Along the horizon, dark clouds gathered like a line of orcish soldiers. Within the clouds, lightning flashed in an erratic staccato. A massive storm was bearing down on the ship.
Baru, roused from his sleep, climbed to the upper deck cursing the evil demons as he spied the storm. He called for Drovic to join him helping out the sailors. Captain Stewart bellowed orders to unfurl all the sails in the face of the strong wind, "We'll head for the lee side of a small island ahead". Mr. Monterey tells the passengers to gather near the Binnacle. The sailors start climbing the rigging, and lashing everything tighter on deck.
The wind catches in the sails, and the masts groan from the strength of the increasing wind. Already it is impossible to be heard without shouting. The sea is rough, throwing up a fine misty spray, reducing visibility to few feet at best. Arvien looked behind the ship and sees the leading front of the storm, illuminated by bright flashed of lightning, it looked like a solid wall of water bearing down on the ship. '"Lash yourselves to the deck" she yells as torrent of water falls on the deck drenching everyone.
The storm worsens as Jeb falls from the rigging into the sea, Varrid hears his scream as he plummets into the waves. She moved to the gunnels to attempt a rescue but could only see towering waves and horizontal rainfall. The leopards cage breaks loose from its mooring and starts banging back and forth as the ship rolls from side to side. Grunyar climbs out from under the ships boat and ties the cage back to the railing.
Shouts come from below that the holds are flooding with water, Captain Stewart orders two passengers to the pumps, with the threat that he'll feast on their intestines if they let up for a moment. Drovic, Ralom and Baru head for the pumps pulling with all their might. The leopard's cage breaks open and the cat gingerly moves on the deck heading for the forward access to the hold. Just then a huge wave breaks over the deck washing the leopard, a few crewmen and Captain Stewart into the frothing sea. The ships boat is torn from its lashing and flies away into the wind. Varrid peers to where the captain fell and the rain parts for a half instant, in the break she sees a second ship, a large privateer, rigged out to run with the storm as well. Its sails are in tatters, and she hears the inhuman bellowing of its captain. The ship veers toward the Sunset Empires and seems about to ram the ship. Suddenly it veered away and began to fade, as if washed away by the rain. The name on the ship's bow is the Relentless.
Varrid does not tell anyone about sighting this ship as she is distracted by the ball lightning dancing among the masts, tearing holes in the sails. The sails begin to shred under the blasts of wind. Seglun lowers her rope over the side of the ship and call to the leopard to find it. The foremast snaps about two-thirds of the way up. Several sailors, and Grunyar, leap out of the way as it falls to the deck. Homer, Bill and Shanty pull themselves from under the mast and limp back to their duties. Mr. Monterey is yelling orders as the deck is again washed by a giant wave, Varrid, Baru, Seglun and Ralom all find themselves hanging by ropes over the sides of the deck, several more sailors are washed overboard. The firebox bounces loose, spilling hot coals on the deck, Old Singe is burned by the coals before they are extinguished by the water.
Suddenly, there is a break in the weather, and everyone sees a great island ahead, green and bathed in sunlight. The vision fades as almost as soon as it appears, leaving all to deal with the increasing storm. When it seems that matters cannot get any worse several tentacles appear arching over the sides of the deck, each holding a human skull. The snake like tentacles wrap around the nearest crewmen and drag them beneath the waves. Baru attacks a tentacle with his sword, Seglun pulls the leopard on board and suggests it attack. Varrid and a raging Seglun then attack whilst Grunyar searches for a weapon not daring to fire an arrow in the gale. Arvien fires acid darts at the tentacles while Drovic and Ralom keep pumping. Several more crewmen and Mr Monterey are soon grabbed and throw overboard by the snake like tentacles. Ralom is washed away as his rope fails, plunging into the cold water, his body stunned by the shock of the immersion. The ocean's surge pulls him beneath the surface, spinning him in the darkness of its uncaring womb. He bounces among underwater rocks and boulders, unsure which way is up. The dead form of a sailor passed by -- eyes glassy and mouth open. The water presses into his sides trying to break into his lungs, which ache with the mounting passion to breath. It gets darker and small points of light danced at the fringes of his vision. The air starts leaking out of his body in a string of pearl-like bubbles. Before all goes black a face, human and feminine, approaches, nearer, smiling.
Meanwhile on deck the crew is in a panic, more sailors are washed away including Old Singe, and just as the Kraken pulls away the entire ship shudders as if struck by a giant, pitching everyone forward. The quarterdeck slides halfway off the ship, the mainmast snaps under the force of the blow, and there is the bone-rattling sound of stone smashing through wood. The Sunset Empires has run aground. Everyone left on the ship is thrown overboard, ropes snapping or wooden railing failing as all the passengers flounder in the sea. As each character is pulled into the water they have the same vision that Ralom experienced and then all was black.
Grunyar spit out the sand -- a gritty salty taste, along with a surprisingly large volume of sea water, as he heaved for breath. Opening his salt-caked eyes he saw a white-sand beach. Near his head was the smooth border of the high tide mark, seaweed curled around his wrists. Drovic heard the calm, orderly pattern of well behaved waves followed by the hiss of water surging up almost reaching his ankles. Seglun and Arvien sat up and saw several bodies lying in the sand. Baru, Ralom and Varrid all sat up after spitting out the sand and water. Around the group were 5 or 6 bodies of sailors who were not moving. The beach was a wide expanse of about 20 feet before becoming lost in a treeline of palms and gum trees. There were numerous tropical birds flitting about and the air was alive with their calls. Toward the sea was a great wide lagoon, with sharp-toothed rocks and savage, boat ripping shoals guarding its entrance. Along the lagoon's edge is the Sunset Empires mastless, upright and canted a 15 degree angle to starboard. Along the shore there was a goodly amount of debris, two bind of hardtack, the shredded remnants of a sail, a sea chest of silk, a variety of driftwood and lumber, and the captain's table from the quarterdeck.
Ralom grabbed the table while Baru started gathering driftwood and lumber to make a lean-to with the sail. Arvien sent Summergale to scout the skies but she did not lead them anywhere. Seglun and Drovic headed for a rather large stream that was sighted to the party's right. Ralom suggested that there may be supplies on the ship, he wondered if they might be able to salvage somethings. The group headed toward the rocks and shoals finding they could move cautiously over th slippery rocks and reach the ship. The waves lapped softly against the sides of the ship. Most of the deck was swept clean by the lashing of the waves, and the ship had a ghostly, haunted quality. Arvien cautiously moves onto the boat headed for the captain and mate's quarters. Baru, Ralom, Drovic and Varrid head to the hold to try and find anything of use. Seglun moves onto the quarterdeck and slides off into the water, suffering a gashing wound on the sharp rocks. Arvien finds some clothes and the ship's compass, a large , bronze bound device jammed under a bunk. In the hold the group finds a barrel of salted meat, a cask of rum, and a bag of rice. The fresh water has been ruined by the salt water. Suddenly a snake like tentacle appears, with Captain Stewart' head held tightly. Baru bolts for the shore while Drovic, Ralom and Varrid exit quickly with their haul. The group move quickly back to their sandy beach.
The group takes stock at the beach,
- Food, hardtack and salted meat with some rice.
- Water, there is the stream a short way to the west (the lagoon is north according to the compass)
- Shelter, the wood and sail remnants provide a good tent/lean-to.
- Fire, Arvien actually has flint and steel.
Morning dawns and the group has a light meal, followed by some additional search of the beach. Inland the land show some higher peaks but no volcanic activity and the appears to be a path next to the "river" that leads inland to the south. Summergale does not immediately lead Arvien on any path so the group decides to follow the river path inland. As they path beneath the jungle canopy, Drovic notes that the forest is an odd mix of older broad leaf trees being overgrown by creepers, molds and mosses. Once the group moves past the treeline the air is oppressively warm, close and clammy, filled with the call of birds no one recognizes. Varrid leads the group along the path slowly as they look for prints. The path seems to have been made by many animals, hooves, paw, and claw marks are all present. It is very dark under the canopy and then suddenly all the birds fall silent. Varrid halts as the hairs on her neck stand on end. Something, or someone, is nearby, watching. She scans the jungle and her eyes fall upon a beady eyed face, with huge ears facing outwards. The creature is halfling sized and standing motionless watching. Varrid raises her right hand and the creature follows suit. In fact most any movement that Varrid does is aped. Finally Varrid moves forward along the path and the creature bolts to east. It appears to be wearing a fur cape. Arvien moves up to search the area where the creature stood, finding only claw marks in the earthen floor of the jungle.
DM Notes; The characters earned 300XP for the adventures of the evening and now have 300XP. We will meet at Rich and Joette's on the 20th. Roger will bring snacks.
No comments:
Post a Comment