
Ecla and Quad, you may write up the death scenes for your characters.
All islanders are up.
This message was last edited by the GM at 22:36, Tue 09 June 2020.

One instant Fouillis is having the time of his life pounding the demon mama with a chain like every switchblade-wielding gangbanger’s worst nightmare, and the next there is a cavernous space where his liver used to be.  He feels used.  Empty.  Unfulfilled.  He thinks of all the dwarven chests he would have made had he lived, especially the d-cups.  Then he mutters, “i’m suing.”

But he is mistaken.  He won’t be filing any lawsuits, because dead people aren’t allowed to do that.

He’s dog meat on toast.  Gone.  Finished.  Kaput.

Stone dead forever.

Right beside him, Yolanda gives out one squeal like a sow at slaughter and then falls into the bilge slime.  An unknown, ignominious end fitting to a humble and simple creature.

On deck, with the ship sinking and no hope beyond a mad plan to summon a water god with awful music, older men might cry and wail, and so Zobart does.  "Why!  WHY?" he hurls at the sky.  Younger men simply stare at the water and wait for the right time to jump.  Xander winces at the noises from the hatch.  Die now or die later?  At least he'd chop a shark's face off before the end.

And there are no more noises to be heard from the gaping hatch. The ship itself groans with the sundering of its innards.

Topsides, four islanders and one pig bewail their fate, in silence, song, and supplication. Okay, maybe not the prize pig. Its powers of cognition may actually be rather be limited despite the body of myth and legend which testify otherwise.

As if from a far off sepulchral place, Olfred's voice reaches the topsiders.

Everybody's talkin' at me
I don't hear a word their sayin'
Only the echos of my mind
People stop and stare
I can't see their faces
Only the shadows of their eyes.

I'm goin' where the sun keeps shinin'
Through the pourin' rain
Goin' where the weather suits my clothes
Bankin' off of the northwest winds
Sailin' on summer breeze
And skippin' over the ocean like a stone

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DHcrpIqko2g

Is Olfred saying goodbye? That last ineffable goodbye?

Obtenir, you may make one final attack against the demon progenitor and then write up your expiration. There is one more sleeper in the Human Livestock Deck. Roll him up and post for him.
This message was last edited by the GM at 21:55, Wed 10 June 2020.

The ship itself groans with the sundering of its innards.

Was this the end?  Amid the shrieks of timbers, was that song?  Zobart and Xander, one half-mad from withdrawal and the other from grief, both scream their own versions of pirate shanty in time with the madness.

Then Xander springs away from the rail and slams the deck hatch shut, as if daring anything to come through.  When the vessel was finally going under, he plans a running, sprinting jump onto a gunwhale and into the waters, come hell or high sharks.
This message was last edited by the player at 17:21, Wed 10 June 2020.

"Well that went well," Endo observes to nobody in particular as the ship shivers and screams. He ruefully observes Zobart and Xander abandoning ship. "This stupid flute has to be good for something" he curses. He begins to play again, a wilder and more frantic tune. He feels the call of the chaotic sea pulling him. If the Klabautermann will not come to him, he will come to it. As the ship breaks apart he silently mutters to the void "into your hand I commit my spirit" and then, with a final horrifying wail of the flute, he swan dives from his seat on the crow's nest into the encroaching sea.
This message was last edited by the player at 18:53, Thu 11 June 2020.

Neftas has always believed that good fortune will find its way to him sooner or later, and he's not about to stop that now just because things look inescapably dire.  Surely there will be a door or something he can float on before he gets too wet.  A door big enough for the dwarf and his pig, of course.

The one unanswered question amongst all those awaiting their doom--how long must they wait?--is soon answered.

It's an understandably tense wait, punctuated by worrisome thoughts of the demon's return. But it does not, having apparently found a more pressing calling.

25 or so minutes before the seas slurps the Star of Nostro. And while the islanders and the pig make their diverse entries into the sea and in diverse states of mind, they all do make their entry after or just before the ship goes down. The Klabautermann, that singer-songwriter-loving kobold of the seas, must have finished his set.

After surfacing, they bob about in the choppy and roiling sea, their eyes stinging with salt and their lungs hungering for air. If they don't find something to hold on to, they will drown.

Each islander can make an unmodified luck check (roll equal to or lower than your luck), to see if they luck out. Neftas rolls for both himself and pig.

After surfacing, they bob about in the choppy and roiling sea, their eyes stinging with salt and their lungs hungering for air. If they don't find something to hold on to, they will drown.

Swimming in rivers was one thing, this was something else.  Xander keeps a hold of his row paddle and axe as long as he can, using the former to hook enterprising-looking flotsam towards him while hoping not to have to use the latter on enterprising sharks or skrags.

Then there was Zobart.  He knew how to swim, in that figurative sense, with card sharks.  In real water with real waves, not so much.

X has a luck of 8:  rolled a 6, pass?
Z also has a luck of 8: rolled a 15, no pass pas?

20:51, Today: Ecla rolled 6 using 1d20.  X luck check0
20:52, Today: Ecla rolled 15 using 1d20.  Z luck check..

Correct. Zobart dies. Xander survives.

Endo slowly works his way back to the surface after executing, dare he say, a picture perfect swan dive. He finds that the flute is somehow still in his hand. Although somewhat weakened from his . . . not fighting? he finds the strength to paddle in the direction of a promising-looking door. In fact, it appears to be the door from the captain's quarters. What irony.


14:06, Today: Coily rolled 5 using 1d20.  Endo luck. (Endo has luck of 14)

Once again, Neftas's faith in the universe pays off.  Endo might have gotten the nicest door on the ship, but there are more to be had, and soon he and Porcelina are floating on top of the waves with only the slightest of worry.

Josh rolled 9 using 1d20.  Luck 12.

Even the sinking of a doomed ship cannot separate the three survivors and an exceptional pig. The captain's door, made of the finest mahogany, bumps up against another door and then a third. Unexpectedly, and through no perceivable agency, they adhere to one another, making a makeshift raft for Neftas, Endo, Xander, and Porcelina with enough room for both the two- and four-legged to stretch their legs. What's more, a couple of bottles of whiskey miraculously make their presence known by plinking against the side of the "raft" along with some other choice, unspoiled provisions. As if that weren't enough, so does some sailcloth to shield the vulnerable from the sun.

Nobody pays much attention to the spare helmsman's wheel as it floats passed the vessel.

The demon, for what else could it be, does not show itself again. It might have to find another home for its unhatched brood. Or maybe the more ravenous denizens of the sea might be having themselves an omelet brunch, leaving the demon with but a mouthful of liver.

After a suitable length of time, sails appear from the northwest, as prophesied. Before long, the four of you are taken aboard an Ibissian pirate ship. Now, if the captain of this ship has plans to press these four into service, well, they are the survivors of the doomed ship, the Star of the Nostro, and such survivors are not to be trifled with.

FIN

Obtenir tried.  That is the best thing you can say about any man.  He may have failed like a fruitless bitch, but he tried, by the gods.

But in his next life... he won’t....