Session #29 & last (for now....)
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”.