Session Report 39 - Departures
General Summary
"Take a good look at your black heart of justice. You'll go where all the other monsters go, I left a spot open just for you."
-Laire, holding the heart of Pilmouth Black in front of him
Bloodshed
Plimouth Black, the elite Harpish assassin, stands on deck, having just killed Peter. Pulling down his cowl, he goes invisible and lands the first strike against Gunther, hitting true, then moves to Chuck, hitting him hard as well. A few of the crew members rush in, striking blows and occasionally missing the dexterous opponent. Pilmouth fires a shot which just barely misses Danny's heart. Snitchflick drops a rock from the crow's nest, which hits Pilmouth square in the head. The assassin, surprised by this but ready to exact his revenge, bounds up the main mast with unprecedented agility and speed, soon making it to the crow's nest. Snitchflick lets out a desperate, "Captain, captain! Danger!" before being struck down by Pilmouth, and cast from the nest as a corpse.Gunther throws the iron bands at the assassin, hitting his mark as Pilmouth collapses to the ground, bound by them. Meanwhile, Laire and Grov climb their way to the nest, with Grov bringing his blade upon the bound Harp. The binding doesn't last long, however, as Pilmouth, channelling all his strength breaks free. Some of the crew from the main deck take shots at Pilmouth as he stands again and attacks Grov, taunting him about the fact that he was there when Sin Oro fell and that he's killed hundreds - if not thousands - of Grov's countrymen. Grov, enraged, pushes Pilmouth from the mast and jumps down to engage him further.
As this is going on, Lou, Graham, and Locke help the heavily injured - Danny and Harry - belowdecks. Fazili awaits at the entrance with some spice in hand just in case he has an opportunity to throw it in Pilmouth's eye. Ramone provides additional support and manages to use his magic to hold Pilmouth in place before he has a chance to wreak more carnage on the main deck.
Pixchaxla moves into close quarters alongside Grov, but lands fewer of his blows than he would had he not been drinking only a few minutes before. Swings wide, catching Pilmouth in the side and causing the already blood-soaked assassin to spit up some of his own. Pilmouth stares Grov in the eyes, rage building within him, as he grows more ferocious and showcases his true hatred for pirates and devotion to Harpsbilge.
Devotion to Harpsbilge
Timothy, seeing the Pilmouth begin to be cornered, moves in and attacks as well, hoping to give his comrades a leg up. Pilmouth retaliates, stabbing Timothy in the stomach. The half-elf goads him a little bit, going for the kill, Pilmouth recklessly slashes at Timothy, bringing him to his knees. Even as the remaining crew tries to stop him, Pilmouth brings his swords down on Timothy in a coup de gras, killing him.Laire, seeing another of his friends fall, charges, necrotic energy rippling throughout his hand. He plunges his fist through the chest of the Harp, grabbing his heart, and letting the assassin see it before withering it away completely in his hand. After three lost souls, a missing arm, and countless killed before his encounter with The Drifters, Pilmouth finally falls dead.
Those Left
It takes a few minutes for the rage and adrenaline to wear off as the crew recovers from the fight. Locke takes a quick dive to recover Peter's body and the three deceased are laid out on the main deck. The crew agrees that they are deserving of proper sendoffs.After fleecing Pilmouth for what's valuable and Pixchaxla checks to ensure he had nothing important on him in relation to Harpsbilge, Grov takes the honours of severing Pilmouth's head for Locke and the crew to keep, then casts the rest of his body into the sea. Pixchaxla gives some insight into the reputation that the assassin held, and the fact that he probably actually swam some twenty miles straight to the Driftwood.
Locke orders that the anchor be dropped and gives the crew the rest of the day to gather themselves and relax before setting out toward Port Evergreen tomorrow. Finkdinkden suggests the crew taps into some of the hard alcohol still left on The Driftwood, to near unanimous agreement. Toasts are raised, some laugh, some cry, and some drink so much they can barely stand the next morning.
Grov takes up a temporary position in the crow's nest, Ramone lending him the spyglass he used before he found Spygleam. The ship raises its sails as it begins the journey back to Port Evergreen.
Regarding The Diplomat And The Horror
Some unfinished business is left both in port and on the ship. Locke and the rest of the senior crew worry about what will happen when the ship gets back to Evergreen, especially with Laire's face now posted around town. Adelynne (the diplomat), slowly beginning to recover from her time on The Evanescent Mermaid, promises to cover for them for a day, even knowing that they are pirates. However, she insists that they must rush to leave the port if they can. Furthermore, she insists that the lingering feelings of unease she has, which stem from the amulet, be rid. Chuck concurs, saying that the dragon heart would very much like it were the amulet to be destroyed. Grov brings his axe to it, splitting it in two and expelling a wave of negative energy and fell visions upon himself. Locke throws one half into the ocean and elects to keep the other half just long enough to put it somewhere where it can no longer be rejoined with its counterpart.Chuck tells the others that the heart wishes him to thwart Yebenkaherju when possible, this being the first concrete instruction it has given him. He tells them that he has a few leads on the creature, but they are at the bottom of the sea. For now, he rests the issue, but insists that he has a strong feeling that this is important.
Unfinished Evergreen
Port Evergreen appears on the horizon on the evening of the 17th, with Grov giving a call from the crow's nest which does not replace Snitchflick's. Locke uses magic to disguise himself and accompanies Ramoen and Adelynne to the Governor's office, where the diplomat is welcomed. After some minutes of waiting, the Governor welcomes the two "treasure hunters" in to enjoy an appetizer while he and his actual guests enjoy dinner.The Governor - Seriloup Lorisaize - recognizes Ramone but doesn't pay it much mind that he knows Starcillus. He offers a payment of 200 Timberwelk bouquets (the coin), the equivalent of 100 platinum, and a single favour. Locke and Ramone readily request the release of Ouchie, which the Governor questions but ultimately accepts, commenting, "I suppose treasure hunters would be the kind to keep an ogre..." He then inquires about Lothlaire Fortier, asking if they have seen him since the noble is somehow involved with both Adelynne and the ogre. The two don't answer directly but elude to seeing him in Port Rose a few months ago. Finally, the Governor asks if they found the Mermaid with divination, and Locke lies telling them he did. The Governor asks that, if he's able to find the lost journals of Captain Rose, which are apparently somewhere on The Wild Sea, and offers a pretty penny for them, then forewarns that they best not tell this to any pirates if they want to keep their heads. After having their appetizers, the two depart to the prison to recover Ouchie.
After a bit of confusion, the ogre is safely released and heads back to The Driftwood, where Grov happily greets him with a tearful hug, having feared for his friend's life.
Ramone meets Starcillus the following morning, talking about things interesting to the two old men. Starcillus says he probably won't be seeing Ramone for at least a few months. Ramone mentions Yebenkaherju, and the scholar goes serious for a moment, warning him not to get involved with such a dangerous creature. Starcillus confesses that the creature played no small part in the loss of his divination, and warns that the thing might even be some kind of demigod. Ramone takes note, and the two talk a bit about astronomy before parting ways.
Of the three remaining crew of The Evanescent Mermaid, two suffer from the unknown purple ailment. These two are transported to a doctor in port and the Drifters elect not to engage further. The third, the woman missing her leg, begins to slowly recover, though is still barely able to properly sit up in her hammock yet. Gunther fashions her a pegleg and invites her to the crew. She is a bit shy about it, especially given that she hasn't been a pirate before, but cautiously accepts, introducing herself as Seraphine.
Newfangled Flying Flagon
Locke and Gunther visit Jean Piost and the Tresmachinists after gathering all the money they were owed in Evergreen. The Flying Flagon looks immaculate, and it's clear the shipwrights put in excellent work. Telling them about the misfortune of their crewmembers, Jean Piost extends his sympathies, thinks for a minute, then asks where they're going next. When Locke tells him it's Libertalia, the shipwright offers to help out on the Flagon until they reach the port, commenting that he's already sick of Evergreen - you can't even do anything illegal here! Locke accepts the bargain and settles in for a night of drinking with them.The following morning, after all matters in port are dealt with, The Flying Flagon is lowered into the water and sails out to The Driftwood.
Funeral Pyre
Sailing a few miles out from port (with a skeleton crew on each ship), the Driftwood and the Flying Flagon pull up next to each other with anchors lowered. The crew remaining on the Driftwood board the Flagon, bringing with them almost everything except for a bit of gunpowder, which is left on the main deck.The remaining Drifters have placed the bodies of their fallen comrades on the Driftwood, Snitchflick in their favourite crow's nest, and Timothy and Peter on the main deck. A flaming arrow is loosed and hits the Driftwood. Fire creeps about the hull of the ship, and the funeral pyre is lit.
The Driftwood is consumed by flames as it, and the three fallen, depart in a final blaze before they sink into the waves.
Report Date
25 Mar 2023
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