As it happens I was absent for this session, having decided that being in Massachusetts for my Grandmother's 100th birthday was far more important than hanging about with my layabout friends. Fortunately, Chuck (Marcus Sangaree) has no such inhibitions and has provided this wonderful summary.
We start this session with discussing the merits of Sky Capt and Resident Evil 2. Paul claims that RE: 2 made his ears bleed. Chuck admits that he is waiting for the Alice-Buffy fanfic. Chris assures us the villains in Sky Captain maintain their sense architecture and interior design. We have a moment of silence for our friends who have opted for more social outlets: Bruce (Maintaining the Moral Clarity of Mass) and Georgina (enjoying the culture of Austin, The Live Music Capitol of the World). Paul announces that this is one year anniversary of this campaign.
We spend a month doing stuff. Snooty the Pigeon Rancher becomes the Major Domo of the Sangaree Estate (which is now finished). Tonk trains animals. Anpago and Andrinor learn spells. We hear rumors of battles in the neighboring Devra. Goblin ambushes are increasing, hampering trade and caravans. Sir Sanders (Duke Morris' most respected knight) got ambushed by hundreds of goblins. He barely escaped but many of his men were killed. Refugees are starting to straggle into Highthrone, which of course is thinking about closing its borders. Food shortages are starting occur and prices are starting to climb for various goods and services. We discuss the options for importing food into Highthrone. Marcus suggests that they could just let the refugees "in" and solve the problem. Andrinor immediately shouts, "Soylent Green is people!" Anpago suggests Summoned animals good and cheap but not very filling like a Chinese Buffet.
Longfellow flies off procreates. He then must tend the brood. Tank suggests the Longfellow is whipped. Marcus corrects him, "No, he's hen-pecked." Anpago's thoughts of a Crag Eagle omelet are interrupted by his new wife moving in. We note the chance that his off spring will be dysfunctional, "No, Daddy isn't invisible right now. He's off "adventuring" Tonk spends a bunch of money on Sister Chiron and continues to court her. The party notes that he should bathe after training animals for six hours before meeting his lady. We vote Tonk "Most Likely To Have "Normal" Children." Tonk mentions that he hopes Longfellow's children hate him and comes up with a new name for Longfellow, "Regurgitates on Children". Andrinor feels lonely. Marcus just tries not to get noticed. According to rumors, Gero is off at some sort of tribal ritual involving ale and broken crockery.
A teenager arrives and delivers a message that Marrique of Suhartra of the Dragon Isles wants to meet the party tomorrow at the Dragon Isles Embassy. We didn't know there was an embassy or even realize who Marrique is. We begin to debate on when to arrive. We vote to arrive about lunchtime and attempt to get a free meal. .
The embassy is in the west wing of the castle. It is full of silks and decorated in a very Asian style. We recognize the ambassador as the winged girl that we fought and let go in the Lair of the Flame King. Tonk says, "Wow we didn't know you were an ambassador."
She relies, "I wasn't. Then the Flame King summoned me and I got stuck here." She explains really distant relatives (A Harpy and White Dragon.) got her the job. Marrique admits that she is currently studying calligraphy to occupy her time. The party goes off to PC land and discusses the origins of half-dragons, we learn that dragons can mate with anything. Many jokes abound about drunken Dragons and Pixies.
We finally get down to business. She explains that Lord Muloon of Suhartra wants us to find a spy, Phodri, who was spying on Lord Kolinn of Golkar. She thought of party immediately as price effective violent psychopaths and recommended us. Phodri was traveling on ship named Zhonshi Nu was supposed to arrive in Suharta two days ago. Lord Muloon will provide us with a ship and if it has sunk then we are to recover the body/documents from beneath the sea. If we find the spy the password is Lusharda and he will stop resisting us. Tonk asks how deep is the water is and hopes that this turns into a Gilligan's Island scenario. The discussion degrades into a Marianne, Ginger and Mrs. Howell prostitution ring.
Marrique offers us 6,000 GP. We counter with an offer of 10,000 GP. Andrinor with the help of Anpago haggle her into 8,000 GP. Plus, we get a free passage on a sky ship to Southport and a 1,000 GP advance. Tonk comes up with the idea of taking some letters or messages. Since communications are getting difficult out of Highthrone due to The Goblin War. Tonk finds a commission for 100 GP and Marcus lucks out and gets one for 200 GP.
We spend 700 GP out of the 1,000 GP advance on some Quaal's Feather Tokens. We get one each boat, anchor, fan.
The sky ship journey to Southport is uneventful. The Ship Sotilla Juanita awaits us. A 50-foot ship with 15 free sailors, human and Lizardman, and 15 slaves. We meet Captain Burani and Kistra Ular the slave owner, a blue-scaled sharp toothed half dragon. Andrinor pipes up that he is half blue dragon. We warn the Captain not to touch the covered giant birdcage. Also that if he finds a drunken halfling, she is with us and not a stowaway. And DON"T TOUCH THE HALFLING.
Andrinor summons a flock of ice eagles to look for wreckage. The rest of the characters keep an eye out for anything usual. Marcus tries to talk to some passing dolphins; he mentions that Longfellow isn't the only one who can talk to the beasts. After three days of sailing we come upon a small chain of islands. The party spots a spar poking out of the water. The captain warns that there is reef ahead and that he won't sail any closer. Andrinor flies over and recons the area. The water is crystal clear and easily sees a ship under 35 ft of water.
Anpago decides to polymorph into a Merman (not a Mermaid) despite Tonk's and Marcus insistence. Andrinor turns into a young Green Dragon. Marcus decides to guard the boat. Tonk, Andrinor, and Anpago note a "sea" Troll or Scrag. The creature is having a snack of dead sailor.
We make plans to assault the Scrag. Anpago caste haste on himself. Andrinor creates an illusion of the ship. Tonk grumbles. Anpago casts two Fireballs at the Skrag and Andrinor magic missiles it and the troll drops. Andrinor the dragon rakes its claws across the Scrag. And bites at it, he decides that the Scrag tastes bad and he won't try that again. Andrinor takes it above the surface and drapes it over the spar. We then discover that Scrags can't regenerate out of water. Marcus just makes sure and puts a couple of arrows into. Tonk finds 2 GP, 7 SP, 2 CP on the dead sailors and passes it up to Marcus.
The aft rooms and the Captain's quarters appear to be have been looted already. Andrinor finds 3 pearls (100 gp each (material components for an Identify spell) Tonk finds a noble woman with a large hole in her torso. Tonk searches the room and finds an inexpensive bracelet. He decides he'll give it to Sister Chiron. The party advises him to clean it off first. Andrinor searches the another room and finds a sea chest and correspondence. He finds a contact list for a merchant and some invoices. It looks like the late trader was a purveyor of wine and cloth. Andrinor finds a jewelry box (300 gp for it and the contents)
Marcus easily unlocks the chest. He finds letters from the spy to Lord Mulroon and details about a naval build up in Golkar. The letter refers to a larger more detailed document, which we don't find.
The party (minus Marcus) heads down into the hold. Several shuffling humanoids are unloading the hold. And a sea elf with a large shark stand watch over them. A couple more sea elves stand guard outside with even more zombies. We come up with plan.
Marcus decides to finally enter the water and start the off by turning two zombies. An elf castes a spell on himself. The other summons something like a shark encased in human bones. Marcus squeals "Tonk Save Me!" Tonk's unenchanted spear does nothing to the creature. Andrinor casts an ice bolt and hurts the armored elf takes out three zombies. Anpago magic missiles the armored elf dropping him. An aquatic ape, or Seamonkey as the party dubs it, swims up and attacks Tonk. Blood stains the water. Tonk swings back at the ape and fiendish shark. And the very big shark swims in on Marcus. It's teeth glow magically but miss Marcus. Anpago casts feeble mind on the "druid" elf successfully. She suddenly grows fangs and claws and starts to go berserk. Andrinor casts glitterdust making the invisible elf visible again and follows up with another ice bolt which bounces off her protection from elements. Marcus hits the fiendish shark twice and it starts to look weak. The Seamonkey attacks Tonk. The berserker druid attacks Tonk. The big shark attacks Anpago, and takes a big bite out of the merman. Tonk whirls and hits the seamonkey, raging druid and finishes off the bone fish. Anpago successfully casts Hold Person on the wizard. Andrinor ice bolts the seamonkey and drops the held spells caster, who is final words were, "Ow my vagina."
Marcus pokes at the shark. The shark bites Anpago. The crazed druid attacks Tonk. And hacks at the druid, hurts her, Anpago casts ice orb at the huge shark, blinding it. Andrinor casts magic missile on the huge shark. Marcus giggles at the opportunity to use a sneak attack on a blinded opponent. He punctures the shark and shouts, "I'm doing Darg-like damage". Anpago and Andrinor zap the giant shark with magic missiles. The medium shark continues to do attacks of opportunity on Andrinor the dragon who is only slightly annoyed by the attacks. Marcus, Tonk and Andrinor finally finish off the giant shark.
The dragon-pixies go on a recon to follow the zombies; towards the island. They spot a Sagauhin, guarding the island. They avoid the creature. While the rest of us loot the bodies:
The druid had: Cure Light Wand (CL: 3) full and a Wand of Summon Natures Allies (CL: 1 CL: 22 charges), bracers of armor +1, and a diamond (98 gp).
The Conjurer had a special non-magical crossbow designed to be used underwater, 3 wands (Wand of Melf's Acid Arrow CL 3 12 charges, Haste CL 5, 4 charges, Wand of Summon Monster I CL 2, 2 charges, 3 Cure Light Wounds Potion and 11 GP
The cleric had a holy symbol of Nerull, Armor Bracers (+1), Wand Animate Dead CL 5, 5 charges and Magical Wad of Seaweed (cat's grace), 73 gp
We convince the captain to loan us a couple of the crew to take us to the island. Wild dogs and volcanic peaks dominate the island.
Andrinor turns into a griffin to track by scent. We learn quickly that the DC increases by two for every hour. We estimate a DC of over 100 and decide to just start searching the island. We think that some one headed towards the volcanic vents. Andrinor decides to change into a young red dragon, Tonk and Marcus suggest he should turn into something more attractive.
The ground erupts six giant bugs attack us. Ankhegs. They miss Marcus, Tonk, and Andrinor. Marcus pleads for a Fireball and agrees to be ground zero for a tac strike by Andrinor. Tonk looks worried after he previous experiences with friendly fire. Andrinor summons a mighty fireball (42 Points of damage) and drops five of the bugs. Marcus spins around skewers the last one. He turns unhurt to a smoldering Tonk. "What."
The volcano appears to be dormant. We find a tunnel covered with volcanic glass. Andrinor unsuccessfully looks for a piece big enough to make a neat weapon. We climb down about 1,000 feet to a large chamber about 70 ft across. A tunnel goes down the central shaft. Secondary shafts split off. Andrinor and Anpago find loot in a cave that has a pool of water, Anpago asks Marcus to taste the water and see if it is poisonous or salty. They find even more storage chambers. We discover nets spread across the walls to aid in climbing.
We move towards a tunnel and Tonk notices small bells tied to the nets. An aquatic elf and a Rakshasa are discussing things. They have a large document probably the one the party is looking for. We back up and begin a planning. We tank up on spells. Bless, Haste, Silence, Bull's Strength and go on the attack.
Marcus and Tonk spring into the room. Marcus punctures the Raskshasa with three arrows and knocks it unconscious (-1 Hit Points). Marcus yips with glee, "I killed something!" Tonk charges across the room, vaults over the head the of the startled Sea Elf, lands spryly on the desk and hacks into the Rakshasa just to be sure. Marcus channels Legolas and puts three arrows into the elf dropping her before she could turn around. Marcus chuckles, "I love sneak attacks." A hidden tiger springs on to Tonk from behind. The beast only scratches him through the stone skins. Anpago casts hold monster on the tiger and it comes to a swift end. We now notice that the Rakshasa was actually a Were-Tiger and a dead hobgoblin now lies crumpled behind the desk.
We find the now blood-splattered military report. We discover that the reason for the build up is not and imperialistic tendencies but in response to the pirates operating in these waters including the infamous Black Tom. We easily find several thousand worth of cargo which we decide to split with the captain if his people will carry the stuff out.
The good loot we find:
We make 2,000 GP from cargo, and the remainder of 7,000 gp from the actual mission.
We divide the loot. And sell a bunch of stuff. For our missing partners we save:
We sell the rest.