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Previously on Call from the Deep
Starring:
Gotwald Ironhorn, level 5 minotaur Rune Knight Fighter
Mac, level 5 tortle Drakewarden Ranger
Savra Akkedis, level 5 lizardfolk School of Necromancy Wizard
Torrel, level 5 kenku Fathomless Warlock Pact of the Amulet/Fighter
Having cleared the western side of Gunderlun island of all threats, the Zoo Crew return to the port city of Gundbarg, reporting the ominous experience to King Redaxe, and reuniting with their ship’s crew.
King Redaxe has a lot to digest — the entire village of Fiskrbak, the second largest settlement on the island, has been completely wiped out, the populace transformed into mutated thralls. The crashed ship was a Nautiloid carrying dangerous alien creatures, and the local sahuagin seemed to be at their beck and call.
Worse yet, the party had witnessed a psychic summons and vision of an impending attack on Neverwinter by a large-scale force — the Black Armada.
But there is a bit of good news. The party cleared out the shipwreck lair that served as the sahuagin’s local base, and the remaining mind flayer has seemingly left the island. Gunderlun is wounded, but safe.
The same can’t be said for the rest of the Sword Coast.
King Redaxe is a man of his word, and pays the party the agreed upon amount (200gp each). He also awards Gotwald with a magic +1 greataxe that’s shaped like an anchor, bestowing it upon the pirate-warrior for his valor and dedication.
Shandri, the cleric-in-training they had rescued from the derelict ship (and who works for Redaxe) offers to officially join the Zoo Crew ship. She’s horrified at Bern’s fate, and wants to avenge the people of Fiskrbak.
The potions shop hadn’t stocked anything new since they were here last, but Gotwald sells a bunch of loot from the sahuagin wreck, and buys a potion of hill giant strength.
They admire the fancy new ram installed on their ship, enjoy a much-needed long rest in some beds, then set off on the seas once again, heading back towards Neverwinter, where our Session 0 began.
The seas are unusually calm, as if a large navy had just plowed through recently! The only encounter is with the red-hulled ship of Captain Callous, the devilishly confident tiefling pirate.
Callous is no friend to the Black Armada. The groups exchange information, as the party learns that enemy forces have recently reached Neverwinter. The fleet consists of half a dozen heavily armed pirate ships, including a large black warship stylized like a kraken (“Tentrix!” exclaims Gotwald).
Callous also claims to have seen large shapes moving under the water, which the party guesses are sahuagin.
Resident diplomat and haggler Savra steps in to negotiate a mercenary contract for Callous and his crew. He tries to get 500gp out of them for a suicide run into the enemy, but she talks him down to 350gp, half now and half when the job is done.
Callous isn’t sure they’ll even survive this insanity, but he’s willing to risk his neck for a few hundred gold pieces.
He tells the party to meet at a secret cove just north of Neverwinter, if they should survive the attack, as pirates like Callous probably won’t be welcome to just pull up to the harbor afterward.
They don’t have much of a plan to start — just full sail ahead. But they do have a thick ram, and a braggadocious pirate ally.
With a few hours of full sailing, they see the smoke from Neverwinter harbor. A half-circle of ships forms a blockade between the harbor and the sea. Cannon-fire and ballistas rain down upon the docks, and a great stormcloud magically fires lightning into the harbor.
Most of the pirates are focused on the harbor, not at sea, so the Zoo Cruise charges, aiming their ram at the large black warship in the middle.
During the charge, Gotwald embiggens himself and quaffs a potion of heroism. He grips the railing, passionately focused on meeting his old captain again.
Mac attempts to speak to a fleeing seagull to gain some intel, but the stupid birds are fearful, and interested only in safety and food.
Savra unleashes a shatter spell on the enemy hull right before the ram strikes, maximizing its damaging impact.
The pirates finally see the speeding ship and maneuver to intercept and get out of the way, but the party successfully strikes the warship with a might crack.
Tentrix stumbles, and the giant magical stormcloud dissipates.
The tentacled sea king glares at the party and screams, unleashing a primordial summons. The seas churn and knock the party’s ship clear, and sends a wave of fear through half the crew.
The shocking reprise gives enough time for another pirate ship to close with the party. Captain Renk Stormgale of The Breaking Dusk saddles alongside the party’s ship, ballista’s aimed and ready, and crew prepared to board.
It will not go well for them.
Though momentarily taken aback by Tentrix’s quick recovery, this party is fully rested and ready to kick ass.
Despite the fear, Mac never misses a shot with his longbow, downing two pirate bandits in a single multiattack.
Savra nails the middle of the ship with a shatter spell, and Torrel shows off his repelling blast by hilariously knocking multiple pirates off the ship, into the churning waves below.
When a large half-ogre jumps to their ship and attempts to strike Savra, Gotwald uses his cloud giant rune to redirect the vicious strike into an enemy pirate.
With volleys of arrows and spells, the attacking pirates don’t last long. The captain tries to reload the ballista, misses terribly, leaps across to the party’s ship, and is summarily shoved off with Gotwald’s superior knockback.
Mac has the wherewithal to pin the captain’s hands to the side of the ship to keep him alive for questioning (plus, his sword looks magical).
They see Tentrix’s ship begin to pull away to a safe distance as Callous has moved in to engage another pirate ship, keeping them off the party.
Our heroes look at Tentrix, but then look to the harbor. Giant sharks with coral growths emerge from the water, spilling out sahuagin upon the ships and docks.
Even worse, a hugely mutated, tentacled whale thing flops itself onto the streets of the docks, opens its maw, and unleashes a wave of mutant sea spawn. The poor transformed citizens of Fiskrbak now begin to rampage on the streets and citizens of Neverwinter.
The party has little choice but to continue their push into the harbor and help defend the city.
MVPC – Mac (‘n Cheese)
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