Deeper Underdark

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May 30, 2024 12:52 am
The Captain is pleased with the story. "Very impressive to make an ally out of an enemy and eliminate the greater threat like that."

She pauses briefly, then says, "Since you provided a story, I will answer your question.

"We had a run of tremendous success once I assumed the captaincy. A couple of the crew had difficulties with the new captain being not just a woman, but the lover of the former captain. The main complainant challenged me to a duel and lost badly. We then offered his remains to the seas. The rest quieted down, but several left at the next port. With the remaining loyal crew and new recruits, that success started off well. Unfortunately, after several years of our success we got complacent. During a raid on another long forgotten kingdom, we made off with a trove of treasure. We didn't think much of the paltry opposition at the time and just assumed that they didn't want to risk more lives they were sure to lose. Instead, it was a trap, as the treasure was cursed, even if we didn't know it yet. We spent it freely and widely, which was then spent freely and wildly by whomever we spent it with. We found that if, after a period of time, the treasure was not still in its chest, then whomever spent it would be cursed to never be able to eat and drink again. Well, we could eat and drink, but it did nothing and we ended up starving to death. We then arose as undead. As undead, we found ourselves bound to our ship, unable to leave it. We did spend several years trying to find the treasure to undo the curse, but we were only able to find a little over a half of what we had spent. In time we simply accepted our fate and went with it.

"During the cataclysm, we don't actually know what happened, but at one point we were trapped in a roiling sea, with no control over our ship other than to just hold on for unlife. When things calmed, we found ourselves on this subterranean lake. We have been trying to find a way to get out, but have not succeeded yet, as you can see.

"Who has the next story?"
May 30, 2024 2:01 am
Ealdwig is fascinated by the beautiful food and drink. He salivates a little. As he was considering trying something, he sees Felix smack Grin in the face just as he was reaching for food. Ealdwig laughs out loud, Hahaha! He catches himself and giggles quietly.

Food forgotten for the time being as he gets engrossed in the different stories.

Ealdwig says, Captain, since you don't eat or drink and haven't for a very long time, nor had visitors, where, um...., he trails off and thinks better of it. Sorry, I've got a story about a magical guard training facility and a blue dot that went haywire. Without giving away too many specifics of the location or why he was there, he recounts the story, with lots of hand gestures and emotive imagery.

Whether Ealdwig tells a good story or just thinks he does, he really gets into it.
May 30, 2024 5:30 pm
Grin is a huge fan of the gesturing, often copying Ealdwig for emphasis.
May 30, 2024 5:30 pm
The Captain is very amused by the misadventures of Ealdwig and his companions. "You had to fight two metal construct centipedes? And the reaction you got from your overly timid companion at the end is priceless! Very good escaping that gauntlet!"
OOC:
Any other stories to tell, or questions you want to ask? The Captain is willing to let things go now, as she got two excellent stories from you, but is willing to get more. Again, I can wrap it up, or let it go a little longer, whichever you all prefer.
May 30, 2024 6:58 pm
Grin wants to know if there’s a way to break the curse out to help free them from being trapped here.
May 30, 2024 7:04 pm
"To be honest, we're not looking to break our undead curse. We're not looking to move on and face our consequences. Being trap down here isn't so much a curse as a terrible misfortune. For us to get out of here would require a magical portal big enough for the ship, because we can't leave the ship. Or for the ship to grow legs and walk us out of here." She smiles at her own joke with that last comment.
May 30, 2024 8:42 pm
"A portal? A portal! This might not be too out of the question. After all, there are plenty of portals in the underdark. We would need to find one big enough further down. There are plenty of issues afterwards, but that would be a start..."

"Speaking of our plans, I have a question to ask too. But first I have another story to share. It's a story of captivity in a circus, and about losing oneself. Should fall close to home."

Oliver went into detail about the beastfolk circus he was trapped for a while, and how several other beastfolks lost their mind by pretending to be animals for too many years. He ended the story in a more positive note, telling how he escaped himself.

He then paused and allowed the story to sink in. Staring at their kind undead pirate hosts, Oliver gulped before he formulated his question:
"Captain Bloodborne, what would happen if we took a sip of these beverages that you offer us?"
May 30, 2024 8:50 pm
OOC:
Well now! I was expecting questions on why the ship is wandering around instead of using a the straight path, and why they just passed a "beach" if there is only one other exit. I didn't expect anyone to ask that question! Nice.

Now you have to give me a brief respite while I figure out the Captain's answer. Don't worry; she'll respect the question. I just have to figure out how I am going to answer it.
May 30, 2024 9:41 pm
Grin wants to ask those other questions when you’re done explaining the food. And he also wants to know who else lives down here and has traveled the lake.
May 31, 2024 1:51 am
Felix scratched at his stubble and listened to everyone's adventures. During a lull he found himself speaking.

Uhh, I haven't had any impressive adventures like all of you - crew included - but one time when I was digging a grave Mr. Jillyforth (spirit of a man buried 80 years previous) got my attention. Meanwhile his burial neighbor Sally Billindial had snuck up behind me (not hard for a ghost) and crouched down on her incorporeal hands and knees. Jillyforth then, out of nowhere, gave me a sudden shove, I stumbled back, immediately tripped over Sally, and down I went into my half-dug grave.

Felix looked around with a mild smile on his face and took a sip from one of his flasks.

Oh that reminds me, Captain Bloodborne, we passed another small beach cove area a short while ago. Have you ever stopped there? Maybe picked up or dropped off some passengers?
May 31, 2024 2:19 am
Thunder_Lungz says:
Grin is a huge fan of the gesturing, often copying Ealdwig for emphasis.
OOC:
LOL
Oliver, that doesn't sound like a great place to be. I am glad you were able to find your way to escape and find your way to us. Smiling very wide at Oliver's question. You really do want a drink don't you?.

Ealdwig is enjoying listening to these stories of his friends. It's good to finally have some friends. Felix's story really hits Ealdwig's funnybone and he laughs and laughs. Felix, the image of you being pushed over one ghost by another ghost into a grave you were digging, Ealdwig laughs even harder, and has to pause to catch his breath and wipe his eyes, that's priceless. I didn't even know that was possible.

Still having trouble catching his breath, Grin! Grin! Can you re-create that image? I would love to actually see it.
Last edited May 31, 2024 2:19 am
May 31, 2024 6:53 am
"A woman as accustomed to adventure and the open ocean as you are, would one expect that being trapped in this underground lake would be a tremendous punishment"
May 31, 2024 2:43 pm
Grin attempts to recreate visually as much of the stories as possible using his little illusions.
May 31, 2024 4:37 pm
The Captain looks a little startled by Oliver's blunt question. She pauses for what seems like forever, causing everyone in the group to tense up a bit, but it wasn't even a full minute. She then says, "I admire your courage. I do not ever remember another guest having the courage to ask that question. Before I answer, I have a question of my own: What makes you ask?"

Regardless of the answer, she continues, "You would join the crew and curse. You would be immediately cursed, but the curse's effects wouldn't manifest until you died. At that point, then next thing you would know is that you wake up as an undead pirate on this ship."

To Grin she says, "We take the wandering path because these waters are not safe. Over time, we have figured out the 'dance' required to traverse it from side to side. Varying from that path is an open invitation for an attack from something horrible to even us!"

To Felix she says, "So, you have experience with the restless dead, huh? No wonder our presence doesn't unnerve you like it does the rest of your companions. (Yes, we can tell. We're used to it.)

"Honestly, we don't know what lies deeper on that shore. We don't stop because doing so would take us off our path, where as the other two points are on the path. We did stop once when a group insisted after seeing it. They fearlessly trudged deep in to the caverns to see what they could find, only for us to hear horrible screams soon after they left view. Two were able to make it to the rowboat, but one died on the rowboat. The other was taken by a chuul that made an opportunistic attack while the rowers were distracted by the dying survivor. When the dead survivor woke up again, we asked him what happened. He said that their torches were suddenly extinguished and then the screaming started. The two farthest back attempted to run for it, hoping the rowboat was still there. He felt something slash his back, but he was so focused on running, he didn't realize he had been mortally wounded. He never saw what attacked them."


To Brewner she says, "It does feel like an additional curse, but it isn't. It is just being physically entrapped. Hopefully at some point we'll find some way to free ourselves."
May 31, 2024 11:15 pm
Ealdwig laughs harder, actually watching the illusions.

Ealdwig quiets immediately forgetting the illusions and pauses at Oliver's question. That took guts. More than I have. Sitting in silence waiting for the answer from the Captain.

A little taken aback by the answer from the Captain. Ealdwig scrunches up his face a little. Huh. She seemed to answer honestly. I wonder how much of a crew they need / can handle. if no one ever "dies" this ship could be overflowing with undead soon enough.

Not sure if that makes the food and drink look more or less appealing.
May 31, 2024 11:47 pm
Grin is kind of curious about what will happen to him when he dies and if he’d like to be a sailor forever after he dies. Maybe if they weren’t trapped underground in this lake…
Jun 1, 2024 12:30 am
Well I'm glad no one insisted on visiting that cove then. And this lot can be pretty whimsical it seems, so, phew, close call.

Felix sat back and wondered what threats existed under the water that the ship was zig-zagging to avoid.

If we encounter a giant squid ... I doubt we'd all make it safely off this ship.
Jun 2, 2024 5:43 am
OOC:
Just because they don't "die" doesn't mean they can't be destroyed. I figure there was some pretty significant lossage while figuring the lake out, but "recruitment" filled the games. I imagine they would be more "proactive" when they needed the crew. However, once they figured things out, the losses stopped and so the need for recruitment slowed down, causing them to be trickier just for the fun of it. When the traffic stopped, they had to be even nicer to get the occasional travelers to take the trip, just to stave off the boredom. She doesn't share this. Just ideas that pop into Ealdwig's head. 😬

I can't help with what happens after you die. I don't know what cosmology is used here. I am sure the cosmology I developed for another game is most definitely not used! And there is a way to help them if you find the correct item and realize what it is. But that is farther down the path.

Grin is the group's biggest agent of chaos. I must commend him on controlling himself on the ship. It must be sheer torture!

Can't make any promises on that squid, though! 👹
Jun 2, 2024 12:14 pm
OOC:
Cool! Love me some side quests!
Jun 3, 2024 8:41 pm
Captain Celeste Bloodbane says:
I admire your courage. I do not ever remember another guest having the courage to ask that question. Before I answer, I have a question of my own: What makes you ask?
Oliver laughs at this. "Well, it wasn't exactly courage, more like a luckily placed naiveness. You seemed too nice, and yet we knew there was something to be wary of, but once again you were so kind it couldn't be THAT bad. I just had to know."

"Now that we know, it's going to be even harder to decline that bottle from the long forgotten Taverin distiller, but I'm now certain that it would be more than just to help you escape if we ever get the chance. I cheer for you, captain Celeste Bloodbane, for many more stories to come."


Oliver took a bow, cheered drinking a sip from his own waterskin, and heard the rest of the story.
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