The next several days and nights were spent at sea as our twenty one adventurers continued to tail the escaped giant.
Captain Ahron and his first and second mate Malus and Booberella helmed the unnamed ship as it cut across the waves, with Helmsman Faerora taking over steering duties for Ahron when needed. Marnu attempted to read the map they discovered, but this sea was quite large compared to the small pond he was raised in. Up in the crows nest, Calius kept a watchful eye peeled on the horizon and helped coordinate with Marnu. Both were under the supervision of Sailing Master Ordella who helped chart their course, while Quartermaster Sandor kept good care of the ships instruments and navigation tools.
On the deck, Randall was busy fishing to help keep the crew fed. His spoils went straight to Hustus the head cook and his assistant Rok, the two making sure to concoct something half decent for the large crew each day. After retrieving a haul from Randall, the two tip toed passed Greaseface, who was on all fours spit scrubbing the deck.
In the hull, Tuuluuwaq and Lavina were hard at work managing inventory while Master-at-Arms Vandal took stock of their cannonballs in the cargo room. Vandal hauled a crate of small round shots over to Rara the powder monkey, who was busy heaving bulky bags of gunpowder over to the gunners. Khanarak, Canassa, and Murder Bunny were itching for some action, each one wanting to finally fire upon something with their cannons. On the third day, Murder Bunny went rogue and decided to go fishing using the starboard cannons, damaging the ship with a misfire in the process. Cyrillus, the ships engineer, spent the fourth day scolding Murder Bunny and repairing the damage while Priggat the medic tended to Murder Bunny's wounds.
On the fourth day, several crew members were tired of waiting. Ying Yang Yang stole a skiff, lowered it into the water, and sailed ahead of the ship in pursuit of the giant. They didn't get very far after heir skiff collided with the bow of a sunken ship that was just beneath the surface. After exploring the wreckage, the trio found a bit of gold that satisfied them enough to return to Akmong and the other parties, well worth the wounds they suffered from some electric eels who took residence in the wreckage.
The Assblasters and Hells Belles were similarly fed up with waiting.
"FIRE!" Captain Ahron barked out. The cannons blasted, sending small round shots sailing across the sea, each one splashing into the ocean surrounding the giants ship. As they reloaded the cannons, Ahron peered through his spyglass in time to see the giants cannons turn upwards and take aim.
"Uh oh." he muttered.
Cannons cut through their ship effortlessly, sending wooden splinters flying left and right and knocking several party members onto their back, spilling their gold into the sea as they fell.
A swift mutiny later and Ahron was out of a job. The Pack, Get Ready to Rok, The Northerners, and The Keepers of the Woods took over and decided there would be no more violence. The four parties decided to finally start to close in on the thief, raising all sails and cutting across the waves aggressively.
The gap was closed, the giant was about one hundred yards away. The adventurers discussed their next move. Fire again? Board the ship? Attempt to communicate with him?
But it wouldn't matter. Their answer was decided for them as suddenly, massive tentacles jutted up out of the water and rose high above their ship and the giant's. The tentacles, blue in color and each the width of massive tree trunks, cast shadows across the deck and dripped salt water down onto the crew below, who looked up with gaping mouths and terrified expressions.
The tentacles crashed down, slamming into both ships and wrapping themselves around the hull effortlessly. The bow began to splinter and crack as shrapnel was sent flying in all directions.
"ABANDON SHIP!!"
Main Quest #1: The Crew
T LOSE TEN GOLD BUT FIND ONE KEY
A FIND TEN GOLD
B ADD ONE MOONBERRY
F FIND AN ANTITOXIN
S TAKE 1 DAMAGE
P DAMAGE YOUR TWO PARTY MEMBERS
J ADD ONE INSPIRATION
N FIND ONE KEY BUT LOSE FIVE GOLD
L FIND TEN PARTY GOLD
U LOSE TEN GOLD
O LOSE 5 GOLD
R FIND FIFTEEN GOLD
K FIND 5 GOLD
M FIND 5 GOLD
G YOU ARE POISONED
H FIND ONE KEY
E YOU ARE POISONED
C HEAL ONE DAMAGE
D ADD ONE INSPIRATION BUT LOSE FIVE GOLD
Q FIND A HEALTH POTION
I FULL PARTY HEAL BY ONE
Main Quest #2: Tailing the Giant
A. Tail him. See where he's going
ONE INSPIRATION EACH
B. Fire upon him!
LOSE TEN PARTY GOLD
C. Take off with your party on a skiff and board his ship
ADD 15 PARTY GOLD, BUT TAKE ONE DAMAGE EACH
Bonus Quest #1: Every Good Ship Needs a Name
FIVE GOLD EACH
