Chapter 9: A Primitive Sea

[Jeff]

Over the course of the next day, you rest up and feel markedly better but hardly scar free and certainly not without soreness that could only come from fighting underwater against monstrous foes. But with a healer like Streko on hand, by the following night you all feel ready again for whatever the gods throw at you.

Upon entering Shargon's Teeth the next morning, you quickly see firsthand why sailors rely on sauhuagin guides or other extraordinary means to navigate it. Islands, islets, and countless sharp rocks rise up at every turn. Some are so tall they block every horizon, creating a labyrinth of waterways, while others merely require a wide berth to get around. After the first few leagues, Anng drops anchor...and waits.

Four hours later, sahuagin appear on the nearest outcropping. Seagulls cry out and scatter as they approach the edge. They are two different groups—one with very large warriors bristling with bonelike armor and carrying blood-stained totems and blades, the other considerably less armored but sporting a distinct yellow- and bright blue-fins and carrying only tridents. The two groups converse—though it looks more like a hostile squabble—and finally the second group comes forward as the larger-bodied ones drop back into the sea.

"Blue Fins," Spindrift declares, then goes to the edge of the ship to parley with them.

Five minutes later, three sahuagin climb aboard the Merrow and approach your party, dripping with seawater and smelling of fish and fresh carrion. The obvious leader among them is garbed somewhat like the shaman, but he looks more like Hras'Ka.

"The war-forging-man says my kin who did not return are dead!" he croaks and stomps one foot angrily. "You have witness? Speak of this!"

_______________________

An extended rest has come and gone. All hit points back up and everyone's got an action point.

[Ken]

Belarin steps forward. He holds a small wooden box in one hand.

"Hras'Ka and the other Blue Fins were taking us to the gift of the Devourer," he says, in a voice strong enough for everyone to hear, almost as though it were being magically enhanced. "But we were attacked by the exile, Sarquaa, and his followers. There was a fierce battle. Hras'Ka and the other Blue Fins fought bravely. Sarquaa and his followers lost, and Sarquaa's heart strengthened Hras'Ka and the surviving Blue Fins.

"We then traveled to the area where the gift of the Devourer lay. It was an area of Death. He--" Belarin gestures toward Adamant "--is from a land that is now dead. He fulfilled your prophecy and retrieved the box containing the Devourer's gift. But we could not leave easily. A huge kraken appeared and demanded a sacrifice. Hras'Ka and the other Blue Fins surrendered their lives to the evil kraken so that we could escape the area of Death and make sure that the gift of the Devourer was delivered to the Blue Fins. But before he died, Hras'Ka told us to present this to you..."

He opens the small wooden box and carefully opens the black cloth within, then he extends his arm slowly toward the sahuagin leader. Inside the box, now removed from the remainder of the head, is Hras'Ka's eye. "He was extremely brave and noble. He gave his life for us and for the Blue Fins. And now we present that which he died for..."

He asks his companions to bring forth the chest. "We do not know for certain which item inside is the Devourer's relic," he continues to the sahuagin leader as the box is placed on the deck before him and opened. "I assume you do. Take the item to honor Hras'Ka's bravery and the contract between the Blue Fins and Captain Morsha."

___________________________________
Jeff: If a Diplomacy check is appropriate, Belarin will make it, and he'll add beguiling tongue for a fey-empowered bonus.

[Brian]

Condign steps forward, helping bring the chest to the sahuagin. Once it is placed on the ship's deck, he bows deeply before the visitors.

"Earlier," Condign begins, "when we fought under the water, I would have died had Hras'ka and your kin not sacrificed themselves. The honor they did to you and your clan is most high. My kin will know of the valor of the sahuagin. Of that I promise you."

Them, after another, smaller bow, he retreats back to the others.

__________________________

Condign will try to add to Belarin's diplomacy check.

[Jeff]

Roll it, Ken!

[Dave W.]

Adamant bows when Belarin gestures towards him.

When Belarin and Condign have had their say, the warforged steps forward. "As things turned out I was the Prophesied One. I will attest to the bravery of Hras'ka, his companions, and my friends. We did indeed fight for this prize of yours and for a right to passage. Hras'ka did honor to us and your prophecy."

"I will also say that this experience traveling in your world was unusual and fascinating. There is a beauty and primal savagery to it. Hras'ka and his companions did honor to that as well."

With that he steps back.
---------
I'll add Adamant's +7 diplomacy to support Belarin if it comes to a roll.
I rolled it too then...
Diplomacy Support (1d20+7=13)

[Ken]

Not great, even with beguiling tongue. Diplomacy check (1d20+11=15)
With Adamant's aid, that's a 17. If Condign helps, it's a 19.

Up to 4 characters can assist, so if someone else jumps in, we might get that to 21, which would be good.

[Joe]

Streko steps forward. He bows solemnly.

"I had never met one of your kind before this journey. If all Blue Fin are as fierce, honorable and courageous as Hras'ka, then The Devourer must indeed be most proud to call you his Warrior Children."

Streko gestures to the chest. "What is His, is now yours."

He then gestures to the eye of Hras'Ka. "What was yours, is now returned to you. A debt honored and fulfilled."

____________________________________________________

Streko adds his diplomatic acumen: 1d20+10=28

[Jeff]

The sahuagin listens to Belarin and his allies but he looks like he can only follow so much of it. He accepts Hras'Ka's severed eye with a bob of his head—this is something he can understand. Without any explanation, he hands it to another, who promptly dives overboard. Then there is a long, uncomofrtably tense wait where the two remaining sea devils stand there and glower at you. At least that's how it feels with those large, fishy eyes.

They do stare at the chest well, though, but make no move toward it.

Then, some time later, the other sahuagin returns and there follows a long conversation between them in their language. At last, their leader says, "Hras'Ka sees your courage. Sees that you fight and honor the request of Blue Fins. The baron sees, too."

The sahuagin look all of you up and down. His face aims low, his teeth kept unseen. "You have the alliance of the Blue Fins until your days are over, until the Devourer consumes you all." You're pretty sure this is a nice thing to say. "Our blades are your blades, our bones your shield, our teeth your friend."

He swivels and faces Anng. "The Blue Fins will guide the ship of Morsha through Shargon's Teeth." Anng smiles, lips closed, and thanks the sahuagin.

Then the three sahuagin descend upon the chest!

They study each object carefully, laying aside those they reject as irrelevant to them. The first to be cast aside is the scroll, which they don't even read. The box of potions doesn't interest them, either. In the end, the massive shark's tooth is clearly the object of their quest, and they speak to one another about it and hold it reverently.

The small box without a lock also piques their interest. "What this is?" the sahuagin asks.

____________________

Condign's Diplomacy (1d20+11=21)
Adamant's Diplomacy: 13
Streko's Dipomacy: 28

Belarin's Diplomacy check: 15 (+6 assistance) = 21

[Dave B.]

Shorak resists the urge to step forward when the Sahuagin show interest in the small box he himself is quite curious about.

He knows that it is best to leave this to his more diplomatic friends. He looks over to Sem, reminding himself to check in with the gnome about the brooch.

[Ken]

Nov 15, 2011 10:29:22 GMT -4 Jeff said:

The sahuagin look all of you up and down. His face aims low, his teeth kept unseen. "You have the alliance of the Blue Fins until your days are over, until the Devourer consumes you all." You're pretty sure this is a nice thing to say. "Our blades are your blades, our bones your shield, our teeth your friend."

Belarin inclines his head much as the sahuagin did. "We are honored," he says. When the sahuagin turns toward Anng, Belarin whispers to Condign, "And I'm not sure I want to know what they did with that eye to determine the truth. Ick."

The small box without a lock also piques their interest. "What this is?" the sahuagin asks.

"From what we know," Belarin says, "it was a gift from one pinkskin to her brother. Her servants said it was a toy. Only the brother knows how to open it." He thinks to himself, Well, I'm not lying....

[Jeff]

The sahuagin leader grunts and places the puzzle box back into the chest, disinterested.

In the end, the sahuagin claim only the large shark-tooth narstone as their prize. They seem energized by the find, and friendlier than usual. And as the sahuagin begin to talk to one another, the crew gets back to work, preparing for the slower-but-surer voyage through Shargon's Teeth: navigating the isles are treacherous without a guide, but even with the sea devils' help, it's slow going and caution. These are territorial waters, and the sahuagin have to help guide the ship not only around the dangerous rocks, but outside of enemy territories.

The rest of the treasures in the chest are now yours to claim.

Sem immediately springs forward and takes the silver, gem-studded cloak pin from Shorak, as requested. He studies it for a time, but soon enough comes back to the half-drow.

"My first assumption was correct," the gnome says sagely. "As it usually is. This is a brooch of shielding, my dark-skinned friend. Wear it always, as it will guard you from most attacks—especially magical. The only thing this won't help you with is a sword to the gut, or that sort of up-close attack. But you strike me as the careful type, anyway...the sort of chap who strikes from the shadows or from afar. So this is perfect for you."

He grins. "Or...you could always give it to that special Zil in your life."

____________________________________

For now, Shorak's new Brooch of Shielding has been added to his inventory. It's a level 3 item, and gives him resist 10 to all "force damage" and has the daily ability to grant him resist 10 against any type of area, close, or ranged attack. It also gives a static +1 enhancement bonus on Fort, Reflex, and Will defenses.

But do take note, Dave: Shorak's already got that amulet, which provides a +2 on those same defenses. They won't stack with the brooch's.

[Dave W.]

Adamant also tries to imiate the sahuagin dip of the head. When the sahuagin take their prize and leave the ship, the warforged turns to Spindrift, "Well, they are an interesting people. I suppose we're free to follow now. How long is it to Stormreach now? I seem to recall seeing a map at one point and it seemed like this would be quite close, but I've no real head for distances on maps."

[Joe]

Streko takes a deep breath, nods in gratitude and reaches into the chest once the Sahuagin have left to retrieve the pouch. He rolls the die in his hand, looking intently upon the artwork displayued on each side.

"Aren't you simply the most precious and interesting item of them all?"

[Brian]

Belarin:

When the sahuagin turns toward Anng, Belarin whispers to Condign, "And I'm not sure I want to know what they did with that eye to determine the truth. Ick."

Out of the side of his mouth, Condign replies, "Remember that old saying? You are what you eat? Kind of makes the stomach turn . . . ."

After the dealings with the sahuagin are completed, Condign joins the others to examine the items the fish-folk had left behind.

"If no one minds," he says, "I might be interested in this thing." He lifts out the blue-white crystal. "Provided someone can tell me what it does, of course."

[Ken]

Belarin shrugs amiably. "Fine with me, and between a few of us, we should be able to determine what qualities they possess. Still, considering that this box came from an apparently wealthy family, I'm disappointed that there's no magical toast creator. Perhaps when my adventuring career is over, I'll invent one and retire in wealth." He pauses, and a look of horror sweeps across his face. "Raeshara's breasts..." he gasps. "I am an adventurer. How in Khyber did that happen?" He walks away, muttering, "An act of vengeance here... some thievery there... one or two good deeds... attractive women... more vengeance... I guess it adds up..."

[Jeff]

"How long is it to Stormreach now? I seem to recall seeing a map at one point and it seemed like this would be quite close, but I've no real head for distances on maps.".

Spindrift leads Adamant, and anyone else interested, into the navigation room beneath the sterncastle. There, a map tacked on the wall shows the Thunder Sea, Shargon's Teeth, and the upper half of Xen'drik.

"If we are not ambushed by enemy sahuagin, we will reach Stormreach in a week's time, perhaps less. If the captain...if Captain Morsha awakens, we may do better than that."

He rolls the die in his hand, looking intently upon the artwork displayed on each side.

"Aren't you simply the most precious and interesting item of them all?"

Steko can feel a tingle of power in the die; he knows that he'd best understand it before casting the die, as it may trigger some magic he's unprepared for.

And indeed, both Sem Darlesh and Larest lend their knowledge to help indentifying them.

The gambler's die proves to be quite potent, a secular object that yet seems to invoke Olladra's purview: that shifts the fortunes on the battlefield, harming, hindering, or even healing foes by simply being dropped.

The three elixirs are not potions of healing. Instead, one conveys invisibility, one sharpens one's accuracy, and the last liken's the imbiber's breath to that of a white dragon.

The crystal is indeed like a whetstone. When drawn across a weapon, it will empower it with the bite of winter.

The chalk does nothing more than write, but it never runs out and the marks even glow softly. Handy for marking a path or leaving a message in the dark. Starg appears fascinated by this one.

Yet the puzzle box continues to allude you. You're not quite sure, but it seems like you either need the watchword to open it, or else smash it open...but that could harm what's inside.

The next few days prove...interesting. The crew is hard at work, raising and lowering the sails as needed. There are gaps between the islands where it becomes expedient to catch the wind again, and times when the channels are much to narrow to trust to more than a mild gust to keep the ship going. All the while, at least one sahuagin stays on board to help guide, taking up a position at either the bow (for best visibility) or the stern (to speak with Anng at the wheel). The Merrow's crewmen don't shy away from the sahuagin. Many of them obviously know enough of the language to get by.

Although supplies are still low and food minimal, the assistance of the sahuagin helps enormously. Whenever the guide changes "shifts" with another, the sahuagin bring food. Fish, of course, but abundant enough to be of enormous help. The Merrow's crew even seem surprised at this.

"I wonder how that 'Devourer relic' is working out for them," Sem says at one point. "I imagine it's either just become another treasure in their temple to get all zealous about...or maybe it'll be the cornerstone of a sahuagin invasion against all us softskins." He smiles at Adamant. "You may have helped bring about the great fish apocalypse!"

His grin fades. "But really, I do wonder. If that prophecy of theirs was real, and your involvement wasn't just coincidental...what impact will that have? Prophecies are never for small things. The question is: will you ever know?"

______________________________

I've put the details about the magic items in the Q&A thread right here.

[Dave B.]

As the ship winds it's way through Shargon's teeth, Shorak spends some time discussing with Sem, the practicalities of using the brooch and his amulet together.

He also holds on to the puzzle box, turning it over in his hands, examining every grain and furrow it may have, hoping to discover the secret to opening it. He spends several hours each day doing this. Occasionally, he can be seen muttering to the box, perhaps in hopes of stumbling on the magic word or phrase needed to open the box.

Shorak also continues his watch over Morsha, whispering encouragement to her, telling her of their recent adventure and extolling the courage and hardiness of her crew. He also offers what little help he can on deck.

[Darren]

In the days after their meeting with the sahuagin, Kal is uncharacteristically quiet. He does, however, find himself enjoying the admiring looks from the female members of the crew and seeks out their company more regularly, often to the annoyance of Aang.

[Dave W.]

"Well, my thanks to all for investigating these. That is very helpful."

"I understand that in the stories of people with interesting lives this would be the time those people would deal with the spoils of battle. I'm new to this moment. So you will have to correct me if I do it wrong."

"I suppose the obvious thing is that the die should be Streko's. It seems to me that it was divinely placed."

"I also recommend the whetstone to Condign's care;" Adamant's eye-gems glow brightly, "he is the better soldier *as the lock's vision made clear."

"I have to say for my own part, I am not drawn to any of these things. Well, the chalk perhaps, but only because it is shiny. I have no practical use for it."

"But becoming invisible is less useful for some who makes the as much noise as I do. And I have no breath to power ice."

"Of course the Puzzle Box interests us all but I think it needs to belong to all of us at least until it is opened. About which, is there no magic that can knock a lock open? It seems the sort of thing it could do."

Adamant seems done with his presentation, but tilts his head a bit. "On second thought, perhaps there is one thing I would ask for. It may seem strange or frivolous but could I have the scroll? I am sentimental and foolish but it contains names and references to my homeland. It may become a comfort."

"Those are my thoughts at any rate."

----------------------

* I'm seriously considering multiclassing cleric when we get another feat... It just feels like the vision thing should be respected... It was a hell of a blast!

[Brian]

Condign listens quietly to Adamant. When the warforged is done, the tiefling speaks up.

"I am not a better warrior, just a different one. We are simply two sides of the same coin." He walks up and set the whetstone in Adamant's hand. "Take it. You earned it. Besides, by my nature I prefer the flames of the Demon Wastes. I fear ice does little for me."

For the remainder of the trip through Shargon's Teeth, Condign spends his days either exercising, training with his friends or helping the crew of the ship.

[Ken]

Belarin spends a good portion of the next few days out of sight, as he and Histra examine his ... candle. When he is visible, he continues to help out in the kitchen, and he walks around the ship, reciting dirty limericks to the crew and repeatedly telling the exciting, terrifying tale of the underwater adventure. He quickly realizes that the story is so fantastic that it needs little embellishment.

Still, his friends notice that, when he's not performing for an audience, he seems somewhat pensive, as though his experience with the black candle has changed him somehow or made him aware of a previously concealed part of his soul.

One day, as he and several of his friends are chatting with Sem, the gnome wonders aloud about the long-term impact of the group's actions.

"But really, I do wonder. If that prophecy of theirs was real, and your involvement wasn't just coincidental...what impact will that have? Prophecies are never for small things. The question is: will you ever know?"

"Prophecies are puzzles, Sem," says Belarin lightly. "And some puzzles can be solved in more than one way... even if you have to smash or cut the pieces to make them fit. Anyway, I'm not a big believer in predestination, but I can't deny that there's a certain... rightness to our being on this ship, at this time. Syrdan and Lerrhana, Adamant and the Cyran chest, and -- insane or not -- me and Histra. I can't explain it." He chuckles. "And yes, I'm still upset that Larest kidnapped us! That was just rude."

[Dave W.]

Nov 17, 2011 7:44:10 GMT -4 Brian said:

Condign listens quietly to Adamant. When the warforged is done, the tiefling speaks up.

"I am not a better warrior, just a different one. We are simply two sides of the same coin." He walks up and set the whetstone in Adamant's hand. "Take it. You earned it. Besides, by my nature I prefer the flames of the Demon Wastes. I fear ice does little for me."

For the remainder of the trip through Shargon's Teeth, Condign spends his days either exercising, training with his friends or helping the crew of the ship.

Adamant's large fingers close over the whetstone. "Thank you my friend. Someday you will have to show me these flaming Demon Wastes."

Adamant will gladly spar with Condign and any other willing partner. Of course he will also do whatever work Spindrift asks him.

Nov 17, 2011 12:24:18 GMT -4 Ken said:

"Prophecies are puzzles, Sem," says Belarin lightly. "And some puzzles can be solved in more than one way... even if you have to smash or cut the pieces to make them fit. Anyway, I'm not a big believer in predestination, but I can't deny that there's a certain... rightness to our being on this ship, at this time. Syrdan and Lerrhana, Adamant and the Cyran chest, and -- insane or not -- me and Histra. I can't explain it." He chuckles. "And yes, I'm still upset that Larest kidnapped us! That was just rude."

"Oh Belarin! We will make a mystic of you yet! What will those voices in your head make of that?" Adamant's eyes glow brightly.

"But, yes, I believe we are where we are meant to be. And perhaps that means Larest is a force for Good in our journey, I'm still not willing to trust him. Rudness can be forgiven but it would be dangerous to believe it will not happen again."

[Dave B.]

Shorak decides he is not interested in keeping the brooch for his own use. Having noticed Kal's expression when Sem explained what the magic of the item would do, Shorak offers it to him at the first opportunity. "I hope it serves you well."

[Joe]

Streko will also move about the ship, assist where needed and otherwise continue to look in on the Captain and offer healing if necessary.

[Ken]

At one point, Belarin gathers as many of his friends together as he can find and, as a group, they walk toward the minotaur Starg. "Starg, we have many people to thank for helping us return to the Merrow safely," Belarin says, "but it was you who essentially left a trail of breadcrumbs that guided us home. As a meager token of thanks, we agreed that you should have this item from the Cyran chest." He holds out the magical chalk.

"From what we've been able to tell," Belarin continues, "this stick of chalk will last forever. Any mark you make with it can't be erased by anyone except you for the first, oh, seven days. Somehow I sense you'll find a good use for it."

[Darren]

The day before Belarin gives the chalk to Starg....

Kal has been keeping quiet lately. His manner seems, at times, to be almost brooding, and he can often be seen swiping a bottle of ale from the galley.

When no one is looking (he assumes), he takes the piece of chalk and finds a spot on the railing of the ship. There he writes a particularly filthy word that he picked up from some Halflings while on the Talenta Plains. He steps back, staggering slightly, and admires his work. Stepping forward, he licks his thumb and attempts to rub the writing off. When it stays in place, Kal shrugs, then grins. Putting his hands into his pockets, he whistles softly as he walks back belowdecks to return the chalk to where he found it....

[Jeff]

Shorak holds onto the small wooden box, examining it, pondering it, speaking to it... When he checks in on Morsha, he sees that she's begun to stir in her comatose sleep, almost as if it's nothing more than a light sleep.

"She cannot hear you," Histra says one morning from the threshold when Shorak is sitting and talking to Morsha. "But the captain will awaken soon. I believe she has defeated the necrotic toxin. If she had not by now...she would be dead." Then the necromancer walks off.

Kal does not go unnoticed by the female crewmembers. When they're not cursing like the sailors they are, he hears them giggling every now and then, speaking in hushed tones to one another just beyond the edge of his hearing.

At some point, Kal's pretty sure his chalk vandalism has been spotted and it getting talked about among the crew. He thinks they suspect Streko's handiwork.

Sem laughs at Belarin's words about prophecy.

"...and -- insane or not -- me and Histra."

"Yes, how did that come about?" the gnome asks curiously. "Do women who try to kill you fascinate you? If our lovely necromancer were, say, a blonde elfmaid or a shifter who'd tried to feather you with arrows, would that have stirred your fickle human blood just as easily?"

When Belarin gathers up his friends and offers Starg the enchanted chalk, the minotaur accepts it, his expression puzzled. "I will receive this," he says, "though I do not know what to do with it. I was taught that markings are of grave import." He indicates a few of his possessions, which have rune-like sigils carved into them. "Symbols convey meaning, or power." He looks at the stick of eternal chalk. "This device seems...." He struggles for the right word. "Frivolous? But I endeavor to find a use for it. I thank you."

_______________________

Okay, Adamant's got the whetstone and the scroll (though if he goes swimming again, it'll get wet, as he doesn't have a scroll case), Streko's got the die. Shorak's got the elixirs of accuracy and invisibility. Kal's got the brooch.

The elixir of dragon breath...no takers?

Dave B., go ahead do an Arcana roll for Shorak to assess the box. (Everyone can try Arcana, even if they're not trained in it.) Also, Shorak never identified those spiked bracers he got from the Red Atoll, did he?

[Ken]

Nov 18, 2011 3:10:58 GMT -4 Jeff said:

"Yes, how did that come about?" the gnome asks curiously. "Do women who try to kill you fascinate you? If our lovely necromancer were, say, a blonde elfmaid or a shifter who'd tried to feather you with arrows, would that have stirred your fickle human blood just as easily?"

Belarin feigns shock. "'Fickle'? 'Fickle'?!? Ha!" He looks around briefly, as though to be sure that the only people within earshot are Sem and those of his friends who are participating in the discussion. Then he continues, "No, she's ... different somehow. I've been threatened by female centaurs, traitorous female Inquisitives, and yes, even another female necromancer. Histra intrigues me, and I think I intrigue her. The threads of my life are interwoven with the beauty, majesty, and multilayered duplicity of Thelanis. Histra's threads fashion an uncomplicated, dark blanket from Dolurrh. It was murder at first sight.

"Now, our differences seem to attract us. So much about her fascinates me. I'd like to show her that life can be more than a study of what comes after life. I'd like to help her dream in color. On top of that, she's a magnificent kisser."

______________________________________
As Brian mentioned in the Q&A thread, Condign is going to take the dragon breath potion. And although Belarin is spending most of his time engaged in other pursuits, he will offer some arcane advice to Shorak. So if Belarin can aid Shorak on this roll, he'll do so. Belarin's Arcana modifier is pretty high, so I'm not sure if a roll against DC 10 is still warranted.

[Dave B.]

Arcana check (1d20+5=6)

Box? What box?

I completely forgot about the bracers. Can we get them identified now?

[Jeff]

Shorak decides he is not interested in keeping the brooch for his own use. Having noticed Kal's expression when Sem explained what the magic of the item would do, Shorak offers it to him at the first opportunity.

Kal has noticed, over time, that Shorak wears some sort of talisman around his neck. But it isn't until now that he gets more of a look at it, though it's still half covered by Shorak's clothing. It's silver-blue in color and Kal can just make out a carving on it—some sort of creature that has a goat head, a serpent, and something else.

Belarin:

"Histra's threads fashion an uncomplicated, dark blanket from Dolurrh. It was murder at first sight. "

Sem shakes his head. "If you get married someday, will there be funeral shrouds or veils? Would we make toasts, or eulogies?"

__________________________________

Dave: The box, the "puzzle box" Shorak's been hoping to open. But he's not getting any arcane solutions.

Yup, I'll address the bracers soon.