The Grinning Lantern Murders

Game Master

A few days passed and things began to return to normal for the group, Carlos, despite his admissions to taking a short break, was already climbing the walls the very next morning, complaining of having too much energy, and had departed, and the group had not seen him since.

Abby had returned to her work at the orchard and regularly visited the team when in the markets selling her produce, and seemed to have bounced back quickly, and returned to her happy and upbeat self, despite the ordeal she had been through.

And so it was that late on a cold drizzly Autumn evening when the party had put their feet up after another uneventful day, and had started to wonder when and if another job would surface that they were suddenly interrupted by a loud nocking on the door to their shop.

Jessica

"Who in the nine hells could that be at this time of night!"

Game Master

Jessica moves to the door of the shop, the little bell rings out as she opens it.

There standing in the drizzle and fog are three detectives from the Dock Wards Precinct, their faces are pale and they have the look of someone who has seen unspeakable horror, poorly hidden behind stern professionalism.

Jessica

"Oh.... Hello Officers.......what can we do for you?"

Fidget

I have my disguise kit out, just looking through all the items to get more familiar with the kit — for possible future jobs. As I hear the knocking at the door. A smile forms from ear to ear, with the hopes of another quest.

Game Master

The three detectives look at Jessica, then at Fidget, Boran, and Sylo, "We'd like you all to come with us if you wouldn't mind Miss".

Jessica

"Oh dear..... Are we under arrest!?"

Game Master

The detectives move uncomfortably, "oh no nothing like that Miss, orders from the brass they want your assistance and input on a ....... recent development...... if you wouldn't mind Miss".

Fidget

I casually pack up my disguise kit.

Fidget

"Who's this brass you speak of?"... I ask the detectives

Game Master

The detectives look at Fidget confused, "You know, the Brass, The Boss, The Chief......Sir".

Boran Vespera

“Sir, if you don’t mind…my sister is taking over for me here.”

Taran Vespera

“And from what I hear, everyone will be happier! Boran can be a little too quiet.”

Fidget

I turn my attention to Taran, and give a short bow.

"What a pleasure it is to meet you Miss... Ah I'm sorry, I haven't gotten your name yet."

Jessica

"We'll be sorry to see you go, but happy to welcome your sister, and it seems like we might have a new case!"

Game Master

The three detectives look at each other, "Right you are Miss, I hope you have the stomach for it".

Taran Vespera

"Hello! My name is Taran Vespera. I'm pretty excited to start working. And who else is on the team?"

Jessica

"It's wonderful to meet you Taran"

Pointing to the team in turn

"This is Fidget, and Sylo, and my name's Jessica....... there is one other.......member, Carlos....but he's a bit of a free spirit and just shows up out of the blue sometimes, it's great to have you join us"

Jessica

"Well Officers, please lead the way I think we are ready for our next big case"

Game Master

The detectives look at each other with a worried expression, and look a little pale and queasy, but with a nod, turn and head out into the night fog and drizzle to lead the team to their next assignment.

Game Master

The party follows the detectives through the hushed streets of the Market Ward. It is late; shutters are bolted tight, stalls are dismantled, and the daytime crowds have dissolved into the gloom.

Cutting through the creeping fog and persistent drizzle, they descend toward the Dock Wards. Their route skirts the wharf, weaving past haggard dockhands finishing late shifts, drunken sailors on shore leave, and the hooded, unsavory figures lingering outside the waterfront dives.

The detectives take a sharp left, plunging into a maze of back alleys until a faint glow signals an intersection sealed off ahead.

Drawing near, the group notices the harbor watchmen deliberately keeping their distance from a recessed doorway. From this angle, the interior remains hidden, but a sickly emerald light bleeds into the alley, throwing distorted, jagged shadows across the sodden brickwork and glistening cobblestones.

Unlike the flush precincts of the Inner Ward or the state-of-the-art divisions in Entrée Dieu De La Mer, the Dock Ward constabulary clearly scrapes by on salvage. Overhead, a single archaic Scanner Orb buzzes and flickers erratically on depleted reserves, functioning less as an investigative recorder and more as an unstable streetlamp.

Nearby, a frustrated detective attempts to salvage a crust of expired Memory Jelly from a cracked brass canister; dried out and unresponsive, the creature is too far gone to lift even a partial imprint from the stone.

Stepping past the cordon, the doorway fully enters view. Sprawled across the wet pavement lies a pale, stripped corpse. The source of the eerie luminescence resolves into sharp focus: forced deep into the victim’s carved-out chest sits a heavy, black-iron lantern, its cold green light pulsing wetly out into the dark.

Fidget

I cautiously move closer to the body, but still keep my distance for now... I inspect the ground around the body with my eyes, for any possible clues. I also look at the doorway and the lantern, for anything unusual.

Game Master

Approaching the area Fidget sees that the victims chest has been opened and all the organs removed, in their place the large iron lantern has been stuffed into the cavity.

There are no signs of the victims clothes, or any belongings, and the corpse is splayed out in the darkened doorway.

There is no blood around the corpse or in the street, with the work done on the body, it is unlikely that the victim was killed here, more likely it was brought here after death.

There are black stains around the eyes, nose, and mouth, possibly a poison of some kind, used to kill, or sedate the victim when they were attacked.

The lantern gives off a green sickly glow which reflects off the rain slick bricks and dances across the puddles in the street, and although there seems to be no etchings or blemishes on the glass, it reflects foul shadows onto the nearby walls, and across the cobblestone road.

The source of the light seems to be a green orb of fire floating within the lantern, with no candle, oil, or other fuel source visible.

From where Fidget and the others are standing it is difficult to see, but there seems to be something written on the corpses back the ink slightly running in the rain as it peaks over a naked shoulder.

Taran Vespera

“I mean, I’m no Doctor, but I don’t think they’re going to make it.”

Jessica

Trying to suppress a laugh

"I'm glad we have that sorted, so ....... clues, witnesses, anything?"

Taran Vespera

"Suspects?"

Game Master

The group look to the detectives who up until now haven't been very forthcoming with information, and find them looking around everywhere but at the corpse as if they were expecting someone or something to jump out at them.

Jessica has had just about enough of their uncooperative behavior and is about to yell at them and demand some information when, the whole group notices that the fog has gotten a lot thicker as it tumbles into the intersection from all directions.

The detectives instantly begin to panic backing up away from the encroaching fog as it pools around their feet and fill every available space.

Sylo

Watching the detectives

"What's all the fuss, it's just a bit of fog"

Game Master

The sickly green of the lantern fills the area, refracted within the dense fog.

The strange patterns projected by the lantern now seeming to dance and stretch like a mirage of humanoid forms moving within the fog.

The group hears a wet sound like toffee pulled from a hard surface, looking in the direction of the noise, they witness one of the shadows cast by the lantern peel itself away from the wet brickwork of the building.

Game Master

The detectives take one look at the Peeling Shadow and fall over one another trying to scramble away, "Oh no! Not again!" One of them cries out.

Game Master

The Shadow glides through the fog, reaching out and touching Taran, its ice cold touch draining her strength and causing serious frost burn to the touched area.

Its strange featureless head peels open where a mouth would be, into a gaping grin, emitting a wet gurgling laughter, the sound of pure horror and chilling to the bone.

Game Master

Sylo steels himself, preparing to strike, but Jessica is overwhelmed by the pure terror of the laughter, dropping to the ground and clutching her ears.

The detectives are also overwhelmed as they roll across the wet cobblestone crying out for mercy.

Game Master

Fidget stands his ground and readies himself, while Taran is overcome with fear, dropping to the wet cobblestone road unable to move.

Fidget

I attack the shadow creature with my crossbow.

Fidget

After my attack I attempt to hide behind the crates and barrels behind me.

Game Master

Cogs whirr and steam hisses as Taran’s Steel Defender, an intricately constructed clockwork unicorn, bounds in, its metal hooves clattering and sparking against the wet cobblestone, as it charges in horn glowing with arcane force as it headbutts the Peeling Shadow, the force of the horns impact blasting a hole through the undead.

Taran takes aim as she fires her Repeating Pistol point blank into the undead shadow, blasting another hole through the creature, sending strips of shadow evaporating into the fog.

Game Master

From her position on the ground as she tries to back away from the Peeling Shadow, Jessica instinctively raises her hand in front of her, sending out sparks of radiant light, the sparks of light tear through the undead lighting up the fog, as the radiant glow momentarily washes away the sickly green light of the lantern.

But as the light dims the lanterns green glow fills the street once more as the fog thickens and presses in on the group.

The lanterns shapes continue to dance in the green glow of the fog as from the wet cobblestone, the group hears the sticky peeling sound once more as another Peeling Shadow rises up before them.

Fidget

I quickly take another shot at the Peeling shadow. After my attack I once again try to stealthily hide behind the barrels and crates.

Game Master

Fidget’s silver bolt passes through the newly formed Peeling Shadow, as it rips away slithers of darkness.

Taran Vespera

“So, is it safe to assume that these shadow…things…had something to do with this?”

Game Master

Two well aimed shots from Taran’s Pistol sees the newly created Shadow disintegrated before the group, the sickly green light of the lantern still persists in the area however.

Jessica

“We’ll have to ask the detectives, they

definitely haven’t told us the whole story......on a more pressing matter we need to do something about that lantern, it seems to be creating these Shadows!”

Sylo

“Well why didn’t you say so earlier”

Sylo sends a bolt of Eldritch Energy slamming into the lantern cracking the glass panes

Jessica

Jessica sends sparks of radiant energy flying at the lantern, but fails to hit her target

Game Master

The group hears the all familiar sound of a third Peeling Shadow pulling itself from the wet brickwork.

Fidget

I aim at the lantern with my crossbow and take the shot.

Taran Vespera

“I bet my brother wasn’t this deadly.”

Jessica

“He didn’t have an awesome metal unicorn either!”

Game Master

Sylo sends out a blast of Eldritch Energy at the lantern hoping to end the fight, but misses, the energy hitting the wet brickwork sending rubble clattering into the street.

Jessica follows suit sending sparks of radiant light at the lantern, but fails to cause any damage to the sturdy device.

Game Master

The sickly green glow of the lantern is fading its glass cracked, and cold iron frame bent, yet sparks sputter into the cold fog and drizzle as yet another Peeling Shadow rips itself from the cold wet brickwork, and now hovers before the group.

Fidget

I take aim once again at the lantern. This time with advantage, because the first hit must have boosted my confidence. I take a deep breath, exhale, and shoot.

Game Master

Taran and Fidget take aim at the Grinning Lantern, Taran’s Pistol sounds out as Fidgets silver bolt flies through the fog the glass panes of the lantern shatter as in a final burst of cold icy air the green flame within is snuffed out, all around the lantern is instantly covered in inch thick sea ice and the archway where the corpse lays grows long thick icicles.

As the Grinning Lantern is destroyed, the Peeling Shadow evaporates into the now thinning fog, the green glow has gone, and the wet rain slick backstreets of the dock return to normal.

Jessica

Jessica crosses her arms and looks sternly at the detectives still cowering in the wet streets

“I think you have some serious explaining to do!”

Game Master

The detectives look at each other, then at the group, “This isn’t the first murder in this case”.

Sylo

Sylo scoffs almost bursting into laughter at the absurdity of the situation

Jessica

“What do you mean not the first? More corpses before this one? More lanterns?”

Game Master

The detectives look uncomfortable and embarrassed as they fidget and squirm under the increasingly agitated gaze of Jessica, “Yes mam, this is the third murder, and third lantern we’ve seen”, a second detective interrupts, “But this one is the first we’ve seen destroyed..... usually we run away, then return in the light of day, at which point the lantern and corps are gone”.

Jessica

“So in three murders, you have no leads, and haven’t investigated the body, or lantern at all, because you ‘run away’, then when you come back all your evidence has disappeared!”

Game Master

“Pretty much, yes ma’am” the detectives reply.

Sylo

Sylo can’t hold it in any longer and begins laughing loudly at the ridiculousness of the situation

Jessica

Looks at her companions and rolls her eyes, then turns back to the detectives

“Well let’s get this one out of the street and looked at, and bring the lantern as well, we’ll need all the information we can get”

Game Master

The detectives look worried, “you..... you want us to ...... to touch the lantern?“.

Jessica

“Yes, yes pick it up throw it in with the body and take it, to wherever it is that you study, bodies and items.”

Jessica looks at the detectives

“Oh, you’re worried it will do something horrible to you...... don’t worry it is completely inert now......... probably”

Fidget

I first look at Jessica, then at the terrified detectives..

“Probably? That’s reassuring.”

I then glance back toward the destroyed lantern and the body.

“Actually... If the other bodies disappeared after you ran away, somebody had to come back for them. Maybe we shouldn’t rush this one off anywhere just yet.”

I then look around the alley and nearby rooftops and doorways.

“Whoever has been cleaning up after these murders might not know their lantern is broken. We could use that.”

Jessica

“That’s very clever Fidget, you never fail to amaze me at how good you are at this detective business”

Fidget

I grin from Jessica’s compliment.

“I’ve spent most of my life trying not to get caught. Turns out, that’s pretty useful when trying to figure out how somebody else has done something.”

Game Master

The group takes up positions around the area preparing themselves for an ambush.

Keeping an eye out for anyone approaching the body or broken lantern.

Game Master

The group sit and wait in the dark and drizzle in the back streets of the Dock Wards for what seems like hours, until when they were just about to call it quits they hear the sound of a wooden cart clacketing along the rain slick cobblestone streets heading towards their location.

Fidget

I place myself in a nice hidden spot and carefully watch the cart as it approaches, paying close attention to it and whoever is bringing it.

Game Master

As the sound draws nearer the cart comes into view.

It is a simple hand drawn cart bumping along the cobblestone yet there doesn’t seem to be anyone pulling it as it pulls up next to the corpse.

Game Master

As the group watches they see an invisible force in the darkness lift the broken lantern out of the corpse and place it in the cart, then the body begins to move as if being pulled and lifted towards the waiting cart.

Fidget

I whisper to the group.. ” I was expecting suspicious, but not invisible... Let’s try and see where it goes. Then maybe we can quietly follow.”

Game Master

The party tries to follow the hand drawn cart as it bumps along the darkened cobblestone streets through the fog and drizzle.

But it is moving with some speed as the corpse flops about in the back of the cart with each bump.

Suddenly the cart stops, has it arrived at its destination, or did the party and detectives give themselves away? The group watches as the broken lantern is removed from the cart and then runs off into the night.

It seems that perhaps they were spotted, but at least they still have the body.

Jessica

“That’s unfortunate, but looks like we scored a new cart, and we still have the body to further our investigations”

Sylo

“You’d still want it after playing taxi to a corpse?”

Jessica

“Nothing, hot soapy water and a lick of paint can’t fix”

Sylo

“The cart or the corpse”

Jessica

Raises an eyebrow and smirks

“The cart, obviously”

Sylo

“Just checking”

Fidget

“I’m with Jessica, free cart.... But I’m definitely letting you explain the dead body if we get stopped..... One thing I found odd was that it left the body behind, but took the lantern. It seems like the lantern was more important than the actual murder.”

Jessica

“Not to worry Fidget, we have three detectives with us.......that is odd about the lantern and body, as if the crime means nothing, only the lantern.......well let’s see what we can find out about this body, then we’ll let the detectives take it.......but we definitely want the cart back.....please”

Game Master

The three detectives look pale and uncomfortable, not only due to the horrific situation, and murder, but also at the disregard the party has for their own safety.....and the value they place on an old cart.

Taran Vespera

“I think that the corpse probably thinks the body is more important than the lantern…”

Game Master

The detectives and team look over the corpse trying to find something which will lead them to their next clue without having to take the body back to the precinct for a more thorough investigation and autopsy.

Looking over the body one of the detectives points out a tattoo on the corpse’s wrist, a crab which has laden its shell with treasure from the sea, “this seems important?!” He gestures to the tattoo, “An odd place for a tattoo, not flashy or public, yet close at hand, the design is also unusual, I’d wager that there is a ship in the harbor bearing this image, or it’s registered with a salvage group”.

Sylo

“You don’t say?”

Jessica

“Guess we just got our next lead......can we leave the wagon with you detectives, and we’ll go on ahead to find this treasure crab”

Game Master

The detectives look at each other, then at the cart with the corpse hanging out of it, “ummm I guess so, but please be careful, we’ll come down to the docks as soon as we finish with this...... evidence, we recommend you wait for us and backup before doing anything crazy”.

Jessica

“Don’t worry detectives we are very discreet, and responsible”

Sylo

Chokes and coughs as he tries to suppress a laugh

Game Master

The detectives look at each other nervously, “Well ok, we’ll see you as soon as we can”.

Game Master

The group leaves the detectives to deal with the corpse in the cart, and heads off down towards the harbour to see if they can’t find a ship with the same image as the tattoo on the corpse’s wrist, and if not, perhaps they can find to which group the image is registered with.

Jessica

“I got a good feeling about this, we are definitely on to something here”

Sylo

“Hopefully not more corpses and creepy lanterns”

Taran Vespera

“You have a good feeling after all of that?!?”

Jessica

“Better than running around in a Wererat Queens game”

Sylo

“Better than having strips torn off you by starving mad Vampires”

Jessica

“Yeah...... we’ve had a string of really terrible jobs.....this one’s almost like a Sunday picnic in comparison”

Sylo

“Your brother is probably going to have nightmares about rats for weeks”

Fidget

“We’ll, considering our last job involved a psychotic rat queen, I’d say a stroll through the harbor sounds rather pleasant...... Although, knowing our luck, we’ll probably find a giant crab wearing a crown.”

I chuckle before turning my attention towards the ships and dockworkers.

“Anyway, I say we start by asking around. Someone has to recognize the tattoo.”

Game Master

The group makes their way along the docks checking the ships for any images which match the tattoo on the corpse’s wrist, but have no luck.

They then head to the Harbour Master to see if any ship or crew are registered with the image of a crab with a shell covered in treasure.

The Harbour Master is a large man, although relatively new in the position after the scandal and untimely death of Alistair Finch, but is more than accustomed to the Docks of Cottonmouth, after years as a merchant sailor.

Jessica

“Excuse me Sir, but we are looking for a ship which bears the mark of a crab laden with ocean treasure”

Game Master

The Harbour Master looks at the group and raises an eyebrow, “You look familiar lass, now where have I seen that face........OH! In the paper! You are from All In a Days WORK! What brings ya here then I’m wonderin.... treasure crab ya say, yeah I know it ‘The Saddle Crab’ She’s registered to a Captain Alden Cross, but ya won’t find her out on the docks, the ship is currently in dry dock after a catastrophic voyage, nasty business, there was one fatality, the ships navigator”.

Jessica

“Captain Alden Cross you say.....do you know where we might find him?”

Game Master

The Harbour Master lifts his cap and scratches his head, “Hmmm ain’t seen him or his crew since they pulled in a week back, you could always check his house boat, hay, is this part of one of your investigations? I tell ya I never seen a crew so shaken than that lot when they got back, pale as ghosts, ship totalled, amazed it made it back at all”.

Sylo

“And where might we find Captain Alden Cross’s house boat?”

Game Master

“Not on the main docks that’s for sure, it’s a little ways up the main canal heading north for Widefield.......... Pier Four Pile Six, if memory serves me correct...... I remember visiting a few times when he was filling out permits.”

Jessica

“Thank you so much, you are much more friendly than Alistair Finch was.........oh ....... that was a little insensitive and rude of me......sorry”

Game Master

“No apology necessary lass, Finch was a real nasty piece a work, and everyone knew it, good luck in whatever it is you’re up to, and if you find yourselves in the paper again, a mention of Captain Grench, that’s me, wouldn’t go unappreciated” the Harbour Master gives them a wink.

Fidget

" One more thing Captain.. You said the Saddle Crab came back practically destroyed and the crew looked like they had seen ghosts. Do you know where they had been, or what they were looking for?”

Game Master

The Harbour Master strikes his ruff salt bleached beard, “I don’t lad, they were pretty hush hush about it, dangerous business treasure hunting, always vultures about looking to cut your throat and steal your claim.

Of course there were rumors about sunken gold, but nobody really knows where they went, or what they were looking for, except the crew of the Saddle Crab”.

Game Master

The group bids the Harbour Master farewell and thank him for his help, leaving the docks and heading for the main canal which winds through the city of Cottonmouth exiting through the Dock Wards out to sea.

It doesn’t take long before they arrive outside a large boathouse at Pier Four Pile Six, but what they find is less a dwelling and more a well fortified floating barge bristling with weapons and barricades.

The weapons and barricades look newly constructed, most of it hastily put together, although the weapons look as if they are rigged to traps and tripwires, making boarding the floating fortress a difficult task.

Jessica

“Doesn’t look very welcoming does it”

Fidget

I study the floating fortress for a moment, particularly the weapons and lines attached to them.

“Considering Cross built all this in less than a week? I’d say he’s either very afraid of something — or very afraid something followed him home.”

I then crouch down and carefully study the barricades, tripwire, and possible ways onto the barge without touching anything.

“Before anyone takes a step, let me have a look. I’d rather find out what those wires do with my eyes than with my foot.”

Game Master

Fidget is able to trace the multiple lines leading from tripwires, and pressure plates scattered around the entrance to the boathouse, with a little work, and luck, he may be able to clear a path for the team onto the boat, avoiding the multitude of harpoons and traps which litter the area.

Jessica

“It does look like he’s been very busy......and very paranoid”

Sylo

The warlocks face turns deadly serious, thinking of his patron and the deep dark abyss of the ocean

“The ocean holds many dark secrets, let’s hope they didn’t dig up anything we can’t handle”

Jessica

“Ok Fidget, this looks like your area of expertise, you got this*

Game Master

Fidget quickly and with great practiced skill, moves through the maze of tripwires, pressure plates and false leads, carefully disconnecting, and rewiring, the traps as he moves ahead until he reaches the entrance to the boathouse.

The boathouse door seems unlocked, a low glow emanating from a salt caked portal, and the sound of an old record playing with a slight crackle over an old gramophone can be heard.

Game Master

As Fidget examines the door, he notices a cleverly concealed trapdoor rigged to trigger if the door is opened.

Game Master

Fidget skillfully disables the trapdoor, the door now completely accessible to the group.

Jessica

“How’s everything going Fidget? Safe for us to come aboard?”

Sylo

“This guy obviously doesn’t want to be disturbed....how about we just sink the boat and be on our way”

Jessica

“Because we actually want to talk to him and get information”

Sylo

“Just seems overly complicated, I’m sure there are ways to get information out of the dead”

Jessica

“You’re particularly abrasive tonight aren’t you”

Sylo

“Thank you”

Jessica

“That wasn’t a........ forget it.....Fidget you done?”

Game Master

Seeing that Fidget has cleared the way to the boathouse entrance the group makes their way to his location.

The group now stands outside the door to the boathouse and can see the low glow of lamp light and the crackle of the old gramophone.

Jessica

“Ok now what? I know we are here on official business.....so do we knock? But then we have just removed a bunch of traps leading up to the door, feels like we are breaking and entering, so do we just walk in and heavy hand the captain?”

Fidget

I glance at Jessica, and then back towards the door.

“I’d vote for knocking. We’ve already dismantled half the man’s defense. I’d rather not add breaking into the man’s home to the introduction.”

I pause and look over the doorway one more time.

“Besides, anyone paranoid enough to trap the path, the door and everything else he owns might have something special planned for people who don’t knock.”

I step slightly to the side of the doorway.

“Captain Cross? Where here about the Saddle Crab. We’d like to talk. ”

Game Master

As Fidget knocks and calls out the sound of the record playing abruptly stops.

A shadow moves across the salt caked portal as heavy footsteps approach the door.

The door opens slightly, not even a foot, as the muzzle of a blunderbuss silently protrudes, lowering to Fidgets face, “Speak quickly, who are ya, and what business do ye have with the Saddle Crab!“.

Fidget

I freeze when I see the blunderbuss and slowly raise my hands.... ” Fidget. And I prefer to keep my face where it is, if you don’t mind.”

I glance at the barrel before looking back toward the doorway.

“We’re investigating a murder. The victim has the Saddle Crab’s mark tattooed on his wrist. We were told your ship came back in bad shape, one of your crew died, and the rest of you haven’t exactly been social since.... We’re not here to rob you, Captain. We just want to know what happened out there.”

Game Master

Captain Alden Cross retracts the blunderbuss and secures it, “One crew member dead? Haa!“, Captain Cross scoffs at the comment, try four, but it don’t matter, we’ll all be dead n drowned before long”.

Jessica

“Wait four? The detectives told us there have only been three murders, if all of them were in fact crew of the Saddle Crab.....who is the fourth?”

Game Master

Alden Cross looks around into the fog, his eyes squinting into the darkness, “you better come inside”, he opens the door a little wider but not too much, to allow the group to enter.

Fidget

I cautiously step inside, keeping an eye on the room as I enter.

“Alright, Captain who was the fourth?..... And what exactly is coming for us?”

Game Master

The group follows the Captain into the boathouse, looking around the team notices odd items piled up in corners, it seems the Saddle Crab did quite well for itself, although now the treasures and trinkets lay discarded as all available furniture and wood has gone into the boats defenses.

The Captain pours hot tea into a couple of old glass jars and offers it to the group, “I’d offer you a seat, but the chairs are currently defending the stern” he gives a brief dry laugh, as if mocking himself, “The fourth yes....” Captain Cross stares into the steam of his tea then takes a sip before continuing.

Taran Vespera

“Ahem…what is coming for us?”

Game Master

Captain Alden looks over the group his face lightening slightly as he manages a small smile, “For dear Lass nothing is coming, I’m sure you needn’t worry”, his face then turns pale as darkness seems to creep over him, “But for the crew of the Saddle Crab, dread from the deep, all us cursed we are, the moment we set sail for that God forsaken treasure”, his hands begin to tremble slopping hot tea over the deck of the cabin.

Game Master

The Captain holds his jar in both hands trying to stop trembling, as he calms his nerves and takes a deep breath he begins to recount the fated journey of the Saddle Crab.

“There were six of us, we’d been together some time when our navigator came in with a tip on a big score, this sort of thing happens a lot so I didn’t ask who the tip was from. So we collected our gear, loaded the Saddle Crab, and set course for the warm waters and reefs of the South Eastern Coast.

The tip said gold, but when we got there all we found were the souls of the drowned, we nearly didn’t escape, and one of us didn’t, our navigator, in the chaos of trying to escape we left her behind, by the time we realized, it was too late, we looked back to see the drowned swarm over her, and that was that.

We barely made it out of there ourselves but it seems we didn’t return empty handed after all, the very night we returned this blasted fog rolled in, first our Carpenter, soon after the Rigger, and tonight I saw our Dockhand looked like he’d seen a ghost, ran off into the night, and I’ve seen enough to know a dead man when I see one, so that just leaves me and our Ship Surgeon Silas, I imagine we’ll be meeting our end soon enough “.

Fidget

I stay quiet for a moment, taking everything in that Cross said.

“So this all started with a navigator bringing you some tip about gold..... What was her name? And did she ever say anything about where she got that information?“... I pause for a second.

“Anything unusual about her before you set sail?”

Game Master

Captain Cross sips his tea, “her name was Kalea Nightbloom, some of our best salvage, was thanks to tips she received, the pay was good, we didn’t ask questions”.

Game Master

Cross thinks for a minute then continues, “Kalea was always an odd one, unusual was her normal way of doing things, she ran in strange circles, with ties to the Eastern Fey, which is probably where she got her tips”.

Fidget

I raise an eyebrow when I hear him mention the Eastern Fey.

“Eastern Fey, definitely worth remembering.... But what about the two other crew mates? Where is Silas now? If this thing is working its way through your crew, we should probably try and find him first. ”

Game Master

The Captain seems lost in his thoughts and only half listening, “Silas.....last I heard he’s been acting erratic and terrified, and been held up in his mortuary cellar beneath the Low Tide Alms-House”.

Jessica

“Mortuary?!”

Game Master

“He may have been the ship’s surgeon, but he is a mortician here in Cottonmouth”, the Captain manages a wry smile, “Used to be some big shot surgeon, at one of those fancy hospitals in the Central District, until some scandal lost him his license”.

Sylo

“The Captain here seems to be well defended, and the detectives are on their way, maybe we can go pay Silas a visit”

Jessica

“Sounds like the logical next step, the killer is obviously targeting the crew of the Saddle Crab, Captain Cross here seems fine at the moment, which only leaves the ship’s surgeon... who we should probably ensure is ok”

Fidget

I nod in agreement with Jessica and Sylo..

“Yeah, I think we’ve gotten all we can from the Capitan. Besides, if Silas is still alive, I’d rather find him before whatever is hunting the crew does... So should we go find out what our frightened surgeon is hiding in that cellar?”

Game Master

The group bid Captain Cross farewell and leave for the Low Tide Alms-House in search of Silas the Saddle Crabs surgeon.

Game Master

The fog is thick on the streets of the Dock Wards as the party arrives at the Low Tide Alms-House, the intermittent flickering laps along the street are burning low and the shadows are long and dark.

All the lights on the ground and upper floors are out in the Alms-House, but a pale light emanates from a windowed door at the side entrance leading to the mortuary under the building.

Game Master

The group gathers outside the Mortuary door, the sign has been turned to ‘Closed’, yet the door appears to be unlocked with the sound of movement, and the clatter of metal instruments coming from within.

Jessica

“Leaving the door unlocked doesn’t seem like the actions of someone who is scared or worried, compared to the literal death trap the Captain built and was hiding in”

Sylo

“Sounds like he’s keeping himself busy though”

Fidget I glance back at Jessica and nod.

“Yeah, something doesn’t seem right. Cross practically turned his house into a fortress,and this guy leaves his door unlocked."

I turn my attention toward the windowed door, listening to the clattering coming from inside.

“We should see what the doctor is up to before we announce ourselves."

I carefully approach the door and try to peak through the door without being noticed.

Game Master Fidget carefully opens the door, just a crack, with great skill. Peeking inside he sees a tall well built man in a blood splattered butchers coveralls and heavy gloves packing away tools at the opposite end of the room.

The room is large, covered in white tiles, with multiple drainage holes. In the center are three large metal tables, for working on bodies, and around the room are well maintained and neat metal cabinets.

There is an open furnace to one side, the fire is on but no body is in sight, only a pile of bloody clothes lay on the floor in front of the furnace.

The man looks pale, with dark rings under his eyes as if he hasn’t slept in days, and it is clear he hasn’t noticed the group as he busies himself cleaning and packing away his tools.

Although the room is well lit the corners seem particularly dark as if the bright lights of the mortuary are unable to penetrate the shadows in the corners of the room.

Fidget I quietly watch the man for a minute before turning towards the group.. I speak very low...

“Well there is definitely someone in there.. He looks as if he hasn’t slept in weeks... The room is well lit, but strangely enough I can’t see anything in any of the corners."

I continue watching the man carefully..

“Would anyone else like to have a peek?"

Jessica Whispering “Are we knocking before entering? Or busting in?"

Fidget I glance over at Jessica and whisper.

“I’d say we knock.. The last thing we need is to startle a man surrounded by sharp objects... Something about those corners seems unnatural as well, it gives me a bad feeling."

I step slightly away from the doorway.

“Maybe we should have our weapons ready, just in case.. I’ll keep my eyes on the corners while someone else gets his attention."

Jessica Jessica gulps, she then straightens up and takes a deep breath to steady her nerves before knocking on the doors to the mortuary and walking in

Game Master As the group enters Silas looks up briefly startled, the quick glance seemingly to reassure him, he returns to his task as he addresses the group. He looks tired and preoccupied and doesn’t register that the party are obviously not regular customers with their armour and weapons, “Sorry we are currently closed, please come back during business hours”

Jessica “We aren’t customers Silas, Captain Cross sent us, we are investigating the murders of the Saddle Crab crew”

Game Master On hearing this Silas stops what he is doing, he doesn’t look back towards the group, but his hand slightly trembles as it hovers over his surgical equipment.

Silas suddenly spins on the spot his eyes wide as he grabs and begins waving a surgical knife in the direction of the party, “I don’t care what you think! I had no choice! She has my family and....!"