(G48 - OR 17/04/09)
So after further discussion it was decided to lock Shifty and Devilia up in two of the storage
rooms down in the hold. Retzal, rather callously wanted to nail them into barrels.
(I have no idea, perhaps it's considered normal where he comes from?)
After a late lunch I went down to look at the bodies and discovered Father Feres had been
reincarnated as a gnome and Kelech had come back as a wild dwarf! Feres seemed confused but
Kelech did not seem too dismayed by the results. Myself and Nobby helped them recover and
gave them water and clothing.
I noticed while I was doing this that Shifty was watching through a knot in the wood of the
store room door, so I went over and used a Wood Shape spell to close all the gaps.
I asked Feres if he knew if anyone had a reason for wanting him dead but he had no idea
and replied 'I am just a likeable old priest of Tyr'.
(Later, Feres was the subject of discussion between some of us, Shifty in particular thought
that Feres might be a fake or a runaway rogue. While dead Feres had not seen Tyr and no one can
ever remember him casting any spells.)
Anyway, around about sunset I went to tell the captain of the latest developments. We had a drink
and I asked her about why it was she hated gnomes so much?
She told me that an evil gnome called Sholstone Bagdall and his gang had killed her husband, a
man called Heldrum Flesral.
I think she took it well, on the whole, when I told her Feres was now a gnome.
The captain mentioned to me that she liked the look of Retzal, and over dinner I mentioned this
to him. I also had a quick chat with Lirith, Eriss and Molly after dinner.
Once all that was taken care of I took down two plates off food to Devilia and Shifty. Much to
my surprise I saw that the bolt across Shifty's door had been opened!
I got Badgerington to sniff about but he was no use, so I called up to the galley and Nobby and
Eriss came down. Retzal was indisposed in the captain's cabin at that time.
We got Shifty out of his cell, gave him his stuff back and instructed him to help us search the
hold as it now appeared to me that we most likely had a stowaway.
At the prow of the ship I felt a draft, as if something invisible passed by. I summoned a dire
bat but it was of no use either so I went back to Devilia's cell and told her to go up to the galley
and warn the others. I then looked in Shifty's cell.
There was a blanket in the room that wasn't there before and when I tugged at the corner it revealed
a very angry looking red headed woman!
I recognised her as the Lady Lotus Dragon, although she was ragged and wild in appearance. She gave
battle with us at once, and she was swift and deadly with her rapier. However we outnumbered her
and it wasn't too long before she succumbed to repeated Enfeeblement spells from Eriss and blows
from Nobby's Spiritual Hammer. I came out of the fight with a couple of rapier stab wounds - thank
Silvanus for my healing nut!
We captured her alive and took her up onto the deck. Shifty and Retzal wanted to kill her straight
away but I wanted to discuss it with the captain and perhaps offer clemency in some way.
Retzal though, took matters into his own hands, and after a nod to the captain, and in front of the
entire ship's compliment he shot a bolt of lightning out of his mouth that killed her instantly.
Saddened I turned away and after a moments reflection thought that I could at least offer this poor
tortured soul the dignity of a proper funeral. When I heard a splash though, I turned to see that
Shifty and Retzal had simply dumped her over the side!
Not only that, but Shifty had gutted her like a fish first, 'To attract the sharks'.
That evening I did not sleep well. Shifty was going around the entire ship being thoroughly obnoxious
and announcing to everyone over and over again, 'See, Shifty was innocent!'
I am also concerned about Retzal who at first seemed as if he could be a source of much needed order
on board. Since he now has his feet firmly under the captain's table he may turn out to be
more of a source of tyranny.
My last act of a very tiring and troublesome day was to have a little word with Molly. I did think
to tell her off a little for disobeying my orders of not associating with Shifty, but I was so
despondent that I'm afraid my heart wasn't in it.
DAY 99
With much trepidation I decided to fly over to the Nixie this morning to inform Lavinia of
yesterday's events.
