======== Miles Breakbone the unbreakable revenant ============
Revenant version of breakbone and a bunch of skeletons and zombies are in warehouse having snuck in the passage from Tiryki anchorage.
Miles: "You! I have dreamed of this. I had thought I was called to Chult for a glorious purpose. Stamp out evil. Stem the undead. But I was blind. The evil is insidious. It walks into the camp as an ally. It betrays you and send you to your death. It uses foul magics to change fate and steal ones destiny so that it can decide who lives and who dies. Well no longer. Today I can no longer die. And I swear that none of you shall live when I am done. Tainted with evil made fat off of forbidden magics. You are a cancer that I must cut out and destroy. Call me evil or deluded but you came from evil and evil you are while I have my glorious purpose that even death can not interrupt."
Miles: *stuns Eddie*
Kylorin: *turns all minor undead and moves to block breakbone from getting to Eddie*
Freya: *Moves to block other hallway engaging zombies that were not turned.*
A long slow underwater battle is had. The water hinders breakbone more than the party but the water diffuses Celadons glitterdust and hampers Freya's huge axe. Lindal darts forwards and back thanks to his ring of swimming and is devastating. Breakbone though contained is a unstoppable monstrosity. The party needs to fireball him, smite him and boil him alive in his own armor to get him to finally stay down.
He then swears vengeance against Kylorin and Lindal for preventing him from reaching Eddie his original nemesis.
After killing him off the party find a creepy bag of human skin with 30 silver that is clearly cursed. They also discover the tunnel traps have all gone off and there are a number of dead undead in the hall. The group eventually swim through and close and lock the far entrance then go to inform Undril of the passage they "just discovered".
============ Port nyanzaru - Baths =============
After the dunk in river water filled with rotting flesh the party informed Undril who then informs Zindar and the group receive thanks in the form of a Platinum Yterpa society token. The party choses to use this to go to the baths and be pampered and massaged one last time. Much luxuriating is had and Kylorin talks Undril into accompanying them against the pirates.
Kylorin: I mean these pirated did help destroy your relief shipments and caused so many headaches for the people of the town. And having a decent healer would be useful while we are fighting so many enemies.
Undril was eventually persuaded by an extraordinarily eloquent kylorin. As the party is drying off Freya finds a note tucked into her clothes.
Dear Freya, you have ignored several of our signals now. Why are you pretending not to see them? Your parents raised you as our eyes and ears and its not like you do not know the signs. You think those dwarven allies you are training will not turn in a moment if they knew who you were? You think the princes can give you more that we can? Or maybe you just wish to negotiate... How dwarven of you. Well we have knowledge you seek though you may not know you need it. You have powers you didn't even know you had that we can help you awaken. We can train you. You know the price... Meet us in the usual place. Signed, Blood-of-the-earth
Freya tells Eddie about the note and they decide to slip off and see the dark dwarves. Meanwhile Lindal does some last minute shopping based on some tips from Inete. Kylorin goes to visit derrick with Summerwise in tow and Celadon walks around town flexing his new tattoo for the amusement of small children and admirers.
====== Port nyanzaru - suspiciously deserted alleyway =======
Just as Freya and Eddie slip into the alleyway for their meeting a voice calls out behind them.
Hew: Hey freya. Where have you been? I have been looking all over town for ye. I err have been thinking. You know me magic axe? Hew? My namesake? I was thinking that he should be yours. I mean I can't exactly wield a greataxe any more given that the dragon bit off me hand. So I was thinking when we reclaim the mines you should have it. I mean she cuts through trees like they were butter and there were many times in the jungle I wish I still had him. Seems every plant here is trying to kill you and hew just used to cleave em in two. It's all in the workmanship. See he was made by might grand pappys great great great uncle...
Eddie: Oh Hew this isn't a good time we were kinda busy.
Hew: What? *looks at alleyway* Oh have a bit to much to drink have ye? Yeah that happens to me all the time. Well go take your piss I can wait.
Eddie: Well it is not that simple...
Hew: *eyebrows raise* Oh, that time o the month? Oh *reddens* I fergot 'bout things like that...
Eddie: Lets just give her some space while we go back to the ship. She can join us in a few minutes. But tell me about this axe of yours....
*finally along in the alley Freya walks forward to the grate*
Freya: Pssst, I came. You wanted to speak
Blood-of-the-earth: *invisibly standing behind Freya* I thought it was betrayal for sure when I heard the other's voices. But I see you were able to send them away. Freya it has come time for you to consider who you are and who you want to be. You should have a taste of what it means to be a dark dwarf. *Puts down a vial that appears next to Freya*. This potion will let you enlarge like our people do. It is but a taste of what we can help you attain.
Freya: And what you want?
Blood-of-the-earth: Is what we wanted all along. We just didn't want you to think you would get nothing out of helping us. We will meet you down there after you make your way down there. We have our own ways of getting there. And if you like what you get from that vial well there are more where that comes from. First one is free and then we can make some suggestions actions that can earn you another perhaps...
Freya: *taking flask* I will consider your offer. How will you contact us though. We are about to set out to sea and I doubt you will be able to reach us. Well? Do you have any thoughts on how to communicate after we leave?
But Freya is alone in the alleyway her invisible contact having slipped away after having made his point.
===== Port nyanzaru - Eddy and Hew sharing drinks in hold of the Brazen Prince ======
Hew: Oh yeah it was me pride and joy. See my grand-pappys great uncle lived up in the Gain confederacy where there are all these fae and elves and dryads constantly got in his business when he went to collect wood for his forge so he came up with a plan to scare them all off by harvesting the heartwood of a dryads great oak and making it into the handle of his greataxe into a weapon that all dryads should fear because it still screams in ranges the trees can hear...
Eddie: sounds like your ancestor was a right nasty piece of work
Hew: Oh yeah he was a right bastard. Didn't even kill the dryad. Just made her watch to tell the others not to mess with him. And it worked... Axe splits wood like it was butter. Trees can stand to touch it and just fall apart at its touch.
Eddie: can you show me the axe? So I can look at it?
Hew: well once we get to the mines, se it was in my hand when the dragon bit it off and I had to chose between it and my life and I am still not sure I made the right...
Eddie: *clearly less impressed* Hrmph
Hew: But you don't understand, You can't travel down their without Tinder constantly circling looking for you. A multi day trek would just be letting him chose the place and time. ye think I was teh only dwarf to run for it? No I was the only one to escape his pursuit. You need ot face him or he is gonna just hunt you down like he hunted down my men. Well what do you say? We clear out that mine and Freya gets me axe? I get the mine and Musharib's tribe gets their infernal homeland back. I am willing to cut that deal but that is the most i can offer and you must believe me we need to get that dragon or my name isn't Hew Hackenstone.
Eddie: you make some convincing arguments... wait did you hear a crash in the distance and a cheer from the dwarves on the deck?
Hew: *eyes widen and he runs to a port hole* Well i'll be damned, they actually hit it. Guess I owe Grigg some gold. I thought it was just out of range when I gave them permission to shoot at it... maybe we should adjourn for a bit while I speak to those guardsmen gathering dockside...
=============== Port nyanzaru - Coliseum. =================
Kylorin: Summerwise. We need to leave soon. But I was thinking maybe you would like to meet my friend? He is a paladin like me. I was hoping you could watch over him for me and him over you. Kinda like how Seraph and I work. He is not your master. He is a potential friend. A companion. You can leave if he mistreats you but I was hoping you two might become friends if given a chance.
Summerwise: *cautious interest*
Kylorin walks into the grand coliseum that is now serving as a giant refugee camp. Derrick is running a food kitchen while nearby some of his followers are running a school for the displaced children.
Derrick: *looks up to see who is entering and waves* Kylorin, it is good to see you! I heard you found a passage the undead were using to sneak into the city. Fantastic sleuthing! I know Zindar had been looking for weeks and you find it in a couple days!
Kylorin: *clearly uncomfortable* Thanks but I came today to discuss something else. I have a friend Summerwise who was badly mistreated by her master. She needs time and someone to look after her while she recovers and i thought she might be able to watch your back like how Seraph watches mine. Seraph has been invaluable on a number of occasions. I think she even saved all of our lives once when we faced some hags.
Seraph: *poses on kylorin's shoulder wielding a cocktail sword she acquired somewhere.*
Kylorin: I can tell you these dragons have very sharp senses and i also think it would do Summerwise good to be around someone who is helping others rather than hurting them...
Derrick: Wait, does this mean you are leaving again? I mean I would be honored to be graced with a guardian by the great dragon. You have already done so much for me. Anything I can do to help repay you I will gladly do. But this is truly no burden. I have felt envious of your close relationship with all your companions. Having a boon companion would be a pleasure. Do you mind if I talk to you alone for a minute though?
Derrick: *leads kylorin aside letting the psuedodragons watch the food line while school kids covertly admiring the dragons perching nearby* So what do they eat? And how often do I need to oil their scales. I mean have seen you groom Seraph with special oils. I just want to make sure I am taking care of him or her right. Aw heck I don't even know their gender...
Kylorin: Is that all? Well I have an extra vial of oil but you can find more at this little stall by the bathhouse i think it is meant for the leatherback tortoise people from down south but it works wonderfully on all scales. And he enjoys meat. But you can ask him. He is intelligent and will be able to speak with you if you open your mind to him. Like right now can you tell what he is thinking?
Derrick: Not really I am just feeling hungry even though I just had breakfast... wait is that?
Kylorin: Yep summersage is hungry. Now run along and give him morsel of meat and maybe a tour of the facilities and I think you two will be fast friends in no time.
Kylorin: *goes to leave but notices Seraph looking longingly after Summerwise*. Wait, Seraph did you want to stay?
Seraph: *complicated emotions. Bravery. Loneliness. Fear.. Finally a picture of Seraph as a brave knight with her cocktail sword poking enemies ankles while Freya swings her huge sword and Kylorin swings a glowing yellow blade. A fight rages on all around while Seraph pokes ineffectively with her tail and sword. The feeling of frustration grows.
Kylorin: Yeah it is getting tougher out there but how about this. We are going to go fight some pirates and they should be pretty manageable for you and there should be a pile of loot. Would you like to have a bigger pile of treasure? Maybe one large enough to share? With your friend?
Seraph: *pictures a footlocker filled with gold.*
Kylorin: Well, maybe not that much but we can definitely manage a shoebox. And I think we could even fill one with copper right now on the boat if you would like?
Seraph: *nods excitedly and tugs Kylorin towards boat*
======== Port nyanzaru - departure ==========
Hew : we are on a schedule we need to be off soon or we will miss our tide.
*Hew fidgets impatiently Celadon at his side cloak flapping in the nonexistent breeze. From high up at the lighthouse a familiar form spreads its wings and soars down to the boat landing softly*
Zindar : Hew why have you summoned me, You know the harbor is closed by order of the princes.
Hew - the princes have given their permission for us to take out the flagship and clear the waters of those pirates. Prince Celadon can tell you!
Celadon: Um yeah we are going to hunt pirates.
Zindar - *looks at all of the party lounging around the ship nodding to Kylorin who has come back above deck* Well if you are going to clear the seaways then I can only offer you my thanks. I heard of Celadon's help with the undead the other day and these folks also convinced those gauntlet folks to come and they have been doing a great job clearing outer city and checking for survivors hiding out there as well as helping man the walls. I can also say the sea bounty has not been claimed but I should warn you that the prince who was guaranteeing the reward was one of the ones who died and I hadn't bothered finding new sponsors considering all the other problems we had been dealing with especially given no one could leave the harbor by the Prince's orders. But with that said I know I can personally make good on at least a half of the reward without her support. And I will try to get the council to fund the full amount assuming they are not furious with being hoodwinked by one of their own. *winks* Go with my blessing. And give those pirates hell. remember while I can only guarantee 250 per captain brought in living and 1000 per ship that is still enough money to make most men rich. And I will check if any princes are willing to pitch in to restore trade once they get over initial misgivings. May the great dragon watch over you all.
======= Port nyanzaru - bay =========
Ortimay gives the order to set sail. The boat barely rocks as it leave the harbor and yet the railing is occupied by several dwarves getting violently ill. Ortimay looks at them sadly.
Ortimay : I was afraid of this. If they are this sick in the harbor they are going to be miserable when we get to real waves. Get them downstairs and see if any of them get their legs in the next few days.
======= Meanwhile In the hold of the Brazen prince =======
Freya, Lindal, and Eddie discover a secret compartment behind one of the great water barrels which is mounted on wheels that allow it to move almost silently. They move it aside and peak into the secret compartment which appears to have crates and barrels and a number of grumpy looking dark dwarves.
Blood-of-the-earth: What is this? Have you decided to throw in with them then? Against your own kin, Freya? This is a betrayal. But I guess that means you truly are one of us...
Inspiration
Kylorin - Matchmaking Derrick and Summerwise.
Freya - Dealing with dark dwarves and finding that the ship was not quite what it seemed when looking the gift house in the mouth.
Experience (challenge based) 750 Individual => 8381 cumulative,
Passage Fight - (hard) 750
Challenge based XP notes from - https://dmdavid.com/tag/using-experience-points-to-make-your-dd-game-more-compelling/
Allies
Ortimay, Grigg, Bonnie and several deck hands
Seraph
Undril
Several sick dwarves intended to man siege weaponry
Treasure
One retroactive purchase in the city
30 silver in a human skin bag (unclaimed)
Potion of Dwarven blood (can cast enlarge but only for dark dwarves. Some funny things going on with the potion but Eddie as not able to successfully identify all of the quirks.)
Vial of blood of unknown origin. Procured from Vinny the Imp.