Ashe C2 Episode 46 - Team Copenhaus Takes to the Wyvern Sea
Previously on Liters of Tomorrow...
After saving the Queen of Warshaw's life the team was granted an audience with her as she recuperated from her injuries. She offered some small boons after some negotiation including some items taken from Revetan's quarters, assistance in finding the warforged known as Cog, and passage out of the city towards Copenhaus. The team spent some time in the city making preparations, Finn headed to the potions shop, Nuth met with some old friends affiliated with the Assembly of the Weave and Rango played some chess in the common room. During the meeting you were also met with the strange Blue dragonborn Paladin calling himself Patrat. He offered to accompany you to Copenhaus offering you his sword in service of taking down the warlord known as Vernabogge. Finn and Mausim noticed a small exchange between the young dragonborn man and the Queen but allowed the paladin to join the team.
With some discussion the team decided to take up the Queen on her offer to secure them passage aboard the ship known as The Pineapple Blade. Sailing down the river towards the Wyvern sea you all began to get your sea legs. Rango began shadowing the crew to learn as much about sailing as he could. The rest of you wandered about the ship conversing with the sailors and dealing with the antics of Patrat, who proved to have a rather juvenile sense of humor despite his Oath and armor.
As things got a little tense between Finn and Patrat, a fist of flame shot forward out of thin air and struck the dragonborn man in the jaw. Four elemental creatures formed on the deck, Earth, Air, Water, and fire and began to attack. The creatures turned out to not be incredibly intelligent for they attacked the wrong party members, Finn and Mausim were uniquely advantaged against the water creature. Demaia and Nuth wasted no time in hurting the Earth monster and Patrat dueled the Fire Creature. Rango, below decks in the gunnery, was left alone to take on the Air elemental.
Though sweaty and bloody the team turned the tide in short order as the creatures began to dissipate. The Earth elemental began to smash through the decks of the ship in an attempt to sink it. The Fire creature attempted to burn the sails but was cast into the sea by Mausim. Rango beat the air elemental into a light breeze and the water elemental fled into the dark blue ocean.
With the ship supposedly saved the team relaxed a moment thinking the danger was over. Seconds later the ship began to shudder and you all realized maybe the battle was just beginning....
After saving the Queen of Warshaw's life the team was granted an audience with her as she recuperated from her injuries. She offered some small boons after some negotiation including some items taken from Revetan's quarters, assistance in finding the warforged known as Cog, and passage out of the city towards Copenhaus. The team spent some time in the city making preparations, Finn headed to the potions shop, Nuth met with some old friends affiliated with the Assembly of the Weave and Rango played some chess in the common room. During the meeting you were also met with the strange Blue dragonborn Paladin calling himself Patrat. He offered to accompany you to Copenhaus offering you his sword in service of taking down the warlord known as Vernabogge. Finn and Mausim noticed a small exchange between the young dragonborn man and the Queen but allowed the paladin to join the team.
With some discussion the team decided to take up the Queen on her offer to secure them passage aboard the ship known as The Pineapple Blade. Sailing down the river towards the Wyvern sea you all began to get your sea legs. Rango began shadowing the crew to learn as much about sailing as he could. The rest of you wandered about the ship conversing with the sailors and dealing with the antics of Patrat, who proved to have a rather juvenile sense of humor despite his Oath and armor.
As things got a little tense between Finn and Patrat, a fist of flame shot forward out of thin air and struck the dragonborn man in the jaw. Four elemental creatures formed on the deck, Earth, Air, Water, and fire and began to attack. The creatures turned out to not be incredibly intelligent for they attacked the wrong party members, Finn and Mausim were uniquely advantaged against the water creature. Demaia and Nuth wasted no time in hurting the Earth monster and Patrat dueled the Fire Creature. Rango, below decks in the gunnery, was left alone to take on the Air elemental.
Though sweaty and bloody the team turned the tide in short order as the creatures began to dissipate. The Earth elemental began to smash through the decks of the ship in an attempt to sink it. The Fire creature attempted to burn the sails but was cast into the sea by Mausim. Rango beat the air elemental into a light breeze and the water elemental fled into the dark blue ocean.
With the ship supposedly saved the team relaxed a moment thinking the danger was over. Seconds later the ship began to shudder and you all realized maybe the battle was just beginning....
Plot points/Scenes
The entire ship rocks violently starboard at almost a 45 degree angle. Those of you on deck are sprayed with seawater as a water funnel springs forth from the dark ocean itself. It sprouts arms and a loose impression of a face as it now towers over the ship almost 50 ft. in the air.
[DM Note: It has now become an Elder Maelstrom, see the stats in World anvil.]
Let's reroll initiative and see how this plays out.
[DM Note: The players must find a way to retrieve that crystal, Destroying it will defeat the elemental. It will also give them a message from Jovus Flamedancer.]
Jovus Flamedancer - Mage and right hand man to Grantebridge Strahan.
As you grab the crystal you get a clear image of a Drow Man. He wears a dark red robe and the symbol of the Assembly of the Weave. As you lock eyes with him in the image he smiles at you and his eyes glint with a yellow light.
"Ah well done but all you have done is delay the inevitable. Grantebridge Strahan will not be denies his prize. We will follow you to the ends of Tanaheim, you cannot escape...."
The Pineapple Blade, Small Freighter
Captain Queverly - Water Genasi woman with a shady past. She is currently trying to get out of Warshaw before the East Tellenheim Company finds out she stole a good portion of their cargo from the dock fire. Mostly Coffee, Barrels of Wine, and silk.
She will charge 25 gold per passenger for the trip to Copenhaus.
[DM Note: It has now become an Elder Maelstrom, see the stats in World anvil.]
- Perception checks for those on deck:
- 10-15 - You watch as the expression on the divots of water that make up the face begins to smile malevolently.
- 15-20 - Deep in the head of the creature you think you see a glow of color.
- 21- and above - With incredible eyesight you see through crashing water and falling rain, Deep into the center of the "head" of the Maelstrom. Floating almost imperceptibly you see a small crystal.
Let's reroll initiative and see how this plays out.
[DM Note: The players must find a way to retrieve that crystal, Destroying it will defeat the elemental. It will also give them a message from Jovus Flamedancer.]
Jovus Flamedancer - Mage and right hand man to Grantebridge Strahan.
As you grab the crystal you get a clear image of a Drow Man. He wears a dark red robe and the symbol of the Assembly of the Weave. As you lock eyes with him in the image he smiles at you and his eyes glint with a yellow light.
"Ah well done but all you have done is delay the inevitable. Grantebridge Strahan will not be denies his prize. We will follow you to the ends of Tanaheim, you cannot escape...."
The Pineapple Blade, Small Freighter
Captain Queverly - Water Genasi woman with a shady past. She is currently trying to get out of Warshaw before the East Tellenheim Company finds out she stole a good portion of their cargo from the dock fire. Mostly Coffee, Barrels of Wine, and silk.
She will charge 25 gold per passenger for the trip to Copenhaus.
- First Mate - A scruffy looking goblin man named Chilldrat Grunk. Balding wears a black tri corner hat. Let eye is scarred and milky white.
- Bosun - Halfling woman named Rittering Bark, tan skin with long black hair pulled into a ponytail.
- Chef - Tortle man named Galapago Jo, Light green skin with a dark bluish green shell.
- Powder Monkey - Halfling man named Grapeshot, Shaggy brown hair with two fingers missing on his left hand.
- Gunner - Human Woman named Buna Trove, Black Hair trimmed on the left side, dark skin muscular.
- Sailmaster - Aarokocra woman with macaw like features named Caraloo Rheet. Blue and green feathers on top of head with white around eyes.
- Mate - Halfling woman named Annabel Gristlefoot, lighter skin and dirty blonde hair. From the town of Vela'Rus.
- Mate - Human man named Gunter Rifesway, Bald man with broad shoulders and a black moustache.
- Mate - Aarokocra man with hawk like features goes by the name Goldeneye.
Themes
Day 3
The Ship on the Horizon...
[DM Note: The ship has been located by one King Arric Lee of King Lee Enterprises. His main objective is to find the location and exact time of the next shatterfall. He has tracked a device that is a portable orrery, magically designed to give the user the movements of the moons and the planets in the palm of one's hands. This valuable device was being shipped to an elven city by the ETC in a crate marked as coffee beans. It was on the ship that Truffle burned and all of it's cargo was offloaded on to the docks. This cargo was then stolen by one Captain Queverly of the Pineapple Blade.
King Lee wants it back and doesn't mind burning the blade to get it. He tracks the boat and gets a boarding party ready to negotiate. He will have a Blue dragonborn working with him who will see Xander's character Patrat. This dragonborn will go after him for being a wildling Wyrm. A derogatory term for those dragonborn who have forsaken their heritage and haven't gone through the rites of Ascension.]
With the ship sailing quickly east with a good headwind you stand out on the deck and let the wind rush past you. The hot summer sun beats down but the heat is balanced by the cool salty air. Off in the distance you can see land a series of large islands. The Aarokocra man in the Crows nest calls down to you;
"It's the Urgolos Mountain Hold, small dwarven kingdom! Of course don't tell them that, you might wind up with an axe in your underside! Ha!" He chuckles to himself and then a bit more seriously says "Ahoy, better tell the captain that we have ship approaching from downwind."
Over the next several hours the ship draws ever near. Captain Queverly begins to become concerned when it becomes clear that the ship could overtake them. "I run a fast ship on purpose to make sure that I can outrun most military vessels and shipping freighters. If that thing is making that type of speed it makes me think they looking for us specifically. This could get dangerous. Let's stay calm and see what they want. Most of my cargo is basic goods and passengers. The ETC branding has been sanded off or burned so nothing should be able to be traced." As the ship draws ever closer Captain Queverly and First mate Grunk begin to go over possible scenarios.
She calls you over Finn and Mausim "Here's the play, We play nice and just be simple merchants. Because that's what we are. We let them board, show them that we have nothing of value outside of some basic goods and then they ship off."
"Finn you're with me I want to show you something, Grunk and Mausim go inform the crew that we are going to have visitors soon. " Finn, she takes you into her cabin and leads you to her massive map table. A Black oak table fixed to the floor with several drawers built into it. She hits a hidden switch under the lip of the table and it slides forward and up onto the wall. Underneath you see a control panel with two orbs set into it and some copper colored buttons.
"Had this installed before I brought most of the crew on. Only Grunk knows about it and he doesn't know how it works. Its three shape water stones hidden in the hull, this panel allows me to control them and get out of certain situations."
[DM Note: If need be she can activate this steering stone which also connects to the shape water stones adding over 4 knots of speed and power and making the ship more maneuverable than it should be. She only uses it desperate situations and it only lasts for ten minutes. Afterward it's quite expensive to recharge and hiring a discrete mage unaffiliated with the Assembly is always difficult.]
"If things become desperate I may need you to use this to get us out of a sticky situation. Wait for my order though, I'll nod at you and mention something sticky."
[DM Note: If the team chooses combat make sure to have an aquatic creature that King Lee could unleash upon them!]
If King Lee boards the Pineapple Blade he will bring his officers with him. They are listed under the Ebon Thunderhawk ship article. He will demand to see their manifest and would like to inspect their cargo. He assures them that his pirate days are behind him and that he is looking for a specific crate. He holds that a minor magic item was hidden in a crate of coffee beans. He would like his ship's mage to be allowed to sweep the hold with a detect magic.
He is working with a half elven woman who once studied at the Assembly. She has long white hair despite looking like she is in her 30's. She wears midnight blue robes with silver embroidery on the edges. Her name is Xanthera Spin. She is from Vellen Falls.
If King Lee sees Nuth or Demaia he will smile ominously. "One more thing, I would like to give the Verdan and his Druid companion a tour of my ship. Give them to me."
[DM Note: Six years ago Nuth arrested King Lee for smuggling magical artifacts out of Stoneport. Working with the Stila Guard of Stoneport he had King Lee Locked up Shullush Prison for two years.]
King Lee and his crew have stolen an artifact from a colony of Sahaugin. They will leave this artifact on the Pineapple Blade as a goodbye present. Soon after they depart it will begin pulsing with a purplish light. This will draw in the Sahaugin who have been searching for their missing totem for months. They will proceed to attack the Blade and try to sink it with bombs on the hull.
Structure
Exposition
East Tellenheim Company Asset Recovery Fleet
The ship sails quickly the rest of the afternoon and the sun remains overhead with some light clouds in the distance. Around 8pm the sun sinks low on the horizon and the sky darkens to a deep red creating a picturesque sunset behind you. Ahead you see the two moons rise, Hellenos rises first a big pale blue circle in the sky. Behind it, a smaller purple crescent, is Vellenos the shatterfall moon. It almost seems to sparkle with the refracted sunlight. Thousands of stars amongst pink and purple nebulae fill the sky as the sun sets.
Galapago Jo, a blue and Green tortle man mingles amongst you all. He invites you to dinner in the dining cabin. As the ship's chef he is quite proud of all of his meager offerings. The dinner is mixed greens dashed with a pleasant vinegar sauce spiced with coriander and lime. Small skewers of lamb and goat are provided well salted and dressed with peppers in between.
Those crew that aren't on duty join you as well, around the fixed table in the middle of the room.
The following morning you awake and walk up on deck. In the distance is a massive statue of a helmeted warrior holding aloft a sword. The goliath of Penthos towers over a small island. despite the the fact that it is several miles off the size of the goliath makes it seem like it is standing only a few feet from the side of the boat. It's bronze metal skin glints in the morning sun.
The island of Pentholos is busy with all shapes and sizes of sailed boats. It's a bustling port island and beyond it in the far distance you can even see the capitol city of Penthos. In between the merchant vessels and fishing boats you can see the massive warships of the Capitol City's Navy. Captain Queverly looks up from a meeting with Grunk and says "The navy makes random boardings to keep everyone on their toes. If it happens just stay calm, we won't make any waves." A voice from the Crow's nest calls down to her. "Cap'n if my eyes don't deceive me that vessel in the distance is the Gladiator Contest!"
Her blue eyes darken as she thinks about this piece of information. "That's Banastre Triskelion's ship. Asset protection for the ETC. If he is tracking the missing cargo then we may be hotter than I thought. Dammit what was in those boxes!"
[DM Note: At this point the Asset protection fleet is actively looking for the Pineapple Blade. Allow the crew and the players to come up with any solution they can think of to avoid being boarded again. If they do get boarded Triskelion will attempt to seize all of their cargo regardless of evidence or papers from the Queen of Warshaw. This encounter would be more to reveal the capitalist evil of the ETC and especially Banaster Triskelion.]
The ship sails quickly the rest of the afternoon and the sun remains overhead with some light clouds in the distance. Around 8pm the sun sinks low on the horizon and the sky darkens to a deep red creating a picturesque sunset behind you. Ahead you see the two moons rise, Hellenos rises first a big pale blue circle in the sky. Behind it, a smaller purple crescent, is Vellenos the shatterfall moon. It almost seems to sparkle with the refracted sunlight. Thousands of stars amongst pink and purple nebulae fill the sky as the sun sets.
Galapago Jo, a blue and Green tortle man mingles amongst you all. He invites you to dinner in the dining cabin. As the ship's chef he is quite proud of all of his meager offerings. The dinner is mixed greens dashed with a pleasant vinegar sauce spiced with coriander and lime. Small skewers of lamb and goat are provided well salted and dressed with peppers in between.
Those crew that aren't on duty join you as well, around the fixed table in the middle of the room.
The following morning you awake and walk up on deck. In the distance is a massive statue of a helmeted warrior holding aloft a sword. The goliath of Penthos towers over a small island. despite the the fact that it is several miles off the size of the goliath makes it seem like it is standing only a few feet from the side of the boat. It's bronze metal skin glints in the morning sun.
The island of Pentholos is busy with all shapes and sizes of sailed boats. It's a bustling port island and beyond it in the far distance you can even see the capitol city of Penthos. In between the merchant vessels and fishing boats you can see the massive warships of the Capitol City's Navy. Captain Queverly looks up from a meeting with Grunk and says "The navy makes random boardings to keep everyone on their toes. If it happens just stay calm, we won't make any waves." A voice from the Crow's nest calls down to her. "Cap'n if my eyes don't deceive me that vessel in the distance is the Gladiator Contest!"
Her blue eyes darken as she thinks about this piece of information. "That's Banastre Triskelion's ship. Asset protection for the ETC. If he is tracking the missing cargo then we may be hotter than I thought. Dammit what was in those boxes!"
[DM Note: At this point the Asset protection fleet is actively looking for the Pineapple Blade. Allow the crew and the players to come up with any solution they can think of to avoid being boarded again. If they do get boarded Triskelion will attempt to seize all of their cargo regardless of evidence or papers from the Queen of Warshaw. This encounter would be more to reveal the capitalist evil of the ETC and especially Banaster Triskelion.]
Conflict
[DM Note: Upon entering Copenhaus those who were marked in Allesandre Manor will see a purple glow when they enter the city limits. This will alert Vernabogge and his minions that they are there and they can be tracked. ]
The Year SF3, 3028 the month of Archalos (Aug)
Completion Date
8/24/2023
8/24/2023
Plot type
Main Story, Team Copenhaus
Related Characters
Related Organizations
Related Locations
Comments