(Inactive) Psion's Return to the Tomb of Horrors (IC)

[Psion]

The barkeep points out a man sitting at a small table pressed up next to a curved wall; he looks to be deep into his cups. She utters "Poor Payvin. Ever since his crew up and left him, he's done nothin' but sit there at the table and brood. I can see how it might get to a man, havin' his crew desert, but if he don't sign on a new crew soon, hell lose his ship!"

Payvin looks to be a man in his mid fifties, going gray, but still in good shape. He currently looks pale, haggard, and slightly drunk.

 

[Nightbreeze]

[imager]http://users.gmpexpress.net/adkohler/game/Doorgath_100_120.jpg[/imager]

Doorgath strides towards Payvin and sits in front of him. After examining the captain, he speaks slowly:
<Mr. Payvin? My name is Doorgath. We have found proofs that your crew hasn't deserted you, but they were probably abducted by some evil magician. However, in order to discover more, we need all the information you can provide us.>

 

[Psion]

Payvin jumps in fright when he notices the party's approach. He silently ignores you for a moment, then speaks in a clipped, frightened manner. "Yeah, my crew. They're gone. Damn right they didn't desert me! My crew, they was loyal. Especially m'mate Henry. He been with me since th' Drought o' '43. They didn't leave on their own, no sir."

"They was taken. By some evil beast! That's right, some fiends got 'em or I'm no riverboat captain."

Payvin lean his head in towards the party and speaks in a quiet voice after looking around. "Tell you what I saw; you can judge for yourself."

"After I seen every man onto th' Pearl, had Henry draw up th' board. Orders to let none offload, nor any to board, 'til I returned. Walkin' away, could see a cold mist. Flowin' from 'cross th' river, blanketin' th' water. Din't think much of it, then. Night come on thick by the time I finally finished up m'business with th' Merchant's Guilder. Stopped her for a quick nip. Then headed back t' where the pearl was tied."

"When I got to th' pier's edge, th' mist was so think couldn't hardly see m'hand in front of m' face. Called out to Henry to lower the board. Silence. Called again. More silence. Figured the boys was havin' their fun with me. And I wasn't likin' it too much. Thought I'd show 'em. Could just make out th' lantern at th' stern. So just took a runnin' jump! Made it across, yes sir, I did. Wish now I'd fallen straight into the drink."

"Started lookin' 'round. Yellin' out, 'Henry! Where you be man? Fun's fun, but we got th' manifest to go over!' Silence. Got a little spooked when found no one a'tall on th' upper deck. No one in the big hold below, neither. Then I just got mad. I was alone; m' crew had jumped ship. So I goes back up on deck. Began rantin' at th' top o' my lungs."

"That's when I thought I seen it. Movement above. That's when I seen it. In th' misty riggin' above me there was eyes. Hangin' in the air. Eyes like twin pits to th' fiery depths of th' Abyss! And them eyes, the had a voice. Like two tombstones rubbin' together. Said 'Do you also seek your end, mortal flesh? We find your blood sweet, but th' Devourer will consume your soul itself!' Fear hit me then, hard. Threw m'self off the ship into th' water. I tell you, I never been] so scared in all m' born days! Heard laughin' as I thrashed for breath in th' icy water, lost in that cursed mist. Swore right then and there--if I lived, never set foot on a ship again. So here I am."

 

[Nightbreeze]

[imager]http://users.gmpexpress.net/adkohler/game/Doorgath_100_120.jpg[/imager]

<I see...I have to ask, was there any other ship in port at that time? Cuz' if that's true it would be very stange that your ship has been chosen. Also...I fear that you have the right to know the truth"> - and Doorgath explains what happened to the poor captain, while swearing to find and destroy the foul beast that provoked this tragedy.

Meanwhile, he asks Peja if he has ever heard of this "Devourer" and the strange mist.

 

[Psion]

[sblock=Peja]
The reference does not seem familiar to you
[/sblock]

[sblock=Ari]
You seem to remember a reference to a Devourer in your studies, but you don't recall the context. Perhaps a sage consultation is in order
[/sblock]

[sblock=Garrel]
You think you have heard of two sages in town.
[/sblock]

 

[Olaf the Stout]

[imager]http://users.gmpexpress.net/adkohler/game/Kullrund1.jpg[/imager]

A large half-orc barbarian walks into the bar and approaches the table where the party is speaking to Payvin.

"Gee, you guys don't like to wait around for latecomers do you. Trying to keep all the fun to yourselves as usual!" Kull says to Ari and Peja with a wry grin.

"What's going on?" now slightly concerned after seeing the frightened and worried look on Payvin's face.

 

[CanadienneBacon]

[imager]http://users.gmpexpress.net/adkohler/game/peja.jpg[/imager]


Peja nods at Kull as the half-orc makes his entrance and proceeds to seamlessly meld into the gathering group. "Yer leg's're stumpier than even mine, I'd guess, else ye'd've been here afore us!" The wink Peja offers bespeaks a welcome to Kull. With Kull present, Peja turns his attention to Doorgath. Frowning in thought, Peja offers, "The fog ain't right. I stuck my head out back at Khale's and had a look to see if it were full o' monkey business. Turns out it were. The aura'd gone by the time I had my look, but I'd lay gold to gems that the fog is somehow the root, or a symptom at least, of the undead appearin'." The dwarf priest of Delundar shakes his head. "Wish I'd thought to do it earlier, but them bodies needed burnt." Peja looks at Kull. "Wights. Night was full o' em back at Khale's where we met up. An' ole Payvin here what as said his crew up an' left him on a foggy night. I don't know no 'Devourer,' though."

Turning to Payvin, Peja sits down across from the man. "Where's yer ship now, Cap'n?"

 

[Olaf the Stout]

[imager]http://users.gmpexpress.net/adkohler/game/Kullrund1.jpg[/imager]

"Wights" Kull thinks to himself, "that doesn't sound good at all."

"Only a few measly Wights. You should have left them to me. I could have handled them by myself!" he replies, puffing out his chest.

Kull then takes a seat at the table and listens intently to what Payvin has to say.

 

[Psion]

Turning to Payvin, Peja sits down across from the man. "Where's yer ship now, Cap'n?"

Payvin, between the haze of alcohol and depression, has to be asked the question twice. He casts his gaze away and says "Still on the dock, least 'til I can find a buyer... p'rhaps that'll keep my mug full a while longer..."

 

[CanadienneBacon]

[imager]http://users.gmpexpress.net/adkohler/game/peja.jpg[/imager]

Peja shoots a look at Kull, Ari, and Doorgath, then looks back at Payvin. "Mind if we go down fer a look? With yer blessin', o' course. Yer still Cap'n. But I'd like ter see the vessel fer meself, if ye do no mind."