NPCs
- Carl Johannesberg, Cook
- Francis Morgan, ex-Captain (banished from ship)
- Jezekiah Birch, Captain (ex-1st Mate)
- James Sebastian, 2nd Mate (banished from ship)
- Samson Moore, 3rd Mate (banished from ship)
- Macaffey, ex-Steward/Clerk
- John Coffin, Cabin Boy
- Paul Carver, Crewman (Birch's #1 supporter)
PCs
- Samuel, 1st Mate - Human Bard (Kirk)
- Danny 2nd Mate - Halfling Rogue (Chris)
- Summer, 3rd Mate - Half elf Ardent (Brian)
- Li, Steward/Ship's Guard - Human Monk (Wyatt)
- Perry, Boatsteerer/Ship's Guard- Half elf Battlemind (Nick)
Story
- The party is summoned to meet with Captain Birch after the crew completed it's duties on deck (processing and cleaning the sea serpent and dolphins they caught).
- Samuel casts the wayfinding ritual which bestows a boon upon Summer. She immediately determines the ship is nowhere near the Azores, and is in fact near Bermuda. She can clearly see a path to it in her mind.
- They see that the Captain is covered in numerous scars from prior adventures and draconic tattoos, as he finishes what looks to be a fairly taxing ritual.
- He levels with the group over dinner that he needs them to unquestioningly follow his word above deck. Any questions can be asked in the privacy of his quarters, but his commands should not be questioned in front of the crew, so the officers appear unified.
- He explained that Macaffey wasn't quite dead, and his life was preserved at a cost (possibly vampiric since Birch says he shouldn't be exposed to the sun for a while). He has bee locked in a sea chest and looks undernourished and practically feral. Birch indicates his condition won't improve without a proper curative agent.
- Birch goes further on to explain that the prior Captain was bound to only hunt whales, but with a short detour, a treasure of innumerable wealth could be found (along with Birch's salvation from his illness), if they only have the will and nerve to take it. As Captain Morgan was unable to find whales, in a sea that's full of them, Birch saw the Captain unfit for duty. He took it upon himself to undermine the other officers, and frame them for crimes they didn't commit...to get his cure and the treasure, which would be shared with the crew.
- Birch explains that he traveled some unfortunate paths in his youth and became a slave to some terrible drugs. He noted that without the curative agents found on the nearby island, the entire crew would be endangered, due to his "affliction"...which resulted in the death of most of the crew on his prior voyage.
- The curative agents (and treasure) would be in the lair of the Sea Mother, a devil beneath the waves.
- He came up with a plan to use the prior officers as bait, to lure her in, then lash to her and get dragged directly into her lair....avoiding the days or even weeks of searching the caverns above (not to mention navigating through the impassible reefs). He thinks that Perry may have encountered the Sea Mother when his prior ship the Intrepid was sunk. Birch agreed that his plan sounded foolish, but it was the only path he could see.
- The party objects to this plan, indicating that Summer can locate the island, navigate the reefs, and possibly find the lair directly...no one's life would need to be sacrificed. Birch agreed with the new plan, noting that Summer must be using magic to guide her (as his mundane means have failed). He convinces Samuel to show him the ritual and indicates that Summer may have nightmares and may have formed link to the Sea Mother through the boon (making her ideal bait, should the original plans be needed)
- Li takes care of the former officers, lowering water and rations to them.
- The ship nears the island, and a storm can be seen ahead. The ship is battened-down, and a magical fog rolls in...pulling the ship towards the island at 12 knot.
- The fog is thick, and unnerving...delivering the skeletal spirits of the crew of the Intrepid (along with Perry's former employer, Captain Pung).
- The party takes a beating, but ultimately fends off the undead menace, and takes a much needed rest.
- The fog clears a day later, revealing the island. Following Summer's lead, they navigate the reef (which would have sunk their ship) on their whaleboats with Captain Birch, the Cabin boy, and Paul Carver.
- The island appears untouched by man. It's breathtakingly beautiful. The only animals in sight are giant insects lurking in the foliage.
- Summer leads the party into the jungle, and they find an old stone carving of a giant tentacled beast, covered in old growth.
- They make their way into some caves. Some soft footprints are found at the entrance, but quickly fade from sight in the caverns. The caves have fairly smooth walls.
- The party explores a bit, and encounters some swarming centipedes.
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