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.