CH. 11: Dark Side of the Mond

[HorizonsDream]

Before boarding the Bullring, Jocelyn mentions that Andar and Areilon need their rest, so it was best not to bother them with good-byes. As for finding Andar again, Jocelyn didn't know if she would or not, so she just shrugged into answer to the question. Andar knew the way home.

Though, now that they were on the ship, she could answer questions. "This is about my past and how it has caught up with me," she says with a sigh. "I was born and raised on Draska," she explains. "To escape the hell, I joined up with the pirate crew of the Poisoned Curse. I had a brief affair with the captain, and he ended up dead. Since I was the last one with him, they all believed that I killed him. I managed to escape, and the followers of Octhanus took me in. I used them, for awhile to simply hide before I converted. Now, the crew of the Poisoned Curse has found me."

[spyguy1503]

Gallath grins back at the Storm sorcerer. "Pirates? Was there a certain elf on board that ship that was about 6 inches shorter than me, with a long scar on her left cheek and black hair? Or one that looked somewhat like me?"
(OOC: Ex-girlfriend and sister)

[HorizonsDream]

"Uh, I think there was," Jocelyn says to Gallath. "The one with the scar and black hair was the mage on the ship. As for someone that looked like you, I don't remember," she admits with a small shrug. "There were a lot of people on that ship."

[BishGada]

Hearing for the first time about Jocelyn affair with a pirates captain, he looks at her at different eye, scanning her body top to toe appreciatively but saying nothing.

Then he recalls something and says to Jocelyn, "Err... I just remembered Andar was reluctant of women and Areilon. Maybe we should alert Saren about that? I myself hold no such reluctance by the way..." his eyes turn to Terra.

[Nuke]

"What are we going to do about the eggs in those two?" Val asks when the conversation turns to Andar and Areilon

[JadedDM]

"Poison Curse? I've heard of it," Terra says. "It's the flagship of a small fleet of pirate ships that operate in the northern seas. Everyone calls the captain 'Scourge' after the nasty whip he likes to use on his enemies. Rumor has it that the first mate is a witch who cavorts with demons."

"It's an interesting story, to be sure," Sierra adds. "But what is it exactly that you want us to do about it?"

[HorizonsDream]

"We need your help to get rid of them," Jocelyn says. "Otherwise, they are going to keep coming after me, and eventually they will kill me."

[Breila]

Ouragana's heart skips a beat or two, she had not expected so positive a reaction from Thaddeus. After catching her breath, she answers. "It has indeed been a year since we parted" she acknowledges. "I have been studying, with some success, I hope, and I feel a little more capable to deal with real life. And aside from feeling sorry for the victims of the attack on this town" she says, pointing to the smoldering runis, "I fare quite well. How about you?"

[JadedDM]

Sierra crosses her arms. "Last time we fought pirates was a year ago, remember? The Soulbiters? It was only one ship but we lost a hundred and forty-five good men and women. It's taken a full year to recover from that, and now you want us to go seek out an entire pirate fleet? We're not Blue Lightning here. We don't hunt pirates. We're a merchant vessel. We'll defend ourselves if we have to, but that's it. So you tell me, why should I put my ship and my crew in mortal danger just to fight your battles for you? What exactly are you offering in return?"

Meanwhile, back over by the aftcastle, Thaddeus says, "Oh, I'm quite well. I've learned quite a bit since the battle with the Soulbiters and picked up some powerful new spells. Just in case they ever decide to try again. The captain and that one dragon did survive, after all. And rumor is that the Soulbiters are raiding orc villages for new 'recruits' so they might be planning revenge. Fortunately, there have been no attacks from anyone in the past year. But it never hurts to be prepared, I always say."

[HorizonsDream]

"But I don't have anything to offer, so you are going to have to tell me what you want," she adds. "And if you won't help me, then all I ask for is passage to Draska."

[BishGada]

"Errr..." Baeros interrupts. "Well, I guess if you get rid of the flagship, the rest of its fleet could be yours. That worth a lot I'd say."

[spyguy1503]

"Indeed" Gallath says. "A fleet of ships is well worth your time, as well as part of whatever they may be carrying."

[JadedDM]

Terra approaches her sister. "Sierra, what about..," she leans in and whispers something.

Sierra rubs her chin. "Huh. That's...not a bad idea, actually. They do seem useful in a fight."

"And we wouldn't have to risk any of our people in the process," Terra adds.

"Thaddeus!" Sierra calls out. "Get over here!"

Over by the aftcastle, Thaddeus hears his name called. "Ah, excuse me, the captain calls," he says to Ouragana and approaches.

"You got the map?" asks Sierra.

"Which map is that, captain?" asks Thaddeus.

Sierra frowns and gestures impatiently. "The map. The Eonian one."

"Oh, yes. Of course!" Thaddeus reaches into his pack and pulls out some kind of gold artifact that's roughly spherical in shape. It's covered in strange runes.


"You remember this?" Sierra asks the party.

Thaddeus does something to the device and it begins to project some kind of holographic map in the air. The map seems to show an isolated island. All of the script on the map is ancient Eonian.

"Well, we finally made some headway in translating this script. Tell 'em, Thaddeus," Sierra says.

"Right. Well, we've discovered the coordinates of this island. On it is a wizard's lab. This wizard lived over 300 years ago and as far as we can tell, the island remains untouched in all of that time. This means whatever he left behind is most likely still there. This includes some kind of prototype for a new weapon. He used it to destroy any ships that came by his island. He called it...well, I'm not sure exactly about the translation, but basically a 'cannon of light.' It can supposedly blow up small ships in one shot and do severe damage to larger ones."

Sierra nods. "But you know how these things are. The wizard is probably long dead, but the place is still probably chock full of traps, demons, golems or whatever else. Probably one big death trap. So that's the deal. You help us get in and secure this 'cannon of light' and we'll agree to use it to blast away your pirates."

[Nuke]

Val spits. "Wizards" is all she says.

[spyguy1503]

"That sounds... pretty awesome, actually. Who ends up with the cannon?" Gallath says, and then turns to the woman who has spoken for the party, so far. "I will accompany you, if you will have me. I just seek my ex and my sister, and fame and fortune."