Adventure Background: The Tale of The Flying Fortune
Adventure Background: The Tale of The Flying Fortune
Adventure Background: The Tale of The Flying Fortune
The Flying Fortune sailed for Port Shaw with a hold full of common
gave birth to the horrid noises below deck to emerge topside. When the
cargo and wine casks. A two-masted brig, shipshape and trim, she was
creatures finally ventured into the moonlight, the men’s courage broke.
a humble lady of the sea, crewed by a motley collection of sailors from
They had never seen such otherworldly monstrosities. The
a dozen kingdoms all united in the promise of profit and perhaps a
creatures ripped into their faltering ranks and slaughter reigned. A
modicum of adventure. However, as soon as the ship left port, bad
young but literate sailor named Titus was clever enough to flee rather
omens accumulated. The Captain brought his luggage aboard in black
than fight to the last. He slipped into the smuggler’s hold and bit
bags — black, the color of death. He chanced fate by leaving on a
his tongue. As death gurgled right outside his refuge, Titus made a
Friday, and as soon as the ship left its moorings, cormorants and ravens
panicked entry in his journal, recounting the terrors of that night.
— death birds — flocked to her rigging. The men might have ignored
Outside, the abominations spared no one and hauled what they
one of these omens, but all together they heralded unavoidable disaster.
wanted below the waves. They cared nothing for gold or treasure
Every night the old salts endlessly harangued the green recruits about
— only for the fresh flesh of sailors. The luckiest of the crew died
their coming doom as the candles burned low.
swiftly, but a few survived to see the interior of a strange and alien
Initially, the cruise defied the portents. The ship cut the waves
ship. They were to be pitied above all others, as they were dragged to
without incident as her veteran captain, Colthyn Riggs, expertly
face the Vivisectionist’s knife.
navigated the Razor Sea. The weather blew fair, if blustery, and the
Sinful Whispers
Strangely, Captain Riggs survived, but he lost his crew that night
ship made good speed. One day, a lookout even spotted a pod of
— not to mention his eternal soul. An inhuman master now rules the
spinner dolphins frolicking in the ship’s wake. The crew took it as
captain. To ensure his loyalty, it placed the black spot on his left hand
a good omen. Even the most determined of doomsayers began to
and returned him to the world of men, there to perform his master’s
believe their luck had shifted.
grim bidding.
However, some suggest Stevenson based the black Fey Ancestry. Barton has advantage on saving throws
spot on the historical practice of Caribbean pirates against being charmed, and magic can’t put him to
giving the ace of spades to a traitor or informer. Since sleep.
the card has only one black spot on it, it was meant Innate Spellcasting. Barton’s innate spellcasting ability is
Intelligence (spell save DC 10). He can innately cast
to imply that the traitor was put “on the spot.” the following spell, requiring no material components:
1/day: prestidigitation
easy,” he says with a laugh. The first officer only nods. The Captain’s mood
seems to soften a bit. “Anyway,” he continues, “you
The journey has begun . . .
did a fine job getting us out of port. I’ll take the
The Sealord’s Blessing is now on course for The Flying Fortune.
The first leg of the journey is uneventful as the PCs get their bearings helm for a while, Mister Handerly. You can relieve
aboard the ship. During this portion of the journey, the PCs are free to me in the evening.”
interact with the ship’s crew, as Captain Riggs remains in his quarters
and laments the actions he is about to undertake. To numb his pain, The captain lets out a loud bark to his crew.
Captain Riggs turns to his old friend, a nonjudgmental bottle of alcohol.
He keeps his cabin door locked and refuses to leave his quarters. “Trim the foresail to port, men! Let’s see how much
Unlocking the door requires a successful DC 20 Dexterity check with open water we can cover while the wind lasts!”
thieves’ tools, while physically forcing the locked door (AC 17, HP
15, Damage Threshold 5) open can be accomplished with a successful Soon, under the captain’s expert hand, the
Sinful Whispers