Chapter 26: Ships in the Night
General Summary
After the events that transpired in Marwood, the group rejoined the crew of The Sturgeon and headed back out on the ocean southward. Four days passed with fair weather. They noticed that as they travelled the woods on the coast to their left changed from coniferous to deciduous. Hints of yellows and oranges began to tint the leaves.
The 9th of Arel dawned foggy. All seemed well until around noon when the ship suddenly stopped. A seemingly abandoned ship, The Whimbrel sat idle in the route. Hanna informed the four that they couldn't see anyone on board. After negotiating a 40% finder's fee of whatever was on board, they volunteered to explore the ship.
The first thing they noticed when they arrived at the boat was the blood and bodies. Five mangled corpses littered the deck surrounded by tracks of animals. They were able to figure out that there were four creatures that had killed these folks: a cave bear, a blood boar, a emperor cobra, and a giant tarantula. They all headed downwards. Lenihlra caused a ring to glow and Jacquora held her hand aloft for light.
In this area they found many cages of exotic creatures with four of the cages busted open from within. Two more mangled bodies were to be found on this level. There were three doors: one to the north, one to the west, and one to the south. Before they could investigate further they were suddenly attacked by the tarantula. Throughout the brawl they heard various sounds of animals fighting and screeching in the cargo hold below them.
After a terrifying fight they were eventually able to defeat it with Aqiatuxl delivering the final blow. They were then able to finally investigate this area. The northern room held a small amount of feed and animal supplies. The western room contained the partial body of what appeared to be a captain. The southern room contained a person who was still alive. After healing him up a little bit, they found that this human man, covered in scars, was named Ike. He eventually told them that they were smuggling animals and other sundry goods to a place out east. Leon loaned him a dagger and Jacquora posted her cat in the room to keep an eye on the man while the rest of them headed to the next floor.
There they found that the cave bear and killed the serpent and the boar and it was eating the boar. Sleep was cast on it and they found themselves with a minute to prepare to fight the creature. It was a hard-won battle, but they did eventually get the best of the bear. Jacquora decapitated the beast. They were then able to search the bins of grain where Ike said that other smuggled goods were stored.
Jacquora and Leon were unable to find anything in their bins. Aqiatuxl found a bolt of extremely finely embroidered crimson silk. It was decorated throughout with berries, flowers, birds, deer-like creatures, and other animals in a gold silk thread. He also found a box of strange looking root vegetables - possibly of an onion-like family - and a box of sweet-smelling cigars. Lenihlra found two leather sacks. One filled with 24 gold pieces and the other filled with three diamonds, one pink diamond, and one pink sapphire. Each well-formed and cut.
They gathered Ike and returned to the deck where they explained all that had happened to Hanna, keeping out the information about the goods found below. Hanna told them that they would stop in Allium where they would sell the boat - which they would tow in - and possibly the goods within.
Within a few hours they were in town - the sun just starting to get low. While Hanna went about working on selling the ship, they went to grab dinner at a local tavern. While there, Leon noticed that a human female figure was giving them an interesting look. After informing the rest of the group, Lenihlra and Jacquora noticed that it was Linn. They spoke with her for a bit and got caught up on both her life and the goings on of the world. Lenihlra asked her to keep her eyes and ears out for news on Wesley's mother, which she promised she would do.
After bidding them adieu - she had orders from Falaern to head northward towards the war - they settled down to rest for the night.
The 9th of Arel dawned foggy. All seemed well until around noon when the ship suddenly stopped. A seemingly abandoned ship, The Whimbrel sat idle in the route. Hanna informed the four that they couldn't see anyone on board. After negotiating a 40% finder's fee of whatever was on board, they volunteered to explore the ship.
The first thing they noticed when they arrived at the boat was the blood and bodies. Five mangled corpses littered the deck surrounded by tracks of animals. They were able to figure out that there were four creatures that had killed these folks: a cave bear, a blood boar, a emperor cobra, and a giant tarantula. They all headed downwards. Lenihlra caused a ring to glow and Jacquora held her hand aloft for light.
In this area they found many cages of exotic creatures with four of the cages busted open from within. Two more mangled bodies were to be found on this level. There were three doors: one to the north, one to the west, and one to the south. Before they could investigate further they were suddenly attacked by the tarantula. Throughout the brawl they heard various sounds of animals fighting and screeching in the cargo hold below them.
After a terrifying fight they were eventually able to defeat it with Aqiatuxl delivering the final blow. They were then able to finally investigate this area. The northern room held a small amount of feed and animal supplies. The western room contained the partial body of what appeared to be a captain. The southern room contained a person who was still alive. After healing him up a little bit, they found that this human man, covered in scars, was named Ike. He eventually told them that they were smuggling animals and other sundry goods to a place out east. Leon loaned him a dagger and Jacquora posted her cat in the room to keep an eye on the man while the rest of them headed to the next floor.
There they found that the cave bear and killed the serpent and the boar and it was eating the boar. Sleep was cast on it and they found themselves with a minute to prepare to fight the creature. It was a hard-won battle, but they did eventually get the best of the bear. Jacquora decapitated the beast. They were then able to search the bins of grain where Ike said that other smuggled goods were stored.
Jacquora and Leon were unable to find anything in their bins. Aqiatuxl found a bolt of extremely finely embroidered crimson silk. It was decorated throughout with berries, flowers, birds, deer-like creatures, and other animals in a gold silk thread. He also found a box of strange looking root vegetables - possibly of an onion-like family - and a box of sweet-smelling cigars. Lenihlra found two leather sacks. One filled with 24 gold pieces and the other filled with three diamonds, one pink diamond, and one pink sapphire. Each well-formed and cut.
They gathered Ike and returned to the deck where they explained all that had happened to Hanna, keeping out the information about the goods found below. Hanna told them that they would stop in Allium where they would sell the boat - which they would tow in - and possibly the goods within.
Within a few hours they were in town - the sun just starting to get low. While Hanna went about working on selling the ship, they went to grab dinner at a local tavern. While there, Leon noticed that a human female figure was giving them an interesting look. After informing the rest of the group, Lenihlra and Jacquora noticed that it was Linn. They spoke with her for a bit and got caught up on both her life and the goings on of the world. Lenihlra asked her to keep her eyes and ears out for news on Wesley's mother, which she promised she would do.
After bidding them adieu - she had orders from Falaern to head northward towards the war - they settled down to rest for the night.
Report Date
28 Oct 2022
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