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.


 * George, 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 George 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.)

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

The Vault

Lavinia is ecstatic 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.

''I strangly enough, do not remember any 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 men 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 didnt 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 deafeated 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 George 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.

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.

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 put to the sword for starting the revolt.

Julio Cameron to watch out for Liamae in Scuttlecove.

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

Hanging Ruin: Kaskus Rusty Shunt: Lars

Red Foam Whaling

Zan and the false Harliss.

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

Dead end.

The Birdcage

Scrying. Connect with the protectorate. Recapture Harliss. Find Liamae.

The Gods Demand Blood

After capturing one of the 'Sisters' 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

HR'M's lucky night

Assault on the The Wreck

Deal with Harliss Scouting SWAT attack on the tower. Fun with gibbets.

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

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...

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 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 Levinia, who is still alive. She told us that her jailer was a Merilinth 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 Levinia, 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

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]