INTRO: Meeting with the Council

[OGRE MAGE]

Oops, I thought I already mentioned the time of day.

The Mayor seems rather flabbergasted as one by one the group tires of their scolding and takes their leave of the meeting. The men of the council just shake their heads as if they already know how this endeavor will turn out. The party slowly unites again outside in the bright mid-morning sunshine. Introducing themselves, the group talks a bit about a leader, pairing up for safety, and then discusses their next possible moves.

The weather seems perfect and shows no sign of changing anytime soon. Some of you are aware that the mansion is about a 2 hour walk up the Old Coast Road from Saltmarsh. You assume that you could be there by around the mid-day bell.

[Mant72]

Oops! Sorry! I thought it was night for some reason.

[Fulci]

Jónas Gillman

"Let's go, see what uhh our haunted house is like by daylight."

"And I don't like that name, we aren't knights. Knights have armor and horses. We are just, umm, what we are... we are just a shoal of fish."

[Stirling]

Vhing Cranepool

"Don't know why mayor pulls such a sourpuss face? What did he expect? Asks for 'volunteers' then turfs them out with old capt' of the guard here and we are told 'right off you go, come back whenever, if ever'...and let us know it's just some will-o'-the-wisp lights and the wind blowing through the eaves."Vhing scratches his head and mumbles, "No reward, no badge, no beer. I mean we didn't even need to meet with Mr Mayor at all, we could have just wandered straight up there, snooped around, found all the old chemists' potions, pills and books. Flogged them cheap and then reported any funny stuff. You know I got this theory the more I think about it."Vhing spreads his arms wide and gathers a few closer to him like some sporting huddle. Whispering and tapping his head with a long finger, "Maybe there is something up there all right but Mayor Two-face don't want it found. Maybe Juli's hiding her secret jewels under them floorboards or that quiet scruffy one is doing cultic druid baby sacrifice and his nice civic image is an evil front. So them there lights and noises which keep the neighbours awake got to be investigated but nothing got to be found. So you recruit 'the cream of the Saltmarsh youth'....but they knows really that all cream is just ' a thick clot that floats to the top!'. And they be thinking us clots ain't going to find what they been keeping secret."

Vhing nods knowingly to the group.

[coil23]

Doubtful

Haven't seen that part of town that has all of that cultic druid baby sacrifice, sounds pretty rough. Let's head up now while we still have plenty of light, check the grounds around the manor before we even get close to the house itself. Shall we go?

[hedgeknight]

Burly...the Baker

"Lead on," Burly replies when Doubtful suggests to move out. "And I agree with Vhing > not about the baby sacrifices, but why send a bunch of us when they could send in the guard or send off to Gradsul for militia to clean out the place?" I don't like it, but I need the coin to start up my bakery. So, the sooner we get going, the sooner we get some answers, eh?"

[Stirling]

Vhing Cranepool

"Heard them say the spooky old chemists' place is a couple of leagues out on the coast road, set back with the farms near the cliff. Not sure which one....maybe the one with all the evil looking scarecrows and dead birds watching from the gables."Vhing plays on the atmosphere.

"The coast road through town does take us by a nice tavern just by the city gates. And (gesturing to Keiliff), it runs close to your Temple of Sheila. Maybe Sheila can rub our heads with lucky...l mean blessed, anointing oil before we go?"Vhing suggests a couple of stop offs as we move forward.

[coil23]

Doubtful

If we head directly there now we can make the most of our daylight.

As the group is walking, Doubtful's thoughts keep coming back to Vhing's and Burly's suspicions. With no segue whatsoever Doubtful starts talking aloud, partly to himself, I never thought of it from that angle. You guys may be on to something. I thought our obstacle was just their indifference but it could be much more. This bears some thinking on...

Then louder to the entire group, I don't have the atmosphere or the ale, or that much food for a group this size, but later on I can feed everyone if we stop by my farm.

[Fulci]

Jónas Gillman

Jónas is deeply disturbed by Keilif's story. While they walk towards the shrieking shack, he once again turns to Keilif.

"Why won't the council, you know, investigate such a horrifying thing? Do you think it can be connected to the haunting of the house? And about your uncle... is he a wise fellow? Knowledgeable? I don't know much about things from out of this world... they interest me, though. You know, sometimes I see huge sunken cities in my dreams, and I can feel, uhh, some vibrations surging through me, my body. As if it's a memory, not a dream, like."

[Mant72]

Keilif Zythanthus:

Keilif shoulders his satchel and prepares to make the journey to investigate the manor grounds with the rest of the group. Along the way he responds to Jonas' inquiries, "Your visions of sunken cities are most certainly a gift of insight from the Sea Mother, Shileil. I would certainly pay them heed, and I would like to hear more. Your are right, my friend. Something just doesn't feel... right about the way the Council is handling this whole affair. My uncle was supposed to tell them about what we saw, but when I mentioned it to them they acted as if they knew nothing of which I spoke. Yes, Uncle Darn is pretty wise in the ways of the world, way wiser than I. When we get back from scouting, I think we should talk to him. Maybe he can tell us more about what is going on." He then turns his focus upon the others in the band, "Father Wilfic, from the Temple of Shiliel, would certainly bless our outing if we choose to stop by, but I do not like the prospect of making our first acquaintance with the manor after nightfall. I think if we go directly there we will have plenty of time to have a look around and get back before the sun sets on us." He treads on, waiting for the others' suggestions.

[wolfpack]

Enough of the talk let us get to our target, we are wasting daylight and time.

If Jervis knows the direction to the manor he starts that way.

[Stirling]

Vhing Cranepool

"Maybe Keilief, you could share your story with Father Wellthick at the Shell Temple, with a few subtle enhancements, like the grasping octopus's suckers reaching around your neck and frothing spittle like the crest of a wave and so forth. He might be inclined to dip a flask in some font of blessed water so we chuck it at any ghoulies we stumble upon, frizzling their flesh like acid. Or he might even donate a few candles and we scrawl our own pentagram on the floor and shelter within its fiery radiance. A certain Frank Stein got us lads go pinch a couple of tomes on that subject for him and I saw the pictures inside. "

Vhings demeanor looks more encouraged as he meditates on the house possibilities. You also get the impression that Vhing either has lots of soot between his ears and so doesn't listen well or he is just not good with names...

[ravenn4544]

Ben
"Yes - enough talk. times a-wasteing, and my purse is not heavy enough for my liking or my ability to feed myself for very long. Let's have a look at this place ourselves. Perhaps we plan on camping out and watching this place from afar and see what we see for ourselves. Lotsa folks see stuff and then the re-telling takes on a life of its own. I'd be more trustful of my own eyes, savvy?"

[Mant72]

Keilif Zythanthus:

Keilif looks inquisitively at Vhing, unsure if the man is a just a little off-center, merely making a jibe, or treading on the edge of blasphemy. Keilif possesses a sense of humor, but never at the expense of his religion or those that follow the currents of The Sea Mother. At any rate, he is quick to correct the man of his misgivings, "The Mother's name is Shiliel, and the head priest of the temple is called Father Wilfic." Kielif emphasizes the names to ensure Vhing will correctly remember how to pronounce them. "I will not embellish on what I witnessed on the beach. There is no need. The ghastliness of the event speaks for itself, and I certainly would under no circumstances ever commit the transgression of lying to Father Wilfic." Again, Keilif places emphasis on the phonics of the father's name. "I am not worthy of asking for the church's assistance, but perhaps they will offer on their own accord. It might be wise to visit the temple to recount my story after we return from the grounds and after I speak with my uncle." Keilif, still uncertain of the half-orc, carries on.

[Nordbo]

Danny Cruester

in his naivety, asks out aloud: "Uh, sea mother ? Is she like a... sea witch?" thinking of the creepy sea witches his uncle mentioned... Scared already, he clenches one of the otter paws on his cape, for luck, not noticing the claw biting into the palm of his mackerel-smelling hand.

[Mant72]

Kielif Zythanthus:

Finding the situation as an opportune moment to spread the word of Shiliel and to enlighten others to the glory and power of the Sea Mother, Keilif explains to Danny and anyone else in the group that might be listening, "No, no, my friend." He softly smiles at Danny's thought of Shiliel as a being a "sea witch." "The Mother is nothing of the sorts. Appearing before mortals, she takes the guise of a beautiful maiden with bluish-tinged skin and flowing sea-green hair. She wears a long, trailing cloak of seaweed decorated with shells and other treasures from the sea. She rides upon the foam of the oceans escorted by the denizens of the deep. Just as the sea, she can be both tranquil or seething, depending on her mood and the situation at hand. He then proceeds to recite the opening lines to a prayer:

'Cradled within your depths are we,
Droplet, rivulet, river, and stream,
All are eventually called home to thee...'

"Those are the opening lines to The Water Prayer. It is usually reserved for funerals, but it is still one of my favorites. You should come to mass with me one day."

[Stirling]

Vhing Cranepool

Listening in after cleaning some soot from his ears (there wasn't much laundry done in the jailhouse), Vhing taps young Danny on the shoulder and gives a little tug on one of the otter claws dangling from the caps.

"Very nice prayer that, but we don't want it repeated over your body, so I could fix you up with couple of extra lucky cat paws for a silver piece later on."Vhing winks at him and carries on walking up the road, hood up and carrying his sledgehammer across his shoulders.

[Nordbo]

Danny Cruester

if scared a moment ago, Danny is now completely terrified. Funerals ? All called home ? Kielif's mystical recruitment blurb only serves to reinforce the fear of ethereal marine females Danny's uncle has so deeply instilled in him. He goes dizzy at the nightmarish thought of being lured by a seductive vixen of the waves, ensnaring him in seaweed and dragging him into the murky depths. Quickly, he shakes the vision off and runs after Vhing. Safer with a spiv than a spooky preacher...

[OGRE MAGE]

As the group chats and begins to head east, the doors of the town hall open again. Both guards avert their gaze as High Priestess Jewels exits the building and makes her way towards your group. Her bountiful cleavage heaves and jiggles hypnotically as she approaches. In fact, that is all that most of you even notice. She flicks her fragrant hair out of her beautiful, mesmerizing eyes with a slow head jerk and flashes a perfect warm smile that makes a few of you feel things that you never have before.

image.jpeg (55.56 KiB) Viewed 496 times

Hey guys! Don't let that fuddy Mayor get to you. We really need you to do this for us and it actually is an important mission.

As you may have already guessed by the men's reaction, there are some who think this investigation frivolous. That is why they aren't willing to send out actual militia. They figure that a bunch of common folk would be adequate. I got the feeling that they think that your group is sure to fail. I hope you can prove them all wrong.

I can read in some of your eyes that you don't trust me and that you are not particularly fond of the idea of going on this endeavor. She looks directly at the suspicious half-orc.

However, I have an inkling that there is indeed something strange going on out there so, it is imperative that your group gets to the bottom of it. So, I will give you two pieces of advice before you go.

Don't get in too far over your own heads! If you find something amiss, do not put yourselves at risk over it. You need to report anything that you find to us straight away. Let us decide the best course of action to take after we have a better understanding of what is going on. There is no need for anyone to get hurt.....or even worse, over this mission.

Secondly, and probably the most important thing to remember for this to succeed is, do not take numerous trips there and back! I really want to see you all prosper in this but, you should try to keep this mission as quiet as possible for the time being. If you tell the entire town about this and then you come back with nothing to show for it, how do you think that will look for you? You can rest assured that the council will not allow a second frivolous return trip if you come back empty handed and with nothing to report. Do not return unless you have something! Failure is simply not an option.

Oh, and by the way. I'm pretty sure that the mayor was serious about not hassling the townspeople over this. Most folk around here have enough to worry about in there lives. They don't need more rumors and speculation bandied about.

There is still plenty of daylight left for a trip there today, but if you would rather get an earlier start tomorrow morning, that will be fine as well. I don't suggest going at night.

PLEASE don't go there for an hour or two and then come home empty handed. You must return with something to report or I'm sure the others will put a stop to this endeavor. Or maybe even worse, they will find another group that can get the job done. I don't think any of you want the disgrace of failure looming over your heads about this, right?

She bats her perfect eyelashes at you and smiles, waiting for anyone that might be able to respond.

[Mant72]

Keilif Zythanthus:

Keilif tries not to openly stare at the voluptuous beauty before him. He doesn't want to appear lecherous and sinful; however, he is still a young man of flesh. He finally is able to address the stunning priestess,"Thank you for your council, your honor. We appreciate your advice and will heed your warnings." He has trouble adverting his eyes from the woman and almost reluctantly turns to address his companions, "I like Master Ben's idea that we camp out in front of the manor to observe these strange lights and noises for ourselves. We can set up watches and enter the manor in the morning. What say you all?"