After splitting the winnings from the Wolf Races, we head to over to the other end of town. The boat is through locks, ready to go. Capt. Yengly and crew are hung over, but ready. To our surprise, we see Brunhilde. Chuck greets her, and she asks us to help her convince the captain to take her upriver (or downriver?) She asks what we're up to. Chuck says we're on a mission. She hasn't had much luck getting home to Albadia, could she come along? Chuck asks the captain, who says okay.
She waves forward a dark haired, dark eyed man, very very thin, dressed rather nattily in matching dust-colored travelling clothes, and introduces him as her travelling companion, Ronza, who she met on the boat on the way up here. Paks greets him "hello, Dusty." He asks if we're going to Mansk, we say yes, he says his captain lacks the guts to get on the river. We agree to take him along, but Paks says a share of the costs will be expensive. They talk to the captain, who warns them off 'cause we're makin trouble by travelling at night over the blood current. Brunhild says she has to go, and since he's the only brave captain there is, she's willing to take the risk. Tells 'em he'll take them for 50 each, and they have to row. Looks at Ronza doubtfully, but is finally convinced.
Start rowing. GP casts swift water again, and Telryn casts bull's strength on Stone and Chuck. After rowing a bit, Stone stops Ronza, who keeps clashing oars with everyone, so he sets himself to bringing water and ale to the rowers instead. With the added hands, we're moving at 10mph. We leave around 8pm. Travel for 6 hours, 55 miles. Chuck asks Brunhilde what she's been up to, but it's hard to talk while rowing at full speed. After 6 hours, put in to shore, set a watch. The shore is sandy, with rolling hills. It's much colder at night now. GP turns into a cheetah to stand watch. Brunhilde asks why we're in such a rush. Miriel explais we have to get across the Blood Basin, top secret mission which if she stays with us can be explained, but otherwise, "for security", she can't be told.
We're up at 8am, speeding up the river at 10mph. Paks asks Ronza to take bulls strength, but he's reluctant to have unknown spells cast on him. Telryn, welcoming the opportunity to discuss his craft, explains. 5 hours later, we've now travelled 105 miles from Mullistown. Ronza turned the spell down even after the long 5 hour explanation. GP keeps casting swift water, Telryn keeps casting bulls strength and steal sleep. 6pm, another 50 miles. The current is slowing down now. Someone mentions the wolf races, and Ronza asks about it. Stone says there were these wolves and they raced.
Terrain has changed, in a ravine, bluffs on either side. Stone says it feels like home. Right around the bend we should see Naked Eye rock. At 11pm, another 45 miles. River 15-20 ft. wide, 5 ft on one side, 10 on the other. Suddenly familiars start to fuss. Big chain net up rises up out of the water in front of our boat. Stone starts to back-row. Another chain net rises behind the boat! Ship stops. Shadowy figures on bluffs tying the chains to trees.
Paks: "What's themeaning of this?"
Stone: "How much do we owe you?"
Big orc: "You are in theland of the Scorch Skulls! Pay tribute, 2000 gold."
Stone, (in orc): "These people do not have 2000 GP!"
Orc: "Then we'll take all you have! BAHAHA!"
12 normal orcs, 2 leaders (captain, lieutenant). 7 on each side of the river.
Brunhild casts mage armor on herself. Paks casts divine favor on herself. Yells to crew to take cover, they do, as does she. Telryn activates ring of cover. Captain crouches behind helm and pulls out crossbow. Fires at the closest one, but misses. GP casts entangle on the central orcs on the port side and then ducks down under the benches. One of the orcs is entangled. Leader on starboard side jumps down on to the boat, lands on bench next to Chuck. Swings giant great axe, hits Chuck. Chuck swings at him with both swords. He gets a double critical hit with the longsword. The snake bites at it, but misses. Ronza hides. The entangled orc tries to break free, but fails. Another gets entangled. One throws a javelin at Miriel, but misses and drops it in the water. Another throws a javelin at Stone and hits. Three more throw at Captain Yengly and miss. Another hits Stone. Another misses Chuck and hits the leader, who shakes his fist. Another tries to hit a crewmember and misses. Another throws at a crewmember and hits. The last throws at Miriel and misses. Stone drinks the potion of mage armor and pulls the javelin out of his chest and yells at the orcs. THe other leader tries to jump down next to Stone and misses, falling into the water. Miriel ducks, then casts hold person on the leader on the ship, who freezes in place.
Brunhild magic missiles one of the orcs on the cliffs and kills it. Paks shoots at one of the orcs on the cliffs and misses. Crew stays hiding. Telryn makes ball of fire on port side but the orc dodges. Yengly shoots at an orc on the port side and hits. GP sticks his head out and casts an entangle on the starboard side tree, entangling the orc there. Chuck does a coup de grace on the leader on the ship, chopping his head off. Ronza cowers. The entangled orcs try to break free, but none succeed. The others bolt. Stone does a flurry of blows against the orc in the water, hitting both times. The orc leader climbs into the ship; Stone tries to hit him, but misses. Miriel casts hold person on him, but he growls and shakes it off.
Brunhilde magic missiles him. Paks yells to the crew that it's safe and to unentangle us, then charges the leader on the ship, but misses. Crew looks out and sees huge orc, so they duck back. Telryn steps back and brings flaming sphere to the leader. Captain yells at him to get the fire off. Captain can't get a good shot with his crossbow. GP fires off a cold snap at the leader. He reels, but it doesn't seem to affect him as much as GP expected. Chuck steps over and swings with both swords,hitting hard with the short sword. The snake misses. Ronza cowers. Stone punches him again, hitting twice and killing him.
Paks yells to get us out of here. Stone climbs up the nets, avoiding entanglement. Miriel heals the injured crewmember. Brunhilde magic missiles an entangled orc and kills it. The crew get out their boathooks to push off. Paks tries to climb the nets and succeeds. Telryn magic missiles another and kills it. the Captain gets out a hand axe and hacks at the chain, futilely. GP climbs up, staying away from the entangled area. Chuck shoots at the last entangled orc and fumbles. He's off balance. Ronza crawls out cautiously. The orc sees Stone coming and struggles to break free, but fails. Stone moves over towards him. Miriel heals chuck.
Stone kills the last orc. GP heals him. We pull the chains down. Chuck searches the bodies. 50 gold, masterwork great axe, masterwork scale mail, flask of alchemists fire. Stone finds another 60 gold, topaz, masterwork great axe, masterwork chain mail, flash of alchemists fire. He sees something strange - he's wearing boots. Stone takes them off. Tey're nice, but dirty and wet. Furry. Scrubs 'em - white fur-lined boots. Stone tries them on. They fit perfectly. Telryn asks him if he feels magically warmer. We throw the bodies off the ship.
By 11:30, we've travelled 200 miles. Next day dawns, Hedraday, around 11am, row through bluff, town spread out in front of us. Vast tent city. Sprawling crude town at the mouth of the Blood Basin. It's the city of Mansk. Stone tells us about it - pretty new city, founded by local warlord, centralized various nomand tribes. Stone fort, shanty crude buildings, tents stretching far and wide. Twice size of Mullistown. Row into dock area. No paved streets, cattle and horses and mud, barbarians drinking and fighting already. Stone keep, hill with temples, small town near docks - outland town, where outlanders hang out. Thats where we would find a boat to go across the lake. Sailors unload, thankin' the gods. Paks asks Yengly who his god is, Manwe, lord of the sea. Paks asks to go to temple, Yengly says no time, Paks insists, captain puts lieutanent in chrage. Temple hill not clean. Chuck, Stone, and Ronza go to get a boat across the lake. Paks donates a platinum at the temple. Local shrines to Enkili (big wooden temple), small shrine to Tanil, shrine to Volskalka the Rider, small one to Manwe, lord of the sea. Other shrines dedicated to the other major gods are here too. Paks notices that the small shrine to Vangal has a curiously large offering. Paks tips boatmen 8 gold each.
Only ship ready to go out is the Trusty Gull, captain Tamilane, beautiful woman wth raven black hair. Willing to take passengers, leaving tomorrow morning, 3-5 days, 20 gold per person. Stone pays her. Ask about tavern. She recommends Sea Horse, the Outland tavern. Comes back to ship. Ask Ronza why he's travelling. Says friend lost something, come to look at it. Most of us go to inn. Paks takes orc weapons, armor to market with Chuck, Stone, and Telryn. Leave most stuff with captain to load on ship. As they head for the market, Stone buys snacks as he goes along, trailing behind. Get dirty and dustier walking through town. 35,000 people camped in this garbage heap of a city. Armorer offers 125 gold for each axe. Stone buys a leather belt, nicely tooled masterwork, with horse motifs. 120 for chain mail. 100 for scale mail. Paks sells it all, asks for platinum, but no. Takes out chest of coins from all over. Gives veshan gold.
Ship is goin to small town on mouth of Norhtern branch of the Hornsythe river on other side of the Blood Basin. Trade from this side of Hornswyth to West side. Farewell to sailors. Stone buys a portable battering-ram. Chuck gives Miriel a pound of ginger and a pound of tea.
Dry ground, high mountain peaks where we're going. GP smells winter coming. Paks looks for a mountain guide to hire. Ronza looks for info, and hears a crazy story. People haunted by "ghost cattle." Minor cattle epidemic over summer, head priest of enkili creasted spectral yoke, which created ghost oxen to plow fields, but now they wont' go away when they're supposed to. The ghost cattle wander around scaring people.
Shoppers wander some more. Guy in dark alleyway between tents whispers to Chuck - "Mighty fine armor you have there, where'd you get that?"
Chuck: "Honestly, I don't remember."
"Myre-worm armor is quite a trophy"
"Thank you sir, who might you be?"
"A friend of anyone who can slay Twilight Wardnens, and is brave enough to wear their armor."
Chuck: "Me too. Are you with the Vigil,then?"
"No...noo...they're almsot as bad. Almost as much fun to hunt as the Twilight Wardens, eh?"
Chuck: "Ah, so true. Well, nice talkin' with ya."
"If you ever need a guide on these plains, ask for Pratch."
"Allright, thanks." He drifts off into the shadows.
Miriel sits around in the inn common room. Trys to chat with innkeeper, but busy. Asks for bread for the next day, buys breadmakings. Keeps getting propositioned by men who like "civilized ladies". They're also interestd in Brunhilde, who warns them off Miriel by saying "she's mine!" This only makes the barbarians even more interested. Shoppers get warmer clothes. Paks is getting looks, too, but the barbarians, though interested, leave her alone. GP buys masterwork leather armor. Stone buys a fine leather backpack. Chuck buys winter clothes for everyone. Climbing kits, provisions. From party fund. Paks looks for climber, but told that Mansk is a city on plains, maybe on the other side of the Basin, near the mountians. Chuck thinks more about Pratch, wonders if he was human. Stone buys a wool kilt.
At dinner, Ronza tells us about the ghost cattle. Paks and Stone tell about shopping. Ronza asks if we have climbing stuff to spare. After, Ronza and GP go looking for ghost cattle, but all they find are barbarians who want to pick fights. Stone goes out to look for a fight and makes some friends in a big tent/bar. Chuck asks him to ask around about Pratch. Hears: "Yeah, he's some guide, thinks he nows the area." "Does he?" "Oh Yeah. One of the best scouts around. He's a rat man, though." "You guys let him live?" "Whatever. As long as he doesn't try to stab one of us. He kills other rat men." A few hours later, Stone comes back and seeks out Chuck to tell him. All go to sleep.
Morning, lovely day for sailing, brisk wind from south. Trusty Gull: 75x20 feet, holds 20, single-masted ship. Telyrn casts mage armor on himself and Stone. Day pases quietly, we relax and watch the crew doing tasks we don't really understand. Waters are turbulent, but air is clear. Basin only slightly brown from the blood. Gulls fly overhead, and all seems well.
As the sun sets, we eat and sleep. First night passes uneventfully. Telryn transcribes his scroll into his spellbook. It's a chilly night. Stone asks about the Blood Spire, but the crew says it's an ill omen, maybe a myth, and no one has ever seen it.
Second day passes uneventfully. Second night fog rolls in, very dark and foggy. As the sun goes down, Stone starts telling us the story of the Blood Spire. It shows up every once in a while up from the lake. No one knows what it is. Some say it's the Tail of Kadum! Captain: "Let's not talk about such things." Sun sets. Early evening, see lights off to port side. Lookout calls lights to port. Look, first see 1, then 5, 6, 7. Off in distance, hard to tell how far. Seem to be bobbing up and down. Paks asks the captain, who is looking odd. Paks dons her armor. As we approach the lights, more and more appear. Fog lifts, and we se we're 30 feet from a rocky spire that goes up hundreds of feet!!
Captain: "Titan's Blood!! Hard to starboard!"
We just manage to scrape past without foundering on the rocks. The lights are just little thing floatin on the water, seem to mirror the stars in the sky. We start to hear a sound of wood popping or twisting, from under the boat. Captain tells a crewman to check it out below. Stone runs down with him. Crewmember shouts "Zombies!" Undead sailors climbing up the sides of the boat - everywhere they touch it warps the wood of the boat! "Oh, no! Blood Zombies!"
GP rushes forward and hits a zombie with his scimitar. Brunhilde casts burning hands at three of the zombies. Telryn casts haste on himself. Paks casts divine favor on herself. The crew hits the zombies, and three drop off. Miriel invokes Madriel, pulls out her holy symbol, and kills 5 of the zombies. Stone steps over and punches at two zombies, hitting one. The zombies climb into the boat. One swipes at Chuck, but misses. The ship is increasingly damaged. Chuck swings both swords at the zombie in front of him, but misses. He's off balance. The captain moves towards Stone and hits a zombie with her cutlass. Ronza steps over to Miriel.
GP moves down and swings at a zombie, hitting it. BH casts burning hands against the zombies. Telryn magic missiles the one in front of him, then does it again, killing the zombie. Paks attacks the one in front of her and hits it. The crew hits the zombies, killing two more. Miriel turns undead and kills six more zombies. The remaining zombies seem enraged. Two attack the captain and hit her. "Argh! The sting with the Chill o' the Deep!" She's badly hurt, but still okay. Two attack Stone, but miss. One attacks Paks and misses. One attacks the BH and misses. One attacks the crew, and knocks one unconscious. The ship is not further damaged. The captain swings at the zombie she hit before and hits it. Ronza stays put. Chuck steps forward and swings both swords, hitting with both. His snake hits, but doesn't injure the zombie.
GP tries to freeze the closest zombie, but it has no effect. Those who were hit by the zombies feel a bone-numbing cold. Brunhilde magic missiles a damaged one and kills it. Telryn magic missiles twice on one and kills it. Paks attacks and kills one. The crew misses. Miriel turns undead and kills three more. Stone punches the last zombie and hits. It swings at him, but misses. The captain swings and misses. Ronza stays put. Chuck pulls out his bow and shoots the last zombie, hitting it.
GP moves past Chuck and swings, but misses. BH magic missiles the last zombie and hits, killing it. Miriel heals the captain and the crewmember. Stone and the crew rush below to bail. Telryn goes to sleep. GP helps patch the holes by rewarping the wood. Captain starts ordering crew to steer away from the ill-omened spire. Ronza wants to explore it, but the captain wants to move as far away as possible, but sys he can take a lifeboat and stay if he wants. Captain spends rest of night piloting personally, in case anything else occurs. It's a quiet night, but there is some discontent in the crew. Half thinks it's a good omen that we were along, while the other half thinks we caused the zombies. Stone asks if the ones against us are newer on the crew, and maybe she wouldn't miss them? However, she's somewhat suspicous of us as well.
Day 3 passes, pretty uneventful. Third night begins, still quiet, making good time. Dawn of fourth day, Captain says we should be sighting Drasfar in a few hours. As we look south, though, the sky is dark and oppressive, and the winds are getting stronger. Captain barking orders to batten things down, loosen the sails. 9am, storm starts boiling up in the south, enormous storm. Captain says she's never seen a storm like this before. Chuck says he doesn't think it is natural, it doesn't look right. Sky darkens, lightning splits the sky. Fat drops of rain, slowly, then faster. Chuck says "hey, is there someone in the clouds?" Wild-haired figure of a woman, taler than any human (9 feet tall, at least!), flitting around in the storm clouds, cackling laughter seems propelled by the thunder. Paks goes belowdecks.
Telryn: "I think this thing caused the storm."
Rocking of the ship increases. Hard to keep balance. BH falls over. Paks braces herself below. Chuck keeps his balance, but does nothing. Captain hangs on, shouts orders to the crew. Stone yells towards the woman in the cloud, "Will you stop that please?" She doens't see to hear, but we hear her laughing. Telryn stays up and tries to put away all his belongings. Miriel: "Madriel's Mercy!, it's a storm hag!" Mormo is the hag and serpent queen. Calls out that this is possibly a representative of Mormo or belsameth. Crew rushes around.
Hear the ship creaking and ropes snapping in the storm. BH stands up and wraps an arm around the mast. Paks hangs on. The hag keeps flitting around. Chuck hangs on. The hag keeps flitting around. Stone watches the hag and waits. Telryn finishes packing his things. Miriel goes below to get her potion of mage armor and other gear. The crew continues to try to reef the sails.
The waves are getting larger and the ship is rocking more. BH falls down again. Paks gathers her gear. Chuck hangs on. Captain tries to turn ship into waves correctly. Stone moves back to her and tries to help her with his strength. She is very grateful. Telryn makes his way on deck and moves to the mast, grabs hold, and asks his owl if he can fly up, but Chester refuses. Miriel packs her pack. Crew continues to struggle.
One of the crew comes up from the hold and calls out that we've sprung a leak. GP is too seasick to continue patching the holes. Ronza hides under some canvas. The water below is rising, we hear the crew shouting to get on deck. BH stands up. Crewmember gives her a rope to hold on to and says don't let go. Paks tries to go below to help pump out the bilge. Finds that there are crewmembers trapped by water pressure behind a door. Calls out for battering ram and tries to open the door. The hag is now about 100 feet over us. Chuck pulls out his bow and tries to shoot her, but misses. Captain sends crewmembers with axes to try to free the trappped crew. Stone runs down and bullsrushes the door, bursting it open and freeing the crew. water comes pouring out. Telryn hops into a lifeboat. Miriel casts an augury to determine if we should abandon the ship, but can't tell what the answer is. The crew continues to try to control the ship.
Brunhilde tries to tie herself to the mast. Paks tries to get the crew to help pump bilge, and they go along with her. Hag is still flying about. Chuck tries to help with the wheel, but falls down, catching himself against the rail. Captain keeps yelling orders and callig for help. Stone slips and falls. Telryn casts a magic missle at the storm hag and hits her. She stops flying and looks at him, very angry. Miriel tries to come up, but falls down the ladder. One of the crewmen in the rigging falls down, breaking his neck.
BH magic missiles the hag as well. Paks realizes bilging is not working and suggests the lifeboats. They head for the deck. At that moment, we hear a huge crack; the hag has shot a lightning bolt at the mast and blasts it, cracking it right above Brunhildes head. It falls over towards the rear of the ship. It falls on Miriel. The ship is almost full of water, and certainly ripped apart. Chuck goes over and cuts Brunhilde free. Captain shouts "Abandon ship!" Stone tries to scramble up the mast, but slips again. Telryn calls to everyoen to board and tries to figure out how to free the liferaft. Miriel gets up and climbs up onto deck. A crewmember gets washed out to sea.
Ship starts to list to port. Paks grabs her armor and climbs up to deck, telling the guys behind her to grab things on the way out. Chuck falls down. Captain stands around in shock. Stone tries to climb up again, but slips. Telryn helps people into the liferaft. Miriel climbs into the other lifeboat and blesses everyone. The crew climbs into lifeboats.
Brunhilde tries to crawl into Telryn's lifeboat, but fails. Paks grabs the captain and shakes her, "Your men need you!" "No, the captain goes down with the ship!" Paks drags her towards the lifeboat. The hag shoots another lightning bolt at the prow of the ship. Chuck tries to stand up, but falls again. Captain struggles feebly to get away from Paks. Stone gets up onto deck and tries to climb into Telryn's lifeboat and succeeds. Telryn tosses ropes to Chuck and Brunhilde. Miriel tosses a rope to Paks and asks the crew to hold it. The crew says to cut lose. She tries to persuade them, but they say we must do it right away. They cut the lifeboat loose.
BH grabs the rope. Paks tries to toss her armor into miriel's lifeboat and succeeds. She gets a good grip on the rope. The hag shouts "You'll never make the mountain now ha ha ha ha." Chuck grabs the rope and climbs hand over hand into the boat. Stone steps over, wedges himself under the seat, grabs the rope and tells the crew to cut the ropes and drop the lifeboat. Telryn tries to cast bull's strength on himself, but fails. Miriel tries to persuade the crew to wait for Paks and the captain, but they start to row. She hangs on to the rope, along with one crewman.
Brunhilde hits the rail and loses her hold on the rope. She slides down the deck towards the other side of the ship, but grabs the mast. She jumps towards the other lifeboat, but misses and fals in the turbulent water and goes under. Paks and the captain jump for the lifeboat , but hit the water. Some crewmembers fall out of Telryn's lifeboat. Chuck tosses a rope to one of them, hitting him dead on. "Ow!"
Captain wakes up with the shock of the water and grabs the rope. Stone gets up onto the seat and lashes himself firmly to the seat. Telryn ties himself as well, but not so well, so he holds onto Stone. Miriel loops a rope and tosses it over the side where Brunhilde went under. A crewman says that won't do anything, grabs the rope and dives after Brunhilde, grabbing her.
Paks barely hangs on to the rope. Starts cursing at the sailors to row as hard as they can. The captain swims well and helps them stay afloat. Stone ties Telryn firmly to the bench. Telryn gets an oar ready for Stone. Miriel tries to tie the rope to the boat, but fails. The crew in Telryns' boat starts hauling in the other crew members and start rowing for life. The others try to pull in the four in the water, but fail. One crewmember ties Miriel's line firmly. Now that we have a second to think, we see that the hag is gone. Eventually everyone is pulled in to the lifeboats, and we watch while the Trusty Gull sinks.
After half an hour, the storm abates, and the day turns fair. We row for shore. Hours of rowing, after nightfall, we make it to Drasfar, collapsing on the beach. Chuck takes out his metal gear and dries it.