Date: 12/7/97

Players: Kathi, JC, Thomas, Davy, Kris, Bryan, David

Characters: DM, Rio & Glow, Beneton, Caland, Bo, Erin, Vorn, Saunder

5 pirates held, 8 pirates in lifeboats surrendering, 22 crewman left.

As the pirates in the lifeboats approach the ship Glow trains her bow on them and calls out for them to throw all weapons overboard if they wish to be rescued. As they are pondering her command something knocks Glow overboard from behind. Saunder throws her a rope and helps her back to the deck.

In the meantime Rio (still in seagull form) has landed on the mast of the sinking pirate ship and keeps a sharp eye out for anything that may yet be aboard. When it finally sinks he becomes airborne and returns to the Mermaid Sword where he becomes human again. Seeing that Glow is soaking wet he inquires as to the reason and when Glow tells him that she was knocked overboard he looks around and casts Detect Evil hoping to spot whatever knocked her over. Unfortunatly there is nothing to be seen leaving both Glow and Rio looking around warily.

The next 30 minutes are spent with Bo consolidating his command of the ship and getting it back on course. The pirates are put in the brig and the crew begins to get back about their normal business. When Rio sees how badly Bo has been wounded he casts both Cure Serious Wounds and Cure Light Wounds on him and then Cure Light Wounds on Caland.

After another half hour we spot a body barely clinging to an splintered plank. Rio dives overboard to check it out and finds that it's a large male who is barely alive. He calls out to the others to throw over a rope and the druid ties it around the mans chest and watches, treading water, while the man is hauled aboard. Then after he also is brought up Bo asks that a search be taken up to locate the wave witch. Erin, Rio, Glow and several of the sailors begin the search. They find a small chest in the captains quarters but leave it intact and will inform Bo of it later. When they get to the cargo hold where Caland has been resting the elf realizes that the Alarm spell, which should still be in effect, is gone.

Rio transforms into his shepherd form and sniffs around. Surprisingly he catches the scent of the beak nosed guy who has been in the cargo hold within the last several hours. He barks, looking up at Glow who nods and contacts him telepathically. She then lets the others know. Now that Rio is in dog form he, Glow and the sailor retrace their search and discover that at the precise spot at which Glow was knocked overboard the smell of the beak nosed man seems to have come from overboard.

Returning to human form Rio and Glow have the usual fish stew dinner with the rest of the party and then accompany Bo and the merchant to the brig where Bo offers them service in the crew of the Mermaid Sword or death at the hands of the Merchants Guild who has offered a sizeable reward for pirate heads. Most of the pirates accept, not wanting to die, and seem to integrate at least superficially into the crew.

Then, when Bo returns to his cabin, he finds Beneton sprawled out unconscious in his bunk. The dwarf shakes the mage awake and finds Beneton severly disoriented. Bo then goes in search of Saunder, who is nowhere to be found, and then comes to Rio and Glow asking if they would come check Beneton out. When the druid examines Beneton he finds several small puncture wounds around the elbows and knees as if he's been examined by aliens. Other than that he appears to be OK.

When we realize that Saunder really is missing a quick search reveals another of the strange metallic circles up on deck near where we believe Saunder was last seen.

Later that night, during first watch, a fight breaks out in the crew quarters which Erin is able to contain. Second watch passes uneventfully and third watch, which Rio and Glow have, also passes uneventfully.

A fog rises early in the morning and lingers throughout the morning hours. The weather is cool and rainy but it will not freeze. That day both Rio and Glow will go among both the original sailors and the added pirate members binding and healing wounds. Any of the pirate crew members who need it are asked to reiterate their loyalty to the ship and the captain before being healed. He also casts another Cure Serious Wounds on Bo who is still fairly injured.

The new guy, Vorn, whom we rescued yesterday Calls Lightning down on the funeral boat which sets it a blaze. There is a moment of silence for the deceased.

Around lunchtime we spot the northern tip of the archepelago and by mid-afternoon Rio, who has been feeling a presence build up and press smotheringly down around him, blacks out completely. Nothing Glow nor any of the others does is able to revive him but after several panic filled hours he begins to slowly come back around. After fully regaining consciousness he gathers up Glow and holds her lovingly. He announces to those standing around that he is fine and that Nara, his God from his homeworld, is here in the Moonshae Islands. As the others disperse he smiles a mischeivious smile at Glow and kisses her deeply. She sees that look in his eyes and tries to pull away to get an explanation but he wraps his arms around her waist tightly kissing her neck and ears. After a moment he lets her loose.

"I love you Glowing Forest." he says. "Nara is here... with us and around us... and we are blessed again with children." It takes a moment for Rios words to sink in and then Glows face lights up.

"What do you know that I don't." she says looking up into his eyes and coming back into his embrace.

"We have twins... a boy and a girl..." Rio says placing a hand on her belly. "They will be born on MidWinters day." Rio thinks back fondly to the evening before their departure and their tender lovemaking on the soft grass beneath their Declaration Tree. He holds his wife tightly, drinking deep of her intoxicating beauty and vows now more than ever to keep her safe.

That night, during first watch, we hear a cry for help from up on deck. Rio and several of the others hear the cry and go bounding up the stairs to see what's up. The crew on deck is being attacked by water ghouls.

MELEE

After a fairly drawn out battle we manage to kill all the ghouls but have lost four pirates and five of the original crew memebrs. Rio casts Cure Light Wounds on four people who need them and then, finding Glow, returns to their cabin.

Both second and third watches pass uneventfully. During the second watch Erin and Caland decide to celebrate by having a festive party in the galley complete with wine and mead. Many of the sailors attend as do Robin, Feather and Sparrow who surprisingly have proven in the battle that they can fight right along with anyone. The party continues well into the third watch during which both Erin and Caland slip away with one of the sisters for a little private celebrating in their cabins.

END OF SESSION