4) Back to Saltmarsh; The doomed leading the blind.

[coil23]

Doubtful waits to hear explanations about the sack and the elf. He ponders the group's next step while the others greet one another. Seeing Jervis return with sight intact, he smiles at the boy. This is more like it.

[Scott308]

Umrick Histix, Gnome Fighter

Hey guys! Ben and I went back to return his boat, and we picked up the plate mail while we were at it, but nobody in town is willing to pay to buy it. Nobody at the stores, anyway. Oh- this is Mai. She helped Ben and I when we were exhausted from rowing and needed to stop and rest. She's from some strange place where their ruler is related to dragons, and I said she could hang out with us. I hope that's ok. Jervis, did you get your sight back? Great. What now?

[ravenn4544]

Ben rejoins the group and starts to unload his story..."Mates! Glad to see everyone still here! Whew - what a day! What day is it anyway? I haven't slept much in the past day since we parted and have bee rowing til our arm's fell off - Umrick and me that is - and, oh, our new found friend, Mai, here. Have you met Mai? If it wasn't for her, not sure Umrick and I would have made it back with the tide so strong.... am I rambling?" You certainly notice that he is indeed rambling.

"So me and Umrick went back for the boat and I have to say I'm lucky to be alive - my captain was ready to KILL me that I hadn't returned it. And when I returned it late - all thanks to Umrck and Mai, of course - I'm surprised he didn't kill me deader then dead right there on the dock! He was PISSED, eh Umrick? Anyway, while out there I was thinking about what's been happening out there at that house and I ran in to Tortuga who and ran some ideas passed him - he agrees. Remember that signal lantern and coded parchment we found? I thinks they've been signalling someone out to sea - how else would they have all that loot stored there? That's not some minor operation going on there. They mean business, and I figure, they mean to STAY in business!"

"So Tortuga figures that they probably do their unloading when the moon is darkest, or near dark, to stay hidden. Well, that makes sense to me - that's how I'd do it and the tides tend to be a little calmer at night barrin' no storm, of course. Easier to row a boat full of loot into that cave entrance.
"Am I rambling? I'm dog tired and need a nap.. jeez. Anyway, what I'm thinkin is we head back to that house and take another look through to find where they are signaling and keep watch - we'll then at least know when they'll be coming back with a bit of warning! And they have to come back with all the bounty they have stored there. As if you couldn't guess my captain won't be having me back on board - or he'll skin me - so I'm homeless. Wouldn't mind heading back there for some more loot myself - a little walkin' around money, ya know?"

"Where do you think I can catch a little shut-eye for a bit?"

[wolfpack]

Jervis excited to have his sight back is ready to immediatly return to the house. When the others return and it is mentioned they tried to sale the exquisite armor he retches a little.

The armor sword and shield? they all sounded of the highest quality when described to me, they should be distributed amoung us for use, they may even be magical. Also what of all the expensive items that were left behind shouldn;t we go agther them all immediatly and take them form the house to at least a safe stoarge place.

[Mant72]

Keilif:

"I think we should depart as soon as possible. We can set up a watch and rest once we return to the old manse"

[Urson]

Mai bows slightly, and speaks.
I am Mai ronin. I saw your friends caught in the current and helped them reach shore. I am a warrior by birth and training, and would appreciate the chance to join your group. Bandits and smugglers are always a problem, and must be dealt with harshly.
Do any of you have a place where you can secure your gains thus far? I would suggest that the armor, plus any weapons found with it be stored safely. As I was telling these two gentlemen, I suspect the armor belonged to someone of noble birth, and I would like to try and find the owner's family, so that it can be returned to them.

Mai is an Elf with distinctly Asian features and emerald green eyes. Currently, she is dressed in simple travelling clothes, carrying a pack and a curved longsword. She has a tattoo on her forehead: 亡命中の.

[hedgeknight]

Burly the Baffled Blue-Fingered Baker

Burly listens to first Umrick and then Ben blather on forever...but the two things that stick out to him are returning to that frackin' house and having some woman join the group.

He resigns himself to silence and slumped shoulders.

[Scott308]

Umrick Histix, Gnome Fighter

I was under the impression nobody wanted the armor or weapons as they sat there untouched while we were in the house. Are you interested in them Jervis? You had good reason not to inspect them so if you can use them go ahead.

[wolfpack]

I would have interest as they may help us complete our queest. However others may have use as well, I wanted to bring them with us before, but my blindness prevented me from doing so.

[coil23]

Doubtful

You could store items at my house which isn't too far from the old manse. We could drop things off there and then go back up the hill to investigate further.

Doubtful bows slightly to Mai. It is good to make your acquaintance. He idly wonders at the odds that she is in fact another sleeper agent. That forehead tattoo could in fact be her scarlet A, taunting us now in a foreign language when it fact it states to all the world: I betrayed my last three parties. Oh, these are uncertain times to be sure. Sheep are so much easier.

[Mant72]

Keilif:

Keilif greets Mai politely and formally introduces himself. Those strange markings are indeed curious, he thinks silently to himself.

"Well, shall we make for Doubtful's, then return to the mansion?"

[ravenn4544]

Ben sighs"alright, we can head back, but you may need to carry me some of the way there..." he says only half-jokingly. "Oh, if someone has that lantern and parchment, don't leave it behind. we'll need 'em I think."

[Urson]

Mai bows to the group again, more deeply this time. It will be good to be part of a group again, rather than a lone warrior. Duty requires me to tell you more of my past- I brought shame and dishonor to myself and my family. I have been banished from the Dragon Empire, and will be killed on sight if I ever return there.
I was a member of one of the highest noble clans- my father is the Emperor's chief advisor regarding trade with the lesser people to the south. At a formal state dinner, I committed a grave error, and brought myself low. My exile was the only way for my family to retain their position. If you do not wish to be seen with a landless, clanless exile, I will go.

[ravenn4544]

Ben smirks a bit reflectively, "A landless and clan-less life I can relate too.."

[hedgeknight]

Burly weigh's Mai's words and comes to a sobering realization.

"No use crying over burned bread, as my Granny would say. Just make another loaf. Any of us could be homeless and without family at the drop of a hat. That's why you have to find a group of friends and stick together. That's the only way to make it, I say. So, now that you've joined up, welcome to your new, crazy, dysfunctional family."
Burly offers a genuine smile and bows his head slightly.

[OGRE MAGE]

The group reunites and decides to take their leave of the relative safety of the town walls once again.

Some are exhausted and some are still covered in the gore of the last battle, but all are glad to be back together. They have even found a new ally to fill the void after the tragic loss of their friend Alec the dwarf. The group makes their way once again to Doubtful's humble farm.

Ideas are bandied about along the way and most discussions lead to the next step of the mission. Ben tells the group through labored breaths that he has talked to commissioner Tortuga and has some new insight to their current dilemma. There is a distinct possibility that a larger sailing ship must be involved in the smuggling due to the sheer size and amount of spoils found. That would also explain the coded note and the signaling lantern.

The intelligent conversation about what to do next continues as the group reaches the druids farm.

Take a close look at the front cover of the module and you will see one of the biggest spoilers/hints in the history of the game.
viewtopic.php?f=318&t=5131

[wolfpack]

Along the way Jervis will inspect the armor, sword and shield comparing them to his own to try and decern quality.

[OGRE MAGE]

The longsword and shield appear to be of average to good quality. Not magical or special in any way, but of decent make and balance.

The armor is spectacular, however. It is of a far better quality than the other items and is very likely magical considering its perfect condition.

[hedgeknight]

Burleson Blue Finger

"If someone is indeed signalling offshore, then they likely have a log of shipments and estimated arrival times based on the tides. If we knew when the next boat was coming in, we could signal them and be waiting on them. Once we ambush the landing party, we get information and then sail back to the ship and take it...or scuttle it. What do you think?"

[ravenn4544]

"Hey Burly," Ben continues,"Tortuga seemed to think that the ship would have approached around the new moon - anyone remember what the moon was last night? Wonder how many days til then? No telling if that's exactly when they come, or if it's around then, but Tortuga is not scally-wag - he knows his business so to speak - and maybe we go off of that?"

"I like the ambush idea - we'd want to get them when they are the most vulnerable - it could be 10 or 20 men that come from the boat. Could be tougher then man too - remember those tough buggers we fought back in the cave?..."

"That reminds me, it occurs to me we never did anything about those bodies - we have some grim work ahead of us to make that cave look approachable! Neptune's ass - that's gonna be suck work fer sure..."