World of Embrel: Knights of Magic - Episode 5

==Summary==
After playing a decisive role in the defense of Wilderest from invading giants, the party became Knights of the Vanguard, knighted by the king of Oldirin himself. The Vanguard then tasked the party with a new adventure: to find a ship that will carry them south of the Summer Sea. There, they would find an isle with a shrine to the Goddess of Magic, where they might learn why magic in Embrel was dying—and how to prevent that death.
In this episode, the party reached the Lonely Coin, staged a prison break, fought in an arena, and gained the favour of a Witch.
==The Sunken Vault==
===Resting in a Brig===
Previously, the six Vanguard Knights had been instructed by Lovich Chrem to find a shrine to Efrelyn in the Southern Sea. With magic’s slow death, things were changing around the world: an affliction began draining the life from some people while some spells couldn’t even be accessed anymore. However, if the party could find the shrine, they had a chance to restore magic, possibly bringing forth a world unlike the one they knew.
To reach the shrine, they needed to pass the shallow coral that could rip through most ships. Following a rumor that Lucia Bonebeard, captain of the Coral Breaker, was in the pirate city known as the Lonely Coin, the party went to the Drunken Harpy in order to try to find the location of the city. Unfortunately, their frenemy Anara Silverclaw betrayed them, leading to their capture by pirates. In a stroke of fortune, the pirates planned to take the party to the Lonely Coin anyway so that they could be presented to the Sea Witch, who wanted to collect a bounty on their heads. Like the other seven Witches in existence, the Sea Witch was an immortal creature that could possess a new host upon death, regaining their old memories as the new body aged.
In the brig of the pirate ship, Uno took the opportunity to rest. He was a tall, buff Human paladin with giant feathered wings. He sat with his knees to his chest and his cowboy hat on his knees, sleeping. Linus, the green-skinned Goblin wizard, investigated every inch of the brig looking for peepholes. Ferrah Kerani, the Wood Elf monk, nervously performed upside-down situps as she hung from a beam in the ceiling. Exercise was a coping mechanism of hers. Lying on a cot while swinging her legs was Xochiquetzal, the Drow druid. She sung what she thought was a prison song, but in actuality was nonsense lyrics that she made up spontaneously. To the beat of the music, Lugo the Forceborn rogue threw pebbles across the length of the brig, aiming for one of his boots which he had set up as a target. The Knight Kartuk along with the sailor Face, who had told them about Lucia Bonebeard and her connection to the Coral Breaker, were also imprisoned.
===Interrogation by the Immortal Man===
After some hours of sailing, the ship docked. Pirates threw hoods over the heads of the party members and supplied manacles for everyone, including Toad, Linus’ tree frog familiar. They were taken to a different jail: the Sunken Vault, which was located on the Lonely Coin. The cell was full of water up to their ankles, ocean flooding in from grates on the floor.
There, the party was interrogated by the Immortal Man of the Gilded River Syndicate. He was a stocky man who appeared to be in his sixties, hair grayed and messy. Before beginning the interrogation, two Sea Scions—a race of Seafolk who looked like Tritons with mouths that had arthropod-like mandibles to flare open—arrived and led Lugo away.
When the party initially refused to answer the Immortal Man’s questions, he had Hope Lowti brought in. She was the party’s scribe who had disguised herself as a pirate, but who had apparently been captured. He broke her arm, which prompted them to begin answering questions.
The Immortal Man asked why they had so many copies of the same map. Linus knew they were fake copies of the map to Efrelyn’s shrine which he had forged as decoys. He tried to cast Witch Bolt, but runes on the cell walls glowed and caused his spell to fizzle.
The Immortal Man asked Ferrah if they had so many copies in case they lost one. As she was asked this, she felt something probing her mind. She resisted the effects, thinking of party members leaving the maps in bad places, along with their encounters with Anara and Alabi Anzul. Seeming to believe that the maps were indeed easily lost, the Immortal Man then asked why the party was looking for Lucia Bonebeard. Linus moved to answer, but Face covered Linus’ mouth and said they were not looking for her. Linus shook off the hand and said that they were looking for a ship that could go past shallow coral.
The Immortal Man was pleased with that answer. He thanked the party for the enlightening discussion, shoved Hope into the cell, and left.
Ferrah rushed to support Hope while Xochi cast Cure Wounds to set the broken bone. Hope stated that she didn’t think adventuring would be so painful. She thought it would be fun.
Linus investigated the room, casting Detect Magic. He saw that the runes on the cell were Enchantment magic that hampered offensive spells. He tried to recall if Dispel Magic would stop such runes, but he forgot how the spell worked.
===Prison Break===
Lugo meanwhile was brought through the massive island city that was the Lonely Coin. The guards led him to a coastal clipper where his uncles, Klace and Titus Valk, awaited. Having made a deal with the Gilded River Syndicate for Lugo’s return, the Uncles were there to retrieve him.
Lugo thanked his uncles but asked what would happen to the rest of his party. The Uncles said that the others would probably be killed. There was nothing they could do; though the Valk family was a big fish, the Gilded River Syndicate was a shark. The Immortal Man was known for cruelty, including disjointing someone and using them as a marionette. Getting Lugo was the best that could be done.
Lugo nodded. As the Uncles left to take care of some business, Lugo asked if the new hire hadn’t worked out. The Uncles said that it hadn’t.
After the Uncles left, Lugo snuck off the ship to attempt rescuing his friends. He at first tried swimming under the city, but felt something unnerving and decided to sneak on land instead.
Meanwhile in the Sunken Vault, Xochi Wildshaped into a tiny octopus to recon the area and attempt to steal keys from a guard. Linus dismissed his familiar, then had Toad reappear outside of the cell so that he could help Xochi. During the recon, the two saw the Immortal man taking a woman with long hair, alabaster skin, and beautiful eyes from a cell. He said, “So you are Lucia Bonebeard. You’re coming with us.”
After they left, Xochi activated her octopus camouflage to hide from the guard, who sat at the end of the hall with the keys on his belt. Toad hopped up to the guard as a distraction. The guard recognized Toad and picked him up to take him back to his cell. As they passed by, Xochi grabbed the keys.
Lugo then arrived, noticing the guard at the party’s cell, convinced that Toad had eaten his keys. Lugo tried to stealth his way over to kill the guard, but someone in another cell called out to be released. The guard noticed Lugo, dropped Toad, reached into his own pocket, and broke something.
Xochi heard a sort of whistle, and soon six Sea Scions entered. They used echolocation, revealing Xochi, whose camouflage turned bright purple as she spurted ink.
The party members were all returned to their cell, including Lugo. However, Lugo was able to conceal his lockpicks and keep them with him.
Xochi as an octopus hugged Lugo’s ankle. Ferrah thanked him for coming back. Lugo relayed the information about how powerful the Gilded River Syndicate was.
Attempting to escape, Xochi left through a water grate and into the ocean. Two Sea Scions who had been guarding the cell saw her leave. They shrugged and left as if they were no longer needed.
Xochi felt a current pulling her to the center of the floating city. It felt almost like the water was probing and consuming her mind, and she noticed a black mass of swirling smoke under the island. It pulled at her, but she used all her strength to swim away to the edge of the island. Crawling up, she saw stores and taverns. She returned to her natural form and blended into the crowd, grabbing loose articles of clothing as she moved in order to disguise herself as a pirate.
Meanwhile, Lugo picked the lock of the cell as soon as the Sea Scion guards left. Ferrah sprinted to the guard at the end of the hall, attempting to knock him out before he could alert anyone, but he saw her coming, screamed, and once more snapped something from his pocket. Ferrah knocked him out, but they all knew he had alerted more guards.
Uno and Lugo began opening other cells to release pirates. Lugo let out a Half-Goliath Half-Sea Scion, a massive man who grabbed a guard as they entered and ripped into their face with his mandibles. Uno released a pirate with a peg leg who unscrewed the leg to reveal two daggers, one of which he gave to Uno. Others released included a Tiefling woman and a Gnome named Nik-Nik.
Nik-Nik pointed out a locked steel door and stated that all their equipment was on the other side. Uno tried to bust down the door, but failed.
At the other end of the prison, a guard shouted, “Lower the vault!” The group heard a chain moving as the water level began to rise.
Linus cast Heat Metal on the steel lock of the door and told Face to plow into it. Face grabbed Uno and swung him into the door, busting it down. They could see that the entryway was shrinking like a passing platform on an elevator, the prison sinking. Ferrah grabbed Hope and helped her through while Lugo grabbed Nik-Nik. In the end, only two people didn’t make it through, one of which was the Half-Sea Scion who could breathe water anyway.
==A Bout in the Arena==
Xochi meanwhile walked into a bar and blustered her way to a seat. She asked where she could find the Immortal Man, but when the barkeep didn’t know who that was, she said it was a music group and left.
Six bells suddenly rang. The pirates became excited and surprised, moving towards the center of the city. Xochi followed them and reached an arena where a fight was about to take place. Xochi saw a woman with six arms and the lower body of an octopus being treated like royalty and decided to sit beside her. When she was informed that this was the Sea Witch and she was not allowed to sit there, she scooted away.
In the confiscated equipment room, the party put on their gear. Ferrah grabbed Xochi’s gear as well. They heard a voice coming from nowhere, which said that they would find no escape. “Come forward to the arena, and if you’re impressive, maybe the Sea Witch will let you live.” Another door opened, leading to an arena surrounded by a fence of spikes and a moat of water before reaching the stands packed with pirates.
Ferrah gave Hope her shortsword and told her to stay behind her. She would protect Hope as much as possible. When Nik-Nik had a crisis and said he couldn’t fight, Lugo told him that a fight wasn’t ideal, but if they didn’t fight, things would be far worse. The Gnome said that was an inspirational speech and entered the arena. On the way, Linus grabbed his shoulder and told him, “Don’t attack anyone.” Then he cast Invisibility on the Gnome.
The Tiefling woman who had escaped the sinking jail grabbed thirty-seven daggers and headed out, along with the peg-legged pirate and the rest of the group.
At that moment, Xochi realized that she had seen a lot of serpent imagery on the Lonely Coin. Many in the city were probably followers of Svsx, the Serpent Queen.
In the arena, they group was faced with a massive snake with five heads and two clawed arms. The Tiefling charged the snake, but it grabbed her and bit her with each of its heads. Poison bubbled over the woman before the creature ripped her in half. At that, the peg-legged pirate had a heart attack, but it was a weak one. He also charged the snake, but got thrown and impaled by a spike at the edge of the arena. He said it was just a flesh wound, though he quickly succumbed to the injury.
Lugo skirted the arena trying to draw the creature’s attention while yelling to Linus that the cold worked well on such creatures. He drew his crossbow, but accidentally shot the invisible Nik-Nik, causing the Gnome to reappear. Linus glared at Lugo, then ran to the other side of the snake before casting Mirror Image. Unfortunately, the snake’s claws rent into him, a massive wound. The Sea Witch chuckled at the sight.
As the battle started, Xochi looked for a way underneath the stands so that she could help her party covertly. Three teenage pirates were smoking and making out under the stands. Xochi nodded to them, then set to work, casting Enhance Ability to grant Ferrah the endurance of a bear. Ferrah moved in front of Linus before shooting an icicle of dragon’s breath at the snake, then channeled her ki to use Patient Defense. Uno smashed into the snake with his flail, radiant energy crackling from the blow before he shoved the creature back with his shield. Hope remained frozen in fear, protected by Face and Tuk.
The fierce battle continued with Uno flying over the snake and smashing it with a critical blow while Linus struck it with an icy Witch Bolt. Lugo saw a chest on the battlefield and opened it, but it was a trap that sent mushroom spores into his eyes and ears, blinding and deafening him. The audience laughed, and Lugo took a moment to feel bad for himself.
The snake attacked multiple party members, raking across Ferrah’s back with its claws and popping one of Linus’ mirror images. The creature grabbed Uno as he flew overhead and bit him with each head, scraping off chunks of flesh. The pain knocked him unconscious, though Xochi cast Wither and Bloom to damage the creature and restore Uno’s life.
Ferrah released a series of icy punches while Lugo reached into his pocket, grabbing the obsidian bullet for his arcane hand cannon. He shot at the snake. The bullet exploded, reality warping as a fire elemental appeared. Linus hid in the chest with his remaining clones as the elemental lumbered towards the snake, its mere presence burning the snake along with Ferrah and Uno. The audience was on their feet, gobsmacked by the spectacle.
At that moment, Titus and Klace arrived to watch the fight.
The fire elemental unleashed gouts of flame that did critical damage to the snake behemoth, and in response, the snake ripped into the elemental. Xochi cast a powerful Healing Word on Uno. Ferrah edged away from the fire elemental but continued her assault. Her rime-covered fists caused the scales to ripple, denting the flesh.
Severely wounded, the snake creature fell and held up an arm, looking to the Sea Witch. The Witch gave a thumbs-down as the crowd cheered for the party to finish it.
Uno was eager to oblige. He retracted his flail back into its mace form and crushed all of the snake’s heads, leaving skid marks on the ground. Gore covered him as he pulverized the creature into pulp. Ferrah ran to Hope and covered her eyes.
==The Sea Witch's Favour==
The battle done, Uno turned to the Sea Witch and roared. She gave a gentle clap. Sea Scion guards crawled over the walls with arachnid-like movements as a drawbridge extended from the arena. All those left alive were ushered out, and in a minute, the fire elemental dissipated.
Xochi tried to reunite with the group, but couldn’t make it to them before they reached a private box with Sea Witch and her attendant. The Sea Witch was very hypnotizing to look at.
The Sea Witch whispered to the attendant, who conducted the interview. The party had so impressed the Sea Witch that not only would she grant them their freedom, she would also grant them one item or favour as a boon.
Nik-Nik tried to talk, but Face grabbed his mouth to keep him quiet.
Lugo asked for Lucia Bonebeard, but unfortunately she had already been granted to the Immortal Man. Next the party asked for the Coral Breaker, but the attendant stated that it had been lost at sea, as far as they knew.
Finally, Ferrah asked for the blueprints and location of the Immortal Man’s base. This was information the Sea Witch could provide, given a few hours to gather it.
Uno asked if the Sea Witch would be upset if something happened to the Immortal Man. The attendant stated that the Immortal Man was part of the Gilded River Syndicate. Much like a hydra, removing one part would mean that others would take its place.
Uno said that nothing was going to happen anyway, as the party was simply planning to throw the Immortal Man a birthday party. He winked while saying, “Wink.”
The Sea Witch invited the party to return to the Lonely Coin and engage in the arena whenever they wished. She would be glad to provide a healthy stipend in exchange for the entertainment. Lugo was given a coin with a constellation depicted upon it as a means to return to the moving city.
The group was ushered out of the box and into the city proper. They passed through the inner keep-like area and then through the outer district full of shops and the harbor. There, Xochi rejoined the group and Nik-Nik disappeared into the crowd.
The party went to a tavern to have a drink while waiting for the information from the Sea Witch. Face wore his agitated mask, upset that they didn’t have Lucia and stating that he didn’t have much time left. When asked what he meant by that, Face said that he would tell them later.
Titus and Klace arrived, saying that they were impressed by the fight. Lugo had wasted a bullet worth 1000 ounces of gold, but it was still impressive. Lugo said it wasn’t a waste since it helped them survive and impress the Sea Witch.
Lugo asked if the Uncles could bring him and his party back to Záchálas, and they agreed. Linus rented a bed for an hour to rest. The Uncles headed out, telling the party to meet them at their ship when ready.
Ferrah comforted Hope, who was traumatized by seeing death. It was so romantic in her stories but so much more visceral in real life. She wanted to see more.
Uno said that Lugo seemed close to the Uncles, who might be wanting him to go in a different direction than staying with the Vanguard. Face asked for Lugo’s weapon if he decided to leave the party. When Lugo stated that no decision had been made, Face asked for a coin and gave it a flip. Heads, Lugo would leave; tails, Lugo would stay. It landed on heads, but Face said that the result didn’t matter. Hopefully, Lugo would be able to see what he wanted. Uno agreed, saying that the longer Lugo waited to make a decision, the more it would hurt.
Lugo tried to deflect, but Uno that Lugo did that a lot when he felt insecure. Face said that it sounded like a defense mechanism. Lugo once more deflected, bringing up how Uno would punch things a lot as his defense mechanism. Uno agreed and stated that he was actively working on it. They toasted to deflection.
An agent of the Sea Witch arrived and gave the party the information they were waiting for. The Immortal Man was based in Záchálas, in the merchant district. He was also the faction leader of the Talon and lived at the Talon headquarters, which was where Lance Zetna was stationed.
==Unknowns==
===Current===
*What gives the Coral Breaker the ability to break through coral?
*Why was Lucia Bonebeard imprisoned?
*How does the Lonely Coin move around?
*Where is the ancient Blue Dragon?
===Completed or Removed===
*Complete: What does the Sea Witch want with the party?
===Rewards===
Linus, after seeing Xochi camouflage as an octopus, figured out a spell to camouflage himself. He had it in his head so he could use it once, but would need to spend downtime to learn it permanently.
Lugo gained the ability to stun a creature restraining him once. Using a successful attack, he could stun the creature for one turn.
Ferrah gained the ability to pass on the element of her Draconic Strike to an ally once. After attacking, she could choose a damage type listed in the Draconic Strike feature. One ally of her choice could use that damage type when they attacked.
Xochi gained the ability to cast any spell she knew as a reaction to mitigate an effect once, a sort of Counterspell.
Uno gained the ability to become incredibly charming and insightful once as a boon from the Gods.
==Notes==
All players levelled to Five.
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Knights of Magic - 05