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Journal of the Souls of Legend (completed)
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<blockquote data-quote="Nthal" data-source="post: 8046900" data-attributes="member: 6971069"><p style="text-align: center"><strong>The Depths of Despair – 7/24/2020</strong></p> <p style="text-align: center"></p> <p style="text-align: center"><em>We are always losing stuff, whether they are things like your coin purse, or intangibles like your pride when your rival shows you up in a competition. But the worst is people, as we seem to be horrible handling losing someone close to you. I suppose this is what Kelemvor was trying to change in how people saw death. That death wasn’t to be feared and there was comfort in it. </em></p> <p style="text-align: center"><em></em></p> <p style="text-align: center"><em>But in the face of tragedy, it takes great strength to hold oneself together. And some aren’t up to the task.</em></p><p></p><p>I was staring at the sea as the shallow waves washed over the beach, when I heard the brothers step up behind me.</p><p></p><p>“Well, I guess this explains the heat.”</p><p></p><p>I turned around confused, “What do you mean?”</p><p></p><p>“The farther south you head, the warmer it gets. And we must be <strong><em>very</em></strong> far south.”</p><p></p><p>I had not heard of this, but as I thought of it, I realized that everyone called the area that I had been travelling ‘the North.’ So of course, there had to be a ‘South’ somewhere. But I didn’t know that the heat would increase the farther one traveled in that direction.</p><p></p><p>“Well, we’re outside and the air is fresh,” I said. “Let me see if I can help Iesa.” I reached within and pulled on some of the strands within me, and felt the strong flush across my back, as I tried to purge what it was that made Iesa ill. And then I followed it through, pulling on more strands to close his wounds. I then looked at him critically, and I became concerned.</p><p></p><p>His pallor didn’t improve, even with his wounds now closed. He stood there wheezing and looking at me puzzled.</p><p></p><p>“You don’t feel better do you?” I asked.</p><p></p><p>“A little…where I was cut, but…still…hard to breathe,” he gasped. </p><p></p><p>I frowned. “That’s not good,” I said trying to think.</p><p></p><p>“Well, do you have any other magic that can help him?” Daneath asked.</p><p></p><p>“Well…no,” I admitted. “Healing injuries is easy, and I know I can help with other maladies, but…I just tried that, and he says it didn’t work.” I lifted up my hand as I shrugged. “I don’t know what to do.”</p><p></p><p>“Maybe there is a settlement nearby,” Daneath said. “Hey Beepu,” the warrior called to the gnome sitting on the dune. “Have any ideas where we might be, and if there is ta own near?”</p><p></p><p>Beepu turned to look at us and shook his head. “Somewhere far south. I do not even know if this is the Sea of Swords or not.”</p><p></p><p>“This is confusing,” Daneath said. “Why is the circle in the cave?”</p><p></p><p>“We didn’t search all of it,” I pointed out. “Perhaps he’s hiding within somewhere.”</p><p></p><p>“Or…” Iesa coughed for a moment. “Something happened inside.”</p><p></p><p>“That means we have to go back inside then,” I stated the obvious. “Otherwise we are in the middle of know—”</p><p></p><p><em>--Wait…do you hear that?</em></p><p></p><p>I raised my hand up and turned my head. At first, I heard only the breeze across my ears but then I heard something else, singing. Very poor, offkey slurred, singing.</p><p></p><p>I mouthed to the others ‘Do you hear that?’ to which Daneath and Iesa nodded (while stifling a cough.) Beepu stood wearily and sent Foggle upwards into the sky. We waited, and then Beepu motioned towards a dune to our left. Coming closer he then whispered to us.</p><p></p><p>“A human in a small campsite. And he has been drinking.”</p><p></p><p>“Well, someone that can give us the local chant. Shall we?” I said, and we started to circle the dune following the edge closer to the hill.</p><p></p><p>As we stepped around, I could hear the voice clearer; whoever it was, wasn’t singing very loud at all, like he was singing to an audience of one; himself. He was also horribly drunk, as the words were slurred to be almost unintelligible. Stepping around cautiously, we rounded the dune, and then we had our first look at the singer.</p><p></p><p>The man who sat there on a small barrel, in front of an unlit fire was middle-aged and deeply tanned. He wore a tunic with no sleeves and a vest and breeches cutoff at the calves. His feet were bare and covered in sand. He wore on his head a broad leather hat, with a deep crimson band, festooned with feathers and beads. His face was lined, and he had a thick beard. The song was simple and rhythmic and as he sung, he lifted a dark brown bottle up to his lips. And as he did so he looked straight at us for the first time.</p><p></p><p>He coughed and spat up whatever he was drinking and dropped the bottle onto the sand. He fell off the barrel he was sitting on and started to scramble backwards.</p><p></p><p>“No! No! No! Ye ghosts from the cave will leave me be!” and he turned over and started to clumsily run.</p><p></p><p>“Beepu? Can you?” I asked, and Beepu reached down and threw up some of the fine white sand, and immediately the man fell over in a deep slumber, based on the loud snore he gave off.</p><p></p><p>“What the? Ghosts?” Daneath asked looking at us. “He’s going to be hard to convince not to run when we wake him up.”</p><p></p><p>“Or shank us,” Iesa managed to say, pointing to the short-curved sword and dagger the man was wearing from a belt at his waist.</p><p></p><p>“D, sit Iesa down there by the fire circle and help me.” I said walking over to the slumbering figure.</p><p></p><p>“Sure,” and after letting is brother sit on the sand, he came over to me, “What did you need?”</p><p></p><p>I grabbed the man by his legs, “Drag him back and prop him sitting up,” I then grunted and Daneath I and lifted and start to move the man, “against that barrel. Just don’t wake him.” We in short order, moved him into position. </p><p></p><p>“Damn its hot,” and I quickly pulled out from under my armor, the gambeson I wore. My armor was lined well enough that I didn’t need it to prevent chafing, but it was too warm. This left my arms, shoulders and neckline bare to the sun. Taking off my pack I quickly stuffed it inside and pulled out a strip of white cloth. Quickly I used my dagger to cut a thin strip, and then fastened it around my eyes. The cloth was thin enough so I could see through it, and I then ran the back of it under my hair. </p><p></p><p>I moved over and grabbed the discarded bottled, and saw it was still half full. I quickly took a swig from it, tasting the strong spiced liquor on my tongue. It was easily as strong as the whiskeys served in Waterdeep but was far far less smooth. I then sat on the man’s lap, and quickly took his hat and placed it on my head. I wrapped my right arm around his shoulders.</p><p></p><p>“Myr, what are you?...” Daneath said confused watching me, and Beepu shared the same look. Iesa however smiled and chuckled realizing what I was doing.</p><p></p><p>“Just start laughing like we’re old friends,” I said.</p><p></p><p>“We <strong><em>are </em></strong>friends---”</p><p></p><p>“Like HE,” I gestured at the sleeping man, “is one too,”</p><p></p><p>I curled up my legs as I sat in his lap, and with my left arm placed the bottle to his lips. I then with my right hand slapped his face and started to shout.</p><p></p><p>“Hey Hey HEY!...don’t youz…pass out on me,” I said slurring my words as if I was well into my cups, as Daneath sat down and started laughing. Beepu stood there confused, and then half-heartedly started to laugh and sat down.</p><p></p><p>The man shook his head and tasted the liquor on his lips and took a drink, and then he looked at me in surprise and confusion.</p><p></p><p>“What the? I don’t—”</p><p></p><p>“Youz,” I said looking at him with my covered eyes, “werez telling uss sssome great sstoriesth.” I still tried to sound drunk and cozied up next to him.</p><p></p><p>“Wazz I?” The man said confused. “I don’t rememberrr…waait. Didn’t youz come out of that there ghost cave?”</p><p></p><p>“Ghost cave?” I said with a voice of disdain, “Thatzz thilly!” as I laid on more of the mock drunken tone. “Why do call it thatz?” and I watched him to see how he answered.</p><p></p><p>“Talez of ghostz and treazzures inside,” the drunken man said. </p><p></p><p>“Thatz sounds like just talez to me,” I said with dismissively. “Whatz…your…name?” I said I as I traced my finger down his cheek</p><p></p><p>“Mine? Hibertz.” He said proudly.</p><p></p><p>“Hibertz, you are…<strong><em>quite</em></strong> the ssailor,” I drawled, looking into his eyes. Daneath and Beepu sat there with an almost shocked look on their face as I performed this little drama, while Iesa’s face was red as he both tried to stifle his laughter and attempted to breathe. “You didn’t tell me though….do youz have your own sship or something?”</p><p></p><p>“Hah, naw…I just crew with the Sea Devilz,” he said nodding and took the bottle from me and took another swig, before handing it back. I tilted my head back and took a very small swallow, before I turned to look at him with a silly grin.</p><p></p><p>“Sssea Devilz!” and I handed back the bottle. “Thatz right…you told me that. Forgot already,” I said as I glanced over at my friends. Daneath and Beepu shrugged, and I kept fishing. “So, you pulled into port here and here you are drinking your sspoilz.”</p><p></p><p>“Aye, Blackwater Reef is the best port here in…” he hiccupped before looking at me again, “Nelanther isles.” As he said the name, I involuntarily tensed and felt a chill go up my spine. Glancing over at the others I saw they had similar reactions. Iesa had stopped laughing and looked at Daneath with concern. Daneath covered his mouth trying to cover his emotions, while Beepu’s jaw dropped open.</p><p></p><p>Nelanther Isles. Waterdeep was a port, there was always tales of piracy on the lips of the sailors. But the tales of the pirates of Nelanther were particularly horrifying. These were not romantic swashbucklers. They were the worst of the worst. Cruel and vicious Reavers, who spent their time taking what they wanted. Most ships would fight to the last man, rather than be taken prisoner by Nelanther pirates, because what they wanted most were slaves. Weak, strong, it didn’t matter. But the tales of their cruelty and barbarism filled the taverns of Waterdeep with tales of nightmares. And rumor had it that they were fond of picking on the smaller races to do the lowest and dirtiest work onboard their vessels.</p><p></p><p>But this paled to the tales of what they did to the women; prized booty to sell elsewhere as slaves; if they were lucky.</p><p></p><p> “Say…my captain would like yooou,” the man said. “Not many purty girls out here. Least not bound for market.”</p><p></p><p>I swallowed, trying to hide my newfound fear. “Well, I might have to stop and see your ship.” And I pinched his cheek playfully. “You must be quite the mate to introduce me.”</p><p></p><p>“Naw, I ain’t his first nor his second. But you tell them that old Sea Bass Hibertz sent ya,” and he lifted the bottle to his lips to drain the last drops from the bottle.</p><p></p><p>“Now let me up, before I piss my britches,” I said stumbling to my feet, as I had the sudden urge to get as far from this man as I could. I felt the hand of the pirate slap my right butt cheek as I stood. Holding back an urge to murder the man as he reclined there, I walked towards my friends and said to Beepu in Elvish.</p><p></p><p>“Put him out.” And with an almost careless gesture and another bit of sand thrown, the pirate was again fast asleep.</p><p></p><p>I clutched my arms across my chest, breathing deeply and a little too fast.</p><p></p><p>“Nelanther?” Daneath said. “What have we got ourselves into?”</p><p></p><p>“Nothing…good,” Iesa said with a wheeze. “You and I might be…alright. But Beepu and Myr? There’s nowhere safe.”</p><p></p><p>I looked at the brothers shivering a bit. “So, the tales…they are true then.”</p><p></p><p>“No…” Iesa said slowly. “If anything, its worse.”</p><p></p><p>“I…see.” I said looking back at the sleeping pirate. “So now what?”</p><p></p><p>“Two paths; we keep looking in the cave for clues, or we go to town,” Daneath said. “I’d normally say the cave, but--” he nudged Iesa. “He’s not looking so good.”</p><p></p><p>“Beepu what do…you?” I turned and found that Beepu had wandered farther towards the surf and had sat down upon the sand. He didn’t respond to my words. I walked up to him, with Iesa and Daneath close behind me.</p><p></p><p>“Beepu?” I knelt down and put a hand on him.</p><p></p><p>“I am…sorry. I am just…not feeling myself,” Beepu said, as he stared at the ocean.</p><p></p><p>“Beepu snap out of it!” Daneath said as he stomped over to the gnome shouting. “We don’t have time for this.”</p><p></p><p>“I need…some time. I will watch our friend,” and he pointed at the sleeping pirate.</p><p></p><p>Iesa coughed, “This is a bad…idea.”</p><p></p><p>As Iesa continued hacking out the contents of his lungs, I felt something. A twinge, or rather like a sour note being plucked. I turned to look at him. He was clutching his chest as he expelled green phelm from his lungs. I moved over to him and closed my eyes, and felt. Not with my hands but with the strands. After a moment, it was clear they were reacting to something; as if Iesa was a marionette, to an unseen puppeteer.</p><p></p><p>“We need to go to the cave, fast.” I said.</p><p></p><p>“It’s a bad—” Iesa started.</p><p></p><p>“—something in that cave is killing you,” I cut him off. “And unless we can find what it is, you’re dead.”</p><p></p><p>“What do you mean?” Daneath said with alarm.</p><p></p><p>“Something in that cave is…well…trying to turn Iesa into one of those corpses.”</p><p></p><p>“He’s not a corpse though!”</p><p></p><p>“No. Not yet,” I said. “And wee may not have a lot of time either.”</p><p></p><p>“What about--” Iesa started to cough spasmodically, “—Beepu?”</p><p></p><p>I looked at the gnome and closed my eyes. Beepu was an emotional wreck. I wasn’t sure if he could keep himself together for another fight. Grimacing I answered the brothers.</p><p></p><p>“We…follow his suggestion and let him watch our sleeping friend.” I started to shake my head. “I think that he might be able to handle that.”</p><p></p><p>“She’s right,” Daneath agreed bitterly. “He needs time. And you,” he said pointing at Iesa, “Are out of it.”</p><p></p><p>Iesa nodded, stifling a cough. He straightened up and started heading back to the cave, with Daneath close behind. I followed them and then stopped by Beepu. I stood there a moment, looking at the gnome who stared dead-eyed at the sea.</p><p></p><p>“Beepu, we’ll be back. Just…take care of yourself. Please.” I said pleadingly, frustrated I couldn’t help him more. </p><p></p><p>“I will…just help Iesa,” he said barely acknowledging me. His mechanical owl, Foggle circled in the air quietly, making a solitary soft “beepuuu” sound as it waited for its master to command it once again.</p><p></p><p>I nodded, “Keep an eye on him Foggle,” and jogged past them and the sleeping Hibertz, still asleep to Beepu’s magic. I caught up to the brothers, and together we re-entered the cave. I quickly flexed, and placed a light on Daneath’s shield.</p><p></p><p>“So, what are we looking for?” Daneath asked, as he descended down the ladder and back into the musty depths.</p><p></p><p>“I am not sure,” I said honestly. “This is definitely a case where I will know it when I feel it,” I stood back ready to help Iesa down but Iesa slapped my hand aside.</p><p></p><p>“I can get down just,” and he stifled a cough, “—fine. I’m not helpless.”</p><p></p><p>“No,” I agreed. ‘I just don’t want you to become so.” </p><p></p><p>“Fair enough,” he grimaced and climbed down the ladder, with me close behind.</p><p></p><p><em>--Seriously we don’t know what to look for?</em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em>Not really. Something unhealthy would a starting point. Stay close to me Goss.</em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em>--Not a problem.</em></p><p></p><p>Daneath and Iesa drew their blades, and I readied my rod in my hand, as we retraced our steps back down. Gossamer stuck close to me fluttering nearby on silent wings. Before long we returned to the intersection.</p><p></p><p>“So, look in the side passages in the big room there, or,” and Daneath pointed with his sword to the passage descending before us, “down there?”</p><p></p><p>“Down,” Iesa and I said at the same time.</p><p></p><p>Daneath looked at us critically. “You sure? We could discuss it.”</p><p></p><p>“No!”</p><p></p><p>Daneath shrugged, “Being sure is all…not that I don’t disagree…” he trailed off, and led the way down the passage.</p><p></p><p>As we descended, I realized that while it was cooler, the sweat clung to my body and the heat hung on me as the fetid air seemed to get thicker. Continuing on, I noticed that the walls were slick with moisture, and patches of green fungus were scattered around the top of the cavern.</p><p></p><p>The passage started to twist to the right, still descending. As it did so, the patches became solid streaks, and thicker as caps of mushrooms sprouted from the walls. But every step I took, I felt wrongness, almost if I were ill and not Iesa. The air turned from overbearing moisture to one of decay and rot, and it was getting much stronger as we descended.</p><p></p><p>“You know, somehow I think this might be the right…what the?” Daneath said as he stopped in the passageway.</p><p></p><p>“What is it?” Iesa asked and promptly coughed.</p><p></p><p>“The way is blocked,” the warrior said, and he turned and shined the light from his shield down the passage. I stepped next to him to look. I was expecting a cave-in, with a wreckage of rubble. Instead I saw, a sickly green mass of tendrils and shoots. If I outstretched my arms, it would be double that width. At the top of the massive bulk was a crown of flowers, in a riot of colors, oranges, purples and dirty yellows. But as I stood next to Daneath, what was overpowering my senses was the stench the pervaded everything and I felt ready to empty my stomach on the floor.</p><p></p><p>As I tried to hold myself together, Iesa backed into me, and I turned my head and gulped. Behind us, four corpses were slowly stumbling their way towards us. Their dead eyes were full of fungus, that spilled over the remains of the flesh on their face. Their lips pulled back to reveal broken and split teeth. </p><p></p><p>“We can do this,” Iesa wheezed between a cough, “its only some corpses.”</p><p></p><p>“N-n-no. It’s not,” Daneath disagreed. I turned again to look down the passage and saw Daneath’s concern.</p><p></p><p>The plant’s tendrils were now quivering, and the flowers opened their blooms, releasing a perfume of death that filled the passage. It silently stretched out a number of long thick fibrous vines, that snapped toward the flabbergasted Daneath. And then the massive bulk started to shamble, and heave its ponderous form towards us, unhurried as it stalked new prey; us. The three of us looked at the plant and the corpses nervously, unsure which would strike first. But It was Daneath that summed up our thoughts on what we faced.</p><p></p><p>“This. This is bad.”</p><p></p><p><strong>Session notes:</strong> So why this contrivance? Its all for one reason; the player for Beepu was out for the next session. For the campaign this was a small thing; but there were some consequences that I didn’t exactly feel was entirely fair as a result of this.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Nthal, post: 8046900, member: 6971069"] [CENTER][B]The Depths of Despair – 7/24/2020[/B] [I]We are always losing stuff, whether they are things like your coin purse, or intangibles like your pride when your rival shows you up in a competition. But the worst is people, as we seem to be horrible handling losing someone close to you. I suppose this is what Kelemvor was trying to change in how people saw death. That death wasn’t to be feared and there was comfort in it. But in the face of tragedy, it takes great strength to hold oneself together. And some aren’t up to the task.[/I][/CENTER] I was staring at the sea as the shallow waves washed over the beach, when I heard the brothers step up behind me. “Well, I guess this explains the heat.” I turned around confused, “What do you mean?” “The farther south you head, the warmer it gets. And we must be [B][I]very[/I][/B] far south.” I had not heard of this, but as I thought of it, I realized that everyone called the area that I had been travelling ‘the North.’ So of course, there had to be a ‘South’ somewhere. But I didn’t know that the heat would increase the farther one traveled in that direction. “Well, we’re outside and the air is fresh,” I said. “Let me see if I can help Iesa.” I reached within and pulled on some of the strands within me, and felt the strong flush across my back, as I tried to purge what it was that made Iesa ill. And then I followed it through, pulling on more strands to close his wounds. I then looked at him critically, and I became concerned. His pallor didn’t improve, even with his wounds now closed. He stood there wheezing and looking at me puzzled. “You don’t feel better do you?” I asked. “A little…where I was cut, but…still…hard to breathe,” he gasped. I frowned. “That’s not good,” I said trying to think. “Well, do you have any other magic that can help him?” Daneath asked. “Well…no,” I admitted. “Healing injuries is easy, and I know I can help with other maladies, but…I just tried that, and he says it didn’t work.” I lifted up my hand as I shrugged. “I don’t know what to do.” “Maybe there is a settlement nearby,” Daneath said. “Hey Beepu,” the warrior called to the gnome sitting on the dune. “Have any ideas where we might be, and if there is ta own near?” Beepu turned to look at us and shook his head. “Somewhere far south. I do not even know if this is the Sea of Swords or not.” “This is confusing,” Daneath said. “Why is the circle in the cave?” “We didn’t search all of it,” I pointed out. “Perhaps he’s hiding within somewhere.” “Or…” Iesa coughed for a moment. “Something happened inside.” “That means we have to go back inside then,” I stated the obvious. “Otherwise we are in the middle of know—” [I]--Wait…do you hear that?[/I] I raised my hand up and turned my head. At first, I heard only the breeze across my ears but then I heard something else, singing. Very poor, offkey slurred, singing. I mouthed to the others ‘Do you hear that?’ to which Daneath and Iesa nodded (while stifling a cough.) Beepu stood wearily and sent Foggle upwards into the sky. We waited, and then Beepu motioned towards a dune to our left. Coming closer he then whispered to us. “A human in a small campsite. And he has been drinking.” “Well, someone that can give us the local chant. Shall we?” I said, and we started to circle the dune following the edge closer to the hill. As we stepped around, I could hear the voice clearer; whoever it was, wasn’t singing very loud at all, like he was singing to an audience of one; himself. He was also horribly drunk, as the words were slurred to be almost unintelligible. Stepping around cautiously, we rounded the dune, and then we had our first look at the singer. The man who sat there on a small barrel, in front of an unlit fire was middle-aged and deeply tanned. He wore a tunic with no sleeves and a vest and breeches cutoff at the calves. His feet were bare and covered in sand. He wore on his head a broad leather hat, with a deep crimson band, festooned with feathers and beads. His face was lined, and he had a thick beard. The song was simple and rhythmic and as he sung, he lifted a dark brown bottle up to his lips. And as he did so he looked straight at us for the first time. He coughed and spat up whatever he was drinking and dropped the bottle onto the sand. He fell off the barrel he was sitting on and started to scramble backwards. “No! No! No! Ye ghosts from the cave will leave me be!” and he turned over and started to clumsily run. “Beepu? Can you?” I asked, and Beepu reached down and threw up some of the fine white sand, and immediately the man fell over in a deep slumber, based on the loud snore he gave off. “What the? Ghosts?” Daneath asked looking at us. “He’s going to be hard to convince not to run when we wake him up.” “Or shank us,” Iesa managed to say, pointing to the short-curved sword and dagger the man was wearing from a belt at his waist. “D, sit Iesa down there by the fire circle and help me.” I said walking over to the slumbering figure. “Sure,” and after letting is brother sit on the sand, he came over to me, “What did you need?” I grabbed the man by his legs, “Drag him back and prop him sitting up,” I then grunted and Daneath I and lifted and start to move the man, “against that barrel. Just don’t wake him.” We in short order, moved him into position. “Damn its hot,” and I quickly pulled out from under my armor, the gambeson I wore. My armor was lined well enough that I didn’t need it to prevent chafing, but it was too warm. This left my arms, shoulders and neckline bare to the sun. Taking off my pack I quickly stuffed it inside and pulled out a strip of white cloth. Quickly I used my dagger to cut a thin strip, and then fastened it around my eyes. The cloth was thin enough so I could see through it, and I then ran the back of it under my hair. I moved over and grabbed the discarded bottled, and saw it was still half full. I quickly took a swig from it, tasting the strong spiced liquor on my tongue. It was easily as strong as the whiskeys served in Waterdeep but was far far less smooth. I then sat on the man’s lap, and quickly took his hat and placed it on my head. I wrapped my right arm around his shoulders. “Myr, what are you?...” Daneath said confused watching me, and Beepu shared the same look. Iesa however smiled and chuckled realizing what I was doing. “Just start laughing like we’re old friends,” I said. “We [B][I]are [/I][/B]friends---” “Like HE,” I gestured at the sleeping man, “is one too,” I curled up my legs as I sat in his lap, and with my left arm placed the bottle to his lips. I then with my right hand slapped his face and started to shout. “Hey Hey HEY!...don’t youz…pass out on me,” I said slurring my words as if I was well into my cups, as Daneath sat down and started laughing. Beepu stood there confused, and then half-heartedly started to laugh and sat down. The man shook his head and tasted the liquor on his lips and took a drink, and then he looked at me in surprise and confusion. “What the? I don’t—” “Youz,” I said looking at him with my covered eyes, “werez telling uss sssome great sstoriesth.” I still tried to sound drunk and cozied up next to him. “Wazz I?” The man said confused. “I don’t rememberrr…waait. Didn’t youz come out of that there ghost cave?” “Ghost cave?” I said with a voice of disdain, “Thatzz thilly!” as I laid on more of the mock drunken tone. “Why do call it thatz?” and I watched him to see how he answered. “Talez of ghostz and treazzures inside,” the drunken man said. “Thatz sounds like just talez to me,” I said with dismissively. “Whatz…your…name?” I said I as I traced my finger down his cheek “Mine? Hibertz.” He said proudly. “Hibertz, you are…[B][I]quite[/I][/B] the ssailor,” I drawled, looking into his eyes. Daneath and Beepu sat there with an almost shocked look on their face as I performed this little drama, while Iesa’s face was red as he both tried to stifle his laughter and attempted to breathe. “You didn’t tell me though….do youz have your own sship or something?” “Hah, naw…I just crew with the Sea Devilz,” he said nodding and took the bottle from me and took another swig, before handing it back. I tilted my head back and took a very small swallow, before I turned to look at him with a silly grin. “Sssea Devilz!” and I handed back the bottle. “Thatz right…you told me that. Forgot already,” I said as I glanced over at my friends. Daneath and Beepu shrugged, and I kept fishing. “So, you pulled into port here and here you are drinking your sspoilz.” “Aye, Blackwater Reef is the best port here in…” he hiccupped before looking at me again, “Nelanther isles.” As he said the name, I involuntarily tensed and felt a chill go up my spine. Glancing over at the others I saw they had similar reactions. Iesa had stopped laughing and looked at Daneath with concern. Daneath covered his mouth trying to cover his emotions, while Beepu’s jaw dropped open. Nelanther Isles. Waterdeep was a port, there was always tales of piracy on the lips of the sailors. But the tales of the pirates of Nelanther were particularly horrifying. These were not romantic swashbucklers. They were the worst of the worst. Cruel and vicious Reavers, who spent their time taking what they wanted. Most ships would fight to the last man, rather than be taken prisoner by Nelanther pirates, because what they wanted most were slaves. Weak, strong, it didn’t matter. But the tales of their cruelty and barbarism filled the taverns of Waterdeep with tales of nightmares. And rumor had it that they were fond of picking on the smaller races to do the lowest and dirtiest work onboard their vessels. But this paled to the tales of what they did to the women; prized booty to sell elsewhere as slaves; if they were lucky. “Say…my captain would like yooou,” the man said. “Not many purty girls out here. Least not bound for market.” I swallowed, trying to hide my newfound fear. “Well, I might have to stop and see your ship.” And I pinched his cheek playfully. “You must be quite the mate to introduce me.” “Naw, I ain’t his first nor his second. But you tell them that old Sea Bass Hibertz sent ya,” and he lifted the bottle to his lips to drain the last drops from the bottle. “Now let me up, before I piss my britches,” I said stumbling to my feet, as I had the sudden urge to get as far from this man as I could. I felt the hand of the pirate slap my right butt cheek as I stood. Holding back an urge to murder the man as he reclined there, I walked towards my friends and said to Beepu in Elvish. “Put him out.” And with an almost careless gesture and another bit of sand thrown, the pirate was again fast asleep. I clutched my arms across my chest, breathing deeply and a little too fast. “Nelanther?” Daneath said. “What have we got ourselves into?” “Nothing…good,” Iesa said with a wheeze. “You and I might be…alright. But Beepu and Myr? There’s nowhere safe.” I looked at the brothers shivering a bit. “So, the tales…they are true then.” “No…” Iesa said slowly. “If anything, its worse.” “I…see.” I said looking back at the sleeping pirate. “So now what?” “Two paths; we keep looking in the cave for clues, or we go to town,” Daneath said. “I’d normally say the cave, but--” he nudged Iesa. “He’s not looking so good.” “Beepu what do…you?” I turned and found that Beepu had wandered farther towards the surf and had sat down upon the sand. He didn’t respond to my words. I walked up to him, with Iesa and Daneath close behind me. “Beepu?” I knelt down and put a hand on him. “I am…sorry. I am just…not feeling myself,” Beepu said, as he stared at the ocean. “Beepu snap out of it!” Daneath said as he stomped over to the gnome shouting. “We don’t have time for this.” “I need…some time. I will watch our friend,” and he pointed at the sleeping pirate. Iesa coughed, “This is a bad…idea.” As Iesa continued hacking out the contents of his lungs, I felt something. A twinge, or rather like a sour note being plucked. I turned to look at him. He was clutching his chest as he expelled green phelm from his lungs. I moved over to him and closed my eyes, and felt. Not with my hands but with the strands. After a moment, it was clear they were reacting to something; as if Iesa was a marionette, to an unseen puppeteer. “We need to go to the cave, fast.” I said. “It’s a bad—” Iesa started. “—something in that cave is killing you,” I cut him off. “And unless we can find what it is, you’re dead.” “What do you mean?” Daneath said with alarm. “Something in that cave is…well…trying to turn Iesa into one of those corpses.” “He’s not a corpse though!” “No. Not yet,” I said. “And wee may not have a lot of time either.” “What about--” Iesa started to cough spasmodically, “—Beepu?” I looked at the gnome and closed my eyes. Beepu was an emotional wreck. I wasn’t sure if he could keep himself together for another fight. Grimacing I answered the brothers. “We…follow his suggestion and let him watch our sleeping friend.” I started to shake my head. “I think that he might be able to handle that.” “She’s right,” Daneath agreed bitterly. “He needs time. And you,” he said pointing at Iesa, “Are out of it.” Iesa nodded, stifling a cough. He straightened up and started heading back to the cave, with Daneath close behind. I followed them and then stopped by Beepu. I stood there a moment, looking at the gnome who stared dead-eyed at the sea. “Beepu, we’ll be back. Just…take care of yourself. Please.” I said pleadingly, frustrated I couldn’t help him more. “I will…just help Iesa,” he said barely acknowledging me. His mechanical owl, Foggle circled in the air quietly, making a solitary soft “beepuuu” sound as it waited for its master to command it once again. I nodded, “Keep an eye on him Foggle,” and jogged past them and the sleeping Hibertz, still asleep to Beepu’s magic. I caught up to the brothers, and together we re-entered the cave. I quickly flexed, and placed a light on Daneath’s shield. “So, what are we looking for?” Daneath asked, as he descended down the ladder and back into the musty depths. “I am not sure,” I said honestly. “This is definitely a case where I will know it when I feel it,” I stood back ready to help Iesa down but Iesa slapped my hand aside. “I can get down just,” and he stifled a cough, “—fine. I’m not helpless.” “No,” I agreed. ‘I just don’t want you to become so.” “Fair enough,” he grimaced and climbed down the ladder, with me close behind. [I]--Seriously we don’t know what to look for? Not really. Something unhealthy would a starting point. Stay close to me Goss. --Not a problem.[/I] Daneath and Iesa drew their blades, and I readied my rod in my hand, as we retraced our steps back down. Gossamer stuck close to me fluttering nearby on silent wings. Before long we returned to the intersection. “So, look in the side passages in the big room there, or,” and Daneath pointed with his sword to the passage descending before us, “down there?” “Down,” Iesa and I said at the same time. Daneath looked at us critically. “You sure? We could discuss it.” “No!” Daneath shrugged, “Being sure is all…not that I don’t disagree…” he trailed off, and led the way down the passage. As we descended, I realized that while it was cooler, the sweat clung to my body and the heat hung on me as the fetid air seemed to get thicker. Continuing on, I noticed that the walls were slick with moisture, and patches of green fungus were scattered around the top of the cavern. The passage started to twist to the right, still descending. As it did so, the patches became solid streaks, and thicker as caps of mushrooms sprouted from the walls. But every step I took, I felt wrongness, almost if I were ill and not Iesa. The air turned from overbearing moisture to one of decay and rot, and it was getting much stronger as we descended. “You know, somehow I think this might be the right…what the?” Daneath said as he stopped in the passageway. “What is it?” Iesa asked and promptly coughed. “The way is blocked,” the warrior said, and he turned and shined the light from his shield down the passage. I stepped next to him to look. I was expecting a cave-in, with a wreckage of rubble. Instead I saw, a sickly green mass of tendrils and shoots. If I outstretched my arms, it would be double that width. At the top of the massive bulk was a crown of flowers, in a riot of colors, oranges, purples and dirty yellows. But as I stood next to Daneath, what was overpowering my senses was the stench the pervaded everything and I felt ready to empty my stomach on the floor. As I tried to hold myself together, Iesa backed into me, and I turned my head and gulped. Behind us, four corpses were slowly stumbling their way towards us. Their dead eyes were full of fungus, that spilled over the remains of the flesh on their face. Their lips pulled back to reveal broken and split teeth. “We can do this,” Iesa wheezed between a cough, “its only some corpses.” “N-n-no. It’s not,” Daneath disagreed. I turned again to look down the passage and saw Daneath’s concern. The plant’s tendrils were now quivering, and the flowers opened their blooms, releasing a perfume of death that filled the passage. It silently stretched out a number of long thick fibrous vines, that snapped toward the flabbergasted Daneath. And then the massive bulk started to shamble, and heave its ponderous form towards us, unhurried as it stalked new prey; us. The three of us looked at the plant and the corpses nervously, unsure which would strike first. But It was Daneath that summed up our thoughts on what we faced. “This. This is bad.” [B]Session notes:[/B] So why this contrivance? Its all for one reason; the player for Beepu was out for the next session. For the campaign this was a small thing; but there were some consequences that I didn’t exactly feel was entirely fair as a result of this. [/QUOTE]
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