<div class="floatleft">(http://i1027.photobucket.com/albums/y335/SheerFantasia/Sasskiana/77c93767-38f2-4858-baed-fd96d5be66d7_zps83cc039d.png?t=1405691132)</div><strong>Day:</strong>1;<strong>Time (apparent):</strong>Just short of midday<br/><strong>Weather:</strong>Clear skies, light winds<br/><br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">THE SASSKIANA</div><div class="spoiler_body">N Hamlet-class<br/><strong>Corruption</strong> +0; <strong>Crime</strong> –4; <strong>Economy</strong> –2; <strong>Law</strong> +0; <strong>Lore</strong> +1; <strong>Society</strong> –5<br/><strong>Qualities</strong> Rumourmongering; <strong>Danger</strong> –5<br/><br/><hr/><strong>Government</strong> Overlord (Acting-Captain Thrane Baellryn)<br/><strong>Population</strong> 27 (approx.)<br/><br/><strong>Notable NPCs</strong><br/>   <strong>Illoryn Shast:</strong> <em>Famed explorer</em><br/>   <strong>Mellisan Nakillos:</strong> <em>Noblewoman planar scholar</em><br/>   <strong>Tassil Lornfel:</strong> <em>Priest of Desna</em><br/>   <strong>Thrane Baellryn:</strong> <em>Acting captain</em><br/><br/><hr/><strong>Base Value</strong> 100 gp; <strong>Purchase Limit</strong> 300 gp; <strong>Spellcasting</strong> 2nd<br/><strong>Minor Items</strong> 1d6<br/><br/><hr/><strong>Deck 3</strong> is currently <strong>sealed</strong> to all crew members on orders of Acting Captain Thrane Baellryn.</div></div><hr/><br/><strong>Remaining Crew Onboard:</strong>13 (7 male, 6 female; mostly deckhands, the odd cook and entertainer);<strong>Morale:</strong>Shaky<br/><br/><strong>Notes:</strong>The most pressing of concerns on board the Sasskiana involves the critters in the cargo hold, which may find a way out and onto the ship.  There are also some problems with the crew that should be sorted out before they decide to leave ship, which would leave the ship too short-handed to be able to run effectively.<br/><hr/><br/>Before anyone can take further action, the sound of a measured tread upon the floor boards of the Sasskiana can be heard approaching the area where everyone is standing.  Mellisan Nakillos can be seen approaching, looking as pretty and regal as ever save for a smudge of ink on her chin and nose, evidently having been lost in note taking for quite some time now.  Nevertheless, there is purpose in her approach and it soon becomes evident she is looking for those who are descending into the cargo hold - you.<br/><br/>"Greetings and well met to all of you," she smiles as she approaches within earshot.  "I have been given to understand that at some point you are to descend into the hold to deal with... well, whatever problems you might find there.  I'm certain Thrane expressed the desire from some individuals  to preserve and restrain the creatures rather than kill them.  Though I am not privy to the identity of any others, I am one who requested such, however my request is rather specific."<br/><br/>For a moment, she purses her lips in thought, as though trying to frame in her mind what it is that she wishes to ask.  "Amongst some of the creatures that the Sasskiana was holding was what is commonly known as a... phase spider.  For those of you not well acquainted with such, think of it as large hose-sized spider with a vaguely human head.  Eerie creatures to be sure, dangerous even, but this particular specimen is highly intelligent for its kind, relatively speaking.  Before this mess we find ourselves in, I was just starting to get the creature to be more open and was proving to be an asset in information regarding the planes; their workings, how to navigate them."<br/><br/>"To be honest, unlike others, I can offer only limited financial reward, but I would like to urge you to reason with the creature before deciding whether to kill it, as its knowledge could prove beneficial to the future of the Sasskiana, knowledge that I'm convinced that could have allowed us to avoid this troublesome situation had our former captain chosen to listen to me, rather than ignore the source of my learnings.  By all means, if it attacks you, do defend yourselves, but understand that its capture was not the most pleasant and its kind have voracious appetites.  The creature's name is<span class="bbc_u"><em>Kash' ratme</em></span>, and if you use its name, I'm certain you can get its attention, if only for a brief space."<br/><br/>"Of course, it may have died in the incident, but it did strike me as a hardy creature, so I can say with a reasonable degree of certainty that it should have survived.  Again, I would like to emphasise that the benefit it could provide to future endeavours."