Shortly after the Tropic Thunder finished off the last savage pirate in the mess hall, a strange creature ambushed them. This creature was a phanaton, a kind of creature depicted in the journal that the heroes helped Lavinia recover when they entered her family's crypt. The phanatons are a small race of arboreal creatures with large eyes and prehensile tails that resemble a cross between a monkey and a raccoon. Between their arms and legs are thin membranes the creatures use to glide through the air.
The phanaton had been transformed into a long-limbed, deformed creature with writhing, boneless fingers. The savage phanaton lurked in a hallway, waiting for something exciting to happen in the mess hall before scurrying forth to join the fight.
His once-fine gray-brown fur was matted with blood and bits of gory tissue. Sizzling drool dribbled from his fanged, misshapen mouth. He slavered as he grunted and hooted before finally managing to snarl out in Common, "Come to me, meatbags. Just give me a mouthful of your tasty pink flesh!"
The phanaton heard the sounds of battle in the mess hall and pulled out his masterwork kukri. Of all the savage pirates, this creature retained the most intelligence. He climbed up to the dark recesses of the ceiling and glided down to ambush the Tropic Thunder. He fought until slain.
As the Tropic Thunder approached the next chamber, the sound of shouts, wet cries of anguish, and the clang of metal on metal grew louder.
Dozens of ten-foot-wide iron cages were sitting on the floor of this large cavern. Some were empty, while others contained the partially eaten remains of dead men and women. Yet most horrible were those cages that contained thrashing, wailing figures. Each of these seems more deformed than the last, twisting legs, writhing arms, vestigial heads, and jaws agape with too many teeth were all on display as the mad prisoners howled and slobbered and threw themselves against the walls of their cages in a cacophonous attempt to break free.
The Crimson Fleet pirates used these cages to house prisoners, sorting them into groups before shipping them off to Scarlet Brotherhood ports for sale as slaves. When the effect Halja described washed over the caves, those prisoners who didn't succumb to the tide were quickly murdered and eaten by those who did.
There were 11 savage slaves locked in these cages. They thrashed and writhed, but for all their noise they weren't quite strong enough to break free from their cages. Anyone who comes within five feet of a cage is in reach, though, and the savage occupant may be able to make a bite attack against such foes.
The next sandy-floored cavern seems to be some sort of trophy hall. The centerpiece of the display was an enormous reptilian skull, nearly six feet in length, mounted on a wooden display. Other trophies lined the walls - nameplates from ships, battered sea chests, mounted heads of sea monsters, and weathered figureheads, each doubtless carrying a sordid story of theft and betrayal.
Most of these trophies were relatively valueless, but there were a few exceptions.
Other than the reptilian skull, monstrous trophies included several shark jaws; a humanoid head with scaly skin, sharp fangs filling its mouth, fins on its head and great, staring eyes that were deep black; jars containing enormous fragments of tentacles; and a set of teeth the size of daggers. Among the nameplates of ships were names like St. Asmond's Hope or Wavereaper. A part of this collections was a barnacle-encrusted mast of wood badly eroded by a great deal of time spent below the waves. The only legible letters read "T...M...AUT". Nearby hung a heavily rusted ship's bell bearing the name Sea Ghost.
The only trophy of any real value was a leather-bound collection of nautical charts well over three hundred years old. These charts are remarkably accurate, even most so than most modern ones, and grant a +4 circumstance bonus on Profession (sailor) checks made to plot a course on the ocean.
Three locked chests (which Graim opened) in the corner of the room contained gold, silver, and copper pieces, three garnets, an emerald brooch, and 5 pearls.
The next small area was filled with piles of blankets, clothing, cases of crossbow bolts, and a collection of swords, pole arms, axes, and other weaponry.
There were crossbow bolts, 3 short swords, 5 rapiers, 2 long swords, 2 scimitars, a glaive, 2 guisarmes, a halberd, 2 light crossbows, a heavy crossbow, 2 battle axes, 9 throwing axes, and a greataxe to be had here.
The Tropic Thunder entered a small labyrinth next. The warren of tunnels made an excellent defense against enemies who were unfamiliar with their layout.
Three savage pirates lurked in these caves. Once one of them noticed the Tropic Thunder in the area, it shrieked and howled in delight as it shambled forth to attack. Its two mates arrived soon thereafter to join the battle. Although their knowledge of the maze's layout could have given them a significant tactical advantage, their madness prevented such coordinated attacks. Despite this, they managed to kill Pillboxer before they in turn were killed by the heroes.
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