Rise of the Titans, Act One: The Ogres of Kettle

[The_Dodger]

Rise of the Titans
Act One
The Ogres of Kettle

Scene One: Ill Tidings

The group sits within the shade of an open walled inn known as the Lost Anchor on the wharf in Anchorhead. A light breeze blowing off the ocean does little to disrupt the oppressive humidity and swarming flies that populate the area. The salty smell of the ocean mixes with the scent of pipe smoke and fresh bread, along with a hint of raw fish coming from the wharf. Overhead a few wisps of cloud drift through an otherwise clear blue sky, and the sun blazes bright and warm. Today marks the tenth day that the group has been waiting for the elven emissaries. The innkeeper, a rotund man with watery eyes and a healthy growth of stubble is polite as always, but seems rather smug as he takes yet another silver piece in payment for the round of drinks he sets on the table.

As the sleepy afternoon gives way to a slightly cooler evening, the group hears a cry from the wharf. It is a cry they have heard many times before, of course; the harbormaster is announcing that a ship has entered the harbor. Perhaps this time the ship will bring in the elves the group is waiting for so that they can finally move on towards Windspire and the impending negotiations. As the group watches, though, they spy two ships entering the harbor. They can clearly recognize one of them as being a coastal patrol ship for the kingdom of Rhaewind. It tows a battered vessel that lies low in the water behind it.

[stack]

Magnus sets his drink down, standing and stalks to the edge of the dock, squinting at the oncoming ships. He curses quietly and spins calling his squire with a slight nod. He speaks quietly, but those with sharp ears may overhear, "Leif, saddle a horse and be ready to ride. I fear we may soon have news regarding our task and the rest of our faction should hear it as soon as possible." The youth nods, "Sir!" Magnus claps him on the back with a hand, then turns to the sea as his squire departs, the edge of his forest green tabbard shifted by the sea breeze.

[Ramsus]

Torunn Xistsrith Half-Ogre Paladin, Homeguard of the Knights of Gadarheim Concentrating on: -- "Well, we had best meet them. They may need aid. If not, seeing friendly faces will not hurt." Torunn states and gets up to leave.

[aguaracu]

"Finally something's happening!" exclaims the young human at the table
"Let's grab our gear and meet them." she says over her shoulder as she heads for the stairs. In her room she looks at a mirror, hesitates and then says something unintelligible and snaps her fingers.

When she heads out the door of the inn she her clothes are slightly smarter than they were thirty seconds earlier. An attentive observer would think that her eyes looked a little different. An extremely attentive observer would think that her hair lay differently against the side of her head.

Spoiler: Disguise Self

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Kara has cast Disguise Self and:
-Subtly tweaked her eyes and ears to look less elvish (she wears her hair and/ or a hat over her ears anyway) and older (late twenties for a human rather than early twenties).
-Altered the colour (but not the cut) of her clothes and breastplate to look cleaner and a little less faded.
All the changes are subtle enough that most people wouldn't notice them and would doubt their memory if they did notice.

Kara is taking a healer's kit, some anti-toxin and some healing potions with her.

[Whiskeyjack]

Vayl sits sipping her third glass of a watered-down blueish wine with the rest of the group and nervously picks at a bowl of olives and the remains of crusty bread, sopping the very last bits of fish stew out of her bowl. Beneath her customary hood bearing the colors and sigils of the Legion, her eyes flick to the flies on or near everything and it takes quite an exertion of self-control to not simply lash out with arcane bolts at them. Knowing how that would make her look to both her companions and to strangers, she refrains, at least for now.

The wait has clearly not done wonders for Vayl's mood and she has clearly grown more tense with each passing day; though she puts on her best professional face as usual, her tone is clearly strained when she speaks on the matter today. "Well, I can't say the food has been bad here, but the flies that come with it, I could certainly do without. You may not know this, and it may seem contrary to their nature as beings from a wild plane, but it's not like the elves to be late. Or, maybe our Orders just sent us too early and did not properly interpret the portents of their arrival," she smiles, hoping that it does amount to the fey making some kind of point with their scheduling, instead of darker reasons for their delay.

At the call of the harbormaster, she jumps to her feet and downs her remaining wine before peering to the mouth of the harbor, just as she has with the arrival of every ship the past ten days, eager to again be in the presence of full-blooded elves for at least a short time. With all that can and will happen, she has thought, The last thing the Queen's people need is to seem unreliable to the Knights and the Legion. The human kingdoms need the aid more than the fey need them, but not by much. Not by very much at all.

Her heart sinks as she does not see an elven ship sailing into harbor, but she looks instead at the shape and any flags of the damaged vessel, hoping that it's just some human ship and not that of the Tel'Qushar emissaries. "Is that...an elvenmake ship under tow?" she wonders aloud, unsure from this distance, but there is a clear note of distress in her typically well-controlled tone.

[The_Dodger]

From the inn it is impossible to clearly see what sort of ship the patrol is towing in, but it seems to be causing quite a stir on the docks. There is a great deal of commotion on the docks as sailors run back and forth, securing both the coastal patrol ship and the ship being towed. As they draw near, the group can see that the crew of the patrol ship is also manning the second ship, which seems to have suffered a great deal of damage. The sails are torn and tattered with signs of recent patches in several areas. The same is true for the hull which is pocked with arrow and ballista holes as well as a larger tear on the port side, which looks to be the result of a glancing blow from a ram. Parts of the ship show signs of charring, probably from flaming missiles of some sort. The ship lists dangerously to port, indicating that she is probably taking on water and the crew must be constantly bailing out the hold to keep her afloat. Drawing nearer the group can also clearly read the name of the ship. It is the Zephyr's Song, one of the elven ships they have been waiting for.

[Ramsus]

Torunn Xistsrith Half-Ogre Paladin, Homeguard of the Knights of Gadarheim Concentrating on: -- Torrun purposely and quickly walks over to whoever seems to be in charge of the situation and asks on behalf of the group, "Is there anything we can do to be of assistance? We are members of the Knights of Gadarheim and the Wyvern Legion here to meet with and protect the Elven delegation." He voice is even, but conveys that she'd really rather they do something to help than just wait on the sidelines. If Torrun is aware her large stature and shining armor look almost comically out of place on the dock, she doesn't show it. Of course it probably helps that the people here have seen her down here every day for over a week and probably are no longer bothering to stare or make comments.

[Hemnon]

Nyscera had been bored ever since they all arrived and waited for that ship to arrive.
Much of her time was spend entertaining the patrons of the Inn they were all in with both dancing mixed with tambourine use, as well as songs and stories.
All of it had paid for her own expenses while staying there but it was boring to her to stick around the same place for days on end.

Alongside the others, She'd been sitting with her cheek against one palm, with the elbow on the table for support, slowly spurting out small bits of magic to freeze-kill any swarm of flies around her. She of course very much knew that any more powerful magic would both be wasteful to make use of right now, as well as the tendencies for random hijinx to happen with the chaotic nature of her magic. luckily her Cantrips were stable enough for use without sudden explosions.
Upon hearing the other call out the arrival of the Elves... well, hopefully it were them, Nyscera sprang to her feet. "Finally! Those faerie-folk do take their time don't they!" She was clearly eager to get out of this place, because she almost forgot her Channeling Rod in her haste.

[The_Dodger]

The harbor master barely even registers the groups approach. He glance irritably at them, "What's it look like? We've got injured crew and a ship near sinkin'! Either lend a hand or get off my docks!" he bellows at them as he stomps away to oversee the men who are working to keep the elven ship floating while more men move on board to aid the elves that have collapsed on the deck. Climbing on board the Zephyr's Song the group find the elven crew exhausted and in many cases injured. Many of them have collapsed on the deck or in the quarters below. Only a single elf seems to be on his feet, though he appears heavily injured. His uniform and the silver token around his neck mark him as the ship's captain, and he appears to be very busy, ignoring his own injuries as he helps to get his crew off the heavily damaged ship.

[Whiskeyjack]

"Better call your squire back, Magnus. I don't think we'll be needing a warhorse right now," Vayl says to the knight. "And he might be able to do some good here with getting the wounded onto solid ground."

"Captain," Vayl moves over to the obvious captain, speaking in Elvish and bowing slightly. "I'm Vaylanda Tyldryssos, with the Wyvern Legion. We're part of your..." she pauses before saying 'escort,' given the situation. "We're the group sent from Gadarheim and Arthenhal to help you in any way we can," she continues. "What happened to your ship? Who dared assault a Tel'Qushar vessel?"

[Hemnon]

Nyscera felt her cheeks burn with mild shame upon seeing the state of all of those elves... She hadn't expected them to be in such a roughed up state.... and her prior comment was nagging at her now. Hence the mild redness to her cheek.
She uttered a curse in Infernal before saying. "Good Gods! What has happened to them all? where they attacked uring the voyage?!" He asked out loudly to no one in particular.

[aguaracu]

"What's it look like? We've got injured crew and a ship near sinkin'! Either lend a hand or get off my docks!"

"I'm here to look after the health of the diplomatic party." Kara says as she boards. "Where are they?"
Kara quickly appraises the condition of those onboard and lends her efforts to helping them.

Spoiler: OOC

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Kara will seek out the diplomats to see if they urgently need help. If they are in a stable condition (or not there) she will join in triaging and treating the crew.
If skill rolls are necessary to work out what's going on or help the elves Kara will use Guidance.
Medicine: (1d20+6)[21] + Guidance (1d4)[4]

[stack]

Seeign the extent of the damage, Magnus turns aside to dispatch his two servants into the inn. A serious attack; well armed. Pirates? Ship does not look like a fat trader. Planned interference then; most likely Wraithmaar. Who else stands to gain?

He let's the other members of the escort speak. Puck and Helga soon reappear, each bearing two bags of healer's supplies, ready to tend to the wounded. Magnus relieves Puck of his burden, nodding the man forward to help with the ropes. Magnus himself stands back out of the way until he can board; he is no sailor.

Spoiler

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the two servants bring a total of 4 healer's kits and will offer the extra to anyone that asks

[The_Dodger]

The elven captain spares only a quick moment to the group as they board and bombard him with questions, "The ambassadors are not here," he states bluntly as he helps a sailor lift an injured elf from the deck, "I must see to the care of my people and my ship. I have no time to speak now. Find me later," he says as he moves away, letting the injured elf lean on his shoulder as he escorts him off the ship.

It takes several hours of exhausting work securing the Zephyr's Song enough to prevent it from sinking, and several more hours to get the elven crew into rooms at the local inns. Those with the worst injuries are taken to temples for healing, and the dead are laid out respectfully in a garden plaza just off the wharf to await transport back to Tel'Qushar for their final rest. It isn't until after the sun has set and the stars have begun to sparkle in the velvet black of the night sky that the group is finished aiding the elves and are able to track down the captain of the Zephyr's Song at a small, dockside inn.

When they ask for him, they are directed to a room on the second floor where they find the elven man sitting on the edge of his bed waiting for them. Like all elves, he is a tall, regal figure of a man with sharp features and brilliant green eyes, though one of them is partially covered by the bandages wrapped tightly around his head. His long, straight hair is silver-white, suggesting he is much older than he appears, and one of his arms rests in a sling. When the group enters the room the captain gestures to a number of chairs he had obviously had brought up for this very meeting. He introduces himself as Rythas Starbreeze before beginning his tale.

”We set out over a month ago to make the journey down the Star Wash to the sea and around the cape of Arthenhal,” he begins as he settles back in his own chair by the window, ”We expected trouble, and we were ready for it. We had two sorcerers in our small fleet of three ships, including my cousin, Ambassador Teilas. They used their magic to create favorable winds. When we rounded the cape of Arthenhal, we thought we were going to make it after all, though some of us had entertained doubts all along,” the captain gets a pained expression on his face, suddenly showing the age of centuries that weigh on him, ”Then they set upon us like hounds on a fox. We were only three days out of Anchorhead and we had let our guard down. Five black ships out of the Bloodstone Isle bore down on us from the east, filled with minotaurs. We gave them a fight,” at this a small smile briefly plays across Rythas's face before his somber expression returns, ”But their numbers overwhelmed us. Two of the ships pinned the Eagle's Flight between them and swarmed all over her before the guards could stop them. Another two pulled the same maneuver on the Willow's Song, only they cracked her hull while doing it. The fifth ship tried to ram us, but failed to score a solid hit,” Rythas balls up the hand of his injured arm into a fist as the memories play across his mind, ”After a few exchanges of missiles our sorcerer whipped up a wind to carry us away while becalming our pursuer.”

The elven captain pauses now, taking a drink of water from a glass beside his bed before he continues, ”As I looked back, I saw that the other two ships were lost. Minotaurs were rounding up the crews and clapping them in irons. I could see Teilas himself, bound and bleeding, being hustled onto one of the pirate ships,” the old elf's face is filled with pain as he speaks of his captured cousin, ”I don't know how many died in the fighting, but I saw with my own eyes that they must have captured at least two dozen of my people. The ambassadors are gone, prisoners of the Bloodstone pirates. I don't even know where to begin looking for them,” Rythas looks to the group as he finishes his tale, a tired, pained look in his eyes.

[stack]

Magnus takes a chair, listening intently, fingers steepled, nodding periodically as the captain tells his tale. When he is finished, Magnus clears his throat and speaks, "You expected trouble earlier in the journey; were you concerned about pirates, or did you expect interference in your mission specifically?"

He looks to his companions, leaning forward, "Our duty is to bring the ambassador safely to Windspire. If he still lives, our duty is not done. I no little of the Bloodstone Isle and its pirates. What are our options?"

[Ramsus]

Torunn Xistsrith Half-Ogre Paladin, Homeguard of the Knights of Gadarheim Concentrating on: -- "I am glad you at least made it so that we would know what occurred. I wish I could do more for you than wish you a speedy recovery. I swear we will do our best to free your people." Torunn says to the captain. In reply to Magnus she says, "We will have to ask other sailors for information on these Bloodstone pirates. Being a closer threat, hopefully they will have more information. Of course we'll also need a ship willing to take us to engage with them." Spoiler Show I'm just assuming over the course of the day Torunn used all her healing abilities.

[aguaracu]

"These are terrible losses you have suffered and you have our sympathies. How many people were on the Eagle's Flight and the Willow's Song?"

Kara thinks for a moment and then asks some more questions, "Did the pirates seem to target any ship in particular? Which ship or ships were the ambassadors on?"

Kara would also like to know:
The names of the pirate ships, any banners or symbols displayed.
Descriptions of any pirates that stood out.
What magic use by the pirates Rythas saw or suspected.

Spoiler: OOC

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In this setting:
Do we know where the Bloodstone Isle is? What diplomatic or commercial contact is there with it?
Do BI pirates usually take prisoners or hostages for ransom?

[Whiskeyjack]

"Sounds like we're going to need a ship," Vayl murmurs. "We certainly can't let this stand. Least of all because it's not exactly a secret that the Knights and the Legion are supposed to be liaising with the Tel'Qushar. It doesn't make any of us look particularly good if reavers intercept a diplomatic mission and make off with them without any consequences whatsoever. And Rhaewind has a vested interest here too, in keeping the ports open and the seas as safe as possible. They may want to get involved as well."

She purses her lips. "About how long has it been since the attack, if you can estimate?"

[The_Dodger]

The elven captain looks to Magnus with a sour expression, "We always expect trouble outside our boarders. It is rare we have pleasant dealings with those not of Tel'Qushar," He then turns his attention to Kara's question, Each ship had a crew of twenty. The ambassadors were on board the Willow's Song. The pirates went after all three ships. The only reason we got away was because their fleet was too small to pin us all," Rythas looks a bit guilty at this statement, as though he wishes he had been taken too, "As I said, we were three days out when we were attacked. The pirates have a good lead by now, and I for one do not know where they are headed."

Spoiler: OOC

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You have heard rumors of the Bloodstone Isle, a small island south of Rhaewind in a region commonly avoided by traders due to rocky reefs and large beds of Sargassum seaweed that can muck up rudders. The pirates that use the island as a base have never been a large enough problem for anyone to bother hunting them down in force, and they have sometimes served as privateers against other pirates and ships from Wraithmaar.

That is all you know without asking around for more information.

[aguaracu]

"Could you describe any of the attackers that stood out please?" Kara asks her last questions with little hope of getting a useful reply. She still takes notes of the captain's account, the Wyvern League can sometimes pull small bits of information together into something important.
"What magic did you see the pirates use?"

Spoiler: OOC

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I'm ready to move on.

[stack]

Magnus looks to his companions, raising a single eyebrow. Perhaps we should try to find out more. I would expect the docks to be a source of information, if you can find the right person." He shrugs. "Not that I have spent much time in such places."

[Ramsus]

Torunn Xistsrith Half-Ogre Paladin, Homeguard of the Knights of Gadarheim Concentrating on: -- "Agreed Sir Magnus, let us be on our way and let the captain have his rest and recuperation." Torunn replies. When they reach the docks, Torunn heads off to find the dockmaster. When/if she finds them and they're available to talk she says, "Good day dockmaster. I was hoping you might have some information on the Bloodstone Pirates or Bloodstone Isle itself. The delegation I and my companions have been waiting on were waylaid and captured by them and we must retrieve them if we can."

[The_Dodger]

Captain Starbreeze has nothing further to add, with no clear descriptions of specific pirates and having seen no particularly note worthy magic beyond a few fireballs.

Asking around the wharf turns up dozens of people who have heard of the pirates and know that they sail out of the Bloodstone Isles. Between everyone asking around, the group is able to gather the following information. It is unusual for so many pirate captains to work together. It is unusual for them to attack ships so close to Rhaewind and the rare chance to capture elven ships must have been too much of a prize to pass up. The Bloodstone pirates don't usually take prisoners, but from the sound of things they went out of their way to capture as many elves as possible.

Most importantly Torunn hears the name Pell the Wicked fairly often in her discussion with the harbor master about the pirates. Rumors say that Pell knows more about the Bloodstone pirates than anyone in Rhaewind, and some say he even sailed with them and earned their respect. These days he lives alone in a house just off the docks in Anchorhead, and several of the locals can point the group in his direction.

The walk to Pell's house doesn't take long and soon the group is standing outside what can only be described as an old shack. Though it may have once been a cozy little hut near the docks, it now stands derelict. The roof is shagging and the walls show signs of wood rot. There is only one small window in the front, but the glass is cracked, covered in filth, and a ratty looking curtain covers it from the inside. the wooden door seems to be the only secure part of the building, and a knock brings the sound of something glass smashing hard against the inside and a shout of, "G'way!!"

[stack]

Magnus frowns, points to himself, and gestures behind the cottage. He then makes a quick circuit to check for possible rear exits in case the man decides he rather flee than talk.

[aguaracu]

Kara Trineste
After something hits the door, Kara touches the sign of Ehlonna she wears and says something quietly.

Spoiler: OOC

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Kara casts Guidance on herself and uses the bonus if a persuasion check is needed to try and convince the Pell to talk to the party.

"Umm, Mr - sorry - Captain Pell?" Kara sounds hesitant and uncertain. "Are you, are you alright?" She looks at the door lock, assessing how quickly she could pick it, and then tries just opening the door.

Spoiler: OOC

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If the door opens Kara will stick her head round the door and then enter. She will do so "timidly," but she will definitely enter and approach Pell. If subject to an attack (more serious than having a plate thrown at her) she will cast Sanctuary on herself.

"It won't hurt to talk to us will it? Would you just talk to us a little bit please?"

[Hemnon]

Upon hearing the glass break inside, Nyscera readied herself for any potential violence, concentrating on the chaotic swirling magic deep within her soul. She wasn't drawing upon it yet. She was merely prepared to throw magic everywhere if it were to be needed.
"Are we sure this is a good idea? He clearly sound drunk..." Nyscera muttered in a very low tone to the others.

[Whiskeyjack]

"My dear sir," Vayl steps forward and knocks again "We do respectfully request your assistance with an urgent matter of security. And, might I add, your assistance could endear you to one or more of the local powers...Arthenhal and Gadarheim both would owe you some boon, as might the Tel'qushar, and even Rhaewind, if the cards are played right. What do you have to lose, given so much to potentially gain? At the very least, a sturdier roof and perhaps a reward to spend as you please? Or, if not that, then maybe the chance to...get even for a past wrong, perhaps?"

Spoiler

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Persuasion: (1d20+5)[17]

[The_Dodger]

There are no additional entrances around the back of the shack, only a pile of debris and human waste.

There is a long pause after Vayl speaks, as though her words are being considered. Then a shout comes, "Ye got rum? If not then g'way!" there is another loud smash against the back of the door, and this time it opens a crack. Apparently it hadn't been locked.

Pulling the door open the group is assaulted by the stench of old rum and body odor. The floor just inside the door is littered with green shards of glass from broken bottles, and the inside of the door is scarred from the impacts. The interior of the shack is dark, lit only by the light coming in through the door and a few cracks in the filthy window. The light reveals a single room hovel cluttered with empty bottles, old fishing nets, a dirty table with a broken chair, and piles of old rags and sail cloth. One of these piles near an overturned barrel suddenly moves and the group gets their first look at Pell the Wicked.

It is clear that once, in his prime, this man had been a towering, imposing figure, likely topping eight feet with broad shoulders. However, the wreck of a man sitting on the floor before them is a far cry of what he once was. He appears nearly emaciated, with visible ribs beneath a tattered, loose tunic, and his pants are tied off in knots, one just above the knee, the other halfway down his calf revealing where he had lost both legs. His black hair hangs limp and greasy, and a thick curly beard dominates his face with little bugs crawling in and out of it. His skin is a dark, leather color that only comes from exposure to sun and salt, and dull grey eyes squint into the light to regard the group, "Well? Waddaya want?" he asks, lifting a bottle to his lips only to find that it is empty before dropping it on the floor beside him.

[Hemnon]

Nyscera made a face of 'ew' at the nasty smell that assaulted her senses. "Wow, smells like a drunk sailor's been locked into a room for a week with nothing but Rum!" She exclaimed before halting herself from speaking any further and stuffing that foot further into her proverbial mouth than she'd already done.

[Ramsus]

Torunn Xistsrith Half-Ogre Paladin, Homeguard of the Knights of Gadarheim Concentrating on: -- Torunn gives Nyscera a very disapproving look at her commentary, but doesn't say anything and just lets the others talk since too many people talking over each other isn't a good way to get information from someone.