Savage tide

ARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!!!!!!!

The Savage Tide, A Fool's Game
Journal and Recap for our little game.

The Dungeon Master: Paul

The Players: Brian, Diane, Matt, Rob and Wade

Welcome to Gaming Grid Programs!

Please help us remember our way through our past adventures and fill out this Wiki with me.

There is No Honor
Meet the swashbucklers


 * Veras, a druid from the marshlands living in the Sunrise district, secretly a member of the church of the whirling fury.


 * Julio “El Tiburon" Cassanova, an academy educated bon vivant, ladies man and troubadour from the noble district, an aspirant to the Dawn Council affiliation.


 * Jorge Steadyfist, a simple monk with brain addled from too many Gladiatorial combats from the Champion’s District walking the path of Zelkarune’s Horns.


 * Saltwalker, a half giant whaler from the Azure district trying his hand in the Arena. He is partnering with Jorge in Zelkarune’s Horns.


 * H’rm Fulreys, a mysterious figure hailing from the Seekers, currently living in Shadowshore.

The Sasserine Job

Individually they all receive notes to meet at a noble house for a job. They meet Kora Whistlegap major domo of the house. As they are ushered in, they brush by an arrogant group called the Jade Ravens on the way out (Tolin the Ranger, Zan the rogue, Kaskus the druid and Liamae the sorceress.)

Lavinia explains that her parents were killed in a tragic fire and she has been thrust into a seat in the Dawn Council. She is trying to get her affairs in order and wants to hire the adventurers. Currently she needs to get her ship, the Blue Nixie, out of impound at the docks. It contains her family’s spare signet ring and she desperately needs to acquire it.



Blue Nixie

The party accepts the task and investigates the docks. They find that a ruffian named Soller Vark has kept the docking fees and impounded the boat. The Blue Nixie was not where it belonged, it was anchored out in the harbor. The party acquires a cheap rowboat and goes to investigate.

They find it crewed by cut throat smugglers. A fire breaks out below decks and a brash Saltwalker is slain by a bizarre giant insect creature (a rhagodessa.)

''It wasn't really that tough. I mean, I had dispatched many of the crew with skilled crossbow shots and that dreaded creature came to an end too with one my precise shots.- H'rm''

Upon searching the Nixie along with her signet ring they find the ship full of exotic creatures and cryptic note listing several monsters.

A not so brief introduction

''Allow me to introduce myself, I am a man of wealth and taste. My name is Cameron Kellani. I am the son of Heldrath Kellani and the younger brother of Rowyn Kellani. I grew up sheltered from the Sasserine Street and peasant life and upon my twelfth birthday was sent away to live with Aniphastus Knowlern. Why? Well, it seems that I was not growing up to hold quite the same values as were esteemed in my family while my sister was apparently the paragon of such virtues. Early on I had stumbled upon the diaries, maps and writings of my mothers illustrious adventuring career. Since then I had constantly dreamed I might uphold that family legacy and bring more gold, fame, and honor to our house. I hoped to someday taking over the captaincy of my mothers ship that she sailed to exotics places and locales. I was met with derision and contempt about such daydreams and wistful thinking from my sister and she never held back on letting me know it. I believe that she was the reason I was eventually sent away to learn some "manners" and to know my "place" as she liked to put it. She always said I was too "softhearted" and "flighty" to have a hand in running the household. It turned out to be a fortunate turn of events for me to be sent to Aniphastus as he quickly recognized the wild fire within and explained that there are ways to channel such energies to assist in the swordplay I had been taught as a child and strike at our enemies in unexpected and powerful ways. Upon my fifteenth birthday he had come to the conclusion that I would stand with his family in the face of any tide of darkness and evil that should threaten. The training was rigorous and I began to be taught the arcane arts in conjunction with the use of deadly steel at night while attending the Academy during the day. Not to say that there wasn't time to have fun and was constantly led astray by fellow student, ladies man, and performer Julio. We both graduated with distinction, although those distinctions in the end differed greatly. Then one day Julio helps put me into contact with Lady Lavinia Vanderboren with tales of excitement and adventure about slaying pirates and a huge insect aboard a ship named the Blue Nixie............how could I refuse?''

''The chamber in Castle Teraknian was cold as I watched through the window the sea churn against the rocks below. Behind me Lady Lavinia Vanderboren paced impatiently waiting for her escorts to show. She jumped a little when the doors finally pulled open and an interesting duo strode into the chamber obviously having been led here by the castle guard who closed the doors quietly behind them. At the forefront walked Julio who greeted Lavinia with that same familiarity he seemed to be able to get away with whenever he crossed paths with women. I smiled to myself upon hearing Julios' familiar voice.'' He is going to get himself in deep water one of these days, I thought still staring down into the waves. ''Julio had doffed his hat in a flourish to the lady and was wearing well tailored leathers with a color coordination that the Dawn Council members would have envied. Not that the clothes were anything special but he always made them seem that way. He had his rapier strapped to his belt on one side, the perfectly polished guard reflected the sunlight coming in the window, with a whip curled on his other hip. The second person offered Lavinia a flower by shuffling over to her, holding out to her, and simply saying "Flower?". This man appeared to have been through many fights with scars crisscrossing his body and a particularly ugly one running across the top of his head. Perhaps one fight too many? I thought while turning to take in the scene. He wore very simple clothing as one would commonly see among the lower class peoples or possibly even farmers. That being said, as simple as he appeared in both wit and appearance he moved with an ease and grace that belied the rippling muscle underneath his simple garb. He leaned on a simple wood quarterstaff.'' ''"This is Cameron Kellani. He will be accompanying us down to the Vanderboren Vault.  Cameron, this is Julio and Jorge." said Lavinia.'' ''I stepped forward, "Thank you my lady and well met gentlemen. You have my condolences over your recent loss onboard the Blue Nixie." Julio had told me the whole story that ended with the tragic death of one of their members being slain by some sort of horrible giant insect on the ship.'' ''Jorge shuffled up to me and held out a flower, "Flower?". Well, I assume that Lavinia brought this guy along to carry everything out of the vault.'' - Cameron



The Vault

Lavinia is ecstatic of the groups success they succeeded but saddened by the death of Saltwalker. She has called upon an acquaintance from her days at the Academy to bolster the ranks of the adventurers. Cameron is actually an old friend, co-conspirator and rival of Julio. Hailing from the noble district he is the black sheep of the Kellani noble family and was actually raised in part by the Knowlern family, an elven enclave. He has been known to skulk around the Dawn Council currying favor but bears a shadowy allegiance to the Witch Wardens.

Lavinia confesses she needs help getting into her families vault below Castle Teraknian. She has never been there before but now she has the signet ring so she should be able to enter. Her usual body guards the Jade Ravens are off getting assistance from her aunt and uncle in Caldron so she would feel safer with someone to accompany her to the vault.

The vault is decorated with the symbol of the Seekers. A steel snake guardian construct attacks but is thwarted when Cameron hides behind Lavinia and accidentally makes the guardian back down.  The party used the note form the Nixie to crack a combination code. Found ledgers and treasure, but a lot had been stolen. The clerk’s logs confirm that Vanthus had been accessing the vault regularly.

''Lavinia was not aware that Julio and I knew each other and thought I was sent to assist by a very concerned Harbormaster Keltar Islaran over recent events involving the Blue Nixie. I began to lead the way down the stone corridors that made up the castle to the vaults. I was not looking forward to climbing back up all those stairs when we reached the vault clerk, who looked at us critically over his glasses. We each entered our names into the log in front of him before proceeding down to the vault itself.'' ''We entered the vault chamber which had short hallways leading off like spokes of a wheel. Each was marked with a name plaque over the entrance. We made our way to the one labeled "Vanderboren". The hall went only about ten feet before ending in a door marked with a sigil with arrows pointing in all directions. Julio quickly informs us that it is some group called The Seekers. I have heard some vague things about them but not so much as to be useful here. The door was marked with the Vanderboren seal where a lock normally would be located. Lavinia pulls out a ring which I am now informed was apparently recovered from the Blue Nixie the previous night. She asks whether she should put it up to the matching seal on the door. I voice my misgivings about her risking her own health in such a manner and suggest she have her mule test it out for her first. She argues that it may matter that one of noble Vanderboren blood use it and I have to concede the point. I get ready to pull her away at the first sign of danger but the door just flashes and then opens quietly. Down here you could feel the weight of the fortress above.'' ''I step forward into the next chamber which has two free standing pillars in it carved to resemble snakes writhing about one another and five more similarly carved pillars placed evenly in the walls about the room. Being a man of caution when a noble ladies life may depend on it I begin to carefully investigate the closest pillar in the wall and what does that simpleton do?! He walks directly over to the right free standing pillar and has some metal snake drop on him on bite him. Now I understand why Lavinia brought this guy along. Jorge kicks the construct in the head which looks like it hurts him more than it. Julio and I step between the serpent and Lavinia at which point Jorge flees the thing and runs to us. Sure enough it slithers after him narrowly missing taking another chunk out of him. Well, the lady doesn't take kindly to the now close proximity of the guardian and flees away from it directly to the OTHER FREE STANDING PILLAR! I run after her with visions of another one of these monstrosities dropping on her when suddenly it occurs to me that this thing is a.....guardian......for the Vanderboren vault no less. I stop by Lavinia taking note that another ones of these things hasn't shown up yet and ask her in my best polite but urgent voice to show the thing her ring and ask it to stop attacking. She manages to get a grip on herself long enough to do this and it slithers away back up its pillar. Score one for the brains of the group! We take a look at the wound Jorge has suffered but it looks as if he managed to avoid the effects of any poison the thing may have had. How do we know? Well, it's not big, puffy, discolored, and well he is still standing....all good signs. We continue our search when Julio says he has found something followed by a click and the wall sliding open opposite the way we entered. One of the carved snake heads was actually a lever for a secret door.'' ''The secret door reveals a strange room with a central pillar that has murals of creatures around the circular outer wall. A Medusa, a two headed giant, a spider, and so on. The ceiling has a line engraved in it that we find rotates when we turn the pillar and clicks into place in front of some weird plant looking mural. Julio pulls out a parchment, apparently another find from the Blue Nixie, with a riddle of some sort on it. I wish they would mention these things earlier. He quickly notices that the number of eyes on the murals runs from one to seven and that the riddle is the combination. Julio turns the pillar in what we think is the combination but we get something wrong. We pause expecting the worst but thankfully nothing happens. The second try is successful and reveals that all the murals are actually doors as they all pop open.....nice work Julio. Lavinia runs over to the first door and throws it open and gives a gasp of dismay. Upon discovering that the first alcove is empty and this is the source of her concern I politely ask her to calm down and stand at the entrance so we can ensure her safety from any potential traps. Only one of the remaining alcoves has any of the mostly plundered family fortune in it. I noticed Jorge gawking at what must have seemed like a fortune to him. Ah, to live the simple existence of a peasant. At least there is enough to pay off Lavinias' current debts but she also discovered a book of debts yet to be paid for favors already rendered by her now deceased parents. I also discover some empty potion bottles, six of them actually, in one of the other plundered alcoves. Probably a clue as to how someone managed to get in here past the guardians and locks. It suddenly hits me that if someone came in here than they very well must have gone past the clerk and signed in also. We gather everything we can carry and find out by checking the log that Lavinias' brother has been here of the past two weeks, six times no less! We head back to Lavinias' manor where she asks us to locate her lost brother, Vanthus. Apparently they had a bit of a falling out a few weeks back and he stormed off not to be seen again. She says that he also has been seen with unsavory people lately ever since his return from some plantation he was sent to for mixing love potions into the city water supply. I could see Julio grinning and taking notes and fondly recalled one or two pranks that might have gotten us shipped off to worse than a plantation. She made us promise to try and not harm him to which we all agreed. She paid us for our assistance and we headed out to get some rest before questioning the entire city about Vanthus' whereabouts the next day.'' ''Julio tells me on our way out that there are two members of their band I have yet to meet and suggests I join them all at breakfast the next morning. We are to meet at a rather lower class establishment known as The Squashed Wyvern.'' -Cameron

''I strangly enough, do not remember any of this... You would think with my seeker background I would have been invited to go. Some "friends" these are turning out to be.....'' -H'rm



On the Trail of Vanthus

Lavinia confesses that her brother, Vanthus, is missing. She wants to find out what happened to her brother but is afraid he has fallen in with a bad crowd.

Vanthus has been seen with his girlfriend Brissa, a shady local artist. Found out he was last seen with a smuggler called Penkus at a boat shop called "It still floats!"

The party finds a guy named Shefton who said he will lead the party to Vanthus but he looks totally untrustworthy. They follow him to Parrot Island.

Trapped beneath Parrot Island

After the party descends a shaft into hidden passages underneath Parrot Island, Vanthus traps them and murders Shefton.

''We were such chumps. I mean to have this rich brat just move a rock onto the trap door and we have to spend a whole freaken night or two down in this salty, stinky and terribly noisey cave. I didn't really know Saltwalker so I couldnt really miss him, but I did miss his strength. I bet he could have just flung that puny boulder aside. The monk George, I can't really figure him out. His simple passive ways seem to be interupted by charging into combat and putting himself in great peril. I bet this behavior will come back to "bite" him someday. After all the undead were slain...again...we were attacked by crabs. We quicly defeated them and Veras quickly consumed our fallen foes. Oooh, those teeth the poor lot didnt have a chance, all we were missing was some drawn butter -H'rm ''

Beneath Parrot Island they find the Hungry dead and Penkus’s body. Note says Vanthus trapped Penkus here to elevate his position in the Lotus Dragons, an upcoming thieves guild.

The Lotus Dragons ascendant

After escaping they find out that the harbor master has been murdered, something is afoot.

Lotus Dragons keep sending assassins. They got a map of the Lotus Dragons hideout from one of the assassins.

Simple inflitration and a bloody death

Posed as priests of Kord / Professional Wrestling squad checking on stuffed Jaguar to gain entry to the Taxidermist’s Guildhall that is the front for the hideout.

Assaulted the taxidermist Nemien and bullied him into keeping quiet. The group stumbled into some guards and set of the alarm. They retreated into some rough caves to wait out the alarms.

While exploring the cave they are set upon by blood thirsty ixitxachitl who spring upon Jorge when he is abandoned in the water by the rest of the party. He is torn to shreds. A single flower floats to the surface and marks his watery grave.



Double Kobolds

Runs across the first of two kobolds, a cute crazy little cook with a wicked hiding skill who was laying low (Churtle). The party leaves Churtle alone.

Cameron stumbles upon a truly enormous croc, but it turns out to be a trick of the light (or perhaps a portent of the future...) and actually it is pretty average size. Veras says nice crocodile and then it wants its belly rubbed.

They find the second kobold, a feisty prisoner being slowly nicked to death chained barely in reach of the a rhagodessa (Irl). Rescue Irl and let him tag along.

H'rm has a cool idea: Rhagodessa baiting for fun and profit!!!



A Family Affair

The party racks down Lady Dragon. But it turns out to be Rowyn!? Cameron's sister? Rowyn Escapes! Running fight with Guttugger.

'' At least we know who got the looks in the family! She's not bad to look at, and sing and fights pretty damn well, but she runs when the going gets tough. - Julio''

Double Cross

Visit the prison area. In the torture rack they they find dwarf named named Kersh who happens to look a lot like Brian. He turns up to be a traitor, unsuccessfully attempting to skewer Cameron in the back while guttugger attacks from the front. Guttugger is hunted down and eventually sold to the Arena.

Wrap up

In the Lotus Dragon hideout Found exotic trade goods and animals from distant isles to the south, picked up the trail of the Crimson Fleet. The group discovers a map of the corruption in the city and a plot to take over the harbor. find proof that Vanthus murdered his parents!!!

Lavinia wants justice. Vanthus must be found dead or alive.

Seeking the trail of Vanthus

Veras adopts a lovable little croc named Chompy.

Things to follow up
 * What happened to Vanthus?

The Bullywug Gambit


Shopping with Miss Whistlegap

Shopping with Kora for reward (swashbuckler hats) and receive heirlooms left by Lavinia's Parents, hat pins and feathers.

Trail of Vanthus, clues lead to a place called Kracken cove, an infamous smuggler's cove.

Hire fishing boat to find it. Dropped off Churtle in the swamps, but only after Irl mates with her. The heroes are universally disgusted.



Kraken Cove

Julio with the monkey bite, infected with Savage Fever.

Savage Tide? Fought smugglers and pirate crew transformed by the fever including a strange creature called a phanaton and a dinosaur. Found fragments of an immense black pearl fragments in the cove.

Harliss's Tale

Found a pirate named Harliss Jarvel with the fever fending off Savage creatures as well as a case of early stage Savage Fever. She was a skillful fighter and with a wicked prowess in cursing. Harliss gives a story of Vanthus and how he betrayed them all. While he was caught trying to steal the pearl, she stabbed him and he dropped the blood smeared pearl and it shattered into a mile wide explosion of green energy.

Most of the people in the cove including his girlfriend Brissa succumbed to the tide and turned into horrible beasts with a shrunken second head and an abyssal taint. Everyone else what the exception of Harliss and her first mate are slaughtered and eaten by the savage creatures. Her first mate went to get some bullywug allies and take revenge on the Vanderboren Family for the betrayal and slaughter.

Julio and Cameron seem to convince Harliss that Lavinia is not involved. She gives the party a note to bring to Drevoraz. The party forges a copy and sends it by carrier pigeon (feather token) in advance of their arrival.

Wormfall Festival

The festival is in full swing including two of the original heroes celebrating their triumph one year ago over Kyuss.

Out of control wagon threaten revelers, but a cool headed H'rm stops it while simultaneously beautifying the Merchant district by planting of new tree.

Assassins on stilts! The cowardly murder of Veras by the assassin Diamondback.

The Vanderboren Estate

Bullywug siege and the Rescue of the Jade Ravens

Negotiation with the chief's wife

Discovery of the death of Kora at the hands of Drevoraz. Harliss's note appearantly was not enough.

Death of Drevoraz, his liver skewered by Cameron.

Wrap up

A visit and a gift from the heroes of Wormfall, Ping and Mai. The resurrection of Kora and Veras.

Fall of the house of Kellani.

Things to follow up
 * What happened at Kraken cove and what was the Crimson Fleet planning on doing with that freaky pearl?


 * What happened to Vanthus?

Sea Wyvern's Wake
A Modest Proposal Larissa Vanderboren’s Journal reveals the existence of the colony of Farshore. Lavinia mounts an expedition to resupply the colony. She is forced to accept the help of the Meravanchi family. She has her her own ship the Blue Nixie and invites the party to bring the Sea Wyvern along. Cameron supplies the ship with caviar and renames the ships the Ocean Stryder to the deafening silence of the rest of the party.

To the Isle of Dread

Take to sea with:
 * Amelia Venkale, Salty sea dog and gnome hater.
 * Urol Forol, a gnome historian and naturalist who has actually been to the Isle of Dread before.
 * Father Feres, preist of Hieroneous.
 * Avner Meravanchi, spoiled noble whose family is paying for part of the voyage. Accompanied by two servants and a magnificent stallion called Thunderstrike.
 * Lirith Veldirose, tomboy female warrior.
 * Skald, mysterious brusk warrior fleeing something.
 * Tavey Nesk, impressionable cabin boy.
 * Pak Pak, the carpenter.

Dinner Lavinia in the Nixie. Mysterious attack and sabotage Fathers Fere's mysterious package delivery (limbo gates plans) to Fort Blackwell.

Father Feres becomes ill, Veras plays doctor. He was unwitting host to a blue Slaad, confesses he is really Conrad Horst a conman.

Tamoachan

Urol wants to go to the ruins of Tamoachan. Got Map that is supposed to lead to a new area. Got past basilisk and Gibbering Mouther. Encountered an un-named demon protecting the area Found a golden bat idol from a remote land. Seems to be a key to something.

The Open Sea

Ambushed by Scarlet Brotherhood pirates twice. Capture all of their ships (Purity’s prow, the Night shark and The Fury) intact but are forced to abandon them because of lack of crew. Manage to recruit some of their pirates as sailors, including Blinky the pirate with the wandering eye patch. Only one pirate gets away, Kraz, their kobold sorcerer.

Discover the destruction of Fort Greenrock by a Shadow Pearl in black box trapped with spiked bloodletters. Irl got info from local kobold tribes.

The party overhears that Thunderstrike is one of Avner's scorned lovers polymorphed into a horse.

Discover Rowyn is poisoning the stew masquerading as Skald. Running fight, capture her. Cameron tries to civilize her. She becomes chummy with Avner. Last friendly isle bid farewell to Conrad. Avner tries to buy the chief's daughter. Great Storm comes and separates the ships.

The Mother of All

Mired in the Sargasso. Death of Irl. Found Sargasso covered Goliath, Lo-Gak. Explored The Rage and rescued journal Fighting waves of Vine Horrors and assasin vines. Discovered The Thunderer, home of the leader of the Vine horrors. Destroyed the Mother of All. Found magic pegleg in wreckage.

We Made It

Great Storm comes up a pushes ship onto rocks. Masher attacks.

Shipwrecked on the Isle of Dread.

Things to follow up
 * Why was Fort Greenrock destroyed by this black pearl.
 * How did a demon end up in the ruins of Tamochan?
 * Why did the Crimson Fleet plant a black pearl to wipe out a remote outpost?

Backplot

During the great storm Liamae is struck by lightning and almost dies. Has a divine vision and decides devotes her life to Rudd, the godess of skill and luck.

Here There Be Monsters
A Rough Landing

Skald, Rowyn, Irl's body and Pak Pak are missing.

Lirith is dead and the Rhagosdessa are feasting on her corpse.

T-Rex attack! Tried to swollow Lo-Gak whole, but becomes oddly docile. He is placated by feasting on the poor lost souls from the ship wreck offered by Veras and then goes off to the jungle.

Spiders and Birds Oh My!

Found creepy old spider lady Lithira. Predicted a dark fate.

Nesting terror birds block the way. Scrambled eggs jumbo!

The Dark Pass

Urol leads through the dark pass to the sea gates, but Tavey thinks they are being followed. Found dwarf corpse with good brews. Death of Logak in the Dark Pass, left him propped on ancient throne.

Discovered by old friend of Larrisa Vanderboren, Bop. He was on spirit quest to meet Lavinia.

While searching for key to the sea gate the party disturbs the rest of ancient Olman mummies. Cameron dies but wakes up confused in a new half elven female body. Many of the survivors are now racing The Rot, the mummy's curse.

Against the Gargoyles

Creepy accidents and evil portents. Thunderstrike drops to the ocean but is rescued by Veras. Intimidate the Leader of the Gargoyles.

The Fogmire

Path turns inland and soon they are lost in the Fogmire.

Urol is kidnapped by Bar Igula, apelike demons.

Find a shrine to demogorgon, doors that demand blood and mirrors of madness.

Slay the head demon (name unknown) and destroy the golem.

The end of the Journey

Arrive at Tanoroa, Rot cured.

Farshore at last... But it is under attack!!!


 * Where did this area bordering the abyss come from?
 * Why was this demogorgon worshipping Demon stalking the group?

Back plot

Skald and Paka Pak row to Farshore dodging death at sea at every turn. Rowyn grabbed over boat along with Irl's body as some morbid momento. She track the party to dark pass and find Cameron's body riddled with arrows. Her revenge is done.

Somehow she makes it to the mainland. Set upon by Kobold tribes was thinks fast and says that she is bringing back a fallen hero. They raise him and Irl's Navy is begun.

Avner Meravanchi grabs a small idol of Demogorgon from the Fogmire as a momento.

Tides of Dread
Farshore under attack!

Pirates from Rat's End attack with the Hellfish. Cameron recruits pirate crew lead by Lefty the pirate Reunion at Farshore with Lavinia, discovery of the future attack from crimson fleet. Avner reunites with Manthalay. Found out Pelorian missionary name Noltus is missing. Bop become's Lavinia's Bodyguard. Investigate thefts at Warehouse, discover an ethereal filcher and a curious phanaton named Ook. Ook wants to see the world and tags along.

Friend of the Olman

Cameron given tasks:

Quiet the fangs the threaten the boar's den

Claim back the apes' black from the terror

Crack the stone that broke the Sea turtles back

Earn a living feather from the heart of the tiger

The Wrath of Zotzila

Discover threat of Zotzila at Tanaroa. Return of Mystery idol to volcano. H'RM snags mysterious tooth

The Tar Pits

Kill big T-rex, Temahti-tecuani, but not before it slays Julio. Welcome Julia the gnome! Now it is the infamous six

Meet the Phanatons

Eat some Arenea. Find out about the Temple of the Jaguar. It was peopled by a race called the rakasta who were wiped out by some demonic creatures called Skinwalkers.

Temple of the Jaguar

Visited temple and made the alliance of with an ancient Coatl named Tonatiuh. Earn feather and stash of cool weapons.

H'RM implants the tooth.

Election at Farshore

H'rm: Stuffing the Ballot for fun and profit.

Exploring Temute

A few things close to Farshore bore investigation.

Wiped out the Trogs laying siege to the banana grove valley. The Trogs were led by a strange Leper Priest who sacrificed the children and elderly to a dark god rather than surrender to the party. Found tunnel he collapsed that leads into the depths of the Isle of Dread.

Find ruins of what was rumored to be the lost tribe but only found some wights.

Punishing the Gargoyles

Got a cool crown.

The Wrecked Wyvern

Strike out to repair the Sea Wyvern and encounter a Korpus for the first time. He is Druid who battles the party with his elastamasaurus pet.

The Crimson Sunset

The fleet attacks. Cameron captures the The Hag. Attack by Flesh Golems made of pirate bodies. A ship (The Stygian Shark) of Yuan Ti fireball the city. A group of Vrocks (demons) terrorize the city. The party defeats them but not before they set off a dance of ruin slaying many innocent people in the warehouse district.

There is no time to mourn as Vanthus returns and attacks Lavinia.

Vanthus almost sets off a pearl but is thwarted and slain. H'RM sees the reflection of a demonic face full of teeth instead of his own in the pearl and decide to remove the tooth.

Vanthus’s Journal His journal is found upon his ship, The Brine Harlot. It reveals:
 * He stole the pearl from the “Lords of Dread”
 * There are more pearls being delivered to the Fleet
 * He loved his sister in a very disturbing fashion.

Wrap up

Julio makes a trip Sasserine for to gender/race reassignment surgery. Amela sets off to establish trade routes again.

Things to follow up
 * Where did the trog tunnel go and what were they doing?
 * Who are the Lords of Dread?

Back plot

Irl is busy raiding the Crimson Fleet for fun and profit. Using the Night Shark as the flagship, he sails with Churtle, Rowyn and Kraz the sorcerer.

Skald Rises to rank of leader of the Farshore guard. Avner is forcibly recruited into the rank and file of the guard.

Dark dreams plague the sleep of Avner Meravanchi fueled by his Fogmire memento.

The Jade Ravens fragment, lose their purpose and esprit de corps.

The Lightless Depths
Feeding the Glutton

Lavinia discovered Manthalay had not been paying tribute to Emraag the Glutton, an immense Dragon turtle. Asks party to help.

Cameron is dogpiled. Julio soothes the savage beast and he accepts the tribute. Emraag reveals that the Lords of Dread have been visiting every few months.

Under the Isle

Discover pier guarded by a diseased dinosaur and diseased trogs. Find strange split open black geodes. Leads to underwater paths. One huge river rushing down and a trail of smaller passages seeming to lead to the Trogs.

Veras's visions lead her to split off on a quest down a deep rushing river going strait down to the depths followed by H’RM. Veras faces a trial of one-on-one combat with a demon. H’RM is not quite steeped in the mysteries of the Whirling Fury and “helps” her out.

Laogroat

The rest of the crew follows the trail of the trogs to village of Laogroat. The entire city is in throes of disease, most of the trogs are kept one step from death.

Discover a not quite diseased trog named Irgzid Uzeye (“Izzy”) and human olman tribesman with no memory ("Spot") in cages and free them. Convince Izzy to guide them to the Lords of Dread. Izzy believes that the Lords of Dread have corrupted the worship of Lagozed for their own ends.

The Cerulean Curtain

After encountering a black pudding and bribing their way past a roper they find themselves faced with a shimmering wall of blue energy holding back the water. The wall is composed of Olman spirits. Reunited with Veras and H'RM. Izzy leads them inside.

There is an offshoot of the main passage. Beyond a cavern of deadly fungus the party finds a city of mongrel men guarded by Hook Horrors and decide to leave them alone.

Find huge ancient calcified fish and discover that is still alive. They push it through the curtain and discover it is actually a mind controlling monster.

Temple of the Ancient Ones

Izzy leads the party at last to the place where he has met the Lord of Dread. They enter a half submerged Olman temple, Izzy has been no further but says that the Lords are beyond. A spirit of an old Trog priest appears and tells of the danger deeper on and how then must destroy the curtain to destroy the lords of dread. The spirit tells the party about Tlaloc’s Tear and how they should find a way to neutralize it. The party goes on and leaves Izzy to go back and take care of his people.

Golismorga

They find their way to the living city of Golismorga. Bizarre place. Encounter hostile parts of the city and Korpus scouts with trog slaves.

Tlaloc’s Tear

After several close calls they find the Tear. Confusion galore. It is being examined by a Brain Collector who escapes after fighting the party.

'''New Direction!!!

The party leaves and but is ambushed by Korpus using weird organic magic items.

They return to the spirit and expose it as an aboleth and find out more about the Korpus pyramid that is the source of the black pearls. The find a massive glyph in the the ceiling and it admits that the glyph is the magic that is keeping the water he is in despite being behind the Curtain.

The Pyramid

After an abortive frontal assault of the pyramid the party tries a distraction. They drop onto the pyramid from above and wipe out its guardians. In its depths is discovered Bile Wretch, steeping black pearls in the black bile of the world enhancing their power. Eventually the Bilewretch and the living pyramid itself is slain cutting off part of the chain of the black pearl production but not answering the question of where they are being produced.

Wrap up

Cameron is barely restrained from slaying everything that was not killed previously (Emragg, the Aboleth, the roper, etc...) The group enjoys some well earned downtime.

Things to follow up


 * Where are these pearls coming from?
 * What can be done about the Korpu army gathering under the isle?
 * Who is "Spot"?

Back plot

Kiela arrives in Farshore and and does really well in poker.

Julio stops hanging out with party and begins to secretly recruit an army from the Olman tribes.

Irl's continued success raiding pirates brings him more supporters and crew but also earns the attention of the Crimson Fleet. Rowyn getting tired of living with kobolds and sick of not being in command.

City of Broken Idols
Jakara

Spot is actually Jakara, a totemic demon slayer. Friend of Noltus, missing missionary of Pelor. His people were wiped out by skinwalkers. They came from the taboo plateau atop the Isle of Dread. Meet a feisty halfling Eldritch Disciple of Rudd named Kiela Razorleaf. She has a torrid yet somehow disturbing affair with Julio.

The Korpus must be stopped

As party is preparing to go to plateau they make a discovery. Julio sick of sharing spotlight with Cameron, had signed on as a general. He will take an army down to the depths to stop the Korpu threat permanently. Notibly he takes Bop, Skald, Kaskus and Liamae to join him but somehow Tavey manages to sneak in as well.

Kiela agrees to join the party for the assault on Taboo Plateau.

The Plateau

Find Lizardfolk Led by Rissashtak, a ranger and unexpectedly a priest of Pelor.

False Noltus Returns

Noltus Innersol returns with his doggie and missing Olman from exploration of the village of Mantru, but turn out to demons leading skinwalkers.

Visit Lovely Mantru

Met Couatls. Send spirit of Umlat on his way to Quetzalcoatl.

Taboo Island

Chompy gets some loving. Find sea gates and fight Wastrilith.

Taboo Temple

Fight Skin Walkers in temple.

Dreams and portents

Most of party led to Nimbus bow.

Kiela's Journey

Kiela wakes in the middle of the night after having a vision from her deity. Knowing that the rest of the party will be fine, she follows an as yet unexplored cavern, and joins Julio and company for the final confrontation wit the Korpu Army. her timely assistance allows the Korpu to be overrun, and seals the victory for the inhabitants of the Isle.

The bottom of the Temple

The party goes to fight Korpus in Mud. Find ancient hero with sword. Fight Khala who kills H'rm, but he comes back as a she-orc.

Reclaiming the Olman

Captured teifling named Theogriff. Spend week capturing Skinwalker to transform them back Olmans.

Wrap up

Found log about pearls. War cost heavy price for people of seven villages.

Things to follow up


 * Where did the pearls go?
 * What are they going to be used for?

Back plot

As Khala was slain a powerful dark dream comes to Avner Meravanchi, implanting the idea that to stop the dark dreams he needs to get rid of the idol by burying it at Lavinia's house. When Avner unwittingly he buries the idol of Demogorgon in Vanthus's unmarked grave it starts a chain of events. It warps Avner's arm with abyssal taint, breaks the sanctified ground, cleaves the idol and grants Demogorgon's power a channel to Vanthus.

Manthalay begin gathering power sowing the seeds of a revolt to seize all the ships in the harbor.

Julio's army wins pyrric victory against the korpus. Bitter because the Master Glyph in ceiling turned out to be restraining the Aboleth's mind powers instead of holding in the water. (He followed Cameron's plan about destroying the Glyph and his army paid the price.)

Julio and crew return the morning after Vanthus rises.

The Jade Ravens find some information and dash off to Scuttlecove in the Blue Nixie to rescue Lavina and reclaim their glory days.

Rowyn begin communicating with the Crimson Fleet.

The Serpents of Scuttlecove
Ook's Journey Home

Before leaving the Isle of Dread, Ook meets with a tribal elder, Tiki Riktav. He is given a large egg that can be used to divine the location of a powerful worker of the old blood magic, a person who can consecrate the Nimbus bow.

When far from any tree, look to spy three sheets of green.

They will lead on the path to the Bloody Claw of the Jaguar, look to him.

The end of his path will bring back the blessing of the gods to you.

It is a Large Egg hardened through many coatings of sap and lacquer. It is cracked cleanly in a single line around the short circumference of the shell and the edges gilt with gold. Inside is the dried preserved body of a tiny Pterodactyl tattooed with a sharply pointed triangle.

Tiki explains that the old shaman of the Temple of the Jaguar gave this to the phanatons as a symbol of friendship long ago, so they could find a shaman to call upon if they needed aid from thier people. Since the Temple of the Jaguar now stands empty the phanaton do not need it anymore.

Once he annoints the tiny desiccated corpse with blood it points a path toward the Bloody Claw of the Jaguar.

Lavinia Kidnapped

Return of Vanthus. Corruption of Avner and effects of his momento. Bop and Kora are gone as well.

Unrest at Farshore

Meravanchi tries execute his plans to seize all the ships in the harbor. The insurrection is squashed by Julio who slays Avner on the spot. Julio becomes the steward of Farshore and puts Manthalay to the sword for starting the revolt.

Julio asks Cameron to watch out for Liamae in Scuttlecove.

Kiela is beside herself in rage, that damn Vanthis has taken her favorite Aunt! Seems halflings have family everywhere, never know when your going to run into one of them.

Irl's Navy

Three ships with green sails (Purity’s Prow, Night Shark and The Fury.) Destoyed pinnace and two red sheeted ships. Porn/Note from Harliss and Dream Vision.

Scuttlecove and trail of the Jade Ravens

Upon entering the town of Scuttle Cove, H'rm did her good deed for the month and bought several slaves out of servitude. They of course needed a lot of patching up. We then discovered that the Blue Nixie was tied up further down the harbor. After a brief scuffle, we secured the ship and a couple of new crew members, Oob and his brother Boo. The ship was then taken to sea by Cameron to hide it with the Wyvern.

H'rm found a disturbing bar called the Violated Ogre.

Hanging Ruin: There was a rumor about one or more of the Ravens being taken to the hanging ruin. Kiela invisibly scouted the until she came across the now dead remains of the Druid Kaskus.

Rusty Shunt: Lars

Red Foam Whaling

We had a tip to meet Harliss at a location known as red foam whaling. What we found were a bunch of so called assassins, a succubus disguised as Harliss (who had the hots for Veras). We crushed the opposition, Veras discovered her inner dire bear, and H'rm nearly died, again. Under the pier we found poor Zan, the Raven's rogue, was found near death. He remembered being held in a place with a coin forging operation. We recovered Harlis's effects and continued our search.

Ooks Journey part two

Ook finds that the Bloody Claw of the Jaguar is Ophearak M'doom. Says the old gods demand sacrifice to appease the bow's powerful magic.

The Minting House

We did a ninja style commando raid on the minting house. Found a few mind controlling yuan ti, and their mind controlled lackeys. Most of the Lackey's lived (Ook is being drawn to the dark side!), and even a got a little richer. No useful information was found.

The Birdcage

Kiela gets tired of poking around in the city and fills up her scrying font to do a little snooping. She was unable to get a bead on Kora or Bop, but was able to locate Harliss, and Tolin, the leader of the Jade Ravens. Turn out this guy was waiting for something to happen, even though he knew Liamae was being held in the Birdcage. After coaxing the the remaining Ravens aboard we find out that Liamae is being held in a place known as the Birdcage (no, not a bar owned by a gay Robin Williams). We hatch a brilliant scheme involving us to teleport in and snatch Harliss before anyone can react. The plan nearly works, and we get out with Harliss, and one of the Sisters that run the house, who is currently unconscious. Cameron stays behind and manages to rescue Liamae from from a life as a pleasure slave.

The Gods Demand Blood

After capturing one of the 'Sisters of Lamentation' from the Birdcage, Ook summons Ophearak onto the Wyvern to perform the sacrifice there on the spot. The rest of the group is frozen in shock and indecision.

Porphyry house

It was decided that we needed to gather some information from the madam of the most prestigious house of ill repute in town. Kiela was sent as she was the one most likely to retrieve said information. H'rm tagged along, mainly because she was most likely to get into trouble. After paying their way in, and at least one job offer for H'rm, they were able to meet meet the madam of the house, who of course was a tattooed Succubus demon. She was taken with H'rms...ahhh beauty and offered to spend the night with her, and for some reason she agreed. Kiela hung around enjoying more mundane delights, staying late into the night. She also made sure she had a restoration spell ready from when H'rm came crawling back aboard the Wyvern, it was needed.

Assault on the The Wreck

Cameron makes a deal with Harliss to watch the group's back.

Ook scouts the wreck and penetrates the illusion.

SWAT attack on the tower and trying to keep it quiet.

The alarm is raised by the Slaad.

Fun with gibbets.

Fighting the way up the boats.

Fun with Demons and harpies.

Kiela gets surprised by many armed demon.

Cameron takes on The Captian.

Extreme Home Makeover staring Clod the massive Earth Elemental.

H'rm trains Cameron on the fine art of trapfinding. - S''houldn't this be, Cameron shows everything she knows about finding traps? We find a door leading to the bow of the suspended ship that Cold Captian Wither's was using as his personal home. Cameron opens it without checking for traps, and pow....negative levels for all. isn't this how he became a half elf woman after all? - Kiela''

Treasure!

Broke into the mighty treasury and awoke the guard dog who looked like Mr. Body on steriods with bat ears. Hr'm swore his arm was so big he could only walk in circles. He was dispatched back his plane, but not before stunning Hr'm. The party was impressed with the pirate booty in the treasury and all who saw magic auras went practically blind when beholding the chest of Hathruman. As Hr'm awoke, he found treasure of his own.

Insanity and the return of Bop

Upon more exploring, Cameron's fondness of unwisely opening doors continued and a glyph of insanity hit most of the party. Sadly there was not a lot of difference noticed in Ook. Once Ook was returned to "normal" he gleefully killed Cameron for her own good and Veras witnessed Ook's alignment shift.

We next encountered our good friend Bop, but he had changed into a big nasty thanks to the evil and painful skinwalker transformation. We had to kill him, but in keeping with tradition Veras converted another male in the party to the true path.

We found Kora (missing a tongue) and a disfavored demonic Captain with a broken jaw and crushed legs. Both were in bad shape. Fortunately Kiela was there and quickly healed Kora. The captain would wait.

More searching, more looting, more information gathered, including a map with the locations of black pearl deliveries. We found the borrowed quarters of The Seventh, but she had packed up her coils and left.

In the process of clearing the rest of the Crimson Fleet base an unexpected beholder type creature popped up. Half the party was incapacitated by the Eye of the Deep. Bop, Veras and Hr'm took it out. The rest of the clearing went uneventfully. The party rested and prepped for the tackling of the chest of Hathruman and the statue of Demogorgon found in one of the rooms.

Traps and Misdemeanors

Hr'm was buffed up as much as possible to tackle the chest. He was about to start and probably ensure his doom when Ook stopped him in the last second with a reminder to look at a scroll found in Capt. Wyther's bedroom. The scroll held the combination to the chest, which goes to show even the best of security systems is defeated by dumb users who write down their passwords. Arcane Trickster Hathruman must be cursing Wyther's name right now. There were many cool treasures. Veras' eyes were wide with admiration for the legendary ruby that was contained inside, but cooled by the alleged curse it held. This was deemed to be Harliss' share. The mysterious sphere under the cloth was determined to be a crystal ball with telepathy.

Next the statue of Demogorgon: With amazing skill Hr'm solved the puzzle sphere. It floated free and blossomed into a flower of wicked scalpels showing what fate H'rm had adroitly avoided. The statue came to life and granted the chance for one question to be asked or 10 yes/no questions to be asked. The group asked the one key question of, "Where is Lavinia?" The answer was "Within the Gaping Maw imprisoned in the Divided Ire". He closed with the typical "stupid mortal blah blah doom and gloom" and then exploded. Hr'm was unharmed.

Return of Irl

Upon returning to the Hellfish alone to retrieve Harliss, Cameron arrives to find her entire crew in a state of slumber. All crew are down except Harliss, who is stuck in the infamous Koboldian stand-off. With her blade to Churtle's throat, and Admiral Irl's flaming Cutlass poised to take her head, Harliss appeared almost happy to see Cameron. After Cameron was convinced that the whole situation was a small collection of misunderstandings, Churtle gave out the antidote for her extra-spicy stew to the rest of the crew. Wrap up

Kora wants to go back to Farshore to keep an eye out on Julio. The olman have a taboo against an extraplanar travel so Ook and Bop part ways with the intrepid adventurers and escort Kora and the former Jade Ravens back to the the Isle of Dread.

Things to follow up


 * What are the Shadow Pearls for?
 * What are Demogorgon's plan?
 * Where is Lavinia?
 * Where is Vanthus?

Backplot

Rowyn told Irl she thinks she knows where the Crimson Fleet base is. He brought his fleet in thinking to surprise them and make daring raid on their treasury.

Irl was correctly lead to Sekorvia (The isle containing Scuttlecove and the Crimson fleet base) but to the far side of the isle where an ugly fate awaited him. Unbeknowst to Irl, Rowyn had turned traitor and an had been in communication with the Crimson Fleet; it turned out to be a trap, a bloody ambush at sea.

Rowyn had jumped ship and joined the three ships of the Crimson Fleet barreling down on Irl's Navy; three ships that came down like a hammer upon the unprepared kobold crews. They were led by half-demon captains and a nasty high level wizard.

Once both sides were down to one ship a piece Irl realized that they were done for. He had too many dead crew, the Purity's Prow and The Fury were scuttled; so he made a break for it. Kraz cast some divination spells to pick the best path of escape. Irl and the last of his hardy maties raced away with the final Crimson Fleet ship hard at their stern; this motley chase came barreling down on Harliss and the Hellfish.

The lookout on the Hellfish recognizes Irl's ship as an ally. Harliss fences them in and begins pounding them with flaming pitch and ballista bolts. Irl rams the last Crimson Fleet ship with his flagship, the Night Shark. The fight turns into an abattoir and the water runs red with blood from both sides as the Crimson Fleet wizard beats a quick retreat. As both ships sink near the coast Url skewers Rowyn on the sinking deck and claims her head as a prize.

Harliss picks up Irl, Churtle and Kraz, the only survivors. Thet are all in bad shape and out of spells. Churtle serves up some special treats she had been saving for the right occasion to key crew members of the Hellfish.

As Irl is rounding up the remaining conscious crew into the bilge to be locked away safely, Harliss "awakens" from being poisoned. She quietly disposes of Kraz with bloody efficiency and feeds him to Chompy and friends.

As Harliss starts to work on Churtle (who was minding the wheel) when she was rudly interrupted by Irl...

Later aboard the Blue Nixie on the way home Kora called the Jade Ravens to the captain's cabin and told them, "You are Fired!" But invited Liamae, Kaskus and come back to visit anytime. She invited Tolin to take the first boat to Sasserine and never come back.

Into the Maw


Kiela's log of our trip to the abyss:

Day 1: The crew mounted the wake portal gem we found in the Crimson Fleet's treasury on the ship and prepared to enter the abyss after a quick stop in Scuttlecove for supplies.

''Upon arriving in the Abyssal ocean, Cameron and Irl were promptly lost. We encounter a couple of odd turtle/crab beats that were intent on eating our fair vessel, they were of course dispatched and repair commenced until dawn, when I was able to make the final repairs magically.''

''The next day we came across a merchant ship named the Sapphire Griffin,which were crewed by a strange race of inter-planar merchants, the Mercane. After some light trading we came to realize that our astute Capitan was heading us toward the Demon Web pits, and our course was set straight with the help of the merchants and a little divine inspiration. We also purchased a map of the Gaping Maw, and some information about it. Including the location of the Divided Ire.''



Day 2: The next day (Day is a term that is used very lightly in the Abyss) we prepared to enter the gaping Maw itself. After a harrowing and wet run through the maw's teeth we entered the maw itself. Cameron decided that we should head towards the Stygian Eye, which no one except her though was a particularly good idea. We then encountered a blood clot barge carrying a couple of Orcus's nasty undead demon followers. The ensuing battle caused H'rm to be dominated, and trying to kill the party. After only minor damage and a negative level or two, we were able to dispatch our foes and we think we have managed to get H'rm back on our side (You can never be to sure with orcs!). The Blood Clot had a caged Demon named Azael that was more than willing to help us with information and service, if we released him. He was able to locate the treasure on the barge, which consisted of several normal gem, a magic necklace, and the highly powerful Ring of Improved Swimming (An owner for this major artifact hasn't been chosen at this time).''

''Day 3: We reached the Divided Ire with little trouble, and started to circle the double island. We spied a ship moored in one of the coves on the nice resort island. Cameron, of course decided that we should come ashore on the nasty volcanic, poisonous side of the island. The crew was talking mutiny, when it was determined that I could feed them all the heroes feast for breakfast. This of course, makes everyone immune to the effects of poison, and bolsters the the imbiber's fortitude, and there was much rejoicing. h'rm was able to use the crystal ball we found in the Crimson Fleet's headquarters to contact Lavinia, who is still alive. She told us that her jailer was a Marilith demon. I decided to commune with my deity to narrow down the location of our target. We then sent out invisibly, and flying to try to sneak in and snatch Lavinia, without having to fight every demon on the island.''



''Things are going well so far, as we have made it to the top of the wall of the fortress undetected. I fear that this won't last long and I should put down my pen and keep an eye out for guards.''

Your humble scribe,

- Kiela Razorleaf

Captains Log Entry



''I am beginning to suspect that the kobolds have a nefarious plans for me and my crew. Initially I believed the story that the attack on the Hellfish was a "misunderstanding" being that it still resembles a Crimson Fleet ship and all. However, several new situations may be starting to shed some light on their true intentions. Even though I offered to give Irl a ship of his own to pilot across the Abyssal oceans he declined stating that he would be able to "personally see to things" here on the Ocean Stryder (one ship not enough, after the whole fleet?). The second situation was his eagerness to wrest control of the ship from me upon his first opportunity or excuse. This opportunity came when a swell knocked me off my feet for a moment when sailing through the Maw's Teeth. No sooner had I blinked than there was Irl attempting to usurp command (I'll have to watch the men closely to see whether they are buying into what this pint sized lizards forked tongue is spewing). The final situation occurred during a conflict with Vampiric Demons sent by Orcus to scout Demogorgon's domain. H'rm had been dominated by one of these demons and was attempting fry the rest of the crew and me with lightning and fire when I disabled him by grabbing his wrists until I felt bone grind on bone. Upon seeing H'rm disabled Irl immediately came over with a murderous glint in his eye to make sure H'rm stayed that way permanently. Only upon threatening Irl with a gutting on my own blade did he back down (was this an opportunity to get rid of some of his competition?). I've warned the party and crew to watch their backs (no one can seem to keep track of Churl though).''

- Cameron Kellani

Wrap up

Things to follow up

Backplot

Links
Interesting variant diplomacy rules:

[1 http://www.giantitp.com/articles/jFppYwv7OUkegKhONNF.html]

[2 http://www.montecook.com/cgi-bin/page.cgi?otherd20_Diplomacy]

Temporay Picture Dump area
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