An Unusual Compass

Autumn 721 - The Argent Isles - The Amaranthus

The large priestess returned to the tower space, after a short battle, Tobias stabbed the woman in the calf causing her to fall dead.

The Captain placed a fishman arm into the turtle statue mouth, the mouth snapped shut and released a collar, inside which was a compass that did not point north.

Kronos found on the priestess’ body a diary entry from Father Luvon, it explained about a Great Wizard Jaharis, who 300 years ago enslaved the power of crystals and that the compass points the way to find him.

Tobias sneaked upstairs, Grug and the Captain traveled downstairs to get a table. They were trying to use the portable hole and the table to decapitate the head of the turtle statue so they could steal the collar.

Upstairs the Halfling found that there was no crystal where it should be, but there was a book written in Aquan. Tobias called down for the Triton who could read the book. It was simply a boring religious text.

The group descended to the basement. There were many boxes, and the Captain ate a lemon and drank some wine. Also in the basement Tobias found a letter that explained the Sahaugins were trading with the naughtier of the monks in the tower; pipeweed and ale for books about Porcan and Treosanth. There was blood on the letter and the basement had been ransacked.

The party killed two more Sahaugin, then had a short rest while Tobias played a restful song.

Then they wandered into a sea cave, where there was a shark that tried to bite Kronos. Tobias taunted the shark so that it attacked. The party then killed the shark as it beached itself on the land. Billy Bob filled the portable hole with the dead shark, sacks of flour, lemons, and the rest of the space he filled with ale.

Back in the swamp Kronos fell into the swamp, then Billy Bob summoned his floating disk again, then Kronos, Tobias and Grug climbed onto the disk, and get through the swamp without too much trouble.

After a brief discussion with Barty the crew decided to sail in the direction that the compass was pointing.

As they sailed past Narrowport, the crew noticed that a pirate ship is entering port, this should not be but the First Mate Mirrian told Tobias that the Pirate fleet had a deal with Narrowport and Linmarsh.

As they sailed further on the bearing there descended a fog, Tobias issued the command to light the lanterns and slow the ship almost to a stop. Ahead they spotted a ship adrift, as The Amaranthis slowly passed by the ship the Captain issued the order to fire a warning shot from a cannon. There was no reaction from the ship, only that it drifted towards the crewed vessel unnaturally. The order of full sail was issued and they expedited themselves away into denser fog.

After more sailing the sip arrived at an island in the dense fog, it seemed normal enough apart from the shiny gold statues on the shore. They decided to circle the island to check that the compass was in fact pointing to the island and not past it.

After rowing the jolly boat ashore the Captain approached the statue. It was a man frozen in terror. Tobias investigated, it seemed to him that this was not crafted by normal means. Billy Bob pushed the gold statue into the portable hole, and a further 3 statues are added into the hole, the captains greed knew no bounds.

From the woods an iron bull appeared and snorted, a green gas exuded from its nostrils. It was about to charge.

Billy Bob cast grease, Tobias ran forward and try to mock it but I couldn’t find the right insult, he did manage to inspire Kronos. The Bull slipped in the grease, as it fell Grug missed with his longbow.

A volley of ranged attacks and magic flew into the fallen metal animal as it tried to regain it's footing. A cone of green gas enveloped Kronos and the captain but they seemed okay.

Grug was not as good at longbow usage as he was with an axe.

Billy Bob ran to the coast where he attempted to signal the ship to his danger.

The Iron bull seemed to be too wise for Tobias' psychic whispers.

Grug was confused, should he go with The Captain to the shore, or help his friends in melee?

He charged and grappled the bull.