English Translation:
I awoke aboard a ship after foolishly getting into a drinking contest with the smellier Dwarf. The alcohol made his stench almost bearable, but unfortunately I consumed too much of it. I ministered towards the crew to earn my passage, and eventually discovered that we were heading for a pirate island. I don’t know what use I’ll be there, but I’m sure Myrmidia has a plan. She always does.
A few miles offshore several of the crew got into an argument with the captain over their pay. I attempted to interject some sanity as the argument grew even more heated; but was rebuffed. Finally the captain tossed one of the poor seamen overboard. Thankfully the waters near this island are relatively safe, as he swum along aside the boat unmolested until we got to the dock. I helped him up and felt it only proper to help him get some new clothes.
On our way to a tailor we encountered a most bizarre group of individuals. An obnoxious Dwarf Fighter, his Elven Wizard toady, another Elf – this one an explorer, and a Halfling initiate of Manaan. They steered us away from one shop, and we accompanied them to another. After getting the man equipped we inquired with this group of a good place to stay for the evening. They directed us to the inn they were staying at, but wanted to stop by the beach first. We accompanied them.
Once there the Dwarf started digging for some reason, and surprisingly came up with a lockbox. We returned to the inn where he and his toady retired to their room to open it. Meanwhile my new friend and I had dinner with the initiate.
A rather shifty looking seaman arrived, and sat with his back to the corner without ordering food or drink. He was obviously waiting for someone. He got noticeably concerned when members of our party confronted him – they knew him, apparently – and instead of waiting for his contact took his leave of us. The explorer and the fighter followed him, and I followed them, concerned for their safety.
Not too far from the inn I heard a commotion ahead, and came upon the men fighting for their lives against a vampire. The explorer was badly wounded, so I called for him to get behind me as I charged the creature. One good swing from my sword, and it decided to find an easier meal. The cowardly beast fled. I would have pursued but the explorer and the seaman they were following – one ‘Petey’ – had been badly injured. I ministered to them, healing the explorer slightly and saving Petey’s life, and we returned to the inn.
We retired for the night, only to find that Petey was doing very poorly the following morning. I accompanied the group to a nearby temple where the clergy took him in for further healing and finished tending the wounds of the explorer. After that it was back to the tailor to get the explorer new clothes – again – as the vampire attack had ruined his. It was only then that I learned that ‘we’ – for I had earned my place amongst them the previous night – had an appointment to meet with the Pirate King.
We were met at the entrance to the King’s stronghold by Petey’s captain, who thanked us for saving him and ushered us into our audience. Once there the King informed us of a task he needed us to perform. Basically a standard ‘turn two allied factions against each other’ plot. I haven’t participated in them before but I’ve read the books. In return, he’d give the explorer some information he apparently needs to find a famous duelist. We also learned that the vampire problem is endemic to the island, and that they control a keep on the coast. The pirates have tried to force them out but have never been successful.
Fighting an entire castle of vampires is obviously beyond the current ability of this group, so we decided to go pick on dockworkers instead. As a new member of this group I deferred to the plans of others, and their plan was to just start swinging at people. Not very honorable, so I excused myself.
The rest of the group did seem like they were having some success with playing these two factions against each other. Battles are starting to break out. I did hear a rumor about a large creature that one of the gangs has – something twice the size of an troll. I should find it and kill it.
We’re going to need to work on our small unit tactics if we expect to face vampires again. They’re extraordinarily fast and can dodge blows with ease. We’ll need to time our strikes – it can’t dodge us all.