Expedition 53a - Mandras' Account

The party travelled to Ximes, feeling well pleased with itself. Once there, they reluctantly handed their weapons over again and focussed on asking around about the various personalities that made up the legend that would facilitate their return to the present. There was little luck other than that Gaspard had been a feared pirate, unseen for some ten years and that he had heavily preyed on Vyones.

Leaving Ximes for Vyones, the party followed the coast southwards. Rounding a bend, they saw three dwarves fighting 2 giant crocodiles. A number of dead dwarves strewn around highlighted the intensity of the fight. As Mandras and his colleagues charged in, two of the dwarves died. Mandras cleaved one of the crocodiles in two with a mighty blow of his axe and the other hastily decamped.

The Party was ecstatic! A second pile of treasure, with less struggle than the first here. There was so much, it had to be loaded on the horses.

Arriving in Vyones, after spreading of a little largess led to a person who knew one of his crewmen. Apparently, Gaspard had 3 ships and all disappeared around the time that magic was heavily swept from the land. Their lair had been in a hidden cove along the SE coast.

Riding south the party was attracted by chanting in the trees. When a chimera burst forth charging them, they dug their spurs into the horses and fled the scene. After wandering fruitlessly until they reached the edge of the world, they doubled back on their tracks. Eventually, seeking more carefully, they discovered a series of little coves, one sporting an abandoned dingy on the shingles. 

Rappelling down the cliff Mandras noticed a second cave, with an 8’ high opening. Using his ring of water breathing and a rope tied around his waist, he dropped into the 6.5’ deep water, sinking like only a plate mailed dwarf could…  Crossing the opening, Mandras found a ledge inside the cave and clambered up. Frome there he could espy a longboat tied up within and a collection of crates next to it. Attaching his rope to the longboat, he had his colleagues pull it out and use it to enter the cavern themselves. It was now time to check out their surroundings.