This thread is where we will begin our adventure in the world of Yrth.

Hello and welcome adventurers, to the known world called Yrth. I am Snaggog Berylblade, sage & librarian for the Knight of Wands in the great city of Kingsport. The mountains behind the city have always been the home of the various dwarf clans, but after the Great Doomfall, the clans eventually allied together to survive against the various other races seeking shelter, food and the goods we had, more often than not through force. Those that approached more diplomatically were eventually trusted enough as allies and over time the kingdom of Umannon came to be, and Kingsport was established and grew to what it is today. A great center for commerce, trade, learning and prosperity on the coast of the South Sea.

I will be chronicling the deeds of three young adventurers in particular. Will they become renown heroes? Only time and Destiny will tell. Without further ado, let me introduce you to our main players in this story;

First we have an unusual student of the arcane, Bruxxa Oruta who hails from the jungles of Guraanis, one of the Drashu (or as some call them lizard-folk). He was curious to learn more than the shamanistic way of his people and was able to find a sponsor in myself, on my last trip to the jungles. He returned with me to Kingsport and has proved to be an apt student of magical theory and now that his apprenticeship is done, I have tasked him with returning to his native lands on an important errand for the Royal Academy (played my Marc).

Next we have the rogue from the seedier side of the city, Haggard Stonebones (a family bloodline that has always been of dubious quality as well as in a slow decline). Will this latest son of Stonebones manage to lift the family up from infamy to fame? His latest exploits seem to have landed him in some hot water and he’s decided to leave town until tempers have cooled down, so my assessment leans towards a resounding ‘’no’’, but perhaps I may be proven wrong (played by Tony).

Finally, we have the elf from beyond the walls, Larrendir Talloran. He is one of those beings more comfortable in the wilds than in the streets of the city so I will admit to some ignorance of his history as well as to his motivations for coming to Kingsport. But from what I have ascertained through my contacts, is that he wants to discover new horizons and has heard of the mysteries in the jungles of Guraanis and has been seeking a way to get there (played by Daryl).

Starting story hook: Master Librarian Snaggog Berylblade (a dwarven sage & explorer of some advanced years) needs a number of crates containing various supplies and items to be delivered to a team of field-sages, working on discovering more history in ancient ruins found in the dark jungles of Guraanis. They call these field-sages ‘’Ark-Key-Aul-low-gists’’, a very fancy word for people who travel to remote locations & dig into ruins despite the obvious dangers. But the pay is good at 5 silvers a day, plus hazard pay (i.e. any loot you finds, you keeps).

Bruuxa knows of said group of archaeologists (as well as who’s in charge and where they are roughly). Haggard & Larrendir have heard of the request for guards/escorts for the crates and for Bruuxa and to insure their safe arrival. The swift schooner ‘’The Black Orion’’, captained by Nimlarie Solaera Thoinaethas, an elven lass (young by elven standards, but experienced to the waves of the South Sea), has been chartered by Snaggog for the trip. It has a crew of four sailors (two men & two women, all humans)

The archaeologists should be at a place called Mivvin’s Rest which is several days away from the nearest bastion of ‘’civilization’’ and the expedition in question is led by a scholar of noble birth named Grenne Reskin. If the seas remain calm and the winds favorable & steady then the trip should take about 10 days to reach Mivvin’s Rest. Contracts have been negotiated and signed, and the day of departure decided.

Once you have all settled in on the small ship and stowed your gear, you are shown some of the basics of sailing in case a crewman should fall ill or be wounded. The captain and her crew are friendly enough and willing to teach those who want to learn. Besides, it will help pass the time.

The weather has been pleasant but on the third day, late in the afternoon, the Captain seems worried and unsettled. She is peering aft, thru her spyglass and studies the dark clouds on the horizon. You notice her concern and ask her what she thinks this may mean.

-‘’Those clouds are not natural. I don’t know why or how I know this, but I feel it in my bones. Not in all my years sailing these waters have I seen this. The only thing that it could be, in my opinion, is ‘’The Ghostlight’’ is behind us and gaining.’’

(Those you want to find out what ‘’The Ghostlight’’ is may ask the Captain to explain. Those who would like to see if their character has ever heard of it, may make an INTELLIGENCE (Cultural Lore, or Historical Lore or Religious Lore). The base Difficulty is 11 to even have heard about it, more details if the roll is higher & Stunt points may be used on the Exploration Stunts table if reasonable. Select your character AND write ‘’Lore about the Ghostlight’’ as the reason for the roll, please)

*Remember that this is an Ability check: 3d6 + INT ability + the appropriate focus if applicable versus a Diff. of 11. The Die Roller will let you know if stunt points were generated & how many*

**Everyone has until Monday April 5th Midnight to post their reply - If everyone has replied before then, I will continue the narrative.
This message was last edited by the GM at 14:38, Fri 02 Apr 2021.

Having failed to recall any information regarding the Ghostlight, Bruuxa approaches the captain, "Captain, I am curious about this Ghostlight I hear about, can you please tell me about it?"

Haggard curses under his breath and quietly heads below deck to the relative safety of the hold. Grumbling to himself when he gets there.
"Let those that get paid to fight storms, fight the thing. I ain't for bein' washed overboard in no sea squall."

(Peering around in the dark hold for a place to weather the storm in safety.)
This message was last edited by the player at 05:03, Mon 05 Apr 2021.

During the 3 day spent on the Black Orion, Larrendir will take the crew up on the offer to learn about sailing, running a ship.

On the 3rd day, once he hears Captain Nimlarie's oath about "Ghostlight", it seems familiar to him. He asks her permission to look through her spyglass to view the dark clouds on the horizon.

Peering through the spyglass, He lets out a sharp intake of breath, then hand its back to her and very softly begins singing in Elvish which translates to:


The Wild and Stormy Sea:

"Billowing winds, skimming the surface of the dark gray sea.

Churning the water, forceful and wild.

A distant howling, the promise of an untethered force.

Swirling mute skies, the storm approaches.

Gathering pace, gathering noise.

Waves rising higher, crashing from their peak,

to the foamy wash below.

She will take no prisoner's, have no mercy.

Arc's of silver flash in the distance,

into the depth's of the angry sea.

A building crescendo of deep, growling,

closer, closer.

Mother nature, she reigns supreme,

ethereal, powerful, a universal queen or Tyrant"
This message was last edited by the player at 02:35, Tue 06 Apr 2021.

As the surly dwarf stomps off below decks, Larrendir recalls the recents tales and gossip he's heard on the waterfront of Kingsport. He spent days trying to find passage on a ship to Guraanis, but either the ships weren't going there or the ones that did wouldn't accept an obvious landlubber. Before learning of Snaggog the sage's job, he heard that The Ghostlight is a ship unlike any other. It has haunted the high seas for centuries, working its way into sailor folklore as an ill omen, a safe haven, a door to the afterlife, or the harbinger of death, depending on who you ask.

The captain still looks worriedly aft as she replies to Bruuxa;
-Master Bruuxa, in all my years of sailing these waters I've never encountered the Ghostlight and hoped I never would. It is a galleon of the sailors lost at sea, an afterlife for good sailors who performed their duties well, and a prison for the souls of the wicked ones who deserve punishment. Who decides the fate of a sailor, I do not know.  No captain wants to see those dread sails on the horizon or it's eerie lanterns suddenly appear beside her boat. I don’t rightly know what this means but I know we won’t be able to outrun her, no ship seems to have been able to escape her, if fate has decided it was to be so.

That was very well sung, young Larrendir, I hadn’t heard that song in a long time, thank you.

Capt. Nimlarie and her crew try to keep the Ghostlight as far away from the Black Orion for as long as possible, but the crew is tired and it becomes obvious that the dark clouds will be upon the schooner sometime after sundown. And as she predicted, the inky darkness envelops the ship, blocking out the stars making navigation nigh impossible and extremely risky, so she lowers anchor. The rest of the crew stay below decks cowering, afraid that their doom is upon them. The captain stays above, ready to face whatever dangers in the hopes of coming out of this alive and with her crew & ship intact.

After what seems an eternity of waiting in the dark, pale green lights appear to starboard getting closer fast. The black shape of the Ghostlight then looms over you, it’s own deck unmanned and rows of oars propelling it forward in the calm waters. The clouds above reflect some of the green glow of the lanterns as a sense of foreboding and expectation hangs over you.

*Bruuxa feels that the Ghostlight is inviting you aboard along with your two companions. Capt. Nimlarie turns to you and says “Some tales tell of the ship of the dead asking the living to come aboard, but they conflict on the fate of those who accept, but those who refuse are cursed until they board or die.”

Then ropes and grappling hooks are thrown by unseen hands from the deck above to secure the Orion alongside it, then a gangplank of black wood is lowered.

*Players: All three of you feel a tug at your minds and souls.
To Bruuxa, an appeal to discovery; what is aboard this strange vessel?
To Larrendir, it is a call to heroism, this could be a chance to help the spirits of the deceased sailors who call the ship their home.
To Haggard, the ship seems to appeal to your greed. Visions of a hold filled with gold, such as the lost treasure horde of the pirate queen Golden Gillie occupy your mind, waiting for someone brave enough to go look for it.

What do you do? Do you walk up the gangplank and discover the haunted ship’s secrets?

**You all have until Friday April 9th at midnight.
This message was last edited by the GM at 21:15, Tue 06 Apr 2021.

Below decks: When the first of the crew started to appear, parroting the Captain's doom and gloom tale of the Ghostlight, Haggard took it all as superstitious nonsense. "Pretty sure it only takes one solid dwarf to secure the cargo boys, I needn't none 'o ye help.  Ye lot be better put to use keepin' this dingy afloat!"
"Bah, ghost ship! 'Tis naught but a bit 'o' foul weather." he grumbled to himself.
But after the dark had descended and the muttered sounds of the crew's prayers subsided into eerie silence, Haggard's curiosity began to get the best of him. It wasn't long thereafter he found himself back up on the deck of the ship slinking forth to the rail to peer out into the gloom.
Frozen by the mystery unfolding before him Haggard's mind drifts to a hold of unknown treasures, and mysterious magical baubles.
He joins his companions and walks cautiously across the gang plank and to the Ghostlight... marching to an internal cadence of the counting of coins.
"No brave soul gets rich hidin' in a hole."  He says aloud.

Larrendir simply stands for a few moments, taking in the ominous sight of the Ghost light. He turns to the Captain Nimarie, and tells her "Well , its seems our path has has been set before us and besides, I don't believe it the ship would accept our refusal." He then hops onto the Gangplank, crossing to the Ghostlight, He winks back at the Captain and utters "May your Water be sweet and you laughter be light until next we meet" with smile. Then as Larrendir sets foot on the Haunted ship's deck, he seems to disappear enveloped by the gloom as a sense of dread threatens to overcome his calm demeanour momentarily.  Steeling himself he mutters to himself "Gather your courage, There is a mystery here and likely souls that need to be laid to rest....."
This message was last edited by the player at 14:34, Fri 09 Apr 2021.

Bruuxa sighs deeply. two pressures warring in his mind. On the one hand, the lure of the new to explore is strong, but so is word, and he did agree to make a delivery.

Seeing his two companions getting ready to board the strange ship, he turns to the captain, "It would seem that a change in plan is in order. I will join my team on the Ghostlight. I ask you to finish the delivery of supplies for us." Handing the captain the money given to him for the job,Bruuxa grabs his gear and follows the other two.

Capt. Nimlarie watches all three of you cross to the ship of dead mariners and says “Best of luck, but I don’t think the Black Orion is going anywhere unless you accomplish or fail at whatever task that awaits you”.

As you climb up the gangplank, you notice the ship’s figurehead - smiling mermaid holding a scythe in her right hand and an iron lantern in the other. Once on the main deck a few things you notice right away, despite the gloom, the stars twinkling above are the only thing that tells you that you are still in the world of the living...for now.

-The rigging and sails clank and flutter on the groaning, empty deck.
-The wheel on the rear deck corrects itself without any hands to guide it.
-Ghostly orbs of light float inside glass lanterns bolted to the masts and railings.
-Also a door beneath the rear deck leads into the hold. It creaks open and closes in the wind. Nobody other than yourselves can be seen, so this door seems to be the only access to the lower decks, so you start walking towards it.

*Everyone make a Perception check (you may add Seeing OR Hearing focus) versus a Diff 15. If you succeed, then you are not surprised and can act during the 1st Round of combat.

*No matter the result of your PER check, then roll for Initiative (i.e. Dexterity (Initiative focus) Stunt points cannot be used for this check). If you failed the PER check, you won’t be able to act during the 1st round, but can do so on the next round. The giant rats (3) got a 9 for their Initiative.


-You can see the main deck map (or you should be able to) by going to the Game Map menu on the right, then click on the drop down menu and select ‘’Map/Image for group 0’’
-The letters of your PC names show where you are initially (H) (L) & (B). The rest of the combat will be Theatre of the Mind.
-Or you can see the Main Deck map on Obsidian Portal - Media Library - Ghostlight images & maps : There’s also the image of the Shadow Rats (R)
https://yrththeknownworld.obsi...t+images+&+maps/?


**You have until midnight, Monday april 12th to reply.