Admiral's Story

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May 11, 2023 5:27 am
The Goblin, who stopped to stared at the cell, confused as to who you left it, is startled when you suddenly appear behind him.

Your possessed, commanding glare makes the goblin’s eyes go large. He glances at Reaver, then at his dagger, then back at Reaver. Finally, he lets out a pathetic cry and drops his dagger.

"What does it matter!?", he whines. "I’m dead now. If you don’t kill me, The Ring will after I help you escape. And if the Ring doesn’t kill me, my King will for failing him, and then offer my flesh to appease the Nightmare. I might as well just head to the beast’s rotting heap now."


Current HP: 27, Temp HP: 7, Spell Slots: 0/2, Current PP: 3, Pact Tally: 0/400
May 12, 2023 12:27 am
Admiral picks up the dagger and, reconsidering his approach, crouches down in front of the goblin to speak to him at eye level. "Unfortunately, you’re probably right. Your options are looking… a little bleak at this point. To die by my sword is no worse a fate than to be killed as a traitor by the Iron Ring, so you have little reason to help me. But I’m a generous fellow so maybe I can make you a better offer… If you help me get out of here and get back to my ship, I’ll grant you passage out of Jahore. I’ll take you somewhere far away from your King and the Iron Ring, somewhere where they’ll never find you." Admiral flips the dagger over in his hand, toying with it. "In fact… I suspect my crew’s going to be a little smaller than I’m used to when I leave Jahore so, if you’re especially helpful, I might even consider letting you stay on, if you like. Why serve a king when you can serve yourself, eh? There’s all sorts of treasure and adventure out there, just waiting for someone like you to seize it."
Last edited May 12, 2023 12:30 am
May 13, 2023 5:34 am
As you speak you watch the goblin's demeanor change from a stance of defeated despair to a look of sincere curiosity. When you finish speaking, he furrows his brow and looks at you in silence for a moment, perhaps imagining the possibilities.
OOC:
continued after roll...

Rolls

Admiral: Insight (advantage) - (2d20H1+1)

(112) + 1 = 13

May 13, 2023 6:00 am
He then mutters, "Me a pirate? Serve myself?...Treasure?" His words are involuntary. He just thinks out loud and says the last word with a tinge of excitement.

Sounding resolved, the goblin responds to you, "Skeev...I'm Skeev."

You can tell from his body language that the goblin's current circumstance has made him vulnerable and his reaction to your offer is uncalculated and unfeigned as he doesn't have the mental fortitude to be devious at the moment.

"I know my way. How to take the sewer to places above. But Captain, the Nightmare dragged away the key to the portal doors with the human hound. I just have cages and cell keys."

He pulls out a ring of keys from a small satchel on his waist and shows you.
May 15, 2023 12:41 am
Admiral grins and offers the dagger back to the goblin, handle first. "Welcome aboard, Skeev!"

He frowns as his new ‘crewmate’ explains the situation with the key. "Is that so? Well, in that case, I suppose we have no choice but to go get that key back! This Nightmare creature… Can you tell me more about it?" Admiral is privately a bit apprehensive about the prospect of encountering that monster again, but he tries to project confidence and excitement so as not to discourage Skeev. Fear is not a useful emotion for a pirate. Especially not a captain.
May 18, 2023 6:29 am
Skeev involuntarily gives a green toothed smile as he takes back the dagger.

"It lurks all over down here...sewer, goblin tunnels. Tunnels alot. King Korg hates it. He helps Iron Ring so he can get human slaves to send to The Nightmare's den, so it doesn't keep taking all goblins. It wants flesh. Brings it to its heap and lets it rot. It likes rot. It doesn't like stuff, just rotting flesh. Leaves stuff when it brings flesh to its heap. Some try to get close and collect stuff because there's alot, but most never come back."

Skeev stops and shivers before taking a breath and continuing. "The tunnel we saw it come from goes to portal doors. One to humans' garbage dump hole and two more to the sewer. If it got in here that means it dug and smashed through rock. Probably smashed a hole that goes back to its den. It can make you dream and trick you. It sees your mind but it can't see."

As the goblin speaks the human in the cell begins to hum. When you look over at him, his eyes are closed and he sits up strait, crossed legged with his arms folded across his chest.
May 18, 2023 11:42 pm
Admiral’s ear twitches as the human in the cell begins to hum. He is instantly distracted from the matter of the Sewer Nightmare, instead bounding over to unlock the cell door with Skeev’s keys. "Ah! I almost forgot my other friend. Skeev, give me your keys."
May 19, 2023 2:59 am
The goblin walks over to the cell and hands you the keys. He looks at the meditating human as he explains, "Iron Ring thinks this one knows about the Order of Shadow. A ring wizard pried his mind, but his be strong. They get nothing. He's going to the Ring leader for more mind stuff. You too...I mean, you and him was. They want to make you a hound."
May 19, 2023 1:43 pm
Admiral raises an eyebrow as he takes the keys and unlocks the cell door. "A hound? Like that masked fellow in the armour?" He scowls at the thought. "I'd like to see them try. I'm no dog."

As he opens the door to the cell, he tries to get the meditating monk’s attention by loudly exclaiming, "Ahoy there, mate! Looks like it’s your lucky day. You’ve been rescued! Sort of."
May 19, 2023 6:44 pm
The monk opens his eyes when you open the cell. Even though in his crisscrossed position his legs are slightly contorted due to being restricted by shackles, he agilely stands in one swift motion without using his arms for support.

"Well, you are not an agent of the Iron Ring are you?" He calmly states.
May 19, 2023 11:18 pm
Admiral tosses him the keys so he can unlock the shackles around his ankles. "Nope! Captain Admiral of the Whisker, at your service," he introduces himself, puffing up his chest a little. "And this is Skeev."
May 20, 2023 3:51 am
The man deftly snatches the keys out of the air. He smirks and says cheekily, "Skeev, I suppose you are an agent of the Ring. I wonder how you find one such as Captain Admiral of the Whisker your ally here in this damp prison." The goblin shifts uncomfortably and remains silent.

The monk unexpectedly coughs and his posture momentarily slumps slightly. He closes his eyes, takes a deep breath, and then regains his bearing.

"Forgive me," he continues. "I am Taresh Sanji, Monk of the Order of the Keis. Thank you for graciously freeing me." He kneels and removes his shackles with the keys. Then tosses the keys back to the goblin with the same cheeky grin as before. "I am in your debt."

He looks around. "Hopefully I can be of assistance, my mind is full of fog, but it's beginning to clear. I am not sure, but I would guess we are below Jahore."
May 20, 2023 9:59 am
Admiral scratches his ear. "Er… I think so, but I wasn’t conscious when I was brought here, so I can’t say for sure. Skeev?" He turns to the goblin for confirmation that they are, in fact, below Jahore.

"As for your assistance…" He explains the situation with the key and the Sewer Nightmare. "… So you're welcome to come along and help us retrieve the key, if you like." He frowns, looking the monk up and down. "You do seem a great deal more… lucid than you were when I woke up, but do you reckon you’re fit for a fight?"
Last edited May 20, 2023 11:19 am
May 20, 2023 7:07 pm
When you turn toward Skeev he seems to be scoping out the bench area, looking under it and around it for something.

"Oh, me? what? Oh, yeah. Jahore port. Up there. Yup"

As he walks away from the bench he grumbles something to the effect of "…that cursed hound " under his breath.

Taresh responds to your question saying, "No, I am not yet fully myself, but I have faith that the Way of the Keis will allow me to focus when the moment calls for it."

"From what you said about the creature, it sounds like a clear focused mind is the way to best it."

He continues, "I do apologize if we have already met."
OOC:
Full disclosure: since Admiral is apparently taking on the monk I think you should know that I will be making periodic con/wis saving throws for him to make sure he doesn’t relapse into psychotic episodes. Now that he’s regained some of his stature, you can tell that he is a formidable monk, but also that he is still not fully recovered from his torture.
May 21, 2023 12:24 am
"Hmm… Well, I’ll leave the decision up to you. No hard feelings either way." Admiral shrugs and turns his attention to his goblin ally, affecting a sterner tone, "Enough dilly-dallying, Skeev. We’ve got a Nightmare to find."

With Skeev (and possibly Taresh) behind him, Admiral heads back into the other chamber, where the Nightmare attack took place.
OOC:
Did the hound drop his sword when he was dragged away?
May 23, 2023 5:29 am
OOC:
Yes the hound did drop his sword when he was dragged away.
Taresh replies, "I will accompany you and keep my mind still. It appears searching for that key is the only way out of here anyway. If that search means getting near the sewer creature, keeping a still mind will be of vital importance to avoid its mental intrusions. I also have some minor sorcery abilities to offer the cause."

Skeev jumps a little at your command and clumsily snaps to attention, "Aye Captain."

The second cell room is as you left it. The hound's sword is on the floor just at the edge of the tunnel from where the Nightmare emerged. It's a short sword but something seems different about it. It's craftsmanship and materials are extraordinarily refined.

Skeev's wooden shield is on the floor near the spot where he ran through your legs. The goblin picks the shield up, puts it back on, and adds, "Captain, there will be a delivery in an hour or two. Some bottom-caste Sindhi me think. Slavers have no key, but expect to be let in. If we don't they send alarm."
May 23, 2023 11:25 am
Admiral swipes the discarded short-sword off the ground and gives it a twirl, getting a feel for the weight of it. "Ah! Much better! I felt all off-balance with just one sword."

He grins at Skeev. "We better make this quick then, aye?" Feeling more confident now that he has a sword in each hand, he leads the way into the tunnel, attempting to make as little noise as possible and hoping that Taresh and Skeev follow suit. Along the way, he keeps his eyes peeled for any sign of the Nightmare or the key.

Rolls

Stealth - (1d20+4)

(15) + 4 = 19

Perception - (1d20+3)

(20) + 3 = 23

May 23, 2023 2:45 pm
The sword is well balanced and allows for much finesse.

Taresh peers down the tunnel you step toward and sighs; he then closes his eyes and touches his temples. After a deep breath he opens his eyes wide and, peering down the tunnel again, he says "The Way of the Keis allows me to see in the shadows as you and your goblin companion do. I am ready."

The three of you carefully and as stealthily as possible move into the tunnel, which is similar to those you explored earlier except that this one curves to the right as soon as you traverse it and there are noticeable cracks in the walls and fallen debris possibly from the Nightmare's aggressive advance. It is damp and moldy as it was with the other tunnels. Soon the tunnel bends around and another tunnel joins it on the left.

Skeev says, "Left goes to door to under city trash hole, first, then to door to sewer. This tunnel goes to sewer door where delivery comes."
OOC:
Please also make an arcana roll (with disadvantage, since Admiral is not proficient in the skill).

DC 10: Admiral is confident the sword is magical but cannot ascertain its nature but at least knows it must be attuned.
DC 15: Admiral is able to guess the rough magical properties of the sword.
Natural 20 Roll: Admiral recognizes the item and can use its full powers immediately. He is also able to attune to the item immediately.
May 23, 2023 3:00 pm
OOC:
Any sign of which way the Nightmare might have come from?

Rolls

Arcana (disadvantage) - (2d20L1+0)

(1917) = 17

May 23, 2023 3:19 pm
You examine the appearance of the tunnel to the left in relation to the tunnel you are on. Further down the current tunnel shows no signs of recent disturbance such as cracks and ruble from the thrashing of the beast. On the other hand you do see some ruble and signs of the Nightmare's travel through the tunnel on the left.

As you walk with the short sword in hand you begin to realize that the item possesses magical qualities. You feel that its magic could be used to either deliver swift accurate blows or deftly parry oncoming attacks. You've heard of such legendary blades and imagined you would find one on a Merchant Prince wizard while plundering a Minrothad ship at sea, not in the sewers of Jahore. Apparently, The Iron Ring provides their 'hounds' with formidable training and equipment.
OOC:
Nice perception roll before :)
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Defender Shortsword
Weapon (shortsword), legendary (requires attunement)

You gain a +2 magical bonus to attack and damage rolls made with this magic weapon.

The first time you attack with the sword on each of your turns, you can transfer some or all of the sword’s bonus to your Armor Class, instead of using the bonus on any attacks that turn. For example, you could reduce the bonus to your attack and damage rolls to +1 and gain a +1 bonus to AC. The adjusted bonuses remain in effect until the start of your next turn, although you must hold the sword to gain a bonus to AC from it.

Proficiency with a shortsword allows you to add your proficiency bonus to the attack roll for any attack you make with it.
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Admiral still needs to attune the weapon to benefit from its magic qualities. He can otherwise use it as a normal short sword.

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