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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Psion" data-source="post: 3260894" data-attributes="member: 172">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."</blockquote>

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