The Savage Tide [IC]

[Bladehunter217]

"Tom, relax and don't move for the moment. Shouting Tree, please do the same, I will keep Tom here until you three are calm." Sadi moves slowly, placing a hand on his belt.

[Swami Monsoon]

Tom takes a step back...

"Uh... I was just admiring your new cat. I like cats... After all I am part cat... well, cat and lots of, uh, other stuff... but anyway... if kitty is shy I'll keep my distance..."

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I was just expressing my admiration. I did not actually try to approach the cat or touch it...

[Bladehunter217]

"Big cats can get startled easily Tom. You generally don't move too quickly around them when they don't know you well." Sadi chuckled, removing his hand from his belt and watching the panther closely.

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I know, but when you suddenly jump up in from of a few hundred pounds of muscle, it will get surprised.

[MikelaC1]

DESIRIA

Desira, who has little experience even with domesticated animals, has even less with wild ones and keeps her distance, especially from a panther who could probably eviscerate her with one strike.

[PSinger]

Giving Mr. Cohen a long look back and forth between he and Shouting Tree, Darrius relents and says, "That's fine, but like Thunderstrike, he'll need to be caged at first until you train him. I will not have an untrained or semi-trained predator cat, even one that isn't quite as large as it could be, roaming the ship."

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Time to get this show on the road...

[lostsole31]

Goodmonth 18, 589 CY (Godsday)

The expedition headed out, south of S. Olman Isle out to sea and finally away from the coast. Today, as Godsday, it is the day of worship. Sister Desiria leads the general service to the gods, and Skald runs a short veneration to the gods of the sea afterwords.

Mr. Cohen will study Celiss's notes most of the day. Desiria has this as an open counseling day, free from her labors as a non-qual. Later in the evening, Mr. Cohen will have an in-depth discussion that focuses on his fight with the will-o'-wisp and the varrangoin. Shouting Tree spends the evening training his panther.

Anyone else want to RP with anyone? Also, is there any question about the ship's complement (officers and crew)?

[Bladehunter217]

Sadi does what he does best, whistle while he works. That is, he will take his assignments in stride and keep to himself until boredom sets in, which will be a few days at least. He will grace anyone in his presence with either a song or a whistled tune.

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Nothing too important to report here. After a few days, he'll start driving the crew insane with stories and questions, but for now, he is content.

[Swami Monsoon]

Tom uses his free time to get to know his new shipmates. Introductions are always awkward for him, but he tries his best. This time he makes sure to keep his voice down...

[lostsole31]

Sea Wyvern’s Crew Complement and passengers

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1. Captain (Officer): Darrius Wavebreaker
2. First Mate/ Navigator (Officer): Mr. Kahir
3. Second Mate/ Ship’s Surgeon (Officer): Mr. Cohen
4. Boatswain (Officer): Ms. Venkalie
5. Rigger/ MAA: Lirith Veldirose
6. Ship's Cook: Sadi Fleggins
7. Windsinger: Skald (the Cursed One)
8. Combat Specialist/ Deckhand: Agnipati
9. Deckhand: Shouting Tree
10. Deckhand: Tom Underhill
11. Cabin Boy: Tavey Nesk
12. Ship’s Prelate & Mage (Non-Qual): Sister Desiria Tynalon of Myhriss
13. Ship’s Armorer (Non-Qual): Hifestus Smithson

Also, Lord Avner Meravanchi, 9 passengers, 1 heavy warhorse, and 1 black panther.

Goodmonth 19, 589 CY
(Waterday)

In the late afternoon, Rabbi Cohen is put through combat training (at his request) specifically to be able to deal with multiple attackers.

Goodmonth 20, 589 CY
(Earthday)

Mr. Cohen calls Sister Desiria to him. He tutors her to advance her medical knowledge.

In the evening, Mr. Cohen will stretch his wings with aerial recon. He does this often anyway, but tonight is a night wherein he really takes the chance to fly.

Goodmonth 21, 589 CY
(Freeday)

The rumor is, though the officers don't mention it, that the ship is now in the Pearl Current. It is a powerful current that is known to push ship's far off course. Since navigation is a powerfully kept secret (and Sadi, the cook, doesn't have access to the charts), the crew will simply have to trust in their officers to lead them aright.

Otherwise, today is rope yarn. This is the day that everyone tends to their assigned section of the ship for rope and canvas maintenance, cleaning, scrubbing, and whatever other maintenance is needed. After that, except for watches and sleep, that is when there is fun. This is probably the time that the fun is uncorked. Sadi probably sings and plays his flute. Agnipati is an outstanding storyteller and dancer, Amella (Ms. Venkalie) a consummate actress. It is a fun night for crew and passengers alike.

Mr. Cohen cleans up his medical area, and then spends the entire rest of the day in deep prayer and meditation.

Goodmonth 22, 589 CY
(Starday, New Moon)

Mr. Cohen will spend the time Mr. Kahir is navigating to engage him in various intellectual debate.

Goodmonth 23, 589 CY
(Sunday)

Land once again looms on the horizon. For a moment, most of the crew and onlooking passengers think they've reached the Isle of Dread ahead of schedule, but in truth they've only spotted the isle of Ruja, an uninhabited island surrounded by 1,000-foot high cliffs and crowned with a tangle of thick jungle. Rumors have long held that Ruja is the lair of some form form of terrible monster, yet the difficulty of even reaching the jungle peaks above have ensured that the isle's interior has remained unexplored.

The expedition is not scheduled to stop at Ruja - instead, its southwestern cliffs serve as a last landmark on the way to the Isle of Dread. Beyond these cliffs, only 500 miles of open sea lie between the expedition and their goal.

Captain Wavebreaker, the Sea Wyvern (and by extension the Blue Nixie) has enough food stores to make the last two weeks of the voyage, so Lavinia has no qualms about stopping for a few days here to let an away team scratch their itch for exploration.

Are you interested, or do you want to bypass Ruja?

Does anyone else have any input? Mind you, there is a 1000-foot climb up a sheer cliff, not a hill.

NPCs...

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Agnipati considers herself to be a superb climber, and is intrigued some but otherwise not that interested. Nonetheless, with some care she thinks the ascension can be done relatively well.

Mr. Cohen can fly, but that doesn't help anyone else. As a healer and not a combatant, there is not much he can do on his own.

Lirith Veldirose, as an acrobat, figures that she's probably the best climber on the ship. "There's nothing that cliff can throw at me that I can't handle."

Mr. Kahir says he has a lot of room-altitude combat maneuvers that can make great use of walls. He considers himself an excellent climber, but realizes that this climb is difficult even for himself.

Shouting Tree isn't sure if he could climb so high a distance. He grew up having to zoom about on trees, and Mr. Cohen speaks highly of him. Given an order he'll go; otherwise he'd rather not, especially since his panther can't go with him.

Skald is a notably good climber, given that he often goes all the way up to the crow's nest. He figures himself one of the best climber's onboard (which Lirith greatly contests), but he says, "I think whatever danger lies above is little compared to the climb. I could do it if I took forever. I would tire myself out when I got up top, though, and if a monster came calling while fatigued and it picks up a new spell, I'd be done. We should not make this climb, but I will go if asked."

Smithson has no climbing skill, despite having a climbing kit.

Ms. Venkalie shakes her say, "Yer a young monkey if'n you think you can make that climb with all in health. Trust me, cap'n. I'm yer bo'sun. 'Sides, what if some great monster with wings decides to have a go at us while climbing? Ne'er a thing we can do but ask the vulture if'n it wants curry or cat'sup with us."

[Bladehunter217]

"Sir," Sadi walks directly towards the captain, Bardiche over his shoulder. "I could climb up with illusion copies of myself to act as decoys just in case there is something that could attack on or around the cliff. At least, that is my suggestion considering the concerns of being attacked on the cliff, as for once we reach the top. It certainly is a long climb and while I'm certain it isn't too difficult, would certainly prove tiring. In short, I suggest sending a scout of some kind."

[MikelaC1]

DESIRIA

While the thoughts of exploring the wild unknown have a certain appeal to me, the chance of me succesfully climbing a 1000 ft sheer cliff is next to nil.

[Swami Monsoon]

Tom is eager to make a good impression on his new crew.

"I can lead. I climb very well. And if I fall off... I just try again..."

He demonstrates by scrambling about 20 feet up the nearest ratlines, letting go and then gently floating back down to the deck. If only the others shared that little talent...

"But where do we find a thousand feet of rope?"

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Use Featherfall at will ability

[PSinger]

"We don't," Captain Darrius to Tom. "While interested by your enthusiastic response, those who are willing. We'll continue the expedition and our job. After that's done, we can come back and explore without having to worry about nine non-sailors that are probably at wit's end being at sea, other than our short shore leave in Renkrue. Sorry, Wyvern, but you'll have to wait.

"Ms. Venkalie, let's signal the Nixie that we won't stay here."

[lostsole31]

Goodmonth 24-26, 589 CY

These days are easy sail. On the 25th, Skald swears he saw a massive sea monster with an eye as big as a head out in the distance. Any attempt to see or detect it again fails. Two theories from the (NPC) crew: he's lying, or he really did see something and it is his cursed nature that has attracted such a beast that merely awaits the proper time to attack.

Goodmonth 27-28, 589 CY

Up until this point, the expedition has been lucky - you've had clear weather without a storm in sight. That luck ends as soon as reach a stretch of the Vohoun Ocean. Late at night, the wind whips into a frenzy, and by dawn of the 28th, the ships caught in a full-fledged storm. Even with the souls of countless sailors gone before him in his sailor's bracers, Captain Darrius still struggles to keep ahold of the ship.

HARVESTER 1, 589 CY [HIGH SUMMER]
(Starday, Half-Moon, Waxing)

The storm finally dies down in the morning, and it seems that the Sea Wyvern was blown about a day off course. But there is another effect. The Blue Nixie is nowhere to be seen. Lavinia's standing orders in this case is to continue on to Farshore and reunite there if the ships get separated, even though you have no idea if the Blue Nixie made it through intact.

Does anyone have any means of determining any current information on the Blue Nixie?

[PSinger]

Darrius looks to his crew, doubtful that anyone has anything that could help.

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Most of Darrius' incarnate powers are really skill/attack/damage/save-roll boosting. Otherwise, some short-range offense or defense.

[MikelaC1]

DESIRIA

Long range communication can be granted to those of greater power than myself, but I cannot handle the magics involved.

[Bladehunter217]

"I'm not exactly a spell caster and I've not any items that could help in this regard." Sadi shrugs and shakes his head.

[Swami Monsoon]

"I can read the weather, but I don't know any of those other special tricks... uh, I mean I don't know any other 'scrying spells.' That's what they call it, right?"

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I would have continued to cast Read Weather at the end of each day, so they should have had some warning of the storm (if they took me seriously).

[PSinger]

Captain Darrius nods. "I understand. I can't ask more of any of you than I should be able to ask of myself. Well, Mr. Kahir, make the corrections for Farshore, and may the Blue Nixie fare well, or their souls sent to a happy return."

[lostsole31]

Harvester 1-5, 589 CY

After the first day of course correction (Harvester 2nd), the Sea Wyvern continues south for about 150 miles over the next few days. Tom Underhill reads the weather in the evening. Though he doesn't sense any storms coming, he does sense that there will be overcast skies at night and thick fog in the early morning.

Harvester 6, 589 CY
(Earthday)

As the gray dawn breaks, burning fitfully through the morning fog to light the sea, something seems strange about the waters below. They seem almost solid, as if the sea had formed some strange sort of skin. The air seems dead as well, and the sails hang limply, heavy with moisture from the receding fog.

Finally, the mist begins to clear, and what is unveiled is not the gently rolling vista of the sea but a wet green field of weed. The swath of dirty green stretches flatly in all directions. To the stern, it extends for perhaps half a mile, beyond which lie the open waters of the mocking sea. In all other directions, the weed extends to the horizon. Trapped within its vice are dozens of long dead ships, their hulls protruding from the sargasso at odd angles, masts askew, sails hanging in tatters. One such ship lies mired only six hundred feet to the port, and it seems to be in better shape than the others. Perhaps most unnerving, however, is neither the sight nor smell of so much sun-baked seaweed. It is the unnatural silence, for the thick choking green has robbed the Sea Wyvern even of the strangely comforting sound of water lapping against the hull. It is not a healthy silence. It is the silence of a graveyard.

Old Salt Knowledge...

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Sister Desiria, Festus, Lirith
What the hell?!?

Ms. Venkalie; Sadi, Shouting Tree

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The swath of seaweed is a sargasso, a treacherous path of vegetation often driven by storms only to collect in regions of the ocean that even the winds and current seem to fear. A patch a mile across would be unusual, yet this swath stretches to the horizon.

Captain Wavebreaker

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Sailors call it Journey's End, and speak of it in hushed tones - rumors of a living island that appears from the mists after storms. This living land is said to have a black soul that fuels the hunger of children rumored to live within its green embrace.

Messrs. Cohen & Kahir; Agnipati, Underhill

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Journey's End is one of the sea's more terrible blights, and is said to be able to crush ships in its grip. Its children are awful creatures formed of the weed itself, and are said to rise by night to slake their hunger upon any their green mother has caught in her grasp.

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React with appropriate knowledge for your character ...

[Bladehunter217]

"I don't know about you lot, but I am definitely keeping my weapon in hand, these are cursed waters." Sadi grips his baradiche tight and peers over the side of the ship before waiting for anyone else's opinion on it.

[MikelaC1]

DESIRIA

Sister Desiria is far too refined a lady to react as some might think she would, but most can tell she is thinking just that...

If we sailed into it, could we just not back out of it? Given favourable winds?

[Swami Monsoon]

Tom stares out into the green hell around the Sea Wyvern...

"Keeping your weapons handy would be a very good idea... This thing is called the 'Journey's End.' The stories I've heard about it were hard to believe... but here we are. They say this great clump of weeds is alive... not like plants are alive... but smart. It can think and move around. There are smaller things that live inside of it, its 'children.' The Journey's End and its crew cruise around the open sea in the wake of storms, catching and eating ships... and the people on them. It's like the world's biggest and most evil pirate ship..."

He looks outward again.

"I don't see anything moving out there yet. It's a good thing we ran into this thing early in the morning. The smaller critters mostly come out at night. Mostly. That's when they try to board... Damnit... I hope the Blue Nixie's not in here somewhere..."

[Bladehunter217]

"Some kind of intelligent plant? That might be worse than a curse. Desiria, there is no wind or current, whatever this stuff is, it is not natural, escaping it will not likely be so easy."

[PSinger]

Darrius thinks about it. "Well, here we are. Looks like we'll have a very hard road ahead, but it looks like we'll have to cut our way out ... back the way we came. That's a half mile of surface-choked ocean, unless anyone has a better idea?"

[Swami Monsoon]

"Uh... Uh, this is really going to suck, isn't it... I can probably kill the weeds a little bit at a time..."

Tom exhales and aims a tentative puff of freezing mist over the rail...

"But even dead, they would still be sitting there in our way. So... work parties in the longboats to cut a path and then tow us out? That would take... a long time. Think we can finish before the sun goes down and the face eating lamp is lit? Does anybody have a spell or a trick that would speed things up?"

[MikelaC1]

DESIRIA

I could try to use scorching ray to burn a path through them, but Im not really sure how useful that would be

[Bladehunter217]

"Unless turning water into wine or making people easy to float are included in the useful trick section, my tricks are not especially magical. Captain, I don't think we accidentally floated into this, I think it collected around us, doesn't it seem a little strange?"

[Swami Monsoon]

"Yeah, that's another problem. This thing might expand or pull us in faster than we can cut a path out... Hmmm... If it's alive it must have a brain. So if we can find the brain... But of course the brain might be miles from here. And there are probably lots and lots of angry little plant pirates between us and it..."

[PSinger]

"Captain's prerogative," Darrius says, grabbing a layline. He rappels over the side to the water. He'll feel the weeds, even move down a bit to feel with his hands. Then, he'll belch full-power gobs of acid.