Violet and Odin arrived shortly after the rest of the group, having spent several minutes gathering up a bundle of maps and other materials to help show what they were after. Once they were all ensconced below decks and eating, Violet began by laying out a very old wanted poster.
"You may remember stories of the Pirate Queen Jennah the Bold?" Violet looked around the room, seeing some nods. "Well, as you may remember, she's been dead for about 70 years, and all of her various treasures have been found, so it's not her treasure we're seeking."
Violet continued, as if this were all very necessary information, "She had a long list of associates that supported her, hence her title Pirate Queen, as you all know. I have learned that one of Queen Jennah's wealthiest supporters, known as the Earl of Lush, was sold out by one of her crew mates, named Eelskin Jack. Eelskin Jack thought he was extremely clever to hide out in the cliffsides near Secomber, but was found and killed for his treachery. Of course, as soon as he was sold out, the Earl of Lush moved his vast fortunes elsewhere, so Eelskin Jack was also a dead end. It's too bad, too, because I was really excited to head up to Secomber and dig around in his old hidey hole before I found that out."
Violet shook her head and took a bite of soup before continuing, "No, the Earl of Lush was able to die a wealthy man and pass along his considerable fortune to his illegitimate son, Conner. Conner had been raised to be extremely careful with money, but never knew how to handle it, so soon after he was gifted the money he disappeared with it. Rumor has it that he fled with the treasure to a remote island far to the west, but before he escaped, he said goodbye for the last time to his childhood sweetheart, Amelie, who lived in Daggerford."
Another gulp of soup went down the hatch before Violet continued, "Of course, as soon as he sailed away, a group of brigands tortured and accidentally killed Amelie, trying to get the location that Conner had sailed to. It couldn't have been easy tracking this stupid treasure down, could it?"
At this point, Violet tore half of her slice of bread off and doused it thoroughly in stew before gesturing very seriously at the rest of the crew, "I have learned that before he left, Conner gave Amelie a keepsake to remember him by. If we can get that keepsake, I have a way to use it as a locating beacon and it will lead us to Conner, and therefore to the treasure."
Violet stood and swallowed the hunk of bread in one bite, "So all we have to do is go up to Daggerford and dig up a poor girl that's been dead for 30 years and hope that the small carved turtle carved from shell that Conner gave her is buried with her or at least nearby."
Talathel had quickly downed his stew as Violet talked. He gave a smirk to Darvin when Eelskin Jack was mentioned. He remembered the adventure in that old cave. How naive they were then.
ReplyDelete"It all sounds well and good, Violet. And I, for one, am up for an adventure. But, surely you know that dead men tell no tales, especially those dead three decades. What sort of sorcery will your little plan require?"
"Well, I have a ritual that should be able to find him using the turtle!" Violet said, "But before I get to try that, I have reason to believe that he hoped she'd join him and left her the location on the turtle. The brigands were apparently too dumb to realize it."
ReplyDeleteDarvin had smiled at Talathel at the mention of Eelskin Jack. Darvin had always wondered why Jack, a former pirate, had moved to the mountains near Secomber. This new information actually kind of made sense. You would have thought he'd have heard this story 5 years ago when he was actually digging around his cave, but I digress...
ReplyDelete"Violet, if you've figured out the secret of this amulet, what's not to assume that someone else has during the last 30 years? We could get up there and her grave already be looted," Darvin pointed out.
Beranhond struggled to pay attention to his soup as his eyes continually attempted to stray toward the mess that had crept all around the woodwork and floor of the once spotless ship.
ReplyDeleteIt was a little easier for him to pay attention to Violet's story, but still he couldn't help run the cost calculations to get the ship into a seaworthy shape.
"That could be a legitimate concern, but this treasure is one of our best options to get this ship into shape and help to prepare for our larger objective of trying to address some of the marauding fleets of undead that arose after the rise of the Darkness. Still, Violet, are you sure this is the best route?"
Johan stares at the modest bowl of soup that someone had dished and placed before him, feeling like someone was having a laugh at his expense.
ReplyDeleteHis head snapped up when Beranhond mentioned the undead marauders. "What sort of undead have been reported? More of the skeletal, ethereal, or blood-sucking variety?"
Beranhond turned his head noticing that Johan's stares at the bowl were not filled with delight. He smiled despite himself. "My apologies Johan, my statement was a bit rude in the vagueness of the undead. I should have said instead 'to address the marauding fleets of ghouls, zombies, ghosts, and geists that are under the control of the Darkness. The forces out there are not those creatures that are independent of thought and word and just happen to belong to the taxonomic grouping of 'undead.'"
ReplyDeleteTalathel gave a small laugh. "Undead aside, Darvin makes a good point. How sure are you that this turtle shell is still there? I don't want to risk my life on some sort of fool's errand."
ReplyDeleteSecond try is a charm?
ReplyDeleteViolet responded to the criticism with a sly smile. "Well, I knew that one might be a tough sell, but it just sounded like so much FUN!" she said with a wink at Evelaen.
Ruffling through the stack of documents she'd brought with her, she pulled out another reward poster, this one much newer.
She continued, "It seems that the Baroness deHaville has put out a reward for the safe return of her husband, Baron Mitchener and their child, who is described as 'the sweetest, most adorable child you've ever seen. He is just so precious. You have no idea.'"
ReplyDeleteViolet paused to chuckle, then grew more serious. "I am uncertain whether the Baron was kidnapped himself or if this is a case of a man abducting his own child."
Nym was saddened to see the state of the Lady Narath, but not surprised. After Thjodolf's death four years prior, Darvin hadn't been the same. She felt a pang of guilt about this as she settled in to the dinner discussion.
ReplyDelete"I'm too old for pirate treasure and adventures. Besides, I'm expected back in the Silver Marches in a week" she thought, sipping on her soup. She looked around the group remembering she was the youngest of them, and thought, "Or perhaps I'm just too tired for pirate treasure and fighting undead. I'm not hero. Just an herbalist from the forest." She sighed and continued listening to the discussion while rubbing Pipper's fur with her foot under the table.
Beranhond looked over the assembled group and wasn't surprised by their doubts. Violet was a very good planner, but her charisma was lacking. He stood and decided to put his charisma to work.
ReplyDelete"Friends, I understand your concerns, but violet and I have been working on this plan for some time. Honestly, even if it isn't a perfect plan, it at least is more workable than sitting around driving ourselves into a stupor, living in the forest and avoiding our true calling." Her paused for a moment. "I know that in my case I've avoided thinking about the rising darkness and the hand I had in my preventing it. I know some of you might feel that you have a larger hand to play in the current mess of the world." His eyes going over Nym's for a moment, say reflecting for a moment before joining back to Violet. "I don't ask for any of you to dwell on that, but rather to join me in this initial quest in order to start to set things right."
He took a swig of mead before continuing. "it truly is a pleasure to have the reformed Kilink before me."
"That was very well said Beranhond. I'm onboard. But can we please choose a new name? Some of our original members are no longer with us. It is a new beginning after all," replied Darvin.
ReplyDeleteNym shifted uncomfortably at Beranhond's words, and looked at her soup, suddenly extremely preoccupied with moving the bits of fish and vegetable around the bowl.
ReplyDeleteAt Darvin's renaming suggestion, her mind began to wander. She thought, "Maybe the Dawn Bringers since we're fighting the Darkness? Shadow Slayers? ...wait, nopenopenopenope. I'm going home. I'm not a hero. I've failed miserably at every attempt to help these people on their quests." She shook her head slightly, then thought, "Well, I could accompany them to Daggerford, at least. It's on my way home anyway... " Her mind drifted back to the conversation.
Nym thought back to the Tormish Paladin army Beranhond had brought to the coast years ago, and asked, "So other than undead on ships, what forces does the Darkness command? What lands?"
ReplyDelete"A reward in the near future, and more to come if or when we we find that necklace?" Johan sipped on his wine to be polite, and nodded. "Sounds a damn sight better than collaring cutpurses in Beregost. Let me leave a letter with a messenger to explain my absence to Captain Kerp, and I'm in."
ReplyDeleteSo wait, are we going for the pirate's treasure or searching out the missing Baron and child?
ReplyDeleteSorry if it was difficult to understand that I was trying to offer up a second option earlier when I brought up the Baroness deHaville. My computer failed at posting and I had to switch to my phone.
ReplyDelete"If we are to go adventuring, I'd rather go for treasure than children. I trust your judgement, Beranhond." Talathel raised his still full glass. "To new beginnings." He set the glass down without taking a sip. "I'd also second the captain's suggestion for a new name."
ReplyDeleteOdin spoke up at this point, "I'd offer the name Typhoon in a Bottle."
ReplyDeleteDarvin didn't dislike the name Typhoon in a Bottle, but he figured he'd throw his own suggestions out there.
ReplyDelete"I would submit either the Thjdolf Society or the Lady Narath Company."
Darvin didn't dislike the name Typhoon in a Bottle, but he figured he'd throw his own suggestions out there.
ReplyDelete"I would submit either the Thjdolf Society or the Lady Narath Company."
Beranhond caught Evelaen's eyes and she came him a rye smile. "I thought you said you weren't the leader." She whispered.
ReplyDelete"I'm trying not to be." He said quietly.
"Although I helped put together this unexpected party I would prefer not to be making the decisions regarding our next steps. My own preference would be for treasure, but perhaps, if we are willing, there could be a small task to handle the children while the main thrust addresses the treasure?"
Evelaen turned to Nym, noticing that the rest of the group was a little too distracted to have noticed her questions.
ReplyDelete"Well, there's the undead on the oceans, and rumors of zombied forces wandering the wasteland. There are also dark rumors that elements of the criminal underworld are starting to work with the dark God as well. Beranhond said that he spotted a group of zombie's wearing Tormish armor moving up near the ruins of waterdeep. So... it's a little bad."
Nym frowned at Evelaen's report. "So no real leadership then, or is this yet unknown? Beranhond told us some years ago that a man Ishmael was behind the armies along the coast; is he still a threat?" She then asked, "Pardon if this should be clear, but which wasteland do you speak of? Anauroch?"
ReplyDelete"Er..." Evelaen reflected for a moment. "The current theory is that the darkness that arose subsumed Ishmael into the divine essence." She shurgged her shoulders. "Again, I don't get the divine energy/magic whatever they call it. However, there doesn't seem to be a central leadership - more like a hive mind. As for wasteland, I think he meant the region around the ruins of Waterdeep and north to the boundaries of Neverwinter. I guess it's actually quite beautiful... if you don't mind wandering groups of undead."
ReplyDeleteNym was suddenly very pleased she didn't use the road to Waterdeep and down the coast to get to Baldur's Gate. She nodded at Evelaen and turned back to listen to the group.
ReplyDelete"A little bad, Evelaen? It seems that you are understating things a bit. Just how big is this hive mind? I don't think for a second this would be an easy adventure, but I believe we all have a right to know what to prepare for."
ReplyDeleteI also like the name SEA (The Syndicate of Everlasting Awesome). Sorry, I'm easily entertained.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeleteViolet interjected to try to help Evelaen explain, "I think what Evelaen means by describing it as a how mind is that there is no visible leader to the ghouls, but they do seem to act with some coordination. It is unclear where that organization comes from."
ReplyDeleteThe Syndicate of Emancipated Acquisitions
ReplyDeleteAfter an uncomfortable silence while everyone thought about hordes of organized undead, Nym offered, "It seems you're in agreement that seeking the locket in Daggerford is the preferred method of raising funds. Perhaps, if we're in agreement, we could catch up a bit?" She smiled widely, "It has been many years since we've all been in the same place at once."
Beranhond nodded. "Perhaps this is a good chance for us all to tell the rest of us, in as little or as much details as they'd like, what they have been up to in the last few years."
ReplyDeleteGo ahead and do a new post entitled 'Dinner Party - (your name) story.' Or similar. That way any questions that other people might have about their story can be nice and organized.