Post by hubertbartels on May 14, 2023 14:34:35 GMT -5
Ghost Ship
With the black skies of the storm on the horizon, we continued to sail a southwesterly course to avoid it. Still in the Shallow Seas, all of us were nervous about further sea devil attacks. Alessa took the moment to curl into her blanket and catch up on her sleep.
Zayd was the first to point out the ship on the horizon. Cassander then persuaded the captain to alter course and have a closer look. The ship was a large trading caravel flying the flag of Markesh. As we sailed closer, it started to become obvious that something is wrong; it’s not making headway, the sails are slowly flapping in the wind, and the rudder is swinging back and forth.
The captain of the Dolphin Princess gave us a long boat to cross over to the wreck and see if anything could be salvaged. Miranda steered us to the Markesh ship and we climbed on board. The first thing that Alessa noticed was a distinct smell of rot and death. Talarial and Cassander dropped the ship’s anchors, tied up the loose sails and secured the ship’s wheel. Then we headed to the aftcastle to try and find out what happened.
Passing the ship’s gallery, we noticed the door had been secured with rope. Cassander's knock on the door was answered by thumping and banging. When Alessa removed the rope and opened the door, an undead, dressed as a ship’s cook rushed out and attacked Zayd. We destroyed him. Alessa quickly turned back and checked – the trading caravel’s two long boats were gone – some of the crew had managed to escape.
In the ship’s chartroom, Talarial gathered the scattered maps while Miranda studied the map left on the table. It showed an island in the Shallow Seas. Searching the cubbyholes turned up the ship’s rutter and the captain’s notebook. Miranda claimed both for study later.
Climbing down the stairway found us in the officers’ wardroom. Around us were the cabins of the officers and the captain. From the second officer’s quarters came the sound of thumping. Zayd opened the door and another undead came out. When the former second officer was dropped, Zayd went through his pockets, turning up a variety of coins including some Valossian coins from the old Serpentfolk Empire.
The other cabins showed signs of a rapid departure. Clothes, gear, and equipment had been cleaned out. In the meanwhile, Cassander studied the former second officer’s corpse more closely. There were no wounds on the body but it showed rapid decay and rot. Its canine teeth had become elongated to become fangs. Going upstairs to examine the cook, Cassander found similar signs.
Back in the officers’ wardroom, our attention turned to a door leading forward into the hold and the crews’ quarters. It had also been secured with rope. When the door was opened, there were a half-dozen undead crew members shambling toward us. Zayd almost got overrun by their numbers but we managed to destroy them all. A quick search of their corpses turned up more Valossian coins.
Then something moved out of the shadows and rushed at us. It was an mixture of human and snake and it was fast. Alessa couldn’t hit him. When we finally managed to stop it, it was another undead, dressed in a crew member’s clothes. Under its shirt, we found an obsidian and gold amulet. The amulet was very valuable. Fearing a Valossian curse, we quietly dropped it over the side of the ship.
Returning to the Dolphin Princess, we reported to the captain, what we had found. He made arrangements to transfer the more valuable salvaged cargo to the Dolphin Princess. He also made note of the current location of the vessel so that a salvage team could return to the wreck and recover the ship.
It was another three days to Freeport. While Alessa spent her time querying the crew about the place, Cassander was busy learning about Valossian curses and creatures that create undead. His contact talked about the ancient Valossian gods and the Night Serpent.
On the third day, we caught sight of the harbor of Freeport.
With the black skies of the storm on the horizon, we continued to sail a southwesterly course to avoid it. Still in the Shallow Seas, all of us were nervous about further sea devil attacks. Alessa took the moment to curl into her blanket and catch up on her sleep.
Zayd was the first to point out the ship on the horizon. Cassander then persuaded the captain to alter course and have a closer look. The ship was a large trading caravel flying the flag of Markesh. As we sailed closer, it started to become obvious that something is wrong; it’s not making headway, the sails are slowly flapping in the wind, and the rudder is swinging back and forth.
The captain of the Dolphin Princess gave us a long boat to cross over to the wreck and see if anything could be salvaged. Miranda steered us to the Markesh ship and we climbed on board. The first thing that Alessa noticed was a distinct smell of rot and death. Talarial and Cassander dropped the ship’s anchors, tied up the loose sails and secured the ship’s wheel. Then we headed to the aftcastle to try and find out what happened.
Passing the ship’s gallery, we noticed the door had been secured with rope. Cassander's knock on the door was answered by thumping and banging. When Alessa removed the rope and opened the door, an undead, dressed as a ship’s cook rushed out and attacked Zayd. We destroyed him. Alessa quickly turned back and checked – the trading caravel’s two long boats were gone – some of the crew had managed to escape.
In the ship’s chartroom, Talarial gathered the scattered maps while Miranda studied the map left on the table. It showed an island in the Shallow Seas. Searching the cubbyholes turned up the ship’s rutter and the captain’s notebook. Miranda claimed both for study later.
Climbing down the stairway found us in the officers’ wardroom. Around us were the cabins of the officers and the captain. From the second officer’s quarters came the sound of thumping. Zayd opened the door and another undead came out. When the former second officer was dropped, Zayd went through his pockets, turning up a variety of coins including some Valossian coins from the old Serpentfolk Empire.
The other cabins showed signs of a rapid departure. Clothes, gear, and equipment had been cleaned out. In the meanwhile, Cassander studied the former second officer’s corpse more closely. There were no wounds on the body but it showed rapid decay and rot. Its canine teeth had become elongated to become fangs. Going upstairs to examine the cook, Cassander found similar signs.
Back in the officers’ wardroom, our attention turned to a door leading forward into the hold and the crews’ quarters. It had also been secured with rope. When the door was opened, there were a half-dozen undead crew members shambling toward us. Zayd almost got overrun by their numbers but we managed to destroy them all. A quick search of their corpses turned up more Valossian coins.
Then something moved out of the shadows and rushed at us. It was an mixture of human and snake and it was fast. Alessa couldn’t hit him. When we finally managed to stop it, it was another undead, dressed in a crew member’s clothes. Under its shirt, we found an obsidian and gold amulet. The amulet was very valuable. Fearing a Valossian curse, we quietly dropped it over the side of the ship.
Returning to the Dolphin Princess, we reported to the captain, what we had found. He made arrangements to transfer the more valuable salvaged cargo to the Dolphin Princess. He also made note of the current location of the vessel so that a salvage team could return to the wreck and recover the ship.
It was another three days to Freeport. While Alessa spent her time querying the crew about the place, Cassander was busy learning about Valossian curses and creatures that create undead. His contact talked about the ancient Valossian gods and the Night Serpent.
On the third day, we caught sight of the harbor of Freeport.