Still quite shaken by the night's events and the revelation of a Corruption spell - he really was starting to dislike magic even more than he had already done; how could an honest dwarf, just trying to get ahead in the world and secure himself some safety, deal with things like that?! - Grog'tial listened attentively to the briefing. Attentively, except that half his mind kept prodding and poking at a single sentence which had been turning over and over against in his mind since it was first spoken... "or they'll come for him again"

"I still be having this Remote Viewing Potion", he mentioned, "to give us advance warning of anything hiding in any of the barns or structures on the island - or I could save it, for when we go to the temple, and help us locate where this Aboleth is to be found. I don't know what's wisest? My first instinct just from looking at the maps would be to use it on this most central structure, which we'd encounter immediately after the barns on our way to the spring and grove."

"Is there perhaps any magicky way to increase its usefulness? Cover a wider area? Maybe if someone with more magical inclination than meself be drinkin' it?"

"Oh, and on this temple map - is that from one of Bhrigu's old scrolls? I be noticing this "S" here next to the biggest chamber - could that stand for "Secret" - a connection, perhaps, to approach that chamber undetected from the west?" Addressing Bellandra, "Something worth looking for in the mirror when the time comes, at least."

Grog'tial orders a Cure Disease potion at Aeshma, offering her a sheepish thanks for whatever it was that she did last night.

When Dragon Turtle Island approaches, he brews and drinks a cup of Earl Grey tea, once more feeling the absence of his grandmother most acutely.

I think you're still limited to 1 order per customer (per merchant)? Though perhaps if someone else didn't want anything from Aeshma, but wanted two things from Refyx, you could trade.

Ah ok, for now I changed it then.

"What worries me most on the island's surface are those Chuul buggers. As most of us don't 'ave any real means o' dealin' with armored foes, I'd urge anyone who can use 'em to buy those explosive bolts thingies from ol' Refyx."

"Where do we plan to disembark exactly?"

-----

Count buys one discounted Cure Disease Poison from Aeshma and Spiderclimb Oil from Refyx.

Since he apparently doesn't have any gloves to use with spiderclimb oil, he will ask Clíodhna if she can find him something (perhaps some leftovers from vampirate captain's stash?). While doing that, he will also donate his torn shirt to make bandages out of it: "Wearin' it wouldn't feel right to me anymore, but mayhaps it will be of use to someone in different way. 'Sides, ye may want some diversion while awaitin' our return, ma'am."

Before the mission starts, Count will not forget to drink his tea and to apply sun ointment, as well as will pack one raw meet sandwich in cloth Aeshma gave him.

After the briefing, Gilius decides to make some orders.
To Refyx, he asks for a Flash Powder, and to Aeshma, he asks for a Potion of Frost Breath.

After that, he will search the ship for any suspect activity / intruder / whatever, in order to avoid any other nasty surprise.

Argy adresses the crew during breakfast, once the ship's food supplies have been checked and cleansed: "Ahoy, mateys.Thar be jolly news an' bad news. The jolly news, not much been lost an' there be still lots o' grub in our supplies. The bad news: a good part o' it be fish-heads an' barnacles. So, unless we get some new provisions, diet changes be due."

Before departing to the mission, as mentioned in post #711, she'll have (lemon ginger) tea on the main deck, with biscuits to share with anyone that wants to join her in that moment. No need to drink tea to join, grog can serve well...
She'll share what she learned about sea monsters with any matey that joins: "Merrows be insane an' dangerous, but they ain't the worse threat. Chuuls be the ones to be feared. A big bulky 'orrible mix o' crustacean, insect, an' serpent, with a rock-like shell an' paralyzin' tentacles, born o' some 'orrible experiments. They like preyin' on land or very shallow waters, so beware o' marshes an' shores. They be also fond o' layin' traps an' ambushes. Oh, an' they hate all landlubbers, an' seafarers, or just anyone with two legs... So, avoid their 'untin' zones an' keep artillery nearby, just in case. But I also found a tale that there said that there brains was pois'nous to chuuls. Maybe it been an analacr... anelog... what been the word? nevermind, the thin' be that there it could be their weak spot."

"That be a very good idea, Grog'tial" Clíodhna agrees. Locating the Aboleth without it seeing ye to use its psionics could be a great advantage to Crew. I do not know of any way to intensify or alter it, but I will do some research."

She nods, "Aye, the temple map be from an old document Bhrigu found. That room looks to have a door outside the main temple room and a secret entrance into it. If the secret entry still works it could indeed be a good place for some to enter or fight from."

Probably take the longboat to the broken pier, and possibly fight your way up a semi-steep slope path.

Clíodhna agrees. Would the Count prefer the silk gloves or the deerskin leather? She feels the magenta velveteen might be just a little too gaudy. ;) She also thanks him for the donation of his shirt for bandages.

(roll dice) Gilius finds nothing suspect for the time being, but it is always good to be cautious. ;)

Clíodhna suggests to Argy she might ask Kyp to do some fishing for fresh supply before they hit rougher waters. She does not know if Chuul may taste like lobster or not.

Durik looked at the maps:

"Umm.. Ablet is fish, so it'll be in water.
If it be in the sea, it will come for us immediately. Big danger.

But if it be on island, me only see one water pond.

Unless fish lives covered.. like in glassy bilding?
Dat second spiral temple map has circle shape too.

Or it lives in underground cave.. big problem if it still reach us with brain power.

Or map be old?
Can't birds scout a bit?

Uh sorry, me thinking aloud."

There has been a magical storm over the entire area for days - the birds used a break in the storm to get what they could but they cannot see under the sea (the underwater temple) which is probably in a sea cave or area unknown as yet. Kyp tried sending in scouts but they cannot get close enough as was explained in a previous post. What you have is what you have. :P

Argy wouldn't try cooking Chuul. Despite not being familiar with the concept of transgenics, it appears to her that it might not be a healthy food at all.

Argy asks Kyp to do some fishing, but isn't very sure of his success, since he seems to be more prone to befriending sea life than eating it. She rolls her eyes remembering how he let the octopi go, without catching a single one. "Maybe I should tell 'im about 'ow me parents make a rabbit stew with me beloved pet Snowball, when I been a child? No, better not... 'e wouldn't understand the lesson o' the tale an' probably doesn't even know what a rabbit be..."

Hi! I had not heard back from you so I thought you did not want to continue. Come part 2, if you feel like you do understand it better and want to try again, i think the Ship can find Foggy 'somehow'. I will warn you, the Weirding Sea is a much stranger place! Think about it and let me know next year.

"Tempting but I don't expect creatures we'll encounter to appreciate fashion, while my hands may appreciate some sturdiness. Leather will do, thank ye very much."

The storm was nearing, almost breaking over them now. The seas had become rougher. The Ship's spectral energies still kept it much more stable than a regular ship would have been, but for the first time during the voyage the Crew was actually being tossed around. The wind was beginning to whip about the rigging and sails. It would not be long before they would feel the first lash of the rain.

It would not be a red sun for long tonight, Aylar knew, not with the winds that wailed in his blood now. Nor would it be a red dawn, but a dark one, full of portents. They would approach the reef and the Ship's Graveyard shortly after dawn, when they would have to slow down to navigate through treacherous waters. It would be then that they would be most vulnerable ... and the enemy most likely knew it. Time to batten down the hatches and the Crew.

Aeshma and Refyx had been working hard and trying to get extra orders ready. Aeshma was still worried about Pugwash and his salt weakness. With the raging storm they looked to be sailing into and the underwater temple, there was no way he was going to avoid the sea spray or indeed the sea itself. She knew purifying spells, but was there a way of warding or protecting? More research was indicated.

The Count found the leather gloves delivered to his cabin.

Gilius approached Aylar and began talking :
"'Aye Cap'n, what do ye think about this here storm ? Don't ye think it might compromise our landin' an' our operations on the turtle-island ? Especially with some o' the crew uneasy with the sea water, we don't want them to fall overboard because o' the swell in the longboat. Should I try doin' somethin' about it ?"

Gilius will wait for further instructions before acting. If Aylar agrees, he will try to use his Orb to control the storm and turn it into a fairer weather.

Once the mid-day briefing has concluded, Aylar stayed by the table a while longer, his brow furrowed in thought, and maybe a wee bit of apprehension. An Aboleth, a truly vile creature; their kind be foul enough to chase out not just three, but an entire coven of sea hags. It nae pleased him, that need to rely on that blade in particular; but the reason told him that there was nae other weapon as fit to take on the threat.

He went out the Great Cabin and headed towards Refyx' and[ b] Aeshma's to quickly make an order of an Acid Oil and a Cure Disease potion, and lingered on the deck for a moment, looking out towards the island. The weather has entered a lull by now, but something primal and savvy inside him warned him that this be only a calm before a storm; and it would truly be a great one.

Shaking his head, he went back to his cabin, where the warded box waited for him, slipped on the rune-gloves, and sprang open the locks. The sword laid there, still and reeking of draining magicks; Aylar fought back the want to make a grimace of disgust at it and kept his expression carefully schooled as he picked it up. He might have greatly disagreed with the nature of this blade, but it would do him no favors to antagonize it completely, if it was to serve the Crew and strike down the giant evil overgrown eel curled up somewhere deep beneath the waves and island-grounds.

Now, while the weather was still fair, it be important fer him to put in as much fighting practice with it as he be able. And so he spent the remainder of the day and evening on deck, working tirelessly on his movement and attacks, striking and slashing at the air, getting used to the weight of the blade and how it influenced his positioning and basic footwork. One, two, three, one, two, three, he counted in his mind, settling into a rhythm not unlike a dance, letting the inertia of the wider, wilder sweeps lead him into stronger and well-aimed strikes.

Only once the red of the setting sun faded on the horizon, he had sheathed the sword and headed down to grab a bite and mingle with the Crew, before retiring back to his cabin and locking the blade inside its dwelling again. Before going to sleep, he made sure to commune with the Ship and check if it be in good health and not troubled by any slowness of mind or ill draining hexes, as it be on the night Crew was attacked. The upcoming morn would be particularly rowdy, he knew it in his bones. They would all need be ready.

Aylar will indeed agree with Gilius' assesment. This also reminds him to fetch some additional ropes from the Ship's stores and leave them by the longboats so that there be additional means fer Crew to secure themselves, if need be.