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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Imaculata" data-source="post: 6894688" data-attributes="member: 6801286">Our pirate campaign finally continues, and is steering towards an epic naval battle!Checking up on the circusAfter hearing that their allies of the Traveling Circus may be in trouble, Shifter the Druid decides to perform a scrying spell to find out. He heads out into the jungle to find some privacy away from curious eyes, although he does bring two Kooghan crew members with him for protection. He digs a hole outside Port Freedom, somewhere out in the jungle. He then uses his create water spell to fill it with water, and thus create a suitable reflective surface to perform the scrying.He gazes at his brother, who is also a shape-shifting druid, who performs as a dancing bear at the circus. He can see that the Traveling Circus is docked at a secret hide out; a cave on the south side of the dreaded island Dunster Hollow. But only two of the three ships are there. It seems the third has been captured by the fearsome Kturgian pirate captain Karagoz. His fleet of pirate ships managed to destroy the mast of the ship, and he has taken the crew hostage. He threatens to kill a member of the crew on the hour, unless Leopardo Pardini (owner of the circus) surrenders. The cave is currently their best defense, since the coast of Dunster Hollow is treacherous, and Karagoz would not risk his ships near it. And they know the reputation of Karagoz, and have no delusions of their chances should they surrender. He'll probably kill them all anyway.Unbeknownst to the players, Karagoz is actually hoping to draw the players out. His interest never was with the circus. It is a trap.Shifter realizes he is all out of spells, so how can he communicate with his brother? But a helpful fairy of the jungle provides help. As it turns out, Shifter is quite known with all the fey folk (this is part of his background option that he chose). The fairy helps him to tell his brother to meet him at The Path. This is a secret inter-dimensional spot in the forest that only Druids and fey know. And here he can meet with his brother, as long as both have access to the forest. The two meet and share information. Shifter's brother tells him all he knows about the Kturgian vessels, their numbers, their ship types, their recent strategy, and where exactly on the island they are.Shifter then returns to Port Freedom and shares all this information with his crew.The Living ShipChe and Bioran make a plan to destroy the dead Hydra ship on the market square of Port Freedom, because there are rumors that people have been plundering the corpse of the foul thing for souvenirs. This former living ship was one that the party was chased by very early on in the campaign, but then a giant whom they befriended on the spot, was so kind to pick up the thing, and throw it away. But it landed somewhere on Chattering Gull Island... this island. And a few days ago the thing managed to crawl into Port Freedom, where a massive off screen battle followed. The creature laid waste to many houses, before the local weapon smith was able to kill it by firing every weapon he had at it. But even dead, the thing could still be a threat. It is a creation of Hydra, and it might spread corruption. So they must destroy it.Crazy LoupChe and Bioran are overheard by a crazy thief locked up in a gibbet in the harbor. The man calls himself Loup, and speaks mostly in third person. He claims there is a beautiful princess locked up inside the remains of the glorious creature. They give him some water and food, and Loup promises to take them to the princess. At this point, neither player has any clue who this princess is. But they make a plan to free him at night, although they do not trust him.Princess EleanorLoup is freed, and he points at the chest of the dead Hydra Ship. Shifter uses a creepy spell to detach his hand, and turn it into a spider, which then proceeds to crawl into the carcass through its mouth. Shifter can see though the eyes of this spider-hand, and is able to verify that there is some kind of black shell inside the carcass. With axes and crowbars they are able to access the shell and break it open. Inside, much to their shock, is the daughter of the King of St Valenz.... and she is not entirely human anymore. Princess Eleanor was believed to have been kidnapped by the dreaded pirate Karagoz almost 30 years ago, and was one of the reasons for the current war between St Valenz and Kturgia. But apparently Karagoz lied. Princess Eleanor is beautiful to behold, and entirely nude. But certain disturbing changes have been made to her while she was asleep in the Hydra shell. Her left arm has been replaced with two black tentacles, and she has gills in her cheeks. Her long brown hair also shows slight hints of green streaks. When she awakes, she is quite confused. She has no memory of her capture, and no idea where she is. She does not even notice her tentacles, and only after it is pointed out to her, does she realize that it is not normal. Oddly enough, her body seems completely used to the use of her new appendages, and at first she accepts it as her own normal hands. It doesn't even strike her as odd that she has two black tentacles where her left arm should be.Sitaara, their Speaker of the Dead crew member, is distrustful of the princess. Amaziah, their Kooghan priestess on the other hand, expresses sympathy. After all, the party once rescued her from a tomb where another evil deity (Teehlyian'tara) was preparing her as a new vessel. So this situation mirrors her own.Oslo the weapon smithOslo is the biggest hero in Port Freedom at the moment, but he does not feel the hero. Although he stood his ground and killed the Hydra ship, it destroyed his workshop. His heroism earns him many free drinks, but he has no taste for them, so Rummy eagerly helps him out. Captain William Roberts joins the man, and makes him an amazing offer. He offers to pay for rebuilding the smithy, on the condition that he and his crew get a discount from now on. He also spends a large chunk of their current wealth on having a small fortress constructed next to Port Freedom. Because he realizes that Port Freedom is currently without any defenses, and it might be a strategic point.Scurvy Scarlet's devious plan - Also, nudity!As a DM I had to think really hard regarding Scurvy Scarlet's plan. She should always be a character with her own agenda. I never want the party to trust her completely. And she should always be a source for friction (and not just the bumping uglies kind).Scarlet decides to confront Shifter with what she knows about the treasure map (she knows they have the real map), and convinces him to tell Sophie. She preys on his sincere feelings for Sophie, and makes him feel guilty for not being honest with her. She also shares some new information with Shifter. She exposes herself (something she does quite often to seduce men), and shows the tattoos that Black William once made on her chest. Many men have wanted to sleep with her just to gain these clues about the fabled treasure, but she points out two butterfly symbols. The butterflies resemble the necklace that Sophie wears. Scarlet explains that there must be two of these objects, and they might be some kind of key to the treasure. And maybe the necklace can reveal something on the map as well, such as the location of the other butterfly-jewel. She also tells him that the captain may object, so maybe he does not need to know. Shifter ignores this last advise, and tells Captain William Roberts everything. But Scarlet still achieves her goal, because the seed for conflict is sowed. The Captain wants the treasure for himself, and Shifter wants to be honest with Sophie. This means that Sophie will find out about the map, or else Scarlet will tell her herself. This was an amazing role playing scene between both players, and it was a delight to behold, and to listen to the two of them argue. I was not sure if I was going to pull this off. But this is exactly what I hoped to achieve.When Bioran later asks Scarlet why she acted so heroic in the first place (referring to her daring chase of the Azarah ship), she lies that the Circle of Azarah is their best link to Black William. If they can bring him back from the dead, they can also put him back into his grave. The real reason is, she wants some leverage. In the end Scarlet wants only two things: The treasure, and revenge on Guan Jing (a Gongya An pirate captain that she hates).Battle preparationsThe players have a meeting with the three pirate captains: Scurvy Scarlet, Urunthu Khan and Penny Dreadful. They discuss battle formations, and the dangers of the island. Many hours are also spent by the players as they have OC discussions of the best plan for attack. The island is surrounded by fog, with many razor sharp rocks and shores that are littered with the remains of less fortunate ships.They decide that a direct and quick assault is probably best. They will focus their attack on the flag ship, the Crimson Abyss (a heavy Dromond ship), which is right outside the cave. Meanwhile some of their other vessels will try to take out the lighter ships, who's purpose is only to break masts. Scurvy Scarlet will drop naval mines in between their ships, and the lighter vessels, to isolate the Crimson Abyss. Unfortunately they do not know how many other vessels they are facing. They know there's at least another caravel involved that is really fast. But they don't know where any of the other ships will be. They might be lurking in the fog.The night before the battleShifter makes a trip to the other side of the island, to warn their old friend Harland Wilson that there will be a big battle at Dunster Hollow soon. Shifter is one of the few who knows that Harland is secretly a dragon, who loves watching naval battles. This earns him some extra favor with the old dragon.Shifter returns late, and spends the night with Sophie. Although both are too tired for any intimacy. Che and Amaziah on the other hand share a bed for the first time, as a relief to the fear of the impending battle with one of the most dreaded pirate captains in the Emerald Coast. -And then there was some very romantic sex between the two characters, followed by a hilarious OC discussion about pirate-era birth control.Bioran checks on the princess, who shows some interest in the handsome elf. But Bioran can almost hear the voice of Sitaara screaming in his mind not to trust her, and he declines her seductions.Bioran returns to the crows nest to trance. But unbeknownst to all of them princess Eleanore lies awake with her eyes wide open, staring at the ceiling... brooding... planning... awaiting her chance...</blockquote>

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