Session 3: The Choke
Session 3: The Choke
Tags: #session
In short: Ghost pirates in the fog, Riptide's confession, and a dominated Sauriv — the cursed amulet falls to Blackjack.
Summary
The Tempest's Temptation was swallowed by the unnatural fog of The Choke — a claustrophobic channel of jagged black cliffs and a graveyard of ships. The party noticed Icarus had mysteriously vanished. A spectral galleon crewed by ghost pirates emerged, forcing a desperate naval battle; Gearsley fell unconscious before Captain Siren Shellsword and Riptide arrived to clear the threat.
In the drunken celebration after, Blackjack overheard the Captain plotting for a "reward" and the need for the crew to "survive one more day." Riptide confessed to Rik: a dark pact with a shrouded figure called The Traveler for a cursed amulet (the Shard of the Great Devourer) now causing black rot to consume his body. He apologized for bringing Rik aboard and revealed Captain Siren Shellsword had promised him salvation in the Tomb of Tzentak five years ago.
The search for the captain's bird led to a horrifying find: Icarus caged, compelled by an unseen voice to stay, and Krell's wyrmling Chomp missing. Wild Fury and Blackjack found Rik hanging dead in his room — then were ambushed by Sauriv, the lizardfolk bosun's glazed white eyes marking him a puppet under someone's control. The party defeated him, and the amulet fell into Blackjack's possession.
Key Developments
- Riptide's pact with The Traveler and the rotting curse of the Shard of the Great Devourer revealed.
- Tomb of Tzentak named as a place of promised "salvation."
- Sauriv was being controlled by an unseen force; Chomp went missing.
- Rik was found hanged (and yet lives — never fully explained).
- Blackjack now secretly holds the amulet.
