dragonseajournal

Chapter 2 - Fantastic Phantasms (Session 3)

Wed, 22 Jul 2009 20:46:13 +0100

After their escapades at Sunport, the heroes find themselves returning to everyday duties on board the Vigilant. As the ship faces unfavorable wind conditions, they begin to make their long trek north. A few days into their journey, our heroes find themselves finally drawing the short straw and forced to take the night watch. The calm seas and the quiet feeling that had come over the ship allowed our heroes to relax and try and enjoy their relatively mundane duties, knowing they were expected to do their normal daily duties despite virtually no sleep.

Gradix was the first to see the trouble coming, a ship off in the distant, only detectable by the shifter's keen eye-sight. At first it was just a spot on the horizon, however, it began to quickly take form. Knowing they were not to disturb anyone for anything but a dire emergency, the heroes waited and assessed the situation.

The ship appeared to be getting closer, it's sails tattered. Testing the readied danger, Deanavier's, who was at the helm, adjusted course, hoping that the now creepier looking ship would stay the course. When the ship altered course to match, the heroes knew they were in for trouble. As if things could not get worse, Lady Er'im decided at that point in time that she wanted to take a "lovely evening stroll." No one questioned that her lovely evening stroll was in the middle of the night.

As Zerith tried his best to persuade her ladyship that there was imminent danger (she just seemed more interested) the rest of our heroes prepared for the dangers. Gradix's keen eyes catches the tattered and now abandoned-looking ship, seeing that it is somehow gaining speed on them, when suddenly flashes of light crossed under the water's surface past the ship's bow.

Gradix sent out a warning to the rest of the team as Zerith used his mental powers and hoped to awaken the second mate, warning him of the impending danger. Our heroes waited in the night as the obvious ghost ship made its way closer and closer. It was Astarte who would hear the strange scratching noises coming from the side of the ship. She investigated, and the ship found itself being boarded by the forces of some undead crew. Skeletons and wraiths boarded the ship.

Combat Encounter: All Skeleton's on Deck!

After the boarder's have been defeated, the heroes realize that the ghost ship has arrived next to the Vigilant. Er'im comments that they heroes need to stop. That she had been the one to call the ghost ship. Confused by her words, the heroes, alongside the Captain who has now arrived, try to question why. The undead boarders reappear, their apparent leader, confirming that they had earned the right to board, and that the Captain is waiting.

The crew witnesses a brief interaction between Captain Goldbeard and Er'im, the Captain worried for her safety, not only onboard the ship but in general if she should continue to pursue this course of action. Er'im replies harshly, commenting that she has to do this; that is the whole reason he has even allowed her on his ship, and that he very well knows this is the only course of action left to them.

Defeated, the Captain relents to her request, but adding that she must be accompanied. Overlooking their victory over the undead pirates, the Captain orders his officer’s squad to board the ship. However, the ship denies them passage and sends a couple of their members into the cold waters. Realizing that their defeat of the ghost crew was the price for boarding the ship, Astarte convinces the Captain that they are the only ones who can accompany Er'im.

Testing her theory, the heroes begin to board the ship, encountering no disaster or blistering cold baths. Zerith, staying close to Er'im, catches her quiet prayer for forgiveness from Tiamat. As they reach the deck of the ship, the quickly find it's form changing in front of them, becoming a shadowed and distressed version of the Vigilant. They are informed by the ghostly crew that the Captain is waiting for them, if they can find him. And that he is in a foul mood.

Heeding the warning, the heroes begin to descend into the ship, heading straight for the Captain's quarters as it would be on their ship. The discover a room in ruins, outside a storm that did not rage above deck, can be seen and felt from the Captain's quarters, the broken window letting the sharp cold wind reach them. Zerith and Astarte both become very aware that they are sensing the aura of the Veil of Io all around them, as if they were very near it.

Unawares of the party's movements, or perhaps not caring, Jaa'lik did not enter the Captain's quarter's, staring at one of the many closed doors that lined the hallway they used. Since being convinced that boarding the ship meant treasure, he felt it necessary to get his share. Carefully opening one of the fairly well preserved looking doors; Jaa'lik peers inside, discovering what he had hoped. Inside the dusty and cobwebbed filled room floated a single frosted vial, its exquisite fancy silver toppers and strange single point of light inside, drawing Jaa'lik's greedy instinct.

The heroes, while observing the room, notice and feel a sudden and brief change in the room. Unsure what caused it, Jaa'liks return is noticed, as well as his unusually chipper countenance. After some interrogation and coercion, Jaa;lik finally reveals what he did and what he found. Hoping for a similar reaction, the heroes raid the other five rooms, discovering other items, all sharing a similar feature. They all had points of light.

Upon returning to the Captain's quarters they discover that each piece collected rebuilt some of the room, filling it with furniture, light and various objects one would expect to find. However, what drew the attention of everyone was the man who faced away from party, out of his still broken window to the raging sea.

The man turned and the party could see the draconic figure was not all there, his undead status still readily apparent on his face. Er'im approached to speak to the man, calling him by name, Captain Black. However her words were met with harsh sounding gibberish as an apparently confused Captain Black railed and yelled at them. Eventually, seemingly able to take control, his broken words insulted the black dragon Er'im, and confused the heroes as he warned about their ignorance of the whole, of the sum.

Puzzle Encounter: Painful Sacrifice

Able to deduce the clues the Captain was trying to give them, the heroes are able to release the Captain temporarily from his curse and learn of the reason for their journey onto this ghost ship. Er'im shares that she is on a pilgrimage, and that she must know where the points of light are. They learn that Captain Black had discovered the first of the points of light and hid it. He gave them clues to its location, but warned that if they take this path they will be hated and hunted. A fate it seems Er'im has already resigned herself to.

Sensing the magicks on the ship fading, the heroes quickly try to leave the ship, but discover once they are back on deck, that the Vigilant is gone, and the storm they witnessed from the Captain's quarters now raged all about them, tossing the ship around. Captain Black reappears, but this time he seems changed, angry. Sensing the magicks around them raging, the heroes brace themselves for the Captain's attack, the curse retaking his mind.

Combat Encounter: Blackest Night

Defeating Captain Black, the heroes realize the ship they are on is being torn apart, but there is no sign of the Vigilant. Er'im however, allows her draconic wings to appear as she flies right off the ship, and vanishes. Suspecting the Vigilant is hidden somehow; the heroes trust their instinct and make a leap towards where the Vigilant should be.

Landing safely on the ship, they turn around in time to see the now original looking ghost ship being torn about by dark energies, and eventually sinking into the sea. Er'im and Captain Goldbeard retreat to his quarters where they were heard arguing.

Eventually, our heroes are called into the Captain's quarters where they are reminded of the Captain's true form, as he unleashes his draconic aura to make them cower. He bullies them into agreeing to keep silent about all they saw and heard. Despite his anger at the events, he pulls back his aura and reassigns the squad again, this time they are to be personally responsible for Er'im's safety and continued presence onboard the Vigilant. The heroes fail in getting any more information about what is going on, but they are rewarded for their new found responsibilities.

Before sleep overtakes them, Zerith risks an encounter with Lady Er'im in private. The enigmatic encounter eventually leads to Zerith being reminded about Er'im true form, but he escapes the situation unharmed.

With a truer course in mind, the Vigilant makes its way to Frosttip, the Water Genasi Capitol and the main port for the Isle of the Twins. It is here that while on a resupply run that our heroes spot 3 silver dragons, which land and take on the form of Council Operatives. One approaches them, as they are informed that the Council has some questions for them.

Chapter 1 - Cargo and Chaos! (Session 2)

Thu, 16 Jul 2009 22:47:35 +0100

After several days at sea, the Vigilant arrives on Pangea, the breadbasket of Dragonsea. The crew is given shoreleave, except for our heroes, who discover that the Captain has a "special mission for them." Alleran, the second mate informs them that they are to retrieve some special cargo for the Captain and that it must be returned to Dragonsea, unharmed. Our heroes, suspecting this would be far from a simple task, head to shore and their task at hand.

They discover the small village, Sunport, to be a quiet seaside locale with little to no interest, and they head to the expected pickup point, finding it with no problem. Seeing that they have time to kill, and still weary about the apparent simplicity of the mission, the heroes head to the local tavern for information.

The heroes begin to pry information from the local barkeep, who immediately begins to share information after the party uses subterfuge and convince him that Ki-Amar is relative to the local artisan. “A friend of Ydani Erstone is a friend of mine!" earns the party not only valuable information, but free drinks as well!

They learn that the warehouse which they are to pick up their cargo, was mysteriously vacated as it's owner, the aforementioned Ydani Erstone, took all his apprentices and left. Now their meeting place is locked up and temporarily abandoned. While the party does its due diligence, Jaa'lik takes it upon himself to relieve a local merchant of his wares. A throughouly normal event except for the discovery of two "pirate" coins not used in the exchanges of normal folks. An odd sight in this sleepy town, but something they pay little attention to.

The appointed hour rapidly approaching, the party begins to survey the surroundings, noticing not only a sprasely attended morning market of farmers and fruit vendors, but also they see a highborn dragonborn female, doing a bad job of hiding her interest in the very same warehouse they are going to eventually be breaking into.

They approach and quickly learn from the naive lady that she serves a mistress whom the party are to make sure they "take care of" whatever that means. She makes sure that the party is to show her mistress the utmost respect. While they converse with the dragonborn lady, they realize that someone, a tiefling farm vendor is paying quite a lot of attention to her.

Astarte, her curiosity getting the better of her, begins to interrogate the tiefling farmer on anything and everything possible without divulging her own knowledge. As she does this, the rest of the party scouts the area and eventually make their way into the warehouse. Astarte meanwhiles discovers striking similarities between the tiefling victim of her questions, and other tiefling vendors, and begins to find a pattern. Ill-fitted clothing, swordbearer hands aside, she takes it upo herself to question each and every farmer about everything imagineable.

While Astarte provides the necessary distraction, the party heads into the warehouse, ready to meet their mysterious deliverer and take their cargo. They are suprised when after searching the warehouse they find no one. As they wait, the appointed hour passes and one piece of cargo begins to chirp.

Opening the box, they find a small mechanical bird in a gilded cage chirping. Believing they have found their cargo, they begin to discuss the best way to hide the bird and cage and return with them to the ship. The bird, seemingly beginning to become impatient, chirps angrily to "get me out of this cage!"

After angrily responding to a party member's question whether it was the bird or someone talking through the bird talking ("Of course through the bird you fool!" was the response.), the party lets the mechanical bird free, which lands and a black dragon in humanoid form appears.

Er'im, the black dragon, informs the party that they are to deilver her to the Vigilant with haste, but that another crew of pirates, the Bloodscalps, are seeking to get their hands on her as well. Oh, and for whatever reason, she cannot use any of her abilities so it is all up to them.

Seeing to her comfort, which given her attitude was really in their best interest, they begin to sneak their way back to the ship. Zerith informs Astarte mentally they they are on the move and the party begins to head back to the ship.

Through skills in both detection (Gradix), Stealth (Jaa'lik), and distraction (Astarte), they are able to avoid other more obvious members of the all Tiefling crew of Bloodscalps and are able to return to the ship without incident.

Skill Challenge: Sneaky Escape!

Upon arriving at the docks, the heroes find a nasty surprise, all the boats are burning, including their raft back! They easily see the culprits, a contingent of Bloodscalp Pirates, and not just the normal rabble they have been avoiding and eluding all day. Astarte gambles a bit and tries to pass a lie of to the "leader" and discovers the crew awaiting them to be of a particularly lethal type.

Seeing no choice, as the Bloodscalps controlled the only two ships not currently becoming floating pyre barges, the heroes enter into the fray.

Encounter: Brawl at the Docks!

Winning by the skin of their teeth, Er'im rejoins the party ontop of her horse (the one the party rented FOR her comfort). "I guess Sundarathis did know what he was doing when he sent you." Er'im backhanded compliment also revealed information none of the crew had before, Captain Goldbeard's real name.

Returning to the ship, Second Mate Alleeran notices the scrapes and bruises on the heroes. "Any trouble?" He apologized about the threats he thought would be waiting them, but admits that he was under strict orders by the Captain to tell them nothing.

Cleaned up a bit, our heroes are taken to meet with the Captain. They find Captain Goldbear and Er'im enjoying a meal. Pleased by their competence, Er'im offers a gift to the party, treasure, knowledge, or clarity. A quiet discussion amongst them leads them to choosing clarity. Pleased and impressed, Er'im bequeathes upon them her personal blessing.

Special Reward: Skill Challenges now count as encounters for the purposes of milestones!

Dismissing them, Astarte takes a moment to wish Er'im luck on the council, drawing a startled reaction from the normally composed being.

The heroes depart, definetly leaving their mark.

Character Creation & Prologue: Earn Your Place!

Thu, 18 Jun 2009 00:53:08 +0100

Character Creation

The players came together and introduced each of their characters:

Torrin - Dragonborn Sorcerer - Jay
    A dragonborn looking for his place in the world and running from his mistakes.
Zerith - Githyanki Wizard - Anthony
    A Githyanki searching this world, for a world beyond it.
Ki-Amar - Genasi Spellsword - Lamar
Deanavier - Shifter Avenger - Chris
    A crewman hoping to make his captain proud.
Astarte - Deva Bard - Inna
    A bard looking for the secrets of her lost past.
Gradix - Shifter Ranger - Adrian
    A sailor returning at last to the world he once knew.
Jaa'lik - Kobold Rogue - Jeremy
    A kobold whose in it for himself, and maybe a friend or two as well.

After that we got down to working out who knew each other and why.

Torrin, Zerith and Ki-Amar all found kinship in the fact they were wanderers who had abondened their homes. They had found solace and company with one another, but until this point had not joined any organization. This was a forced to change when they found themselves stranded at Shadow Harbor, a pirate port with no way out but as crew or slave.

Gradix, Jaa'lik and Astarte found a mutual history together as well. Gradix and Jaa'lik, fellow crewmates struck out together after their last job botched. Astarte, unable to remember her past life, can't help but feel that those two are the key to her journey and tags along. They find themselves in Shadow Harbor, to Astarte's dismay, in hopes of joining a crew once again.

Deanavier meanwhile already IS a member of a crew, but the recent failure of his crew at a job has placed it in danger and he doesn;t know what to expect when he reaches dock.

Prologue: Earn Your Place!

Each hero finds itself in Shadow Harbor, a pirates haven, for any number of reasons. Greed, adventure, opportunity, or just sheer dumb luck. The problem has arisen though not in the arrival but in the departure of this new lawless city. It's Purple Dragon master has no real care or want to govern the city, and the denizenshave been left to their own devices. Naive and unlucky travelers find that leaving Shadow Harbor can only be done one of three ways, as part of the crew, as part of the slave force, or as part of the trash.

Fate however has given our heroes a unique chance to take the least of the three evils. The famous Gold Dragon Captain Goldbeard has arrived in dock and has announced he is seeking new crew. Hoping to find a place as part onbaord ship, the heroes rush to the dock where the Vigilant is, in hopes of being picked for the rare open positions at the appointed hour.

The events that are played out before them however threatens our heroes plans, and maybe even their lives. They witness Captain Goldbeard kick every member of his crew off the ship, angry at them for some unknown failure. He announces that he is in search of a new crew, a better crew, a more trustworthy crew, and that anyone who want to take the test he has planned had better be prepared, for failure means certain death. The crew former first mate, makes the mistake of arguing with his captain, and attempting to return to the ship. His charred corpse on the gangplank assured everyone on the docks that day that Captain Goldbeard was deadly serious.

Our heroes, including a now former crewman, knew that they had to get on that ship, but they had to be as prepared as possible. The gentle hand of chance, and fate at their back, each group found each other, seeing the potential strength in other, and knowing that together they had a better chance at survival and success than they ever did alone.

Our heroes, now one large and confident group, returned to face the Captain's judgement and his test, their hopes laying with not only their own strengths, but the strengths of their new allies. The winged captain, from aboard his ship is amused and proud at the resolve of those that stand before them. Several groups of previous crew are welcomed back onboard, their resolve obvious to their captain.

Goldbeard however, notices one of his previous crewman, Deanavier, with a group of what looks like green-eared "lubbers" and questions him. Deanavier, answers his Captain's question with resolve and strength, He knows he is surrounded by capable people and he knows they will be his ticket back onboard the Vigilant. Goldbeard agrees, and offers them a position, if they can keep it. He informs two other groups that anyone who can defeat Deanavier and his newfound allies takes their place in their stead. And so the Captain's test of strength begins.

Encounter: A Cruel Test - Combat - 125 XP

Proving their strength and mettle, the heroes find their well earned place onboard the Vigilant. Their first few days proves difficult or awkward for some of the heroes, life onboard ship being more laborious than expected. They also learn about the unique hierarchy of this ship. Word soon spreads, especially from Captain Goldbeards newly appointed First and Second mate, and the heroes find themselves once again before the piercing and judging gaze of the Captain.

Spouting of a series of faults, the Captain begins to wonder why some of the heroes even belong onboard ship. In fact, he questions their skills so much he gives them an ultimatum, prove their worth or start swimming.

Encounter: The True Test - Skill Challenge - 100 XP

Each hero proves their unique skill set to the Captain. Seeing potential in them, beyond any other group onboard his ship the Captain gives them a unique role. They will fill in where a normal crewman cannot. They will do what an unskilled sailor can't even dream of. They will be his specialists, they will use the talents they just proved to him for him. And he will call upon these skills often.

Captain Goldbeard then dismisses the group, informing them that they wiill from now on report directly to Mr. Moonmist, his second mate.

Outside the Captain's chambers, Alleeran Moonmist introduces himself, and informs the group that the Captain has high hopes for them, and that if they perform well, there will be many rewards in their future. He tosses them each a bag of 100 gold. There will be MANY rewards.

Dragonsea Journal

Fri, 09 Jan 2009 00:05:36 +0100

In theory, I will be posting here after every Dragonsea session, saying what the players did, creating a sort of ongoing log of events for posterity.

Honest, I will try!