When Grim, Eder, and Star arrived in Port Maje, they were greeted with an ugly sight – a crowd which had been complaining to an officious looking man turned to look as they appeared… and accused them of being in league with pirates! Fortunately the official intervened, and was able to talk down the crowd. The town was apparently in an uproar since damage from the recent storm. Rumors of a giant having been seen wading ashore bringing the storm in his wake ran rampant. Grim warily eyed Star, signalling her not to say anything on the topic. The official invited them to meet with the town Governor as soon as possible.
They met up with the others in the Kraken’s Eye Tavern – a place with a name far more impressive than its interior. At which point Grim realized Star was no longer with him..
Outside he saw a small camp of travelling pilgrims. Dawnstars – worshippers of Eothas. And, sure enough he heard a familiar voice telling them *everything*. He hurried over to find Star had recruited a wayward priestess of Gaun (a regional variant of Eothas). Her name was Xoti, and she claimed to be following prophetic dreams leading her to her god. Star thought this was *wonderful*, and would surely help them find their quarry. Grim just rolled his eyes. Just what they needed. Another delusional wanna-be prophet. He sent Xoti back to the wrecked ship with medical supplies for the crew. If he was going to be stuck with her she might as well make herself useful.
Governor Clario was the local representative of the Valian Trading Company – one of the larger entities trying to profit off of the Deadfire. He was willing to help them repair their ship… for a price. Apparently the VTC’s primary purpose in Maje was the extraction of luminous Adra – a semi-precious stone with magical properties. It collected soul energy, and so was critical to the science of animancy.
A VTC team had been refining Adra and researching its uses in a dig site north of town, but had not reported back since the storm. The Governor very much wanted them to retrieve the research team’s findings, and was willing to repair the Defiant in return. Grim got the message loud and clear that while Clario would like to see the research team rescued, the notes were the main priority. Star attempted to butt in and warn the Governor about Eothas, but he had no interest in “wild superstitious nonsense”.
Before setting out to find the dig site, Grim checked in with the local constabulary. It always paid to get on the good side of local law enforcement early. They tended to divide strangers into “problem starters” and “problem solvers”, and you wanted them to think of you as the latter. They had apparently been having issues with rampant looting in areas of town flooded by the storm, and did not have enough men to control all areas. Grim managed to finagle a contract to “pacify” a seedy area called Goreccia Street – with the explicit instructions to settle things peacefully if possible.
That turned out to be easier said than done, as armed hoodlums roamed the area accosting passerby and looting with abandon. Grim decided this called for the considered application of violence despite his instructions
Eventually he came upon a gang leader willing to talk, and offered him coin if he could keep looting under control. The constable wasn’t overjoyed at the solution, but agreed that it would keep things stable until the flooding subsided.
North of town they met with the Storm Speaker – the priestess of the native Aumaua villagers. Grim thought it was worth asking if she could help them get back to sea. She was willing to help… but only once they had Governor Clario’s agreement. She considered them outsiders like the Valians, and so they were “Clario’s responsibility”.
The dig site turned out to be the ruins of an ancient Engwithian colosseum – with a number of unpleasant features. There were giant footprints – big enough to crush trees – passing through the area. And the apparent site was overrun with jungle wyverns and panthers loitering in the area in an oddly unnatural manner – gathered around a large bronze sphere
It was clear the animals were highly agitated and likely to be hostile, but Ace’s keen eyes noted something useful. Strewn among the scattered supplied to beasts were prowling were barrels of gunpowder… So he and Sapphire used a favored opening tactic. She enchanted a shot with a sparking cantrip…
And Ace delivered that to the center-of-mass of a gunpowder barrel. The resulting chain raction obliterated a few Wyverns and scattered the remaining beasts.
With the threat dispersed, the remains of the VTC team emerged from the bronze sphere. It was apparently a shelter of some sort – used to protect them from ambient energy when experimenting with Adra. The leader – Benessa – said that they took shelter from the storm when the giant strode through. Whatever it had been doing had caused massive magical surges in addition to the storms, and had apparently called and driven mad the beasts that they had seen. She said that head researcher Odisiri and many of the other researchers had been caught in the subterranean sub-level when things happened, and she did not know what had become of them.
She suggested that if they were going to explore below they should take a promising your researcher named “Engferth” with them. Eder apparently recognized the man, and there was a complex interplay between them as “Engferth” signalled to Eder *not* to say whatever it was he wanted to say. When they entered the lower levels of the ruins Grim insisted they spit it out. Apparently “Engferth” was actually “Aloth” – another former companion of the Watcher. He had been investigating the ruins for his own purposes, undercover as a fellow animancy researcher. Eder vouched for him and insisted they needed to bring him along. He was apparently a Wizard with a special expertice in soul magic. Great. They seemed to be collecting hangers-on like bad debt.
The levels under the area were infested with skeletal warriors. Aloth claimed that it had been quiet to this point – whatever had caused the other activity had also awakened the skeletal guardians.
And that was not all that had awakened, as large bronze constructs also came to life.
Further inside they discovered what had happened to the other researchers, including Chief Researcher Oderisi. They had all been turned to ash. Apparently suddenly. Oderisi’s notes were still intact – which would matter to the Governor. The rest of them were more concerned about what it meant for *them* chasing after whatever Eothas now was.
Sapphire recognized some odd carvings. She was not sure exactly what they meant. A very old variant of the Engwithian dialect, with images appearing to represent the native Amaua people.
Eventually they came upon a huge pillar of Adra – not uncommon in ancient Engwithian ruins. What *was* unusual was that it appeared to be completely dead. Most such pillars were gleaming with energy, and appeared dark jade green. This one appeared black and dull. Star instinctively reached out to it….
And found herself in another realm. Floating in a void as frightened souls streamed past her, being absorbed by a massive figure. And then a gigantic head turned, and took notice.
YOU SHOULD NOT BE HERE LITTLE ONE. IT IS NOT YOUR TIME. BUT DO NOT FEAR. SOMETHING BEAUTIFUL IS COMING, AND THE SUN WILL YET RISE.
And then she was ejected from the connection.
They returned to the Governor with the news, and as promised he had their ship repaired. And the Huana Storm Speaker brought winds with high tide to carry them off the beach. They were once again afloat! But they would still need to sail around the island to port to complete repairs and resupply.
But they were not halfway around the island before once again a large ship approached from the distance. Even larger this time, with magnificent sails and multiple decks of cannon. Couldn’t they sail one day without being intercepted???
The captain who addressed them as they pulled alongside this time was cordial, and formally asked permission to come aboard. He came with a small complement, nodded his head, and then introduced himself. He was Captain Furrante, one of the Principe San Petra. Apparently the Principe were a semi-organized Council of Pirates/
Captain Furrante told them that the pirate who had attacked them – Benweth – had been a problem for some time. Furrante could have him eliminated directly without political complications, but he would be quite pleased if the man were to meet with a permanent accident.
At this point Grim noticed something nagging at his consciousness. Probing. Prodding. He was not without experience with this, and violently expelled the intruder from his mind. He quickly looked around, and settled on a small Orlan trying to stay inconspicuous behind Furrante.
“Stay out of my head if you wish to keep yours!” he growled. Furrante quickly turned and hissed at the Orlan, “Keep your talents to yourself until asked!”. He then apologised to Grim, and introduced his man.
The Orlan was named Serafen, and was considered one of the best Ship Hunters in the Deadfire. Ship Hunters were specially trained psychics who could find and track ships telepathically. And Serafen was quite familiar with Captain Benweth. In order to facilitate Benweth’s downfall Furrante suggested Sarafen accompany them.
Grim agreed to the proposition. He had certainly intended to deal with Benweth regardless of outside influence. After Furrante left Star pulled him aside quite angrily. “We’re abandoning a quest for the Gods to pursue petty revenge?” she asked. Grim looked her straight in the eye and replied evenly, “There’s nothing ‘petty’ about revenge in the Deadfire. On the seas here you are either predator or prey. If we do not respond to Benweth’s insult we mark ourselves as prey for every two-bit pirate in the area. How well do you think we will do following your errant God dealing with that?” And that ended the conversation.
Pulling into Port Maje they still had one more issue to resolve. Their crew complement. They were still understaffed, and they did not have a lot of funds. So they would have to hire the most “affordable” sailors they could find. Asking around they learned that an experienced deckhand named “Rum Dumb Riggere” was locked up for running out on an outstanding bar tab. With the constable already friendly, Grim was able to arrange his release by settling the tab. He only hoped Rum Dumb could stay sober enough to be useful.
Interviewing in the tavern, Grim managed to scrape up three more candidates to complete the set.
A Vallian man named Vanizzi, who claimed to be a naval trained cannoneer. Grim refrained from asking why he was scrounging for employment here.
A dwarven navigator going by Little Leuca. She was chatty, and had some experience, but this would be her first real job after apprenticeship. That did not inspire confidence.
And an arctic dwarf named Ikiuq. Storyteller. Hunter. And apparently handy with cannonfire.
And after that, Grim needed a stiff drink. They would be off in the morning, with no clue where Eothas was headed. But in the immediate term they were headed for a pirate port named Fort Deadlight – the likely location of Benweth’s ship. If they could figure out how to get in without being blown away.
Author’s Notes:
I’m really loving experimenting with Watercolor styles on this run. Its allowing some very different looks to some of the prior styles I’ve used.
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