Mysterious Tides #4

After dealing with the eel/swarm/zombie problem, the group heads back to town only to be ambushed by some searching assailants. On-going GURPS adventures set in the beautiful and evocative Bay of Spirits setting by Randy M. at Roan Studios.

GURPS: Bay of Spirits
Session 004

Red Cloaked Assailants

230723

Callast Nilas and Bro Bob retreat back to the town with Carmel the Enibrian. Calls for fire and fuel go up across the docks. Captain Jens Marko has already moved toward the incident to see what was going on when he runs into Nilas, Bob, and Carmel. The young Enibrian smiles shyly at Jens and looks down at her feet.

Piper's Quay

“Hey, Bro Bob! What all was going down over there? Looked like some sort of mixup?” Jens asks.

Bro' Bob waves as he approaches and replies, "Nasty business, Jens. The carcass of a serpent washed ashore that's infested with some sort of crab-like things. They swarmed over three of the townsmen and killed them somehow, turning them into zombies in the process." He takes a long drink from his mug and wipes his mouth before continuing, "I've never heard of anything like it. We managed to take care of the zombies, but there's a lot of those things coming out of the carcass. I hope that fire will kill them."

The locals are quickly gathering oil, torches, and as much firewood as they can manage.

A stout, good looking young man carrying a shield with the symbol of the Sinann Clan quickly takes charge in directing the locals on what to do. After talking to some of the locals, he heads over to talk to the group.

"Ho there, Old Garbarend there says some of you were out at the beach when all hell broke loose, says you were trying to deal with the situation and were able to put down some dead walkers that were somehow infected or something of that nature," he says with a firm voice of authority.

Taber Sinann

Bro' Bob nods, replying, "That pretty much sums it up. Some kind of crab-like things swarming out of a dead serpent that washed up. I don't know if fire will kill them or not, but it seems the best thing to try first."

"Yes, fire. Thank you for your service to Piper's Quay. If you give me your names, I will make sure my father hears of this." he says. "Oh, my apologies, I am Taber Sinann, my father is Laird Sinann."

Bro' Bob smiles slightly, "I know," and holds out his hand, "Brother Robert D'Nagian. um, Junior, of Enibria" As he reaches to shake Taber's hand, he locks eyes with him in a strange, rather unsettling stare.

Taber Sinann shakes Bro' Bob's hand very firmly then looks at Nilas and extends his hand to him as well.

Taber Sinann does not seem to recognize Bob or his clan relations. Bob remembers Taber from his youth. Taber is a good 7 or 8 years older, so the two did not run around together as children.

Nilas says, "Well met Taber, Callast Nilas at your service.” Nilas nods to the noble. "The large sea serpent washed ashore. Unfortunately three of the fishermen became infected. I blasted one with Calla's power of lightning and these crab-like bugs swarmed out of the men. They were on them earlier and turned them into sea zombies. I was able to scatter the initial swarms with some lightning and air jets that I called down from Calla. But there are many more coming out. We need to purge the shore.

As the group interacts with Taber Sinann, Ragnar returns to town. He sees the chaos going on and immediately goes on alert.

Nilas shakes his hand

Taber nods at Nilas and gives him a slight smile. "Callast, your work here is appreciated."

Nilas sees the Wellborn man adjust his jerkin, revealing a small pin on his collar bearing some symbols of Calla. It looks like the symbol that a Ranger of Calla would wear.

Bro' Bob gestures to Carmel, "Sister Carmel here also put one of them down with us."

Carmel Montfort

"Ahh, Carmel, yes, thank you. I did not realize you were still here in town. I assumed you'd have pushed off by now, off in search of your precious wines." It almost seems like he is speaking condescendingly to the young Enibrian, but maybe not. Maybe he is just a young Wellborn leader of a town in the middle of a crisis.

Nilas says, "You are most welcome. We are very concerned for the people here in Piper’s Quay. We are also looking into some other problems around here, while we have your attention, perhaps once this immediate threat is settled we can have an audience with you?"

Nilas then adds, “Yes, if it wasn't from Brother Robert here and Sister Carmel, the threat would have gotten worse."

Nilas then looks himself over, "I must first see if I can get my wounds cleaned up and tended to, one of the zombies laid into me pretty tough."

Ragnar asks, "Is everything OK here?”

Carmel purses her lips and, keeping her eyes down, looks away a bit. "No, Laird Sinann, I have not yet saved up enough Marks yet to leave," she responds

Carmel, realizing that Nilas is wounded, grabs his arm and looks at it. "I can help you, Nilas. I am sorry I did not realize you were thus wounded."

She speaks a quiet word to Enibria and lays her hands on Nilas, healing his wound almost completely.

Nilas blushes a bit. "Yes, Lady Carmel, I must admit, I do not have much combat experience outside of training. This was really my first actual battle with life-threatening consequences"

Taber nods at Nilas' request, "Yes, after this has been dealt with, we can talk, of course. " He puts his hand firmly on Nilas' shoulder and excuses himself to get back to leading the village in this time of crisis.

Nilas adds, "And a thanks to you and Enibria"

Bro' Bob tacitly ignores the man, but gives Carmel's arm a slight, encouraging squeeze as he answers Ragnar, "Well enough for church work. There's a situation down the beach - Laird's boy is handling it now." Bro' Bob looks at Carmel and bows slightly, "And I apologize, Mother Carmel"

Quickly, they fill Ragnar in on what had happened.

Ragnar shakes his head. "I've never heard of such ... tis truly strange."

Nilas will continue to help the people. Nilas will take up a torch and also use any air jets if needed. He will help try to earn favor with Tabor

Ragnar heads down to ask if he can help somehow.

Bro' Bob asks Carmel, "Are you going back to the inn?"

Nilas quickly gets involved, using his torch and Air Jets to disperse any approaching swarms of the zombie-making crabs while Ragnar meanders around asking how he can help. The Quayians rush back and forth making stacks of firewood and pouring oil on them as near to the dead eel as they can, hoping to set up a burning perimeter before attempting to burn the creature.

"No, I will stay here and help these good people with their problem," Carmel responds to Bob.

Bro' Bob nods, "Roll up our sleeves and get dirty then. Coming Jens?"

Ragnar helps fetching firewood

Bro' Bob pitches in wherever he sees is needed. He's familiar enough with the rhythm of the wharf and townsfolk to be unobtrusive and just help out.

Jens stands around for a while, then joins in with helping to transport firewood.

It takes several hours to set up the burn perimeter but luckily no more people are infected. The creature seems more difficult to burn, though Taber Sinann sets up groups of townsfolk to take turns fueling the fires built directly up against the creatures head. This goes on for some time, with pretty much all of the firewood, driftwood, and spare planks are used to build the conflagration. Most of the townsfolk are sent back to their homes and the group of new friends are dismissed back to town as well.

Ragnar shakes his head in disbelief. "That was right odd, it was. And more than a bit scary."

Bro' Bob nods. "I don't know what to make of it. But I do know - I still haven't had breakfast! Let's head back to the Windbreak. I'm starved"

As the group heads back to town, it is now approaching dinner time and everyone can hear Bro' Bob's stomach growling.

Bro' Bob pours the rest of his mug down his throat, "And parched"

As the group heads back to the Windbreak Inn, he sees movement over in the Shrine of the Sea, where he has been staying since arriving in Piper's Quay yesterday.

Nilas puts a hand on Bob's shoulder. "Agreed my friend, I think we earned some of Enibria's finest after this mess"

Nilas pauses, "A minute my friends, I think I see someone over by the shrine, perhaps Callast Zale is returned"

Nilas starts heading over to the Shrine of the Sea

Ragnar stops and watches

Bro' Bob nods, "If he has, give my regards. We'll save you a seat"

Bro' Bob looks at Carmel as he starts toward the inn, "Well Mother, I hope Maricia doesn't put you back to work after all that. I don't know about you, but I'm pretty exhausted."

"Me too, but there's gonna be a lot of thirsty folk, and she can't do it all herself, so back to work for me," Carmel says, shrugging.

A few moments after Nilas heads off, a young boy comes in, looks around and sidles up to Captain Jens. He indicates he has something to tell him, so Jens leans down and the boy whispers in his ear. "What?" Jen'

"What?" Jens roars and jumps up. "Someone's on my boat!" he cries and rushes out the door.

Nilas heads over to the shrine.

Bro' Bob looks upward, shaking his head in disbelief, "If I have to leave again before I've eaten I'm going to break someone. . ."

Ragnar immediately pushes back his chair and rushes off after Jens

Nilas is being careful though, as it is getting dark and they were just fighting zombies

As Nilas approaches the abode of Callast Zale, he sees lantern light from inside the small hovel.

Bro' Bob sighs in exasperation, "It's fongin time" and drops his backpack on his chair calling over to Carmel with a shrug, "We'll be back"

Jens leads the way down to the pier, Ragnar and Bro' Bob follow.

Nilas approaches the home portion of the shrine cautiously.

As Nilas approaches, the light suddenly goes out.

Nilas stops. That's suspicious. He ducks down and moves quietly towards the door.

As Jens charges down toward the Kittiwake, he no longer sees whoever it was on the boat. Jens Marko runs to the Kittiwake, looking around. Bro' Bob notices a figure shadowing the group off in the trees. 

The Kittiwake, Captain Jens' boat

Jens sees that the contents on the front deck have been rummaged through, though he cannot see into the cabin or on the back deck from his current vantage point.

Nilas creeps up to the door of the shrine, it is dark and quiet inside. Outside it is not dark yet, but the sun is going down quickly.

Nilas tries to poke his head inside the door, looking to see who was in there.

As Nilas puts his head in, he sees the flash of steel as a hand and knife come out of the darkness, directly at his throat!

Nilas backs up to dodge the attack!

Bro' Bob steps toward the rise, drawing his broadsword and says clearly, "Step down into the damn light - I do NOT have the patience left for stupid games tonight!!"

The hooded assailant follows up.

Jens sees some movement from the back of the boat as something small whizzes just past his face!

Jens Marko draws his hatchet and steps aboard. As part of stepping aboard, he gives the gunwale a good downward push. Let's see if you're a sailor or not.

Ragnar moves forward and looks to see who might be in the boat

As Ragnar charges down the pier, he sees a red hooded figure crouching at the rear of the boat.

Bro' Bob quickly drops his dagger, point down into the sand at his feet, and readies his buckler, "Seriously. I'm tired, I'm hungry, and I'm going to have my period in a couple of days. Do you have any idea how angry that makes me?"

Nilas takes a step back, points his spear at the assailant and yells "Torden!".....Unleashing a Thunderclap targeted right inside the doorway of the home. A loud crash of thunder erupts from the area at Callast Zale's home

The red-hooded assailant shakes her head and gives Nilas a sinister grin.

Bro' Bob says, "Oh, and it sounds like my friend is even angrier"

She steps up and kicks Nilas right in the buried treasure!

Nilas fails to dodge the attack

The hooded foe on the boat leaps up and shoves Ragnar, trying to push him off the pier.

Nilas feels the pain between his legs but manages to keep his feet.

Nilas' attacker then runs off!

Nilas shouts, "Fighting dirty, you coward???!!!"

The third hooded figure raises an eyebrow at Bob then turns and runs toward the shoreline.

Ragnar, surprised at the attack, stumbles back and falls into the surf as his attacker runs down the pier.

Jens Marko says "You better not have hurt my cat..." and dodges

Ragnar falls into the water, landing on his back!

Bro' Bob shakes his head as he turns and steps toward the pier, smiling at the figure running toward him, "Looks like your friend abandoned you. Do you think you can climb that little bluff before I cut your legs off?"

She looks back at Bob, "With what?" she snarls with a laugh.

Nilas starts running after his assailant, yelling at him the entire time. "Get back here you coward! Face Calla's Wrath!"

The fleeing foe tries to twist out of the way but fails, and Nilas spear hits her in the back!

Nilas chases after the attacker and attempts to stab her with his three-pronged spear as she runs away

The fleeing woman gasps as Nilas spear impales her.

She staggers away from Nilas, moving to squeeze between the narrow gap between two buildings.

The male hooded figure moves over to a short rise and readies a bow, looking in Bob's direction.

While the female on the dock leaps across the gap and hits the rocky point just beyond a beached canoe.

She scrambles but manages to find some foot and handholds.

Jens Marko says "Wait up! Where you going?" and moves to go up the slope at a less steep spot

Ragnar tries to stand up as quickly as he can

Bro' Bob tells Jen, "'Ware the fool on the hill," then calls out, "You'll get your archery duel in a moment..." He then charges the climber and cuts at her leg

Nilas steps up and yells to the female assailant. "Surrender and I will spare your life...run and face Calla's Wrath". Nilas then hurls his spear at her. The spear strikes the woman in the back.

Nilas aims true, his spear impaling the assailant once again.

The spear hits her hard, causing her to lurch forward, but she keeps her feet somehow and continues forward. Nilas’ spear falls to the ground.

The climbing attacker moves around the point so Bro' can no longer see her as she starts her ascent.

While the foe with the bow sends an arrow in Jens' direction!

Jens Marko scrambles up the rise and pelts after the strange foe! 

Ragnar starts to pull himself out of the water, back up onto the dock

Nilas gives chase again, closing in on the female assailant. He points his finger at the woman and yells "WAIT!" Calling on Calla for the power of a Command Spell.

Nilas sighs, ......."ohhhh" Nilas says as he was about to cast the command spell and his quarry falls unconscious.

The two uninjured foes prove to be quick, sneaky and hard to catch. They somehow slip into the shadows and elude detection. The one Nilas skewered passes out as she tries to slip between the two buildings. Taber Sinann and some of his men show up after a few minutes to find out what happened. Someone spots a rowboat moving out past the breakers as the sun sets and everyone assumes that it is the fleeing assailants.

Nilas kneels down to heal the assailant and stabilize her injuries.

Taber Sinann instructs his men to disarm her and take her into custody.

Nilas mutters, "Oh grap!"

Nilas shakes his head. "Calla's will, I suppose........." then turns around mumbling "Kick me in the family jewels.....lucky I didn't use my lightning bolt right up your womb...."

Session Notes

Got off to a bit of a late start due to some players being late, but it was a good, full session. Discussion with the town leader, helping out with protecting the village, then some shadowy figures snooping through their stuff lead to a spread out fight on the waterfront. Fun times! Sadly due to my other Sunday night game and me going to GenCon, we won't get to play again for about a month, but I will set up a Continuing Story (PbP document) to keep up with things. 

Cast of Characters:

Brother Robert (Bro Bob) D'Nagien, a young Enibrian monk and archer - played by Amergin K

Jens Marko, a young Captain sailing his dory all over the bay - played by Arne J
Callast Nilas Orkan, a young priest of Calla the Storm Goddess - played by Mike B

Ragnar Rocht, avenging ranger - played by Stephen K

and GMJasonGURPS as the DM