D&D Next game night Aug 24 - Conquistadors sets sail

Boarding the SS Zario

It was the opening night of a new campaign, and shiny first level characters all gathered together in a seaside tavern known as the Smuggler’s Inn. The next day they would set sail towards the New World and a campaign full of adventure. The evening was dying down, and only a few other patrons remained in the dockside tavern: two dark cloaked figures in one far corner and one drunk old sailor with his mustaches continually drooping into his flagon. The bartender never moved from his position behind the bar, wiping the same mug over and over.

They heard a jostling commotion from outside when suddenly the door burst open and four toughs wearing nothing but blue leather breeches and huge swords strapped over their backs burst in. They looked half barbaric like they just came in from some foreign, uncivilized land, and they looked around whilst fingering their swords. The leader stepped forward and said “We are new to your lands and challenge the strongest among you to fight!”

Half the party immediately stood to challenge the yokels, while the other half ducked under the table. The wizard just sat waiting patiently. The crazed dragon blooded sorceress was first to rise and she seemed in the minds of the berserk natives to transform into their most terrible nightmares as she roared they chose the wrong people to mess with. 3 of the 4 were cursed by fear.

Behind them the two strangers stood up and revealed themselves as Drow – the hated dark elves. One was a male wizard and the other was a female with hand crossbow and rapier. They wore strange clothes of oiled sealskin. After a few minutes of battle the berserkers were knocked out, in fear, tied up and disarmed, and the drow fled by diving into the sea. The party heard a tolling bell and realized this was a diversion.

Looking out into the Shalazar Harbor they saw that the anchor was raised, the sails were being set on their ship, the SS Zario, and it was turning towards the open sea. They jumped in the nearest dinghy except for the elf thief who took the canoe of the gnome cleric (and sailor) They approached the ship from the dark side and were unnoticed as they clambered up onto the deck. The thief sneaked forward to unlock the hatch locking everyone (the crew of nine as well as the 15 families of colonists) below. The gnome was the last to climb aboard and instead climbed into the port hole to lead their people.

The wizard cast ghost sound on the other side of the ship to distract the four (more) berserkers who were busy raising sail. The two drow from the Smuggglers Inn suddenly popped out of the sea and climbed aboard, shouting “WE might have company lets get out of here!” A third drow, older and wiser than the two siblings, stood at the helm and looked forward to see the heroes hiding in the shadows at the front of the ship…