You are awakened by a great shaking and terrible rending sound; Each of you is thrown clear from your bunk beds, landing with heavy thuds on the floor and walls amongst many scattered belongings.
The grinding noise and sounds of splintering wood are bone chilling. This noise is accompanied by the noise of waves and people shouting. After a few brief moments all motion seems to stop. The shouts have become less frequent, and sound less urgent than before.
The players chose to leave their cabin and see what was happening at this point.
You leave your cabin and almost immediately bump into one of the sailors, and the other passengers behind him.
Conversation with the sailor revealed that the ship had become beached on an unknown island. They asked where this island was reckoned to be, in terms of distance from their destination. The sailor points out that they are where they would expect to be after twenty-seven days of a forty-day journey.
The crew spend most of the night is spent trying to secure the ship and carry important supplies onto the land in case of further disasters.
Some wood is gathered from a nearby forest and small fires are lit to keep everyone warm through the night. A makeshift camp of blankets and sand is all there is tonight. Crewmembers are set on watch duty, to keep the fires burning and to ensure everyone’s safety.
The passengers and crew are all tired out from the night’s ordeal. Small groups are being sent to explore nearby areas for food, wood and other supplies. The ship’s captain appears to have slept little during the night, his eyes show dark circles and his voice sounds tired, and lacks its usual authority.
The players are shown a picture of the island at this point. The party then talked to the captain who suggested they head north a little way along the beach but not to travel too far from the camp.
After an hour to two of walking, they were swooped upon by four hawklike creatures, which bit and scratched at them, causing surprising wounds. Kafka got badly wounded, but was able to fight on. The party defeated the birds, and then explored some more, and discovered another creature.
You see a rustling in the bushes a short distance ahead of where you are standing, and make out a large black and white feathery shape. A large flightless bird, much like an ostrich charges towards you out of the bushes.
This creature though much tougher than the hawk-things, wasn’t quite so nasty, mainly because it was on it’s own.
At this point the rather badly wounded party decided to return to the camp. They spoke to Madilf, the old priest that is part of the ship’s crew, and he healed them completely.
The captain and several other members of the crew have looked thoroughly over the ship to assess the damage. They make note of what materials they need to repair the ship and estimate that it will take 2 weeks to repair.
By nightfall the camp looks much more organised and has been shifted slightly inland into the foliage and off the sandy beach. There is a stockpile of wood and makeshift windbreaks created from sails and rigging.
This night’s sleep is much more comfortable for all.
After the party goes to sleep:
Everyone has settled down for the night ready to sleep when three of the large birdlike creatures come crashing out of the trees towards the camp.
The party decides that they don’t have time to put on armour, and get up to fight the birds as quickly as they can. Fortunately with several sailors nearby, the fight is not too difficult, and old Madilf once again heals everyone.
The party chooses to head south this time, making it all the way to the southern tip of the island, and discover a larger ostrich-thing on the way.
You spot a large, ostrich like bird. This one is considerably larger than the few you have seen before. It has spotted you too.
A magnificent bowshot from Kafka caused the creature much damage, and the fight was quickly over.
The party followed the land a short distance to the west, and then headed back to camp over the lower parts of the southernmost mountain.
After the last two nights of excitement, this night passes peacefully.
The party spoke to Lady Trenwith and Lady Basset, discovering that they were both heading to join their husbands in De Mutrio.
A small group of sailors is sent around the island in a long boat, to map as much of the island as they can.
The party chose to travel west between the two nearest mountains. A fight with two hawk-creatures saw The Rock fall over twice, and Kafka also came close to loosing his footing.
The party then went west further and north around the east side of the third mountain. On the north side of that mountain they discovered a lake, which they went to investigate. Deep in the lake they could see giant bubbles, which seemed to move around more or less at random. The two bubbles closest to where the party was standing however did not move randomly at all, they were heading straight for the party. At this the party fell back away from the edge of the lake, and the bubbles themselves floated out of the water towards the party. One was popped easily, but the other managed to make contact with The Rock, paralysing him for four rounds. It was then popped by the sharp edge of Kafka’s longsword.
Beaky spoke with a dire raven and convinced it to leave us alone, for it’s own good.
The captain had this to say upon their return.
Good Day Comrades. Your explorations and combat skills have proved useful. Here, we have copied the map that was created today by our long boat team. We would like you to take this copy to use over the next few days as you continue to explore, for the sake of our safety you understand. As with all the tasks I have offered you, you have no obligation to me, you are my passengers not my men. You need not explore further if you do not wish to.
At the captain’s suggestion, the party headed north to fully explore that peninsula of the island.
Spotting a medium sized bird in the distance, Kafka loosed an arrow at it, and his aim was true. However the shot did not kill the bird and it fled. The rest of the peninsula revealed nothing of interest, and the party returned to camp.
Another of the incredibly large birds walks into the camp, but is quickly defeated by the sailors on guard.
The party accepted Captain Elquois’s offer of a long boat, and went to explore the smaller island that sits in the bay of the island they are stranded on. The boat dropped them off at the southern end of this mini island, and then waited for them on the north side. The party climbed most of the way up the mountain before coming down the other side and rejoining the boat. Nothing much happened during their travels.
The night passes uneventfully.
The party chose to be rowed to the western side of the main island, and then walked back to camp, making sure they avoided ‘Bubble Lake’.
In the process they spotted the wounded bird again, and gave chase. Kafka loosed another arrow at it, which also struck true, but the bird managed to get away once again.
The captain reports to all passengers that the ship’s
repairs are coming along well and it should be possible to set sail in a few
days.
In similar fashion to the last two days, the party was rowed to the western peninsula of the island, and crossed it on foot, rejoining the long boat on the other side.
Kafka and The Rock woke…
You awaken with a start to the noise of several people shouting out a warning, “Get up, get up, we’re under attack!
And moved to join the fight.
A veritable swarm of screeching hawklike creatures flap into the camp. The noise they create wakes those who didn’t wake to the warning shouts of the sailors on guard. Some of the more quickly thinking guards scare the birds away with burning sticks and logs, but there are still a few which must be dealt with.
Pyrosh joined the fight at this point along with eight or so sailors and Kakidor the mage.
The nine hawk things took a while to get rid of but they were eventually defeated.
End of Game Session 1.
Beginning of Game Session 2.
The captain comes to speak with the party, informing them that the boat should be repaired within a couple of days, and that they should not wander too far from the camp.
With this, they decide to spend the remaining time on the island relaxing rather than exploring or patrolling.
Uneventful
The party continues to rest in the camp rather than move anywhere.
The final repairs are made to the ship and many of the supplies are loaded back on board.
The last of the supplies and luggage is hauled back on board the ship, and everyone is ordered to get on board. The ropes that had been tied to various trees and rocks on shore as a precaution are pulled in. Long boats are sent out just as the tide is rising, they are tied to the ship with thick ropes. As the high tide loosens the ship from the sandy bay, the anchor is pulled in and the sailors in the long boats begin rowing, which helps to pull the ship free of the shore, out into deeper waters where normal sailing can resume.
Experience was given out at this point – enough for the three current party members to level up – however they were restricted from doing so whilst on the ship.