Session 28 - AAAAAARRRRRRRrrrrr!!
18th Jun 2021 - 19:45 - 23:15
In-game timeline: Start of session: 1489DR Marpenoth 11. End of session: 1489DR Marpenoth 12
We rejoin our "Heroes" all trussed up in the hold of The Evening Mist, which is being sailed by pirates having been boarded and taken over by Pirate Captain Bree. Whilst Derrick spends his time trying not to be seasick, Iwee keeps her own, and others' spirits up by composing a sea shanty, which is very quickly adopted by the pirates - rumour has it that even Pirate Captain Bree is entertained by it!
A Pirate’s Song by Iwee
Heed the words of sailors old!
Who tell of friends that Bree has sold
Beware of islands with bone of whale.
Heed the warning, you have been told.
Captain Bree, Captain Bree, Dread pirate of the balmy sea
Captain Bree, Captain Bree, He’ll never set us free.
Upon a sea that’s cold and grey
Safe passage is the prize we pray.
With cutlass drawn and watchful eyes
Let’s make it through another day.
Captain Bree, Captain Bree, terror of the Trackless Sea
Captain Bree, Captain Bree, you better hide or flee.
There’s no escape once you’re caught.
You better hope that you are bought.
Run the gauntlet if you dare!
Or your pitiful life will come to nought.
Captain Bree, Captain Bree, raider of the stormy sea
Captain Bree, Captain Bree, it’s Shadow Isle for you and me.
The Demon’s wish is on your tail.
It’s slavery or death if you fail.
All hands-on deck, escape if you can.
Run fast, run hard, and raise your sail.
Captain Bree, Captain Bree, death on the peaceful sea
Captain Bree, Captain Bree, is the last thing you’ll ever see.
As the ship docked somewhere, our "Heroes" first encountered Pirate Captain Bree, and his pet Will O' Wisp. He had found Kranth's boots, which turned out to have been a gift from Bree to Kranth, so he was, quite understandably, wondering how they came to be on The Evening Mist - without a druid half-orc attached to them.
Our "Heroes" remained silent when Bree enquired as to who was the new owner of the boots. Receiving no answer, Bree then casually killed a random sailor from the original crew. This was too much for Iwee, who could hold back no more, and she admitted to being the one who got the boots from Kranth. And so Bree killed Iwee.
Derrick, sharp as a blunt knife as always, called the retreating Bree a coward, causing Bree to turn and, methodically and seemingly without emotion, run through Derrick with his poisoned cutlass, managing to kill Derrick too. With three dead in his wake, Bree turned and left.
Cursing under their breath, some other pirates quickly ran over to the three bleeding out bodies and, not wanting to waste the money that these captives could make, quickly managed to bind their wounds, and administered enough healing to keep them alive. The original sailor was very close to death by that point (he had failed two death saving throws while Derrick was delaying Bree's exit with his name-calling), but they did just about manage to keep him breathing.
Our "Heroes" decided that keeping quiet may be the best bet from now on - a decision confirmed to be a good choice by "Gums", with whom Iwee managed to have a brief conversation, before they were led, still tied up, off the ship and onto what seemed to be a floating, volcanic rock island, shrouded in mist.
They are led through a port town that seemed to be cut into the side of the island. The party, along with the other captives, are taken into the underground cells and locked up, sharing their cell with a young halfling cabin-boy named Bob, who has been captive for many days, and is worried about what may become of him. Iwee strikes up a conversation with Bob and tries to make him feel better, receiving Inspiration for her trouble.
After they manage a long rest to recover some much-needed health and to slightly reduce their levels of exhaustion, the group are visited by a pirate named Bryn. Iwee recognised the onyx earing that he was wearing as an indication that he was a member of the Little Fingers and that he may be able to help.
They made themselves known to Bryn (who was once known as Cranfall Beaumont - previous captain of The Emperor of the Waves, but now seems to run the town brothel) and Bryn discretely gave them some information about the Isle and their captors - the pirate band known as the Radiant Sisters. Bryn was hoping that the Little Fingers had sent them to help him escape and was a little disappointed at the competence levels he saw before him - especially a quite seasick Derrick - but he maintained his hope and promised to help them by sponsoring them in taking on The Gauntlet as the first step in becoming pirates and members of the Radiant Sisters themselves.
The Gauntlet turned out to be a series of challenges, presented as entertainment for the pirates and with a real risk of harm, even death, to the participants. It supposedly tested the one two three four pillars of Pirate Life - Bravery, Intelligence, Teamwork and Sacrifice.
Our "Heroes" are led into the first room where they are cheered (and occasionally booed) on by pirate spectators (and one or two lone sahuagin who were less vocal) - some of them singing Iwee's latest composition. The first room was a challenge of Teamwork, and required some of them to turn a wheel to raise a rope from the water, whilst Iwee waited for the rope to present the key to the exit door. Unfortunately the key was somewhat obscured by a very large octopus that was clinging to the bottom of the rope and attacked as soon as it was pulled above water. The group needed to attack the octopus, whilst still needing to hold on to the wheel to stop the octopus and the key from falling back into the water.
Iwee took damage, as did Jaxii, whilst both of them returned the favour - Jaxii using her breath weapon to avoid having to release the wheel, and Iwee (who was not needed for wheel turning) causing considerable damage to the octopus (and slightly less damage to Karoshi) using a Shatter spell. Derrick was able to release the wheel, as Jaxii and Karoshi were strong enough to hold it by themselves) and used his pact weapon axe to throw at the octopus before magically recalling the axe to his hand, earning him the nickname "Magic-Boy" from the cheering crowd. Karoshi, unable to let go of the wheel, decided to ensure the crowd was entertained by using his booming voice, enhanced by Thaumaturgy, to gee them up and get them cheering.
Between them, using good Teamwork, they managed to take down the octopus without taking too much damage, and Iwee untied the key from the rope, now messy with blood and ink from the octopus. This allowed them to progress to the next room, and the - mainly cheering - crowd shuffled along the upper platform into the next viewing area, some of them tossing down a few 'radiant tokens' as a show of appreciation.
The next room contained just an open pool that seemed to open onto the ocean below the island. A number of skeletons and bones around the room looked ominous as to their prospects on this test.
As Karoshi looked into the pool, he spotted an absolutely enormous turtle swimming a few hundred yards away, with a massive chain around its neck. A sign on the exit door indicated that the key would be found around the turtle's neck. The turtle's beak looked like it could easily snap any one of our "Heroes" in two without even noticing. The single potion of water breathing didn't bode well. This was definitely not a Teamwork test!
In the end, Karoshi took the lead, swigging the potion to great cheers of "Aaaarrrr" from the pirate crowds above. Jaxii, for some reason, threw a skull in the water, to see if the turtle would react. Unsurprisingly, it didn't. Jaxii earned the nickname "Skully" from the, somewhat confused, watching sailors.
Karoshi swam down to the turtle. Carefully. As he approached, he looked around to take in his surroundings. He saw the large key, tied around the turtle's neck. He also saw that the turtle seemed to be held by a taut chain around its head, unable to turn and break the chain with its beak, with the other end of the chain attached to another place in the island. He even made out some sahuagin faces peering down at him from the far end of the massive chain. In the distance he could see a second enormous turtle chained to another part of the island, swimming slowly underwater. The chains were seemingly kept short enough that the turtles could not reach each other.
As Karoshi turned his attention to the turtle, he looked into the massive eye - as large as himself - and was overcome with a deep sense of intense sorrow. This creature was immensely unhappy. The paladin could also intuit another emotion - a wave of deep love, greater than he had ever felt before. These creatures were life-mates, a bond lasting far longer than the brief lives of surface creatures, and are being kept apart and alone. The depth of emotions passing over Karoshi was incredible. After easily retrieving the key, he placed a hand on the creature, who was placid and docile, and prayed for it. A slight wash of hope was felt by the turtle, and sensed by Karoshi (bestowing him with inspiration in the process), before being quickly replaced with the previous intense and immeasurable sorrow.
Karoshi swam slowly and miserably back to the rest of the party. He held the key aloft to great cheers from the watching crowd, but after his experience with the Dragon Turtle he was unable to feel uplifted by them.
And so we leave our "Heroes" having displayed great TEAMWORK and significant BRAVERY in two challenges, but with Karoshi feeling somewhat despondent at the fate of the two turtles. They are determined to show their intent to become pirate members of the Radiant Sisters, and Magic-Boy and Skully at least are looking forward to the remaining challenges, even if Karoshi is worried about turtles, and Iwee worried about a poor halfling boy named Bob.