Between The Great Ridge and Port Elgin — What began as a gentlemanly pursuit of treasure upon a quiet stretch of coastline has evolved into a tale of eerie happenings, subtle intrigue, and remarkable discoveries. Four adventurers converged upon a shipwreck washed ashore, setting in motion a series of events that could well alter the fate of Kenver—and perhaps much further afield.
The Gathering at the Shipwreck
Drawn by the promise of a handsome reward, four adventurers assembled amidst the splintered timbers of a ruined vessel. Among them, Captain Mad Matt courteously revealed his identity and his intention to secure a new ship and crew. The fate of his previous company remained uncertain, lending a note of melancholy to his forthright declaration. With brisk efficiency, he recruited the others—appointing the serene monk Selah as First Fighter, the stalwart warrior Sonia as Second Fighter, and the capable halfling druid Wilma Waterfoot as an invaluable all-rounder.
Regretting the ship’s lamentable state, they set about salvaging what they could: four barrels. Three contained mackerel and gunpowder, while the fourth held a peculiar pinkish-blue liquid, viscous and faintly fruity in scent. Captain Mad Matt, demonstrating admirable curiosity, tasted the substance and found it pineapple-flavoured yet far too acidic to drink. When a small sample touched seawater, it vanished instantly, prompting the group to christen it “the enemy of the sea.”
Perilous Exploration Inside the Shipwreck
Venturing within, Wilma was rather unceremoniously ejected by a hurled fishbowl, releasing a furious Piranhax into the waves. The party dealt with the creature promptly and with good coordination before discovering that the ship’s hold could have accommodated 120 barrels—a considerable cargo indeed.
Within the captain’s quarters, they encountered the vessel’s blue-skinned former master, Liasu, who, in no uncertain terms, declared his intention to defend his ship to the last.
A Fight to the Death
Captain Liasu summoned two fellow sailors of similar hue, and a fierce yet orderly melee ensued. Mad Matt and Sonia pressed the attack upon Liasu, while Selah, maintaining remarkable composure, fended off both sailors alone. Meanwhile, outside, Wilma calmly prepared the subdued Piranhax for supper—there’s no sense facing peril on an empty stomach. Hearing the sounds of combat, she ingeniously coated a Piranhax tooth in the strange liquid and tossed it into the fray. Though her aim was somewhat off, Selah swiftly made use of it as a second weapon.
Mad Matt attempted a dialogue with Liasu but found the captain’s mind quite beyond reason, seemingly under some unholy influence. At the battle’s height, Sonia’s greatsword struck home, and Mad Matt’s reliable pistol delivered the final, decisive shot—bringing the tormented captain’s story to a dignified close.
Spoils of Battle and Clues to the Future
The group’s subsequent search of the captain’s cabin revealed several items of interest:
- Mad Matt discovered two volumes: a well-thumbed cookbook, which he courteously presented to Wilma, and a dark blue tome written in a most perplexing script.
- Sonia found a curious contraption of glass, rubber, and pipework—resembling a snorkelling apparatus and enabling one to breathe comfortably near the water’s surface.
- Selah recovered two scraps of parchment: one instructed Liasu to “deliver the cargo to Manamea without fail,” while the other, penned by Liasu himself, read “Port Elgin, The Day of the Full Moon.”
Armed with these clues, and buoyed by a sense of quiet determination, the adventurers set their course for Port Elgin—intent upon unravelling the mystery of the strange cargo and whatever civilised or uncivilised forces lay behind it.