Sailors on the Starless Sea

[Scott DeWar]

Franko/Homer/Hank
Franko, Homer and Hank run to the sound of a cry for help, hoping to find a missing villager.

​

 

[Deuce Traveler]

Tender runs alongside Homer and friends as they go to check out the crying plea for help. The dwarf seems quite concerned and hopeful to find a surviving villager.

Meanwhile Kurl also follows, but at a distance as he takes in the grueling scene and says more in awe than disgust, "How curious. I wonder if the squalor in here serves a decorative or perhaps a religious function. Or perhaps they are just messy."

Boral hangs back to get Betsy, and also to help Borok recover. "Do you want something to drink, Borok? I've not much in the way of water, but Betsy here has some milk left."

 

[GlassEye]

Six villagers hang suspended from the inner walls of the tower, dangling by their chained wrists. They all look half-starved and their dry lips are cracked and covered in dried blood. They’ve been sorely abused. One, looking half dead, is Krivstad’s herb-woman.

Borok is out cold having been knocked unconscious by the beast-men. With Boral’s attention he begins to rouse.

Kurl notices clouds of fleas and lice scurrying about each time someone steps on the rotted hides and skins that are piled on the floor.

 

[Dogmatron]

"Quickly, we must free these people." exclaimed Brom, rushing to the closest villager and examine the chains to see if he can unshackle him (her?). Fendrik will follow him, still a bit cautious and watching for any more beast men.

"Where do you think these beast men creatures came from?" he asks to no one in general. "Do you think they've been here the whole time and just never bothered us until now?"

 

[Scott DeWar]

"Its the herb woman! free her first! she can help with the rest!" says Homer, his managerial skills kicking in.

 

[GlassEye]

It is easy enough to unhook the chains and lower the villagers to the floor where they slump, weakened, rubbing their hands as circulation is restored and weeping at their rescue. But only six. Only a third of those taken from Krivstad. More must be below the keep. This tower, however, looks to have been the living quarters for the beast-men that were here.

 

[Scott DeWar]

Homer looks over every one of the six, though it is not sure if it is concern or if they owe the money lender money. He is very concerned about the herb woman. His concern is unmistakeable and genuine.

Hank stands bemused momentarily as he is astounded by the brutality before him, then he looks contemplative as he tries to recall anything he had tread or copies on healing arts.

Healing check, d20 or d10?

Frako the fickle, Jester, he looks on with eyes wide in horror now that the battle is over. His mouth moves, searching for words of jest to lighten the mood, but only silence. Alas the 'other' mask of drama is seen in his expression as tears flow. Tragedy, loss, violence un-fettered.

 

[Deuce Traveler]

Tender suggests to the group, "Are these truly all the survivors? If so, perhaps we should leave here and bring them home. It doesn't look like they are in any condition to return alone."

Kurl replies, "No, leave them be. They can rest here while we explore further. Those that took them will just return if we don't finish this now."

Boral finds himself surprised in his agreement with Kurl on something and asks the recovering people, "What are we up against here? Are there any others around that need rescuing? Do you know who is in charge of these creatures and where he lives?"

 

[GlassEye]

There has been little call for the copying of books of late in Krivstad and nothing of healing in the correspondence Hank's written or read for the villagers. The six are alive and not likely to die here now that they've been released. Kurl is right, however, that they can rest while the group searches for more survivors.

The old herb-woman looks up from where Homer is helping her to her feet and answers Boral. "We've seen nothing but these beast-men. They go below." She points to the unopened door. "They take us out into the courtyard one by one and we don't return. If anyone is in charge, they stay below."

[sblock=Kurl Sparkhaven]Kurl hears the chirrup of numerous frogs swell and grow louder. He looks around to see if any others notice but it doesn't seem that they do. Then he hears the voice made up of numerous croakings again. "I promised power. First steppings to power lies around the Bull-neck..." The voice disintegrates into its disparate croakings and then fades.[/sblock][sblock=Scott]Sorry, man. If that's all it took then Scribe would be the most powerful profession. D10 for a Heal type skill check.[/sblock]

 

[Deuce Traveler]

Boral frowns. "It looks like we need to go down then, since we cleared the courtyard. Maybe we can get to the bottom of this and go home. Ma'am, I'm gonna leave Betsy here with you, if that's alright. I hope she'd be safer here with you."

Tender agrees to the plan. "That's a good idea, my boy. Besides, your cow's bell might alert them beastmen to danger. Ma'am, can you confirm there is only one way below? I want to make sure no one attacks from our backside."

As the rest get organized, Kurl goes searching bodies and the area for anything of value, noting aloud to the others his findings.

DM
[sblock]
Except for the one item he is truly looking for... Kurl is going to try and sneakily check around the bullish beast-man's neck. If he finds something of value he will pocket it and try to look at it when he believes he can do so without anyone looking his way. Then he'll equip it if he can, with a sly smile.
[/sblock]