Prelude to Blood - Session Summaries List
I'm late, I'm late, for a very important date! Apologies for that, my laptop decided it wanted to peace out for a week. Which I thought was the perfect analogy for my mood this whole week. Thank you very much Carissa for last week's summary! I hope to pull through a bit more while I'm on break from work.
- There's some conversation happening as we wait to sail away to Angler. Aspiring Hero talks about taking his journey elsewhere, and Vee doesn't do much to stop him. She supports freedom, but also supports one less annoying person off her ship. Meanwhile, Julia and Temperance speak their language: Churchy Folk. Julia does a throwback to the good ol' days when she used to travel, and Tempe tries to indulge her because she wants to make an effort to be social. Totally has nothing to do with her Circle, HAH. At some point Julia offers Tempe a place at Angler- if she ever gets bored of exploring and such. Tempe agrees as long as Julia is still there.
- We drop off Hieroman at Aida and then off to Angler!
- On our way there, we discover a lady in the ocean. Let's go rescue her!... And then hit the brakes on that rescue mission because, uh, Shark Fins? *cue mission impossible theme*
- It is Not A Good Day for a Swim
- Zora tosses her continuous light stone in the hopes that it'll chase the shark away. No dice.
- Rothuss drops his pipe and his sword, prepping himself to jump overboard.
- Lirt attempts a cantrip to distract. Shark says heck you, I want FOOD.
- Shark 1 attacks the Sea Maiden.
- Zora moves towards the railing in case someone needs her to take a dip.
- Rothuss casts Expeditious Retreat!
- Vee has a lot of salt to give to beasts bothering fair maidens, so she starts attacking the shark.
- Sharks bite back, so naturally it wants to munch Vee for interrupting. Vee gives it a finger (probably) and goes HAH I have a ring protecting me, sucker!
- Lirt's like stop playing with sharks and get over here! and throws down a rope for Vee and the Sea maiden.
- Meanwhile, Rothuss delivers what I assume is a smooth line to get the lady to stop flailing as he grabs her.
- Vee simultaneously curses him out and accepts the compliment (assuming the line is for her), all the while slashing sharks into ribbons.
- As Lirt pulls the two up with her rope, Vee manages to grasp the edge of the ship. Alas, she's tired from fighting off sharks. It's a real Mufasa and Scar moment... except there's only Mufasa.
- Tempe attempts to do what Simba probably would've wanted to do if he could turn back time. She doesn't fall over, but her arms aren't the strongest.
- Lirt and Zora attempt the same, and then Glimber goes LEAVE THIS TO ME, FAIR MAIDENS and YEETS Vee over onto the deck.
- Yay, nobody died!
- But, aftereffects: Rothuss is shaking from casting a spell, the Sea Maiden is shaking because she was almost fish food.
- Tempe tries not to interrupt the very important conversation that is going on between Glimber, Sea Maiden, and Vee. She's also attempting to listen to the very poetic Common lingo that she forgets she's got spells to help heal for a bit.
- With no Healing / Anatomy NWP, she casts Detect Poison just to be safe. And voila! Sea Maiden is poisoned! From something that stabbed her, most likely. She then casts Slow Poison, which will last for 5 hours, which is hopefully enough time for Sea Maiden to go get de-toxinated. Antidoted? English broken, please help.
- Next episode: The Ominous Surprise Attack.
As the Grim Lady pulls close to one of the 100-foot-long, 15-foot-wide stone piers (as directed by the pier warden with signaling torches and shouted directions), a sortie of ten sahuagin attack. Having taken advantage of the their entry into the harbor by secretly swimming beneath their ship, they burst from the water like hideous leaping fish, landing upon the dock with tridents posed for conflict. Simultaneously, five additional sahuagin leap from the water onto the railing of the group's ship in one graceful leap.
Ratbone Rhymes
No Ratbone Rhymes recorded. Sad days.
Quotes of the Night
Vee Barlett: Pyramids sound dry and dusty so don't be lookin' at me to take you there.
Hieroman of Glybur: and full of ancient treasure, ancient even to those like me.
Vee Barlett: Treasure be better done where it's wetter.
Vee Barlett: Ya know, under da sea.
BOB Hit on her
Rothuss Carder: Hey, pretty lady. What brings you out here?
Lisa (Inv Zora Polasis): LOL
BOB exactly
Vee Barlett: rolls eyes
Vee Barlett: Sharks got me out here, ya dumbass.
TMO (Rothuss Carder): ARE YOU NOT ENTERTAINED?
Lisa (Inv Zora Polasis): completely
wyjyoon (Temperance): what's happening right now lol
Lisa (Inv Zora Polasis): how potent is the potentate?
wyjyoon (Temperance): i misread beacon house as bacon house
wyjyoon (Temperance): i was like i guess they make bacon there?
You know when you go to your school reunion years after graduating, and it's like, wow things look so similar and yet so different? And then you realize you're late for class and you're not going to graduate? Yeah, those nightmares are the worst. I was going somewhere with this. Anyways. I'm taking over summaries this week after a long break from them so let's see if I should have graduated, shall we?
- We are only 6 miles from Seagate. ONLY 6 MILES. We can make it, right? Only Vee and Heirobarf are rowing, and Vee is definitely doing better than him, so we'll probably make it.
- While Zora and Lirt do not make their rowing rolls, they ARE still being observant of the world and notice an outrigger canoe going... south? Into the storm? Well that's smart of them.
- It's not, really. Lirt signals them, the two yell at the oblivious outrigger about the storm coming since the larger swells are apparently not enough of a clue for them, and the outrigger turns around. Everyone is allowed to have at least one smart moment a day, I suppose.
- We make it to port because it was ONLY 6 MILES. Yay! Vee and Lucie Cushman have a shouting match because apparently Lucie cannot hear. Glimber attempts to join in but is shushed. Probably for the better as I'm unsure if anyone can be louder than Vee and he probably still wouldn't be heard anyways. The Grim Lady, with a D, is advised to go dock along Canal 4 where Scarlet Albright will meet them for the cargo.
- By which we mean Davida Vuong will meet them and ask if they noticed there's a big storm coming? Well duh. But that means no unloading because no one can unload fast enough to beat the ship. She'll send word to Scarlet, advises us to hunker down, and lets us know inland is 10 miles (not 6 miles) away, or if we're feeling less adventurous, Pete's is having a pre-storm party only 200 yards away.
- It may only be 200 yards, but that dock is moving a lot and no one really wants to walk it (and some, such as Zora, claim they may not return if they leave for better land) so we get the ship prepared, close ourselves in, and wait out the storm.
- So how does one pass time as a hurricane/typhoon/cyclone passes overhead? If you are on Vee's Ship, apparently you have the choice of games or making out, of which, Vee chooses both.
- They do try to have conversation, but Vee gets very bored and annoyed by Julia spouting flowery church non-sense and finally manages to woo her. They kiss and shut that conversation down.
- After making everyone else feel awkward, Vee keeps it in her pants for now and starts a game of Truth or Dare of which the following happens:
- Vee dares Glimbers to chug some sea water; Glimber fails but gets a truth from Heirobarf about his elf people having no land (duh, you're on the sea buddy); Heirobarf needles Vee into a dare to swear her devotion to Julia's church; Vee tells Heirobarf he's an idiot, doesn't understand the game, and twists that devotion into a promise of an amazing night together with Julia; Vee dares Zora to play 7 Minutes In Heaven with Heirobarf; Heirobarf again ignores the rules, steals Zora's turn, and dares Ratbone to have Vee tell everyone about her first arrest.
- And here we take a quick break to, once again, say THAT IS NOT HOW THIS GAME WORKS YOU IDIOT. Wow, that elfboy does NOT want Vee to like him, does he? Like, good for Zora and all that, get you some of that action, but he's really falling low on my list of NPCs I like. Slightly above the mage, way above the vampire, but he's still able to see them clearly from where he falls on the list. Not good, elfboy, not good. I hope you drown. But, you know, only after Zora has already moved on from you because she deserves better.
- Anyways, after Vee and others keep saying that's not how the game works, Julia manages to get Vee to elaborate on her story of theft. Child Vee tried to steal a ring and got caught. Pa got mad - but at who? The jeweler is out of business now - but why? Vee didn't get toss in jail and somehow kept all her fingers - but how? Vee also got a talking to - but what kind? But it's fine, let everyone make their assumptions. Vee knows they will and she's fine with that.
- Meanwhile, Glimber and Ratbone are dancing and ignoring the game and the flirtations and making out going on around them. Good for them! They seem to enjoy it!
- When Zora returns, she's allowed to take her turn back and her victim, Julia, decides with the boring option of truth. But here we find out that the church wants her to say her favorite spell is Ceremony, but really? It's talking to sea life. Man, that sounds familiar...
- They end their game with Vee getting her hookup because her hormones are always raging and she is definitely not like her Pa and will outgrow this, right? And with the ship having weathered the storm without damage - hooray!
- But there is a 160 gp resupply fee as well as 80 gp cost for fixing baby shark teeth damage. Oh, and they only got 1130 GP for the cargo they offloaded? Was this a test or did they only transport the "okay" stuff and not the "good" stuff for Pa and Dad?
- Oh well, one day they'll find out, but only after they finally take Julia to her destination. To Anglers we go!
Ratbone Rhymes
Ratbone Carder: [singing] We have a shipment for Scarlet Albright! Four to the shore and we'll find her alright!
Ratbone Carder: We'll head down to the fourth canal. Not late, it's great, hope she's a swell gal!
Ratbone Carder: [singing] I may wait! Til I'm a day late! I don't mind even the hating
Ratbone Carder: There's no way, not tomorrow nor today, am I ever a priest in waiting!
Ratbone Carder: I run with the sun, in frolic and fun, but toward gran things iI inspire
Ratbone Carder: With my beautiful lute, my pipes and my flute, I help my friends and and my fellows rise higher!
Ratbone Carder: [singing] with all due respect, do we genuflect. in the holy can we revere? but I’m with Vee, and Vee's with the sea, so could you pray that the holy draws near
Ratbone Carder: [singing] they say that royalty is inbred. I think it's probably rye
Ratbone Carder: even the king, if he could sing, would do it with his eye
Ratbone Carder: [singing] refuse a dare! player beware! Things will happen that give you a scare!
Ratbone Carder: [signing] you better hope not to fall down the stair! refuse a dare! player beware!
Ratbone Carder: [singing] refuse a dare, player beware! pray you do not encounter a bear!
Ratbone Carder: [singing] pray you never lose all your hair! oh contraier! player beware!
Ratbone Carder: [singing] foul or fair! player beware! you just might not collect your share!
Ratbone Carder: devil may take you or devil may care! refuse a dare! player beware!
Ratbone Carder: [singing] there! there! there! the player need no longer beware!
Ratbone Carder: [singing] once there was a pumpkin, a pumpkin orange and round
Ratbone Carder: [singing] and that little pumpkin was growing in the ground
Ratbone Carder: [singing] along came the mage and picked the pumpkin up
Ratbone Carder: [singing] turned it into a monster, now the pumpkin eats you up!
Ratbone Carder: [singing] gobble gobble pumpkin man! people run all that they can
Ratbone Carder: [singing] terrifying pumpkin land, gobble gobble pumpkin man!
Quotes of the Night
Vee Barlett: Lirt! Yell at them 'bout the storm! They ain't gonna stop. Gotta catch them once they in ear sight.
Davida Vuong: STOMPS on the dock to show how it is going up and down with the waves
BOB As you look out there, OSHA has not been by in decades
Vee Barlett: So them land lubbers might wanna be careful, got it.
Inv Zora Polasis: I don't want to walk 200 yards in a mighty storm
Inv Zora Polasis: Isn't the Captain the only one required to go down with the ship?
Carissa (Vee Barlett): wait!!
Carissa (Vee Barlett): heiro stole zoras!!!
Carissa (Vee Barlett): what a cheating cheater!!!
Spring (Ratbone Carder): what a skeeting skeeter
BOB So you get to make your checks for what ever you think will help alieviate damage
Inv Zora Polasis: [SKILL] Intimidation [MOD:CHA] (vs. Target 12) [SUCCESS by 2] [d20 = 10]
Carissa (Vee Barlett): love the intimidation roll, lol
Lisa (Glimber Silvernose): you will not be damaged!
BOB Are you bypassing everything AGAIN and heading off to the Mantheo region and searching for lost treasures under pyramids?
Lisa (Inv Zora Polasis): don't start Bob
Lisa (Inv Zora Polasis): no we shouldn't hijack a priest and take her pyramid hunting
Carissa (Vee Barlett): it isn't proper derailing if we derail it by YOUR plan of derailing
- Hello, welcome back to Derailing the Builder’s Plans™. The only price we’ve had to pay was Undead sea ladies and the current not working in our favor. So far so good?
- Edited the story chat links because they were off for some reason. Past Wendy was not in her proper brain space.
- Current Headcount (10): Vee, Lirtimya, Rothuss, Ratbone, Melange, Zora, Glimber, Hieroman, Temperance, Julia with All Their Titles.
- Quick Skim:
- Problem: Angler Island had 3 sudden deaths.
- Julia is a churchy folk higher up. Which means hierarchy and titles and stuff.
- Shark? Not-shark? Whatever it is, it isn't hungry enough.
- Zora goes to ask Hiero to take the wheel.
- Watches.
- So remember the 3 sudden deaths in the quick skim? Yeah, apparently Angler’s 3 Patriarchs became very abruptly past tense. And because they were Very Important Men, it’s a Tragedy with a capital T. But Vee’s at the wheel, and she cares more about being a daddy’s girl. So… hang tight there, Julia.
- So off we go, to drop off “the good stuff” as requested by The Barlett Mafia. Thanks to Mel rowing with cheer, we don’t have to worry about moving against the current and the winds of Bob’s Plan™.
- Still, Julia’s a good egg amongst a rotten batch. They’re chill for a 7th level Priest(ess). Who knows, they might be the first high level churchy folk that Vee might actually not want to shank! Just kidding, here’s some vague churchy talk about circles and walking borderlines.
- After some more talking (and apparently flirting from Vee that Wendy did not catch), Julia peaces out to rest below deck. And casually takes over Zora’s room. Are they still chill? Dunno. Vee wants Hieroman to take the wheel, but apparently our elven friend is busy ruminating on How to Be a Hero.
- Oh hello, green onion shark! Not actually, but the word doc got confused by its actual species name that it kept autocorrecting it to green onion, so green onion shark it is. Did we summon it with our headpiece thingy? No.
- Zora gets ready to be stabby happy because she’s not a fan, but Vee tries to talk to it. It pops its head up just to mess with Zora’s nerves, and then cruises on by. Not hungry?
- So Watches! How are they gonna work? Fortunately, there’s only one daddy’s girl that can navigate. Unfortunately, Lirt is sleepy. So it’s either we leave the wheel for someone to spin it like some game show and risk getting shanked, or someone gets Hieroman to stop ruminating in his Mind Meadow.
- So Zora goes over to talk with Hiero and convinces him to navigate while Vee sleeps. Which means…
- Watch 1: Reenactment of the Titanic
- Tempe, Zora, and Mel talk about the ship, apples, seafood vs. being sea’s food.
- And then Hiero sweet-talks Zora into sailing lessons. Which gives them a perfect excuse to get close and personal. Mel’s probably working out somewhere, which leaves Tempe looking out everywhere else but towards the wheel.
- Zora has a grand old time! Which is nice. Tempe gives her room to gush about how fun sailing is. Zora suggests it, but Tempe is like “nah, I’d rather learn how to stab things”. Mostly because she’s not big on ships. They talk about quill-stabbing and fiction before the ladies leave Mel and Hiero to go and sleep.
- Zora finds that Julia has taken her room, so goes off to sleep elsewhere.
- Watch 2: Workout Buddies
- Ratbone wakes to find Melange working out. She’s not sure what the heck is going on but joins in.
- And then she goes “it’s high time I figured out what happened while I was gone”. Which is great, but Melange isn’t the guy to ask for a record of events. They talk about berry harvest instead, which is very fruitful! No sea beast disturbs their convo, and off they go to sleep.
- Watch 3: You’ll Find Her Pain Somewhere?
- We find out Glimber takes things literally at times. Like how he looks for Vee’s “pain in the rear” by literally examining her behind.
- We get some Glimber lore about why he has a silver nose. He knew lots of things about lots of different people, went around searching through people’s things. Invasion of privacy, which he now knows is a no-no. Took him his nose to figure it out, but ya live and ya learn?
- Hello, Lirt!
- So… remember those green onion sharks that cruised by earlier? Yeah, it’s back. She and her 4 babies are hungrier now.
- They start munching on the ship BUT Glimber thinks fast and… throws his continual light rock in the hopes they green onion sharklings will go play fetch.
- And they do go play fetch! Green onion shark mother sucks her babies back in her mouth and takes off towards the sparkly thing.
- Watches are done! Rothuss wakes up and is very confused by “a mother spitting out babies that will eat the ship”. Lirt senses a storm brewing, which means… row row row your ship, FASTER. Zora requests Hiero to row in her stead.
- Next on Derailing the Builder’s Plans™: Ride out the Storm.
Ratbone Rhymes
none detected for this session. buuut lots of Sea shanties!
Quotes of the Night
Vee Barlett: 'Cause I get results.
Ratbone Carder: strums a flourish after "get results"
MeLange: takes an oar!
wyjyoon (Temperance): love that exclamation point after oar
wyjyoon (Temperance): rowing with enthusiasm
Lisa (Inv Zora Polasis): she's a nice priest and isn't lording the power over us
Carissa (Vee Barlett): yeah it's weird
Lisa (Inv Zora Polasis): yes we can convince Hiero
Carissa (Vee Barlett): can we? vee has yelled for the jerk twice and he ignored her
Shislif (MeLange): snow white don't wake up from yelling either
Shislif (MeLange): had to snog her lol
BOB But Temp and Zora and Mel are debating seafood versus being food
MeLange: The Quill Assassin!
Temperance: waves her quill about with flourish.
MeLange: She always has the last word!
Glimber Silvernose: You know Master Hieroman captained our ship for the search for my clan. He is very good at that
Glimber Silvernose: You don't need worry
Vee Barlett: Yar but he a pain in my rear.
Glimber Silvernose: looks at Vee's rear
Vee Barlett: Whatcha doin' back there?
Glimber Silvernose: looking for your pain
Glimber Silvernose: The mama opened her mouth and all the babies can spitting out to try and eat the ship!
Rothuss Carder: That... that sounds terrifying
- Happy Thanksgiving everyone! Hope everyone gobbled up some turkey.
- Also Wendy is assuming it’s still Prelude so please move this elsewhere as necessary, ty.
- Quick Skim of the Night:
- Bob and the rest of us deal with FG glitching.
- We make a plan to derail Bob from his original plan.
- (1) new Priest(ess) has been added to the cargo!
- Welcome back Ratbone and her rhymes!
- Undead Sea Ladies board the lady, and we shank them.
- OH NO NO NO that’s a Dragon Turtle, we’re sailing AROUND.
- Vee, Zora, and Tempe are waiting to meet their priest that they have to ferry to Angler.
- Pronouns weren’t clarified, but priest(ess) is clad in “non-gendered clothing”, so Wendy will simply use them/their/they for the sake of the summary.
- Their name is Julia Fitzenhagen, who was originally Axel Palmroth. Vee makes sure they’re legit, asks them about their skills, and goes “we’re making pit-stops” because it’s her ship and she does what she wants. Also we’re all okay with derailing Bob.
- Julia’s like “you’re the captain, what you say goes”. No shanking happens, but it might mean that Vee gets to charm them instead.
- As that’s happening, Ratbone comes running up to the group like heeyyyyy what did I miss? Vee gets another chance to boast about her ship, Ratbone gets to talk about her family and catch up. We get some Ratbone Rhymes™ in, which will be a dedicated section down below.
- Current Headcount (10): Vee, Lirtimya, Rothuss, Ratbone, Melange, Zora, Glimber, Hieroman, Temperance, Julia the New Priest(ess).
- Vee’s raring to go, so we board the Lady to set sail! As Lirt navigates us out of the channel and into the beyond, Zora and Ratbone spot some weird lady crawling out of the sea and onto the ship. Tempe spots another one from the other side.
- “Lady boardin' the Lady? What?”
- Vee tries to fish-speak to see if they’ll see reason, but all they do is growl and get on her nerves.
- Zora takes her rapier and shanks the one closest to her.
- Lacedon 2 claws and takes a bite out of Ratbone. And then proceeds to recruit her for an involuntary game of freeze tag.
- Ratbone rolls out swear after swear with her eyeballs.
- Lirt aims an Acid Arrow to Lacedon 1. It flies past like a meteor.
- Lacedon 1 dishes out the Claw + Bite + Freeze combo to Tempe.
- Tempe brushes it off, gets mad, and then stabs it back with her dagger.
- Zora takes another stab at Lacedon 2.
- Vee tells everyone that the ladies are Undead. But the stabbing thing is going pretty well, so we brush it off for later discussion.
- Vee also requests activation of Mode_SuperHiero, which doesn’t happen.
- Lacedon 2 finally realizes it’s going to be Sea-Kebob if it doesn’t run away. Bye lady.
- Lacedon 1 isn’t so smart.
- Lirt throws a dagger at Lacedon 1, but it flies past and lands somewhere on the deck.
- Lacedon 1 tries to bite Tempe again, but its aim is off.
- Tempe stabs it back for interrupting her peace.
- Zora goes to shake Ratbone out of her paralysis.
- Melange comes out of his room to see what’s up and deals the final blow to Lacedon 1 and throws its dead body overboard to the sharks.
- Tempe checks to see if everyone is ok, finds that stabbing Lacedons was her gateway to a crippling Shanking addiction, and then goes to help Lirt search for her dagger.
- Discourse about guard rails happens.
- Ratbone is eventually unparalyzed and goes on a rant. Which— valid. And then sees something in the distance.
- It looks like a dragon with a turtle head? Lirt and Vee are like HECK NO, which gets everyone agreeing.
- Glimber, Tempe, Rothuss, and Lirt all row so that we can skeedaddle the heck out of there.
Ratbone Rhymes
Hark hark, it summoned a shark!
You wanted a lark but it summoned a shark!
Hark, hark, it summoned a shark!
—
The blood of the covenant is thicker than the water of the womb.
Nonetheless, you're right I guess, I'll love him til the tomb.
—
Oh! I get my sea legs quick! I never get dizzy, I never get sick!
Watch how I dance all over the deck! Don't tell me that my singing is dreck!
Wait ‘till we get on the open water! I'll show you I'm a seagoing daughter!
When you think we are done a-strummin the lute - that's when I'll bring out my seafaring flute!
—
Vicious! Vile! Vindictive creatures!
Ghoulies who show you the nastiest features!
They snarl so hard and they freeze your bard,
And now every one of them's phantasmic shark bait!
Quotes of the Night
Carissa: sure but also did I understand right last session that the navy pirated for the pirates??
BOB Yarrr?
Carissa (Vee Barlett): bob trying to derail us from derailing his plans I see
Ratbone Carder: I am an esprit de corpsman
Carissa (Vee Barlett): and she's offloading them where? giving them to who? can they get wet?
Lisa (Glimber Silvernose): arrive at dock - ok who wants 26 tons of 'stuff'?
wyjyoon (Temperance): it's the "good stuff"
Carissa (Vee Barlett): good point! she also wants to know if any of it is good stuff aka rum for her to drink and promises to probably not drink it if so
BOB Sealed crates
Carissa (Vee Barlett): boring and she absolutely tells them that like a teenager BOOOORRRINNNGGG
Lisa (Glimber Silvernose): are we bringing a crowbar?
Carissa (Vee Barlett): kick rothuss out of his bed because now ratbone can claim it
Carissa (Vee Barlett): stop staring at the ship vee!
wyjyoon (Temperance): lol she's too in love
Vee Barlett: Lady boardin' the lady? What?
Inv Zora Polasis: Well I poked her all right
Carissa (Vee Barlett): FG is having a mood today
Carissa (Vee Barlett): and vee realizes....
Carissa (Vee Barlett): from her wis roll........
Lisa (Inv Zora Polasis): she forgot her keys at home
Carissa (Vee Barlett): that she wants to stab FG
MeLange: [DAMAGE (M)] Axe, battle [TYPE: slashing (1d8+3=11)] [d8+3 = 11]
[11] -> [to Ghoul, Lacedon 1] [DAMAGE EXCEEDS HIT POINTS BY 9] [STATUS: Dying (0)]
BOB there you go
Carissa (Vee Barlett): fancy axe go!!
Shislif (MeLange): hey nice
Shislif (MeLange): didn't crack under the pressure :)
wyjyoon (Temperance): shine like a diamond, mel :)
Lisa (Inv Zora Polasis): I like purple blood
- By now it’s pretty clear that all our new tasks start at some churchy institution. Vee’s grumpy that she’s been summoned and shows it so strong that Zora has to attempt to dial her back. Tempe is like “eh, I’m sure they’re used to it”.
- Glynna Embershadow, who is probably a high level Priestess of the Cathedral, leads them down sets of stairs. Eryke Treelash, who I assume is also a Priestess of higher level, is there next to a cell door. The two are like “we caught this… creature” while it was stealing from the “merchants in service to the Cathedral”.
- Vee’s like “you caught it yay, congrats?” and they’re like “we need to know if this creature did anything offensive enough to warrant execution” which is code for “we want it to be past tense so give us the justification to do it”.
- Vee in proper Vee fashion is like “heck no”. This creature is different from the goblins they met in the past, and she’s not going to witch hunt a creature if it isn’t guilty. The other two agree. Zora suggests they cast a spell on the creature to try to understand it, but nooo, why would they want to understand the “foul language” it speaks? They are people who serve the holy deities of gods-know-where. Pun intended.
- Safe to say Eryke isn’t used to being told no. Glynna’s like “ok well make it fast because they have a task to do”. And then proceeds to give Tempe a babysitting job: a priest needs to go to Angler Island because the place lost its priest. Tempe is absolutely thrilled about this, obviously. The skeptical and antisocial in charge of a churchy person? I call it exposure therapy.
- Then Vee gets curious about whether the horn she picked up might influence the creature. Goblin? It does. Goblin shows obedience, and Eryke’s like “hand it over”.
- Vee’s like heck no (2). Eryke is already giving off vibes of wanting to do away with the goblin, and giving them the horn could do more harm than good. And unlike the other two churchy folk, she’s not obligated to pretend that she trusts the Cathedral.
- Problem is, Tempe is getting there, too. Priestess or not, she’s a skeptic researcher at heart. While she’s got no problem trusting Bran, she does have a problem trusting people she thinks are shady. Yeah… she cares a lot less about propriety, whoops. Which means Zora’s gonna have hands full making sure they don’t muck up relations with the Cathedral ;)
- After some lengthy discussion, Tempe devises a written document and casts Zone of Truth to see if it’ll help. Eryke agrees, and then Tempe stumbles through hula hoops until she gives the answer they want. Which is basically a pledge to say “unless you’re dead, you complete the task”. Thanks for reminding me that she’s blessed to be part of this lawful cult :)
- They meet Rothuss and Lirt outside. Vee wants to drink again, so they go back to her house, where her Pa and Dad are waiting. Adelaide is also there, which means Rothuss gets to chat her up while Vee shows how much of a daddy’s girl she is.
- Vee’s Dad and Pa are like “we need someone to transport 26 tons of stuff”. Which sounds more exciting than delivering a Priest to some fisherman’s island, so sure! We might also snag a look at Firebeard’s treasure on the way.
- Which means tasks from the Cathedral are procrastinated. But what else is new?
- That’s it folks! Next episode is sailing in the morning + Ratbone returning to catch us before we go?
Quotes of the Night
Vee Barlett: Why y'all draggin' me with ya?
Inv Zora Polasis: I don't know. You were requested
Inv Zora Polasis: So we bring you
Vee Barlett: Didja tell them to F off?
Glynna Embershadow: No they did not young Vee Barlett
Vee Barlett: Oh hey. F Off. I'm in a good mood and I don't want it ruined.
Carissa: WOOO! Best achievement we've made in awhile - ruining bob's plan
Inv Zora Polasis: [SKILL] Intimidation [MOD:CHA] (vs. Target 12) [SUCCESS by 8] [d20 = 4]
Lisa (Inv Zora Polasis): targets GM
- Welcome back folks! The Motley Crew returns to get reacquainted with one another after approximately a year of training and self-exploration and all that jazz.
- Quick Skim of the Night: Vee shows off the new ship she’s built, and it all goes like your regular-degular housewarming. Or shipwarming. Whatever the heck it’s called.
- Everyone gathers at Vee’s house like it was all scheduled. Slim chance that it was, but maybe? Tempe with Zora and Glimber in tow from the Cathedral, Melange and Lirtimya from the library, and Rothuss from the docks.
- Vee’s super excited to announce that she’s finally taking over her fathers’ mafia business full time! Just kidding. Her new ship’s finished building, and now we don’t have to worry about hitching rides with strangers or owing favors for transportation. We do, however, have to pay for parking and make sure it doesn’t get stolen.
- Thorwald Knubel hands Vee a basket full of bottles. To drink, yeah, but one is reserved to smash against the ship. Apparently it’s common practice.
- So they go down to the docks and get introduced to… The Grim Lady! A.K.A. “Lady Grim” or, occasionally, “The Bloody Nuisance”. She’s got a Manta Ray figurehead we picked up from the caves, which can summon sharks (which is apparently not the same as controlling), and lots of room. Nice!
- Vee smashes her bottle, Tempe casts a ceremonial blessing for her future voyages, and Rothuss plays a nice song for her.
- Some updates on PCs:
- Lirt has learned some new spells. Hooray!
- Glimber has practiced speaking human! Hooray!
- In turn, Zora now knows how to speak gnome… gnomish?
- Tempe’s cut her hair (out of churchy folk frustration).
- Vee’s fathers have added some new decorations
- Rothuss has a multicolored vest to distract others in future drunken fights.
- Everyone also has a continual light thing, hooray! Rothuss has his latched onto his belt, Vee has her oyster pick, etc.
- Lirt tests out the archery ring that Tempe gave her.
- The same noble in the field comes out, with the same weird mission to kill the witch.
- Lirt chooses 3 daggers, because she’s a mage who wants to shank, obviously.
- The dice are like “good choice” and rewards her with a crit.
- So now she’s got a +1 to throwing daggers! Yay!
- That’s it folks! Next episode is dinner at the Barlett house + the weird stuff that happens in the morning. Considering the arc is called “Blood Mother” … yeah, buckle up buttercups.
Quotes of the Night
TMO (Rothuss Carder): Bob - if the Bloody Nuisance is under Sail and Oars, does the special figurehead add +10 or +20 yds/hr?
wyjyoon: Wait is that the name of the ship
Carissa (Vee Barlett): no
TMO (Rothuss Carder): it *should* be the name of the ship... ;)
Carissa (Vee Barlett): Ah yes I really like that one that's all black
Carissa (Vee Barlett): ...which is all of them
wyjyoon (Temperance): lol
BOB DOH
wyjyoon (Temperance): Our boat is called Hello Bloody Darkness
wyjyoon (Temperance): *ship
Carissa (Vee Barlett): is glimber a warrior? because he can do that AND the mental image of it is top notch
Lisa: yes he is a fighter
TMO (Rothuss Carder): *smurf straining trying to pull the lever*
TMO (Rothuss Carder): Bloody Seacow
wyjyoon (Temperance): Bloody Buttercup
Carissa (Vee Barlett): lmao
Carissa (Vee Barlett): I mean Vee would call it the Bloody Bitch but that's probably not appropriate
BOB Just don't want it on your hair comb, then leave it at home
Lisa: that's a good item
Lisa: over your head
wyjyoon (Temperance): lol holy light over her head
Carissa (Vee Barlett): permanent halo so no one can question if you're evil
wyjyoon (Temperance): now she just needs 7 more eyes and she'll be biblically accurate
BOB walk into a room, look around, pull back the hood of your cloak and TA DA bright holy light shines upon you
Lisa: then ask for donations
Rothuss Carder: hey Vee.
Vee Barlett: flips him off
Vee Barlett: Who let you in?
Rothuss Carder: I have a key!
Vee Barlett: Who you pay off?
Rothuss Carder: Nunya
BOB cantrip the deck pink? ;P
Carissa (Vee Barlett): vee punches you
