50 Fathoms - The Fire Mage - Session Nine - Debauchery

50 Fathoms

Session 9 The Fire Mage

The Party:

Urghh - Half Ugak Bloodthirsty Sailor - Aaron

Flynt - Delusional Human Merchant - Charlie

Obadiah Merle - Squanderous Human Rifleman - Garry

Kuthelaquin - Kraken Water Mage - Rob


Making their way into Baltimus, the party realised they needed a way to get into the confidence of Bruno Baltimus to examine his father's records about the trial of the Hags.  As luck would have it, an opportunity to infiltrate one of his galas presented itself as they heard the tale of Mannie Morkan and his abused daughter; she was tricked into attending one of Bruno's parties and was abused by him and his debauched cronies.  Morkan wanted the ruler dead, and offered the party forged invitations to the next gala in three days.  All they would have to do was get themselves invited to the gathering afterwards to exact his revenge.

After some discussion amongst the party, they Kuthelaquin, Merle and Flynt were less than comfortable in the roles of assassins.  Urghh, predictably was completely alright with this idea.  Moran offered the legendary sword Versalis to the group if they killed Bruno.  Deciding instead to offer Bruno a cursed ring instead, that would hopefully kill him, they accepted.  

After decking themselves out in their finery, three days later they attended the gala with the elite of Baltimus.  Merle quickly insinuated himself with Bruno, making innuendo laden comments about the ring he wore around his neck, claiming it's magic gave him the sexual stamina of a horse.  Intrigued, he invited the party to attend the soiree after the gala.

After partaking of the debauchery offered, the party made their way upstairs to the sound of creaking bed springs and other less pleasing noises.  As Flynt, Merle and Kuthelaquin partook of the sleazy offerings, Baltimus left to go to his own room.  Merle interrupted him as he was entertaining two ladies of the night offered him the ring.  To the party's dismay, the ruler of Baltimus made his vigour roll and completely ignored the rings deadly magic.  Other than a placebo affect, nothing else happened.  

As the festivities wore on, Urghh made his way to a small window, jimmied it open and scaled the ivy outside on to the roof.  

After everyone had left, he stealthily climbed down and waited for Bruno to retire for the night.  As the exhausted ruler lay passed out in his bed, Urghh slid into his roof and unceremoniously smashed his head to pieces with his warhammer, slid down the outside wall, crept across the lawn and scaled the wall and made his way back to the inn where the rest of the party were.

Blood and gore still plastering his warhammer, it was fairly obvious to everyone what the Half-Ugak had done.  Merle swore the few patrons to silence and paid them off, hoping they'd keep quiet about it.  

Morkan was good to his word and presented Urghh with Versalis, who then promptly said "Swords aren't really my thing." and gave it to Merle.  

The next day, on the way back to the ship, they were attacked by what they though was a yellowback raptor.  It turned out to be an annoying parrot, mimicking the roar of the ferocious dinosaurs.  Kuthelaquin threw it some biscuits and it revealed a conversation it had overheard about a tree stump and a treasure buried next to it.  

After some searching, they found the burial site and dug up the small chest.  Inside was a small fortune in pieces of eight, and another mysterious golden triangle.

Making their way back to the ship, the intrepid party headed north to the Kehanna flumes to find gold as part of the ritual elements they were asked to find by the elementalists of Bluth's Crown.  

With a few minor scrapes they reached the flumes and Merle took a dinghy to one of the rocky volcanic outcrops and started digging for gold.  After searching for two days they thought they had enough for the ritual and were about to make their way to the Binkley when the dinghy was attacked by massive electric eels.  Not realising that using a metal weapon against them might be a bad idea, Merle and Urghh attacked fearlessly, and amazingly made their vigour rolls to resist the electrical discharge of the creatures.  Easily killing them, the crew on the Binkley feasted on fresh meat that night.  As they were hauling the 12 foot eels on board, Flynt noticed a dozen shark like heads swimming through the surf towards them, a Kehanna raiding party.  Rather than fight the Kehanna, they made sail and headed towards the Flotsam sea.

Kuthelaquin at this point remembered a legend about the golden triangles, and how the 6 pieces were the key to unlocking the vast and unclaimed treasure of the pirate Readbeard Rufus.

As they made their way south easterly towards the sea, an unearthly storm engulfed the ship and they were attacked by an unholy ghostly ship.  As it drew nearer, seemingly unaffected by the raging storm, the figure of Redbeard Rufus, the feared and now undead pirate could be seen pacing the deck.  Screaming that they return his keys, the ghost pirate mercilessly attacked, cannonading the Binkley.  Even though they were in the heart of a storm, the crew of the Binkley were about to outsail the undead pirate and managed to sink the Incinerator.  

Carrying on into the Flotsam sea, they had a completely uneventful trip, straight through the morass of ruins and debris, not finding an earth ship with water on it.  

50 Fathoms - The Fire Mage - Session Eight - Prison Break

50 Fathoms

Session 8 The Fire Mage

The Party:

Urghh - Half Ugak Bloodthirsty Sailor - Aaron

Flynt - Delusional Human Merchant - Charlie

Obadiah Merle - Squanderous Human Rifleman - Garry

Kuthelaquin - Kraken Water Mage - Rob


After disembarking at Paltos, the crew made their way into the small town to find Tomas De Orinjo.  Their first stop was the Coconut Grove, where Urghh challenged the resident monk-ape to a coconut throwing contest.  Winning easily, Mani Makawn, the owner, was so impressed he called for drinks all round and told them that the fire mage had been arrested with no charge, and was being held in the Prison looming over the town.  He added that the crew of the Valiant were drinking in the grove before moving on to The Gaoler's Due.  He said also that they were working up towards mischief and were deeply upset about Tomas' arrest.  Mani also told them about his brother who was shipwrecked on Torath-Ka, and asked the party to search for him.  They agreed to help him.

In the Gaoler's Due, the party made contact with the sailors of the Valiant and got the full story, they decided to try to get more information and promptly headed to the Governor's house to speak to him.  They were met by his personal secretary Hubert Barker, who, for a small bribe, let them into the Governor's office while he went to summon his master.  

After a quick search, Kuthelaquin spotted a letter on the desk in Spanish, signed with a flourish, Torquemada.  Putting two and two together they realised that the Governor and the prison warders were selling mages to the Inquisition.  This enraged Kuthelaquin, who swore revenge on the island, the Kieran empire and the Spanish Inquisition.

Making their way back into town hastily, they met the sailors of the Valiant and decided to scale the cliffs next to the prison and attempt a jailbreak.  Later that night they met their conspirators and ascended the cliffs.  Kuthelaquin summoned a storm to cover their assault and the sailors headed by Urghh climbed the prison walls.  

Failing their stealth rolls, the assault party were spotted by 4 guards who were messily dispatched by Urghh, the rest of the party joined them and they made their way to the prison roof.  Quietly lifting up roof tiles they freed the first captive mage, a near dead Kraken mage called Grikk, making hi way to the roof he was revitalised somewhat by the pouring rain.  In the cell next to him was a  masaquani water mage Kylie Kirrow.  Urghh immediately fell in lust with her and made lewd comments while freeing her.  Not impressed, the mage joined the sailors on the roof as the party moved on.  

Pushing their luck too far, as Urghh was lifting Kylie to the hole in the roof with an ardent fondle, they were spotted by the guards, 3 of them rushed to the locked cell door and started shooting.  Fortunately, they all missed allowing Urghh to kill 2 of them and Merle to sharpshoot from the roof and bag the last one.  Grabbing their keys, they made their way onto the iron walkway outside the cells.  The last cell on the wing contained the fire mage Orinjo.  As they moved to free him, 7 guards rushed up the stairs.  Merle took up a firing position and blew the head off the first one to appear.  This caused them to pause in fear, allowing the freed fire mage to exact his revenge.  Laying waste to the prison, guards, town and anyone else who got in his way, Tomas De Orinjo casually escorted the party back to the docks as they boarded the Binkley and made their escape.  With little or no subtlety, they had made an enemy of the Kieran empire.  

With gushing Spanish thanks, Tomas handed over the Tears of Lys to Kuthelaquin.  The kraken mage held the jewel in his hand and brooded on his worst memory, the destruction of the Kraken fleet and the loss of his friends.  This summoned a vision of the trial and execution of the Hags, with Kuthelaquin learning that Bryon Baltimus presided over the trial.  This meant he would have to know the names of the Hags.  Unfortunately, they recalled that he had recently died, and his son Bruno had inherited his estate.  They decided to make for Baltimus by way of the savage lands to investigate this new lead.  

After a few days sailing they reached the area that Mani had told them about, and saw that there was ship wreckage all over the rocks and beach.  The party took a longboat to the shore and looked for tracks.  They found the remains of a recently lit signal fire and tracks leading into the jungle.  As they made their way to the edge of the jungle, 4 enormous crabs reared out of the sand and attacked them.  Merle's rifle bullets ricocheted off the massive creature's carapace and Kuthelaquin managed to impale on on his sword.  Urghh smashed away with his warhammer, killing two, until Merle finally managed to dispatch the one attacking him.  The crew of the Binkley butchered the crabs and made bisque while the heroes went inland.

Following the tracks into the jungle for about 10 miles, they cautiously approached a small Ugak village.  As they neared, they saw that Mani's brother Moti was lashed to a post and an Ugak shaman was advancing towards his with a cleaver.  Merle took aim and blew his head off, and in the resulting chaos they managed to free Moti and make a run for it, barely making it back to the ship ahead of the rampaging Ugaks.  

With their thanks, they agreed to let Moti off at the next port to make his way back to his brother.  Somehow, they would collect the reward in the future.  

Making sail towards Baltimus, as they neared the island a sail was spotted by Merle.  It was the Mad Dog.  After some deliberation, they decided to fight, as the Binkley was now significantly upgraded and more than a match for the pirate galleon.  After some long range cannoneering, with some hits but no significant damage, Urghh expertly moved the Binkley into close range and spun the vessel to broadside the pirate ship.  Loading canisters of grapeshot, all 6 cannon sprayed lead at the enemy.  Shredding the crew and captain, the Mad Dog was captured and the body of Edward Low was kicked over the side for the sharks.  They found a cache of pieces of eight, and tucked behind a bulkhead in the Captain's quarters, a strange golden triangle inscribed with runes.  

They captured the ship and took it into Baltimus to claim the reward.  Another 35000 pieces of eight to swell the coffers of the B&R trading company.

50 Fathoms - The Fire Mage - Session Seven - Beat to arms

50 Fathoms

Session 7 The Fire Mage

The Party:

Urghh - Half Ugak Bloodthirsty Sailor - Aaron

Flynt - Delusional Human Merchant - Charlie

Obadiah Merle - Squanderous Human Rifleman - Garry

Kuthelaquin - Kraken Water Mage - Rob


After moving the ship to a more concealed position, the party waited until nightfall and stealthily approached the island of Terras.  After some scouting they determined that Noran Nass was in the bunkhouse on the western side of the small village.  The guards locked the workers inside at night, with barred doors and shutters.  While Merle sneaked close to the guard barracks and wedged a small barrel of gunpowder under the supports, Urghh moved closer to the worker barrack and entered looking for Nass.  

During the ensuring commotion of the workers trying to make a run for it, Urghh grabbed Nass and started back to the ship.  Merle detonated the gunpowder and in the chaos the party ran for the dinghy.  Disaster struck as Flynt tripped and wedged his leg between two rocks which then broke with a meaty crack.  Dragging him and Nass, the crew made it back to the ship with the guards closely following and firing at them.  Once back to the Binkley, they made sail and got out of there as fast as possible.  

Kuthelaquin used his magic to heal Flynt's broken leg and to straighten Urghh's broken nose that he suffered while running full pelt into a rock face.  

Nass was eternally grateful, offering to do custom modifications on the ship, adding to it's toughness and speed.  Now the group have one of the fastest and most manoeuvrable ships in the world.

Instead of heading back to Kiera, the crew headed towards the Coker mountains to try to gather air from the one of the peaks there.  Approaching from the south, they moored at a deserted stretch of coastline and organised an expedition to climb the jagged peak.  Flynt decided to stay behind, his leg still not healed properly, so the three heroic mountaineers set off with supplies, rope and warm clothing.  Urghh's inability to climb very well set them back a day, but eventually they made it to the peak and gathered a jar of air.  Heading back down the mountain, they came across a small survey party of prisoners and guards, Urghh launched himself from the rock face and rappelled into combat.  The 6 guards were easily dispatched, one was blown off the mountainside by Kuthelaquin's magic.  After releasing the prisoners, they escorted them back to the Binkley and set sail for Kiera.  

Making amazing time, the ship sailed back into the harbour at Kiera and they bundled up Nass in a cloak and made their way back to reunite him with his daughter.  Nass told them he and his daughter were going to head west to the free towns to live, as far from the Kieran empire as possible.  Merle made him an offer to captain a ship, realising that they needed a fleet to attack the Hags.  Nass agreed, and the rest of the week was spent looking for a ship to buy.  As fate would have it, they managed to secure a brig for 35,000 pieces of eight from a retiring sea captain.  Nass was put in command of the new ship, the Cormorant and headed west.

Remembering the captain of the merchant ship they spoke to said to contact a harbour master to ask about Tomas de Orinjo, Merle made his way to the harbour master's office and convinced him to tell them where the Valiant was last seen.  A letter from the captain of that ship revealed that the Valiant was putting in to Paltos for repairs and would be there for the next few weeks.  

Heading back to the restocked Binkley, the crew took to the sea and set a course for Paltos.  A few days out of harbour they ran into a British East India merchantman being attacked by a Kieran cutter.  With their allegiance strongly with the BEI, Flynt immediately ordered the Binkley to battle stations and for the crew to run out the guns.  Moving into combat range the crew fired off a cannonade, with all guns missing, the cutter returned fire missing as well.  The Binkley moved sleekly into close range, and the Captain ordered grapeshot loaded in the cannons.  With the expert helmsman Urghh piloting, the Binkley was optimally positioned when the opened fire and were able to bring all 6 cannons to bear on the cutter.  The results of 6 enormous shotguns going off at point blank range was not pretty, with 29 of the 32 crew eviscerated and the decks awash with blood and body parts. 

The crew of the Binkley boarded the cutter, looted it and decided to scuttle it so there would be no evidence of their act of war against the Kieran Empire.  The merchant captain thanked them profusely, saying there was no provocation, the cutter must have seen they were an easy target and decided to take the ship.  He also received a sealed report of the encounter from Merle to be given to Admiral Duckworth to appraise him of the situation.  

Leaving the burning, sinking wreck of the cutter, the Binkley sailed on to Paltos.

50 Fathoms - Tressa the Red - Session six - The Perfect Storm

50 Fathoms

Session 6 Tressa the Red

The Party:

Urghh - Half Ugak Bloodthirsty Sailor - Aaron

Flynt - Delusional Human Merchant - Charlie

Obadiah Merle - Squanderous Human Rifleman - Garry

Kuthelaquin - Kraken Water Mage - Rob



After treking overland to the caldera of the volcano, the heroes collected a chunk of volcanic rock and made their way back to the ship, the return journey was uneventful and they set sail for the Teeth to find Tressa the Red.  Making good time, they sailed to the jagged rocks bordering the gullet and decided to sail straight into the 2 mile watercourse towards the Teeth.  After some death defying piloting by Urghh, they came across a wrecked privateer that appeared to have a magical figurehead, deciding to try to grab it, they moored the ship and sent half the crew across to the derelict ship to retrieve it.  After attaching the green dolphin figurehead to the Binkley, their handling was significantly increased, allowing Urghh to pilot the ship with ease into the gullet.

Realising they needed to traverse the 200 foot high geyser of seawater holding the island in the air, Kuthelaquin volunteered to take a rope and try to swim up to the rocky edge and secure a line for the rest of the crew to climb.  After swimming up and almost failing his climbing roll, Kuthelaquin managed to tie the rope off and developed a severe phobia of heights.  Urghh and Merle were able to climb up to the island with ease, Flynt however slipped, failed his climb roll and fell 150 feet into the water.  Luckily making his agility roll, he took no damage but almost drowned, with the crew of the ship dragging him back on board.  Urghh then pulled him up on the rope easily to spare him another chance to die.  

After being harassed by Tressa's annoying parrot, the crew easily passed the trial of the elements and confronted the gorgeous Tressa the Red.  She told them she knew about the rising waters and needed them to act as her agents in the world.  She told them how to summon the Hags by speaking their true names and pouring water from another world over the ruins of Ograpog.  To find the names of the Hags, they would need a relic called the Tears of Lys, last seen in the possession of Tomas de Orinjo around the Gray Isles.  

Because she was suitable impressed with the crew, she also told them about a wreck lying in the Teeth that had sails that might aid them. 

After making their way back to the ship and spotting the wreck of the Carcanus, Garry played the hidden stash action card which, after some rules bending, allowed them to fashion a crude but effective shark proof cage out of barrels and packing crates.  Kuthelaquin climbed inside and was lowered to the wreck where he was able to cut the sharkskin sails off the doomed Kraken cutter.

After raising the new sails, the Binkley made its way out of the Gullet and back into the open seas, with much improved handling and speed.  

Heading towards the Kieran empire to look for Tomas de Orinjo, it was smooth sailing for a few days, the newly improved Binkley making incredible time with over double it's original pace.  Then they saw the storm on the horizon.  

A hugely powerful storm engulfed the ship, just as the crew lashed themselves to the deck and wheel.  For and hour and a half Urghh was able to pilot the ship expertly through the maelstrom then disaster struck, failing his piloting roll, the poor ship took 5d6 damage, taking two wounds.  The main mast was shattered by a bolt of lightning and fell, piercing the deck and hull.  

Listing dangerously, and taking on water, and with judicial use of bennies, the ship made it through the storm barely, then ran aground on a sand bar.  After refloating the ship, they limped into port in Kiera and immediately made arrangements to have the vessel repaired.  Rob played the contact adventure card on Thratamas, the owner of the shipworks.  It turned out they were old friends and agreed to repair the ship for a discount as long as the crew helped out the daughter of his friend.  Merle also arranged for the Binkley's hull to be reinforced.  

Flynt met Ursa Ulm, who was looking for her Father, the master shipwright Noran Nass.  He disappeared several months ago and hadn't been heard from since.  After agreeing to help, Flynt and the rest of the crew hit town to carouse and ask around.  After some ridiculously high streetwise rolls, a salty sea dog told Flynt that Nass had been "requested" to work on an enormous battle barge being constructed on Terras.

After the ship was repaired and restocked, the crew set sail for Terras.  Then they realised they forgot to ask about Tomas de Orinjo.  Remedying this by asking passing merchant vessels, they were eventually told that harbour masters would be the best people to ask because they were inherently corrupt.  Thanking the captain of the merchant ship, they continued on to Terras.  Eventually drawing close to the island, they weighed anchor behind a rocky peninsula and made plans to scout ahead.

Ivana Brunhilde - Freelance Air Mage

Ivana Brunhilde is a Prussian woman from Earth circa 1700, her ship was lost in the Baltic sea and made it's way to Caribdus, after fighting their way through the Flotsam Sea, Ivana was taken under the wing of Greenam Gurp, a notorious Masaquani air mage.  After receiving training in the elemental arts, she freelances as a mage for-hire.

Ivana is a stern, teutonic iceberg of a woman, all business and very little humour.

Attributes: Agility d6, Smarts d10, Spirit d8,Strength d6, Vigor d6

Skills: Boating d8, Climbing d6, Fighting d6, Notice d8, Shooting d6, Spellcasting d10, Stealth
d6, Swimming d6, Taunt d6

Charisma: 0; Pace: 6; Parry: 5; Toughness: 5

Hindrances: —

Edges: Arcane Background (Magic)

Gear: Various.

Booty: Loot.

Spells: (15 Power Points)

• Air: Elemental manipulation, deflection, zephyr.

50 Fathoms Maiden Voyage/Tressa the Red - Session five - A night at the theatre

50 Fathoms

Session 5 Maiden Voyage/Tressa the Red

The Party:

Urghh - Half Ugak Bloodthirsty Sailor - Aaron

Flynt - Delusional Human Merchant - Charlie

Obadiah Merle - Squanderous Human Rifleman - Garry

Kuthelaquin - Kraken Water Mage - Rob

After graciously accepting the invitation to the theatre by Edward Lazonby, the crew decked out in their finery made their way to the Baltimus Shakespear Company for the performance of The Merchant Of Venice.  They were met by Reginald Davenport, or Reeeeeeeeeeeeeeginald Daaaaavenport! as he introduced himself as, Caribdus' self proclaimed leading thespian.  Escorted to the front of the house, they were greeted by Lazonby who had arranged for a feast of luxurious wines and foods while they enjoyed the play.  

Merle immediately set about the wines and was well on his way to being intoxicated by the second act of the play, the rest of the party made small talk with Lazonby and drank at a more sedate pace.  Seated behind the Governor and his guests were another 40 or so assorted rich and important captains and merchants all trying to get the Governor's favour.  

During the interval between acts 2 and 3, waiters appeared to chivy away the wreckage of the food and drink on the small tables before the party, Kuthelaquin noticed alone, that under one of their napkins the barrel of a small pistol was concealed.  After trying to get the Governor's attention and failing, Merle spluttered loudly "More Wine!"  and the Keiran extremist assassins, disguised as theatre staff attacked.

After discharging their pistols and missing miserably, the assassins moved into close combat.  Only Flynt and Merle had swords, being allowed to wear them as part of their dress uniforms, Urghh and Kuthelaquin had daggers.  Urghh engaged the assassin making directly towards the Governor in hand to hand combat while the others drew their swords and attacked, Merle drunkenly pulled his flintlock sidearm and casually blew the brains out of a shrieking assassin.  One of the killers managed to severely injure Kuthelaquin, stabbing his dagger deep into his side, he collapsed to the floor bleeding profusely.  Flynt managed to hold his own against the professional killers, running one through and incapacitating another.  Merle downed another and Urghh was unable to best his combatant in hand to hand.  Eventually, the assassins were dispatched, with one left alive despite Urghh moving immediately to crush their skull.  After some intimidation, including Merle drunkenly threatening to burn them with brandy, the assassin confessed they were Keiran extremists trying to destabilise the peace between The British East India Company and the Kieran empire.  Governor Lazonby ordered the man taken off to Baltimus prison.  Kuthelaquin used his water magic to heal the injured, including himself.

The Governor rewarded the party with 3000 pieces of eight and a relic from his own personal stockpile, an enchanted warhammer that Urghh immediately claimed as his own.  Importantly, he also offered them a 25% discount on goods bought in Baltimus.

After this, the play was abandoned, and the party left to their own devices. In the following days, Flynt was able to get his super's tattoo with the bureaucratic intervention of the Governor, and buy goods to trade to Lanos.  

The crew set sail for Lanos, and almost immediately came across the wreckage of a frigate with a sole survivor clinging to a section of the hull, they threw him a line and the crotchety scurillion was helped on board.  After grudgingly thanking the group (in a bizarre Mancunian accent, looks like scurillions are all Northerners and working class) he introduced himself as Equias, a retired super for the Spanish guild.  He told them that during his retirement he had been travelling all over Caribdus taking depth measurements and had come to the conclusion that the seas were still rising and the free towns would be gone in three years, all land masses would be submerged within ten years unless something was done about it.  He suggested going to see Tressa the Red, the archmage for her advice.  The Teeth, where Tressa lived, is on the southern edge of the savage lands, a long and perilous journey.  The party decided to seek her out and try to find a way to stop the waters rising.  They agreed to stock the ship, head to Bluth's Crown, then head along the southern shore of the savage lands towards The Teeth.  

Resuming their journey to Lanos, they docked the ship and were able to sell their goods and buy gunpowder to sell at Baltimus.  On the return voyage, while Urghh was on watch, the hull of the ship impacted against something which scraped along the keel.  Ordering the ship to stop, he investigated and looked over the side, to see what appeared to be a tiled roof and chimney stack just below the water level, the ship had scraped along the highest chimney pot.  Realising it was a sunken ruin of a manor house, he informed the rest of the crew.  Kuthelaquin took to the water and investigated the ruin.   After a search, he found in the once opulent manor at the top of the seaweed encrusted grand staircase, a suit of chain mail armour on a wooden stand.  Taking this and returning to the ship, it was given to Urghh.

Returning to Baltimus and making a tidy profit from the sale of the gunpowder, the crew decided the they needed a presence in Baltimus, so went about renting a small dockfront warehouse under the name of the B&R Trading company.  Trusted crew was sent ashore to manage their interests, and extra cannon were taken off the ship and stored there.  The skiff, the Rosebud, was given to the warehouse staff so they could do small amounts of trading in their absence.  After restocking the Binkley and allowing the crew to carouse, Merle explained their intentions to the crew, and they set sail for the savage lands.

Heading South, several days of good weather and good boating rolls later, the crew came across swarms of razorwing which they avoided with Kuthelaquin's magic, until they eventually came across a heavily damaged frigate, The Conquistador.  Boarding the sticken ship, they found a single survivor, the heavily mutilated ship's cook Jim Black, after being revived by Kuthelaquin, he told them a harrowing tale of how the ship he was on was attacked by pirates who tortured and butchered the crew.  Flynt realised from his description that the pirate Captain was Edward Low, the same man they had rescued from the seas and taken to Lanos.  

After putting a skeleton crew aboard the Conquistador, the two ships made for Bristo.  Upon reaching the small fishing town, they met with Thomas Crane, the unofficial leader of the small community.  For a small gratuity, they arranged for him to take care of Black and to contact the owners of the Conquistador. 

Resuming their journey South, a few days later a galleon appeared on the horizon and made sail to engage them.  The Galleon was flying the skull and crossbones and Merle identified it as the Mad Dog, the same ship that attacked the Conquistador.  Realising they were outgunned and outmanned, the Binkey wheeled away from the attacker and made sail to escape.  The chase ranged for 16 hours before the party were able to out maneuver the pirates and escape.  

Finally reaching Bluth's Crown, the ship weighed anchor and Kuthelaquin went ashore, being a mage he had been there before and knew some of the elementalists there.  As he made his way towards the 4 towers, he was approached by a young earth mage, Pars Portri.  Pars and Kuthelaquin were old friends who had studied together, and Pars asked for his help.  The monolith stones, each dedicated to an element have been developing cracks in them, possibly from over use and they needed ingredients for a ritual to repair them.  They need to retrieve four items for him: a gallon of water from the heart of the Flotsam Sea, a pound of lava gathered from the great volcano of Torath-Ka, a pound of gold from the Kehana Flumes, and a bottle containing air from the highest peak of the Coaker Mountains.  For a reward of 6000 pieces of eight and 8 magical potions, they agreed to help.  

Returning to the ship and informing the crew, they decided to ask the mages for some food to replenish their stores, and also if there was an air mage who was willing to join the crew to speed their journey.  After an inspiring recruitment speech from Flynt, Ivana Brunehilde, a Prussian Earther mage was convinced to join the crew.  Her use of the Zephyr spell would help them travel further faster.

Heading East along the southern edge of the savage lands, the crew decided to make landfall near the enormous volcano that was visible from the seas, and try to gather a component for the mage's ritual.  Provisioning themselves for the 45 mile journey into the interior, the party made their way into the steaming dense jungles of the savage lands.  The first day passed without incident, and by using their survival skills they were able to find a body of fresh water for Kuthelaquin to rest in.  The second day of travel was gruelling, with the temperature soaring and Urghh being affected by the searing heat.  Making camp at the foot of the incline to the volcano, as the kraken mage was resting in a shallow pool of water, 6 yellowback raptors burst into the small clearing and leapt into combat.  4 of them swarmed Flynt, the other two attacked Urghh and Kuthelaquin.  After a brutal and short melee, Flynt was slightly wounded, and the crew had enough fresh meat to feast on to replenish their strength for the final day's trek to the heart of the volcano.

50 Fathoms Maiden Voyage - Session four- Board 'em!

50 Fathoms

Session 4 Maiden Voyage

The Party:

Urghh - Half Ugak Bloodthirsty Sailor - Aaron

Flynt - Delusional Human Merchant - Charlie

Obadiah Merle - Squanderous Human Rifleman - Garry

Kuthelaquin - Kraken Water Mage - Rob

After negotiating to get the ship repaired in Baltimus dry dock, the crew were released on shore to carouse while the group headed to The Severed Head Inn to discuss what to do next, and after a somewhat long winded conversation about trade and profit margins, the overly loud players were approached by a shifty looking scalywag called Robinson.  The grungy sailor had a business offer for the group, 10000 pieces of eight to transfer a cargo of "blackbirds" to Jomba town.  Quickly reading between the lines, and realising he was a slaver,  Urghh's response was "I have no problem with this."  Somewhat appalled, the rest of the crew were against the idea, especially Merle who was very vocal about why they wouldn't be accepting, and Robinson left the table to make his offer to a nearby crew of merchants.  

Merle took the party aside and revealed his plan, by digging into their own pockets and some nimble persuasion they could get their letter of marque from the great harbour council, they could refloat the ship and capture the merchants who had agreed to take Robinson's offer.  They knew where they were going and it would be easy enough to intercept them.  The party agreed, with Kuthelaquin, Merle and Flynt heading to get their letters, while Urghh would shadow the merchants and gather information.  

The following day, Urghh started his surveillance and the rest of the party headed to the harbour council hall.  After waiting for some time, they were eventually ushered into the office of Paikus Pathe, the current great harbour master.  After some haggling the disolute and clearly drunk Masaquani offered them letters of marque for 16,100 pieces of eight.  After some veiled threats and name dropping he backed down and offered them the letters of marque for the original price.  

Urghh's spying lead him to an old shack on the edge of town where Robinson lead the merchant crew, inside were 20 men and women in shackles.  He reported this back to the party and they decided he should follow them the next day in case they left for sea.  
Disaster struck the following morning when Urghh managed to follow the merchants to the shack, the ragged chained slaves were being transported undercover by skiff to a galleon lying at anchor in the harbour.  Realising that their ship was still a day and a half from being sea worthy, the party rushed to the dry dock and bribed the dock supervisor to try to get his men to complete the repairs as soon as possible.  Merle headed into town to round up the crew as the ship was refloated, and they boarded as quick as they could, and left in pursuit of the slavers, a scant 5 hours later.  

The galleon was sighted a day of out port, the older and slightly more cumbersome ship was easily overtaken by the Binkley.  The ship was identified as The Red Reaper.  Deciding to attack under cover of darkness, the crew shadowed the galleon, and immediately attempted to board her as night fell.   With some amazing boating rolls, Urghh managed to maneuver the ship into close range and all hands launched grappling hooks at the enemy ship.  

Drawing close, there were 20 pirates on the enemy ship's deck waiting for the attacking crew, Flynt took half a dozen crew from the Binkley and ordered the boarding action, with 2 - 1 odds, this was going to be a fight to the death.  

As the two ships crunched together, Urghh attempted to swing from the rigging and engage the enemy captain in combat on the quarterdeck.  A critical fail on the agility roll however, saw Urghh mistime his acrobatic feat, and smack into the side of the ship with a grisly thud.   He then slid down the side of the hull and fell into the water between the two combating vessels.  

From his sniping position in the rigging, Merle tried to shoot the captain down and missed, then swung down and joined the boarding party.  

The battle royal kicked off with the defending pirates shooting the attackers with pistols then moving to close combat with their cutlasses.  Kuthelauquin killed two off the pirates with water bolts then drew his bone sword and started dispatching them gorily.  With scientific precision, Merle used his pistols and musket to whittle down the attackers before drawing his sword and attacking.  Meanwhile, the soaking wet and angry Urghh climbed the side off the ship, vaulted over the gunwhale and launched himself at the captain.  Flynt was directing the attacking crew of the Binkley and taking pot shots at the pirates.  

Urghh was shaken by the captain, failed his smarts roll and immediately frenzied, butchering the captain and the nearby crewmate with his great axe.

After a long and bloody battle, where Flynt and Kuthelaquin were both wounded, the pirates were destroyed, with only one of the crew of the Binkley suffering a wound.  

The decks literally awash with blood and gore, the crew of the Binkley stood victorious, and claimed the ship for themselves.  After freeing the slaves who readily agreed to join them, they sailed both ships back to Baltimus to claim their prize money.  
As news of their heroism spread through town, people flocked to the dockside to see the valiant heroes and cheered them as they made their way back to the Great Harbour Council Hall to claim their prize.  After some more haggling with Pathe, a bounty of 31,000 pieces of eight was agreed on, and the battered and bloody crew immediately went shopping, with Merle giving a bonus of 200 pieces of eight each to the original crew of the Binkley.  

As they were about to leave the council hall, they were approached by the personal secretary of Edward Lazenby, Percy Bartlet.  He handed them a wax sealed envelope with courtly grace, which had the personal seal of Lazenby himself.  After hearing of their heroism and speaking to Admiral Duckworth, Lazenby had invited them all to a performance of The Merchant Of Venice at the Baltimus Shakespear Company, formal dress mandatory.  

Flush with cash, the party headed to Mid Town to outfit themselves in finery for a night at the theatre.

50 Fathoms Maiden Voyage - Session three - Swimming with sharks

50 Fathoms

Session 3 Maiden Voyage

The Party:

Urghh - Half Ugak Bloodthirsty sailor - Aaron

Flynt - Delusional Human merchant - Charlie

Obadiah Merle - Squanderous Human Rifleman - Garry

Kuthelaquin - Kraken water mage - Rob


After gaining the environmental protection spell from ghost captain Iago, the crew dived overboard and swam down to the wreck of The Black Prince.  Heading towards the shattered stern of the ship, Merle noticed that they were being flanked by a trio of enormous man eater sharks, the crew stood their ground and were able to dispatch the bloodthirsty creatures quickly with some dashing underwater sword play.  

Swimming to the wreck, they were able to enter the hold and discovered that their were 30 skeletal remains of slaves shackled to the walls of the ship, The Black Prince was obviously a slaver.  Merle noticed that one of the grisly remains was over 7 foot tall, and massively built.  Moving on to the Captain's cabin, the crew discovered the rotting remains of the crew and the Iago's tarred sea chest still bolted to the decking of the cabin.  Urghh moved to rip the chest off the deck and as soon as lifted it, the crew re-animated and attacked the party mercilessly.  Again, without suffering a single wound, the crew were able to destroy the undead sailors and return to The Binkley to speak to Iago.

After revealing they had indeed recovered the locket, Iago pleaded with them to give him the trinket so he could go onto his final rest.  Kuthelaquin was particularly against this idea, arguing that the captain should suffer for the torment he inflicted on the slaves he killed on his voyage.   Eventually the party decided to give him the locket and allow him to rest in peace.  

After bringing the ship about, the crew again continued on their voyage to Lanos.  After three more days at sea, Merle, who was on watch, sighted a sail on the horizon, determining it to be a heavily laden merchant ship.  The ship immediately piled on sail and made a run for it away from The Binkley.  After some discussion to agree that the crew were definitely NOT pirates, they allowed the merchant to sail away and left them in peace.  

Sighting a small dinghy in the middle of open water, Captain Flynt ordered the crew to investigate and were able to rescue the dehydrated and unconscious single occupant. Kuthelaquin restored him to health with his water magic, and the sailor revealed he was James Low, an Earther sailor who was on the merchant ship the Trinidad when it was taken by pirates. He was set adrift by the cruel captain and left to die.  The small ship drifted into a fog bank and he found himself in Caribdus.  After some culture shock, Low asked the captain to take him to the nearest port.

Two days out from Lanos, another sail was sighted, this time a privateer heading on an intercept course with The Binkley.  Realising that the ship was possibly still known for being a pirate brig, the crew decided to try to flee, with Urghh piloting the ship on a course to outrun the privateer.  After a tense 24 hour chase, The damaged Binkley managed to evade the following ship and make for Lanos.

Making port at Lanos, Captain Flynt allowed the crew to leave the ship and carouse, with the rest of the party following them.  With the only inn on Lanos being The Bawdy Maiden, the crew headed there for some restorative rum, and to try to find a merchant contact to buy food supplies to trade.  After a briefly humourous argument with a constable outside the inn, Urghh was relieved of his harpoon and allowed entry.  

After a night of relatively sedate carousing, Captain Flynt and Merle made contact with a Masaquani merchant called Roge Rez, who happily agreed to supply them with a single cargo space of rice and rice wine for trade.  

Their negotiations were interrupted by constable Turner, who offered them employment as deputies.  Farmers had been disappearing without a trace from paddy fields outside the town and the local watch were stretched too thinly to investigate properly, Governor Thornsby offered a reward to any parties that were able to solve the mystery.  

Readily accepting, the crew returned to The Binkley and organised the loading of the food cargo, and decided to take the skiff Rosebud.  Low, their passenger, had left the ship at this point and made his way into town.  

After rowing their way to the paddy fields where the farmers went missing, a quick investigation revealed that there were signs of a scuffle and some cloth strands on the nearby bushes.  With no clear motive or idea where the farmers went, the crew decided to stake out the paddy and hid in a copse of trees and disguised the skiff with branches and foliage.  

After a surveillance of about 10 hours, Merle noticed a trio of farmers heading away from the paddy fields towards a low island sheltered in a strand of trees.  Kuthelaquin decided to follow them by submerging in the muddy waters of the paddy and stealthily following them underwater.  He followed them to the island and realised that they were growing a small crop of opium, and had probably killed the farmers because they had come across the poppy fields.  Turning to swim back to the rest of the crew, Kuthelaquin swan straight into the submerged rotting corpses of the missing farmers.  Taking one of them as proof, he returned to the rest of the party and informed them of what he had found.  

The party decided that they should inform the constable and returned to town, after offering to increase their pay to assist in the arrest, Taylor and the group returned to the opium field and set up an ambush for the smugglers.  Unfortunately, as they returned, the opium farmers realised that their farm had been discovered and the crew lost the element of surprise, and a melee erupted.  

After quickly dispatching half the smugglers, the rest surrendered and were taken into custody by the constable.  With his gratitude the party received their pay and made their way back to the ship to set sail for Baltimus.

A few days out from Baltimus, Merle on watch noticed an enormous man of war bearing down on them, the HMS Justice, Admiral Duckworth's flagship.  Realising that they were massively outgunned and outmanned, the Captain ordered the crew to stand down and let the Admiral and 20 marines board the ship.  After a swift interrogation, Flynt managed to persuade the Admiral that they had taken the ship legally from pirates, and the captain of the Moon Runner could verify their story.  Duckworth was mightily impressed with their tale, (Charlie rolled 23 on his persuasion roll) and allowed them to continue on their way, suggesting they buy letters of marque to legitimise their claim.  

After heading back on course towards Baltimus, the crew sighted a merchant convoy escorted by two galleons and were allowed to join the convoy after signalling the lead ship, and sailed in safety to their destination Baltimus, home of the British East India Company.