Chapter One - In Search of Vanthus

[Vardaen]

Daerith looks to Knarra, "Lets start moving these toward the shore, but out of sight from the beach while Berek and Shumba check on the boat." He nods to Berek, "I bet you are right, he probably took our boat. He didn't have one here is my guess, dropped off by a croney as he laid in wait for us. If the boat is gone someone will have to swim to shore and get another boat and come back for us and these chests. All while trying to not let Vanthus know we are alive. Any fees for the boat can just be taken out of this money here." He pats the top of the chest.

[Trogdor]

With plenty of time, an ample amount of rope, a climbing kit, and a skilled person to help, everyone makes it up the rope without any trouble. Topside, you discover a discarded trap door and a scattered pile of rocks of various sizes. And yes, sitting on the ground beside the now not-so-secret opening are the two treasure chests from below, the coin and gems still inside.

After a few moments to pull the rope back up and at least cover up the opening again, Berek and Shumba head down to the shore to check on the boat, while the others start ferrying the chests down the rugged trail. As predicted, the boat is gone. And it doesn't take much to figure out who stole it. Daerith's suggestion seems most likely. Since Vanthus was clearly hiding on the island when you arrived, and since you didn't see a boat at the only decent landing place, he must have been dropped off on the island. And why would he wait to be picked up when there was a perfectly good boat lying around. Grumbling over a lost 40 sun deposit, Berek hikes back up the trail to tell the others.

Soon both chests have been brought to near the shore and the five of you have gathered. Keeping out of view of passing traffic, you assess your current situation. The island you're on is in the middle of Sasserine Harbor. The shore you landed on is barely fifty yards from the nearest dock, perhaps thirty from the closest land. Shumba and Berek could easily swim that distance without worry. But even without swimming, getting off the island would be simple. Sasserine Harbor is a working harbor. Work is ongoing on several docks within sight. And boats continually ply the water around you. In fact, not getting noticed would be harder than getting noticed. As you peer through the concealing undergrowth you realize that the only way to get off the island without being seen would be to wait until dark.

OOC

Swimming to shore would be easy, though visible. But given that down-on-their-luck sailors sometimes sleep on Parrot Island, most people would probably pay little attention to one fellow swimming to shore. There's seeing and there's noticing.

Five of you taking two heavy chests off the island? That couldn't help but get noticed.

So if you want to get off the island without being noticed, then you'll have to wait for dark. Getting a boat will be fairly easy. Panchi will be happy to rent you another (though it's more rickety). After all, he gets to keep the deposit on the first one, which more than paid for the loss. He's making money on every boat you lose. He'd rent you another boat for 5 gp. He'll also agree to keep his mouth shut about the whole incident (lost boats, late night trips, mysterious heavy chests, etc. for another 50). By reputation he's not the sort to sell you out to the Lotus Dragons. But he's been in Sasserine long enough to know that silence is something people pay for. And you know rumors of mysterious trips to Parrot Island would probably get him a few free drinks.

In any case, post know how and when you want to get off the island and if you want to pay Panchi his hush money.

Map

For scale, it's about 50 yards to swim to the dock that has the Plucked Parrot at its base.

[mackaber]

"Dirty rotten Basterd I hope he rots in hell..." curses Berek as he and the noble pygmy warrior return to the others. "Aight the son of dog stole our boat... I'd say I swim over and ask me buddy Panchi for another..."

OOC

Don't see the point of paying off Panchi after all a rag tag group like us will not be able to keep a low profile for too long and from an IC perspective Berek will do all he can not to mess with the Lotus Dragons. So I'd say let's just do it now

[Cattywumpus]

Knarra looks around and sighs, "All this worldly goods an' yet I'd give dang near anything for a comb an' a mirror right now." Well, What'll ya all say?

[Eanwulf]

Shumba seems to be affected very little by the loss of the party's boat. After all, they were now free from their prison below! When the time comes to decide whether or not to wait until dark, the half-orc seems more inclined to remain within the peaceful confines of the surrounding wilds until nightfall. This does not however, mean that he shall go against the wishes of his peers, should they desire to leave at once. Smiling playfully at Knarra's disdain for appearing a mess, Shumba merely continues to smile and offers to braid her hair, should she so wish him to.

"Don't joo fret none Mistress Knarra," Shumba proclaims smilingly, "Joo look as beautiful as ever!" He then goes on to add, "If I were but a dwarf myself, I'd take you over to yonder bush and give you a reason to tussle your hair some more! Sadly however, I'm not! I can however, help you in getting the kinks out of your hair, if you want me to."

OOC

Try to scrounge up some pond fronds, or even maybe try to catch a fish if time permits. The bonds and bush can possibly be used to comb the woman's hair with. Also, Shumba can always try to make a comb for the little lady, even though he would have to try his hand at carving one. A skill that he is far from proficient in one might add

[Vardaen]

Dearith stands in the trees looking across the harbor, "Hold on Berek, before we go swimming out in the open I think we need to figure out our next step here. I am for waiting until dark, its only a few more hours (maybe 7?) and then someone can swim to It Still Floats and get us a boat and come back for the rest of us and the chests." He looks over at thetm, "You don't think we'll get stopped by the harbor guards and taxed on our illegal smuggler's coin do you? I'm sure they will have nothing to say about a rag-tag bunch of... of adventurers smuggling in ancient coins and gems. We also have Vanthus to think about. When we get back to Lady Vanderboren she's going to want to know what happened, and I can tell you from what I know about Lavinia in our past she's going to want Vanthus. That means we are going to have another job, capturing her brother. That means dealing with the Lotus Dragons if the note on Penkus has any truth to it. So I say the longer Vanthus and the Lotus Dragons think we are dead, the more likely we are to stay alive. A little hugh money to Panchi seems cheaper to me than dealing with the harbor guards and the Lotus Dragons until we are ready to deal with them." He glances over at John, Shumba and Knarra. "What do you three think? Should we wait till dark and pay off Panchi for silence or do we just walk out of Vanthu's trap waving a big pirate smuggler flag." He puts his boot up on one of the chest posing like some rum guzzling captain.

OOC

I vote for waiting for dark, paying of Panchi (all coins from the group chests we just found, it ends up being like 10gp each)

[mackaber]

Berek gives the Elven Warrior Wizard a good look over his gaze indicating that he is slowly but surely doubting his sanity. He then barks "Aight. We wait till dark, and pay off Panchi if need be but let me make one thing clear, I ain't gonna mess around with them Lotus Dragons and neither should ye Daerith. They'se the reason me poor sod had to take up work with Lady Vanderboren and they killed some o me best friends an family and not only that they took out every single guild in Sasserine within little more of a year and in doin so they had to deal with mighty finer enemies than me you or Lady Vanderboren. And quite frankly none o her ritches er gonna get me to mess with em..."

[Vardaen]

"All the more reason to not let them know you survived the trap they set for us, if Vanthus is one of them. I don't want to deal with anyone but Vanthus, but if he's part of some guild or cutthroats then we better take them into accound planning our next move. Let's hope we don't have to, but do you think Vanthus just turned himself into the authorities? I don't."

Daerith is pleased that Berek will do things his way for now, better safe than sorry, espcially in the groups current state.

OOC

Sounds like 3 yeses (since Shumba said he's wait till dark in his previous post.

[Trogdor]

Deciding that it's better to be safe than sorry, you all settle down to a long wait until the sun goes down. It's hot, but you're all used to that. Between the shade of the trees, the breezes from the water, and the constant background noise of insects and parrots, you find it quite relaxing. In fact, after the exertions and late mights you've had, several of you are able to doze for a bit - in turns, of course. There are even a few fruit trees on the island, and plenty of leftover crab down in the smuggler's cave, so you're able to put together a reasonable evening meal.

Eventually, however, dusk falls, and soon thereafter, full dark. The boats in the harbor have tied up for the night, except for a few carrying people making social calls. Berek makes the swim easilty to a spot near the Plucked Parrot, where he climbs to shore and heads to It Still Floats, where he has to bang on the back door to get Panchi to come down from his rooms above the shop. The dwarf doesn't seem too terribly upset about the loss of the boat - the deposit will more than cover his losses - and is even willing to rent you a new one (with another hefty deposit). The new boat is not as nice as the one Vanthus stole, but is certainly seaworthy enough to ferry you off the island.

Berek pays Panchi for the boat rental and rows it back to Parrot Island, where it is quickly filled with treasure and people and rowed through the Merchant's District to a spot right near the entrance to Vanderboren Manor. It's quickly unloaded and the two heavy chests moved into the house, Kora Whistlegap informing you that Lavinia is having dinner with a colleague.

Berek and Daerith leave briefly to return the boat, at which point Panchi, who clearly saw some of what was going on, agrees to keep his mouth shut for fifty suns. Berek nearly explode at the suggestion. But Daerith convinces him of the wisdom of such action and the bribe is paid.

A short time later, they, along with the others, washed and rested, sit at the dining room table having supper when Lavinia returns. The young noble takes a chair and pours herself a glass of wine. "What news have you?" she asks," eying the two old chests sitting to the side of the room. "I see that your day was eventful."

[Vardaen]

** On the Isle **

Daerith produces a load of elven bread, and a hunk of cheese to go along with the meal of fruit and crab, and all in all its not too bad. He coudl stand for some wine, but doesn't complain.

OOC

I had previouly marked these items off my sheet but never RPed them, so there it is!

** At Lavinia's **

Daerith is pleased that the group has arrived safely and even more pleased to hear Lavinia is safe and sound. When she arrives he stands up and walks right over to her and without so much as a 'how do you do' he gives the woman a big hug. "I am so glad you are safe Lavinia. We have much to tell, and..." he glances at the picture of Vanthus on the hearth, "...not all of it s good. Your brother, we found him. Or I should say he found us. He's changed Lavinia, and not for the better. Come sit." He escorts the woman to a chair and calls for a glass of wine for her from Mrs.Whistlegap. "He has fallen in with a group of thugs called the Lotus Dragons. I'm not sure if you've hear of them or not, I haven't until today, but Berek knows of them, and none of it sounds that good. Vanthus, well, he's killed one of their leaders, a man named Penkus, and has usurpered his place." He then shows Lavina the note found on Penkus. "He tried to kill us too, locked us in the old smuggler's hideout on Parrot Island, and it was only the grace of the gods, some luck, and skillful hands that allowed us to escape with our lives." He goes on to tell the tale to Lavina trying to be aware of her feelings, sparing her the grizzly details, and easing some of the harder blows as best as he can. "...and so we rowed to shore with the coins for our trouble, and came here straight away until you found us."

OOC

Use Sense Motive and Diplomacy to tell it to her straight, but gentle. I don't leave anything out, there is no reason to really, but the gruesome details of murder and rotting zombie flesh are softened.