Privateers of Lssthp II [IC]

[TriciaOso]

Whilst the others looted or skinned the corpses, Ttharg took a quick look around the entire area with the flask of Holy Water; double checking they weren't missing anything further.

With more time to look around, you can follow the phantom footsteps of Vaarth Pthax and his goon squad onto the island, hunting slaad. You see their wraithly forms meeting with Trionyx, and at first the meeting is hostile, but then turns suddenly friendly. Two of the crew react badly to this--it would be really great to be able to hear--but the others are loyal and cut them down ruthlessly. Then they return to the dock, treating Trionyx like an honored guest. If you wish, you can follow the passage of their boat back to the Broken Wing, and the Broken Wing out of the bay, before the ghostly images pass beyond the sight of your flask.

The visions only seem to follow Trionyx, so you can't see what becomes of the corpses, but it's not hard to deduce that they were found, infected, and cached by the gray slaad.

Servius cautiously slithers over to where the grey Slaad fell. He uses a piece of wood to poke cautiously at the book, then retrieves a second piece of wood. Using the two as tongs, he carries the book outside and sets it on a dry fallen stone, where he carefully flips pages while looking at the contents for a while before being satisfied that it is safe. "This is not the book that poisoned the tortle we seek, but a spellbook from one of the crew of the Broken Wing. I can put it to use. He took good notes."

He studies the book, oblivious to the oncoming ship and dragon until someone actively interrupt him and points them out.

The book is a Fulminating Treatise, a gift the primordial Imix grants to his warlocks. They are incredibly rare, due to their tendency to self-immolate when the bearer dies. Apparently getting turned into a slaad is an edge case. It will take some deciphering and study to make use of it properly, but time is all you need, and time is in great supply on a long voyage.

Nibum has fetcher bring him the spear. He examines it suspecting that it's from the negniter hoard after all the book they are after was.

You recognize the twin spearheads. Judges who serve beneath the Magistrate of Lapis carry these spears; ancient weapons of millennia past made of axiomatic steel and charged with the power of Order and Law. In the present day they are only used ceremonially, being antique and delicate. These look well-used but certainly not millennia old; the slaad must have been imprisoned with this weapon in the dawn of history.

Someone very clever and devious has placed them in opposition to each other, so that two opposing poles of axiomatic energy create a vortex that shreds Reason and chews through Order.

To everyone Im beat. Think theres time to take a break? Old bones havent moved like that for awhile. he weezes

The White Cliff cannot come all the way into this tiny dock, but you can see a landing party led by First Mate Cocytus approaching in another boat to discover what has become of you. Maybe they can help clean up the other cached bodies. It looks like the copper dragon, Shanidar, is going to make it here first, though.

Spoiler: Perception 15+

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At this distance you can just barely make out a tiny figure clinging to Shanidar's neck.