Salvage Operation

Prologue 

Winter Solstace, Eastern Ammurath

Whist sheltering from a storm, Wulgar captain of the Winter Dragon discovers a ship that has been missing for fifteen years.  The Emperor of the Waves was the flagship of merchant prince Aubrek's fleet, and when the Emperor disappeared  Aubreks trading empire collapsed.   Wulgar makes a map of the Emperors' location.  Black Bill is escorted north by Isileth & Taendertyg along the trail from Three Towers to Quodeth.  He has gifts for Aubrek's trading partners in the villages en route.   The winter storms make it impossible for Wulgar to sail to Quodeth and deliver the map to his friend Aubrek.  So he entrusts the delivery to Black Bill.  During the journey, Isileth & Taendertyg hunt down a pair of man-eating saber-tooth cats in the Marsh of Hurth.  At journeys end, Black Bill double-crosses Wulgar and Aubrek, when sneaks off with Naak, a priestess of Set and the map.

The Sark, Quodeth, shortly after the festival of Nergal

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Aubrek hires Sar and Yar to retrieve the map from Black Bill.  Sar and Yar track Black Bill down in the Royal Shades Taverna. Black Bill is decapitated, and the map retrieved after the priestess Naak and her thugs' are slaine. Sar and Yar escape through the  Royal Shades infamous fighting pit with Grom (a huge beastman) into the sewers beneath the Sark

Session I

On the Three Towers Trail, Samnu, the month of Twilight.

Aubrek's salvage party leaves Quodeth, taking the trail to Three Towers.  An ominous storm ravages Saravin Bay.  Sar catches Belshir of Dreyth's eye &  Raenara meets the crone of Taarbo.

Beastman trail the party from Taarbo and launch an attack at the old stones at Highmoor.  But the party is wise to the ambush and turns the table on them.  DemiGuz captures one of the beastmen, and Tyg interrogates him.  The huge beastmen belong to a tribe called the sons of Negal and lair somewhere in the Marsh of Hurth.  At Banutre, chief Veetal suggests the increase in the numbers of beastman and volcanic activity at Lokra's Tower could be linked.

On the trail from Bautree to Three Towers, the party repels the attack of crazed Tyrannosaurus Rex.  The poor beast is chased back into the sulfurous mists of the Marsh of Hurth from which it was trying to escape.

Five days after leaving Quodeth, the party reaches Three Towers.  Isi,  Wulgar, and the Winter Dragon are ready for them.  Wulgar is keen to set sail immediately while the mild weather holds.  But before the Winter Dragon can cast off, you must attend the Commodore of Three Towers.

The Bazaar

The brave adventures stock up on potions and Sar swindles a treasure map out of Baazeel at Haughty Powers Emporium Yee Olde Gift Shoppe.  Baazeel takes a shine to Rae, offering some under the counter stock, wink, wink, nudge nudge, say no more.  But the solicitation is rebuffed, the merchant revolts Rae.  Having sold most of its stock, Baazeel closes early.   

Urchins steal Aubrek's map from Sar.   In the pursuit, Sar knocks over several merchant stalls causing much damage, and Isileth falls into a pig stye and the urchins vanish into the maze-like alleys of the bazaar.  However, Tyg's survival training saves the day, and he leads the party away from the angry merchants toward the Temple of the Nine, into which he spotted an urchin running.  When Sar shouts threats of violence at the fleeing urchin, the angry mob of merchants melts back into the market, was that Baazeel at the back-throwing rocks? 

                      

Baazeel, proprietor Haughty Powers. 

Temple of the Nine

At the Temple steps, Geeta of Banutre warns Tyg and Isileth of legionnaire, who has been trailing them and asking questions about Aubreks map.  Seeker Aphoom genially welcomes the party to the Temple, giving a tour of the nave, transepts, and apt.  He prattles on about Tiamat, Nergal and Set's bickering, the leaky roof, orphaned urchins, regular visits of hideous monsters finally admitting he doesn't get out much.  Yar donates gold to the roof fund, Tyg agrees to help with the repairs. 

The Commodore 

A huge legionnaire enters the Temple.  He orders the party to attend the Commodore.  Rae tells him he's rude, but the party complies.  Commodore Janir interviews the party bruskly.  She returns Aubreks map and orders two legionnaires to accompany them on their salvage operation.  It seems the Aubreks' strongbox is not the only item of value on the Ghostship.  Rae adds another name to her shit list.    

Hideous Monsters

The Winter dragon finally sets sail.  Posing heroically at the prow Demiguz studies his copy of Aubreks map.   The weather worsens, and hideous sea monsters attack.  In a bloody fight, several crew members are dismembered, there are gory limbs everywhere.  Sar & Yar have a great time, Rollo recommends a more extended cruise.  A few hours later, The Emperor of the Waves is spotted.  Lightning illuminates the battered remains of the ships scarred and rent hull, it looks as if it has survived a tidal wave or a hurricane.  The crew mutter prayers of mercy to Tiamat.  Wulgar urges you to be quick about your business on the doomed vessel.

Ozrics Tentacles

The Ryliri Coast, 

Mid month of Samnu (a few days after the Festival of Azura) 

2214

Player Characters

Demiguz Eldritch Knight  

Rae Bard 

San Kit'Aran Wizard 

Sar Barbarian (1/2 session)

Splinters Rogue 

Tyg Ranger

Yar Barbarian 

Session XP

XP 13 (Sar 8)

Finally, you track down the Emperor of the Waves in the center of an unnatural storm.  Harpies circled the stricken ship in a lightning storm as the sea rages around it.  There was no doubt the ruined hulk of the colossal merchant ship is doomed.  

Rae, Demigus, San Kit'Aran, Splinters, and Yar were the first to board.  Tyg discerned the reek of undeath deep in the hull.  Splinters explored aft, finding a makeshift sacrificial chamber abound with skulls surrounding a massive altar of black stone covered in draconic runes.  The ship was a floating Temple to Set.  But there was no time to investigate. Splinters keen perception foiled the ambush, seeing through the concealing spell and shouting warning.  The giant viper thrashed forward, attacking Demigus and Yar.  Swarms of spiders boil up through the rotten deck as the last of the ophidian beastman priests and strange reptilian spider things sprang from hiding.  The battle swung back and forth as the Emperor rocked from side to side in the storm — Yar stood resolute despite the great serpent's potent venom, Rae sidestepped a beastman to push him overboard.  Spiders swarmed everywhere, causing havoc, but finally, you were victorious.  The beastman Krell, the only survivor of the ambush, had escaped below decks.

Trooper Fang and Bronn moved the fabled serpent stone alter to the deck.  San Kit'Aran fed his inner pyromaniac by setting the forecastle ablaze.

The bowls of the old ship were a claustrophobic nightmare, dark and covered with the webs.  Despite this Splinters and Tyg's extraordinary senses located Aubreks lost strongbox.  Sar joined the party below, exploring the cocoon chamber only to fall through a rotted cargo grate into the water filled hold of the ship.  Sar received a ghastly welcome in the hold.  The party now split,  Krell and his remaining minions (reptilian spider thingies, giant spiders, and yet more spider swarms) took the opportunity to attack.  Yar and Rae join the rest of the group in the hold, just as they were leaving.

However, grander schemes than a merchant's lost loot were at play here.  

Ozric, the Doom, emerged from beneath the ship.   The kraken has risen from the depths had to claim the Serpent Stone.  The Sacrificial Altar of Hurth Nessk lost for centuries.  Ozrics great tentacles wracked the Emporer of the Waves inexorably dragging the floating temple down.

Demiguz, Splinters, and Tyg evacuate Aubreks box.  Sar and San Kit'Aran are defeated and prone, helpless and seemingly doomed to a watery grave.  But Yar and Rae fight through Krells' creatures to the rescue.  In the chaos of the sinking ship all flee, monster and hero alike scramble for the surface — all except Krell.  Krell changed into a crocodile and escaped through a hole in the hull.

In the frantic escape from the sinking ship, Splinters took the opportunity to push Trooper Fang overboard.  Strongbox retrieved, at last, you huddled together in the longboat as Rollo sang and rowed you to safety and your reward.  

In the distance, Ozric's tentacle grasps the Serpent Stone triumphantly as he drags the remains of the weird floating temple beneath waves.

Epilogue 

Three Towers,

Early in the month of Kilson  

08/02/2214

In the past weeks Aubrek has established a merchant business in Three Towers.  His private compound has a dock, and the construction of several warehouses and merchant ships has begun.  Aubrek has extended the offer of free lodging (his headquarters is a complex of tents at the moment) and more work 'interesting work' if you want it?

• Rollo has left the Winter Dragon and Three Towers after quarrelling with Wulgar.   
• The Commodore had Trooper Fang flogged for failure in front of the Legionnaires.
• More folk arrive everyday as the town grows.
• There has been an increase in the reports of Beastmen raids on the overland caravans and Pirate attacks since the weather has improved and a cackle of Harpy's caused chaos in the bazaar last week until they were chased off by legionnaires.