A few days after setting sail there is a call about ships on the horizon. At first Harrigan seemed wary of engaging with other ships while his own ship was so heavily damaged but as they grew closer it was discovered that the other ships appear to have been severely damaged by the storm as well.

A group of three ships, each within about a half mile or so of one another, were drifting. No crew was seen helming them despite the sun being high and Harrigan set course to investigate.

"We will check for survivors, and more importantly check for cargo!"

The crew was organized into three exploration teams. The Wormwood would put up next to each one, drop off the crew and then sail onto the next wreck. When it had completed all three dropoffs it would circle back around to collect the crew and cargo. While this was an efficient use of their time and ultimately would only delay the ship about a day of sailing, it did mean that the crews dropped off would have to survive for hours on their own. There would be no reinforcements and no easy way of retreat unless they found a servicable rowboat or raft.

The crews were determined by drawing straws and three teams of eight were formed from the press-ganged crew.


Team #1
Kimes Pellegrin
"Narwhale" Tate
Gloom
Olivari "Ten-Eyes"
Lissa Cochrane
Jarrod Marriott
Terrin Young
Amithel Ashtrain

Team #2
Rafe Rookward
Kalia Tyrnddare
Nenelethas
Oivind
Zug Zug Bog
Pearl McCalister
Vander Wargrider
Xao Fang

Team #3
Rosie Cusswell
Crimson Cog
Yana Risad
Kaye Haduk
Rinaldo
Amithel Ashtrain
Ratline Rattsberger
Jack Scrimshaw

---

The first team is dropped off one what looks to be either a pirate vessel or a pirate hunter. The livery suggests it was a Cheliax ship but what it is doing so far south and ravaged by the storm is unknown. The team is dropped off and they begin cautiously exploring the ship while the Wormwood< moves on to the next derelict.


The second ship appears to be a trading ship from the south bearing the markings of Vidrian. It was likely originally a ship from Cheliax that was captured when the Vidrians broke free from Cheliaxian colonization. Unlike the first ship this one looks to have been a derelict even before the storm hits as there are signs of rot all throughout the ship. It's masts have been shorn clean off and it lists to the side. The upper deck is clean of debris, likely swept away when it was hit by the storm. The vessal groans in the wind as the Wormwood pulls alongside and grapples are sent over to allow the second team to climb aboard. As they board the Stitchman makes note that the ship looks to have taken on water and will likely sink within the next couple of days.

On the deck the decking has warped from moisture and puddles have formed all across the deck. Short white stumps are all that remains of the masts. The double doors leading to cabins fore and aft appear intact, while a metal grate in the deck offers access to the lower decks. Aside from the rhythmic creak of the ship's badly weathered soaking timbers, all seems quiet.

Once the exploration team is onboard the grapples are removed and the Wormwood sets sail for the third wreck.

"Alright everyone, let's get this over with. Step with caution and let's start at the aft and work our way foreword." She said with a simple nod as a Wormwood sailed off to the next wreck. "We're going to be here for a bit, so we may as well take our time."

Oivind shakes his head."No." he walks past Kalia towards the fore. "If you want to lead you should learn to use your head." The Ulfen draws his great axe and begins prodding the ground with its haft as he walks. "This ship looks like it's half rotten. We don't need all out weight in one area."

"And if we split up we risk breaking the ship in half. I did use my head." She pointed out. "I weighed both options, and niether is better then the other, save for if we are all together we are more likely to be able to help one another should the ship sink."

Nenelethas had been enjoying his days aboard the Wormwood, or so he realized when he’d been thrust into duties aboard a ship that was clearly about to sink.

“I can’t help but think you are both right,” He said to the pair arguing. “We should give each other some space, maybe six feet or so, and keep our distance but stick together. No one needs rush off. We can take our time and carefully search the holds looking for anything magic, or otherwise. I will start to cast a spell that allows me to detect the presence of magical auras, does anyone else know how to do that?”

OOC: let’s keep socially distanced ;) and I will cast Detect Magic.

"Both wrong." Zug Zug commented. He switched to Orcish so he could be better understood.  Then Zug Zug added, "No Captain like no treasure. Spy us. Sees us make treasure. Move fastest sees treasure sinking."

Zug Zug prodded the deck with his club to make sure he wasn't going to be stepping on a rotten wood pit trap and started towards the stairs to go below deck...

When she made her way to the derelict ship, she was shaking her head.  The thing looked as if it would sink any minute.  For her own part, Pearl could swim but she didn't know about the others and their skills.  Certainly, the wolf could swim at least.  Before any orders were given as to how they should go about searching the ship Pearl asked, "Can all of you swim?  I ask because this things looking like it could go under any time."

None of the others had really worked together except to fix the ship but that was under the direct supervision of leaders chosen by the Cap'n.  It was clear that there would be disagreements and it showed already as they were trying to figure out what to do first and how to go about it.  "I think splitting up at this point is not a good idea.  Something about this ship worries me.  If we all fall through the decking it would be better than one of us.  Who knows what is below decks.  I think we should make our way to that door first."  Pearl pointed to door B.

Pearl tries to open the door but finds it difficult to do so. It should swing out, and freely at that but something seems to be holding it shut from the inside. There is a little bit of give but not enough to even wedge a dagger into the crack of the door.

OOC: A DC 15 Athletics check is needed to pull open the door. Others can assist with the Aid action. That is a DC 20 Athletics check. If you pass you add +1, if you crit pass that is +2-+4, and only if you crit fail is it a penalty (-1).

Shaking her head at the bickering, she walks carefully to the center of the deck and takes a look through the grate into the hold.

In reply to Dungeon Master (msg # 8):

Vander nods at Pearl's question about swimming, and tries to hook part of his grapple into the door. Then he and his wolf try to pull the door open as Pearl makes her own effort, but very little is accomplished. "Someone on other side of door, holding it closed. Yes yes!" He says to her.

OOC:
14:21, Today: Vander Wargrider rolled 10 using 1d20+5 with rolls of 5.  Shaka tries to aid.

14:21, Today: Vander Wargrider rolled 15 using 1d20+4 with rolls of 11.  Athletics check to aid.
This message was last edited by the player at 19:57, Tue 02 Mar 2021.

Pearl at first thought it would be easy to pull the door open but when it didn't budge the first pull, Pearl spit on both her hands and then placed both on the door handle and set her feet.  "Come on ye stubborn door, don't be acting so bashful, show me what you have inside."

With a great tug, Pearl was able to rip open the door.

20:31, Today: Pearl McCalister rolled 22 using 1d20+5 with rolls of 17.  A tugging I will go.  Athletics check

Pearl tugs open the door to reveal that it was held fast with thick strands of spider webbing. Thick sheets of it choke the room. Near the bow and deep within the webs sits a single table surrounded by four chairs. Around the bend it looks to be some sort of living quarters but without cutting through the webbing and entering the room it is hard to tell.

After pulling open the door Pearl saw what the problem was.  Spiders.. how in the hell???  "Either there is a really big spider inside or the small ones have been at it for some time."

Pearl said as she put her pack down and rummaged inside the main part and pulled out a torch and flint and steel.  "A little fire will burn these away nice and easy."

Pearl struck the flint a few times on the steel and had the torch burning in no time.  Once lit she packed her stuff and put her pack back on and then pulled out her dagger in her right hand and torch in left.  Lightly touching the webbing with the torch to burn back the webs.

Seeing the webbing and the torch, Vander quickly leads Shaka to behind cover. There had been more than one famous foolish goblin using fire a bit to close to giant spider leavings...and Vander had seen it happen up close. He does get his bow ready just in case...
This message was last edited by the player at 19:06, Wed 03 Mar 2021.

Xao is in the midst of pulling her spear off her back when the door swings open. She sees the webbing and comes over to inspect it. "Just a second." She says holding up a hand to prevent the webs from being burnt before she can look at them.


OOC: 13:39, Today: Xao Fang rolled 14 using 1d20+7 with rolls of 7.  Nature.
Can she determine what kind of spider made these webs or how old they are? Anything?
This message was last edited by the player at 21:41, Wed 03 Mar 2021.

In reply to Kalia Tyrnddare (msg # 4):

"Fair enough." Oivind says with a shrug. "Next time explain yourself instead of trying to assume command when you have no authority." he turns to Zug zug. [Language unknown: " Of evwil ure."] He calls out before following the orc. "I'm going to stick with him in case something happens." he says to Kalia giving her a wink as he goes.

"Alright. Though we truly should all stay together, spread apart some." She said as she shrugged, looking past the open door. "I do not suggest burning that. You will light up the entire ship. Also that much webbing, tells me there is spiders on the ship. I wonder how big."

Pearl heeds the warning from the others and pulls the flame back.  "How about I put out the flame and touch the hot embers to the web?  It should melt away the webbing without burning the ship up."

Even with the ship being waterlogged from the storm, this amount of webbing would set the whole ship alight in a matter of minutes and given the structural integrity seen it would probably take that time or less for the whole ship to come apart.

All Xao can figure out is that it is indeed spider webbing. Not very useful but there are other creatures that could produce a similar web. The question she would have though is what would a spider be hunting that requires such a large web?

In reply to Pearl McCalister (msg # 18):

"Risky, risky. We must wet webbing with sea water first, then touch webs with heated metal." Vander piped up, but made sure to stay far from said material in case Pearl and the others decide to risk the fire.

There is a lot of webbing in this room. Enough that the door was sealed shut.