Story HourPost your ongoing tales from your campaigns, and read those from others for inspiration. Lots of other RPG boards post "Story Hours", but this is where it started!
Staring into the pit, the pirates chuck a rock in, then a torch, before sending a nervous sailor down to light the way. When the plucky Hans isn’t eaten by a giant spider on his descent, Bloody Mary, Rodrigo and Merritt follow him into the bunker, bringing another one of their seamen, Fritz, along. The injured William and four others remain on the surface.
The captain and her men start to explore the underground complex. Leaving the door marked with Black Bellamy’s symbol for now, they head west into the tunnels, towards a gilded statue of the Madonna and child. They search the room to the south which contains a skeleton sitting in bed reading the bible and manage to uncover another passage hidden by webs. In the chamber beyond they are confronted by a shambling human-shaped creature completely covered in webs. As it moves towards the pirates, its skin ripples as if many small creatures squirm inside. This powerful “web mummy” delivers several savage blows to the captain, knocking her unconscious, before Hans sets it on fire with his torch. The creature then kills the hapless Fritz before Merritt delivers the killing blow. Unfortunately, the death of the mummy releases the inhabitants of its body: a swarm of fist-sized, bright red spiders! As the spiders swarm over the unconscious Bloody Mary [loses another life!], Rodrigo grabs the Holy Bible from the skeleton in the bedroom. When this doesn’t seem to help much, he casts shillelagh and attacks the spiders to devastating affect, backed up by Merritt, and the spiders are killed or scattered.
With the danger passed, the captain comes round: she will have a new (but impressive) scar from the battle. Deciding that back-up is needed, she calls up to William and two more seamen, Pierre and Jacques, climb down to join the officers. They continue their exploration of the bunker, encountering a second swarm of red spiders and finding a second room containing the skeleton of a long-dead pirate: this one is slumped over a desk covered in sea charts. There is also a chest in here, but the party decide to leave this alone for now. Heading north into another enlarged chamber, the pirates are horrified to see another web mummy shuffling towards them!
Books used last session Black Horse Parsantium campaign: 4e core rules, Player's Handbook 2 (invoker), Adventurer's Vault, Wrath of the River King. Dulwich Parsantium campaign: 4e core rules, Forgotten Realms Player's Guide (genasi, swordmage), Players' Handbook 2 (barbarian), Dragon (Playing Gnolls), Sellswords of Punjar (the adventure) Lands of Intrigue: 3.5 core rules, Arcana Evolved (unfettered), Ptolus, Spell Compendium, Complete Book of Eldritch Might, The Banewarrens (the adventure), Book of Nine Swords (Desert Wind), Monster Manual V (demons)
Thus proving that Captain Scarlet really is indestructible. Not just indigestible.
I think Lucy gets killed deliberately now that she has that magic d20 that always rolls 1 on the affliction table. Oh look, another impressive scar! And I've got all my CON back!
Oh, and that chest is trapped, I tell you. We'll open it when we've cleared the dungeon finished searching this cave.
__________________ "It is necessary to consider attentively what course should be pursued in deposing a prince, lest sin be added unto sin, and crime be punished by the commission of crime." - Juan de Mariana, De rege et regis institutione (1599)
Bloody Mary, Rodrigo and Merritt move into combat with the web mummy, but it proves a tough opponent. Rodrigo’s cutlass gets stuck to the sticky webs shrouding the creature and although Merritt sets it on fire with his torch, he does so only feebly and the hideous mummy is able to extinguish the flames. Only Bloody Mary seems to be landing effective blows with her cutlass, and there is much (well, a little) consternation as Pierre falls down dead following the creature’s vicious slam attack. When Merritt is able to set the mummy alight for a second time, the flames catch properly and the walking corpse collapses, spilling another swarm of bright red spiders from its remains. The swarm is defeated with belaying pins but not before it claims Jacques as its victim.
Although there is some discussion about returning to the surface to rest and recuperate, the pirates decide to press on and continue exploring the complex. After establishing which passages connect up, they return to the central rooms and search them again. Merritt and Rodrigo disable the trap on the chest and then open it using a key found under the mattress in the bedroom. Inside are several fine dresses of lace and silk, seven phials of different liquids and a carved, gnarly stick with the word “tlalam” (meaning “strength of the gods”) inscribed on it in Mayan glyphs. Next, they tie a rope around the madonna statue and Merritt heads over to the door marked with Black Bellamy’s symbol, climbing around the side of the shaft, followed by Rodrigo. Once he’s got the door open, the plucky young lad proceeds cautiously into the room beyond, checking carefully for traps. This doesn’t stop him poisoning himself on a dart as he tries to block a series of suspicious holes in the wall!
On the far wall, there is a door with a series of ten stone buttons marked with numbers and a cryptic inscription. Rodrigo and Merritt realise that they need to push buttons adding up to 100 to open the door and after a while figure out which ones to press. The door opens: inside are six skeletons, two of which are turning a native “spell pole” which casts a scare spell at the party. This sends first Rodrigo and then Bloody Mary running off in terror, but Rodrigo is able to remove his own fear and return to destroy the undead with his voodoo powers. Opening the door in this room, the pirates find a chamber containing three fine Spanish rapiers and a case holding Black Bellamy’s pistols. There is no sign of the Feathered Staff of Quetzalcouatl as yet.
Books used last session Black Horse Parsantium campaign: 4e core rules, Player's Handbook 2 (invoker), Adventurer's Vault, Wrath of the River King. Dulwich Parsantium campaign: 4e core rules, Forgotten Realms Player's Guide (genasi, swordmage), Players' Handbook 2 (barbarian), Dragon (Playing Gnolls), Sellswords of Punjar (the adventure) Lands of Intrigue: 3.5 core rules, Arcana Evolved (unfettered), Ptolus, Spell Compendium, Complete Book of Eldritch Might, The Banewarrens (the adventure), Book of Nine Swords (Desert Wind), Monster Manual V (demons)
indeed- huzzah for that awful orange d20 and its impressive- scar rolling capabilities.
although the actual reason for the frequency of those beautiful death scenes is that i've got a basic girlie inclination to befriend and draw pictures for cute little animals that turn out to be SWARMS.
Last edited by CaptainLucy; 7th February 2007 at 06:11 PM..
Bloody Mary, Rodrigo and William climb back down the shaft and return to the hallway where there is one door they haven’t yet opened as well as a secret door in the south wall, found by Rodrigo. The stone door has three levers which the pirates experiment with, pulling them down using ropes and pushing them back up again with belaying pins. Eventually one combination causes the door and the section of floor in front of it to revolve round, bringing three animated skeletons into the hallway. Once these have been defeated, the party experiment with the levers again, setting off the poison dart trap in the process: Mary is shot.
With the door open, William enters the chamber beyond: a narrow hall with a plank spanning a shallow pit filled with acid. The nimble ranger crosses the beam safely and reaches the end of the room where there is a chest sitting on a pedestal and a serrated dagger hanging on the wall. When William grabs the chest, the walls to either side of the acid bath drop down, revealing four skeletons armed with pistols and cutlasses who open fire on the pirates. Rodrigo pulls the lever to spin round and escape the skeleton attacking him and get back into the hallway, but, to his consternation, the skeleton pulls it to, bringing him back round again and into the room. More antics with the revolving door ensue, but William is able to use his belaying pin to great effect and the skeletons are defeated. The chest that triggered the trap turns out to be empty but the dagger fits perfectly in one of the two slots in the secret door and turns. Realising another dagger is required, the pirates search the adjoining rooms but don’t find one. The only option seems to be crossing the shaft again and heading down one of the sloping passages to the west.
With his keen eyesight, William manages to prevent the pirates stumbling into a fine web strung across the passage. In the chamber beyond is a giant spider the size of a horse. Bloody Mary rushes in to attack while Rodrigo tumbles past and casts shillelagh and William opens fire with his gun. Rodrigo is badly wounded by the spider’s bite and backs away, managing to ensnare himself in another web. The other two fight on: Mary falls unconscious after a savage bite by the arachnid and William is also gravely injured. With things looking bleak, Rodrigo pulls himself free of the webs and charges in, diving on top of the spider. The buccaneer’s spectacular attack works and the spider falls to the ground, dead. Rodrigo and William look on in horror as a red spider climbs out of Bloody Mary’s mouth. [loses yet another life!]
The captain staggers to her feet; a hideous scar welling up on her arm. The pirates pull free the skeletal arm clutching a curved knife out of the webs lining the wall of the chamber. This dagger fits the second slot in the secret door and the party are able to open it. Beyond lies Black Bellamy’s treasure chamber, filled with figureheads plundered from defeated ships, chests of gold and silver and other valuable loot. Among all the glittering treasures, the pirates spot a sturdy looking wooden staff carved to resemble a snake and adorned with pictograms and rainbow-coloured feathers: the Feathered Staff of Quetzalcoatl. As they move to grab the staff, the fearsome ghost of Black Bellamy appears, furious with them for stealing his sword and pistols. Bloody Mary hands back the pistols and Rodrigo gives the ghost the Torres blade. William explains that they’ve just come for the Feathered Staff, picks up the item and backs away with it. Rodrigo beats a hasty retreat as well but the captain stays behind and tries to reason with the angry spirit. This doesn’t work and she is blasted twice by Bellamy’s hideous corrupting gaze. Deciding to join her colleagues, she leaves too and all three pirates climb back up the shaft.
In the cave at the top, the pirates are stunned to see Merritt and their two surviving crewmen trussed up and even more surprised that Albert de Montblanc, a man last seen falling “dead” into the Caribbean Sea, is standing over them. The French pirate demands that they hand over the Feathered Staff. Bloody Mary responds with a suggestion as to where he might like to shove it!
Books used last session Black Horse Parsantium campaign: 4e core rules, Player's Handbook 2 (invoker), Adventurer's Vault, Wrath of the River King. Dulwich Parsantium campaign: 4e core rules, Forgotten Realms Player's Guide (genasi, swordmage), Players' Handbook 2 (barbarian), Dragon (Playing Gnolls), Sellswords of Punjar (the adventure) Lands of Intrigue: 3.5 core rules, Arcana Evolved (unfettered), Ptolus, Spell Compendium, Complete Book of Eldritch Might, The Banewarrens (the adventure), Book of Nine Swords (Desert Wind), Monster Manual V (demons)
Last edited by RichGreen; 20th February 2007 at 10:23 PM..
While William hides just below the top of the shaft, Rodrigo and Bloody Mary attempt to make a deal with the dastardly Albert de Montblanc. Unfortunately, the French pirate is no mood to negotiate and opens fire with his blunderbuss pistol. A battle ensues: Bloody Mary and her two crewmen soon dispatch Montblanc’s three lackeys but Albert is able to gravely wound his opponents while suffering lesser wounds himself. Deciding caution is the better part of valour, the trio retreat and start to climb back down the shaft. Montblanc predictably cuts through their rope, causing William to fall but the one-armed ranger is able to grab hold of the webs before he falls too far.
Albert de Montblanc does not pursue the pirates down into the bunker and they are able to rest and recuperate. As a precaution, Bloody Mary removes the two daggers from the secret door leading to Black Bellamy’s vault and then heads over to the other side of the shaft where Rodrigo and William throw the skeleton out and climb into the bed for a lie down. Mary keeps watch at the edge of the shaft, singing anti-French songs to wind up Montblanc. She tries to stay awake all night but fails dismally and dozes off.
Thursday 6th July
Rodrigo and William are both feeling much better but the three pirates have finished off the last of the food they were carrying. William manages to salvage some meat from the dead tomb spider but decides it may not be a good idea to eat it. Meanwhile, Bloody Mary has been taunting Albert de Montblanc from the bottom of the shaft to no response from the top.
Friday 7th July
Now almost fully recovered, Rodrigo attempts to climb up the webs covering the walls of the shaft with a rope tied round his waist, held by the others and attached to the Madonna statue as a safety precaution. Even with his hook to help him, the one-armed buccaneer is not as good a climber as he used to be and he falls when he reaches the top. To make matters worse, when Bloody Mary and William don’t manage to keep a firm grip on the rope, the heavy wooden statue falls after him, breaking the webs below and pulling Rodrigo into the cold waters beneath. The other two throw him a rope and pull him out and the plucky hougan has another go at climbing up to the top. Unfortunately, he falls again. And again. And again. Eventually, he manages to get up there. Rodrigo ties the rope to a tree and then signals for Bloody Mary and William to follow him.
Once all three pirates are there, Rodrigo sneaks out of the cave, past his tied-up comrades, to the sleeping form of Albert de Montblanc, sitting under a big tree. Rodrigo attempts a coup de grace: his blade strikes true and he stabs the Frenchman through the throat, killing him. To make absolutely sure, Bloody Mary lives up to her name and cuts off Montblanc’s head!
With their enemy killed, the pirates untie Merritt and the other two crewmen before heading back down the shaft to loot Black Bellamy’s treasure vault. It doesn’t take long for the ghostly pirate to make an appearance: Rodrigo attempts to steal some of the jewellery and Black Bellamy manifests, coming up through the floor of the chamber. His corrupting gaze damages all three of the party, but, armed with magical swords and, in Rodrigo’s case, a shillelagh, the pirates are able to destroy the ghost. A quick count of the treasure is made: the hoard is worth a fortune, but it’s not going to be easy to get it all back to the Welstand!
Books used last session Black Horse Parsantium campaign: 4e core rules, Player's Handbook 2 (invoker), Adventurer's Vault, Wrath of the River King. Dulwich Parsantium campaign: 4e core rules, Forgotten Realms Player's Guide (genasi, swordmage), Players' Handbook 2 (barbarian), Dragon (Playing Gnolls), Sellswords of Punjar (the adventure) Lands of Intrigue: 3.5 core rules, Arcana Evolved (unfettered), Ptolus, Spell Compendium, Complete Book of Eldritch Might, The Banewarrens (the adventure), Book of Nine Swords (Desert Wind), Monster Manual V (demons)
Bloody Mary orders the remaining pirates to haul as much of the treasure out of the bunker as they can carry back to the boats. The rest (22,000 pieces of eight, three paintings and ten figureheads) is left behind, but the crew take the two serrated daggers needed to open the doors to the treasure vault with them.
Saturday 8th July
The pirates head downstream in the boat. En route to the coast, William befriends a cayman which follows along behind. Bloody Mary decides to ignore the ruined pyramid in the jungle for now: their mission to bring the Feathered Staff back to Madame Laveau must take priority.
Monday 10th July
Back on board the Welstand, the pirates set sail for Hispaniola. Just before the ship leaves, a smaller vessel is spotted, heading north. Could this be Montblanc’s ship?
Friday 14th July
The Welstand arrives at Hispaniola after a smooth crossing of the Caribbean Sea. The captain and her men row into the bayou yet again. For once, the trip into the swamp is not interrupted by an attack from its monstrous denizens and the party are able to reach Madame Laveau’s hut without incident. The hougan is overjoyed to see the pirates have managed to obtain the Feathered Staff and immediately gets the ritual started to summon Maitre Carrefour.
The loa appears, riding Captain Flint for the second time and speaking through her lips:
“You must return to the site of your folly, the island where you found Cuauhtemoc’s tomb and released him from his eternal prison. He will be returning there soon now that he has acquired all of the Tablets of the Smoking Mirror – he may even already be there. Cuauhtemoc seeks to perform the Invoked Apocalpyse ritual, harnessing the power of the volcano in the centre of the island to rain down destruction on all the peoples of the Caribbean. He must be stopped, and you puny mortals are the ones who must stop him. By unleashing the celestial power of the Feathered Staff of Quetzalcoatl, you will be victorious. Go now with all speed to the island!”
Maitre Carrefour advises Rodrigo and the trembling William that to activate the power of the staff, the wielder must say a prayer to Quetzalcoatl, the Plumed Serpent and scatter some corn meal on the ground. The staff will give the wielder the power of the Plumed Serpent. Before leaving his horse, Carrefour also issues a couple of warnings:
“Take heed! Cuauhtemoc has mastered some of lesser Tablets already: he has called the Black Freighter from the bottom of the sea and has created some foul new undead servants. You will need to be on your mettle to get as far as the volcano to confront him!”
Once the loa has departed, Madame Laveau gives the party four vials of cloudy yellow swamp water to help them stand firm when they face Cuauhtemoc. However, she isn’t able to provide them with the potions of lesser restoration they are after.
Saturday 15th July
Set sail for the Shanty Isles. Black clouds gather overhead and it isn’t long before torrential rain pours down on the Welstand and its crew.
Sunday 16th July
In the early hours of the morning, William is on watch as the Black Freighter surfaces from beneath the waves just 500 feet or so from the Welstand. The Freighter is a badly damaged schooner with tattered black sails; its crew are bloated-looking undead corpses and its decks are covered in seaweed. The sight of the Black Freighter is terrifying and chills the spirits of the pirates to the bone. William alerts Captain Flint and the rest of the men and the sloop is able to get off a broadside, unfortunately to no discernable effect on the enemy’s vessel, before the schooner can manoeuvre alongside. The zombie crew of the Black Freighter mounts a successful boarding attempt and the pirates are in a terrible battle for their very lives. Although the zombies are slow, they are very tough and are able to inflict many casualties on the Welstand’s sailors. Rodrigo is able to turn nine of the zombies which gets some out of the way for a while, but they return a minute later to attack again. Captain Flint, William and Rodrigo leap on to the Freighter, killing two greenish-blue marine ghouls and battling with a fearsome mummy of the deep. As Rodrigo struggles to escape the clutches of the mummy and its deadly kiss, Bloody Mary charges up to the helm of the Freighter and attacks its skeletal captain. Her fearsome thrusts strike home and the undead helmsman starts to pilot the ship back below the waves. The three pirates dash for their lives back to the Welstand. There, an awful scene greets them: most of their crew lie dead or dying. The only survivors are Merritt, Rob, Peregrine, Bart, Simon Belmont, Clever Dick and Area Ketta. The Welstand may well be able to reach the Shanty Isles but getting back to civilization is likely to prove very challenging!
Books used last session Black Horse Parsantium campaign: 4e core rules, Player's Handbook 2 (invoker), Adventurer's Vault, Wrath of the River King. Dulwich Parsantium campaign: 4e core rules, Forgotten Realms Player's Guide (genasi, swordmage), Players' Handbook 2 (barbarian), Dragon (Playing Gnolls), Sellswords of Punjar (the adventure) Lands of Intrigue: 3.5 core rules, Arcana Evolved (unfettered), Ptolus, Spell Compendium, Complete Book of Eldritch Might, The Banewarrens (the adventure), Book of Nine Swords (Desert Wind), Monster Manual V (demons)
Last edited by RichGreen; 13th March 2007 at 10:21 PM..
on the plus side, we get back all the treasure we'd just divided up amongst the crew: I am planning to spend this on a crew who can manage to roll higher than a 3 on an attack roll.
on the plus side, we get back all the treasure we'd just divided up amongst the crew: I am planning to spend this on a crew who can manage to roll higher than a 3 on an attack roll.
That crew was boring me, anyway.
Such compassion! You're a role model for pirate captains everywhere.
Books used last session Black Horse Parsantium campaign: 4e core rules, Player's Handbook 2 (invoker), Adventurer's Vault, Wrath of the River King. Dulwich Parsantium campaign: 4e core rules, Forgotten Realms Player's Guide (genasi, swordmage), Players' Handbook 2 (barbarian), Dragon (Playing Gnolls), Sellswords of Punjar (the adventure) Lands of Intrigue: 3.5 core rules, Arcana Evolved (unfettered), Ptolus, Spell Compendium, Complete Book of Eldritch Might, The Banewarrens (the adventure), Book of Nine Swords (Desert Wind), Monster Manual V (demons)
The Welstand anchors a mile off or so offshore and the Captain, Rodrigo, William and Clever Dick get into the ship’s boat and head for the beach. William’s caiman follows behind the boat. As they row the boat through the shallows, the pirates are attacked by a giant crab. Bloody Mary is grabbed in its claws but manages to escape, only for the monstrous crustacean to seize William’s croc. After a short fight, the crab is despatched and the men of the Welstand are able to reach the shore. On the beach, swinging in a hammock, they encounter the ancient shipwreck, Herman Toothrot, who tells them “the Dark One”, Cuauhtemoc, has headed inland to the volcano, carrying several black tablets.
The pirates head inland through the jungle. As before, they spot a “magic parrot” of the same variety seen and shot on their first trip to the Shanty Isles. This time, the parrot strikes first, unleashing a colour spray on Rodrigo and the others, before flying off!
When the group reaches the lizardfolk camp, they skirt around the edges through the trees. Unfortunately, they’re not stealthy enough and are attacked by a band of lizardfolk armed with poison dart blowguns and savage clubs. After a few rounds of fighting, these smaller lizardfolk are joined by a larger blackscale lizardman. There is a big battle but the pirates prevail and are able to start climbing the side of the volcano through the sweltering jungle. After a few hours of tough walking, the crew start to near the top of the volcano where the jungle starts to give way to a barren area of slippery, sulphurous mud and steaming pools. Here, a tunnel enters the side of the mountain: a lava tube, twenty feet wide.
Bloody Mary and her men enter the tube, heading down into the bowels of the volcano. As they advance, a pair of flaccidly -flapping membranous kites of skin glide through the air towards them. These disgusting creatures attach themselves to Bloody Mary and Clever Dick and start to absorb their skin. Attempts to get these skin kites off don’t work but the others are able to kill them with carefully aimed blows from their cutlasses. From here, Rodrigo sneaks ahead, following the twisting lava tube further into the mountain until it opens up into a large cavern bisected by a lava stream. Beyond, Cuauhtemoc stands on higher ground behind an altar of black stone, chanting in a strange language. Two mummified lizardfolk stand guard over “bridges” across the lava. Rodrigo sneaks back to the others to report.
Books used last session Black Horse Parsantium campaign: 4e core rules, Player's Handbook 2 (invoker), Adventurer's Vault, Wrath of the River King. Dulwich Parsantium campaign: 4e core rules, Forgotten Realms Player's Guide (genasi, swordmage), Players' Handbook 2 (barbarian), Dragon (Playing Gnolls), Sellswords of Punjar (the adventure) Lands of Intrigue: 3.5 core rules, Arcana Evolved (unfettered), Ptolus, Spell Compendium, Complete Book of Eldritch Might, The Banewarrens (the adventure), Book of Nine Swords (Desert Wind), Monster Manual V (demons)
Now joined by Merritt, the pirates drink the “potions of courage” given to them by Madame Laveau and enter the cavern. Unfortunately, the two mummified lizardfolk spot the party straight away and move up to attack. When William moves towards the lava river, one of them bull rushes him into the boiling hot molten lava where he is burned alive! Rodrigo attempts to turn the two lizardfolk but fails dismally; however, Bloody Mary gives one of the mummies a taste of his own medicine by knocking it into the lava flow. Next, she and Clever Dick attack the other one with their rapiers while Merritt leaps over the lava and starts sneaking round the side of the cave towards Cuauhtemoc.
Rodrigo decides that it’s now time to use the Feathered Staff of Quetzalcoatl. He scatters some corn meal and chants a prayer to the ancient Mayan god…… and transforms into the Plumed Serpent, a couatl. He casts holy smite at Cuauhtemoc, which does little damage but gets his attention. The Evil One responds by launching a spectral black hand at the Serpent, which rips off chunks of its flesh. The couatl grabs hold of Cuauhtemoc so he can constrict him, but the mummy priest escapes and damages the Serpent again with another spell, forcing him to retreat to the Ethereal Plane to heal himself. Meanwhile, Merritt struggles to climb up to the raised area where Cuauhtemoc and the altar are, and the others, having finished off the second mummified lizardman head up the slope to help out.
As the Plumed Serpent battles Cuauhtemoc, Merritt, Bloody Mary and Clever Dick start grabbing the Tablets of the Smoking Mirror and throwing them into the lava. Cuauhtemoc turns into a cloud of tomb dust to escape another grapple, so the Serpent imprisons him inside a wind wall and then fireballs him when he changes back to his mummy form. However, the fight has taken its toll on the Plumed Serpent and another flesh ripper from Cuauhtemoc finishes him off, leaving Rodrigo standing in his place holding the drained Feathered Staff. The pirates beat a hasty retreat back into the tunnels. There, two more skin kites attack, one of them damaging Rodrigo by melding with his skin, but they are dealt with fairly easily. Bloody Mary orders her men back to the entrance to the lava tube to consider their options.
Books used last session Black Horse Parsantium campaign: 4e core rules, Player's Handbook 2 (invoker), Adventurer's Vault, Wrath of the River King. Dulwich Parsantium campaign: 4e core rules, Forgotten Realms Player's Guide (genasi, swordmage), Players' Handbook 2 (barbarian), Dragon (Playing Gnolls), Sellswords of Punjar (the adventure) Lands of Intrigue: 3.5 core rules, Arcana Evolved (unfettered), Ptolus, Spell Compendium, Complete Book of Eldritch Might, The Banewarrens (the adventure), Book of Nine Swords (Desert Wind), Monster Manual V (demons)
Last edited by RichGreen; 4th April 2007 at 08:56 PM..
Reason: 800th post - huzzah!
Reunited with William who has somehow managed to survive his fall into the lava (although his face is badly burned), the pirates discuss the best course of action. This time, Clever Dick uses the Feathered Staff of Quetzalcoatl to transform into the Plumed Serpent. Using ethereal jaunt, the couatl scouts ahead, determining that the tunnel is guarded and that Cuauhtemoc is chanting to himself behind the altar.
Once the Plumed Serpent has returned to report, Bloody Mary and her men head down the tunnel to where a mummified lizardman and two skin kites block their way. Rodrigo manages to turn all three undead and the party are able to run past them to the entrance to the cavern. There, the Plumed Serpent starts casting spells to protect the party. This takes a while and the lizardman mummy and the skin kites return. One skin kite attaches itself to William and starts draining his charisma. The couatl deals with the mummy, grabbing it in its coils and constricting it while the others battle the skin kites. William, on the brink of collapse, just manages to kill the skin kite that has melded with him before his life force is drained away.
With Cuauhtemoc’s minions defeated, the pirates are ready to confront the Dark One himself. The Plumed Serpent enters the cavern ethereally and invisible, appearing just above the mummy and attempting to drop the captain’s cloak over his head! Unfortunately, he screws up completely, dropping the cloak on to the floor and is forced to retreat back to the Ethereal Plane. The others, meanwhile, have entered the cavern and are moving cautiously towards Cuauhtemoc. The mummy responds with a flesh ripper on the Captain as both Rodrigo and William are rooted to the spot with fear. The Plumed Serpent reappears and unleashes a devastating empowered fireball on the mummy who responds with another flesh ripper. Bloody Mary backs off as Cuauhtemoc approaches. Seeing his chance, the Plumed Serpent flies at high speed through the air towards Cuauhtemoc and bull rushes him into the lava! As the mummy tumbles in and perishes, the couatl is transformed into Clever Dick again. Cheers and huzzahs ring out among Bloody Mary and the pirates: their enemy has been defeated and the Caribbean is safe from destruction! Now they just need to get back to Tortuga without much in the way of a crew….
Books used last session Black Horse Parsantium campaign: 4e core rules, Player's Handbook 2 (invoker), Adventurer's Vault, Wrath of the River King. Dulwich Parsantium campaign: 4e core rules, Forgotten Realms Player's Guide (genasi, swordmage), Players' Handbook 2 (barbarian), Dragon (Playing Gnolls), Sellswords of Punjar (the adventure) Lands of Intrigue: 3.5 core rules, Arcana Evolved (unfettered), Ptolus, Spell Compendium, Complete Book of Eldritch Might, The Banewarrens (the adventure), Book of Nine Swords (Desert Wind), Monster Manual V (demons)
Last edited by RichGreen; 1st May 2007 at 09:34 PM..
The Welstand leaves the Shanty Isles, flying a Dutch flag.
Thursday 20th July
A tropical storm hits. The captain orders the crew to drop the anchors and wait out the storm. The Welstand springs a leak but plucky young Rob manages to patch up the holes and the water is pumped out.
Friday 21st July
The storm continues to rage.
Sunday 23rd July
The Welstand arrives at Tortuga, somewhat the worse for wear. The plunder is divided among the surviving crew: each gets a whopping 1,500 doubloons. William hurries off to the pub while Rodrigo is reunited with Fifi, Mimi et Gigi. At the Blue Boar, the pirates run into Saucy Jack again who tries to persuade Bloody Mary without much success that he should get a share of Black Bellamy’s treasure.
Monday 24th July
The captain arranges for Francois Montaigne to make repairs to the Welstand while she works on hiring a new crew, offering a generous signing on bonus of 20dbl – enough to attract 40 sailors. Meanwhile, Rodrigo sells some of his loot to William Credo.
Thursday 27th July
Visit Madame Laveau in the bayou. She is very happy and not a little relieved that the pirates have managed to defeat Cuauhtemoc. Rodrigo presents her with the now powerless Feathered Staff as a gift.
Friday 28th July
Set sail for Rigas Island, flying Bloody Mary’s pirate flag.
Sunday 30th July
Run into the Wooden Nichol again. This time, Bloody Mary orders the crew of the Welstand to intercept and attack the English schooner. The pirates open fire and do enough damage to sink the Nichol, forcing Captain Michael Ross to surrender. His cargo is plundered but Bloody Mary’s recruitment speech is ineffective and the Nichol’s crew decide to take their chances in the long boats rather than going on the account. As they row away, Rodrigo takes a potshot at them but misses. Captain Ross goes down with his ship, shouting “You’ve not seen the last of me, you rapscallions!” as the Welstand sails away.
Monday 31st July
The Welstand reaches Rigas Island. The pirates search the abandoned and damaged Majestic, Bullhead Willows’s ship, but find no one aboard but do recover the ship’s log. An away team composed of Bloody Mary, Rodrigo, Clever Dick and William plus eight others rows ashore but are attacked by fierce natives when they head inland. Bloody Mary triggers some kind of noisy magical alarm when she passes between two large stones and this kicks off the battle: she’s forced to retreat after being struck by several javelins. Eventually, with the help of the other sailors, the pirates are able to kill all eight native warriors.
Books used last session Black Horse Parsantium campaign: 4e core rules, Player's Handbook 2 (invoker), Adventurer's Vault, Wrath of the River King. Dulwich Parsantium campaign: 4e core rules, Forgotten Realms Player's Guide (genasi, swordmage), Players' Handbook 2 (barbarian), Dragon (Playing Gnolls), Sellswords of Punjar (the adventure) Lands of Intrigue: 3.5 core rules, Arcana Evolved (unfettered), Ptolus, Spell Compendium, Complete Book of Eldritch Might, The Banewarrens (the adventure), Book of Nine Swords (Desert Wind), Monster Manual V (demons)
The pirates search the natives’ bodies finding three potions of blur, then head inland following the native tracks found by William. They come to an abandoned village which they search round, finding nothing of interest. Next, they reach an inhabited native village, but decide to detour around it. By the afternoon, the crew are in the jungles of the southern part of the island, heading towards the volcano. A “magic parrot” is spotted in the trees: the wary buccaneers hurry past!
Later, the pirates reach what appears to be a hunting camp: there are three huts ahead. Rodrigo and Merritt creep closer, unseen by the four Tulcan warriors hiding in the undergrowth. Rodrigo cuts a hole in one of the straw huts and peeks inside to spot a bound and gagged aristocrat and three unconscious and badly wounded pirates. He moves back to the others through the bushes, blundering into two native warriors he hadn’t spotted before. He casts cause fear and they run off but the other four move in to attack. The rest of the Welstand’s crew arrive to help and the Tulcan warriors are soon dealt with.
With the battle over, Rodrigo questions the gagged nobleman who claims to be William Haverford, Governor of Jamaica. He is very grateful for being rescued but at something of a loss for words when Rodrigo, clearly a Spaniard, asks to be made Deputy Governor. Meanwhile, Merritt, Bloody Mary and Clever Dick check out the other two huts where they find Bullhead Willows (also bound and gagged). Bullhead tells them that Albert de Montblanc’s treasure chest has been taken to the “Golden Temple” at the base of the volcano by the Tulcans. After some deliberation, the pirates untie both Bullhead and the Governor and bring them along as they head up the trail having decided not to stay in the camp. When it starts to get dark, they camp for the night, setting watches. It starts to piss down with rain and everyone gets soaked, but otherwise the night passes uneventfully.
Tuesday 1st August
The pirates trudge further into the jungle, reaching the gold-covered temple after an hour or so. They scout around, but there are no signs of habitation and no back entrances they can find: just a pair of stone doors.
Books used last session Black Horse Parsantium campaign: 4e core rules, Player's Handbook 2 (invoker), Adventurer's Vault, Wrath of the River King. Dulwich Parsantium campaign: 4e core rules, Forgotten Realms Player's Guide (genasi, swordmage), Players' Handbook 2 (barbarian), Dragon (Playing Gnolls), Sellswords of Punjar (the adventure) Lands of Intrigue: 3.5 core rules, Arcana Evolved (unfettered), Ptolus, Spell Compendium, Complete Book of Eldritch Might, The Banewarrens (the adventure), Book of Nine Swords (Desert Wind), Monster Manual V (demons)
After a bit of a struggle, a concerted effort from the crew gets the stone doors into the Golden Temple open. Inside is an entrance hall, dominated by a giant statue of a snake (representing the Tulcan God of War), and guarded by four jaguar-skin clad warriors. These temple guards are dealt with only one casualty: Ernie Greeneyes. Bloody Mary calls on Selfish Hardy to replace him and the exploration of the ground floor gets underway. Two more groups of Tulcan warriors are encountered, backed by priests armed with nasty poison-coated daggers. These foes are disposed of without too much trouble, although William’s caiman ends up getting quite badly wounded and both William and Rodrigo are poisoned.
Rodrigo’s sharp ears can hear drumming from upstairs, so the bucccaneer sneaks up for a look. In the hallway above, a group of guards and priests lie in wait for the pirates. Getting the others to sneak up the left-hand staircase, Rodrigo moves stealthily up the right-hand flight and leaps out on the Tulcan warriors with a fearsome attack that shakes up the enemy! The others rush in to engage the natives with Hardy acquitting himself particularly well. Bloody Mary is struck by a poisoned dagger and suffers badly from the venom, but the pirates are again victorious. Ahead is a door from which a rhythmic drumming can be heard. Bloody Mary gives the order to open the door…..
In the center of the room beyond is a tile mosaic depicting a giant snake with seven naked women kneeling before it in worship. Standing in front of this mosaic is a tall man dressed in feathers, a bone breastplate, and wielding a strange-looking club or mace of some kind. On either side of this man are two knights: one is wearing a jaguar skin, the other is wearing an eagle-feathered costume; both are armed with savage looking clubs. Surrounding these men are twenty kneeling cultists, dressed in feathered skirts and painted in gold. Ten scantily clad and naked women sit behind them, beating drums and chanting. A large treasure chest stands on the floor next to the trio of standing men. At a command from the high priest, the kneeling men spring into action and attack!
Books used last session Black Horse Parsantium campaign: 4e core rules, Player's Handbook 2 (invoker), Adventurer's Vault, Wrath of the River King. Dulwich Parsantium campaign: 4e core rules, Forgotten Realms Player's Guide (genasi, swordmage), Players' Handbook 2 (barbarian), Dragon (Playing Gnolls), Sellswords of Punjar (the adventure) Lands of Intrigue: 3.5 core rules, Arcana Evolved (unfettered), Ptolus, Spell Compendium, Complete Book of Eldritch Might, The Banewarrens (the adventure), Book of Nine Swords (Desert Wind), Monster Manual V (demons)
Having closed the door to the sacrificial chamber, the pirates (now joined by Merritt) discuss tactics. When they open the door again, Bloody Mary charges in to attack one of the Tulcan fighters but succumbs to a hold person spell cast by Cihuacoatl, the high priest. With Bloody Mary helpless, the eagle knight moves in and performs a coup de grace, bashing in her skull [loses her fifth life!]. Merritt, keen to avenge his beloved captain, charges in to attack the eagle knight, helped by his monkey which pulls the beak of the Tulcan’s headdress over his eyes! William and his caiman attack the jaguar knight and acquit themselves well while Clever Dick gives Merritt a hand. Meanwhile, Rodrigo completes a daring dash around the back of the enemy to get to the treasure chest. Unfortunately, it’s far too heavy and he is unable to lift it much with his one good arm, let alone throw it out of the door, and he finds himself surrounded by fanatic cultists. Hardy enters the fray but is cut down almost immediately, as is his hapless comrade Bert Benson.
By now, Rodrigo is in serious trouble in the centre of the room. He survives the high priest’s slashing darkness spell but falls soon afterwards. The Tulcan warriors lay into his lifeless body with their clubs [loses a life]. Merritt falls unconscious in combat with the eagle knight and Clever Dick’s luck runs out: he falls over and is gutted. William, last man standing, finishes off the jaguar knight and then moves in to attack the high priest. The caiman is the next to die but William stabs Cihuacoatl, killing him. With the high priest’s death, the drummers stop drumming and run for the doors, closely followed by the cultists. Close to death, William staggers towards the eagle knight who has managed to slay half the party. He raises his sword, strikes true, and runs the native through.
With the pirates’ enemies dead or fled, William and Merritt (who has come round by now) manage to drag their fallen comrades and the heavy chest down the stairs and outside where their comrades are waiting. Incredibly, Rodrigo and Bloody Mary have somehow managed to survive the fight, although the captain will be forever weakened [weathered] by her ordeal.
Back on the ship, the pirates open the chest and are pleased to find it is full of doubloons and other treasure, as well as a sarcastic note from Albert de Montblanc.
Friday 4th August
The Welstand arrives in Port Royal, Jamaica, slipping into dock as discreetly as possible. Governor Haverford gives the pirates a letter to be delivered to his cousin, Captain Daniel Wilmslow, in town. He intends to hide below decks on the ship until Bloody Mary can let Wilmslow know what has happened. Deciding that caution is the better part of valour, the crew don disguises: Merritt reprises his “spanish widow” outfit (last seen in Cartagena), Mary dresses as a noblewoman and William scrubs up to become their servant. Rodrigo, dressed in his smartest clothes, goes on ahead, while Bullhead Willows follows behind. As the party heads along Thames Street, Rodrigo is recognized as “that pirate Rodrigo Whatshisname” by a wealthy merchant who calls for the guard! As whistles are blown and guardsmen hurry to the scene, Rodrigo casts obscuring mist and disappears.
Following this distraction, the pirates reach the Silver Tankard on Lime Street where they find Captain Wilmslow. He accompanies them back to the Welstand with a dozen of his men. After a brief conversation with the governor, the two of them and the soliders head up to Fort Charles where James Galloway is exposed as an impostor and killed trying to escape. Meanwhile, back at the ship, the slightly paranoid pirates have sent a few men out in a rowboat to keep watch for an ambush!
Saturday 5th August
With all well, Bloody Mary and her men divide the plunder, shop for fine clothes, and blow their ill-gotten gains on drink (William) and French whores (Rodrigo). Rodrigo casts detect magic on all the loot. Strangely, the chest is magic, radiating a strong aura of both necromancy and abjuration.
Tuesday 8th August
Bloody Mary and her men, dressed in their finest clothes, head to the Purple Orchid to meet the governor of Jamaica for the second time. However, on this occasion, all is well: Governor Haverford pays them the money he promised on Rigas Island, issues them with an official pardon and asks Captain Scarlett to accept Letters of Marque and Reprisal.
A day or two later, the pirates are relaxing in the pub when a young lad comes up to Bloody Mary and asks if all the stories he’s heard about her are true: did she really get swallowed by a sea serpent? How about defeating Albert de Montblanc twice? And the escapes from Port Royal and Santo Domingo? The lad listens to her replies, pauses for a moment, thoughtfully and then says “When I’m older, I’m going to be a pirate just like you!” The pirates ask him his name; he says he is Edward Teach but everyone calls him “Thatch”.
Books used last session Black Horse Parsantium campaign: 4e core rules, Player's Handbook 2 (invoker), Adventurer's Vault, Wrath of the River King. Dulwich Parsantium campaign: 4e core rules, Forgotten Realms Player's Guide (genasi, swordmage), Players' Handbook 2 (barbarian), Dragon (Playing Gnolls), Sellswords of Punjar (the adventure) Lands of Intrigue: 3.5 core rules, Arcana Evolved (unfettered), Ptolus, Spell Compendium, Complete Book of Eldritch Might, The Banewarrens (the adventure), Book of Nine Swords (Desert Wind), Monster Manual V (demons)
Books used last session Black Horse Parsantium campaign: 4e core rules, Player's Handbook 2 (invoker), Adventurer's Vault, Wrath of the River King. Dulwich Parsantium campaign: 4e core rules, Forgotten Realms Player's Guide (genasi, swordmage), Players' Handbook 2 (barbarian), Dragon (Playing Gnolls), Sellswords of Punjar (the adventure) Lands of Intrigue: 3.5 core rules, Arcana Evolved (unfettered), Ptolus, Spell Compendium, Complete Book of Eldritch Might, The Banewarrens (the adventure), Book of Nine Swords (Desert Wind), Monster Manual V (demons)
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