A Warlock Alone, Island Empire solo game

[Scotley]

Questions part one

Who was the Captain?

A Halfling, Darfarious Proudfoot--One of the first you slew on the quarterdeck.

Who was the Halfing I took this from? ( he will show them the ruby earring)

Christopher Proudfoot, a cousin to our captain.

Where was there home base?

Axiopolis

Are there any other crew members awaiting them back at the base?

Not really.

How long have they been preying on ships in this area?

Just under a year.

Was this the only are of operations for them?

Yes

Who fenced their goods?

The local resistence group in Axiopolis of which this operation is a part.

What did they do with any prisoners?

The Sahaugin eat them.

Do they know where the Shark Men lived?

Very near here on the ocean floor.

How did they meet the Shark Men?.

Unknown

Have you ever operated anywhere other than this area?

No

What other pirates are operating in this area?

They only know rumors.

Do you know of the companies or individuals who recieved your stolen goods?

That was handled higher up in the organization, but there are contacts on several islands in the area of Axiopolis

Have you heard of any slavers inthe area?

No, unless you count the ruthless policies of the Dwarven establishment on Axiopolis

What are the name of some of the prizes you captured and what were their cargo?

I'll get back to you on this. Gotta come up with some.

Who else was in on the scheme in Axiopolis?

The local resistence.

Was the Captain the leader of your local guild?

No, but pretty high up in the ranks.

Does the guild have a treasurey that can be acquired? (This would only increase your share of the overall prize money)

It is not a guild, but a group of resistence fighters who hate tranny.

Do you have and cargos secreted and awaiting pickup?

Not that they know of.

Where are the smugglers comparment hidden on this ship?

Unknown.

What do you know about Tergere?

Another poor island, but oppressed by the human nobility rather than dwarves. Almost the entire population is lizardmen or toad men.

What do you know about Mermaid's Rest?

A notorious den of Thieves and pirates.

What do you know about Axiopolis?

A poor community of oppressed humans, orcs, and halflings mistreated by the powerhunger dwarves.

What attracted you to the rumpled bedsheet?

The large cargo of dwarven silver and gems taken aboard.

Do you know the location of any more pirate crews?

No

Are you willing to take service with this ship and crew?

We are freedom fighters not pirates!

 

[Scotley]

Who were your smuggling contacts?

We aren't smugglers.

Who were the officals your worked with?

We are freedom fighters working against the tyranny.

Do you know who your agents/operatives were in other ports who kept you apprised of cargos?

Most of them were on the boat.

Do you have any cargo's awaiting shipment?

No.

What were the types of cargo's you smuggled and where did you smugggle them to?

We don't

Do you know of any routes used by other pirates/smugglers that you never used?

No

What were your most profitable cargos?

Not applicable

Do you have any contacts or any information of pirates/smuggerls or even shark men operating out of Cambry/ Ice Watch/ the Cross Croft Isles/the Wheellands or Mermaids Rest?

No

Do you think you can help me recruit a reliable crew for this ship?

No

Do you know of any rumors of dark powers in Cambry/Icewatch/Mermaids REst or in any of the ports linking them?

No

Do you know of any intersting or strange rumors in general?

Let me think about it.

 

[J. Alexander]

Michaels Thoughts

After the interviews, MIchael will take a little time to think. While not as helpfull or fruitfull as he was hoping he did gain some very interesting knowlege. The fact that the resistance is still up and running and that they really do no care about how they further their goals thus there being in league with the Sharkmen and their allowing prisonets to be killed and eaten by them.

As they view themselves as resistance fighters, Michael will try to gain as much information as possible about the resistance operations in this area and especially Tergere. By chance is their a resistance movement in Icewatch that they know of? This is a long shot, as i truly doubt they will be forthcoming about the information but it is worth a shot.

Michael Stormrolls 1d20 + 9, getting [5,9] = (14) on Diplomacy

What does Michael or Grond and heck even Guiesspiee know about the resistance?
Will they provide Michael with the location of the Sharkman's lair? This may be his first adventure after arriving in Tergere. I am hoping they will be upset of the loss of their Tribal leaders and if the boading of the rumpled bedsheet failed, then they may be weakend to the point that MIchael can stage a raid on them......and who knows maybe find a few live prisoners and some treasure.

Michael will then go to the quarterdeck, as they are pumping the hold and speak with
Grond. This will need to be a group decsion as it will set our options for this area to a large degree.. Do we let them live or kill them? They are in resistance against the Empire and had no qualms about condeming their prisoners to the Shark men but could very well provide to be sources of excellent information etc in the future should we make peace with them?
the huge down side to this is that fact that we would be technically operating with the resistance which gets us afoul of the law.

After thinking and before his conversation with Grond, MIchael will approach the Crewment and tell them. "I shall set you ashor at the Port of Tergere. We are not a pirate company either but rather a band or adventures who crossed your path and by divine grace gained the upper hand. I wish no further conflict with you our yours. Serve me well until i reach tergere and you will be set free along the lines I intialed told you. I ask that you just take back a verbal messeage to your superiors in exchange" "Will you agree to these terms?'

 

[J. Alexander]

Letter to Matthew Stormwarden

26th day of High Summer in the 2nd year of the 2nd year of the reign of Xenieda the First
Aboard the "Retribution"
Location

Dearest Uncle,

It is with a happy heart that I can inform you that I have founded a crew and we are well on the way to prosperity. We have recently come into possession of a fine fast vessel, taking her in a boarding action against local Pirates. While the cargo was not as much as I had intially hoped, it will help us in getting established and go along way to reftting our fine vessel.

In the course of my travels, I have come across a source of exceptionaly pure silver. Do you think their may be a market for it among your clients once it has been converted into smaller more managable ignots ( say 6 and 12 oucnce ones) for the jewlers trade.

Now I must turn to a more delicate discussion but i truly need your answers to be honest. Does their run in our family a trait for Magical Ability that manifests itself over hurt and anger. Recently I have developed magical abiites that I can not really explain, other than that they may have manifested do to my desire for revenge or the righting of a brutal attack upon me. If there is such a trait, could you tell me the family history behind it?

In closing, I need the help of my kinsmen. Should you know of any of our extended realtions who possess magical or martial skills or are just manifesting them and who are willing to join a crew then please tell them about this offer. I have sadly found, that just sailing together does not make for loyalty and it has been brought home to me that I need loyal crew around me bound by ties of blood/ family/ frinedhsip/ or love in order to be truly successful.

Please post your reply to {NAME OF the PORT OF CALL} and dispatch any of our relations who may be interested in joining to that port. Shoudl they chose not to accept my offer, they I will gladly recompense them for their time and the cost of the passage to and from (NAME OF PORT).

Always,

Michael Stormwarden


OCC; YEAH I KNOW GETTING WAY AHEAD OF THE GAME HERE but given that this is a sea based campagin and using my love of reading old naval adveture novels, letters and things are often set in motion months and at times years in advance due to the slow pace of mail delivery and the time it takes to sail. ONe of the reason Michael Truly desire developig this FARSPEAK Talent/Feat. Also it should be noted that Michaels Family is from the Wheelands, so this letter should arrive quicker than the others i think.

 

[J. Alexander]

A Need for the Divine

Michael begins to ponder his course, but as at a loss, he has not the name of his Diety to pray to yeah i know once again on that lol but really i am in need of a diety for revenge/justice...think i can get you to come up with one sometime sonn ..

Your favorite prolific pain

 

[J. Alexander]

Lunch aboard the Retribution

Just before Noon, Michael will instruct Guiesspiee to come down from the crows nest. Guiesspiee will be instructed to preapare a nice cold meal of ham etc from our provisions, enought for the five of us. It will be an ample spread and I will even allow two bottles of chilled wine to be served. Everyone will eat on the quartedeck and Michael will ask for comments and the best way to sail to Terger given our limited crew. The freedome fighters will be made to fell welcome and their comments listned to and serisouly considered.

After lucn Michale will exterminate the quartedeck of pests etc and in the interste of securiety we will prepare some bedding there, perhaps covered by a small awing for the three of us to rest. Guiessippe and Grond will be the first to sleep while Michael watches the crewmen and the sea...Hopefully things will remain quite and Grond and Guisseppi can get 6 to 8 hours of sleep ought to get us into early evening. If possible we will try to wrap and preseve the bodies of the Proudfoots but I will ask the crew during lunch how they wish to proced. a burial at sea perhaps ?.....The sharkmen will have his head and talons removed and i will most defintly secure his crossbow for Grond...3d10 yippee ...

AFter lunch the crew will contine to pump the hold of water...i hope to keep them busy and tired to the point they will offer no resistance......also i hope to make it known to them that it truly was a misunderstanding, we thought they were pirates not freedom fighters and were just protecting our own......

What does Michael know about lizardmen and toadmen, can they breath underwater/saltwater?
Michael Stormrolls 1d20+6, getting [13,6] = (19)KNOWLEDGE - SEA

 

[Scotley]

The freedom fighters are pretty local. They are mostly concerned with the Dwarven govenment which violently put down an uprising on Axiopolis. They talk about fighting against the Empire, but operate more like a local thieves guild. Their contact with the resistence on Tregere is pretty limited. Neither Grond nor Gussippe is interested in killing the freedom fighters. Properly fed and with a couple of glasses of wine in them the freedom fighters agree to your terms. Michael does not belive that either the lizard or toad men can breath underwater. They are freshwater creatures rather than salt water in any case.

OOC: I'll get the deity done tomorrow. I have been thinking about it. I'll try to get exp. done tomorrow as well. I like the letters and their long term duration. It gives me some idea of the direction you want to go. The crossbows only do 1d10 on a regular hit, they only do 3d10 on a crit. They are masterwork heavy repeating crossbows that work under water.

 

[J. Alexander]

After Lunch

Michael will thank them for agreeing to his terms and hint somewhat that he may be in the market for their pirated cargo's etc in the future should the resistance leadership be interested.
Further as he has their names, he will contact the resistace thru them if they are agreeable as he has a small debit to repay them for the death of so many of their members. Michael is trying to keep this as agreeable as possible. We will still keep an eye on the for safety sake as we are way undermanned and very vulnerable at this point.

In the back of his mind, MIchael is thinking of a real raid on the Shark Men's lair, going for the semi knowledge that perhaps their best strike team has been elimnated as well as their leader, they should be ripe for plunder, not that it will be easy but I think it is very dooable given his idea of recruiting lizardmen as the muscle.

On that note, Michael is very very interested in hiring say 5 lizardmen fighters to join the Retribution. They make an ideal underwater strike team as well as a sneakey boarding party to prey upon other ships if it become necessary in the fureathnce of his ruse. They would be treated as standard hirelings for pay or they could join his crew officaly for pay and a share of the treasure...a great way to generate funds for the resistance on TERGER, by renting out your excess people, and it would also allow them to gain some experince and skills Given his ready acceptace of Grond etc I am hoping that his tolerance for outcast etc will work for him in negiogating with their clan/tribal leader for their services.

As for the strike on the Sharkmen, Michael figures he will need at least 25 fighters. 15 to go in intially, 5 to come in after 10 rounds and 5 after another 10 allowing for an exchange of individuals who can stay down.. say a constant number of 10 given the time for transit for air, unless we get lucky and find pockets of air down there.

Michael will discuss his plans with Grond when he awakes that evening. Once Guiesspee awakes he will be asked to prepare another meal of cold meats etc for eyerone and we will eat. After dinner MIchael will discuss what happend onbard and the need for them to withdraw as they could no longer serve under such a Captain who could not control his self and personal prejudices and who was willing to attack a crew member from ambush.

Michael will then turn in with the crew members, sleeping on deck while Grond and Guiesspe handle the ship. A crew member will be awakened after 6 horus to spell Guiessippee and another one after 8 to relive Grond. Michael will aslo awake at that time.


OCC: LIzard men can hold their breath for a number of round equal to 4 x their constituions which usually is a base 13...so that is 52 rounds.....

 

[J. Alexander]

Letter to Francis Miterro

27th day of High Summer in the 2nd year of the 2nd year of the reign of Xenieda the First
Aboard the Retribution
Location

Dear Francis,

I have had a thought which I think may interest you. The reception of your fruit preserves was overwhelming and that makes me wonder if there would not be a great demand for them among seafarers and captains in genreal as ships bread is so tiresome after a while.

Please consider experimenting with the making of your preserves in very large batches, but not sacraficing quality, and how best to preserve them for up to say a year or more. Should you agree to this request, please feel free to use any household funds necessary to help in the endeavor and you may even try contacting a few of the local chandlers for the placement of your wares, to see what the reception will be. Let us try this as a test for a year just recovering cost plus 20 percent and after a year if you feel it is worthwile lets us proceed in marketing them. As for me, I shall use the ones you ship me, please increase it to 20 cases, on my voyages, to distriubte them and perhaps further their reputation. However it should be clear that regardless of the outcome, your employment is secure, and i shall contiure to rely upon you to manage my household. Should the endevaro at some timeyield income then you will be entitle to an ample share in outright payment or may continure to let it increase as your contribution to our crew's net worth and thus share in the profitablitly of us all.

Respectfully

M. Storm

OCC: Scott, I am under the impression it would be rare for landlubber, minor functionary to be able to share in a crew's wealth other than in a hirling capaicty.

 

[J. Alexander]

Search of the HOld

The next day, Michael will perform a search of the hold for secret compartments etc.....
As he has the time he will take 20...
Michael Stormrolls 1d20 + 20 + 6, getting [4,20,6] = (30)
Michael Stormrolls 1d20 + 20 + 6, getting [11,20,6] = (37) Hold Search

Did he find anything in his search of the ship the other day ?