[5e] Spell & Crossbones

Thanks [MENTION=8058]Queenie[/MENTION], it was really nice to spend time with my family. I've also got to thank [MENTION=23484]Kobold Stew[/MENTION] for the Caillou link. I ended up watching a Caillou episode with my nephew and he was totally engrossed by it :) The things us Americans miss out on, eh?

Maybe Nia and this death priest know each other...and she can use his help with the dark spirit haunting the Coral Curse?

[MENTION=20323]Quickleaf[/MENTION]Anyway, thanks! If [MENTION=4936]Shayuri[/MENTION] is still up for it, I think looking for a crew to man the Coral Curse would be a good in. Once it's been exorcised, of course. Probably would want a few hands on deck for that, too, if it really is haunted. He's not going to free Hispaniola or take his revenge on the Baron de Pointis all by his lonesome, after all. Even if they're not in it for his revolution, the promise of treasure and the chance to stick it to nobles and rich merchants often does wonders, especially when dealing with pirates, of all people.

I'm thinking the tie-in for Caillou could be thru Nia, as a voodoo worker looking for something (a spellbook or holy relic important to the Baron) that sunk on La Gloriosa. While Nia knows of the ship and it being haunted by a djab (dark spirit), Caillou might have some more specific information on the sacrifice/ritual needed to summon this particular djab. How's that sound? I'll send you a pm with more specifics.
 

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I've also got to thank [MENTION=23484]Kobold Stew[/MENTION] for the Caillou link. I ended up watching a Caillou episode with my nephew and he was totally engrossed by it :) The things us Americans miss out on, eh?

Ha ha ha. Someday you'll get a history lesson with Casey and Finnegan.

I wonder [MENTION=23484]Kobold Stew[/MENTION] if you feel Gentleman Jim would be better suited as Quartermaster or as Master Gunner?

I invested some thought into making him an all-rounder for a sailor -- partly so that he could blend in and out in case he ever had to go on the lam.*

So Navigator/ship's master, gunner, or q'master are all, I think, viable. He could also be the ship's schoolmaster or lead a platoon of marines. (The last was an idea I had in the pub -- he could recruit 6-8 fighters to work as a boarding/anti-boarding party.) Or just be a sea dog, ordered as one sees fit. As I understand it, navigators were sometimes outside of the ship's hierarchy, which might fit since the officers seem not to trust him. That sae reason I think also puts him outside of being an effective quartermaster (since that's usually the position of most trust in the crew, and what I had thought would work; I think that's just not the way things have played out).

That said, I do believe that the q'master should be one of the PCs. But of the two, where we are now, I guess Master Gunner, but there are other options that might be more amenable.


*Never typed that phrase before. Just realize it doesn't end with a "b". Imagine the image I had in my head for the origin...
 
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[MENTION=23484]Kobold Stew[/MENTION] Yeah, you're right, Gentleman Jim can fit in various roles, or even multiple roles, and do it well. Plenty of time to figure things out in character.
[MENTION=6781406]Unsung[/MENTION] [MENTION=4936]Shayuri[/MENTION] Since you guys are playing the voodounistas, I thought you might appreciate this blog: http://dreamsinthelichhouse.blogspot.com/2012/11/voodoo-in-d.html He has some cool ideas about re-skinning spells, and also about interpreting voodoo dolls as spell scrolls. Might be some good inspiration there!
 

For the purposes of mechanics, I suggest adding a bit of flavor to differentiate our two houdouns. In game terms, clerics are very proficient with spirits and undead...either destroying them or utilizing them. Druids are not; replacing that proficiency with power over the living, natural world.

Let us say then, that this difference is reflected in which Loa a practitioner has developed a relationship with; which is a long process not far from making friends or strong business relations with a human being. Not a simple ritual or rite, but a history of observances that form a bond of at least somewhat mutual trust.

This explains rather handily the gap between the two characters' powers without taking away the flavor of the voodoo from either. It also gives us a good 'in' to introduce our good cleric, as Nia's own Loa have little power to subdue or constrain a djab. Oh, she could do a voodoo ritual (as was my original plan) but we all know that those can be dangerous and uncertain. Why do the equivalent of bringing in Loa subcontractors, with all those risks, when you just happen to know another bokor in town who has the spiritual contacts the job needs? Sure, there's still a price to be paid, but at least it's a MORTAL price...in coin or favors or whatever. Much easier to deal with those.

We can even say she's worked out the arrangement with him in advance, and he's now just waiting on her to get the sucke...the stout and stalwart crew for the ship. Which she will have accomplished momentarily. :)
 

[MENTION=4936]Shayuri[/MENTION]- Nice. That works for me. :) Makes it a little warlock-esque, with the element of bargaining and mutual alliance. That can only be a good thing, plot-wise. Character-wise, maybe not so much.

Nia probably knows more about voodoo qua voodoo than Caillou. He's definitely more of a dabbler, probably knows his saints as well as he does his Loa. Whether it is better to avenge the dead or serve them, he doesn't always see the difference. Or maybe he just pretends not to. Maybe he lacks the reverence he should have, consulting only the Ghede and the Barons, as he does.

Trust is a more valuable commodity than favours or booty, and rare for it... ;)

Nia and Caillou probably planned this all out in advance. The bird's probably been casting auguries upon the ship in the days leading up to this, trying to get a sense of whatever curse the Curse may hold.
 

[MENTION=6781406]Unsung[/MENTION] I just took the opportunity to review your character on the tail end of my flight back today, and wanted to ask a few questions about Caillou...

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Have you dropped Commodore Rafferty from the picture entirely? Just double-checking.

What's up with his Secrets of the Deep fortune? What's his tie to the scarred sailor (presumably Teague)?

In what way is Sir D'Arcy his enemy? Is it that Sir D'Arcy wants to recapture him? Or that Caillou is on a mission of vengeance for what D'Arcy did to him and seeking to free other captured specimens / prevent D'Arcy from further abuses?

Could D'Arcy be connected to the Academie Royale des Sciences? It would be a nice tie-in with Barrington who is on the lam from the Academie.

Likewise, in what way do you see Baron de Pointis as his enemy? How are they actively opposed?

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Also, here are the two magic items I came up with for his fortune, though I'm still workin out the details on the Drowned Slaves Bottle.

[h3]Coat of Deeppockets[/h3]
This longcoat may have once been stolen from a naturalist but has been patched so many times it has taken on a patchwork raggedy appearance. Despite this, it has seemingly innumerable pockets and hidden pouches. In addition to functioning as leather armor it also functions similarly to a bag of holding (though it can only hold small things). Additionally, it allows you to stow or draw one extra small item per turn, thanks to its easily accessible pockets, and grants you advantage on Sleight of Hand checks to hide things on your person. Finally, once per week you can draw a random trinket from the coat; this functions even if it has been "completely" emptied.

[h3]Drowned Slaves Bottle[/h3]
Sailors hold many superstitions about the Atlantic. The most terrifying of these, spoken in hushed whispers by bokors and old salts, is the Mare Tenebraurum, a literal sea of darkness. Some say it leads doomed ships down to Davey Jones Locker, others that it is a gateway to hell itself, and still others that it is an elemental that existed since men began crossing the Atlantic. This heavy glass bottle appears to hold a simple model ship of a Spanish slave galleon. However, at night it changes to a wind battered vessel cresting tumultuous swells amidst a dark and stormy sea; one can almost hear the cries of the doomed slaves. By uttering a magical tongue-twister at night and uncorking the bottle while at sea, you roll the bones (2d6) and consult the table below.

2: Summon the Mare Tenebraurum (see Sea Encounters - Special Encounters).
3: All creatures within 20 feet of the bottle become ethereal as per the etherealness spell lasting for 1d8 hours. During this time ethereal creatures can perceive and interact with an ethereal ship of slaves.
4: Ocean water around the ship becomes murky and black in a 5 mile radius. Also, unbeknownst to you, either you release a poltergeist (specter) or suffer the Haunted ill fortune until resolving the unfinished business of a restless slave's soul.
5: Summon 1d4 shadows and cast darkness centered on the bottle. Take 9 (2d6+2) necrotic damage and reduce your Strength by 1d4 until finishing a short or long rest.
6-7: Summon a ghost whose primary language is West African. All bright light within 60 feet becomes dim light while ghost is summoned.
8-9: Cast sleet storm centered on the bottle, and increase sea and wind states in a 5 mile radius as randomly determined by the DM.
10: Cast fear in a 30-foot cone from the bottle.
11: Summon 3d4 shadows and cast darkness centered on the bottle.
12: Summon the djab Six Thousand Men (see The Buccaneer's Bestiary).
 
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[MENTION=20323]Quickleaf[/MENTION]- Like those magic items a lot. Gotta love the Guybrush coat. :) And Mare Tenebraurum is a fantastic name.

I've had some trouble fitting the Commodore into quite as big a role as he had for Gunner Teague. He might be competition for the treasure on Teague's back, which Caillou has his own reasons for hunting.

The Secret of the Deep started off as some tidbit of lost lore he stumbled onto while in Paris. Perhaps in the library of the Lessaints? Either way, it's not something he fully understands himself. He just knows that it's some kind of treasure, likely mystical in nature, and through careful investigation, he's tracked down the one copy of the map on the old man's back. Based on the Aztec gold Teague carries, it's probably something that was lost during the downfall of the Aztecs.

I think Sir D'Arcy and Caillou are on a collision course, but unaware of it as of yet. Caillou's use of Sir D'Arcy's name has caused the doctor some problems-- incarceration, a bounty on his head, a succession of trigger-happy duelists on his heels-- but at this point, D'Arcy doesn't know who the impostor is. The halfling's reaction is that of someone who has been mildly inconvenienced, although the wake of bodies he leaves behind would seem to bely his icy reserve. The great danger in dealing with Sir D'Arcy is his stifling indifference and utter lack of proportion. All things are a means to an end, and that end is the furtherance of knowledge. So once he finds out it's the bird he taught arithmetic, D'Arcy might see Caillou as a happy accident, a throwaway experiment that has unexpectedly achieved potential, a former possession to be reclaimed. This will not prevent him from caging or killing his protege should his own interests be threatened, but at least at first, he would approach with intent to befriend. Caillou knows better than to have anything to do with any of his former masters at this point, however. Sir D'Arcy was, and is, a walking disaster to anyone who came near him.

Based on...all that, it certainly sounds to me like Sir D'Arcy might fit well with the Academie-- if they'd have a foreigner. [MENTION=23484]Kobold Stew[/MENTION], what do you think? Maybe he's just working for them in a mutually beneficial mercenary capacity.

I think the Baron de Pointis began as an enemy of Sir D'Arcy first, then the Lessaints. He and Caillou barely interacted, saw each other only at a distance, but came to be deadly enemies solely by virtue of being the last ones remaining. The Baron represents the nobility Caillou hates, while Caillou represents the remnants of the Baron's enemies which he could neither possess nor destroy. Ideally, the Baron would have interests on Hispaniola, would own slaves whom he mistreats, and basically be the worst of all aristocrats all around-- while also being a skilled and knowledgeable magician in his own right. They are rivals divided by class and species, but there's a degree of parity between them.

...Those are my immediate thoughts, at any rate. That was a lot of text, hopefully it's semi-coherent.
 

Sounds great! Any one with a little discipline and focus in their lives is going to appeal to Barringoton.

And he's very happy to be used as a standard for hight British class -- that helps Battington to no end.

Toph
 

Hope everyone's on board to keep playing! I know things can get hectic around the holidays, so if anyone expects to be unable to post for a while, just give us the courtesy of a heads up. And I will do likewise. :) Thanks!
[MENTION=6781406]Unsung[/MENTION] Ok, I just updated the first post with your character sheet link, and also got the random table for the drowned slaves bottle finished. For Commodore Rafferty, I have another angle I can work him in so no worries there. One more quick question: you listed his enemy Sir D'Arcy as "the real" Sir D'Arcy...but I couldn't figured out what that meant in the context of his background...maybe you can shed light on that?
[MENTION=23484]Kobold Stew[/MENTION] You know, it's looking like your original idea of Jim as Master Gunner / Quartermaster may be the best fit for your party overall. Funny how that worked!
 


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