Bellandra answered Argy's knock at her door, and accepted Argy's invitation for a tour. Along the way, Bellandra listened to Argy with a sympathetic ear while being somewhat bemused. Since she had become alive rather than growing up like a humanoid, she had not had as much experience with relationships as others, but she was intrigued by their complexity. "Take heart Argy, there be plenty of fish in the sea," she offered in consolation, "and yet, fishing does take great patience, even with the brightest of lures."

She enjoyed Argy's cooking and looked forward to each meal, but at the same time she felt somewhat distrustful of the 'greenhouse' that was the former cook's cabin though. After all, they had already had one experience already of zombies aboard including the former cook himself, and they had also learned that fungi and spores could cause such states - who's to say all their plants aboard were safe? Just in case, she tried to keep her senses alert for any foul odors or strange sensations as she looked around.

When she saw the spectral cook's glowing form hovering near them in disapproval, she politely agreed to cut short their cabin visit. "Methinks yer spectral predecessor does not like too many cooks around his kitchen, Argy. 'Tis alright, late cook, we were just having a look." She then spotted Polly coming over in a haste and withdrew with Argy, letting Polly converse in her mystic way with the spectral cook.

(Clíodhna [Old Irish] - pronounced klee-uh-na. She really hated the name Polly, so Aylar got to choose. ;) )

Chapter Three - On Stranger Tides

The entity was old, even as eons were counted. it moved through underwater chambers and channels, plotting and planning through centuries. It moved its pawns, regarded the long game, and moved another just so. Its prize was within reach, and it basked in its gloating while contemplating it. There was another entity, like yet unlike itself that had once stolen some minions and this prize from it, but it had almost made up for that now. However it didn't forget, nor did it forget the creature that thwarted it just before she had been taken with that prize. A phoenix, a bane, but she was encumbered now, bound by her own magicks its carefully placed minions had told it. Yet even so she and her own minions had scourged its fleet and its fortress, all while following the plan it had devised, influencing its pawns once more to finally attract and eliminate her threat and acquire the prize and the Crew. There was one aboard even now who should be quite easily influenced as that mind already ran ripe with subterfuge and delusions of its own making. It contemplated the unfolding of but one of its plans. The dragon turtle would be a nice addition, and soon all the magick of this sea would belong to it.

-----

The fireworks were over, and the Ship had survived the magickal storm. Luckily with Aeshma's protections and Aylar's skill the Crew had not had too rough a ride of it, although Aeshma, Aylar and Clíodhna had taken the brunt of it and slept deeply afterwards, doors guarded by spectral Felinoids. It had also helped immensely that with Aylar's intent and offer clear, and his trust in her absolute, Clíodhna had been able to harness and control the wild magick and prevent their entire annihilation that had haunted her doubts about what it would take to shatter her prison for so long. What was also obvious by the morning was that the Ship had welcomed a new Captain, and a new energy, one which had been missing and sorely needed. Now it radiated a renewed sense of purpose and a strength and will to be about it. Renewed from the inside out, decks and cabins, from the masts, sails and rigging right down to the keel, the Ship was reinvigorated with a feeling of new intermingled with the old and familiar.

After some early morning duties and a stop at the wheel to make sure of the course, Aylar had spent much of the morning in the Captain's Cabin, his cabin now, with his new familiar until it was time for the briefing. He looked over at Clíodhna, who sighed. "It be the best we be having, Aylar. I nay like it either, but there just be not enough information coming out of that area. There be an underwater temple, an odd island I nay recall before, and reefs upon which too many ships be running aground on, creating not only the ships' graveyard to carefully traverse, but even more reefs from the wrecks. The birds canna tell us what lie below, and the porpoises I had Kyp send came back saying they dare not enter for something there be disturbing their minds greatly. Me memory of it be mostly of confusing battle and magick and being torn through the portal. I nay paid attention to the heading and the positioning of it all back then." She looked at his face as he studied the charts again, feeling his frustration, and subtly easing it as well as her own. "Whatever it be that made that portal, it be strong enough to grab the Sea Hags as well. That be troubling enough, but I think that also be on the other side of the portal. Whatever it be we be facing this side of it has either moved into the power vacuum left by the Hags to take advantage of the node, or worse, had the Hags under its own influence. As soon as Bhrigu and I be able to translate more of the documents I be letting ye know."

She took off intending to check over the old navigational charts again, but turned back at the door, deciding to reveal one more trait he may have heard of but not yet had confirmed. Deep within him Aylar heard her essence voice while feeling her truth, the way she knew the motivations and truth of others becoming now real to him. 'Aylar, thank ye.'

After that show of light and storm last night, Grog'tial realized at last what he had on his hands, and that he maybe had left off discovering he had wildly miscalculated the power shifts too late. That morning had been a somewhat strange one. For one thing, he had slept in longer than usual. Although he was rather pleased to find the pearl he had left out had finally been taken. Then his door was stuck and wouldn't open. He wondered if maybe something had gone wrong with that whole scene last night that affected the Ship after all, supposed newness or not. Then it seemed everyone else was out of the area because it took forever for someone to hear his pounding and come, and when they finally did it was the darn Ship's Cook ghost who kept turning up right when he'd find a decent nook to observe from. More aggravating yet, said ghost easily opened the door for him, and only to hand him a summons to the Great Cabin for a briefing.

Grumpily, having missed breakfast, Grog'tial joined the others entering the Great Cabin to take his usual place by the door - except no chair was there anymore. Instead two of the patch pirate phantoms were at either side of the door and all chairs were on each side of the table with the end of the table by the door being taken by the standing form of the third patch pirate phantom. Mighty was in the chair nearest the door already. The next chair up would have to do, although it meant he was sitting next to Captain Baldbeard (was he one of Og'rialt's possible agents?). At the head of the table stood Aylar, looking over a parchment and a chart in front of him. In his hair, hanging beside and slightly above the beaded fey charm, now hung a crimson feather charm with a single bead of it's own, and on his right shoulder, giving off a slight radiance so as to not overwhelm, perched a spectral phoenix. Her head turned and her eyes with the sapphire flames seemed to bore shockingly straight through him. Aylar glanced up at him, as if having felt or heard her say something, regarding Grog'tial briefly before returning his attention to what lay before him on the table.

Aeshma and Refyx came bustling in. As she passed, Aeshma put a beautifully worked black onyx gem set in silver in front of Captain Baldbeard with a wink (+1 Strength, +1 Constitution, +10 Resistance Cold/Disease/Weakness/Poison), before quickly taking a seat to Aylar's immediate right, while Refyx went around the other side to his immediate left, beside Argy who was then flanked on the other side by Bellandra. The Ship's Cook then took up a place behind Aylar and Clíodhna, crossed his arms and waited, looking for all the world like a self-assigned bodyguard with eyes that missed nothing. Spectral Cap'n Rummyfangs was also there, for those who could see him. As the last seats were taken, Aylar straightened, nodding to the spectral posse to close the doors and take their places in front of them.

Mission 4, Briefing
**Briefing ends and Mission 4 Start 3AM UTC, 11 November You may role play, plan together and ask questions until that time, then Mission 4 will start.*

(Clíodhna [Old Irish] - pronounced klee-uh-na. She really hated the name Polly, so Aylar got to choose. ;) )

MISSION 4 - BRIEFING

Clíodhna's natural voice was clear and musical as she briefed them on what they knew so far. "We be heading into the rough seas of the Devil's Triangle, bearing just south of center. There be a strong magick node there that be perverted from long past. It be once the lair of three Sea Hag sisters," she looked at Gilius with a nod as he too knew a part of this story, but from the other side. "These Sea Hags were responsible for taking and enslaving several ships ... including trying it with this one, but a portal of some type opened up as they were attempting to take the Ship and we were all sucked through to another reality or dimension. We believe that portal has shifted, according to Bhrigu's calculations, but the node is still here, and it or something be corrupting this place, still enslaving and now sending forth monsters. To be able to find a new bearing on any portal shift we must first clear the node."

She turned to Kyp, "The latest 'sea monster' being corrupted be a sleeping Dragon Turtle. She is ancient and quite large, in fact we had thought she was an island at first, and she be ready to lay eggs. We dare not let this place corrupt the entire brood or the seas be never safe to sail again. So Kyp, Aeshma has crafted a Turtle Charm for ye, to strengthen yer voice in hopes ye can commune with her while she yet slumbers, find out what's wrong and bring her back before she be corrupted entirely. If need be I will also add my strength to yers, but try not to awaken her ... for the node has attached itself to a magickal grove and spring upon her back."

"That is where Aeshma comes in," Clíodhna nodded to the half-Aasimar healer witch. "The Crew will be taking Aeshma to the spring to purify the water and cleanse the corruption, while Gilius," she turned to her old friend, " will check on and try to help to cleanse the Grove that be home to the spring. Yes, Gilius, I know yer staff does not do such ... yet. Aeshma also be having a trinket for ye." There was a smile in her voice as she considered the abilities and boons her return to her natural form now gave the Crew, thanks to Aylar's willingness to dare, and determined intent. "There be only one main path upwards once ye leave the beach part of the shell, but we be told that path be slippery and there be possible openings burrowed into the undershell. Watch yerselves."

"There also be a sea cave with an underwater temple we be trying to figure out how is possibly tied to all this. It may be this was once the Sea Hag's lair, but until we know more, the spring and Grove be the main target. Free the Dragon Turtle and if it be friend we be having a lot more protection to determine the rest."

"The enemies we know ye face will most likely be corrupted Merrow (mer-folk) on the way in or a possible Siren or two on through the reef and ships' graveyard. Captain Baldbeard, this be where yer shark pack may be best escorting the Ship, as ye still be aboard the Ship, ye will be able to maintain them and still call again later. The Merrow be fast swimmers, well several of ye have been able to see Kyp, so ye know they be agile in water. They have two attacks, a nasty bite and a harpoon. They can leap upwards quite far to try to grab ye down, so be ready to repel possible attempts. Bolts should discourage them and there be regular harpoon guns of our own. For any sirens, Captain Baldbeard's harmonica, Kyp's accordion and Grog'tial's flute may also be needed to interrupt or overcome any siren's song if we be also stuffing our ears. Grog'tial, I know not if Circeana would cooperate to overcome them or not. At one time she would have, but yer attempts to turn her back on her vow to the Bruja may well be the undoing of yer now getting her to do anything but serve her own ends with ye. Yer flute can influence them IF ye play it with honest intent to calm not subvert. Otherwise ye be giving it to Gilius, fer his Druidic core be working well with it. Do it yerself the latter subversive way and ye are just as likely to be specifically targeted and attacked. Durik, ye also have a surprising good voice fer Sea Shanties, which may also help against the sirens as they do love to hear sailors with good voices."

"Closer in to shore ye may come against Chuul, lobster like creatures with large pincer claws and tentacles at their mouths. Their tentacles have a paralyzing poison, although they themselves are immune to poisons. They are, however, very attracted to magick and especially magick-users, so guard Aeshma and Gilius especially well around them. They are close in grappling fighters with natural armor, so reinforced or explosive bolts would do more damage."

"There are also reports of Drowned Ones, sea zombies of those who died in the ships graveyards. These appear to be slower on land than the ones we've encounter previously and ye all already be experienced in zombies."

"That is the information I be having currently. If Bhrigu and I be getting any more from the charts and tales he found, I be amending this briefing to be letting ye all know."

Aeshma cleared her throat and Clíodhna looked back up again. "Aye, as Aeshma just be reminding me - Captain Baldbeard has offered to take a small item with ye personal scent from each of ye with which he and his pack can be tracking ye to find ye if ye get lost, taken or swept overboard. Considering this mission may well contain all of those unfortunate threats, I believe it be a good idea to take Captain Baldbeard up on that. Savvy?"

"Tis Captain Aylar now who be planning with ye and dealing with matters of the Crew." As she nodded to Aylar, the Ship's Cook stepped forward, and taking 4 tiny purplish black vials from somewhere on his spectral person, placed them directly in front of the Captain before taking one step back again, his eyes this time directly on Grog'tial.

-----
LOOT
Item Loot: each Crew member may choose 3 items (choosing a loaner item = 1 choice).
Except: Aylar, Baldbeard, Gilius, Kyp (who got charms/gems) may choose 2 items.
1 regular bandages (single use, stops bleed) *each = 1 choice
0 Heal Wounds bandage (single use, heals wounds only, some HP + stops bleed, burns) *each = 1 choice
2 Heal Potions (single use) *each = 1 choice
0 Potion of Mental Resistance
2 Repel Zombie Potions (repels zombies) *each = 1 choice
15 various teas = 5 +1d6 to resist roll *each = 1 choice
- 0 Earl Grey (Poison Resist)
- 3 British Breakfast (Sleep Resist)
- 2 Orange Spice (Disease Resist)
- 2 Lemon Ginger (Cold Resist)
- 3 Mint (Fire Resist)
Gems = can be magically attuned (Aeshma) as jewelry or applied to weapon. Properties are as described.
[Argy] 1 Abalone Shell (+10 Swim, Breath Underwater)
[Pugwash] 1 Bloodstone (+2 Cause Bleed or +5 Stop Bleed)
[Mighty] 1 Fire Opal (+2 Fire Dmg, or +1 Speed, +15 Fire Resist)
[Durik] 1 Turquoise (-5 to taking Physical Damage)
[Gilius] 1 Quartz (cast Heal/Purify 3 per Mission)
Charms
[Mighty] Monkey = a carved wooden monkey = +1 Agility, +1 Dexterity
[Kyp] Turtle = a carved shell turtle = +10 Influence turtles, +5 Defense
[Karnstein] A small spider figurine = once per Mission summons a spider to fight for you (dice roll - fail/size & type)
[Gilius] A Blowgun w/12 Needles (can be dipped in Sleep or Poison, not Weapon Oils)
A poisoned dagger = 2 uses poison (1d4 turns vs Constitution resist roll), then a normal nasty barbed dagger
Rapier of +1 Parry
Bastard Sword = normal, 1 handed for half-orc, two handed for others, not for halflings

[Gilius] Acolyte's Orb of Druidcraft, +1 Wisdom, Weathercraft once per Mission (predict weather/cause or turn weather - wind/rain/snow/hail/sun for 2+1d6 turns).

----- Items on loan - single Mission only then back into the Great Cabin for someone else to use ----
A Chessboard = gives 2 players +1 strategy Intelligence for next Mission (play chess game together)
[Pugwash] A heart-shaped music box = (+1d12 to resist mental attacks/influence - like the hallucinogen)
[Bellandra] A magical Handmirror = sees hidden, but mirrored "What ye seek but can not find, Use me instead, I not be blind.
[Argy] A magical Lantern = cuts through *any* darkness, adjustable cold blue light surrounds user with a cold fire up to a 5' radius.
[Aylar] Book on Dancing = +1 to Dodge for one Mission
[Grog'tail] Book of Plots, Intrigue, and Politics = +1 Influence/Intelligence for one Mission (this includes any Intelligence Resist roll)
[Bellandra] Book of Puzzles and Treasures = +1 to figuring Puzzles/disarming Traps/finding Treasure for one Mission
[Kyp] Book on Sword-fighting technique = +1 to Cutlass/Rapier/Saber for one Mission
[Durik] Book, The Mighty Monkeys™ Cricket Manual = +1 to Cudgel for one Mission

-----
Your current inventory can be found in Post 2

Hey Argy - soup's coming :P (see dragon turtle image)

Captain Baldbeard admires his new ring, superstitiously giving it a rub for good luck.
Looking around during the briefing, he marvels at his adventure with this crew so far, so different from his usual goals of hunting down and pillaging ships or terrorising coastal towns for treasure.

He ties the little bell he was gifted to a small hoop on his harmonica, and readies it for when his shark pack must be summoned.

Argy wakes up with a strong headache and not remembering much of what she talked with Bellandra. Hopefully she didn't say anything inappropriate... Wait, what is that? Argy notices a few dirty footprints near their cabins, too big to be Bellandra's or her own. She warns Bellandra: "Thar be filthy stalker aroun'. Check yer things, keep yer weapon close, and... take this." She hands her another pepper grinder.

During the mission briefing, she spends a long time scratching her head while staring in awe at Polly's (Clíodhna's) new look. She will ask for the Abalone Shell (to be attuned), the magical lantern (loan) and a lemon ginger tea bag. Before joining the mission, she will go to her cabin and read her book in search of useful information about the things they might encounter.
Before departing, she will drink the lemon ginger tea. She'll do it on the main deck, and will also have biscuits to eat with the tea, ready for anyone that wants to join her in that moment.

ROFL!! You go girl!! (thumbs up Argy!) ;)

Very Good! Argy will receive info on each enemy from her book via PM before Mission. Remind me if I forget!
Argy may also receive info on Phoenix - how do you think Aylar got told what she was? He borrowed Argy's book. ;)

Clíodhna hates crackers, but LOVES tea and biscuits! (Argy = new best friend ... oh, um, you too Aylar.) lol

Mighty

Mighty returns from storage area.
"Barrels and crates are fixed. Mighty will remeber not think too much, it is dangerous."
He notices monkey charm.
"Mighty will take small wooden Monkey, he will feel better with it."

"Lots changes while me ill in bed. Is C..cli..Kliuna Polly? And Aylar now captain? How.. long Durik slept?!"

"But ok, next mission.
Me take 1 Turquoise gem, less hurt more fight!
And 1 Earl Grey tea. Me needs to avoid poison atm.
Can Durik also check Mighty Monkeys™ Cricket Manual? It has gud pictures of cudgel fighting. Uh.. Durik can read too, me swear!"

He then gave his old (too small) shirt to Baldbeard for the scent-tracking rescue.

(To be fleshed out later, waiting for clarification from the GM on the vials, and needing to get more in character to figure out how he'll deal with Argy's gambit, and if he'll attempt getting Circeana's cooperation wrt sirens.)

As the morning progressed, Grog'tial got the distinct impression that the entire ship was against him. After the way she snuck up on him at the bazaar, he should've known better than to have any dealings with that witch - but how could he have known that these vials which Polly herself had laid out as loot, would have that kind of effect??! He'd have to go have a chat with Refyx; figure out how the gnome could stand to actually deal with someone like her - althrough he suspected that phrasing the question was half the answer - just stay out of her way.

From the loot, he picks a Heal Wounds bandage (vividly remembering the spear sticking out of the Count) and the Earl Grey tea (wrinkling his nose at the dust in the bag, and longing for his grandmother's pots of proper loose leaf tea), plus borrows the Book of Plots, Intrigue, and Politics, since clearly he needs to be brushing up on the best way to defuse this situation and make Polly - no, he corrects himself, best to start thinking of her as Clíodhna - and the ship see him once more as a valuable member of the crew, despite the lies which Aeshma had no doubt told them about him. Yes, he and Clíodhna each had a dagger at the other's throat, and were both aware of this, but their interests were still aligned, and he at least did not see any advantage in changing that.

There's no way Grog'tial will trust a dwarf who could very well be his half-brother's agent with his own scent, but while they are all working together, it does sound useful to give Captain Baldbeard the option of tracking him. As such, Grog'tial plucks a few hairs from the dwarf hair rope, and hands those over. The smell from all that dwarven hair should be strong and distinctive enough for tracking, while not being tied to him personally for longer than he cared to be tracked.

At Refyx, Grog'tial's quite pleased to see the new option of Explosive bolts, and orders 5. If Refyx seems amenable, he chats with him about the new captain and Polly's transformation into Clíodhna (did Refyx know that she was a phoenix? What's a phoenix anyway?), and he might eventually work his way toward regaling Refyx with Aeshma's completely unwarranted reaction to the vial. Grog'tial might admit to knowing little about necromancy, but it stands to reason that something powerful like this can be diluted into a lot more of something merely dangerous, doesn't it? (Let us use the weapon of the enemy against him!)

Grog'tial also asks Refyx on his expert opinion about the effect of firing a stun bolt into the sea wrt how that'd effect Merrow or sirens - the pressure should carry much further in the water, shouldn't it?

After arriving to the briefing, Count Karnstein compliments "Parrot's new feathers" and jokingly mentions how "woman's vanity truly knows no bounds, regardless of specie."

He ogles various gemstones but finds them all a bit tacky. Then he notices Spider Figurine and can't stop thinking how striking it would look on a mantelpiece in his house (he had also read in some book that spiders have no ears - could be useful against sirens mayhaps?).

He also grabs Healing Bandages and orders last cup of Earl Grey (ignoring with a smirk Aeshma mockingly suggesting British Breakfast instead).

Count will ask Kyp and/or Clíodhna whether mer-folk and chuul are prone to frost. And Clíodhna for time of the mission and weather forecast (if he'll need to use ointment or not).

Aylar considered the vials placed before him, then Aeshma, Clíodhna, and the spectral Cook eyeing the half-dwarf defiantly, and shook his head with a sign. "Right. So it be coming to this then. Very well, before we are to properly plan in earnest, some things require clearing I believe; normally the Code would demand all disagreements be aired ashore, but this room here will do fer the moment. Grog'tial, it be reported to me that ye have inquired about the effects of this here concoction - if I'm feeling this correctly, something ye picked up from the Necromancer's coffers, aye? Aeshma, mind explaining fer the benefit of the entire Crew what makes it so dangerous?"

Once / if the witch takes him up on the offer and explains to all what alarmed her so, he will continue, "Aye, that be the same thing that has killed our Cap'n Rummyfangs," he'll nod towards the ghostly felinoid present at the table. "Aeshma has been rather upset and very... adamant about how ye came across to her senses as particularly fixated on Clíodhna, and her being celestial-folk and all that kinda raises a brow in regards to yer character here. We've all here taken a vow- a magickally binding vow, with verily dire, even mortal, consequences if it be broken, mind ye- swearing that there be no harm come to Crew from fellow Crew, and that any treachery would be frowned upon greatly, so for ye to either consider a potential necessity to move against fellow Crew or fear foul play in return, well, it be concerning. I was simply intending to order ye to not use these on any allies, but the Cook here in particular seems to be quite of an opinion that it be unsafe to leave them with ye at all, so he took his own liberty in reappropriating them from yer person. In that case, I be proposing they be simply removed out of circulating altogether- Clíodhna, mind ye purifying those?"

He'll pause to gauge Grog'tial's reaction, and hear what he has to say towards that, then pick his turn back up.

"Fer yer information, poisons nae be danger to phoenixes, so that would have made for a poor leverage to begin with. That being said, I be quite taken aback by the notion that ye may think ye need leverage against any of us! All those reports about ye coming my way, I told our phantoms to keep a closer eye on ye, only to get even more reports about ye having spent plenty a time skulking about the Ship and spying ta even using the shell on a single occassion on yer fellows- yes, Argy, even ye - mind letting all of us here know what that was about? Are ye not among allies here? By Davy Jones wriggling beard, lad, I heard people be concerned about "colors of yer aura", he gestures to Aeshma here, "taking steps to parlay and establish good rapport ta seemingly no effect" to Clíodhna, "- ye have managed to even tick off the Ship itself with yer antics! Continue as is, and it will begin no longer even consider ye Crew, and I don't think I need to spell out what that would mean for ye!"

"Now, we nae gonna lock you up or seas forbid, kick you off the vessel fer this, it be too close to the Mission fer us to fall as low as infighting drama and as I understand ye have a personal stake involved into this Mission in particular, so it be only fair to allow you to participate, but if ye to sail furthermore with us, clean up yer darn act and stomp yer court plotting and paranoid conniptions on the neck, Grog'tial. Plotting and scheming be fer missions and their marks, not day by day routines. Skulking about be fer when you be aiming to put a bolt twixt Crew's enemy's ribs, not on deck. Spectral eyes have already been on ye fer awhile, now the living may feel free to join em, and I nae gonna stop anyone if they be judging ye in return. It greatly disappoints me that it be even necessary to have this conversation, and ye may feel angry at me fer dragging it all out in the open, but this is how it be here." He taps on the table with a finger, punctuating every following word. "No cloak and daggering on me damn Ship."

He'll again observe and/or hear Grog'tial out, then move onwards with planning regardless of lad's reaction.

(I be noting the Mission planning in a separate post later to keep it clear from the plot's developments. Sorry fer putting ye on a spot like that Grog, but as a Captain, and with GM giving me appropriately Captain-y intel bout ye, I need be reacting appropriately ta character)

Captain Baldbeard graciously accepts the rope hair, and takes them in, catching a faint but distinctive whiff of the far off dwarven lands the previous holder must have traversed over the nutty smell of the rope itself.

He also offers again to all the crew if they would like him to be able to track and locate them, to give something distinctively odoured of their own.

Mighty

Cracker flew to the table and grabbed Fire Opal for Mighty and returned to this shoulder.
"It looks like Cracker thinks all those sea beasties may not like fire. Mighty already has this burning oil, so maybe he will use the stone to be more speedy? Cracker will decide for Mighty later."

(ooc: Sorry everyone, this got very off-track. Partly a fundamental mismatch between my character and the story (exacerbated by my own stubbornness with wanting to stay true to how I see him, and which developments he is and isn't capable of), partly absolutely lousy timing. Trying to smooth it over here so we can get back to the fun part. The fundamental mismatch remains, and might still have consequences, but that's a much longer discussion with the GM which shouldn't negatively influence how any of you experience all of this!)

Grog'tial bristles inwardly at the way the half-elf addresses him, but cannot mistake the power which he seems to have gained overnight, and realizes he's badly out of his depth. He needs to smoothe things out immediately, and regroup. At the mention of vows, though, he stands up swiftly, and responds forcefully, "Aye, concerning it be indeed! Were you not there in the grotto?! The Count here was close to death due to the direct actions of fellow crew, acting recklessly without regard to consequences! This vow we all took - it be so badly worded that it be more like guidelines at best! If Origi can act that way... If you can suspect me of acting that way... then that in itself is reason enough to guard against foul play!"
"But!", and here he slowly looks around the Great Cabin, eyeing each of his fellow crew in turn, as well as Clíodhna and Aeshma, "I be not intending to harm any of you! Hear me true, as I swear upon my very own grandmother, on her life, on her health, and on her happiness, that there is no intent of that within me! I be cautious, 'tis true, and see clearly all the possibilities of future mishap which may occur, and seek to guard against them. But no more than that. As long as ye have no intent of harming me or mine, I have no intent of harming ye!"

Aeshma nodded and stood. "Yes Captain." She turned to the Crew. "I am told those vials were taken from the necromancer's lab by Grog'tial. They contain a spider venom altered by necromancy spell and ritual and were probably what the necromancer was using to turn himself into what he became with certain ... ritual. Using those vials on anything would have produced an undead, probably in drider form. The concerning thing is," and here she turned to look straight at Grog'tial, "it would have also marked the soul of the being using it, dragging that being slowly into an undead state itself and enslaving him to the Drow Spider Goddess." She turned back to the Crew. "Those vials are probably the same poison that killed Cap'n Rummyfangs. Cap'n Rummyfangs was a part of the Crew, defended the Crew, and chose to return to help the Crew as he could, so the Ship and Polly fought for him. I've been told you all saw how many nights it took 'Polly' to try to clear it from his spirit, to free his soul and bring him back. That was able to be done because the Ship still held to the Code of Cap'n Rummyfangs vow, he was Crew."

Clíodhna hopped off Aylar's shoulder and walked over to the vials, sweeping her wing along each. The purple black substance within turned to clear liquid. Then she returned to Aylar's shoulder.

Aeshma, to prove a point, then reached out, took one and drank it. Putting the empty vial back down. After Aylar had pointed out that phoenixes couldn't be poisoned, and had his say on the cloak and dagger, Aeshma spoke up again, looking at each of the Crew in turn and then back to Aylar. "That's just it, Captain, and all of you. Poison does not affect phoenixes, and necromancy and the undead are completely anathema to them, against everything they are down to their core. Think about it. You just saw ... even in her parrot form, 'Polly' could not have touched those vials, or they would have been rendered at least inert. Those vials are a type of trap as they were, but for them to have been put out in that chest? Whether it was a trap or some type of a test, I don't know by who or what ... but for them to have still been poison Polly could not have touched them."