10 Brussendar 835

Your final night at Rumblecusp, with the ship repaired, a new enemy appeared.

Della was attacked by a pirate crew, led by Luzon, Amira’s adopted son. Della survived, thanks to Scrum’s quick action who, not knowing the extent of this family drama, killed Luzon in the fight. The battle raged across Rumblecusp’s beaches as your crew and officers fought to make it back to the Tide of Ruidus as the rest of the crew appeared en masse, bringing in ghostly ships of skeletons to overwhelm the defenses and burn Rumblecusp to the ground.

A final ship, the False Jewel, appeared out of a shadowy portal, heading straight for the Tide of Ruidus on a collision course, until Della threw open her own massive portal under the Ruidus moon and swallowed the ship whole, sending it into the unknown abyss. Thinking yourselves safe, you made it onto the ship and launched…

Then, Amira stood behind the wheel of the ship, with Della beside and Tombah making adjustments to the heading. Below, the crew runs and shouts as Kerlu gives orders, Icotta heals wounds, and Venk helps keep the momentum of the ship moving under his fast tools. Ropes slide through their moorings and sails whip and snap into position as the waves churn against the ship that forces its way through them. In this moment of relief, the spark of confidence in your victory, simmering here before it ignites into elation.

Then, tragedy comes: with a whoosh and a gasp, you all turn to see a portal open behind Della and a female tiefling, the other crew’s captain, is there, having pierced Della with a long crimson blade. Faster than you can believe, the enemy captain darts to Amira, ripping her necklace off and whispering in her ear. You can’t hear it, but she says “I see you’ll always find a powered one; too bad this one is weak. Nothing like your little lad. Don’t worry, I’m taking good care of him.” Olentra throws out her hand and the crimson blade rips through Della’s chest and flies to her hand. She moves with the grace and lethality of an assassin, using the momentum of the swords magic to carry her through a spin as she positions herself to be in front of Amira and, for the second time, drives the blade through one of your friends. Again, she says something, louder now, but still unheard over the din of the ship and crew, still oblivious to the nightmare unfolding: “Stay out of my waters, or I’ll destroy everyone on this ship. And I won’t be near so nice as last time.” Another portal opens and Olentra steps through it, letting Amira fall to the ground as Della drags herself toward her captain. Only Amira sees the pale and drawn form of Luxon through the portal, his wounds from Scrum’s blade healed instantly, it seems. But only Amira sees the spark of recognition in the boy’s eyes and the silent gasp of “Mom” as the portal snaps closed.

Tombah is the first of the crew to act, racing toward Della who’s now covering Amira in a gruesome embrace. Tombah grabs each of them and drags their bodies across the deck and then slings them into the water. Kerlu shouts in protest as she begins running up the stairs, but Tombah only replies “Calaloch” before diving into the water after them. This word was all Kerlu needed to snap back to focus, shouting at the crew and taking command of the Tide of Ruidus, now without a captain.