Campaign Stormwreck Isle; Curse of Compass Rose (1-3)

Part 3 - Curse of the Compass Rose
View attachment 357_Promontory.mp3

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MAP:

Maps - D&D Beyond

www.dndbeyond.com

THE STORY SO FAR:

Stormwreck Isle: Journey to Stormwreck Isle (1-P)
Stormwreck Isle: Welcome to Dragon's Rest (1-1)
Stormwreck Isle: Spores of Seagrow Cave (1-2)​

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THE QUEST:

• The party seeks the wreck of the Compass Rose, a ship that went down decades ago and may be linked to the undead incursion.

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THE LOCATION:

​

Local Party Map​

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THE PARTY:

ITEM GLOSSARY:

Image	Name	Value (per)	Weight (per)	Description
	Wind Spore Mushrooms​	30	0.06 lbs	A rare fungus with a unique magical property. When a creature squeezes a wind spore mushroom's cap, it releases a small cloud of spores. For 1 hour, the creature doesn't need to breathe, as the spores provide it with oxygen.
	Obsidian Chunk​	10	1 lb	An uncut opaque black gemstone.
	Heart Cap Mushrooms​	30	0.2 lbs	These mushrooms bear an unsettling resemblance to human hearts.
	Potion of Healing​	50	0.5 lbs	This potion's red liquid glimmers when agitated. You regain 2d4+2 hit points when you drink this potion.
	A Fine Lute
	Boots of Elvenkind			While you wear these boots, your steps make no sound, regardless of the surface you are moving across. You also have advantage on Dexterity (Stealth) checks that rely on moving silently.
	Spell Scroll of Command

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THE STORY CONTINUES:

Having departed from Dragon's Rest for the second time, your band of adventurers slowly make their way down the mountain paths towards the shore where you first landed. The journey is uneventful and peaceful, a welcome contrast to the carnage the party has faced since arriving on the island. Songbirds flutter across the path ahead of you as they dart back and forth between bushes, hunting the insects they harbor. Your walk down to the water does not take more than a half hour however, so the ramble through nature is fleeting.

Returning to the beach where you had fought the zombies, the party find the scene just as you left it. The battered corpses of the drowned sailors lay immobile where they were slain, the putrid grey flesh not appealing to any scavengers and having been left untouched. Your group moves cautiously past the bodies, one by one each battling the anxiety that the monsters will spring up again and attack.

The five of you convene on the short wooden dock. There is an old fishing net dangling over the edge and trailing in the water, where it appears to be tangled within a clump of seaweed. Several short lengths of aging rope are knotted here and there around the thick posts, some having been cut free in haste rather than untied. A rowboat not dissimilar to the one you arrived in is tethered to the dock, and you see a pair of oars laying across the seats. The boat appears big enough for 4 medium sized passengers.

North of your position, you can see a long spur of sharp rocks jutting from the ocean waves, extending several miles out.​

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INITIATIVE:
https://improvedinitiative.app/p/e88bk48y

 

[Dungeon Master]

Zesty watches everything occurring around him, rolls his eyes and draws his crossbow. He silently nocks and arrow and fires it squarely past the Merrow's head as a warning shot.

Listen, seaweed for brains... I'm about done with your extortionist kind. If you value your life, leave now and don't come back. If you don't, then I'm sure we can silence Carl forever... We hear you're kind of an asshole that no one likes anyway.

((Sorry, thought I'd play into my chaotic nature for a change. Also, fuck Carl.))

((Gimme an intimidation skill check, sir.))

 

[Zesty Zapcrackle]

((Intimidation station))

 

[Nac McWeeble]

By the by, Carl.. D'ye like fishsticks?

 

[Dungeon Master]

((Gonna have to wait until after I've got my daughter from school!

))

 

[Moonsprout Beandirt]

Our friend Moonsprout had a good chat with one of your comrades earlier. Didn't you, Moonsprout?

Aye, that I did. He was a great conversationalist -- that is, before I cut out his tongue and fed it to him on his knees.

 

[Dungeon Master]

Aye, that I did. He was a great conversationalist -- that is, before I cut out his tongue and fed it to him on his knees.

((Ok you also make an intimidation skill check.))

 

[Moonsprout Beandirt]

((here goes something))

 

[Dungeon Master]

---

Carl​

|"...Oh, damn. You cocknubssssss are the onessssssss who roughed up Timmy Two Finssssss?"

The Merrow looks visibly worried, the fins on his head dropping a little as he looks around hurriedly trying to assess all five of you. He slides a little deeper into the water.



"Look, you walked into my accounting offissssssse." the Merrow complains, "You're the assssssssssssssssssssssssssssholesssss."

"And who ssssayssss I extorted anyone? I'm a ssssssalesssssman. I sssssssell not being gutted and eaten.", Carl spreads his webbed fingers and shrugs.

"Take your limp dickssss and loot your own sssshipssss. That'sss my gold and you can fuck off. Go float your fat asssssessss into a sssshipping lane and wait, ssssssomewhere far away from me. Or go try thosssssse wrecked onesss since you ssscalelessssssss sslutssss can't sssswim for sssshit."|

---

 

[Zesty Zapcrackle]

Zesty shoulders his crossbow with a smirk and glances at Aims'Orreh.

You know, Aims', I don't recall getting any squid. Maybe some fish sticks would be a proper consolation dish... what do you think?

 

[Nac McWeeble]

Them's fightin' words, laddie. I warn ye, Aims here hasnae smashed anything in a while..

Nac points a thumb in the half-orc's direction

 

[Dungeon Master]

---

Carl​

| "With how ugly that green one issss, I'm ssssurprissssed if he'sss ever ssssmasssshed anything!"

The Merrow snorts at his own retort. Slowly the humor falls from the monster's face and after a second, Carl's fish lips part as he lets out a deep drawn-out sigh, which causes the gills on it's neck to flutter open then shut.

"OK... Ok, you're right... My therapissssst tellsss me I can be confrontational and sssssstand-offisssssh."

The Merrow looks introspective for a moment, resting in the shallow water of the pool.



"How about I pay you to jusssssst leave? I can passsss off a partial lossssss to corporate easssssier than a full write-off..."|

---

 

[Zesty Zapcrackle]

((Damnit, @Ben - I was supposed to not post for a while because I'm at 4999 >.> But I have to respond lol.))

Well, Carl, seeing as how we COULD just kill you and keep it all, why don't you come up with what you think is a fair offer and we'll tell you if we concur?

 

[Aims'Orreh Mwuh'Bwadd]

Aims is not a fan of the word choices of Carl. He can take insults on a normal day, but the Carl just reminds him of the first time he encountered a marrow just a day ago who nearly stole a keg of alcohol from his very own hands. And THAT doesn't fly right for the half-orc.

Whoa whoa whoa. Carl, don't be heading out anywhere just yet. Since you seem to be partners in crime, in sales in sale like you say, with Timmy. Now, Timmy did me very very wrong. We were done with our... transaction, but he decided that it would be a good idea to try to snatch my keg of alcohol from my hands, a keg of rotgut of all things and bailing on us. Luckily for all of us, i have biceps for days and held onto it, but that hurt me. It hurt me emotionally very much Carl. How could yoir colleague do this to anyone?

Now im an honest half-orc, and very straight forward, so im not asking for much. I do feel i should be compensated for being wronged. You say you're in sales? Well, you should have something for sale for us, with so many ships around here. And we happen to have a whole chest of gold right here in our presence so... make us a deal to make things right. It's only right. I woulsnt want to... smash this relationship we could have thanks to Timmy.

 

[Short Order]

Uses mold earth to create an image of Aims stabbing Carl while the rest of us celebrate with the loot

 

[Dungeon Master]

---

Carl​

|"...500 gold. I'll give you 500 if you bugger off and go fornicate a zombie." he says, seemingly surprised to have spoken a sizable sentence without any S sounds...|

---

 

[Short Order]

Uses it again to create a picture of us all being friends

Pick yer poison

 

[Short Order]

((Pretend that came before his offer please))

 

[Zesty Zapcrackle]

---

View attachment 10128

Carl​

|"...500 gold. I'll give you 500 if you bugger off and go fornicate a zombie." he says, seemingly surprised to have spoken a sizable sentence without any S sounds...|

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((@Ben - I need an AI image of my character doing this:

))

 

[Dungeon Master]

((@Ben - I need an AI image of my character doing this:

))

((

Spoiler

[/

Your Potion of Healing is now gone.*


*Just kidding.

))

 

[Zesty Zapcrackle]

((Close enough, but WHAT is up with that HORN!?

Also, @Ben Do we know how much is in the chest? Because if he's offering us 500 GP and there's like 550 in there, I'm ok with him leaving with 50 to spare his life.))

 

[Dungeon Master]

((Close enough, but WHAT is up with that HORN!?

Also, @Ben Do we know how much is in the chest? Because if he's offering us 500 GP and there's like 550 in there, I'm ok with him leaving with 50 to spare his life.))

((Nac probably got to count like, 50 pieces... So no, you don't know.))

 

[Aims'Orreh Mwuh'Bwadd]

Or what if we take it ALL and take whatever you are holding on you since you clearly arent concerned about our relationship... or your wellbeing.

 

[Aims'Orreh Mwuh'Bwadd]

((Big orc dumb, not so scary or smart.))

 

[Zesty Zapcrackle]

((Big orc dumb, not so scary or smart.))

((It's ok, either we convinced him to leave or you get to behead it. Win-win!))

 

[Dungeon Master]

Or what if we take it ALL and take whatever you are holding on you since you clearly arent concerned about our relationship... or your wellbeing.

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Carl​

|
"You flaccid jackoffssss aren't as sssscary as you think. What if I get the rest of the Merrow in thissss underwater chamber and we eat your soft ugly green face?!"

Carl slides backwards beneath the surface of the water again.



"Asssssholeessssss"

A moment later Carl bursts forth from the pool (again) with harpoon in hand and smashes onto stone floor, coiling it's tail beneath himself and readying to attack.



|

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((@Jon is up first.))

 

[Zesty Zapcrackle]

((Alright alright alright))

Zesty drops his shoulder and smirks, prepared for this fight. Aims' must be rubbing off on him.

Don't mistake us for underestimating you, Merrow. We're just ready for a scrap!

Zesty backs up as far as the cave will let him and begins a chant in Elvish, targeting Carl.

Zesty steps back 5 feet to the cavern wall and casts Faerie Fire against Carl.

((EDIT - Purple in color if you need it, @Ben. Safe to assume that's my color of choice for the spell if I forget in the future.))

 

[Dungeon Master]

((Alright alright alright))

Zesty drops his shoulder and smirks, prepared for this fight. Aims' must be rubbing off on him.

Don't mistake us for underestimating you, Merrow. We're just ready for a scrap!

Zesty backs up as far as the cave will let him and begins a chant in Elvish, targeting Carl.

Zesty steps back 5 feet to the cavern wall and casts Faerie Fire against Carl.

((EDIT - Purple in color if you need it, @Ben. Safe to assume that's my color of choice for the spell if I forget in the future.))

---

Zesty Zapcrackle
@Jon​

|You fall back and cast your spell. A shimmering purple cube expands around Carl stopping just short of Short's short toes.



Carl begins to glow with a purple outline.



Attacks against Carl will have advantage.|

---

((@Jawneh))

 

[Zesty Zapcrackle]

Attacks against Carl will have advantage.|

((The DM is talking dirty to us, guys!))

 

[Aims'Orreh Mwuh'Bwadd]

Really Carl? Is this how its going to be? Cant take responsibility for fuck ups your pal did huh? And you think you can get away with not paying for trying to steal MY rotgut?

Oh lordy, Aims is getting spiced up and very red glow.

You think its okay to steal folks drinks? Ask the dwarf. Hells, you go and try to steal a drink from a dwarf and live to tell about it. CAUSE YOU AINT GONNA LIVE!

Aims goes into RAGE.

AND YOUR STUPID ASS THINKS I'M NOT SCARY?! WE'LL SEE WHO'S SCARY WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING AT MY AX SPLITTING YOUR HEAD OPEN AND WE CHAR YOU UP FOR DINNER!

Aims lunges at Carl with his large ax in hand to plant it squarely at his dumb face, after which moving to his north side.

 

[Moonsprout Beandirt]

Oh no, nonononono. I'm not doing this. I told you lot that money was the root of all evilness, and did you listen? Of course not, and here we are.

You lot are ready to kill a sea-person who has enough intelligence to speak and barter and reason, and for what? Because you wanted to STEAK from him, and the 500 gold he offered you to go away peacefully wasn't quite enough?

Well, you fools can go at it. I hope your greed is worth it. I'm sitting this one out.

At this, Moonsprout literally sits down and starts once again pumicing the callouses on his feet.

 

[Dungeon Master]

Really Carl? Is this how its going to be? Cant take responsibility for fuck ups your pal did huh? And you think you can get away with not paying for trying to steal MY rotgut?

Oh lordy, Aims is getting spiced up and very red glow.

You think its okay to steal folks drinks? Ask the dwarf. Hells, you go and try to steal a drink from a dwarf and live to tell about it. CAUSE YOU AINT GONNA LIVE!

Aims goes into RAGE.

AND YOUR STUPID ASS THINKS I'M NOT SCARY?! WE'LL SEE WHO'S SCARY WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING AT MY AX SPLITTING YOUR HEAD OPEN AND WE CHAR YOU UP FOR DINNER!

Aims lunges at Carl with his large ax in hand to plant it squarely at his dumb face, after which moving to his north side.

---

Aims'Orreh Mwuh'Bwadd
@Jawneh​

|You swing your axe at Carl's stupid face.

You miss, but the axe blade does bite into his shoulder as he does not move quickly enough.

You deal 8 points of damage to Carl. |

---

((@Nae'blis

@Smacktard I'm leaving you in the initiative table, but you can skip or whatever when you get to your turn.))

 

[Zesty Zapcrackle]

Oh no, nonononono. I'm not doing this. I told you lot that money was the root of all evilness, and did you listen? Of course not, and here we are.

You lot are ready to kill a sea-person who has enough intelligence to speak and barter and reason, and for what? Because you wanted to STEAK from him, and the 500 gold he offered you to go away peacefully wasn't quite enough?

Well, you fools can go at it. I hope your greed is worth it. I'm sitting this one out.

At this, Moonsprout literally sits down and starts once again pumicing the callouses on his feet.

Oi, Moonsprout, you realize you were the one that told him you cut out the tongue of his compatriot, right?

Zesty laughs as he watches the halfling shave his feet.

 

[Short Order]

Oi, Moonsprout, you realize you were the one that told him you cut out the tongue of his compatriot, right?

Zesty laughs as he watches the halfling shave his feet.

yeah but he did that because he likes tongues not gold

 

[Moonsprout Beandirt]

Oi, Moonsprout, you realize you were the one that told him you cut out the tongue of his compatriot, right?

Zesty laughs as he watches the halfling shave his feet.

Hey now, what I spoke, I spoke in defense. I didn't think I'd live to see you guys become the bad guys. I don't approve at all.

@Smacktard I'm leaving you in the initiative table, but you can skip or whatever when you get to your turn.)

((please, yes, I have important things I must do this battle))

 

[Nac McWeeble]

Ye couldnae keep yer mouth shut, eh Carl? One filet-o-fishman comin' up then! Let me show ye what I learned from my Sensei Ti'vareas!

Nac runs over to the finned freak and plants a kick at his scaly head. When he lands his hands begin to glow with a blueish white light as he activates Flurry of Blows giving him two unarmed attacks for the bonus attack, which he uses to punch Carl in the jaw

 

[Nac McWeeble]

((Damage roll for last punch

Edit: I fucked up somewhere there.. too many rolls... wouldn't mind if the nat20 was used though ))

 

[Dungeon Master]

Ye couldnae keep yer mouth shut, eh Carl? One filet-o-fishman comin' up then! Let me show ye what I learned from my Sensei Ti'vareas!

Nac runs over to the finned freak and plants a kick at his scaly head. When he lands his hands begin to glow with a blueish white light as he activates Flurry of Blows giving him two unarmed attacks for the bonus attack, which he uses to punch Carl in the jaw

---

Nac McWeeble
@Nae'blis​

|

You rotate on the ball of your foot and deliver a swift strike to the side of Carl's neck.

You deal 4 damage.

You plant your foot back firmly on the ground and pull your fists in to your waist before snapping them forward with immense energy. Your knuckles sail past Carl's face as he sways backwards on his tail, not eager to get hit again.

Both your bonus attacks miss. |

---

---

Carl​

|"Your mother hitsssss harder than that, sssssshorty." the Merrow taunts.|

---

((@A Pineap-Alu-zer time to try to murder your friends.))

 

[Nac McWeeble]

((Hah, that's what younget for rolling crap.. btw, I marked the use of one ki point in my sheet.))

Sho... SHORTY!??!

A vein starts to pulse at Nac's neck.

Oh, tha' was the last straw ye god damn sushi reject waste of ocean! Ye're dead!!!

 

[Short Order]

You both still have your potions right? Maybe you should try to dodge anyway. MORTAL KOMBAT

Short Order casts Ice knife while moving towards zesty and moon

 

[Short Order]

((gotta love the spell when it does enough damage to one shot myself

Also hope you both get some good saving rolls in there))

 

[Zesty Zapcrackle]

((gotta love the spell when it does enough damage to one shot myself

Also hope you both get some good saving rolls in there))

((The original hit doesn't hit them, right? So even if they don't they should be just fine. Fuck you, Carl.))

 

[Dungeon Master]

---

Short Order
@A Pineap-Alu-zer​

|With wanton disregard for the safety of your companions, you start blastin'

The blade of crystalized water pierces into the Merrow's side between his ribs, digging between the tough scales and finding purchase in the meat beneath. Carl roars and swipes at the frozen thorn, which violently shatters and sends slivers of razor sharp ice in all directions.

Several slivers pepper Carl's arm.

Nac does some kind of backwards bend and in slow motion dodges a few chunks. Aims manages to lift the head of his greataxe in time to deflect a three-inch-long shard aimed at his eyeball.

Carl takes 8 damage from the Ice Knife, and 7 damage from the explosion. |

---

((@Smacktard))

 

[Nac McWeeble]

((

Spoiler

))

 

[Dungeon Master]

((

Spoiler

View attachment 10238

))

((

Spoiler

))

 

[Moonsprout Beandirt]

Moonsprout, seeing the Merrow getting beaten worse than a 10 year-old aspiring mathematician with glasses and a lisp, runs between the Merrow and his compatriots. He faces his companions and throws his arms out as if to protect the Merrow.

NOOOO!! How can you be so awful to another living creature? All this dude did was ask that you to NOT steal his treasure. What right do you have to refuse such a request? He doesn't deserve this beating!

 

[Dungeon Master]

Moonsprout, seeing the Merrow getting beaten worse than a 10 year-old aspiring mathematician with glasses and a lisp, runs between the Merrow and his compatriots. He faces his companions and throws his arms out as if to protect the Merrow.

NOOOO!! How can you be so awful to another living creature? All this dude did was ask that you to NOT steal his treasure. What right do you have to refuse such a request? He doesn't deserve this beating!

((Hmmmm... Trying to think this through. Not that you specifically tried, but I don't really think we want to go down the path of being able to roll skill-checks to influence other players and possibly remove their own agency... You can 100% try to roleplay convince them, but not with a Persuassion check or anything.

So I'd say you've got 6 seconds during your turn to talk, before the next turn comes around. Probably take about that to get out the sentence you did, so... Yarp.

I guess unless you're planning on doing anything else with your turn, bardic inspiration, etc. we'll move on.))

 

[Moonsprout Beandirt]

((Hmmmm... Trying to think this through. Not that you specifically tried, but I don't really think we want to go down the path of being able to roll skill-checks to influence other players and possibly remove their own agency... You can 100% try to roleplay convince them, but not with a Persuassion check or anything.

So I'd say you've got 6 seconds during your turn to talk, before the next turn comes around. Probably take about that to get out the sentence you did, so... Yarp.

I guess unless you're planning on doing anything else with your turn, bardic inspiration, etc. we'll move on.))

((Yup, I'm fine with it. Only using rolls against other players for inconsequential shit, like getting them to carry me to the top of a mountain ))

 

[Dungeon Master]

Moonsprout, seeing the Merrow getting beaten worse than a 10 year-old aspiring mathematician with glasses and a lisp, runs between the Merrow and his compatriots. He faces his companions and throws his arms out as if to protect the Merrow.

NOOOO!! How can you be so awful to another living creature? All this dude did was ask that you to NOT steal his treasure. What right do you have to refuse such a request? He doesn't deserve this beating!

---

Moonsprout Beandirt
@Smacktard​

| You are Moonsprout in the Middle.

|

---

---

Carl​

|"Yessss. What he sssssssaid!"

Carl lunges forwards towards Nac and manages to grab hold of a fast-moving wrist. Carl pulls Nac closer and sinks his teeth into the monk's forearm, leaving a ragged tear in the flesh. He releases his grip and a serpentine tongue licks Dwarf blood from his fishlips.

Nac takes 5 points of piercing damage.

The furious Merrow pulls back, twisting his grip on the harpoon he holds and thrusting it sideways at Aims. The slender point of the weapon catches the orc/2 in the thigh and the bone-like spike drives all the way through to the other side. Aims howls with rage and grabs the harpoon, ripping it out of his flesh, though Carl retains a firm hold of the weapon..

Aims takes 10 points of piercing damage. Because of Rage, you only feel 5 points of damage. |

---

((@Jon))

 

[Moonsprout Beandirt]

Oh th- that wasn't supposed to happen...

 

[Short Order]

((Everyone go kill it before it becomes my turn again or Moonsprout might go dead.))