Having only just returned from a trip to Eagle Rock Island, on the following day (4/19) the party made plans to sail for the island of statues, the one called Hestrin Isle by Silverfish. Ollie used the night before to make an accounting of all treasure stored in his magic backpack. Saul and Hocuspo had earned treasure worth 5,746 gp, a smaller portion owing to their infrequent participation. The remaining seven earned 27,723 gp: Ferris, Aderian, Jerker, Nate, Urgesh, Tienarth, and Ollie. The treasure was in various forms, much of it in exotic coins. For the most part, this loot was still kept in Ollie’s backpack for safety.
Having finished counting the treasure in his bag, Ollie spent time counting the pieces in Aderian’s magic belt pouch, despite some protests from the bag itself. That treasure totaled 11,484 gold pieces, but it was not divided. Instead, it went back into the pouch.
The first day out on the sea was uneventful except for the twinkling of the glowing water that trailed behind them at dusk. The next day (4/20), Urgesh caught three fish. They spied seals basking on the beach of a tiny island. And on the day after (4/21), they arrived at Hestrin Isle. As they did, another merchant flying the purple flag of the rebellion was seen, but it was allowed to sail away.
A small boat was rowed to the island and pulled up on the rocky shore. They marched up the hill to survey the verdant valley below. Some time was spent looking for statues. Aderian grasped on by the head, and it came to life. The next moment, Aderian had lept high into the air by use of his magical ring. He carried the entire statue along with him and then let it fall from 30 feet up. It crashed down to the ground but seemed unharmed. Aderian floated down to earth. The fighters rushed up the statue, which swung stone fists to no effect. It was soon broken apart and rendered harmless.
Would the other statues come to life as well? Would they all come to life if the party explored beyond the trap door they’d found weeks before? These concerns were set aside. They approached doors found in the ruins of a once-great palace. Double doors set at an angle opened to a stairs going down. Ollie crept down alone, ready to flee if needed. He found a chamber with eight statues, four standing to the north and four standing to the south.
The dwarf examined the first statue, one of an elf wizard. He could find nothing unusual about it. It was just a statue. Urgesh joined him in the room and motioned him to stand aside. The barbarian stepped up to hit the statue his a hammer when a trap door suddenly opened beneath his feet. He jumped back just in time, teetering on the edge for a moment. Eventually, Ferris found trap doors in front of each statue, and each dropping down 30 feet to a pit lined with spikes extending from a shallow water.
Aderian lowered urgesh in to a few of the pits by rope. In one, the water rushed up to engulf him, but the pirate hauled the half-orc out of the pit swiftly. They soon turned attention towards going deeper into the dungeon. Urgesh produced a jackal from his magic bag.
Turning south, urgesh ordered the jackal to open the doors into a room where black mold partially covered a mural depicting mourners, some carrying a black coffin. Inside the room were two tall figures wearing cloaks and shiny necklaces from which tear-shaped pendants hung. They stepped into view and one stomped the jackal to death. The party retreated to the first chamber, and the figures made no pursuit.
Aderian tried hurling the head of the statue they’d broken apart earlier. It should have hit the cloaked figure but inexplicably missed. Ollie fired two magic arrows which both missed. Tienarth cast haste and the three fighters rushed into combat. With ruthless speed, Aderian, Ollie and Urgesh destroyed the two figures. As Aderian snatched the necklaces from their necks, he commanded, “let us not waste the magic of the speed!” And he rushed through the room and into the next. Ollie and Urgesh followed.
Down a corridor, Aderian heard a moment of wailing as he came to a black room where two spirits rose up. These, too, were quickly cut down with magic blades, and they rush onward still. They came to a room where four benches surrounded the statue of a saint, a fine fighting man with sword and shield. Aderian wasted no time, taking a swing at the statue. As with other statues, this one also came to life, laying a big hit on Aderian in response. Additionally, an arc of darts sprayed out into the room. One stuck Urgesh in the neck and he felt his limbs go numb. The next moment, Ollie, too, fell victim to the paralyzing darts.
Aderian grabbed his two companions by the collars and dragged them north, back to where they’d slain the wraiths. The statue lumbered after him, but his speed carried him back to the rest of the party. They waited for a few moments as the haste spell ran its course, expecting the statue of the saint to arrive. When patience was exhausted, and Urgesh and Ollie has both regained the ability to move, they moved back towards the statue, meeting it in the hallway.
Urgesh produced a buffalo from his magical bag, hopped on its back and charged at the statue. Unfortunately, one of the darts stuck the beast and it became paralyzed. By then, Aderian had stepped up, and as before, the statue was quickly broken up. Aderian placed the stone benches against the door leading south out of the room where the statue of the saint was found, and then they returned to the boat. The buffalo was left where it was.
The next day (4/22), they saw large rocs in the distance to one side and two singing figures on a rock to the other side. Both dangers were about two hundred yards away. Aderian carefully maneuvered The Garlic Frog between them, and they sailed onward. The had little trouble the next day, and arrive back at The Naked Isle on the 24th. As they pulled into the harbor, they saw a galley flying the flag of the empire (an eagle on a red background). It was six miles away, with details only forthcoming via spyglass. It seemed to have a large crew and two ballistas. No attempt was made to engage and the ship did not approach the island.
They also found a fishing boat adrift, containing the lifeless body an elf. The towed it ashore where one of the inhabitants identified the body as Asele, a fisherman known to the village. According to custom, the body was set out on a pallet in the swamps where it was expected that the frogs would take it away.
End Notes
- Days
- 4/19 – 4/24 Sailing to Hestrin Isle and back
- Treasure: 10,000 gp
- 2 platinum necklaces with teardrop pendants 5,000 gp each (in Aderian’s bag)
- Combat: 4,910 xp
- Living Statue 875 xp
- 2 Flesh Golems 1225 xp each
- 2 Wraiths 320 xp each
- Living Statue of St. Zami 945 xp
- Characters 755 xp each (6.5 shares)
- Aderian (human, fight, strength, in front) 853 xp
- Ferris (human, skills) 838 xp
- Hocuspo (npc) 378 xp
- Nate (human, fight) 838 xp
- Ollie (rugged, underground, fight, lead) 785 xp
- Tienarth (patient) 763 xp
- Urgesh (half-human, active, fight) 808 xp
- Ships
- The Howl of the Demon (Small Galley)
- Crew/Passengers: 40/0
- Cargo: 9 of 210 tons
- Food: about 383 man/weeks
- Water: 1500 gallons
- The Garlic Frog (Caravel)
- Crew/Passengers: 4/ 0
- Hit Points: 68/75
- Cargo: 54 of 75 tons
- Food: 28 man/weeks
- Water: 5000 gallons
- 33 tons of sugar in 40 barrels
- The Ranger (Caravel)
- Crew/Passengers: 0/ 0
- Cargo: 40 of 75 tons
- Food: – man/weeks
- Water: – gallons
- 40 tons of garlic in 40 barrels
- The Howl of the Demon (Small Galley)