A Warlock Alone, Island Empire solo game

[Scotley]

Aboard the Retribution

Training seems to be going well. The crew are eager to learn after this latest encounter. The Marines are pretty good already and getting better.

Another visit from Nac'Losin and everyone is fully recovered from the battle. Chalen works the action on the disk bow and examines the weapon with a critical eye. "Well, if a man used it for huntin' he'd starve sure enough, but it might be fair useful in a sea fight at that. I'd sure be willin' give it a go. Maybe we can get some more of these little disks at the next port of call and I'll practice a while. I hate to use em up. I figger they bend pretty easy when they hit somethin' hard."

The wind is favorable and it looks as if Mermaid's Rest will be on the horizon by dawn.

OOC: How many days has it been since the fight on the 'Rumpled Bedsheet'?

 

[J. Alexander]

Sailing to Mermaid's Rest

After Lunch, Michael will begin his conservation with Nac"losin and her charge. As they come into the cabin, MIchael will motion for them to sit, and will provide light refreshemnts. "Thank you ladies for coming, I know it must have been atiring day for you also so I will try to keep this brief. Basically, until we get the power and skill to do so, I desire the ship to be warded against evil and anarchy. I do not know how this mite be done, but i do know that it is possible. Further, we really need to look into the creation of water barrles that replenish themseves. By my calculation we will need 10 55 gallon barrels to do this and allow us sufficent fresh water for all our tasks and even bathing on a daily basis. We will also need wards to protect us from cold and ice. Specificaly, we will need a ward or wards on the prow that will enalbe this ship to break any ice in it's path as we will be in incewatch during winter..Alarms Wards would also be very helpful"

Your thoughts ladies?

OCC: The fight on board the Bedsheet occured on the 26. So it has been 8 days since the speration. The bedsheet was three days from Mermaid's Rest at the point the fight occured so it should have arrived on the afternoon of the 1st of Sun's time.

 

[Scotley]

A Meeting.

OOC: Drat, in more than two weeks they've only managed a few hours on Mermaid's Rest. What you find there will depend on some of the groups actions. We may have to delay things here a little and I may have to advance some time there.

Michael can't be sure, but it seemed like Fa'Duatha just appeared in the hallway as he opened the door, perhaps it was merely a trick of the light. Nac'Losin nods at Michael's suggestions. "We'll need to stop in a major port to get the sort of things you are discussing. The barrels are fairly common and should not be a problem. You should note that our people, both Lizard and Toad need to soak fairly regularly in fresh water. Salt water will do for a time, but it dries one out dangerously. Once we get to the north it will be even harder. We may need to build some way to heat water. It could be challenging. This boat was sung at its construction and the traditional wards are sound. It should be easy to add something to that. I suggest we hire a singer for the crew. Most of my people don't know the deep water songs that protect a boat and crew. They are more familar with fishing songs and such. The weather around Tregere is predictable, so there is no need for weather songs that see a ship through storm and wave. We should consider this carefully in getting ready to make the long voyage to icewatch in such a small ship."

 

[J. Alexander]

A meeting

Michael will look at the two women and say " I had no idea that your people had such requirements. That indeed does pose a problem for us. I imagine that with the space we will save with the water barrells being reduced we could construct several large tubs and fashion them with the same magic. That would allow 4 of our crew at a time to soak and depending on the lenght of the soak we could perhaps do 8 or 12 in a single day. Would 12 or 8 hours of soaking time meet the requirements?"

Pausing to take a sip of wine he will continue" A singer, I had not thought of that. I wonder if they are hard to find.? Do the toad and lizard folk require any type of special diet that I am overlooking?

Then Michael will say "We can only do what we can do. Perhaps fortune will smile on us before we get to Bronhelm and our other Norhern Port of Call before we set sail for Icewatch and we can afford to purchase a larger ship or even capture one"

Finishing the conservation he will say "Do what you can ladies and just keep me posted. I do appreciate your efforts."

When they are gone, Michael will begin tinkering with the idea of a souped up thunderstone. His alchemical skill is +7 so he does have the background. In short, it will be a simple construct of perhaps metal or wood that would have the power of three thundestones and have a 5 second delay for it's explosive effect. They would be used much like a depth charge to stun and creatrue attacking it from the water.

OCC: Yes i know, and given that, I think that after the Mermaid's Rest thin, Michael will most likely strike off on his on and only allow for very random waits for the other crew.....

 

[Scotley]

Our people only need get in a good half hour to hour soak every few days. Of course we'd enjoy more, but that is all that is needed to keep us healthy. A couple of one or two person tubs on deck should be adequate if we can somehow heat them. They would see nearly continuous use, but at least no more than three or four people would be occupied with soaking at a time and minimal space would be needed.

Our diet is not some different from you own and should pose no problem. The lizard folk tend to prefer fresh meat and seafood, while the others eat more greens and grains, but all are omnivores.

Michael can't shake the sense that there is some shared joke between the two women. The mysterious silent one swathed in cloth seems shy and you suspect quiet even when not under a vow.

Thinking about it, Michael realizes that he might construct a thunderstone that would sound after a few seconds exposure to water. Making a more powerful one however could tax his knowledge.

 

[J. Alexander]

Conservation with the Ladies

Smiling at the ladies Michael will say. "That is indeed welcome news and given the limited requirements we will able be able to enjoy a soak. I must confess, I do have a weakness myself for a nice hot bath, and I am sure most of the crew will enjoy this feature. It will also allow us to have good personal hygene and limit our exposure to diease and pest"

Deepening his smile he will continue "Who knows i may even be able to trade for some lavender and or lemon oil with whcih to scent the water. I trust you ladies would not mind that."

Michael will contniue to experment through out the day with the thunderstones.
Michael Stormrolls 1d20 +7, getting [18,7] = (25).

If he is successful he will rig 25 of them to explode this way which will only leave him 5 regular ones. Plus three with which to run a test with.

 

[Scotley]

Nac'Losin says "Indeed some lavender or lemon oil would be nice in the confines of the ship." Fa'Duatha adds, "I am partial to orange and ginger myself," in a cultured pleasant voice. As both Michael and Nac'Losin turn to stare at her, Fa'Duatha jumps up realizing her mistake. She bows deeply to Nac'Losin, Michael suspects she is on the verge of tears beneth the veils. Nac'Losin's voice is soft, "Now child, calm down, we all make mistakes. This is precisely why I have you spending so much time alone in our little cabin. Let's go meditate and silently pray for forgiveness." With that Nac'Losin ushers her out. It seems to Michael a very basic error for a gifted student to make.

The thunderstone tests go well and Michael soon has a batch that will go off four seconds after being immersed in water. He'll have to be careful about jumping overboard with a pocket full of these.

 

[J. Alexander]

Storm and Company

As Michael is testing the three in the water,he will try and find a school of fish to throw them into to check their stunnig potiential. Any fish that may float to the surface he will have scooped up and delivered to Grumbar.

MIchael will then go chat with Chanlen and ask him what he thinks about arming at least 5 crewmen with heavy crossbows with specail thundersone quarrels and fire quarrels for a significant distance attack. During this discussion he will ask the other officers and even sailors if they think a pressure attack below a ships waterline mite be effective.

An hour before sunset, Michael will order the crew to stand down, all but the human sailors, so they can clean up and rest before the funeral rite.

 

[Scotley]

Michael merrily blasts fish and delivers them to Grumbar, who seems excited. "I have some almonds and banana leaves that will go well with this."

The crew seem more somber as the funeral rites approach. They prepare a space on the deck and begin to clean up.

 

[J. Alexander]

Funeral Rites

As the hour draws near for the rites, Michael will go to his cabin with Grond to change. Both will return to deck in black silk doublets with an even blacker S transfixed by a lighting bolt in yet an even darker shade of black. The mediume shade of black will also be reflected around the collar and cuffs. Their arms, belts, scabbards, etc will gleam with cleaniess and polish, yet their heads will remain bare.

Passing to the galley, he will check with Grumbar on the funeral feast and ask him to remove two kegs of summer beer and one keg of dark red wine for the crew's consumption with the feast.

At the appointed hour, Michael will assembly the officers on the quarterdeck and muster the crew on the main deck and silently await the appearnce of Nac'Losin.