Sword of the Skulls Episode 2: Out of the Frying, and also Out of the Fire

## Episode Summary

The party meets for the first time over the corpses of two undead abominations. Vermillion points out that the ship is on fire, claiming to be Mingeington Marshely, the rope inspector.

Lilith attempts to threaten "Mingeington" into helping with the fire.

Below deck, Redwin has awoken. Jad makes his way to the hold to recover Ehren, and encourages Vermillion to retrieve Redwin - who immediately assaults the elf when he attempts to do so.

Lilith determines that the fire is too large for her druidcraft to be of any use and heads to the top deck, while Jad rushes into the rooms in danger of catching fire; donning his mask of mercy. He encounters two kobolds who cower in fear, and is unsuccessful in convincing them he means them no harm, but they do flee to safety.

Bathilda rushes to the fire with Stunty in tow, both wielding buckets of sand, and urges Jad to help by getting more sand from the hold.

Lilith casts druidcraft to deal with smaller patches and prevent it spreading further. Jad leaves Ehren with the yuan-ti monk Tessa, grieving next to the body of their brethren, the well-mannered half-elf Jerry, before following the ship's bosun directions to gather more sand. Malia and Vermillion head in the dire of the boat they arrived on.

Jad gathers an inhuman amount of sand in the firefighting effort, and with Bathilda and Stunty, the flames are quelled.

Malia and Vermillion reach the side of the ship only to find that Marcus has stolen their row-boat and has set off into the distant ocean beyond. Vermillion spies a lifeboat in the rigging above and scampers up the mast to swing it out over the water, releasing it a little *too* quickly, while Malia attempts to recover the prone Ehren. She is stopped by Redwin who is at first resistant to the stranger taking his charge, but Malia points out that the ship is on fire and they have a boat.. and he seems to agree that fleeing is indeed a better option.

Atop the rigging, Vermillion watches as the the salt bogan Barry and his son run for the lifeboat he lowered into the sea.

Meanwhile, Lilith confronts Malia and Redwin as they attempt to flee, letting Redwin know that the fire is under control, and pointing out that both the fire and assassination attempts coincided with the appearance of Malia and her companion.

Jad and Bathilda start bringing bodies up from below deck, and Jad spies the group with Lilith seemingly facing off against Redwin and Malia. Malia points out that the ship has been recently attacked by FREAKIN ASSASSINS AND WAS THEN SET ON FIRE and tries again to convince everyone to leave the ship using the boat Vermillion has secured. Lilith notices the mysterious figure who abducted Ehren from his room awaking, and suggests to Redwin that there are still answers worth finding.

Malia explains that they were sent to stop an assassination. Jad notices the form and function of Malia's daggers, and doesn't seem to buy the pair's cover story. Not for the first time, Jad appeals to Redwin's sense of fellowship; asking if the dragonborn is truly willing to trust these strangers more than him and Lilith, with whom Redwin has travelled now for a month or so. Lilith reminds Redwin of all she and Jad have done in aid of protecting. Jad feels a burst of pain; with a boil erupting on his head.

Bathilda interupts, asking after the identity of Vermillion and Malia. Vermillion threatens to issue rope inspection citations, but Lilith accuses them of having snuck aboard the ship. Bathilda is immediately suspicious, assuming the pair responsible for the death of Captain Atwell; but Malia accuses the long-gone Marcus for the captain's death.

Stunty notices Jad's ailing state, and suggests there might be something in the captain's cabin that might be of assistance. Bathilda agrees, no doubt feeling somewhat indebted for the aid Jad provided in putting out the fire on the ship.

Lilith and Malia continue their attempts to convince Redwin of the merits of their respective plans.