Party
Ace-Human Rouge
Ryai-Elf Spellblade
Konguq-Human Wizard
Vodren-Human Cleric
Bron-Dwarf Fighter
Vorlo-Hobgoblin Apothecary
Vodren, Konguq, and Bron head to the Stuffed Hen to try and gain Knights as back up for the assault on the Jackdaws.
Vodren finds a group of Kingfisher Knights and is waved over by them. As they talk, Vodren calls the Knights to action to help join the fight against the Jackdaws for their transgressions against Crossing. Recognizing the Hartshield name, the Knights agree to fight the good fight. They ask Vodren if they should tell Admiral Kingsail about the attack. Vodren agrees, attempting to get more firepower.
The group returns to the Manor and decides to wait for the other group to return before making a move. While they wait, a servant tells them that Admiral Kingsail wants to speak with them and is waiting for them in the library.
They head down, and the Admiral asks if Vodren will be joining their navy since he is interested in going after pirates. Vodren declines, mentioning how some of their party might not be welcomed. The admiral declines this notion, but Vodren stands firm.
With that in mind, the admiral asks why his knights should be helping at all. Vodren explains the death of Magdalene Hartshield, and the admiral is not moved however, when Vodren mentions Captain Oleander Bloodblade and the Blade of the Aurora, his interest suddenly peaks.
Vodren tries to explain the danger of the scenario to him, describing how Ace was assaulted by them not too long ago and barely managed to escape. The Admiral brushes it off, noting Ace's limp and skinny frame.
Vodren also mentions that they have captured the town cleric Galera. The Admiral asks if the storm in town is because of her, which Vodren confirms. He also mentions how Zebiom appeared before one of the party members.
The Admiral takes the information and lets Vodren know that he will offer no aid but will not stop the knights. He then offers to pay for the Blade if they get ahold of it.
As the Admiral leaves, Bron grabs Vodren to warn him that The Admiral knows Captain Oleander and might make his own move. Vodren heeds the warning but goes off to try to do more research on why Zebiom's hands were tied. He finds nothing in a language he can read.
Konguq visits Morris afterward to check on him. The two discuss how they wish Morris could join the fight, but Konguq mentions how she would feel more worried if he were there. She then unloads her insecurities onto him about the upcoming fight.
During their discussion, Bron interrupts to inform them that he's going to the docks to scout.
Eventually, Ace, Ryai, and Vorlo return to Manor, telling them that Brutus is onboard and will be clearing the docks.
As Vodren prepares to enter the Ethereal plane, Ryai asks him to chart the ship in his journal. Ryai also grabs some bits off a plant so Vodren can keep in touch. Vodren sets off alone, avoiding detection.
The rest at the manor receive Marion's package. Inside are two vials, one Ace recognizes.
A red one, being the poison of Free Bleeding.
A yellow one, being a Lock Joint poison.
Ace and Ryai take one each. While they wait, Ryai teaches Ace some Elven in case they need to communicate. Ace picks it up rather quickly, mastering 15 words.
As Vodren enters the ethereal plane, he sees a large group of shadows bearing crests of the knights go towards the Jackdaw ship. The water around them swells and drags the group under the waves. Vodren sends word back that The Admiral attempted his own attack, but he and 30 knights were dragged into the sea. Cyrus begins to panic about the implications.
As Vodren further scouts, he listens to the crew talk. Oleander is convinced that Zebiom wants this fight to occur and mentions how he's pretty sure the party will try and trick them anyway to get Galera back, not that they intend to give her.
As Vodren continues, he does find Galera tied up. He gives her a sign by touching her, and she feels him, telling him to hurry up. Going further down, Vodren finds a Circle of Devotion that reeks of evil. After that, he heads back to the mansion.
Bron beats him there, however, and updates the group that Admiral Kingsail survived the encounter with the wave, but the 30 knights he brought didn't. Cyrus then leaves to tell his father what occurred.
Once Vodren returns, he tells the party about the circle in the brig, and Ace and Ryai decide to target it. Cyrus returns from giving his father the news and tells the group that Constable Bage will provide fire support from the docks.
Vodren takes a moment to commune with Habakkuk for guidance. In his meditation, he is given a vision of Oleander on the top of the ship, being struck by lightning and fire and falling off the ship, his death withering away his influence. He is given satchels to ward off the scent when he comes to.
The party then sets off to attack
Vodren, Bron, and Vorlo, with the Baouble attached, go to negotiate with Oleander and his crew. The rest take the Dragon's Lance out to sea and manage to hide behind the waves, waiting to strike.
The crew is extremely interested in the Bauble they have, and they let the three on board, drawing Oleander Bloodblade out of the cabin.
They discuss the glass with Zeboim's influence and slip in Vorlo's signal for the Dragon's Lance to ram into the ship, knocking the crew and Vorlo prone. Unfortunately, Vorlo crushes the glass in the collision. Vodren summons his spiritual weapon and begins to attack the crew.
Cyrus and the boys leap onto the top deck to begin the assault while Ryai and Ace slip into a porthole to the lower deck. Konguq stays on the ship to provide fire support.
Bron takes his shield and begins beating the crap out of Oleander not long after the constables begin their assault.
As Ace begins to sneak off, Ryai gets spotted immediately. Oleander calls a curse upon the attackers, weakening them.
Not risking being surrounded, Ryai slips to the top deck kicking the teeth of one of his pursuers and freaking out the other in the process. He then targets his curse onto Oleander.
Despite the darkness, Ace manages to make it to where the Circle of Devotion is kept. He breaks in and desecrates the circle with the holy water given to them earlier by Vodren. Unbeknownst to Ace, Oleander starts to falter, his wounds finally starting to bleed. Ace then runs back and waits for his chance to strike, coating his blade with the Free Bleed Poison. Two Jackdaws see him and are surprised he's still alive after their last encounter. Ace admits he's surprised to see them alive after destroying the circle. This causes them to attack him.
Vodren steps out of the fight and dispels the curse on his group. Oleander takes aim at the Cleric and misses. Oleander then orders for Galera's death. Bron goes where she is being kept and is met with a poisoned dagger. Ryai takes up his place, striking at Oleander with his blade, promising to send him to Rosewood.
Konguq finally enters the ship, raising her staff high and casting a Thunderwave where Oleander stands. The other Jackdaws around them go flying, but Ryai manages to stand his ground. Oleander gives Konguq a boastful smile before being smacked across the ship by a fallen sail and snapping in two against the mast.
Oleander Bloodblade was no more.
Cyrus's group grabs Konguq and lifts her up in victory as Konguq takes the former Captain's hat.
Ace and Ryai run to where Galera is held and find her neck slashed open. Ryai calls desperately for Vodren, who rushes over after trying to heal as many as he could. He heals her neck, and she comes to. She lightly chastises him for taking so long, and the two share a kiss.
Vorlo grabs the Blade of the Aurora, and it burns his hand. Konguq grabs it instead, and it resonates with her.
She recognizes the design from her home and takes the blade for herself.
The blade has a caveat, though, that its wielder must be able to hear the sea. If it's away longer than a week they begin to experience strife.
Constable Bage mentions that Admiral Kingsail is trying to get on board, and they're holding him back. Ryai says to let the man on board.
Galera goes to talk with Marion, and Ryai joins her, telling Galera he has something to give to her.
Vorlo and Ace begin to dig around the ship loot, looking for Magdalene's signet ring. He finds it instead inside the captain's quarters with a bunch of other signet rings attached to skeleton hands. He finds hers and goes to head off to Marion, but realizing that the Admiral is coming on board, gives Ryai the ring to deliver the Marion
Add comment
Comments