[Yet more on the big pickle I had got myself into on Yacg'harr Island.]
DAY 537 (22nd Eleasis) (August) ...
I know that as I get older, or maybe as my Druidic powers have grown, I have less patience with people that get in my way.
Even so, in the morning though, I decided to give this old pirate captain we had taken into custody a chance to explain himself.
Disguised as an old lady I went to talk to him in the cave at the back of the barrow. There was nothing 'unusual' about him if you understand me. He had been a pirate, and now he was not. He had killed people, but not enough good or innocent people to turn his aura evil (or so Sylvia reported to me).
Lucky for him then!
As to the skulls he said:
'The skulls were part of a cargo of a ship we liberated back in the day.'
'Why did you keep them?' I asked.
'To stop them falling into the wrong hands,' he said truthfully.
(We were in a Zone of Truth, cast by Sylvia.)
At some point Dak barged in (not in disguise) and asked:
'Who is in charge of this island here?'
'Quite a few people,' shrugged the pirate. 'I have a degree of influence, the innkeeper,
some others...'
I was getting a clearer picture of the people on the island now. They were basically opportunists, who found it easier to trade with passing pirate ships than to defy them.
They largely grew their on food on the island, it was rich in a tropical bounty of fruit and vegetables, while the sea teamed with life, most of it being delicious - such as crab, turtle, sea snails, fish by the net-full and all manner of plump migratory birds.
Sylvia, probably out of boredom as much as anything else, joined in the questioning.
'What about the origins of this island, how did it all get started?'
'Why yes, I do know how the island came to be a sort of pirate retirement village, but that's how it is. They put on a bit of a show when a pirate ship turns up, hang a few skeletons or whatever about the place. When it's just regular ships they just act normal.'
We also learned that the place we had been calling 'Pirate Town' was called Tumunzah and that the innkeeper's name was Gyles Finchey.
After all that, myself, Lavinia, Silvia and anyone else who felt like contributing, went over our plans again. I also used my magic to throw up an earthwork rampart around the barrow.
Later on I found Dak, back pestering the Captain with random questions. It made me think though, if he's never going to be in disguise I could pretend to be a half-orc too, to further confuse the matter!
Enter Bibblebak the Barbarian!
Anyway, time to turn in. I'm sick of sleeping in this Tomb. So is everyone.
DAY 538 (23rd Eleasis) (August)
Today we teleported Lavinia to Sassering to start organising masons for the keep we plan to build on the island.
Then me, Dak and Jiggles teleported the captain to Westgate and bunged him in a secure room in Fenrir's townhouse. (He wasn't home).
I paid Gelly 500 gold to watch him for a day or two. Hopefully this will baffle him as to who raided his house and why! The only weak link is Dak, but to be honest I've given up thinking about it. He's a loose cannon, but part of all this nonsense whether I like it or not.
Anyway, he went shopping for more powerful gear while in Westgate and this gave me a few hours alone to relax in Fenrir's luxurious front room. The staff like me here, but I think it's because they think Lavinia is a 'real lady' and nothing to do with my own charms.
We teleported back in the evening. The last thing I did today was finish off the rampart around the barrow.
Sylvia had resurrected some people form the town today. She is in disguise and staying at the inn, but I met her in secret for an update.
DAY 539 (24th Eleasis) (August)
What a lovely place this island is, I must admit, when you are not skulking around in an evil king's barrow. It is teaming with live, a lovely warm climate, kept cool by a bracing sea breeze.
Sylvia resurrected more people from the town. I've started building small 'druid houses' using Wood and Stone Shape. They are only big enough for a bed and a desk, but anything is better than another night in the barrow.
Out of boredom, in the evening we filtered back to the pub. Today I went as a a half-elf called Bongo the Magnificent!
I doubt we are fooling many people, they know we are from the barrow, but at least they will be confused about our numbers and what we all actually look like. Except for Dak of course, they are all well acquainted with him now.
DAY 540 (25th Eleasis) (August)
Today Sylvia finished the resurrections and I picked her up via teleportation spell, in disguise as a Cleric of Illmater. She reported that all had gone well.
Today I also returned to Westgate, picked up the pirate captain and brought him back to the island. All in disguise as Bibblebak the Barbarian.
I sent him off with dire warnings - that he should keep a low profile and his mouth shut.
I built another 'druid house' today.
DAY 541 (26th Eleasis) (August)
Lovely as this island is, it can be a bit boring loafing about all day. Once I've built my daily 'druid house' I've not much else to do. Everyone else is the same.
Sylvia is constantly nagging me, but mainly about the state of her hair and how she needs a good bath. The sea is pure and clean, but apparently the salt water gives her split ends.
So, we've organised a pub rota. Everyone gets a day there. As long as someone is guarding the barrow it should be ok.
Tonight I went as Mysterious Mickey, the random man!
DAY 542 (27th Eleasis) (August)
Built another small house - it only takes minutes, then spent some time swimming in the sea and lying on the beach. I could get used to a life like this.
Went to the pub later in the evening for a good meal and a few drinks.
DAY 543 (28th Eleasis) (August)
Another relaxing day. No word from Lavinia, but I'm sure she's doing fine. She said it would take about a week to organise the masons, and I'm sure she's enjoying being in her own house for a while.
DAY 544 (29th Eleasis) (August)
Today we got a message from Lavinia and I teleported back to Sasserine to pick her up.
She has organised a squad of masons. The keep that we have designed will take them six to eight weeks apparently. It will cost extra as they have to sail to the island, but even so, since we have a fortune hidden away in the portals, it's not a problem.
The other thing that happened today was that Dak tried to buy the inn from Gyles. It did not go well.
I was there (as Mysterious Mickey) and witnessed the whole thing. Firstly he had an argument with the innkeeper as Dak was already barred.
As voices were raised the half-orc grabbed the man over the bar and threatened him. Gyles tapped him on the shoulder, with his finger or something magical, I'm not sure and Dak seemed to shiver and seize up. He shook it off though and stepped back.
He then put a bag of 3000 gold on the counter.
'How much for the Inn?' demanded Dak.
The innkeeper then started to mix various spirits in a silver tankaard (some sort of island punch I think), saying. 'If you want to talk business, then lets have a drink.'
Dak grunted, took the drink and quaffed it down. It was heavily poisoned though, of course, and the colour drained from the half-orc and he stood stock still, paralysed.
Whatever the landlord was planning after that, we'll never know, as by then I was on my feet and beside Dak. I grabbed his arm and teleported him back to the barrow.
I guess I can't go back there as 'Mysterious Mickey' any more then.
DAY 545 (30th Eleasis) (August)
A weary Sylvia used her magic to Restore Dak's health back to normal this morning.
'Oh well,' he sighed, looking at the kettle on the campfire. 'Cup of tea anyone?'
'Nah,' I teased him. 'We are all going to the pub. You can stand guard since you're not welcome there!'
In the end though, I felt sorry for the big oaf and teleported him to Sasserine so he could invest in a Hat of Disguise.
Later that day, we went back to the inn. I decided to go as 'Gerard the Tall.' Dak decided to go as a light-footed half-elf female. I doubt we fooled many people, especially Dak, as a half-elf wench that burps, farts, scratches her arse and smells of armour polish.
Well anyway, suspecting and proving are two different things, and as we kept to ourselves and paid well we were left alone.
I've noticed though, how easy it is for me to tell who is who, out of Sylvia, Jiggles, Molly and Dak, however they are disguised, just by their voices and mannerisms. Sylvia always smells of that perfume she wears, its a dead giveaway.
But when the pub is busy, noisy and drenched in the smell of stale beer, no one seems to notice or care - just as well for us!
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