NOW LIVE! Today's the day you meet your new best friend. You don’t have to leave Wolfy behind... In 'Pets & Sidekicks' your companions level up with you!

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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Raven Crowking" data-source="post: 1517982" data-attributes="member: 18280">Fifth SessionHubert Oarsman looked across the table at Darwin.  “I assume that you’re not asking about a rowboat.”“No.  Not a rowboat.”“Well, then, even a modest ship is well beyond the means of most.  The cost of timber alone…but that is neither here nor over the moon, is it?  If I judge you aright, you’re not looking to buy a ship so much as to do some traveling, eh?  Well, then, you are in luck, for I have a friend who is taking passengers to Selby-by-the-Waves, and I feel certain that he’d do me the favor of including a few of my friends for free.  And if not for free, I feel honor bound to pay for your passage.  After all, you restored my son to me!”“Excellent,” Darwin began, but Hubert raised a hand.“What’s more,” he continued, “I will write you a letter of introduction to Mistress Erin Guildwood, a shipwright of my acquaintance down river.  While she’ll not grant you a ship for free – my influence doesn’t extend that far! – she’ll make certain that you’re not overcharged for passage to wherever you would go next.  What say you?  Is that fair enough?”“More than fair,” said Hrum.“At the docks seek the berth of the Lady Griswald.  Her Captain is called John Younger – a good man, and a personal friend.  He’ll be expecting you before the ship leaves at noon tomorrow.  I’ll have your letter of introduction ready for you by then, and you can pick it up on the way to the docks.”After dinner, the group retired to an inn, where most of them drank throughout the night.  The next morning, with several of the party hung over from the excesses of the night before, they made their way to the docks in search of their ship.The Lady Griswald was a keelboat.  Keelboats were a common sight along the Selwyn River, because they were relatively cheap and reliable.  The ship was large, with a crew of six.  It had a ballista mounted on its fore and a pilots deck on the aft, where it was steered by rudder.They quickly made the acquaintance of two other travelers that had booked passage upon the ship:  Ahern Atwood, a half-elven ranger, who, like Locke, preferred to keep his face in shadow, and Krog Zando, a hugely muscled half-orc who soon became known to them as Krog the Hungry due to his voluminous appetite.The Lady Griswald left at noon.  The sailors lay on the oars, and the Lady Griswald moved downstream.  For a long time the coastline sailed by.  Woodcutters and small homesteads could be seen along either bank, leaving many areas clear-cut – either grown into fields or left bare.  Eventually, though, Weirwood the Great closed on the river, and the trees often came down to the bank.  Some of the taller and straighter of these were branded with marks like large arrowheads, showing that the Lord of Long Archer had marked them for use as masts, and cutting them without permission carried dire penalty.Good smells began rising from the galley.  As twilight grew thick, the Captain called the rowers to a rest.  As the sailors began lining up for bowls of rich stew – served with huge slabs of bread – Desu heard a soft splash close to the side of the boat.Looking over the edge, he saw a half-dozen creatures frolicking and cavorting like dolphins in the nighttime waters.  They appeared to be lithe, beautiful beings, vaguely feminine, surrounded by soft, jewel-colored auras of ruby, emerald, and sapphire.  They traced glowing paths just beneath the water as they circled the hull of the Lady Griswald.  Deciding that they were unlikely to be hostile, Desu joined the line and received a bowl of stew.  Krog the Hungry was already on his second bowl, and had a third and more bread before he was finished.  Desu told his companions what he had seen while they ate.  When they were done, Krog and Locke joined him at the rail to watch the beautiful creatures.  The creatures appeared to be equally fascinated by Desu and his companions – occasionally one rose from the water to stare upward with wide, luminous eyes.“Aye, river nymphs they call them, though some say river witches,” said Captain Younger, who had joined them at the rail.  “They appear at sunset and away at dawn.  Tales say they can become infatuated with a sailor, and follow his boat night after night, seeking him out.  They’re harmless enough most of the time, though they can cause mischief and little pranks.  They’ve been known to warn captains of danger, or to put themselves between a ship and something dangerous in the water, so many view them to be good luck.”“For all their beauty, though, the river witches have a strange and dark aspect to their nature,” added Jack Fresh, one of the sailors on the Lady Griswald   “Each month, when the new moon falls, they grow strange and fey.  They still circle riverboats, but their eyes are no longer awestruck and childlike.  Their gaze calls to sailors with music only they can hear, luring them off the boat and into the water.  Those that answer the call join the nymphs in a dance beneath the waters, and their drowned bodies are found at dawn.  So beware, you, and be glad there’s a moon flying above us!”After the ship drifted for two hours, it became too dark to see the water well.  Captain John Younger called for the anchor, and the Lady Griswald came to a halt, rocking softly against the current.  The river nymphs continued to cavort around the ship, trailing lines of pale light in the water.  The Captain came up to where the adventurers watched the river nymphs by the ship’s rail.  “Go ahead and get some rest,” he said.  “We have lookouts posted, and these men have sailed the Selwyn before.  If we sight a dragon, you’ll be the first to know.”* * * * *The next day started early, with the sailors breaking fast and making the Lady Griswald ready to sail.  By 8:00 the oarsmen were in their places, and the ship was underway.  Krog Zando, sorry to have missed the meal, went in search of a hunk of last night’s bread.“There are some apples remaining,” one of the sailors told Krog.  Quickly, Krog’s companions descended upon the apples, leaving only two, which Darwin Ravenscroll grabbed.  Krog looked around for more apples, but there were none.“One for me, and one for my raven!” Darwin said.“Ravens don’t eat apples,” Desu noted.Darwin shrugged and ate them both.“Don’t worry,” the sailor told Krog.  “Soon enough, the noonday meal will come.”Krog strode angrily toward the back rail of the ship.The noonday sun had been waning for a couple of hours when the Lady Griswald approached the exposed corner of a ruined building on the southern bank.  The building appeared buried, except for the exposed corner.  That corner has been broken into, perhaps with picks, leaving a ragged gap through which an explorer could easily fit.  An exposed worn pillar made of weather-beaten granite leaned out toward the river, almost as though inviting one to tie a boat to it.“What is that place?” asked Desu.“That?” the Captain replied.  “That place has a dark reputation already.  The river or a storm exposed it a couple of years back, and of course there were some that would try their hand at exploring it.  It is said the be dark and haunted, though I have heard at least one tale wherein a handful of jewels was found – such tales are not always true.”“What do you think?” asked Hrum.  “Should we explore it?”“If you wish to try your hand, we will wait for you.  Master Oarsmen says you saved his son from the clutches of a spider-demon, so perhaps you could do as well as any.  You can take the ship’s boat, if you like, while we wait here.”“No,” said Darwin.  “We are making for Selby-by-the-Water.  We shall let nothing distract us!”“Very well,” said the Captain, and they sailed on.Two miles later, the Lady Griswald came across a place where a river entered the Selwyn from the north.  A logjam stretched across the river, the mass of logs tight at least as far as the next bend.  Several foresters with iron gaffs were hopping from log to log, trying to get them moving again.Hrum noticed a pair of Lakashi drawing their birchbark canoe toward the north shore, so that they could portage around the blockage.  He pointed them out to Desu, who waved, but the Lakashi did not seem to notice them.While the Lady Griswald was not too large to portage with a great deal of effort, the benefit of doing so was questionable, so the Captain called a halt.  The sailors made use of the unexpected rest stop, bringing out a squeezebox and a portion of rum.  Krog dropped a line into the water and began fishing.As it grew dark, the logjam was broken up.  The Captain had the anchor pulled up, and called for minimal oars.  The Lady Griswald moved slowly through the logs – several sailors using oars to push stray logs away from the ship.  Once past the logs, the Captain let the ship drift for two hours, and then called the ship to lower anchor.  Before dinner could be made, sailors were posted along the back of the ship, to push off logs as they drifted past the ship in the night.  There was a rotation of extra lookouts hours as the foresters drifted by, their lanterns reflected on the dark water.  “Lo the ship!” one of the foresters called out softly, and one of the sailors called back “Mellador watch you!”From the ship’s galley, the smell of fresh fish was rising.* * * * *Again, the crew of the Lady Griswald was up early, and the ship was under way by 8:00 AM.  Krog woke to breakfast with the crew, and was soon trolling, his fishing line cutting the water behind the ship.  Desu awoke, and began looking along the banks for animals that he might befriend.In the early afternoon, the forward lookout saw a doe drinking from near the south bank. “A purse of silver to the man who can bring her down!” the Captain called.“No!” said Desu.  He pulled out his sling, and Ahern strung his bow, intent upon startling the doe enough that it would spring away.  However, before they could succeed two arrows struck the mark – Locke’s, which grazed the deer’s flank, and that of another sailor, Red Carl, which brought the animal down and earned him the purse.The Captain sent the ship’s boat.  “It looks like venison will be served this night,” he said.In the late afternoon, the Lady Griswald entered Turtle Lake.  Turtle Lake was a small lake for the Lakelands.  It was shaped like an eye, maybe five miles wide at its widest point and twenty miles long end to end.  The lake was fairly shallow, and weedy along its southern shore.  The adventurers could see where the lake got its name – several normal-sized turtles floated just under the surface of the water, their heads extended above it.  As the ship approached, they submerged.As it began to grow dark, the oars were raised and the ship drifted through Turtle Lake.  “I wonder if we’ll see those dolphins again,” said Krog.“They weren’t dolphins,” Desu said.  “They were river nymphs.”After a time, fires could be seen on the north shore, and music and laughter could be easily heard.  Captain Younger called the sailors back to the oars, and brought he ship toward the encampment on the shore.  Soon, wagons and tents could be seen strewn across the beach.  Small figures were dancing gracefully near the fire, to the sounds of violins, fiddles, tambourines, and drums.It was an encampment of more than two dozen halflings, a wandering folk half as high as humans, with something occult in their nature.  The halflings were known for their musicians and their fortunetellers, for curses laid and undone, and strange pacts with otherworldly creatures.  They had several large fires going, and by each one an ever-changing group of brightly dressed halflings played instruments or danced.  Two halflings, a male and female, practiced acrobatics while another female ate fire, blowing small jets of flame from her mouth.  Older halflings of both sexes watched, laughed, ate, drank, and smoked from pipes or hand-rolled cigars.The Lady Griswald dropped anchor.  The Captain called for the ship’s boat to be made ready, and the sailors drew straws to see who would have to remain onboard.  Left-Handed Geoff frowned as he drew the short straw.“Could be worse,” laughed the others.  “It could be a city full of beautiful elven women.”The ship’s boat was readied, and the sailors began to ferry across passengers and crew.  The halflings welcomed them warmly, sharing the heat of their fire and their spirits.  It was still cold at night, before the Ides of Burgeoning.  The waxing moon shone brightly upon the sandy beach.“Have you any beer?” asked Krog.“No, but we have brandy,” said an attractive halfling woman.  She handed Krog a bottle.  Krog poured it into the dregs of beer he carried in his wineskin, swished it, and drank.“Not too bad,” he said.Another halfling handed Hrum a bottle.  Hrum raised it to his nostrils, sniffing it suspiciously.“Here!  Give it to me!” said Darwin.  The dwarf reached up, trying to grab the bottle from the half-orc’s hand, but he missed his mark as Hrum raised the bottle beyond his reach.  Hrum moved to backhand Darwin for his impudence, but something orcish arose in him, and his hand moved instead to his sword.  Swift as a striking serpent, Hrum struck.  He had, perhaps, intended only to wound Darwin, to repay him for incessant provocations, but anger lent strength to his hand.  Hrum’s sword struck Darwin sharply, breaking his neck and slicing through muscle.  As Darwin’s body fell, his head tumbled aloft, coming to rest in the sand.Desu ran to Darwin’s head and held it aloft.  “Alas!” he cried.  “Darwin, my friend!”The music faltered.  The encampment stood in shocked silence.Hrum lowered his sword.  “I’m sorry,” he said.  “I…”Captain John Younger came at Hrum, drawing his sword as he ran.“Surrender to the King’s Justice!”Hrum instantly raised his weapon, and the two of them faced each other in the fire- and moonlight.  Ahern moved towards Darwin’s body, as though to despoil it, but Desu held him back.  The five sailors who had come ashore drew daggers to come to their Captain’s aid.“I surrender,” said Hrum, lowering his blade.“Then drop your sword.”Hrum raised his sword, ready to fight.  “No.”From around the encampment, the halflings drew in, forming a semi-circle around the antagonists.  Most were unarmed, but some had short spears or blades.  An old halfling woman, wreathed in smoke, stood ready with her pipe and staff.“How dare you bring this to the House of Rom-Untar!” said an older halfling man, dressed in bright colors and gold jewelry.  “I’m sorry…”“Drop your sword!”Hrum looked around him, uncertain which of his former allies would come to his aid if it came to a fight.  Ahern seemed willing, but Locke and Desu were against him.  Krog Zando looked on eagerly, waiting for the bloodshed to begin – but it was Hrum that Krog watched, and there would be no help from that quarter.Hrum’s blood struggled within him.  He had, all his life, professed to worship the Seven Good Gods.  Priests of the Church had raised him.  Yet there was orcish blood in his veins, too, and to that part of him mercy had no meaning, and there was no law save the law of the strong.He had tried to live as a man, but he could die as an orc.  He could let his blade sing, taking as many of his foes with him as he could before he fell.  That was a death befitting his grandfather’s people.  Certainly, no true orc would submit while blood yet flowed within his veins.And, there was always some chance that he might get away.But if he escaped, what would he be escaping to?  A life in the wilderness, hunted and despised?  Or could he find his grandfather’s people, and if he found them, would they accept him?  Could he live the remainder of his life as an orc?Before, he had struck in anger, not meaning to actually slay Darwin.  If he fought now, he would be turning his back on the Seven Good Gods, knowingly and willingly.“I surrender,” Hrum said, and he dropped his sword.Captain Younger quickly moved forward, and had Hrum bound.  Hrum submitted, head held low, murmuring apologies.  He ordered Hrum brought back to the ship, to be held in the ship‘s hold, and for Darwin’s body to be taken as well.  He began to apologize to the halfling leader, for having brought violence to his camp.“Can’t we at least take his stuff?” Krog asked.Captain Younger looked at the adventurers.  With the exception of Desu, they all seemed eager to despoil the body of their fallen comrade.  “That isn’t for me to decide,” he said, and then turned from them in disgust.  “Red Carl, but a guard on the body as well, and don’t let our guests into the hold.”The Captain recalled the crew and his passengers to the ship.  They drew up the anchor, moving away from the encampment before stopping for the night.In the morning, Captain Younger had Hrum brought before him.“As there is none other here to dispense the King’s Justice, the duty falls to me,” he said.  “Hrum, you are charged with the murder of Darwin Ravenscroll.  How plead you?”“Guilty.”“Have you nothing to say in your defense?”“Nothing,” said Hrum.  Then he seemed to reconsider.  “Only this,” he added.   “I overreacted.  He had been goading me, time and again, through word and deed, for as long as I have known him.  Maybe it was because I am a half-orc.  I do not know.  But I did not intend to kill him.”“You drew your sword, and cut off his head.”“I know.  And I am sorry.  I am ready to accept what punishment must follow.”Captain Younger paused to consider.  It was obvious that Hrum’s contrition was honest.  “I am also sorry,” he said, “but my duty is clear.  You are to be hanged by the neck until dead.  May the gods have mercy upon your soul.”Hrum didn’t struggle as they made the ship’s boat ready.  They placed a plaque with the word “MURDERER” about his neck.  They rowed to the southern shore near the eastern end of Turtle Lake.  Hrum didn’t struggle as the noose was placed around his neck, or pulled taut around the stout branch of an old oak tree near the water’s edge.  When they kicked the support out from beneath his feet, Hrum went quietly into death.The Captain got back into the ship’s boat, and it was rowed slowly back towards the Lady Griswald.  Hrum’s onetime companions stood on the deck as the anchor was raised and oar was set to water, watching as Hrum’s hanging body disappeared around the curve of the river.Krog went back to looking for dolphins.</blockquote>

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