Savage Tide IC thread

[GandalfMithrandir]

Background: The first savage tide has already touched the mortal world, yet none who live today recall this time of red ruin. Unleashed from the cruel heart of a fell seed known as a shadow pearl, this savage tide swept over an ancient city perched atop the crown of a remote island. The tide transformed beggar and noble, merchant and thief, resident and visitor into feral, ravenous fiends. The fruits of centuries labor came crumbling down in a matter of days, and when survivors tried to stem the tide by destroying the pearl, the resulting blast of power sunk their city into a boiling lake of death, through it all the Abyssal architect of the savage tide watched, taking pride in the ruin. when the tides final; ripples had faded, what was left became know as the isle of dread.

Now a thousand years later, the true masters of the isle of dread look upon new targets, new cities beyond the horizon, compelled by the hateful will of their demonic lord Demegorgon to prepare for the coming glory. This time, the doom will not be limited to one hapless city. This time, all of civilization waits unknowing on the shore, blissfully ignorant of what the incoming tide brings in.


previous adventures: [sblock=There Is No Honor]
This all started long ago, when Lavinia entreated you to help secure access to her family vault then asked for your help with her missing brother, Vanthus. You found him at Parrot Island, where he trapped you in the tunnels below. You escaped from them and found the Lotus Dragon guild just about ready to take over Sasserine (main city) sea trade. Alas, Vanthus escaped, but not for long.[/sblock]
[sblock=The Bullywug Gambit]
You sought out Kraken's Cove, a location mentioned in the documents found in the Lotus Dragon guildhall; the place was in chaos, with flesh eating pirates and many deadly creatures running loose. Fighting off diseased and enraged beasts took valuable time, but you wound your way through the caverns to encounter Captain Harliss Javell. She told you she sent her first mate and bullywug conscripts to Sasserine for revenge against Vanthus. The race was on, back to save the city during a festival celebrating the victory over Kyuss. you dodged assassin stilt walkers and saved Lavinia from the bullywugs and their allies.[/sblock]
[sblock=The Sea Wyvern's Wake]
After a bit of rest, a thankful Lavinia had more work for you. it was time to set sail on the Sea Wyvern and transport a vital supply shipment to Farshore on the Isle of Dread. After a stop at ruined Tamoachan, you ran a red wizard blockade and found an old enemy stowed away. In the middle of a Sargasso sea, you found and defeated a seaweed-dwelling monstrosity, but your ship was caught by a storm, wrecking on the northern shore of the Isle of Dread[/sblock]
[sblock=Here There Be Monsters]
With the Sea Wyvern no longer sea worthy, the only option was a trek through the jungle, meeting Dinosaurs and terror birds while taking the surviving passengers and crew along to safety. On the far side of the mountain range, a band of gargoyles repeatedly attacked. One of your allies was abducted by a large bar-lgura demon deep in the island interior. Following his abductor into a shrine to the Prince of Demons, Demegorgon, and a battle against the bar-lgura and his brood of vile followers.[/sblock]
[sblock=Tides of Dread]
With the Demons at the shrine defeated, you arrived in Farshore just in time to see it attacked by pirates. You helped the defenders and were reunited with Lavinia Vanderboren. The pirates were just scouts, though, and you discovered that the Crimson fleet was coming to pillage and raze Farshore. You helped to prepare the colonies defenses, forging alliances with the natives, fighting dinosaurs, recovering and making repairs to the Sea Wyvern, and defeating an aspect of an Olman god. When the Crimson Fleet hove into view, you crossed swords with Lavinia's corrupted brother Vanthus and defeated himand prevented him from releasing another savage tide outbreak.[/sblock]

 

[GandalfMithrandir]

Now, with Farshore saved, a messenger comes back from searching a captured pirate vessel reading as follows:

[sblock=log]We reached Gallivant Cove with no incident, although the Seventh Coil yuan-ti renewed their demands for shore leave, I denied them again, promising them all the leave they could want once my sister's project is mine. Payment to the Glutton went smoothly (that beasts teeth would make fine trophies!), and I personally led a group of five to the caves. The trogs looked worse than they stank-some sort of malady afflicts them for certain. Lords of Dread? Hardly. but they took our payments and slaves readily enough.

There was only one shadow pearl ready for us. I made clear our displeasure, but the simpering lepers convinced me that they were being truthful, and promised several more in a few months time. I tried to avoid staring at the pearl overmuch. IT's depths are hypnotic. After seeing the number one of these little beauties did on Kraken's cove I make sure to keep it in a padded container at all times. It's too bad we can't just toss the thing into Farshore with a catapult and let them kill each other off, but I'll not be the one to tell command we broke another one of their toys.[/sblock]

"What do you make of it?" asks the messenger "I think we should tell Lavinia about this, after all, she DID hire you, and she is mayor of this town, I think she should know about it."

 

[s@squ@tch]

Derrenil

The slender dark form of Derrenil stood slightly apart from the others in the group.

The bright sunshine of the upper world still bothered her, but not as much as others of her race, but she preferred cloudy, overcast days to the dreaded sunlight.

A few stray strands of silver hair escaped the cowl of her cloak.

A scathing voice emerged from within, something akin to a hiss,"Of course, you dolt. Only a simpleton would not think of informing Lavinia."

 

[Dragonwriter]

Sharazek chuckles at Derrenil’s ever-poor temper. “Now, now, Derrenil, just because he asked a stupid question doesn’t mean he should be berated,” the spellscale says in a sing-song voice, just for kicks (and possibly annoying the drow even more). The blue-scaled man reads over the paper quickly, furrowing his brow and the diamond pattern across it. With a dismissive wave and a pass of the paper to someone else (he really doesn’t care who), Sharazek sighs and nods. “But I suppose we might as well go see our employer. Honestly, never a day goes by we aren’t going running to her with some news of some sort, usually ill… Ah, well. Such is life!” he finishes, with a mischievous grin.

[sblock=OOC]
Sharazek bound Haures and Karsus this morning, both Good Pacts, so he isn’t influenced or showing their signs. Checks are here (both were DC 25): 37 and 35.
[/sblock]

 

[s@squ@tch]

Derrenil

The cloaked form stands unmoving.

"You will not have my goat, or should I say, lizard, this day, Sharazek"

The cloaked form crosses her arms -- small black leather gloved hands appear from within the folds of the cloak and begin to tap impatiently upon her forearms.

"We have no time to dilly-dally, let us go find this 'employer, who happens to also be the mayor'"

"Thanks to this common foot-messenger, I did not need to contact a higher plane of existance to realize that the benefactor we have been working for these past months was our employer and mayor....."

The cowl of her cloak shakes back and forth slightly, and the last portion of her comments dripped with sarcasm and derision.

 

[Walking Dad]

Darius

"When we will give it to her. Should she think her assignment is the main reason for my involvement." Darius, the cold hearted human with the silverstreaks in his hair says. It wasn't pleasent to be in his company, but his draconic powers have certain benefits. "May I now renew my daily magic on you all?"

[sblock=ooc]
Darius 'casts' Endure exposure on the group every day. It is a 24h Endure Elements, plus makes you immune against his breath weapon as long as he chooses.

Active Invocations:
- See the Unseen
- Endure Exposure
[/sblock]

 

[bedford]

Skrymer the huge werebear as always in hybrid form takes his time considering their options and finally gives Derenil a nod. He takes a sip of mead and leans against a nearby tree.

 

[ethandrew]

Fenrick Huddlestone, the young halfling everyone had grown to love, at least so he thought, swung down from a branch in the very tree Skrymer was leaned against. Gracefully he let go and landed on the ground. "I thought I saw Lavinia earlier, but for the life of me I can't recall where. Oh well," he finished cheerfully, aware he just offered no real benefit to the group. He was unarmored, as always, his shirt only buttoned up halfway, and reaching back, he pulled his hair into a ponytail, all casual and cool, all business for the former troupe member.

 

[Myth and Legend]

Elistina kept quiet and to the side of all the commotion - her usual position when matters of ego were concerned. She had crafted for herself a load of tremendeous patience, not easiliy breachable especially after her trial in the Otyugh hole. The Whisper Gnome arcanist had joined this peculiar group of individualds only recently, as they had arrived in Farshore after supposedly slaughering a nest of demons.

The Incantatrix shivered at the thought of these foul Outsiders festering on this plane and cursing it with their taint and malice. In this regards, El was adamant and a most zealous follower of her Order's code, a true sister to the others.

While only knowing these interseting people for a few days, she had already grown quite fond of Fenrick. In part, because he was one of the little people as their races were called, but also because of is open and cheerful character. He was a bit too unruly and unpredictable for the Gnome's tastes, but one does not get to choose every characteristic of one's comrades in arms.

The situation was dire, and what little Elistina knew of the Pearl, she knew it was very bad to read pearls, as in more than one of these wicked artifacts. Demogorgon was involved, and as far as she was concerned, the only good Prince of Demons was a Disintegrated, Soultrapped one. To this thought, the spellcaster clasped her hands behind her back, so that she did not touch her spellbook and relinquish her anxiety before the others. On the outside she was calm and collected, as she should be.

Sharazek was nice for a human, quite handsome but much too tall and loud mouthed, but the Gnome still preferred him to the beast man or the Drow. Those just made her wary and itching to reach for her spellbook for reassurance.

"I am sure we will find her in the town hall." Elistina said with her plain, calm voice. She turned towards the messanger, her auburn hair knotted in a tight bun, her back staright and her face frozen. "Was there anything else of interest on the vessel?

 

[GandalfMithrandir]

[sblock=clarification]sorry, I should have made this more clear, but at the end of the last adventure, the PCs prevented the orb from going off by catching it before Vanthus dropped it and set it off, so you have the orb. I am sorry for the confusion.[/sblock]