Chat Log List - 2024 10 04 - Dead Dread Pirates - Formatted - Chat
After the combat the group begins its interrogation of Lazio Sharpe.
Vee Barlett: If he can barely stand, doubtin' he can cast a thing. That right, dude?
Vee Barlett: 'Cause I got me first matey who likes burnin' things if'n you try to pull one on us.
Inv Zora Polasis: looks at mage
Inv Zora Polasis: [SKILL] Observation [MOD:INT] (vs. Target 14) [FAILURE by 2] [d20 = 16]
Vee Barlett: [SKILL] Observation [MOD:INT] (vs. Target 12) [SUCCESS by 0] [d20 = 12]
Lirtimya: [SKILL] Observation [MOD:INT] (vs. Target 16) [SUCCESS by 12] [d20 = 4]
Inv Zora Polasis: tries to take a look and sinks down again
Vee Barlett: looks for his weak points and anything interesting about him.
Lirtimya: Observes the situation, watching to ensure nothing happens
Vee and Lirt can see that yes he does look like a mage, but also yes he looks like an emaciated human who might very well be about to pass out
Rothuss Carder: Hey, was that big monster in the lizardman room real, or wax?
Vee Barlett: Ask Ruffus. That gorin' looked real.
Rothuss Carder: Just curious. Pretty sure the lizardmen were real, not wax. But that beastie was Big.
Lazio Sharpe: Groans
Vee Barlett: Yar yar, what yer name groanin' dude?
Lazio Sharpe: I am Lazio Sharpe the magnificent
Vee Barlett: Ain't lookin' so magnificent right now.
Lazio Sharpe: Well less than magnificent right now
Vee Barlett: More hairy. And bleedin'
Vee Barlett: Let's get straight to it, yeah? Since ya look like yer about to pass out. Why were ya in that cage?
Inv Zora Polasis: You wax alter ego has been destroyed
Lazio Sharpe: Alter Ego?
Lazio Sharpe: OH
Lazio Sharpe: OH
Lazio Sharpe: You killed the Admiral?
Lazio Sharpe: THANK YOU
Lazio Sharpe: THANK YOU
Vee Barlett: ....what?
Inv Zora Polasis: No the wax you in the boiling vat room!
Lazio Sharpe: Yes,
Lazio Sharpe: Let me explain,
Lazio Sharpe: Well let me sum up
Lazio Sharpe: I was working on using wax to make golems
Vee Barlett: Mr. Millet Man?
Lazio Sharpe: But they just were not smart
Lazio Sharpe: Millet Man?
Vee Barlett: Nah he definitely weren't
Lirtimya: Turns to the others
Vee Barlett: Go on.
Lazio Sharpe: OH George!
Lazio Sharpe: In the kitchen
Lazio Sharpe: Yes George is very nice
Lirtimya: Can someone get water out for him?
Lazio Sharpe: NOT smart
Lazio Sharpe: But nice
Inv Zora Polasis: holds out her waterskin
Lazio Sharpe: Takes it
Lazio Sharpe: Thank you
Vee Barlett: reluctantly holds out a shot of rum
Lazio Sharpe: DRINKS greedily
Lazio Sharpe: YES
Lazio Sharpe: DRINKS IT in one shot
Lirtimya: That should help keep him awake
Vee Barlett: mumbles, “Had better rum than this before anyways...”
Lazio Sharpe: Is George ok?
Vee Barlett: He fine. But the admiral?
Lazio Sharpe: Thank you
Lazio Sharpe: and Thank you for the Admiral
Lazio Sharpe: That was a very bad idea
Vee Barlett: Why was he wax you?
Lazio Sharpe: I was working on things, researching,
Lazio Sharpe: Looking for ways to create something that could think, could react
Lazio Sharpe: Did you find the Wyvern?
Vee Barlett: Killed it.
Lazio Sharpe: nods, that is expected
Lazio Sharpe: It was not smart enough
Vee Barlett: He weren't as nice as... George.
Lazio Sharpe: and I could not figure out a way to get the poison in the tail
Vee Barlett: Yar.
Lazio Sharpe: But you noticed it did not fly?
Lazio Sharpe: It was not smart enough to do that
Vee Barlett: Oh thought it were too heavy all that... waxy-ness.
Lazio Sharpe: Nah, Wyverns are just as heavy
Vee Barlett: They got hollow bones.
Lazio Sharpe: And I did not need a Wyvern to make that
Vee Barlett: So the admiral?
Lazio Sharpe: To make a person, a real person, you need a person
Vee Barlett: So to remake a person.
Vee Barlett: Why this a trend lately?
Lazio Sharpe: Exactly
Vee Barlett: You mages need new ideas. But go on.
Lazio Sharpe: He stumbled in at the right, well maybe for him wrong, but he was right on time for the experiment
Rothuss Carder: Seems like a lot of work to wind up with a worse version of what you started with
Vee Barlett: So it were an accident?
Lazio Sharpe: Don't you want someone to do all your chores?
Vee Barlett: Or you saw an opportunity and took it?
Inv Zora Polasis: You gave him a staff of paralyzation
Inv Zora Polasis: He attacked us
Inv Zora Polasis: He was creating wax lizardmen
Vee Barlett: Probably the reason you was in a cage.
Inv Zora Polasis: How did the Duke of Mizzen's Admiral turn into an evil being like you?
Inv Zora Polasis: This has nothing to do with someone doing your chores
Vee Barlett: And were it an accident or on purpose seized the day kinda thing?
Vee Barlett: holds out another shot of rum
Lazio Sharpe: WOW
Lazio Sharpe: IS that for me or for her?
Vee Barlett: Depends. Answer the questions and it could be yours.
Inv Zora Polasis: I have my own bottle thank you
Lazio Sharpe: I think she needs it
Lazio Sharpe: My bottle, but take it
Vee Barlett: She got wine. Now you gonna answer?
Vee Barlett: lets him take the shot of rum
Lazio Sharpe: So I wanted a helper/servant
Lazio Sharpe: And he wandered in
Lazio Sharpe: No one was with him
Rothuss Carder: Do you have to kill the original to make your copy?
Lazio Sharpe: I did not kill him, I only encased him
Vee Barlett: rubs forehead
Rothuss Carder: looks thoroughly disgusted
Vee Barlett: Seriously what is it? Secret mage academy said go see how to create yer own army? Best army wins the scholarship?
Lirtimya: Did you ever think about making some friends instead of killing things to make golems?
Inv Zora Polasis: What did you do to his mind?
Vee Barlett: So he beyond saving?
Lazio Sharpe: Building an Army is a bad thing
Lazio Sharpe: that would definitely lead to evil things
Vee Barlett: Turnin' people into somethin' else against their will be a bad thing.
Lazio Sharpe: I only made George, and the Wyvern
Vee Barlett: So you claimin' the admiral was an accident?
Lazio Sharpe: Well the practice things but those I rebuilt into other things
Lazio Sharpe: Not at all I intended to use the Admiral to make a smart reasonable servant that could work with me, take care of the dogs, protect them from the lizard men, other things
Inv Zora Polasis: So what happened?
Vee Barlett: So slavery AND turnin' people into somethin' against their will.
Lazio Sharpe: Well yeah that is the grey area isn't it
Vee Barlett: Ain't sure it grey anymore. But yeah, what happened? We gettin' into philosophy we can save fer later.
Lazio Sharpe: I do not know
Lazio Sharpe: I created him, he was learning
Lazio Sharpe: I took the dogs to the kennels
Lazio Sharpe: and then I woke up outside with the lizard men
Vee Barlett: Guessin' revenge.
Inv Zora Polasis: You took his own mind away from him to create your servant?
Lazio Sharpe: He obviously was smarter than I thought and more angry
Lazio Sharpe: OH NO
Lazio Sharpe: No no no
Lazio Sharpe: That does not work
Lazio Sharpe: You need the mind whole and sane for it to work
Vee Barlett: Well don't sound like he was sane when they ran into him...
Lazio Sharpe: This is very true
Vee Barlett: Probably go insane when ya got wax on yer brain.
Lazio Sharpe: That could be one cause
Inv Zora Polasis: You knew he was the Duke's Admiral when you did this?
Lazio Sharpe: I did not know he was the Duke's Admiral until the process started
Lazio Sharpe: Then it was too late to stop
Lazio Sharpe: By the way did you avoid the mummy?
Inv Zora Polasis: Did you have anything to do with the loss of his three ships?
Lazio Sharpe: The thing that killed Firebeard?
Inv Zora Polasis: Dead dead
Lazio Sharpe: Oh good
Vee Barlett: Did it kill the real Firebeard? We was followin' his trail.
Lazio Sharpe: I think it did
Vee Barlett: Well.... not real?
Lazio Sharpe: I tried to stay away from that part of the hideout
Lazio Sharpe: I used this portion that he never really paid attention to
Vee Barlett: How long ya been down here?
Lazio Sharpe: I think he had a pet mage but never used it
Vee Barlett: A pet mage?
Lazio Sharpe: Oh I have been here about 4 maybe 5 years?
Vee Barlett: How long ago did the mummy kill Firebeard?
Lazio Sharpe: Firebeard would have people work for him
Lazio Sharpe: Ummm, what day is it?
Lazio Sharpe: I guess maybe years?
Lazio Sharpe: I don't know
Vee Barlett: So we still got a fake Firebeard about.
Lazio Sharpe: things are a bit fuzzy right now
Lazio Sharpe: a what?
Vee Barlett: Fake Firebeard. Glowin' green footprints showin' up on Mizzen as of a couple weeks ago. Around when ya put the Admiral into slavery.
Vee Barlett: drinks some rum
Vee Barlett: Ain't sure what to do with ya. Y'all got any more questions? I gotta think.
Inv Zora Polasis: Did you have anything to do with the deaths of these elves and torturing gnomes?
Lazio Sharpe: What Elves?
Lazio Sharpe: The Gnomes were there working the mines for years
Lazio Sharpe: what happened to them?
Vee Barlett: Dead.
Vee Barlett: Well except this one here.
Inv Zora Polasis: We found one tossed off a bridge, one poisoned by spiders and this gnome hanging over a puddle of grey ooze
Lazio Sharpe: That is not good, where did he come from then? Points to Glimber
Vee Barlett: Somethin' else hauntin' these caves.
Inv Zora Polasis: oh someone in a piranha pond
Lazio Sharpe: So where do the elves come into it?
Vee Barlett: Dunno but some of them dead had pointy ears so probably elves.
Inv Zora Polasis: pointy eared creatures
Lazio Sharpe: Yeah Elves look like that, not many in these areas
Inv Zora Polasis: Hopefully when we get Glimber home we can get a translator and find out what happened. I just wanted to hear from you that you had nothing to do with that
Lazio Sharpe: I promise I lived with the Gnomes happily for years
Inv Zora Polasis: Because all of that was fairly recent
Lazio Sharpe: They ignored me, I ignored them
Vee Barlett: Yar, she got a mean punch if she find out ya hurt her friend.
Lazio Sharpe: If you are saying the Gnomes are gone then that must be recent
Lazio Sharpe: in the last month or two
Lazio Sharpe: I would guess, I have been busy working on my wax golems
Vee Barlett: So what else might be hauntin' these caves?
Lazio Sharpe: Ummmm,
Lazio Sharpe: Could I ask, did you find my spell books?
Lirtimya: Were there any acid goos in the caves?
Vee Barlett: What's it to ya?
Lazio Sharpe: They would be very good to have to rebuild with
Vee Barlett: Who says we gonna let ya?
Lazio Sharpe: Why not?
Vee Barlett: You killed the Admiral.
Lazio Sharpe: Actually you killed the Admiral
Lazio Sharpe: Thank you for that
Vee Barlett: Nah actually I weren't there.
Lazio Sharpe: I am happy you did it, and thank you again
Vee Barlett: But I did free ya so ya owe me for that which is worth much more, yeah?
Lazio Sharpe: Not complaining at all
Inv Zora Polasis: You might as well have killed him
Inv Zora Polasis: Why shouldn't we take you to the Duke of Mizzen and you can explain this big plan of yours
Lazio Sharpe: I would
Lazio Sharpe: Well maybe that would not be so bad
Lazio Sharpe: If we take all my things, and the dogs, so I can come back and be safe
Lazio Sharpe: I could explain what has happened here over the last few years
Vee Barlett: Why were ya out here alone anyways?
Lazio Sharpe: Can you get me there safely?
Lazio Sharpe: I was not alone, I had my dogs,
Lazio Sharpe: and I was creating golems
Lazio Sharpe: it was a good life
Vee Barlett: How old are ya?
Lazio Sharpe: pushing the limits of my skills
Lazio Sharpe: Oh, ummmm, I guess, 40? 50? what year it is?
Vee Barlett: Damn with you lack of thought was figurin' you was just a dumb kid. But you actually a dumb man.
Inv Zora Polasis: You took a trusted officer and turned him into an insane evil person who thought he was a mage
Lazio Sharpe: Thank you I think
Lazio Sharpe: OH no no no
Vee Barlett: Didn't think I'd meet someone dumber than you Ruffus...
Lazio Sharpe: I took someone who was not aware of who he was,
Lazio Sharpe: and then helped him be whole again
Lazio Sharpe: but that did not work the way I thought it would
Inv Zora Polasis: did you tell him the word to activate your staff?
Vee Barlett: Huh?
Vee Barlett: What mental tumblin' be that?
Lazio Sharpe: Of course I did
Lazio Sharpe: I was not trying to harm him or make him less of a person, just more of a golem
Vee Barlett: Slavery.
Lazio Sharpe: He was free to do what he wanted
Lazio Sharpe: that is what got me in trouble
Vee Barlett: Good on him.
Lazio Sharpe: Not so good for him, when you found him
Vee Barlett: Win some, lose some.
Vee Barlett: You ain't able to cast without yer books, yeah?
Rothuss Carder: Gosh. How could magically enslaving someone possibly backfire? Sounds like he was completely ungrateful for everything you did to him.
Lazio Sharpe: I am glad you did
Lazio Sharpe: Nods with Rothuss
Inv Zora Polasis: But he was not a magic user was he? How could he just continue your work without you?
Rothuss Carder: Let me know when I can kill this guy, would you?
Lazio Sharpe: He was there with me as I created George
Rothuss Carder: stalks angrily off.
Lazio Sharpe: What did I do to him?
Vee Barlett: Pissed him off, yeah? Ain't it obvious?
Lazio Sharpe: I am not sure how?
Vee Barlett: Ya made a slave. That piss off most people.
Lazio Sharpe: He was not a slave, I swear
Vee Barlett: Or ya telling me the admiral consent to all of it?
Lazio Sharpe: That is not how it works
Lazio Sharpe: Well he was not saying no
Vee Barlett: Then ya didn't get consent.
Lazio Sharpe: I admitted it is a grey area
Vee Barlett: If it ain't an enthusiastic yes then it a no.
Vee Barlett: Ain't such thing as grey area here.
Vee Barlett: But again wastin' time with philosophy. Can ya cast spells still?
Lazio Sharpe: Me right now?
Lazio Sharpe: No
Vee Barlett: After some sleep? Or do ya need yer books?
Lazio Sharpe: But yes of course I can cast, just need my books
Vee Barlett: Alright. Then I say we take ya back with us, but we keepin' yer books. I ain't trustin' yer moral greyness at my back.
Lazio Sharpe: You can have anything you want, you rescued me, but I do want to keep my spell books
Inv Zora Polasis: What's in that bottle with all the magical writing on it at the bar?
Lazio Sharpe: Can I have my spell books back?
Inv Zora Polasis: no
Vee Barlett: Let the Duke, the Church, or hell, even Ruffus, decide what to do with ya. I'm just here to find the Fake Firebeard.
Lirtimya: I'd like to see those books before you have them
Lazio Sharpe: Then they are healing potions
Inv Zora Polasis: Then you wouldn’t mind drinking a bit first
Lazio Sharpe: Not at all
Lazio Sharpe: I can play the game of morally grey
Lazio Sharpe: Can you?
Inv Zora Polasis: I prefer not to
Vee Barlett: Depends who you askin'
Lazio Sharpe: I am very grateful for you rescuing me
Lazio Sharpe: I am willing to give you almost anything
Lazio Sharpe: but I NEED my spell books
Inv Zora Polasis: No you don't
Vee Barlett: You didn't say we couldn't not keep them so, morally greyly speakin', we keepin' them.
Inv Zora Polasis: We need your spell books to make sure you behave
Lazio Sharpe: Looks at Lirt, If they tried to take your spell books away, what would you do?
Lazio Sharpe: Ahh so you keep her spell books to keep her in line?
Vee Barlett: pulls out her dagger
Vee Barlett: She trust worthy. You not.
Lazio Sharpe: Oh you let her keep them in her pack, but you do not let her go anywhere you do not
Vee Barlett: Anyone against me gaggin' him and tyin' him up?
Lazio Sharpe: Raises his hand
Lirtimya: Unlike you, they do not see other people as puddy to mold
Temperance: continues to quietly scribble notes behind the rest.
Lazio Sharpe: So we will go to the Duke
Inv Zora Polasis: looks at Vee
Inv Zora Polasis: You want to take him back to explain himself?
Lazio Sharpe: and if he decides that you did break into my home and take things, without his permission as part of the mission you were on, you will replace all those things
Vee Barlett: Yar. But if he don't stop aggravatin' me, we take him tied up and with more holes in 'em.
Lazio Sharpe: Please take me to the Duke of Siren Song, I am certain he will be happy to listen
Vee Barlett: laughs
Vee Barlett: laughs harder
Temperance: Not sure you'll make it there in one piece with the way this is going.
Vee Barlett: Oh we takin' you to a Duke. That all ya need to know.
Lazio Sharpe: You already mentioned Mizzen
Vee Barlett: Now shut it or this rope goin' around you and this smelly sock shoved into yer hole.
Inv Zora Polasis: Think of your spell books as a reward for good behavior
Lazio Sharpe: Feel free to take me there, and cause an incident that the Duke of Siren Song will have to answer for, the Duke of Mizzen sending his people into Siren Song territory to kidnap people and take them to Mizzen instead of the rightful place for judgement
Vee Barlett: You killed the Duke's man. You ain't got no standin'.
Temperance: How was that man able to cast in the first place without his maker, so to speak? Interesting...
Lazio Sharpe: Which Duke's man? and there is always standing, the Duke of Siren Song will have to send me to Mizzen if I am convicted of interfering with a foreign national right?
Vee Barlett: And we ain't kidnappin'. You asked us to take you out here safely. We just gotta stop at Mizzen first. You ain't get to chose yer ship.
Vee Barlett: You know what? Why am I arguin' with an idiot who thinks turnin' people into slaves be okay?
Lazio Sharpe: Siren Song is an hour away, Mizzen is further and in the opposite direction
Lazio Sharpe: Because suddenly you want to be grey
Vee Barlett: Get some healin' and we can start walkin'
Lazio Sharpe: Not follow the law but do what you want
Vee Barlett: Duh.
Lazio Sharpe: Sits back quietly exhausted from the debate
Vee Barlett: Let's find Fake Firebeard, y'all. We gotta get this case closed before we do anything with this guy.
Vee Barlett: How ya feelin' Melange? Can ya take point? Those potions might heal us but we all pretty hurt.
MeLange: Well I never done it before
MeLange: what if I mess it up?
Vee Barlett: You did it in the last cave. You got this. I believe in ya, buddy.
Vee Barlett: Just hold a torch and slash anythin' that attack ya.
Vee Barlett: I got yer back.
MeLange: Ok, what's the magic word though? Need the magic word
Vee Barlett: That be for the wands.
Vee Barlett: Unless you talkin' about a different kind of magic word?
Inv Zora Polasis: Aren't we going back to the other area?
Vee Barlett: Yar. (to Zora)
MeLange: I was going to say Please, but now I'm rethinking it
Vee Barlett: We got the dragon door and up the river still left. I leave anything out?
Vee Barlett: Er, down the river. These caves confusin'
Vee Barlett: Oh, the book? Just hold on to it for Lirt. Don't let this scum take it back.
Inv Zora Polasis: [SKILL] Statecraft [MOD:WIS] (vs. Target 13) [FAILURE by 4] [d20 = 17]
Vee Barlett: [SKILL] Sage Knowledge, Island Kingdoms [MOD:CHA] (vs. Target 10) [FAILURE by 8] [d20 = 18]
Temperance: [SKILL] Bureaucracy (2) [MOD:INT] (vs. Target 13) [FAILURE by 4] [d20 = 17]
Zora is exhausted
Vee is just confused
Temperance longs for better times
Vee Barlett: [CHECK] Wisdom (vs. Target 14) [SUCCESS by 9] [d20 = 5]
Temperance: [CHECK] Wisdom (vs. Target 16) [SUCCESS by 15] [d20 = 1]
Temperance: [CHECK] Intelligence (vs. Target 13) [SUCCESS by 9] [d20 = 4]
this Lazio guy lived on his own away from everyone apparently ignoring the mummy who was cursing people
So he is unlikely to be part of fire footprints on a different island
Vee Barlett: Hey, dumbass. Do you speak gnome?
no response
Vee Barlett: lightly kicks Lazio
Vee Barlett: You. Do you speak gnome.
Lazio Sharpe: I do not speak Gnomish...
Vee Barlett: You got a way to speak Gnomish?
Lazio Sharpe: They can communicate when they want to
Lazio Sharpe: I let them live their lives
Vee Barlett: Yar, they can, but not all of 'em seem to speak this language, yeah?
Lazio Sharpe: As I have said I just want to go back to my studies
Vee Barlett: Easier when we speakin' the same tongue.
Lazio Sharpe: Undoubtably there are gnomes who speak out language, I did not need to seek them out
Vee Barlett: And the sooner we figure out what goin' on here the sooner you can go back to them.
Vee Barlett: And fastest way is speakin' to our buddy here.
Inv Zora Polasis: If all you were doing was studying you wouldn't be in this mess
Vee Barlett: gestures to Glimber
Lazio Sharpe: You know what is happening here, I told you everything you asked
Vee Barlett: Except who else was stalkin' these caves.
Lazio Sharpe: I told you about the mummy
Vee Barlett: Nah it weren't her.
Vee Barlett: She was behind a rockfall. It somethin' much more recent.
Lazio Sharpe: Then who else could I tell you about
Inv Zora Polasis: Tell us something we don't know
Lazio Sharpe: Did you know about the lizard men?
Vee Barlett: Yar, we killed the chief to rescue you.
Lazio Sharpe: Thank you
Vee Barlett: Don't forget it.
Lazio Sharpe: and Thank you for saving my dogs
Lazio Sharpe: at least this one here
Lazio Sharpe: I guess the rest did not make it
Vee Barlett: Did the best we can. All but one are still down and around here.
Lazio Sharpe: Oh?
Lazio Sharpe: where are they?
Vee Barlett: In the kennels, by the boat, and one hidin' behind Tempe.
Inv Zora Polasis: We've done you quite the bit of favors
Lazio Sharpe: I am appreciative, I have given you all of my possessions except my spell books
Lazio Sharpe: Did you find the secret door to my gold?
Vee Barlett: We're keepin' those safe for now.
Vee Barlett: looks to Zora, slightly tilting her head
Vee Barlett: Where ya get gold?
Lazio Sharpe: There is a secret door here in my bedroom
Lazio Sharpe: That leads to my treasure room
Temperance: Ah.
Lazio Sharpe: You can have all of that too
Vee Barlett: You got a treasure room? What a mage need a treasure room for?
Lazio Sharpe: Just do not take the gold
Vee Barlett: Why?
Lazio Sharpe: Because it is not real gold
Inv Zora Polasis: We left the gold
Vee Barlett: Darn.
Lazio Sharpe: it is there to confuse people
Vee Barlett: What else in there?
Lazio Sharpe: Gems,
Lazio Sharpe: and stuff
Vee Barlett: Any magic ring of translation?
Lazio Sharpe: No
Lazio Sharpe: Why would I need that?
Lazio Sharpe: I am happy working away here, I keep telling you that I did not bother anyone
Vee Barlett: Guess it would ruin yer loner image.
Lazio Sharpe: Hell I left a MUMMY alone to do what ever
Vee Barlett: Well didn't until the Admiral, but wes speakin' in circles.
Lazio Sharpe: That was a different issue I agree
Vee Barlett: And ya almost got my sympathy until then.
Inv Zora Polasis: who's life did you ruin to make the flour grinding man?
Lazio Sharpe: No one
Lazio Sharpe: That is why George is not very smart
Lazio Sharpe: I cannot find a way to help that spark
Lazio Sharpe: George is nice, he does what you say, but no thoughts
Inv Zora Polasis: he gets angry all by himself
Vee Barlett: And if ya got yer spell books back, how many lives ya plan to take to make a smart golem?
Lazio Sharpe: I never took anyone else's life before this
Temperance: Why did you start working with wax in the first place? And why golems?
Lazio Sharpe: Wax works well, you can mold it, shape it, just need heat and a bit of patience
Lazio Sharpe: Golems is a magical term, it is just for any enchanted creature that is created by a mage or a priest to do things that they ask
Lazio Sharpe: You likely have them around the church, or gargoyles at least
Lazio Sharpe: I just was trying to make them better
Vee Barlett: Ugh so don't give the church more of the knowledge, got it.
Lazio Sharpe: Have you seen the stained glass windows in the Osterhold Cathedral?
Lazio Sharpe: Those are golems
Temperance: Obsessive behavior can lead people to engage in drastic measures. Such as not getting consent from a person and turning them into a wax figure that can cast.
Temperance: But I digress.
Temperance: Where are we heading?
Lazio Sharpe: He could not cast, but he could use my or anyone's magic items if he understood them
Inv Zora Polasis: yes which is why you don't get the staff back eiher
Lazio Sharpe: I am ok with you taking the staff, I promise
Lazio Sharpe: I am hoping that you leave me here, with my books
Vee Barlett: Yar. This standin' still makes me itchy. Let's grab his loot, grab him, and go.
Lazio Sharpe: and you venture off to tell who ever you want to about what happened here
Vee Barlett: Hey you got any idea what this ring do?
Lazio Sharpe: Which ring?
Vee Barlett: holds up her hands but not too close for him to take it
Lazio Sharpe: Firebeard brought back a lot of treasure
Inv Zora Polasis: Yes because if we don't have the word to activate it all we can do is hit you over the head with it
Lazio Sharpe: You want the word to activate the staff?
Lazio Sharpe: I will give it to you if you give me my books
Inv Zora Polasis: looks at Lirt
Inv Zora Polasis: No!
Vee Barlett: Man, first rule of thumb is don't show how desperate you is.
Inv Zora Polasis: You don't get the books until the Duke says you can have them
Lazio Sharpe: Then I am not going to help you with anything else
Lazio Sharpe: I need my books, any mage would understand
Vee Barlett: Sure so you can backstab us.
Lazio Sharpe: Only an evil mage would take some other mages books hostage
Temperance: Only an evil mage would turn someone into wax without consent.
Lazio Sharpe: He did not say no, he says weakly
Temperance: So as long as you do not say no, does that mean I can cut off your finger?
Temperance: smiles lightly.
Vee Barlett: Alright so as I was sayin' let's grab his loot and get goin' with this mulch with us.
Lirtimya: I hope you realize you can't guilt trip me int giving them back, for my own research I'm keeping them
Inv Zora Polasis: Yes so you fireball our boat and teleport to the gods know where or whatever other spells you do
Vee Barlett: You can think of yer defense as we walk.
Lazio Sharpe: I would like to get the books back and stay here, so you can go with all the things you want and feel safe
Lazio Sharpe: I do not want to pursue you
Vee Barlett: And I'd like to breath underwater and sail that REALLY nice ship but we ain't all get what we want, yeah?
Lazio Sharpe: I know you want to tempt me to say I can give you those things, but I can't
Lazio Sharpe: That is not what I do
Vee Barlett: Look buddy, morally grey here. We just lettin' someone else decide yer fate. That what we was sent here for.
Lazio Sharpe: What were you sent here to do?
Vee Barlett: If the Admiral were alive, we'd leave you alone.
Lazio Sharpe: Find the Admiral? you did
Vee Barlett: Find the Admiral and the Fake Firebeard.
Lazio Sharpe: You should feel no guilt for killing him
Lazio Sharpe: I have nothing to do with any fake Firebeard
Lazio Sharpe: I can swear to that,
Vee Barlett: I believe on that count.
Lazio Sharpe: you have a priestess here to take that oath
Vee Barlett: So at least you got that goin' for ya.
Lazio Sharpe: If I help you find this fake Firebeard will you give me my books back?
Vee Barlett: I'll consider it.
Vee Barlett: Which is more than I'm doin' now.
Vee Barlett: Take yer wins where ya can.
Lazio Sharpe: What do you know about this fake Firebeard?
Vee Barlett: He leaves glowin' footprints, has somethin' probably helpin' him, and showed up around when the Admiral disappeared. Guessin' the Admiral chased his lead to here.
Lazio Sharpe: Some unknown person leaving glowing footprints is all you have?
Lazio Sharpe: I mean I am very glad you saved me
Lazio Sharpe: But
Lazio Sharpe: If your mission is to find someone who is leaving glowing footprints how did you get all the way to my laboratory?
Vee Barlett: Did ya ask the Admiral why he was here?
Lazio Sharpe: His crew was captured by the Mummy, she wiped his memory, or at least made him useless,
Vee Barlett: looks at Ruffus
Inv Zora Polasis: so his priest is under a mummy curse?
Lazio Sharpe: What priest?
Inv Zora Polasis: the Admiral's priest
Temperance: scribbles in her notes as she flips the pages back and forth.
Inv Zora Polasis: sails with him
Lazio Sharpe: I never saw such a person, the Admiral was wandering alone
Inv Zora Polasis: he made it back to Mizzen but his mind is mostly gone
Lazio Sharpe: That sounds like the Mummy
Vee Barlett: See? We still got loose ends to tie.
Lazio Sharpe: yes YOU have loose ends, My ends are right here
Vee Barlett: But you ain't goin' anywhere outta our sight so now our loose ends be yers.
Inv Zora Polasis: How could a mummy take down three ships by itself?
Lazio Sharpe: What ships?
Lazio Sharpe: If the Admiral was here who was leading any ships?
Inv Zora Polasis: the admiral was on one ship and there were two more and they are all gone
Lazio Sharpe: Can I have a drink please
Lazio Sharpe: This is exhausting
Vee Barlett: Yer tellin' me.
Inv Zora Polasis: The priest was getting upset about dragons - maybe a wyvern now
Vee Barlett: We ain't gettin' anywhere. Can we go now?
Vee Barlett: hands him a last shot of rum
Lazio Sharpe: Drinks
Rothuss Carder: So we're still missing whoever sank the ships and tied up the gnomes, right?
Rothuss Carder: calls over from where he's sulking.
Vee Barlett: Yar.
Vee Barlett: And whoever left green flamin' footprints.
Lazio Sharpe: If the Admiral was here, then someone could have stolen the ships while he was here,
Lazio Sharpe: If the priest you talked about was with the Admiral, maybe she? he? got hit by the mummy too?
Vee Barlett: We also need proof Admiral is dead. Duke did ask us to bring him back
Lazio Sharpe: Did you save any parts?
Rothuss Carder: So we found the End of the story, still missing the middle and beginning.
Vee Barlett: You if'n we ain't find any.
Lazio Sharpe: If the fires are still going the wax is still soft
Vee Barlett: Can he be remade?
Vee Barlett: If you can remake him you might actually get a chance at yer books returin' to ya.
Lazio Sharpe: Wait, are you saying you want me to build him again? Didn't you say that was wrong?
Vee Barlett: Never said I wasn't morally grey if'n it didn't suit me.
Inv Zora Polasis: You didn't see him Vee! I don't think you know what you are asking
Inv Zora Polasis: looks at Tempe
Temperance: looks up from her scribbling.
Vee Barlett: Well he won't have the staff, yeah? And if he be remade he wouldn't be... as mean, yeah? Like... even if the Duke put him out of his misery?
Inv Zora Polasis: I think he would have to cast to remake him ...
Inv Zora Polasis: To animate him
Lazio Sharpe: I would need my books and a lot of time
Temperance: I don't think we should bring back a wax figure that didn't consent to being made into one in the first place.
Inv Zora Polasis: Yes that
Vee Barlett: Oh. Well more than that, time isn't on our side here.
Lazio Sharpe: I understand your concerns Temperance
Temperance: I'm not sure you do.
Lazio Sharpe: I am ok with not experimenting like that again
Vee Barlett: How long is a lot of time?
Lazio Sharpe: a few weeks
Vee Barlett: Yar, we ain't got that time. It was worth a thought.
Inv Zora Polasis: thinks, no it wasn't
Vee Barlett: Them fires magical?
Lazio Sharpe: no
Vee Barlett: Can George keep them goin'?
Lazio Sharpe: Maybe
Lazio Sharpe: He is really good at turning the crank on the grinder
Vee Barlett: Just thinkin' of some offers you can make the Duke when ya see him and tell 'em what happened to his Admiral.
Lazio Sharpe: I am not sure how much effort it would take to talk to him to get close to fires
Vee Barlett: Yar he didn't like the flame on the torch.
Lazio Sharpe: Torch?
Lazio Sharpe: Why would you torture him like that!
Lazio Sharpe: George is a nice person he would not hurt anyone
Vee Barlett: I stopped when I saw it bothered him.
Vee Barlett: I didn't know if it were magically non-burnin' wax.
Lazio Sharpe: That would be a good enhancement I agree
Lazio Sharpe: If you would just leave me my books, I can do that research
Lazio Sharpe: I can stay here
Lazio Sharpe: you can come back and visit
Vee Barlett: Maybe.
Vee Barlett: But not until we figure out the rest.
Rothuss Carder: Thinking we need to bring back the Admiral's body at least.
Temperance: Is there a body to even return?
Rothuss Carder: He said he “encased” him
Temperance: Then perhaps we should retrieve it.
Temperance: The body I mean.
Vee Barlett: nods to Tempe
Vee Barlett: Let's get whatever we can of the admiral I suppose. Lazio Sharpe: Is there any boat on the docks?
Vee Barlett: Why?
Lazio Sharpe: Because if there is not one, then you can leave me here
Vee Barlett: Ah, don't worry. There be one, and if not, I can build one easy enough.
Lazio Sharpe: There was a skiff but it went downstream weeks ago
Vee Barlett: grins
Lazio Sharpe: So you can leave me here and know I am not going to leave
Vee Barlett: We discussin' this AFTER we figure out the rest of the cave. Yeah?
Lazio Sharpe: One of the dogs was chewing on the rope and I did not catch it in time
Vee Barlett: Mel gettin' itch, too.
Vee Barlett: And talkin' in circles ain't helpin' any of us.
Lazio Sharpe: I am not talking in circles, I think I have been very clear what I want
Vee Barlett: Yar and I keep tellin' ya you haven't earned it yet.
Vee Barlett: If Tempe could geas ya, maybe I'd feel better about it. Make sure ya learn proper consent. But since I can't get that kinda magical promise, ya a risk, yeah?
Lazio Sharpe: If I give you the command word for the staff
Lazio Sharpe: you would know how to paralyze people
Vee Barlett: I prefer stabbin' them.
Lazio Sharpe: I used it on the lizard men to protect the dogs and me
Temperance: raises an eyebrow.
Lazio Sharpe: But you could leave me here, take that with you and use it to protect yourselves
Inv Zora Polasis: but only if we give you your books
Vee Barlett: Look, either we leave you here and take yer books, we take you and yer books, or... well, no that's it. 'Cause you ain't made a good deal yet.
Lazio Sharpe: And you young mage can come back and I promise to train you in any spell I have
Vee Barlett: looks to Lirt to see if she finds that worthwhile
Lazio Sharpe: I want to keep my books and I want to stay here to recover and see what damage has been done
Lazio Sharpe: I have said you can take anything else you want
Lazio Sharpe: Well, not the dogs
Vee Barlett: Nah, the dogs be yours. I respect that.
Vee Barlett: They do seem to like you which... makes you seem less evil.
Lazio Sharpe: I mean if you really,.... thank you
Lazio Sharpe: I am not evil I swear
Vee Barlett: Hmm... what's yer ask for one book?
Lazio Sharpe: I need both books
Vee Barlett: Why?
Lazio Sharpe: Because that is my livelihood
Vee Barlett: Ya can rebuild it if not all is lost.
Lazio Sharpe: Ask your mage if she would cut off one arm
Lazio Sharpe: Not without the books I cannot
Lazio Sharpe: I need the books to be able to cast the spells
Inv Zora Polasis: Because if you can make a staff of paralyzation that spell is in your books
Inv Zora Polasis: You get the books and you paralyze us
Lazio Sharpe: I cannot make that staff
Vee Barlett: How'd ya get it?
Lazio Sharpe: I have had that for years, I traded for it so I could use it adventuring
Vee Barlett: sighs
Lazio Sharpe: It helped against several attempts at my life
Lazio Sharpe: Paralyze someone then push them over into the water
Lazio Sharpe: That stops people
Vee Barlett: I like the idea of havin' a mage contact here but you ain't makin' a deal I like yet.
Lazio Sharpe: What sort of deal are you looking for? the only thing I have not agreed to is giving you my books
Lirtimya: Our books are extremely valuable, that's why I want to copy what's in his book
Vee Barlett: You gotta present yerself to the Duke. And if he let you out or free, then you can come get yer books.
Lazio Sharpe: You can come back here and do that
Lazio Sharpe: Which Duke?
Lazio Sharpe: And then I want to negotiate what you get to keep of my belongings
Vee Barlett: I told ya. Mizzen. 'Cause it was his Admiral he wanted to return.
Lazio Sharpe: But we are in Siren Song
Vee Barlett: And if we can't return his Admiral, we gotta return the one responsible for his Admiral's disappearance.
Inv Zora Polasis: You should have stolen the Admiral of Siren Song if you want to see him
Vee Barlett: Yar, I might be willin' to give you some of yer stuff back.
Lazio Sharpe: The staff? the rings?
Lazio Sharpe: My books are non-negotiable
Lazio Sharpe: See this would be much easier to just leave me here alone with my books
Vee Barlett: The rings ain't yers.
Lazio Sharpe: take everything
Lazio Sharpe: and then go to the Duke of whoever you want and tell them everything
Inv Zora Polasis: Lirtimya can read them tomorrow and tell us how dangerous they are. Until then giving you the books now is non-negotiable
Vee Barlett: But then he ask why we wasn't good enough to capture the guy who killed his Admiral. So nah, not a good idea.
Vee Barlett: Yar. So we back to... you comin' and hangin' with us for a bit.
Lazio Sharpe: But I did not kill his Admiral
Vee Barlett: Semantics.
Lazio Sharpe: You did, I do not know who did it but it was not me
Lazio Sharpe: I am very happy you did it, do not get me wrong
Lazio Sharpe: but
Lazio Sharpe: Sigh
Lazio Sharpe: Ok
Lazio Sharpe: You know what
Lazio Sharpe: We are not getting anywhere
Vee Barlett: Didn't I say that?
Lazio Sharpe: and I am too weak to carry anything
Lazio Sharpe: So what are you going to be able to actually carry back? are you going to try to make it through the lizard men ? who you just slaughtered?
Lazio Sharpe: I guess I can trudge along behind you
Vee Barlett: Nah, I hate land. We was gonna go back down river.
Rothuss Carder: Hey, if we've got his books, can Lirt do to him what he did to the Admiral?
Lazio Sharpe: Sure he can
Rothuss Carder: I mean, that'd be justice, right?
Lazio Sharpe: with a dozen years of training
Lazio Sharpe: and then learning how to cast the incantations
Lazio Sharpe: and then building a laboratory
Lazio Sharpe: and then finding me in what ever homeless shelter for mages
Inv Zora Polasis: She
Inv Zora Polasis: Are you blind?
Vee Barlett: Don't make someone else do yer dirty work, Rothuss. If you that angry, you gotta do it yerself.
Vee Barlett: Eh, plenty other islands around here.
Inv Zora Polasis: laughs
Lazio Sharpe: But sure he, she, whoever can try it
Lazio Sharpe: OR you could give me my books leave me here and I already promised to train her
Lazio Sharpe: But I guess that is too much to ask
Vee Barlett: I wonder what time it is? Feels like we been talkin' for hours. It time to sleep yet?
Lazio Sharpe: so let's go walk
Lazio Sharpe: It was morning in the cage
Vee Barlett: I hate caves. Let's walk and you think.
Lazio Sharpe: sure
Lazio Sharpe: Very frustrated and petulant now
Vee Barlett: We goin' back down river to see what's there.
Vee Barlett: That giant horned thing still alive so we ain't goin' by the lizardmen.
Vee Barlett: tosses the mage a pillow
Vee Barlett: Punchin' one these helps me when I'm mad.
Vee Barlett: Lead the way, Mel.
MeLange: okey doke!
MeLange: equips buckler and leads the way The group of now more than 8 head back to the river and the 8-person skiff.
Vee Barlett: [SKILL] Shipwright [MOD:INT] (vs. Target 10) [FAILURE by 4] [d20 = 14]
Vee Barlett: [SKILL] Boating [MOD:WIS] (vs. Target 15) [FAILURE by 4] [d20 = 19]
Vee Barlett: tries to figure out a way to make it work
Vee Barlett: Damn maths.
Vee Barlett: [CHECK] Intelligence (vs. Target 12) [SUCCESS by 9] [d20 = 3]
Inv Zora Polasis: We make two trips?
Vee Barlett: Yar. I'll boat both times. Y'all split up as we need.
Vee Barlett: Get all them dogs including from the kennel.
Vee Barlett: Five total.
Vee Barlett: pinches bridge of her nose rethinking about leaving the mage now
Vee Barlett: I forgot them dogs... do we even have room on the boat?
Vee Barlett: steps away from mage for a minute
Vee Barlett: Y'all... I gotta ask, we got a plan for the dogs? If Duke jail this dude, what happens to them?
Vee Barlett: It upset Levi so want to make sure ya got a plan 'cause I do not.
Rothuss Carder: sighs.
Vee Barlett: And I ain't gonna lie, tempin' to leave him here with his dogs.
Rothuss Carder: Worst case, we can take 'em to my village. They can always use guard dogs to keep away predators.
Vee Barlett: That fair to the dogs?
Rothuss Carder: They'd be treated better than me, for sure.
Vee Barlett: That a low bar so ain't reassurin'
Rothuss Carder: But that's a long trip. I'm sure there's better, easier options.
Vee Barlett: But y'all got more stake in these dogs so y'all need a plan.
Vee Barlett: Before we head off without one.
Rothuss Carder: If we take them with us, we're probably going to need more food stores.
Temperance: I think fields and sunlight are probably going to be better for the dogs ideally, but if we really can't I don't see why we can't leave them here.
Temperance: Though I'm a little against leaving the mage with his books.
Vee Barlett: They ain't got someone to care for them.
Vee Barlett: Hey Tempe. You do legal documents, yeah?
Temperance: raises an eyebrow.
Temperance: I can create them, yes.
Vee Barlett: Not quite a geas but.... if he all about international law, he about law documents.
Lazio Sharpe: So Can I keep my books? Stay here and recover?
Vee Barlett: Look, yer dogs.... well, takin' y'all back is a headache and I do like knowin' powerful people.
Vee Barlett: BUT under conditions.
Temperance: gets a quill, ink and a piece of parchment ready.
Vee Barlett: Tempe here is a Master Mistress of Bindin' and Legal Documentation. You gotta go by her rules.
Lazio Sharpe: What are the rules?
Temperance: It involves some bloodwork, I do hope you're alright with that.
Lazio Sharpe: I am good with that
Vee Barlett: You sign her contact sayin' you be good, you give us safe passage to return so Lirt can study, AND you sign a confession we keep as... a precaution to give the Duke if you break these rules.
Vee Barlett: And you keep yer other promises. You know, word for the staff we take, we keep the loot, all that.
Lazio Sharpe: I will do that no problem, I already promised I would
Vee Barlett: And maybe tell us what them rings do as a cherry on top.
Lazio Sharpe: And if you are taking the skiff then the only way out for me is the jungle again
Lazio Sharpe: I have no idea what rings you are talking about
Vee Barlett: And no more experiments on livin' people but thinkin' that'll be in the document.
Lazio Sharpe: Where did you find them?
Vee Barlett: holds up her hand
Vee Barlett: One in water, one on an elf. Not yours but I wanna know what they do and you know magic so maybe you got an idea.
Lazio Sharpe: If you give me a day or two to recover and then I could start to try to look them over
Lazio Sharpe: Not promising I can but I will try
Vee Barlett: Well at least you offerin' but on a time crunch so if I don't find out soon then when Lirt wants to return, I'll take ya up on that.
Vee Barlett: But I got one last condition.
Vee Barlett: We leave you here, you train Lirt, all that, but you beholden to my family. That what the letter of confession be, yeah? So they want somethin' from ya, you gotta help them.
Lazio Sharpe: I can make you a golem but it will cost.... Oh
Lazio Sharpe: Well who is your family? what would they want?
Vee Barlett: grins
Inv Zora Polasis: Really Vee?
Vee Barlett: Oh maybe lots of things.
Vee Barlett: I ain't sayin' I'll hand over the confession, but I am sayin' you bein' blackmailed.
Vee Barlett: They might want nothin' but they might want somethin'. That be how it works.
Inv Zora Polasis: I am going on record as not approving
Vee Barlett: Noted and ignored.
Lazio Sharpe: I am saying that I agree to this paper here and you are in this zone of truth too so I want a promise from you
Lazio Sharpe: Any favor you or your family wants other than training Lirt here you have to pay fair for
Vee Barlett: Yar, that be fine.
Lazio Sharpe: I can live with deciding on if to do it or let you give that confession
Lazio Sharpe: I am good with that
Lazio Sharpe: and it will be a source of income for studies
Vee Barlett: So you do got some morals. Then maybe you honest about not doin' more of them experiments.
Inv Zora Polasis: No one wants to make you a slave after we've said slavery is bad
Temperance: scribbling on the parchment.
Temperance: You must hereby lawfully swear to the Gods and the laws that bind the nations that you legally bind yourself to the following: prohibiting yourself from creating any more wax figures of those who do not give a verbal affirmative yes, that you grant us a safe passage to return so that Lirtimya can study, and sign your name in blood in agreeing you to the consequences that will befall you should you break your oath.
Temperance: In exchange, any favor Violet or Violet's family desires, other than training Lirtimya, will have to pay a fair price.
Vee Barlett: Nah. The Barlett Family.
Temperance: Ah, the Barlett family. My mistake.
Vee Barlett: I ain't givin' my full name and fake name won't work here. So just put family name.
Temperance: Fake name? What are you talking about?
Temperance: fixes her words.
Vee Barlett: Er, Violet ain't my real name. Didja think it was?
Temperance: Any other requests?
Vee Barlett: It only my name on Mizzen.
Lazio Sharpe: Do you have any thing I can use to feed the dogs until I can get well enough to go outside again?
Vee Barlett: Well there be lots of lizard meat on the other side of the door. And some of these rations.
Lazio Sharpe: Thank you
Temperance: I was under the assumption there were rations in the kitchens.
Vee Barlett: Good thing you got dogs or this be worse for you.
Lazio Sharpe: I hope there are in the kitchen, but if no one told George to work then I do not know what is happening there
Lazio Sharpe: and you said you tortured him with a torch
Vee Barlett: He was grindin' up somethin'
Vee Barlett: Nah just got too close to him with a torch. He went back to work after I apologized.
Lazio Sharpe: Ok
Vee Barlett: I prefer knives when I torture.
Vee Barlett: Anyhow, time to sign?
Temperance: If all is settled.
Temperance: Sign on this line and please give me your hand.
Lazio Sharpe: Signs away
Temperance: Could someone hand me a dagger?
Vee Barlett: Yar, which one?
Vee Barlett: hands her one
Vee Barlett: This work?
Temperance: One to prick a finger with.
Vee Barlett: Oh maybe ya want the oyster prick.
Vee Barlett: hands her that
Temperance: smiles lightly and pricks his thumb.
Temperance: Now please stamp your finger next to your signature.
Lazio Sharpe: Places bloody finger in place
Temperance: Thank you.
Temperance: You are now legally bound to this document and the consequences that will take place should you go back on your word.
Lazio Sharpe: Again, thank you for saving me, and my dogs, I do deeply appreciate that. I happily give you the other belongings now that have my books back
Rothuss Carder: grumps.
Temperance: I appreciate your cooperation. I sincerely hope nothing warrants a meeting where we must do more than prick your thumb.
Lazio Sharpe: I fully expect to see you again in a few weeks or months
Vee Barlett: Oh, you will. To make sure ya hold up to yer end of the deal.
Vee Barlett: But it better be a safer passage then.
Lazio Sharpe: How will you be coming? Through the jungles?
Vee Barlett: At least for us.
Vee Barlett: Nah, river probably. Lirt and I prefer water.
Lazio Sharpe: I have my home here, I cannot help with things else where if you are taking the skiff
Vee Barlett: Yar. When we return, we'll bring ya skiff.
Lazio Sharpe: Thank you
Vee Barlett: But fer now, best you stay in this spot until we sort things out.
Lazio Sharpe: Maybe a second one to make it easier for you to travel?
Vee Barlett: Well duh.
Lazio Sharpe: I am going to recover and clean up
Vee Barlett: Although I do like swimmin'....
Lazio Sharpe: Have a safe journey
Vee Barlett: Keep yer word. We'll be seein' ya. And take good care of them pups!
Vee Barlett: heads off
Mastiffs 2: Licks Temperance
Temperance: blinks lightly.
Temperance: and pets the dog.
Mastiffs 2: Then turns to follow Lazio
The group of them head back through the tunnel to his quarters
Temperance: It was good to have you as a companion, albeit brief.
zamarzac – paralyzation staff activation word
Temperance: tucks the document safely in her bag as she scribbles the word in her notebook.
So you are piling things into the skiff, getting close to over weighing it but Glimber is small and light
You go down stream
The tunnel ends at a stone pier jutting out into an underground river. A flat-bottomed skiff rests upside down upon the pier, and a stone statue of a brooding gnome mistress stands off to one side. At her feet are several large toads, and in her outstretched hands she holds a hollow skull.
Wall sconces for long-burned out torches line the tunnel as the river flows downstream, to the left.
Easily viewable within the water are numerous large albino fish.
Vee Barlett : [Translation] Yo! Anyone else pass this way?
Temperance: Are the fish hungry?
<font color="#000000">GM : [Translation] a hairy thing higher early
Rothuss Carder: I can't just sit here.
Vee Barlett : [Translation] Ugh. He have anyone with him? Was he on a boat?
Vee Barlett : [Translation] He go downstream?
<font color="#000000">GM : [Translation] splashing
<font color="#000000">GM : [Translation] high not low
Vee Barlett : [Translation] Okay okay one last question. Y'all sacred?
<font color="#000000">GM : [Translation] no
Vee Barlett : [Translation] OK well y'all still pretty.
Vee Barlett : [Translation] Anything downstream?
<font color="#000000">GM : [Translation] Thank you
Rothuss Carder: She's burbling at fish again...
<font color="#000000">GM : [Translation] Not go low
Vee Barlett : [Translation] I shouldn’t or you don't go that way?
<font color="#000000">GM : [Translation] My not go low
Vee Barlett: nods
Vee Barlett : [Translation] Thanks y'all. Happy swimming!
Temperance: When is she not speaking to fish when they are within view?
Vee Barlett: So they didn't mention they were hungry. Not once. So y'all wrong about fish.
Temperance: I was simply asking out of curiosity.
Vee Barlett: They said a big hairy thing went upriver which maybe was Lazio. He was hairy. They don't know anything about downstream.
Vee Barlett: Or maybe the swimmin' dogs.
Vee Barlett: So not a Fake Firebeard.
Vee Barlett: I still feel like we missin' something...
Vee Barlett: Do we go downstream? Y'all wounded can wait here maybe?
Vee Barlett: Or we just return since we find out what happened to the Admiral?
Vee Barlett: Wish gnome talked same as us.
Temperance: I do not mind either way. It is strange that we came here for the impostor pirate and never found them.
Rothuss Carder: Does the gnome speak fish?
Vee Barlett: Yar. That bug me, too.
Vee Barlett: Nah, already asked him.
Temperance: Somehow it all feels like we're walking in circles around it.
Temperance: Or maybe it was all a big hoax.
Temperance: Someone playing with fire, like the villagers assumed.
Vee Barlett: I doubt they went past the lizardmen. 'Cause it was a lot of traps goin' that way.
Inv Zora Polasis: It doesn't prove that Ruffus is not dead
Inv Zora Polasis: laughs
Vee Barlett: Oh, right. I forgot that.
Vee Barlett: Ruffus, we gonna keep explorin' or findin' parts of the admiral work for ya?
Ruffus DeOrange: Sure
Vee Barlett: Damn it. I forgot ya don't make decisions.
Ruffus DeOrange: But I think if we bring the Admiral parts back that would be good
Ruffus DeOrange: I did not have anything to do with that
Vee Barlett: Well we is all beat up... and we can explore downstream next time we visit Lazio...
Ruffus DeOrange: So that would prove.... well. something
Vee Barlett: And we got a maybe dead elf on the boat...
Vee Barlett: Fine. Let's get that shiphead and get to the boat. Y'all beat up.
Vee Barlett: So that make Ruffus happy, but what about you, Zora? You the church holy investigator.
Inv Zora Polasis: I'm sorry what about the church?
Inv Zora Polasis: It's hard to concentrate
Vee Barlett: Dunno. You happy with yer investigation? Wanna wrap it up here?
Vee Barlett: Or do Mel and I go downstream briefly to see what's there?
Inv Zora Polasis: I do wish we knew more about Firebeard, but it's up to you.
Inv Zora Polasis: We can come too if you want to keep exploring
Inv Zora Polasis: Just don't expect much
and only Ruffus is not walking wounded so he is the only one to go swim downstream after them if you can hear their screams
Vee Barlett: I kinda do 'cause the Firebeard part still don't make sense. Just don't want y'all to get too hurt.
Rothuss Carder: I don't wanna sit here, but maybe we need to go back to the boat and rest up, come back tomorrow?
Inv Zora Polasis: And we hope nothing falls on our heads
Vee Barlett: Y'all can stay in the skiff and if'n it looks like too much we just take skiff back upstream.
Vee Barlett: Is it evenin' yet? Hard to tell.
Vee Barlett: I don't get sleepy easy.
The group decides to take their loot back to the boat and rest and heal.
Temperance casts Cure Moderate Wounds at Rothuss Carder making him only moderately wounded.
Rothuss Carder: Thanks, Tempe. Feels a lot better now.
Temperance: I can't help you with your disappointment with not being able to stab the mage, so this is the least I can do.
Temperance: grins lightly.
Rothuss Carder: pats her hand and sighs.
Rothuss Carder: Hopefully he's learned his lesson about being a piece of crap evil human being.
Vee Barlett: He'd miss even if he tried.
Rothuss Carder: ignores Vee
Vee Barlett: But that do be the most passion I've seen Rothuss express about... anything. Maybe he do have strong feelin' about somethings.
Temperance: I hope so as well, though... until I see proof, my thoughts are on the doubtful side.
Temperance: About... er the mage being a “crap evil human being”
Vee Barlett: laughs
The time is 9:38 AM
The date is See____de, 9th Sin (Late Summer), 587 SGR
Young Moon's phase is Morning Crescent
Old Moon's phase is Last Quarter
The next day Temperance casts two Orison spells, giving healing to Zora, Vee, and Ruffus.
Inv Zora Polasis: Thank you Temperance
Temperance: smiles brightly at Zora.
Temperance: No problem, always happy to help!
Then they come back and take the skiff downstream.
Vee Barlett: Alright, we ready to head down river?
Vee Barlett: Poor Mel ain't slashed anything lately.
MeLange: I'm sure it'll get made up to me
Vee Barlett: OH buddy, it sure will.
Temperance: If everyone is mostly alright, shall we go?
MeLange: i'm alright
Inv Zora Polasis: Sounds good
Vee Barlett: Yar.
Rothuss Carder: Yeah, I'm good.
Vee Barlett: [SKILL] Navigation [MOD:INT] (vs. Target 10) [FAILURE by 6] [d20 = 16]
Vee Barlett: [SKILL] Boating [MOD:WIS] (vs. Target 15) [SUCCESS by 1] [d20 = 14]
Vee Barlett: [SKILL] Observation [MOD:INT] (vs. Target 12) [SUCCESS by 11] [d20 = 1]
Massive stalagmites rise up from the river to meet equally large stalactites that drip down from the ceiling high above. A strange green glow emanates from a point beneath the water’s surface near the center of the grotto, illuminating much of the chamber in an eerie light.
Vee Barlett: Well that be a suspicious green.
Rothuss Carder: Yup...
Temperance: Well... maybe this'll tie up some loose ends that we've been looking for.
Vee Barlett: So you magic types, watch a make of this?
Rothuss Carder: Algae?
Vee Barlett: There be bioluminescence but this ain't it.
Rothuss Carder: That's the biggest word I've ever heard you say.
Vee Barlett: 'Cause you don't listen most the time.
Rothuss Carder: Not true. I listen all the time. Just in case you say something useful. Usually you don't, and I promptly forget it all.
Temperance: bites her lip to prevent herself from chuckling.
Temperance: [SKILL] Observation [MOD:INT] (vs. Target 13) [FAILURE by 3] [d20 = 16]
Temperance: squints to see.
Vee Barlett: [SKILL] Sage Knowledge, Island Kingdoms [MOD:CHA] (vs. Target 10) [FAILURE by 10] [d20 = 20]
Lirtimya: [SKILL] Observation [MOD:INT] (vs. Target 16) [SUCCESS by 1] [d20 = 15]
Temperance: [CHECK] Intelligence (vs. Target 13) [SUCCESS by 10] [d20 = 3]
Lirtimya: [CHECK] Intelligence (vs. Target 16) [FAILURE by 3] [d20 = 19]
Temperance: [CHECK] Wisdom (vs. Target 16) [SUCCESS by 0] [d20 = 16]
Temperance: [SKILL] Botany [MOD:INT] (vs. Target 13) [SUCCESS by 9] [d20 = 4]
Inv Zora Polasis: The glow is coming from beneath the water so it seems to me someone's going to have to dive in
Inv Zora Polasis: Unless someone just knows what this is
Vee Barlett: Yar, I was thinkin' that.
Vee Barlett: stands up and puts her foot on the edge of the boat ready to jump in.
Temperance: grabs her coat to stall her.
MeLange: [SKILL] Alertness [MOD:WIS] (vs. Target 10) [SUCCESS by 9] [d20 = 1]
So Vee leans over, Melange GRABS her and then a stalactite FALLS from the ceiling STABBING right where Vee was going into the water
Vee Barlett: Oh. Well that could have hurt.
SPLASH
MeLange: woopsie
Vee Barlett: Good eye, Mel!
MeLange: Thanks, I got two of em
Vee Barlett: laughs
Vee Barlett: Okay so if we, well me, wants to jump in, maybe not do it here?
Rothuss Carder: That was one heck of a coincidence...
Vee Barlett: I can maneuver the boat if you keep an eye or two out for more of those.
That was a piercer attacking Vee
Vee Barlett: Looks like maybe shore nearby...
There are six stone coffins within the tomb, four of which occupy alcoves set into the walls while the other two lay in the middle of the room.
On the other side you see a door
Rothuss Carder: Coffins are never a good thing to find...
Temperance: And never good things to disturb.
Vee Barlett: Depends if they full or not.
Rothuss Carder: If they were empty they'd still be a shop or craftsman's hut somewhere...
Temperance: Why would there be six empty coffins within a tomb?
Vee Barlett: Nah maybe ya buy them early 'cause it a good deal and you know you'll need them eventually.
Temperance: In a cave?
Vee Barlett: shrugs
Rothuss Carder: And stash them in your tomb, so when you think you're about to die you crawl down here first?
Temperance: looks doubtful.
Vee Barlett: Nah, for the friends that die along the way.
Rothuss Carder: Yeah, this is one of those conversations I'll be forgetting about.
Vee Barlett: Mel, ya feelin' brave?
MeLange: about average
Vee Barlett: You got that nice buckler. You wanna check coffins or that door?
Temperance: Hopefully your buckler will come in handy if anything tries to surprise you.
MeLange: door I think
Rothuss Carder: If they're vampires see if you can cut off their heads with the shield.
MeLange: yea for sure door
Vee Barlett: moves skiff over towards the door and disembarks behind Mel
Vee Barlett: Now Ruffs, ya listenin' to me? Don't put yerself in danger by chargin' things before we tell ya to, okay?
MeLange: tests the door
MeLange: darn, it's locked
Vee Barlett: Ten bucks the key be in those coffins....
MeLange: guess we should go home then?
Rothuss Carder: Why are you offering deer?
Vee Barlett: Zora takin' a long piss. Might not be piss.
MeLange: deer?
Rothuss Carder: “Ten bucks”
MeLange: may as well check the coffin then right?
Vee Barlett: Bucks be a lot of money for trophy huntin'
MeLange: goes to check the coffin
MeLange: with buckler in hand
Temperance: looks bemused by the joking but shrugs and goes along with it.
Vee Barlett: [SKILL] Observation [MOD:INT] (vs. Target 12) [FAILURE by 4] [d20 = 16]
Temperance: Do you want me to cast anything in case?
Temperance: Or are you okay checking?
Inv Zora Polasis: Maybe the mummy came from one of the coffins
So Vee and Ruffus are on one side of the stream
The rest are on the side with the coffins
Temperance: [SKILL] Observation [MOD:INT] (vs. Target 13) [FAILURE by 1] [d20 = 14]
MeLange: [SKILL] Alertness [MOD:WIS] (vs. Target 10) [FAILURE by 2] [d20 = 12]
Vee Barlett: [CHECK] Wisdom (vs. Target 14) [SUCCESS by 12] [d20 = 2]
Lirtimya: [SKILL] Observation [MOD:INT] (vs. Target 16) [SUCCESS by 6] [d20 = 10]
Temperance: [CHECK] Intelligence (vs. Target 13) [SUCCESS by 11] [d20 = 2]
Temperance: [CHECK] Wisdom (vs. Target 16) [SUCCESS by 8] [d20 = 8]
Vee Barlett: tries to decide if this is the wise choice.
MeLange notes hesitation in the group
Inv Zora Polasis: goes to the door and tries to pick the lock
Inv Zora Polasis: [SKILL] Open Locks [PERCENT:Open Locks] (vs. Target 25) [FAILURE by 31] [d100 = 56]
Inv Zora Polasis: I can't seem to get this one open
So on the map you have four on the side of the stream with the door and four on the side of the stream with the coffins
Vee Barlett: So time to check the coffins? With that green glow it feels like what we lookin for is here...
The skiff is on the side with the door
MeLange: Ok lets check it out then
Temperance: Let me know if you want me to cast anything to help. Although I'm not sure what I can cast...
MeLange: Well let's just open this thing and see what we got
MeLange: maybe it's nothing
Temperance: nods lightly.
Temperance: I guess you won't know until you try.
Temperance: I'll walk over with you to see?
MeLange: slowly reaches for the coffin
Temperance: stands a bit behind him, cautious.
MeLange: [CHECK] Strength (vs. Target 18) [SUCCESS by 5] [d20 = 13]
Shislif (MeLange): opens the first one from the top
Skeleton 1 tries to attack MeLange but misses.
MeLange: hey!
An Undead Hand and Skeleton 4 creep out of other coffins.
Skeleton 4 tries to attack Temperance but misses.
Temperance turns the undead and all of them retreat and hide in their coffins
Temperance: Well... as long as they don't come out again... it should be fine?
Temperance: Maybe we should put some weight on these coffins... or something.
Rothuss Carder: We got any rocks?
Nothing visible
the area seems fairly clean
Vee Barlett: Got the one that fell in the water.
Rothuss Carder: I'm not going in after it.
Rothuss Carder: If any are empty, you can move the lid from an empty one onto a full one.
So …
You are at a place where you can open coffins knowing there is undead that you already turned so you wake them up again
OR deal with a locked stone door
OR you can head back to the boat and get ready to sail to Mizzen
