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Revision as of 16:23, 22 October 2026
The Imminent Doom is a period in Arath starting in 1521. It is mainly marked by the war between the biggest realms the Democracy of Cahemelle, the Dwarven Republic, the Thanate Empire, the Orcish Diarchy and the Draconian League.
In the centre of this period of war an unlikely group finds its way together. These are the stories of this groups adventures. Though if you want to read what else unfolded during the time and what they might have kick started in other places of Arath then you might want to read the Backstory of The Imminent Doom.
The Fall of Marymar
The party meets aftermath of a contested landing between elves and dwarves. Not having many other options they band together and head out eastwards towards Marymar. There they meet the local Govenor and decide to help him out by collecting taxes in the surrounding villages. Not having the best impressions of the Govenor they stole his treasours and head out further east wards across the wide planis.
In those plains they find a cave inhabitated by a hag, that trubbled them in their dreams. After a short scuffle they then found her cursed treasoure and a ship in a magical bottle. During the following night a headless character finds them and explains that this is the Devilsfall and he would be loyal to the one who found it. In a quick pace they head towards the shore to test this new mans words.
While traversing the plains they saw that some sort of earth ball rise up into the air and then drop down causing a large dust cloud. With their new ship the party decided to investigate the event. They find nothing where Marymar was last and decided to head further west to the next fishing village, where they are told that Marymar is no more.
Wanting to figure out the extension of the damage they head out into the wilds the reach the lumberjack village at the southern forest, which they find almost abandond. After some time and arguing the party decided to head further into the dust cloud only to find a wizard in the deep crator who conjures up a Zombie Beholder.
The fight was tough and resulted in the death of Alloro.
Rebellion in Goblin Town
Hearing of some struggles in the east the party heads out. Finding a valley controlled by goblins. A colourful band of rebells is fighting for their liberty against the repressive regiem of the Goblin King.
The party wants to help and sets out to hunt down some patrols and to pick up supplies. On their way back they decide to take a more dangerous short cut, which lead them into a runied dwarven underground city. The city is inhabited by mutated spiders and a Drider. Fighting their way through the city they then find the Drider in the throne room in which they challange her to battle. Infighting and bickering amongst the party leads to a loss of battle.
The surving members are handed over to the goblins, which parade them through the valley as openly as possible. Allowing the rebels and their crew to locate and free them. Wanting revenge the party sets out to target the King himself.
With the king dead his empire curmbles, his generals fight amongst each other allowing a new dwarven kingdom growing out of it's ashes.
An Excursion to the Hells
Testing the skills of the party the dwarven pirate captain Greybeard asks them to pick up a package from Durnkuldir. Sneaking into the basement of the Genral Axethain they find the young dwarf Ozmock, Greybeards nephew.
Yet soon after Ozmock is kidnapped by Deviles on their way back to Greybeard, prompting them to follow them to the Nine Hells. A place full of fighting and constant struggles for power.
At first the party tries to break into the fortified camp of one of the Warlords, yet the resistance is stronger than they thought. If it wasn't for the support of their friend Captaing Teolgrag they would not have been able to return from the hells with the young Ozmock.
The Breaking of the Council
Being a member of the Council since their first visit to Might Town the party tried to build up releations with some of the captains, mainly with Captain Teolgrag and Capatain Greybeard. Which is achieved by helping out with some tiresome tasks and other favours.
On a return trip to Might Town they find the city in turmoil, knowing their captain is in the city hall they charge in and find Ondas' and Hogans men currently trying to take over the city. In the mean time the Council is informed about a new opportunity, which results in the breaking of the Council.
Fighting to liberate the city the party makes a new friend Captain Tavia.
The Curse of Conder Isle
Carrying Sulla, the cursed talking chair who claims to be an old god of fighting, the crew sets course for Conder Isle, Darfin's homeland, where an arena devoted to Sulla is said to be able to break his curse. On the foggy way south Strennun throws himself into a whirlpool, a mutiny is put down and Roftag becomes first mate. Days later Strennun is fished out of the sea by none other than Kylin's estranged sister.
On the isle the party crosses the faerie-haunted woods to Alse Edhil. In search of a book about the old gods they break into the house of Darfin's nemesis Arune Silvaris, steal the book along with a large crystal, and promptly end up on wanted posters. Darfin's wife Elora offers them a way out: help the elven rangers fight a curse spreading through the forest.
Deep in the cursed woods they find a hag nesting in an ancient burial mound and kill her, losing the bag of holding in the process. Beneath the tomb Strennun meets Anathar, an entity sealed in a monolith, who possesses him and Brovara before the crew flees. In a maze near Sulla's arena they clash with Wormtongue, whom Darfin banishes, and the blood of the fallen sets Sulla free. Square becomes his high priestess, and all but Roftag accept his gifts.
Back at the port they learn that Kylin is wanted for desertion and the Devilsfall has been seized. The party breaks into the keep, frees Jack and the surviving crew, and escapes, setting the elven fleet aflame as they leave the isle behind.
Current Chapter
Just Keep Swimming
It was a good call from Kylin to start firing back. The silly sods stationed at that Falloren fort should have started clearing up the city instead of firing at us. After all, we helped them with Sulla, Wyrmtongue and lifted whatever curse there was on the city.
If the troops weren’t enough, a huge ship appeared out of the fog in front of us. My sailor companions called it a flagship, which I thought was a stupid name until I noticed five flags on the masts. A rather interesting feature of the ship was the galeon’s figure depicting what elvish women definitely did not look like in reality (they only looked like this in some sailor’s songs I’ve heard from the crew and dare not repeat here).
The battle started with us approaching the flagship. There was nothing else we could have done as it was blocking our way, challenging us. Strennun immediately jumped in to the water, which is good as he is more useful swimming around the ship than in the battleground. A crewmember I have not seen before was the first to jump - a dwarf with black skin and a missing ear. Captain followed directly after, Rafiki jumping of her shoulder and grabbing one of the lines going up the mast. It stands to reason the enemy crew would try jumping onto our ship so I stayed and waited for them. Rof does not share my view and tosses a wooden pole onto the enemy ship, planning to use it to fend off the foreign sailors.
A firestorm broke out on the flagship, possibly started by Kylin, and a couple of sailors jumped over to Devilsfall. Just where I expected them. I tossed them overboard, grabbing a ribbon out of an important-looking one. Strennun later told me that after they fell into the water, he was noticed by them and they tried to attack and drown him. Silly sods should have noticed something was fishy about him. (that was a play on words, because he is a bit like a fish.)
As the fire started spreading, we cut down or drowned more and more enemy sailors. I heard a loud splash as Jack unfastened the galeon’s figure and started hauling it towards the Devilsfall. I looked up and saw Rafiki carrying two flags stolen or perhaps bitten away, from the tops of the masts. We slowly came back to our ship, regrouped and sailed away from the no-longer-flagship, leaving the remainder if its crew trying to put out the fire. It might be for good - if they weren’t able to defend themselves from us, they wouldn’t have been safe on these waters. What with all the pirates around.
We lined up all our recruits and tried to teach them some discipline. Three of them stood out. A young elf called Falaria (or Falafel? the elvish names all sound the same to me). A lizard-looking man called Danam, which emanated an aura of chill, and Nori, the dwarf who was first-in-line in the abordage. The dwarf tried mocking me so I tossed him overboard, Strennun jumped after him to save him. Nori has to learn his place in the crew. Until he does, he’ll be taking a swim regularly.
We continued sailing towards the meeting point with Tavia. Kylin immediately took to the timid Falalel and started mentoring her. Jandalf appeared and brought some of our ordered gear. Apart from that, not much happened for a couple of days until we heard Strennun shouting that he sees a ship with Thanate flag far away. We decided to approach.
As the ship grew nearer, we noticed what looks like a captain and a handful of guards standing next to each other. Kylin grabbed my arm and teleported us to negotiate. The guards started behaving aggressively so I grabbed an important-looking one and held him hanging overboard. The rest of them charged but got pacified quickly. We tell Nori to disarm the guard leader, which he does by cutting off his hand with his steel axe. Someone said this was ironic except I don’t think there was any iron involved and Nori should think twice instead of taking the words so literally.
The captain of the encountered ship claimed they are shipping grain and beer but we quickly saw through his disguise and know he was a supplies-smuggling pirate. He should be happy we left him and his crew alive. We recruited two of them though. The captain of the guard did not want to join us though. His loss. We did acquire their galeon’s figure. I wonder where Strennun keeps those.
After two weeks of uneventful sailing we approached a ship with a Draconic League flag. Strennun’s mission to swim up and check what’s on the ship ended in a failure but Captain recognized the ship and teleported aboard. Kylin later said she had a lengthy discussion about her sister and told the crew to deliver her a bottle of whisky and a letter. They also presented Kylin with a bottle of whisky and she came back, telling us to leave the ship be. She was also told that she should visit Dragon’s Inn in the capital and it has something to do with her parents. We set sail once again.
After another week of smooth sailing - interrupted only by a huge school of tuna passing by - we finally arrived at the designated meeting place. In the meantime, Falafel became quite a sailor and Nori seems to understand now that mocking me results in being thrown overboard. The third new crew member is a bit of a mystery though.
In any case, we approach the ship of Tavia and other captains. Good we did not get caught by any of the pirates on our way here.
Fuck you, and thank you!
I wake up in the morning to see the grand fleet a few hours out. What a weird dream last night. I felt like I should check on Darfin before we join the others so I head down to his room and find lost in thought.
We sit down he tells me off his thoughts and doubts and how he feels isolated as he no longer can return home as he is a fugitive there. I try and comfort him, hoping he understands that the Devilsfall would be happy to be his home. We go on and talk about our deeds. Darfin then says that we should start owning up to what we are. We are Pirates! There is no denying that anymore. Darfin the blurts out:” Fuck you and thanks you!” He then elaborates that he hates the situation but also enjoys the freedom from society. Like really fuck society. Why should we have to dress a certain way, marry, only speak one’s mind when asked or have to run a business.
By the way. Was that the first time Darfin has sworn? Surely not, but I can not remember when he has. Either way we talk a little more with me also opening up a little how cornered I felt at home. Before leaving I hand over a box which was addressed to Darfin.
When I head up back on deck, I find Roftag sparing with Nori and Brovara trying to round up the crew to do a workout. I painfully watch how she fails to engage with the crew. I do later take her to the side and try and give her some advice. Mental note, I may have to do a full workshop with her soon to help her improve her people skills.
We then arrive at the fleet and are greeted by people of Tavias crew who invite me to Tavias ship. That’s very friendly and nice of her. I appoint Roftag to take command and make sure the ship is securely docked and take Falaria with me to Tavias. Maybe Falaria can open up a little there.
Tavia welcomes us and then leads me to the dining room which is nicely decorated and set with a nice feast. During the feast we talk about what happened. I tell her of our adventures and the stupid event which lead to me loosing the logbook. She explains that Teolgrug and Greybeard have secured the Draconic Isles. Teolgrug has not arrived yet. Meanwhile Tavias crew encountered some of Hogens men on a seemingly empty island where they weird resupplying. It seems the enemy has weird means to travel. We continue chatting about random interests and are hitting it off really well.
Meanwhile Roftag and Darfin have a heart to heart about how the consequences of our actions are catching up. Darfin admits that he feels like that violence is faster and often more fun. After their talk Darfin finally decides to open the box and finds pipeweed, incense and a note from his wife.
Darfin then decides to look for a doctor to get his condition checked. The doctor does try and hint at the fact that he is probably undead, which does stir some doubt in Darfin that maybe the captain was right when she told him that he has been affected by the curse.
Strennun went off to scout out other Crowsnest to find ideas on how to improve ours. He finds one with a drunk guy who has attached himself with a rope. Strennun does not understand why one would do this as then one cannot jump into the ocean. Strennun proceeds to untie the poor guy and jump into the ocean with him. He later on finds out that the guy cannot swim.
Brovara is spending a nice evening taking a bath in Strennuns room.
Roftag is looking after the ship when he suddenly gets attacked by Falaria. Luckily Brovara and the rest of the crew comes to aid and find that its actually a Rakshasa. Roftag and Brovara then decide to warn the captain, as they are not sure if the Falaria that went with her to Tavias was actually real.
While taking a sip of some nice wine the doors to the dining room get flung open with a guard and Brovara saying we are needed. Tavia takes her hand off my arm and we both stand up to find out what the commotion was. Rof tells us of the Rakshasa attack. We quickly check that it was alone and make sure that there is no widespread panic.
Once that handled, I send Rof and Brovara back to the ship, as Tavia invited me to stay the night. I also send Falaria to hang out with the rest of Tavias crew. In her cabin she
The next morning, I happily and rejuvenated walk back to the Devilsfall. After regrouping with everyone Darfin pulls out a stack of papers with our names on them with the new bounties. Mine has gone up a little, but really by only 50 gp? I guess they are not really interested in capturing me anymore. Oh, btw here are the new bounties:
- Captain Kylin Nelson: 800gp
- Professor Darfin Elehni: 600gp
- Mr Woodenglory: 450gp
- Brovara the Tall: 350gp
- Roftag Deerunner: 300gp
- Rafiki: 50gp
4+1 Captains
In the morning an iron clad ship approaches the wooden isle waving Greybeard’s flag, as well as another heavily damaged ship belonging to Teolgrag. Greybeard’s ship docks and a procession of royal proportions enters the wooden isle, with Greybeard in shining armor and two giants flanking him on both sides. Judging by Darfins reaction there is a lot of magic in the air.
The Captain being escorted by Brovara and I takes place at a giant round table on one of the central ships. We take our positions close to her and stand there waiting for the other captains. Tavia takes her seat close to the captain. Greybeard makes his way to the other seat next to the captain and his guard walks right through Brovara and me. I swallow my pride and take the disrespect without causing trouble for the captain. The last two seats are filled with Teolgrag who is showing some recent battle injuries and Arokshax who clearly doesn’t voluntarily attend.
«Neutrality, not good for business eh?» - Teolgrag
Teolgrag starts to explain why he is in such a rough shape: I followed Hogan and Ondas and Wormtongue to the Deadlands. Hogans men are trying to create a new world order and talked about corruption. Hogan cut a deal with the devils, hopefully they are as trustfully as the rakshashas.
«Burnt world ain’t good for anyone» -Teolgrag
Three options are stated:
- Strike the orcs
- Find allies in Thanate Empire
- Attack Hogan directly in the deadlands
There is not much debate, Tavia and Greybeards are quickly on board, only Arokshax remains hesitant. The circle is dismissed. Brovara voices her complaints about Greybeard’s guards and challenges whoever dares to a duel. A foolish dwarf volunteers and believes his hammer stands a change against our half-human. A couple painfull looking blows are exchanged and Brovara stands on top of the table staring down on the dwarf being embedded in said table. Greyboard calls the win and offers Brovara a reward of her choosing. Brovara chooses the dwarf’s hammer as a trophy. Everyones attitute towards her changes immediately.
Greyboard repeats his offer from when we met near Mighttown, this time I don’t decline the shield. Visiting his ship I find a real smithy on the lower deck where a nice smith advises me what to pick, a wooden shield with a steel rim and spikes on the other side, decorated with a painted wolf baring his teeth.
In the evening Kylinn visits Teolgrag. He asks her about his contract with «god». [ redactet ].
Tealgrag says that he approached the edge of the stream (nobody who has gone further has ever returned). Some of his sailors swear by their mother that they saw land in the distance, but there is nothing to prove the hersay.
Teolgrag: "Kylinn, I want to retire; Be my heir, or go exploring."
Kylinn does not decide yet.
In the morning Kylinn pays Arokshax a visit, trying to get him to help the cause .. Arokshax is drunk.
Arokshax: «Can you guarantee my safety?»
Kylinn: «To be completely honest .. you will most likely die if you stay close to me .. like many others.»
Arokshax: «We both know Teolgrag, if I help you my family is save … if I don’t they will still be save but I will never see them again»
Arokshax hands Kylinn a waterskin with Grog.
DRINK
After my morning clean I fetch the Flags from Rafiki as the captain ordered. Soon after, Tavia arrives and tests out the Devilfall’s curse on one of her guards (fortunately only once) and disappears in the captains quarters. I fetch my shield from Greybeard’s shipand return to find Brovara banging on the Captain’s door.
We kill some time trying out my new shield. It does have some magical properties as Brovara’s heavy blow feels more like a child’s punch.
Kylin learns that Tavia’s Cutlass is called «Iron price»
Tavia leaves a wine bottle as a gift and the wooden isle slowly disappears.
Kylin sends one of the crewmembers out with an elvish wine in return.
"The blood of the covenant is thicker than the water of the womb."
Before leaving, we were doing some shopping. Roftag got a new shield that seems to have some magic. Darfin got some elven chainmail made that looks very pretty. I myself tried to get the rust off my weapons and a nice dwarf gave me some goop to smear on my weapons. That seemed to work.
While we were out shopping, Brovara tested her new hammer, by beating the ever-loving shit out of Square's old punching bag. On the way back to our ship, she also 'picked up some rope' - which turned out to belong to another ship. But as it started to wither the second she came onto the Devil's Fall, she decided to just leave it on deck, because more rope is clearly always more better!
The Captain gave orders to set sails. We are going to the deadlands to deal with the Orc-problem there. As it is basically on the way, we will also stop by the Thanate Empire on the way. My home! I will get to see my father again!
The other captains will be doing the following meanwhile:
- Greybeard: Try and get the support of the dwarves empire by any means necessary
- Arokshax: Get a supply chain up and running to supply us in the deadlands
- Tavia: Take over the transport of the goods of said supply-chain
- Taelgrog: Who knows? He's not the most talkative one...
After some days of sailing, I see cliffs in the distance. My home! I yell down to the ship that there's land. Soon enough, we see smoke in the distance. This is the main city. It is built in a cavern. This means that ships can be very easily inspected and it is not easy to smuggle stuff in like that. That's why we anchor outside of the cavern and transport us and our stuff along the passages along the cliffs (there are treacherous 'passageways' built into the cliffs, which are essentially just planks on the side of the bluffs, with nothing but pistons and prayers holding them up. They are heavily used by smugglers and other folks who are not exceptionally keen on their wares or ships being inspected by the harbourmaster and his staff).
Brovara does not trust her weight with the armour on to hold the planks. Rof and I take her armour and she just walks like that. That seems to work because we get to the city pretty soon. Before that, we are being inspected by the guards. Brovara takes this opportunity to put on her armour again. I have to empty my bag and lay my weapons out. I have collected quite a number of weapons because they are neat. That seems to amuse the guards because they laugh when I lay out my longsword, my club, my scimitar, my dagger, my backup dagger, the backup dagger of that dagger, the great axe, the handaxe, the rapier, the short bow and the whip. After that I have to repack everything again. While I'm at it anyway, I try to make myself presentable for my father by taking off my armour and putting on some fine clothes (they were not that fine anymore, considering what they've gone through in the past couple years, but Strennun did not seem to care all that much).
It's nice to be back in my hometown! We pass a tavern that I used to go to a lot back then. I drag my friends in there and Gunther, the bouncer greets me and shows me my usual table. It's a lot stuffier than I remember. We order stuff and then the bill comes. It's... I don't know the number but it's higher than I can count and that means it's a LOT! I don't even know if I have that much gold! So I take my bottle of wine and run out with Brovara. The others don't follow for some reason. Brovara drags me back in. We eat and drink and in the end Darfin pays - Thank you Darfin! After that we go to my father's house.
When we get there I try to enter, but for some reason the door is locked?!. Frederick, the old guard, opens a little window in the door and looks at me like I just resurfaced after seven years gone. To be fair, that is what happened, but that is not the point here. He doesn't want to let my friends in at first but I convince him and we all wait in the courtyard while he goes and does... something. Things have changed. There are strange guards in the courtyard. After a long while I go into the house and the guards don't stop me. I look for my father and find Frederick coming out of his office and come back with me to the courtyard. He keeps asking me questions about myself. Like he doesn't know me?? (Meanwhile, Brovara keeps counting seconds in the courtyard, as Strennun said he'd be back in 15min. As she gets bored of that, she tries to interact with the guards, who ignore her, provoking her ire.) After some more minutes, my father comes to the courtyard. At least I think it's my father? I can hardly recognise him. He's so old and weak and ugly? He doesn't believe that I am Strennun until I show him our signet ring. Then he finally invites us to dinner - even though we just ate before. During dinner I try to tell him everything that happened in these seven years that I was gone. Kylinn asks him for his support against the orcs in the deadlands. My father wants to speak to me in my office. Back in his office he tells me what has been happening here. There's a fight going on between the guilds but also within the guilds. This is also why he was so wary of me. Because he thinks someone could be impersonating me to harm him. I don't know why anybody would do that, but then again, I am not very smart, so I just leave it be. He wants me to burn down the warehouse of his former friend and ally - apparently he has been stealing my father's wood. If I can, I can take the wood back, but that doesn't really matter. After that, I should go to the Seahorse tavern and execute Duran in public. He apparently killed Nana! (Strennun's old maid, who was a mother-figure to him, as he never really knew his mother). He also asks to speak to Kylinn. I go back and tell my friends and fetch Kylinn. On the way back to the office, she asks me if I want to do what my father is asking - or rather ordering - of me. I tell her that I don't like it but I might do it because of family.
Kylinn has a conversation with Vodan Woodenglory, where he thanks her for 'taking care' of Strennun and ask to pay her for her time and troubles. As Strennun wants to take the crew with him to burn down the warehouse and kill Duran, he also asks her for their daily rates, just like bartering for simple hired muscle. He also tells her that he's not going to directly help her with her quest of finding support, but suggest, they make some noise and make a name of themselves to get 'the right kind of people' aware of them, before maybe being able to plead their issue in the city-hall and get support that way. Kylinn categorically refuses and tears into him, shaming him for treating his long lost and returned son like a commodity. Vodan then asks her why she left her family (He is familiar with the Nelson family) and also asks of her what she would do in his shoes. They talk about Strennun's past - he was your average rich kid who only thought about partying and spending his father's money. He does have fond memories of Strennun as a small child, but not so much when he grew older. The two continue on to discuss if leaving a legacy is important or not and in the end agree to disagree, as Vodan thinks it is the ultimate goal of life to leave something behind that your children can continue building upon and Kylinn does heavily disagree on that train of thought.
In the end, she reiterates her refusal to be hired goons for him and also refuses his hospitality.
After a while, Kylinn comes out of the office and seems very angry. She tells us that we're leaving. I am not sure because I now have to choose between long lost family and new found family. In the end I choose my new found family and we leave for a cheaper tavern. There, Kylinn and I discuss us leaving our families a bit more and Darfin also tries to help with his wisdom, but he does not really help all that much.
In the end, we decide that we will not burn down the warehouse, but I still want to get to the bottom of Nana's killing. We will capture Duran and Darfin will probe his mind to see if he did kill Nana or not. After that, Kylinn's idea is to unite the fighting guilds by posing a bigger, external threat to the trade in the Thanate empire to force them to unite against us. We then hop onto the Devil's fall to lead them directly to the orcs, where they will hopefully help us deal with them.
"The Flavia's Frivolous Fantastical Fings"
As we sat at the round table in the tavern, we started discussing the new bounties. They increased a bit, which is a good sign, pirates and wrongdoers clearly dreading us. While Darfin and Strennun disappeared somewhere, we ordered another round. When asked what he wants, Rof said "I don't care" and was served a chesse-flavoured drink. Apart from that the place smelt like piss and barkeep was rude.
After spending the night in a tavern, we set out to find influential humans to find us in our cor-age-uhs en-dev-or. The streets were difficult to navigate, with thousands of people going about their business, flowing in and out of buildings and between the levels of the city.
In search of a shortcut we stumbled upon a shop with a sign saying "Flavia's Frivolous Fantastical Fings". We went inside and indeed found a ton of fascinating fings. We approached the shopkeeper, who turned out to be a looney. She stuttered, avoided answers and asked suspicious questions. Kylin bought some magic sticks and found an intricate dagger. The dagger captures the attention of whoever looks at it. The person only realizes that when someone talks to them, otherwise they can stand and look at that weapon. It does not work on me, thought. I only look at it for a second and hear someone speaking to me. Must be my paladin training finally showing its value.
Kylin buys the dagger. She later said she sacrificed some of her good luck to get it. I also found an addition to the museum I set up on the ship. A stachoo of a face, made of rock and wood. I can already see people flocking to see it when we open. I also bought a gargoyle which I named Helmut - it is good with simple commands but very stoopid. The shopkeeper said I can buy with my darkvision ability and I happily did it as I can see very well in the dark and don't need it.
Roftag gave her his blood to learn the name. His name is Roftag Deerunner. He seems to remember something about his past because of that. Funny thing about the shopkeeper: I swear she changed her skin and hair colour while we were there.
After leaving the shop and a stroll through the city, we found a major plaza with great view on the ships and many, many stalls and little shops. We found the Trader's guild where - being welcomed by a Head Welcomer Thanani - we were asked to meet a certain Cinan Korman for a dinner. Apparently known for spice trade. The meeting was boooring and there was diplomasee and long words so I paid no attention.
We paid a visit at the Flavia's shop too. She sells us a scroll that offers some kind of protection against some type of creatures, the price being Captain's "ambition to take over a friend's legacy". I wonder how she still keeps her shop running, selling her wares for next-to-nothing and silly phrases.
Finally, we head for the ship, Helmut not being as helpful with getting us down the cliffs as I thought, hurting mister Deerunner along the way. We found Salarus on the deck playing cards. He was not happy that we visited the shop. To make up for it, Captain adds him to a list of welcome guests for the Scroll of Some Kind of Protection. We decide to wait for Strennun and Darfin before we take our next steps.
The captain, with the dagger in the office
On the ship we find the person who I need, Salarus. But first I hand over the protection spell for the ship to Jack. He seems to be very unnerved when he finds out we got it from a fey. I have never seen him this tense, but after telling us off for being reckless he heads off to incorporate the spell into the ships defences.
In the captains’ quarters I tell Salarus, that I want to know the details of the ship and if there are any other powers that it holds that we are not aware off. He does not know himself and says we would have to speak to a Demon Prince for this information. This though may come at a price. I guess we put a pin into this for later, as there is a stupid party this evening.
On deck the crew seems oddly on edge. Then Roftag comes over and asks if it is okey if they could visit a fighting pit that Strennun has mentioned. It seems that they thought I would not approve. Seriously? They should know by now that I am not against some fun. While we are talking, I ask Strennun to have a look at the inscribing on my new dagger. His vast knowledge of different runes and languages comes in handy again as he deciphers: "I do sacrifice to Rakdos, whomever I touch, I may hold a soul for your entertainment." Sounds fun. Strennun is not a fan of the dagger though. Ehhh its mine anyways. We also talk about his feeling about what has transpired so far. He mentions how he is tired of being treated like a commodity by his Dad. Very understandable. My parents were annoying, but they never would have tried to pull off something like that.
Before heading back to the ship Darfin went to FFFF. He is trying to find out what happened to him. He tells her his name and about the Devils Fall. Flavia then clears his mind so that he realizes he is undead and that he died weeks ago in the Crowsnest. Emboldened by his new condition he asks for where he could find a phylactery to become a lich. He gets a hint that he will find one to the west of here. This all he was given for the price of his moral compass.
Shortly afterwards we must get going so to make it to dinner, which we were invited too by Sinan. His mansion is as predictably ugly and pompous as someone compensating for something. We are guided by one of his servants through the courtyard and numerous hallways to the ballroom. Noticeably this place is very heavily guarded.
The ballroom is full of rich people and politicians of this city. This is going to be a very painful evening. To prepare myself I head to the nearest waiter, chug 2 glasses of alcohol that they are serving and take a third to go. Before initiating with the politicians of the room I decide to gather some intel and dirt on these people to try and find out more who is here. Apparently, he has multiple mistresses and makes a habit of ruining women’s lives. Meanwhile everyone else here seems to have also plenty of dirt on them too.
Finally, it was time to talk with Sinan. After pleasantries he invites me into his office which is right next to the ballroom. Apparently, Sinan is in a tough spot, as Woodenglory has also entered the spice trade which is putting him under pressure. That why he wants me to guard and protect his ships while sabotaging other ships. I brought up that we are here to speak with the council for mor important matters which will generally affect his trade. Upon this information Sinan admits he has already talked with Wormtongue, who was very convincing. Sinan then has the audacity to subtly hint that he could just have us arrested or killed by the guards and handed over to Wormtongue which would give him a nice price. This guy is in way over his head.
As standard diplomacy did not seem to be working with this waste of flesh, I decided to switch things up and try to use my feminine charm to win him over. So, I started throwing in a few compliments while trying not to throw up on the carpet. This seemed to get the slightest reaction out of him so I doubled down and painted him a picture of how we could rule trade and eventually the city together with our expertise while being partners. He then tests me how he will still want to mess around with other mistresses and that while I am gone at sea, I have to promise him that I would have to stay pure for him. I still have no idea how I had the strength of not slitting his throught right then and there.
With this hypothetical deal agreed upon I moved in as if I wanted to seal the deal with making out, and that idiot fell for it. Seriously who could fall for that narcistic pile of barnacles. In a quick motion I pull out my new dagger out and him close to be able to hold the dagger to his throat. I order him then to write a letter of recommendation to the council, which he does like an obediant little pet. I realize then that I cannot keep him alive, as he will he send his guards after me as soon as I am out the door. Apologizing I plant a kiss on his cheek, I guess the kiss of death, as I then slit his throat killing him on the spot.
But no blood spilled. The blood got absorbed by the dagger. Huh I guess luck is still on my side. Soo now I must get out of here before people find him dead. First, I decided to put him back into his armchair and face it away from the door towards the fireplace. While moving him I noticed how his pants seemed to wet. This guy really was all bark and no bite.
And now how do I exit alone? I admit, here I panicked a little and decided to just act to be one of his side chicks that is trying to leave quickly. In the process of leaving, I decided I should lock the door to slow down the process of finding him. Well, my act did seem to work as one of the servants quickly came to help me and assist me in finding an exit. On the way out of the ballroom, I whisper to Roftag that too leave now sneakily. At the exit I thank the maid and tell her she should find a better employer, and then I head to the inn that we stayed the night before in the hopes that the rest of our group would come up with the same idea.
Turns out they understood leave by head to the ship.
Convincing the council
In the morning the captain Nelson leaves her room and meets a gnome in the bar, a gnome of few words, a few words of mostly insults.
Brovara, Darfin and I leave the ship and start looking for the captain. We look at the places where we've been before and eventually end up talking to a rude Bouncer. Standing in our way of meeting the captain the bouncer earns a punch. Inside the captain is talking to the gnome who seems interested in working on our ship. After we join the captain at her table a short interview takes place, with Darfin casting a spell to poke any secrets the gnome may hold.
There are no secrets, the gnome wants money and changes sides quickly when more money is offered. His name - Tandyr Melebokk, short Melek.
After telling the captain about the instructions we left for Jack, she quickly writes down new instructions:
We met up
we are fine
we head to council
we will be in touch
just stand by
Darfin happily calls out his Hawki and sends it off with the message.
Together with the Melek we make our way to the large square and enter the council building. A small army is guarding this place. We are greeted by Tanani and lead to a room with desks, here the captain shows her letter of recommendation and requests an audience.
We are allowed to enter a large room with poorly made floor. Tanani announces the death of Master Sinnan. Only half the council is here, but enough to make decisions. After a break, 7 members assemble in colorful clothing, standing on a stage that elevates them above us. Sensing some magic in this room, Melekk tries to cast some detection spell which is interrupted by a familiar crooked creachure - Wormtongue. Wormtongue is introduces as "the ambassador". The captain gets to speak and states what Ondas alliance's goals are, she requests support from the humans - half their army. Together with the dwarfs they shall fight to secure our livelyhood.
The council listens and sometimes takes note, but otherwise does not show approval or rejection of Ms Nelsons proposal.
"Are you deaf?", Shouts Brovara.
"Don't you like money", Darfin remarks.
Captain adresses Wormtongue with snide remarks. Wormtongue tries to approach her but is stopped by the guards.
A bell rings and the council members retreat behind the stage.
"Did you go into cave?", Darfin asks.
Wormtongue asks us about the desert, he was looking for an ancient tomb.
5 minutes later, the bell rings and the council members return.
One member holding a paper stands up and presents the councils decision. "We have heard your plea, but also the ambassadors. Some Question your honesty. "Ambassador will not burn world, will cleanse it". He wants us to do nothing. "Ambassador of what?", I shout. "Wolf barbarian has point", the council member says. "Ambassador of Blaiddegyr (?) - master wizards", Wormtongue explains. Everyone in our crew feels the relieve after the council rules unanimously in our favor. "This does not mean we send troops, this means we talk". The council welcomes us as guests in the city and tells the ambassador (Wormtongue) to leave the city.
The council member looks at me. "Councilmember Karrak wishes to test your strength and invites you to the arena in the lower levels". The audience concludes and we leave the building. Hawki returns with a message from Jack: "understood, keem crew onboard".
As we head towards the fightclub it is apparent how people treat us nicer.
"I'll have a Nelson please"
After the crew (except Strennun) went to the "upper-class" fighting ring and won big, they were invited to a celebratory feast at some other bigwig's house. Our captain - obviously - did not let that opportunity pass to listen around in hopes of getting some gossip about her latest soul-heist. But apart from the usual things, there was not much news to be had. Darfin, on the other hand, found out, that his newly won book is apparently written in archaic elvish, a language that he can actually understand (with some trouble). After making an early exit, the crew stumbles upon their last missing member by pure chance.
"Give me my fucking money, you cheap bastard" I yell, while being slightly pummelled by the swarthy sailor who bet money that he didn't have at the underground fighting-pit. From the corner of my fading vision I see my crew pushing through the onlookers and all of a sudden my opponent is engulfed in a dark haze - Captain Nelson is helping me! I am not really appreciating that, but it's too late anyway, might as well take the chance. I quickly take the cheapskate in a chokehold and wave to the onlookers. Said cheapskate takes his chance and barrels me into Brovara's considerable chest. She throws me back rather unceremoniously and I can use that momentum to finally finish that scuffle once and for all! Turns out the fucker wasn't lying and he actually does not have any money! Three coppers is all I find! Well, I start stripping him and taking everything he has (apart from his drawers, probably for the better of both of us). My crewmates are mocking me, but it is not about the money, it is about the PRINCIPLE OF NOT BETTING MONEY YOU DO NOT HAVE!! I am ready to go down to the indebted sailor's ship, but the Captain says no... guess it was his lucky day.
Instead, we head to the tavern where I believe we can find Dunan. On the way there I get some new clothes, because mine have seen better days. The captain gets some new boots and Darfin is looking for a leather mask for himself. At that moment, Rod mumbles something about helping Jack to prepare the ship for leaving tomorrow and skedaddles off.
In the tavern, we are led to Dunan's table where he sits and laughs with four of his friends. Seems like a fair fight to me. Lynn and Darfin both order a Nelson Whiskey and I get an Ale. After some initial banter, where Dunan boasts about the murder of my precious Nana, I give him the Strennu's special: A chilly testicle-twist and a headbutt to the table. Turns out he does not appreciate that and stabs me with some fancy magical dagger.
An all-out brawl starts in the tavern, much to the shock of the other guests and staff who screamingly run out and leave us more room. Darfin really comes in clutch by doing some magic mumbo-jumbo that lets tentacles sprout out of the floor and holds them down and crushes them slowly. Everything starts out well, but then I get cocky and go in up and close... and promptly get my ass handed to me by a bloodied Dunan and his last friend. I am already at death's door and basically through it with one foot when Darfin comes swaggering in with a glass of the finest Nelson Whiskey in his hand (which he paid for at the unmanned bar)- since when does he drink whiskey?? and starts blasting the last two survivors with blasts of fire. Brovara is also unconscious on the floor, still bloodied from her last fight. Im the last moment, the captain stands up, yells something about thunder and teleports to the bar with a loud BANG. That "Bang" is in fact so loud and thunderous, that Dunan and his last friend get splattered across the opposite wall.
Darfin and Lynn quickly go about reviving their downed crewmates before I start looting everything and everybody in sight. It's the least I can do after they almost looted my life... Meanwhile the captain goes towards the kitchen and cautiously tries to open the door to let the staff know that it's safe now. She is met with every single knife and cleaver that the kitchen has to offer, as she quickly slams the door shut again. After the cooks ran out of knifes, the opens the door again and does let them know that it's safe to come out now. She also hands the interim-owner 50 GP for the trouble and cleanup. And does also complain that she ordered a Nelson Whiskey, which she never received. The interim-owner sends for the whiskey and we leave the tavern - with Dunan's dead body over Brovara's shoulders. Outside the guards are waiting for us, but the captain quickly waves them off by claiming that they attacked us first and that we are also under special protection of the council.
After a brief debate whether it's worth it or not, we decide to go to Dunan's family home to check if he did murder my precious Nana out of his own volition or if he was maybe hired? We try to gain entry by claiming to wanting to bring Dunan's dead body to his parents, but the guards won't let us. During a brief heated discussion between the guards and the captain, I sneak off and turn invisible. When Brovara dumps the body on the floor and the guards pick it up to bring it in, I sneak into the door with them and go to his room to hopefully find some interesting documents. Sadly I only find sticky magazines with naked women on them. I take them with me, because maybe they're worth something, and try to sneak out. Sadly, there are also guards on the inside of the door - what paranoid ass does something like that?? I am still invisible so I try to just open the door, which is immediately slammed shut again. So I go back to the guard's quarters and rattle with Dunan's chain mail I took off him and chuck that in a corner. One of the guards comes to check it out. The last guard I distract by throwing Dunan's longsword in some bushes. Sad, these things probably would have fetched a pretty penny at the market! Anyway, I meet up with the rest of the crew at the agreed upon tavern and have a well-deserved night's sleep.
The next morning, we head to the market and I get rid of half of my collected arsenal of weapons I don't need anymore before heading off to the ship. Darfin is weirdly insistent that we burn down the warehouse that my dad 'ordered' me to, but none of us really wants that, so in the end we do go off to the ship to leave Quarate behind us and sail towards the Orc Diarchy.
Turtle slavers
Do not tickle a swimming Mage's testicles!
After a not very comfortable - and not very long - night in my room, I was now standing on deck with all my fellow officers, while the Captain was holding trial over the captured slavers. They have to be punished for sure, but the Captain is not certain how to do it, so she tries to see what the crew wants. The mood is very changeable but in the end, it seems that the most popular choice is to have them fight to the death and the last man standing goes free.
The three men are encircled by the crew and someone throws in one axe (it was probably Nori, let's be honest here). Of course, everybody runs towards the axe but the Captain gets there first. But instead of killing them, he slits his own throat?!?! The remaining two fight for the axe, after one of them tries to steal a sword from a bystander and loses the hand. The other guy still has two hands and therefore wins the fight for the axe and kills his fellow slaver. While yelling about his Victory, the cursed ship works its magic and the second slaver comes back to life, killing the other guy twice, making him stay dead. This means the still standing slaver won the fight, even though he's technically dead. Funny how that works... Anyway, the Captain basically throws him overboard to maybe walk on land or I don't know. I currently have more pressing issues, my trial is coming up.
I plead guilty to insob... insuob... ins... disobeying orders because there was no point in pleading not guilty. The captain is somewhat lenient and made me scrub the deck and help Rajesh in the kitchen for a month. Also I am demoted to normal sailor for this time as well. Considering I could have been sentenced to death or sent ashore wherever we land, that could have ended worse.
After three days at sea (I think I left the kitchen about four times in this time, and two times of that was to scrub the deck), the new lookout yelled something about a ship. Darfin is fetched from his chamber and sends out his hawk to scout it out. They almost shoot it down, but it appears to be an elven military ship. Captain smells good loot, so I am sent to hack holes in the ship from the bottom. Finally I get to do some swimming again! Nori kindly gives me one of his axes and I take off. While I'm underway to the ship, I see one of their people swim towards us. I am way below water, so he does not see me, and I stupidly cast a spell on him. He still doesn't see me, but now obviously knows that he has been seen. I telepathically inform the captain of what I saw and continue. When I start hacking at the bottom of the ship, some sailors drop in and try to stop me. I throw some of my force-rays on them, but they are not very impressed. In the end, I have to dive deep down out of their view and turn invisible before shooting up again and surrounding myself in a sphere of darkness, so they cannot see me. It still takes absolute ages to hack four holes into the ship because these bastards keep trying to shoot me, so I have to evade all the time. I manage after a while tho, and swim back. When I come back to good ole Bessi I hear two big explosions....
While Strennun is hacking away at the boat, Darfin casts Water Breathing on himself, Rof, the Captain, Nori and six other people and they go to confront the mage. The mage dispels Darfin's Water Breathing but luckily the others are not affected. He does the same to Nori and Lynn. After an underwater fight, Lynn kills the mage with some magic and Nori shoots up from underneath and disembowels his dead body. Everybody heads back to the ship when more sailors are seen following Strennun back to the Devil's Fall. As soon as Strennun is inside, Lynn casts two big Lightning Bolts in the midst of the swimming sailors under water - these are the two explosions Strennun hears. Two of the sailors survive and enter the ship after Strennun.
As soon as I turn around, there are two sailors attacking me. I manage to fight one off and kill him. while screaming bloody murder. Darfin and Rof come to help me. After I kill the first one, Rof just grabs the remaining one and jumps out of the ship! That would be very bad, but I am currently kinda busy not dying, because the guy I killed obviously gets up again. Darfin tries to hold him off a bit, but I fall unconscious anyway.
When Strennun falls unconscious, Nori runs down and kills the second sailor, again, making him fully dead. Beforehand, he shoves a Healing Potion down Strennun's gullet before killing the second guy with Darfin.
Meanwhile, Rof clubs his guy to death with his shield while floating underwater. Then he swims up to the surface and threads water until the Devil's fall can circle back.
After I get so rudely woken up by having a glass bottle shoved down my throat, I get up and stumble out of the room to maybe find some more healing potions. I find my way to the kitchen, but there's only curry leaves, so I stumble on deck. The Captain tells me and Darfin to go take a nap so we don't die. Meanwhile she keeps the other ship engaged with some fireballs and other magical hijinks. We'll see how that continues, but first I really do need that nap....
Thinking about Fighting Gods
After consulting with the crew the captain finally decided to give up on trying to capture the elven battleship. As we leave the crew starts singing a shanty, answered by more sophisticated elvish songs, but our crew sings louder. I for one feel proud of Kylin, as I thought she would never be able to know her limits and give up on a project.
After travelling for some days, I finally finish deciphering the ancient spell book that I got by betting on our crew. There seem to be some useful spells in the spell book, but not many. And certainly not any spells that I haven't seen or heard of before. As soon as I finish the last quill stroke, I hear a knock on the door. It's Rajesh, whom I happily show my findings. He doesn't seem particularly impressed and tells me about some fish that the others are trying to catch. He asks if it would be better to kill them outside of the ship. "Undead fish would be kind of funny" I think to myself as I tell him that it would be a good idea to kill them outside. By the joy in his voice, they seem to be catching some very big fish. Seems like we will be eating fish for the next few weeks… I spend the rest of my morning copying some of the spells into my own spellbook.
In the meantime, the crew catches three big ass tuna, weighting approximately 1.8 tons.
Feeling young again after having learned some new spells I decide to try out my newly acquired invisibility spell. I sneak out of my room and onto the deck. I find Kylin on the upper deck. I sneak up behind her and scare the shit out of her with a loud scream. She pulls out her new dagger and has a stab at the air behind her. "Why haven't I gotten this spell much sooner" I think to myself and sneak away, giggling to myself.
With favourable weather on our side, we continue our journey towards the east. I make great progress translating the book about the cataclysm I got from Flavia. I gather the information that there used to be unlimited magic before the cataclysm, which could be accessed using lifeforce. Probably it's the same as Wormtongue used when people around him died when he cast spells. "Could it still be possible to use such forbidden forms of magic? " I think to myself, "Maybe I should share this information with other trusted magic users onboard?"
During one of the nights Kylin has a weird vision, in which she gets the impression that the Dragon Turtle is trying to get revenge on her for interfering with its will.
The next morning I leave my office to share my findings with Kylin. Leaving the hull I see that we made great progress, and finally arrived at the location described to me by Flavia. The beach is made of bright sand, which stretches miles into the land. The closer we get the more it becomes clear that this is not only the beach, but also the land around the tower, fully devoid of life. This strikes me as odd, as it seems to match exactly what I just read about forbidden magic.
On deck I find Kylin and ask her to speak with her privately. In her captains' quarters she offers me a glass of the horrid whiskey she usually drinks. "This is what pirates do, and it seems to be an acquired taste it seems" I think and accept. I tell her about my findings, and she agrees that the officers should know about it as well. We decide that it would be smart when I first finish translating my book, while Roftag and Brovara look for a good landing from where the tower can be reached the fastest. Then we would approach the tower and try to spy into it from a distance.
While the others leave to execute their part of the plan Kylin asks me to stay behind. She tells me about her vision and thoughts about the dragon turtle. "What does this have to do with me, I have ancient words to translate!" I think while I offer her my advice: Maybe we should try not to piss off the dragon turtle further on. She doesn't seem to understand that ancient gods are not to be fucked with, but with many words I can convince her.
We head towards a town on the shore, which seems to be a ghost town. Here we set anker out in the waters, just outside the "death zone". I try to finish the translation of my book.
Meanwhile Roftag is trying to find out the mystery of fish guts appearing all over the deck. Strennun tells him that he keeps finding them on deck and brings them to Rajesh. Rajesh tells him that Strennun keeps bringing them to him, despite being told to throw them overboard. Strennun tells him that Rajesh told him to throw them overboard, but he still brings them to Rajesh. Confused Roftag waits on deck, observing everything and everyone. After some hours of waiting, he sees Nori walking on deck, sneakily throwing fish guts onto the floor. "Come here Strennun, you forgot a spot" he shouts. Roftag seems happy with this conclusion.
Having two more days to waste Kylin asks Rajesh to catch her a rat. She tries casting some spells, using the rats lifeforce as power source. She does not seem to succeed but instead grows another strain of white hair. During the night she wakes up in cold sweat and get a visit from the ghost of Falaria. She tells Kylin that she died during the battle against the false dragon turtle. Someone told her that Kylin shouldn't be here. Kylin is scared and confused by this message but tells Falaria that she is welcome to stay on the ship. Falaria leaves the captains quarters and causes a big commotion of scared sailors, who think that this must be a banshee. People are being woken up and rush on deck. Kylin steps outside and clears the confusion by introducing the ghost of Falaria.
Almost finished with the last page I suddenly hear a commotion outside my study. "Three in the morning is quite early for fooleries to take place" I think, but I have more pressing matters at hand. Someone storms into my room, "Professor, we need your help with a ghost" they say. "A ghost? I have more important matters at hand than a ghost" I tell them, "only interrupt me when there are at least three ghosts". Only some minutes later I get a visit from Kylin, who tells me that she doesn't feel good about this tower, and that maybe we shouldn't try to enter it. We agree that the rest of the book might give some more insight into what's expecting us, to make a well-informed decision.
The next morning Brovara wakes up with a sleeping ghost in her room, and Roftag makes Strennun clean the deck even harder.
I have finally translated the whole book. It tells the tale of a group of people, called "the society", who was able to use the forbidden magic. They had discussions about limiting magic which lasted for decades. Some individuals tried to test the limits of their limitless magic, and in the process the "northern bridge" was destroyed. Whatever that means. Many people who were not able to use this magic, derogatorily called lowborn, were against the society and their use of limitless magic. They started hunting the members of the society.
Six lowborn adventurers succeeded and killed them off one by one. The got stronger and stronger, and their might went to their heads. There was a battle, where everyone (including the old gods) fought them, and they were banished (except for one). Some lowborn worshipped them for their deeds, which in turn made them even stronger. Then there was another fight in the planes of Marymar, in which the bay of Marymar was created.
This is where the book end. It seems to have been written by someone of the society. Therefore, we can assume that this last fight is somewhat related to the cataclysm, where the society was disbanded. The six adventurers probably are the new gods, which are well known around the continent. The ancient gods were probably members of the society or somehow connected to it.
"It's not unreasonable to assume that the new gods are still able to use the forbidden magic and prohibit us from using it by limiting our knowledge about it. Maybe Kylin wasn't that wrong about picking fights with gods."
Old Friends, New Frontiers and Screw the Orcs
It was another boooring day on the ship. Strennun was cleaning the deck with his mage hand spell, me playing fetch with Helmut and Rof sitting at the bow of the ship. Kylin and Darfin probably minding their business in their offices. Little did we know, the lazy day was about to get exciting.
As we continued, Strennun caught a glimpse of a ship following us. He also spotted that the unexpected company was flying familiar colours - the Nelson's cask. Everyone started shuffling around preparing for the imminent arrival of the ship. Everyone except for Roftag, who - after a closer analysis - turned out to be Roftag's wolf pelt with the owner missing.
The ship approached us and we welcomed Turlain - Kylin' father's good old friend. He greeted us with some Nelson's whisky and steadily entered our ship crossing the plank - his long white hair falling over his shoulders. We introduced ourselves, set up a table and let the Captains discuss their matters.
He was visibly annoyed at Kylin using the Nelson family name despite her - in his words - behaving like a buccaneer. A bold claim, given the Devilsfalls crew's commitment to fighting pirates ever since I joined. He recommended not landing in the Orcish Diarchy directly but sailing to a nearby mountain fortress and contacting Thanin - a gnome merchant who could help us out.
We discussed the logistics of navigating the Diarchy at length and began wrapping up the meeting. We also explained our plans and goals, raising some eyebrows. Do you think it wise to dance with the devil who kissed death himself? - he asked as he left.
The barren tundra of the Nomansland slowly disappeared on the horizon and gave way to forests, flatlands and faraway mountains of the Orc's domain. We sailed along the coast until we approached a fishing village. Strennun swam to make contact, which, unsurprisingly, resulted in all kinds of confusion and misunderstanding. He did however learn that the slaves belonged to Gor'Kank - a minor warlord ruling these parts.
After his return, I stepped in to explain the savage ways of the orcs. Their hideous war culture, raids, slavery. Their hatred and beastly recklessness causing them to destroy, burn and raze to the ground any human settlements they encountered. How prowess in arms and brutality elevated the current warlords - Dur'Kan and Tar'Nok - to their positions.
Having reached the docks of the fortress, we were subjected to a cold welcome. A certain Thai-Rain greeted us and immediately started questioning our presence and honesty. Thankfully, the tense moment was diffused by the Captain. We left Danaan, Nori and several more crewmembers on the ship and set out to search for Thanin.
The gnome turned out to be a gnomess! We also got invited to a banquet and seated at an honourary table. We learned that the fortress has been coping with an increasing number of orcish foraging parties and the garrison is slowly wearing thin. They even started forcing the ships arriving at the port to bolster the local defence with volunteers from the crews.
Our dining abruptly came to an end as we were informed about another foiled orcish attack. This time, the defenders managed to catch a prisoner! We rushed out to assess the situation only to find Nori, who for some reason decided to leave on an orc hunt during our absence, guarding an orc scout. The scout - heavily beaten up and barely sitting up on his own - did not recognize my name or yield any useful information. To end his worthless life, Kylin stabbed him with a dagger. (Wasn't it one of the rumoured cursed daggers she owned? Guess I'll never know).
We went to sleep afterwards. Much remains to be done and I cannot wait to face the orcs in a skirmish again.
Explosive Revelations
To head to Thinin we organize a guide to lead us up the mountain to the fort. Our guide is Delin, a slender elven women clad in a black cloak. She seems kinda pissed with us and leads us through Mountain past a stunning Waterfall. From there we can even spy some Warbands in the plains below.
After a climb next to the Waterfall we arrive at a massive lake. The lake has an unseemingly strong current as Strennun soon discovers, norrowly avoiding falling down the waterfall. Past the beatifully lake we arrive a huge staircase, where we pass the Dwarves heading to work. At the top we realize there was actually and elevator to the fort that we missed.
At the castle we are lead to Thinin's quarters. He is a small male grey gnome. We chat a little about the nearby politics of orcs and come to the conlusion that if we support Durkan we can destabalize the orcs which gives the dwarves time to help us out. After a scheming session Thinin leads us to his experiments to show us a cilindrical device pointed at a mountain hundreds of meters away. With some assistance the device is loaded and fires with an ear shattering bang at the mountain takeing a chunk of rock with it. I need this on my ship! Like maybe smaller cause not sure how well it would handle the weight. While chatting about logistics and slowly realizing that having my own boom box is not possible, Thanin mentions black powder. Didnt Rigalis call his powder that too?
Anyway I decide to mention Rigalis and that seems to stir something up. Apparently Thanin also knows Rigalis..... from books 1300 years ago. But from description it sounds like the same one. Thanin hands us the old diaries and we flick through and find a map that leads to something that the Rigalis from 1300 years ago hid during the Calamity. Through soem crossreferences with maps and what we knew of the continent back then we pinpoint the location near Marymar. Now we know our next destination after dealing with the orcs.
So I head back down while Brovara and Strennun goofed around in the fort for a few days. As soon as they arrive back we plot to take the initiative and hit a few orc camps near by. With a small crew and 2 day treck we locate one of their camps... but it was an ambush. The orcs run away while attacking us from the shadows killing some. Some crew also fall for the traps set up. Meanwhile Strennun, Borvara and I do our best to hunt down the orcs. For fear I also use a couple of fireballs to torch down the forest and incinerating a couple of orcs in the process. Saddly despite them fleeing this was clearly a loss, and we head back while the forest fire rages on.
Burning the camp
The crew approaches the gate, Rof joins the crew chasing a wolf like creature. The crew discusses how to discern orc leaders - tusks, skulls, etc. Tyrane disrespects the captain which prompts a hold person and threatening words. Tyrane tells us to find another port. Strennung scouts port.
Brovara and Rof gather the crew. Strennungs Patreon is pissed. The ships leaves the port. There are several sightings of Rof's cape on deck. The crew decides to raid the next orc camp at nightfall. At nightfall Strennun follows a slave to find a camp. The fighters of the crew assemble and prepare for the storm. Strennun turns invisible and enters the camp, killing several guards. Hearing fighting sounds, Brovara the captain and Rof also enter the fray killing several orcs and burning tents. It quickly becomes very clear that the orc warriors have left the camp and only the women, children and elderly are still here.
Leaving the embers
Brovara is collecting orc ears. We camp at the hill. The warriors went south. We take watch shifts. The captain wakes up to rabbit carcasses and cape. The captain adopts a slave without a name. Raschesh gets help by 'slaves' in his kitchen, which upsets him. Strennun walks through the camps remains. Captain orders to burn the corpses and we bake a big fire. Orc survivors leave the camp and we follow after them. The captain approaches the survivors and demands to challenge Thur'kan - Brovara helps intimidating the orcs. One of the orcs walks towards the captain, cuts off his ear and tosses it at Brovara. Strennun saw the orc approach the captain with a knife and casts a spell, immediately killing the orc. "We need both ears" - Brovara An older orc lady steps forward and tells the captain to go south to the great tree, then east hill and follow the stream, upon that hill you will find his fire. The captain and the elder orc meet later and sit down with a fire between them. What do you want? peace … for myself. There will be a decision that breaks you, you will find peace, your friend will make sure of it. Meet him at the oak, then he cannot refuse. The ork lady leaves to fetch Thur'kan.
After the ritual the captains tells Rof the plan. A ghostly lady hugs the captain, Rof tries to pull the captain out. Ghost disappears. The captain tells Rof about the wolf. Strennun, who was following the tracks of the ork lady suddenly loses track as if she disappeared. Raschesch is mad about the salves taking his job.
Meeting Thur'kan
Before leaving for the big oak-tree, we go over the plan again:
- Offer Thur'kan to ally himself with us. We will support his claim to be one half of the Diarchy and in turn he agrees to not bother the dwarves or humans that are bordering his lands.
- For him to ally himself with us, we need to challenge him. There are essentially two ways for that to happen
- If from inside the tribe: Challenge the leader to a duel - either to first blood or to the death
- If from outside the tribe: Both leaders choose a champion, who will then fight either to first blood or to the death.
As we are not from Thur'kan's tribe, only the second way works for us. But that's only a last resort. We will first talk to him and see where it gets us.
The next morning, the Captain orders everybody else to pack up camp and get back to the ship to be ready to sail off once we come back. We packed rations for ten days and march off towards the big oak tree. After about half a week, we reach it and I scout ahead. It is located in the middle of a depression and there is a powerful aura of magic surrounding the entire area.
While I am crawling through the high grass to get a closer look, I suddenly get greeted as a 'Servant of the Turtle'. The one greeting me turns out to be Ga'alak, the Shaman of Thur'kan. He greets me and tells me to go fetch 'my friends'. I do so, too baffled to say anything else.
When returning to the place with the Shaman, he is suddenly gone - that is until I basically run into him and he seemingly materializes out of thin air. He then greets the rest of the crew too. The Captain as 'Lady of Death', Rof as 'One who dances with the wolf', and Brovara as 'One who is driven by revenge'. He talks about how 'the crone' has announced their coming and he is to lead us to Thur'kan. Before leaving, he warns us, that The Tree is watching and no blood must be spilled on this holy ground.
Once we reach the tree itself, it is surrounded with six permanent huts, and about 30 orcs that attempt to intimidate us with a loud and rhythmic dance and shouting. The Shaman demands we leave our weapons with him before meeting the Tribe-Leader, who is awaiting in the sixth hut. It is dark in there, safe for a hearth with glowing embers. At the hearth, Thur'kan and another Orc are waiting for us
Strennun Lynn
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| |
Brovara | | Thur'kan
| |
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Roftag Other Orc
Lynn offers Thur'kan the deal, but he insists of breaking bread first, which we do. After that, the Captain offers the deal again. Thur'kan is interested in theory, but wants one of us to complete a challenge for him to show him we're serious about it and that we can even support him in his claim. One of the following challenges needs to be completed:
- A gift of a pelt from a great wolf from Rof
- A treasure from the depths of the ocean from Strennun
- A feast with his Orcs and Brovara that does not end in violence
The captain moves to our backup plan and offers trial by combat, which Thur'kan declines. Rof volunteers to do his challenge.
Outside again, the Shaman tells Rof to grab his weapons and follow him on top of a big boulder, where he gives him a bowl to drink, which appears to be blood (to Rof it tastes like Ale). Rof starts to feel dizzy and is pushed off the boulder by the shaman....
... and wakes up in his old camp in the nine hells with an unnatural urge to hunt. He finds paw-prints in his camp and follows the trail to a magically darkened cave with a huge wolf inside. An epic battle ensues, where Rof kills the wolf in the end after much deliberation. During the fight, he calls upon his crew-members to give him advice
- Brovara: Get your revenge, kill the big wolf
- Strennun: Look around you and kill the minions of the wolf first
- Lynn: Trust in your instincts.
After killing the wolf, Rof drags the huge beast out of the cave and suddenly appears in the Orc-camp again, bloody and wounded.
Ork King Medium-Rare
Ork King
- We ambushed Tar'nok to soften him Tur'kan 1v1
Tur'kan Meeting
- Tur'kan agreed to the deal to no longer attack the dwarves
Darfin
- He left after the ambush to visit the Gnomish Academy
Port Outpost
- Was overrun by the orks
Rof
- His wolf is named Pooka
- Regrets
- After Ambush retreat should have shot them more instead of invisible
- The whole crew did not shove the orcs more into the toaster
Black Magic
Kylin burns a rats soul to cast a black fireball. After casting the spell Kylin's hair turns completely white and the fingers on the casting hard become wrinkly. Nori disapproves the use of black magic. Brovara and Strennun question captains character regarding the magic. Kylin reassures them that she will refrain from using it in the future.
Kylin has a dream about witnessing the orc's duel and ferrying Tar'nok to the other side and leaving him with her patron. Tar'nok hands her two coins which she still posesses after waking up.
The ship gets into a natural storm (strennun checked), crew gets tossed around but no casualties, leak plugged.
We encounter a single well dressed fisherman in a skiff fishing on open sea. After having a philosophical discussion with strennung about imagination and perception, the fisherman leaves through an appearing door.
Roftag after conversing with Strennun and Brovara, decides to leave the ship on the next stop to head home.
