[IC] Tower of the Black Pearl

[Kelewen]

Tower of the Black Pearl

The dark sea rolls, solemn and quiet beneath the bone-white moon. The old Maiden of the Sea, waxing full, seems especially close tonight, its reflection unbroken on the gently rolling waters. Dim lights of town twinkle in the distance, and when the wind is right you can still hear sea chanties being sung in the night.

"There it is!" Hollis, the human fisherman, said in awe. He had agreed to ferry the small crew of adventurers here in exchange for 1/10 haul.

The tower rises from the sea like something out of a fairy tale. And yet, it must be real, for waves crash against it just as they lap at the planks of the skiff.

Snarling gargoyles crown the four corners of the tower, peering from coral-encrusted battlements. More worrisome than the eldritch tower or the snarling gargoyles is the worn longboat moored on the far side of the tower. Squinting through the darkness, it seems the deck of the longboat is empty...

[Noodles]

"Omnomnom--" A 17 year old boy, was munching on peanuts while gazing upon the fancy looking tower, he was wearing simple brown robes, his sheathed sword lying beside him. Swiping his long fringe away, he got a clear look at that structure. "Nom, What a weird boat, omnomnom" Its quite a fascinating sight for him, especially for him when he got paid for such a job.

Retying his dark ponytail with his left hand, the merc Takao crouched towards the side deck, since he's hired, its better for him to listen to orders, just to play it safe. I guess we'll be disembarking soon~

[Karl Kadaver]

Tamra could hear the crunching of peanuts coming from somewhere behind her. The sound annoyed her, but her countenance remained serene. For the time being, she was concentrating on the prize held within the tower's walls. Having heard about the vast riches contained within, even if she had to split the spoils among herself, the ferryman, and her compatriots, she would still have an ample offering to her goddess.

But it was something that the young man said that brought her back from her reverie: "What a weird boat." She glanced at the shore and found the boat that he spoke of. "Someone has beat us here," she mused. She wasn't expecting this; in fact, she was expecting to be on this treasure hunt be herself. She really should have known better.

[DreadPirate]

Off on his own, on his lonesome, a plight on the monk community Charlie sat in his meditation. The sea was calm and so was Charlie. How had he gotten here? That long drunk journey wouldn't aggravate his focus now and not ever. Suddenly his concentration was broken, he felt a shift. From the anticipation in the air to fear and anger. No regret came over him but curiousity did, he stood from his lotus position.

Was that.. peanuts? Good source of protein but surely Charlie didn't want to make any unnecessary encounters or dehydrate himself. He walked up to the bow and peered through the night. A ship? He nudged the woman next to him who seemed to be an intellectual of some sort due to her book.

"Miss? What do you make of that boat." Charlie politely inquired while remaining confidently posed at the front of the ship. Staff in hand he pointed to it.

"Possibly a previous expedition or?" While he wanted to keep to his own, Charlie knew very little about this adventure he was partaking in, and information is the most powerful weapon he could wield right now.

[Karl Kadaver]

Tamra certainly wasn't used to being nudged, and when it happened this time, she turned her head towards the one who did it and listened to his question.

"The tide would've taken the boat out to sea of this had been from a previous expedition." She knew well the tale of the tide covering all but the highest parapets under normal circumstances. She shook her head at her companion. "I have the feeling that we'll have...competition. I may be presuming a bit much, but if more than one person was in that boat, it's likely they're a team." She ran her fingers back through her hair. "After all, they didn't hire a ferry..."

[Kelewen]

Hollis put his back into the oars and soon their little skiff drew close to Sezrekan's Tower. Just enough of the stucture rose above the water to make it impossible to see the top of the tower from their current position, but the various barnacles encrusting the stone would make climbing up a relatively easy task...

The fisherman let the boat drift the last little way, then maneuvered it expertly until it was bobbing gently right up against the tower. "Iffn ya don't mind, I'll keep watch on the boat," he said quietly, and a bit nervously, with a sideways glance at the other boat. "I won't drift far, in case there's trouble..."

[Noodles]

Takao retied his pouch of peanuts, slinging it beside his waist, then putting his sword beside his back. He looked around, and nothing seemed off, other than the nearby ship that he saw earlier. He disembarked the ship, knowing that he has one of the highest HP as a warrior amongst the people in the ship, so he would be able to tank any possible surprise attacks. He made sure that he is within the others' visual range. "So, should we head to that ship or just continue with that Tower as planned? o.o " Takao asked while climbing up the barnacles. And also, this tower is quite a fascinating one ~~

[AwesomeZero5]

Ronan simply looked about both the water that surrounded the boat and the various crewmates that were on board. Most things seemed quite peaceful at the moment but there was of course a slight worry. It was likely a pointless worry that one of the crewmates would go overboard or something of the like so it remained a rather small worry for the time being. Simply adventuring the tower itself was bound to bring a great experience and something to be later cheered or bragged about among clan members.

Things seemed to be going smooth until the other crewmates had noticed or talked about a boat of some sort which was the cause of some alarm. Ronan would drift closer toward to the rest of the group. “Competition?” Ronan stated somewhat worried for the others. “Seems we will just have to encounter them inside the tower, or if we’re lucky slip by without any trouble.” Ronan stated nervously dusting off the skull on either his shoulders before stepping out of the boat and onto land. Looking to the tower with a sense of excitement.

[Kelewen]

Takao retied his pouch of peanuts, slinging it beside his waist, then putting his sword beside his back. He looked around, and nothing seemed off, other than the nearby ship that he saw earlier. He disembarked the ship, knowing that he has one of the highest HP as a warrior amongst the people in the ship, so he would be able to tank any possible surprise attacks. He made sure that he is within the others' visual range. "So, should we head to that ship or just continue with that Tower as planned? o.o " Takao asked while climbing up the barnacles. And also, this tower is quite a fascinating one ~~

@Noodles

Takao did not have to climb far before he could see over the tower's battlements (as most of the tower was still beneath the water). The moonlight clearly illuminated three human forms sprawled near a keg. Swords lay within easy reach of their hands. but their eyes were closed and the closest one snored.

In the middle of the floor is an iron trapdoor, inscribed with a large glyph... the mark of Sezrekan.

[Noodles]

"Hmm... So we have to climb down instead of climbing up now?" Takao hissed, as he gazed upon the 3 human figures, they don't seemed to be conscious for now. "And that drawing, this looks really familiar ..." He then observed around the area, just the entrance and its pretty interesting enough.

"What the..." Takao accidentally stepped onto a trapdoor and fell into it. He gripped his sword tightly now, not sure where it would lead to, hopefully it wouldn't be some sort of deathtrap

[Ramzam]

“Aye,” Arnold said, one boot on the boat’s edge, looking over to Ronan, “We’re like to have trouble enough with the tower itself. No need to tangle with our fellow man. Speaking of…” He craned his whole torso a ways back to watch Takao already making the short climb to the tower’s roof

“Don’t go too far ahead, boy! Wait for us up—“ thunk! Arnold’s warning stopped early when he heard the sound of working hinges and saw Takao’s head vanish behind the battlements. “Ahead.” Arnold heaved a sigh and put on his helmet. “I have a good feeling about this,” he mumbled to himself as he checked the straps on his gear. He took a bounding step from the boat onto the barnacles, and didn’t waste time clambering over the battlements. After all, there was no telling how well they’d hold his weight. He stood up and made to shout, but realized the warrior was nowhere to be seen. His shoulders sagged when he saw the wide open trap door. “Brilliant.”

He pursed his lips and turned around, only briefly acknowledging the sleeping men in the corner. He leaned against the battlements, looking down to the rest of the party clustered around the boat, and waved. “Come along, all of you! Let’s not waste anymore time!”

[Kelewen]

Takao's fall takes him down about 15', alongside an iron ladder into a brightly lit room. Hundreds of candles line the walls, their flames swaying and dancing. Some are tall, as if they were lit just moments ago, while others are burnt down to stubby mounds of wax.

In the center of the room stands an onyx pedestal supporting a massive tome bound in gold and worn black scales.

The walls are decorated with detailed murals depicting what must be the lives of heroes: warriors rising up from humble beginnings to lead armies against forces of darkness; humble apprentices inheriting arcane powers from their masters, casting down kings and emperors with a wave of their wands; meek rouges growing to become daring shadow lords; and destitute warrior monks rising to become leaders of holy armies.

Meanwhile, on the roof of the tower, the sounds of commotion rouses one of the men near the keg awake and he blinked in surprise. "Hey!" he yelled, collecting his wits as he kicked his two companions awake. They fumbled for their blades while the one to wake first took a threatening step toward Arnold, shifty eyes sizing up the cleric. "We was here first," he stated, as if that simple fact solidified their claim to the tower. "Get back in yer boat."

[Noodles]

"Ouch..." Takao rubbed his head from the short fall. Just the mere entrance of the tower and he fell into such a stupid trap. Oh wait, was that even a trap in the first place? The hinges seemed obvious enough from just now.

"And where am I?" Takao got up, now gazing upon those murals. "If someone could translate that to me, that would be great~" He hissed, looking around on those walls, he ain't much into history actually, 'cause it doesn't really concern a person like him at all~ I mean, what kind of necrophiliacs would be interested in people who are already dead for like 1000 years or something O_O ...

For now, he will wait for the rest of the team. and also, Nature's call, he went to one corner and relieved himself while waiting. After all, from what he have heard, the tower belongs to some evil Queen (his history was off), so nobody would mind, and he would be doing everyone a favour~

[Karl Kadaver]

Tamra disembarked not long after Arnold, taking inventory of her components as she did so. She began murmuring the words to her Dancing Lights spell when she heard creaking hinges coming from the roof ahead of them. Blast! she thought as she stopped her chanting and rushed toward her companions. She arrived nearby as a few men nearby began to rouse from their sleep.

She took a few steps toward the cleric while keeping her eyes locked on the men. She said as much to the men as to Arnold, "We don't want a fight, but if we must...then I can only pray that the Dark Eyed lady has mercy on your souls." She raised her hand before her, preparing to cast Poison Spray.

[DreadPirate]

Charlie was silent as he observed the tower while the others rushed in. Something felt very off about this place but he didn't have the time to give it another moment of thought as he heard a call to action. He nodded and holstered his quarterstaff as he took off toward the wall. Then with precision and ease he climbed to his companions.

With a lightfoot he landed just in time to see the supposedly sleeping men arise and threaten himself and the others. Knowing confrontation was probably inevitable he leaned his staff against a crenulation and tightened his left hand open and right closed. He stood tall and straight while slowly making his way around the group to flank them. He took a precise step back into a fighting stance and said calmly,

"After you."

[Kelewen]

A whiff of alcohol reaches the noses of Tamra, Charlie, and Arnold as the three rag-tag men step forward to meet the challengers, the spirits perhaps impairing their judgement on the wisdom of a battle.

"Send these festerin scally wags to swim with the fishes, lads!" The words weren't even all the way out of his mouth when one that had woken first lunged past the trap door and straight toward Tamra, attempting to close the distance before she could work whatever magic she was conjuring, sword swinging wildly.

Meanwhile, the one on the left, a large brute with a mangy beard and balding head, barreled toward Charlie, shoulder first, simply attempting to knock him back over the battlement and into the sea.

The third, a gaunt man who looked like he'd missed more than a few meals, but surprisingly quick on his feet, sprung at Arnold, thrusting his blade toward the cleric's mace hand.

[AwesomeZero5]

It seemed Ronan had been mostly looking at the tower and focusing on the possible excitement or tails that could be talked about later. The had noticed Takao walk further ahead and into the tower but had not noticed their sudden descent past the trap door. The sudden sound however had alerted Ronan back to attention to notice the other’s sudden disappearance. The following call to get a move onward from one of the other party members also brought Ronan back to focus. He however allowed Tamara to move ahead of himself.

Ronan prepared his rapier and very carefully and quietly followed after the others. Following roughly at the same time that Charlie had been. Similar to Charlie he would also move to surround the three men. Barely noticing the tensions in the air which seemed to be pointing directly toward a fight.

Ronan carefully kept himself very well composed. Stealthily gliding along to a position out of view but still relatively in reach of a strike toward the three men. He carefully waited for a direct opening to knock one of the fellows unconscious if possible.

[Karl Kadaver]

The words weren't even all the way out of his mouth when one that had woken first lunged past the trap door and straight toward Tamra, attempting to close the distance before she could work whatever magic she was conjuring, sword swinging wildly.

"Venenum Sufocantus!" As she chanted the words to her spell, a green, noxious gas appeared from her outstretched palm, blanketing the area in front of her. At the same time, she tried to back away from both the deadly gas and the wild swordsman, but her foot caught on a raised stone behind her and she tripped and fell.

A glint of steel flashed above her head as the sword sliced through the air above her. Leaning on her elbow, she opened her component pouch and searched for the material for her next spell: a twig that had been struck by lightning. As she grabbed hold of it, she closed her eyes and quickly offered a short prayer to Wee Jas: "Milady, leave me in this world long enough to properly earn your favor..."

[DreadPirate]

Charlie stood unwaveringly as the brute charged him. As the rather larger man grew closer and closer Charlie tensed up and then swiftly stepped to the side at the last minute pushing on the man's back hopefully using his own momentum to send him into the battlements. Charlie then quickly made a dash for his quarterstaff still leaning against the crenulation.

If he could get it in time he could perhaps target the attacker's knees, or if the crash took care of him he could disarm the wild swordsman moving for his downed companion. Either way leaving his staff free for the taking was not the best course of action in this fair of a fight.

[Ramzam]

Once it became readily apparent that Arnold would not be reasoning his way out of a fight with the drunkards, he reached for his shield and unhooked it from the harness on his back. The way he twisted around to grab the torso-sized barrier, he saw Tamra to be the first under attack—and naturally, he moved to defend her. It was only then that he noticed he, in all his armor, was also a target.

The thin man rushing at him looked light and fast, but did not seem to have the best handle on how to approach an armored target. Arnold immediately recognized that he could not draw his mace in time and instead opted to offer the armored back of his gauntlet. He leaned in as he brushed the blade aside with the back of his hand, and used the motion as the wind up for a heavy slap across the man’s ear. It would hardly be the most decisive blow he had ever dealt, but it would certainly create the opening he needed.