The half-elf Nitendae continues to gaze through the ornate,
silver framed, circular window. He’s relieved that the creature slunk back into
the darkness. Relieved that the opening is too small to squeeze through, as he has
little urge to pursue that shadowy face.
He only caught a glimpse of it for a moment but given the
arrogance of its sneer, it could only have been one thing.
A Drow!
Nitendae shudders as the others hurry over.
Bastien, Volkon, Sereena and Marlon.
Somehow, this little group have found each other and he has
no doubt that, if they’re going to survive, they’re going to have to stick
together.
It seems like moments but it must be at least half-an-hour
before the guards return and, protected behind them, is the high-Priestess
Therissa.
“So, it’s true. One
brother driven mad and the other now dead. I should punish you all for these crimes
but I realise that you're merely patsies in the political machinations of
Duke Nultze and my idiot brothers. You understand though that, despite now being the uncontested ruler of this island nation, I cannot be seen to reward you? Take Gov-El’s ring and
armour. I have no use of it. Take also, the first true king’s sword. It
seems, for whatever reason, he has bequeathed it to you.”
Queen Therissa stares hard at Volkon.
“You know, something about you reminds me of my
great-grandfather.”
Bastien is the first to thank Queen Therissa and attempts to
organise a boat ride back to the mainland.
One of the fisherfolk calls over to him.
“We’ll give you a boat but you’ll have to wait until morning,
otherwise the sea-monkeys will try to tip you over.”
You are given food and secure lodgings, where you find all your
confiscated equipment.
The next morning, you rise, eat a light breakfast and
are escorted to a purloined Nompariel rowboat.
Queen Therissa, accompanied by two burly guards, comes to wave you off.
"Take this sealed letter to Duke Nultze and present him with this small chest of our finest pearls. If he's prepared to negotiate, then perhaps we can forge a new trade deal. One that's best for both our countries."
It’s a bit of a squeeze with the five of you plus cat, dog and ferret but the sea is calm and, with Marlon on one oar and Volkon on the other, they forge steadily closer to the mainland.
While squatting down in the centre of the boat, Nitendea turns the chest over in his hands and and examines its tiny lock...
He squints at it for a while before looking up at the others.
"I could have this open in less than a minute."
Rather than look outraged, his comrades merely shrug. Nitendea places the chest back between his feet though. Why risk the reward they're about to receive?
After about four hours of rowing, they manage to make it back to Nompariel by midday and are greeted by more of the Dukes, surprised looking armed guards.
Queen Therissa, accompanied by two burly guards, comes to wave you off.
"Take this sealed letter to Duke Nultze and present him with this small chest of our finest pearls. If he's prepared to negotiate, then perhaps we can forge a new trade deal. One that's best for both our countries."
It’s a bit of a squeeze with the five of you plus cat, dog and ferret but the sea is calm and, with Marlon on one oar and Volkon on the other, they forge steadily closer to the mainland.
While squatting down in the centre of the boat, Nitendea turns the chest over in his hands and and examines its tiny lock...
He squints at it for a while before looking up at the others.
"I could have this open in less than a minute."
Rather than look outraged, his comrades merely shrug. Nitendea places the chest back between his feet though. Why risk the reward they're about to receive?
After about four hours of rowing, they manage to make it back to Nompariel by midday and are greeted by more of the Dukes, surprised looking armed guards.
Treasure:
From Gov-El:
Suit of Full-Plate armour +1 (Light fortification:25%) : Worth: 5,650gp
Greatsword +3 Flaming burst :
Ring of Water Walking :
From the stinky crab cave:
Isaack the intelligent Heyward’s handy haversack :
From the dead, cowardly, starved to death flume failure:
Dagger of returning +1 :
Scroll of Gaseous form :
Scroll of Fireball
From Gravlax, leader of the Orc ambushers:
Animated heavy metal shield +1
Greataxe of Throwing +1
"You know, something about you reminds me of my great-grandfather"
ReplyDeleteThesis .. Thes-iss ... The Hiss !!
Couldn't be could it?
Nice treasure haul :)
Who was 'The Hiss', the legendary, two-hundred-year-old, One-True-King?
ReplyDeleteThesis, the once-was-human, liberator of two Lizard-folk slaves?
... Hmmn.
Could be!
;)