The Death of Lucky Red Scarf and Aftermath
Talk to Bella; We need a boat to pose as a Gwinnish vessel that will be seen clearly and identifiable as Gwinnish that will represent Gwinn’s starting the opening foray of awakening the Once-King from slumber.
The boat raised is the ‘Gill Splitter’ – a Gwinnish war sloop. She’s built mostly for coast hugging, but swift transit between long distances. The crew is small and there is a ballista and a few heavy crossbow’s mounted on it for doing boarding inspection. Other than a hole in the hull from an Umbakian vessel that caused a swift sinking. Between the elemental and Bella the dragon, all the equipment can be pulled up. The bodies have long ago been eaten by creatures. At Feather’s request, Bella will rip the altar with the holy symbol of Elancil off and leave it there, piling a few rocks on it. It may be that she would know if it moved, or was despoiled, so its staying where its at. Even if its something that could be used later in the “big fight” against us (Gwinn might say “no altar – it was not our ship”), in all the mess, who is going to believe that? The ship is successfully brought up – the lizard folk man Lucky’s captured ship with the help of Mary and Feather and the elemental (Feather has given it a name – “Duck of Death”) and the help of Bella as she can see underwater. The lizard folk clumsily make their way back, mostly harnessing themselves and towing the Red Pony – Lucky’s ship – and letting the elemental keep the Gill Splitter afloat by pumping water from the bilge as fast as it goes in. Both boats are brought onto the beach at the village of Naernath with the aid of Bella and the lizard folk. The lizard folk get to work on patching the Gill Splitter. Feather renames it as ‘Gift Bearer’ (though keeps the Gwinnish name painted on it).
ISSUE = Umbak Records > Feather – Umbak records ALL of its sinkings and naval losses and victories. How do we handle this? There is a thought of sending Athena to the naval yards on Umbak’s Queens Coast to try and alter the records.
FEATHER } Intuition } Umbak might realize whats going on (if the ship name plate is recovered), and while they wont lie directly, they may just not say anything unless questioned directly.
Lucky crawled up the embankment; Lucky killed on land – as an agent of Elancil, she did not know right away… only that he was dead, not where it happened.
WHILE Mary recovering… All believe Lucky was ‘taken out’ by competitors. Rumors abound, including that it was the PCs, it is known that the relationship between them was stressed.
Feather and Mary rode the WooDuck into the harbor in Torrelson’s Ford about 4am. The sky was slightly overcast, but the moon was still bright. They silently pushed it next to The Red Pony, Feather cast a fog cloud spell on the poop deck, in case there was a crew on watch as though a fog had sprung up. Then, a special command was given to sink the boat. It drew the duck and boat down in 6 seconds, slamming it to the muddy bottom – ensuring the breath of any crew was expelled. It stayed there for a minute, resurfacing as yells echoed on the naval yard side of the port. Turns out all the crew were dead down below.
The boat began to move up stream on its own by command – slower than normal. Mary decides not to return home, but to rush back to the lizard folk and use the elemental to raise the sunken Gwinnish vessel that Bella the dragon found for their plan.
Leaving the Harbor in Torrelson’s Ford: Mary is at the helm working the rudder, the WooDuck is on the deck, and Feather is looking out at the bow using moonlight and dark vision. A few independent farmers on the edge of The Black Shore along the river edge see them in the early morning hours as the sun is coming up. Then the duo reached open waters, heading south past Sabin Bay to the Hoolip Coast. The fear of Elancil’s wrath is high.. her agent and the crew were fortunately killed on land or not on the open seas. Feather convinces Mary not to sling the bodies overboard, the dead sailors may alert Elancil to their specific fate (“i hear Elancil takes the tales of drowned sailors”) if they go into the depths. The boat makes its way and is held stationary by the elemental 20ft. off the coast of the lizard folk village of Naernath. Bella’s people – the Hoolip Coast lizard folk – are offered the bodies to eat. They offer to let the PCs join in the feast. Mary’s eye twitches, she says no. Feather affirms she would have followed whatever she did. Feather asks the lizard folk to stack clothing taken in a pile – it may be needed later for crews. A earthy hot drink is made by lizard folk – like coffee with metallic taste that helps Feather and Mary focus from their lack of sleep. They do not know it’s made with dead sailor blood.
Feather to Mary: We still need a sacrificial crew for this. Theres no way around it. And they need to all die – no witnesses. I know how to make this happen. I hate it, and i know the people i will ask will hate it as well. But they will choose among them and do it – the Tarmysian refugees. They speak some Yvaldeysean already, and can improve on it with our primer and their own tutors. To regain their homeland for their people, they will do it. Gods i wanted to avoid that, as it creates some potential loose ends connected to us. But its got to be done. Dont try and figure out any other way – time is too short. When we return to the castle of Aqua Pluma, i will make the arrangements.
Feather says they should go through the cabin. Searching with advantage = taking time
DC 15 > Perception
Chest within a chest (easy to find, the group had rescued Lucky in it before when one of the green Hag’s attacked his boat)… Feather uncovers the new one Lucky had built.
DC 25 or nat 20 > Perception (Feather gets “nat 20”)
Secret drawer in his cabin is very difficult to find. In it is a map through Scar Flow to a hidden temple of Elancil and his hideout labeled “Cragnon”. It is also a journal that details the happenings in Torrelson’s Ford of the PCs and a few other characters. It includes disparaging notes on the PCs from his perspective as he continues to do drug and weapon running, human trafficking, and a few more murders (‘sacrifices’ for his goddess as an agent of Elancil); Also included was a note to be sent to “Sidrus Mell” if anything should happen him – a note that was never sent!
Our plans may have been discovered. My first mate know to deliver to this to you if i do not return. You must assume in such an event that they have somehow, through some means, discovered my status. Best case is an accident. The sea mistress says they must die. I consign my body to the cool depths, for it to be used by the wrathful lady of the sea to exact revenge on the Pin Feathers. The crew and ship are yours, you will find enclosed a deed transferred to you as our normal process has warranted a few times in the past.
= Deed registering the ship under the name of Sidrus Mell.
1-3 = violence
4 = hesitant, makes a move
5 = caution, make a move
6 = do nothing, glad to be rid of him
RESULT = 6
1 = violence
2 = hesitant, makes a move
3-5 = caution, make a move
6 = do nothing, glad to be rid of him
RESULT = 2; 1 (min) – 6 (max) – on how extreme a “move” = 3 (middling) – do not derail the peace process; do not delay the peace process They remove constraints on privateers operating on queen’s coast (pisses off Umbakian navy)
1-5 of d20 they open direct negotiations with West River Run to support it breaking away 20 = NO REACTION: 1 (hate) 20 (no us) = 11; assume the PCs are involved, but cannot prove it.
> Outcome 1 = additional 10% tax on goods to Aqua Pluma castle (pressure from Bank of Silver Stacks); want PCs to know… send an envoy to Aqua Pluma to Ben (paladin) would receive them… make vague threats that reveal they think PCs had something to do with LRSs death – tell Asil “do not try and replace the smuggler” + “retire from politics” (they intimate that life for PCS will get bad if they dont)
> Outcome 2 = > NAT 20 intuition = FIGURE OUT MARY/Feather operating alone? There are agents in the field we cannot account for – call them back to Asil, that if not, you’ve had your victory (firing from the hip, dont know) or we will start to demand the annexation of aqua pulma as an illegal extension of Mary’s power and Gallants in general.
1-5 of d20 make permanent demand on shipyard in Tarmysia = No
1-5 of d20 REQUIRE LRS boat be given over as tribute = No
BEN know they are bluffing…? 18 = YES
“Do what you have to do, and will do the same” … “if”