Adventure: Food of the Gods (DM: ryryguy, Judge: renau1g)

ryryguy · Jan 28, 2010

Approaching the Isle

[sblock=ooc]Ok, I have a long descriptive bit that I'm going to break up into several posts, so you aren't confronted with a massive wall of text.

I'm trying to moving things forward a bit here, but you can post reactions, questions to NPCs, any skill checks you want to make along the way.

My narrative assumes that the party is sort of passive through this section, and I don't think it's too likely that there's a lot you'd want to do. But if there is something, you can definitely do it. I.e. if you want to jump in the water and swim rather than waiting for the ship to dock, that's fine. I will retcon these posts in that case.[/sblock]

The voyage to the Isle takes just over two hours, most of that time spent sailing north up the length of Daunton. Crossing the channel from Daunton to the Isle takes only about a half hour.

The Bluebell Lady passes several other ships en route. One, encountered just miles away from the shore of the Isle, is an impressive Imperial galleon bound away from Daunton, probably for Nova Imperium on the island of Mykonos. Sunlight gleams off bright brass shields hung on the railings all the way around the huge ship. Soon after, the Bluebell Lady turns east to skirt the southern edge of the Isle. The Captain sends a sailor down to fetch anyone below decks who wants to watch as the ship comes in.

The coast is still fairly far away, but the keen-eyed can make out what looks like a scrub forest covered with a light dusting of snow. The elevation of the shoreline rises quickly until the surface is out of view and all that can be seen are steep cliffs. As the ship swings around to follow the curving coastline around to the north, the cliffs tower ever higher.

Then, the cliffs suddenly give way to open water - a quarter-mile-wide inlet, faced by cliffs of similar height on the opposite side. What appears to be a low-lying cloud covering the summit of each cliff. Above the southern one, the cloud has a faint but distinct grayish hue. The more distant northern cloud has a golden tinge.

[sblock=Nature DC 15 (passive)]Based on the local conditions - wind, temperature, and geography - you think the the clouds are not a natural weather phenomenon.[/sblock]
[sblock=Perception DC 25 (active)]Looking up, you think you see a streak of light pass between the clouds. As you continue to watch, you see a few more. They are very thin and come and go quickly, like shooting stars. They are grey or gold and pass back and forth in both directions.[/sblock]

A toothless old sailor chuckles. "Them's th' henges up there. Th' gates. I seen the gold one once, not long after it first opened up to th' Valley o' Bone..." He points towards the northern cloud.

ryryguy · Jan 28, 2010

Port of Call: Fulcrum

The Bluebell Lady clears the tip of the headland, revealing a wide, round bay dotted with distant ships sails. Two ships are quite close - galleys, small but fast warships, flying the flag of Daunton. They are a few hundred yards off the inner cliff of the southern "horn".

Captain Jardin shouts a few orders and the sailors strike two of the sails, leaving only one flying. The caravel coasts towards a round islet located in almost the exact center of the bay. About a dozen ships are docked there on a ring of wharves that encircles the islet. A small stone fort, also flying Daunton colors, stands on the islet's highest point. There are about a half dozen other buildings of wood and stone.

Castofle bounds out on the deck, his duffle once again jangling on his back, and looks out from a rail. "I always like visiting here," he says. "Because of the food and spice markets, yes, but also, it's just..." He makes a circular gesture, indicating the whole of the bay, the islet the cliffs. "It's sort of breathtaking."

The Bluebell Lady sails about a third of the way around the islet, pulling up at a wharf next to another Silverships Transit vessel. Captain Jardin addresses you. "Well, here we are. Welcome to Fulcrum."

The ship's berth presents a good view of the interior side of the bay and shore of the Isle maybe a mile and a half away. A cluster of buildings is visible on or just back from the coastline; though it's too far to make out details, there are definitely more structures there than on Fulcrum proper. Between the ship and the shore, the water is a light blue color, with streaks of white and grey visible below the surface. Scattered across the water's surface are exposed tips of partially submerged rocks. A few of them might be large enough to be considered tiny islets themselves, though they are all barren. There are also a handful of small boats, skiffs and barges and canoes, bobbing around the area.

[sblock=Nature DC 12 (passive)]Judging from the visible rocks and the color of the water, the bay on this side of Fulcrum is quite shallow and clearly impossible for larger vessels to navigate. The tide is in now (although going out); when it's low, even small craft may not have an easy time of things.
[sblock=Nature DC 17 (active)]You suspect that Fulcrum may be a tidal island, with a natural causeway that connects it to the mainland at low tide, but covered now at high tide.[/sblock][/sblock]

The captain notices a few of the adventurers scanning the scene. "They call that 'Fulcrum-shore'," he says, indicating the buildings on the main Isle. "And this is 'Fulcrum-sea'. Or they're just both 'Fulcrum'."

ryryguy · Jan 28, 2010

The Factor

Captain Jardin turns to the chef. "Castofle, you're goin' to see Hedra's factor, right? Why don't you take this crew over there with ya, they need to talk to him too."

Castofle nods. "Okay! Follow me!" He bounds down the gangplank onto the wharf and heads towards one of the stone buildings nearby.

// Assuming at least a couple PC's go with Castofle.

Next to the front door is another "Silverships Transit" sign, just like the one at Hedra's office in Daunton, plus a couple of other signs with the names of other businesses. Castofle pushes open the door and walks in. The interior is divided into a few private offices, all connected by a cross-shaped hallway.

Inside one of the private offices, the chef greets a dour-looking gnome whom he calls "Yammy."

"You lot must be the ones Hedra hired to go out to the plantation," he says. "Got a guide waiting for you at Fulcrum-shore. Low tide's in a few hours, if you don't want to wait we've got a bargeman under contract that can take you now. Either way, when you get to Fulcrum-shore just ask for a kid named Jaronel. He should be at the Two Clouds Trading Post, or someplace nearby."

// OOC: Time now is about eleven o'clock.

[sblock=Party Decision]Here's a party decision point. In a situation like this, once a majority of the PCs have agreed on a preferred course of action, I will move things along based on that choice. If waiting on people to post, I may go with the majority of those who have posted.

Note, you can indicate your choice with in-character dialog, which is probably the best way. It's not a formal poll.

[/sblock]

LadyLaw · Jan 28, 2010

[sblock=perception check]1d20+9=10 - apparently not feeling perceptive today.[/sblock]

[sblock=Nature check from Fulcrum post]1d20+4=24 - Nature, on the other hand, is doing great. Must be having some sort of memory after all Castofle's food talk.

[/sblock]

When the captain calls people up on deck, Azryah assembles herself. She puts her cloak back on, careful not to hit anyone with it, hitches her backpack up onto her shoulders, and adjusts her greatsword so that it is both comfortable and accessible. Then she puts up her hood and proceeds up on deck.

She watches the water, mostly, as the ship docks. Taking interest in the waves and wake as they pull in. She doesn't look up until they've stopped.

"Thank you for your assistance, Captain," she says when he finishes talking to Castofle.

After which, she follows Castofle off the ship and into the other Silverships Transit building. After the gnome speaks, she addresses the party.

"I think it's probably best to take the barge if it's faster, don't you? We are on a deadline, afterall; and although we have some time, best not to waste any in case we do run into any trouble because if trouble comes there's no telling what, or how long, it will take to deal with it."

Mewness · Jan 28, 2010

Papolstaanas falls asleep as the discussion continues, but after a couple of hours, he is up again, much refreshed.

Back on the deck, he becomes transfixed by the landscape, admiring it in silence as the Bluebell Lady approaches its destination.

ryryguy said:
Captain Jardin turns to the chef. "Castofle, you're goin' to see Hedra's factor, right? Why don't you take this crew over there with ya, they need to talk to him too."

Castofle nods. "Okay! Follow me!" He bounds down the gangplank onto the wharf and heads towards one of the stone buildings nearby.

Papolstaanas nods at this, and after scrambling back down to get his gear, he follows Castofle.

[sblock=failed rolls]Perception then Nature: 1d20+6=19 1d20+6=8[/sblock]

OnlytheStrong · Jan 28, 2010

Jynxx stares up at the sky... somewhat confused by what he sees. Letting it pass by without a word, he moves with the group. Aryzah's vote to use the barge is met by a nod of the head, "Excuse me... Yammy was it? I was wondering if you know what the lights are in your sky. Grey or gold I believe... passing in different directions. Can you enlighten me as to what these are?"

[sblock=Perception Check]

1d20+10=27

So.... Charm is stuck in a different town. Which is why she can't post. She did tell me to tell you all that she is sorry. Believe me when I tell ya... she's upset about it lol. I'm tired of telling her each post

Goober. [/sblock]

Mezegis · Jan 28, 2010

As the captain calls the party to the deck, Chaku slides to the back, knowing he can see over everyone. He listens quietly to the conversation, and his eyes flicker over everything, though in some cases, not really seeing all there is to be seen. He notes the tidal patterns, intrigued about how the city has adapted to the rise and fall.

He follows Castofle to the transit office, and nods in response to the gnomes statement. I agree with Azryah, we only have a few days to retrieve the goods and return to Hedra, I see no reason to waste a few hours of time while the tides change.

[sblock=Nature check]I didn't even bother with the perception since I can't make it on a 20. Nature one is 1d20+10=13 sigh, I like waves![/sblock]

BenBrown · Jan 29, 2010

[sblock=skill rolls]Nature: 1d20+3=13, Perception: 1d20+8=16 Nothing unusual to see here. [/sblock]

Kaeysari turns to the gnome and asks "What would be the reason for waiting? Is it so we can walk? We've been on a ship for half the day now. Another half hour afloat shouldn't hurt us."

ryryguy · Jan 29, 2010

[sblock=ooc]A number of grenades are about to explode today at work. I am super busy throwing myself on top of them.

I will try to get an update in later this evening.[/sblock]

ryryguy · Jan 30, 2010

// Grenades mostly smothered.

OnlytheStrong said:
"Excuse me... Yammy was it? I was wondering if you know what the lights are in your sky. Grey or gold I believe... passing in different directions. Can you enlighten me as to what these are?"

The gnome gives Jynxx a blank look. "Lights?" he says. "You been drinking Jardin's special rum?"

[sblock=Jynxx]If it wasn't clear... you only saw the lights between the clouds at the inlet. There aren't any in the sky over Fulcrum. But even if you mention where you saw them, the gnome still doesn't know about them.[/sblock]

BenBrown said:
Kaeysari turns to the gnome and asks "What would be the reason for waiting? Is it so we can walk? We've been on a ship for half the day now. Another half hour afloat shouldn't hurt us."

"Well, walking's free, and the barge costs money," the gnome answers. "Though it won't be coming out of your pocket, so I suppose you won't care," he adds with a slight frown.

Castofle pipes up, "If you wait, you could see the sights here on the island! Um, not that there's much to see... a tavern, a couple of temples, lots of docks. Hmm, yeah, probably not worth it. As for me, I have to talk to Yammy here about some stuff, so I won't be heading over right away."