Sigrid's Journal 20: How You Wanna Feel

~~~~~

Fifthmonth 1

I didn't sleep much last night. Every time I began to drift away, I would startle and look over to check that Gannen was still within my sight. About the seventh or eighth time this happened, I got up, walked over to him, and laid down next to him. I decided that he would be much less likely to disappear if I was literally right with him. Slightly less anxious, I slept a bit better (though not much).

In the morning when I woke up, Gannen hadn't gone anywhere. I woke him up, and he seemed less comatose than he had yesterday. When he woke up, he looked confused and stared at me, before saying, “You...”

“Yes?” I replied.

“Sigrid.”

“Are you alright, Gannen?”

“Alright?” He appeared unsure, “I... yeah... no... I don't know.”

I took one of his hands in my own. “I need your Truename.”

He looked down at my hands. “Truename? Oh yeah... Ronnudulaes.” The name seemed to echo with a power that only a Truename possessed.

After informing Paerk of Gannen's Truename, he made short work of fulling restoring him. After he was recovered, he seemed a bit concerned that he had so easily divulged his Truename. I informed him that I would never misuse it. He still seemed a bit wary, however.

Blank asked him about Monala's “evil plan,” and he told us that we had to go to Xanadu as soon as possible. He wasn't entirely clear on what exactly Monala was going to do, but he told us that her plan involved zombies and other general evil. He also informed us that Mixastomere was involved as well, a fact that (surprisingly) didn't seem to cause Soern much grief.

We decided to return to Ao-Manasa to stock up and get ourselves properly equipped before venturing off to Xanadu. Even sailing back to port was more difficult than it should have been; the weather was getting worse by the moment. Once back in town, we went to the University and talked to Uthar again. He told us that Xanadu had, indeed, been the capital of the Hora Quan empire. After we told him that we believed the Heart of the Ocean may have been restarted and that that may be the cause of this recent foul weather, he seemed very concerned.

We also did some shopping. I got a new set of armour and purchased some things for Gannen, who seemed to be suffering from a distinct lack of equipment. We left the city before nightfall.

~~~~~

Fifthmonth 2

The weather was again horrible today, but Captain Blank says we made astounding progress. Captain Blank seems convinced our above-average speed is directly linked to his above-average sailing ability. I have a different, more sinister idea. I believe these cursed winds are ushering us off to Xanadu. It is as if Monala herself is beckoning to us, summoning us to her dark lair as a spider does with flies. Either she gets some sadistic pleasure out of continuously causing us strife, or perhaps our deaths will simply be the last obstacle in her malefic plan. Either way, we're in for a world of hurt.

Gannen's been distant today. I tried on numerous occasions to pull him aside to speak with me and he brushed me off each and every time. This concerns and saddens me.

~~~~~

Fifthmonth 3

We're another day closer to confronting Monala, and Gannen and I are another day further apart. I spent a good deal of my time today trying to talk to him, yet he still would barely even make eye contact with me.

Near the end of the day, Commodore Blank climbed up to the Crows' Nest while I was on duty.

“Why by Malleus' beard are you still up here?!” he exclaimed, “I've yelled at you like five times to get your ass back down on deck.”

I didn't answer him and instead looked out in the stormy sea, “Can I ask you something?”

“If you get down from here, sure.” I looked at him and he pointed towards the ladder. “Get climbing.” When we reached the bottom of the ladder, Commodore Blank lead me into his office. He pointed to a chair and tossed a drying-cloth to me. I sat down. “Now, what did you want?”

“Why does he hate me?”

“He? Who? Mark? He doesn't hate you, he's just not the most... personable. I'm sure he didn't mean to hit you in the head with that plank earlier. If you hadn't been daydreaming off in your own little worl...”

“I'm not talking about Mark,” I interrupted.

“Then who? Gannen?” Blank looked at me. I sighed and stared at the floor. “Aha... I see... Sigrid's a bit smitten, is she? This calls for a toast!” Blank reached into his desk drawer and pulled out a bottle of rum and a not-so-clean shotglass. He poured a shot and pushed the glass towards me.

“You think everything calls for a toast,” I muttered.

“Precisely. Go on now.”

“I don't want any rum.”

Blank looked a little taken aback. “Don't... want... rum? Ah,but you jest, of course you want it. Go on.” Blank held the rum bottle in one hand, waiting for me to take my glass. Sighing, I lifted the shot. Blank lifted the rum bottle up in a manner of toasting. I echoed with my glass. Blank downed three or four guzzles as I sipped about half the shot.

“I just wish I knew why he hates me...”

“I don't think he hates you. I think he hates that sword,” he motioned towards the Aur Xica with the bottle.

“How would you know that?”

“Commodore Blank is an amazingly wise man,” he smugly stated. Upon seeing that I was not impressed, he added, “Well, and Gannen told me earlier that he hates that sword.”

“So, he's been avoiding me to avoid the Aur Xica?”

“Maybe... Look, Sigrid, why don't you talk to him about it?”

Leaving the Aur Xica in Blank's care, I ventured down below deck to do just that, but found that Gannen was already fast asleep in his bedroll. I will have to wait until tomorrow to talk to him.

~~~~~

Fifthmonth 4

When I woke up this morning, Gannen was already up on deck. He greeted me with slightly more enthusiasm than he had previous days. Perhaps Blank was right about the sword. I still felt that I needed to talk to him about “us”, so I stole him away below deck. Ignoring the issue of the Aur Xica completely, I asked him flat-out what he thought of me. He averted the question, telling me that he really couldn't have this conversation now. He promised me, however, that after Xanadu, after we dealt with Monala, that we could talk about everything. I begrudgingly accepted this arrangement and we talked for a little while about other things. He expressed a little self-annoyance with how easily he divulged his Truename. I then shared my Truename with him. He was silent for a moment and then commented, “You really trust me, don't you, Sigrid?” I informed him that that was, indeed, the case and he turned away and sighed. A minute or so later, he excused himself to return to work.

I decided to take a break for the rest of the day. I'm scheduled for night watch tonight, so I think I'll rest up for that.

~~~~~

Notes

Created: March 9, 2007

Secondmonth 19th
At Knight of the Axe island
Discussed whether to go back to Ao-Manasa or continue on to Hora Quan
Everyone wanted to go to the Hora Quan, except Rellik
Then Sigrid decide she wanted to go back to Ao-Manasa

Discussed sword, price, appraisal

“I’m the quartermaster. I keep stuff places.” – Sigrid
“And I hide things other places.” – Blank

Weather: 3 days (until Secondmonth 22nd)
Moderate temperature
Light winds (x1)
West

60 miles per day

Secondmonth 20th
40 miles away from Ao-Manasa

Secondmonth 21st
Arrive without incident

Went to the Twisted Fish
New random victim – Faen, male, Yaerl Dawnskimmer (Edited post-session: I never actually told the players this)

Midafternoon
Went to Mevarin residence (to kill Mischa)

“We all got multiples of five.” – Andy
“But only one of them was a prime number.” – AJ

“My name is Sigrid Halstead. You killed your father. Prepare to die.” – Sigrid

Killed Mischa

Searched the house
Magic booze!
Jewelry
Sigrid made Soern put it back
Left one of the vials of poison on Mischa’s body, along with one of the flowers

“Rellik! I will not tolerate insubordination.” – Captain Blank
“(I said a fancy word.)” – Captain Blank

Went out the back

Went to the Black Angle

“Why would they try to kill us? We are as innocent as little baby birdlings.” Captain Blank
“Little baby birdlings who just murdered someone.” – Sigrid
“Baby birdlings can be very vicious.” – Captain Blank

Sigrid flirting with Gannen
Gannen arrested

“It’s like everything I know about justice has been turned on it’s head. The guards just came in and arrested a man who, while certainly not innocent, was not guilty of this crime.” – Sigrid

Soern went back to the ship
Rellik “urged the bartender to call the guards” and then went back to the ship

“But it’s a ritual. You can’t bother me.” – Sigrid
“Right. I’ll be on god dirty.” – Soern

Everyone goes back to Ocean’s Blade
Sigrid got all her ritual supplies

“I’ll always be there to get hammered with you.” – Captain Blank
“Yeah, that makes me feel much – wait, yeah, it does.” – Sigrid

Secondmonth 21st
Weather: 1 day (until Secondmonth 22nd)
Moderate temperature
Light winds (x1)
West

Weather: 2 days (22nd – 23rd)
Moderate temperature, storm, rain
Windstorm (gale) (x3)
East

Weather: 2 days (24th – 25th)
Cold, clear
Light winds (x1)
West

Weather: 3 days (26th – 29th)
Moderate, fair, fog
Light winds (x1)

Secondmonth 21st (60 miles)
Secondmonth 22nd, storm/rain, driven 120 miles straight west
Secondmonth 23rd, storm/rain, driven 120 miles straight west, past the tomb
Secondmonth 24th, clear, 60 miles to tomb, arrive at the tomb
Secondmonth 25th, clear, set new course, 200 miles off
Secondmonth 26th,

Initiative & Such

Created: March 9, 2007

Baern

Created: March 9, 2007
Baern
Human Oathsworn 6
Size/Type: Medium Humanoid
Hit Dice: 6d10+12 (42), dying/dead -2/-14
Initiative: +4
Speed: 40 feet
AC: 17 (+4 Dex, +3 oathsworn bonus), touch 17, flat-footed 17
Base Attack/Grapple: +4/+8
Attack: Unarmed +10 melee (1d8+5), thrown object +9 ranged (1d8+5) (increment 10 ft.)
Full Attack: Unarmed +10/+6 (1d8+5), thrown object +9/+5 (1d8+5)
Face/Reach: 5 feet by 5 feet/5 feet
Special Attacks: Shattering blow, throw object, combat rites, objects as weapons
Special Qualities: Swear an oath, eschew food, evasion, fast movement, lesser adaptation, refuse fatigue, refuse fear,
Saves: Fort +7, Ref +9, Will +7
Abilities: Str 18, Dex 18, Con 14, Int 13, Wis 14, Cha 11
Skills: Balance +13, Climb +13, Jump +13, Sense Motive +11, Tumble +13
Feats: Resistance to Magic, Intuitive Sense, Weapon Focus (unarmed strike), Low Blow, Hands as Weapons

Touch of fear, touch of pain, and touch of disruption, each 1/day

Shattering Strike: Full round action, one attack ignores 6 points of damage reduction.

Low Blow: As a full-attack action, Baern can make a single attack roll that inflicts normal damage. If he damages his humanoid or monstrous humanoid opponent, the foe must attempt a Fortitude save (DC 15). Should he fail the save, he is dazed for 1 full round.

Objects as weapons: Can use any random object as a weapon, attack bonus and damage as unarmed strike.

Resistance to Magic: +1 saving throw bonus to all saves against spells, spell-like abilities, supernatural abilities, magic items, and so forth

Intuitive Sense: aware of all incoming attacks

Combat Rites: 3 1st rank

Equipment:
+1 enhancement on hands (2,000)
Wargloves (1,600)
1 Strength boost +2 potions (300)
1 Dexterity boost +2 potions (300)
1 Constitution boost +2 potions (300)
Sturdying Elixir (10 hp) (300)
2 potions of lesser battle healing (300 each)

NPCs

My(tm) Official Is This Fair? Soundtrack

Since Artemis made hers, I figured I'd do my own. All the songs are songs that can be bought someplace, dunno about Ruckus or whatever, except for A pirate I was Meant to Be, which can be found on the Curse of Monkey Island official webpage.

1. Devil’s Ambition, From FF9 – Opening Credits, Sneaking into Sa-Follens House.
2. Indiana Jones Theme, From Indiana Jones – Investigating the Islands Tomb.
3. Two Hornpipes, From Pirates of the Caribbean – Black Angle's Theme
4. My Kind of Guy, By The Kaiser Cheifs – Blank and Rellik’s Theme (Poisonous Polish Scene)
5. Woke Up This Morning, By Nickelback – Mischa Theme (Mischa's Fight scene)
6. Falling For the First Time, By Barenaked Ladies – Sigrid's Theme (Touch of Justice and Witch Sight shenanigans in the black angle)
7. Theme from Jurassic Park, From Jurassic Park – Investigating Hora Quan temple
8. A Pirate I was Meant to be, From Curse of Monkey Island – Cap’n Blanks Shanty (Captain Communists High Seas Piracy)
9. Bells of Freedom, By Bon Jovi – Gannen's Theme (rescuing Gannen from prison)
10. This Fire, By Franz Ferdinand – Chapter House on Fire
11. The Black Pearl, From Pirates of the Caribbean – Boarding Parrel's ship, stealing it
12. Extreme Ways, By Moby – Soerns theme (Sorcerous Blast to the Fearful Lightning)
13. Barbossa Is Hungry, From Pirates of the Caribbean – Investigating The Pirate Cove
14. Great Destroyer, By Nine Inch Nails – Illiams Theme (Fighting him)
15. If You’re Gone, By Matchbox Twenty – Sigrid love theme #1 (Gannen Abducted)
16. Smooth Criminal, By Alien Ant Farm – Relliks Theme (killing other twin merchant)
17. Collector, By Nine Inch Nails – Taevins Theme (him talking about his employer)
18. Hunter’s Chance, From FF9 – Fighting on Jeweled Trees island, snakes, birds, golems
19. Through Glass, By Stone Sour – Sigrid Love theme #2 (Gannen Still Abducted)
20. White Wedding, By Billy Idol - Wedding? I love weddings!
21. Ghost Love score, by Nightwish – Weddings Fight Scene and ensuing madness
22. Green World, By Gorillaz – Paerks Theme (stuck somewhere in the calm)
23. All My Life, By Foo Fighters – Blanks Theme (being a traitorous bastard)
24. Vamo Alla Flamenco, From FF9 – Hallas duel
25. Welcome To The Jungle, By Guns N Roses – Gorzams Theme (hanging out in Gorzam)
26. Cold, By Matchbox Twenty – Monalas Theme (Ice Mephits)
27. One Last Shot, From Pirates of the Caribbean – Volcano rescue
28. Kraken, From Pirates of the Caribbean - Kraken Fight (going to Xanadu)
29. The Beginning of the End, By Nine Inch Nails – Descending underneath Xanadu
30. A Last Illusion, By Trans-Siberian Orchestra – Epic fight
31. Paradise City, By Guns N Roses – Xanadu's Theme (end credits)

Estimated Elapsed Time: 2 Hours, Twelve minutes

Soundtrack

My (Unofficial) Soundtrack. Comments/Complaints/Suggestions are welcome! For you college kids, MOST of the tracks are available for FREE on Ruckus.

Is This Fair? Is it? – Soundtrack

Kryptonite – 3 Doors Down
Ice Ice Baby – Vanilla Ice
Live for Today – 3 Doors Down
Wanted Dead or Alive – Bon Jovi
Metal Heart – Garbage
Silent Sea – KT Tunstall
Don't Want You Back – Backstreet Boys
For the Sake of Revenge – Sonata Arctica
Bounce – Bon Jovi
Leave Out All the Rest – Linkin Park
Not Ready to Make Nice – Dixie Chicks
The Truth Behind the Rose – Within Temptation
Here by Me - 3 Doors Down
It's My Life – Bon Jovi
The Islander – Nightwish
The World Is Not Enough – Garbage
Parade – Garbage
Have You Got It in You? – Imogen Heap
Going Down in Flames – 3 Doors Down
Beautiful Day – U2 – Paerk's Theme
Crystal Ball – Keane
Make Me – Andain
The Frog Prince – Keane
Walk On – U2
How Far We've Come – Matchbox Twenty
Make This Go On Forever - Snow Patrol
Little Wonders - Rob Thomas

Mischa Mevarin

Created: March 5, 2007

Mischa Mevarin
Human Akashic 6
Size/Type: Medium Humanoid
Hit Dice: 6d6+12 (24), dying/dead 0/-10
Initiative: +2
Speed: 30 ft.
AC: 12 (+2 Dex), touch 12, flat-footed 10
Base Attack/Grapple: +4/+6
Attack: Greatsword +6 melee (2d6+2, 19-20/x2), composite longbow +6 ranged (1d8,x3)
Full Attack: Greatsword +6 melee (2d6+2, 19-20/x2), composite longbow +6 ranged (1d8, x3)
Face/Reach: 5 feet by 5 feet/5 feet
Special Attacks: Sneak attack, minor battle memory,
Special Qualities: Skill memory (+2) 3/day, Perfect recall, Delve into collective memory, creature loresight 1/day,
Saves: Fort +2, Ref +4, Will +3
Abilities: Str 15, Dex 15, Con 10, Int 17, Wis 7, Cha 15
Skills: Bluff +11, Climb +11, Diplomacy +11, Disable Device +11, Disguise +11, Escape Artist +11, Gather Information +11, Listen +7, Open Lock +11, Search +12, Sleight of Hand +11, Sneak +11,
Feats: Night Owl, Ritual Combat, First Strike, Point Blank Shot, Far Shot

Night Owl: +1 to attacks, saves, and checks at night
First Strike: +1d6 damage against flat-footed opponents

Uses Canny Strike when she can, +1d6 sneak attack, for a total of +3d6 against flat-footed enemies.

Has note, “To Gannen: I did it.”

Aur Xica History

Created: March 4, 2007

This blade was once called Aur Xica, sword of champions. Little now is known of it, its tale lost along with the empire it defended, Hora Quan.

It was forged at the beginning of the empire, and for centuries was wielded by each of the Emperor’s champions in turn, and helped to maintain its long peace, until that peace was ended by the dramojh war.

Tai Faren, the high priest, hid the sword from the dramojh—though no one has recorded where. He bound its power, and hid the secret to its unbinding at the heart of the empire, the Temple of the Hora Quan.

Session Notes

Created: March 2, 2007

“Didn’t you used to be all happy and whimsical? Hmm, maybe Rellik’s had a bad influence on him. Or maybe it was you.” – Sigrid
“I’m whimsical!” – Captain Blank
“You’re a pirate.” – Sigrid

Secondmonth 15th
Mid-afternoon

Ratham Norder
Thinks Soern is a pirate
First words “you look unwashed”
He thinks everyone is a pirate, especially if they deny it, because “pirates always lie”
Has a rat problem – the rats are dirty, and need cleaning

“You look . . . unwashed.” – Ratham

“Are you a pirate? I don’t like pirates.” – Ratham
“I’m not a pirate.” – Soern
“You must be a pirate. Pirate’s always lie.” – Ratham
“I’m a pirate.” – Captain Blank
“You’re not a pirate. You’re telling the truth. You can’t be a pirate.” – Ratham

Went to talk to Mischa
Dyeza Tazhiren
Read some documents, something about Dyeza Tazhiren and his instatement as champion

go back to the Black Angle
Tillienne
Cer-Athane
Gannen

Sigrid and Soern go over to the bar
Blank goes over and talks to Cer-Athane
Got his headband of feathery wisdom
Sigrid gets ale

“Where’d you get that sword?” – Gannen
“We found it.” – Sigrid
“In a gold mine.” – Soern

“We found it, it’s very old, we don’t much about it. Except that it has feelings.” – Sigrid
“It’s the ale.” – Captain Blank

Talked to Gannen about the sword, Hora Quan

“I’m supposed to stand for justice, and truth.” – Sigrid
“Then sit down.” – Captain Blank

Went back to ship, saw James being threatened by thugs on the way
On the docks: ship with black and red, ominous sails
It set sail, they followed it

Sailed threw fog, other ship disappeared
Ghost wolves

Set sail on Secondmonth 16th night

Weather: 5 days
Moderate temperature
Light winds (x1)
West

60 miles per day
Takes three and a half days
Arrived at Knight of the Axe island on the morning of Secondmonth 19th

Tethun
Kavikaran

“So, Rellik, what do you think about going to the temple?” – Sigrid
“Rrrr, cryptic, rrr, apathy, rrr, kill Mischa.” – Captain Blank

Scenes

Created: February 24, 2007

Scenes

Confrontation with Illiam’s crew
Goals: Spotlight Blank, establish that Illiam is a bad guy
Location: The Twisted Fish
Prep: Stats for basic crew member, personalities
Triggers: None (location only)

Interview with Mischa Mevarin
Goals: Shut down the “murder” subplot, hint at why the people who were murdered were, introduce background bad guy
Location: Mevarin House
Prep: Stats for Mischa, Mevarin house layout

NPCs

Created: February 24, 2007

Ea-Shamar
Giant 2 / Warmain 3
Ao-Manasa
Interim captain of the guard (was second in command; won’t be official until there’s a funeral and a changing of command ceremony)
Believes in justice, wants to clean up the guard, take on the Nightwalkers
Needs to finish the Shu-Rin ceremonies—taking over the guard is going to delay that
Red hair, wears mostly red and white, even while off duty (Red and white/argent are the colors of Ao-Manasa and its guard)
High energy, dynamic, wants to know what the situation is
Mid-30s, 6’6”, 200 lbs (short . . . for a giant)

Mixastomere
Huge Dragon (Water)
On her island
Adult, about 150 years old
Blue and bronze, some green shimmering
Trades magical knowledge and Tenebrian evolution for “favors”
Broke off from the main delegation of the Squamous Horde; relations with them aren’t terribly friendly
Wanted Sa-Follen dead—sent Sorern to do it
Possibility: dealt with Sa-Follen as a favor to the Horde, to prevent open conflict
Possibility: dealt with Sa-Follen to see if she could blame the Horde

Taevin Brightfind
Quickling Faen (Expert, maybe)
Ao-Manasa
Captain Blank’s contact
Merchant, specializes in buying and selling exotic treasure, the kinds of things only adventurers can get
Able to work with rich collector types, willing to work with scruffy adventurer types
Somewhat like Badger, from Firefly, dismissive of the PCs
Late 80s (young adult, nearly middle age), 3’5”, 45 lbs

Gannen
Human Champion of Death
Ao-Manasa
Arena
Champions death in a personal way—uninterested in starting wars, because it’s the killing blow that matters to him (but don’t tell the characters this straight out)
Dark hair, dark eyes
Black and gold, the smell of metal

Lord Morek
Human (Warmain or Champion of Freedom)
Knight of the Axe (on their island)
The guy Sigrid talks to for KotA stuff

Word Construction Guidelines

Created: February 21, 2007

Word construction:

Vowels
Ai
Eh (e)
Uh (u) (a)
I
O

Starred can only be in their category

Start of words:
(Combines stops (t d k g) with unvoiced approximants (w l y))
Tw (tu)
Tl
Ty
Dw (du)
Dl
Dy
Kw (qu)
Kl
Ky
Gw (gu)
Gl
Gy

(Fricatives)
F*
V*
Th
S
Z
Sh*
Zh*
H*

Middle of Words:
Combinations defined above
R*
L*
S
Z

Ends:
Vowels
R
M*
N*
Ng*

Mazquar

Created: February 16, 2007

Mazquar
Verrik Mageblade
Size/Type: Medium Humanoid
Hit Dice: 6d8+6 (36), dying/dead -1/-12
Initiative: +6
Speed: 30 ft.
AC: 20 (22 w/ beastskin)
Base Attack/Grapple: +4/+5
Attack: Longsword +9 melee (1d8+7), composite longbow +7 (1d8+2)
Full Attack: +9 melee (1d8+7), composite longbow +7 (1d8+2)
Face/Reach: 5 feet by 5 feet/5 feet
Special Attacks: Spells
Special Qualities: Athame, shimmering shield
Saves: Fort +5, Ref +6, Will +3
Abilities: Str 14, Dex 14, Con 12, Int 10, Wis 8, Cha 15
Skills: Climb +5, Concentration +6, Jump +4, Knowledge (runes) +5
Feats: Natural Sworsdman, Bond with Item, Weapon Focus, Improved Initiative, Weapon Specialization

Ammo: 20 arrows, 20 bodkin Arrows
Potion of transfer lesser wounds, potion of glamour, potion of heightened lesser battle healing, potion of strength boost
Ring of Resistance +1

Spell Slots 4/3/3
Spells Readied 5/4/3

Bash
Detect Magic
Saving Grace
Seeker
Touch of Weakness

Animate Weapon
Mind Stab
Tears of Pain
Touch of Fear

Beastskin (Lesser)
Destructive Grip
Spell’s Edge (Lesser)

Initiative & Such

Created: February 16, 2007

Session Notes

Created: February 16, 2007

Hung out in a tavern – The Twisted Fish – for a while, had happy sharing story time. Blank and Sigrid explained their pasts, how they’d got here. Rellik refused to answer their questions.

“We’re a crew. We’ve got to have . . . cohesion.” – Captain Blank

“So what’s capitalist fascism, exactly? Do divulge. Enlighten me. Add to the cohesion.” – Captain Blank

“Ah. So this is where your . . . charming sense of Justice comes from.” – Captain Blank.

“But how well would the cohesion be, if you had humans rule humans, and . . .” – Captain Blank
“You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means.” – Sigrid

Worked out a plan:
Rellik and Blank go investigate the arena
Sigrid talks to Ea-Shamar about investigating murders, wants to get a new shield

Sigrid left her armor (not her sword) on the boat

“We’ll go look for the underground. Rellik, start digging.” Captain Blank

Sigrid got a black cloak

“That’s how I found Captain Bonnet in the first place, he was in a tavern.” – James
“Then stay. Away. From taverns.” – Captain Blank

They found James standing outside the Black Angle. Had a conversation with him. That was funny.

“Is there a place where I could buy a deadly poison?” – Rellik
“He’s a collector.” – Blank

“Why don’t you go ask what’s-his-name about the stuff?” – Blank

“I’ll give you 600 gp.” – Rellik
“You’re giving him more money than he asked for?” – Sigrid
“It’s contact etiquette. You wouldn’t understand.” – Blank

“Kraken! *cough* *cough* Repressed memory! Need rum!” – Blank

Sassone leaf residue; Contact DC 16; 2d12 hp; 1d6 Con; 300 gp

“It’s all good clean fun until someone gets their sword polished with poison.” – Blank

“That’s generosity, not justice!” – Blank
“I’m just giving him a few coins! I’m a nice person.” – Sigrid
“You’re encouraging him!” – Blank
“Encouraging him not to freeze to death?” – GM

Blank bet 2,000 gp on Mazquar
Rellik bet 500 gp on Mazquar
Blank and Rellik bet Sorern’s 1250 gp on Mazquar

Total: 6,250 gp

“Wake up! We need to leave before the black market closes.” – Blank

Went back to the ship, slept.

Next day: voyage!

Sorern’s backstory: evil stepmother

Day 1:
Cold, Fair, Snowing (3 days)
Strong wind (x3 sailing speed)
Prevailing (west)
216 miles

Day 2:
Cold, Fair, Snowing (2 days)
Strong wind (x3 sailing speed)
Prevailing (west)
90 miles

Secondmonth 13th

Return Journey

Day 1:
Cold, Fair, Snowing (2 days)
Strong wind (x3 sailing speed)
Prevailing (west)
Starts at like 3 p.m.

Eh, forget it. Takes 2 days to get back.

Secondmonth 15th

Does Sigrid know about the poisoned sword?

Mischa Mevarin
Human
Ao-Manasa

She was drunk at the time. Knows they did something she was very angry about, but she doesn’t know what it was.

Letter, yay, got all paranoid.

Stone Bear

Created: February 9, 2007

Stone Bear
Large Construct
Hit Dice: (8d8) 36 hp
Initiative: +1
Speed: 40 ft. (8 squares), swim 30 ft.
Armor Class: 15 (-1 size, +1 Dex, +5 natural), touch 10, flat-footed 14
Base Attack/Grapple: +6/+18
Attack: Claw +13 (1d8+8)
Full Attack: 2 claws +13 melee (1d8+8) and bite +8 melee (2d6+4)
Space/Reach: 10 ft./5 ft.
Special Attacks: Improved grab
Special Qualities: Low-light vision, scent, DR 5/magic
Saves: Fort --, Ref +7, Will +3
Abilities: Str 27, Dex 13, Con --, Int --, Wis 12, Cha 6
Skills: Hide -2, Listen +5, Spot +7, Swim +16
Feats: Endurance, Run, Track
Environment: Any
Organization: Solitary or pair
Challenge Rating: 4
Advancement: 9-12 (Large)
Level Adjustment: --

Improved Grab (Ex): To use this ability, a stone bear must hit with a claw attack. It can then attempt to start a grapple as a free action without provoking an attack of opportunity.

The Disgraceful Mystery of the Lustful Death of the Damned Dreaming Madness of the Bloody Greed of the Golden Hell-born Eel of Atlantis

Created: February 16, 2007

The Disgraceful Mystery of the Lustful Death of the Damned Dreaming Madness of the Bloody Greed of the Golden Hell-born Eel of Atlantis

Everyone just calls it “The Disgraceful Mystery,” sometimes “The Disgraceful Mystery of Atlantis,” except the Captain, who always uses the full name. Always.

Caravel

Crew:
Stede Bonnet, Captain
Blank, First Mate
James, Annoying Cabin Boy
Hook, the Cook
Illiam
Mark
Tevern
Melle

Captain Blank

Created: February 13, 2006

Do you have any nicknames, street names, titles, or nom de plumes?

Blank, Captain Blank, Cap'n Blank.

What is your full birth name?

Lionel Isaac Assiri

What is your greatest strength?
my wit and tack

What is your greatest weakness?

unprepared combat

What is your most distinguishing feature?

facial hair, a mustache and goatee

What kind of clothing do you wear?

pirate garb, arrr.

Where did you grow up?

larger islands to the north

Why did you leave?

came to live with Uncle Grizby

Who is your closest friend?

Mark, a previous shipmate. I don't know if he still lives.

Who is your worst enemy?

Illiam, my rival on the previous ship, who was about ready to lead a mutiny.

What is your greatest dream?

being the most feared pirate in all the land.

What is your greatest fear?

having no one working for me on my ship

What would you die for?

honor or my ship.

What would you kill for?

Gold, a friend, my ship.



probably not terribly enlightening, I'll write up a bit more character history when I have time.

Sigrid Halstead

Created: February 16, 2007

Do you have any nicknames, street names, titles, or nom de plumes?

Some of the other Order Chapterhouse members call me "Puppy" because of her (almost youthful) exuberance. Other than that, no.

What is your full birth name?

Sigrid Halstead

What is your greatest strength?

My enthusiasm for whatever the task at hand is.

What is your greatest weakness?

The fact that I feel I MUST Champion. I'm terrified my life won't matter, so I go over the top to make it matter. I don't believe in my own set of skills, and feel I must depend on my cause to give me some degree of power and control over my life. Also, I apparently annoy people a lot.

What is your most distinguishing feature?

I am missing the my smallest finger on my shield hand. It was cut off by an angry Giant merchant after I was caught stealing from him as a teenager.

What kind of clothing do you wear?

Devanian plate armor if the situation demands it. Otherwise a light-coloured tunic and breeches with riding boots.

Where did you grow up? Why did you leave?

The lower city of De-Shamod with my mother. It always struck me as odd that there weren't really any Giants living there in the slums. My mother worked in a human blacksmiths' shop. She wasn't a blacksmith herself, but as she always told me "Blacksmithing is messy and blacksmiths need someone to clean up after them." She also assisted the blacksmith with some of his work. My mother was killed by a city guard when I was 14. He claims she attacked him. I didn't believe it then, and I don't believe it now. I couldn't afford the rent, so I lived on the streets for several months. Eventually my mother's former employer (the blacksmith Loghan) found out I was living on the streets and took me in. I worked him in exchange for room and board. I learned a little smithing, though I was by no means his apprentice. He was a masterful smith. Had he been a Giant, he could have made weapons and armor for the Guard and Military. As it was, he was still very well off.

I would run deliveries for Loghan. Every couple months or so there would be a big order from out of the city. It would never all get shipped at once however. Loghan would send a few pieces a day down to the river port, as if to avoid attention. I would make these deliveries to various non-Giants down at the river. Sometimes I would meet a fishing boat. Sometimes I would meet a small merchant ship. Again, nothing ever stood out. Nothing about the deliveries or the recipients would draw any attention.

When I was 17 asked Loghan about it, he asked me if I had ever heard of the Order of the Axe. I said I had, and we had a long conversation about the Order. Apparently the human Speaker of De-Shamod, Lady Taliena Ishor, is covertly a supporter of the Order. In public she has always been loyal the Diamond Throne, but she carefully makes sure that people who support the Order, like Loghan, get turned a blind eye, as long as they do not draw too much attention to themselves.

It was then that I decided I would like to join the Order of the Axe. It took Loghan a couple months to coordinate, but one day, when the last of the shipment to the local Order Chapterhouse was delivered to the port, I was along with it. I trained at the Chapterhouse on White Shoal Island for the required seven years as a Squire. At 24, I became a true Knight and was transferred to a Chapterhouse off the coast of Ao-Manasa. I have been there less than a year. I have never served at an inland Chapterhouse, so I have never owned a horse like most Knights. At island, water-locked Chapterhouses, we do not own horses. We learn how to ride them, but it is impractical to keep them on an island.

Who is your closest friend?

I don't really have friends. A lot of the other Knights think I'm a bit overly-zealous. Lord Morek seems to like me well enough. He does give me a lot of missions for a Knight as young and green as myself. I have heard rumours that that's just to get me out of the Chapterhouse so I don't annoy everyone. I really hope that's not the case.

Who is your worst enemy?

Giants, perhaps? No, seriously, I hold no grudge against the race as a whole. I do hold a grudge against their leadership, and I HATE corrupt Guards, like the one that killed my mother. Also, I dislike members of my Order that follow Lord Harsted. His continued guerrilla attacks upon the Diamond Throne military have put the Order and it's goal of self-rule in serious jeopardy. I, like most of my Order, follow Sir Aniton and his idea of a peaceful resolution with the Giants.

What is your greatest dream?

To find real purpose in my life. The Order has given me that, and my chose path of Justice has as well, but I still feel very empty. I feel as if what I am doing doesn't really matter anyway.

What is your greatest fear?

Losing my faith and devotion. When I started Squiring, I was a Champion of Life. I held life above all else. As I got a little older, I decided that not all life was worth valuing, and sometimes people must die for the greater cause. I became a Champion of Justice. I devoted my life to following a Just path, and I cannot continually change my mind. That would make Championing anything meaningless. I need meaning. I do not want to lose my faith and devotion to Justice.

What would you die for?

If my death would help further the cause of Self Rule for all races, or if it would further the cause of Justice in the world, then I would welcome death. I do not want my death to be meaningless. I would also hope I do not die anytime soon. 25 is far too young to die.

What would you kill for?

I would kill someone to deliver them Final Justice. I do not see very many other reasons to kill someone. Self-defense perhaps, but that is also related to Justice. You try to kill me, I kill you instead, we're all happy.

Doesn’t know who her father is. Heh heh heh.