<< Team One Pirate Ship >>
Ladob
Member

Registered: Jan 2003
Location: Wandering Vori
05-15-2003 13:24

The heroes are more than happy about the judge's answer. Viesis is a very kind old man. But now the go prepare for the dangers. First they seek new skills to learn in town, and then Arturchix prepares once again his enchantments for "Chedian Enchantment Ltda.". The good money shall be used for their training.

Ribannah
Member

Registered: Nov 2002
Location: Castle Gobs
05-17-2003 12:56

Volee, the Gymnasium

At the Gymnasium the trainer, Garin, surprises the Chedians by telling them that they can gain no less than three levels, for a total of 27 skillpoints each! The training itself is only a formality, and instant. But expensive nonetheless.

That means hard work for Arturchix. Before every training session he uses up his skillpoints to enchant the still unenchanted items in their inventory, after which the companions run to the shops to make the best deals possible. By refilling their purse, they manage handsomely, and there is even enough money left for a few other expenses.

And so it is that after a couple of hours of running about and losing excess weight, they all have something to gloat over.

Regran has learned the Pathfinding skill and is busy drawing maps.
Arturchix is trying out his first tunes on a Trumpet of the Marshes (extended reach, indeed), annoying the citizens.
DaveO is fighting the chilly air with his Minotaur Axe of Frost.

As an Assessin, Vilx is the only one who can't learn any Grey Magic spells. Instead, he is carefully inspecting his two bottles of Berserker potion, daydreaming about a Gremlin massacre.

Since by the time they got to buying Grey Magic spellbooks, money was running scarce again, and they bought one copy only of the basic spellbooks Blind, Tag, Fog and Dark Lantern, there are still a few decisions to make: who is to learn what, and where will heroes spend their skillpoints on? And the most important question of all: will they keep the Recipe Book or give it back to Thanys?

And then there is the prince, who is urging them to beacon back to Lord Markham in time to board the merchant ship ....

----------
The adventurers have no knowledge of who can be promoted in the Grey Magic skill. Pathfinding can be grandmastered by a Ranger, and mastered by an Assessin, while Druids and Paladins can learn the basic skill. And Druids can become grandmasters at the Music skill, while Paladins and Rangers can learn it to Expert level, but Assessins only the basics.

__________________
If you have no feet, don't walk on fire.

Ladob
Member

Registered: Jan 2003
Location: Wandering Vori
05-17-2003 13:35

The Chedians happily stride about, seeking teachers of the respective Expert or Master arts of Music, Pathfiding and Grey Magic. DaveO seens sad.

Vilx: Money!
Regran: Food!
Vilx: Money!
Regran: Food!

The two warriors went with their bickering, nervous Nicolai trying to calm them down. ShaoMa puts a gentle hand upon DaveO's shoulder.

Arturchix: What is it my friend? You don't want to handle the book, right?
DaveO: I've got somewhat attached to it. I like it. I am learning so much. We fought for days and days, gods, demons... it is good to have a healthy interest at least, free from war.
Arturchix: I understand. Maybe we can talk Vilx out of it. How much could a recipe book give to us anyway?

Ribannah
Member

Registered: Nov 2002
Location: Castle Gobs
05-17-2003 18:07

Volee, hunting for expert teachers

So once again the adventurers take to the streets of Volee, knocking on doors, questioning the population. They do find Expert Teachers for Bow, Armor, and Shield, and for several magical paths that they do not quite understand and the citizens call 'Self' ... but for Music there is only Tanni, the Master Teacher, and for Pathfinding they already knew Jiriki, the Grandmaster teacher, and these two give them one word only: "patience".

And when they ask about Grey Magic teachers the Snowelves smile, point to the Council of Grey, and shake their heads at the presumption.

It is ten minutes before noon when they end up in front of the Cheese Factory.

__________________
If you have no feet, don't walk on fire.

Ribannah
Member

Registered: Nov 2002
Location: Castle Gobs
05-21-2003 19:35

Question

Volee - has time stopped?

Tanni walks past, wondering who placed five stone statues in front of the Cheese Factory .....

__________________
If you have no feet, don't walk on fire.

Ladob
Member

Registered: Jan 2003
Location: Wandering Vori
05-22-2003 11:53 /FONT>

DaveO: What are those statues?
Vilx: Are we going to give the book now?
Regran: Maybe we should ask for a copy before.
Arturchix: Let Tanni answer our question first.

Ribannah
Member

Registered: Nov 2002
Location: Castle Gobs
05-22-2003 19:59

Volee, at the Cheese Factory

Tanni: "Hey! You are mobile after all. I thought a mage with a fancy for sculptures had put a spell on you. What are you up to anyway?"
Arturchix: "We're about to return Thanys' Recipe Book. I think."
DaveO: "Yeah ...."
Tanni: "Oh, that's right. I heard the Minotaurs were moving out. And Balthazar dead, too! The end of a tale."
Nicolai: "Are you going to make a song about their fate?"
Tanni: "I don't know yet. Well, I'm off to the Bazaar. Have a nice day!"

__________________
If you have no feet, don't walk on fire.

Ladob
Member

Registered: Jan 2003
Location: Wandering Vori
05-23-2003 02:44

Trained and rested, the Chedians head to the port, intent on diving a little to keep a low profile and approach Wacko's boat...

Ribannah
Member

Registered: Nov 2002
Location: Castle Gobs
05-23-2003 10:18

Vori, the Bay of Volee

The Chedians, still undecided on how to spend their newly gained skillpoints, exit the city by the southern gate, and head west to stealthily follow the curve of the bay. They cross the canal swimming, for practice - the water is cold but it's doable.

Vilx: "DaveO, what is inside that leather package that you didn't want to get wet?"
DaveO: "Ummm, oops! It's the Recipe Book!"

Elsewhere, a last, huge crate is hoisted onto a merchant vessel, with strange protesting noises coming from the inside. Lord Markham sets sail for Avlee without passengers, to return for the next load in two days time.

It is tough going through the rough, keeping out of sight and all. But now, that they have rounded the far point and are moving southeast, each time the adventurers take a glimpse out over the bay the ship they could barely see from the city is getting bigger. As they get closer, they can make out the cannons. There is no flag in top of the mast.

As it turns out, Vieses' advice was excellent. The Wastrel - they can now read the name on the hull - is anchored right in the middle of the narrow gap that connects the bay to the sea (ocean?) beyond, and good swimmers should be able to make it.

Regran: "This is it, then. Shall we risk it?"
Arturchix: "It's not clear to me how we can sabotage the ship, or any ship for that matter."
Vilx: "Let's worry about that later. A way may present itself once we are on board."

__________________
If you have no feet, don't walk on fire.

Ladob
Member

Registered: Jan 2003
Location: Wandering Vori
05-23-2003 15:07

Swimming slowly, the supergubbers move nearer the boat. Regran and Vilx look for signs of weaknesses in the boats construction.

Ribannah
Member

Registered: Nov 2002
Location: Castle Gobs
05-24-2003 15:22

Vori, the pirate ship

The adventurers find no indication of weaknesses on the outside; the Wastrel is not a new ship - it must have seen many owners - but it is in good condition. That means that there is no choice.

Since nobody has studied the Spellbook yet, Arturchix uses the scroll from Larhana to cast the Fog spell, and the light dims.

Still stealthily, the Chedians climb one of the ropes and get on board. They have a fright when one of the crew passes right in front of their noses - but the pirate sees them not!

Taking care not to bump into someone, they make it to an open hatch on the foreship, and down the ladder into a cargo hold. To their relief, the space is somewhat illuminated with torches, and they seem to be by themselves.
Frantically, the heroes start searching the compartment, which seems to be used for storage rather than loot. The beans, frozen meat and biscuits are quickly skipped. For a moment, they halt when they find a crate full of cheeses, but no ... it is not the answer to their quest. Neither are the barrels with rum - or are they?

Then, when they are almost despairing, it is the young Prince who makes an important discovery.

Nicolai: "Look over here! Fireworks!"

The fireworks, the rum, the torches - at the moment, all the crates and barrels are firmly held in place with many ropes. But what if the ropes were less tight, and the stuff were lined up just so, and then the ship would get into a storm or some fierce breakers - even a ship in perfect condition could suddenly develop a huge hole. Nobody would ever know it was sabotage ....

__________________
If you have no feet, don't walk on fire.

Ladob
Member

Registered: Jan 2003
Location: Wandering Vori
05-27-2003 01:58

The Rearend Sabotage!

Supergubbers, hands full, take the firework crates to the back of the ship and slide'em to a safe hiding place. Preparing the trap and the trigger, the Chedians hope to listen about a big blast soon enough.

Vilx: He,he,he...
DaveO: Well, i guess this is the final one.
Arturchix: Oops.. be careful, it almost fell!
Regran: Everything is clear. Let's get out of here.
Nicolai: I hope we shall be able to see it... I love fireworks!

Ribannah
Member

Registered: Nov 2002
Location: Castle Gobs
05-27-2003 13:05



Everthing is neatly rearranged, and Regran's false knots that weaken the ropes look unsuspicious. The adventurers are about to make there exit, when ..... the Fog spell runs out!



Wacko: "What's the meaning of this!?"
Pirates: "Stowaways! Stowaways! Put them to work scrubbing the deck!"

For a moment, the hardship of a future of slave labour takes the heroes by the throat. But they have grown sly an cunning with finding excuses ...

Arturchix: "Captain, please! You caught us even before you set sail! We have done no harm. We made a mistake, that's all."
Nicolai: "We are heroes! Is there not something more worthwhile we can do for you so you let us go?"
Wacko: "Bah! What could you do? Ever since that nasty White Goblin got Lord Markham to chase us, the privateering business has lost all its excitement. I will never be as rich as Stanley!"
Pirates: "Loot! Treasure!"
Wacko: "You're lucky that we have a full crew, now we may just keel-haul you."
Vilx: "Captain, what if we were to, er, eliminate that White Goblin? We've heard too much about all his mischief already."
Wacko: "Now that would be a feat. Yes, I think that would be worth sparing you from your punishment. But the White Goblin can't be killed."
DaveO: "How then, Sir Wacko, should be proceed?"
Wacko: "I happen to know his secret, Zaporavo himself told it to me when we took over his ship. I only was Conan's lieutenant back then, mind you. The White Goblin cannot be killed, but he can be undone."

Again, the name of that Barbarian! Is he involved in all of their adventures? Then the Chedians remember Viesis' words, and play along. What else can they do?

Regran: "Tell us how, Captain, and we will do this for you."
Wacko: "It'll take some scheming, but you sound like you've done some of that already. So here goes. You must round up all his kindred, the coloured Goblins I mean, and herd them to the Rainbow Vale. There they will feast on all the seven colours that the rainbow provides. That would suck the colours right from this world if there were no White Goblin. He of course is a construct of all the colours and will fade into nothingness to compensate his brothers' intake. They will all disappear together."
Arturchix: "Where can we find the Rainbow Vale?"
Wacko: "That, unfortunately, I know not."
DaveO: "Alright, we will do what we can."
Wacko: "I will be here for a while before we return to Tidewater. But you'd better not come back if you can't complete the task."

__________________
If you have no feet, don't walk on fire.

vilx
Member

Registered: Nov 2002
Location: Sealand
06-02-2003 19:44

Vilx: OK, captain, may be we can go to nowhere and find that Rainbow Vale all your crew was unable to locate - I said may be. We are foreigners here and are just looking for .... some jobs for pure adventurers. As I understand, you hired us for ..."undoing" certain powerful being, and we need some.. prepayment. How about a little more information? Who exactly is this White Goblin we are supposed to ... "undone"?

__________________
vilx

Ribannah
Member

Registered: Nov 2002
Location: Castle Gobs
06-03-2003 12:08

Vori, the Pirate Ship

Wacko: "Your life is you prepayment, hah! The White Goblin is a meddler, that's what he is. Sticking his nose in other people's honest business. What does he think he is? Well he ain't an ordinary Goblin, that's for sure, and he has annoying friends. Some say he can fly a Dragon, to carry him over the seas and all, but I don't buy that. I do believe he shut down a Dragon Tower once, using a magic ward."

__________________
If you have no feet, don't walk on fire.

vilx
Member

Registered: Nov 2002
Location: Sealand
06-09-2003 10:01

Vilx: OK captain, we will see what we can do with this. Not very big chances with so small info, tough.

To other party members Let's go then, friends.


Arturchix casted Town Portal and in couple moments chedians found themselves into Volee town centre.

DaveO: Friends, if this pirate wants to do us something, I have feeling we can't do it under any circumstances.

Vilx:; We promised only to see what we can do, and I think it is honest enough. Anyway, we need to find a way to fox him somehow...

Arturchix: How about buying some spellbooks for me? We used our last scroll when sneaked to Wacko's ship...DaveO, how many of them we can buy right now?

DaveO: Sadly but our purse is near to be empty... You're right (sighs), it will be much more expensive to buy scrolls all the time and only hope for quick money is reward, promised by that strange cheese master.

Vilx: Don't worrie, friend. This recipe book is great, of course, but we aren't going to be food producers here. Let's do better in what we are skillfull enough - our adventuring.

While speeking adventurers become close to Thanys house. Vilx knocked the huge door.

__________________
vilx

Ribannah
Member

Registered: Nov 2002
Location: Castle Gobs
06-16-2003 10:25

Volee, the Cheese Factory

Thanys: "Yes? Did you get my Recipe Book?"

__________________
If you have no feet, don't walk on fire.

DaveO
Member

Registered: Nov 2002
Location:
06-16-2003 14:57

DaveO: Here it is. May it be of use to you.

The others in the party sign in relief at the turnover of the troublesome tome.

__________________
I'd rather be part bull than a complete sheep.

Ribannah
Member

Registered: Nov 2002
Location: Castle Gobs
06-16-2003 15:30

Volee, the Cheese Factory

Thanys: "Aaahhh, thank you so much! Now I can go home, too. I can't do much cheese making here without milk. Here is something for your trouble, and feel free to take some of my cheeses with you on your journeys."

The Chedians stare in wonder at the sack that Thanys has handed the Paladin.

Regran: "Well, open it!"
DaveO: "Alright, alright .... Shouldn't we go in first and select some cheeses?"
Vilx, Nicolai, Arturchix: "Open it!!!!"

Five pair of eyes look into the sack, and see a total of 20 Clovers and 8 Horseshoes ....

__________________
If you have no feet, don't walk on fire.

Ladob
Member

Registered: Jan 2003
Location: Wandering Vori
06-16-2003 18:00

Happy at their luck (and it is much luck indeed...) the supergubbers decide to discover more about the strange and mysterious White Goblin, legend of the snow lands. They head towards judge Viesis' home and wisdom.

Regran: Hey, DaveO, i am hungry. What kind of Cheese did you got at Thany's house for us?

DaveO: Let me see. Here they are... what a smell, huh? Take a look, there are many types...