Pirate 2 starts on his map.

"My name's Chauncey."

Cassandre,, that fits with what you saw.  He has a sister named Luinda who's living in Ladder's Ending, working as a pimp.  And a mother who's a drunk that used to beat both her kids when they didn't steal enough to keep her in her cups.

After his sister ran away, his mother sold him to a pirate crew when he was around 14 years old.

Needless to say, the family isn't close.

He seems sincere in his offer.  Overall, Chauncey wants out of this situation.  You think he sees you guys as an opportunity to escape from his situation.  The fact he needs your kind of help to escape his situation should say something.

Chauncey talks as he draws.  "Crazy Cat Lady huh?  Funny.  That's what we call her too.  Wilma's little sister is...well.  You sound like you've met her.  So you know.

"Yeah.  All those damn cats are from the big cats.  Well.  I don't think they're actually cats.  Wilma and the Captain have this hobby of breeding monsters.  YOu didn't run into that clock did you?  I can see from your expression you did.

"Anyway.  The Mom and the Pops stand about...this high."  He raises his hand to just above waist level on Breya.

"They're both wide about as a large hog.  And they're strong as all get out.  They've got these weird kinda tentacles comin' off their shoulders.  And they got an extra set of legs.  Mean as all get out.  But I'll warn ya.  The worst thing about them is they're never where you think they are.  It's like they're standing over there,"

He points to where Bellinha is standing.

"But they're actually over here."  He points at Jevin's feet.

He turns the sheet of parchment around.

Chauncey sits back. "Wilma is some kinda...whatchamacallit...potion maker.  She likes to throw these things that go boom.  Jox is just really tough.  The others are kinda tough.

"They sent us up here to go hunting.  So they won't miss us for a while.  But sooner or later, they'll come looking.  So you should decide what you wanna do soon.

"As far as me...look.  You guys blink and I'll be outta here.  I'll just take something to defend myself and I'm gone.  So I'll answer your questions.  But just let me make a break for it."

Forgot to add:  if anyone wants to try to see what they know about the cats:  Knowledge/Arcana or Knowledge/Nature.  One is better than the other, but I'll give out some info on the other one as well.

Let me know if there are questions.  Thanks
This message was last edited by the GM at 06:09, Tue 14 June 2022.

 Cassandre will relay her findings to the others, but she won't weigh in on whether a Pirate should be allowed to join their ranks. She had only known them for a few hours, so who was she to judge? Also she was given the right to stick around, so maybe others should be given the same courtesy? Not if they indulged in recreational genocide, of course. Better change that to any genocide really.

 She turned to Jevin and summed up: "He's not as bad as most, probably badder than some, overall I wouldn't trust him with my cat..."

 Upon hearing the description of the big cats, she pondered and tried to link his understanding with stories she had heard and prophecies she had seen on the topic... somehow the crux of the stories kept evader her, as if the information she was after was just there, nested in a coil of her brain, but a she got close it was actually in an other castle...
  "I"m essentially positive I ought to know something about these tentacled six-legged panthers..."

---

 Cassandre Lagrene rolled 26 using 1d20+8.  know nature.
 Cassandre Lagrene rolled 14 using 1d20+8.  know arcana.
 Cassandre Lagrene rolled 4 using 1d20.  intuition.

In reply to Mr. Whetstone (msg # 1):

Sitting a bit off from the others, within earshot, as Cassandre presented confusion on the beasts he would pipe up "Sounds like displacement, almost like blur but more so, maybe displacement beasts or whatever you call them. an alchemist, from what I'm hearing, as well. If they have tentacly appendages and displacement, you can bet they will use skirmish tactics," he says as he is cutting one of the leather armors into strips "Probably best to use similar weapons to the alchemist against them, some of that pitch would go a long way against displacement."

Cassandre heard the analysis loud and clear. She turned to Lief with unusual intensity in her big brown eyes. Planting her gaze in his, she nodded and asked: “Do you think it could be displacement?”
There wasn’t a hint of a smile on her face.

In reply to Cassandre Lagrene (msg # 6):

You do know something Cassandre.  There is a beast that fits Chauncey's description that has the supernatural ability to displace it's image.  They're supposed to be a bit more clever than wild animals, though you don't recall anything about them being as smart as a person.  Well.  As smart as a person who actually is smart.  Or at least has common sense.

You don't know anything about it's young.  So the whole mirror image kitten thing may or may not fit.  You can't be sure.

What other questions for Chauncey? Or in general?

Breya didn't have questions at the moment.

"Anything we fight is going to kick my ass at this point, so it's all the same to me."

In reply to Mr. Whetstone (msg # 7):

throwing a question towards the pirate "What do these beasties eat?"

Jevin took him map and walked away from the pirate.

“Anyone see where that pirate went?  I am busy looking at this map.   Probably a good thing he isn’t here when the ones who would kill him dead get here.”

He continued to study the map and show others in the party.
This message was last edited by the player at 21:53, Wed 15 June 2022.

 Cassandre asked the pirate:
 "Those lanky squid-cats... how do they keep them from attacking your own, or the slaves? Do they have a collar and leash? Do they use magic to control them? Or treats?"

That was a good question, Breya reflected.  She awaited the answer as she took a look at the map because why not, it couldn't hurt.

PM
This message was last edited by the player at 00:57, Fri 17 June 2022.

"Them cats pretty much do what Wilma tells 'em to do.   I don't know how she tames them.  Though...well.  Come to think on it, she's always drinks from one of her little bottles before she tells 'em to do something.  Sorry.  That's all I really know about how she handles 'em.  The food for the cats is in on the pier.  Wilma handles it all.

"One reason we...they...keep the slaves in barrels is cos of the cats.  The little ones will try to nip at 'em if we don't.  The slaves are also put into barrels cos it's supposed to be easier to get them past some kind of guard.  Wait.  I do recall hearin' them talk about getting the slaves past the guards in Smythers town.  So I guess whoever's buyin' the slaves is somewhere around there.  But if you want to know more about that, Wilma should know somethin'."

He listens as Jevin pretty much tells him to take a walk.  Chauncey stands up, tapping Gus on the shoulder.  "C'mon.  Stop tryin' to chop onions with your butt.  We need to get outta their hair."

As they start down the stairwell to the foyer, Chauncey looks back.

"Two more things.  The cats sleep in the well room.  Don't know if they're there or not.  But so you know.  Also, Jox has an axe he can throw but it comes back to him.  Watch out for it.  Best of luck."

And Chauncey and Gus start to head down the stairs.

---

Zale and Kozibi, you start down the stairs.

As you begin to pass by the ground floor, you see a few of the kittens padding up and down the stairwell.  They stop and stare at you.  They and their twins.  They slink away when you come near them.

As you skulk downwards, you can hear voices coming up from below.  You stop before what should be the last turn in the stairwell before the cellar.

"So I said to her...I said..."Look you.  I only brought two silver cos you said it would only cost two silver!  What you tryin' to pull here?"

"Grunt"

"And she's like "well there's the cost of shipping and handling."  And I'm like...we're on a friggin' ship!  I sleep two bunks down from you!  If you're gonna handle me, I think you should be the one payin' me!"

"Grunt"

The first voice is busy laughing.  "Okay. Okay.  Yeah.  Just set that down there."

There's a loud thud sound.

"Man oh man.  I really hope we can blow this joint soon."

Koz and Zale, you can wait or try to peek around the curve in the stairs.  Whoever is speaking sounds like they are not far from the bottom of the stairwell.

At some point, while the group rests and if any of them need/accepts his care while they rest... he will also work on making improvised Alchemist flasks using an alchemical diffusion of the pitch, wood dust, and a bit of water to thin the pitch just a little [to allow splash].

Jevin shares the map with the party and studies it intently.

He takes Leif up on his offer of healing and is happy to ease the ache in his shoulder.


"Before we head down to the basement, I think we should all rest some.  I'll take first and second watch.   Highly recommend ya all rest.  Anyone wants to take watch with me or take last watch let me know."

With that, Jevin loads his crossbow and finds somewhere comfortable to sit and look around and listen.

OOC: rolled two perception rolls.  Will take watch and rest while watching/ lean against the wall and take it easy with a loaded crossbow.


21:35, Today: Jevin Holt rolled 12 using 1d20+8.  Perception 2.
21:35, Today: Jevin Holt rolled 26 using 1d20+8.  Perception 1.

 Cassandre made note of what the Pirate said, and commented for the others:
"So it seems that the Big Blurry Cats are only responding to the boss when she drinks a magic potion that allows her to command them... now that is useful information indeed."

 "Remove the libation, enjoy the confusion..." she ventured.

 "Anyone think they could do that? Pickpocket, sleight of hand, trick of the whip, telekinesis, flattery... there is no wrong idea."

PM

"Last."  Breya called, she figured she'd feel more up to a watch after that.

In reply to Jevin Holt (msg # 16):

And soothing aches he did, those magical little gnome fingers expertly cleaned, and wrapped in warmed cloth with well watered-down pitch, around the cuts and bruises. Keeping the blood flow up, the wound sealed and sanitized, and the aches down. Massaged down a few inflamed muscles you may not have even known were aching, as well as fluffed and padded a spot for you to rest.

Everything except the scented candled and massage oils, you'd swear the little inventor use to work at a spa.

This message was deleted by the player at 14:26, Sat 18 June 2022.