Lilliendethar, the dockmaster for Poisson introduces herself to the new owners of the Hexton. She offers them a choice - they can continue to make Orm's normal shipments - but the way Orm described their capabilities in a scrap makes her believe they are better suited for more interesting work. She describes the way some local goblin pirates have been raiding ships sailing between Poisson and Montesser lately, and asks the crew if they are willing to deal with the situation.
The crew quickly agrees and asks a few questions to get an idea of what they're up against. Lilli believes that the pirates are operating primarily nearby; and appear to favor stealth over direct action - mainly engaging at night and in the darkness. Since none of the reported attacks are very far from the local area; she thinks they may be using a smaller vessel that is easier to maneuver and hide. Based on what they found in the small cave up the river and further information, the pirates favor small, valuable prizes and specialty items.
The party realizes they may need some backup in the open waters, and interviews a handful of potential new shipmates - picking up a mixed lot of capable combatants and sailors to help them operate the Hexton in these dangerous waters.
Their morning business completed, the group hatches a plan - they need some bait. Rional and Salek go find Lilli to ask about some cargo while Ishmael and the others stay behind and get to know the new recruits.
One of the other ships in the dock - The Danny; had to put in for emergency repairs on their way to Montesser. They were carrying the normal sort of load of trade goods and commodities, but they also had a special shipment - one chest for a local aristocrat to be moved from his summer home to his normal residence. A circlet, some chalices and jeweled cups worth a hefty price - and the commission of 10% of their value to complete the shipment to boot seems the perfect lure. The crew of the Danny seem relieved to be rid of it given the reputation of the area.
Rional and Salek specifically request that Lilli let on what's happening, and by the next day's high tide it seems everyone on the docks is talking about the priceless cargo in their hold.
As the tide goes out, the Hexton sets sail for Montesser. Hugging the coastline in a light rainstorm, the first day goes smoothly, making good time in the mild wind. As evening approaches, watches are set. The early part of the night is quiet, as is the first portion of the second watch, but with the rain subsiding Orcanthus and Salek both hear a faint, rhythmic splash of oars from the northwest.
The other vessel is not running lights, and is apparently trying very hard to be quiet. Orca sends Audrey and Gerbrecht to wake the others while he lights his bullseye lantern. Once all hands are on deck, and with the unknown vessel now sounding much closer, he sends the spotlight into the night.
Immediately illuminating the front half of a blacked out Keelboat. There is a human at the gunner's position on a light bombard, and 5 goblins around him. Two are preparing to throw grapnel hooks, one is standing by to aid with the bombard and the other two are ready with javelins. Immediately the human fires, knocking a small chunk off the keel of the Hexton.
The opposing ships trade small arms fire with each other - Ishmael lands alchemists' fire at the base of their sail, causing a little panic. A few crossbow bolts find their marks, but these goblins are made of sterner stuff than the ones they had left behind.
An unlucky fumble of the goblin reloading the bombard spills gunpowder over the bow decking. Ishmael sees an opportunity and lands a second alchemist's fire right in the unlucky goblin's lap, lighting off the spilled powder and detonating the remaining powder kegs by the bombard. Three goblins are blown clear of the ship, two bobbing unmoving in the waves with the third meeting Kambylia's rough and tumble companion dolphin.
As the blackened, now somewhat flaming ship draws up alongside the Hexton, Orcanthus jumps into the fray, laying about with his halberd, projectiles flying all around. Heavily outnumbered, Orca dives into the water quickly after; but sowed enough confusion to buy time for the Hexton's crew to whittle away at the attackers.
With kobolds now coming on deck as the darkened vessel pulls in its sweeps, Ishmael drops the anchor at the front of the Hexton to pull the ship quickly around to bring the ballista to bear. The sudden lurch, and resulting impact knock several goblins and one of the humans to the ground. The human never had the chance to get back up.
Salek releases the bolt on the ballista but it goes wide. With the ships now locked together, the captain of the pirate vessel leads the goblinoid crew on a desparate charge to try to gain the deck of the Hexton, while Orcanthus hacks away at the heavily damaged prow. With the deck of their keelboat slightly below that of the Hexton, it is an ill-considered tactic. Audrey, Daka, Salek and Ishmael hold the line at the rail, repelling all boarders while Kambylia peppers the emerging Kobolds with her crossbow.
The rear line of kobolds put enough sling stones in the air to put Rional out of action until Kambylia can apply some healing magic. Ancariel backs Audrey up when she wavers. The three remaining kobolds stay well back from the rail, preferring instead to use their slings. With a crack and a groan, an audible rush of water give testament to Orcanthus' success. As the pirate boat begins to list, the kobolds abandon ship to try to swim to shore.
Salek and Daka each manage to grab one of the humans' remains. Orca, having been swept into the hold in the rush of water; is also able to retrieve a small chest from the hold of the doomed ship. The captain of the Cruel Demon had a folded piece of parchment paper. The note was signed by Oth, ordering Ja'bar al-`Abbasi to lead the goblins, referencing but not naming another commander higher up with some fear. There are also orders to meet up with Oth and the Bedlam Moon at Temil to the south in three days time.
Showing posts with label Seas Of Penance. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Seas Of Penance. Show all posts
Sunday, July 24, 2016
Sunday, June 26, 2016
Auspicious Beginnings
Capt. Orm chooses his prospective crew, A pair of Aventi, a barbarous Darfellan, an enthusiastic Hadozee, a mystical Man and a very quiet elf.
The prospects receive their first task, the captain will not leave without his new seeing glass that is due to be picked up at the local glazier. As the crew soon discovers, retrieving the scope is not a simple shopping trip.
After picking up a few hints about goblin raiders nearby, the crew track down the goblin's lair. No watercraft is present, leaving only a smaller contingent of sentries and guards. Taking the direct approach, the orca-marked barbarian steps right through the rough-made choke-point. With the Darfellan acting as a very effective distraction, the party decimates several waves of combined kobold and goblin defenders; they learned that day that Darfellan teeth are not just for show. The wizard's familiar also made his mark; and a well-timed spell incapacitated the rest.
Searching the hideout reveals some small treasures, Orm's spyglass and an odd jade gem fragment, striped in a maroon ruby-like crystal. The elf was able to detect a latent magic within the fragment, somehow related to the sea.
It was well past dark by the time the prospects return to the dock. They awaken the captain to deliver his glass, and Orm welcomes them to the Hexton as his crew.
In the morning, the freshly minted crew spend some time familiarizing themselves with the ship and discover some odd embellishments to the rudder linkage, terminating in a golden socket atop the steering post.
Orm notices their confusion and describes the previous usage of the fittings - in the steering post socket there was a maroon crystal gem with jade stripes fitted their. In feuding with his brother Oth, the gem was broken into three fragments. Two of which were stolen the previous day by Oth, the third remaining currently lost.
Rional shows Orm the jade fragment they had found - Orm explains the reversal. Fitted to his holy emblem is another socket, this one a perfect match for the green shard. The completed gems - when fitted to their respective sockets allow remote control of the ship. These gem pairs are rare, but not unique; and anyone actively using a pair can sense any other user within 100 miles.
By now, the tide is going out, and as the Hexton is an honest merchant ship, it is time to shove off to Barrish. The two-day journey there is uneventful, and after a day unloading and reloading a ship they set sail to return to Poisson. On the second day, they are approached by another ship - flying no colors.
Orm warns the crew to stand ready, but not to open fire. As the approaching dhow closes the distance the crew can see that its weapons are not loaded. The uknown ship stops just inside shouting distance as a familiar figure appears at the rail. The red vest of Oth. Oth offers the new crew the opportunity to join his pirate fleet if they turn on Orm. As the crew considers or awaits orders, the dhow turns away.
Growing impatient, Oth brings the dhow back around, and the crew can now see the loaded ballista aimed directly at the Hexton.
As the Hexton and the Bedlam Moon trade fire, Jenesar dives into the water to accost the Moon directly. Gripping the rudder, he swings wildly with his halberd; taking divots from the linkage. The steersman tries to shake him off, nearly crushing the barbarian. With a final defiant strike, Jenesar severs the post connecting the rudder to the ship's wheel; returning to the Hexton to watch the Moon limp away, the sweeps obviously struggling to compensate.
After returning to Poisson, Orm; haggard and exhausted explain to the crew that he no longer hears the call of the sea. He bequeaths the Hexton and all in it to the new crew, to continue his monastic studies.
The crew now has a ship; the seas are open to explore! Adventure and Profit awaits!
The prospects receive their first task, the captain will not leave without his new seeing glass that is due to be picked up at the local glazier. As the crew soon discovers, retrieving the scope is not a simple shopping trip.
After picking up a few hints about goblin raiders nearby, the crew track down the goblin's lair. No watercraft is present, leaving only a smaller contingent of sentries and guards. Taking the direct approach, the orca-marked barbarian steps right through the rough-made choke-point. With the Darfellan acting as a very effective distraction, the party decimates several waves of combined kobold and goblin defenders; they learned that day that Darfellan teeth are not just for show. The wizard's familiar also made his mark; and a well-timed spell incapacitated the rest.
Searching the hideout reveals some small treasures, Orm's spyglass and an odd jade gem fragment, striped in a maroon ruby-like crystal. The elf was able to detect a latent magic within the fragment, somehow related to the sea.
It was well past dark by the time the prospects return to the dock. They awaken the captain to deliver his glass, and Orm welcomes them to the Hexton as his crew.
In the morning, the freshly minted crew spend some time familiarizing themselves with the ship and discover some odd embellishments to the rudder linkage, terminating in a golden socket atop the steering post.
Orm notices their confusion and describes the previous usage of the fittings - in the steering post socket there was a maroon crystal gem with jade stripes fitted their. In feuding with his brother Oth, the gem was broken into three fragments. Two of which were stolen the previous day by Oth, the third remaining currently lost.
Rional shows Orm the jade fragment they had found - Orm explains the reversal. Fitted to his holy emblem is another socket, this one a perfect match for the green shard. The completed gems - when fitted to their respective sockets allow remote control of the ship. These gem pairs are rare, but not unique; and anyone actively using a pair can sense any other user within 100 miles.
By now, the tide is going out, and as the Hexton is an honest merchant ship, it is time to shove off to Barrish. The two-day journey there is uneventful, and after a day unloading and reloading a ship they set sail to return to Poisson. On the second day, they are approached by another ship - flying no colors.
Orm warns the crew to stand ready, but not to open fire. As the approaching dhow closes the distance the crew can see that its weapons are not loaded. The uknown ship stops just inside shouting distance as a familiar figure appears at the rail. The red vest of Oth. Oth offers the new crew the opportunity to join his pirate fleet if they turn on Orm. As the crew considers or awaits orders, the dhow turns away.
Growing impatient, Oth brings the dhow back around, and the crew can now see the loaded ballista aimed directly at the Hexton.
As the Hexton and the Bedlam Moon trade fire, Jenesar dives into the water to accost the Moon directly. Gripping the rudder, he swings wildly with his halberd; taking divots from the linkage. The steersman tries to shake him off, nearly crushing the barbarian. With a final defiant strike, Jenesar severs the post connecting the rudder to the ship's wheel; returning to the Hexton to watch the Moon limp away, the sweeps obviously struggling to compensate.
After returning to Poisson, Orm; haggard and exhausted explain to the crew that he no longer hears the call of the sea. He bequeaths the Hexton and all in it to the new crew, to continue his monastic studies.
The crew now has a ship; the seas are open to explore! Adventure and Profit awaits!
Friday, June 17, 2016
Seas of Penance: Preview and Teaser
You, and a surprisingly diverse set of other people have answered the call of the sea. Captain Orm Sorenson is looking to refresh his crew. He runs an honest shipping crew and will tolerate neither fools nor the foolish.
Everyone has arrived at the appointed time - at the ramp to the Hexton, but Capt. Orm has not made his appearance. An uncomfortable period of minutes pass, and a few of the surlier members of the crowd begin to move away - grumbling of timeliness and too much ale on the part of their prospective employer. The more patient among you remain. Patience is rewarded, as an olive-skinned man appears at the top of the ramp with a small, banded wooden chest slung over his shoulder. He quickly as he briskly walks down the ramp. He skirts the edge of the group and continues up along the pier, disappearing among the normal hubbub of the docks.
Loud cursing and scuffling erupts from the Hexton, as a paler, stouter male rushes to the ship's railing. His cheeks are flushed and he appears out of breath. He quickly glances up and down the dock. As his eyes fall on the small crowd, he huffs one last time, straightens his greatcoat and traverses the short distance to the timbers of the dock.
As he walks the line of candidates, he explains that part of the reason he is short on crew is an increase in piracy in the local waters. They have become more dangerous to sail, and a recent skirmish left several of his cohort either dead or maimed to the point of uselessness.
He needs new recruits, who know their way around ships, and are useful in a scrap. Some to man the large shipboard weapons - ballista to the fore and a catapult to the rear, and some to repel any boarders. Others - glaring significantly away toward the crowded loading docks; could be used to stand better watch against thieves.
First and foremost! The crew need to trust their captain enough to take orders! I will choose a few who appear worthy, and they will have the opportunity to prove it!
Everyone has arrived at the appointed time - at the ramp to the Hexton, but Capt. Orm has not made his appearance. An uncomfortable period of minutes pass, and a few of the surlier members of the crowd begin to move away - grumbling of timeliness and too much ale on the part of their prospective employer. The more patient among you remain. Patience is rewarded, as an olive-skinned man appears at the top of the ramp with a small, banded wooden chest slung over his shoulder. He quickly as he briskly walks down the ramp. He skirts the edge of the group and continues up along the pier, disappearing among the normal hubbub of the docks.
Loud cursing and scuffling erupts from the Hexton, as a paler, stouter male rushes to the ship's railing. His cheeks are flushed and he appears out of breath. He quickly glances up and down the dock. As his eyes fall on the small crowd, he huffs one last time, straightens his greatcoat and traverses the short distance to the timbers of the dock.
As he walks the line of candidates, he explains that part of the reason he is short on crew is an increase in piracy in the local waters. They have become more dangerous to sail, and a recent skirmish left several of his cohort either dead or maimed to the point of uselessness.
He needs new recruits, who know their way around ships, and are useful in a scrap. Some to man the large shipboard weapons - ballista to the fore and a catapult to the rear, and some to repel any boarders. Others - glaring significantly away toward the crowded loading docks; could be used to stand better watch against thieves.
First and foremost! The crew need to trust their captain enough to take orders! I will choose a few who appear worthy, and they will have the opportunity to prove it!
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