The Ghost

We were blinded by the midday sun.  Pinroy cried out in pain and ran back in the tunnels. The rest of us blinked our tearing eyes and were finally able to make out that we were in a port, a very bustling port.  We sunk a bit deeper into the shadows but didn’t go back to the tunnels where we could hear Pinroy whimpering about “bright lights” and “eyes hurt”.  

There were larger boats across a wide river and most of the activity seemed to come from there.  However, there were two buildings a few yards to the left and right of us and the fisherman who was pulling in his nets was a stone’s throw away. A wall loomed behind us and went along the river as far as the eye could see.  It had to have been at least sixty feet tall.  Mountains stretched behind the port and the sounds of the city came from behind us.  We could see houses seem to nestle in the foothills of the mountains.

“We are too exposed,” I murmured to Wave. “We need more information.”

Wave indicated to the old fisherman and Oberon gave the word. “Don’t kill him.”

Wave snuck up on the fisherman who was busy pulling his meager haul of fish from his net. Before he could cry out Wave had knocked him out and dragged him, his 20 fish; a box (filled with hooks and worms – fisherman’s kit); and a bucketful of fresh water back to the tunnels. We loathed to go back in, but we needed to wait until evening before trying to leave the city.

While Wave stabilized the fisherman and tied him up, Oberon asked Pinroy what the city was called.  “We call it the City of Warmth,” Pinroy said, “Because it’s warm here. Also we call it the Fast City because the warmth makes us very fast.” Other names were the Red Dragon City or Onapagro’s (sp) Cradle or the Vast City (the lizard folk must have misinterpreted the name).

While waiting for the fisherman to wake, Wave expertly filleted some of the fish and passed it around. Sister and I had never had raw fish before but knew in some towns it was a delicacy. It was the best thing we had eaten in a long time.

When we ate our fill we slapped the fisherman awake and he instantly asked for a drink and thought he was at a place Jocksies – apparently the bar where he livds a few miles down the river. He said only the rich could afford to live in the City of Warmth.  His brain was addled by drink, and we didn’t get much information from him.  In five minutes, I was his wife who cheated on him with Oberon and Wave.  He must have been unlucky in love that one.   We did manage to get out of him that the buildings closest to us were a harbor master to the left and a guard post to the right (down river from us).  If we travel down the river we would get to a larger guards’ port where they kept their big boats.  The rest was mumbly-jumbly and we gagged him. 

Wave headed down to check on our dragonborn friends – they were still in the goblin-bullfrog lair and no signs of the tentacle monster.  Sister and I kept first watch as the others rested, and then we laid as close to the door as we could, the breeze from the river ruffling our hair and we fell asleep.

We woke as the sun was setting.  Oberon had a plan that Pinroy and Ronyn would row the old fisherman’s and he and I would stay hidden. Wave, of course, would be in the water. The port was quieter but Pinroy could see figures moving on the other side of the river and there was lantern light on many of the boats.  We could see a dim light at the harbor master house but quite a bit of activity at the guard house. 

We hid the key near the entrance of the tunnel just in case we ever needed to get back in – though I can’t imaging a scenario that Sister and I would reenter the prison on our own freewill. We loosened the bonds of the sleeping fisherman and left him the fresh water and piled in his ramshackle boat. I crouched low, my crossbow aimed at the guards as Sister rowed and Pinroy sat in the back of the boat, Oberon at his feet. 

“Ahoy the boat,” called one of the guards. “What are you doing on the river so late.”

“Fishing,” said Pinroy.

“A little late for fishing,” the guard called.

“We’re just heading to Jockies,” said Pinroy.

“Safe journey,” said the guard.

The port and prison disappeared, but the wall continued for a few more miles before it gave way to cliffs and foothills as the mountains rose up around us. Sister had an easy time rowing as the river’s current was fast moving and she just kept us in the center.  About 10 miles out we saw lights on the left.  A few buildings were precariously perched on the jagged cliffs.  “Maybe we can get clothes there,” Oberon pointed to the darkened house on the end. 

“I’ll check it out,” I said and scrambled up the cliff and headed along the rickety boardwalk.  Wave swam below me.  I picked the lock and eased open the door.  I could make out a small hovel – two children and parents sleeping.  There was a table and a closed wardrobe.  I eased the door shut.  I might be desperate for clothes, but not that desperate that I’d steal from children. I went back and told the others what I found.

“Did you check the wardrobe?” Oberon asked.

“I don’t steal from children,” I said.

Oberon gave me a look. Disappointment? Disgust?  I couldn’t tell and I didn’t care.

“I’ll go to the bar,” said Pinroy.  We were all a bit skeptical as Pinroy was known to tell anyone his life story.  We coached him and rowed him up to the entrance and hung back nervously waiting to see if a hoarde was going to jump him. 

Not long after he went in Pinroy came rushing out and said pirates wanted to hire him as their cleric and he could go sailing on a boat called the Ghost. He had to come back in a bit to sign the contract and he was sure all of us could go on the boat too. He also found out that the building next to the bar was a merchant store where we may be able to find clothes and other items.

We tied the boat and scrambled up and saw a weather beaten sign Rocky’s Emporium of Goods. We entered and saw a young dragonborn sweeping up.  “We’re closed,” he growled taking us all in.

“Customers customers…we’re never closed for customers!” came a wavering voice from behind the counter.  An ancient human came shuffling forward, his long white hair down to his shoulders and his scraggly white beard ended mid-chest. He said he has most everything for a traveler, and a lot of mining equipment as he supplies the Boom Town which is about 30 miles down river with mining supplies.

I asked him for some lock picking tools as I wanted these shackles off Sister and me.  He showed me a fine pair for 30 gp, a bit steep but our sacks were full of coin, so I bought them.  We asked for clothing and cloaks and that is when the trouble started.  He said he knew we were escaped prisoners and was asking an exorbitant amount for poorly tailored clothes, tattered cloaks, and worn boots.  Oberon and Wave did not appreciate him taking advantage of our situation and Wave…like he always does…knocked out the old man and the kid.  He and Oberon tied them up and gagged them and proceeded to pillage the store stealing 500 gp; 100 sp; clothing and cloaks for us all (except Pinroy); boots (Ronyn/Oberon) moccasins (Mak) poisoners kit (Mak); component pouch for Pinroy; silver mirror for Pinroy; 10 spikes (Ronyn). 

I shouldn’t be so high and mighty as Sister and I did take clothes and items we needed, but we did not condone the stealing of the man’s life savings.  I snuck the 30 gp back to the shop owner for my lock picks and talked Oberon and Wave into leaving all our CP at least so we didn’t have to haul the coin around.

Pinroy, who had been muttering in the corner while we were going through the place looked up and  told Wave that his long sword and boots were glowing.  He also said that Oberon’s whip was glowing as well as his new broom handle.  He said that Belindapoop tells him if things have magic in them.  Nifty trick.

I picked the shackle locks for Sister and I and stuffed the shackles in my backpack.  Even though I had on new-ish clothes and my hands were free of chains, I still did not feel free.

Wave, who apparently was still angry with Rocky, the store owner, decided to relieve him of all his hair. Sister and I think Wave might be lipsi doga (a little crazy).  No, we know he is  lipsi doga.  We left a hairless Rocky and his ward tied up and closed the shop. We headed to Jocksies where three of the crew of The Ghost were waiting for Pinroy to come sign the contract.  The terms were sign on for three years for a portion of the treasure or just come aboard as a “guest” and leave at any port you wished. We all chose the latter contract and signed our names: Fitzy McDougal (me); Betsy Johnson (Ronyn); Ron (Oberon); Pinroy Livingston IV (Pinroy); and Wave.

We headed to a dingy tied up next to our stolen row boat and headed down river to meet The Ghost.

It was a larger ship – three mast and that’s about all I know about it.  We climbed aboard and met Cap’n Snake Eyes. It was a motley crew of humans, elves, and dragonborn.  They didn’t look much better than we did and we were imprisoned for years.  The captain boasted that his crew had almost sunk a ship and they almost got a treasure, and they almost did this and almost did that…we were not impressed, but if we could travel with this crew to the Boon Town Rocky told us about, sister and I might be able to disappear and start a new life.

Wave, Sister and I were assigned night crew on the riggings and Oberon was on day crew as a deck hand.   Pinroy got a special room with the first mate, Bloody Blorgan, who seemed to not relish the idea of sharing a room with Pinroy.  Our bunks were downstairs.  The moment the ceiling was above our heads, Sister started acting squirrelly.  The sailor that was leading showed us the crews quarters and asked if we wanted to rest before our shift.  Wave, Sister and I said no and headed up to the deck.  Wave taught us what to do and we spent the rest of the night scampering up and down the rigging or sitting in the crow’s nest.  A sailor’s life is not a bad life for an acrobat without a circus. Maybe sister and I could be pirates.

As the sun rose the second mate called end of shift and Sister, Wave and I scampered down the rigging.  Wave and I headed down to the bunk room, but Sister held back.  “Can I sleep up on deck?  It’s too enclosed down there.”

“You won’t get rest on deck,” Wave advised.

I took her hand and led her to the bunks.  “We need our rest, Sister.” She reluctantly followed.

That night I had a dream that an unseen voice…deep voice…said find me in the Sea of Dust.  Work together and find me.  If you do you will become one of the best acrobats on Oerth.  The voice kept repeating it over and over until I woke up and poke the bunk above me waking Ronyn.  “Sister I had the strangest dream.”  I told her and an odd look came over her face.  “I had the exact same dream except the voice said if I found them they would cure your lycanthropy.”

I poked Wave awake and asked him if he had a dream and he again had the same dream but told him of the “vast treasure” in the Sea of Dust.  Wave believed it was the same treasure he’s old captain had spoke of and the one he was looking for.

“This is just weird,” I said.  “I wonder if Oberon and Pinroy had the same dream.”  Without waiting for the others I scrambled up the steps and saw Oberon mopping the deck.  I was surprised Pinroy wasn’t with him as cleaning was his favorite thing to do.  Oberon admitted to having the same dream but the voice promised that he would rule Shadowfell.  “I don’t even want to go back to Shadowfell, let alone rule it.”

Pinroy was still asleep and Sister and I banged on the door of the first mate’s cabin.  I didn’t wait for a come in, and found Pinroy sprawled on a bed and the first mate curled up on the floor.  “He didn’t want to share the bed with me,” Pinroy yawned.  “I’m hungry. Get me some food,” he ordered Bloody Blorgan as if he were a cabin boy.

“I’m not your…”

“I’m hungry,” Pinroy said in a very unlike Pinroy voice and the first mate scrambled to his feet and scampered out of the room.  “He’s very nice,” Pinroy said happily.

We asked Pinroy if he had a dream about a voice and the Sea of Dust and he nodded happily snuggling deeper under the covers.  “Blibdoolpoolp spoke to me, like she always does and said to go to the Sea of Dust and bring your friends.”

“Do you think Belindapoop talked to us in our dreams?” I asked Ronyn.  “She did protect us during our escape.”

Ronyn frowned. “No, I think whatever wants us to go the Sea of Dust and promising us our hearts desires is not good for us.”

“But if it will end my curse, Sister, it might be true.”

“I don’t like it,” Ronyn muttered as we went back up to the deck.

We found Cap’n Snake Eyes was explaining to the crew, Oberon and Wave about attacking a merchant ship full of goods.  The only catch was it was being escorted by a Dragonborn warship.

“What’s the plan?” Oberon asked.

“We have these kegs of blasting jelly,” Snake Eyes said.  “We just have to get them over to the war ship and throw them down the hatch. The tricky part is to make sure The Ghost isn’t caught up in the blast.”

Oberon looked at the kegs.  “You can get us pretty close to the war ship?”

“We’ll be holding her with grappling hooks,” Snake Eyes said.

Oberon nodded.  “I have a plan then, with a little help from my mistress, the Raven Queen.”

It wasn’t long before the two ships were spotted.  The small warship was manned by six large dragonborn, for of which were on ballista duty and they took no time in trying to hit our ship.  They only had time for one shot before The Ghost crew launched their grappling hooks and pulled the two ships together. 

Wave, Pinroy, Sister and I stood against the rail along with most of the crew.  Pinroy a couple of steps behind us.  The Ghost’s magic user was already thumbing through his spell book. We let launch our crossbows and spells (TREASURE 20 bolts for Ronyn, Oberon, Mak), while Oberon, a keg under each arm told two of the pirates to “Light me up.”   With the two fuses lit he disappeared only to reappear on the warship.  He ran forward toward the hull. 

Four of the dragonborn jumping to our boat while two tried to stop Oberon.  It was a frenzy – we were shoulder to shoulder, and I was getting hit from enemy as well as my sword wielding shipmates. Oberon appeared behind one of the dragonborn on The Ghost and I yelled for the grapplers to pull away. The largest dragonborn let out a cone of fire and I could smell my flesh sizzling.  Then KABOOM! The blast threw me off my feet and I do not remember anything until Pinroy’s worried lizard face came into view.  “You okay, Mak?”

“Yes, thanks Pinroy and Belindapoop.”

A wall of fire shot above me and Pinroy cried out has his flesh sizzled.  He collapsed at my feet.  I ran toward Ronyn whose skin also showed signs of fire blisters. “Sister do you still have a healing potion.  Pinroy is down.”

Ronyn took one off her belt and tossed it to me, then turned and shot the flaming breath red dragonborn in the chest with her crossbow.  I ran back to Pinroy and poured the potion down his gullet, the blisters receding some.  “Hi Mak,” Pinroy said weakly.

I stood in front of him. Oberon, Wave and Ronyn were all targeting Flame Breath, while  Cap’n Snake Eyes was rolling around the deck on top of another dragonborn, the two stabbing each other with daggers.  The rest of the dragonborn were down as were the rest of our crew.

With a yell of triumph, Oberon brought down the final dragonborn and Snake Eyes stood from the still body of the other.  Victory was ours.

Ignoring our bloody and blistered body, we moved among the crew stabilizing all we could.