10/09/745 A.E.
Early morning, bright, clear sky, not a cloud in sight, the Mystic Voyager, the name bestowed upon the new galleon and latest acquisition of our intrepid adventurers, sits in the harbor of Katana while still being loaded with the tremendous amount of cargo all the party's spare cash could buy. Ales, Beers, Tsuryuu Jack, wines, silks, spices, raw heavy processed ores from the Kensai mountain range, and even a moderate store of weapons more indicative of the Asian culture, now all lined the ship's hold. Aria, proud captain of the new vessel, sat inside the crow's nest, watched, and quietly wondered about her new masters with whom she had yet to meet. She had heard little of them; only that they were adventurers and had bought the ship from the House Tsuryuu in a surprise purchase. It had been her plan to sail the ship for Tsuryuu for a short while since the job held no security, the House Tsuryuu being in financial straights these last few months and having greatly overextended themselves, but now things were different. Her new masters may have some other plans in mind, and she hoped she could finally have a command that might last longer than a run or two across the sea. She was a good captain, she new, but being good was not enough. One had to get lucky, as well.
Aria saw a man wearing platemail approaching. Most people so clad didn't normally hang around the harbor, and as he continued to approach the Voyager she decided it must be one of her new masters finally coming aboard. As high tide would be soon, she was thankful at least one of them had finally arrived, for it had been their plan to sail within a few hours. She quickly climbed down the riggings to greet him, passed two passengers, also rather mysterious, but they paid well for their trip so she left them alone, and hurried over to the gangplank. "Welcome aboard, sir," she said formally, smiling at Gillmesh, the warrior from the plains of Hotoru, though she scarcely knew his origins; at least until he opened his mouth and that thick accent, quite characteristic of Gill's people, came rolling off his tongue. "Aye, thank ye." Aria asked a question of immediate importance then, for she had yet to devise their course. "Sir, we must choose a course, and two are most likely, depending on your wishes. One will follow the island chain, past the Larns Archipelago, down to the Alderami Isles, then over to Alodar. The other is shorter in time but in more dangerous waters while crossing the high seas; we'd make the Imperial Coast sooner if we then followed it. We'd have access to Fangus, Pedas, and Handor that way, as well as Alodar at the end. Which course shall I set?" Gill considered the options, and the one that took them closer to his own personal goals seemed best to him. "Get us back safe to Pedas, and donea take no unnecessary risks," he said in such a commanding way she couldn't help but considered it an order. "Aye sir. Will the rest of your party be joining us soon, sir? The tide draws near." Gillmesh looked at her and sized her up. Clean, well mannered, she even wore a touch of perfume he found pleasing, and he could tell she was rather strong as well judging from her stomach muscles which were exposed in a bare midriff style, though most of her was covered in soft leather and cuir-bouilli in the more vital areas. Her armor made her well-protected, yet it was also practical while on the waters. Gill found himself staring at her and realized she had asked him something. What was it? Oh yes. "Ay, tha be right behind me, lass." Aria looked up and indeed saw he spoke the truth, for a mismatched crew of strangers were coming up the plank that very minute. "Welcome, all of you. I'm Aria, captain of the Mystic Voyager. We will be leaving in 3 hours, so best get everything shipshape before then. Gentlemen, Lady. Last minute duties will occupy me at the moment, but my first officer will attend to you." Aria called over a man named Zagler, and he showed them around their new ship and got them set up in their quarters. Each of them, save Jarmain, shared a cabin. Jarmain was doing some rather odd things at the moment, mostly due to the proscribed practices and mystics undertakings demanded by the Tome of the Prelate, which he was still reading, so he got the lone cabin assignment he had requested. The cleric of Zeus disappeared into his cabin and was scarcely seen for many days after that, except when trouble reared its ugly head.
Last minute preparations were taken care of and soon the tide came in. Aria gave the order, "Cast off, we make for the Imperial coast!" Within the hour they had left the harbor behind them and Aria finally felt alive again, the salt air running through her long, blond hair. She heard a noise behind her and turned, slightly surprised such a large man could move so quietly. Gillmesh greeted her. "Ye know we intend ta sell tha ship when we get ta port, don't ye nea?" She hadn't known, and her heart sank, and unlike the Voyager, the wind left her sails and she felt like crap again. "No sir, I didn't know. She'll fetch a handsome price, I'm sure." Aria knew it was almost a certainty any new owner would have a different captain replace her and she almost felt like crying. She never did though; it wasn't her style. No luck again. "Maybe something else will turn up," she thought, though she had hoped for better. Adventurers could well afford such a ship, and as a business venture it might easily net them 3,000 to 6,000 GP/year even without their supervision. Furthermore, they'd always have a ship when they needed to sail somewhere exotic, and any spare cash could be invested in cargo. Aria's plans, hopes, and dreams were dashed once again. She had never been lucky, though she didn't complain, for what she lacked in luck she was forced to more than make up in skill and determination, and this made her an excellent captain. Still, her heart would not sing this voyage, and the next 10 days didn't promise to be any fun. At least she had her duty to keep her company.
Lycorne, one of the paying passengers, sat and thought. The words of the psi master still rang in her mind, and his training had been, well, intrusive. The man had seemingly walked through her mind, looking at things she had thought secret. She was laid bare before him in that final lesson, but when it was over she did feel a strong connection to a more cerebral side of her nature. She had been a latent psionic since she could remember, but her pursuits as a mage seemed easier and more practical. But then the opportunity, mostly in cash and time but also happenstance, intervened, and Lycorne decided it was way past time to develop her psionic skills. The master had taught her much, and what was more important, she now had the awareness of her own powers to begin to teach herself. Already she could feel the emotions of others when she desired to do so and concentrated upon them. Fears, hatreds, angers, friendships, even loves, all were there to be read. But she wouldn't do such things trivially. It was an invasion, of sorts, true, but rather a minor thing since many people already had a sense of empathy; it was just not as well developed as her own. But to use her psionic skills also meant running the risk of attracting unwanted attention, from either other psionic individuals, or worse, from psionically aware creatures and parasites, not only of this world, but of others. Such things should not be done lightly, she knew, but occasionally they would have to be. Even just practice sometimes justified it. Her master had said she had quite a few hidden talents, though they could not as yet be read or enumerated by him. Only time would tell just how extensive her powers would become. But she needed practice. And while so engaged, getting the feel of those around her so she might relax a little, she noticed some rather strong emotions directed at her. Desire? Longing? Interest? It was still hard for her to put a name to some of these feelings. Turning she saw a god; well, not a god, but a man who might pass for one. Highly charismatic, his muscled body rippled when he worked and the sweat glistened on his god-like form. But he wasn't working at the moment; he was watching her. And when her eyes met his, he did not look away, but instead smiled. Shyly, she turned away. "Oh my." she thought, slightly embarrassed.
"Hello, my name's Beu. Are you a new crew member like myself, or a passenger?" Lycorne smiled and said in a surprisingly soft voice: "I'm one of the passengers, but I don't know anyone else." They talk for quite some time.
Garren once again played his flute, trying its powers a bit, but mostly wishing to impress the crew and entertain them. His song wafts over the wooden decks and pleases all who hear it. He's getting better with the platinum instrument. Katsumi strolled across the deck looking at the female crewmen. There were a few on every voyage, and she knew, for whatever reason, a higher percentage of them tended toward her own tastes for other women. She began to put out signals, almost like fishing for a catch. Luck is with her and she soon finds Rei, a woman whose desires rival her own, and though Rei was never one for long term relationships, she did like it fast and hard and with no commitments, so Rei and Katsumi found a seclude spot and went at it like wild beasts. Kat had never been with such a, what would describe it, less than tender lover, but Rei knew how to do things that pleased the devil hunter's appetites.
Isabelle, the other passenger, began to look about the ship as well. Mostly she was interested in what she might find, but sadly, none of them seemed to carry purses. It was common practice to store most valuables below decks under lock and guard while at sea. Even the few coins and notes the seaman might have were best considered hidden from temptation, though they still found ways to gamble with I.O.Us. It was even common practice for all I.O.Us. to be made good before they could leave the ship with their own money or pay, and an officer, the paymaster, usually the second mate, had this duty.
NOTE: Not that it matters, but it is common practice that uncollected I.O.U.s become invalid if the one who issued them dies before they are collected upon. One does not track down the dead man's family to demand payment, or put a lien on their estate. When you accept an I.O.U., if you accept it, this is commonly understood. If you don't like it, then don't accept I.O.U.s.
It wasn't long before "Bell" found herself looking at the guarded door below decks. She wondered what lay behind its steel reinforced bands, but since this trip would last 10 days, now was not the time to find out. Perhaps later. Still, some crewmembers managed to keep some silver back, and Isabelle did luckily "find" 25 SP that wasn't exactly . . . lost.
Tagard found himself amid the most nefarious of the ship's gamblers, and he spent much of his time gambling with them. He even made money. Well, he collected I.O.Us, but the gnome had no reason to believe they wouldn't be made good once they got to port (and most of them were indeed made good, but that's later on). Since they had an officer overseeing such things, he wasn't too worried.
Things go about as normal until towards evening of that first day when the call goes forth. "Something is afloat off the starboard bow!" Aria wishes to avoid it since Gill had ordered her to stir clear of trouble, but it was Gill himself who now insisted they have a closer look. Complying, Aria brings the Voyager about and soon they near the floating mass.
Though the daylight is rapidly fading, they can see it is a floating raft or barge or something like that, but such a thing is oddly out of place here. The logs that line its perimeter provide much buoyancy for the raft, and several party members take a longboat and head on over. The sun sets before they reach it, however, yet two moons shine well enough so the place has a frosty illumination about the gentle waves. Jarmain arrives first in bird form, having become an eagle (one of the fabled powers of the priests of Zeus). Isabelle arrives next, for she cast a jump spell and sprang from the longboat to the raft, though she only saved less than a minute. Once there, they discover a mass of ripped, torn, and tattered rags covered in fresh blood (maybe 3 hours old). There are also many chains (about 50 of them) hanging over the side of the raft, but before they can look further, a scream comes from the Voyager.
Spinning around, the few adventurers who stayed with the ship see a great hulk of vegetation, like a mound of seaweed, but it's moving, shambling across the deck; it seems to have just torn a crewman asunder, his blood now running across the deck in little rivulets emanating from his lifeless body. His name was Borile, and he died alone. Jarmain, still in eagle form, heads back to the Voyager. Gill and Bell also start their way back, but it will be some time before they can make the ship. Tagard cast a Grease spell under the ocean Shambler, but it does little good. Garren's Burning Hands seem to make it steam, but it hardly hurts the great, wet mass of seaweed, and the grease, like butter, is not all that flammable. Katsumi, having grabbed her katana and other weapons (but neglecting to get dressed) appears above decks, almost totally nude, but ever deadly as she is beautiful. She slices into the creature, only a minor scratch, yet perhaps the most effective things done to date, and it is very, very big (12 feet tall, she thinks).
COMBAT BEGINS:
R1: The creature lashes out at Garren, a deep gash appears across his chest and he falls back in pain. Magic Missiles issue forth from Tagard, always handy that, and finally the hulk squeals in pain but does not relent. Bell manages to get back on board.
R2: The Ocean Shambler rips another unfortunate crewman apart. Her name was Charee, and though no one ever knew it, two died there, as her unborn son would never see light of day. Bell casts Magic Missiles and succeeds in wounding it. Lycorne lights up the creature's head, but aside from the additional illumination, it hardly seems affected. A clap of thunder rolls across the deck amid a blinding flash of lightning from Tagard's glass wand, his Lightning Bolt spell proving to be a powerful thing. Alas, the creature shook, but grew, its height now reaching a full 13 feet. Apparently, this thing liked electrical attacks. Still, Garren's trident finds purchase in the newly enlarged beast of the sea. Katsumi spins around, her fluid movements and nude form would almost be mesmerizing save for the seriousness of the moment. Yet her blade, though also naked, held the same power as always, and it ripped into the Shambler again and again in two swift stokes as she rolled across the deck in a rather striking attack form.
Jarmain circled, his eagle form getting into position, and then he made a dive. Faster and faster, he picked up frightening speed, aiming himself toward the creature, and then he shifted forms into that of a man and his full mass now barreled toward the creature. If only the damn thing hadn't moved. Jarmain hits the deck with a resounding THUD and rolls, his luck and skill having saved him from serious injury, but his attack was as naught. Gillmesh climbs aboard.
R3: A stringy tendril of weedy composure wrapped itself around the neck of a sailor named Ralph, another around his waist, and as if not more than simple tissue paper, Ralph did part in mid body and also lost his head. Beu looked at this, astonished how easily his crewmate was ripped into three pieces, very mindful of the fact Ralph had been standing right next to him!!! Lycorne once again slams a volley of Magic Missiles into the leafy hulk, and though it hardly looked all that wounded, the creature probably thought better about getting an "easy meal" here, and it toppled (jumped???) over the railing, the sound of the splash and the waves reflecting frosty moonlight was all that remained in its stead. It was gone. Having been denied his normal place in combat but still close at hand, Gill added, "An donea come back er yell get more O tha same!"
COMBAT OVER:
Katsumi began to administer to the wounded, but Garren saw her nudity and was embarrassed. He hemmed and hawed and handed her his coat. She took it, almost wondering why she needed a coat, for it would hardly make decent bandages, and then realized she was naked and everyone was staring at her. Turning quite red, she ran below decks while donning the bard's wrap. If three crewmen had not just lost their lives, it would have been quite amusing.
Isabelle returned to the raft while the others looked for signs of the creature's return. They found none. Pulling up the chains, Bell discovered wire baskets, and inside them were oysters. Prying a few open she found most contained either pearls or strange shaped items coated in mother of pearl. It took her some time, but she collected what she could from all 50 chains, and she finally returned with a small fortune hiding in her garments. Most pearls were white, some had shades of pink and the like, a few a cast of yellow, and one amongst them was even black. Yet is was one that looked like all others that was the most different, but such things often go unnoticed without the aid of magical visions. Besides, Bell had worked quickly and in the dark and never took the time to examine them anyway.
When Bell returns they get underway again, sailing from this place of death, this little stop over into hell's parlor. They do not look back. Eventually Bell feels compelled to confess what took her so long over on the raft, and she pours out the pearls for them to see. They are quickly collected again and stored in a bag that Bell carries. Rumors circulate throughout the ship that valuable treasure had been collected, and the more mercenary seemed happy they stopped, while others valued the lost lives more highly.
Note: Traditionally, 10% of such collected treasure is awarded to the captain, officers, and crew. 10% of that 10% is for the captain, 10% is for the officers, and the rest (80% of the 10%, or 8% of the gross, is divided evenly amongst the crew after the butcher's bill is taken out. The butcher's bill is extra shares taken out for the loss of eye, ear, digits, or limbs, and several extra shares are taken out for the loss of life to help compensate family and friends of those who lost their lives.
Beu and Lycorne find comfort together, but they finally spend the night apart out of respect for the dead. Bell fretted about the pearls, but then her mind turned toward thoughts about Darien. In the morning, there would be burials at sea, and Garren prepared to hold the ceremony for the burial at sea, though his mind was on Katsumi's apparent indiscretions more than it should have been, considering. Kat spent the night alone. Jarmain went back to his book. Tagard found a hammock with his name on it since no one felt like gaming, not that he asked, and Gill wondered about what might lay ahead. He clutched at his sword and wondered about it. "What does Mt. Windus hold?"
10/10/745 A.E. Morning.
SESSION ENDS:
© May of 2000
by
James L.R. Beach
Waterville, MN 56096