Bar Brawls & Singing Sirens

**Bar Brawls & Singing Sirens** is the nineteenth episode of *Another Bad Side Quest*. The party and there new friend Jelly Bean work through a bar brawl before heading to the docks to face Krapjess' siren problem.

## Bar Brawls & Singing Sirens

### **Synopsis**

**Pre-Show Shenanigans**

* ABSQ's main character art is done by @laniekun, the world map of Palamoa by @TheBrassBailey and ABSQ logo commissioned by @KacperGilkaArt
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### **Part One**

The party stood around the sand pit as the angered crowd closed in around each of them. Killian started, squared between the bar and the sand pit with Quincy next to him, faced the nearest unruly patron, prepared himself to dodge an attack then gave *Bardic Inspiration* to Quincy for whatever they planned to do. Seren, who was a little further away between the sand pit and a cluster of tables, looked to a group of angry tavern goers intermixed with a few people who looked a little less flustered, and aware that the use of magic in the Empire was risky, cast *Calm Emotions* over them, leaving all all but one patron, the one closest to Seren, rendered docile and no longer a threat. Seren then cast *Shillelagh* on his staff, came up to the patron who resisted his magic politely asked him to calm down and the patron oddly intimidated by him agreed to back down, backing away as Seren told him to have a nice day.

Alaerith, still at at the bar and having missed the chair being thrown into the ring entirely from his less sober state, noticed a man nearby who looked ready to fight him, drunkenly raised his glass in the man's direction with a smile, causing the man to dismiss Alaerith as a threat and headed towards the larger crowd as Alaerith took the *Dodge* action, as he swayed on his stool, and sipped more of his drink. Tabernacle, who was with with Jelly Bean at the opposite end of the bar from Alaerith, faced with an angry patron, approached Flamecannon who was behind the bartop, grabbed a wine bottle from behind the counter and asked Flamecannon if he might call off the fight since its his bar as well as apologizing for the trouble, but Flamecannon merely says this happened all the time and that he wasn't able to stop it, plus it was decent entertainment. Tabernacle asked after their winnings from Yashani's fight and Flamecannon said as long as the damages to the bar weren't high they would see it, then called out for everyone to keep the damages to a minimum before swinging bottle over the head of the angry patron, but only manages to clip him.

The crowd went next, with the patron that dismissed Alaerith as a threat who moved around him to face Tabernacle, while more patrons from along the back of the room advanced on the rest of the party. Several of the patrons ganged up on Tabernacle and landed several hits, while the patron in front of Quincy took a swing against her and clocked her across the jaw. Quincy, in retaliation, pulled out *Peril & Pain*, spun the pistols in her palms to hold them by the barrel and pistol whipped the one who punched her twice, then told him to back off. Yashani, still in the ring with the unconscious body of her boxing opponent Arthur, sighed before she activated *Hand of Healing*, reaching out with her foot to tap Arthur's shoulder, sending the healing energy to wake him up as Yashani pulled him to his feet, removed her support to see if he would still stand and said aloud, as best as she could, that she thought he was down for good, but Seren seemed to be the only one who heard her. Jelly Bean, still next to Tabernacle and the man Tabernacle hit with the wine bottle, launched himself at a patron's leg, latched on and when the man noticed what grabbed him gave a signature *"Howdy partner"*, which caused them to scream and starts to flick his leg, but the attempt was made in vain as Jelly Bean managed to keep his hold. Arthur, now conscious, saw the bar fight, stumbled out of the ring, moved to a large barrel behind the bar and passed out on top of it.

RX, finding himself far away from the action, ran to the nearest rowdy tavern goer, said that it looked like they were sparring today, misses with his first swing, but used his momentum to connect with his second hit which also activated the amber inlaid in his hand, having almost a taser-like effect on the patron for a second. Killian lashed out with a fist against the patron in front of Quincy, while he cast *Thunderous Smite* which let out a thunderous crack through the bar and in the following silence asked, in his most dad like voice,

*"Are we done yet?"*

which was enough for Flamecannon to agree and recommended the crowd to leave, which they did grumbling as they left. The man Jelly Bean was attached to, having paused at the thunderous boom, suddenly remembered there was a sentient stuffed rabbit attached to him and resumed his leg flailing, but as Tabernacle reached down to grab Jelly Bean, Jelly Bean simply went limp and slid off. Tabernacle asked the man if maybe he had too much to drink, and seemed to fall for Tabernacle's deception as he agreed. He started to wander away in a daze, but as he did Tabernacle cast *Mage Hand* to pull his pants down to ankles as he left. Quincy turned to Killian and pouted that she didn't even get to use a chair this time, but Killian insisted they shouldn't have been in a bar fight to begin with.

At the front entrance, Seren passed out *Goodberries* to those who headed out the bar, focusing on the people who he magically calmed and thanked them for coming, while Alaerith put down his drink having been sobered slightly by Killian's attack and words. Once the regular folk had left, the party gathered closer to the bar as Tabernacle poked Flamecannon for their winnings. Flamecannon noted a few chairs that were broken nearby, but Alaerith asked for them to be brought to him for fixing. RX started to bring chairs that weren't even broken and put them in front of Alaerith, while Quincy slowly started circling Alaerith with chairs to confuse him in his drunken state. Yashani walked up to the bar, leant her elbows on the bartop and asked Flamecannon what they won and Killian rested his arm on her shoulder while repeating her same question as well. Flamecannon turned, walked back into a doorway behind the bar, disappeared for a few moments before he returned with a nice wooden box, put it down in front of Yashani, opened it and revealed 3500 gold, plus the sapphire Seren had put down. Flamecannon took 50 gold for the damages, that Killian weakly tried to argue but lets go of as Flamecannon explained it was insurance for the chaos Jelly Bean caused. Yashani said the drinks were on her, but Flamecannon insisted the drinks were on the house so long as she promised to come back and make him more money in the future. Yashani pointed out he may want to get someone sturdier in the future and they both looked back to Arthur who was still passed out on top of the barrel.

Tabernacle commented they may have to take the free drink offer up another night as tonight they had plans, but Flamecannon insisted on one drink, if not two since Yashani did so well. Flamecannon pointed out that Arthur was trying to beg for mercy when he grabbed Yashani's ankle and Yashani admitted she might have misread the situation. Flamecannon said she should compete tomorrow as well, but realized that no one was likely to want to fight her after seeing what she did to Arthur, but she stated that he would heal. Quincy commented that his nose would never look the same and Yashani admitted that she often looked like that when she first started training. Tabernacle noted that was the only way you learn to get that good. Seren asked where exactly she trained and Yashani replied that it was a story for another time, though Tabernacle tried to argue for some sort of explanation. Meanwhile, Killian cast *Message* and asked Quincy if she wished to go out for a walk to pick up the pig bladders, but seeing it was interrupting her continued attempt to mess with slightly drunk Alaerith dropped the *Message* spell, called across the bar to her and pulled out one of the chairs in the circle to let Alaerith out before she followed after Killian. Alaerith, now released from Quincy's chaos, took a look at the damaged stools and told Flamecannon his ability to repair them would take some time and should probably happen when his head was a little clearer, but insisted it was fine and he wasn't worried about it as the cut he recieved was more then enough.

On the other end of the bar Tabernacle had a small crisis about how much money they now had, and warned that if he got hold of it he would gamble it away again, which caused Yashani to pause on the word "again", and RX assured him that he would keep it safe from him. Tabernacle admitted that the only thing that kept him from losing the money he had was that he was planned to give it to his wife. He also added that his savings might be in jeopardy, until Yashani pointed out that he still had a relative to save it for and Tabernacle admitted if she was anything like him, a little money might sweeten the deal for her to like him as he didn't think his face and a kind word would be enough. Tabernacle then wandered off to take a nap, curled up under a table, snuggled up with Jelly Bean, who he still had carried around since the end of the fight, while Yashani meditated nearby. Meanwhile Killian and Quincy made their way back to *The Barge*, found that there were a few people who stopped and looking at the pile of pig bladders, considering that Killian had labelled them as "Performance Art". Killian noted that maybe he should have left a tip jar as they might have made some money, but Quincy stated she would have refused to keep money made from that.

Back at the *Drunken Lantern*, Alaerith asked RX what the current time was, and when RX replied that it was the 40th hour, Alaerith mentioned that he and Seren learned that sirens usually appeared at the 42nd or 43rd hour, which elated annoyance from Killian, as he and Quincy returned at that moment. While they entered, Seren was at the doorway, having waited for them, stopped to ask for his coat and asked if they would mind helping him into it. They agreed and helped put on the rich purple colored garment like poncho that, once was on, revealed a meshed out panel in the back that allowed Seren's glow to shine through, and also a nice hood that, with Seren resting normally, had extra fabric as if it was made too large but allowed him the ability to stretch his neck up and out of his shell without being hindered. Seren emitted his glow and the cloak glowed with it, letting the light focus more in the mesh strip, but not concealed by the rest of the fabric which Seren seemed pleased by. Killian and Quincy assured him he looked very handsome and Seren, uncomfortable with the attention, moved away and tapped Tabernacle awake, who was then handed the pig bladders by Killian. After a brief scuffle of who would assist Tabernacle, he showed the party how to tie off one end of the bladder before blowing into the other end, until it was inflated and tied that end as well. Killian asked for a better explanation before he put his mouth on the bladder and Tabernacle explained that the inflated bladder would act like a buoy, which should help keep the party from drowning if they fell unconscious or from getting dragged down by a siren. With a proper explanation Killian was happy to help. Tabernacle then handed off the bladder he would be using to RX to give him added support since RX can't swim and Tabernacle didn't need to breathe so drowning wasn't a worry for him.

Knowing they still had a few hours before the 42nd and 43rd hour would come, the party took to doing different things around the bar while they waited. Killian found a quiet corner and tried to commune with Avranti, but was left with the distinct impression that she was unreachable at the moment. Quincy sat by Alaerith and apologized for teasing him earlier, before she told him she had something to give him. Alaerith seemed confused, before he then replied that he had something for them as well. He pulled out a piece of parchment and the *Driftglobe* and told them he had intended to hand it over earlier since he had gotten the feeling that Quincy didn't like the dark very much and since Aarcanii left it for them felt it would be of better use to her. Quincy was stunned momentarily before they reached over to hug Alaerith, thanked him for the gift and admitted they felt worse for the teasing, but added that it means they liked him. Alaerith initially froze up at the sudden contact and his face turned to a darker shade, but accepted it. Quincy then pulled back, pulled out the ring Kaz had given them to hand off and told him that it was from Kaz, that she had said Alaerith was very kind, which Quincy appreciated and put the ring in his hand, which looked like sand constantly moving and spinning in a spiral against the black rock stone band almost holding it in place.

Alaerith looked at the gift confused and shocked and said that he didn't understand and didn't do anything. Quincy restated that Kaz said he was kind, which in her line of work wasn't easy to come by, and that she understood how he felt, and while Quincy admitted they didn't know what she meant was grateful for Alaerith was nice. As Quincy asked if he knew what Kaz meant they noticed that Alaerith look shifted between confusion, by what they or Kaz meant, but also fear, and though not sure if the two feelings were connected, hurriedly backtracked to tell him that he didn't have to share anything he didn't want to. Alaerith admitted that he didn't know, that all that happened was that on the ship when he bumped into her he formally introduced himself to Kaz, and apologized for using magic on her without permission, noting it was from habit and from her being Quincy's friend, and they had a few small conversations but he didn't remember them too well but. Alaerith looked down at the ring, and able to see it was and valuable and magical in some way noted that he didn't think he could accept it, and asked Quincy if it was okay to and they encourage him it was fine. After a moment of nothing, Quincy prodded a bit noting he must be curious and Alaerith admitted he was curious about a lot of things and added that "he hadn't recieved so..", but trailed off at the end and after a few seconds, decided to pocket it rather than put it on. Quincy asked him to let let her know when he tried it since she was curious and he agreed. Alaerith then added that he was sorry for what happened when they first entered *The Underdark*, with him taking the *Bag of Holding* and the tenseness of the situation, but Quincy said there was nothing to forgive as she knew it was a hard time for all of them, but still appreciated it. Alaerith finished by showing Quincy the commands to the *Driftglobe* on the parchment, while Quincy copied them into her journal before settling in to stay near Alaerith while she wrote in her journal for a little while longer.

Tabernacle coached Killian on how to properly inflate the pig bladders which Killian did not take very well and he eventually gave up. Killian stood from the table to leave *Drunken Lantern*, headed out to the outer limits of the city to a forested area, a good 40 minute walk from the tavern and once there, held the *Shadow Twins* in his non-marked palm, held both hands up to the sky and called out for Esmeria, shouting out that if she was watching he had questions and that if she really needed their help it would be in her best interest to answer him. Killian, as he stood in the dark woods, felt the Ruined Moon mark on his hand started to tingle, but didn't see anything around him but the trees. Killian announced he was leaving and told Esmeria to come out if she wanted to talk, but nothing appeared and Killian headed back into the city and to the *Drunken Lantern*. Once Killian returned, Tabernacle gathered everyone together and suggested they make a plan even if they didn't have a great track record with those.

Tabernacle helped go back over the description of sirens, creatures with pale blue skin and white hair and the ability to unhinge their jaws revealing rows of teeth, and commented they were essentially just looking for several white Quincys, which Quincy only proved his point by stating she wouldn't bite his head off, but would shoot it off. Seren, being reminded of the workers at *The Shipyard* mentioned an entrancing song and Seren offered that he could solve that problem if they could all stay close to him. Tabernacle suggested they keep the longer range people in the back to support those who had to be in the front lines, keeping at least a few people out of the cacophony of their song. Quincy also reminded them they had a block of wax to stuff their ears with and Tabernacle agrees it would help to some degree. Tabernacle then said he was tired, having had to fix the bladders that Killian didn't blow up very well and opened the floor for any other ideas. Yashani suggested bait, which Jelly Bean warned off anyone from looking at him immediately, but Yashani pointed out that he didn't seem to be the type of thing a siren would want to eat and pointed out RX wouldn't likely work either. Tabernacle noted sirens tended to go after attractive sailors and it sounded as though Killian fit the bill. After threatening to kill Tabernacle, Killian agreed to be bait and Seren piped up that while he did not quite fit the description that he would also like to be bait. Tabernacle made an odd comment about having had turtle meat, which Quincy admonished him for saying in front of Seren, but continued to talk about it, even after Seren admitted it makes him uncomfortable and wacked Tabernacle over the head with his staff.

Tabernacle hastily moved on to re-establish Killian and Seren as the bait while he stayed in the back to shoot from afar, but Quincy noticed RX trying to add something and RX pointed out that maybe bait should only be one person as to minimize possible losses. While Yashani assured him they wouldn't lose anyone, RX noted it was an important part of the stratgey and plan. Killian admitted that while he would appreciate the company for "Team Bait", Seren might be of better use to the bulk of the party by protecting them from the siren's song. Jelly Bean then popped in to say he and *Betty Lou* would like to get up close and wouldn't mind coming with Killian. At that point, the door to the *Drunken Lantern* opened and a familiar, barrel chested figure as Damen stepped inside. Quincy said hello, but reminded him that he wasn't allowed in the city *Krapjess*, but Damen told them Kylan hadn't returned to the ship. Quincy noted that he should have been back by now and RX wondered if maybe they had taken too long to deal with the problem. Tabernacle asked how close Nickels, the carpenter that he went to see was to the docks, and noted it was a couple streets down and not too far. Seren questioned Damen on where he had already looked and Damen insisted he had checked everywhere, first checking Nickel, who said he left a couple hours after, then that he probably talked with Lonnie at *The Shipyard*, and after being pressed insisted he had run around the last hour and a half.

Quincy recapped the plan of Seren staying with the majority of people to be in the *Silence* spell radius, while long range stayed back as far as they could which was her and Tabernacle in the back with and Killian chimed in that he and Jelly Bean would head out first as bait. RX asked where Killian would want him as he could be melee and long range and Killian suggested range to keep as many people out of direct harm as possible. While this happened, Seren cast *Augury* as he sat down with his staff in his lap. Tabernacle asked Killian if there was anything else they could do to make Killian feel more secure like tying ropes or something similar, and Killian noted rope would help, but added that he had wax, the pig bladder buoy and could swim so he should be ok felt as prepared as he can be. After Tabernacle told him to let them know if things got shaky, Killian agreed to get the word out if something went wrong. Jelly Bean pulled out a bag of his own, made of something like webbing, and pulled out several flash bombs and offered them as a way to blind their opponents and maybe surprise them before they get the chance to do anything. As Seren sat, he noticed that Jelly Bean's bag as had spider-like eyes that slowly blinked. Jelly Bean suggested they head to *The* *Misty Moon,* but Damen pointed out that Kylan wasn't there and just rolled his eyes before he headed out of the *Drunken Lantern* and to the shipyard, and Quincy in tow, handed off her new hat to help him keep a lower profile. Seren, having sat with his staff as he cast *Augury,* slowly ran his claws up and down the grain of wood, and asked

*"Broneli, great defender, if we are to save Quincy's father and head to The Shipyard, what shall we encounter there?*"

From his spell, his senses within him tingled and twitched and sparked to life before a sharp and unnerving feeling ran through his mind and Seren knew they would find pain, suffering and sorrow there. With that, Seren stood and hurriedly followed with the rest of the party.

### **Break!**

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### **Part Two**

The party, led by Damen and with Jelly Bean in tow, headed out to *The Shipyards,* walking along the floating wooden platforms that branched out on either side into the construction areas of the ships, where the main path was lit by a lantern every so often. As they moved down the line, the soft, faint sound of the siren's song drifted across the water and to them, though not strong enough to compel them, was a clear warning of what they would find. Seren, Quincy, RX and Tabernacle kept a keen eye out for any signs of people along the floating platforms, but found nothing nearby as *The Shipyards* stretched out before them, station after station. Tabernacle, unsettled as the siren song faded, activated his *Form of Dread,* cast *Flock of Familiars* and set out a seagull for Killian, one for himself and one for Quincy. As they continued, everyone worked to put the wax in their ears and once she had that secured, Quincy ran down the path and to the seventh station in *The Shipyards,* where the sirens had been known to be spotted with Killian at her heels. Tabernacle tried to stop her and reminded them of the plan, but they were already gone in search of Kylan.

The rest of the party followed as Tabernacle who trailed from further back in the group and grumbled about the plan. As they reached the third station, Seren, RX and Yashani noticed movement in the water 90 feet from where they stood on the platform and RX used *Ob's Charm* to alert the group, then pulled out his bow. Alaerith, knowing that outward displays of magic could be a problem in the Empire, looked to *Vile's Fang*, whispered that he hoped "you still do this", and flicked it gently as he cast *Disguise Self* to create a pistol in his hand that looked similar to Quincy's *Peril & Pain*. Seren followed out onto one of the branching docks to get closer to where the sound was, but didn't see anything as the rest of the party came to a stop and looked around. Tabernacle called out a warning over *Ob's Charm* to stay away from the water's edge so they weren't taken by surprise just as Seren and jumped in and cast *Silence* on himself. With his 300 feet of darkvision, Seren looked around, spotted a pale, blue skinned woman, but her skin was rotting off of her flesh, and as she smiled at Seren flung a ball of light at him, which rendered Seren *Paralyzed* as patterns in the water entranced him and when he finally pulled himself back to reality saw the siren was gone.

Seren popped out of the water just as the siren's song began again, this time within the range for it to now be dangerous, which all resisted except for RX and Yashani who were *Enthralled*. As they both made their way to the direction of the song and headed began to the edges of the platform walkway and the water, Killian and Quincy set themselves up in front of them. Seren used *Ob's Charm* and told the group to let the two get closer to him, as he swam closer to the dock, but even within his *Silence* radius, the trance still held. Killian cast *Gust of Wind* on Yashani, which knocked her back and the stumble seemed to bring her back, while Quincy, not having much in the way of gentle means, apologized before she smacked RX across the face. RX asked what happened, but Quincy could only respond they needed to be more careful and herded them closer to Seren. Tabernacle caught up to the group at that point and tried to tell Seren to get out of the water, but within his magical *Silence* was unable to hear him, though did understand Tabernacle's very stressed body language and climbed out of the water. Using *Ob's Charm,* which was telepathic and therefore immune to the *Silence* spell's effect, told everyone that he was alright. Tabernacle angrily asked for a good reason why he was in the water and that needed to follow the plan, but Seren pointed out that they had never been very good at following plans and that he was searching for Kylan, before he dived back into the water.

Seren once again spotted the pale blue skin, this time only seeing a pair of rotting feet at the very edge of his 300 foot darkvision, as Tabernacle jumped into the water and told him that he shouldn't go alone. Seren said that Tabernacle couldn't see them but could help him to, then reached out to tap his forehead and activated his *Eyes of Night* to grant Tabernacle 300 foot darkvision. Killian asked over *Ob's Charm* if the rest should wait or continue to look for Kylan and Tabernacle told them the figures that he and Seren saw and recommended the others follow the plan. Seren noted that the sirens were not headed in the direction of deeper sea, but heading further down the line of *The Shipyards* toward the last few stations, then both came up out of the water and Seren told the others over *Ob's Charm* that he would maintain his *Silence* as long as he could and had the others stay close to him as they continued..

The group trekked on to the ends of *The Shipyard* to the seventh set and as Quincy about to pull out her newly gifted *Driftglobe*, Seren reached out and activated his *Eyes of Night* to grant her and RX 300 feet of darkvision, like he did with Tabernacle. On arriving there they saw the ships that were being built, being given their masts and sails and their main decks installed. They noticed a ship currently in production and Killian and Jelly Bean advanced further and headed onto the mostly finished ship. Tabernacle activated *The Claws of Vaust* to climb onto a nearby small building that gave him a vantage point over the nearby area, with RX following close behind. Seren, Yashani and Quincy moved as a unit, still within Seren's *Silence,* closer to the ship where Jelly Bean and Killian were as Quincy reminisced over *Ob's Charm* about the familiarity of her and Killian sneaking on ships in the past. Alaerith stayed, mostly hidden behind the building RX and Tabernacle were on, out of sight of the majority of the map, very nervous and uncomfortable. As the party lied in wait for something to happen, Quincy noticed Damen was nowhere in sight and realized that they hadn't seen him since the last time they heard the siren's song near set three. With that in mind, Quincy and Jelly Bean swapped out bullets for specialty ones, with Jelly Bean loading in two special shotgun shells into *Betty Lou* and Quincy loading in a special bullet into her newly refurbished *Panache*.

As they waited Seren noticed that the lights around them seemed to dim and even the stars above seemed less bright than they were. As they dimmed again Tabernacle encouraged Killian to do something to bait the siren toward him and Killian gave a half-hearted sort of shout as he announced he was a sailor. Tabernacle tried to coach him before RX suggested Killian remove clothing, but Killian drew the line at that. Nothing seemed to happen in the following quiet for whole minutes at a time, before the light seemed to drop heavily and came back in a steady pulse almost like they were breathing, in and out, before it went completely dark. The lights soon returned but instead glowed with an eerie green glow. Inside the mostly finished ship, a hooded Figure appeared 10 feet in front of Killian and Jelly Bean, wielding a staff who raised their empty palm and revealed a green mark of the Ruin Moon. Through the seagull Tabernacle left with Killian, Tabernacle could see what was happening and relayed what he saw to everyone over *Ob's Charm*. As the Figure raised their hand, they said to Killian

*"So, ignorant.."*

tilted their head under their hood,

*"...What marks you, Wrathful Red? . . . How I'm waiting."*

Killian launched himself toward the Figure with the *Shadow Twins*, but the moment he tried he went through them as they disappeared. The unseen Figure continued to speak to Killian and said

*"The eyes . . . only show lies"*

but there was nothing to see as Killian and Jelly Bean could only hear the voice. Outside the ship, the crane that had been set on a track parallel to the ship moved by it's own means and blocked the path between platforms most convenient for Seren, Yashani and Quincy. Inside the ship, the Figure taunted Killian saying he smelled fear in him, but Killian responded

*"Show your face again . . . let's see who's really afraid come on."*

As the taunt was issued, Tabernacle warned Killian off from saying such things, but Killian insisted he would stab this person. As he said it, Killian saw the Figure bamph back infront of him just as they man lashed out with their staff and Killian, only just barely managed to dodge out of harms way. Undaunted, Killian leaped forward to attack and came down on the Figure with one of the *Shadow Twins,* while he activated a 2nd level *Divine Smite* and also activated his *Defensive Flourish* for extra damage and to bump up his defence, as the Figure used their reaction to activate *Corpse Armor,* which caused a half formed corpse to materialize between Killian's attack and the hooded Figure, taking the brunt of the attack before the Figure took the remaining damage. Killian then used the *Shadow Twins* ability to *Mark* the Figure and taunted them once again to ask who was the one afraid. The Figure in response then activated their *Invoke Authority* : *Aspect of the Reaper* which caused a bubble of the same greenish light to erupt from the Figure, which both Killian, Jelly Bean and Tabernacle's seagull failed as they took substantial damage and were left *Poisoned* and *Slowed* and the seagull was obliterated. In response, Jelly Bean pulled the pin on one of his flashbangs, warned Killian to close his eyes and let it go off and the Figure was left *Stunned*.

From outside the ship, the party saw the flash of bright light and scrambled into action as Tabernacle dropped onto his belly on the roof he was standing on and tried to fire into the ship through the window holes, but missed with the extra cover the ship walls provided the Figure. Meanwhile Quincy determined they could step over and through the crane, but it would take more effort. Inside the ship, Killian activated his *Channel Divinity : Turn the Unclean* but the Figure resisted the effect. Jelly Bean swapped out his shotgun, noting that the shells he had loaded would not be helpful, took two shots against with his pistol and noticed that the sound of impact was very different from what he is used to, but carried on to use a risk die to activate *Deed :* *Limb Shot* in an attempt to get Figure to drop their staff, but failed. Seren, Yashani and Quincy dashed forward over the crane and closer to the ship, managing to get Jelly Bean with in range of the *Silence* spell, while the Figure within the ship seemed to sink into the floor within their shadow and disappeared before Killian and Jelly Bean's eyes. Jelly Bean warned that him that this Figure looked like bad news and that they should regroup with the others, but Killian insisted the Figure wasn't getting away from him.

As that happens, the party outside heard a splashing sound coming from various points around *The Shipyard* as several sirens came up and out of the water around them. The sirens matched the beautiful description they were told of, but had rotted skin, bone showing through and their skin sloughing off with decay. Their song rung out across the dock heard by everyone. and left RX, Killian and Alaerith *Enthralled* and forced them to dash to the nearest siren.

Tabernacle, as the only one not enthralled or within Seren's bubble of *Silence*, was the only one to hear the Figure say

*"Let's see what the new recruits can do."*

1. ↑ The sapphire was determined to be about 500 gold value.
2. ↑ Alaerith had cast *Prestidigitation* on Kaz and Quincy, as Quincy had gotten bloody after the kelp drake fight and the blood had gotten onto Kaz when they hugged
3. ↑ Special shout out to Cartographer's Cantrip who designed the incredible map for *The Shipyards*! Link to their details found here!
4. ↑ To use new custom bullets, Quincy had to alter her original pistol and as such it became a custom item she got to name
5. ↑ This color matches Alaerith's mark