Joined: Aug 2010 Gender: Male Posts: 261 Karma: 21
Episode 15: Leaving Arkham aka Voyage of the Bagel « Thread Started on Mar 24, 2012, 1:08pm »
April 18 on Hill Street in Arkham. Dawn finds our heroes bruised from their scuffle with Clubber's gang and hung over from the night's festivities. Minion and Vina emerge bashfully from the Star Lodge, and he mutters something about "helping with her astronomy homework." Breakfast, packing, grooming, and a dip in the pond for Shade, and the party is ready to report for their expedition briefing at the Museum.
As official Expeditioneers, the party is now permitted to carry arms within city limits. They march in proud formation down Hill Street, attracting attention from the neighbors and a few admiring cheers from the shoeless green children.
Soon they have reached the Museum warehouse for briefing with the Curator of Giant Heads.
"The Bridgewater Triangle, or Hockomock Swamp as the natives called it, is an important archaeological site. Unfortunately we have been prevented from recovering the monolithic Profile Rock by the hostile fauna of the swamp. Your task will be to command the Expedition's military efforts, protect our quarry workers, and bring the Head safely back to Arkham. The Museum will provide all necessary food, tools, and supplies for the trip; you need bring only armor, weapons, and personal gear.
"Due to the enormous mass of the Head (estimated 80 tons) travel will be by sea. We have hired a large cargo ship and pooled the resources of several expeditions. You will set sail from Kingsport and the ship will be dropping off and picking up expeditions and supplies at several sites before reaching the Swamp.
"At that point you will take command of the Fall River Brontosaurus Squad, which will assist with extraction of the Head. The ship will pick you up on its return voyage to Arkham. And now I will turn you over to your Captain who will brief you on the sea leg of your journey."
Captain Jack Records is an intimidating presence with pure matte black skin and long, straight, black hair knotted into a queue. He looks disapprovingly at your blackened eyes and scraped knuckles. "OK. Any questions?" Apparently he is a man of few words...
[Please post here to join the Expedition. Any lurkers who want to sign up, shoot me a PM!]
crusssdaddy Level 5 Thaumaturgist member is online
Joined: Nov 2008 Gender: Male Posts: 329 Karma: 20
Re: Episode 15: Leaving Arkham « Reply #4 on Mar 25, 2012, 12:21am »
Fated: "Captain, I urge you not to be intimidated by the presence of heroes such as ourselves. Just try to do your usual adequate job, I'm sure you will do just fine."
Joined: Aug 2010 Gender: Male Posts: 261 Karma: 21
Re: Episode 15: Leaving Arkham « Reply #6 on Mar 29, 2012, 9:43am »
The rag-tag expedition boards a riverboat and floats down the Miskatonic River to Kingsport and the sea.
When you arrive, your eyes are torn between two spectacles: the teeming capital city of the Green Men, or the vast expanse of ocean stretching east to the horizon. For all of you, it is your first trip to Kingsport; for some of you, it is your first glimpse of the sea. Shade wipes a salty tear from his three eyes and his awe overflows for all to hear!
Exploration of Kingsport will have to wait [we can hit it up on the return voyage if you like] for there is work to be done. Captain Jack Records proudly welcomes you aboard The Bagel, an impressive carrack-class vessel, with a large cargo capacity and a crew of about 80. In contrast to your travels through Green Man Country, the crew of the Bagel is a racially-integrated hodgepodge of misfit sailors from around the globe.
Your expedition's gear is stowed in the hold, the anchor is lifted, and your fate is up to the Old Ones who command the winds, tides, and waves.
Joined: Aug 2010 Gender: Male Posts: 261 Karma: 21
Re: Episode 15: Leaving Arkham « Reply #7 on Mar 29, 2012, 10:04am »
April 19
[save vs. poison all around]
Breath, Fated, and Gunnery have a miserable, sleepless night, wracked with seasickness, projectile-vomiting and barely able to walk straight.
Minion and Shade get their sea legs quickly and are soon exploring the ship and mingling with the sailors, soldiers, and scientists aboard the Bagel. A few notable personae:
Captain Jack Records, black man First Mate Wiggle Projector, an energetic blue man whose skin ripples like the sea Sergeant At Arms the Tattooed Mofo, bone man with 3-D glow in the dark body art and multiple piercings Dr. Esophagus, white man, the ship's physician
and the members of your quarrying team Buck, Lance, and Rod Quarry of Arkham
Early in the morning, as the seasick PCs are leaning over the rail, there is a troubling sight on the eastern horizon: huge spouts of water that jet dozens of feet into the air.
"Whales," explains Cap Jack. So the stories are true! Huge ocean creatures that must surface to refill their lungs before they dive into the abyss to prey on the denizens of the lightless deep. One can only hope they do not get too close and capsize your vessel!
Late in the day, the Bagel arrives in Provincetown, a tiny one-lighthouse community clinging to the remote tip of the Cape. The sailors get to work loading and unloading supplies and personnel. At Fated's insistence, the party spends the night on solid ground at the town's only Inn, filling their bellies with chowder and rum.
A few hours of sleep, until pre-dawn, the Tattooed Mofo is banging on your door, angrily cursing that the ship is waiting for you. The voyage continues...
Joined: Nov 2007 Gender: Male Posts: 9 Location: Vancouver, BC, Canada Karma: 7
Re: Episode 15: Leaving Arkham « Reply #8 on Mar 29, 2012, 11:01am »
Breath of New Moon has thoroughly enjoyed her night back on solid ground, and secretly rues the return to the vessel. However, she tries not to let it effect her professionalism.
Minion engages the Tattooed Mofo in a bit of conversation, enquiring as to where he got the glowinthedark tattoos.
The Tattooed Mofo spins tall tales of Shiptown, a lawless floating city where the sailors of the world congregate, whose location changes with the tides and trade-winds. The only way to find it is to start traveling and ask the sailors you meet along the way.
Joined: Aug 2010 Gender: Male Posts: 261 Karma: 21
Re: Episode 15: Leaving Arkham « Reply #12 on Mar 29, 2012, 5:09pm »
April 20
Another round of saving throws. Fated gains his sea legs, but Breath and Gunnery are still feeling rather "green."
As the Bagel approaches the island of Nantucket, they witness a violent sight! In the distance, a whaling ship is closing in for the kill. Brave men go down into rowboats to finish off the great, dark beast with vicious harpoon-thrusts. The whale thrashes, and a rowboat is thrown into the air by its broad tail, the men flung into the water like ragdolls!
At Nantucket, the Bagel drops off another Miskatonic expedition. Their huge wooden crates occupy a large part of the cargo hold, and it takes several hours for the crew to unload. The Party takes this time to learn more about the whaling industry: the whales are "harvested" for their spermaceti, ambergris, and high-quality oil that has fueled the industrial revolution of the Green Men.
Joined: Aug 2010 Gender: Male Posts: 261 Karma: 21
Re: Episode 15: Leaving Arkham « Reply #14 on Mar 29, 2012, 6:00pm »
That night, it happens.
The PC's are sound asleep in their cabin when the Bagel is rocked by an impact from the port side!
The Bagel has been struck by forces unknown for [3d6]=9 ship hit points (shp), reducing her to 25shp! Moments later comes the clanging of alert bells (as if there is any doubt the ship is in trouble) and the shouts of men rushing to battle stations.
When you post your actions, please specify how you wish to equip yourself (keeping in mind metal armor sinks). Fated for example (temporary NPC until Tuesday) chooses to remain as light foot and readies his sword.
You are probably wondering the deck plan of The Bagel; please see here for description and illustrations of this classic ship design: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carrack
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